November 06,2014

Oyo: PDP may cancel results NEWS Page 7

•‘No room for irregularities’

Newspaper of the Year

News Fashola: 1.4m voter cards missing? P6 Sports Uche promises goals for Eagles P24 Business FEC okays $942m foreign loan P6

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3024 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Republicans take over U.S. Senate, House

Continued on page 68

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Boko Haram steals dynamites from Ashaka Cement factory

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RESIDENT Barack Obama faces a political rebuke and a curb on his policy ambitions after Republicans seized control of the United States Senate and captured their biggest majority in the House of Representatives in more than 60 years.

Tuesday’s midterm elections gave Republicans control of both houses of Congress for the first time since elections in 2006 and the first time since Obama entered the White House nearly six years ago.

•www.thenationonlineng.net

B

•Obama

OKO Haram fighters are set for more lethal attacks after carting away on Tuesday eight truck loads of dynamites from a cement factory near Gombe, the Gombe State capital.

The sect’s fighters also robbed a bank on Tuesday af-

From Yusuf Alli and Grace Obike, Abuja ter attacking Nafada where they blew up a police station and the local secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Nafada is 150 kilometres from Gombe. Many peo-

ple were killed by the attackers who rode into the town on more than 50 motorcycles.

Also shot dead was a cleric, Sheik Adamu Misira, whose home was invaded.

The invaded Ashaka CeContinued on page 4

•INSIDE: T.B. JOSHUA MUST COME, CORONER INSISTS P10 EFCC RECOVERS N5B SUBSIDY CASH P2

Tinubu to Jonathan: go Kwara governor to contest again

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From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan got some home truth yesterday – he should resign for failing to tame the insecurity monster shaking Nigeria.

That was the position of All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed announced his plan to run for a second term in office.

A huge crowd attended the rally.

At the ceremony were former Head of State and APC’s presidential aspirant General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, governors of Imo, Rivers, Kano, Sokoto and Edo states —Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Chibuike Amaechi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko and Adams Oshiomhole.

Others include House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bukola Saraki, former governors of Kwara and Ekiti states, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi and Dr Kayode Fayemi, APC’s spokesperson Lai Mohammed, Board of Trustees member Abubakar K. Baraje and Assembly Speaker Razak Atunwa etc .

Said Tinubu: “I saw the sea of displaced persons caused by the Boko Haram insurgents and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you.

“They are lying about the security; toying

?

Continued on page 4

WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?

•THE BR OOM REV OL UTION HITS KW ARA: Ahmed (right) and Okorocha addressing the rally...yesterday.

BROOM REVOL OLUTION KWARA:

‘

If you... are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces...why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses everyday. In any civilised country, Jonathan should resign

’

PDP crises: Senators’ face-off with President deepens STORY ON PAGE 4

APC kicks as Senate adjourns again Talks set for Aso Villa

•E-BUSINESS P13 •POLITICS P15 •SPORTS P24 •EDUCATION P25 •N/HEALTH P53 •FOREIGN P68

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

2

NEWS

How AMCON, N •Oil subsidy scam: EFCC recovers N5b

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• From left: MD, Shelter Afrique, James Mugerwa; MD/CEO, Wema Bank, Segun Oloketuyi and Company Secretary Wole Ajimisinmi at the signing of the $10million development finance facility granted Wema Bank for real estate and mortgage PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA financing in Lagos.

•From left: Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya, Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Health Prof Npoluwosu Hunsu during health care and waste management PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA summit in Lagos...yesterday.

•From left: Vice-President Systems, Oracle Nigeria, Tom Pengume, Managing Director, Oracle Nigeria, Adebayo Sanni and Country Managing Director, Accenture, Niyi Yusuf, at Accenture/ Oracle customer appreciation and award dinner in PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA Lagos...yesterday.

•From left: Mosunmola Ojo of Accenture, Noble Business and Systems Integration Manager, Accenture Nigeria, Funke Olakanmi, Chairman, Nigerian Computer Society, Ogun State chapter, Dr Bukola Onoshoga and Marketing Communications Manager, Accenture, Anthonia Akue at the 6th annual NCS information technology development programme in Otta, Ogun State.

HE House of Representatives Committee on Finance yesterday chided the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and the Budget Office to desist from indulging in unconstitutional practice of dictating the amount of operating surplus to be paid by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The Committee also named defaulting MDAs which refused to remit their operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Asset Management Corporation (AMCON), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

In a bid to halt the trend, Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jibrin, gave the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) a 7-day ultimatum to send the list of defaulting ministries, departments and agencies which refused to remit their operating surpluses to the government coffers.

The lawmaker was responding to complaints by the acting Chairman of the Commission, Victor Muruako who stated that some agencies of government are refusing to submit their records of remittances to the commission.

Jibrin while , while expressing worry over the decline in the international price of crude oil, said there is a need to look inwards and therefore urged the Commission to muster the required will-power to discharge its statutory functions.

“Now, all the challenges that we are facing in the country is because of the leakages we have in our revenue, otherwise, I keep saying if we look inwards in the country, we have enough resources, we have a lot of money in the system. And so, when you’re not equipping the agency that has the responsibility to serve as a watchdog to this process, I don’t think you’re doing much good to the country.

“You are mentioning NCC and others, what about the NNPC which is the biggest culprit in this conspiracy against the country?

AMCON, NIMASA have all been on our radar for so many years. They claimed to be operating at a loss. The rate of non-remittances from the NNPC alone is ridiculous.

“As for AMCON and NIMASA, they have been claiming to run at a loss year-in year-out, but now that AMCON is making profits from the sale of banks and other businesses, you should follow them up and ask for their financial statement and record of their remittances.

“One other notorious agency which puts up a holier than-thou attitude but with a very hazy fiscal behaviour is the Financial Reporting Council. They are doing the job that the Commission should be doing.

Their activities are supposed to be under the radars of the Commission.

The Committee has received hundreds of petitions concerning the malfeasance that is going on there.

Go after them and make sure that they know their boundaries.”

The lawmaker chided the practice whereby the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General of the federation and the Budget Office tell agencies what to pay into the con-

• From right: Jubrin, Muruako and Hon. Peter Edeh during a visit to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

From Yusuf Alli,Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

solidated Revenue Fund. ”The Accountant-General of the federation and the Ministry of Finance do not have the power to tell any agency what to pay into government coffers. The law is clear on it.

The fiscal responsibility commission is the agency that determines what agencies pay,” he said.

Muruako spoke of the need to amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 to bestow the power to prosecute and sanction any defaulting agencies on the Commission He said: “We need the powers to prosecute and punish offenders of fiscal responsibility. Countries who have gone ahead to make progress in their economies are those who pay adequate attention to their fiscal responsibility regimes. Agencies have succeeded in making government look like an orphan through their attitude towards the Commission in a manner that they doctor their account books using different methods to defraud government.

“We have had issues with the NCC (Nigeria Communications Commission) until the Committee intervened and they paid N22.9 billion for 2007 and 2010. The last N2 billion was paid in April. We are yet to look at their books for 2011 and 2013. Agencies are in the habit of declaring loses even before our team of experts go to check their books.

Some of them have formed the habit of not respecting this Commission.

NAFDAC has also refused to pay returns, saying that the Commission would soon be closed down.”

According to him, the budgetary allocation for capital projects for the Commission declined from N220 million in 2009 to N53 million in 2014. He pleaded for the support of the lawmakers for additional funding to allow the Commission carry out its statutory duties.

Also yesterday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has recovered over N5billion from those involved in the oil subsidy scandal.

The commission also said 40 persons and organisations are still on trial for the subsidy scam.

The only exception is the Managing Director of Fargo Energy Limited, Seun Ogunbambo, who was docked for stealing N4.5 billion in

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

3

NEWS

NNPC, NIMASA cheated Fed Govt, by Reps

‘

The NNPC... is the biggest culprit in this conspiracy against the country...

AMCON, NIMASA have all been on our radar for so many years. They claimed to be operating at a loss

bogus subsidy claims.

The suspect , who absconded after he was granted bail by the court, had been declared wanted by the commission.

Besides, the EFCC said it is prosecuting 441 persons for crude oil theft and pipelines vandalisation.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren made the disclosures in Abuja while responding to questions from newsmen at the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies

(FOSSRA/I-Nigerian Initiative.

He said 71 oil thieves had been jailed by various courts including 45 Nigerians, 10 Ghanaians, 13 Philippines, 10 Indians, two Togolese, one Cameroonian and one Myanmar.

Uwujaren said: “As we speak, the commission has recovered over N5 billion from persons implicated in the subsidy scam, even as it intensifies effort to bring more suspects to book. ”A few months ago, two Indians, Sailesh Kumor Singh, Chadrashekar

Sharma were jailed after successful prosecution by the Commission. The duo were among 12 suspected oil thieves arrested in Brass, Bayelsa State in 2012 by the JTF with 157,822 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

“The two Indians bagged 15 years jail term. Beside that, a total of 71 persons have been convicted for oil theft which include 45 Nigerians, 10 Ghanaians, 13 Filipinos, three Indians, two Togolese, one Camerounian and one Myanmar.

“In the ongoing oil subsidy cases,

‘

one of the major kingpins, Seun Ogunbambo, Managing Director of Fargo Energy Limited who was docked for allegedly stealing N4.5 billion in bogus subsidy claims has absconded and disappeared from the shores of Nigeria and has consequently been declared wanted.

“Also, one Azmat Mahmood, a German citizen of Pakistani extraction has also been declared wanted after allegedly using his company Nimex Petroleum Limited to defraud the federal government of over N1.3

billion in a bogus subsidy deal.”

He also allayed fears that the prosecution of other politically exposed persons may have been halted and confirmed that the son of former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mahmud Tukur and Abdulahi Alao, a son of late Alhaji Arisekola Alao among others were still ongoing.

On why politically exposed persons facing charges of corruption were allowed to vie for elective offices, Uwujaren however, said the commission was “not in a position to give an advisory on whether individual undergoing prosecution for financial crimes are allowed to stand for elections. ”It is left to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make that decision,” he added.

On reforms in the commission, he said the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde had lived up to his pledge to re-professionalize the agency.

Uwujaren said: “One of the strategies which he promised to deploy in tackling the issue of integrity was the introduction of polygraph test for officers and new employees. As we speak, the Commission now has state-of-the-art polygraph equipment with a crop of polygraph examiners trained at the American International Institute of Polygraph in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

“New and old staff of the Commission are now regularly subjected to polygraph test in a determined effort to ensure that they do not deviate from the core values of the Commission, which are courage, professionalism and integrity.

“Fortunately, public and institutional confidence are being restored in the EFCC with relationship with international law enforcement organizations and development partners experiencing a rebound.”

‘Naira may be devalued as oil price slumps’

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HERE may be devaluation of the naira as a result of the drop in global oil prices, Reuters reported yesterday.

Nigeria, the continent’s top producer, relies on oil for only 14 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) but crude makes up 95 percent of foreign exchange and about 80 percent of government revenues, both of which have shrunk rapidly as Brent crude lost more than a quarter of its value since June.

Foreign portfolio investors fearing heavy losses on the currency have pulled out — the main share index hit a 16-month low and the yield on government bonds rose 10 basis points on Wednesday.

The naira has lost around 4 percent this year, prompting the central bank to hold frequent additional dollar sales and lower the limit on banks’ foreign currency borrowing in efforts to prop it up.

At around 167 to the dollar, it is well outside the central bank’s target band of 3 percent plus or minus 155 to the dollar. The last

time it was in the target range was in late January.

Foreign reserves fell rapidly from a peak of $48.9 billion in May 2013 to just $36 billion in June. They have since rebounded slightly and are currently around $38.3 billion.

Despite these losses, analysts say that a devaluation before the elections, when President Goodluck Jonathan will seek a second term, would be so unpopular that it’s unlikely unless oil prices, now at $82 a barrel, tumble further and force the bank’s hand.

“It will take some time of relatively low prices … before you see foreign reserves really being gobbled up,” Matthew Searle, senior African analyst at Business Monitor International, said.

“If oil prices fall further to the $60s or $70s a barrel, then the central bank will become the main source of dollars,” and will have to decide for how long it can keep up the fight.

At what point it throws in the towel is hard to tell.

Alan Cameron, London-based economist at Nigeria’s First City Monument Bank, thinks reserves would likely have to slide to close to $30 billion before a “last resort” devaluation would be considered.

The last time the bank lowered its target range for the currency was in late 2011 after the naira came under speculative attack and tight monetary policy failed to defend it.

“FISCAL EXPANSION” In addition to a weak currency, Nigeria faces an increasing squeeze on its government finances.

Finance Minister Ngozi Okonko-Iweala told journalists last week that “Nigeria is not broke”, and analysts agree the country is a long way from struggling to meet its commitments.

Yet a squeeze on funding is being felt. A source at the national assembly said money for projects is not being dispersed as easily as before oil prices fell. An official at a construction company, who declined to be named, said payments for a number of projects are in ar-

rears.

Oil analysts do not anticipate Brent recovering to over $100/bl with an average of $93.70/bl expected in 2015. A production cut by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) seems unlikely.

Oil producers have become accustomed to high oil prices, which have held largely above $100/bl since the Arab Spring in 2011, and all are having to adjust to the new climate.

“There was significant fiscal expansion since 2010 as they were used to much higher oil prices, which makes the current price really problematic,” Samir Gadio, Head of Africa Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank in London, said.

“You really wonder how they will cope if prices stay at $85-90 a barrel and sustain the existing position,” he said, adding that even with prices at $100 a barrel it would struggle.”

Boko Haram’s financier jailed 10 years with hard labour

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HE Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a Boko Haram financier to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour.

He was among four suspects secretly tried before Justice Saliu Saidu.

It was learnt that their names are Adamu Mohammed, Mohammed Mustapha, Bura Husseni and Mohammed Ibrahim.

Due to the secret trial, reporters were not allowed to cover the judgment.

A source, however, said three of the accused persons were released.

The suspects were said to have been prosecuted by Mr. P. Okerinmodu on behalf of the government.

The defendants were brought to

By Joseph Jibueze

court under heavy security.

Armed agents of Department of State Security (DSS) escorted them.

Other hooded operatives mounted guard at the court’s entrances.

Before the judgment, everyone was ordered out of the courtroom, except the court’s registrars and prosecution and defence lawyers.

Another judge of the court, Justice Ibrahim Buba, on Sept 30, also sentenced three Boko Haram members to 25 years in jail each.

Justice Buba, on December 3 last year, barred journalists from covering the trial of 17 suspected members of

the Islamic sect.

The judge made the order following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ade Ipaye.

The accused were Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, Musa Audu, Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.

The Attorney-General, it was learnt, had entered a nolle prosequi (Latin for “do not prosecute”) in respect of two of the defendants, who were subse-

quently discharged.

Later, another 11 were also discharged in the course of the trial following another nolle prosequi by the prosecution.

Only four - the first to fourth defendants - went through a full trial.

The suspects were first charged with 18 count of conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and being members of a proscribed organisation.

They allegedly committed the offences on March 21 last year, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and at No. 24, Oyegbeni Street, Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-Iganmu, Lagos.

They were alleged to have in their

possession three packets of explosive construction pipes, 15 detonators, and 11 AK47 rifles with 30 rounds of live ammunitions.

Other items also alleged to have been found in their possession include 200 rounds of 7.6 mm live ammunition, two suit cases containing explosives, and a water container filled with explosives.

The offences committed contravened provisions of Sections 13(2) and 17(b) of the Terrorism Act 2013.

It also contravenes Sections 1, 8, 27 (1) (a) and (b) of the Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation, 2004, and punishable under Section 8 of the same act.

la

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Boko Haram steals dynamites from Ashaka Cement factory Continued from page 1

•From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; President John Mahama (Ghana); President Macky Sall (Senegal) and UN Chief Ban KiMoon’s special envoy for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, at a meeting in Ouagadougou on the political crisis in BukinaFaso…yesterday.

PDP crises: Senators’ face-off with Jonathan deepens

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HE face-off between the Peoples Democratic (PDP) senators and President Goodluck Jonathan over the ward congresses of the party deepened yesterday.

Seething with anger, the majority PDP Senators forced the adjournment of plenary till next Tuesday.

On Tuesday, after returning from recess, the senators adjourned without doing any legislative work in plenary till yesterday, only to adjourn again.

But the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) senators kicked, describing the sudden adjournment as “selfish and uncalled for”.

Signs that the Senate might be adjourned as threatened by PDP senators on Tuesday emerged early yesterday when some of them were seen holding group meetings.

Senate President David Mark, who presided, merely read a prepared address on his intention to intervene in the crisis rocking the House of Representatives over the adjournment of the lower chamber for about one month.

After the short address, Mark informed the senators that a meeting of the PDP Caucus in the Senate would hold immediately.

Thereafter, he signaled to Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba to move for adjournment.

2015 poll: President may not bow to PDP governors

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan may not bow to the wishes of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who are trying to hijack the 2015 polls nominations, it was learnt yesterday.

Jonathan and PDP are working on alternatives which the governors might pick from to allow peace to reign in the party.

It was gathered that the Presidency and the party will checkmate the excesses of some of the governors to avoid going to the 2015 general elections with a divided house.

The President summoned PDP senators to an emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa last night.

One of the options on the table to pacify senators is a recommendation by Senate President David Mark that the party should either retain two senators per state, or at worst, one PDP senator in each state.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The President and the PDP are worried that governors have decided to nominate their successors, seek senatorial tickets, influence choice of National and State Assembly members, and determine ministerial nominees and board appointees if the President is re-elected in February.

But the President and his strategists have concluded that the governors cannot have their way because it would amount to surrendering the party’s structure to them.

A source in the Presidency said: “What the governors are saying is that they want a figurehead President and would be in control of party structure. In a democracy, it does not work out this way.

Continued on page 67

The Senate Leader promptly complied and moved that the 12 items on the Order Paper be stood down till another legislative day.

The PDP senators moved to Room 1 venue of the closeddoor meeting.

After the over one hour meeting, the Senators made no comments. Ndoma-Egba told reporters that the parley was a continuation of the one they held on Tuesday over the party’s ward congresses.

He said: “I am sure that you

are aware that the PDP caucus met yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday) on fundamental issues affecting democracy in Nigeria, arising from the ward congresses of our party last Saturday.

“The issue needed to be addressed very urgently by relevant PDP stakeholders in the interest of our democracy.”

A Senator who attended the meeting said part of their resolution was to meet with President Jonathan, PDP Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and members of the party’s National Working Committee. That meeting was slated for last night.

He said the parley was scheduled for the Presidential Villa on the assumption that the President would return from his trip to Burkina Faso.

He said the senators were insisting on the cancellation of congresses where they were allegedly schemed out.

Another senator, who also attended the meeting said: “It is not a hidden fact. The meeting is in furtherance of the protest of senators against the violation of the processes of the ward congress.

‘Senators are endangered, we

that this is a party of the masses.

“You had not seen Bukola and myself mounting the same podium campaigning for the same party before this time. This is a new beginning. This is a time of good things and tidings from us. We have brought good luck and commonsense revolution.

“Now it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about your lives. It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Anything affecting any section of this country affects all of us.

“I want to thank all of you. Let me forget the protocol, because you are the voters. You are the people who must vote. We bring the greetings and respect of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and the entire APC states in Nigeria.

“What I want to beg of you is to be ready to defend for change. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office as he has performed creditably, just like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki.”

Tambuwal said APC’s ad-

ministration at all levels would engender prosperity and eradicate poverty.

The Speaker added that: “By voting APC at the centre, you will be voting for prosperity and eradication of poverty.

What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is not governance, but mis-governance. We are witnessing a system that does not have the interest of the people of this country at heart. It is also incumbent on us as a people to turn en-masse and vote out Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015. That will bring peace, progress and development of Nigeria.

“In Kwara State your political history is very rich. You have had the foundation of the political struggle of this state laid by our late leader, Dr Olusola Saraki. This structure that is being sustained by God Almighty has always delivered Kwara to the right place. I believe that this time around, there will not be anything different.

“With the support of the people of the state, APC shall form 100 per cent the government in the state from the local council to state Assembly and to the Government House.

Eventually and ultimately, the state has always been pro-

viding leadership in the politics of this country.

“When it comes to presidential elections, I am sure that the state will provide such leadership to the extent that we shall deliver this country to the government at the centre to APC.” Amaechi said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not have God. Said he: “I am very impressed with the number of persons that I have seen here today. What you must do is to stop PDP from rigging us. You must go out that day to stop them from rigging us. When you vote, do not go home at all.

They will bring soldiers and police, remain there. If they want to kill us, let them kill us.

If you go home, you will hear a different result. Stay there and make sure that nobody rigs you out.

“They have soldiers and police, they do not have God. God is in APC. That is the problem they have and once God is in APC, and we work with God, we shall defeat them.You know your governor will do better, if you have an APC presidential candidate who wins the next election.

“The reason is that currently, they are stealing money. The money we should use

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Continued on page 67

ment, a Lafarge-owned firm, set up in 1974, is the largest cement factory in Northern Nigeria, which has about 500 direct employees – some of them expatriates.

The gunmen stormed the site at about 3pm, according to a worker, Amadu Wunti, who said they looted high explosives and demanded to be taken to where expatriate managers stay.

Wunti identified the expatriates as French nationals but the Lafarge group said it did not comment on its foreign staff for security reasons.

At the time, the plant was mostly empty, with staff having run to safety when news spread that the gunmen were coming after the raid in Nafada, which left at least 10 dead, according to residents.

Abubakar Galda and Awwal Ibrahim said five soldiers were killed at a checkpoint and four worshippers were shot dead at a mosque with the town’s most senior cleric.

Wunti’s account was supported by several others, including another staff member, who said: “They [the militants]

pulled out after the raid. They did not hurt or kidnap anyone.

“But they took eight company vehicles and lots of dynamite used in quarry work. The attackers, which included young women, broke into the store and loaded dynamite into the vehicles and drove off.”

Nafada is near the boundary with Yobe, a state under a state of emergency since May last year because of insurgency.

The violence would be consistent with Boko Haram’s recent pattern of striking south of their stronghold in the northeast, where it is attempting to carve out a hardline Islamic state.

The attack happened after a triple bombing at a bus station in Gombe city, last week, which killed no fewer than eight people and injured dozens of others.

Suspected militants on Sunday used dynamite to blast open a jail in Kogi State, where Boko Haram prisoners are believed to be held, allowing 132 to escape.

Boko Haram funds its operations in part through bank robberies and has previously Continued on page 67

Finance ministry witholds allocations to security agencies

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HE battle against Boko Haram appears to be suffering a setback, with the non-release of third quarter allocations to security agencies by the Ministry of Finance.

Hit by the cash crunch are the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA); the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

It was learnt that the delay in releasing the allocations is slowing down operations in the Northeast.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The development has created disquiet in the agencies which are coordinating counter-insurgency measures and providing intelligence gathering for troops fighting Boko Haram.

But a presidential intervention is being sought.

By the 2014 Appropriation Act, the allocations to the agencies amount to N109, 753,430,742.

The breakdown is as follows: Continued on page 67

RETRACTION OF DISCLAIMER PUBLICATION This is an apology to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Plateau State and specifically, Mr Haruna G Garba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police for wrongful use of the logo, letter head of the State CID, Jos, name of Mr. Garba and address of the Nigeria Police in the publication of a disclaimer notice issued by NASCO FOOD LTD in respect of Michael Dele Oladunjoye. The advertisement was published on page 60 of yesterday’s edition.

The said names, logo and letter head were used in error.

Tinubu to Jonathan: resign now or be voted out in 2015 Continued from page 1

about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.

“But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation?

And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country, Jonathan should resign. But if he will not resign, he should wait for our broom, we will sweep them.

“I will come back. This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God, with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of the lives of our children.

“The thieves that daily steal your money have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers’ salaries.

The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.

It now behooves you to begin a house-to-house campaign

in building our schools, more hospitals, more transport and other amenities, they are putting it in their pockets. They are taking the money to South Africa.

“We thank God we saw small; you do not know the ones we are not seeing. So, let’s vote them out so that we can vote in a better president from APC and our money will remain here. Can’t we manufacture our own guns? Why can’t we?

“Mubi has been over-run by 30 to 40 young boys who are not trained as soldiers? It simply shows that we are not funding our military. It is time to fund our military because our military has the capacity to chase away these boys. But we need to treat our military with respect and with necessary support and we will win them.

“This is the time to say the truth. The problem with the other party is that they do not know the truth and they do not say the truth at all. If a man does well, what do you tell him? You tell him ‘thank you’, is that not? And that is what we are here to do to tell your governor thank you.”

Kwankwaso said: “We are removing the incompetent government in Abuja. By voting for APC, we are bringing

in employment for our young men and women, we are voting for peace, development in Kwara and in Nigeria.”

Ahmed promised to accelerate the development of the state – if re-elected.

“By the grace of God and with your mandate, we intend to accelerate the development of our state when re-elected.

“I will boost local economy through the establishment of an Independent Power Project (IPP) that will power industrial clusters across the state, stimulate jobs and improve power supply to our communities.

“By the grace of God, we will upscale our Education Reforms, with the complete overhaul and modernisation of 120 secondary schools across the state as we start the process of benchmarking our schools against global best practice.

“In terms of physical infrastructure, we will connect more of our communities with urban and rural roads, including roads designated as Federal, thus opening up our state for greater development.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

5

NEWS

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‘Jonathan not interested in stopping Boko Haram’

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the ceasefire deal between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram insurgents may have been a decoy to re-equip the insurgents and give them more advantage.

The party claimed that the country’s unfolding events showed that President Goodluck Jonathan is more interested in his second term bid than in protecting the lives of the people of the Northeast.

Its National Vice Chairman, Northeast, Babachir David Lawal, at a news conference in Abuja, said in view of the government’s posture about events in the Northeast, political office-holders from the region in Jonathan’s government should resign.

He explained that they should not continue serving a government that did not care about the security and safety of their people.

Lawal queried: “Who will defend our people and our land while all of us are holed up in far away Abuja as refugees?”

The APC chieftain lamented that while the president was busy planning his re-election, people were being wiped out by the Boko

•‘President concerned only with second term bid’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Haram insurgents He called on all sons and daughters of the Northeast to stand up for the region.

His words: “If we continue to remain silent, who will speak for our people? Now that the government has abandoned the region, who will defend it other than ourselves?

“We are completely devastated and traumatised by Boko Haram insurgency. Our farmlands, schools and all forms of commercial activities have been abandoned, thus rendering our future bleak.

“Our sons are being massacred daily while our daughters are taken into slavery or married off to depraved, uneducated and evil people, who place no value on life.

Our elders are either forcefully converted to their satanic brand of Islam or killed.

“In executing their evil and primitive brand of justice in the territories they occupy, they chop off hands and stone people to death.

“And they keep on expanding,

winning territories with ease. Just within the last one week alone, towns in Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno have come under attack, leading to nearly 100 deaths.

Yet, there isn’t a word from the Federal Government either in sympathy or condemnation of anyone.

“They are too busy planning the President’s re-election declaration. So, anything else like Boko Haram killing Nigerians and capturing territory is an irritating distraction.”

He added: “Just a few weeks ago before the invasion of Mubi North, Mubi South, and parts of Hong Local Government Area (LGA), the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Bade, an indigene of Mubi North LGA, announced a ceasefire with Boko Haram.

“Embedded in the ceasefire announcement was an implied threat of dire consequences for any Nigerian soldier that dared to violate the terms of the ceasefire ‘agreement’.

“Prior to that, our soldiers had started massing on the outskirts of Uba town, making the citizens to believe that they were prepar-

ing a campaign to retake Bazza, Michika, Shuwa, Madagali and Gulak, which had by then been under occupation for close to three months.”

Lawal argued that the ceasefire announcement and heightened military movements gave the Northeast people a false sense of security, encouraging them to return to their homes to become sitting ducks for Boko Haram a few days later.

He noted that last week, solders ran away on sighting an advancing column of Boko Haram fighters, “leaving behind their weapons.”

Giving a clearer picture of the tragedy, he explained that Mubi, the latest and largest town to fall to Boko Haram, is the second largest town in Adamawa State.

He said that it was a commercial town with a Federal Polytechnic, a state university and a state College of Science and Laboratory Technology.

“It is the hometown of Mr. Bonie Haruna, minister of Youth Development; Hajia Zainab Maina, minister of Women Affairs; Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde, executive

C

•Acting Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Victor Muruako (left); Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Dr. Jubrin Abdulmumin; and Head, Monitoring and Evaluation, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Mashood Ola PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE Tijani, during a visit to the commission in Abuja...yesterday.

Fish out saboteurs, Oritsejafor urges military

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HERE are many people in the military sabotaging the war against Boko Haram, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejafor said yesterday.

The military, he argued, would not succeed, if those he described as “bad eggs” are not fished out and expelled.

Pastor Oritsejafor, who spoke in Abuja at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of CAN, lamented that Boko Haram had taken over the Northeast, with many residents being killed.

He stressed that the insurgency “is a religious war”, adding that “there are people, even in the international community, who will not want to see Nigeria remain as one. They would do anything to a divide this nation. They would prefer divided Nigeria than a united Nigeria.”

The CAN president reminded the military that the Boko Haram insurgents were not willing to cease fire until they win or get killed.

Pastor Oritsejafor said CAN had succeeded in restraining

• CAN raises N20m for victims of terrorism

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Christians “and we will continue to restrain them.”

“We need help. We want a nation, where everyone is equal; where everyone respects the constitution”.

His words: “The way out is that all well-meaning Nigerians must pray and continue to pray. We cannot stop praying because that is all we have. I will not join those condemning our security agencies because they are also Nigerians. It is a terrible situation for them too. But having said that, I want to challenge the military that they can do better.

“One of the things they must do, which we have been saying for a long time, is to continue to fish out those who are sabotaging their efforts.

They are within them (the military) and they must after fishing them out, expel them from all the agencies. They are in all the agencies of the military.

“This is very vital because

no matter the plan the military has, if the military have people within the system that are undermining the system, working against the system, then the system cannot succeed. It is important that what they have started, they should continue and finish in the sense that there are too many people destroying the military formation.”

Pastor Oritsejafor said he was told that when people start Jihad, they must complete it, “they do not cease fire; they go on with it until they accomplish their goal”.

He added: “If you listen to what Shekau 1 or 2 or 3 said recently that they will never cease fire; he said they would fight until they either win or they die.

“The military must know that the people we are dealing with are not people who are looking for a ceasefire. May God help anyone involved in any ceasefire deal. They are too many; they are there.

Nigerians, we are hypocrites.

We know the truth, but we do

not like facing it.

“What is happening in the Northeast is totally unacceptable to us. The level of madness and killing going on there is unfortunate.

Christians are suffering most.

We are being killed like goats.

We have many churches burnt down. We hear of pastors, their wives and children slaughtered.

Businesses destroyed; homes burnt down.

“We are not saying other people are not affected, but we are saying majorly Christians are. All the places where these mad men have raised their flags are all predominantly Christian communities.

“If you doubt it, go and investigate. The latest one is Mubi, they have changed the name to ‘A city captured by Islam’ and tomorrow somebody will tell me that this is not religion. Who is fooling who? Let us as Nigerians stop pretending. We have a serious problem and we have to face the fact that we have a serious problem.”

chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC); Alhaji Bello Sali, former head of Service of the Federation, and Senator Mohammed Umar Bindo.

“Vimtim, the home town of Badeh, is less than 10 kilometres away while Maj.-Gen. John Zaruwa hails from Bazza, some 25 kilometres away from Mubi.

“Now, if these eminent people - all of them PDP members except Senator Bindo and perhaps Badeh and Zaruwa - are unable to get the Federal Government to defend a town inhabited by their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins nephews, inlaws and childhood friends, who can?” he said.

He said a majority of the population of Mubi town and outlying villages were now stranded in the mountains, forests and villages in Cameroon without means of communication, food, water, shelter or medicine for the sick. ”Please help us tell Nigerians that the Northeast needs the help of its government. We need the help of our President so that our relations and friends can return to their homes, farmlands, schools and businesses. Is this too much to ask of our President?” he pleaded.

‘Babangida responsible for Nigeria’s woes’

HAIRMAN of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof.

Chidi Odinkalu has accused former Military President Ibrahim Babangida of being responsible for the numerous woes that have befallen the country.

Prof. Odinkalu spoke yesterday at the 20th anniversary lecture of a non-governmental organisation, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Awareness (PRAWA) in Abuja.

He alleged: “Hold President Ibrahim Babangida because he is the source of our problems. He corrupted democracy and democratised corruption.”

The human rights crusader accused Babangida of democratising violence.

“Babangida violated our country and democratised violence. And today, we are living with the consequences,” he noted.

He explained that the former military president, during his regime, propounded the “centrenal theory” that centralised everything, adding that the sole purpose of it was “regime security” at the detriment of the country.

“He centralised prisons, police, criminal justice, prosecution and everything.

The underpinning theory behind all of these was regime security.

“The problem we have today in our prisons system and our criminal justice system goes back to that doctrine of 1986.”

Odinkalu said: “I wish Babangida lives longer to be able to see the consequences of what he did to Nigeria.”

He lamented that Nigerians were being massacred daily.

“Communities are being wiped out,” he said.

The Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, recalled how her organisation in 1994, began the task of prisons rehabilitation campaign in Nigeria.

She relived the challenges and called the government to support PRAWA’s initiative to transform the prisons.

Dr. Agomoh said a lot has to be done to bring the country’s justice system in tune with modern realities, adding that a situation where inmates await trial for years was unacceptable.

She also condemned the welfare available to inmates, which, she said, were simply appalling, saying that but for the efforts of organisations, such as hers, the condition of inmates would be worse.

The Chairman of PRAWA board, Dr. Gabriel Toby, said: “We need to work for the collective ownership of the criminal justice system.”

The event brought together key stakeholders in the criminal justice system, both within and outside the country.

•Odinkalu

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

NEWS Jega: INEC to use biometrics in next year’s polls

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From Clarice Azutalam, Port Harcourt

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would make use of the biometrics of every voter to ensure transparency in the general elections, its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Jega, who spoke at a Stakeholders Interactive Forum in the Rivers capital, stated that this would ensure that nobody votes more than once.

He was represented at the forum by the INEC’s Supervisory National Commissioner of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, Mrs. Thelma Iremiren.

The INEC chief urged voters in Rivers State to ensure that they obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), adding that without it, they would not vote.

He asked political parties to encourage their supporters to collect their PVCs, the distribution of which will start from Friday to Sunday in the state’s seven local government areas (LGA).

The seven LGAs are: Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni; Omuma; Ogu/ Bolo; Okrika; Opobo; Oyigbo and Tai, while distribution for other LGAs would be done later.

While soliciting the cooperation of the stakeholders to conduct a hitch-free election, Jega asked the people to assist the commission in making the PVCs’ distribution a success.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak promised that the commission would conduct a hitch-free election next year, adding that it would also be neutral.

INEC urged to document Electoral Acts in local languages

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HE Director-General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA), Dr. Dafe Akpocha, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to document the Electoral Acts in local languages.

He spoke yesterday during a visit to the Head Office of Vintage Press Limited, publisher of The Nation newspapers.

Akpocha said it would increase participation in electoral activities, if the Electoral Acts are interpreted in the people’s dialects.

He called on the media to be more proactive in enlightenment campaigns, noting that through media awareness, the people would live up to their civic responsibilities.

He said: “That is why we come to seek your support at The Nation newspapers. Within the short space of time that you hit the newsstand, you have given the society quality reportage.

“Some people out there may think that you represent certain interests. But for those of us who know the quality of what you do, your report has been very balance. You even do a self-appraisal and examination, which is often not too common with the media.

“I want to say we have not made mistake to come to this newspaper house; you have been doing your best to make Nigeria a better place for us. We sincerely appreciate your style of journalism”.

Akpocha added that the CDGA had gone round the country, to draw attention of governments to some developments that were not in the interest of the people, stressing that some of the concerned state

•Dr. Akpocha...yesterday.

By Musa Odoshimokhe and Olatunde Odebiyi

governments responded by correcting the shortcomings.

The political class, he said, must live up to the expectation of the electorate, adding that a situation where politicians abandon their promises after getting the mandate of the people was a disservice to the country.

Akpocha said: “Sometimes, when people call for the return of the military because of the way the country is being run, I begin to wonder whether they know the implication of what they are seeking. They seem not to know the consequence. But all the same, the politicians should serve the people in truth.

“Good governance is not all about gathering people to vote for you, giving them rice and kerosene. Rather, leaders must have the interest of the people at heart in terms of infrastructural developments among other things.

“Our leaders should not lose focus; they should remain committed to the common man, to genuine democracy and make sure that we have credible elections, one-man one-vote.

“Our goal at CDGA is to make Nigeria a better place with good governance, political sustainability and democracy. We also monitor elections”.

He decried the country’s widespread of infrastructural decay, stressing that with the enormous wealth at Nigeria’s disposal, it should be able to provide the people with the minimum comfort of livelihood.

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke-Orelope Adefulire (second left); Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway (left); Commissioner for Information, Mr Lateef Ibirogba and his Health counterpart, Dr. Jide Idris, at a Tourism Forum tagged: “Lagos Welcomes Visitors” to celebrate Lagos as an Ebola-free state in Lagos ...yesterday

FEC approves $945m loan for water, others

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HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved three foreign loans for irrigation system, prevention of flood in Ibadan, Oyo State and provision of water for Bauchi, Ekiti and Rivers states, for $945 million.

The meeting, presided over

by Vice President Namadi Sambo, also approved four different road projects for N22 billion.

Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda broke the news while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja at the end of the meeting.

He was accompanied by four ministers, including Taminu Turaki (Special Duties); Sarah Ochekpe (Water Resources); Akinwunmi Adesina (Agriculture and Rural Development); and Stephen Oru (Niger Delta Affairs).

According to Yuguda, the first of the five memoranda presented to the council by his ministry for approval was the one on the International Development Association’s credit of $495 million for proposed irrigation management.

The facility, he said, was to upscale what the Federal Government was doing in improving the irrigation system to

•Okays N22b for roads From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ensure “a year-in year-out farming season”.

He said the facility has five years grace period and a repayment period of 20 years while it will attract a service charge of 0.75 per cent.

The minister also disclosed that the loan would attract an interest rate of 1.25 per cent per year and a commitment fee of 0.5 per cent per annum.

Also, Yuguda said $200 million loan was also approved by the council to check the frequent flooding in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said:”We have all been witnessing the flood that have happened in Ibadan, the first one was in 1980 and the second one in 2011. Some remedial works were carried out to avert the future occurrence of flooding in the city. But we believe, with this credit facility of $200 million, we will be able to arrest the frequent flooding within the Ibadan city.

“The idea is to work with the Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Agriculture to arrest the situation,” he stated.

Another $250 million, the

minister added, was approved by the council for the proposed third national urban water sector reform project.

Yuguda said the project, which would be implemented over a period of six years, has components such as water sector reform and governance, institutional framework and human capital development, sector-wide improvement and project management at the federal level.

According to him, about one million Nigerians are to benefit from the project aimed at addressing the increasing demand for water in the three states of Bauchi, Ekiti and Rivers.

Speaking further on the foreign loan for irrigation, Mrs. Ochekpe said 50,000 hectares of land would be improved for cultivation over a period of seven years.

According to her, five irrigation schemes across the country are involved in the project and major beneficiaries include the basin stakeholders, the irrigation and drainage entities and the water users’ association federation.

She added that the project was approved by the World Bank Board in June, stressing

that it will be effective this month.

She said six projects have already been completed or rehabilitated in Kaduna, six in Ogun State, two in Enugu, one in Cross River, three main and seven minor projects in Lagos.

On the road sector, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs said the construction of Mbaise Ring Road intersecting Owerri-Umuahia Road in Imo State was awarded for N6.178 billion with a completion period of 18 months.

The construction of Calabar-Oban-Nsan-OkorobaAjassor Road in Cross River State, according to him, was awarded for N9.067 billion with a completion period of 24 months.

The other two road projects, he said, were the Phase 1 of Mbak Mkpeti-Itu-OkoitaArochukwu Road in Abia, Cross River and Akwa Ibom awarded for N3.55billion with a completion period of 24 months.

The minister also revealed that the Mbak Atai-Ikot-NtuMkpeti-Okuiboku Road in Akwa Ibom was awarded at the cost of N3.246 billion with a completion period of 18 months.

Fashola decries missing 1.44m Lagos voters

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the disappearance of 1.447 million voters from the Lagos’ voters’ list.

Fashola made the call yesterday during a statewide broadcast to inform residents of the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) expected to begin tomorrow.

He explained that INEC had declared that it would distribute 4.8 million PVCs in Lagos State, whereas, during the last election in 2011, the voters’ list in Lagos was 6.247 million.

According to him, “I am concerned about the report of 4.8 million voters in Lagos State. This is strange; it is surprising and I believe INEC owes the people of Lagos a lot of answers and very quickly too.

“At the conclusion of voters’ registration exercise before the 2011 elections, the

• Tomorrow is public holiday for workers

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

number of registered voters in Lagos as announced by INEC itself was 6,247,845. This was an exercise conducted by INEC. This was an exercise where INEC boasted to Nigerian that it has secured an Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to ensure the credibility of the Voters’ Register.

“INEC must explain to us how 1,447,845 voters disappeared, leaving Lagos with only 4,800,000 registered voters.”

Fashola explained that the distribution of PVC indicated that election process has started, urging eligible voters within the age 18 years to use one day to collect their cards to avoid being disenfranchise.

“You have to register as a voter to be eligible to vote.

We must take it seriously to make sure our names are in

‘INEC must explain to us how 1,447,845 voters disappeared, leaving Lagos with only 4,800,000 registered voters.’ the voters’ register. Go to the polling centre to collect your PVC. No business or job can be more important than to collect your PVC between November 7 and 9. For those who want to collect the PVCs, they should go out and collect them,” he said.

“Let me assert very clearly and categorically that our Government will vigorously stand on the side of every eligible and previously registered voters to have their names back on the voters’ register compiled in 2011, unless INEC can show legitimate reasons why this should not

be so.

“For those of our residents, who did not register at the last election, or who were not 18 years old at the time, but who have now reached that age and who want to register, the first phase of this exercise - which is to issue voters’ card from 7th to 9th of November 2014- is not for you. Because a voter card is only produced from a previously existing register.”

He, however, appealed to those who have not registered before and were within the eligible age and those who were registered and could not find their names to re-register in the second phase, which is for continuous voter’s registration, starting from November 12 to November 17.

The governor also announced Friday as work free day for all public servants to enable them to collect their PVC.

7

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

NEWS Ogun to spend N190b next year

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•From left: Chairman, Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Ade Popoola ; Chairman, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Bruno Nwankwo; PSN President Olumide Akintayo; Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Lady Valerie Ebe; former PSN President Senator Eme U. Ekaette and others at the opening of the Society’s 87th Annual National Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Oyo PDP congress: Panel to cancel some results

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HE last has not been heard on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congress in Oyo State.

The congress panel, led by former Minister of Health Prof. Alphonsus Nwosu, said he would recommend the cancellation of results in some local governments, where irregularities took place.

The panel was set up by the PDP national secretariat to hear complaints on the congress.

A source said the list of the affected local governments would be released after a meeting was held with the aggrieved parties.

The intra-party crisis rocking Oyo PDP worsened, following last Saturday’s ward congress.

Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin and former Minister of Power and Steel Wole Oyelese boycotted the panel.

But Senator Ayo Adeseun, Femi Babalola, Seyi Makinde, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja,

One killed in Ogun From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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POPULAR shoemaker, George, whose workshop is located at the busy Station Busstop in IjebuIgbo, Ogun State, was killed yesterday.

Another victim’s hand was amputated in the pre-dawn attack by suspected gunmen.

George, who was from Delta State, was killed at 5am when the gunmen stormed his house near St. Joseph’s Primary School in Oke-Sopen area.

It was gathered that four gunmen invaded George’s house, and he and his son repelled them. One of the assailant’s hands was severed.

George died some minutes later and his remains were deposited at a morgue in Ojowo.

One of the injured assailants has been arrested by the police.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said four people on a motorbike carried out the attack.

He said the victim died on the way to the hospital.

‘No to imposition of candidates’

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Owolabi Babalola, has said party leaders cannot impose a candidate on other aspirants.

He said the party’s primaries would produce a credible candidate.

Babalola spoke yesterday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The aspirant, who dispelled the rumour that the party has an anointed candidate, said the party must organise free and fair primaries.

“No PDP leader in this state or in Abuja can impose a candidate on us because even during the late Lamidi Adedibu’s lifetime, he never imposed a candidate, he will rather give adFrom Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Kehinde Olaosebikan, Prof Soji Adejumo and a former Attorney General, Abdulsalam Are, who represented Dr. Isaac Owolabi, were present.

Some of the aggrieved aspirants submitted petitions and exhibits, and they complained that the congress did not hold, based on nonavailability of materials for

From Tayo Johnson and Bisola Oloyede, Ibadan

vice and support.

“I am a beneficiary of his word of wisdom. He was a party leader and contrary to what people outside the party believed, nothing of such happened.

“My manifesto do not wish to re-invent the wheel rather with renewed vigour deploy pro-poor policy option to tackle state challenges in agriculture, education, health, environment and infrastructure.”

The aspirant said the party had some internal mechanisms to deal with internal party disagreement so that it would win the general elections.

Babalola vowed to change the status quo if voted into office.

the election.

But some others said the election was held, despite the non-availability of materials.

The panel leader had assured the aggrieved parties that its report would be made known within 48 hours.

Nwosu said: “The media report on the conduct of the congress in Oyo State was not favourable.

“PDP is a family, so no matter the evidence and petitions, let us remember that we are one.

“I assure you all that we will resolve the problems and justice will be served.

We will put our integrity to the fore.

“I suffered the first injustice in our party. So, I know how it feels. To defeat an incumbent is difficult and

that is why you must put your house in order to win in the state. You cannot do it with a divided family.

“Ayodele Fayose won in Ekiti because others supported him. Only the person who is wanted by the people will represent PDP in 2015.

“What is essential to this panel is that materials were not taken to the wards and in places where elections were conducted, they were done by party members.”

Some party leaders, it was learnt yesterday, vowed to resist any cancellation of the results in their local governments, alleging that such a move would further cause disaffection in the party.

One of the PDP chieftains, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Only those who know that they have no place in the ward congress, who lost are clamouring for the cancellation of the result and if that is allowed, it means that others who won will resist such cancellations.”

Court stops PDP from dissolving Ogun exco

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HE Federal High Court in Lagos barred yesterday the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from dissolving the Adebayo Dayo-led executive in Ogun State.

Justice Okon Abang ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.

He warned PDP not to do anything that would amount to contempt of court.

The PDP national chairman and other officers, he said, could be jailed, if they failed to heed the warning.

The judge said the status quo should be maintained, until a contempt suit filed by the state executive office was heard and determined.

The Ogun PDP executives initiated the contempt proceedings against former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji

By Joseph Jibueze

Bankole and former Governor Gbenga Daniel for allegedly disobeying a court order.

The plaintiffs, Adebayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, alleged that the respondents had been attempting to remove them from office, despite two Federal High Court judgments affirming the legality of their positions.

Yesterday, of the three alleged contemnors, including a former House of Representatives member Dave Salako, only Bankole was represented in court by his lawyer, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN).

The court heard that the others were yet to be served with the processes.

Fashanu sought an adjournment because the others have not received the court papers.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, urged the court to preserve the res (subject matter) of the case by ordering parties to maintain the status quo.

He said the alleged contemnors, despite the suit still pending, could foist a state of fait accompli (helplessness) on the court by going ahead to dissolve the executive.

The court, on October 29, granted the applicants leave to serve the charge on the alleged contemnors.

The applicants said just as Ondo State PDP executive was dissolved, the respondents were making moves to dissolve the Ogun executive, with the alleged aim of installing their loyalists.

They alleged that because of Bankole’s political ambition, he was not comfortable with the present PDP

executive, and had been attempting to get them sacked through the PDP’s National Integration Committee.

The applicants said the respondents perceived them as working against their political interest.

Justice Abang ordered that the notice of committal and accompanying processes be served on the alleged contemnors in Abuja and Ogun State, while copies should be pasted in a conspicuous part of the Ogun PDP secretariat.

He also warned that he would reverse any steps taken before the determination of the committal proceedings, adding that status quo must be maintained.

“He who has ears should heed the directive,” the judge said.

Justice Abang adjourned till November 25.

HE Ogun State government is proposing to spend N190billion next

year.

The government said the amount is slightly lesser than the N210billion budgeted for this year.

The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo, broke the news yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, at the state’s Treasury Board meeting.

Mrs. Muoyo said of the planned N190billion Appropriation Bill, N82.6billion would come from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N40billion from federal allocation.

The commissioner said 22 per cent of the budget would be allocated to the education sector; health and agriculture sectors would take 10 per cent and five per cent.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun said the state does not have to wait for Federal Government allocation before paying salaries or sorting out its financial obligations.

Group to work against PDP From Damisi Ojo,Akure

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GROUP, the Owo Youth Assembly (OYA), has decried the consensus arrangement adopted by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State.

The PDP had adopted a consensus arrangement to pick its candidates from both old and new members to “accommodate” Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The group said it would only vote for parties which field Owo indigenes as their senatorial candidates.

It’s coordinator, Lyon Taiwo, said Owo indigenes would work against PDP’s interest if it picks mediocre and incompetent candidates.

“We are against the consensus arrangement. Such system has again thrown up incompetent hands for the House of Assembly and National Assembly seats.

“We will only vote for parties which present Owo indigenes as their senatorial candidates. We are not interested in House of Representatives seat.”

2,108 to get N5,000 monthly From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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WO thousand, one hundred and eight women in Ekiti State will get N5,000 monthly stipend from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme and N100,000 exit fund.

This, according to Governor Ayodele Fayose’s Special Assistant on Information and Civic Orientation, Lanre Ogunsuyi, is to enable them invest in a specific line of agric-related business at the end of the programme.

The CCT scheme, an initiative of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the government, is aimed at reducing poverty.

Ogunsuyi, who spoke in a statement yesterday, said 421 households would be selected in the five local councils for the programme.

He gave the benefiting local governments as Gbonyin, Emure,Ijero, Oye and Moba.

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THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

NEWS Ekiti varsity workers on strike From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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CTIVITIES were yesterday halted at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, as workers went on strike to protest the non-payment of their allowances.

The workers, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), insisted that the situation would persist, until the allowances are paid.

SSANU Chairman Kolawole Falade said the decision to go on strike followed a resolution at a meeting of members of the four unions, led by their chairmen, Prof Olu Olu (ASUU), Falade (SSANU), Tope Akanmu (NASU) and Jola Awogbemi (NAAT).

Falade said the university could not meet its financial obligations in terms of salary, following the government’s failure to pay subvention since August.

He said the workers were demanding “their two- month salaries, excess work load allowances since 2011 and responsibility allowance for non-teaching staff since 2008”.

“We want to implore the government to adequately fund the university as its owner. The government should pick up the total wage bill of the university and pay it capital grant as done in other state universities”.

The SSANU leader said if the government could pick up the institution’s wage bill, it would allow the school authorities apply revenues generated internally for infrastructural development.

He lamented a situation whereby the N260 million monthly subvention to the institution could not settle its about N400 million wage bill, advising the government to also respect the university’s autonomy.

“Changing principal officers with new administrations is unhealthy because they are not politicians and they have specific tenure.

“The merger of three universities into one (EKSU) was with the promise to make it a world-class university, but we have not seen that.”

Falade said the university name should be reverted to University of Ado Ekiti.

Ebola: Lagos allays fears of tourists, investors

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HE government of Lagos State has assured tourists and investors not to fear to do business in the state, saying it has the capacity to combat any infectious disease, including the Ebola Virus Disease.

Governor Babatunde Fashola gave the assurance yesterday at a programme, tagged “Lagos Welcomes Visitors”, organised by the Ministry of Tourism in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.

The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, said before the importation of Ebola into the city, the state had put in place measures that helped contain the virus.

“Despite that we did not expect Ebola in our state, we rose to the occasion and ensured that

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha and Miriam Ekene-Okoro

the disease was stamped out of the state and indeed Nigeria.

“Lagos, the nation’s economic nerve centre and the most populous state, is aware of the importance of capacity building.

“We have over the years built our capacity to attend to any emergency knowing that Lagos belongs to all of us because we are conscious of the social contract we had with the people, just as we are committed to good governance.

“The state more than ever before is safe and secure for visitors and tourists because it has always been our objective to make Lagos a city where all can live and work.”

Speaking on the impact of

Lawmaker to inaugurate hospital in Ekiti

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LAWMAKER in the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola, has said he built a state-of-the-art hospital at Ire Ekiti in Ekiti State to bring succour to his constituency Daramola, who represents Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, said the 32-bed Joan Taiwo Daramola Memorial Hospital would be inaugurated on Saturday.

The lawmaker, in a statement in Abuja, said he decided to build the hospital out of genuine concern for the health challenges of his people.

“This laudable initiative is one of the numerous mega development projects executed under my constituency project, spanning through Ikole, Oye, Ire, Aiyegbaju and other adjoining communities within my constituency,” the statement said.

The hospital would be managed by the Anglican Communion because it “has a good history of managing such facility to the glory of God and to the use of mankind.”

Daramola said he provided scholarships, accessible and potable water and free health services to the less privileged in his constituency.

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By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

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•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola during a special statewide broadcast on the issuance of Permanent Voter Cards in Lagos by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the State House, Marina, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has appealed to the House of Assembly to approve the state’s participation in the N2billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The governor made the appeal in an October 23 letter, which was read by the Speaker, Najeem Salaam.

The letter reads: “You will recall that our government has formally requested to be considered as a beneficiary of N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund with the Central Bank of Nigeriaa.

“The scheme is meant to create employment, wealth and economic development of our dear state, which is in line with our administration’s sixpoint integral action plan, which is banishing hunger.

“Consequently, I wish to request for the resolution of the House to approve the participation of the state.”

The speaker directed the Committee on Finance and Appropriation and Committee on Commerce, Cooperative and Empowerment “to liase with appropriate ministries and agencies to know the in depth of the request before dealing with it”.

ORMER Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro has refuted claims by a group, Lagos Integrity Watch, which accused him of attacking Chief Bode George in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congresses in the state.

Obanikoro, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media Strategy, Ohimai Amaize, disclaimed the report.

He said it was a ploy to destabilise Lagos PDP and cause disunity and disaffection in the party.

“At no time did Senator Obanikoro engage or accuse

Chief Bode George of partisanship or interference in Lagos PDP ward congresses.

“Social media comments or opinions by individuals speaking for themselves do not in anyway represent the personal views of Senator Obanikoro.

“We are well aware that this is a critical time in the history of Lagos PDP and hired agents of propaganda will want to seize the opportunity to wreak havoc.

“The former minister acknowledges the great role that Chief Bode George is playing to foster unity, equity and fair play as the father of PDP in Lagos State.”

Ekiti PDP kicks against reassigning of case •APC: we’re not in court

Ijesa Diaspora to hold summit

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Ijesa in the Diaspora will hold a summit on collapsed industries in the area as part of their plans to boost the economy of the area.

The decision was taken at the second World Conference of Ijesa People in the Diaspora (I-pid) at the Quality Holiday Conference Centre, Atlanta, United States.

The Director of Publicity (Africa), Wale Idowu, said: “Recovery of lost glory of the Ijesa within the context of the Yoruba nation was a focus of the summit.

“Senator Babajide Omoworare, who represents Ife/Ijesa District, represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

A special presentation was made by the Director of International Operations, Olayemi Fadipe, on the theme “Six-year Development Plan for the Homeland-Vision 2020”.

At the end of the summit, Prof. Andrew Akinmoladun was elected President, Olayemi Fadipe Deputy President (Africa); Toyin Keshinro Vice President (USA); Johnson Akinola Vice President (Asia); Mrs. Foluke Odunsi Director of Events (USA); Ms. Morenike Owolabi Director of Finance (USA); Ayodeji Odeyemi Director of Project (USA ); Femi Balogun Director of International Operations Africa; Wale Idowu Director of Publicity (Africa) and Otunba Toyin Oyewusi General Secretary.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Obanikoro alleges plot to destabilise PDP

Buhari, Tinubu, others for crusade ATIONAL leaders and prominent chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will tomorrow gather at the Solution Ground, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, to pray for the state and Nigeria.

The crusade, with the theme: “Peace Assured”, is organised by the Soul Winners International Ministries, led by Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku JP. This year marks the 10th edition of the prayer crusade.

Expected at the crusade are APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; APC national leader Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN); former Head of State Muhammadu Buhari; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, other APC governors and party loyalists.

The crusade’s media coordinator, Seyi Bamigbade, said the threeday programme started yesterday with praise and worship as well as free health checks for participants.

A programme, tagged: “Walk to Live” and prayer ministration, comes up today at the crusade venue.

EVD on the hospitality industry, the General Manager, Wheatbaker Hotel, Simon Grinrod, said though no hotel in the state recorded a case or a suspected case, the outbreak made them improve on their hygiene.

Grinrod said: “If you look at the impact of the last three months on our sector, it has been significant. This is because international corporate drivers are not about hotels.

“It is about air travels; it is about suppliers to the hotels in terms of fresh fruits and vegetables and all manners of materials.

“It is about car hire companies, it is about restaurants which are visited by international visitors. All sectors were affected by the arrival of this terrible disease.

“What we did during the outbreak was that we refocused on our local clients because we know that our local visitors are as important as our international visitors because when the days were dark, they were with us. We also took a lot of precautionary methods and improved on our hygiene.

“What we want our clients both local and international to know is that we have not relaxed on our guards and we would continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that we continue to maintain greater level of hygiene.”

Aregbesola seeks participation in SMEs

•Fayose

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State are bickering over the re-assigning of the case between Governor Ayo Fayose and E11, a state-based group, to Justice Segun Ogunyemi.

The PDP has petitioned the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji

Daramola.

The party said the governor had lost confidence in Justice Ogunyemi’s continued handling of the case.

In the petition by the State Chairman, Idowu Faleye, addressed to Justice Daramola, PDP said it could not get a fair judgment from Justice Ogunyemi.

It said going by the previous experience with the judge, the governor and PDP, who were defendants in the case, would not get justice.

The petition reads: “We are surprised to be informed that the same judge, Justice

Olusegun Ogunyemi, had resumed sitting over the same case he had voluntarily withdrawn from.

“When we probed the reason, we were informed that the National Judicial Commission (NJC) directed him to resume sitting over the case, but, our investigation at the NJC proved to the contrary.”

Faleye said the only way the party would get justice was to assign the case to another judge.

But in its response, the APC’s State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said it would not enhance democracy if partisan groups could freely make attempts at gagging the judiciary.

Olatunbosun said: “Whoever is aggrieved and before the judiciary must expect fair hearing. No one should be deprived of his constitutional right to seek redress.

“As a party, there is no record that we are before the court. We are not mounting pressure on the CJ. Is it that we have written a letter to the CJ? Why should we mount pressure on the CJ? The judiciary is competent to handle cases before it. If they have evidence of such, they should make it public.

“What should be uppermost in the minds of Nigerians not minding who is involved is that justice must prevail.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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NEWS

Tension over 'plot' to alter Adamawa PDP delegates' list

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HERE was tension yesterday over a "plot" to alter the list of 678 delegates for the Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary.

Some forces in the Presidency were said to be behind the move, which drew protest from the state chapter of the party.

Adamawa PDP is insisting on a free and fair primary to prevent protest votes that may arise, if the process was manipulated.

Following the zoning of the governorship slot to Adamawa Central, the front runners in the race for the PDP's ticket are former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu; former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Marcus Gundiri; former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ahmed

•Stakeholders insist on credible primary From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Modibbo Mohammed; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Auwalu Tukur, who is the son of former PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Others are Senator Abubakar Girei, Gen. Aliyu Kama and Governor Bala Ngilari, who is from the Northern Senatorial District.

All the aspirants, PDP leaders and stakeholders are insisting on a free and fair primary.

A committee, led by Senator Bala Adamu, was inaugurated by the PDP's national secretariat to conduct ward congresses last Saturday.

But due to the security challenges in the state, the committee met with the aspirants and it was agreed that the list of delegates used for the governorship primary on Sep-

‘The directive from the Appeal Committee was strange because there was no petition before it to have warranted the stoppage of the report’ tember 6 be retained.

It was gathered that the Adamu panel later reviewed and harmonised the list with the aspirants and PDP stakeholders.

But when the panel was about to submit its report at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja yesterday, the Con-

gress Appeal Committee stopped it from doing so because of what was termed "likely amendments to the list of delegates".

The stoppage was attributed to an "order from above" by some sources in the Presidency.

A source said: "There is a fresh plot to scuttle the governorship primary in Adamawa through the alteration of the list of delegates. While the Adamu panel was about to submit its report, the Appeal Committee phoned from Yola, halting the exercise because of the need to make some amendments to the list of delegates.

"The directive from the Appeal Committee was strange because there was no petition before it to have warranted the stoppage of the report. We

learnt some forces in the Presidency, led by an influential official from the Northeast, were not pleased with the list and vowed to alter it.

"They believe the delegates may not favour an anointed aspirant. Yet, the same list of delegates was used for the election of the party's former governorship candidate, House of Assembly Speaker Umaru Fintiri. We are worried that any alteration might lead to a fresh crisis in Adamawa PDP." Another source said: "President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Working Committee should stop this plot to impose delegates on Adamawa PDP outside the list agreed upon by the aspirants, leaders and PDP members in the state.

The only way the PDP can retain its control of Adamawa State is if its governorship candidate emerges through a transparent process."

Kano shuts four hospitals From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Suswam: I didn’t hijack congresses From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has dismissed Senator Barnabas Gemade’s allegations that he hijacked last weekend’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congresses.

Speaking with reporters yesterday at the Government House in Makurdi, Suswam said he was in his village on the day of the congresses, adding: “If I had hijacked the ward congresses, I would not have been in the village to participate in the ward congress.”

Suswam said the congresses were peaceful.

•Suswam

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

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HE Kano State Hisbah Board has commenced preparations for the mass wedding of another batch of 2,000 widows and divorcees.

The board’s DirectorGeneral, Abba Sufi, said: “We have forwarded the proposal to the state government and as soon as it is endorsed, the programme will commence.”

He said the mass wedding was part of the government’s efforts to curb prostitution and other social vices.

Sufi urged interested couples to register with the board.

On the return of beggars to some parts of the city, Sufi said the board arrested 30 beggars last Tuesday at the Hajj Camp and Church Road in Sabon Gari for violating the state’s Street Begging Prohibition Law. Sufi said they would be charged to court.

Gombe closes schools

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OUR private hospitals have been closed by the Kano State Private Health Institution, the monitoring team of the Ministry of Health, which checks unethical conduct.

They are Alfijir Diagnostic Centre, Amana Clinic, Gidan Alhazan Ciki and Salamatu Clinic.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Private Health Institutions Dr Salisu Ibrahim said the hospitals violated ethical practices and other related offences.

Salisu said Alfijir Diagnostic Centre had no qualified staff; Amana Clinic had no doctor on duty; Gidan Alhazan Ciki had an open toilet; and Salamatu Clinic had a dilapidated structure and sub-standard theatre.

Kano to wed 2,000 widows

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

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•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (right) with the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, at the emir’s palace.

Two FRSC marshals killed in Kogi prison attack

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WO marshals of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kogi State Command, were killed by the gunmen, who attacked the Minimum Security Prison in Koton-Karfe on Sunday, it was learnt yesterday.

FRSC Sector Commander Godwin Omiko told reporters in Lokoja that the slain marshals, Olaoluwa Adebayo and Adesina Iyanda, and four others were on night duty at the FRSC office in Koton-Karfe when the gunmen struck.

He said on hearing gunshots, the marshals ran into hiding, but the gunmen found Adebayo and Iyanda at

From James Azania, Lokoja

their hideout in the bush and took them away.

Omiko said security agents searched the bush for the victims early Monday morning but there was no trace of them.

He said their bodies were discovered in a shallow grave at the bush on Tuesday evening by a woman who went in search of firewood.

When the bodies were retrieved and examined, Omiko said they discovered that the victims were shot in the head at close range.

He said: “They removed their uniforms before shooting them. They used their lanyard and shoe laces to tie their hands and legs. There were bruises all over their bodies, which means they were dragged over a distance before they were killed.”

Omiko said the gunmen went away with the marshals’ uniforms, service belts and shoes, identity cards, official and personal mobile phones and ATM cards.

The bodies of the victims, who both hail from Kwara State, have been deposited at the morgue of Ankuri Hospital in Lokoja.

‘Why Boko Haram can’t accept peace deal’

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S long as the Boko Haram sect continues to take over more territories in the Northeast, it will not accept a peace deal, a retired Major-General, Geoffrey Ajiga, has said.

Gen. Ajiga, who spoke yesterday in Abuja on plans for the public presentation of his autobiography scheduled for Friday, said the military must effectively fight the sect before peace could return to the country.

He said although the military was fighting in a difficult terrain, it could deploy more soldiers there or recall part of its reserved soldiers.

Gen. Ajiga said: “The military has to fight Boko Haram.

It is the last resort. I don’t know why the government is yet to win the war; it is tak-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

ing too long. The military must do all it takes to safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation and protect its foreign policy.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to implement

the recommendations of the national conference on how to tackle Boko Haram.

Gen. Ajiga said: “I don’t know why the military is not winning the war against insurgency. As long as the sect continues to win more territories, it may be difficult for

it to agree to a ceasefire. The military has to remain committed to the fight, so that it can come out victorious.

Gen. T.Y. Danjuma would chair the launch of the 17chapter auto-biography at the Sheu Musa Yaradua Centre in Abuja.

HE Gombe State government has closed schools for two weeks.

Parents hailed the government for what they described as “a prompt action”, following attacks on Nafada and Ashaka by gunmen.

However, Dr. Sani Jauro, the principal private secretary to the governor, said the closure had nothing to do with the security challenge and is the normal midterm break.

A source, who pleaded for anonymity, said schools, mostly private, went on midterm break last week.

“They cannot possibly go on another midterm break now, except those that did not observe theirs last week. Besides, where has midterm break ever been as long as two weeks?” the source said.

A text message sent to parents by a private school in Gombe reads: “This is to inform parents that school closes today for two weeks, to resume on Monday, November 17, for security reasons.

“However, the parents of pupils from Maiduguri, Mubi, Ashaka, Potiskum, Biu and related areas have to come for them – Management.”

The Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed, and the permanent secretary were not in the office when The Nation visited the ministry.

The commissioner did not pick calls to her mobile phone.

‘Stop Wada from freezing councils’ accounts’

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HE Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) yesterday urged the Kogi State House of Assembly to stop Governor Idris Wada from auditing local government accounts.

Addressing reporters in Lokoja, the state capital, CHRCR Executive Director Idris Miliki described the gover-

From James Azania, Lokoja

nor’s order of the freezing of the local government accounts as “unconstitutional”.

Miliki said: “It is common knowledge in the last few days that the governor ordered the freezing of local government accounts and constituted a panel to audit same. Reasons given were

that some local government chairmen were allegedly corrupt and could not pay the salary of council workers.

“We are worried that the function of the auditor-general to audit local government councils is being taken over by the Office of the Governor, which amounts to illegality and is unconstitutional.

“The auditor-general is statutorily mandated to audit local government councils and submits its report to the House of Assembly, not the governor.

“It is the Assembly, through its relevant committees, that can act on the auditor-general’s report and sanction erring local government chairmen, not the governor.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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CITYBEATS Synagogue: Coroner pardons absentee witnesses T

HE Coroner handling an inquest into the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse that killed 116 persons at Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, yesterday pardoned witnesses who did not appear to give evidence, including Prophet Temitope B. Joshua.

Coroner Oyetade Komolafe arrived at his decision following the heavy rainfall earlier in the day, which hindered human and vehicular movement for several hours.

Joshua and the building contractor were among witnesses expected to give evidence but did not turn up at the proceeding which did not start until about 11am.

Komolafe said the witnesses who did not appear before the court challenged its authority, but were excused because of the “natural situation” As the court was making the announcement of the witnesses’ pardon, the church’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, informed the court that both the prophet and contractor were yet to be served their witness summons.

Ojo, who said he did not want the court to be misled into believing that Prophet Joshua shunned the order to appear, stated that the witness summons was not served on the prophet personally as required by law.

“There is need to make certain clarifications and that is why I wish to inform this court that no witness summons has been served on Prophet T.B. Joshua. It was on Friday or Monday that the court Bailiff attempted to effect service on the prophet but unfortunately, he was not around.

“As the chief mourner, the prophet has been getting in touch with the affected families. I was informed that the Bailiff merely gave the summons to one of the evangelists or church workers and so, cannot depose to an affidavit that Prophet T.B. Joshua received the summons,” he said.

Arguing further, Ojo said the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2011 requires that a witness summons must be served on the

•Traffic congestion on Ikorodu Road in Lagos after the early morning rain ... yesterday PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

•‘Joshua, contractor haven’t got witness summons’

By Precious Igbonwelundu

witness personally, which has not been done.

Ojo also told the court that he does not think the contractor would have been served personally since the court does not know his name and address.

He undertook to provide the court the details of the contractor within 48 hours as well as ensure that the contractor appears at the appropriate time.

While insisting it was not quarrelling nor fighting anyone, Komolafe said the essence of service was to put it to the attention of the witness that his attention was needed in court.

The Coroner said under Order 5 of the Magistrate Civil Procedure Rules, 2009, in which the Coroner is empowered, the court can serve the church’s counsel if it was proved difficult to serve Prophet Joshua following his status.

But Ojo said that with witness summons being a criminal service which breach attracts penalty, the law does not allow such service on counsel.

In order not to prolong the matter since the day was far spent, the Coroner said the court would do the needful.

“We will do the needful but T.B. Joshua as the chief mourner must help the court to help him. We do not want to inflict more pain. A word is enough for the wise. He should help himself by not putting himself at variance with the law. Any prophet that claims to serve God should be obedient to the law of the land.”

Referring to the church’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Komolafe asked when Joshua would be around so that he could be served.

The CSO said he only sees the prophet when he is available, adding that “as a man of God, Prophet Joshua may go to the mountain at anytime and I won’t be able to see him.”

When asked how often

a six-storey building.

Joshua goes to the mountain, Osanyintolu told the court the CSO said: “As the spirit that as at yesterday, the leads”. agency had not been able to Komolafe said: get the exact time the “When will he building collapsed. come to preach in When asked on the conyour church? Will tradictory statement he he not be in your made as regards being church on Sunin control of the day?

Tell scene and their inProphet T.B. ability to work efJoshua to let fectively and effiyou know c i e n t l y , when he will Osanyintolu be around said as a crisis or do you manager, one want me to of his duties ask the during emerI k o t u n gency is to DPO to lay •One of the survivors of the calm tension siege to tragedy...yesterday of the public. the place?

He stated “ T e l l that the poy o u r lice did not prophet to carry out come and their funcshow his face tions as exnot the one on pected because pictures. I do not the crowd that want us to quarrel. was allowed in I am doing all this the scene of the so that at the end, mishap impeded everyone would have their operation. been satisfied we have He said the dead done the needful.” bodies recovered Earlier, the General from the scene were Manager, Lagos State conveyed to the Emergency Managemortuary by memment Agency (LASEMA), bers of State EmerDr. Femi Okegency Monitoring Osanyintolu said they Unit (SEMU) and were delayed access into members of the the scene but were not church. stopped from working by Meanwhile, the church members. physically chalHe told the court that he lenged persons who was assaulted but only rehad been carrying ported same to the Ikotun placards in defence of DPO who was on ground Joshua did not come yesterand the church’s CSO. day. But some youths wearOsanyintolu told the court ing T-shirts bearing the inthat from his observation, scription “Citizen Group” bodies recovered from the flooded the court premises. scene were not dismembered Similarly, scores of and unburnt.

SCOAN members and symHe added that he was not pathisers occupied the court surprised if Prof. John such that lawyers and other Obafunwa, the state’s Chief stakeholders could not find Medical Examiner (CME) seats. stated the some bodies were Due to the rowdy develdisjointed. opment in the courtroom He said they received a because of the crowd, the distress call at about Coroner threatened to bar 12.45pm on September 12 them from entering the that a five-storey building courtroom unless they coorcollapsed but on getting to dinate themselves well. the scene, he observed it was

•Olarewaju and Afolabi ... yesterday

Police arrest robbers in Lagos T

HE road has ended for some armed robbers that had been unleashing terror on motorists on the Mile 2-Badagry, Mile 2Apapa and Oshodi-Mile 2 roads in Lagos.

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command ended their reign.

The suspects are: Olanrewaju Oladejo (21); Ibrahim Afolabi (23); Epic Okwaoji, Seyi, Popo and three others simply identified as Tata, Onyebuchi and Tony.

A police source said they operated on September 29 at Suru Alaba bus stop in the Mile 2 area, attacking vehicles held up in traffic.

Their first victim was Yetunde Kadoso, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), whose Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was vandalised, while its side glasses got shattered.

The suspects dispossessed her of a gold chain worth N250,000; one laptop valued N130,000; N75,000, 265 US dollars, one Nokia phone valued N65,000; an ATM card, police identity card and a handbag, the source said.

The source said a Chinese, Fred Zhong Ginchang, was also attacked, adding that the suspects broke the side glasses of his Kia SUV and broke the forehead of his driver, John.

They were said to have ransacked the vehicle and carted away one hand bag containing two laptops valued at N260,000; N140,000, three FCMB cheque books and another bag containing vital company documents.

Unlike his accomplices, Olanrewaju was not lucky as John held him till when soldiers and policemen came to arrest him. He was taken to the Orile Police Station and later transferred to SARS for investigations. “He confessed and promised to help the police get the fleeing members of the gang,” said the source.

Investigations revealed that Ibrahim was hiding in a smoking joint at the Cemetery Market, Ajegunle, behind the Ajeromi council’s secretariat, following which Olanrewaju led SARS operatives to arrest him. His arrest, it was learnt, led to that of Seyi and others. The operatives stormed Nasamu Street, Ajegunle on September 17 where Eric was arrested about 12 noon after Oladejo identified him.

The police also recovered five live cartridges and one locally-made pistol which,

By Ebele Boniface

according to Olanrewaju and Afolabi, are owned by Popo, Eric and Seyi.

Olanrewaju, who claimed to be panel beater, said he was invited into the “business” by Seyi and Eric.

“They told me that there was job and that my role would be to watch people.

When we got to the traffic jam, they alighted and started robbing motorists of their valuables. We robbed one woman and one Chinese man. We were up to eight. When I was going after the operation, some people pointed at me, saying that I was one of them. Some soldiers and police around there arrested me and took me to Layeni Police Station.

I was later handed over to Orile Police Station from where I was transferred to SARS where I saw the officer in charge (Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari) and promised to assist police in arresting others,” he said.

Olanrewaju added: “The first operation, I got nothing.

In the second, I was given N5,000, while the third operation near Alaba Market brought me to SARS. I derive joy in robbing rich men because they are selfish.”

Ibrahim, who hails from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, said his role was to ransack their victims’ vehicles for money and other valuables. “If I am released, I will not rob again in my life. Smoking Indian hemp was what gave me the courage to join armed robbery gang,” he said.

•Seyi

BUSINESS

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

11 Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Ebola stalls Dangote Cement’s expansion in Sierra Leone

N

IGERIA’S largest company and the continent’s biggest producer of the building material, Dangote Cement Plc (DANGCEM), said it is delaying a planned expansion in Sierra Leone due to the Ebola outbreak.

“Sierra Leone was scheduled to start this month, but we had to put the project on hold. When the crisis abates then we’ll immediately start moving ahead,” its Chief Executive Officer, Devakumar Edwin said on a conference call yesterday.

Companies have slowed investment in Sierra Leone,

By Simeon Ebulu with agency report

Guinea and Liberia, the three countries affected by the Ebola outbreak estimated to have killed more than 5,000 people in the sub-region.

Dangote Cement’s parent company, Dangote Industries Limited postponed a visiting day for investors in, Lagos, in September amid Ebola fears. Nigeria was declared Ebola-free last month by the World Health Organisation (WO).

Dangote Cement, cont r o l l ed by b i l l i o n ai r e Chairman Aliko Dangote, expects to have a cement-

production capacity of 29 million metric tons in Nigeria by year end. The company plans to expand in 13 other countries on the continent, bringing total capacity to as much as 60 million metric tons by 2016.

Operations in Cameroon, Senegal and Zambia are set to begin producing this year, while a plant in Ethiopia will start getting commissioned next month, Edwin said.

Persistent fuel disruptions to Dangote’s Nigerian plants are expected to ease after gas-supply authorities assured the company they don’t anticipate

major disruption within the next six months, according to Edwin. They said supply would come from producers including Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and Exxon Mobil Corp., he said.

Nigeria sale volumes were down one per cent to 9.8 million tons in the nine months through September, the company said Oct. 31.

Its group profit for the period fell 10 per cent to N140.5 billion ($844 million) even as revenue climbed 7.3 per cent to N310.2 billion.

“The gas-supply was a major constraining fac-

Chidoka advises airport managers on service delivery

T

HE Minister of Avia tion, Mr. Osita Chidoka has urged managers of airport to improve on service delivery in line with the transformation in the aviation sector.

Special Assistant to the Minister on Performance Monitoring, Chidi Nkwonta stated this at the opening of the Ministerial Performance Management System Orientation for Regional and Airport managers in Lagos.

He stated that the training

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

was a follow up to the meeting held by the Minister of Aviation with Airport Managers where key performance indicators were introduced.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma commended the initiative and charged airport managers to improve on service delivery and performance.

He also challenged them to

remain faithful to the vision and mission of the authority.

He said:, “We must pursue our mission “To develop and profitably manage customer centric airport facilities for safe, secure and efficient carriage of passengers and goods at world class standards.”

He said measures had been put into place to assess the performance of airport managers through their services to customers.

“Users of our airports must

be given priority in service delivery,” he said.

FAAN’s Director of Airports Operations, Capt.

Henry Omeogu said improved performance by airport managers was key to the actualisation of the Authority’s vision of being among the best airport groups.

The Director of a Human Resources, Hajia Salamatu Umar-Eluma pledged the commitment of the workers to the success of the initiative.

tor,” Edwin said. The authorities “have reviewed the pipeline integrity, the condition of the gas treatment stations, including the major scheduled maintenance which they have undertaken in the recent past.”

Dangote Cement’s share price has declined 4.6 per cent this year to N208.89, compared with the 13 per cent drop of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) AllShare Index.

• Dangote

Transcorp Hilton wins World Travels Awards

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RANSCORP Hilton Abuja, has bagged Ni geria’s Leading Hotel 2014 and Nigeria’s Leading MICE Hotel 2014 awards by the World Travel Awards.

In hospitality parlance, MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions.

Transcorp Hilton Hotel is owned by Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. ‘’To receive these two prestigious awards in key categories from World Travel Awards is a great honour and

an achievement for our hotel and indeed for team members who have and continued to work tirelessly to make ours the leading world class hotel in Abuja.

Its General Manager, Etienne Gailliez,said: ‘I am delighted that our commitment to the consistent delivery of world class experience to all our guests has been recognised once again by a reputable industry watchdog. I have no doubts that the awards will spur us to work even harder and attain greater heights of excellence.’’

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: lukajanaku02@gmail.com

Digital transmission brouhaha The June next year deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for member countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting is drawing nearer. Nigeria is one of the 50 countries in Africa that are expected to participate in the migration exercise. As at the last count, only Mauritania, Tanzania and Rwanda have achieved the digital switch over (DSO). Nigeria may miss the deadline if the agencies saddled with implementing the global directive fails to increase the tempo of its activities, writes LUCAS AJANAKU.

T

HE Chief Technology Officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, Mr. James Agada, said except something unexpected happens by July 31 next year, all analogue television transmission in Nigeria will cease.

Essentially, all the existing TV stations-Channels, NTA, state TVs stations and several others, will cease to broadcast signals that can be directly received on television sets.

Every television signal will have to pass through a set top box or decoder before being received by a television set.

According to Agada, the most obvious impact is that Nigeria will have to spend an estimated N700 billion to purchase decoders if the citizens must continue to watch television sets programmes in their homes, shops and offices. He asked: “How will this come about?

Can Nigerian families really afford this cost? Should they spend that much and what can anyone do to ameliorate the expenditure? The bigger question is will it all worth the huge investment?”

In answering the question, he said it is important to look at the digital satellite TV service currently in the works from the stable of CWG and SES Global, a satellite firm based in Luxemburg. It is one of the leading communication satellite operators in the world.

Its fleet of satellites includes the Astra 2G craft, whose footprint is on the Ku-band that covers Nigeria and the rest of West Africa with high fidelity signals. SES Global has considerable expertise in digital broadcast including operating the high definition (HD)+high definition service in Germany as well as being the partner of choice for a variety of other operators.

Its expertise extends beyond satellites to also include content management and integration into worldwide content distribution networks. He said CWG has been SES partner in data communications for the past 20 years. CWG operates both a teleport for the upload of signals to SES satellites as well as a Tier 3 Data Centre in Lagos that provides hosting services for storage and management of content and signals.

The CTO said the two firms have introduced a service that allows any broadcaster to broadcast digital satellite signals that will be received using a variety of standard decoders. These signals will be received all over Nigeria and West Africa.

He said: “The broadcasters will not need to change their existing equipment, but will only need to make minor investment in digital encoders and they are good to go. This means that for instance, Zamfara State TV can be received all over Nigeria as well as Osun State TV or Channels TV. It also means state TV stations will no longer need to invest in expensive repeater stations in order to cover their states. The Enugu man in Lagos will happily see Enugu State TV in Lagos as well as the Enugu man could easily see Lagos State TV. This is a staggering saving and expansion

•Analogue transmitter

•Mba

•Agada

of reach for the regional or local broadcasters without the attendant significant cost outlay. For this alone, the television viewer will have received the value of digital television.

Consider that as at today, it is impossible to keep up with local news if

you leave the locality.”

According to him, CWG and SES service introduces a totally new dimension to television broadcasting, making it possible for any content owner - say a movie producer; journalist; entertainer; school or

•Analogue transmitter church; consultant or even government entity - to be able to broadcast 24-hour television, which is viewable anywhere in Nigeria.

With innovative product, it is possible to be watching National Assembly TV as easily as it could be possible watching Open University TV or Catholic TV or NAFSAT TV. He said this is achievable because the CWG/SES system could accept live content as well as recorded content. It could also broadcast standard definition as well as high definition picture quality. This will lead to an explosion in content of various forms.

“TV can be used for not only entertainment, but also for education.

China’s education system utilises TV heavily to reach remote locations with standard curricula. This could also be the case in Nigeria. The falling standard of education could benefit a lot from standard curricula delivered by properly equipped teachers to all school classrooms. This immediately reduces variation in the quality of teaching and also improves the quality of the teachers,” Agada

‘The broadcasters will not need to change their existing equipment, but will only need to make minor investment in digital encoders and they are good to go. This means that for instance, Zamfara State TV can be received all over Nigeria as well as Osun State TV or Channels TV’

said.

The coming digital television revolution, he said, will bring incredible value and opportunities for viewers, broadcasters and other content owners. “CWG and SES aim to be at the centre of this revolution, working with other stakeholders to make the switch to digital TV worth every effort and expense,” he added.

Effects of missing out Nigeria, according to experts, will become a dysfunctional political entity in the comity of nations if it misses the global deadline.

To them, there are further technical repercussions such as digital signals in one country being affected by the analogue signals in a neighbouring country. Thus, if Niger, a neighbouring country, achieves DSO Nigeria’s analogue signal will interfere with that country’s.

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)Director-General, Emeka Mba, said digital broadcasting would allow new players into the market to improve the quality and quantity of content. This will give a new fillip to the industry.

Nigeria’s migration process is in crisis.

Telecommunications companies have expressed concern about the uncertainties surrounding the process. There is paucity of funds while the regulatory frameworks are yet to be put in place to ensure a seamless DSO. There is also the challenge of unrealistic timelines and low awareness among the rural and urban population.

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

e-Business

S

•From left: Vice President, Business Development, MoboFree, Evaldas Brazys and Channel Communication Manager, Unilever, Diran Adenugba during the launch of MoboFree Social Marketplace in Lagos.

NCS urges Fed Govt on electronic voting

A

HEAD 2015 general elections, the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) has urged the Federal Government to deploy information communication technology (ICT) tools in the next year general elections. He said it will not only reduce cost, but also curtail to the barest minimum issues around vote rigging and its attendant waste of time, energy and resources on litigation.

Its President, Prof David Adewumi, who spoke on the sideline with The Nation during a press conference at this year’s edition of the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) in Lagos, said the country now has all it takes to successfully conduct electronic or e-voting.

He said: “Nigeria is matured to do e-voting. We have the technology; we have the hardware and we have the software required to successfully do e-voting in next year’s general election. We also have the skilled manpower that would assure the success of the exercise.”

According to him, .there is nothing to fear in deploying ICT tools in solving national issues such as elections as it would reduce the hundreds of billions of naira spent

T

By Lucas Ajanaku

on running elections across the country and give credibility to the exercise.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) had also urged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use of e-voting in the country, arguing that it will give the 2015 general elections a lot of credibility and transparency. e-voting has been successfully used twice by the NSE to conduct its election running on the platform provided by the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) in Abuja.

Speaking on NITMA, Prof Adewumi said the event is to honour and reward excellence and outstanding contributions of those who have made giant strides and significant impacts in expanding the frontiers of IT in Nigeria.

He said the nation has made remarkable progress through the IT industry, adding that those who have made this to happen deserve to be recognised.

He said: “NITMA event reinforces the unique values NCS promotes by combining this prestigious longstanding awards ceremony with unparalleled networking opportu-

nities in a highly celebratory environment that will include IT professionals, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, as well as policy and decision makers in the private and public sectors of the economy.

“It is a credible event that is forward looking and important in promoting the long term sustainability of the IT sector and developing Nigeria’s knowledge society.”

He explained that the awards are categorised and based on IT specialisation, NCS standards and global best practices. Among the categories of awards is the distinguished IT Personality of the Year Award. “Expectedly this is already generating immense interest within the IT community as the most prestigious IT award. Also attracting serious attention is Professional Fellowships that will be conferred on deserving practitioners. Other category of award is the Special Recognition Awards that will be given to individuals and organisations, who have been most consistent over time in moving the IT industry and profession forward.

Outstanding individuals in the society will be honoured with Honorary Fellowship awards,” Prof Adewumi said.

Govt’s funding for Sheda Silicon Valley coming

HE Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama is set to support the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) to complete its Silicon Valley Project.

Bulama while inspecting facilities at the complex in Abuja, said the ministry would intensify effort in collaboration with the international donor agencies for financial support to ensure its completion.

He said the development of science and technology park would increase the development of science, technology and innovation (STI) in the country.

He said: “We must develop our Silicon Valley; we will do everything under our mandate to ensure that Silicon Valley becomes a reality.

“Hence, we are partnering with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), Poland and other international bodies to fast-track the process.”

The minister praised the management of SHESTCO for the progress made so far, adding that the organisation has judiciously utilised its allocation.

“For you to reach this level you must have used you resources well.

You and your team in the management have done very well, I must commend you. But there is more to be done. I urge you to improve your relationship with other agencies, even with your staff to enhance

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

your productivity,” he said.

Bulama also urged SHESTCO to collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders for mutual benefits.

The minister promised to do everything possible to carry everybody along in making positive impact in science and technology.

He said: “It is for us to promote science and technology using any strategy formally or informally to get every Nigerian to see science and technology as imperative for our national development.

“My dream is to lay the foundation whereby, all the 17 research in-

stitutes in the ministry will have a common scheme of service and a corresponding structured salary.

“We must develop our science and technology to meet the demand of the African development and improve its economy.’’

SHESTCO Director-General, Prof.

Thomas Sunday, thanked the minister for his support for the complex in the few months of assuming office as a minster.

He said SHESTCO was conceived by government to provide centralised facilities for researchers from Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Sunday said every staff of the complex was to carry out research directed at enhancing the economic development of the country.

‘BlackBerry not dumping mobile phone business’

W

ATERLOO Ontario Canada-based mobile phone manufacturer, BlackBerry Limited, has said it is not contemplating dumping mobile phone manufacturing business, adding that ongoing restructuring was to ensure repositioning to return to profitability.

Its Territory Director, West Africa, Charles Asinugo, who spoke in Lagos with Information Communication Technology (ICT) reporters at the launch of its flagship product, the BlackBerry

Passport, said the firm is being reengineered to become the market leaders it used to be.

Asinugo said John Chen is repositioning the firm to assure the customers of security, productivity and collaboration, adding that Nigeria remains central to its business.

Blackberry had named Chen as its interim chief executive officer.

Chen said the management changes at the firm were aimed at refining the company’s strategy “to ensure we deliver the best devices, mobile security and device management”.

Samsung ranks seventh in global brand

AMSUNG Electronics has risen to the seventh position in Interbrand’s annual ‘Best Global Brands’ report. The recently released report recognised the global growth of Samsung’s brand value through creative marketing initiatives and continued market leadership across several product categories, including smartphones, televisions, digital appliances and memory devices.

Up one spot this year from the eighth position in 2013, Samsung recorded a brand value of $45.5 billion this year, a 15 per cent increase from last year’s $39.6 billion.

Samsung entered the top 20 Interbrand Global Brand List for the first time in 2009 and shot into the top 10 in 2012. The company has dominated the smartphone market for the past two years, boosted by the launch of flagship products such as the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4, while retaining its global leadership in the TV market for nine consecutive years, a position that was enhanced by its introduction of the world’s first curved ultra-high definition televisions.

Samsung is also leading the premium market for digital appliances, with new product line-ups such as the premium Chef Collection

kitchen appliance range.

The company has grown its brand value by focusing on one common brand ideal: ‘Accelerating discoveries and possibilities’, and making it come to life with a number of consumer engagement programmes, including the 2014 ‘Launching People’ campaign, which reached over 100 million people.

Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, reiterated the company’s commitment to delivering new and innovative solutions to consumers.

“We will strive to continue to be an aspirational brand through innovative ideas and technologies that give people the power to discover new experiences and enhance their lives,” he said.

Samsung Electronics Co. Limited is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, Samsung is transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semi-conductors and LED solutions. The company employs 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.

IBM deploys technology against Ebola

I

BM has launched several initiatives to help curb the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) ravaging parts of West African sub-region.

These initiatives include a citizen engagement and analytics system in Sierra Leone that enables communities affected by Ebola to communicate their issues and concerns directly to the government; a donation of IBM connections technology in Nigeria to reinforce government’s preparedness for future disease outbreaks; and a global platform for sharing Ebola-related data.

The efforts combine expertise from IBM’s global network of research laboratories with the company’s years of experience in humanitarian disaster response by applying mobile technology, data analysis and cloud computing to help governments and relief agencies as they seek to contain the deadly disease.

According to IBM, the work benefits from contributions from a number of

partners including the Federal government and Lagos State authorities; Sierra Leone’s Open Government Initiative; Cambridge University’s Africa’s Voices project; Airtel and Kenya’s Echo Mobile.

It said Nigeria has taken a leadership position in the fight against Ebola and has recently been declared free of the disease, adding that to support the country’s preparedness for future outbreaks, IBM has donated its connections technology to Lagos State government.

Lagos State government hosts an Ebola Operations Center that coordinates disease containment efforts on behalf of the Nigerian government and other organisations. IBM’s technology donation will help strengthen the coordination of public health emergency response teams and ensure that the Lagos State government is able to manage and respond to any new reported cases of Ebola or future epidemics.

Glo Xchange agents hit over 2,000

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LOBACOM, has engaged over 2000 agents for its mobile money initiative, Glo Xchange, following Town Hall trainings for prospective entrepreneurs in major cities across the country.

The training sessions, the last of which held in Sokoto, Katsina, Ekiti and Ebonyi States, featured capacitybuilding lectures on how to function as Glo Xchange mobile money agents, as well as, mode of operation and how the agents can start the business in their locality.

A cross-section of participants commended the Glo Xchange network designed to bring mobile money services to the end users, especially unbanked Nigerians, describing it as a veritable platform to tackle unemployment.

Olaigbe Temitope of M5 Direct

Limited, who spoke from the AdoEkiti centre of the town hall meetings, said the project was good for Nigeria’s cashless policy as it would make business transaction much easier while Ogunsakin Ganiyu of Lemissco Communications Iyin road, Basiri, Ado-Ekiti opined that the Glo Xchange scheme would simplify money transfer.

From Sokoto, Alhaji Abdul Malik said: “With Glo Xchange the issue of filling bank tellers and several kilometres’ trip to banks from our various villages will become a thing of the past.”

Mallam Yusuf Maidama of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State, enthused: “My old parents in the village will no longer be worried about how to get money from banks which are located several kilometres away.”

Firm introduces air fibre connectivity

P

RIORITY Communications Limited has introduced air fibre point to point connectivity to its esteemed customers.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Samuel Olujide said the service comes with unlimited service and high speed.

“Priority Communications Air Fiber Point to Point Connectivity does not only come with unlimited bandwidth and high speed connectivity; it also has 99 per cent uptime with no packet loss and a response time of 3 minutes; an ability to transfer 30-50 Meg files in 10 seconds,” he said.

Stating further, Olumide said cus-

By Amidu Arije

tomers need not worry about cable cut off or distance, saying all the equipment are durable and can stand the test of time. “Customers on this platform need not bother about having fiber cables cut off or even distance barrier because all equipment are durable which minimises downtime and link failure even in the harshest of weathers,” he said.

Mr Olumide said his company hopes to achieve efficiency and offer peace of mind to its clients nationwide.

15

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

OGUN POLITICS Despite the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s popularity has not waned. After his tour of 20 local governments, he reiterated his push for continuity at a rally in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The visit paled into a partisan popularity walk across the three senatorial districts. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the governor’s second term bid, its prospects and constraints.

ROOMS filled the air in Abeokuta, the Ogun State state capital, as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrated a new dawn in the state. Governor Ibikunle Amosun reeled out his achievements across the three districts in the last three and half years. He received an applause from the crowd. Gazing at 2015, he reiterated his quest for continuity, urging the people to renew his mandate. To many stakeholders, the request was not without justification.

Egba monarchs led by Alake Aremu Gbadebo paid tribute to the son of the soil, saying he has lived up to expectation. In particular, the royal father was impressed by the transformation of his domain. “We are here to testify that the past three and a half years of Amosun’s government have been like 20 years of development in our state.

“We have come to appreciate the politics of good roads, the politics of good schools and health facilities. We believe that the person who did all this within this short time will do more if given the opportunity because the best is yet to come,” he said.

Echoing him, the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, described Amosun as a beloved son of Egbaland, who has changed the face of the state. He urged the people to give him another chance to complete the good work he has started.

“The work he has started in three and a half years should be completed. If they are abandoned, it will be shameful to all of us. He should be given a chance to return to office to complete his good works,” he added.

The Agura of Gbagura, Oba Alidu Laloko, said the administration has fulfilled its electoral promises. He described the Amosun as a man of vision, adding that he deserves a second term.

“Amosun has performed creditably well. He does not need to campaign too much for a second term. His works will speak for him. If he has not done well, we will not come out to welcome him and show our appreciation,” the Agura said.

The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, said: “We are not resting our oars on our support for the governor’s good works. We still want to use our votes to send him on another four years of the rebuilding mission, to fully re-construct our roads and all sectors of the state.

However, despite the gale of endorsement, the governor has a major challenge. Bickering, intrigues and division in the ruling party have diverted his attention. Unity and cohesion have become elusive. Cracks are bold on the wall.

Despite his performance, there are fears that the APC may suffer a set back in next year’s polls, unless the there is genuine reconciliation between the two caucuses led by Amosun and former Governor Olusegun Osoba.

For three weeks, the governor has been on

B

•Governor Amosun at a rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Ogun 2015: Amosun’s quest for second term tour of 20 local governments to assess completed and on-going projects. The visit was also to access the impact of government policies and programmes on the people and appraise their effects on the three zones. Amosun garnered a tremendous goodwill during the visit. But, at home, the house was on fire. As the governor received accolades from traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals, women groups, youths, students, artisans and peasants, his deputy, Hon. Segun Adesegun, who did not accompany him, was firing salvos at him. He accused the governor of monopolising power, stressing that he has not carried him along in the business of administration.

As many indigenes came out to receive Amosun and endorse him for a second term in those carnival-like rallies in communities visited, aggrieved party chieftains also mounted an effective propaganda against the governor, saying that he has indulged in a politics of exclusion and marginalisation.

Amosun is bothered by these criticisms. He however, lamented that, despite waving the olive branch, the aggrieved compatriots have not sheathed their swords. He acknowledged Osoba as his leaders, assuring that he was ready to give concessions to his group. Despite the goodwill he garnered during his tours, he said he would work hard to end the division in the ruling party.

The governor reflected on the gains of his administration. He gave himself a pass mark. But, he quickly acknowledged that the complaints and requests by the communities visited by him would be attended to.

“We have gone round to see the product of har work in the course of rebuilding our dear state and listened to your requests for further development. We have taken note of all that you have told us. Let me assure you that we will not let you down,” he stressed.

The governor’s first point of call was Imeko Afon Local Government Area, where he called for a violent free-election. He appealed to the political parties contesting for election there to ensure an exercise devoid of violence.

“I want to thank all our contestants. There’s something we must do and this is not for the

APC alone, but for all the parties in Ogun State; we don’t want violence. Nobody should fight. If you’re running for any office, 50 people can come out, but it is people destined by God that will be there. I am saying this not for the APC alone, but I am saying it for all our parties,” he said.

At Remo North, he reitetrated his commitment to welfarist programmes. He said: “My mission here in Remo North is for a feedback, to enable us know where to improve and to concentrate. This is not a political rally, but a government visitation to know how its people are feeling.”

At Odogbolu Council, the governor, who visited a ‘3 by 3’ kilometre cassava farm owned by the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with a Kenyan foundation on Eyinwa Road, which is ready for harvest, said his government had invested heavily in agriculture, where it has comparative advantage. Making a case for agricultural development, he said: “We are going back to the basics and take fuller advantage of our agricultural potential.”

The governor, who also visited Ipokia Council, appealed to the Federal Government to develop the oil-rich Tongeji Island to avoid losing it to the Republic of Benin. He said the skeletal naval base on the Island should also be expanded to avoid the fate that befell Bakassi Peninsula, which the country lost to Cameroon. He said Tongeji Island has huge potential of increasing the nation’s economy and improving the livelihood of the people.

“Tongeji Island is of serious concern to me.

Each time I see President Goodluck Jonathan, I call his attention to the need to expand the naval presence on the Island, which is rich in oil and other mineral resources, so that it does not go the way of Bakassi.”

The governor said arrangements have been concluded with a world class tourist outfit to make Akere community, Ipokia Local Government Area, a tourist centre. He promised to construct the 10km Ipokia-Akere road, which leads to the Lagoon.

“We have the longest seashore in this country. One of the world’s tourist outfits have done

‘The beauty of the popularity drive was that the governor was able to feel the pulse of the people and appraise their support for him. In spite of the acknowledgment of performance by the masses, the governor has to overcome some hurdles. Community leaders said that the onus is on Amosun to sustain the tempo till the end of his first term’

the designs and planning on all they want to do here. The investors, who were looking for a place that has sea view and seashore have chosen Akere in this part of the state.

“They want to make Akere a totally new town.

They have done it in other parts of the world.

This is their first time in Africa and Nigeria. I’m trying to envision what Akere town would be in the next three years. It would no doubt be the number one destination of tourism in Nigeria.

“Without any delay, I have directed the immediate construction of Ipokia-Akere road and Agosasa-Ijofin road respectively as well as a bridge before Agosasa to further open up the Local Government Area and fulfill the promise of constructing two rural roads in each Local Government Area of the state.”

While commending the forebears for the initiative to cite a large expanse of palm trees plantation on both sides of the road to the riverine area, he affirmed that the state government would as a matter of urgency do the regeneration of the old palms.

He also assured the people that Ipokia Local Government Area would be made to have two Local Council Development Areas, pointing out that one additional model school would be constructed as a starting point to having a full fledge higher institution.

However, the high point of the grand finale was the popularity walk in Abeokuta. Taking off from Akin Olugbade area, Amosun’s convoy drove through Totoro, Enu Girder, Ago Ika, Oja Igbo, Itoku, Sapon, Isale Igbehin before arriving at Oke Igbehin, which hosts the Government House.

The beauty of the popularity drive was that the governor was able to feel the pulse of the people and appraise their support for him.

According to analysts, the visit was strategic and rewarding. But, in spite of the acknowledgment of performance by the masses, the governor has to overcome some hurdles. Community leaders said that the onus is on Amosun to sustain the tempo till the end of his first term.

The second challenge is that the governor must return to the table of brotherhood with aggrieved chieftains, who are already opening talks with other opposition parties in the state.

The third challenge is the PDP challenge. The gladiators in the party are making frantic efforts to close ranks. Former PDO Chairman Chief Joju Fadairo, said the party has learnt its lessons, adding that the mistake of 2011 will not be repeated.

A party source disclosed that Amosun will soon be endorsed by the APC as the consensus candidate. But, will he get a second term with ease? Time will tell.

16

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

RACE TO 2015 Plateau PDP chieftains complain about flawed congress From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains In Plateau State have said that the party held a flawed local government congress because forms for delegates were hoarded by sonme leaders.

They said the governor, Jonah jang, did not ensure a level-playing ground during the congress.

Party members who were denied access to delegates’ forms when they visited the party secretariat alleged that they were told that the forms have been exhausted.

Aggrieved chieftains Hon. Emmanuel Gyang Choji from Barkin Ladi Local Government and Hon. Bitrus Goshit said the congress was not transparent.

Choji said: “In total disregard for guidelines for a successful delegate congress of the PDP, a plot was hatched by Governor Jang to manipulate the delegate congress.

He also alleged that key party leaders hijacked the sales of the forms and distributed them to selected delegates.

Choji added: “With this development, some prospective delegates, who came to the party secretariat to purchase the forms were told that they will be given the forms at their various wards during the congress.

“Jang has raised a six-man committee, comprising of his political appointees to select the names of loyalists that will given the forms to fill.

“The six-man committee of each local government has been instructed to come up with three names as the local government representing the local governments.”

Aspirant call on supporters to be law abiding From Khadijat Saidu Birnin, Kebbi

T

HE Special Assistance (SA) to Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs, Aliyu Mohammed Sambo, has picked his nomination form at the party secretariat to contest for the BirninKebbi, Bunza, Kalgo Federal constituency.

Sambo said his vision is to give a befitting representation and service to his people at the National Assembly which he described as the centre stage for National politics in the country.

He added that he promised to accomplish his intention through a robust constituency outreach programme that will articulate the yearning and the expectation of his constituency.

The aspirant also promised to adequately represent his people to the effect that there will be the presence of Federal project in his constituency and the state in general.

He therefore called on delegate to the primaries to turn out en mass to vote for his promising and viable vision for the state in order to uplift the constituency.

“I will also wish to call on all my sopporters to be peaceful, orderly and law abiding through out the electioneering process,” he concluded.

Why I’m contesting for Senate, by Bayewu

By Leke Salaudeen

C

HIEFTAIN of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kamal Ayinde Bayewu has said he joined the race for the Lagos West Senatorial ticket to ensure quality and effective representation of the zone at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.

Bayewu made his ambition known while he commissioned some projects in Ajeromi /Ifelodun Local Government. He was the immediate past chairman of the council.

He promised that if he wins the primary and gets elected into the Senate, he will give social welfare for the aged utmost priority as he did when he was at the helm of affairs in local government.

He said: “I want the social grant for the senior citizens which I initiated in our local government to become a national issue. They must be taken care of. They have served the nation and the nation must pay them back.”

Bayewu also promised to draw the attention of the central government to abandoned federal roads that are in state of disrepair in Lagos. According to him, the traffic grid is high on Lagos roads because of the port which is the second highest income earner for the Federal Government while nothing is accrued to Lagos State government.

The aspirant lamented over lack of developmental programme for the youths.

He said there must be a deliberate action towards galvanising them for leadership role in future. There must be a succession plan that will be able to take care of youths coming behind us, he said.

The projects commissioned include Ajegunle Primary Health Centre named after a political leader in the area Chief Dele Fayemi, Olodi-Apapa Primary School and Cemetery road. He announced the naming of the Local Government secretariat after Prince Rabiu Oluwa, a leader of the APC in the zone.

He enjoined the people to exercise their franchise wisely in the next year’s general election. He warned them against the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in getting their votes. He recalled that in 2011, the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan came to Ajegunle to campaign for President Jonathan because of large concentration of Delta people in Ajeromi/Ifelodun.

He said all what they promised were • Bayewu never fulfilled.

‘

Since the governor, who has done so well, is going to finish strong, it will be in the interest of the state if someone, who understands the current template created by Uduaghan, is supported to become the governor

‘

Agbogun: Uduaghan’s successor will face new challenges Major General Nick Agbogun (rtd) is the President-General, Agbor Community, Delta State. He spoke with reporters in Lagos on the succession battle, the issues that will shape the governorship primaries and challenges that will confron the next governor. Excerpts:

W

HY are you mobilising support for Delta State governorship aspirant, Sir Tony

Obuh?

A golden fish has no hiding place.

And that is how it is with Sir Tony Obuh. As soon as he indicated interest to run for that position, we knew he will do well. He has had active participation in successive governments in Delta State. That is why he is acknowledged across the state as a hardworking and capable person. It will not be surprising if all those who worked with him attest to his suitability for the position he is gunning for.

Having known him for a very long time, what can you say about his person?

He comes from a village in Agbor Kingdom known as Oki. His elder brother was a close friend of mine.

His mother is from there and his father is also from there. Any insinuation that he has paternal lineage in Delta South is wrong. It is false and laughable. He is very suitable for the job. And he has all the prerequisites for the position. The advantage he has which others don’t have is that he has been the engine room of governance in this state. And that is why he knows what the state needs and how the state can be moved forward. This man has been so much exposed to political bureaucracy.

That is why he will not find it difficult improving and sustaining the achievements of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. He happens to be one of the proponents of the Delta Beyond Oil strategy. He understands what it means and how to project it beyond this administration. It will be good if someone who understands what it entails is allowed to manage the affairs of the state. Governance is a continuum and Obuh is properly suited to continue from where Uduaghan will stop. This man we are talking about is a detribalised person, whose hands stretch beyond his senatorial zone. That is why you find the bulk of supporters in other senatorial zones.

When such a man becomes governor, his contemporaries will be attracted to governance. That will translate into having capable hands who will handle the business of governance. He knows how government works, how policies are implemented among other aspects of governance. I will not be surprised that past executives will root for him. He is such a person who will ensure the realisation of the dividends of democracy as espoused by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He is also humble and intelligent. His humility makes him acceptable. If you see him talk, you will know he is good. As soon as you interact with him, he becomes your friend immediately.

Did his foray into politics come to you as a surprise?

Having been a civil servant for over 30 years, one should not be surprised particularly when he has worked closely with politicians. Obuh has been a key player in the business of governance in Delta State. So, such a man should not be seen as a political neophyte. Since the governor, who has done so well, is going to finish strong, it will be in the interest of the state if someone, who understands the current template created by Uduaghan,

•Agbogun

is supported to become the governor.

Tony Obuh is one of the people who have contributed to the overwhelming development of the state. However, I am not surprised because he has operated in very different sensitive capacities that prepared him for the higher office he is going for now.

You have talked so good about him, but there is an argument in some quarters that Obuh is not a mainstream politician. Hence, there are doubts regarding his competence in the area of politicking. What do you make of that?

That argument is laughable. There is a saying in the United Kingdom that he who tries to differentiate the politician from the soldier will have his wars fought by cowards. Same applies to the civil servants because those who try to differentiate the civil servant from the politician will have his thinking and policies done by idiots. Tony Obuh was a grounded civil servant. If I may ask, is there anyone who went to school to study how to become a politician? There is politics everywhere and there are those who play politics at various levels. Can any of those making such claim point to the school of politics they attended? Who is a green horn in politics? And who is not? Politics as it relates to governance is all about proper formulation and implementation of policies that would bring about development. This development includes all forms of development. And Tony Obuh is very competent. He can be relied upon. That is why his acceptability cuts across all the tribes in Delta State. Obuh has friends everywhere. They all know that he is a bridge-builder. Among those jostling for that position, he is the only person that has not got excess

‘It will be good if someone who understands what it entails is allowed to manage the affairs of the state’

baggage. There are no scandals around his person. Professionally, he is known to have an impeccable recorded. In other aspects of life, he is known for integrity and humility.

Are the top positions he occupied in government enough to give him the grasp of what the political and economic needs of the state are?

Having been in the inner circle of government, I don’t think people should sleep over his understanding of the key issues in the state. Civil servants make the business of governance easy for politicians. Politicians can’t function or implement policies without them. So, Obuh, who had coordinated and formulated policies in his various capacities, should not be seen as someone, who has no clue about governance. I cited Delta Beyond Oil as one of the key policies that Obuh and other competent people were instrumental to. And that is a policy initiated to ensure that the state prospers without oil wealth. That policy has remained a model for other oil producing states. It will be worthwhile to see Obuh drive the maximum realisation of the policy.

Is Obuh the anointed candidate?

That is the beauty of democracy because it allows for freedom of opinion. The rumour making the rounds that he is being anointed is baseless. I don’t want to believe that. Some of his contemporaries in the race have gone the extra mile to appeal to get anointed but that is their business. Tony’s integrity and competence are the factors working in his favour. He represents the crop of technocrats, who have proved how best to be state governors. He is an administration and that will be brought to bear when he becomes governor. I am not aware that anyone anointed Tony. It is just his good works. Those who said the governor is rooting for anybody are wrong. So, anyone saying he is going to be Uduaghan’s stooge is not being realistic. Even when the present governor was coming on board, people said similar things about him. But Uduaghan ended up becoming one of the leading lights among the PDP governors. Uduaghan has taken the state beyond where (former governor) Ibori stopped. That is exactly what Tony is going to do. All the aspirants are friends of the governor and one of them will eventually become the governor.

What is the chance of Anioma producing the next governor?

Any ill-feeling or acrimony relating to the struggle for governorship is not new in any political setting. That is the beauty of democracy, because everyone is a stakeholder. It is expected that other aspirants will try to run-down their contemporaries through propaganda. The PDP knows how to handle this kind of situation.

That most aspirants are from Delta North is an attestation to the expectation that the zone produces the next governor in the interest of equity.

Since other zones have produced governors in the past, equity demands that this zone produces the next governor.

However, I hope that at, the end of the day, all the aspirants will act as good sportsmen by supporting the party’s candidate. We desire rancour-free primaries and that has been the message and expectation of the national body of the PDP.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

17

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Mubi as ‘Madinatul Islam’?

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• Boko Haram’s routine take-over of Nigerian territorial space is a national shame that should not be tolerated much longer

OT so suddenly, under President Goodluck Jonathan, busy pressing his rights to contest the 2015 presidential elections, Nigeria is fast becoming a Hobbesian state of nature, where Boko Haram anarchists strike at will and annex Nigeria’s territorial space, where they fly their Islamist flags.

The latest of such outrage, and intense national shame, is the capture of Mubi, the second largest town in Adamawa State and the state’s commercial nerve, which they have reportedly renamed “Madinatul Islam” (City of Islam). If not so tragic, it would have been so laughable!

Yet, with all this unprecedented tragedy, the Jonathan administration is as distracted as usual.

For Doyin Okupe, the presidential senior special assistant on media, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, an Adamawa native, is the problem, not Boko Haram.

Instead of Dr. Okupe telling Nigerians what the Jonathan government is doing to win back lost territories and save a nation’s honour, it is Alhaji Abubakar he would rather pounce on.

His offence? The former vice president’s announcement, at a press conference, that Boko Haram had taken over 16 local councils in the North East, and that the Jonathan Presidency should do its duty of protecting Nigerians and securing Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

Okupe, with the petulance so common with the Jonathan administration when found wanting and told to do its duty, accused Abubakar of doing public relations stunt for the insurgents, implying that the former vice president was exaggerating the security meltdown for political gains.

But the irony is clearly lost on him: that

a government negates its essence, as President Jonathan clearly does, when though it is the Leviathan that should force order, it continues to run and be terribly bruised by insurgents, with thousands of Nigerians slaughtered and Nigerian troops running for cover. Even on President Jonathan himself, the irony appears totally lost. How can a president be so resolute in re-contesting power while, on the job, he is so irresolute on the basic chores as security and safety of citizens from the hands of crazed anarchists?

The taking of Mubi is the latest disgrace, which ironically appears to portend greater tragedies ahead. Already, Yobe State Governor Kashim Shettima has already warned the local military authorities that Boko Haram was planning a raid on Maiduguri for tomorrow (Friday, November 5). Local governments under Boko Haram’s flag are Ngala, Kala/Balge, Marte, Askira/Uba, Bama, Gwoza, Mafa, Abadam, Dikwa, aside from parts of Konduga — all in Borno State. Kikiwa is under siege, according to news reports.

In Mubi, it was so disgraceful that even soldiers were reportedly struggling with civilians for space in fleeing vehicles.

Under the nose of President Jonathan and his military commanders, the Nigerian state appears to be collapsing fast — and all they mouth are empty excuses on why they cannot perform, not robust initiatives to roll back the shameful collapse.

And to think that the government appeared finally to have regained the momentum until the controversial ceasefire that squelched the government’s advance and citizens’ relief, and handed the poor citizens over there as serfs of Boko Haram anarchists. The irony of ironies: Boko

Haram pledges maximum protection to its captives, a chore that appears beyond the ken of the sitting government. It is a monumental national shame.

For President Jonathan and his military commanders, this is not the best of seasons. It is absolutely unacceptable that Boko Haram would just sack Nigerian territory anyhow, kill and maim innocent Nigerians at will and turn thousands of others into internally displaced persons in their own fatherland.

What Jonathan and his aides must do is to impress and convince Nigerians that they are up to the task of protecting Nigerians and preserving our country’s integrity, not betraying nervous anger when their glaring failure is pointed out.

The president must regain his honour now by rolling back the Boko Haram challenge or else everyone is doomed.

‘Even on President Jonathan himself, the irony appears totally lost. How can a president be so resolute in re-contesting power while, on the job, he is so irresolute on the basic chores as security and safety of citizens from the hands of crazed anarchists?The taking of Mubi is the latest disgrace, which ironically appears to portend greater tragedies ahead’

Compaore’s ouster

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•It is a lesson to sit-tight leaders that they risk being disgraced out of office

LAISE Compaore, one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers was on October 31 forced out of power as parliament was about pushing through a bill to allow him run again, the day before.

Compaore, 63, became Burkina Faso’s head of state in 1987 after Thomas Sankara, his bosom friend and one of Africa’s most respected heads of state, was ousted and assassinated in a coup.

Compaore, who was only 36 when he took power, had been reelected president four times since 1991. He had served two terms of seven years as well as two five-year terms.

His journey to infamy started years back, what with the country’s poor showing of 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN Human Development Index. The disillusionment by youths who constitute about 60 percent of the country’s 17 million population, was understandable. They natu-

‘Compaore’s ouster is a lesson to other African leaders with Oliver Twist tendency. They should realise that anyone who stays too long in the lavatory should be ready to play host to maggots. It also shows People Power as a potent antidote to the question posed by sit-tight leaders who have outlived their usefulness. The Burkinabe youths decided to take their destiny in their hands by coming out in large numbers to demand Compaore’s resignation’

rally could not have been expected to love the establishment responsible for such a parlous state of affairs. Perhaps they would have tolerated Compaore till next year when his fourth term was supposed to end, but apparently lost their patience when they discovered that rather than getting ready to leave power, Compaore was indeed digging in to stay put. His cup ran over with his insatiable desire for more years in office; angry protesters stormed and ransacked the parliament as well as other official buildings and burnt them down on October 30, demanding his resignation. In the ensuing chaos, soldiers took over and eventually announced the former president’s resignation after an initial disagreement amongst the military officers as to who should succeed Compaore.

With hindsight, the former president must be cursing the day he contemplated extending his tenure. He could not believe what hit him, as he issued two statements in quick succession indicating his willingness to vacate office at some future dates.

In the first statement, issued on Thursday, he vowed to hold on to power through next year under a transition government that he would obviously have headed.

However, he was soon to learn that the game was up and that he was no longer in a position of command. He quickly backtracked: “In order to preserve the democratic gains, as well as social peace … I declare a vacancy of power with a view to allowing a transition that should finish with free and transparent elections in a maximum period of 90 days”, he had said.

Even that was also rejected by a determined people.

Compaore’s ouster is a lesson to other African leaders with Oliver Twist tendency. They should realise that anyone who stays too long in the lavatory should be ready to play host to maggots. It also shows People Power as a potent antidote to the question posed by sit-tight leaders who have outlived their usefulness. The Burkinabe youths decided to take their destiny in their hands by coming out in large numbers to demand Compaore’s resignation. Although a few of them were killed, they succeeded in forcing out a leader who had nothing new to offer his country but was not ready to leave the stage.

Moreover, the role of the opposition in the struggle that some have christened “Black Spring”, is commendable. At least the opposition figures galvanised and provided the desired leadership to the people in the build-up to the protests, when their warning to Compaore not to run for a fifth term went unheeded. Perhaps particularly worrisome was the role of the parliament in the Compaore saga.

Perhaps democracy would not have been truncated the way it was in the country if the parliamentarians had done their work diligently.

It must be pointed out that they failed the people in this matter because they should have prevailed on Compaore to drop the idea of his fifth term when it mattered. All said, however, we urge the Burkinabes to hold on and put the soldiers on their toes. The best the international community owes them now is ensuring that the soldiers return the country to democratic path within the three months that they promised.

Improving democratic infrastructure

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IR: From the beginning of what seems an unending vigour of national progress in democracy, the country has experienced a turn-around in organization and management of electoral processes. We haven’t gotten it all right but the situation is not as hopeless as many have imagined. Few examples of mind shattering problems are given as: Must registration for voters be restricted to a given time? Should the registration be repeated all the time when election is close? Why must that time be close to election time? And, should we continue to have endless numbers of party with the same manifesto?

Nigeria has failed to tell the time regarding the best of electoral practices obtainable around the world. Every democracy is built on credible election. Credible elections are not natural resources like crude oil that could be dug from the ground. Credible elections are outcome of fail-proof planning that Nigeria has given little attention to. Resources are scarce as times are hard and the coming days will make it harder with shrinking national income. INEC might not get the normal allocation it is used to and the country needs better and credible election as democracy matures to global view. This mismatch might prompt a first order chaos difficult to resolve. For many years, Nigeria has craved participatory democracy to validate the quality of leadership. The most frustrating of all the barrier so far, is INEC registration.

Technology has endowed us with so much to count on as blessings. These blessing have been looked down on as not vehicle for incorporation into smooth running of elections. If voters’ registration is vital and critical and shouldn’t be despised in sensitive time as this, it should be given priority attention in next budget planning before resources deplete.

Nigeria has numbers of experts ready to contribute to the validity of the country’s electoral processes. We haven’t given them fair chance to try their best for their country. The repetition in registration comes as another menacing affair which deserves consideration by national policy makers. If there are ways of cutting down cost in conducting one-time registration for all voters, it will be the best. The permanent voters card will be of little use if voters can’t vote in their respective location when it is time to vote. Some policies might have to change along the line though. These changes are necessary, considering the cost of conducting registrations for voter only to hand them glorified identity card.

It would have been better if electoral laws allow citizens to convert available identity documents to a medium voting. The best consideration will be to alter part of the restricting regulation that restrict voters and let them know it is time to vote anywhere they are. That is the time Nigeria can boast of enfranchising her vast populace. Good election is the best infrastructure any democracy can have.

• Unekwu Peters Onyilo, Kogi State.

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Elections are here again coupled with the usual campaigns, frenzy and intrigues. It is the season of promises, cross carpeting and adoption. I must confess that the critical mass of our society are either playing the ostrich about the facts on what to do or are simply ignoring it thinking that the future will take care of itself. My grouse is that aspirants have continued to play on our ignorance or may I say lethargy of the people. Can you hold a man accountable to promises that are not concrete and specific?

Are there any documents, papers or treaty in form of manifesto that people can refer to when the chips are down? All we hear in times of campaign are high sounding words that are not measurable and do not make meaning to the average man.

“When you vote me in I will bring transformation; poverty will be wiped out, Chrismas rice and sallah rams will be made available during festivities” and all the nonsense go on unending.

S

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Electorates, be wise How do you measure transformation? What are the specific indices or parameters to know a transformed people or society?

How are you going to wipe out poverty; is it by giving people rice and rams during festivities? These are some fundamental questions that need to be asked. Electorates must be wise this time around. If you eat rice and ram in one day, what happens to the other 364 days? Are we thinking about the future of our children and generation unborn at all?

When we were growing up in the early 80’s, I attended a campaign organized by Unity Party of

Nigeria (UPN) in the then Bendel State. One of the thing I took home was the late Prof Ambrose Alli (gubernatorial aspirant) saying “ I will give free education to all students”; he did not end there, he went further to say, that parents shall not buy texts books, rulers, biros etc. These were his electioneering deliverables and as a young man though not up to the age of voting, I went home announcing the good news that if this man is voted in, we are not going to pay fees or buy text books again.

Go to any campaign ground today; what your see is fanfare, entertainment and campaign of

ing General Assembly at Rumfa College Kano are honesty and dedication, truthfulness and responsibility; exemplary life, and selfless service to humanity.

So, with due respect and contrary to the minister’s assertion, things are not normal any longer in this country. This so-called spiritual jaundice’, may most likely decimate not only the opposition elements, but entire Nigerian people including many of his former students, who have more than enough justifications to castigate this dangerous government!

For example, in the education sector alone, the standard has fallen.

Quality is no longer sacrosanct. Mass failure in WAEC, NECO and lately law schools have become the order of the day. Poor funding, incessant strikes, cultism and other related afflictions more deadly than the spiritual jaundice, are the order of the day in the education sector under the Jonathan administration.

Indeed, Nigerians have every reason to malign this government, because of its total reliance on false propaganda and campaign of misinformation and lies.

Quality of life has degenerated.

Poverty of the type never imagined has become our second nature. Government is busy subverting the constitution to suit its whims. And all these, the president doesn’t give a damn!

Jonathan has failed in the primary responsibility of protection of life and properties of Nigerians. Employment opportunities are not provided.

Power has deteriorated despite many promises to that effect. Economic opportunities have been in downward slide. All basic indicators that assure citizens about the existence of a responsive and responsible government are in the red. These are some of the reasons for the current widespread criticism which surprisingly, the minister finds disturbing?

What we required at this particular time is courage to tell ourselves and the powers-that-be, the truth; that this country is terribly sick, needing urgent medication. It is tottering toward the precipice and all hands must be on deck to salvage it before it’s too late.

Shekarau and Jonathan’s critics

IR: Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau was recently quoted as saying “Some people especially those in the opposition states say this government is not doing anything. They are suffering from spiritual jaundice because whatever the government does, they would not see”.

As an accomplished and renowned educationist, whatever Shekarau says would readily make an impact on the psyche of the young ones who regard him as a role model. The virtues the minister taught in various schools across the country in the last 40 years should not be destroyed on the altar of political expediency or desire to impress anybody!

The minister’s statements on politics, economy and social issues would always be subjected to different interpretations. As such, decorum, circumspections should be the watchword. If not for anything else, the many students he nurtured of which this writer is just one of them deserve something better from their former teacher!

Among the qualities he always emphasised in school especially dur-

• Kabiru Tsakuwa Tsakuwa2000@yahoo.com

calumny against opposition. For God’s sake we want to know what you have to offer when elected.

Electorates must rise up to shift the paradigm by tasking our aspirants to tell us the specifics. To make matter worse, the institutions responsible for organising political parties have lost the essence of their work. Where are

party manifestoes? They are supposed to be the instruments of electioneering and not the hypes we are seeing today. They are the indices to assess the worth of a party or people vying for position. We must go back to the basics and shun trivialities by asking our aspirant to tell us in precise and specific terms with timelines what they have to offer. They should be able to tell us their economic policies, how the civil service will be reformed; their agenda on industrialization, agriculture and employment generation etc.

Enough of all these verbose and meaningless campaigns.

•Alexander Ighoro Warri, Delta State.

Why bring religion into politics?

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IR: I am a Christian who admires Islam. To me, there is no difference between Christianity and Islam. That is my belief. Islam preaches peace. So does Christianity. So, where is the difference?

Both Islam and Christianity are perfect religions. Any imperfection is not from the two wonderful religions but from religious charlatans who masquerade as religious faithful. Both Islam and Christianity do not produce terrorists. It is some charlatans that produce them.

I have read both Holy Books. They are wonderful.

I have seen true Muslims. I have seen fake Muslims. I have seen fake Christians. I have seen true Christians. So, where is the difference?

There is no difference between Islam and Christianity.

I have seen instances where some Muslims have troubled some Muslims but some Christians have come to the aid of the troubled Muslims. I have seen instances where some Christians have troubled some Christians but some Muslims have come to the aid of the troubled Christians. Then, what are we talking about?

I would want us to bury the din about the Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket in politics. To be blunt, religion and politics are not really related. I am not a politician. I do not belong to any

political party. However, I am interested in who rules. This is democracy; government of the people, by the people and for the benefit of the people. We should have good political culture and not embrace political apathy.

Since there is no difference between Islam and Christianity, we should forget same-religion candidates but cogitate about a perfect pair (not a lethal lot from different religions whose reign has always been catastrophic). I don’t see anything wrong in voting for two Muslims or two Christians if their leadership will better the lots of all Nigerians come 2015. Please let us think twice before we choose our leaders this time round.

In 2011, I voted for General Buhari, a Muslim, because I knew he was the best candidate. In 2015, I will vote for General Buhari and anybody who will be his running mate because he is still the best candidate.

The bottom-line: A Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian-Christian ticket should not bring about any din. It is politics, not marriage. It is only in a home that religion can bring about clashes. What we should talk about is a perfect pair or a perfect match that will re-write our history positively.

• Abraham Kehinde Olalemi, Ibadan.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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Lagos School of History: An exploratory discourse – 2

HAT the Ibadan School of History was largely interested in was establishing the fact that Africa had a past that was worthy of study. In other words, they were following European tradition of history for history’s sake. Most of those involved in the development of this school were not concerned with functionality or application of the study of the African past to solve present problems. It is, however, fair to suggest that exponents of the Ibadan school believed in the continuity of human experience from the past to the present and that the past certainly informs the present and that the present can only be totally understood by studying the past and that the present will have an impact on the future. It will be unfair to say that the Ibadan School of History was only interested in the study of history as an intellectual and academic exercise only and that it was not concerned, with the use of history in solving problems that may face society. However, the question of relevance was not a major question. Critics have also accused the Ibadan School of History for not having been concerned with social and economic analysis whereas its main concern was Islamic and Christian proselytisation and colonialism generally and political issues especially the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires. Publications ascribed to the “Ibadan School” include the following; K.O. Dike Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta 1830-1835 (Oxford, 1956), Akinjide Osuntokun Nigeria in the First World War (1979), B.O. Oloruntimehin The Segu Tuklor Empire (1972), Murray Last The Sokoto Caliphate (1977), T.G.O. Gbadamosi The Growth of Islam among the Yoruba 1841-1980 (1978), Fred I.A. Omu Press and Politics in Nigeria 1880-1937 (1978), Akitoye S. Adebanji Revolution and Power Politics in Yorubaland 1840-1893: Ibadan Expansion and the Rise of Ekitiparapo (1971), Tamuno Tekena N. The Evolution of the Nigerian State (1972), Omer-Cooper J.D. The Zulu Aftermath: A Nineteenth Century Revolution in Bantu Africa (1966), Freund Bill Capital and Labour in the Nigerian Tin Mines (1981), Ryder Alan F.C. Benin and Europeans 14851897 (1977), Cookey S.J. Sodienye Britain and the Congo Question 1855-1913 (1968), Adewoye Omoniyi The Judicial System in Southern Nigeria 1854-1954: Law and Justice in a Dependency (1977), Adeleye R.A. Power and Diplo-

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NE of the major beauties of democracy is in its innate tenets of freedoms – of choice, expression and association which allows the individual or group if they so choose to participate in the various political processes without coercion. These qualities as envisaged by the proponents of this enduring governance framework creates the needed platform for all political gladiators to negotiate their interests allowing its institutions to mediate peacefully the diverse outcomes to ensure that the system continues sustainably without imploding.

It is on this plank that I situate the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representative – Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from his erstwhile party the PDP to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

We believe that the practice of democracy is a process that allows for continuous learning as we test and allow each precept to go through the fire that the various democratic institutions generate. It is this testing and their outcomes that sends the correct signals to all stakeholders on the right actions and steps to take in every given situation and it is these that also builds democratic values, norms and traditions. An accumulation of these invisibles eventually become the foundation for measuring the maturity of such democracies.

Democracy especially its practice is not a 100 meters dash but a marathon that transcends many ages, individuals and climes. As one in a marathon, it therefore requires serious patience and endurance if we are to make any serious success out of the whole exercise. If our intentions are to make Nigerian democracy very enduring then, we should not be in a haste to take certain actions rather we must allow all the democratic processes to be carefully followed and exhausted before taking any action. It is only on such predicates that such actions taken

macy in Northern Nigeria 1804-1906: The Sokoto Caliphate and its Enemies (1971), Yahya Dahiru Morocco in the Sixteenth Century (1981), Ajayi J.F.A. Christian Missions in Nigeria 1841-1891 (1965), Asiwaju A.I. Western Yorubaland under European Rule 1889-1945 (1976), J.A. Atanda The New Oyo Empire: Indirect Rule and Change in Western Nigeria 1894-1934 (1973), P.A. Igbafe Benin Under British Administration: The Impact of Colonial Rule on an African Kingdom (1978), A.E. Afigbo The Warrant Chiefs: Indirect Rule in Southeastern Nigeria 1891-1929 (1972), J.C. Anene The International Boundaries of Nigeria 1885-1960 (1970) and E.A. Ayandele Missionary Impact on Modern Nigeria 1842-1914 (1966).

The Ibadan School has been successful in its task of establishing the fact of African history and developing a body of literature to be used in historical pedagogy by teachers and providing literature for the reading public.

The intellectual erudition of the exponents of the Ibadan School was noticed at home and abroad and many of the older scholars found themselves in the editorial boards of many overseas based distinguished journals as well as in councils and academic bodies on education including at one time Professor J.F. Ade-Ajayi serving as Chairman of Council of the United Nations’ University in Tokyo, Japan. Apart from Kenneth Dike who became the first African Vice Chancellor of the University Of Ibadan, others like J.F. Ade-Ajayi, Emmanuel Ayandele, Tekena Tamuno, S.J. Cookey, Omoniyi Adewoye became vice chancellors of Lagos, Calabar, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Ibadan respectively. Others became federal ministers and state commissioners not necessarily in the areas related to the history in which they specialised. In other words, those who were appointed into political post did not bring any special knowledge arising from their research into the ministerial departments to which they were posted. The Department of History of the University of Ibadan became a victim of its own success. The Ibadan scholars did not replicate or reproduce themselves and the department became denuded as a result of a high profile appointments of the academic staff to the extent that at one time the history programme at the fountain head of the Ibadan School of History suffered de-accreditation in the hands

of the National Universities Commission. This was the greatest tragedy that could happen to Ibadan which in the 1960s and 1970s was designated centre of excellence Jide in African history.

Osuntokun Although things have changed for the better in Ibadan but the lingering effect of what happened to the School is still apparent even till today to the extent that Ibadan School of History has become history and hardly does anyone talk about it today.

The Lagos School of History seems to have learnt some lessons from the Ibadan School. It did not deliberately set out to be different from the Ibadan School since in any case some of its leadership came from Ibadan and were initially those of its weakest link in the Ibadan School. But as time went on and because of its proximity to government, the academic staff of the University of Lagos, Department of History were individually and severally called upon to advise government on policies which government felt they had expertise and over time the academic staff in the University of Lagos’s Department of History began to see sense in applied history.

‘The Ibadan scholars did not replicate or reproduce themselves and the department became denuded as a result of a high profile appointments of the academic staff to the extent that at one time the history programme at the fountain head of the Ibadan School of History suffered de-accreditation in the hands of the National Universities Commission’

Tambuwal: History will absolve us

By Olumuyiwa Wahab Jimoh can be adjudged to be right and democratic but any other way, abridges democratic practice and culture and is thus aberrant.

Having laid this foundation and understanding so that some may not misunderstand the trajectory of my intervention, it becomes imperative to say clearly that the response of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) –Suleiman Abba under the presumed instruction or acquiescence of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP is not just irresponsible but does not in any way help in building our democracy. We see it as a slap and derogation of our democratic culture and traditions and has caused a very steep setback to the efforts of well - meaning Nigerians to build democratic culture and practice in the country.

It’s indeed a great leap backwards.

We had thought that in a country that is desirous of ensuring that we move forward and given the recent avowals of the federal Government to enthrone fairness and equity in all its activities especially as we move towards 2015 that this event would have been used as one of those test cases; a watershed. Unfortunately, we are all about to lose the learning which this affords us as a nation to build our democracy.

In this unfolding frenzy, the productive side of the entire event will be lost in the melee with everybody going back to business as usual afterwards. This is not the way to build a democracy and this is definitely not the way nations that are aspiring to be amongst the top 20 in the global economy behave.

The right step was for the PDP which rightly lost its member to the APC or any other aggrieved party

for that matter to have sought the interpretation of the courts in this matter before embarking on such ruinous action of withdrawing the official security attached to the Speaker. It is not Aminu Tambuwal that owns that office so, anything that denigrates that office does not denigrate Tambuwal but is a reduction of that hallowed office and a definite reduction in the collective weight of our democratic value and culture.

If the PDP or for that matter the Police were desirous of pursuing the hallowed path of democracy, the option would be to immediately set in motion the process of getting the courts to decide the fate of the Speaker and this is a right which nobody will query but deciding to usurp the powers of the courts is rather anti-democratic.

When this has been tested in the courts, the outcomes either way will have positive impact on the political landscape as it will add value to the practice of democracy in Nigeria and help in redirecting future actions in this regard. As political actors learn from this experience, political decisions and actions would become better guided in the future with all stakeholders knowing what the implications of their actions are especially when it has become very glaring that if this is allowed as the PDP has shown in the recent past to rest in the perceived good judgment of some interested parties, there will be an overriding predilection to greater and higher impunity and overdose of partiality.

While some will argue that the withdrawal of the security details of the honourable speaker does not amount to removal from office, out position remains that it does amount to the IGP and his paymasters arrogating to themselves the

power to assume that the speaker has lost his position and seat in the House thus no longer deserves the official benefits of that hallowed office. It is also in this implicit that the case of not just abuse of democratic process is expressed but the desecration of our democratic values.

How else can we explain the action of the administrators of the House of Representatives who hurriedly removed all paraphernalia of office belonging to the Speaker including portraits from where they were originally?

We urge the PDP if they feel too concerned over that decision of the Speaker to quit their party to approach the courts and not be afraid about the outcomes of such judicial process as most of the judges are also appointees of the same PDPled federal government. One wonders why the PDP should be afraid of seeking legal redress in the law courts which they clearly control.

This perhaps may turn out to be their greatest contribution to Nigeria’s politics and democracy since they have failed woefully in their effort to give Nigeria a semblance of the benefits of democracy since 1999.

It even becomes more exigent as we approach the final few months before the 2015 elections that all political actors should eschew any act that may send the wrong signal not only to other contenders in the political arena but to the international community especially our development partners. We must as a nation aspire to get 2015 right so that we can at least regain some of our lost international prestige since the advent of this civilian democracy especially under the watch of the PDP led federal Government.

Two wrongs they say does not make a right. An eye for an eye and

a tooth for a tooth is a maxim that is not known to democratic traditions. No matter the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, tit for tat as an instrument of governance in this case is not creative and cannot support our quest for higher democratic ideals but lends to the pull down; water it down mentality that seems to have pervaded our polity. It is definitely an ill-wind that will not blow anybody good.

Our institutions of governance ought to be allowed to work and all democratic processes exhaustively and patiently followed in all situations. Patience is a virtue in governance and whatever position we hold, it is important that we persevere in all things as that is the only way all national stakeholders will have a buy-in into the eventual outcomes. When processes are followed, justice will not only be done but will be seen to have been done. That is the way to carry everybody along and foster unity amongst the diverse cleavages that make up our polity.

Finally, it is important that we see the opportunity which this event has offered us as a nation in our political learning curve to grab it and use it to assiduously deepen our democratic traditions and practice.

We must not lose it and I pray that we all see the collective consequences of our actions so that together we will be awakened into seeing this as a collective action to ensure that those who have allowed themselves to commit that error immediately and gallantly reverses themselves. There is no shame in admitting a mistake but entirely it is adjudged on the side of greatness.

• Honourable Jimoh is a member of Lagos State House of Assembly

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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RESIDENT Jonathan, unlike PDP hawks and ethnic irredentists that have captured him is on the surface a complete gentleman whose words will be his honour. And unlike a politician, a man of many words to whom the end justifies the means, he cuts the picture of a pastor. He is patient, a rub-off virtue from his virtuous wife, Dame Patience Jonathan. He seduces everyone with the coy smiles of an innocent shoeless school boy. It is precisely for these reasons PDP needs him more than he needs PDP. And it is for this reason most people think he is unlikely to survive the wiles of PDP, the nemesis of his better gifted godfather, ex-President Obasanjo who realised too late after his third term fiasco the evil influence of sycophants and appropriately admonished his godson to stay clear of them.

But tragically for the nation, President Jonathan has been captured by the same forces that destroyed his predecessors who were first persuaded to believe that without them, there would be no Nigeria. He now truly believes he is the best that has ever happened to Nigeria, ‘the embodiment of the combined virtues of our founding fathers’, as Ebenezer Babatope recently claimed. Like Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo, he now believes Nigeria will disintegrate without him. He has been conditioned by PDP to see anyone that tries to wake him up from this illusion as enemy envious of his achievements and set to derail his 2015 ambition. Elevated to a status of an oligarch, he like all oligarchs even in democracy now believes he is wiser than any other person in the nation. Worse still, even as the insurgents are perfecting strategies to dismember Nigeria, he believes he has fought it into a standstill and that grateful Nigerians are begging him to continue with the good work...He now sees what he wants to see-his own invincibility This much is what one can draw from the mockery of democracy which best described the president’s act of picking up of PDP’s only available nomination form in Abuja last week.

After picking up the only available application form, the president thanked Nigerians and PDP for the confidence reposed in him by giving him the right of first refusal. He promised to achieve greater things for the country. He went on to ‘thank PDP Governors Forum for providing the N2 million for the procurement of the expression of interest form and the N20 million for the procurement of the nomination form. He was silent on the fact that the generous PDP governors also secured the right of first refusal. He concluded by thanking ‘TAN for providing N22 million for the nomination form, as well as youths groups, women groups and students for their contribution for the procurement of the form’ The farce was captured by The Guardian on

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EACTING to Rev. Chris Okotie’s article on the cash-for-arms deal, which resulted in a diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa, an official of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some government apologists have been trying to make a case for Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s innocence over his personal aircraft’s involvement in the botched $9.3 million deal. So, those who have issues with his connections and the arguments being advanced on his behalf by CAN and government are being cautious in the face of possible emergence of incriminating evidence against the clergyman.

Suspicion of his involvement in the scandal is further reinforced by the refusal of many Nigerians to believe government, his primary defender. After Rev. Okotie and many other critics condemned Pastor Oritsejafor’s action, it is not hard to fathom why the scrawny excuses being peddled to exculpate the pastor don’t seem to hold water. Uneasy, they say, lies the head that wears the crown. The CAN president must realize this fact instead of passing insults on Rev. Okotie over his comments.

How come the staff of the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other departments of government usually involved in international financial transactions did not ‘remember’ that the authorities in South Africa had to be officially informed?

Were the necessary forms and documents not filled to cover this transaction? Were these departments not carried along to ensure proper documentation and transparency?

And if it was contracted out as a private business, why was it government’s duty to charter the plane? Why does government need to assist a private contractor in carrying out his business? Why the secrecy about the identity of the two Nigerians who were on the flight? Has the EFCC or ICPC waded into the issues? More questions than answers.

The law allows the different forces to procure their arms by themselves. But if the office of the National Security Adviser, which

Mubi tragedy and PDP Abuja’s mockery of democracy

page three of its October 31, edition by a resourceful production editor who juxtaposed the celebration of the president victory with the gory story of anguish, of sorrow and of pain; of destruction of homes, of families who cannot find their loved ones, of bodies strewn around the streets ,of helpless men and children lying helpless without help in the bush; of soldiers allegedly escaping to Cameroon leaving the residents of the city to face the wrath of Boko Haram brutes.(Cameroon has already admitted having in their protective custody about 300 soldiers).

But first, the president’s victory. The path to his victory like that of Boko Haram in Mubi last week was strewn with carcasses of vanquished political enemies. Prominent among them is Obasanjo, his estranged godfather. His hollow cry that it was the turn of the north to produce the president going by PDP constitution to which both he and Jonathan were beneficiaries, was ignored. The price for telling Nigerians his own side of the story was his substitution as South-west PDP rallying point with the president’s trusted friends- Buruji Kashamu, Segun Mimiko and Gbenga Daniel who recently crawled back to PDP from Labour Party after four years of EFCC harassment and of course Ayo Fayose who has threatened to expel Obasanjo from PDP if he fails to desist from his criticism of the party.

Also listed among his vanquished political enemies was the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), whose leadership had in July issued October deadline to Jonathan to bring back the abducted Chibok girls and put a stop to Boko Haram and other violent killings or forget about 2015. Jonathan had dismissed the threat insisting ‘he needed no ultimatum from anybody to live up to his responsibilities to the Nigerian people.’ Similarly ignored is the

body’s insistence that “it is the turn of the north to produce the president.

Another loser is the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). The body’s allegation that “most of the crisis plaguing the North is a deliberate ploy to weaken the region economically and politically’ has been controverted by another body from the north- The Transformation Agenda Solidarity Forum, (TASOF) led by a former chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Alhaji Muhhamadu Gwaska. According to him, “TSAOF has noted with revulsion the unguarded utterances of some mischief makers who masquerade as northern elders and pretend to speak for the entire North regarding the political future of this country.”

But then a critical look at the crusaders behind the president’s victory. Leading the crusade is Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) which claims its objective is ‘to celebrate Jonathan’s sterling human qualities, democratic credentials and landmark accomplishments that are currently under marketed and under advertised’. It defines itself as a non-governmental organization made up of “individuals of impeccable character”. A leading member of the amorphous group as speculated by the media is Patrick Ifeanyi Uba whose Capital Oil and Gas firm was recently taken over by AMCON following a debt of about N65billion. That was after his running battle with EFCC and Cosmas Maduka’s Choscharis over business deals that went sour.

Others known members include billionaire oil magnate and PDP chieftain, Arthur Eze, who declared during a meeting of the Elders’ Advisory Council of Goodluck Support Group in Abuja last week that ‘President Jonathan reelection is not negotiable’. On the list also is Innocent Chukwuma, a businessman and owner of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing

Company Limited, who donated 24 vehicles to Goodluck Support Group during the same ceremony.

Now let us return to The Guardian’s record of events for history. According to the paper, as at 2pm Thursday October 30, when, the president and PDP were celebrating the farce in Abuja, Mubi had been under Boko Haram siege for two days. The paper reported over 200 killed, the torching of Mubi central market, 19 police stations, banks and the Mubi central prison where over 400 prisoners were liberated. It reported that the bridge linking the emir’s palace with Cameroon was blown off.

In a globalised world where millions saw the video recording of how Obama and his cabinet members monitored from the White House the killing of Osama Bin Laden in his hideout in Afghanistan, the only plausible explanation for the October 30 mockery of democracy could only be that the president was shielded by PDP from October 29-30 Mubi tragedy. Even if the president does not know what is in his own interest, how about those paid by the taxpayers to shield him by protecting him from himself?

We can recall it is the same PDP enemies of our country and enemy of the president who once goaded him on to commandeer three aircrafts bought and fuelled by the nation’s taxpayers to ferry PDP members to Ilorin, Sokoto and Kano to welcome defecting politicians shortly after Abuja Inyanya bus terminus bombing that killed scores of Nigerians. It is the same self-serving PDP men who appeared on television blaming everyone else except government for the abduction of 300 girls from their dormitory and driven over a distance of 200 kilometres within a state under emergency laws. These are the men who persuaded the president to deploy 12,000 security personnel to intimidate and brutalise the opponent of the PDP candidate during the recent Osun governorship election. These men serve neither Jonathan nor Nigeria.

I don’t think it is too late for men of good will to save our nation from the impending doom. Credible members of the Council of State like Gowon can for a moment take a break from endless prayers bearing in mind God’s admonition that we will all reap what we sow.

He can mobilize other credible leaders like Emeka Anyaoku, Theophilus Danjuma, Maitama Sule, Shettima Ali Mongono and Ayo Adebanjo, to talk truth to power and see how we can reclaim our nation back from those who have no state in Nigeria. And time is running out. With Boko Haram controlling nine local councils area in Borno State, we should not wait until the fall of Maiduguri from where Boko Haram can launch aerial attack on any part of the country.

Questions Oritsejafor must answer on botched arms deal

By Soji Adedotun

is believed to have signed the contract for the purchase, is directly involved in the deal, then proper security checks must have been carried out on the ownership and safety details of the aircraft. This means the name of Oritsejafor might have come up and they found in him a willing ally, because the aircraft would not have been used if it belonged to a member of the opposition or someone who was not in the President’s good books.

Would the government have played this kind of game in the United States or the United Kingdom; funneling undeclared funds into other countries to purchase arms in the black market on the excuse that they forgot to notify the authorities? Not very likely. Those countries would definitely not just sweep things under the carpet. All these added to the suspicion.

There were two aircrafts involved in the deal. One of them belonged to Pastor Oritsejafor while the second was registered

by Felix Idiga, who owns Jafac Aviation Limited, the operator of the former’s aircraft. In all this, Felix Idiga, his aircraft and Jafac have barely received a mention. But what is the link between Jonathan, Oritsejafor and Idiga?

In Nigeria, being this close to the President is tantamount to being in government itself.

One thing is sure: government will never proffer details which will make it possible for a honest and independent assessment of the facts involved, and the aircraft operators themselves cannot defend themselves against a field of intelligent questions, for fear of giving away too much incriminating information. The FOI Bill is just what we need here.

People the world over naturally raise questions about the connections between events and personages. Remember General Buhari, the 28 suitcases and the Umaru Dikko kidnap saga, as well as the IBB government and Dele Giwa’s murder. Public perception of relationships between the foregoing personages and events is in spite of absence of any concrete evidence. Given past knowledge with governments and their comfortable dance with political chicanery, it is hard to believe that the coincidences will not fuel suspicion.

This is a case of the burden of proof against the shadow of doubt, which does not help in mitigating the force of the suspicion, and making the case for Oritsejafor’s innocence a hard sell. Conventional wisdom stands against this PR spin. Worse still, to have answered Rev. Okotie with his domestic issues, which is common to us mortals, is the height of mischief.

Pastor Oritsejafor’s calm mien in the face of the storm is not evidence of innocence. No one in his ‘defence team’ has been able to repudiate the allegations and questions postulated from various quarters with even the simplest of logical answers. He should be man enough to come out clean. Too many fingers are pointing at him.

This sordid affair is the fruit of President Jonathan and Pastor Oritsejafor’s symbiotic and civil, political partnership: Two people who are well aware that they are exploiting each other’s office which offers them a platform for their personal and mutual benefits.

Why didn’t Pastor Oritsejafor play buddies with Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo or Umaru Musa Yar-Adua if his intention is to use his ‘good’ Christian position to help the efforts of the President?

Who says the ruling cabal is not using the hoopla as a bargaining chip to douse the Christian political awakening by bringing their leadership into disrepute? This is politics. These questions arising in different quarters have left this scar open to political infections, so Pastor Oritsejafor cannot simply discountenance the valid worries of the Christian community, no matter how unimportant they seem to him. No true leader will do that.

Politics is an art of persuasion and Pastor Oritsejafor lacks the requisite skills to tango in the political minefield. He will find out that politicians are duplicitous back-stabbers, and he may yet get his fingers burnt. When you dine with the devil, you use a long fork.

This adage has some element of truth in it.

The failure to heed this advice is why Pastor Oritsejafor is embroiled in the present integrity conundrum that he finds himself. And the conundrum is thick. This is why I agree with Rev. Okotie that he should quit the CAN job.

• Adedotun wrote in from Osogbo, Osun State

‘This sordid affair is the fruit of President Jonathan and Pastor Oritsejafor’s symbiotic and civil, political partnership: Two people who are well aware that they are exploiting each other’s office which offers them a platform for their personal and mutual benefits.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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IGERIA is revving itself up for something big and earth-shaking – something that does not look good at all.

We Nigerians can change it; but we will not.

From all directions, the holders of irreconcilably extreme positions are beating the war drums.

A former Head of State, General Buhari, arguably – and in fairness – one of the best of Nigeria’s former Heads of State,and a wellknown Muslim leader in his own right, signs up to seek his party’s nomination for the 2015 presidential election. Surprisingly, even from his own home base, mighty guns are booming to shoot him down. From there, significant members of the ethnic and religious elite violently reject him, and call on the powers of heaven to push him off from running for the presidency. The loudest of their feared ulama, the renowned Ahmad Gumi, favours us Nigerians with an exposition of the philosophy behind their rejection of Buhari. Gumi says that a major part of their reason is that, though corruption is a bad thing, Buhari’s ousting of the Shagari presidency for its corruption, and Buhari’s war on corruption thereafter, offends God and cannot be forgiven by God! “Don’t be surprised” Gunmi tells Buhari.

“You may need to understand that Islam being a pragmatic religion allows the use of Zakkat and public wealth as an instrument to pacify and lure influential people for the sake of righteousness, peace and stability. In modern governance today it translates into the security vote.Thus men are also controlled by money. So if your policy of governance is obsessibly centered on sealing tight the use of money you will have great problem with men”.

In short, God opposes Buhari’s candidacy because Buhari is prone to seeing corruption as an evil that must be eliminated, instead of seeing it as an evil that can be used to “lure” men into the ruler’s religion and into submission to a designed order of control. The military governments, all led by Northern Muslims, that created Nigeria’s present institution of “security vote”, he says, did so in order to give Nigeria’s rulers large amounts of money to use to convert and subdue Nigerians – without having to fear any auditing.

Since Buhari is very likely to “seal tight” the use of money for corruption, Buhari is very likely to “have great problem with men”.

Thus, the opposition to Buhari’s candidacy

Cry, raped country! – 2 among the inner caucus of the Arewa North elite is too ideologically rooted and too solid to be willed away – in fact, too solid to be dispelled by Buhari’s victory in an election.

At the heart of what they obviously want is a full return to unlimited Northern control – to a president like Shagari or Babangida, in the hands of whom corruption will be used powerfully to subvert and emasculate the elite of all parts of Nigeria, while the government goes on diverting resources unfairly to the North, using the powers of the federal government to subdue the rest of Nigeria to Fulani control, to pursue an agenda of “full Islamization” of Nigeria, to further weaken the principle of federalism, and to further reinforce federal control over every aspect of our lives and our country’s resources.

They are in effect serving notice that if Buhari wins, they will give him “great problem” – and Nigeria knows what that can mean from past experiences. Those who have been threatening war and mayhem as means to the solution of Nigeria’s problems, and who have been serving notice that they will “kill, maim, and destroy”, must be counted upon as meaning what they are saying.Some of them admit, at least indirectly, that Boko Haram is an instrument of theirs; others say that, in addition, a Mujaheeden militia is ready to go into action. These are no ordinary times; leaders who count only on success through politicsas-usual in the coming situation are preparing a feast of suffering and pain for their own people.

The same Northern inner caucus that absolutely rejects Buhari also rejects Jonathan absolutely. In fact, Jonathan is, for the purpose of the 2015 presidential election, their Great Satan. The only kind of presidential candidate that will be acceptable to them is a HausaFulani Muslim candidate selected on the platform of their old PDP before Jonathan – rather than one selected on the platform of the APC. In bits and pieces, information is coming out in the open media about their preparations for the moment when Jonathan secures the nomination of his party for another term – preparations including massive legal challenges of Jonathan’s candidacy in the courts, massive riots and attacks on southerners resident in the North, Boko Haram and

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HERE are two things, in my view, that define a man: his spirit of philanthropy and sense of community. A man who gives freely of his possessions to others does the will of God and is always on top (as the late MKO Abiola would say, the hand that gives is always on top).

Similarly, a successful man is actually one who easily connects with and does things for, or the will of, his people. Such a man has a strong, powerful kindred spirit, a keen sense of community and is almost always called upon to lead.

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, PDP consensus candidate for the Enugu governorshiprace next year, a grassroots politician and a cheerful giver, fits this bill very well. He is one of the few men in his generation in our part of Igboland about whom the people can veritably say “here is our leader in whom we are well pleased.” I am yet to see a politician in Enugu State whose choice as a governorship candidate has generated such widespread interest and acclaim as Ugwuanyi’s.

When Dr. Ike Abugu, an engineer and small and medium enterprises scholar died in the ill-fated Dana Air crash of June 3, 2012, it fell on some of us his relatives, friends and associates living with him in Lagos, to organize a befitting burial for the Russian-trained metallurgical engineer. We formed a burial committee where one was appointed chairman of the publicity sub-com-

‘Two character traits are obvious here: empathy and humility.

Ugwuanyi is typical of the biblical concept of the good man, one who rejoices with those who rejoice and mourns with those who mourn. He is also the type that humbles himself that the good Lord may exalt him. If a leader has these two qualities in good measures, he is certain to excel. Think of Bill Clinton and you have the portrait of Enugu Governor-in-waiting’

Mujaheeden strikes across Nigeria, and even an attempt at a military take-over.

Quite naturally, these extreme demands are forcing opposing extreme responses to evolve. Stories of an arms build-up in the South-south have surfaced repeatedly in the media for over three years. Many prominent citizens of the South-south have warned seriously against any attack on the Jonathan presidency, or insisted that, for 2015, it is either Jonathan or ‘No Nigeria’ – and warned Jonathan not to think of giving up or caving in. And hardly any informed or observant Nigerian doubts today that the South-south peoples, plus perhaps the Igbo who have been the principal beneficiaries of the Jonathan presidency, are ready to fight it out this time.

Some of Jonathan’s men have tried feebly to widen his support in the South, and to nurture an all-Southern solidarity. But he has never invested any serious loyalty into the effort. For the most part, about the only peoples he wants in critical positions in his government – especially positions relating to the management of Nigeria’s economy – are, first, the Igbo and, second, the South-south peoples. Even some among the South-south elite are said to be complaining about this imbalance. Some Yoruba (like Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, Federal Minister of Agriculture) are known to be giving excellent service in their positions, but, on the whole, there is not much reason for the Yoruba nation to feel welcome in the Jonathan presidency – a situation that leaves many able Yoruba who would have wished to rally around Jonathan impotent.

As the hostile divide between the hostile warriors of the two extreme positions grows and threatens to destroy Nigeria in 2015, the Yoruba position holds the only possibility of peaceful resolution and Nigeria’s survival. As a nation, the Yoruba want a secular modern Nigeria in which religion shall be kept out of governance, the individual shall be free to hold and propagate the faith of his choice, the nationalities shall be respected in the making of the states of the federation, the allocation of powers and resources shall enable each state to promote its economic development competently, and the federal government shall ably supervise inter-state relations, rep-

Gbogun gboro resent Nigeria in the world, and defend Nigeria.

Obviously, what Nigeria desperately needs is that this Yoruba position be accepted by all Nigerians. Among the two extreme sides, whichever side accepts and adopts this position is likely to win the overwhelming adherence of the Yoruba – and more likely to win the 2015 presidential election and save Nigeria. But – that is not likely to happen.

Confusion, conflict and disaster are more likely. It is sad.

‘The Yoruba want a secular modern Nigeria in which religion shall be kept out of governance, the individual shall be free to hold and propagate the faith of his choice, the nationalities shall be respected in the making of the states of the federation, the allocation of powers and resources shall enable each state to promote its economic development competently, and the federal government shall ably supervise inter-state relations, represent Nigeria in the world, and defend Nigeria’

Ugwuanyi: A personal encounter

By Godson Ogbu-Nweke mittee. The publicity sub-committee processed and produced the burial programme brochure, posters, banners and T-shirts. It also made radio/TV announcements and placed adverts in newspapers. Emma, Ike’s younger brother, a chartered accountant and a former bank executive director, is a well-heeled young man and could easily have financed his brother’s burial. But, chairman of the burial committee Bishop Oscar Ossai, founder/ pastor of the City of Refuge, Ogudu GRA, Lagos, and cochairman Dr. Nick Okonkwo Idoko, lecturer, peace advocate and radio presenter, had reasoned that the job of the committee was not just to come and draw up budget for the burial but to raise money to support the burial effort as well.

On that note, we started reeling off names of Ike’s friends and associates to contact. Quickly, we ticked off Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, Dikeora Ogidi and a senatorial aspirant on the platform of PDP for Anambra Central; Vita Abba, chairman PDP, Enugu State; Okey Ezea (IdekeNsukka), Labour Party governorship candidate for 2011in Enugu State and chairman of Ideke Holdings; Senator Ayogu Eze, chairman Senate Committee on Works; Charlie Ugwu (Onowu Igugu), a lawyer and estate magnate, Abuja; Olisaemeka Ugwunze of MESCANA Holdings Lagos and Prince Emeka Mamah, Chairman Ifesinachi Industries and Ifex Couriers (Nigeria Ltd), among others. One of the committee members, Hillary Ogili, a freight forwarder, public affairs analyst and politician, then whispered into my ears: “O’l boy, put down Gburugburu (Hon. Ugwuanyi’s) name.” Okay, I said, but I didn’t have his number. And in any case, I didn’t know how familiar he was with Dr. Abugu…the names we had written down were people with whom we shared friendship with Abugu. But Larry assured that he would provide Gburugburu’s number, stressing that going by Abugu’s gregarious nature and Hon. Ugwuanyi’s penchant for connecting with people, especially with members of his Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, how sure was I that he didn’t know Ike personally? So, I put down his name.

To be sure, we got very encouraging responses from the aforementioned people and much more. But, the in-

teresting thing about Ugwuanyi’s contribution was that it was the only one made largely in blind trust—he didn’t know me very well and it turned out that he wasn’t quite familiar with Dr. Abugu either. But he was moved by the fact that such a prominent person from his constituency had died in such horrible circumstances, to make a generous contribution. He was in South Korea attending to his official assignment as chairman of the House Committee on Maritime when all this was happening.

Could I kindly meet him at the airport on Saturday (he sent the text on Thursday evening), to collect his own contribution? The rest is history, as they say.

Before, then I had met Ugwuanyi briefly at a function in a very telling circumstance. In November 2009, my club, Ezike Diamond Club had, in collaboration with the Movement for the Creation of Adada State, organized a lecture at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, with the theme State Creation: Imperative of Adada in the South East, to which many prominent people from the South-east, Enugu State in particular, had been invited. Hon. Ugwuanyi, a tall, huge man, had come in quietly and sat in the crowd: no frills, no fanfare, and no airs. I was introducing guests to the high-table as we waited for the official compere to arrive without even looking towards the direction where Hon. Ugwuanyi sat when club chairman Ted Ojimba, feeling very uncomfortable, ran to me and asked why I hadn’t introduced Gburugburu; did I not know him?

Of course I knew him by reputation, but I had hitherto not met the PDP consensus candidate for Enugu 2015 governorship election, and so didn’t know he was the one sitting where he sat. I was later to discover that he constantly signaled to people who went to greet him not to hail him loudly so as not to disrupt proceedings, otherwise the hall would have broken out in thunderous Gburugburu!

Two character traits are obvious here: empathy and humility. Ugwuanyi is typical of the biblical concept of the good man, one who rejoices with those who rejoice and mourns with those who mourn. He is also the type that humbles himself that the good Lord may exalt him.

If a leader has these two qualities in good measures, he is certain to excel. Think of Bill Clinton and you have the portrait of Enugu Governor-in-waiting.

22

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Strike grounds four Edo tertiary institutions The industrial action by workers of four Edo State-owned tertiary schools has stalled academics for the past two months. The workers insist they would not return to work until the government pays salary arrears and increases subvention to the institutions. But the government insists it is not owing the workers, reports OSAGIE OTABOR.

•A hostel at the College of Education, Ekiadolor

A

CADEMIC activities have been grounded for over two months in four tertiary institutions owned by the Edo State Government.

They are the College of Education, Ekiadolor, College of Education, Igueben, Institute of Science and Technology, Usen, and College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi.

Lecturers and non-academic members of staff of the institutions have been on strike since August over alleged failure of the state government to pay the differentials of 16 months of salary arrears arising from the implementation of Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institution Salary Structure (CONTESISS).

Workers of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi are, however, on solidarity strike with the schools.

Managements of the striking institutions have enforced the no-work-no-pay rule the workers’ salaries have been stopped.

The strike, led by lecturers of the institutions, began in June when the students were about to write their examinations. The lecturers earlier went on a three-day warning strike followed by a two-week work-to-rule.

In August, the students of the College of Education, Ekiadolor were sent home on a mid-semester break because they destroyed vehicles and property while protesting their teachers' refusal to return to work at a time they were about to write examinations.

They blocked the Benin-Lagos highway and reportedly attacked the convoy of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin kingdom, who was on his way to Ibadan to attend a function to mark his birthday.

•Didi Adodo

•Prof Uhunmwangho

However, his security attachés fired tear gas to drive them away, an action that upset the students and led to the rampage.

However, a student, Enabulele Ugbesia, said the protest was peaceful.

"Our lecturers went on a three-day strike.

After that, they went for one week and now they began a work to rule strike. We are about to write our examinations and they are delaying us," he said.

Following the expiration of the work-torule strike, the workers embarked on a full strike after several meetings with the government ended in a deadlock.

Last Wednesday, they took their protest to the streets of Benin and marched to the Government House bearing placards with various inscriptions. They wore black attires to mourn the dwindling fortunes of their institutions.

In a position paper addressed to Gover-

nor Adams Oshiomhole, the workers under the aegis of Coalition of Unions of State Owned Tertiary Institutions, listed other issues in dispute to include the non-payment of salaries for periods spanning between one and four months, and the use of pension and cooperative funds to pay salaries.

It reads in parts: "The dilapidation of infrastructure in all the concerned institutions has culminated in the non-accreditation of courses and programmes in these institutions. Hence, government should as a matter of urgency provide adequate funding for the purpose of meeting accreditation needs and standards.

"Government should not only condemn but sanction the unilateral management practice of using cooperative, Trust Savings and Check-Off dues of our unions to pay staff salaries."

"Government should adequately fund

‘Government should adequately fund these institutions to enable them meet their statutory obligations of paying pensions and gratuities to deserving retirees. We demand our members not captured in Horne Edo State Pension Scheme as a result of non-gazetting of their institutions to be listed’

• Continued on page 26

INSIDE

Her voice, her passport IF anyone understands the loss death brings, it is Agatha Ibeazor. Twice, she has felt its sting and the hopelessness that comes with the pain of losing a dear one.

-Page 27

these institutions to enable them meet their statutory obligations of paying pensions and gratuities to deserving retirees. We demand our members not captured in Horne Edo State Pension Scheme as a result of nongazetting of their institutions to be listed."

President of the Coalition Mr. Fred Omonuwa said they could no longer bear the pains after a series of engagement with the state government through the Commissioner of Education.

He condemned the resort to blackmail and harassment of their members by managements of the institutions.

He criticised the decision of the state to pay their counterparts in Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, regular monthly pension and gratuities as well as increased subvention while they were left unattended to.

Omonuwa, who called for a resumption of negotiations with the state government and all agreements duly signed, urged the government to restore peace and harmony to the institutions.

However, contrary to the workers claims, the Commissioner for Establishment, Labour and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo, said the government was not owing them as an agreement signed in 2010 indicated that the government would not pay arrears if it implemented the new salary structure.

Edo State Head of Service Mr Igbaeremen

Poverty made me the best, says BELLSTECH graduand -Page 45

CAMPUS LIFE

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

Row over N18m union budget -Page 29

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

26

EDUCATION FUNAAB FILE VC to student leaders: fear God THE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and President, Association of African Universities (AAU), Prof Olusola Oyewole, has called on the newly-elected Student Union executives of the University (FUNAABSU), to serve with diligence by showing humility, high sense of responsibility and the fear of God. The VC made this call during the swearing-in held for the new leaders.

Underscoring the importance of Student Unionism, Oyewole enjoined both the executive and the legislative arms to work together in love and unity because no tangible achievement can be recorded where there was is unity of purpose.

Poster contest produces winners THREE winners have emerged from the Second Poster Competition for Final Year Students in the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS) of the University.

Miss. Cynthia Ejike came first with a poster titled, “Development and Testing of an Health Educational Game for the Control of Schistosomiasis in School Children in Imala-Odo in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.” She was followed

by Aminat Shokunbi with the poster: “Prevalence of Malaria and Anaemia smong Pregnant Women sttending their First Ante-natal Care Visit in Abeokuta, Ogun State”, while Grace Oyebode came third with a poster titled, “Evaluation of Contact Activities of Leaf Extracts from four Plants Species against Maize, Weevil”.

Miss. Ejike, who is specialising in the Zoology Option said her poster was unique because of the introduction of the health education game called, “Schisto and Ladder” to create awareness on Schistosomiasis, an infection caused by parasites that live in fresh waters, in schools and for the control of the disease among primary school children.

The pilot testing of the game was successful as the group that was administered the game showed increased knowledge of the disease as against the control group. She appreciated her project supervisor, Dr. Uwem Ekpo, for his support and described the competition as a welcome development which would help students to work hard by preparing them adequately for their Project defense.

She called on the University Management to sustain the competition, saying that she was looking forward to a time when the competition would be inter-collegiate.

Ambode lifts alma mater

S

T Jude Anglican Primary School, Ebute Metta is wearing a new look, thanks to Lagos State governorship aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ambode, a former pupil of the school, reached out to his alma mater through the La Roche Leadership Foundation, which he started in 2011 to address education and leadership issues among the youth.

The 140-year old school was refurbished, painted, electricallywired, and fitted with some classroom furniture. The foundation also rehabilitated toilets and purchased toys for the learning delight of young children.

The handing over ceremony was graced by parents, pupils, and members of the community, and supporters of the governorship hopeful.

While handing over the school on Tuesday, Administrator of the foundation, Mrs Marina Osoba, said that the charity focuses on education because of its importance to development.

“What is important in life is good education. It is something no one can take from you. And if you have good education you can go anywhere,” she said.

APC Chieftain, Otunba Tayo Oyemade who chaired the occasion, thanked the foundation for remembering the school that has produced many influential people in the society. He also praised Ambode from remembering his roots and assured the community that he would do even more as

• From left: Mrs Osoba, Mrs Nwaezapu and Chief Oyemade after inaugurating the building.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

governor of the state.

“Beautiful people have come out of this school. The APC chairman for Lagos State, Henry Ajomale, graduated from this school. Just like these children are seated here, that was how Ambode too was when he started from this school.

These children will become big like them someday. We have just started. I am happy that after thinking about what to do Ambode decided to start from the school where he was trained,” he said.

The school’s Head Teacher,

Augustina Nwaezapu said the intervention started like a joke. She said before the rehabilitation, the school was in a very bad shape given its age. However, with the refurbishment, teachers and parents are happy about the learning environment.

“Before now, some of the buildings were going bad. Such renovation makes people to be attracted to the school. It started like play. Two people came here and said Ambode sent them. Then, I did not know him. But I was happy. If we have people like this that remember that St Jude made them, it will be good. I told them

to tell him that the board that he used and the chairs he used were still there. After two weeks they came to ask what we actually needed and I told them they could do anything. Today, they have removed all the blackboards and provided us with 10 white boards, created a playroom with toys, provided teachers’ furniture and promised more, and wired the whole building,” she said.

Going forward, Mrs Osoba said the foundation plans to stock the school library with books and keep in touch with the pupils through regular counseling programme.

Abuja school to represent Nigeria in Zimbabwe

G

OVERNMENT Girls’ Secondary School, Abaji has earned the ticket to represent Nigeria at the 2014 African Company of the Year Competition scheduled to take place in Harare, Zimbabwe in December.

This was due to their superlative performance which placed them at the number one position at the just concluded 2014 National Junior Achievement Company of the year competition, held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

The competition put together by Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) with the support of First Bank and SAP company brought together Regional Finalists of Junior Achievement programme from Lagos, Rivers, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory.

A statement signed by Ngozi Dike, the press officer of the FCT Agency for Science and Technology said the FCT Team which was

led by the Head, Entrepreneurship/ Business Development Unit of the Department of Science and Technology, Muhammed Ibn Saheeb also bagged the special award on Corporate Social Responsibility for using 10 per cent of their business profit to provide scholarship for two indigent pupils – one in primary and the other in secondary school, and also training some Almajiri women in purse and bag making, using local resources.

In her congratulatory message,

the Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Umana, expressed satisfaction with the students’ impressive performance, while urging the young entrepreneurs to come back with the trophy from Zimbabwe and become the agents of change for Nigeria.

The competition also featured a Trade Fair where competitors took turn to unravel their entrepreneurial products, quality control, marketing strategies and products’ objectives.

Strike grounds Edo institutions • Continued from page 25

• From Right: Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science andTech. Segun Odubela, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala and Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa during the official session of the 60th National Council on Education (NCE) annual meeting held at the Valley View Auditorium, Government House, Abeokuta.

Obazele said a team headed by Rev Peter Obadan, a former Deputy Governor, has been constituted to look at the issues raised by the unions Obazele attributed the delay to failure by the managements of three out of the four institutions to make the required statistics available.

He said: "You don't hold meetings without computation. You cannot negotiate without adequate records. The summary of this issue is money. The summary of your demand is increase in subvention and the government cannot make increase subvention without knowing what is on the ground''.

However, Provost of the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Prof Amen Uhunmwangho, said his institution has submitted all the required documents to the state government.

He said he was particularly wor-

ried over the strike action and said the state government intention was to check the records to enable it act fast.

When The Nation visited the college, the students lamented the poor state of their hostels. More than eight students stay in a room, while the surrounding was filthy.

Meanwhile, the management of the Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, has told its striking workers not to expect their October salaries if they continued to stay away from work.

It said its workers have been paid up to date and that they have no excuse to be absent from work.

A circular signed by the Acting Registrar, O. Osawemwenze, said the management was committed to full implementation of the nowork- no-pay rule.

It was gathered that other institutions have stopped the salaries of the striking workers. The students have been asked to go on mid-semester break.

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

EDUCATION Death robbed her twice of a means to education. But her voice made a way for her to earn scholarships. Now, Agatha Ibeazor wants to teach music and revive the art of opera singing in Nigeria, reports KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE.

Her voice, her passport I

F anyone understands the loss death brings, it is Agatha Ibeazor. Twice, she has felt its sting and the hopelessness that comes with the pain of losing a dear one.

The first time was when her father passed on. She was only four. His death meant that, unlike her older siblings, she could not attend a private secondary school. She attended Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School and Marywood Grammar School, both in Ebute Metta, Lagos.

And though she was offered a place to study Law at the Anambra State University, her hardworking mother, Fidelia, could not afford to pay, so she lost the admission.

But 25-year-old Agatha’s destiny was tied to music. And music it was that cleared a path for her. Even before she could speak and read, Agatha sang. She joined the youth choir of St Paul’s Catholic Church, Ebute-Metta at seven – so young that there was no choir robe her size. She sang her way to recognition in church. So, when furthering her education became an issue, her choir master, the late Stephen Olarinde, advised her to apply to the MUSON (Music Society of Nigeria) School of Music which has a scholarship scheme sponsored by the MTN Foundation.

“With a lot of hard work, I auditioned and did the written exam and when the results came out I passed and was admitted to the school. I was one of the lucky people that got

admitted as it is a highly selective process. I am truly grateful to MTN Foundation as they did not only pay for my tuition fee but they gave me transportation stipends which made going to school a lot easier and more bearable for me,” she said.

At the MUSON, Agatha flourished under the tutelage of music teachers she described as some of the best in the world. She trained her voice and learnt to play musical instruments such as the piano, clarinet, trumpet, and the cello. But singing was her calling, and as she earned her associate diploma in music, she also clinched the best prize for Voice.

After graduation, her next desire was to seek greater qualification in opera singing abroad. This quest led her to Abuja, where she did all kinds of freelance music jobs to get connected with the right people. The jobs did not always pay good money, but her determination paid off in the end and she got a scholarship from the late Levi Ajuonuma to study Music at the Truman State University in the United States.

“As a freelance singer I happened to be invited to sing at the end of the year party at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I asked not to be paid, but that my admission letter to a school in the U.S. should be read to the attendees just so they were made aware of my quest of studying abroad. Luckily for me, I got sponsorship from that event (from the former Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr Levi

Ajuonuma),” she said.

But that scholarship only lasted for two years because of Ajuonuma’s death in the Dana Air crash of June 3, 2012. This was the second time death showed up to abort her dream.

However, to save her education, Truman University authorities stepped in, and paid part of the tuition fees. Agatha funded the rest by working long hours.

Despite having to work part-time and compete with equally intelligent classmates, Agatha completed her programme again in flying colours, earning honours in the process.

She said: “To be on the (honours) list, the departmental honours requirements for music must be met and they include 3.50 or above Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), A on Junior and Senior Recital, presentation at a research conference - Truman State University Student Research Conference, NCUR, CMS, MENC, MMTA, others.

“I worked hard with many sleepless nights from studying, working, practising, researching, performing, ans so on, to be able to meet the requirements and get departmental honours recognition. I was also selected to perform at the Music honours recital due to my hard work and dedication to opera which was a big deal as a music student.”

Now, that she is done, Agatha seeks to study for her “master’s and doctoral degrees simultaneously.”

She is again looking for sponsors to

• Agatha

attend the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam, and the Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin, where she has already been admitted.

After she is through with schooling, she hopes to return to Nigeria to teach music, which she has already started.

“This August I will be giving a Master Class and a concert at the

MUSON Centre to encourage upcoming opera singers. I also intend for this concert to be annual to promote this touching and elegant art-form,” she said.

Agatha is a dreamer; and she advises those who wants to achieve success in life to dream.

“If you don't have a dream yet, get a good night's sleep and please dream because it's only dreamers that are achievers.

Minister to probe abandoned projects at UNIABUJA - Inaugurates e-learning network

M

• From left: Abdulfattah Olalenge, External Relations Manager, Procter & Gamble Nigeria; Prof Funsho Akeredolu, former Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Prof Ayo Salami, Deputy Vice Chancellor, OAU; and Prof Kehinde Taiwo, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, OAU at the inauguration and handover of baby care production equipment donated by P&G Nigeria to the institution in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Kwara to upgrade 30 schools to first class status

T

HE Kwara State government has announced plans to upgrade 30 secondary schools to first class status.

Ten of the schools to be rehabilitated and upgraded will be picked from each of the senatorial districts of the state, Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago has said.

The commissioner said this in Ilorin, the state capital at a public lecture/book launch to mark the centenary anniversary of Government Secondary School (GSS), Ilorin.

Onimago added that the state government is considering GSS and Queen School both in Ilorin for a special role.

Onimago who is also a product of GSS, Ilorin said: “Today’s occasion calls for a little reflection on how far this institution has gone. We want to recall that some few years’ back when Senator Bukola Saraki was the governor of Kwara State four schools were specifically picked for

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

complete renovation and rehabilitation and I believe GSS was one of the schools.

“I have something in the offing for you not minding what I have heard today. Governor Abdulfatah Ahned has picked 30 schools; ten from each senatorial district of the state for first class rehabilitation. The good thing about it all is that GSS and Queen Elizabeth School Ilorin are being considered for special unique role. I want to assure you that what you have seen in a couple of months or probably before a year there will be a complete change.”

The National President of the GSS Old Boys Association, Alhaji Nurudeen Alabi, blamed explosion in student population and inadequate infrastructure for the decline academic standard and discipline in the school The president said that: “Over the years, the situations and circumstances have changed culminating in the decline of academic standard and discipline in school. With the

explosion of student population came its attendant challenges of inadequate infrastructure and the decay of the existing ones.

“There is also the challenge of exchange students which accounts for about 70 percent of the student population.

“The once cherished academic standard has fallen as a result of the very low academic standard of the exchange students. Whereas the best students in the state were selected for admission into the school, the school has no control on the quality of intakes from other states, yet these exchange students constitute the bulk of the student population. The consequence of this anomaly is better imagined than described.

“We have had a running battle securing our land as a sizeable portion of our school’s land had been grabbed. The recent land encroachment has been successfully resisted.

Our appreciation goes to the commissioner for education for timely intervention which has now given us a respite.”

INISTER of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has expressed displeasure at the state of ‘abandoned’ projects at the University of Abuja.

He vowed to probe the institution over the projects.

Shekarau disclosed this while answering questions from newsmen after inspecting facilities at the school.

He described as embarrassing the level of uncompleted projects in the school.

His words: “The number of abandoned projects in this institution is embarrassing for an institution of this nature. Twelve projects abandoned; this culture has to stop. We would find out how all these came into being and see how the projects can be completed.”

Reacting, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Michael Adikwu, said the projects would require three billion naira to be completed.

He also appealed to the federal government to help the institution secure accreditation for some of its courses.

In a related development, the Federal Government launched the Nigerian Research Education Network, NgREN. The project is expected to serve as an interactive platform for teaching and learning between teachers and students within and outside the country.

Inaugurating the center, the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau said the project would improve monitoring and supervision of higher institutions in the country. He stated that the project would increase access to education and improve the quality of education in the country.

“This project has really proven to be a very good intervention in monitoring and supervision of ter-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

tiary education system, especially the University system.

“We are really making very good progress. For Nigeria to have this kind of networking with all institutions that we only see in advanced countries, it is also in line with the transformation agenda which focuses on increasing access and improving quality of education in the country,” he said.

The Board chairman of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Senator Ahmadu Ali, urged the Federal Government to domicile public universities funds in the commission.

The Executive secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, said Nigeria is providing leadership in research and community service to the Africa continent.

He noted missing links between research works and development.

He pledged to provide all necessities to support the development of education system in Nigeria.

• Shekarau

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

EDUCATION ‘Varsities, poly can address power problem’

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• Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Stephen Lawani (with microphone) flanked by the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Bem Angwe and former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani at the inauguration of Angwe Academy in Gboko, Benue State.

Bank hands over renovated school

A

NGLICAN Nursery Primary School, Olorunsola in Ayobo area of Lagos State is wearing a new look thanks to Access Bank Plc. The bank handed over the block of six classrooms and the head teacher’s office it renovated to the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area last week.

Assistant General Manger, Mrs Aina Akintonde, who said the structure was inhabitable before the bank’s intervention, explained that the school was chosen because improving education is one of the focuses of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

“Education is one of the four focus areas of our bank’s corporate social responsibility charter. This is because of its vital role on growth, development and positive change in the society. And as an ardent promoter of socio-economic development and wellbeing, we believe that lending support in the area of edu-

By Amidu Arije

cation will assist greatly in achieving our objective of contributing to relevant skills and knowledge development,” she said.

The Council Manager of AyoboIpaja LCDA, Mr Akanji Shadare, praised the bank for the quality of work done.

“Though, CSR is done voluntarily, I must commend the quality of work done on the renovated blocks of classrooms and the head teacher’s office which confirm that you have really added great value to education and it is hoped that other corporate organisations will emu-

late your gesture by giving back to the society,” he said.

Shadare added that the council continues to improve the standard of education within its jurisdiction.

“This is a transition period yet the administration has never shirked in its responsibility in the education sector hence our investment and commitment to it. In this school, we have recently delivered a brand new block of six classrooms with modern facilities for learning pleasure of our greater tomorrow,” he said.

The school’s head teacher, Mrs Hannah Emaye, thanked the bank and the council for their support to the school.

‘Though, CSR is done voluntarily, I must commend the quality of work done on the renovated blocks of classrooms and the head teacher’s office which confirm that you have really added great value to education’

OAU law students win contest - Olanipekun honoured

T

HE Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, has lifted the 4th edition of the Chief Wole Olanipekun National Moot & Mock Competition.

The two-day competition organised annually in honour of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), a former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), featured intense stages of Moot, Debate and the grand finale, Mock Trial.

The OAU edged out the University of Ilorin and four others – University of Abuja, Lagos State University, Babcock University, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to win the prize.

The six schools were the ones that scaled through preliminaries of the competition nationwide. Of these, four schools progressed from the Moot Stage to the debate stage.

Two schools were further eliminated at the debate stage leaving the last two, the host school - OAU and the University of Ilorin - to slug it out at the grand finale which was a mock armed robbery trial in a fashioned court setting.

The representatives of the Obafemi Awolowo University eventually proved too much for their UNILORIN counterparts and the former were unanimously declared winners of the competition by the panel of judges that presided.

The event, organised by Radiant

By Dada Aladelokun

Justice Chambers, a student body in the university’s Faculty of Law, was graced by seasoned legal professionals, including the Executive Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Dr. Anwo J.O; the Acting Chief Justice of Oyo State, Hon. Justice L.M. Abimbola; Dean Faculty of Law, OAU, Prof. M.O Adediran; Justice Adebusoye from the Ondo State Judiciary and a host of others.

The Mock Trial was presided over by sitting judges: Hon Justice D.O. Afolabi, Hon. Justice O.F. Oloyede, Hon. Justice Siyanbola from the Osun State Judiciary and Hon. Justice Ganiyu from the Oyo State judiciary.

Speaking at the event, Chief Olanipekun praised his former classmate and friend, Dean of the Faculty of Law, OAU, Prof. M.O Adediran for his top-notch administration of the faculty as manifested in the quality of its graduates.

He praised the brilliant display of the competing students at the mock trial and urged them not rest on their oars as it would eventually pay off in future.

The Chairman of the Day, Hon. Justice L.M. Abimbola, praised Olanipekun for his immense contributions to the advancement of

• Olanipekun

the legal system and legal education in the country.

Abimbola also praised the Radiant Justice Chambers for the ingenious initiative behind the annual hosting of the programme.

The event rounded off with the presentation of laptops and cash prizes to the representatives of OAU and UNILORIN by Olanipekun.

Three students, Samuel C. Chukwu (UNIABUJA), Zuqulnain Muhammed Dayo (UNILORIN) and Olugbemi Kayode (OAU), who emerged as Outstanding Counsels from the Moot Stages were given with monetary prizes for their performances. Delegates of Babcock University and OAU were tied for the Best Moot Memorial prize.

IGERIA’s epileptic power supply can be fixed by tertiary institutions in the country, provided the Federal Government gives them the wherewithal, says a professor of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Claudius Awosope.

Delivering the 36th inaugural lecture of Covenant University (CU), Ota, Awosope noted that almost all polytechnics and universities in the country run accredited programmes in Electrical Engineering, which he believes can help to find solution to the nation’s enormous power problem.

Awosope said the first step in this direction is for government to put an expert at the helms of affairs.

He said: “Nigerian engineers are among the best in the world, but due to politics of appointing a political figure as the head of parastatal, they generally lose interest in the system.

This is because competent engineers have seen it as a way of relegating them and their contributions to the industry in the background. This has dampened their enthusiasm at developing ingenious maintenance approach for effective and efficient running of power industry.

“Most of these non professionals do not appreciate the essence of engaging in routine maintenance and employment of fresh graduates into the industry. This portends a very dangerous signal in the sense that there is imminent crisis of generation gap being created by this kind of policy. That means when the older generation of engineers is retiring, there would not be enough tested hands to take over from them.”

Considering the indispensability of power to economic survival, Awosope recalled how the Federal Government unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into 18 companies, with the purpose of improving the nation economically and technologically through consistent power supply.

As lofty as this initiative was, he

By Adegunle Olugbamila

lamented that factors such as poor maintenance of electricity equipment, non-replacement of obsolete ones, reckless consumption of power

by Nigerians, politicisation of the sector, as well as poor motivation of workers among others, have constituted a setback.

“Maintenance is a complex task that influences several other factors in the industry, ranging from aging of equipment to availability of service which translates to adequate return on investment. Due to lack of regular training, the human factor accounts for a great deal of the power sector’s current debilitating condition. This is aggravated by unavailability of specialised engineers and technicians for certain tasks as well as unpreparedness of the industry to pay equitable amount as hazard allowance and insurance policy attached to workers.”

Awosope who is Deputy Dean, School of Applied Engineering, College of Engineering at CU, also sought regular training for practicing engineers because of the dynamic nature of the profession. This, he argued, will equip workers to face new challenges in the field and how such can be tackled in line with challenges in the 21 century.

• Prof Awosope

Friends laud Rector’s reappointment

T

HE reappointment of Dr. Cele Njoku, as the Rector of Nekede Polytechnic by President Goodluck Jonathan, has been commended by a group called the Friends of Dr. Cele Njoku.

They said the tremendous transformation witnessed in the institution during her first tenure justified her reappointment for a second tenure.

The group claimed that peace and tranquility has returned to the polytechnic since Dr Njoku took over as Rector, adding that the feat was achieved as a result of her determination to improve the state of things in the institution.

At a press briefing in Owerri, spokesperson of the group, Comrade Loveth Ekwemalor, who is also the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), said Dr Njoku made Nekede Polytechnic the best in the Southeast zone.

She disclosed that the in 2014, the Polytechnic was the most sought after institution among Federal and State Polytechnics in the country according to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

She said: “The infrastructural transformation and the conducive learning environment the institution enjoys today speak volumes of the judicious use of available resources, effective coordination of human resources and leadership vision, dexterity and the commitment of the Rector which led to the completion of some of the projects started by her predecessors and the ones she initiated within a short period of assumption of office.”

She listed some of the achievements of the Rector to include the

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

completion of the Evening and Weekend Programme buildings, tarring of intra-campus roads, construction of ultra-modern building complex for the Staff Nursery/Primary School, renovation and equipping of the institution’s medical centre, establishment of a functional work centre among other gigantic projects.

The SSANU boss also noted that within two years of Njoku’s administration, programme such as Arts and Design, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, HND Mass Communication, HND Electrical Electronics, were accredited at the institution.

Other members of the group include Mrs. Christina Ezem, Lady Nneoma Ugbolue, Chinyere Sani, Mrs. Odisa Okeke, Princess Prisca Iroegbu, Mrs. Chinatu Iloeje, Mrs. Pamela Nnenna Ogamba and Dr Blessing Ekemezie.

Others are: Mrs. Regina EkeOpara, Mrs. Chidi Oparah, Mrs. Nwaozuzu Norah, and Mr. Paul C. Nwachukwu.

• Dr Njoku

Ogun students meet on 2015 elections

Fears as UNIMAID reopens

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 42

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

There was confusion at the Students’ Union Building of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) last Friday, when students disrupted the proceedings of the Students’ Representatives Council (SRC), the legislative arm of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), whose members were meeting to ratify the union’s N18 million budget. AFEES LASISI (200-Level Political Science) reports.

•The OAU Students’ Union Building. Inset: Ibikunle (left) and Funmilayo

Row over N18m union budget

I

T was supposed to be a peaceful business, but the parliamentary sitting of the Stu-

dents’ Union Government (SUG) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, last Friday, ended in a stalemate. The students engaged their representatives in a brawl, vandalising property in the Students’ Union Building (SUB).

Following the fisticuff, Man O’ War cadets, on the invitation of the union president, Isaac Ibikunle, moved in to stop the scuffle. The cadets cordoned off the SUG Building, denying many students access after the union officials returned for business.

The fight, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, was in reaction to a directive by Ibikunle to deny nonmembers entrance into the building where the union’s N18 million budget was to be ratified.

But students said the order was against the provision of the union’s constitution, which gives non-elected students permission to watch the proceedings of the union.

•President: we acted in students’ interest •Vice President: budget is daylight robbery Section 13 (1) of the constitution states: “Any student and other interested person(s) may attend meetings of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) but only the elected members of that council shall have the right to contribute to the proceedings.”

The students alleged that the union president wanted to bypass established rules to gather his loyalists in the parliament to ratify the budget.

The Vice President, Clerk and some key members of the union were said to be absent when Ibikunle presented the budget for ratification.

This did not go down well with occupants of the Obafemi Awolowo Hall, who had initially rejected the budget. The students wanted the president to convene a congress, where students would make input. The students also wanted

the reinstatement of eight suspended members of the parliament.

It was gathered that the feud between Ibikunle and his vice, Funmilayo Oladejo, was another factor that led to the disruption of the proceedings.

While Funmilayo’s supporters called for a congress, Ibikunle’s caucus wanted a speedy ratification of the budget for the president to start his programmes.

Some students accused the Vice President of ‘over-ambition’, claiming that she created a group to divide the the Ibikunle-led union.

Some others accused Ibikunle of incompetence and said he was into unionism for personal gains.

The General Secretary, Olatayo Shittu, said

he was surprised when he saw the Man O’ War cadets denying students their “constitutional rights” to witness the SRC proceedings.

He said: “Although on several occasions, our sittings have been disrupted by students, which might be the reason why the Man O’ War cadets were invited to protect the parliamentarians but students have constitutional right to be present at such meeting.”

Olatayo noted that the budget should have been ratified 14 days after the officials’ inauguration, but he said the delay was caused by disruptions by students.

A student, Sola Ayo, said the directive by the union leaders not to allow students witness the proceedings was against Section 13 (1).

“Looking at the militarisation of the SUB by the union leaders, it means the students are being denied their constitutional rights. We won’t allow •Continued on page 30

• Mixed feelings trail ban on ‘baptism’ at UNIZIK P32 •NYSC member gets Best Actor award P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

30

CAMPUS LIFE The tragedy of the Nigerian youth (I)

I

N 1989, I was inside a cab with three other students on our way to the main campus of the University of Jos when we encountered a large group of protesters, mainly youths and fellow undergraduates. Our cab was forced to stop because we couldn’t proceed beyond the Jos main market. Hours later, we learnt that the protest we encountered happened nationwide.

It was later dubbed the “anti-Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) protests.” Nigerians trooped out in their millions to vent their displeasures and anger on General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime for the adverse effect SAP was having on them. It was spontaneous and did not have a clear cut leader or organisers’.

Nigerians were simply angry and they made the government realise this.

Being the smart and cunning ruler he was, Babangida immediately carried out remedial and palliative measures that ended up giving SAP “a human face” different from the earlier “face of a demagogue.” This new “face” calmed frayed nerves and he was able to remain in the saddle of power until events of the post 1993 election forced him to step down a day earlier than necessary. This was the power of protest in its finest.

Fast forward to 2011; Time magazine, an international news magazine of repute often take its time when it comes to nominating its “Person of the Year,” and whenever it does, few doubt its choice. In 2011, the magazine made the “Protester,” its “Person of the Year.”

The October 20th issue of the Magazine was titled: “The Face of Protest.” The reason for this was not farfetched.

On 17 December 2010, a young Tunisian street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he reported was inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides.

His rare act became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider “Arab Spring,” inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. The public’s anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi’s death, leading then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power.

Pushing Out

The protest did not end in Tunisia as Libya’s long standing ruler and the boisterous Muammar Gadhafi as well as Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak was overthrown. Bashar Al Assad of Syria is still battling his own demons, an act that with has probably set back a century back, according to some analysts. Few doubt that the season was indeed the season 08116759750 of the protester.

(SMS only) The domino effect of these were also felt in Nigeria with the emergence of •aagboa@gmail.com the “Occupy Nigeria” group which eventually fizzled out after government invaded their meeting point after an ill-advised take place in an insecure entity. Investors simbreak. ply love peaceful places where their investments The lesson for us is that there will always come are secure. The United Arab Emirates created a time that people feel they’ve had enough and their paradise because of peace and security, will insist on change. Only a week ago we saw and today, their cities are the toast of the capihow the people of Burkina Faso took to the talist world and the playground of corrupt Afstreets and burnt down their parliament build- rican officials. They put their house in order first. ing following reports that Blaise Campaore, their Who are the foot soldiers of BH? Mainly the ruler of 27 years, was bent on tampering with youths, in essence it is a Youth war. So, why the constitution yet again to extend his rule. He would sane Nigerian youths not feel a sense of resigned three days later. Again the protesters revulsion given that it is their collective future won. that is apparently going up in flames? The sad While the youths of other countries take their fact is that most of our youth feel BH is a “Northdestinies in their hands and call for authentic ern problem,” rather than a Nigerian problem. change, it is disheartening to see our own While there are cries of conspiracy theories and youth’s busy giving award after award to du- the activities of fifth columnists’, it is high time bious and questionable characters in the name we confront this monster before it consumes us of “progress.” They are also at the forefront of all. “endorsement” of one candidate or the other By now, I was hoping to see massive peaceful as 2015 inches closer. Student bodies that ought youth protests against the excesses of BH which to know better – to me - seem to be the worst has the potentials of destroying the seeds of our culprit. collective future. Sadly, comedy, Nollywood and Why are our youth no longer angry at certain music have sucked and seduced our youth into situations? What future do we really have? Let a false sense of security and prosperity. There is me make it clear before I proceed that my in- an urgent need to channel youth frustration into tention is not to call for violent protests or revo- a more productive means of engaging governlution, but peaceful protests that would com- ment across the board. pel those in authority to listen, and by listening Most of our past leaders assumed leadership we can begin to put our heads together to find positions in their early 30s, some even younger. solutions for the plethora of problems confront- But today, some youth of that age still depend ing us. There are critical issues that demand the on their parents or family members for support; attention of our youths because the future re- such is the tragedy of the Nigerian youth which ally belongs to us. the insurgency is further aggravating. This is I am seriously concerned about the growing the main reason they shouldn’t see BH as other insecurity in the country, by this I mean the Boko people’s problem.

Haram (BH) insurgency and the spate of kidAnother reason for my concern is that we are napping for ransom. And why am I concerned? gradually building a generation of crises prone Development and economic progress can never youths. As a historian, I am familiar with stud-

Agbo Agbo

Oche Otene is studying Agricultural Economics at the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi, Benue State. The 400-Level student is passionate about broadcasting and he is a radio presenter with Food Basket station and Radio Benue FM in Makurdi. He tells BENJAMIN IDOKO (Physics Education) why he chooses to be an on-air presenter.

Row over N18m union budget •Continued from page 29

them to impose their selfish wishes on the generality of students,” Sola said.

After the cadets took over the union building, members of the parliament returned to ratify the budget.

Ibikunle, reacting to the allegations against him, said he did not order the cadets to shut the gate against any student, saying the budget was for the interest of all.

Ibikunle said: “We wanted to avoid violence; this was why the security men were brought in to ascertain that those coming in are students and not outsider, who do not want us to have peaceful reign by crippling the union’s activities.”

On why he refused to call the congress, Ibikunle said: “I do not believe in congress anymore, because it is either its outcome leads to violence or the campus is closed down outright because of the students’ decision. We cannot afford to go back to the old ways anymore. The parliament has done the right thing in the interest of all students.”

Seun Adewole, a student, said the union officials had always wanted to approve the budget without students’ input because of their intention to loot.

He said: “They are all after their pockets without considering the difficulties students are going through since the reinstatement of the union. Why didn’t they want students to be there if it was not to loot the union’s funds?”

Another student, Tunde Agboola, fingered the Vice Presi-

ies of post conflict societies where children who have been through war in such places as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Somalia, Serbia, Afghanistan, Bosnia or Syria have a tendency to express themselves in war metaphors. They draw guns, bombs, and armoured tanks as a past time. They take pleasures in these weapons of mass destruction rather than their books.

Today’s youth, rather than being obsessed with just making money and craving for champagnes, fast cars and luxurious apartments, must begin to critically ask how today’s bitterness will affect his tomorrow. A time will come when entertainment and music will make no meaning.

I’m concerned about this critical constituency because they are the once that effect change elsewhere. For instance, the American youths were angry about Vietnam. They took to the streets in revolt when thousands of their fellow citizens were being killed in a senseless war. The youth in China were angry about the lack of openness in their society and they took over Tiananmen Square.

Do we still remember the picture of the young man facing the armored tanks in Tiananmen Square or the Burkinabe facing AK 47 wielding soldiers only last week in Burkina Faso ? Also, in 1976, youths in Soweto were angry about being asked to learn Afrikaans by force even though their teachers did not know the language and it was the language of domination. They revolted. Today, the iconic picture of the dead body of Hector Pieterson remains in public memory worldwide.

Perhaps I should continue? Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban on her way back from school is today, at 17, an iconic young girl.

She has gone down in history as the youngest person to receive a Nobel Prize. Understandably, the award has elicited controversial reactions, but that is not the issue. She now has a Malala day marked on the international calendar to remember her heroic achievement.

Did you, by chance, listen to her recent speech at the United Nations? This young lady said she drew inspiration from Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Buddha, Gandhi, Mohammed, among others, despite being a little Muslim girl. As far as I’m concerned this is clear evidence of a young mind that had opened up and escaped the bondage of prejudice and hate.

‘I prefer broadcasting to agriculture’

H

•The Man O’ War cadets at the entrance of the union building

dent for the crisis, saying: “The union president has been trying his best since he was elected into office. But some students do not want his administration to succeed. Most of the meetings spearheaded by the vice-president have been declared unconstitutional and this tells us that she is an enemy of progress.”

Funmilayo accused the parliament of selective ratification, saying the budget for her office was not approved. She described the outcome of the parliament sittings as daylight robbery on students, saying the president was playing

god.

She said: “What Ibikunle and his loyalists in the parliament did on Friday was a daylight robbery on all students and our collective treasure.

They selectively approved budgets based on the personal wishes of the president and his co-travellers in the house. Ibikunle is trying to turn himself to a demigod and his actions are against the wishes of the students that elected us to lead them.”

The VP said students must have input in the approval of the budget, advising the union president to call a congress.

OW did you discover your skill in broadcasting?

I have always had passion for broadcasting and when I saw the opportunity I grabbed it. It was a friend, who gave me the information that a radio station was holding auditioning to recruit broadcasters.

I went there and praise God, I was chosen. Since then, I have been into radio presenting and making a living out of it.

What programmes do you anchor in the station?

I anchor religious programmes, such as Sunday Sound Waves and Songs of Faith.

After graduation, do you plan to be a presenter or look for job in the farm?

I have great passion for radio presenting. I am only studying Agricultural Economics to get my first degree, but after graduation, I am going back to broadcasting.

What interests you as a presenter?

The most interesting part of my job as a radio presenter is the fact that I keep people informed and entertain them in my programmes. Also, I get to meet people every day, who some level of confidence to make dealings with me. The trust is always there. This is the beauty of being a professional.

How do you combine your studies with broadcasting?

•Oche

It is not easy. Well, I try to maintain balance in both areas. Most of my programmes are fixed at night.

I dedicate my day time to my studies and also study extra hours. In all, God has been helping me utilise my time efficiently.

What is your advice to the youth?

There is a notion that it is not possible for the youth and undergraduates to be working while schooling.

This idea is making many youths to remain in one place, even after graduation. In developed countries, we see youths engaging in part-time job while they are in school. As youths, we must try to develop skills apart from our academic pursuits.

There is always a gain at the end. We may not all end up doing white-collar job. But whatever we know how to do best would sustain us.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

31

CAMPUS LIFE Despite the security challenges in Borno State, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has been re-opened for a new session.

But there are fears as students return to school, reports TAIWO ISOLA (400-Level Human Anatomy).

W

HILE the sound of guns and bombs still booms in some parts of the Northeast, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State – the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency – has been re-opened for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The school was re-opened after about three months holiday. Students have been returning to school, but many are nursing fears about their safety on campus, having found themselves in-between crossfire by soldiers and the insurgents. They lost some colleagues in the process.

The grenade thrown into the campus by Boko Haram fighters last March is still fresh in their minds. The soldiers responded to the attack, firing several shots.

Bombs and stray bullets hit some buildings on the campus. There was panic as students ran helterskelter. A student was hit and died.

In July, there was a similar incident, in which some hostels were damaged by bombs.

With memories of these incidents still fresh, some students may delay their return for safety reasons.

A sophomore student, Aliyu Saidu, said: “Returning to school is risky, given the experience we had last semester. After hours of lectures and class activities, we expected a peaceful rest but the occasional explosions and gunshots from neighbouring communities disturbed our rest. There were midnight bomb blasts and daylight attacks that disturbed the peace on campus. Returning to school in

Fears as UNIMAID reopens

•UNIMAID gate

haste would be tantamount to desperation.”

James Agwu has just been admitted into the university. He is praying that the insurgency should end for him to complete his four-year course. Arriving on the campus last Thursday, James was surprised to see many students.

“I was surprised when I saw students in their numbers on campus.

I thought the insecurity in the state

would discourage students from returning but I was wrong. It is as if nothing is happening and it appears students have accepted the insurgency as part of life,” he said.

But, for some students, the last experience left a psychological effect on them.

Emeka Uchenna, a graduating student of Chemical Engineering, said: “It was when I left Maiduguri that I understood that some things

are not normal. I had thought living in the crisis-ridden Maiduguri was normal until I travelled out of the town for the break. A bang makes my heart skip and my body shaky. I now respond to loud sounds with fear. This has become a psychological action for me.”

Halima Mohammed’s greatest fear is the 2015 general elections.

She said: “If they said the insecu-

rity is about politics, then I have fears that 2015 general elections may breed more violence in the state. For a city like Maiduguri, next year’s election is going to be a defining time. If the outcome of the elections turns out to be what certain people did not anticipate, we could witness more violence in the state and this is my worry.”

Because of the insurgency, Ayodeji Hamzat, a 300-Level Accountancy student, planned to continue his study elsewhere but his was futile because of his inability to secure interuniversity transfer. He has given up; he returned to the campus with mixed feelings.

“I have already given up on my transfer attempt. I will finish my studies here in Maiduguri,” he said. Asked how he would cope with the security challenges, he said: “I cannot go and write another matriculation examination because I have gone too far in my studies.”

Only God can protect students, Victor Mshelia said. “When explosions rock neighbouring communities, where will students run to? It is a moment one looks up to his Creator. My fear is that the insurgents may launch an offensive against Maiduguri and, by extension, UNIMAID. When this happens, divine protection is all we need to survive,” he said.

In his words, Idris Suleiman, a member of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), said: “We plead that the government find a lasting solution to the insurgents. The remedial approach by the government to resolve the crisis has yielded nothing. We plead for a peaceful and an enabling environment that is conducive for learning.”

The advent of Computer-Based Test (CBT) in higher institutions is believed to be a good development. Beyond its advantage, some students believe the innovation only rewards the lazy and victimises the smart. TOYIN ALI (300Level Law, University of Ilorin) writes.

The flipside of e-exam

T

O managements of higher institutions, Computer-Based Test (CBT) is a good innovation. But to students, who are its users, the electronic examination comes with a mixture of success and failure. But for the schools, there is no going back on the innovation.

In many higher institutions, the paper-pencil method of examination is being phased out. The technology-based method does not require students to use ink and paper.

The innovation affords students to write examination with convenience and get their results almost immediately. For schools’ authorities, the invention is cost-effective, as the schools save money that could have been used to buy papers and print on them.

Besides, the electronic-based testing makes it easy for managements to retrieve candidates’ information and aggregate academic performance. This naturally solves challenges, such as missing scripts and misappropriation of results.

While the innovation is becoming popular in Nigerian higher institutions, some students have expressed misgivings about the effectiveness of the CBT to test students’ aptitude and knowledge.

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) adopted this innovation in 2007 and has recorded some gains in its academics. Nevertheless, the computer-based assessment at-

•Students writing a computer-based test at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State

tracts an appreciable level of rejection from students, who believe it is not the best way to evaluate their knowledge.

While some complain about allotted time, other believe the computers being used for the test are prone to systemic error, which could affect the outcome of the test.

Abdulrasheed Yusuf, a Health Education student, believes the computer-based method is not the best to evaluate students’ abilities.

“It limits lecturers’ freedom to set questions relevant to the subject.

Because of the need to accommodate answer options, some lecturers set irrelevant questions. How can students’ abilities be determined in this process?” he queried.

The allotted time is another fac-

tor, Abdulrasheed added, saying: “Time is not always enough for some courses that require complex calculations. And as such, students are not being allowed to express themselves clearly compare to paper-pencil method where students can prove how they arrive at the answer.”

The CBT can never bring out the best in students, Shola Akanbi, a History and International Studies student, said. He argued that the innovation was rewarding lazy students, while the hardworking ones may be cheated because of allotted time and inability to operate computer.

“In mockery of traditional way of learning, students cram the key points in the course rather than

thorough studies. While the lazy ones cram the final answer, the hardworking students read through but become unlucky in the end,” he said.

To Oluwatomisin Oyebode, a final year student of Agriculture, the computer examination is not helping the fallen education standard.

She said: “It (CBT) only makes students to be lazier. They don’t read properly again like they do for paper-pencil examination.”

On the contrary, some students said the CBT was the best in line with modern examination methodology. They argue that constant practice on computer-based could sharpens their intellectual and reasoning abilities.

Ibrahim Abdulrasheed, a 200-

Level Political Science student, said: “Computer-based testing has gone a long way to improve students’ knowledge in the area of technology.

It has not only enabled students to operate on any smart technology products but it also prepares us to trendy technique. Today, hardly would you see any student who does not know how to operate computer.

Moreover, we are now in information age where usage of computer is highly required in day-to-day activities.”

An anonymous student said the CBT had reduced examination malpractice and lecturers’ excesses. “Although there are hitches in its usage but with the CBT has raised the bar of students performance which was not the case a few years ago,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

32

CAMPUS LIFE

Rotaract unveils N500,000 projects

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HE Rotaract Club of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has launched N500,000 projects to be carried out during its community service in the current academic session.

This followed the 29th installation and induction of the club at the CES Auditorium on the campus.

The club president, Imeobong Archibong, said the projects were in line with the club’s philosophy of voluntary service to humanity, noting that projects would touch the lives of members of the university and its host community.

Some of the projects include distribution of 100 free malaria drugs and insecticide-treated net to students, free medical outreach and renovation of blocks of classroom at Government Primary School in Obufa Esuk, Calabar.

Others projects include donation of sanitation materials to the university community, visit and do-

•The club executive members after their swearing in

From Isaac Mensah UNICAL nation of food items as well as clothing materials and toiletries to prison inmates.

Archibong solicited for support from well-meaning individuals and

organisations to achieve the objectives, which he said would add values to the live of members of the community.

President of RotaryClub of Calabar District, Imelda Edet, hailed the students’ projects.

She urged members on co-operation and support to ensure the club achieve the projects.

Dignitaries at the event were past president, Rotary Club of Calabar, Ogar Akpanke and District 9140 governor nominee,

among others.

John Etim, a student-member of the club, said: “Going by Imeobong leadership credentials and portfolio in service, I believe he will go extra length to ensure he realises the programmes.”

Mixed feelings trail ban on ‘baptism’ at UNIZIK

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•The bus

Minister donates bus to students

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HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Ibadan (UI) was among the beneficiaries of the largesse from the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide. The minister donated a Marcopolo bus to the union.

Mrs. Akinjide, who gave a bus each to four tertiary institutions in Oyo State, said the gesture was aimed at empowering the youth and supporting their cause.

The donation was made at a programme at Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan last weekend.

From Hammed Hamzat UI She said the motive was to alleviate the suffering of students in transporting themselves within and outside school and to improve their welfare as a mother.

Other institutions that benefitted from the gesture are Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY) and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education in Oyo. The UI union president, Oluwafemi Odesola, praised the minister for identify-

ing with students, saying transportation remained challenge facing tertiary institutions.

Oluwafemi said the union would discuss on how the bus should be used to ensure that every student benefitted.

A student, who did not want his name in print, described the bus as a political gift extended to students because of 2015 elections. He urged students of the institution to engage politicians through their party manifestos for the youth and not by “emergency gift”.

TUDENTS of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, have expressed mixed feelings on the management’s decision to ban splashing of water on graduating students by their junior colleagues. The decision is causing dissatisfaction among students, who see the act as a memorable parting shot for their senior colleagues. But others welcomed it.

This practice is known as “baptism” and it is common on all campuses. At the end of every session, students splash water and other liquids on graduating students to mark their outing from school. In the excitement, students ‘punish’ their colleagues, with some resulting to fight.

But the Prof Joseph Ahaneku-led administration issued a state to frown at the act, warning that severe punishment would be meted out to any student, who engaged in it.

In a statement, last week, the Vice-Chancellor described the ‘baptism’ as unwholesome jubilation, which defeated the essence of graduation. He said the practice was could cause injury to their health.

“It has been reported that some groups of graduating students after writing their final degree examinations often indulge in the practice of pouring of water and other liquid substances on themselves in jubilation over their assumed graduation from the university. In consequence, the Vice-Chancellor has placed a total ban on all acts of this nature within the university com-

‘NIJ lacks functional website’

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OW can an institute seek to promote learning in the 21st century without a functional website? This was the question students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos, asked when many of them learnt the school did not have a website.

This would make the institute lose its values as a foremost journalism school, Omolara Ogunwale, ND II student, said.

She said: “In this era when higher institution are exposed to the ouside world based on

From Damilare Famuyiwa NIJ LAGOS Internet traffic, NIJ cannot afford to lag behind. The management has to join the bandwagon and do what is necessary. They have to make things easier.

If any information needs to be passed to students, it has to be through the website for widespread dissemination.”

A student, who did not want his name in print, said: “It is disappointing that a school of mass communication does not have a functional website in information age. It confuses every

right-thinking human and makes one feel like he belongs to a Stone Age school.”

A member of the Students’ Representative Council, Olusegun Akinleye, said: “It is not pleasant to hear that anytime our results are released, we cannot access them on the Internet, except we come down to the school.

This is not the best thing for the school. The management needs to open a functioning website to make learning easy for us.”

T

From Emeka Chukwuemeka UNIZIK munity and warned that henceforth that offenders will be severely punished,” the statement said.

Reacting, students praised the management for the step taken to avert violent celebration on campus.

Ifeanyi Okafor, a graduating student of Engineering, said: “This is a welcome development. I have never been in support of this because of students are fond of splashing impure liquids on the graduating students. This can lead to serious health issues.”

“I witnessed a girl being poured water taken from the drainage. It is too bad. Even in my hostel, a friend was poured a mixture of red oil, engine oil, hypo powdered soap and muddy water after he wrote his final exam. What is the reason for this?”

Ifeanyi said the directive may be flout by students, who live off-campus, where the practice is mostly carried out.

Lilian Obikwe, a 300-Level English Language and Literature student said the directive was needless, since students never complained.

“The management is trying to take away fun of graduation from students. Since the students are not complaining, so why should the management ban the practice?” she asked.

Another student said: “Looking at it from another point of view, the management is trying to avoid violent incident where students may pour dangerous liquids such as acid on their colleagues instead of water. So in a way the VC is right.”

NSUK appoints Director of Consultancy

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK), Prof Muhammad Mainoma, has appointed Malam Yahaya Adadu as the new Director of Consultancy at the university.

Until his appointment, Adadu was the head of the Department of Political Science. The appointee described this nomination as a call to duty and an opportunity to showcase his knowledge and experience having worked at the same office previously at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Plateau State.

From Yahaya Muwaffaq NSUK Adadu, a senior lecturer, said: “Even though I have not been given an official handover note yet, I hope to make a difference in the office and in the university at large.”

The Acting Head of Mass Communication Department, Malam Muhammad Rabiu, said: “Adadu is coming to the office formidably equipped. He was also the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). With this background, he is equipped to accomplish things. I congratulate him.”

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Brewery boosts school infrastructure •PAGE 34

‘Prepaid meters coming next year’

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

PAGE 33

Anambra community bemoans plight

•PAGE 36

•PAGE 40

•The hospital

Imo builds hospital for the needy ILING and indigent patients must not be allowed to die for lack of care, neither should they be held back at the hospital where they are treated just because they cannot pay their bills. It is a common scenario, but in Imo State great care has been taken to ensure that the poor and needy do not end up in agony. A hospital has been built in the state where financially weak persons are treated for free. The hospital also boasts a cancer centre. It is the first charity healthcare facility in the state, built by the Imo Foundation. Many see the development as the stuff of good governance, a huge relief for many when it fully takes off.

The facility, according to the Director General of the foundation, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku, was conceived to reduce the cost of taking indigent patients to distant hospitals or even outside the country.

She described the Imo Foundation as the humanitarian arm of the state government, which caters for the needs of the less privi-

A

•Facility ‘has cancer centre From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

leged, adding that since inception, the foundation has become a onestop place of succour for the people.

Conducting reporters round the newly completed hospital, the DG stated that the foundation has organised numerous free medical programmes with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Imo State medical practitioners based in the United States.

She said that before now, the foundation sponsored various medical trips to India and other countries for helpless patients, including those going for kidney transplant, and treatment for cancer and other terminal diseases.

She said the cost of sponsoring an increasing number of helpless patients overseas was beginning to take a great toll on the resources available to the foundation and

The hospital has three theatres, one recovery room, a laboratory, two consulting rooms, two wards, among other departments. The project when commissioned will be the first charity hospital in this part of the country, while the cancer palliative centre will serve as a place where those suffering from the ailment will be counselled by experts and given the needed support to reduce their suffering this, she added, inspired setting up a charity hospital, where volunteer doctors will perform surgery on the patients.

Said she: “The charity hospital

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concept was as a result of the fact that many of our poor patients are unable to pay required deposits in the hospital and as a result they suffer untold pains for cases that

need surgical attention”.

Njoku further noted that the concern for cancer patients, gave rise to the Cancer Palliative Centre, also in the hospital.

“During my last trip to America,” she said, “I visited the Managing Director of the World Cancer Centre in search of collaboration and partnership and the meeting was quite rewarding and we are expecting that our cancer patients will receive adequate help in various ways”.

She explained that the hospital has a 20-bedroom facility that will accommodate health personnel coming to provide medical service.

“The cottage hospital has three theatres, one recovery room, a laboratory, two consulting rooms, two wards, among other departments. The project when commissioned will be the first charity hospital in this part of the country”.

The DG hinted that the Cancer Palliative Centre will reduce the •Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

34

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

A

GOOD of illustrious people have passed through it, one of them being the late Justice Daddy Onyeama, the first Nigerian to be appointed a judge at the World Court at the Hague. But its fame has not insulated it against the worm of decay.

Central Primary School Eke, Udi Local Government of Enugu State was founded in 1910. It started with a class of six pupils. Among them was the grandfather of retired footballer, Nwankwo Kanu’s wife, the late Mazi Joseph Onyeador.

The school was founded by Catholic missionaries with the approval of the legendary Chief Onyeama n’Eke. Onyeama, whose influence stretched all over Wawa land, being a strong and dreaded ruler, welcomed the idea of establishing the school as the white man convinced that Western education was good.

That was why the school was established.

It metamorphosed from a private missionary school managed by the Catholic Church to a public institution after the takeover by the government in 1970. Before its takeover, it had actually produced men of substance from Eke and environs.

The takeover by the government, however, turned to be a curse as the infrastructures in the school started decaying. The buildings became decrepit while pupils studied under trees. The school and the community begged for assistance, but there was none coming.

But mother luck recently smiled on them. The Nigerian Breweries PLC, which has its factory in the neighbouring community of Amaeke Ngwo heard their cry. The breweries after consultations with leaders of the community, through their community relations

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•Managing Director, NBL, Nicolaas Vervelde with his wife and officials of Enugu State government

Brewery boosts school infrastructure From Chris Oji, Enugu

programmes, came to the rescue of the old school.

The NB Plc built an ultra-modern block of six classrooms and a library for the school. The facilities have been commissioned and handed over to the school. Functional conveniences were provided for each of the classes in the block, furnished with tables and chairs for

My dear children, it is our hope that this facility will improve your comfort and enhance your learning ability. As you learn in this complex, and acquire the desired knowledge for growth, you should always think of the right ideals for you to better Nigerians. You must shun violence and other vices militating our economic development and nation building

teachers and pupils. The library section has work stations and relevant books stocked.

The managing director and chief executive of the the Nigerian Breweries PLC, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde at the handing over of the block, noted that the building took enormous resources and “it is our expectation that the teachers, pupils and the community will assist to protect and maintain it for sustainable use.”

Verlverde turned to the pupils and admonished: “My dear children, it is our hope that this facility will improve your comfort and

enhance your learning ability. As you learn in this complex, and acquire the desired knowledge for growth, you should always think of the right ideals for you to better Nigerians. You must shun violence and other vices militating our economic development and nation building.

The MD told the audience it was obvious the government alone cannot carry the entire burden of education, “hence this donation to our good people of Eke.” He further expressed appreciation of the “positive effort of the state governor, Barrister Sullivan Chime

in the development of education in the state.”

He said: “Education is the greatest legacy to be bequeathed to any child and remains very paramount to our existence and sustainable development. As a world class company, we have continued to support education in various aspects all over Nigeria in line with our ‘winning with Nigeria’ philosophy.

The President of Eke Town Union, Nze Anthony Enu commended and thanked the NB PLC •Continued on page 36

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Orji inaugurates A projects

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has started inaugurating some of the legacy projects completed by his administration.

Among the projects he flagged off are the Umuahia Bus Terminal along Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway and the 1.5km ring-road at the Ohiya/Nsukwe Mechanic, Spare Parts and Allied Products Market.

Governor Orji said the Umuahia bus terminal will help decongest the city as all buses will take off and return to the terminal daily, while there is hope the area in which the terminal is located will open up the state capital.

He said that the bus terminal is designed to provide a central motor park and commended the contractor who handled the project for completing it on time. He stressed that it is part of his promise to the people of the state.

In his speech at the Ohiya mechanic village, the governor said that government after relocating the mechanic and spare parts dealers had to provide them with the basic amenities including water and access road.

Orji pointed out that all the inter-

From Ugochukwu-Ugoji Eke, Umuahia

nal roads in the market were built by the Ministry of Works and stated that the new market, which is better than the former one, has brought further development to Umuahia. He appealed to the traders to have confidence in the government.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, Elder Godwin Nna, appealed to all transport companies that converted residential buildings to motor parks to relocate to the bus terminal before the illegal motor parks are sealed off.

The chairman, Ohiya Mechanic Village, Mr Aham Agoha thanked the governor for relocating them to a better place and creating a comfortable environment for them to do their business and pledged their support to his government.

•Continued on page 35

•A patient awaiting surgery

Imo builds hospital for the needy •Continued from page 33 trauma of cancer patients.

“The palliative centre will serve as a place where those suffering from cancer will be counselled by experts and given the needed medical and spiritual support to reduce their suffering so that when eventually they pass on it will not be out of pain and frustration”.

Calling for collaboration and support from public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations, Njoku said that more funds are required to cope with the growing demand of catering for the needs of the sick and poor by the Foundation.

She added, saying, “Currently the foundation has no budget from the

government but depends on voluntary donations from civil servants in the state who part with certain percentages of their salaries monthly.

We need adequate funding to cope, because of the huge cost of flying indigent patients abroad for treatment but the state governor and the state first lady have been very supportive but more needs to be done”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Orji inaugurates projects •Continued from page 37 Governor Orji said the essence of providing model schools for pupils and students in the state is to give them a sense of belonging. He said this while commissioning the Ndume Otuka and Afugiri Model Primary Schools in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

He said that education remains a priority in his government while government has provided a conducive environment for learning and teaching in the state, adding that one model school is located in each of the 17 local government areas in the state apart from other schools being refurbished by his government to enhance the quality of education.

He said that the model schools are equipped with desks and chairs for pupils and teachers, borehole, generating set, modern library among others, pointing out that Abia students and pupils have done the state proud at various fora, adding that no resource spent in education will be counted as a waste.

Earlier, the Local Government Area Sure-P chairman, Chief Joseph Ogwo said the two model schools are among the many built by SureP and scattered in the 17 council areas of the state.

He pointed out that Sure-P has also constructed 100-bed hospitals in the three senatorial zones of the state.

H

OW do you make a great institution greater? For Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, new Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, it is consulting the various segments of the university community, understanding the problems and coming up with the solution. That is what Ozumba has been doing since his appointment on June 6.

It was therefore, in continuation of this exercise, that he launched his visionary and strategic action plan with stakeholders to make the great UNN even greater in education, research, scholarship and human capital development.

Because it was the first of its kind in the institution’s 54-year old history, the 3,000 capacity princess

•Governor Theodore Orji inspecting facilities at the 100-bed ward after the commissioning at the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Amachara Annex. With him are Dr. Augustus Mbanaso, Chief Medical Director and other medical personnel

New vision for varsity From Chris Oji, Enugu

Alexandria Auditorium, venue of the event, was filled, with thousands outside.

The large turn-out at the occasion by friends of the university, the alumni, patriots in the pursuit of academic excellence, all categories of academic and administrative staff, union leaders and students, despite the fact that the institution was not in session, did not come as a surprise. It was indeed a demonstration of solidarity to the new administration, which was quickly

applauded by the VC and his three deputies. Apart from immediate members of the university community, the ceremony attracted captains of industry, traditional rulers, university administrators from within and outside the country.

Prominent among them were former Senate president, Ken Nnamani, represented by Prof.

Steven Dike, famous Catholic priest Prof Obiora Ike, new provost of the College of Medicine, Enugu-Campus of UNN, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe, the deputy president

Enugu- Chamber of commerce, Rev. Ugo Chime, the doyen of economist, Prof. Hyacinth Eme Ichoku of the University of Nigeria and Mr. Chinedu Onu. Former deans of Faculty of Health Sciences and technology Enugu- campus of UNN, Professors Obinna Onwujekwe and Ngozi Onyemelukwe and renowned radiologist Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, the Director Public Relations Unn,Mr. Omeaku, Dr. Sam Ibeneme and Dr. Bond Anyaehie, both of the College of Medicine, UNN, as well as doyen of law, Dr. Edith Nwosu.

In his inaugural speech, the vice chancellor, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, said that his ideas of transforming the university to a 21st century institution were in the conception of the stakeholders, especially the principal officers of UNN, who had so happily identified with the strategic and roadmap vision of his

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•From right: Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps; Bisi Kazeem, Head of Section Sports, and Brigadier General Francis Olalekan Akanji during the graduation ceremony of FRSC/World Bank capacity building and training at the FRSC Academy, Udi, Enugu State

administration. He made it clear that for the first time, the University was organizing an all-inclusive visioning/strategic planning session involving all stakeholders to produce a master plan that will be consistent with the vice chancellors dream.

The Vice Chancellor explained that the aim of the strategic action plan was to stimulate the requisite change and become the nucleus of the matter and manner of his transformation initiative, hence, the plan would stand as a veritable contract between the university and its various stakeholders in the march to excellence in all its ramifications.

According to Prof. Ozumba, “without sounding pedantic, I want to reflect on the meeting point between my administration and the evolution of the University of Nigeria. Before establishing the university, Dr Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe had ruminated on the modalities for the establishment of an institution that would be unique •Continued on page 36

The aim of the strategic action plan was to stimulate the requisite change and become the nucleus of the matter and manner of his transformation initiative, hence, the plan would stand as a veritable contract between the university and its various stakeholders in the march to excellence in all its ramifications

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Security agencies team up against crime

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•MD, EEDC, Robert Dickerman while making a presentation at the stakeholders' forum in Aba

‘Prepaid meters coming T next year’

HE Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Mr. Robert Dickerman has assured electricity consumers in the southeast that the power firm will supply prepaid electricity meters in the region by the first quarter of 2015.

Dickerman in an interactive forum in Aba, the Abia State commercial hub, said that the prepaid meters were going to address the issue of estimated billing and also ensure that consumers are correctly billed for what they consume.

According to him, the supply of the meter will be a gradual process, assuring that arrangements were already concluded on how to conduct a census to ascertain •Continued from page 34 in all respects. Before applying for the post of vice chancellor of this great institution, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, had cogitated on the problems of the university to ensure that, through the authority of the Almighty God, he will delve into the solution to these problems if he becomes the vice chancellor.”

He continued: this all-inclusive visioning/strategic planning session is the brain child of the periods of rumination, cogitation and browsing. As psychologists say, our character is basically a composite of our habits because our character traits are consistent with our unconscious patterns of thought.

Ozumba re-stated that his vision for UNN was to create a leading operational academic centre of learning with a global standard, adding that it should be the university that will see excellence in the eyes of the great philosopher, Socrates, as a habit and not an act.

“In a nutshell therefore, the university should under my administration, offer quality academic and professional programs, develop a student- centred, intellectually stimulating and technologically advanced teaching, learning and research environment and serve as an intellectual and cultural centre for the promotion of new ideas.”

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

the number of electricity users in the zone so as to enable the electricity distribution company have an idea of consumers that would need the meter.

The EEDC CEO lamented the activities of vandals and some electricity consumers who enjoy the services of the company without paying for them. He urged customers to report such persons

to security agencies, stressing that “no business or company no matter how big or rich survives with persistent loss of its revenue”.

On what the company is doing to improve power supply in the region, the CEO said that they had improved power supply significantly from 29, 000mega watts to 35,000 mega watts within one year of taking over from defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, adding that 10,000 transformers were already on the

ground to support the existing ones.

In his speech, Chief Emeka Offor, EEDC Board Chairman and Grand Patron, Southeast Traders Association underscored the importance of Aba to the economy of the zone and the country at large, promising that the company was going to serve electricity users in the city well to ensure that they get value for the money they are paying for electricity.

Offor who stated that efforts were ongoing to flush out bad eggs, instill discipline among staff and promote service delivery urged consumers not to hesitate in reporting any staff that was found indulging in any

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•The participants

sharp practices to the management who he said would lose his or her job if culpable of the offence he or she was accused for.

Some of the stakeholders who spoke at the event complained of high tariff and estimated bills, poor service delivery, sharp practices by EEDC staff, replacement of obsolete transformers, absence of power supply in their area for over a period of time and among others which they said calls for

urgent attention to enable them enjoy the money they pay for electricity consumption.

They thanked the company for finding time to come and talk to them and expressed hope that the management would go back and address properly some issues raised at the meeting. They suggested that the interactive session be held periodically at the Mandela Hall of Hotel De La Paix, Aba.

On what the company is doing to improve power supply in the region, the CEO said that they had improved power supply significantly from 29, 000mega watts to 35,000 mega watts within one year of taking over from defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, adding that 10,000 transformers were already on the ground to support the existing ones

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‘ New vision for varsity The university should under my administration, offer quality academic and professional programs, develop a student- centred, intellectually stimulating and technologically advanced teaching, learning and research environment and serve as an intellectual and cultural centre for the promotion of new ideas

‘

On how to fund this gigantic vision, the university administrator noted that for this innovative spectacle to mature into fruition, his administration would not rely entirely on government, but would embark on an aggressive internally generated revenue base with mechanized farming as area of focus, even as he indicated that em-

phasis would not be on school fees.

Earlier in a key note lecture, former senate president, Ken Nnamani, charged authorities of the University of Nigeria to re-invent those rare values that made the institution the envy of many in education, medicine and research in the early 70s.

Steven Dike, who represented

Senator Ken Nnamani, recalled that after damaging his eyes in an accident in 1974, after surgery and sight restored at UNTH, surgeons at the United States of America where he had gone for follow up, expressed surprise that such world class surgery was done in Nigeria.

“The most important asset Nigeria has is human capital and UNN has been richly blessed in several ways, but has seen trust betrayed of late, UNTH should not only maintain that standard but improve on it, he further remarked.

He continued: to have all stakeholders of UNN gathered here today to move the institution forward means there is a renewed spirit under the leadership of Ozumba, we will get there, and collectivism is the only option.

Also speaking, the national president of the UNN Alumni Association, represented by Dr. Florence Orabueze, carpeted the immediate past administration, saying that workers and students were in tears during the period. She said that God gave them Prof. Ozumba, as new VC, after they had declared prayers asking for a messiah to come and heal their wounds and reassured the VC of their support.

ECURITY agencies in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have assured residents of their enhanced safety, as all law enforcement units are committed to crushing criminals in the Enyimba City.

The security organisations said they are pooling their resources together to make criminality unattractive.

This was the position reached at the end of a monthly meeting involving the police, army and other paramilitary agencies to boost the existing relationship among them and enhance the web of security in the commercial city.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara said that the meeting between the security agencies was in line with the visions of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim to achieve internal security within the state which serves as melting pot for most economic and business activities in the state and the entire southeast.

Wagbara maintained that for the war on crime to be fought and won, there was the need for security organisations to synergise and fight it collectively.

“We have conquered September, October and we are now in November with December in view. Like we overcame other months, we are going to conquer the remaining months like we did it in the last months.

“This monthly meeting helps us understand each other and limit the level of rivalry that sometimes exists especially among the junior officers.

The convener of the security meeting used the opportunity to seek the support of the public in crime fighting in the city as he advised communities around the commercial city to form a neighbourhood watch or local vigilante that would work in closely with security agencies in Aba and its environs to tackle crime in their areas.

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•The block of six classrooms and library •Continued from page 34 for rescuing the one of the oldest primary schools in Udi area. He wished the company “many more fruitful years of business and mega expansion in their brewery industry and commerce which in a short while will translate into another and bigger dividends to Eke community.”

Enu said: “ You will agree with

Brewery boosts school infrastructure me that today is quite unique because a promise made in February 2014, commenced in April 2014, completed and equipped in September 2014, is today in October 2014 being commissioned and handed over in grand style and fashion to Eke community for onward use to further promote education

which will confer knowledge and power to our emerging youths.”

Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Angela Aguji in her remark said the school and the community were “singing praises to the excellent, wonderful and marvelous work of the Nigerian Breweries PLC.” “The children are making you a

promise to achieve success in their studies and be future hopes of Nigerian breweries workers.”

The commissioning and cutting of the tape was done by the Enugu state commissioner for education, Prof. Chris Okolo who represented Governor Sullivan Chime.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Earlier in an interview, Maduako Emmanuel, Deputy Comptroller of Prisons Aba said that the meeting has helped to foster the existing relationship between his agency and others security agencies, adding that it has also provided the grounds for them to let others know areas where they (prisons) needed their assistance, adding that the meeting would bring a lot of improvement in terms of security in Aba. “All of us, we are here to synergize to make sure that we work together. We have one goal as security agencies; to bring insecurity down and to make sure that we have security at its brim, because if we are working differently there is no way we can achieve success but if the army, navy police, civil defence and others come together we will be able to work fine.

“So, that is why we have this meeting every month to talk about lapses where we have problems and others who have more experience can educate us, then we will be able to know how we can be able to forge ahead.

“We still bring out these things so that when you have any problem; like in my place when you want to go for any arrest and I can’t handle it effectively, I can call the army, police or navy to come and assist me because all of us are gearing towards one aim of trying to curb criminality. So that is why we are here.

“Now that December is around the corner, this meeting will help us tackle crime and even traffic gridlock to make sure that the roads were free from traffic congestion. That is why we are synergising to make sure that we have a crime free festive period”, Idang John, Aba Area Commander Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), represented by Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSP), Aba North Divisional Officer, Mr. Nobel added.

We have conquered September, October and we are now in November with December in view. Like we overcame other months, we are going to conquer the remaining months like we did it in the last months. This monthly meeting helps us understand each other and limit the level of rivalry that sometimes exists especially among the junior officers

‘

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia assures business owners I

NVESTORS and business owners in Abia State have been assured of the state government’s commitment to promoting trade and investment in the state and Aba in particular.

Governor Theodore Orji who was a special guest of honour at the second edition of a business summit organised by a group of business professionals, Abia Think Tank Association (ATTA), said that as part of his administration’s efforts to ensure that business activities continue to thrive in the state and the once troubled commercial city, the state government invested heavily in security.

Orji, represented by the state Petroleum Commissioner, Honourable Don Ubani, underscoring the importance of Aba to the economy of the state, said that as part of his administration’s efforts to further promote trading activities, his government is also working hard to ensure that power generation and distribution in Aba are stable.

This, he said, will enable manufacturers to save cost of production and

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

also maximize profit.

According to Ubani, “the state government is not relenting in making the state and Aba the envy of all”, and urged participants of the summit to queue into the developmental programmes of Governor T.A Orji’s led administration.

The Petroleum Commissioner used the opportunity to promise Aba residents that work would commence immediately on some of the roads that were already bad in the city as soon as the rainy season ends and dry season sets in.

He expressed hope that the business summit would provide the businessmen in Aba to rub minds together and proffer solutions on how to restore the “lost glory” of the business community.

President of ATTA, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, in a key note address captioned “A Fresh Wave of Thinking on Aba,” said that the passion for the summit was borne out of the association’s concern for a robust socio-economic and political devel-

•Abia State Commissioner for Petroleum, Don Ubani (left) who stood in for Governor T. A. Orji; President, Abia Think Tank, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa (middle) and Prof G. U. Evulukwu, Vice Chairman, Travelex Financial Resources at the event opment of the Abia State, Southeast and the entire nation.

Ohuabunwa disclosed that this year’s business summit was the second in the series of what has become an annual intellectual discussion programme by his group (ATTA) to appraise what he described as “critical challenges of development in Abia State with Aba being at the heart of it”, adding “based on distillation and articulation of intelligent ideas and solutions proffered by key speakers, resource persons and participants of this business summit, it

has become a veritable platform for unlocking the hidden treasures to unleash creative energies for the sustainable socio-economic development of our people.”

ATTA President who is also President Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce said that the vision of the annual Aba Business Summit is to pursue sustainable people oriented programmes which would boost economy of the state and the country, create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed Abia and Nigerian youths, promote productiv-

ity and also exposing businessmen to international best practices of doing business.

Ohuabunwa while lauding the state government’s efforts in tackling developmental challenges in the state, said the T. A Orji administration has made tremendous efforts to leave behind concrete developmental structures through the governor’s legacy projects across the state and expressed hope that his successor in 2015 will ould continue on the same developmental pace.

He urged stakeholders and participants at the business summit to redouble their efforts and pull resources together “to create a new model city of Aba with world-class infrastructure to drive the economy of Abia, southeast and Nigeria forward.”

Some of the participants thanked the organisers of the summit for engaging their minds in a such manner.

They also requested that more groups be involved in order to ensure a wider participation and consensus.

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This year’s business summit was the second in the series of what has become an annual intellectual discussion programme by ATTA to appraise what he described as critical challenges of development in Abia State with Aba being at the heart of it

‘

•Participants at the business summit

HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone C comprising the Southeast councils, has held its third media summit in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji was honoured with the Man of the Year Award.

Speaking with newsmen during the media summit, the Vice President of the zone, Chris Isiguzo said the annual event, which is part of their social responsibility, will serve as a forum for media practitioners to interface with different arms of government.

Isiguzo said that the forum will

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NUJ honours Orji at summit From Ugochukwu-Ugoji Eke, Umuahia

be used to create an atmosphere where good governance, media practice and investment as well as the nation’s democratic process will be discussed.

He said, “We will use the forum to create an improved atmosphere for the general well-being of the people because most of us have seen that people of the zone have nowhere to express themselves and there is need for them to have a voice”.

He said that the summit is expected to be used to mobilize captains of industry and other stakeholders on the need for them to invest in the media industry in the South East, stressing that by so doing that the people of the zone will have a voice on national issues.

The vice president of zone C said that the governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji is expected to be the special guest of honour, while the former information minister, Mr Frank

Nweke Jnr will deliver the keynote lecture with the theme, ‘Harnessing the Dividends of Nigeria’s Diversity’.

Isiguzo said that the summit will also be used to honour prominent Igbo sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in different areas of human endeavours for the zone and the country in general.

He said, “Our star award, man of the year went go to Governor Orji and this came after a painstaking look at his achievements

as the governor of Abia as well as his performance within the brief period he has held sway as the chairman of the zone’s governor’s forum”.

Isiguzo noted that the governor has made enormous contributions in the socio-political development of the people of the South East, “You can agree with me that his achievements are not in doubt, hence his choice”.

He explained that the summit will be used to showcase the desire of the leadership of the union in the zone to establish a resource centre in the South East, adding that it is expected that funds will be raised for the project to take off.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

NBL donates classroom block to school

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S part of its corporate social responsibility to its host community and state, Nigerian Breweries Plc has built and handed over a school block of six classrooms with fully equipped library and toilet facilities to the authorities of Ngwa High School, Abayi in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.

The handing over and commissioning exercise was attended by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Emeka Ananaba, Anglican Bishop of Aba North Diocese, His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Nathan Kanu, commissioners, Special Advisers, members of staff of the Nigerian Breweries PLC and some members of the school’s Old Boys Association.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, at Ngwa High School, the Aba Brewery manager, Mr. Udah Ukeje who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NB PLC, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde said that the project was built through Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund Foundation with the aim of enhancing the educational standard of Abia State children.

According to Verdelde “Education remains the most veritable tool to develop and transform the child for a bright future and enhance sustainable development of our country. Nigerian Breweries Plc, being a world class company recognises the importance of education for our youth, hence our resolve to continuously support education all over Nigeria and Abia in particular”.

“The Nigerian Breweries, Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was established in 1994 to play an active role in funding Education, research development and encourage academic excellence in Nigeria.

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GROUP of youths in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State under the umbrella, Aba North Indigenous Youth Forum (ANIYF) has expressed its support for Hon. Uzo Azubuike’s second term bid at the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker is seeking re-election to represent Aba North and South Federal Constituency in 2015.

The group at the end of its caucus meeting said that they were endorsing Azubuike because according to them, he has impacted positively

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Prior to today, Abia State has benefitted already from this foundation with the construction and donation of blocks of six classroom/library in the following schools; Eziama High School, National High School, Ahiaba High School, Ohuru Primary School, Constitution Crescent Primary School and Osokwa Secondary School and today, Ngwa High School has joined the league of beneficiaries of the Nigerian Breweries, Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. This school block has six classrooms furnished with tables and chairs for all teachers and pupils, a library with workstation, books and conveniences for each class,” NB PLC CEO added.

Vervelde further lauded Governor T. A Orji’s efforts in revolutionizing and rehabilitating the educational system in the state, adding that they were investing in education in the state because they know that the government would not carry the burden of developing education in the state alone.

He urged the school authority to make good use of the project for the purpose for which it was built for.

In his speech, the governor of the state represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba thanked NB PLC for their support and urged other private organizations in the state to emulate the gestures of the brewing company by taking up any project that would affect the lives of their host community(ies) and the state in general positively.

The first Senior Prefect of Ngwa High School, Mr. John Ije Obasi in an interview thanked school block donor for choosing his alma mater as one of the beneficiaries of their

‘

•Abia Deputy Governor, Emeka Ananaba unveiling the plaque educational programme and also provided him the opportunity of coming back to a place that molded him into becoming a pharmacist today.

Principal of the school, Venerable Chikezie Aliche in an interview also thanked the brewing company for their magnanimity and promised that they were going to make sure that the project would be put into good use.

Highlights of the event was a presentation by the school’s cultural dance troupe to entertain some of the guests that attended the commissioning exercise.

Education remains the most veritable tool to develop and transform the child for a bright future and enhance sustainable development of our country. Nigerian Breweries Plc, being a world class company recognises the importance of education for our youth, hence our resolve to continuously support education all over Nigeria and Abia in particular

‘

Youth group backs lawmaker’s second term bid From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

in the lives of his constituents, adding that re-electing the lawmaker would help to bring stability to legislative process in the country and ensure that the lawmaker continues in his service to the state and Nigeria as a whole.

They also condemned a recent attack on the legislator by some

group who had protested the second term agenda of Azubuike, accusing them of being sponsored by some politicians who want to cause hatred in the constituency.

According to the communiqué which was signed by Hon. Mgbegasa Onuiri, president, Chinedu Aguwa, secretary and 11 others and a copy of which was obtained by our reporter, there was no native that belonged to AYI.

The communiqué reads in part, “Most members of the so called AYI are not resident in Aba but are hired hoodlums and touts paid by some politicians tarnish Azubuike’s image.

“We condemn in strong terms the activities of the so called AYI especially the criticisms they are levelling against Hon. Uzo Azubuike, the member representing Aba North/Aba South in the House of Representatives.

“Hon. Uzo Azubuike has through his people oriented style of representation brought joy to his constituents through regular distribution of various empowerment items. He has continued to empower the people, especially youths in the constituency.

A lot of the people and students have benefitted from his soft loan scheme and scholarship programme which has been running even before he was elected to the House of Representatives.

“While we made bold to say that AYI does not in any way speak or

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•Senators Uche Chukwumerije (middle), Nkechi Nwaogu (left) and Enyinnaya Abaribe at a press conference in Umuahia calling for the cancellation of ward congresses in the state for alleged non-compliance with Peoples Democratic Party guidelines

represent the interest of indigenous youths of Aba North, we also condemn the attack by the said group on prominent traditional rulers in Aba North for exercising their constitutional right of choice.”

Listing out what they said was the lawmaker’s achievements since he was elected to represent them nearly four years ago, ANIYF said the constituency would not have a better alternative in Hon. Azubuike and advised the people to shun baseless sentiments, but rather should support candidates with proven records of performance.

Nation had reported that a group under the banner of Aba Youths Initiatives (AYI) had last week protested any planned return of Azubuike who hails from UmunaNsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, to the National Assembly to represent them, vowing that the lawmaker who they described as a “non-native” of the zone would not represent the constituency again in 2015.

He has continued to empower the people, especially youths in the constituency. A lot of the people and students have benefitted from his soft loan scheme and scholarship programme which has been running even before he was elected to the House of Representatives

‘

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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HE sleepy community of Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has not seen the best of times in terms of development.

Residents say they feel neglected and forgotten.

Their roads are impassable, where they exist. According to them, the last time they had cause to smile was when former governor Chris Ngige opened one of the roads linking Umuchu to Umunze in Orumba North Local Government Area.

Since then, the woes of the communities have multiplied, while the farm products by the rural dwellers have equally suffered tremendously because of lack of access roads.

Worst hit are Ojogwo-Akukwa link road, Nkpologwu-Umuchu Road and Uga-Umunze Road through Igbo-Ukwu.

The community has written many petitions to various administrations in the state to come to its aid.

Their efforts were fruitless.

All the roads in the community, The Nation gathered, are less than 6km in total.

If they were passable, the link roads, apart from their economic advantage to the state, would have provided jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates, artisans and citizens of the state. For one, they lead to the Potters Business Park being constructed by Godwin Ezeemo to develop the area.

Ezeemo is the proprietor of the Potter Park, which houses Global Orient Waterwell Limited.

Also, it has Orient Feed Mill Limited which is also operational, Sokka International Limited (Operational), Honeywell Hotel Limited which is under construction and other allied businesses, also under construction.

Good roads would have helped a great deal by complementing these facilities.

The Nation further gathered that these establishments have over 150 staff in their employment.

One of the community leaders, 68-year-old Evans Muoneke, told The Nation that the state of the roads has become very worrisome to the residents of the community.

Madam Cecilia Akunna, a farmer, also told The Nation that the roads are impassable during the rainy season, adding that the leaders and elders of the community have written letters to the state government without any response.

One of the petitions by one the community leaders, Ezeemo, read in part, “It is important to inform

•One of the bad roads in the community.

Inset: Ezeemo

Anambra community bemoans plight From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

His Excellency that the present state of the link road is worrisome and it causes a lot of damages to raw materials, finished goods and vehicles to and fro from the establishments in the area”.

The petition, addressed to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, was written on August 27,

2014.

Another mail to the governor which was signed by over 40 indigenes of the community, said, “the erosion from the said link road, if not taken care of now, will cause further damages to the entire town and particularly, the businesses by our sons located in this area that provide employment to the populace” Ezeemo also in the letter to Obiano, appealed to him to look

•Chairman, Governor Theodore Orji (middle) cutting a cake at Nike-Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, to mark the 15th anniversary of Igbo Youth Congress. With him are Igbo leaders PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

into the requests of the community to save them from being cut off from their neighbours from Uga, Akokwa in Imo State, Nkpologwu

among others.

“We appreciate the efforts of His Excellency in making the state to be one among the States in the Federation that is safe. I am hopeful that our appeal will receive your kind attention” However, Ezeemo who spoke with The Nation on phone said he would equally want Obiano to officially lay the foundation stone for the business park and officially open the HoneyWell Hotel in the community being planned on 28th December, 214 by the Grace of God.

Orji’s son vies for Abia Assembly

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HE first son of Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, Chinedu, has expressed his interest in the state House of Assembly by obtaining his nomination form. If elected, he will be representing Umuahia Central constituency.

Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, the state capital, Chinedu said that he has been under immense pressure from his friends for over four years now to run for the state house of assembly seat to consolidate on all his good works for the youths of the state.

Chinedu stressed that he is not going to the State Assembly to be its Speaker but to give quality representation to the people of his constituency and consolidate on the gains of those who were there before him.

He said that he has no ambition to be a speaker, “I have been under immense pressure to run and if I have the ambition to be a speaker it will not be to the best interest of my constituency and other interest groups”.

Chinedu said, “If I have an inordinate ambition, I would have sneaked myself into the House of Representatives or the state house of assembly and I would have been a high ranking member to enable me be the speaker, that is if ranking is the criterion to be a speaker”.

The man who is popularly known as Ikuku by his admirers said since he did not sneak into either the federal House of Representatives or the state house of assembly, “It shows that I do not have any interest to be the speaker of Abia House of Assembly”.

From Ugochukwu-Ugoji Eke, Umuahia

He however made it clear that despite the fact that he has no interest to be speaker, “It does not mean that anyone can intimidate me out of my democratic right to contest election into any elective position in the state now or in the future because I know that I am competent”.

Chinedu said that he is one man who cannot easily be controlled when he knows that he is standing on the right part, stressing that this part of his life may lead to his being impeached easily as the speaker at the slightest opportunity.

On the question that stakeholders from the central zone of the state may force him to be the speaker of the house of assembly, he said, “I will never accept to be the speaker because of the reasons I had earlier stated”.

He explained that none of the house members from Abia Central senatorial district have been told not to return, saying that only those who have spent twelve years in the legislative arm of government have been told by their people to allow others to go and represent them.

Chinedu dismissed the insinuations at the figments of the imaginations of the enemies of the state, stressing that the state has been known to be peaceful and save for a long time since the era of kidnappings and violent killings were stopped, “Since they have nothing doing they decided to cause trouble through spreading false rumours”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

41

CAMPUS LIFE Rector advises freshers against vices

NYSC member gets Best Actor award

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CORPS member, Patrick Ogar, has been adjudged the Best Actor of the Year of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State.

Patrick was presented with the award at an event to mark the passing out of Batch “C” Corps members at Chelekwu Hotel in Awka.

He was a member of Culture and Tourism, a Community Development Service (CDS) group, during his service year.

The state NYSC co-ordinator, Mrs. Inyang Bassey-Ekpe, and representatives of Blaze FM and Dufil Foods, makers of Indomie noodles, attended the event.

The chairman of the event, Mr Ayanda Ayorinde, who is the head of CDS in the state, advised outgoing Corps members to be good ambassadors of the country.

Mrs. Bassey-Ekpe hailed the youths for the achievements recorded in the 2013/2014 service year, wishing them the best in their future endeavours. She said: “This batch has been one of the best that I have overseen since I got transferred to Anambra State as the coordinator. I expect nothing less than this even as you are passing out into the society. You must en-

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•Patrick (left) being presented with the award plaque

From Stanley Uchegbu UNICAL sure that you keep the flag flying.”

Patrick praised God for the honour, saying the day was special for him. “Today is a special day for me and I thank God for this honour.

I never knew people were watch-

ing until I got this award. This is in response to my total dedication to the peace and development of my host community,” he said.

The event also featured breaking of kola nut by Mr Patrick Okoye, the CDS dance instructor, and dance performance by Corps members.

HE 21st matriculation of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara State has been held on Thursday at the 1,000-capacity Lecture Theatre.

At the event, the Rector, Dr Muftau Olatinwo, advised the freshers to shun vices that could terminate their academic pursuits.

Olainwo, who was represented at the event, said: “Let me make it abundantly clear that polytechnic has zero tolerance for vices. Having taken the matriculation oath today, I urge you to respect and observe the oath by eschewing all crimes, such as cultism, examination misconduct, drug addiction, rape, murder, prostitution, indecent dressing, kidnapping and any form of violence against humanity.

“This polytechnic is governed by laws and the instrument of law shall be applied at anyone that commits infraction. I advise you to guard your admission jealousy and resist anything that may want to rub you of this golden privilege to study in this institution.”

The Rector added that the polytechnic students topped the list of beneficiaries of state government’s scholarship, urging the freshers to

From Jennifer Umeh OFFA POLY brace up for excellence. He said the institution aimed to produce confident, self-reliant and knowledgeable graduates, who could compete with their peers anywhere in the world.

The Rector ended his speech, urging the students to keep to the institution’s measures to prevent outbreak of deadly diseases, such as the Ebola on the campus.

The president of Students’ Union Government (SUG), Festus Adedeji, appealed to the students to report strange activities around them to appropriate authority to ensure their security. “Do not go to unsafe locations. Avoid the company of people with suspicious and questionable character and if your life is being threatened by anybody, do not hesitate to contact the security unit or the Students’ Affairs Unit,” he said.

Some of the matriculating students spoke to CAMPUSLIFE. Fatima Mustipha, an HND 1 Office Technology and Management student, said: “I am happy for being re-admitted again into the institution after my National Diploma. I am glad to be back.”

Ganiyu Ayodeji, a 16-year-old admitted to study Quantity Surveying, said: “It feels good to gain admission at first trial. God did it for me and I will not disappoint.”

After the official ceremony, the polytechnic’s drama group entertained the guests and the students.

•Members of the club displaying a banner to mark the day

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WO weeks after it installed its leaders, the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State chapter of the Leo Club members have joined the state district to visit an orphanage to celebrate World Food Day. The students were led by their president, Babajide Awoderu, and the Ogun District President, Adedeji Olukokun.

In line with its mission to help the disadvantaged, the club, which is the

Club celebrates Food Day with orphans From Modestus Diko OOU youth wing of Lion’s Club, marked the day with orphans of Ketu Special Children Centre in Lagos State.

The home takes care of autistic kids and children with cerebral palsy.

The World Food Day is held yearly on October 16 by Food and Agricul-

ture Organisation arm of the United Nations. The day was marked this year with the theme: “Growth and development through innovative service.

Adedeji led his district members to donate rice, tubers of yam, cartons of pasta, noodles and garri (cassava flakes), among others, to assist the children.

The students were received by the

home administrator, Mrs Adebunmi DaSilva, who conducted them round the facility and introduced them to the physiotherapists and other staff.

DaSilva praised the students for their gesture, saying the centre sustained itself by such generous donations.

Adedeji said the gesture was informed by an act of kindness and selflessness for which the club is

known.

He said: ‘The club whose acronym stands for Leadership, Experience and Opportunity is one that provides a refining platform for members’ talents and positions them through various training and responsibilities to become role models with focus on societal development.”

The visit was attended by district co-ordinators, including Damola Odufuwa, Kolawole Akindele, Shogo Oloshunde, among others.

Final year students mark week

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FTER six years of studying efficacy of drugs and reaction pattern, it was time for graduating students of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to take stock and prepare themselves for life after school.

The 600-Level class of the faculty organised a final year Week, which featured seminar, visit to orphanage and award night.

At the opening ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the university with the theme: Creating a professional Niche, were Prof Ray Ozolua, Prof Magnus Iwagwu, Dr Angela Obaseki, Dr Pius Ukpabio and Dr Allen Iboi, the Chief Executive Officer of Dreamlife Pharmacy.

In his lecture on the theme, Iboi urged the graduating students to

From Ezekiel Efeobhokhan UNIBEN always be keen on doing things differently, stressing that for anyone to be a good pharmacist, he must go an extra mile to avoid mediocrity.

He said: “The problems you solve determine how important you would be in the profession. If you solve common problems, you would get common remunerations. If you go extra mile, you will get extraordinary benefits. Strive to create a position of advantage for yourself; the room for improvement is the largest room in the world.”

After the lecture, the students observed a minute silence for their colleague, Hulera Momoh, who died recently from ulcer complications. Com-

•Representatives of the graduating class with the guest cutting a cake to mark their Week

menting on Hulera’s death, Precious Chiazor expressed sadness, saying the deceased was everyone’s friend.

The event moved into excitement when Emmanuella Adegha, a gospel artiste and one of the graduating stu-

dents, thrilled the guests her music.

The guests left their table and moved to the stage to dance as artiste sang Okaka, one of her hit track.

Advising the graduating students, Prof Ozolua encouraged them to

have good purpose for doing things, saying it was a secret to success. “You do not stay on the crossroad for too long, hence you become a casualty.

Endeavour to make good choices and make them quick,” he advised.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBR 6, 2014

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CAMPUS LIFE Students of tertiary institutions in Ogun State last Saturday discussed how they can participate in the 2015 general elections at a forum organised by the state’s chapter of Generational Voices (GenVoices). TAIWO ADEBULU reports.

•Guests reciting the national anthem

H

OW can the youth help in ensuring violence-free elections in Ogun State in 2015?

This was the issue that dominated discussion as some students across higher institutions in the state came together last week at a summit to discuss what could be done to make the youth participate in the elections.

The Ogun State chapter of Generational Voices (GenVoices), a youth advocacy group, organised the summit with the theme: 2015 Elections: Engaging voters in Ogun State. It was held at the JDPC Hall in GRA, Ijebu-Ode. The summit focused on youths and students participation in the elections.

The Ogun co-ordinator of GenVoices, Adebayo Ishola, a Corps member, said the event was to equip the youth with skills and strategies to ensure governorship election in the state is free of violence.

Adebayo said: “We have come to discuss strategies to educate voters on the electoral process to ensure

•Students at the summit

Ogun students meet on 2015 elections the overall safety and integrity of exercise. Our concern is to build a generation that can rise up to the challenge and ensure peaceful elections are held. We are also out to tell our leaders that young people can effectively participate in governance and bring about desired change.”

The lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Kaka, who interacted with the students, praised the group for creating a platform where leaders could engage the youth in crossfertilisation of ideas.

Kaka said: “Some of us are luckier than those of you called youths of today. When I say we are lucky, it is in the sense that we witnessed a lot of sanity in the polity from the Second to the Third Republics unlike the present one. In those days, the value system was sound and we

were proud of it. Now, the connection between the old and young generation has been broken.”

The lawmaker apologised for what he called “generational waste” perpetrated by the political class, noting that the youth had been robbed of good governance and political participation. Kaka explained how he became a commissioner when he was 35 years and later became deputy governor. He urged the students to acquire sound knowledge to engage the leaders on issues affecting development and rule of law.

Hon. Abudu Balogun, a member of the House of Representatives from Ijebu North/East Federal Constituency, urged the students to consider their economic status before they engage the leaders for their rights. He said the youth must be part of the stakeholders

organising the 2015 election, even if they would not be contesting in the exercise.

In his brief address, Mr. Adesina Kawonise, former Ogun Commissioner for Information, urged the youth to develop skills that will enhance their productivity. He berated what he called the “inappropriate use” of the social media by youths.

During the interactive section, Olufemi Ajayi, a Political Science student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye decried the hypocrisy of the elders, saying: “They always claim to follow the steps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his principle. But, you cannot hold them by their words. They simply have no ideological stand.”

Tolulope Oyekanmi, 100-Level Early Childhood Education student

of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, said she was ready to volunteer herself and engage the youth in the state on the need to rise up to be part of governance.

Also at the event were Mr Musibau Ajibola, Mr Daniel Akinlani, Chief Morin Kilo, Yinka Quadri, a Development Consultant, and Dr Lawrence Holumidey, the proprietor of Paragon International School, Abeokuta.

Ayobami Faloye, a youth activist at the event, said he was not moved by speeches of the speakers. He said: “We hear such speeches on this kind of platform. They will come and tell us what we need to do, although they are not willing to concede power to us. The older generation has cheated us and we are ready to take over. The elders won’t leave until we force them out.”

Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) are not happy with the management over the delay in releasing their results. AFEEZ ADEYEMO (Mass Communication) spoke to some of them.

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HERE is growing discontent among students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara State over the management’s poor handling of their results. The school resumed for another session two months ago, but at the time of this report, the results of the last one were yet to be released for students to know their standing.

Except the graduating HND II students, who, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, were told of their results verbally, none of the returning students has seen last session’s results. This development is causing disaffection on the campus as some students have vowed not to pay their school fees until they see their results. They described their lecturers’ action as unjust.

Some students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, lamented the development, saying it was becoming a tradition in the institution. Students expressed sadness, saying the nonrelease of their academic assessment was putting in tight corners because many did not know if they had carryover courses.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the development is not new. Students said several complaints were sent to the management through the Students’ Union Government (SUG), but all to no avail.

A student said: “We are crying out to let the management understand what we are going through, so that they can consider our plights by all means and release our result. We are not happy with this situation and we do not hope to complete our programmes beyond the fixed time.

But, could we achieve this without releasing our results?”

A student, who simply gave his name as Adeola, said: “Depression is gradually setting in. The hope of some of our colleagues who wish to continue their academic career in the institution has been dashed because they did not know whether to apply for HND programme or not. Lecturers and Students’ Union leaders are not showing concern.”

For Afeez Temitope, a ND II Building Technology student, people suffer not because of the tyranny of the wicked, but because of the silence of the good people. Afeez faulted the SUG for its silence, wondering if the union leaders were elected by students.

Rukayat Olasinde, a ND II Computer Engineering student, said management should have no problem uploading the results on the school website to allay the fear of students.

Joseph Adeyemi, a graduating student of Marketing, wondered when things would get better in the school.

“Delaying students’ results for long is abnormal and it is a threat to students’ academic pursuit. Students’ Union should be alive with its task and intervene on behalf of students,” he said.

Another graduating Mass Communication student, Solomon Ayorinde, said: “I was admitted under poor academic condition, which the management said would be corrected. This issue of delay of result has been the main challenge contributing setback to students. It is high time management considered students’ plight. There must be improvement.”

Reacting, the SUG Vice President (Academics), Obafemi Oyeniyi, said the union was engaging the man-

Disquiet over results’ delay agement on the matter, adding that the students’ leaders had met with the management on number of period to bring the situation back to normal.

Obafemi, who was quoting members of the academic affairs in the school, said the problem may have been caused by disagreement between the management and the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

•OFFA POLY gate

He said: “After the polytechnic backed out of ASUP strike, it was discovered that some students’ examination materials were not submitted to the appropriate quarters, especially those returning from the industrial training. Some of them did not have any remark on their log books; some has misplaced theirs while some submitted to the wrong offices for approval. The office that is in charge of judging results is still rejecting results

from some departments because of wrong approval. Therefore, these offices are still giving all the affected department chances to cross check their students’ materials properly before forwarding it for judgment.”

Obafemi assured students that their results would be released soon, while cautioning them against using violence to make their opinion known. This, he said, would make the bad situation to be worst.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

43

CAMPUS LIFE

Wanted: Educational renaissance

E

DUCATION is undoubtedly one of the basic needs of man.

But in the Nigerian context, it is not education, but certificate. The craze for paper certificate has become so unutterable that even our ivory towers place more importance on the grades and certificates they award rather than on the knowledge they impart. Our education system has been modeled after grades and this is disturbing.

There is much emphasis on grades than knowledge and skills. Paper certificates have taken the centre stage of the society’s value system and it has become a yardstick for measuring intellectual achievement and societal relevance. This could explain why Nigerian youths in their millions embark on a crazy chase for university admissions every year.

In the same vein, it has become a do-or-die affair even for students in secondary schools who fight tooth and nail to acquire the almighty WAEC result. I am not advocating that students should disregard or neglect their exams. Not quite! It is just that the emphasis the certificate enjoys far outweighs the actual knowledge and skill gained or learned.

This isn’t a problem with the secondary education alone. In fact, the outrageous situations are prevalent in our so-called higher institutions of learning. Over there, the quest

for high cumulative grade point average has made most students to take passing exams as the ultimate.

Again I am not encouraging students to fail, but the emphasis has been more on passing a course than understanding the course. I may not put all the blame on the students because the bulk of the blame is on the society who believes that the only person that can claim knowledgeable in a course is the one with a good grade and nothing less. To them, if you did not pass the course, you do not know the course, forgetting that many circumstances can lead to average performance in an examination.

To show the extent the mentality of passing exams has eaten down the fabric of our intellectual growth; students seldom ask a practical question or a world problem question for broader understanding of a real life application of a topic during lectures. Some lecturers on their own parts also contribute to the complacency towards holistic learning. One wonders: is education all about exams? Are certificates going to replace knowledge and skills? This is a question our education sector must answer, a question our society should address.

It is not surprising anyway that some students don’t attend lectures but come for exams. And some lecturers don’t come for classes but

set exams. Some schools are synonymous with the tradition of lecturers resuming their lectures two weeks to exams. And everybody is expected to write and pass. Who is fooling who?

Once admitted into the university, an average Nigerian student’s focus shifts from garnering knowledge, contributing and adding values to the society, becoming a complete man, acquiring sustainable skills, to making good grades by all means and graduating as soon as possible. The tune of the music changes, as the only scent one can perceive in the school environment is social activities, exams, results and cumulative grade points.

How can we explain a situation whereby an engineering student is not exposed to the practical use of the laboratory equipment, or where the technologist manning a laboratory is ignorant of the principles of operation of the machines and the theories guiding the practicals? How can we explain to a lay man that in some Nigerian teaching hospital, palpitation exercises are carried out on women and young girls who are not pregnant, after a token have been given to them to be used in place of heavily expectant mothers. And this is used to give “palpitation of tummy lecture” to our great future medical practitioners. How would

they know how to palpitate on pregnant women when the persons they used for practical were never pregnant? The ill is everywhere, not only in the engineering and medical professions. Or how can we explain for mass communication and English graduates who cannot write a simple formal letter and corps members who could not fill their forms in the orientation camp? One needs to be in our tertiary institutions during accreditations to appreciate the horrible hocus-pocus going on there by our school administrators.

One would expect that the rate of unemployment in the country should abate owing to the increasing academic activities everywhere. But the reverse is implicitly the case, because we have paid more attention to certifications than knowledge and skill acquisition.

Therefore, there is no gainsaying that we have to change our attitudes toward education in Nigeria. It should be regarded a knowledge oriented process rather than a certificate exercise. Our schools should stop being certificate printing houses, and actually epitomize true citadels of learning. Skill acquisition programs should be encouraged and people enrolled in such programs should be given incentives. Our institutions should be

The nation of our dream

By David Ajayi

N

IGERIA is 54! Much has been said and little has been done. Much was expected but little has been achieved. So, that makes it easy for them to conclude in their little minds and broadcast with their wide mouths that “Nigeria is a failure”. And some crooned “Nigeria is a fool at 54. You might have heard or even said same. But there are many things they don’t know that they don’t know; you may call that tautology or repetition if you wish. But their ignorance is secondary.

They said: “Nigeria is nothing to write home about,” yet, it’s still a home for you and I. Listen to what I’m about say. “This is Nigeria walking down the aisle to the altar.”

“Here is Nigeria meandering her way to the peak.” We might have been very slow about this, but, thank the heavens that we aren’t soaring

A

S the level of unemployment increases, the number of graduates seeking jobs in the labour market had been growing over the years. Many Nigerians attribute the challenges to lack of empowerment programmes by governments.

Findings reveal that unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 23.90 per cent in 2011 from 21.10 per cent in 2010. Unemployment rate in Nigeria averaged 14.60 per cent in 2006 until 2011, reaching an all-time high of 23.90. According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), no fewer than 5.3 million youths are jobless in the country, while 1.8 million graduates enter the

in a retrogressive manner.

Let me start like this; they said Nigeria is not united. But they’ve soon forgotten that Nigeria is made up of over 200 ethnic groups with diversities in cultural, social and religious beliefs which, in some cases, are contradicting. Please, tell me, is there any country in Africa harbouring as much ethnic groups?

I doubt if there is any with half of that. Yet, we’ve been together for good 54 years. But they still make international communities brand us as “disunited” through hyperbolic media stunts. Then what is Unity?

For goodness sake can’t you see how Sudan divided just because of mere religious difference? If you don’t know let me tell you, that act has sentenced many Sudanese to death by hunger and their refugee base have sky-rocketed.

Think about this: when the whole world watched us with folded arms to massacre ourselves in a bloody civil war just seven years after independence, we were yet tender and naïve. But we got peace restored even though a faction had to extend the olive branch. No wonder Chimamanda Adiche said in “Half of a Yellow Sun” that “the world was silent when we died”. Or didn’t we witness how some countries decimated almost half of their citizens in bloody wars that wouldn’t have ended save the intervention of international communities? Nigeria had to use her own forces and money to rescue Sierra-Leone and

Liberia from an unending civil war and restore democracy to those nations.

They said our democracy is a farce but we’ve sustained it for fifteen years and no election had led to the sort of skirmishes we’ve seen in Cote d’Ivoire some years back. Even Zimbabwe had to shamefully resort to power sharing formula which was unconstitutional to their system of government just to hold on to democracy. What gains has the so called North African revolution yielded? Nothing, except for its barrage of ousted governments. In fact some almost fell back into the cruel hands of khakistocracy. Here we are portraying good democracy in the midst of our African neighbors suffering to establish it. And we say Nigeria is a fool at 54?

We might not have attained perfection as a country but the truth remains that we are doing better.

I’d wondered why Nigerians always opt for the easy ride to condemn the country and point at our common loopholes but no one seems to have deemed it fit to praise our positives.

They said we have a moribund educational sector and our tertiary institutions strike more frequently than thunderstorm. As a matter of fact, scores of our youths are trooping to neighboring countries to get the same degree that seems like rocket science to attain here. But what we don’t know is that most of those universities are nothing but a plot

of land with two blocks of flat and ten lecturers. You might want to ask how I knew all these. But the facts are there for anyone who searches for them. The fact that our youths get admitted into these schools on a platter of gold unlike Nigeria raises serious concern about the credibility of their offerings. All we need is more institutions to contain this growing education-seeking populace.

If some countries experience half the degree of corruption and looting of public funds Nigeria has to endure, they would have long ran into bankruptcy and a crumbled economy. So whether we like it or not, Nigeria has survived all these assaults for 54 years.

Again, it’s ridiculous how some Nigerians spend time making plans to travel overseas and enjoy life in developed countries simply because they think life is too difficult in Nigeria but they have no Idea how people in the o-called green pastures work from dawn to twilight, sunrise to sunset to earn their dollars and pounds. But somehow, they end up overseas, take up menial jobs they refused to do here in Nigeria.

It is often said that people make places and places don’t make people.

Where the hell are we running to?

Let’s stand up, work hard and build the Nigeria we want to see.

Foreigners are trooping into Nigeria to invest in our economy and here we are running away from our

By Kingsley Amatanweze more equipped for adequate learning and not mere studying. And the knowledge and skill one acquires should determine his societal relevance and not a degree or diploma.

However, the strength of the education system of any nation is not ascertained by how many certificates it issued but from the impact it has had on the societal growth and development. We need to have an educational revolution for a productive education system. And to achieve this, a change of attitude towards education is inevitable.

Kingsley just finished from Mechanical Engineering, UNN own Canaan. So the white man comes, exploits and under develops us to develop themselves.

We can’t begin to compare Nigeria with her superiors. It’s nonsequito to compare Nigeria with United States or United Kingdom.

They may be years ahead of us on the grounds of development but we are catching up faster than anyone would have us think.

Didn’t they say crude oil exploration will drop below average if Niger Delta militancy continues?

But as I pen this piece, amnesty had made militancy a story of the past.

And crude oil exploration is still booming. They’ve even predicted that crude oil exploration may come to a halt in a matter of years but they don’t know that crude oil contribute only 14 per cent to our annual GDP- which is on a steady rise.

Now they’ve predicted that Nigeria will disintegrate by 2015 if Boko Haram insurgency persists but who knows if these rebels might just sheathe their swords or probably get pinned by Nigerian armed forces before you know it. This is Nigeria and we have a glowing future.

Recently, Nigeria curtailed the spread of the deadly Ebola virus while thousands are busy wasting away in Sierra-Leone and Liberia just because they lack the potential to contain it. We might not have attained the envious heights of our European counterparts, but we are setting a pace in Africa. We are the giant of Africa. We are Nigerians and we are good for something: drive, hope, and positive change.

David, 300-Level Pharmacy, UNIBEN

Empowerment of graduates: A necessity labour market every year.

The nation is faced with these challenges, in spite of its endowment in natural and human resources. Nigeria is among the largest oil producing countries in the world. Ironically, it is one of the poorest countries in terms of standard of living.

World Bank statistics, last year, put the number of Nigerians living in destitution at 100 million, while its latest report puts Nigeria among the five poorest counties in the world.

In terms of underdevelopment, Nigeria is among countries of world

topping the statistics of the world's underdeveloped countries.

Given the challenges pose by unemployment, poverty and hunger, Nigeria is still battling with other man-made calamities, such as political instability, insecurity and lack of functional institutions to enhance democracy.

Our politics has become a "do-ordie" affair. The quest for power has resulted in violent changes. Today, unemployed graduates have become tools of violence, hired and used by politicians to launch attacks

on their opponents. Criminal activities are increasing daily across regions. Kidnapping, senseless killings and suicide bombings have become the order of the day. Unfortunately, jobless youths and unemployed graduates are key players in these criminal acts.

Our leaders need to engage the youth in productive ventures to have a decent and secured society.

Entrepreneurship programmes and skills development courses have been introduced into the curriculum of the tertiary institutions. These

programmes are aimed at making the youth productive and become partners in development. However, like the cases of many government initiatives, the entrepreneurship programmes are faced with challenges.

Students are only thought the theoretical aspects of the entrepreneurship studies and left without the capabilities of putting what they are taught into practice. In a nutshell, there is inadequate practical equipment to train students in vocations.

•Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

44

CAMPUS LIFE

23 council members for Ajasin varsity

T

HE Visitor to the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has inaugurated a 23-member Governing Council.

Swearing in the council members in his office in Akure last week Wednesday, Mimiko said his administration would continue to support the university to make it achieve its vision of becoming a standard 21st century institution.

The council is led by Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, while the Registrar, Mr Bamidele Olotu, will serve as secretary.

Other members are the Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe; his Finance counterpart, Chief Yele Ogundipe; Secretary to the state government Dr Aderotimi Adelola; Prof Jacob Olupona, Alhaji Mohammed Modibbo, Prof Macaulay Iyayi, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale and Dr Funke Oyebade.

Mimiko said the council members’ selection was based on achievement records, experience, integrity and commitment to service. He urged them to institute innovative ways of complementing the effort of the government in making the school a world-class citadel of learning.

He said: “I am happy to note that Adekunle Ajasin Univeristy is now a force to reckon with in the comity of universities in the country. The

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA landmark achievement of the ViceChancellor and his team made it possible through management of the funds released by the government and educational funding bodies and a robust relationship with the immediate past governing council.”

The VC, Prof Femi Mimiko, hailed the governor for appointing the “experienced hands” to oversee the activities of the institution.

He said: “I must commend the visitor for putting together this unbelievable, solid governing council for our university. I stand to be corrected, I do not know of any university today that has this status. We have distinguished men and women from experienced background, a professor who lectures at the Harvard for over 20 years, a distinguished career ambassador that has done so much in the service of his fatherland.”

He expressed confident that the council would provide the leadership that the institution needed to improve its standard.

Akadiri appreciated the governor for the opportunity given members of the council to serve. He assured that effort would be made to ensure that all resources would be utilised and managed to achieve the vision of making the university a worldclass school.

•Ebunoluwa Omotunde (second right) joined by his father, Pastor Soji Omotunde (left), his mother Mrs Emiede (first right) and Pastor Tolulope Tade after he got his B.Sc certificate in Economics at the Bowen University in Iwo, Osun State on Saturday.

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, has organised a soccer competition for all departments of the institution.

It was gathered that the competition was aimed at promoting extra curricula activities on campus.

After several knock-out stages, the final match was played penultimate week by Environment Technology and Electrical and Electronic Engineering departments.

The game ended in a penalty shoot-

Feast of soccer at FUTO From Torikpa Hembe FUTO out with Environmental Technology edging out Electrical and Electronics engineering with seven goals to six goals.

Prof Asiabaka awarded the sum of one hundred thousand naira to Electrical and Electronics Engineering deprtment while Environmentl Tech-

nology got fifty thousand naira.

Principal officers of the university attended the event including the Registrar, Mr Orje Ishegh-Nor; Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof M. C. Ofoh among others.

Iorhula Nathaniel, 200-Level, Electrical and electronics department said: “I am very happy, having EEE emerge as the best department in FUTO, in both academics and extra curricula activities”.

Mass Comm produces 12 distinctions

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

N what could be described as an academic breakthrough for the Department of Mass Communication of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, 12 Higher National Diploma (HND) students graduated with distinctions.

Of this number, 10 made distinction in Broadcast, with two from the Print area.

The analyses of the results indicated that Mary Oladimeji had the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.76 in Broadcast. Yewande Adelaja, who stud-

I

From Adedayo Oluodo and Yewande Adelaja RUGIPO ied Print Journalism, trailed behind with a CGPA of 3.71.

Of the 114 students admitted for the programme, 66 graduated with upper credit while 24 finished with lower credit.

Describing the development as a milestone and a good omen, the Head of the Department, Mrs Iyadunni Adewole, said the set was the best the department had produced, adding that the graduating

students had been equipped with intellectual ability to conquer the world of journalism.

Adewole said the quality training received by the students would make them succeed in their future endeavour.

Describing this record as a benchmark that will be difficult to beat, the former HOD, Mr Rahman Abubakri, challenged the junior students sets to emulate the excellence exhibited by the outgoing senior colleagues by studying hard to justify the confidence that the department reposed in them.

Empowerment of graduates: A necessity •Continued from page 43

The efforts by Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), established by the Federal Government under the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 to assist in solving problems of lack of adequate practical skills for the employment of students, have yielded minimal or no results over the years.

It is pertinent at this juncture to state clearly, that the task of producing well-grounded graduates is not dependent on lecturers only, government also have a role to play in this regard. Today, teachers at all levels are blamed for production of incompetent graduates. Rationally, governments are to provide the needed facilities, while teacher impact the knowledge and skills.

Lack of conducive teaching and learning environments and inadequate research are among the challenges facing our education. In public institutions, laboratories are not well-equipped or are practically non-existent. For example, universities and polytechnics offer computer science courses without computer laboratories, let alone internet connectivity. Libraries have become stores for archaic materials. Hence, the poor quality of graduates is caused by shortage of learning resources and obsolete facilities.

Aside the provision of adequate research and practical resources for the acquisition of knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship, there is the need for the empowerment of students both materially and financially; this will enable them to be self-reliant.

The worsening unemployment crisis is partly a reflection of government's inability to design policies that will create more jobs, or provide enabling environments that could encourage graduates to be self-employed.

Over the years, strategies which do not seem to be helping the situation have been put in place by government through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P), Graduates Internship Scheme (GIS), with supports from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), among others. Vocational trainings and skills acquisition programmes have been organised and are still ongoing by these bodies to empower youths and unemployed graduates in different areas with the aim of alleviating the unemployment crisis.

Yet, these programmes faced the same challenges. At the skills acquisition or training centers, challenges of unqualified or incompetent teachers and insufficient practical instruments are fast becoming rampant.

As remedies to the growing crisis of unemployment, poverty and rise in crime rate, it is necessary for government to empower students while studying and after graduation. This can be achieved through the provision of sufficient research and practical resources in schools.

Government should also introduce entrepreneurship courses and programmes in schools right from the elementary stages to advanced levels. Education is a prerequisite for any nation striving at development. The impact of education to national growth and development are immeasurable.

Empowering a graduate does not necessarily means giving such person money. The best way to empower an educated person is to encourage him in diverse ways, especially by means of training.

If government can strengthen its agencies and other empowerment programmes and initiatives to effectively train graduates in different vocational and technical skills, the crisis of unemployment will surely come to be a thing of the past in Nigeria.

Therefore, the task of empowering graduates is a necessary to change the social rhythm and create a rewarding future for every youth.

Ahmad, 400-Level Mass Comm., NSUK

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

45

EDUCATION

‘Poverty made me the best’ W

HEN he was seven years old, Gideon Oluwaseun Afolayan lost his father, Pa James Afolayan, at a ripe age of 93. His mother was the youngest of many wives, and he, the last of the six children from his mother.

The 27-year-old was raised by his eldest sister and her daughter, who provided him with the best education affordable. His background inspired him to graduate with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.90 from the Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State last Saturday, beating 325 others to win the overall best graduating student prize.

Sharing his story with The Nation, the graduate of Physics and Electronics, underscored his hatred for poverty, saying it made him to graduate as the best.

“When I say poverty made me to graduate as the best, I don’t mean I was poor as a student, but I hate poverty with a passion and wouldn’t want it close to me. So, wherever I find myself I strive for excellence. That was why all through my primary, polytechnic and university education, I always aspired to be at the top,” he said.

Given his father’s death when he was still very young, Afolayan’s future would have been different if his elder sister and her daughter had not stepped in.

“I lived with her in Zaria, and then her daughter also took me away from her due to God’s favour and good character. They asked if I would come and live with them and I agreed. God has raised me from one level of grace to the other since then. From Abuja we came down to Lagos and God planted me in BELLSTECH,” he said.

After his O Levels in 2007 at Jefab International School, Suleja, Niger State, Afolayan wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) twice with the intention of studying medicine, but did

- BELLSTECH’s best graduand relives how he did it.

• Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Founder of the univesity congratulating Afolayan.

By Medinat Kanabe

not obtain the cut-off mark. He proceeded to Allover Polytechnic, Ota, Ogun State, where he studied Electrical/Electronic Engineering and graduated with a distinction.

“I used my certificate to get admission into BELLTECH after my one year industrial training,” he added.

On how he studied, Afolayan who hails from Irepi Town in Boluwaduro Local Government of Osun State, said he has a schedule for everything he does including reading.

“I engage myself in many activities that people look at me and wonder because I don’t look or behave like other intelligent students. I play the keyboard so when I am free I hang around with my juniors and rehearse. I was also the music director at school. I engaged in sev-

eral extra-curricular activities, but I devoted time to all of them,” he said.

Afolayan said he does not settle for less and that he had already made up his mind to graduate as the best student before he resumed at Bells.

He said: “Before I got admission into Bells, I asked God what he has for me because I believe in living my life based on specific target, so as I entered the school, God kept unveiling opportunities for me. I first had the passion to top my department. So, in the first semester God helped me with that and I had a 4.85. In the second semester David Abejide, who is my very good friend came to me one evening and told me there was a scholarship available, but the condition is to top my college. So, I continued with my hardworking life style and I topped my college with a 4.95 and got the scholarship. Sixty per cent

of my fee was paid by the school for the year.

“After that I asked myself what other height I could scale and at the last convocation I told myself I would be the next. I told my friend David that I would be the one there next. I also received an SMS almost immediately the last valedictorian was called from another of my friend Atoyosi Olubusola. She said: ‘My friend, you are meant to be there’; and to the glory of Go,d I am here today,” he said.

Afolayan, who said he had not seen his mother for over five years, was full of praises for his guardians, Mr Lawrence Oresanya and his wife, Deola, who he said have treated him like their own children.

The Oresanyas attested to his good character and morals, which made them to develop interest in him.

“He has not given us any problems since we took him in and we don’t regret taking him in. When we went to Osogbo to take him, we wanted to take two of them because Mama had four of them with her and we felt the burden was too much, but she refused saying she could give us only one child so we ended up with the youngest, which was Seun and he has been doing us proud,” Mr Oresanya said.

Afolayan advised undergraduates to be disciplined, saying discipline determines the height everyone will get to on earth.

“No matter how high you rise on earth, without discipline you will fall in no time. Discipline will help you get your life right, even your spiritual life, academic, social and otherwise,” he said.

Afolayan already has his eyes on his next goal: to pick a scholarship to study in Cambridge University, United Kingdom. After school, he hopes to be an entrepreneur.

ICAN okays OGITECH

By Adegunle Olugbamila

HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has accredited the Accounting programme offered at the Ogun State Institute of Technology, (OGITECH), Igbesa.

This followed a three-day resource verification exercise by a four-member accreditation panel from the ICAN. Addressing the OGITECH management at the end of what was considered a peer review exercise, the ICAN team leader, Prof Ishola Akintoye, said they were satisfied with the structures in place, having done an extensive assessment of the activities in the department.

He noted that the department’s strict adherence to the minimum requirements of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and ICAN, is worthy of mention. He added that the team was granted unfettered access to students’ files and other admission documents.

“The quality of delivery matters a lot and we are proud of what we saw during our work in the past three days. We asked to be part of the classes we visited and saw the depth and quality in terms of lecture delivery and we saw students who are willing to learn,” he said.

In her welcome address, Rector of the Institute, Dr Olufunke Akinkurolere, said the visit has not only shown that ICAN is a partner in progress, but a supporter of good things.

Dr Akinkurolere, an engineer, added that the institution presently runs 19 programmes accredited by NBTE and other professional bodies.

T

• The Librarian, OGITECH Mrs Udi Ese Ogene; Secretary of ICAN accreditation committee, Mr. Wole Bodunde; a member of the team, Mr. Johnson Ajileye; The Rector ot the Institute, Dr Akinkulolere; ICAN team leader, Prof Ishola Akintoye; ICAN Registrar, Mr Gbenga Adeniyi; member of the ICAN accreditation Committee, Mr. Abolude Akintola; HOD Accounting, Mr Yemi Odutola; and other members of Management of the Institute during the accreditation exercise at OGITECH.

AAUA FILE Mimiko inaugurates governing council THE Ondo State Governor and Visitor to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has inaugurated the Governing Council of the university.

The new council is chaired by Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, while the Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola; Commissioner for Finance, Chief Akinyele Ogundipe; and Commissioner for Education, Mr. Olajide Adejuyigbe, will serve as members.

Other members are: Prof. Jacob Olupona; Prof. David Iyegha; Dr. Gboyega Ajayi; Dr Eunice Oyebade; Mr. Wole Akinyosoye; Alhaji Mohammed Modibbo; Mr. Alex Mbakwe; Mr Banjo Aiyenakin and Mr. Macaulay Iyayi.

Internal members of the council are: the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko; the Deputy (Academic), Prof. Rotimi Ajayi; (Administration), Prof. Francis Oyebade; Prof.

Oluyemisi Adebowale; Prof. C.A. Daramola; Prof. Yomi Dinakin; Prof. Sunday Amuseghan; Prof.

Victor Olumekun and Mr. Sunday Ayeerun.

Governor Mimiko congratulated the new members and urged them to complement the government’s efforts to make AAUA a world-class university.

Akadiri, thanked the governor for the privilege and assured him that they would bring their experiences to bear on overseeing and directing the affairs of the university.

26 bag First Class Twenty-six students of AAUA would be conferred with first class honours degrees at the institution’s fifth convocation ceremony coming up today and tomorrow.

The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mimiko, while giving the breakdown, said 6,341 graduands from 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 sets will convocate this year.

“A total of 6,341 graduands from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 sets will be convocating this year. Faculty of Science with 1,519 has the largest chunk, followed by Social and Management Sciences, Arts, Education and Law in that order.

There are 412 graduands receiving postgraduate degrees, 10 of whom are in the Ph.D category.

“Of the two sets, 26 graduated in First Class; 1,414 in Second Class Upper Division; 3,505 in Second Class Lower Division; 993 in Third Class,“ Prof. Mimko said.

The VC said the convocation is unique because it coincides with the university’s 15th anniversary.

“This is not a coincidence, but the fallout of a deliberate initiative to institutionalise the university and put it on a competitive pedestal and it is my hope that this profound tradition of scholarship shall be sustained here,” he said.

BUK: Only 1,921 fresh graduates ready for NYSC

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O fewer than 1,921 out of 3,821 graduating students of Bayero University Kano (BUK), which is less than 65 per cent of the total number, got the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call up letter for the next Batch C of corps members to serve the nation.

The consequence of this according to information from the Student Affairs unit of the university, is that some of those left out may not be able to make the service again next year because they would have clocked 30 years by then, which is the age limit.

It was learnt that a list of 3,821 prospective corps members were forwarded to NYSC headquarters in September for Batch C as requested.

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

However, 1,360, who were eligible, were not lucky to make the final list.

Many of them besieged the Students’ Affairs unit last week for possible rectification One of those affected, Abubakar Umar, a graduate of Biochemistry, disclosed that the students got frustrated after patiently waiting for five months for the service year.

“Can you imagine after spending not less than four years in the university, only for some of us to be mobilised, while others were not? It is indeed, a major challenge,” he said.

Although some of the students blamed the university for the anomaly despite completing the

online registration as required by the NYSC, others however, blamed the NYSC leadership for adopting an uncompromising measure, which they described as rigid.

The Deputy Dean, Students Affairs Unit of the university, Dr. Shamsudeen Umar, however, claimed that the university fulfilled “all righteousness” as required by the NYSC. Shamsudeen said the university forwarded the names of 3,821 graduates to the NYSC at the stipulated period only to receive a list less than 2,000, describing it as a surprising development, which is “a departure from the known tradition”.

A recent memo, which originated from the NYSC and made available

to The Nation indicated that about 730 prospective corps members from BUK were not able to complete their online registration, which may have informed their names being absent from the comprehensive list.

However, Dr. Shamsudeen insisted that most of the affected students had documentary evidence that they had completed the online registration.

“I will disagree with the argument of NYSC leadership because most of those who stormed our office had the print out of the online registration.

So, they cannot hide under such an excuse, as far as we know. In fact, I can prove to you that some of those, who had no problem, did not register. So what do you say about that?”

Dr. Shasudeen quried!.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

46

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

CRESCENT FILE

APPROACHING DEADLINE

Apply for Lagos State Undergraduate Scholarship 2015

A • Prof Gbajabiamila

Gbajabiamila succeeds VC THE former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, has been appointed the new vice chancellor of the institution. Gbajabiamila took over from his former boss, Prof.

Kehinde Okeleye, who was appointed the vice-chancellor four years ago. Okeleye’s tenure, according to the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Idris Katib, ended last month.

Katib said Okeleye would return to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), where he took a leave of absence.

Gbajabiamila had his primary up to university education in London, the United Kingdom (UK).

He obtained his first degree in Microbiology from the University of London in the 70’s and remained in the university as a research student. He later bagged his PhD in Virology in 1984. He was a research fellow before his first appointment at the University of London for 20 years, rising to be the head of Extra-Mural Science.

Commenting on his new position, Gbajabiamila said: “It is the greatest honour to contribute to the development of Crescent University, a unique institution in the landscape of the Nigerian university system, striving for moral and academic excellence.”

A new hall of residence has been named after Okeleye in recognition of his contribution to the university.

Pioneer Postgraduate students matriculate CRESCENT University has matriculated eight pioneer postgraduate students admitted to study Economics, Accounting, Computer Science and Information Technology.

The founder of the institution, Prince Bola Ajibola, urged the students to uphold the university’s academic and moral excellence.

His words: “You should help us to be good ambassadors and we hope that we will be proud of your achievement at the end of your studies. We want you to show the whole world that we have it here”.

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kehinde Okeleye, noted that having graduated about six sets and secured full accreditation for its programmes, the university was on course.

In another development, the institution’s Alunmi Relations Officer, Mr Hakeem AtandaBakare, has unveiled the plan of the association to have a centre on the campus.

Atanda-Bakare said this at a cocktail organised for the alumni as part of the sixth convocation of the university.

The president of the association, Kamil Adebumola, said the project, when completed, would house a tutor centre; book club room; debate centre; art and craft centre and games arcade.

PPLICATION is open for Lagos State Undergraduate Scholarship Award 2015 for students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria Eligible Field of Study: Courses offered at Nigerian tertiary institutions About Scholarship: The Lagos State Scholarship Board is the agency in charge of scholarship, bursary and other related matters within the state.

It grants Scholarship awards to deserving indigenes in various tertiary institutions for full time studies in order to assist these students financially.

Scholarship Type: Undergraduate studies Selection Criteria and Eligibility 1. All applicants must have gained full time admission into an accredited Nigerian tertiary Institution for postgraduate studies (Masters or Doc-

torate).

2. All Post-graduate applicants: 3. Where CGPA scale is 7.0 (e.g University of Ibadan) he /she must possess a minimum of 4.6/7.0 4. Where CGPA scale is 5.0 (e.g University of Lagos) he /she must possess a minimum of 3.5/5.0 • Where CGPA scale is 4.0 (e.g polytechnics and colleges of education) he /she must possess a Minimum of 3.0/ 4.0 1. Where applicant is a medical student in 200L, option i, ii and iii applies 2. Where applicant is a medical student in 300L and above a minimum of Creditis required in their result 3. All applicants must be in their second year or above 4. All applicants must have completed LASRRA Registration 5. All applicants must have a signed letter of identification from their re-

spective Oba 6. All applicants must have a signed letter of identification from their respective local government 7. All applicants must purchase a Scholarship application form. (Payment of N2,000.00 for Local Scholarship) through the Office of Special Adviser onEducation, Block 5, 3rd Floor, Alausa Secretariat.

8. All applicants must upload clear scanned copies of all documents to ascertain the genuineness of their claims. Documents like: • Letter of identification from Oba • Letter of identification from Local Government • SSCE result • Lagos State Resident Registration Agency(LASSRA) registration card • Passport Photograph (clear background not older than three months) • Progress report from school stating results clearly

9. Applicant must participate in a written test conducted by Dragnet Solutions Limited in conjunction with Lagos State Scholarship Board.

Eligible Countries: Lagos state indigenes To be taken at (country): Nigerian tertiary institutions in and out of Lagos state Application Deadline: Friday 21 November, 2014.

How to Apply All applicants are required to make a Payment of N2,000.00 for Local Scholarship through the Office of Special Adviser on Education, Alausa Secretariat. Then take the treasury receipt to the Lagos State Scholarship Board to secure their secret voucher pins for online application. Application will not be processed without evidence of treasury receipt.

Visit scholarship webpage for details.

AOCOED ‘is on top and always will...’

The management of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/Ijanikin, has refuted allegations made by its workers concerning unpaid arrears and unremitted pensions, which was published last week. The Registrar of the 56-year old institution Olumuyiwa Coker, in this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, described the allegations as mere falsehood, saying no amount of misinformation can obliterate the leadership status the college has sustained in the last five decades.

Excerpts:

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HERE appears to be no end to the ongoing crisis between the management and leadership of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), and Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCCOEN).

What is the update?

Management has been meeting and discussing with them from time to time, and government is also doing its part.

However, let me correct this misconception, it is not 18-month arrears that we are owing as claimed by workers. Initially, it was 18 months and government has promised to pay half, which is nine months, while the management will pay the remaining nine. Now government has already paid four and a half months. Management has also paid nine months from HATTIS (Harmonised Tertiary Institutions’ Salary Structure) 1-5.

What is left are those from HATTIS 69 and the management has paid three months remaining six months. For other levels, management has paid only one month though, but it has rolled out payment plans on how outstanding arrears would be paid.

Government has already granted the approval and I can assure you before the year runs out everything will be fully sorted out. As I’m talking to you, the voucher is at the stage whereby the money is to be credited into the college account, and this has duly been communicated to the unions.

With respect to unremitted pension and adequate funding, let me say that the management has been meeting with the government which has also promised to look into the matter in no distant time.

Would you agree that academic standard of AOCOED is on a shaky ground?

I am glad to tell you that all the 32 NCE programmes we run at present have full accreditation by the NCCE (National Council for Colleges of Education), and this has been consistent for nearly two decades. In addition, all the 16 education degree programmes we run with the Ekiti State University also have 100 per cent accreditation. This simply means we are comparable to any teacher-education institution that runs a degree programme in Nigeria.

• Bashorun

• Coker

There was a time NCCE did a survey on colleges of education that are actually due to be upgraded as degree-awarding institution and AOCOED was among the five colleges of education that were shortlisted nationwide. Also recently, we held a national conference here and the current secretary, Committee of Provost, Prof Olu Akeusola, said categorically that AOCOED today ranks as the best college of education in Nigeria. Suffice to say, Akeusola is also a sitting provost, with local and international exposure.

That speaks volumes of our ability In the report, one of the union leaders was quoted as saying that the college’s medical centre is defective.

To start with, that building was awarded by the Lagos State Tenders’ Board with every due process followed. All relevant agencies inspected the projects and certified them as okay. Lagos State Material Testing also subjected the building to integrity test and it passed. I can tell you some universities don’t even have the kind of health centre that we have in AOCOED and you can quote me on this.

The NCCE and NUC (National

Universities Commission), also gave credit to the Lagos State government for that facility. Interestingly, that Health Centre was constructed not to serve the college community only, but other adjoining neigbourhoods.

As a matter of fact, there is a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Health, AOCOED management and the Office of the Special Adviser on Education on how the facility can be put to maximum use. Let me also add that many of the projects that this institution benefitted from TETfund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) went through Monitoring and Evaluation process. So, I do not really know how that union leader arrived at her conclusion.

Could you then speak on the achievements of the current administration since it came on board in 2011?

Too numerous to count. This present administration under Bashorun Wasiu Olalekan, has remained committed to his mandate.

This regime pioneered the college beautification and the annual tree planting in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Law. It also upgraded the library with the e-li-

‘I am glad to tell you that all the 32 NCE programmes we run at present have full accreditation by the NCCE (National Council for Colleges of Education), and this has been consistent for nearly two decades’

brary platform, in addition to repositioning the ICT centre. Under Bashorun’s tenure, the college witnessed the maiden induction of graduates into Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

This administration restructured security system and maintenance of street lights, which have helped in curtailing crimes and other vices. This has helped the college to maintain rosy relationship with its host, Otto/ Ijanikin communities, as well as leaders and traditional rulers. To further boost IGR, this administration started the production of sachet and table water with NAFDAC approval.

Our sport facility is now more equipped to host local or international contests. This year, the college completed 1200-seater capacity auditorium, which Senator Oluremi Tinubu, facilitated through TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund), and where our last convocation was held.

Last year, the management completed and handed over School of Vocational and Technical Education Studies extension, ditto for School of Language Complex. At present, School of Arts and Social Sciences as well as Administrative Complex are under construction, to mention but a few.

What about workers’ welfare?

Management has ensured that virtually all segment of non-teaching staff are retrained on the job through workshops and seminars organised by the institution’s Training& Development division. In addition, some cadres of staff are also being sponsored for training outside the college.

It is also on record that over 50 per cent of our teaching staff are pursuing their PhD programmes. The management is also in collaboration with TETFund to ensure over 20 teaching staff pursue their PhD programmes overseas. Recently, management granted an amnesty to all cadres of staff who embarked on programmes without due approval.

Management had to approach the Council to plead on their behalf. This is due to management policy that workers should be allowed to get to the peak of their careers So what is your appeal to striking workers?

AOCOED is an ongoing project and we should all work together to move it forward. There are indications that very soon, our challenges will be resolved.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

47

EDUCATION

Old students celebrate their alma mater

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APTIST Academy, Obanikoro, Old Students’ Association (BAOSA) has rolled out the drums to felicitate with its alma mater- Baptist Academy Obanikoro, as it clocked 159 last week.

Its National President, Chief Olatunde Onakoya, told excited guests, pupils and parents at the school’s Founder’s Day that the old boys have not relented in ensuring that their alma mater reclaim its past glory.

Onakoya praised an alumnus’ plan to construct a state-of-the-art library valued at N50 million.

He said: “This (library) will be a modern library with e-books. It is our hope that it will be started very soon, it is being donated by Sir Kessington Adebutu a graduate of the 1956 set. We believe in the next few months it will come to form” The national secretary of the association, Mr Adeniyi Thompson, desribed the Founder’s Day, which held at Shepherdhill Baptist Church, as a rallying point for all past graduates of the school.

By Sampson Unamka

He added that other projects have been carried out by other class sets.

He said: “Some class sets upgraded the old library while others upgraded the chemistry laboratory. Last year, another set donated communications systems. So there are different projects.”

Speaking on the state of education in the country Adeniyi said: “The truth about education in Nigeria is that we haven’t taken it as serious as we should. Today, you find many people here going abroad to seek better education, but it was not so in our time because education at the homefront was rated high. So, I wish the government pay more attention to education in Nigeria, pay motivate teachers and devote more resources to develop pupils because they are going to lead us tomorrow,” Adeniyi said.

The principal, Mrs Abosede Ladoba, said the school has produced many dignitaries, adding that, the school is always proud of its old boys.

• From left: Chief Onakoya, Mrs Ladoba, Mr Adeniyi and Reverend Aiyelokun Former Principal of the school (8889) at the event.

School team for U-15 football zonal finals

E

FFORTS of the management of Greensprings School to lift football at grassroots level have started yielding positive results, with the school team winning the Lagos qualifiers of the maiden Etisalat U-15 National

• The winners flanked by President of the club, Chris Alabi(middle); Wunmi Bakare(left) and their teacher, Mrs Toyin Faboya(right).

Lagos school wins Rotary quiz

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MOLE Junior Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos has emerged winner of the maiden Rotary Club of Omole Golden Quiz competition.

The school represented by JSS 3 pupils, Master Oluwole Moses and Miss Vivian Emefiele, beat their counterparts from Oke-Ira Junior Grammar School and Ajuwon Junior High School to clinch the coveted prize.

The competition, held at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos, was organised by the club to commemorate the World Polio Day. The winners were presented with a trophy and a ticket to attend a leadership summit slated for next month in Apapa, Lagos.

President of the club, Chris Alabi spoke of the event.

By Kunle Akinrinade

He said: “Basically, today is World Rotary Polio Day and we have been celebrating the day for about 30 years now. We decided to organise the competition to create awareness and sensitise young people on how to prevent or curb the spread of the disease in our society. We believe that young people are change agents and they will definitely tell their parents about how to prevent the disease and government’s effort at encouraging immunisation of children.

“The winners will have the opportunity to participate in a leadership programme slated for November 29-December 6 at Sea School, Apapa,Lagos. However, next Saturday, we would embark

on a walk at Idi Oro, Mushin, to further create awareness about polio. “ One of the winners, Moses said:“I feel great and elated that we won and for making our teachers proud. The impact of their teaching has not been in vain. However, I pass the message of hope to my mates and encourage them to tell their parents about embracing immunisation programme to curb polio.”

A Basic Science teacher, Mrs. Toyin Faboya, who led the winning team, also said: “I am very excited that we are not only tackling polio in our society, but eradicating it gradually. I want to thank members of the club for organising this event to educate young people on the devastating effect of polio and its prevention.”

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Championship.

The school, being a private school, competed against five public schools in the state.

The giant stride made by the school within and outside the country prompted the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) to pick the school as the flag bearer of Education District III. The six districts in the state were represented by a team each while all the six teams were drawn into two groups of three teams in each group.

Greensprings, inspired by its talisman, Musa Alli, were drawn in same group with Gbaja High School, Surulere and Kuje Junior High School, Ajegunle.

In their first group match against Gbaja High School, Greensprings were merciless against the Surulere team as they walloped them 11-1 to send warning signal to Kuje boys.

Just, they did in the first match,

Subsidise education, govt urged

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HE proprietor of International College Ibefun (ICI), Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, Prince Babatunde Taiwo, has urged government to subsidise education for the interest of the less-privileged.

Taiwo said this while presenting a cheque of N350,000 scholarship to an alumnus of the school, Miss Olawale Beatrice, who has just secured admission to study Biochemistry at Caleb University, Imota Lagos.

Taiwo who was represented at the presentation by the principal of the school, Mrs. Obiyor Ijeoma-Precious, said the school is poised to ensure equitable and widespread distribution of knowledge.

“Government should subsidise education and ensure that it is affordable to the less privileged children in the society. Where there is no education, there won’t be civilisation and lack of civili-

Institute inducts LAUTECH Science Lab. graduates

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O fewer than 177 Science Laboratory Technology graduates of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso were inducted by the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, Nigeria (NISLT) last Friday.

Coordinating the induction and oath taking ceremony, the Registrar of the institute, Dr. Ighodalo Folorunso Ijagbone, urged the inductees to be of good behavior

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

and take their professional conduct very seriously.

Ijagbone congratulated the inductees for their perseverance and resilience throughout their studies.

He used the opportunity to congratulate the management of the institution for sustaining the induction. Nonetheless, he charged them not relent in their effort in making

the science laboratory technology department one of the best in the country.

In his keynote address, the chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Adeniyi Gbadegesin, congratulated the inductees and their parents.

Gbadegesin, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Prof Ezekiel Ayodele, noted that the authorities of LAUTECH are putting every-

they were ruthless in the second group game against Kuje as they pounded them 18-0 to berth in the final.

In the final match against Yewa High School, Agege, dignitaries from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development led by Permanent Secretary, Oluseyi Whenu, as well as the state director of sports, Kweku Tandoh, were at the Agege Stadium to witness the encounter.

To the chagrin of the dignitaries, the match turned out to be onesided as Greensprings dominated proceedings thrashing Yewa boys 10-0 to emerge as the state’s representative at the zonal final scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital this month.

In the zonal finals, Greensprings as Lagos’ representative will compete against state champions from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun to decide the eventual winner from the zone. The winner from the zone will compete in the national finals.

thing in place to reposition SLT to adequately discharge its mandate.

He praised the Head of Department, Dr Sunday Oladoye, for another successful conduct of the induction.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Head of Department Science Laboratory Technology, Mr. Sunday Oladoye, admonished the inductees to represent the university well by upholding its good moral standard.

From Jeremiah Oke, Abeokuta

sation results in poverty. We cannot afford to groom liability in Nigeria. Some of our fathers are products of free education and that should be transferred to our children.”

According to him, the first seven pupils of the institution who graduated, have secured admission into higher institutions of their choice and are expected to come for their tuition fee as soon as their various institutions resume.

On her part, Mrs. Ijeoma-Precious urged the recipient to be more hard working, diligent and productive, so as to give back to her alma mater.

Other beneficiaries include: Adebayo Temitope, Durojaiye segun and Adenuga Emmanuel, Ogunbote Mariam, Onajinrin Oluwaseyi, and Adenaike Taiwo.

Reacting to the gesture, Pastor Samuel Olawale, father of one of the beneficiaries, said he could not thank the management of the school enough for the guesture.

Olawale specially thanked the proprietor of the school for the selfless gesture he demonstrated.

He called on others to toe ICI’s path.

“I am very happy and impressed,” he said.

Beatrice in her joy assured her parents and the school that she would give her best to her studies. She added that, the school proprietor loves and appreciates productive students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

48

EDUCATION

Business educators seek regulation of internet T HE Association of Business Educators of Nigeria (ABEN), has urged the government to regulate the use of internet and social media through adequate legislation.

This, according to the association, would reduce internet fraud and other social vices, especially among Nigerian youth.

However, ABEN said this should be done without infringing on freedom and rights of citizens.

In a communiqué signed by its national president, Dr Titus Umoru at the end of the association’s 26th annual conference, the body also called on parents and guardians to monitor youngsters so that social media is employed for acquisition of knowledge rather than for engaging in vices.

The communiqué reads in part: “The association calls on teachers, parents, governments and the larger society to come together to address problem of social vices, especially among youth. The can-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

cer of corruption has been compounded by continued pervasiveness of other financial crimes, robbery, kidnapping, thuggery and political brigandage in the larger society.”

If properly utilised, the association said the social media can serve as a platform for projecting business education. It noted that Nigeria is moving towards a period when social media would hold centre stage in social-economic development and called on stakeholders to see Facebook and other social media as veritable instruments for social and economic changes anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, ABEN equally warned heads of institutions to stop cutting corners during accreditation exercises thereby deceiving accreditation teams about the quality and quantity of the facilities and human resources that they really have.

The conference observed that business education facilities are inadequate in quality and quantum in most Nigerian institutions and often poorly maintained.

It also urged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to remove all barriers inhibiting legitimate access to funds for research, training and infrastructural development.

ABEN also seeks an end to the frequent closure of tertiary institutions as they are concerned about its effect on the quality of training that business students receive.

“The acquisition and mastery of business skills are not enhanced by spasmodic learning, but by intensive and continual engagement of learners with equipment and faculties. We thus call on all stakeholders to critically examine all contentious issues and reach agreement to ensure academic calendars are not continually disrupted,” the group said.

TETFund: VC makes case for private varsities

By Gbenga Aderanti

V

• Mrs Bola Falore, Education Director, Mind Builders School (CBD) Ikeja, presenting a prize to one of outstanding pupils for last session during the school’s prize giving day.

ICE Chancellor of Oduduwa University, Prof Olajumo Olayiwola has urged the Federal Ministry of Education to include private universities among the beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

She said this during the convocation of the university.

She said doing so would reduce the tuition fees charged by the private universities in the country, which would also bring joy to parents.

Prof Olayiwola said instead of government seeing private universities in the country as means by which the proprietors generate money, they should be seen as indispensable contributors towards not only the development of education in the country but also providers of quality education education.

At the convocation, 196 students graduated from various departments including Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science, Industrial Chemistry, Physics, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Economics and Mass communication.

LASTVEB partners Nigerite to train teachers

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EN teachers from the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) were taught dry construction at the Nigerite Limited, a building component construction company, last Friday.

The teachers, drawn from the five Government Technical Colleges across the state, were exposed to the theoretical and practical aspects of dry construction technology, which can be used to complement the wet method in constructing buildings.

Executive Secretary of LASTVEB, Mr Olawumi Gasper, said the training was a product of the board’s partnership with Nigerite, underscoring the importance of collegeindustry partnership in Technical and Vocational Education Training.

He said: “This is part of our college-industry partnership.

Nigerite is a very strong partner for LASTVEB. Apart from putting together for us structures where

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

we have a centre for construction and building technology at the GTC, Ikorodu, Nigerite has gone further to say there is a need to take the teachers out; for them to have industrial feel; need for them to come and appreciate the recent technology in the area of building construction.

“It’s all about strong college partnership. Remember I keep telling us that there is no way we can run technical education without the support of the industry.

We would be deceiving ourselves.

There must be a strong bond with the industry and that is what you’ve seen us do all around.”

Gasper, an engineer, added that the board intentionally chose 10 young construction teachers to put in place an adequate succession plan when the older teachers retire.

“We selected the young trainers so, we are starting (to train them);

it is a complete reform. We are not saying the old ones are not good, but we want to get the young trainers, get them properly fit so that these old ones when they hand over, the young trainers would be able to continue,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Lanre Ashaolu, Brand Ambassador, Nigerite Ltd, said the skills the teachers would gain from the one-day workshop would enable them better prepare their students for the labour market.

“This collaboration with LASTVEB is to increase the quality of labour and also serve as train the trainers’ programme. Because we believe that if the teachers are trained, they will be able to train students in their various government technical colleges. At the end of the day when those students are empowered, they can gainfully apply their skills in the labour market as solution providers or installers in the dry construction market,” he said.

EDUTALK

with

Agatha, the wonder woman!

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HERE are some stories we hear that need to be retold over and over again so that we can have hope.

Agatha Ibeazor's story is like that. The 25year old life's story embodies hope or how else can we describe someKofoworola one whose father's death meant she could not attend private school and forced her to forfeit an admission Kofosagie@yahoo.com to study Law at the Anambra State 08054503077 (SMS only) University yet went on to get two scholarships?

There are many things I appreciate about Agatha's story. First is that she never let anything get in the way of her dreams. Her mother told her that she sang before she talked as a toddler, and even sang the lyrics of songs correctly before she could read. She was so impatient to join the choir that she was admitted into the youth group at age seven. I smiled as I imagined her dragging the oversized choir robe, sometimes stumbling as she made her way from the dressing room to the choir stand. I thought of the bullying she may have endured - how many in the group would have wondered why the choir authorities allowed a puckish underage girl to join them. But for a girl as determined as Agatha, no amount of teasing would have had any effect on her.

I wonder how Agatha felt when she had to forego her admission at Anambra State University because her mother just could not afford to pay the fees. But she embraced the other alternative - MUSON School of Music gracefully. In our certificate-crazy society, she deserves commendation for accepting to study for an Associate Diploma in Music instead of sulking about her situation. The good thing was that she loved music and decided to stick with it. Not many parents would appreciate their wards going to school to study music.

The MUSON scholarship sponsored by the MTN Foundation definitely moved her closer to her dream. But she did not stop there, which is another thing I really love about the young woman. She sought for her scholarship to Truman State University in the United States in a most unconventional way. Instead of collecting money for performing at an event, she asked that her admission letter be read out to the audience.

And someone in that audience, the late Levi Ajuonuma, was persuaded to sponsor her. It simply shows that sometimes your dreams and techniques to reach your goal might seem foolish. But they may just work, so if you have not tried them you should not just give them up because of what others think about them.

Agatha's Truman education suffered a setback when Ajuonuma died two years into the programme. There was no freebie anymore. She had to work hard and long to make up the shortfall that was left after her school gave her a partial scholarship (she must have been promising for the school to help out). Again, Agatha did not let that hard work bother her. She successfully combined it with her work and her studies and made the honours roll - repeating a feat she achieved at the MUSON School of Music - this time competing against people who had had more privileged musical training earlier in life. We cannot downplay her achievement at all, especially considering that the curriculum was not only about music. She had to learn a whole lot of other subjects as well namely: Maths, sciences, writing classes, geography, philosophy, literature, and religion.

Agatha's story just tells us that, like the Yorubas say, it is not only one road that leads to the market. This is a lesson for young people to learn.

If the normal route everyone takes seems impossible for you, try another route. And that route does not have to be illegal. Like Agatha, you can come out victorious.

Now, Agatha wants to study for her master's and doctoral degrees at the same time. I do not know how she intends to achieve the feat but she has already being offered admission for the two programmes at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York, and the Butler School of Music, University of Texas. She needs sponsorship for these programmes. If anyone deserves to get such support, it is Agatha.

Belo-Osagie

‘Now, Agatha wants to study for her master's and doctoral degrees at the same time. I do not know how she intends to achieve the feat but she has already being offered admission for the two programmes at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York, and the Butler School of Music, University of Texas. She needs sponsorship for these programmes. If anyone deserves to get such support, it is Agatha’ From my Inbox Re: Review NYSC e-registration cost (published October 30, 2014) I don't think it is wise enough that fresh graduates, some of whom are not even sure of being employed after the youth service should pay registration fee - part of which will be used to equip NYSC offices nationwide. Is Nigeria not blessed enough to equip the NYSC offices all over the country? Femi Akinlabi should have a re-think. Albert Simeon, Seme Border.

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THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

A master brewer of 29 years experience, Mr Ben Anozie, answers the question.

Beer is not injurious to health B

EER is made from skilful combination of barley, water, hops and yeast. When these are processed, we end up with malted barley and hops. We are the sons and daughters of malt. The cry “fancy a pint?” is the most natural social invitation available to us.

Beer is our social lubricant of choice and has been for centuries. Beer contains vitamins which can help you to maintain a well-balanced healthy diet, fibre to keep you regular, readily absorbed antioxidants and minerals such as silicon which may help to lower your risk of osteoporosis. Many dont know about beer production, hence tend to flay it with tales.

A general explanation of brewery and brewing equipment and how beer is made, fermented, conditioned and packaged is needed to enrich the explanation that no sugar or chemicals are added in beer making.

A survey found that while 68 per cent of people consider beer to be Britain’s national drink, some 10 per cent wrongly believe that beer contains fat, and 13 per cent incorrectly believe that beer is made from chemicals rather than malted barley and hops.

Yet how many of us spend as much time over our selection of beer as we do our selection of wine?

Whereas fermented grape juice is seen as something foreign or exotic, beer is often gulped down without giving a moment’s thought to the potent skills of the masters and brewers who created it. Little consideration is given to the incredible range of flavours available to us; flavours that can be harnessed to match our mood and the food on our plates.

Beer is the juice of grain skilfully treated: it is liquid bread. The first people to make beers as we know them today were the Sumerians, who cultivated cereal grains specifically for brewing and drank beer to honour their gods. Many cultures have seen beer as a gift from God (a medieval English term for yeast was godisgoode). It is an expression of place and tradition – one of the few truly regional foods to which we are regularly exposed.

Brewing is a combination of art and science and great brewers are blessed with a little of both. The artist in the brewer chooses the ingredients and balances the flavours and aromas of the finished product. The scientist understands and carefully orchestrates a symphony of chemical reactions between the grain, the water, the hops, and the yeast. The brewing process is complex and what follows can only be an outline of it.

Making the malt To make beer and wine alcoholic we need sugar, the foodstuff that yeast transforms into alcohol. The fruit used in winemaking naturally accumulates sugar to attract animals and so spread its seed. By contrast, the grain used for making beer is sugarless. Instead, grain is filled with starch, which provides energy for the growing embryo/seedling.

This starch must be processed to form the sugars that yeast can then

use.

While the requirement to produce sugar from grain adds complexity to the brewing process it also offers the brewer an enormous amount of control over flavour and texture – a type of control the vintner doesn’t have.

Enzymes – biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without themselves being consumed – are used to extract sugar from grain. When Inca women chew grain to make chichi, a maize beer, they’re using the enzyme amylase in their saliva to break down the starch.

In the Near East, where Britishstyle beer originated, ancient brewers discovered that the grain itself could supply such enzymes during germination. Barley was found to be particularly good at producing them and so it became the grain of choice for beer making.

To trigger production of these naturally occurring enzymes and transform the starch stored in the grain into sugars, the raw barley is encouraged to germinate by soaking it in cool water for a few days then allowing it to dry.

The master stops this process dead by placing the germinated grain (the malt) in a kiln, where heat and desiccation kill the embryo but preserve the wonderful chemistry ready for the brewer.

To produce malt for a pale yellow, light-flavoured beer, the master dries the barley gently at 80C, creating a “pale malt”. If the temperature is increased, an incredible range of complex chemical reactions begin to take place.

Alongside the caramelisation of sugars, we see complex Maillard reactions between sugars and amino acids (the building blocks of protein) in the grain (the same “browning” reactions occur when a joint of meat is roasted in an oven and when bread is toasted). The higher the temperature and longer the heat exposure, the darker in colour and richer in flavour and aroma the malt becomes.

Very high temperatures (150180C) create malts that are especially dark and flavoursome. Words used to describe such malts include: “caramel”, “chocolate”, “rich” and “black”. These malts create the iconic style of dark and heavy beers, such as porters and stouts.

Making the wort The roasted malt is ground and then loaded into a vessel called a mash tun. Water is added and the mixture is heated, drawing out sugars and other chemicals from the malt and encouraging more enzyme activity. The “wort” that results from this soaking in water is a sweet, brown, earthy liquid.

The first stage of the mashing process above sounds innocuous “water is added” but it is very important. As Pliny, the Elder wrote: Alas! What wonderful ingenuity vice possesses! A method has actually been discovered for making even water intoxicated.”

Water is what makes a beer “local”. Even the strongest beers are 85 to 90 per cent water, so the fla-

Questions: I drink beer. My fiancé said I don’t know the contents of what I am drinking and their effects. Is it true that sugar or other artificial chemicals are added to beer?

-Yewande Ifedapo, 28- year-old Airline Operations Agent, Lagos. vor of the water – a product of the local environment and geology – has a direct impact on the flavour of the beer.

Early brewers tailored their beers to make the best of local waters.

Thus, in sulphate-rich Burton-onTrent English pale ales were developed as the bitterness of the water limited the use of hops. The mild water of Pilsen encouraged Czech brewers to add large amounts of hops. The alkaline, carbonate-rich waters of southern England and Dublin balanced the acidity of dark malts and so encouraged the development of darker beers.

In modern times, some brewers use additives to control the chemical composition, and so the flavour, of their water making it no longer truly “local”.

Seasoning: At this, stage hops are added to the wort and the two are boiled together in beautiful shiny coppers.

Until the 11th century, beer was drunk without hops. This would be an unpleasant experience to modern palates. Un-hopped beer is at best cloyingly sweet and at worst it has turned eye-wateringly sour due to the growth of unwanted bacteria.

To get over these problems brewers used plants, herbs or spices to add aroma, bitterness, and to help prevent (or perhaps cover up) bacterial infections. Additives included meadowsweet, rosemary and bog myrtle.

Unfortunately, these were not very successful, not least due to difficulties in cultivating such plants.

From around the eighth century hops started to be used in central Europe. They were relatively easy to cultivate, being grown in Kent by the 1520s, and ideal for adding bitterness and aroma. They also had great disinfectant properties.

Hops are a member of the hemp family. The flower or cone of the hop contains alpha acids, beta acids, tannins and oils. The proportion of these depends on hop variety. Alpha acids give bitterness to beer while the oils impart aroma.

The beta acids and tannins in the cone help to stabilise the beer and have vital disinfectant qualities.

Hops are either added at some point during the boil or after. If the hops are added earlier they provide greater bitterness, if they are added later the essential oils do not evaporate and so remain in the beer, adding aroma. Well hopped beer can have strong floral, resiny, and/or citrusy notes.

After boiling the brewer has transformed bland, dry, sugarless barley grain into a rich, bittersweet liquid that frankly tastes disgusting.

To transform this swamp water into the perfect pint, yeast cells have to go to work.

Fermentation: After the wort has been cooled and aerated, yeast is added and so fermentation begins.

The process of fermentation is generally split into two main stages. At the beginning of the first stage, there is plenty of oxygen available and so yeast cells can reproduce very easily. However, alcohol is not produced in this process. As the oxygen supply is exhausted the reproduction of yeast cells slows, but fermentation begins as sugars are transformed into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Fermentation is the transformation of sugar into alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide by yeast. In addition to alcohol, yeasts produce many other flavour and aroma compounds including esters, fusel alcohols, ketones, phenols, and fatty acids. Esters are the compounds responsible for the fruity notes in beer, while phenols can cause spicy or smoky notes. Brewers use their own specially selected and carefully controlled yeast strains to produce the distinctive styles of their own beers.

Before we understood the fungal nature of yeast, traditions and superstitions had to be relied upon.

Viking families would have a “brew stick” which they used for stirring the wort and which magically started its transformation into beer.

We now understand that this stick was covered in dormant yeast cells and that stirring the wort introduced air into the beer and transferred the yeast cells. These brewing sticks were family heirlooms – a yeast infection passed down from generation to generation, if you will.

It took scientists such as Louis Pasteur to take yeast from the metaphysical realm into something that we can now understand and manipulate.

There are two basic styles of brewer’s yeast: ale and lager. Ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae – “sugar fungus ale”) works at warm temperatures (15-25C) in the brewery and forms a vast blanket of froth on top of the wort. This type of yeast does not turn as many sugars into alcohol as lager yeast, so leaving a residual sweetness. It also lends a certain hearty fruitiness to the aroma and palate.

Lager yeast is classified as S. carlsbergensis because the first pure culture was isolated at the Carlsberg brewery in Copenhagen.

Lager brewing began in central Europe in the 15th century when brewers in Bavaria stored – or lagered in German – their beers in deep, icy caves to keep them in drinkable condition during the long hot summers. From this evolved cold-tolerant lager yeasts that also turn more sugar into alcohol, giving a dryer beer.

Conditioning: In the first stage of fermentation the yeast cells use

•Anozie

up most of the easily fermentable sugars. After this the second stage begins. Fermentation slows and the yeast starts to work on the heavier sugars such as maltotriose. This is referred to as conditioning.

Conditioning can take place in different situations depending on the type of beer. The traditional beer style of Britain, real ale, is simply “racked” (poured) into the cask. This “cask-conditioned” beer leaves the brewery in an unfinished state because final conditioning takes place in the pub cellar where yeast in the cask continues to turn the remaining sugars into alcohol.

As the beer matures it gains not only a small amount of additional strength but also develops round and fruity flavours. Conditioning can take from two to four weeks, sometimes longer depending on the type of beer. Lagers are usually aged in large tanks in the brewery at near freezing temperatures (just like those in the Bavarian caves) for one to six months depending on style. This cold ageing serves to reduce sulphur compounds produced by the yeast, helps clear the beer, and produces a cleaner tasting final product with fewer fruity esters.

Lagers are usually pasteurised prior to delivery. This means that unlike cask-conditioned ale, lagers (and cream flow ales) are biologically dead when they arrive at the pub.

Drinking: For me beer isn’t just meant to be drunk on its own. Beer and food make great table fellows.

I love to match the citrus/grapefruit style of a hoppy Indian pale ale, or a good hoppy lager, to the spice of a curry; or make use of a wellroasted dark malt stout to complement a rich chocolate dessert. Wherever you are drinking your beer, though, make time for an appreciative pause. Take up your glass and salute the work of those who turn the sugarless, aroma-less, dry grains into the wonderful, multifaceted liquid we see before us. Drink deeply and enjoy. Moderation though is important. Know how many volumes (bottle/s or glasses) your body can accommodate. We’re talking seven to 25 percent alcohol by volume (ABV)! Find out what the ABV of a beer is before you consume.

Nigerian Brewery (NB), I know lists as much ABV info as possible on its site and guide listings. If an ABV is not listed on any package, please ask the brewer or pourer.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

Some causes and treatment of male, female infertility (5) BEING the fifth part in the serialisation of the paper presented by Femi Kusa at the training seminar of the NATIONAL INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATION (NIMPA) held on 8th October 2014 at the WATER PARKS HOTEL,Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

from food or water join the estrogen chain band wagon.

Even where the liver detoxifies well, but there is not enough fibre in the diet to mop the broken down molecules, these fragments may be re-absorbed in the colon and re-form into full estrogen chains, and the cycle of loading up begins all over, or continues. Estrogenation may increase blood levels of prolaction, an hormone, and this may block ovulation or lead to breast pain or disease, an early signal of which may be fluids or milk nipple discharge from the nipples when a woman is not pregnant or breast-feeding. The liver may be helped with supplements such as Liver Balance, Milk Thistle, Liver Health, Liver Essentials, Carqueja, Amazon Liver Support, and bitters, especially Maria Trebens. Zinc intake may support more output of progesterone, to reduce estrogen dominance.

Thyroid supplements, including sea weed such as kelp, may support the elevation of estriol in the estrone/estradiol/ estroil estrogen matrix. Estroil is the least harsh and dangerous of these estrogen fractions. In many cases, plant estrogens have been used to block harsh human estrogen fractions. In this circumstance, estrogen receptors in the body prefer them to human estrogen. The receptors admit this plant hormone and lock out the human equivalent.

That was why plant estrogens such as the proprietary PHYTOESTROGEN were once popular in Nigeria.

W

E are back to terra ferma, which are familiar grounds. Apart from infections which may cause inflammation, scarring or blockage of the fallopian tubes, not to mention ovarian cysts, other common causes of infertility in women are hormonal imbalance (already discussed) and uterine fibroids. I would like to begin with uterine fibroids and some of the natural remedies which have helped some women resolve them. Uterine fibroids have become a torment to many women. If we keep medical records properly in Nigeria, we may discover that more than half of the female population live under this scourge. Many women have gone through unspeakable experiences while they try to resolve it through herbal medicine. But despite the menace of quacks, we have witnessed many encouraging interventions. Some decades ago, I walked into Elizabeth Kafaru’s ELIKAF CLINIC in Ogba, Lagos, as a woman bleeding from the vagina was being put in a taxi that would take her to ADAZIE HOSPITAL in Mushin, also in Lagos. This woman was one of the many fibroid-troubled women who did not wish to have the growths surgically removed from fear that the knife may damage their wombs. AT ELIKAF CLINIC, as in many other helpful clinics, Ijaw women help to massage the pelvis to achieve all sorts of positive results. It is a healing art which they inherited from their forebears. Had this country visionary governments, this healing arts, like many others, would have been refined and taught to gynaecologists, to achieve that integration in medicine, we all so eagerly long for. I have seen and heard of many cases of babies not well positioned in the womb for safe delivery, which were to warrant surgical birth, but which these women had brought to natural conclusion simply through massage and petting of the coming babies.

How easier getting pregnant or having pregnant women delivered of their babies could have become in our country is better imagined if this art had been well recognised by government and mainstream medicine and then developed and incorporated into hospital gynaecology protocols. Such is the dream of an Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria educated architect, Dr. BisolaFernadez, who has also trained as an orthodox medical doctor and gynaecologist. He find natural medicine so dynamic in the treatment of female reproductive ailment that he has been enlisted for training in this area new to him. So, do not be surprised if he shows up at the next seminar of NIMPA. From here, I would now like to explore some hypothetical causes of uterine fibroids and suggestions offered in several literature for their resolution.

UTERINE FIBROIDS As already stated, uterine fibroids may not hinder fertility. But, sometimes, they may be a “Rock of Gibraltar” barrier. Its prevalence in the Nigerian female population seeking a “fruit of the womb” should challenge us to see it as an important possible obstacle. There are about 20 possible causes or different combinations of them, according to many researchers. We cannot examine them all. So, here are a few: •Back up or retrograde menstruation.

•Estrogenation i.e. elevated blood estrogen levels •Emotional distress and second chakra impairment or energy outage •Spinal subluxations •Deoxygenations •Poor blood circulation •Free radical damage and antioxidant deficiency •Nutritional deficiencies, including insufficiencies of Vitamin E, Essential Fatty Acids and Magnesium deficiency •Microbial (yeast, Candida, viruses etc.) nibbling and damage •Heavy metal poisoning •Potassium deficiency •Infection BACK-UP MENSTRUATION

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ANY researchers believe all the discarded blood (menstrual flow) didn’t flow out. Some which hung or stayed back is named “back-up menstrual blood” or “retrograde” menstruation. It is considered a “waste and an irritant. Lodging in otherwise healthy uterine muscles tissue, retrograde blood would in time cause blood circulation slow-down or stasis. This would imply congestion, inflammation, pain, a habitat for germs, the waste products of which compound the poisoning of the tissue. Circulation stallage or stasis would imply deoxygenation. According to the theorists, irritated muscle tissue would seek other means of existence outside the disturbed or destroyed norm.

This, they say, is the onset of uterine fibroids. Resolving it, then, would mean putting all processes in the womb back on the reverse mode. Thus, a healthy blood circulation must be promoted.

Horsechestnut, which promotes circulation downstream, is a good ally here. So is cayenne pepper. In particular, cayenne helps in dissolving blood clots. Like Apple Cider Vinegar, it should help women whose menstruation comes with dark blood clots. In a few months, the menstrual blood should be clean and rich-red again. Apple Cider Vinegar has the advantage of preventing excessive bleeding which may cause anaemia and weakness. Many women beset with uterine fibroids bleed excessively. I always encourage them

to take Yarrow, Stinging Nettle, Beet root, Apple Cider Vinegar, Shepherd’s Purse and Silica. Silica is found in little amounts in Nettle and more in Horsetail. But the richest source of it would appear to be Damatomaceus which is 96 per cent silica. If damatomaceus is too mouthy to easily pronounce or remember, call it by its other name…food grade edible earth.

Edible Earth? Yes, edible earth! That’s not for discussion today. What may be is that silica is one of the most abundant minerals on the earth’s surface which, surprisingly, some people may lack. It does many things in the body, including the promotion of digestion, support for bowel movement, killing of germs in the intestine, supporting absorption of calcium and other minerals, alkalising the body, breaking up of tumours and other growths, energy production, control of appetite, improvement of skin hair, nail and teeth tone. Silica is present in connective tissue and tighten the collagen bonding the cells. This is what I believe make it useful in stopping excessive bleeding where blood vessels are weak and loose, letting out their content.

As for the other remedies, they may very well be rich source of bioflavonoids which behaves like silica when it comes to stoping bleeding. I remember always three cases whenever I have to suggest Apple Cider Vinegar. I had learnt from Cyril in the 1980s that Apple Cider Vinegar stops excessive bleeding. So when one of my aunties was going to have her womb removed because it had been filled with fibroids and she had bled so much and continually for months that she couldn’t climb the stairs of her home, I advised the surgery be postponed by one month to enable her take Apple Cider Vinegar for that long before the evacuation. The hospital had many of her relations donate blood because it was thought she would need a blood transfusion after the surgery. But she had no need for it! For the Apple Cider Vinegar prevented alarming bleeding. The second case was that of an editor in Lagos whose doctors believed would need a blood transfusion after a hernia surgery. He took Apple Cider Vinegar six weeks before the surgery and needed no transfusion. If I had my wife’s permission to say this, I would add that, in the last three months of pregnancy, she took Apple Cider Vinegar to prevent excessive bleeding during and after childbirth.

ESTROGENATION

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ANY women are estrogenated. That means they have more estrogen vis-à-vis progesterone, another female hormone, than they should have. This may signal as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as when the breasts swell and become sore and painful before menstruation, or as period pains. Such woman are advised not to take egg or milk or food wrapped with cellophane. Estrogen is fed to chickens to make them lay eggs almost every day. It is fed to cow to make them produce more milk every day. In the egg and poultry fresh, therefore, there is estrogen, as it is present in cows milk. Cellophane emits zenoestrogen into food. With such exposure to these estrogen sources, a woman’s body may become suffused with, and ravaged by estrogen. Rising estrogen levels mean falling progesterone ratios. Progesterone is needed to make the placenta viable. The fetus feeds through the placenta an unviable placenta is one of many reasons spontaneous abortion occur and pregnancies are lost. Balancing are lost. Balancing the estrogen-progesterone ratios involves some work.

As already stated, thyroid function must be balanced, and the pituitary gland and other endocrine glands must function synegically for healthy pituitary gland function, one of the herbs of choice is VITEX, also known as CHASTEBERY. Effort must be made to ensure the three major fractions of estrogen (estriol, estrone and estradiol) are in the right ratios while relying on herbs such as Vitex, Black Cohost and Dong qual for this purpose, the liver and the diet have important roles to play. The liver is meant to breakdown excess estrogen into its component parts and pass them on to the bowels for evacuation through the stool. If the liver is week, it cannot do this well. Thus, the estrogen load would increase as more estrogen molecules

Infections HERE are many infections which may throw a woman’s reproductive system out of gear. As usual, we cannot mention them all in this presentation so, we will limit our discussion to some of the common ones.

Women fall prey easily to vaginal infections. Sometimes, water closet water is splashed on their buttock by a heavy, dropping poop and they do not think much of it. They may wipe off the water with toilet paper, but some germs may have hooked up to the buttock skin. These may later find their way to the vagina. It may also happen that they spread their under briefs in a toilet. Water closet flushings may displace air which carry some pathogens on these briefs which are worn without being ironed. Spreading the briefs on the clothes line outside may not help much where dust bring germs and pollen to settle on exposed laundry. By far the largest source of infections, in my view, is through foreplay before sex when, with dirty or infected fingers and nailbeds, men probe the vagina to sexually arouse their partners. Who knows what the man may have touched before that act? Did he pick his nose? Did he remove a strand of beef caught in-between his teeth? Was he from the toilet, or did he drive her straight to an hotel and had picked several germs from the steering wheel?

There are two main causes of vaginal infections: -Tiny parasites called Trichomonas -Bacteria (bacteria vaginosis), arguably the most common source of vaginal discharge.

Trichomonas is caused by trichonomad, a tiny parasite resident in the vagina. Bacteria vaginosis is caused, as the name shows, by bacteria, the symptoms of these infections may include: “Itching, soreness and redress around the vagina or anus”. The vagina may discharge a green or yellow substance with a fishy smell, especially after sexual intercourse, and there may be a burning sensation during urination. There may be pain during intercourse as the microorganisms may have eroded the cornifed cells of the vagina which protect underlying nerves and blood vessels.

In trichonomad infections, the green or yellow discharge with fishy odour is frothy. If these vaginal infections are not promptly treated they may migrate to the pelvis, where reproduction organs such as the uterus, fallopian tube and ovaries are located. Here they may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an umbrella name for any inflammation of the organs in this region. PID symptoms may include foul-smelling vaginal discharge, fever, pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding in-between periods, back pain, pain during sexual intercourse, frequent urination.

It is important that these infections, like that of Candida albilans, a yeast or fungus, be treated promptly, as the parasites may be a cause of tubal blockage or ovarian problems from which many women suffer. In addressing this question, it must be borne in mind that a possible cause of PID is alkalisation of the vagina. The vagina is supposed to be slightly acidic to prevent germs making it a ready habitat.

The vagina is supposed, also, to house a good population of friendly bacteria. These bacteria literally eat up unfriendly bacteria to make them less active. But in many women, the vagina is either too acidic or too alkaline.

An over acidic vagina will kill sperm which thrive in alkaline environment. Semen is alkaline, which is why sperm thrive in it. The introduction of semen too frequently into the vagina, even by a woman’s husband and, therefore, legitimate sexual partner, may make her vagina become alkaline in over time. The alkalinity may be the source of infections of an unprotected vagina. Frequent sex with same sexual partner would, therefore appear unnatural and unhealthy. I observed while rearing pigs, rabbits and native chicken that the females agreed to mate with the males only when they were on “heat”. A female pig (sow) brought a male pig (boar) when she was not on heat, would fight the boar to death and even eat up or bite its penis. The rabbit would do the same. Only human females agree to sex any minute or hour of the day irrespective of whether her time of the cycle permits it. It is intriguing that if there is no boar in a pen when a sow is on “heat”, she would break through the pen in search of a boar elsewhere.

These facts have to be remembered when a PID is being treated. In the treatment of PIDs, vitamins and minerals are foundational remedies. Vitamin C helps boost immunity and supports formation of collagen.

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NEWS

Why young people are affected by sexual, reproductive problems M ANY young people are affected by sexual and reproductive health issues, Programme Coordinator, Population Council, Dr Otibho , has said.

According to her, it is really a challenge for young people who are sexually active to access health services that they need to make themselves healthy as they always need parental and guardians’ consent.

She spoke at a consultative meeting with adolescents seeking a unified age of consent for the group. The programme was organised by the Population Council in Lagos.

She said this lack of access would make them to be more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases and infections(STDs and Is) and unwanted pregnancy, among others.

Obianwu said anything that has to do with sexuality in Nigeria is very sensitive in the people’s culture, as such, there is a taboo around young people and their sexuality.

“The Federal Ministry of Health, Population Council and other stakeholders held a meeting sometimes back to discuss whether adolescents can consent for sexual and reproductive health services and research on their own,” she said.

She said stakeholders have met in July to discuss the issue, adding that the young people did not have a voice as they were not part of the meeting, hence the need for the programme to say what they think.

Programme Coordinator, Brave Heart Initiative, a Non-Govern-

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•Adolescents’ consent ’ll reduce infections, others

•From left: Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Clem Ugorji and Regional Medical Director, United States Consulate, Lagos, Otto Dickman with residents of Tamaro-Onisiwo Island in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos during a medical outreach programme in Tamaro-Onisiwo which was facilitated by the Consulate in partnership with Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.

By Wale Adepoju

mental Organisation (NGO), Akoko-Edo, Edo State, Priscilla Ikos Usiobaifo, said young people under 18 often need the consent of

their parents to have HIV tests to know their status because of their age.

She said this programme will help young people agree among

themselves on the age that they think they should have consent.

“Consent means having approval for sexual and reproductive health services, such as HIV and

Don urges pharmacists on war against Ebola

HE Secretary General of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists, Professor Wilson Erhun, has urged pharmacists to intensify health promotion efforts as the world awaits the best therapeutic alternative against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Erhun gave this challenge at a symposium organised by the college to mark World Pharmacists Day. The venue was the Presbyterian Church, Yaba, Lagos.

With the theme: Ebola Virus Disease: The fact and friction about hand sanitisers, the programme brought together hundreds of pharmacists, health experts and other stakeholders. They made presentations on: “An overview of Ebola Virus Disease; “Hand sanitizer, fact and fiction; ‘Hand washing with water and soap”.

According to him, it is imperative for community’s pharmacists to continue to provide information that would improve the health of the residents in rural area, as most pharmacies are regarded as Ebola Information Centres in rural areas.

He noted that communities pharmacists are by reason of their location, in the heart of the communities and must continue to provide opportunities for community involvement and supporting individuals to take control of their lives, their health and where applicable, self management of their long term condition.

He cited the words of the President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, Dr, Carmen Pena that, “access to health is not just an economic issue. It is also about access to medicine which has big research evidence elements, access to correct information and access to education”.

Erhun said further: “Prevention is very germane against Ebola as there are no medication that has been approved or is readily available to treat Ebola, though an experimental treatment called ZMapp was used on Brantly and

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HE Lagos State government has been praised for swiftly containing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) brought into the state by a Liberian.

Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, gave the commendation at an awareness campaign on the Ebola Virus Disease organised by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the Ikorodu community.

Speaking at the awareness campaign, Hon Agunbiade said the proactiveness nature of the state government resulted in saving lives, saying but for the prompt arrest of the spread of the virus, the state

By Adeola Ogunlade

NancyWritebol. For now, patients are given fluids, antibiotics and blood transfusions to help their immune system fight”.

He stressed that pharmacists are expected to be involved in every aspect of the preparation and the

Lawmaker hails govt on Ebola

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

progress in all spheres of human endeavours would have been greatly reversed.

He urged the state government to document all the steps it took to arrest the dreaded virus as a case study for all communities that may be faced with such emergencies in the future so as to know how to tackle the challenge.

While demonstrating hand washing as a way of keeping the virus at bay, Mrs. Omowunmi George, Deputy Director, Educator, Lagos State Ministry of Health, explained that regular washing of hands and

keeping personal hygiene were the veritable tools against contracting Ebola and other diseases.

She said there was the need for the people to be taught how to wash hands and maintain a clean and hygienic way of living.

Project Manager of the BRT extension project, Mr. Chuan Liao praised the state government on steps taken to stem the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease, adding that the awareness campaign was contractor’s own way of educating members of the community where it is working on how to prevent them from contracting the virus.

use of medicines from research and development to eventual supply to the patients.

While reiterating the commitment of the college in empowering pharmacists on best practices, he said: “We have been consistent in mobilising and encouraging phar-

macists to adopt best practices as they increased their counseling activities. At the same time, pharmacists have been mobilised to use their training and calling to educate people about Ebola while ensuring that they themselves do not become victims in the crusade”, he said.

•HCPAN Chairman, Dr. Akintade flanked on the left by Vice Chairman, Mrs Biola Paul-Ozieh and Treasurer, Mr Joshua Ajewole at the event.

AIDS testing,” she said.

She said some children are already exposed to sexual intercourse at a tender age, especially orphans and vulnerable indigent children.

She said most of the young people agreed that they should be allowed to have HIV test at 11 without consent of their parents or guardians.

Usiobaifo said counsellors are usually made to seek consent of students’ parents before they can counsel them. “The reason is that if you give paracetamol to a student and there is contraindication the person who applies the drug is in trouble,” she said.

She said they do not see young people as homogeneous, rather as different groups. This, she noted, was because some of them are in school while others are not.

“There are 16 year old students at the outskirts of the cities or rural areas who are already sexually active. They cannot be compared to those who are not sexually active.

They must be handled differently.

Those who have been sexually active should be encouraged on how to prevent themselves while those yet to be active should be advised to abstain,” she said.

Usiobaifo said some of participants were suggesting 18 and above as the appropriate age for marriage, adding that they frowned at child marriage but not age 21 as often suggested by youth.

She said over 30 adolescents from across Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth participated in the consultative forum.

Group decries govt’s monopoly of NHIS enrolment

H

By Wale Adepoju

EALTH Care Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) has warned the Federal Government to desist from referring enrollees of primary care under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to its hospitals.

Its chairman, Dr Tunji Akintade, who made this known in Lagos at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), said this grinds the private providers sector as such kills it.

He said all Nigerians should be included under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to allow the access unfettered access to health services.

He said all government workers are expected to link up as enrollees at local, state and federal levels, adding that this was not to be. “Only Federal Government workers, which cover about four percent of the population were registered,” he noted.

Akintade said Lagos State government has initiated another health plan but it has not been functional.

He urged the Federal Government to be transparent, calling for a written agreement as providers are partners in progress. “There must be synergy between us,” he added.

He called for a strong partnership between the government and the private providers to move the sector forward.

•National Health Insurance Scheme Secretary Dr. Thomas

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

57

RACE TO 2015

‘

Only those who dare, stand the chance of climbing the ladder of success

‘

Former Group General Manager of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prince Goddy Jedy-Agba, is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Cross River State. He spoke with reporters in Lagos on his vision, blue print and chances at the primaries.

‘Cross River must think beyond oil’ W

HY are you contesting for governorship in Cross River State?

In the past seven years Governor Liyel Imoke has been doing a good job governing our state but come May 29, 2015 he would handover the baton of leadership as our constitution demands. I want to be the recipient of the baton. This is not a decision I take lightly, but one that I arrived at after a careful and persistent consideration as well as the need for a servant leader who places people over politics and service above all else. I took the decision to run for governor of our state in 2015 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after a great deal of thought. I consulted widely with my family, friends and close political associates in Cross River state and nationwide.

I am running for governor because I believe I can add value to the governance of a state I love so much. My love for the state and its people knows no limit. I love the diversity, the can-do spirit, the communal life of neighbourhelping-neighbour of the people; and I believe in what Cross River state can be. And my passion to serve compels me once again to stand for what is right for all Cross Riverians, to make Cross River state what it can be. I offer myself as a Cross Riverian who is concerned about the widespread unemployment that is destroying the very fabric of our society.

What is your assessment of Liyel Imoke Administration?

I will say fantastic. Let me remind you that, in this democratic order, we started with the Donald Duke government and the Duke government could be described as a government that has laid that irreversible foundation for growth and development in Cross River State. What we’ve witnessed right now with the present governor is that he’s been able to consolidate and actualise the dream of the foundation of that growth and development.

He has not faltered or wavered. He has been someone focused on the goals of the party and he has delivered. No matter what anybody has to say, he has performed.

The perception is that the governor is not backing your aspiratuion. What is your view?

Well thank God you said it’s a rumour. I don’t dwell on rumours; neither do I interact with rumour mongers. I will answer in this form. Most people don’t even know how to assess relationships. They assess it from what they hear from rumour merchants and political jobbers. My people have an idiomatic way of expressing it, they say teeth and tongue fight but they are always still together.Though its impossible for humans to exist without conflict but Governor Liyel and I do not have issues on any subject for that matter. Let us even look at the interest and future of our people and then situate our relationship within it. So,you mean if for whatever reasons, Governor Liyel doesn’t not just like my face, he will stop the good people of Cross River from benefitting from my wealth of experience? No. Not the Liyel that I know.He is a perfect gentleman and a man of honour and as far as I know him, he knows what is good for our state and we enjoy a very cordial relationship.

The challenges of governance are enormous. What makes you think that you will make a better governor?

My belief is that before our party can decide on a person that will carry the flag of the PDP, it would have been unanimously agreed that such a person is sound and competent enough to be the candidate. Beyond that, I bring cognate experience that is not shared by any other aspirant in Cross River. I believe strongly that the years that I have worked and the experience that I have shared with the top management staff at the NNPC gives me that competitive edge to be able to continue to drive the vision of Cross

River State. If it is in terms of character, if it is in terms of capability, I possess all the good qualities that you can find in anybody that will want to become the governor of Cross River State. It’s more about the people and it has to be a people person. I know that’s where my strength is. A people person is one that can be a good caretaker of the resources of the people. That’s why I see myself as the best aspirant that you can muster right now.

What about economic development?

Do you have a blueprint that would buoy the economy of Cross River State?

Of course. As a start, our dependence on crude oil as the main source of revenue, not only exposes our economy to foreseeable shocks, it endangers our security because unemployment is presently our greatest security risk. The petrol dollar made us to unwisely ignore every other sector particularly agriculture and tourism with its huge job creation potential, thereby robbing us of a source of massive employment for our teeming youths.

This must change because there is the real possibility that revenue from oil could fall drastically in the very near future. The discovery of shale technology to produce synthetic crude oil from oil shale has the potential of making almost every country in the world an oil producer. The United States of America, which used to be Nigeria’s biggest customer, is no longer buying our oil. Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and Estonia are already using the technology to extract oil while Morocco and Jordan have announced plans to test the technology. Coupled with growing new discovery of crude oil in African countries such as Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya, there could be oil

‘The discovery of shale technology to produce synthetic crude oil from oil shale has the potential of making almost every country in the world an oil producer. The United States of America, which used to be Nigeria’s biggest customer, is no longer buying our oil’

A

From Kunle Akinrinade

acquisition.”

On the chances of his party in next year’s election, Ojo stressed the APC had ‘permanently’ retired the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.

“With the outcome of the Osun governorship election and the victory of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the PDP has been forced into permanent retirement in the State. Indeed, despite their money and foul tactics, we their gubernatorial candidate was defeated in the election because their party symbolizes everything that is bad.

“Besides, Aregbesola has not only improved infrastructure but has built many roads in the rural communities. Therefore, PDP should find its luck elsewhere because it stands no chance of winning elections in our state.PDP members can always go to Abuja to display their dubious political clout but not in Osun. “

•Jedy-Agba

claim ownership of knowledge. I believe that through collaborative and inclusive efforts and participatory governance, all Cross Riverians, working together as a state-wide team can make this dream a reality in our life time.

And thanks to Governor Liyel Imoke’s forward looking decisions and investment in critical sectors of our state,we have the chance to build a better future for ourselves and our children What is your greatest fear?

Fear? No. I have since conquered the fear of failure, which is the most common for most people. Only those who dare, stand the chance of climbing the ladder of success. I am not afraid of failure because I have used the strength of courage to succeed thus far and in this new calling, we are going to succeed. There are many of us in the race.

We are all qualified. We are all good men and women who mean well for our state. But I can do a better job of transforming our state and taking it to the next level of development. I need the support of everyone in the party to make this happen. I also believe that my candidacy will ensure easy victory for our party in the governorship election and help our dear president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan achieve a landslide victory in the presidential election with higher voter turnout in Cross River state than he achieved in 2011. The truth is that, I am ready to take up the unfinished business of building a Cross River state of our dream which began in 1999.

Ondo APC to ensure level-play ground for aspirants

‘My plan for Oriade Constituency’ HOUSE of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Babatunde Ojo, has promised to transform the Oriade/Obokun Constituency, if elected.

He promised to attract federal presence and infrastructural development for the benefit of the constituents.

Ojo said he has what it takes to turn around the lives of his people.

He said: “If elected, I want to offer effective and qualitative representation by attracting federal projects to my constituency. I also intend to improve the lives of the elderly through initiatives that would address challenges associated with old age.

“I will tackle unemployment, decaying infrastructure and absence of federal health facilities in my constituency as well as women empowerment through provision of job tools and skill

glut in the international crude oil market that will inevitably result in falling of oil prices and revenue. By acting decisively to restructure the economy of our state through massive investment in agriculture and rural economies, modernising and expanding our infrastructure including affordable housing, promoting tourism, entertainment and sports, assisting existing and moribund industries and encouraging new ones to set up agrobased industries, we can jump start job creation and achieve greater, more sustainable economic prosperity.

What is your vision and what should the people of Cross River State expect from you?

Like most Cross Riverians, I dream of a Cross River where those who want to work will find appropriate jobs and those who want to set up businesses can do so without bothering about the infrastructure that will enable them to succeed. I dream of a Cross River where our youths can look at us with hope and we see them as worthy future leaders. I dream of a Cross River where our tomorrow will always be better than yesterday. I dream of a Cross River where, where you come from and the languages you speak do not matter. I dream of a Cross River where the interest of all is paramount and not those of the few. I dream of a Cross River where you do not have to know a big man before you get what you deserve.

I dream of a Cross River of equal opportunity and no discrimination.

Don’t you think the electorate have heard more of words than actions from politicians?

Well, there is always a turning point in the lives of people, I believe my being the governor of Cross River State will mark the turning point in the lives of every Cross Riverian. But I cannot

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

• Kekemeke

T

HE All Progressives Con gress (APC) in Ondo State has reiterated its committment to a level-play ground for aspirants into political offices.

Its Chairman, Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, made the pledge while presenting the expression of interest and nomination forms to a senatorial aspirant for Ondo South Dis-

trict, Mr Morayo Lebi, at the party secretariat in Akure, the state capital.

He said the party would conduct transparent primaries devoid of rancour.

Reiterating his determination to conduct peaceful primaries, he said: ”I have no candidates, likewise all members of my executive committee”.

Kekemeke said that the party has enlarged it coast and become the toast of the people.

He said market women, artisans, road transport workers, and other groups are embracing the party on daily basis.

The party leader congratulated APC members for the new development, stressing it was “divinely orchestrated”.

The former Secretary Government (SSG) however, urged aspirants and supporters to ensure rancour-free

primaries.

He said: “Any party man who engages in friction before, during and after the party’s primaries in the state would be sanctioned.

“Aspirants should conduct their campaigns in a civil manner like one family. Anybody who emerges after the exercise will become the party’s candidate. We are looking for community-focused candidates.”

Kekemeke urged party members to win for souls for the party.

He said: “We want to teach the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) the rudiments of political party administration.”

Kekemeke commended Lebi for supporting the party morally and financially, noting that his contributions would further empower the chapter.

Lebi,who spoke after receiving his forms from Kekemeke, promised to attract developmental projects to Ondo South District.

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

58

RACE TO 2015 Wabara: I ‘ll make difference in Abia

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BIA State Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) gover norship Sir Marc Wabara has promised to take the state to a greater height, if elected as the governor.

The aspirant, who has obtained the ‘Expression of Interest’ and ‘Governorship Nomination’ forms from the party secretariat, Abuja.

Accompanied by youths, women and other party faithful, Wabara was received by party leaders, including the Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Chief Okey Nnaedozie, the Political Adviser to the National Organising Secretary, Hon. Chris Iroegbu, and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Bashir Maidugu.

Nnaedozie congratulated Wabara for his decision to vie for the governorship and assured him of a level-playing ground at the primaries. He said the party will organise a transparent and acceptable shadow poll.

Wabara described himself as a founding member of the party, saying that his loyalty has not been in doubt. He said he is conversant with the manifesto of the party and the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan Administration.”

He said: “Having consulted widely, I have come to the conclusion that there is no better time than now to place my exposure and experience to the benefit of Abians, to serve my people with humility, transparency and with the fear of God. I am firmly resolved to repli-

cate the Transformation Agenda in Abia State for the benefit of Abians.”

Wabara said that he had been favoured by God in his banking career and the private sector, where he had reached the peak.

He said: “This is the time to give back to my people in appreciation of God’s infinite mercies.”

On his policy thrust, the management expert promised a transparent leadership, the judicious utilisation of funds and the proper coordination between the state and local councils for optimal development.

He said: “Considering the need for us to sustain the efforts of past and present leaders particularly in our state, I felt that the time has come for me to contribute my own quota in the public sector. Consequently, I will use my private sector exposure and experience to ensure that our people continue to enjoy the best that democratic governance can offer. I believe I have the requisite credentials, competence, experience, maturity and integrity. I have also been a manager of men and materials.”

Wabara added: “While I was the chief executive of the bank, I used my position to create jobs. We also financed many projects that positively impacted the lives of our people. I believe that my emergence will sustain the peace and tranquility that we enjoy in Abia State today.

“I see myself as a bridge builder.

‘

Any party man who engages in friction before, during and after the party’s primaries in the state would be sanctioned. Aspirants should conduct their campaigns in a civil manner like one family.

Anybody who emerges after the exercise will become the party’s candidate. We are looking for community-focused candidates

‘

‘PDP ‘ll ensure credible election’ From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

S

•Wabara

Though I am from Abia South by birth, I am linked to Abia North by marriage. Also, the people of Abia Central Senatorial District were extremely kind to me during the civil disturbances when they accorded me excellent hospitality.

If elected, I will be a governor for all Abians irrespective of where they come from. My mission as governor is to use the talents that God has blessed me with to uplift the quality of life of our people.

“Specifically, Abia is a state that has one of the most important factors of production – human capital. The state has a very vibrant youth population that is highly educated and with capacity for hard work. We will work with highly educated individuals and seasoned technocrats in delivering democracy dividends to our people.

ENATE President David Mark has assured Nigerians that, despite the challenges confronting the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will ensure free and fair elections next year.

Senator Mark stated this in Jos, the Plateau State capital, at the distribution of economic empowerment items sponsored by the Senator representing Plateau North senatorial zone to constituents.

According to Senator Mark, “Nigerians do not need to nurse any apprehension over 2015 elections, the ruling party, PDP, will ensure a credible election at all levels. We are only pleading that politicians not to make their election a do or die affair.

He said: “All Nigerians should be assured of free, fair and credible election in 2015. But in every game there must be winner and losers,those who loose should not make it a battle front because there is always another opportunity to try again.

Senator Mark commended Senator Pwajok for his contribution in the Senate and as well as his concern for his constituents.

In his opening remarks, Senator Pwajok said, “The constituency empowerment and Development Program was organised to mark my two years in the senate.

These items are meant to economically empower women, youths and the less privileges in my constituency. My desire is for them to have financial independent and self-employed” Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by the deputy governor, Ambas Ignatius Longjan was full of praises for Senator Pwajok whom he said had given Plateau State credible representation at the National Assembly.

Items distributed by Senator Pwajok at the constituency empowerment programme include, grinding machines, sewing Machines, tricycles, hair dressing kits, irrigation water pumps, vehicles and computer sets amongst others amounting to over N150 million.

•Senator Mark

Okowa outlines his agenda for Delta

A

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has declared that prosperity for all Deltans will be the focal point of his administration, if elected into office. Addressing reporters after the submission of his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, Abuja, Okowa explained that his desire to be the governor of the oil-rich state is fuelled by his passion to make it “the pacesetter in the Nigerian federation by building an enduring legacy of wealth and prosperity.”

He promised to build a state where there will be “gainful employment opportunities, a flourishing agriculture and agribusiness sector, effective health and educational systems, and renewed urban infrastructure and security that would enhance continued economic growth and the prosperity of all Deltans.”

With the campaign theme of “Prosperity for all Deltans,” Senator Okowa, who was accompanied to the PDP headquarters by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi and Capt. Pius Esenebe (rtd.), two former chairmen of Delta State PDP, outlined a five-point agenda with the acronym S.M.A.R.T, which translates to: Strategic wealth creation initiatives and provision of Jobs for all; Meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political/social stability; Agricultural reforms and industrialisation; relevant health

and education policies; Transformed environment through massive urban renewal.

Okowa, a former Commissioner and Secretary to the Government, asserted that his “wide ranging experience in the executive and legislative arms of government will be brought to play in the governance of Delta State and my relationship with the people.”

According to him, deliberate effort will be made under the S.M.A.R.T programme”to generate employment and productive livelihood for the teeming youth population, which will go a long way in reducing undue conflict in social relations and community lives. “A key component of our wealth creation strategy is to encourage multinational business and industrial activities to settle down and operate in the host communities; and aggressive promotion of Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs), which form the fulcrum of driving economic growth in any society,” he said.

Okowa, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, promised that his administration will pursue a legislation that will support and promote universal health policy for all Deltans. The governorship hopeful noted that as a Senator he has been deeply involved in promoting necessary legislation to sustain and advance medical practice, institutions and personnel in the health sector and will continue in the same direction

•Senator Okowa (left) submitting his form to PDP National Organising Secretary Abubakar Mustapha

if elected governor.

Elaborating on his industrialisation programme for the state, Okowa said he was determined to continue on the path of progress embarked on by the past and present administrations in the state. “Already, the state, under the outgoing administration,” he said, “has embarked upon certain large industrial activities such as the Warri Industrial Business

Park, ICT Park, Free Economic Zones, and 10 small-scale industries under Public/Private Partnership scheme.

“If completed by 2015, my administration shall accelerate the positive challenges, which these mega industrial activities will offer. If not fully completed, I shall see to it that these valuable economic activities are duly completed, and engage the private sec-

tor effectively to drive commerce and grow industries. The state under my leadership will work closely with relevant agencies of the Federal Government in commerce and industry.”

He promised that “at least one city or urban settlement in each of the 10 federal constituencies will be designated for comprehensive renewal,”if elected as governor.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Mixed reactions have trailed the decision of lawmakers to expunge wages issues from the exclusive legislative list. While the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are against the move, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) sees nothing wrong with it, TOBA AGBOOLA writes.

A

TTEMPTS by the National Assembly (NASS) to remove wage-related issues from the exclusive legislative list and put them on the concurrent legislative list in the on-going fourth amendment to the 1999 Constitution, have been greeted by mixed reactions.

The organised labour, under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have perfected plans to resist what they described as an act of treachery to further drive the Nigerian workers to the extreme and pave the way for all forms of violent reactions.

While the TUC, last week, moved to Lagos to perfect its onslaught against the NASS, the leadership of the NLC converged in Abuja to fine tune strategies to thwart the move.

NLC’s President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar called on the whole workers in the country to be red-alert over the attempt by what he called “political hawks” to take food from their mouths.

Omar, who insisted that the battle must be won added: “We at the Congress see the removal of Wages from the Exclusive List as an act of treachery masterminded by conservative governors and their cohorts in the NASS, which will do the polity no good.”

Omar warned that the consequences that would befall the nation’s economy would be unimaginable because of the decision of the NASS on minimum wages. He said: “We advise the lawmakers to hearken to the voice of reason and the voice of the people by urgently retracing their steps because the consequences of their action could be dire for the nation.”

Its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, also stated that the treacherous decision was masterminded by conservative governors. “We wish to state in no uncertain terms that the Congress will mobilise its members to resist this move,” he said. OzoEson, who argued that the minimum wage laws are in force in approximately 90 per cent of countries in the world today, emphasised that Congress will not be cowed by the remaining 10 per cent of Nigerians opposed to the laws.

Its Deputy President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, while paying tribute to the House of Representatives, that did not contemplate removing wages from the Exclusive List, challenged the Senate to be ready for actions from the labour movement. “We recall that last year, our national campaign and mobilisation on this subject matter was suspended at the instance of the leadership of the Senate,

•Neca PC

•Omar

•Kaigama

Mixed reactions trail removal of wages from Exclusive List which promised to revisit the issue now that they are better informed. “It is also worth recalling that the just concluded National Conference retained wages on the Exclusive List in deference to argument in favour of putting it on the Concurrent List,” Ajaero said.

In the same vein, the TUC’s President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, stated that the attempts by some elements within the Upper House to truncate the economic stability of the nation, needs swift mass action. He said TUC is worried that the Senate is feigning ignorance of the principle and concept of the minimum wage as practised in decent societies all over the world.

Kaigama, who argued that the timing of the Senate’s decision was so close to the preparation for general elections next year, saw it as an attempt to provoke a national industrial crisis. He warned that unless the Senate wisely reverses its decision, Nigerian workers would not hesitate to resort to that option.

In Kaigama’s words: “We have explained as often as necessary that the basic rationale for the fixing of a minimum wage is to ensure that employees, particularly the unorganised and unskilled, are not exploited by their employers to the extent that their

pay becomes so low that it creates a pool of the working poor.

The Senate’s position will doubtlessly encourage the state governments to start paying starvation wages to their workers, whereas the current minimum wage of N18,000 cannot even meet the immediate needs of the poor masses. This is sure to heat up the polity and lead to predictably, unsavoury consequences.”

However, NECA disagrees insisting that there is nothing wrong in the decision of the lawmakers to move the minimum wage issue to the concurrent list.

According to its Director General, Mr Segun Oshinowo, the ability to pay by employers, whether as government or as a private sector enterprise, is a key factor in employment relationship and sustenance of industrial harmony.

He said: “We commend this bold initiative by the NASS, as this is the right thing to do. It is, however, important for it to explain how all this will work out so that the state governments would not walk away with the belief that they would not be bound by the National Minimum Wage as and when the Federal Government legislates on this.”

He said as the voice of private sector employers, NECA equally have an interest in the issue. He

‘We advise the lawmakers to hearken to the voice of reason and the voice of the people by urgently retracing their steps because the consequences of their action could be dire for the nation’

stated there is need for everybody to be consistently reminded that Nigeria is operating a federal constitution, which ordinarily should ascribe significant power and responsibilities to the federating units, including the right and power of the component units to define and determine the minimum wage. He said NECA therefore, does not see anything wrong in the intention of the lawmakers to move minimum wage to the concurrent list.

Deputy Speaker/Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Amendment, Emeka Ihedioha, last week, tried to clarify the status of the issue in the constitution amendment by insisting that labour has not been removed from the Exclusive Legislative List.

He said it has become necessary to clarify that the conference report of the Constitution Review Committee recently adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives did not remove labour from the Exclusive Legislative List.

According to Ihedioha, the Senate had earlier put Labour on the Concurrent List but the House retained it in the Exclusive List. He stressed that during the harmonisation of the reports from the two chambers, the Conference Committee adopted the House version and retained labour on the Exclusive List.

He added that both the Senate and the House of Representatives have now adopted the Conference Committee Report, which retained labour on the Exclusive Legislative List because “we are at a loss as to where the false and misleading information on this matter emanated from,”.

HOS urges partnership with CBN on capacity building

H

EAD of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOS), Mr Danladi Kifasi has called for partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in capacity building and skills development for public servants in the country.

Kifasi, who paid a courtesy call on the CBN Governor Godwin

Emefiele in his office in Abuja, said collaboration between relevant stakeholders and development institutions has become necessary in order to help build a modern public service that would provide world class service for sustainable national development.

He observed that most civil ser-

vants lack the requisite skills to compete favourably with their counterparts in developed countries, which necessitated the need to leverage on CBN as one of the key institutions that provides effective and efficient service delivery to Nigerians and the entire African continent.

Responding, Emefiele said part

of the mandate of the apex bank is to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians in terms of job creation and capacity building.

He said the call for collaboration was timely as the bank had put in place a world class international training institute with state-of-the-art facilities for capacity building for all Nigerians.

1,917 civil servants pass directorate exams

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TOTAL of 1,917 civil servants passed a directorate level promotion examination recently conducted in the civil service, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deaconess Joan Ayo has said. Ayo stated this at a press briefing in Abuja where she pointed out that a total of 3, 273 wrote the examination. She said those who passed have already been promoted, stressing that the exercise would be conducted annually to discourage stagnation in the civil service.

Candidates were drawn from the administrative officers’ pool of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Office of the Accountant General, Auditor General and Surveyor General of the Federation and professionals in other agencies of government as well as state counsels in the ministry of justice.

The FCSC chairman said Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Nigeria Institute of Management along with proven retired and serving officers served as resource persons to set and mark the “professional questions, while FCSC commissioners set and marked the civil service and current affairs questions.”

She said to maintain the integrity of the process, strict measures were employed including the introduction of biometric accreditation by the Department of State Security, customised answer sheets, invitation of the police, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps for monitoring.

Labour praises Amosun on infrastructure

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RGANISED Labour has praised Senator Ibikunle Amosun for what it described as a giant stride in the area of infrastructure in Ogun State.

The National President of the Chemical and Non Metallic Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN), Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed at the opening of the union’s 19th Annual National Management / Industrial Relations seminar in Abeokuta said the governor has turned the fortune of the state around within the shortest time he took over the mantle of leadership in the state.

“As an organised labour, we do not have any political affinity, but we aligned with leaders who are performing. I have been living in Ogun State for the past 20 to 22 years, and people living in the state know that the governor is performing”, he said.

He noted that but for Governor Amosun’s road construction in Ota, a local government headquarter in the state, he would have sold his property and relocated.

He said: “But now due to the governor’s infrastructure development, I ride home safe and sound without any stress.

“I actually do not understand the kind of politics we practise in this country, when you see people that have ruled and now condemning the governor who is performing, the landmark is feasible for all to see.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

60

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

To drive the national quality assurance scheme by ensuring that locally-produced goods meet international standards on weights and measures, the European Union (EU) has injected 12 million euro, about N2.5bllion, into the Nigerian manufacturing sector. The move, experts say, will boost export business. Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE, reports.

Boost for Nigeria’s export business A

MAJOR boost has come the way of operators in the export business. The European Union (EU) has committed 12 million euro into the nation’s manufacturing sector for driving the national quality assurance scheme.

The fund, seen as a shot in the arm of operators in the export business, is for the establishment of National Accreditation System in Nigeria for Standardisation of Made-InNigeria goods. This is to enhance the quality of Nigerian products in terms of weight and measures to ensure meeting international standards. The EU is using the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) as the special vehicle to drive the scheme.

The Nigeria and West Africa Director, UNIDO, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, who disclosed this, said private sector operators have identified some issues and indicated their readiness to work with UNIDO, the EU and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

This collaboration, he said, will foster competitiveness of locally made products at the international market place. “It is one thing to produce a quality product, but if the consumers do not know the difference between high quality and low quality products, they will not demand for it,” he said.

The project, Dr Kormawa said, has the objective of improving the quality of products made in Nigeria so that they can be sold locally and in international market.

Talking on the strength of the collaboration, a Belgian investor and Vice President/ Managing Director, Emrc, Mrs. Idit Miller, has said her firm, which specialises in building capacity for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, is working with African SMEs to build capacity in terms of training, skill acquisition, high-tech production processes, marketing and funding.

Miller, who spoke at the recently concluded Nigerian Raw Materials Exposition organised by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) with the theme: “Achieving Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan through Raw Materials Sourcing” in Lagos, said she and her colleagues came to learn which raw materials in the country need

K

their intervention in terms of the production and marketing process to meet international standards.

Miller said: “We are here to learn the production missing link of Nigerian raw materials to ascertain why Nigerian products are rejected overseas. We will help them bring the production process up to speed and also link them up with foreign donors who will provide the needed financing for the small scale industrialists.

“This is in addition to introducing the products to other African nations, Europe and America. The idea is also to make oversea countries interested in locally produced products such as the precious stones, marble, agro products, raw materials, in addition to semi produced and processed goods.”

She added that the firm will also support industrial value chains such as cassava by supporting stakeholders with managerial skill training and financial management to avoid common risks in business management.

The Belgian investor, however, raised issues with the nation’s business environment, noting that it is a bad omen for policies to be tied to political parties or administrations, which are over-turned immediately that particular party is out of power.

She said having been involved with SMEs in the country in the last 15 years, she has come to realise that economic advancement in the country cannot be achieved with political considerations, but rather with a robust policy that will encourage commerce, manufacturing and foreign investment.

She, therefore, called on policy makers to ensure an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and be supported with the necessary infrastructure.

Nigeria, Miller said, needs to take advan-

‘

•

•From left: Emrc Managing Director Miller and Senior Project Officer Kacen.

tage of her position as the largest economy in Africa rather than being dwarfed by others who are less gifted in terms of size and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She pointed out that for Nigeria to move up on the ladder and attract foreign direct investment which it desperately needs to grow her economy, there is need for the country to improve her infrastructure network, ensure sound fiscal policy and improve on the global index of doing business.

The World Bank yearly report on ease of doing business on 189 countries ranked Nigeria very poor against other Sub Saharan countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. This was why Miller harped on the need to reduce the number of documentation, administrative fees and taxation.

On his part, Emrc Senior Project Officer,

Nigeria needs to take advantage of her position as the largest economy in Africa rather than being dwarfed by others who are less gifted in terms of size and Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Mr. Francois Kacen, harped on the need for locally produced raw materials to meet international standards and quality such as imbibing agronomics technology to avoid pesticide on agricultural produce.

He called on the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment to ensure that locally produced foods meet international standards by complying with the food and safety standards of overseas trading partners.

He said: “It is imperative for relevant government agencies to work with oversea agencies to ascertain the standards of each country before the products are exported from the country to avoid rejection at the point of entry.”

On the poor contribution of the manufacturing sector to the GDP, Kacen said his organisation is ready to give technical assistance to company’s involved in the export and processing business. He urged government to ease the process of registering businesses by reducing the bureaucracy involved in the process. “We offer latest professional and managerial training in Brussels. This is in addition to arranging meetings between manufacturers, donor organisations and investors,” he said.

‘ Kaduna partners SMEDAN to create 5,000 jobs

ADUNA State Government has entered into a partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) for the establishment of business support centres to provide support services and capacity building to MSMEs. It has, also, consummated an agreement to conduct Graduate Vocational and Entrepreneurship Skills Training (GVEST) to build capacity of 1,000 graduates expected to create 5,000 jobs in the state.

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero disclosed this yesterday while declaring open a three-day opportunity exhibition and trade fair for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the North West region organised

by SMEDAN in Kaduna.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Yero said, as a deliberate policy, the government has established the Kaduna State industrialisation and micro-credit management board as a special purpose vehicle for micro delivery to support the growth of SMEs. Represented by the Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Mr. Mamman E. Danka, Yero urged the participating entrepreneurs to take advantage of the fair and exhibition to ensure the sustained development of the SMEs sub-sector in their states.

“Just recently, the government entered into a matching fund partnership with two major development banks, the BoI and BoA

and created a pool of funds to the tune of N2 billion to be disbursed to MSMEs as micro loans as well as for the development of agriculture in the state,” Yero stated.

The representative of SMEDAN DirectorGeneral, a Deputy Director in the agency, Alhaji Shehu Sada, urged the participants to take advantage of the exhibition/trade fair to showcase their skills, and interact with one another to build capacities through idea sharing among other opportunities.

He assured that the agency is doing all it can to encourage entrepreneurs in all ways, and further urged entrepreneurs to tap into government policies aimed at bettering their lives and businesses.

Speaking earlier, SMEDAN Consultant Hajia Safiya Adamu of Messrs Leadership Paradigm Consultants Limited welcomed the participants, stressing that the exhibition and trade fair was for entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and skills, and also create an enabling market environment for them.

She said the fair would also introduce them to financial opportunities that could be assessed from relevant agencies, such that they would help strengthen their businesses and make them employers of labours, and reduce the rate of unemployment.

The pa r t i c i p a nts c o m m e n d e d t h e opportunity availed them by SMEDAN to showcase their businesses and talents.

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

63

MONEYLINK Bank directors’ forum coming

Wema Bank, Shelter Afrique sign $10m facility W

EMA Bank Plc has secured a $10 million development finance loan to support the real estate sector for Shelter Afrique, a Pan-African development finance institution focused on financing affordable housing in Africa.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, yesterday, the bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Segun Oloketuyi, said the facility underscores the confidence of local and international partners in the lender’s capacity to handle such transactions.

He said Wema Bank is deeply committed to supporting the

Stories by Collins Nweze

growth of real estate and affordable housing financing in the country, by providing access to loans as well as other value-added services, including financial advisory from its expert team of corporate banking professionals.

Oloketuyi said Wema Bank remains a premier financial institution and Nigeria’s longest surviving lender with branches spread across 125 locations, adding that the bank provides a host of corporate banking, retail banking, electronic bank-

ing, treasury and trade services to its customers.

The Managing Director, Shelter Afrique, James Mugerma, said his organisation remained committed to providing affordable housing in Africa, stating that the partnership with the bank through the grant of this facility, is another step in the right direction.

He said strong mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the viable projects get access to this fund. He also praised the unique nature of this transaction

T •Oloketuyi which not only provides project funding but also includes mortgage financing.

Why customers need Rapid Transfer, by Ecobank’s DMD

E

COBANK’s Rapid Transfer product is breaking grounds, thus enabling money transfer across geographical boundaries and bridging the gap between families and friend across Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, the bank’s chief explained that for traders and non-resident nationals all over the African continent, Funds Transfer, a well thought-out financial product, provides a platform to remit money with ease.

“It is the fastest, most secure, convenient and reliable medium to transfer and receive money both across Nigeria and in thirty five other African countries where Ecobank operates,” he said.

Okpanachi said the product is primarily designed to provide a quick payment solution for economic operators across the region with a view to facilitating economic integration.

The product will on the long run, progressively migrate regional transactions from the informal sector to the formal sector, thus signaling eco-

nomic development and transformation.

He spoke on the backdrop of end of year money transfer solutions for bank customers in the country. The DMD said the product is available to all categories of people such as workers, parents/guardians, students, small business owners who are the predominant players in the informal sector, traders, religious organisations and travelers within Africa.

He reiterated that Rapid Transfer which comes in different dimensions presents a total package for the customer as transfers could be in the form of Cash to Cash; Cash to Account; Account to Cash; Account to Account and Cash Pull.

The product is structured in such a way that it accommodates both account holders and walk-in customers.

While customers of the bank could make transactions to the limit of N1.5 million per customer (or an equivalent of $10, 000 at prevailing exchange rate), walk-in customers, that is nonAccount Holders have a limit of

Name

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,118.84 121.30 121.16 1,117.51 1.2241 1.2855 0.8238 1.0941

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

N500,000 after presenting a suitable identification.

Customers and non-account holders have a maximum of three transactions per week and all transactions are done in the local currencies of the

countries involved. Funds received are made available for payment to the receiver at any Ecobank branch within a 5 minutes except in countries where remittance laws differ on this rule.

Paga chief wins entrepreneur award

F

OUNDER and Chief Executive Officer of Paga, Tayo Oviosu, has been announced as the “Entrepreneur of the Year” (West Africa) 2014. He was named winner at the CNBC Africa ll Africa Business Leaders Awards.

The organisers recognised his dedication to changing the face of the Nigerian economy by founding what is now the country’s largest and fastest growing mobile payments company.

Nominated alongside other African game changers Arthur Zang of Cardiopad (Cameroon) and Paola Audrey Ndengue of Fashizblack (Ivory Coast); Oviosu started the company in 2009, due to his frustration of having to carry large amounts of cash around to deal with Nigeria’s unique payment challenges.

“I simply believed there had to be a more efficient and secure way for anyone, anywhere, irrespective of whether they are banked or not, to pay and get paid. With the support of a great team and the belief of our investors, Paga has become that solution for over 1.9 million Nigerians across the country and that number is growing every day,” he said.

Oviosu said he and his team strongly believed that efficient payment systems for both individuals and businesses were key to unlocking Nigeria’s latent economic potential.

DATA BANK

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,118.03 120.45 120.30 1,116.70 1.2163 1.2855 0.8089 1.0941

GAINERS AS AT 05-11-14

HE annual stakeholders’ forum of the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) for the year will be holding in Lagos on November 18.

The forum brings together executive and non-executive directors of banks, officials of other financial institutions, regulatory authorities, professional bodies and executives of other leading companies in Nigeria.

In a statement, the organisers said the forum is an opportunity for banking professionals to share thoughts on the theme: “Competing Globally from the Boardroom: Reviewing Benchmarks for Nigerian Bank Directors”.

It said that among other things, this year’s forum is aimed at enlightening directors on the need for banks and companies in the 21st century to have a board that understands the implications of, and need for global competition.

The event will be chaired by Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, Sir Remi Omotoso and will be attended by Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who will deliver the keynote address. The guest speaker is Mr. Ayodele Othihiwa, Partner and Head, Financial Services, KPMG, a distinguished professional with broad experience of the Corporate and Board level issues in the financial services sector.

The target audience for this year’s forum includes: Chairmen, Executives, Non-Executive Directors, Managing Directors of Banks & other financial institutions, professional bodies, Investment Advisers, Consultants, Officials of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, and officials of regulatory authorities.

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 20/10/2014 15/10/2014 13/10/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: September

8.3%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 350m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 349.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES November 3, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

154.78

155.78

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

$39b

US Dollar

1.72

0.08

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

247.6944

249.2947

2.30

2.41

0.11

Money Supply (M2)

Euro

193.4286

194.6783

OMOSAVBNK

0.55

0.57

0.02

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

Swiss Franc

160.4104

161.4468

DIAMONDBNK

5.60

5.80

0.20

Yen

1.3617

1.3705

MANSARD

3.00

3.10

0.10

VITAFOAM

4.28

4.30

0.02

CFA

0.2764

0.2964

IKEJAHOTEL

2.78

2.79

0.01

228.0521

229.5255

161.10

161.11

0.01

Yuan/Renminbi

25.2949

25.4592

Riyal

41.2582

41.5247

SDR

228.8113

230.2896

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

MAYBAKER

1.64

STERLNBANK

GUINNESS

LOSERS AS AT 05-11-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

WAPCO

99.28

89.61

-9.67

DANGSUGAR

6.65

6.01

-0.64

FCMB

3.69

3.34

-0.35

NAHCO

5.09

4.61

-0.35

UBN

CHANGE

7.90

7.17

-0.73

155.00

141.00

-14.00

VONO

1.23

1.12

-0.11

AFRIPRUD

2.90

2.73

-0.17

UBA

4.94

4.66

-0.28

29.62

28.14

-1.48

7UP

STANBIC

N16.42 trillion.

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

15-10-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 17-10-14

Overnight (O/N)

11.00

10.917

1M

12.464

12.393

3M

13.281

13.201

6M

14.205

14.110

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

WAUA

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Oct. 28, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.10

T-bills - 182

10.22

T-bills - 364

10.30

Bond - 3yrs

11.52

Bond - 5yrs

11.55

Bond - 7yrs

12.13

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

64

NEWS

KWARA STATE GOVERNOR ABDULFATAH AHMED’S DECLARATION FOR SECOND TERM

•All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant MajGen Mohammadu Buhari (left) being welcomed

by Ahmed

•Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (right); Senator Bukola Saraki and Ahmed at his (Ahmed’s) declaration for second term in Ilorin...yesterday..

•All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (second left) raising the hand of Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed... yesterday With them is Ahmed’s wife Deaconess Omolewa .

•From left: Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Ahmed; his wife and Adams Oshimhole (Edo)

•Ahmed (right) welcoming House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Behind Tambuwal is Senator Shaba Lafiaji.

•Asiwaju Tinubu addressing the crowd of APC supporters...yesterday.

•AZONTO DANCE: Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker, Razak Atunwa (left) and Ahmed digging it...yesterday.

65

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

NEWS Anatomical society to review curriculum •Gets president

T

•Hamzat (middle) speaking at the NUJ Forum in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Lagos NUJ Chair Elumoye (right) and Special PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS Adviser, Parastatal Monitoring Office, Mr Adebayo Salvadore

I ‘ll strengthen institutions, says Hamzat

A

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to implement programmes that will uplift the state.

He said if he wins the primaries and is elected governor, his administration will focus on strengthening institutions, which he said are very weak.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure spoke yesterday at the maiden edition of “Meet the Press Forum”, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council.

He noted that while the land mass of Lagos State was

By Leke Salaudeen

reducing and the population increasing, the problem was how to get infrastructure to sustain the ever-increasing population.

According to him, governance in Lagos was not for those who wanted to experiment, but those who understood the state.

He said he had lined up programmes that would uplift the state and achieve in four years what Governor Babatunde Fashola did in eight years.

“I want to use the experience garnered in the private sector to change the lives of the people,” Hamzat said.

On Fashola’s administration, the aspirant said: “I am convinced that things have

changed for better. No government built roads more than the Fashola administration. About 211 road projects are ongoing in the state. The problem of Lagos is how to generate more revenue to execute developmental projects, which will enhance standard of living.”

Answering a question on consensus candidate, Hamzat said: “We should allow the democratic process to run its course. Let every aspirant face the primary election. It is not a fight. It is a competition. We should not short circuit the process. The losers in the primaries will embrace the winner and work together for the party’s success at the poll. This is how democracy grows.”

On his political anteced-

ents, he said: “I was born into a political house. There is no politician of note in Lagos State, who doesn’t know my father. He was the secretary of Action Group in Mushin before I was born. When I was in secondary school, I used to write the minutes of party’s meetings.”

Hamzat justified the ban on commercial motorcyclists on some roads based on what he called crime reduction in the state.

According to him, the data showed that before the ban, 80 per cent of the crimes in the state were committed, while 18 deaths were recorded every month through motorcycles.

“The ban has reduced crimes and saved lives,” he added.

2015: PDP chiefs gang up against Jonathan in Anambra

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition may have suffered a setback, following the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State.

Members of the party have accused the President of being a stumbling block to peace in the state’s chapter.

They vowed to vote against him next year for abandoning the party’s governorship candidate in 2013, Comrade Tony Nwoye and supporting former Governor Peter Obi’s candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

•Crisis worsens From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

The PDP in Anambra has been swimming in crisis over the ward congresses held last weekend under the leadership of the new Chairman, Ejike Oguebego.

The exercise, conducted in 326 wards in the 21 local governments, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The other factions led by oil mogul Prince Arthur Eze and the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh,

drafted Senator Ibrahim Mantu to the state for a fresh congress.

The exercise failed to hold in two hotels in Awka on Saturday and Sunday, which forced Mantu and his appeal panel to relocate to Asaba, the Delta State capital, where they handed over delegates’ forms to Princess Stella Oduah, Senator Andy Uba and Uche Ekwunife.

Oduah is vying for the Anambra North senatorial ticket, while Ekwunife and Uba are interested in Anambra Central and South senatorial tickets.

Following the crisis, PDP

•Dr. Jonathan

bigwigs have told Jonathan to forget votes in Anambra State.

A chieftain of the party, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, said: “The President thinks he has Anambra, with former Governor Obi on his side and the APGA government here.

But we will tell him that it is not yet Uhuru.

Ex-magistrate pleads with govts over activities

A

RETIRED Magistrate of England and Whales, Segun Keshinro, has appealed to the Federal and Ogun state governments to intervene in the alleged intimidation of his family by land grabbers in Arepo.

He said despite getting an order for stay of execution against four chiefs in the community, they have continued to erect high fences on his property at 1, Ashaolu Street, Arepo, thereby destroying his plantation.

Trouble started in 2009 when the retired magistrate got a summons in a suit instituted by Chiefs Akibu Sanni, Raufu

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Raimi, Sunday Shofolarin and Yinusa Shofolarin.

Keshinro, who said he acquired his two acres legitimately in 2003 and had all documents to prove ownership, alleged that after he objected to the suit, he didn’t hear anything again until 2010 when he was summoned for a fresh case before Justice A.A. Akinyemi of an Abeokuta High Court.

“In their statement of claim, they said we just saw three acres of land and fenced it without buying. The only evidence they backed their claim with was a

survey plan of 1989.

“Following their letter, I went to the Bureau of Lands in Abeokuta and got a charting.

From the survey plan they presented, it was evident that my land was half mile away from theirs.

“So, I asked my lawyer to write a defence statement on my behalf with the available facts. I do not know if that case was struck out and it could not be found or traced,” he said.

But in 2010, Keshinro said a fresh summons with a different suit number was brought against him and five others as defendants.

He said he tried to find out what happened to the other suit, but could not trace it in the court’s record.

“This time, they filed the suit claiming ownership of 13 acres of land. Since I was in the United Kingdom, I gave power of attorney to my lawyer to represent my interest, and all copies of documents were given to him.

“I do not really know what happened, but in April, they got judgment in their favour. When I got back and looked at things, I was not satisfied, especially because most of the documents I gave my lawyer were not in the court’s record.”

HE Anatomical Society of Nigeria (ASN) has elected Prof. T.W. Jacks of the University of Maiduguri as its president.

He was elected during the society’s 11th Annual Conference and Scientific Meeting held at the College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, with the theme: “Anatomy and Transformation Agenda”.

A United States-based biomedical scientist and biotechnology expert, Prof. R. I. Somiari, who spoke on the role of anatomical sciences in national security, stressed the importance of DNA banking to medical and security matters.

He urged the government to increase funding and provide facilities for research in anatomical sciences.

Other speakers were Professors E. J. C. Nwana of the University of Abuja and P. S. Igbigbi of Delta State University.

Participants praised the Federal Government for its fight against the Ebola Virus Disease, which resulted in Nigeria being declared Ebolafree by the World Health Organisation (WHO) less than three months from the first index case on July 22.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, signed

by N.M. Ibeabuchi, M.G.

By Joseph Jibueze

Taura and M.O. Oyakhire, speakers sounded a note of caution with regards to the handling of human remains and organ transplants.

Also discussed was the need to review the curriculum in the anatomical sciences.

The communiqué said the meeting adopted two working documents, adding that their implementation “shall focus on developing career prospects for graduates of the Anatomical Sciences”, while “documents emanating from the review exercise shall be forwarded to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for proper harmonisation.”

It added: “Members of the Society, who were elevated to the position of professor in their universities were announced and recommended for the award of Fellow of the Anatomical Society of Nigeria. At the end of the meeting, a new executive committee emerged.

“Members of the Society expressed their appreciation to the outgoing executive committee led by Prof. B.C. Didia of the University of Port Harcourt for their selfless service to the Society and wished the new exco a successful tenure.”

Old students hail Oshiomhole

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has been hailed by the old students association of Sobe High School, Sobe, Edo State for restoring honour and glory to the school.

The association in a letter expressed its profound appreciation to Oshiomhole for giving the people of Owan West Local Government the dividends of democracy.

“For our special mention is Sobe High School, Sobe, which a few years ago was in a despicable state. So repulsive and visibly dangerous then were its structures that made parents and guardians to withdraw their children and wards from the school to other schools,”it said.

The association pledged to encourage the workers, students and the community to maintain the structures so that the school will remain a model.

As part of the activities marking the school’s 40th Founders’ Day, the association has begun a one-week activities featuring prayer session, school debate, career talk, rag day/community, novelty football match, cultural performances, awards and prize giving.

On Saturday, it will hold a carnival and a gala night, to be followed by a thanksgiving service on Sunday.

Heavy police presence in Abia From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

T

HE Abia State Police Command has cautioned politicians against illegal broadcast, campaigns and any act capable of causing a breach of the peace.

The state government through a statement also warned politicians, who lost during the delegates’ congresses conducted by a five-man Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress panel, against unlawful procession.

Police spokesman Ogbonna Geoffrey, speaking on behalf of Police Commissioner Adamu Ibrahim, said in a statement in Umuahia that the measure was necessary.

The statement, made available to reporters, reads: “Abia State Police Command warns the public and politicians to desist from illegal public political broadcast, campaign or unlawful procession. Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) is explicit on the issue.

Funeral for Madam Asojo

•The late Mrs Asojo

T

HE final funeral outing of Mrs. Florence Asojo (nee

Owadogbon) will hold on Saturday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Ekotedo Ibadan and Gate 4, Adamasingba Sports Complex, Ibadan. Popularly called Mama Owo, the deceased, who was born in 1933, died on August 4, 2013.

66

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

NEWS

Military pensioners protest O unpaid arrears A

Edo PDP aspirant remanded for attempted murder

VER 500 military retirees stormed the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance, Abuja yesterday over alleged delay in payment of their arrears since 2010.

The protesters called on the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to intervene in the crisis.

Mr. Abdulkadir Shinkafi, who spoke on behalf of the pensioners, lamented the communication gap between the retirees and the relevant government agencies handling their pension matters.

He alleged that all other concerned agencies handling their pensions had completed their assignments, adding that the Ministry of Finance

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

was deliberately delaying the payment of the arrears.

The pensioners, who acknowledged that they have been receiving a 33 per cent increase in their pensions since August 2013, were also demanding that the increase should be 53 per cent to put them at par with their colleagues who are in active service.

Shinkafi said: “We have decided to take up our case by ourselves by carrying out

this peaceful protest to drive home our demands, because we can’t continue to take excuses and explanations as done in the past four years.

“We have taken our protest to the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Office of the Head of Service, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and they all claimed to have finished their own part of the job, thus referring us to Ministry of Finance. That is why we are here to get the true picture.

“Though the minister had explained everything to us on how the deduction was

done and also promised to work with the newly inaugurated committee.

“We are fully convinced and hopeful that the payment will commence soon as she promised. But I promise you that we will be back, if otherwise.”

The minister, while receiving the protesting pensioners, disclosed that a working group made up of highlevel team from the Federal Ministry of Finance and representatives of military pensioners has been constituted to harmonise positions on the pension arrears.

Distribution of PVCs to begin in Kano, Edo, Plateau, others THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin tomorow the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in all local government areas (LGAs) in Kano, Edo, Plateau, Ogun and Imo states.

The exercise will last till Sun-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

day.

INEC also stated that the distribution of PVCs will start from tomorrow in some LGAs in Lagos, Rivers, and Nasarawa states.

The exercise was rescheduled

from November 28 to 30 in Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, and Borno states. The Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise in those states is also rescheduled from December 3 to 8.

The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise

in Adamawa State will begin on Wednesday, November 12 and end on Monday, November 17.

The decision was reached at the commission’s management meeting on Tuesday, according to INEC’s Daily Bulletin yesterday.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for the Edo State House of Assembly, Nosa Toyaki Adams, was remanded in prison custody yesterday for alleged attempted murder.

He was remanded with a 39-year old man, Best Ukposisi, by an Egor Magistrate’s Court for allegedly shooting three persons at Aunty Maria Primary School at last Saturday’s ward congress of the PDP. Adams was the Publicity Secretary of the PDP and a Caretaker Committee Chairman.

The politician joined the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but joined Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to return to the PDP. He is seeking to represent Egor Constituency but will miss today’s screening of aspirants by the Department of Security Services (DSS).

Adams and Ukposisi allegedly shot Ikponmwosa Omoregbe, Victor Omotosor and Eloghosa John, who are receiving treatment at Time Hospital on Ekenwan Road in Benin.

The plea of the suspects was not taken.

The charge said the offences are punishable under Sections 324 and 320 of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, which subsists in Edo State.

Ijaw youths criticise Kwankwaso over comment on Clark From SHOLA O’NEIL, South-South Regional Editor and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

T

HE Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has said Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s comment on Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark is careless and provocative.

Kwankwaso, an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant alluded to some comments by and attitudes of Chief Clark that yhey had done serious damage to national unity.

The governor said the Ijaw leader was senile.

But in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Eric Omare, IYC faulted the governor’s comment on Clark.

Assemblies of God Church reverses sanctions against members

T •Ekiti State Governor .

Ayodele Fayose (right) with Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala during the governor’s visit to the Minister in Abuja ...yesterday.

Police arraign ‘mastermind’ of attack on Edo lawmakers

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T

HE Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified the powers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to impose fines on erring motorists.

In a judgment on a suit by a lawyer, Mr Tope Alabi, Justice James Tsoho held that FRSC can not turn itself into a court of law by punishing those who commit traffic offences.

A copy of the judgment, delivered on September 26, was obtained by our correspondent yesterday.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to declare that only a court of competent jurisdiction can pronounce a person guilty under Section 10 (4) and 28 (2) of the FRSC (Establishment Act) 2007 and Regulation 143 of the Nigerian Roads Traffic Regulation, 2011.

The judge declared the sections null and void for being inconsistent with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also awarded N1million damages to the plaintiff because FRSC confiscated his vehicle

By Joseph Jibueze

and driver’s license. “It is my conviction that the plaintiff is entitled to remedy on this account,” he said.

Justice Tsoho said while FRSC is statutorily empowered to arrest and fine traffic offenders, a closer look at the definition of the word “fine” means ‘a pecuniary criminal punishment or civil penalty payable to the public treasury.’

He held: “In the instance case, however, the involvement of the element of arrest takes the imposition of fine by the second defendant (FRSC) to the realm of criminal punishment.

“It is noteworthy that a fine, when viewed from that perspective, is a component of sentence.

“From these definitions, it is obvious that the act of sentencing is a judicial action or exercise. Imposition of fine connotes conviction for an alleged offence. This presuppos-

es a trial and conviction of the person fined, especially having regard to the definition of sentencing.

“It is, thus, very clear that the FRSC, not being a court of law, can not impose fine, especially that it has no powers to conduct trial.

“Hence, the exercise of the statutory powers given to the second defendant under the Act as pertain to imposition of fine is clearly a usurpation of judicial powers exclusively vested in the courts,” the judge held.

Justice Tsoho further held that FRSC’s imposition of fine on the plaintiff because of his cracked windscreen is illegal.

“In the circumstances, I endorse the plaintiff’s submission that by virtue of S.1(3) of the Constitution, the power to impose fine conferred on FRSC by the enabling Act is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with Section 6 of the Constitution,” the judge held.

The judge said though the National Assembly is empow-

ered to make laws, it cannot go outside the limits set by the 1999 Constitution.

“Basically, an unconstitutional legislation is null and void. That is, therefore, the effect of Section 28 (2) of the FRSC Act 2007 which has purportedly conferred power on the second defendant to impose fine, which is a judicial function.

Such power is unconstitutional and unenforceable.

“The FRSC is not constitutionally vested with judicial powers and cannot and should not under any guise purport to function as a court, with competence to impose fine on alleged offenders.

“Much as FRSC seems to have passionate zeal for traffic law enforcement, it cannot be allowed to do so in breach of constitutional provisions.

“It is necessary to add that even in respect of strict liability offences, a court of law should appropriately declare the guilt of an alleged offender and then impose fine.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

HE leadership tussle in Nigeria’s oldest Pentecostal church, Assemblies of God Church, took another dimension yesterday with its General Overseer, Prof Paul Emeka, announcing the reversal of the sanctions allegedly imposed on him and others by a rival group led by Rev. Chidi Okoroafor.

Prof Emeka, who addressed reporters yesterday at the headquarters of the church in Enugu, said there was no sanctions like excommunication, sack and withdrawal of pastoral certificate in the Assemblies of God Church.

“By the authority vested in me as the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Nigeria, I hereby cancel, lift and nullify any sanctions as excommunication, suspension, dismissal, sack and withdrawal of pastoral certificate placed on me and these ministers: Revs. Raphael Itoto, Andrew Mnyin, Roland Best, Daniel Amaugo, Emmanuel Ngene, Efejunti Philip, Ibrahim Waziri, Bulus Goni, Istifanus Ishaya, Nicholas Anyanwu, Kayode Shenkale, Isaac Nnaji, Kenneth Ogbudu, Sunday Palmer and others,” he told reporters.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Court nullifies FRSC’s powers to impose fines on erring motorists

From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

HE Edo State Police Command arraigned yesterday Adams Rotimi (aka Shaba) for allegedly leading the October 11 attacks on the legislative quarters of the state lawmakers.

Twenty-seven vehicles and three houses were destroyed in the 6.30am attacks. The 42-year-old pleaded not guilty when the four counts were read to him at an Oredo Magistrate Court.

Thirty-eight live cartridges were found on him at his Evbuodia home when the police raided the place before arresting him.

Adams was accused of conspiring with others to damage government property and causing violence.

The charges read: “That you, Comrade Adams Rotimi and others, did unlawfully and wilfully damage 27 cars and various brands, glass windows and walls of houses, whose value has not been ascertained, property of the Edo State Government, and thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II Laws of the defunct Bendel State.

‘Pass anti-stigma bill’

T

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi has urged the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the HIV/AIDS anti-stigma bill in order to address the varying stigmatisation confronted by People Living With HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA) in the country.

Mrs Ajimobi made this call yesterday while opening the annual lecture organised by Civil Society on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN), Oyo State chapter, held at Conference hall, Access To Basic Medical Care Foundation, Ring Road, Ibadan.

According to her, HIV/AIDS has the negative effect of overwhelming the state’s health and social services, by creating thousands of orphans and by decimating people in the productive age group.

“It continues to cause a negative demographic, social and economic impact. Its effects cascades across all cadres of society, increasing poverty and dependency levels.Although knowledge about HIV/AIDS has become very common, it is still surrounded by silence.”

The governors’s wife noted that people are ashamed to speak about being infected and those who are bold enough to do so are exposed to daily prejudice borne out of ignorance and fear.

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NEWS

PDP crises: Senators’ face-off with Jonathan deepens Continued from page 4

are trying to see how to save the day. How far we can go, I can’t tell.”

According to him, “it is obvious that the governors control the party structures at the state levels”.

“It is also not in doubt that President Jonathan needs the governors more than the senators to win the 2015 election,” he said, adding: “So, no man can give what he does not have. Every politics is local. The governors have the state party structure; they call the shot at the state level.”

APC Senator Babafemi Ojudu decried what he called the selfcenteredness of PDP senators.

Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said PDP senators should not prevent them from performing their constitutional duty.

Ojudu noted that if opposition senators had their way, they would continue to sit.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party senators are now victims of their party’s impunity in a democracy; now they are complaining. We have suffered PDP impunity for three years.

“If we have our way, we will come here tomorrow and sit. It is not about personal interest it should be about our people.

“Now they have seen injustice; they are fighting. We have seen injustice for more than two and half years.

“We wanted to fight, our colleagues did not allow us to fight.

Why must it be that it is when it affects us that we act? People should have standards. Now that they have seen that a lot of them are no longer welcome

back in their homes, now that they have realised that they have made themselves slaves to the executive, they are shouting.

“When you present yourself as a slave, definitely, you will be treated as a slave. That is the consequence of their actions over the years. But Nigerians voted for them to come here and work.

We must work.

“Unfortunately, under the rules, we cannot work. That is why the opposition senators were busy shouting, “nay, nay, nay” when the motion for adjournment was moved by the Senate Leader.

“If we are working for Nigeria, we should be seen to be doing so. Now that the PDP senators have problems with their party, the president and governors, they are not allowing us to work.

“We really want to work but the system does not allow us.

“It is unfortunate that the 2015 budget will be affected but we are in the minority, we will have our say but they will have their way.

“We are going to call a meeting of our party caucus and we are going to discuss this. We even expected that they will call us to an executive meeting and then we discuss this matter.

“They don’t have to come in and adjourn like that. Some of us came from our constituencies in far away places so that we could sit for this week. But here we are, we are not allowed to sit.

“At the moment, Mubi has been taken over by insurgents.

This is the time when all of us should guard our loins and fight on behalf of our compatriots who are being displaced.

“Go and look at the photo-

graphs of people who are running away from their homes. If you had lived in a place for about 20 to 30 years and you have to carry a small bag and run away from there, do you know how traumatic that can be? Instead of thinking of ourselves alone, we should be thinking of those people.”

A PDP Senator who does not want his name in print described the action of his colleagues as “absolute mark of insensitivity, especially when Boko Haram has overrun a greater part of the Northeast.”

Mark, who read a short speech to senators before adjournment, said it would be inconceivable for him to fold his arms or pretend that all is well.

The Senate President, who is also Chairman of the National Assembly, was referring to the crisis of confidence rocking the House of Representatives following the defection of Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from the PDP to the APC. Mark said: “We are not to interfere in the internal affairs of each House. However, as Chairman of the National Assembly, I cannot fold my arms or pretend that all is well in the current crisis.

“Furthermore, the matter is already in a court of law, we cannot, therefore, discuss the issue in this chamber. I am, therefore, going to do all I can to resolve the current impasse.

“Furthermore, the matter is already in a court of law; we cannot, therefore, discuss the issues here.

“I want to assure all of you that I will do the needful to protect and defend the legislature at all cost.”

seeking second term will have to stay away from nomination processes for other elective and appointive offices. All other elective posts and appointments will be determined by the President after consulta-

tions with the party leadership.

“We have reached a level that we must give the governors alternatives to choose from. This is what the President and PDP will do.”

2015 poll: President may not bow to PDP governors Continued from page 4

“The thinking of the Presidency is that any outgoing governor can choose between picking his successor and going to the Senate. Also, governors

Boko Haram steals dynamites in Ashaka Cement factory Continued from page 4

stolen vehicles, including armoured personnel carriers, weapons and ammunition from the military.

Unlike previous attacks in recent months in the far northeast, the militants did not attempt to hold the town, leaving when they secured their loot.

French diplomats in Nigeria said none of its nationals was taken in the raid. The head of the Lafarge group, Bruno Lafont, said operations had not been affected.

“The factory was the target of intruders. There were no injuries. There was no damage in the factory,” he told reporters in Paris yesterday.

“This morning (Wednesday), the situation is still calm and everything is back to normal.”

Members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy accused the government of withholding facts about the dangers of the

insurgents’ attack on the cement factory from Nigerians, knowing full well that the dynamites will be used by the insurgents to create more explosives. #BBOG added that the insurgents who invaded the factory also made away with food stuff.

A member of the group, Dr Eman Shehu, said yesterday that at first, when people heard about the invasion of Ashaka, it was believed that the insurgents needed the airspace located there for their own benefit.

“When Boko Haram attacked the Ashaka Cement factory in Gombe, what the government and military failed to tell Nigerians is that Boko Haram carted away with dynamites and food stuff.

“This is really a dangerous situation because those dynamites can be used by the insurgents to create more explosives that will create more havoc.”

But the military said the insurgents had been repelled from the factory.

According to a highly-placed source, who spoke on the preliminary findings of the military, the insurgents were after explosives.

The source said: “From our preliminary investigation, the insurgents invaded the cement factory because of explosives.

They needed more explosives for their operation. Perhaps for more dastardly attacks.

“But they did not succeed at all because they could not get the explosives. And troops were quickly mobilised to repel them.

“We have regained the control of the area. And security has been beefed up in all parts of Gombe State.”

Another military source added: “We are also reviewing security network for all the states in the Northeast because of the new pattern of attacks by the sect members.”

sponding well to the security challenges in the Northeast but they do not know what they are facing.

“As I talk to you, the third quarter allocations for ONSA, DSS and the NIA have not been released. Yet, these agencies play pivotal role in the nation’s counter-insurgency campaign.

“For the first and second quarter allocations, about 50 per cent has not been released. When we opted for First Line Charge, the Ministry of Finance simply said ‘no, don’t do this to us’.”

Another source said the nonrelease of allocations had been affecting operations against

Boko Haram.

The source said: “The reality is that the delay is hampering our operations. You cannot deploy operatives free of charge; it comes with cost. For instance, all the services do not operate fuel dumps again; they have to go to gas stations to buy fuel. With what will they buy the fuel?

“When we ask for funds, the Ministry used to say they had only certain envelope available for us.

“Yet, the same ministry releases so much for SURE-P and YouWin projects. Is it not only when you have peace that you can execute these programmes.”

Finance ministry witholds allocations to security agencies Continued from page 4

ONSA(N31,524,806,055); DSS(N41,305,301,146) and the NIA(N36, 923, 323,541).

The agencies were also given less than 50 per cent of allocations accruable to them in the first and second quarters, The Nation learnt.

A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said attempts by the agencies to be on First Line charge had been resisted by the Ministry of Finance in spite of the “glaring security challenges” facing the nation.

The source said: “Nigerians talk of security agencies not re-

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THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

Obama loses Senate, House to Republicans Continued from page 1

The president, who has lurched from crisis to crisis and whose unpopularity made him unwelcome to many fellow Democrats running for office, called a series of Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Tuesday night, the White House said, though the list did not include Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who is poised to become the Senate’s new majority leader and with whom Obama has a frosty relationship.

Obama plans to meet with congressional leaders from both parties at the White House on Friday to take stock of the new political landscape.

It was “a pretty ugly night” for Democrats, said Representative Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, speaking on MSNBC. Republicans ran races across the country that pilloried Obama and his policies.

The White House tried in advance to portray the results as not being a repudiation of Obama’s leadership, but Democrats were stunned by the extent of the Republican gains even in governors’ races that had favoured Democrats.

Despite the Republican gains, the election was not necessarily an endorsement of their policies. Initiatives championed by Democrats to raise the minimum wage and legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana succeeded in a handful of states where they were on the ballot.

When the new Congress convenes in January, Republicans will be armed with their biggest majority in the House since Democratic president Harry Truman’s first term in the late 1940s. With some races yet to be decided, NBC News projected Republicans would win at least 244 seats in the 435seat chamber.

The Republican won 52 of the 100 Senate seats.

The Republican takeover will force Obama to scale back his ambitions to either executive actions that do not require legislative approval, or items that might gain bipartisan sup-

port, such as trade agreements and tax reform.

It also will test his ability to compromise with newly empowered political opponents who have been resisting his legislative agenda since he was first elected in 2008. Americans elected him to a second and final four-year term in 2012.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a possible presidential candidate in 2016 who campaigned for fellow Republicans around the country, said the Senate results put the burden on Obama.

“We need to get things done ... and put things on the president’s desk and make the president make some decisions,” Christie said on “CBS This Morning.” He cited tax reform, a national energy pol-

icy and job stimulation as pressing needs.

A one-term senator before he became president, Obama has often been faulted for not developing closer relations with lawmakers, particularly with McConnell, who won a tough re-election battle against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.

McConnell will replace Democrat Harry Reid as Senate majority leader. Reid has been one of Obama’s top political allies and helped steer the president’s signature healthcare law through the Senate in 2010.

“Some things don’t change after tonight. I don’t expect the president to wake up tomorrowand view the world any differently than he

did when he woke up this morning. He knows I won’t either. But we do have an obligation to work together on issues where we can agree,” McConnell said in his victory speech in Louisville.

In Tuesday’s rout, Republicans won in places where Democrats were favoured, pulled out victories where the going was tough and swept a number of governors’ races in states where Democrats were favoured, including Obama’s home state of Illinois.

Republicans needed six seats to win control of the 100member Senate. By early on Wednesday, Republican candidates had picked up seven Democratic seats: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota

•McConnell

and West Virginia.

Democrats had dominated Republicans in the Senate, 5345 with two independents, going into the election but Republicans will now outnumber them 52-45 with two independents.

W’African leaders open talks with Burkina’s military

A

delegation of West African presidents opened talks with Burkina Faso’s new military leader on Wednesday to plot a path to a civilian-led transition in the wake of the resignation of longtime ruler Blaise Compaore last week.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, the current chairman of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, met briefly behind closed doors with Lieutenant Colo-

nel Isaac Zida, who was appointed as interim head of state by the army on Saturday.

Mahama then held separate consultations with U.N. special representative for West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambas and ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, himself from Burkina Faso.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Senegalese leader Macky Sall also arrived in Burkina Faso on Wednesday

at Mahama’s invitation as part of an ECOWAS leaders delegation.

The three presidents were due to hold joint talks with Burkina Faso’ main political actors later on Wednesday.

Zida has announced the suspension of Burkina Faso’s 1991 constitution in the wake of the mass demonstrations that forced Compaore to resign on Friday after 27 years in office. Demonstrators had taken to the streets on Thurs-

day when Compaore tried to force through parliament a reform to allow him to seek reelection next year.

The military has also dissolved the National Assembly and imposed a curfew.

Amid mounting international pressure for a civilian to take the reins of the transition, Zida promised on Monday to quickly cede power to a transitional government and appoint a new head of state.

Mexico students protest over missing peers

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NIVERSITY students in Mexico are starting a 72-hour nationwide strike in support of 43 trainee teachers who disappeared in the south-western state of Guerrero more than five weeks ago.

The students are also planning a protest march in the capital, Mexico City, on Wednesday.

The 43 disappeared after clashing with police in the town of Iguala.

The fugitive mayor of Iguala was detained on Tuesday for allegedly giving the order to

intercept them.

Jose Luis Abarca and his wife, Maria de los Angeles Pineda, were detained without a shot being fired in a modest house in a workingclass neighbourhood of Mexico City.

Police raided the house in the early hours of Tuesday morning Mr Abarca and his wife were hiding in the bedroom of the modest home Their arrest was headline news in their home state of Guerrero The strike is the latest in a

series of protests aimed at putting pressure on the Mexican authorities to step up the search for the missing students from a teacher-training college in the town of Ayotzinapa.

Relatives of the missing welcomed the arrest of Mr Abarca and Ms Pineda on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have accused the mayor of telling the municipal police in Iguala to intercept the students to prevent them from interrupting a speech Ms Pineda was giving on that day in the town.

The students, who were travelling back from Iguala to their college on board busses, were stopped on a highway.

Police opened fire killing three of them and three more people in nearby vehicles.

Six people, three of them students, were shot dead on the night of 26 September in Iguala One busload of students tried to flee, only to be chased down by the municipal officers, who took them to the local police station.

Clashes, terror attack in Jerusalem

A

Palestinian man rammed his car into a crowded train platform in east Jerusalem on Wednesday, then attacked people with an iron bar and injured at least six in what authorities called a terror attack before he was shot dead by the police.

It was the second such attack in the past two weeks, and deepened already heightened tensions between Arabs and Jews in the city. Earlier Wednesday, Israeli police had dispersed dozens of masked Palestinians who threw rocks and firecrackers near a contested holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Police said the motorist slammed his car into the train platform in east Jerusalem first, backed out and proceeded to drive away, hitting several cars along the way. He then got out of the car and attacked a group of police officers on the side of the road with a metal bar before he was shot and killed. Police identified the man as a Palestinian from east Jerusalem.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any Palestinian organization but the Islamic militant group Hamas praised the attack and called for more violence.

Wednesday’s car attack was almost identical to one two weeks ago that killed two people, a baby girl and a woman from Ecuador, at a train platform, also in Jerusalem.

Palestinian protesters and Israeli police have been clashing almost daily in east Jerusalem in recent months.

The car attack came shortly after clashes in the Old City, where Palestinians threw rocks and firecrackers at police to protest a planned visit to a key holy site by Israeli supporters of a rightwing activist who was shot by a Palestinian gunman last week.

The Israelis had planned on commemorating a week since a Palestinian shot and wounded American-Israeli activist Yehuda Glick, who has campaigned for more Jewish access to the location, which is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Palestinians view such visits as a provocation and often respond violently.

Several police officers were hurt in the clashes, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, adding that the police used stun grenades to disperse the Palestinians. Quiet was soon restored, he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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SHOWBIZ

Invasion 1897 hits cinemas December 5

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•Training session at last year's AFRIFF

AFRIFF 2014 announces workshops, facilitators

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N its continued effort to engage filmmakers in resourceful cinematic discourse, a series of topical issues have been chosen for the industry sessions in this year’s edition of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), which begins this Sunday, in Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State.

The festival, which will hold from November 9 to 16, will run the industry sessions for five week days, beginning from Monday November 10.

Actors, filmmakers, film marketers, distribution houses and various professional guilds in the entertainment industry will gather at different venues, discussing issues of benefits, while charting a new course for African cinema. Film students

By Victor Akande

and filmmakers alike will also engage in trainings, as part of the capacity building initiative of the festival.

Festival Manager, AFRIFF, Ikenna Ezenyirioha, revealed that the industry sessions are an integral part of the festival that cannot be ignored, adding that professionals in different fields will be on hand to host different classes.

According to him, the sessions are the artistic and business sides of showbiz, which are essential to the development of the creative non-oil sector of the economy. He noted that this will bring about the right skills and attitude as well as open up business deals, networking and pos-

sible collaborations among the filmmakers that will be attending the festival.

Some of the great subjects to be explored by the festival include, Acting laboratory – Acting with integrity, to be hosted by notable producer/director, Mildred Okwo and Adapting African literature for screen- A cinematic goldmine, to be handled by an army of industry bests such as Jude Idada, a screenwriter, playwright and novelist; Tunde Kelani, foremost cinematographer; Yemi Akintokun, a movie director; Jane Maduegbena, a lawyer and mobile application expert and Jeremy Weate of Cassava Republic publishing outfit.

Other sessions will include

Art of Film Criticism, a conversation about the work and art of a film critique to be handled by Don Omope, Editor of African Screens Magazine and Shaibu Husseini of Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper; Demystifying Distribution in Nigeria, to be hosted by Gab Okoye (Gabosky), Chichi Nworah, Uwem Jacobs and Kene Mkparu of FilmHouse; Film Marketing 101 by Uzoma Onwuchekwa; Finance For Film Workshop by Akintunde Oyebode; The History, The Picture, The Art, The Film by Pat Nebo and International Co-production to be handled by knowledgeable filmmakers in international treaty such as Zama Mkosi, Mahmood Alli- Balogun, Neil Mccartney and Madu Chikwendu.

OME Friday, December 5, celebrated Nollywood flick, Invasion 1897, will hit cinemas across the West African sub region. This, according to the producer and director of the flick, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, is in furtherance of its three core objectives; history, entertainment and education.

Making the revelation at a press parley in his Surulere office, Lagos, Imasuen who lauded the distributors of the movie, Silverbird Distribution, noted that it will be the first time they would be releasing a film simultaneously in two different countries.

“As far as they are concerned, this is their centenary film. They have assured me that they are giving it full Hollywood ratings in terms of presentation in the cinema and they are releasing simultaneously in Nigeria and Ghana at the same time,” he said.

Imasuen thanked the Nigerian media for their support, while sharing his experience on the production of the film. “The support of the press has been enormous. People believe that the change Nollywood has been craving for has come. When we premiered at the Abuja International Film Festival, majority of our industry personnel were all there and they saw this work. It is a pointer to the fact that the capacity is there to put up works of this magnitude but sometimes the resources and the environment are not favourable,” he added.

According to the award-winning director, the December date is timely, owing to the historical perspective of the storyline, saying that the invasion of the Benin Empire by the British army was brought about by what he termed a sacred misunderstanding.

“It was that misunderstanding that led to the first set of deaths in 1897. More deaths followed and the people were left without their

By Ovwe Medeme

king. So, December is actually a significant period because it was during the Igue Festival that the British came and wanted to see the Oba and the law of the land forbade them from seeing him during that period,” the filmmaker explained.

Imasuen also stressed on the need for Nollywood practitioners to support one another in their desire to better the Nigerian movie industry. He cited an example of how he had to delay the cinema release of Invasion 1897 to give room for another highlyrated Nollywood production, October 1.

“I believe that at this stage, we should encourage ourselves. It was deliberate that this film was made to be ready during the Nigerian centenary celebration which also marks the centenary of the death of the principal character, Oba Ovonramwen. Somewhere along the line, we heard the movie, October 1 was coming up and we decided to wait. We want to begin to align with international best practices. We did not withdraw our film because of fear of anything, but I feel that we should give room because we are all fighting for a soul, not two,” Imasuen stated.

He further revealed that by the end of November, there will be a star-studded release party for the movie in conjunction with City People Magazine, while December 10 will witness a special Igue screening nationwide.

•Imasuen

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

SHOULD like to join previous speakers in commending and offering Pa Engineer Victor Adetunji Haffner my warmest congratulations on the public presentation of his remarkable and interesting memoirs, including his reflections on Nigeria from independence to 1999.

He was a living witness and major player in the epochal events he so vividly describes in the memoirs. I have had a preview of the book and, at his personal invitation, I am delighted to make the following comments on his memoirs. In inviting me, he said I should speak for only 10 minutes. That is going to be difficult.

But it is a measure of Pa Haffner’s modesty and disregard for humbug and protocol, despite his outstanding service to the nation as a telecommunications engineer of international repute.

Pa Haffner’s antecedents are quite remarkable. He is a thorough bred Lagosian of creole descent. He was born at Haffner Street in Central Lagos on September 1, 1919. When he turned 95 last September, I gave him a copy of my own memoirs, not knowing that he had written one himself. The chairman of this occasion, Pa Akintola Williams was with him to celebrate the happy occasion with h8im. Pa Akintola Williams, is only a few weeks older than him. They were classmates at the CMS Grammar School, Lagos, from 1933-38 and have remained close friends. I think that of the 1938 class at the CMS Grammar, that also included the late legal icon, Chief Rotimi Williams, only the two of them are still alive alive. My late father, Chief Olagunju Asaolu Fafowora, who was their classmate at the school, passed on in 2003 at the age of only 88. It is a remarkable feat and achievement for him to have written his memoirs at such an advanced age. Unbelievably, his memory of the major events in his life, spanning nearly a century now, is still remarkably good. He has been blessed with good health, which he attributes to his genes. When he and his family were attacked by armed robbers in his Ikoyi home, he single handedly fought them back, wrestling their leader to the ground. In the process, he was shot and lost his left eye.

Considering his distinguished family ancestry, one could say that he was born with a silver spoon and that with such a privileged background personal success for him was inevitable. But he has had to work very hard for his professional success as a telecoms engineer in a remarkable career that took him to the top as the first Nigerian Managing Director of Nigerian External Telecommunications

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

On the memoirs of Pa Victor Adetunji Haffner

‘

When he and his family were attacked by armed robbers in his Ikoyi home, he single handedly fought them back, wrestling their leader to the ground. In the process, he was shot and lost his left eye •Pa Haffner

(NET). He has an excellent pedigree of which he remains very proud. His father, Mr. Frederick Mathew Haffner, was a civil servant in the Lagos City Council during colonial rule.

As he says in the memoirs, the family originally migrated to colonial Lagos from Freetown, Sierra Leone, after the abolition of slavery, when many of those who had been freed from slavery traced their roots back to either Lagos or Abeokuta. His grandfather was the brother of the distinuguished John Otunba Payne of the Orange House fame, a brilliant lawyer, the first African Registrar of the Supreme Court in Nigeria, and a church warden at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. He was also the publisher of the famous Lagos Almanac, which was very much in demand in those days. His mother,

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‘The Ibadan scholars did not replicate or reproduce themselves and the department became denuded as a result of a high profile appointments of the academic staff to the extent that at one time the history programme at the fountain head of the Ibadan School of History suffered de-accreditation in the hands of the National Universities Commission’ JIDE OSUNTOKUN

’

Victoria Adepeju, was also a niece of John Otunba Payne. Remarkably too, Dr. Henry Rawlinson Carr, who graduated from Durham University at the tender age of only 19, and had such a brilliant career in the colonial civil service, was his grand uncle. When Pa Haffner was at the CMS Grammar School, he lived with Dr. Henry Carr, his grand uncle, at his mansion at Tinubu Square, Lagos. Dr. Carr was never married and regarded Pa Haffner as his adopted son. For a young lad, and given the fame and reputation of Dr. Henry Carr, this was a rare privilege which, no doubt, had a profound effect on him.

Though an engineer, he is one of the most cultured professionals it has been my pleasure to know. This trait must have been passed on to him by Dr. Henry Carr.

HARDBALL

E

VEN Hardball is awed and shocked at once that the walls and pillars that hold together all the fabrics of state are being chipped at daily. Hardball is even more troubled that the Presidency seems to be on a no-holds-barred rampage to secure a second term for the incumbent president and nothing, absolutely nothing, would be held sacred for this galloping ambition.

You must have seen the list of the over 200member Presidential Declaration Committee (PDC) released last week from the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja. Apart from the sheer size of the horde, there is a disturbing large number of serving public officials on it. It is bad enough that the incumbent president may have shutdown official work in his quest for another term of office, need we blank out the entire government just because one man seeks to fulfill his ambition to rule the country?

Ayim Pius Ayim, who is the sitting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), is also the secretary of the PDC and there are about half a dozen governors, including: T.A. Orji, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Shema, Liyel Imoke and Olusegun Mimiko. They will have to suspend everything else and get on the PDC train. Of course there are tens of former governors and deputies who must have scrambled to make the team.

Current members of the Federal Executive

The old federal Ministry of Finance, now abandoned, was the site of Henry Carr’s residence. I knew it when I was growing up in Lagos. In 1928, at the age of 9, Dr. Carr encouraged and inspired him to join the choir of then Christ Church, Marina.

That was when his love of music began. It was Dr. Carr that moved at an Anglican Synod in Lagos that Christ Church be elevated to a cathedral, and he became the first chancellor of the Anglican Diocese in Lagos To digress a bit, Dr. Henry Carr was a brilliant administrator in the colonial service and was appointed Inspector of schools, and later, the Resident for Lagos colony. In fact when the colonial Governor of Lagos went on leave, Dr. Henry Carr acted as the governor of Lagos. In his time, he was the highest ranking African in the colonial civil service. Because of his brilliance, the white colonial officials grudgingly accepted him as their intellectual equal and, in some cases, as even their superior. It is a pity that Dr. Henry Carr left no memoirs but he bequeathed his large library to the University College, Ibadan.

Pa Haffner is a pioneer of the engineering profession in Nigeria. After his brilliant career at the CMS Grammar School, Lagos, the oldest secondary grammar school in Nigeria, having been founded in June, 1859, he proceeded to Northampton College, London (now City University), where he did the first part of his engineering course. After that he studied at the famous Regent Street Polytechnic (now Westminster University), graduating as a Chartered Engineer, and a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, specialising in telecommunications, the first in this field.

He remained in England for a while, gaining further useful professional experience as a telecoms engineer with the British firms of Cable and Wireless and Standard telephones. It was from there that he was recruited in November by the colonial government in Nigeria as a Pupil Engineer in the old P&T In 1957, Pa Haffner married Grace Olubunmi Majekodunmi, from the well known and highly respected Majekodunmi family from Abeokuta. Regrettably, she predeceased him in 2007 at the age of 81.

Now, these memoirs have to be seen in the context of the manner Nigeria evolved after its independence from colonial rule in 1960, and the role of the first generation of Nigerian engineers and other professionals in Nigeria’s development.

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jonathan’s campaign: the gravy train sails again Council (FEC) and heads of MDAs abound.

Notable among them are Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, Osita Chidoka, Jumoke Akinjide, Bala Mohammed and Zainab Maina. There are over two-dozen senators, mostly serving, and a pack of House of Representatives’ members.

Hardball was under the impression that electioneering campaigns were personal and, at best, party affairs, but President Jonathan is changing all that. It seems to be purely government business now; the cream of the executive council has been mobilised to return the president to power.

Take note that all the old suspects are there – all the government house ‘rats’ who do not seem to have the capacity to survive outside the precincts of the Presidential Villa; people like Ibrahim Mantu, Jerry Gana, Josephine Anenih, Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Raymond Dokpesi, Ebenezer Babatope, Shuaibu Oyedokun and Abba Dabo. We have known these people to live perpetually on the ‘MV Aso Rock’ gravy boat, not minding which darkling isle it sails. But then Mr.

Hardball wise up, life is about gravy, stupid.

And one small, last note: did you notice as Hardball did, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke at the commanding heights of this campaign host?

We mean that she sits at the pinnacle of the Finance Sub-committee. Recall that that was the strategic high-stool occupied by the estranged dowager of Jonathan’s electioneering effort in 2011; we speak of course of no other than the cat-eyed and bewitchingly beautiful Princess Stella Oduah. She was the Exchequer of Jonathan’s 2011 campaign, managing the nebulous Neighbour-2Neighbour, which dished out money as if it were the sands of the ocean shore.

Today, Diezani, the Petroleum and Mineral Resources minister, sits atop Jonathan’s candy mountain, what must be a bottomless war chest for the 2015 campaign.

What are Nigerians supposed to think now?

All the billions of dollars allegedly missing under Diezani’s watch at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; what do you think now dear reader?

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Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO