May 28, 2015

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President to sign NEWS Page 4 amended constitution

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•Lawan promises to build on Senate’s stability 6,24,73&75 •President distracted us, says Tambuwal at valedictory •Outrage as corruption probe rocks football body FIFA •11 die in Kwara road accident •Lightning kills four

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 10, NO. 3228 THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

N150.00

•A 16-page pullout on the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari administration

UHARI: Flags of various countries being hoisted at Eagle Square in preparation for tomorrow’s inauguration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja ... yesterday.

•ALL BUHARI: ALL FOR B PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•INSIDE: OMISORE’S CASE AGAINST AREGBESOLA LACKS MERIT, SAYS SUPREME COURT P7

Oshiomhole asks Okonjo-Iweala to account for $30b excess oil cash

FirstBank MD Onasanya to retire in December

By Collins Nweze, Senior Finance Correspondent

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INANCE Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala got yesterday an arduous task from Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

She shoul tell Nigerians before leaving office how the economy was managed since

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FTER over three decades of “inspiring and enviable career”, FirstBank Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Olabisi Stephen Onasanya is set to retire. He has completed his tenure.

Onasanya’s retirement takes effect at the end of the current Financial Year on December 31.

A statement signed by the bank’s Global Head, MarketContinued on page 4

•Mr Onasanya

By Bunmi Ogunmodede, Deputy News Editor

her coming on board in 2011 and account for about $30 billion that ought to have ac-

•SEE PAGES 2&3 crued to the government based on the official oil ex-

ports of 2.3 million barrels per day, the governor said.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, with other members of the Federal Executive Council, will take a final bow from office today after the end-of-tenure dinner, where PresiContinued on page 4

Jonathan to Buhari: extend probe to Obasanjo, others WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

?

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan replied yesterday to calls for the probe of his administration.

He said any probe by the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration should not be limited to his administration.

Speaking during the vale-

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I believe that anybody calling for probe must ensure that these probes are extended beyond the Jonathan administration; otherwise, it will be witch hunting.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

dictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in

Abuja, he said that those calling for a probe of his administration should ensure that

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the same treatment applies to other administrations before him.

The other administrations

include those of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999), former President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) and the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007-2010).

Jonathan said such probe Continued on page 4

•SPORTS P24 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P59 •NATIONAL HEALTH P61 •FOREIGN P77

THE NATION THURDAY, MAY 28, 2015

2

NEWS

•Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) Director-General Mounir Gwarzo(left) and Commission’s Chairman Peter Obi after Obi’s maiden Board meeting at the SEC’s Abuja head office...yesterday.

Economy: Okonjo -Iweala’s hidden figures The country’s sordid economic realities should be an embarrassment to any finance minister and an international bureaucrat in the mould of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole feels the former World Bank Managing Director has a lot of explanations to make as Coordinating Minister under whose watch the economy “collapsed”.

A •From left: Legal & External Affairs Director, British-American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), Freddy Messanvi; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs; BATN Managing Director, Chris McAllister and Operations Director, Charles Kyalo when MAN officials visited BATN factory in Ibadan...on Tuesday.

•Left to right: Senior Manager, Sales (Lagos/Southwest ) MTN Nigeria, Gbenga Olalandu; co-founder, PAGA, Jay Alabraba; Chief Executive Officer, Iranum Ltd, Ifeanyi Aneke; General Manager, Business Development, MTN Nigeria, Kolawole Oyeyemi; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Director, Mobile Payment, Musa Itopa Jimoh; Senior Manager, Sales Channel, Valentine Izuchukwu and Senior Manager, Channel Development, Olaoluwa Osundina at the Convenience Channel Partners' Business Forum in Lagos…yesterday.

•From left: Leader, Victoria Garden City branch of Fidelity Bank Plc, Isaac Usanga; Executive Director, Lagos/Southwest, Ikemuefuna Mbagwu and a representative of the Education Secretary, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, T.O. Lawal at the inauguration of a classroom block renovated by the bank for the Home Economics Arts & Crafts Centre in Lagos...on Tuesday.

S the country transits from one democratic dispensation to another, there is no gainsaying that the state of the nation’s economy is the focal point, especially with the unending fuel scarcity which is gradually grinding the nation to a halt.

No doubt, the best person to explain the state of the economy today is Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy (CME), whose management of the nation’s resources, in these past four years, has elicited different reactions from Nigerians.

As a member of the National Economic Council (NEC), I had spoken out at different times at NEC meetings and even in public on the way the economy is managed under Dr. Okonjo-Iweala. Again, I want to share my views with the public on some of the issues affecting the nation.

Recently, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, as the CME, has been all over the place, pointing in the wrong directions and blaming everybody but herself for the parlous state of the economy. Coming after her deafening silence on the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) crude oil sales and receipts, which revealed massive abuse of public trust and stealing of our common patrimony in high places under her watch and the government she serves. It is quite intriguing that with barely few days left in office, she has suddenly woken up from her slumber to realise that oil marketers have been all along falsifying subsidy claims and defrauding the nation of billions of naira and dollars.

This latter day “policy activism” on her part deserves closer scrutiny and interrogation. Perhaps for fear of the incoming President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, come tomorrow, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala is now compelled to disclose to Nigerians that a cabal is holding the country and the government to ransom. Beside the abuse of the subsidy regime, we will insist that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also comes clean on some other critical issues that demand accountability from her and her office.

According to the minister, after paying N156 billion to the oil marketers, the marketers came with another claim of N200 billion, which includes a N159 billion coming not from actual supply of fuel but from exchange rate differentials. This resulted in a prolonged bickering that led to the current nation-

wide fuel scarcity and total black-out.

The question to ask is: how come that it is now, for the first time, that we are hearing from the CME about fraudulent claims by the oil marketers amounting to billions of naira? At what point did the CME realise that these fraudulent and similar claims are going on? When did it start? Is it just recently or it has been going on all along? These questions are pertinent because we know that if the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) were doing its work diligently, all claims by oil marketers would be vetted on a daily basis before their payments are processed by the Ministry of Finance. Hence, there should be no dispute about the amount due to oil marketers at any point in time.

What the foregoing, therefore, suggests is that all along, the PPPRA, the Ministry of Finance and the oil marketers have been involved in an unholy alliance, in the mismanagement of the fuel subsidy regime and in the process defrauding the nation of its revenues.

The Minister of Finance cannot stop at simply shedding crocodile tears about fraudulent claims by oil marketers. Having found her voice, thanks to the fear of Gen. Buhari, it is very necessary that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala takes one more crucial step at full disclosure. She must disclose to the nation the full details of subsidy payments made to oil marketers in the last four years, including the parameters used to calculate the subsidies. This also must include how much of the subsidy was paid to the NNPC since the NNPC is also being accused of making the same fraudulent claims. In other words, the minister of finance should be prepared to provide more information and make more explanations regarding the management or mismanagement of subsidy payments in the last four years.

The squandering of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) is another area in which the minister of finance should come out, shed more light and put all the cards on the table. During several meetings of the NEC, which has all the governors as members and with the vice president as chairman, I had cause to observe that the state governments, who are joint owners of the ECA, with the Federal Government, were not being adequately briefed on the status of the account.

Accordingly, I had consistently demanded from the minister a transpar-

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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NEWS

COUNTDOWN TO MAY 29... 2 DAYS TO GO

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• President Goodluck Jonathan

• Gen. Buhari

• Mrs. Okonjo -Iweala

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• Oshiomole

ent and periodic disclosure of accruals to the ECA, at least on monthly basis. I had argued that even village associations do make available their financial statements from time to time, and as NEC, I see no reason we will not even do better.

All these years, my pleas fell on deaf ears. The minister consistently failed to apprise the NEC with critical information on the management and operations of the ECA in black and white, when she eventually got to do that, it was usually verbal and casual, and hardly meaningful enough for decision-making.

The CME also developed the penchant for deliberately avoiding NEC’s crucial meetings, which many saw as a ploy to keep the governors in the dark. And when she is not around, no one gets any information, as if she was running a one-man show.

Coming to the specifics, it is interesting to note that by December 2012, the ECA had a balance of over $10 billion. This has been depleted to $2.07 billion by May 2015, according to the minister. Between January 2013 and May 2015, not more than $4 billion was shared from the ECA. Indeed, the last time any money was shared from the ECA was in May 2013.

OR six clear months in 2013, the NEC did not meet, an act many believed was contrived to conceal information on the operations of the ECA. When eventually the NEC met after those six months, the minister reported that the ECA had dropped to $4 billion. This prompted me to ask a very pertinent question: if the closing balance of the ECA as at December 2012 was over $10 billion and that for three years running Nigeria’s budget have been based on the average of between $77 and $79 benchmark while the average price of Nigeria’s crude has been $108 per barrel, suggesting an average of about $30 per barrel, how come that there was no accretion to the ECA? Indeed, based on a rough estimate, we should be expecting not less than $30 billion accretion based on the official oil exports of 2.3 million barrels per day. The question which Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should answer, therefore, is why did Nigeria not make any savings during the unprecedented boom years from 2011 to August 2014?

The explanation offered by the minister, which was as usual, oral, and of course, far from satisfactory, was hinged on three factors, namely: (a)

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She must disclose to the nation the full details of subsidy payments made to oil marketers in the last four years, including the parameters used to calculate the subsidies. This also must include how much of the subsidy was paid to the NNPC since the NNPC is also being accused of making the same fraudulent claims. because of oil theft not much accrued to the ECA; (b) part of ECA was also used to fund petroleum subsidy and SURE-P (Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P); and (c) part of the ECA was also shared to the three tiers of government at the request of the state governments.

Her claims in my view are untenable, fraudulent, illegal, unconstitutional and clear breach of extant financial regulations.

In the first place, ECA is not an exclusive preserve of the Federal Government. It belongs to all the tiers of government: federal, state and local governments. Moreover, the minister has no power whatsoever to spend monies without the express consent and approval of the state governments. Until questions were asked as to the status of the ECA, no state government was put in the picture about the fact that money was taken from the ECA, why it was; and for what purpose.

It is also a fact known to all that under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only the National Assembly (NASS) has the power to appropriate monies for subsidy. Similarly, nobody spends money that is not appropriated or in excess of what was appropriated without recourse to the NASS. And with regards to funding subsidies and SURE-P from ECA, there was no indication anywhere that NASS authorised the use of ECA for that purpose. The amount in question is also evidently far in excess of what the country can consume of petroleum products, even if every Nigerian is a consumer of petroleum products. In this regard, therefore, the minister has a lot of explanation to make, particularly in the manner she knowingly enriched oil marketers and condoned abuse of due process in the operations of ECA. Regarding the funding of SURE-P, the understanding from the outset was that SURE-P would be funded from the difference between new and old prices of petroleum products, after the partial removal of the subsidies in 2012. Why the minister should fund SURE-P from the ECA is inexplicable, because it is a complete violation of the law and due process. In this regard, it is necessary that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes available to the nation SUREP’s financial statements, indicating clearly the sources and uses of funds.

The minister also made allusion to

the sharing of the ECA as requested by the state governments. This is obviously one-sided and being economical with the truth. What Nigerians are asking is not what was shared but the whole story about the operations of the ECA itself. At any rate, considering that not more than $4 billion was shared, this is not adequate to explain how the country went from $22 billion at the end of 2007 to the current paltry $2.07 billion balance in the ECA in 2015, bearing in mind, the oil boom period from 2011 to 2014.

For the sake of transparency and accountability, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has a duty to herself, to the nation and the international community to account for what transpired in the ECA by giving full disclosure of how much accrued to ECA on a month-by-month basis and the subsequent outflows.

On the question of oil theft, I can proudly say I was among those whose probing questions compelled NEC to set up a committee to investigate the problem of crude oil theft. It became quite apparent in our interaction with security agencies that crude oil theft has indeed, become official.

Some of the military officers confessed that whenever they apprehend oil thieves on the high sea, a telephone call from ‘above’ will compromise all their efforts. When we suggested that any ship caught in the act be immediately destroyed, we were told that that will pollute the waters. Hence, till date not a single person was caught or prosecuted on account of this heinous crime against the nation.

I recall during one of NEC’s meetings with the vice president presiding, one of the governors was on record, as having expressed concerns that the inability of the government to deal with oil theft might be because the proceeds of such a crime flow into political coffers as one of the means to compromise the 2015 election. Still, under her watch, the problem persisted; the country keeps hemorrhaging and all we get are banal excuses and obfuscation of our concrete realities.

HE recent nationwide fuel and energy crisis, adjudged the worst in the economic history of Nigeria, is merely a reflection of the gross mismanagement of the economy which characterised Dr. OkonjoIweala’s tenure since 2011. As we speak, there is a widespread and popular feeling that she has presided over the wanton mismanagement of the Nigerian economy since the inauguration

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of the democratic order in 1999. Aspects of this could be seen from the reckless borrowing and debt accumulation since 2011, as well as the manner in which government’s recurrent budget has been continuously funded through borrowings, while about a quarter of the national budget is allocated to debt servicing.

Under Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, government borrowings were programmed to support wasteful expenditures. In the same vein, budgets were so poorly formulated and skewed towards consumption such that 90 per cent of budgetary releases were meant for recurrent expenditures, which is injurious to the economy.

There is the urgent need to launch an audit trail of the sources and uses of the borrowed funds we have accumulated in the last five years amounting to over N8 trillion. It does not make sense to accumulate such huge debts without a tangible infrastructure project that we can point to as evidence of fund utilisation.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was quick to blame state governments for not paying salaries but the situation with the Federal Government employees is even worse. Things have gone so bad that even salaries of federal employees have to be paid by recourse to irresponsible borrowing from the capital markets.

Let me state for the record at this juncture that while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, as Minister of Finance is borrowing recklessly to pay salaries of federal employees, in Edo State, we are paying salaries as and when due, including teachers employed by local government areas without recourse to borrowing.

The implication of this reckless borrowing on the part of the minister is that the future of workers’ savings in the form of pensions is clearly at stake.

It means that there is no guarantee that workers and pensioners will have value for their hard-earned savings in the future.

In the first place, she has effectively withdrawn the entire savings of workers meant for pensions through issuance of bonds to fund payment of workers’ salaries and other wasteful spending.

Secondly, excessive borrowing has devalued the naira. At the time Dr. Okonjo-Iweala assumed duty, the exchange rate was within the region of N100/N116 to $1, now it has been officially devalued to about N200 to one

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dollar. This has done incalculable damage to the value of savings of the pensioners, and when inflation is factored in, it is clear that by the time the Nigerian pensioner accesses his savings, the value will have been drastically reduced, no thanks to the gross mismanagement of the Nigerian economy by the minister.

N this regard, the minister should swallow her pride and admit that her tenure as minister of finance and CME is a total disaster and colossal failure as far as economic management is concerned. In the same vein, given her so-called background as an international bureaucrat with the World Bank, our present sordid economic realities present a huge embarrassment to the country, particularly her penchant for violating financial regulations and all tenets of fiscal responsibility.

Finally, I will like to briefly touch on the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

It is understood from the law establishing the SWF that the state governments are part of the decision-making regarding the operations of the Fund.

However, till date, no state government has any idea about how the Fund operates or how it is managed. Like the ECA, its management is opaque.

The only information we stumbled upon as state governments is that the minister of finance had unilaterally and without recourse to NEC and the state governments, withdrawn money from the SWF to fund consultancy services in the name of the Second Niger Bridge.

In this regard, I wish to remind the minister that before she leaves the stage, she is duty bound to inform the state governments, as critical stakeholders about the financial status of the SWF backed up by convincing evidence.

There is too much of secrecy surrounding the management of our public finance. The earlier the minister comes clean on the management of our financial resources, the better for all of us, so that the incoming government will derive the baseline from which to launch its economic recovery strategies to combat our present morass. This is the irreducible minimum that is expected of any minister of finance worth his/her salt. Otherwise, for now, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s tenure is a bile in the dish.

•Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is, a frontline unionist is Governor of Edo State.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

NEWS FirstBank MD Onasanya to retire Continued from page 1

ing & Corporate Communications, Folake AniMumuney, said Onasanya is retiring on the heels of an inspiring and enviable career spanning over three decades of diverse management and operational experience, 21 years of which he has spent with FirstBank, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc., serving meritoriously in the last six years as Group Managing Director/ CEO. Onasanya was born on August 16, 1961.

The statement added: “He has been able to stabilise and modernise the expanding FirstBank brand since his appointment in 2009, thus reinforcing the confidence of the bank’s diverse stakeholders and the global financial publics. Mr. Onasanya’s successor will be announced in the last quarter prior to his exit.

This is in sync with FirstBank’s corporate governance practice, which provides for seamless transition for the office of Group Managing Director.

As is well known, FirstBank’s corporate governance posture has won it much respect and awards both locally and internationally,” the statement said.

Onasanya is described as “a seasoned banker and chartered accountant; a highly respected and personable executive who has established a reputation at FirstBank for solid performance and sound judgment”.

“He is widely reputed as the architect of the modern FirstBank, associated with various innovative and creative achievements. He was Project Coordinator of Century 2 the new frontier, FirstBank’s far-reaching enterprise transformation project at the turn of the century, as well as Project Coordinator of the FirstBank Corporate Transformation project which has seen the bank accentuating its foothold on modernisation. Mr. Onasanya also superintended the latest composite Corporate Identity/Brand Refresh of the FirstBank Group, a bold step heralding the international expansion of the FirstBank brand,” it said.

“A corporate strategy and development pacesetter, Mr. Onasanya has ensured the steady internationalisation of FirstBank, which under his leadership now boasts of subsidiaries with operations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

•From left: Senators Ahmed Lawan, Barnabas Gemade, George Akume, Femi Ojudu, Remi Tinubu, 'Gbenga Ashafa and Robert Boroffice at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Unity Forum’s news conference in Abuja ... yesterday. Story on page 73

Jonathan to Buhari: extend probe to Obasanjo, others Continued from page 1

should cover how oil wells and fields were allocated in the past.

Limiting the probe to his administration, he said, will amount to witch hunting.

Said Dr Jonathan: “Some people are even calling for the probe of this government.

I agree in Nigeria there are a number of things that we will probe, very many things.

Even debts owed by states and this nation from 1960 up to this time, they say it is Jonathan’s administration that is owing all the debt.

“I believe that anybody calling for probe must ensure that these probes are extended beyond the Jonathan administration; otherwise, to me, it will be witch hunting.

If you are very sincere, then it’s not just the Jonathan’s administration that should be probed.

“A number of things have gone wrong and we have done our best to fix them. The

Attorney General is aware of massive judgment debts. If we aggregate all of them, it’s almost going to $1 billion.

How did we come to this kind of huge judgment debts?

“These issues should be probed. How do you allocate our oil wells, oil fields, marginal wells and all that; do we follow our laws? All these should be probed. And I believe all these and many more areas should be looked at.”

According to him, the fuel scarcity and workers’ strikes are acts of sabotage by those bent on bringing down his administration, despite having few days to go.

Jonathan said: “Even this last fuel scarcity, to me, one can clearly say it was an act of sabotage. This government has few days to go. That is definitely not the time you expect massive strikes, using marketers and unions; unions asking for increase in salaries at a time oil price has dropped and volumes have dropped.

“None of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) is increasing salaries but our unions wanted 11 per cent increase in allowances and so on and so forth and went on strike.

“There was 21 days reserve in this country. It is not as if we had no products but they just refused to lift. Diesel was deregulated long ago, so the issue was not the product but people who felt they must bring this government to its knees even when they know that we had few days to leave. But we thank God we are getting over it and God will see us through.”

The President also stressed that his administration had done its best for Nigeria.

His words: “One thing that is clear, I enjoyed working with all of you. I’m very pleased with all of you. I want to thank all of you for your various contributions to the development of our country. I want to thank those that have been with us, the Advis-

ers, Special Senior Assistants, the secretariat, other senior government functionaries, including the media that covered proceedings every Wednesday.”

“As a cabinet, we have tried our best. I believe we have done well under a very difficult situation. There are a lot of criticisms; people say different things at different times. Some of those who make some statements know they are purely political.

“I have always throw, the challenge that those who criticise us should compare what we have done in the various sectors to what others have done. I may not need to enumerate but if you look at the rail system and what we have done within this period, the oil sector where there has been so much attack, one good thing we did was the Nigerian content law that revolutionised the oil industry.”

He went on: “There were a lot of fabrication going on in Lagos

and other places but it was never like this before. Nigerians are playing key roles in the oil sector. People sometimes forget this. Even with that, maybe we have offended some people but the Nigerian local content has really helped so many Nigerians to play big in the oil sector.”

“The agriculture, power sectors and maybe in foreign relations, like the Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned, from 1960 to date, we have been members of the Security Council as non-permanent members five times; out of these five times, two times was with the five years of our administration.”

“We have been an independent nation for years and we have been in the United Nations Security Council as non-permanent members five times, two within this administration. That shows clearly that the rest of the world appreciates our little contributions to global issue.”

Continued on page 60

Jonathan set to sign amended Constitution

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will likely assent, to the amendment to the Constitution termed: ‘Alteration Act 2015’, before he hands over on Friday.

The President’s sudden change of mind was informed by the agreement reached by representatives of the President and the National Assembly at a meeting held on Tuesday at the instance of the Supreme Court to amicably resolve the issue.

The President had refused to sign it due to disagreements with the Legislature on some provisions of the amended constitution.

Moved by threat by the National Assembly to override his veto, the President, acting through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN), filed a suit at the Supreme Court, asking the court to among others, declare the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Fourth Constitution Alteration Bill unconstitutional and illegal.

When the case came up yesterday morning, lawyer to the AGF, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) and lawyer to the National Assembly, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told the court that parties met on Tuesday and agreed to some concessions, following which the President agreed to sign the amendment.

Ojo, who said the outcome of the meeting was yet to be communicated to the President by the AGF, sought time for parties to finalise the terms of settlement and present them before the court for adoption.

He disagreed with Awomolo, who wanted the court to strike out the case outright, since parties have

agreed to an out of court settlement.

Ruling, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who led a seven-man panel hearing the case, directed parties to file the terms of settlement by 4pm and adjourned till then.

When the court resumed shortly after 4pm, Ojo informed the court that the terms of settlement and notice of withdrawal of the case had been filed. He urged the court to adopt the terms of settlement as its decision in the case and strike out the suit, a position Awomolo agreed with.

The CJN consequently struck out the suit and commended parties for agreeing to settle the case amicably.

Ojo old reporters after the court’s proceedings, that parties were now at peace as the reason for the suit had been

resolved at the meeting.

By the agreement, the President allowed six out of 13 items he had objected to in the amendment.

The agreement saw the removal of alteration to section 9 of the Constitution which allowed the National Assembly to dispense with the President’s assent in the process of constitution amendment.

The inserted subsection 3(a) in section 9 had read, “For the purposes of altering the provisions of this constitution, the assent of the President shall not be required.”

The President was successful in his objection to the separation of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minster of Justice as well as the separation of the Attorney General of state from the Commissioner of Justice.

The President refused to sign the amended constitu-

•Ojo

tion as proposed by the National Assembly due to the alterations to sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174, 195 and 211of the 1999 Constitution.

With the agreement, the alterations made to sections 8, 9, 45(a) – 45(b), 150, 174, 195 and 211 will now be deleted.

The National Assembly will retain its alterations to sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 58 and 84 of the Constitution.

Oshiomhole to Okonjo-Iweala: account for $30b excess oil cash Continued from page 1

dent Jonathan will hand over governance to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

But the Edo governor insisted that the irreducible minimum expected of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala as a former World Bank Managing Director and a Minister of Finance worth her salt is to tell Nigerians why the management of public finance was shrouded in secrecy under

her tenure.

Oshiomhole’s request was contained in his article entitled: “Economy: OkonjoIweala’s hidden figures”, which is published in full on page 2 of this edition.

He said Mrs. OkonjoIweala’s tenure as Finance Minister remained “a bile in the dish until she clarifies her role in the management of resources.

In the article, the Edo State

helmsman accused the minister of mismanaging the economy and abuse of financial regulations.

According to him, the minister has not explained how a $10 billion balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was drawn down to $2.O7 billion between December 2012 and now, when only $4 billion was shared from the account.

Oshiomhole said: “Indeed,

the last time any money was shared from the ECA was in May 2013. For six clear months in 2013, the National Economic Council (NEC) did not meet, an act many believed was contrived to conceal information on the operations of the ECA. When eventually the NEC met after those six months, the minister reported that the ECA had dropped to $4 billion.

“For the sake of transpar-

ency and accountability, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has a duty to herself, to the nation and the international community to account for what transpired in the ECA by giving full disclosure of how much accrued to ECA on a month-by-month basis and the subsequent outflows.”

The governor alleged that the minister encouraged financial impunity by unilaterally taking money from the

ECA to fund the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) and the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) for consultancy services on the Second Niger Bridge.

Oshiomhole said: “Why the minister should fund SUREContinued on page 60

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

5

NEWS

States, Abuja get set for tomorrow’s inauguration

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TATE capitals and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yesterday getting into the mood for tomorrow’s inauguration and swearing-in of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and governorselect.

In Abuja, Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase ordered the diversion of traffic on all roads around the Eagle Square—venue of the presidential inauguration.

The IGP also ordered tight security at the Square, hotels, key and vulnerable places within the FCT. He directed that Tactical Operation Points be mounted on all roads leading into and out of the FCT. The directive was contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Force Spokesman, Emmanuel

•Police to divert traffic in Abuja •FRSC deploys 23,000 personnel •Lagos cancels Saturday’s sanitation From Faith Yahaya, Bukola Amusan, Abuja and Chris Oji, Enugu

Ojukwu.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has also deployed 23,000 personnel to designated routes during the swearing-in.

About 150 patrol vehicles, 15 ambulances, 35 motorbikes and seven towing trucks have been deployed to designated routes of the FCT as part of measures to ensure seamless traffic flow in Abuja during the inauguration ceremony.

Court adjourns Tinubu’s N150b libel suit against AIT till June 30

A statement in Abuja yesterday by the Corps Public Education Officer, Imoh Etuk, said the Corps had also strengthened its collaboration with other security agencies along the Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Zuba, Lugbe and Kubwa corridor through routine patrols and rescue services in addition to traffic control on major intersections of the city.

The Lagos State Government yesterday cancelled restriction of human/vehicular activities during this month’s statewide sanitation exercise slated for Saturday, as the state prepares for the swearing-in/inau-

guration ceremony of new governor.

According to Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, the cancellation is to allow for hitch-free swearing-in/inauguration ceremony coming up both in Lagos and Abuja.

In Sokoto State, committees set up to plan for the swearing-in of the governor-elect, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal, said that they had completed their assignments.

This was contained in a statement

by Alhaji Danladi Bako, the chairman of the publicity sub-committee.

Bako, who is also the state Commissioner for Information, said the event would hold at the Shehu Kangiwa Square in Sokoto.

He added that all the other subcommittees set up to ensure the success of the event had also concluded

their assignments.

In Enugu State, the committees set up for the swearing in of its governor-elect have completed their assignments.

The venue of the occasion, the Okpara Square, Independence Layout and environs are wearing new looks.

Fanciful canopies have been mounted. As at press time yesterday, workers were seen mounting the rostrum and clearing the VIP stand.

The swearing in which will be ushered in with a Jumat service will be concluded with a thanksgiving service on Sunday.

Although, the governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had wanted a low profile ceremony, the excited residents of Enugu were eager to make it a big one.

By Adebisi Onanuga

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LAGOS High Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the N150 billion libel suit filed by former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against Daar Communications owners of African Independent Communication (AIT) till June 30.

The trial judge, Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe, adjourned the suit to enable Tinubu’s counsel respond to the counter-claim filed by AIT. Tinubu, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, had instituted the N150 billion suit against AIT for allegedly peddling false accusations against his person in the documentary titled: “Lion of Bourdillon”.

According to him, the documentary was politically sponsored to tarnish his reputation in the eyes of the populace.

Justice Akinkugbe had on April 1 granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the AIT from further airing the documentary, pending the determination of the libel suit.

Counsel to AIT Jeffery Kadiri informed the court that the defendant had filed a counter-claim, which had been served on the claimant.

In his response, Tinubu’s counsel Ayodele Adesanmi said the process was served on the claimant only two days ago, adding that he needed time to respond.

Adesanmi, therefore, asked the court for an adjournment to enable him respond to the defendant’s counter-claim.

The trial judge Justice Akinkugbe granted his request and fixed a new date for hearing of the matter.

In its counter-claim filed before the court on Tuesday, AIT had listed its Chairman, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, and seven others as witnesses to testify against Tinubu.

Others listed to testify are Namure Edoimioya, Medan Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Stanley Odidi, Nwabueze and Stanley Bassey.

The station had also denied every averment contained in the claimant’s amended statement of claim.

It stated for that the former governor of Lagos State founded his entire claims on a nonexistent ground or cause of action.

It stated, for instance, that contrary to the claims of the claimant, the documentary aired by its media outfit was not titled “The Lion of Bourdillon”, but “Unmasking the Real Tinubu”.

The Daar Communication Chairman averred that the documentary, in his honest opinion, was not false and was not aired out of malice to the person of the claimant.

Dokpesi said AIT, as a member of the fourth estate of the realm, was empowered by Section 22 of the Constitution to at all times, hold those in government accountable and responsible to the people of Nigeria.

He further averred that the contents of the documentary were facts, which had been in the public domain for over two decades.

•A member-elect, Yakub Balogun (third left), raising the hands of aspirants for House of Representatives’ speakership, Femi Gbajabiamila (second left) and Mohammed Monguno (third right) when Monguno steps down for Gbajabiamila in Abuja. With them are members-elect, who are supporting them.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

You cannot extradite Kashamu on decided case, says judge

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USTICE Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday barred the police and other law enforcement agencies from arresting or extraditing Senator-elect Prince Buruji Kashamu to the United States (U.S.) to stand trial for alleged drug trafficking.

He made the order while delivering judgment in a fundamental rights suit filed by Kashamu against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and 11 others.

The judge also awarded N20,000 cost in favour of the applicant against Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ahmadu Giade (N10,000), the National Security Adviser (NSA), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He added that the money must be paid before further steps can be taken.

The judge declared as illegal any attempt to abduct or forcibly transport Kashamu to the U.S. to stand trial in relation to drug-trafficking allegations from which he had been exonerated by two British courts.

He further held that having earlier obtained a subsisting court judgment in Nigeria on January 6, last year, restraining his arrest, extradition to the U.S., Kashamu cannot be arrested nor extradited to America by the respondents.

Suspecting a conspiracy between the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke and the IGP, Solomon Arase, to abduct and whisk him to the U.S. before his swearing-in on May 29 as a senator, Kashamu had in April, instituted a suit before the court seeking nine declarative orders against the agencies.

Other respondents in the suit include Chairman, Economic and Fi-

‘NDLEA ‘ll obey court’s order’

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it will obey the decision of the court of competent jurisdiction on the ongoing case involving senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu.

The spokesman of the agency, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, said yesterday that the NDLEA, as a government agency and a law enforcement institution that has respect for the rule of law, will abide by the decisions of a com-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

petent court.

“This is a legal issue and the agency has windows of opportunities to explore legally in advancing its course. NDLEA will not violate court orders or take law into its hands in enforcing its statutory responsibilities.

The media shall be duly informed of further developments,” he said.

•Judge orders National Assembly’s Clerk to swear in senator-elect

By Precious Igbonwelundu

nancial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Director General, State Security Service (SSS); The Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB); the Clerk of the National Assembly; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Nigeria Custom Services (NCS), and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

He had prayed the court for an order restraining the defendants and their agents from arresting, detaining, or otherwise effecting his abduction upon spurious allegation; and an order directing the clerk of the National Assembly to accord him every facility and privileges due to him as a senator-elect.

Kashamu also sought a declaration that the arrangements being made by the defendants in collusion with U.S. security operatives in West Africa and his political opponents, led by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, to abduct him and forcibly transport him to U.S. on the basis of allegations which have been the subject of investigation by

Interpol and litigation in competent court in the United Kingdom, of which he has been exonerated, illegal, unlawful, ultra vires and constitute breach of his fundamental rights to freedom of movement as enshrined in section 41 of Constitution.

However, of the nine reliefs sought, the court granted six and struck out three on grounds that the three were fatal to the granting of the others.

Justice Abang held the three reliefs (1,2,and 3) struck out concerned Chief Obasanjo who was not joined as a respondent in the suit.

He said: “The none joinder of Chief Obasanjo is fatal to prayer 1,2,3 on this issue. I agree entirely with the counsel representing the Clerk of the National Assembly that Chief Obasanjo ought to have been joined by the applicant.

“Though no relief is sought against Obasanjo, but I cannot agree with the applicant that Obasanjo concluded with the 1, 2 and 6 respondents to abduct him to the U.S. “The reliefs 1 to 3 are incompetent and are hereby struck out, but I

have not dismissed these reliefs.”

On the argument by Chairman, NDLEA that he cannot sue nor be sued, the court held that the argument was unjustifiable.

“The Chairman of NDLEA is not an artificial person, he is a natural person; he is not a ghost. Having taken decisions for that office, he can sue and be sued.

“He cannot infringe on the right of another person and then claim that he is not a juristic person.”

Dismissing the objections by the respondents that the suit was speculative, the court held that the applicant has reasonable cause of action to be apprehensive that they had plans to abduct him.

“The entire claims of the applicant are within the ambit of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution. If the applicant is abducted, kidnapped and taken to the U.S. by force, without the respondents complying with the Extradition Act, it means that he is taken away without his consent and that would constitute a breach of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in sections 35 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

This is so, whether or not the conspiracy is a criminal offence.

“The claims fall within Chapter 4 of the Constitution and I have jurisdiction to entertain the applicant’s claims.

“The respondents cannot be perpetually restrained from arresting the applicant, but restrained from unlawful arrest of the applicant without compliance to the provision of the extradition Act. “The applicant had been cleared of the same offence by a UK court and a restraining judgment from a Nigerian court was unchallenged by the respondents (AGF and NDLEA),” he ruled.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

6

NEWS Children’s Day celebration: Fashola, Akpabio advise pupils •Aregbesola prays for Chibok girls

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio have urged children to stay away from drug abuse, violence and other vices that can destroy their future and progress.

Fashola spoke yesterday when he addressed children at the Police College Ground as part of activities marking this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

He said it was important for children to desist from drug abuse, bad friends and sundry crimes that would be inimical to nation-building.

He said: “I urged you to stay away from all vices that can destroy your future. I want you to stay away from drug abuse, ignore bad friends who might want to introduce you to cultism, stay away from violence and bad gangs. But rather, you can join social and voluntary clubs such as Boys Brigade, Girls Guide and Sheriff Guard among others that have been created for you to mould your future.”

Fashola urged the children not to forget all the things that they have learnt through programmes initiated by his administration such as the road safety rules and signs, traffic rules, the climate change rule to protect their environment and hand washing techniques, which helped the state to combat the Ebola Virus during its outbreak.

He added that the children should

•Fashola (middle), his deputy Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (fifth right) and Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye (fifth left) jointly cutting the Year 2015 Children’s Day Anniversary’s cake.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro, Olatunde Odebiyi, Lagos, Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

continue with the good habits to make Lagos State a better place for all.

Akpabio identified timidity, low self-image and lack of courage as the negative effects of violence against Nigerian children.

Akpabio spoke during this year’s Children and Youth Day Celebrations on the theme, “Violence against children: Addressing the challenges”, held at Uyo Township Stadium.

He said: “Such was the lot of the

Akwa Ibom Child in the past, as many suffered violence in the cause of serving as house helps in different parts of the country. They were subjected to abuse in spite of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child, which provides for every child the inalienable rights to education, and survival, to develop to the fullest, to protect from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation.

“I consider the theme of this year’s Children’s Day, apt and timely.”

Also yesterday, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola offered special prayers to God to set free the 219

Chibok school girls being held captive by Boko Haram insurgents.

At this year’s children’s day celebration in Osogbo township stadium, the governor supplicated for the return of the kidnapped students and succour to their families.

According to Aregbesola, it was regrettable that violence against children has increased globally. He added that children are easy targets of kidnap-forransom.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Grace Titi LaoyeTomori, said “the nation is still distraught by the tragedy of the 219

I’ll not interfere in National Assembly’s leadership, says Buhari

Ihedioha takes charge as Reps hold valedictory session

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EPUTY Speaker Emeka Ihedioha yesterday took charge of affairs as the Seventh House of Representatives held its valedictory session.

This followed the resolve of the House to suspend Order ii Rule 9 of the House “to enable the Deputy Speaker perform the duties and functions of the Speaker for the remainder of the life of the 7th House of Representatives”.

This is in accordance with Order VII, Rule 25 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business Albert Sam-Tsokwa and 21 other lawmakers, had moved a motion titled: “Suspension of Order ii Rule 9 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives: Vacancy in the office of the Speaker”.

Sam-Tsokwa noted that Tambuwal has been declared a governor-elect of Sokoto State and that he would be sworn in on May 29.

“Tambuwal will cease to be a member of the House of Representatives and by extension, Speaker of the House soon after taking the Oath of

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Office as the Governor of Sokoto State on May 29, thereby creating a vacancy in the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” he said.

Sam-Tsokwa said Order ii Rule 9 states that: “Whenever a vacancy has occurred in the office of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker during a session, the Clerk shall report same to the House at its next sitting, and the House shall either forthwith or at its next sitting, proceed to the election of a new Speaker in the manner herein before provided”.

He said the period between the vacancy and the life of the House was barely four days and urged his colleagues to suspend the Order.

The motion was adopted overwhelmingly by members without debate.

Also a motion was moved for the admittance of past principal officers of the House, this also included the Service Chiefs, the NSCDC, the Police hierarchy and members of the National Assembly Service Commission amongst others.

The plenary saw leaders of caucuses in the House delivering their valedictory speeches.

The leader of the Southeast Caucus, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, leader of the Northeast Caucus Jerry Manwe, Nicholas Ossai (South South)and Haman Pategi (North Central)addressed the House.

Opeyemi Bamidele spoke for the Southwest. Bashir Adamu spoke Northwest.

They all spoke glowingly of the seventh assembly and Tambuwal as its Speaker, particularly for his predilection to act for the benefit of the Nigerian masses.

Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said though Tambuwal’s jokes and backslapping would be missed, but his astuteness with which he carried out his responsibilities would endure forever.

Bamidele said the Nigerian masses found their voice under the seventh House because the House was privileged to have a Speaker that had a scientific understanding of issues affecting the masses.

Deputy Leader Leo Ogor, who went down memory lane, said the opposi-

Chibok girls kidnapped by terrorists in their school hostel”.

He said: “We are asking parents and the law enforcement agencies to provide greater protection for children against physical abuse, rape and torture.”

A popular entertainment place, the Play Zone, in Ikeja City Mall, Lagos yesterday hosted children as part of activities marking the day.

The children played intellectual games, danced, sang and were fed with assorted meals.

They also went home with various gifts.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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•Ihedioha

tion provided a vibrant platform that ensured robust examination of national issues.

Former Speaker Gmail Na’Aba spoke on behalf of former Speakers while Abdul Ningi, Deputy Senate Leader, spoke for the Senate.

Both leaders hailed the resolute dispositions of Tambuwal in steering the House without scandal for four years.

The valedictory session also saw a member, Andulrahman Terab from Borno State defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All progressives Congress (AP).

After Tambuwal’s address, the House adjourned to resume plenary next Tuesday when the members would be presented with Certificate of Participation.

RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that he will not interfere in the process of selecting leadership of the National Assembly.

Buhari said he was prepared to work with whoever emerged irrespective of where he comes from.

In a statement from his media team, the President-elect said it has become necessary for him to clear the air in view of the continued name-dropping in some circles linking his name to some candidates.

He said: “I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects. It doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from. There is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly. I will not interfere in that process.”

Buhari added that the media and the public should begin to get used to no more “business as usual. Nigeria has indeed entered a new dispensation. My administration does not intend to repeat the same mistakes made by previous governments.”

Jonathan distracted us unnecessarily, says Tambuwal

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HE administration of President Goodluck Jonathan distracted the 7th House of Representatives unnecessarily, the outgoing Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, has said.

Tambuwal spoke in a speech titled: “The Power of Unity of Purpose,” during the valedictory session of the 7th House yesterday, where he regretted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government caused unwarranted friction because it wanted to ride roughshod over the legislature.

His words: “I must say that the frosty relationship between the Executive and Seventh House was an unnecessary distraction and a source of embarrassment to the nation. It is unwarranted that a rul-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

ing party with clear majority boxed itself into that situation.

“If the executive fails to recognise the independence of the legislature and expects that it is its rubber stamp, then frosty relation is bound to follow. I would strongly urge the incoming executive arm and indeed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avert this unwholesome situation.”

He, however, stressed the need for legislature to have a measure of independence to fulfill its mandate to the people.

Tambuwal said: “A legislature that seeks to fulfill its duty and obligation to the electorate whom

they represent must exercise its independence and this comes at a price.

“A legislature truly playing its checks and balances role would normally experience friction with the other arms of government and other interest groups who have broken the law or desire to break the law in the course of time.

“We had more than a fair share of this friction and torment, but overcame because the naughty walls of partisanship and selfish pecuniary considerations could not withstand the power of unity of purpose”.

The out-going Speaker called the refusal of Jonathan to assent the constitution amendment transmitted to him by the National Assem-

bly as a “conspiracy”.

“Today, we are faced with the potential of incalculable waste of public resources through the conspiracy of the Constitutional amendment impasse. This document is a product of the highest and most intimate consultations with Nigerians; indeed it is the Bill of the Nigerian people.

“All parties involved have a duty to allow or disallow this looming monumental waste of public funds and public opinion. For our part, we owe Nigerians a statement once again and I am confident that with the slimmest opportunity, this House will make that statement,” he added.

Thanking his colleagues and other stakeholders for the success

of the 7th House, Tambuwal expressed sadness “because we did not rise swiftly to defeat the forces that stood ever so strongly against the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“We lament that our Electronic Voting System project could not be brought to fruition. I am confident, however, that with the amendment of the relevant House Rules, the successor Assembly would move swiftly to conclude the half done issues.”

Following his valedictory speech, Tambuwal was given a standing ovation after which he had tedious moment of photograph session with all of his colleagues and everybody else on the floor of the House.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

7

NEWS Buhari condoles with Obasanjo

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RESIDENT-elect Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the death of his younger sister, Madam Adunni Oluwasola EwejeObasanjo.

A statement in Abuja by Buhari’s Head of Media Team, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed sadness that Madam Eweje-Obasanjo died at a period when her wisdom will be needed.

He urged the former President to take heart and bear the loss with equanimity and faith that God who knows all things will strengthen him and other relations.

Club fetes 1000 kids From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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SOCIAL Club in Ibadan, Omo Ajorosun, yesterday feted no fewer than 1,000 children to celebrate Children’s Day. The president of the club, Chief Sharafadeen Alli, said the event, which started four years ago, is to bring children together and celebrate them.

He advised them to remain focused on their studies and avoid distraction.

“In order to remain safe, you must desist from boarding unregistered vehicles or vehicles that are not painted in the state yellow and black colour. You should also be wary of the type of companies you keep.”

Osun gets 31 new councils From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Osun State House of Assembly has passed the law creating additional 31 local council development authorities, three area councils and two administrative units.

At the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Najeem Salam, the 26-member Assembly said the creation of local governments, area councils and administrative units was necessary to bring government closer to the grassroots.

He said the creation of the councils and administrative units was for administrative conveniences, not to hyperbloat the overbloated civil and political regimes, which have become an albatross to the state’s limited resources.

Salam urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to prioritise the assent of the law and set up committees that would work out the modalities.

Osogbo, Ejigbo and OdoOtin local governments were given two more councils each; some other local governments were split with one council each.

The Chairman, Committee on Local Government, Wasiu Adebayo, who justified the council creation, said: “Osogbo, being the state capital city, is bigger and demands to be further split.

“Also, Ejigbo has not been split since 1956, despite its size and Odo-Otin considered to be the biggest council since 1972 also got two more councils.”

• Lagos State Governor -elect Mr.Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) with members of the transition committee, when the committee submitted its report in Lagos.

Supreme Court: Omisore’s case lacks merit

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HE Supreme Court has upheld the victory of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, last year, governorship election.

A seven-man panel, led

by Justice John Fabiyi, upheld the concurrent decisions of the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal in the petition filed

by Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Centus Chima Nweze, in the lead judgment, held that the two appeals by Omisore (SC/ 204/2015 and SC/204A/ 2015) were without merit and dismissed them.

He upheld the decision of the election petition tribunal and Court of Appeal to the effect that the appellant failed to lead credible evidence to support his claim of malpractices in the election.

Justice Nweze upheld the cross-appeal by Aregbesola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the effect that the tribunal was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction over Omisore’s petition which, it found, was filed outside the seven days allowed under the Electoral Act. Omisore and the PDP had challenged the election at the tribunal, which delivered its judgment on February 6, dismissing their petition.

Omisore and PDP proceeded to the Court of Appeal, Akure Division.

Aregbesola and APC cross-appealed, challenging the competence of the petition and

•‘He ought to have stopped at Court of Appeal’ From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the admissibility of some computer generated documents tendered by the petitioners.

In its judgment on April 2, the Court of Appeal dismissed Omisore and PDP’s appeal, but allowed the cross-appeal in part.

Still dissatisfied, Omisore and PDP appealed the Court of Appeal’s judgment (marked: SC/204/2015) and part of its decision in the cross-appeal (marked: 204A).

Aregbesola also cross-appealed a section of the Court of Appeal’s decision in the cross-appeal, which discountenanced his objection to the admissibility of some documents tendered by the petitioners.

Justice Nweze dismissed the preliminary objections filed against the appeal by Aregbesola and APC on challenging the competence of the appeals on the ground that the petitioners introduced a stranger to the case by wrongly describing the APC as All Progressive Peoples Congress (APPC).

The court held that the error was typographical and harmless as the respondents did not complain of being misled by the error or that it did occasion a miscarriage of justice.

The judge noted that while the appellants (the petitioners at the tribunal) called 43 witnesses and tendered 380 documentary

exhibits (comprising electoral forms, result sheets, and sacks of ballot papers), their evidence were merely “dumped on the trial tribunal without any attempt to chat their nexus with the specific complaints in the specific areas on which issues were joined in the settled pleadings.

“My understanding of the sacred principles consecrated in Section 139 of the Electoral Act, that is, the doctrine of substantial compliance, is that its consideration will only arise where the petitioners, such as the appellants, who are the petitioners at first instance, have succeeded in establishing substantial compliance with the principles of the Act. “The lower court having rightly affirmed the trial tribunal’s finding that, in the instant petition, the petitioners have failed to establish before us, what provisions of the Electoral Act and Manual have been contravened, by any of the respondents in the conduct of the election in any of the polling units being questioned. We shall say no more on that.

“The same applies to the lower court’s affirmation of the finding relating to the appellants’ failure to prove the criminal allegation of malpractices beyond reasonable doubt.

“The net effect is that there is no merit in the appellants’ complaint in the composite issues just dealt with under the rubrics of the Principles of Evidence.

“Having resolved the three issue in favour of the cross-appellant, I have no hesitation in allowing the cross appeal. Cross appeal is hereby allowed.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, the orders of this court are as follow: •There being no merit in the preliminary objections in respect of the appeal number SC/204/2015, I hereby enter an order dismissing them.

•There being no merit in the main appeal, SC/204/ 2015, the said appeal, SC/ 204/2015 is also dismissed.

•The preliminary objections in appeal number SC/204A/2015 are equally discountenanced as being unmeritorious.

•Finding no merit in appeal number SC/204A/ 2015, I hereby dismiss it.

•Cross-appeal on the admissibility of documents is hereby allowed.

•I further affirm the concurrent findings of the trial tribunal and the lower court on the due election and due return of the first respondent, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the governor of Osun State.

These are the orders of the court,” Justice Nweze said.

The other members of the panel agreed with the lead judgment.

They noted that the two appeal by Omisore and the PDP were unnecessary as they merely wasted the court’s time and that the cross appeal by Aregbesola “was an overkill”.

UNIOSUN VC, registrar, bursar sacked

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HE Governing Council of the multi-campus Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has sacked three principal officers.

The council recommended for approval of the Visitor, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the termination of the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Bashir Okesina.

The council, on Tuesday, gave letters of termination of appointment to the Registrar and the Bursar, Dr. Julius Faniran and Alhaji

•ASUU protests From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Fatai Lasisi.

The termination of their appointments followed the recommendations of the Visitation Panel set up by the governor.

The panel probed the allegations of financial misappropriation and mismanagement in the university.

But the university’s chapter of the Academic

Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the decision.

In a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Abiona Oluseye and eight other officers, the union said the action was done in bad faith.

The union also said the sack was prejudicial and violates the principle of equity and fairness.

It said: “It is instructive to state that a visitation panel was constituted by the governor and the re-

port submitted.

“ASUU-UNIOSUN is of the opinion that it would have been better for the council to wait for the White Paper on the report to be released by the governor before assuming the position of a judge.

“Against the backdrop of the on-going, ASUUUNIOSUN hereby calls for the immediate reversal of the decision, pending the outcome of the White Paper on the matter.”

Six projects inaugurated From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE Caretaker Chairman of Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Ope Salami, has inaugurated six projects in four communities in the council area.

The projects are public toilet and well in St. Luke Primary School, Otun Agbakin; neighbourhood market and hospital in Oloosha Oko; three classrooms in Salvation Army Primary School, Ajibade and 500KV Transformer in Okusinde.

He urged the people to continue to support Governor Abiola Ajimobi in order to benefit more dividend of democracy.

Salami said the government will continually respond to the people’s yearning as a responsive government.

The council boss urged the people to co-operate with the governor.

Woman ‘hacks’ son to death From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

A YOUNG woman, Funmilayo Adeyanju, yesterday reportedly hacked her threeyear-old son to death at Ogunso, Otta in Ado-Odo/ Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Adeyanju was said to have returned home after running an errand.

It was gathered that she barely rested for 30 minutes before picking up a kitchen knife and attacking the boy.

A source said: “She allegedly pinned her son, Emmanuel, to the ground and savagely stabbed him in the chest, abdomen, head and other parts of the body.

“We are not sure what provoked the suspect, but we are sure it had to do with the trauma of an alleged incestuous relationship between her and her father.

“It is being said that the boy is the product of the incestuous relationship.”

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said policemen from Ota Division have arrested the woman.

The boy’s remains have been evacuated to the mortuary.

Adejobi said: “The police have recovered the boy’s body. The woman has been acting strangely. The police would carry out proper investigation. We’ll have to seek the help of an expert to know her mental state.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

8

NEWS CNPP warns Fayose against ‘illegal’ inauguration

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HE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Ekiti State has warned Governor Ayo Fayose against inaugurating lawmakers-elect before the expiration of the tenure of the members of the House of Assembly.

The Ekiti CNPP, in a statement yesterday by its Director of Publicity, Ayo Adelabu, described such action as unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic.

The warning followed a public service announcement on state media by the Clerk of the Assembly, Tola Esan, directing the lawmakers to remove their personal effects from the complex to pave way for “renovation”.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

The opposition said it has uncovered an alleged plan to inaugurate the lawmakers-elect on June 1, four days before the tenure of the lawmakers is expected to expire.

The CNPP described the alleged move as a rape of the constitution, warning Fayose to avoid committing an impeachable offence.

The group praised the governor for the peace meeting held with principal officers of the Assembly in Akure.

The CNPP advised Governor Fayose to respect the spirit and letters of agreement reached at the meeting.

Submit to God, bishop advises

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HE President of Synod and Bishop of Ekiti West Diocese (Anglican Communion), Bishop Samuel Oludare Oke, has advised Christians to submit themselves to the God. He spoke at the diocese’s synod held at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Okemesi, with the theme “Authority over Nations and Kingdoms”.

In a communiqué at the close of the session, the synod praised President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting the result of the presidential election.

It congratulated Presi-

dent-elect Muhammadu Buhari for identifying 10 major challenges facing the country and his resolve to tackle them.

The synod called on him to appoint people of integrity to his cabinet to join him to bring about the desired change in the socioeconomic and political life of Nigerians.

It lauded the bravery of local hunters in Esure, security agencies and the government in the liberation of 11 people abducted in the state.

It called on politicians to close ranks and resolve their differences peacefully.

•The celebrator and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and his wife, Judith, cutting his 50th birthday cake in Port Harcourt…yesterday. With them (from left) are Boss Mustapha; All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and King Ibitimi Banigo.

Unions shut Ekiti varsity over salary arrears

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CADEMIC and nonacademic activities were paralysed yesterday at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, as workers shut the institution to protest the non-payment of their threemonth salary arrears.

Acting under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of

Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

Academic Technologists (NAAT) demanded the immediate payment of their salaries.

They vowed not to return to work, until their salaries are paid by the government.

It was learnt that although the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) did not participate in the shutdown, it supported the action of the three other unions.

The ASUU Chairman,

Prof. Olufayo Olu-Olu, said the participation of his union can only be sanctioned by the union’s congress.

NASU Chairman Tope Akanmu could not be reached for comments.

SSANU Chairman Kolawole Falade said besides the three-month salary arrears, the workers are also owed earned allowances that date back to 2012.

Falade said: “The three unions met under the Joint

Action Committee on Tuesday and decided to embark on the protest to demand payment of our arrears.

“We have also not received our earned allowances from 2012. We also need a governing council in the university.

“There is also need for the government to increase the monthly subventions to the university from N260 million because of the College of Medicine.”

Dana crash: Victims’ families demand compensation

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HE families of the victims of the 2012 Dana plane crash yesterday urged the Federal Government to ensure that families yet to get their compensation were fully paid.

The Chairman, Families of Victims, Paul Okwulehie, made the call on behalf of the families at a briefing on the third anniversary of the crash in Abuja.

On June 3, 2012, a Lagosbound Dana Air from Abuja crashed into a two-storey building at Ishaga, Lagos, killing all 153 on board.

Okwulehie said the fami-

lies’ representatives decided to come together to commemorate the incident and draw government’s attention to the need for the safety in the nation’s airspace.

He said the event was organised to bring to the fore, the need to ensure that the next air crash does not happen.

Okwulehie praised President Goodluck Jonathan and Lagos State Babatunde Fashola for their compassion.

He thanked the leadership of the National Assembly, the judiciary and other Ni-

gerians for their kindness towards the families.

Okwulehie called for safety audit of all passenger aircraft flying in Nigeria to mitigate air incidences and accidents.

He said the accident report of all plane crashes in the country and the level of implementation of the recommendations of such reports should be made public.

According to him, all air accidents are 99 per cent preventable, if adequate safety measures are taken and followed.

Four arrested in Ogun for kidnapping

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OUR people- two “pastors”, a “prophet” and an herbalist– were arrested yesterday when the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Unit stormed their hideout in Ita Marun, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

During the raid, a kidnap suspect died and some others escaped with injuries.

A male victim was rescued by the police.

The suspects are Ganiyu Olaiya (herbalist), Segun Makanjuola (prophet), Bisi Akinleye and Banjo Adekunle (pastors).

One gun, empty/live cartridges and a vehicle were recovered.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said there was increased kidnappings in Ijebu, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Valentine Ntomchukwu, to devise measures to curtail it.

A 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Monilola Lateef, was arrest-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ed for helping her son obtain treatment for gunshot injuries at a local traditional clinic.

Modinu Lateef (35), the sus-

pected ring leader of many robberies in Abeokuta and its environs, was injured during a robbery.

Also arrested were Okunkenu Wale (30) and Fatai Osho (28).

NIWA MD resigns From James Azania, Lokoja

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HE Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, yesterday resigned her appointment.

Mrs. Ciroma, a former Minister of Women Affairs and ex-National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was appointed in May 2013.

Her resignation followed allegations of non-performance and abandonment of projects, touted by the outgoing PDP administration in its ‘Transformation Agenda’.

One of such projects listed by NIWA is the dredging of the River Niger, handled by Van Oord Dredging.

Some of the undelivered NIWA projects include the rivers ports in Lokoja and Idah in Kogi State and the Baro River Port in Niger State.

NIWA, in a statement by the General Manager (Corporate Affairs), Tayo Fadile, quoted Mrs. Ciroma as thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for the opportunity to serve.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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Frozen food traders lose N10 million to blackout

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ROZEN food traders in IjoraOlopa, Lagos, lost N10 million worth of food items between

May 23 and May 25 to blackout.

They said yesterday that the blackout is worsened by the scarcity of fuel, needed to power their generators.

Alhaja Afusat Popoola, President of the Ajeromi Frozen Food Market Association, said the lost items included chicken, turkey, fish, shrimps, gizzard and prawns.

Mrs Popoola said the traders were victims of the faceoff between the Federal Government and the marketers.

Her members, she said, were caught unawares because they never envisaged a prolonged crisis.

She said: “The traders were crying when we ordered them to surrender all the decayed food items for destruction on Tuesday. The market has a reputation for selling fresh frozen food and we cannot allow any trader to sell bad frozen food under our leadership.

What we destroyed on Tuesday because of power outages and our inability to purchase petrol and diesel was worth more than N10 million.

“We are appealing to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to always consider the impact of outages on our business and the health of the general public.

“Our business depends on regular supply of electricity.”

The market leader said the irregular

•Wasted frozen food

power supply forced many traders out of business, while others are owing banks.

“We used to have many frozen food traders in this market before but this power outage has cost them to lose their trade. Previously, when power supply was regular, we used to sell more than

Don’t lose focus, students urged

By Safiyyah Abdur-Razaq

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HE Amir (President) of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Yaba Area Council, Mallam Sulaiman AbdulRaheem has urged secondary school pupils to be focused.

This, he said, would assist them to secure a better future.

Speaking at a Youth Conference to commemorate the World Children’s Day at the Yaba College of Technology yesterday, AbdulRaheem urged the pupils to be morally upright and spiritually balanced to excel in their study.

He said: “What you do today would determine what you would become tomorrow. To secure a better future, you must first have confidence in yourselves.

The second is to be focused. Never lose focus on whatever you are doing. Also, at every point in your life, you must be conscious of who your friends are and to have total reliance in Allah for He alone knows what is going to be.”

The event also featured a quiz competition among ten senior secondary schools. At the end of the contest, Muslim Children Private School (MCPS), represented by Halimah Oyedotun and Salman AbdulAziz emerged as the second runner-up; International School Lagos (ISL) represented by Mardiyyah Ayinla and Hikmat AbdulGaniyy, the first runner-up. Fazl-Omar Senior High School represented by Aminat Isa came first.

Other highlights of the event were pick and talk and Quran recitation.

PHOTO:FILE COPY

seven trucks of fish, turkey and chicken daily,” she said, adding: “There is no kind of fish that one will not find in this market before, because it is the number one frozen food market but now the poor power supply has liquidated many traders. Some of the traders that are using generating sets are spending

close to N80,000 to buy diesel or petrol monthly. By the time one removes this amount from monthly sales, you discovered that you’ve spent a good part of your profit to buy diesel.”

Mrs Popoola urged government to intervene and save the sector from collapse.

Businessman arraigned for alleged N2.7m fraud

BUSINESSMAN, David Badmus, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N2.7million under false pretences.

Prosecuting Inspector Richard Odigie said the accused committed the offence on June 16 at 14, Nosa Close, off Sand- Fill, Ajangbadi, Lagos.

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Odigie said the accused collected N2.7million worth of iron rods from the complainant, Mr Anthony Udochukwu, on the pretext that he needed them for a project at Ojo Local Government Council.

“Badmus approached Udochukwu that he needed N2.7million worth of iron rods to

execute a project and issued two Sterling Bank cheques with nos.

06664125 and 06664126 which were dishonoured on presentation,’’ he said.

Badmus pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate O.I. Adelaja granted the accused N300,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

The case has been adjourned till July 1.

NGO warns against domestic violence

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OMEN’s Right and Health Projects (WRAHP), a nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisation (NGO) has warned against domestic violence.

The group vowed to prosecute those found culpable.

WRAHP Executive Director Bose Ironsi said the group has police backing to help prosecute gender-based violence.

Ironsi said the objective is to document violence against women and report to the police.

She said the organisation is pushing for effective use of Lagos State law against gender violence.

“We believe that the law should not just be made and be gathering dust.

The people must know that the law is there for them and they can run to the police stations to report and be at-

By Medinat Kanabe

tended to,” she said.

“You can no longer tell a woman whose face is dripping with blood that she should go home and settle with her husband. You must bring everybody to book,” she added.

Mrs Ajibola Ajumakinwan, representative of Justice for All, the organisation that sponsors WRAHP, said the group is undertaking the project because “we found out that people are not reporting cases of gender-based violence.

“Even when they report, the way the police handle the cases discouraged many. We are supporting them to ensure that the police begin to realise their role as agent of change.

They need to understand that when people report, they need to handle it with care and not telling them to go

back on the grounds of family issue.”

Secretary, Pepper Grinders Association in Ejigbo, Ikotun and Igando area of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Oyewole said since the beginning of the training, men who batter their wives have stopped. The associations, she said, visited some men to let them know that they can be jailed for their actions.

“When they first came to us that they want to train us, we thought it was not going to be beneficial to us but that is not the case. Many of us are illiterate so we don’t know anything about our rights but the NGO has opened our eyes.

“We now know that when we go to the police station to report cases, it is our rightsd to get justice and where the police don’t attend to us, we have right against such police. We can take it up,” she said.

Man, 24, remanded for ‘stabbing’ motorcyclist dead USTINE Bathezs, a 24year-old, who allegedly stabbed a man to death and dispossessed him of his motorcycle, was yesterday remanded at Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos.

Magistrate E.O. Ogunkanmi of an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court said the accused should be kept behind bars pending advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Prosecuting Police Inspector Asu Feddy told the court that the offence was committed on April 4 in Badagry, Lagos.

The case has been adjourned to June 24.

Man remanded for alleged murder

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•Executive Secretary, Mushin Local Government, Babajide Bello (middle) with children during the Children’s Day at St. Judes Primary School, Ilasamaja, Mushin...yesterday

N Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a 22-year-old, Abimbola Azeez, in Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos, for allegedly stabbing a man to death with a dagger.

Magistrate A.O. Komolafe said the accused should be remanded, pending advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Elizabeth Ekuma said the offence was committed on May 3 about 12.15 a.m at God’s Own Estate in Ijanikin, Lagos.

She said Azeez attacked Tochukwu Ezike, who was returning home in the wee-hours of May 3.

“While trying to dispossess him of his belongings, Azeez used a dagger to stab him on his stomach and mouth before killing him,’’ he said.

The case was adjourned to June 29.

Housekeeper faces N15m jewellery theft charge 28-year-old housekeeper, Hope Hazhi, was yesterday brought before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing her employer’s jewellery worth N15 million.

Hazhi pleaded not guilty.

But the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chidi Okoye, said Hazhi committed the offence with others at large on April 30 at 10, Susan Oji Street, Ikota Royal Estate, Ajah, on LekkiEpe Expressway.

According to Okoye, the housekeeper stole a Audmairs Piguet rose gold wristwatch, diamond earrings, and a gold necklace, all valued at N15million, Mrs Tamaratari Owffefere.

“When the complainant noticed that her jewellery were missing, she confronted the accused who confessed stealing the items. Hazhi admitted that after stealing the jewellery, she handed them over to one Uche, her lover and his friend, one Paul who are currently at large,” Okoye said.

Chief Magistrate Abimbola Awogboro granted her N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case to June 29.

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Abandoned vehicles’ owners warned HE Onipanu Police Station has warned owners of abandoned vehicles and motorcycles at the station in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area to remove them within two weeks or forfeit their vehicles.

The vehicles and their registration numbers are: Nissan Primera (FH 367 LSR); Racer Daewoo (AZ 921 LSD); Nissan Primera (AE 504 BDR); Honda Civic(LSD 211 BB); Mazda 323 (FN 125 LND); damaged Man Diesel truck (XM 503 JJJ); Toyota Corolla (MUS 263 AZ); Nissan Sunny (HP 698 EKY); Nissan Vanette bus(WKY 139 XB); Mercedes Benz(CA 110 LSD); Nissan Vanette (LND 380 AE); Nissan Primera ( LSD 523 AV);Volkswagen bus(XR 469 LSR);Nissan Sunny(HX 738 AAA);Mazda 323 (TL 621 KJA);Mazda 626(L 58 RGH).

The motorcycles are: Sinoki Supra (QB 259 KSF); Sinoki Supra (QT 53 AAA); Boxer (QH 309 EKY);Honda (BDG 113 QA) and unregistered seven Jincheng and five Bajaj motorcycles among others.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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Nigeria needs prayers, says cleric

Lagos to FAAN: stop taxi licensing

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HE Lagos State Government has warned the Federal airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to stop what it calls illegal registeration of taxi and intercity transport operators.

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa accused FAAN of rebuffing all entreaties to stop the alleged “illegal act”.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt and the education of the public, it is only state governments that have the legal and consti-

B

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

tutional rights to regulate transportation matters in their domain, a fact that was reiterated and confirmed by several resolutions of the National Council on Transport.

“In this regard, the Ministry of Aviation and FAAN are therefore called upon to retrace their steps from this impunity, discontinue this act and consult the state Ministry of Transportation for proper guidance.”

Opeifa told the operators

•Opeifa

that no agency except the Ministry of Transportation could regulate their activities.

Operators who flout the regulation would be sanctioned, he said .

Labourer docked for ‘beating’ policemen

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30-YEAR-OLD labourer, Ebo Ikechukwu, was yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly beating two policemen to a pulp.

The accused, who lives on Turner Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and unlawful damage.

Prosecuting Corporal John Iberedem said the accused committed the offence on May 14 at Amore Street, Olodi-Apapa.

Iberedem said the accused assaulted two police officers — Ebute Bernard and

Haruna Kayode - while performing their duty.

He said the accused was caught roaming the street around 1a.m. and was questioned by the policemen.

Iberedem said Ikechukwu could not give any tangible reason for staying out late.

“The police officers arrested him. The accused became very violent and started beating them.

Ikechukwu also damaged the windscreen of a bus valued at N 30,000 belonging to one Mr Bamidele Muyideen,” he said.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Senior Magistrate G.L. Otepo granted the accused N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till June 20.

ISHOP of the Diocese of Lagos Central (DLC), Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Kehinde Adeyemi, has urged Nigerians to pray for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to solve the nation’s problem.

He made the call while fielding questions at a press conference organised to flag off celebrations marking the diocese’s fifth anniversary.

“The problems of this nation (Nigeria) are too many and only God can solve them.

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari cannot easily solve them at a go because he is not magician.

Only prayers to God to show mercy and the co-operation of all Nigerians can help,” he said.

The cleric, who said corruption had eaten deep into the nation’s fabrics, blamed the political class for the malaise.

He urged Nigerians to support the incoming government fulfil its mandate.

By Ibrahim Adam

Adeyemi said one of the diocese’s achievements in five years was the building of a 128-room hostel for students at the Wesley University of Technology, Ondo (WUSTO) for about N40million.

“The young-but-promising diocese also hosted the first Emergency Conference of Methodist Church Nigeria in 2014, where the current Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche (JP), was peacefully elected to succeed Prelate Emeritus Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde,” he said.

The cleric said the way the “’emergency conference” was organised earned the diocese the epithet, “Diocese of love and Distinction,” by the Methodist Church hierarchy.

On structural and spiritual development, Adeyemi said the diocese, which began with four federating circuits at inception increased to five,

Electricity Board cautions motorists

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AGOS State Electricity Board (LSEB) General Manager Damilola Ogunbiyi has urged Lagosians and road users to exercise caution, especially at night. The warning, he said, became imperative because fuel scarcity has affected the illumination of street lights The areas affected, Ogunbiyi said, included Eko

Adetutu Audu

Bridge, Funsho Williams Avenue, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Iju Road, Akerele Street, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Murtala Mohammed Way, Ogudu Road, Fatai Atere Way and surrounding streets within Mushin, Itire Road, Awolowo Road, Falomo Bridge, Keystone Crescent, Adeyemo Alakija

Street, Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Adeola Hopewell Street, Adeola Odeku, Akin Adesola, Raymond Njoku and Maduike Street Security he said, had been increased on these areas.

He warned that knocking down street light poles and vandalism of public lighting installations would not be condoned.

with the creation of Ojo Circuit from Festac Circuit, adding: “All the five circuits are doing very well.”

“While a member of the church donated a brand new bus to the church for evangelism, a member of the clergy also donated another brand new bus to the church and the women fellowship also donated another brand new bus to the diocese - all for evangelism,” he said.

The development, he said, led to the donation of computers, giant air-conditioners, plasma television sets, Boy Brigade Kits, keyboards and others for the use of the diocese by others. “All these donations were made possible with the spiritual growth of members,” he said.

The foundation of Wesley High Scholl on Private Street, LASU-Iba Road, Iba in Ojo Circuit will be laid tomorrow. There will also be a fund-raising dinner for the project, he said.

At the ceremony were the Diocesan Lay-President, Sir Remi Olukoga, a lawyer; the Synod Secretary, Very Revd Ade Ademilua; the Festac Circuit Presbyter, Very Revd William Fasina; the Public Relations Officer (PRO) 1, Bro Ojo Bejide; PRO 11, Bro Biodun Bayewu; the Technical Officer, Mr B.O Jegede, among others.

The week-long celebration ends on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the diocese headquarters in Ebute-Meta.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

I always like to emphasise that I am never too keen on bailouts because they are always fraught with malpractices just like waivers and things like that. It’s always better to have a level playing field.

-Managing Director of Cocosheen Nigeria Limited, Henry Boyo

‘We didn’t shut our facilities’

Glo’s commitment to subscribers’ empowerment lauded

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

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OBILE network operator, Globacom, has been lauded for its commitment to subscribers’ empowerment as well as pursuit of high quality of service as justification.

This was stated while the company was being honoured as Nigeria’s best telecoms service provider.

Daily Independent Newspaper announced Glo as Telecoms Network of the Year, 2014, at an A- class event held at Nicon Luxury Hotels, Abuja.

Managing Director of the newspapers, Mr Ted Iwere, declared that in addition to world-class customer service and high quality of service of the Glo network, the company’s continuous ”investment in infrastructure and commitment to the passions of the people have been the cornerstone of Globacom’s policies with millions of direct and indirect beneficiaries”.

Iwere said from inception, Globacom came all out with a strong determination to shake the industry for good and this it did with its innovative products that saw many Nigerians rushing to the network.

He said: “It was not surprising that just about eight months into its operation, Glo Mobile, Globacom’s cellular arm, made history as the fastest growing network in Africa by reaching an unprecedented one million subscribers mark and covering over 87 towns in Nigeria.” ”Twelve years down the line, Globacom has become a truly national carrier that every Nigerian can be proud of with over 35 million subscribers on its network.

“Besides, Globacom has kept the Nigerian flag flying across Africa and it is today considered as the country’s biggest corporate export with footprints in Ghana, Benin Republic, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and The Gambia,” he added.

Arik Air among global best in economy class

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

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RIK Air has ranked as one of the top 10 air lines in the world to offer most comfortable economy class seat.

According to a report by www.airlinequality.com, Arik Air is among 10 airlines in the world that offers the most comfortable seats in Economy Class on its wide-body aircraft for medium and long haul flights.

The report noted that whereas the majority of airlines around the world offer 31 to 32 inches with some offering even as low as 29 to 30 inches, Arik Air is one of the “elite few that still provide a comfortable 34 ins seat pitch where travelers will enjoy greatest comfort” Other Airlines rated in this category include: Qatar Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Thai Airways, Asiana Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Air China, Garuda Indonesia, and Korean Air.

• From left: Cultural Attache, Iran Embassy, Mr M. S. Omidi; Ambassador of Iran to Nigeria, Saheed Koozechi; Director, Pars Rastak Co., Mr Mohammed Kanny and Deputy Director-General, National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mrs Janet Omisore, at a press conference on the forthcoming first Iran Solo Exhibition in Lagos.

NAFDAC seizes N27b fake drugs, foods in five years

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HE Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, has said the agency, in the last five years, seized counterfeit drugs and food worth N27billion in some parts of the country.

He spoke when he addressed over 250 undergraduates and beneficiaries of the Dr. Paul Orhii Scholarship Award Scheme for Benue Indigenes.

NAFDAC, he said has lifted the bar in the fight against fakers of drugs and food in the country, even when those in the illicit trade were becoming daring and adventurous.

He said: “The people in this

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

evil trade are worse than armed robbers and don’t deserve to live among sane humans because they lack values and have no values for human lives.

“In spite of their ungodly activities, we have introduced several cutting edge technologies in our onslaught against the trade, and today, we can proudly boast that over 80 million drugs users in Nigeria can authenticate the potency and genuineness of the drugs and food they consume.”

Orhii, who cautioned the students against taking to social vices, urged them to resist the temptation of be-

ing influenced by those he described as the masterminds of evil trade in the country, explaining that he initiated the scholarship scheme to aid the students and their parents defray the cost of acquiring university education.

He said: “This award will undoubtedly help offset some of your expenses in school. My plea is that you all endeavor to study hard and be good citizens because it was through same effort that I am where I am today despite coming from one of the poorest families in my community.”

Earlier, the Senate President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Royce Ochai, said

• Orhii

Nigerian students were proud to identify with the philanthropy and achievements of Dr. Orhii since he assumed the leadership of NAFDAC and urged other Nigerians to emulate him.

“We urge other Nigerians in positions of authority to emulate Dr. Orhii and his attainments in NADFAC.”

Africa contributes 1.5% to global insurance premium

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FRICAN contribution to the world insurance gross premium is only 1.5 per cent, President, African Insurance Organiation (AIO), Jean-Baptistery Ntukamazina, has said.

Speaking yesterday at the ongoing 42nd Conference and General Assembly of the African Insurance Organistion (AIO) in Tunisia, he said conflicts in Africa have cost continent billions of dollars.

This year’s conference with over 1000 delegates in attendance has African insurance facing mass events as its theme.

Ntukamazina lamented that a report by Oxfam compared African countries afflicted by conflict with those at peace, saying nations at war have, on the average, 50 per cent more infant mortality rate; 15 per cent more undernourished people and life expectancy reduced by five years while indirect deaths

From Omobola Tolu-Kusimo (Tunis, Tunisia)

are 14 times higher than deaths in countries in combat.

The research by Oxfam, Saferworld and the International Action Network on Small Arms, estimates that conflict shrinks economies by 15 per cent on average.

The AIO chief said insurers are important actors of Africa’s economy.

He said: “We all know that mass events are serious threat on economic activity; we know how wars and violent conflicts create inflation, increase debts, reduce investment, cause unemployment along with thousands of innocent victims. This serves to say this year’s theme of the conference is accurate and timely.

“But, for our different economies to prosper, we need favourable political environment, security and

good governance. That is why our political leaders should understand that the prosperity of their different nations is among their first responsibility. The promising Africa cannot arise without peace, security and good governance.”

According to him, Africa attracts unusual interest from abroad, adding that the future is promising.

He said resources boom and economic growth, industrialisation, infrastructure development, rapid urbanisation, rising employment levels, demographic, social change, technology, environmental change, regulatory change and hopefully political stability are factors that would drive the future of the continent.

He said Africa has onethird of global mineral reserves and represents one tenth of the global oil reserves, two-thirds of the world’s diamonds produced

He also said 27 per cent of the world’s arable lands is in Africa and 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable lands is in the continent.

Based on this scenario, he said insurers must take advantage of the opportunities and benefit from the growth in various sectors because the predicted positive changes of African economies will impact on healthcare services, housing and urban infrastructure, protection of assets and increased savings, among others.

These are the opportunities we have to tap into by proposing new products, increasing insurance penetration, improving distribution techniques and costcutting. He said because the profession is risk-taking, professionals can boost, push and support other businesses by mitigating their risks and hence ameliorate the lives of our populations.

HE Depot and Petroleum Products Market ers Association (DAPPMA) has debunked reports that its members shut their facilities during the period of severe fuel scarcity.

Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, said contrary to the erroneous stories and messages being bandied, it was the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) and National Road Transport Owners (NARTO), that caused the problem.

According to him, the tanker drivers normally ferry the products from marketers’ depots but embarked on strike, following complaints of not being paid outstanding transportation claims by marketers, who in turn, are being owed subsidy reimbursement for petrol imports having participated in the petroleum subsidy fund (PSF) Scheme.

He said: “We are an association of highly patriotic Nigerian entrepreneurs who have invested heavily in constructing and operating petroleum products storage and sales depots/tank farms all over the nation.

“We reiterate that as importers and marketers of refined petroleum products, we never embarked on any shut-down of our depots/facilities.

“We have maintained that we would sell and load all petroleum products available to us even as delays in the payments of our reimbursement have continued to adversely affect our operations. The suspension in loading in the last few days has been due to the strike action embarked upon

by PTD-NUPENG and NARTO. These two bodies had refused to load out/lift petroleum products for distribution from our depots. That is the true position.

“The allegation by Mr. Ifeanyi Uba of Capital Oil and Gas Industries that DAPPMA member companies embarked on strike is not only mischievous, but completely false and a figment of his imagination. Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited does not participate in the petroleum subsidy scheme having been disqualified from the scheme by the regulatory agency hence it does not import petrol. The company is not owed a kobo under the PSF scheme as it cannot make any claim, hence it does not feel the impact of non-payment of the subsidy reimbursements; instead the company stores petroleum products for NNPC/ PPMC under a ‘throughput arrangement’ as done by a few other members of our association.

OUR ERROR Our story: ‘Why PenCom removed over 3,000 police pensioners’ published in our 26/5/15 edition on page 12 should have read: ‘Why PTAD removed 3,000 police pensioners.’

The error is regretted.

Editor

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COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Agenda for Buhari (4)

The economy • Time not only to stop the bleeding but also to rebuild

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STAGGERING debt portfolio estimated at $60 billion; a threatening insolvency – the consequence of unbridled profligacy and graft; an industrial scale theft under which 20 percent oil production continues to be lost or unaccounted for on daily basis. An oil price gone bust with nigh prospects of imminent recovery; an environment of rising expectations of infrastructure renewal, particularly of power and transportation, job creation, poverty reduction and security of lives and property.

Add these to a virtually collapsed power sector; a downstream petroleum industry sector in crisis; suffocating industrial environment defined by infrastructure deficit, high interest rates and other inclement policies of government; unprecedented youth unemployment reckoned in staggering 50 percent; the horizon would seem entirely, bleak.

As if the challenges are not daunting enough, nearly two-thirds of the states of the federation currently owe their workers backlog of salaries.

These – and many more – are the realities that the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration would have to grapple with as it settles into office in the coming days.

The situation, if anything, calls for creative strategies as against a resort to quick-fixes.

‘Much as we agree that the time has come for the Federal Government to end the current regime of fuel importation, we believe that the starting point is to review the current regime of subsidy as a first step to getting private domestic refineries on board’

At the risk of sounding draconian, the current situation calls for drastic measures.

A good way to start is to cause an immediate stoppage to the bleeding of the national treasury. Nigerians are, by now, familiar with the sources of the haemorrhage: the service-wide heist under which several billions are stolen annually; and the industrial scale theft of the nation’s crude known to be responsible for some 20 percent daily loss in the nation’s output of crude, and the mindless importation of refined petroleum products, sadly for a major oil-producing country.

The administration must find the way and means to extirpate them. This of course means instituting effective controls and equipping the military to effectively police the nation’s exclusive economic zones.

Much as we agree that the time has come for the Federal Government to end the current regime of fuel importation, we believe that the starting point is to review the current regime of subsidy as a first step to getting private domestic refineries on board.

Giving the rather lean finances it is inheriting, it may well be necessary for the administration to consider putting new projects on hold – except those considered absolutely essential– until such a time it is able to put a handle on the financial situation. An inventory of all on-going projects against their scheduled delivery dates, especially those for which huge monies have been paid would seem in the circumstance, an imperative. And if it becomes necessary to make examples of those who have over time treated public funds as their share of the proverbial national cake, so be it.

In the short term, we expect the new administration to move swiftly to get the nation back to work. Part of the tragedy of a nation that claims to generate an abysmal 6,000Mw of electricity is that barely 1,000Mw is actually available for distribution. The issue of power stabilisation must

be considered an urgent priority if the administration is truly desirous of turning the tide in quick time. This is to the extent that our hordes of small and medium scale industries continue to close shop not so much for lack of market but from problems associated with access to electricity. And these are businesses that could have helped in no small way to absorb a good number of our idle youths.

Moreover, for far too long, Nigerians have been treated to varied excuses ranging from lack of gas to inability to evacuate and distribute generated power. Even then, we are constantly reminded that the nation not only has gas in abundance but that the Federal Government has undertaken quantum investments to address these challenges and even more so in the last decade. We expect the new administration to do all that is necessary to ensure that power is stabilised. That way, our industries can roar back to life, boost their outputs and create jobs for the teeming youth.

Talking about youth unemployment, we think it is about time the Federal Government brought back the idea of road gangs to undertake routine maintenance of our highways. While the youths so engaged would be delivering value by helping to mitigate the deplorable state of the roads, they also get to imbibe the value of honest labour. The same with agriculture – there is a lot the administration can do to make it attractive to the youths.

In the same vein, the government must find the will to address the issue of access and costs of funds. Here, the point bears repeating that the existing interest rate regime hovering within the 20-22 percent band is not only a disincentive to business; it is the root of the lack of competitiveness of the local enterprise. The Buhari administration must see it as a challenge that needs to be dealt with.

Deadly lead •Incessant deaths from lead poisoning and mining sites call for a revamp of mining policies

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GAIN, the death of 28 children in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State from lead poisoning is a demonstration of how careless government policies could negatively impact the lives of citizens. The admission by the Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo, that the children were all below the age of five, the bracket considered most vulnerable and often protected in developed countries, shows that some public officers are negligent in the performance of their duties.

It is pathetic that this is not the first time such a deadly occurrence would take place. In 2011, lead poisoning killed about 400, mainly children and women, in Zamfara State. As was the case then, the death this time arose from illegal mining of unprocessed ore by the people. The iron ores were mined, taken home for crude, manual processing and in the process the lead content interfered with food items that killed the children before they could receive help.

In this case, about 65 cases were said to have been reported at local hospitals, while almost half could not respond to treatment.

It is curious that the investigations carried out by the federal and state authorities after previous episodes did not produce sufficient safeguards against a recurrence. We are constrained to ask the governments of Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto and the federal ministries of health and

solid minerals to make public reports of the panels. Besides, they should bring to account agencies and officials who failed to perform their tasks, thus leading to the avoidable deaths.

The Federal Government must note that its over-concentration of power at the centre is a major cause of these incessant incidents of illegal mining and the attendant deaths. The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals is not in a position to mine and give mining licences to would-be miners.

State governments are in better position to oversee such a process. We advocate that solid mineral mining should be moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list of the constitution, while eventually, as part of rearrangement of the structure of the federation, it should exclusively be a state responsibility as is the case in other federations.

We note, too, that at the root of the very crude and manual mining is poverty. In most cases, the people involved know that they run a risk of poisoning, yet they continue, hoping they would escape unhurt. This is similar to cases of those who rush to scoop gasoline wherever and whenever there are spills. It is wellknown now that it is a dangerous escapade, but people who do not have enough to fend for their basic needs deploy members of their households to fetch some for sale.

This calls for action by the different tiers of government to reduce the level of pov-

erty in the land. The people are groaning and seek succour. But things are getting worse. Social infrastructure that should cushion the effect of the prevailing harsh economic reality has collapsed.

The Nigerian state has responsibility to protect her young population, not kill them. The people are suffering and do not have the luxury of wearing plastic smiles as was the case years back when the late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, waxed the album, Suffering and Smiling. It is an indication that this is prelude to social revolution. We therefore call on the Buhari administration being inaugurated tomorrow to show concern for the vulnerable section of the population - the children and rural women; the economically exploited and socially abused.

‘The Federal Government must note that its over-concentration of power at the centre is a major cause of these incessant incidents of illegal mining and the attendant deaths. The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals is not in a position to mine and give mining licences to would-be miners. State governments are in better position to oversee such a process’

Retirees as endangered species

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IR: I only heard about the miserable lives or avoidable deaths of many of retirees from government service until I had the first time experience of the last days of my uncle, Samuel Ademola Ojo. He worked as a teacher in many primary schools in Oyo and rose to become a headmaster before he retired in 2011. He was about 60 years old when he retired. By then, he had two children in the university, one in NCE and one in secondary school.

He waited for his gratuity for almost five years to no avail. However, his pension was paid skeletally.

Whenever I called him to enquire about his wellbeing, it was always lamentation about government’s inability to pay his gratuity. There is no doubt that somebody with no source of sustenance will be miserable, particularly when one could not provide for the needs of his family. I heard that he later developed hypertension and later a partial stroke. He died on Friday, May 17.

He served his fatherland for a whooping 35years, but corrupt and inhuman system denied him the fruits of his labour! How many retirees have died unsung? With the miserable end of many of our retirees, how can we curb corruption amongst our civil servants? As a matter of fact, Nigeria is still fortunate to find people who still join her civil service; this is because no one will like to work for the nation when one considers the miserable condition and avoidable deaths of many senior but unfortunate citizens.

I appeal to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to please find other means to ameliorate the effect of hard times on our retirees. He has made his marks in Oyo State; I think putting smile on the face of our retirees will enable them to enjoy their old ages and fruits of their labour. A situation where those who have access to the corridors of power find it easy to collect their gratuity while many in my uncle’s shoes, who have nobody, found it difficult to get theirs, years after retirement, is not only inhuman but a crime against humanity. A mechanism ought to be evolved which would make verification, accreditation and payment of gratuity and pension easier and less cumbersome. The agonies they are subjected to during accreditation often led to avoidable deaths.

These are senior citizens who should be accorded respect due to their status, but unfortunately Nigeria is a country where Hobbesian state of nature is still in vogue.

• Adewuyi Adegbite Apake, Ogbomoso.

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 •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

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CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: It is hard to believe when not directly affected, that globally, a woman dies from complications in childbirth every minute – about 529,000 each year.

To Barrister Victor Laima such ordeal has been made a fact as he witnessed the death of three pregnant women within an hour in a medical centre in Gombe State. Such deaths are more peculiarly in developing countries like Nigeria.

The direct causes of maternal deaths are haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and complications of unsafe abortion. There are birth-related disabilities that affect many more women and go untreated like injuries to pelvic muscles, organs or the spinal cord.

At least 20% of the burden of disease in children below the age of five is related to poor maternal health and nutrition, as well as quality of care at delivery and during the newborn period. And yearly eight million babies die before or during delivery or in the first week of life. Further, many children are tragically left motherless each year.

These children are 10 times more likely to die within two years of their mothers’ death. Another risk to expectant women is malaria. It can lead to anaemia, which increases the risk for maternal and

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Breaking the cycle of maternal and child deaths infant mortality and developmental problems for babies. Nutritional deficiencies contribute to low birth weight and birth defects as well. A majority of these deaths and disabilities are preventable, being mainly due to insufficient care during pregnancy and delivery. About 15 per cent of pregnancies and childbirths need emergency obstetric care because of complications that are difficult to predict.

A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has a one in 16 chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth; in Nigeria the chances are one in every 13, compared to a one in 4,000 risk in a developed country. This glaring disparity is reflected in a number of global declarations and resolutions which have not only being signed by governments, but given full commitments in implementation.

In September 2001, 147 heads of states collectively endorsed Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5:

To reduce child mortality rate by 2/3 and maternal mortality ratio by 3/4 between 1990 and 2015.

Strongly linked to these is Goal 6: To halt or begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. To ensure these efforts, the AU Abuja Declaration was signed to improve health sector budgeting to 15% of aggregate budget as well as the actualization of the National Health Act 2014 which compels the federal government to allocate at least one percent of the consolidated revenue fund into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. Regardless of these commitments, the sector still remains underfunded, opaque and disintegrated.

Access to skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth and the first month after delivery is key to saving the lives of Nigerian women and those of their children. As well as the need to ensure that medical staffs are well compensated, else the

May 29: Who will hand over Chibok Girls?

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IR: Ruminating on the state of the nation, and the thought that President Jonathan will hand over power to Muhammad Buhari in about 24 hours from now crossed my mind. Then again, I remember that it is already 409 days today since over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, by the members of Boko Haram terrorists group and they are yet to be handed over to their respective parents. Also, it is another Children’s Day. I thought of the ‘pains’ the ‘free Nigerians’ are going through at the moment – fuel scarcity, electricity shutdown and more and again I tried to imagine the agony the girls will be going through in the hands

of their abductors.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in the past made series of public statements assuring that his government will do everything necessary to ensure that the kidnapped Chibok girls are rescued. It is already 24 hours to the handing over date; yet, the whereabouts of the Chibok girls is still elusive.

Though our soldiers have recorded some successes in rescuing a group of women and girls, however, what could have been a perfect complement/icing on the cake for the May 29 handing over ceremony is being able to rescue these girls and hand them over to their parents. But except for a miracle, this is not likely to happen with the

President Jonathan’s government.

The question then is who will hand over the Chibok Girls back to their parents and when? It is another Children’s Day celebration again, making it the second that the girls are spending in the camp of their abductors. Since the government of President Jonathan has failed to rescue these girls, the onus is therefore on the incoming government of Muhammad Buhari to ensure that the mystery around the whereabouts of the Chibok girls is unravelled; the girls rescued and handed over to their parents.

• Adeolu Isadiran, Ikorodu, Lagos.

continual risk of capital flight as well guaranteed consistent and sufficient supply of drug, working equipments and erecting standard medical facilities especially in the rural communities that have none.

The actualization of all of these requires the non-hypocritical implementation of the NHA 2014 by the government, improvement of funding to the Primary Health Care Development Agency, as well as effective monitoring, evaluation

and public reporting of the expended funds and donations to the sector by the agency. Lastly, broad grassroots community sensitization by the government agencies, religious organisations, CSOs and other health development stakeholders on the importance of quality health services and practices, family planning, immunization, use of insecticide treated nets, etc, as well as their rights to engage and demand from their House of Representatives members, Senators, Governors, Community and Traditional Rulers, and the incoming administration their “Right to Life” which can only be guaranteed when their “Right to Basic Primary Healthcare” is provided for.

Donald Ikenna Ofoegbu, Abuja.

MTN: Enough is enough

IR: The recent decision of MTN to contract its Customer Care Centres across the federation to an Indian firm named ISON BPO is an exhibition of highest degree of disrespect to - its most generous host community the world over Nigeria, if one considers the deleterious implications of this ill-advised and ill-conceived act.

At the centre of this unfolding brouhaha is a pan-Nigerian firm, Communication Network Support Services Limited (CNSSL). The indigenous firm which boasts of about 6,000 staff (mainly young Nigerian graduates) has been a major manager of the Customer Care contract for MTN in the last half a decade, with a nearly perfect records.

Although MTN argues that the need to maintain competitiveness in its operations informed the disengagement of CNSSL, yet it failed to register in public sphere in what aspect(s) the Nigerian outsourcing company was found wanting in fulfilling its contractual obligations to the South African company.

The claim by MTN that ISON BPO (Indian) is preferred to CNSSL (Nigerian) due to the former’s so-called international experience holds little water - if any. The sermon that the

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Indian company will, henceforth, be trusted with MTN Call Centres across Anglophone Africa is equally punctured and rendered null and void by the exclusion of South Africa from the list. The last time I checked, English language was the lingua franca in South Africa.

This is simply ridiculous!

The incontestable market value of Nigeria will always retain her pride as Africa’s leading economic hub, hence the envy of her peers (South Africa inclusive).

I’m not sure if the South Africans needed a tutorial to realise that Nigeria symbolises an unavoidable ‘foe’ that is far more strategic than a close ally.

The path of sanity will be for the proponents of this callous and inhumane subterfuge to keep it firmly in the realm of thought ONLY. Nigeria has endured enough pains and agony from South Africa and its economic scavengers; this latest attempt to further alienate Nigerians – even in their territory - must be resisted at all cost. Now is time to act.

• Funmilola Ajala, Lagos

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COMMENTS

The king is dead; long live the king!

REMEMBER President J.F. Kennedy’s famous and everlasting inaugural speech on that wintry morning of January 1961 when as the youngest President of the USA said among other things how the work of government is never done not in one term or even according to him in our life times. It was a prophetic statement because he was soon cut down by an assassin’s bullet even before he finished the first term. Of course he said other things like ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. He idealistically said that America’s foes and friends alike should know that the baton of the defence of freedom has been passed on to a new generation of Americans nurtured in war and ready to pay any price in the defence of liberty and freedom where ever they are threatened. Americans lapped it up especially coming from the mouth of the dangerously handsome young president. No American president can say that today and be applauded unless of course those Americans on the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party and their running dogs in the so-called Tea Party.

When a king or Queen dies in England, the continuity in government is captured by the saying the king is dead long live the king. Amongst the Yoruba the same sentiment is contained in the statement Baba ku Baba ku meaning father has died but he lives on in the next oldest member of the family. All these preambular statements are to emphasize that the work of government is continuous and is never completely done by any regime. This is however not an excuse for inertia or clueless performance.

The government of Jonathan now belongs to history and when the dust has settled and the healing hands of time have passed over the events of recent times, the judgement on his regime may or not be severe. The usefulness of such historical judgement will serve as a warning or compass to the successor regimes. What we can call instant history is that the Jonathan administration has fallen below expectation. This apparent failure can be seen in the collapse of the economy less than a year after the current reduction in crude oil price. What this means is that we were eating our fruits and seeds at the same time like a foolish farmer. Many critics including this writer had warned ad nauseam that the drunken financial fashion the country was being run was not sustainable.

The stupendous salaries and allowances paid to members of the executives and legislators at local, state and federal levels were heavy enough to sink the ship of state. Now chicken has come home to roost. There is no fuel to run our homes and the national economy. Power generation is now just over 1000 megawatts and with no diesel the country would soon grind to a halt. Recently I went to Abuja and in the absence of aviation fuel, I had to return to Lagos by road something I had not done in 20 years. Most states of the federation stopped paying salaries since January with the consequence of parents being unable to pay their children’s school fees. Since quite a large percentage

of parents now send their children to fee-paying private primary, secondary and tertiary institutions many young people are at home idling their lives away. The result of growing unemployment and underemployment is armed robberies complicating the already existing insecurity problems associated with Boko Haram and cattle rustling in the northern part of the country. Even the apparent reduction of militancy in the Niger Delta creeks is still early to be celebrated and the spreading spate of kidnappings for ransom constitutes reason for worry. The infrastructural deficit on our roads, rail, sea ports and the danger of inadequate aviation infrastructure are enough to overwhelm any government.

Does it then mean that the outgoing administration was an unmitigated failure? The answer is not clear cut. What is clear is that the administration is not ending well in view of the fact that the country has ground to a halt. There is no electric power from the companies allegedly fronting for political big-wigs and there is no diesel to power individual generators and even those who have not been paid for six months by their governments have no money to buy petrol and diesel if they are available and they are not. I feel sorry for the outgoing president that he is ending his regime in a whimper and in an anti-climax. The only positive thing this government will be remembered for is the Almajiri schools inadequate as they may be in number. Certainly not the mushroom universities established for political considerations and the welter of private universities for profit licensed by the Jonathan administration.

But what is to be done? The Buhari administration cannot be expected to perform a miracle when it is burdened by local and foreign debt of over $60 billion. It can at the same time not fold its hands and do nothing. It must not take on too many things at the same time but should tackle the problems one at a time unless where the problem has interlocking relationship for example the problem of power has bearing on appropriate pricing of petroleum products. Security and infrastructure are related and so is security and employment. Money, lots of it will be needed to tackle the myriad of problems facing the country. We must move away from a situation where only salaried workers alone pay taxes while the rich and the famous hardly pay taxes. If people do not pay taxes, then they won’t have a sense of ownership of the government. No matter how small, people would have to pay something to fund their government. Value Added Tax (VAT) must also be increased substantially because these are in most cases luxury taxes on the class most able to bear them. I have said this before: states should be advised to levy property and land use taxes to run their governments rather than relying on federal allocations which are really unearned petrol commissions.

It is very gratifying to note that the incoming government says it will focus on agriculture and solid minerals exploitation. I will want to enter a caveat here. We heard this before. If we are going

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Agent of change

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OMORROW, the muchawaited change in national leadership will take place in Abuja, with the swearing in of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari. If they have their way, many would have preferred that the ceremony took place long ago. The reason for that is obvious: they have gone through hell in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which held power for 16 years.

The clamour for change began long before PDP lost the last elections. Many had long been tired of PDP and were just waiting for the right time to kick it out. When Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged, they saw it as the vehicle of change and promptly came on board. What is more, the party chose change as its slogan. And with the support of the electorate, a change of government was effected at the polls during the last elections.

To champion this change is Buhari and from tomorrow, he has the arduous task of making the changes that will turn things around for good in the country. It is not going to be easy, but it can be done. Buhari knew what was at stake before signing on for this job. What he may not have known is the magnitude of the rot the nation is in. By the time he settles down, he will come to terms with the trouble with our country.

Change is the only constant thing in life and it is instructive that APC chose it as its slogan. It is a word that suits every situation because no

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WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

matter what we are and do today, change is inevitable and it will come when it will come. That it championed the change to remove PDP from power should be a constant reminder to APC that its job is only half done. The other half is to fulfil its promise to the people. The party should realise that it is not immune to being changed too by the people if it does not meet their expectations.

How can Nigerians truly experience change as preached by APC? It is by ensuring that they do not suffer under Buhari’s administration as they did under the PDP government.

As president, Buhari has a lot of work to do because he will take the glory or the blame for how the government turns out. If the government serves the people well, he will be cheered, if otherwise, he will be jeered. The Presidency is not a bed of roses. True, it is the highest office in the land, but it is not all about glamour. It is about working to your bare bones to make life meaningful for the citizenry.

The APC cannot be a champion of change and not be ready to work to change the country for good. Buhari is pivotal to the much envisaged change under the APC government.

In fact, he is the agent of that change.

The other arms of government and those working with him are just there to complement his efforts. The APC should learn from what happened to PDP if it does not want to go the way of the self-styled ''largest party in Africa''. It is not about size, but about service to the people.

PDP had all the resources at its disposal to make the country great, but it chose to do otherwise. See, how it ended up.

APC can stay in power longer than PDP if it serves the people well. This is what Buhari should champion as president and leader of his party. To do otherwise may lead to the people

dumping his party. As long as he remains the agent of change, he and his party will have nothing to fear.

The party has started on the right note, rallying its elected members to support him in the bid to restore our country's glory. At a meeting with House of Representatives' members-elect on Tuesday, APC Chairman Chief John OdigieOyegun noted that his party was called to service at one of the most challenging periods in the history.

How true. This much was said in this space last week.

He said: ''The coming days will be rough and tough choices will have to be made. This is not intended

into agriculture, it must be massive agricultural business through loans to young graduates who want to go into the business as well as loans to existing farmers who have proved their ability and seriousness.

Government must prohibit imports of agricultural products where we have Jide c o m p a r a t i v e Osuntokun advantage. We should not be oils importing vegetable and rice. We should stop importing wines, champagne and hard liquors in order to conserve our foreign reserves and restore sanity to our country especially our youths who are on slippery slope to drunken degeneracy. We must ensure that our concentrating on solid mineral exploitation is not another Abacha freebies given to powerful and well connected people in the name of solid mineral exploitation In this regard let big foreign companies be invited and provided tax holidays to encourage them to get involved in our new plans.

Let the new administration recover as much money as possible from what have been stolen and use the proceeds to embark on massive public works by direct labour of our youth. This will generate enthusiastic support for the government and reduce youth anger and unemployment. The first 100 days will be crucial and government must ensure that it is not business as usual. We can no longer afford this and we have lost so much ground already and the people can no longer wait for action to tackle the problems of this country. We are down and it can not be worse than this and we can only go up. The best way to start while the iron is hot is to eliminate the so-called oil subsidies that have ended subsidizing the lavish and opulent life styles of politicians, plutocrats and oil oligarchs in our country. Everybody is fed up with the humiliating scarcity of fuel in an oil producing country and if the only way to solve this problem once and for all is to throw importation and sale of refined petroleum open to all who have the capacity while fixing our refineries, then that is the reasonable thing for government to do and the question of subsidies will be gone forever.

Finally, what is left for most of us to do is to wish our former President Jonathan, good luck in the years ahead and President Muhammadu Buhari Godspeed in the journey of piloting the ship of state.

to scare but rather to frame the magnitude of the challenge that confronts us. This is because to reposition our country for growth and development hard choices concerning the way we managed our business in the past and our attitude to public assets have to be undertaken. For many of our fellow citizens, by May 30, a day after the swearing in of our president-elect, all fuel queues will vanish, corruption will disappear and all arrears of salaries paid and all our roads paved, while electricity will become stable''.

This is the challenge Buhari is going to face from day one. Our people are full of expectations that under

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

Buhari, they will enjoy better life. I pray that he will meet their expectations.

Taking Lagos higher

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AGOS remains the most en chanting and enthralling state in our country. It is home to every Nigerian. There is no ethnic group that is not found in Lagos. Though some of us are not from the state, we have come to see it as home. This is why the state is so fascinating; everybody mixes without thinking about tribe, tongue and religion. What binds us together is our humanity. It is only in a state like Lagos that other ethnic groups can contest and win elections as it happened in the last elections. It shows how accommodating the state is. No matter where you come from, you have a stake and a say in it. In the past 16 years, the state has been lucky in having astute leaders.

Between 1999 and 2007, Asiwaju Bola the pathfinder Tinubu was at the helm. He laid the foundation which outgoing Governor Babatunde the actualiser Fashola built on.

Tomorrow, Fashola will bow out as Governor-elect Akinwunmi the consolidator Ambode is sworn in. I

do not envy Ambode because he will be stepping into big, but not oversized shoes. Tinubu and Fashola have done a good job and left their marks. He has a huge task at hand to ensure that Lagos continues to excel. From what I have seen of him so far, he has what it takes to do the job.

His picture in this paper last Friday at his desk working shows that he knows that he has to roll up his sleeves to ensure that Lagos remains the number one state in the federation. Ambode cannot afford to fail.

He contributed quietly from the background to the progress of the state before he resigned as accountant-general few years ago, not knowing that one day the mantle of leadership will fall on him. So, he is not new to state matters. But, he should bear in mind that many, especially those who believe that they are more politically qualified than him, will be envious of him. Naturally, they will not see any good in him or in what he does. This should be expected.

But he should not bother. All he needs do is watch his back; face his job and let his work speak for him.

He cannot afford to waste precious time on political fights; he should not allow any form of distractions because the job at hand requires full concentration. Something tells me that what we saw nothing under Tinubu and Fashola compared to what Ambode will do in the years ahead. With his rich resume, the consolidator can surpass the achievements of Tinubu and Fashola. May it yet be consolidation on creation day for Lagos.

‘How can Nigerians truly experience change as preached by APC? It is by ensuring that they do not suffer under Buhari’s administration as they did under the PDP government’

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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COMMENTS

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T is the season of agenda setting. Even members of Jonathan administration that ran the nation aground could not resist the bait. The Minister of Finance, from far away New York, set her own economic agenda for Buhari. Not even the pummelling by her political adversaries who accused her of presiding over the depletion of our foreign reserve, running a deficit budget of N1trillion while federal and some state workers are owed salaries arrears of about N700b, paying N1.6 trillion as fuel subsidy to those who never imported a pint of fuel, frittering away billions through indiscriminate granting of import tax waivers, and leaving behind a debt portfolio of $60b, could restrain her. She is not alone. The Minister for Power who doubles as Aso Rock prayer warrior has advised the president not to revisit the unbundling of PHCN even though we today generate a miserable 1321MW down from about 4500MW before the lucky 18 new distribution companies took over with government N50b subsidy. For Danjuma, Jonathan administration must be probed and stolen assets recovered. Obasanjo just wants the president-elect to level up with Nigerians and avoid playing the ostrich. Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) wants Buhari to ‘summon the political will to tackle the problems of corruption’. For the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry {LCC}, Buhari must ‘block of all fiscal leakages and waste in government’.

NLC on its part wants the president to solve all employment problems. These goals are not unattainable for president-elect who according to Obasanjo ‘is a tested hand’. Besides, politicians are supposed to be miracle workers.

Unfortunately the most important item is conspicuously missing. If I were Buhari’s adviser, conscious of the brevity of time and knowing for a fact even without the morbid wish of an embarrassment called Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, that Buhari has only one life, I will simply say: restructure, restructure, restructure. The reason is simple.

Buhari has a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by putting an end to our nightmare which started in 1966 when half-educated soldiers destroyed the foundation upon which our nation was built. We have watched with dismay as power-drunk half-educated soldiers who did not even understand the framework of the independent constitution bequeathed on to us by the colonial masters and our founding fathers, took advantage of restive ethnic groups, deprived of justice and freedom by new inheritors of power during the First Republic, to carve our nation into

Season of agenda setting an unviable and unwieldy 36 states and 774 LGA. Buhari has something else going for him. Like some of our founding fathers who worked assiduously along with the British impartial arbiters between 1946 and Sept-Oct 1958 Lancaster House constitutional agreement, he is forthright, honest and fairminded. He is therefore in a position to confront the beneficiaries of current anarchy fraudulently described as federal arrangement who trade in the name of ‘one Nigeria’, to acquire political power or political patronage in form of huge contracts and oil blocks.

It is true that our nation came under severe strain and threat by various ethnic groups that have always wanted a nation of their own within the greater Nigerian nation. It is true that by acts of omission or commission, the new inheritors of power betrayed the promises of independence and the ideals of federalism. It is also a documented fact of history that the dominant ethnic groups, the Hausa-Fulani, the Yoruba and the Igbo had at different times threatened secession just as some minorities notably the COR states of Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers, led by Isaac Boro and the Tiv and the Birons led by Joseph Tarka organized popular uprising s which were only suppressed by the military.

But the cause of friction and ethnic suspicion has always been about the quest for justice, freedom and self-actualization by those who consider themselves marginalized. The dominant ethnic groups are aware they need Nigeria no less than the oil-producing Delta who in the absence of a federal cover could be enslaved by their more aggressive Igbo neighbours or even by the Hausa-Fulani, their traditional ally who recently threatened to go to war over sharing of revenue from

D

R Olatunji Dare’s piece, Osoba: The veteran politician at bay, published in the back-page of the Nation on May 12, was an elegant public relations stunt. Any reader without the knowledge of the politics of Ogun State in recent years will come to the conclusion that Chief Olusegun Osoba was shortchanged by the current governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

From the very choice of the title, the writer meticulously crafted the piece to arouse public sympathy for Osoba and adroitly cast Amosun in bad light. Dr Dare clearly scored an offside goal, which must be disallowed.

Wrote the columnist, “Hounded ceaselessly by Gbenga Daniel who never saw an opponent he did not want to destroy, Osoba went into political hibernation in Lagos, where he busied himself rebuilding the Ogun State ACN and positioning it to return to power in 2007 with Ibikunle Amosun, a former PDP Senator, as Governor… Then, things began to go sour. Osoba could not get his nominees appointed to the state’s cabinet or given senior positions in the Amosun administration, I gather. Though chair of the ACN in Ogun State, his influence was at best slight. He found himself being pushed closer and closer to the margins.”

Dr Dare will not be the first to slant the mutually-beneficial relationship between Osoba’s ACN and a new entrant from the ANPP, Ibikunle Amosun, which culminated in the latter’s victory at the governorship election in 2011. But the public deserves to know the whole truth.

Movement of politicians from one party to another is not new in Nigeria; and until we overcome the problem of lack of internal democracy and ensure electoral justice at all times through a level-playing ground for all members of a political party, such will continue.

Amosun was a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic from 2003 to 2007 on the platform of PDP. In that 2003 Ogun Central senatorial election, Chief Osoba, then incumbent governor and leader of AD, lost his polling booth, ward and local council to Amosun, a grassroots politician par excellence.

If one may add in parenthesis, it is not surprising that the same fate befell Osoba’s SDP in the recently-concluded general elections. It lost at all levels to Amosun’s APC. In 2007, Amosun contested the governorship election in Ogun on the platform of ANPP. The AD, under the leadership of Chief Osoba, fielded Chief Dipo Dina (of blessed memory) as its candidate. At the close of the poll, the incumbent governor, Gbenga Daniel of the PDP, was declared winner.

Amosun was second while Osoba’s AD came third. An enraged Amosun contested the results because he believed he won the election. And the general feeling in Ogun up till

oil which they hilariously claimed actually belongs to the north from where it seeped down to the Niger Delta.

At the end what most groups want is a Nigeria where the nation-state performs its traditional role of ensuring fairness justice and liberty for all. And this is exactly what federalism sets out to accomplish as a social philosophy that strives to ensure the state does not limit the freedom of individuals and its constituent units. And this was why Hugh Clifford, the colonial Governor-General stated in 1945 that the objective of British policy on Nigerian federalism is “to see the various peoples of the various territories develop themselves along the lines of their own culture and their own tradition”. As if to underscore the soundness of the logic of the British arbiters, Awo in 1947 admitted that “Nigeria is a geographical expression” while Balewa during a debate in the House in 1948 admitted that “Nigeria is a British intention”.

And despite our differences, the federal arrangement worked until the intervention of military adventurers and ‘an army of anything is possible’. Asked why he was the only governor not found wanting among Gowon’s 12 military administrators after his fall from power in 1975, Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi, the then military governor of the defunct Western Region was reported to have attributed his good fortune to the professionalism of the region’s bureaucracy, rated at the period, as the best in Africa. As our political elite and mainstreamers who cornered all the funds for teaching hospitals move in droves to India for their ailments, few Nigerians today remember UCH Ibadan was once rated one of the best three teaching hospitals

in the Commonwealth including Britain, Australia and Canada. Even our police have not always been like this. Because some of our founding fathers thought ‘‘its regionalization would make it extremely difficult for a totalitarian regime to emerge in Nigeria”, it wasn’t until 1958 the AG accepted concurrent jurisdiction over the police. The Sept-Oct. 1958 constitutional agreement to have a single police force under Inspector General of Police responsible to the federal government’ according to Awo ‘preclude exclusive centralization and ‘provide the regional government with the executive instruments under its immediate control for discharging its responsibility for law and order”.

If Europe after two world wars is employing the value of federalism to accommodate disparate groups ranging from France and its sexual licentiousness, Greece and Spain’s indolence and German fastidiousness, for us there can be no alternative to a viable federal structure. Fiscal federalism which for instance allows the oil-producing states to take control of 50% of oil revenue is preferable to the current anarchy which allows those Charles Soludo, the former CBN governor described as ‘faceless thieves,’ pocket about $40m a day or $60b or N12.6 trillion in four years from proceeds of stolen 400,000 barrels per day. This is in addition to the unspecified amount the nation spends on amnesty programme and as government patronage in form of contracts to identified enemies of the state. Fiscal federalism will only mean the oil-producing states will be made to earn their pay by ensuring there is an uninterrupted supply of gas to the five other geo-political zones to turn turbines for the purpose of generating electricity to power industries or for irrigation.

With adequate power for the textile industries in Kano, irrigation in the cotton, groundnut and tomato belts of the north, we will not be addressing the crisis of unemployment and the problem of insecurity.

Those sponsoring armed Fulani herdsmen to perpetuate evils, hiding under grazing ground at an age when it is cheaper to import beef meat from Europe because of government subsidy will be thrown out of market.

But this is exactly what the ‘faceless thieves’ and their backers who are opposed to restructuring detest. The huge chunks of money they steal go into importation of the labour of other societies while our youths roam the streets. They just don’t give a damn.

Re: Osoba: The veteran politician at bay

By Bola Adeyemi today is that Amosun won the 2007 election but his victory was upturned from ‘above’.

The public was fed up with the PDP anyway, but how do you dislodge them from power in the state when the incumbent governor, Gbenga Daniel, was poised to install a successor at all cost? By 2010, ANPP had suffered some setbacks nationally.

Amosun, consumed with passion to restore the glory of Ogun State and make it 21st century compliant, then decided to pitch his tent with ACN. He was welcomed. But why was he given the governorship slot when ACN already had candidates jostling for the post? Simple. Amosun, based on his performance in 2007 and his public profile as a grassroots politician, stood a better chance to deliver victory for ACN. In other word, Amosun came with immense electoral value and goodwill while ACN had better platform in comparison to ANPP. So, it was a win-win situation for both Amosun and Osoba.

There were other intrigues that played out, especially on the choice of candidates for the Ogun State House of Assembly and National Assembly. Amosun, not being a rookie in politics, would not commit political hara-kiri by meeting all the expectations and demands of Osoba or walk into a political trap that would have turned him into a figure-head governor who could be impeached on flimsy grounds in order to satisfy the whims and caprices of a godfather. In such circumstances, the extraordinary achievements witnessed today in Ogun would have been impossible.

Contrary to the impression created in the said piece, half of the politicians in the cabinet of Ogun State are from Osoba’s camp. Indeed, there are many loyalists of Osoba, including his direct nominees, holding senior positions in the government and totally dominating at the party level of the ruling APC in Ogun State. Could Amosun, who is an exemplar of prudence in public finance management in Nigeria, have bought all of them over? Certainly, no. Why then are they following him? It is because they believe in his Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

And the outstanding results are there all across the state for everyone to see.

The governor is a thoroughbred Yoruba who will not attack or abuse his elders. And it is to his credit that despite the acerbic attacks and abuses directed at him from the Osoba camp, no one can accuse Amosun of ever insulting Chief Osoba.

According to Dr Dare, “The day Osoba returned to Ogun

State and his home in Abeokuta has got to be one of the most glorious in his eventful life. He was met at the Lagos-Ogun boundary by a cavalcade of jubilant party men and women, admirers, and supporters, and escorted to the state capital and his home with song and dance. Rarely had the ancient city witnessed such a carnival.”

Could it be possible that the writer knew about this “Osoba’s triumphant entry” but was not aware that Amosun was at the vanguard of that memorable home-coming arrangement for Osoba?

Disagreement is a human phenomenon. Even at the best of time, husband and wife disagree let alone participants in a political marriage. While Amosun was still expressing the hope that the misunderstanding would be resolved as one family, just like Dr Olatunji Dare said he attempted to do, Chief Osoba closed the door against reconciliation in the following words at his residence in Ibara, Abeokuta in May, 2014: “Where we are now, no room for harmonization or reconciliation... not even 70/30; 80/20; 95/5... I vowed to them that I will not forgive or reconcile with anybody...As I stand before you today, I swear before God and Jesus Christ, my Lord, I promised you all that the issue of forgiveness is no more... They said they have set up elders’ committee, don’t mind them. I don’t know who is older than me politically among them. None of them is closer to Awolowo than I was.

I wined and dined with him… They are coming very soon, when they come, they would not meet me… Leave them, we are moving to the Promised Land and over there, there are many offices and positions available…”

Not a few argued that no astute politician could have uttered such words. Indeed, I know not a few loyalists or fans of Osoba both within and outside Ogun that recoiled and turned back on account of his near blasphemous words.

Ordinarily, Amosun is now in a position to gloat over his victory against Osoba after such a titanic battle. But he is not a triumphalist. He believes power comes from God. Besides, he has no personal axe to grind with Osoba. It is a question of political differences. Amosun will continue to treat Osoba with utmost respect and will be the first to seize by the forelock any opportunity for political reconciliation.

• Adeyemi served as Senior Special Assistant on Communications to the governor of Ogun State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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COMMENTS

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ODAY, Thursday May 28, is the eve of the swearing in of Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria, and of Yemi Osinbajo as Vice-President. Something tells me that our country, Nigeria, is about to step into its most formative era ever. I have therefore chosen today as my day to start to speak face to face with Nigeria – after many past months of speaking as Gbogun Gboro.

First of all then, I warmly congratulate the incoming president and vice-president of Nigeria. I rejoice with Nigeria that, against countless predictions, the presidential election of last month did not degenerate into conflicts, blood-letting and disaster. And I applaud outgoing President Jonathan for bowing out dutifully to the voice of Nigerians after their verdict had become clear and unambiguous through their votes.

But above all else, I look forward today into the immediate future of Nigeria. All I say here today about our country’s past is really to provide a guide to our future. I know that our Nigeria can make it, and that it can thrive and prosper – if we sincerely determine so. The knowledge, the confidence, that Nigeria has all it takes to prosper and become a great power in the world was the determinant of all my involvement in Nigerian politics in my youth (and in my University College Ibadan student days) from the late 1950s on, and after. In the years when we prepared for independence, our three regions were advancing quite strongly, and indeed proudly, in various directions of development. Each region took strides forward in its own way and at its own pace, and made its own kind of contribution to the overall progress of our country.

The only serious weakness in this promising picture of the late 1950s was that the ‘minority’ ethnic nationalities in each region wanted to be constituted into a small multiethnic region of their own (a Calabar Ogoja Rivers Region out of the Eastern Region, a Midwest Region out of the Western Region, and a Middle Belt and North-eastern regions out of the vast Northern Region), but that our British rulers rejected their demands. However, there was good reason to hope that, after independence, our country’s leaders would attend properly to those demands – and that our country would then have even better chances to progress and prosper.

Unfortunately, our leaders who controlled our Federal Government at independence

T

HE Holy Bible says that there is time for everything under the sun; going ahead to cite the transient nature of life and living. In the same vein, there is time for every government to come to an end; when office holders will look back at the years spent in service and beat their chests in pride or become downcast at the fluffed opportunities and efforts wasted, which could have translated into better lives for the people or greater service.

For Nigeria, that time is now. As the country witnesses another transition tomorrow, there is no doubt that many present office holders would officially become yesterday men, with only the memory of the good or bad they had done lingering. The evil [or good] that men do, they say, lives after them.

It is also time for the today men, those taking over different offices, bearing in mind posterity and the transience of political offices, to set their sights on good governance and selfless service [or rejoice over the opportunity to enrich themselves]. Whichever way it goes, whatever has a beginning will always have an end.

But that end doesn’t always have to be regrettable or viewed with disappointment. This is the case in Akwa Ibom State, where Chief Godswill Akpabio, has spent the last eight years in office building infrastructure and developing human capacity in different ways. Though opinions may differ on the performance of the outgoing government in the state, there can only be one conclusion; that Akpabio is leaving the state better than he met it in 2007 and that Akwa Ibom people do, indeed, have a reason to rejoice about the state in the areas of physical development, education, agriculture, fiscal discipline and infrastructure.

Right from his first days in office, Akpabio had set his sight on changing the story of the state, which was hitherto known for being the highest supplier of house-helps and children engaging in dirty lowly and menial jobs in different parts of the country. Back then, hardly would one get to any middle class home in Lagos and not meet an Okon, Akpan or Idarabong attending to one’s needs on the order of the home owners. But immediately Akpabio took over power, he demonstrated his determination to put an end to such despicable record. With the introduction of the free compulsory education scheme, children of school age were not only returned to schools, many who had been ferried off to distant places for menial jobs were returned to the state to

As Buhari steps in bluntly refused to deal with this matter in a spirit of statesmanship and love for all our country. They thus set the stage for conflict, confusion and disorder in our country. Coming mostly from the Northern Region (with Eastern Region’s leaders as junior partners), these controllers of our Federal Government chose to approach the affairs of our country in a manner that immediately pushed our country onto the path of disaster. Determined to humble the Western Region which was the pace-setter region in most fields of development, they employed the powers of the Federal Government in 1962 to destabilize the Western Region – to suspend its elected government and appoint over it a sole administrator. Subsequent attempts to employ federal power to rig elections in the Western Region soon plunged the Western Region into a revolt; and this led to the first military seizure of power in Nigeria. The military in power then went on and distorted Nigeria’s federal structure completely, and turned Nigeria into a country ruled by a Federal Government that controls virtually all power and all resources, and that presumes to be able to promote development in all corners of Nigeria. Made smaller and smaller (until their number reached 36), the states of the Nigerian federation became impotent entities incapable of doing much for development and security in their domains, dependent on federal allocations, and constantly subject to federal bullying.

In the context of this chaos, prosperity deserted Nigeria and poverty took over. Under federal management, Nigeria’s enviable agriculturally based exports (cocoa in the Western Region, palm produce in the Eastern Region, and groundnuts in the Northern Region), more or less disappeared. Petroleum from the Niger Delta became almost our sole export, and it poured increasingly large revenues into our economy. But it only increased the urge in the Federal Government to take over all resources. The Federal Government became abominably inefficient and corrupt, and public corruption became Nigeria’s pervasive culture. Most influential Nigerians abandoned productive enterprise and found ways to join in the scrambling for shares in

the corruption. At lower levels in the Nigerian society, the escalating poverty destroyed almost all of productive orientation, and most Nigerians who could do so found some way to benefit from the fruits of corrupt politics.

Increasingly harassed by their ever-demanding constituents, Nigerian politicians became more and more blatant in turning public offices into sources of graft and of indefensible remunerations.

I am happy that Buhari has strong anti-corruption credentials, and I trust his promise to suppress corruption. I am sure that Osinbajo will be his kindred spirit and strong partner in the fight. But corruption is only a symptom of the deep-seated disease in the management of our country’s affairs. A president may suppress corruption, but unless the real disease is healed, corruption will return.

Nigeria’s real disease inheres in the fact that we are neglecting, or evading attention to, the obvious fact that ours is a country of many different nations – nations different in culture, in history, in territory, and in culturally determined modes of response to issues and to the demands of modern development. Being different in these ways does not mean we cannot become a stable and successful country; what it means is that we must truthfully and even humbly accept that our nations are different, and we must pay due respect to those differences.

The acknowledgement and respect of our differences must be clearly written in our constitutional structure, our practice of politics, and our inter-group relationships. When any of our component nations, especially any of our larger nations, chooses to disrespect our nations’ differences, the outcome can only be some wrong-headed attempt to dominate others, or a disruptive crudity in relations with others – each of which can only make our country unstable or even a failure. A relentless attempt by some to dominate our country and all its peoples has been a constant factor in our history since independence, and it is towards that end that resolute attempts have been made by some to accumulate power and resource-control at the federal centre – the outcome of which has been massive inefficiency and public corruption, widespread

Nigerian thoughts hostility among our nations, attempts by federal authority to rig elect i o n s across our country, and our country’s sad dec l i n e across Banji Akintoye board.

It is therefore imperative, if we sincerely desire the best for our country, that we must consciously try to evolve a Nigerian culture based on respect for our nations’ very real differences. Constitutionally, that calls for properly restructuring our federation; it also calls for giving back to the component units of our federation the task, resources, and strength for development. In all respects, it calls for respectful contacts and relations among our nations. Without these, it will be impossible to make Nigeria successful, or even to keep Nigeria as one country. Focusing mostly on suppressing corruption while leaving our federation in its present chaotic structure may appear to succeed for a while, but it will fail in the end. I wish President Buhari – and I wish Nigeria – not a superficial and transient success, but a true and lasting success.

‘Nigeria’s real disease inheres in the fact that we are neglecting, or evading attention to, the obvious fact that ours is a country of many different nations – nations different in culture, in history, in territory, and in culturally determined modes of response to issues and to the demands of modern development’

As Udom takes the baton from Akpabio

By Jackson Udom enjoy the free primary and secondary school education introduced by the government, with the government paying for examination fees and the provision of text books. The free education scheme earned Akpabio several awards and commendations, with his action being likened to that of the late Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose legacy of free education placed him shoulder above other leaders. Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka was one of the many people who commended Akapbio’s stride in education.

The Akpabio government also helped in the accreditation of courses in the higher institutions in the state, while there he also instituted a foreign scholarship for students in science and engineering disciplines. Under the Akpabio government, the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) grew in leaps and bounds, becoming an enviable institution, which indigenes of the state can be proud of. Only last week, the governor promised to release the balance of N500 million grant for development projects in the institution, noting that his government had earlier released N1.5 billion for the same purpose. Without a doubt, it will be difficult for the history of AKSU’s development to be written without mentioning the outgoing governor.

To cap his commitment to education, Governor Akpabio ensured that the infrastructural transformation of the state also touched the education sector, building hundreds of classrooms and other facilities. However, what will remain one of his greatest achievements in this regard is the e-library he constructed in Uyo, a development that attracted the attention of who-is-who in the country as a first of its kind project.

Without contention, the complete overhaul of the state’s infrastructure is the handiwork of the Akpabio administration. From the first year in office, the governor turned the state into big construction site and eight years down the line, Akwa State can boast of world-standard roads across the state, with over 400 roads spanning over 1,300 kilometres built. During the same period, the outgoing government delivered a standard airport, which has now become the

pride of the Niger Delta; built a first-of-its-kind flood control mechanism in Uyo and Abak, constructed one of the best stadium in Africa, christened The Nest of Champions, constructed a world class entertainment centre called Ibom Tropicana and also the Ibom Power Plant, which generates over 80 megawatts today. As a matter of fact, Akpabio’s detractors always come short of words whenever they reach the topic of infrastructure, anytime they criticise him, with some noting that infrastructure was the only thing he achieved in eight years, though they know that this is far from truth for a governor who delivered an all-round development.

To drive home its vision of human development, the state government introduced several empowerment and employment schemes ranging from micro-credit facilities for the market women and youths interested in agriculture to the introduction of inter-ministerial direct labour jobs, which engaged youths in some of the projects of government. The government also encouraged private investments, making the state attractive and conducive for local and foreign investors. The government-introduced empowerment programmes for women and farmers were to make life easier for the people of the state. While some may argue that poverty is pervasive in Nigeria, Akpabio’s efforts at empowering women through agriculture as well as taking the restive youths off the street, no doubt, lifted the state from the abyss of poverty. Through the Women Agro-Entrepreneurship Development Programme, a scheme that earned Akwa Ibom State a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) award in 2012, the state government under Akpabio changed the story of the state in terms of agriculture. The governor, it would be recalled, received a United States Congress Award for human development.

In the tourism sector, the outgoing Akpabio administration has placed the state on the world tourism map, with the organisation of the yearly 9999 carol singers, and just this year he broke the Guinness Book of Records as the only governor to have had the largest number of choral singers in one place in the world. The construction and commissioning of the Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, the almost completed Tropicana Hotel and other tourism in-

frastructures across the state are enough testimonies of his giant strides in that sector.

In the health sector, the recent completion of a 308-bed international specialist hospital in Uyo appeared to be the icing on the cake for a government that has shown nothing but passionate commitment to the improvement of the health sector in the last eight years. But before then, the government had built general hospitals in different local governments of the state and equipped several hospitals to give care to the people of the state. The cottage hospitals built in Ika, Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Essien Udim and Ukanafun Local Government Areas are a few examples, with the provision of medical equipment to the School of Nursing, Anua. Other efforts of the outgoing government in the area of health include: donation of N50 million to University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) and building of a paediatrics block; building of an oxygen plant at General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, activation and expansion of eight Anti-Retroviral therapy centres; construction of Renal Dialysis centre/ donation of 17 Dialysis machines to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; procurement of state-of-the-art ambulances, among others. But for me, and probably thousands of Akwa Ibom indigenes, the biggest achievement of the Akpabio government in the health sector is the introduction of free medical services to children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Today, Akpabio can only look back and retrospect on what he has achieved for the state and it is sure that posterity will speak well of him. Also, the new governor and the man who receives the baton from Akpabio can beat his chest for being part of the state’s success stories in the last few years, having occupied the office of the Secretary to the State Government before this call for higher responsibility. But Udom Emmanuel has more reasons to beat his chest in pride. He is the man saddled with the responsibility of taking the state to the next level; he is the one who God’s will has fallen on to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

• Udom is Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Media.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

•Dr Ijioma (middle) jubilating with Principal officers and other workers. Inset: Entrance of Alvan Ikoku College of Education.

The Federal Government last week upgraded Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Federal College of Education, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Kano, and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri to universities. While some experts laud the exercise, others believe that it may kill teacher-training.

Pros and cons of upgraded colleges

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HEN the news of the upgrading of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Federal College of Education, Zaria; Federal College of Education, Kano; and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri to universities broke last week, some workers and students leapt for joy.

The colleges have been awarding degrees in affiliation with some universities for over 30 years.

The journey to university status was long and hard. For over 20 years, successive administrations set up panels that recommended that some polytechnics and colleges of education be converted into universities. On July 20, 2010, then minister of education, Prof Ruqayyat

Story by Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Adegunle Olugbamila, Damisi Ojo (Akure), Okodili Ndidi (Owerri), Gbenga Omokhunu (Abuja), and Abdulgafar Alabelewe (Kaduna)

Ahmed Rufa'i announced the conversion of the four colleges, and the two oldest polytechnics, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY) to universities. Government later

‘

Akwashiki, the colleges’ status seems to have changed for good.

Feelings are mixed over the exercise. Some workers and students are excited; others are sceptical about it.

The UBE programme has also shown we do not have enough teachers and since universities are not doing enough, it requires that more areas of support come from colleges of education nationwide. I've always maintained that it is very costly setting up universities by government. But rather than establish new ones, the existing ones with strong facilities and personnel should be upgraded to universities

INSIDE THE Amana College of Basic Science and Remedial Studies, Kunchi, Kano State began academic activities on Monday, with 534 students, following its inauguration by Governor Rabi’u -Page 27 Musa Kwankwaso.

Kwankwaso opens college

reversed itself on the colleges.

But with last week’s announcement by the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and his Information counterpart, Mrs Patricia

Poverty no excuse, pupils told -Page 28

CAMPUS LIFE ‘INEC used and dumped us’ -Page 51

’

Jubilation at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri Following the announcement, the school erupted in jubilation. Workers and students sang and danced round the school. The Provost, Dr. Blessing Ijioma, and other top management staff joined in the dance. They closed ranks to celebrate a dream come true, after a 25-year campaign.

Established in 1963 as Advance Teachers Training College (ATTC), the college has been awarding degree in affiliation with the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) since 1981.

Addressing the students and the management, Dr Ijioma said the upgrade was long overdue.

"In the last 25 years we have desired autonomy to be a degree awarding •Continued on page 26

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

26

EDUCATION LBS maintains Financial Times ranking •Third in Africa

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HE Lagos Business School (LBS) has maintained its ranking on the Financial Times of London's list of global frontliners in open enrolment education, living up to its repuation as a leading provider of management and business education on the continent and beyond.

In the FT's Executive Education 2015 ranking published in London, LBS placed 59th globally and third in Africa in the open enrolment executive education category, achieving the much-coveted ranking for the ninth consecutive year since 2007.

LBS also made the FT's list of reputable custom education providers for the first time, where it clinched the 79th spot, one of six business schools in Africa to achieve the feat.

Dean, LBS, Dr Enase Okonedo, said the school's ranking was significant, given that it was the only

business school in the West African sub-region to join its prominent global counterparts in this year's FT ranking for open enrolment and custom education providers.

In this year's ranking, IMD Business School, Switzerland maintained its top position on the list, followed by IESE Business School, Spain and Harvard Business School, USA, among others.

The University of Pretoria's Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), USB Executive Development and Wits Business School - all based in South Africa - were the other African business schools ranked with LBS. Yearly, the Financial Times of London publishes a list of the best management programmes from business schools around the world.

Its ranking is based on the quality of learning, staff and student diversity, growth in business and international reach of renowned business schools.

•From left: Dean, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University (RUN), Prof Timothy Bamiduro; Prof.

Gabriel Adeyemi, who delivered the university's second Inaugural Lecture; the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Debo Adeyewa; and Registrar, Mrs Bolatito Oloketuyi, after the lecture held at the university auditorium in Ede, Osun State.

Pros and cons of upgraded colleges •Continued from page 25 institution. We have been doing it in affiliation with the UNN but we can now stand on our own. It is indeed a dream come true," she said.

Dr Ijioma, who is an Associate Professor, said the college has in its 34 years of experience as affiliate of the UNN, built the requisite experience and manpower to run as a full-fledged university.

The Chairman of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Ukachi Wachukwu, who praised the government for the conversion, said the union was confident that the Provost could run the upgraded institution.

"We are grateful that at last the college has been upgraded and we are confident that the Provost can pilot the affairs of the institution.

Given her antecedents, we are saying that she should be appointed as the pioneer Vice Chancellor to consolidate on her achievements," she said.

Some of the students described the elevation of the school as a dream come true, adding that it would impact on their certificate.

Angela Ifeakanuba, a 200-Level student, said it would end discrimination against graduates of the college.

"We are happy because this elevation has ended the discrimination suffered by NCE holders and degree holders. It made it look as if our certificate was inferior to that of the university.

Now we can proudly say that we are undergraduates of a Federal University. It is worth celebrating," she said.

Another student, Mr Izuchukwu Ephraim, said it would put paid to his plans to transfer to the university.

"I can't wait for the University to kick off fully, I have been dreaming of crossing over to a university but now my prayer has been answered.

I am happy that I am now an undergraduate," he said.

For current students, the Provost said the name of the new institution would appear on their certificates.

"Those of our students that graduated before, especially those that did the degree programme under the affiliation programme, their certificates will still bear that of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). But those currently under the NCE programme will be converted into degree programme when it fully takes off," she said.

The only cause for anxiety at Alvan Ivoku was the fear of fee increment expressed by some students.

"The development is good but we hope that there won't be increase in the school fees and other charges," they said.

Relief at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo Adeyemi College of Education Provost, Prof Olukoya Ogen is a lucky man. The expectation of many years was fulfilled last week barely three months after he assumed office.

The college, which runs 18 degree programmes in affiliation with the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, was established in 1964.

Ogen, an alumnus of the college, sent a message to all workers shortly after the announcement, congratulating and assuring them of better things to come.

The message reads: "Dear Colleagues, just last week, we were adjudged as the best College of Education in Nigeria out of the 99 Colleges of Education. Today the Federal Executive Council has upgraded our College to Adeyemi University of Education. This feat would not have been possible without your hard work, sacrifice and commitment. I felicitate with all of you. Rest assured, this is just the beginning.”

A lecturer, Mr Badmus Akinkuotan, said the academics were ready for the upgrade as many were already PhD holders - the minimum qualification approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to teach in a university. He said some of the lecturers started their PhD programmes after the first announcement by Prof Ahmed Rufa'i.

"We are well prepared. Adeyemi College is long overdue for this upgrade and we are happy that we were among the colleges finally upgraded by the federal government. We will like to commend President Goodluck Jonathan on this because he approved the upgrade before his administration ended. The college has best hands on ground and the upgrading is not really going to be a tough task," he said.

A lecturer from Biology Department, Dr. Femi Olajuyigbe, described the conversion as a blessing from the government to the people of the state.

Olajuyigbe noted that if the structures on ground, both human and physical, were put into consideration by the Federal Government since, the college would have long become a

university.

A Senior Lecturer in Department of English, Mr. Timothy Adebiyi, added: "If you look at the calibre of lecturers in this college, they are far better than some of the university lecturers. This is the only college which has facilities that can compete with other universities in the country.

For example, the English laboratory in this college is far better than most of the universities’ English laboratories.”

With its new status, Francis Kanu, a 200-Level Biology student, said the institution would be able to offer more programmes.

But for Olabisi Ogunmola, also of the English department, what is most paramount is that she would be able to hold her head high among her friends back at home as a university undergraduate.

"I was excited when I heard the news. This will give me the courage to tell the people that I am a student of Adeyemi University of Education.

When home for holidays, many of my friends used to laugh at me for being a student of a college of education," she said.

Muted excitement at Federal College of Education, Zaria At the Federal College of Education, Zaria, in Kaduna State, the news of the conversion was not openly celebrated.Though the students are excited about the prospect, the college management still await official communication from the government before the news is openly acknowledged and celebrated.

When The Nation visited the institution on Monday, the management declined comment on the development, saying that there had been no formal communication from the Federal Government to the college on the planned conversion.

Head of the college's Public Relations Unit, Hajia Rakiya Sidi, told The Nation that the information they had was from the news.

"We have read the news on social media and other platforms; we have also heard it on radio. But as we speak, there has not been any official correspondence from the Federal Government to us.Therefore, it would be out of place to begin to talk to the press about the issue, even

though, we received the news with joy," she said.

She however promised that the school management will address the press as soon as they were formally informed by the government.

The students, who are obviously not disturbed by the formal communication to the authority, feel the conversion is as good as done.

They are already feeling that the planned conversion will transform them from NCE to B.Ed holders.

On the campus located at Congo in the heart of Zaria city, the conversion matter dominated discussions among students, some of who were already addressing themselves as undergraduates of FUE (Federal University of Education).

One of the students (name withheld) said: "The conversion is well deserved, but I don't think we should begin to celebrate because they (government) might come and say only first year students will benefit by graduating with B.Ed." However, her friend who sounded optimistic replied: "Yes, it might not affect us directly. But I will still be proud to say I graduated from Federal University of Education, Zaria. Besides that, I still believe there is going to be an alternative for those of us close to graduation."

She continued: "Don't be surprised.

We might just be given option of staying for one extra year and get B.Ed or graduate at our scheduled period and go home with NCE. But I bet you, if we are given such option, 99.9 per cent of students will jump at the extra year to obtain B.Ed."

Reactions from stakeholders

other

The Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria have commended the Federal Government for elevating the colleges.

Senator Emma Anosike, chairman, Committee of Chairmen of Governing Councils, Federal Colleges of Education, said in a statement that the upgrade was laudable. He, however, urged the government to increase commensurate funding to the institutions.

"The magnanimity of the Federal Government in general and that of the Federal Ministry of Education in particular its truly appreciated by the entire members of the Committee

‘Government's abolition of Grade 2 remains one of the greatest errors to the education system in Nigeria. Now I suspect with this conversion, NCE may also be bidding a gradual farewell.

Government says NCE is the minimum certificate to teach. Now if all colleges of education were to be upgraded to universities, what happens to NCE? That also goes into extinction, doesn't it?’

‘

and the College of Education Community for this laudable development by which we are further assured of the government's drive for production of quality Teacher Educators in Nigeria.

"Our prayer for these newly upgraded institutions is for the Government to adequately fund the Teacher Education sector. Once again, we wish to collectively congratulate and felicitate with the four Colleges of Education for the feat attained," the statement read.

Former COEASU chairman, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/Ijanikin (AOCOED) Victor Akinola said the upgrade has justified the union's agitation in the last 15 years.

He urged the government to do a periodic upgrade of mature colleges, every four years, rather than set up new universities. This is to meet the demands of the society with respect to inadequate teachers.

Akinola continued: "The UBE programme has also shown we do not have enough teachers and since universities are not doing enough, it requires that more areas of support come from colleges of education nationwide.

"I've always maintained that it is very costly setting up universities by government. But rather than establish new ones, the existing ones with strong facilities and personnel should be upgraded to universities.

Akinola urged his colleagues to see the development as a means to improve further so they would not be sent away.

"We have to subject ourselves to critical analysis and rational judgment. Much as we all expect our colleges to keep changing to universities, personnel must also aspire to improve on their academic status so we don't end up as victims eventually. After that, all that is left will be how to bridge the gap between Chief lecturer (highest academic status in colleges) and professors. I suggest our colleagues who have attained a reasonable number of research, conference attendance as well as publications, should enjoy direct conversion into professorial status,” he said.

But for the union’s former national Public Relations Officer, Femi Keshinro, the upgrade is not welcome, as it may spell doom for the NCE - like the Teacher’s Grade II certificate before it.

He said the position of COEASU is that the government should allow colleges of education remain but extend their mandate to issue a degree in education.

Keshinro said: "The government's abolition of Grade II remains one of the greatest errors to the education system in Nigeria. Now I suspect with this conversion, NCE may also be bidding a gradual farewell.

Government says NCE is the minimum certificate to teach. Now if all colleges of education were to be upgraded to universities, what happens to NCE? That also goes into extinction, doesn't it?"

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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EDUCATION

Kwankwaso opens college

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HE Amana College of Basic Science and Remedial Studies, Kunchi, Kano State began academic activities on Monday with 534 students, following its inauguration by Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

The governor explained that the college was constructed to expand access to higher education to youths from Northern Kano, where such opportunity was hitherto lacking.

Kwankwaso said adequate teachers have been deployed to lecture at the college, hoping that its location in the area would encourage youths from the host and neighbouring communities to further their studies.

The governor, however, directed Kunchi Local Government authorities to provide the students and lecturers with accommodation in or-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

der to enable them concentrate on learning, even as he instructed the local government to recruit auxiliary staff like cleaners and messengers for the college.

He urged parents to use the free education opportunity provided by his administration to enrol their wards in school, stressing that it is only an educated person that can drive change and become relevant in the scheme of global affairs.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Ali Ahmed Yako, told the gathering that from only one College of Arts and Science inherited in 2011, Kano has added two more in each senatorial district. He explained that the college was relocated from Tsanyawa to Kunchi for logistic reasons.

Chairman, Kunchi Local Gov-

ernment Council represented by his deputy, Alhaji Bello K. K. Muhammad, thanked the governor constructing the first tertiary institute in the area, pointing out that the gesture would stimulate indigenes to pursue further education.

The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammdu Sanusi II, represented by the District Head of Kunchi, Alhaji Ali Ado Bayero, thanked the government for the numerous development projects brought to Kunchi Local Government Area, especially the upgrading of the community hospital and construction of 122 free houses for peasants in Kunchi town.

The Acting Principal of the college, Dr. Abdullahi Asiru, assured the governor that he would do everything to ensure the college’s set objectives were achieved.

KWASU FILE

Student exhibits research works A 300-Level student of Aeronautic and Astronautic Engineering of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Habeebullah Abdulkadir, has produced an air drone that can survey and record activities from the sky.

The feat was revealed at the fourth Undergraduate Research Day of the university.

The programme, which featured exhibitions of research projects from the Sciences, Education and Humanities is in its fourth year.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulRasheed Na'Allah, stressed the need for young Nigerians to take seriously the task of developing the nation. He added that KWASU had taken up the challenge of producing and distributing electricity to the state, using solar energy in partnership with RANA Power, a Solar panel producing company.

The Coordinator of the Centre for Undergraduate Research, Dr. Grace Abolaji, explained that research activities go on all year long at the centre.

She said KWASU students go to communities to identify their problems and carry out researches aimed at solving them.

Pioneer PG students matriculate THE KWASU School of Postgraduate Studies has welcomed its first set of students. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulRasheedNa'Allah, said at their matriculation that the plans for postgraduate programme started in January 2013 when the PG Studies Council was inaugurated but materialised as a full PG school in the 2014/2015 Academic Session.

He charged the pioneer 150 students to set the standard and pace for academic excellence, research, community development and build the foundation for strong alumni relations in future.

"As ambassadors and heirs to the academic traditions of Kwara State University and of scholarly institutions across the world, I charge you to use your intellect and enthusiasm to carry forward our shared commitment to the great tradition of advanced learning," he said.

Be good ambassadors, interns told A CALL has gone to all 300-Level students of KWASU preparing for the six-month Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) to be good ambassadors of the varsity during their internship.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulRasheed Na'Allah, represented by his Coordinator on Research and Industry, Prof Adebayo Oladimeji, made the call at the 2015 Annual SIWES Pre-Placement Orientation Programme organised by KWASU SIWES Unit.

He noted that the internship would afford them an opportunity to understand the dynamics of the working environment.

He counselled them to do their best and abide by the rules and regulations of the companies they are posted to.

He described SIWES as a bridge between theory and practice designed to equip the students with requisite knowledge of what obtains outside the school environment.

• Front view of the ICAN Study Centre/ District Society Office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

• A cross section of the students' union leaders.

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ASUU hosts international HE Academic Staff Union of conference Universities (ASUU) will host

an International Conference on the liberation of Western Sahara (Saharawi Democratic Republic) the last Colony on the African continent at the Yar Adua Conference Centre, Abuja, next week.

The three-day conference opening next Tuesday, is to draw the world's attention to the continued colonial domination of the people of Western Sahara by Morocco as well as its Western Allies.

At a briefing on Monday at the ASUU secretariat, University of Lagos (UNILAG), former ASUU National President and convener of the conference, Dr Dipo Fashina, said the platform would be used to galvanise support for collective action at both regional and global levels to facilitate speedy liberation of Western Sahara.

He said various speakers from Africa, America and Europe, some of who are sympathetic to the cause of the western Saharawi, would speak at the conference.

Fashina said ASUU's involvement in the agitation is informed by its role in helping individuals and institutions, other than its members, whose rights have been abused as well.

Be servant leaders, FUTA VC advises students

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HE Students Union leaders of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) have been advised to be servant leaders in their comportment and service delivery.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola and Dean, Students' Affairs, Dr. Kayode Alese, gave this counsel at the inauguration of the new leaders.

Daramola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Prof Tolulope Akinbogun, advised them to see leadership as a process whereby a person influences others to accomplish set objectives and direct an

organisation in a way that makes it cohesive and coherent.

"The underlying principles here are service, character and teamwork.

Do not let your position get into your heads.You must be humble and approach every situation with maturity.The character you display during your tenure will show the kind of persons you are. Strive to serve others, even as you lead," he said.

The vice chancellor promised that the students' leaders will benefit from local and international trainings in tandem with the extant culture of the university.

"We have consistently been spon-

soring student leaders to attend leadership training programmes within and outside Nigeria for the past six years. I believe your administration will not be an exception. This is part of our resolve to take FUTA and its products to a higher level of internationalisation in scholarship and excellence," he said.

Alese advised the leaders to make the interest of the electorate their utmost priority.

"You must represent them and put aside personal gains. As leaders you must be up and doing. You must be responsible and exhibit leadership qualities at all times. You must be able to take decisions in the overall

interest of not only the students' populace but the entire University Community," he said.

President, FUTA Students Union, Fowobaje Oluwaseun, said he and his colleagues would ensure that they take students unionism to a positive level and a crisis free tenure.

"We shall stand to uphold and uplift the integrity of the Students Union by rebranding FUTA and also ensure peace and progress in running the affairs of this great institution. Our mission is to build a better union, to bring back respect to the students union, to change the perspective of students about student unionism," he added.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

He said: "Our unionism holds it to be true that colonial subjugation is a historical anachronism that must be expunged from the world. We believe in the legacies of the struggles of Pan-Africanists and African liberation fighters, that colonialism must be thoroughly defeated."

Western Saharawi is the only colony in Africa on the United Nations' list of 16 dependent countries of the world. It is situated between Morocco to the North, and Mauritania to the South and Algeria to the East. At present, Morocco occupies about 80 per cent of Western Sahara and considers the region its three southern provinces till date.

Morocco's dominance of Western Saharawi pitched it against the Organisation of African Unity and later African Union, and on its adoption by the AU, forced Morocco to withdraw its membership.

Fashina said Western Saharawi remains the world richest in phosphate and fish, noting that these two resources may account for Moroccan insistence to hold on to the territory, in addition to the larger global interest by the West.

He lamented that Europe has failed to find a middle ground on the development despite its much claim to self determination.

"Europe is not playing its frontline role despite its claim that every nation has a right to self determination. In Morocco this is compromise, particularly in the interest of phosphate and fish," he said.

He said Nigeria, just like every other nation, has only given diplomatic support to the cause of Western Saharawi.

"The area that morocco has seized is the richest in the world in phosphate and fish.The Sahrawi people are living in refugee camps in Tindouf, about 30 kilometres away towards Algeria, but the rest of the country is occupied by Morocco,” he added.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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EDUCATION FEDPOFFA FILE Students build News website

•From left (front row): Mr. Edem Vindah, Corporate Media/Brand PR Manager, NB Plc; Mrs Catherine Ogunrinde, Principal, Eric Moore Senior High School, Surulere; Mrs Vervelde; Mr Ekanem; Mrs Onuk; Mr Adegbola; Mrs Emete Tonukari, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Manager, NB Plc with pupils of Baptist Senior High School, Obanikoro at the event.

P

OOR learning environment, socio-economic background, among others, have been dismissed by some experts as factors inhibiting success in life.

They spoke at the Beyond the School, an initiative of Nigerian Breweries Plc, which held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

About 250 pupils drawn from five public schools in Lagos, namely: Oregun Senior Secondary School, Oregun; Vetland Senior Secondary School, Agege; Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi; Baptist Senior High School, Obanikoro and Eric Moore Senior High School, Surulere attended the career counselling event.

They were told that their successes in life depended on the choices they make.

The Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Clementine Vervelde, said: “Poverty is no excuse. Being African is an advantage, not a disadvantage. Respect who you are.”

Rather than focus on their unfortunate situation, she counselled the pupils to cultivate the habit of reading wide, discover their abilities, talents and be ready for career oppor-

Poverty no excuse, pupils told

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

tunities when they come.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Thistle Praxis, Mrs Ini Onuk, said she was the daughter of a roadside watch repairer and attended a public school with five siblings. But because she was brilliant and focused, she excelled.

“It is not about your background; it is about you. It is about what you want to be. You can be anything you want to be if only you just focus. I attended Badagry Grammar School.

I was Senior Prefect (Girl) from SS1SS3. It was not because there were no SS3 students, but I was hot. Never allow anything to be a limitation.

One of the rules of my life is that nothing is impossible,” she said.

Regional Programme Coordinator of Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Abiodun Adegbola, who addressed the pupils on “Growing your money”, said poverty should not push anyone to crime.

Adegbola, who said he lost his father early and had to sponsor himself through the university, said: “Because your parents are not well to do does that mean you should become a nuisance tomorrow? No!” He also gave tips on financial discipline, advising the pupils to cultivate a savings and investment habit early in life.

‘You can be anything you want to be if only you just focus. I attended Badagry Grammar School. I was Senior Prefect (Girl) from SS1-SS3. It was not because there were no SS3 students, but I was hot.

Never allow anything to be a limitation. One of the rules of my life is that nothing is impossible’

The Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, noted that it was the first time more than one school was brought to the event.

He explained that a financial segment and competition were added to the programme to prepare the pupils to manage their careers successfully.

“Some of you may end up running your own business enterprises at the end of your academic pursuit. You should, therefore, not neglect any new information that you gather at an event like this,” he said.

In the Monopoly competition segment, Alabi Samod of Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi,Lagos won the first prize and went home with N500, 000 and a cash prize of N100, 000. Emmanuel Peter of Oregun Senior Secondary School, Oregun came second and got an educational fund of N250, 000 and N50, 000 cash prize.

The five winners in the third, fourth and fifth positions got N60,000, N50,000, and N20,000.

All the pupils also got take-home packs of Monopoly game.

Lagos SUBEB sensitises parents on placement test

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HE Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has outlined the procedures for registerion and placement tests for Primary Six pupils transiting to JSS1 in public secondary schools.

The exam billed for July 11, this year, is conducted by the Lagos State Examination Board.

Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, explained the importance of filling accurate information to parents and head teachers of private primary schools at a meeting at the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Pavilion, Alausa.

She emphasised the importance of allowing pupils register by themselves to ensure that their faces were captured during the exams.

Mrs Daodu said pupils that did not register or fail would not be admitted into any public school in the state, regardless of the appeals.

She warned private schools against hindering their pupils from registering, saying the act is illegal.

"For private schools to hinder the children from writing the examination is wrong and against the law. In such situation, affected parents should text or contact SUBEB to penalise the school," she said.

The SUBEB chair said provision had been made for a re-sit exam for those who fail the first time. However, a second failure would mean repeating primary six.

She said the exam would ensure the issuance of certificates to pupils upon graduation from primary school, urging parents to help their wards prepare.

The board has also extended the registration deadline till June 5, to accommodate more entries.

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

Mrs Daodu urged parents to be involved in the training and preparation of their wards for the examination, rather than leave it to teachers.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, cautioned par-

ents against neglecting their children's health and nutritional requirements.

She said: "Some parents don't do enough for their children. It is your duty, primarily, as parents, to take care of your children, while government's role is secondary.

Don't allow your child leave home hungry as this could disturb their academic development. Ensure they are well-fed."

The Commisioner also urged parents to continue to support the government by paying their taxes and obeying regulations.

A GROUP of eight students of the Schools of Applied Sciences and Technology; Communication and Information Technology and Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEDPOFFA), has developed a website on past and current events on politics, sports, security, fashion, education, entertainment, nutrition, information technology, and history.

There are plans to also add a job search link to provide information on vacancies for applicants.

Deputy Director, Entrepreneurship Development Centre of the polytechnic, Dr Sam Obaje, said the students were inspired to build the site to address the dearth of information and poor knowledge of the students about their immediate environment.

The students also planned to spread the website's coverage to other tertiary institutions across the country.

The website is www.bentopxel.com.

Members of the group are: AlukoTemitope (Computer Technology); Gbolahan Benjamin (Computer Technology); Ejiro Excellent (Computer Technology); Aileru Sherifdeen (Office Technology Management) and Oke Benjamin (Mass Communication).

Others are Adereyo Oke (Mass Communication); Adesope Ridwan (Computer Technology) and Idemudia Jude (Food Technology).

NASU elects officers MEMBERS of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), FEPOFFA chapter, have been praised for displaying maturity during the union's elections of new leaders.

Comrade Lawrence Okebiorun, representative of the National General Secretary, gave the commendation during the election.

The union held a by-election for the caretaker committee members to serve the remainder of the tenure of the last executives.

The new officers are: Mr Alli Emanuel (Chairman); Mr. Tope Joseph (General Secretary) and Mrs Ocheme Cecilia (Treasurer).

Fagbemiro Julius, Bello Akeem, Sheu Olarenwaju, Adesigbin Monsuru and Jimba Akabo were elected ex-officio members.

Okebiorun advised the new leaders to reach out to their opponents to build a formidable union. He urged them to sustain the mutual understanding between the union and the poly management.

Other officers at the election were Aderegun Adedamola (National H/Qtrs); Bukoye Abioye (Kwara State Chairman); Sina Owoeye (Kwara State Secretary) and Rapheal Oloyede (Member F and G).

Rector chairs committee

• From left: Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Gbolahan Daodu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Omolara Erogbogbo; Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs Dominga Odebunmi; Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye; and Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo at the unveiling of schools approval signage in Lagos State.

UNILORIN opens Plant Tissue Culture Lab

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HE Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has inaugurated a plant tissue culture laboratory, capable of producing half a million plants a year.

At the event on Thursday, last week

Ambali said the completion of the lab marks another giant step in the history of the university. He dedicated the project to the use of man and the glory of God. The lab, located in the Wing D of the UNILORIN Central Research

Lab, is expected to get technical support from CGBIBT Uka Tarsadia University, India.

The Principal Researcher in charge of the lab, Prof. R. Kaishnamulthy, said the lab is small but a giant step in plant tissue research in the university.

THE FEDPOFFA Rector, Dr Mufutau Olatinwo, has been elected as chairman of the Committee of Federal Rectors (COFER).

Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Dr Philipa Idogho, will serve as his deputy.

Their administration would run till the expiration of their tenures as rectors.

Meanwhile, more awards of recognition for service to the education sector and the society have come the way of Dr. Olatiwo.

In Minna, Niger State, the Rector bagged the fellowship/entrepreneurship award of the Institute of Classic Entrepreneurship (ICENT).

He had earlier been made a member of the Advisory Board of the institute.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

EDUCATION

Be good leaders, outgoing press club members told

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UTGOING members of the Model Press Club of African Church Model College, Ifako/Ijaiye, Lagos State, have been enjoined to portray the ideals of good leadership regardless of their positions and age, to ensure national development.

Managing Editor, Online and Special Publications The Nation Newspapers, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, gave the advice at the fourth yearly dinner and re-launch of the school magazine, The Footprints, which held in the

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

school premises to honour outgoing members of the club.

Represented by the medium’s Head, Education Desk, Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Otufodunrin, who spoke on: ‘Perspectives to good leadership’, advised outgoing members of the club to commit themselves to transparency, excellence and clear vision, which he referred to as ideals of good leadership.

He said: “In one way or the other,

we are all leaders and we all need to play our part to ensure good leadership. We need good students, good teachers, good parents, good followers and many more to achieve good leadership.”

Miss Belo-Osagie also advised them to sustain the values their school has inculcated in them to pass the tests of life.

“Your preparation for leadership starts now and not when you have finished in the university. You know

you learn a lot of values in secondary school, so I would advise you not to lose them here because when you get out there, your values are going to be sorely tested. You will really see that the world is 50 shades of grey,” she added.

Coordinator of the press club, Mr Olumide Renner, challenged them to prove their mettle.

“I am proud today that among these ones are people ready to serve.

Their interaction with the difficult tasks and activities of the club is to prepare them for and stimulate them to action… To the outgoing Press Club members, the work is not done

yet. This is the time to prove yourself worthy of this institution like many others before you,” he said.

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief of The Footprints, Olaniyan Ezekiel, urged fellow pupils to embrace the art of writing.

“When you write, it boosts your morale and sharpens your knowledge of the field you are writing about. There is beauty attached to seeing your name in print; so automatically, your self confidence gets boosted. I think every pupil ought to write and experience what press club members are experiencing,” he added.

‘You know you learn a lot of values in secondary school, so I would advise you not to lose them here because when you get out there, your values are going to be sorely tested. You will really see that the world is 50 shades of grey’

CHESS contest ends in style

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• Fashola (second right) with Ms Azeez (third left) and Sengpiel (right) during the inauguration.

New automation lab enhances technical ITH the establishment of college training workers from multinational companies like Coca Cole, Boulos, the Festo Authorised and

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Certified Training (FACT) Centre for industrial automation at the Government Technical College, Agidingbi, local capacity to automate production processes is expected to be greatly enhanced.

The facility was inaugurated by Governor Babatunde Fashola on Monday, who said that it would eliminate the need for foreign capacity-building workshops as the centre is equipped with the relevant tools and manpower to provide qualitative training.

He added that better training would ultimately help Nigeria to produce more goods locally.

"I have been inside this laboratory and I can tell you most of the things you'll probably see only in your textbooks, video documentaries, you will now interact with in live demonstrations. And they would hopefull enable you to understand better the basis and processes behind pneumatics, which is pressure for air and for liquids; automation, which is industrialisation and processing.

As I have said time and again, the road to prosperity here lies in only three words: 'Made in Nigeria'.

And the more of 'made in Nigeria' that we begin to see around us, the more prosperity we will experience.

"Many of the trainings that we usually spend money to send people overseas to experience this kind of laboratory is now in Nigeria, so we have taken one step towards Made in Nigeria, by domiciling the knowledge and the practical experience here," he said.

Special Adviser on Eko Project, Ms Ronke Azeez, said the centre has gotten certificate of accredita-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

tion that would allow it to offer international training. (The certificate was presented to Fashola by the Managing Director of Festo, Peter Sengpiel.)

Ms Azeez added that four instructors underwent intensive training facilitated by Festo, a German automation company and partner on the initiative, which equipped them with skills to train, not only students of the college, but also

Dangote, etc.

Ms Azeez added that training offered by the cente is part of the curriculum of the National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB), which conducts terminal external examination for technical college students.

The FACT centre boasts of two laboratories: Basic Mechatronics and Advanced laboratories, which are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and ICT facilities used for writing programs for automating manufacturing processes.

‘Many of the trainings that we usually spend money to send people overseas to experience this kind of laboratory is now in Nigeria, so we have taken one step towards Made in Nigeria, by domiciling the knowledge and the practical experience here’

HE grand finale of the yearly Nigerian International Schools Chess League competition ended last Saturday at Vivian Fowler Girls College, Oregun, Lagos.

The team from Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State beat others with 34.5 points. Vivian Fowler Girls and Bellina College, Akoka, emerged first and second runners up with 34 and 30 points.

The two teams from Bellina College also dominated the junior cadre with an outstanding 35 and 32 points to clinch first and second positions with 30 points.

Coordinator of the competition Mr Kunle Fasan expressed happiness that though there were no sponsors, the contest had continued over the last decade "We have had to cope through thick and thin over the last 10 years without sponsorship,” Fasan said.

"We have done this all alone but we are happy especially over the

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By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

God has blessed us with. This is just the beginning as we intend to make the scholarship scheme a continuing project."

Beneficiary schools include: Modupe Nursery and Primary School, Alafia Nur/Pry school, Opeyemi Nur/Pry school, United Community Secondary School, Rukayat Science Academy, Access Nur/Pry School, Okesena Primary School; and Quareeb Nur/Pry School.

Beneficiaries' fees were paid by the foundation to their various

fruits of our endeavour. We can confidently beat our chest that participants who have emerged over time can represent this country both in local and international competitions.

"But we are not foreclosing the opportunity of a sponsorship.

There are many advantages attached to chess. It makes a player smarter; think faster and it also helps players in their academic pursuits," he added.

Old students seek support for N1.5b HE Unity Schools Old Stuendowment fund dents' Association (USOSA)

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has appealed to its members, to donate towards its N500 million scholarship scheme and N1billion endowment fund.

In a statement, President-General of USOSA, Kabiru Nuhu-Koko, said N500 million was the amount required for the take-off of the scholarship scheme.

He noted that the scholarship would be awarded to 250 unity school leavers for the 2015/2016 academic session based on merit, gender, geo-political zone and physically challenged.

Foundation offers Ilorin students scholarships NON-GOVERNMENT Organisation, Sola Idiagbon Jimmy (SIJ) Foundation, has given scholarships to over 300 primary and secondary school pupils in Kwara State.

Its President, Sola Idiagbon Jimi, who handed the scholarships to beneficiaries, described the gesture as his own way of giving back to the society.

He said: "There is great potential in these children. Unfortunately, a lot are from poor homes whose parents are just struggling to put food on the table. We decided to do this from the little that

•Fasan

schools through Manzuna Aliyu and Ahmed Alhassan, who are the coordinators of the foundation.

In addition to the scholarships, the Foundation also distributed over 30,000 books and pens to students across the state. Materials, such as praying kettles, Qurans, hijabs, and tesbews, were also distributed to mosques in the Ilorin metropolis.

It was also revealed that graduates would benefit from the generosity of the foundation, as a few selected ones would be sponsored for their masters as well.

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

"Each Unity school's best graduating student will be awarded a scholarship tenable in any Nigerian university in Nigeria. A number of best graduating female students and some physically challenged students will also be awarded scholarships. N500million is required for the take-off of the scholarship scheme," the statement said.

The association is also seeking donations for the N1billion Endowment Fund, which was set up to build a secretariat for the association, and address the welfare needs of members, among others.

"The proceeds of the Endowment Fund will be used to meet the welfare needs of USOSAns, strengthen USOSA's financial capacity, create a bright and prosperous future for its members, assist its members who may from time to time need assistance, build an up-to-date plaza that will house the association's secretariat, provide facilities for commercial accommodation and above all positively intervene in the Nigerian Education sector."

Mr Kabiru Nuhu-Koko pledged that the donated funds would be well-managed.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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EDUCATION EDUTALK

with

What conversion means

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HE news of the conversion of four colleges of education to universities last week was heartwarming. The colleges had waited so long for it to happen. Two polytechnics, the Yaba College of Kofoworola Technology (YABATECH) and the Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY) are still waiting for this good news.

Kofosagie@yahoo.com They have been on the waiting list for very long as well, and must sud08054503077 (SMS only) denly feel impatient now that the colleges, with which they were once listed, have been upgraded.

However, what strikes me about the whole conversion story is the statement credited to a student of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State. The English student said with the new status, she would be proud to call herself an undergraduate of a university because she had previously been ridiculed by friends for attending a college of education. Are you shaking your head along with me?

There are over 100 colleges of education in Nigeria producing a minimum of NCE graduates who train for three years to qualify to teach in primary and junior secondary schools. If some people could laugh at the girl for attending a college of education, they are inadvertently ridiculing hundreds of thousands of NCE students trained across the country.

The incoming government has a huge task before it to fix the education system such that whatever institution students train in would not be perceived as inferior. Right now in our system, anyone that trains in any institution other than a university is regarded as not quite good enough.

This belief is fuelling our craze for paper qualifications. It is also a major reason that polytechnics and colleges of education want to convert to universities.

We have a great need for human capacity development in Nigeria superior human capacity development - to move our economy forward.

We cannot afford to run a system of education that trains a large chunk of our youth to be redundant, unrecognised or inferior in the society. We need a vibrant workforce of well-motivated, highly-skilled workers to occupy domestic and even international positions.

I have seen university graduates who cannot defend their certificates, yet are promoted above polytechnic graduates because of the BSc/HND dichotomy. To make matters worse, some universities continue the injustice by not allowing polytechnic graduates to do ‘academic’ postgraduate programmes.

The Yoruba proverb that says: "not one road leads to the market" helps us to understand that various methods can be used to achieve similar objectives. Every level of learning should matter because they count for something. The joke about a scholar who scorned a fisherman for not being knowledgeable about so many things is a good example of how one person cannot claim to have it all. At the end, the fisherman had the last laugh because when a storm came, it happened that the scholar could not swim - and that meant, he could not save himself.

A dressmaker has skills that the first lady of a country needs to look good. She should be proud to train as one and not be inferior. She should have a certificate that recognises her skills. The same should go for a plumber, mechanic, hairdresser, teacher, and other graduates from institutions other than the university.

Belo-Osagie

• From right: Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr Adeseye Ogunlewe; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, and Prof Lateef Sanni, at the institution’s 49th Inaugural Lecture titled: "Drying for Wealth, Food Security and Nation Building" delivered by Prof Sanni

Celebrities mentor pupils

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BOUT eight celebrities mentored pupils of Eko-Akete Senior Secondary School, Lagos Island during the school's career awareness programme last week.

The two-day event, held at the Sahara Guidance and Counselling Centre of the school, was organised by Sahara Group Foundation and Kasher Trading Company.

The pupils, who were counselled in batches, had fun receiving tips from icons of their chosen fields.

In the sport segment, Chioma Ajunwa- Opara, who became the first female athlete in Nigeria to win an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta '96, underscored the importance of education to a fulfilled life.

The Police Officer serving in Ogudu/Ojota in Kosofe Local Government Area, recounted her challenges as an Ordinary Level certificate holder who was scorned and sidelined in almost every area of her life.

She said her poor background made it difficult for her to acquire a university education. Notwithstanding, sport had been her passion since her tender age Mrs Ajunwa-Opara said despite the hardship, determination, discipline and dedication in sport were key to her success.

"I urge you to combine education and sport so that you will have some-

By Jane Chijioke

thing to fall back on. Some of us that left the international scene fell by the road side because we do not have our certificate. I passed through intimidations, dehumanisation. I started like anybody; I never knew Achunwa's family would become a household name. Today, my name is used to set exams, used to play quiz, all these are because of that sport I gave my all to.

"Never see sport as a waste of time, put your interest in it. I want you all to go back and think about the course you are going to choose because of your future so that you will not become a liability. Remember, if you are not educated, there is no future for you, you will end up doing menial jobs" she said.

In the music segment mentored by Bez Idakula, a music artiste who graduated from Covenant University in 2005 with a B.Sc in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the pupils showcased their skills in Rap, Blues, RnB, Gospel, among others.

He advised them to be self-confident and purposeful in life. He urged them to be unique in their styles and always think out of the box.

Idakula said: ‘’You need to understand that there is enough space for everyone to excel in life. If someone tries to show off himself before you,

look out for something worth it to add to your own knowledge rather than brag with him.’’

He charged them to do music that could add value to the society as well as work hard and smart, rather than be “jack of all trade and master of none.” The pupils also learnt more from Nollywood’s Kate Henshaw on ICT, Finance, Engineering, Human Resources and Law. An SS1 pupil of the school, Lawal Yusuf, said after listening to Mrs Ajunwa-Opara, he was inspired to be focused as he aspires to be a renowned footballer.

Another pupil Akinbode Gbolahun, who wants to be a footballer, said he never intended to further his education after having his school leaving certificate but that the counselling had made him to understand the relevance of school.

Principal of the school, Mrs Silifa Ibrahim commended the programme, saying it would enhance the pupils’ knowledge of their careers.

Tomiwa Adesida, Sales/Corporte Social Responsibility Manager, Sahara Group, said youths were faced with making a right career choice and if not well-guided would end up choosing a wrong choice which prompted the organisation to help provide guidance to the youths.

Exhibition for school owners, teachers coming

‘There are over 100 colleges of education in Nigeria producing a minimum of NCE graduates who train for three years to qualify to teach in primary and junior secondary schools. If some people could laugh at the girl for attending a college of education, they are inadvertently ridiculing hundreds of thousands of NCE students trained across the country’

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CHOOL owners and teachers seeking new ideas to improve productivity in their schools would benefit from at least 20 seminars that would hold during the Seventh Total School Support Seminar/Exhibition (TOSSE) billed for June 11-12.

The seminars, drawn from the theme of the event, ‘’Inspiring the future’’, would be facilitated by seasoned resource persons, including Ms Bolaji Osime, chief executive officer, Global International College; Dr Femi Ogunsanya, president, Association of Private Educator of Nigeria (APEN), and Ms Dolapo Fatoki, deputy head, Greensprings School.

The exhibition, which is being organised by Edumark, a school branding firm, at the Ten Degrees Event Centre, Oregun, Lagos, would also provide a platform for schools to interact with suppliers of educational products/services and e-learning solutions for their schools’ needs.

At a briefing to announce the event, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, chief executive officer, Edumark, said the exhibition, which is free, would help them keep up with global best practices.

Given the roles that policy makers and school managers play in the smooth running of schools, Mrs Ogunde said they would benefit a lot

From my Inbox Re: Edo's shining example (Thursday, May 21-05-2015) • Mrs Ogunde (left) and Ogunfatimi at the press briefing.

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

from the programme to improve their supervisory roles. To this end, she explained that the programme is both open to public and private school administrators.

"There must be continuous improvement of our teachers and all those who have the task of managing our educational system. This must cut across both public and private sector. This is what TOSSE represents - an education show for educators to learn, to see and network.

Our message to the education community is 'Never stop learning'", she said.

Mr Oluwaseun Ogunfeitimi, eLearning manager, Chips, Bits and Bytes, one of the firms partnering Edumark for the fair, said TOSSE is a platform that helps school owners find local solutions to their e-learning problems rather than seeking to go abroad.

"TOSSE is a one-stop event for all elearning solutions in West Africa.

Being able to bring all solutions firms under the same umbrella is an achievement," he said.

Today, I do not share your viewpoint on the UNIFORMITY of the tenure of vice chancellors. If the Federal Government chooses a fiveyear tenure, WHY should the states do likewise? Aren't we in a federation? It is this kind of 'follow-follow' that has created problems: UNIFORM Salary Scale and conditions of service. With regional self government in the 50s and early 60s, the Western Region paid the highest wages and there was no agitation for 'Uniformity'. From 08034726---.

Re: Of passion or by compulsion (Thursday, May 14-05-2015) Shalom. I am Sule Bibot from Jos. I read about your experience in The Nation of Thursday, 14:05:15 and it is the same with mine at GSS Bwalbwang, Gindiri, Plateau State. Thank God now I am a Ph.D student of the Geography Department, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. Wishing you peace Kofoworola.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

*CAMPUSES

‘The suffering is too much’

Students: So long, Mr President

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 53

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THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Students and Corps members, who served as ad-hoc workers in the last elections, have stormed the Cross River State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Calabar to protest the “reluctance” to pay their allowances, almost two months after the elections. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Graduate School of University of Calabar) reports.

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OMORROW, those elected in the elections held between March and April will take office. But, about six weeks after the exercise, some of the ad-hoc staff hired by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are yet to be paid their allowances.

INCE hired thousands of ad-hoc staff, mostly Corps members and students, who were trained to join its workers to conduct the elections.

The ad-hoc workers were asked to apply on the commission’s website, where they provided their identification details, including bank accounts and National Identity Card numbers. Each applicant obtained a print-out from the website, which they used for accreditation at the commission’s offices nationwide.

But, since the conclusion of the elections, the ad-hoc staff have not been paid. They said INEC officials have been giving them excuses rather than pay them.

Frustrated, some of the ad-hoc staff protested in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, last week to draw attention to their plight.

Most of the protesters were used as polling and presiding officers.

One of them, Kingsley Mark, told our reporter that INEC officials were frustrating their efforts to get their stipends, saying he needed the money to complete his school fee.

“I applied to be ad-hoc staff because I needed money to complete my school fee. I am surprised that INEC has been scheming to cheat us,” he said.

The protesters, who marched on major streets in Calabar, said they were being owed training allowance. Emeka Okere, a student of Abia State University in Uturu (ABSU), who worked in a village, said: “The training was supposed to last for three days but it was extended by another day because INEC instructors came very late the first day. When they arrived, they said it was not possible to start the training. We were not paid.”

The training, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, was followed by immediate recruitment and mobilisation of the ad-hoc staff to several polling units as presiding and assistant presiding officers. The polling officers are entitled to N4,500 and N11,000 as training and election allowances.

These have not been paid.

Patrick Ukatu, a student in Cross

•One of the placards displayed by the protesters

‘INEC used and dumped us’ River State, who worked as an Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) in Ekori, Odukpani Local Government Area, said: “We have been frustrated by the way INEC is treating us. They keep postponing the payment of our allowance. The other day, they said we should be patient and up till now, I have not heard anything. Each time we meet them, they will say they are working on it. But, for how long?”

The protesters, under the aegis of Joint INEC Creditors, marched on the INEC office on Murtala Mohammed Highway. They carried placards and stood under the

•Ad-hoc staff protest unpaid allowances sun to present their case.

Students from Abia State claimed that they were cheated by INEC. Moses Nwankpa, who was deployed in Ukwa East Local Government, said INEC promised to pay them N4,500 and N3,500 as training and feeding allowances. The money, he said, was not paid before the elections.

“There was no arrangement for our welfare. No food and water. We were sent to go and suffer. They have not paid any other money to

us,” he said.

To Mary Ukandu, a student of Federal Polytechnic in Nekede (NEKEDE POLY), INEC used and dumped its ad-hoc workers. She said: “They recruited us during the elections and forgot about us because the elections are over. Before and during the elections, they were sending text messages to us, communicating with us and we thought that was a good way to relate with your temporary workers. But, now it is time to pay us, they have run

away. No calls. No messages. No e-mails.”

Joy Ikpi, a Batch “A” Corps member, served as polling officer in Ukwa East Local Government, where she did her primary assignment.

She said: “I stayed back after my passing out to participate in the elections. I had thought INEC would pay us immediately after the election. I didn’t know all these frustrations would come afterwards. They told us to drop our account numbers and promised •Continued on page 52

•Invest in research, govt told•CAMPUSLIFE reporters shine at Quill Awards-P54

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CAMPUS LIFE

Ngozi: Remembering Pushing Out the campus Amazon

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O put it simply, leadership is influence. The ideal leader is someone whose life and character motivate people to follow. The kind of leadership derives its authority from the force of righteous example, and not merely the power of prestige, personality or position.”

The quote above is taken from “The Book on Leadership” by John MacArthur, a prominent Bible scholar and pastor based in the United States. After reading the book which gives us 26 principles for leadership found in the life of Apostle Paul, I found some of the attributes in the life of late Mrs. Ngozi Agbo, initiator and first editor of the Campus Life pullout in this great newspaper who passed on on May 28, 2012, exactly three years today.

MacArthur uses Paul’s voyage to Rome, and subsequent shipwreck, as chronicled in Acts 27 and Paul’s second letter to Corinth to derive these principles. Throughout its pages, MacArthur rendered a wonderful synopsis of God’s standard for leadership. These principles are both a relief and a challenge. As a relief, we don’t have to feel bad that we are not as inventive, creative, or powerful as the CEO of a major Nigerian corporation in order to lead and have influence. Although we are relieved from the world’s standard, we now must face the counter-culture challenge of leading as God would have us to lead: with character, humility, and service.

The author told his readers that they are all called to lead whether at home, work, school, or play. He did an exceptional job of making God’s principles of leadership accessible and easy to comprehend. For those who met the late Ngozi in person - or by extension through her work – they cannot but notice her exceptional leadership qualities and influence which is being felt to date through the exploits of her students.

One of such is the annual Ngozi Agbo Memorial Lecture which the Press Club of the University of Lagos instituted - on their own - to keep the vision, ideals and dreams of this great and influential lady alive.

This singular act goes to reinforce the fact that great ideas and visions don’t die, they blossom even if the visionary is no longer alive.

Being a mental picture or concept in the imagi-

with nation, a vision is also the ability to anticipate the direction a worthy cause or future an event will take, such is the 08116759750 power of vision.

Ngozi dreamt years before she (SMS only) passed on that Nigeria - despite the •aagboa@gmail.com socio-economic and other challenges she faces - has the potentials of being a great nation. She believed that the podivisive individuals who have the intentials lie in the nate capacity of filling their minds with hands of the xenophobic ideologies that have the tenyouths and she dency of creating hatred, rancour and birthed an idea bitterness in the society. This they can that would give only do if they are inculcated with the them the platright value system. form to express The capacity building Workshops and their dreams for Award ceremonies she undertook evthe nation. A ery year with the support of Coca-Cola veritable platNigeria and Nigerian Bottling Comform, The Napany is a pointer to the fact that apart tion newspaper from merely sending in articles for pubemployed her lication she ensures she has one-on-one giving her wings contact with her undergraduates to be to soar. Ngozi, certain that the venture they are underthe lovely lady taking is far bigger than having their stowho wrote this ries published in the newspaper. column for four •The late Mrs Agbo Another sterling quality of the vision is the years, “passed” the mantle to me to “run with the vision” (the title of the first article I wrote on molding of character. Ngozi was a disciplinarian to the core and she doesn’t mince words June 28, one week after her burial).

Her vision is anchored on building the total when it comes to discipline and her students man and looking at the core values and attributes know that, I will point out two instances here. that defines him, attributes that always Two weeks before her death she held her 9th emphasises the highest level of moral and ethi- Annual Campus Life workshop in Lagos where cal regeneration and the molding of sound char- she invited more than 50 students from tertiary acter which she instilled in her “children.” She institutions across Nigeria. Some undergradunever failed to remind them that they are always ates who could not make it to the workshop a shining light to their generation, and coming called her and pleaded that she sends them their into contact with these students, I always notice certificate of attendance.

She took her time to patiently lecture them that that the objective are bearing fruit as the UNILAG students clearly demonstrated by their it is morally wrong for her to send certificate to someone who did not attend the workshop; she instituting an annual lecture in her memory.

Does that mean her preoccupation is only with equally told them that it will be against the teundergraduates? Absolutely not, Ngozi was also net of what she teaches. Some of the students a student of leadership and those who were fa- called back to apologise for their misdemeanor miliar with this column when she handled it saying they never saw it that way. What actuknow too well of her passion for leadership; ally touched me was how she linked the whole from leadership in the home to religious and incident to the vision of Campus Life. There are countless other encounters that I can’t mention secular leadership.

She often drive the point home to her under- here for lack of space.

So what are the marks of true leadership that graduates to steer clear of ethnic jingoists and

Agbo Agbo

she bore? I will list five clear attributes that I identified during our brief union. The first is deep insight. Authentic leaders have insight which we sometimes refer to this as vision, but that usually has exclusive reference to the future – the project at hand clearly demonstrates that. While leaders must have vision, they need more, they need wisdom and discernment.

Secondly, initiative plays a fundamental role. In this regard, authentic leaders go first.

They don’t sit on the sidelines. They don’t ask others to do what they are unwilling to do themselves. Instead, they lead by example.

Ngozi blazed the trail by introducing Campus Life which almost all the newspapers today have variants of.

Thirdly, authentic leaders exert influence.

Ngozi did. I found out that it is no coincidence that influence and influenza (the flu) come from the same root word. Real leaders are contagious. People “catch” what they have.

People are drawn to their vision and their values. They are able to gather a following and move people to act. In essence, they create ripple effect wherever they go. Ngozi did.

True leaders have impact. At the end of the day, leaders make a difference. Ngozi made a huge impact on a generation of Nigerian students, she did not sit and bemoan “our falling standard of education,” she just did what she needed to do. The measure of leadership cannot be found in the leader; it is found in the impact the leader has on his or her followers.

A true leader has integrity which in a sense is the foundation of authentic leadership.

Those who knew her can attest to this sterling character in her. She abhors mediocrity and sloppiness, she dots her “i’s” and crosses her “t’s” always.

There is no better epitaph to write for this bold, unique, courageous and determined lady than to say that some of her “children” are now living out what she taught them, her efforts were not in vain. Wale Ajetunmobi now edits the Campus Life pages, Gbenga Ojo now publishes Exceptional Magazine, Faith Olaniyan now runs a Youth Development programme, and Jumoke Awe runs a GirlChild NGO. Again, there are more of Ngozi’s former students contributing positively toward the emergence of a better society which space will not allow me to recount. I believe they will tell their own stories.

The child she died giving birth to is now a strong and happy toddler with visibly signs of intelligence which goes to show that her blood runs in his veins. No doubt, Ngozi, the campus Amazon, lives on.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADUATES The Nation, Nigeria, in collaboration with African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) and Network for a Free Society (NFS), is calling for entries into the 2015 essay competition.

Details are as follows: Topic: Government regulations and controls are the biggest threat to jobs in Africa today. Discuss using practical examples Participants must discuss the topic using contemporary examples.

Qualification: Participant must be a student in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in all African countries. The format of the text should be in Microsoft Word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested student can visit: www.networkforafreesociety.org for useful background materials on the theme of this contest. Be informed that no participant is allowed to lift materials directly from works of any author and claim to be his/her own. Plagiarism automatically disqualifies any entry, which contains work of another author.

If any text or sentence is copied from another author’s work, it must be shown in quotation marks and writer must credit the original author at the bottom of the paper.

On the first page of the completed essay, participant must write his/her full names, department, and year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and functional mobile phone number.

All entries should be sent to: adedayo.thomas@gmail.com

•Some of the protesters at the INEC office

‘INEC used and dumped us’ •Continued from page 29

that the money would be sent to us.

As I speak to you now, we have not received anything.”

Dr Phillip Andrew, a lawyer, said the protesters could sue the commission for breach of agreement.

He said: “Some INEC officials lost their lives and some were wounded during the exercise. I don’t know if there is any serious effort made by the commission to compensate the families of the dead when those alive have not earned what they deserve. Who will fight for the dead?”

Esther Ode, a student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), who

served in Calabar Municipality, said she has not heard from the INEC since after the elections.

“INEC has not given me anything.

I disappointed myself to have spent the little money I had with me to run up and down during the training and the election period,” she said.

Mr Chris Okereke, INEC’s Director of Operations in Calabar, who addressed the protesters, blamed the delay on what he called inconsistencies in sorting out the ad-hoc workers’ details. He said some gave incorrect bank account numbers, which the commission would want to correct before paying them.

Entries will be received between March 26 and June 26, 2015. Late entries will not be accepted.

Winners will be announced on July 29, 2015.

PRIZES 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 2nd-Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 3rd-Franklin Cudjoe (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to23, 2015 4th- The Nation CAMPUSLIFE (Media Bronze Prize): $300 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 We also have eight consolation prize of $50 each.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

53

CAMPUS LIFE President Goodluck Jonathan will bow out tomorrow. How will students remember him? Some say they won’t miss him; others laud his ‘achievements’. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI writes.

Students: So long, Mr President

T

OMORROW, there will be a change of government. President Goodluck Jonathan will relinquish power to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated him in the March 28 election. It was the first time a sitting President will lose election in the nation.

For the outgoing President Jonathan, tomorrow marks the end of his six-year administration. Jonathan came to power, promising to take Nigeria to greater height through his Transformation Agenda. He assumed office, following the death of his predecessor, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010.

But, did the nation fare well under his administration? Given the hardship in the twilight of his administration, he may be leaving a bad legacy.

In the last few weeks, the country has been in darkness; electricity generation dropped to below 2,000 Megawatts. Petrol, a commodity which the nation produces in large quantity, is sold far beyond the fixed pump price because of scarcity. Life has become more unbearable for the people.

Students, especially, will not forget the outgoing administration in a hurry. Under the Jonathan administration, university, polytechnic and college of education teachers shut down campuses for over 10 months because of non-implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which they signed with government in 2009.

There were other incidents, which almost brought down education to its knees. One was the killing students in Buni Yadi and Potiskum, in Yobe State by Boko Haram in-

•Odunayo

•Oseni

•Olaoluwa

surgents. 43 were killed in Buni Yadi and 47 in Potiskum.

Under Jonathan, the insurgents stepped up their bloody campaign against education. Will students miss him? “No,” says Segun Odunayo, a 300-Level student of Adekunle Ajasin University in AkungbaAkoko (AAUA) in Ondo State. The era of President Jonathan will not be forgotten by students and parents, he said.

Segun said: “Although, the Jonathan administration established more universities, but some of his policies were guided by politics and not nation-building. The universities created are as poorly equipped as the existing ones. President Jonathan’s exit is good riddance.”

The poor funding and perennial closure of tertiary institutions which marred the tenure of the outgoing administration has left education in a shambles, Abiodun Omonijo, a graduating student of Political Science of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said.

He said: “The problems with education did not arise in one day; they are conse-

quences of long years of neglect, which I consider to be deliberate on the part of the ruling class. Fixing the problems would require years of planning which will transcend the tenure of the incoming administration.”

Abiodun questioned the reason for establishing more universities when the existing ones are dying for lack of adequate funding.

“Why would I miss President Jonathan when his administration failed to address the hike in school fees imposed on us by the management?” Quadri Olaoluwa, a 400-Level Accounting student of OAU, asked, adding that the president remains insensitive to the plight of his parents who cannot afford the school fee. ‘’I will miss him,” Ezekiel, a medical student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) said. “There is no government that is perfect. President Jonathan has performed excellently well in education, he added.

“The industrial actions by the lecturers’ unions were the only noticeable calamity that befell education during his time. But,

who is talking about 14 new universities established by the president? These schools would make tertiary education admission accessible and affordable to many. The Jonathan administration also introduced the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), which gave opportunity to thousands of First Class graduates to further their studies in world-class institutions across the globe. Although, there is work to be done. But, compared to the rot he met, Jonathan has created a good platform for the incoming government to work on,” Ezekiel said.

Oluwatobi Oseni, a graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, said despite students’ bad experience under Jonathan, the outgoing president made far-reaching decisions that will turn out to be good in the end.

Hammed Hamzat, a graduate of the University of Ibadan, said: “Given the rot in education, it will be out of place to say President Jonathan has done well in the sector. Whether he will be missed will be judged by the effort of the incoming administration to clear up the mess.”

It has been a tale of woes since marketers stopped importing fuel over non-payment of subsidy claims. On campuses, students are groaning as the fuel scarcity bites harder, writes OLAWALE ODEYEMI (300-Level History University of Ilorin).

“W

HY should we suffer to buy a commodity we produce?”

Alimat Taiwo, a 400-Level Political Science student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), soliloquised as she stood at the terminus, waiting for a commercial vehicle that would take her to school for a morning lecture.

After standing in scorching sun for two hours, Alimat returned to her off-campus hostel in anger and that was the end of the day’s lecture. She was not alone though; there were many students at the terminus left stranded because there were no cabs to convey them to the campus. The commercial drivers plying the campus route had gone to look for fuel, which remained scarce at the time of this report.

This is one of the heart-rending experiences students face daily since the beginning of the current nationwide fuel scarcity. While the scarcity has caused untold hardship to majority of the people, activities in many higher institutions have been altered because of the situation.

At the UNILORIN, for instance, the everbusy campus has partly been deserted by students and lecturers, who could not go to school because of fuel. The institution will start its second semester examination soon, but lecture rooms are filled by a considerable number of students, because of the hike in transport fare.

A bus driver, who simply identified himself as Sanni, told CAMPUSLIFE that the hike in fare was a direct result of hike in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), following the scarcity. He said most filling stations in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, sell PMS far beyond approved price.

“I spent over N5,000 to buy 20 litres of fuel this morning. The queue was so long, that I had to pay my way to get the fuel on time,” he said.

Another driver, who gave his name as Oluwole, said the scarcity is biting hard because many students could not afford the transport fare. He said it was difficult to get

•Students in a rush for cab at the UNILORIN Terminus

‘The suffering is too much’ fuel, which is being sold between N140 and N250 per litre.

Many are left stranded because they could get vehicles to convey them to the campus.

The university-owned buses were released to ferry the students to and from campus at cheaper rate but it is always difficult for weak students to get on board.

Sekinat Sanni, a 100-Level Biochemistry student, said the situation was becoming unbearable for her, saying only the strongest could get into the university buses. Her words: “The suffering is becoming unbearable for students, especially those of us living in town, who have early morning classes to attend.

Now, I have to wake up as early as 5am to meet the early morning bus, during which there will be no rush. This is quite stressful to me.”

Another student, Rose Adeleke, 300-Level French, said: “How can one explain a situation where you have to pay more for a distance that you travel daily at cheap fare?”

At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the situation is the same. Students stay longer at the school park before getting vehicles to transport them back to their off-campus hostels.

Omotayo Oyewole, a final year student of Estate Management, bemoaned the situation, saying: “Despite the news of payment of subsidy to oil importers by the Federal Government to arrest the fuel scarcity, we still suffer for the product we produce in large quantity. This is a slap on us.”

Muhibah Olaniyan, a 200-Level Medicine and Surgery student of UNILAG, said the hike in transport fare has compounded students’ woes.

She said: “The exorbitant fare being charged by motorists since the scarcity began has betrayed the very essence of human sensibility, which is fairness, justice and equality. The fares are outrageous and ridiculous. I will urge the government to respond promptly to this situation, which may lead to a total breakdown of law and order.”

In Abuja, the nation’s capital city, the situation has led to desertion of classrooms by students of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA). Peterside Anyanwu, a 300-Level Law student, said the scarcity was biting students hard. He said many students have stopped going for lecture until after tomorrow’s handing-over ceremony, when the situation could be stabilised by incoming administration.

While there is no end in sight on the scarcity of fuel, students expect the incoming administration to quickly fix the problem to lessen the suffering of the masses. Would President Muhammadu Buhari meet the demands of the oil importers?

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

54

CAMPUS LIFE CAMPUSLIFE reporters shine at Quill Awards

C

URRENT and exCAMPUSLIFE correspondents made a good outing at the Promasidor Quill Awards held last weekend at Sheraton Hotel and Tower in Ikeja, Lagos. The award, according to Promasidor Nigeria Limited, is to raise the bar of excellent writing and reporting among media practitioners.

Toluwani Eniola, a Punch reporter and former CAMPUSLIFE correspondent at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), won the Best Report on Children with his entry: Man abandons children in boarding school for eight years.

Also, Gilbert Alasa, a Foreign Languages graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and a Corps member, won the Future Writer of the Year with his entry, The change we need – an incisive story he wrote two days to the March 28 presidential election to galvanise the youths on why the need to vote out underperforming government at the centre.

Other CAMPUSLIFE correspondents, who got nominated for other categories in the award, are Emeka Attah and Habeeb Whyte.

Attah, a graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Anambra State and a freelance reporter with The Sun, was a runner up in Best Report on Education category, won by The Nation’s Taiwo Alimi with the entry: Where the blind dare to dream. Attah entry’s was School graduation for Sale.

Whyte, a Law graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), was a runner up in Future Writer of the Year category with his entry titled: A date with history.

Multiple-award winning Journalist Seun Akioye won the best CSR and Industry Report category. Akioye was a guest speaker at the yearly CAMPUSLIFE Correspondents’ Workshop held last July. His entry was described as highly professional.

Alimi, a sport reporter, clinched the grand prize as the Best Reporter of the Year. He betrayed his emotion as he shed tears when he

Scientists win inter-faculty dance contest

By Wale Ajetunmobi walked to the stage to receive the overall prize. Eniola was a runner in the category.

The Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr Olivier Thiry, said the award is aimed at rewarding the painstaking works of journalists whose stories redefined the essence of living and business.

The chairman of panel of judges, A m b a s s a d o r Patrick Dele-Cole, a veteran journalist, said the entries were sieved for their quality, consistency, use of En- •Alasa glish language and professionalism.

The overall w i n n e r , Alimi, will be sent for a five week journalism course at the prestigious Thomas Reuters Foundation in L o n d o n , United Kingdom. Thiry s a i d Promasidor would bear all the travel expenses, including the course fee, accommodation cost, daily living allowance and return flight ticket. •Eniola

S

TUDENTS of the Faculty of Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have proved to be the best in a dance contest held last Saturday at the Management Lecture Theatre. The Season 5 Inter-faculty Dance Contest was organised by Strictly Street Dance Company (SSDC).

The contest was opened in April and was held weekly to enable the participants perform different dance steps, including hip-hop, ball room, contemporary and traditional dances. The faculties which participated in the grand finale are Education, Science, Engineering, Business and Social Sciences (BSS) and Communications and Information Sciences (CIS).

Speaking, a member of the panel of judges, Mr Olakunle Omotesho, said the contest was set out to change popular belief about dancers, noting that dance is a tool to create change in the society. He said aim of the contest was to use dance to wage a war against child abuse in the society.

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, has urged government at all levels to invest in quality research that would aid development of education for national growth.

Ajibefun, a professor of Agricultural Economics, gave the charge while presenting a paper titled: Enhancing research and development in the educational sector to the participants in the Senior Executive Course 37 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Akure, the state capital, last week.

Ajibefun said that no nation could achieve progress without heavy investment in education and research.

He said: “The challenges facing countries in the 21st century are enormous and require prompt and adequate attention .These challenges range from unemployment, poverty to security and health issues. The challenges are interlinked and interwoven and as such, require comprehensive ap-

‘Guide your admission’

T

T •Students at the Entrepreneurship Centre From Olatunji Awe

EKSU of the course before the introducing them to practice. He said: “Students must understand the reason they need to take the course and the benefits they can gain from it.

Those in 300-Level and below are the major beneficiaries of this course, because they would have to go through two theoretical aspects before they are allowed to practise.”

Anini Tega, a student of the Faculty of Art, asked to know why the management introduce the course when students could not get certification in it. He argued the course has increased students’ course credit load.

In response, Dr Awe said the aim of the course was to train students to be self-reliant after their degree programme. “We don’t want to be

UNILORIN Omotesho, who is also a dance director at SSDC, said the company had enjoyed a high-level support from the university management, praising the school for allowing students to participate in the contest.

Participants from each faculty were judged based on their creativity, task, costume, attitude, precision, crowd response and stage management. The Faculty of Science was adjudged to be the best, winning N50,000 cash prize. Faculties of Engineering and Education came second and third, winning N30,000 and N20,000 respectively.

While presenting the prizes, the SSDC Organising Secretary, who simply gave his name as Babatunde, said the winners would be engaged to develop their talents.

While appreciating the organisers, leader of the Faculty of Science contestants, Paul Eke, a 400Level student, said ascribed their feat to divine blessing.

Invest in research, govt told

Varsity lectures students on entrepreneurship HE Ekiti State University (EKSU) has organised an entrepreneurship orientation for its students as part of its move to entrench vocational education in the school curriculum. The school had initially asked the students to pay N1,000 for the compulsory Entrepreneurship Skill Course (ESC), which was introduced last semester; this led to a protest by the students, who described the payment as extortion.

Two months after the protest, the story has changed as the management gave reasons for students to participate in the entrepreneurship course. The ESC Director, Dr Abel Awe, said the school was ready to commence entrepreneurship course in the current semester.

A 200-Level Law student, Kemisola Olalemi, said the course was being taught with inconsistent outline, noting that the ESC 201 examination taken in the first semester was different from what students were taught in the class. “The examination questions were purely objectives and there was no question on practical knowledge,” she said.

Dr Awe reacted that the management made wanted the students to go through the theoretical aspect

From Zainab Yusuf

producing graduates to be unemployed; we want to make our product to be employers of labour,” he said.

The course, he said, would teach students how to start barbing, fish farming and snail rearing, fashion designing, bead making, make-up artistry, catering, furnishing and carpentry, graphic art designing, brick making and printing. He disclosed that the school had provided the equipment for the course and had employed personnel to train them in different areas.

Dr Abel Awe said students needed not to worry about startup capital for any vocation they chose, noting that the school had made arrangement with Ekit State Chamber of Commerce and Nigeria Development Bank for to the students to access soft loans of N100,000.

HE Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State chapter of the National Association of Business Administration and Management Students (NABAMS) has held an orientation for fresh students of the department.

The event was held at the school’s MBA Lecture Theatre, where the department’s lecturers took turn to advise the students.

The Head of the Department (HOD), Dr Gabriel Olorunleke, urged them to take their studies with seriousness. He told them to shun all vices that could truncate their admission, which he described as precious gift that must not to be joked with.

He said: “Let me use this medium to urge and advise you to shun all vices that might destruct your academic pursuits in the institution.”

The HOD bemoaned the decline in reading culture among students; he urged the freshers to imbibe the habit of reading to be successful in their career. He said the department had zero tolerance for examination malpractices and other

From Yomi Ayeleso

AAUA proach to tackle them.

“The global society is faced with challenges that require in-depth research that could lead to scientific and technological breakthrough to address such challenges. Investment in both basic and applied research and development seems to present options to tackling the challenges.”

The VC said the role of quality research could not be underestimated in process of development, adding that no nation could make adequate progress without huge investment in the university education and research, which, he said, could engender scientific and technological successes to solve societal challenges.

Ajibefun lamented the attitude of Africans to research and development, which he said was discouraging compared to that of the developed nations. He urged African leaders to fund researches, saying they are capable of providing solutions to ailments afflicting the continent.

From Yomi Ayeleso

AAUA unethical behaviours, warning them to desist from such act or face the wrath of the management.

A lecturer, Dr Timothy Ihinmoyan, urged the students to sustain the performance culture of the department and avoid all acts that could bring the department into disrupt.

Other lecturers, who spoke at the event, urged the freshers to set objectives towards the attainment of their goals.

The association’s Vice President, Adeola Adekuoroye, said the association would organise programmes that would help the freshers to achieve success. She advised the students to attend classes and participate in all classwork.

Some of the students spoke to CAMPUSLIFE after the event.

Rebecca Akinsoto, a fresher, promised to work hard to achieve her aim.

Another student, Sunday Paul, said the event made him to understand the dos and don’ts of the department. He promised not to disobey the school rules and regulations.

Highlights of the orientation included presentation of awards and quiz competition for the students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

55

CAMPUS LIFE

Beyond recaptured territories T

HE most authentic thing about us is the ability to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering -Ben Okri For Nigerians, very few words evoke horror like Boko Haram.With almost 13,000 deaths and at least 2000 abductions of women and girls attributed to the terrorist group, terror is an understatement. The threat posed by this group is even more potent for the residents of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states where the sect established strong holds in various communities and villages.

At some point it looked as though the terrorists would overwhelm the military and extend their influence even to state capitals.In torrents, news of captured towns and villages and heavy casualty on both sides of the conflict rent the air.

While neighbouring towns were getting overwhelmed with the surging numbers of internally displaced persons, swats of territories lost to the Boko Haram kept increasing with each passing day. Just when everybody thought the worst of the terror group has been seen,they resorted to using little girls as suicide bombers.

To compound an already messy story came the news of obsolete weapons, inadequately equipped soldiers, desertion of soldiers from the war front and other unflattering developments.

With the tide turning against Boko Haram,we may be tempted to forget and confine these inglorious experiences to the past and continue with business as usual, pretending all is well. This may be an admirable

mindset but it is quite naïve to think that with destruction of the sect’s physical structures, the war is won, let’s go home and make merry. That would be suicidal.

This mindset lured the country into a sense of false security with the killing of the sect’s leader Muhammed Yusuf in 2009 and allowed Boko Haram to fester and grow into the monster it is today.

Now that the Nigerian Army has once again re-asserted her dominance with the help of the multinational task force comprising Chadian, Nigerien and Cameroonian forces, the government must realise that the war is far from over.I have always contended that Boko Haram spiralled out of control because of bad intelligence in our security framework and reactionary approach to the war.

No country fights terrorism the way we do. We wait for Boko Haram to strike before we respond. They overrun a town. We make frantic efforts to recapture it. They bomb a market.

We cordon it off to search for the perpetrators. By and large the tempo is dictated by the antics of Boko Haram.

What about neutralising the attacks before it occurs? The world moved from this method long ago. Preemptory approach to security is the way to go. We cannot look on while calamity looms.

Countries of the world with similar experiences engage in extensive intelligence gathering and analysis. This puts them ahead of the terrorists to preempt any attack before it happens.

Though expensive, this method cuts the risk of loss of innocent life and

properties to the barest minimum and saves the country involved the psychological effect of an attack.

In February 17, 2012, Amin Elkhalifi, an illegal immigrant from Morocco went to the Capitol building in Washington wearing a suicide bomb vest and a handgun. He had the intention of blowing himself up, killing as much people as possible and causing colossaldamage.The only problem was that the handgun was inoperable and the bomb-laden vest was found to be fake. Persons whom he assumed were Al-Qaeda operatives were in fact FBI agents, poised to nullify his venom. He is now serving a thirty-year prison sentence.

Farooque Ahmed, a PakistaniAmerican was arrested in that same approach in October 2010. In his case, he planned to bomb various Washington subway stations. He interacted with FBI undercover agents posing as Al-Qaeda operatives for over six months, planning and strategizing.

He too got a lengthy prison sentence.

This may sound cozy and easy. But it involved extensive intelligence, planning, resources and manpower.

It involves years of consistent training, preparation, and improvement of process. It is not a reactionary approach common in the Nigerian clime.

Beyond recapturing territories, the army must not only work to fish out those members of the sect who have melted into the community for prosecution, identify sources of radicalisation to neutralise them, the government must reorganize the whole security apparatus in the coun-

try.

In the war on terrorism, intelligence is crucial. Countries that evolve ways of gathering and refining them for proper usage will always be ahead.

As terrorists and terrorism continues to evolve world over, Nigeria must get prepared. It took 9/11 for America to sit up. Boko Haram is enough wakeup call for the Nigerian people.

Most importantly, those factors that predisposed the northeastern region to the growth of the monster of this magnitude must be curtailed. Ignorance, poverty,joblessness, poor family upbringing and dearth of morals in the society are some of the viruses that fuel the scourge. Though these are ills plaguing the Nigerian society in general, but most analysts have pointed out that illiteracy is one major contributing factor to the growth of this terror group.

The 2010 Literacy Survey of the National Bureau of Statistics paints a clear picture of the literacy level in the north. In the 36 states surveyed, four states in the north had the lowest literacy rate. Sokoto pooled a pantry 33.1 per cent, Bauchi39.1 ,Zamfara 41.1 and Kano 41.9.

The region still led the pack in the states with the highest level of poverty, with Jigawa having the highest figure with 88.5 per cent, closely followed by Sokoto with 86%.

These are grim statistics that are enough to keep a government awake at night. Large numbers of uneducated and seemingly unemployed population on its own constitute structural violence. It is lame to think that BokoHaram will die

Letter to Jonathan

By Ezekiel Efeobhokhan

I

T is no longer news that you lost your re-election bid. Although it was a painful loss, yet a necessary one.Necessary because the peaceful coexistence of the nation depended on it.

The masses made their choices and with their voters card, they chose what they felt was a better option. So they voted you out. But Mr President this is not the purpose of this epistle. I saw it necessary to write to you, not because you lost but because you conceded defeat.

Leaders like you are difficult to come by, especially among Africans. Africans are always known to be power grabbers. They serve as dictators and are usually resistant to change. We saw this clearly inIvory Coast. We earlier saw it in Uganda under Indi Amin.

You proved otherwise. You congratulated the winner before INEC did.

Hence, you immortalised the words of the great author, Leroy Eames that: “A leader is one who sees more than oth-

ers see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see.”

You saw the bold handwriting on the wall and reacted promptly with grace.

That was heroic.

Just as the holy book cautioned man to “flee from every appearances of evil,” many were ready to flee Nigeria.They saw calamity waiting to happen. They saw the country as a stock load of explosives ready to detonate. You changed all that. You made all the political prophets who had prophesied doom for this country bury their head in shame. You brought intrinsic substance to the very core of our democracy. And the international community praised you for that.

You showed patriotism in its truest state even if it didn’t please some of your aides like the now popular GodswillOrubebe. Just as my mentor, Gilbert Alasacrooned: “You owe yourself a duty; to be truthful to your belief, your inner self, no matter whose horse is gored”. You acted the truth, even if it goredOrubebe’s horse.

You put all your hollow fanatics and fire spitting supporters at bay. Your congratulatory message to the president-elect was enough to show the world the beauty of democracy. It was a sign that we could still go on as one nation, even though the citizens chose to kick you out. You shocked Nigerians by your exemplary display of statesmanship. It shocked the world.

Mr President, many students were prepared for another session of forced academic holiday. They thought the chaos from the election would shut

down our ivory towers. Our schools were deserted. They thought the election would breathe down fire and brimstone on us. But they were disappointed. It was a good disappointment.

This was the kind of disappointment we all longed for. But we were starved of it. We needed to be disappointed about the reality of the Boko haram insurgency. But we were not. Instead, every bomb blast reminded us that they were a predicted reality.Sir, all these led to the final disappointment – your election loss.

Mr President, I grieve your loss. I seriously do. I loved your mantra, your control and style of leadership. Where others saw trouble or looming danger, you saw hope. I campaigned immensely for your re-election. Although, not enough to convince my parents and my siblings. I must apologise for that. Each time I tried to convince them to vote in your support, they expressed scepticismover series of unpaid allowances. They called it ‘hazard allowance’. They said if that money had been paid, they would have not been under the plight of an overbearing landlord.

Anyway, I was not deterred. I continued campaigning for you. I tried to convinceothers. But, I found it more difficult to convince anyone better than my friends did for your opponent.They won supporters by just the shout of ‘change’. I had to engage every individual I met in a long documentary of the works you have done.

Most of them seemed so comfortably

tucked in under the duvet of their stereotypes. They couldn’t bear any dissection from their misconceptions or flawed generalisations about you.

That made me wonder, why was it hard to convince the masses for your re-election? I wondered for days.

The answer, of course, was not farfetched. You were surrounded by bad marketers. You drew false friends around your throne. They could not sell you to the public. You did so much yet we knew so little. You were surrounded by lip lickers, egregiously mouthy individuals who needed your office to feather their own nests. They didn’t listen to you. They didn’t listen to the people either. They just wanted to tell you what they felt would cheer your soul. They were political hangers-on. You know them quite well. Instead of campaigning for you, they were busy throwing outrageous expletives and tantrums at your opponentwithout caution.

Surely, those hideous comments stoked a curious brand of hate, intolerance and bigotry that should never be allowed in the 21st century politics.

I was really disheartened that we have become a generation that cannot throw jibes at each other or sustain simple civilised debate without resorting to barefaced insults and uncouth attacks.

I was truly shaken by the effusion of animosity and ethnic tunes that tore us further apart.

Many also said you were herbaceous. And that you didn’t have the gusto to lead this country. Anyway,

By Philips Ogbaje out with the destruction of the sect when the realities that instigated it still exist.

It is time for the governments in this region to take responsibility. It is time for them to take responsibility for educating the large population of youths in their states and provide an educational system that will be embraced by the general populace. It is time for them to take responsibility for providing sustainable means of livelihood for the citizens.

It is time for them to find alternative means of income apart from the allocation from the federal government. The complete dependence on oil money from the federal government is no longer sustainable neither is the argument of negligence by the federal government tenable. As for Boko Haram and its ugly memories, we may not forget but we surely shall overcome. We must move beyond recapturing lost territories. It is time to ascend to the mountains and restore peace to a troubled nation.

•Philip, is a Corps member, NYSC Abuja that was their opinion. Let us watch on Mr President, as someone who seems to possess this ‘gusto’ takes charge. Those who accuse you of lassitude do not know the power behind the adage, “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”

Free press flourished during your tenure. The media had a good time, practicing its trade without intimidation. I hope the incoming government do not have any reason to interfere with its growth. I would surely miss your chirpy smiles and humility. You cared for the next generation, a reminder of the admonition of James Clarke, “the difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman thinks about the next generation.”

Even in defeat, you reiterated: “no body’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian”. If only your opponent had learnt to make such statements during those times he kept losing out.

I also heard all your friends have deserted you. That should not come as a surprise. Mr President, I would always remain your true friend, come rain or shine.

Finally Mr President, I believe you can replicate the statesmanship you displayed during the collation of the election results. Call your troublesome supporters to order. They are your enemies. They loathe the beauty of our democracy. God bless you as you do so.I sincerely hope you assist the incoming government in every way you can.

Ezekiel, 300-Level Pharmacy, UNIBEN

Ngozi Agbo: The unforgettable impact

S

OME years back, a bright looking woman confidently

walked through the gates of The Nation. She had a dream, which was to get undergraduates across the country to have their news and opinions published. The proposal was approved by the Editor Mr Gbenga Omotoso. Immediately, the late Mrs NgoziAgbo sent over

75 letters to corporate bodies including Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL), which eventually requested for a meeting with her.

The project made its debut on August 2, 2007.

After death, there is an eternal limitation to the power of man to alter his own destiny. All his strivings and toil come to an end.

Society dwells only on the fissures

of his memories. Those memories, could evoke heroism or crass pedestrianism; depending on the achievements or failures of the persona. Our memories of Aunty Ngozi point to the fact that man must live for a cause that is loftier than the pulse of his breath. Aunty Ngozi’s existence swaggers in meaning, impact and redefinition of the human narrative. Her

dreams are perpetually alive just like John Keat’s poetry of the earth.

One of the best decisions I ever made in my life was to join the CAMPUSLIFE student-correspondents. This is because whenever I look back at everything I had learnt or achieved and people that I have met, I am always happy for a dream fulfilled and not just for me •Continued on page 36

By Gbenga Ojo

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Medical students visit prison

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HE Oko Prison at Oko Ogba Road in Benin City, Edo State capital, was a beehive last Saturday when members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Igbinedion University in Okada (IUO) visited the inmate.

The students, numbering over 70, left from their campuses on an outreach to the facility. On their arrival, they were conducted round the facility by a warder, who enlightened them on the rules guiding prison yard.

After the excursion, they students met with the prison inmates.

Harry Ogodo, the association’s Mission Secretary, said the visit was part of the students’ mission to reach out to the needy. He urged the inmates not to feel condemned because of their predicament, urging them to make good use of their stay and apply lessons they learn whenever they gain freedom.

“Being free is a thing of the mind and not necessarily means being out of prison,” Harry said.

In his exhortation titled: Free at last, Aisosa Guobadia, a 600-Level student, told the inmate to build personal relationship with God for them to have divine mercy in hereafter.

He used the story of Joseph in the Bible, who went to prison for an offence he did not commit, noting that God has better plans for the inmates.

Some of the prisoners got born again during the encounter with the students, promising never to sin again.

The visit also featured dental and health

•The medical students with prison wardens during the visit From Eddy Uwoghiren

UNIBEN talk, where the students advised the inmate to wash their teeth daily and keep their environment neat to reduce the tendency disease outbreak. The students donated toiletries, wears, sanitary pad and food stuff to the inmates.

The prison Director of Welfare Services, Mr J.I. Osemwengie hailed the students for the visit. He encouraged them to be focus and law-abiding.

Obehi Eseaton, 300-Level Medicine and Surgery student, said the visit was more than an outreach but a life excursion. “It is good to be obedient. It is my prayers that God bring the inmates out of the prison soon,” he said.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

Ngozi Agbo: The unforgettable impact •Continued from page 35

alone but for other correspondents. It might interest you to know that students who learnt from her feet are today dominating their territories, especially the media. Now, let’s take a peep into their world.

Joyce Marcus with “From campus to alter” as one of her leading stories, was reporting from Benson Idahosa University (BIU). She is now a big shot at Nigerian News Direct, where she reports for the daily.

Segun Adegbenro was a Special Assistant to former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. He is one of the bloggers, who reached out to youths to see APC to victory in the last elections. Segun was reporting from Ekiti State University (EKSU) and “Fayemi okays scholarship” remains one of his best stories for CAMPUSLIFE. Hope Ofobike updated us with happenings from University of Jos (UNIJOS). One of her best stories was “Jos bombs: my experience”. Hope is now a hot cake in the media world where she has worked with Nigeria Times, Vanguard, among others.

Dayo Ibitoye has won many awards, including state recognitions. Dayo was reporting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), and “ABU conducts Post UTME” was one of his major stories. He is now a blogger where he draws attention to latest technological breakthroughs.

Drawing government’s attention to Ifite Road was one of Ngozi Emmanuel’s stories. Ngozi, an award-winning reporter, is now a presenter and a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State.

Opeyemi Dibua was also reporting EKSU with “Students angry over cadet’s reinstatement” as one of his best stories. Dibua is now working with The Nation’s Sporting Life.

Mutiat Alli is equally doing well with Daily Times. Mutiat, who was a correspondent from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), wrote “Nigeria music and marijuana” as one of her best features for CAMPUSLIFE. That’s not all. Faith Olaniran who was reporting from the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) has worked with several radio stations. He is a blogger and event planner.

For Aunty Ngozi…

W

E have come to your great river, where memories flood the heart

and fantasies are fishes in our net.

We have come to the peak of your hill, where love, like litters, is the fluttering flag to behold and remembrance is the breeze that inflates the nose. We have come to your home, where eulogies and chants adorn

Wale Ajetunmobi remains the man of the moment. Wale was reporting from University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and now he has stepped into Aunty Ngozi’s shoes, coordinating the eight-page weekly pullout.

However, as I doff my hat for my fellow pen pushers, I can’t help but recount my achievement as a product of this platform.

I report from Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun. But today, God has positioned me as Editor-In-Chief of Exceptional International Magazine, a highly successful tabloid that has brought me fame and fortune. Today, the magazine offers me a veritable platform to run different life-enriching programmes after turning down media job offers to paddle my own canoe. The stories go on and on.

Even the new set of correspondents, who did not meet Aunty Ngozi, are doing pretty well in their respective spheres of influence. Some of them are bloggers, presenters, reporters and so on.

Eddy Uwoghiren reports from the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Notable among his stories is his foray into the love life of campus couples tagged: “Single at home, married in school.” He owns a niche blog, where he x-rays thought-provoking and scholarly works of medical students and young doctors in Nigeria.

Jennifer Umeh is a correspondent from Offa Poly in Kwara State. And one of her major stories is “Strike: students say never again”. Aside her blog and other productive engagements, she has organised several youth development programmes, including the Wazobia fashion contest.

The late Aunty Ngozi once told me that our lives – CAMPUSLIFE correspondents – are barometer with which she gauged her failure or success. As a young entrepreneur, Aunty taught me never to give up in any circumstance. I find myself. Aunty was proud of her students and always stood up for them.

Adieu Aunty Ngozi. We love you but God loves you more. Your achievements are profound. Your departure is a great loss to the world. Aunty Ngozi left a legacy, which will forever remain indelible in our memories. Though Aunty Ngozi did not stay here for long, but her impacts shine on like the stars of heaven.

Gbenga, HND student of Petroleum Training Institute, Delta State

By RidwanAdelaja the gate and legacies are rugs that leads. Ngozi, We have returned again to your tomb, where we lost our tears and soaked our robes.

We have come, Madam Agbo –We have returned, nee Nwozor!

Anyi huru gi n’anya, Nke ukwuu, anyihurugin’anya. **Hu-hu-huuuu**. Anyi huru gi n’anya, Nke ukwuu, anyi huru gi n’anya.

Birin’obianyi, **hayyyyy!** Anyi hurugin’anya.

Ridwan, a poet, singer and collector, is based in Ogun State

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 28, 2015

POLITICS

59

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Intra party crisis led to the fall of PDP when 16 became greater than 19. The problem of PDP started when President Goodluck Jonathan pitched his tent with 16 governors as against the 19 governors...

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‘Buhari should foster unity in APC’

Al-Makura: The making of a new Nasarawa

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HE “Change Revolution,” which jolted the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in the recent general elections across the country had its roots in the sudden change of leadership in Nasarawa State when the government of Aliyu Akwe Doma was kicked out of office after four years on May 29, 2011.

This development literally brought to an end twelve years when the “largest party” in Africa held sway in the state. Events in the last elections further confirmed wisdom in that decision and action of the electorates in the choice of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC which later fused with other parties to form the mega All Progressive Congress, APC thereby ending sixteen years “misrule” by the PDP now turned into an opposition party. Nasarawa State is the Achilles’ heel of the PDP and eventual assumption of opposition status.

For the people of Nasarawa State, it was a situation of “sit down look” when that change decision was taken in 2011. This is premised on the fact that this was the only state that embraced the CPC ideology and its leader to the extent of voters queuing behind the ballot boxes to entrust their future into the hand of its flag bearer, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. It now became a departure in the North Central Zone where the PDP reigned from 1999.

It also marked out Nasarawa as the only state that the CPC won in the country as even Katsina, the home state of General Buhari did not foresee the revolution of 2015.

Four fruitful years have now passed by with Almakura into his second tenure which has make Nasarawa State standing tall amongst the comity of states in the North Central Zone, and the entire country for making the right decision and at the right time.

One of the most pressing issues when he took over was the spate of disharmony between government and the workforce in the state resulting in strike actions by medical personnel, lecturers in tertiary institutions and the complete sagging of morale in the civil service.

The case of civil servants in the state is worth further mention as the bone of contention, minimum wage debacle, which the previous regime shrieked its implementation took centre stage. Nasarawa State is noted to one of the first to have embraced the policy, implement same and even go beyond the minimum wage to peg hers at N18,900. Since the state commenced implementation of the policy, no month has passed by without payment even when neighbouring states remained indebted to between for months. This has largely been responsible for the cordial working relationship between organised labour and government Minimal disagreements have been recorded and even when they occur, they are easily resolved.

This is in addition to allocating the 500 Houses located along Doma road which were uncompleted and abandoned by the previous administration to civil servants who have occupied same.

Realizing that roads are routes to civilisation, Al-Makura embarked on massive urban and rural road construction. Lafia, the state capital and all Local Government headquarters are beneficiaries of the urban roads programme. These include the NADP-Makurdi road; Lafia East – Government House- Shendam road; New market-Makurdi road; Super cinema –new market road; Ministry of Information- GRA road; Specialist Hospital-Jos road; Agwai Hotel

A

GROUP, the Sanity Group (SG) has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to remain neutral as the senators-elect prepare for the election of a new Senate President. According to the association, the President-elect must foster unity and harmony in the party.

The group also advised APC leaders to support a popular candidate for the slot to prevent the re-enactment of the ‘Tambuwal scenario’.

In a statement, SG coordinator, Olusola Sanni, said it will be very dangerous for the APC, if any of the aspirants become the Senate President without the bloc support of the party.

He said the contest should be effectively managed to prevent internal rebellion.

Urging the party to moderate its interference in the in-house contest, he said APC should learn from the Obasanjo era when the Senate experienced instability because of undue executive interference.

He added: “Buhari must avoid this pitfall and, stay neutral and if he needs to support, he should support the most popular candidate.

“Intra party crisis led to the fall of PDP when 16 became greater than 19.

The problem of PDP started when President Goodluck Jonathan pitched his tent with 16 governors as against the 19 governors. APC leadership should learn from GEJ/PDP mistake and avoid a costly mistake that can lead to the fall of APC.

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

junction- Ungwan Mangu road; UAC-Tudun Gwandara road; Ungwan Mangu-Kwandere-College of Agriculture road, Bukan SidiBukan Ari-Shendam road.

Others are Johnbosco -Guest House road in Doma; Diamond Bank-Jos road loop and Wamba bye pass- Central Primary School Akwanga; State University road network in Keffi , Awe town road, Andaha- Angwan Zaria, Agyragu- Kwara, SisimbakiKwarra in Wamba LGA, the Tudun Wada- Karshi in Karu LGA, the Garaku-Dari-Amba-Bassa, the Agwada-Udege, Lafia –B.A.D roads.

The Angwan Jaba, Angwan Maina as well as Bukan Sidi-Kurikyo roads are currently being constructed.

Since the coming of Al-Makura’s administration, education, which is the bedrock of socio-economic development and growth received much attention. This confirms the trained and professional teacher that the Governor is. Where classes were held either under trees with dilapidated structures threatening the safety of pupils and teachers as well as pupils sitting on bare floors for lack of furniture, Al-Makura changed the situation. Out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his Vice, Namadi Sambo showered encomiums on the state for effective and efficient utilization of the scarce resources available when he came to commission one of the storey building structures (Ta’al Model Schools) constructed by the government to house pupils in primary schools. For the first time in the history of the state, each local government in the state has two primary schools with upstairs serving as classrooms.

The task before Almakura however, is to is to complete almost all of these projects and make them functional as he assumes the second leg of the race whether road, hospitals, education and others.

One inhibiting challenge the AlMakura administration was confronted with is the communal unrest among a hitherto peace loving citizenry. This “monster” which claimed many lives and property

•Al-Makura

Tinubu: Architect of modern democracy

worth millions of naira, had devastating consequences on the psychic of the people in addition to draining the state’s meager resources which were channeled to maintaining security personnel and providing succor for the displaced victims. Sadly, the once serene state turned into a theatre of war and violence with innocent people caught up in the senseless cross fire that was unleashed while the crises lasted.

That Al-Makura inherited these spates of crisis among communities constituted the greatest setback for the attainment of developmental projects and programmes in the state.

As Governor Al-Makura squares up for the second leg of his administration, there is no gain saying that he has exhibited great leadership qualities in the last four years in the midst of daunting challenges. It is expected that this last lap will witness completion of projects started by his administration so as to avoid the “abandoned project” syndrome.

Luckily, with the introduction of Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) which has facilitated easy processing of land acquisition papers and increased revenue for development of the state, investors will find the state a safe haven for operations. Traditional, religious and opinion leaders in the state have no choice than mobilise the citizenry into supporting this leadership for optimal achievements in the next four years.

The once serene state turned into a ‘theatre of war and violence with innocent people caught up in the senseless cross fire

’

I

N present day modern society, an enroute to greater political emancipation is always tough and tough. Most especially, in the African political context.

So, such victory must have been proved beyond any reasonable doubts likewise the All Progressive Congress that unseat the incumbent administration of the Peoples Democratic Party led-Federal Government of Nigeria convincingly.

According to the pillar of opposition party in Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he posited that “The battling opposition parties were too weak to dislodge the PDP from power unless they come together to form a formidable opposition party in the country”. Hence, Asiwaju and other progressive initiated the merger of the first opposition party in the Nigeria history to put an end to President Goodluck Jonathan’s weak governance and reposition the country for rapid socio-economic advancement.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been known for his propensity in the annals of our political development. In his early political career, he was elected into the senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria to represent Lagos West Senatorial District, and he gained good recognition when he distinguished himself as the chairman, senate committee on banking, finances, appropriation and currency.

After the June 12th 1993 presidential election was annulled by the then military junta Asiwaju became an active financial and founding member of the pro-democracy National Coalition NADECO that agitated for the restoration of democratic governance and true federalism.

He was elected as the Executive Governor of Lagos State in 1998

By Toyin Balogun

alongside other Alliance for Democracy (AD) Progressive Governor in the south western Nigeria.

In 2003 when the PDP took over the south west except Lagos State, Asiwaju remain the last man standing and the only opposition voice in the geo-political zone to liberate the poor masses from the grip of PDP. In 2007, his party Action Congress AC was able to retained the Governorship seat for his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the government of Asiwaju bequeathed a blue print christened “The New Lagos Plan” to the Fashola Administration in which the master-plan was programmed to address the alleviation of poverty, unemployment, Independent Power Projects (island and Mainland); The Lagos Railway Project and Ferry Services; Millennium School Projects with equipped Laboratories and state – of-the-art libraries; improved waste disposal system in tune with the world standard; including the rebuilding Lagos into a modern metropolis as seen in the upgrading of our major roads.

In 2011, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed has succeeded in making the progressive board a rallying-point across the country through his track records, perseverance and dogged determination. Hence, All Progressive Congress win more states one after the other.

In fact, the achievement made by Asiwaju’s administration not only offered a new lease of administrative life to the government of Mr. Fashola, but it also set a standard blue print that is good for a soft-landing in the commercial capital of Nigeria and the epic center of Yoruba solidarity and economic power.

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right), briefing the press shortly after the State Security meeting at Lagos House, Marina. With him are Commander 9 Mechanised Brigade, Ikeja, Brigadier General Ahmed Sabo (2nd right), Commander Airforce 435 Base, Ikeja, Air Commodore Lere Osanyintolu (2nd left) and Commander NNS BeeCroft, Navy Commodore Teikumo Daniel Ikoli (left)

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 28, 2015

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POLITICS

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Poor performance of President Jonathan contributed largely to the defeat. There is no substantial achievement that he can point at except the resuscitation of the old generation railway

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Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Ogun State Chief Babatunde Fadun has explained why the party crashed out in the general elections, his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) and the re-election of Governor Ibikunle Amosun. The former Ogun West senatorial candidate described the political tie between the North and the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) West as an enduring solution to political instability in the country. He chieftain Dr. Solomon Akin-Aina highlights spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN. the challenges that will confront the incoming Ambode Administration.

‘Ambode ’ ll build on Fashola’s legacies’

‘Tinubu’s undisputed Yoruba leader’

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W

HAT was responsible for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s loss in the general elections?

There were so many reasons for the party’s defeat. PDP failed because of its culture of impunity, use and dump; lack of internal democracy and disrespect for fairness, equity and justice. At a stage the party was commercialised under the former Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Under him justice went to the highest bidder. Many members were frustrated and punished unjustly.

Will you attribute the defeat to the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan?

Yes poor performance of President Jonathan contributed largely to the defeat. There is no substantial achievement that he can point at except the resuscitation of the old generation railway. I can lay my hands on anything he has done other than the entrenchment of impunity and favouritism in the system. His inability to take prompt decisions when necessary contributed to his failure.

He runs administration of committees. He set up so many committees which show his weakness and lack of direction.

Why are you leaving PDP for All Progressives Congress (APC)?

Many aggrieved highly placed members have left the PDP. Remember, it started with seven governors usually referred to as G7 who pulled out because of what they called lack of internal democracy within the party. Although two of them, Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and his brother from Jigawa, Sule Lamido went back to PDP for selfish interest, the remaining five Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and AbdulFattah Ahmed (Kwara) stood their ground and called it a quit with PDP. These governors contributed immensely to the victory of APC. Generally, Nigerians were tired of poor leadership and arrogance of the PDP leaders, hence the party was voted out.

When are you making formal declaration for APC? I will do that very soon. It’s not me alone. My supporters and I have resolved to move en-mass to APC, the party of the moment, the party that Nigerians are celebrating, the party that will bring a lot of hope for Nigerians.

Why did you prefer APC among other parties?

The leadership qualities of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu make APC to be attractive. He was the brain behind the merger of major opposition parties that transformed into APC. He has performed a miracle; a new party put together within one year defeated the ruling party. It has never happened in this country for

•Fadun an opposition party to unseat the ruling party. Tinubu should take credit for that feat. Tinubu is a political giant of our time. He is a national leader. No Yoruba man can rival him. The Afenifere leaders should face the reality, they should accept him as our leader. The Yorubas should not ask who their leader is. Tinubu is the undisputed leader. He delivered five out of six states in Yorubaland to the APC during the presidential election.

What else can be used to determine the leadership of Yoruba race?

The political tie between the North and the Southwest is an antidote to political instability. With this realignment, there will be stability and the country will achieve tremendous progress.

Do you think Ogun West stands a better chance of producing governor in 2019?

We are hopeful that the next governor would emerge from Ogun West Senatorial District in 2019. Governor Amosun has expressed at different forum that he will support an indigene of Ogun West to succeed him in office. We sincerely pray that the governor will help us in this agelong struggle. We are optimistic that whoever the governor support in 2019 will win. Our hope lies on Governor Amosun and we are optimistic that he will reciprocate the total support we gave him in his re-election bid.

Since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, Ogun West has never produced governor. In 2011, both the PDP and Progressives Party of Nigeria (PPN) led by former Governor Gbenga Daniel picked their governorship candidates from Ogun West. This year again, PDP fielded an Ogun West indigene for governorship, so also the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

How would you assess the performance of Amosun?

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It has never happened in this country for an opposition party to unseat the ruling party. Tinubu should take credit for that feat. Tinubu is a political giant of our time. He is a national leader. No Yoruba man can rival him

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•Tinubu He has transformed Ogun state within four years. He turned Ogun into a giant construction site. There is no part of the state that has not benefitted from his massive road construction. He has also done well in the field of education with the construction of model classrooms across the state and provision of health facilities.

The landslide victory he recorded in the governorship election is a testimony of his service delivery. The wide margin showed that he was a man of the people. He won the election convincingly despite the crisis within APC that led a faction to pull out. I think this will encourage him to do more in his second term.

Are you worried with the development in Ekiti State?

It is unfortunate that Governor Ayo Fayose has turned Ekiti State known to be one of the most peaceful states in the country, to a theatre of violence. I thought he would be wiser now given his first experience in office as governor, but he is not.

His passion for hate campaign is a case in point. He bank rolled the hate campaign against the president-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to curry favour from President Jonathan so that he can be protected when he runs into trouble. He is a political rabble-rouser, he thrives on political violence.

I understand he fell out with Asiwaju Tinubu in 2011 over senatorial ticket. He ran to Labour Party and lost the election. He went back to PDP and won the governorship primaries and the governorship election. Today PDP has been relegated from national to regional party with its stronghold in Southeast and Southsouth. When the chips are down both Fayose and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State would soon realise that their political relevance have diminished.

Fayose may have to seek refuge in APC. I will not be surprised if Fayose runs back to Tinubu whom I believe will accept him as a prodigal son.

What is your advice to the in-coming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari?

Gen Buhari is a highly experienced statesman with high integrity. I will advise him to work closely with his party leaders and implement the party programmes. He should not allow people whose motive is to enrich themselves in his government.

He should not hesitate to apply sanctions against those found wanting no matter their status. That will assist in his fighting corruption.

S the nation moves towards the 29th May inauguration date of the new administration, I wish to congratulate the Governor – elect of Lagos state, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and his Deputy – Governor elect, Dr. Mrs. Idiat Adegbule on their landslide Victory at the just concluded 2015 Gubernatorial elections in Lagos State. Your victory is a victory for democracy and firm commitment of Lagosians to the change project championed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from 1999 and sustained by the spirited Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola till date.

Ambode’s victory is predicated on the radical transformation and clearly articulated programmes of All Progressive Congress started 16 years ago by Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With Ambode in charge of governance, Lagos state will start another race in its transformation drive and monumental change given its alignment with the federal government.

Prior to the election, the governor elect promised Lagosians laudable projects in his manifestoes that would impact positively on the people of Lagos state. The contents of APC manifestoes are achievable and its impact will be far reaching in the five divisions of Lagos state.

The governor- elect would ensure good governance through the implementation of people-oriented programmes designed to meet the expectations and yearnings of Lagosians. His administration would sustain the confidence of Lagosians in governance through the implementation of programmes that would enhance the socio-economic and political development of the state.

Lagos state is blessed with abundant natural and human resources necessary for effective economic growth and development, so Lagos state under progressive Governor – elect, Akinwumi Ambode and his able Deputy, Dr. Idiat Adegbule will bring about a responsible change in all aspects of governance.

In the area of Education, the Governor – elect will deliver on his promise to continue the current schools renovation programme state-wide to improve learning environment, upgrade libraries and create new ones into e- libraries in each LGA/LCDA in the state.

He would also establish IBILE meal scheme in all our public schools and pay bursary for students in higher institutions and introduce scholarship into our vocational and technical colleges with strategic emphasis to reposition all tertiary institutions in the state with reference to Lagos state University (LASU), Lagos state Polytechnic and Adeniran Ogunsanya College of education.

In the area of the youth, sports and employment, the incoming administration will fulfill its promise to establish Trust fund with a commitment of 25billion naira in four years by the government. According to the

•Ambode Governor- elect, one billion naira is to be accessed by each of the five divisions in the state for the next four years. This programme will create massive employment for our youths and jobless ones and take our youth off the street. Not only that, the incoming administration will perform its promises in the area of sporting activities with the provision of community sports centre.

I also commend the incoming administration desire to facilitate development of Local Governments in Lagos state and promote good governance at the local government level with massive infrastructural development, construction of roads, provision of health facilities, creation of conducive environment for sound learning, provision of security, rural development and urban renewal.

However, since the incoming administration is an offshoot of federal government led APC, I have confidence that Governor- elect, Akinwumi Ambode will use his influence and relationship with President-elect, Maj. General Muhammedu Buhari and members of the National Assembly to pass into law the 37 LCDAs in Lagos state. This will elevate the status of Lagos State and improve the economy condition of the people within the Local Government area.

In the same vein, I wish to commend the Asiwaju Loyalist Group of Ojo Federal Constituency (G30) for keeping faith with the party following the directives from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, having worked tirelessly for the party at the just concluded elections. I congratulate Hon Lanre Ogunyemi for his well deserved victory on re-election in Ojo constituency 2.

I also congratulate the great Jagaban of Borgu and the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his untiring strength and zeal which ensure APC victory in the Southwest and Nigeria at large. You are indeed a beacon of hope to the masses. Congratulations to Oronmiyan and the Symbol of our time, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the victory of APC in State of Osun, Lagos, south- west and Nigeria.

‘

His administration would sustain the confidence of Lagosians in governance through the implementation of programmes that would enhance the socio-economic and political development of the state

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NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

‘Ewu Pax herbal experience can be replicated nationally’

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T the launch of Africa Research Institute’s, London (ARI’s) new publication, ‘Modern African Remedies’ on Thursday 23 April 2015, Father Anselm Adodo, the founder of Paxherbals , Nigeria’s foremost herbal medicine manufacturer, spoke passionately about how indigenous knowledge has been employed in Edo State to transform a community; and how herbal medicines can be a force for innovation and improvement in health care, in Nigeria and globally.

In 1996, Father Anselm Adodo established “Pax” at the Benedictine monastery in Ewu, Edo State to address what he saw as the consequences of an ever-increasing fixation with technological advances at the expense of nature.

The initiative was conceived as an effort to reconnect with the natural environment through herbal medicine, in partnership with the local community.Anselm recognised that a vast amount of valuable indigenous medicinal knowledge was being lost and sought to work with traditional healers to preserve what remained. Pax has gradually been able to convince healers to share their knowledge by establishing a relationship founded on trust and mutual respect. A common aim is to modernise and professionalise traditional medical practice, making it transparent and evidence-based.The application of science and innovation in herbal medicine is important, but Anselm has also tried to replace outmoded views of science as something exemplified by men and women in white coats.

The old farmer in a village in Kenya is a

‘Pax has gradually been able to convince healers to share their knowledge by establishing a relationship founded on trust and mutual respect.

A common aim is to modernise and professionalise traditional medical practice, making it transparent and evidence-based’ •Mrs Alabede

•Adodo

By Bolanle Alabede

scientist: he knows about soil fertility and how much water a seed needs to grow. The purpose of science is the validation or rejection of a hypothesis. In this context, Pax has used indigenous knowledge as the hypothesis and science as the means of investigating the medicinal properties of plants, herbs and other natural resources.

Anselm does not talk about traditional medicine because traditional can imply rigidity, stasis and being stuck in the past. Perceptions are very important, not just in Ni-

geria but globally. He prefers the term “African medicine”, connoting something modern, innovative, uniquely African and, when done in partnership with the community, transformative.

From its origins in a small wooden hut Pax has grown to the extent that it now employs almost 150 staff. Today it has a large factory, modern research laboratories, a herbarium and three clinics. Raw materials are grown on communal farms.Perseverance, professionalism and stringent quality control have finally attracted attention from the govern-

golf injuries: •Warm up. Before you practice your golf swing or play a round of golf, warm up with a brisk walk or a set of jumping jacks. Stretch your hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, spine and pelvis. Swing your golf club a few times, gradually increasing your range of motion.

•Start slowly. You might practice your swing for hours, believing it’s helping your game — but if your body isn’t conditioned for the strain, practicing your golf swing may do more harm than good. Work up to your desired level of activity instead.

•Strengthen your muscles. You don’t need bulging muscles to hit a long drive — but the stronger your muscles, the greater your club speed. Better yet, stronger muscles are less prone to golf injuries. For best results, do strength training exercises year-round.

•Focus on flexibility. Regular stretching can improve your range of motion and lead

to a more fluid golf swing.

•Build up your endurance. Regular aerobic activity can give you staying power on the course. Try walking, jogging, bicycling or swimming.

•Lift and carry clubs carefully. Golfers who carry their own bags have higher rates of shoulder and back injuries than do other golfers. If you jerk heavy clubs out of the trunk of your car, you could injure yourself before you reach the first tee. Use proper lifting technique: Keep your back straight and use the strength of your legs to lift.

•Choose proper footwear. Dress for comfort and protection from the elements. Wear golf shoes with short cleats. Long cleats dig into the sod and hold your feet planted as you swing, which may strain your knees or ankles.

Watch out for hazards on the course Safety on the course is also important.

ment. By working alongside regulatory bodies and following their guidelines to ensure products meet required standards, Pax has become a respected name in a sector associated by some with charlatans and quackery. Pax is now advising regulators and health authorities on the evolution of the herbal medicine sector in Nigeria and the merits of partnership with orthodox medical care.

Mrs Alabede is the Corporate Affairs Manager, Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories.

Golf injuries: Play it safe with these tips •Golf injuries are common but avoidable. Learn how to protect yourself.

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ANY golfing-related injuries are a result of poor mechanics or overuse, particularly in golfers who are new to the game or play infrequently. Although golf isn’t a contact sport, it puts significant demands on your body — which can easily lead to golf injuries. Follow these tips to stay in shape on the course.

Adjust your swing Understanding the mechanics behind your golf swing can help you prevent golf injuries: •Use proper posture. Think about your posture before and during your swing. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and distribute your weight equally on both feet.

Avoid hunching over the ball, which may contribute to neck and back strain.

•Stay smooth. The power of a golf swing comes from force transferred smoothly through all the muscle groups, from your ankles to your wrists. If you depend on one part of your body for your hitting power, you may be more prone to injuries. For example, overemphasizing your wrists during your swing can lead to golfer’s elbow — a strain of the muscles on the inside of the forearm.

•Don’t overswing. If you swing the club too hard or too fast, you may stress your joints. Relax and take a nice, easy swing at the ball. The best golfers have consistent — not necessarily fast — swing tempos.

If you want to reduce the risk of golf injuries, consider taking lessons. What you learn about your golf swing may even help you shave strokes from your score.

Other tips to keep you on the course There’s more to golf than your golf swing.

Consider other ways to lower your risk of

While golfing, be careful to limit your sun exposure. Protect your skin by using sunscreen. Wear sunglasses to filter out UVA and UVB rays, and wear a hat with a visor to shade your eyes and face.

Watch for signs and symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Red flags might include a headache, dizziness, nausea, a rapid heartbeat or confusion.

Drink plenty of water, and cut your game short if necessary.

And remember to keep an eye out for storms. Call it quits at the first sign of threatening skies or lightning.

Play smart Whether golf is a new interest or a lifelong passion, make the most of your time on the course by protecting yourself from golf injuries. Consider it all part of the game.

•Source: www.mayoclinic.org

“At the conclusion of the 1986 conference where Nobel Prize Winners

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DISCOURSE

‘Don’t boast you ’ll rule for 60 years’ Text of an address delivered by Chief Wole Olanipekun (OFR, SAN) at the reception hosted by committee of friends in honour of Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on May 16, at Intercontinental Hotel, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn”.

Proverbs 29:2(KJV) INTRODUCTION HORTLY after the Presidential election, the organisers of this event, whom I am persuaded are patriotic, idealistic, focused and wellmeaning young Nigerians, approached me and politely asked whether I could spare some time to interact with this audience, by way of this short discourse, in honour of a most distinguished Nigerian, erudite scholar of international acclaim,a foremost Legal Practitioner and toast of the Inner Bar, a gentleman of the highest order, a Pan-Africanist, a teacher who actually teaches and impacts knowledge on his teaming students, who in turn see and take him as not just a role model, but also an idol; a devoted and committed husband, who doubles effectively as a responsible and caring father, a compassionate son of a virtuous mother, a patriot extraordinaire, and a politician, not bred within the rank and file or phylum of a typical Nigerian politician, but one who has politics thrust on him by fate and professional nuances – Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, SAN, Vice-President elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria; who is hereinafter interchangeably referred to as Presidentelect, honouree or Professor Osinbajo.

Let me lay a humble claim to having known Professor Osinbajo intimately well, for upward of three decades, and, in my modest judgment, he is a unique personality who possesses exceptional and extraordinary virtues, attributes, ideals, ideas and intelligence. He is always a beauty to engage in any intellectual discourse and forensic argument, whether extempore or in the court room. Despite being endowed with deep learning, he does not flaunt his sumptuous resume; and at every given time, he is ever humble, polite, meek, and unassuming. I believe in him, trust his ability, appreciate his honesty and good intentions, espouse his incorruptibility, humbled by his humility, applaud his humane ambiance and spiritual approach to issues. We have mutual respect for one another, or, let me say that there is reciprocity of love and affection between us. Arising from the foregoing, I am persuaded within me that I owe a duty, not only to the organisers of this gathering, but also to Prof.

Osinbajo, my conscience and posterity, to accept and honour the invitation.

SETTING AN AGENDA FOR THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT The mail conveying the invitation to deliver this address enjoins me to focus this address on: “Setting an Agenda for the Incoming Government”.

Hence, I have chosen not to set up another theme, but to restrict myself within the perimeters of the one already given. In so doing, I had recourse to the truism pertaining to any and every good government, leader or ruler, anywhere in the world, as encapsulated in the Holy Writ, the Holy Bible, particularly, Proverbs 29:2, where and when the Holy Spirit of God spoke through the writer thus: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

Without prejudging what might be the set agenda or the expectation of Nigerians from the incoming government of General Mohammadu Buhari, I want to plead through the Vice-President elect, that in its consciousness and

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sub-consciousness, the incoming government must bear in mind these sacred words of God on daily basis, and by so doing, strive to make the people rejoice all the time; and even if the people cannot describe them as being wholly righteous, they would not at anytime ascribe wickedness to them.

Intertwined with this opening admonition is also an invitation to the incoming administration to be always reminded of the divinely inspired words in Psalm 126:1 where the Psalmist exclaimed thus: “When God returned the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.”

Over the years, Nigerians have felt, and I want to believe rightly too, that successive governments at the federal level have pigeon-holed them in captivity. Just a few days ago I got a sarcastic text message from a fellow Nigerian as early as about 3:30am. It was couched in Yoruba and reads thus: ‘E ma ku Nigeria wa yi o; ko si ina, ko si epo, ko si owo, ko si ise fun awon omo wa, ko si owo osu fun awon ti o’n sise; ko si onje lati bo ile.” Literally translated to English, it means: “What do we do with this our Nigeria; there is no power supply, there is no fuel/diesel supply, there is no money in the pocket, there is no job for our children, those who are in employment are not paid their salaries/wages, and there is no food on the table for the family.” In unison, Nigerians of all shades and grades, sexes and religions, tribes and ethnicity have placed very high demands before the incoming government of General Mohammadu Buhari. Therefore, the incoming government is neither going on a picnic, nor to be involved in the luxury of a tea party.

In contemporary times, we have heard of incoming governments churning out and bandying policy statements using coinages like:‘5 points agenda’, ‘7 points agenda’, ‘Vision 2010’, ‘Vision 2015’, ‘Vision 2020’ and the likes. The lack of depth, substance, and practical validity of most of these showroom pontifications, however come to light after the tenure of these governments. They make poverty eradication, power supply and security their policy tripod; yet after four years, nay eight years, the people’s pockets remain as dry as never before, the nation remains submerged in and inundated with darkness as though our country has the mandate to carry on the legacy of the dark-age, and a state of involuntary insomnia is foisted on the people due to the prevalent insecurity in the land. This is not another esoteric and abstract construction of what the problem is with our land, we have gone past that phase.

We have gone past the phase of theorising on the problems and hypothesising textbook solutions. This is the time for stating our problems as they are and positing the solutions that best resolve them. Let the truth be told, the common man in Nigeria today, more often than not, hears of an agricultural revolution, but has no food to eat, he is inundated with the news of billions of dollars pumped into the power industry, yet struggles to generate power for himself, however he can, he hears of the income generated from crude oil, yet lives on in a crude and deplorable state. I cannot but conjecture that the English poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge had Nigeria in mind when he wrote in his poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, those resoundingly apt lines: “Water, water, everywhere; and all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere; Nor any drop to drink”.

Regardless the apparently depressing picture of the state of the commonwealth which stares us all in the face, reading about the phenomenal and amazing transformation of Singapore from a third world country to a first world nation in less than three decades of late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership, gives me a reason to hope and dream again. I am tempted to hint that the combined disciplinary traits of General Buhari and Professor Osinbajo mirror the qualities of the deceased father of modern Singapore.

For one, like our erudite professor, Lee Kuan Yew was a distinguished legal practitioner before his voyage into politics, and like our expected dual harbingers of change, Yew was a man of deep convictions. More substantively however, are the similarities in the challenges which bedevilled the Singaporean state upon the emergence of Prime Minister Lee and our present dire strait. Singapore as at the commencement of Yew’s leadership was befuddled with high unemployment rate, plummeting economy and entrenched corruption. Further complicating Singapore’s problems, was the fact that they had no tangible natural resources. What then did he do? Yew forged a meritocratic system where competence and efficiency were emphasised above sentimental concerns and he opened up the economy with an articulated free trade policy with very low tariffs and with zero-bureaucratic red tape. In fact, it is said that you can start a company in Singapore within three hours. Yew went ahead to give the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau of Singapore power to arrest, investigate and prosecute anyone suspected of corrupt practices. He also advocated that to nip corruption in the civil/public service, civil servants should earn as much as professionals in the private sector.

I believe that the nub of Nigerians’ agenda for the incoming administration is ensconced in Singapore’s success story. It has been said variously and I agree that the most daunting challenge of the Nigerian state is corruption. In the words of the judicial juggernaut, late Justice Kayode Eso JSC in his lecture titled ‘Judiciary and Elections’ delivered at the Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy in 2010: “Again let us pause. Is it not getting to stage now that the present generation...hardly know what democracy is, having regard to lack of transparency and corruption in practically every sector and wanton acceptance thereof, as a normal way of life? It has come to a stage in this country that every sector is presumed to be corrupt.

The onus for proof of transparency now lies on individuals...Men in police uniforms take bribes openly and with slinging guns in their hands, they have turned themselves in the highways to legalized armed robbers. Only recently, Jesse Jackson, from the United States of America, talking about corruption in Africa said – For Africa to move forward, corruption must be seen as a crime against humanity...”

Indeed, I agree that for this nation to move forward we must not just criminalise corruption; it must become an anathema to us. I am convinced that as King Solomon enthused in Proverbs 14:34, only righteousness, right living, honesty, integrity and uprightness can exalt a nation; and that a sure route to reproach, shame, backwardness and retrogression is toeing the path of corruption. I need no empirical instance to underscore this point than to refer us all to the deplorable state of our motherland. The power sector has re-

•Chief Olanipekun

For this nation to move forward we must not just criminalise corruption; it must become an anathema to us. I am convinced that as King Solomon enthused in Proverbs 14:34, only righteousness, right living, honesty, integrity and uprightness can exalt a nation; and that a sure route to reproach, shame, backwardness and retrogression is toeing the path of corruption. mained in its state of comatose not because we have not invested heavily in it, but because a heinous cabal has continued to leach on this gruelling sore. Our educational sector is increasingly on a downward slide, not because we have not had policies, but due to the criminal irresponsibility of some people to properly implement necessary changes; the teacher will rather sell wares in class than teach, the school administrator will rather bribe examiners than prepare students adequately, and government will rather fuel and maintain fleet of airplanes than invest in the sector that guarantees your future and mine. What about the health sector, the oil and gas industry, our security architecture, the banking industry, and a tiny fraction of the judiciary qua legal profession?

It seems as though that we have berthed at a state that Alexander Pope described in these words; “at length corruption, like a general flood shall deluge all; and avarice, creeping on, spread like a low-born mist, and blot the sun”. Has our sun not been blotted by this evil mist? Are we not becoming deluged by this vermin? Have we not accepted this millstone as a national norm?

I am not unaware that this is not a new theme and that it was the cardinal message of the incoming President and Vice-President at the just concluded election, yet I am compelled to beat again this seemingly worn-out drum.

The reason for reiterating this is not farfetched and it is aptly captured by the President-elect when he said: “if we don’t kill corruption in this country, corruption will kill the country”.

May I say that the demise of corruption is the flag-expectation of Nigerians; I heard that a policeman recently stopped a bus and demanded for bribe, one of the passengers told the driver to take heart that from May 29, such abominable scene will not reoccur.

How then do we kill corruption, and not just merely administer anaesthetics to it, such that it will not regain consciousness after the tenure of this administration? For me, this fight goes beyond prosecuting offenders and making scapegoats of a few. This is about fundamentally repairing the value/moral tapestry of this nation.

We must of necessity design a robust and all-encapsulating policy that will see to the entrenchment of the values

of integrity, honesty and probity in every ramification of our national life.

Let a value-system emergency be declared. Let these values be our national refrain. Let meritocracy be the directive principles of all public and private establishments.

Let us design a holistic reward system for adherence to and respect for propriety. Let us take the campaign to our schools, churches, mosques and community meetings. Let us conceptualise a curriculum that emphasises this across board from our nursery schools to the tertiary institutions. Political systems such as communism and socialism, though with their overt shortcomings, have ingrained methods of inculcation. What I am clamouring for today is the awakening of our national court of conscience, which Mahatman Ghandi said is higher than the court of justice and supersedes every other court. It is time that the nation adopts the Yoruba ‘omoluabi’ concept as the foothold of its socio-political orientation; because, regardless what might be the painstakingly designed policies and meticulously executed programmes of the incoming government, I dare say it will all be motion without movement. As the Yoruba people say, “iwa loba awure” (good character is the greatest talisman). Was it not Vice-President Joe Biden of the United States of America who said “fighting corruption is not just good governance, it is self-defence, it is patriotism!” The incoming administration should not be the sole combatant in this fight. In defence of our businesses, families, our society and indeed our nation’s future, we must join in taking up ‘arms’ against corruption.

What is more? Ranking next to the challenge of corruption in the nation, are power generation, insecurity, an ailing economy and a skewed federal structure. Like the American dream, resolving these challenges forms the crux of the average Nigerian’s dream.

Nigeria presently generates a paltry 2,800 megawatts of electricity for its about 150 million populace, compared to South Africa’s 40,000 megawatts for 50 million people and Brazil’s 100,000 megawatts for a population of 201 million people. Even Ghana generates about 2,111 megawatts for its less than 24 million residents. The import of this is that all we have in Nigeria is 22.8 watts for each Nigerian, while Ghana, South Africa and Brazil boast of 88.6 watts, 1,093 watts and 3,252.6 watts per resident respectively. Little wonder that manufacturing companies like Dunlop and Michellin departed the shores of the country to set up shop in Ghana. If something drastic is not done about this albatross, I fear that we will yet witness even more damning exodus of companies operating with our borders.

This government must revisit and constructively rework the present power generation and distribution policy of the Federal Government, particularly, in the area of privatisation. While this might indeed be the way to go, I opine that the process must be more holistic and transparent, and must permeate every ramification of the industry, ranging from generation to distribution. We must find a way to harness various sources of power generation, solar, hydro, wind and gas.

We are fortunate as a nation to possess all of these in abundance. A revamped and functional power sector will no doubt lend a much needed impetus to our quest for economic growth and development.

Our ailing economy leaves much for concern and worry. I read in the 8 May, 2015 edition of the Punch Newspaper that the Minister of Finance averred that the nation is currently experiencing a 50% drop in revenue. It is unfortunate that we are in this situation despite the patent warning signs before now. We shouted and begged when we had the windfall, that the rainy day should be saved for, yet the handlers of our economy acted like the biblical prodigal son, only that we have no wealthy father to run to for help.

However, the story of Singapore again comes handy.

•To be continued

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THE NATION

e-Business e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

lukajanaku02@gmail.com

Boosting health with mobile phone The mobile phone technology is fast providing answers to the challenges facing the human race, simplifying processes. Already, there are some wearable devices in the market. Fitbit Flex is one of them. It is a band strapped around the user’s wrist and tracks how many steps he takes, the distance he travels and how many calories he burns. Mobile health is gaining traction, writes LUCAS AJANAKU.

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MAJOR challenge facing Nigeria, like other developing countries, is how to improve access to quality health care for the entire population. This is the principal reason that motivated the idea of health insurance which the Federal Government has pursued vigorously in the last one decade or so.

Indeed, it is the way to go. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in a recent report said, “A health system where individuals have to pay out of their own pockets at the moment of seeking treatment restricts access to only those who can afford it, and is likely to exclude the poorest members of the society.”

Even a fairly comfortable man may find that he does not have enough money in his account at the exact time he falls sick, especially when the sickness happens towards the end of the month when he has finished spending his last salary.

This is why, across the world, a broad range of risk-pooling mechanisms or insurance schemes are increasingly being utilised to boost populations’ access to health care and reduce the financial burden of health services.

However, as laudable as the health insurance is, it has not been embraced by the populace as expected. The Federal Government is working on the target of providing health insurance for at least 30 per cent of Nigerians by the end of this year.

Globacom has taken a giant step in assisting the Federal Government to achieve this target by introducing what it called the Glo Mobile Health Insurance Scheme. The package is put together in partnership with the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Salt and Einstein MTS. The mobile health insurance product was unveiled in Abuja recently by top Globacom officials and senior officials of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

According to Globacom, this product is aimed at bringing health care to millions of Nigerians through their telephone handsets. The scheme will guarantee Globacom customers free and easy-to-access consultation and medication in over 8,000 hospitals across the country. It will open a viable avenue for millions of people to come under the health insurance coverage, enabling them to sign up to one of the many Health Management Organisations accommodated in the scheme.

To benefit from this package, Globacom subscribers need to do dial *616# on their mobile phones and they will instantly be placed on the Glo Health platform after a simple registration process.

Once subscribed, they will be able to use their mobile phones for a range of pre-defined medical treatments for which affordable premiums are remitted through the subscribers’ mobile phone credit.

The package also comes with supply of drugs free from NHIS accredited operators across the country for subscribers who are consistent in the payment of their premiums for the first three months.

The premiums have been deliberately made affordable for virtually everyone. Subscribers can pay N35 per day, N250 per week or N1000 per month to qualify to benefit from the mobile insurance package.

“We do not know when we will fall sick and require medical attention. The beauty of health insurance is that it takes away the burden of worrying whether you will have any money left in your account or in your wallet when next you fall sick. With health insurance cover, anytime you fall sick, you can rest assured that you will have access to quality medical treatment even if you have nothing left in your wallet or in your bank account,” said Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni.

According to him, there are millions of Nigerians yet to tap into the immense benefits of health insurance. He said the initiative would open a viable avenue for some of these people to come under the health insurance coverage, enabling them to sign up for one of the many Health Management Organisations accommodated in the scheme.

He said the product will go a long way in realizing the national objective of extending health insurance to Nigerians regardless of their financial status or social class.

“Together with our partners, Salt & Einstein MTS and NHIS, Globacom is committed to achieving universal health coverage for all Nigerians within the shortest time possible,” Israni added.

The Chairman of Salt and Einstein MTS, Ernest Ndukwe, said the scheme would reduce the fear of the cost of health care among the populace. According to him, many Nigerians are typically afraid of going to the hospital when they are ill, but with the product, that fear has been removed. He praised Globacom

• Chairman Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga

• Thomas

• Ndukwe

for its efforts in midwifing the scheme.

The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas, said

the beauty of the scheme is that the health care cost of one person is shared by all subscribers such that the financial burden

is virtually lifted off . He commended Globacom for providing its infrastructure for the project.

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e-Business

Nigeria ready for digital economy, says Smile Communication chief

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IGERIA’S 4G or long term evolution (LTE) broadband provider, Smile Communications has described the Nigeria’s digital economy as huge, and will impact virtually all segments of the economy.

Its Managing Director, Mr. Michiel Buitelaar, who spoke in Lagos, said in the face of dwindling oil revenue and increasing pressure on the economy as shown in budget deficits, infrastructural deficit, high unemployment rate, harsh business environment, corruption, among others, leveraging on digital economy should be regarded as a sine qua non for sustaining the economy by the incoming administration of Muhammed Buhari.

Mr. Buitelaar spoke during a panel discussion at the sixth Annual Pan-African 1:1 Investor Conference organised by Renaissance Capital and identified infrastructural advancement as overriding factor for the immediate expansion of sectors such as agriculture, transportation, banking & finance, healthcare/medicine and education.

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

He said Smile Communications aligns itself with the key statistics expected for the Nigerian Digital Economy by 2018 as released by the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, especially for the emergence of an industry that is less fragmented.

According to the National Broadband Plan (NBP), the government expects to attain 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018 from the present current about six per cent.

“There are various advantages the digital economic providers have over the traditional. However, to make this happen faster, there are catalysts required for it to even drive other sectors outside the ICT. Digital economy will be the driver of the agricultural, transport, healthcare/medicine, education, banking & finance, among others. In our company, for instance, we are talking to companies in those sectors and one recently said ‘the software is eating the world’.

“We do believe the new digital ICT will influence

other sectors. For example, in agriculture; like I have seen in other countries, the efficiency and productivity is very likely to explode once the digital economy has entered into the arena. It is also our expectation that the impact will become more pronounced within the next 10 years. For emphasis, sectors such as agricultural, transport, health-care/medicine, education, commerce, in fact, the whole move of digitisation will have impact on the emerging economy and Nigeria’s economy is well positioned to make their journey better than many others,” he said.

Buitelaar lauded the outgoing government for approving the NBP, expressing confidence in the Buhari government’s compelling posture for its implementation of the plans.

He said: “I think the Federal Government did well, especially, by releasing a NBP. The next government should continue with the plan in an even ‘forceful’ manner. Similarly, spectrum allocations should be looked at too; it is more of

technical, but very important in the nation’s quest for more ubiquitous broadband. There are sub-sectors that the broadband availability will immediately impact their operations such as the delivery of ecommerce, e-payment, education and other clusters of business. These are crucial reasons the digital economy should be allowed to blossom.

“Nigeria is a wonderful country. The incoming government should do something regarding the image of the country and its perception in the eyes of the rest of the world. That alone is capable of convincing foreign investors about the country’s business climate. Secondly, on infrastructure, I do believe that the whole country will benefit in smart investments in infrastructure. There are issues in transport, power and payment systems; if these issues can be addressed, with a couple of other commitments, I believe that in the next few years, the country will be reaping large chunk of benefits from them,” he added.

•From left: General Manager, EMC West Africa, Mr. Nicholas Travers; Managing Director, EMC, Levant and Emerging Africa Region, Mr. Nazim Fraijat; Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh; Executive Director, Technology Distributions, Mr. Etiene Etukudoh and Distribution Manager, EMC Emerging Africa Region, Mr. Ashraf Helmy, during the launch of the partnership between EMC and TD in Lagos.

‘Why MTN is supporting local app developers’

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LOBAL system for mobile communication (GSM) service provider, MTN, said it is building a robust distribution platform to enable millions of Nigerians access locally-relevant mobile software applications at zero data cost to deepen the industry and enhance the fortune of apps developers across the country.

The telco said it was motivated by the need to enable local app developers make money in the increasingly competitive mobile app space dominated by Blackberry World, Google Play, Windows Store and App Store.

To make this happen, MTN said it will open up its network that has over 60 million mobile subscribers to the local app development community.

It said it is part of its oneweek apps awareness campaign targeted at encourag-

ing the download of free app downloads.

Its Chief Marketing Officer, Adebayo Adekanmbi, who spoke during the MTN APPtitude Conference in Lagos, said the telco intends to ensure that more apps get into the hands of Nigerians.

He said: “We have organised all Nigerian-centric apps in a portal and through our special gateway Nigerians can access digital content at no cost. We are making it open for all developers in the country to join MTN by bringing the APK for their apps so that we can put it in the hands of Nigerians.”

Analysts say the liberalisation of the telecoms sector has been of immense benefit to the country as it has given rise to a new class of tech-preneurs that specialise in the development of mobile applications that have been very useful in solving contemporary prob-

lems.

Traffic, healthcare, education, transportation, e-commerce, tourism and hospitality among many others are some of areas these applications have been addressing.

According to them, the huge strides being recorded in mobile applications development is going unnoticed because Nigerians are unable to quickly find relevant apps, without the distractions of applications that are only useful to people in North America and Europe.

“Every Nigerian can now download any app relevant to them free for the next one month,” Adekanmbi said, adding that the telco will also assist Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to convert their websites into apps.

He said 99 per cent of Nigerian- centric websites have long Uniform Resource Identifier (URLs), which are dif-

ficult to remember, hence, customers hardly visit these pages more than once thus making the an urgent need to simplify access in order to grow uptake and consumption of digital services inevitable.

Adekanmbi said through the campaign, MTN is playing a critical in democratising the internet as it looks to allow the generality of the Nigerian populace access relevant digital content.

Speaking on the occasion, Co-founder, Co-Creation Hub (CC-HUB), Femi Longe, urged local developers to build apps that address the daily activities of the people of Nigeria.

CC-HUB is an innovation centre dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity. It is located in Yaba, a Lagos community that is fast turning out to be Nigeria’s Sillicon Valley.

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MONEYLINK UBA wins Corporate Citizens Award

CBN to banks: make BVN processes better for customers T

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has noted the need to improve on the processes for linking Bank Verification Number (BVN) with customer’s account, such that the customer does not necessarily have to physically visit the banks for linkage.

In a circular to banks, CBN Director, Banking and Payments System, ‘Dipo Fatokun, said in addition to the existing procedures, the regulator recognised a couple of other ways through which customers could forward their BVNs to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for linkage with their accounts He said that DMBs are required to provide an interface on their internet

Stories by Collins Nweze

banking platforms and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) channels, to enable customers log-in with their password or Personal Identification Number and submit their BVN to banks.

Thereafter, he said the bank could use the web service provided by Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) to validate the BVN and other details of the customer, in order to take appropriate decision, whether to link or to reject the request, thereby necessitating a physical visit to the

bank.

“Also, where email messaging already exists between banks and customers, DMBs could leverage on this facility of a formal letter to obtain BVN from their customers. This, customers could send their BVNs to their account officers using any of these channels. Thereafter, the bank could verify the signature of the customer and validate the BVN before linking same to the account,” he said.

Fatokun said customers can also use a self-service portal driven by NIBSS to log in with their BVNs and obtain a pass code that will be used to complete the required information online, indicating the accounts number and name in all banks.

Skye Bank’s shares excite investors

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RADERS and investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are beginning to accumulate the Skye Bank stocks after the healthy results posted its first quarter results were released.

Upon release of the results last week, investors rewarded the bank by helping to shore up the its stock price to N2.7 as at the close of trading on the NSE. It was a clear 10 kobo appreciation over the previous day when the stock traded at N2.60.

The rise last Thursday represents a 46 per cent rise in the bank’s stock price since early February, a sign that the investment public is taking note of the Bank’s strategic actions.

On May 20th, for the first time since last February, Skye Bank had the largest market share with 30 per cent of the market volume with 56.7 million shares sold followed by UBA with 21 per cent and Access Bank with 13 per cent, signaling that investors are accumulating the bank’s stocks.

Skye Bank continued the market dominance with 26 per cent of the total market share the day after, May

21, Fidelity followed with 19 per cent market share and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) had 11 per cent of the market share.

Much of the interest in the bank’s stocks is generated from the sparkling 2015 First Quarter results, announced last Thursday. The bank announced a sharp rise in gross earnings to N42.3 billion from 34.3 billion in 2014, appreciating by 23 per cent.

The bank announced pretax profits of N6.2 billion, representing an increase of 82 per cent over the N3.4 billion recorded during the same period in 2014.

The bank’s bottom-line followed the growth trajectory as net profit or profit after tax sprang up to N5 billion during the review period compared to N2.7 billion achieved during the corresponding period in 2014, an 85 per cent rise.

In marginal terms, pretax profit margin for the period rose to 14.7 percent from less than 10 percent in the corresponding quarter. In percentage terms, this is over 49 percent-

age points from the equivalent quarter.

What this means is that where the bank used to translate every N100 put in the business to N9.9, in the quarter under review, it made N14.7.

The result is a strong indication of a more efficient bank that promises to consolidate on the gains.

The rapid improvement in the fee based transaction of the bank is evident of the bank’s strategy of leveraging on the fee and commission income opportunities in the Nigerian market place. Fees and Commissions vaulted to a whopping N10.2 billion from the previous level which was N6.2 billion in the corresponding period in 2014, a 64.5 percent improvement. Fees and commissions are complementary to the bank’s interest earning assets. “In the remainder of 2015, we will complete the integration of Mainstreet Bank Limited, and consolidate on our market penetration strategies in the retail and commercial segments, says Timothy Oguntayo, the Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO.

•Phillips Oduoza, UBA CEO

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has continued to garner national and international laurels with the latest being the Corporate Citizens Award in the ‘Extensive Compliance Category.

UBA received the award at the maiden edition of the awards ceremony organised by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja.

The Corporate Citizens Award is open to all registered companies in

Nigeria and seeks to promote the culture of good corporate governance in the Nigerian environment by recognising corporate citizens who have conducted their affairs in compliance with statutory requirements and best practices.

“The idea behind this initiative is to recognize performance and reward corporate excellence among companies operating in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of improving our rating in the global competitiveness index” said Otunba Funso Lawal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Commission in his remarks at the ceremony.

To be eligible for consideration, companies must have complied with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act and respective industry statutes and regulations.

Apart from impacting on their respective industries positively they are expected to have performed creditably well in corporate social responsibility.

Sterling Bank rolls out plans for children NOWN for its unique initiatives which enrich lives and in fulfillment of its promise to continuously reward customer loyalty, children with the bank’s I Can Save account, one of the products on the staple of Sterling Bank Plc, are in for a good moment as the Bank rolls out plans to celebrate the 2015 Children’s Day in Nigeria.

Top on the agenda is the presentation of gifts to eligible customers and the promotion of a social media campaign encouraging parents to post “selfies” taken with their children; following which followers/ fans are encouraged to vote and the top three posts are awarded prizes.

The social media angle, according to the Bank, was included in recognition of the growing importance that social media plays in not just the lives of the parents but the children. The events, according to the bank started on Friday and ends on Wednesday June 27.

Specifically, the bank will celebrate the Children’s Day with lucky pupils/students in their various schools in fulfillment of one of the features of the I Can Save product. A similar event was organized to celebrate 24 account holders during the 2013 edition of the Children’s Day. Explaining the selection criteria, the Bank in a statement said that 300 accounts with the highest average balances over the last six months will be selected. The winners, according to the Bank, would be given special presents and gift packs along with Sterling Bank’s branded items.

K

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

VONO UNITYBNK NPFMCRFBK REDSTAREX BETAGLAS VITAFOAM NASCON COSTAIN TOTAL DANGFLOUR LIVESTOCK

1.47 2.53 1.24 5.00 38.10 5.00 7.40 0.86 152.60 3.85 2.31

1.61 2.75 1.33 5.35 39.97 5.24 7.75 0.90 159.00 4.01 2.40

0.14 0.22 0.09 0.35 1.87 0.24 0.35 0.04 6.40 0.16 0.09

LOSERS AS AT 27-05-15

O/PRICE

MAYBAKER PREMBREW INTERLINK CILEASING ABCTRANS UBA FIDELITYBK UBN NESTLE CAP NEM

1.77 3.43 4.66 0.71 0.57 5.35 1.88 10.51 871.00 41.50 0.86

C/PRICE 1.68 3.26 4.43 0.68 0.55 5.23 1.84 10.35 860.00 41.00 0.85

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 1, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$28.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

CHANGE -0.09 -0.17 -0.23 -0.03 -0.02 -0.12 -0.04 -0.16 -11.00 -0.50 -0.01

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 27-05-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

April 31

May 6

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

4 May 34,649.3 11.8 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

5 May 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

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NEWS I‘ll build on Senate’s stability, says Lawan

•From left: Brand Manager, Regal Gin, Grand Oak Limited, Olufemi Afolabi Falomo, presenting a football and jersey to Prince Ade Samuel (second right), a winner, and his friend, Yao Omotola, during 2015 Easter Beach Slam organised by Calypso and Dark Sailor at Suntan Beach, Badagry, Lagos. With them is Assistant Brand Manager of Dark Sailor, Grand Oak Limited, Susan Adeniyi.

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With Buhari, things ‘ll look up, says Amaechi •‘How funds started missing in Nigeria’ •Rivers governor marks birthday

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has urged incoming governors to support the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari to ensure proper transformation.

He noted that funds started missing in Nigeria after the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) was divided.

Amaechi, the immediate past chairman of NGF spoke at a thanksgiving mass to mark his 50th birthday at the Corpus Christi Catholic Cathedral, Kaduna Street, Port Harcourt.

The governor said: “This is the first time I will be in a political party where we will discuss how to alleviate poverty, ensure justice and end impunity. In PDP, we never discussed them. Our discussions in PDP always centered on how to win elections and raise money for elections.

We never sat to say the economy was very bad and how to manage it. In PDP, the issue was not development.

“In APC, we meet and discuss no power (electricity), no water. We discuss how to raise money for development and how to generate employment. We are currently saying that in the next three months, if we do not address unemployment, the

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

people will come after us.

“That is what APC leaders are talking about now. I am happy where I am. One of the reasons I left PDP was because they were not progressive. I thank my God that I am now in the APC. Nigeria will move forward from now on.

“When other governors in the Southsouth deserted me, the only governor that stood by me was Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, who told me he was not standing by me on party line, but on principle.

“I do not want to talk about 16 or 19. God should bless all the governors. We should not allow anybody to divide the NGF. It was after the division of NGF that funds started to get missing. When we were there, we would go and confront President Jonathan. Let us join the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari to ensure proper transformation of Nigeria.

Amaechi said those fighting him must first defeat God, which he described as impossible, stressing that the war was over with the elections rounded off.

“Justice is an essential element to forgiveness. We used

to have N25 billion monthly in Rivers State. We now have N6 billion. Our wage bill is N9.2 billion. They took Soku oil wells to Bayelsa State. Where is justice? They took our oil wells to Abia State. Where is justice? You seek forgiveness when there is repentance. They want me to pay salaries of N9.2 billion and they gave me N6 billion.

I am not Jesus Christ, I cannot do miracle. Neither am I a magician. I cannot print money. There is need for justice.

“Up till now, INEC in Rivers State has not given us the voter registers used in the elections. If the voters were actually accredited, INEC would have produced the voter registers. They are still ticking and writing fake papers. We must focus more on justice and forgiveness will come later. There is no forgiveness before justice. Those who are in court will get justice, and then we can now ask for forgiveness. The only man who forgives before justice is God. The ex-NGF chair said for Peterside and others whose mandates were stolen to win at the Tribunal, their knees must always be on the ground, praying to God, revealing that he prayed and

fasted for ten months before becoming governor on October 26, 2007, through the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court the previous day.

In his sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Rev. Camillus Etokudoh described Buhari’s victory as an answer to the prayers of Nigerians, to ensure a united country, especially to shame the people who did not wish Nigeria well.

The cleric urged Rivers people, especially the politicians, to ensure peace, reconciliation and forgiveness, stressing that no human being is perfect.

The service was attended by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Amaechi’s wife, Dame Judith; Senators Chris Ngige, Olorunimbe Mamora and Magnus Ngei Abe; the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers state, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and his wife, Elima; a former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; and a member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among other eminent personalities.

RONTLINE Senate Presidential aspirant Ahmed Lawan said yesterday that if elected, he will work to build on the growing stability in the upper chamber.

Lawan also said the independence of the Senate will not be compromised at any time.

The Senate Presidential hopeful spoke while unveiling his legislative agenda to members of Senate Press Corps in Abuja.

Lawan, who is also chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, said he will ensure harmonious relationship with the Executive.

He harped on the necessity for consensus between APC majority and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to ensure its smooth-running.

At the event, Leader of the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Barnabas Gemade, said members of the forum are working to actualise the Senate Presidency of Lawan with Senator George Akume as the Deputy Senate President.

Gemade said members of the forum will next week unveil 40 All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, who are solidly behind Lawan in his bid to clinch the Senate Presidency.

Lawan, while unveiling his agenda, said:“The question on my legislative agenda is very fundamental question.

“The Senate everywhere in the world is known to be the stabilising chamber in any democracy and thank God that I have been in the Senate for the last eight years after a sojourn of eight years in the House of Representatives.

“I believe that this time the Eighth Senate should be a Senate where independence of the legislature will exist and partnership and cooperation with the executive will be enhanced.

“We have had about eight years of stability in the Senate and therefore it is something that I will like to build on.

“I talked about the independence of the legislature, until we are able to be independent of the executive, we cannot openly position ourselves to undertake our responsibilities and discharge our mandate.

“There is need for us to be always independent in the Eigth Senate and you will

Jonathan sends confab report to National Assembly for legislative action

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded the 2014 National Conference to the National Assembly for necessary legislative action.

Jonathan, in a memo addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, entitled: “Approval for the implementation of the recommendations and resolutions of the National Conference 2014”, outlined the actions the Federal Executive Council had taken on the confab report.

The memo was read on the floor of the Senate by Mark.

The controversial confab, which was headed by retired Justice Idris Kutigi, sat for over three months.

Its report was submitted to the President on the August 21, 2014.

Jonathan said he was submitting the report to the Senate for consideration and legislative action.

The memo reads in part: “May I draw the attention of

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the enclosed report of the National Conference, 2014, which was deliberated upon and approved for implementation by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of March 18, 2014.

“Your Excellency may recall that the National Conference was inaugurated on March 17,2014, with the mandate to among other things: (a) discuss any issue about Nigeria with particular emphasis on finding solutions to the problems of national unity and development. (b) come up with strategies to strengthen rather than weaken Nigeria’s unity and enhance a participatory and inclusive democratic system of government. (c)recognise the need to move the country forward and de-emphasise the narrow inter-

est that defines our fault lines. (d)spell out the modalities for the implementation of these recommendations and resolutions. (e) suggest any constitutional arrangement they consider best for Nigeria.

“Although, the national conference was not given any no go areas, it was enjoined to refrain from discussing the breakup of the country.

“Distinguished senators are invited to note that at the end of the conference, a report was submitted with recommendations and resolutions covering the following thematic areas: “Agriculture and Water Resources, Citizenship, immigration and related matters, civil society organisations, labour, youths and sports, devolution of power, economy, trade and investment, energy, environment, foreign policy and Diaspora matters, law, judiciary, human rights and legal reform.

“Land tenure matters and

national boundaries, national security, political restructuring and forms of government, political parties and electoral matters, policies and governance, public finance, public service, social sector, religion, science technology and development and transportation.

“The recommendations of the conference on the implementation modalities of the resolutions are contained in chapter six of the report.

“The resolutions are classified into three broad categories, constitutional, legal and policy issues.

“The report further indicates the nature of the actions to be taken, the objectives to be achieved and the agency that needs to take the actions.

“The conference also submitted draft bills of resolutions that require constitution amendments or legal amendments.

“At the meeting of FEC on 18th of March 2015, council considered and approved the reports of the conference and re-

solved as follows: A: That the draft bills be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment into law.

B: That the recommendations, resolutions that are outside the purview of the Federal Government be forwarded to the relevant tiers of government for implementations.

C: That relevant agencies of government should harmonise the conference resolutions with extant policies for immediate implementation.

“Distinguished Senate President, the report of the National conference is hereby forwarded to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for consideration and necessary legislative actions.”

The request for the consideration of the controversial report was also read to the House by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, who performed his last function in the House prior to his inauguration and swearing in as the Governor of Sokoto State tomorrow.

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

agree with me that the Eigth Senate is unlike any previous Senate in the history of Nigeria.

“This is because you have 59 APC senatorsc - the party in government - and 49 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators in opposition.

“The gap is narrow and that calls for consensus-building and cooperation and partnership between and among senators for anything meaningful to be achieved by the Senate.

“So, I intend to always build consensus between the two sides. I also believe that we must cooperate with the Executive Arm of Government. Until there is cooperation between us based on mutual respect and understanding, we may not achieve anything.

“I recall when I was a member of the House of Representatives, the first tenure - 1999 to 2003 - there was so much power tussle and misunderstanding between the legislature then and the executive arm of government and nothing was achieved.

“Nigerians were worse off, the legislature was worse off and the Executive was worse off. We don’t want to see a repeat.

“But I believe that the Senate and indeed the National Assembly must never be the rubber stamp. Mutual respect will be what we will be driving to ensure that we have that between us and the executive arm of government.”

He added: “By the way, we are coming at a time when Nigerians have decidedly voted for positive change and Nigerians deserve that change to be practicalised in very positive ways.

“That is to say we must work together with the executive arm of government to deliver services to the citizens of Nigeria.

“I also think the level of corruption is intolerable. We will join Mr. President-elect to fight corruption and all corrupt tendencies.

“We can do that through legislation - whether new bills or laws or amendment of existing laws to make sure that whatever resources we are able to garner as a country and budget for provision of services to Nigerians are utilised for those purposes, rather than ending in private pockets.

“To that extent, the Senate and indeed the National Assembly, will be a partner and I believe that will be a worthy partnership.

“We have over 660 parastatals of the Federal Government at the moment. Some have been existing since 1960 and they have not been doing anything. “Some duplicate their roles. Our resource base is declining. We need to widen it. We need to capture more and more resources and we have to ensure that we block all leakages - corrupt tendencies whether they are corruption or stealing is depriving the ordinary man of what he should ordinarily have.

“So, we need to ensure that whatever little resources Nigeria is able to have that the bulk of it is used for the common good and we can do that effectively with the executive arm of government.”

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NEWS

President Goodluck Jonathan (eight left); Vice President Namadi Sambo (seventh left) with Federal Executive Council members after the Valedictory Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

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Edo APC awaits police probe of suspected cultists

DO State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Anselm Ojezua yesterday said some of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s aides were arrested recently for alleged cultism not because

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HE Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expelled nine President Goodluck Jonathan’s loyalists.

Those affected were accused of anti-party activities and other related offences.

The prominent party members were kicked out, following a report of the disciplinary committee, which investigated their alleged involvement in anti-party activities in the last general elections.

The action, it was gathered, has deepened the internal crisis in the party.

The suspended State Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd.), accused Governor Seriake Dickson of impunity and illegality.

The domestic aide of the President, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa; Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange and former Acting Governor Nestor Binabo, are among key loyalists of Jonathan sent out of the party.

Others are: former Deputy Governor Werinipre Seibarugu, Chamberlain Kren Ikidi, Osomkime Blankson, Emmanuel Okponipre, Ebikapade Dibiya and Joyce Fouyowei.

PDP’s Acting Chairman Serena Dokubo Spiff said members of the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) unanimously considered and adopted the recommendations of the disciplinary committee.

He noted that some of the indicted members, who are in the National Assembly or holding appointments at the national level, would be referred to PDP’s national body for further disciplinary measures, in line with the party’s constitution.

The acting chairman said the affected members are: Inokoba and Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

According to him, Fiebai Gbeinbo was suspended for three months.

But Spiff said Leghemo Kaiser and Denyabofa Dimaro are to apologise to PDP’s

•48 killed, 98 arrested over alleged cultism •Arase to police: focus on higher institutions From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

of their party membership but because of their associa-

tion with certain groups.

The party chairman said the suspects were said to belong to registered associa-

tions.

He said the party was waiting for the police to conclude their investigation into the matter before making a statement.

Also, yesterday, the police

said over 48 persons were killed in the cult war that led to the arrest of over 98 persons, including 14 Junior Secondary Students (JSS) pupils, in the past two weeks.

It was learnt that Inspec-

Row in Bayelsa as Dickson, PDP expel Jonathan’s loyalists Dudafa: expulsion act of governor’s impunity

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WO of those expelled by the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd.) and Dr. Waripamowei Dudafa, have faulted their expulsion.

Inokaba was the party’s State Chairman. Dudafa is the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic and Social Events.

Both were expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

But they accused Governor Seriake Dickson of impunity and illegality.

Inokoba said the crisis in Bayelsa PDP was set off by the governor to send potential aspirants out, to enable him emerge the sole candidate ahead of next year’s governorship poll.

Inokoba said after his purported suspension, Dickson went to the Federal High Court in Abuja to enforce the decision without serving him the court notice.

The suspended chairman said he went to court to stop the governor’s alleged impunity, adding that the court gave an order stopping the activities of the disciplinary committee.

But he noted that the governor, despite being awareness of the order, still directed the committee to prepare its report.

Declaring himself the authentic PDP chairman, Inokoba said he was the only person qualified to set up committees and convene meetings.

The suspended chairman alerted to the alleged threat to his life.

He said some thugs scaled the fence to his compound and trailed him about.

Inokoba said: “I am calling on the world to know that as the truly elected chairman of PDP in the state, I am the only one that can summon any meeting of the executive committee or set up any disciplinary committee, as the governor and the From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

leadership while Dr. Godson Omubo-Dede and Dan Omubo-Dede were reprimanded.

He said: “The State Working Committee (SEC) met after receiving the report and deliberated on it. The SEC took a unanimous voice vote, based on the gravity of the offences and the attitudes of the affected members. Some were expelled, others suspended while a few others were reprimanded and exonerated.

“It is important to note that the committee acted responsibly, following due process.

The committee amply publicised the activities and invitation to the affected persons, requesting them to turn and state their sides of the story.

Some turned up but others were defiant and continued to treat our party with contempt. As a result, certain members were expelled.

The acting party chairman explained that a Contact and Reconciliation Committee had been set up to examine genuine grievances of members and reconcile them back to the PDP fold.

Dickson noted that, if indiscipline and disloyalty were not checked among party members, PDP’s survival would be jeopardised.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja and Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

committees being set up under him are trying to do.

“The disciplinary committee set up by the state working committee and its leader is illegal, null and void. The state working committee and the disciplinary committee should, with immediate effect, suspend the so-called disciplinary exercise because there is an interlocutory injunction in the High Court of Bayelsa State on the matter.

“I am the chairman of the party and the only authentic person that can summon an executive committee meeting based on the party’s constitution.”

Dudafa said his expulsion would not stand.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the President’s aide blamed Dickson for his expulsion.

He vowed to stop the governor’s re-election bid in 2016.

Dudafa noted that Dickson had brought the party to its lowest level.

He said: “I have just been informed of a Government House, Yenagoa statement announcing my expulsion from the PDP along with eight others, for alleged anti-party activities.

“Ordinarily, I would have ignored it, just as I have been ignoring such unwarranted provocations in the past. But I have realised that my continuous silence seems to embolden Governor Dickson to further acts of impunity.

“It is no secret that Dickson has brought the PDP to its lowest ebb in the history of democracy in Bayelsa State due to his bad governance, corruption, poor human relations, acts of impunity, injustice and nepotism.

“He is acting like he has conquered the people of Bayelsa and has turned the state to a private estate belonging to him and his family members alone, as the only thing he does is to buy up all available land and build houses all over Yenagoa.”

The governor said the PDP would no longer condone a situation whereby its members campaigned openly for candidates of other parties.

He lambasted members, who worked against the party’s interest in the last general elections and called for unity.

Dickson hailed the acting chairman and the party for instilling discipline and ensuring respect for constituted authority.

He said: “You cannot have a situation where party leaders sponsor candidates on the platform of other parties to contest for political power and space against our party.

“And they do so with im-

punity; campaign openly while they are PDP members benefitting from the platform provided by our party.

This can no longer be tolerated.

“This is a PDP state. But our party’s strength will wane, if we do not maintain party discipline. We cannot tolerate a situation where a few people consider themselves above the party and do things with impunity without regard for the authority of the leadership of the party, just because they are in one leadership position or the other. By the way, those were positions they got through the instrumentality of the PDP.”

tor-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase vowed to deal with cultists when his sister’s only son was killed in the clash.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the police chief vowed to punish anyone found to be associated with any notorious cult group.

The source said it was the reason the police chief advised Oshiomhole to hands of the matter.

It was also learnt that Arase directed detectives to focus on higher institutions and secondary schools in the state.

The source quoted Arase as saying: “Charity begins at home.”

‘Pay NDDC’s allocation arrears’

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NIGER Delta activist, Chief Jasper F. Jumbo, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to pay up the backlog of allocations due the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) before leaving office.

Jumbo, the Chairman of Niger Delta Projects Consortium, wrote the blueprint for the establishment of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADAC).

According to him, the Federal Government owes the NDDC over N760 billion in accumulated unremitted allocations in the past 14 years.

Jumbo wondered how the commission could fulfil those national exigencies that inspired the federal establishment of the commission without the release of the allocation.

Such development-sapping debts should have been tied to specific projects, such as the completion of the East-West Road, the Yenagoa-Ogbia Road, the Port Harcourt Airport, the Bodo–Bonny Road and the Niger Delta Youths Empowerment schemes.

He called for a forensic and environmental audit of key resources areas, such as Imedi Brass, Southern Ijaw, Suku, Bonny, Egi, Eastern Obolo, Egbema and Owaza.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

75

NEWS Ahmed inaugurates automobile showroom

Abductors of Kogi judge demand N150m ransom

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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged potential investors to take advantage of the state’s business-friendly environment to start viable and profitable investments.

The governor spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, when he inaugurated the Gbose Mall, an automobile showroom specialising in the sale and service of Nissan and Hyundai cars.

He said the mall was joining the growing list of new investors making the state the hub of economic activities in the Northcentral.

Ahmed noted that the opening of the mall would generate jobs for youths, stimulate the local economy and create more prosperity.

From James Azania, Lokoja

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El-Rufai appoints SSG, others From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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HEAD of his inauguration as Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai announced yesterday the appointment of key officials in his incoming government.

In a statement in Kaduna, the governor-elect named Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Malam Salisu Suleiman the Principal Private Secretary.

It said Mr. Abu Musa Sheyin will serve as the Private Secretary to Mr. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, the deputy governor-elect.

El-Rufai also announced the appointment of Bala Yunusa as Deputy Chief of Staff (Legislative Affairs) and Samuel Aruwan his Special Assistant, Media.

The appointments take effect from tomorrow.

Lawal, a former lecturer, served as Chief of Staff when El-Rufai was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

• Ahmed (middle) inaugurating the showroom in Ilorin...yesterday. With him, from left, are: Managing Director, Harmony Holdings, Mr. Tope Daramola; Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Chief Adekunle Oyinloye; Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi and Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Oladele.

11 die in Kwara road accident

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LEVEN persons died yesterday in a road accident on the outskirts of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The accident, which occurred at Oko-Olowo, on the Ilorin/Mokwa Road, was said to be a head-on collision between a Toyota Hiace bus and a Turbo truck.

It was learnt that the victims were inside the bus, with registration number GA 52 XA. Eight others were injured. The trailer’s registration number is XA 939 GZA. The single lane road is one of the busiest in Nigeria.

It is the shortest link between the North and the Southwest.

The road is plied daily by trailers and commercial buses conveying heavy loads.

It has several dangerous

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

bends, making overtaking dangerous, especially when visibility is reduced.

The State’s Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Mary Wakawa, confirmed the accident.

She said it occurred at 2am.

It was learnt that the bus was heading to an unnamed state in the North while the truck was reportedly coming from Kebbi State to Oyo State when the accident happened.

A farmer, who did not give his name, said: “We heard a big bang around 2am when we were in our hut. But none of us could come out to verify the causes of the noise

until dawn when we got to the horrible scene.”

When our reporter visited the scene at 7:05am, congealed human blood was noticed on the road.

Foodstuff and clothes littered the scene.

FRSC officers were seen clearing the blocked road, directing motorists to drive slowly.

The road safety men were packing the mutilated bodies of the victims into a Toyota Hilux van.

Eight injured persons, two of whom were suspected to have sustained spinal cord injuries, were carefully evacuated into an FRSC’s ambulance.

The two evacuation vehicles headed to the direction of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in Ilorin.

APC: Aliyu leaving N56b debt in Niger

T

HE incoming Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC) administration will tomorrow inherit N56 billion debt from the outgoing Babangida Aliyu administration, it was learnt yesterday.

The party’s transition committee, headed by Deputy Governor-elect Mohammed Ketso, spoke on the state’s debt profile when he presented the committee’s report at the Presidential Suite in Min-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

na, the state capital, to Governor-elect Abubakar Sani Bello.

Ketso said the committee reviewed the debt profile of the outgoing government and discovered from the report of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government that the state was owing N56 billion.

Bello expressed concern at the dwindling fortune and the bad shape of the

state’s economy when received the report.

He said: “I believe each and everyone of us is concerned about the situation of Niger State as it is today.

It is not about what we will get as individuals but about how we position ourselves and the state for the future.

“From the summary of this report, there is need to establish new means of generating funds, new ways of managing resources. We do not have sufficient money to spend as we are inheriting over N56 billion al-

ready as a government.

“Now, we have to make some sacrifices, to establish new means of generating funds, new ways of managing resources. Without funding, nothing can work.

We have to be very prudent in our new ways of spending and we have to cut cost.”

The governor-elect assured the committee of proper scrutiny of the report.

He said his incoming administration would work on it to have an indepth analysis of the report and come up with solutions.

Lightning kills four schoolgirls in Kwara

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OUR schoolgirls died yesterday as heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning pounded Gure, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Some other children, who were injured in the incident, have not regained consciousness.

The downpour was between midnight and 1am.

Scores of homes were destroyed.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

It was learnt that three of the children were of the same parents while the fourth was passing the night with them.

A source said the storms tore the wall of the house.

The schoolgirls’ bodies were said to have been buried according to Islamic rites.

The storms also blew off

roofs of several buildings in the community.

The chairman of the local government, Mallam Mohammed Omar-Bio, confirmed the incident.

He described it as devastating and pathetic.

The council chairman condoled with the families of the victims.

Omar-Bio said the local government would send a delegation to the bereaved community.

He urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other disaster management agencies to provide succour to the victims of the disaster.

Omar-Bio spoke through the local government’s spokesperson, Mr Jubril Masene.

He noted that with the development, the number of rain disaster victims in the area had surpassed 200.

Wakawa said the death toll was high because the accident occurred in the night and it was a head-on.

The FRSC commander said the time was odd for a prompt rescue operation.

She said: “We always caution motorists against night travel. The inherent dangers in it far outweigh whatever gains they claim are in it. We will not relent in this campaign until we get the needed results.

“We also want to warn drivers against reckless driving. It does no one any good. On this side, a careful driver may be there but his care is incomplete until the other road users on the other side are equally careful.

We should also warn those thinking that juju can save them when accidents occur.”

BDUCTORS of the Kogi State High Court Judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi, have demanded N150 million ransom for his release.

It was learnt that the abductors contacted the judge’s family yesterday afternoon, demanding the ransom.

They were said to have promised to call back in two hours.

Justice Obayomi, attached to the Ebogogo High Court in Adavi Local Government Area, was abducted on Monday at gunpoint on his way to work.

His orderly, Corporal Usman Musa, was shot dead.

But Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Nasir Ajanah, said he was not aware of the abductors’ demand for ransom.

Efforts to confirm the development from the police last night were unsuccessful.

Calls to police spokesman Sola Collins Adebayo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), did not go through.

Truck kills one at Abuja filling station From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

A

TRUCK killed one person yesterday on a queue at a filling station in Dutse, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Others injured included motorcycle riders.

It was learnt that the truck ran into residents struggling to buy petrol at AYM Shafa filling station at 9am, following a break failure.

The incident affected motorcyclists (Okada), most who were on queue to buy fuel.

The recent fuel scarcity had compelled Okada riders’ queues to extend to the expressway linking Dutse with Bwari in Abuja.

76

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

NEWS Oshiomhole to Okonjo-Iweala: account for $30b excess cash Continued from page 4

P from the ECA is inexplicable, because it is a complete violation of the law and due process. In this regard, it is necessary that Dr. OkonjoIweala makes available to the nation SURE-P’s financial statements, indicating clearly the sources and uses of funds.

“It is also a fact known to all that under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only the National Assembly (NASS) has the power to appropriate monies for subsidy.

Similarly, nobody spends money that is not appropriated or in excess of what was appropriated without recourse to the NASS. “In the first place, ECA is not

an exclusive preserve of the Federal Government. It belongs to all the tiers of government: federal, state and local governments. Moreover, the minister has no power whatsoever to spend monies without the express consent and approval of the state governments.”

On the SWF, the governor said: “It is understood from the law establishing the SWF that the state governments are part of the decision-making regarding the operations of the Fund.

‘However, till date, no state government has any idea about how the Fund operates or how it is managed. Like the ECA, its management is opaque.

“The only information we

stumbled upon as state governments is that the minister of finance had unilaterally and without recourse to NEC and the state governments, withdrawn money from the SWF to fund consultancy services in the name of the Second Niger Bridge.”

He also took on the minister on her accusation that state governments have been finding it difficult to pay salaries, accusing her of leaving the log in the eye of the Federal Government to draw attention to the speck in the states’.

His words: “Dr. OkonjoIweala was quick to blame state governments for not paying salaries but the situation with the Federal Govern-

ment employees is even worse. Things have gone so bad that even salaries of federal employees have to be paid by recourse to irresponsible borrowing from the capital markets.

“Let me state for the record at this juncture that while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, as Minister of Finance, is borrowing recklessly to pay salaries of federal employees, in Edo State, we are paying salaries as and when due, including teachers employed by local government areas without recourse to borrowing.”

On how he arrived at the $30 billion figure which should have accrued to ECA, Oshiohmole recalled how he

was forced to raise the issue at one of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

He said: “This prompted me to ask a very pertinent question: if the closing balance of the ECA as at December 2012 was over $10 billion and that for three years running Nigeria’s budget have been based on the average of between $77 and $79 benchmark while the average price of Nigeria’s crude has been $108 per barrel, suggesting an average of about $30 per barrel, how come that there was no accretion to the ECA?” He wondered why the minister waited till the twilight of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration be-

Jonathan to Buhari: extend probe to Obasanjo, others Continued from page 4

“In education, the road system; we have added Kasambilla to our dams; we have done wonderfully well in sports within this period. Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and, of course, the financial inclusion within this period is more than ever before. I can go on and on and mention almost all the sectors.

So I believe we have done our best ýand Nigerians will continue to assess us,” he said.

“Even though we operated under an extremely difficult situation, maybe because politics in Nigeria is just maturing, we witnessed the longest ASUU strike. I don’t think we have ever witnessed a strike that lasted for six months and we believe that that strike was partially politically-motivated; otherwise lecturers cannot troop out for six months.

“There were the terror attacks. We know Boko Haram predates this administration but immediately after the elections, I believe because of local and external factors, they be-

came very vicious, extremely destructive, killing people and destroying properties.”

The President said that the cabinet will be dissolved at the end of all official functions today.

He said: “But remember we still have a programme tomorrow; the government is not ending today. We have the formal handover process tomorrow and you must come as ministers of the Federal Government. I’m saying so because of the media; the cabinet has not been desolved.

“This is only a valedictory session because this is the last Wednesday. We will certainly formally dissolve the cabinet.

But today, the cabinet has not been dissolve because ministers are yet to hand over and that ceremony will come up tomorrow, and you will come for tomorrow’s dinner as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“We will probably have a little meeting here where we will formally dissolve the cabinet but all these programmes

coming up tomorrow you have to attend as ministers.”

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who set the ball rolling during the valedictory, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him over the years.

He noted that he never lobbied to be Jonathan’s running mate both in 2011 and the 2015 presidential elections.

He said: “His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan found me worthy to be his running mate twice, first in 2011 when we were returned with an overwhelming majority to emerge victorious at the election and in 2015 where we encountered some electoral misfortune.

“I can recall confidently that I had neither canvassed nor lobbied to be appointed the Vice President at any point in time, except that Mr. President found me worthy to support him in steering the ship of state. This is a clear demonstration and proof of the confidence Mr. President reposed in me in the discharge of my onerous responsibility of my office to the

best of my ability.

“I am privileged and humbled to be found worthy to be the Vice President of this great nation by a great leader, democrat, peace ambassador and patriot of our time.”

He praised other members of FEC for what he called their monumental service to the country and their collective spirit to serve their fatherland.

Sambo pointed out that the administration came into being at a difficult time but through the effort of Jonathan, especially in electoral reforms that allowed the conduct of free, fair and credible elections and his concession of defeat as an incident, showed the President’s exemplary spirit of sportsmanship.

Recalling Jonathan’s declaration that his ambition was not worth a drop of any Nigerian’s blood, Sambo said Jonathan’s action had put Nigeria firmly on the global map of democracy.

All the ministers commended the leadership style of President Jonathan as they expressed

gratitude for the opportunity to serve.

The Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Awal Bappa, predicted that Jonathan would return to office in 2019 following the footsteps of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who returned to office decades after they were heads of state.

According to her, the only difference will be that Jonathan would wait only for four years rather than decades before coming back.

Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), concurred with Bappa that Jonathan will indeed be back to office as president “soon”.

fore alleging fraud in the subsidy claims by Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

“The question to ask is: how come that it is now, for the first time, that we are hearing from the CME about fraudulent claims by the oil marketers amounting to billions of naira? At what point did the CME realise that these fraudulent and similar claims are going on? When did it start?

Is it just recently or it has been going on all along?,” the governor posited.

According to him, the proper thing to do is for Okonjo-Iweala to clarify her role before leaving office.

He said: “In this regard, I wish to remind the minister that before she leaves the stage, she is duty bound to inform the state governments, as critical stakeholders about the financial status of the SWF backed up by convincing evidence.

“There is too much of secrecy surrounding the management of our public finance.

The earlier the minister comes clean on the management of our financial resources, the better for all of us, so that the incoming government will derive the baseline from which to launch its economic recovery strategies to combat our present morass.

“This is the irreducible minimum that is expected of any minister of finance worth his/her salt. Otherwise, for now, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s tenure is a bile in the dish.”

OUR ERRORS The photograph of ex-Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Azubike Ihejirika was wrongly used and captioned with the name of his successor – Maj. Gen. Kenneth Minimah on Page 2 in yesterday’s publication. We actually meant to use the photograph of Maj.-Gen. Minimah.

Also yesterday, the photograph of United States’ Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, R. Gil Kerlikowske was mistakenly used instead of a British convict Khilnani in a story – Police establish $8.8m fraud case against British ex-convict.

The errors are regretted.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

77

FOREIGN NEWS

Russia begins massive air force exercise

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USSIA’s military forces have begun a large exercise involving around 250 aircraft and 12,000 service personnel, according to its defence ministry.

The ministry described the four-day drill as a “massive surprise inspection”, to check combat readiness.

The tests began on the same day as Nato and some of its partners started an Arctic training exercise.

Russia’s actions in Ukraine and incursions into Western airspace have led to rising tensions with the West.

According to reports on the Russian agencies Interfax and Tass, the inspection of the

aviation group and air defence forces in the central military district involves almost 700 weapons and pieces of military hardware.

During the exercise, Russia’s long-range aircraft are due to carry out cruise missile strikes on practice targets in the Komi republic.

The BBC’s Caroline Wyatt, in Moscow, says the current drills are in preparation for a larger exercise known as Center-2015 in the next few months.

Asked about Russia’s assertiveness in a TV interview, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin joked that “tanks don’t need visas”.

The outspoken politician is himself on EU and US blacklists as part of sanctions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea last year, limiting his travel options.

Russian aircraft have flown close to UK airspace in recent weeks Russia has been heavily criticised in recent months over increased air activity around the Nordic countries, including several reported airspace violations by military aircraft.

Nato’s two-week training exercise in the region - which began on the same day as Russia’s tests - will be based in the north of Norway, Sweden and Finland. It will

involve 115 fighter planes and 3,600 troops from nine countries.

The Arctic Challenge Exercise will also involve troops and planes from the US, Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands - all Nato members - as well as neutral Switzerland.

The exercise is the second of its kind, following similar tests in 2013.

The defence ministers of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, along with Iceland’s foreign minister, signed a joint declaration in April in which they called Russia’s military aggression “the biggest challenge to European security”.

Ethiopia in first vote since Meles Zenawi’s death

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THIOPIANS have been voting for a new parliament in the first election since the death of long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 2012.

The outgoing parliament has only one opposition MP. Mr Zenawi’s successor Hailemariam Desalegn is expected to hold on to power.

Polls closed at 18:00 local time.

No major irregularities were reported, election officials said. However, the opposition said their representatives were barred from some polling stations.

Voting in some areas has been extended to Monday after some polling stations

ran out of ballot papers.

Observers from the African Union issued an initial assessment to say the polls were conducted in a calm and peaceful manner.

Some preliminary results will be announced this week, the electoral board says. Full results are due next month.

Current Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn (L), is favourite to retain the post but faces competition from leading challengers Debretsion Gebremikael (C) and Tewodros Adhanom (R) Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has been in power for al-

most a quarter of a century.

More than 36m Ethiopians - and 57 political groups registered for the election.

Many groups are organised along ethnic lines.

Other contenders include the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum, a coalition known as Medrek [the Forum] and the Semayawi [Blue] Party, which has held protest rallies and draws support from young people.

In 2005, 174 opposition politicians won seats in the 547-seat parliament, but many did not take them up after pronouncing the vote rigged.

Many of the voters turned up early at polling stations.

People stood quietly in the queues, talking in low tones. At each polling station, there were separate lines for women and men.

Most of the women in one polling station in Addis Ababa, were covering their heads with the traditional netela, a handmade cloth.

“As a woman, this moment is very important for me because I have seen so many changes during this regime, especially roads and bridges and development in villages. Long ago, women had to walk long kilometres to get water but now they can get water easily,” government supporter Samira Abdull Razak told me.

Chinese navy to focus on ‘open seas”

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HINA is to focus on projecting its military presence beyond its borders at sea, according to a strategy document.

The navy will shift its focus to “open seas protection”, rather than “offshore waters defence” alone.

It will also speed up developing its cyber force to tackle “grave security threats”, the State Council said.

China has been accused of aggressively pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea which has sparked concern in Washington.

The strategy document highlighted four areas of critical importance - the ocean, outer space, nuclear force and cyber space. Its recent naval policy has prompted the most controversy.

Satellite imagery showed China building an airstrip in the Spratlys In recent years, China has focused on building up its navy. It has launched an aircraft carrier and invested heavily in submarines and other warships.

It has also exercised its claims over islands in the South China Sea which the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei variously dispute.

In one disputed area, the Spratly Islands, US officials say China has created about 800 hectares (2,000 acres) of dry land since 2014 that could be used as airstrips.

The strategy document

warns of threats to China’s maritime rights and interests.

It says China “will not attack unless [it is] attacked, but will counterattack” and mentions the “provocative actions of certain offshore neighbours” and “outside parties involving themselves in South China Sea affairs”.

On the same day that the strategy document was released, state news agency Xinhua reported two 50-metre high lighthouses were to be built on a reefs in the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines.

At a news conference to release the document, defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said: “Looking from the angle of sovereignty, China’s development of construction on its islands is no different at all from all the other types of construction going on around the country.”

He said island building was “beneficial to the whole of international society” because it aided China’s search and rescue, and environmental protection work.

China criticised Washington after a US spy plane flew over areas near the Spratly Islands last week, with both sides accusing each other of stoking instability.

The strategy document also says China’s air force will shift its focus from territorial air defence to both offence and defence, and building airspace defences with stronger military capabilities.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

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HAVE been asked this question several times since Muhammadu Buhari won the April 11 presidential election. Not because the enquirers really need an answer that will be of any benefit to them, as I later found out. It is mere rhetoric emanating from the excitement of the moment – a feeling of being part of history.

But, talking seriously, dear reader, where will you be tomorrow? I take it for granted that you know what is on in town. Buhari, soldier, farmer, administrator and politician, will take the oath as President at the Eagle Square in Abuja. Millions around the world will watch on television the ceremony, which will symbolise the change Nigerians voted for on March 28.

Just before the big show, it is fitting and proper to revisit this innocuous but loaded question in relation to some of the actors in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Where will Dr Jonathan be tomorrow? Eagle Square? No. I guess he will be somewhere watching it all on television or taking a rest after all those long sanctimonious farewell and thanksgiving services.

For those debating his future, Dr Jonathan gave them more than a clue last week when he said he would be a “peace ambassador”, a statesman preaching peace. Will he be going to Iraq? Syria? Kenya? Somalia?

Burundi? I really don’t know.

Sir, not so fast and cheap, a cheeky reporter said. “Your wife, we recall, recently proclaimed herself Mama Peace and before the nickname could stick, she had mounted the rostrum to tell your supporters to stone your opponents,” said the fellow, adding rather insolently: “Is statesmanship a fedora (Resource Control) hat to be snatched off the rack and decked just like that? Is it petrol that can just be bought at the black market? No.” In his warped view, Dr Jonathan should return to the classroom to oblige students of his experience, telling them how a man of humble background, a man not many gave a chance and a man not given to struggling for anything was catapulted to the dizzying height of the highest office in the land only to bungle it all like a novice, beg for forgiveness and dare the new administration to probe him. He said yesterday that Buhari should extend the probe to previous administrations, how “oil wells, marginal fields and oil fields” were allocated. Easy, Mr President, easy. Statemanship beckons.

In the alternative, said the fellow, Jonathan can simply go back to rustic Otuoke, relive those shoeless old days and revive the family’s age-old trade of boat making.

Incidentally, Elder Godsday Orubebe – remember him? The one who became the subject of beer parlour jokes after his thuggish attempt to disrupt the collation of the presidential election results failed – had last week advised the Ijaw to return to their God – given trade of fishing and gin making.

Words of elders are, indeed, words of wis-

RIPPLES EXTRADITION: KASHAMU THREATENED SUICIDE TO STAVE OFF ARREST–News

I beg bring your ATM CARD first plus PIN

‘How can Nigerians truly experience change as preached by APC? It is by ensuring that they do not suffer under Buhari’s administration as they did under the PDP government’

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

VOL. 10, NO. 3228

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (DAME)

Where will you be on May 29?

•A man protecting his power source while asleep

dom. He spoke at a seminar organised by the Ijaw Professionals Association in Lagos.

Where will Femi Fani-Kayode be tomorrow? Thankfully, it is a public holiday. The courts will be closed. He won’t need to be there in pursuit of his desperate battle to stave off jail for alleged money laundering.

I guess he will be watching it all on television even as he rues the day he took up the job of a presidential Rottweiler. Forget all the I-have-no-regrets braggadocio in newspapers. A little bird tells me he has been in a foul mood, frowning, flouncing and floundering since Jonathan lost the election.

Fani-Kayode’s partner Dr Doyin Okupe – where in the world has he been? – must have calmed down now, dazed by the reality of a Buhari presidency, after he had sworn that the man would not take the prize. He too will most likely be sitting in front of his television set, cursing his poor luck. Or be busy in a gym, according to a close associate who pleaded not to be named because of what he described as the confidentiality of the information.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the one with

the bombastic title of Finance minister and Coordinating minister for the Economy, probably has a first class ticket tucked away in her handbag. She will likely be set to return to Washington for a handshake, a pat on the back for playing it by the book. On her way to the airport, she is sure to be confronted with crowds and queues of people tearing at one another in a suicidal bid to get petrol.

She will find long rows of jerry cans and people, among them some of the proud owners of the N5b stoves – ah! What a great investment – just delivered to the Presidency, struggling to buy kerosene. Apocalypse? Not quite.”Petrocalypse”? Yes. So much for the champion of rebasing and all those exotic and esoteric obfuscations.

But, trust Nigerians; in the pains of the fuel shortage the fecundity of their minds has found hilarious expressions.

I have seen on the Internet a picture of movie star Funke “Jenifa” Akindele holding a bicycle on one hand, a helmet on the other and saying: “Thank God for my bicycle. Wonder how I would have got to church today.”

And somebody passed a comment: “In these high heel shoes?”

In yet another posting, there is the picture of a man sleeping in the night, his right hand on a jerry can full of petrol and the other on his power generator, the type popularly called “I better pass my neighbour”, chained to his bed.

In another posting, an Alsatian dog stays on guard over a jerry can of fuel that is chained by the owner to his window’s iron burglar proof. Another had a big padlock on his car’s fuel tank cover.

A fellow suggested cynically the other day that petrol will soon be part of the items to be demanded at marriage engagements by some wily in-laws. You never can tell.

Jonathan, said a colleague of mine, has decided to turn us all into trekkers for Buhari – a curious parallel to those who have embarked on trekking to Abuja to mark Buhari’s victory. Many have queried their integrity.

HARDBALL

H

ER parents named her Asisat Oshoala.

But her team mates christened her Super Zee, perhaps after the way she floats on the ball like some majestic breeze.

The world perhaps remembers her as the 18year old who cried her eyes out, even after being adjudged the most valuable player (MVP) at 2013 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Now, she is the first ever BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2015. That means, in the opinion of BBC’s global audience, our own Super Zee is the global football queen! For a country that is high on dire and bad news, this is one to cheer.

To win, Asisat brushed aside challenges from Kim Little (Seattle Reign, United States), Veronica Bosquette (FFC Frankfurt, Germany), Nadine Kessler (Wolfsburg, Germany) and Marta, the Brazilian great and former FIFA female footballer of the year — the quad, with Asisat, being the last five shortlisted for the inaugural award.

To be sure, in 2013/2014, Asisat, as a member of Nigeria’s squad to the 2013 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2014 Africa Women Championship, won about everything available to win. For starters, she emerged MVP in

How were they feeding on the way? Were there no robbers on the highway? No sore feet? No wild animals crossing the road?

Anyway, isn’t this an unusual season of unusual actions?

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Muazu is somewhere in Singapore where doctors have been telling him to take it easy. I am told he has no life threatening ailment, just a post-electoral defeat trauma which the doctors have assured him will not lead to long-term neurosis.

Those who are anxious to rebuild the PDP have forced him to throw in the towel. Muazu is not likely to return tomorrow. The mere sight of Buhari on the podium, taking the oath of office may cause a fatal relapse.

Chief Tony Anenih has surrendered his chairmanship of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BOT). I am told he was yielding the position to Jonathan, who is said to have turned it down. His admirers have said “the fixer” should have tarried a little longer before taking what they describe as a precipitous decision. They are wrong; the chief is experienced enough to know that when a blind man ceases to hear the noise at the market place, it is all over; he will pack and go home (apology to the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola). Will he be watching the TV? I really can’t say.

Where will Interior Minister Abba Moro be tomorrow? A source tells me how busy the minister has been, supervising the jobs and promotions bazaar at the Immigration Department. Those who got injured in the March 15, 2014 jobs stampede in which no fewer than 18 youths died, have lost out in the scramble for space in the department, despite a presidential directive that they should be employed. They have been dumped for those who have the right connections.

The minister, many have suggested, should be made to explain whose idea the huge cash-for-jobs scam was. Have they refunded the cash they got? How do we prevent this kind of mass murder in this era of change? Remember it was a major campaign issue during the general elections.

Moro will surely look morose tomorrow as he follows it all on television.

When Buhari was proclaimed winner of the election, a friend of mine, an accountant with an exceptional culinary skill and taste, called a party at his Magodo, Lagos home. I understand another jollification is afoot. I hope to be there as we celebrate CHANGE, just before the serious business of clearing the mess to pave the way for the great future Nigeria deserves.

Where will you be tomorrow, dear reader?

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Super Zee crests the globe both championships, though she lost the U-20 World Cup to Germany, while winning the Africa Women Nations Cup for Nigeria.

Later, she would emerge the 2014 CAF African player, a honour she annexed with her win as the best young African female football player for same year. Later, she joined Liverpool Ladies FC in England, from her Nigerian Club, Rivers Angels — and she has wasted no time in settling down to banging in the goals for her new club.

Super Zee is simply a metaphor of what Nigeria could be but has seldom been. She is a bundle of raw talent, just as Nigeria is a trove of raw treasures. Her natural technical abilities she has horned with good tutelage. The result has been sheer explosion in sheer beauty in the female segment of the “beautiful game”, to borrow from the iconic Pele, the Brazilian great. But not so for our country, Nigeria, which has the penchant to waste her talents and fritter her resources.

Hardball always thought — wish Nigeria were Super Zee! If Nigeria were Super Zee,

there would be no stopping her; and she would easily have transformed from the giant of Africa Nigerians always want to crow about to a giant of the globe. What Asisat has shown the world is that when Nigeria gets it right, no force on earth can stop her — but will she?

That Asisat is only 20 and is already blooming in female football where maturity appears to come with age, when compared with male football, is a tribute to talent and discipline. Nigeria has talent aplenty. But she also has more than her fair share of indiscipline. And that is the problem, really.

Let no one accuse Hardball of over-dramatising a BBC listeners/viewers recognition of a Nigerian girl who has honed her natural talents with discipline and sheer professionalism. But that is exactly what Nigeria needs, to vault over her present challenges.

So, as Queen Asisat crest the globe in her chosen profession, let every Nigerian take a cue from her proud lead. Super Zee, Hardball is proud of you!

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