May 1, 2014

Mu’azu: Why Gulak was fired NEWS

Page 4

•Jonathan’s ex-aide ‘arrogant’

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News Osun gives 18,000 women N600m P8 Sports Everton targets Victor Moses P24 Business Nigerian-made Nissan vehicles out P11

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2835 THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

EKITI 2014

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•Monarch: I didn’t absolve Fayose of Daramola’s murder •Why I’m contesting on LP’s platform, by Bamidele AND MORE ON •INEC to use card readers to check fraud •PAGES 5,9&51

National Conference gets six more weeks

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From Onyedi Ojiabor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

HE ongoing National Conference in Abuja has been extended by six weeks.

The conference will now end on July 31 instead of June 19.

A new work plan has been released by the leadership of the conference.

The consideration of the draft report of the conference has been fixed for July 2124.

Continued on page 4

•Sterling Bank Plc Chairman Alhaji Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa (middle) with Group Managing Director/CEO Mr. Yemi Adeola (left) and Company Secretary Mrs. Justina Lewa, during the Bank’s 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday.

•Access Bank Chairman Gbenga Oyebode (right) discussing with Group Managing Director Herbert Wigwe (middle) at the 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos…yesterday. With them is Deputy Group Managing Director Robinna Nwosu

Protests in Abuja, Ibadan over abducted school girls

•D AY OF RA GE: Women for Peace in procession over the abduction of Borno school girls in Abuja…yesterday •DA RAGE:

PHOTO: NAN

Military opens talks with Cameroon, Chad We’ll free them, say minister, Defence chief

H

UNDREDS of women defied yesterday a downpour to march on the National Assembly over the abduction of 234 girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno

From Bukola Amusan and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

State.

Since the girls were snatched away by Boko Haram on April 15, there has been no trace of their where-

abouts.

The women, many of who wore red dresses, carried placards with inscriptions, such as “Rescue our Chibok girls”; “Bring back our girls alive”; “Where are my sis-

ters?” “Let peace and justice reign” and “Our daughters going for N2000”.

Women also protested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Abuja rally, which startContinued on page 4

?

WHERE ARE THE 234 GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 AT THE GOVT SECONDARY SCHOOL, CHIBOK, BORNO STATE?

INSIDE

•Ibadan women march •’We can publish names, photos of girls’ •We’ll work 24hrs, says David Mark •Military needs task force to rescue them •A tale of two rallies PAGES 2,3,4&67

•CONFERENCE PANEL RECOMMENDS SCRAPPING OF SENATE P5 •WORKERS DAY P6

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

2

NEWS CHIBOK ABDUCTION

Mark: we’ll w H •Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (third right), Senior Vice President/Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh (fourth right), Commissioner for Commerce Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (second right), Commissioner for Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun (right), Supply Chain Director, Mr. Ete Pinnick (left), Brand Building Director (Food), Mrs. Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe (2nd right) and Manufacturing Director, Doyin Ashiru (third right) when the Unilever team paid the governor a courtesy visit in his office, Abeokuta... yesterday.

• From left: Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dr Samuel Adenekan; Marketing Service Director, Mrs Iquo Ukoh; Head of Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chris Isokpuninu and Managing Director, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon, at the 2014 Nestle Creating Shared Value Media workshop in Lagos ...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Taxation, Abimbola Shodipo speaking at a news conference on third year of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s second term. With him are Commissioner for Information Lateef Ibirogba (right) and Special Adviser on Internal Revenue Babatunde Fowler.

•From left: Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah; National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe; Public Relations Consultant to Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Bukola Orelaja; and Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Dr. Abali Chuku presenting gifts and a certificate to Mrs. Abazie Chioma and her baby in commemoration of the 2014 World Malaria Day.

UNDREDS of women yesterday protested the abduction of 234 girls in a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

The protest was held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. They also marched to the National Assembly.

President David Mark spoke with the protesting women.

His words: “Our dear mothers, daughters and wives, fathers, brothers and sons, I stand with the same amount of heavy heart that has brought you here. For those of you who watched television, we resumed plenary yesterday and both houses did nothing else but took the motion on the recent abduction of our daughters, of our children. The issue was discussed on the floor of both houses yesterday.

Senators wept, Honourable members wept. We have reached a stage where we can no longer tolerate a situation where one Nigerian will be lost not to talk of the number in Chibok. Both houses resolved that this is one issue that must be resolved and must be resolved as fast as possible. The time taken so far is bad enough.

“It is a sign that rain is beating us here today and if it means standing in the rain for the rest of our lives to get our daughters back, I think we will be more than willing. The House of Representatives resolved yesterday that they will summon the service chiefs and I believe sooner than later, the service chiefs will come to the House of Representatives.

“Senators resolved yesterday that they will meet with the president immediately and it is going to happen almost immediately. The House of Representatives will see the Service Chief and they will explain to them but that is not the issue, the issue here is that we want our daughters and our children back.

“Let me assure you that we share in your agony. We share in your pain.

We are fathers and mothers just like you are and whatever happens in North East happens and touches the lives of every Nigerian, including the Legislators.

“Yesterday, we resumed at the federal level and we stand with you in your agony, we share with you in your pain and we will work with all arms of government to make sure that our children are brought back in the earliest possible time.

“At this age and time, what I want to do today is to apologise that the process is taking this long but we will work with you and we will do whatever is possible to make sure that this is resolved as quickly as possible, but the question is: when will that happen?

“I believe the speaker also spoke with the traditional ruler in Chibok and we have been getting briefings as well as we are trying to get briefing from the Service Chiefs.

“Let me assure you that from now onwards, you will get a regular briefing from us on what is happening. We also need briefing on what is happening, if it is hourly briefing, that will happen, no problem because we need to know what is happening.

“Being in darkness and not knowing what is happening will lead to greater agony and pain. If we know that something is being done, then we also need to be briefed because if you watched the television, like the CNN or BBC, it is believed that we are not being briefed and that is a bigger problem that must be resolved as quickly as possible.

“Once more, I want to appeal to you, we will remain prayerful; we will remain with you and we share this pain you are going through with you as mothers, sisters, wives, and brothers. Please bear with us as legislators and I beg those involved.

• CONCERNED MO THERS: MOTHERS:

• MO THERS FOR JON ATHAN: MOTHERS JONA

From Faith Yahaya, Grace Obike and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

“Let me assure you that we will fight it the way that we ought to fight and if Boko Hraam has declared war on the nation, we must muster all our resources because this is a war and there is no question of mincing words about it anymore. We will work with you and we get to a logical conclusion at the earliest possible time.

“Once more, I want to on behalf of the legislators sympathise with you and apologise that this is taking too long but from now onwards, we are going to work 24 hours a day to make sure this matter is resolbved. Please bear with us and please know that we are with you.”

Falana: we must get concrete result Lagos lawyer Mr Femi Falana also spoke at the rally.

His words: “Well, I’m a father. I’m a concerned Nigerian and these daughters that have been kidnapped, abducted are our children. In the African tradition, you are your brother’s or sister’s keeper and that I why I’m here.

“Injustice to one is injustice to all.

We are all concerned. We are all worried. It is not an entirely women affair; the initiative has been taken by women but there are men who feel concerned that this protest is a collective rejection of the brutality meted on the children who are currently in the custody of criminals.

“Until we can get concrete result, we can’t see the efforts here. In fact, this morning, very disappointing that Nigerians are asked to be praying, that is a private affairs of Nigerians and the duty of the government is to inform us, to tell us what concrete efforts are being made to rescue this children from the custody of criminals.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

3

CHIBOK ABDUCTION

work 24 hours to rescue abducted girls News Analysis

O

Women protesting over the abducted Chibok girls

Women begging Jonathan to seek second term

PHOTO: NAN

PHOTO: NAN

A tale of two rallies

NE group was all women. The other had a few men. Each group was marching for a cause inAbuja. But the causes for which they were protesting were at variance. The concern of the all-women group was the need for the Goodluck Jonathan administration to rescue the 234 school girls snatched from their hostel in Chibok, Borno State by members of Boko Haram.

The group, which was joined by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, was at the National Assembly and was addressed by the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate, who assured them that they felt their pains and would mount pressure on the Presidency to get the girls rescued. Despite the rain, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha addressed the women.

Mark, who acted as the spokesperson, told the women that the Senate was concerned about the development. He said this was why the Senate dedicated its plenary on Tuesday to the matter. He said the country had reached a stage where it could no longer tolerate the insurgents and must take the battle to them.

He added: “ We share with you in your pain and we will work with all arms of government to make sure our children are brought back in the earliest time possible.”

Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, who is attending the National Conference, said:

By Olukorede Yishau

“In the African tradition, you are your brother’s or sister’s keeper and that is why I am here”.

The other rally was by a group campaigning for Dr Goodluck Jonathan and its concern— at this time when all are concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the country and all seek the return of the abducted girls— is to plead with Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015, a development seen by observers as shameful.

To add salt to injury, the group downplayed the seriousness of the Nyanya bombing by bearing a banner that the people of Nyanya are supporting Jonathan for 2015.

The missing girls could have been anybody’s daughters, including those of the women who bore placards begging Jonathan to run and declaring him the best that has ever happened to the country.

Perhaps aware of the queer nature of their campaign, they never bothered to seek audience with the National Assembly like the other group did.

Observers say the women who partook in the Jonathan-must-run rally behaved as though there was nothing wrong with the abduction of the girls and the general insecurity in the land. For them, these are two rallies: one for a good cause and the other for a shameful cause, which should be condemned by all and sundry.

‘Military needs Special Task Force to rescue girls’

Students to Fed Govt: publish pictures of abducted girls

A

SPECIAL Task Force is needed to rescue the over 200 girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS),Chibok, Borno State on April 15, a security expert and President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has said.

Ekhomu, in a statement, suggested that the task force which, he said, should be headed by “an intelligent, no-nonsense military officer of the rank of one star general” should have Intelligence officers, police detectives and Borno vigilance youth group or “civilian JTF” as members.

He said: “The task force should also include psychologists to conduct behavioral profiling and private security experts o conduct risk assessments.”

Ekhomu said to rescue the girls, they first have to be found. Therefore, the detective credentials of the task force will be important in the search. He said: “It’s only after they have been found that they can then be rescued, and this is the function of good detective work.”

He said the rescue of the girls would be a testimony of the capability of Nigeria’s security forces to meet security threats. He said by setting up the task force, the military would signal that it genuinely cares about solving the riddle of the kidnapped girls.

According to Ekhomu, the seizure of over 200 girls was not an event that could be concealed in a “match box”.

•Tambuwal (right) receiving a document from the protesters... yesterday. With him are Mark and Ihedioha.

PHOTO: NAN

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

He said based upon existing bilateral ties, the Federal Government could obtain satellite imagery of the Chibok area in the hours following the attack on the school. He said the Sahel vegetation in the Sambisa Game Forest did not provide much cover for people.

According to the security expert, satellite imagery could also be purchased from private U.S. firms for a diligent search for the girls. He said the rescue of abducted persons is often the product of diligent investigation.

Ekhomu advised the military to urgently provide hotlines for information about the girls. He said that based upon previous patterns of kidnap by Boko Haram, some of the abductors would be members of the local community.

He called for the announcement of N5million reward for information leading to the rescue of each girl.

He said: “Reward money often brings out information.”

Ekhomu advised the Task Force to provide daily press briefings to the public to correct the impression that nothing was being done to rescue the

girls. He said the task force should draw on military and intelligence resources as needed in the operational phase.

Ekhomu appealed to the parents and relations of the abducted students to cooperate with the ChibokSpecial Task Force in the search for the students.

Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit has urged Federal Government to publish photographs of the abducted girls.

The students’ body believes it will aid the search of the girls.

MSSN Amir Kaamil Kalejaiye

urged security agencies to go the extra mile in making sure that insecurity is brought to a bearable level.

Kalejaiye said: “We feel and share the pains parents of these future leaders are going through, we pray that almighty Allah protect them wherever they are and safeguard them back home. This incident has demonstrated the barbarism in this group and the need for everyone to take personal security serious as well as be vigilant.

The use of modern security surveillance equipment we believe will go a long way in foiling these heinous and dastardly acts.”

He condemned the activities of the Boko Haram, saying it can’t understand the ascription of killings of innocent people in the name of religious conviction.

“We condemn these killings, abductions and all forms of attack on citizens. We unequivocally condemn its perpetrators. Islam is a religion of peace and does not in any way have a confluence with killing, bombing, kidnapping and forcing people of other faiths into its fold.

“If these were the methods used by Prophet Muhammad to invite people to Islam, it would not have over one billion adherents worldwide,” he said.

Kalejaiye reiterated that the Boko Haram has never been and will never be an Islamic group as long as its modus operandi entails killing of innocent people.

He stated that the agenda of Boko Haram is only clear to its members and sponsors and prayed that sooner those behind it will be exposed.

“Those who are trying to paint Islam bad and black will meet their waterloo very soon,” he prayed.

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

NEWS Why Gulak was sacked, by Mu’azu

P

•Chairman of Dangote Group Aliko Dangote (second left); Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (second right); with the minister’s husband Dr. Ikemba Iweala (right) and Halima Dangote during the Time 100 Gala in New York when Okonjo-Iweala and Dangote were honoured after being named among Most Influential 100 People in the World

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Women groups protest in Ibadan

OMEN protested yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over the 234 Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who were abducted on April 15.

The women wept as they marched through the metropolis in torn dresses. They carried placards.

Some of the inscriptions on their placards are: “Rescue

I

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

our girls now”; “Enough of abduction”; “No to Boko Haram”; “Federal Government what are you doing”; “We call for an end to this abduction now”.

The women marched on the police headquarters where Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Indabbawa addressed them.

Princess Adetona, Presi-

dent of the National Council of Women Societies(NCWS), said the women decided to speak out their minds because the lives of the children are at stake, adding that the longer it takes to rescue the girls, the greater the danger they are exposed to.

“We call for the urgent and complete end to the politisation of the nation’s security and for the security agencies to secure the lives of the most

vulnerable and most precious resources :our children.”

“These young girls are daughters, sisters, nieces and, as Nigerians and human beings, we join them in their anguish and distress. We want them back, safe in their homes where they belong.”

One of leaders of the women groups, Mrs Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, wondered why the government had Continued on page 67

Govt vows to rescue abducted girls

N what appears a response to the increasing agitation for action by government on the abduction of the 234 school girls, Minister of Interior Abba Moro, said yesterday that everything would be done to bring back the girls.

Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

also yesterday assured that the military would not disappoint Nigerians by getting back the girls. He however said their efforts might be hampered because they cannot use force so to secure their release.

The minister spoke while

receiving a United Kingdom (U.K) delegation led by Mr. Hugh Ind. Moro said: “The government is worried about this issue of terrorism that resulted in the kidnapping of secondary school girls. We know what the parents are passing through and we will do whatever it takes to bring

them home.

“The government will not relent and will not be distracted by the activities of terrorists in our desire to create an enabling environment to attract foreign investors to the country.”

The minister commended the U.K for suspending its Continued on page 67

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s erstwhile political adviser Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, was sacked for his arrogance and irrational disposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Mu’azu said yesterday.

Mu’azu spoke in Abuja while hosting some members of the Akwa Ibom State PDP executive committee.

The party chair said he had agreed with the President that there would be no room for arrogant officials in the cabinet, adding that they must remain focused and committed to retain their positions.

Gulak was sacked on Tuesday without the Presidency stating reasons for the action.

Gulak was in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, last week to inaugurate the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) with a faction of the PDP. Governor Godswill Akpabio objected to Gulak’s action,

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

saying he was not informed of the visit by the ex-presidential aide. The governor also protested that Gulak met with party chieftains who were opposed to his administration.

He urged the President to punish Gulak.

Mu’azu told the delegation that no contestant for a political office would be given automatic ticket, stressing that he was in no position to help anybody secure automatic ticket.

The chairman of Akwa Ibom PDP, Chief Paul Ekpo, had earlier sought the party’s endorsement of the decision of the state’s chapter to pick the governorship candidate from the Eket Senatorial District.

The state chapter of the party has been polarised by Akpabio’s decision to zone the 2015 governorship ticket to the Eket Senatorial District.

National Conference extended for six weeks Continued from page 1

The production and signing of the final report will

be between July 28 and 31.

No reason was given for the extension of the conference, but some delegates said “we still have a lot of areas uncovered”.

Speaking on the six-week extension, a former Chairman of PUNCH Nig. Ltd. and delegate at the Conference, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, observed that four weeks were proposed for drafting of the report.

He advised that no delegates should be paid for the four weeks designed for drafting the report since it is only the secretariat that will be involved.

Ogunshola said: “I have observed that four weeks of the proposed extension is

for drafting of conference report which is from June 16 to July 14.

“June 16 to July 14 is for drafting of the conference report. During that period, there should be no payment to delegates since it is the secretariat that will be involved in the drafting of the report”, he added.

Also yesterday, the leadership of labour unions protested the move by the Conference to take Minimum Wage and Labour from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

The National Conference Committee on Devolution of Power made the recommendation.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led Continued on page 67

Protests in Abuja, Ibadan over abducted school girls Continued from page 1

ed around 3.30pm, was led by a tearful former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, human rights activists Mariam Uwais and Saudatu Sani, among other leaders of various civil society groups.

The Co-ordinator of the Human Rights Agenda Network, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the reading from Chibok was that all Nigerians, including the military and the security personnel, “are at great risk of being consumed by the aggression of those who have ambushed the peace and security of peace and prosperity of Nigerians”.

She added that the trend of conflicting information about the exact number of girls who are still missing and even the operations are regrettable.

The group lamented that the fact that no group had come out to claim responsibilty for the abduction of the girls has made it disturbing, stressing that this made it imperative for Nigerians to demand that those with the responsibilty for the safety of all Nigerians should find and return the girls to their parents.

The women raised some questions, including: “Where are our daughters and when will they be brought back

N

Military opens links with Cameroon, Chad

IGERIA is seeking the co-operation of Cameroon and Chad to find the 234 girls abducted from their hostel in Chibok, Borno State.

The Defence Headquarters has opened contact with military authorities in the two countries, The Nation learnt last night.

Either the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, or the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, will visit Cameroon and Chad this week as part of efforts to rescue the girls, who were kidnapped by suspected Boko Garam gunmen.

The Military Intelligence is probing the alleged movement of the girls to the two Francophone countries – as alleged by the Chibok Elders Forum. But the elders, a source said, are yet to provide “concrete” evidence to the military on how the girls were relocated to Camehome? How is it possible in the age of drones, google maps and aerial surveillance that over 200 girls will vanish without a trace?” “Is this suggestive of the weaknesses of security operations covering soft targets, such as schools even after clear indications of their vulnerability?

“Why was protection for our children in the Northeast not intensified even after the devastation and pain of the 59 innocent children murdered in FGC Buni Yadi on February

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

roon and Chad.

A source said: “This DHQ’s collaboration with Cameroon and Chad will enable the nation to determine whether the girls have been relocated to the two nations or they are still being kept in Nigeria by Boko Haram.

“We need to get a status report to assist our operations. If the girls are indeed in the two countries, we will seek their assistance to rescue them.

“But if the girls are still held hostage in our territory, we will intensify our operations to rescue them.

“This outreach is normal and it will involve intelligence sharing since we are all neighbours. We have had cause to collaborate in the past.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “It has become compelling to open contact with these two countries

25, 2014?

“How is it that security is not upgraded around institutions even when warnings of potential threat or imminent aggressions are issued?”

“What is the rational explanation that in a location in Borno State under the State of Emergency, four trucks and numerous motor bikes can deploy, move in a convoy, unleash terror on the school at Chibok and then flee with over 200 girls to a location yet to be determined?”

because the Chibok Elders Forum has not provided concrete evidence to confirm its claim that the girls have been taken ‘abroad’.

“For them to make such a claim means that they had links with either the abductors or sources who witnessed the movement of the girls.

“Yet, they have not been able to provide clues which could guide the military.”

The Director of Defence Information, Gen. Chris Olukolade, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “We are still making efforts to locate and rescue the school girls.

“Even though we have been getting misleading information on the whereabouts of the girls, we have paid attention to every clue made available to us.

“The troops are working round the clock to get positive results.”

Mrs. Ezekwesili said: “It began to look as if we as Nigerians are totally without empathy and I know that those of you who have turned out here are the symbol of the past of our countries that our country is not a country of people that are careless about their fellow human beings” “We are so frustrated at the fact that 234 of our children would get missing and there is actually no coherent search and rescue going on concerning them…

“Our leadership must show a presence of mind concerning the situation that will have with our daughters. How many of you saw the Chibok mothers on news?

Isn’t that heart breaking?

They felt that they have been abandoned by not just the government but by all of us; is it a good thing for a citizen to feel that way.”

She went on: “We want to compel the right type of momentum for the search and the discovery of those children

•Chief of Defence Staff Badeh

and bringing them back. We don’t care about any stories on this. There must be concerted effort to bring back our girls.

If one Nigeria girl is missing, it would be all of us that are missing, let alone 234 Nigerian girls missing.”

Senate President David Mark, Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha defied the heavy rainfall to receive the women at the outer gate of the National Assembly.

Continued on page 67

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THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

5

NEWS

INEC to deploy card readers in Ekiti, Osun

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HE military is still batttling to change negative public perceptions about it, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Bonny Cantonment, Victoria Island, Co John Agim said yesterday.

He said soldiers did not fare better during military regimes.

“The perception should change that we enjoyed it (military coups),” he said.

Agim, who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to The Nation’s headquarters in Lagos, said military officers who served in government “saw themselves as different” from other officers.

He was received by Editorial Board Chairman Sam Omatseye, Online Editor Lekan Otufodunrin, Director of Training Soji Omotunde and Editorial Board member Mobolaji Sanusi.

Military juntas, Agim added, adversely affected soldiers’ relationship with the public, creating mistrust and loss of friendships.

Agim said the military is still battling to change negative perceptions, and that NASPRI was set up in 2010 to help improve military-civilian relationship.

The school, he said, has

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

‘Military battling to change negative perceptions’ •From left: Sergeant Asuqwo Igwoh, Liasion Officer Captain Applonia Arele, Administrative Officer, Captain Sydney Mbaneme, Senior Instructor, Major Emmanuel Adeniyi, Chief Instructor, Lieut-Col Tukur Gasau, Deputy Commandant, Colonel John Agim, PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS Commandant during the visit...yesterday.

By Nneka Nwaneri and Basirat Braimah

trained over 700 officers to manage information and run military communication departments nationwide, including those of the Navy and Air Force.

“Training the military in specialised courses makes them

useful to the civil community and also empowers them with skills to assist them afterwards,” he said.

Agim said a new culture is being inculcated in officers.

“We tell them to subjugate themselves to civil authority.

We respect the Constitution because that is where we get

out powers from,” he said.

NASPRI, Agim said, intends to get other paramilitary agencies and civilians on its programmes “to create understanding.”

“Relationship can be best be sustained interpersonally; that is why we are here to appreciate the support The Nation has ren-

dered over time,” Agim said.

He was accompanied by Deputy Commandant Lt. Col. Tukur Gusau; Chief Instructor Major Emmanuel Adeniyi; Senior Instructor Captain Sydney Mbaneme, Administration Officer Captain Apollonia Anele and Liaison Officer Sgt. Asuquo Iqwoh.

Committee recommends scrapping of Senate in modified presidential system

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•North, South delegates agree on resource control

HE National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government is seeking the elimination of the Senate.

The delegates, who adopted and recommended a modified Presidential system of government for the country, said the Senate was not only a waste on the resources of the country but has not succeeded in performing its legislative duties to Nigerians effectively.

The decision followed extensive debate on the recommendations of the 11-member sub-committee chaired by AVM Mohammed Mukhtar.

The sub-committee noted that the need to evolve a novel system of government that would be beneficial to Nigerians had became apparent.

After two adjournments and extended time, the Committee, co-chaired by Gen. Ike Nwachukwu and Hon Mohammed Kumaila, agreed and recommended that there should be a President that has one constituency, which is Nigeria.

After the second adjournment with deliberation extending past the official 6.00pm to 7.15pm, 15 mem-

T

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

bers sat and adopted the recommendations.

The proposed modified Presidential system also provided that the President would run for the office on a joint ticket with a Vice-President.

It was also recommended that there shall be a Vice-President that would be selected from the legislature by the President.

The President would have full responsibility for his government with full right to select his cabinet from the legislature.

It was recommended that the President would select not more than 30 per cent from outside the legislature, that would take care of technocrats and other competences.

The Committee also recommended a novel feature of a quarterly question time by the President before the legislature.

In the event that the office of the President becomes vacant, it was recommended that the Vice President be sworn in as Acting President within 90 days for a new President to be elected.

The Committee also rec-

ommended the recognition of the principle of rotation of political offices by the constitution.

According to the members, the situation in the country justifies the principle to address perceived and real injustice in political appointments.

Unicameral legislature, of proportion representation to guarantee minority and special rights on full time basis was also recommended.

The delegates opined that the current system encourages too much waste of government resources.

The Committee said its decision was based on the need to reduce the cost of the Senate on government, as well as its inability to be thorough in some of its responsibilities like the confirmation of President nominees for public offices.

The Committee recommends no limit on number of terms a legislator can be reelected, it was suggested.

Furthermore, it was also recommended that election into the legislature should be staggered to disallow vacuum at any point in time.

The Committee urged its members to consider for de-

liberation the establishment of an agency that would be responsible for screening prospective public officer.

The agency, according to the sub-Committee that could be named ‘National Conscience and Integrity Committee/Commission’ would seek to address frictions that comes with appointment of certain key officers by the President.

National Conference Committee on Devolution of Power resolved to retain Mines and Minerals, including oil fields, geological surveys and natural gas on the Exclusive Legislative List of the federation.

The controversial resolution was with a proviso that “the government of states where the mining activities take place shall be involved in matters relating thereto.”

The Co-Chairman of the Committee, Obong Victor Attah, stated this after closed session of the Committee.

Attah said: “If we have moved Item 39 of the Constitution to the Concurrent List, it would have suggested that a state could issue license for mining and for oil exploration, which is not correct at least by the provision of the Constitution as we have it today.

•National Conference Chair Justice Idris Kutigi

“It was very difficult one to resolve but we finally resolved that it must remain in the Exclusive List.

“But because there were complaints, several complaints of the need to diversify the economy, there was a decision that we must find a way of getting states some how involved in the processes of exploitation of mineral resources.

“So, we resolved that while the Item remains in the Exclusive List, we will redefine what is there.

“We resolved that all minerals including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas remain in the Exclusive List provided that (a) “the Government of States where the mining activities take place shall be involved in matters relating thereto.” (b) “The government of the Federation shall make special grants to develop mines and minerals in states where such resources are undeveloped.”

House of Reps wades into ASUP/ Fed Govt crisis

HE House of Representatives yesterday waded into the over ten-months old rift between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP).

The resolution of the House came barely 24 hours after the protest staged by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

(COEASU) in Abuja.

The unions, during the protest, alleged that teh government was unwilling to resolve the strike.

The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by a member, Hon. Raphael

Nnanna Igbokwe (PDP-Imo) on the need for the House to intervene in the issue by interacting with both the Federal and the striking unions.

Igbokwe said there is danger in the fact that the affected students have been staying at home.

He said: “It is worrisome that the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education have been shut down for ten months, more so that

ASUP and COEASU began their agitation even before the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on their strike.”

The lawmaker said the House tried intervening in the crisis preciously, but expressed regrets that the agitations of the unions have not been attended to.

“The continuous closure of these institutions is inimical to the well-being of our society,”

he said.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Rose Okoh ( PDP-Cross River), while speaking, faulted the Federal Government for not implementing the agreements reached between both parties.

The lawmaker, who partook in earlier resolution of the ASUU crisis, said the agitations of ASUP-COEASU were not well handled.

HE Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jeg has said card readers will be deployed in the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and as well as the 2015 general elections.

He said the measure would ensure free, fair and credible polls.

Besides, Jega said the commission would increase polling units across the country from 120,000 to 150,000.

The INEC boss spoke at a workshop with National Publicity Secretaries and Deputy National Publicity Secretaries of Political Parties on the optimisation of the Voter Register, Continuous Voter Registration and Permanent Voters’ Cards.

Jega, who was representated by Dr. Ishmael Igbani, said the electoral commission would use card readers to interpreted the PVCs at the elections.

He said: “In line with its legal mandate, the commission is currently in the process of printing the permanent voters’ cards for voters. The PVCs have embedded electronic chips containing the personal information and fingerprints details of the voters and will be used to identify and authenticate the voters at the polling unit on election day through the planned deployment of handheld card readers.”

Igbani noted that the commission would commence the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the country from the end of May this year.

This, he said will “enable all eligible voters who have turned 18 years of age since last general elections in 2011 and those who, for one reason or the other, did not register during the last exercise.”

INEC National Commissioner, Amina Bala Zakari, said the workshop was to avail the parties of the“modalities for the forthcoming nationwide CVR as well as update you on the Permanent Voters’ Cards production and distribution and their planned use, along with card readers in the 2015 general elections”.

Denmark stops adoption from Nigeria

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ENMARK has suspended adoptions from Nigeria.

“I have decided to suspend all adoption from Nigeria with immediate effect,” Denmark’s minister for children tweeted.

“We must do everything we can to protect the children and to give the families peace of mind,” he said in a separate statement.

The minister, Manu Sareen, said he had taken the decision after the Danish regulator, the National Social Appeals Board, said it was “no longer justifiable to adopt children from the country”.

The board said it was difficult to ensure a lawful and ethical adoption process from Nigeria, but added that couples who had been matched with a child would not be affected by the ban.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

NEWS WORKERS’ DAY APC to workers: keep hope alive

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerian workers to remain strong and keep hope alive, despite the prevailing situation that has led to loss of jobs or the reduction of workers’ pay cheque amid rising cost of living.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to mark today’s Workers’ Day, the party said the past 12 months had been particularly challenging for Nigerian workers because of worsening social infrastructure, especially the dwindling power supply, which has affected production and forced many companies to downsize or relocate to neighbouring countries.

It noted that the prevailing insecurity in the country had forced many to relocate to safer climes, with the attendant loss of jobs; drastically curtailed workers’ productive abilities and also reduced the inflow of foreign investments, which could have led to the creation of more jobs.

APC said: “On this occasion

By Olamilekan Andu

of the International Workers’ Day, we celebrate Nigerian workers and hail their patriotism and resilience in the face of tough challenges resulting from the inability of the Federal Government to lift the economy, curb rising unemployment and improve the security and welfare of workers.

“We urge them not to be disenchanted by the seeminglyhopeless situation across the country, as better days are definitely ahead.”

The party advised organised labour to continue to pressure governments at all levels to improve the work environment for their members, “because they constitute the bulwark of the nation’s economy”.

It also urged labour not to rest until all those who are willing and able to work have been provided with gainful employment, “instead of the harvest of deaths and outright extortion that job seekers were recently subjected to in the name of employment by a government agency”.

Senate seeks closer collaboration with NCC From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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HE Senate yesterday called for a closer working relationship between Nigerian workers and the National Assembly.

It took the position after an exhaustive deliberation on a motion by the Chairman of the Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.

The senator recommended, among others, that workers be commended for their contributions to nation-building as they celebrate Workers’ Day today.

He said artisans and other categories of workers in the public and private sectors have been making sacrifices with patriotic zeal to the nation’s growth.

Senate President David Mark hailed Nigerian workers for their sacrifices to nation-building.

He noted that workers were working under difficult circumstances.

The Senate president said the Legislature was considering opening a seamless communication channel with the workers.

Mark said: “We thank Nigerian workers because they are doing their best in a rather difficult environment and in difficult circumstances.

“We ask them to continue to make sacrifices. The sacrifices they make will not be in vain.

“But as legislators at the federal level, we have a major responsibility to ensure that we create a conducive environment for them to work by the laws that we make, by the motions that we take on the floor here.”

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Atiku hails sacrifices amid tough times

ORMER Vice-President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar has extolled the patriotism, sacrifices and unbroken faith of Nigerian workers in the face of tough times.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media office on today’s Workers’ Day celebration, the former vice-president said workers are the greatest assets of every nation.

He said the human capital is

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

the pivot around which development revolves.

Atiku acknowledged the perseverance and the indomitable spirit of Nigerian workers in the face of grim and tough challenges of economic survival.

The former vice-president noted that the weakened purchasing power of the workers might naturally affect morale, but urged them not to lose hope.

Osun APC congratulates workers

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HE Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the state’s workers for ensuring labour-friendliness with the Rauf Aregbesola administration.

In its May Day message to the workers and leaders of labour unions, the party, through its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said few states have created an en-

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

abling environment for mutually beneficial engagement between the employer and the employee.

Osun APC said: “Today, Aregbesola has raised the standard for workers’ financial security by making it possible for them to access 25 per cent of their salaries even when there is delay in the payment of allocation from Abuja.”

Glo greets workers

IGERIA’S national telecoms carrier, Globacom, has greeted Nigerian workers as they celebrate Workers’ Day today.

The telecommunications giant urged them to continue to amplify the virtues of hard work and excellence in their duties.

In a solidarity message by its Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohamed Jameel, Globacom hailed the resilience of the workers, despite daunting odds.

It said: “We salute workers on this auspicious ceremony and commend them for the hard work, commitment, resourcefulness and industry which have continued to grow economies of nations.”

•From left: Tambuwal; Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu; Vice-President Namadi Sambo and General Babangia during the third-day prayers for the vice-president’s brother, the late Capt Yusuf Sambo, in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Tambuwal, Babangida, Ribadu, others seek more prayers for Nigeria

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OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida called yesterday for more prayers for the unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

Gen. Babangida addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja at the end of the fidda'u for the late Captain Yusuf Sabo Sambo, the younger brother to Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Capt Sambo died on Sunday in an accident in Abuja.

Babangida, who assumed the role of the chief mourner, expressed gratitude to Nigerians for the love they showered on the family of the deceased.

The former military leader noted that every life must taste death, even though Almighty Allah, in His wisdom, would not reveal to humans how they would die.

•Three-day prayer for VP’s brother Yusuf From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Gen. Babangida's late wife, Maryam, was the elder sister to the late Capt Sambo's wife.

The former leader also prayed Allah to grant the vice-president the gratitude to bear the loss and the ability to shoulder the load left behind by his younger brother.

He also prayed God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Tambuwal said continuous prayers would engender peace, which would bring even development to the country.

Those who are saddled with leadership responsibilities, he said, must ensure that they leave good legacies that would stand the test of time.

The Speaker said leaders should ensure that they dis-

charge their responsibilities with the fear of God, adding that this is the only way they would be remembered when they are gone.

Ustaz Musa Mohammed, the Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, who led the opening prayers, called for prayers for the family of the deceased and the nation.

The Muslim scholar said this was especially necessary because of the security challenges facing the nation.

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC,) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and a former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Rufai Alkali, also said the nation needed more prayers to stabilise.

Ribadu noted that the country was passing through a trying moment, which re-

quired everyone's prayers.

The former anti-graft chief said the outpouring of emotions and sentiments that followed the death of Capt Sabo was an indication that he lived a good life.

Ribadu urged the vice-president and the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that their bread winner left a good legacy.

Governors at the occasion included Idris Wada (Kogi), Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (Kaduna).

Also there were PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu'azu; Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar and former IGP Gambo Jimeta.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, led other members of the cabinet to the occasion.

Ijaw youths flay North’s delegates over resource control

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NIGER Delta-based group, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, has said the position of northern delegates on resource control at the National Conference is provocative and an invitation to anarchy.

The leadership of the youths expressed anger after perusing a document reportedly prepared for northern delegates by their governors, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.

The document, entitled: Key Issues Before the Northern Delegates to the 2014 National Conference, is sub-titled: Northern Nigeria: The Backbone and Strength of Nigeria.

It rejected the demand for resource control.

The document also called for the reduction of the 13 per cent derivation to five per cent - for only onshore oil - and the scrapping of the amnesty programme for former Niger Delta militants.

But in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Mr Eric Omare, IYC kicked against the North’s position.

The group described the document as provocative, insulting, inciting and unpatriotic.

It said the document was deliberately prepared to instigate the people of the Niger Delta to

•‘It’s invitation to anarchy’ From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

take up arms against the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan.

IYC alleged that some northern leaders wanted to achieve their “hidden agenda” of making Nigeria ungovernable for Dr Jonathan with the document.

The group condemned the consistent opposition of some northern delegates to Niger Delta’s de-

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mand for resource control.

It insisted that the people of the region retained the right to the ownership of oil and gas found in their land.

IYC said: “The insistence of northerners to the ownership of oil found in the Niger Delta, without thinking of any creative means of generating resources to run their states, is a classic demonstration of poor leadership and lack of initiative. There

are natural resources which can be exploited to generate revenue in the North.”

The group also said there was no place in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in Article 76 that stipulated that the resources found in the territorial waters and continental shelves belonged to the central government.

It added that the United Nations law did not deal with ownership of hydrocarbon resources between the central government and its federating units.

Reps pass Pension Reform Bill

HE House of Representatives yesterday passed the Pension Reform Act 2013, after its consideration on the floor of the House.

The Act, according to its explanatory memorandum "repeals the Pension Reform Act, 2004, and enacts the Pension Reform Act, 2013, to continue to govern and regulate the administration of the uniform contributory pension scheme for both the public and private sectors in Nigeria and for matters co netted therewith".

The objectives of the legislation, as set out in the new bill, include to: "establish a uniform set of rules, regulations and standards for the administration and payments of retirement benefits for the public service of the federation, the public service of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the public service of the state governments, the public service of the local government areas and the private sector".

Other purposes of the Act include to: "make provision for the smooth operations of the contributory pension scheme".

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

The Act will also "ensure that every person who worked in either the public service of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), states and local governments or the private sector receives his retirement benefits as and when due".

The new bill, will "assist improvident individuals by ensuring that they save in order to cater for their livelihood during old age".

The new bill, which has 121 clauses and 15 sections, was passed after the Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Ibrahim Bawa Kamba, moved for the consideration of the report of his committee on the bill, titled: "A Bill for An act to Repeal the Pension Reform Act, No2 of 2004 and Re- enact the Pension Reform Act, 2013 to make Provision for Contributory Pensions Scheme and for Other Connected Matters."

The bill retains the minimum of eight per cent monthly contribution of salary by employees into the scheme but stipulates a minimum of 10 per cent monthly by the employer.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

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NEWS Mob burns three kidnap suspects in Ogun From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HREE suspected kidnappers were yesterday set ablaze by a mob on Ijoko road in Ijoko- Ota, AdoOdo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun state.

It was learnt that the suspects, who operated in a taxi, picked up a woman, Oluwole Elizabeth, around Sona Brewery in Sango Ota. Instead of going towards Ewekoro, the woman’s destination, the driver drove to Gas Line, Ijoko.

When she told the driver to stop and he refused, Elizabeth screamed for help and attracted the attention of passers by.

Some youths gave the taxi a hot chase and forced the driver to stop.

The suspects tried to escape, but were beaten up and set ablaze.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspects were dead when policemen arrived on the scene.

Adejobi said: “It was a heavy inferno. They put tyres on the suspects and set them ablaze. We have evacuated their ashes. We are still investigating the matter. We condemn jungle justice. People should desist from it.”

In Abeokuta, the state capital, a woman accused of attempting to kidnap a baby was almost killed on Tuesday.

Favour Okoye was beaten into unconsciousness by a mob at Totoro. She was rescued by operatives of the Nigeria security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Anambra Tribunal: INEC closes case

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday closed its case at the Anambra State Elections Petitions tribunal without calling a witness.

Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, leading other counsel for INEC, tendered three sets of documents, comprising results sheets and declaration of candidate’s forms EC 8C, EC8D as well as EC8E. He said INEC was closing its case without calling a witness.

Twenty six witnesses listed by INEC to testify, were present in court yesterday.

Among them were INEC’s state Director of Operations Mr Okon Ewa and the Electoral Officer for Anambra East, Mr. Nsofor, who was in charge of Otuocha

•Obidigbo, Nwoye, PDP reopen case against Obiano From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Ward I. Chief Emeka Ngige, appearing for All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Chris Ngige told reporters that ‘’the implication of the forfeiture by INEC of the right to call witnesses was that the witnesses’ depositions filed in respect of INEC would be discountenanced.’’

While addressing the three-man tribunal, headed

by Justice Ishaq Bello, Chief Awomolo said “we shall rely on the documents we have tendered and the information during the cross-examination of witnesses called by the petitioners for our defence.”

The session yesterday witnessed protracted infor-

mal consultations among senior defence lawyers.

The defence attorneys were Onyechi Ikpeazu, Ken Mozie and Emeka Anaenugwu for Governor Willie Obiano.

Others were Osita Nnadi for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Chief Awomolo.

Meanwhile, Dr Chike Ibidigbo, of APGA reopened his case.

Obidigbo tendered a certified True Copy of the Oluwakemi/Zainab Street Junction Registration Centre Voter Register, in Ifako/ Soluyi Registration Area of Kosofe Local Government in Lagos State to show that Obiano was still a registered voter in Lagos.

Ngige had tendered the

same document in furtherance of his own petition.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Comrade Tony Nwoye, the PDP candidate also included the certified exhibits, admitted in Ngige’s case as Exhibit P.424.

Under cross examination yesterday, Obidigbo said ‘’INEC was perfect’’ when Awomolo asked if INEC had ever made any mistake known to him.

Obidigbo denied any knowledge or awareness of a transfer of voter information for Obiano from Lagos to Anambra State.

Following Obidigbo’s reclosure of his case, the tribunal adjusted its date for adoption for final addresses to Friday and fixed next Monday for Obiano to open his case.

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UDGE at an Igboukwu Customary Court in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mrs Chinelo Egili, yesterday lamented over the high rate of divorce cases.

Mrs Egili said women must devise ways of keeping their marriage.

She spoke while presiding in a divorce case between Chizoba and Eze Samuel Ezekwo yesterday.

Ezekwo sued his wife for divorce over alleged an extra-marital affair.

The judge said the children of broken marriages usually bear the consequences.

She suspended the proceedings to allow the couple to settle the matter before the next adjourned date.

“We cannot be coming here to preside over family matters all the time. Let’s take law out of this, this court hates divorce, it is not right before God and man, we don’t like coming here all the time to talk about families wanting to separate.”

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HE Lagos and Ogun State Police commands have warned owners of abandoned and accident vehicles parked at Ilemba Hausa Ajangbadi, Onipanu and Ewekoro Police stations to remove them or lose them to members of the public two weeks after this publication.

The vehicles are 1.Bajaj tricycle QY783SMK, Nissan Sunny XC666FFF, Bajaj tricycle unregistered, Nissan Blue Bird, CQ182 SMK, Toyota Corolla KP 348KY; Mazda 323 AM873TTD, Range Rover LLD965, Mitsubishi RJ 239AAA and 40 motorcycles PUBLIC NOTICE

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Ultimatum for vehicle owners

Oyo police arrest highway robbers YO State Police command has arrested a notorious highway armed robber during their operation at Oyo /Ogbomoso axis over the week.

One Yemi Adeleke was arrested with others at large.

The State Police Commissioner. Mr Mohammed Indabbawa disclosed this to journalists yesterday at Eleyele headquarters of the police command stating that Adeleke was arrested with bullets wounds where he was hiding in the bush after a gun duel with police.

Indabbaw disclosed that a distress call was received from the officer in charge of Anti-robbery section of Kwara State police Command that a gang of four armed robbers had robbed a man at about 11.00 pm in Ilorin , the night guard of the man was shot and injured.

He said:”Information further said the man Toyota Highlander with registration number KJA 24f AXn laptops, handset and unspecified amount of money were taken away by the armed robbers and that the armed robbers were heading towards Oyo State”.

The Commissioner of Police added that based on the information officers in charge of Special Anti-robbery Squard(SARS), Oyo/ Ogbomoso, SP Olusola Aremu led two patrol teams to lay ambush for the robbers at Oyo/Ogbomoso express Road where they had an encounter with the armed robbers.

Judge laments high divorce cases

•Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris (second left) speaking at the yearly ministerial news conference to mark the third year, second term of Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja... yesterday. With him are Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba (second right), Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina (left) and Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Ronke Osho PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Ilaje/Ese-Odo: INEC suspends supplementary poll

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the supplementary election in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

It said the suspension was because of a pending court case.

The Labour Party (LP) approached the court, urging it to declare its candidate in the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency by-election, Mr. Kolade Ak-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

injo, winner.

INEC earlier declared the by-election inconclusive because election did not hold in some areas.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, INEC said: “In view of the pendency of the suit, the Commission has decided to suspend the conduct of the supplementary election until the

Pray for Nigeria, Gowon, Ekiti Deputy Governor urge Christians

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KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu has urged Christians to continue to pray for Nigeria, so that it can overcome its challenges.

In her remark on Tuesday at the opening of the 2014 National Board Meeting of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti.

Prof. Adelabu said Christians can correct the evils in the society by their lifestyle, urging them to obey God’s commandments.

She lauded the BSN’s ef-

forts to spread the gospel of Christ through the distribution of free Bible in indigenous languages.

BSN Grand Patron and former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) thanked philanthropists and governments for their donations and support.

He urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the nation’s challenges, but remain resolute to overcome them.

Gowon advised Nigerians to work for unity and peace in the country through prayers, words and action.

determination of the suit by the court.”

In the by-election, LP had 23,926 votes and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 22,628 votes, with a difference of 1,298 votes.

The number of registered voters in the 59 polling units where election did not hold or was cancelled is 28,952.

The difference in the number of votes polled by the leading candidate and the first the runner-up (1,298) is less than

the number of registered voters who did not vote at the election (28,952), representing over 16 per cent of the number of registered voters.

INEC declared the election inconclusive and decided to conduct a supplementary poll in the 59 polling units where election did not hold or was cancelled, but the LP approached the court, seeking the declaration of its candidate as winner.

NURTW calls for Ondo commissioner’s sack

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

EMBERS of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State are demanding the sack of the Commissioner for Transport, Nicholas Tofowomo.

The drivers, who marched yesterday from the popular Oba Adesida Road to the Governor’s Office, accused the commissioner of bias in the allocation of motor parks to road transport unions.

They queried the rationale behind the allocation of parks to members of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

Akure Taxi Drivers Union Chairman Ojo said it was wrong for the commissioner to give preference to RTEAN members, “who are no longer in operation in the country”.

The protest, which lasted for one hour, was cut short by security operatives, who ordered the drivers to leave the Governor’s Office. Tofowomo described the allegations as “baseless”.

He told reporters that the government had a right to allocate any park to any registered union.

I Mrs Felicia Oluyemi Adeyale of Block 220 flat 2 Amuwo-Odofin Housing Estate Mile2 Lagos notify the general public that I have applied to the LSDPC for its consent to change ownership of a property at Block 34b, Raji Razak Housing Estate, amuwo Odofin. Lagos which was originally allocated to Mrs Theresa Agboneni (née Aigbogun) I have made series of efforts to contact Mrs Theresa Agboneni (Née Aigbogun) the assignor from whom I brought the property, but all efforts have proved abortive. I hereby indemnify the corporation against any future claims that may arise if my application is granted, and undertake to pay cost of any dispute that may arise on same. LSDPC, Mrs Theresa Agboneni (Née Aigbogun ) and The General public, please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Mrs Felicia Oluyemi Adeyale of Block 220 flat 2 Amuwo-Odofin Housing Estate Mile2 Lagos notify the general public that I have applied to the LSDPC for its consent to change ownership of a property at Block 34a, Raji Razak Housing Estate, Amuwo Odofin. Lagos which was originally allocated to Mr Ehime James. I have made series of efforts to contact Mr Ehime James the assignor from whom I brought the property, but all efforts have proved abortive. I hereby indemnify the corporation against any future claims that may arise if my application is granted, and undertake to pay cost of any dispute that may arise on same.

LSDPC, Mrs Ehime James and The General public, please take note

PUBLIC NOTICE I Osagie Odiase,Female,a Nigerian of No 150 Awolowo Road ikoyi,Lagos hereby declare that I am a representative of Casi Properties Ltd of the same address.that the company was duly issued original letter of allocation and receipt of payment of Block 13 ,flat 13,14,19,20,23 and 24 of synshne estate,LSDPC Agege,Lagos by LSDPC.But these got lost in transit and all effort to locate them prove abortive.LSDPC and general public please take note.

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

8

NEWS

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18,000 women get N600 million loan in Osun

T a carnival-like ceremony, 18,000 women got yesterday a big financial push in Osun State.

It was all at the Freedom Park, where N600 million was shared out to them.

Some received as much as N40,000.

The occasion was an empowerment programme by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.

At the ceremony were the governor’s wife, Sherifat, and her counterparts from other Southwest states – Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) and Dame Abimbola Fashola (Lagos).

Presenting the cheques to beneficiaries, Aregbesola reiterated his administration’s commitment to eradicating

•Governor pledges more welfare packages poverty, adding that the programmes of any serious government must revolve around people’s welfare.

He said his administration collaborated with the Grooming Centre in Lagos to provide the loans and fast track the attainment of the poverty alleviation goal in his government’s Six-Point agenda.

The governor said if women were economically active but financially handicapped, they would not be able to contribute to the

economy’s growth, adding that that was why the government gave them the loan.

He said: “As a government, we have realised that development is incomplete without consideration for the human aspect. Ours is a combination of both infrastructural and human development and today’s ceremony is an attestation to this fact.

“We are committed to making our Omoluabi state a subject of envy among the comity of states and a place worthy of

living for all and sundry. We have extended the government’s presence across 30 local governments and the state’s area office and completed many capital projects, some of which are being commissioned. They are there for everyone to see.”

Aregbesola said his administration’s collaboration with various financial organisations has put smiles on the people’s faces, adding that the government will continue to implement laudable programmes.

Executive Director of the Grooming Loans Scheme Adesoji Tayo said the Grooming Centre is a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) founded seven years ago to provide financial services for economically active poor people.

He said with the centre’s assistance, women could engage in small trading and micro productive activities in many parts of the country.

Tayo said: “We operate from 259 branches with staff strength of 1,362. We have 374,145 clients. Just three weeks ago, we hit a billion

naira loan disbursement weekly. The programme is not a social welfare or government hand-out; it is not political settlement.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development and Community Affairs Kunle Ige said: “Available data have shown that majority of our women, especially in rural communities, are economically active but are constrained financially. That is why the current administration has committed so much to poverty alleviation interventions to reduce this ugly trend and make life more meaningful for the people.”

Lagos Island crisis: Police to shoot armed hoodlums

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

T

HE police have been directed to shoot any armed hoodlum found on Lagos Island.

The directive was given after an emergency Security Council meeting attended

by Lagos Island Local Government Chairman Kamal Salau-Bashua; Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Lion Building Oluwole Edger; traditional rulers and members of Community Development Associations, Neighborhood Watch groups and road transport unions.

In a statement after the meeting, Salau-Bashua said the directive became necessary to restore peace and order in the council.

He said the peace in the area was disrupted during the Easter celebration as hoodlums took the law in their hands, killing two people, injuring others and destroying properties worth several millions of naira.

Salau-Bashua said the state will not tolerate any form of violence.

Edger urged residents to alert security operatives of suspicious movements to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the council.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The general public is hereby informed that original C of O (Statutory Certificate) No 35/ 35/1170 with respect of Plot No 5 Ezebude Str. Ugwuagor Abakpa. File No LU/EN/1119 and PAL/3985 in the Min. of Lands. Registry Office at Enugu, property of Engr. Justine E. Anagbado of No 5 Ezebude Str. Abakpa, is missing from Intercontinental Bank now Access Bank Abakaliki. If found contact Engr.

John M. Okoli.

•A cross section of beneficiaries and some motorcyclists...yesterday.. Inset: Aregbesola (right) presenting a cheque to Mrs. Taiwo Ayodele.

No plan to sack workers, says Aregbesola

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has debunked former Head of Service Elder Segun Akinwusi’s allegation that the state government is owing N300 billion.

He described a claim that the government was planning to retrench workers as “false”.

In a statement by the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Aregbesola said it was dishonourable for Akinwusi, who he retained despite pressure to remove him at the on-

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LAGOS STATE EXAMINATIONS BOARD CONDUCTS 2014 SCREENING TEST

The Lagos State Examinations Board will conduct year 2014 screening test for admission into Model Colleges/Upgraded Junior Secondary with Boarding facilities at 28 designated centres across the state from 8am – 2pm.

Candidates are expected to be at their Examinations Centres by 8am with their Examination slip.

Date:- Saturday, May 3rd, 2014.

Signed: Lagos State Examinations Board

•’N300b debt allegation mischievous’

set of his administration, to peddle lies against him.

Akinwusi was the Head of Service when Aregbesola assumed office and the governor retained him.

The statement quoted the governor as speaking at the launch of the Civil Servant Smart Identity Card and Biometric Automation, tagged: “I am Alive”.

He said despite the reduction in Federal Allocation, his administration had been paying salary promptly and had no plan to sack workers.

Aregbesola said: Our administration is the most passionate and workersfriendly in the country. All we have done and are still doing is to better the condition of workers.

“Despite almost 40 per cent reduction in Federal Allocation to states since January, 2013, this administration

kept its entire work force. So, I do not know where the news that we want to retrench workers came from. It is a lie being told by our adversaries so that you can hate us.

“This administration has no plan to retrench workers.

Rather, it is committed to the welfare and progress of workers. I implore you not to listen to those pressurising you to hate us because they cannot do better than what we are doing.”

On the alleged N300 billion debt, the governor said Adewusi was just being mischievous, adding: “I am disappointed. He has reached the highest pedestal of his career and is behaving like an illiterate. Does he know the import of what he said?

If a state owes N300 billion, 10 per cent of that amount, which is N3 billion, would

be paid monthly to service the debt. If Osun is paying N3 billion to service a debt monthly, where does Adewusi think we will get the money to do the massive capital projects we are doing?

“Where does he think we will get the money to pay salaries? Despite the pressure mounted on me to remove him as HoS when I assumed office, out of compassion and my friendly posture, I retained him to complete his years in service before he retired.

“It is, therefore, absurd and dishonest for Adewusi to be spreading such unsubstantiated news about, claiming that Osun borrowed N300 billion.

This is far from the truth. We will leave him to his conscience if he has one. But then, calculated lies like his cannot and will not detract us from the good work we are doing.”

Three held for ‘illegal possession of arms’ in Ekiti

T

HREE men have been arrested in Ekiti State for “illegal possession of arms”.

They were said to be members of a political party.

Police Commissioner Felix Uyanna said yesterday that the suspects were arrested in Ikere-Ekiti around 6:30pm on

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Tuesday.

Uyanna said four rifles and assorted charms were recovered from them.

He said: “Some members of the public heard a gunshot and alerted the police. My men

raided the place and arrested the three men. They were about eight or nine that committed the offence and we will arrest the others soon. They will be charged to court alongside the people they mentioned as their sponsors when we conclude our investigations.”

Ajimobi protests fuel price hike From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi met yesterday with officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Ibadan, the state capital, to address the hike in petrol price at filling stations.

Owing to over two months fuel scarcity, filling stations in Ibadan sell petrol for between N120 and N140 per litre, as against the approved N97.

After closed door meetings at NNPC’s office in Apata and DPR’s office at Ring Road, Ajimobi, who was represented by Commissioner for Special Duties Azeez Bonuola, told reporters that the situation would normalise in a few days.

DPR’s Operations Manager Olakunle Ogunlana said his agency was working on resolving abnormal pricing by some marketers.

“Before long, fuel shortage and sharp practices by oil marketers will be a thing of the past. We will call to order the executives and members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).”

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

9

NEWS

EKITI 2014

•Dr Fayemi, addressing the people of AgbadoEkiti during his re-election campaign rally...on Tuesday PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Monarch: I didn’t absolve Fayose of Daramola’s murder •I’m solidly behind Fayemi

APC urges Ekiti people to shun agents of violence

T

From Sulaimon Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

HE Onijan of Ijan in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Samuel Oyewole Fadahunsi, has denied exonerating former Governor Ayo Fayose of complicity in the murder of Dr. Ayodeji Daramola.

The monarch made the clarification yesterday when he received Fayemi in his palace as part of his campaign tour.

Daramola was a World Bank consultant and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant before he was murdered on August 14, 2006.

The traditional ruler, who was quoted to have absolved Fayose of Daramola’s murder, said he could not have made the statement when the case is still in court.

Oba Fadahunsi said: “When the news came; they said I exonerated him (Fayose) but that language was not mine and I didn’t exonerate Fayose because we are still in court.

“I cannot say directly that he is behind Daramola’s death and I cannot say he is not, but it was during his tenure that Daramola was killed.”

The monarch also revealed that some individuals brought money to him on the eve of Daramola’s assassination but he rejected the money.

He said: “The previous night be-

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Ekiti people to shun agents of violence.

The party said: “We call on all well-meaning Ekiti indigenes and Nigerians to prevail on these harbingers of retrogression to desist from their evil ways as the collective interests and well-being of Ekiti is greater than all.”

The party added that “the APC-led government under Governor Kayode Fayemi is peace-loving and this explains why the state has been peaceful in the last three and a half years”.

The party’s plea was a result of what it called plots by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose, and Labour Party (LP), Opeyemi Bamidele, to sponsor acts of violence.

The APC said Fayose planned to burn his campaign office at Adebayo Road, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital and blame it on the ruling party.

fore Daramola was killed, some people brought money they called ‘kolanut’ and I told them that this is not ‘kolanut’ and they said it was ‘change’ and I told them that I did not buy anything to warrant collecting ‘change’. So, I rejected the money.”

Oba Fadahunsi said he was reported out of context.

“I only welcomed Fayose as a father to all. I am solidly behind Dr. Fayemi. I admire his good work. My town has benefited a lot from this administration in the area of 5 kilometer local government road, Ado/Ijan road, the renovation of my palace and many more.”

He added that he suffered much humiliation from the Fayose admin-

The party’s statement reads: “We gathered from reliable sources that Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who is known for such stunts in the past, will any moment from now set his campaign office on fire and rush to the press to blame it on APC. “Few weeks ago, he planned with his thugs to be shot so as to gain sympathy of the electorate and this explains why he started wearing bullet-proof jacket to his campaign rallies. He only dropped the idea when he realised it has leaked. He would have blamed the premeditated shooting on the APC and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.”

It urged Fayose to tell the Ekiti electorate what he wants to do better than Fayemi rather than playing pranks.

The party also said: “We have also gathered that the Labour Party has opened a camp ground for its thugs in Ondo State who are to be ferried to Ekiti State in the last week to the gubernatorial election.”

istration, claiming that Fayose suspended his salary for more than a year and also demoted him to the rank of a Baale (village head).

The Onijan urged Fayemi to help apologise to the people of his town who are aggrieved by his rumoured exoneration of Fayose, saying it was a blatant lie.

Fayemi, during his campaign to communities in Gbonyin, pledged to ensure the continuation of developmental strides being witnessed in the state, if he is re-elected in the June 21 poll.

He urged the electorate to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to enjoy more goodies from his administration.

The campaign train was in Ode, Aisegba, Iluomoba, Ilupeju-Ijan and Ijan town.

Speaking at Ode, the headquarters of the local government area, Fayemi described the town as a prime beneficiary of his administration in terms of political patronage and infrastructural development.

The rally at Ode was enlivened by the presence of ace juju musician Sir Shina Peters, who thrilled the crowd with his songs.

The APC candidate told the crowd that the traditional ruler of the community, the Olode, Oba Adara Aderiye, assured him of victory on the strength of capital projects executed.

‘Fayemi has no plan to bribe electorate’

Why I’m contesting on LP’s platform, by Bamidele

T

HE Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has said he is running on the party’splatform because of his belief in workers’ welfare.

He spoke in a statement to mark the May Day. He explained that he chose to join the LP and run for governor out of his passionate concern for workers, adding that the LP is the only party that represents the interest, yearnings and aspirations of workers.

He said he was determined to turn around the conditions of workers in Ekiti, if given

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

the mandate to govern the state.

Bamidele promised to run an inclusive government that would give a critical placement to workers’ input. He said during his tenure, all outstanding salaries, gratuities, allowances and pensions would be paid, more jobs would be created and several capacity building programmes would be embarked upon to train workers and increase their productivity.

Bamidele said despite the

contributions of workers to the growth of the country, workers have been marginalised and traumatised.

He said workers and their children were the ones at the receiving end of most of the harsh economic policies of the government all over the world and at all levels of governance.

According to him, in Nigeria, for instance, workers, artisans and peasants have had cause to come to bear the brunt of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), the commercialisation of education, the withdrawal of

Fayemi also revealed that one of the reasons why the PDP leadership worked against the emergence of another Ode indigene, Senator Gbenga Aluko, was that he (Aluko) is not a person that could cause violence and unleash terror at election.

He said: “You know what they had against Senator Gbenga Aluko was that he is not a violent person and that he (Aluko) is somebody like Fayemi and that his chickens will be excreting.

“Those were the issues they (PDP) had against my brother, Gbenga Aluko, that made them to work against his emergence as their party’s candidate.”

A retired High Court judge, Justice Akinyede, prayed for the success of the APC candidate at the election.

The jurist stressed that although he is not a politician, he was impressed by what Fayemi has done. He advised Ekiti people to give the governor a second term in office through their votes.

Fayemi visited the grave of an illustrious son of the community, the late Prof. Sam Aluko, shortly after he addressed the rally.

Addressing the rally at Aisegba, Fayemi pledged to give attention to the electricity problems being faced by the people, noting that although power is a Federal Government matter, the problem will not be allowed to linger.

The governor urged the people of Aisegba to vote APC and guard their votes.

T •Bamidele

oil subsidy, the wide scale mismanagement and siphoning of public funds by successive administrations as well as the erosion of democratic values and ethics by politicians.

HE Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi, has no plan to bribe the electorate.

It said Fayemi is loved by the people and does not need to bribe to win.

The campaign organisation was reacting yesterday to a statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ayodele Fayose, that Fayemi was planning to bribe voters.

In its statement signed by its spokesperson, Dimeji Daniels, the campaign organisation said Fayose “is known for scare-mongering.”

Daniels said: “I am sure these are all part of his plans to rig the June 21 election that he is systematically rolling out.

It is in his character to blame others for his crimes.

“Why does a man loved passionately by his people for having touched their lives in three and a half years in a way nobody has done in the 17years that the state has been created need to bribe anyone to vote for him? Ekiti people own Fayemi’s re-election campaign. He does not need to bribe them.”

10

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

BUSINESS

11

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Airtel blames Nigeria, others for its woes

FIRS laments dip in non-oil tax

By Lucas Ajanaku with agency reports

•Targets N700b

B

HARTI Airtel Limited has blamed its declin ing fortunes in its home country, India, on the poor performance of its subsidiaries in Nigeria and 16 other African countries where it currently operates.

The telco which is owned by billionaire Chairman Sunil Mittal posted slower pace of revenue growth at its African operations. Airtel is among the global system for mobile communications (GSM) that were prohibited from selling new subscriber identity module (SIM) cards last month by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) after missing service quality key performance indicators (KPIs). Also barred from taking in new subscribers are Globacom and MTN. The three operators also paid fines totaling N647.5 million to government’s coffers. Only Etisalat missed the regulator’s sledge hammer.

Speaking on the development, Head, Research at India Nivesh Securities Pvt, Mumbai, Daljeet Kohli, said: “Africa didn’t do well. That’s a disappointment because many people were looking for Africa to stabilize; that this time, they would come to a break-even point. But that has not happened, so Africa will continue to be a drag on the good work that Airtel does in India.”

Chief Executive Officer, Bharti’s Africa Business, Christian de Faria, blamed the downturn on regulatory interventions in Nigeria where it is the second largest operator after MTN. Farai said:”The quarter was impacted by the seasonal downturn in parts of Africa and regulatory interventions in Nigeria. Our teams remain focused on accelerating growth through improving the quality of network, growing the data business.”

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

From Okodili Ndidi,

T

• Workers at the assembly plant

Auto policy: Stallion rolls out first assembled vehicle T HE Federal govern ment’s quest to have Made-In-Nigeria vehicles this year under its new auto policy has been actualised.

The feat was accomplished the the Stallion Group, which rolled out its first Nissan-branded vehicle from its Lagos assembly plant in a landmark development.

Stallion is Nissan’s exclusive distributor in Nigeria and has commissioned its automotive assembly facility to international standards.

Announcing the inaugural roll-out of a gleaming black Nissan Patrol vehicle from the plant, Stallion Group’s Chairman Sunil Vaswani said it was a promise kept.

He said: “In October 2013, upon the announcement of the Federal Government’s new auto policy, Nissan and

By Simeon Ebulu

Stallion had committed to commencing assembly by April this year. We are immensely pleased to mark our success in meeting this targeted time frame.

“Our long-term partnership with Nissan will continue to flourish, resulting in expansion of our capacities and product range. Several other upcoming models, including the Almera (Sunny) and pick-ups will shortly be made available to our valued customers in Nigeria.

The commencement of assembly will also generate significant employment opportunities for Nigerians and the establishment of several ancilliary industries.”

He said the roll out of the vehicles marked a significant mileston in the history of the country.

“We believe that this is a historic moment in Nigeria’s progress towards creating and fostering local industries. It will result in Nigeria becoming the region’s leader in automotive industry,” he said.

Nissan Senior Vice President and Chairman for the Africa, Middle East & India Region, Takashi Hata, said Africa remained the firm’s growth driver, adding that demand for automobiles continued to grow.

He said: “For Nissan, Africa is our strategic growth driver. Demand for cars is growing quickly in African

markets. By acting quickly to begin production in Nigeria, we are securing for ourselves first-mover advantage.”

Nissan South Africa Managing Director Mike Whitfield, who also heads up Nissan’s sub-Sahara Africa region, is delighted with the successful launch of the first Patrol.

He said: “Nissan was a pioneer in the foundation of the car industry in South Africa.

“Now we are once again at the forefront of manufacturing in Africa, this time in Nigeria where we see huge potential.

We want to play our part in the economicgrowth of Nigeria and Africa.”

The rollout of the first Nissan vehicle comes shortly after confirmation that Nigeria’s booming economy has now overtaken that of South Africa.

DISCOs to lose fixed charge after 15 days outage, NERC orders

T

HE Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commis sion (NERC) yesterday ordered that any customers who experiences continuously or cumulatively power outage for 15 days in a month will be exempted from paying the monthly fixed charge to the Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs).

The order, according to NERC chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, is effective from today.

Besides, he explained that in as much as the 15 days power outage is not due to the customer’s disruption or default in paying bill, the DISCOs shall forego monthly fixed charge.

Predicating the decision on the commission’s 2005 Act, Section 32 D and F, he said while NERC has decided that the fixed charge remains an essential component of the bill, it has however reviewed

• Order effective today From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the continued reflection in the tariff in the payment of the fixed charge in the light of several complaints by the consumers, particularly the payment of the fixed charge when energy is not delivered to them.

In a fact sheet which NERC made available to newsmen, it described fixed charge as an element of customer’s electricity bill that is charged on a monthly basis.

The fixed charge is intended to allow for the recovery the cost associated with the fixed or permanent investments required to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

Amadi said the order is to compel the distribution com-

panies to always reinstall faulty equipment such as transformers immediately.

Amadi however added that the essence of the order is to create a balance that protects the consumers and affords DISCOs some incentives to be responsive without threatening the reliance of the industry.

He said: “It is hereby ordered that effective May 1st, 2014, where any customers of the distribution licensees has not received continuous electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month, such a customer shall not be required to pay the fixed charge provided that the disruption is not due to nonpayment of electricity bill or other actions of the consumer like tempering, van-

dalisation (vandalism), or it is totally unrelated to the fault of the distribution company.

“In other words, fixed charged should be payed and the only condition for nonpayment is when you do not receive continuously 15 days power supply.

“The fact is that we want to ensure that the DISCOs receive enough revenue to maintain the network. At the same time, we don’t want it to be an incentive for them not to respond to the faults they could manage within their existing commitment.”

“So the commission has tailored a deliberate balance that protects consumers and provides incentives for DISCOs to be efficient and responsive but without threatening the reliability of the industry as a whole in ensuring that there will still be fund to give stable electricity to the consumers.”

Owerri

HE Acting Executive Chairman, Federal In land Revenue Service (FIRS) Kabir Mashi has decried the drop in taxes from the non-oil sector , warning that the trend portends grave danger for the economy if it is not checked.

He spoke at a two-day regional management meeting of the agency in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

He said the agency has not met the expected targets for the first quarter of the year.

He said: “For the first quarter of this year, the FIRS had a total non-oil tax collection of N418biilion as against a target of N558billion, indicating a shortfall of N140 billion at this stage of the year.

“In addition, our non-oil tax collection has dropped from N155 billion in January to N133 billion in February and further to N130 billion in March. These results are not impressive and we must do everything possible to ensure that we reverse this negative collection trend.”

He said the emphasis on non-oil tax collection was due to government’s intention to raise non-oil revenue as a means of making up for any shortfall from oil revenue, adding that salaries, budget, projects are also funded with non–oil revenue.

The FIRS chief urged field operations group to refocus on the core function of tax collection. He reminded about the significant support received from the highest levels of government must be justified by meeting and surpassing the set targets, especially the N700 billion for May. He commended the Minister of Finance for assisting the FIRS in seeking technical support by engaging the Mckinsey and Co to assist in the implementation of non-oil tax revenue capacity enhancement programme.

The programme, he said, was based on eight key initiatives, namely audit, arrears and debt enforcement, tax exemption, evasion of rented taxes, taxing high net worth transactions, registration, filing and utilising communication as a means of enhancing compliance.

In addition to the Mckinsey project, Marshi said FIRS conducted the Value Added Tax (VAT) and withholding tax audit with positive result and implored the workers to put in efforts to ensure that the FIRS discharged its mandate and build a world-class institution that would become a point of reference in Africa.

Earlier, the Coordinating Director, Field Operations Group (FOG), Mr. Bamidele Ajayi, said the inability of the FIRS to meet its non-oil revenue target by March was a negative variance of 27 per cent, which is a reflection of its yearly collection trend performance and which is also expected to improve from the second quarter of the year.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

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BUSINESS NEWS

T

Ethiope, BPE, NDPHC peace talks crash

HE hope of reaching a peace ful resolution in the dispute between Ethiope Energy Limited, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and the Niger-Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) over the bid process for three National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs) has suffered a setback. Talks by the parties have crumbled.

The parties confirmed the failure of talks yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where they were expected to report about the progress made on their settlement bid. The affected power stations are Alaoji, Omoku and Gbarain.

They asked the court presided over by Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati to step down the suit

by Ethiope Energy. NDPHC said it has appealed a restraining order made on March 17 against it and BPE.

• Niger Delta Power appeals court’s order From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Ethiope’s lawyer, Bello Abu, told the court that parties have been unable to reach an amicable settlement regarding the issues in dispute. He urged the court for a date for commencement of hearing and disposal of all pending applications.

Lawyer to BPE, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, (SAN), confirmed that talks between the parties have actually collapsed.

He sought a date to enable him argue his application seeking to set aside the service of process on his clients and to discharge the interim order issued by the court on March 17 against his client.

He argued that the court’s processes were served on a youth

corps member serving in his client’s company and not on the Director General as required.

Lawyer to the NDPHC, Mathew Echo also confirmed that talks had collapsed. He said he has filed a preliminary objection and application for stay of execution of the interim order.

He sought a date for him to argue his applications.

It was disclosed yesterday that NDPHC has appealed the March 17 interim order, which stopped the BPE from proceeding with the bid process for three power stations.

In a notice of appeal filed by Dr Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), the company said Justice Kafarati erred in law when he granted the interim order.

NDPHC also said the trial judge

overreached himself when he granted the relief sought in the main suit at an interim stage especially when he had yet to hear from the respondents.

The company also accused the judge of denying it fair hearing when he failed to consider the oral submissions made by its counsel before granting the interim order.

NDPHC also asked the appeal court to set aside the interim order because the order amounted to an effort in futility because the event which they sought to stop had been completed.

It said: “The law is firmly established that the court cannot make or grant an injunctive or restraining order to stop an event that has happened or completed.”

The BPE had commenced the bid process for Alaoji, Omoku

and Gbarain power stations on March 7, this year. Ethiope Energy claimed it submitted bids for the power stations but was excluded from the process.

The company then filed the suit challenging its alleged exclusion from the bidding process by the BPE, having submitted bid for the power stations.

In the statement of claim, the firm accused the Chairman of the Due Diligence Committee, Atedo Peterside of having “enormous influence on the BPE.” It stated that Peterside has been favourably disposed to its Chairman, Chief Johnson Arumemi.

Ethiope also accused the BPE of allegedly manipulating the technical bid evaluation due diligence exercise.

Also sued is the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). Further hearing has been fixed for May 23.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

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ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF COLLEGE OF NIGERIA (ASCON) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS (UNILAG) INVITES APPLICATION FROM SUITABLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION INTO THE 35TH PGDPA. 35/2014-2015

POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (PGDPA. 35/2014-2015) Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the 2014/ 2015 Admission into the 9-Month Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (PGDPA) PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES ARE: i. ii. iii. iv.

Broaden the Intellectual scope of participants Develop the analytical and problem-solving Capabilities of participants to enable them anticipate and respond to rapid socioeconomic changes.

Equip participants with the knowledge and Skills needed to operate as professionals in Definite management areas.

Provide an umbrella under which serving Officers from different parts of the Federation and indeed African will be able to exchange ideas on promotion of Public Administration and Management.

PROGRAMME DURATION The PGDPA is run in two semesters in collaboration with the University of Lagos. (Nine months October 2014 – June 2015) AREAS OF SPECIALISATION: i.

Human Resource Management (HRM) ii.

Finance, Supplies and Stores Management (Procurement) iii.

Planning and Research (PR) iv.

Local Government and Rural Development (LGLSD) v.

Public Enterprises Management (BEMSD) At the end of the course, participants will be expected to have acquired the analytical tools invaluable in the diagnosis and proffer solutions to management problems.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Candidates, who must be public servants with at least two years postqualification experience, are required to possess good degrees from recognized Universities or in the alternative, possess suitable Professional Qualifications, e.g. ACA, ACCA, HND, ACIS and Pass Staff Course (PSC) or its equivalent for the Armed Forces, and any other professional qualification acceptable to the Joint Board of Studies. Post-Course Diploma holders in Public Administration from any recognized University are also eligible for consideration.

METHOD OF APPLICATION: Application forms can be obtained from and retuned by post or by hand to any of the Offices listed below: i.

Course Registration, ASCON, P.M.B. 1004, Topo – Badagry.

08033703167 ii.

The Liaison Officer, ASCON Liaison Office, New Federation Secretariat Phase 2, Block 8, 6th Floor, Shehu Shagari Way, P.M.B. 150, Abuja. 08033856807 iii.

The Liaison Officer, ASCON Liaison Office, South-South Zonal Office, @ 4bishop Dimieri Road, GRA, Phase 2, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

08037191975 iv.

The Liaison Officer, ASCON Liaison Office, South-West Zonal, B1/ B2 GREEN ROOF, Fajuyi Housing Estate, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

08033589573 All documents should be addressed to: Director-General Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, P.M.B. 1004, Topo-Badagry, Lagos State.

The processing fee for the PGDPA form is N5,000.00 (Five Thousand Naira) Applicants can pay in cash, draft or certified cheques, made payable to “Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria”. Payment for the form should be made to ASCON Project Account No 0001322753 with Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Badagry Branch.

The course fee for the PGDPA 2014-2015 programme which is N175,100.00 only can be paid in cash, draft or certified cheques ASCON Catering/ Housekeeping Account No. 0001256436 in Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Badagry Branch.

All completed application forms, to which should be attached Photostat copies of previous educational attainments, must reach the College with a covering letter from the sponsoring Organization on or before Wednesday, August 15, 2014.

Organisations can visit our website, www.ascon.gov.ng for current Brochure of Programme and online registration.

NOTE: All forms received late, incorrectly or dispatched to the College without a covering letter from the sponsoring organization will not be processed.

SIGNED: MANAGEMENT

16

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

17

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

New wine, old wineskins • The old PHCN workers should not force themselves on the new power companies

O

LD habits, they say, die hard. That is perhaps the best way to describe the latest but needless tussle between members of staff of the defunct Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the new owners of the entities. This time around, it is the workers making the stunt, with their resistance to the move by the new owners to shed excess weight. These workers, if we may recall, had collected their severance packages under the mutually agreed terms of settlement; the terms also set six months as cut-off date for the new investors to review the status of staff to determine their requirement. The workers, as it appears, would rather have it their way by holding on to the jobs even if the new business owners do not need their services.

We do not see the issues as anything but cut and dried. Were the issues about

‘We disagree that the new investors have any fresh obligations to retain any staff considered surplus to their requirements.

That, obviously would go against the grain of the privatisation exercise. More than that, it is the surest path to consolidating the ancien regime of poor work ethics, poor service delivery, and corruption. Forcing the old, surplus hands on the new operators would certainly be akin to putting new wine in old wineskins’

the government reneging on their obligations to these workers, their case would certainly have merit, not only deserving of sympathy but our understanding. Our understanding is that the parties – the Federal Government represented by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) and the powerful electricity workers union have gone beyond this stage. Overall, a whopping N380 billion is on record to have been paid to the workers after negotiations that were as painstaking as tortuous for the parties.

We also understand that the success of the process was what made the handover of the companies possible.

As it is, the bone of contention appears to be the question of the obligations of the new owners to these workers after the expiration of the six-month contract.

Surely, the workers could not now feign ignorance about the implications of the deregulation of the power sector, both in terms of the changed landscape for service delivery and also in terms of the number of redundancies that would inevitably follow. This was after all the basis of their insistence on collecting every dime due to them before the new investors could take over. Any suggestion therefore to the contrary at this stage would smack of bad faith – or dishonesty.

None of the choices, we daresay, includes the narrow self-seeking path being championed by the workers. After eating their cake, the workers cannot be seen to be seeking to have it back. We cannot understand, for instance, why the same workers that delivered ‘crazy bills’ to Nigerians for decades would be won-

dering why same has not disappeared barely six months after the new investors took over. Just as we wonder why the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that had all the while known that PHCN had casual workers for over 10 years would now be clamouring for retirement packages for them.

All said, we disagree that the new investors have any fresh obligations to retain any staff considered surplus to their requirements. That, obviously would go against the grain of the privatisation exercise. More than that, it is the surest path to consolidating the ancien regime of poor work ethics, poor service delivery, and corruption. Forcing the old, surplus hands on the new operators would certainly be akin to putting new wine in old wineskins. The idea of using their numbers to intimidate the rest of Nigerians must equally be seen as deplorable and archaic.

If they have any issues, they should be sorted out with the government. Anything to the contrary would be seen as an attempt to entrench themselves in the system.

Clearly, the dwindling fortunes experienced in the sector in recent time have made the choices facing the nation rather limited.

Top among the choices is the need to get the new investors to ramp up services and hence fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians who have come to see the privatisation exercise as the long-awaited answer to the sector’s woes. They need to invest in new equipment and human capital; we expect to see injection of fresh blood into the system to replace the old, aging workforce, to move gingerly in the direction of enthroning the electricity consumer as king.

Historic resignation

P

• Nigerian leaders must learn from South Korea’s prime minister

RIME Minister Chung Hong-won of South Korea made the point that his country is a place where democracy works and good governance is serious business, with his resignation on April 27, over the unfortunate April 16 ferry disaster in that country. More than 300 people, most of them students and teachers from one high school on a field trip, have died or are missing and presumed dead after the ferry sank on a routine trip south from the port of Incheon to Jeju. The government was heavily criticised over its handling of the situation and frequent changes in the information it provided.

The criticisms were too strident to be ignored; Prime Minister Hong-won got the message. So, barely 11 days after, he turned in his resignation and this has been accepted by President Park Geunhye who said however that the prime minister would remain in office until the rescue operation was completed. The resignation is intriguing for several reasons. Hong-won is not the minister of transportation; so he does not have a direct bearing with the incident. His job as prime minister is to coordinate other ministries within government.

Again, almost every word he uttered after the incident is pregnant with meaning. As a matter of fact, that he even accepted that the government failed in its duty at the very point it was needed is something. Here, government officials would compound the folly by defending the indefensible. Then, his acceptance of responsibility is rare in our kind of environment. “During the search process, the government took inadequate measures

and disappointed the public,” Chung said. “I should take responsibility for everything as the prime minister, but the government can assume no more. So I will resign as prime minister.”

And, rather than trade blames, as many Nigerian public functionaries would do, he said: “This is not the time for blaming each other but for finishing the rescue operation and dealing with the accident” adding “In order to get over these difficult times, I ask the citizens for help.”

The average Nigerian must be wondering if these words on marble could be coming from a public official in time of national distress because it is alien to our environment. The consonance between the prime minister’s words and deeds is commendable.

The fact is that, at certain trajectories in every country’s history, when there seems to be confusion over which route to take, providence seems to have devised a way of providing clues to whatever seems confusing. When some months back, the scandal involving the former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, was making waves, President Goodluck Jonathan appeared lost over how to deal with the situation, in spite of the glaring nature of the issues thrown up by the scandal. Providence promptly came to the rescue with a Ghanaian minister fired for merely contemplating hitting her first $1m as a public official.

In spite of the example from Ghana, it took months for our president to make up his mind (or have his mind made up for him) to get the minister out of his cabinet.

Then, on March 15, 18 job seekers died

and many were injured during a nationwide recruitment test conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service. More than two months after the shoddy recruitment exercise, the country has moved on after the initial outbursts, with the interior minister who oversees the sector, Abba Moro, still sitting pretty in office. We can go on and on listing many other instances. How many of our public officials would, like Chung, not want to be “any burden to the administration”? All the 15 crew members who survived the accident are in custody and face charges ranging from criminal negligence to abandoning passengers.

Certainly, President Jonathan and his aides who have been in the eye of the storm in recent times, and public functionaries who might find themselves in similar circumstances, must take a cue from South Korea, specifically from Prime Minister Hong-won.

‘Certainly, President Jonathan and his aides who have been in the eye of the storm in recent times, and public functionaries who might find themselves in similar circumstances, must take a cue from South Korea, specifically from Prime Minister Hong-won’

The Donald Sterling fiasco • If the Clippers owner indeed made the racist statements attributed to him, there’s no place for him in the NBA.

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HERE are a lot of questions remaining about the strange, vile, racist comments that have been attributed to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. The audiotapes need to be authenticated. The context of the remarks, which represent 16 minutes out of what was apparently an hourlong conversation, should be explained.

But if it turns out that the tapes have not been doctored or misrepresented, and if Sterling did indeed castigate a female friend for associating with black people, then it is clear what needs to happen: Sterling must sell the team. If he doesn’t do so on his own, the NBA should apply whatever pressure it can, whether that means fining him or suspending him or using whatever other tools it has at its disposal to urge him out.

The comments, if he made them, are a disgrace to Sterling himself, but more than that, they are an enormous embarrassment to the NBA and the city, and a heavy burden on the talented team now battling to win round one of the playoffs in its best season ever. While we generally support the right of individuals to say and think even the most offensive things, the team is not just another of Sterling’s private businesses; it is also a civic institution that plays under the banner of the city of Los Angeles. The city ought not be associated with an owner who says that he doesn’t want his mistress (if that’s indeed what she is) bringing black people to his team’s games — a remark made even more offensive by the fact that more than three-quarters of the players on the team and in the league are black. On the recording, the speaker tells the woman that it “bothers” him that “you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people.”

Sterling is an octogenarian billionaire who has often been accused of bizarre and unseemly behavior; this is the latest an extensive string of racial controversies. In 1986, he was one of the first NBA team owners to hire a black general manager, Elgin Baylor — who, two decades later, sued for wrongful termination based on age and racial discrimination, although the racial claim was eventually dropped. Sterling, who owns apartment buildings throughout Los Angeles with thousands of rental units in them, was sued privately in 2003 for discriminating against blacks and Latinos in renting, and then sued again in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice on similar charges. He settled both suits, paying millions in each case.

If the allegations are true, this can’t be written off as just a crotchety old man caught on tape saying something disagreeable. This is the wealthy and powerful owner of a basketball team that plays in a televised spotlight before millions of fans.

If the tapes are legitimate and the voice is Sterling’s, that’s not a voice the city of Los Angeles or the NBA need to hear any more coming from the Clippers owner’s courtside seat.

- Los Angeles Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Nigeria runs a convoluted federal system of government. Obviously, one of the impediments of this current convoluted governance structure is the over concentration of powers, enormous responsibilities and resources of the state at the centre. The sharing formula for revenues accruing to the nation bears eloquent testimony to this by allocating 56% to the centre, 24% for states and 20% to Local Government Councils. For a long while this lopsided arrangement has given impetus to the demand for devolution of powers.

The ongoing National Conference came at the right time to objectively tackle the issue and remedy the situation. However, to the consternation of all, the Political Restructuring Committee of the conference penultimate week veered off the

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

De-listing of LGs: Whose interest? track by inconceivably suggesting the de-listing of Local Government Administration entirely from the constitution of Nigeria. Ultimately the suggestion if implemented will annihilate the only reason why Nigerians thought government exists in the rural areas in the first place.

This wrongly mooted idea should not be allowed to find its way into the recommendations of the National Conference, pronto!

Surely, the impact of Local government administration has not been felt in majority of the states in Nigeria since 2003 when the aberration called joint states and local government account was created.

This contraption gave state governments the unfettered, undeserved leverage to blatantly divert allocations meant for local government councils to other non-appropriated interests.

Over the years states and local government councils have become paupers or mere appendages of the almighty federal government only to fail woefully in meeting the aspirations of their people. In the same vein, states have wittingly reduced the local government administration to a mere government house department which can only function at the whims of the executive governor. In some states, local

SOS to National Conference on noise pollution

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IR: I note with dismay, the non-inclusion of noise as one of the major environmental problems for consideration at the on-going National Conference.

The issue and problem of noise ought to be spelt out to be understood and discussed by the delegates. There is need to ensure that the provision is made to handle noise issues as stipulated in the relevant laws of the country.

The NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (ESTABLISHMENT) ACT, 2007 section (part) v: subsection 22 states that the agency, in consultation with appropriate authorities, shall: (a) Identify major noise sources, noise criteria and noise control technology; and (b) make regulations on noise, emission, control, abatement, as may be necessary to preserve and maintain public health and welfare. (2) The Agency shall enforce compliance with existing regulations and recommend programmes to control noise originating from industrial, commercial, domestic, sports, recreational, transportation or other similar activities.

(3) A person who violates the Regulations made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and shall on conviction

be liable to a fine not exceeding N50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment and an additional fine of N5,000 for every day the offence subsists.

(4) Where an offence under subsection (3) of this section is committed by a body corporate, it shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding N500,000 and an additional fine of N10,000 for every day the offence subsists These have not been implemented over the years hence noise levels have continued to increase in the

nation. Nigeria, and in fact, most African nations apart from South Africa and Egypt, have continued to gloss over the issue of noise as it is viewed more as a natural phenomenon that must be endured.

Creating awareness of the negative effects of increasing noise levels in our society today would definitely help us appreciate noise, not only as a nuisance, but also a destroyer. Increasing noise levels have led to more cases of hearing impairment even among the youth. Today, health problems like high blood pressure have become rampant and

only few people have paused to ask why it is so. Curbing noise will settle many health issues that our health sector is not even equipped to handle.

Many problems Nigeria is facing are preventable and noise is a central factor in these problems. It is hoped that the national conference will heed this call so that noise issues can be tackled alongside other national problems.

• Joy Oluchi Uguru President, Acoustical Society of Nigeria (ASON) Lagos

Time to go the extra mile on insecurity

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IR: A lot has been said concerning the issues of Boko Haram. They have gone from fighting against Western education to destroying, killing of innocent souls, burning of houses and properties, damaging of the country’s reputation and also other activities that retard the country’s development.

Is it the recent of Nyanya bombing or the abduction of college girls from their hostels which have put some of the affected families in agony of losing their children and relatives respectively?

Still, the presidency continues to

say that the country will overcome the insecurity challenges.

My question to the presidency on the insurgency is: Who are those behind the abduction of the college girls? Where exactly are the girls being kept by their abductors?

What measures are being taken by the government to locate or identify their abductors’ den?

This is the time that all Nigerians must unite to fight the insecurity before it spreads to other parts of the country.

It pains me to see our leaders exchange bitter words of recrimination while insecurity is there to

tackle. We need to unite to fight the scourge together.

Now, what is the essence of the state of emergency in those states when the problems which brought it into being still persists? It’s hard to imagine that the abductions, killings and burning of houses still take place despite the heavy presence of security personnel. Is it that some of the service men are complicit?

More than anything, the entire region needs the unity of purpose to put end to the insurgency •Akinlolu Babatunde Lagos State.

government elections are yet to be held in more than seven years. Governors now determine which projects to execute or not in local governments they neither know well nor even visit in their four-year tenure.

Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended granted the states this undeserved cover. The section affirms that “the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.

Local government administration under the 1999 constitution is very confusing as that of 1979. Both constitution guarantees the existence of a democratically elected local government system; they however gave states the responsibility to handle issues of organisation and structure. The constitutional confusion and complexity led to a prolonged disagreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Lagos State Government over the creation of local governments between1999-2007. The issues in contention are yet to be fully resolved and these are negatively affecting the development of local government administration. What is the way out?

Local governments can do better if they are well funded. The role of the third tier of government should be well defined and all the legal and constitutional obstacles hampering its performance should be removed. An urgent legal interpretation of the Joint State and Local government account is paramount. The local government will never perform if its duties are usurped by men in the city and proxies who know little or nothing about the winding roads leading to the rural areas.

De-listing of local government administration from the constitution will further exacerbate the suffering of majority of Nigerian in the rural areas and deny them the little dividends of democracy they presently enjoy.

• Sunday Onyemaechi Eze Samaru, Zaria

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

19

COMMENTS

A

State of roads in Nigeria

S a young man, I enjoyed driving on Nigerian roads.

The roads were much better than they are now. It also seems as if the Ministry of Works took its job much more seriously than they do today. Their officials did not collude with contractors to reduce stones, cement and tar that were used for constructing the roads and they seemed to last longer than they are today. Of course there was less traffic and in those days, trains ran on the railways and heavy haulage was done by rail not by land. Some people have suggested that those put in charge of the railway corporation deliberately ran down the corporation so that their trailer business could thrive. Whatever the reasons for running down the railways, the consequences are that the haulage business and their huge articulated trucks have not only ruined the roads, they have become a health hazard to our people. Efforts to revive the railways have not succeeded.

Apparently because of lack of commitment and poor funding the result is that the only way of moving goods and people in the country is by road. The aviation industry which could have contributed substantially to the movement of goods and people is expensive for most people. This is why the question of the roads is almost a matter of life and death (pardon the pun). Without movement of goods, services and people the economy will not grow. This is why government has to pay attention to the health of our roads. In the northern part of Nigeria where the rainy season is short and where the land is flat with little or no mountains and hills except on the Jos and Bauchi plateaux, roads are much more easily constructed and maintained than in the south. But up north, the spatial distribution of population in wide areas and the size of the land mass that had to be traversed increase cost of construction in the north. In the south, roads sometimes have to pass through mangrove swamps and the rain forest and on large bodies of water leading to high cost of road construction. Unlike in many parts of the world where colonialism led to infrastructural modernisation, Nigeria inherited from the British overlords, poor network of roads. Roads leading out of Lagos at independence were winding narrow roads going to Abeokuta and Ibadan and subsequently to the east. To go to the north one had to pass through the tortuous roads from Lagos to Ibadan then to Ilorin and to Jebba across the Niger then to Kotangora, Tegina, Kaduna and then to Kano, Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri. These were narrow and meandering roads that are not comparable to the roads we now have even though the new roads are poorly maintained. There is a need for a comprehensive review of the road network in Nigeria. First of all, we have to agree that the hinterland of Nigeria has to be linked to the coast.

What this immediately suggests is that there is need to have four longitudinal roads- one running in the western part of

L

ET me confess from the outset that the title of this article is taking from the speech of Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka presented at the Port Harcourt Book Festival last week.

In the speech titled: Republic of the mind and thralldom of fear, the renowned playwright, in a play of words with the Bring back the book project of President Goodluck Jonathan launched in Lagos in 2010, noted that for now, we should be more concerned with bringing back the pupils.

The pupils are the 234 girls of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, who were abducted by members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on April 14. Since these girls' abdution, we have not heard anything about them. We are all in the dark as to what has become of them. Suffice to say that they may have become sex slaves to some deranged maniacs, who believe that they can instill fear in the populace through their sheer barbaric acts.

For years, Boko Haram has held the nation by the jugular. There is nothing the sect has not done.

Killing, looting, maiming, burning, raping, kidnapping, you name it; they have done it. With the abduction of the 234 girls in Chibok in one fell swoop last

the country from Badagry to Sokoto, another from Lagos to Kano, a third one from Warri to Bauchi and another one from Calabar to Maiduguri. Then there should be an eastwest road linking Lagos along the coast to Port-Harcourt. If we have this type of autobahnen in the country, then it will be easy to move around the country and this will foster a sense of unity and rapid economic development. The coastal road from Lagos to Port-Harcourt has been on the drawing boards for several decades yet no action has been taken.

Because the road will have to pass through mangrove swamps necessitating the building of many bridges, it will be very expensive but it is doable. If we do not have the money, this is the kind of project that a country should borrow money to do because it will pay for itself. All these roads should be toll roads so that their maintenance and the recovery of the initial cost of construction can be seamlessly taken care of. This is what is done in civilised countries. And now that we have declared ourselves the largest economy in Africa, we should have something to show for it. Already there is a dual carriage way running from Lagos to PortHarcourt through the Sagamu-Benin-Onitsha-Enugu-PortHarcourt dual carriage way. There is another one running from Lagos to Oyo and on to Ilorin if and when the OyoOgbomosho section is finished. There is a dual carriage way from Lagos to Abeokuta. This should have terminated in Ibadan if we have some sense. There is a dual carriage way from Abuja through Kaduna to Kano and then to Maiduguri.

The Kano-Maiduguri dual carriage way is probably the longest in Nigeria and cannot be truly justified on economic grounds. The Abuja-Lokoja dual carriage way is under construction and substantial amount of work has been done.

Perhaps in the future, the Lokoja-Benin sector would be constructed. The Benin-Warri-Yenagoa-Port-Harcourt east-west road is also at an advanced stage of completion. In all this road networks, the South-west is being short changed. The dual carriage way from Ibadan to Akure stops abruptly in Ilesa and this does not make economic sense because Ondo and Ekiti states produce 80 percent of Nigeria’s cocoa and substantial amount of hard wood timber. One would also have expected a dual carriage way to link Ado-Ekiti and Akure and Akure with Benin. If we have the current powers and resources of the federal government devolved into the regions or zones, roads to link areas with economic potentials and resource availability will be constructed but as it is today, roads are constructed on political basis thereby economically shooting ourselves in the feet.

One of the ways to assess the economy of a country is through its transportation grid. A country that is not in permanent motion is underdeveloped if not a dead country. A visit to any modern country will show goods and peoples

being moved around by water on the high seas, by rivers, by air, by surface trains, by tramp cars, by underground trains, by fast trains, and by roads so that there is no delay in moving goods around because time is an important factor in economic development. Our primitive level of development only uses roads in transportation and this shows how much far behind we are in rela- Jide tion to the rest of the Osuntokun world. The British left us with a functional railway system just as they did in India. As populous and chaotic as India is, (at least they are seven times larger than us), they have managed to keep the trains running while we have run our own down and out. It is a shame that unlike before, we no longer have development plans in this country. Before the advent of the military into power in Nigeria, we had quiquennial plans by which some of these issues I am raising would have been taken up and debated and then put in a plan of development over the years instead of just building roads on the spur of the moment and largely for the political and not economic considerations; things would have been done on rational basis.

The time may have run out for people of my generation but certainly the younger people of Nigeria should take the bull by the horns and deal with the problems of today in a systemic and systematic way so that their future will be brighter than ours. The current leaders of Nigeria will not have an excuse for not handing over the country in a better way to future leaders because of lack of ideas. The ideas are blowing in the winds and all they have to do is catch the vision. The rest of the world is not going to wait for us; in fact they will laugh at us if we continue to remain static at this primitive level of development. We have the people and the resources, then what is the problem really apart from the greed and corruption of our people particularly our leaders? Let the word go out that this generation of Nigerians and the generation to come will hold the leaders of our country responsible for this terrible state of underdevelopment for which they have consigned the country.

The backward network of roads is just the tip of the iceberg in our level of underdevelopment because every other aspect and facets of our life are crying for developmental attention.

Bring back the girls month, they introduced another dimension to their madness. The main task now is to free these girls from captivity since from the look of things their captors are not ready to let them go. We are between the devil and the deep blue sea.

How do we free the girls without bringing them to harm as Boko Haram may not let them go without a fight? While we fear for the lives of these girls during the rescue mission that may be launched by security operatives, what do we know about their present condition? This is the trauma their parents are going through and it can be killing. We all know what we go through when our children are not within our immediate vicinity. We will be calling at intervals just to know how they are faring.

Can you now imagine what the parents of these girls, who are being held against their wish wherever they are being kept, are going through? Thinking about these children daily and not knowing their condition can run them mad. This is why no matter what it takes everything must be done to bring back the girls. We

‘Let those in government put themselves in these girls' families' shoes. Would they have gone on campaign if their children were the ones kidnapped. Let us be sensitive to others' feelings. Being in government should not make us lose our sense of decency and humaneness’

should be prepared for the worst in rescuing these girls. As we know even in the best planned rescue missions some things do go wrong, but we do not pray for such in these girls' case.

But, it seems efforts toward rescuing these girls by the government, which is the protector of every citizen, seem to be slow and this is why there has been a public outcry that it is not doing enough. Yes, the government may say that whatever it is doing is not for public consumption. The problem is that for it to say that, it must be seen to be doing something. In this case, the public is not convinced that the government is acting to return these girls to their homes and that is why the people have been talking.

In some cases, the government is being abused. We do not have to blame those doing that. They are expressing their feelings in equal measure as their anger over the abduction. And who else to vent their anger on than the government. The government's actions shortly after the incident also portrayed it in bad light.

There is a time for everything, the Bible tells us. A time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to make merry and a time not to make merry. Unfortunately, the government did not take this admonition into account in he wake of the girls' kidnap.

We are all hitting the government today for its seeming insensibility to what befell the nation on April 14 when it went on a campaign rally while some families were weeping over the

kidnap of their children. Let those in government put themselves in those families' shoes; would they have gone on such a junket if their children were the ones kidnapped. Let us be sensitive to others feelings. Being in government should not make us lose our sense of decency and humaneness. do not want to belabour the point here. Mistakes have been made, no doubt. It is left for the government to correct itself by stepping up the efforts to rescue the girls without bringing harm to any of them. If the government does not bring back the girls to their parents, it would have failed in its primary responsibility of being the custodian of law and order. The parents have taken the first step, out of love for the children, by going into the bush to look for them. It is left for the government to complete the process by taking it up from where they stopped.

In this matter, President Goodluck Jonathan has a crucial role to play. Posterity will judge him the way he handles these girls' matter. If he returns them home safely to their parents, history will be fair to him, but if he fails to secure their release, history will be harsh on him. He should hearken to the words of Soyinka at the Port Harcourt book festival where the Nobel laureate said : ''Not all national leaders can be Fujimori of Peru, who personally directed his security forces during a crisis of hostage taking - no one demands bravura acts of presidents. However, any as-

I

Lawal Ogienagbon

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piring leader cannot be anything less than a rallying point for public morale in times of crisis and example for extraordinary exertion. Speaking personally, now my mind goes to the lead role played by President Jonathan in this nation in the erstwhile campaign to BRING BACK THE BOOK, an event at which we both read to hundreds of children. So, where are the successors to those children? ''The reality stares us in the face: Among the walking wounded. Among the walking dead. In crude holdings of fear and terror. Today, we shall not even be demanding as to resurrect the slogan: BRING BACK THE BOOK - leave that to us. It will be quiet sufficient to see a demonstrable dedication that answers the agonising cry of BRING BACK THE PUPILS!'' I only pray it is not true that some of the girls have been taken to Cameroun, Chad and Niger by their captors as reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Africa Service on Tuesday.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

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COMMENTS

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O the less cynical, with a temperament for PDP comedy and President Jonathan’s sardonic humour as they junket around the country, dancing with serial cross-carpenters and others with criminal charges hanging on their necks in a desperate bid for re-election in 2015 even as the nation burns, the recently concluded parley by governors of the 36 states of the federation, service chiefs and religious leaders, may appear a genuine attempt at finding solution to the problem of security of lives and property especially in the besieged north-eastern part of the country. Hitherto the ruling party whose immoral seizure of disproportionate share of our national resources is the source of bitterness among the deprived has been blaming others for Boko Haram’s mindless killing of innocent Nigerians. It first fingered the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi shortly after falling out of favour with government for pointing out financial infractions in the NNPC presided over by some leading members of the party. From Sanusi, they moved to, General Buhari, former military Head of State and President Jonathan’s main rival in the 2011 election. Lately, the party suddenly woke up to realise that the newly formed APC, the opposition party, is the sponsor of Boko Haram that has made the north-eastern part of the country ungovernable for close to three years.

And as for the president, until the current effort, he has, besides engaging in mudslinging with Kashim Shettima and Murtala Nyako, governors of besieged Borno and Adamawa states, chosen to seek God’s intervention after each dastardly act by those who kill children, rob banks and abduct young school girls as sex slaves in the name of God on whose behest they claim to crusade. From the synagogues of our home-based grace hawkers, he had embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and of late, to Rome where he also sought Pope Francis’s intercession on behalf of our nation.

But to the cynical, who lack the stomach for hypocrisy and politics of perfidy of the

‘Our tragedy is President Jonathan’s reluctance to perform his constitutional responsibilities. Yet he passionately loves the title president’

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Buck stops on President Jonathan’s desk president and his party, the meeting was totally unnecessary. And they seem to have been vindicated by its outcome which merely reinforced their strongly held position that the buck stops on the desk of the president and commander-in-chief.

For instance we were told that the parley “stressed the importance of rising above partisanship when dealing with security issues, as well as tackling it in an objective manner with security agencies being professional”. I am sure most Nigerians have not forgotten it was the president who created a division among the governors by proclaiming losers in the governors’ forum election, winners.

Nigerians also know that the president is the one who has been going around exchanging words with victims of Boko Haram’s mindless killing who out of frustration wanted the president to live up to the oath of his office as commander-in-chief We were also informed that the meeting resolved that “data should be shared across board among security agencies”, and that “a holistic approach in curbing terrorist activities, including the anti-poverty approach should also be adopted.” This also, like other nebulous declarations are the exclusive preserve of the president and commander-inchief. He is in charge of warring Generals who are not sharing data. If for inexplicable reason, 230 female students were ferried away by insurgents in a state under emergency where every five kilometre is expected to be manned by soldiers, there is nothing governors and religious leaders can do to help a commander-in-chief who chooses to dance while his garrison is under siege.

It was also disclosed that security agencies

N March, the PDP campaign organization led by President Goodluck Jonathan went to Onitsha end of the Niger Bridge to continue the endless and primitive politics of building a second Niger Bridge. The political promise to build the second Niger Bridge to lessen the burden of commuters and boost commercial activities in Igboland and Nigeria has been going on since former President Obasanjo’s days in office. The political promise continued with the late President Yar’Adua of blessed memory to no avail. The matter featured prominently in President Jonathan’s campaign in 2011 and in March this year, Nollywood Actors went to Onitsha to kick off the project, promising that it will be delivered in four years, through Public Private Partnership (PPP). The implication of this is that Igbo are being made to finance the construction of the bridge as they would be placed in bondage for the 25 years the construction company will tax users to collect the huge N117 billion we are told the bridge will cost to build.

Now, as we wait for 2018 when the second Niger Bridge will be delivered according to President Jonathan, traffic chaos will continue to be the hallmark of that very important bridge till 2018. On Friday April 25, I was returning to Lagos around 9.00am and on reaching Onitsha, I was held for close to four hours just to access the bridge. Those coming from Asaba were held also and as I drove past them I noticed the frustration on the faces of travellers, the trailers, the tankers, luxury bus drivers. Consequently I figured that their sufferings will go on for four more years assuming the Nollywood Actors in PDP get their acts together and keep the long-awaited promise. I have been trying to imagine what commuters will go through in the next four years while waiting for this bridge?

I have been trying to figure out what will be lost by Onitsha/ Nnewi business axis in the next four years. I have been trying to imagine how many people will die on that corridor before the bridge will be delivered in four years. I have been thinking of what the South-east and South-south will lose in four years while waiting for the bridge. The plight of millions of Igbo and non-Igbo who travel home for Christmas and Easter holidays are better imagined in the next four years. I learnt that what I witnessed on that bridge that day is now the daily picture of chaos, tension and endless suffering that Igbo have to endure.

When I returned to Lagos, I was disturbed by the news that the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen said that work on the bridge has stopped because the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment was not done. I smelt rat. The minister’s position was to be countered later in far away Rome by the

were mandated to “do everything to ensure that the abducted children are rescued from their abductors which the military assured”.

Again, we all know the assemblage had no power to mandate the military. Such responsibility is conferred on the president and commander-in-chief by the constitution. In any case, the military under whose nose, 230 of our promising female children studying science and humanities were snatched by sick minds knows it’s not only the integrity of the military that is at stake, they have been challenged to redeem the battered image of our nation which has become a laughing stock in the comity of nations. There is nowhere else in the contemporary world except perhaps in Nazi Germany under Hitler that 230 young girls will be abducted by criminals for weeks without a national emergency being declared. The soldiers know what is at stake.

And finally, it was claimed that in order to forestall further clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, “the meeting agreed the Fulani herdsmen would be relocated as a short time measure with the final objective of ensuring all the grazing routes and the grazing areas that had not been gazetted, be properly gazetted for peace to reign”.

But the federal government, prior to this meeting had pretended not to know the identity of those behind the indiscriminate killings in the besieged states of Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Katsina The question to ask then is when did government that has in spite of its control of the military, police, SSS, immigration etc. been unable to arrest any of the marauders who according surviving victims, often operate for

several hours killing in hundreds and burning down whole villages discover they are Fulani herdsmen?

But let us even accept for once that government has decided to stop playing the ostrich, that government is right and General Gowon and Senator Jubril Aminu who have tried to exonerate Fulani herdsmen are wrong, the directive of the meeting will still be an exercise in futility because it is only President Jonathan that is constitutionally empowered to perform such role. To underscore this point, the president shortly before the parley last week mandated the minister of agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina to inaugurate a committee to look into the issue of grazing routes.

The parley was unnecessary. Our tragedy is President Jonathan’s reluctance to perform his constitutional responsibilities. Yet he passionately loves the title president. He assiduously schemed to get the job by colluding with Obasanjo, his godfather and some northern leaders to subvert PDP constitution. He has even in a desperate bid to hold on to the job denied ever giving an undertaking to spend only one term as alleged by his godfather, ex-President Obasanjo. He is prepared to fraternize with the forces that can retain him in power no matter how despicable.

For instance, it is unimaginable that the president as commander-in-chief would not have had security report on Princess Stella Oduah and Coscharis’ armoured car scandal. Even after an indictment of the minister by a National Assembly probe, the president refused to act. It is equally doubtful that the president has no security report on petroleum minister, Diezani AlisonMadueke’s alleged frittering away of over N10 billion on hiring aircraft. Is it also really possible the president has no security report on those who have turned Middle Belt’s beautiful land into killing fields? It will be strange if President Jonathan has no access to security reports on those former northern governors that Ambassador Olu Dada claimed hobnobbed with Osama Bin Laden when he had his headquarters in Sudan as well as the names of northern youth sponsored for jihadist training in Al-Queda training camps.

Unfortunately, cynics who believe that President Jonathan who value the company of indicted enemies of Nigeria and those with criminal charges because of their potential to influence his political fortunes also think he may for the same reason not be prepared to take on his PDP northern political Sharia advocates currently mortgaging the future of northern youths in the name of religion.

Second Niger Bridge: Four more years of pains

By Joe Igbokwe former governor of Anambra State who is neither the Minister of Works nor the spokesman of the Jonathan government.

I knew it was an extension of the queer and nebulous politics that is being promoted in Igboland today, which promises Ndigbo a lot of placebos while other sections cart away the choice fruits of governance. Even as Julius Berger were to firm up Obi’s rebuttal, I smelt rat. The minister who is supervising the ministry of work can’t be wrong. I knew these were deft efforts to manage what is certainly an ugly development but I want to keep my fingers crossed.

What is happening today on this bridge is the price to pay for the inability of Igbo leaders to put a stop to politics of the stomach and play strategic politics. Igbo leaders through greed and political dishonesty have mortgaged the future of Ndigbo and turned them into beggars in a country where they are critical stakeholders. After the PDP convention that produced General Obasanjo in Jos in 1999, Igbo political pundits figured that if the South-west takes eight years, and the North picks eight years, then by 2015 it will be the turn of the Igbo in PDP to produce the President of Nigeria. Next year is 2015 and Igbo do not belong to PDP and neither are they in APC. The chance to be relevant in 2015 was lost when Igbo sold to President Jonathan politics in 2011. Now as the 2015 general elections draw near, Igbo leaders have been shouting from the rooftop that to elect President Jonathan is a desideratum for Ndigbo. Now tell me where this decision will lead Igbo politically in Nigeria.

A people must blow their own trumpet. A people who seek for a better future must lay the foundation today. When a people lack vision, there is no hope for such a people. Today the Nollywood Actors in PDP called politicians have tricked Igbo once again on the Second Niger Bridge and the target is 2015 general elections. In August last year, the same Igbo leaders were made fools in Enugu Airport without them knowing when they were gathered like people without heads to witness the so-called official opening of Enugu ‘International’

Airport. You need to see our people dancing atilogwu music in the name of celebrating an International Airport that is not by any standard or stretch of imagination an International Airport. After the dance of shame I decided to travel to Nnewi via Enugu Airport to see things for myself. Can you imagine what I saw? These clowns just changed few things and repainted the old and outdated airport and invited the world to come and celebrate mediocrity. Again, Igbo was shortchanged, and scammed for 2015.

You can take this or leave it, Igbo has paraded the worst form of governors in Nigeria since 1999 except two or three of them. No wonder bandits and kidnappers seized the entire South-east while the governors looked helpless. Governor Peter Obi had the capacity to build the Second Niger Bridge, and he would have solved the biggest problem facing South-east and South-south in terms of land transportation. South-east governors would have pulled resources together to build that very important bridge and take the glory but political timidity and lack of vision beclouded their sense of reasoning. Governor Fashola built a longer bridge in Lagos and so did Governor Uduaghan of Delta State in building the Asaba Airport. All we have from the present loud political players in the East is politics of self and stomach and in such a selfish position, they accept anything so long as it would enrich them in the long run.

Forty-four years after the Nigeria/Biafra war have been a long time for Ndigbo to use their tongues to count their teeth. This slave mentality must stop forthwith. This idea of blowing trumpets for other people to be President in a nation that belongs to all of us is unacceptable in the 21st Century. Nigeria still stands on a tripod but political traders in Igboland have consistently made efforts to remove the third leg that belongs to them for politics of the stomach.

I suggest that a radical revolution is needed in Igboland to clear the Augean Stable and replace them with men and women who play politics of ideas and advancement. Collective politics must take over personal politics for personal gains.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

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E Nigerians must rise up to force the National Conference to change a decision arrived at by one of its committees late last week. The decision ignores the current realities of our country and the terrible poverty that has bedeviled our lives, and it must be changed – in the interest of all of us.

I refer to the decision on the number of federating units in our federation. After examining the various proposals from Nigerians on this matter, a committee of the National Conference decided to recommend that our federation should continue to have 36 states. In fact, from the way the discussion is progressing in Abuja, the number of states could even rise to as many as 42. Here is how. First, the Igbo nation of the Southeast, who now have five states, have long demanded one more state – so as to have six states like the South-west, South-south, North-central, and North-east. In all fairness, if we are to sustain the 36-state structure, there is no way we can reject the Igbo demand – and that would lift the number of states to 37. But that is not all. The other five zones of Nigeria are increasingly pointing out that the North-west zone has seven

‘But it is not surprising that most of the influential people in the National Conference should want Nigeria’s degradation to continue. It is not surprising that they desire to sustain the framework and structure upon which Nigeria’s degradation has been installed. Their central interest in Nigeria is to be able to continue to enrich themselves by revelling in Nigeria’s corruption, hopelessness and shame’

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HE World Bank had just released its latest Report on “Migration and Development” in Washington DC at its 2014 Spring meeting. In the Report, the Bank predicts a 7.8% growth in remittances to Developing Economies in 2014, with Nigeria as the largest recipient of same in sub-Saharan Africa at US$21 billion in 2013. Even more significant is that the expected increase in such flows to developing countries this year would be maintained in the next few years. There is no single accepted definition of the term “Diaspora”, neither is there a legal recognition of the term which consequently has given rise to many different meanings and interpretations.

Some of my brothers and sisters abroad with whom I have interacted in the past refused to be referred to as Nigerian Diaspora.

The Diaspora is a “scattered population” with a common origin in a foreign geographic area.

Diaspora can also refer to the movement of the population from its original homeland. Diaspora has come to refer particularly to historical mass dispersions of an involuntary nature, such as the expulsion of Jews from Europe, the African Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the southern Chinese during the Coolie slave trade, or the centurylong exile of the Messenians under Spartan rule.

Recently, scholars have distinguished between different kinds of Diaspora, based on their causes such as imperialism, trade, or labour migrations, or by the kind of social coherence within the Diaspora community and its ties to the ancestral lands. There are European Diasporas, Asian Diaspora, Internal Diasporas, as we have African Diaspora.

Most African Diaspora left Africa physically but not emotionally, which prompted them to maintain links with their respective countries of origin. This emotional attachment is what each African government should take serious advantage of. Some are refusing to be tagged African Diaspora as they believe they have a home to return to regardless of where they presently reside. Perhaps the common element is the need to encourage all peoples of African descent in the Diaspora to give back to the continent some of their financial resources as well as skills and experiences to help improve the lots of Africa in their respective areas of expertise. In other words, there is a real need to strategize on how best to

Arise Nigeria: Bad news from National Conference states, and that that is unfair to the other five zones. More and more people are now saying that to be fair across board, each zone should have seven states – and that would raise the total number of states to 42. That is how ridiculous this whole thing can get.

The great wonder, the great pity, in all this is that all the Nigerians at the National Conference know that the excessively large number of governments and administrations in our country is one of the most important contributors to our poverty. Apart from the humongous and ponderous federal government, we have to pay salaries and allowances for 36 governors, 36 deputy governors, hundreds of state commissioners, hundreds of advisers of governors, hundreds of top-level civil servants, tens of thousands of lower cadre civil servants, over a thousand state legislators and thousands of their assistants, etc. In many cases, the socalled states are so small that their crowds of employees have nothing important to do.

In many cases also, state employees don’t report for work for many days in the month, and most of those who report for work spend much of the work hourswatching African Magic on television or playing some game. Forced to speak under pressure, most governors have lamented that almost all the money they bring from Abuja monthly goes into paying the salaries of government employees. Some citizens have suggested in the media that as much as 74% of all revenues of the states go into paying salaries. In the circumstance, the state governments have almost no funds left for vital development programmes – like construction and maintenance of infrastructures, or the provision of public services. In most cases, governors that want to be able to show some development resort to borrowing large loans – thereby saddling the future of their states with heavy debts that will be impossible to pay. One Senator cried out in Abuja some months ago that most of our states are on the brink of bankruptcy.

This is not a mess that should be difficult for us Nigerians to recognize. We have lived in another situation before. In the

1950s we had only four governments – a federal government and three regional governments, and that period was the most achieving and most progressive period in our country’s history. Most of the military dictators who, between 1967 and 1999, broke our country into smaller and smaller states, did not do it in order to serve the best interests of our country. Their principal objective was to make the federal government nearly the sole ruler of our country, and creating small and impotent states was one good means of doing it. They succeeded in their great scheme – and they succeeded in degrading our country into a land perpetually devastated and shamed by a monstrous federal government which enjoys the pleasure of toying around with weak and incompetent state governments, a land of hideous poverty and corruption, of hopelessness, conflicts and crimes.

But it is not surprising that most of the influential people in the National Conference should want Nigeria’s degradation to continue. It is not surprising that they desire to sustain the framework and structure upon which Nigeria’s degradation has been installed. Their central interest in Nigeria is to be able to continue to enrich themselves by reveling in Nigeria’s corruption, hopelessness and shame. For them, reducing the number of states in the Nigeria federation means only one thing – reducing their opportunities for public office and graft. There are examples in our world for them to emulate, but they will not do it. India is a country very similar to Nigeria in many dimensions – especially in history and ethnic composition. But India is much larger – about 2000 nationalities to Nigeria’s 300; 1.2 billion population to Nigeria’s 170 million; and territorial size of 1.3million square miles to Nigeria’s 357,000 square miles. Yet, when Indians sat down to restructure their federation, they decided to have only 28 states. Indians were motivated to have strong states that could competently promote development and progress; Nigerians are only looking for chances to benefit from the Nigerian culture of corruption.

Gbogun gboro It should be shocking that the people at the National Conference would reject the alternative proposal before the conference – except that nothing done by Nigeria’s leaders now surprises the world. This other proposal would give our federation just six regions. The idea is that the six zones that we have been operating with for decades should now become our regions – with minor boundary adjustments here and there for the purpose of preserving the integrity of our nationalities (meaning that no nationality shall be split by any regional boundary).

Each region would be a strong entity capable of promoting and advancing development and progress – almost similar to the Nigeria of the 1950s. Each region would have primary control over its natural resources, with the federal government having the power to levy taxes thereon. This would also greatly trim administrative expenses in our country – by cutting the number of state governments from 36 to six. Altogether, this is a powerful development-oriented arrangement which can quickly revive local initiative and morale in our country and quickly lead our country’s economy to new heights of achievement And so, what is the answer? The answer is that we Nigerians must respond strongly from all parts of Nigeria as well as from abroad, compel the delegates at the National Conference to junk their unpatriotic decision, and to adopt the latter proposal above.

The world is surprised that we Nigerians allow our leaders, over and over again, to heap dung on us. Let us stand up and stop this one.

Engaging the Diaspora for inclusive development

By Ibrahim Agboola Gambari tap the skills of African Diaspora to help their respective countries in nation-building for inclusive development in Africa.

We should recognise that Diasporas represent one of the contemporary global forces shaping the directions and trends of this century, which makes it very important to partner and join forces with the Diaspora in the development efforts in their respective countries. Advantage should be taken of the huge presence of African Diaspora resides in such powerful political centres such as London, Paris, New York, and Washington DC, and some other major cities across the world where global policy decisions are made.

In this regard, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) should work for the removal of the major obstacles that hinder the full engagement in development. African governments must, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of poor infrastructure that would challenge the Africa Diaspora’s readiness to contribute to the Africa development. Some other considerations would be the transfer costs, bureaucratic burden, procedures, dual citizenship, investment projects, security for business transactions, and portability of rights, such as voting rights for them. Partnership with Africa Diaspora should include private sector, civil society, academia, public enterprises and other development stakeholders, in promoting institutional change.

Additional strategies should include efforts by various African governments to assess the Diaspora’s development potential, collecting data on Diasporas, overcoming competition among Diaspora groups both socially and professionally, and building partnerships with host countries. There should also be strong and effective communication among various government agencies, community representatives and corporate actors.

On their part, the African Diaspora should be prepared to make necessary sacrifices. While recognizing that some may be willing to return to the continent, some others may find it hard to

abandon their investments in their residing countries, and some others may never think of returning. In effect, the DTCA should encourage African governments to aggressively and creatively push for the African Diaspora to make their contributions in whatever form to Africa’s development. In this regard, the intention of the Nigerian authorities to plan a Diaspora Bond aimed at mobilising savings and thus boost financing for development would be a positive step.

The creation or establishment of African Diaspora associations, through their various social or professional associations, could form a hub for African professionals, where various African governments could recruit experts. Not all Africans in the Diaspora have to be in the government to contribute to the growth of their respective countries. And not everybody can work for the government, or establish businesses.

Meanwhile, there is no doubt that Africans are making tremendous contributions to the development of their host countries in their respective specialities. They compete favourably in areas such as management, medicine, technology, and even politics. Unfortunately, there has been no corresponding impact of their roles in influencing some policies that affect them as a group in their home countries. One of the reasons for this might have been lack of practical approach from their countries of origin to harness their involvement at home. Another reason could be the little or no involvement in their respective communities at home, and lack of cohesive responsiveness in same. Fortunately, some Diaspora communities are maintaining or developing strong political ties with their homeland.

With specific regard to the Nigerian in the Diaspora, who are making remarkable and positive contributions to the development in their host countries, particular reference should be made to Kase Lawal, in Houston, USA, who was once named as one of the top three billionaires in Ebony’s list of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans. In addition, some work at CNN, NASA, Federal, State, County, and City Governments,

in some very sensitive areas. These are models, and the challenge for the Diasporans is to ensure that the activities of the few criminals in their midst does not becloud the contributions and achievements of these flag bearers.

In terms of financial contributions to their respective countries of origin, it was reported in 2012 that an estimated 30 million migrants sent cross-border remittances worth $60 billion to recipients in Africa, benefiting an estimated 120 million residents. According to Soheyla Mahmoudi, the Task Team Leader of African Institute of Remittances (AIR), (with the four member-states of Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya and Mauritius) and Senior Operations Officer in the World Bank’s Africa Region Finance and Private Sector Development, “If the banks that pay out the remittances month after month were to offer the beneficiary families an array of basic financial services such as savings accounts, payment facilities and small loans for micro-enterprise, it is likely that the portion of remittances saved and invested would grow from current levels”.

I conclude this piece with following quote from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” Africans in the Diaspora are not evil; on the contrary, and with few exceptions, they constitute a powerful force for good in their host countries.

They are also part of our heart in the African continent. The African Union declared in 2005 that the Diaspora is the sixth region of the continent. Perhaps Nigeria’s Diaspora of over 25 million can be considered her 37th state. They would remain a powerful socialcultural force, as well as an economic and political enclave in this century.

• Excerpts of a paper delivered by Professor Gambari, CFR, OCORT at a Seminar organised

by Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Abuja

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

In March, the Edo State Government upgraded the 34-year-old College of Education at Ekiadolor to a university. Students are happy with this development, but they say they do not want a university only in name. OSAGIE OTABOR reports.

A varsity only in name?

No, say students

•A lecture hall called poultry.

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T was cheery news for staff and students of the College of Education at Ekiadolor in Edo State, when the government upgraded it to a university.

The upgrade followed a law passed by the Edo State House of Assembly establishing a University of Education at Ekiadolor.

With the upgrade, Ovia North East Local Government Area now houses three universities. The others are Igbinedion University, owned by Chief Osawaru Igbenedion; and the Federal Government owned University of Benin (UNIBEN).

The state government owns the Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma in Edo Central Senatorial District, and the newly established University of Science and Technology at Uzairue in Edo North Senatorial District.

The upgrade of the education college was perhaps in fulfilment of Governor Adams Oshiomhole's promise at a town hall meeting earlier in the year.

For the lecturers, it is a welcome development, especially as the college’s past efforts to award degrees through affiliation with other universities failed.

A lecturer, who did not want to be named, said: "We have prayed for many years for this institution to be upgraded but nobody listened to us. We were surprised when the announcement came and with this a lot of goodies for the school."

However, a lot still needs to be done in terms of infrastructure

INSIDE

£3 could have stopped my education, says Senate Leader -Page 27

ANSU students get school fees waiver THE Anambra State University (ANSU) Uli has waived school fees for students of Technology Education who have to change to other departments because the programme has not been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). -Page 45

for the college, established by Prof Ambrose Alli in 1980, to be worthy of its new status.

Though several buildings have been erected through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), students told our reporter that the college needs more facilities.

Last August, they protested over poor infrastructure in the school. They blocked the Benin-Lagos Expressway for about two days until it was shut.

The access road to the campus, learning facilities and students' hostels are poor. The classrooms, many of which lack fans, cannot be compared with many primary and secondary schools renovated by the government. The Abudu campus of the college is worse off.

Gift Adewale, a 100-Level student lamented that there is no water in the hostels and the classrooms lack adequate seats. She described one of the classrooms as a 'poultry farm'.

"We are managing. We don't have enough seats to attend lectures. We stand because the seats are not enough. I like the university status but facilities like toilets are not good. There is no water in the hostels; students staying in the hostels buy water "The buildings are so tattered and I don't like it. I beg the government to bring more facilities. The classrooms should be neat • Continued on Page 26

CAMPUS LIFE

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

Angry students demand bursary -Page 29

THE NATION THURSDAY,MAY 1, 2014

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EDUCATION

Sokoto spends N657m on foreign scholarship

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•Pupils of Lead Forte Gate School, Ogudu, presenting at the Open House programme of the school.

CRESCENT FILE

ICAN honours varsity THE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has honoured Crescent University, Abeokuta along with 17 other universities, eight polytechnics and 10 tuition centres across Nigeria.

In his keynote address at the Accreditation/Recognition Ceremony, the 49th President of ICAN, Alhaji Kabir Alkali Muhammed, said the recognition was to re-affirm the institute’s commitment to high technical standards as well as facilitate the choice of academic institutions by its numerous students in their quest for accounting knowledge.

He added that such accreditation was part of the quality control measures designed to align the quality of knowledge dissemination by these institutions to global standards on which ICAN benchmarks its training curriculum.

In achieving the set objectives of ICAN, the institute’s Chairman, Students’ Affairs Committee, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola noted that to ensure conformity with the best standard, accreditation teams check students’ entry requirements, physical infrastructure, curriculum development, examination systems, tuition standard, library and ICT facilities.

Kano donates laptops THE Kano State government has donated another batch of laptops to its scholarship students at Crescent University, Abeokuta in fulfillment of its pledge to the institution.

The state had earlier donated 80 laptops to its returning students last year and has now donated 100 to the 100-Level students.

Presenting the HP wireless computers, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hassan Okeleye congratulated the beneficiaries, urging them to make good use of the computers.

He said it was time for the scholarship students to appreciate their state government by getting serious with their studies, urging that they should all work hard to get first-class by the end of their programmes.

He also told the students to explore the opportunity of different packages installed on the computers to aid their academic pursuit.

The vice chancellor extended the university’s appreciation to the Kano State governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for his bold steps at making sure that students from his state benefited from scholarship in different courses.

Also thanking the Kano State government, president of Kano State Students’ Association of the institution, Muhammed Sani advised fellow students to take adequate care of their laptops.

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O fewer than 349 indigenous students from Sokoto state are to benefit from N657 million approved by Governor Aliyu Wamakko for various courses in Bangladesh, India and Uganda.

Similarly, the governor approved over N 19 million for the sponsorship additional two sets of students with the first set of 25 students to commence degree courses in French Language at Abdoul Moumini University, Niamey, in Niger republic.

However, the second set of 50 students will undergo one year of preliminary studies at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto before they travel to Niger for a direct-entry B.A. programme in French.

The sum earmarked for the sponsorship of the students across institutions

in the three countries was contained in a statement signed by Isa Shuni of the state scholarship board and made available to reporters on Tuesday.

The chairman of the board, Alhaji Jelani Kalgo according to the statement said the students would undertake studies both at undergraduate and post graduate levels.

Kalgo said the money would cover tuitions, registration fees, accommodation, transportation and other daily needs for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The other universities they would be traveling to include: Islamic University of Uganda, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health sciences, Bangalore, India and International Islamic University at Bangladesh.

share among NURSS national, local government and chapter presidents always end up in waywardness.”

When contacted on telephone the President, NURSS, UNIPORT chapter, Comrade Tom Amah, confirmed that the sum of N400 was collected from students as logistics and not charges.

“The money was small, it is just N400. We didn’t say the money must be paid before anybody will receive his or her bursary but it was meant to assist us for the logistics that followed the process of the payment of bursary,” he said.

•Gift Adewale

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Group protests sale of bursary form

HE Network of Rivers State Student Activists (NRSSA), a group that made up of student activists from all the universities and colleges in Rivers State have protested the collection of N400 per student as bursary fee.

The group said it is wrong and unlawful for National Union of Rivers State Student (NURSS), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) chapter to forcefully levy the students because of bursary.

The protest was led by the NRSSA Coordinator, Comrade Abby Fyn

said any student of UNIPORT or other universities and colleges in Rivers State who paid any money to the NURSS coffers in the name of bursary should collect it back.

He noted that it will no longer be necessary for students to pay N500 –N1000 as bursary registration form before they could receive their bursaries.

He said NSSRA will do everything within its power to ensure that the exploitation ends. He added that his

group is monitoring other campuses who would exploit its students for the sake of bursary.

Comrade Abby said: “We have maintained that bursary and scholarship scheme should serve as an expression of the government commitment towards assisting the students in their education and should not in any way attract charges.

“We therefore decided to protest as a means to express our disappointment over extortion of students. Of course, the illegal fees collected from students which would be

•COAESU Chairman, Omonuwa Fred

•Ekiadolo Provost

•Faith udoh

• Continued from Page 25

and so many other things," she said.

Another student, who simply called himself, Treasure, said the libraries and laboratories needed attention.

"The library is too small. It does not take a lot of students. Most of the books we need are not there. Most of the laboratories are not equipped. There are no chairs and some students sit on the table to receive lectures. They should forget about the upgrade to the university because those facilities are not available. The hostels are an eyesore.

They should build more buildings and equip the library," Treasure, the 200Level Bio-Chemistry student, said.

However, with the university status, students are optimistic that the environment will soon take shape. They are particularly happy that they would not have to change schools to do their degree programmes. Some students, especially the freshers, told our reporter after the upgrade was announced that they would not bother seeking admission elsewhere after their NCE programmes.

Dio Endurance, in 200 Level Political Science, said it was a good idea for the government to upgrade the school, hailing the Provost, Prof Amen Uhunmwagho, for providing the best for the school.

"The facilities on ground are not okay but the provost is trying. The school is trying. I heard that a new library has been built but it has not been put to use. Our lecturers are also doing their best," he said.

Osadebamwen Anyanbor, who is studying English and Christian Religious Studies (CSR), said: "We thank the government for the upgrade. We don't have most facilities in the school.

The science students do not have what they need. I think with this upgrade, the government will provide those things the students need. It is very important we use these things."

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

‘The kind of varsity we want’ Udoh Faith of Business Education said the university status would stop people from searching for admission after graduating from NCE. "We will just go to the NYSC from here. It will help more people to come in. This school is the best. You can see they are doing renovation now. They are preparing those buildings for the new status."

The lecturers, who are as happy and as optimistic as the students about the upgrade, said they were ready for the conversion as many of them have obtained Ph.Ds, which is the minimum qualification stipulated by the National Universities Commission for university lecturers.

Chairman of the institution's College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Omonuwa Fred, expressed confidence that the institution would overcome its present challenges as its status has changed. He said members are already looking forward to joining the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and urged the government to provide more funding.

He said: "We have challenges as it obtains everywhere, now that we have been made a university, we hope we will overcome them. TETFund is doing a lot of good things here. The government will surmount those challenges in terms of monetary grants and in terms of infrastructure. There is a new library complex at the school. The structures are coming up through the intervention of TETFund. If we are to be a university, we must have a university standard.

"Lecturers’ offices need to be upgraded. The school is ripe enough to be a university. The structures are there. Everyday we have lecturers getting their doctorate degrees. Some are

‘

We are managing.

We don't have enough seats to attend lectures. We stand because the seats are not enough. I like the university status but facilities like toilets are not good.

There is no water in the hostels; students staying in the hostels buy water

’

equivalent to a professor. We are okay in terms of manpower. Other universities used to come for our lecturers.

This is because every lecturer wants to become a professor. Government should input more funding. There will now be more space for those candidates seeking university education."

Uhunmwagho is happy that the upgrade came in his time. He said it was part of his vision for the college to be upgraded to a university when he was first appointed. He said it was that vision that propelled him to work tirelessly to uplift the college.

Uhunmwagho said the transition should not be difficult for students because they were admitted with five Ordinary Level credits, which is the benchmark for admission into colleges of education as obtained in universities and polytechnics.

He also said efforts were being made to improve facilities and re-train work-

ers.

He said: "To the best of our ability, we have been able to attract fund from ETF now TETFund to build projects in the college. The NDDC is building an ICT complex for us.

“Oshiomhole has sent proposals to the Rapid Response to look into the access road to the college. We have been trying to make the place a centre of academic excellence. We have secured N22 million for the training of our staff and one of them will soon travel abroad.

"We devoted N30 million to the purchase of science equipment and chemicals for the seven laboratories from the last intervention we got. We have built two boreholes from TETFund but they are yet to be activated. The governor has also promised two extra boreholes.

"Our lecturers are prepared for the change of status because we have a high number of PhD holders. Some of them go to universities to observe their sabbatical leave."

The host community is also celebrating the upgrade. The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Isaac Osahon, who hails from Ekiadolor, said they have been praying for the upgrade. He expressed hope that the change would bring good things to the community.

A leader of the community, Samson Idehen, described the upgrade as the best gift to the community.

The councillor representing the ward, Uyigue Uyinmwen, said the change in status had been long overdue. He said the institution would have been made a university before Delta State University, Abraka.

Commissioner for Higher Education Mr Washington Osife in a phone chat said the state government is prepared to provide funding for the university.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

EDUCATION

£3 could have stopped my education, says Senate Leader

T

ODAY Victor Ndoma-Egba is the Senate Leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But the story of his life could have been different if a benevolent townsman did not help him to pay his £3 tuition fee in the 60s.

Ndoma-Egba, who represents Cross River State Central Senatorial district in the Senate, said that payment of the money was timely.

He said: “Education is the story of my life. When I was to be admitted into secondary school, we had to raise £3. It was during the civil war.

My father was caught up in Biafra.

My mother had been out of work for some time and we were depending on my late uncle to raise money for me to get admitted into secondary school. He did everything in his power but could not. So the option was to defer my admission till another year. At the point my mother and I had given up.

“As we trekked back from Akparaobong to Ikom, in fact I cried all the way, we ran into Paul Erokoro Senior, who hadn’t seen us for a while. He asked what happened and I told him I had just gained admission into Mary Knoll College but did not have the money. He just put his hand in his back pocket and what

LASU Senate elects DVC THE Senate of the Lagos State University (LASU), has elected Prof. Fidelis Njokanma as the new Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Administration).

Njokanma, a Pediatrician, polled a total 33 votes to beat Prof Olatunji Abanikannda of the Faculty of Science, who had 30 votes.

Prior to this new assignment, Njokanma, has served as Head of Department of Paediatrics, Lagos State College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and Deputy Provost of the College for two terms (20082010 and 2010-2012). He also served as Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences from 2012 to February 2014.

Out of the 139 members of the Senate, 83 signed the attendance register, while 77 members took part in the election.

The post of the DVC (Administration) became vacant after the expiration of the tenure of Prof.

Omolara Bamgboye on December 7, 2013.

APEN holds chess contest THE Association of Professional Educators in Nigeria (APEN) will commence the APEN Qualifying Annual Chess competition on May 17 at two venues, Oxbridge Tutorial College, Ikeja, and Corona School, Ikoyi.

A statement by the Executive Secretary, APEN, Folawe Omikunle, said that 105 participants have registered for the three categories (primary, Junior Secondary, and Senior Secondary/ sixth form categories) of the competition so far.

Omikunle added that the contest would improve the critical thinking skills of the pupils.

“We recognise the importance of chess in increasing strategic thinking skills, stimulating intellectual creativity, and improving problem-solving ability, while raising self-esteem. APEN, therefore, believes strongly in encouraging our students to engage in chess competitions,” he said.

Those who qualify from the preliminaries will compete in the finals to be hosted at Straitgate School, Magodo on May 24.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

came out was three pounds. Since then I have wondered what would have happened to me if the benevolent Erokoro did not provide the three pounds at the point of need.

“So sometimes it is not the amount of money; sometimes it is when the small amount is needed; and for me that three pounds came at the nick of time and made a total difference.

So what I try to do is to make sure that I do it to the best of my ability. I also try to intervene to that level of three pounds in the lives of those who need it at the point of their need.”

As a result of his resolve, over 540 undergraduate and post-graduate students from his Senatorial District enjoy scholarship from him. The scheme was instituted immediately he was elected into the Senate in 2003. The aim is to encourage students acquire good education so their lives can change for the better

‘

the way three pounds did.

About 420 out of the beneficiaries are undergraduates while 120 are post graduate students from the six local government area within his constituency.

“I am very proud of my scholarship programme. Today, we have over 500 beneficiaries at undergraduate and post graduate levels.

It is costing me N60 to N70 million to fund, but I am happy that at least we are able to intervene directly in the lives of those who need such intervention at this point in their lives,” he said.

A good percentage of his constituency projects, worth over N7 billion, is in the education sector. They include: donation of classroom blocks, libraries, ICT centres, bore holes, erosion control works and other facilities.

Some of the beneficiary schools include Enuggwema Secondary School, Ediba in Abi Local Government Area; St Patrick’s Secondary

He just put his hand in his back pocket and what came out was three pounds. Since then I have wondered what would have happened to me if the benevolent Erokoro did not provide the three pounds at the point of need

’

FUNAAB FILE

VC harps on welfare ofstaff

•Ndoma-Egba

School, Yakurr LGA; Primary School, Ogada in Yala LGA; Primary Schools in Abankang, Apkarabong and Adijinkpor in Ikom LGA; and Government Secondary School, Ikom LGA among others.

Also in appreciation of his alma maters, the Universities of Lagos and Calabar where he acquired Bachelors and Masters’ degrees in Law, Ndoma-Egba facilitated the construction of ultra-modern Law Faculties in both institutions by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The University of Calabar Law Faculty complex, expected to gulp N1.2 billion when completed, would have lecture rooms, offices, a library among others.

Speaking on behalf of the contractor, Mr Tawo Tawo said the first phase, which is 70 per cent completed, cost N349 million.

Tawo said the complex would be completed in the next three months.

•From left: Mrs Akinyemiju, Dr Makhado, Dr Egeler, Mr Mike Epp, ACSI Vice President; and Mr Steve Babbit at the press conference

Group advocates Christian education

T

HE Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) stood firm last week on the need to raise godly generations through proper Christian education.

Christian education, according to the international body, is a panacea to bring back the lost moral values and fear of God to the universe.

The Association held a press conference in Lagos occasioned by a oneweek West Africa Roundtable themed: Raising Godly Generations to Transform Nations held at Redemption Resort, Redeemed Christian Church of God camp, Ogun State.

Speaking on the importance of Christian education in a child’s life, International President of ACSI, Dan Egeler, said rising ‘Tsunami’ wave of Christian education is sweeping the world.

“Christian education has a potential to transform the world,” he said.

Reliving his experience as a child to prove the potency of Christian education, Egeler said despite his school lacking facilities, his Christian teacher made the difference.

“I went to a very small rural school in Tanzania. No running water, no electricity. There were no books; nothing in terms of facility but I received a top flight education. A teacher who had taught for 30 years came from the United States and taught us. I had that same teacher

By Adediwura Aderibigbe

for all five years in primary school.

We want to see the power of Christian schools in a hundred countries we are,” he stated.

Earlier, the ACSI’s Director for West Africa, Mrs Adun Akinyemiju spoke on the efficacy of Christian education in creating a society void of corruption and its cohorts and development of excellence.

“For us at ACSI, through Christian schools we believe that the brain that a child has is that of excellence. The

‘

For us at ACSI, through Christian schools we believe that the brain that a child has is that of excellence. The spirit of excellence should be in the life of every child. For a school to be called a Christian school, the pupils must be trained — spiritually they must be developed

’

spirit of excellence should be in the life of every child. For a school to be called a Christian school, the pupils must be trained — spiritually they must be developed.

“Our goal is to raise new generation of children that will have the mind of Christ, serve God with humility and take their place as ambassadors of God’s kingdom here on earth. When they grow up they will do it right. In the media, they will not report in accordance with the pattern of the world, they will report in a godly way. In politics, they will go out having the mind to serve the people because Christ came as a servant. They will be children who after graduation from school would want to serve not wanting to steal or cheat. They would want to go all out and do things right,” she said.

Mr Samson Makhado, Africa Regional Director for ACSI, said Christian education provides the best preparation for the future.

“We need to prepare the next generation through Christian education.

We want to prepare for the best Africa. The Africa we can be proud of.

It is coming, coming with good economy. We want to deepen and produce the right people for this continent. Our values were stolen now it is found. We can change if we do this together. We need to do it together,” he said.

THE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and President, Association of African Universities, Prof Olusola Oyewole, has reiterated the university’s commitment to promoting the welfare of members of staff.

Oyewole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Prof Felix Salako, gave this assurance during a workshop on Capacity Building on Investment of Pension Fund and Returns of Investment Portfolio under the old pension scheme for the Pension Board of Trustees of FUNAAB, in Badagry, Lagos.

He said the university is timely in its monthly payment of pension to pensioners and up-to-date in the upward reviews of pensions by the Federal Government.

Papers presented during the workshop included: Guidelines on Pension Fund Utilisation and Management, by the Head, Research and Policy, National Pension Commission, Abuja, Dr. Babatunde Alayande; Financial Management in the Nigerian Business Climate, by the CEO, Financial Derivatives Company, Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, among others.

NIAS President counsels graduands THE President, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Prof Placid Njoku, has urged the newlyinducted Animal Science graduates of FUNAAB to fight food insecurity urgently by investing in livestock farming using the best scientific and management practices.

Njoku, who gave this charge during the first induction for four sets of Animal Science graduates of the university into NIAS, lamented that the current average annual protein consumption of an adult Nigerian is less than one-third of the recommendation by the Food and Agricultural Organisation because majority of the country’s animal protein is imported.

The NIAS President, represented by the President, Animal Science Association (ASAN), Mrs. Mope Omotosho, also called for the regulation of the processing and handling of livestock products to enhance their quality meets international standards.

Dons lament depleting resources MEMBERS of the Forests and Forest Products Society recently ended their 4th Biennial Conference at FUNAAB decrying the shrinking forest resources of Nigeria.

The theme of the conference, Forests and Forest Products: Key to Sustainable Livelihood was addressed in the keynote address by Prof Benjamin Ola-Adams, who blamed the depletion on unsustainable wood extraction for timber, fuel wood and charcoal.

The Professor of Forestry and Wildlife Management also blamed it on agricultural expansion, infrastructural development including construction of roads, dams, pipe lines and forest fires caused by bush burning.

Ola-Adams, who chairs the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Committee on Nigerian National Man and the Biosphere (MaB), said the country should aim at achieving sustainable livelihood or a ‘green economy’ by securing better health care, education, and job creation, increasing social equity by ending perpetual poverty, ensuring social equity, reducing environmental risk and addressing climate change.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

EDUCATION

Lagos plans changes in tertiary institutions

A

PROPOSAL to re-design the education content in tertiary institutions in Lagos State is underway. When perfected, it is expected to transform tertiary institutions owned by the state into centres of excellence. This was disclosed by Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN, at the convocation of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto/Ijanikin, Thursday last week for sets 32, 33 and 34 comprising 8,366 graduands.

Fashola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Oluranti Adebule, said the revolution was necessary to justify government’s huge investment in the institutions.

He said: “I must mention that the state government is currently working on a proposal that would revolutionalise the architecture for tertiary institutions in Lagos State, making it more result-oriented. We intend to re-model our tertiary institutions to become more focused, efficient, purpose-driven and professionalised.

“We should not have tertiary institutions just for the sake of it. Our institutions should transparently justify the huge investment of public fund and collective attention devoted to their existence. By now, re-

T

By Adegunle Olugbamila

mote teaching, distance learning, life-long training, should constitute permanent features of the academic composition of our institutions. We need institutions that are Centres of Excellence in the true sense of the expression.”

Fashola also promised that other areas of education across levels would not also suffer, assuring of his government’s continued investment in education in the state.

“Let me reiterate that we shall continue to invest in the future of our children, our youths and indeed our nation through proper investment in education within the limit of our resources. Education is no doubt, the most fundamental weapon to fight poverty, to intimidate ignorance, to defeat religious extremism and to ensure social orderliness,” he said.

He, however, said that only quality teaching delivered by the well- trained and committed teachers can produce globally competitive graduates.

The Provost, Mr. Wasiu Bashorun, said the college would have loved to make the convocation bigger, but for the grief in the nation caused by incessant kidnappings, ritual killings, and terrorist attacks.

•Some of the graduands at the event

He urged the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to release the girls abducted from the Government Science Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State immediately and unconditionally.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu and a former provost of the college, Prof.

Bashiru Oderinde were conferred with the institution’s fellowship award.

Justifying the choice of the recipients, Bashorun said Oderinde, is a true son of Lagos and an accom-

plished scholar, while Senator Tinubu used her exalted office to facilitate TETFund grants for the construction of a 1,200-seater auditorium for the college, completed a day to the convocation and which served as the venue of the event.

The interim Chairman of the Governing Council, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, congratulated the graduates and urged them to make positive impact as they venture into another endeavour in life.

Educationist to pupils: read, write, explore

HE Chief Executive Officer, Association of International School Educators of Nigeria, Mr Ola Opesan, has said pupils can only distinguish themselves if they read, write and explore.

Opesan spoke as the guest speaker during the Open House programme of Lead Forte Gate School in Ogudu, Lagos.

He said that any pupil that reads

and engages in extensive research would be different among his peers because of the experience and indepth knowledge he would gain.

He praised the school for going beyond academics to inculcate entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of various cultures in the pupils.

He made reference to the likes of Mungo Park, Lander brothers, Socrates and others who excelled

through self-inspired exploration and research that have been of significant assistance for years.

In his remarks, chairman of the School, Tunde Lemo, underscored the importance of the Open House as one of the core values of the school aimed at establishing relationships among pupils, parents, teachers, and the community at large.

He implored parents to comple-

AAUA FILE

New fire truck arrives THE Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) has taken delivery of a 300-Litre fire truck for its Fire and Safety Unit.

The procurement was followed by training for members of the unit to institutionalize a safety culture in the university.

Inaugurating the truck on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, Wednesday last week, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Rotimi Ajayi, enjoined the trainees to apply their minds to the training for effective service delivery. He warned against misuse and urged the members of the university community to observe safety tips.

“I would like to stress the need for proper maintenance of the truck in line with the transportation policy of the university. For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances must the truck be used outside the university,” he said.

He urged members of the university community to cooperate with the Fire and Safety Unit by observing basic fire and safety tips as may be reeled out by the Fire Unit from time to time.

The DVC praised the unit for swiftly putting out the fire that started at the university’s MBA building recently.

The Fire Superintendent, Mr. Ibrahim Awodeyi, promised that the truck would be put to judicious use.

Student runs for Nigeria A 400-Level student of Human Kinetics and Health Education, AAUA, Miss Omolara Omotoso, is among the athletes representing Nigeria in the RAC relay race holding in California, United States.

RAC relay is a part of preparation for the Commonwealth Games coming up later in the year.

Omotoso has won gold medals at the 2011 All Africa Games held in Maputo, Mozambique; 2011 National Sports Festival, and the Nigerian University Games (NUGA, 2011 to date).

She represented Nigeria in 4 X 400m Relay Women at the 2012 London Olympics.

Meanwhile, an Alumnus of the University, Mr. Louis Adekola, who graduated from Department of Educational Management, is the only Nigerian and one of the three Africans among the 120 global participants for the 12-month Accelerator Programme known as Merit Next, which would take the participants to Liverpool, London, New York, Washington D.C. and their own countries.

This programme will offer the young leaders from across the globe an opportunity to get intensive leadership training with a view to grooming them into outstanding leaders.

The programme will start in London and Liverpool, United Kingdom in July with two weeks of inspiration, aspiration assessment, and team building.

The participants will return to their respective countries where they will be engaged in online training and education, one-on-one mentoring and internship in the remaining 11 months.

In June 2015, the Merit Next Fellows will converge on the United States of America (New York & Washington DC) to present their final reports to a panel of entrepreneurs, executives and venture capitalists.

S

ment the efforts of teachers in grooming their children into role models and future ambassadors of the school.

He advised parents to always be at par with their wards possibly by assisting them in their home work.

On his part, the Principal of the school, Dr Ben Greyling, said the school focuses on enriching the minds of the pupils with the right knowledge.

Varsity holds session on health insurance

TUDENTS of the Federal University, Lokoja, in Kogi State have been exposed to the benefits of Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

At an interactive session with management of the scheme at the University Auditorium, the students were able to clear their doubts about the sincerity of the government initiative, which is being managed by Healthstone, one of the licensed Health Management organisation (HMO) in the country.

The Dean, Students Affairs, Dr Mohammed Audu, presented two students who were treated of serious ailments under the scheme earlier in the academic session.

He explained that all the students N3, 000 contributed to the scheme at the start of the session was pooled to save the lives of the duo.

The Desk Officer of NHIS at the university, Mal Abubakar Abdul told them the steps to take in getting a refund in case they paid for a medical service at any accredited health providers. He said that all the Health Centres across the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State are known to Healthstone and NHIS. He explained that the scheme has no service limits except if the service is not under a medical field and it covers only an individual.

Dr Magnus Ogaraku, a medical officer at the University Health Centre implored the students to visit to discuss their health challenges.

Exam Ethics plans students’ summit THE Exam Ethics Marshals International (EEMI) is leading students in tertiary institutions to rise against sorting – the act of selling grades, intimidating students for cash, sex and other material benefits by unscrupulous lecturers at a Summit this month.

Over 1,000 students and principal officers of 357 universities, polytechnics, monotechincs and colleges of education in Nigeria are expected to attend the First National Exam Ethics Summit for students scheduled for May 23 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Deans of Students Affairs of various institutions are expected to submit the names of three student delegates to the organisers by May 14.

A statement by the founding chairman of Exam Ethics, Mr Ike Onyechere, noted that the summit is aimed at empowering students to promote best practices and resist malpractices.

It described sorting malpractice as “the most dangerous mutation of examination malpractices and academic dishonesty whereby unscrupulous lecturers blatantly sell marks and grades for cash, sex and other material benefits to intimidated students.”

The summit will feature the inauguration of the National Coalition of Exam Ethics Students against Sorting; formal launch of the Antisorting social media network; and the Students Support Services Call Centre; and students day of inspiration with leaders and mentors will also feature as an important component of the summit.

Prizes worth N1,500,000 will be presented to winners of the National Exam Ethics Open Essay Competition for undergraduates on the topic: Curbing Examination Malpractices and Promoting Best Practices in Tertiary Education at the

•President, Ikeja Platinum Lions Club, Mr Abiola Iyanda (second left) with some members of the club (from left), Mrs Catherine Adeyemi, Mrs Abiose Adebimpe, Mrs Wumi Adeoye, Mrs Yemi Karunwi, and Mr Olawale Faturoti at the inauguration of a library at Mende Junior High School, Maryland, Lagos.

29

My plans for LAUTECH,

by Tinubu

*CAMPUSES

Towards a cashless policy on campus

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 42

Page 31

CAMPUS LIFE

THE NATION

0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Nasarawa State students in higher institutions across the country are up in arms against the government. They are not happy with the Scholarship Board for allegedly mishandling the payment of their bursary, reports KAMALUDEEN ABUBAKAR (200-Level Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi).

Angry students demand bursary T

HE atmosphere was charged last Thursday at the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK). Students from the state in different higher institutions gathered on the campus, complaining over the non-payment of their bursary. They gathered under the aegis of Nasarawa State Students Association (NASSA) to protest what they described as the government’s failure to keep its promise to them.

In response to their complaints last year, the government introduced the scratch cards to enable them register and access scholarship application form. The card was sold for N400. However, three months after they submitted their application and were verified, they have not been told when they will be paid their bursary.

In March, the students planned to stage a protest when they learnt that Governor Umaru Almakura would be visiting to lay the foundation for some hostel.

The demonstration was shelved because the governor did not come. The students are worried by the government’s silence over the non-payment of their bursary. They are accusing the government of extorting them by asking them to buy scratch cards before they could be paid.

Our correspondent gathered that the last time the students got their bursary was in 2007 during Governor Abdullahi Adamu’s administration. The students accused the government of playing politics with their future. While rating the Almakura-led administration high on infrastructure, they scored it low on welfare packages for the youth.

Ibrahim Osabo, a 400-Level Biology Education student, said the government has disappointed the students, noting that the Scholarship Board’s silence may be a ploy by the government not to pay.

He said: “It is disheartening that government is not concerned about students’ welfare. Since my days in 100 Level, I have never been paid bursary. We were happy when this government announced it will pay the

•Almakura

money. But, to our greatest surprise, nothing has been heard of the scholarship funds after they screened us. This is a sign that Governor Almakura is playing politics with the issue because it appears he wanted to score cheap point with his statement. We will not be tricked again; we will not allow a repeat of what happened in the last administration when students were asked to purchase the application form for N2,500 and nothing was paid at the end.”

According to Musa Bello, a Bayero University, Kano (BUK) student, the government is not paying attention to students’ welfare. He described the bursary as meagre, saying: “We were told the amount they planned to pay us ranges between N5,000 and N7,500. If this is true, the money would be too small to pay students as bursary in today’s Nigeria where prices of commodities are high and expensive. We are aware of how much other states are paying their students. There is no state that pays less than N20,000 as bursary allowance. So, ours should not be an exception. The

•Musa

governor must speak up and tell us what is going on,” he said.

The students are also confused about what the government wants to pay. They said the Scholarship Board has not told beneficiaries whether it would pay scholarship or bursary allowance and how much it would pay.

“They insisted that what they want to pay is scholarship, but no criteria were given for qualification. Usually, the scholarship allowance is paid according to students’ Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and not many students benefit from it compared to bursary that is paid to everybody. They only asked the students to purchase the scratch card. So, we don’t know which they want to pay,” a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, who did not say his name, said.

Muhammad Abubakar, a former studentleader, said: “Why would the government want to pay N5,000 as bursary? This amount would not add anything to students, some of who study in places such as Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa. How much have

they spent on transport to attend the screening alone? The government should consider at least N20,000 for students if the scheme is to be meaningful.”

Philips Chorio, caretaker president of the NASSA, urged students to remain calm, pledging that the association would visit the Scholarship Board to ascertain the cause of the delay in payment.

He said: “I want to passionately appeal to our members not to entertain any fear regarding the payment as we are making efforts to ensure they are paid. We are aware of the statement made by the executive secretary of the state Scholarship Board that the amount payable starts from N5000. But that is not a problem as the governor is going to call us for a meeting and we will leverage on that to discuss the rate with him.”

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Students and Youth Affairs, Mallam Kasim Muhammad Kasim, said the government was ready to pay, but was waiting for the •Continued on page 30

•Education is power, Ikuforiji tells students-P32 •Medical student dies -P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

30

CAMPUS LIFE Still on the Polytechnic crisis

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FTER the publication of my article last week on the dearth of skilled technicians in the country, I received series of calls and messages from readers and concerned stakeholders in the industrial and education sectors. I had thought that after four articles in three months I would rest the issue temporarily so as to monitor the response of government and stakeholders. The responses came almost instantly which goes to show that polytechnics still have a fundamental and critical role to play in our quest for technological breakthrough.

The same day the article was published, the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike declared - on behalf of the Federal Government - that the issue of dichotomy between HND and Degree holders will soon be resolved as President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim, to address the challenge.

One of the early callers last Thursday was Dr. Leo Okereke, the National President Technologists in Engineering in Nigeria and the representative of technologists in the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). For the records, COREN was established by decree 55 of 1970 and amended

by Decree 27 of 1992, now the “Engineers (Registration, etc) Act, CAP E11 of 2004” Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Act establishes COREN as a statutory body of the Federal Government empowered to regulate the Practice of Engineering in all aspects and ramifications in Nigeria.

After apologising for calling rather than sending in a SMS because “the issue at stake is beyond SMS,” he told me during our telephone discussion that “this would be one of the best things to happen in Nigeria.” He however has some concerns and reservations based on feelers they have been receiving from a “cabal” within the government.

One of such feelers was that certain individuals bent on ensuring that the policy will not see the light of day are insisting that if the dichotomy is removed, HND holders would move to have arrears paid them since the

Pushing Out with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com policy started decades ago! Okereke described this as “simply ridiculous” as the main concern of technologists is for government to break down the barriers and allow them do what they are best suited for.

Secondly, he mentioned that certain forces are already moving to ensure that HND holders never rise to the position of permanent secretaries in government ministries. To this set of people, he said “our calling is entrepreneurial. Technology is moving Asia and other areas, why not Nigeria? How long are we going to remain in our cocoon while other parts of the world are moving with remarkable speed?” These to me are thought provoking questions that our policy makers should consider rather than looking at political and administrative bottlenecks.

While addressing chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education in Kaduna during a special retreat; Wike said that the SGF and members of the committee met with Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, (penultimate week) to resolve the lingering dichotomy.

It is no longer news that HND holders are discriminated against not just by private employers but also by various levels of the Nigerian government. When employed into government ministries, fresh HND holders are recruited to Level 7 while fresh BSc holders are recruited to Level 8.

Recall that the removal of the dichotomy between the two categories of graduates is among the demands of the striking polytechnic lecturers. Wike also said that other demands have also been resolved. He said the issue of the release of white-paper for visitation panels to Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education is being concluded at the Office of the SGF.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADS THE Nation CAMPUSLIFE, in collaboration with AfricanLiberty.org and Network for a Free Society, is calling for entries into an essay competition.

Details are as follows: Question: Freedom creates prosperity. It unleashes human talent, invention and innovation, creating wealth where none existed before. Discuss.

Eligibility: All African Students in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in Africa. The format of the text should be in Microsoft word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested students can visit www.africanliberty.org for background materials. Note that plagiarism is not allowed; any text or sentences copied from other people works must be indicated in quotation marks and credit must be given at the bottom of the paper to the author. Any entry that contains plagiarised work will be disqualified.

On the first page of the completed essay, please write your full names, department, level of study and name of institution.

Also include your email address and mobile phone number.

Send your entries to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com Entries will be received between March 6 and June 6, 2014.

Late entries will not be accepted. Winners will be announced on July 3 , 2014. All entries will get a free book titled Why Liberty

by Tom G. Palmer OR Foundation of a Free Society by Eamonn Butler. Please be sure you include your postal address if different from your school address.

Prizes: 1st - George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at the University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, from August 14-17, 2014 2nd - Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at the University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, from August 14- 17, 2014 3rd - Derenle Edun (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at University of Cape Town Business School. South Africa, from August 14- 17, 2014 4th – The Nation CAMPUSLIFE Media Prize (Bronze): $300 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at the University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, from August 14- 17, 2014.

We also have eight consolation prizes of $50 each.

Beyond the release of the white paper, the minister also extended an olive branch to ASUP by calling on the chairmen of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education to assist the federal government by deploying their relevant skills towards resolving the lingering strike action of the lecturers.

“Permit me to call on our lecturers to call-off their protracted strike to enable academic activities commence in the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. Let us show understanding with government and the challenges before it and call-off the strike. We acknowledge the importance of teacher education and polytechnic education and as responsible government we will not down-play their roles in national development and prosperity,” Chief Wike said.

He urged the striking unions – who have been on strike since October 2013 while colleges of education lecturers, COEASU, have been on strike since December 2013 - to reciprocate the gesture of President Jonathan by calling off their strike and resuming academic work in the interest of the nation.

While commending the FG for extending the olive branch, I still feel there is more to be done to properly reposition our polytechnics. This does not start and end with the FG and state governments alone, all stakeholders have a role to play here. There is nothing wrong if the government sit again and again at the negotiation table with ASUP to fine tune some of the gray areas of their demands, just like it did with ASUU. This will act as a confidence building mechanism that may gradually start changing the fortunes of our polytechnics.

I also believe that public opinion has not been fair to ASUP and our polytechnics. Throughout the duration of last years prolonged ASUU strike, no day passes without it being mentioned in the news or on social media platforms. But unfortunately, that has not been the case with ASUP as the nation seems to move ahead oblivious of the damage being done to such a critical sector.

Instructively, Dr. Okereke - with a tinge of sarcasm - said technologists are not happy with the present discriminatory system, but “Since the major concern of most Nigerians is to acquire certificates, then let’s all acquire certificates and see how we can move forward without the practical application of the knowledge we acquire.”

The pursuit of certificates - I must add and

concur - has done incalculable damage to our education system more than we care to acknowledge. For those who have been opportune to sit on job interview panels, one recurring decimal that will often times stares you in the face is the gulf between the certificate of an applicant and the applicant himself. How, for instance, do you reconcile a first class or second class upper degree certificate with an individual that can hardly express himself? The question that will run through your mind will be how in the world did he or she get this certificate?

I have pondered this question for some time now and feel that our tertiary education system should look beyond the award of certificates to ensuring that graduates are imbued with skills that will make them meaningful members of the society which our polytechnics – before they became shadows of their former selves – were doing. It is strange that undergraduates go through higher education for four, five and sometimes six years without having the inkling about where the degrees they are acquiring will lead them after school other than the porous hope that they will get some job and start a career somewhere.

I’ve observed this critically and have found out that a fallout - and prominent feature of our society today - is the proliferation of workshops, seminars, refresher courses and conferences aimed at bridging the lacuna created by the quest for certificates by Nigerians graduates.

This lacuna has created a bourgeoning new “industry” of motivational speakers and “life” coaches who have cashed in on the problem.

They are developing at a very rapid rate and there obviously seems to be a very ripe market of “buyers” for these services in the halfbaked, poorly trained and ill-exposed products of our educational system. However, this is not to say that some of these workshops and conferences are not necessary, some credible ones definitely are.

Without doubt, education is one of the major arbiters of socialisation but when it is reduced to mere ability to obtain a certificate by fair or foul means; it becomes a tool for underdevelopment and retro gradation of a scale hardly imagined. Our present leadership crisis is a pointer to this fact.

For qualitative education to be achieved and sustained, critical value must be placed on it so that those who receive it can see beyond its “putting food on the table” and refocus on the imperative to apply the gains of education to the needs of society.

Peter Amayo is a student of History at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), but he has passion for television and radio presentation. The 200-Level student anchors Team Rhythm, Dance Party and Make it or Break it programmes on Silverbird Rhythm FM in Benin-City. He tells RICHARD ENAKE (100-Level International Studies and Diplomacy) how he uses his skill to help youths to attain their goals.

W

HO are your audience and how do you describe the level of reception of your programmes?

It is hard to know the people that listen to my programmes on the radio, but I must say that I anchor peogrammes everyone can relate with. From toddlers to the youth as well as the old people, I enjoy an appreciable level of followership.

This is because I try to balance programmes for the benefit of everyone.

What has been the impact of your programmes, especially on the youth?

First, I make sure every programme has a message for the audience. I don’t just do shows for the fun of it; there is always a lesson to be learnt, directly or indirectly.

For me, my programmes are not an ordinary affair; they have to propel us to something higher. Even the crazy dance party I do with my colleague, I try to make sure I teach my listeners, at least, one thing in the course of the show. Secondly, I use myself as an example to show that no one is too young to attain any goal in life. I had the dream to be a

‘No age limit to success’ television and radio presenter when I was a teenager. I am in my early twenties and I am doing just that. So I tell the youth that a little effort everyday will help attain their goals.

Who is your role model?

I am inspired by quite a number of persons. But first, I look up to IK, a brother and on-air personality at Rhythm FM in Lagos. Then, I respect Pierce Morgan and Isioma Osaje.

Isioma is such an amazing lady that I look up to as well.

What are your challenges as a young broadcaster?

My only challenge is the age factor. A lot of older people write me off as greenhorn, even though they are yet to ascertain the level of my delivery.

How do you balance your studies and your radio programmes?

I must say that it is not easy combing the two. But I try as much as I can to give adequate time to study because for me, education comes first.

What I have been able to do so far is to strike a balance between career

•Peter

and education.

Do you intend to become a broadcaster in the future?

Yes. I have plans to grow bigger, learn from veterans and also develop my own style. This has always been my dream. It feels good to be living your dream at a young age because there is no age limit to success.

Angry students demand bursary

•Continued from page 29

Scholarship Board to streamline the list of beneficiaries before disbursement.

Mallam Suleman Abdulwahab, Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board, told CAMPUSLIFE that the Board was still screening applicants’ credentials, and, as such, it

could not proceeed with disbursement. “As soon as we are done, the money will be disbursed to over 21,000 beneficiaries that applied for the scholarship,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

31

CAMPUS LIFE Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso rolled out the drums last Wednesday to welcome the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was installed as the institution’s fourth chancellor.

MARYAM MURITADHA (100-Level Accounting) reports.

My plans for LAUTECH, by Tinubu

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HE ancient city of Ogbomoso in Oyo State was agog last Wednesday. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, led frontline academics and politicians to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso for his investiture as the institution’s fourth chancellor. The institution is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states.

Students swarmed the school’s Convocation Ground – the venue of the event - to welcome Tinubu and his entourage.

Tinubu, who was conferred with Doctor of Management Science (honoris causa) at a special convocation of the university, did not leave the campus without words for students.

Amidst cheers, Tinubu, in academic gown, mounted the podium to read his speech titled: Two faces of despair.

The students roared in excitement when he described them as “the brightest young people one can find”. In Aluta fashion, the politician made a shout out to the students, saying: “The best of you must be meri-

toriously rewarded and be immediately employable as you are armed with the capacity to excel.”

According to him, the nation stands at the threshold of greatness and failure. Excellent graduates of higher institutions, he said, are the hope the nation has to solve the myriad of problems facing it and improve the lives of the people. The APC leader vowed to restore LAUTECH’s lost glory, saying the institution would, under his chancellorship, churn out the best brains that would develop the country.

He said: “Today, this nation stands at the threshold between greatness and failure. It loiters in the hallway between progress and collapse, darkness and light. As if blindfolded, we seem unable to decide the way to go. We must summon the courage to see what is before us that we may take the right direction. We look to institutions such as this to provide workable solutions to our problems and to nurture individuals with the vision and character to improve our national life.

“Today, we vow to return LAUTECH to its best self. We can make it better because we have a great team committed to this goal. We shall write a

•Tinubu flanked by the institution’s Visitors, Governor Aregbesola and Governor Ajimobi (left)

new chapter by elevating this school to where its name is mentioned anytime technological education is discussed. Nay sayers will scoff that this pledge is made of the stuff one talks when invested as chancellor.

But, I have not come this far by speaking empty words. I have no intention of assuming that habit at this stage in my life.”

As chancellor, Tinubu said he would do his best for the school, adding: “I dare not do less because I follow in the footsteps of men who never saw failure as an option. This school has benefited from the exalted service of three chancellors before me; these men were some of Nigeria’s best.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sulaimon Gbadegesin, justified the choice of Tinubu for the position,

saying the former governor has shown that he is a good manager of resources and a true leader.

He said: “Senator Tinubu is now the fourth chancellor. It is a privilege to have such a great leader as our chancellor. Thank you Governors Ajimobi and Aregbesola for giving us the best candidate as our chancellor.

This will help the university to become one of the best in Africa.”

Victor Oladeji, a 500-Level Animal Production and Health student, said: “Considering Tinubu’s influence, I have no doubt that the school visitors have chosen the best man that would improve the university’s standard and make it a force to reckon with in the comity of tertiary institutions in Africa.”

Kayode Alabi, a 500-Level Management and Accounting student,

said: “With Tinubu’s appointment, I see LAUTECH becoming a university of excellent and high standard.

The chancellor should also use his influence to ensure that tuition fee will not be increased arbitrarily.”

The ceremony was attended by Tinubu’s political associates, including APC National Leader Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Others are Governors Rauf Aregbesola, Abiola Ajimobi, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Osun, Oyo and Kwara states.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike has turned many polytechnics to ghost towns. The situation is not different at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (ADO POLY), reports TEMITOPE YAKUBU (ND II Mass Communication).

Counting the costs of ASUP strike

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HE ongoing Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike has turned public polytechnics to ghost towns. With no end in sight to the 10-month-old industrial action, the academic and economic losses cannot be quantified.

The ASUP is demanding implementation of the 2009 agreements it reached with the Federal Government, which, among others, include autonomy, improved funding of technological education and an end to the discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.

While the striking teachers have vowed not to return to work unless the government implemented vital aspects of the agreement, polytechnics’ campuses are being taken over by weeds, with some teaching facilities deteriorating.

At the Federal Polytechnic in Ado Ekiti (ADO POLY), business centre operators and vendors, who used to be around whenever students were on holiday, have disappeared because of the protracted strike.

The school came alive last December when it was reopened to enable students write the semester examination. But, in February, the

•A deserted canteen on the campus

local ASUP re-aligned with its counterparts and shut down the campus.

When CAMPUSLIFE visited the campus last week, our correspondent could hear the echo of his footsteps as he walked from one area to another. It is a sign that the strike has completely paralysed activities in the school.

All offices and restaurants were shut. The motion ground (photography area) was deserted; no students to pose before photographers’ lenses. The campus was like a graveyard’s.

Checks by CAMPUSLIFE revealed that some lecture halls have

begun to crack because they were not being used for academic activities. The polytechnic roads were deserted.

A visit to the Schools of Environmental, Engineering, Business Studies and Technology showed the telling effect of the strike on the school. The teaching equipment and chairs in the buildings were dusty and unkempt.

The strike is also affecting the socio-economic wellbeing of the host community. A great number of residents in the community engages in petty trading within and around the campus to sustain their families. The worst-hit are

food vendors whose customers are mostly students.

Mrs Olamide Dada, who operates a restaurant within the campus, lamented the effect the strike is having on her business. She said before the strike, she used to make daily sales of N20,000. “I hardly make N3,000 daily since the strike began,” she said.

Mrs Dada said by 12 noon, campus becomes quiet as all restaurants and offices would be closed for the day – unlike the 24 hours they were using to open their businesses when there was no strike.

Also, cab and commercial motor-

cycle operators are bemoaning the protracted strike, which, according to them, is affecting their incomes.

Some of them, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said they were finding it difficult to feed their families.

Rotimi Abiodun, a cab operator, said he had not been able to feed his family properly because of the strike. He said: “I used to make between N4,000 and N5,000 daily when students were on campus but the situation has changed for me. I hardly get N1,000 daily.”

Mr Demola Adebiyi, a business centre operator, shared a similar view. He said his only source of income was being crumbled by the strike. He said: “It appears the ASUP strike is to make me suffer because my only source of income has almost been blocked. I used to be busy when there was no strike but the strike has rendered me idle now.”

He called on the government and lecturers to reach an agreement and end the action in the interest of all.

A photographer, Alex Oke, said the strike has affected everybody on the campus.

Vice President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Michael Akinfolarin, appealed to the government to consider the demands of the lecturers. He said: “Many families are relying on the income they make from doing business on the campus to cater for their needs.

Therefore, resolving the strike is also resolving the people’s predicament.”

The local ASUP chairman, Mr Tunji Owoeye, said the strike would continue except the government concedes to ASUP’s demands to develop technological education in Nigeria.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

32

CAMPUS LIFE

Final year students sign out From Hammed Hamzat UI

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•Students at the meeting

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HE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Prof Rahamon Bello, has discussed with students’ leaders in an interactive session on the school policies.

Participants included presidents of faculty associations, class representatives and presidents of indigenous associations.

Joining the VC in the session, which was held at the Julius Berger Hall, were the VC’s seputies on Academics and Research, Prof Babajide Alo, and Prof Duro Oni, Management Services. Others are Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof

Education is power, Ikuforiji tells students

VC meets students’ leaders From Modiu Olaguro UNILAG Kayode Amund, Registrar, Dr Taiwo Ipaye, Bursar, Mr Lateef Odekunle and Librarian, Dr Adebimpe Fadehan.

Prof Bello urged the students to be patient with the university on the accommodation challenges they are facing, stressing that the government had given approval to the university to build more hostels. He assured students that all the

Halls of Residence would be refurbished in time.

The VC promised that all rooms in the school hostels would have toilet attached to them. He listed the institution’s ongointg projects to include construction of 15-storey library, 12-storey Law faculty, 12storey Faculty of Education Complex, School of Post-graduate Studies and a complex for the Distance Learning Institute.

Speaking on victimisation and abuse, Prof Bello told the students

to report offenders to the authorities, saying the university would not tolerate victimisation of students on campus. condone any act of abuse.

He called on members of the university to be security conscious and report suspicious move around the university.

The VC assured the students that their union would be restored soonest, noting that plans were on top gear to bring back the SUG.

Student slumps in test hall

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HE Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan (UI) was filled to capacity when students from various higher institutions in Oyo State gathered for the public lecture with the theme: 100 years of nationhood: The roles of the youth in politics and national development. The lecture organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole, who was represented by the Registrar Mr Olujinmi Olukoya, urged the participants to take advantage of the knowledge they would gain from the lecture.

The union president, Babatunde Badmus, said the UI had continued to achieve academic excellence and success despite the challenges facing education in the country.

The special guest and Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, described education as the best leveller, urging students acquire sound education to be change agents in the society.

“Your education and entrepre-

M

EMBERS of the National Association of Zoology Students (NAZS) and students of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) were thrown into mourning last weekend when they got the news of the death of a final year student, Anas Haruna.

Haruna, who was the association’s president, died in a road crash on Sokoto-Gusau-Kaura Expressway last Friday.

The deceased was said to be travelling home for mid-semester

RADUATING students of the University of Ibadan (UI) gathered at the Students’ Union Building foyer to participate in the valedictory programme organised by the union. The graduating students signed into the Year Book, which the union provided at the event.

The union Vice President, Seun Adebiyi, said the programme was organised to celebrate the graduating students for their patience, hard work and commitment to their academic pursuits.

Dance and eating competitions were also organised for the outgoing students. The contests were facilitated by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, manufacturer of Indomie Noodles.

The union Treasurer, Olaolu Adaramodu, described the programme as a success, saying it gave the students an opportunity to reunite and foster cooperation among themselves.

The General Secretary, Ayokanmi Akinbuluma, thanked his colleagues for the massive turnout. He charged them students to be good ambassadors of the institution.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Johnson Oke, a graduating student of Physics, praised the union for organising the signing out ceremony for the students.

From Oluwafemi Aliu FUNAAB

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•Prince Adesegun, Hon. Ikuforiji and Hon. Sunmonu (all in front row) and other guest with students after the event

From Hammed Hamzat UI neurial skills can take the country out of cesspit of corruption and backwardness,” he said.

Ikuforiji noted that a country that failed to educate its youths and harness their potential should wait for its doomsday. He said the secret of development in any nation was in building young minds with requisite knowledge and skills.

He added: “The ability of nations to rise and consolidate the gains of globalisation lies in training and

educating the youths particularly in leadership and development programmes.”

The Lagos Speaker challenged the participants to use their wisdom to choose worthy and credible leaders in the coming elections.

In the question and answer session, a student told Hon. Ikuforiji to initiate a legislation that would compel Lagos State Government to reduce tuition fees of Lagos State University (LASU) students. The students said the move would make education affordable and accessible to the children of the poor.

The event was chaired by Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, who is a former Speaker of the union. Adesegun urged students to be focused.

At the event were Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, member, Hon. Olusegun Olaleye and university bursar, Mr Olaniyi Aponmode, Liberian, Dr Benedict Oladele, Deputy Registrar, Students’ Affairs Division, Dr Stella Soola and the Director of Public Communications, Mr Olatunji Oladejo.

Zoology students mourn president From Ibrahim Jatto UDUS break when the vehicle he was travelling in rammed in to a stationary Toyota Haice bus. Eye witnesses said the late Haruna sustained injuries on the arm and forehead; he died when he could not get immediate medical attention.

He was the 16th president of association and a member of the Fac-

ulty of Sciences legislative council.

It was all tears when the deceased’s friends and classmates visited to his family house in Kaura Namoda in Zamfara state.

Nura Ahmed, his roommate, wailed as he recounted his last moment.

He said: “How I wished Haruna never embarked on the journey. He had earlier agreed to travel the following morning but he changed his mind suddenly and parked his

clothes. He left the campus later on Friday. That was the last moment with my dear friend.”

Salamat Sanusi, his classmate, said: “I am still shock by Haruna’s death; he was our president and he was loved by all. He transformed the association. We will miss him.

The mood in the department is sour for now.”

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the deceased has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

HE Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) erupted in chaos last Thursday when a student slumped during a test being conducted for final year students of the College of Plant Science and Crop Production.

It was gathered that the student, who was said to be sick with malaria, reacted to chloroquine, which she took before she left her hostel to write the test.

The victim’s close friend, Esther Olofinjin, a 500-Level student of Crop Protection, said: “She told me she had been ill for some time. In the morning, she said she would not write the continuous assessment test but I guess she was afraid of having a carry-over.”

There was pandemonium in the test hall when the victim suddenly collapses. Her friends could not finish their test because of the incident. They left their papers and took the victims to the university health centre.

Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said the victim may have slumped as a result of stress caused by the marathon tests. It was gathered that students wrote, at least, six papers at a stretch in four days, a development many of them described as stressful.

The Students’ Union General Secretary, Olalekan Adesulu, urged the union leadership to appeal to lecturers on behalf of students to extend the test period for them to have time to prepare for the test.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

Confab meaningless without legal backing, says Nwabueze •PAGE 34

400 benefit from age-group’s health plan •PAGE 35

PAGE 33

‘It’s a woman’s turn in Abia’ •PAGE 38

•The monarch conferring a chieftaincy title on Dave Umah

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

F

EW ceremonies unite the people of Ebonyi State more than the Ofala. It is the king’s feast, but the king hardly does anything alone. It is also the people’s festival, an occasion to celebrate their monarch, their kingdom and culture.

This year’s edition was typical.

The people turned up from virtually everywhere, and from all walks of life. And the meeting point was the Erimogwudu Royal field in Agalegu Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

They came to celebrate the sixth Ofala festival to commemorate the •Continued on page 34

Feast of culture, royalty in Ebonyi

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•The monarch and the new chiefs

Feast of culture, royalty in Ebonyi •Continued from page 33 22nd coronation of the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Eze Dominic Ibora Aloh.

It was a gathering of who is who in the state. Politicians were there, as were captains of industry and high cadre professionals.

The state Deputy Governor Dave Umahi was there; so also was his wife Rachel who represented the wife of the governor, Mrs Josephine Elechi. The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku led the state legislators to the event. Members of the Federal House of Representatives from the state, Tobias Okwuru, Linus Okorie and Sylvester Ogbaga were also there. Members of the state Executive Council were led by Hon Celestine Nwali and Elder Fred Udogu both indigenes of the local government. Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ugorji Ama Oti led his party’s delegation to the event. The PDP Southeast Publicity secretary, Ali Odefa was also in attendance.

Comrade Chinedu Ogar, CEO of Chiboy Group and Chief Edward Nkwegu, CEO of Edon Group led top captains of industry that headlined the event. Mr Onyema Moses Nwekoyo, Executive Chairman, Ikwo LGA, Chief Laz Ogbee, Chairman Ezaa South LGA and Mrs Chinyere Nwanoke Chairman of Onicha LGA led a host of present and past LGA Chairmen to the event. Elechi Elechi, the graceful first son of Governor Martin Elechi also attended. Former Minister of Power and Steel, also attended.

Various cultural troupes and music bands added colour to the event.

Put simply, the event was a display of the rich Igbo culture at its best.

This fact was buttressed by the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Innocent Itapa Azobu when he noted that the event has become a top culture/tourist attraction for the community.

He noted that Ofalla festival came into existence following the coronation of Eze Dominic Aloh on 10th April 1992.

“It is one special event all sons and daughters of Amagu extraction have accepted as a day of merriment and celebration of the life and history of the traditional institution of Erimogwugwu Dynasty”.

“Without mincing words, I make bold to admit that this singular event has succeeded in attracting people from far and near, from within and outside the state into Amagu land. What this means is that we have been positioned as a

‘There is no gainsaying that culture and tourism have become a major source of inexhaustible revenue and socio-economic growth and development. Worldwide, it is one of the most acclaimed viable options to the timed oil and other mineral wealth.

Culture and tourism fundamentally endure forever and form a major part of the instruments of life that sharpen and shape us as a people of common destiny’ Culture Tourism attraction and destination, east of the Niger.”

“There is no gainsaying that culture and tourism have become a major source of inexhaustible revenue and socio-economic growth and development. Worldwide, it is one of the most acclaimed viable options to the timed oil and other mineral wealth. Though it could be a tangible or intangible heritage, culture and tourism fundamentally endures forever and form a major

part of the instruments of life that sharpen and shape us as a people of common destiny”.

In his keynote address, the monarch, Eze Dominic Aloh, Erimogwudu III of Amagu Ikwo, described his 23 years on the throne as a very fascinating experience even though it has been filled with many challenges.

“We have learnt a lot and have equally given out a lot too,” he said.

He commended the sons and

daughters of the kingdom for their support that enabled him and his cabinet to surmount all the challenges. Some of the sons of the kingdom who have contributed a lot to the development of the community, according to the monarch, include Chief Okeagu Ogadah, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief I.I. Otubo, Ozo Hycinth Igwe Nwafor.

He noted that his reign has attracted a lot of development to the area including schools, health centres, dams, etc.

Eze Aloh, however, noted that the community has been hampered in its development strides by insecurity issues resulting from intraand inter-state crises because the community is along the state borders with neighboring states.

Speeches aside, the monarch proceeded to confer traditional titles to sons, daughters and friends of the kingdom ‘in appreciation of their numerous services and invaluable contributions towards the peace and development of the Amagu Ikwo, Ebonyi State and mankind in

general’ Chief Onwe Daniel Nwoba, CEO of DNO & Co. Nig Ltd was conferred with the title of Akaekpuchi Onwa 1 of Ndufu Amagu autonomous community. Conferring the title on him, the monarch commended Chief Onwe Nwoba for his philanthropic gestures to the community.

“In his usual benevolence, he has given an electricity transformer to one of the streets in Ndufu Amagu, constructed culverts, offered scholarships, grants and support to indigent persons within and outside the community.”

Hon Elizabeth Ogechi Ogbaga, a former member of the House of Representatives was conferred with the title of Oji Ugo for her effective representation of her Ebonyi/ Ohaukwu federal constituency.

“She was noted for her special programme for widows which involved granting of interest-free loans. She also gave scholarships to indigent students, bursary andscholarship to law students etc,” •Continued on page 35

Confab meaningless without legal backing, says Nwabueze Though what I advocated for is not what is happening, all hope is not lost as it could still be salvaged, which is what I am working on right now.

There are some things that Mr President could do to get it right •Nwabueze

C

ONSTITUTIONAL lawyer and senior advocate of Nigerian, Prof Ben Nwabueze has said that the ongoing national conference will be meaningless if it has no legal backing to make their recommendations binding on the people.

Prof Nwabueze was in the state with other Igbo leaders to congratulate the governor on his new office of chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, as well as to present the stand of Ndigbo on the national conference.

He said that the outcome of the conference must be law.

Speaking with newsmen in

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Umuahia, Prof Nwabueze said he was one of the people who agitated for the conference believing that it is what the people need to transform the country and make it a better place for every citizen and visitors alike.

The renowned constitutional lawyer said that the conference is expected to have the competence to adopt a constitution which will be a superior law of the land, something which he said he has advocated for and it is not what is happening at the conference.

Prof Nwabueze said, “Though what I advocated for is not what is happening, all hope is not lost as it could still be salvaged, which is what I am work-

ing on right now and there are some thing that Mr President could do to get it right”.

He said that the situation could be salvaged when Mr President submits an executive bill before the national assembly, “With the theme CONFAB and Referendum bill and if he does that which requires some measure of courage because of the stand of the National Assembly on the conference, the situation would salvaged”.

The constitutional lawyer said that by so doing, that Mr President would have shown the people what to do which is to put pressure on the members of the national assembly to pass the bill into law, thereby making the

CONFAB out come a law which will be binding on the people.

Prof Nwabueze said that the national assembly could repeal the current constitution of the country which became a law through section 9 schedule of decree 24 of 1999 by making the schedule to disappear and by so doing the constitution would disappear.

He said that once decree 24 is repealed the schedule would disappear with the constitution and once it does that with the legal backing of the national assembly through an executive bill which would have been passed into law, the outcome of the CONFAB will now be the new constitution.

The senior advocate of Nigeria however warned that making the decree that makes the constitution a law to disappear should be done in a systematic way, “So that the national assembly will not also disappear like the constitution”.

Prof Nwabueze noted that section 4 of the constitution gives the national assembly the right to make the constitution to disappear, “As it was done in 1963 instead of waiting for two thirds majority of the national assembly to do that”.

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400 benefit from age-group’s health plan

Feast of culture, royalty in Ebonyi •Continued from page 34

S

UCCOUR has come for no fewer than 400 people suffering from various ailments in Amuyi, Arochukwu, Abia State.

The Obimba Age Grade in the community facilitated a free health care exercise for them.

The Age Grade made up of indigenous professionals residing in different parts of the country saw the need to give back to the community where they found their root.

The theme of the programme was “Diabetes, Hypertension, the Right to Know”.

Members of the group, some of them young medical professionals, also hired doctors from reputable hospitals to conduct the exercise which lasted seven days.

The programme involved free dispensing of drugs after medical advice, blood pressure and sugar level tests. It was flagged off by the Ezeogo Amuvi, Mazi Thomas Nlenanya Okoro.

Patients were screened and treated free for various ailments other than diabetes and high blood pressure.

The Ezeogo praised the efforts and gestures of the Obimba Age grade members for rendering such humanitarian gestures to the community they grew up in.

Okoro urged them not to relent in their efforts and appealed that the programme should also be extended to ante-natal aspects.

He promised that the community would try its best to ensure that more people benefitted in the next edition as greater awareness would also be created.

The coordinator of the programme, Mazi Ndubuisi Ezumah assured the royal father and the people of the community of the sincere gesture of the Obimba Age Grade to ensure that health care delivery got to the door steps of every home in the village.

“We shall as well complement the government’s efforts in its health care delivery to the community as we planned to build a permanent health centre in the community,” Ezumah assured.

Leader of the Obimba Age Grade, Prof. Stan Onyeador expressed optimism that the next stanza of the programme which comes up in September during this year’s NewYam festival (Ikeji Aro)

•Residents being tested and treated

•Residents awaiting their turn From Chris Oji, Enugu

would witness the involvement of more medical doctors and other medics.

He disclosed that the programme when fully articulated and harnessed would become a quarterly event. He thanked the people of Amuvi community for

responding to this first edition.

“The turnout is encouraging and is a source of tonic to do more,” said Onyeador.

‘Eat your way to good health’ From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

•Iwu

F

ORMER chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu has urged Nigerians to eat good food in order to stay healthy.

Iwu said Nigerians should eat well to avoid visiting the hospital frequently, noting that the ultimate cure for ailments remains a healthy diet.

The former INEC boss said the present line of thinking about agriculture has to change for the country to move ahead and noted that many fruits in Nigeria have healing powers and properties that are yet to be fully utilised.

Prof. Iwu also said that farming is only a part of Agriculture and advocated two models of farming in Nigeria, one done with organic and natural manure for local consumption and another done with inorganic manure fertilizers for export.

He however called on the federal government to give more grants to companies involved in Agricultural research, Biosciences and production so as to achieve Mr. President’s transformation agenda in the sec-

tor.

Iwu stated this in Awka in a key note address entitled “ Strengthening the Agriculture Transformation Agenda through Biosciences and the Value Chain process’’ during the maiden annual conference of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Prof. Iwu said the success of the present administration’s transformation agenda lies in empowering indigenous researchers from the various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria who will utilize home grown fruits and crops for different solutions to diseases and other health challenges.

The Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Lucy Uba Nwuba said the young faculty established in January 2011 has a vision to impact on the overall agricultural and economic development of the commu-

nity with a view to achieving the Agricultural Transformation of the Federal Government.

Prof. Nwuba regretted that Nigeria became a uni-polar economy since the discovery of oil in 1958 and said the total reliance on oil has impacted negatively on the nation in various ways such as massive unemployment and food insecurity and remarked that such conferences will provide a shift from subsistence farming to vibrant youth based commercial agriculture.

The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof.

Boniface Egboka said Nigeria has been plagued by unemployment because of neglect of agriculture and called for diversification of agricultural production and its value chain to provide extensive opportunities for the people.

remarked the monarch.

Mrs Monica Obiageli Ogadah was conferred with the title of Oso di Eme for her community services to the community and for being a great pillar of support to her husband.

Chief Clement Alobu Nweke, Special Adviser to Governor Elechi on House of Assembly Liaison and Political Matters was conferred with the title of Ugo for his exceptional performance in public service.

The CEO of Chiboy Group, Comrade Chinedu Ogah was conferred with the title of Ikuku Oma by the monarch for his philanthropic gestures to humanity and human empowerment through his Chinedu Ogah Foundation.

Conferring the Chieftaincy title, Eze Aloh noted that the foundation has constructed 59 culverts and 48 mini bridges across the state, donated 14 transformers and 24 solar powered street lights, and built ultra modern St Elizabeth Catholic Church with father’s house. He also built 148 houses for widows and the less privileged across the state, awarded university scholarships to over 200 students in the institutions across the country.

“He has employed over 470 graduates in federal establishments and 480 people working in the state civil service, donated walking cloches to over 3500 disabled persons, constructed over 25 motorized boreholes and 28 manual boreholes across the state and graded and laterited 27 feeder roads”.

The Comrade, the Monarch further noted has also electrified 17 communities, built ultra modern blocks for prison inmates and sponsored the release of over 350 inmates, constructed over 5 Administrative Blocks for the Nigerian police and built toilet facilities for the Police at the Police headquarters in Abakaliki complete with over head tank and borehole.

The State Deputy Governor, who hails from Ohaozara LGA of the state, was conferred with the title of Omereoha by the Monarch for being “a very dependable instrument of assistance to our son, Chief Martin Elechi and his administration”.

“He has through his Engr Dave Umahi Foundation given out full scholarship training to over 750 undergraduates, sponsored training of youths in entrepreneurial skills and regularly distributes essential materials and cash to widows, orphans and les privileged’.

For her efforts towards the upliftment of women and children in the state. Chief Mrs Josephine Elechi, wife of the State governor was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ezinne(good mother).

“Her Mother and Child Care Initiative (MCCI) established the VVF Centre now National Obstetrics Fistula Centre Abakaliki (NOFIC) which as at October 2013 has repaired over 1729 VVF clients and 290 uterine prolapse patients from various states across the federation, free of charge”.

Appreciating the honor done to him, the Deputy Governor thanked the Eromogwudu III and the people of the kingdom for finding him worthy of the title. He also thanked the governor and the good people of Ikwo local government area for their support since he was made the deputy governor.

Comrade Chinedu Ogar on behalf of all the recipients thanked the monarch for the honor and promised to contribute more towards the development and growth of the people.

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•Book House block and other projects that have trans

•Sewing machings used in tailoring workshop

•From left: Chief Returning Officer, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Enugu State delegates conference, Dr Reginald Anyadike; Principal Secretary, NUT Ekiti State, Comrade Jola Idris, and Principal Secretary, Jigawa State, Comrade Aminu Asmai during the conference in Enugu

•Welding impliment

‘Abia poly has impacted commercial city

H

OW did the institution shed its glorified secondary school image?

Seven years is not seven days, weeks or months. So, if somebody has been in a particular place for seven years and he has not left a tangible mark, then he is a failure. So, when you talk of miracles, miracles are the type of things that happen almost instantly without explanation or planning.

They are wonderful and inexplicable things that sometimes defile pragmatic or scientific analysis. What has happened is the result of very well planned, painstakingly-articulated and implemented programmes. If you are occupying a position without the requisite experience, you spend some years learning the ropes, making mistakes.

I have been in the system. I have been at the Polytechnic Calabar, now Cross River State University of Science and Technology. I have been in the system since 1981. Then when I came here, I had been Head of Department, Dean and Deputy Rector.

So, I had an idea of what to do and I knew the areas where the emphasis will be. I had an idea of what the challenges were and I knew and prayed about how they could be confronted.

Those are some of the things that have made it possible.

I was given the leeway to act in the interest of the government. Then add also the other factor that at the time I took over, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) its commitment translated into huge sums of money.

The thing about the operators of TETFund is that, if they love you and they can only love you if you are working according to their schedule.

If you are giving account of whatever fund they give to you. TETFund has been very generous with us. They have given us virtually everything that we have asked for and those are the things that have also supported our progress.

I must also pay tribute to the quality of staff that I have. Many of them also have background of polytechnic system. Some came from the Polytechnic Calabar, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, Federal Polytechnic Nekede and some even from Northern polytechnics.

So, we set a target for ourselves and pursued those goals.

You started with a few departments, but today, the institution boasts many departments. How did it come about and what future prospect do you have for the school?

We started with School of Business and Management; Accountancy, Marketing, Office Management and Tech-

Sir Allwell Onukaogu, Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, in this interview with SUNNY NWANKWO, speaks on the transformation of the institution. Excerpts: nology, Banking and Finance. Today, we have Estate Management, Quantity Surveying, Surveying and Geoinformatics, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning and Building Technology. All of these are at Ordinary and Higher National levels. We have Science and Laboratory Technology (SLT), Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering programmes, Tourism and Hospitality and Food Science, among others at OND and HND levels.

If you put all our programmes together, we have about 37 of them from about seven when I took over and all of them have prospects, particularly when you note that we are the only tertiary institution in Abia State that offers programmes in engineering.

You can see that we may not be able to absorb all the people that would want to come in and study our engineering programmes. We have come a long way and the prospects are there.

The Federal Government would be happy that we have these facilities.

The state government is proud that we have these facilities. Our achievements are for the benefit of all Abians and Nigerians.

Are these departments well staffed and equipped?

Before you run any programme, you must put everything on ground and when you have put them on ground, you must invite the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). They must come, look at the equipment, look at your staffing situation, look at your studios, laboratories and classroom. Unless they give you approval, whatever programme that you run is illegal. For us to run these programmes means that we have gotten approval of the National Board for Technical Education.

Outside the TETFund, how else does the school get its funds?

Whatever money we have spent here comes from the state government. What the TETFund does is to supplement. Being a tertiary institution and part of the Federal Government, we are entitled to shares of TETFund. This is because Abia firms, tax payers’ money; through VAT and other things contribute to TETFund.

So, there is nothing personal about the funding. The funding is from the state and federal governments.

You once complained of shortfall in funds. Has subvention from the government improved?

Subvention from the government

•Sir Onukaogu

‘We have impacted on the human capacity. Even traders come here to take courses in marketing and packaging.

They take courses in computer science.

We have an entrepreneurial division where we add quality to human capacity in leather sciences; bag, shoe, belt making and tailoring...Very soon, they will be coming here to take courses in all forms of welding fabrication’ has improved, but there is no level of funding that will give anybody surplus fund. That is why there is economics which is the science of managing whatever that is available to meet needs.

In fact, the subvention that we received from the state government has been raised by over 350 per cent and by any standard that is quite encouraging. I can still do with more funds.

If he (governor) gives me more, I will take because there are so many things to do. But we are grateful to him for having increased this funding by this level. It has never happened since the establishment of this institution that subvention at any time will even be increased by 50 per cent not let alone 350 per cent.

As an institution located in a commercial town, do you have any programme designed to impact the host community and Abians in general?

If you remove Abia Poly from Aba, you will see a large gaping sore in the economic status of Aba. We have impacted on the human capacity.

Even traders come here to take courses in marketing and packaging. They take courses in computer science. We have an entrepreneurial division where we add quality to human capacity in leather sciences, bag, shoe, belt making and tailoring.

This institution is located in Aba so that we will improve on the technological and technical competences of people in Aba. Very soon, they will

be coming here to take courses in all forms of welding fabrication.

Very soon, we will be even doing some job for the oil companies because of the extent we have gone. That was why this institution was located at Aba to improve the socio-economic fortunes of the residents. I think we have done well in that direction and we are going to even do better than we have done.

Looking at how you started and where you are now, do you think the institution still has room for expansion?

We have gone far in terms of development as an institution, but we have not started. Yaba College of Technology, since 1944, is still marching on. Abia Poly just began in 1992 and can’t get weary of marching. We have just started. What is going to happen on our Osisioma Campus in the next two to three months will be comparable to the kind of thing that happened in the kingdom of ants.

Everybody is going to be working and I assure you that before the end of this year, we will have municipal hostels with sports facilities. I hope that very soon, we should be able to host Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA). When we host NIPOGA, we will attract other institutions in the country to this place and then, you attract Federal Government subventions. Facilities will be built for the games. At the end of the game, the facilities remain here.

In terms of academic programmes, we will soon have school of Mass Communication where students will study film, print journalism, electronic journalism, public relations and book writing. By then, we will move all the non-science engineering programmes that are here to the other campus.

We have 37 hectares of land for the campus already at Osisioma. This place is where we have laid the foundation. The real thing is going to be at Osisioma. We have only gotten ready and the clearance to take off.

There were speculations that Federal Government was going to take over the institution. How true is it?

It is a prayer that every Abian should join hands in praying for. This is so because it will attract more funds. It will not reduce the number of polytechnics that we have. Rather, it will increase the number and also improve on the quality of work done.

It will also give us enough financial

•Welding and fabrication workshop

strength to hire more staff. It will be a great blessing if Federal Government takes over the institution.

How cordial is your relationship with the state government and staff of the institution?

We are very friendly. This is the only place you have staff that government can sometimes owe and they will still work for the government.

That is why government loves us. That is why government took this opportunity to increase our subvention by 350 per cent.

Institutions go on strike, but we don’t because of our loyalty to the government and secondly because we know that this institution is not owned by strangers, it is owned by Nigerians and Abians in particular. It is not just the duty of government but also our collective duty to ensure that this place doesn’t go down.

How would you rate the administration of Governor Theodore Orji with regard to his focus on educational development in the state?

I came in one month before he became governor and I am sure you know what this place was in 2006 and you know what it is now. You can see the transformation. When I took over as Rector of this place, our subvention was about N7.5 million. The subvention now is several times far above what it used to be.

All these structures that you see here were built between 2007 and now. That should tell you whether he is committed to education or not, using Abia Poly as a standard. If you drive along Aba-Owerri Road, there is an ongoing rehabilitation work at Abayi Girls’ Secondary School. If you go to my own Ohuhu commu-

nity, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Afugiri Primary School, Williams Memorial Schools are being rebuilt.

This kind of transformation in the education sector never happened before. Put them side by side with what accrues to government of Abia State from the Federation Account.

Compare it with what accrues to a state like Akwa Ibom then you will know that the governor is doing well in terms of improving on the standard of education.

What have you to say to people that have worked with you in one way or the other in making the institution what it is today?

For the Aba people, I want to thank them for accepting and working with us. But I also want to tell them that what we have here is not being effectively utilised because some of them are still having the old notion that we are still Government Technical College (GTC).

If they know what Yaba College of Technology or Kaduna Poly is, they have their own version here in Abia Poly. They should come and exploit it. They should come and see what is here, so that they will begin to make better use of the facilities.

For the community here, there is nothing that pays like peace. We have enjoyed brotherliness and peaceful atmosphere and that is why we have achieved what we have achieved so far.

So, even when I am not here, nobody should joke with the element of peace. In a peaceful atmosphere, so much can be achieved with so little and within a short period of time.

•From right: Chairman, Enugu State APC Congress Committee, Hon Uche Onyeguocha; newly elected chairman of the party PHOTO: OBI CLETUS in the state, Dr. Ben. Nwoye, and the state Leader of the party, Chief Joseph Okoloagu

•From left: Dr. Anagha Ezikpe, Chairman of the occasion; Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health; Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and his wife Mercy at the launch of the state Eye Centre in Umuahia.

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Senator Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia Central) spoke, among other things, on the north-south dichotomy is the state, her governorship aspiration, especially the need for a woman to occupy the state Government House in 2015. She spoke with CHRIS OJI. Excerpts:

‘It’s a woman’s turn in Abia’ D

O you think that Jonathan has done enough for the Igbo nation?

Yes, he has. Remember for over two and half years of his tenure, and for the first time since the war ended, the Igbos had the Chief of Army Staff.

The president never even thought about it but he has confidence and trust in the people of the Southeast; that is why he appointed our own son, our own brother Chief of Army Staff.

Do you believe that if the president does not have confidence in us he would have appointed our own son Chief of Army Staff. Remember he was not under any obligation to do that.

Apart from that, it is on record that the supervising minister and indeed a woman by name Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is our wife, our daughter and she is the woman the president has willfully appointed to supervise and coordinate the economy. It is a very sensitive and critical position. Ordinarily if a president does not have trust or confidence in the people he would not assign this kind of critical position to such a people. I feel that the president has done well to Igbos.

It is on record also that under his administration the construction of the second Niger Bridge has kicked off, this is another evidence of the trust, belief, confidence and appreciation of our friendship with him.

He has also commissioned EnuguPort-Harcourt Road. All these show that if he is doing something for Ndigbo and will do more. Indeed a lot of Igbos are now beginning to regain their position in the national polity.

How do you respond to the charge that the President has not done anything to improve the lot of Igbo youths who voted him massively in 2011?

I know that our Igbo youths are a bit depressed and upset about the level of unemployment in our zone, but the issue of unemployment is not an Igbo thing; it is not also in one geopolitical zone alone. It is something that has ravaged the entire nation. Other youths in other geopolitical zones are equally affected.

However, the policies and measures in place now like the SURE-P are geared towards recruiting men, women and disabled people all over the country, not only southeast. These programmes were brought in by the president to ameliorate the hardship.

The privatisation of the power sector is also expected to create employment too. The youths should ensure that they are abreast with all information put out to the media as regards employment.

Are you aware that in Abia Central senatorial zone, which you represent, some people are urging the governor to run for that particular seat?

We have old Bende made up of eight local governments and we have old Aba Division which is made up of nine local governments. These are the two political blocks. The Abia Central Senatorial district is made up of some parts of old Bende from which the governor comes and some part of old Aba division where I come from. It is a very good mix and match.

The governor is being urged to run for the senate, I am also being urged to run for the governorship of Abia State as an Ngwa person and Ngwa woman from the right extraction – which is Ngwa area from old Aba division. I do not see any problem whatsoever.

In other words, you are running for the governorship of Abia State in 2015.

‘I know that our Igbo youths are a bit depressed and upset about the level of unemployment in our zone, but the issue of unemployment is not an Igbo thing; Other youths in other geopolitical zones are equally affected.

However, the policies and measures in place now like the SURE-P are geared towards recruiting men, women and disabled people all over the country, not only southeast’

Oh, definitely; I am running for the office of the governor in 2015 by the grace of God as an Ngwa woman and Abia person.

Do you see your chances of winning?

Well, I cannot begin to blow my trumpet. I will leave it for our people to decide. It is God that also decides who he has chosen to make the next governor. I am in the hands of God and in the hands of our people and in the hands of our governor, in the hands of the electorate. I am confident that at the end of it they will choose right; they will choose me.

Do you really see yourself becoming the first female elected governor?

I know it will happen, because a day begins a story. It was one day that Mrs. Mariam Aloma Murktar became the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was appointed to coordinate and supervise 42 ministries; it happened in one day. It is one day that Mr. President appointed Mrs. Diezani Madueke the first female minister of petroleum. So there is also a first time for me if God has

32 get Umeh’s scholarship scheme From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

N

•Nwaogu

said that I will be the first female elected governor in 2015. I believe the time is ripe and the time is now.

What structures have you put in place to carry you to the dream land?

It is a gradual process. It is what we are doing right now through consultations. The structures are also beginning to come up across the 17 local government areas of Abia State, across the 184 political wards in Abia State.

Whose turn is it to produce the next state governor, Ngwa’s or is it open to all?

There is what is called justice and equity. I believe justice, equity and fair play is the order of democracy.

Ngwa people all this while have only been getting deputy governors. For the first time we have an amiable governor, a very courageous governor who knows that there is God. Our amiable governor has said it over and over that come 2015 he will hand over to a person from Ukwa Ngwa extraction. There is no mincing of words. There are some people who may be running from the other side where the governor comes from which is old Bende. You know there

are so many strategies in life. Some people might be doing it just to get recognition or attention, or better still to test the waters. Anybody who is not from old Aba division is just merely testing the political waters and to get noticed.

Has your party, the Peoples Democratic Party, approved female candidature?

I think that my gender is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

And my party PDP is a gender sensitive party. It is also an advantage because all the while governors are males. Now with the emergence of a female governor, things will be different. The results will differ from what we have been seeing.

Nigeria has been ranked the fastest growing economy in Africa and 26th in the world and this is managed by a woman. We should be very happy to see that good women are coming on board now.

What is your vision for Abia?

To see Abia progress from where it is now. To build on the existing structure already established. I will assure quality governance that is second to none.

•From left: Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah; National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe; Public Relations Consultant to Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Bukola Orelaja; and Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Dr. Abali Chuku presenting gifts and a Mortein certificate to Mrs. Abazie Chioma and her baby in commemoration of the 2014 World Malaria Day.

ATIONAL chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh has announced that 32 citizens of Anambra State are beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme.

Umeh spoke as another beneficiary of the scheme, Miss Ijeoma Okeke, received her university scholarship award for being the most valuable player in the just-concluded maiden football tournament of Awka Diocesan Mary League Association.

Umeh revealed that in the past eight years, 32 people benefited from his scholarship scheme, adding that the gesture was his own way of giving back to the society.

He further said the aim of sponsoring the female football competition is to discover talents that will join the Super Falcons of Nigeria in due course.

He further explained that the essence of such grassroots tournament was to promote unity and love among the children of Awka Diocese and to encourage them to stay together.

Umeh assured that the tempo will be sustained, even as he regretted that female soccer has suffered neglect in Nigeria.

The APGA chief said: “Female soccer is now a global affair and we can only get those that will play in the National Team through this kind of tournament. These young girls have displayed great skills and you can agree with me that they have great potential to achieve success in soccer if they choose that as a career.”

The Most Valuable Player, Ijeoma Okeke gets scholarship up to university level on Chief Umeh’s behest. She also received a cash prize of N20,000.

Okeke, who is now in SS1 at Holy Christ College, Awgbu, thanked Chief Umeh for the gesture which she said will spur her to take her studies seriously, pointing out that the gesture will help in making her useful in life.

The Diocesan president of the association, Philomena Ijeoma Okonkwo, a lawyer, expressed her happiness that Chief Umeh has empowered the girls through the tournament, saying “his understanding, wisdom and humility are qualities that do not pass uncelebrated.”

Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor represented by Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Father Peter Akaenyi praised Chief Umeh for sponsoring the competition which, according to him, was another way of preaching the gospel. He added: “Sports, in the real sense, unites every society” In the final match, Adazi Region defeated Ekwuluobia Region 3-1 to lift the trophy while Awka and Akpu Region took third and fourth positions respectively.

The highest goal scorers, Uju Akunne and Maureen Ogaluonye went home with N20,000 each while the Most Valuable Player Miss Okeke was offered scholarship and cash of N20, 000.

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Farm tools for Imo youths

Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor represented by Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Father Peter Akaenyi praised Chief Umeh for sponsoring the competition which, accord-

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HE plan to get youths to make a good living by tilling the ground is alive in Imo State.

The state has just disbursed various agro-based materials to many of them in the state in the hopes that the gesture will encourage youths to embrace agriculture.

It is part of the state government’s plan to revive agriculture in the state, especially by engaging youths in farming and other agricultural practices.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor and Commissioner for Special Duties, Sir Jude Ejiogu distributed the agro-allied materials to youths in Emekuku autonomous community in Owerri North Council Area of the state.

The materials were valued in millions of naira.

The chief of staff described the empowerment exercise as a wakeup call for youths in the state to embrace agriculture as a viable tool to combat unemployment, poverty and youths’ restiveness.

The programme attracted hundreds of youths from all the villages that make up the old Emekuku community.

Some of the items given out to the young farmers include 3000 birds, pigs, lorry loads of animal feeds, stoves, drinkers and drugs of different kinds.

Sir Ejiogu said that he decided to engage the youths in agriculture to revive most of them who have stayed at home for many years doing nothing as a result of non-availability of white collar jobs. He noted that the empowerment would enhance their productivity and contribution to the development of the society.

He appealed for the cooperation of individuals and corporate organisations in ensuring that youths in the state are assisted in one way or the other in a bid to discourage idleness, armed robbery, prostitution and other social vices.

He stated that the reason for the empowerment was to complement Governor Rochas Okorocha’s efforts in youth development.

He said further that prior to the exercise, he had organised agrobased training programmes for the beneficiaries to garner more knowledge that would assist them in taking good care of their animals.

Ejiogu urged the youths to utilise the opportunity judiciously, adding that more 22 persons would

•The beneficiaries

‘The programme attracted hundreds of youths from all the villages that make up the old Emekuku community. Some of the items given out to the young farmers include 3000 birds, pigs, lorry loads of animal feeds, stoves, drinkers and drugs of different kinds’ From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

benefit during the second phase of the exercise.

The coordinator of the exercise, Mr. Kelechi Igwe described the empowerment as the needed human capital development that will reposition the youths to attain financial

•Pigs given to the youth farmers

independence and become more responsible citizens.

He assured the beneficiaries of his continued support in the taking care and training of the animals.

In their separate speeches, some of the beneficiaries, Maxwell Nnadi, Kelechi Opurum and Ekene Okwu maintained that Emekuku commu-

nity boasts of prominent political leaders but regretted that none of the leaders had done what Sir Ejiogu is doing for the youths of the area and prayed God to continue to bless him and his household.

The visibly elated youths assured that they will commit their time and energy in ensuring that they make

a success out of the venture, while commending the Chief of Staff for empowering the youths in the state.

One of them said: “We never thought of owning our own farms but with this gesture we are now proud farmers and we are grateful to Sir Ejiogu and the state government.”

Alumnus builds police post for alma mater

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HE President-General of Old Boys’ Association of National High School, Aba, Abia State, and Abia-East Senatorial hopeful, Mr. Azubuko Joel Udah, has been praised for introducing some security strategies to ensure that schools in the area are crime-free.

Although the police and army have begun joint patrol of the school known to have produced seasoned technocrats, captains of industries, security agents and several professionals due to recent encroachment by hoodlums and trespassers, Udah has already commenced plan to erect a police post there.

Udah, it was learnt, plans to replicate the police post in other schools which have also experienced disturbances from the hoodlums.

The association noted that several

By Jude Isiguzo

milestones have been achieved by its National Executive Committee led by Udah, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police in the past 18 months.

Its spokesperson Udeagha Aja, said the presence of police and Army within the school premises, the perimeter fencing of the school and the extension of electricity to dark areas, offices of the school’s Principal and teachers are some security measures taken recently by the Udah-led administration.

He said: ”An extensive perimeter fencing project of the school is about 50 per cent completed with the frontage of the school grounds comprehensively fenced. With this accom-

plishment, the school has significantly regained the confidence of the public and that of Aba community in particular. It is now easier to monitor the activities of students and intruders/ trespassers.”

Speaking further, he said Udah has secured the services of two security men for the school that are on the pay roll of the association, adding that the presence of these security men has led to the reduction of robbery cases in the school.

“The administration, at the instance of the President-General, has procured a building plan for the erection of a security post at our almamater. The architectural drawing of the police post was done by a member of the association, Architect Ezigbo Okoro.

“Meanwhile, there is a regular

police and army presence at the school to forestall criminal activities. This was financed by the President-General with a loan to the association which is yet to be repaid.”

The association noted that the use of security agents has stopped the activities of trespassers such as intruders/hoodlums from the school.

It was gathered that the school produced the likes of Prof. Jude Njoku, Barrister E.C Duru, Mazi Nnamdi Udo, Mr. Lawrence Nwankwo, Onyedi Nwaguru, Chief Benjamin Nsiegbe, Otunba Solo Akumo (SAN), Barrister Ume Kalu, Reverend Ignatius Kattey ( rtd Anglican Archbishop of Niger Delta Province), Mr. Moses Okeke, Chief Acho Nwakama, H.R.H Eze linus Okoronkwo, Mr. Charles Chibuike, Prince K.O Mbeahuru, Mr. Philip

•Azubuko

Emerike, chief C.C Awa, Alphonsus Akpaka, Mr. Ihekaranma Okezie, Godwin Ogbonnaya, Deacon Mascot Okoronkwo and a host of others.

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia in partnership for seaport, tourist centre A

BIA State government is working to shore up the revenue base of the state.

One way it plans to do that is building a seaport as well as a tourist centre. The seaport alone is projected to generate about N10 million annually for the state.

When completed, the port will also offer jobs to many youths in the state.

The state is partnering Air and Maritime Technical (AMT) to build the seaport.

Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital, when he received the members of the AMT, the state governor Chief Theodore Orji said that the seaport will help to open up avenues for the enterprising people of the state to have a new way of doing their import business.

Orji said that his administration is determined to ensure that democratic dividends get to the people and that he is ever willing to partner with genuine core investors who are interested in investing in the state.

The governor said that he is pleased that the partners have come back to the state.

“This shows that you are serious, reliable and willing to invest

‘This shows that you are serious, reliable and willing to invest in our state and I want to assure you of the security of your workers and your investment as we are one of the safest states in the country’ Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

in our state and I want to assure you of the security of your workers and your investment as we are one of the safest states in the country,” he said.

He said that the state is ever willing to partner with those who have interest to invest in the state, adding that his administration is will to provide the enabling environment and also ensure that the project is actualized in record time.

The seaport which will be built at the blue river at Obeaku in Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state, will comprise an industrial park and a tourist site where both the blue and white rivers merge. There will also be an agro industry in addition to a power generating plant which will convert oil and gas into electricity.

Earlier in his speech, the managing director of AMT, Dr Francis Nnam said that his team has done its home work and that they

are ready to go to the field to start the implementation of the work they had done in their office.

Nnam said that they had been in the state earlier in the year, “To intimate the governor of our proposal, but the questions we got from the floor of the state executive council chambers made us to go back to the drawing board”.

We have done our home work very well and I am here with my team because I cannot do it alone and together we are ready to deliver to the people of Abia state first class seaport that will help not only to employ their teeming youths but also to help to increase the revenue generation of the state”.

Nnam said that the blue river seaport, industrial park and the confluence of both the blue and white rivers when completed will attract many more investors in the maritime industry including agro allied products, oil and gas among others alike.

He explained that the first part of their job is to start the dredging of the blue river, stressing that the seaport cannot be operational without the dredging of the river, after which the construction of other facilities will be done.

Anambra community gets peace committee

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HE Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Godfrey Moutolu, has urged residents of EnugwuUkwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State to embrace peace.

Moutolu spoke in Awka while inaugurating a nine-member caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the town union for the next five months.

He said: “We want the crisis in Enugwu-Ukwu town to end with your inauguration. The town should take advantage of having the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke being from the area.

Moutolu stressed that the peace and tranquillity needed in the community was paramount to the socio-economic development of Njikoka, Dunukofia and Anaocha local government areas of the state.

He advised the committee to

‘We are here to support the new caretaker committee. We want to ensure that they conduct election and hand over the running of the affairs of the community to an elected executive’ take decisions that would further unite the people of the area and always forward monthly reports on their activities to his office.

The Special Adviser reminded them that they were expected to conduct election and hand over to an elected executive by the end of August.

Responding, the chairman of the caretaker committee, Mr. Peter Nwaokafor, assured that his committee would collaborate with stakeholders to resolve the lingering leadership crisis rocking the town.

He commended the traditional ruler of the town for starting the process of reconciliation, which he noted led to the inauguration of the committee.

Also speaking, chairman Enugwu-Ukwu Development Union, Youth Wing, Mr. Ossy Akwubuike, expressed confidence in the ability of the committee to restore peace in the area, even as he pledged the support of the youth for the committee.

“We are here to support the new caretaker committee. We want to ensure that they conduct

•Obiano

election and hand over the running of the affairs of the community to an elected executive,” he said.

Recall that the community had been engulfed in crisis for more than four years as a result of existence of two factional town union executives.

New code sanctions dereliction of duty in Anambra From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

A

NAMBRA State government has said that henceforth any civil servant who abandons work to attend social events would be sanctioned.

Head of Service of the state civil service Mr. Chidi Ezeoke told reporters that the level of truancy is becoming worrisome as almost all the offices are empty on Thursdays and Fridays.

He lamented that some of the workers are no longer concerned about productivity, adding that the state governor Chief Willie Obiano will no longer condone absenteeism, lateness to work, truancy and all other unwholesome practices in the state civil service.

Ezeoke said such actions are inimical to the success of the policies and programmes of the present administration in the state.

He said sanctions against those who abandon their official duties for frivolities would take effect from 1st May 1, 2014, stressing that the essence was to make workers realise that tax payers should have value for their money.

The state Head of Service further explained that the governor has equally reminded Anambra workers of their duty to report at their respective offices at 8am and dismiss at 4pm each working day.

He said the governor equally reminded them of the need to be in their respective offices after reporting for duty and not gallivanting around or discussing trivial issues in the offices during office hours.

The sanction, it was discovered, came about after the discovery that offices in some ministries, departments, and agencies of the state government were often scanty or totally empty on Thursdays and Fridays because the staff had gone for one burial ceremony or the other leaving their official duties to suffer.

Mr. Ezeoke maintained that while government makes efforts to address workers’ welfare, it is incumbent on workers to key into government policies and programmes geared towards making their lot better as the governor has assured workers that he would donate buses to ease their transportation challenges.

Anambra to distribute 5m nets

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•Delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at its congress in Anambra State

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

HE Anambra State Technical Malaria Manager (Support to National Malaria Programme (SuNMaP), Ms Busola Oyeyemi has said that over 5 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) will be distributed free to various households in the State to curb the scourge of malaria.

Oyeyemi informed that already over 2million of such nets have been distributed since 2009, noting that additional 3million will be distributed in June this year to replace the old ones.

The nets, according the Technical Manager, will be routinely distributed in primary health centres, missionary hospitals and private clinics in the state.

She said two people will be entitled to one net with a life span of four years, pointing out that the most vulnerable in the malaria epidemics are the pregnant women and children under 5 who she said, had fragile immune system.

She further averred that the indoor residential spraying and distribution of over 2 million ACTs and 2000 SPs in the public health services in the state are part of measures instituted to fight malaria head-on.

On his part, the project Manager, State Malaria Elimination Booster Project, Dr. Ezeaku Obiora revealed that the impact assessment of the nets earlier distributed shows that malaria menace has drastically reduced in the State since 2009.

But, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Chukwudi Akabuike had earlier in a press briefing, explained that malaria is the, most significant health problem in Nigeria adding that it accounts for 25 percent of under 5 mortality, 30 percent childhood mortality and 11 percent maternal mortality.

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CAMPUS LIFE

‘Africa’s economy is growing’

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•Medical students carrying the remains of Ezekiel for burial. Inset: The late Ezekiel

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HE College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University (BSU) was thrown into mourning last week, following the death of a 300-Level student, Ezekiel Okanga, who battled typhoid and malaria.

The late students was said to have died in the university Teaching Hospital.

A procession was held in the deceased’s honour at the college by his colleagues.

Recounting his last moment with the late Ezekiel, Jude Adagba, Course Representative, said the deceased had informed him three weeks earlier that he was

Medical student dies From Msonter Anzaa BSU diagnosed of typhoid fever and was on admission at the hospital. “The ailment made him to absent in school within the period. Things got worse before and he died,” Jude said.

Patrick Etunke, former president of the Christian Medical and Dental Students Association (CMDSA), said death was inevitable, urging the students to review their lives and turn to God for guidance. He

said the worst thing was not to die but what would happen after death.

Pastor Victor Egbe of Campus Witness Church, led prayers for the deceased.

At the procession were representatives of the National Union of Igede Students, Benue State Medical Students Association, Benue State University Medical Students Association and family members of the deceased.

Ezekiel’s remains were buried in his home town in Oju Local Government Area last Saturday.

RESIDENT of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigerian (ICAN), Alhaji Kabir Mohammed, has said that growth rate of economies in Africa has accelerated in the last decade. He made the remark during the second Annual International Conference on Accounting, Finance and Management held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Citing a 2011 report by The Economist, Mohammed said: “Over the past decade, six of the world’s 10 fastest growing countries were in Africa. Africa has grown faster than East Asia, including Japan. Even allowing for the knock-on effect of the northern hemisphere’s slow-down, the IMF expects Africa to grow by six per cent in 2012 and nearly six per cent in 2013.”

He said that Africa’s poverty rates have continued to decline despite the impact of the recent food, fuel and financial crises, as well as that of the Euro zone with its associated fiscal consolidation on low-income African countries.

He revealed that aside the challenge of insufficient capital, emerging economies would need more inflow of foreign direct investment to sustain their development.

He said that the current move by many countries towards international financial reporting standards was partly in response to the need to ensure greater transparency and reliability of financial statements, adding that most emerging economies were hav-

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HE Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Right Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, has called on government and stakeholders to encourage women empower-

Medical students visit prison From Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN cause of their predicament, urging them to make good use of their stay and apply lessons they learn when they are freed.

“Being free is a thing of the mind and not necessarily means being out of prison,” Tega said.

Delivering a lecture titled: The new life, Godwin Odili, a 600-Level student, told the inmates to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to be assured of a befitting place when they die. In his exhortation, he used parable of Joseph

in the Bible, who went to prison for what he never did, stating that God was working better plans for them.

Some of the prisoners got born again during the encounter with the students, promising never to sin again.

A 400-Level student of Dental Surgery, Esther Anyalere, gave a dental talk. She advised the inmates to wash their teeth daily and avoid smoking.

The students later presented a ball, toiletries, anti-malaria and anti-hypertensive drugs to the inmates.

ing problems with poor corporate governance.

He added: “The rich resource endowments of these countries are still grossly under-banked while communication, transportation and energy generating facilities are not fully developed. Emerging countries that desire to attract foreign direct investment must have business legislations that are clear and have unique interpretations” The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, represented by the Chairman of the Committee of Deans, Prof Wasiu Muse, reiterated the institution’s commitment to tackling accounting related challenges.

Omole said the conference would provide participants the opportunity to exchange views and experiences with eminent scholars, specialists and technocrats within and outside Nigeria on the key areas of our national life.

In his address, the Head, Department of Management and Accounting, Prof Taiwo Asaolu, said Nigeria had the potential to emerge as the Sub-Sahara Africa’s largest economy due to her vast human and material resources.

Asaolu explained that the issue of accountability and sustainable development were central to the national quest of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020.

‘Women build nations’

•The students at the prison

HE Benin Medium Prisons located along Sapele Road in Benin City was a beehive last Saturday when members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) visited the inmates.

The students, numbering over 60, left from their hostels for the outreach. On arrival, they were conducted round the facilities, during which they were enlightened on the rules guiding the prison yard.

They meet the inmate all seated.

Tega Igben, the School Mission Secretary, said the visith was part of the association’s mission to reach out to the needy. He urged the inmates not to feel condemned be-

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

The Controller of Welfare Services at the prison, Mr Paul Ogbue, praised the students for the gifts.

He said: “We have a school here for the inmate but there are no teachers to teach them. We would be glad if you people can come here during holiday to help teach the inmates.”

Ifueko Uhunwango and Osarodion Odia both in 200-Level, said the visit was more than an outreach but a life excursion.

Harry Ogodo, 300-Level Medicine, said: “It is good to be obedient. It is my prayers that God should bring the inmates out of the prison soon.”

From Ibrahim Adam IBADAN POLY ment programmes in the country.

The Speaker made the statement at the Polytechnic, Ibadan in an event tagged: Global peace and women in politics, organised by All Nigeria United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA).

She was represented by former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President Sunday Ogunlana.

She said: “When women are reaching out to noble causes, we should encourage them. The situation in the country is so complex for a few persons to handle all alone. So, we want our women to be empowered for the development of our nation.”

She said despite the number of religious centres in the country, the nation is still faced with religious problems, which are creating insecurity. Without peace, she said, nothing can be achieved The Chairman, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, Hon. Lanre Olaosegba, urged the students to join hands with the government to change the economic fortunes of the state.

Deputy Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Michael Adeyem, who was represented by Prince Bayo Olaniyan, said peace could only be achieved if the youths are employed, adding that women could do a lot if given opportunity in leadership.

The association’s chapter president, Umar Mariam Asmau, said the aim of the programme was to promote the campaign for peace and social justice.

She said: “The aim of this induction is to create platform to promote global peace and social justice which would bring development to the humanity.”

One-minute silence was observed in honour of victims of insurgency in the country.

The association’s Acting National President, Akinola Fatoyinbo, charged new members to be committed to the objectives of the group, advising them to keep themselves abreast of developments in the world.

The programme was also attended

by Secretary to Ibarapa East Local Government, Rev Joseph Ogunremi and Head of Administration, Mr Nathaniel Ajiteru; Board member of the Oyo State Broadcasting Cooperation, Mr Segun Omileke and students.

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CAMPUS LIFE How can the cash-less policy be a part of the university system? Students of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State believe it is by carrying them along. The Students’ Union Government (SUG) has held a programme to educate them on the policy. TAIWO ADEBULU reports.

•Members of the union executives displaying certificate presented to them

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OW can students benefit from the cash-less banking? This was the thrust of discourse at a colloquium organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State.

The maiden financial symposium, held at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Hall, was tagged: Internet Banking, Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) and Interswitch as major tools for the implementation of cashless policy.

The union president, Osas Ekeyokpa, said the event was an opportunity for students to get firsthand information on the financial policy of the government and how to benefit from it.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluyemisi Obilade, who chaired the occasion, said the programme was timely if only to help students know the importance and benefit

•Students at the event

Towards a cashless policy on campus of the cash-less policy. According to her, the policy is to help develop and modernise the payment system in line with the country’s vision of being among the top 20 economies in the world by 2020.

The Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Mrs Ajibola Choker, who spoke on Implementation of cashless policy in Ogun State tertiary institutions and its impacts, said the policy was introduced in January 2012 by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to control excess cash in the economy, which causes inflation.

She said: “The implementation of the policy in Ogun State tertiary institutions started at the College

of Health Technology in Ilese-Ijebu two years ago and all the eleven state-owned tertiary institutions has joined the automated revenue collection system.”

She decried the fraudulent practices that have attended the cash-less policy since it was introduced, saying: “The policy faces the danger of payment fraud.

Experience of the pilot scheme in Lagos, so far, has witnessed high incidences of fraud. Experience has also revealed that there are cases of illegal deductions in customers’ accounts due to the inefficient mastery of the new technology by the financial service providers.”

Mrs Choker, however, advised the students to embrace the

policy, which, she said, would give them easier access to their savings and reduce the risk of armed robbery. She added that the cash-less policy would make their payment of fees easier and improve their financial transactions.

Ayodeji Allen, a 300-Level Petrochemical Science, said he was skeptical about the policy, despite its numerous advantages. He said: “I wonder how they will go about the cash-less policy in our local markets where most of the transactions take place. How will an uneducated meat seller in the local market handle electronic payment?”

Some students, who spoke to

CAMPUSLIFE at the end of the programme, expressed doubts about the CBN’s ability to check sharp practices with the use of EPOS in business outlets.

Ebenezer Akiode, a 400-Level Political Science student, said he was optimistic that the policy would help to modernise Nigerian economy and benefit students. “It makes transactions easy; we don’t have to spend the hours meant for reading to queue up in banks,” he said.

Representatives of some financial institutions in the state also spoke to the students at the programme, which gave some banks opportunity to sell their products to the participants.

justice, benevolence and selflessness as cornerstones of medical profession.

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse for crime. Desist from setting up hospitals for non-doctors and let confidentiality of your patients be your watchword even after they have died,” he told the doctors.

Dr Edward Aisomere, who represented the Director-General of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), led the inductees at the oath-taking session.

The medical graduates took the Physician Oath 1 and 2, which are improved versions of the Hippocratic Oath. They later signed the induction register, after which their operating licences were pre-

sented to them.

After the ceremony, the guests were hosted by the inductees at an open field within the college.

One of the new dental surgeons Dr Blessing Ehigiator, said she was grateful to God for making her to witness the “best day” on earth. She advised her junior colleagues to be studious and build a solid foundation during their preclinical training. She said a good foundation would help students during the clinical period at the teaching hospital.

Twenty-five doctors and 22 dental surgeons were inducted. It was also learnt that the induction was delayed due to the inability of some students to pay their school fees.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has inducted medical doctors and surgeons in a ceremony attended by officials of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). EDDY UWOGHIREN (200-Level Medicine) and JOSEPHINE IYANONMON (400-Level Fishery) report.

Taking the Hippocratic Oath T HE men were dressed in suits. The women looked smart too in their outfits.

They beamed with smiles, relieved that, at last, it is all over.

Their joyous parents sat at a section of the hall. Shouts of “Praise the Lord” rent the air at intervals as the students were called.

Welcome to the induction and oath-taking of the newly-graduated medical doctors and dental surgeons of the College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin (UNIBEN).

The ceremony, which took place at the expansive Lecture Theatre 1 of the college, was graced by dignitaries, including medical practitioners and students.

Opening the ceremony, the ViceChancellor (VC), Prof Osayuki Oshodin, represented by his deputy, Academics, Prof Obehi Okojie, congratulated the inductees on completing their medical

training.

Prof Okojie said the university had discharged its role in training them to dispense medical services, adding it was now the responsibility of the inductees to deploy their knowledge in making the world a better place.

The Provost of the college, Prof Vincent Iyawe, said the oath-taking was significant in many aspects. He encouraged the medical graduates to be diligent and maintain high ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.

Prof Iyawe praised the VC for maintaining and providing more facilities in the medical college to train students, saying Prof Oshodin’s developmental policies had placed the college among the best medical schools in the country.

He said: “We are among the best because of the policies initiated by the Vice-Chancellor to improve on

•The graduates taking the oath

the quality of teaching and administration. Our department of Nursing Sciences and Medical Laboratory Sciences is fully on ground.

We no longer accept inter-departmental transfer into medicine and dentistry. All direct entry students must have a First Class or Second Class Upper Division before being admitted into the medical school.

Similarly we have abolished combination of O’ Level results. All these, we are doing, in order to provide the best teaching in our medical school.”

In his lecture titled: Medical ethics, Dr Osagie Daudu, a Consultant Paediatrics Ophthalmologist, advised the inductees to bring standards to bear in practising the profession. He listed autonomy,

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

43

CAMPUS LIFE

Justice for farmers, the Fulani

By Msonter Anzaa

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T was the late Dele Giwa, an ace journalist and prolific writer, who famously said: “An evil done by man to another man shall never go unpunished. If not now, then later; and if not by man, then by God, for the triumph of evil over good is but temporary.”

One of the best American president, Abraham Lincoln, also said: “Whenever the vicious population is permitted to gather and burn churches, ravage and rob provision stores, throw printing presses into rivers, shoot editors and hang and burn obnoxious persons at pleasure and with impunity, depend on it, the government cannot last.”

It is no longer news that the reign of terror in the North-East of the country has moved, with the speed

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OHABITATION is a phenomenon in most of, if not all, the tertiary institutions in Nigeria today. The practice is so pronounced to the extent that it has become a norm of campus life. Cohabitation is generally believed to be a decision of a man and woman living together and having intimate relationships without being married. Those involved see nothing wrong in it. But a cursory look at various campuses today shows that, a large number of unmarried students indulge in the act.

The relationship comes in under various guises, such as campus marriages, marrying for marriage, campus coupling etc; all these are designed to give the unwholesome act an acceptable nomenclature. The growing trend is gradually eroding moral values among students in our tertiary institutions.

So many reasons have been adduced by students for cohabiting on the campus. A student of a northern tertiary institution, who had a discussion with this writer, is of the opinion that students live together to know one another better but agreed that such act definitely affects studies of the doers.

Another female student said the act was caused by lack of accommodation for all students. She has to live with a guy and she doesn’t

I

N every society, there are three classes into which people are socially divided. Sociologists classify some to belong to high social class, some to the middle or average social class and others to low social class. Everyone in the society belongs to one of these classes, which are groups according to the income of the people.

But it is sad to note that in Nigeria, there is a deviation from this sociological theory. Here, it is either you are rich or poor. There is no middle class. Yet, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Each day, we are inundated with fictions of growing economy by the government but the reality of the streets does not correlate with the projection. One is pushed to ask: “Who are the beneficiaries?”

Anyway, I won’t doubt the government’s claim because in the last couple of years, the number of Nigerians that own or make use of private jet has increased sharply.

of light, to the North Central.

Nassarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Benue states, all in the North Central region of Nigeria, have been under the siege of terror and dawn murderers.

In Benue, the terror disguises itself as a primitive clash between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers.

It began in Agatu Local Government Area, last year, when ‘suspected gunmen’ sacked the whole community in a dawn attack. Since then, the crisis has steadily increased both in scope, magnitude and sophistication.

A number of theories are propounded each day to decipher certain questions raised by the crisis.

Who are the real attackers? What are their real motives? Who are their sponsors? Why are they using sophisticated weapons? Is 2015 general election the motive for carrying out the attack or is it just coincidental?

One theory says the attackers are the Fulanis of West Africa. They want more land to graze cattle.

They sponsor themselves with the revenue from cattle. Others say the attackers are mercenaries. The real motive of their sponsors is to reduce the Christian population in the North ahead of 2015 elections.

Their sponsors, it was alleged, are politicians whose interest it is to

the North Central states, the story is the same.

Fulani people now carry sophisticated weapons beyond their smooth sticks and appear to be more interested in killing people than looking for an open field for grazing. I, therefore, want to state clearly in plain terms that what is happening between the Fulani and farmers in the North Central is not about where to graze cattle or where to plant crops; it has a hidden agenda.

I look at the little children, who cannot go to school any longer and being rudely deprived of an innocent and serene childhood – all allegedly because they happen to be born on a piece of land where some people want to graze cattle. I look at the women who have become widows and who now must take care of the little children without paternal support.

I look at whole families displaced, humiliated, defeated, desperate, hopeless and altogether disorganised. I look at whole communities traumatised by the brazen bloodshed. I look at images of human beings whose throats were slit open like ram and goat. I look at other corpses lumped like sardine – they all used to be living humans; people with blood flowing in their veins;

people you met in the bus, in the market; some of your classmates.

They lived as you do – that is – until the Fulani came.

I believe that it is not in the Fulani’s interest that this crisis should continue. For while it is easy to look at it from one angle as a victim, I believe like Lucky Dube, that we are all victims, every time. The people of Nigeria from the villages of Borno to the hinterland of Benue, are all victims. The invader and the invaded are both victims. We seem to be cursed in this country with an uncommon assemblage of blood merchants – conscienceless men and women, in and out of power; power-thirsty and power-drunk demons, spillers of innocent blood and wicked forces in high places.

The international community must not wait for another Rwanda to happen in Africa. Instead, the International Criminal Court should begin investigation of these crimes being committed in Nigeria. Let every voice of Jacob and hand of Esau involved in this crime that has cost this nation so much in human life be accorded its proper place – sooner than later – in the temple of justice. Good night.

Campus coupling and its effects

is no enough time to read. Majority are often withdrawn from school, while some spend longer time than necessary as a result of carryovers.

Relationships that began in school have sometimes led to marriages but that of cohabitation rarely does. This was because the economic situation will not permit most men to marry immediately after graduation. Therefore, the National Youth Service period will provide a vacuum that will obliterate campus life. Friendship and social networking is part and parcel of students’ life. However, the extent to how that is done matters.

In my view, parents, more than school authorities, have a lot of works to do. Schools have little or no authority to exert on students because the students are considered to be adults. Parents, who toil to see their wards through in schools, should create the habit of paying unscheduled visits to them in order to find out what they are doing in school. If students know that their parents could visit without prior notice, the extent to what they can do would be curtailed. In the long run, the wisdom and onus lies on the students themselves.

see anything wrong in it.

While some cohabitating students find it difficult to live apart because of financial or academic dependency, the strong physical intimacy between them makes them to think about intercourse always, which they see as an end itself. To them, erotic play becomes a normal thing. The laughable aspect is the claim that those, who indulge in the act do so to know whether they are compatible for marriage or not.

What are the dangers in cohabitating? First, the rate of abortion in tertiary institutions, which can be attributed to this act, increases. Cohabiting students are not always ready for parenting; thus must do everything within their reach not to keep pregnancies when they occur.

However, it should be noted that abortion exposes the life of female students to death or damage of uterus. Secondly, there is high risk of being infected with sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs). It is common place to find cohabitants battling with one STD or the other.

Those involved tend to do every-

destabilise the country and tilt it to their favour.

Another school of thought says the Americans and other western nations, which prophesied doom for the country ahead of 2015 cannot wait to see their prophecy come to fulfillment. Therefore, they are actively aiding, funding and coordinating the consistent wave of violence ravaging the country.

Since all these are wrapped up in the name of the Fulani, let us look at these people. Growing up, not long ago, in my village, which is now under threat, we used to sing songs about the Fulani and their cattle. We dreaded the cattle more than the men. A Fulani man was not someone to run away from except if he was standing in the midst of his herd of cows. Whenever they came passing through the village, children would line up to watch the cattle graze, fascinated by young Fulani boys of their age, who bravely led tens of cattle on the vast field.

The Fulani we knew back then had no dangerous weapon except the smooth sticks with which they direct their cattle; they never used them on humans. However, this is not the situation again. The Fulani herdsmen we see today slaughter people, who prevent their cattle from grazing on their farms. Across

By Joy Moses thing possible to steal, lie and engage in other crimes such as cyber fraud, kidnaping and armed robbery in order to raise finances to keep their affairs going. Another thing is monotonous fondness.

When this happens, it leads to abuse and the professed love disappears.

At times, the female students are

abused and molested by their partners whenever they quarrel, leading to grave psychological trauma that could affect their health and academics.

Another important issue to note is the fact that the female students involved are like the parasitic host upon which the males feed on. They perform some domestic chores even as student. They cook in ample quantity, wash clothes including that of their partners. These are time-consuming activities, which give little or no time for studies which is the primary aim of being in school.

However, this does not mean that the men (husbands) do not have their own duties to perform.

A student in one university revealed that the men’s task in this context is to satisfy the academic pursuits of both of them. For instance, if both students are in the same department, the guy’s intellectual effort will be to achieve academic growth, whether he is cable or not.

Most of the students, who cohabit find it difficult to graduate or make even lower grades because there

Time for change Even when millions of the citizens can’t afford basic amenities. This writer does not want to join the legion of buck-passing critics; what is however clear is that we are running an unhealthy system.

Take for instance, the survival of a young graduate, who works in Lagos and earns about N85,000 every month. That money, with reality in Lagos, does not worth anything. With the expensive life in Lagos, if he pays house rents and water bill, how much would be left? To live in a decent place in Lagos, one needs, at least, N700,000 annually to pay rent. Now, how can a graduate, who earns N50,000 per month, dream of living a serene environment?

Does anyone still wonder why the rate of insecurity remains high? The reason is not farfetched. There is a daily quest for survival among the youths and

unemployed graduates, who, out of frustration, end up engaging in crime or other nefarious activities, such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and armed robbery.

Even students are not left out.

They are kept out of the school for several months because government is not ready to fund education. Lecturers declare strike at will, leaving many students disoriented. Nigerian education sector is in shambles; strike has become a norm.

As I write this, polytechnics are under lock and key because of the government will not concede to the demands of the lecturers. The strike is approaching its eighth month. If we may ask, what are the polytechnic students, who have been kept out of the school, doing presently?

It is unfortunate that Nigeria, which is the seventh largest crude

oil producer in the world, is experiencing this kind of problem that can arrest its development. Even the oil we produce, we don’t enjoy. Scarcity everywhere. I thought the era of fuel scarcity had gone, but with what we are witnessing at the moment, I am suspecting this could be a plot by the government to hike fuel prices, which would result to increase in transportation fares across the nation.

It is the poor that would feel it more. How many common men are at the corridors of power in the country?

I will urge our leaders to have a rethink about happenings in the country and chart a new course for the future Nigeria. Ours is a country that is richly blessed with vast mineral and human resources, but only if they are well-managed and evenly distributed that everyone in this country will be living

Msonter, 300-Level Medicine, BSU Makurdi

Joy, HND II Mass Comm., NUBA POLY, Zaria slightly above average. Let us forget about the word “sovereign” and let us sit down to talk. The National Conference has come at the right time. It is time for change.

Emmanuel, 300-Level Zoology, UNILORIN

By Emmanuel Balogun

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Ojukwu varsity inducts freshers

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HE management of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has inducted freshers.

The ceremony, which took place at the university field, was attended

by Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented by the outgoing Commissioner for Education, Dr

From Victor Oguaju ANAMBRA Uju Okeke, Vice-Chancellor Dr Fidelis Okafor and other principal officers of the institution.

Dr Okafor advised the students to obey the rules and regulation and be committed to their academic pursuits. He thanked the state government for its assistance to the school.

Dr Obiano said the government was committed to improving the standards of Anambra schools to make them competitive.

A welcome party was held for the freshers. Awards were presented to students who won the debate and essay competitions held for them.

The event featured a beauty pageant.

•Some members of the drama group

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HE drama group of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), has celebrated its new actors and actresses at the Annual Drama Day held at the school pavilion.

The Head of Department of Languages, Mrs M.M. Olayinka, said education was a vital tool for the development of any nation. She said the event was organised to showcase the creativity of the students, stressing that the management would continue to support the group.

Poly honours drama group From Jennifer Umeh OFFA POLY A lecturer, Mrs Rasheedat Olatinwo, said the event was an annual programme to encourage hard work, discipline and good character.

Samson Igwe, an HND II Food Technology student, won the Best Actor Award.

Other winners included Blessing Joseph, Best Actress; Moyinoluwa Bankole, Best Traditional Dancer; Sunday Iyanda, Most Dedicated Member and Gold Shakirat, Best Supporting Actress.

Other students were given cash prizes and souvenirs to appreciate their efforts during the year.

The ceremony was attended by lecturers and the group’s matrons.

•The freshers marching to the field for matriculation oath

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

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Corps members donate medical equipment

ORPS members serving in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), have donated medical equipment to the hospital in line with the goals of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to promote community development through laudable projects.

The items donated included 40 scrub suits, wheel chairs and waste bins.

President of the UCTH Corps Members’ Forum Abraham Onyenso said Nigeria would be a great nation if the youth could imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and dedication to service.

The Chief Medical Director, Dr Thomas U. Agan, said the programme was the first of its kind since his tenure at the hospital.

The NYSC Cross River State coor-

Red Cross marks ‘Week of Humanity’

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HE Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter of the Red Cross Society has celebrated its annual week.

The celebration started with an excursion by of the society to the ErinIjesha Waterfalls in Osun State. The students also visited an orphanage home in Moro and Specialist School in Ife where they donated food items and other valuables to the less privileged.

The week tagged: Hypertension: A silent killer, continued with a lecture at the Co-operative Hall of the university.

Delivering a lecture on the theme, Dr Oluwadare Ogunlade, a consultant and lecturer in the Department of Physiological Sciences, said hypertension was a dangerous disease which could kill anybody anytime.

“Hypertension is a disease of the cardiovascular system characterized by persistent elevation of arterial blood pressure. It is diagnosed when an individual blood pressure is 140/90 mmHG on two or more occasions.’’

Speaking on the symptoms of the disease, he said the disease could come with headache, insomnia, bleeding from the nose, poor vision and chest pain.

From Reuben Agu CALABAR dinator, Mr Nkereke Ibangha, thanked the corps members for the gesture, urging the public to assist corps members to achieve their community-related projects.

The event also witnessed the conferment of merit awards on Dr Thomas U. Agan, Director of Administration, Prof. A. E. Archibong; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee and Director of Clinical Services, Dr Queeneth Kalu.

Other dignitaries at the event included Prof O. O. Bassey, Dr Iyama, Barr Christiana Ekanem, Mrs Maureen Bassey, Assistant-Director, Clinical Services; Mr E. Solomon, Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs and NYSC officials.

From Kemi Busari OAU He charged the students to undergo regular blood pressure check, sating: ‘’the diagnosis of hypertension is simple; it involves repeated measurement of the blood pressure using a medical device called sphygmomanometer. Measures to prevent hypertension are mainly lifestyle adjustments strategies which include reduction in the consumption of alcohol, salt, sugar, cholesterol, regular exercise and avoidance of smoking.’’

The programme also featured a First Aid demonstration by members of the society and the launching of the maiden edition of the Volunteer magazine.

The week also featured free HIV test which attracted huge participation from students. Speaking on the importance of the week, the Commandant, Idowu Harrision, said: “This year’s event aims at enlightening students on the causes, effects, dangers, preventions and management of hypertension. One doesn’t have to be attacked by the disease before he acquires knowledge about it. We adopted the theme in order to keep in touch with the global community. This programme ought to have been held last year but for the strike. So, we decided to adopt the 2013 WHO theme.’’

The weeklong programme ended with a football match between the OAU Red Cross Society and Man O’ War which ended in a draw.

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Embattled ANSU students get school fees waiver

HE Anambra State University (ANSU) Uli has waived school fees for students of Technology Education who have to change to other departments because the programme has not been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Nation had written about the students’ plight in the publication of March 27, in which they sought to be transferred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, where such programme is accredited, to complete their degree.

They had rejected the ANSU directive that they should transfer to engineering and other science programmes on the ground that they would have to spend up to two or three years extra and pay tuition fees for the period.

However, on the appeal of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Fidelis Okafor, the University Senate waived the tuition fee for the rest of their new programmes, as well as the change of course fee of N15,000.

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From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Okafor announced the waiver at a meeting held with the students on April 14.

The Acting Registrar, Mr O.R.A. Okechukwu, said in a statement that all deans and departmental heads have been asked to regularise the students’ transfer. He explained that the level at which they would be absorbed into the new programme would be dependent on their Cumulative Grade Point Average from the Technology Education department.

The statement reads: “The Vice Chancellor has graciously approved that the former 200-Level (2010/2011 set) and 300-Level (2011/2012 set) students of the Department of Technology Education who transferred to other departments shall have one year school fees waived for them, while the former 400 level students (the 2009/ 2010 pioneer set) shall have school fees for two years waived for them. ‘’Recall that the Vice Chancellor had earlier exempted all the students in

Technology Education from paying N15,000.00 being the official university charge for change of Degree programme. ‘’Heads of Department and Faculty officers shall by this memo receive the concerned students and permit them to attend lectures in the new departments while they process and conclude the procedural transfers. This directive is borne out of the due exigencies of the moment. ‘’The Acting Head , Department of Technology Education is enjoined to expeditiously produce a signed copy of the students’ 100-Level or up to 200Level (as the case may be) academic records (transcript) to enable the new Heads of Department conclude the academic documentation of the transfer students.”

Okechukwu also told The Nation that the university is working towards meeting the criteria spelt out by the NUC to gain recognition for the programme.

‘We have been told what to do – to refurbish the laboratory, workshops

N15m juice plant coming

•Okechukwu

and employ specialists and we are about doing that. But because the first set have reached final year, we cannot frustrate them but we will allow them to graduate in other closer courses and while they go, we will put our house in order,” he said.

On the issue of transfer to other universities, Okechukwu said they would still have had to spend up to two sessions in such institutions.

One of the affected students, Akogwu Genevieve, lamented that she is supposed to be doing her clearance for Youth service but found herself in a quagmire, while another, Kingsley Onu, said he was not comfortable with spending two years extra in school.

Ajibola seeks support for private varsities

HE proprietor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola, has made a case for government investment in private universities.

The former jurist of the International Court of Justice said in a statement that privately-owned universities should enjoy grants from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) like their public-owned counterparts.

Judge Ajibola said it is erroneous to think that all private universities were set up for profit. He said at Crescent, the focus is on providing sound education in an environment devoid of tribal sentiments. He explained that products of the university would be more nationalistic in their outlook because of a deliberate policy to admit students from all over Nigeria, many of them on government scholarship.

In this regard, he explained that Crescent was offering a service beneficial for national cohesion.

He said: “It must be mentioned here that several of the private universities in Nigeria are not established for profit-making but to give students sound moral education which will bring about the fear of God and good society.

“A typical example is that of Crescent University, Abeokuta, with the vision and mission of sound education, good moral upbringing and the service to God, Almighty. We are also to ensure that the university has a national outlook. Hence, there is no state

that is not represented in the university in terms of students. There are those with scholarship awards from northern and southern Nigeria. It is the belief of the university that if these students are given the opportunity to study together, relating on the same campus for three or four years, they will not grow up to hate one another in politics in future. So, admission of

students into Crescent University is done without discrimination against any students by way of ethnicity, religion or sex.

“Female emancipation towards a better, mature life is now emanating from several states of the north, particularly Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara from where students are sent on scholarship to the university.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

•Nnoli

ARRY Nnoli, author of a new book, You are Hired is advocating the introduction of soft skills training in the curriculum of tertiary institutions.

In an interview with The Nation, Nnoli said securing a job entails more than having relevant qualifications and technical skills.

Employers seek those who can communicate, work in teams, add value and have the right attitude to

“To this end, Federal Government must ensure that private universities in Nigeria enjoy benefits of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) since this will further help in further development of education in the sector. Tremendous development of education is indeed sine qua non to development of any nation in the world.”

• Deputy Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA ), Prof Rotimi Ajayi (left), cutting the tape to inaugurate a newly procured fire truck, while the Bursar, Mr. Olayiwola Akinterinwa (fourth Right); University Librarian, Mr. William Akifolarin (third Right); Deputy Registrar, Mr. Sunday Ayeerun (second Right) and other top officers of the university watch

Soft skills should be part of curriculum, says author

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IBBU FILE

succeed.

He said: “Your academic qualification may get you through the interview gate; but securing a job entails much more. Communication is key.

The only way I know you have something to offer is the way you communicate. You must be computer literate, internet savvy and be good on the social media. Interpersonal relationships is key and you must show you have the right mindset – that you have a can do spirit and you are a team player. Those are the soft skills employers look out for. But sadly, many graduates of today do not have it.”

Arguing for the teaching of soft skills in schools, Nnoli said he was ready to partner with universities and other institutions to incorporate it into their curriculum, using his book as a resource material.

“There should be something like a personal development course in the university, even in secondary schools. We need to incorporate some of the elements in this book into the curriculum. I am looking for a way to partner with universities to do this. I do not see why universities cannot use this book to teach so that when the students come out, they have not only technical skills but soft skills,” he said.

Nnoli said tackling this challenge right from school would help to significantly reduce Nigeria’s unemployment rate, which stands at 23.9 per cent.

“Unemployment rate according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics is put at 23.9 per cent. The problem is not just an absence of jobs. If the issue is employability, then this book can help. There is also the issue of more graduates than jobs. While government is working on creating the en-

abling environment to increase the number of jobs, youths too can think of what they can do,” he said.

Though he never did Human Resource Management during his career, Nnoli said with over 20 years experience in sales, marketing and business management across several sectors, including telecommunications, banking, and manufacturing, he has come to understand the need for people to be able to sell themselves.

The 45-year old pharmacist by training, said the 145-page book was deliberately written in simple language and printed to be readerfriendly so young people can easily overcome their inertia for reading and gain from its content.

“It is a deliberate attempt to encourage people to read because the information there is valuable. Just like medicine meant for children is sweetened to encourage them to take it easily so they can get well, that is the same way the book is not too bulky and has been written with a lot of sub-heads so that whatever portion you read, you get something from it,” he said.

PLANS are underway to establish a N15 million mini Cashew and Mango Juice processing plant on the main campus of the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, soon, the ViceChancellor, Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo, has disclosed.

Speaking at the second inaugural lecture of the university, Kolo said the Food Science and Technology Department is behind the conceptualisation of the plant and has detailed its development, fabrication of equipment and operational plans.

He explained that the project became necessary in view of the large quantity of cashew and mango fruits that waste annually due to lack of processing plant in Niger State.

The VC said Prof Dennis Balogu, Head, Department of Food Science and Technology, oversaw an extensive research on the viability and otherwise of the processing plant, which resulted in the trial production of both cashew and mango juice.

“The university is going to set up a N15million Cashew and Mango Juice processing Plant. Our lecturers and students at the Food Science Department have perfectly worked on the concept of the juice plant and we are going to mass produce the juice as soon as we get the clearance from the various food and drugs regulatory agencies,” he said.

Don bags award

THE Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, IBBU, Lapai, Prof Nuhu Obaje has bagged an award for his work on the sedimentary geology of Nigeria, including expounding results on the Bida basin hydrocarbon prospects.

The award of excellence sponsored by the National Petroleum Investments and Management Services (NAPIMS) was presented during the 50th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) held in Benin.

Obaje headed a nine-man technical research team appointed by the Niger State government to ascertain the viability of commercial deposits and drillable sites of petroleum and other related hydrocarbons in Bida Basin and has been an icon in the field of geology in Nigeria.

The award was instituted by NAPIMS to honour the pioneer Head, Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Prof Richard Reyment for his study of virtually all the sedimentary basins of Nigeria and production of the first coherent synthesis of their biostratigraphy.

Plans for maiden convocation THE IBBU, Lapai Management has released a proposed programme of events for the maiden convocation of the university scheduled to hold between May 22 and 25.

The five-day event would feature a golf tournament at the Etsu Golf course, Lapai; press briefing; novelty football match between male and female workers on May 22. It would continue with an alumni re-union meeting; inauguration of twin lecture theatre; induction of education graduates by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Juma’at prayer services and Convocation Lecture entitled: Nigeria in One Hundred Years: Educational Development Milestones, Challenges and Prospects; and a dinner on May 23.

May 24 would feature the investiture of the Chancellor and the convocation, while the ceremonies would be concluded on May 25 with a Christian Inter-Denominational Thanksgiving at the Wing B of the twin lecture theatre complex on the main campus.

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CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

EKSU FILE

APPROACHING DEADLINES

Four new professors THE Governing Council of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti has approved the promotion of four senior academic staff to professors.

They are: F. A. Olajide (Philosophy) with effect from October 1, 2011; O. R. Adeniyi (Philosophy) with effect from October 1, 2008; S. O. Kolawole (French) with effect from October 1, 2011 and T. O. Adeyemi (Education Administration) with effect from October 1, 2012.

Workshop on entrepreneurship EKSU is not resting on its oars in its resolve to make her students job-creators after graduation.

Part of the move is a sensitisation workshop on entrepreneurship programme organised by the university’s Entrepreneurship Centre.

At the occasion, the EKSU ViceChancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina recalled that the university is one of the first in Nigeria to meet the directive of the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the inclusion of Entrepreneurship Studies in universities’ curriculum.

Aina expressed regret that many Nigerian graduates could not find decent employment after graduation which has adversely affected the growth of the nation. He added that the entrepreneurship study initiative was mooted by the Federal Government, NUC and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors to change the orientation of graduates and make them selfreliant after graduation.

He praised EKSU’s Entrepreneurship Centre which, he said, had been well positioned to carry out the core mandate of training undergraduates to acquire specific vocational and entrepreneurship skills in different areas in addition to their major disciplines.

Aina expressed optimism that the gains of the sensitisation workshop would add value to the world-class vision of the university that boasts of graduates who are ideal materials in the competitive labour market.

The Director of the centre, Prof Bayo Oloyede, outlined its objectives to include: provision of opportunity for entrepreneurial education in the university; imparting entrepreneurial skills in students; staff and external members as well as creating and promoting entrepreneurial awareness and opportunities.

Call for Application: Graduate Research Programme on Climate Change and Agriculture •Continued from previous edition

THE criteria for awarding University of Brighton international scholarships are primarily merit-based.

Merit does not necessarily have to mean academic merit but could also be interpreted to include outstanding performance in a variety of spheres. The strongest candidates will be those demonstrating a mixture of academic merit (including English language ability) and other merit or outstanding achievement in a particular field of

activity.

Number of award(s): 40 University of Brighton international scholarships are offered.

Duration of award(s): Scholarships are offered for the duration of the programs.

What does it cover? 40 University of Brighton international scholarships worth a reduction of £4,000 off the cost of your tuition fees for each year of the course are available to new, full-time international undergraduate and postgraduate taughtdegree students.

Selection Criteria: The strongest candidates will be those demonstrating a mixture of academic merit (including English language ability)

and other merit or outstanding achievement in a particular field of activity.

Notification: Before that date, early applications will be processed and awards made at the end of February, April, and June 2014 and then the final awards will be made at the end of August. Decisions will be made by an awards committee coordinated by the International Office, Registry, and decisions about scholarship awards will be communicated to applicants approximately two weeks after those dates.

How to Apply: For the 2014 academic year, please email internationalscholarships-atbrighton.ac.uk, with your applicant

VCs may stop indiscriminate award of honorary degrees

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HE Committee of ViceChancellors of Nigerian Universities is set to stop any university from awarding honorary degrees to undeserving politicians and businessmen, especially those who have reduced such honour to a means to attract money bags.

The Vice Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, said this at the induction of the former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abubakar Gimba and Prof Mohammed Daniya, a renowned Physicist into the Hall of Fame of foundation fellows of IBBU by the university Senate.

Kolo said indiscriminate honorary degrees to politicians and businessmen on ‘cash and carry basis’ has been of concern to the committee which now resolved at its meeting at Keffi, Nassarawa State to forestall the ugly development.

Kolo said: “It has been brought to the attention of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria Uni-

N •Prof Kolo

the yet-to takeoff university’s postgraduate programme, the pair deserved to have been bestowed with IBBU honorary degrees.

Responding, Gimba thanked the management of the university for the honour. He said he was happy at the developmental strides of IBBU despite being in existence for less than a decade.

A former vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Daniya agreed with Gimba, saying he was proud to be associated with the university.

He said that the university has been built on strong foundation.

He urged stakeholders to support the institution towards attaining greater heights

British Council offers fashion scholarship THE British Council in collaboration with Lagos Fashion and Design Week are seeking two new fashion designers for a three-week scholarship in the United Kingdom.

After the application closes tomorrow, shortlisted applicants will take part in the “Your Fashion Head Start” competition.

The winners will learn about Basics of Fashion Business short course or Basics of Fashion Image and Styling short course at the famous Istituto Marangoni London campus.

The Winner of the Image and Styling Course may also get the opportunity to style for Lagos Fashion and design week 2014.

The training will hold on yet to be determined dates between June and September.

Applicants must not be less than 18, be Nigerians resident in the country, have a knowledge of English, valid international passport, and provide contact details.

•Meadow Hall Director, Mrs Kehinde Nwani (in the middle) and the Coordinator, Teacher Trainee Programme, Funmilayo Akinwale (sixth from left) with the graduating class of Meadow Hall Graduate Teacher Trainee Programme 2014

F

Crawford Varsity post-graduate students take oath

ORTY-six pioneer postgraduate students of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, have been administered oath of matriculation.

Welcoming the fresh students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samson Ayantunji, advised them to sustain the high moral standard of the faithbased institution.

“You can only be a leader if you are a reader” Ayanlaja noted.

Giving a breakdown of the new students at the university where the event was held, Ayanlaja said that

By Adegunle Olugbamila

17 enrolled for M.sc Economics, six for M.sc Business Administration, 15 for Masters in Business Administration as well as eight for PostGraduate Diploma programme.

He challenged them to justify their opportunity and take advantage of the platform provided by the university to realise their dreams.

He said: “You are not only to study

•To be continued

491 bag ICAN Fellowship

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

versities that the manner in which some universities were awarding degrees to those who do not deserved them was becoming un-becoming.

“People are being given awards not for their tangible contributions to the university or the society but on the basis of what they can offer to the university,” he said.

He said the committee resolved to stop any university from abusing award of doctorate degrees.

“When somebody is awarded a doctorate degree by any university, it should be in recognition of his or her selfless service and tangible contributions that individual has made to the university and not because of money such individual will give to the university,” he said.

On the recognition to the two recipients, Kolo said the university Senate considered their immeasurable contributions to the development of the university and selfless service to the society.

The Vice Chancellor said but for

or UCAS number in the subject line, and university will send you a scholarship application pack. The application form can then be returned electronically to the same email address or sent by post to the address indicated on the scholarship application form. Please note application forms will not be sent to students who do not have an offer of a full-time place.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 31st July 2014.

Victoria University of Wellington is offering doctoral scholarships for New Zealand and international students in any discipline.

to pass examinations and obtain certificates, but to get knowledge that would be applied to solve society, business and national problems.”

Professor Ayanlaja urged Nigerians who are desirous of quality education to take advantage of the university’s international business exchange programme with Galilee International Management Institute’s (GIMI) integrated course work and practical for its MBA programme.

By Yusuff Ibrahim

O fewer than 491 have been conferred with the Fellowship award of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

The ceremony held at the institute’s centre in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.

Addressing the recipients, the ICAN President, Alhaji Kabir Alkali Mohammed described the conferment as an indication of their high professional skills, compliance to best global practices, commitment to professional ethics and outstanding contributions to the development and growth of the accountancy profession.

He, therefore, urged the fellows to distinguish themselves in their areas of callings and continue to uphold the profession’s ethical standards and values.

He said: “In line with our tradition of high ethical disposition, I charge the 491 distinguished Fellowship Award recipients today to continue to fly the profession’s flag of honesty, integrity and excellence with distinction in their respective spheres of influence, no matter the odds,” he said.

Muhammed urged them to see their new status as service to the institute, their profession and the nation at large.

“I urge you to see your new and enviable status as a clarion call to greater service to your institute, profession and the nation at large, particularly in the provision of strategic leadership and continuous use and adoption of International Financial reporting Standard.

“You must bring your mark of distinction to bear in the discharge of your professional and other duties. Only then we can successfully confer to future generations a banner without stain,” He said.

The president implored the awardees to always familiarise themselves with the activities of the institute.

In his keynote address, the guest speaker Jani Ibrahim, an engineer, who spoke on: Entrepreneurship for Economic Development, noted that despite the presence of land, labour and capital in Nigeria, the country still lacks the required technology and entrepreneurship to drive other factors of production.

He called for a re-orientation of Nigerians towards making the country a producing nation.

He said: “We have to change our orientation as a consuming nation to a producing nation; as an unenterprising nation to an enterprising one. From our various homes to our schools, we need to consciously decide to become more production conscious than consumption conscious.”

One of the recipients, Mr Akanle Lateef Oluwole who is also the Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, expressed his happiness.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

47

EDUCATION

Dangote Group to recruit 200 technical college grads

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ANGOTE Group of Companies is set to recruit 200 graduates of technical colleges in Lagos State into its workforce.

The students, most of whom are in their final years in the five Government Technical Colleges owned by the state, wrote the National Business and Technical Examinations Board(NABTEB) at the Government Technical College, Ikorodu and Agidingbi centres at the weekend as a prelude to the job offer.

The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Examinations Board (LASTVEB), Olawunmi Gasper, attributed the good news to the board’s efforts at partnering with industries for placements for their graduates.

Gasper, an engineer, recalled how the state went into an agreement with the Dangote Conglomerate, which requested for the young artisans and technicians to take up the technical, maintenance jobs in the Dangote Group.

Said Gasper: What we are doing today with the Lagos State Government and Dangote Group is to recruit our students of technical colleges in accordance with the agreement with Governor (Babatunde) Raji Fashola to encourage the youth in the industrial drive the economy.

This is the first step”.

Gasper described the students as fortunate, adding that they are still yet to complete their studies but are

By Adegunle Olugbamila

already being examined and interviewed ahead of their appointment.

“About 250 students are writing this exam and we are sure of 80 per cent of them being employed by the company. The result will be out in May this year, after which they will be employed and that is the beginning of a career path for them,” he said.

The LASTVEB boss further explained that once the students are considered for employment, they will be sponsored by Dangote Group on an 18-month training at the Dangote Academy in Obajana in Kogi State and Osogbo in Osun State to train them.

“They will be remunerated based on their areas of specialisation such as instrumentation and automation, this is a big opportunity for them,” he said.

Gasper also said industries usually approach the board for recruitment of their graduates because they believe the young ones have something to offer.

He urged parents to improve public perception about technical education, saying that contrary to the belief that it is meant for dropouts, technical education is now the fad.

“Dangote is just one out of so many industries that are demanding for the graduates of technical colleges because they believe in their skills. We are now being

•Pupils during the test...on Saturday

saddled with the responsibility of producing more of them to meet industrial demand,” Gasper added.

The board’s, Director of Technical and Vocational Services, Laolu Oguntuyi, said the students are grouped into four trades namely: Electronic/Instrumentation; Electrical Installation; Mechanical Engineering; as well as Welding and Fabrication.

He said Dangote’s Head of Hu-

•Mrs Osifeso (third right), Ms Okereke (fourth right) with the pupils, Chidinma (right), Chidiebere (fifth right), Umar (sixth right) and their families at the event

Our experiences in U.S., by public school pupils

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HREE pupils from public schools in Lagos who just returned a three-week all-expense-paid trip to the United States are hoping that their humanitarian projects will be beneficial to the society.

The three SS2 pupils - Chidinma Uzoamaka of Kuramo College, Victoria Island; Chidibere Wisdom Chibueze of Agidingbi Senior Grammar Schol Ikeja; and Umar Babatunde Lateef of Eti-osa Community Senior High School, said they enjoyed themselves in the U.S. courtesy of the Pan Africa Youth Leaders and Youth Empowerment Programme, the NGO that facilitated the trip.

Pan Africa Youth Leaders and Youth Empowerment programme partnered with the Fun Learn Resource Centre, an educational consultancy outfit, on the initiative which seeks out public school pupils for exposure.

For this edition, which was the first, secondary school pupils were randomly selected and underwent series of aptitude tests, interviews and essays which eventually produced the three finalists.

Sharing her experience, Chdinma, 15, said the trip afforded her the opportunity to take risks alone and take responsibility for her actions.

By Mojisola Clement

“I will love to help the less-privileged, give them drinks and snacks occasionally,” Uzoamaka said, while explaining what her project is all about.

Speaking on his project, Chidibere said: “I will love to have an after class programme for my fellow students that would tutor them more on what has been learnt in class. I know I cannot do this alone. I would have volunteers from other students too but I am hopeful.”

For Umar, the trip exposed him to possibilities he can achieve.

“I believe everything is achievable for me now if I have determination, diligence and I work towards it,” he said.

Aside their projects, the pupil were engaged in other things ranging from volunteer services to social works. ”Our host family really helped us a lot, they helped us to learn better what we learnt at the everyday workshops,” Chidebere said.

The Director of Fun Learn Resource Centre, Chichi Okereke, said the choice of participants from public schools is because of the belief that their pupils have lesser opportunities compared to their counterparts

in private schools.

The three beneficiaries, according to Okereke, emerged from within Eti-Osa local government and Ikeja District.

Mrs Oladele Adelanke Olabisi, an English Language teacher from Agidingbi Senior High School added that the pupils are now better exposed.

“I am very impressed by what Pan Africa Youth Leaders and Youth Empowerment Programme has done for students.

“They have broadened their horizons and have made them think more highly than they would have ordinarily done,” she said.

The Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary Education District VI Mrs Iyabo Osifeso, urged the organisers to continue with the programme.

“The best effort is the one that comes from within, be focused, work hard and ensure that that the goal is achieved. Life is not about competition but showing help to the other person,” Mrs Osifeso said.

Rhonda J. Watson, the public diplomacy officer, U.S Consulate-General Lagos said that the Nigerian education system should start breaking barriers, avoid being too rigid, noting that that is when students will learn more of qualities that will transform them as tomorrow’s leaders.

man Resources sent SMS and emails to the students studying any of the trades who are in their final year on the recruitment.

A final year student of Electrical Installation, Government Technical

College, Agidingbi, Oki Rashidat, who also wrote the exam expressed gratitude to the Dangote Group for the opportunity.

“I will gladly accept the offer if I’m eventually shortlisted,” she said.

Pupils donate self-made bucket heaters to hospital

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UPILS of Church Missionary Society (CMS) Grammar School, Lagos have donates two plastic bucket heaters they made to Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, to improve patients’ access to hot water.

The gesture is courtesy of Home Edutainment Network International Limited’s (HENIL) programme designed to make life better for the people.

A representative of Technical Department of the school, Mr Ayokunle Ogunyinka, described the product as unique and “a must have at home”.

He said the element in the heater does not allow it to conduct heat or permit water to leak.

“It is without any doubt bigger and better than the conventional heaters,” said Ogunyinka while outlining other qualities of the invention.

One of the inventors, Master Michael Mekuleyi, said the device can keeps water hot longer than the conventional heater.

He said the bucket heater automatically switches itself off when it is at 100 degrees celsius.

The patients, he said, would no doubt

By Wale Adepoju

find comfort in using the product.

Head, Corporate Services, HENIL, Mr Uzondu Obinna, said the students’ invention has social and economic value to make life better because patients use warm water to bath daily.

According to him, the organisation looks for projects that can solve major domestic problems, especially marketable ones.

He said the device was supported and improved upon by the organisation to meet international standard.

“The thermostat was installed by an undergraduate of the Department of Physics, University of Lagos. The heater will improve the quality of life and make living easy,” he added.

He said quality tests were also carried out on the product, adding that it would soon be trade-marked so that its market viability is protected.

Assistant Director, Nursing Services of the hospital, Mrs Adebimpe Fadipe, assured the pupils that the heaters would be well-utilised. She also thanked them for the kind gesture.

‘Lagos schools got N221m from SBMC in 2013’

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HE Director, Social Mobilisation, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), Mr Ade Abatan, has praised the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) for its complimentary role in improving the teaching and learning environment in Lagos public primary and junior secondary schools.

Speaking while monitoring a twoday training for SBMC members at the St Francis Primary School, Maryland, one of the 20 centres in the state, Abatan said last year, the committee attracted up to N221 million used to improve facilities in schools.

“If there is a state where SBMC has worked, it is in Lagos State. They have really helped improve schools.

Last year alone, the SBMC in Lagos were able to generate funds up to N221 million in cash and kind used for building classrooms, toilets, providing instructional materials, as well as uniforms for children in need,” he told The Nation.

Abatan, who moved through all the four classrooms where facilitators trained the SBMC

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

members, appreciated them and urged them to help the state reduce the number of out-of-school children.

He said to the participants: “We are happy you could leave your work because it takes a lot. But because of your interest in children, you have decided to partner with us.

Your sacrifice will be rewarded by God. “As SBMC members, we need you to look out for those children who move around your environment during school hours. When you notice them please draw the attention of the SBMC. We don’t want children to be wandering about selling ‘pure water’ and others during school period.”

During the training, which is the third level for the SBMC members, participants were taken through various topics including: “What is a School?”; “How can SBMC help children get quality education?”; and “What is a School Development Plan?” among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

48

EDUCATION

A

Stakeholders anticipate slash in duty on books

S the Federal Government works towards removing the 50 per cent duties imposed on imported books, the Chairman of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Mr Samuel Kolawole, has expressed optimism that reading materials would become cheaper in Nigeria.

Speaking last Thursday at a briefing ahead of the 13th edition of the Nigerian International Book Fair (NIBF) which holds for five days next week at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Kolawole said the policy has made books unavailable and more expensive.

“Tertiary books are mostly not printed in Nigeria. When the duty is high, you are making the books less accessible because it becomes more expensive thus less people can afford to buy. We believe the government is responding positively to this issue and we believe the problem will be solved soon. We had a meeting with the Ministry of Finance where the issue was adddressed. It is part of our efforts to influence policy,” he said.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the NBFT, Mr Abiodun Omotubi, urged stakeholders to tackle negative policies that hinder literacy.

“The task of enhancing literacy is a

•13 countries for book fair

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

daunting one which all and sundry in the country must not shy away from.

Government in every tier must see the task as a priority because literacy is a driver of economic growth and development. Policies that will hamper the enhancement of literacy and become disincentive to investment for stakeholders in the book industry should be ignored by the government,” he said.

For the book fair next week, Kolawole said International publishers, booksellers and printers from 13 countries within and outside Africa will join indigenous stakeholders in the book industry to participate in the fair, which he said has grown to be the biggest and most consistent in Africa.

Kolawole said that Sweden, Pakistan and Egypt will be participating for the first time.

Other countries are: United Kingdom, Malaysia, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroun, Botswana and Ghana.

The Emergence of the E-Book and the Survival of Physical Book in Africa will

be the focus of an international conference which will feature as part of the fair. Dr Victoria Okojie, Registrar/ CEO, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), is to deliver the keynote address at the conference, which will be chaired by Mr Akin Olajide, former Managing Director, University Press Plc. Apart from book exhibition, the fair will also feature workshops for librarians, teachers, authors, as well as children’s programmes, seminars and the like and provide platform to forge business ties.

With all the activities planned for the fair, Kolawole said the opportunities it will throw up for the development of literacy in Nigeria will be many and beneficial.

“The annual NIBF is a platform for the players in the book industry locally and in foreign countries to network and access the latest titles in the book world. Authors, printers and publishers of books in Nigerian market will be part of NIBF 2014. Users of books and other instructional materials will not be left out,” he said.

•Pupils presenting cultural dance during the event

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Educationists harp on culture

HE loss of cultural values has contributed to the problem of insecurity in some parts of the country, some educationists have said.

They spoke at a cultural day programme organised by the ChristLifeforte School, Orisunbare, in Shasha, Lagos.

One of them, Mrs Linda Adeseri, said that Nigeria was facing the challenge of insecurity in some areas because some of its people had replaced their culture and heritage with foreign ones.

“Nigerians are not known to be hostile as we have always been our brothers’ keepers, but the influence of western culture on ours tends to pollute our way of life.

“The recent use of guns, bombs and other dangerous weapons is an imitation from the western world and not our culture.

“The trend in the past, when crisis arose, was that the parties involved

always settled their disputes by sending artefacts which symbolise peace to themselves,” she said.

Mrs Adeseri, a Senior Staff in the Education Department, Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, urged Nigerians to retrace their steps by embracing and preserving their culture.

She also advised parents to inculcate their culture in their children and encourage them to visit historical centres.

“Teach your children how to cook good Nigerian foods, speak indigenous languages and dress in our traditional attire before they reach the age of 11,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Ifeoluwa Joseph, the Proprietress of the school, said that Nigeria would be a better place if its people could embrace their culture.

Mrs Joseph said the country was losing its heritage and identity by allowing the western culture to

override its indigenous culture and languages.

“It is so unfortunate that the westerners we are copying and neglecting our culture for are preserving theirs from external domination and control. We are trying as schools to teach the children our different cultures and that is why we organise events like this to practicalise what they have learnt in classes. With this, our children will fall in love with their culture, be motivated and proud to embrace it,” she said.

Another educationist, Mrs Iyabo Inegbedion, blamed parents for failing to teach their children their native languages and culture.

“Charity begins at home, so we, as parents, must at all times protect our culture by teaching our children what is right.

“We must tell them that homosexuality, fighting, cheating and nudity among other bad social vices are not our ways of life,” she said.

Lagos school headship now by exam

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ITH the panel interview conducted for over 300 candidates seeking to head schools or assist head teachers last week, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) ended the practice of automatic promotion into such positions.

Eighty-two head teacher hopefuls and 293 assistant head-teacher candidates who made at least 50 per cent in the Duty Post Examination

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

for grade levels 13-15 (for assistant head teachers) and 14-16 (for head teachers) were interviewed in batches by a panel of assessors made up of directors and heads of departments at SUBEB. A source from the SUBEB Information unit told The Nation that successful candidates from the interview stage would be held in a pool

and fixed into the two positions as vacancies are open.

“When vacancies are open, the best among those who passed the interview will be posted to the schools.

The panel would consider their dressing, composure and answers to the specific questions thrown at the candidates. This system marks the end of automatic promotion to the position of head teachers and assistant head teacher,” the source said.

EDUTALK

with

Broken youths

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HE trip from Mosalasi to Iyana-Isolo bus-stop in Mushin, Lagos State is not a long one. If the road is free, it can be covered in about five minutes.

But there is usually traffic, especially at Idi-Oro, Olosa and Iyana LUTH. Even with that, on the average, the trip can extend by 15 or Kofoworola 20 minutes.

On Monday, the traffic was unusual, occasioned by a trailer which Kofosagie@yahoo.com fell into a ditch. The vehicle I 08054503077 (SMS only) boarded took a detour into Martins Street to use short cuts that would take us close to the last bus stop.

As we meandered through winding back streets I was lost in thought about life in the area. We passed dusty roads with patches of asphalts here and there - reminders that they had once been tarred - crowded houses, some spacious ones, and people going about the general activities of everyday living. Given its accessibility, I thought life there would not have been so bad but for the volatility of the area. Clashes among rival street gangs are common in Mushin.

We soon ran into traffic. I was not surprised that it was caused by touts, young men, extorting money from motorists for diverting from the highway to 'worsen' the state of their roads. When our vehicle was to pass, the driver decided to use bravado to avoid paying the N50 toll. I understood his plight. There were only three of us, and the fare was N50 each. Giving the touts N50 meant parting with a third of his income. No one would be happy to give his hard earned money to self-appointed taxmen who would likely squander the money on booze, women and drugs.

But his audacity did not work. One of them stood brazenly in from the vehicle. The other, and by far the rougher fellow, came to the driver's side and threatened to deal with him. Holding up a bleeding finger, he said, "One of your kinds did this to me." As he made further threats, he waved the finger about, allowing his blood to splatter on the driver, the dash board, windscreen, floor and seats of the vehicle. "I will deal with you if you are not careful," he added menacingly in Yoruba.

We passengers could not stomach it anymore. "Was it him that injured you," I asked. "Why are you threatening him?" another woman queried.

We could as well not have spoken. The fellow did not as much as humour us with an eye contact. After he walked away, his colleague collected the money, regardless of what we thought of them.

All this while, a boy on a bicycle had paused, watching the encounter.

He was close enough for me to tell him not to follow in the footsteps of the touts but struggle for a bright future for himself. He listened and nodded attentively. I hoped he would not grow up to be like them.

Given the large number of unemployed youths in the area, I was not sure he had many role models.

I thought of the touts too. What must have led them to that way of life?

What kind of childhood did they have? One of the other passengers remarked that they likely belong to large families that did not care about their upbringing.

The incident reminded me of where I was coming from. It was a seminar for student teachers of the University of Lagos who are training to care for very young children. They were told to take their roles seriously as they would be laying the foundation on which the young lives would be built. The convener, Mrs Funso Chikezie, made a vital point about starting early to entrench the right values, morals and attitudes into young children so they grow up to be responsible adults. This responsibility starts from the home, then the school. The environment also has its influences. But strong efforts by the home and the school to guide young people aright can help them withstand the pressures from their surroundings.

We failed our youths of today by not providing them with the right foundation from the start. Limited opportunities, corruption and financial hardship make the situation worse. Returning them to the straight and narrow is no easy task. It is a long term process that will require resources, campaigns and a lot of determination. We must be ready to do this for them if we hope to enjoy our senior years. As for the young ones joining us every day, we must not fail them.

Belo-Osagie

From my Inbox Re: Deprived of her childhood (Thursday April 24, 2014) Ms Deprived of her childhood, how many under 14 are prostitutes in the southeast and south - infected with HIV/AIDS? Do not be a bigot. How many of you kept your virginity till your wedding night? Many at that age bear bastards only to drop them for their parents. We know all these. Eight of every 10 adults (man and woman) are involved in extra-marital sex. How about that? Wake up girl. 080525517-.

Re: Parental Gimmicks (Thursday, April 17, 2014) Morning my sister. After reading your column and the story about the plight of the students, I sympathize with the students but not their parents. I also think the parents should be arrested for being accomplices of the fraudster. They registered with the school because they wanted their children to pass at all costs. What future are they mapping out for their children and the nation? Government should make them scapegoats so that other parents can be dissuaded against toeing this ignoble path.

Thank you for all your efforts aimed at making our society better.

Adebayo Olagunju.

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

POLITICS

51

THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was last Wednesday installed as the fourth Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, who witnessed the ceremony, reports.

Tinubu: Election riggers ‘ll invite trouble A

CARNIVAL-like atmosphere pervaded the 11th convocation ceremony of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, last Wednesday. There was a palpable feeling of euphoria and expectation in the air, as the event got underway. Visitors from far and near sitting in circular formation in different canopies watched with rapt attention, as an endless stream of gailydressed politicians from across the country poured into the convocation arena, amidst a thunderous blast of talking drums. Just before the ceremony kicked-off, university dons, dressed in academic gowns, matched in, in an orderly procession to take their pride of place in the arena.

It was perhaps the biggest gathering of academicians and frontline politicians the institution has ever witnessed.

It was a special convocation for the institution.

Indeed, the investiture of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as its fourth Chancellor portends a new era for LAUTECH. ProChancellor of the institution, Professor Wale Omole, apparently appreciates this fact. He said it is a great honour for LAUTECH to have as its Chancellor someone who has been a great leader at different times. “Today, leadership is what this university needs to fulfill its mandate within the Nigerian society and leadership it has gotten.

From all indications the new leadership is determined to take the university to the next level,” he remarked at the occasion. Omole added that the institution has had a Vice Chancellor that is passionate and dedicated, “but now we have a Chancellor who would take it to where it ought to be.” The university authorities noted in Tinubu’s citation that was read at the occasion that “Today, LAUTECH has found a rare gem, a visionary leader with a strong sense of purpose and a man with an eagle eye, knowing where to go, when to go and how to get there.”

Tinubu, who was also conferred with a honorary doctorate degree in management sciences, was equally elated by the development. He said institutions like LAUTECH ought to provide workable solutions to Nigeria’s problems, by nurturing individuals with the vision and character to improve the country’s national life. His late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, he noted, was very fond of LAUTECH because of its storied excellence. “For many years, this institution was one of the top, if not the number one, institution of its type. As a dutiful son, I carry the fondness of my mother for this fine school,” he added, vowing to return LAUTECH to its best self. “We can make it better because we have a great team committed to this goal. We shall write a new chapter by elevating this school to where its name is mentioned anytime technological education is discussed,” the APC National Leader enthused.

He went on to reassure the gathering that he meant every single word uttered at the event.

He said: “Naysayers will scoff that this pledge is made of the fluff one talks when invested as Chancellor. But, I have not come this far by speaking empty words. I have no intention of assuming that habit at this stage in my life. Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who support this school are more than partners. They are brothers who govern their states in excellent ways. The progress they have applied to other areas shall become manifest on this campus.”

The Chancellor said the school has benefitted from the exalted service of the three chancellors before him. Tinubu was following the footsteps of the late businessman and leading politician, Moshood Abiola; the late eminent jurist, Justice Kayode Esho; and elder statesman, Chris Ogunbanjo. The APC leader said therefore that as Chancellor he would do his best for the school.

“I dare not do less because I follow in the footsteps of men who never saw failure as an option,” he added.

The university authorities were delighted by the prospects of a new era for LAUTECH and spared no expense to make it a memorable one.

For instance, the convocation lecture was deliv-

•Asiwaju Tinubu (second right), supported by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (second left), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) and Abiola Ajimobi, after receiving his award at LAUTECH in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

ered by Dr. Robert Michael Franklin of the Chautauqua institution and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

Franklin, whose lecture was titled, “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education and Economic Development in Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora” said for the economic development of Nigeria to be assured, the country must the culture and infrastructure for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) education to become the driver of such endeavours.

“This will require government-business-education (non-profit sector) partnerships to promote STEM pre-eminence in the future of Nigeria’s economy. It will also demand a special role for business executives whom I refer to as national development statesmen,” the American noted, adding: “This will require producing a new cadre of STEM teachers who can attract the nation’s best and brightest students into the STEM domain beginning in the childhood years.” For instance, he emphasized that Nigeria and Africa’s growth would depend on largely on her human capital resource and the country’s leading companies like Dangote Cement and Nigerian Breweries would need fresh talents to sustain their growth prospects, by helping to build the infrastructure for long-term growth.

Dr. Franklin said LAUTECH should be an institution that is helping to develop the next generation of national development or Nigerian development statesmen. He pledged the support of the African Diaspora in helping institutions like LAUTECH forge ahead in providing vision and talent to brighten Nigeria and Africa’s future. He remarked: “Africa’s Diaspora communities around the world retain strong links to a

continent that many still regard as ‘home’ evidenced by regular family visits and fundraising for humanitarian emergencies. Your allies are legion and your drive is boundless. So, remember the words of Goethe, ‘At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires for your success.”

Tinubu’s investiture as the Chancellor of LAUTECH was yet another opportunity for the man whose profile has risen consistently over the years to say a few words about the state of the nation. In his remarks, the APC National Leader, who has emerged as the country’s foremost promoter of democracy and the rule of law, said the most troubling aspect of the current state of the union is that the country lacks inspirational leadership. “The people have lost faith that this government is capable of solving the problems affecting them,” he added. The APC chieftain blamed the ruling party for the state of affairs in the country, saying most of its politicians are not interested in its progress.

In the remarks, titled “Two Faces of Despair: State of the Nigerian Nation,” Tinubu said while the Nigerian people are asked to suffer, the ruling authorities in Abuja revel as if mimicking Rome at the collapse of that ancient empire.

“While Abuja fiddles, the people are saddened with despair. Their despair is greatest in two vital areas: national security and economic security,” he added. He said this owing to the fact that the conservative elite still dominate the political landscape. “While we strive for a progressive era of development, democracy and human respect, this conservative network seeks to relegate you to the status of modern serfs living ramshackle lives, so desperate for a hand-out that you actually thank them when they deign

‘In the remarks, titled “Two Faces of Despair: State of the Nigerian Nation”, Tinubu said while the Nigerian people are asked to suffer, the ruling authorities in Abuja revel as if mimicking Rome at the collapse of that ancient empire’

to give you back a small fraction of what they have stolen from you,” he lamented.

Tinubu painted a picture of the situation thus: “They soak their feet in milk and champagne, while the people struggle to find clean water to soak garri. Even brave Robin Hood would run from Nigeria because it operates on principles reverse to those endearing the mythic hero to our imagination. Our system steals from the poor to give the rich. What is vice and condemned elsewhere is virtue and commended here. This is Nigeria today. But it can’t stand as the Nigeria of tomorrow. Change must come, we are ready and strongly determined to break the shackles of poverty and ignorance.”

On the threat of Boko Haram insurgents, he said Nigerians are tired of the excuses and lies of the Jonathan administration and that it must develop a grand strategy to bind the menace. His words: “They lie to us. They cannot even account for the number of children that were either killed or abducted. They carry on as if they are not accountable to us. While parents were mourning the loss and disappearance of their children and victims of the Nyanya attack, President Goodluck Jonathan was dancing in Kano. We are not serious.”

Tinubu said the APC wishes government well in its fight against the insurgents, adding: “As a party, we have no pact with the Boko Haram (insurgents) and they have no pact with us.” He said the APC’s competition with the ruling party is basically on election. He added: “We seek your votes, not your lives. We seek your understanding, not your failure. We wish the government complete success. We wish patriotism prevails over partisanship. We are ready to provide our services where needed, provided they will stay away from blackmail.”

Tinubu’s leadership acumen and political sagacity is well known. He is instrumental for the transformation of the country into a two-party state, with the role he played towards the formation of the mega opposition party called the APC. In his relentless efforts to position the opposition as the 2015 general elections draws closer, he has come up with numerous strategies, options and plans of action to put the party of progressives in good stead.

52

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

POLITICS As the National Assembly is set to review the constitution, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has proposed a modified presidential system. Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR examines the proposal within the context of the clamour for parliamentary system by some delegates to the National Conference.

‘Nigeria needs modified presidential system’ D EPUTY Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu has called for a modi fied presidential system, saying that it will deepen democracy and foster development.

He reflected on constitution reforms in Nigeria at Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. The senator spoke on the theme: “Constitution Review in an Emerging Democracy: The Nigerian Experience.”

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution, Ekweremadu led the Upper Chamber to successfully alter some provisions of the constitution in 2010.

He said certain provisions in the constitution become unworkable because circumstances have changed to render such provisions inappropriate. Thus, the Senate Committee had to adopt an incremental approach to constitutional changes.

Previous alterations, he said, have undoubtedly deepened democratic ethos by confronting outstanding problems and addressing glaring omissions.

He said that the process reached a major milestone, with the passage of three alterations to the constitution by the National and State Assemblies in 2010 and the assent

by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

“Unprecedented in the constitutional history of Nigeria, these alterations not only provided a more credible institutional framework for the conduct of the 2011 general elections, but have also furnished a viable template for ongoing initiatives to implement further constitutional alterations, amendments, revisions or reforms,” he said.

Ekweremadu highlighted the challenges of constitution amendment. These include the need to create ‘a people’s constitution,’ bearing in mind the procedural imperative, especially the perception that the 1999 Constitution is not a true people’s constitution, but a contraption that was forced concorted by the military regime and its civilian allies.

According to him, the constitution reform process is driven by the need to address substantive flaws. He said the 1999 Constitution has been criticized by many groups for imposing a hyper-centralized, top-down, “unitary federalism” on the country, as distinct from a “true federalism” that is more consistent with the country’s complex ethnic, regional and religious diversities. He spoke on the federal structure and the proposal that the six geo-political zones in the country should be elevated to federating units.

The proponents of six geo-political zone as federating units, he said, believed that the structure will rectify the present distorted and dysfunctional federal structure and reduce the over-centralisation of the federation, eliminate the costs of maintaining multiple state administrations, establish more competitive and robust constituent units, correct the current imbalance in the distribution of the states among the

• Ekweremadu

geo-political zones, and generally make for a more functional, viable, and sustainable federal system.

The position of those rooting for geo-political zones as federating units notwithstanding, he said the National Assembly is inundated with demands for the creation of more states by agitators seeking a more equitable territorial accommodation of ethnic, sub-ethnic, and geopolitical interests.

At the last count, the National Assembly has received over 60 separate proposals for new states. For him, transforming the six geo-political zones into federating units “seems the major plausible thing to do if Nigeria is to nurse any hope of significantly reversing the dwindling fortunes of our federalism by engendering viability and self-reliance of the component units, massive development, healthy competition, reduce the cost of governance, and enthrone an acceptable level of equity.

Of interest to him is the situation where geo-political zones are already moving towards regional integration for development. The innovative example of governors and leaders of the Southwest. In Nigeria the fundamental issues are fiscal federalism and local government system, policing, legislative lists, independent electoral and other oversight agencies, electoral systems, gov-

ernmental systems, tenure of political chief executives, residency rights and constitution amendment process.

On fiscal federalism, Ekweremadu had described intergovernmental fiscal relations as “feeding-bottle federalism,” whereby the constituent states are funded almost entirely by centrally collected and redistributed oil revenues.

Some of the consequences of defective fiscal federalism listed by him included fiscal hyper-centralization and paternalism, a weak sense of financial responsibility and transparency at the sub-national level, and a feeling of economic dispossession in the oil-bearing Niger Delta.

He, however, said that the persistence of regional socio-economic inequalities will continue to require a strong redistributive economic role for the central government in the interest of national cohesion and integration.

How to balance the competing imperatives of fiscal decentralisation and inter-regional socio-economic equalization remains a difficult constitutional question.

He canvassed a revisit of devolution of powers between states and local governments. According to him, “since the current half measures have not yielded the desired result of grassroots development, we may have to adopt either the Canadian or US model or even the Indian model.

“If the legislature determines that Nigerians prefer the former, it means then that the Federal Government will have to completely hands off the local governments in respect of regulation and funding. “Thus, the local governments become an entirely state affair and cease to draw funds directly from the Federation Account and states would be at liberty to create as many local governments as they feel would be adequate to bring government and development closer to the people.

“On the other hand, if the preferred option is the Indian model, then the local governments will become a third tier of government in the true sense of it. “Powers will be fully devolved to them so as to insulate them from the fiscal control and political manipulations by the states.

“My view is that we can adopt the Canadian model and leave local governments as state affairs. The states should determine the number of local governments they want to create and how to fund such local governments. The sheer size and population of India necessitated the Indian model where Local Governments constitute a third tier of government,” he said.

On governmental systems, Ekweremadu posited that the presidential system has of-

‘On governmental systems, Ekweremadu posited that the presidential system has often come under criticism for its concentration of powers in political chief executives, encouragement of divisive, zero-sum factional and sectional competition for political offices, expensiveness, and promotion of the politics of strong men, rather than strong institutions’

ten come under criticism for its concentration of powers in political chief executives, encouragement of divisive, zero-sum factional and sectional competition for political offices, expensiveness, and promotion of the politics of strong men, rather than strong institutions.

Supporters of the current presidential system, he said, point to the failures of parliamentary rule in the First Republic, claiming that the trouble with Nigeria is not the choice of governmental systems but the warped implementation of these systems.

“I suggest a modification of the present presidential system. We need the presidential system to hold together the contending forces of our federation. Such modification includes the introduction of question times in the parliament to hold the ministers consistently accountable and replacement of impeachment with a procedure for vote of no confidence” he said.

It may be imperative for those imbued with the art of constitution reform to consider the paradigm of a modified presidential system as suggested by Ekweremadu, especially at this critical period in the life of the country. A modified presidential system of government if well articulated may help to mitigate already bad situation.

Ekweremadu said that the National Assembly constitution Review Committee has managed Nigeria’s complex, contentious, and multifaceted constitutional reform process. The Assembly has given a nod to the imperatives of a democratic and participatory constitutional reform process through various mechanisms for promoting popular participation and public consultation in the process.

It has pursued an incremental approach to constitution making, thereby reflecting the difficulty of achieving mega-constitutional change in Nigeria’s fractious and contentious polity as well as the need to avoid aggravating the existing stress points or fault lines of national politics.

The National Assembly has implemented constitution amendments designed to strengthen, or enhance the neutrality and independence of critical oversight institutions like the electoral commission, the legislature and the judiciary.

The Assembly has also given recognition to non-constitutional renewal, whereby reforms can be achieved through legislation, informal political conventions, and judicial interpretation, as distinct from the more tedious and contentious mechanism of constitutional amendment.

He added that at the same time, the National Assembly has been attentive to demands for more fundamental constitutional changes in by accepting these demands as critical inputs into a continuous process of national constitutional dialogue and reform.

“I believe all of these aspects of the constitutional reform work of the National Assembly have been critical, and will remain pivotal, to the sustenance of Nigeria’s current, most enduring, experiment in federal constitutional democracy” he said.

Delta 2015: Aspirant consults stakeholders

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ROMINENT Urhobo leaders have en-dorsed the Chairman of the Nigeria So-cial Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, for the 2015 governorship election in Delta State.

They also urged other ethnic groups to support her bid, assuring that she would not disappoint the stakeholders.

The community elders described Olejeme as a dynamic, courageous, humble, knowledgeable, strong and compassionate person.

Olejeme visited the Urhobo leaders in Ethiope, Okpe and Udu councils to discuss political matters germane to the future of the state.

Urhobo leaders who have endorsed her aspiration include the Head of the Ibori family, Chief William Ibori, Chairman of Delta State

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders Council, Chief Gabriel Sefia, Commissioner in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Tom Amioku, the House of Representatives member from Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Constituency, Chief Austin Ogbaburhon , Chairman of PDP in Ethiope West Local Government Area, Chief Felix Oritsegbone, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Moses Odibo, and former Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Dr. Henry Sakpra.

Ibori, who spoke in Oghara, Ethiope West Council, said that Olejeme has the experience and capability to rule the state, adding that her antecedents such as her public service records are impressive.

He applauded her dynamic leadership qualities, outstanding contribution and commitment to human capital development in the country.

Ibori added: “Leadership entails selfless service, dedication and zeal to serve rather than being served.

We are satisfied with your profile and, by the grace of God, you will be governor of the state in 2015. We are solidly behind you.”

The PDP Chairman, Mr. Felix Oritsegbone, said: “Olejeme is not known to beat about the bush. Whatever project she embarks upon, she saw to its successful execution. We believe so much in her. She is a trusted person and will not disappoint us. All our delegates will vote for her.”

Olejeme also received encouragement from top Okpe leaders. Chief Tom Amioku, who spoke on their

behalf, urged the people to support the push for dynamic leadership. He said Delta State is ripe for her first female governor.

He added: “Leadership is not a function of tribe, sex or religion, but a matter of vision, determination and mission. Olejeme is a woman with a vision and a mission. She will take the state to a level higher than what we have as of now. She will make the difference.”

In Udu Local Government Area, Olejeme the leaders assured Olejeme of a bloc vote at the primaries. They described her as easy going, intelligent, articulate and frank person.

Sefia, who spoke on their behalf, said: “Her achievements and humility have endeared her to us. When the time comes, she will assume her seat as the governor of the

• Mrs Olejeme

state.”

Olejeme, who has not declared her intention to run for the governorship, thanked the stakeholders for their kind gestures.

53

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY Father Anselm Adodo is the director of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories in Ewu, Ishan, Edo State. He answers the question on health benefits of bitter leaf.

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Enjoying bitter leaf’s bitter-sweet taste

VERYBODY seems to know it. It is a domestic shrub that can be grown everywhere.

Bitter-leaf, whose botanical name is vernonia amydalina, is a shrub (specie) commonly found in tropical and warm regions of both subSaharan Africa and North America.

Wherever it grows, it flourishes and may grow into a big plant. It is called Onugbu in Igbo; Ewuro in Yoruba and Shiwaka by the Hausa/ Fulani. Its distinctive and unique quality is the bitterness, which becomes sweet after consumption. It is not only its leaves that are bitter, every part of the plant is also bitter.

In Igboland, the plant is mostly used as vegetable and often complements their soups. The Yoruba use it both as medicine and food. Bitter leaf is popular among the older people because of its bitterness. But the young people dislike its bitterness. To them, every food must be sweet and tasty.

The fact is that bitter leaves are good for the body. Philosophically, they remind us that life is not always sweet; that it is not “a bed of roses”; that both sweetness and bitterness are essential parts of life.

Bitter leaves or herbs, as it may be variously called, help to tone the vital organs of the body, especially the liver and kidneys. The liver is the largest internal organ of the body. It weights between one to three Kilograms in the adult. The liver’s major functions are: (a) secretion of bile and (b) formation of glycogen. It is essential in the metabolism or breaking down of fats and protein; it must, therefore, be well taken care of. Once the liver has any defect, it is hard to correct.

Every effort must be made therefore, to keep it in good condition.

Alcohol, sugar and processed or refined foods can weaken the liver and make it susceptible to infections.

The kidney is another important organ in the body. It helps to expel waste materials from the body. It secretes urine that flows into the urethras. If the kidney breaks down, there will be a general disorder in the body. Bitter Leaf is very useful in the care of the kidney and the liver. It is for this reason that we refer to bitter leaf as a cure-all, for if the kidney and liver are healthy the whole body system will function well.

The bitter-leaf plant contains Vernodalin, Venomygdin and Saponin and should always be taken fresh. Boiling or cooking reduces the potency of most herbs. Its bitterness must not be squeezed out before eating; otherwise, what would be left would be a mere chaff with llittle or no medicinal value. Remember, raw vegetables are better than cooked ones and half cooked vegetables are better than over cooked ones.

The Igbo people eat a lot of bitter leaf. But they often squeeze out the bitter juice from it before eating.

What is left then is mere chaff with little or no medicinal value. Bitterleaf, like other plants, is a sacred plant. Therefore, respect it and pray over the plant before you cut it. We need to cultivate an attitude of rev-

Question: I am newly wedded and my 25year-old wife from Calabar loves adding bitter leaf to most of her cookings - soups, sauce, pottage, just name it. I don’t fancy such, but she insists it has health benefits. Can you enlighten me on this?

•Dayo George, 27-year-old Civil Engineer, Lekki, Lagos. erence for God’s creatures so that we can be in harmony with them.

The following are some of the uses of bitter leaf:

Stomach ache:

Chew the tender stem of the plant like a chewing stick and swallow the bitterness. This is a well-known remedy for stomach aches. In some cases the ache stops within a few minutes. An alternative is to pound the fresh leaves in a mortar and squeeze out the juice. Drink three tablespoons of the undiluted juice.

This brings immediate relief.

•A plate of melon soup with washed bitter leaf, fish, beef and ponmo (cow hide) with eba; a stable delicacy in Nigeria.

•Father Adodo

Skin Infection:

For skin infections such as ring worm, itching, rashes and eczema, the pure, undiluted extract of bitter leaf is excellent. Simply apply it to the affected part daily.

Diabetes:

Diabetics should carefully read this good news. They do not need to despair or lose hope. God has not abandoned them. God has given them bitter leaf as a sign of God’s love and care. From time immemorial, herbalists have been using the plant for the treatment of diabetics.

Bitter leaf not only reduces the sugar-level drastically, it also helps to repair the pancreas. Squeeze 10 handfuls of the fresh leaves in 10 liters of water and take two glasses thrice daily for one month, this amounts to six glasses daily.

Loss of Memory:

Loss of memory can be a symptom of diabetes, or a sickness on its own. Whatever its nature may be, bitter leaf is good for this ailment.

Take one glass thrice daily for a least two months.

Prostate Cancer:

Prostrate cancer is common among men who are over 40 years old. Its symptom is difficult and painful urination, among others.

Bitter leaf is very good for this ailment. It increases the flow of urine

•Bitter leaf tree

and reduces the pain, as well as regulates the spread of the cell. Simply squeeze the fresh leaves in water and take a glassful four times daily. Do not be surprised if you begin to urinate very frequently when you take the bitter leaf extracts. It’s part of the cleansing and healing process that your body needs.

General Weakness:

Do you often feel weak and tired?

Do you lack vitality and vigour?

Then get up and take a walk. You don’t need to trek far before you find a bitter leaf plant. Squeeze the leaves into water and take a glass thrice daily. Soon you will experience a new lease of energy.

Stroke:

Bitter leaf solution calms the nerves, strengthens the muscles and cleanses the system. I have seen the marvels that bitter leaf extract has done for many people and I testify that it is good.

Pneumonia:

Squeeze the fresh leaves of the plant into water. Take a glassfull thrice daily. Warm the solution on fire each time before drinking. Remember, do not boil, just warm.

Continue the medication for a month. You do not need to squeeze the leaves each time you want to drink it. You can squeeze a large quantity at once and add some honey. This will help preserve the

solution. However, note that if you store bitter leaf extract for twentyfour hours or more, the bitterness will disappear or diminish. But the efficacy remains.

Insomnia:

Bitter leaf extract has done wonders for those suffering from sleeplessness. Simply take two glasses of bitter leaf solution every night. You will experience great calm and well being. You may add a little honey if you wish.

Arthritis:

Arthritis or rheumatism patients who have tried bitter-leaf solution as described above attest to its efficacy. It soothes inflamed joints and eradicates the pain.

DO YOU KNOW:

S

O, if your organs are obese will you appear obese on the outside? Not necessarily – and this is what makes this insult so incredibly dangerous. Fructose, a part of table sugar, along with high-fructose corn syrup, cause the liver to store fat in strange places.

Prolonged, high consumption of fructose can lead to globules of fat building up around the liver – this is a precursor to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Interestingly enough, this condition was rarely seen before 1980.

Sugar makes your internal organs obese Sugar makes your blood vessels tense Excess sugar prompts the body to release excess insulin into the blood stream. This extra insulin wreaks havoc on our circulatory system and arteries. If insulin levels remain high for long periods of time, it causes the smooth muscle cells around blood vessels to expand rapidly – much faster than normal. When artery walls become tense, it puts you at a much

higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Sugar ages your skin fast Sugar is ranked alongside smoking and unsafe sun exposure as the top three ways of aging your skin.

Collagen and elastin are skin support structures that get broken down from sun or other free radicals exposure – this process works well when we are young, but as we age it slows down.

When sugar is present in the skin,

it forms cross-links with amino acids that may have been damaged by free radicals. These cross-links are like roadblocks to the repair process. A dermatologist William Dandy, said once the cross-links are formed, they do not unhitch. Over time, your skin will look much older than it should.

Note: Consider adding cinnamon, ginger, cloves and garlic to your diet. These spices seem to slow down the cross-linking process.

•Source: -The Alternative Daily

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54

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

Happy Easter! Beware, Lucifer at Work (2) •continued from Last Week

T

HE Church even believes they are holy or saints specially blessed by God to bear these marks. Millions of people troop in every year to pray in the vicinity of stigmatists for their needs and wants. Wouldn’t this be another Lucifer project to deny mankind the knowledge that the cycle of the mission of Jesus to the earth was closing, and that the final Judgment was nigh? In the closing of that cycle, people, who did wrong then are offered an opportunity to come to a recognition of their misdeeds and make amends before the ring closes.

With these people said to speak the language of Golgotha in those days, what other proof do we need that they lived at the time of Jesus and were probably the ring leaders of the Crucifixion? Turn and twist as the Christian, who objects to the reality of re-incarnation may be, Lucifer did not quite succeed in taking this knowledge away from man. At the second episcospical Conference in AD 553 (Read Stephen Lampe’s THE CHRISTIAN AND RE-INCARNATION), Lucifer must have employed Emperor Nero to coax bishops at the conference to reject re-incarnation, to the annoyance of Pope Justinian, who boycotted the conference, but later caved in after the Emperor placed him under house arrest and threatened to depose him.

But we know from the words of Jesus that re-incarnation is real. He once said the generation in which He lived would “not pass away” until His Words concerning the Final Judgment had come to pass. Since those Words have not come to pass, it means that generation has not passed away from this earth. They must have been re-incarnating here today and there tomorrow. And didn’t His Disciples conclude from His utterances that John the Baptist was Elijah, who was billed to return to this earth before Jesus would come?

Although their guess was wrong, for Elijah returned as someone else and not John the Baptist and John the Baptist was someone else who had been to this earth two times before then, the message was not lost: Jesus gave an indication here that re-incarnation was real. He told them that Elijah had come, but the people did not know him and had “done to him what they would”. The Disciple who reported this event made a misleading personal interpretation of the words of Jesus when He said: “And it became clear unto them that He spake of John the Baptist.”

The reality of re-incarnation should have afforded a better understanding of many statements of Jesus, including the one often quoted to disprove the reality of re-incarnation: “It is appointed unto man to die but once, after that, the Judgment”.

We should remember that Lazarus lived a second time, as did, for example, Jairius’s daughter, and the widow’s daughter. Dr. Raymond moody’s book, LIFE AFTER LIFE, and Richard Stanpatch’s HOW IS IT THAT WE LIVE AFTER DEATH AND THE MEANING OF LIFE are filled with accounts of many people doctors certified to be clinically dead, but who returned to earth – life and told of their living experiences on an “other side”. Their accounts not only tallied, these people were never their old selves again. Now, we know we should simultaneously experience this earth-life and life in the so-called beyond. But our capacity for transearthly experiencing has been severely curtailed by atrophy of the ethereal senses due to their disuse. Yet, by simultaneously experiencing both worlds our spiritual experiencing becomes richer, and our spiritual growth on earth and ascent homewards to Paradise become much easier. The truth is that we go through judgment on earth every moment. The death spoken of is the effacement of the spirit from the Book of Life if it is found wanting in the final judgment.

Many other facts and concepts have been distorted by Christian teachings. Jesus taught us that I have come to fulfill the Laws, not to oppose them. He was not referring to earthly laws, but to the Laws of Creation, known on earth as the Laws of Nature, which express the Will of His Father. These laws, among their other provisions make allowance for the coming into being of man on earth, and for his departure, that is for birth and death. If Jesus were to ignore them, He would probably just have dropped from the sky as an adult to begin His Mission. Similarly, when He bled to death on the Cross, His physical body could have resurrected right away, and He could have come down from the Cross as expected by one of the thieves crucified along with Him. But the Laws of Nature, being perfect like their author, God, from eternity unto eternity, cannot be amended for even the Son of God on earth.

Evidently, the Disciples did not understand this and, so, their accounts of His Life and Times, under this light, were filled with embellishments. Virgin birth in Jewish language and culture meant no more than the first birth by a womb. And immaculate conception meant no more than the attraction of the right soul and bearing of pregnancy in purest love. Every woman ought to be capable of immaculate conception. And it is simply because many women are incapable of Immaculate Conception that dark souls not yet mature to live on earth have been prematurely attracted here. And that’s why, as we now know since the 1920s, more than half the number of human beings on earth shouldn’t have been here. This is a major reason there is so much disorder on earth which the Purification and Millennium are meant to cleanse. How often do we feel so dehumanised by the action of someone and remark that he or she is a beast. No, humans are no beasts, although they could be beastly in their behavior.

Concerning the Resurrection and Ascension of the deceased physical body, the accounts passed on and widely believed till this day betray a lack of understanding of the Laws of Nature.

The Turin Shroud controversy tried to lift a truth – revealing veil. As a boy in Sunday School, I often wondered how the

pieces of a man’s skeleton strewn hundreds of kilometers apart, or pulverised to powder or cremated to ash and thrown into the sea or another body of water would re-unite to form a whole body which would stand before the Judge on Resurrection or Rapture Day. The body is dust and returns to dust in obedience to the Law of the Cycle by which everything that comes into being must return someday to its starting point.

The soul, which bears a spirit kernel, in the case of man, and divinity in respect of Jesus, returns also to its origin. The Apostle Paul was, therefore, right in his observation that the body of Jesus he was priviledge to behold after His Crucifixion was not the mortal, physical body but a spiritualised body. If it wasn’t, how would two Disciples on the way to Emmaus not recognise a man they saw only three days before?

Finally, let us remember that any new opportunity of an Easter season to spend the time in sober reflection, not on wining, dining, visiting and revelry. Let us remember Lucifer is still at work through his minions, although He Himself is now bound by one from an Origin higher than His. Wrong Keys to Right Doors As Christians’ journey in spirit from Easter to Pentecost, now mindful of the many traps of Lucifer set on the way to Paradise, it is important that they keep oil in the lamps of their soul like the five wise virgins. Concepts are like keys. The wrong key does not open the right door. Therefore, the Mission of Jesus to the earth, like His many statements and teachings, must be understood aright. For they are keys to doors. As a boy, I wondered how my younger brother would offend my father, and my father would have me killed in order to forgive my erring brother the offence. I wondered that if God was perfect from the beginning of Time, which meant that He would never change from eternity to eternity, because changing for the better would mean moving from imperfection to perfection, how would He on one occasion outlaw murder (Thou shall not kill) and, on another permit it? That would be in consistency, and God is not known to be inconsistent. Therefore, the idea of Jesus coming to die for sins can be seen in the light of Jewish culture which believes in sacrifices of all sorts to please the Almighty Creator.

Didn’t Cain feel bad when the smoke of his offering fail to rise skywards, but that of Abel, his brother, did? Did he not kill Abel on this account out of jealousy? Does the scriptures not warn that obedience is better than sacrifice? The Jews believed so much in sacrificial offerings that they easily accepted the idea of Jesus as a sacrificial offering that the religious order invented after it became clear a mistake had been made with His murder. The right explanation for the Crucifixion of Jesus would, therefore, be found in Mission Karma. He was coming to the stronghold of the Darkness, the earth, not for the sake of all earth-dwellers, remember, but to show those few souls eager for salvation the way out of an impending perdition. Of this perdition, Jesus once made a statement which ought to have kept every serious - minded Christian thinking. He said every sin against the Almighty Father, God, would be forgiven as would every sin against Him, the Love of God. But no sin against the Holy Spirit would be forgiven.

What is this Holy Spirit that would be unforgiving? So, if Jesus took sins against Him away, what of sins against the Holy Spirit? And what constitutes these sins? The average Christians concentrates all his energy on the blood of Jesus which he believes has washed his sins away. Again, couldn’t this be a wrong key to the right door which Lucifer has dropped on the lap of man to lure him to sleep like he rejected five foolish virgins? For the blood of Jesus, like His earthly body, was of material origin and couldn’t ascend beyond the world of matter. Isn’t it for this reason that dust is committed into dust? And didn’t Jesus say He came not to disobey the law?

Where, then, were the sins washed by the blood? In any case, didn’t Jesus teach that whatever a man sowed he would reap?

Didn’t He say only those who fulfilled the will of His Father would be admitted to Paradise? Does the Revelation not invite us to “behold those who have washed themselves in the Blood of the Lamp? Doesn’t this suggest that man must personally do his cleaning? When we are invited to behold “the Lamb beareth the sins of the world”, we are told to see those wound marks of nails, thorns and the spear, which stand accusingly as testimo-

nials against us for a dastardly murder. It doesn’t mean the Lamb is carrying the sins somewhere. If the Holy Spirit would not forgive our sins against Him, Who is He? Can His not forgiving us our sins debar us from being admitted to Paradise?

Jesus answered these questions. He said He had to go away for the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter to come. And, among the functions of the Comforter on earth. He would remind us of the teachings of Jesus, reprieve the world of sin and proclaim the Judgment. Declaration of judgment is a spiritual, not physical event. There is only One Power in the Universe, God. Everyone and everything which exists is connected to this Power by a myriad of threads of currents of this power. To unhinge the Darkness on earth, someone from an Origin higher than Lucifer’s would have to come here with the enabling currents of Power before which Lucifer must bow. This Power which would have to be anchored on earth, as a ship is to the habour, in order to plug the earth, as it were, to purifying flames of the Judgment released from on High. As Lucifer is personal, so would be the one to bind Him. Jesus told us the Holy Spirit would be personal, like Him when he said, “And when He, The Spirit of Truth is come, He would….” If we cannot catch that easily because of long-held opinions on this matter which we are afraid to let go, what about the hint the Revelation gives us in Chapter 1, verses 4 – 6. For me, this message is clear. Two personalities are mentioned here. Of the first, it is said: “Peace from Him Who Is, Who Was, and Who is to come”. Of the other personality, the Revelation says “And peace also from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and first begotten of the dead”.

Note carefully the conjunction AND which connects that which is to come to Jesus in the next paragraph. So, we expect another, other than Jesus, and this one will reprieve the world of sin and declare the Judgment!

Many Christians cannot get themselves to believe there is another like Jesus, although Jesus Himself gave the hint. They say that promise of Jesus was concerning the comforter was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost when the Disciples were filled with Power. But they do not know that Pentecost was not a one-off event, that it has occurred from the beginning of Creation, as a process by which the Creator periodically, imbues His Creation with Power to renew it. On earth, we calculate it as a yearly event. Without this renewal, Creation would shrivel, decay and disintegrate into its primeval parts as if it never came into being. An earthly semblance of this process is the blood circulation process of our physical earthly bodies. If the lungs do not renew the blood with oxygen, and if the heart does not pump the oxygenated blood round the body, death would occur in a matter of time. In a Temple at the Pinnacle of Paradise, there is rejoicing when Power streams in from on high for the renewal of Creation. This Power is passed down into creation by those four Animal Beings (the Lion, the Bull, Ram and the Eagle).

So, on Pentecost Day as recorded in the Bible, what happened was that Jesus, being aware of this event and the timing, had asked His Disciples to gather in the Upper Chamber. Their Master having just been violently separated from them, the Disciples were sorrowful and their expectant souls were well opened enough to absorb or draw from the outpouring of Power which flows down from the Holy Spirit in this season for the renewal of Creation and all those beings who open themselves up spiritually for it. The truth is that, even today, as in the days of the Disciples, many people do not know anything is going on, especially if they hold the wrong key to the right door in their hands. For if they know the truth of Pentecost, the season of Easter and Pentecost will not be characterised by the orgies of pleasure which suffuse it today. Even for people who have inkling of this events and will try to separate themselves from their hurly–burly of daily activities towards the end of May, they will be able to absorb of the Power of Pentecost no more than their souls will open up to receive it.

I believe I have left hanging the question of Mission Karma of Jesus. I am pinching myself not to also leave hanging the question of ‘’that which is to come”. Mission Karma is that ordeal one lovingly undertakes to go through while discharging a responsibility. Who in the finer realms looking down on the earth would not know a fate likely to befall Him on a rescue mission to this earth? From the earthly experience, those Israeli soldiers who staged the Raid on Entebe Airport to free aircraft hijack hostages certainly knew they could get killed in the action. Similarly, I believe President Obama’s heart would, literally speaking, be in his mouth as he watched live television broadcast of the American Mission to kidnap Osama Bin laden a few years ago. Thus the murder of Jesus on earth was a possibility but was not the reason for His coming. There was no doubt that He saw His Mission coming to an end as He perceived the storm of the Darkness gather ferociously. Lucifer and His minions, having achieved the murder of Jesus, turned on His Disciples, to efface the teaching of the message Jesus had brought. Even Apostle Paul when he was Saul would join the attack. There is none of us today who wish to live the good life, to be pure as far as the human spirit can become pure, who does not face attacks from the minions of Lucifer, who always wish to drag everything down into the abyss. It is a conflict situation everyone striving after goodness must struggle through.

I am reminded of ‘That which is to come’, the one who does not forgive our sins, and the one who will proclaim the judgement. Mention of him reminds me of what may be a recognition of him by the Yoruba tribe of south-western Nigeria a long, long time ago. In one of their sayings preserved till this day, they say ‘Esan o gbo ogun, Esan l’akobi Olodumare’ Translated, this means… ‘Vengeance has no remedy; ‘Vengeance is the first child of the Almighty’.

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

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BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

The N100 billion fund to revive the textile sector seems not to have achieved its purpose. Many ailing firms expected to benefit from the fund are folding up, reports OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

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HERE is no respite yet for the ailing textile sector. Despite the N100 billion intervention fund by the Federal Government to revive the sector, acknowledged as one of the highest employers after the government, it has remained in coma.

Instead of getting back on stream, many of the ailing companies are folding up, causing apprehension among operators and stakeholders because of its economic implications.

When Nigerians were expecting a noticeable turnaround in the fortunes of the companies, Arewa Textiles Plc, arguably one of the biggest in Kaduna, was offered for sale.

The factory, occupying 178,208.81 square meters, is now under receivership and has been advertised for sale through two firms, D.E Ogona & Co (Chartered Accountants) and Bola Fabola & Co (Legal Advisers). The asking price for the textile company is N7billion.

Its proposed sale, to many operators and stakeholders indicate failure of the stimulus package, which was expected would breathe life into the textile companies.

Apart from Arewa Textiles, other firms on their way out are, Afprint Plc, Enpee, Five Star, Gaskiya, Aba Textiles, Specomills, Zamfara Textiles, Finetex and Northex in Kaduna.

Except, Stallion Textiles and United Textiles Limited (UNTL) in Kaduna that are currently operating below installed capacity, most of the big textile companies have leased their premises to other business concerns.

Others premises have been taken over by religious worshippers.

Why are the fortunes of the textile companies sliding despite the huge capital injection? The answer is not far fetched. The DirectorGeneral of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Usman G. Saulawa, said government put the wrong foot forward when it came up with the stimulus package at six per cent interest without first addressing the lack of critical infrastructure, such as regular electricity supply.

“The N100 billion lifeline for the sector is like putting the cart before the horse,” Saulawa argued, noting that apart from the fact that the machines must run 24 hours, scarcity of black oil and processed cotton, which add to the cost of production, make the finished materials uncompetitive. The Vice President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Roland Ogbonna, said except the poor energy supply is fixed, no stimulus package will work.

The intervention fund was conceived during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was handled by the Bank of Industry (BoI). But the fund, according to the President, Nigerian Union of Textile and Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN), Mr. Oladele Hunsu, has failed to put the textile sector back on track.

He blamed the failure on poor infrastructure and policy somersaults.

“Only a few textile industries across the country like, the UNTL in Kaduna and some other popular ones have accessed the fund.

Unfortunately, some others that

•Nwogu

•Aganga

•Saulawa

Why textile mills are still down

are trying to access the funds could not due to the new policies regarding importation of textile products,” he said.

He said many companies had turned their factories to warehouses because the textile sector has not experienced the desired change. “Some textile manufacturers have resorted to importing ready-made textile materials from Asia and other countries. While some materials are original, some are sub-standard. Also, smuggling has choked the market and discouraged potential manufacturers,” he stated.

The National Chairman, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Ibrahim Igomu, identified massive smuggling and faking of existing trademarks and intellectual property infringement as some of the problems confronting the industry.

He said: “Some unpatriotic businessmen fake trademarks of textile materials; they imitate them and dump them on unsuspecting consumers. Our borders have become so porous that market shares

of genuine products have been eroded. When you smuggle these things, you don’t pay import duty.

You can see that it is a major challenge. These unpatriotic Nigerians together with their collaborators smuggle sub standard textiles into the Nigerian market.”

Igomu said between 80 and 90 per cent of consumers with purchasing power are in Nigeria, noting that this is why the negative effects of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET) is felt more in Nigeria, as neighbouring countries of Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana have become grounds for smuggling textiles into Nigeria. “This is an area we have made representation to the government,” he said.

Igomu recalls:“ In the glorious years (between 1975 and 1991), the Nigerian textile industry had 125 active textile industries. We were contributing about 45 per cent to

•Workers on duty in a textile industry.

the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the real sector, generating about $7billion in the non-oil export sector, and employing close to 450,000 Nigerians, which made us the largest employer of labour outside the government.” All of these have changed because of unfavourable government policies and lack of infrastructure.

The textile sector was once the second largest in sub-Saharan Africa, behind South Africa and represented about 63 per cent of textile capacity in the ECOWAS sub region. Its decline in fortunes led to the reduction in the number of viable textile mills from 175 in the mid-1990s to less than 25 in 2010.

Employment shrank from about 137, 000 to 60, 000 in 2002 and a further reduction of the workforce by 36,000 as at 2010. Similarly, capacity utilisation in the industry went down to 20.14 per cent in 2010 from over 50 per cent in 2003.

The bad tale still threatens the continued operations of the few surviving textile companies.

Experts blame government’s inconsistent policies for the sector’s

fall. The government, they said, failed to prptect local industries by curtailing the unbridled dumping of highly subsidised and sub-standard textile materials from China and other Asian countries.

Smuggled counterfeit fabrics, particularly from Asia are said to account for over 85 per cent of the Nigerian textile market. The imported fabrics are poor imitations of the old “Hollandis,” which used to be of very high quality and durability.

The imitations, which flood the market come in cheap with the full complement of the design and colours of the original brands. Other challenges are the absence of long term, low interest funds, obsolete machinery, infrastructure deficit, especially irregular supply of electricity and poor transportation system, among others.

Despite all these, Saulawa says there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Some Pakistani investors are waiting in the wings to take over the empty factories particularly those in Kaduna, once known as home of textile industry.

The industry had its highest concentration of firms in Kaduna. But Saulawa said although all the companies are moribund, most of them would soon roar back to life, courtesy of the Pakistan investors.

He said that the Pakistani business men confirmed that the same machines in the moribund factories are used in their country.

Can the investors replicate the Pakistani magic in Nigeria? While operators and stakeholders are waiting to see how they intend to pull this through, government says it is looking at resuscitating the sector via a multi-faceted approach. The Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said: “We are looking at it from cotton producers to ginners, to textile manufacturers and then to the fashion designers. This was why government offered the whooping N100billion intervention fund to the sector.”

Aganga identified massive influx of textiles and apparels from Asia, particularly after the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) expired in 2005 and epileptic power supply as some of the factors that led to the sector’s crash. Others, he said, were global economic challenges, massive smuggling of cheaper textiles with lower quality, changing consumer tastes and habits and huge debt burden on producers in the value chain, amongst others.

The minister however, noted that the sector holds strong potential due to its natural cotton endowments, large market size and legacy sector knowledge, adding that Nigeria’s population of over 167 million people represents a natural market for basic textiles and apparel related goods.

The potential to export to regional and select developed markets (such as the United States under the African growth and opportunity Act (AGOA) tariff regime) attractive, adding that the existing textile infrastructure and skill base provides the industry with a pool of knowledgeable workforce particularly in Northern Nigeria.

These realities, the minister said, make the sector too important for the government to ignore. Will the government summon the political will to address all the issues that have continued to hold the sector down despite the injection of the intervention fund? Time will tell.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

‘Need to encourage investments in refineries’

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O encourage private investments in refineries, there is need for the Federal Government to provide conducive environment, the National Public Relations Officer, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Seyi Gambo, has said.

Gambo said there are some key issues that still confront the nation and that is the reason why the Federal Government should provide the right environment for private investors to invest in refineries and other businesses.

He said more than 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total crude oil production, which translates to about 200,000 barrels of crude oil is stolen every day, adding that this is almost double the total production of Ghana.

“The nation therefore, loses about $6billion yearly to crude oil theft and another N165billion to theft of refined products. As if this is not enough, there is also the brazen vandalism of pipelines, which has adversely affected the supply of crude to the refineries resulting in low or no output from our four refineries,” he said.

He said because of oil theft and pipeline vandalism, there is insecurity of lives and property in Nigeria. His words: “Terrorism ravages the north while kidnapping and armed robbery reigns in the south. Life in Nigeria has become nasty, brutish and short with general insecurity of our members, our families and other citizens. This general insecurity has also seriously increased the cost of doing business in our industry and impacted negatively on each one of us as our collective bargaining results in the last few years will attest.

He said: “You will recall that we made a strong worded statement when Boko Haram killed some young Nigerian pupils in their hostels some months back. It’s a pity the security challenges is becoming a monster today. I will continue to hold the northern elites in particular and Nigerians

By Justice Ilevbare, Assistant Editor, Online

in general responsible for the advent of Boko Haram. There is abject poverty in the north that does not reflect the decades northerners ruled Nigeria.

“Today we have millions of northern youths who are disillusioned, they are willing to work but there is no work. All the industries are dead, no textile factories, cotton and groundnut pyramids are things of history.

“Millions don’t know where their next meal will come from, and they see our military and political elites perpetuating corruption, going free and throwing it at you.

These youths are easy prey to many influences including illiterate clerics and mischievous politicians.

“If we cannot protect the industry that gives us more than 80 per cent of our revenue, what can we then protect? Ethiopia’s major source of income is the Ethiopian Airline. Irrespective of the government in power, the smooth operation of that airline is never disrupted. But what do we have here? Instead of the Navy to patrol our territorial waters and arrest illegal vessels freighting our crude away, we resort to giving contracts to patrol such a sensitive space to Tompolo, an ex militant”.

On divestment by oil multinationals, he said the combined effect of insecurity, oil

theft and pipeline vandalism made the international oil companies (IOCs) to review their business strategy.

“You will recall that in 2003 many of these companies planned to massively invest in the upstream oil and gas sector for the period 2004-2010. This was based on an ambitious aspiration by the Nigerian government to increase national oil reserves from about 30 billion barrels in 2003 to 40billion barrels in 2010, and daily national production from about two million barrels per day to four million barrels per day in 2010.

However, from February 2006, the militancy in the Niger Delta escalated and forced many of the multinational oil and gas companies to shut down many operations in the Niger Delta. The planned investments by some of these companies, some of which had kickedoff, could no longer be realised. As militancy reduced, oil theft and pipeline vandalism became the order of the day,” he said.

Gambo also decried the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying: “The PIB was presented to the National Assembly (NASS) in July 2012. Public hearing was concluded by the House of Representatives in July 2013 and the Senate in November 2013. From then till now, not much has been done by the NASS. “Meanwhile, investors have continued to adopt a wait and see attitude, refraining from making any new investment pending

‘Millions don’t know where their next meal will come from, and they see our military and political elites perpetuating corruption, going free and throwing it at you. These youths are easy prey to many influences including illiterate clerics and mischievous politicians’

• Gambo

the passage of the bill. Since 2009 when the Yar’Adua government first introduced the PIB, no new final investment decision (FID) has been taken on any oil and gas project in Nigeria, not even on the government-promoted Brass LNG project.

“While we are dithering in Nigeria, there are new oil discoveries all over Africa, drawing in investors just as new technology is making hitherto unreachable and uneconomic hydrocarbon deposits accessible in Europe and North America thus attracting investors to those environments. Pass the PIB and let everybody know the rules of the game”.

He said tied to the non-passage of the PIB is government’s undue interference in the purely commercial activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) thus, opening it up to unfair allegations of cottuption by legislators and the public.

NDE sensitises staff on anti-graft

SMEDAN appoints Anyikwa Southeast Zonal Coordinator

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HE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) organised a sensitisation workshop on anti-corruption for NDE staff.

In his address, the Director General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed said the workshop is to acquaint his staff with the activities of the EFCC and how to carry out their activities without falling foul of the law.

“The collaboration will bring home to officers of the directorate the intricate workings of the EFCC. Officers will be better equipped to play a more supportive and proactive role in the fight against corruption.

“In 2002, the NDE by the mandate of the Federal Government, through the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) established at its headquarters, the AntiCorruption and Transparency Unit, otherwise known as ACTU-NDE,” Mohammed said.

He added that 10 months later, all NDE formation in the 36 states and Abuja set up local ACTUs, due to the fact that NDE programmes are mainly implemented in the states.

On his part, the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, commended NDE leadership for partnering with the EFCC to fight corruption.

“The cankerworm of corruption feeds fat on poverty, ignorance, unemployment, ignorance, unemployment, and fear of the unknown. These are subordinate monsters that the NDE is uniquely placed and empowered to deal with. That is why EFCC considers the NDE a key partner in the war against corruption,” he said.

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•Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole presenting a gift to Comrade Sylvester Ejiofoh (left) during a visit of the union’s executives to Government House, Benin City. With them is National President, Almagamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) Comrade Solomon Adelegan.

Govt to review group life policy for civil servants

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HE Federal Government has concluded plans to review the Group Life Assurance Policy for its civil servants to make them more effective.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni Aji, spoke in Abuja, during an official meeting with the Underwriters on Group Life Assurance Scheme, for the federal civil servants.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Yemi Adelakun, Aji lamented that civil

servants are not benefiting as much as they should under the current Group Life Assurance Scheme.

“The current scheme is not in line with global best practices, he said, listing “drawbacks in the current policy (to) include, arbitrary allotment of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to insurance companies without consideration for competiveness or value propositions.

“Funds are not provided to pay premium in advance of cover as required by the insurance law of no premium no cover; current insurance scheme is done annually whereas

group life assurance should be a long term policy.

“Premium are currently based on total estimate of staff emolument in the annual budget rather than actual pay roll of the respective MDA. “Other lapses in the present policy are, no subsequent reconciliation of the estimated and actual premium to determine surplus or shortfall and the share of insurance companies are based on percentage of estimated budget emolument of allotted MDA and not scheduled emolument of civil servants covered by the insurance,” Aji said.

By Toba Agboola

S part of the on-going decentralisation of its services and mass deployment of personnel, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has appointed its Deputy Director (Corporate Affairs), Mr. Levi Chukwuemeka Anyikwa, as the new Southeast Zonal Coordinator of the agency.

He is to head the Zonal Office in Enugu from where he will anchor the programmes and services of the Agency in the five states of the Southeast geo-political zone, namely: Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia.

The appointment was conveyed to him by the Management of the Agency vide a letter dated April 23, this year, saying: “I am directed to inform you that approval has been granted for your deployment to the Southeast Zonal Office at Enugu as the Zonal Coordinator with immediate effect.”

Anyikwa, who was born on March 27, 1965, hails from Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He attended the (CMS) Primary School Umuchu from 1972 to 1978; Boys’ Secondary School Umuchu from 1978 to 1983; Anambra State Polytechnic Oko (now Federal Polytechnic Oko) from 1984 to 1986 and then Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH) Enugu, known as Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) from 1986 to 1989.

He later attended the University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos, between 1994 and 1996.

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MONEYLINK

Akingbola, Atuche could reclaim banks with N1tr, says Chike-Obi F OR the first time, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustafa Chike-Obi has broken his silence over the takeover of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc and Bank PHB Plc. He said previous owners of the banks could come forward and retake the lenders, but must pay AMCON a total of N1 trillion for the banks.

Dr. Erastus Akingbola and Francis Atuche were former Managing Directors of the defunct Intercontinental Bank and Bank PHB respectively. While Access Bank acquired Intercontinental Bank, Bank PHB now runs under the name, Keystone Bank Limited.

Speaking yesterday at the Bank Directors’ Association of Nigeria (BDAN) 2014 Symposium held in Lagos, Chike-Obi said he understood that there were plans to peti-

Stories by Collins Nweze

tion regulators to reclaim those banks. He said he would sign any deal authorising such transaction provided the money is paid back to AMCON, adding that AMCON put in N600 billion in Intercontinental Bank, while Bank PHB got N400 billion bringing the cost of rescuing both lenders to N1 trillion.

“The banking crisis in Nigeria was very severe. I heard recently, because the suspended Governor of the Central Bank seems to be under a cloud, at the moment. People are going back and saying they are going to petition to get their banks back. I will use this opportunity to say: anybody who wants their banks back; any of those banks, and are ready to give AMCON back the

banks. If something happens to the naira, many banks will be under pressure,” he said.

According to him, those running around thinking the matter has been solved; those that sit back and want their banks back, blaming the regulators to keep watching out because the crisis is not completely over.

He however assured that the banking system is stable, adding that at the end, everybody involved in this reform has done the best they can.

Speaking further, he said although AMCON wants bad loans recovered, it will not do that at the expense of the businesses of the debtors. He said being too tough with the debtors could lead to shut down of many manufacturing companies. That will

money AMCON put in those banks, I will sign that deal immediately.

“If Mr Akingbola wants Intercontinental Bank tomorrow; and is willing to give me back the N600 billion AMCON put in there, I will sign immediately. The same thing with Bank PHB, we put N400 billion there, I will take the N400 billion and give the bank back. Those banks were in very bad shape, and had to be rescued,” Chike-Obi said.

Defending the reforms in the banking sector, he said the actions taken so far were honest, genuine, expensive, time-consuming.

“When some people say the banks were healthy and that the banks were not healthy, even today as we sit, we are not completely out of the woods. We have issues with foreign obligations in Nigerian

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objective of being ranked as one of the top three banks in any of the markets in which it operates.

Its Board Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode said: “The Board has considered a variety of available capital raising options and came to the conclusion that having the option of raising additional financing of up to $1billion or its equivalent in local currency via the issuance of debt instruments is the most costefficient option to meet the bank’s capital adequacy objectives.”

He added that the injection of fresh capital into the bank’s operations is imperative for the realisation of its developmental goals and commitment to society.

The shareholders also unani-

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HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has hailed the investment strategies of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, especially on the newly opened shopping malls in Ibadan.

Its President, Alh Kabir Alkali Mohammed gave the commendation yesterday after a working tour of the Heritage Mall and the Cocoa Mall, located at the Cocoa House Complex, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Mohammed who is the 49th president of ICAN, led members of his executives to the headquarters of Odu’a Investment Company located in Dugbe.

He said the new malls have given Ibadan a facelift and also increased the number of people coming for shopping, thereby making the area a rich economic arena for investment.

He said:“We have come, we have

mously approved the re-election and election of new directors to the bank’s board. The new directors are Mr. Paul Usoro, and Dr. (Mrs) Ajoritsedere Awosika.

The shareholders also commended management and board for the performance recorded for the period under review.

Chairman, Shareholders Trustee Association of Nigeria (SSAN), Mukhtar Mukhtar, said in the middle the changes experienced in the operating environment, the ability of the bank to grow deposits at a double-digit rate is impressive and highly commendable, noting that such signals stability and security of a financial institution.

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

NIDF

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

O/PRICE

SEPLAT 596.50 UNIONDICON 13.44 AFRIPRUD 2.90 CUSTGODYINS 2.25 COSTAIN 1.41 DANGSUGAR 9.50 ZENITHBANK 21.92 JBERGER 68.89 ETI 13.15 INTENEGINS 0.53

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 30-4-14

SYMBOL

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

C/PRICE

CHANGE

626.31 14.11 3.04 2.35 1.47 9.90 22.70 70.90 13.50 0.54

29.81 0.67 0.14 0.10 0.06 0.40 0.78 2.01 0.35 0.01

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

LOSERS AS AT 30-4-14

SYMBOL CADBURY AIRSERVICE RTBRISCOE ETERNA ABCTRANS CUTIX PRESCO OKOMUOIL NESTLE UPL

O/PRICE 79.00 2.25 1.25 3.79 0.86 1.99 42.00 35.00 1,080.00 4.15

C/PRICE 75.05 2.14 1.19 3.61 0.82 1.90 40.12 33.50 1,040.00 4.00

CHANGE -3.95 -0.11 -0.06 -0.18 -0.04 -0.09 -1.88 -1.50 -40.00 -0.15

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

seen and we are surprised with the level of transformation in this company. We are not expecting this type of edifice in Ibadan, but in Lagos or Abuja. You have changed the face of Ibadan and this is why some residents of neighbouring states are moving down here.”

He promised ICAN’s professional support for further transformation of the firm.

Group Managing Director the firm, Chief Adebayo Jimoh thanked ICAN executives for providing a robust platform for training highly skilled personnel.

Jimoh said:”We have more accountants than engineers here, which shows you the level of training and human capacity building we are giving to our workers. We record more chartered accountants over there and attach more incentives to them.”

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

also lead to job loss. “We will be irresponsible to shut down businesses jut to prove that we are working hard,” he said, adding that the act of borrowing money from banks and not paying back is a civil matter.

ICAN hails Odu’a Investment’s strategies

Access Bank gets nod to raise $1b

CCESS Bank’s shareholders have endorsed the lender’s plan to raise $1 billion addi tional capital.

The shareholders who spoke at the bank’s 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held yesterday in Lagos said the funds could be raised through public offering, private placement, rights offering, book building process or other methods or a combination of methods.

The shareholders said funds would be raised in tranches when needed and would be used in the bank’s priority growth sectors and market segments that guarantee steady earnings in conformity with the bank’s sustainable growth agenda. This is in furtherance of its

• Chike-Obi

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name Offer Price AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 154.22 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.09 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.71 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,634.20 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,061.91 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,063.29 FBN HERITAGE FUND 114.62 FBN HERITAGE FUND 115.39 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 2.50 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,910.24 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND

Bid Price 153.47 9.08 1.07 1.17 0.72 1.33 1,631.63 1,061.01 1,063.01 115.44 114.59 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 2.44 1,903.64

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

1.2719 1.3210 0.9270 1.1677

Movement

1.2834 1.3210 0.9446 1.1677

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-4-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-4-14

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

63

EQUITIES

Shareholders increase Sterling Bank’s share capital

S

HAREHOLDERS of Sterling Bank Plc yesterday increased the authorized share capital of the bank by 33.3 per cent from N12 billion to N16 billion, creating headroom for the bank to issue new shares in the event of any decision to raise new equity funds.

At the annual general meeting of the bank at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, shareholders unanimously created new 8.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to increase the authorized shares of the bank to from 24 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to 32 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The decision strategically positioned Sterling Bank to respond to opportunities that may require issuance of shares. With 21.59 billion ordinary shares issued and outstanding on the stock market, Sterling Bank’s authorized share capital, prior to the increase, had unissued share capital of only 2.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. The increase yesterday added 8.0 billion shares and raised the share issuance capacity to 10.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The increase came as the bank reaffirmed that it would realize other components of its $400 million three-tier capital raising exercise, which had been approved by the shareholders in 2013. After the approval in 2013, Sterling Bank had raised N12.9 billion through a rights issue. It has since launched a private placement and it has a tier 2 capital raising in view.

Shareholders also yesterday urged the directors of the bank to consider further issuance of shares to existing shareholders in the event of any future share issuance.

They said the bank has proven to be investors’ friendly, citing steady increase in dividends and above-average growths in key indices.

National coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said shareholders have seen the positive results of their re-investment in Sterling Bank and would be willing to invest further in the bank.

He noted that the increase in share capital would enable the bank to explore more opportunities to increase its capital base and enhance its market share in the banking industry.

President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr. Faruk Umar, said shareholders would support future capital raising exercise as this will lead to better returns to shareholders.

According to him, the size of shareholders’ fund is a major consideration in deciding large-ticket transactions as more funds will lead to expansion in the single-obligor

•Bank prepares for new fund raising Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

limit of the bank.

Shareholders commended the corporate governance standards at Sterling Bank. They approved the payment of a dividend per share of 25 kobo for the 2013 business year as against 20 kobo paid for the 2012 business year.

Shareholders also bid the retiring chairman of the bank, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa and two other directors-Mallam Bashir Borodo and Mr. Yemi Idowu, emotional farewell, with the hall filled with voices rendering “he’s a jolly good fellow”. All shareholders who spoke at the meeting noted the steady growth of the bank under Adegunwa.

Under Adegunwa between 2006 and 2013, Sterling Bank’s shareholders’ fund increased from N26.32 billion in 2006 to N63.46 billion in 2013, balance sheet size expanded from N142.43 billion to N909.43 billion, gross earnings rose from N16.59 billion to N91.63 billion while profit before tax increased from N0.57 billion to N9.31 billion.

Adegunwa said he was convinced the bank would sustain its growth trajectory noting that the board has been positioned to ensure competitive returns to shareholders on a sustained basis.

“I assure you that my successor will continue to move Sterling Bank forward and further enhance its standing as a force to reckon with in the Nigerian banking industry,” Adegunwa said.

Managing director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola, reassured shareholders that the bank would surpass its previous performance this year.

According to him, the bank’s business model and execution capabilities are resilient enough to ensure sustained growth over the years irrespective of the operating environment.

“We will pursue our capital raising programme with singlemindedness and prioritise risk management in order to strengthen the foundation for an enduring institution. We will also speed up investments to grow our retail funding base and emphasise service delivery across all channels to enhance our customers’ experiences,” Adeola said.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Sterling Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed considerable growths in gross earnings and profitability while the bank’s balance sheet was stronger. The report indicated that gross earnings rose by 33.1 per cent while pre and post tax profits grew by 24.1 per cent and 19 per

cent. Basic earnings per share rose by 18.2 per cent from 52 kobo t0 44 kobo.

Gross earnings rode on the back of a 24 per cent and 31 per cent growth in non-interest income and interest income respectively to N91.6 billion in 2013 as against 68.86 billion in 2012. Non-interest income, which rose to N21.7 billion as against N15.3 billion in 2012 was largely due to a 139 per cent increase in trading income in addition to a 46 per cent increase in fees and commission; while Interest income rose to N70.0billion compared with N53.5 billion in 2012, driven by a 39 per cent increase in gross loans and advances to N328.7 billion.

Profit before tax rose from N7.50 billion in 2012 to N9.31 billion in 2013 while profit after tax increased from N6.95 billion to N8.27 billion. As a demonstration of confidence in the bank, customer deposits rose 23 per cent to N570.5 billion as against N466.8 billion. This, according to the Bank, also reflects progress in the execution of its retail strategy Sterling Bank’s total assets including contingent liabilities increased by 28 per cent to N909.4 billion compared with N708.2 billion in 2012, while Shareholders’ funds grew by 36.1 per cent to N63.5 billion as against N46.6billion due to profit accretion and net proceeds of N12.1 billion from the rights Issue.

The report also showed improvement in the asset quality of the bank as the proportion of gross loans to non-performing loan dropped to 2.1per cent in 2013 as against 3.8 per cent in 2012, notwithstanding a 40 per cent growth in loans and advances.

UBA Capital doubles net profit to N1.8b

U

BA Capital Plc doubled its net profit by 106 per cent to N1.8 billion in 2013 as the company restated commitments to growing shareholders’ value in the years ahead.

At the first annual general meeting in Lagos, chairman, UBA Capital Plc, Mr. Chika Mordi, said the company set out with an impressive performance in the first year of its operations noting that ongoing initiatives would lead to future growth.

According to him, strategies adopted and the structures the board has put in place would ensure that the company not only sustains its 2013 performance, but it will surpass its previous records.

He outlined that all the business activities of the company including investment banking, asset management, trusteeship and securities brokerage operated profitably and contributed to the overall positive results.

Mordi said as a result of the diversification of the company’s business lines and expansion in each business line, gross earnings grew by 241 per cent from N1.3 billion to N4.6 billion.

“Profit after tax from continuing operation grew by 106 per cent to N1.8 billion from N856 million.

This is as a result of growth in our various business lines as well as a more diversified income stream and efficient cost management,” Mordi said.

In her remarks, group chief executive officer, UBA Capital, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni said the company’s strong top-line performance was driven by fees and commission from execution of various investment banking mandates and generated from various funds under the management.

He expressed optimism that in spite of the challenging start for the

money and capital markets in 2014, the company is confident of the ability of its leadership to optimise market conditions to deliver consistent results.

“We are convinced that our renewed marketing vigour, concerted efforts towards repositioning the company, strengthening of the workforce at all levels, service delivery and efficiency drivers such as group shared services initiative and robust new information technology infrastructure platform will support accelerated business growth, the improvement of service delivery and appreciable cost improvements. All these are expected to enhance productivity, revenue generation and profitability,” Sanni said.

Shareholders of the company approved a dividend per share of 25 kobo with a charge to the management to sustain what they described as a good start.

Shareholders advised the management to develop policies and strategies that would boost the activities of the company.

President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Sunny Nwosu said shareholders expect a better performance from the management.

He urged the management to ensure that the company remains an investment banking institution to be reckoned with within and outside the country.

“Our CEO must work tirelessly to increase our profitability and ensure that the bank returns increased performance in the coming years. This will translate to more dividends for the shareholders,” Nwosu said.

The shareholders approved the appointment of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni as the CEO of the company with effect from January, 2014.

Lafarge Wapco records N8.6b profit in 3 months

L

AFARGE Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc recorded significant growths in sales and profit in the first quarter of this year as the leading cement manufacturer hauled a profit before tax of N8.62 billion within three months.

Interim report and accounts of Lafarge Wapco for the three-month ended March 31, 2014 showed that sales rose by 16 per cent while pre and post tax profits grew by 20 per cent and 34 per cent respectively.

The report showed that turnover rose to N27.03 billion in first quarter of 2014 as against N23.24 billion recorded in comparable period of 2013. Profit before tax increased from N7.20 billion to N8.62 billion.

Profit after tax also rose from N6.07 billion to N8.15 billion. Earnings per share grew by 34 per cent from N2.02 to N2.71.

The company indicated that net

finance cost reduced from N980 million to N760 million due to lower interest charges following the full repayment of the Naira syndicated bank loans. Investment income simultaneously grew by N160 million to N260 million.

Managing director, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, Joe Hudson, said the good performance in the first quarter was a reflection of the increasing demand for the company’s quality products and an outcome of the implementation of various volume and cost improvement strategies.

“We are especially pleased that the new line in Ewekoro continues to gain momentum and remain very optimistic about the rest of the year despite the challenging operating environment,” Hudson said.

Chief financial officer, Anders Kristiansson, noted that the com-

pany further strengthened its financial position during the quarter as it remains committed to delivering value to shareholders and other stakeholders in 2014.

A subsidiary of France-based Lafarge SA, the world leader in building materials, Lafarge Wapco is the oldest and leading cement company in Nigeria. With its three plants in Ewekoro and Sagamu in Ogun State, Lafarge WAPCO is the manufacturer of Elephant Supaset, Lafarge PowerMax and Elephant Cement, a five decade old formidable brand that has consistently won the NIS Certificate for product quality by the Nigerian Standard Organisation for over two decades.

It recently launched a concrete solution to cater for the needs of the Nigerian infrastructure market through her subsidiary, Lafarge ReadyMix Nigeria Limited.

64

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

NEWS

crisis Alleged training of snipers: Al-Mustapha ‘Taraba religious’ F sues Islamic cleric A ORMER Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha Maj Hamza Al-Mustapha has sued a Kaduna Islamic preacher, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil, at the Upper Sharia Court, Daura Road, for defamation.

Al-Mustapha accused the cleric of maligning him in a sermon at the Sani Zango Daura Jummu’at Mosque last December. In the message, he claimed the cleric accused him of training snipers.

The case, which came up yesterday, could not proceed because of the absence of the judge, Mallam Mustapha Umar.

In a direct criminal complaint filed by his counsel, Sadau Garba, AlMustapha accused the cleric of defamation and mischievous propaganda.

The summons reads: “The defamatory words are contained in both CD and DVD recorded with the knowledge and consent of the accused and were being sold to the public both within and outside Nigeria”, contrary to Section 137 (1)

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Sharia Penal Code 2002, Kaduna State.

It further said the cleric was alleged to have stated thus: “The evil that men do lives after them. Information has reached me (that) you are in charge of training some young snipers and killers to promote your political ambition.

“These boys are being trained to kill some 1,000 people in this country perceived to be stumbling block on your part to achieving your political ambition. That is what (Obasanjo) said in his letter. If it is Sanusi that said this, they will accuse him of abusing some people.

“This is what Obasanjo told Jonathan in his letter. About two to three Fridays ago, in this place, I told you about the existence of these sniper boys.

“The person who was given this

contract unfortunately is a Muslim brother. He has been given the contract of training and mobilising them on how to use these boys in wanton killings in order to win election at all cost. Let’s call a spade a spade, the person who was given this contract is Al-Mustapha.

“I swear by the name of God where he first started sitting with these boys, the venue and the time he sat, I swear with the name of God I have all the details.

“Are you not the one being accused of bringing terrorism into Nigeria?

Mustapha, when you were arrested and detained, Muslims, Christians, soldiers, police, Nigerians all prayed for you. If you are to pay for these prayers, I swear by the name of God, you don’t have the money to pay.”

Al-Mustapha told reporters he went to court for justice.

He said: “We filed a motion of criminal direct complaint in court

and we are here seeking for justice over some mischievous allegations against me, which I see as a dangerous propaganda that requires legal attention.

“The issues in the case are numerous; I don’t want to delve into them.

I want the court to look at it speedily and bring out the contents so that justice would be served soon. I am a Muslim, he is a Muslim.”

Al-Mustapha said he did not sue former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also made similar allegations in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, because the former leader did not mention his name.

Sheikh Khalil said Allah is in control of what comes out of the case.

“I am in court because Maj Al-Mustapha has sued me in respect of my Jum’at sermon. He is alleging defamation of character.

“I believe that this is a Sharia court and Sharia court is the best for Muslims to settle their differences. All I know is that Allah is in control and what comes out of this case, I know it is a destiny from Allah.”

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

NORTHERN Christian organisation has alleged that Christians in Taraba State are being killed.

The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) said the crisis in Taraba State was religiously motivated.

In a statement by Sunday Oibe and Emmanuuel Subilim, the group faulted the stance of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), which dismissed claims that the crisis in Taraba State was religiously motivated.

It said: “About six months ago, there was an influx of people from outside the state, who camouflaged as cattle herders.

“After their arrival, Christians began to report escalating conflict , which included robbery and confrontations.

“Since January, there have been many reports of violence in Taraba State against the predominantly Christian Tiv population.

“Hundreds of members of the Tiv community have been murdered and thousands forced from their homes. They destroyed their villages, their farms and churches.”

Benue teachers boycott activities From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

T

•Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi (right), leading Nigeria’s delegation during a bilateral meeting on immigration PHOTO: NAN between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in Abuja ...yesterday.

T

Niger to dissolve executive council tomorrow

HE stage is set for the dissolution of the Niger State Executive Council (exco) tomorrow. Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has sent a list of nominees to the House of Assembly for confirmation.

The dissolution was slated for yesterday, but the executive council meeting did not hold because Aliyu was in Abuja for the three- day fidau for the Vice President’s Namadi Sambo’s younger brother. The meeting may hold tomorrow.

In an April 28 letter, the governor sent five names for consideration and confirmation for appointment.

His action, Aliyu said, was “in

T

•Aliyu sends names of nominees to Assembly From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

compliance with Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution”.

The nominees include Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary Malam Danladi Ndayebo, Abubakar Tukur, the Accountant-General, Isah Liman Kantigi, Chairman, Edati Local Government Council and Chairman, Forum of Local Government Chairmen, Abdulkarim Suleiman Mazakuka and Lawal Abbas Mohammed.

Their screening begins on May 7.

The Nation, two weeks ago, exclu-

sively reported that the governor had given all commissioners and special advisers till end of last month to prepare their handover notes.

It was gathered that more names may still be sent to the Assembly as no fewer than six commissioners and four other principal officers are likely to contest for election in 2015.

Two of them, a commissioner and a special adviser, confirmed the possible dissolution of the state executive council tomorrow.

The commissioner said: “We had expected the dissolution last week.

We had a long council meeting and everybody thought the chief servant (governor) will thank all of us and ask us to hand over to permanent secretaries. All of us have since written our handover notes before the April 25 deadline given by the governor.”

The special adviser said: “Since we couldn’t meet yesterday and today is public holiday, we hope the council will meet tomorrow and the governor may likely dissolve the council.

“For me and virtually all commissioners and special advisers we are ready with our hand over notes.”

Kaduna Assembly bans okada in 10 local govts

HE Kaduna State House of Assembly has banned commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada, from operating in 10 of the 23 local government areas.

The law, which is yet to be signed

by Governor Ramalan Yero, stipulates a N10,000 fine or three months imprisonment.

The law repealed the State Road Traffic regulation No 1 of 2002.

The law, which is to be cited as the State Commercial Motorcycles Prohibition Law, 2014 states: “Notwithstanding the provisions of the State Commercial Motorcycles Law No 4 of 1999, the Road Traffic Law Cap 135 Laws of Kaduna State 1991 (including any regulations made in pursuance thereof), no commercial motorcyclist shall operate in some parts of

•’It’ll increase insecurity’ From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Kaduna State as specified in the schedule.

“All magistrate courts in the areas designated in the schedule shall try summarily all offenders arraigned before them and impose such punishment, sanctions and make such order (including confiscation of the motorcycles) as may be necessary or expedient.”

The affected local governments are Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Igabi, Sabon Gari, Zaria, Jama’a, Lere, Birnin Gwari and Giwa.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Association of Commercial Motorcyclists of Nigeria

have urged the government to refrain from implementing the law.

A statement by the APC Interim Chairman, Dr. Hakeem BabaAhmed, said the proposed ban would further worsen insecurity and unemployment in the state.

The statement reads: “The APC wishes to voice its strong reservations over the propriety of this law in a state like Kaduna.

“We appeal to Governor Yero not to sign this bill because the law will compound insecurity.

“The law banning Achaba will worsen unemployment and deepen poverty. It will impose huge suffering on millions of people whose livelihood depends on the availability of commercial motorcyclists and will raise the cost of living in a state where

the economy is already in severe decline.

The union said even though it has not been briefed, carrying out the plan would worsen insecurity and increase unemployment.

Their spokesman, Idris Mohammed, said before enforcing the ban, the government ought to make alternative provision to cushion its effect on commercial motorcyclists and the public.

He dismissed insinuations that commercial motorcyclists are aiding and abetting criminals.

Mohammed argued that the ban would affect the over 100,000 members of the union, including those banned from other neighbouring states of Plateau, Kano, Niger and the FCT.

EACHERS in Benue State will not participate in today’s May Day activities.

Primary school teachers have been at loggerheads with Governor Gabriel Suswam over the non-implementation of the minimum wage.

Suswam declared no work, no pay and for six months the teachers have not been paid.

Primary school blocks are being occupied by internally displaced persons.

The decision to boycott the ceremony was taken after meeting at the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) House in Makurdi.

A source said teachers have resolved to boycott the May Day celebration because there is nothing to celebrate.

“Most of our members have died of hunger, illness and our wives and children are suffering; so why going to the public square to celebrate?”

Prayer for Hajiya Onukaba

A

MEMORIAL prayer for Hajiya Aishatu Onukaba, mother of former Special Adviser on Media to former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar, Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, will hold on Saturday.

The prayer takes place at the Onukaba family compound at Oboroke Ihima in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Guests will be entertained at Okehi community Secondary School, Oboroke-Ihima.

•The late Hajiya Onukaba

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 1, 2014

65

NEWS

APC Akwa Ibom: we’re on a rescue mission

T

•Dickson (left), Speaker of the House of Assembly Konbowei Benson (second right), Seibarugu (second left) and former Secretary to the State Government , Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei...yesterday

Sylva’s ex-aides return to PDP •Ex-governor: they’re renegades S

OME ex-aides of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva yesterday “abandoned” their boss and reaffirmed their support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former aides, under the aegis of Ex-Bayelsa Government Officials Forum (EBGOF) and led by former Deputy Governor Seibarugu Werinipre, were received by Governor Seriake Dickson and the state PDP Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd).

Dickson and Inokoba also received some persons who defected from other opposition parties.

In a brief ceremony held at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, the former officials reaffirmed their loyalty to the party and declared their commitment to work for President Jonathan.

Seibarugu lamented that since they were relieved of their appointments, they were treated like outcasts by the state PDP.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

He blamed the development on Sylva’s decision to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC), an action he said led to the insinuation that all his former aides moved with him.

The former deputy governor said the development forced them to form EBGOF as a platform to formally debunk the impression.

“We make bold to announce to all Nigerians, especially Bayelsans, that all the people here and many more did not move to the APC with anyone.

“We remain bona fide PDP members and are committed to ensuring that the PDP wins at all levels of governance in Bayelsa State,” he said.

Declaring themselves as loyal party members, Seibarugu said their support for Jonathan and his transformation agenda is non-negotiable.

He asked the party to accord them the desired recognition and restore their rights and

privileges.

Dickson said with the development the party would recognise and treat them individually as leaders.

He said their forum, EBGOF, had ceased to exist adding that the PDP does not allow formation of groups within it.

The governor urged them to prevail on their former boss to return to PDP, describing Sylva’s defection to APC as regrettable.

Addressing them, he said: “What you are doing is right.

What unites us is bigger than party affiliations. It is unfortunate that my good friend and your former boss took the path he had taken.

“Though regrettable, it is within his rights. We are delighted that you have decided to come back to strengthen your party. Every party is as strong as its members.”

Sylva described his former aides as renegade loyalists, saying he won’t lose sleep over their public affirmation to PDP.

The former governor in a statement by his media aide, Doifie Ola, said the members of the group were never APC members.

He said: “Sylva wishes to make it clear that the said members of EBGOF were never members of APC in Bayelsa State – as they even confirmed in their own letter.

“The reference to Sylva in the said letter by the group was in very poor taste, as they have been on their own since he left office on January 27, 2012.

“It is, therefore, immoral to claim association with him in order to curry favour with whomever they wish.

“Sylva is a politician who believes in principle even in the face of relentless persecution.

“The APC, which he leads in Bayelsa State, has maintained a consistently increasing followership, despite the antiques and jitters of Abuja and their proxies in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the APC train is on a steady course in Bayelsa State, and no propaganda can derail it.”

NEMA: states lack emergency preparedness

T

HE Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad S. Sidi, has said many states in Nigeria do not prepare for emergency situations.

The NEMA chief urged Nigerians not treat warnings by the agency or the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) with kid gloves.

Sidi spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a workshop it organised on comprehensive disaster management in Nigeria.

He said: “Some states in Nigeria still have emergency relief as an agency while oth-

Church Raffle Draw THE Eternal Sacred order of the Cherubim & Seraphim (The House of Prayer) maiden edition Raffle Draw has been held at the new church auditorium 18, Ogunji Street, Ilupeju Estate, Lagos.

The star prize, a Honda Accord was won by 85-yearold Ahmed Hassan.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ers adopt ad hoc approach procedure in disaster management, such as Kwara State.

“The state should, as a matter of urgency, establish a state emergency management agency (SEMA) and local government emergency management agency (LEMA). These should be adequately supported to minimise the impact of disasters in the state.

“Secondly, the state should

establish a Department of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); improvement and monitoring of projects where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out, especially in the siting of petrol stations within our community.”

Represented by the agency’s Zonal Coordinator for Minna Operations office, Mr. Slaku Lugard, the directorgeneral stressed that disaster management should be seen as part and parcel of develop-

ment initiatives.

He added: “It (disaster management) protects and safeguards economic interests and development gains, among others. Therefore, it is imperative that we ensure that we have viable state and local emergency management agencies/communities to promote grassroots resilience and facilitate spontaneous response to disasters whenever they occur in our communities.”

Group visits Nigerian Stock Exchange

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GROUP, The Global Shapers Community, has visited the Nigerian Exchange (NSE) to ring the closing bell for trading on the floor of the exchange.

NSE’s Chief Executive Officer Oscar Onyema received members of the group, led by the Director of the Global Shapers Community, Yemi Babington-Ashaye and the Senior Manager, Global Shapers Community (Africa), Chidiogo Akunyili.

Babington-Ashaye said the Global Shapers was an inter-

national network of local communities based in the cities.

He said: “We have a diverse community and we ask them to work together to do something positive locally. We started this in 2011 and, today, we have 327 hubs across the world.”

The director said the community had 17 hubs in China, 45 in India, 30 in the United States, in all African countries and every Latin American country except Cuba.

He explained how the hubs had been supporting their

communities from building libraries to rehabilitating prisons and providing innovative solutions at various local levels.

Onyema said the NSE would work with the group.

He said: “We know you are the future young global leaders; we want to engage you so we can continue to drive sustainable change across the globe, especially on the continent, with specific emphasis on Nigeria. What we have heard about the GDP is a backdrop for such an engagement.”

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has condemned the rising unemployment and poverty among the people, despite the huge oil money accruing to the state monthly.

The State Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, said this yesterday during the inauguration of the state executive members in Uyo, the state capital.

Attai said the APC is on a rescue mission to deliver the people from increasing capital flight that had characterised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

He advised the people to key into the seven cardinal programmes of the APC in the areas of electricity generation, war against corruption, food security, integrated transport network, free education to tertiary level, devolution of power, accelerated economic growth and affordable health care.

The chairman urged members to work hard for the party’s victory in 2015.

His words: “There is no point stressing the fact that the PDP led government in Akwa Ibom State has done nothing to check the escalating and

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

frightening rate of unemployment and poverty.

“There is capital flight in Akwa Ibom State and we shall not allow Akwa Ibomites to be fooled by a so-called uncommon transformation, which is not close to being commensurate to our fiscal earnings as a state. This is where our great party will come to the rescue.

“As a change agent, APC in Akwa Ibom would halt the dangerous drift of Akwa Ibom into a failed state because we are conscious of the fact that our state can only succeed when all of us have equal rights to employment.

“Where no one is above the law; where the culture of impunity is abolished and where there is a level playing field for every Akwa Ibom man and woman to exercise his franchise and actualise his aspirations sociopolitical and otherwise.

“This is a party that serves the interest of Akwa Ibom. We urge our people to support this change which has begun in full speed.”

Attai also assured members of an open space during the primaries, saying the party would not impose any aspirant on the people.

NUT flays Suswam over comment

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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam came under fire yesterday for his comment that salaries of all political office holders have been reduced by 25 per cent to make marginal increase to salaries of primary school teachers.

The national leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) described the governor’s comment as “self seeking”.

A statement by NUT National PresidentMichael Alogba Olukoya and Secretary General Ikpe Obong said: “We view this unsustainable commitment by the governor as self seeking, which is aimed at scoring cheap political point without addressing the major issue. We call on the public to disregard such political grandstanding.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

“The NUT’s demand is the full implementation of the national minimum wage as applicable to all public servants in Benue State without exception to primary school teachers.

“It is immoral and unjustifiable for the governor to deny primary school teachers national minimum wage on the pretext that the government lacks the financial capacity to pay primary school teachers while others in the public service have been enjoying the wage increase since 2011.”

‘The NUT’s demand is the implementation of the minimum wage as applicable to public servants’

PUBLIC NOTICE OMOKU DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

This is to inform the public that the above named organization applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under Part C of Company and Allied Matters Act cap C20 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Prince F. A. Obuah 2. Dr. Pac Ordu 3.

Dr. M. E. Woko 4. Dr., Chief Ben-Fred Ohia 5.

Dr. Samuel Jeremiah 6. Barr. C. U. Amadike 7.

Hon. S. C. Uboh AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.

To foster peace and unity among the people of Omoku.

2.

To encourage the development of Omoku Communities.

3.

To encourage human capital development.

4.

To raise funds to undertake development projects in Omoku.

5.

To embark on empowerment project(s) aimed at helping youths, widows and other less-privileged people in Omoku.

6.

To liaise with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to promote development of Omoku Communities.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), plot 20, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: DR. M. E. WOKO (SECRETARY)

66

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

67

NEWS

Women groups protest in Ibadan Continued from page 4

failed to strengthen security around schools in the Northeast even after the devastation and pain of the 59 murdered?

“When will the Federal Government accept the offers of assistance being made by friendly governments? Why are Nigerians not safer than they were few years ago despite the massive increase in Federal Government spending up to N1 trillion in 2013

and N845 billion in 2014.

How is it possible in the age of drones and google maps and aerial shots that over 200 girls will vanish without a trace?”

Indabawa said he understood the anger of the women and asked them to continue to pray for the girls.

“Pray for the girls and I’m sure they will be rescued by God’s grace,” he said, adding that the Federal Government was on top of the situation.

Protesters mount pressure for girls’ freedom Continued from page 4

•A GONY OF MO THERS: Protesting women...yesterday •AGONY MOTHERS:

We can publish names, pictures of victims, says Borno

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HE Borno State government yesterday said it would publish the names and pictures of the abducted girls, if permitted.

Governor Kashim Shettima spoke yesterday in reaction to a statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader Mrs. Kema Chikwe doubting if the girls were actually abducted.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Isa Gusau, reads: “We have read with very rude shock, media reports attributed to National Women Leader of the PDP, raising doubts on whether indeed, schoolgirls were abducted at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014 or not. This is clear case of bringing politics into a serious national issue that bothers on the lives of over 200 schoolgirls which is highly unfortunate.

“We find that report a big affront that undermines the National Security Council which held a meeting that dwelled extensively on the matter with a directive to the armed forces to rescue the girls. By her remark, Chikwe has undermined the integrity of all of Nigeria’s security forces because her questions appear to mean that the security agencies in the country do not know what they are doing for holding a National Security Council meeting and deliberating on something that was doubtful and yet giving directives to address it. This incident happened 17 days ago, every Nigerian expects that by now, the security

agencies must have been carrying out investigations that might have included debriefing some of the girls that escaped from captivity, speaking with parents and other students of the schools. Chikwe’s remark seems to attack the integrity of the security agencies, giving the impression that nothing was done.

Unlike Kema Chikwe that seeks to undermine the integrity of the security agencies and the President, what we do know and believe is that the President, Goodluck Jonathan, couldn’t have deemed it necessary to host an expanded National Security Council that was attended by him, all Security chiefs, Governors of the 36 States and key leaders of this country during which the schoolgirls was extensively discussed if the President was not properly briefed by the security agencies under the Federal Government, that schoolgirls were abducted.

The school was virtually razed now, security agencies know this and they know that the attack and abduction took place. The Defence Headquarters have issued several statements including one that says forces were closing in on the abductors; we therefore wonder why Chikwe should make mockery of all of these patriotic efforts.

“Even though most of the school buildings were razed during that attack and property vandalised, records of schoolgirls that registered for WAEC and NECO exams cannot be a difficult one to get since the examination bodies

are there with records. In addition to that, parents lodged complaints that should naturally have the names of their children or wards. It is expectedly thought that security agencies would by now, have necessary information about these girls which might include their records. However, the Borno State Government has a comprehensive data that includes pictures of the missing students and those that returned, which the Government is ready to publish on Friday, May 2, 2014 if the Defence Headquarters which has since been managing information on counter insurgency operations in the Northeast, gives the go ahead and Mrs Chikwe, who now knows more than the security can ensure that. Our fear is not to reveal names that would reveal religion and family backgrounds which could at the end, compromise the safety of these girls; provide basis for families to be reached with demands for ransom or be accused of undermining rescue efforts or sensationalism. In addition to these, abduction of girls are sometimes interpreted to mean automatic rape, where the identity of these are revealed, they could be stigmatised even after being rescued.

Doubt raised by Mrs Chikwe displays insensitivity to the plight of parents of these girls and to the feelings of all Borno people. The Borno State Government is the most troubled by the incident. The Governor of Borno State is as should be expected, under so much pressure

from families and community members of Chibok and indeed the rest of the State.

These girls are daughters of Borno, by being abducted while in school, the Borno State Government naturally comes under more pressure because they were abducted while being under our care as a Government, the school was not the only one in session when that attack took place, there were other schools were girls were writing exams. It might recalled that sometime back when there was rumours that some schoolgirls were abducted following an attack in Konduga, Governor Shettima directed a prompt investigation and after it was found out that no student was recorded missing, the Government told Nigerians that there was nothing like that.

Even on the one of Chibok which is the topic of discussion, Governor Shettima announced that 129 girls were at school as at the time of the attack, it was during his visit that parents who filed reports about missing students said the girls were over 200, it was clear to everyone that the Governor never had any intention of making claims of large numbers of missing persons. It is important that the Nigeria security agencies call Mrs Chikwe to order so she desist from mocking the National Security Council and misleading Nigerians and rest of the world that have been attracted by this unfortunate incident which has left the Government and people of Borno State highly distressed.”

Continued from page 4

labour issues to the concurrent list from the exclusive legislative list. This is not the first time we have to speak on this. We even made a presentation before the Senate when it decided to do the same thing your committee has done. After our presentation, the Senate reverted”.

Omar noted that it will be counter-productive to dissipate much energy on natural resource control without recognizing the prime position which the human resource occupies.

He said that the removal would be against the minimum wage policy.

According to him, it is im-

portant for the country to sustain a federally-accepted remuneration system.

He insisted that delisting labour from the exclusive list would empower states to treat workers unfairly.

TUC President Kaigama Bala Bobboi, and the Chief Economic Adviser of NLC, Dr Peter Oso-Esug, said labour should not be pushed over to states for reasons associated with fear of emasculating workers.

But a delegate from Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Nsongurua Udombana, referred the unionists to the Constitution and stated that the unions laid much emphasis on national minimum wage in-

stead of making a holistic presentation on every issue captured in the exclusive legislative list as it affects labour matters.

Udombana wondered why the Federal Government should bear the burden of labour issues, which are exclusively state matters.

He said a situation where the Federal Government is made to also fund state universities, appropriately established by state legislation, is unacceptable in a federal state.

The Co-Chairman of the Committee, Obong Victor Attah, praised the unionists for engaging the committee

The women defied the windy and heavy rainfall to protest the abduction of 234 school girls in Chibok, Borno State 17 days ago.

Mark, Tambuwal and Ihedioha were heavily drenched too.

The National Assembly had barely risen from its plenary session when the angry women stormed the complex.

Mark stepped into the rain alongside other principal officers to address the protesting women.

He lamented the continued captivity of the girls, saying it had reached an unbearable

Govt vows to rescue abducted girls Continued from page 4

planned visa bond for Nigerians and citizens of some other countries.

Mr. Ind said his office was committed to tackling issues of counter-terrorism, migration and organised crime.

He added that the office would assist Nigeria in those areas, including talking to people on the need to live in peace.

The Defence Chief who spoke while receiving board members of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency in Abuja (NOSDRA), said: “What is happening in our country, most especially in northern Nigeria, is pure madness, and we are killing the future of that region. It’s a pity. All of us here should sympathise with those of us who come from that region.

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“We are hoping and while we are fighting, we are also praying so that we can get over this madness. It is unfortunate that those girls were kidnapped. It is not about the number that really matters but the fact is; peoples’ children have been kidnapped.

“We can’t go with our armoury to where they are; otherwise, we will go and kill them. If you go and kill them, then, you will not have achieved anything. But I know we will get those girls.

I know we will get them.”

Air Chief Marshal Badeh promised the delegation that the defence ministry would support the agency in its fight against oil spill in the country.

The NOSDRA delegation was led by its Board Chairman, Major Lancelot Ayanya (rtd).

Oshodi Waste Transfer Loading Station on fire

HE Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) head office went up in flames last night.

National Conference extended for six weeks

other unions to kick against the recommendation.

NLC President Abdulwahid Omar, who spoke when the unionists appeared before the Committee, noted that the decision is against the interest of workers.

Omar urged the committee to reconsider its decision.

He said: “Those who are behind this (removal of the Minimum Wage and Labour from the Exclusive List) are doing it for their own narrow and selfish interests.

“We were worried when we heard that your committee had decided to migrate

stage.

“We are drenched. Totally soaked in the rain. It is better to be beaten by the rain and get our children freed from their captors. If it means standing in the rain until the girls are freed we are prepared to do so.

“We are lost of words. We can only apologise that it is taking this long to get these girls released. We are not going to rest until the last of the girls is freed. All the security apparatus, all of us must get involved in this battle. There is no mistaken the fact that we are in a state of war. With God on our side, we shall triumph over evil”.

on the matter.

Attah said that improper motive implied by the unionists was wrong.

According to him, the choice of words of Comrade Omar to the effect that “those behind this move are doing it for their narrow selfish reasons” was wrong.

Attah noted that minimum wage is not threatened by the decision.

He said that matter of strike must also think of justice for the employer and not just about the workers.

Senator Anthony Adefuye noted that the decision would prevent the country from having national strikes.

By Uyoatta Eshiet

According to The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) spokesman for Southwest, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the fire started around 6pm.

He said there was no casualty and no one was trapped, adding that from information available to him, the inferno started from the technical unit of LAWMA. An employee of the agency who refused to disclose his name said the fire went out of control while they were burning some waste and was made worse when it came in contact with waste tires.

The combined efforts of NEMA and Lagos State Fire Service did little to contain the fire that was still raging at about 8.20 pm. Two of their trucks were noticed leaving the burning building, driving away empty.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

68

FOREIGN NEWS

Iraqis vote amid worst violence in years

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ITH a backdrop of rapidly growing violence, Iraqis voted yesterday in their first nationwide polls since the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki is battling for a third term in office, but faces fierce opposition, with sectarian violence at its most intense in more than five years.

Polls closed at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET), and the ballot-counting process has begun.

At least seven people were killed yesterday in attacks targeting polling stations.

“The terrorists warned that the elections will not take place and they threatened the Iraqi people who challenged them back,” al-Maliki said after casting his vote.

“They launched attacks and many Iraqis were martyred, but our people didn’t stop going to cast the ballots.”

He urged all voters to cast their ballots to send a message to doubters.

“We expect unprecedented turnout so we can move Iraq ahead in the political and democratic process,” he said.

One of the attacks yesterday came in Khanaqin, northeast of Baghdad, where three died and dozens were wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a polling station, security sources told CNN. Suicide bombers dressed in police and army uniforms placed themselves among the security officials lined up to cast their ballots, then detonated explosives. Dozens of people were killed and in-

jured across the country.

Those attacks, as well as a number Monday, were an apparent attempt to derail the balloting process and discourage the rest of Iraq’s 21.5 million registered voters from going to the polls.

With a surge in car bombings, assassinations and suicide attacks, the vote — the fourth national election since the fall of longtime leader Saddam Hussein in 2003 — is being held amid rapidly growing violence reaching levels not seen in more than five years.

Iraq has been beset with political and sectarian violence for months, often pitting Sunnis — a minority in Iraq — against Shiite Muslims, who came to dominate the government after Saddam Hussein was overthrown

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•Nuri al-Maliki

in 2003.

The United Nations said 2013 was the deadliest year in Iraq since 2008, with more than 8,800 people killed, most of them civilians.

Tensions continue to be fueled by widespread discontent among the Sunnis, who say they are marginalized by the Shiite-led government and unfairly targeted by heavy-handed security tactics.

Nigeria, UK meet to review MOU on immigration returns

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IGERIA and United Kingdom yesterday met in Abuja to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on immigration returns and other issues The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uhomoibhi Martin led Nigeria delegation to the meeting while the UK delegation was led by the Director of Compliance, Hugh Ind. Issues billed for review are the Transfer of sentenced persons, Visa on Nigeria and UK services, cooperation on the return of Nigeria nationals remaining unlawfully in UK , cooperation on trafficking and on immigration pol-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

icies according to the list items made available to journalists.

The Nation however gathered that the meeting did not discuss the issue of £3,000 visa bond which has been suspended.

In his welcome remark, the Permanent Secretary said the last meeting was a success as some knotty issues were resolved.

He said: “I know that we all have a hugely high expectation for this review and meeting, given the progress that we have made in 2013 in this all important matter.

If necessary, we want to be able to agree on areas that

can easily be amended, within the mandate of the framework agreement and the challenges caused by irregular migration, is one that can only be address through the periodic review exercise.”

Martin also said that the meeting would enable the two countries to undertake a robust review of how well the previous framework review agreement has worked for both countries.

He added: “Today as we embark on this meeting, it is my hope that the atmosphere of respect and understanding which pervade throughout 2013 meeting, will guide us in this Abuja deliberation and so lead us

into greater understanding and mutual cooperation in ensuring acceptable outcome for our government and citizens.”

In his remarks, the leader of the UK delegation noted that immigration remained one of the issues facing the global community.

According to him, Nigeria and UK relationship have been cordial adding that MoU on Immigration and Trade is an instrument for forging common ties.

He said, “Our commitment to the global MoU on Immigration and Trade will help to promote peace and the progress made so far has pave way for the way forward.”

Ukraine: Defiant pro-Russian activists seize more buildings

N the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, makeshift barricades, concertina wire and masked men in camouflage greeted visitors to the regional administration building Wednesday.

Seized by armed men Tuesday, the building in Ukraine’s restive Donetsk region is just the latest to fall under the control of pro-Russian militants.

Government sites across more than a dozen towns and cities in Donetsk remain occupied, despite an international deal agreed to earlier this month that called for illegal armed groups to disarm and go home.

At a briefing inside for reporters, a man who described himself as the press secretary for the headquarters of the “southeast army,” Oleg Desyatnichenko, said this was the threatened takeover of additional build-

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ings.

Desyatnichenko said the seizure of key administrative buildings, including the police station and prosecutors’ office, would allow the separatists to control local government and access resources needed to hold the referendum.

In the town of Slavyansk, to the west of Luhansk, Denis Pushilin, self-declared chairman of the “Donetsk People’s Republic,” was also defiant, despite the international pressure for the groups to disband.

Pushilin also confirmed that pro-Russian separatists have seized the police department in the town of Horlivka. Separatists in Slavyansk continue to hold a team of Western military observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, seized outside the town Friday.

South Korean ferry survivors return to school

HEY left school two weeks ago on a field trip with hundreds of classmates.

They came back Wednesday without the scores of students who died at sea.

About 70 survivors from the sunken South Korean ferry visited a memorial at the Danwon High School in Asnan — the high school that sent 325 students on a field trip to Jeju Island.

Inside the hallways, it didn’t take long for the tears to flow. Many students sobbed as they walked past images of their classmates and hurried back onto waiting buses.

For these students, school will never be the same.

The ferry, en route from Incheon to Jeju, sank April 16 on the country’s southwest coast.

Any hope for survivors largely hinged on the possibility of air pockets within the sunken ship, which was carrying 425 people.

Hundreds of relatives camped out near a harbor in Jindo, waiting for news. But after officials said there were no more air pockets, the grim reality set in.

“All we are asking for is bring the dead bodies out,” a father wailed Tuesday. “We know they are not alive now.”

“South Korean authorities have arrested three people on suspicion of destroying evidence connected to the ferry sinking. Investigators also raided a Coast Guard office in a probe of how officials handled the first emergency call from a passenger.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

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am interested in penis enlargement because I have a small member and I don’t like the way it makes me feel.

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That is why we mostly discuss cheaper penis enlargement alternatives such as the use of enlargement supplements, pumps and creams. I recommend combining a good supplement like Big Bam Boo with an equally good penis pump such as the Potent Enlargement Pump. The Big Bam Boosupplement will enlarge the tissues of the penis from the inside while the Potent Enlargement Pumpworks from the outside. As for how penis enlargement works, it is a simple process really. When stretched over time, skin cells in any part of the body multiply to bring about tissue expansion. In the case of penis enlargement, it is the erectile tissues of the penis known as the corpus cavernosa and corpus spongiosum that expand to accommodate more blood, hence a bigger penis– Uche I will like to find out what product will be most helpful and cost effective for a man who ejaculates too early and a woman who cannot climax and also gets tired easily.

My wife hardly feels like having sex and she is only 43 years – Bulus Bulusyou can wear a penis sleeve during intercourse or you can apply a delay cream to prevent premature ejaculation. I recommend the Glow in the Dark Penis Sleeve. It will enable you last longer, make your penis look bigger and stimulate your partner for quicker orgasms too. But if you want to use the delay cream, then go for Prolonging Delay Cream. Both products are very effective desensitizers and are easy to use. And for your wife, first she needs a libido supplement and an energy booster. Get her Max Desire supplement for Women. She will also need an arousal gel like the Liquid Sex G Spot Gel and a good

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It takes the average woman twenty minutes of constant clitoral stimulation to climax and with a vibrator, you can stimulate her long enough to have not one but multiple orgasms in one sexual session – Uche My wife and I are in our late forties and we are healthy. The only problem is that we hardly have sex since after having three children. Our whole life is about our work and family.

I want to have fun again – Chukwuka The problem married people have is that very often, they are so involved in child related things and their daily work such that it deprives them of any kind of romanticinvestment. Couples must make time for themselves, no matter what, otherwise, their relationships will fail. So both of you need something that will enable you focus on romance and sex two or three times a week and nothing does that better than adult movies. A holiday getaway also helps but it is expensive and you cannot travel every other week, just so that you can have a great sex life.

So get a feature film like Die Hard XXX or The Simpsons XXX.Adult films are such effective aphrodisiacs that they make anybody want to have intercourse. Five minutes into watching any of these movies, you will both want to tear each other’s clothes off. I guarantee you – Uche Please how can I get Exploding Thunder? I have heard so much about it from my friends and they say it is very good for weak erections and second round – Isa Isa call the numbers below or order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria.

For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com-Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

I’m dying, helpless patient cries out

• Health condition of this secondary school leaver worsens for lack of funds

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URE, not a few would mistake her for an expectant mother, but she is not. In excruciating pains, Grace Adebayo, 31, has since 2000, carried in her womb, a pernicious ovarian growth that has made life a nightmare for her.

Her predicament started that year. She was in Lagos in search of greener pastures after completing her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), at the Iddo Community High School, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Being the last among the six children of her parents, she was staying with her first brother, a cleric at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ajah. Suddenly, she felt a strange swelling in her stomach and her siblings took her to Mainland General Hospital, Marina, Lagos. From there, she was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.

After screening and diagnostic assessments, it was discovered that she had an ovarian tumor which could only be removed through what is known in medical parlance as Fxp Laparotomy- Cytoreduction. Doctors also said she would under-

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

go General Anesthesia (GA).

Then, all she needed to get well was N135, 000 which her family could not raise.

Then in 2003, she was compelled to return to her Ile Agbede-Adodo, Ibadan home to try if she could raise it. The move yielded no fruits as her cash-strapped kith and kin lacked the financial muscle to help her out.

Not ready to resign to fate, Grace turned to churches; visited Imams, Alfas, herbalists and other trado-medical practitioners, in desperation for a way out of her predicament. Rather than get the desired relief, her case deteriorated.

All she could do to raise the needed fund was to learn sewing. It did not work.

In 2003, her mother, Mrs Maria Adebayo, a widow, sold some personal valuables to raise the money to send her back to LUTH. Sadly, the cost of treatment and other administrative fees had soared. And all she had on her was a far cry from what she needed.

She was told that within the period of four years, the tumor had grown worse;

•Grace

therefore, before she could undergo the surgery, the tumor would need to be further investigated - at a cost.

Her admission for each week, it was said, would cost N23, 600, besides N20, 000 per week till she would recover and be discharged.

She would also need some pints of blood apart from investigation fees, it was said.

Being at a loss for how to raise the money, her hope crashed. “I became con-

fused in hopelessness. I almost fainted. Now, I’m dying,” Grace said.

With full knowledge of the financial situation of the home-front in Ibadan, going back there was not an option. She has, therefore, resorted to sleeping in and outside the hospital, churches and in neighbouring streets.

The need for survival has forced her to dip her hands into the money initially raised for her treatment.

Now, out of desperation, she has turned to the Corporate Department of the hospital for assistance through its Head, Mrs Hope Nwaowolo, who has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to help her get the sought succour.

All she needs now is N400,000. “There is nothing else left for me to sell to take care of my dying daughter.

Nigerians should please help me; this is beyond me,” sobbing, her mother pleaded yesterday.

Any Good Samaritan, the hospital said, could approach its Corporate Department or pay into the hospital’s retainer’s account: Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Idi-Araba Branch with account number: 0007427021 (Sort Code: 032154645).

Two internet fraud suspects arrested

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WO members of a fraud syndicate which specialises in defrauding wealthy foreign women who are in dire need of husbands have been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.

Their arrest followed a petition sent to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Mr Umar Farouk Idris via its e-mail from a victim, a US citizen resident in New Jersey.

The suspects - Yunusa Okonkwo (42) and Henry Chinedu Ogu (29) - are being detained by the SFU. The petitioner alleged that sometime in April, 2013, she met Ogu on a dating site and both started a relationship which lasted months until he told her that he was in trouble in Nigeria for which he needed financial assistance.

She alleged that she sent 350,000 US Dollar into the two new-generation banks’ account numbers provided by the suspects.

The police began investigations and discovered that the account holder is Okonkwo of A1 Giwa Road, U/Muazu, Kaduna.

Investigators moved to Kaduna where the suspect was arrested.

SFU’s spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said Okonkwo’s arrest led to the arrest of the principal suspect Ogu. Isintume-Agu, who said Okonkwo hails from Amuri Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu

By Jude Isiguzo

State, added that he is a patent medicine dealer that runs a Bureau De Change as well.

“He confessed that he is the account holder of Faneece Business Services International and admitted that he provided his two bank accounts for the illicit transactions. He also stated that the Ogu provided him with his account number where he transferred the money after converting it to naira.

“Ogu is from AmaforIshingwa Umuahia, Abia State.

He claimed to be one of the Directors of a company called Raydeus Synergy Nigeria Limited. He confessed to the alleged crime that he sent the account details of Okonkwo to the victim who in turn paid 295,000 Dollar into the account which Okonkwo converted to Naira before paying into his bank account.”

“He also confessed that he deceived the victim into believing that he wanted to marry her but was stranded in Nigeria and needed financial assistance.

He further admitted that he had spent all the money, adding that he used N9 million to buy a heavy-duty generating plant which police recovered. Also he bought a plot of land for N800,000 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

A cash of N2 million was also recovered from him,” she explained.

Isintume-Agu said efforts were being intensified to recover the remaining money, adding that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

NEWS (SHOWBIZ) Seun Kuti for Stolen Dreams protest

AMAKA IGWE (1963 - 2014)

Tears, tributes for Nollywood Amazon

E

NUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime has expressed shock over the death of renowned movie producer and director Amaka Igwe, who died on Monday.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, the governor described the late filmmaker as an icon and pacesetter in the movie industry. Her pioneering works inspired many and brought glory to the nation, Chime said.

The governor said: “Her death at the age of 51 will leave a huge vacuum in the industry, where she had excelled with uncommon vigour, creativity and dili-

“

She was a fine writer, says Segun Arinze

gence.”

Chime sent his condolence to the bereaved family and the entertainment community, urging them to take solace in her legacy.

Others, who condoled with the bereaved family include the National President, Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Zik Okafor; Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Don Pedro Aganbi; Chairman, Lagos State chapter, National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) Faith Eboigbe and ace actor

• The late Mrs Igwe

Sola Fosudo.

“It was indeed sad news, not only for the creative industry but for Nigeria as a whole. The industry has lost an important person. She has been a major contributor to the growth and development of the Nollywood industry in particular. We are all going to miss her”, Fosudo said.

‘She was a true Nollywood Amazon’

I AM still in shock. She was an embodiment of creativity and hard work; a true Nollywood amazon and a rare breed in our creative industry.

She discovered and made many stars in Nollywood. All her jobs were outstanding. “It is really hard to say goodbye to our Nollywood mama. How I wish the

angels could send her back to us. How I wish someone could tell me this great woman is not gone. RIP sweet Aunty Amaka.”

“ •Amata

hours in her office, just talking and whenever I wanted to leave, she would plead with me to stay. “Life is funny. No one is too old or too young to die.

The devil does not kill anyone; forget all those things they tell you. When you complete your assignment here on earth, God just takes you. Honestly, I am still in shock.”

•Arinze

Charles Okafor: She stood for excellence, professionalism

“

IT is with very profound shock that I received the news of the unfortunate, painful and untimely demise of Amaka Igwe. She was a colossus of the Nigerian creative industry. “She stood for excellence and thorough professionalism. Amaka Igwe did not delve into the movie industry; she was taught, tested and created for the creative industry.

“She had an unquestionable character. She was my friend and I say that, because I just don’t call anybody in Nollywood my friend. And when I say she was

•Okafor

my friend, I am saying it from my spirit. “She will not only be missed greatly in the Nigerian creative industry, she will be missed by people from all parts of the world.”

‘She’s done loads of works’

I’m still in shock, says Fred Amata

I’M just so confused. I’m still in shock. We were more than friends. I was one of those who encouraged her to go into directing when she was just a producer. “A few days ago, I remembered her and I thought of calling her. She was to tell me something that later played out. She was like a sister to me. I remember how I spent

T

“

By Ovwe Medeme, Mercy Michael and Dupe AyinlaOlasunkanmi,

WE can’t question God, but we thank Him for the short time she spent with us. She was a fine writer and director who knew her onions and was very blunt when discussing issues with you. She had respect for talent. It is so sad. Rest in peace, Amaka.”

HE Change Movement Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, is set to stage a peaceful protest tagged Stolen Dreams Walk today at CMS, on Lagos Island.

The walk, according to the organisers, is to protest against corruption, injustice, insecurity and the general socio-political realities in the country.

Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, has said he would be part of the peaceful protest, which will attract youths from different parts of the country.

“We the young people of Nigeria have had enough; we had enough when the first person was murdered by Boko Haram; we had enough when the first kobo was stolen by our ‘parasitic leaders’ aided by their foreign cohorts and we had enough when the first multinational pilfered our oil and destroyed our land. But the time has come to stop talking about change; the time has come for us to make it. That’s why we will be taking to the streets of Nigeria on the International Workers Day for the Stolen Dreams Protest,” said Seun Kuti.

“ •D Bling

IT’s quite unfortunate that she died at 51. She was a veteran and had done loads of works in the entertainment world. We all need to be close to God because the rate of deaths in the entertainment industry is becoming alarming.

May her soul rest in peace.”

•Seun Kuti

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

70

EUROPEAN

SPORT EXTRA Suspended Alonso slams 'unfair' rule REAL MADRID midfielder Xabi Alonso said the rule that will see him miss the UEFA Champions League final is 'unfair'.

The Spain international picked up his third yellow card of the tournament in Real's 4-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich in their Champions League semifinal second leg at Allianz Arena, completing a 5-0 aggregate win.

Alonso, 32, felt it was harsh for him to miss the decider against either Chelsea or Atletico Madrid in Lisbon on May 24 through suspension.

"It's a shame not being able to play in it but I hope my teammates will win it and with time I'll forget it," Alonso said. "More than being an unfair card, I think it's an unfair rule. The road to the final is very complicated.

"Let's hope we do well and we can win it because the fans really want to play in a Champions League final."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos both struck twice in Real's convincing victory, which coach Carlo Ancelotti described as 'perfect.'

Alonso agreed with the Italian's assessment of his side's win over the defending European champion.

"Beating this Bayern in both matches deserves a lot of credit with the way they've been playing this season," Alonso said. "We were able to control the game perfectly, we didn't give away any chances and it was a perfect match.

"We came here with the intention of putting in a great performance and reaching the final."

•Alonso

•Del Bosque

Del Bosque: No racism in football

S

PAIN coach Vicente Del Bosque has refuted the notion racism is a problem in football.

After Barcelona's Dani Alves had a banana thrown at him during a La Liga game at the weekend, the issue of racism has been under the spotlight - with players and fans alike rallying around the Brazilian

by creating a social media, antiracism campaign involving the fruit.

But Del Bosque said he did not believe racism was a widespread problem in the world game.

"In football there is no racism, absolutely not," Del Bosque said.

"It's not something that everyone is doing. I want to think that these

Pizzi issues rallying call

V

ALENCIA boss Juan Antonio Pizzi has called for the club's fans to roar them to an unlikely comeback in their UEFA Europa League semi-final.

Sevilla will visit the Mestalla on Thursday holding a 2-0 aggregate lead from last week's first leg at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Pizzi's side produced a stunning turnaround against Basel in the previous stage to reach the final four, emerging 5-3 victors after a 3-0 firstleg defeat in Switzerland.

Though the 45-year-old is not expecting lightning to strike twice, he has issued a call to arms to the supporters to create an atmosphere that can inspire his players.

He said: "There are not many chances to play in the semi-finals of a tournament and do what we are doing.

"But it is also true that we have to recover from two goals down against a really good team and it is going to be very difficult to overcome them.

"But people have to come here to

enjoy the match with optimism. I would like to see the stadium full, with the people enjoying their time at the Mestalla and hopefully to see their team reach the final. So these are our expectations.

"It's going to be difficult because we face a very good team, who knows us much better than Basel, and who are used to playing in La Liga with the pressure, so it is going to be very difficult."

Meanwhile, midfielder Seydou Keita, who counts Sevilla among his former clubs, will not allow Valencia's desperation for goals translate into a haphazard performance, and has not ruled out completing a stunning comeback.

He added: "I'm like any other player and like any other player I always try to play with my head and not with my heart to help my team.

"We are a team, with 11 players on the pitch and those on the bench but I'm like any other player and will always try to do my best."

J

•Zanetti

"The meetings with Zanetti have been going on for the last couple of months to understand his vision," Thohir said. "The discussion is done already; he'll become part of the management."

Zanetti has played 613 matches for Inter and will retire after 15 years as captain.

The Argentine has won Seria A five times with Inter, plus has four Coppa Italia titles and winners' medals from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Thohir went on to explain Inter will need new signings in all areas of the squad ahead of next season, although he refused to confirm whether Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko would join the club.

"It's important for us to understand at this moment which players will stay and which players will not continue," the 43-year-old Indonesian said. "In the January transfers, we only had Jonathan and

are isolated incidents. In football, there is no racism."

Del Bosque also paid tribute to the life of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, who died on Friday aged 45.

"A good man leaves us, who went through his life doing his job well and never doing anything against anyone. He leaves us with half his life left to live. It's a tremendous loss," the Spaniard said.

"I join his wife, his children and his family's pain at this very difficult time.

"In addition to the personal experiences I've had with him, the other people I know who have had experiences with him are greatly appreciative of him.

"My relationship (with Vilanova) was always cordial. A very nice man who was always ready to work together. I deeply lament this loss."

JUVENTUS striker Fernando Llorente has hailed his side's fighting spirit after the club came from behind to beat Sassuolo 3-1 on Monday.

The Bianconeri now stand just one victory away from sealing a third straight Serie A title and the Spaniard, who scored in the win, is delighted with his teammate's resolve.

"I found it a difficult game because I wasn't seeing much of the ball at certain points," he told the club's official website. "But when that happens, you need to keep fighting until the end, just as we all did. And in the end it came off for us."

Llorente scored a sublime backheel to cap the victory and says service from his teammates made it easy for him.

"It's not the first goal I've scored like that. I also got a few when I played for Athletic Bilbao. It was a good move and we need to keep getting crosses in the box to score more goals.

"I'm perfectly relaxed at the moment. It's more important to work with the team and we're working very well. We'll go for our objectives and then we'll see what happens."

•Llorente

Tevez: Sabella must not watch Juventus

C

(Yuto) Nagatomo (as wing-backs), so we signed Danilo D'Ambrosio.

"Do we need another winger in that area? I say yes. So we'll be looking to bring in that kind of player.

We signed (Nemanja) Vidic (from Manchester United) because we needed leadership at the back.

"Even in midfield we are very few and in attack we need to review also, so in the end how you balance a team is very important."

ARLOS Tevez has joked that Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella must not own satellite television to watch Juventus games as the striker continues to face exile from the international stage.

The former Manchester City and Manchester United forward has not featured for the Albiceleste since 2011, with Sabella choosing to favor the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio instead.

There have been calls for Tevez to be brought back into the international fold following his 18 goals in Serie A this season, which have taken the Italian champions to the brink of a third straight Scudetto, though Sabella has so far refused to bow to the pressure.

However, 30-year-old has come to terms with missing out on this summer's World Cup.

JORDAN Ayew hopes playing regular football at Sochaux can resurrect his Marseille career.

The Ghana international moved to the Stade Auguste Bonal on loan in January for the remainder of the season and has scored three times in 15 appearances.

With Sochaux in danger of relegation - four points off safety in 18th - Ayew is eager to help keep the

club in Ligue 1 and force his way back into contention at Marseille.

The 22-year-old also wants his club form to secure him a place in Kwesi Appiah's Ghana squad for the FIFA World Cup. "There's nothing better than playing every weekend. That's what Sochaux gives me, so I'm happy here," the Ligue 1 website quotes him as saying.

Zanetti to become Inter director

AVIER Zanetti's 19th season as an Inter player will be his last with the Milan-based club's president Erick Thohir announcing the 40-year-old former Argentina international will move into an off-field role next season.

Rumors that Zanetti would stay at Inter after his playing career finished have been circulating in the Italian media for most of the season.

Llorente: Juve always fight ‘til the end

"I think the coach of Argentina's national team must not have satellite television hooked up to watch Juventus," Tevez, who was at the heart of Juve's 3-1 win over Sassuolo on Monday, told reporters. "I do not think I have any hope of going to the World Cup now. I am a direct striker, maybe that plays against me and that means Sabella does not have a good impression of me."

Argentina has been drawn in Group F at this summer's tournament in Brazil, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria, and Iran.

Ayew retains Marseille hope •Tevez

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

71

SPORT EXTRA

AHEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

•Champions League action at the Stamford Bridge stadium last night

Nigerian shooters to depart for Slovenia

•As federation roles out programme

By Innocent Amomoh ETERMINED to win laurels for the country at the next Commonwealth Games slated for Glasgow Scotland, Nigerian shooters are set to depart for Slovenia mid May for a ten days trial shooting tournament.

Nigeria Shooting Federation (NSF), yesterday rolled out programmes for the team of shooters ahead of the games to ensure a steady preparation and excellent performances at the quadrennial event coming up later in the year.

Made up of mainly shooters that won five bronze medals at the last African Shooting Championship in Cairo, Egypt, the team will then move to China for a training tour, after which they will be expected to arrive England for another three weeks training before flying straight to Scotland venue of the events to begin their campaign.

A total of 20 shooters had been called to camp by the federation, and have been training for two weeks to perfect strategies for the games.

According to the President of the federation Wole Madariola, it is a deliberate attempt to prepare the shooters well enough for the challenges ahead.

He said: "The federation is trying to intensify preparations ahead of the Commonwealth Games billed for Glasgow, Scotland later in the year. We felt it will be dangerous for us to wait for the National Sports Commission (NSC) so we have on our own camped 20 shooters for over 2 weeks now perfecting strategies ahead of the games."

"The shooters are drawn from both the military and Para- military organizations and I want you to know that they are professionals in their own rights.

Though the first major competition for some of them was the last one in Egypt, were the team won 5 bronze medals, they know what is expected of them and are in high spirit for the games."

Madariola stressed that the federation knowing the enormous task ahead has been ?solely responsible for the camping exercises of the team till date.

"For over a decade Nigeria shooters have not featured in any major event both locally and internationally. But I assure you that the athletes will do well at the games with the level of preparation so far and going by the passion they have shown for the sport," he added.

D

C

HELSEA crashed out of the Champions League after a humbling 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening, with Diego Simeone's side setting up a mouth-watering final against city rivals Real Madrid in Lisbon on May 24.

Former Rojiblancos captain Fernando Torres gave Jose Mourinho's side a dream start as

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL

Atletico bundles out Chelsea

he netted on 36 minutes, but Adrian struck a minute before half-time to give the visitors a vital away goal.

Mourinho responded early in the second half by replacing

MATCH-FIXING:

I'm not aware, says Kanu

•Tips Eagles to qualify for AFCON 2015

E

X-SUPER Eagles’ captain Nwankwo Kanu has described as surprising the match-fixing allegation for the 2010 World Cup, saying I'm not aware.

A Singaporean match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal recently claimed in his book written in conjunction with investigative journalists, Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano that he had a hand in Nigeria's qualification for the 2010 World Cup. But responding swiftly to the allegation Kanu said: "My brother I was really surprised at that statement. As the captain of the team then I’m not aware of such antecedents, but even at that I feel the NFF only has the responsibility to respond to that I was just a player," he said.

However, reacting to the draw of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers pitching Nigeria in group A against South Africa and Namibia released recently, Papilo as he's fondly called by admirers assured that the Eagles will qualify.

“We are going to come out of the group first and the same thing that happened in South Africa will happen again. We are back to our glory days in football and I want you to know that we are not going

By Innocent Amomoh back anymore. We are the champions and we remain the champions. We will qualify from that group. Yes I know there are no minors anymore in football but trust me Nigeria will be represented in Morocco”.

He urged Coach Stephen Keshi to continue his good work and ensure that Nigeria also do well at the World Cup, adding that players needed to prosecute the Mundial should be invited on time and ensure that adequate preparation is in place for the team to excel.

Meanwhile, Kanu arrived the country on Monday night after undergoing a heart correction surgery in the United States.

The former Arsenal of England's slicky upon arrival appreciated Nigerians for their prayers and support during his two weeks stay in hospital.

•Kanu

We’re sure of promotion—Rising Coach

A

S the second round of Nigeria Nationwide League begins on Thursday, Coach of Rising Stars Football Academy, Akure, Julius Kayode has given assurance that his team will gain promotion at the end of the season.

Speaking ahead of their return leg fixture against Gokana United FC of Rivers State, Coach Kayode said his boys have garnered more experience in first round of the league to get the needed points for promotion.

He said, though their main focus is discovery and development of young talents, they are sure of gaining promotion as they have played most of

their toughest matches in first half of the league. "in the second round, we are the team to watch because every team we played always admit we possess the ball even as young players. This is the soccer knowledge we are impacting on them at the academy."

The ex-junior international also said they had discovered fresh players that would be drafted in to beef-up the team. "we discovered twelve players from the team we used to prosecute the state federation cup competition. If they can play 3-2 against Sunshine Stars, I think they are living up to the philosophy we are teaching them," Kayode explained.

•Wins 3-1on aggregate Ashley Cole with Samuel Eto'o, though that proved to be a costly switch: the striker foolishly fouled Diego Costa in the box just before the hour, with the Atletico star emphatically dispatching his spot kick after a lengthy delay which saw him booked.

David Luiz hit the post with a header soon afterwards, but with 20 minutes remaining Arda Turan wrapped up the tie as he tapped home on the rebound af-

ter Mark Schwarzer tipped his initial header onto the bar.

Both sides were cautious from the off after a goalless first leg, but the hosts were almost dealt a blow less than 10 minutes in when when Koke's volleyed cross hit the bar and post.

In truth there were few chances for the majority of the half with neither side allowing the other a chance to net an early goal, but the hosts struck first through an former Atleti legend.

Willian showed trickery on the right wing to beat two players before finding Torres with a low cross, who steered the ball home via a defelction off of Miranda.

The former Atletico captain refused to celebrate scoring against his old club, but the travelling fans were delighted a minute before half-time as Juanfran pulled back a Tiago cross for Adrian to scuff home a vital volley.

The London side were forced to start chasing the game, and Costa won and netted Atleti's second of the night from the penalty spot before Turan's easy tap-in, leaving Mourinho failing to progress beyond the semi-finals with Chelsea on three occasions.

MATCHFIXING ALLEGATION

Elegbeleye: we’re watching closely

T

HE National Sports Commission (NSC) is paying close attention to the match-fixing allegation that is currently threatening to disrupt Nigeria's preparation for the World Cup in Brazil.

Convicted Singaporean match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal recently claimed in his book written in conjunction with investigative journalists, Alessandro Righi and

Emanuele Piano that he had a hand in Nigeria's qualification for the 2010 World Cup. Although the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released a statement refuting the claims, the Director-General of the NSC, Gbenga Elegbeye, has stated that the Commission are following the situation.

He, however added that since it is just a mere allegation, the

Commission cannot make any categorical statement on the matter until attempts are made by the claimants to corroborate their position.

“That is an allegation that needs to be proved. I do not have anything to say in a mere allegation, let us just wait and see them corroborate their allegation with instances. We are following it very seriously,” Elegbeye said.

Amata predicts semi final for Eagles

V

ETERAN ball juggler Moses Amata has tipped Super Eagles to play in the semi finals of this year's world Cup in Brazil.

Amata who was a guest of Nation/Sportinglife on Wednesday, expressed confidence that the Steven Keshi-led Eagles will have a smooth sail in the group stage where they have been pitched against Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina and Iran in Group F. He, however, warned the side against underrating any opponent on one hand and undue concentration on Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi on the

N

•Identifies Osaze, Anichebe,Ike Uche as jokers •Warns against focusing on Messi

By Julius Oklorie other.

"I see Eagles playing in the semi final, but they must resist the temptation to underrate any opponent, besides it is not necessary to concentrate on Messi, he is just a player out of 11 players on the pitch to avoid losing focus," he said Amata who is currently a coach with Doumbia football club of Senegal, further called for the inclusion of the trio of Osaze

Odemwingie, Ike Uche and Victor Anichebe in the Brazil party, predicting that the three players will make huge difference to the delight of many.

"As we speak three players that are capable of springing a surprise in Brazil are Osaze Odemwingie, Ike Uche and Victor Anichebe. Their inclusion in the squad is very necessary, but I don't know what the technical crew is thinking or planning but I bet you these guys can deliver, in any case I wish the Eagles best of luck,” he said

Tennis federation hails CBN on sponsorship

IGERIA Tennis Federation(NTF) has hailed Central Bank of Nigeria for her continued support and engagement to the game of tennis in Nigeria, at a press conference of the 36th edition of the CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship slated between 7th and 17th of May at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation Sani Ndanusa represented by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ekiti State, Com-

By Bowale Odukale rade Yemi Owoseni stated that the annual editions of the CBN Championship has continually served as a base for international events.

In his words“ Since inception, the CBN championship has contributed immensely to the upliftment of our position, as the event has served as trial basis for Davis Cup team events and the All African Games.”

“The Federation is particularly challenged by the deter-

mination of the Central Bank’s resolve to the development of the game in Nigeria, CBN deserves all commendation for her support” he added.

However, Director, Corporate Communications Department CBN Isaac Okorafor expressed that the apex bank will continue to support the championship, and the forthcoming event will be more competitive and attractive.

“In line with the Corporate Social Responsibility programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, we wish to re-af-

firm the Bank’s support for the championship with a view of promoting and developing tennis in Nigeria” “In order to make participation in the event more competitive and attractive for players, the total prize money for winners in the 2013 edition has been reviewed upward from N9.06m to N14.3m. The winner of both men and women singles would go home with N700,000 each while the 1st runner-up in the two categories would earn N500,000 as prize money,” he added.

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, MAY 1 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Let those in government put themselves in these girls' families' shoes. Would they have gone on campaign if their children were the ones kidnapped. Let us be sensitive to others' feelings. Being in government should not make us lose our sense of decency and humaneness’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON

VOL. 8, NO. 2835

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HE world is turning upside down.

Man’s marriage to technology is in a strange turbulence, with all those machines that were forged to give maximum comfort turning agents of discomfort. Death ravages the world in a terrible rapacity that evokes melancholic thoughts on those endtime prophecies. Insanity is no longer an affliction of the drug addict and the wayward. It is everywhere – inside those glittering offices and in the dark forests seized by those preaching a return to the caves.

South Korea is hobbled and humbled by a ferry disaster in which over 200 died. Many of the victims were students who had dreams of becoming stars. Their stars were dimmed by a shocking failure of technology. Weighed down by a remarkable sense of responsibility, the Prime Minister resigned.

The disappearance of a Malaysian airliner with 239 passengers has confounded experts who have been battling to unravel the mystery. What happened? Sabotage? Failure of technology? Human error? Natural disaster? Nobody can tell – for now.

These are just two of the big cases. To them add the mindless abduction of 234 girls in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram gunmen and the sentencing to death in one fell swoop of 683 Muslim Brotherhood members in Egypt. And throw in Russia’s rumbling in Ukraine. Then, think about so many cases of depravity that go unreported in the media.

What picture do we see? A world that has lost its balance in all ways.

Technology may have shown its fatalistic side in other parts of the world, but here man has launched an inexplicable battle against humanity, shredding the very essence of living, with every one of us as collaborators in one way or the other.

Boko Haram has rammed a big fear into our hearts – and our heads, some insist and we all seem so vulnerable. Helpless.

We watch in awe as the fiendish sect strikes, in all its bestiality, where it hurts most, killing ordinary folks struggling to get by and snatching away school girls who do not know the root of its rage.

The other day in Nyanya, near Abuja , the seat of power and home of the rich and powerful, Boko Haram unleashed suicide bombers who killed 75 people at a packed motor park. President Goodluck Jonathan was at the scene to behold the canvass of blood and at the hospital to comfort the injured.

The next day, he was off to Kano for a rally, dancing Skelewu and Azonto. From Kano, he stormed Ibadan to join Oba Odulana in cutting his centenary birthday cake.

It is two weeks that the girls – there are also many other innocent people who do not have anything to do with whatever may have sparked the Boko Haram insanity – have been kidnapped, yet life goes on normally in Nigeria.

It has been difficult getting the scene off my mind. A man crying like a baby, as he tells Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima of his agony. He and other parents had hired motorcycles and headed for the Sambisa forest in a desperate mission to find the girls.

They were warned to turn back or never return, he said. Shettima too was in tears.

Apparently moved by the heavy criticism of what many saw as its lack of insensitiv-

RIPPLES

NIGERIA NOT EXPERIENCING DEMOCRACY BUT TRANSITION–Activist

Yes, it is called PERPETUAL TRANSITION

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (NMMA)

The road to Sambisa

•A woman protesting in Abuja...yesterday.

ity – and a shameful assault on public sensibility – the Presidency summoned a National Security Council meeting where, it was learnt, the military was ordered to rescue the girls.

Almost one week after, the job remains undone.

Now, the anger in the minds of distraught parents and all those who still see us as members of the human community is beginning to show. There was a protest in Lagos on Monday. Another was staged in Abuja yesterday.

That is how it all begins. From little sparks that are ignored as mere irritation to some fire that may be difficult to put out and then – God forbid - a conflagration.

The Senate reopened on Tuesday, asking the government to ask for help from Nigeria’s friends. I think our neighbours too should be asked to choose on whose side they want to be on this Boko Haram assault. There should be no ambivalence.

Whichever way the battle goes, Boko Haram has bombed and gunned its way into our national consciousness. Hundreds of miles away from the epicentre of its militancy, echoes of its activities reverberate. Thousands of motorists were stranded last week on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when text messages started going round that Boko Haram gunmen had seized Nigeria’s busiest highway. A massive security blanket was thrown over the area. It all turned out to be a hoax. A truck tripped over and spilled its contents, which some hungry and angry youths descended on. The police moved in to disperse them. This sparked the rumour that disrupted business and pleasure all day.

Did the owner of the goods start the rumour to move security agents to action, thereby saving him from those would-be looters? Why did it take hours for the security agents to debunk the rumour? Can Boko Haram actually launch an open attack in the South? These are some of the conjectural disputations that followed the rumour.

Whichever way you look at it, Boko Haram has become a tool of fear, used by mischievous minds to attain certain goals. Besides, it has shown the fecundity of the Nigerian mind. In the misery – and the mystery – that has unsettled us all, many have found the inspiration for rib-crackers and moving lines.

Consider this that was sent to me yesterday by a colleague: “A Lagos bus conductor asked a passenger, wey ya money? The passenger replied, I be staff. The conductor, frowning, asked him, which kind staff you be?U be police? Passenger, ‘no’. Navy? No. You be soldier? No? You be Air Force? No. So wetin you be now? Abeg pay ya money. The passenger replied: I be Boko Haram.

“All the passengers began to scream.

Driver, are you mad? Oga Boko, sorry sir. No vex. We go pay for you sir. Driver, na next junction I go drop o. O wa o. I wan drop o!”.

And this about the girls: “To mum, she’s an Angel. To dad, a princess. To brothers, a priceless jewel. To sisters, a best friend. To aunties and uncles, an adorable sweet child. I am certain everyone reading this has one - a girl child, a joy to the world, to be pampered, protected and loved. Over 200 of these precious ones abducted and taken away from their loved ones, forced to become sex slaves, cooks, maids and every unimaginable thing to dark, evil,

W

Show of shame in Abuja

HOEVER organised yesterday’s rally in Abuja to urge President Goodluck Jonathan to run in 2015 has dealt his image a bloody blow. Those who carried those placards of shame are shameless. Are the women among them true mothers? The rally coincided with a protest staged by women, many of them in tears, over the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno State. They are yet to be found – two weeks after.

These times demand soberness – in the face of a bare-knuckle assault on our seeming empty claim to civilisation. The President should order his campaigners to take a break. The mood is not right.

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HARDBALL

H

ARDBALL had described it as a bridge too far in reference to a worldWar II tactical debacle of the Allied Forces in one of their battles. This was in February but let’s re-describe it as a political bridge, one that was conceived, berthed and initiated in the cauldron of political chicanery. We speak of the Second Niger Bridge (SNB) at Onitsha, which was in the news again over the weekend. Recall that this project of national importance and of particular emotional value to Ndigbo of the Southeast was for long something of a bait in the ruling party’s snare.

Right from the era of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the SNB was an instrument for extracting votes from the people on the other side of the Niger. Not once did the hardy president dangle the SNB carrot and each time he reneged on his word. The last time in 2007, he did a last minute abracadabra by the bank of the old Niger River, purporting that he had awarded a contract. But it was a scam that is gaol-worthy in decent climes; he walked away gaily with it, not given to having much qualms.

Then enters President Goodluck Jonathan: twice he has promised the bridge in the heat of

demented, dirty terrorists. What a tragedy!

“Yes, they seem far away in Borno, born to poor, ordinary people, but just like you, to them these gals are princesses, angels, priceless jewels and sweet, adorable nieces. Don’t be numb to the pain. Days now counting and still no word. No daily progress report or any kind of info from the govt. This is unacceptable. I cannot launch a rescue mission and neither can you, but our government can. The buck stops on their table. Let’s come together and demand action. Please, rebroadcast and mount the pressure. It works. Say a prayer and keep talking about it until the Federal Government takes action and brings them home.

Don’t do it for me; do it for the girl child in your life.”

The abduction of the girls has renewed the debate about the leadership question. Are we truly helpless? Do we have the military capability – the talk that this is no conventional war - to overwhelm Boko Haram?

Does the conduct of our leaders inspire the troops? Are we treating Boko Haram as a national emergency? What is the line between politics and national interest? How much compassion have our leaders shown?

Can this happen to the children of the rich?

In fact, the talk in town is that when Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s mum was kidnapped, the government moved fast and she was brought back home. When President Jonathan’s uncle was kidnapped recently, he was rescued or released – whichever is appropriate - in no time. So was Ijaw Chief E.K. Clark’s son. Why is this mass abduction taking time to resolve? Who can imagine the traumatic experience of the girls and their parents? Do their parents still sleep?

There have been so many suggestions on how to free the girls. Many of them seem feasible; some are merely emotional and others are just naïve. A fellow suggested that all of us 140 million Nigerians – politicians, civil servants, teachers, reporters, lawyers; all – should move into the dreaded Sambisa forest and demand the return of the girls or live with the shame forever.

Should we all decide to hit the road to Sambisa, who will lead? This is the big question. The lesson of it all is that we need men; real men who will think first of their sacred pact with the people and not the glamour of office; men of courage and character; men of honour. Real men.

Who will lead the way to Sambisa?

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

The political bridge electioneering and twice he has failed, perhaps forgotten. Early in the year, he was going to promise the people the bridge once again when he was reminded that he was becoming a parrot at promising things. Oh yes, yes, he said; we will build the bridge pronto! In two weeks, the ceremonial sud was turned with so much fanfare you would think the bridge was ready for use. There was so much colour, so much singing and dancing at the bank of the river that some mermaids may have joined in unknown to the mockers.

But the ogbanje keeps going and coming.

Last week, it was reported that work had to stop because someone forgot to do Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for such a massive project. Depending on who is doing it, that could take all of one year to accomplish. Official response is no, no, no; work is going on in earnest, but can you execute a bridge across a large body of water like the Niger without EIA? Perhaps it’s a confirmation of what some

skeptics have suggested that work could not continue because there was never a provision for it in the budget, thus the need to buy time. That, they say, explains the hurriedly packaged Special Utility Vehicle (SUV) company for financing and executing the project. The contraption is known as Julius Berger and Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Motorways Investment Company (JB-NMIC). By the sheer awkwardness of the name, you can see that this SUV is as ungainly as a bad error.

Senator Chris Ngige has also questioned this manner of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), describing it as financial victimisation and marginalisation of Ndigbo. The project cost of about N120 billion is outrageous, he noted. But even more unthinkable is the 25- year duration of tolling the bridge. Imagine a people paying tolls on their major road for a quarter of a century while they still pay all sorts of taxes and levies daily?

Ndigbo, why art thou so blest!

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