The Nation July 10, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 2182 TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

EDO 2012

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•Election materials ready, says INEC •SEE PAGES 9 & 60 •Jega, IG Abubakar, others for Benin today •Edo dismisses police report on convoy crash •Stick to Oshiomhole, ACN chiefs urge voters

PLATEAU BLOODBATH

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We were hearing gun shots from behind the hills...But all of a sudden, the gunmen started jumping down from the mountains. The sight of the attackers caused people to begin to flee...The running caused serious stampede because the security agents that were among us were also running for their dear lives...It was after we ran for about two kilometres that my colleague, Hon Gyang Fulani, collapsed.

Not very far from that place, we saw Senator Dantong on the ground; the same thing with Hon Mwadkwon. The rest of us were trying to revive them one after the other, but my distinguished senator could not make it, just as Hon Fulani

’

•A GONY OF A F AMIL Y: The late Senator Dantong’s wife, Hannatu and her son, •AGONY FAMIL AMILY PHOTO: NAN Dang…yesterday

•The late Senator’s mother, Madam Chundung...yesterday

How senator, lawmaker died fleeing from gunmen SEE ALSO PAGES 4 & 5

Lawmaker, STF relive attack Assembly: Fed Govt has failed Jonathan, security chiefs meet

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HE scene of horror in which a senator and another lawmaker died on Sunday was reconstructed yesterday.

The member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Daniel Dem, relived how the lawmakers died. He was presenting the report of the incident on the floor of the Assembly during an emergency sitting in honour of the dead lawmak-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu and Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

ers – Senator Gyang Dantong and Hon. Gyang Fulani.

He said: “We were all there together at the mass burial for 64 victims. There were three mass graves, two in Barkin Ladi and one in Riyom Local Government Area, which is my constituency. We decided to start with mine before going to

those of Barkin Ladi. The original time of the mass burial had to be extended because the local rescue teams were still discovering more corpses from the bush. At the end of the search, we had 80 corpses of victims to bury in Barkin Ladi and we had 60 to bury in Maseh, Riyom.

“But at about 2:30 pm on the fateful Sunday, we commenced the burial first at Maseh, my constitu-

ency. While we were there, we were hearing gun shots from behind the hills, but we were not seeing them.

So, we continued with what we were doing. But all of a sudden, the gunmen started jumping down from the mountains. The sight of the attackers caused people to begin to flee; everyone had to run as far as your legs could take you. The running caused serious stampede because the security agents that

were among us were also running for their dear lives. We thought they would face the gunmen and repel them but they fled and you can imagine the stampede.

“It was after we ran for about two kilometres that my colleague, Hon Gyang Fulani, collapsed. Not very far from that place, we saw Senator Dantong on the ground; the same thing with Hon Mwadkwon. The Continued on page 2

•3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE: LAGOSIANS GROAN UNDER TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK P8

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NEWS PLATEAU BLOODBATH

How Senator, lawmaker died fleeing from gunmen

Mark weeps •Senate President seeks peace From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos,

Continued from page 1

rest of us were trying to revive them one after the other, but my distinguished senator could not make it, just as Hon Fulani. We got a vehicle and rushed them to the hospital but it was already late, the damage had been done. I could not belief what I saw with my eyes.

“The most pathetic situation is that corpses of over 100 people of our constituencies are lying outside without burial. This case is obviously beyond the security here. The Federal Government needs to send more troops to help because while those killed are yet to be buried, the gunmen are still around and the information reaching us is that they are going to raid more villages.”

It was a tearful session; many were crying.

The Special Task Force (STF) also spoke on the death of Senator Dantong and Assembly man Fulani.

STF commander, Major Gen. Ayoola, at a news conference on Sunday night, said: “Today (Sunday), at about 2.00pm during the burial of the deceased persons at Maseh village, there was sporadic shooting from the range of the hills surrounding the area, which led to a stampede, in the course of which three legislators slumped and were rushed to the hospital.

“Unfortunately, Senator Dantong (Plateau North Senatorial District) and Hon. Fulani of the Plateau State House of Assembly died while Hon. Simon Mwadkon of the House of Representatives survived and has been discharged.”

He said about 63 people were confirmed dead following the incident that took place on Saturday, when “unknown gunmen attacked Kakuruk and about eight neighbouring villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas.”

He said the search for the assailants was on and urged members of the public to vol-

S

•Jang (left) and Mark…yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan summons security chiefs

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday presided over an emergency session with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The security challenges, especially the Plateau State’s weekend bloodbath which claimed more than 100 lives, was top on the agenda.

Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Gyang Fulani, died on Sunday when unknown gunmen stormed a mass burial at which they were present.

At the end of the over three hours meeting, the security chiefs shunned reporters. The reporters wanted to know the decisions reached on states, such as Niger, Plateau, Yobe and Borno where the government declared emergency rule last year.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin, referred reporters to the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.)

Col. Dasuki, who came out about 10 minutes after other security chiefs had left, declined comments. He referred reporters to Air Chief Marshall Petinrin for comments.

Col. Dasuki said: “Is that what the CDS said (that I am

the one to talk)? Ok. I am now saying ‘go back to the CDS.’” When told that the CDS had left the State House, he kept quiet.

When asked about the Jos killings, the NSA replied: “Is that what happened? No, that was not what happened!” He then forced his way through the crowd of reporters. He jumped into his waiting car, with the aid of his security detail and drove off.

The NSA, about three weeks on the job, has been around the troubled states, including Plateau State.

At the meeting were Col. Dasuki, Air Chief Marshal Petinrin; Minister of State, Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada; Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade; Minister of Interior Mr. Abba Moro; Acting Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Abubakar; Chief of Army Staff LtGen. Azubuike Ihejirika; Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Ola Ibrahim; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Mohammed Umar; and Director-General, State Security Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong.

unteer information that could help in unraveling the killings.

He assured that the situation in the affected areas had been brought under control but advised residents where a partial curfew had been imposed to abide by it.

All was gloomy yesterday at the home of the late Dantong at Rayfield in Jos, Plateau State. Shocked family members and sympathisers poured in to condole with his wife, his aged parents and

helped.

The late Dantong’s brother, Rwang, said the family was “leaving everything to God, “I know it is well.”

One of the sympathisers, a former Deputy Senate President, John Wash Pam, said the Northern Elders’ Forum (of which he is a member) had discussed the trouble in Berom, giving various suggestions to those in authority without any result.

Pam said over 70 bodies were picked at the weekend

others, mourning the departure of their loved one.

Women were crying and men stood in groups, discussing the tragedy.

Mrs Dantong, apparently too shocked to talk, only nodded her head as the visitors tried to encourage her.

All who signed the condolence register had one good thing or the other to say about the late Senator. Most of the sympathisers were family members and people from his constituency whom he

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

from Garshish and Bachit districts.

He described the attacks as genocide aimed at cleansing the Berom from their fatherland.

Another elder, Da Jonah Madugu, who was with the late Senator and the late House of Assembly member shortly before they died, described the incident as “very unfortunate”.

He urged the youths to remain calm.

ENATE President David Mark wept yesterday as he visited the Jos home of the late Senator Gyang Dantong.

He also visited Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang to commiserate with him on the death of Dantong and other victims of attacks on village in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas.

Governor Jang in a broadcast said the state had been under siege, invaded by foreigners.

Apart from Dantong, a member of the Plateau House of Assembly Hon. Gyang Fulani also died in the stampede after an attack on mourners during a mass burial of victims of attacks in Maseh village, on Sunday.

Mark was at Dantong’s residence in Rayfield, Jos, to condole with his widow, Hannatu and son, Dang said: “We have come here as colleagues of your husband to condole with you on this unfortunate incident. We know it is painful, but there is nothing any mortal can do if it is the will of God.” Mark and his entourage were received by Dantong’s brother, Rwang. The Senate President also condoled with the mother of the late Senator, Madam Chundung.

At the Government House, Mark said: “I received the news of the death of Senator Dantong with great shock and I prayed it was not true, but subsequent calls confirmed to me the reality of his death.

“Dantong was an easy going gentleman. He had a strong belief that the crises in the state could only be resolved through dialogue.

“The death of Dantong and Fulani is unfortunate and regrettable and we only hope that with this, the crises in the state has reached its peak and must end now.”

Jang said he had always raised the alarm over illegal settlement of foriegners in Continued on page 62

EFCC may prosecute subsidy suspects next week

T

HOSE indicted in the fuel subsidy probe by the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives panel are likely to be prosecuted from next week, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke said yesterday.

Adoke said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to which President Goodluck Jonathan directed him to refer the report had gone far with investigation into the report to be able to establish a prima facie case.

Government has been accused of trying to kill the report of the probe.

Besides, allegations of bribery against Hon. Farouk Lawan, the chair of the panel, who allegedly collected $620,000 from businessman

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Femi Otedola, is also generally seen as an attempt to discredit the report.

But Adoke said yesterday that government had no intention to sweep the report under the carpet.

He spoke in Abuja after a meeting on corruption attended by top functionaries of the three arms of government.

The three-arm meeting at the Presidential Villa, was convened by President Jonathan. It lasted for two hours.

The Federal Government is expected to provide a national strategy on the fight against corruption from the deliberations.

Speaking on the House of Representatives subsidy report after the meeting

Adoke told reporters: “The report was not discussed as an issue but assurances were given that as soon as the EFCC finishes its assignment, which is very soon, that you will begin to see prosecution. Probably in the next one week, we will begin to prosecute because the EFCC has gone very far. So, Nigerians should be rest assured that this is not an issue that will be swept under the carpet. We have gone this far because we want a proper and painstaking investigation done so that when we charge people to court, there will be no lapses or loopholes for lawyers to explore” On the tripatrite meeting on corruption, Senate Majority Leader Senator Ndoma Egba, said the meeting discussed how the three

arms of government could work together to stem corruption in the country. Senator Egba, alongside Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Anti-corruption, Senator Victor Lar; Hon. Mulikat Akande, Majority Leader, House of Represenatives; Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba; Adoke; Chairman EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde and Acting Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, spoke to reporters.

Egba also noted that the Executive, like the other arms of government, is worried at the level of corruption and resolved to come out with a National Strate-

gy on Fight Against Corruption.

“The President’s initiative is unprecedented; getting the three arms of government to sit in one meeting and the subject matter of discussion was corruption and how the three arms of government could work together to stem the worrying incidents of corruption in our polity.” .When asked to shed further insight into what transpired at the meeting, Egba said, “Well, the President is obviously worried about corruption and from the discussions we had, all the arms of government are indeed worried about corruption in our society. And we looked at the challenges we are facing in the fight against corruption. Some of the issues are constitution-

•Adoke al. The National Assembly will take another look at these issues. The Judiciary also gave its own insight into the constraints, all of this will be addressed.

Continued on page 62

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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NEWS PLATEAU BLOODBATH

•Hon. Daniel Dem during the sitting... yesterday

•Hon. Sadat Garga... yesterday

•A female member in tears... yesterday

‘This is more than a •Fed Govt has failed the people, say Plateau lawmakers • Ihedioha, governors, Atiku, Osun, Benue Speakers ‘sad’

I

T was a sitting like no other at the Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday. Members, dressed in all-black attires, fought back tears. They observed a minute silence as a mark of respect for the 104 victims of the weekend of bloodbath in the state.

The 23-member House, presided over by the Deputy Speaker Johnbull Shekarau declared that the Federal Government has failed the state in security.

Shekarau said: “It is with deep feelings of pains that we converge for this emergency sitting. This is because since the beginning of this political dispensation in 1999, we have never experienced what we are going through today. One of us in this House, the member representing Barkin Ladi Constituency, died in the attack at a time he went to bury members of his constituency killed in an earlier attack.

“More worrisome to us is the fact that one of the three senators representing the state in the National Assembly also died in the same attack.

These are too heavy to bear. This is more than a tragedy; it is a calamity of immense magnitude and I believe the best honour we can do for our slain legislators is to come here, put our heads together to review the state of Plateau State.”

The member representing Pankshin South Constituency, Istifanus Muansat, said: “I fear for Plateau State; I fear for Nigeria; I fear that we are going the way of Republic of Mali where rebels have taken parts of the country. It is high time the Nigeria police and army confessed to all Nigerians that they are incapable of securing Nigerians. The loss of lives to terrorism in Nigeria is growing each day and something ur-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos, Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi and Dele Anofi, Abuja

gent must be done by the Federal Government to stop this trend.”

To the member from Kanke, Timothy Golu, the violence has become common place.

He said: “We are finding it difficult to console our people all the time.

Our people are fast running out of patience. It is obvious the Federal Government has failed us in this state.

“The Federal Government came in to take over security situation in Plateau State from the state governor, but so far we have been experiencing more and more devastating attacks, with the usage of more sophisticated weapons and killing of more of our people than before.

“If the Federal Government cannot secure a small state like Plateau and most states in the country, what is it that our government is doing in Dafur, Sudan etc? This is a shame on a nation. Terrorism is consuming this nation.”

The member representing Pengana constituency, Gondina Musa Sambo, urged the Federal Government to own up to its weakness and withdraw its soldiers from Plateau State.

The member representing, Kantana Constituency, Sa’adat Garga, accused the Federal Government of complacency.

He said: “The Federal Government and its security agencies are aware of an armed depot in a Fulani residence in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, but have refused to take action. Now the arms are being used to kill our people en-masse. I, therefore, think the House should hold President Jonathan responsible for

The Fulani I knew, by Clerk From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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HE Clerk of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mrs Helen Chudunsu, yesterday relived her memory of the late James Gyang Fulani, who died at the weekend.

She said she had known Fulani in the last six years.

Fulani, she said, in his second coming to the House, was made the Majority Leader due to his maturity and sense of leadership.

The clerk said: “The late Danfulani was the chairman of the House Committee on Rule and Business and as the clerk I was the secretary of the committee.He was a committed person who always discharged his responsibility with all seriousness.

“Gyang Fulani would be the first person to call me in the morning before resuming work in the office to tell me what to prepare on the order paper. In fact, all the staff here knew him as a workaholic because he hated failure. When he gave you a task, he would be on your neck to ensure that you accomplished that task.

“As a majority leader in the House, he had a way of bringing the members together by calling them all the time. If a member had an issue, he rallied around such member to ensure it was solved.

“I spoke with him on phone barely an hour and he told me that he was in the village with his constituents, preparing for mass burial and less than one hour later, I had a phone call that he had been killed.

This is a rude shock to me because he was a strong pillar in the House and I’m wondering how the House will be without him. He will be greatly missed.” the ethnic cleansing going on in Plateau State.”

The member from Langatang North Constituency, Zaina Dogo, said

Mrs. Chudunsu... yesterday

the National Assembly should summon President Jonathan to tell Nigerians why he has failed to protect them.

The deputy speaker said: “The violence in the state and in the country is getting to its climax. Is the Federal Government just there to supervise

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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NEWS PLATEAU BLOODBATH

•Hon. Shakarau ...yesterday

•Hon Deo Lamu ...yesterday

•Another female member weeping...yesterday

tragedy; it is a calamity’ Andy Uba condemns bloodbath

‘

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

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HAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr. Andy Uba, on Monday condemned the bloodbath in Plateau State, in which a senator, Gyang Dantong, and Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani, and 102 others have died.

In a statement issued after accompanying the Senate President, David Mark, on a sympathy visit to the state capital, Jos, Uba expressed regret at the impunity with which armed militants had been killing innocent persons.

He said: “The losses are tragic. The impunity and the callousness of the murders are very regrettable. I hope that the changes that have been made in the security structures start to yield very quick and far-reaching results.”

A

Rep disagrees with Jonathan

MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi, has described as misleading President Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to stop the killing in the North.

Faparusi, an engineer who represents Gbonyin/EkitiEast/Emure Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, condemned Jonathan’s comment on the killing of two lawmakers in Jos at the weekend.

Faparusi said: “The President’s word of assurance is not new and it is annoying. It is an aberation that must be withdrawn out of circulation. Since the inception of these killings, we have always been assured while innocent, defenceless Nigerians have been sacrificed. It is time we faced reality and found reliable solution to the lingering problem. Enough of this deceit.

“The situation has become more worrisome now that lawmakers who were always under police protection were killed with impunity. What now is the fate of millions of defenceless Nigerians, especially in the suburbs?

Look at the number of policemen deployed in Edo State to monitor election while millions of our people are left insecure. Everyone of us must be alarmed and the federal government must realise that it has the responsibility of taking the sanctity of people’s life seriously. Stopping this joke is long overdue!”

the killing of its citizens every day? We have resolved as a House that Mr. President owes us explanation and he should come out and tell Nigerians what is going on. We have also resolved that this House is demanding a state police because it is obvious the federal police have failed woefully. We are also demanding immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Plateau and return the responsibility of securing citizens to the governor of the state who is the Chief Security Officer of the state.”

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Delta

State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have expressed sadness over the violence in Plateau State.

Ihedioha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Oke Epia, said it was unfortunate that the indigene-settler controversy has continued to fester.

E said: “The ongoing con stitution review process by the seventh National Assembly is a window of opportu-

H

This is more than a tragedy; it is a calamity of immense magnitude…

We have also resolved that this House is demanding a state police because it is obvious the federal police have failed woefully. We are also demanding immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Plateau and return the responsibility of securing citizens to the governor nity we must not miss to address fundamental issues of our national life, like the raging controversy of indigene-settler that has been identified as one of the root causes of the seeming unending violence in the Plateau.”

He condoled with the families of the deceased.

Uduaghan, in a statement, said: “These attacks have degenerated to an intolerable level. It is unwarranted and wicked for people to just rise up and hack fellow Nigerians to death when we are not at war. This is condemnable and not acceptable and we must all join hands with the federal government to stop it.”

He urged Nigerians to respect the sanctity of life and always channel their grievances to constituted authorities.

‘

The governor urged the Federal Government to ensure the safety of the people and their property. He also urged the Federal Government to fish out those responsible for the violence.

Ahmed called for a national dialogue across ethnic, religious and political affiliations as a way of resolving the multi faceted challenges facing the country.

He said: “The killing of Senator Gyang Datong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Gyang Fulani, among others, is very unfortunate and capable of derailing the gains already made in our fledgling democracy.

“As one of the opinion molders in the Senate and a stabilising force in the hallow chamber, it is indeed very

painful to lose him now.”

Abubakar said the fresh orgy of indiscriminate murder of innocent people in Plateau State would complicate the country’s insecurity crisis.

He said: “In the absence of enduring peace, life itself will be difficult to live. Violence benefits nobody and it only holds back our progress and prosperity. The frequent explosion of violence in Plateau State, if not checked, could lead to despair and dire consequences, which the country could ill afford.”

The Speakers of the Osun and Benue Houses of Assembly, Najeem Salaam and David Ioremba, have decried the bloodbath.

In a statement by his media aide, Goke Butika, the Speaker lamented the tribal clash in Barki Ladin and Fwai.

Salaam said: “We are in trouble in this country and our sovereignty is being threatened so seriously. If tribal clashes could claim hundreds of lives despite the presence of a Special Task Force of military and police, and bombings boom sporadically in some parts of the country, who says we are not on the edge?

“We cannot continue to fold our arms in akimbo, pretending that our precarious atmosphere of hate, hypocrisy and sprawling corruption will diffuse. We need to talk, and all stakeholders in this country need to discuss; we need to search for enduring relationship, because for unity in diversity to be achieved, the beauty of being together must be made to radiate.”

The Benue Speaker said: “It is regrettable that Federal Government has not been able to address the perennial crisis in Jos and other states in the North in recent times. My appeal is that the Federal Government should take decisive measures to nip the crises in the bud once and for all.

Nigeria is larger than any individual and those who that there will be no peace in the country should be arrested and put behind bar for Nigerians to have peace.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NEWS

‘Jonathan’s agenda deceitful’ Why govt can’t fight corruption, by Osundare, Sagay, Bakare

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OREMOST playwright Prof. Niyi Osundare and legal scholar Prof. Itsey Sagay yesterday declared that the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Administration lacks the will and capacity to fight corruption because the Federal Government is immersed in theft and graft.

Osundare said a corruption-compliant ruler cannot rule a corrupt-free country, stressing that leaders can only rule properly, according to the rule of law.

He described corruption as the most viable industry and greatest employer of labour in Nigeria, warning that the cankerworm could kill the country, if the dangerous trend is not halted by committed stakeholders.

Osundare spoke in Lagos at a lecture entitled: “Why we no longer blush: Corruption as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. The event, chaired

by Prof. Sagay, was organised by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), led by Pastor Tunde Bakare.

The lecture, which was held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, was attended by former university dons; Prof. Ropo Sekoni, Dr. Amos Akingba; University of Lagos teacher Prof. Adimora Ezeigbo, Ambassador Tokunbo Dosunmu, Mr. Jimi Agbaje,

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor and Adebisi Onanuga.

former Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police Tunji Alapini, Chief Duro Onabule, Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin, Mr. Moses Adeyeri, Mr. Kunle Ajibade, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Mr. Francis Ojo and Mr. Henry Boyo.

Pastor Bakare lamented that corruption has assumed an alarming dimension, recalling that the January protest by SNG and civil society groups against fuel subsidy removal was also a protest against corruption in high places.

He described President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s transformation agenda as a deceitful distraction, advising that, if a successful anti-graft war is to be waged, there should be no sacred cows.

The Latter Rain Assembly Pastor urged the government and the people to learn instructive lessons from the transition of Georgia from a corrupt country to a corruptfree and prosperous country.

Dr. Dosunmu, the daughter of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, enjoined Nigerians to return to the sanity of the past when leaders, such as her father, showed a sense of responsibility.

She said her political experience in the aborted Third Republic convinced her that the strange party culture under the military rule displaced the orderly evolution and responsible politics of old when committed party members strove to pay party dues and promote party discipline.

Dr Dosunmu said: “I was in PSP. People challenged me and asked: why did I bring them to a party where they would not pay dues.

They said they paid dues in parties led by my father.

They brought out their party cards as proof. They said once you give money to a porter (alabaru) to help you carry your load in the market, that is the end.”

Sagay painted an awful picture of graft in the country, saying corruption is a devastating quagmire.

He said: “N16 billion was expended on power, but it ended with the probe of contracts involving the chairman of committee that was probing the scam. The chairmen and members of the committee probing the SEC and fuel subsidy regime are now under investigation.

“We are in a situation where we have to find a policeman to police the police.

Corruption is destroying the country’s chance of development. Is there any hope for

the future? Something must be done before it is too late”.

Osundare said: “Nigeria is a kleptocracy. Corruption is Nigeria’s fastest growing industry. If Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”.

He lamented that “the higher the amount of money stolen, the more your name appears on the order of merit list and you win election”.

Recalling the corruption allegations against former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Commodore Bode George (rtd) and electoral flaws under the former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) boss Prof.

Maurice Iwu, Osundare said Nigeria had become a moral desert, political jungle and haven for criminals.

The playwright urged the audience to ponder on the effects of corruption in all sectors, including economy, banking, aviation, bar and bench and religion.

Osundare said: “All the disasters, road accidents, Dana Air plane crash, Boko Haram violence; these clusters of calamities are traceable to corruption. Corruption killed the railway system, which would have reduced the pressure on the roads.

“Why is the Nigerian road full of” Tokunbo” cars and airspace racketing :Tokunbo”

•Prof. Osundare...

planes. Where are previous reports? All we have is investigation without an end, recommendation without implementation and reports that are dumped”.

The university don lamented that, due to corruption, attention was being shifted from the fuel subsidy scam report to the investigation of the investigators.

He flayed Jonathan’s position on declaration of assets, stressing that his “Idon’t-give- a-damn attitude” to matters of probity and

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

transparency was condemnable.

Osundare observed that the immunity clause in the Constitution had created leaders with impunity.

To stem corruption, Osundare canvassed the strengthening of the coalition of civil society groups to fight corruption.

He said: “They should mobilise people to embark on massive action and probe why few people are tirelessly rich and many are poor”.

Fashola inaugurates Disability Governing Board

By Miriam Ndikanwu

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday inaugurated the Disability Governing Board. He urged its members to tackle the challenges of the disabled.

The board’s Chairman is Mrs Tolulope Animashaun while Mr. Babatunde Awelenje and Mr Olabode Ajao of the Ministry of Youth and Sport are members.

Others are: Mr. Victor Otereh, Olugbenga Kuye, Toyin Olayinka and Oladipupo Bada, all physically challenged persons and professionals in various fields.

The governor noted that the board would strengthen the implementation of the Special People Law, enacted on June 24, last year.

He explained that the establishment of the board would ensure equal opportunities for and impact on the lives of people with disabilities.

Fashola said though the Constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination against people with disabilities, the society has not done much to adequately protect their interests.

The governor said it was in the bid to correct the imbalance and accommodate people with special needs that the state government in 2011 enacted the People with Disabilities Law. He said: “It is true that our Constitution makes a provision that prohibits discrimination against people with special needs, but that is as far as it goes. “

•Fashola (middle), hisdeputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (third right); Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye (right); Mrs Animashaun PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES (second right); Mrs Olayinka (left); Kuye (second right); Bada and Awelenje...yesterday

Court summons DPO, inspector over policeman’s ‘mysterious’ death

HE Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Adekunle Police Station, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, Tolani Oguntojoba (CSP) and one of his junior officers, Inspector Omojate, have been summoned by the Magistrate’s Court to say all they knew about the sudden death of their colleague, Patrick Omojiade (a Corporal).

Magistrate Sherifat K. Metapo issued the summons at the weekend upon being convinced that their testimony was crucial in the inquest to be conducted on Corporal Omojiade’s death on May 2. He was 34.

Others to be invited are the Baale (traditional head) of

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By Eric Ikhilae

Makoko community, close to the Adekunle Police Station, and the Head of Department of Morbid Anatomy, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

The Magistrate refrained from summoning them on the ground that the lawyer to the deceased’s family, Moses Akpasubi, was unable to identify both the Baale and LUTH’s HOD in person, although he said their testimonies were crucial to the unravelling of the hidden truth about Omojiade’s death.

Magistrate Metapo explained that the court, by vir-

‘The phone was switched off. They later got a call from someone who claimed to be his colleague and said Omojiade was dead. The Police did not make official pronouncement on his death’ tue of a directive from the Attorney General, Ade Ipaye, had decided to conduct a Coroner’s Inquest with a view to ascertaining the truth about

the Corporal’s death.

She said every interested party, particularly the deceased’s family, was at liberty to invite anyone relevant to achieving the court’s objective. She adjourned till July 13 for the commencement of the inquest. The DPO and Omojate are to be served with the summons before then.

Omojiade was last seen alive by members of his family on May 2 when he left for work at the Adekunle Police Station, Yaba.

Akpasubi told The Nation that when some of his relatives became uncomfortable, on realising that he was not

heard from on the second day, they called his mobile phone.

“The phone was switched off. They later got a call from someone who claimed to be his colleague and said Omojiade was dead. The Police did not make official pronouncement on his death.

“Although some claimed he collapsed and died, the information from those who conducted the autopsy showed his body was mutilated. It was strange that the Police did not seek the family’s consent before conducting the autopsy. They have also withheld the report.

Those who ought to know are not saying anything,” Akpausubi said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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NEWS

Reps condemn NNPC’s off-shore insurance policy •NAICOM advocates scrapping of Insurance Act T HE House of Representatives yesterday expressed concern over the huge capital flight from the economy due to the inability of indigenous insurance companies to undertake insurance for the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC) and the oil and gas sector.

Members of the House Committee on Finance spoke at a five-day public hearing on the insurance of government assets.

They faulted the Nigerian Insurance Commission (NAICOM) position that it lacked constitutional powers to compel Ministries, Depart-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

ments and Agencies (MDAs) to subscribe to insurance.

Head of NAICOM and Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, said the economy was losing huge funds due to the lack of resources by local insurance firms to win accounts in the oil and gas sector.

He said this led the NNPC to float its own insurance company, Wheel, in Guernsey Island, one of the United Kingdom (UK) colonies.

He said NAICOM was unaware of the establishment of the off-shore company, and did not have regulatory powers over it.

He said despite the provision of N500m for premium and insurance claims in budgets of the MDAs, only a handful actually undertake the insurance.

According to Daniel, the attitude of most MDAs to insurance was inimical to the economy.

He said: “This makes it difficult for the Budget office to make correct pro-

jections for the MDAs during the budgeting process. In addition, it also makes it difficult for NAICOM to advise or critic submission by MDAs for purposes of budgeting.

“It might surprise you to learn that most MDAs do not even have compulsory insurance while the little that have do it haphazardly, but the most disturbing is that NNPC captive insurance takes a chunk of our insurable overseas. This can be attributed to our lack of capacity to take on captive.”

Daniel called for a total overhaul or outright scrapping of the 2003 Insurance Act, which he said was not in tune with reality.

He said: “It is only when practicable insurance laws like those of India and South Africa are put in place that NAICOM can provide the Committee with actual status of government’s assets and property.

“We should not forget that insurance in other developing nations has become veritable avenue for creating jobs and growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP.”

‘Fed Govt to spend N5.5b to train teachers’

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HE Federal Government yesterday said it would spend N5.5 billion to train about 150,000 teachers and education managers nationwide in 2012.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, spoke in Bauchi at the launch of the “2012 Capacity Building Workshop’’ for basic education teachers and managers.

The workshop was organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in collaboration with Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board.

Wike said the programme was aimed at ensuring that teachers and education managers were exposed to current trends in education policies.

They would also be exposed to management systems and teaching methodologies.

The minister said: “Capacity building for teachers and education managers is aimed at ensuring that teachers and education managers, who are directly involved in basic education delivery, are exposed to current trends in education policies, management systems and teaching methodologies.

“Let me remind you that funds expended on capacity building do

not require counterpart funding from states. Unlike in the past, the Federal Government will not condone a situation where funds are released to states for the purpose of training of teachers and education managers and it is not utilised.”

‘It is also to ensure that the training needs of each state are met irrespective of their peculiar nature.

More importantly, it is to ensure judicious utilisation of the Federal Government intervention funds meant for teachers professional development programme and value for money.”

Wike said without qualified and effective teachers, all efforts geared toward qualitative education would be fruitless.

He said teachers would be able to perform effectively if they were well trained and equipped.

He said: “The Federal Government has spent N16.036 billion for the training of 512,675 teachers and education managers between 2009 and 2011.”

Wike said the Federal Government would not condone a situation where funds released to states to train teachers and education managers were not timely and properly utilised.

•Wike( middle), Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Aminu Saleh and Modibbo (right)...yesterday

He said: “In this regard, the UBE Commission has appointed independent monitors to monitor closely the conduct of all training across the country. This is to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Education, management and staff of UBE Commission in that direction.”

Wike directed UBEC not to release funds for capacity building of teachers to states that had not conducted

or concluded training of their teachers in 2011.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo, said the commission has placed high premium on the training of teachers and education mangers at the basic education level.

He said: “The 2012 edition that we are flagging-off today, demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment towards basic education, the

foundation upon which all other levels of education are laid.”

Modibbo said the commission had developed unified training manuals that were currently being used for capacity training across the states.

He said that the guidelines for the training had been prepared and forwarded to SUBEBs to guide the conduct of the training in order to ensure the success of the exercise.

Osun to take over Kiriji War sites, says Commissioner

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has approved the taking over of the Kiriji War Treaty site in Imesi-Ile and Igbajo.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun, spoke yesterday at a quarterly ministerial media briefing of his ministry in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said the government would soon begin the execution of some capital projects in the tourism subsector.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

The commissioner said the government would develop 11 tourist sites in the state.

Ayedun said the projects would be executed through direct labour, adding that the construction and rehabilitation of the sites would be supervised by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

He listed some of the tourist sites as the Olumirin Waterfalls, Osun Groove, Kiriji Historical and Monu-

ment Spots at Imesi-Ile/Igbajo, establishment of History Museum and Oduduwa Groove in Ile-Ife and Ogedengbe’s Compound in Ilesa.

According to him, the government will also fence and rehabilitate the historical counting stones in IlaOrangun, establish a tourism ministry’s mini-museum, develop Ibodi Monkey Forest, develop Odua Shrine and Oranmiyan Groove as well as Ayinkunugba Waterfalls in Oke-Ila.

The commissioner said the ministry has proposed to the governor the need to collaborate with the National Films and Video Censors Board in Abuja.

Ayedun noted that the partnership would give room for regulating the activities of the sector as well as generate revenue for the state government.

He said the ministry would develop some palace museums, including those at the palaces of Ooni of Ife, Timi of Ede and Oluwo of Iwo.

Absence of defence counsel stalls Akingbola’s trial

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HE trial of the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Dr. Erastus Akingbola, was yesterday stalled as the lead defence counsel, Chief Felix Fagboungbe (SAN) and Mr. Deji Sasegbon (SAN), were absent.

Akingbola, who was in court, is standing trial for alleged N47.1 billion theft before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Standing trial with Akingbola is an associate, Mr. Bayo Dada.

Fagboungbe and Sasegbon were represented by Abubakar Shamshudeen.

They urged the court to vacate the six days earlier scheduled to enable them go for medical check-up abroad.

Court rules on intercepted arms in containers Sept 24

By Eric Ikhilae

By Adebisi Onanuga

Their application was, however, opposed by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Godwin Obla.

Obla argued that since there are other counsel in the defence team, the absence of the lead counsel should not stall the trial.

He said there was no justification in granting the application.

Obla said: “This is not the first time the defence is attempting to disrupt the trial. The right to counsel as guaranteed by the Constitution does not mean the right to be represented by only Senior Advocates.”

The court had at the last sitting adjourned till July 9, 10, 11, 12, 18 and 19 for continuation of trial.

Shamshudeen said Fagboungbe, who would have taken up the case, was also absent on health ground.

•Aregbesola

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•Akingbola

Justice Abiru refused to vacate the six days completely as requested by the defence. He vacated only two days and adjourned the matter till July 11 for continuation of trial.

USTICE Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed ruling for September 24 on whether or not to acquit two men arraigned last year for their alleged involvement in the importation of 13 containers of firearms intercepted at the Lagos sea port.

Azim Aghajani (an Iranian) and a Nigerian, Alli Abass Jega were arraigned on a four- count charge of illegal importation of arms and ammunition, comprising bombs, grenades and rockets into Nigeria.

The judge fixed the date yesterday after parties had adopted their written addresses in respect of a no-case submission made by the accused persons.

The accused persons contended in their no- case submission that the prosecution, despite calling several witnesses, failed to link them with the commission of the alleged offence.

They prayed the court to discharge and acquit them on that ground, a position the prosecution rejected, arguing that it has, by its evidence, established the accused’ guilt.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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CITYBEATS

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

Lagosians groan under traffic gridlock •Repair begin on Third Mainland Bridge

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OTORISTS groaned under heavy traffic yesterday as the repair of Third Mainland Bridge began.

The traffic gridlock experienced on the Lagos Island carriage of the bridge early in the day had stretched to most of the connecting routes on the mainland by noon.

Motorists sweated in their vehicles; commuters waited endlessly for buses which took time to come.

As the route where the first phase of the repair started, the Lagos Island carriage was partially closed, and traffic is diverted to alternative routes to enable the contractor work.

Commuters were stranded at Oshodi bus stop as buses plying Oshodi-Obalende deserted the route because of the heavy traffic that stretched from the bridge to Gbagada.

Other adjoining routes also witnessed a stand still occasioned by the diversions in some of the interchanges to navigate through alternative routes to and fro Lagos Island.

There was gridlock from Charley Boy Bus Stop to Anthony; traffic on Ikorodu Road stretched to Ojota up till 10am.

Herbert Macaulay Way, Iddo, Carter Bridge, Oyingbo and other alternative routes were no better.

By 12:08pm, Ikorodu Road and other alternative routes to the Island were blocked.

A commuter, who spent hours at Ojota BRT terminus, said she had to endure the long wait because the route was the best option under the circumstance.

She wondered how the situation will be managed in the next four months the repair is expected to last.

Taiwo Oyekan, who works with a private firm on the Island, described his experience on the axis as the worst ever. He said despite the alternative routes, traffic did not improve.

He said: "I left my house in Ketu about 8am and we are still in Oworonshoki by

Timeline on the bridge Third Mainland Bridge unlike the two others before it; Eko and Carter Bridges, is the longest in Africa. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki and links the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link midway on the bridge to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba.

Main Contractor: Julius Berger Nigeria PLC Year of commissioning of the project: Began in the 80s Length of project: 11.8km Year of Inauguration: 1990, by President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR Contractor: Borini Prono Construction Ltd Year of first repair/ Contractor: April- Sept 2008, by Borini Prono Construction Ltd. Year between completion and first repair: 18 years Duration of present repair: Five months: July - November, 2012 Scope of work: Eight expansion joints both sides of the carriage are slated for replacement Cost of present repair: N1,055,477.608.16

By Our Reporters

10:15am, it's a total waste of valuable manhour and I am only trying to imagine how i will cope with this for four months."

Mrs. Tayo Shonibare, who described the gridlock as frustrating, said she spent four hours from Ikorodu to Ojuelegba.

She appealed to the transport management authority to devise more ways of managing the traffic, adding that the traffic was overwhelming for LASTMA officials.

"My brother, this is just too much, it is hell from Ikorodu to Ojuelegba; I have spent four hours, tell me how many hours left for me to reach Ikoyi! I don't just know what to do I am fed up!" she said.

Uche Okoli said he spent four hours between Onipanu Bus Stop and Victoria Island, adding that he abandoned his car somewhere on the road to board a BRT bus which eventually took him to CMS Bus Stop.

He said: "I left home early enough to beat the envisaged traffic on the route, but it is unfortunate that the traffic was worse than envisaged to the extent that I had to park my car to enable me join BRT bus. This is terrible.”

It was gathered that part of the traffic on the Apapa route was caused by a truck conveying human faeces that fell on the bridge, spilling its contents.

The accident halted traffic for hours before LASTMA moved to clear the road.

Against the 12 pm earlier scheduled for the bridge's reopening by government, it the bridge was opened around 2:45pm to enable those coming from Island to connect the Mainland.

The Third Mainland bridge was conceived to address the increasing traffic in Lagos when the city was still the nation's capital.

Following a surge in population, the bridge came under intense pressure which over the years gave rise to fears of the state of its health.

Commuters have complained of vibrations on portions of the bridge, raising fears of risk to human life.

But the authorities denied speculations of cracks on the bridge but agreed that a repair is imperative. With their experience between Sunday and yesterday, motorists and commuters want the authorities to unveil measures to mitigate their pains during the bridge's repair.

The first phase of the repair started on Sunday on the Lagos Island-bound carriageway between Ebute Metta Interchange and Adeniji Adele end.

The second phase, which is on the Oworonshoki-bound carriageway between Adeniji Adele and Ebute Metta Interchange will begin after the completion of the first phase work.

• Traffic gridlock on the Lagos Island carriage way... yesterday

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

•Workmen on duty...yesterday

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

•Notice depicting duration of repairs

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Trains, ferries to the rescue

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OMMUTERS besieged train and ferry stations yesterday following the clogging of the road.

Traffic diversion on Third Mainland Bridge began on Sunday, following the flagoff of its repairs by the Minister of State for Works, Mr Bashir Yuguda.

A visit to ferry and railway terminals showed that the diversion of traffic has further put pressure on the two other means of transportation.

The Ijoko and Agbado terminals of the Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) were filled to capacity as early as 5 a.m. for the 5.30 a.m. train.

The MTTS operates from

Monday through Friday, passenger train services from Ijoko and Agbado in Ogun State to Ido and Apapa in Lagos State. NRC operates six shuttles in the morning and six in the evening, with each shuttle filled to capacity by passengers.

The already congested coaches were under pressure yesterday as many passengers sat on the roofs and others hung on the entrance and sides. Some commuters urged NRC management to provide more locomotives and coaches especially during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.

A civil servant, Mr Olayemi Animashaun, said the train service had become a dangerous venture

as more passengers now risk their lives hanging to whatever they could hold all through the trip. ``The NRC management should come to the commuters' aid before lives are lost,'' Animashaun said.

Two traders, Mrs Adunni Aina and Mrs Musidat Olowookere, said the train was now being used by the rich and the poor because of the repair work on the bridge's repair.

NRC Managing Director Adeseyi Sijuwade, has assured commuters that three additional coaches would be added to each locomotive, jacking them up by about 25 per cent capacity.

Sijuwade said there was need to help move commuters, especially at this period.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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NEWS THE BATTLE FOR EDO

•From left: Former Green Eagles Captain, Henry Nwosu and former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha present a commemorative trophy to Governor Adams Oshiomhole after a novelty match between ex-Super Eagles players and their Edo State counterparts at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, on Sunday.

•The Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC), Kassim Gaidam, handing over an assignment letter to an Electoral Officer, Ms Patience Evai .... yesterday.

Stay true to Oshiomhole, ACN leaders urge voters L AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend, urged the people to vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole who, he said, “has performed for you”.

Fashola, who spoke at a rally in Benin City to formally handover the party’s flag to the governor, said what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which ruled the state for eight years, has not been able to do has been achieved by Oshiomhole.

The governor said: “What you fought for with your blood four years ago, you have seen the result. PDP was here for eight years. They have been in our national life. That is why we cannot

have adequate power supply; that is why we cannot have water, no roads; so if you like what ACN government is doing here, you must vote in Oshiomhole.”

Apparently referring to the comments attributed to the PDP candidate, who referred to students as criminals, Fashola declared: “This was where I was made. I am a product of the University of Benin. I served the nation here and I am not a criminal.

“Stay true to the party and to the governor who has performed.”

Also speaking at the rally, the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, called on the people, especially the

youth, to defend their votes, saying the opposition should not be given any opportunity to thwart their collective will.

According to Tinubu, “a vote for the ACN, a vote for Comrade Oshiomhole, is a vote for peace; it is a vote for development. You must stay with your votes until they are counted and the result declared.”

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said the election day, July 14, is the anniversaryof the French Revolution, adding that the significance was very clear that July 14, 2012 would be a day of revolution when the people would declare their

Commission warns politicians against HE Independent Nawould be very difficult for tional Electoral Com- wild allegations anybody to present a voter’s

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mission (INEC) yesterday warned political actors in Saturday’s election to stop making “wild and spurious allegations capable of heating up the polity’’.

This was contained in a report on the investigation into the allegations by some parties and candidates when INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega met stakeholders from the state in Abuja.

Jega warned the stakeholders not “to divert the commission’s attention from the essential issues to chasing escalating tension, deepening fears and undermining the integrity of the process’’.

Jega said INEC had conducted thorough investigations into the allegations made by some parties and candidates.

The chairman said INEC had not considered using the state civil servants for the election.

He said two investigations conducted on the allegation that the National Youth Ser-

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vice Corps (NYSC) neutrality and fairness had been compromised was found to be spurious.

“The commission viewed the video clips given to it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in which corps members were alleged to have participated in Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s campaigns.

“The video showed young men and women wearing khaki shirts and trousers which resembled those of the NYSC, but there is no evidence that those people were Youth Corps members.

Jega said there was an allegation that PDP had begun purchasing voter’s cards from eligible voters from other states at N10,000 per card.

He said the purchase of voter’s cards is a criminal offence, adding that INEC is aware that a few arrests had been made by the police and the suspects would soon be prosecuted.

The report stated that it

card other than his/her own at a polling unit.

The INEC Chairman said there was no evidence that the PDP would use the police and military men to intimidate voters.

According to him, the activities of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on election security have dealt with the past challenges on the role of security forces during elections.

Jega said: “Investigations have revealed that virtually all the allegations are spurious and speculative found to be.

In an atmosphere of intense mutual suspicion such allegations and counter-allegations are bound to take place.’’

However, INEC appealed to all parties to work towards a violence-free election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report was presented to the national and state chairmen, secretaries and governorship candidates of the seven parties involved in the election.

RTEAN members march for governor

EMBERS of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Edo State yesterday staged a one million-man march for the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The RTEAN members, led by its State Chairman, Osakpamwan Eriyo, were in green T-shirts and fez caps with the inscription: “Oshio Baba, Carry Go”.

They marched through major streets in

Benin before stopping at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Eriyo told reporters that the march was organised to send a signal to the opposition that the governor enjoys the support of the people.

He said RTEAN supports Oshiomhole because of the achievements recorded in all sectors of the state’s economy.

The state RTEAN boss urged its members to vote for Oshiomhole to ensure continuous and uninterrupted development and prosperity in the state.

final rejection of the PDP. Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said: “We are happy because we are genuine representatives of the people. What is best for you is continuation by the ACN. But the most important thing is for you to defend your votes.”

Also speaking at the rally, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, said there was no more need for campaigns for Oshiomhole as “his performance has campaigned for him”.

The party’s National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, reiterated that Oshiomhole has done the ACN proud by upholding the hallmark of the party which, according to him, is performance.

Group backs Oshiomhole Stories from Osagie Otabor, Benin

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GROUP, Osokpikan Society of Nigeria, has announced its support for the second term bid of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

A statement yesterday by the group’s General-Secretary, A. J Idukpaye and three others, said the decision to endorse Oshiomhole is based on the “unparallaled achievements of the governor in infrastructural development, education, health, agricultural development and fiscal discipline since his assumption of office.

According to the statement, “it is a grievous sin against the land and the ethics of our society for any member to sell his or her voter’s card for any consideration.”

‘Agency wrong on accreditation’

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HE African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of lying about the accreditation of Civil Society Organisations to monitor Saturday’s governorship election.

Its Executive Director, David Ugolor, said INEC appeared not prepared to conduct free and fair elections.

Ugolor, who urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to personally handle the Edo election, called for the removal of Ishmael Igbani for alleged compromise in accreditation of CSOs. He urged INEC to provide proof of alleged partisanship of CSOs, saying INEC is a pawn of a party in the state.

He said, “INEC needs to convince Edo people that it can still handle the July 14 election as an unbiased umpire.

“It is the Edo people who will say whether elections are free and fair. The foreign NGOs are not on ground. They don’t have the capacity. INEC should tell us why we were not accredited”.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NEWS

Ajimobi gets kudos for dredging rivers

Lagos ACN slams Southwest PDP for ‘security aide’s defection’

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HE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a bunch of sinking parodists desp e r a t e l y c l u t c h i n g at straws for survival.

The party said the recent wild celebration over the purported “defection” of an unknown security man to the PDP was a sign that the party has become a pitiable relic of spent charlatans in the region.

The Lagos ACN noted that nothing would save the PDP and its members “from the sure rustication they are facing in the entire Southwest”.

In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe, the party said it does not know any security detail as a high ranking member of the ACN, whose “defection” can adversely affect its soaring fortune in Lagos, the Southwest and Nigeria.

It advised the remnants of the PDP in Lagos and the Southwest to face the reality of extinction after its “fraudulent short stay” at the helm in the region “led to the total despoliation of the region…”

The statement reads: “When one sees the jokers and parodists that personify the disappearing cult called the Southwest PDP frolicking and celebrating the so-called ‘defection’ of a security detail of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) last weekend, we were struck with pity for yesterday’s men. They have turned full blown clowns in a desperate effort to come to relevance through such infantile means as is now well known of the comic relics that go by the name Southwest PDP. That they gathered in their legion and mounted a wild orgy to celebrate a nonsensical defection of a nameless character that commands no known relevance in the politics of Lagos shows that time has pitifully left the PDP behind. It has gone rusty with the same factors that have made it a notorious brand, which has shrunk the country in 13 years of mediocrity and high-level corruption.

“We dare ask the PDP what came out of the defection of Wahab Dosunmu, Adeseye Ogunlewe, Musliu Obanikoro and scores of other booty

hunters to the PDP, if not more resounding electoral failures? We ask the PDP what came out of the defection of Femi Pedro, an erstwhile Deputy Governor, Kofo Bucknor-Akerele and others to the PDP, if not more damning failures among a people that are very conversant with the noxious value the PDP has implanted into the Nigerian body polity?

Has the scenario become so bleak that the hierarchy of the PDP in the Southwest has to mount a noisy roadshow that a self-acclaimed erstwhile bodyguard ‘defected’ to their party?”

•Ajimobi

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SOCIO-cultural organisation, Oyo Patriotic Front, yesterday hailed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for dredging rivers and streams in the Ibadan metropolis and other parts of the state.

In a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, the chairman of the organisation, Chief Jare Adepoju, noted

that but for the dredging, Ibadan would have witnessed another flood, reminiscent of what occurred on August 26, last year.

The torrential rain of August 26, last year, led to the death of some residents and the destruction of property.

The statement reads: “We want to commend Governor Ajimobi for running a responsible and responsive government. Only God knows what would have happened if the governor had not risen up and ensured that some of the rivers and streams that caused last year’s flood disaster were dredged.

“Ajimobi’s prompt response is an indication of the seriousness he has attached to governance and

the respect he has for the sanctity of human lives.

This is the kind of government we had been yearning for in Oyo State.

“For the first time in several years, Oyo State is blessed with a governor who will not look the other way when the lives and property of his people are being wantonly destroyed by a needless disaster.”

The group urged the government to prevail on the contractors building the bridges in the state to accelerate work on them to mitigate the inconvenience among the residents.

It advised the people to shun activities that can block waterways and flood plains to prevent a recurrence of last year’s flood.

Alleged N211m fraud: EFCC counsel’s absence stalls Daniel’s trial T HE absence of the lead prosecution counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, yesterday stalled the resumed trial of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje of the state High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, had adjourned the trial till yesterday at the instance of the EFCC. This was to allow the anti–graft agency to pro-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

duce some of its witnesses.

The judge had also ordered a police probe into the allegation of a death threat by unknown persons on the life of Mr Adeluola Babatunde, the star witness in the 38–count charge the former governor is facing.

But when the case came

up yesterday, EFCC counsel Mr Tayo Olukotu acknowledged that the matter was for “continuation of trial” and asked for an adjournment because Mr Jacobs was “unavoidably absent”.

Olukotu apologised for the inconvenience that the lawyer’s absence might have caused, saying the reason for the absence had been communicated to the

defence counsel.

Daniel’s counsel Mrs Titilola Akinlanwon (SAN), who appeared in company of five other lawyers, said Jacobs should have communicated his inability to make the date to the court as a matter of legal ethics.

The judge adjourned the matter till July 12 for the continuation of trial.

Court remands man for ‘stealing’ N Osogbo Senior Magistrate’s Court Aregbesola’s phone yesterday ordered

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that a 32-year-old man, Kelvin Ighodalo, be remanded in prison for allegedly stealing the mobile telephone handset of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The government had arraigned the suspect on a sixcount charge of conspiracy, fraud, stealing and impersonation.

The charge sheet, signed by a Principal State Counsel, Mr Biodun Badeora, for the Attorney-General, stated that the accused - with others at large - committed the offence between November 2010 and June 2011 in Osogbo, the state capital.

It also stated that Ighodalo conspired with some peo-

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ple at Technical College Sports field on November 27, 2010 and stole a Sony Ericksson telephone handset with a GSM number from the governor.

The charge sheet said the suspect did falsely represent himself to be Aregbesola and used the telephone number on June 3, 2011, to defraud the Ijesha monarch, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran of N500,000.

It added that Ighodalo used the number on May 24, 2011, to defraud Mr Shenge Rahman of N200,000.

A Legal Officer, Mr Michael Ubi, said the alleged offences contravene Sections 8 (c), 1 (1) (c) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee

Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

Ubi, who represented the Principal State Counsel, said the offences also contravene and are punishable under Sections 390 and 484 of the Criminal Code Cap, 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. His counsel, Mr Remnus Ugwu, made an oral application for his bail.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, rejected the application.

He directed the counsel to file a written bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody till July 31.

‘Nigerian govts spread hate with RENOWNED cleric policy implementation’ and the Ado-Ekiti

Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church in Ekiti State, Pastor Israel Ayeni, has said the implementation of policies and programmes by successive administrations has spread hatred instead of love among the people.

The cleric wondered why Nigeria experiences famine in the midst of plenty; insecurity instead of security and malfeasance among those entrusted with the nation’s resources.

He said there would be remarkable improvement in the living conditions of Nigerians if the implementation of policies and programmes becomes humane.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Pastor Ayeni spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the maiden anniversary of the church.

He said: “Governments at all levels should demonstrate more sincerity to bring about desirable changes rather than giving excuses which would produce more failures.”

The cleric warned leaders who he said have “massive disdain for the masses that they treat as expendable objects”.

Pastor Ayeni went on: “Only a change of heart

from the leadership can save Nigeria from the many troubles it has been embroiled in.”

Tracing most problems to material poverty, which he said “is reigning in the country like a virulent plague”, the cleric wondered why governments failed so woefully, despite the massive human and material wealth of the country.

He said: “I cannot understand the excuses for continuous increment in the cost of fuel, which most often dries up in the dispensing stations.

I cannot understand why prices of food items must be kept at sky-high, despite abundant arable land.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira steadies, more gains expected

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HE naira was flat against the United States’dollar on the interbank market and firmed marginally at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) biweekly auction yesterday with traders expecting the local currency to build on recent gains later this week.

The naira traded at N160.90 to the dollar in thin trade that saw some lenders selling dollars at the interbank.

“The market was quiet today with demand for the dollar dropping off from what we are used to seeing,” one dealer said to Reuters.

Nigeria’s currency firmed 1.2 per cent last week, after a surge of inflows from foreign investors positioning to buy treasury bills and the central bank’s dollar sales to banks.

Traders said an additional $200 million sold by Nigeria’s “bad bank” – the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to some lenders from its debt recovery efforts also provided support for the local currency.

“The outlook favours the naira gaining in the near term because of the gradual returns of offshore investors to the local debt market and possible dollar sales by some oil companies this week,” another dealer said.

Most offshore investors scaled down their investment in treasury bills and bonds two months ago on fears of rising inflation and the debt crisis in the Euro zone, which raised demand for the dollar and caused the naira to fall.

At the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction, the CBN sold $163 million at N155.87 to the dollar, short of the initial $200 million it offered and compared with $251 million sold at N155.90 to the dollar last Wednesday

There are things that can happen outside our control that can make banks have problem. For instance, if the oil price goes to $40 per barrel, everybody will have a problem at hand.

- Mustapha Chike-Obi, AMCON, MD

Okonjo-Iweala frets over domestic borrowing T HE Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said Nigeria must reduce its rate of borrowing to avoid a crisis.

She spoke in Abuja yesterday on the African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power programme, Political Platform.

The minister, who condemned the rate at which the country is borrowing domestically, however, said she was comfortable with the country’s external borrowing.

She explained that Nigeria cannot stop borrowing over night, saying: “If we do, the rate at which we have been spending...If we stop completely, then we won’t be able to finance so many things. And it will further affect the economy negatively.”

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said President Goodluck Jonathan has asked her and other ministers to find a way of reducing the level of borrowing, a process, she stated, has already com-

• Minister says indicted oil firms’ll be punished From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

menced.

She said: “We have brought the debt down by N100 billion; next year we will bring it down again, until we get to a level that is comfortable. The quality of the economic growth is what we are looking for. That means that we have to save a little bit more and you saw that after the National Economic Council (NEC) some weeks ago, the governors, under the chairmanship of the Vice-President Namadi Sambo, have agreed that we should save more in the excess crude, We have about $5.6 billion now. I believe that to have a strong coffer we should be able to save up to $10 billion.

“The debt ratio we have now is reasonable, but I am

not comfortable with domestic debt. Now we cannot stop borrowing completely over night, because if we do, the rate at which we have been spending, if we stop completely then we won’t be able to finance so many things. We must bring the rate of borrowing down and that is what President Goodluck Jonathan has asked me to look into and we are doing that.

On external borrowing, we are okay, it is the domestic borrowing that I am not comfortable with.”

Nigeria’s total debt profile was N44.28 billion (N6.88 trillion) as at March 2012.

Domestic debt component stood at N38.7 billion or (N5.97 trillion), while external debt was $5.91 billion or N919.44 billion during the period On corruption, she said

those found guilty after proper investigation should be made to return the looted funds and also face the music.

“When Nigerians talk about corruption, it is as if is something someone else is doing, but every one of us must begin with ourselves. The issue is to look at where the corruption is being done, isolate it and deal with those who are participating in it and show that there is no impunity. I think we need to focus on that. Those who are taking money that belongs to the state should not only be tried, we should get the money back, and if proven guilty, should face the consequence,” she stated.

She explained that most times, those people that are involved treat corruption issues with impunity and they are not often dealt with, “so what everybody is looking at now is that due process must be followed, there must be proper investigation. We must have the proof in our hands that they really did it.”

The minister said the country is expected to create 370, 000 jobs a year over the next

NUPENG seeks end to crude theft From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

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DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil - $123.6/barrel Cocoa - $2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold - $1,800/troy ounce Rubber - ¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

0.2958 206.9 245 156.4 1.9179 241 40.472

three years, 10, 000 in each state.

“A lot of things in the economy were not done well, but that doesn’t mean that any existing government should not try to accelerate, and I believe that this government, President Goodluck Jonathan, has said the biggest problem on his mind is that of job creation. If there is anything that worries him when he goes to sleep, is the fact that there are young Nigerians who don’t have jobs. So what have we done to address it? Lamenting or saying you know the problem is not enough.

“I believe we are on the right part. The unemployment rate is 23 per cent, but among the youth, it is higher, it’s about 38 per cent. We need to create jobs; this community services programme will do that. We are expected to create 370, 000 jobs a year over the next three years that is a lot of jobs,” she added.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said government is also asking some outfits who are interested in partnering with the Federal Government to register. “If they are willing to take some people we will pay them the minimum wage of N18, 000 and then if they employ them after a year, we will get tax breaks and other reliefs to those companies,” she said.

• Head, Payments and Collections, FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Eloho Ogude (left); Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney and Head, Consumer Banking, Mrs. Olufunke Smith, at the bank’s Product Fair for reporters in Lagos.

RMAFC backs probe of foreign crude account

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HAIRMAN, Revenue Mobilisation Alloca tion and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam (RMAFC), has backed the Senate Committee probing a foreign crude oil account allegedly managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Mbam described the development as very significant to the commission’s campaign for proper monitoring of incomes accruable from revenue-generating agencies of the government.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN): “If you listened to our submission to the National Assembly, we

observed that the management has shrouded in secrecy the JP Morgan account where money from the foreign sale of crude oil is paid into.

“We feel that such account should be open to the commission. We should know who manages the account is it the Ministry of Finance, is it the CBN? Is it NNPC? “And, of course, the law says all revenues accruable to the Federation Account should be paid to the Federation Account only.”

The commission’s boss advised revenue-generating agencies of government to remit incomes generated to

the Federation Account.

He faulted agencies, who claimed that their Act empowered them to spend part of their resources and remit 80 per cent surplus to the Federation Account.

He said: “Revenues should be remitted and you go through the process of legislation to get your money.”

“The constitution is very clear; Section 162 says there should be Federation Account where revenues to the Federation Account should be paid, except income from personal income tax of residents of FCT, personnel of the police, Armed Forces and the foreign affairs.

“If there is any institution or agency of government that their Act is not consistent with the constitution, it’s likely they should amend such act to conform with the constitution,” he said.

The Senate panel probing the management of fuel subsidy regime had queried the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the NNPC on the illegal foreign account.

In a statement, the CBN had insisted that NNPC remained the only signatory to the two crude oil and gas accounts opened with JP Morgan in 2002 and 2009.

HE National Union of Petroleum and Natu ral Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal Government to stop the stealing of crude oil allocated to refineries or else it would adopt some methods that government might not like to solve the problem.

He said the union fought for democracy and, therefore, would adopt various options, such as dialogue, consultation and even strike if need be to fight for the reversal of this crude oil theft, if government refuses to look into these issues.

The National President of NUPENG, Achese Igwe, who said this in Port Harcourt at the weekend also explained that it is worrisome that crude oil that is allocated to Port Harcourt Refineries, is being stolen and sold in the open market without anybody raising a voice against that.

He questioned whether the practice was a ploy to tell Nigerians that the refineries are epileptic, not functional and so cannot refine local content product and the best thing is to take this product off-shore and refine?

He said the refineries are still capable and the workers are committed in making sure that the products allocated to them are refined and made available to the consumers, adding that the theft of crude oil is having adverse consequences on the business of independent marketers.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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BUSINESS NEWS

Fed Govt partners with private sector

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O tackle major challenges militating against industrial growth in the country, the Federal Government yesterday sealed a new partnership deal with business leaders as part of its Industrial Revolution plan.

Speaking at the flag off of the maiden edition of the Quarterly Luncheon with business leaders in Lagos, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said it marked a new beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership between the public and private sectors of the economy to achieve enhanced and sustainable economic growth and development for the country.

He explained that the Quarterly Luncheon was conceived as a veritable platform for the government and business leaders across critical sectors of the economy to discuss issues/ challengesmilitating against industrial growth; deliberate on the right synergy for enhanced productivity, sustained economic growth and development; and monitor progress made quarterly.

“The luncheon is conceived as a forum for the government and business leaders across critical sectors of the economy to discuss issues/challenges militating against industrial growth; deliberate on the right synergy for enhanced productivity, sustained economic growth and development and monitor progress made on a quarterly basis.

“The forum will also address issues affecting the Ease of Doing

By Dan Essiet

Business in Nigeria, including other challenges facing local and foreign investors to find workable/lasting solutions and building on subsequent gains.

“The theme of this series, Industrial revolution: The role of business leaders as game changers, is a wake-up call to everyone of us, particularly those in leadership positions across all sectors of the economy, that the economic destiny of Nigeria lies in the hands of Nigerians, whether in the public or private sector.

“And the most effective way to fast-track this much-desired transformation is for business leaders to see themselves as game changers as we begin this important journey of nation building.

For the first time, we are linking industries where we have competitive and comparative advantage to innovation and skills development.

“We have the aspiration to be in the top 10 globally in some of these sectors, and we have already started with cement. We will back this up with the right incentives and policies and make concerted efforts to remove barriers to enhanced productivity,” he said.

Aganga noted that the partnership was a recognition their critical roles as drivers of economic growth and development, adding that the Federal Government was committed to collaborating with them in the implementation of its to remove Industrial Revolution Plan.

• Head, Mobile Money Solutions, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Shorungbe; Head, e-Business, Thabo Makoko; Director, NTA StarTimes TV, Maxwell Loko; Chief Operating Officer, Joshua Wong and Head, Large Local and Chinese Corporate, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Bola Ajibode at the launch of the Startimes-Stanbic IBTC bill payments through mobile platform in Lagos.

NAICOM chief urges scrapping of Insurance Act

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HE Commissioner for Insur ance Fola Daniel has called for the overhaul or scrapping of the 2003 Insurance Act. Speaking at a five-day public hearing investigating insurance of government assets yesterday in Abuja, Daniel, who is also the helmsman of the National Insurance Commmission (NAICOM), said the Act is over due for a rejig.

He, therefore, sought the lawmaker’s intervention to scrap it.

This came on a day the House of Representatives expressed concern over huge capital flight from the economy due to lack of capacity of indigenous insurance companies to under-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

take captive insurance for the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC) and the oil and gas sector.

Members of the House Committee on Finance also faulted NAICOM’s posture that it lacked constitutional powers to compel MDAs to subscribe to insurance.

But Daniel noted that the attitude of most MDAs to insurance was inimical to the economy, lamenting that there was little his organisation could do, as there is no law to compel MDAs to submit their insurance details to NAICOM. In his presentation, he said despite the provision of

N500million for premium and insurance claims in successive budgets of the MDAs, only a handful actually undertake the insurance.

He expressed concerns that the economy has been losing a lot due to lack of human and capital resources to take on lucrative oil and gas insurance.

The commissioner cited the NNPC, which floated its own insurance company, Wheel in Guernsey Island, one of the United Kingdom (UK) colonies, to undertake its captive insurance.

As adviser to the Federal Government on insurance, NAICOM was unaware of the off-shore company; neither does it have powers it.

Tambuwal rues N7.7tr abandoned PEAKER of the House budget implementation and projects of Representatives reduce poverty in the land,”

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Aminu Tambuwal has condemned the Federal Government over the high rate of abandoned projects in the country.

Tambuwal, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders forum on Budget Implementation organised by the House Committee on Appropriation, anchored his position on the discovery that over 11,886 projects valued at N7.7 trillion were abandoned laast year alone.

The Presidential Projects Assessment Committee, the Speaker stated, revealed that the government had paid N2.2 trillion on the projects before they were abandoned, while N9 trillion would now be required for their completion.

To address poorly implemented budget by the government, the Speaker said there was need for a change of attitude from the cashbased budgeting system to performance-based model.

He said performancebased-system of budget implementation allowed for the allocation of resources based on verifiable projects viability and performance index.

He said: “Nearly N9 trillion is needed to complete them now and the figure is rising. This is unsupportable and we hope this workshop wouldl be able to find ways of stopping such wastages in future by advocating Performance Budgeting.

“Adopting the proposed

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

model for budget preparation and implementation processes would allow for focus on results vis a vis the resources expended rather than throwing money annually on programmse whether they are viable or not.

“Because allocations depend on proofs that the projects are viable, tracking is made easier and implementation becomes virtually inevitable. I am assured that only with such Performance Based Budgeting can we have effective implementation.

“Over the years, the degrees to which budgets are implemented have fallen to very low levels. Some of the consequences are now obvious to all. Spiralling unemployment, rising crime, breathtaking poverty, collapsed infrastructure, poor social service delivery, poor industrial base, and a nation littered with abandoned federal projects and programmes”.

Even as the Speaker called for closer collaboration and synergy between the Executive and the Legislature, he nonetheless advocated for a law that would compel Ministries,Department and Agencies (MDAs) to implement the budget as appropriated.

“We hope that all arms of government, especially the Legislature and the Executive will learn to build the kind of synergy that will encourage

he said.

Though he noted that it was the responsibility of the National Assembly to consider and approve the budget while the formulation and implementation lies with the executive, the Speaker nonetheless posited that the annual budget should not be taken for granted by the implementation bodies.

According to him, the budget was critical to the survival of the people than any other component of governance.

In her keynote address, Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who backed the Speaker’s call for a closer collaboration between the legislative and executive arm of government disclosed that capacity utilisation for capital projects so far in 2012 has hit 39.25 per cent.

According to her, while N304billion was released in the first quarter of the year the balance of N100billion was released in quarter two.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Danladi Kifasi, also disclosed that government’s domestic borrowing of government has been dipping “from N852.27billion in 2011 to N744.44billion in 2012 and set to decline further to 2015,” she added.

Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Mr John Enoh, noted that budget formulation and implementation as critical to challenges in the budgeting process.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

15

PROPERTY

Tuesday, JULY 10, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

Ekiti deploys N10b for roads

•Ikere-Igbara Odo Road

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

Ekiti State is pursuing infrastructual upgrade and construction of roads with part of the N20 billion bond it got through the capital market. This, according to the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is to position the state as an investment destination of choice, taking advantage of its status as a link between the northern and southern parts of the country. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE writes •CONTINUED ON PAGE16

•Lagos Firm unveils its estate in Abuja - PAGE 16

•Remodelling and Akpabio’s urban cities - PAGE 17

•Commissioner makes case for infrastructure - PAGE 17

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Firm unveils estate in Abuja C ONSTRUCTION will commence in September on “Grenadines Home Lokogoma”, the latest estate development by a Lagos –based property company, Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited.

Located in a quiet and serene community in Lokogoma District near the Games Village in Abuja, “Grenadines Home Lokogoma” sits on a five-hectare stretch of land, with about 2,000 square metres reserved for recreation facilities and open spaces.

The proposed house types, according to Propertymart’s Branch Head in Abuja, Mr Adeyemi Adeniyi, are four-bedroom terrace house (with a boys’ quarter), four-bedroom semi-detached duplex (also with a boys’ quarter) and five-bedroom fully detached duplex. Some of the houses hosts penthouses with roof-top terraces for relaxation, loft-styled finish, personal car parking, glass curtain walling, jacuzzi and unique colour finishing.

The estate, he said, will be equipped with facilities, such as swimming pool, gym and lawn tennis court.

The estate is about 15 minutes’ drive to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and also 15 minutes’ drive from the Central Business District of Abuja. Located in a residential area, it is about 10 minutes from Shoprite, touted as Africa’s largest shop-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

ping mall.

While a terrace home sells for N36.5 million, the semi-detached duplex goes for N45 million, and the fully detached duplex sells for N55 million.

Adeniyi disclosed that the listed prices are discounted promo prices and would likely rise after the close of the promo.

He said a beneficiary can either make outright payment or pay instalmentally after making an initial 10 per cent of the total cost of the unit deposit.

Initiated through a partnership agreement between Propertymart and Omega Homes Limited, the estate is targeting the middle and high income class.

The Lagos-based architectural firm of Messrs Play In Architecture Limited designed the estate and the dwelling units, while Messrs Billing Cost & Associates are quantity surveyors to the project.

On what informed the choice of Abuja for the estate, Adeniyi, said: “We want to repeat the same feat we have recorded in the Southwest over the on-going construction of ‘Grenadines Arepo,’ where the civil engineering infrastructure is being handled by the PW Group, and the Grenadines Magodo GRA. “Apart from desiring quality homes to be delivered at an af-

•Grenadines Home Lokogoma, Abuja

fordable rate and on time, we want to stand out in the real estate market and raise the standard being set by developers on construction of housing projects in Abuja. The aim is also to ad-

vance the economy through real estate.”

He said Propertymart nurses an ambition to build more estates in Abuja upon the completion of Grenadines Homes Lokogoma.

He added that other cities being targeted by Propertymart include some unexplored areas in Ogun State, Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Karu in Nassarawa State.

•Dr Fayemi

•Adunmo

our first year anniversary. The plan actually is to inaugurate over 10 completed roads”. Adebayo said the government took time to take an audit of roads to ascertain their state of disrepair and how best to deal with issues arising from it because they inherited quite a number of them.

Earlier, Fayemi said his administration embarked on massive infrastructure provision to drive development in the mostly rural and agrarian state. He said the state budgetary provision is tilted in favour of capital projects and expenditure in a bid to transform the state into an investment destination of choice. Fayemi said his administration is investing heavily on infrastructure upgrade, sustainable development, green economy, land management and conservation. He said though the state has invested N10billion out of the N20 billion naira bonds from the capital market, a lot will still be achieved if the Federal Government pays them the outstanding N10billion debt emanating from

the federal road projects executed by the state.

He also said that though the state ranks 35th on the revenue line of the Federal Government, it has been able to raise its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N110million to N600 million monthly in the bid to lift development.

He said: “We are providing infrastructure close to nature that meets all conditionality of modernity. We also took time to pay compensation to people affected in anyway by the various road construction and expansion projects.

Our challenge now is that motorists travelling to the northern and southern parts of the country detour into our state because of the good roads. In the process, heavy duty vehicles destroy our roads because they are not built to take loads that are over 30 tons.”

He disclosed that no part of the state is neglected as rural roads are opened up daily to link the cities and move men and resources around for even development.

Ekiti deploys N10b for roads •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

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AJOR road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance are going on in Ekiti State as highways and inner roads are wearing a new look.

The construction is anchored on the administration’s belief that infrastructure is a trigger for development.

The roads are Ado-Ekiti to Ikere, Igbara -Odo to Erinjiyan/Ilawe and Ikogosi/ Ipole. Others are Oye-Ikun-Otun Road, Igede- AwoIdo Road, dualisation of Atikankan-Nitel Baptist road.

In a chat with The Nation, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Roads Mr Adunmo Sunday said the state embarked on the rehabilitation and construction to offer a fresh window of opportunity and development to the state and the people.

He said the Fayemi administration avoided the mistakes of the

•The Erinjiyan/Ilawe Road

past where maintenance of roads became a recurrent expenditure for government because the roads were poorly done. He said the government inherited some roads from the previous administration and has had to invite the contractors for clarifications due to the poor quality workmanship as most of the roads were initiated without soil test and analysis.

Adunmo promised that the government will complete most of the jobs initiated before the second year anniversary of the current administration in October.

On the number of road projects, he said the government initiated 20 road projects and inherited 25, which are at levels of completion.

On the challenges, he said aside paucity of funds, his greatest is that most of the road constructions embarked on by the state are federal roads that have been neglected over the years. Besides, he said the movement of heavy trucks and

trailers of over 30 tons on the roads, which in the first place was not built for such heavy duty vehicles, weighted down on the road.

He said the standard quality for construction of roads is a minimum of 10 years and that the government has paid N275 million as compensation to those whose houses were demolished for road expansion. He revealed that the state has a catalogue of bad roads before now due to poor supervision of men and materials - contractors deliberately used low grade materials to build roads that hardly lasted a season.

Commissioner for Works & Transport Mr Sola Adebayo said part of the eight-point agenda of the administration is to ensure that all cities and towns in the state are accessible by 2014.

He said: “Though we inherited many uncompleted projects, we will nevertheless complete and inaugurate them by October to mark

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Remodelling and Akpabio’s urban cities

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S a cardinal objective of his people-oriented administration, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has in the last five years transformed the state into an enviable investment hub through the provision of state-of-the art infrastructure. Some of which include: the Ibom Digital Library, the Tropicana Entertainment Centre, the Ibom International Airport with top-of-the line appurtenances, over 260 roads with concentric flyovers, over 2,000 housing units, a state university, the only pipe jacking drainage system in West Africa, Governor’s lodge and a superlative Banquet Hall.

According to the state commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Emmanuel Enoidem “urban renewal connotes the process of rehabilitating city infrastructure, parks, road ways and industrial areas in accordance with comprehensive plans.”

In consonance with this conceptualisation, the state government started-off with the provision of street furniture aimed at expressing the identity of the state and giving it a development character.

Some of them include, solar powered street lights to manage vehicular congestion and provide basic information to motorists and pedestrians, speed breakers to control speed where necessary, directional signage, street lamps to illuminate the urban areas, cat eye-a retro reflective safety device used for road marking and to caution motorists, pedestrians ways, bus stops, streets sculpture and lining pavement.

A major feature of metropolitan Akwa Ibom is the disappearance of traffic wardens and road task force owing to the new consciousness instilled into motorists and pedestrians by these modern road devices.

The street furniture is complemented with neo- classical arts decor, post modern and gothic sculpture which has made the city areas distinctive, attractive and as a result increased property value.

Redevelopment and beautification are the hall marks of the Akwa Ibom State Urban remodeling program.

These have resulted in the

By Uwemedimoh Umanah

building and replacement of old roundabouts in major city areas, such as the Itam Peace Column, Ikot Ekpene Road by University of Uyo Town Campus, Nwaniba Road by Edet Akpan Avenue and major flood control in the city areas such as Uruan Street and the pipe jacking drainage system around the concentric flyovers.

The ancient city of Ikot Ekpene is not spared in this remodeling spree as a new round about, shopping malls and 3-star hotel are springing up. This is aimed at giving the historic city its pride of place, being the first experimental local government in British West Africa. Furthermore, the prevailing raffia industry in Ikot Ekpene underscores the importance of the city to global tourism.

One notable feature of this round-about, which is a notable departure from past ones, is that they are appareled with water fountains and high brow flowers that create the right ambience thereby giving tourists an exhilarating experience. Apart from their aesthetic character, these roundabouts provide a platform for the orderly management of vehicular traffic in the metropolitan areas of the state.

The creation of green areas, recreation and car parks constitute a major leap in the urban remodeling strides of the Akpabio administration.

For instance, the union park, which is situated on the popular Udo Udoma Avenue where the Tropicana Entertainment centre, House of Assembly complex and the banking districts are located and the internationally acclaimed Golf course at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel have become a cynosure of recreation and entertainment.

The beautiful trees in this area add to the needed greenery and also create a sense of rhythm.

For tourists and visitors to the state, the new gardens and parks promotes friendly environments and thriving outgoing community. It also enables a psychological escape, or an opportunity to think in a less pressured way.

Remodelling in the state pro-

Lagos to drive home-ownership via mortgage

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HELagos State government has unveiled a virile mortgage plan to enable people own houses.

Commissioner for Housing Mr Bosun Jeje disclosed this in his office in Lagos, at the weekend.

He said what is obtainable in the real estate finance sector could best be described as flexible payment of housing loan as against mortgage.

Jeje said challenges to house ownership derives from non-availability of land and access to funding.

He said the government has resolved to enable people own houses of their own, which can be liquidated in mortgage payment of between 10 to 15 years.

Jeje said the state is partnering with the private sector to see to its delivery.

This, he said, is illustrated by the inauguration of Elegant Court, Ikota with 72 units of three bedroom flats.

Rehabilitation of Owode-Egba gorge begins

O

GUN State Ministry of Works & Infrastructure has commenced the rehabilitation of a gorge that had eroded almost a section of the Owode/Ofada Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government.

According to the Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, the gorge has been in existence for decades and only started affecting the major road into Owode/ Ofada township a few years back.

Adegbite said the Owode/Ofada Road is often used as an alternate route for vehicles plying the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway whenever it is impassable, hence, the need to restore the portion

of the road.

Adegbite, who said the gorge had also eroded the drainage facility on that section of the road, said the state government decided to restore it because it has been claiming lives, especially first-time visitors to the town as well as threatening the lives and properties of people living around the place.

He said the flood water going into the gorge would be redirected to reduce the flow and pressure of water getting into it and restore it to prevent further erosion and damage while the drainage channel would be widened and reconstructed.

•IBB junction

•Ibibio Union Museum

vides punctuation for urban areas in the state, particularly Uyo metropolis while making city areas in Akwa Ibom look more finished.

Psychologically urban remodel-

ing in the state under Akpabio has created a brand identity in the mind of the people and adds to give the state a sense of place.

Urban remodeling in Akwa Ibom tells a story, an exhilarat-

ing story of change, a story of the transformational leadership of Akpabio whose vision is to change the hitherto pedestrian state into a destination in the Gulf of Guinea.

Commissioner makes case for infrastructure

L

AGOS State Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has called for the restructuring of the country to strengthen states and local governments to fund road infrastructure.

He made this call while delivering the 2012 Annual Distinguished Lecture of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking on Roads and bridges as infrastructure: Economic Impact in Lagos State, Hamzat said it was near impossible for local governments to fully take up the challenge of road construction and rehabilitation given the present revenue sharing formula adopted by Nigeria.

He frowned at the over 59 per cent resources allocated to the Federal Government, insisting that what is left for the other tiers of government may not achieve the desired results as far as the expectations of the public is concerned in terms of the quality and standard of roads delivered.

He called for the redistribution of resources among the various tiers of government and also asked the Federal Government to construct at least three major roads yearly in each geo-political zone.

Hamzat noted that the state of roads in the country has become a challenge

•Hamzat

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

to the full realisation of national food security programme, pointing out that 43 per cent of agricultural products are wasted due to the poor quality of transportation.

The commissioner disclosed that the state government has a deliberate policy to eradicate poverty by boosting the quality and quantity of its infrastructure.

He said the introduction of tolling on the Lekki-Epe Expressway was in line with international best practice as it is only private fund that has been utilised in providing such roads.

Describing borrowing to finance infrastructure as reasonable and needful, he insisted that economies can only grow extensively on the strength and quality of construction.

To underscore the importance the state government attached to the Lagos/ Badagry expressway, he explained that it is predicated on its economic potential as the axis has over 230 million traders from the West African market who will visit the state daily on business trips.

He pledged the commitment of the current administration to improve water transportation and decried the use of roads for moving heavy axle roads, which consistently damage the roads.

National Chairman of NICE,Mr Ade Omopeloye, urged the state government to take steps to address the issue of training and availability of technical hands in the construction sector.

While commending the government on its unique developments, he said the NICE will partner with the government to build the Skills Acquisition Development Centre to train lower level manpower for the sector.

18

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Now, who buries the dead?

•The killings on the Plateau continue to generate more macabre tales

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IKE thieves in the night, some armed men dressed in bullet proof vests and military camouflage attacked five villages in Gashishi District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State before dawn on July 7. They were said to have divided themselves into five groups to facilitate simultaneous attacks on the communities. They killed about 63 people, including mostly women and children who ran into a church as they fled the scenes of attacks. Even in the hallowed precincts of the church, the attackers shot dead those who ran there for cover before setting the church ablaze.

The worst, however came the next day, when suspected Fulani herdsmen opened fire on the relatives who were going for the burial of their murdered relations.

Another account has it though that the mourners were killed at the burial site.

But whether killed on the way or at the

‘The new national security adviser should hit the ground running. With insecurity worsening by the day, what we need is a change of strategy and tactics to arrest the trend. It is amazing that after years of relentless violence, the security agencies have failed to identify and encircle the kingpins’

burial ground, the important thing is that the death toll thereafter rose to about 100.

This time however, it was not the ordinary citizens alone that fell victims of the attacks, as Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani, were among those killed in the Sunday attack.

What these unsavoury developments tell us is that the war for peace, especially in Plateau State, is far from being won.

This is regrettable because, until recently, the state was a safe haven and one of the most sought-after by corps members and many other Nigerians due to its temperate climate and generally peaceful ambience.

We are dumbfounded that such massacre could occur despite the presence of the State Task Force and federal security agencies in the state. Indeed, it is an indictment on both that they could not keep the invaders under check. According to reports, the attack was first reported at about 6.30am by residents of the area, who said that their villages had been surrounded. Yet, there was no security presence until about 9.30 a.m., clearly about three hours after the report was made and well after the assailants had completed their devilish mission.

We have to restate, even if for the umpteenth time, that provision of adequate security is a primary responsibility of any government properly so –called. A villager in one of the affected villages put it succinctly, “The situation is so terrible that it appears we don’t have a government or security. We are left alone, at the

mercy of the invaders,” he said. Fulani, shortly before he was killed in the attack, expressed a similar frustration when he said that “I had some months ago on the floor of the Plateau House of Assembly called on the international community through the United Nations to provide protection for our people.” What this boils down to is the fact that the people are fast losing confidence in the ability of the government to guarantee the safety of their lives and property.

As usual, what the government has done is to issue the predictable statement of commiseration with the families of the victims, and directives to security agencies to find those behind the killings. We can bet that everyone will go to sleep thereafter because government’s assurances in similar incidents have become like a homily. Yet, the country is too insecure for comfort. We have had too many panels of inquiry on the crisis in Plateau State; yet, it seems governments, both federal and state, have not got the political will to deal decisively with the matter.

The new national security adviser should hit the ground running. With insecurity worsening by the day, what we need is a change of strategy and tactics to arrest the trend. It is amazing that after years of relentless violence, the security agencies have failed to identify and encircle the kingpins.

The attacks that resulted in the deaths of the lawmakers took place where and when they were burying those who died earlier. Now, we ask, who will bury the dead?

Superiority complex?

•President Jonathan’s failure to react officially to House of Reps’ summons is bad for democracy

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HE House of Representatives must have been convinced of its powers under the country’s constitution when it passed a resolution asking President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before its members, to brief the lawmakers on the insurgency masterminded by Boko Haram, and his efforts to check the insecurity in some parts of the North.

The original motion proposed by Mr Yakubu Barde on June 19 was to condemn the terrorist attacks on churches in Kaduna and Zaria a day earlier, and the reprisal killings that followed.

Insecurity in Yobe and Borno states, and other parts of the North also came into sharp focus. It was Minority Leader of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, who proposed an amendment to the original motion to include a summons on President Jonathan to “come and brief the House in a closed-door session.” The legislator argued that the House derived its powers to summon President Jonathan from Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the National Assembly to investigate any matter under its legislative competence.

This unprecedented invitation to the President has raised an ugly controversy.

Although no timeline was given to the President within which to appear before the House, he has not responded officially, fuelling speculations over whether or not he should honour the invitation.

The delayed presidential response gives the impression that his silence is pregnant. Indeed, the Presidency is re-

portedly exploring alternative options, including sending officers such as the National Security Adviser (NSA), the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) to brief the House; a restricted interaction between the President and the House leadership; and forwarding a detailed report on how the executive arm of government is addressing the insecurity in the North.

The executive is seeking to reach a compromise with the legislature on the matter because, according to sources in the Presidency, the security issue is sensitive and delicate. It is also said that an appearance before the House by the President would most likely lead to leakage of classified operational details which might be counter-productive in the government’s war against terrorism.

So, there is an apparent conflict that raises significant questions: Should the President shun such an invitation to address an issue that is of public interest and which borders on an emergency?

Wouldn’t he be serving the higher national interest by responding positively to such an invitation? Isn’t his attitude uncooperative? Doesn’t it suggest a superiority complex and disrespect for democratic institutions?

According to Mr Gbajabiamila, “The controversy, unfortunately, suggests in a way that the President or the Presidency as an arm of government is not only above the law, but also superior to the legislative arm of government. This is far

from the truth and is the reason why our democracy continues to suffer and develop at snail’s speed, if at all. The truth of the matter is that in a presidential system of government, the three arms of government are separate but co-equal and none is superior to any other.”

It is a fact that the executive is a creation of the law and cannot be above the law that empowers the legislature to act as a check on its activities. Even if the President is actually not constitutionally bound to brief the House on the issues raised by the Representatives, shouldn’t he be influenced more by a sense of courtesy and practicality in this matter which, in the first place, probably arose from a lack of rapport between the executive and the legislature?

‘It is a fact that the executive is a creation of the law and cannot be above the law that empowers the legislature to act as a check on its activities. Even if the President is actually not constitutionally bound to brief the House on the issues raised by the Representatives, shouldn’t he be influenced more by a sense of courtesy and practicality in this matter which, in the first place, probably arose from a lack of rapport between the executive and the legislature?’

A treaty on conventional arms

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HE world is awash in conventional weapons, like tanks, firearms and aircraft, with the market valued at $40 billion to $60 billion a year. Far too many of these arms are fueling conflicts and atrocities in Syria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.

They have been used to kill countless innocent civilians, and they will be used against countless more if the international community does not find a way to keep them out of the hands of unscrupulous regimes, militants and criminals.

The United Nations is trying to do just that. Last Monday, after a decade of lobbying by human rights groups, United Nations members began negotiating a global treaty to regulate international trade in conventional arms. Agreeing on a strong treaty will not be easy. The pact is supposed to be adopted by consensus at the end of the month, and a single country could block any deal.

The talks bogged down on the first day on an unrelated issue involving the Palestinians. It was eventually resolved, but time was wasted. That was a warning to the countries and the coalition of arms control and human rights groups supporting the treaty that success will require vigorous efforts to keep the negotiations on track.

To be effective, any treaty should be legally binding and cover a broad range of weapons, including ammunition. Governments should be required to regulate the international sale and transfer of these weapons, perform risk assessments before authorizing a sale, and track the use of the arms. The treaty should bar governments from selling arms to any states under a United Nations arms embargo and when there are human rights concerns.

Not surprisingly, Russia, China, Iran, Cuba and Pakistan are balking at the human rights criteria. They are also resisting the ammunition provision, as is the United States, which says it is impractical because ammunition is difficult to track.

The United States is the world’s main arms exporter, and President Obama deserves credit for reversing American policy in 2009 and agreeing to back an arms trade treaty. Now he must lead the way in ensuring that the final document is robust enough to make a difference.

Predictably, the administration is under pressure from the gun lobby even though it has vowed that it will not approve any treaty that impinges on Second Amendment rights.

– New York Times

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THE NATION TUESDAY,JULY 10, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: The Nation reported on Sunday, July 8, that as part of its efforts at developing the educational sector, the telecommunication company, Etisalat reconstructed three blocks of 15 classrooms, modern toilets, and administrative offices at Rabiatu Thompson Primary School in Lagos State.

The move was reported to be part of the ‘Adopt a school’ programme initiated by the telecommunication company. It was also reported that the company has renovated many other schools as part of its social responsibility function.

Over the years, such responsibilities have been left solely for the government. Companies and stakeholders who are well to do in the country hardly thought of ways to effect changes in the society. They don’t ponder on how they can assist the government in ameliorating the suf-

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Companies should do more on social responsibility fering of the masses and its attendant social decadence. For how long will stakeholders and companies in the country continue to leave the burden of the society solely on the government?

Instead of thinking of how to positively affect the people, what most of them are preoccupied with is how to make more profit, regardless of the debilitating effects it might have on their customers.

In Nigeria today, virtually all the sectors are crying for attention; the

educational sector is neglected, the economic sector is comatose, the power sector is epileptic, and the agricultural sector is abandoned.

Every year, large numbers of graduates are churned out; many of them end up stranded due to unemployment, while the environment is unfriendly to the entrepreneuriallyminded ones. Most of them later become frustrated and start engaging in anti- social activities. Should all these responsibilities be left to the government alone?

In view of this, companies, as stakeholders should rise up to these challenges. They must be ready to contribute their quota to the growth of this nation. What is the essence of having many companies in a country when poverty is prevalent? This move by Etisalat is worthy of emulation by other companies in the country. They should create avenues to give back to the society that is sharing in their plight of sustenance.

Most of these companies use sophisticated generators as their

Fayemi’s kero–direct scheme

IR: A couple of weeks ago, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi brought another innovation to governance through the introduction of Kero-direct scheme in the state. Under this scheme, kerosene was sold to Ekiti indigenes directly at N50 per litre through governments agents.

I am not claiming here that the scheme was invented by the governor in the country. Neither was he the first governor to introduce such a laudable policy to ensure that the product gets to the downtrodden masses at controlled price.

But the points I am trying to drive home are that governor Fayemi pioneered the scheme in Ekiti; secondly, the gesture is evidence that the focus of this administration is to stamp out suffering and wanton poverty that is ravaging the down trodden masses.

It was a further confirmation that ACN under Fayemi is running all – inclusive and populist government.

Before the advent of the scheme, poor masses, including those, whose daily means of livelihood are below one dollar a day, according to United Nations, used to get the product as high as N120-N140 per litre.

Though, some skeptics have branded the scheme as cosmetic, I want to say that the programme is a potent tool for taking governance close to the masses.

A visit to some of the remote villages in Ekiti at night will tell the importance of the scheme. As early as 8 p.m., everywhere will be dark as if these villages have been deserted

due to persistent epileptic power supply by PHCN. So, the only means the people could have light are through sun at day, moon at night and through kerosene in their lanterns.

All we are demanding from the governor is to ensure the sustainability of the scheme and make it a weekly programme to reach all the downtrodden citizens.

Notably, the Fayemi-led administration has been methodical in the implementation of its policies. The well crafted eight-point agenda had been meticulously implemented in ways that have impacted positively

S

IR: Jesus Christ was the first person I ever encountered who wept for his people publicly.

He is quoted as having wept for Jerusalem, because he saw it was on the path of ruin. The second person was General Muhammadu Buhari who wept for Nigeria as he was closing his presidential campaign in 2011, as if he knew that the result of the election would not favour him, and that ordinary Nigerians would regret it.

Buhari was fingered in some mischievous quarters as being behind Boko Haram but no government intelligence has implicated him. My question is: Who do we finger for unbridled corruption? I read that “the Senate Committee on Public Accounts received testimonies on how

on the lives of all strata of Ekiti people.

Old people have benefited from the social security scheme. People above age 65 are today receiving monthly stipend of N5,000. The youths have benefited from employment into the civil service, the volunteer corps scheme, Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA) and the millennium farming policy for young graduates.

The women have benefited immensely from Erelu Bisi Fayemi-initiated Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF), civil servants enjoy N19,200 minimum wage across board and

ultimately, the students have been enjoying pay-cut in their tuition fees in all the state owned tertiary institutions.

As I charge all Ekitis, at home and in the Diaspora to support the present government, I appeal to the government to fast –track the pace of completion of the myriad of ongoing road projects across the length and breadth of Ekiti for people to feel more dividends of democracy in the months ahead.

• Dalimore Aluko Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State

source of power supply, thereby releasing harmful substances to the environment. Most of them use machines that make loud noise throughout the whole day, making the environment uncomfortable.

The tankers and trucks used by most of these companies constitute traffic hiccups on major roads; yet, there is nothing to show for it. They have no plan of appreciating Nigerians for their perseverance; this is unfair!

It is high time companies tightened their belts to work towards playing their social responsibility roles in the society. Each sector should be given proper attention and drastic measures should be taken to ensure improvements in these sectors. When companies are alive to their responsibilities, they will be able to consolidate the efforts of the government for a better Nigeria.

Companies should create employment opportunities for our graduates by recruiting them and create skill acquisition centres. Just as Etisalat has done, companies should make efforts to initiate and complete tangible projects as this will not only benefit the masses, but will also lead to concerted effort at achieving all-round growth of the country.

The survival of Nigeria doesn’t depend solely on the government; it requires the co-operation of stakeholders, national and multinational companies for its sustenance.

• Simon Godwin Department of Mass Communication University of Lagos

Nigeria’s economy slumps the presidency approved over N700bn from the Natural Resources Fund account to finance budget deficits and other activities of its ministries, departments and agencies outside the mandate of the account.”

The account is said to have been established in 2002 to help in the development of natural resources other than oil and gas. But the successive Presidents kept misappropriating the fund. Yet, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Danlami Kifasi, who gave the testimony, said he would not name the President(s) who gave approval for the misappropriations. If that is not financial Boko Haram, what is? And who is left to fight corruption; if fire issues from inside a flowing river, what will you quench it with?

The attitude of Kifasi replicates what Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, once did. She admitted there was corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), but she did not name those who were perpetrating it. The implication is of course that some sacred cows (which might include the presidency) were involved, and interested individuals were left to imagine the rest of the story.

On the basis of corruption, the national economy is in shambles. Besides, those who think that only the northern economy is affected by Boko Haram are not informed enough. Many southerners make their money from trading in the north (vise versa). Beyond that, President

Goodluck Jonathan has promised that his government is deploying “all resources at its disposal to tackle the security challenges facing the country.” Yes, he is wasting human and material resources seeking security while perpetrating politico-economic injustice.

The saddest news about Nigeria’s economy is that only two of the four Federal Government-owned refineries are said to be functioning (partially) at the moment, while the other two are out of action. That situation is deliberate to warrant importation of refined petroleum from overseas, so as to keep the fuel import racketeers afloat.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

R

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan the Bill Clinton-Al Gore expeonce proclaimed himself neither rience in the United States.

Pharaoh nor Army general. Yet, President Clinton was a high on July 2, the rank of Army Field performer, though wracked by Marshall sat pretty on him, at the Depersonal scandals. Vice Presifence Industries Corporation of Nigeria dent Gore was prim-and(DICON) in Kaduna, at the launch of a proper but without spark. Yet, new range of arms and ammunitions under no circumstance would made in Nigeria.

Mr. Gore allow Mr. Clinton Olakunle Why, it is the president as an army near his campaign. Mr. Gore mascot! lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) was eventually gored by Abimbola Earlier on May 15, the commanderGeorge W. Bush Jnr, even if the in-chief had looked rather smashing in Clinton sparkle and concrete performance could have an Air Marshal’s uniform, at the Nigegifted Gore with some spark, that could have averted ria Air Force 48th anniversary celebrathat electoral tragedy. tions and 2nd Nigeria air exposition at the Nigeria Air Force Base, Kaduna. course to performance, would swing things the way of his party.

But here is a president with almost nothing to recommend Why, it is the president as an air force mascot!

Even after his term extension debacle, former President him, with the hash he has made of his tenure, purporting to Everyone familiar with Aso Villa is rather proud of the Olusegun Obasanjo had the temerity to declare the 2007 general help a colourless PDP candidate overcome a high flying Adams president as a Niger Delta cultural ambassador, with his election “do-or-die” for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Oshiomhole in the July 14 election. There surely must be a ornamented two-piece Ijaw traditional suit, and the ineviAnd true enough, a few days to the 14 April 2007 kick-off date of limit to presidential tomfoolery! table bowler. But that is when he is at home at the villa. that election, a detachment of the military did a manoeuvre on Still, the president is entitled to his own choices; and surely “Abroad”, it is strictly a winning philosophy of when in Gbongan Road, Osogbo, as in other election “flash points” nahas a right to play with his own chosen crowd. In good comRome, dress like Romans! Everywhere the president goes, tionwide. pany with him are the trio of Anthony Anenih, the famed fixer he assumes sartorial conformity with his hosts – and that is Watching the military show of force back then were campaign whose not-so-sterling political career risks being fixed for good just as well. workers from current Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Oranmiyan after the Saturday election, Gabriel Igbinedion, the Osama of Why, it is the president as a pan-Nigeria sartorial mascot!

Campaign headquarters, situated on Gbongan Road, who probBenin whose two-term Edo governor son, Lucky, succeeded in More and more, it would appear, the troubled Nigerian ably were supposed to gawk and freeze! Needless to say, that making political office absolutely unlucky for the longsuffering president is making his peace with the American, Bobby election was such unconscionable robbery that it took threeEdo people, and Samuel Ogbemudia, the sweet-sour former McFerrin’s philosophy of “Don’t worry, be happy”, as esand-a-half years of fierce legal battle before Aregbesola could military governor of old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta poused in his 1988 monster hit that turned the American retrieve his mandate. states), and three-month elected governor of the same state popular music cosmos inside out.

Now, nary a week before the July 14 gubernatorial election, (October – December 1983).

The perceptive would, however, easily link the high hopes soldiers were doing a show of force on the streets of Benin, the Dr. Ogbemudia is sweet-sour because of his rather conflictof Goodluck Nigeria’s glorious electioneering, to the deep deEdo capital. Like Aregbesola before him, was the manoeuvre ing political persona. As Gowon era Bendel State military spair of the grinding, hard luck Jonathan presidency. Whereas supposed to shock and awe Oshiomhole’s campaign workers? governor, his achievements were legendary, though the sucthe one was a pig in a poke sold on phantom hopes based on Is some déjà vu then in the air? Troubling questions! ceeding Murtala Mohammed government indicted him as one luck, and fired by unthinking but open regional power conSo, Jonathan at the hustings in Benin, though legitimate, conof the 10 allegedly corrupt governors, out of 12. But despite spiracy, the other is well-earned abiding despair that seems forms to the presidential conceit that that high office would, that stain, Ogbemudia retains his people’s affection as one of to growl and mock: luck is never enough to run a successful and willy-nilly, swing the vote for the incumbent’s party, no matter the few that, even in that era of alleged sleaze, well and truly effective presidency! how grotesque the objective situation on the ground is. The served, with concrete results to show.

But Jonathan’s presidential “mascot-eering” would appear military and other security agencies as scarecrow, and prime Whereas the venerable Ogbemudia has a good public imto have added some grim humour to the mix. For starters, logistics of electoral muscling, is another self-destruct convenage, he is somewhat mixed up with an Edo PDP crowd that has since mascots come with good luck, even the most clueless tion this polity and democracy can happily do without. acquired high notoriety for electoral derring-do and brazen president in Nigerian history would fancy his luck holding, But even at that, President Jonathan’s Benin road show could vote-fiddling. That has been the key to Edo underdevelopdespite a near-disastrous presidency. not have come at a worse time. It so dramatically contrasts with ment, a notorious key that Governor Oshiomhole has thrown So, while the president wobbles and fumbles, even with away these past four years. basics as saying the right thing at the right time, and “not It is this certified Concert of Public Service Failures, clinging “Here is a president with almost nothing giving a damn” about it all, the presidential mascot keeps life to an equally failed federal might under Jonathan, that the citizen amused. How long that clowning would last is in to recommend him purporting to help a for the president is staking the high prestige of the Nigerian presithe belly of time. colourless PDP candidate overcome a high dency to rouse, in a partisan joust. That is okay as a political Which brings the matter to the June 30 landing of Mascot so long everyone keeps to the one-man-one-vote rule.

Jona in Edo, all in time for the July 14 gubernatorial election. flying Adams Oshiomhole in the July 14 contest; Otherwise, the president will blame nobody but himself for Decked in Bini traditional beads, the president was Edo traelection. There surely must be a limit to driving his clueless presidency further down the hole, should ditional mascot at its best. another brazen rigging turn the July 14 Edo gubernatorial elecTo be sure, President Jonathan is not the first to purport presidential tomfoolery!” tion into an avoidable debacle. that his sheer presidential weight, with absolutely no re-

P

epublican ipples

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ITH the kind of energy that has so far been expended on Faroukgate – a mere derivative of the main thing –it seems unlikely that citizens would still have enough energy left for the complex Ponzi scheme run by the federal government for and on behalf of Abuja and its patrons. I refer here to the subsidy-gate said to have gulped $14 billion in 2011 alone. We may have gone in the futile pursuit of $620,000 greenbacks while leaving the trail of the smart crooks that ripped the nation of a whopping $7 billion (that is what the House report suggests) in subsidy money.

The story is however only just unfolding. I mean the story of the Ponzi scheme that now threatens to run the nation bankrupt. With two other parallel stories of the subsidy fund mismanagement running concurrently, (both of course are less dramatic than the House version with its ugly twists and turns), interesting times obviously lies ahead.

First is the finance ministry technical panel headed by – Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Access Bank chief executive, to verify subsidy payments made in 2011. Apparently, President Goodluck Jonathan seems to believe that the committee has done a good job hence his establishment of yet another 15-man committee to look into the findings of the earlier committee.

The terms of the reference says it all: It would “further reconcile and reconcile all claims made in the report of the technical committee on fuel subsidy payments; to properly identify all cases of overpayment and/or irregular payment; to accurately identify all likely fraudulent cases for criminal investigation; and to review any other pertinent issues that may arise from its work and make appropriate recommendations”. The supra-committee has till this Friday, July 13 to turn in their report.

Guess who heads the panel: the same Aig Imoukhuede that headed the earlier panel!

‘It seems unlikely that the government would find the nerve anytime soon to make the case for hiving the corruption subsidy. The other option is the much abused piggy bank called the excess crude account. Given the lot of the account in recent years, it seems unlikely to offer any lasting respite – if at all’

Mascot Jona

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Greece beckons Given the attention riveted on the Home Video starring Femi Otedola and his partner Lawan Farouk, it seems doubtful that many Nigerians paid attention to the on-going Senate version of the inquest. Whatever anyone may say of that probe, I believe that the Senator Magnus Abe-led committee deserves more than a passing interest not only because it helps to put the bits and pieces of the jig-saw puzzles together, but more importantly for the substance of its own independent findings.

Nigerians, long used to the ignoble ways of their national oil corporation – the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would learn from the testimonies at the Senate committee last week that the corporation ran its operation like a supra-state. Not that this was particularly news anyway – the difference this time was the cast-iron evidence that tumbled out from the joint Senate committee sitting.

The evidence was the JP Morgan Chase account – the offshore account created by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on behalf of the NNPC into which crude revenues were paid. First, the NNPC denied the existence of any off-shore account in its name; later, it changed its mind and said that the apex bank was the operator of the account.

To compound the riddle, the Accountant General of the Federation whose office caused the account to be opened in 2002 claimed to be “aware” of its existence but denied being privy to its operations. The much he knew, he crooned, was that the account in question had its statement periodically forwarded to his office through the CBN! But the greatest shocker was the Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who while testifying but fell short of telling the whole truth. Of course she admitted the existence of a domiciliary account into which proceeds from the nation’s were paid. When asked for the constitutional status of the account considering the import of the provisions of section 81 of the 1999 Constitution which mandated the payment of all

earnings into the consolidated fund, the minister was vague, evasive. And this is supposed to be the account from which funds for running the affairs of the federal government are drawn!

Thanks to the CBN, we now know that the account is owned and operated by the NNPC. A CBN statement over the weekend has since clarified that its role in the controversial account was merely custodial. It stated, for the purpose of clarity, that the issue of lodgements or even withdrawals was entirely NNPC’s prerogative. Does that sound familiar?

The truth, finally on the activities of the opaque organisation may yet emerge in the current season of rage. Imagine a federal government parastatal determining who gets what in a federation – that is what NNPC is; and that is how powerful the organisation has become. The greater thank here must go to Senator Abe and his committee members. I believe that the nation is getting somewhere.

Here is yet another reason why I believe that the multiplicity of committees probing the subsidy-gate may not necessarily be wasteful as believed in some quarters.

We have seen the near-unanimity of the different committees on the extensive fraud that characterised the administration of the subsidy payments. The facts of the racket described as fuel subsidy funds administration has since been laid bare – beyond all reasonable doubts.

But then, the exercises are also revealing of one important fact, long denied. It is the fact of a looming financial crisis.

The signs are clear, nigh impossible to deny. Corruption and graft have remained the driving principles in governance. Theft of oil has resumed in full bloom under the Jonathan presidency, just as fiscal indiscipline and profligacy have remained the order of the day. No wonder that mid-point into the 2012 budget cycle, the entire year’s outlay set aside for subsidy payments is already gone. The indications are that the federal government would require $4 billion to finance the subsidy payments for the rest of 2012.

Where will the funds come from? First, it seems unlikely that the government would find the nerve anytime soon to make the case for hiving the corruption subsidy. The other option is the much abused piggy bank called the excess crude account. Given the lot of the account in recent years, it seems unlikely to offer any lasting respite – if at all.

So, where to go? The answer has since been answered by no less a person than the President himself. Already, he has asked for a cover to borrow $7.9 billion from the international financial markets. For this year, the Chinese has already promised $3 billion. We expect more to come in the coming years. And our crude oil price isn’t even below the so-called benchmark price yet. Of course, we do not need an Okonjo-Iweala to tell us that the nation is not bankrupt; we are simply insolvent. That’s all!

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION “

I

DON’T think that terrorism, however, worrying it is, has actually stopped any major investment yet. But if it is not dealt with, and the bunkering of oil, if these things are not dealt with, they will have a long term effect. …They are Nigerians. I don’t think there are outsiders among them. They may get their armament from outside, but these are Nigerians.” Baroness Lynda Chalker, Not many Nigerians have heard her name before, but Baroness Lynda Chalker is one British politician that probably knows Nigeria inside out. She had once served as the Overseas Development Minister, I think, under a Labour government in the United Kingdom in which position she had dealings with Nigeria.

After she left government, the Obasanjo government, in search of foreign direct investment, I understand, contacted her for advice. She is the Coordinator Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC) and I think she’s been involved with Nigeria ever since.

Her warning on Nigeria’s deteriorating image abroad quoted above following continuing violence is a sharp reminder of what is likely to befall our economy if we fail to put an end to these needless orgies of killings and destructions. While it might be true to say no major investment has been halted by the violence, notably the Boko Haram insurgency, this is simply because the north where the terrorist group has been unleashing death on the people almost with impunity, has never been and is not likely to be a favourite destination for investors. If it spreads to the south, we will not only be talking about a crumbling economy but also of a nation on the verge of disintegration.

The angels of death behind this, as rightly stated by Baroness Chalker are Nigerians, though they may be getting their weapons and may be training also from abroad.

Her warning assumes greater importance against the back drop of last weekend’s massacre, or appropriately put genocide, that took place in some villages around Jos, the capital of Plateau state. No fewer than 105 people, including the Senator representing Plateau North district in the National assembly, Senator Gyang Daylop Dantong, Majority Leader in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Gyang Fulani (both attending the mass burial of villagers massacred by unknown gunmen)

A

NYONE who sees Governor Liyel Imoke will first be impressed by his height. Then his amazing looks. And next, his tightly drilled urbane ways and his striking selfeffacing nature. In all, a stirring contradiction for an astute political leader whose career cuts across the major rungs of leadership.

Since he assumed the reigns of leadership in Cross River State, Governor Imoke has shone like a metaphorical beacon atop the peak of Obudu hills, guiding the feet of wary investors and adventurers to the plenitude of endowments that Cross River State is famous for.

This, perhaps, explains the mild response that followed his clearly defined roadmap for rapid evolution of Cross River State in the early months of his administration. In the truest traditions of most philosopher kings in history, Imoke’s first reaction to the challenge of effective leadership in Cross River State was to articulate a realistic economic blueprint and swiftly distil it into a Seven-Point Agenda.

Imoke’s Seven-Point Agenda revolves around health, education, tourism, agriculture, environment, infrastructure and private sector growth. These seven sectors pose the greatest challenge to governance in Cross River State.

A recent fact-finding trip by a team of journalists to the state to ascertain the veracity of Imoke’s gospel of change turned up some fascinating discoveries. In the health care delivery sector, the Imoke administration has strengthened Primary healthcare in view of its role as the foundation upon which secondary and tertiary medicare programmes rest.

Consequently, it constructed 66 new Primary Healthcare Centers and upgraded the 130 centers that are already in existence. Six new general hospitals were built while 16 existing ones were renovated. The establishment of the Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital and Specialist Centre, with a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory, the second of such effort in Africa gives inkling into the audacity of his thinking. The centre provides treatment for tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

At a time when Africa is still caught up in the frenzy of discovering Cross River as black Africa’s emerging answer to the wonder of Dubai, Governor Liyel Imoke has perfected plans to shore up the state’s investment appeal to the world. Part of Imoke’s masterstroke was the engineering of critical legislations to wet the ground with juicy tax waivers and the

Jos: Now that a Senator has been killed

were killed. The chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where the bulk of the killings took place, Emmanuel Loman was lucky, he narrowly escaped while a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Simon Mwadkwon also escaped but with injuries.

These killings remind one of the Black-onBlack violence that rocked apartheid South Africa as the country moved towards black majority rule and end of apartheid. In what was seen as an attempt to thwart the march to freedom of the mainly ANC led black South Africans, a Zulu Chief, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who was a close ally of the crumbling racist government of then President F.W de Clarke, was sponsoring gangs of Zulu thugs to attack and kill fellow blacks especially members of the African National Congress, to give the impression that black South Africans are not ready or ripe enough to be give freedom and to rule their country. The apartheid government security apparatus pretended to be fighting this scourge whereas it was secretly fueling it, arming Buthelezi and his warriors.

The Zulu Chief and his apartheid pay masters profited immensely from this violence as black South Africans turned their guns and machetes against themselves, and at a point it did look as if they could not be trusted with power and a postponement of their freedom looked imminent. But Dr Nelson Mandela and his colleagues in the ANC rose to the challenge and reason prevailed and the violence was extinguished. Buthelezi and his sponsors were exposed and black South Africans were once again united. The rest, as the saying goes, is

now history. South Africa is free.

It is pertinent to ask here whether there is a Buthelezi in our midst fuelling the crisis in Jos in particular and the rest of Plateau State? Is there a fifth columnist, especially in government (both Federal and State) as well as in the military/security services instigating this crisis and benefiting/profiting from it? Why has it been so difficult to rein in the warriors/murderers amongst the Hausa/Fulani community, the so called settlers, especially in Jos North and their equally murderous opponents among the natives, Berom et al?

I think government should begin to look within itself for the cause of this crisis and the solution. We have a military task force in place supposedly to stop these killings, there is also a state of emergency in force, yet these things continue to happen. Why? Those who killed the Senator and others were reportedly armed to the teeth and even wore bullet-proof vests.

Where did they get all these? I am sure the bullet-proof vests are not on sale in shops in Jos or anywhere else in Nigeria, so, how did they get them? The weapons! The killers struck while the senator and other mourners were attending the mass burial of villagers earlier killed by these same unknown gunmen, why was security not provided around that area?

Couldn’t the security agencies have anticipated that attack given the volatile nature of the situation on ground? Once again the security agencies have failed us and we are left with yet another round of mourning in Plateau State, and yet nobody will be punished. Our president as usual has condemned it and called for

the killer(s) arrest, I am sure that would be the end of the matter, until another massacre and Jonathan would talk again and yet nothing will happen, all action, no movement.

The president told us the other time that there are elements or sympathizers of Boko Haram in all the arms of government, may be he should have added the military and other security agencies as well, and I believe him. I am sure we also have them among the traditional rulers/ religious leaders and the so called leaders of thought. Within this triangle lies the cause of not just the Boko Haram insurgency but also the Jos/Plateau crisis. Jonathan will do well to fish them out, punish them and safe Nigeria from possible disintegration. Interestingly everybody in this triangle work together but unfortunately without sincerity. Here in lies the problem. They are all serving selfish interests instead of our collective interest. Is it possible for all these arms and ammunitions to get into the country or the hands of the terrorists and murderers without anybody in government including the security agencies knowing? Can the traditional rulers/religious leaders and opinion leaders in the troubled areas say with all sincerity that they don’t know who the terrorists and murderers are and where they live?

Let’s be sincere with ourselves, until this group of leaders are purged of the bad eggs in their midst, this crisis will not end. May be now that a serving senator of the Federal republic has been killed in the Jos crisis, we will sincerely look for the real killers on the Plateau, punish them, get to the root of the crisis and achieve a lasting peace. Unfortunately we don’t act here, as you know, until a big man is involved.

‘Once again the security agencies have failed us and we are left with yet another round of mourning in Plateau State, and yet nobody will be punished. Our president as usual has condemned it and called for the killer(s) arrest, I am sure that would be the end of the matter, until another massacre and Jonathan would talk again and yet nothing will happen, all action, no movement’

Imoke: A quiet achiever @51

By Bassey Ita removal of the usual bureaucratic bottlenecks to investment through the establishment of the Cross River State One-Stop-Investment Center (OSIC). This revolutionary center is in constant liaison with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Abuja One-Stop Investment Center to fast track the establishment of businesses in the state. This was further deepened by the establishment of Micro-finance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA), to provide financial support to local enterprise. The presence of the Tinapa Free Trade Zone, Calabar Export Free Zone, a Public Private Partnership (PPP) legislation, and a Privatization Council has also made the loudest statement of intent for the state government. With these initiatives, Cross River is fast becoming the easiest place to start a new business in Nigeria. The result of this today, is that, Cross River State has become a haven for investors. This is evident in the number of new businesses being registered in the State. This number grew remarkably from 187 in 2007, to 868 in 2009. Some others, like University of Liverpool, (University Campus) ABG India (Shipyard) Nagarjuna, India (Fertilizer) and Film Power International (Solar Panel) are concluding the process of settling into this new and exciting haven.

Cross River State under Imoke is not relenting on its determination to redefine Nigeria through tourism. Tourists have been offered even more attractive options with the recent addition of a Water Park, and Amusement Arcade to the multifarious offerings while a Theme Park will soon be added to the Tinapa wonderland. The Calabar Six flags Theme Park, a World Class Project to be operated and managed by the Six Flags Incorporated from the United States, will provide theme rides, attractions and shows for all generations in celebration of the spirit and culture of the subregion.

But perhaps, what would qualify as the real icing on Cross River’s tourism cake is The Riviera Club, a water front resort, conceived as the ultimate hideaway for Africa’s rich and famous. This highly exclusive piece of real estate will be located along the waterfront of

the Calabar River and provide a never-land feel to investors who want to live their dream to the fullest.

Over the years, Cross River has been renowned for the fertility of its soil which has the capacity to grow diverse crops. The northern strip of Ikom is famous for cocoa produce while the Ogoja/Idiba axis is known for a sundry farm produce. To take full advantage of this diversity, the government has signed several MOUs with various companies to turn things around. MOUs have been entered with Tolan Energy Limited for the production of bio-diesel at the estimated cost of $150 million and with Notore Chemical Industries for the cultivation and milling of 20,000 hectares of rice. These initiatives are expected to create close to 20,000 jobs.

Expectedly, among Governor Imoke’s many priorities is his avowed drive for educational revolution of the sort that is only seen in a people who are impatient for change. The government’s determination to revamp and position this sector for excellence is underscored by a new definition of the “Cross River State Standard” for academic benchmark.

Under this initiative, 60 Secondary Schools, and 125 Primary Schools are undergoing comprehensive renovation. This includes the construction of modern classrooms, assembly halls, laboratories, desks and chairs, ICT libraries, sports and recreational facilities, convenience, and other infrastructure would aid the development of the body and mind. To give a sharper edge to Imoke’s quest for rapid educational rebirth, scholarships have been awarded to 177 post-graduate students, 485 undergraduate students and 52 overseas students.

Cross River is a very large state with the kind of diversity that you would normally expect to see in five disparate states. Calabar, Ugep, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu are the five development centers in the state with large swathes of rural population. For effective coverage of the state in the pursuit of the government’s rural agenda, three agencies were established. They include the Rural Development Agency (RUDA), State Electrification Agency (SEA) and the Border Communities Development Agency

(BORDERCOM). Under RUDA, Cross River is constructing over 500 kilometers of roads in sixteen local governments and the roads have a total of 19 bridges and a collective span of 746 meters. The second phase of the campaign will soon commence for another 500 kilometers of roads across the state. Similarly, no fewer than 67 rural communities are being provided with electricity with the procurement of transformers and the construction if relief stations on nearing completion.

With the emergence of Calabar as one of Nigeria’s most livable city, the Imoke administration has perfected plans to replicate the magic of Calabar in all the five development centers in the state. The streets of Calabar present an amazing spectacle at night with over 47 kilometers of street lights which are currently being extended to Calabar South and other centres to enhance their aesthetics and draw tourists and investors. Over 19,000 households in Calabar are currently connected to uninterrupted public water supply with an additional 25,000 waiting to join the network.

A total of 700 kilometers of roads has been constructed across the state.

In all, Cross River has seen a huge developmental paradigm shift in Liyel Imoke’s suave and surefooted approach to development. His deep involvement in the global efforts on climate change culminating in his nomination into the Governor’s Global Task Force on Climate Change at the 2009 World Environment Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen speaks of the high esteem in which he is regarded by leaders who value his commitment to the preservation of our world.

Evidently, what has continued to astonish Imoke’s observers is how he has risen to the challenges that have defined his era in government. While some believe that history has unwittingly presented him the short end of the stick with the sudden loss of the oil revenue that had been accruing from the confiscated oil wells that were decreed to Akwa Ibom State, others would argue that the adversity gave him the impetus to rise to his full height to etch his name in history through a highly innovative approach to governance that lays emphasis on the wisdom of looking inwards for new strengths.

KESHI:

WORLD JUNIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP

Spanish Embassy delays Nigerian contigent

NFF won’t force players on me

• Keshi

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 •Nigeria's players celebrate after defeating Dominican Republic during their 2012 FIBA Olympic qualifying basketball tournament in Caracas July 8, 2012. Nigeria secured a spot at the 2012 London Olympics.

FIRST-EVER OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TICKET

NIGERIA to face USA 'Dream Team' in Group A

•D’Tigers beat Dominican Rep. in play-offs to qualify

INSIDE

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Page 25

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Agric scheme tackles food shortage - Page 27

FCT hosts Northern leaders in search of peace

- See story on Page 26

Night life after blast - Page 27

•Bishop Kukah

From the Presidential Villa - Page 40

The political class has failed the country. We are dancing on a wet grave

•Yayale

Northerners should always be united; we lack knowledge of the past and are destroying our future

•Ogbeh

Dialogue is the easy way out, but the economic underdevelopment of the North is the key problem

•Na’Abba

A lot of us are concerned about the North because it is where we call home, but this home is no longer what it used to be

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW

A

FTER what seemed like eternity, prominent figures from the North have spoken out on the country’s worst security challenge: the Boko Haram insurgency.

For venue, they chose Abuja, the nation’s capital, whose residents and structures have been rattled by terrorists’ bombs. So much blood has been spilled and so many bones broken by the terrorist group.

But the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not a solitary target. Most of the North has come under relentless attacks, prompting concerns as to when the bloodletting will abate, and when leaders from the region would speak out clearly and loudly on the matter.

Well, they have, and were loud enough. the parley was tagged the Northern Re-Awakening Forum.

The leaders included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Mahmud Ahmed, The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, Senator Enyautu Ifenne, Hon. Mohammed Kumalia, and chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Audu Ogbeh, amongst others.

Since last year, Boko Haram has unleashed bomb attacks on churches, public gatherings, government structures, among which was the United Nations building where more than 34 people were killed.

More recent setrikes included the multiple explosions at three churches in Kaduna State (Christ the King Catholic Church, Sabon Gari, Zaria; ECWA Goodnews Church and the Shalom Pentecostal Church at Trikania) which also claimed many lives.

Bishop Kukah condemned the terrorist attacks on churches and Christians but also decried what has been termed the sluggish approach of President Goodluck Jonathan to address the crisis.

He also debunked the notion that the crisis in the North is a war between Christians and Muslims.

“We contrive what we require in order to play politics,” he said. “The political class has not been able to deliver and the people are not happy;

•A bomb blast scene

FCT hosts Northern leaders in search of peace From Olugbenga Adanikin and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

I strongly believe we are dancing on a wet grave.”

Rev. Kukah called on the political leaders to address the menace because the citizens get frustrated seeing the perpetrators of violence walking the streets free and plotting new strategies.

Ogbeh also believes the poor economic profile of the Northern states has contributed greatly to the crisis, expressing displeasure at the collapse of textile industries in the region. He also called for dialogue.

He said: “Dialogue is the easy way.

Some more research into the origins

N1.2b boost for FCTA counterpart projects

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CT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has announced an increase of the FCT Administration’s counterpart funding of projects executed jointly with United Nations (UN) agencies and the World Bank from N1 billion to N1.2 billion.

He made the disclosure during the signing of United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) programme implementation agreement between the FCTA and the UN System in Nigeria at his Area 11, Garki office, Abuja.

He said the FCTA upped its counterpart contribution to ensure the continued execution of

•Muhammed

many important programmes jointly undertaken with the UN System in Nigeria.

Mohammed expressed confidence that the initiatives would encourage the UN System to increase its funding for various projects being executed under the counterpart funding arrangement in the FCT to enhance their implementation.

He stated that in 2011 through the FCT/UNDAF joint programme, 60 Community Empowerment Farms comprising 10 hectares each were opened in 60 communities across the six area councils through which over 5,000 youths were gainfully employed while 204.8 tonnes of assorted grains were produced.

The Minister listed other areas of collaboration through the FCT/UNDAF programme to include education services, policy formulation, security and health services.

On security services, Mohammed stressed that in order to improve community policing, the FCTA through the FCT/UNDAF programme has constructed 12 police posts made up of two in each of the six area councils of the territory.

On policy formulation, he pointed out that the FCTA is currently pursuing three policies, namely e-health, e-education and monitoring and evaluation. He added that monitoring and evaluation policy has reached an ad-

of these problems we are facing will help but I keep on emphasising that the economic under-development of the North is the key problem. Like I said earlier, some 400 entire textile industries died in Kano. The only industry has been politics and nothing more.

“We can’t have a country where virtually every young person is in distress. To pay your rent in Abuja, for instance, even in your state capital, is impossible. You can’t run a home as a young man; you have no money, and you can’t aspire to the future. It is these young people who have become angry and a problem to this society.”

Ogbeh went on: “Governors have the key to the economy of the state.

They have the leadership role to play to identify the things that have to be done to create wealth especially for young people.

“I have been telling some of them that they have to set aside a development fund in each state, ask the Bank of Industry to mark it and set out some programmes for young people, loans at the interest rate of one digit, in agro-processing, social services and others.

“Religious war is something not to contemplate. We don’t need it, we can’t survive it and there is absolutely no need for it because killing each other and bombing each other won’t make any sense. It’s about reaching out to the people but like I said, keep publicity out of it until something concrete is achieved.”

Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Mohammed Kumalia said it was formed out of the need to address security challenges in the states as well as promote the region’s economic development. He expressed worry on the violence in the region, saying it creates disharmony and threatens its existence as a cohesive entity.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Na’Abba said there was need to intensify efforts in achieving a peaceful and harmonious society in the north. He called for quick transformation in governance.

Na’Abba blamed political office holders’ greed for the crisis in the region, saying such leaders “have remained major contributors of poverty, marginalisation and violence in the North. If this continues, the country will not attain the peace it hopes

for.

“A lot of us are concerned about the North because it is where we call home; this home is no longer what it used to be. We have made effort in the past but unfortunately nothing came out of it, we therefore need to do more.”

Yayale expressed fear on the current state of northern Nigeria, saying the major stakeholders lack required knowledge to put things in order rather than jeopardising the future.

“Time is running out,” he said. “We cannot imagine being our own distraction to growth. Northerners should always be united; it is difficult to destroy the region but because we lack knowledge of the past, we have decided to destroy our future by doing what is going on presently.”

Enyautu Ifenne described the North as being between sleeping and unconsciousness. While accusing the Federal Government (FG) of negligence in its function of providing security and maintenance of order, she noted that people are tired of holding Northern governors responsible for the insecurity in the region.

The overarching goal, according to him, is to support the FCT manage its resources to achieve its economic and social development strategies as well as reform agenda.

Toure commended the FCT counterparts and the UN team for the laudable efforts in reviewing the 2011 Annual Work Plan (AWP) and the 2012 AWP which was signed at the occasion. He

remarked that through the UNDAF, the FCTA and the UN System were committed to working together in a spirit of partnership to implement and achieve the results set out in the 2012 AWP, as a contribution to the achievement of the FCT and the national development aspirations towards the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

•Abuja

vanced stage and would ultimately reduce the rate of abandoned projects and programmes in the FCT. Resident Coordinator, UN System in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure told the Minister that the UNDAF programmes which implementation started in 2010 in FCT were focused on helping the FCT implement its own development agenda in collaboration with UN agencies.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

27

ABUJA REVIEW

T

HE Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), an initiative of the federal Ministry of Agriculture, will shore up the country’s food supply and diversify its economy.

That is the position of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

In order to revive agric and adequately exploit its potentials, the Federal Government through the Ministry launched ATA with the aim of ensuring the country is food sufficient by year 2015.

For the first time, private organizations were given the opportunity to tap into the developmental agenda of the sector. Farmers are supported with credit facilities to sustain their activities. They also welcomed the government’s policy of purchasing and distributing fertilizers directly to genuine farmers.

The era of political farmers are becoming over as state governments have also decided to key into the agenda. During stakeholders meeting with commissioners for agriculture from the 36 states of the country, the various participants were encouraged to invest in the sector. The commissioners were urged to explore crops that have high potentials in their different states, for instance, cocoa in the Southwest, and groundnuts in the North.

At this stage, each of the states began to seek Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the sector. A number of these states are Lagos, planning to plant rice, Kwara partnering with a university in the United States which is to design an agric master-plan for the state. Top among them was the $40 million tripartite agreement signed on the establishment of an integrated rice farm in Taraba State, a partnership with the federal government, Taraba and the Executive Officer of Dominion Rice and Integrated Farms Limited, Mr. Calvin Burgess.

Aside, several committees were setup to manage implementation of each of the various value-chains. They include rice, sorghum, cassava, cocoa, maize, soybean, oil palm, livestock, cotton, aquaculture and fisheries.

Speaking during at the signing of the tripartite agreement in Abuja, Dr.

W

AS the blast on Aminu Kano Crescent near Kryxtal Lounge Night Club, Etisalat and Hanan Plaza from a bomb or construction dynamites? Was it aimed at instilling fear and grounding nightlife in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)?

Well, it does not matter. The people are not intimidated and nightlife has retained its intensity.

•A nightclub

•Women try to beat out food for the family

Agric scheme tackles food shortage From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

Adesina said: “Our food import bill is staggering. Nigeria spends over N1.3tr importing just four basic items: wheat (N635b), rice (N365b), Sugar (N217b) and fish (N97b).

“Nigeria is the largest importer of rice in the world. Yet, this nation is blessed with about 84 million hectares of arable land, of which less than 40 per cent is currently under culti-

vation. With this vast area of land, abundant labour and hardworking farmers, there is no reason for Nigeria to be a food importing nation.”

Recently, the FG in an effort to differentiate political farmers from genuine farmers launched a nationwide farmer’s registration exercise.

In its first batch, 4.3 million farmers were registered out of the targeted five million.

Though, the registration exercise was politicized in some states while

farmers in few other states were requested to pay N150, N200 or N500 as it varies; for the forms that were meant to be free. One of the states is Delta State while a number of them in Bayelsa State seem not to have known about to the registration exercise.

Subsequently, after the completion of the registration exercise, the FG commenced distribution of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) for the benefit of the registered farm-

Night life after explosion

By Augustine Ehikioya

It was a different blast from the past ones in the city.

While most of the other bomb blasts had occurred during the day and claimed many lives with more

property destruction, the blast that occurred near Kryxtal Lounge Night Club, Etisalat and Hanan Plaza on Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, happened in the wee hours of June 23. No life was lost, though five vehicles were damaged.

It was also the first blast in the city very close to a nightclub which

was in full session and brimming with night crawlers.

There have been many theories following the blast. Some people believed it was a bomb. Others said it was an explosion from some road construction dynamites.

One of the theories was that a car parked on the road was wired with the bomb and timed to explode.

Another claimed the bomb was thrown from a moving vehicle.

A security man working with one of the eateries in the area, who was on duty on the night of the explosion, said the bomb was tied to a tree by the roadside.

He said: “The bomb that exploded was tied to that tree over there. I was here when it happened and I saw everything. Go and check that tree by yourself.”

Whatever it was, and whatever the intent, Abuja night clubbers are just not deterred. Repeated visits revealed that fun-seekers have continued to troop into the night club from around 11 pm, with the last customer leaving around 6am the following day.

One of the regular customers to the night club, Barrister Modestus Ojini, while speaking to Abuja Review, said: “I was at the Kryxtal Lounge when the blast occurred.

You never can tell exactly what happened. It couldn’t have been a bomb and it should not be connected with the Boko Haram issues.

“The blast happened outside Kryxtal, across the road and directly in front of Hanan Plaza. It

ers across the country. The arrangement was that government would pay 50 per cent of the support scheme while the farmers make payment for the remaining 50 percent.

The minister said that the scheme is to cover 20 million farmers within a period of three years, adding that it “is designed as a vital component of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and it seeks to achieve at the micro level, food security for the farmer and national security at the macro level”.

I have continued to patronise the club from the day of the blast. I am always there with my friends. We all live by the Grace of God. People are not really scared because I have been meeting many regular customers here since that blast wasn’t directly in front of Kryxtal Lounge. The explosion just blew up from the ground and all of a sudden everybody just scampered out rom the club.

“Since the blast, I have been coming around. In situations like this, many people may be scared coming around here. Ordinarily, I come around here because I have some business colleagues around here. I come around here to discuss my business or do some other things.

On whether he is not scared of such blast occurring close to the night club, he said: “It is very scary to everybody. There is nobody that will hear of such event that will not be scared. If something like this happens, for the first and second day you may be scared but after •Continued on Page 28

28

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

ABUJA REVIEW

A role for Customs in global security P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged officers and men of the Nigerian Custom Service to play a greater role in global security. Jonathan, in Brussels, Belgium, said that the rising national and regional security issues relating to the menace of terrorism, proliferation of light weapons, narcotics and smuggling call for firmer collaboration between Customs administrations worldwide.

Jonathan in his keynote address at the 119th/120th Sessions of the Customs Cooperation Council/World Customs Organisation, Brussels, said greater efficiency, enhanced competitiveness and higher productivity in the new global environment would be better achieved if the Customs Service is responsive to the imperatives of simplification of procedures, efficient processing of shipments and transparent use of rules and regulations.

President Jonathan who also spoke on the traditional enforcement role of the Customs, according to a statement from the office of the media aide to the president, charged the Service worldwide to strengthen their operations and ensure that their role is not only to guard against illegal activities but also to protect the integrity of global socio-economic systems.

He welcomed the role of the WCO in developing various tools to enhance collaborative efforts in this regard, but acknowledged the challenges of outdated procedures, inadequate legislation, limited ICT application, institutional and human resource capacity facing Customs administrations in developing countries.

On trade amongst nations, President Jonathan said Customs administrations remain critical in the ability of governments to maximize benefits from reforms, including enhancing and deepening trade integration between members of any regional trading arrangement.

The Nigerian President said there “are direct linkages between trade policy reform and customs administration, especially with respect to the role of Customs in trade policy formulation, the impact of trade policy changes in customs administration’, and challenged Customs organizations to constantly review their own policies, strategize and adapt to new thrusts in government policy.”

He stated that the traditional role of Customs as an enforcement agency has expanded to that of trade facilitation in the 21st century,

As trade facilitators, they should be committed to building strategic relationships with the business sector, including helping to maintain the competitive edge of the local industry •Continued from Page 27

that day life goes on.

“It is normal; it is just like when the issue of Dana Plane crash occurred. For about three days, many people were not flying within Nigeria. They were going on road transportation. After a while things started becoming normal and they are now flying again.”

Another customer at the night club, Mr. Vitalis Kene, said he reacted to the blast just like every normal human being would react to a disaster as he ran out of the club

•Customs personnel on parade emerging as a prominent business partner to industry, and urged Customs administrations to see themselves in ‘the twin roles of trade facilitators and guardian of the community’.

“As trade facilitators, they should be committed to building strategic relationships with the business sector, including helping to maintain the competitive edge of the local industry’’, he urged the WCO. President Jonathan added that greater efficiency, enhanced competitiveness and higher productivity in the new global environment would be better achieved if Customs service is responsive to the needs of industry in the areas of simplification of procedures, efficient processing of shipments and trans-

parent use of rules and regulations.

The President also told the gathering of Customs chiefs from 177 countries that Nigeria was committed to the continuous review of Customs procedures, to reduce the cost of doing business, reduce total transaction cost, ensure minimal physical contact and presumptive discretion, through the introduction of ‘single window concept’, and had reduced the number of agencies operating at the port, introduced ‘one-stop-check’ procedure, established inland container ports and was strengthening sister agencies like the Nigeria Ports Authority.

He also revealed that Government had commenced review of Customs and Excise Management

Night life after explosion with other customers to ascertain the source of the explosion.

He said: “I have continued to patronise the club from the day of the blast. I am always there with my friends. We all live by the Grace of God. People are not really scared because I have been meeting many regular customers here since that blast.

“Some customers retreated for about two days and after that they have started coming to the club as usual. Things have become normal at the club.” He stated Speaking with the The Nation on the issue, the Manager of Kryxtal Lounge, Mr. Alexander Toor maintained that it was not a bomb blast but was the handwork

of its competitors He said: “I can tell that it was not really a bomb blast. After what we experienced across the road, we have been carrying on with our business. Even that same night, people came back to chill out with us. As we speak our business is really on top even better than it was before the blast. It is growing more than what it was before.

“If you can stay here for the next few hours, you will witness it yourself. It is not affecting the business at all, not at all. Before the blast we used to have between 200 and 300 customers and now the figure is even higher. We are now having more customers.”

On new security measures taken since the blast, he said: “Even before the blast there have been security measures put in place.

There has been tight security around this place. The government, on its part, has been doing its best and we appreciate it.”

One resident in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity,

Act, along with other Customs and Excise notices, decrees and guidelines, and was committed to the Doha Round negotiations on Trade Facilitation, among other international agreements relating to trade.

President Jonathan also added that Government was equally committed to the enhancement of the country’s rail, road, inland waterways, sea and airports, to complement the ongoing reform and modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service, while training of Customs officials was being focused on.

He thanked the WCO for giving him the opportunity to share his thoughts with them, describing it as a ‘homecoming, having served in the Customs Service in the early years of my life’.

maintained that everybody seems to have put the blast behind them as they have continued to carry on with their business.

He said: “You can see that the banks, the eateries, the plazas and other businesses on the road are fully opened and going about their businesses as if the blast never occurred.”

It is expected that the security agencies will not only rise to the occasion by ensuring safety of all Nigerians at every given time but also become more proactive by preventing such blasts especially in the capital city.

If it was a bomb blast, the government should muster the desired political will to end the deadly attacks of Boko Haram. Many Nigerians still expect the government to go beyond just changing the National Security Adviser and the Defence Minister.

But if the blast was caused by construction dynamites, then it is high time the government put in place measures to enforce and prevent careless movement or storage of such dangerous construction dynamites for the safety of all.

If you can stay here for the next few hours, you will witness it yourself. It is not affecting the business at all, not at all. Before the blast we used to have between 200 and 300 customers and now the figure is even higher. We are now having more customers •The nation’s capital at night

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

29

‘

The question of corruption or inefficiency in any of our aspect of life is not particularly confined to Nigeria. I agree that we have been in it for some time but we are improving. I can tell you that in Lagos State, when we started appointing women judges, things improved ... Ladies run away from this type of a thing. You will find it very difficult to corrupt a lady judge • SEE PAGE 35

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

’

• Muktar. Inset: Muktar in robe

She is a woman of many firsts. The first woman justice of the Court of Appeal; the first woman justice of the Supreme and next Monday, Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar will formally become the first woman Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to crown a glorious career spanning over 40 years. Eric Ikhilae, Adebisi Onanuga, Joseph Jibueze, Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Kamarudeen Ogundele and Precious Igbonwelundu report.

Here comes first woman CJN

N

EXT Monday, she will make history as she formally assumes office as the first woman Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Although Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar is not strange to making history on the Bench, her being the first woman CJN is the greatest of such feats.

She is the first woman Justice of the Court of Appeal; the first woman justice of the Supreme Court and now the first woman CJN. She will assume that status when Justice Dahiru Musdapher bows out of office on Sunday.

Justice Muktar will be assuming the headship of the judiciary at its most troubled time. This, many argued, is so because the court system is plagued with a lot of challenges.

Justice Musdapher, who has just submitted to the National Assembly a bill on Judicial reforms, is retiring this week, without any concrete step taken on his proposals.

With the belief that Justice Muktar possesses the ability to make a difference, lawyers have identified areas she should concentrate on . They urged her to instill disciple in judicial officers, enhance integrity, curb the endemic corruption in the system, initiate measures, in collaboration with other stakeholders, on ways of enhancing the quality of the teaching of law.

Inside: Lagos CJ okays vacation for judges- P.32

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Ibadan (UI), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); Emeka Ngige (SAN); Afolabi Fashanu (SAN); Sebastine Hon (SAN); Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN); former AttorneyGeneral of Plateau State, Prof Clement Dakas, Prof Demola Popoola and Ike Ofuokwu urged the incoming CJN to ensure the wheel of justice grinds fast. She should, also, curb corruption. They also urged her to remember that the issue of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, has not been resolved.

Olanipekun said Justice Muktar should ensure the eradication of corruption on the Bench. He said: “There must be war, fierce war, vicious war on corruption on the Bench.”

His position, he said, is informed by his conviction that “justice is an attribute of God and if someone has been appointed a judge, he is holding justice in trust for God. So, on no ground; under no disguise should a judge be accused of bias or corruption or being influenced.

“So, she must set agenda for elimination of corruption on the Bench. I was reading recently a report on the South African Bench. The author was saying that the judiciary of South Africa is a harbinger of driving investors to South Africa because the judiciary is free of every influence

and of all influences; that the judiciary is fair, that the judiciary is free, that the judiciary is incorruptible. I want that said about my country. That is very important.

“The second is the reorganisation of the NJC. I don’t agree, I don’t believe, I don’t support and I don’t belong to the school of thought that says that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should be chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The NJC should be chaired by somebody else.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria sitting over the NJC is also sitting as a judge over his or her own cause. How do I mean? If the CJN is also the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, they make recommendation to the NJC for the appointment of judges to the higher Bench, then if he or she sits over there to clear the recommendation or to approve the recommendation, and I have asked this question, the Police Services Commission is not chaired by the Inspector-General of Police, the Civil Service Commission is not chaired by the Head of Service and so on and so forth. So, why the Judiciary?

“We have a lot of problems and we still have them. The Justice Salami and Justice Katsina Alu imbroglio because of the dual role, position, power and jurisdiction invested in the same set

•STORY ON PAGE 30

Tambuwal, Odinkalu, others frown at violence ...- P.34

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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LAW COVER CONT’D

• Akinjide

• Olanipekun

of people, both in the CJN and in the President, Court of Appeal. There is a lot of agenda but we will put this into writing and pass to her.”

Ngige expressed the hope that Justice Muktar’s emergence will herald a golden era in the judiciary. “I expect the incoming CJN to continue with the judicial reforms which the outgoing CJN had set in motion through the Bill now at the National Assembly.

He said: “I will advise her to engage in a total overhaul of the Supreme Court Rules. The court’s rules for regular appeals are outdated. She should set up a committee to update the rules because they are currently antiquated.”

To Rabana, public expectations of the new Chief Justice are two-fold: to restore confidence in our judicial process, and to achieve quick dispensation of justice.

“These can only be achieved if the new Chief Justice checks the culture of impunity that has crept into the judiciary, with late sittings or nonsitting by some judges without reasonable excuse, judges’involvements in outlandish social events, with judicial ethics and norms thrown to the wings.

“She must work with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to arrest the indiscipline that is on the increase in the legal profession, particularly courtroom decorum, and the declining standards of advocacy.

“I also expect the new chief justice to put in place new rules and procedure to deal with disciplinary matters involving judges with the view

• Dakas

• Rabana

Here comes first woman CJN PAST CJNs NAME Justice Adetokunbo Ademola Justice Teslim Olawale Elias Justice Darnley Arthur Alexander Justice Atanda Fatai Williams Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe Justice Mohammed Bello Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais Justice Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu Justice Dalhatu Musdapher to achieve quick disposal of complaints in a flexible but firm manner, which will also address the culpability of lawyers who have contributed or aided in the misconduct of judges. I believe her integrity and strict adherence to rules will make a great difference.”

Prof Dakas urged her to engender a justice system that is credible, simple, fast, accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs and yearnings of Nigerians.

“Given Justice Muktar’s pedigree, there is cause for optimism that she will sustain the reform agenda and usher in a new era in justice delivery

YEAR 1958-1972 1972-1975 1975-1979 1979-1983 1983-1985 1985-1987 1987-1995 1995-2006 2006-2007 2007-2009 2009-2011 2011-date

in Nigeria. That way, she will justify the confidence reposed in her and further inspire younger lawyers, especially women, to dare to dream.”

Fashanu also stressed the need for the incoming CJN to ensure speedy hearing and determination of the appeal. He argued that a situation where a litigant will file an appeal, and the appeal will stay five, six to seven years does not augur well for the system.

“Sometimes by the time

judgment is delivered, some litigants are not in the position to reap the benefits of their labour.

“Some would have probably died. So, if this happens, at the end of the day, what is the point of seeking for justice? What is the point if at the end of it all, the judgement would not be beneficial. So, it is important for her to take holistic steps and ensure speedy determination of all appeals right from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. Once she is able to achieve that, I am happy.”

Prof Popoola said since Justice Muktar is part of the reform process initiated by the incum-

bent CJN, the challenge will be for her to pursue to logical conclusion the reform package which has been submitted to the National Assembly and those that can be pursued without tampering with our laws; the advantage the incoming CJN has is that she does not need to reinvent the wheel, the foundation has been laid by the outgoing CJN. “ It is a package of reforms that seem to command the support and the respect of the legal profession. The committee that did the work had the legal practitioners retired Judges, members of the academia were there.

“That means that the committee cuts across the spectrum of the legal profession and NBA was represented by its President there was a former NBA president there, the recommendations of the UWAIS committee which has been recommended should not be difficult to pursue and implemented by the incoming CJN.” Ofuokwu said he was sure that Justice Muktar will be able to clean up the Augean stable as her predecessor has rightly started.

“I also believe that she would not allow an overbearing executive influence on her. She must be very careful because her new ground is very slippery and quite tempting.

“We expect that she is able to resolve as quickly as possible all outstanding matters threatening the integrity of the judiciary such as that of President of Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami without fear or favor,” Ofuokwu said.

She is ‘Iron Lady’ of the Bench, say lawyers

M

ANY lawyers across the country seem to view Jus tice Mariam Aloma Muktar from the same prism.

They described her as intelligent, highly principled and a woman of integrity. They expressed the hope that the rot in the judicial system will be cleansed during her tenure.

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN); Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Sebastine Hon (SAN); Emeka Ngige (SAN); Joseph Nwobike (SAN); Obi Okwusogu (SAN); Norrison Quakers (SAN); Fred Agbaje and Ike Ofuokwu spoke glowingly about her principled personality.

According to them, she possesses the atrributes to turn around the court system round.

Olanipekun described the incoming CJN as “a woman of history, a woman of destiny, a woman who has in the legal profession become a reference point.

“Though in several respects, she does what men cannot do; she does what men can do best. Everyone in the legal profession who is honest would bear eloquent testimony to the fact that she is not corrupt. They would bear testimony to the fact that she is not influenceable.

“Call her a lone ranger, it is good for the system. Call her rugged and unchangeable and unbendable, it is good for the system. That is what a good judge should be. As a human being, when Justice Aloma Mukhtar makes mistake in law, you would know that the mistake is not deliberate,” he said.

Olanipekun argued that being human and granted that any human being could err at any time, any mistake by Justice Muktar while discharging her duties should never be construed as being influenced by external forces because “she is a woman of principle.

“She is an honest woman by my own definition. When you take the census of practising lawyers, I am not saying arm-chair critics, and those who are in the academics, and those who have been reading judgments of the appellate courts and law reports, they confirm my position on this.

And 80 per cent of them will corroborate what I am saying that, under her watch, the judiciary will be better off.

“I am not saying her predecessors in office are bad, but I am saying the judges in the High Courts, the Appeal Courts and even at the Supreme Court, everyone of them will sit up. I believe that Justice Aloma Muktar is a woman, a judge who would say do as I do, not as I say.

“In the Yar’Adua`s case, where I was the lead counsel, she gave judgment against me. Yet, I saluted her courage. I commended even her dissenting opinion and I still commend it. I am not saying the majority opinion was wrong.

But then to show you the kind of person she is, for you to write a dissenting opinion you must have your own reason, your own mind. That means you are not going with the majority,” Olanipekun said.

To former Attorney-General of Lagos State Prof Osinbajo, Justice Muktar can be described as a no-nonsense and frank jurist, known for her uprightness.

“She is a serious minded and forthright judge. She has a reputation for integrity. Mukhar is coming at a time the judiciary is experiencing its “worst years”, so she has her work cut out.

“The legal process in Nigeria is experiencing its worst years. Lack of judicial integrity and endless delays in trials have seriously weakened the credibility of our system of justice as being fair and efficient.

“Her objective should be to swiftly find creative answers to these challenges, and there are many options,” Osinbajo said.

Fagbohungbe described her as a highly principled and highly disciplined person. He said the in-coming CJN does not bend the rules nor panders to unnecessary extraneous sentiment like we have with some judges.

He said she is not unnecessarily sentimental on issues that promote justice and due process. “I believe her tenure in office will help promote social justice, due process, among others,” Chief Fagbohungbe said.

Okwusogu, who said he has known Justice Aloma Mukhtar for over 30 years, described her as “a real lady”.

He said: “I have known her for over 30 years right from when she was a judge in Kano. They didn’t make her Chief Judge, and they pushed her to the Court of Appeal, and it turned out to be better. Today she is the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“As a judge, she is a real charming lady who has very nice carriage. She is a lady in every sense. On the Bench, she is a lady, outside she is a lady.

“Justice Aloma Mukhtar is a trail-blazer on the Bench. She is an erudite judge and her judgments reflect this fact even when they are dissenting judgments.

“My lady as a judge is very calm and listens attentively to counsel. I felicitate with her, wishing her God’s grace as she tackles the many challenges facing the judiciary.”

Ngige said the Justice’s Muktar tenure as CJN would mark the beginning of radical departure from the present norm in the administration of justice in Nigeria, particularly at the apex court.

According to him, her coming is likely to bring in a breath of fresh air not only in the Supreme Court but in the entire Nigerian judiciary.

He said: “She has a track record of being a hard working, incorruptible and honest jurist; she was the first woman chief registrar of the High Court of Kano State. From there she became the first female judge in Kano State judiciary and in the whole of the north.

“When she was denied the opportunity of being the first female Chief Judge of Kano, the authorities elevated her to the Court of Appeal. There again, she became the first woman ustice of the Court of Appeal. In all these positions, she ac-

quitted herself creditably.

“Now the outgoing Chief Justice had recommended her as possible successor and we thank him for that. It is my hope that the Nigerian Senate will confirm her appointment.

“Justice Aloma Mukthar while at the Court of Appeal, in the judgments she delivered, showed that she has profound knowledge of law. She is a judge that dispenses justice without fear or favour.

“Recall that at the Supreme Court she proved her mettle.

Indeed, the climax of her courage, consistency and fearlessness was manifested in the case of General Muhammed Buhari Vs Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

“In that case she delivered a powerful dissenting judgment along with Justice Oguntade and Justice Onnoghen in a case which the dissention is still cited and referred to by judicial writers, judges and lawyers even though dissenting judgments are not binding decisions.

“Her ladyship’s dissenting judgment remains a guiding post for all and sundry who are interested in having a free and fair election in Nigeria.

“Her judgment in that case is an insight that when she takes over as CJN, the culture of impunity, corruption, double standards, conflicting judgments and low productivity that have become the bane of the judiciary will be brought to a minimal level.”

Hon said “Justice Muktar is a well focused and hard working Justice. Reading through her judgments from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, one will say a good degree of industry and intellectualism are displayed In her decisions.

To Nwobike, “Justice Aloma Mukatr is a liberal judge, and very reserved. She possesses the attributes of what a modern judge should be. I have appeared before her on several occasions, particularly when she was on the Court of Appeal Bench in the Ibadan, Oyo State Division.

“She believes in everything that helps to serve the course of social justice. She is not the type that is disposed to grandstanding. From my experience, she believes in the application of law to uplift societal justice. I believe she will make a good impact on the system as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”

Quakers noted: “She is a fantastic woman. A highly stabilised personality, whose experience cuts across the country.

She has been in the system for a long time and understands the level of decay. She is not a woman that can easily be influenced or swayed.

“She posses a motherly figure and I see her as an astute administrator. I see her doing well. Her reign will usher in integrity in the judiciary. I believe her reign will promote in development in the legal system, it will promote the reign of rule of law, impartiality and erase corruption from • Continued on page 31

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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LAW COVER CONT’D

Her road to the top

S

UBJECT to confirmation bythe Senate Justice Mariam Muktar will become the first woman to be Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).President Goodluck Jonathan nominated her in a letter to the Senate last week.

She has, before now, been referred to as a lady of many firsts. She is described as the first female lawyer, and judge in the northern part of the country.

Her career as a judge began exactly 10 years after being called to the Bar. Having served earlier as a Magistrate and later Chief Registrar of the Kano Judiciary, Justice Muktar was named a judge of the state’s High Court in 1977.

About 10 years later, she was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1987 as its first female justice. She served in the court’s various divisions including Jos and Ibadan. In 2005, she moved to the Supreme Court, also emerging the first woman justice.

Justice Mukthar, who served in Jos twice, was the Presiding Justice of the Jos Division of the appellate court until her elevation in 2005.

When The Nation sought the views of some residents of Jos, Plateau State, Justice Muktar, on her,they described her as an individual with “rare intelligence.”

A Jos-based SAN, Pius Akubo, said the woman has been a shining star in the judicial sector. “Her elevation to this level was long overdue because the way and manner she presided over judicial matter in the Jos division of Court of Appeal was exemplary. With Justice Muktar, I can confirm the saying that hard work pays. She was an epitome of hard work and a core professional,” said Akubo Another Jos resident, Alhaji Sadiq Sae’ed Muhammed, a car dealer, who said he once instituted an appeal on a murder case while Justice Muktar was in the city, described her as “a humane personality, a professional that cannot be influenced; she is a living example of an incorruptible judge.”

Daniel Gopep, another Jos-based lawyer, who said he has practised for about 30 years in the city, said: “Apart from her professional posture, she is humane to the core. She loves helping people solve their personal problems. She is so compassionate. If not that she is a woman, she would have gotten this position long ago, but now that she is there, it is good for judiciary; good for the country. It shows that there is still hope in the sector.”

The Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Plateau State, Top Kekemeke, described Justice Muktar as “a woman of great legal statues. she is a responsible jurist and a very lucid legal mind. The woman hates laziness and incompetence on the part of lawyers.

“In her days in Jos, lawyers had to do self examination before appearing in any case before her, because she always insisted on competence and hardwork. She is one judge I know that judges according to the law.

“Whoever recommended her for this top position did not make a mistake. And, I m so sure that the judiciary under her, will experience robust reform. I am saying this, because I had handled cases in her court

• Continued from page 30

and I knew what I learnt from her when in Jos,” Kekemeke said.

Justice Muktar, who hails from Kano State, was born on November 20, 1944.

She attended St. George Primary School, Zaria and St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State. She later attended the Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somerset, England; Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire, England and Gibson and Weldon College of Law, England.

Justice Muktar was called to the English Bar in November, 1966 and the Nigerian Bar in 1967. She began her career as Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria, 1967, Office of the Legal Draftsman, Interim Common Services Agency, Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government, 1971.

If confirmed by the Senate, she will be the indigenous 13 th CJN since the position opened in 1958. She will retire in November 2014.

Justice Aloma, 68, is married to Alhaji Abdul Abdurahaman, who was a Finance Commissioner in the late Abubakar Rimi’s administration in Kano. She hails from Jangoza in Ungogo Local Government.

One of brothers, Muktar Jangoza, is a Special Adviser on Budget Matters to Kano State Governor,Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. She has three children.

Justice Muktar is the daughter of a Kano-based businessman, the late Alhaji Mukhtari Dansado. Her father is of Kano origin. He was born in Jangoza in Ungogo Local Government Area on Gwarzo Road.

Her father was of Fulani stock. Her late mother, Hajiya Hadiza is of mixed blood.

She was from Misau in Bauchi State. The people of Misau are a mixture of Fulani and Kanuri. After a brief stint in private practice Justice Muktar joined the Kano State Judicial Service Commission, rising to become the Chief Judge.

She later moved to the Court of Appeal, where she served for many years.

She spent a greater part of her formative years in Lagos.

Eight months ago, Justive Mastharejected an offer to be the Chief Justice of Gambia, a refusal, which did not go down well with the Federal Government primarily due to her steadfastness, honesty, as well as her uncompromising attitude.

Justice Muktar has been a life Bencher since 1993 and a life member of the Federation of Women Lawyers. She was also the Vice-President of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria. In 1989, Justice Muktar was honoured by the Federation of Women Lawyers and in 1991, she was decorated with a Gold Merit Award by the Kano State Government.

In 2003, she was again honoured by the International Association of Women Lawyers, and in 2004, Justice Muktar was conferred with the Fellowship of the Nigerian Law School.

Justice Muktar had her primary education at the St. George’s School, Zaria and also at St. Bartholomews’s School, Wusasa, also in Zaria between 1950 and 1957.

‘Iron Lady’

the system.”

Agbaje described Justice Muktar as an epitome of both motherhood and a judicial officer.

“She is an epitome of motherhood, an epitome of a judicial officer. She carries herself well and, above all, she is an intelligent woman, very fast at grabbing the nitty-gritty when issues are nasty in court.

“One particular interesting thing about her is the way she brings that motherly touch in court. She is very accommodating and her doors are always open to all, irrespective of tribe. I am sure she will bring all these qualities to bear in fostering unity in the judiciary,” Agbaje said.

He said he was sure the government would give her the necessary support to take the judiciary to the next level, adding: “no child will want to deny the mother genuine assistance.”

“We are particularly lucky in Nigeria and we should compliment ourselves that we are having the first female CJN in the person of Justice Muktar.

“It shows we have joined the rest of civilised world where women are accorded pride of places and are given opportunity to aspire to the peak of their career.

“She has become a shining light to the women folk because it is the first time in the history of this country that a woman will head an arm of government, the third arm being the judiciary. She has become the lamb of the world.

“Her nomination and even appointment is an open door to women in this country to come out and distinguish themselves. We are going to see the commitment and exceptional leadership she will bring with her in the judiciary,” Agbaje said.

To Ofuokwu, Justice Mukhtar has what it takes to make a difference. “She has a pedigree of judicial integrity and sound judgment throughout her career at the bench.”

• Osipitan

• Fashanu

Why Senate should confirm her, by Akinjide, others

L

AWYERS have urged the Senate to hasten the confirmation of Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) and Afolabi Fashanu (SAN) said her prompt confirmation was necessary because of the urgent need for reforms in the justice administration sector.

They described her as a person of integrity, whose confirmation should not suffer any delay.

Chief Akinjide said President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to nominate Justice Muktar was reflective of the fact that the country is willing to grow. He said if appointed, Justice Muktar will be one of the few female heads of the world’s judiciary.

“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we are going to have a very distinguished lady as the CJN. She is going to succeed the current holder of the office who is also distinguished and both of them are from Kano State, but the honour is not just to the state. It is to the whole of Africa and the human race.

“We should feel very proud to have her. I have known her for many years in the profession and I am not surprised because it has always been expected of her,” he said.

He said the fact Justice Muktar got to the a Supreme Court means she is great, add-

ing: “you don’t become a justice of the Supreme Court unless you are a very great lawyer, and you cannot be nominated a CJN unless you are very distinguished.”

Akinjide likened Justice Muktar to the first woman Justice of the Supreme Court of England, Lady Hale, in intellect, noting that Nigeria has always led the United Kingdom and the United States in appointing female judges and if Justice Muktar is appointed, it will be a landmark achievement for Africa.

He said he is happy about her nomination because Justice Muktar rose through the ranks in the judiciary, from the lowest to the top most court, stressing that he iwas optimistic she will bring her expertise to bear as the CJN on bringing about the most needed reforms.

Prof Osipitan expressed delight that “at long last, a lady of integrity is becoming the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I believe her tenure would be a golden era for the judiciary and justice administration in Nigeria. I have absolute confidence in her sense of direction to bring about a change in the judiciary.”

Fashanu described her as “a very hard working woman, and very upright and diligent. I have appeared before her many times when she was at the Court of Appeal. So, I can vouch that she is going to bring useful development to the administration of justice in Nigeria.”

Falana: ‘the Justice Muktar I know’

M

Y first appearance before the Hon ourable Justice Alooma Muktar was at the Kano State High Court in 1985.

I was very impressed by the matured way she conducted the case which had to do with the pilfering of the funds of a trade union the National Union of Food ,Tobacco and Beverages. Since then I have followed her career on the bench. She has carved a niche for herself as a no nonsense judge.

“Mrs Justice Muktar is a courageous and principled jurist. She was one of the three Justices of the Supreme Court who wrote the powerful dissenting opinions in the presidential election case of Mohammadu Buhari v Umaru Yar’Adua. She is a lady of justice and not of technicality. Her ladyship headed the panel which recommended the resolution of the intractable case of the Honourable Justice Ayo Salami which led the National Judicial Council (NJC) to lift the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal. Because of her solid integrity Mrs Justice Muktar commands the respect of judges and lawyers.

“In an environment where corruption has percolated the fabric of the judicial sector, Mrs Justice Muktar has never been associated with corruption or abuse of office. As a leader of extraordinary moral force she is eminently suited to rid the judiciary of corrupt elements. Having worked closely with the out-going Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Honourable Justice Dahiru Musdapher I have no doubt that Mrs Justice Muktar is going to forge ahead with the far-reaching reforms initiated by her predecessor.

The new Chief Justice is expected to reposition the National Judicial Council to defend the Judiciary and treat complaints

• Femi Falana

against judges with dispatch. With the cooperation of her colleagues, she should embark on the task of decongesting the Supreme Court. She should collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association to ensure that lawyers who serve as conduit pipe for corruption are identified and sanctioned. Under her leadership the apex court should revisit and review judgments of the apex court that have tended to promote election malpractice. In particular, Section 285 of the Constitution which provides for the resolution of an election petition within 180 days ought not to have been interpreted to deny aggrieved parties the opportunity to have their cases determined on the merit by the tribunals. Similarly, Section 87 of the Electoral Act should not have been interpreted to justify the imposition of candidates by political leaders. The new Chief Justice has a duty to turn the Supreme Court to a court of justice and not a court of law”!

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

32

FROM THE COURT

Lagos CJ okays vacation for judges

T

HE Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips has approved Monday, July 16, 2012 to Friday, August 24, 2012 as vacation for judges of the Lagos High Court.

According to a statement by the Chief Registrar of the Lagos High Court, Mr G.A. Safari, Justice Phillips also approved Monday, August 27, 2012 as the date for the commencement of the 2012/2013 session of the judial system while September 17, 2012 as the commencement date of the new legal year.

The Chief Judge, Justice Phillips, has, however, appointed six judges to handle urgent applications, which may be assigned to them during the long vacation.

In the Ikeja division, Justice K.O. Dawodu will handle urgent cases between July 16 and July 27, 2012; Justice A.F. Oluyemi July 30 and August 10, 2012 and Justice L.A.M.

• Justice Phillips

By Adebisi Onanuga

Folami from August 13 to August 24, this year.

On the other hand, urgent matters in the Lagos division will be han-

dled by Justice M. Olokoba between July 16 and July 27, 2012; Justice I. O. Harrison from July 30 to August 10, 2012 and Justice O.O. Femi-Adeniyi between August 13 to August 24, 2012.

But the criminal division of the High Court will not be affect by the holiday, the statement added.

It said: “Where a judge of a criminal division in the state is on vacation, a vacation judge may be assigned to deal with all urgent pending criminal cases in the court”.

It further said any matter may be heard by a judge during the period of the vacation where such matter is urgent or the judge, at the instance of all parties concerned, agree to hear it.

The statement added that any application for an urgent hearing during the vacation may be made by summons in chambers before the vacation judge or the judge before whom the substantive case is pending.

Mid-West Bar Forum meets Egbe Amofin tomorrow • MULAN adopts Okey Wali as Presidential candidate

B

ARRING any last minute change, the Midwestern Bar Forum will tomorrow visit the Southwest Lawyers Forum, also known as Egbe Amofin in Ibadan, Oyo State.

One of the presidential candidates in the forthcoming NBA elections and a prominent member of the Mid-West Bar Forum, Mr Blessing Ukiri, told The Nation: “The essence of the visit is to discuss with the Egbe Amofin and get firm assurance that Egbe will support the emergence of a Midwestern Bar candidate as NBA president in 2014”.

He said if the Midwest got the promise of Egbe Amofi, their son, Mr Blessing Ukiri, who is contesting for the presidency, would step down.

But should the forum refuse to yield ground to their cause to produce NBA President in 2014, Ukiri would pursue the race to a logical conclusion, the Midwest Bar Forum-led by Albert Akpomudje (SAN) said.

On the other hand, the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) during its Sixth Annual

• Chairman Egbe Amofin, Chief Bandele Aiku (SAN)

• Ukiri

National Conference in Ilorin, Kwara State, penultimate week, adopted Okey Wali (SAN) as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming NBA delegates election.

The group also elected new officers to run the affairs of the association in the next two years. A former President of the association and

Bencher, Tajudeen Oladoja, said the choice of Wali was borne out of their conviction that he possesses the requisite qualities to move the Bar forward at this time. ‘’He has robust programmes that should benefit old and young lawyers, hence, he should be given our mandate,’’ he said.

• Leader of Prerogative of Mercy Committee, Dr Tunji Abayomi (left) and Deputy Controller of Prison, Dr Regina Akpan, during a visit to the Lagos State government.

LEGAL DIARY OAU Law Faculty holds conference The Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile –Ife, Osun State, will hold a three-day national conference as part of the activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the university.

Theme: Law and economic transformation in Nigeria by introspection, retrospection and critical interrogation of the issues of law and the economy.

Presentations will be made by academics, policy makers regulators,judges, practitioners, and industry Stakeholders drawn from the country and the diaspora.

Theme: Law and Economic Transformation in Nigeria Date: July 11-13, 2012.

Venue: Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife

NBA holds delegates conference

The Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA ) will hold her delegates conference and election of new officers in Abuja.

Date: July 16-17, 2012 Venue: Yet to be determined

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Governors ignore constitution at councils

T

HERE is ample evidence at local government levels to confirm that many of our governors pretend as democrats. For those involved, constitutionalism irritates. According to reports, more than 20 governors have refused, despite the clear provisions of the 1999 constitution, to conduct local government elections in their states. They prefer to rein in the huge federal fiscal allocations meant for local councils through their surrogates as caretaker committee.

These law breakers are averse to Section 7 of the 1999 constitution, which provides: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every state shall, subject to Section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils”. Section 8 deals with creation of new local governments, states and boundary adjustments. So, the constitutional demand for democracy at local governments is clear, except of course, in the eyes of the law breakers.

This constitutional provision means nothing to those involved.As chief executive, they have no temperament for dissent. Dictatorship is their preference, even though some flash infrastructural development to becloud their unconstitutional conducts. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State was until, recently, one of them. When asked why he operated caretaker committees at local governments; though a lawyer, he offered rancid arguments that stood the constitution on its head.

He argued that a law made by Akwa Ibom State allowed him to run the local governments with such committees and that he was merely obeying the laws of the state. Knowing that the constitution is superior, he coyly smiled, unlike his avowed anger on issues of state development.

But while Akpabio has returned to constitutional conduct by allowing a council election, many others apparently like President Jonathan retorted in a press interview over the pressure to publicly declare his asserted: “Do not give a damn”. Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State is most likely one of them, as he does not give a damn, on the need to conduct council elections. Since he assumed responsibility as the governor, the state has been running on caretaker committees. Relying on one subterfuge after another, the private businessman turned politician has been running the state councils through his surrogates, euphemistically called caretaker committees. Attempts to force his hand are buried in the labyrinth of law suits and tales by the moonlight.

The chief law officer of the country, the Attorney-General of the Federation Mohamed Bello Adoke (SAN) has conveniently forgotten his promises during his confirmation hearing at the Senate, last year. Then he had pontificated: “There is no gainsaying that Section 7 of our constitution wants a situation where our local government area councils are manned by democratically elected personnel.” He furthered: “Let me also state clearly that the appointment of caretaker committee is illegal and unknown to law, but regrettably nobody has challenged the constitutional lapses”. Since he was appointed the chief law officer of the country, he has turned his back on that constitutional imperative.

This aberration has no party colours, as both avowed progressives and their conservative opponents are neck deep in this unlawful conducts. Some of the states involved in this discretion of the constitution, include, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo, Delta, Abia, Benue, Osun, Borno, Oyo, Kaduna, Kastina and a number of others. In Imo State, the Court recently restored elected local council chairmen and councillors sacked by the governor, Rochas Okorocha on assumption of office. There are similar litigations challenging the undemocratic experiments of sacking duly elected local government officials once there is a change at the state government house in the life of elected council officials.

As a proponent of true federalism, this writer appreciates the merit in the argument that the half hearted inclusion of a third tier level of government in the constitution is strange historically. Most federations across the world are run on two tier levels; but until there is a constitutional amendment, the local councils in Nigeria enjoy that rare privilege. It is, however, important to note the underlying reason for the listing of local governments in the constitution. Starting from the military regime of Murtala Muhammed/Olusegun Obasanjo, there was a serious effort by the federal military authorities to undermine regional/state autonomy by the recognition and empowerment of the local councils.

There is also the argument that that maneuvre was intended to unite the country by undermining regionalism. However, as the new states that replaced the regions increased their dependency on the oil revenue legislated solely from the federation account; it dawned on the military dictators to use creation of local government as a means of empowering ethnic interests. To safeguard their selfish maneuvre, the military subsequently listed the local governments they created in the constitution, but provided hurdles for any new ones, while ensuring that those created get federal allocations. Thus while Kano State which has produced two former military heads of state has 46 local governments, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia states together has 48.

In frustration Lagos State, which has 20 listed local governments, but with comparative population size as Kano, to stem the injustice, created 37 several councils, which have remained inchoate in law, without their listing in the constitution, and, of course, unqualified for allocation from the federal purse. Several states have followed this interim option, calling it development centres. While there is the need to clearly define the status of the local government and bring in equity in their configuration as we further amend the 1999 constitution; but until that is done, no democratically elected governor has the prerogative to run it on whims and caprice.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

33

LAW PERSONALTY

Eastern Bar Forum presents Okey Wali to Arewa • Ngige protests adoption

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HE Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) at the weekend in Lafia, Nasarawa State presented Okey Wali (SAN) to the General Assembly of the Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF) as its presidential candidate for next week’s Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) delegate’s conference and election in Abuja.

It is the turn of the EBF to produce the president of the Bar. Three candidates namely, Okey Wali (SAN), Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Blessing Ukiri have indicated interest in the office occupied by Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN).

All the three presidential candidates were in Lafia to canvass the support of the ALF for their ambition.

The meeting, hosted by Hassan Liman (SAN), was held at Investment Conference Hotel, Shendamu, Lafia.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of EBF, Kemasuode Wodu, thanked Arewa for their support and understanding among the three regional fora in the Bar. He introduced Wali (SAN) as the presidential candidate okayed by EBF. A reliable source at the meeting told The Nation that Emeka Ngige opposed this development, stating that the mode of Okey’s adoption was undemocratic.

The Eastern Bar hasd at its elders

• Hajiya Kwaku

• Wodu

Stories by John Austin Unachukwu

meeting on May 19, in Port Harcourt, adopted Wali as its presidential candidate pending the outcome of its earlier petition to the NBA president and the National Executive Committee (NEC), protesting the clause in the electoral guidelines,which prohibited regional adoption and endorsement of candidates for the forthcoming Bar election.

As a result of that provision, Ngige (SAN) wrote a letter to the NBA president and the media dissociating himself from regional/ ethnic adoptions. Rather, he said he would seek the support of lawyers to bring to reality his ambi-

• Chief Ochoga

tion.

However, the NBA at its Lokoja

• Wali (SAN)

• Ngige (SAN)

National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, May 24, removed the offensive guideline in response to EBF protest. But the EBF General Assembly at its general in Umuahia, Abia State on June 30, ratified the adoption of Wali (SAN) as its presidential candidate.

In Lafia, all the contestants present at the meeting chaired by the chairperson of Arewa Lawyers Forum, Hajiya Fatima Kwaku were allowed to address the meeting.

Thepresidentialcandidates were given 10 minutes each. Wali (SAN), Emeka Ngigie (SAN) and Blessing Ukiri addressed them .

Others, who addressed the meeting are Emeka Obegolu, O. O. Olowokure, Gbolahan Gbadamosi, Afam Obi, Joyce Oduah, UFO

Nnaemeka, Siyanbola Tutu, Gabriel Opayinka, Kelvin Ejelanu, Francis Ekwere, Awoniyi Alabi, Erhabor O. J. After the address, the chairperson thanked them for attending the meeting. She reminded them that power comes only from God. The meeting was attended by leaders and prominent members of the Arewa. They include VicePresident, Chief John Ochoja; J. S. Okutepa (SAN), Secretary to the Forum; Steve Abba, Senator Abubakar Sodangi, Chief Mamman Osuman (SAN), past president, Muslim Lawyers Association (MULAN), Tajudeen Oladoja, former General Secretary of the NBA, Ibrahim Eddy Mark, Linda Bala and Reuben James.

• Mrs Oluremi Akinola-Aguda; Adebola Akinola-Aguda; Omosalewa Fajobi; Prof Azinge (SAN); Prof Deji Adekunle and Prof Mike Ikhariale

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Ad vanced Legal Studies (NIALS) has created a memorabilia in honour of its pioneer Director-General, the Justice Akinola Aguda.

Items in the glass casing mounted at its University of Lagos, Akoka Campus, include books written by Aguda, his academic gown and hood, reading glasses and writing materials.

The institute’s Director-General Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) said Aguda deserved the honour because to he was a “legend” and a “scholar of repute.”

He said the memorabilia would inspire those who work at the institute and visitors to aim at the heights which Aguda reached.

NIALS had also named its School of Postgraduate Studies after Aguda.

Speaking at a short unveiling ceremony, Azinge said: “There is a fundamental aspect of our national anthem which I think we have come to appreciate, which is that the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain.

“Hon. Justice Aguda should be classified as one of the heroes of the legal profession, a man who made a mark not just in Nigeria, but in the whole of West Africa and, indeed, Africa.

“He was a scholar of high repute, a national merit award winner, and by the grace of God the first DirectorGeneral of NIALS. “For those of us who have stepped into the large shoes that he left behind, we know how hard he worked to build up the institute to the level that we found it, and we feel that we are

NIALS honours ex-DG Akinola Aguda

By Joseph Jibueze

indebted to him in many ways.

“Hence, we try to immortalise his legacies and the best way we could do that was to name the Akinola Aguda School of Postgraduate Studies after him. The school is the main foundation of the institute.

“But, in order to further show the respect and regard we have for him, we have dedicated this memorabilia – if we have to call it that, in his honour.

“As long as the institute would last, his LL.B gown, hood, hat, some of his publications, his eye glasses and pen will always be there for all to see.

“The essence is that all those who come to the institute and the staff will see it as a source of inspiration, a fountain from which we can all drink and draw from.

“This is so that those who are aspiring to be like Aguda tomorrow would see that the parameters are not as easy as it should be.

“It will also be an indication for all to work hard and to know that for you to accomplish in terms of publication the number of books he wrote and in terms of intellectual achievements all that he was able to achieve, it means that you have to sit down and work assiduously.

“Basically, this exercise is one that would remind us of his good works.

“But more significantly, it will always teach those who come to or work

in the institute that there was once a legend of our time who built up a reputation for himself and by extension for the institute and is somebody who is worthy of emulation, and we should continue to draw inspiration from his works.”

Justice Aguda’s widow, Oluremi, accompanied by his daughters – beautiful Adebola Akinola-Aguda and Omosalewa Fajobi - thanked the institute for the gesture.

In an emotional voice, she said by honouring her late husband, NIALS showed that his contributions were appreciated.

Referring to Azinge, she said: “We are deeply touched by this act. As you honour my late husband, those after you will also honour you.”

Aguda, who was born in 1923 and died in 2001, was also a former Chief Justice of Botswana. Prior to becoming Chief Justice, he was a lawyer and a High Court judge in the Western Region of Nigeria. He was the first indigenous African to head the position of Chief Justice in Botswana.

Throughout his legal career, he was known as a cerebral jurist and lawyer, who embraced radicalism especially during period of military rule in Nigeria. It is believed this may have resulted in his exclusion as a member of the Supreme Court.

Aguda was born in Akure. He studied at St David’s Primary School, Akure, for primary education and left

for the Government College, Ibadan for secondary education. Originally, he wanted to be a doctor or an engineer but his mind was not quite into chemistry, a crucial subject necessary to pass medical school.

He left medical school after the first year and tried teaching but on the advice of Obafemi Awolowo, he changed his mind and decided to enrol in a Law school.

He studied Law at the University of London, and was called to the bar in 1952.

After completing his studies, he entered private practice in the chambers of the distinguished Nigerian lawyer, Ayo Rosiji, but later transferred to the legal department of the Western Region of Nigeria, and became the Pupil Crown Counsel.

Soon thereafter, he was made Crown Counsel in 1955 and in 1968, he became the Acting Solicitor-General of the Western region.

On February 3, 1972, he was appointed the first African Chief Justice of Botswana. Concurrently, he was also a judge of the Court of Appeal of Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho.

After, leaving the Supreme Court in 1975, he returned to Nigeria and continued his judicial career as Chief Judge of Ondo State. In 1976, he was a leading member of the committee that recommended Abuja as the capital of Nigeria.

He retired from civil service in 1978 and became the director of the newly created NAILS. As director of NIALS, Aguda assumed a new role, as a critic of corruption and governance in Nigeria and Africa. To Aguda, the lack of thorough knowledge of judicial norms and precedents by the common African man or woman leads to the abuse of vital human rights by the government.

He believed the situation could be fuelled by poverty, which allowed many to rot in jails without due process or even a notice of trial as they do not have the money to get an astute lawyer or the connections to effect changes to their situation.

His defence of the right of suspects was a crucial issue that was prominent during his days as a judge. In 1968, in the case of Agbaje vs the Western Government of Nigeria, he wrote a comment that is still relevant in today’s Nigerian judicial system.

He said: “In a democracy like ours, even in spite of the national emergency in which we have been for the past three years, I hold the view that it is, to say the least, high-handed for the police to hold a citizen of this country in custody in various places for over 10 days without showing him the authority under which he is being held or at least informing him verbally of such authority.”

He also sought for removal of economic barriers in the criminal justice system, concurrently with a speedy trial and to put ‘omnipotent’ leaders under the law not above it.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

34

LAW & SOCIETY

Tambuwal, Odinkalu, others frown at violence against women

T

HE Speaker, House of Rep resentatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Chairman, National Human Rights Commission Prof.

Chidi Odinkalu, last week in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, condemned frequent violation of the rights of women and children.

They spoke at a one day conference on organised by the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) at Juanita Hotel, Port Harcourt.

The conference entitled: Sextortion focused on the abuse of power to obtain a sexual benefit or advantage. The topic of the conference was coined out of the sex and corruption.

The women condemned a situation where people who occupy position of authority and public trust sometimes abuse their power and seek to take advantage of those who are dependent on their favour.

They stated: “When the abuse of power involves a demand for sexual favours, we are renaming “it sextortion” in effect, sextortion is a form of corruption in which sex, rather than money is the currency of the bribe”

By John Austin Unachukwu

very robust, and all inclusive legislation, because we administer and interpreter these laws everyday and we know where the problems are. ‘’The experts will now advise them, we advise them together with the executive arm of government, the three arms of government. We should to set the ball rolling, address this problem and set the country on focus”.

• Amaechi

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State blamed the political class and high level of poverty in the country for the increasing number of violent crimes, militancy, Boko Haram and sextortion.

He urged the political class to provide a level playing field for all Nigerians to survive, so that average Nigerians on the street could develop and maximise their potential. He called on the legislature to criminalise laws that deny others the opportunity to bite the pie.

In her welcome address, the Chairman of the NAWJ, Justice Binta Nyako said: “Violence affects the rights of women to participate at all levels of community life both at home and outside the home.

“Though other people are aware of it, there is little they can do. We are aware of it and that is why we have assembled the executive, the legislature to assist find out a solution to it.”

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said the Bill on violence against Women and Children has reached advanced stage in the House. It remains for the Committee of the whole House to pass it into law.

In a chat with The Nation, Chairman National Association of women Judges, Justice Binta Nyako, said: “This is a very timely conference. I am sure that the outcome is going to move us forward because we have different experts from different places to discuss the various areas of concern in today’s conference.

By the end of the day, we are going to strengthen the national Assembly in coming out with a

The Executive Director, Project Alert on violence against Women, Dr. Josephine EffahChukwuma said: “It is a very timely conference in that this is being spearheaded by the National Association of Women Judges. When you are talking about violence against women, you are talking about the criminal Justice system.

“The suspects have to go through the police to the court and the judges are the ones there. So, there is a need for this sensitivity to this issue, this awareness to this issue, because judges give their rulings based on facts but then when you are insensitive to the issue, you are not even going to look out for the facts of the matter.

“It is a very important one, especially with child sexual abuse because,s which is seemingly on the increase because abused both in the homes and in the public”.

• Ahmed

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Dr. Ali Ahmed, said: ‘’This is a topical issue and it really coincides with the mood of the National Assembly.

“We have a bill there that is going on; you can see the synergy, whatever the communiqué that comes out here, will be coming out in good time. It will definitely syncronise with the Bill in Assembly so that in the end, we will have a robust legislation against violence, against physical and psychological violence both domestic and won domestic violence against our people”.

• Tambuwal

• Nyako

wonderful conference, the judiciary really need to get up to speed on this, the law enforcement agents generally, the police and it is gratifying to note that there is high level political support for it from the parliament from the executive from the state and I think that should be replicated at Federal level. Violence against women is a national security issue, It is also a population sustainability issue, a public health problem and I do think that it is long over due for serious attention.”

• Azinge

The Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced legal studies (NIALS) Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) said: “The topic is something that has not been thoroughly explored in the past and I am happy that it is coming up strongly. I am also happy that the National Assembly is already looking into it and that there is a bill to that effect, we believe that more information and flesh will be added to whatever is already on ground by this assembly.

“I believe that we have more than enough experts on the subject to give credence and credibility to the outcome of this conference”.

• Odinkalu

Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chidi Odinkalu, said: “This is a

• Effang-Chukwuma

• From left: Justice Uche Agomoh of Federal High Court; Justice R. Nwodo (JCA) and Justice Doris •Uduak Ekpo (left) and Ngozi Udombana at the event.

E. Adokeme at the event

• Uwais

Mrs Maryam Uwais said: “The conference is very timely, it is a good thing that the judges are beginning to understand what the issues are, to experience violence, and even all the sextortion that has been coined. It is rampant in our society that it seems to have become the norm, people take it for granted.

“Our culture, and some interpretations of religion actually encourage women to continue to stay put and sometimes when they go and report or decide to raise some issues in protest their situation, they only compound their problems. It is a good thing for people to understand that this is the problems that women face”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

35

LAW PERSONALITY

Female judges are not prone to corruption He is a former General Secretary and President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He is also a former president, African Bar Association (ABA). But 10 years ago, Chief Babatunde Olushola Benson retired from active legal practice after 50 years. In this interview with ADEBISI ONANUGA, he speaks on his life in the bar, corruption in the bench and NBA politics.

T

HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) has questioned the quality and integrity of judges. What is your take on this?

Really, it is not for them to sit on the citadel and start criticising themselves because he was part of it all the way. I knew him as a young lawyer, getting to the stage where he is now. I think what people should do is try and say, “okay, fine, we should try and improve on it. There is nowhere they are perfect.

Somewhere in the old Russian state, a judge was sentenced for taking bribe some 10 years ago. So, it is not new anywhere, we only have to improve on it There are allegations about judiciary officers being corrupt?

The question of corruption or inefficiency in any of our aspect of life is not particularly confined to Nigeria. I agree that we have been in it for some time but we are improving. I can tell you that in Lagos State, when we started appointing women judges, things were improved. Now you just don’t go onto the bench, I have seen some of their profiles, they are fantastic. Ladies run away from this type of a thing. You will find it very difficult to corrupt a lady judge.

Are you suggesting that they should look more in the direction of female judges than the male counterparts?

I would vote for that, not because I am a father of a judge, but I have seen from time that when a woman is in charge of any affair, they handle it better than the men.

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) have been handling many corruption and fraud cases. How do you see their performance?

Really, if you look at the EFCC, then operativers are policemen. What of the boss there? The last woman was a highly placed police officer. Ribadu was a highly placed officer. The man there now is also, a police officer. So, if you think that the government should bring special people there, it doesn’t stop them from being inefficient. Let me put it that way. If you look into the set up of these bodies, they are made up of people who are already on that line.

Ali Mazrui for lecture

• Mazrui

A LAW firm Aelex Legal Practitioners will hold its Eighth Annual Lecture on July 25, 2012 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The event entitled: This house must not fall: Constitutional reform and the people’s will, will be chaired by retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Kayode Eso. Expected as guest speaker is eminent social scientist and founder, Institute of Global Cultural Studies (IGCS), Prof Ali Mazrui.

Discussants at the lecture will include veteran journalist and member of the 1989 Constitutional Conference, Dr. Haroun Adamu, executive officer, Economic Associates (EA) and member of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) Dr. Ayo Teriba, as well as Founder/ President, Agape Birthrights Organisation, Chief Ann-kio Briggs.

The lecture started in 2005 to commemorate the formation of the law firm on July 1, 2004, which was borne out of a merger of four leading law firms with diversified practice areas.

Of late, the bodies are being criticised because of the way they conduct their activities. While bank chiefs are exposed to the media, they keep top politicians away from the media. For example, when Bukola Saraki was invited to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU).

What is your comment?

In the first case, it is wrong for you to parade suspects because what the law says is that people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. So, it is wrong for any law enforcement agent to parade any suspect, which is what they are doing and they do all that to show that they are working. They are not. In the case of bank chiefs, they exposed them to the media and they were able to ask questions from them. But in the case of the politicians, they hide them from the media, they put the journalist in a room and before long, the politician is gone. A man cannot defend himself just in the air because he is entitled to be defended by a legally trained person. If you say I stole a biro and I saw the biro on the road, and I picked it. Look at the defence that is opened to that. Firstly, I can say that it was abandoned. The accused person or the suspect would not know. What we called Rex derelicter. If, for instance, my compound is swept and this biro is swept along with it and put down in the refuse, it means I have abandoned it. Rex derelicter. If somebody‘s else should pick it, then he cannot steal it because it has been abandoned by the owner. Then you asked a newspaper man to come and interview him and he said I saw it in the dump and then they said he stole it.

This is not fair.

How do you see the state of affairs in the country against the background of the fuel subsidy scandal?

It is because people are without honour. If it were to be in another country, the Minister of Petroleum ought to have resigned. But we don’t resign on such a thing here. Look at the head of state. The head of a state in Europe, his wife took a loan from a body. He did not know about it at all. But the person who gave the loan was his friend. When the issue was brought, the parliament said, “no, you didn’t know anything about it. You cannot go! The man took his stand and said this is related to my wife; he left the government. Would Nigerians leave the government like that? They wouldn’t. So many things that they ought have left. Look at the capital market enquiry?

Look at the last chairman who was said to have taken money and he admitted taking N5million and he said we did not ask for N39million, that he just offered it to help the Senate. What should he have done? So, they ought to have resigned. But we don’t resign in this country. We just sit down there, until the Senate said no, no, don’t spoil our name, step aside. There is a new slogan. They said, ‘do the right thing’. So let’s hope that they would do the right thing.

Earlier, President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly said he might not prosecute those indicted in the report of the House of Representatives Committee on Fuel Subsidy.

He was right because the panel of the house was fact finding. If a lawyer should go there to crossexamine any of them, they would collapse. We have what we call, in law, that you must prove the case before reasonable doubt.

All you need to put in is just ‘a doubt’. So, before anybody can prosecute what they have said in the National Assembly enquiry, it must be beyond reasonable doubt. They also agree that this thing must go to the judiciary.

You just can’t go and prosecute them. You give it to the Police and they will look into it. Then the Police will say we want to ask for advice from the Ministry of Justice to determine whether they can prosecute or not. You can imagine one governor going back to the Supreme Court to file a suit that only five judges sat instead of seven. What did they tell him? They told him it is an academic exercise that it has come down to. When we were hearing the case, you didn’t object to five people hearing your case, but because it didn’t favour you, you are complaining. So, they told him it is an academic exercise.

The Oronsanye Panel recommended the scrapping or merger of the EFCC, Independent Coruupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau(CCB). Do you agree with it?

Before you sit on a panel, or such body and

‘The question of corruption or inefficiency in any of our aspect of life is not particularly confined to Nigeria. I agree that we have been in it for some time but we are improving. I can tell you that in Lagos State, when we started appointing women judges, things were improved’

•Chief Olushola

you recommend that this should be scrapped, you state your fact. For instance, I saw a lawyer suing EFCC for fees for cases he has done - N341million! Maybe he has completed only one, two, three or four cases. The government is going to pay for all that. I don’t know what facts Oronsanye had, but I am sure if you look into it, he is such an experienced autocrat that he would put it there that this body was set up for this long and they have not done anything worthwhile. So, he would have his reasons for making the recommendations he made.

What is your perception of legal education in Nigeria?

It is beautiful, it is fine. We have always been in it and it has been reviewed from time to time and it is going to continue to be reviewed. When I qualified, I qualified with what is called Barrister at Law. I didn’t do any degree, BL or LLB. Now, even in England, you must do you degree first before you go and do BL. It is the same thing here now and I think we have put in more years, But it is being reviewed every year and there is more specialisation. So, the review is there, it’s bound to be.

Corruption is a monster in the country.

How we can tame it?

It is by doing the right thing. Look at Ibori, will he come back to that type of thing again?

He didn’t know that that would take course.

Look at the money he spent travelling, hiding here and there. If we do the right thing here and the judges serve right, sentence them, corruption would come down.

Would you okay the removal of the immunity clause in the constitution to stem corruption?

I wouldn’t. Once it is only for the period where you are. Take for instance, one woman president of a country in Europe. What she did 10 years ago, she was sent to prison for seven years. That woman claimed that she was on hunger strike. When he was in office, you allow him to enjoy that immunity because if you don’t, you will disrupt a number of things. Their term is only for four years, let them be there. Didn’t Ibori had immunity? Did he carry it over? No, of course not.

The same thing for Gbenga Daniel. So, if you say no, you will find what we called activists. They will disrupt the whole place. They would file action and say they cannot continue.They would get injunction against them.Let them finish, let them do all their mess. When they finish, gbam, you get them to face the law.

The National Assembly is set to review the constitution. But people are saying it is not in their place to do it. Do you agree?

When I saw it, I laughed. I said, what is wrong in it? You would see American constitution, amendment 200. It is done by their assembly there and when they do it, it must be sent for referendum. Whether the consti-

tution provides for that, it is a different thing.

It is for us lawyers to take it up and say they must go for referendum and if they don’t take it to court, the court would say it is necessary. You can’t review the constitution for us without we having hands in it.

The NBA will go for elections soon. But some lawyers are calling for a review of its constitution. As a former President of the NBA, which areas will you suggest for review?

The constitution of the NBA has been reviewed several times. When Chief Williams was our President, he was there for nine years. So, we the younger ones, we said how come, one man holding an office for nine years? So, we brought a motion at the conference and reviewed it that you cannot be there for more than two years. So, I was the first President. When I became the first President after that incident. I was there for two years, and a review was carried out and this was in 1978 and I left in 1980, which was more than enough. In Nigeria, we always have sit-tight ministers. Sit-tight ministers have been there since the time of Bode Thomas. The common belief is: ‘If there is no provision for you to go, why do you want to go?’Even when there was provision, Obasanjo was going to be there for the third term; if they haven’t shouted at him and I am sure Ebele is looking at it now. He is saying after all, I haven’t done my second term. So, it is there and I think they have so much reviewed their constitution and it is working very well for them. I think before the end of June, all nominations must go in. But once your nomination has not gone in, you cannot contest. I don’t know the other positions they have.

Would you support the separation of the office the Minister for Justice from AttorneyGeneral ?

I don’t think I would. Because, you see, it is still the ministry of Justice. You have the attorney-General and he is the chief executive of the Ministry. The minister of Justice is the political head of that ministry. So, there is no need for it. If you split it, it is just job for the boys. That is the way I look at it. When the late Kehinde Sofola was made AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, they brought a motion in the National Assembly for that office to be split. The following month, he resigned. So, they quickly take it back and said don’t let us start on that because you will now have a politician who will be direction a professional. Whereas, if it is the same person, you will know what to do.

There has been a lot of talk about corruption in the judiciary and we have not seen the Chief Justice of Nigeria prosecuting any judge for corruption?

The Chief Justice of Nigeria cannot prosecute.

The Chief Justice would report to Director of Public Prosecution, who would prosecute. I know of a judge, I am not going to mention the name, who immediately the file was got hold of, he was prosecuted. I know of another judge who was removed from office. I won’t mention his name.

He is still alive today. So, there are some of them, but sometimes, awon kii ri awon yen.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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LAW & SOCIETY

How Ogun PDP leaders walked their way to prison

T

HE unending crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) claimed its first set of major casualties last week, when a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced three of the party’s chieftains to six months imprisonment for flouting its orders.

Those ordered by Justice Charles Archibong, to be remanded include Chief Ireti Oniyide, Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye (now media aide to Agriculture Minister, Dr Akin Adesina) and Hon Faisiu Bakenne (claiming to be principal officer of a purported Caretaker Committee of the party in the state).

Their remand order came as a culmination of the legal battle to which parties to the Ogun PDP crisis had engaged themselves since August 2009 when the the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party decided to dissolve the state’s Executive Committee led by Joju Fadairo and set up a harmonised structure, comprising the main factions of the party in the state.

It was learnt that by agreement among major factions of the party, a Harmonised Executive Committee led by Dayo Soremi emerged, but was later confronted with heightened opposition from factions that found it difficult to subject themselves to the party’s new leadership.

Bothered by the development, the Dayo Soremi committee to approach the Federal High Court, Lagos via Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1138/2009, praying the court, among others, to decide whether or not it was the party’s authentic management body in the state.

In its judgment on September 21, 2010, the court presided over by Justice Okechukwu Okeke established the legality of the Soremi-led

By Eric Ikhilae

Harmonised Executive and mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP to accord it (the plaintiff) recognition as such.

The court further restrained INEC and the PDP from according “any recognition whatsoever” to any other organ, officers or members of the party in the state that seeks to supplant the said Harmonised Executive Committee.

This decision by the court, which ought to form the barometer by which the legality of the PDP structure in the state was to be measured since then, because a Federal High Court, in Abuja presided over by Justice Abdul Kafarati, on the March 3, 2011 in an action Commenced by Chief Adetunji Olurin and five others against INEC and PDP in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/28/2011, confirmed the subsistence of the order of the Justice Okeke judgment of September 21, 2010.

The court, on that premise, nullified the primaries conducted by the Joju Fadairo group and ordered INEC to use only the list of candidates that emerged from the primaries conducted by the Soremi-led Harmonised Executive Committee, including Chief Adetunji Olurin and Senator Iyabo Obasanjo.

With the Abuja court’s decision, the party and its members in Ogun experienced an interregnum until late in 2011 when the party’s national secretariat announced its timetable for nationwide congresses to elect new leaders of the party across the country.

The struggle for power among the contending forces in the party ignited another round of hostilities, prompting the Soremi committee to return

•Bakenne

•Oniyide

•Oladunjoye

to the Federal High Court, in a court suit in which it sought the court’s answer to the main question as to whether the PDP could act in the manner it was doing in view of the order of the Federal High Court of September 21, 2010 as confirmed by the judgment by Justice Kafarati J. The Federal High Court on January 27, this year delivered its judgment in the Suit with No. FHC/L/CS/ 1248/2011 and answered the question in favour of Soremi Committee. It held that the plaintiffs were the only organ of the PDP that could conduct congresses in Ogun State for the PDP and restrained the PDP, other organs, officers and members of the PDP from usurping that function, circumventing the Soremi- led Executive or using any other register of members other than that compiled by them.

Buoyed by the judgment the Soremi Exco conducted congresses for the state’s PDP, from which congress the Adebayo Dayo-led Executive Committee emerged. Allegedly acting on some external influences, the party’s Southwest Zonal Executive and the National Executive of the PDP were said to have refused to recognise the Adebayo Dayo executive.

This development prompted another suit with No. FHC/L/CS/347/ 2012 in which the Adebayo Dayo-led Exco asked the court to answer the question whether they were not validly elected in view of the judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1248/2011.

The court presided over by Justice Charles Archibong, in its judgment on May 2, this year answered the question in favour of the plaintiffs and

ordered the PDP to accept them as its officers in Ogun State and not to relate with the party in the state except through the officers that emerged from the congresses conducted at ward, local government and state levels including Chief Adebayo Dayo as state chairman.

There was a little lull in the infighting until the announcement of the timetable for the state Local Government elections, a development that heightened tension and the struggle of the contending faction for the control of the party and the state’s election machineries.

Rather than act objectively, the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) allegedly prompted from Abuja, aligned with a faction and purportedly declined to recognise the Adebayo Dayo-led EXCO despite being aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/347/2012.

Bothered by the electoral body’s actions, the Dayo EXCO sued OGSIEC at the state’s High Court, Abeokuta and sought to compel OGSIEC to comply with the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/ 347/2012.

OGSIEC responded by filing an affidavit in which it admitted being aware of the judgment, but declared that it had decided that it would not comply with the said order since it was not a party to that suit and so not bound by the judgment A caretaker committee allegedly established to rival the Dayo EXCO filed an application to be joined in the case as PDP. In the application

they also admitted that they were aware of the order, but having been appointed as the caretaker committee of the party were the appropriate organ to send a list of party candidates for the Local Government elections.

Upon receiving these affidavits the Dayo Exco decided to discontinue the suit and to use the affidavits and the admission as the basis of a committal proceeding against the officers of OGSIEC and the members of the Caretaker Committee for criminal contempt consisting of the conspiracy to subvert the judgment of the federal High Court thereby interfering /obstructing the administration of justice.

On June 25, the national leadership of the party got an order by the Court of Appeal, Lagos staying execution of the January 27, 2011 judgment. The court also stayed proceedings in all the contempt proceedings that arose from the alleged violation of the said judgment.

The Court of Appeal’s ruling was to subsist pending the determination of the main appeal by the PDP and its national leaders.

The appellants are, in their main appeal, challenging the jurisdiction of the lower court to have given the judgment in a case challenging the activities of a political party that is not a government agency.

Realising that the Court of Appeal ‘s order was on a separate case, the Dayo EXCO proceeded with their committal application, resulted in the July , 4 2012 in which the members of the Caretaker Committee were committed to prison for criminal contempt.

How labour laws can boost employee-employer relations Author: Prof Chioma Kanu Agomo Reviewer: Adejoke O. Oyewunmi No. of Pages: 384 Publisher: Concept Publications Ltd, Lagos Date of Publication: 2011

A

N understanding of the laws regulating the interactions between human beings in the private workplace is germane to the smooth running of organisations in public and private sectors. This is because of the importance of workers in promoting socio-economic well-being, industrial peace, harmony and peaceful co-existence in and outside work.

It is against this background that the book entitled: Nigerian Employment and Labour Relations Law and Practice by Prof Chioma Kanu Agomo is welcome to the reportoire of legal texts available on the subject of employment and labour laws in Nigeria.

The 384-page book, made up of 19 chapters and an appendix, was published last year by Concept Publications Limited, Lagos.

The objective: to "serve as a veritable resource material to a wide range of stakeholders ... looking for current information on Nigerian law and practice."

The book is divided into two main parts. Part one, made up of 12 chapters, deals with employment law and formation of contracts of employment, duties and obligations of the parties, vunerable groups, health and safety and termination of contracts of employment. Part Two’s seven chapters focus on collective labour relations - trade unions, collective bargaining, industrial action and settlement of industrial disputes.

Chapter One has an introduction, which highlights the multidimensional nature of labour as encompassing human resource management, economics, sociology, pyschology, politics, medicine and law, but limits its scope to legal aspects.

It provides an overview of the history and sources of Nigerian labour law and other fundamentals, including the distinction between employees and contractors and the triangular employment in the light of common law, statutory provisions, which refers to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) concept of decent work.

Chapter Three discusses children and young persons, women, persons living with HIV/AIDS,

workers with disabilities and informal sector workers.

Chapter Four deals with employment of public servants and their special status in relation to termination of employment which has become quite topical in view of the 1981 Supreme Court decision in the landmark case of Shitta Bey v Federal Civil Service Commision. Chapters Five and Six deal on implied rights and obligations of the parties under contracts of employment,while Chapter Seven examines the vexed issue of the extent to which employees can be said to have security of tenure under Nigerian law.

It examines the position on suspension and dismissal of employees for misconduct and crime.The chapter, which also includes an examination of the legal status of an employee, ends with an insight into the new path being charted by the National Industrial Court (NIC) to provide suitable remedies for wrong termination.

Chapters Nine and 10 dwell on health, safety and welfare; Chapter Nine discusses the common law, highlighting the nature and extent of the obligations of employers to ensure the safety of his employees and the defence available to such employers under the Factories' Act. Chapter 11 analyses employees' welfare and social security; the repealed Workmen's Compensation Act, and the newly promulgated Employees Compensation Act 2010. It highlights the novel provisions of the latter statue, and possible challenges of implementation, especially the almost exclusive role of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund and the exclusion of the National Insurance Commission. It brings to light certain inconsistencies in the new Act. Chapter 12 concludes the discourse on employment by looking at occupational diseases under various laws, including the limited safeguards in the Factories' Act and the Employees' Compensation Act. ILO regards standards and agenda on employment injury benefits and decent work, and its important role in harmonising policy development on occupational diseases is emphasised. The chapter highlights the main features of the yetto-be promulgated Labour Standards Bill of 2008.

Other issues in the chapter include reproductive health in the workplace and social security.

On the latter, it examines the extent to which Nigeria could be said to have social protection in

the light of the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention No 102 of 1952. It also examined the Pension Reform Act and the Nigerian Social Insurance Fund Act, among others.

Part two of the book focuses on employment and labour laws. Chapters 13 and 14 examine trade unionism in Nigeria, while Chapter 13 traces the evolution of trade unions. Chapter 14 discusses the legal framework for their formation and regulation. The book highlights constitutional and statutory provisions governing the formation of trade unions, its membership and funding, as well as the scope and limits of the right to associate. It examines the link between trade unions and the law of tort.

Chapter 15 analyses collective bargaining and agreements, including the legal status of collective agreements. This is particularly important, as the failure to understand its fundamentals, and to bring Nigeria law and practice in line with international standards have given rise to some of the most disruptive industrial conflicts in vital sectors, including the educational and health sectors.

Chapter 17 discusses the transition from a government policy of non-interference in the pre1968 era to the compulsory dispute settlement process as response to wartime challenges.

Chapters 18 examines the National Industrial Court (NIC) and its composition; Chapter 19 highlights novel provisions of the NIC and the farreaching Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Third Alteration Act), 2010 on the pertaining to composition and appointment of judges, among others.

The book ends with an appendix, which reproduces the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Third Alteration Act), 2010 and the NIC Act of 2006.

The author has provided an up-to-date, succint analysis of the laws governing labour and employment relations in Nigeria, which encompass individual and collective aspects. She presents a balanced approach to an examination of labour law, tracing its evolution, and bringing users up to date with brilliant analysis of statutory and case law developments, while projecting into the future. The language is very clear and lucid. The work is well-structured and easy to read.

What, however, sets it apart is its timeliness, coming at a time as a wind of change is blowing

across the law and practice of labour relations in Nigeria. The text, therefore, uniquely brings its readers up-to-date developments in the law.

What is more, a further distinguishing factor is its examination of the law and practice of labour law in Nigeria in the light of international standards, which have become more relevant than ever before in view of the expanded jurisdiction of the NIC on unfair labour practices and international best practices.

This book, therefore, fills the vacuum in previous texts, and for this reason, it is a most welcome and timely contribution to existing knowledge in the field. Indeed, one can say that the close to the three decades experience of the author as a teacher and consultant in labour law have been brought to bear in the high quality of the research and writing that went into the production of the text.

The publishers deserve commendation for its excellent production. I highly recommend it to my fellow teachers, judges, lawyers, students and the public.

•Dr Oyewunmi is a Senior Lecturer, Commercial and Industrial Law, University of Lagos

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW NEWS

•Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Prof Mahmood Yakubu (middle); National President, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, Dr Nasir Isa (right) and his predecessor, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie during the visit of the union’s leadership PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE to TETFund headquarters in Abuja.

•From left: Wife of Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Appolonia Petirin; wife of Minister of Interior, Mrs Jane Moro and former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih at the maiden peace summit of the Civil Defence Officers’ Wives Association (CDOWA), Abuja

•From left: DIG ‘F’ Department, Mr Atiku Kafur; Head, GLO Public Sector and Right of Way, Mr Tunde Amunikoro and the representative of Acting IGP, Mr Kachi Udeoji at the inauguration of Police Cooperative Communication Network in Abuja

•Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty on Niger Delta, Prince Kingsley Kuku (right); Director of Finance and Admin. Amnesty office, Mr Peter Ayoola and Special Assistant, Special Duties to the Special Adviser, Mr Henry Ugbolue during a meeting between the House Committee on Niger Delta and the Amnesty Office on budget performance at the National Assembly complex

•From left: Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, Chief Keith Richards; former Director-General, Mathematical Centre, Prof Sam Ale; Executive Director, Raph Adeoti and Divisioner Sales Manager South, Chimezie Hallyday during the 2012 Cowbell Mathematics PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN competition award ceremony held in Abuja

•From left: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. M. B. A. Okoronkwo; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenese; Registrar, Mrs Josephine Akinyemi and the Bursar, Sir Monday Onyeme at a news conference on the activities of the University of Abuja.

•From left: Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Vice President, Global Accounts and Cloud Enterprises Group, Germany, Mr Oliver Suinat; Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, and Chief Executive Officer, SAIPEM, Italy, Mr Pietro Tali at the 12th meeting of the Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC) in Abuja

•From left: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina; Director of Rehabilitation, Mrs Mercy Daudu and Permanent Secretary, Mrs Esther Adeyemi in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

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TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

ABUJA REVIEW

•The Presidential Villa

F

OR good or ill, life at the Presidential Villa is seldom dull.

For instance, President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent outburst on a live programme, the Presidential Media Chat, stirred things up a bit.

He had declared, “I don’t give a damn,” when asked what the people would feel about his refusal to declare his assets.

The president had insisted that he was not going to play to the gallery by making public his assets.

He further said the last time he declared his assets was during his vice presidency but was due to pressure.

He said he he was not going to cave in to such pressure this time around since the process was personal.

Many had described the president’ statement as unpresidential but that has not removed the fact that the week was very eventful as the President continued where he stopped in the business of wielding the big stick.

This time around, it was the entire management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that the president sent packing. The Steve Oniwon-led team was sacked and in its place, a new one was constituted under the leadership of Andrew Yakubu. He had done the same the upper week shortly after his arrival from Brazil sacking the former NSA, Owoye Azazi and Minister of Defence, Haliru Bello. He had explained that it was part of tactical change in the battle to halt the activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Though many saw the sack of the NNPC egghead as a belated one, it was well celebrated given the revelations from the House of Representatives adhoc committee probe on the management of subsidy funds.

It would be recalled that the tenure of the former NNPC boss expired last year but the president decided to extend it until the big hammer came down on last Tuesday.

Dr. Reuben Abati, the president’s spokesman had explained through a press statement issued

From the Presidential Villa

By Vincent Ikuomola

to announce the sack that the action was part of the new beginning the president had planned for the oil and gas sector as it was meant to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s Petroleum sector. Besides he stated that it was in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government.

The hurricane also so the coming on board of Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti - Group Executive Director (Fi-

nance and Accounts); Engr. Abiye Membere - Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production); Dr. Peter S. Nmadu - Group Executive Director (Corporate Services); Engr. Anthony Ogbuigwe - Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals); Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf - Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments); Dr. David Ige - Group Executive Director (Gas & Power).

President Jonathan has also approved the appointment of Engr.

Victor Briggs as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Petro-

The EFCC is working on the report, so we must give them the chance to do their job. We have to build water-tight cases if we hope to get any conviction for any wrongdoing, and the law demands proof

leum Development Company (NPDC).

The President also call for patience with oil subsidy report Despite the criticism that greeted his trip to Brazil, President Jonathan departed the country precisely 96 hours after returning from Rio Di Jeneiro where he went to attend a United Nations (UN) summit on Environment. This time it was Brussel, Belgium where he delivered a keynote address to the 119th/120th Sessions of the World Customs Organization.

Shortly after his address he met with the Nigerians resident in Belgium asked that the anti-graft agencies should be given time to investigate the scandal so as to establish water-tight cases against those who may have committed offences warranting being charged to court.

“The EFCC is working on the report, so we must give them the chance to do their job. We have to build water-tight cases if we hope to get any conviction for any wrongdoing, and the law demands proof”,

he said, adding that it was better to do a good job than to lose the cases in court due to shoddy preparations. He urged Nigerians, including the media, not to consistently run the country down. “Take a look at the USA: after September 11, 2001, all Americans came together to support their government’s fight against terrorism, regardless of their political leaning”, he said, adding that Nigerians should not play to the gallery or play politics with serious national issues. “We will continue to ensure our freedom of speech, but we should use it to build the country, not destroy”, he advised.

President Jonathan also called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to join the transformation agenda by investing in industries at home to create jobs, noting that many developed countries have reached this position because their citizens resident outside have gone back to invest there.

The President spoke on other issues, including the NHIS, economic growth, free and fair elections, electricity supply and national security.

In his brief remarks, Nigeria’s ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Felix Awankor, said the Nigerians in Belgium were well behaved.

Building plans to get e-copy

H

ENCEFORTH, all applicants submitting building plans seeking for approval in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will have to accompany them with both hard and soft ecopies of such plans.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said in Abuja that the new policy has become necessary to fast track all the processes of building plan approval on record time by the FCT Development Control Department.

Senator Mohammed revealed that the FCT Administration is already partnering with the NIGCOMSAT as the staff are being trained to synchronise and invigorate the e-vetting of such building plans, while also pursuing monitoring of on-going development real time in the years ahead.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

The Minister further revealed that with the recent publication of 435 abandoned buildings scattered across the Federal Capital City, the response has been very encouraging as many owners of such structures have come to re-validate their building plans and subjecting same

to integrity tests with the aim of either completing, reinforcing or removing them.

Meanwhile a Task Force has been set up to re-validate their plans within a very short period of time, he added.

According to him, the FCT Administration is thinking of commercializing the construction waste in the Federal Capital City

Senator Mohammed assured that his administration will continue to embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign to carry all the residents as well as the stakeholders along in all its policies and programmes

because most developers either leave construction wastes on the road corridors/walk ways or dump such wastes in undesirable locations like green areas, sewer lines and/or flood plains.

Senator Mohammed assured that his administration will continue to embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign to carry all the residents as well as the stakeholders along in all its policies and programmes.

He appreciated the cooperation being given to the Administration by the Ona of Abaji, Chief of Jiwa, Chief of Garki as well as Local Chiefs of villages along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway (Airport Road) which has fostered sound community relations to get rid of all the illegal structures and shanties along that route.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

EDO 2012 Edo State governorship election will hold on Saturday. Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on conditions for a free and fair election which the electoral commission must safeguard to ensure success.

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HE die is cast between the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday. In the ring are Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his challenger, PDP’s Charles Airhiahbere, a retired Army officer. The puzzle is: Will the electoral commission live to expectation?

Much is expected of the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof. Atahiru Jega, which since 2011, seems to have halt the trend of malpractices that had often characterised general elections in the country. Eyes are on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam, and his team across the local government areas.

The governorship election poses peculiar challenges. Critics of the electoral process have pointed out that turbulent governorship polls have contributed to the fragility of democracy in the country. The reason, in their view, is that state governments are closer to the people than the distant federal government.

The governorship election is holding this year in Edo State because INEC did not do a thorough work in 2007 when it declared the PDP candidate, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, winner of the governorship poll, instead of the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leader, Oshiomhole.

Fear of rigging Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chaired by Prof. Attahiru Jega announced plans to hold the governorship poll in the state, there have been allegations and counter-allegations from the ACN and PDP chieftains. As they stay glued to the drawing board, politicians on both divides can only sleep with one eye closed.

Generally, campaigns have been rancorous.

Few politically motivated killings have made the electorate jittery. The governor’s convoy has been attacked and, once, an accident that claimed lives of journalists and landed security details in the hospital has been attributed to attempts to frighten the governor off the stage.

Governor Oshiomhole’s private secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, was brutally murdered by suspected assassins. Media war has also heightened the peculiar tension associated with periodic electioneering. However, allegations about planned rigging have also unsettled Edo at this critical moment.

Last week, the reported decision of the federal governmnt to deploy troops was the subject of political dispute in the state. Residents of Benin, the capital, and major towns, claimed that soldiers from the 4th Brigade were parading the streets. To analysts, this may create fear into the voters who may decide to shun the poll.

Two months ago, ACN Publicity Secretary Dan Owegie, cried out that PDP leaders had manipulated the voter registration. The party said that the Police looked the other way instead of apprehending a PDP member who had allegedly captured the data capturing machine. PDP chairman Dan Orbih fired back, saying that ACN was crying wolf and fueling unnecessary sentiment. He said the ruling party, rather than the opposition, was behind the planned rigging. ACN and PDP had also traded accusations over violence associated with campaigns in few locations. Other mushroom parties have kept sealed lops over the allegation, although they told INEC that fake electoral results would be rejected.

Past electoral pitfalls Observers contend that the fear of rigging is justified by past experience. In 2007, ACN was about to celebrate victory when the mandate was transferred from the winner to the loser.

Promptly, the battle shifted from the ballot box to the court room where both parties were locked in protracted litigations spanning more than a year. During the period, Osunbor illegally held forte as governor, until the stolen mandate was retrieved.

To ACN, this past mistake should not be repeated in the interest of democracy. “We are

objections to some lapses on the part of INEC. These included late accreditation and voting in many centers in many states. Late arrival of voting materials discouraged people who returned home in frustration without casting their ballot. In several places, voters also returned home without voting because their names were not found in the voters’ register.

Avoiding violence

• Oshiomhole

• Airhiavbere

Mistakes INEC must avoid in Edo at alert and we are monitoring the process to ensure that the right thing is done throughout the critical electoral processes. The rigging of 2007 should not repeat itself to avoid inflicting political and psychological pains on the patriotic and innocent voters”, said Cephas Mayaki, an aide to the governor.

“The onus is on INEC. It is another litmus test for the commission. We look forward to a successful election, if the conditions for free and fair elections are met by INEC. The people of Edo should have the liberty to vote and their vote must count”, he added.

Many electoral monitors are of the view that, if INEC sustains it improved capacity for restoring public confidence in the electoral process, there would be no cause for alarm on Saturday. Following the its performance in the 2011 general elections, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief. In other supplementary elections that followed in Sokoto, Cross River, Kogi, and Akwa Ibom, including the scattered state and federal parliamentary elections in isolated places, there were minimal complaints by defeated candidates. According to the Transition Monitoring Committee (TMG), the drastic reduction in the number of litigations arising from the general elections shows that INEC has turned a new leaf.

As part of its preparations for the exercise, Jega, who is scheduled to meet the various stakeholders in this state this week, is going to supervise the election. It is borne out of the belief that stakeholders, particularly politicians with partisan interests, traditional rulers, security agencies and voters, must cooperate with INEC to get to the desired goal.

Already, the REC had told reporters that the commission is ready to conduct a hitch-free poll. Electoral materials, he said, have been arriving, adding that they were kept with the state branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safe custody. He also assured that the electoral laws would be held sacrosanct.

Conditions for a credible poll Owegie, who spoke with reporters in BeninCity, observed that it is not difficult to conduct a free and fair election, if INEC is impartial.”The true condition for a successful election is the avoidance of pitfalls that discredited the 2007 election”, he said.

Instructively, INEC, due to negligence and

institutional mistake, had to cancel the first leg of the general elections last year. Many had argued that, If the general elections were not postponed, it would have resulted into an avoidable electoral calamity. However, Owegie said this particular episode, which created tension, should be avoided. “The only way ti go about it is for INEC to prepare well and do a thorough job in the interest of democracy”, added the ACN chieftain.

Electoral security One of the critical issues is electoral security. Since INEC may still deploy members of the NationalYouth Service Corps (NYSC) to polling booths to serve as ad hoc officers, there is the need to reassure them that they are safe on national assignment. In addition, TMC led by Moshood Erubami said measures should be put in place to prevent the manipulation of the youths by self-serving politicians bent on perpetrating electoral crime.

Also, it has been observed that elections are usually manipulated, not at voting stage, but at the level of collation of votes. That was why the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Vice Presidential candidate in the 2011 election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, warned that election may be free, and yet, unfair. He attributed this to the penchant for doctoring results, which is at variance with the doctrine of “one man, one vote”. “There is a difference between free election and fair election. Voting may go on very well, but after voting, there could still be fraud. While election, as experience has shown in this dispensation, has been free at the level of voting and counting at the polling booths, it can be fraudulent at the level of collation of results at the collation centers”, he said.

It is an understatement. A flawed election, just like free and fair poll, is a joint enterprise involving INEC, unscrupulous politicians, over-zealous and compromised security agents, and INEC staff. The Osun and Ekiti experience of 2007 validated the claim by plaintiffs in court that multiple voting, falsification of results, thuggery, violence and declaration of fake results are only possible through the connivance of the critical stakeholders.

In 2007 and 2011, electoral observers raised

According to civil society groups, which are participating in the monitoring of the Saturday poll, thuggery and violence, which characterised the campaigns in some places, can mar the exercise. The burden, said the Council of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO), is on the police and other security agents working in concert with INEC. The group’s spokesman, Gabriel Fubara, told reporters that it was assessing the security dimension of the election in 13 local governments. “We have also enjoined INEC to remain committed and focused in ensuring a transparent, free and fair election”, he said.

Another electoral observer, Emma Ezeazu, lamented that Nigeria is slow from putting behind it the hurdles associated with constitutional change of government and orderly transfer of power from one civilian authority to another across the states. “That is why we cannot have a uniform governorship timetable across the federation”, he pointed out.

Ezeazu however, believed that electoral pollution is avoidable in Edo, if all actors learn by the mistakes of the past. “The solution is that all actors should play by the rules of the game. All the politicians, policemen, ad hoc staff and collation officers should abide by the rule”, added the Allianvce for Credible Election (ACE) secretary, who added: “Electoral violence has its roots in rigging and that is why a bad election should be avoided in Edo State”.

The election monitor also said that police and other security agents should not sleep on guard, so that they can foil any likely foul play. He advised them to shun bribery, prevent the invasion of polling stations by paid thugs, snatching of ballot boxes, maiming and killing and unleashing of terror of various forms.

Other stakeholders have also implored President Goodluck Jonathan to assist in defending democracy and ballot box in Edo State.

Traditional rulers and religious leaders, who were at the INEC/Stakeholders meeting enjoined the President to insist on a credible election, although he has a vested interest as the national leader of the PDP. ACN chieftains share the same opinion.

“President Jonathan has been preaching about rule of law, due process and transformational agenda. he should transform the electoral process first. He should remember that lack of credible election created a hollow in the record of former President Obasanjo. He should know that the do-or-0die approach is old-fashioned. It can only dent the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations”, said Owegie.

TMG, which is more concerned about the elements of the electoral procedure, charged INEC to to guard against the late arrival of electoral officers and polling materials, shortage of ballot boxes and papers, ballot stuffing by thugs, violence orchestrated by godfathers , falsification of results, bribery and corruption.

TMG leader Erubami maintained that the buck stopped at the Jega’s table. “His integrity will be tested again in Edo State. I think that INEC performance should affirm his capacity for electoral reform and sanity. But, he is just an individual. Other INEC officers must mirror the chairman”, he said.

Among the INEC staff that will conduct the Edo poll are those left behind by his predecessor, Prof. Maurice Iwu. Developments in postIwu INEC tend to suggest that sanity is returning. Will the electoral commission sustain that credibility on Saturday?

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

44

POLITICS SNG: Govt should implement House report on subsidy

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

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HE Save Nigeria Group (SNG) has reiterated its position on the fuel subsidy scam, urging the federal government to demonstrate courage by implementing the report of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee chaired by Hon. Lawan Farouk.

The group said the unscrupulous fuel marketers and unpatriotic officials who stole Nigeria should not go unpunished. The statement is titled: “Petrol armada 2011: Kleptocracy unlimited”.

SNG said in a statement by its convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare, that the prosecution of culprits indicted by the report would serve as deterrent to corrupt businessmen and dubious government officials who indulge in corruption.

The organization observed that corruption had dented the reputation of Nigeria, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to rise to the occasion.

SNG recalled that an outfit based in The Hague, Netherlands, Fitch and Associates’, had complained on behalf of Transparency International that corruption was killing Nigeria. The group noted that the outfit’s observation about soaring corruption in the country was worrisome.

In its letter to President Jonathan, The Netherlands based outfit had said: “The problem, Your Excellency, has to do with the rate and scale of scams and corruption probes coming out of Nigeria in 2012. The scope and speed of corruption in your country this year is beyond anything our client has ever dealt with.

“When the pension scam broke out, the three specialists working on Nigeria complained about network and threatened a law suit against Transparency International. Because they had to work 23 hours a day from Monday to Sunday just to cope with the figures coming out of that scam.

“Our client had to pull the country’s specialists away from zero to low corruption countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Singapore, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland and Canada. The specialists working on all these countries were preferred to the Nigerian Desk”.

Describing these remarks as heartbreaking, SNG urged Nigerians to embark on actions that would save the country from doom.

The group maintained that the prosecution of those found culpable in the fuel subsidy scam would convey the impression that a concerted effort was being made to wage war against corruption.

SNG added: “Our message to our country men and women is that they must be strong hearted and determined to take back our country. All we must be ready to do is to assert our collective dignity and let our “leaders” know that we are better than their animals.

“For in the words of Dr. Patrick Wilmot: “Many Nigerian politicians, especially those with a military background, posses modern farms where they raise livestock. They provide nutritious food, clean water, sanitary housing, the latest medicine and the best sanitary services. They have interest in the welfare of their animal because they want to make profits. If they have the same interest in their citizens, Nigeria would be a far better place and 70 percent of the population would not be classified as dirt poor”.

“This is a decisive moment in our history to asset our humanity and restore our dignity as a people. Enough is enough”.

Fed Govt plans national strategy on corruption From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

A

S part of the efforts to end the scourge of corruption in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday convened a three-arm meeting on corruption.

The meeting which was the first ever tripatrite meeting on corruption in the country was at the instance of the president and it lasted for two hours.

At the end, the Federal Government is expected to produce a National Strategy on Fight Against Corruption.

The president in recent time has come under attacks for not doing enough to curb the scourge, which many said was systemic.

Besides, his recent refusal to declare his assets publicly also fan the allegation that he was soft on corruption, an allegation the president was quick to reject promising to bear his fang, especially with the probe on the management of fuel subsidy fund. He had promised to ensure that any individual or company found guilty will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The meeting which was chaired by the president also have on the side of the Presidency, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Secretary to Government of Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Head of Service of the Federation, Bello Sali, Central Bank Governor (CBN), Lamido Sanusi, Chairman EFCC, Chairman ICPC and of course the Attorney General of the Federation.

Opposition parties and the government of Anambra State are engaged in brickbats as Governor Peter Obi renews a promise to break the 14-year-old jinx that has seen only caretaker committees take charge at the 18 local councils. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU presents the arguments on both sides

Politics of council polls in Anambra

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HIRTEEN years into the Fourth Republic, the electorate in Anambra State will, on December 5, be afforded the opportunity of voting for councilors and chairmen of the local government areas.

The last election was conducted in 1998 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the Abdulsalami Abubakar military regime that midwifed in democracy in Nigeria.

The council executives elected then served out their tenures in 2002, during the Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Since then, the 21 council areas in the state had been administered by one caretaker committee or the other till date.

In recent times, the opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have accused the state government of violating the constitutional provision that prohibits running the local councils by unelected leaders Some of the political parties and individuals have already instituted court cases against the incumbent leadership in the state.

Following the expiration of the tenures of the 1998-2002 executives, fresh elections had been fixed for December 8, 2004. However, the November 10, 2004 mayhem in the state during the administration of now Senator Chris Ngige, aborted the move.

During that act of rascality by people alleged to be members of the PDP, Ngige’s party then, virtually all the materials got burnt in the inferno at the headquarters of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).

The ANSIEC chairman, Chief Cornel Umeh, told the people of the state that the December date for the election was sacrosanct. But, after the incident, it became difficult to replace the materials that had gulped millions of naira The situation did not change as Dr. Ngige remained embattled until he was sacked by the elections petition tribunal in Enugu in 2006.

Then came Governor Peter Obi, who had, in his maiden speech to the people, pledged to conduct local polls in the last quarter of the year.

The assurance did not materialise as Obi was illegally impeached by the lawmakers which brought his deputy, Dame Virgy Etiaba on the saddle.

Before Etiaba could take any decision on the issue, Obi had fought his way back to the governorship

• Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Solomon Adeola (left), his deputy, Auwal Jatau and a member, Raphael Ibokwe as the Bureau of Public Enterprise appeared before the committee at the PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE National Assembly.

• Governor Obi

seat and maintained his assurance of conducting council polls in the state.

When Obi assumed office, the then chairman of ANSIEC, Chief Cornel Umeh, was removed which raised dust from political parties and individuals as they claimed his removal was constitutionally wrong.

The embattled chairman of the commission went to court to challenge it while still on seat. Before the removal could be resolved, Umeh’s tenure had expired and he had to vacate the seat.

Umeh, had been earlier accused of being a relation of the former Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, which, according to some people, made him a card carrying member of one of the political parties.

Furthermore, some people alleged that if he had gone ahead to conduct the election, there was no way he would not have favoured his master.

Following the expiration of Umeh’s tenure, Obi took time to announce the composition of a new ANSIEC board with Prof. Titus Eze as the chairman.

In Governor Obi’s inaugural speech, he described Eze as the ideal candidate for the position with whom “I am well pleased”.

However, the warm relationship soon waxed cold as the government pointed out some faults in Umeh and his team, and those faults culminated in his purported removal by the state House of Assembly for alleged misappropriation of funds, as presented by the state government.

Not satisfied with the decision of the lawmakers for failing to give him fair hearing, Eze went to court to challenge his purported sack.

The plots have been thick and this has continued to affect the speed of the matter at the High Court in Awka.

Besides, other individuals and political parties had dragged the state government to court, including members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to give reasons why democracy is suffering at the grassroots.

Also, the Anambra State Association of Chairmanship and Councillorship Aspirants (ANACA), has been kicking against the non-conduct of council polls with other coalition groups in the state.

Some of them had gone to state

Government House and State Assembly complex on protests, while security operatives had been on the monitor of the agitators.

However, Obi recently hinged the blame on litigations. According to him, “if anybody wants local government elections to be conducted in this state, those cases in court should be vacated; this government cannot go against the law of the land”.

The Nation gathered that the sour relationship between Governor Obi and the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, is a result of the latter’s plea for the election to be conducted.

Already, ANSIEC has set up a committee for the screening of candidates of different political parties for the election which have been tagged a smokescreen.

The screening committtee is headed by a clergy man, Monsignor Jerome Madueke.

Other members of the committee are Hon. Sylvester Okonkwo, Joseph Uko, Mbanefo Onyeka, Princess Adaeze Nnaemezie, and the secretary is Ben Uzorka. Also serving on the committee are representatives of the state police command, the State Security Service (SSS) and the board of Internal Revenue.

Okonkwo, told The Nation that all the forms and posters for the election had been produced and kept in the commissioner office.

He said those speculating that the state would not conduct any local government election are making mistakes, adding that voters registers for 17 council areas were ready.

Furthermore, Okonkwo said, if there were no plans for the polls as being speculated in some quarters, Governor Obi would not have released funds to the commission for procurement of materials.

“We are producing over 20,000 voter education manuals for the electorate to know their dos and donts, we are equally producing over 14,000 manuals for Poll clerks , returning officers and their assistants among others, for them to study and know the nitty-griitty of elections”.

The only local government areas where the voter registers are not ready are Njikoka, Dunukofia, Anambra East and this has been attributed to the breakdown of the machine”.

The state chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Patrick Orjiakor, accused the state government of manipulating the process.

“Let me tell you, this government is not sincere and it is not ready to conduct any local government election, this state has allowed people to be spending money unneccessairly, this is pure wickedness”, he said.

Others who spoke with The Nation spoke in the same vein, arguing that there is no way the state government would allow any election to be conducted.

The questions on the lips of individuals and even political parties are, how ready is ANSIEC and the state government for the election; when will the hide and seek game being allegedly played by the state government end?

Will local government election hold under the Peter Obi administration that ANSIEC said had released funds for it, or will the people wait for another messiah?

The controversy would not be resolved until the election is held and elected representatives installed.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

45

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Diesel fumes: ‘A gradual death sentence’ After one-week analysis, medical experts concluded that diesel fumes are injurious to health. Those who inhale the fumes, they say, risk lung cancer. In a country like Nigeria where companies and the rich use diesel powered generators, many may end up with the deadly disease.

SEGUN BALOGUN examines the implication of the study in public health.

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HEN the late activist Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) was diagnosed of lung cancer in 2007, the public was shocked. Reason: Fawehinmi was not a smoker, so the diagnosis, many thought, beggars belief. Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. The debate on how he contracted lung cancer, which kills faster than most other forms of cancer, raged for long.

None of the guesses made sense than the perception that cancer is a disease of the rich. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an affiliate of the World Health Organisation (WHO), last June 12 released a report which indicated that lung cancer, will no longer be "a disease of the rich," but may become even more prevalent, especially in the urban centres. It was the leading cause of cancer death in 2008, causing 1.37million deaths, according to WHO. For one week, 24 IARC experts from seven countries gathered in Lyon, France, to "assess the carcinogenicity of diesel and gasoline engine exhausts and some Nitroarenes." After the meeting, the IARC confirmed that the fumes from diesel engines cause lung cancer in those exposed to them.

Dr Christopher Portier, Chairman of the IARC Working Group, said: "The scientific evidence was compelling and the Working Group's conclusion was unanimous: diesel engine exhaust causes lung cancer in humans.” His recommendation: "Given the additional health impacts from diesel particulates, exposure to this mixture of chemicals should be reduced worldwide."

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde. The particle phase consists of elemental and organic carbon, ash, sulphate, and metals, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitroarenes are distributed over the gas and the particle phase.

Run, run, run

•Fumes from a vehicle

Those at risk To Abideen Adeojo, who spends about 14 hours of day on the busy highways of Lagos as a bus assistant on a mass transit bus, the news of IARC's conclusion is a "gradual death sentence."

The agency identified Abideen's job as among those mostly at risk. Other occupations at risk are truck drivers, dockworkers, and everybody that is regularly exposed to fumes from a diesel engine.

There is a wide spectrum of people exposed daily to diesel exhaust as diesel is used both in on-road and nonroad transport (trucks, mass transit buses, trains, ships), heavy equipment

in various industrial sectors, and in electricity generators.

According to IARC's report, "a large cohort study in the US trucking industry reported a 15 to 40 per cent increased lung cancer risk in drivers and dockworkers with regular exposure to diesel exhaust. This study provides some of the strongest evidence of an association between exposure to diesel engine exhaust and lung cancer.

"The findings of these cohort studies were supported by those in other occupational groups and by case control studies including various occupations involving exposure to diesel-engine exhaust."

The Working Group concluded that there is "strong evidence" for the ability of whole diesel-engine exhaust to induce cancer in humans through genotoxicity - the degree to which something causes damage to or mutation of DNA. The most damning part of IARC's report was the fact that there is no threshold quantity of exposure that may help guide any preventive measure. The IARC said: "Positive trends were observed for cumulative but not average exposure."

There are chemicals and particles in diesel exhaust that are known to induce cancer. The gas phase consists of

The Head of Radiation and Oncology Department of Eko Hospitals, Prof Kofi Duncan, said people "must get away from the fumes (from diesel exhaust) as far as possible," because a little exposure here and there will all add up to increase the risk of having lung cancer’’.

According to him, people will have to learn to protect themselves and take preventive measures rather than wait for the government. "We cannot reduce people's entrepreneurship drive and government will always be government," he said.

However, the Executive Director of Environmental Law Research Institute, Prof Lanre Fagbohun, said the government has a lot to do to protect the environment, by ensuring there are enforced emission standards, which will ensure that carcinogens in diesel fumes are reduced to barest minimum.

He also said civil society organisations and the media "should serve as the catalyst for the kind of law and regulations needed to protect the environment through persistent advocacy that will encourage governments at all levels to be proactive."

Over 5000 Nigerian doctors in US, UK, says minister •‘How to access free medicare abroad’

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ORE than 5000 Nigerians practise medicine abroad, Health Minister Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu has said.

This, he said, calls for concern because the ‘’figure is huge.”

Speaking at the flag off of the plenary session of the Medical and dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in Abuja, he said some of the doctors are working in American specialist hospitals.

Others are practising in the United Kingdom and some African countries.

To enhance the healthcare system, two Nigerian doctors based in the United States are contemplating introducing the advanced technology platform tagged FTTH(Fibre to the home, also called fibre to the premises service), to the advantage of its clients.

Dr Debo Adeleke and Dr Babafemi Adenuga, who manage Med Concierge, said it is not always a tea party when patients come over to the US and attempt to access the healthcare delivery.

“For the system here is highly organised. We are out to ensure that the consumers, especially from Nigeria, have hassle-free treatment. Experiences have shown that patients from Nigeria spend invaluable time trying to book appointment. But with this organisation, they don’t have to wait weeks, not even a minute longer, to see a specialist to discuss their condition, treatment and potential alterna-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-mustapha

tives.

“In essence, we eliminate unnecessary delay, midnight trips to the emergency room or physician waiting rooms for patients awaiting treatment.

We provide on-demand feedback on pains, medication reactions and environmental conditions; facilitate consultation on individual vital sign trends and results,” said Adeleke.

Adeleke said: “These days, you can’t watch the news or read articles without hearing about the rising cost of health care, the challenges of caring for an aging population, and the need for better exercise and nutrition to prevent chronic diseases. As the financial and decision making responsibility for managing health increasingly falls on consumers, and as timely access to doctors and specialists becomes more difficult, products and services that offer personalised care is of necessity.

“We provide customised care as our physicians will personalise the tests and evaluation for each individual based on age, current health, family history, lifestyle and personal preference. Through our services, our clients will enjoy the full benefits of receiving the best quality healthcare with the least amount of stress. We are able to help them seamlessly navigate through the complex maze of the US healthcare system. We also manage all medical billing, account reconcili-

• Adeleke

• Adenuga

ation and complete all client accounts while they are in the US, and even after they have gone back to their home countries.

“We also ensure that their accounts are brought to a zero balance to forestall any future accounting discrepancies. An added benefit is that, we are also able to provide services such as reliable transportation and accommodation for our clients.”

On why more Nigerians prefer to access foreign medical care, Dr Adenuga, who is Chairman, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Howard University, Washington

D.C, said: “Problems with accessibility to care would include evaluation of the adequacy of the numbers of healthcare facilities and the proper distribution of these facilities to allow easy and immediate access to a medical facility for every patient who needs one, the affordability, and therefore the accessibility of quality healthcare to all patients must be priotised.’’

Adenuga said: “The health system is collapsing due to sundry reasons and that is why more Nigerians are seeking foreign medical attention.

“Water, electricity, good roads, etc are basic social services that improve

the standards of living of the people.

Provision of these would improve the state of health of the people. A universal health care insurance should also be put in place. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is simply not working, just like any other government project in the country.

“Attitude is another factor. In Nigeria, the death of a person is as trivial as weekend news. No one really cares.

The government will not be moved to build better roads because of car accidents, or better equip hospitals because of increased mortality. They do not care. Since Nigerians have a high fertility rate, we can always replace the lost ones.”

He added: “Staffing is a major issue that must be addressed. The exodus of doctors in Nigeria is alarming. The solution shouldn’t be geared towards increasing doctors’basic salaries alone, but rather to increase benefits such as hazards allowance, loans etc, and more importantly, improve the tools doctors work with.

“It is not that doctors in the US, UK or India are better than doctors in Nigeria, but they have better tools to work with, that is, much better laboratories, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. I think it is even more difficult to get into medical school in Nigeria than in the US. Quackery/accreditation must be addressed as well.

It is hard to tell which private clinic is manned by a doctor, registered nurse, auxiliary nurse, or even mechanic, especially in Lagos. Stricter controls should be placed on private clinics.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

46

MARITIME HALF-YEAR REVIEW

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HE sector performed averagely well in the last six months, based on the laudable efforts of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in dredging the Lagos channel to about 14-metre draught that allows the ports to accommodate bigger vessels.

But the N1 trillion bench mark given to the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), the multiple levies by the agencies at ports and the fuel price increase announced in early January by the Federal Government, have contributed significantly to the high cost of doing business at the ports as truck drivers and terminal operators rely on diesel and petrol to power their vehicles and equipment.

Charges, such as service, bank, concessionaires’ services, tally clerk, commission on turnover, port administrative charges among others, are too numerous for importers and they impeded business in the last six months.

Survey and dredging In most of the terminals at the Lagos ports, NPA is maintaining appropriate navigable drafts. The problem of drafts for bigger vessels carrying over 4, 500 is no longer a challenge.

Dredging is carried out by the Lagos Channel Management Limited for the NPA. NPA is assisting the terminal operators to maintain designed drafts by assessing dredging requirements.

Also, the challenge of pilotage has been reduced to the barest minimum. Pilotage services are promptly provided. Although the minimum time for providing pilotage varies from terminal to terminal, the unnecessary delay has been removed by the NPA..

Lack of commercial regulator Operators in the industry are not happy over the refusal of the Federal Government to appoint a commercial regulator for the industry. But they expressed happiness with the performance of the the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in the period under review.

There is need for the Federal Government to create commercial regulators that would curb arbitrary charges and see to the rapid growth of the industry.

There is need for collaboration between security agencies at the port as their activities fell below expectation in the last six months.

Operators have called for co-operation to boost trade

Eastern Ports and dredging of Calabar

Local ship owners lament

High cost of business remains an issue

• Minister of Transport, Umar

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

port Low business activities are on at Port Harcourt, Warri, Onne and Calabar despite the huge investments by the private operators.

The condition of Calabar port is still critical as the dredging of the channel has been inadequate for years.

But the management of Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited (INTELS) needs a pat on the back for its giant strides in the development efforts and infrastructure in its areas of operations.

Observers say INTELS has been acknowledged as example of private sector success.

Ports and Cargo handling services limited Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited, which operates Terminal C in Tin Can Island Port, Lagos is also doing well.

Several billion of naira has so far been invested on equipment.

Some of the equipment acquired by the company include Kalmar reach stackers, empty container handlers, harbour shore cranes, 25 tonnes general forklifts, lifting frame/spreaders, CCTV cameras and metal detectors for security, burglary, fire protection equipment, sick bay and brand new ambulance for emergencies, among others.

Intermodal activities The flow of goods from the ports into the hinterland is yet to increase to an enviable level. There are pressing needs, including connectivity, multimodal framework: high transaction, rail/ road connectivity projects, dedicated freight corridor and inland waterways.

•Managing Director, NPA Suleiman

• DG NIMASA Akpobolokemi

Customs and oil lifting

It is hoped that the Federal Government and NIMASA would compel the banks managing the fund to disburse it before the third quarter of the year.

All eyes are on the maritime security contract awarded by NIMASA and stakeholders are watching how the company is carrying out its business at sea in terms of pirates attack and oil bunkering.

One of the major expectations of stakeholders in the last six months is the involvement of Customs in oil lifting. Customs officials said the Military government stopped Customs from performing the role based on a circular, which they said, violates the law that set up the service. They want the government to address the issue.

Customs is still performing 100 per cent inspection on thousands of containers entering the country daily.

But the management of the service needs to fashion out a new method that would boost trade facilitation.

The benchmark on imported vehicles should also be reviewed by the Customs so that importers and clearing agents would not continue to pay different duties on the same vehicle at different terminals. This is because arbitrary charges have led to cargo diversion and smuggling.

NIMASA and Cabotage Act The strict implementation of the provisions of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 was brought to the front burner by the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, when he said the law needs to be reviewed.

The National Assembly has embarked on it. But the expectation is that the review should promote indigenous shipping capacity.

Akpobolokemi said progress has been made on the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF). The appointed Primary Lending Institutions have recommended some organisations to NIMASA for issuance of Certificates of Disbursement (COD).

Award The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) did well in the last six months in terms of large vessel calling at the Lagos ports, Pilotage, channel management, wrecks removal, capacity building, among others.

Its Managing Director, Omar Suleiman, stakeholders said, should be commended for a good job.

But the 24-hour port operation introduced by the Federal Government is yet to attain the projected level.

This is because many importers and clearing agents are yet to key into it. The government and NPA need to do more in enlightenment campaigns.

Gridlock at Apapa The synergy between the Federal and the Lagos State governments has reduced the heavy traffic on theApapaOshodi Expressway and boosted businesses at the ports. Operators hope the relationship will continue.

The minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has however, been urged to prepare the country for challenges facing the industry.

Importers, clearing agents and other stakeholders are calling for more commitment from government officials and terminal operators to reduce the cost of business at ports.

Medical equipment rot at ports

S

OME expensive medical equipment are rotting away at the Lagos port, investigation has revealed.

The equipment are yet to be cleared and are wasting at one of the terminals at Tin Can Island port.

Speaking with The Nation on the matter, a senior police officer at the port, who

craved anonymity, listed the equipment to include Computed Tomography (CT) Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). He warned that unless they are cleared, the equipment could be damaged or stolen by ‘wharf rats’.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Medical Director of the Federal Mdeical Centre, Ido

Ekiti, Ekiti State, Dr. Ololade Ojo, has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Health to facilitate the prompt release of the items from the port.

Ojo, who is the Acting Chairman of Committee of Heads of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions, said: “At present, the FMC in Ido Ekiti does not have CT Scan and some of the equipment imported for us

and other FMCs are still trapped at the port. The equipment include MRI, and I want to plead with the Federal Ministry of Health to take urgent steps so that the equipment would be released on time.

“If urgent step is not taken to get the equipment out, some of them may become obsolete or may get lost,” she said.

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

ONLY about 60 of the 600 vessels in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry are owned by indigenous operators, the General Secretary of the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Captain Niyi Labinjo, has said in Lagos He told The Nation that a vessel in offshore operations makes a minimum of $5,000 daily. This, according to him, is the least amount made by a foreign vessel doing business in the nation.

As a result of lack of indigenous ships, he said the country loses about N2 trillion yearly.

He said: “We have plenty of hydrocarbons. As at today, it is 37 billion barrels, but our government is working towards making it 40 billion barrels. That is our proven reserve. We are said to be the 10th world producer of oil.

The world everyday uses 84 million barrels per day of oil and Nigeria produces 2.5 million barrels every day.

For gas, we have 24 trillion reserves.

“We have the best shrimps in the world called tiger shrimps. That is why you have very many Indian fishing companies in Nigeria. All the tiger shrimps are exported.

We import into Nigeria every five million metric tonnes of cargo and 100 million metric tonnes of goods. We also import 65 million litres of petroleum products every year.

“In the oil and gas industry, Nigeria has close to 500 oil wells. For each well, there is a rig, which is supported by a minimum of five ships, and they are called oil support vessels.”

He said a foreign ship earn $5,000, while others earn $150,000 per day.

Customs intercepts used tyres From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

THE Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has seized a consignment of smuggled used tyres on Ogbomoso road.

The trailer conveying the 1,050 tyres was loaded with industrial materials to deceive the Customs patrol team led by a Chief Superintendent, Suleiman Mutalib.

He told reporters that his team was able to trail the vehicle to where it was arrested based on a tip-off that it was conveying contraband.

He said the trailer, marked LAGOS JJJ 370 XB, was coming from Lagos and was heading for Ogbomoso when it was arrested.

He said the driver and his assistant were detained and later released on bail while investigation continued.

The container had industrial materials, which were used to conceal the contraband, he alleged.

He said the service would arrest the smugglers with the documents at its disposal.

The command warned smugglers to stay away from the two states under the command, stressing that it would not spare anyone involved in illegal importation.

‘Involve stakeholders in Cabotage Act review’ A MARIME lawyer, Mr Tosin Oloyede, has said urged the government to involve stakeholders in the review of the Cabotage Act. He told The Nation that Nigerians should have been reaping immensely since the introduction of the Act if not for the failure of government officials to involve local shipowners.

The National Assembly should, therefore, involve the indigenous ship owners in the Act, which has been prsented to the National Assembly for review.

Oloyede said though Nigerians contributed to the Act, they have since been sidelined in its implementation, particularly in the granting of waivers.

“Under the Act, where there is no Nigerian to do the job, an expatriate is assigned on the ground that he would be attached to foreign to understudy him. But it is ironical that when these ships come to the country and a waiver is granted, there is no Nigerian attached to the expatriates.

The fees that come from the waivers do not go into the coffers of NIMASA and that is why the agency cannot be blamed for it,” he said.

He said the agency is not the custodian of the waiver, but that it is under the Ministry of Transportation.

Ex-NPA boss okays concessioning THE Federal Government acted right in concessioning the ports to private terminals operators, a former Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Mallam Abdusalam Mohammed has said.

He said the ports were working well than before, adding that cargoes are better handled by the terminal operators.

He said terminal operators, clearing agents and other port users have a role to play in ensuring the nation’s security.

He urged them to raise the alarm if certain imported cargoes imported are considered to be inimical to lives and property, noting that by so doing, the terminal operators and other port users would save their lives.

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

47

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

HALF-YEAR REVIEW Since the beginning of the year, the energy sector has been embroiled in conflicts, controversies and challenges. Some industry operators perceive these as part of the reforms for the sector’s growth, while others expressed fear that if urgent steps are not taken to address these issues, the sector may be on its way to stagnation or collapse. EMEKA UGWUANYI reports.

Six months of troubles, controversies Oil and gas industry

T

HE energy sector started the year on a troubled note with the announcement by the Federal Government of removal of fuel subsidy on January 1. This sparked a nationwide protest that grounded the economy. The faceoff was resolved after a prolonged dialogue between the Federal Government and a coalition of labour and civil society groups. At the end of the dialogue, the government was compelled to peg the pump price of petrol at N97 per litre as against N65.

The protest was the first in a very long time that showed that power still resides with the people. However, that single government’s decision to fully deregulate the downstream, though still considered the best option for the country if the petroleum would render the expected values to Nigerians, triggered off problems that seem unmanageable till now.

After the strike, the House of Representatives set up an ad hoc committee - “House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Subsidy Payment Regime. The committee was headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan. The probe unveiled the rot in the subsidy programme and ever since the industry has known no peace. Some oil marketers were accused of collecting subsidy without importing products while others were accused

of round- tripping, among other allegations.

Some marketers condemned the committee for publishing their names in alleged offences they didn’t commit and threatened to sue it.

There was an outburst in the polity as some Nigerians called for the resignation of the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as the prosecution of indicted marketers.

For increased transparency and involvement, the Minister of Petroleum set up the Ministerial Committee on Governance and Control Task Force (MCGCTF), Ministerial Committee on Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force (MCPRSTF) and the Ministerial Committee on National Refineries Special Task Force (MCNRSTF).

As Nigerians were clamouring for the implementation of the report of the ad hoc committee by the government, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Farouk Lawan was accused of demanding for a $3 million bribe from oil mogul, Chief Femi Otedola of which Lawan was alleged to have collected a part payment of $620,000. The case is still ongoing with no verdict passed yet.

Almost at the end of the first half of the year, the Federal Government sacked the management of the NNPC

including the group managing director who was serving extra tenure after his retirement and three other group executive directors.

Oil theft The Federal Government took a major step toward addressing the issue of crude theft and pipeline vandalism. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke had a meeting with all the service chiefs of the Nigerian armed forces, the police and the State Security Service, among others as well as the chief executive officers of oil companies, where they brainstormed to find ways to stopping the menace of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other issues in the industry. She expressed worry that oil theft was assuming an alarming dimension and noted that the country loses $7 billion annually to the crime and another $5 billion for repair of vandalised pipelines.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, she said: “We had a very fruitful meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff and his service chiefs concerning security in terms of our critical assets in the oil and gas sector especially crude and products as well. I think for the first time along with multinationals and indigenous Nigerian operators. We have dis-

•Mrs Alison-Madueke

cussed the extent of impact of crude theft in terms of the economic loss and environmental impact to this nation, which is also tremendous and we have spoken very openly about the issues and what can be done about it.

“One of the major outcome is that an immediate task force, a very robust and aggressive one, would be set up with the representatives of all parties, the multinationals, NNPC, and the service chiefs are to begin to address the problem in a very robust and immediate manner.”

After the meeting, some alleged oil thieves had been arrested with their vessels but no tangible outcomes of the arrests were made public

Petroleum Industry Bill The non passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill has continued to prevent fresh investments into the exploration and production sector of the industry, which has led to depletion of reserves. The good news is that the revised version of the bill was submitted to the presidency at the end of June. It is expected Mr. President will go three and forward to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.

•Nnaji

Fuel imports The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), also in the first half of the year suspended First Deepwater Limited, an indigenous oil marketing company from importing premium motor spirit (petrol), pending the completion of the agency’s investigation into irreconcilable documents on previous fuel imports submitted to PPPRA by the company.

The agency also directed two foreign companies, Mercuria Energy Trading NV, Netherlands Antilles and Arcadia Energy of Switzerland to submit their mother-vessel load out documentations for scrutiny, which also had been done to another trading firm, NIMEX. The agency said the action was part of its efforts to sanitise the sector and enshrine transparency in the fuel imports and marketing business.

The PPPRA reduced the number of oil marketers that import petrol from over 150 to 42 for first and second quarter fuel import allocation.

Power industry The Federal Government aggres•Continued on page 49

NNPC reopens Aba depot to ease supply

T

•From left: Manager, Admin and Protocol, NNPC Uwazie Jones; Deputy Manager, Community Relations, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC Elizabeth Agun-Enwefah; Acting Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC Fidel Pepple and Manager, Public Affairs Department, NAPIMS, Kennie Obateru at the 2012 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States.

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reopened the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) depot in Aba after almost a decade of being shut down due to pipeline vandalism.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr Fidel Pepple.

He said the reopening of the depot is a major achievement by the corporation under the watch of the Group Managing Director, Mr Andrew Yakubu, who has pledged to retool the downstream sub-sector in line with the vision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

He said: “One of the key objectives of the new management as espoused by the GMD during his maiden town hall meeting with staff recently was the revamping of critical downstream oil facilities and infrastructure. He specifically mentioned the rehabilitation of strategic depots, jetties and pipeline segments from Port Harcourt to Yola; the re-opening of the Aba Depot is therefore a major step in that direction as it will help ease the hitches in petroleum products supply in the South-east and going for-

ward, in the North-central and North-east.”

Managing Director of PPMC Prince Haruna Momoh, described the reopening of the Aba depot as a major milestone for the PPMC in its drive to ensure unimpeded flow of petroleum products in the southeastern zone of the country.

“The advantages of having Aba depot back to operation are quite handful; first it will reduce pressure on the Port Harcourt Refinery/depot, it will make Abia, Imo, Anambra and environs wet with petroleum products, and naturally the multiplier effect will lead to automatic jerk up of economic activities in Aba and the entire zone,” Momoh said.

He also said that the reopening will totally eliminate the incidence of bridging of products from Port Harcourt to Aba and “the country will be saved the cost of bridging via the Petroleum Equalisation Fund scheme as trucks which should have gone to Port Harcourt to bridge, will have their own depot in Aba.’’ The PPMC chief thanked the minister for providing the much needed impetus for the NNPC and the PPMC to embark on the phased rehabilitation of the country’s 21 loading depots, which have been lying fallow for so long.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

48

ENERGY

BPE clarifies N200b PHCN assets valuation •Puts power firm’s indebtedness at N310b

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•BPE Director-General Mrs Bolanle Onagoruwa

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HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has clarified the doubts and indictment against its management by the senior and junior workers unions of the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for grossly undervaluing the assets of the utility company.

The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) are lambasting BPE for putting the value of PHCN’s assets at over N200 billion.

But BPE’s Head, Public Communications, Mr Chukwuma Nwokoh, in a statement in reaction to the comments of the leaders of the two electricity workers unions, clarified the PHCN assets the agency valued at

N200 billion is for the distribution arm of PHCN alone.

The President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Mr Bede Opara had claimed that if the assets are valued at over N200 billion, the workers should have been allowed to buy the successor companies created from the unbundling of PHCN with their severance benefits. The General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mr. Joe Ajaero, also gave a plethora of assets—buildings; parking lots; power and distribution transformers; associated accessories like towers, insulators of different sizes, poles of different sizes, armoured cables (different sizes), conductors of shapes and sizes, and other accessories including vehicles of various brands and capacity— that should be included in the valuation of the successor companies.

However, BPE in the statement said: “It is apt to clarify that the over N200 billion to be realised as privatisation proceeds is in respect of 60 per cent equity in the eleven distribution companies and does not include the proceeds to be realised from the sale of the generating companies.

“It is obvious that the key objectives of privatisation of PHCN have been lost on the labour unions in PHCN. For the umpteenth time, we restate it to include improved efficiency by increasing collections; reducing losses and reducing cost; improve access to electricity; investment from the private sector to improve infrastructure; ensure fair tariffs to all end users; and increase commercial viability of the power sector.”

BPE said that historically, revenue from the sale of the government enterprises has not been the main reason for the Federal Government’s decision to undertake privatisation given that most privatisation proceeds are channeled to addressing labour liabilities.

The agency said it is apt to state that the valuation of the PHCN assets was undertaken by an independent body and the regulator of the electric power industry—the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC.) Indeed, BPE’s divestiture strategy for the 11 distribution companies will be primarily based on the “use of quality of service/efficiency parameters considered against investment proposals made by bidders aimed at reducing Aggregate Technical, Com-

mercial and Collection (ATC &C) losses over an agreed timeframe.

“In addition, the strategy will be built around the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO.) MYTO will stipulate the annual investment requirement, allowable operational expenditure, approved rate of return on equity and other allowable expenses for each distribution company. The merits of the strategy are that it emphasizes technical, financial and managerial competence of operators; and has the shortest curve for reducing subsidies, guarantees and section payment delinquency.”

The statement also noted that other key characteristics of the strategy are that the benefits for efficiency improvements will be shared between the operators and consumers through tariff reductions; operators who fail to deliver the agreed level of annual efficiency improvements are penalised; investors have certainty on recovery of investments; and government for the first time will begin to earn some return on its remaining equity interest in the distribution companies and can within a specified time cease financial support all together.

“Given labour’s predilection to talk only about assets, it is not surprising that the PHCN labour unions are silent on liabilities, which the Federal Government is going to as-

sume. It is in that regard that the government established the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), a special purpose entity established for liability management during the reform and privatisation process. It will remain in place until all the liabilities are extinguished. NELMCO has estimated PHCN’s indebtedness at N310 billion.

“The functions of NELMCO, are to assume and manage the pension liabilities of PHCN; to assume and manage the payment of unpaid debt of legacy independent power producers (IPPs); to assume and manage the non-core assets of PHCN, which could be sold for the purpose of financing the repayment the residual liabilities of PHCN; and any other debt or debts that may be assigned to it during the process of reform or privatisation.

“The purpose of NELMCO includes being; one of the ways in which the Federal Government intends to remove the obstacles to investment in the sector; the Federal Government intends to remove the huge legacy liabilities of PHCN from the successor companies and let them operate with a clean balance sheet; and the assumption of the liabilities through NELMCO will assure and boost investors’ confidence in the sector.”

Vehicle crashes into TCN facility in Abule-Egba

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HE management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Lagos region, has said its facility suffered setback as a truck carrying equipment crashed into the company’s 11KV distribution pole at the junction of the new Oko-Oba Road, Abule-Egba in Lagos State.

The company’s Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Celestina Osin, said the incident occurred last Saturday. This, she explained, made the company incur some huge losses as the cost of fixing the damage would run into millions of naira.

She noted that due to the extent of damage caused by the truck as well as the cost, the reparation and restoration of electricity supply to the facility might take weeks.

“The incident, which was quite extensive, affected the Otta-Ogba 132KV transmission line cutting the line and rupturing the cross arm of Transmission Tower NO 19 located at Abule-Taylor, which is about 2.5 kilometres from where the incident occurred.

“A team of TCN engineers have already been mobilised to the site to commence repair works, which will last for weeks and cost some millions of naira as the damaged cross arm on the tower will be repaired and five spans of aluminum conductor (line) will be replaced at the Transmission Tower 16 to Transmission Tower 19 and the aluminum conductor that sagged on Transmission Towers 19-21 will be retensioned properly.

“Customers affected by this, are the Ikeja Industrial Estate and Agege and they are already being back fed from another source.

“TCN, therefore, uses this medium to advice drivers to be careful, in order to reduce incidences such as this, as the money that will be spent on repairs of the damaged electricity equipment due to their carelessness could be used to further improve electricity supply to the esteemed PHCN customers.

We also plead for understanding by our customers for the period the repair works will last,” she pleaded.

•From left: Vice President Seye Fadahunsi; President Dr. Afe Mayowa and Chairman, Abuja branch Oyebamiji Ajibola, all of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) when the association inaugurated its branch.

Small businesses hit by blackout in Lagos

T

HE incessant power outage in Bariga and Shomolu areas of Lagos has become a source of worry to the residents as some areas have not got supply in the last three days or more, a situation that is negatively affecting small and medium business operators in the areas.

Many of the residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCH), should rectify the fault and restore supply.

According to some of the residents, the outage has lingered for five days.

Mrs. Sambo Olawale, a resident of Odugunwa Street, said the area had been without power supply for about five days. She said that the PHCN officials did not have courtesy to inform residents of the cause of the problem.

She said that the area usually had at least five hours of power supply daily, adding that the situation had changed as it now experiences blackout for days. “I have been wonder-

ing what the problem is but a friend of mine told me that the PHCN had a major fault in one of its equipment,” she said.

Another resident, a printer who lives in Igi-Olugbin Street, Alhaji Idris Olarenwaju, said his company had been relying on generators to power his machines in the past one week. “My company does graphic designs for printing companies. So, you can understand that we need power supply for every part of our operation. As a result of the current power supply situation, within the past one week, we have incurred unusually high expenses, more than what we normally spend in a whole month. We have been having power fairly regularly around here, but the last one week has been really terrible,” Olarenwaju said.

Mrs. Tawakalitu Ibrahim, who deals on Ice-block making at Ashogbon market, said that the irregular supply of power was killing her business slowly. “My refrigerators need to be on all the time because of the

nature of my business, however, because of the blackout, I have to run one the refrigerators on generator almost 24 hours a day and this costs a lot of money,” Ibrahim said.

A barber, Taiwo Akinola, on Kusa Street, said that he had lost many of his customers due to the power outage. He said: “I have two generators because of the nature of my job but I still rely on PHCN as the generators are meant to augment the power supply and not the other way around. I cut hair at the cost of N250 when there is no light as against the N200 when there is light. So, most of my customers would rather wait until there is light and for the past three days, only few customers have come to patronise me.”

A hair dresser at Ijagbemi, who identified herself as Iya Junior, said the situation had forced her to temporarily change her line of business.

“As you can see, this place is supposed to be a hair dressing saloon; but PHCN has forced me to consider other options because I have to sur-

vive,” she said.

The Business Manager of Somolu Business Unit, Prince Jamiu Raji, however, expressed disappointment about the reactions of residents on the issue. He said that the business unit had done several advertorials and public campaigns to inform the residents on the ongoing repairs at its installations at Oworosoki, which supplies power to the area. He noted that the business unit embarked on total overhaul and replacement of the 11KVA breakers panel in one of its installations at Oworosoki axis to boost power supply.

“I am seriously bitter and angry to hear that our customers are complaining of not informing them of the ongoing repairs. We just had to repair some of our breakers panel at Oworosoki office to boost power supply to our customers,” he said.

The management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC), also issued a statement on repair works ongoing at

Oworonsoki.

The company apologised to customers supplied power from the Oworonsoki injection substation for its inability to complete the ongoing rehabilitation work at the stipulated time.

Principal Manager, Public Affairs of the company, Mr Pekun Adeyanju said the delay was due to unforeseen technical problems and the current weather condition.

“The work is however, being accelerated and will be completed this week (last week). We, therefore, apologise to our esteemed customers at Oworonsoki village, Gbagada phase I & II , parts of Mushin, Onipanu, WAEC area, Jibowu and Ifako who are currently experiencing load-shedding as a result of the rehabilitation work.

“We assure the customers of improved quality of supply after the completion of the work. The rehabilitation work entails complete replacement of obsolete 11kv switchgears and panels at the injection substation,” he said.

49

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

ENERGY

Firm delivers vessel to Total A

RCO Marine and Oilfield Services Limited, a subsidiary of Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company Limited, has delivered a 70-passenger personnel carrier to its client, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNL).

The vessel, which is called Arco Fast Crew Boat 3 (FCB 3), is a luxury personnel-carrying boat with a world class touch.

During its maiden cruise in Lagos, meant to showcase it to reporters, the vessel sailed into the sea, while activities were ongoing in the hull and after about two hours, it berthed at the lagoon, from where it finally sail to Port Harcourt to resume duty.

The FCB 3 is the third vessel in four months to be delivered to Total for its operations in the Niger Delta and offshore Niger Delta.

Addressing reporters after the cruise, the Managing Director, Arco Marine and Oilfield Services Limited, Mr. Yomi Jemibewon, said the company entered into the marine transportation business in the oil and gas producing areas of the Niger Delta over 10 years ago. The entry, he said, was indeed a bold step taken by Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company Limited to expand its scope of services in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria through a subsidiary, Arco Marine and Oilfield Services.

The company, he noted delivered a variety of boats to its clients operating in the waters of the Niger Delta and offshore. The initial successes recorded by the company were truncated by the restiveness

By Emeka Ugwuanyi Assistant Editor

in the area. The situation became so precarious that the company had to suspend its activities for some time. It is interesting to observe that during that period two of our boats were redeployed from Niger Delta to River Thames in England, an evidence of the quality of the boats that Arco Marine had been bringing to Nigeria, he added.

Jemibewon said that when peace returned to the Niger Delta area, the resumption of full scale operations by the oil majors required the support services of Arco Marine.

Hence, Arco Marine took a position that the company would do what it knew how to do best and returned to the area with an enviable business mandate.

He said: “So in March 2012, our company commissioned two fast crew boats (FCBs) at the Onne jetty of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNL). The boats were the first two of four boats to be delivered to Total on a five-year contract. The boats are primarily personnel carriers. They are state-of-the-art aluminium monohull boats designed and built to offer safe and secure coupling to Total’s offshore platform installations; high speed and safe manoeuvrability between offshore platforms and utmost in passenger safety and comfort during transfer and transit.

“The first two boats to be delivered, Arco FCB 1 (20 passengers) and Arco FCB 2 (30 passengers) are the smaller of the set of

•From left: Partner KPMG Joseph Tegbe; Chairman Alfred Okoigun ; Managing Director Yomi Jemibewon; and Mr Mozimo, all of Arco Marine and Oilfield Services Limited, when the company’s personnel carrier, Arco FCB 3, was showcased in Lagos.

four, and have since started full operations with Total in its joint venture offshore operations. The commissioning event was low key but was graced by several stakeholders of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The Arco Marine chief at the event, hinted that the third boat, Arco FCB 3 (70 passengers), would be delivered in May this year while the fourth would be due for delivery in the second quarter of 2013.

“The FCB 3 eventually arrived in Lagos on June 28. The boat is a 25 metre aluminium, quad-water jet, monohull boat with a 70-passenger and eight crew capacity. Arco Marine is using this opportunity, before the boat’s departure to Onne, to update the mass media on this recent development.

“Besides the contract with Total, Arco Marine is currently constructing one additional 70-passenger crew boat expected to be delivered to the market also by the second quarter of 2013.”

Jemibewon said the company is taking steps to strengthen its technical and management platform through investments in a new maintenance base and requisite technical partnerships and personnel to ensure a solid foundation for sustainable growth and leadership in the sector going forward.

He noted that despite whatever challenges the company might have faced over the most recent past, it has continued to demonstrate its full commitment to delivering on and surpassing expec-

tations on this project. We want to prove that Arco Marine is a good representation of the development of local capacity in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. We will demonstrate to Total and other clients of ours that Arco Marine can also deliver world class, safe and incidentfree operations of these vessels.

Indeed, we want to serve as a glaring example of how a small indigenous company from Nigeria can develop into a globally recognized player in the marine vessel space, he added.

“Our experience is that when peace reigns, business can thrive and job opportunities can expand.

These recent developments in our company are bound to have salutary effects on Nigeria’s local content,” he said.

Stakeholders to focus on LPG at NGA’s confab

D

• Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho (left) and Executive Assistant to the Chairman,Uche Iheakanwa during the company’s press briefing in Lagos.

Six months of troubles, controversies •Continued from page 47

sively pursued its power reform programme through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), which shortlisted 152 bidders as potential investors that would take over the assets of the 17 successor companies in generation and distribution arm of the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The agency also announced that the preferred bidders for PHCN assets would be announced in October.

“The announcement of the preferred bidder for the 17 successor companies by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), will be made on/or before October 23, 2012,” the

BPE spokesman, Chukwuma Nwokoh said, adding that Nigeria’s economy could grow at over 10 percent if it solved its power crisis but it would need $15-$20 billion of investment in the next three years.

The first half of the year was also turbulent for the power industry as power supply, which improved remarkably in the last quarter of last year dropped unimaginably. There were blackout and outages as a result of frequent system collapses.

In view of the development, the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, in April, fired the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Akinwumi Bada; Market Operator, TCN, Mr Uzoma

Achinanya; and Executive Director, Human Resource, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Mr. Muyiwa Olushoga.

Howver, some major world energy companies such as General Electric of United States, Daewoo Engineering and Construction of South Korea, among others have signed agreement to support the government achieve its aspirations in the power sector through financial and technical assistance.

The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) is remarkably moving forward and added some hundreds of megawatts of electricity to the national grid and promised to add over 1000mw before end of the year.

ISCUSSION on the challenges and opportunities that abound in supply and consumption of liquefied natural gas (LPG) also called cooking gas, will take centre stage at the Nigerian Gas Association’s (NGA’s) annual general meeting (AGM) and midyear business forum slated for end of this month.

The AGM and business forum according to a statement, attracts industry players, investors, policy makers and other professionals with a guest speaker. This year, the Managing Director of Nigeria Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) PLC) Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy, is the guest speaker and will speak on “Domestic cooking gas supply and utilization: Challenges and opportunities.”

Since the current president of the association, Dr. Chima Ibeneche, took over last two years, the NGA has focused its themes and programmes on transformational thinking dedicated to enhancing capacity and quality in Nigeria’s gas sector.

Expected at the confab are high level government, international and national oil companies as well as organisations across the gas value chain, which is expected to expose participants to more knowledge. This will also enable players and intending investors find solutions in the face of unprecedented challenges and also identify opportunities in the domestic cooking gas markets and consequently embrace and promote the economic and social

development of the business, said the association’s Publicity Secretary, Engr. Johnson E. Duru.

Secretary General of the association, Engr. Michael Arinze, also reviewed the 13th AGM of the association holding on the July 30, at Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos, which will also come after the business forum on the same day.

He said: “Nigeria has massive reserves of associated and nonassociated gas including significant presence in the export market through the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG). However, Nigeria still has to overcome key challenges, including delays in the passage of key gas legislation and funding.

“But, we are satisfied to conclude that the perspective assumed by the current leadership of NGA to draw attention to the domestic cooking gas (LPG) supply and usage to be very fitting, as the forum will explore various formulae that can offer investors decent returns with affordable tariffs for domestic consumers .

The Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) is the largest individual membership organization serving practically every type of professional working in the gas segments and value chains of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The association provides a national forum for the exchange of ideas and technologies to meet the natural gas sector needs both today and in the future. It is a chartered member of the International Gas Union (IGU) since 1999.

50

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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52

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 9-7-12

NSE index sustains bullish ride

T

IHE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) maintained bullish trend yesterday, pushing lead indicator - the All-Share Index to its six-weeks high, to close at 22,180.02 points.

Indicators were boosted by gains posted by the following mid and capitalised stocks; Seven-Up (4.99 per cent), Access Bank (1.33 per cent), Dangote Flour (4.89 per cent), Stanbic-IBTC (0.32 per cent) and Nigerian Breweries (3.12 per cent).

In summary, the market gained 80.23 absolute points, representing 0.36 per cent appreciation to close higher at 22,191.14 points. Similarly, the Market Capitalisation of all listed equities gained N25.61 billion representing 0.36 per cent appreciation, to

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

close higher at N7.08 trillion.

Stakeholders in the market invested N1.668 billion on 136.809 million shares across 2,954 deals.

The Finance Services sector, which has continued to generate the lead interest in the market yesterday contributed 83.771 million shares worth N664.062 million followed by Agriculture with 16.520 million shares worth N454.293 million in 58 deals.

The consumer goods occupied the third position with 13.007 million shares worth N430.409 million in 596 deals.

Others with significant volume were Conglomer-

ates, Health Care, Services and Oil & Gas with 4.976 million shares, 3.763 million shares, 2.704 and 2.481 million shares.

At the end of business, the market recorded a total of 36 equities with price change. Leading the 22 gainers list was Seven-Up with a gain of N2.00 to close at N42.12. This was followed

by Dangote Flour with an increase of N0.32 to close at N6.87.

Also on the list were Livestock, Cutix, Stanbic IBTC, NASCON, Paint Company, Japaul Oil, Fidson and Sterling Bank with N0.07, N0.32, N0.22, N0.10, N0.03, N0.04 and N0.05.

On the losers’ table were 14 equities with price drop.

Roads led with a drop of N0.41 to close at N7.85 followed by Fidelity Bank with a price fell of N0.06 to close at N1.20.

Others were RT Briscoe, WAPIC, DN Meyer, Oando, Custodian and Allied Insurance, ETI, UBA and Zenith Bank.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 9-7-12

55

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

MONEY LINK

T

HE Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Segun Aina has challenged bankers to be ethical and professional in their dealings with customers.

Speaking during the 2012 induction ceremony for members in Lagos, he said their induction as professionally certified and chartered bankers has imposed on them the challenges of showing high level of integrity in their dealings.

He said they should be professional, alert to global trends and uphold high ethi-

CIBN: Bankers must be ethical, professional Stories by Collins Nweze

cal and professional standards.

The institute graduated a total of 671 members who have successfully qualified for the award of its banking professional qualifications in examinations conducted in 2011.

They include 46 for certificate in Banking, two for Treasury Dealership Certificate, 468 for Microfinance Certification and 155 for the Associateship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB).

landscape has changed and must continuously change to meet changing customers and stakeholders requirements.

“Therefore, the education of professional bankers must also change to reflect these requirements. This awareness is global and not peculiar to the Nigerian environment alone,” he reiterated.

The institute has also concluded arrangements for the establishment of the CIBN Banking School and the intro-

“I am confident that the skills and knowledge that you have gained will enhance your competencies and enable you provide value-added services to your employers, thus furthering the standards and developments of the banking profession,” he said.

He said the knowledge acquired in the Institute’s examinations can be gainfully applied to excel in job functions outside of the banking hall.

The CIBN boss noted that the economic and financial

Service providers assure security of cards

C

ITISERVE, one of the Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP) firms and GT Bank have assured Point of Sale (PoS) merchants of the security of their cards.

Speaking at the Citiserve Merchant Congress organised to educate merchants on efficient use of PoS, Citiserve CEO, Lola Ogunbambi said with migration from magnetic strip to chip and PIN, card users need not fear about security provided they protect their PIN from others.

She said that although fraudsters always come up with new tricks the current card security is sophisticated to en-

sure that hackers do not gain access to customers’ accounts.

“Banks are one step ahead of card fraudsters. The PoS is as secured as it can be,” she assured.

PoS Services Officer, e-Payment Unit, Guaranty Trust Bank, Olaide Kazeem, said the bank is working on getting all ATM cards working in its PoS terminals. He said that although PoS machines were designed to accept all cards, but it is not always the case. He said GTBank is almost concluding processes that would make its PoS accept all cards. He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also supporting the move to ensure

that all banks make their PoS machines to accept all cards-be it MasterCard, Visa or Verve cards.

He advised merchants to always get a printed receipt from the machine before they part with their goods. He said that the 1.25 per cent or N2, 000 fee charged on each transaction is not high, adding that the CBN is still looking at the possibility of reviewing it downwards.

He said the bank will continue to support the cashless banking initiative to see how it can get better. He said the programme was meant to enlighten the customers, under-

stand their challenges and also find out how both parties can strengthen the relationship.

He said that unlike before, more and more bank customers have keyed into the cash-less banking initiatives because of the benefits.

He said it will enable the banks achieve about 30 per cent reduction in the cost of funds they are passing to customers.

“The cashless economy initiative has tremendous benefits for the people and the economy.

It would reduce the cost of cash handling and cost of funds, and also reduce cost of borrowing in the economy,” he said.

Okonjo-Iweala to deliver IMOF lecture According to her, the purpose

C

O-ORDINATING Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will deliver the 2012 Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture.

The public lecture and symposium event on the topic “Education and Development: Para-

digm Shift” will hold tomorrow in Lagos.

In a statement issued by the Isaac Moghalu Foundation (IMoF), Mrs. Maryanne Onyinyechi Moghalu, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of IMoF said: “The Isaac Moghalu Foundation is advo-

cating for a paradigm shift in the education system in Nigeria. Considering the challenges that confront us as a nation today, the education sector in our country needs to be transformed if we are to achieve a wider transformation of our economy and society,” she said.

of the 2012 IMoF Leadership Lecture is to interrogate the relationship between education and development and recommend ways to reform education in Nigeria by linking it more effectively to Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 9-7-12 SYMBOL

7UP DANGFLOUR LIVESTOCK CUTIX IBTC NASCON PAINTCOM JAPAULOIL FIDSON STERLNBANK

O/PRICE

40.12 6.55 1.23 1.45 6.64 4.60 2.10 0.66 0.90 1.16

C/PRICE

42.12 6.87 1.29 1.52 6.96 4.82 2.20 0.69 0.94 1.21

O/PRICE 8.26 1.26 1.90 0.76 0.54 14.70 1.55 10.45 4.10 14.49

C/PRICE 7.85 1.20 1.81 0.73 0.52 14.38 1.52 10.25 4.05 14.37

geria, 8th in Africa and 338th in the world. Others are GT Bank, 3rd in Nigeria, 11th in Africa and 455th in the world; Access, 4th in Nigeria, 15th in Africa and 541st in the world; UBA, 5th in Nigeria, 16th in Africa and 563rd in the world. The 7th and 8th in Nigeria are FCMB and Skye Bank respectively.

The largest bank in the world is Bank of America with a tier one capital of $163.626 billion ; while the second is JP Morgan Chase with a capital of $142.450 billion and HSBC in the third position. China has three banks in the top 10 list.

Africa’s largest bank is Standard Bank Group of South Africa, with a capital of $9.42 billion. The first four banks in Africa are from South Africa, while the fifth is from Morocco. The report noted that banks in Africa had serious challenges occasioned by the individual country’s weak currencies. “ African banks suffered in this year’s Top 1000 ranking from the weakness of their currencies, many of which fell sharply against the US dollar in the second half of 2011,” The Banker said.

CHANGE 0.41 0.06 0.09 0.03 0.02 0.32 0.03 0.20 0.05 0.12

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

2.00 0.32 0.06 0.07 0.32 0.22 0.10 0.03 0.04 0.05

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

LOSERS AS AT 9-7-12

SYMBOL ROADS FIDELITYBK RTBRISCOE WAPIC DNMEYER OANDO CUSTODYINS ETI UBA ZENITHBANK

F

IDELITY Bank was ranked Nigeria’s ‘soundest bank’, with a with a capital to asset ratio of 28.8 per cent by The Banker magazine, a subsidiary of The Financial Times of London.

The magazine last weekend released its ranking of the Top 1,000 banks in the world.

Among the highlights was the listing of two Nigerian banks among the “soundest banks” in the world by virtue of their capital adequacy. The First City Monument Bank (FCMB), followed Fidelity Bank with a capital to asset ratio of 23.89 per cent.

Fidelity also emerged the sixth largest bank in Nigeria by tier one capital, otherwise known as shareholders funds, with a base of $867 million, making it also the 17th bank in Africa and the 618th in the world.

Nigeria’s largest bank by that measure is Zenith Bank which has a base of USD2.398billion, making the 7th largest bank in Africa and the 322nd in the world.

Nigeria’s old generation bank, First Bank is ranked 2nd in Ni-

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

Fidelity named ‘Soundest Bank’ by The Banker

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

deliverables that will give CIBN members the necessary support, flexibility and convenience in the acquisition of knowledge and skills to enhance their proficiency including lifelong learning through the Compulsory Continuous Professional Development (CCPD) programme.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

duction of various E-learning platforms.

The establishment of a Banking School, he said, will ensure that the CIBN delivers a broad range of international banking curriculum of multi-disciplinary dimension. On the other hand, the E-learning Management System will provide a seamless range of learning

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 124.54 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 102.88 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.09 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.95 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,738.10 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.95 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,485.29 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.43 101.96 0.72 1.09 0.93 1,728.70 8.51 1.33 1.80 7,289.38 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

56

NEWS Minister challenges FERMA Board

M

INISTER of Works Mr. Mike Onolememem, at the weekend in Abuja challenged the Board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to evolve policies that would enhance the development of roads.

The Minister, who spoke during the Board’s inauguration chaired by Ezekiel Adeniji, an engineer, urged members to be transparent.

He said adequate maintenance of roads and the development of effective strategies in handling them remain vital aspects of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

Onolememem“The Board must be transparent, accountable and follow due process.

You must be guided by the ex-

From Gbenga Adanikin, Abuja

tant laws in your dealings. We will continue to monitor you to ensure the good maintenance of our roads”, he said.

Replying, Adeniji said though the Board was being inaugurated 10 months after its composition due to security checks of the members and eventual screening by the National Assembly, he said the 10-month delay was indicative of the enormous task before the Board in fixing the roads.

He promised that the Board would not relent in the onerous task.

“We are here to make the road good and we have the experience to make this happen”, he said.

NIM to hold lecture

F

ORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi will on Thursday deliver a lecture at the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Its LOSS OF DOCUMENT I, Princess Ada Nneka Okeke of Suite C3, Area 11, Gimbia St. Vict. Plaza, Garki, Abuja hereby inform the general public that the original documents in respect of the property Plot 2244 in Lugbe 1 Extension Layout, issued by Land Planning and Survey Department, Abuja Municipal Area Council Zonal Planning Office on July 22, 2003 is missing. This is for record purposes.

NIM’s Management Day. The lecture, with the theme: Effective Leadership: A Panacea for Strategic Transformation of the Nigeria Nation, is scheduled to hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA) Lagos.

A brainstorming session on issues in governance that will aid government in achieving its transformation agenda will follow. The lecture is aimed at making the nation one of the top 20 economies by 2020.

Representatives of government and corporate organisations are expected.

•From right Anambra State Governor Peter Obi with the World Bank officials Prof Andrew Zeitlin of Oxford University, Prof.

Clare Leaver of Oxford University & Mr. Tunde Adekola, Senior Specialist on Education at the Bank during a visit to St. John Secondary School, Akwa... yesterday

Seven killed, several injured as Anambra community ends festival O fewer than seven people have been reported killed and several others injured as the curtain dropped on Nwafor Ogidi, an annual festival in Ogidi community, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Three of the victims were

N I

Onitsha allegedly stabbed to death.

Four others died in car accidents .

The festival is celebrated yearly in the community to initiate indigenes, irrespective of age and social status.

The week-long celebration, usually marked with dancing, merry making and cultural display by masqueraders and troupes, is often marred by violence, theft and display of immoral acts by youths.

The event, which was part of activities to end the celebration

on Sunday, began with a display by masqueraders and visitations. It was marred by hoodlums who barricaded the roads to extort innocent motorists and passersby.

A police source that put the casualty figure at one, a victim of a hit and run driver.

Okorocha orders probe of Imo mysterious deaths

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has ordered a probe into the circumstances behind the mysterious deaths of a family of nine in Emekuku, Owerri North Local Government Area.

Okorocha visited the compound where Mr. Paschal Nnadi and eight other members of his family died in their sleep on Saturday night.

He expressed deep shock and sadness over the incident even as he commiserated with the entire community and members of Nnadi’s extended family.

Processing of Allocation letter I IYAYI ASEMOTA of 15 Olutosin street Ajao Estate lagos state hereby notify the general public that i have applied to LSDPC for letter of allocation of Blk 200 flt 3 Ijaiye ogba which was built by BADEM MOYET NIG LTD, having made series of effort To locate BADEM MOYET NIG LTD from whom i bought the property but all efforts made to locate them proved abortive. I hereby indemnify the Corporation against any future claims they may arise if my application is granted & undertake to pay cost of any dispute on same. LSDPC, BADEM MOYET NIG LTD & general public take note.

From Okodili Ndidi,

He added that his visit to the compound was to demonstrate his administration’s concern over the tragedy.

Also yesterday, Commissioner for Health Dr. Obi Njoku said the government has ordered the conduct of autopsies on the seven members of a family and their two in-laws.

Speaking in Owerri, Njoku told reporters that the cause of the deaths of the family members could not be determined but stressed that it was not natural.

He, however, advised the people to remain calm and await the results of the autopsies.

Abia vigilance group smashes human trafficking syndicate

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

A

SYNDICATE of human traffickers has been smashed by the Abia Vigilance Services (AVS) in Abia State.

The group, known in local parlance as Bakassi Boys, and the state government are collaborating in the latter’s anti-crime battle.

Recently, Governor Theodore Orji donated about 500 fully-equipped patrol vans to security agencies operating in his domain with a charge to assist in ridding the state of criminal activities.

The syndicate, which had been under the searchlight of the security outfits, operated in Obingwa, Aba, Ugwunagbo, Isiala Ngwa and Osisioma Local Government Areas.

The AVS in its operation, rescued a seven-year-old girl, Miss Chinyere Chibuzor, believed to have been abducted since March from their Amapuife village, in Osisoma council area.

Two members of the gang were apprehended on a motorcycle while shopping for buyers for Chibuzor.

The vigilance outfit also arrested five members of the syndicate. Among them are three women.

They are: Obinna Abel, Chimuanya Nwaobilor, Amaka Okafor and Queen Udoka, an expectant mother

Anambra police arrest Imo chief, doctor over kids’ theft From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A

N Imo chief and a doctor are among the five suspects arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for alleged child trafficking.

The doctor is said to be from Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.

Also arrested were: an Aba-based man and another from Ozubulu, believed to be the middleman in the business from Ekwusigo Local Government Area.

According to police sources yesterday, the Imo state chief is said to be the principal partner in the illegal business.

A Volvo car, belonging to the doctor marked: AP 818 AWK, believed to be the operational vehicle being used to transport ‘stolen kids’, was also impounded.

The Nation learnt that the recovered children had since been reunited with their parents.

The arrests were made on May 28 and June 2 respectively.

There was no official confirmation from any senior police officer. But sources said such sharp practices were not new to Ihiala, Onitsha and other council areas in the state.

One of the victims, a three-year-old child, was said to be sleeping, when a member of the syndicate invaded their house and took the baby away.

In December 2011, one of the maternity homes in Ihiala was sealed by the police following reports that the facility was being used for child trafficking. and mother of four, as well as Freedom Madu.

Speaking after the operation, the CommanderGeneral of AVS, Matins Idika, said his men got the report of the missing baby since March and had been tracking the abductors until

last week when all of them were rounded up following the arrest of two members of the gang.

Chibuzor, according to her mother, Ihuoma, was abducted by Obinna and Chimuanya, when she was running an errand with her 12-year-old sister, Blessing, at

about 7pm and never saw her again until after her rescue.

Idika explained that the AVS was trailing the whereabouts of the baby until May 16, when his unit, located at Uratta Timber Market, reported that someone, who simply gave her name as Iyierioba, alleged that a baby was brought to her for sell at N180, 000.

The AVS boss said that his men played along with Iyierioba, who later turned out to be a member of the syndicate, till they got hold of the three women in the ring.

Idika said that the suspects had developed a foolproof method of legitimising the selling of the baby in form of adoption but could not succeed before they were arrested.

The syndicate was said to have contacted a willing buyer, based in Port Harcourt and who had agreed to pay N.5 million and would have paid them if not that the deal was struck during weekend.

The buyer then asked them to wait till working days, but luck ran out on them as they were arrested before the appointed day.

Idika said that the suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, advising residents to always report people of questionable characters to the nearest AVS office to them.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

57

NEWS

Robbers kill retired general A

RMED robbers have killed a retired Army General, Sylvester Eruah, on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

He was allegedly stabbed to death on the long bridge near Berger bus stop between Ogun and Lagos states.

The retired army general was reportedly returning from Kwara State on Sunday night when the robbers attacked him.

The Nation learnt that Gen. Eruah was attacked when he was changing a flat tyre on the bridge.

The robbers were said to have taken all the money on him.

•Police arrest five suspects

By Jude Isiguzo

But the hoodlums asked for more money. They threatened to kill him if he did not give them more.

One of the robbers allegedly stabbed him in the chest when he insisted that the amount he gave them was all he had.

A family source, who gave his name as Joshua, addressed reporters on the retired general’s death.

He said: “While he was changing the flat tyre, a towing van driver warned him that he should be fast because the place is danger-

ous. But as soon as the driver left the place, some suspected Fulani helmsman came out from the bush and killed him.”

The family urged Lagos and Ogun governors Babatunde Fashola and Ibikunle Amosun to secure the bridge.

The family also advised Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to ensure regular patrol by his men to avoid further killings in the area.

Ogun State police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident.

He told The Nation that the police have arrested five suspects.

According to him, some people lodged complaints at Ojodu Abiodun Police Station in Ogun State that they were attacked on Sunday night in the area.

Adejobi said one of those attacked was the retired general.

The police spokesman said policemen combed the area and arrested the five suspects.

He added that the police commissioner has ordered the State Criminal Investigating Department (SCID) to investigate the matter.

Baker killed, others injured in Ibadan robbery

R

OBBERS yesterday killed a baker, Sunday Komolafe, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when they raided the residents of Imalefalafia in the ancient city.

Eight other persons were injured.

The deceased was said to have been taken to a private hospital where he died.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

He was macheted and shot by the robbers who invaded the bakery at 2am yesterday.

The manager of the bakery, Mr. Mike Olusegun, told reporters that it was the sixth time robbers had raided the bakery.

He explained that the robbers searched the work-

ers on duty, collected their phones and injured them.

According to him, the robbers requested for the money they yhought the management kept in the office as they led one of the workers into the office.

Olusegun said the hoodlums removed the burglary, broke the louvers on the window and carted away items worth millions of naira.

He urged the police to find a lasting solution to incessant robberies in the area, adding that the residents now sleep with only one eye closed.

Police spokeswoman Olabisi Ilobanafor, a Divisional Superintendent of Police (DSP), said two people were shot and that the police were investigating the matter.

I have proof Lawan collected bribe, says Otedola

By Precious Igbonwelundu

•Otedola

B

USINESSMAN, Femi Otedola, yesterday refuted claims by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ethics and Privileges that he denied having proof of the $620,000 bribe allegation against the former Chairman of the House Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe, Farouk Lawan.

A statement by the businessman’s counsel, Mr. Babajide Koku (SAN), denied a

statement credited to a House of Representative member Ibrahim Bello.

It said Bello’s statement was aimed at misrepresenting and misinforming the public on what transpired during the closed door hearing between the businessman and the committee on July 3.

The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the statement credited to Bello is entirely false and calculated to misrepresent and misinform the public as to what transpired during the closed door hearing held by the House Committee on July 3.

“We wish to state further that there are video and audio recordings corroborating our client’s account of what transpired between him and Farouk Lawan.

“It is pertinent to emphasise that our client at no time during the proceedings of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges denied the authenticity of the audio recordings broadcast by the media but only stated that he was not the one that gave the audio recordings to the media houses.”

It alleged that the “false statement” by the House Committee lent credence to Otedola’s belief that in the interest of truth and justice, hearings into the allegation of bribery against Lawan should be held in public and in an unbiased and transparent manner.

Bello (CPC Kaduna) told reporters at the weekend that Otedola had denied knowledge of the tape and that the

businessman only told the committee that Lawan lied four times.

The House Committee is probing the bribe allegedly collected by Lawan to remove Zenon Oil and Gas from the list of companies that allegedly defrauded the nation through subsidy claims without supply fuel.

Last month, Otedola accused Lawan of demanding $3million bribe to remove his company from the list of companies that got foreign exchange but did not import fuel.

Lawan has denied collecting any bribe from the businessman, saying he only collected money from the businessman to expose him following his alarm sometime in April that some marketers were trying to bribe the committee.

I remain committed to ACN, says Lagos Vice-Chairman

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HE Vice-Chairman of Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Cardinal James Odunmbaku, yesterday reaffirmed his commitment to the party and the progressive bloc.

He said he had no hand in the defection of his former personal aide, Mr Abdulrasak Rafiu, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Rafiu (aka Oto), a PDP member, who was allegedly at the centre of the controversy between the Lagos State Government and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) six years ago, defected to ACN a few years ago. He returned to the PDP last week.

However, Odunmbaku, who is leader of the Lagos West District of ACN, told

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

reporters in Ikeja, the state capital, that Rafiu’s defection had nothing to do with him.

He said: “I wish to state categorically and emphatically that I am still a chieftain of the ACN. The defection of my former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the PDP does not have anything to do with me.

He left my employ ages ago.

“I want to dissociate myself from his defection as I remain a loyal and committed member of the ACN under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, our National Leader, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and party chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale.

“In my sojourn in partisan politics, I have always been a progressive and in this present democratic dispensa-

tion, I remain with the progressives. I have been with the progressives in Nigeria from the days of the Action Group (AG), of which my father was a chieftain; the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

“As it is in practice in other advanced democracies, people have freedom of opinion and action, which is also complemented by freedom of association. I wish to state emphatically that I am a still a member of the ACN and I remain steadfastly committed to its ideals and should not be expressly connected to the political adventurism of other people.”

The ACN chieftain explained that his former CSO’s defection does not af-

fect his membership, dedication, loyalty and commitment to the party’s leadership.

Odunmbaku said: “I did not know Rafiu until he defected from the PDP and was seconded to me by my leaders in the party. He left my employ immediately Dr. Kayode Fayemi became governor of Ekiti State. He was with Dr. Fayemi briefly and then moved on to the State of Osun with my leader, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. ACN is a party I believe in, have laboured for and in which I am still a stakeholder.

“I, therefore, wish to dispel the rumours that may connect me with the defection of Oto to the PDP. I remain steadfastly committed to Asiwaju Tinubu and ACN.”

Police arrest four more suspects over beheaded mother in Ekiti

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HE Ekiti State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested four more suspects in the killing of Mrs. Bose Edijana Lucky.

The woman was murdered last Thursday in Aramoko-Ekiti.

The latest arrests have brought the number of suspects to five. The victim’s husband, Mr Nnaefenwa Lucky, has been in police custody.

Police spokesman Olu Victor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, that the woman’s husband provided the clue that aided the arrest of the four.

According to him, the four suspects were arrested on Sunday and have been cooperating with the police.

Victor said Aramoko residents and community leaders supported police

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

investigation, adding that this would make the matter easy to handle.

But he did not tell reporters details of what Mr Lucky has said.

It was, however, learnt that Mr Lucky might have confessed to the crime.

A source, who spoke in confidence, explained that “he was the one who lured his wife into the hands of his killers”.

Some residents said the couple are Urhobo from Warri in Delta State, adding that it was the husband who reported his wife’s death at the police station when he supposedly discovered her body in the bush.

Victor said forensic experts and statements by the four new suspects have enabled the police to make progress on the killing.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

58

NEWS Governors, Uwais for conference From Clarice Azuatalum, Port Harcourt

GOVERNORS are to converge on the Alfred DieteSpiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, on Thursday and Friday for the State Peer Review Committee Conference.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Gogo Levi Charles, who announced this yesterday in Port Harcourt, said the peer review committee leader, Justice Mohammed Uwais (rtd), would chair the meeting.

Charles said the forum, which is expected to attract over 3,000 stakeholders, would also give the governors the opportunity to keep abreast of what they are doing in their respective states.

Amnesty not solution to militancy, says Mitee

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HE Federal Government amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is not the solution to the problem in the region, the former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, said yesterday.

Mitee, who identified injustice as the cause of the country’s insecurity, said what the people need is safe livelihood.

The ex-MOSOP president spoke at a lecture organised by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, in collaboration with the Society for Peace Studies and

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Practice In his lecture entitled : “Issues and Challenges of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme: An Insider Perspective”, Mitee said until the country attends to injustice, security will continue to be a mirage.

According to him, the problem of the region should not be seen as a Niger Delta problem, but rather a Nigerian problem.

He said: “For a country like ours that has a serious crisis in the region that provides over 90 per cent of its economic

livewire, this is akin to a person with a heart problem.

“Any person who has critical health problems in his heart will be doing himself fatal injustice by localising the categorisation.”

According to Mitee, utilising the community level interest in peace and development will be a counter balance for militants and criminality.

“If the communities do not derive any benefits from the exploitation of the resources from their land, then they would obviously feel insecure and their insecurity will invariable compromise the security of the resource exploi-

tation.

“We made recommendations that would enable communities eke some benefits from the resources exploited from their land.

The Institute’s Director, Prof Isaac Albert, said until the government addresses the issue of unemployment and poverty, the country will continue to witness security challenges.

Also speaking, former VC Prof Tekena Tamuno, urged the Federal Government to adopt more proactive measures to tackle challenges of the programme and other security problems rocking the nation.

Honour for Gabriel Okara From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

RENOWNED poet and novelist Gabriel Imomotimi Okara has been endowed with a professorial chair at the Faculty of Arts, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State.

This was announced by Governor Seriake Dickson at the poet’s 91st birthday organised by the state chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) at the Glory Land Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, at the weekend.

A monument and street will be named in honour of the literary giant.

Okara was born on April 21, 1921, at Bumoundi in Gbarain-Ekpetiama clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The governor described Okara as “an icon, a sage and a quintessential Ijaw man”, who conquered his environment and signposted his identity on the world map of literature.

Imoke calls for unity From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

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ROSS River State Governor Liyel Imoke has called on Nigerians to partner with their leaders and build a united nation.

Imoke spoke yesterday in Bodinga, Sokoto State, during the inauguration of a 24km Bodinga-BakaleKilgori Road.

He hailed his Sokoto counterpart, Governor Aliyu Wamakko, for being nationalistic in his approach to governance. “ I can see why Sokoto is enjoying peace. Wamakko has chosen to invite other governors to commission projects in the state in the spirit of true nationhood, understanding and unity.

The governor said the country needed a nationalistic focus that will strengthen peaceful co-existence through the provision of basic infrastructure at community levels across the country.

Imoke also inaugurated 30 housing units and YaboBakka road in Yabo Local Government.

Man allegedly commits suicide From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

A •From right: Mitee, Albert and the Director, Research and Publication, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, Dr Anthony Onwumah...yesterday

Eight robbery suspects arrested in Cross River

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HE police in Cross River State have arrested eight robbery suspects for allegedly robbing a 55-year-old woman of N2 million.

Commissioner of Police Osita Ezechukwu said yesterday that two suspects were arrested by policemen on pa-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

trol on Calabar Road.

He said the suspects forced Mrs Ekpo-anwan Bassey Toyo into a tricycle, popularly known as Keke Napep.

His words: “The gang robbed a woman of N2 million as she just came out from

a bank after withdrawing the money.

“Unluckily for them, they were held up in traffic. Their frantic efforts to leave the flee aroused the suspicion of undercover policemen who arrested them.

“When their vehicle was

searched, a bag full of clothes, charms, and N2 million were recovered.”

The commissioner said when the gang took the police detectives to their hideout in Calabar South, six members were arrested.

Three stolen vehicles were recovered.

N unidentified man, believed to be a pastor, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State was said to have allegedly set himself ablaze.

An eyewitness said the ‘pastor’ went near the Udu Bridge, carrying a four-litre gallon and poured the content on his body and reportedly set himself ablaze.

The source said it took the intervention of passers-by to stop the fire before policemen from Ovwian/Aladja Divisional Headquarters came and rushed him to the hospital.

It was learnt that the victim later died at the undisclosed hospital.

Ultimatum for Works Minister

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has issued an ultimatum to the Minister of Works, Mike Onolemenmen, to build the Sabo-Sobe road in Owan West Local Government before year-end or the government will start the construction next year.

The governor, who spoke at a campaign at Sobe, yesterday, said if the Federal Ministry of Works refused to work on the road, the state will put it in next year’s budget.

“If the Minister of Works does not build the Sabo-Sobe Road which has always been in the Federal Government budget, it will be provided for in the state’s 2013 budget and work will start next year,” he noted.

The governor told the electorate at the St. Stephen Primary School, Sobe, that the people can see the difference between the projects executed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

AAU Alumni fault Airhiavbere

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HE Alumni Association of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, yesterday berated the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Charles Airhiavbere for the uncomplimentary remarks against the university and its students at the governorship debate, last Thursday.

Airhiavbere criticised the standard at the university, saying the students are trained like robbers. According to him, “If you train children like goats, they come out like goats, if you train them like armed robbers, they come out like armed robbers.”

The Alumni Association demanded a withdrawal of the offensive statement in writing within five days and an unreserved apology to the university and its graduates in the print and electronic media also within five days.

Secretary-General of the Asssociation Moses Ujadughe said: “Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, has taken its place of pride among tertiary institutions in the world and has not at any time become a breeding ground for goats and robbers.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NEWS

Suspected Boko Haram men kill Igbo trader

A

N Igbo trader in Maiduguri, Okechukwu Okafor, was yesterday killed in his shop by three gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

Eyewitnesses said Okafor, a merchant in embroidery threads, was shot dead about 10:30am in his shop located at Monday Market Exit One Way, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Maiduguri.

T

From Abiodun Joseph, Maiduguri

The incident occurred 24 hours after a man riding a bicycle shot dead a man near the Ali Kototo Shopping Estate in Bolori ward, Maiduguri.

The witnesses said the killers walked into Okafor’s shop armed with AK 47 rifles and shot him, ignoring his plea that they should spare his life.

“The gunmen walked into his shop and brought out their guns. Okafor was heard shouting, ‘please don’t kill me, take my money’. But the men shot him twice and walked out of the shop to join three other persons waiting opposite the shop.

They immediately bolted,” the witnesses added.

On Sunday, a young man riding a bicycle reportedly killed a man who was about to

Fed Govt increases 2012 Hajj fees by 18 per cent

HE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has increased the 2012 Hajj fare by 18 per cent.

Pilgrims from the northern departure zone will pay N504,895, while those from the southern zone will pay N512, 218.

The Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, who spoke in Abuja yesterday with reporters on the preparation for the 2012 Hajj, said the increase in the ticket cost by $100 and hike in Makkah accommodation, among other reasons, ne-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

cessitated the increase in the hajj fare.

He said with the concessionary exchange rate of N145 to one US dollar granted by the Federal Government, each pilgrim would enjoy a subsidy of N47,045.

“The cost of Makkah accommodation has increased by SR500 per bed space. This is as a result of the high demand for accommodation due to the demolition of many buildings around the Holy Mosque to make way for expansion.

“The cost of feeding in Mina and Arafat has also added SR600 to the basic package.

This increase is as a result of the consensus arrived at with the state pilgrims welfare boards and agencies on the need to upgrade the services provided to the Nigerian pilgrims and make them at par with other countries,” Bello added.

He said 85,000 states’ pilgrims and 10,000 tour operators are to partake in the exercise, adding that airlines such as Medview, Max Air, Kabo Air, Ethiopian and Meridian Airlines

Oyo PDP, ACN trade words over sacked workers

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open his car parked by the roadside. After killing him, he fled the scene, abandoning his bicycle.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police command said they were not aware of the killings.

Sources at the State Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri, confirmed that two bodies were deposited at the hospital mortuary between Sunday and yesterday.

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State yesterday traded words over the sacked 3,000 workers.

While the PDP berated the state government for setting up another committee to review the case of the sacked civil servants, the ACN asked the PDP to bury its head in shame for criticising the government.

The PDP, in a statement by a group within the party, the Synergy League, signed by its spokesman, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration should stand by its decision and not attribute it to the past administration.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

The PDP said the Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala administration contracted to a consultant, the verification of workers’ certificates in 2006, adding that in 2008 the contractor came up with a list of 550 workers who were alleged to have forged their certificates, among other misdemeanours.

But in a swift reaction, the ACN called on the protégés of AlaoAkala, masquerading as PDP adherents, to bury their heads in shame for criticising the setting up of the committee.

The ACN in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, said it was

shameful that at a time when men of honour, both in the state and outside, were lauding the probity initiative of the Ajimobi government, it was then the protégés of Akala were “pandering to base sentiments, politicising moral issues and seeking to drag Oyo State back to the Ground Zero of May 29, 2011.”

The party said it had sworn to the indigenes that it would uphold the integrity of the public and civil service, noting that allowing workers found to have engaged in falsification of certificates to stay a day longer in the service was akin to allowing cancer to destroy the whole system.

would be used for the exercise at the first departure date of September 18.

DANA Air cuts pilots’ pay

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

A

S part of efforts to cut costs while sorting out compensation claims for the families of the 153 passengers that died in the June 3 MD 83 air crash at Iju/ Ishaga, Lagos, DANA Air, it was learnt yesterday, plans to effect 60 per cent cut in the salaries of its workers.

The pay cut, it was gathered, is being considered as an option to laying off workers pending the conclusion of investigations into the crash by the relevant authorities.

A source close to the airline, who spoke yesterday, said the management of the carrier would soon make the announcement public.

Spokesman for DANA Air, Mr. Tony Usidamen, could not confirm this yesterday. He said management was yet to take any decision on the issue.

The source hinted that the option of salary cut for the flying crew, mainly pilots, aircraft engineers and cabin crew was among the proposals before the airline management as one of the ways of cutting down costs.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NEWS THE BATTLE FOR EDO Voters ‘sell cards’ in Benin From Joseph Jibueze, Benin

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OME registered voters are allegedly selling their cards in Benin City and other parts of Edo State, The Nation learnt yesterday.

It was not clear which parties were behind the bid to buy up the cards from willing sellers.

The two main parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had traded words on who was behind it.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at a meeting, confirmed the involvement of the PDP in the purchase.

Oshiomhole, who is of the ACN, spoke in Abuja at the weekend after a meeting of stakeholders convened by INEC. He said those arrested are facing trial. “This has shown that INEC is very serious. The chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is doing everything possible to reassure the stakeholders that votes will count.

“He has also established that people are buying voters cards.

PDP is buying voter’s cards in Edo State and they are being prosecuted in court.

“We expect that people will get convicted because it is a crime for people to buy voter’s cards.

“The good news is that those who have been caught are already being tried.”

But a PDP chieftain, Fecuns Ezekwere, yesterday accused the ACN of being behind the act.

Addressing reporters at the PDP’s state secretariat on Sapele Road, Ezekwere said: “I want to complain bitterly about what I saw in a part Benin today (yesterday). I saw ACN members collecting cards from youths.

Election materials ready, says INEC

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said voting materials for Saturday’s Edo State governorship election are ready.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Kassim Gaidam, said INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, are expected in Benin today.

Jega will address electoral officers and their assistants and attend a stakeholders’ meeting with Abubakar.

Gaidam said security arrangements are in place to ensure the safety of voters, electoral officers and materials.

His words: “The non-sensitive materials are in the local governments. They have been distributed to all the councils.

“The sensitive materials are also ready. They are with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

T

HE police have begun training their personnel who would be posted to polling units in Saturday’s governorship election.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Argungu Hashimu, said his men would be trained on strategies to secure the life and property of the citizenry.

He said “We have approval to deal with any criminal and whoever is going against the law.

“Apart from the zone, police are coming from neigbouring states, different stations and units to strengthen the manpower to give security to the residents of Edo,” he added He declined comments on how many police personnel were deployed to the state.

The State Command of the State Security Service has received patrol vans for the election.

From Joseph Jibueze, Benin

“You know there are procedures for moving those things.

Their movement will start, I think, on Thursday.

“We are going to deploy them from CBN to our office on Thursday where the distribution will take place.”

According to him, new measures have been adopted to check rigging.

He said a Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police (DIG) has been assigned to Edo for the election.

The REC said: “We are very happy with the planning. The planning has been very, very successful.

“What is happening now is action. All arrangements for the engagement of ad-hoc workers are almost concluded.

“We have the ad-hoc workers that we need for all the 18

local governments. We have got enough so far.

“We have trained them, and we are now deploying them to the local governments, both the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other ad-hoc workers.

“Also, the Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) have been engaged and trained as well. We have also engaged the collation officers. That will be concluded today.

“All the vehicles that will transport materials to various local governments are here.

The challenge of late arrival of men and materials will be reduced.

“Each local government is going to have three vehicles rather than the two that were initially slated.

“Electoral officers have been coming to collect their letters of engagement.

“And as they leave, they are leaving with the vehicles to start arrangements, such as sorting out the issue of deployment of their ad-hoc workers and other issues directly under them.

“Today, INEC chairman is going to be here and he is going to address all the electoral officers and assistant electoral officers.

“We are going to hold a stakeholders’ meeting. The IG will also attend, because security is very paramount.

“We want to make sure that the voters, our ad-hoc workers, the corps members and the students – that everybody is safe.”

To prevent rigging, Gaidam said, the number of election monitors was increased. Each local government will be manned by either a national commissioner or a REC from another state.

Edo dismisses police report on convoy crash

Police begin training of personnel From Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Jega, IG for Benin today

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HE Edo State Government has dismissed the police’s interim report on the investigation into the accident involving Governor Adam Oshiomhole’s convoy in which three reporters were killed.

Addressing reporters yesterday, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, said the police did not verify the authenticity of the claim that the truck driver and the owner of

the truck are card-carrying members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

“The police never asked for their ACN membership cards as proof to put the matter to rest”, he said.

He also questioned the shoddy handling of investigation of Thomas Orivboje believed to be a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who publicly confessed that “Oshiomhole escaped this

time, he won’t be that lucky next time”.

Obayuwana faulted the leakage of the interim report to the PDP national headquarters by the police before the duplicate copy of the case file got to his office, whose responsibility it is to prosecute.

“I wish to place on record that it was after Oliseh Metuh’s publication in the papers that I went to the police headquarters in Benin from where the investigating team

operated, to demand for the file.

“Metuh’s gloating flows from an apparent focus of the investigating team on the question of the party membership of those who may have had a hand in the attempt on Oshiomhole’s life where others died,” Obayuwana added.

The commissioner said: “Why did the investigating team not take a statement from the governor? “

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NEWS

Jos reels under curfew

J

OS, the Plateau State capital was yesterday a ghost of itself as residents stayed indoors to observe the curfew which initially was 6pm to 7am, but was later shifted to 6pm till 12noon.

Banks and other businesses on the ever-busy Ahmadu Bello Way and Murtala Mohammed Way were shut.

The popular Terminus and Abuja markets in the metropolis as well as the Old Airport axis, Zaria Road and Gada-Biu were unusually quiet. Some traders who came out locked their shops around 4:30pm so as to get home

From Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

before the 6pm curfew time.

Residents were discussing the latest event in the State with many decrying the actions of the assailants.

They believe the Federal Government should be involved in the matter, which they believe is a case of ethnic cleansing.

According to a human rights activist and Director of the Centre for Advocacy of Justice and Rights (CAJR), Mr. Gad Shamaki, the killings, the mass burial and the attack which claimed

the life of a Senator and the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly are clear indictment on the inability of the Special Task Force (STF) and the Federal Government to provide security for the citizens of Plateau State.

Shamaki added: “We are no longer safe as a people in this country and demand for the retirement of all security chiefs and for Mr. President to give us a road map on how he intends to solve the Plateau crises and other security issues in the northern part of the country, all within two weeks”.

He urged Plateau people

not to take the laws into their hands.

Mr. Godwin Okoko of Apurimac Onlus whose organisation has been collaborating with government and other stakeholders in finding lasting peace in the state, said: “This is really sad and disheartening”.

Okoko wondered what would become of the peacebuilding in the State.

“With all the efforts, look at the end result. Now who will believe and entertain the message of peace but I appeal to all citizens to take heart at this moment of great loss.”

Mark seeks end to killings Continued from page 2

Barkin Ladi Local government but nothing had been done to clear them till now.

“The illegal foreigners were left there to do whatever that pleases them and now they ‘ve done their worse” he said.

Mark was accompanied on the visit by his colleagues including Senators Andy Ubah, Chris Ngige, Emmanuel Bacha, and Victor Lar. Members of the House of Representatives including Ndudi Elumelu from Delta State and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Serah Ochekpe were also with him.

In a broadcast, Jang declared that Plateau is under siege by foreigners.

He said the spate of killings in Plateau is threatening the security of the country.

He said: “Today, several weeks and months before now, Northern Nigeria and indeed Plateau State, has witnessed deadly challenge to the people’s way of life, threatening our National Security.

“The guns and machetes that have dealt a heavy blow to the lives of innocent victims in our villages and cities say a lot about the threat to our collective security.

This threat on ordinary, de-

fenceless citizens is today a common danger to the people of Plateau State and Nigeria.

“The perpetrators of these attacks have shown that they are willing to resort to killing of children, women and the elderly and to embark on poisonous propaganda to bring Nigeria on its knees using ethnic and religious forms of mobilisation. As a state, in the comity of states, we do not have any aggressive purpose against anyone. We want only peace- peace for all people as no threat to the lives of anyone is concealed in our plans and pro-

grammes.

“The attacks are clearly a declaration of war on Plateau State orchestrated through well-trained militants who are not willing to live and let live, but to establish a terrorist base on the high grounds and hills of the Plateau.

“This destructive work even under a Federal imposed State-of-Emergency has reached a climax with the unfortunate death of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Member of the Plateau State House of Assembly among other innocent citizens.

EFCC may prosecute subsidy suspects

•Adoke Continued from page 2

“The issue of funding of the agencies especially the EFCC and the ICPC was also discussed, all these issues will be addressed”.

On whether the Federal Government was reviewing its strategy on fighting corruption, Adoke said: “Yes, we are coming out with a national strategy in the fight against corruption. And that strategy will involve the three arms of government.

“We discussed at length, got insight from each arm of government and we will meet again to review the issues that arose from today’s meeting and on the way forward”.

The President has come under attacks for not doing enough to curb corruption.

His refusal to declare his assets publicly has also been

criticised.

The president has promised to ensure that any individual or company found guilty in the subsidy report will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Yesterday’s meeting was chaired by the President. On the side of the Executive were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Secretary to Government of Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; Head of Service of the Federation Bello Sali, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi, Chairman EFCC, Chairman ICPC and Adoke.

President of the Senate David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, led the leadership of the National Assembly.

Others from the National Assembly include, Senate Leader and House Leader, the Senate Committee Chairman on Drugs Narcotics and Financial Crimes and his counterpart from the House of Representatives.

From the Judiciary came Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher, the acting President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of the Federal Capital Terrority (FCT), Lagos, Kaduna and Anambra states.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TODAY IN THE NATION

‘Here is a president with almost nothing to recommend him purporting to help a colourless PDP candidate overcome a high flying Adams Oshiomhole in the July 14 election.There surely must be a limit to presidential tomfoolery! ’ VOL. 7

NO.2,182

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

OME moments just cling in one’s memory.

Decades later, you can recall precisely where you were, whom you were with, and what you were doing.

The death of President-elect Moshood Abiola on July 7, 1998, was one such moment.

I was in my office at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, putting the finishing touches to a conference paper when the phone rang.

On the line from Texas was my former Rutam House colleague and pioneer editorial page editor of The Guardian, Dr Onwuchekwa Jemie, asking whether I could confirm that Abiola had died.

Abiola dead, when his release from detention seemed so imminent and his ascendancy to the presidency no longer inconceivable?

I had heard nothing to that effect, could not confirm it, but would check, I told Jemie.

Not much checking was required. The news was already posted on the most reliable Internet sources. Abiola had indeed died, right across the coffee table from an American delegation that had been dispatched to press him to give up his claim to the presidency – a claim based on his sweeping victory in the freest and fairest election Nigeria has ever witnessed – or will ever know if the present is any guide.

Before then, the Commonwealth had trotted out its Secretary-General, the prim and proper veteran Nigerian diplomat, Emeka Anyaoku, to Abuja to try to inveigle Abiola into disavowing his mandate. The United Kingdom and the European Union sent Tony Lloyd to Abuja for the same purpose. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan had run that same treacherous errand, to no avail.

Today, 14 years later, it is still not clear under what principle or authority, legal, moral or otherwise, these messengers undertook a mission so flagrantly subversive of everything the “international community” claims to stand for – a mission The Times (London), no great admirer of Abiola, called “shabby” in a June 29, 1998, editorial.

The death in mysterious circumstances of the loathsome dictator Sani Abacha a week earlier had filled me with a premonition that Abiola might be next, as their “final solution” to “the problem of June 12.” I felt a powerful urge to convey my fears to some of the leading lights of the resistance in Nigeria and the exile community and to urge them to raise an alarm.

My instincts rarely mislead me. However, given the issues at stake, I held back. On a matter of such gravity, instinct was no substitute for credible evidence. And I had not a scintilla of evidence.

Besides, since so much international attention was then focused on Abiola, it was

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The day President-elect Abiola died

•The late Abiola

‘The problems convulsing Nigeria today stem largely from its creation... and urgency they had rarely manifested. Until those issues are addressed in a spirit of honesty and sincerity, Nigeria will continue to conjure up the image of a stalled caterpillar, its antennae probing weakly in many directions, its body inert’

unlikely, I thought, that his safety would be compromised in any way. If anything, the attention seemed to guarantee it.

I was wrong. In retrospect, his elimination was already decreed. The script was merely unfolding.

Members of Abiola’s immediate family who had been allowed to see him only fleetingly, at long intervals, and always in the presence of security minders, were cleared to see him without any fuss. The party that visited him on July 7, 1998, comprised two of his wives, Bisi and Doyinsola, and his eldest child, Lola Edewor.

Three years in solitary confinement had

taken a toll on his health. But he was upbeat and looking forward to being re-united with them as a free man, confident that his release was imminent.

As they headed to Abuja airport to fly to Lagos, Bisi and Doyinsola had just two things on their minds: having enough time to get Abiola’s sprawling home in Opebi spruced up for his return, and preparing to cater to the multitudes that would throng the premises and indeed the entire neighbourhood when Abiola returned.

They were half-way to the airport when Doyinsola’s phone rang. The caller asked them to head back to Abuja, to the Presiden-

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Are you surprised? He’s a BREAD and BUTTER politician

HARDBALL

W

ORDS are not enough to condemn the massacre of innocent women and children in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, and the murder of Senator Gyang Dantong and House of Assembly Majority Leader, Gyang Fulani.

In all, between 100 and 150 persons may have been brutally slain by the killers.

No one has claimed responsibility, but given the pattern of the slaughter this is clearly the latest bloody chapter in the cycle of revenge attacks between local Berom and Fulani herdsmen.

While the nation reels with shock, we must steel ourselves for further attacks unless something drastic is done to halt the killings.

What has been happening is each side tries to exact a greater revenge toll on its enemies.

This pattern has been going on for the past few years, and there is nothing to suggest that it is about to come to an end soon. It seems as if we are dealing with a sub-species of humans who have lost all feeling, and become inured to any appeal to reason. They live only to exact revenge – no matter how long it takes.

Sadly, the authorities appear to have become overwhelmed by the conflict. What we see is the management of the latest outburst of

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

tial Villa.

Could it be that the authorities had decided to release Abiola so that he and his family could return to Lagos together? Having lived through so many disappointments and heartbreaks, they suppressed the thought. But they saw the summons to return to Abuja as a good sign.

What confronted them when they were ushered into the clinic at the Presidential Villa was Abiola’s lifeless body laid out on a stretcher, his nostrils stuffed with cotton balls. Not four hours had passed since they saw him hearty, if not hale.

Abiola had reportedly slumped and then died literally across the coffee table from a United States delegation comprising a special envoy, Thomas Pickering, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, and U. S. Ambassador to Nigeria, William Twadell, with a remit to talk Abiola out of his claim to being president-elect.

With a haste that would have been considered flagrantly indecent in the United States and indeed in any country claiming to subscribe to higher ideals and to due process, Ambassador Twadell declared, virtually on the spot, that Abiola appeared to have died from “natural causes.”

In a macabre twist, the clothes Abiola was wearing at the time he reportedly collapsed were passed on to his running mate in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

You do not have to belong in the ranks of those who are forever peddling conspiracy theories to see in the circumstances of Abiola’s death the marks of premeditation, the design of a “final solution” to “June 12.”

But “June 12” encompasses far more than the presidential election held on that day in 1993. The winner is no longer with us in the flesh, but his spirit lives on. So does “June 12,” in all its haunting ramifications.

The problems convulsing Nigeria today stem largely from its creation. The “June 12” debacle defined those problems sharply as never before, and imbued them with a clarity and urgency they had rarely manifested.

Until those issues are addressed in a spirit of honesty and sincerity, Nigeria will continue to conjure up the image of a stalled caterpillar, its antennae probing weakly in many directions, its body inert.

If Abiola had yielded to the perverse entreaties of agents of the “international community,” if he had traded the sovereign mandate of the people for his freedom, he most certainly would not have come to such a grisly end.

But then, he would not have attained the status of hero of democracy he is accorded today by millions of Nigerians whose trust and mandate he refused to betray.

There is no greater honour.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Plateau: One massacre too many killings. When the shootings stop, and the gunmen melt away into the dark, we drift back into a false sense of security – only to be surprised by another vicious ambush that reopens wounds that are still very raw.

In between each episode of bloodletting we go through the motions of inquiry.

Reports are written and white papers published all to no avail. These killings are not responding to whatever panacea the government has proffered. They have become cancerous and demand something radical. The question is: are we ready to do what is necessary? Are we not content to continue living in denial – mouthing platitudes about national oneness?

President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly “ordered” security agencies to fish out the killers behind the Barkin Ladi atrocities. The directive is laughable because years of Federal Government intervention has not “fished” out a single villain.

Each time these killings occur we end up speculating about those responsible. Years of these genocidal activities have not yielded

any credible intelligence about the perpetrators or their sponsors. A few hapless foot soldiers have been apprehended occasionally, but never the evil warlords who plan and finance these dark operations.

What is especially depressing is that this horrific slaughter took place despite the best efforts of the Special Task Force (STF) which claimed to have killed about 20 of the attackers. The question if under the noses of the supposed protective force over 100 unarmed villagers could be so casually massacred, how far would the killers have gone without any resistance?

Something is not working. If the STF cannot protect the villagers then it should be disbanded. What is required at this point is quality intelligence that frustrates these roaming bands of killers before they strike again.

But more importantly this nation needs to sit together to discuss whether the forced cohabitation of communities which hate themselves this much can continue for much longer.

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