November 13, 2014 by The Nation

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

House: Fayose has frozen our accounts •Governor denies blackmailing lawmakers NEWS Page 7

14 die in Kwara road accident •Fuel tanker collides with truck NEWS

Page 6

•www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 9, NO. 3031 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: GOVT TO BUY ARMS FROM RUSSIA P4 SYNAGOGUE: BODIES FOR SOUTH AFRICA P10

2015: PDP senators renew battle against governors Lawmakers to fight Presidency over tickets Suswam predicts more trouble

long as PDP is in power, Nigerian people will be out of power. They can ‘As spend $100bn, you will not have power; it will only power their pockets ’

From Yusuf Alli, Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

HE crises of interests in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to get worse, with senators and governors vowing not to yield an inch in their bitter struggle for tickets. No fewer than nine governors are bidding for Senate tickets – a move that has infuriated many senators who plan to return to the National Assembly. The senators took their case to President Goodluck Jonathan after a two-day work-torule last week. The President promised them 40 tickets, which they now claim may have been withdrawn after a meeting of governors with the President on Tuesday night. Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam said yesterday that the PDP might implode, should tickets be conceded to senators. Suswam is bidding to take over from Senator Barnabas Gemade. He vowed not to step down for the senator. PDP senators may renew their work-torule. The PDP Senate caucus met for over two hours yesterday after which a source said “firm decisions were taken on a number of issues, including our fate in 2015”. The emergency closed door meeting was said to have been held after plenary to review the outcome of the Villa parley. The lawmakers resolved to renew their battle with the Presidency and the party, following information that the party and the Presidency may go back on the agreement to give Continued on page 4

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

•Oshiomhole...yesterday

Jonathan’s performance poor, say APC leaders •Tambuwal, Buhari, Atiku, Tinubu, governors at Oshiomhole’s anniversary

PPOSITION leaders launched yesterday a blistering criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech at his declaration to run for a second term. The sixth anniversary of the administration of Edo State Gover-

From Osagie Otabor, Osemwingie Ben-Ogbemudia Benin and Miriam Ekene-Okoro

nor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin •Gen. Buhari (left) and Atiku...yesterday City provided the platform for the At the ceremony were party Okorocha, Sokoto State Goveropposition politicians to gather chair Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, nor Aliyu Wamakko, Gen. Muand react to Tuesday’s presiden- House Speaker Aminu Tambuw- hammadu Buhari, ex-Vice Presitial speech. al, Imo State Governor Rochas Continued on page 4

Two die as female suicide bomber strikes in school Hunters retake Adamawa town from Boko Haram

STORY ON PAGES 4 & 64

•ONE IN FOUR NIGERIANS AT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE RISK P64 CENTENARY N100 NOTE OUT P63

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS

Malabugate.

•Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcoming British High Commisioner Dr Andrew Pocock who visited his office at the Freedom House, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Barring any last minute change, a United Kingdom High Court is set to bring the actors in the Malabugate to the dock to account for their wrongs. The embargo on their open prosecution has been lifted, reports Assistant Editor (Investigations) JOKE KUJENYA

•From left : Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Arco Group Plc, Alfred Okoigun, Chairman, Joseph Akpieyi, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser Dennis Ayisire and Director, Julie Okoigun at the company’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos .... yesterday. PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

•From left: Deputy Dirctor, Pharmaceuticals, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Ololade Alabi, Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Kinsley Ejiofor, Assistant Director, Cosmetics and Allied Product, Alhaji Shaba Mohammed at a news conference on the agency’s activities in Lagos... yesterday. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Tenece, Mr. Kingsley Eze; Lead, Accenture Oracle

Alliance, Mr. Olatunde Olajide; and CEO, GV Alliance Partners Limited, Mr. Ephraim Umo during the Oracle Day 2014 in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

T was a secret deal blown open by in-fighting. And left to the actors, the full details will forever remain opaque. Their plot to be tried in private for their roles in the messy deal has fallen like a pack of cards. Court documents exclusively obtained by The Nation have shown that any moment from now, their trial will begin in a court in London. A United Kingdom (UK) High Court, according to court papers in the newspaper’s possession, last Friday, announced a lift of the secrecy order on legal challenge to the corrupt oil deal. This followed an application by an anti-corruption body, The Corner House, challenging the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) not to get freeze $215 million in alleged proceeds of crime from the Malabu oil deal. In July, sequel to the commercial court ruling in favour of a middleman in the deal, more than $110 million of the suspect funds left the UK for Switzerland. But the funds were frozen in Switzerland at the request of the Italian authorities. Following a mutual legal assistance request from Italy, the UK authorities were able to further freeze another $80 million of the funds remaining in their country. The Corner House, with an anticorruption watchdog, Global Witness and Re: Common, an Italian non-governmental organisation and a Nigerian, Dotun Oloko, an anti-corruption campaigner, had written to the court raising concerns that the frozen funds were proceeds of crime. The team also requested the London Metropolitan Police’s Proceeds of Corruption Unit (POCU) and the Italian authorities to investigate. The police sought action under the Proceeds of Crime Act, but the Crown Prosecution Service declined to initiate proceedings. The Corner House, therefore, sought a judicial review of the CPS’s decision, arguing among others, that: · The OPL 245 deal was corrupt and illegal under both Nigerian and UK laws; · It was likely, on the available evidence, that a substantial part of the monies paid to Malabu had been used to pay bribes; and ·The CPS’s failure to act was unlawful Thus, an application for permission to bring a judicial review of the CPS failure to act was held in secret, at the request of the CPS, because of the danger of “tipping off” those being investigated by the police. Significantly too, key ENI figures are now under investigation by magistrates

•Etete

in Milan for alleged corruption relating to the OPL 245 deal. The corporation’s new CEO, Claudio Descalzi; his predecessor Paolo Scaroni; and its chief development, operations and technology officer, Roberto Casula, have all been named as suspects in the bribery investigation.

Now that the court has spoken Now, the court has okayed the open trial of the actors, meaning Shell, Eni, a former oil minister under the late Gen. Sani Abacha military regime, Dan Etete and others are in for a tough time for their roles in the opaque deal. Sources at The Corner House told The Nation that Police in the UK and magistrates in Italy are intensifying investigations into the deal, which involves the sale of one of Nigeria’s largest offshore oil concessions, known as Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 245) - a massive (1,958 square kilometre), which encompasses two deepwater fields -Zabazaba and Etan, at depths of between 1,500 and 2,000 metres in the offshore waters in the Gulf of Guinea. The OPL 245 field is estimated to hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of crude oil, equivalent to nearly one quarter of Nigeria’s total proven reserves, according to industry figures. Subsidiaries of oil multinationals, Royal Dutch Shell and ENI, are deeply involved in this deal, though both have in court documents denied any illegal conduct in the deal. A July 2013 UK High Court case of Energy Venture Partners Versus Malabu Oil and Gas, Lady Justice Gloster of the Queen’s Bench Division, Commercial Court ruled and says: “I find as a fact that, from its incorporation and at all material times, Chief Etete had a substantial beneficial interest in Malabu”, Approved Judgement, Case 2011 FOLIO-792 17 July 2013. The House of Representatives investigation into the case also found Dan Etete is the 30percent owner of Malabu”. The OPL 245 concession was originally awarded in 1998 by Etete to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company court documents have shown belong to him. A statement by The Corner House after the court lifted the ban on the open trial of players in the deal said as far back as 2011, Shell and ENI paid $1.1 billion, in addition to a signature bonus of $200 million, to the Federal Government for the conces-

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS

e...Day of reckoning for actors

•Abacha

•Scaroni

•Casula

•Descalzi

•Beagent

sion. Also, the Federal Government transferred $1.1 billion to Etete’s company, Malabu, which effectively converted into money an asset that had been acquired by Malabu Oil and Gas in highly suspicious circumstances. Shell and ENI deny paying any money to Malabu Oil and Gas, but were aware and in agreement that the deal was for the benefit of Malabu.

A block worth dying for Earlier in 2011, a middle-man, according to The Corner House report, acting for Malabu had sued the company in the UK Commercial Court for fees he claimed he was being owed for services rendered to Malabu in the sale of OPL 245. This made the Court to freeze some $215 million from the proceeds of the oil concession sale. Following a complaint in February 2012 by Mohammed Sani Abacha, son of the late Gen. Abacha, and Pecos Energy Limited, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) began investigating Malabu Oil and Gas and the OPL 245 deal. The House of Representatives also stepped in, calling for the deal to be cancelled, condemning Shell’s lack of transparency and describing the deal as “contrary to the laws of Nigeria.” The lawmakers also criticised the deal for committing the country to unacceptable indemnities and liabilities. They reprimanded Shell and Eni’s subsidiaries for their actions. The House of Representatives’ report found that a 447 million barrels of proven reserves was used to construct Shell’s 2003 production sharing agreement for OPL 245. However, the House also noted that a study, conducted in 2007, put the ‘probable’ reserves (P50) at 9.23billion barrels. Eni stated that OPL 245 contains nearly 500 million barrels of already discovered oil. While none of these figures have been confirmed by the company, the block would appear to be of considerable future value. Shell and Eni each own 50 per cent of the block.

What manner of a deal? After the OPL245 was awarded in 1998 to Malabu, the price was a “signature bonus” of $20m. Malabu was said to have paid only $2m. It planned to bring in Shell as a 40 per cent partner. A report by The Economist noted that the return of the country to democracy worked against it. The gov-

ernment cancelled the deal. “The block was put out to bid and Shell won the right to operate it, in a production-sharing contract with the national petroleum company, subject to payment of an enlarged signature bonus of $210m. Shell did not immediately pay this, for reasons it declines to explain, but began spending heavily on exploration in the block. “Malabu then sued the government. After much legal wrangling, they reached a deal in 2006 that reinstated the firm as the block’s owner. This caught Shell unawares, even though it had conducted extensive due diligence and had a keen understanding of the Nigerian operating climate thanks to its long and often bumpy history in the country. It responded by launching various legal actions, including taking the government to the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes. “Malabu ploughed on, hiring Ednan Agaev, a former Soviet diplomat, to find other investors. Rosneft of Russia and Total of France, among others, showed interest but were put off by Malabu’s disputes with Shell and the government. Things moved forward again when Emeka Obi, a Nigerian subcontracted by Mr Agaev,

brought in ENI (which already owned a nearby oil block). After further toing and froing—and no end of meetings in swanky European hotels—ENI and Shell agreed in 2011 to pay $1.3 billion for the block.” Brendan O’Donnell of Global Witness, an oil campaigner, said of the deal: “The deal is also rife with secret payments and shadowy deals that are not just bad for people in developing countries, but generally bad for business,” said He said in 2011, the deal saw subsidiaries of Eni and Royal Dutch Shell consenting to pay $1.1billion for OPL 245. This was paid by Eni and Shell to the Federal Government, which then paid the same amount to Malabu Oil and Gas, owned by Etete. Till date, Shell and Eni are denying paying money to Malabu. Rather, they admitted they paid the money to the government, though court evidence revealed that Shell knew the payment was going to Malabu and had negotiated directly with Etete over ‘iced champagne’. During a U.S. legal tussle, the Honourable Bernard J. Fried described Federal Government’s role in the deal as that of ‘the proverbial straw man’, ‘holding $1.1billion for ultimate payment to Malabu’. Court documents

made available to The Nation show that this came up “In the Matter of Arbitration between Int’l Legal Consulting Limited and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and J. P. Morgan Chase and Co and all of its subsidiaries and affiliates, including but not limited to JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA”, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York”.

What fate for the oil giants? The last week of September, according to a report titled ‘Corruption, Oil’, by Simon Taylor, co-founder and Director, Global Witness, was bad for Eni. Within hours of news breaking that its newly-appointed CEO, Claudio Descalzi along with the company, are under formal investigation for corruption relating to Malabugate, its share price plummeted. Taylor wrote that although Eni had since recovered. But despite its denials of the allegations, the company wiped some $1.4 billion off Eni’s share value. International anti-corruption activists are urging Shell executives to tell shareholders what they knew about Etete’s ownership of Malabu, including their meetings with the former oil minister and his representatives, and to stop lobbying to weaken laws in the

U.S. and EU that require these sorts of payments to be made public as indicated in and supported by the API’s October 2012 lawsuit. O’Donnell said: “There can be few better examples of why transparency is needed in the oil sector than this deal. Over a billion dollars has been lost to the Nigerian people, and Shell could lose a chunk of its future business in Africa. So why is it lobbying to weaken laws that would stop this happening? Therefore, investors should know about the risks the company is taking and citizens should be able to follow money paid for their natural resources. Otherwise money that should go to health and education can end up in the wallets of crooked ex-ministers and who knows who else.” Nicholas Hildyard of The Corner House said: “The CPS had ample opportunity to restrain the funds. It was invited, requested and challenged to do so but failed to act. The money was restrained only because of the actions of the Italian authorities. If Italy was able to get the funds frozen, what stopped the UK in the first place?” Jamie Beagent of law firm Leigh Day, who acted for The Corner House in the judicial review proceedings, said:”We are obviously pleased that the funds have finally been frozen and that an investigation is now taking place into this murky affair. It is only a shame that the UK authorities ducked their responsibilities in this regard and that it was left to the Italian authorities to pursue this matter with the appropriate rigour.” The Corner House, Global Witness and Re:Common are writing to the Chair of the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Margaret Hodge MP, informing the Committee of their concerns and requesting that the Committee undertake an inquiry into whether or not the existing UK legislation on restraining proceeds of crime is fit for purpose. The PAC released in March 2014 a highly critical report on confiscation orders, highlighting the CPS failure to recover assets deemed proceeds of crime. These are, indeed, scary times for Etete, Shell, Eni and others involved in this deal blown open by in-fighting about how to share the filthy booty. Nigerians are waiting to see them take their stands at the dock to answer for their sins against transparency.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Nigeria to buy arms from Russia

IGERIA is seeking to buy arms from Russia, The Nation learnt yester-

day. It is unclear if Russia has granted Nigeria’s request, following an arms embargo by the United States. The military has opted for more aerial bombardments of insurgents than infantry encounters. The aerial strikes have assisted in killing more insurgents in the last few months. A source said a delegation had gone to Russia for talks on the arms purchase. If all goes well with the talks, there will be orders for war planes, helicopters and other equipment.

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) unveiling the specimen of the Centenary N100 commemorative note in Abuja…yesterday. With him are: Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.

2015: PDP senators renew battle against governors Continued from page 1

automatic tickets to no fewer 40 senators. It was learnt that PDP governors at a meet ing with

Jonathan on Tuesday insisted that he and the party’s leadership should take another look at automatic tickets for senators. The governors reportedly said that instead of granting 40 automatic tickets to senators, they (governors) should be allowed to take up the issue and review it on a state-by-state basis. One of the senators told our correspondent that they saw the governors’ stand as a fresh move to outwit them. Suspicious of the governors’ plan, the senators resolved to send Mark to the President and the party to drive home their point. The source said: “Senators are not happy and I can tell you that a number of people are already contemplating ditching the party.” It was also gathered that 11 senators of the PDP from the Northwest may have threatened to dump the party for what they described as its high handedness. A source at the meeting said the senators claimed that the PDP ticket was fast becoming a

“poisoned chalice” in the zone and that the treatment being meted out to them by the governors was compounding the situation. “If care is not taken, the PDP could become a minority in the Senate before the end of the year. “The danger again is that going back and forth on agreements reached with the highest organs of the PDP is painting a bad picture of the party,” a source at the meeting said. Suswam said though he had tremendous respect for Gemade, he would contest his seat. He insisted that politics is not based on age but on the people’s acceptance. Suswam, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said concession of elective offices is not democratic. He said as a democratic party, the PDP would not initiate or promote a policy that will lead to the implosion of the party. Suswam said: “No. No. No. The PDP is a highly democratic party and all of you know. PDP will not bring a policy that will create problem and create self implosion in the party. “The party has not given any person automatic ticket. Even with President Goodluck, we unanimously adopted him as our sole candidate and we want

that to be a precedent subsequently that a sitting president should have the right of first refusal. “We want to also extend that to governors eventually. But this is what will evolve. It is not something that you go and put as a law. So, no person has given any senator any automatic ticket. “The party and the President feel that as we grow institutions, that certain things should be part of growing that institution but this is by way of an appeal where is it is possible and practicable and so when people begin to engage in propaganda and say they were given automatic tickets, that is not the way democracy is practised.” He went on:”There is nothing like that. No such arrangement or no such meeting has taken place and no person has promised any person any automatic ticket anywhere. “Where there is consensus and acceptance, that is possible, but where people feel that they should go to the field, the party has allowed those people to go to the field. “So there is nothing like automatic ticket given to any person. The person who would have been given automatic ticket would have been the President

but that wasn’t done. “What was done was that the governors met and said, ‘look we will support only President Jonathan’. “The legislature said, look we will support only President Jonathan and when the National Working Committee of the party met and the National Executive Committee, they also unanimously agreed that the President should be the sole candidate of our own party. Suswam said Gemade promised to serve only one term in the Ssenate when he contested in 2011. Suswam said: “I have nothing against Senator Gemade and I still respect him up till tomorrow as an elder of the state and as an elder statesman of this country. “But then we are in a contest. Political contest is not about age. It is about who the people want and the people want me in that zone and based even on our own understanding in the senatorial zone, he should not be feeling entitled - you know there is an entitled mentality. “That is what is the problem. If something does not belong to you by the local arrangement on ground and you now feel entitled because you were this you were that, all of us have been Continued on page 67

FromYusuf Alli, Abuja

The source said: “The US has refused to sell arms and lethal equipment to Nigeria to prosecute the war against Boko Haram. “The US, instead, prefers to concentrate on assistance to Nigeria to consolidate its democracy. “We have had pilots trained in the US. We train our military pilots in the US. They come to Nigeria for conversion. “The Federal Government has no choice than to look elsewhere for war planes, helicopters and lethal equipment against Boko Haram insurgents. “We have opened up negotiaContinued on page 67

Two die as female suicide bomber strikes in school

SUICIDE bomber struck yesterday in Kotangora, Niger State, killing a student. The female bomber also died. The Federal College of Education (FCE) Kotangora incident came 48 hours after 36 pupils of the Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State died in a similar incident. Unable to get to the school hall where Distance Learning undergraduates of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, were writing exams, the suicide bomber died along with another female student. Four others

Jide Orintunsin and Evelyn Osagie, Minna

were injured. The bomb blast occurred around 12:30pm as the suicide bomber was rushing towards the hall. As the bomb detonated, students scampered for their lives, jumping through the windows. Naomi Gana, who was lucky to have finished her papers before the explosion, said: “I saw the bomber. I saw her running towards the library and I thank God before she got to the entrance the bomb went off. The Continued on page 67

Senate summons Service Chiefs •‘29 policemen still missing’

HE Senate yesterday summoned the Service Chiefs over increasing insurgency in the North. They are to appear today. The Service Chief are expected to brief the lawmakers specifically on the state of affairs in the Northeast and the effectiveness of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. A senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

the media, added that the security chiefs were also expected to give account of expenditure deployed in the fight against Boko Haram. For the meeting are Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, Continued on page 67

YESTERDAY’S ERROR The rider to the front page lead’s headline should have read: “One more dies in hospital”. The error is regretted.

Jonathan’s performance poor, say APC leaders Continued from page 1

dent Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Audu Ogbeh. Also there were ex-governors Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Segun Oni (Ekiti), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, among several others. The huge rally was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. Ogbeh berated President Jonathan for the loss of Mubi, Adamawa State’s commercial town to Boko Haram, saying there is no law recognising the need for special forces to fight the insurgents. Ogbeh noted that it was worrisome that the Army that has built a reputation for strength and discipline for over 60 years was retreating from Boko Haram. He said the fate of the army was brought about by incompetence and corruption under the PDP government. Said Ogbeh: “That statement from Jonathan to deploy special forces to fight Boko Haram sounded to me like the funeral oration for the Nigeria military because we know that the Nigeria military before now was a powerful force. We are asking all of you to think. 2015 is near. If you believe everything they said, you may as well believe that you will find ice block in hell

fire. “Let people speak the truth and not deceive us. Four weeks ago, we were told that a truce had been brokered between the insurgents and the Nigeria Government, but now we know it was a well packaged lie to Nigerians because there was going to be a rally. If people in government keep lying to you and asking you to support them; you will be digging your own grave by supporting them. I left the PDP because they were turning it into a mafia.” Tambuwal also gave insights into why he dumped the PDP for the APC. According to him, the system of governance at the centre is already malfunctioning. “We have accepted to join the movement of progressives to change the system. The system today is malfunctioning and has failed in several ways. “You have to change a system that is not working. We have a cabal that has hijacked the instrument of authority. We should vote them out in February. What do the people of the South South have to show for voting the President? Nothing.” The Speaker said President Jonathan’s Transformation of Nigeria (TAN) is populated by economic saboteurs who want to protect their wealth. He asked people in TAN to

settle their debts with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Tambuwal warned Nigerians, especially those from the Southsouth, against voting for leaders based on sentiments, adding that Nigeria needs a good leader who would not be elected on sentiments. The Speaker said Nigerians were deceived to vote for President Jonathan based on certain sentiments. Atiku urged the people to ensure victory for APC in next year’s general election. He noted that true transformation could be felt and seen in Edo. “Transformation is on ground in Edo but not the kind of transformation that the PDP is doing on television. Come to Edo to feel and see how real transformation is happening. You will see true transformation in all APC states. There is nothing in PDP states. You only see propaganda. Let us make sure that APC is brought back to the country.” Asiwaju Tinubu, reiterated his call for President Jonathan to resign for the fall of Mubi in Adamawa State. Tinubu, who faulted the trial of some soldiers for alleged mutiny, noted that no leadership would sit down and watch any part of its territory taken away

by insurgents. He said, “You round soldiers up and say you want to execute them. Did they give them weapons to fight? If a military barracks with weapons could be abandoned by soldiers, who did they leave the weapons for ? And you say you don’t know them and want to run again. “President Jonathan should resign. We will sweep the PDP away. We will show them that the power of the people is greater than the barrel of their guns. Democratic power is not obtained easily. You have to be ready with your votes and sacrifice that day for your freedom.” Tinubu, who described the PDP as Poverty Development Party, said the APC would use surgery to separate the PDP from INEC and lamented the reduction of voters in Lagos to 4.8m from an initial 6.2m. To Odigie-Oyegun, Nigeria is being destroyed by a totally” clueless” PDP. He alleged that Mubi, next to the hometown of Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was taken without a single shot being fired. “The insurgents just walked into Mubi. It seems there was no attempt to secure Mubi.” Oshiomhole, who described SURE-P as SURE-Fraud, said it was the highest level of corrup-

tion to use individuals rather than institution to distribute public funds. Oshiomhole, who reminisced on the state of Edo before the advent of his administration, said he started by fighting against election rigging and ballot snatching and dealt with flooding by taking a holistic approach. He said his administration built roads and infrastructure to fight election rigging. Oshiomhole warned President Jonathan against militarising Edo during elections, saying the state is not an enemy territory to be targeted by the armed forces. He said: “We will not fall to the PDP. APC will defeat the president in Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Delta states. We will continue to bury the PDP in Edo State. The score card of the PDP in Edo for 16 years is the resurfacing of the Ofosu-Benin express road. It is an old dual carriage way built by the military many years ago. “Let the President show us the 96 per cent contribution of development he has brought to Edo. What we get is the PDP appropriating federal money in the name of SURE-P, which is SURE-Fraud, to a former deputy governor that was rigged into office. He is the one they put public fund in his hand to be paying PDP thugs.

•Wamakko

“We will not vote on the basis of tribalism. We will vote for the party that can give us power. As long as PDP is in power, Nigerian people will be out of power. They can spend $100bn, you will not have power; it will only power their pockets. The privatisation was given to people who have no knowledge of power. If you want to remain in darkness, vote for them. “If you want power, vote for change. We can never be intimidated. Those boasting that they will rig the election will rig and govern Nigeria with a stolen mandate. Any attempt to misuse Continued on page 57

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THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS

National Assembly’s workers protest over non-payment of October salaries

ATIONAL Assembly’s workers under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) protested yesterday, alleging non-payment of their October’s salaries. The protest, it was learnt yesterday, was informed by the Presidency’s failure to release the third quarter allocations of the National Assembly. It was also gathered yesterday that the allowances and October salaries of senators and members of the House of Representatives and their legislative aides were affected by the pending allocation. This prompted a protest by the workers, who chanted solidarity songs yesterday as senators resumed for plenary session. The Vice Chairman, Caretaker Committee of PASAN, Stella Nwene, gave a notice of the protest through a letter dated November 4.

•Legislature’s third quarter allocation pending From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The association also sent an internal notice to the workers through its Publicity Secretary, Godwin Kyepso, threatening to ground legislative activities at the National Assembly. But the protest led to the arrest and detention of five legislative workers by the Police. They were detained and asked to write statements. The Nation learnt that the leadership of the National Assembly met the Presidency over the issue with Aso Rock offering to remit 60 per cent of the pending allocation. The Assembly’s leadership was said to have rejected the offer, saying it was either 100 per cent or nothing. Though the delay in the payment of allowances and salaries

came against the background of a revenue shortfall due to falling oil prices, some Assembly workers believed that the delay might be “because of the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).” One of the workers, who spoke under anonymity, said: “You can imagine the coincidence of non-payment of salaries and allowances of the legislators, who are preparing for re-election in 2015 and the recent crisis caused by the defection of the Speaker. “It is painful to know that the meagre money being paid to workers is being delayed despite the Minister of Finance’s claims that Nigeria is not broke. So, what is happening?”

But some of the workers have condemned the action of the police, particular what they described as “the inhuman treatment” meted out against the arrested workers. A security operative, who declined to be named, said the police authorities met for hours with some of those arrested, impressing it on them to suspend the planned protest, pending the conclusion of negotiations. He said it was, therefore, surprising that the leaders of the workers went ahead with the protest, which, he claimed, might have been hijacked by unknown persons, “if it was not halted by the police”. According to him, those being held are helping the police with their investigation.

Ogun senators write Mark on defection to SDP

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

•Mark

HE three Ogun State senators - Adegbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Akin Odunsi (Ogun West) and Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central) – have formally submitted their letters of defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Kaka, who is the chairman of the state caucus at the National Assembly, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that three of them have delivered the letters to the leadership of the Senate through the Senate President,

David Mark. He noted that their action followed the “fractionalisation in the party (APC) in Ogun State, leading to the emergence of parallel executives from ward, local government area to state levels”. The senator noted that “our protest, appeal and demand for justice from the national leadership of the party yielded no result; rather, the faction that flagrantly flouted the party’s guidelines was given recognition by the National Executive”. He added that they did not subsequently partake in the National Convention, saying: “We rightly believe in the legal aphorism that ‘you cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand’”. Kaka said they were left with no option than to withdraw their membership from the APC, after due consultation

with their constituents and declared for the SDP. He said: “We gave a very long rope. We felt that we cannot be looking for peace when the other party is not interested in peace. Our supporters are getting restless and the deadline for submission of forms is closing. We cannot continue to wait endlessly”. Asked whether they could still reconsider their step, Kaka said that only God could make them to change their minds. The senator added: “We have waited for over two and half years to even have an interaction with the governor; the governor continued to avoid us. We have explored all channels to resolve the crisis without success. Maybe the leadership of the party thinks otherwise about us. “The tendency for impunity and injustice led us to where we are today. A situation where

‘INEC should not accept PDP’s nomination’

HE Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to, among others, restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any nomination from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the next year’s presidential election. The request was part of prayers in a suit filed yesterday by the party’s presidential aspirant, Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola. Duke-Abiola claimed to have paid N2 million for the party’s Expression of Interest Form, but she was not issued the form. She argued that the “PDP cannot validly hold the primaries”, having allegedly flouted the provisions of its constitution and the Electoral Act by refusing her Expression of Interest Form despite accepting her payment. Duke-Abiola also asked the court to restrain the party from holding its scheduled primary meant to nominate a presidential candidate for next year’s presidential election. In the suit filed by her lawyer, Festus Keyamo, the plaintiff stated that the party shunned her repeated demand for the Expres-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

sion of Interest Form after paying the N2 million fee into the party’s account. Defendants in the suit are the PDP and INEC. The plaintiff said the court should declare that failure of the PDP to issue her the Expression of Interest Form was a violation of Article 3 (1) (a) and (b) of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections, 2014 of the PDP. She said the court should declare that by virtue of provisions of PDP Constitution and Section 87(1) and (9) of the Electoral Act 2010, the party was under obligation to comply with all the rules made under the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014 of the PDP. Other reliefs sought in the suit include a declaration that: •the failure, refusal or neglect of the 1st Defendant (PDP) to make available to the Plaintiff the Expression of Interest Form code no PD 002/P, despite repeated demands and upon payment of the mandatory N2 million is a breach of Article 3(1)(a) and (b) of the ‘Electoral Guide-

lines for Primary Elections 2014 of the PDP’. •in view of Section 87 (1), (7) and (9) of the Electoral Act, 2010, the 1st defendant cannot lawfully hold a valid primaries to nominate a presidential candidate for the purpose of 2015 General elections. •having failed to comply with the ‘Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014 of the PDP’, and in view of the provision of section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010, the 1st Defendant (PDP) cannot validly field any candidate for the Presidential Election in 2015. •the 2nd defendant cannot accept any candidate fielded by the 1st defendant for purposes of the Presidential Election in 2015, by reason of the provisions of Section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act, 2010; and •An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant from accepting any candidate fielded by the 1st defendant for purposes of the 2015 presidential elections.” The case has not been assigned to any judge for hearing.

three senators, seven House of Representatives members, the deputy governor, many members of the state House of Assembly and Chief Segun Osoba himself are considered to be nobody, who else will be somebody?” On why they chose SDP, he said besides their ideological orientation, the SDP was the party Osoba used to become governor.

‘Financial autonomy for state assemblies soon’ From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

TATE assemblies in Nigeria will soon begin to enjoy financial autonomy as the National Assembly. The Chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies and Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Samuel Ikon, said this yesterday. Ikon, who spoke with reporters in his office, said the clause that would ensure financial independence for state legislatures was included in the amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly. The National Assembly, in 2012, held a public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, where financial autonomy for state assemblies and local government was discussed by the people. Ikon praised the National Assembly for listening to the people and including the clause in the proposed amendment, which was recently handed over to state assemblies through the Conference chairman. On the perception of members of the public that the “governors have pocketed the state assemblies”, the Speaker said the state government under Chief Godswill Akpabio had done so well that it would amount to madness for anyone to oppose him. “In my constituency, he has constructed roads which was last done about 25 years ago as well as commence technical education in one of the schools which lost its technical status many years ago. How can we that represent the people oppose a man that has done so much for them?” he queried.

Group warns Ndoma-Egba against ‘campaign of calumny’

GROUP, the Cross River Truth Coalition (CRTC), has urged Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba to stop his campaign of calumny against Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a statement yesterday by its General Secretary, Okokon Bassey, the group said: “Rather than speak on issues, we have watched with shock the continuous use of lies as a political tool by the Senate Leader’sý campaign organisation.” The group said an example was the claim by Ndoma-Egba’s campaign chief, Ernest Irek, on a television programme was that in Cross River State, roads were built on loyalty to the governor. The group wondered how somebody could make such a claim on a national television network, when his partner, who also appeared on the programme with him, Mr. Venatius Ikem, was the Works Commissioner until two years ago.

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS NTI to graduate 56,235 trained teachers From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

•National leader, All Pregressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu speaking at the sixth anniversary of the administration of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City...yesterday. Behind him are party chieftains: National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (fourth right); Deputy Chairman (South) Chief Segun Oni (fifth right); National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed (third right); Chief of Staff, Edo State Government House Patrick Obahiagbon (second right) and others.

Vehicles must have speed limit, says FRSC boss

LL vehicles plying the Nigerian roads must be installed with speed limit devices by June, next year, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, said yesterday. Oyeyemi, while unveiling his reform agenda to reduce crashes and fatalities as well as make the road safer for all users, said the FRSC got a Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval to enforce the law. He added that by the end of the deadline, all vehicles, tricycles, salon cars, articulated lorries, tippers, trailers, among others, must have speed limits devices installed on them. He spoke when he visited the Head Office of The Nation Newspapers, where he was received by top management team led by the Managing Director, Mr. Victor Ifijeh. The Corps Marshal said the FRSC was committed to changing the driving culture of Nigerians, to make the road network safer and to encourage more foreign investors as a result of initiatives put in place. Boboye added that “penalty point count for traffic offenders” would be revived and refortified soon, as a result of the successes of the biometric features in the new driver’s licence. He said while the minimum penalty of five point goes with a warning, anyone who amassed 15 points would face the maximum penalty for traffic offence,

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

which is the withdrawal of driver’s licence for one year and a referral to the driving school. His words: “Now, we would be joining the league of developing nations. We no longer have to chase you about because we now have a robust database of vehicle licences. “All what our officers needed to do was to take the picture of the offending vehicle and get its number plate. Once we get this, we would get all the information of the fleeing offender and send to him, his fine for the offence committed. “It is in his interest to go and pay the fine or risks a bigger penalty if he is caught again and is found to have defaulted”. On the Federal High Court’s ruling purportedly obtained by a lawyer, Tope Alabi, against the FRSC on September 26, this year, Oyeyemi said an Appeal Court in a ruling on October 31, affirmed the position of the corps, to enforce fines imposed on traffic law offenders. He explained: “It is pertinent to note that in the hierarchy of courts and based on the principle of decided cases, the decisions of Appellate Courts are superior to those of lower courts. And we wish to state that the recent Court of Appeal’s judgment in favour of FRSC in the case of the FRSC Vs Emmanuel Ofoegbu supersedes that of the High Court”.

Pneumonia vaccines coming • Oyeyemi at The Nation ...yesterday

He said the corps is not a revenue generation agency, but one determined to instill a change in the attitude of drivers and road users. According to him, though the corps would usually issue an offender a fine, such offender has a right to waive his right of appeal by simply paying the fine or head for the courts. The corps, he stressed, would always be willing to obey the orders of the courts.

He called for more partnership with the nation’s media, in ensuring that appropriate messages aimed at promoting road safety were disseminated to ensure that all road users knew how they could use the roads safely. On the activities of the corps for the Christmas and New Year, Oyeyemi said it would deploy all its officers and men on the roads to render preventive and post-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

crashes services to all road users. He said while effective monitoring and enforcement over the years have led to a drastic reduction in fatalities, especially on the major road corridors, he added that research showed that more enlightenment and enforcement needed to be carried to all nooks and crannies since roads considered safe before were now becoming prone to fatal crashes.

Road crash: 14 burnt to death in Kwara

OURTEEN persons were burnt to death yesterday in an accident

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The truck, which was loaded with cattle and pasinvolving a fuel tanker and a sengers, was said to be comtruck. ing from the North while the About 14 others sustained tanker was heading towards varying degrees of burnt the opposite direction when injuries after the two vehicles the accident occurred at dawn. collided on the OgbomosoThe Kwara State Sector Jebba Road in Ilorin. Commander of Federal Road

HE National Teachers Institute (NTI) is set to graduate 56,235 trained teachers, according to its Director-General, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu. Sharehu, who spoke with reporters while unveiling activities marking the institution’s convocation and biannual Teachers’ Summit, said 56235 students of National Teachers Certificate, Advanced Diploma in Education and Post-Graduate Diploma in Education were expected to graduate. He added that the students include 37,235 for PGDE, 18,831 with NCE and 146 for Advanced Diploma in Education. The NTI Director General absolved teachers, who graduated from the institution, of any blame regarding poor quality of teachers. Rather, he said state governments should be blamed for not embracing a Federal Government institution such as NTI. He noted that most state governments who are rejecting NTI products are only playing politics because they have established their state colleges of education and preferred to employ their products rather than that of the NTI. According to him, “in most third world countries, when somebody is competing with you, he would resort to condemning you rather than showing his expertise so that people would patronise him. But they would not do that, rather they would attack and criticised you.” Sharehu said NTI had the same entry criteria with other institutions, and all students admitted into the institutions must have that entry requirement before they are admitted. He said NTI’s facilitators were about the best in the country, who are produced by the Nigerian universities and other institutions. “We do not import facilitators from Ghana, Cote’d Voire. They are all Nigerian products, who have been produced and hatched by the Nigerian system. So, if the system is wrong somewhere, we should go back and correct the system and not blame NTI,” he said.

Safety Corps (FRSC), Mary Wakawa, confirmed the incident. She said: “One of the heavy duty vehicles veered off its lane and collided with the other. This was around 5am. “Both vehicles went on flame. Thirteen died on the spot while one died in the hospital. We rushed 14 in-

jured passengers with severe burns to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). “Already, with the support of the Kwara State Transport Management Agency(KWTMA), we had evacuated the wreck.” Wakawa, while cautioning the road users against

excessive speed, night driving and driving exhaustion, said the 13 charred bodies of the victims had been given a mass burial. She attributed the accident to exhaustion, adding: “Our drivers should stop long driving overnight. They need to rest to avoid human errors on the roads.”

BOUT 180,000 children under the age of five in Nigeria die yearly of Pneumonia, it was learnt yesterday. The disease, which is said to be the second highest killer of infants after malaria, affects about 6.4 million children in the country. Also, the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency (NPHCDA) noted that it would need about $340m to fund routine immunisation in 2020. Speaking yesterday at the 2014 World Pneumonia Day, with the theme: “Universal Access for Pneumonia prevention and care”, the Executive Director, Dr Mohammed Ado, assured the gathering that government would roll out the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) by December, with the aim of addressing inequality in the society. He explained that the vaccine was in private hospitals at a high cost, which was beyond the ordinary people.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS

•Fashola (fourth left); Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (fourth right); Commissioner for Housing Bosun Jeje (third right); Sagoe (second left, behind); Executive Director, Shared Services, Bayowa Foresythe (left, behind); Executive Director, Operations, Mrs. Omobola Fashola (left); Deputy Chairman, Lagos West All Progressives Congress (APC), Funsho Ologunde (second right, behind) and the new home owners ...yesterday. PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEYIN

Fashola: we’ve delivered on our promises

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has criticised the Federal Government on its inability to contain the activities of Boko Haram insurgents. He said the government’s failure on security was responsible for the sect’s takeover of some parts of the country. The governor spoke yesterday at the public draw of the monthly Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMs) at LTV

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja. Fashola said the situation in the country would change if Nigerians chose their leaders based on the best criteria rather than religious or ethnic bases. He said: “Be on your guard in 2015. Don’t fall for just any line. We, on our part, we see promises as something sacred and must be kept. We make promises and we keep them. “We promised to deliver

200 homes monthly and we have kept our promise. These are the physical examples that we keep our promise and it is not about tribe or religion.” The governor advised Nigerians not to base their decisions on who lead them during the next dispensation on tribal or religious sentiments. “When you are making your choice, forget about religion, forget about tribe because you are not choosing us to come and pray for you, but

to work for you. God has already chosen the reverends and the imams who will pray for us and give us full spiritual diets. “What we need now are people who will help us face our physical battles such as providing electricity, schools, security, health care and jobs. That is what we need.” The Executive Secretary,Lagos HOMs, Akinola Kojo Sageo said Lagos HOMs had held nine draws and given out 331 homes.

Fayose freezes Assembly’s accounts

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has reportedly frozen the accounts of the House of Assembly. The Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, has condemned what he calls the incessant blackmail and intimidation of the House by the government. He said Fayose’s reactions to the refusal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were going beyond approved standards of modern governance. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said the latest allegation of the demand of N135 million for the screening of commissioner-nominees was a propaganda taken too far. The Speaker said the reports in the media were misleading and the House would not be distracted from making quality laws for Ekiti people as done in the last four years without asking for money. The statement said: “The standard practice is to present the list of the nominees to plenary; the nominees will follow with the submission of

•Speaker accuses governor of blackmail From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

their credentials. They will be screened before confirmation. “The governor sent three names on Monday and the list was read that day. Since it was a public document, we read the letter the second day at plenary. “Nobody submitted any credential. We don’t know the nominees. They have not submitted their credentials for the appropriate committees to screen them. It is surprising that the governor expects the House to confirm the nominees immediately. This is strange in parliamentary conduct.” Omirin said the governor responded by freezing the bank accounts of the House of Assembly. “One arm of government cannot close down the activities of the other.How can you elevate intimidation and blackmail to an art of governance? “The chief judge was blackmailed that he took a bribe of

N20million to stall hearing on the local council development areas case and another alleged N200million to reassign the E11’s perjury case to Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi to return a guilty verdict on the governor. “After the judiciary had been blackmailed to submission, it is now the turn of the parliament to be brought to its knees by blackmailing members and freezing the accounts of the House as if the House is a department in the Governor’s Office.” The Speaker said the governor would have himself to blame if he continued in his anti-democratic conduct. “All members mentioned in the bribery scandal would go to court to seek justice. Ekiti radio and television managements would account for libel contained in their broadcasts. “All those involved in concocting these damaging acts will be made to account for their actions,” he said. Omirin said for pointing Fayose’s attention to the subsisting case on the local gov-

ernment in court, police and PDP thugs yesterday ransacked the home of Kayode Fasakin (Ekiti West Constituency II). The Speaker said the House would meet over “the reckless use” of the state media to blackmail the lawmakers, even as he added that the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) would be put on notice on the reckless and unprofessional use of the media to haunt the opposition. But Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary Idowu Adelusi dismissed the allegations. He said: “Governor Fayose has not ordered the freezing of the accounts of the House of Assembly and neither has he asked anybody to insult or assault the Speaker. “The Speaker should understand that today Fayose is his governor, and the office is sacred, and he is the symbol of Ekiti people. “If he in the name of politics continues to denigrate that office, he is denigrating the Ekiti people.”

Banks uncooperative, says Ekiti police chief

KITI State Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu has described banks operating in the state as “uncooperative” in their relations with the police. Lakanu, who addressed reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, through the command’s spokesperson, Victor Babayemi, accused top bank officials of being frugal in offering clues to assist the police in investigating bank robberies. The banks yesterday threatened to close shop owing to “insecurity”. They said some of their branches in Ikere and Ifaki had, in the last two months,

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

lost cash and other valuables to marauders. In Ado Ekiti, the state capital, many banks were closed yesterday.Many customers were stranded. Babayemi said: “The banks have been displaying taciturn behaviour. They have not, either individually or collectively, reported any threat to the police. “They just closed shop, forgetting the consequences. The commissioner was dismayed that they could close shop without informing him.”

‘We have advised bank officials to offer us clues on those workers known to live above their means. They have refused to do anything about it.’ The police chief said it was essential for the banks and residents to help the police with hints. Babayemi said Lakanu on

October 22 met with bank managers at a ‘Bankers Forum’ at the police headquarters. “At that meeting, they were given security tips, which the banks have declined to comply with. “All that people continue to seek is what the police would do for them and never what they would do to assist the police. We have advised bank officials to offer us clues on those workers known to live above their means. “They have refused to do anything about it. However, our men have been deployed in strategic areas around the capital.”

I won’t return to PDP, says Adeleke From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

SUN State first civilian Governor Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke has vowed not to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from where he had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). His comments followed a statement by a PDP stalwart, Shuaib Oyedokun, that he would return to the party. But the former governor in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Olumide Lawal, said he had left the PDP on the personal conviction that the APC was a better alternative. According to Adeleke, APC was a party, where he enjoyed his peace of mind and political career. He described Oyedokun’s comment as a wish not realisable. Adeleke said: “I am a politician and a winner, who no political party would not want to lose. I left the PDP essentially on principle.” He said he was denied political relevance and respect for which he said he ‘painstakingly’ built over the years in the PDP. “So, for me I can never go back to the PDP, where some gangsters have no respect for human lives. I am advising those nursing the idea of my return to the PDP to perish such thought. “Since my defection to the APC, I have joined forces with other progressives to make Osun State an El Dorado. I so much appreciate the infrastructure development Rauf Aregbesola has effected since his assumption of office in 2010. “The APC is a party of the common people, where their welfare is paramount and protected by its leaders. So I am happy that I have contributed immensely to the fortune of the APC in so short a time that I joined the party.

PDP, Omisore tender forms for 17 councils

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tendered yesterday Form EC8A

used in 17 local governments in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State. The PDP and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, are challenging the results of 17 local governments. The petitioners contend that the election was marred by irregularities. The counsel from both sides have verified the documents used in the 17 local governments and agreed that they should be tendered from the bar. The PDP’s lead counsel, Alex Izinyon, yesterday tendered Certified True Copies (CTC)

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

of the documents, which were admitted as exhibits by the tribunal. The local governments in contention are Ede South, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa East, Irepodun, Irewole, Iwo, Obokun, Atakumosa East, Boripe, and Ede North. The tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, earlier informed the parties that any objections to the admissibility of exhibits should be raised in the final address. The respondents’ counsel, Akin Olujimi, Rotimi Akeredolu and Ayotunde Ogunleye, have been directed to make their objections known in their final address.

Governor slams NERC for blackout From Grace Obike, Abuja

KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has slammed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the power outage in the state. Fayose said in the last 12-15 days, the state has been in darkness. Ifaki-Ekiti has not had light for over 10 months. The governor promised to pay N5million owed by the people. Fayose spoke yesterday in Abuja at an emergency meeting with NERC and CEOs of some of the power transmission companies. He said: “You know that I am new, even though I am also old because I only went on sabbatical. All I want to add to Ekiti is value and make a difference because if as a state we continue to live on diesel, knowing well how financially challenged we are, you know what it will entail. “This issue of electricity is presently a challenge in my state and I intend to change it because all I want is solution on how it can be made better. It is really difficult to know who to relate to.” NERC CEO Sam Amadi told the governor that the problem in Ekiti was a failure of transmission.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS Ogun, SDP bicker over campaign billboards From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

HE Ogun State government has explained why it dismantled the campaign billboards erected at strategic locations within the state by the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The government said its action was neither political nor targeted to victimise anybody. Speaking through the General Manager of the State Signage and Advertising Agency, Akinlabi Bamidele, it said the owner of the billboards did not follow the regulations regarding outdoor advertising, adding that there was no evidence that payment was made before they were erected. Bamidele said the government, last July, notified outdoor advertising agencies that payments must be made before billboards were erected. He said the agency carried out its statutory function when it took down the SDP billboards. The agency manager said: “I’m sure you must have seen our people outside flushing even All Progressives Congress (APC) posters. So, we are not biased. “We went on a routine monitoring and we discovered that they have mounted some posters and billboards. “How can I sit here and people are putting billboards and they are not paying for them? I can’t justify it. “Our conscience is clear. We have not victimised anybody. Our concern is payment. Nobody will be using people who are public servants to be carrying out political vendetta. It’s not possible.” But the SDP alleged foul play, accusing the government of pulling its billboards down for political reason. The SDP had on Sunday mounted imposing billboards on the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway and the Sagamu Interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway but two days later, officials of the state’s signage agency tore them down. State SDP Chairman Olu Agemo told reporters that the removal was politically- motivated. “The billboards were mounted on Sunday. We paid the contractors who might have paid for the signage and so it’s surprising yesterday to find out that the billboards had been removed. We believe very strongly that it is political. “This is unfortunate because we know that there must be at least seven days grace for whoever mounts a billboard to pay. “We are investigating and we would find out from the contractor if he has paid or not and the grace period.”

Amosun: only 28 per cent got PVCs

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said only 28 per cent of registered voters in the state have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). Amosun, who described the trend as worrisome, spoke at an extended State Executive Council meeting yesterday. He said densely populated areas, such as Ifo, Ota, Sagamu, Ibafo and Obafemi Owode should have been given priority by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The governor said some voters could be disenfran-

•CNPP criticises distribution By Musa Odoshimokhe

chised. “There were no voter cards for eligible voters at Imeko-Afon. “In fact, as it is now, we would have to speak to INEC to know if fresh registration would be conducted for the people of Imeko-Afon,” he said. Amosun called on INEC to be more proactive and deliver its promise of ensuring that the electoral mandate of the people was not violated. He urged the Executive

Council members to sensitise the people to register and obtain their PVCs. The Lagos State Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Akintola Obadia, has criticised the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). At a conference in Lagos yesterday, he said following the assessment of the first batch in the 11 local govern-

ments where the distribution was done, the exercise fell below expectation. He said: ‘’What bothers us is the lack luster performance of INEC in Lagos and Kano states because they are the most populous states, based on their registration. INEC ought to have been more prepared for this important exercise. “But to our surprise, INEC didnot detach itself from all the partisanship it has been accused of. The outcome of the exercise in some states explains that the commission cannot be trusted in the conduct of the 2015 polls.”

Ex-commissioner picks senatorial form

ORMER Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Gbadegesin Adedeji has attributed what he called “Nigeria’s appalling growth rate” to poor representation. Adedeji, a delegate to the last National Conference, said if Nigeria gets right the issue of adequate representation at the National Assembly, the country would need to be structured along the six regions or zones as federating units. The former commissioner spoke at the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly after picking his form to contest the Osun West senatorial district. The aspirant said Nigerians

had suffered from poor representation as a result of lack of commitment to the dynamics of development and growth. Accompanied by his supporters, Adedeji ,who is the Asiwaju of Iwoland, said: “The appalling state of our nation calls for very deep reflection because if you have many countries at par with

Nigeria some 30 or 40 years ago and you look at the phenomenal growth those countries have recorded, you wonder what exactly has stultified our growth. “You don’t need to look too far from the quality of representation and the lack of commitment of those who had represented us and made laws for this country.

“I have been a local government chairman. I have been a national commissioner on the Federal Character Commission and I have served as the state’s attorney general and represented Osun at the National Conference. All these put together have prepared me for the task and we would not be in this if not to make a significant impact.”

Repair of Akure/Ilesa road begins

HE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has begun the rehabilitation of the second phase of the Akure/Ilesa road, to be completed before December 31. The second phase of the road starts at Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area and terminates in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The first phase, which started from Ilesa and stopped at Owena, has been completed. FERMA officials and a construction company were working at the Igbara-Oke end of the road yesterday. The rehabilitation caused congestion on the highway as a side of the road was closed.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CITYBEATS

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Three kids burnt to death in Lagos

‘Dismissed police officer steals colleagues’ N20m’

THREE children of the same parents were on Tuesday night burnt to death in their sleep at Jakande Estate, Mile 2 in Lagos. The children (names withheld) were locked inside the flat by parents who went to church on vigil. It was gathered that the children lit up a candle and went to sleep. The candle fell and ignited the fire, which burnt the three children to death. Spokesman of Lagos State Fire Services Rasak Fadipe confirmed the tragedy saying by the time his men gotto the scene, the kids had died. He appealed to parents never to lock their children at home unattended to avoid this kind of disaster. “I always advise people not to leave a candle on and go to bed. We cannot tell them not to buy and use candles because people produce them to sell, but they should not leave it and go to bed. In this era of portable rechargeable lamps that are cheap, people could purchase them for use in their houses.” Fadipe said the fire razed two flats of three bedrooms at the topmost part of the building.

DISMISSED police officer, Victor Afam Banor, has been earning salaries from 15 different police commands, the Federal High Court in Lagos heard yesterday. He also stole N20million meant for salaries of officers of the Enugu State Police Command, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Suleiman Abba, told the court. Banor was dismissed while serving at the Umunede Police Division in Delta State for allegedly stealing an exhibit vehicle in a criminal case under investigation. He escaped from detention and resurfaced at the Enugu Command with a falsified signature, claiming to be a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). When the officer-in-charge (O/C) of the command’s Mechanised Salary Section (MSS) retired, Banor assumed office as the “O/C MSS”. It was while holding this position that in March 2011, he allegedly absconded with the money. “While absconding from office, the applicant (Banor) dropped a note stating that nobody should look for him because he has resigned to join his militant groups at the creeks of the Niger Delta region,” Abba said. These were contained in an affidavit filed in opposition to an application by Banor praying the court to release him from police detention. The applicant said he had been held for over eight

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Releasing the applicant will jeopardise our investigation as he is still dribbling us over the service pistol in his possession, thus taking us on a wild goose chase. By Joseph Jibueze

months without charge, and prayed the court presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, to either order his release or direct the police to charge him in a court. Banor, who said his continued detention violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution, joined the IGP, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos, and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), DSP Solomon Igwe as respondents. In the counter-affidavit filed yesterday by the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department (O/C Legal), Zone 2, Mr Justin Enang, the police are urging the court not to release Banor because investigation into his alleged crime is still ongoing. The police said several officers under Banor complained that their salaries were diverted, and that he did not turn up until he was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on April 15. When he was arrested, he claimed to be a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP),

’

flashing a police warrant card and demanding to be shown respect as a “senior officer”. Photocopies of forged police Identity Cards were found on him, with “CSP” Afamefuna Banor V. and “W/SGT” Hannah Markson Banor, among other names. The police further found badges and insignia of a Deputy Commissioner of Police at his home, adding that he absconded from the Enugu Command with a Police Barretta Pistol loaded eight rounds of ammunition. “Ongoing investigation has revealed a barrage of forgeries leading to monu-

mental fraud by the applicant who opened more than 25 bank accounts using fictitious names with which he has been collecting and still collects monthly salaries from over 15 command payrolls across the country,” the respondents said. Banor allegedly opened different accounts in various banks and one in Onitsha, using police letter-headed paper with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police Logo, claiming to be residing in the police barracks as a Superintendent of Police. Igwe, who deposed to the counter-affidavit, said: “The applicant forged office stamps of various commissioners of police, including CP Awka, Enugu, Lagos and Kogi states with which he forged and signed fake documents which he altered and presented to the various banks to open salary accounts for himself.

“If the applicant is released on bail, the prosecution of the charges will be at risk and he will not make himself available for trial as he will run away as usual. “Counsel for the respondents, Justine Enang informed me that under Section 35 (1) (C) of the Constitution, a person’s liberty can be curtailed in order to prevent him from committing further offences. “Releasing the applicant will jeopardise our investigation as he is still dribbling us over the service pistol in his possession, thus taking us on a wild goose chase. It will be in the interest of justice to refuse this application as many lives are still at risk since the applicant has refused to produce the police automatic weapon he absconded with,” said Igwe. Justice Aneke adjourned till November 21 for ruling on Banor’s bail application.

Synagogue: South African mortuary PECIAL mobile morvans arrive Lagos today tuary trucks from

South Africa are expected to land in Lagos today. They are billed to collect the bodies of 81 of its nationals, three Zimbabweans and one Democratic Republic of Congo national, who died in the building that collapsed at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos, on September 12. Government inter-ministerial task team’s spokesman Phumla Williams, who is in Nigeria to facilitate the repatriation, said they would return home on Sunday. “Another task team will arrive in Lagos tomorrow to prepare to load the bodies into the mortuary trucks, which will arrive at the Waterkloof Air Force Base on Sunday. “From there, the trucks will be driven, without the need to individually offload the bodies, to the different government mortuaries in the eight provinces involved, unless the families want them taken to their private undertakers,” she said, adding that costs of funerals would be borne by the families. To facilitate the arrangements, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday granted approval for the release of the bodies of 54 South

•Fashola approves movement of 54 foreign victims By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Africans. He gave the approval at a meeting with delegates of the South African government at the State House in Marina. The governor said the development became necessary following complaints that the bodies were being held for too long. He assured the delegation that the government would ensure proper identification in line with South African tradition and culture. Fashola added: “We have no reason to deny you the right to take those 54 bodies. You have my word; you can take them whenever you are ready to do so. It is left for you to decide whether to take them in batches or wait until we conclude the exercise. But if you are ready, my team will ensure that you take them without any delay.” He said coroner’ inquest was still ongoing to investigate the cause of disaster in order to prosecute anyone found culpable. Earlier, the leader of the South African delegation to

Nigeria, Special Envoy and Minister at the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, said that SouthAfrican culture and traditions demand burial within a week of bereavement. “But today makes it twomonth since the incident, so I did pay a condolence visit to President Goodluck Jonathan two days ago, to convey the message of our president and find ways of speeding up the processes and reparations of the mortal remains of disease. “The whole nation of South Africa is in mourning, especially the families that have to endure these two months of waiting in order to bring closure to the whole incident. We are ready to repatriate them as soon as we get the green light from the State government.” “We appreciate your government for the cooperation and our team has been briefing us on the challenges of identifying the bodies,” the envoy said. The Director in the Presidency, Cassius Lubisi explained that all necessary mercenary were already in place for smooth return of the bodies to S/Africa.

Community sacks pipeline project workers

HE phase 2 of the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline Expansion project yesterday suffered a setback as the people of Igbooye in Epe, a Lagos suburb, prevented workers from further working on the pipelines. They are protesting nonpayment of compensation by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on the communities’ over 10-kilometre land taken over for project. They alleged that the DPR failed to do Enviromental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the land. The irate protesters, who carried branches of trees and placards, were led by the heads of the ruling houses and family heads in the town, including Alhaji Mikhail Kadiri, Otunba Abdulwasiu Musa-Adebamowo, Alhaji Waidi Lasisi from Erelu rul-

By Adebisi Onanuga

ing house; Alhaji Safiriyu Bakare from Osikadewa ruling house and Apostle Mathew Odunlami from Shamba ruling house, among others. They defied the directive of the monarch of the town, the Orijeru of Igbooyeland, Oba Michael Gbadebo Onakoya, who was alleged to have emboldened the DPR and workers of the construction company, Zakhem Construction Company Limited to carry on with their job. The people marched on the construction sites, forcing the workers to move their caterpillars, giant generators and welding machines out of the land to the neighbouring Ibonwon town. Alhaji Kadiri told the construction workers that they would not be allowed to work until the DPR met the

demand of the people. Kadiri claimed that the DPR reneged on payment of compensation to the community and the families whose land were encroached upon by the project. He said that elders of the community had exchanged correspondences with the DPR on the issue but that the department has been economical with the truth. When reporters visited the palace of Oba Onakoya for his comments, his wife, Olori Adenike said he had travelled out of the community, saying that only the monarch could speak on the issue. DPR’s spokesman Paul Osu declined comments, but challenged the community to bring the acknowledged copy of the correspondences exchanged with the department for them to respond appropriately.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 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

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

FEC approves N100.2b for roads, others

Fed Govt eyes 800m mt of cocoa T

HE Minister of Agri culture and Rural De velopment, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, yesterday said the Federal Government was targeting the production of 51million metric tonnes of cassava yearly and 800 million metric tonnes of cocoa next year. The market value of cocoa stands at $80 billion. According to Adesina, the current production capacity is between 38million and 40million a year, stressing that Nigeria wants to achieve the target by offering technical skills to farmers and supplying improved varieties of cassava to among others. The minister spoke to reporters shortly after a training workshop on quality management systems for flash dried quality cassava marsh production for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) in Southwest at Lala community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

•Targets 51m tonnes of cassava yearly From Ernest Nwokolo,

Abeokuta and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

He said N3.4billion has also been deposited with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to enable SMEs access funding for the upgrade of their equipment. Adesina who was represented at the training programme by his Technical Adviser on Cassava Value Chain, Mrs Toyin Adetunji, added that 20 persons from the Southwest (Lagos and Ogun), are already beneficiaries of the training spread across the country. He said: “We already have 20 beneficiaries out of the 35 intended for this particular set. We feel that having upgraded the equipment, we feel it is important also to back it up

with this training on quality flash dried cassava marsh so that the product would be more competitive and attract the desired market it is intended for.” A statement endorsed by the ministry’s Director, Information and Protocol, Tony Ohaeri, Adesina said the Federal Government will partner with the Nestle and other firms to produce high energy foods. He said the government was focusing on private sector led agriculture to ensure food security. Dr. Adesina said the ministry was working on bio-fortification of special cassava variety that has Vitamin A, adding that the government was committed to producing nutritious food. He disclosed that one million metric tonnes of sorghum would be produced yearly. The minister urged cocoa farmers not to only export the produce but to also think of processing it

Ebola scare takes toll on Lagos trade fair

HE unfortunate out break of the Ebola Vi rus Disease (EVD) in the country which has however been contained has taken toll on international particpation at the fair, orgainsers of the fair, the Lagos Chmaber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said. Its Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Dr. Michael Olawale Cole who spoke yesterday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos venue of the fair, lamented that prior to the outbreak of Ebola in the country, many foreign firms had shown interest and made commitments but had to cancel their commitments due to the outbreak of the disease. He said that notwithstand-

• 1,600 jostle for space By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

ing, over 1,600 firms are particpating at the fair with over 13 countries including, Japan, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Taiwan. Others are India, Cameroon, Ghana,Republic of Benin and the European Union (EU). He commended both the federal and Lagos State government for their quick intervention which led to the containment of the disease but regretted that the chamber lost almost half of its intended participants. He urged the Federal Government to work harder to arrest the challenges of elec-

tricity generation and distribution, noting that a lot of companies are not competitive due to the cost of production. He said: “The derivatives of the Transformation Agenda should come quickly especially in the power sector. It should no longer be a slogan but a reality to lift the manufacturing sector which holds a lot of hope for the economy.” Head SME, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Ken Opara, said the bank has Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) academy to train entrepreneurs to halt its high mortality rate. He said the lender is doing this by not only building managerial capacity but also providing loans to SMEs.

Arco targets offshore in holding structure

RCO Group Plc is seeking a wider spot in the international oil and gas market in line with its new business strategies of stimulating growth within and outside the country, its Chairman, Joseph Akpieyi, has said. Speaking on the sidelines of the company’s annual general meeting in Lagos, Akpieyi said the company hitherto known as Arco Petrochemical Engineering Plc, will explore growth opportunities across the African continent. He said: “Prior to the incorporation of Arco Group, Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company Plc (APEC) was coordinating Arco companies in addition to its maintenance and engineering services. “APEC will now formally cease to exist. The newly incorporated Arco Mainte-

By Akinola Ajibade

nance and Engineering Limited (AMEL) will take over the maintenance and engineering functions. By this, AMEL becomes a subsidiary of Arco Group Plc.” He said Arco Pipeline Solution Limited, one of the subsidiaries of Arco Group, had executed an offshore contract last year, adding that the group wants to consolidate its footprints in the international market. He said: “Arco Pipeline Solutions Limited has successfully obtained the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Certification with Bureau Veritas in 2013, through which it was able to get international contract. “All companies within the Arco Group have com-

menced the process of getting ISO certification for growth. We are leveraging on the success of Arco Pipeline Solutions to successfully obtain ISO Certification. We believe the Certification will improve Arco’s competitive edge in delivering high quality products and services within Nigeria and overseas, especially in West and Central Africa.” Akpieyi said the firm has a five-year strategic plan that would chart the course of the organisation towards sustainability. Its Managing Director, Alfred Okoigun, said 35 firms have been incorporated as subsidiaries of Arco Group Plc to engage in businesses ranging from oil and gas, electricity, manufacturing, construction, fabrication, to technology and entertainment.

• Dr Akinwumi

so as to add value. Dr. Adesina said the value chains were designed to address the challenges in agriculture with a view to making the sector “money spinner”. The minister urged the company to patronise Nigerian farmers with a view to creating markets for their produce. In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, stressed the need for government and the private sector to work collaboratively.

HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yester day approved N100.2 billion for road projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the East-West road and Molete water project. The Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Mohammed who spoke to State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, said the Council approved five different project memos for the Federal Cpaital Territory (FCT) during the meeting. Accompanied by the Ministers of FCT, Bala Mohammed, Water, Sarah Ochekpe, and Niger Delta Affairs, Steve Oru, Mohammed said: “The FCT Minister presented a memo seeking for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure of Wuse District. The Minister informed Council that the purpose of the memorandum is to seek Council’s approval for the upward review of the contract sum for the provision of engineering infrastructure at Wuse District in favour of Messrs Arab Contractors (OAO) Nigeria Ltd, in the sum of N3,431,290,231.20 thereby revising the contract

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

sum from N39, 681,137,736,46 to N43,112,427,967.67 to accommodate the construction of a flyover bridge at Wuse District, the interaction of of Arterial Road N1/Ring Road 1 being Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, as additional work to the contract with an additional completion period of 20 months.” He said Council deliberated extensively on the history of the project which was first awarded in August 2009 and expressed satisfaction with the 67 per cent level of completion attained. On the second memo, he said: “The Minister of FCT presented a memo for the award of contract for the construction of one service carriageway (14km) of Inner Northern Expressway (INEX) from ring road 111 to ring road IV Abuja Industrial Park in favour of Messrs Salini Nig Ltd, in the sum of N7,179,322,294.15 with a completion period of 24 months.” According to him, the INEX is one of the key planned expressways provided in the Abuja Master Plan connecting the ring roads from the central area through phases I,II, III and IV, terminating at the outer Northern Expressway (ONEX).

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Reacting to the recent slide in the price of oil, some members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and economic experts have renewed the call for the diversification of the economy to wean if from its heavy dependence on oil. Assist. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA writes that this could be the impetus to revamp the real sector, particularly agriculture, which was once the economy’s mainstay.

OTHING would gladden the heart of the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Institute of Business Development (IBD), Mr. Paul Ikele, than to see Nigeria’s budget prepared without mentioning the price of oil. “Our budget should not be dependent on oil, but on the tax system. How much tax revenues can government derive?. Secondly, government should encourage Nigerian industries. It should look into agro-allied businesses,” he said, emphasising that the only time Nigeria can be said to have actually moved away from oil is when the budget is prepared without predicating it on proceeds from oil. He regretted that “for now, everything depends on oil.” Ikele told The Nation that for the economy to be on the right track, there was urgent need to reverse the current trend where the nation’s annual budget is predicated on proceeds from oil in neglect of the real sector particularly, agro-allied businesses and the agricultural sector. He recalled, for instance, that in its glorious days, agriculture contributed about 40 per cent to the country’s foreign exchange earnings through exports; creating millions of job opportunities in the process. “Nigeria had palm kernel, cocoa, and groundnut pyramids,” he said, asking, “why did they disappear? Is not because of global changes when they discovered that oil can give more than what you get from those agro-allied businesses?” The price of Nigeria’s oil has been dropping in the international market in recent times. Oil price is said to have slumped from $114 per barrel in June to $85 per barrel currently, the lowest in three years. This has sent shock waves to experts and operators in various sectors and Nigerians in general, prompting renewed call for diversification of the economy. This is so considering the fact that for an economy that is 95 per cent dependent on oil for its foreign exchange earnings and 85 per cent dependent on it for revenue, any drop in oil price poses major risks to some key macroeconomic variables and the general economic conditions. For instance, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in its this year’s 3rd quarter press briefing in Lagos, raised an alarm over the current scenario of sliding oil price. The LCCI, through its President, Alhaji Remi Bello, listed the main impacts of the sliding oil price to include the government fiscal operations, naira exchange rate, capital flow reversals, stock market, foreign reserves, inflation and interest rate among others. The President noted, for instance, that declining oil price means reduction in revenue inflows, which, according to him, has implications for the capacity of government at all levels to meet their statutory obligations. Alhaji Bello pointed out that most states are over 80 per cent dependent on statutory allocations, which make the impact of declining oil price very profound. ”Already, some states are having difficulty with the payment of salaries of their workers. Many have issues with payment to contractors,” he said, insisting that major adjustments in government spending at all levels are clearly inevitable. He also pointed out that exchange rate is a price determined by forces of supply and demand, with the strongest factor on the supply side being the forex inflow from crude oil. ”Therefore, a downward trend in oil price

•Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

•Bello

•Ikele

Calls for fresh ideas as oil price tumbles

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Considering the fact that for an economy that is 95 per cent dependent on oil for its foreign exchange earnings and 85 per cent dependent on it for revenue, any drop in oil price poses major downside risks to some key macroeconomic variables and the general economic conditions

‘

•Chart showing declining oil prices

would naturally exert significant pressure on the naira exchange rate depreciation. Although the CBN has been struggling to defend the naira, this may not be sustainable if the slide in oil prices persists,” he said The LCCI President also expressed worries that with Nigerian economy estimated to be over 80 per cent dependent on imports, exchange rate depreciation would mean new pressures on production and operating costs in the economy, which would generate new inflationary pressures. He added that high importation costs will also come with high import duty payment, port charges, Value Added Tax (VAT) as all of these are computed as percentages of import value. Besides, trend of oil prices, he stated, is a major driver of foreign capital flows, especially portfolio flows. He said for portfolio investors, oil price and exchange rate conditions are major indicators that drive their investment decisions. Alhaji Bello is not done. He said there is a relationship between stock market performance and the fortunes of the oil market. “Nigerian Stock market is well known to be more vibrant when oil prices are high. A ma-

jor factor in this is the attraction of foreign portfolio investors, who currently account for about 60 per cent of the market. Their sensitivity to oil price and exchange rate movements is very high. Furthermore, declining oil price scenario often result in further tightening of monetary policy to preserve macroeconomic stability. The result is high interest rates and superior returns on investments in the money market, which could have negative impact on the stock market,” Bello said. The LCCI is also worried that the situation would impact external reserves. Bello noted, for instance, that declining oil price would reduce the accretion to reserves thereby putting the reserves under pressure. He said the customary disposition of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to defend the naira through increased supply of foreign exchange will take its toll on the robustness of the external reserves, more so when the excess crude account has been considerably depleted. While saying that the likely CBN response to the current scenario is to intensify the tightening of monetary policy, he said this will further push up Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) currently at 12.5 per cent, increase cost of funds to investors in the economy and constrain

the the banks from having access to investible funds. ”All these would impact negatively on the bottom line of enterprises in the economy,” he lamented. Bello explained that the essence of the foregoing review of the implications of declining oil price is to alert stakeholders in the economy of the challenges that lie ahead. According to him, adjustments will become inevitable at the public and private sector levels, while business models may have to be reviewed to ensure sustainability. There will also be fiscal adjustments in the public sector to ensure governance sustainability as well. ”It cannot be business as usual,” he said. Indeed, the LCCI’s review exposes the economy’s structural defect on account of its over dependence on the oil and gas sector for revenue, which creates serious vulnerability. And this is why experts have renewed their call on the Economic Management Team to intensify the diversification agenda through effective implementation of policies. One of the viable areas the government could latch on, according to Ikele, is agriculture. Ikele and other experts insist that government must put in place deliberate plans that target the development and transformation of the agricultural sector, which is a major income earner. Interestingly, unlike oil deposits that are exhaustive, the agricultural sector is non-exhaustive, with capacity to generate millions of direct and indirect employment opportunities. With large expanse of arable land and good weather conditions, the agric sector would place Nigeria in the league of food sufficient nations if well harnessed and packaged.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

INDUSTRY Studies have shown that incidences of business failures occur more with small-holder firms, most the sole proprietorship. Also, it has been proven that businesses grow more when corporations merge. The proposed fusion of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Consolidated Breweries points to an outcome that is bound to make waves, reports, Group Business Editor, SIMEON EBULU.

NB Plc, CB merger: a brewing giant in the making Merger Rationales

HE proposed merger between Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc and Consolidated Breweries, apart from its attendant benefits to the stakeholders, demonstrates the confidence the management and investors of both organisations have in the Nigerian’s economy. Mergers and acquisitions are usually employed by businesses to achieve certain objectives, amongst which are cost reduction and increased market penetration. The proposed fusion between NB Plc and CB, is expected to create a platform for improved efficiency and economies of scale resulting from the streamlining of their operations. It goes without saying that the enlarged entity is programmed to efficiently manufacture products of both companies through the combined installed operational capacities of both outfits. Conglomerates in the developed economies, have always leveraged on the dictum, ‘the bigger the merrier.’ Companies, across the divide have always seen a need to collaborate and collocate with their peers to have a firmer grip of their cognitive markets and be better placed to manage the competition, adapt and withstand unforeseen global business challenges. Part of the larger benefits that will accrue to the new firm when the marriage is eventually consummated, is that the company’s products will be sold and distributed across the entire combined sales and distribution network of the two companies. Cost savings from increased efficiency in procurement, supply chain management and support functions are expected to ultimately enhance shareholder value. For shareholders of Consolidated Breweries, it will certainly translate to a far better platform, as they will be absorbed into the larger and highly profitable entity- NB Plc, and the synergies created as a result of the merger, will create additional value for them. There’s a proviso, however for those shareholders who may choose to opt out of the arrangement, they will have the option to receive cash for their shares and make alternative investments elsewhere as they deem fit.

Liquidity for shareholders: The beauty of the merger scheme as it relates to Consolidated shareholders’ is that, it will afford them a more robust liquid stock, besides offering the added advantage of making them shareholders in a quoted institution (NB Plc), with options of share appreciation in the Nigerian Capital Market.

Access to new markets: Again, the attendant benefits of the opportunity to a wider sales environment to a manufacturer cannot be overemphasised. There are obviously more advantages than any imagined drawback in the new scheme of arrangement. There’s no doubt that the proposed merger will ensure that Consolidated Breweries’ quality brands are marketed and distributed nationwide, thus creating more value for all stakeholders. Added to that, is the fact that the merger, when fully consummated, will provide a platform where the enlarged company can benefit from economies of scales in procurement, distribution and manufacturing of all the products on offer. It is envisaged that the benefits accruing therefrom,

will accrue to all stakeholders

Impact on employees, distributors, brands, others

Approval Process

The merger scheme is coming on the heels of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) approval, as well as the subsequent approval by the Federal High Court. Following from this, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Consolidated Breweries Plc have commenced preparations for their separate Court Ordered Meetings (COM) to seek shareholders’ consent to the proposed merger. As is required, the Notice of Meeting has already been published, such that both Court Ordered Meetings have been scheduled for the first week of December. As expected, the proposal to be placed before the shareholders is to combine the operations of Consolidated Breweries and Nigerian Breweries into a single legal entity to be effected through the Scheme of Merger. The outcome will collapse the separate identities of both companies to one, the dominant partner – ‘Nigerian Breweries Plc.’

Net worth Both merging entities have been advised by separate independent financial advisers in determining their fair values and the financial details for the expected combination of the two businesses. In the case of Consolidated Breweries, an independent fairness opinion was obtained from Ernst & Young in deciding to proceed with the transaction However, in line with the Companies & Allied Matters Act (CAMA), the Scheme of Merger document will be presented to shareholders by next month, as already indicated. Interestingly, the decision to merge has already been taken by the Boards of both companies, as it were, in the best interest of each business, its brands and its people. Nonetheless, HEINEKEN, which has about 75 per cent stake in both entities, said it would abstain from exercising its voting rights on the merger scheme, a decision it explained, was hinged on the need to give the minority shareholders of both companies the sole discretion as to whether to approve the proposed merger or not.

Merger Terms

The terms of the merger have been clearly spelt out. Accordingly, shareholders of Consolidated Breweries Plc will receive Four (4) ordinary shares in Nigerian Breweries Plc for every Five (5) ordinary shares held in Consolidated Breweries as at the Terminal Date, or a Cash Consideration of N120 per share of Consolidated Breweries held. To derive optimum Return-OnInvestment, the Directors of both companies decided to align their long-term strategic interests, with

• Managing Director, NB Plc, Nicolas Velvelde

a view to enhancing the operational efficiencies of both companies thereby maximizing value for all shareholders. This combination will ultimately reduce overheads and enhance shareholder value through the exploitation of various operational synergies. This will result in improved revenues, cost savings and operational efficiencies in the enlarged Nigerian Breweries. In addition, the eventual merger, will enable the new company-Nigerian to efficiently manufacture products of both entities through the combined operational capacity of both companies, and products will also be sold and distributed across the combined sales and distribution network of the two companies. Given the timeline and the expectation that the shareholders will approve the merger, it is certain that the merger will be completed before the end of January, 2015. It is instructive to know that the merger discussion was initiated by the Board of Directors of NB in recognition of the potential gains to stakeholders of both institutions. After considering the implications of a merger, CB and NB are equally and independently convinced that there is merit in consummating the merger. Heineken, the majority shareholder, is supportive of the merger. Its holdings in NB Plc and CB stand at 54.10 per cent and 53.80

per cent respectively.

Equity To ensure that there is equity in the administration of the process, the Board of Directors of CB engaged the services of renowned advisers to guide its decision making process on the price. Accordingly, SPA Ajibade was appointed as Solicitors, while Deloitte was engaged as Tax and Financial Advisers to conduct due diligence on NB. In like manner, another firm was appointed to give a fairness opinion on the valuation consideration. In the same vain, Nigerian Breweries appointed a team of professional advisers to do the same on CB. Further to the conclusion of the due diligence exercise, the Financial Advisers of both companies, applied internationally acceptable standards in valuing both companies and recommended a price to the respective Boards of Directors. As soon as the merger becomes operational, the entire share capital in CB will be cancelled. Certificates in respect of the shares of the Company shall cease to be of value and the shareholders will receive four shares in NB for every five shares held in CB. Shareholders would also have the option to receive N =120 per share held in CB, if they opt to receive cash.

‘To derive optimum Return-On-Investment, the Directors of both companies decided to align their long-term strategic interests, with a view to enhancing the operational efficiencies of both companies thereby maximizing value for all shareholders. This combination will ultimately reduce overheads and enhance shareholder value through the exploitation of various operational synergies’

Relying on the painstaking process and the professionalism involved in arriving at the merger option, the Board members of both entities have expressed satisfaction that Proposed Merger is a transaction that will best serve the interest of all its stakeholders and both companies. They expressed the conviction that the combination of brands, customers, staff and products and the exchange of best practice should create opportunities for higher revenue growth, enhancing synergies and extracting maximum value from the enlarged company to the benefit of all stakeholders. The new emerging company has assured that redundancy is not likely going to be an outcome of the exercise. Redundancy is not the intention of the proposed merger, they said, pointing out that in the case of overlap, both companies have committed to the fair and equal treatment of both CB and NB employees. They assured that selection will be done based on merit. The enlarged entity will provide wider job and career opportunities for all employees. The enlarged company will be a larger entity that can offer growth and a wider range of career opportunities. All the employees of CB that wish to continue their employment will become employees of the enlarged company on terms that are, at least, comparable to their present contracts of employment. Any CB employees who does not wish to become employed by NB after the merger, will be entitled to obtain the full terminal benefits due under their existing contract of service. The company has also assured that distributors are important partners of our company. The current distributorship network of CB will be complementary to that of NB. It is expected that the merged company will continue to work with both NB & CB distributors following the merger.

Cash value

The merging parties have clarified that the Share Exchange Ratio was determined on the basis of the relative values of Nigerian Breweries and Consolidated Breweries as at the date of the Scheme of Merger. They explained that it was based on various valuation methodologies agreed to for the purpose of the Scheme, consequently, the Financial Advisers arrived at a fair consideration. Although the process leading to the eventual merger is on-going, and not yet a catch-blank, the proponents are confident that it can only end in the affirmative. As they put it, “We are confident that the shareholders will see the value in the proposed merger and we believe that the economic and strategic rationale for the merger is compelling enough for all of the shareholders and other stakeholders of Nigerian Breweries and Consolidated Breweries Plc. “HEINEKEN is in full support of this transaction. However, HEINEKEN has chosen to cede the discretion as to whether to approve the merger to the minority shareholders of both companies. HEINEKEN fully trusts that the minority shareholders will approve the merger at the Court Ordered Meetings,” they said. The new company, when it eventually comes on stream, shall have a Share Capital in excess of 396 billion and market capitalization of over N7trillion.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Kano State Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with KOLADE ADEYEMI in Kano, the state capital, he maintains that the major priority of contenders is power shift from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in next year’s election, and not the ambition of individuals to rule.

‘PDP should not rule beyond next year’ W

ILL you step down for General Muhammadu Buhari? Secondly, there are allegations that your deputy, Dr. Umar Ganduje, is your anointed successor. How true is it? On the issue of Dr. Ganduje, let me just say that, when the time comes, we will see how that can be handled. Then, on the issue of four of us — my humble self; our leader, General Buhari; the other leader, Atiku Abubakar and my friend, Sam Nda-Isaiah —- I believe all these people belong to the APC and all of us are communicating. For example, I have been together with Atiku for over two decades under the leadership of the late Alhaji Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. Even on the platform of the defunct SDP, I was under him. We have always been together during the constitutional conference, in the PDP and now the APC. We have been together and I consider him an elder brother. The same thing applies to Muhammadu Buhari, who enjoys my uttermost respect, even though we had never been in the same party, until the emergence of the APC. We will continue to communicate. At the appropriate time, as a family, we will agree on what to do; either we settle for consensus or we go for primaries. Whichever way it goes, I want to assure you that we will rally round whosoever emerges to ensure that the party succeeds. How would the defection of Speaker of House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal affect the polity? Well, I think some of these our friends in Abuja are furious. Anytime they have defections from any other party to their party, they celebrate it. But, anytime we have defections from their party to any party, they regard it as a problem. This is double standards and it is not good for them and for our democracy. But, they have not seen anything yet; it is just a matter of time, God’s willing, Nigerians will kick them out from they are today to their villages and I think they have to take note of that. I don’t know why me and Jonathan collected our forms the same day. Perhaps it is an indication that both of us are going to slug it out in 2015. If that happens, I am sure that you know what the answer would be? He is going to lose. He will lose because I don’t see anybody in this country that would vote for him again, apart from the hawks in Abuja, contractors and those who are stealing our oil and oil money. But, the masses or the talakawas of Kano, of Enugu, Zamfara and of course including Bayelsa, will be very happy to vote for change. It is only change that would guarantee the security of lives and properties of Nigerians, no matter where they live, no matter their religion or ethnicity. All the antics of dividing the country based on religion, North and South, ethnicity and class will certainly fail in 2015. If you become the President, how would you approach the issue of insecurity? First and foremost, as a former Minister of Defence, who has been associated with the military and the Air Force and Navy, I feel terribly concerned with what is happening with Nigerian military today. The Nigerian military must be supported by all Nigerians. It has done us proud over the years, both within the country and across Africa. This was a military that was being respected by its friends and feared by its enemies. But, unfortunately, over time things are beginning to change. That glory must be restored; we should have a powerful military. No single country in the world that can be proud of itself if it doesn’t have strong military. Any country without strong Army, strong Air Force, strong Navy, where applicable, is a failed country. Therefore, our administration can never ever take the issue of the Nigeria armed forces, the police, the SSS and all other paramilitary organisations lightly. In my opinion, what we are lacking today is the political will. The political will to provide the necessary ammunitions, kits, welfare and of course training and retraining. I think these are the issues;

•Kwankwaso

‘We will continue to communicate. At the appropriate time, as a family, we will agree on what to do; either we settle for consensus or we go for primaries. Whichever way it goes, I want to assure you that we will rally round whosoever emerges to ensure that the party succeeds’ otherwise we have seen the performance of our military even when I was the Minister of Defence. We have seen what they did in Dafur, Sudan; we have seen their performance in Sierra Leone and Liberia. I can assure you that once you have strong and committed leadership in this country; things will certainly take their shape, not only in terms of security, even in the economy. We have the issue of unemployment of our youths, both men and women. As we are sitting here, schools are being closed in Adamawa, in Yobe and Borno states; and the battle line is moving, it is not static. That is the worrying aspect of it and that is why I believe this country needs change. We must work together to bring this change. Those people in Abuja want to remain there, but they know they are not performing; we only see them performing on the electrical poles along the streets of Abuja, telling us funny stories and people are laughing at them. I think they need to know that people are laughing at them; you should tell them when you see them that people are not only laughing, but are very angry over their leadership. You know, they don’t know what I happening on the ground, they are there in Abuja in the air — they don’t know the realities in the ground. The realities are that people are not eating well, people have no job, people are afraid of their lives, some have already been killed and the killings continue.

If you become the Pesident, what will be your foreign policy, particularly with neighbouring countries, whose citizens are suspected to be fighting on the side of Boko Haram? Some years before now, we all know that our neighbouring countries depended on Nigeria for protection and support, for their economy. The reverse is the case now, because we go to them cap on hand. Our foreign policy has now come down from grace to grass. Those countries who were respecting us are now finding it difficult to believe what is happening in Nigeria. Countries like Benin, Chad, Niger and Cameroon were before now heavily dependent on Nigeria in terms of economy, in terms of Defence and so on and so forth. Now, you have seen that our leadership is going round begging them, kneeling down to them to help us. I think these are the things that must be reversed. Nigeria must take its rightful position in the comity of nations. Nigeria and Nigerians must take the leadership that we deserve. Of course, this should be the main focus of our government — to stabilise the security of the country, its economy, to tackle the issue of education, health and agriculture. Now, we have seen this country surviving on one commodity — oil! We have to look at renewable energy, agriculture, education. We have to make sure

that each and every Nigerian is supported by the government to realise his or her potentials because it is these individual potentials put together that will remedy this country. On the economy, you said some people in Abuja fabricating figures. Are you implying that Nigeria is broke? Secondly, we learnt that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad paid a reconciliatory visit to President Goodluck Jonathan. Are you aware of it? I don’t know why you are asking me whether this country is broke or not. We are all Nigerians; I will throw the question back at you: are you happy with the economy? I don’t think anybody is happy with economy. Look at the private jets at the airports in Lagos and Abuja. That should remind us that we are very rich, but also very poor. I don’t think the jets are owned by people from my village. So, they are telling us about their private economy — how they transformed themselves from where they were to where they are today. On the issue of the Emir, he told me he was going to Abuja and, of course, as usual, I gave him the necessary approvals to go. And when he came back, he briefed me. I didn’t invite him, he booked an appointment to come and talk to me and I am sure he will continue to come and talk to me, not minding how and why he there. The Emir of Kano is the Emir of Kano. I am the governor of Kano. Are you happy or not over alleged reconciliation of the Emir with President Jonathan? I will be very happy, if President Jonathan will invite Kano people every day for reconciliation. That will be a good story for me and I am sure it will be a good story for them. We don’t even know much about the issues to be reconciled, but it is good that they want to reconcile; and I hope they will also invite me and other Kano indigenes for reconciliation; because we must be very angry for one thing or the other. We want reconciliation and we will continue to encourage reconciliation. If we didn’t want him (Emir) to go, we would have told him not to go. But, you should not worry yourself because the Emir is an employee of the government. Are you saying that all is well between you and the Presidency? Of course, all is well, as long as he knows that he must dust his table before 2015. Yes. All is very well. Some people are spitting fire, saying that, should Jonathan win next year’s election, there will be bloodshed. What is your take on this? What many people don’t understand about democracy is that we have so many people in this country with different background, with different understanding of things, and you see, this is the first time that we have this democracy for a long time like this. Before now, within a period of two years, somebody will come and truncate it. Now, we are having real democracy where people are coming out to say their own opinion — and that is part of democracy. If you open your radio today in Kano, you hear people making all sorts of allegations against me, some against other people. As long as that doesn’t cross the line drawn by the law, I don’t think should be a cause for worry because it is just their opinion. But, the fact remains that we will continue to pray for this country. Bloodshed is not good for anybody; either governor or an Imam, Ulama, camera men — it is not good for anybody. So, we should always pray for the good of the people of Nigeria, the good of the people of Kano State. If eventually you get the APC ticket, how are you going to sell your candidature to the people of the Niger Delta? Some of you are press men lack the real knowledge about the Southsouth and other places. The Southsouth also has its own problems. I don’t think it is only in the North that •Continued on page 16

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘I sympathise with the executive because they are putting the wrong foot forward in every situation. They are not just acting right at all. They are in a frenzy. They are under pressure, under pressure to do wrong’

‘

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Dr. Sandy Onor is the Director-General of Godwin Jeddy Agba Governorship Campaign Organisation in Cross River State. In this interview with Correspondent SANNI ONOGU in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he speaks on the contentious ward congresses and the purported suspension of Agba and other party chieftains. they recanted their earlier position which was that the congresses went very very well. And we are saying you cannot afford to do that. This panel came down and conducted a free, fair and transparent election. There was an appeal panel that followed and stayed in Calabar for about 72 hours. You did not protest because the elections were free and fair. Only for you to begin to protest now. So, we said no; that list cannot be revisited. I mean, democracy is not democracy only when you are winning. You know, when I am also winning it is democracy and you should have the integrity to accept it as such. The people of Cross River have spoken and that is what it must be. Is the aspiration of your principal a threat to the governor’s interest? Honestly, I don’t see it that way at all. I have served as a commissioner under Governor Liyel Imoke and I will not deliberately participate in any hostile takeover of governance in that state. I support Jeddy Agba because I believe, as most of us do and most Cross Riverians do, that he is the man with the requisite technocratic ability and other forms of capacity to run this state for now. We need a man who is as schooled in the art of governance traditionally as he is in the art of governance in contemporary society. Jeddy is a Prince and he is the first son of the longest serving paramount ruler in this country. He is very comfortable with the people of the North as he is as a people in the South. He is not interested in coming to power to do injury to those who hold power now. What is your reaction to the suspension of some PDP chieftains? I sympathise with the executive because they are putting the wrong foot forward in every situation. They are not just acting right at all. They are in a frenzy. They are under pressure, under pressure to do wrong. Under pressure from whom? From the leadership. Clearly from the leadership and it is unfortunate. When you are under that kind of pressure you necessarily do wrong things. You must for instance say that a man is not a member of your party like the chairman said of Jeddy Agba a couple of months ago, then you turn around today to suspend him from

and closer than we think. In facing the future, we must also prepare for it by putting new things in place

Egwu: Why I want to be senator

‘How we aborted Imoke’s plan to hijack C/River congress’

HAT is responsible for the PDP crisis in Cross River State? Thee crisis is largely propelled by the fact that the PDP leadership in our state is insensitive to the genuine yearnings and aspiration of the vast majority of Cross River people. It is bent on constructing and coercing results that are premeditated for its own benefit and people are saying no to that. It must not be democracy according to you, it must be democracy according to the people. But, there was a panel on the congress from Abuja... We had a panel from Abuja peopled by men of integrity and probity; tested people in politics and in their professions. They came to Cross River and ensured that everybody had a level-playing ground as was required by the National Working Committee of the party. The party in the state attempted to exclude those who were not their people, so to speak. They hoarded the forms and make sure that only their own persons were given the forms. In fact, they attempted to even mutilate the forms by applying their own seals to the forms of the party. The forms are owned by the National Working Committee and not by any state chapter but they sealed those forms with their own seals just to ensure that people who were not their persons, whom they didn’t want to emerge will not be given an opportunity. But the party at the national levelknowing that things like that will happen at the states gave people the liberty to buy the forms here at the national. So, we bought our own forms, filled them, took them yo the state and the party threatened to refuse to accept them. We put pressure and then they reluctantly accepted them. But, even when they accepted them, they ensured that when the list of those eligible yo contest the election were published, only their own persons had their names on. So, you could see what I mean when I said the party is bent on excluding people. But, when the panel came they insisted that there must be a level-playing ground in consonance with the directives of the party, they said all who had forms legitimately must run. So, you know, the party that was unprepared for the election were constrained now to include everybody and go for the elections. When we went for this elections, everything went very well and results were being returned. The party, the chairman of the party, the governor, all of them, applauded the panel for a job well done. When the panel also left Calabar and came to Abuja, we also applauded them for a job well done. There was an appeal panel that followed. I stayed in Calabar for about 72 hours; no body petitioned the panel. When they later got to find by their calculations when they saw the larger picture, and by their calculations they found that, going by that list, they will not be able to impose their candidates on the people, they started protesting. In other words

must put the loss of June 21 behind us. ‘ We We must face a future which is brighter

• Onor

the party. How can you say a man is not a member of your party and then you get to suspend him? Is the action of the Cross River PDP leadership legal? It is not legal at all and that is why we have said very clearly that it is an action that ab initio is of no consequence whatsoever and it is a nullity. Do you hope to challenge the suspension in court or what steps are you taking to redress the situation? The court is usually not our first point of call. We are party men to the core. So, we report every irregularity to the party at the national level. So ,this matter is also before the National Working Committee of the party and we hope to have justice. Is there any intervention so far from the national leadership? They are looking into the matter today. We hear joyfully that the National Working Committee will be having a meeting today and we believe that our case will be heard. Will you abide by the decision or resolution of the NWC on the matter? We are party men and we believe that the National Working Committee will always do justice as it has been doing. What are the chances of Jeddy Agba at the primaries and general elections? The chance is absolutely bright. The people are with and the voice of the people is the voice of God and he is doing the right things. He has the best campaign organization on ground. He is the most acceptable candidate. He is the most prepared. He is the most well meaning. He is the man for the moment. What does Jeddy Agba have in stock for the people of Cross River? He has experience. He has contacts. He has connections. He is the one man who has demonstrated that he has what it takes to run government. He is the man who for instance is employing thousands of Cross Riverians already through his Goddy Logo Farms. He has shown that he is a philanthropist. He has shown that as I told you before he is a people’s man. He understands how to network. He respects people. So is a man that can take Cross River to the next level. What is the problem with the delegates’ list? What really happened during the ward congresses? All across the nation after the ward congresses of the PDP, the people protested against their governors saying that the governors hijacked the process, but in Cross River the reverse seems to be the case, why that? That is because the governor could not hijack the process. The people rather did what they had to do to ensure that it is only their genuine wishes that were reflected in the ballot. That is why the governor and his cohorts are not happy.

ORMER Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu has called for what he described as an all-inclusive consultation before selecting candi dates for next year’s polls. Egwu spoke with reporters in Umebe, Ohaukwu, on his senatorial ambition. The governor is eyeing the Ebonyi North seat in the Upper Chamber. He promised to represent the zone with a sense of duty and responsibility. He charged politicians not to allow their personal interest to override the collective aspiration of the people. The former Education Minister said there is the need for proper consultation before the selection of any consensus candidate to avoid disaffection and political wrangling among stakeholders, whose views were necessary for the choice of a leader. He said the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast would not jeopardise President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances of winning the presidential election. Egwu called on politicians not to see the general election as a do or die affair, stressing that leadership positions come from God. He added: “Consensus means I forgo my personal interest for a collective interest. It is not about announcement, but dialogue, diplomatic persuasion and compromise. This procedure reduces tension within the polity. I am very optimistic that I will win at the polls based on the wishes of the people. The level of support for my candidacy has been satisfactory”.

‘How Ekiti APC can win elections’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congess (APC) in Ekiti State, Hon. Oyeyemi Smart, has said the change of the party leadership is the key to winning future elections. The Financial Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, said a new leadership will boost the morale of members. He said: “Leadership gives direction in any organisation and, when the followers are desirous of change, it must be seen as inevitable and then accepted”. Oyeyemi said the leadership change should cut across ward, local government and state levels. He added: “The APC is one big family. Despite our loss at the June 21 poll, the party has been together. But, we must face the reality. We members want real structural change. We must do this to move forward. If this is done, the APC will return to the headship of Ekiti State sooner than most people think. “We must put the loss of June 21 behind us. We must face a future which is brighter and closer than we think. In facing the future, we must also prepare for it by putting new things in place. “They say leaders come and go, but the situation with the APC in Ekiti is that the leaders come and stay. The fact is that most of those we know as leaders of the party today have been there since the ACN days and even before. •Oyeyemi

‘APC’ll defeat Jonathan in 2015’ •Continued from page 15

you have security problem. They are so many people from the South; that is Southeast, Southwest, Southsouth and they are living in Kano and they call Kano their home. Recently, I met somebody at the airport. I asked him where he was going and he said he was going home (he is an Igbo man). I later met him inside an aircraft en route to Kano and I asked him the same question again, and he said he was going home to Kano! I said that is what I wanted to hear from you. I am so happy that you are calling Kano your home. Many people living here in Kano regard it as home. They go to Abuja for business, they go to the East for business and they come back here because, in spite of our security challenges, here is still safer because of the issue of kidnapping or armed robbery in the South. People think poverty is only here in the North. But, a poor man here is as bad as a poor man in Bayelsa State. So, it is not like the whole of Southsouth, or Southeast or Southwest are supporting a particular candidate. No. So, don’t bring any misunderstanding between us and the good people of Southsouth who want better leadership. People in my village don’t care whether it is a Christian or Muslim who is a leader, who is the president. In many cases, we always give an example of what happened in the past so that somebody can understand our antecedents, you remember in 1993 when we had election between Abiola and Bashir Tofa. You know I come from the same polling both with Bashir Tofa in Gandu Albasa. So, why didn’t he win there? He didn’t win in the ward, he didn’t win in the local government; he didn’t win in the state! Abiola from Ogun won. So, it was in 1999, Abubakar Rimi from Kano, our leader was contesting, he got close to zero delegates from Kano; while Obasanjo, a Christian from the South, got Kano delegates and won the elections here in Kano. So, politics here doesn’t rely or go for sentiments; we are looking for the best. Once we identify the best man, whether he is an Igbo or Yoruba or Tiv or any tribe, we will vote for him.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Education emergency •Four unions demand the radical alteration of Nigeria’s education sector

HE recent demand for the declaration of an education emergency in Nigeria was unique for the unified vision of those who made it. It was jointly made by the four foremost unions in the tertiary education sector – the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). Claiming that education in the country was riddled with poor funding, inadequate leadership, and infrastructural decay, the four unions said that a nonnegotiable public good had been perverted by a socio-economic system in which the maximisation of profit and the primacy of personal interest had become dominant. The unions obviously have a point. Nigeria’s education sector, especially its tertiary component, has been badly hit by a multi-dimensional crisis of gargantuan proportions. The country has an adult literacy rate of only 51.1 per cent; the gross enrollment ratio of the population of tertiary school age is just 10 per cent; an average of 5.25 years is spent by Nigerians in school. About 10.5 million of its children are out of school, the highest number in the world. As if that is not bad enough, young Nigerians seeking education have been directly targeted by insurgent groups like Boko Haram, resulting in repeated atrocities, such as those of Buni Yadi and Potiskum, in which dozens of students have died or suffered severe injury. Well-intentioned though the demands of ASSU, NAAT, NASU and SSANU may

be, however, there is the question of whether such an emergency will actually achieve anything substantial. Nigeria is no stranger to education summits of varying levels of depth and comprehensiveness. In 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo convened an education summit in Abuja, bringing together senior government officials, policy makers and other concerned stakeholders. In November 2012, the BRACED Commission comprising Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states organised an education summit for the region. In May 2013, Lagos State held the third in its series of education summits. At all of these gatherings, many of the issues confronting the sector were identified and exhaustively analysed. Impassioned declarations were given. Targets were set. Promises were made. Timelines were drawn up. In the end, not much changed, as the main drivers for education reform actually came from the individual efforts of the states, especially Lagos, Rivers, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Kano. In these states, successive administrations have taken it upon themselves to implement comprehensive rehabilitation and expansion of their educational systems, especially at the primary and secondary levels. New classrooms have been built, more teachers trained and recruited, and greater rewards and incentives provided. But they can only do so much. The education crisis is a national one, and must be addressed at that level. The declaration of an education emergency could provide the vital national scope which would help ensure that any reform is evenly spread across the country.

However, if it is to work, it must be divorced from the political grandstanding that has disfigured similar strategies in the past. A viable education emergency cannot be an arena for point-scoring, propaganda, or blame games. It cannot be aimed at furthering the agenda of any one group, be it government, union or corporate, to the detriment of the others and the country as a whole. The issues have been identified, the action steps are ready, and the solutions are known. What is required is the strength of will and determination to follow through on the undertakings that will inevitably be made. Perhaps the best way of achieving this could be to distill the successes of specific states into a template for the nation as a whole; by focusing on what works, it will be that much easier to move from speech to action.

‘The education crisis is a national one, and must be addressed at that level. The declaration of an education emergency could provide the vital national scope which would help ensure that any reform is evenly spread across the country. However, if it is to work, it must be divorced from the political grandstanding that has disfigured similar strategies in the past’

Oh mine, Myles’ gone! •Shock waves as international personality and motivational speaker dies in a plane crash

E was only 60 last April but he could have been 600 years to peoples around the world who have followed him through these years and whom he had influenced and inspired in numerous positive ways. The world’s leading televangelist, preacher, motivational preacher, author and counsellor, Myles Munroe died along with his wife, Ruth Ann, daughter, Charisa and seven other passengers when his jet crashed near the Grand Bahama International Airport, last Sunday. Munroe was on his way to the Global Leadership Forum organised by him in his native Bahamas when his jet which was flying low over the Grand Bahama Shipyard hit a crane and exploded on impact. One of his major annual programmes, Nigeria’s billionaire oil magnate, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija was also billed to speak at the event. Participants from all over the world, including pastor

‘Though Munroe grew up in a poor family of 11 children in underdeveloped Bahamean Islands, at death, he had proved that circumstance and place of birth are not barriers in life but that they could indeed be the required trajectories for reaching the highest heights a man aims for. It is not only sad that Myles met his tragic end at the peak of his life, his wife and child also passed on with him’

and devotees had converged in Grand Bahama in anticipation of the conference when the tragic news filtered in. Munroe who was born in Nassau, Bahamas was the president and founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI) and Myles Munroe International (MMI). These are Christian faith-based bodies involved in evangelism, Christian resource, leadership training, publishing, television network, radio and web communications among other activities. Munroe was also the chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of International Third World Leaders Association and president of the International Leadership Institute. He took a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, Education and Theology from the Oral Roberts University, United States in 1978 and a Masters in Administration from the University of Tulsa in 1980. The revered and multi-gifted public speaker was a teacher, a life coach, government consultant and leadership mentor. Munroe travelled to all parts of the world training leaders in business, governance, education, sports, media and religion. His sermon was always that every man must die empty having produced everything that God had birthed in him. He was advisor to numerous Fortune 500 companies’ chief executive officers, addressing critical issues that affect aspects of human, professional, leadership, social and spiritual development. An influential world figure and a shining star of his island country, Bahamas, Munroe represented his country as the youngest recipient of the Queen’s Birthday Honours of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 1998, bestowed by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth of England. This honour was for his social and

spiritual development of the Bahamas. He was also honoured by the government of the Bahamas with the Silver Jubilee Award (SJA) for his 25 years outstanding service to his motherland in the categories of spiritual, social and religious development. Munroe was the senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship and his wife Ruth Ann was the co-senior pastor. A prolific writer, he authored about 70 books, most notable among which are Spirit of Leadership, God’s Big Idea and Understanding your Potential. Eulogising him, Prime Minister Perry Christie of the Bahamas said he was, “Deeply saddened by the accident. It is impossible to measure the magnitude of Dr Munroe’s loss to the Bahamas and to the world. “He was indisputably one of the most globally recognisable religious figures our nation has ever produced. His fame as an ambassador of the Christian ministry preceded him wherever in the world he travelled, whether in the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe or Africa. He was a towering force who earned the respect and admiration, not only of Christian adherents but also of secular leaders both here at home and around the world.” Though Munroe grew up in a poor family of 11 children in underdeveloped Bahamean Islands, at death, he had proved that circumstance and place of birth are not barriers in life but that they could indeed be the required trajectories for reaching the highest heights a man aims for. It is not only sad that Myles met his tragic end at the peak of his life, his wife and child also passed on with him. We join his numerous followers in mourning him. We wish him a peaceful rest.

Open letter to NAFDAC-DG

IR: There is no gainsaying the fact that you have recorded unparalleled achievements as the director-general of NAFDAC. The introduction of SMS confirmation of the authenticity of drugs is very commendable. Under the current leadership of NAFDAC, the use of law enforcement agents to chase producers and sellers of fake and substandard drugs has reduced. With the introduction of the SMS confirmation of authenticity of drugs, unscrupulous elements in our drug markets are gradually going into extinction. However, I have some observations which I will like NAFDAC to investigate and make corrections . First, I want to be properly enlightened on the criteria for the issuance of NAFDAC registration numbers to herbal medications in Nigeria. To an average Nigerian, any product with NAFDAC registration number is safe for consumption. Having realised this, the producers and sellers of NAFDAC-approved herbal medications go a long way to convince their potential buyers with these NAFDAC registration numbers. They brandish their NAFDAC-approved medications while feeding the public with wrong medical information. Secondly, does NAFDAC while approving and issuing the registration numbers to the producers of herbal medications deem it necessary to regulate the dosage and duration of the medication for the treatment of a particular ailment? This is because the toxicity of some drugs become conspicuous with increased dosage and duration. It is not uncommon to hear the vendors of these NAFDAC-approved herbal medications informing their patients/buyers to consume as much of the products as they can if they want their ailments to be cured very fast. It is now a marketing strategy that the more a marketer sells, the more the remuneration and the likelihood the promotion hence the marketer, who is ignorant of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs, will convince the potential buyer to buy a lot of the medications and continue the medications until the ailment is cured. Also,does your agency while approving and issuing the NAFDAC registration numbers research on the drugdrug interactions, indications and contra-indications of these herbal medications? It is common to see the leaflets of some NAFDAC-approved herbal medications claiming to cure all ailments known to man. Some producers in order to increase their market size will tell their consumers that anybody can take the medications including pregnant women and children. It is very disheartening when a clinician encounters a pregnant woman with intrauterine fetal death and no other aspect of the clinical history,physical examination or investigations will point to the possible cause of the intrauterine demise except that the expectant mother took one herbal medication in the course of her pregnancy. Some of the active agents in these herbal medications are not only embryotoxic but are also teratogenic. Apart from NAFDAC, do state ministries of health, information and environment and the federal ministries of health, information and environment have any regulatory functions on the production and marketing of these herbal medications? Which agency of the government controls the medical information that these herbal medicine dealers disseminate to the members of the public? Finally, I want to state clearly that I do not doubt any approval that your agency gives to any particular product; my concern is whether the content of the sample of a product sent to your agency for approval truly reflects the content of the same product that finally gets to the consumers? Also, does your agency have any regulations on the information about the said product that will get to the final consumers? • Dr Paul John Port Harcourt, Rivers State

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Nigeria is the largest democratic nation in the Africa. Democracy has been regarded as an ideal form of government in which people are governed by their own elected representatives. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is a people's government in which the voice of the people is supreme and where the laws are fashioned according to their wishes. The question whether democracy has a future in Nigeria has aroused grave concern among our educated ones. Even the most pious optimist believes that our democracy has a bleak future. It can have a future only when our politicians cease to be power mongers. With every sector crumbling, one wonders what the future really holds for our dear motherland. Tolerance is the essence of democracy. Judiciary is its backbone. One after the other, leaders of today have been showing their firm faith in the unity of the Nation. But the common man finds these very leaders, with knives of different size and shape putting deep scars on the face of the motherland.

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Nigeria’s democracy and its future There is a gap between promise and performance. We enjoy every right in theory, but not in practice. Real democracy will come into being only when the masses are awakened and take part in the economic and political life of the country. Nigeria today is a rich man's democracy. Our democracy is a democracy of the rich, for the rich and by the rich. The implementation of laws is almost nil in most of the parts of the country. If they are honestly implemented Nigeria will have been a dreamland for other nations, but the reverse is the case in our society. The National Assembly and state assemblies enact laws and pass them on to the administration not for their execution but for their non-execution. Our national leaders introduced

adult franchise with one stroke of pen when 85% of our people were illiterate. It was a foolproof experiment to start with. Universal basic education should precede adult franchise. Election is always a costly affair and the lure of money works wonders especially among illiterate ones. The absence of an organized opposition the party in power resorts to dishonest means. No single party in Nigeria can claim to be really democratic. Violence has taken a serious turn in our country. Misuse of legislative privileges does not augur well for democracy. Defection from one party to the other on selfish and flimsy grounds has added to the instability of the government in our country. It is bad on both moral and political ground. There is no

PDP torn between Wike and the rest

IR: When one considers the happenings in Rivers State PDP, it portrays the national organs of the party as lame, ineffective or corrupt. There is no doubt that Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Minster of State for Education and one of the frontrunners in the race for nomination as PDP flag bearer in the 2015 governorship election is carrying on here as if he is a god. Wike fought very hard to be recognized as the strongman that ensured PDP did not sink in Rivers State. Perhaps, unknown to the national organs of the party, Wike was doing all that for purely personal benefits. It should be recalled that Wike and his State PDP executive had gone to court, and obtained an order that challenged the authority of the national organ to supervise Rivers PDP. The court

ruled that the headquarters of the PDP must not override or dictate to Rivers PDP. This was a terrible slap on the national leadership of the party. Doesn’t this show that Wike and his Rivers PDP feel above the laws of PDP? Hence, Rivers PDP executives and Wike continued to dish out unchallenged decisions. If this is allowed, it is possible that PDP would lose the state to APC. This is as simple as ABC. Wike and his group have continued to be openly supported by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. It is surprising that the First Lady’s continued meddlesomeness in the affairs of PDP at all levels is tolerated and condoned by certain element in the party leadership. At the PDP mega rally recently in Port Harcourt to drum up support for Jonathan’s re-election in

2015, all the governorship hopefuls in the PDP were present, except Wike. Again during the PDP congress to select delegates for the primaries, all the 16 aspirants boycotted the exercise; it became Wike’s show. Can Wike be an island? Wike is plotting to govern Rivers State; apparently trying to take over from the incumbent governor, Rotimi Amaechi, a fellow Ikwerre. This, naturally, will be resisted by almost every voter in Rivers State. How PDP intends to overcome this problem is yet to be known. This, of course, would make President Jonathan lose the votes of a good number of Rivers people. • Dr. Bernard Tamuno, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

sphere of national life which can be described to be free from corruption. At the political level everyone – ministers, legislators, and party officials suffer from it. Our democracy has miserably failed on different front, agriculture, home, foreign etc. The masses are illiterate. They abuse their votes. They are easily bought. No democracy can succeed until there is widespread education and enlightenment among the peo-

ple. Here the rich exploit the poor who have no voice or share in the democratic structure. Democracy is on its trial now. Democracy has not failed. It is we who have failed. If we develop democratic spirit, temper, and character and become Nigerians in true sense, it can certainly become a success. The future of democracy will be bright only when our people possess national character, consciousness and responsibility. Intellectuals should come forward and create better society with a true democratic spirit prepared to march further in a democratic way. It is still in the childhood, yet the hope for the future is bright. • Comrade Ahmed Omeiza Lukman, Kieve, Ukraine.

Time for Transitional National Government?

IR: Without prejudice to the contributions of President Goodluck Jonathan administration to the nation’s development especially in key sectors like agriculture, power, aviation, water resources and transportation, there is the urgent need for inauguration of a Transitional National Government to stabilize the ship of the nation that has been facing high turbulence of security challenges and social unrests especially in the last two to three years. The present administration no doubt has tried its best possible to curtail the situation, but the desired results are not forth-coming. It is either the government lacks the capacity needed to confront the challenges and sanitize the system or its efforts are being undermined by the activities of the fifth columnists or saboteurs for their own selfish reasons. Whatever may be responsible for the retardation or retrogression into a pariah state, all hands must be on the deck to avoid a shipwreck. The TNG should be headed by a man of high-integrity who fears God and selfless and who re-

ally loves this country. Having a military background may be an added advantage. He and members of his cabinet on this national assignment should see their appointments as a call to duty or to rescue mission so to say, and not an opportunity to corruptly enrich themselves. If need be, they should be placed on stipends. The members should be men and women who have made their marks in their respective callings or disciplines. They do not have to be old fellows. Energetic and visionary youths whom their respective constituencies can vouch for, can be part of this Rescue Mission Team called Transitional National Government (TNG) whose tenure should be 12 calendar months with the possibility of an extension which should not be more than 3 – 6 months. This is one of the credible political options open to this country lest we descend into a state of anarchy. • Gbemiga Olakunle, JP General Secretary National Prayer Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

COMMENTS

Lagos School of History: An exploratory discourse – 3

HE Lagos School of History was more concerned with relevance of the discipline to national and international problems facing Nigeria. The Lagos School did not want to concede finding solutions to political, social and economic problems of Nigeria to political scientists and economists because the study of history probably provides a more solid foundation for understanding the problems of social and economic development. And in any case history provides the basic foundational structure from which the social sciences take off. Even though most of the staff of the Department of History in Lagos were trained outside the University of Lagos and came from different universities ranging from the University of Ibadan, American, British, Australian and Canadian universities and have trained and written their doctoral dissertations not with the aim of developing any school, they however found themselves involved in what later became the Lagos School of History. One of the interesting things about the Lagos School was its bias for International Relations, Biographies, Defence Studies, Cultural, Maritime and Economic History. The founding fathers of the department were Professor A.B. Aderibigbe, who had interest in the history of the city of Lagos, Professor Olusanya whose interest was nation-building, the rise of Nigerian nationalism and international relations, Professor Gbadebo Gbadamosi whose interest lay in Islamic tradition and culture in western Nigeria and Professor Tunde Agiri whose interest was economic development. They all applied their scholarship to the socio-political problems of the times. And just like the Ibadan people, they were able to create niches for themselves especially in the functional approach to history. Professor Tony Asiwaju brought his wealth of border land studies and boundaries into play in assisting the National Boundaries Commission as a member of the Commission and later as a member of the International Commission on the Bakasi Question. His training and dissertation on Western Yorubaland under Western colonialism with its emphasis on comparative assessment of British and French colonialism provided a foundation for his training and development as a boundary man and he was able to leverage this in helping Nigeria to resolve boundary problems both nationally and internationally. This columnist trained in Canada and his training in military, diplomatic and international relations evidenced by his book on Nigeria in the First World War provided the basis for his branching into international relations where his study of relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea launched him into the policy arena of international relations. Professor Ade Adefuye even though majored in East African History has since shifted his focus to Nigerian foreign policy and cultural diplomacy and this has led him into diplomatic representation of Nigeria in Jamaica, Great Britain, United States and in working in the Commonwealth secretariat. Junior colleagues and students of these trailblazers have found niches in economic, defence, maritime, ethnic, naval and social history.

ORMER Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke has been in the news lately. And this has to do with his claim that there are only two monkeys in Cross River State. He proceeded to name the two monkeys, insinuating that because these two companies are very active in the state, they are the only ones getting jobs in the state. A lot of us got giddy with excitement, hoping the former governor will go the whole hog and confess more, including the fact that his brother George Duke still enjoys business patronage in this state with juicy contracts that have been in place since his brother’s tenure, including management of the Millennium Park, Calabar, and maintenance of the Governor's Office. So evidently the two monkeys’ theory was slightly embellished to distort the truth and cause ill-feelings amongst the public. Be that as it may, it is also common knowledge that one of the monkeys he mentioned; lilleker was in fact brought to the state by his administration. However, since this is a season of confessions, the poor people of Cross River State will like to know

The significant thing about the Lagos School is its relevance. The engagement of members of the department with the government in several advisory capacities led at one time three members of the department being appointed ambassadors and at another time Professor Olusanya was appointed Director-General of N.I.I.A., while Professor A.I. Asiwaju was appointed member of National Boundaries Commission, and this writer became Special Adviser to the Ministry of External Affairs and later ambassador to Germany after having served in quasi-diplomatic posts in Ottawa and Washington DC. What was significant about all this was the placement of round pegs in round holes. Most of the postgraduate students coming out of the Lagos School attempt to study topics that are of direct application to policy without sacrificing the rigour of historical analysis. Within the last decade, two doctoral dissertations from the department were adjudged the best in the Humanities Law and social sciences in Nigeria by the National Universities Commission. Recent theses coming out of the department of history, University of Lagos bear out the orientation of applied history which is the strength of the department. These dissertations include A.O. Ogunyemi “Federal Budgets in Nigeria, 1954-1999”, O.J. Ogen “The Ikale of South Eastern Yorubaland1500-1900”, Paul A. Osifodunrin “Violent Crimes in Lagos 1861-2000”, Ganiyu O. Davies “The Interconnectedness of Urbanisation and Colonial Land Policies in Lagos 1914-1960”, Uche Igwe “The Impact Migrant Labour from Owerri Province on the Economy of Eastern Nigeria 1915-1965”, Obichere G. Iwuagwu “SocioEconomic History of Food Crop Production in Igboland 19001980”, Victor Ukaogo “From Palm Oil to Crude Oil: The Impact of International Trade on Niger-Delta Communities 1895-1995”, Femi Adegbulu “Oyo from the 16th to the 19th Century: A Study of External Relations of an African State”, Danladi A. Ali “Nature and Impact of Trade and Inland Water Transport in the Lower Niger Region 1879-1997”, Irene Osemeka “The Casamance Peace Process 1947-2004”, Kenneth C. Nwoko “The International Committee of the Red Cross in Nigeria 1960-2007”, Uche Okonkwo “A Socio-Economic History of Alcohol in South Eastern Nigeria since 1890”, Sikiru Momodu “Nigeria and International Labour Organisation 1945-1993”, Falode A. James “The State and Nation Building in Nigeria 1967-2007”, David Aworawo “Diplomacy and Development of Equatorial Guinea 19001990”, Monday M. Ogbeidi “Educational Exchanges in NigeriaUSA Cultural Relations 1938-1988”. In the same vein and following the same tradition and trajectory of relevance are the current ongoing doctoral dissertations namely; Ogunjewo Henry Bandele Diplomatic Missions and Foreign Relations: A History of the Nigerian Mission to the United Kingdom 1960—2010, Anaemene Benjamin Uchena Nigeria and the World Health Organisation 1960-2007: A Study in Health Diplomacy, Friday Aworawo Third-Party Intervention in Intra-State Conflicts in Africa: A Comparative Study of Chad and Sierra Leone 1975-2005, Segun Bolarinwa A History of

Development Initiatives in Africa 1975 to the Present, Adinuba Bernard Chuks The Quest for Food Security in Anambra State, 19601991: A Historical Analysis, Bernard Fyanka History of Small Arms Control in Nigeria and Liberia 1967-2012: Implications for Peace Building and Security, Eguedo-Okoeguale Jide Hysaint Nigeria-India Osuntokun Relations, 1960-2010: A Study in South-South Cooperation and Development, Chilaka Edmund Mbama Ghana’s National Shipping Line and Ghana’s Black Star Line 1957-1998, Grace Emeka Ogubo Economic Impact of Colonial Rule on the Upper Cross-River Region 1900-1960, Adeogun Adebayo Hegemons and Regional Economic Integration: Nigeria in ECOWAS and South Africa in SADC, Ashe Muesiri A Historical Study of Local Government Administration in Urhoboland 1917-1999, Decker Jonathan B. A History of the Poor in Lagos 1861-1967. From these doctoral dissertations, it is clear that the orientation of the Lagos School of History is what may be called applied or functional history, not just history for history’s sake, neither is it in the tradition of total detachment from subject matter like those followers of Leopold Von Ranke tradition of historicism. A.J.P. Taylor, distinguished Regius Professor of history in Cambridge dared to say history should not be written with the purpose of its relevance to present events or situation but should be written from pure academic detachment and that a historian should never worry about where his scholarship may lead.

‘From these doctoral dissertations, it is clear that the orientation of the Lagos School of History is what may be called applied or functional history, not just history for history’s sake, neither is it in the tradition of total detachment from subject matter like those followers of Leopold Von Ranke tradition of historicism’

Questions Donald Duke must answer By Inyang Bassey who the true owner or owners of Tinapa are? So sir, please is it true that at the stage of conceptualisation, the state executive council members were told that the project will be mostly private sector financed? If so, at what point did it become the state government affair, such that the state is indebted to the tune of about N80 billion because of this project alone? And if it is indeed owned by the state government, how come certain individuals and corporate organisations claim ownership of shares in Tinapa even when it has never been listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange? Another area where Cross River? people are seeking answers has to do with the status of the Children Hospital, Calabar. We know that the hospital belonged to the state, or so we were told. Who truly owns that hospital? Clarification has become necessary because at some point we be-

‘Obla, a lawyer and member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) also claimed that your achievements as governor of Cross River are most times hyped. In his words, your so-called superlative performances were a fluke, and that your administration institutionalised ?the culture of impunity and corruption in Cross River’

gan to hear that the Duke administration leased out the hospital to some individuals for 20 years? Yet another account claims that one family actually has the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) to the property. Please sir, which of these accounts is the truth? This is what an online news portal, THE WILL wrote regarding that hospital. "THE WILL findings into Duke’s questionable disposal of state government assets while he was governor revealed that the state government owned former party office of the proscribed National Republican Convention (NRC) on Murtala Muhammed Highway, Calabar, which currently houses Women and Children Hospital and the former Nigerian Union of Journalists Press Centre, Diamond Hill, Calabar, which the former governor currently calls his Calabar residence... These choice assets are worth tens of millions of naira. "There are also others such as a hotel property off Marian Extension Road in Calabar bought with state government funds as a government hotel from the family of Mr. Mike Archibong but which has curiously become a privately owned hotel awaiting opening anytime soon. "The Cross River State House on Military Street, Onikan Lagos is another property that caught our attention…” "That Duke sold off a lot of government assets in the guise of raising funds for the state is no longer news, what is news how-

ever is that most of the properties sold especially the residential houses in Calabar were sold to cronies and associates…completely ignoring government’s owner occupier policy. Some indigenes however are not letting Mr. Duke get off so easily. There has been public outcry over Duke’s acquisition of public properties amongst Cross Riverians. A former governorship candidate in the state during the last election, James Ebri, the younger brother of former governor of the state, Clement Ebri, has gone to court to challenge Duke’s takeover of the former NRC party office. "Also joined in Ebri’s suit are the Cross River State government, state Attorney General, Commissioner for Lands and the Commissioner for Justice. "Justice E. O Eneji of the State High Court after listening to arguments granted an order "that an interim order shall and is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents from commissioning, inaugurating and opening of the Calabar Women and Children’s Hospital (CWCH) by any person whosoever, scheduled to hold on 28th May, 2010, at the Movie theatre, Calabar Women and Children’s Hospital, Cross River State or any other day pending the determination of the Motion on Notice." ?Is there any iota of truth in the report by THE WILL? The iconic Metropolitan Hotel has since become Transcorp Ho-

tel. And I must confess that services are miles better now. But tongues wagged when the ownership of the hotel changed hands during your tenure, why so? What about the oil palm estate in Ayib Eku, in Akamkpa Local Government Area? Can you respond to very weighty allegations made by Okoi Obono-Obla in a petition concerning land grab in Ekorinim? Not only that. Obla, a lawyer and member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) also claimed that your achievements as governor of Cross River are most times hyped. In his words, your so-called superlative performances were a fluke, and that your administration institutionalised ?the culture of impunity and corruption in Cross River. The last but not the least, is the issue of the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula through which certain individuals profited. Although it was not the fault of the state government when you were the governor that the Peninsula was ceded to Cameroon in the first place, there has been a lot of talk in town that two people benefitted from the adversity that befell the state. Is there any truth to this? If yes, who are these people? Thank you sir and may God bless you as you give light to these issues. • Mpkanam Calabar

wrote

from

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

COMMENTS

OYIN Okupe is an illustrious scion of illustrious pa Mathew Okupe of ‘Agbonmagbe’ bank fame. The father was one of the wealthiest Nigerians of his time. Young and gifted Doyin must have resolved at an early age not to fall below his illustrious father’s social ladder. Perhaps for this reason, although a trained medical doctor, he thrives more as a politician and contractor, the two most rewarding callings in our nation, where any upstart without Okupes talents and the privilege of being born with a silver spoon effortlessly finds himself at the top of the social ladder. Goodluck Jonathan, an unknown shoeless school boy turned President, finds men of influence like Okupe irresistible. Even when the President was forewarned while appointing him to launder the image of his government, that Okupe, by his caustic tongue and temperament would create more enemies for the President, he did not give a damn. All that mattered was having a man of influence like Okupe on his side to intimidate his political adversaries. But tragically, Okupe has turned out to define all that is wrong with Jonathan’s presidency. Of course, President Jonathan has reaped handsomely from his investment on Okupe. Unfortunately for us as a nation, the President’s gain is Nigeria’s loss. As predicted, Okupe has with his caustic tongue alienated some of those whose name Jonathan once swore by. For instance, the President once rated Obasanjo as the greatest influence in his life after God and his parents. Few weeks back, Okupe wrote Obasanjo off as being incapable of winning any election for PDP in the South-west. He traded him off for Buruji Kashamu, the President’s new friend and Obasanjo’s foe. Not too long ago, he also questioned Pastor Tunde Bakare’s credentials for criticizing government economic policies. At the time Okupe was serving a different master, it was Bakare who mobilized his group to secure for the President, his constitutional right, then abridged by ailing Yar’ Adua’s kitchen cabinet headed by now jailed James Ibori. Just as he had turned old friends to sworn foes at home, he has by his haughtiness and offensive habit of denying what would be obvious even to the half blind, forced exasperated traditional friends of Nigeria in the international community to give up on the search for the abducted Chibok 200 girls ‘wishing Goodluck’s Nigeria, good luck’. Others have publicly challenged the President over his handling of corruption among his party men. Even African leaders like Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, tongue in cheek says to his people that certain things cannot happen in his country because Ugadan is not Nigeria while South Africa that has, according to Mandela always looked up to Nigeria as hope of Africa, re-

IGERIA’S Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye was quoted recently to have said that the United States refused to assist Nigeria with technology to fight Boko Haram. Specifically on Monday November 10, he told members of the Council on Foreign Relations that "The Nigerian leadership... are not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States' support for us in our struggle against terrorists,". He added further that "We find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly". Since the Boko Haram insurgency started, I am personally aware, through reliable military and diplomatic sources, that the United States had always availed Nigeria of list of those they suspect to be sponsors of Boko Haram. Immediately after the United Nations House bombing in Abuja on August 26, 2011, the US, alarmed by the sheer sophistication of the operations, reportedly availed the Nigerian authorities of the list of the sponsors of Boko Haram and were advised to act fast before they disintegrate Nigeria. This fact formed part of my published piece in 2012 titled PDP, Boko Haram and their 2015 Succession Politics. Rather than the seize the opportunity of the uproar and outrage against the bombings to confront those indicted, the president chose to foot drag in taking actions until the 2011 Madallah Christmas Day Bombings which took over 80 lives. A traumatized President would admit two weeks later on January 8, 2012, for the first time, that Boko Haram sponsors had infiltrated his government. The military authorities, then under Generals Owoye Azazi as National Security Adviser (NSA) and Azubuike Ihejirika as Army Chief including other service chiefs pushed for the arrest of the sponsors of the group. However, political expediency and 2015 elections permutations would overshadow the earlier resolve of the military authorities to stamp out

Okupe defines Jonathan presidency cently gave President Jonathan a stern warning that the type of impunity that thrives in Nigeria has no place in South Africa when it confiscated $15 million illegally ferried to the country in a private jet with government backing. Last week, Okupe totally went out of control directing his diatribe at those who have in the wake of worsening insecurity problems reminded the President that a government that cannot secure life and property of the people loses the raison d’être of government and thus loses its legitimacy. Puffing and huffing, Okupe whimsically dismissed ‘Bola Tinubu and his colleagues in the opposition as a bunch of political anarchists and charlatans blinded by an unbridled appetite for power’. Where what was expected of an image maker was to reassure the public of what government was doing, his puerile message to embarrassed Nigerians and besieged people of parts of Nigeria now under the control of cave men was to remind us ‘it was leading members Tinubu’s party who vehemently opposed and openly criticised the proscription of the Boko Haram sect by the federal government in 2013.’ With such, mischief and insensitivity, Nigerians can see why Boko Haram appears unstoppable. Governor Babatunde Fashola, also had a taste of Okupe’s caustic tongue. Fashola had at the 50th birthday celebration of former Governor Timipre Sylva said Jonathan’s government “had been inactive for three years and in the fourth year intends to give the electorate kerosene, price and money for the purpose of seeking their votes.” Okupe’s specious response was, ‘I want to say that we have no apologies for stating the obvious fact that this administration has surpassed all the others before it.’ Okupe forgets it is only the citizens who can say that. But he did not stop at that. He went on

to query Governor Fashola for ‘coming to Abuja to give a satirical lecture pretending to be a catholic priest after ‘leaving the putrid stench of alleged financial immorality and impropriety in Lagos where under his watch it is rumored that private individuals have acquired more wealth than the state government’. And now because of what Okupe described as rumor, Fashola has lost his right to call attention to the federal government mishandling of our economy and the war against insurgency that threaten the survival of the nation. Besides Tinubu and Fashola, there were others at the receiving end of Okupe’s diatribe last week. The Deputy Governor of Borno state, Zanna Mustapha’s observation that ‘it is a big crime that the criminals are better equipped than the military’ and that going by the ease with which Boko Haram was capturing territories in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, (over 20 LGA as at the last count), “If the Federal Government does not add extra effort, in the next two to three months, the three North-eastern states will no longer be in existence.” That, in addition to Atiku’s own warning that ‘if the activities of the insurgents were not quickly curtailed, they could overrun the entire region,’ attracted only the usual Okupes’s tirade. His bizarre response was ‘to recommend critics of Jonathan’s handling of Boko Haram insurgency for a psychiatric test’. And as a merchant of mischief, he added ‘it was wrong for someone aspiring to lead the country to speak ill of the armed forces because he would command the same military if elected’. As an image maker who pretends not to know the buck stops on his principal’s table, he alleged ‘it was the people like Atiku Abubakar who said that those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable’, before the 2011 elec-

tion that encouraged Boko Haram to take up arms against their state’. Such crooked logic only confirms the fears of those who insist Jonathan’s government is clueless. And if Nigerians wanted an answer as to why Boko Haram outwitted Nigeria authorities, capturing the chief of defence staff’s town and torching his personal house while he was busy selling a non-existent cease fire agreement to Nigerians and assuring parents to expect the release of their loved ones abducted over six months ago, it was precisely because we have men who trade in mischief thinking for government. Okupe probably persuaded the President that Shettima who had in February said “Boko Haram are better armed and are better motivated than our own troops. Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram,” was out to undermine the efforts of the military and subvert Jonathan’s presidency. The president soon followed what was nothing but blackmail, to threaten Shettima that if he withdrew the soldiers from Borno, Shettima would not be able to hold on to his coveted office of governor for long. Today, nine months after Shettima’s alarm and the president’s un-presidential response to a patriotic call to avert a looming tragedy, the chicken has finally come home to roost. Nigeria has now been said to have the highest number of terrorist killings in the world with over 4000 lives lost in the past year. While government was scrambling for $1 billion foreign loan to buy arms, Boko Haram has moved out of Sambisa forest capturing an area said to be larger than Ekiti and Ondo states. And finally, the damning verdict Okupe had tried to keep away from Nigerians is now in the open. A former British military attaché recently confirmed what concerned Nigerian had always feared- that the Nigeria military is “a shadow of what it’s reputed to have once been. It’s fallen apart.” They are short of basic equipment, including radios and armoured vehicles. Morale is said to be low. The country’s defense budget accounts for more than a third of the security budget of $5.8 billion, but only 10% is allocated to capital spending’ .

‘And finally, the damning verdict Okupe had tried to keep away from Nigerians is now in the open. A former British military attaché recently confirmed what concerned Nigerian had always feared- that the Nigeria military is “a shadow of what it’s reputed to have once been’

Why US won’t help fight Boko Haram By Obinna Akukwe the insurgents. It was a frustrated Azazi that would later alert the nation at a public forum in Asaba, Delta State that the real sponsors of Boko Haram were in the PDP. Azazi was hounded for his frank observation until President Jonathan was forced to sack him as NSA. All these developments were not lost on the US military and defense analysts and advisers. The public outcry against the abduction of some 276 girls of Christian extraction from Chibok, by the terrorists, and the fear that if the conspiracy is misunderstood by Nigerian Christians, a religious conflict might ensue, coupled with other strategic reasons made the the US to volunteer help to rescue the Chibok girls and turn the tide against the insurgents. What US military officials met physically on the ground was enough for any sane nation not to commit its troops and weapons into operations likely to be sabotaged even before take-off. It was the US that first alerted the world that 10 Generals of the Nigerian Army were among 15 officers being secretly investigated for passing sensitive information to Boko Haram. It was the US that officially verified information from local observers, villagers and hunters that Boko Haram had split the Chibok girls into three, taking them to different camps. It was the US that confirmed that due to probable high level sabotage, the only way to release the Chibok girls would be through high powered negotiations since any attempt to embark on a rescue operation would likely be sabotaged, endangering the lives of both the Chibok Girls and the US troops. The US military officials, after interacting with the rank and file and inspecting what is on ground in Borno's 7th Division specifically created to contain the militants, alerted their

home country of a deliberate attempt to issue the combatants with inadequate ammunition, thereby making them easy target for the insurgents. The US military officials discovered that funds meant for the welfare of troops while in the combat zone is being scammed from the top, and they fingered top political actors and their military collaborators. The US military officials discovered that in some cases where enough ammunition were issued, as in the case of Mohammed Kur Barracks, Bama, that some officers deliberately misled their troops to abandon their positions including caches of weapons only to be used by the insurgents. The fall of Bama, despite the heavy assemblage of arms, ammunition and the recently improved welfare of soldiers, have been a source of discussion within informed US military circles till date. The US authorities believe that with secured supply lines between Bama and the Divisional Headquarters in Maiduguri, a three hour journey through bad roads, and another support military base in Konduga, Nigerian soldiers have no business fleeing Bama. The US believes that the moment Boko Haram overran the prestigious Police Mobile Training facility in Gwoza, the Nigerian Police Force lost its pride to the insurgents, and gave them the boost to plot the fall of Bama and the ill-fated march to Maiduguri though Konduga, which was halted by soldiers and civilian JTF by the mercy of God. The US is still wondering at how weapons which belong to the Nigerian Army easily get into the hands of the insurgents and they are still investigating all the routes through which the Nigerian Army supposedly donated or sold the weapons to them. The heroic welcome the ruling PDP gave former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu

Sheriff, and how an airport closed for months over security concerns, was opened just for the use of the former governor, was a political misstep from Jonathan’s men which raised concerns within the US. The US tipped off South African authorities that fund for illegal purchase of arms is being carried through their shores, and they suspected that the arms might end in the hands of the insurgents. The South African authorities, bent on ridding Africa of this scourge, failed to cooperate with the unknown arms vendors and buyers. The US believes that any lethal weapon they give to the military authorities might end up in the hands of the insurgents, and that any deployment of American troops as combatants would be easily sabotaged, their soldiers captured and another dimension to the war on terror will be introduced. The US believes that if the Nigerian government handles high-level corruption, poverty, and unemployment, social unrest will reduce drastically and the insurgents may find the business of blood-letting unattractive. The Nigerian government knows why the US cannot commit sensitive men and materials to aid its fight against terror. Prof Adefuye’s vituperation, though patriotic, does not show sufficient understanding of the situation the US met on the ground. Blaming foreigners for letting Nigeria down in the fight against Boko Haram is sweeping sensitive puzzles under the carpet. The erudite professor should interact with the US military advisers and officials in Washington and around the US, and they will avail him of the rot they met on the ground and get more insight into why the US government refused to assist Nigeria with the needed technology to fight Boko Haram; that done, he will be able to apportion the blames more proportionately.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

COMMENTS

HEN the question arose in 2010 about a successor to President Umaru Yar’Adua who had fallen in the course of national service, I was one of many who automatically and instinctively supported the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan. As far as I and the group I belonged to were concerned, the constitutional position was clear and unassailable on the subject. But, apart from the constitutional propriety, we had other more serious reasons to support Jonathan. In our view, the fact that Jonathan came from a minority southern nationality was a God-given asset in the prevailing situation of Nigeria. And his minority nationality was not just any minority nationality; it was the minority nationality which had since independence suffered the most egregiously from the Federal Government’s insensitive and roguish attitudes to the oil wealth in the Niger Delta, and which had stood in the forefront of resistance to the Federal Government’s brigandage. As a university student in the early 1960s, I had been personally acquainted with Isaac Adaka Boro; and Ken Saro Wiwa and I had trodden the academic corridors of University College Ibadan and University of Ibadan at roughly the same time and shared a little together in some activities of the students’ community. Among us therefore, there was strong generational and other kinds of loyalty for these Delta heroes, as well as for their kinsmen who had died fighting by their side, and for the millions of their people who had been, and were still being, brutally pauperized by the side-effects of the oil industry assisted by the inhuman neglect by the rulers of Nigeria. Even more importantly, and above all else, a Jonathan presidency obviously held out, in our assessment, the strong probability that the Nigerian federation would at last be properly restructured and that Nigeria would be saved. The complex mess in which Nigeria had landed itself by 2010 had, without any doubt, been caused by those who had controlled Nigeria since independence and who had gradually destroyed the federal make-up of Nigeria and replaced it with an all-controlling federal establishment. To have a minority man from the Delta as president for some years would, we hoped, at least begin to resuscitate the federal structure of Nigeria – and thereby give

The Jonathan heritage Nigeria a new chance to revive, survive and go on to thrive. It has not happened. Apparently, no matter who is president, it cannot be done. Another southern president, Obasanjo, could not do it too. President Jonathan says he wants to seek one more term, and the constitution seems to make that available to him. During the recent National Conference, some leaders at the conference confronted me with the question whether, on the basis of the Nigerian Constitution, President Jonathan could legitimately run again, and my answer was yes. My answer is still yes. But both that question and my answer are beside the real point. The real point is whether President Jonathan should be running around about re-election now – all things considered. If Nigeria was only shaking by 2010, it is actively ripping apart today. Rather than getting ready for the 2015 elections, significant sections of Nigeria are amassing weapons and getting ready for a civil war. Many even openly avow civil war intentions, and threaten to kill, maim and destroy if what they want is denied them. And from what is now generally known, Nigeria does not command the will or the means for stopping any Nigerian group that is seriously bent on violence and destruction. We all know that – there is no room left for self-deception any more. In the three states of the North-east – Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, representing about onesixth of Nigeria – Boko Haram is now no longer a mere insurrectionist rebel force; it has become, for most practical purposes, the holder of an alternative country – according to Boko Haram’s leaders, a Caliphate separate from Nigeria. Observers on the spot report that most of the important bridges linking these three states with the rest of Nigeria have been destroyed and that Boko Haram’s flags now fly over almost all the towns and villages. I am still inclined to refrain from making any derogatory statement about the Nigerian armed forces, but most observers have now learnt to watch the performances of the armed forces rather than listen to their words in this struggle with Boko Haram.

N November 12, 2008, Adams Eric Aliyu Oshiomhole, was sworn as governor, Edo State. It was a special moment for the state and its people for several reasons. Remarkably, it was the culmination of the resilience of the people, who voted and stood by him when anti democratic forces tried to rob him of the mandate they gave willingly to him, and the judiciary that resisted machinations of the powers-thatbe to give a verdict in favour of a popular choice. The nation became better for it as the judiciary stood resolute on the side of the people. In addition, it was a turning point for the entire state as it marked the beginning of what is now popularly referred to as the ‘new narrative’. While making the solemn pledge to turn the state around like never before, he underscored his desire to be a people’s governor by seeking their consent to be referred to as “Comrade Governor.” Uniquely, his pledge was an unambiguous desire to give the state a fresh breath in terms of people-oriented, physically verifiable development projects that will stand the test of time. The pledge became necessary because the supposedly democratic administrations before him ruined and wrecked the state economy without any attempt to upgrade basic public infrastructure on the pretext that the state had no money. A few years into his administration, Oshiomhole eroded the no-money myth by proving to be a man of his words. Decades after the historic performance left by Dr Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, who, as military administrator of old Bendel, left a telling record of infrastructural development, Oshiomhole recreated that long gone era as structures, after hope-rising structures began to fill available spaces in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

‘Edo State ranks as one of the state with the best network of roads. However, they were hardly motorable until the current administration took effect. Since then, things changed for the better as roads from the capital down to the local governments have become a beauty to behold in terms of their look and functionality’

Questions about who started, who is supporting, or who is using, Boko Haram have become essentially academic. Whatever source Boko Haram is getting its support from must be substantial and solid, and Nigeria does not seem to command the capability to counter that effectively. Most serious of all, and over-arching all else, is the fact that economic forces are arising that are likely to begin to undermine Nigeria’s already fragile political strength. The main pillar of the Nigerian economy, oil, has run into trouble. Until this past June, the world price of oil still stood as high as $115 per barrel. It has now fallen to under $80 and continues to fall – with the probability that it may fall below $70 soon. For Nigeria, some factors make these falls particularly troubling. Even if the falls come to be temporary worldwide, Nigeria may have longer lasting problems. The United States, the largest buyer of Nigeria’s oil, has almost suddenly increased its own domestic oil production in the course of the past year or so, resulting in predictions that America will begin to cut down on oil imports soon – and even soon become a net exporter of oil. Another major buyer of Nigeria’s oil, China, is now experiencing a deceleration in its economic growth, resulting in declines in its oil imports. Moreover, China has been turning more and more to Russia for its purchases of oil. And to make the situation worse, Nigeria is widely reported to be exporting less and less oil – because of greatly increased stealing of oil in the Niger Delta oil fields – through the practice known as “bunkering”. Nigeria has thus entered into a big prospect of unpredictability in its oil incomes. And now, the time may have come for Nigeria to suffer for the folly of depending on oil predominantly and doing almost nothing about developing other resources. The quickest way to get a feel of Nigeria’s economic troubles is in the states of the Nigeria federation. Many months ago, a Nigerian Senator alarmed the country about the terrible financial conditions of the states. According to him, many states were becoming unable to pay the salaries of state

Gbogun gboro employees, and many states were borrowing money to keep their services going at all. Soon after, the governors themselves, in the Governors Forum, confirmed these things. From all reports, the situation is getting out of hand right now, as state officials are having to return to their states from Abuja with less and less money than their states are entitled to. What Nigeria needs from President Jonathan is to give Nigeria a clear picture of all these troubles. In these circumstances, his seeking re-election is a distraction. We almost certainly have reached the point at which we Nigerians must determine the future of Nigeria. Rather do it peacefully than let us stumble on into chaos and massive conflicts.

‘And now, the time may have come for Nigeria to suffer for the folly of depending on oil predominantly and doing almost nothing about developing other resources. The quickest way to get a feel of Nigeria’s economic troubles is in the states of the Nigeria federation’

Oshiomhole: Six years after By Ernest Omoarelojie It was not a surprise that the people decided to give a unanimous second term endorsement in all 18 local government areas despite subterranean subterfuge by those put to shame by his performance. Importantly, Oshiomhole was not given an unassailable second term approval by the people on flimsy grounds. Between his inauguration and the end of his first term, they witnessed an unprecedented, self evident and widespread development projects spread across every sector, including economy, education, works, health, environment/public utilities, etc, in every senatorial zone, every local government area and every town. With him, the people became convinced that the state had truly become a very positive new narrative. Before the coming of his administration, Edo State economy was in ruins. Though oil revenue was high, the greater part of whatever accrued from it found its way into the pockets of those elected by the people. It didn’t matter to them that the people they represented suffered. For instance, roads and public schools became so wrecked that an urgent surgical revival was needed to avert total collapse. Midway into the administration, roads in the city centre, including Akpakpava, Five Junction, Mission, Airport, Sapele roads, etc, became self-evident proofs that the administration meant business. Further from the capital, there are too many to be mentioned here. In addition, the administration embarked on a deliberate renovation and reconstruction of public schools, public health institutions and streets, designed and completed with covered drains, walkways, street lights, etc, also in all the 18 local government areas. The health sector witnessed the same level of turn around. Remarkably, the administration kept the momentum despite dwindling returns from federation allocations and internally generated revenue. With the accruing monthly allocations from the federation on the decline, from N3.8 billion to N2.8 billion, the administration took to the internally generated revenue option which moved up from its less-than-N300million revenue before the advent of the administration to its present status of between N1.4 to N1.5 billion. Yet, Benin City, the state capital is about the cleanest compared to some of its neighbours with over N10 billion monthly

federation account allocation. In the education sector, the new narrative is known as the red roof revolution. Public schools in the state only compared with poultry farms before the advent of the Oshiomhole administration. At best, most of them had no roofs, making teaching and learning near impossible tasks during rainy seasons. All that has changed as the administration went on a deliberate education rebirth policy that resulted in the rehabilitation of old and construction of new school buildings, complete with red roofs and every other facility conducive for learning. The new structures are found in all the 192 wards of the state. Education is not only free for both primary and secondary schools, the administration also made transportation free for all uniformed children both in private or public schools riding on the comrade buses. Edo State ranks as one of the state with the best network of roads. However, they were hardly motorable until the current administration took effect. Since then, things changed for the better as roads from the capital down to the local governments have become a beauty to behold in terms of their look and functionality. Among others, Akpakpava, Five Junction, Mission, Airport, Sapele roads, are proofs of the changes the administration brought to bear on roads reconstruction and rehabilitation. Oshiomhole has taken upon himself some ambitiously near impossible task and turn them around. The Azura/ Edo Independent Power Project and Edo Water Storm project are obvious examples. The former is a $100 million project and the first Nigerian power project to benefit from the World Bank’s risk guarantee status, covered by the global bank’s Partial Risk Guarantee structure for developing needs of emerging global markets. It is very credible evidence that the state is a viable centre for global investment hob. The latter is a vast labyrinth of huge drainage system under construction to serve as a permanent solution of the endemic drainage challenge in the state capital. It is designed to empty the water deluge from all over the city to either the Ogba or Ikpoba River. For all his efforts, the Benin crown prince, Eheneden Erediauwa, described Oshiomhole’s performance in the following words. “I don’t know of any governor that has developed Edo Dtate in terms of infrastructure as Oshiomhole.” •Omoarelojie writes from Benin City, Edo State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Pains of a varsity The Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, was established in 2005, but it is yet to produce graduates because of accreditation issues. Just when the university community thought a level of stability was being achieved, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Danjuma Sheni, was sent packing. It was one change too many for the eight-year-old university, which has been shepherded by four vice-chancellors, reports YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU. WO issues ail the Plateau State University (Bokko) - the non-accreditation of its programmes and the frequent change of vice chancellors. The university, which was established by the Joshua Dariye administration in 2005, has been unable to graduate students. Also, in the past four years, it has been run by three vice-chancellors, as against the norm in which a vice chancellor should spend five years in office. After its establishment in 2005, the university was yet to fully stabilise before it was shut by Governor Jonah Jang in 2007 due to inadequate facilities and workforce as well as improper administrative structure. He claimed the institution was started on a faulty foundation. The university reopened again in 2010, admitting fresh students who started academic work in 2011. The institution runs 14 programmes across five faculties (Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Arts, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Environmental Sciences). None of the programmes have been accredited. Last November, Jang announced the release of N2 billion to the university to build facilities it needed for accreditation. The then Vice Chancellor, Prof Danjuma Dongnaan Sheni (who was removed on October 30), said the fund would be used to construct the library, Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Senate building, gate house, multi-purpose complex, and fencing the academic area. Many of the projects are still under construction. The governing council chairman, Prof Sam Ale, also said back then that the projects would be hastened up so the institution could get accreditation for its programmes this year. "The university has a target to meet considering that the accreditation of its programmes will take place next year (this year) and we have to put all necessary requirements in place to ensure the accreditation succeeds," he had said last year. Presently, the accreditation has not been granted. It was learnt from a source that only N1 billion of the N2 billion promised by Jang was released. For the students, especially those in final year, the non-accreditation of programmes is a major concern. Though other levels of students (100-300 and those undergoing remedial programmes) have started the second semester examination, the 400-Level students have refused to write their final examinations. They are insisting on the university securing the accreditation before they write their examinations.

• Prof Sheni

• Dr Jona Jang

• Shaky future: Fresh students of PLASU during matriculation.

One of them, Uchechi Lekwa, a 400-Level student of Mass Communication, said the students had discussed their decision with the former Vice Chancellor, Prof Sheni, before he was suddenly removed, and the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Stephen Mallo, who they met last week Monday. "Presently, other levels have finished their exams but we, the 400-level, feel that if we write the examination, the school would become nonchalant about pursuing the accreditation. We were supposed to start on November 17. When we had a meeting with the former VC, we told him that we will not write the examination. We

‘Presently, other levels have finished their exams but we, the 400-level, feel that if we write the examination, the school would become nonchalant about pursuing the accreditation. We were supposed to start on November 17’

concern is the accreditation of the courses offered by the university. "We are worried that some of the identified factors militating against the accreditation process include: lack of adequate staff, inadequate infrastructure and poor funding. Part of the effort made on our part was to seek the intervention of relevant stakeholders within the state, particularly that of the state governor Da, Jonah David Jang who is the Visitor and Proprietor of the university. "We are optimistic about the positive impact government decision would have on the accreditation. We are committed to respect authorities and to be law abiding. We are patriotic and therefore will never compromise our just course for anything which does not profer solution to the common concern of some students of the university. "Our fundamental concern at this time in the history of our stay in the Plateau state univer• Continued on page 26

INSIDE

WAEC marks Adeboye theory scripts online makes case THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed for teachers plans to extend the online marking of theory papers to more subjects taken in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). -Page 27

also met with the new vice chancellor last Monday and told him that we won't write. He said he would meet with the Senate and discuss the issue," he said. The 400-Level students staged peaceful protests in the school last week to demonstrate their displeasure with the state of affairs in the university. Some of them, led by Mishael Nunkop and Alex Lutnaan, addressed journalists in Jos last Tuesday and urged the new administration to resolve the accreditation issues. They said: "Following the recent activities in the Plateau State University, Bokkos, we the entire 400 level students wish to stress that our

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CAMPUS LIFE

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

Ekiti varsity shut down -Page 29

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

EDUCATION

Social factors limit African women researchers, says don

• First Female Professor of Computer Science, Prof. Nike Osofisan (left), presenting an award to Guest Lecturer, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola while the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole applauds at the 2014 Convocation Lecture and 66th Anniversary of the university held at Trenchard Hall, UI, Ibadan.

PHOTO BY FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN

Pains of a varsity • Continued from page 25

sity, Bokkos, is not the suspension of the immediate past Vice Chancellor or the appointment of the acting Vice Chancellor, but any decision of government that will serve the good of all students, especially the one that regard accreditation of the university. "We refuse to be dragged into whatsoever rancour that May have existed between the parties involved. We are a peaceful and law abiding students. We are not party to any form of violence in the school. We want the Plateau state government to give all necessary support to the Acting VC of the university for the smooth and timely accreditation of our courses so as to meet the desire of the students." However, though the students claim not to be concerned about the change of guard, Uchechi said if there had been less frequent changes in the leadership of the institution, it would have fared better. "The issue we are most concerned about is the non-accreditation of courses. But how I wish the effort channeled into changing VCs was used to get us accreditation, we won't be here today. But the university is still admitting new students. They even run a remedial programme, despite not having accreditation," she said. Another student, Sunday Bukus said the university has set a record in changing vice chancellors without producing any graduate. "Imagine that for eight years the school has been in existence, it has not graduated even one student, none of the courses have been accredited and yet we have had the record of having four vice chancellors in eight years under one administration. This is a record yet to be surpassed by any organization," he said. Workers of the university are also unhappy about the accreditation issue and the frequent changes in leadership. The unceremonious removal of vice chancellors seems to have become a tradition of the Visitor, Jang. The first VC of the school, Prof John Wade, was removed in similar manner - so was his successor, Prof Nenfort Gomwalk. The embattled Sheni is the third VC to be removed while in office. The development has negatively affected the peaceful and serene atmosphere at the university. Sheni's suspension came through a press statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Jang, Mr. James Mannok. The statement reads: "The Visitor to the Plateau State University Bokkos, Dr. Jonah David Jang CON has suspended the Vice Chancellor, Prof Doknan Decent Danjuma Sheni with effect from 30th October, 2014. In the interim, Prof Stephen J. Mallo has been appointed to act pending further notice. "While wishing Professor Mallo fruitful and purposeful leadership, he has been mandated to commence preparation for accreditation of all the programmes of the University. He is

also to stabilize the system and harmonized all the organs of the University for a harmonious working relationship." Members of the academic staff, under the aegis of the Academic Staff Forum, have denounced the action of the governor, describing it as a direct affront on university autonomy. Addressing a press conference in Jos, the Chairman, Mr. Gilbert Yalmi, said the suspension of the vice chancellor was the culmination of a running battle between him (Sheni) and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board, Prof. Sam Ale, who is an in-law to the governor, and presides over the tenders board, especially the disbursement of the TETFUND grants to the university in clear disregard of the Procurement Act. The lecturers said Sheni's suspension was contrary to the law setting up the university because the council was not consulted. They also argued that the action was not based on any investigation - more so as a visitation panel constituted by the government was still sitting and has not submitted any report. The lecturers said the suspension of the VC was also a confirmation of the long threat by the governing council to take over the administration of the institution as the newly appointed VC, Mallo, is a member of the council. He said: "The suspension (of the vice-chancellor) order does not stipulate a time frame within which remains effective nor did it state any process of investigation for its cause. More so, the suspension order and the government release were contradictory. While the latter makes claim to 'inappropriate conduct', a news item in a television station included 'financial misappropriation." The teachers also claimed that the changes in leadership is affecting the university's efforts to get accreditation for its programmes "Contrary to the norm, PLASU has not gone for accreditation two years after the assumption of academic activities. This is not unconnected to the breakages in the chain of the university administration by the Jang-led administration. We are equally aware that the VC, Prof. Sheni, inherited the process of accreditation from Prof. Nenfort Gomwalk and has vigorously pursued it, leading to a successful mock accreditation. Unfortunately the government is yet to release the funds that will guarantee the successful execution of the main accreditation," Yalmi said. Most PLASU lecturers are on temporary appointment. Most of them are borrowed from the University of Jos, while others are on sabbatical leave with the school. Hence, it is not possible for the lecturers to form their own chapter of ASUU. But the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIJOS chapter, has risen in defense of its colleagues working at PLASU. In a press state-

ment signed by the chairman, Dr. Chris Piwuna and Secretary, Noel Wannang, UNIJOS ASUU expressed dismay over the crisis at PLASU. The statement reads; "ASUU of University of Jos observed with dismay the unfolding events taking place at the Plateau state university, Bokkos. As a branch, ASUU of UNIJOS has nurtured and facilitated the receiving of funds by the state university from the federal government through the NEEDS assessment. Following directly from this, this branch is constrained to make the following observation: "Academic activities in the state university is threatened by the action of the visitor to the school. That is, the purported removal of the VC, the purported re-appointment of a DVC which are clearly a breach to the extant rules establishing the university. "ASUU university of Jos notes with serious concern the fact that only recently the university was re-opened after a long closure. There is no doubt that the current state of affairs will jeopardize the accreditation of the university course and programmes. "As a union, it is our responsibility to protect the integrity of academics and the statute establishing the university, thus, draw attention to these breaches and urge the visitor to reverse his actions and allow for peace and academic work that is been threatened" Parents who have their wards in the school have also joined in the condemnation of the crisis. Mr Gabriel Omale, whose daughter is in 300 level said, "I am now regretting taking my daughter to the school. Why should a university change VC almost every two years? How can such school develop like its counterparts? We have been spending huge fund as school fees, yet their courses are not accredited. We are appealing to the Plateau State government to address the issues once and for all so that my daughter and all other students will graduate like their mates in other universities in Nigeria. Another parent, Elder Mathew Azi said: "The state governor has politicised the appointment of the VC for the school, but this is very unfortunate. Governor Jang has never wanted the school to exist. First he closed it down for several years and since he brought it back, he has been changing the VC as it pleases him." Though calm has been restored to the school, but the dilemma of the final year students remain unsolved. Prof Mallo has promised the students and workers to secure the accreditation in a very short period. Pleading with workers and students to remain calm and cooperate with the new VC, the Public Relation Officer, Mr John Agams, said Mallo wa3s not resting on his oars. "The new VC is an experienced academician and has moved fast to deploy his experience to put the school on the right footing," Agams said.

HE Acting Head, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and a Fellow, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), Dr. Mobolaji Omemu, has said that social factors hinder the careers of African women researchers. She identified cultural norms, family demands, gender inequality, lack of role models, lack of leadership skills, organisational support, and age barrier as some of the major challenges that stall the progress of women researchers. Delivering her address at a Role Modelling Event of AWARD, held recently in the University with the theme: “Blocking the Leaky Pipeline: Career Advancement Strategies for Young Women in Science,” Dr. Omemu noted that the number of women that enrolled into agricultural sciences and other related courses was steadily increasing, but is not commensurate with the

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

number of women researchers who move up the career ladder. She called for greater commitment, focus and determination from women researchers and encouraged them to always choose younger women that they can mentor. Underscoring the importance of planning to career success, the Chairperson, Admissions Committee, FUNAAB, Prof Yemisi Eromosele, recommended that young women researchers should make plans for what they hope to achieve five to 10 years after graduation. In his keynote address, the FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, said that women who had reached the peak of their careers and fought for their dreams, deserved to be celebrated. He added that he lookred forward to a time women would hold 40 percent of leadership positions in the university system. He encouraged women to strive for excellence despite the challenges they might face.

Edo, Kogi schools qualify for SEC quiz competition

WO public secondary schools in Edo and Kogi States have progressed to the zonal final of a national quiz competition organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria. Holy Trinity Secondary School, Sabongida-Ora, won the ticket for Edo State, while Ogori Comprehensive High School, in OgoriMagongo LGA, won for Kogi State on Monday. Ogori Comprehensive High School scored 65 points to beat host school, St. Clement Seminary and Army Day Secondary School, both of Lokoja, to second and third positions with 60 points and 37 points. The school will compete in the zonal final with other representatives from the Northcentral zone in Kaduna. Holy Trinity which beat five other schools (Word of Faith School, University Demonstration Secondary School, ABC Secondary School, Auchi, University Secondary School, Ekpoma, and Government Secondary School, Irrua) in Edo will contest against other Southsouth representatives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. At the Edo competition, leader of the SEC delegation, Mr Sufian Abdullcarim, said the quiz contest, which is in its sixth year, is organised to teach the students about the

From Osagie Otabor (Benin) and James Azania (Lokoja)

stock market, which is worth about N13.9 trillion. “We hope to through the competition to prepare our kids ahead of their future and to teach them how to invest the little money they get instead of wasting it on frivolities,” he said. Director in charge of Science Vocation and Technical Education in the Edo state Ministry of Education, Mrs Osariemen Okawele, stated that the quiz competition would broaden the knowledge of “‘our future leaders of the intricacies of investment.’’ She said “the competition I must say is a worthwhile exercise for the students who are our future leaders. Vice Principal of the victorious Ogori Comprehensive High School, Mr Abdul Adepoju, attributed his pupils’ performance to hard work and discipline. He said that the school will go back to the drawing board to map out winning strategies for the zonal final coming up in Kaduna. One of the pupils, Master Samson Makanjuola also promised that the school would give serve as worthy ambassador of the state at zonal and national levels of the competition.

• Double joy: Former Vice-President, Students’ Union and graduate of Library and Information Science, University of Ilorin, Modupe Hassan (left), and her sister, Oluwaseun, a graduate of Mass Communication, during the 30th convocation of UNILORIN. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

EDUCATION

WAEC: E-marking of theory scripts begins

HE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed plans to extend the online marking of theory papers to more subjects taken in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). At a seminar to interact with examiners on the e-marking scheme last Friday held at WAEC International Office, Agindingbi, Lagos, the council's Head of National Office, Mr Charles Eguridu, said the scheme is part of the five-year strategic plan of WAEC to improve the reliability of test scores in line with international best practices. The pilot scheme started in 2011 with Biology theory papers of the November/December WASSCE. "It is part of the five-year strategic plan of WAEC approved by the international board in March 2012. The pilot scheme started in 2011 after we came back from an international conference in Australia in 2010. There was a need to embrace the e-marking in line with international practice. In 2011, the pilot scheme started. Last year, we went fully online for Biology, Building Technology and Agricultural Science," said Eguridu, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Mr Stephen Taiwo. Delivering a paper on a study carried out by the council to determine the views of 373 examiners that participated in the pilot e-marking scheme, Dr Modupe Oke, a Deputy Registrar, WAEC International Of-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

fice, said the aims of the e-marker is to improve standardization of test scores while reducing cost and saving time. She said following research that showed wide discrepancies in the grades given by examiners in manual scoring, it became important for the council to device a means of ensuring that candidates are graded the same way by all examiners. Dr Oke said: "A major challenge of manual scoring of essay and practical tests is reliability in scoring. WAEC (1993) investigated the interrater reliability of Oral English assessment in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). The findings showed a wide discrepancy in the scores awarded by the examiners to the same set of students." However, with the e-marking, Dr Oke said in the paper she coauthored with Dr Iyi Uwadiae, Registrar and CEO, WAEC Headquarters, Accra, that many of the lapses of the manual marking are corrected. Throwing more light on the emarker, Mr Chukwumaeze Oforha, a retiree of the council, who is credited for coordinating the start of the scheme, said it makes vetting of the examination scores even more real, eliminates the problem of missing scripts, and saves time, among other benefits. "This system of marking does not give an examiner physical script of the candidate. Candidates' scripts are scanned and uploaded to the server or cloud from where the ex-

• Examiners mark scripts online at WAEC International Office, Agidingbi.

aminers access them. With this innovation the issue of scripts misplacement is totally erased. "Vetting is becoming more real with e-marking. I used to be involved in manual marking and I know senior markers play truancy. Some will claim they have vetted scripts marked by junior team members without doing so. E-marking is following the conventional technique where there is always a moderation session, where the marking scheme is produced, where the standard is set. The senior markers

provide samples of what the scripts should look like. The junior markers first mark those scripts before they are given the real scripts. If they get three out of five questions wrong, they are disqualified. "While marking, once a junior marker marks more than one question wrongly, the computer shuts him down. He cannot continue until a senior marker intervenes," he said. Presently, the Computer Based Testing (CBT) facility of the WAEC

World Bank pledges loan for basic education in Osun T

HE World Bank is to support the Osun State government with an interest-free loan to enhance basic education delivery. Dr Tunde Adekola, a representative of the bank, who visited the Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, said the bank would support basic education by providing financial intervention to the government to train and re-orientate teachers, and provide Information Comunication Technology (ICT) and instructional materials for schools – like it did in Ekiti and Lagos states. Though Adekola did not disclose the amount involved, he said the Osun State government would get a moratorium of between 10 and 50

years to repay the loan. Adekola said the problem confronting basic education in the country was that of accessibility and how to keep children in schools. He added that basic education must be free and compulsory for every child in order for them to learn to read and write. Responding, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said the collaboration with the World Bank would facilitate the noble objective of the government at both basic and post basic sectors. She described basic education as a critical stage in the educational development of Nigeria. She disclosed that the Osun El-

ementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS) were designed to prepare pupils in elementary schools for mental and physical alertness so they can compete favourably anywhere in the world. Mrs. Laoye-Tomori also informed Adekola of plans to teach basic school pupils in Yoruba Language to enhance understanding and assimilation. In his welcome address, the Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prince Felix Awofisayo, praised the the global bank’s management for their contributions to basic education in

•Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori

the country, and also their interests to complement the efforts of the state government in the provision of functional and qualitative education.

• Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Prof Olukoya Ogen flanked by his former school mates: Dotun Tinubu (left), Mrs Victoria Olugbemi, Mr Wole Oladimeji and Mr Ayodeji Olapade, PR Consultant at a reception for Prof Ogen on his appointment at the college's premises. By Joseph Eshanokpe

Hitachi would run the e-centres with the Cambridge University. Dipo Oke, whose firm, Green Circle Network Africa, is Hitachi’s Nigerian partner, said the centres would fill a major gap in education. He said five years ago Hitachi pio-

neered an e-classroom at the University of Ibadan (UI). Today, there are 14 of such classrooms in the country. Lauding the intitiative, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama, said it was in tandem with the Federal Government’s policy to

• Continued on Page 28

Foundation honours teachers

Hitachi plans N2.5b e-centres N electronics company, Hitachi Solutions, has concluded plans to build six world-class virtual teaching and learning centres worth 10 million pounds (about N2.5billion) in the country. Speaking at the Hitachi Regional Roundtable on Education in Lagos, the leader of the firm’s United Kingdom (UK) Team to Nigeria Gabriel Swatzall said the centres, which are the first of their kind in Nigeria and Africa, would be located in the six geo-political zones of the country. Swatzall said the six qualifying states must provide two acres of land, functional classrooms, with access to internet (connectivity), have a track record of supporting education and educational initiatives (especially teacher training) within the year and robust proactive educational policies at the grassroots. So far, over 16 states have indicated interest in the programme. The states have until December to conclude their bid. By January, Swatzall said the first centre would be announced.

International office in Lagos is the only e-marking centre in the country. However, Dr Olusanya DaCosta, Head of the E-marking Scheme, said there are plans to open regional centres in other parts of the country. He also said the other subjects would be added to the three that are being marked online once their answers have been constrained (limited to specific details). "Ultimately, all our subjects will be

use science, technology and innovation (STI) as a an e-learning platform. Vice Chancellor University, Ndufe-Alike Ebonyi State, Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe, said the centre would further boost education in any part of the country, urging others to embrace it.

CHARITY ball to honour teachers in Oshodi Local Government Area, Lagos would hold on Sunday. The event tagged: ‘Teachers Charity Ball 2014’, is being organised by the Hopegate Foundation to commemorate the World Teachers’ Day. The Founder, Mrs. Ojuolape Akinyemi, said the ball, which would feature awards, is meant to reward teachers. “The event is an excellent way to say ‘thank you’ to teachers who are making a difference in the lives of our children, encouraging them to do even more. Awards to be presented include those of outstanding teacher, longest serving, and best head of school (headmaster, headmistress and principal). “This year’s activity by Hopegate Foundation is a pilot in the Oshodi Local Government area, with a view to holding a state wide award and recognition event in the coming year,” she said. She argued that not enough effort was being made to appreciate the efforts of teachers “without whom we all cannot be whatever we are today”. She urged more corporate organisations and individuals to join to improving the well-being of the teachers, especially those teaching in public schools, by partnering with government at various levels and NGOs, such as Hopegate Foundation. Mrs Akinyemi said the foundation seeks to enhance the socioeconomic well-being of the Nigerian teacher through awards, training, and supply of equipment and teaching aids to improve the quality of their service delivery. Last month, the foundation held a charity golf tournament titled, ‘Honour the teachers kitty’, at the Ikeja Golf Club to create awareness about the charity ball. A total of 100 golfers participated in the tournament that culminated in the presentation of trophies and a dinner.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

EDUCATION UNILORIN FILE Students win essay contest A 200-Level student of the Department of Combined Law, Abdulazeez Muhammad Bashir, and a 400L student of History and International Relations, Abdulkareem Abdulhakeem Ibraheem, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have won the first and second prizes of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Essay Competition. They outperformed about 200 others who sent in entries from various tertiary institution across the country. The topic of the essay was: “Expanding employment opportunities for Nigerian youths: The self-employment imperative.” The prizes were presented during the 46th CIPM Annual Conference held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Of the entries received, seven finalists were shortlisted, which included three students from the University of Ilorin. The first prize winner (Abdulazeez), went home with N125, 000 while the second prize winner (AbdulKareem), was given N100, 000. The duo also got a Samsung Galaxy Tab each. Last year, two students of the university, Alao Idris and Muhammed Abdullahi Tosin, won prizes at the competition.

el-Rufai, centre challenge new students

EW students who have been admitted for the OutcomeBased Education (OBE) programmes of the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) have been urged to rise above mediocrity to excel in their endeavours. They got the advice at their induction from the Director of Studies, Prof Anthony Kila; the guest speaker, Mallama Nasir el-Rufai, and former students of the centre. The 50 students were admitted to study Journalism, Project Management, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Office Management, Education and Project Management. Kila opened the floor by telling them that the centre’s objective transcends just producing average students. He said the centre expects much more from them. “We hope to train people who are audaciousl; who know that they want to win or excel in all they do. Being good, punctual isn’t enough; you have to be productive in the classroom. You need to have a view, values and ideas

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

that you want to defend. You would be expected to be ambitious, not just polite. You have to be a go-getter,” he said. Addressing the new students, David Obaluse, a graduate of the centre, said attending CIAPS changed his life.The Business Administration graduate of Crawford University said what students learn can help them start off on their own after school. “If you come to CIAPS, you don’t have to work for someone for too long. You think you can start your business. We have been taught the nitty gritty of starting a business. At CIAPS, the teaching method is quite different. It is practical, interactive. You are able to transfer the set of skills you are taught to real life project. I congratulate the new students,” he said. In his lecture titled: “Ethics, education and employability,” el-Rufai, who was represented by Mr Jimi Lawal, former Managing Director of the defunct Alpha Merchant Bank, urged the

By Medinat Kanabe

• Prof Kila

students to get requisite entrepreneurial skills while studying to help them become employers after graduation. With small scale businesses providing employment for about 70 per cent of the workforce of many developed countries, el-Rufai said more businesses by young people would benefit the country economically.

152nd/153rd Inaugural lectures today THE 152nd and 153rd Inaugural Lectures of UNILORIN,which will be delivered by Prof Muhammed Akanbi and Prof Mojeed Alabi, will hold today at the university’s auditorium. Akanbi of the Department of Business Law will speak on “Contending without being Contentious: Arbitration, Arbitrators and Arbitrability” at 10am, while Prof Alabi of the Department of Political Science will speak on “Politics and law: Anatomy of the Siamese Twins” at 5pm. Both lectures will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali.

E-marking begins • Continued from Page 27

e-marked. It will affect the way we develop test questions which is in line with best practices worldwide," he said. Also To facilitate their work, DaCosta said the examiners involved in the scheme have been provided with modems and internet connection to mark in their comfort of their homes. He said this convenience improves their ability to mark more scripts and be paid accordingly. "If you are able to mark 4,000 scripts at N18 per script, you know what you can get. In the history of marking scripts, we have not had someone earn up to N100,000 before. But it happened last year," he said. Chief examiner for Biology, Mr. Johnson Olufemi Asa, who teaches at Phemark Comprehensive College, Egbeda, said the initiative is faster and more accurate. He said: "It is different from the manual marking; it is faster and more accurate. If an examiner makes one or two mistakes it stops him/her from marking. But when it was manual, if an examiner makes mistake the best we could do is to at least look at 10 per cent of all the script the examiner has marked and then correct them. But this system will stop an examiner immediately it detects error."

• The matriculating students

‘CU graduates’ll solve Africa’s problems’

HE Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State has restated its commitment to training solution providers to Africa’s various challenges. Chancellor of the university, Dr David Oyedepo, said through qualitative education, CU graduands would restore human dignity and Africa’s lost glory. Dr Oyedepo, who was represented by a member of Covenant Board of Regents, Bishop Thomas Aremu, said this at the university’s 13th matriculation. Over 2,000 new students compris-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

ing, 1,996 undergraduates and 155 postgraduates, swore the matriculation oath. Oyedepo said CU is on a rescue mission to transform values by allowing students to maximise their individual dreams. “Inculcating sense of responsible in students to achieve quality leadership is a veritable tool to attain desirable result to numerous challenges like insecurity and corruption in the country,” he said. The CU Vice-Chancellor, Prof

Charles Ayo, said the nation was in need of quality leaders that would deliver good dividends of quality training such as being impacted by the institution. Also, the Registrar, Dr Olumuyiwa Oludayo, said CU would solve the country’s leadership problems. “There is hope for the country and people should not give up despite the numerous challenges because the institution was working through toward providing lasting solution to nagging problems of quality leadership,’’ Oludayo said.

NIFES to host Open Day in Lagos

HE Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES) will host students from some tertiary institutions and other associates on Saturday in Lagos at its 14th National Open Day programme. The event, which holds at the Church Hall of Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island, would feature the grand finale of a national quiz competition among various NIFES groups, speeches, exhortations and gospel music. At a briefing to announce the Open Day, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Mr Okoroji Onoh, said the non-denominational Christian group, which was established in 1968, organises the forum to create awareness for its activities. “This is a forum to create awareness about our programmes, where we can share testimonies of our work in higher institutions. It will

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

also give us room to network and celebrate God’s work in the ministry,” he said. Also, Mr Ebere Eze, who is the Director of Associates for the group, underscored the social relevance of NIFES’ work on campuses of tertiary institutions across the country, which has helped to improve the Nigerian society. “NIFES has been involved in the transformation of society since inception. We teach social issue lke shunning corruption; we teach our students to live above tribal sentiments. We teach our students to live like Jesus who loves everyone. NIFES has been involved in entrepreneurship. A lot of students sponsor themselves after going through our entrepreneurship programme,” he said. Mike Itegboje, a member of the LOC, added that NIFES grooms its student- members to be God-fear-

NGO seeks govt’s support

ing, responsible and role models. On his part, Rev Sunday Madudu, said given all the investments NIFES has made in the lives of many generations of former students who are now established in business and ministry, they should give back to support the group’s work. He said: “Over the years, these NIFES students have become owners of big businesses, churches. This is payback time. They now have to re-invest in the lives of the students.’’ One of the purpose of the LOC is to raise funds, promote the organiseation and ease the work of the students. It is time to payback to move NIFES forward,” he said. The LOC chairman, Onoh, said the group is seeking to raise N500m to build a secretariat, residential quarters for permanent staff and a mini retreat centre. The theme of Saturday’s programme is: “Mentoring Future Leaders on Campus”.

HAIRPERSON, LUCINMA Women Development Centre, Akoka, Lagos, Madam Lucy Jonah, is seeking government’s assistance for the body. The centre offers vocational and entrepreneurship training to women. Speaking at the 10th anniversary and graduation of the centre, Madam Jonah lamented that over the years, rather than get support, they are asked for money. She said: “We need government support. We want them to appreciate what we are doing. We have been training people for 10 years and whenever we go to them instead of listening and commending us, they ask for money.” Jonah, however, praised Zenith Bank which donated some laptops to the centre. “We believe that everyone has potential and our purpose is to help every woman develop her God given potential and talents, by inspiring her to embrace a spirit of excellence, creativity, hard work, ethical conduct and exemplary leadership,” she said. Jonah added that the centre is guided by the late India’s President, Mahatma Ghandi’s philosophy of “Educate a woman and you educate a nation”. She said the centre has trained a many public school teachers in computer appreciation without input from the government, adding that the centre gets fulfillment in training women free of charge, particularly teachers. Speaking on “Managing diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, preventing heart attack and strokes and understanding the facts about Ebola,” the special guest of honour and keynote speaker, Dr. Goddy Okoruwe, cautioned the women against consumption of fruit juice. He said many of the fruit juices available in the market are dangerous and poisonous to the human system, especially adults. He suggested that consumption of clean portable water remains the only liquid that is harmless for human consumption. Fifteen of the 26 graduating students went home with laptops donated by Zenith Bank.

YABATECH gets alumni body

ECOGNISING the contribution that former students can make to their alma mater, the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has inaugurated the Lagos State chapter of its alumni association to kick start the formation of state chapters across the country and in the Diaspora. Rector of the institution, Dr. Kudirat Ladipo, said being the first tertiary institution in Nigeria, YABATECH is a national heritage that has produced many distinguished professionals in the society who are enthusiastic about giving back to their alma mater. Ladipo appreciated the YABATECH Alumni Association for its support to the college and its proactiveness in bringing the alumni under one umbrella, especially with the formation of the association at the state level and in the diaspora stating it as a welcome development. In his address, the Acting National President, Wing Commander S. O. Ajayi (rtd), said the event is to bring all products of the college to be part of a success story through one functional alumni body and not to create a division in the association. He prayed to have a chapter that would be at the forefront of collaborating with the college to achieve progress. In her address the Registrar, Biekoroma Charity Amapakabo, thanked the alumni residing in Lagos for obeying the clarion call.

Mixed feelings greet NYSC call-up letters

How to achieve peace in Niger Delta

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

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THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Ekiti varsity shut down •Workers, students battle management A week after the Ekiti State University (EKSU) in Ado-Ekiti reopened for a new session, the campus has been shut down by its workers over unpaid salaries and allowances. Students are also threatening a showdown with the management for what they call ‘anti-student policies’ and ‘suppression of unionism’. ADIO BAMIDELE (Accountancy) reports.

•The EKSU gate

LL is not well at the Ekiti State University (EKSU). Seven days after students resumed for a new session, the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) aborted the resumption, shutting down the school over unpaid salaries. For three months, the ASUU said, its members have not received salaries. This development, the lecturers’ body said, has caused untold hardship to members. While lecturers have vowed not to return to the classroom unless their salaries are paid, students are also threatening a showdown with

the management over increment in fees and proscription of Students’ Union activities. After a meeting on November 4, ASUU members declared an indefinite strike, saying the management did not show conviction that it was ready to pay the money anytime soon. A lecturer, who craved anonymity, said: “Apart from the unpaid salaries, we are being owed allowances, such as extra class hour allowance and excess work pay, but the management does not care a hoot about our wellbeing. We have explored every civilised avenue to reach out to the management but they don’t seem

to understand that language of dialogue. This is why we are on strike. Students have just resumed and they need to be in class but how do you expect us to teach with empty stomach?” Students are pushing for the dissolution of the management for increasing tuition fees. They are not happy with what they call “antistudent policy” of the ViceChancellor, Prof Oladipupo Aina. This, they said, could disrupt th e academic calendar. The students allege that the management has been suppressing students’ union activities to prevent resistance from students after jerking up fees.

A former Students’ Union leader, who did not want his name in print, said: “Our demand is lawful. In other schools, as students move from one level to another, the lesser the fees become. “But here in EKSU, the higher the level of study, the higher the fee students pay. Now, they have just increased the fees without reason. That is pure extortion.” A 300-Level Geology student said: “ The tuition fee is N50,000 without other fees, including medical bills, which is N5,000, Internet service N5,000, sport •Continued on page 30

• Dankwambo challenges leaders P32 •Students present Genius Next Door P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE The tragedy of the Nigerian youth (II)

“A

S stakeholders of this country, it is important that we should not leave the affairs of the country to the government alone. Everyone has a coefficient of productivity to give and your productivity is determined by your participation. The world, like Nigeria, has gone through very testing moments in history; hence, we need to deliberate and fashion the way forward in our national history.” These were the words of Dr. Christopher Kolade, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom while delivering the opening address at the 2014 BrandiQ symposium with the theme: “Politics, Business & 2015 General Elections: Driving Stakeholder’s Participation Through Deliberative Engagements.” I was glad to witness hundreds of undergraduates from the University of Lagos, Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, Bells University, Ota, Ogun State, Pan Atlantic University Lagos, Lagos State University and Yaba College of Technology, Lagos who actively participated in the symposium. Students from other tertiary institutions across the country attended but not in large numbers like the institutions I mentioned. One thing struck me at the event. It may be true that most Nigerian youths are wary of politics because of the exclusionary nature of the brand of politics we play here. However one thing is clear; they want to be part of the process but do not know how to get actively involved. Those that get involved are disenchanted by the fact our undergraduates are really not different from party stalwarts that they encounter in places like Mushin, Abule Egba and other hot spots across the country. To their dismay, they find out that their elections on campuses are not different from the party conventions in Nigeria. It is therefore sad that our campuses now reproduce the traits of power and corruption that our elders exhibit. It is little wonder that we now only see NANS marching in solidarity with government as opposed to marches against the oppression of Students, joblessness, social conditions, or even Boko Haram. They could not even stage a protest over the job seekers that died in the last immigration recruitment scam! How will any positive thinking Nigerian not bemoan the situation where students in our tertiary institutions fall over each other seeking for politicians to adopt all because

they want to be “Youth Leader” both within and outside the Campus. I grieve to see Student Union Executives reproducing the same corrupt dynamics that are prevalent in with the society. Vices like highly corrupted electoral processes, imbibing the same corrupt tendencies of the 08116759750 political elites, appropriation of the (SMS only) paraphernalia of dubious power such as having security men, moving in •aagboa@gmail.com convoys, joining cult gangs to disrupt lectures and examinations, serving as hit men to eliminate “tough the Editor-in-Chief, BusinessWorld, Mr. Ray lecturers” are now the norm. Echebiri; Former APCON Regisrar, Dr. Josef Is it not therefore strange that the Univer- Bel-Molokwu; and former Lagos State Comsities have become graveyards where nei- missioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz ther corruption in high places, neglect of stu- Banire. dents’ conditions are no longer issues? In time Prof Biakolo who set the tone for the day’s past, accommodation crisis, lack of adequate intellectual deliberation examined the Nifunding for libraries, laboratories, health fa- gerian State and the political malaise borcilities and other sundry issue are often on dering on political participation. He prothe front burner. What Student Leaders posed that Nigerians and stakeholders meshould be agitating for are no longer men- diate and mitigate the areas contestation tioned. How did our Universities deterio- while also fast-tracking the process of forgrate to graveyards of silence? I am not agi- ing a common sense of destiny for the countating for protest for the sake of protest, but try. “We must also engage politicians seekstudent Unionism was always about a better ing our votes to enunciate their contribution life for students. When handled properly, its in the empowerment of the populace. The leadership should be a place of practice for secondary mediation role must be seriously the grooming of leaders of tomorrow. done by stakeholders within the media sphere Apostle Hayford Alile, former Director and its other adjuncts that help in shaping General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange public opinion,” he said. (NSE) - who was the chief host of the event Responding to some of the pungent issues reminded the students of his days as an offi- raised by Prof. Biakolo, one of the discuscial of the proscribed National Union of Ni- sants, Mr. Echebiri spoke on the impact of gerian Students (NUNS) – the forerunner of politics on business. He gave extensive data NANS. He told the audience of how the union from the NSE to show the extent politics, and was able to confront then Prime Minister of by extension, government policies, have on Nigeria, the late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa the business climate of the country. “Clearly, Balewa over the activities of a former Minis- the decline in the Nigerian stock market ter for Foreign Affairs. They did this as stu- demonstrates that politics affects business. dents and were assured by the PM that he Most foreigners are leaving the country bewill do everything possible to ensure that cause of the tensed and gloomy prediction their allegations were looked into and if the about Nigeria on the 2015 elections. Because minister is found wanting he would not re- of this most stock brokers are experiencing main in the cabinet. difficult times.” He explained. True to his words, Apostle Alile said the Speaking from the context of the media and minister was not returned after a cabinet re- politics and its impact on the subject matter shuffle. He thus challenged the students to of driving deliberative engagement, Mr. know that they have power in their hands. Oloja, stated that every Journalist and PR Dr. Christopher Kolade – in his submis- practitioner should understand the complex sion - reminded the audience that democ- Nigerian history of multicultural diversity. racy is a participatory exercise and should be “It will be suicidal to report Nigeria withtreated as such. Others speakers who lent out understanding the historical nuances their voices include the Guest Lecturer, Prof. of the country. Today, the ubiquity of the Emevwo Biakolo and discussants such as the social media and other agents of technoEditor of The Guardian, Mr. Martin Oloja; logical innovations have made research a

Ekiti varsity shut down •Continued from page 29

N7,000 and field trip, N10,000, which varies according to departments. But we pay double for these fees because students of Geology and Psychology pay for field trips after paying with the school fee.” The students also alleged victimisation by the management, saying the authorities suppressed unionism. A student, Niyi Ojekunle, said: “We are supposed to have Students’ Union election this semester but the management told us we cannot conduct the election until 75 per cent of students pay school fees. Which school in Nigeria does that?” Another student, who simply identified himself as Matthew, said: “The union was returned last year during the first semester but the constitution states that there shall be election every second semester. Because of the numerous hiccups caused by the management, we had to conduct the election in the first semester of last session. We are in the same situation again but they don’t want us to hold the election.” When the aggrieved students met with the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Issac Adanlawo, CAMPUSLIFE learnt that they were told 75 per cent of students must pay school fees before the election could be held. Adanlawo said a comprehensive list of registered students, which would facilitate the election, was yet to be ready. The DSA added that since the un-

Pushing Out

ion’s constitution allows only bonafide students to vote, the election may not hold until students pay their fees. The dean denied that the management did not have the interest of students at heart, wondering why the VC inaugurated a transition committee if the management wanted to suppress unionism. A student, who identified himself as Saheed, said the management was delaying the union election to prevent a protest against its plan to increase the school fee by N5,000. “They don’t want a students’ body that would move against a planned increment of the fee. Our parents still believe the new governor would reduce the school fee; this may have been the reason many students delay the payment,” Saheed said. It was learnt that students planned a protest to the office of the Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, last Monday, but the demonstration was rescheduled till further notice. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the ASUU members, led by their chairman, Prof Olufayo Olu-Olu, met with Fayose on Saturday night to resolve the issue. But the meeting ended in stalemate, resulting in further closure of the school. Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, Olu-Olu, said: “Yes, we met with the governor on Saturday but the meeting was inconclusive. We were not satisfied with the government position and the campus remains closed until further notice. We are meeting the governor again next week and we hope we would have productive deliberation.”

Agbo Agbo

major tool of distinctive journalistic activity. This is because every issue imaginable has been treated and it is only research, analytics and infographics that makes journalism relevant today.” He stressed that the use of analytics is not only very vital to journalists but also to politicians who would want to measure the impact of their projects. He stated that whatever gets measured gets attention, Hence, the need for everyone – especially the youth - to embrace the reality of deploying analytics and research in engaging our intellectual enterprise. In the same vein, communication expert and strategist, Mrs. Chioma Agwuegbo urged the youths to take advantage of the immense opportunity which the forthcoming election presents. “We cannot make meaningful and optimal contributions to the Nigerian state if all we do is criticise and decry government without taking ownership of the country that belongs to us all. Every youth can influence society positively by fully utilising the opportunity which the social media presents. Some great Nigerian youths like Linda Ikeji, Japheth Omojuwa, Tolu Ogunlesi and others are agents of change in the country today because they have deployed their creative energy through the social media. Social media is a means to an end and not an end in itself.” In his presentation, Dr. Muiz Banire stated that the missing link in the Nigerian challenge begins with citizen’s lack of commitment to the Nigerian project. “Our level of engagement starts from belonging to a political party. This is nonnegotiable if we are to make any meaningful impact in the political history of Nigeria. There is a huge deficit of quality people in Nigerian politics. Nigerian youths should be actively involved in election activities and political process. Although the issues of god-fathers and candidate imposition makes the challenge even more daunting for the discerning Nigeria youths, all hope is not lost. The Nigerian psyche has been so abused that the average person has a low self-esteem about himself in terms of making meaningful contribution in politics.” This, according to him, shouldn’t be. In his closing remark, Dr. Kolade urged the youths to show a more collective and coordinated approach in engaging the political parties and governments. He remarked that only a cohesive and structured citizen political participation can act as a catalyst for improving the lot of Nigeria as a country.

Hadiza Otaki is the immediate past president of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). The graduate of Applied Chemistry was the only woman president in the university during her tenure. She tells SARAT ALABIDUN (300-Level Applied Chemistry) how she survived in a male-dominated association.

‘Being a woman naturally makes me a leader’

URING your tenure, you were the only woman president on campus. How was the experience like? For me, it was a feat that does not come naturally. It was a kind of deviation from the norm, because in schools, such as Usmanu Danfodiyo University, the cultural and religious values are held in high esteem. All leaders, whether it is president, chairman or speaker, are male. So it was quite challenging, getting elected as female to lead male-dominated club. It took me a lot of time to summon the courage to contest. There was a lot of discrimination against me. When I won the election, my first duty was to rebrand the club’s image because it is not religion-oriented. In a conservative school like UDUS, what challenges did you face as woman president? My major challenge was being a woman. Many people took me for granted and look down on me. Women leadership is still not being encouraged in the North. I have issues with what people would think of us. Even within students’ association, the male are hostile and feel that a lady should not lead them. Some of lectur-

ers secretly called male members of the association and asked why they allowed a woman to lead them. All this were part of the challenges I face but I was not discouraged. I felt like a male, having conquered male-dominated association. Do you think being female affected any of your plans throughout your tenure? No. Although it almost affected my decisions. Some male students tried to take advantage of my being a female to influence my decisions at some point but I ensured that I took charge. What are your achievements as president? People had the thought that nothing good would come out of my tenure. But, I had an eventful tenure and achieved some of my plans. Under my leadership, the association reached out to many students. Though my predecessors laid the foundation, we built on it strongly. We visited Normal Children’s Hospital Sokoto for our humanitarian project, where we donated useful materials to children in need. We held trainings for members to improve their skills in community projects. We collaborated with the Students’ Union Government (SUG) to set

•Hadiza

up an Officers Training School (OTS) for students’ leaders on campus. We also organised “Operation Keep UDUS Clean” and held the JCI’s 30th anniversary, which had Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Mallam Danladi Bako, in attendance. Because of lecturers’ strike, we could not do other programmes. How were you able to cope with your study while you lead the association? Before my election as president, I was the Vice-President. I also headed various committees in the association.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE For many graduates mobilised for the National Youth Service, it was a mixed tale of disappointment and joy when they got their call-up letters. Some of them, posted to crisis-ridden areas, saw the one-year service as a death sentence. Others were happy. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (NYSC, Makurdi) writes.

Mixed feelings greet NYSC call-up letters

L U W A T O S I N Olatunbosun was upbeat when she learnt it was time for her to go on the one-year National Youth Service. Cheery, she left her base for the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in IleIfe, Osun State, where she studied Language Arts. But, after she got her call-up letter, her mood changed. Oluwatosin broke down in tears when she learnt she was posted to Yobe State, one of the states being ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency. The 22-year-old graduate believed she was being sent on a journey of no return, saying her life would be exposed to danger during the compulsory youth service. This is one of the tales of woes and misery at the OAU, last week, when thousands of graduates besieged the Students’ Affairs Division to take their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) callup letters. Some were seen discussing their fate in groups after they got their letters. But for others, it was a moment of joy, having been posted to states, where there is no conflict. For many, it was a load of disappointment, because many failed to influence their postings to states of their choice. While the tales of misery were being told, some of the prospective Corps members, who had resigned to fate, flocked a makeshift market beside the Students’ Affairs Division to buy wares they would need at the NYSC

camps. Ife residents made brisk business, selling various wares to the graduates. Business centre operators and photographers were not left out in the bazaar. Many graduates could not get their call-up letters on time because of delay in the NYSC office in Osogbo. By 8.00pm on Thursday, the exercise was still going on. But some, who could afford to pay N4,060 to get the letter online wasted no time; they printed the call-up letters on the Internet without delay. For Alex Ojekunle, a graduate of Public Administration, his expectation to observe the Youth Service in the Southeast was dashed when he learnt that he was posted to Taraba State. Disappointed, Alex said: “It was a shocker for me to discover that I am posted to Taraba State. I was hoping to be posted to the South-south or Southeast, given the security challenges in the North presently. I initially felt unhappy. My heart beat faster and had the thought that it could be the end.” Philip Okorodudu, who graduated from Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, said he was apprehensive when he learnt he would undertake the Youth Service in Taraba, because the state shares boundary with Adamawa State being ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency. The Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate said his worry was his safety. However, Kemi Busari’s response was different. The Political

•Wares on display at OAU for use of Corps members in camps

Science graduate of OAU was upbeat to be going to Kaduna State, where he was posted. He said: “I have spent all my life in the Southwest and I want to have a feel of other places, especially the North. I believe I can explore new opportunities there. I think this is a chance. Apart from insecurity, I believe there are good stories about these places many youths do not want to go.” Taiwo Makinde called his parents in Abeokuta with joy when he was

told by his friend, Mide, that he was posted to Ogun State. “Meet the latest Ogun Corps member,” he exclaimed. But, Taiwo got the shock of his life the next day when he got his call-up letter and discovered he had been posted to Yobe State. “My friend, who checked for me, mistook my state of origin to be my posting,” he said, breaking down in tears. But for many of the youths posted to the North, the bad story is turning out to be good after a few days

in camp. Alex said he was beginning to understand the culture of the Jukun, describing them as good and welcoming people “who treat Corps members as kings.” However, because of the security situation, Corps members posted to Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states are having their training in Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states respectively.

Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) participated in an early morning exercise organised by the Anti-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Club to sensitise the university community about the need to stop the deadly Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). ADEYEMI OLALEMI (400-Level Physics and Education) reports.

A race for life •Participants after the exercise

EGULAR exercise is the best way to free the body of stress. But the busy academic schedules of students hardly permit that. Last Saturday, students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) abandoned all engagements for aerobics. The health awareness, tagged: UNILAG jog for life, was organised by the UNILAG’s chapter of Anti-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Club. It was part of the events to mark

•The students jogging round the Sport Centre

the Health Week of the club. The Week featured health campaign, film show, seminar and novelty match between students. The aerobics started with awareness about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the hostel, after which students left their rooms to jog. By 7.00am, the participants had thronged the university’s Sport Complex, clad in sport wears, trainers and face towels. The aerobics lasted till 8am, after

which the participants ran round the campus. At the complex, the students were given branded T-shirts donated by Hope World, a non-governmental organisation. The shirts had inscriptions, such as “I support abstinence and mutual fidelity” and “Zero discrimination in workplace”. Apart from keeping the students fit after busy academic engagements, the president of the Club, Tomiwa Ogunmade, said the exercise would also spread the awareness of the deadly disease among the youth.

“The exercise is an initiative aimed at creating awareness about HIV, AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases which threatens the dreams and aspirations of the youth. This will always remind them of the existence of the disease and why they must stop its spread,” he said. The club’s intention, Tomiwa said, was to sensitise the university community on how the deadly diseases could be prevented through abstinence, faithfulness and condomisation. While jogging round the campus,

students took the awareness to Halls of Residence, singing and dancing. Some of the hostel visited included, Moremi, Jaja, Mairere, New Hall, and Amina Hall. The participants engaged their colleagues in discussions on how they could promote HIV–free society, teaching students how they could make use of condom and other objects to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. •Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Dankwambo challenges leaders

UBLIC officers will restore people’s confidence in governance if they can deliver good democratic dividends. This was the view of the Governor of Gombe Sate, Ibrahim Dankwambo, at the annual public lecture organised by the Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with the theme: Governance and public policy process: Transforming Nigeria into a modern society. The governor said without the provision of adequate infrastructure and improving people’s standard of living, the achievements of public officers would be a mirage. Dankwambo, who was the guest speaker at the event, said: “It is through good governance and building institutions that development can be achieved. Functional infrastructure is one best legacy any government can leave behind, because without it, democracy would make no meaning to the voters.” Gov. Dankwambo noted that the nation never lacked good policies, but the challenge, he said, re-

•Dankwambo (right) with former Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) chairman, Nta Ekpo (middle), Prof Ozumba at the event

From Oladele Oge and Moses Oyediran UNN mained implementation, stressing that regular training and re-orientation of public officials saddled with implementation responsibility had become necessary to change the situation. He said effective policy implementation was the bedrock of good governance. The governor praised the Federal Government for its effort at im-

proving the condition of infrastructure and subsidising agriculture, saying the policy had paid off in eradicating poverty. He added that his administration was emulating President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda to improve the standard of living of the people. The governor appreciated the university management for finding him worthy to deliver the lecture, pledging assistance in addressing issues that would enhance

teaching and learning in the school. In his lecture entitled: Governance and public policy process: The contributions of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to the Transformation Agenda, Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, said the body had improved its operations through electronic data managements. “To achieve safety on our roads, we need to re-emphasis our value system and road users must maintain discipline when driving. We

must remain open and proactive to new technologies to cope with expectations of future,” he said. Oyeyemi said the body would continue to maintain a fair-reward incentive scheme to motivate the staff for higher productivity. In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, praised the Department of Public Administration for the lecture, which he said had generated fresh idea on how society should be governed.

Nite of Titotal excites poly students

MIDST fanfare and excitement, students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti (ADO POLY) trooped out to watch a show organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG). The show, tagged Nite of Titotal, was to make students relieve themselves of stress after their examination. Students trooped out en masse to witness the social event. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the union, Temitope Yakubu, told CAMPUSLIFE that the show was necessary to rejig social activities on the campus. Local hip-hop artistes, such as Moscow, Kido, Mido, Alive, Belle Republic, Lizzy Da Queen and Influential Influence thrilled the audience at the show. Students, who spoke to our correspondent after the show, expressed

From Ridwan Atiku ADO POLY joy, saying they were ready to start another semester. Kehinde Dudulewa, ND 1 Marketing, said the show was necessary to allow students refresh their brain and prepare for the next academic task. Also Bukola Olofingboyegun, also a Marketing student, said she had been expecting such event since she was admitted into the school. She, however, said the awareness for the event was low, urging the union to ensure students are informed about the subsequent show. Willie Martha, a dancer, had the opportunity to perform at the show, drawing applause from the audience.

•Press Council chairman, Sodiq Abiodun (left), presenting the award to Ibrahim

‘Failure of leadership aids insurgency’

LAWYER, Mr Ola Adeosun, has said the failure of leadership and education in the North gave rise to the insurgency threatening Nigeria unity. He called on youths to vote for the right candidates in the next elections. Adeosun spoke last Saturday at the All Nigeria United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA) annual convention held in the New Lecture Theatre 1 of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY). The lawyer, who spoke on the Effect of insurgency on Nigerian youths, accused the northern political leaders of taking the region backward through bad education policies, saying the children of the poor were made to pass through the bad system, while leaders sent their wards abroad. Adeosun said the northern leaders deliberately took away education from the region and sowed the seed of terror ravaging the

From Elizabeth Ogunjimi IBADAN POLY North. He said: “The northern leaders never expected that the almajiri children they reared would become thorn in their flesh one day. They sent their own children abroad and brainwashed the poor children and those on the street. They took away their education deliberately, not knowing they were raising a generation that will turn the table against them. “When there is no development, the people are compelled to go against the law and ask questions. They thought they were building the future for their children but they did not know they were digging holes for themselves. Now, they have become prisoners in their own region.” He said for the insurgency to be brought to an end, government must provide a qualitative and proper education for the brainwashed children. He urged stu-

dents and youths to vote for the right candidates in the next year general election, regardless of their political parties. The event also featured inauguration of new executive and award for present and past members of the association. The ANUNSA president, Mariam Umar, described the awardees as worthy members, who contributed selflessly to the growth of the association. Ibrahim Adam received the award for Emeritus Member of the Year. He dedicated award to his mother, who he described as “the engine that has kept me moving.” The Eruwa Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Adigun Kayode, urged members of the executive to sustain the legacy of their predecessors. He was also honoured by the association. The association’s Special Adviser, Oludare Ogunlana, told the students to be agents of change in their community.

•From left: Bolaji Afolabi, Toyin Kayode and Ebunoluwa Omotunde during their convocation at the Bowen University in Iwo, Osun State

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Abia police prepare for 2015 elections •PAGE 35

•The road

Philanthropist saves neglected Imo community •PAGE 36

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

PAGE 33

Enugu residents embrace alternative medicine •PAGE 40

Agony on Arochukwu Road

EW issues hurt Arochukwu and Ohafia residents more than their failed road. It links both communities in Abia State and also connects Akwa Ibom and Cross River. For years, it has been impassable. Owners of small vehicles learned many years ago not to put them on the road; truck drivers who dared had themselves to blame, for their vehicles often got stuck, their journeys terminated. The road has claimed many casualties, including wasted vehicles and goods. Arochukwu has a rich history. Many once came from distant lands to consult its Long Juju, whose site has become a tourist attraction. But the community’s tourism profile has suffered, no thanks to the poor road. Residents have made futile appeals to the Federal Government. Last year, they told President Goodluck

A failed major road in Abia State remains a pain to residents as well as Akwa Ibom and Cross River commuters since its contract was awarded to Beks Kimse, a local construction firm. After series of fruitless appeals, the community’s monarch has petitioned the Works minister, writes CHRIS OJI Jonathan not to count on their votes for his second term bid if he failed to fix the road, regarded as probably the worst in the country. Then, the president had not declared any intention to run. Now he has, but the road has worsened. Now, the paramount and spiritual leader of the Arochukwu Kingdom, His Majesty, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro has petitioned the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen to reconsider the contract awarded to Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd to fix the road.

Since 2012, the construction company could not build up to 2km of the 27km stretch from Ohafia to Arochukwu. Beks Kimse has a former special adviser to the president as its chief executive. The contract, flagged with much fanfare, was estimated at N4.8 billion with only 10 months completion time. The situation today is that the ancient town of Arochukwu with its neighbours of Ihechiowa, Ututu, Isu and some Cross River and Akwa Ibom communities habe been completely cut off from the

rest of the country. The present condition of the road was was the result of the heavy downpour this rainy season. Arochukwu is in the same rain belt zone as Calabar. The Eze Aro, who rarely make public comments could no longer bear it anymore as his subjects both at home and in Diaspora cannot access their ancestral home. Thus the letter to the minister which was copied to the Senate President, David Mark, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works,

Ayogu Eze. Also copied were all the senators of Abia State extraction, Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, Chairman, Works Committee, Hon. Ozomgbachi and the representative of Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Arua Arunsi. It reads: Dear Hon. Minister, “I write you this letter in the overriding public interest as a traditional ruler of Arochukwu Kingdom, on behalf of fellow citizens, my subjects and members of Nzuko Arochukwu. Honourable Minister, may I painfully inform you that Arochukwu, an ancient kingdom in Abia State, is presently cut-off from the rest of the country. The only major Federal road that con•Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Man regains freedom From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

•A part of Arochukwu

Agony on‘Arochukwu Road

•Continued from page 33 nects Aro with the rest of the country is in a deplorable state. The 27 kilometer road from the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan military barracks in Ohafia to Arochukwu has been neglected for over 30 years. It has no major obstacles like bridges or difficult terrain. The only problem of the road over these years can easily be traced to promises made and promises broken! “Sir, for us, it is a sad commentary that a well-known community like Arochukwu reputed in history as the cradle of Igbo civilisation has found itself in such a sorry state in terms of bad roads.”

Pains and frustration The petition reads further: In “its present terrible state, a journey from Ohafia to Arochuwku that should not last more than 20 minutes, now drags for over three hours. There is no doubt that ArochukwuOhafia road in its current condition is perhaps the worst Federal road in Nigeria, and this is not an exaggeration. A trip on this road is a terrible experience that no one is prepared to recommend even to one’s worst enemy. This is why for some time now many of us from Arochukwu neither travel home nor risk the shame of inviting friends and well-wishers to visit our community. “Our people hibernate in major cities across the world in regret while our kith and kin at home especially commuters who must use the road on a daily basis groan in fury and penury. In recent times, the residents of Arochukwu have been cut off from supply of essential goods and services from parts of Abia State and beyond because of access road. “In the same vein, transportation of farm produce which are in abundance in commercial quantity from Aro, Ihechiowa, Ututu, Ohafia in Abia State and the neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states is jeopardised. Other implications include access to medical care and help on similar emergencies in Aro and the affected communities with far reaching consequences on women and children,

In November 2012, our joy knew no bounds when the Jonathan administration awarded the contract to one indigenous company BEKS KIMSE Nigeria Ltd at the cost of about N4.8 billion. Its completion time was 24 months...Honourable Minister, it is sad, a big shame and disappointment that this company, Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd, has failed itself, Arochukwu community and the Federal Government that gave it the opportunity to make an important contribution to national development in this part of the country. We are utterly disappointed over the performance of Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd the old and the aged.”

Fed. Govt’s response “In November 2012, our joy knew no bounds when the Jonathan administration awarded a contract for reconstruction of the road to one indigenous company BEKS KIMSE Nigeria Ltd at the cost of about N4.8 billion. The project was expected to be completed within a period of 24 months from the date the contract was signed between the Federal Ministry of Works and the company. We in Arochukwu, Ihechiowa, Ututu, Isu, Abam, Ohafia and our neighbours in Akwa Ibom and Cross River State went into jubilation believing that a “Daniel had finally come to judgment”. We thought that our pains, frustration and anguish on the road were over. While publicly appreciating the Federal government’s gesture, Arochukwu in particular offered to provide any required assistance and support to the contractor to avoid excuses in getting the important job done.

Contractor failure “Unfortunately, Honourable Minister, it is sad, a big shame and disappointment that this company,

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Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd, has failed itself, Arochukwu community and the Federal Government that gave it the opportunity to make an important contribution to national development in this part of the country. We are utterly disappointed over the performance of Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd. The firm has shown neither skill, competence, commitment nor sensitivity to our plight. We are shocked that this contractor has only two dilapidated bulldozers and one roller on site. As a result of poor experience and ill equipped infrastructure, they have done so much havoc on the road by scrapping the surface of about eight kilometers and abandoned same. With the rains, the unprotected areas has been washed off, creating deep gullies which have cut off the community from the rest of the country. The scrapping of the road by the contractor without overlaying is the worst thing that has ever happened to the road and our community. All we have seen so far after the havoc by Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd, are the two archaic caterpillars, a few shovels, some wheel barrows and diggers which the company abandoned near the Arochukwu local government

•Eze Aro, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro headquarters since the past 18 months. In the circumstance, less than a quarter of a kilometer of the job has been done after nearly two years. There is every reason to believe that Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd lacks the capacity and competence to handle this project with the kind of analogue equipment they parade on site in a construction industry that has gone completely digital. While we have no information on what their specific problem may be, we have also seen no signs, equipment, skilled manpower or any form of commitment on the part of this company to execute the project. The character and performance of this company has eroded our confidence on the campaign to give equal opportunities to indigenous contractors. We are deeply concerned that this contract that we all hoped on has been rendered a failed project. Indeed no one, not even the contractor, has offered any explanation for this shoddy performance. To worsen our situation, there appears to be some conspiracy of silence around this project. The suspicion of our community is high, as all those who should speak out have chosen to keep quiet while the benefitting communities die slowly in silence. I wish to add that the road is currently impassable following the shoddy activities of the company. The condition of the road at the moment is worse than the way the company met it. We lack words to explain the damage which this ill-equipped company has done to the road.

MAN identified as Mr. Ezebunwa, a native of Ekeakpara community in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State has reportedly regained his freedom after three days in his abductors’ hands. Unconfirmed report has it that Ezebunwa was released on the third day of his abduction after he had paid an undisclosed amount of money to his captors. Sources who spoke on anonymity told disclosed that the victim was trailed by gunmen who after rounded him up along New Umuahia drove away with him in his Toyota Camry to an unknown destination from where they opened communication with the victim’s family, demanding for a ransom for his release. It was gathered that after the family and the captors had reached agreement and the money delivered at unnamed location, the victim who had since been reunited with his family was dropped along Abayi Ohanze village in Obingwa Local Government Area by the hoodlums. Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) could not be reached and was yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile phone. However, a senior police officer who preferred anonymity said they were unaware about the ransom and attributed the Ezebunwa’s release to the heat mounted on the captors by police team after the case was officially reported to them. “We swung into action after the case was officially reported to us. Police doesn’t involve in negotiations with hoodlums. What I can tell you is that the man was released by those that allegedly kidnapped him when the heat was too much on them. It is our duty to protect lives and property in the state and to also reduce crime to the barest minimum and that we shall continue to do,” the source stated The immediate family of the victim could not yet been reached for comments on whether they paid any ransom to the abductors or not.

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Police doesn’t involve in negotiations with hoodlums. What I can tell you is that the man was released by those that allegedly kidnapped him when the heat was too much on them. It is our duty to protect lives and property in the state and to also reduce crime to the barest minimum and that we shall continue to do

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba (in white cap); CP Ibrahim and Brigade Commander 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Gen Adeosun observing the national anthem at the event

Abia police prepare for 2015 elections ‘

HE Abia State police command has organised a workshop for all the political parties, security agencies and traders in the state to orientate them on the need for a violence-free and fair general elections in 2015. Speaking in Umuahia while declaring the workshop open, the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji said that the workshop could not have come at a better time as the general elections are around the corner, adding that there is need to educate the electorate. Orji said that the Inspector-General of Police Abba Suleman should be commended for ordering his men in different states to hold the workshop to ensure a hitch-free general election. The governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba regretted the absence of several political parties, stressing that only the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned up at the workshop. He maintained that the workshop will lecture the police and other security agencies in the state on the need to ensure that there will be free and fair elections in the coming year and ensure that the electorates know their voting rights. Orji said that security is very important in the forthcoming general elections and that the state government is not ready to compromise.

It is expected that all the stakeholders would come together to deliberate and come up with a violence-free and fair general election. No one knows it all, which is the reason we convened this workshop as all have roles to play for us to have a free and fair election From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Said he, “We are not ready to trade the peace and security of this state and its people under any guise”. He noted that the government of the state is aware of the troubles and crisis the police command in the state faces during general elections, adding that government is prepared to curb any excesses of the violent politicians should it arise. Orji praised the political stakeholders in the state for attending the stakeholders workshop, adding that he believes that the par-

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ticipants will fashion out ways that will ensure peace during and after the elections, urging the participants to open their minds to learn and proffer useful solutions to curb election violence. Earlier the state commissioner of police, Adamu Ibrahim said that

the workshop is necessary because elections are near and want politicians to ensure that there will be credible elections, adding that the workshop is the brain child of the Inspector General of Police. Ibrahim said that it is expected that all the stakeholders would come together to deliberate and come up with a violence-free and fair general election. No one knows it all, “which is the reason we convened this workshop as all have roles to play for us to have a free and fair election”. However in a lecture titled violent free elections, delivered by Prof Etannibi Alemika of the University of Jos, blamed the electorate for the woes of the country by allowing themselves to be bought over by politicians, as they do not know their political value. Alemika said that until the electorates realise their importance they will be ready to elect responsible people into public offices during elections through utilising their votes which makes them equal to anyone including the President on any election day in the country.

He said, “Since the electorates do not know their value they are willing to sell their votes in exchange for cigarettes, rice and in most cases money and at the end make it possible for violent people to take over the system”. The university don insisted that political violence could be triggered by politicians playing the role of godfathers whose stuck in trade is to impose unpopular candidates on the people, “This imposition leads to political violence during and after elections and should be avoided”. Alemika said that anyone caught causing election violence despite his level in the society should be sentenced to jail, instead of being allowed to enter into government house as a governor or the state house as a President. In his contribution, the state APC chairman Fabian Nwankwo called on the conveners of the one day workshop to extend it to all the 17 local government areas of the state including the political ward, stressing that most of the people who are supposed to be at the workshop were not there.

Igbo traders troop out for civic education

HE main auditorium of the Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway was packed full of Igbo residents in Lagos. The gathering was not the usual Igbo gathering for the new yam feast nor was it the usual Igbo-

By Innocent Duru

Day celebration. It was a day that traders across the state left their businesses to receive civic education. It was a gathering to bring about the revitalisation of Igbo participation in the politics of the state and the country at large. The event was organised by Ndigboamaka, a coalition of 58 traders’ associations in the state. Speaking to journalists, the group’s National Coordinator, Nze Basil Osunkwo, said the reason for the sensitisation was to remind the traders of their civic responsibility,

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•Southeast Sales Manager, Mr. Sunday Okereke unveiling the new Cussons Cares and Protects variants being assited by Chief Gabriel Nwalie, No.1 PZ active distributor in Southeast

which includes, obtaining voters cards and voting on Election Day. Nze Osunkwo noted that the exercise, which will be carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leads to the issuance of permanent voters cards to eligible voters. He said, “This sensitisation programme became very necessary considering the fact that in the past, some of the traders were so engrossed in their businesses that they were not concerned with their basic civic responsibility as citizens, more so, they have •Continued on page 36

This sensitisation programme became very necessary considering the fact that in the past, some of the traders were so engrossed in their businesses that they were not concerned with their basic civic responsibility as citizens, more so, they have never appreciated the enormous powers they wield with their voters cards, especially when they put the card to action by voting for their preferred candidates at elections

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘My kids shouldn’t take to newspaper distributorship’ An ex-insurance worker and widow, Mrs Ezinne Olovoeze, reveals how she ended up a newspaper distributor. In this interview with SUNNY NWANKWO, she admits, though, that she will not encourage any of her six children to take to the business in which she has invested her resources and 30 years of her life. Excerpts:

•Another failed portion of the road

•Agu flanked by the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Azubuike Onuoha during the flag off of the road

Philanthropist saves neglected community ‘

ITH the large network of urban and rural roads constructed by the Imo State government, it is hard to imagine that some villages have been cut off from the rest parts of the state due to inaccessible roads. The story of Amaimo Umukabi in Iheme Ibano Local Government Area of the state is that of despair, anguish and neglect. Totally abandoned by successive administrations, the community has suffered untold hardship as the only road linking it with the rest of the state was washed away by flood. There is no electricity, nor are there any healthcare facilities, good schools, pipe-borne water or any other basic amenity in the sleepy community. The Nation’s visit to this ancient town reputed to have produced some of the most successful Imo professionals, was a tortuous journey through a snaky patch of narrow road in the middle of dense rain forest. The muddy road, worsened by a recent downpour, made any form of movement extremely

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From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

difficult. At the end of the over six hours ordeal, which would have ordinarily taken less that 40 minutes, the famous agrarian community, wore a forlorn and dejected look. The dusty market square, though, was a sharp contrast from the feeling of despair which pervaded the community. Gaily-dressed old men and women and a handful of youths waited patiently for the arrival of the only indigene of the community, Mr. Desmond Agu, who had hearkened to the cry of his people. It was the occasion of the flag-off ceremony of the grading and opening up of the roads that connect the community to other neighbouring villages, which was solely facilitated by Agu to mitigate the suffering of the people, especially during the yuletide. Speaking at the event, Agu who is also the Bayelsa State Commandant of the National Security and

I want to commend Governor Rochas Okorocha for the much that he has done and to appeal to him to provide basic amenities in the community to mitigate the sufferings of our people and improve their living condition. On my own part I will continue to do my best for my people and the community where I was born

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Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said that the initiative was the result of his unflinching love for his people and his birthplace, adding that the community has been totally abandoned by government, despite its contribution to the food security of the state. He said most of the indigenes of the community have not visited home for a long time as a result of the deplorable state of the road, which he said has crippled all forms of economic activities in the village. Agu pointed out: “My people have been marginalised and forgotten by the government. We have about seven roads connecting the community with other neighbouring villages but none of them are working. We have been appealing to the government to come to our aid to no avail. I have decided to grade the roads so that the people can now travel out of the community to do their businesses and those coming home for the Christmas can have a smooth journey”. He added further that, “the challenges facing our community are enormous and cannot be tackled by an individual or government alone, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we provide succor for our people. “I want to also commend Gover-

nor Rochas Okorocha for the much that he has done and to appeal to him to provide basic amenities in the community to mitigate the sufferings of our people and improve their living condition. On my own part I will continue to do my best for my people and the community where I was born”. Earlier in his speech, Hon Cosmos Oduma, a leader in the community, commended Agu for taking up the responsibility of constructing the road, even though he was not a politician, lamenting that the community has been cut off from the rest of the state. He said, “we have waited for the government in vain but today our own son has saved us further agony. The collapse of the road has brought untold hardship on the community, especially women and the old people who can no longer move out because of the road. We equally find it difficult to export or farm produce to the major markets where the demands are high”. Another speaker, Ike .C. Ike, said that the gesture was a clear challenge to other illustrious sons of the community to come out and assist in developing the community since we have been forgotten by the government. According to him, “our son has vowed that even when the government has forgotten us he continue

to remember his people. He is not a businessman or a moneybag but he has denied himself the luxury of life to assist the community, especially now that the Christmas is approaching. This should serve as a wakeup call to our sons and daughters who are yet to see the need to work for the community”. He maintained further that, “the claim before now was that the road has been done by government, but you have seen for yourselves today that it was a mere propaganda to deceive the people. We are appealing to the State and Federal Government to come to our aid, because we cannot solve our problems through self help alone. We are predominantly farmers and the lack of good roads has affected our productivity as we cannot access any market for our farm produce”. The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Azubuike Onuoha, confirmed that the Commandant has done a lot for the community and will be rewarded by God for addressing the pains and wiping away the tears of his people. He stated further that, “we have been marginalized for a very long time, if you go through will bear witness that Amaimo community has not been in the scheme of things. It is obvious that we have been abandoned by successive administrations. We appeal to our lis-

We had been managing to cope with the road until it was totally washed away by the rain and we find it extremely difficult to travel out of the community. Nobody has recognised my community and my people are suffering but with what our son, Agu has done today, it will now be possible for our children to return home for Christmas tening Governor to rescue our community so that we can enjoy the dividends of democracy like every other community in the state”. The monarch also lamented that, “the politicians only remember us during the elections when they come to canvass for votes and make empty promises but this time we are wiser and will only vote for

OW did your newspaper business start? It was my in-law who started it and I used to assist him when I was still going to school. While schooling, I worked under him. So he taught me the business, and I’ve spent 30 years in it. After my schooling, I joined an insurance company (Amicable Assurance Company), where I worked for 24 years before retiring and joined the newspaper business fully. Though I was working with the insurance company then, I was still coming around to help my in-law, so I didn’t leave the business entirely even when I was still with the insurance company. Do you subscribe to the notion that newspaper distributorship is for the uneducated? No, I don’t subscribe to that. My reason is that, it is just like every other business that one might wish to do to put food on his or her family’. The literate ones are in the business and the illiterate ones are also in the business. So, it is just like every other business. How have you coped with your colleagues who seem to dominate the business? We have no problem. The business is meant for everybody regardless of one’s sex. You know I am a distributor. So, the challenges I do encounter is that when I give supply to some of the vendors, they don’t pay and when they want to pay, they will be paying in such a way that the money would not even be useful to the person. Some will even run away with your money and change to other businesses and hardly will you see them to recover your debt, meaning that the money has gone into thin air. Compare your business now to what it used to be In fact, the business is almost dead now because in those days, you

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those who will listening to us and alleviate our suffering. “We had been managing to cope with the road until it was totally washed away by the rain and we find it extremely difficult to travel out of the community. Nobody has recognised my community and my people are suffering but with what our son, Agu has done today, it will now be possible for our children to return home for Christmas”.

Igbo traders troop out for civic education •Continued from page 35 never appreciated the enormous powers they wield with their voters cards, especially when they put the card to action by voting for their preferred candidates at elections.” He noted that there was no reason for any one to complain about bad governance if he or she remains aloof over election matters,

noting that the time has come for these traders to take their destinies in to their hands by deciding who rules over them with their votes. He said: “What we are doing is a sacrifice and that is why we have abandoned or businesses and works to organise this sensitization programme to remind the people of the revalidation of voters card exercise that begins today and ends on Sunday.

“ Our group, which comprises 58 markets associations in Lagos, has observed that many traders don’t take the issue of election very seriously and so do not even make out time to register and obtain voters cards. This we think will not help the political development of the country. “ Election begins with getting voters card and then casting your votes for your preferred candidate

at election. We are sensitizing and educating these market men, women and other professionals on the need for them to realize the powers they have with the cards in deciding who rules over them at various levels.” Nze Osuokwu said in the past that traders usually registered at units close to their market places and on election day, markets are not opened and there is restriction

of movements and in the end such traders disenfranchised themselves. “ We are appealing to them and to equally make them see reason why they should make the necessary sacrifice for them to register at the units close to their residence so that on election days they would go out to vote and not staying at home because they could go to the polling units at their market places.”

•The distributor at her Aba office

would sell and make out something from it, but it is not so now. Like I have about six children, it is from here that I made money to train them up to the university level. But these days, we are no longer selling anything; people don’t buy again. In the past, we had branches in all the big towns in the federation: Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Aba and Umuahia. But now, we can only boast of two (Aba and Umuahia). We closed other branches because vendors owed us huge debts. What is the relationship between distributors and newspaper publishers? The relationship has been very cordial but we are complaining is that there are no incentives from them to motivate some of us that are trying to sell their papers year in year out under rain and in the sun. From their records, they should be able to know those that are performing very and just like other companies do, these persons should be motivated so that they can do more. Some say that they even read the paper on the internet before the paper comes out on the newspaper stand

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and therefore they don’t have any need to buy the hard copy again since they have read it online. You can see, it has drastically affected the level of patronage and also affects the number of unsold that some of the agents return to the company. So, it is affecting us negatively and the company negatively as well. I am sure that the level of unsold copies today and in the past is not the same. It is higher today than in the past. Given its apparent low profit margin, will you still stay on in the business? Since I don’t have anything doing now, I will still continue to do it until my God says that it is okay. Would you encourage any of your children to succeed you in this business? As it is now, I won’t encourage any of my children to take up this newspaper business because there is nothing in it again; they won’t make money in it as it was in the past. Do you think that the business will grow in future? I can’t predict and I don’t pray that it will crash. I pray that it will grow better than what it is now.

The business is meant for everybody regardless of one’s gender. You know I am a distributor. So, one of the challenges I encounter is that when I supply some of the vendors, they don’t pay and when they want to pay, they would be paying in such a way that the money would not even be useful to me. Some will even run away with your money and change to other businesses and hardly will you see them to recover your money, meaning that the money has gone into thin air

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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Life returning to Abia Poly after the strike

HEY are happy to be back, after a protracted industrial dispute kept them away from the classroom for over two weeks. Upon their return, students of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba immediately registered their pleasure by thanking the institution’s management and the three industrial unions in the institution for resolving the dispute. Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, and non-academic Staff Union of Polytechnics in the polytechnic had downed tools over non-payment of wage bills and arrears of salary which resulted in industrial action by various unions to demand their pay. It was gathered that the staff of the institution took the decision to withdraw their services after efforts to get the attention of the state government over their plight failed to yield any fruit. While the strike lasted, the students suffered, especially whose second semester exams were shifted indefinitely until the internal bickering was resolved. Some students who spoke to our reporter during the strike de-

Poly students ‘ hail end of dispute From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

scribed it as a blessing in disguise because it gave them the opportunity to revise their books and, for some, to make some money with which to complete payment for their school fees to enable them write exams with other students. Our reporter who visited the school discovered that except for some of the administrative offices that were attending to prospective Corps members who were in the school for their call-up letter, the school was deserted. Drivers plying the Aba-Owerri Road also had low patronage during the strike period as the popular and busy Abia Poly Bus Stop, opposite the school was uncharacteristically scanty. An announcement on one of the local stations informed the students and the general public of the resumption of academic activities of the school. That heartened the students as

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, and non-academic Staff Union of Polytechnics in the polytechnic had downed tools over non-payment of wage bills and arrears of salary which resulted in industrial action by various unions to demand their pay well as business owners around the school. They had recorded very low patronage while the dispute lasted. When our reporter visited the school on Monday, students were seen in clusters discussing the strike while some others were in their classrooms having lectures.

•Igbo leaders at the public presentation of volume three of Prof. Nwabueze’s authobiography in Abuja

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Some others spotted at some of the business centres in and around the school were making frantic efforts to print out and submit their assignments. Some of the students who spoke to our reporter on the strike, including Chigozie Okoro, said that they were happy over the de-

cisions of the three industrial union chapters in the school decided to call off the strike. They also called on the acting rector, Prof. Uche Ikonne and the state government to urgently address some of the issues that led to the lecturers’ strike, stressing that another industrial action in the school would mean a total collapse of academic activities in the school. An ND II student who spoke anonymously, while lamenting on the negative impact of the strike on her, expressed hope that the scheduled exam which starts on Monday next week (Nov.17) would not be interrupted for any reason. The acting chairman of ASUP, Abia Polytechnic branch, Mr. Godswill Uma could not be reached, but a senior member of the union who spoke confidentially told our reporter that they still owed four months’ (July, August, September and October) •Continued on page 39

•Nigeria Railway Corporation Bridge at Amoda-Akwunanu in Enugu State inspected by the corporation’s Board of Trustees.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Imo to host Igbo Music Award

We call on the governments of Southeast states to rally resources in culture promotion and support great and iconic ideas like Igbo music award when they do this, the Igbo language and culture will not only be enriched but archived for posterity

HE Imo State government will host this year’s edition of the Igbo Music Award, an event seeking to preserve and promote the Igbo culture through its music. It is through Igbo music as produced by the practitioners that its language is documented and stored for generations to come. Again, Igbo contribution to world culture is a product of Igbo music and musicians. It is in tandem with this obvious position that the annual Igbo Music Award otherwise, called Ekwe Award has become an important event in the cultural calendar of the Igbo nation. Inaugurated in 2013 by the Ogbakoro Theater Company, Ekwe Award is the promotion and the recognition of the finest in Igbo music, with Igbo language as a vehicle of such rendition and composition. The 2014 Ekwe Award, which is the last big item in the Igbo Cultural Calendar, is on. The process for selection and award ceremony has commenced. Billed for the last quarter of the year, it is expected that the 2014 Ekwe Award will be hosted by Imo State. The 2013 Award Ceremony hosted by Ebonyi State took place at the prestigious Women Development Center, Abakaliki. Many multinational conglomerates have shown interest in partnering the organizers in show casing the best in Igbo music and culture since, the award is geared not only in bringing out the best in Igbo music regardless of genre, it is also meant to tell the world that the Igbo peoples language which many fear is going into extinction, is a major contributor to world culture and civilization. Meanwhile, call for entries have commenced and voting for win-

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•The prizes to be picked up By Andy Adibemma

ners in the various categories will be announced soon. The organizers have promised to stage a once in a lifetime event, which will not only be promoted in the SouthEast but will register in the cultural timetable of all lovers of music and culture. While we welcome the 2014 Ekwe Award, it is worthy to note the pathetic attitude of SouthEast government and Igbo leaders towards the advancement

and propagation of Igbo Culture, Language and music. In 2013, after several promises and pledges it was the far seeing Governor and Government of Ebonyi State that supported Ekwe Award. Even Corporate Institutions like the GSM Providers, MTN showed little commitment to this worthy course. It was as if while we lament the onslaught and battering the Igbo language is facing today, the Igbo nation as a people has failed to recognize the

very unique role music plays and will continue to play in the sustenance of the language, as one of the body of world languages. In 2013 the organisers had to through dint of ruggedness of spirit and vision carried out the epochal arrival of All Igbo music award. It is therefore, hoped that the governments and people of the South East should do the needful in promoting this laudable project which not only chronicles the different genres of Igbo music in their uniqueness

but helps in recognizing Igbo music stars and ambassadors with the aim of giving them their rightful place in the Pantheon of stars and legends. As Imo state is billed to host the 2014 Ekwe Award, it is gratifying to note the interest shown by the people towards the awards but this enthusiasm can be better complimented if the Imo state government should take interest and contribute towards its success. Also, we call on the governments of Southeast states to rally resources in culture promotion and support great and iconic ideas like Igbo music award when they do this, the Igbo language and culture will not only be enriched but archived for posterity. •Adidemma, a journalist, sent this piece from Owerri

•Continued from page 38

salary arrears. On why the unions suspended the strike, the source said, “Well, we all are aware of what happened before now. Giving that the problem was inherited by the acting rector that he was able to pay us June Salary, while some of our members arrears up to May has been cleared, within the few weeks he (Ikonne) resumed office as the rector, we decided to give him the benefit of the doubt to call off the strike because he equally promised us that he is going to gradually offset the outstanding salary arrears. “I am sure that if he fails to fulfill his promises, we won’t have any option than to embark on another strike. It is the only option that we have to press home our demand. I learnt that before the strike, the Precious Nwakodo’s administration had written several letters to the state government, but no attention was given to them not until we decided to down tool. Yes, it is not in the interest of the students, but even the Bible that you and I read tells us that every good and faithful worker deserves his or her wages. We have worked and we deserved to be paid. We have families to cater for; we pay house rents. Some of us are breadwinners in our families and so, you don’t expect us to teach on empty

•The returning students

Poly students hail end of dispute

stomach. Nobody is happy going on strike and if salaries were paid, I assure you that none of us would contemplate going on strike.

“They just paid me my June salary and we are in November. December is fast approaching and we don’t know what providence has for us yet. We are not talking

of increment in salary. What we are asking for is to pay us the salary of the number of months we have worked.” A release signed by the Secretary to the state government,

Mkpa Agu Mkpa had suspended the then Abia Poly rector Sir Allwell Onukaogu and his Arochukwu College of Education Technology counterpart Christian Nwanmuo.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

O fewer than 100 ailing residents of Enugu were treated by alternative medical practitioners at the Luminar International Centre for Energy Health International. The body specialises in application of alternative medicine and energy health. The President of the body and a specialist in alternative medicine, Prof. Joseph Okoro Akpa said it was high time the Federal Government and Nigerians embraced alternative medicine and energy health, revealing that the energy drawn from various planets can be used to cure sicknesses as well as prevent them. Akpa, while presenting what he termed the latest research development in alternative medicine and energy health, disclosed that the method of application involves what he called Homoeopathic Medical practice, Acupuncture Energy Health, Magnet Health, Pyramid Energy, and Medical Astrology, among others. He disclosed that in Homoeopathic Alternative Medical Science the practitioner uses the cause of aliment to cure the ailment, while Acupuncture which he said originated from China, the practitioner uses golden or silver long needles which he inserts into certain points in the body of the patient to balance energy flow and thereby effecting the healing. He further said that magnets can also be placed at certain points on the body to cure certain ailments too. In Healing Touch Energy Health, he said the practitioner draws energy from the planets and channels the energy to the patient while either touching him or not touching him in case of Non-healing touch. He however posited that this whole process does not in any way connote occultism or mysticism stating that it is nature that reveals this information to humans. Akpa also said that some people always feel reluctant to accept new innovations for fears that the new information may compete with their professions or even overshadow it. While he urged everybody to open heartedly accept all good innovations, try them and see whether they are real or not and even do further research on them. During the workshop the taught with demonstrations ways through which some ailments can be easily cured and as people tried them some of them claimed it worked for them. He demonstrated with examples how a magnet can be used to cure

•Prof. Akpa demonstrating the acupunture Energy Health

Enugu residents embrace alternative medicine

From Chris Oji, Enugu

ailments and how a simple massage at certain points in the body can cure ailments like headache, heart pain, diabetes and also how energy is tapped from the planets to heal a person or oneself. He further urged the government to develop alternative medicine and energy health healing processes so as to compliment the orthodox medical practice. He said: “Looking at the great importance of this programme, we invited a cross section of our people from the presidency down to the common man on the street. This is one of my callings and I wish to fulfil my mission by sharing this pure knowledge with you, my brothers and sisters, here in Nige-

ria. I dare say that those present today for this programme are people chosen by God, people who are matured to experience the knowledge. “As a result, I shall make sure that all of you present here will go from here with some satisfaction and joy and will be glad that you have at-

tended.” Akpa further said that people are always reluctant to and new truth at times for fears that the new information may complete their professions or may even over shadow what they have been propagating before the emergence of the new one.

“To me, I think it is important for the human beings to open heartedly accept all good things, try and see whether the tidings are real or not, if they are real and truthful, people should follow them. If on the other hand they are false, people should discard them,” Akpa admonished.

Bianca alters Ojukwu memorial date

HE memorial activities in honour of the late Ikemba Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu earlier scheduled for November 26 have been shifted to December 10, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said. Addressing newsmen in Aba, Abia

•The chosen aspirant for Nsukka/Igbo-eze South Federal Constituency, Hon. Oscar Okwume (center on white attire) amidst cheering PDP supporters arriving the State Party Secretariat Enugu to submit his aspirant form. PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

State, MASSOB acting Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor said the change became inevitable so that Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, the late Biafra warlord’s widow will be able to attend the event. Okereafor said the earlier date was inconvenient for Mrs Ojukwu who is in Spain as Nigeria’s Ambassador. “We are shifting the memorial event from the original date of November 26 to December 10,” said the MASSOB spokesman. “This is so because the wife of our revered late leader would not be in the country by November 26. “As you all know, it will out of place to hold such an event for the memory of the man who gave his all for the struggle to emancipate his people without his widow who stood by him still that last day, being

•The late Ojukwu

around,” Okereafor said. Okereafor informed that MASSOB has lined up many events for the celebration of the third anniversary of the death of the Eze Igbo Gburugburu which he stated would be held at the Ojukwu Library at New Owerri. He said MASSOB was doing these things to show the world that Ndigbo would never forget Ojukwu who he said used his father’s wealth to fight in defence of the Igbo man. “We are doing these things to immortalize Ojukwu’s name because we see him as the Moses of Biafra who led the people out of the wilderness before handing over power to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike who is the Joshua of our time. Okereafor assured that from next year, MASSOB would revert to the November 26 date which he said would be declared a public holiday in future.

•Mrs Ojukwu

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Mass Comm dept holds dinner

•Members of Grafitto, who wrote the book

Students present Genius Next Door

O mentor the youth, a group of students from first and second generation universities has collected the memoirs of successful individuals in academics and the business world to guide students on how they can excel in their chosen careers. At the presentation of the book titled: Genius Next Door, which was held at the Cooperative Building of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Science Education of the Bowen University, Prof Samuel Ilori, who delivered a keynote address, said a genius was a person with exceptional ability which may be natural or acquired. He said a genius possessed exceptional mental ability and endowment. On how students could expand their academic potential, Prof Ilori, said: “Students can achieve aca-

From Sikiru Akinola OAU demic excellence through good mastery of the course and assimilation by meditation. Proper understanding of the course and overnight reading and effective study make student to be successful.” A literary icon, Prof Daniel Izevbaye, noted that there were many unrealised and unfulfilled geniuses among the youth. He said without passion for excellence, genius would be useless. “Don’t be discouraged by your background. Persistence, passion, determination get you there,” he said. Alex Adegboye, a senior pastor at The Stone Church International, said reading biographies of great men would help the youth to discover themselves. He said: “I have

books about wicked people that ever lived. It is through the study of books that I found Jesus. Everything exists in books. Don’t base your life on what people say. Read to be informed. Do something with your life. Education should help develop your area of strength. No two people are equal. We have special abilities. Make yourself a genius.” Ademola Adesola, a Senior Special Assistant to Govenor Rauf Aregbesola on Media, said that the only advice he had for the young people was to read extensively. He bought copies of the book to be distributed to schools in Osogbo. Kunle Ajayi, co-ordinator of Graffito Initiative, said it was never too late for anyone to become the person he dreamed to be. “Our moment of rebirth arrives when we recognise our inherent creative value,” he said.

SSOCIATION of Student Communicators (ASCOM), The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY) chapter, on Monday held a dinner at the Club De Ace in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The event, held overnight, started at11pm. It featured awards and inauguration of new executive for the association. The timing of the event led to a controversy, which made many students to be absent at the show. Unlike previous edition, only two awards were presented in this year’s event. The association honoured, the publicity officer of Buggati Records, Ajibade Tunde, with the Most Expensive Student award. Also, Bisi Omoseye was awarded with Most Popular Student. There was also a beauty pageant,

Hip-hop artistes thrill OAU students

TUDENTS of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, were thrilled at the weekend as hip-hop artistes stormed the campus. The show, held at the amphitheatre, was organised by Hadunni Entertainment, in conjunction with Making Incredible Non-existing Positive Difference Summit (MINDS), a body that promotes upcoming artistes. Before 7pm, the venue was filled to the brim. By 10pm, the show began with performance by popular artistes, including Sean Tizzle, Burna Boy and Kore. In the excitement, the audience sang along with their favourite

From Omolara Omoniyi IBADAN POLY where Femi Bolaji and Temitope Adedeji won Mr and Miss ASCOM. They were decorated by their predecessors Ola Ayodele and Omoniyi Omolara amidst applause by the audience. The ASCOM executive led by Gabriel Adekunle handed over to a new executive led by Ayodele Bello. In his valedictory speech, Gabriel urged his successor to improve on the achievement of the outgoing executive. The Social Director, Mr Oni Opeyemi, said the event was a success despite absence of many students. “I can say it was better than the one we had last year. Glory be to God and my colleagues, who co-operated with me to organise the show,” he said. For Miss ASCOM, winning the pageant is a dream come true. Temitope said: “I had been told I possess the quality to win the pageant but I didn’t believe. But, I made up my mind to contest and with God by my side, I won. I have all it takes to be a beauty ambassador.” From Sunday Odejobi OAU artistes. The show was spiced up with Aro (hilarious display) by occupants of Awolowo Hall and a student nicknamed Woli Agba, who is a former occupant of the hall. The event also featured a raffle draw, where students had the opportunity to win several prizes such as laptops and i-Pads. One of the upcoming artistes, Olayinka Olasimbo, a 300-Level Chemistry student, described the show as a “bomb”. He said: “I have participated in several events on campus but this one is with a difference. I never believed OAU could host Burna Boy and Sean Tizzle at once.” Other campus artistes, who performed at the show, include Chinko, Chocomilo, X-factor, Virus, Asake and FBI. There was also drama presentation by Dramatic Arts students. Adunni Oluwawa, the organizer, said the show was to harness the talents of students.

College’s graduates for Youth Service From Helen Olawore OYSACI

T was a moment of joy for the first set of Higher National Diploma (HND) students of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology in Igboora (OYSCAI) as they returned to the campus to get their callup letters for the National Youth Service. The graduates, who could not hide their joy, said they never believed it when the management informed them that they would be participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) this year. They hailed the Provost, Prof Gbemiga Adewale, and his management team for their efforts to reposition the college as a frontline school of agriculture and technology. The Students’ Affairs Officer (SAO),

•The association’s cultural troupe entertating the guests during the event

TUDENTS of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) were thrilled by an uncommon display of Igbo culture when the National Association of Abia State Students held its Cultural Day. Despite the approaching semester examination, the students rolled out the drums to mark the day. The event, which took place at Hall 1 Car Park, attracted dignitaries, including Clement Nwajiobi, who chaired the event; Superintendent David Amanahu and Prof Nnanna Ibeh, among others. In his lecture titled: The role of culture in nation building, Prof Ibeh advised the Abia students to be lawabiding, praising members of ex-

Abia students’ day of culture From Ezekiel Efeobhokhan and Sunny Ibeh UNIBEN ecutive of the association for giving Igbo culture a lift on the campus. “The objectives of the Igbo are towards development and entrepreneurship. Hence, we should all try to make our views and decisions toward positive development and not on frivolities,” she said. The association’s troupe entertained the guests and audience with

cultural dance. Other activities that marked the ceremony included traditional wrestling, award presentation, breaking of kolanuts and drama. Giving the vote of thanks, the president of the association, Vincent Nwajiobi, thanked the guests for supporting the programmes of the association. He said: “This is the first cultural day organised by this association. I encourage the people coming after us to make it better because cultural values are what keep us together as a nation.”

Baton change at Rotaract •Club donates to schools HE Rotaract Club of Akure District in Ondo State has held its yearly investiture and installation. Michael Ogundipe emerged the 24th president the club. As part of its activities marking the investiture, three primary schools in Akure received donations of branded note books. The beneficiary schools are St. Paul’s Primary School, St. Luke’s Primary School and L.A 2 Primary School, all in Akure. The club also donated furniture to Arakale Community Health Centre Akure.

Mrs Modupe Ayanlola, said the management would leave no stone unturned to ensure the college students participate in the Youth Service. Earlier, the prospective Corps members were sensitised by the NYSC officials and Students’ Affairs Unit on the dos and don’ts of the programme. The students urged applicants to choose the college for their Higher National Diploma programmes. At the time of this report, the graduates have been mobilised for orientation course of Batch “C” Corps members. It would be recalled that the college was established in 2006, with a mandate to provide excellent agricultural training for youths, who would create jobs for themselves and others. From Dayo Ojerinde AKURE In his inaugural speech, Ogundipe said: “I am honoured to lead this great club with a very rich history. Rotaract is all about service to humanity; we are in the business of putting smiles on faces of the people.” He urged members to support his administration for the overall interest of the club, saying their efforts would benefit the common man on the street. In her vote of thanks, the chairperson of Installation Committee, Oluwatosin Ifafesobi, thanked the people, who contributed to the success of the event. She urged Nigerians to lend a helping hand to the people in their immediate environment and also donate to end polio in the nation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBR 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE The Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NDSUG) has held a symposium on how militancy could be stopped in the oilproducing region. The event featured inauguration of the union’s leaders. EMMANUEL AHANONU (NYSC Enugu) reports.

How to achieve peace in Niger Delta

OW can the government ensure a lasting peace in the Niger Delta? It is through quality education for the youth. The answer was given at the one-day seminar organised by the Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NDSUG) with the theme: Education as panacea for peace building in the Niger Delta. The event, held on Saturday at Omasi Hall in Bellwood Hotel in Asaba Delta State, also marked the end of tenure of Tonbara Yalah-led administration of the union and inauguration for new executive. Dignitaries at the event include Comrade Edward Odum, the coordinator of Nigerian Youth and Community Development Association, who was the guest speaker. In his lecture, Odum noted that quality education was key to building a sustainable Niger Delta. He explained how discovery of oil in Olorbiri in 1958 turned “blessing to the region” to “story of murder and restiveness”, which he said led to the unjust killing of Ken Saro Wiwa and others activists in the Niger Delta. He said: “Certain lines in the national anthem should guide our activities to bring back peace in the Niger Delta. This means that youths are to commit totally their energies and education to bring about the desired peace, which would bring about togetherness. If the youths speak in one voice and in unity, there would be nothing we cannot achieve. But quality education remains the challenge to achieve this aim. Odum said students’ union should be a pressure group that would help the government to respond to the people’s wishes through populist policies that would bring peace and development to the society. He said students must rise up to educate the government on policies that would attract development because of their voting strength. He urged the students to acquire good education to make them pre-

pare for the future, adding: “It is important to state that ignorance is a disease and every disease needs cure. The cure of ignorance is education, which would make you to study issues rather than resorting to self-help. Therefore, quality education is key for peace building in Niger Delta because an ignorant man only knows how to destroy everything.” The highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the leaders of the union, which was conducted amidst excitement. In his acceptance speech, Obada Akpomiemie, the new NDSUG president, pledged to use the union as a platform to bring educational opportunities to Niger Delta students. He said: “We pledge to transform the union to be a development partner in the country. This transformation will be achieved by harnessing the creative energies of students of Niger Delta origin and make available to them lofty educational opportunities. It is also a great responsibility on our head to achieve these objectives to make our region free of violence. “We will introduce programmes and policies that will benefit students and improve their standards of living on campuses. Attention will be focused on liaising with all necessary organisation and government bodies to creating greater access to quality education.” Obada promised to step up efforts to reach out to governors in Niger Delta to pay students’ bursary and scholarship. The pioneer president, Genesis Idikibiebuma, advised the executive members to maintain unity within the union and urged them to improve on the programmes of their predecessors. The outgoing President, Tonbara, rendered account of his stewardship, noting that his administration created job opportunities for graduates from the region. He handed over the union’s bus and other property in his care to the president.

•The guests with some of the students after the event

•Tonbara and Obada rolling on the floor after the new president was sworn in

The union legal adviser, Mr Kalada Nonju, noted that the constitution of union was not properly written, urging the new leaders to amend it. He urged Obada to carefully set his priorities and avoid pitfalls that marred the tenure of the last administration.

Before the event came to an end, a drama played out when Tonbara prostrated before Obada to pledge his loyalty to his successor. Obada reciprocated, rolling on the floor. The drama happened before dignitaries at event, including Commis-

The Aminu Kano Hall of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) was a beehive of activities for six days when residents marked their Hall Week. DAVID AJAYI (300Level Pharmacy) reports.

HE pace of academic activities at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has increased because of the approaching second semester examination. But it appears some students are not perturbed. Last week Monday, occupants of Aminu Kano Hall, a male hostel known as Hall 3, took time to organise Hall Week to relieve themselves of academic stress. An open field within the hostel bubbled with sporting activities for six days. The event started with the opening match of Inter-block Football Contest between occupants of Block B and Block F. All the six blocks in the hall fielded 15 players each to participate in the soccer competition. The second day witnessed games, such as table tennis, volley ball and

Week of fun at UNIBEN •Students having fun in the Hall premises during the Week

board games, while the football fixtures continued. There was excitement in the premises as students abandoned lectures to celebrate the Week. On the third day, the students observed Beans Day, during which students cooked beans and shared with their friends from other hostels. This, the students said, was to show love and unity. This is because beans

was the most eaten food in the hall, either due to its affordability or because it is easy to cook needing little or no spice to prepare. The final match of the football competition took the fouth day slot. It was between Block B and Block E. The former carried the day. A bonfire night followed the soccer contest, where students were thrilled with hip-hop music and

comedy by upcoming artistes in the hall. High point of the night was the freestyle rap competition held for the occupants. They also observed a cultural day to showcase the rich tradition of all ethnic group in the country. The hall occupants contributed money among themselves to buy food stuff and distributed to school cleaners working in the hostel to

sioner for Ijaw Affair, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, who chaired the occasion, Cross River State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Godwin Ettah, and Hon. Emmanuel Oruebo, Special Assistant to Minister of Sports, among others.

appreciation of their service. One of the cleaners, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed gratitude to the students for their “kind gesture”. She said in Pidgin English: “I happy for wetin the students buy give us. Even say most of them no too get money, them still fit give from the small wey them get and them no think am say why dem go gather money take buy food give us wen. Them dey pay, na God go bless them and I pray say them go get good work after them graduate from school.” Tedeye Adaneoritsewo, a 200Level Environmental Education student, said the event taught him an act of giving. Apart from the excitement, Tedeye added that he use the opportunity to relieve himself of tension before the examination. “I really had a nice time and I’m also happy to have played for my block in the inter-block football competition. Although my expectations were high but I believe the next edition would be better than this. But in all, I learned an act of charity and giving in the Week event,” he said. In related development, residents of Queen Idia Hall, a female hostel, also marked their Week, which culminated in a beauty pageant. Occupants of the hall that participated in the pageant displayed beauty and cultures. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that each contestant educated their colleagues on the meaning of some cultural names and significance of the traditional attires. The event also featured various music and comedy.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

And the child is dying

By Philip Okorodudu

HEY call them leaders of tomorrow but the tomorrow has refused to come. That elusive tomorrow has turned out to be ages ago and the acclaimed leaders of tomorrow are now grandparents, yet they flaunt that hefty tag of tomorrow’s leaders. What do these children know? It is popularly said that the Iroko tree may be tall, yet its length is of no significance in determining its experience. Our villages have now become breeding ground for illegitimate kids by youths who rely on their parent for survival. Some of the parents of these adolescents are themselves children in the general sense of it and have no means of livelihood but for the peasant farming which is hardly enough for their growing family size. Our towns and cities are not better off as they are far from the expected civilisation they ought to portray. Even with the hunger and starvation that is eating deep into the bones and marrows of some families, children are still procreated indiscriminately.

The result is the increasing number of out-of-school children as many of these families are better at giving birth than nurturing the babies. A situation where a man still confesses to have married his wife solely for child bearing even after having begotten seven children from the woman with all of them without quality education is a mockery of the acclaimed advancement of this present generation. The state of health of the average Nigerian child is pathetic. Due to lack of adequate resources by parents, there exists a poor breast feeding culture in our rural areas. The urban centres with much better civilization is almost not better off in this aspect as most families, even among those in the high social strata, are guilty of this charge. In some states of the federation, immunization against the six killer diseases, which surprisingly this current crop of leaders deemed to make free, is discouraged, leading to all forms of childhood killer diseases. And when some of these children survive without going through the immunization process, some form of deformation sets in. The consequence of which, the society is reaping in the form of children without the requisite fundamental knowledge to contribute positively to the development of the nation. These days, children are left to grow up on their own without parental guidance. The desire to amass wealth has taken the burner in most urban homes at the expense of their families. It is not uncommon to find families where both parents leave home before the children wake up in the morning and return when the children are already asleep. Nannies and house helps play central roles in the

upbringing of these children most of whom lack the necessary parental guidance as a result of the laissez-faire attitude of the nannies and house helps. The result is evident in the increasing number of wayward children in our society. Due to the desire to help the growing family size especially in rural areas, some children drop out of school in a bid to complement the meagre income of the parents and help their younger ones. In such situations, since they have no handwork with which they could eke out a living as they were not even afforded the opportunity of learning a trade, they take to wheelbarrow pushing or other menial jobs just to ensure that their large family, which could be yet inconclusive as a result of the desire of the father and mother to still give birth, gets food on its table. With time, these children, who have become adults by providence, learn from their fathers and mothers and become parents of their own. Marriage in this case is out of the question as all they need to start their families is to, for the boys, impregnate a girl, and for the girls, become pregnant for a man and then move in with him. With this, the circle of indiscriminate child bearing continues. As a consequence of the above scenario, it is not uncommon to find children, who barely qualify as adults to have two or three children of their own with no means of livelihood. This gory picture is more pronounced in rural areas where a girl child of barely seventeen years already has two or three children of her own and still leaving with her parents. The parents of this ‘girl’ are still very much in their reproductive age and are still in the business of child bearing having not

attained the age of forty five. With time, the children of this ‘girl’ get to puberty stage and the circle starts again. Thus, youths become grandparents at such early ages with no foundation for any of their offspring. The society reaps the benefit in the form of a growing population without a corresponding technical knowhow for the progress of the nation. The child is promised a better future by their representatives in positions of authority in return for their votes during periods of electioneering campaign. With the desire for a better tomorrow, the child is left with no option than to vote for the politician with the highest give-away prices in the form of rice, garri, salt etc during elections with the belief that when the said politician gets into office, the status quo will continue. To the child, reprieve is finally coming her way. As is often the case nowadays, their hopes are dashed as the politician pounces on their ignorance to get power and amass wealth for only himself and his immediate family without consideration for the poor masses that voted massively for him. Angry and with no gainful employment, the child takes to the streets and tries to avenge herself of the injustice by resorting to kidnapping and robbery of those who are said to have amassed wealth. Not only that, the child also vents her anger on the society at large by trying to become rich through the back door. With time, nemesis catches up with the child and she is made to face the wrath of the law. She is punished for all her crimes against her society while the real culprits, who are the genesis of the child’s problem, are the ones to even melt out the judgement on the child.

With the demise or imprisonment of their bread winner, a vacuum is created and another child, irrespective of the age, steps in to fend for the family. The circle continues and hopes continue to get dashed. The children take responsibility for family upkeep while he or she jettisons his or her lofty dreams for the good of the family. Such has been, and is still is, the challenge facing many young families. The remote cause of the above chronology of the Nigerian child could be said to be lack of education and the remedies lies in the hands of our leaders. If leaders, since the attainment of independence had made good their promise of a progressive Nigeria, perhaps the challenges faced by youths of this present dispensation would not have come to be. If the desire to amass wealth and get to positions of authority by all means is jettisoned and replaced with the desire for the emancipation of its populace from the ambiance of poverty, the gory situation of the Nigerian child would not have been. The child is dying and succour seems far from sight. Corruption and shady tendencies reign supreme. The few lucky youths at the corridors of power have borrowed a leaf from their older counterparts and are now even worse than them. The challenges facing the Nigerian child will continue to persist until our present crop of leaders reflect deeply and tackle without delay, the unemployment question that they have continued to shy away from. The child is dying at such unprecedented rate. Until the status quo and legislation change in favour of the youths of this distressed generation, the hope of a rewarding Nigeria may be a mirage. Philip is a Corps member, NYSC Jalingo

The spread of cultism on campuses

N almost every tertiary institution of learning in Nigeria, there is hardly any academic semester without cult clashes and related activities, often leading to the death of students and at times lecturers. Even records have it that as at September 2003, at least not less than 5,000 persons including students and lecturers have been killed in cult-related violence. Cultism has continued to be a very embarrassing problem facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria. According to Wikipedia, there are over 90 different cult groups on campuses in Nigeria, with each perpetrating its nefarious acts to cause mayhem on campuses. Academic calendars of tertiary institutions are constantly disrupted because of cult clashes which end up bringing academic activities to a halt abruptly. Even worse still, lots of students, who could have contributed meaningfully to the nation’s growth, have encountered untimely death because of the desire by some persons who think they are free to do anything they want on campus without anybody or authority to question them. As a matter of fact, the possible effects of the continued clashes of cultists cannot be completely exhausted as they increase on a daily basis. A key feature of these

confraternities is the fact that they keep their activities secret and they have different forms of attires and symbols or signs which they use in self-branding. In addition, cultists carry out their activities at the dead of the night but in recent times, they have grown more barefaced. Also, their meetings are often held at bizarre places like thick bushes around campuses, uncompleted buildings, cemeteries, graveyards and others. Hence, in an article entitled “Menace of cultism in Nigeria tertiary institution: the way out”, Haastrup Ekundayo et al, defined cultism as “a ritual practice by a group whose membership, admission, policy and initiation formalities as well as their mode of operations are done in secret and kept secret with their activities having negative effects on both members and non-members alike.” Historically, cultism on Nigerian campuses can be traced back to the pre-colonial era in 1952 when the Pyrates Confraternity was created at the foremost Western University of Ibadan now University of Ibadan. The founders of the Pyrates, who were known as “the magnificent seven”, comprised Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Olumuyiwa Awe, Ralph Opara, Tunji Tubi, Daign Imokhuede, Pius Olegbe and Olu

Agunloye. The group was created with noble and selfless objectives and its activities were open to the general public. The group never had any hidden or secret agenda as most cults now have. The Pyrates came on board at a time when Nigeria was at the verge of gaining independence and there was need for heated agitations to wrestle freedom from the colonial masters. In view of this, the Pyrates took as their objectives the abolishment of conventions, the eradication of racism, the promotion of Nigeria’s culture, the termination of tribalism and elitism among Nigerians, the revival of the age of chivalry and so on. It should however be stated that the group was made up of members with intellectual prowess because academic intelligence was part of the criteria for joining the group. As a result, splinter groups emerged because intending members could not meet up with the rigorous demands of the Pyrates. According to Wikipedia, there are at least over 90 cultist groups in the country. Some of the groups are the Vikings, Black Axe, Buccaneers, Black Brassier, Black Scorpion, King Cobra, Brotherhood of Blood and many more. Even the initiation and recruitment processes of most of these cult groups

are very bizarre and questionable. In the process of recruiting members, cultists try several means in getting students on campus to join them. Students who are generally unsuspecting and excessively lustful end up falling victims. However, cultists, at times, are interested in students with well-built body physique. Once they have succeeded in luring would-be cultists in joining them, they carry out the initiation process for them. The initiation is one of the worst things about cultism. At this stage, the level of courage and resilience of wouldbe cultists is tested by being beaten, forced to take in some deadly concoction which may be made up of the human blood which serves as the sign of the oath. But the question begging for answer is why do students still join cultist groups despite the inhuman process of initiation? In recent times, cultist groups across campuses in Nigeria have been very deadly and gruesome in their attacks, causing so much destruction to the already-ill academic structure of the country. The first secret cult violence was reported to have occurred at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1985, involving a clash between a cultist and a noncultist over “snatching” of a girlfriend. Thereafter, there have been

By Damilola Olisa numerous cases of violent clashes. A foremost among them is a gruesome clash that occurred at the Obafemi Awolowo University killing at least ten students within a day. Towards combating this menace of cultism in Nigerian institutions, there is a need for the government to beef up security in higher institutions in the country. Higher institutions in the country lack adequate security which gives secret cults the leeway to perpetrate their evil acts. Damilola, 300-Level Mass Comm., AAUA

Ebola: Between stigmatisation and misinformation

I By Sarat Alabidun

WAS quite young when I learnt about HIV/AIDS. From the popular TV show “I need to know”, several WHO and UNICEF sponsored awareness and a host of adverts on the electronic and print media illustrating the virus, its causes and its mode of spread, I had understood its nature, severity and control measures. With lots of genuine information that was and is still made available to the public on HIV/AIDS, one could hardly feign ignorance about its spread and fa-

tality. However, this awareness was not confined to the bad sides of the disease, they also addressed its management and preventions. More so, they emphasised that HIV/AIDS was bad, but there was a worse killer: stigmatisation. The phrase “stigmatization kills faster than AIDS” is one we can hardly forget. Of course, the fear of stigmatisation still killed a lot of people faster than the AIDS virus itself. Today, many years after the ad-

vent of AIDS the world is experiencing a recurrence of another viral outbreak- the Ebola virus. Now peculiar to other viral infections the Ebola virus is easily transmittable and very deadly. Also unlike HIV/ AIDS it has a very short incubation period of about three weeks and kills just as fast as it infects. Worse still the Ebola virus has no known cure and the world is still experimenting on several treatment methods. The Ebola virus, dreaded as it

may seem has been surrounded by too many myths. Stigmatisation and misinformation, factors that seem very mild have surprisingly overthrown Ebola in terms of fatality in recent times. Misinformation took its first toll on Nigeria. Many Nigerians would recall how they heralded a new dawn with text messages and updates on social media that kola nut could now cure Ebola. •Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE UNESCO committed centre’s From Inya Agha project UNN

HE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has said it is committed to ensure that its Category II Biotechnology Centre in University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), achieves its mandate of improving food security and developing tropical medicine. The UNESCO programme expert, Lucy Hoareau, said when members of Scientific Advisory Board of the body overseeing the activities of the centre visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, after their second board meeting. Part of the meeting’s agenda was to interview candidates for Executive Director of the Centre. Hoareau, who represented the Director of Division of Science Policy and Capacity Building of UNESCO, Prof. Maciej Nalecz, said the centre would promote high quality scientific research in biotechnology in

HE Abia State University (ABSU) chapter of the National Association of English and Literature Students (NASELS) has, on Wednesday, elected new set of leaders, who will steer the affairs of the association in the 2014/2015 academic session. The election stated with an accreditation of the electorate. The exercise was chaired by a

Africa. She praised the management for creating an atmosphere for the centre to thrive, stating that the choice of UNN was based on its history of academic excellence. Responding, Prof Ozumba thanked members of the board for their interest and dedication to actualising the mandate of the centre. He said: “The university remains firmly committed to this project. We will do everything in our power to ensure that a truly international centre of excellence worthy of UNESCO and the global scientific community standard takes firm root on our campus.” He enjoined members of the Advisory Board to promote activities of the centre in their respective agencies to enable it attract funding that would position it for international prominence. Other members of the Advisory

•L-r: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Edwin Igbokwe, Librarian, Dr Chinwe Ezeani, Hoareau, Prof Ozumba, a member of the UNESCO team, Prof J.C. Ogbonna and Director of the University Advancement Centre, Prof C. A. Igwe in the VC’s office during the visit. Board at the meeting included its chairman and immediate past VC of the university, Prof Bartho Okolo, former Director-General of

English students elect leaders From Uchechukwu Amanze and Favour Nnadi ABSU lecturer in the department. All the positions were keenly contested, but at the end of the election, Chisom Awa, a 300Level student, emerged the

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

president with 133 votes. His opponent, Peter Okereke, had 32 votes. Others elected include Marydoris Asonibe, Vice President, Kate Ehiogu, General Secretary, Francis Ogbonna, Director of Socials and Favour Obi, Financial Secretary, among •Continued from page 31

“There is nothing to be ashamed of. If abstinence is not possible, then the use of condom is strongly advised,” Olumide Morolayo, Financial Secretary of the club, said. Another participant, Adewale Onagbesan, a student of History Education, said: “It is good to always be part of the campaign against AIDS because the activities involve the spread of the message and not the virus.” Nene Ibezim, a member of the club, said the event was significant, given its objective to totally reduce the oc-

National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof Bamidele Solomon, UNESCO Science Officer

in Abuja, Dr Osuji Inya, Ahmed Fahim, Dr Oby Onyia, and Prof Walter Al-Hassan, among others.

others. In his speech after the election, Chisom thanked his colleagues for supporting his vision to make the association better. He said the mandate was divine, promising to take the association to a new height. He said he would maintain cordial relationship with other members of the executive and students of the department. The outgoing president,

Michael Olughu, in his valedictory speech, urged his successor to focus on his vision and work for students’ interest. A lecturer in the department, Dr Austine Amanze, said the election was free and fair. Nwabuike Arinze, a 200-Level student, said: “The process was devoid of hitches. I wish our leaders could learn from this and ensure free and fair election in 2015.”

A race for life currence of the deadly disease. Nene said: “It would be cheery news for our country to record no case of AIDS just as we have done to conquer Ebola Virus Disease.” She said the role young people is to inform their peers about ways to prevent HIV and not to stigmatise victims. On why the youth must act, Chima Azubuike, a 300-Level Philosophy student, said: “We are talking about life; it is not just a life but a healthy one. If we care about our future, then we must talk about HIV and AIDS to

maintain a disease-free generation. We want to live, so we have to speak up on what matters to our health.” Progress Duruem, a Business Administration student, praised the club for the “fantastic event” to raise awareness among the youth. Some participants got mosquito nets as gifts for being punctual to the event. The event also feature free counselling and test on HIV, which was facilitated by Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) in partnership with the club.

Ebola: Between stigmatisation and misinformation •Continued from page 42

The kola nut sellers had a swell time as it was bumper sales for them. Kola nuts that sold for just about N20 began to sell for the price of N50 and above. Nigerians failed to verify the sources of the information and more people did not consider the fact that excessive consumption of kola nuts was also a form of drug addiction. In this computer age and in Nigeria a country with the highest users of internet in Africa, I was disappointed at the vulnerability of our people. Luckily for us Nigerians no fatality was recorded as a result of our initial show of ignorance. But misinformation got its second chance when another round of misleading information reached the social media. This time, it was warm salt water that would prevent Ebola. Some of the updates ridiculously stated that people should have their bath with warm salt water and even use salt as body lotion and of course drink as much salt water as possible. Not a few fell for the bait. More surprising was the fact that even some educated health workers, people we would ordinarily meet for genuine information, were also among the peddlers of such false information. Sadly some Nigerians paid for their ignorance this time, and they paid the ultimate price. About five people reportedly died due to exces-

sive consumption of salt water during that period. Misinformation proved it’s “worth” taking almost the same number of lives that Ebola took in Nigeria. Stigmatisation came next and is fast finding its feet. The sad thing about stigmatisation is that it kills slowly, painfully and yet indirectly. Most people live with it for so long before they decide they’ve had enough and most of the victims of stigmatization end up taking the painful decision of committing suicide. And so it was that recently a Liberian woman was found dead hanging on a tree early in the morning in Magodo, a suburb of Lagos. Reports revealed that she had been stigmatised in the area where she lived because she was Liberian, her fellow countryman had brought Ebola into our country and the outbreak had not yet been successfully contained in her country. Nobody could risk contracting Ebola, and as a result her immediate society moved back to the ages of pre-civilisation and treated her like an outcast. With no family or friend to run to for succour, she committed suicide. The late nurse, Justina Ejelonus fiancés story is not less bad, though he’s lucky to be alive and free from Ebola. The virus took away his fiancée and stigmatisation took away his job, friends and almost his dignity in the society. A lot of families have been ejected from their homes and more people discriminated against because

of their connection with some Ebola patients or even a survivor. With stigmatisation, it is painful to die but it is even more painful to live. With misinformation and stigmatization, Ebola has found strong competition and until we break free from their shackles, we might lose more lives and more importantly our sense of humanity. Luckily, Nigeria has been declared free from Ebola, but whether we like it or not, there may still be viral outbreaks in future and our immediate reactions to it determines says a lot about our understanding of empathy. The government has a role to play and it is in fact commendable that the Lagos state government invited all the Ebola survivors to the government house, a step I believe would go a long way in addressing stigmatisation. However, we have a greater role. The social media is one of the fastest and most efficient means of disseminating information. Hence we should post information from legitimate sources and verify messages sent to us before taking them hook, line and sinker. We must understand too that viral outbreaks respect no one, even the best doctors and nurses have died from viral infections. It could be anybody. And so, we should not in the name of precaution end up being cruel to people because of their medical condition. Sarat, 300-Level Applied Chemistry, UDUS

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Mimiko promises first class graduates jobs

Deputy Rector, others get 2nd term

• AAUA graduates 6, 341

WENTY-SIX First Class graduates of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA) in Ondo State have been offered employment by the state government if they wish to work in the civil service. Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko made the offer during the university’s fifth convocation last Friday at the multi-purpose hall. Mimiko lauded the university’s policy of retaining its best brains and promised to support it in this regard. “I understand that the policy of the university of retaining the best among the graduands is still in place, so that they could add value to the university and have opportunity to pursue higher degrees under the sponsorship of the university. “I want to assure you that this administration will continue to give its full support to this laudable initiative. In the event there is any of you who made a First Class and is desirous of working in the Ondo State Service, such a candidate will be given automatic employment,” he said. Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Femi Mimiko, whose five-year tenure ends in January, said the initiative of retaining the best was expanded under his watch. He said over 50 of the university’s best graduates who have been absorbed into its workforce are also continuing their studies in both local and foreign universities. “The Graduate Fellowship scheme, which we inherited, was rejuvenated and expanded in scope. Now, it is almost certain that if you make a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 and above, you are most likely to be offered a place in your department as a Graduate Assistant. The university pays your way through a Master’s degree pro-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

gramme and PhD, within or outside Nigeria. As I speak to you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have close to 50 of these young men and women, trainee academics, all over the world on this mission,” he said. Being the last convocation that Prof Mimiko would preside over as vice-chancellor, it was an opportunity for him to present his scorecard. In his 20-page address, Mimiko said the university succeeded in sanitising the admissions and examination/assessment processes, introducing new programmes and training workers. “We started off by consciously and deliberately instituting a meritdriven admission policy. We overhauled all our academic programmes, making them more relevant and useful to our publics. We liberally funded training programmes for our lecturers and staff at all levels to hone their capacity; expanded facilities available for teaching and research; placed our examination and assessment processes on a much more transparent platform; and emphasised the rights and privileges of students while not neglecting their duty. In all regards, we mainstreamed quality assurance,” he said among other achievements. The vice-chancellor also thanked the governor, who is also his brother, for his support for the university, notably allowing the insti-

•Prof. Mimiko (right), congratulating the overall best graduating student for the 2012/2013 academic session, Oluwaseun Fapounda, of the Department of Biochemistry who had a CGPA of 4.80.

tution to run without pressure. He said: “By support, I do not just mean support in funding terms, but perhaps more importantly, we thank Mr. Governor for his distinctive and robust understanding of the nuances of university culture and for acknowledging the differentiation between a university and other government agencies, the MDAs. It would shock you, that not once in my five years did Governor Mimiko send any single name to me for consideration for admission.” At the two-day convocation, 6, 341 graduands from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 sets received First Degrees, while 412 earned Postgraduate Diplomas, and Higher Degrees. Of the 6, 341, 26 bagged First Class Degrees, 1,414 were in the Second Class Upper Division; 3,505 got Second Class Lower Division; 993

‘I want to assure you that this administration will continue to give its full support to this laudable initiative. In the event there is any of you who made a First Class and is desirous of working in the Ondo State Service, such a candidate will be given automatic employment’

earned Third Class and 54 graduated in the Pass category. Two dignitaries, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jillo III, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom; and Chief Samuel Olu Falae, the Olu of Ilu-Abo, were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees of the university. The convocation coincided with the 15th founder’s day celebration of the university. In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, said the newly-inaugurated Council would consolidate on the achievements of the university since inception, especially in the past five years. “Let us all put in our best at all times to achieve the vision and mission of the university. We should cooperate and work together in order to sustain the current tempo of development the university has witnessed in recent years,” he said. He congratulated the graduands and their parents on their achievements and encouraged them to be good ambassadors of the university. Cash prizes ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 were presented to the outstanding graduands.

129 teams for CEO Challenge OME 129 teams of university and business school students are in the race to win the ticket to represent Nigeria in the global Procter & Gamble (P&G) CEO Challenge Competition. They are to resolve the case studies on world class brands in five stages, namely: the Brand Manager Challenge, Country Manager Challenge, CFO Challenge, COO Challenge and the CEO Challenge. Twenty teams will advance from the first to the second stage, where 15 others would be dropped. From the five that get to the third stage, one will feature in the fourth stage against teams from South Africa and Northwest Africa to determine which team represents the continent on the global stage, which is the CEO Challenge. Ridwan Sorunke, Corporate Communications Official, P&G Nigeria, said the competition was part of P&G’s commitment to touching and improving lives through talent development. “Talent development is a top business priority for us at P&G because our people are our greatest competitive advantage. This makes us aim at attracting, hiring and retaining the very best talent. Our investment in growing and developing talent over time has made us known and recognised as the number one company for developing leaders,” he said.

THE Okey Ezenwa-led Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA) has ratified the re-appointment of three Principal Officers of the Polytechnic for a second term. They are Dr. Kuburat Olaosebikan, Deputy Rector (Administration); Mr AbdulHamid Raji, Registrar; and Mr. Paul Kehinde Adegbemi, Bursar. The reappointment, which takes effect from April 9, January 2, and March15, 2015, will last for four years. Born in June 1959, Dr. Olaosebikan, studied at ECWA Girls’ Secondary School, Omu-Aran (1973-1977); School of Basic Studies, Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin; and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, where she bagged a degree in English in 1983. Her post graduate studies took place at the University of PortHarcourt (1988 – 1989, PGDE), University of Ibadan (1999, Master in Communication Arts) ; and the International University, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America (PhD in Communications). Dr. Olaosebikan joined FEDPOFFA in 1992 as Lecturer I and rose to become a Chief Lecturer. The Registrar, Raji was born 55 years ago in Benin. He attended Edaiken Ahmadiyya Primary School, Benin City (1966-1971), Hussey College, Warri (1972-1976), Ilorin Grammar School, Ilorin (1976-1977), and Federal Government College, Ilorin (1977-1979). He studied History at the University of Ilorin (1980-1983), where he also earned his Masters in Public Administration (1995-1997). Raji was appointed the Registrar in January 2010. The Bursar, Mr. Adegbemi hails from Ogun State. He studied at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Yaba, Lagos State (1965-70), St. Anthony’s Grammar School, Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State (1971-19750; and St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Yaba (1975-1977). He studied Finance at the University of Lagos (1982), and earned an MBA from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State in 2008. Adegbemi joined FEDPOFFA in 1992 and the Bursar in 2009.

WASU honours industrialist

• Okunola Apoeso (middle) flanked by his father, Mr Nath Apoeso (left) and his uncle Abiola Apoeso (right) at his graduation from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungbo-Akoko.

VC praises Amaechi for varsity status

HE Vice-Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Prof. Rosemund GreenOsahogulu, has said the university community will continue to appreciate Governor Chibuike Amaechi administration for upgrading the Rivers State College of Education Rumuolumeni to a university. She said it was necessary to thank Amaechi for eventually completing a process started by previous administration. Green-Osahogulu made this re-

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

mark during the 30th/32nd convocation of the university penultimate week. She said the institution, which has three campuses in Port Harcourt are to be upgraded. “The battle to upgrade the college of education to university status started since October 2009 when Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi upgraded the college to the status of Rivers State University of Education.

“The subsequent renaming of the university as Ignatius Ajuru University of Education of course was done by the governor in honour of the last but one chairman of the pre -upgrade college of education governing council, which is the departed Ambassador Ignatius Ajuru. “As we are celebrating our graduates today, it is necessary to thank the effort of the governor and all those who have made it possible for us to achieve our dream success. Don’t forget we give glory to God for giving us the testimony.”

THE West African Students Union (WASU), has honoured the Chairman of Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Mr Kola Balogun with the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award for his contribution to education. Speaking while presenting the award in Lagos, the Country Representative of the union, Mr. Oladele Babs Bamikole, said the winners were decided by the Executive Secretariat on the basis of proposals and nominations submitted by an international jury consisting of eminent personalities from WASU's member unions and friendly international organisations around the globe. Oladele said there was an urgent need for the present crop of West African leaders, especially in the educational/entrepreneurship sector and aspiring leaders in all human enterprises to start realising the dreams of the region founding fathers while also creating new dreams to advance the progressive course of humanity. He described Balogun, an engineer, as an exemplary leader and a lover of education. Responding to the award, Balogun thanked WASU for the honour, saying it would further spur him to strive for excellence and empower the youth.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE ‘You must improve as technologists’ THE Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Prof Olukoya Ogen, has challenged members of the National Association of Colleges of Education Academic Technologists of Nigeria (NACEATON) to seek self-improvement in academic pursuit, to enhance their career, and make positive contributions to national development. He made the call during the opening ceremony of the association’s third delegate congress held at the college. Ogen lauded NACEATON members for organising the programme, which he believed would go a long way in adding values to the lives of its members and enhance intellectual development in the institution. While acknowledging the importance of teaching and research in knowledge advancement process, he reiterated his determination to continue to partner with the association in the task of promoting rapid development and growth of the 50-year old institution. He assured that his administration would do its best to move the college to the next level. Ogen said he was glad to grace the occasion, adding that his presence was propelled by the respect he has for technologists and the caliber of personalities that the association has proposed to honour. Ogen was among the 12 personalities recognised by the association for their contributions to the development of their field. Other awardees include: a former Chairman, ACE Governing Council Mrs Grace Ekong; Ogen’s deputy Dr. Olufemi Olajuyigbe; Registrar, Mr. Felix Eniola Aderinboye and two commissioners in Ondo State, Messrs Jide Adejuyigbe, (Education) and Iroju Ogundeji, (Labour, Employment and Productivity).

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE

Apply for Lagos State Undergraduate Scholarship 2015

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-

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.

Fight corruption, uplift engineering, don advises T HE Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Adekojo Waheed, has said corruption must be fought headlong for engineering to experience more breakthroughs. He spoke at the second lecture/ first induction of the College of Engineering, Bells University of Technology (BellsTech), Ota. Waheed, who decried corruption in all facet of life, noted that if bureaucratic bottlenecks that

By Medinat Kanabe

had hindered flow of funds to appropriate quarters are removed, disciplines, such as engineering would henceforth enjoy free flow of funds which could facilitate its operations. Said Waheed: “Government and the society should rise up to fight against corruption. This should include direct remittance of funds to the account of executing companies and more serious actions and sanctions should be

Imperial College alumni honour Adadevoh, Diamond Bank MD

HE Imperial College Alumni in Nigeria is celebrating three of her members for making their alma mater proud. They are: the late Dr Stella Adadevoh of the First Consultant Hospital, Lagos; Mr. Uzoma Dozie and Mr George Osahon. The group honoured Dozie for his appointment as the Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc last month, and Osahon for his appointment as the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources in June, while remembering Dr Adadevoh for helping to stop the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. She died in August after treating Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American who brought the EVD to Nigeria. Dozie bagged a Master in Business Administration from the college in 1998. Before his appointment, he had over 18 year experience in the banking industry. A statement by the association’s President, Olugbenga Adelana, said Dozie had ‘been the chief driver of Diamond Bank’s award-winning retail banking franchise and technologybased innovative banking solutions; quietly building on the Diamond Bank Integrated Banking Solutions pioneered by his father and founder of the bank.” “The alumni association is, indeed, happy to associate with Mr. Dozie in his strides towards making his ‘Diamond heritage’ last forever,”Adelana added. Similarly, Osahon, who was formerly President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), is a 1981 Masters graduate of Petroleum Geology. “Osahon’s appointment follows

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

• Dozie By Adegunle Olugbamila

after many such petroleum sector achievements that Imperial College graduates in Nigeria have attained over years. However, Osahon’s contribution to local content development in the Oil and Gas sector as the first Group General Manager of NNPC’s Local Content Department gives us joy as fellow graduates of his alma-mater,” the statement added. Adadevoh was a I993 graduate of the Colleges Hammersmith Hospital Medical School. Adelana described her as the heroine of Ebola war in Nigeria. “When the Ebola scare broke out in Nigeria, Dr. Stella’s show of compassion and humanity towards a sick foreigner in her care marked

• The late Adadevoh

her out as a modern day Florence Nightingale. Even though Dr. Stella is no longer with us, memories of her selfless service to humanity will forever linger in our memories. We are most happy to associate with this Heroine of the”Ebola war” in Nigeria,” he said. Imperial College Alumni Association of Nigeria is a fellowship of graduates of Imperial College in Nigeria dedicated to promoting the ideals of the college and members feats home and abroad. Adelana said: “This is to encourage up and coming graduates of the college to take pride in contributing their knowledge, exposure and experience to the development and prosperity of our dear nation Nigeria.”

meted out to those found guilty of corruption. Middle level engineering personnel should also undergo regular training; policies and governance should be enhanced, appropriate research and development should also be carried-out. Speaking on the topic: Challenges of engineering practice in Nigeria emerging economy, Waheed said: “Another way forward for the engineering profession to move on, is enhancing quality assurance measures towards guaranteeing top quality job delivery. Waheed listed challenges militating against the engineering practice to include inadequate engineering education and re-training. “There is poor funding, poor attitude of employers, inadequate equipment, students population explosion without commensurate facilities, lack of high-quality manpower, inadequate industrial training, poor remuneration for practising engineers and lack of appropriate government policy,” he said. He said there was also insufficient engineering research, dearth of engineering material-producing industries, and poor quality assurance measures, among others. He said Nigeria has abundant human and natural resources that can make her a truly great nation, adding that Vision 20:2020 is achievable. “As a matter of fact, Nigeria’s potential are far greater than what we are seeing presently. The

• Prof Waheed

greater potential will manifest when the professionals, especially in engineering and technology take their appropriate lead that would bring the technical and engineering know-how to boost the productive and productivity capacity of the nation economy,” he noted. He listed other professions that influence status to include Accounting, Architecture, Dentistry, Dietetics, Education, Engineering, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Psychology, Science, Statistics, Surveying, Teaching, and Veterinary Medicine. The disciplines, he said, play significant roles in the provision of public goods and services, adding that the development, growth and well being of citizens of a nation depends largely on the contributions of her professionals in various fields across private and public sector. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Isaac Adeyemi, congratulated the students who were also graduating.

FUL VC harps on character

HE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Abdulmumini Rafindadi, has warned the third set of students admitted into the school to make the best use of the opportunity. Addressing the 519 new students, at the school’s Adankolo campus, Rafindadi warned that learning must be matched with good character formation. His words: “You are principally here to earn degrees in various subject areas, however, learning is expected to come shoulder to shoulder with character, therefore you must be conscious of this all the time.

From James Azania, Lokoja

“The school authority has put in place structures to ensure that by the time you spend four years here, you will have turned out to be learned gentlemen and ladies, who will stand out anywhere.” “In the 2014/2015 academic year, over 3,000 applicants applied for admission into FUL through JAMB, with 1,811 getting the required 180 pass mark; however, only 519 were offered admission. “I am sure you all know how lucky you are for this opportunity, it is therefore important for you to make the best use of this chance,” Rafindadi admonished.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

EDUCATION

Adeboye makes case for teachers T

HE General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has appealed to governments and other stakeholders to encourage teachers in giving their best to pupils under their care. He made this appeal at a special prayer and thanksgiving service for teachers and pupils organised by the church at its national headquarters, (Throne of Grace), EbutteMetta, Lagos. The event, which featured song rendition, bible teaching and prophetic ministration, brought together teachers and pupils nationwide. Adeboye, who spoke through

By Adeola Ogunlade

his Special Assistant on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said teachers are instruments for positioning youths for exploits; hence the need for them to be encouraged to give their best. Adeboye described the neglect of teachers’ welfare as a generational problem that has inhibited students’ performance in their various workplace today. The cleric noted that proper investment in education is non-negotiable as it remains a veritable platform to prepare youths for a more prosperous future.

Said Adeboye: “I have discovered that if we want to make progress in Nigeria, it is the youth that is engaged, empowered, and envisioned that would lead the change we want to see. We cannot drive the engine of the 21st century with old, obsolete and parochial mechanisms which has pervaded the system and has continued to draw us back among emerging economics of the world”. He said: “We are all product of the work and commitment of teachers, therefore they are supposed to be appreciated and celebrated to do more.” He admonished teachers to perform their duties with patience,

honesty and fear of God which would go a long way in shaping the future of their pupils who look up to them for guidance and direction. Adeboye told teachers that God is taking record of their performances, adding that He would reward them for their faithfulness no matter their challenges. He restated the commitment of the church to supporting education of the rural poor in Nigeria, particularly primary and secondary school education, saying it is the core of the church corporate social responsibility. The event, according to him, is aimed at celebrating teachers as

• Pastor Adeboye

makers of destiny, while also putting forward their challenges and concerns.

Kwara Assembly urged to return mission schools

• From left: Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga; Mrs Funmilayo Akinlade of African Church Primary School, Alimosho, (Best Teacher, Primary category); Mrs. Deji-Oderinde Bose of Wesley Girls' Junior Secondary School, Yaba (Best Teacher, Secondary category); Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Omolara Erogbogbo at the 2014 Merit Awards of the ministry. Behind in cap is Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State Civil Service.

NGO offers health tips to pupils

NE hundred and thirtythree public secondary schools in Oyo State has benefited from the life-planning education programme by the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH). In addition, 87 schools in Yobe, Borno, Gombe and Kebbi states, also benefited from the same programme which intends to serve as a model of national family life and HIV and AIDS education in schools, an initiative which has got the nod of the Federal Ministry of Education. Its President, Prof Oladapo Ladipo, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Ibadan to commemorate ARFH’s 25th anniversary. According to him, ARFH remained a leading indigenous non-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

government and not for profit organisation in Nigeria committed to improved quality of life of individuals and families through promoting increased access to quality health information and services. To address reproductive health issues, Oladapo said there was need to take ARFH education and orientation from the grass root, and inculcate same in the minds of pupils. Ladipo noted that the rationale for the establishment of the organisation was to address the high burden of diseases among women and children in the country. According to him, projects the organisation has carried out in schools over the last 25 years include; ado-

lescent sexual and reproductive health programme in public secondary schools in Birnin-Kebbi, Owerri, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Maiduguri; peer education in adolescent, as well as young people’s sexual and reproductive health among others. Other activities that formed parts of the anniversary include; donation of health centres in disadvantages communities, scholarship for indigent girls, orphans, and vulnerable children , and a public lecture on family planning in Nigeria, among others. The don commended corporate, family and individual philanthropist who funded some of their programmes as well as contributed to the emergence of their official head office.

• HR Manager, Cybele Cosmetics Ltd, Mr Odeh Frank (right) presenting hand sanitizers to a pupil of Oduduwa Junior Secondary School, Mushin. With them is the principal, Mrs Eunice Akintoye.

•

SOCIAL-CULTURAL organisation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has urged the Kwara State House of Assembly to accelerate the repeal of the state’s Education Law of 2006. This, according to the group, will empower government to return faith-based schools to their proprietors. Proprietors of some mission schools in the state have been yearning to get back their schools from the state government. But the government has responded, saying until the state Education Law 2006 was repealed by the state House of Assembly, the grant-aided schools could not be handed back to them. Addressing reporters in Ilorin, National President of IEDPU,

DIGITAL marketer of educational materials, Interworld Management and Services Limited, has introduced a device -World Book Digital product for private schools in Lagos State. The World Book encompasses e-books, select websites and other research documents that are updated regularly to avail students the latest information. The online product also contains 21 applications designed to make reference and research tools accessible to learning at all levels. Presenting the digital device at Corona School, Gbagada Lagos, Interworld’s Managing Director Mrs Omotayo Morgan, said the new innovation would enhance teaching and learning in schools. In the event themed: ‘New costeffective digital tool for enhancing teaching and learning’ Omotayo, said schools can access the facility as many times as possible, whether at home or in school through its school portal provided such school has subscribed to the portal. She advised principals to take

‘Recently, the school certificate result has been below standard and majority of the comments made are that students do not internalise the topic that they were taught, they just regurgitate what they had been taught without having the ability to expatiate on it’

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Alhaji AbdulHamid Adi, implored proprietors asking for the return of faith-based schools to “exercise more patience while legal process of achieving their dreams progresses. “It is more important to note that problems have never been solved through confrontation but rather through dialogue,”Adi noted. “We should appreciate state government arresting agitation in this drive, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kwara State chapter for dissociating itself from those trying to cause religious disharmony in the state. “We equally appeal to the state House of Assembly to hasten action on the relevant bill to enable all interest groups know their stand on the issue; delay can be dangerous,” Adi urged.

Firm launches e-book By Jane Chijioke

advantage of the digital facility to boost academic performances amongst pupils. Chairperson, Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE) Mrs Marie-Therese Sojinrin, who commended the initiative, admonished stakeholders to uphold research as a path to sound development in the country. She lamented that pupils are sometimes prevented from expanding their knowledge beyond what they are taught in classrooms. She urged parents to avail their wards computers to facilitate access to the portal. “When a pupil asks what the teacher doesn’t know, the pupil is turned down; when he answers beyond what the teacher knows, he is also marked down. Some teachers just copy what they have in their text book on the board for pupils to write down in their note book. This means that the teacher cannot even explain what is in the textbook. “Recently, the school certificate result has been below standard and majority of the comments made are that students do not internalise the topic that they were taught, they just regurgitate what they had been taught without having the ability to expatiate on it. She, however, suggested that lecturers should be encouraged to write books, which would be evaluated under strict supervision of the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council before the public can access it.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

EDUCATION

Owo prince boosts ICT education

PHILANTHROPIST, Prince Adesola Olateru-Olagbegi, has donated a computer skills acquisition centre to the people of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The centre is an addition to a resource centre built by his family in honour of his late mother, Olori Florence Adeoti OlagbegiOlateru. The centre is expected to offer Information Communication Technology training to adults, pupils and students for free. The donor said since the centre was constructed in 2009 by the children of the late Olori, the place has served as an adult training centre for residents of

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

the ancient kingdom and produced three sets of trainees in various fields. He noted that he decided to establish the computer centre because he discovered that many people in the community do not have knowledge of ICT. “Today, there is nothing you want to do without computer and I am worried that our people not only in Owo but in some other places in Nigeria are still lagging behind. We still have some university graduates who cannot operate computer and this centre will serve and train them freely. “This is our own quota to the de-

velopment our community because government cannot do it alone. This community belongs to us. We should focus on maintaining all the government infrastructures and as individuals we should come out and see what we can do to support our communities.” While urging residents of the community to register free for the training, Olateru-Olagbegbi assured them that he would continue to collaborate with people who are ready to impact on the community. A Senior Special Assistant to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Direct Labour, Mrs. Mobolaji Suara, urged the people to embrace the opportunity and be computer literate.

• Dr. Ogungbuyi (sixth left); 2nd Vice President, Mrs Janet Jolaoso (third left); Mrs Oyekunle (middle); the Registrar, Mrs Mofesola Akinbanji, and other members of the Governing Council at the event

‘Learning transfer can help education develop faster’ T HE transfer of learning can help Nigeria develop faster, says Mrs Modupe Oyekunle, Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) of Masters Resource Development Centre (MRDC), an organisation that helps youths to develop entrepreneurial skills. Mrs Oyekunle, who was the guest speaker at the 14th induction of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), in Ikeja, Lagos, said the lack of transfer of learning, which promotes continuity, was the bane of development in Nigeria. Speaking on the theme: ‘The transfer of learning’, she said: “Critically, you can maximise the transfer of learning by ensuring individual personality, characteristic and motivation. Our programme design should be tight enough and our work environment must be okay. In Nigeria, we have it all but we lack continuity and applicative measures. If we

By Ibrahim Adam

can help the Aba people, the industrialisation of this country will be critical in the business level. “Learning is achieved in repetition, the more you read the more you achieve. In the educational level, outside the country, they value their education due to the transfer of knowledge but here, we are not taught to read continuously but to cram.” The President/Chairman of Council, NITAD, Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi, congratulated the inductees, assuring them that the institute was making efforts to become chartered and get international accreditation to certify trainers and consultants. In an interview with journalists, he counselled Nigerians not to wait for the government before

achieving their goals, saying anyone who waits for encouragement from the government will not achieve anything. “We, at NITAD, don’t want any encouragement from the government. If you are waiting for the government to encourage you to do what you should do, you can’t reach anywhere. How was Ebola controlled in Nigeria? What support did the government give at the end of the day? “People had already being doing what they should do before the government intervened. Adedavoh gave her life and the government did not even recognise her. Rather, you find people involved in one crime or the other been given honours. So, it is left for you and me to know what we need to do for us to get what we want based on our believe.” he said.

Census boss counsels Geography students

HE Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Rivers State chapter, Rev. Donald Wokoma, has advised students of geography to be proud of their discipline. He spoke at a seminar by the Institute of Certified Geographers of Nigeria (ICGN) at the International Student Centre, University of Port Harcourt. He described geography as one of

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

the disciplines that is very important to Nigeria and the world. “The aim of the seminar was to educate geography students and the entire society on the need to embrace the study of Geography seriously. Many students don’t know their map, some can’t identify where their state is located. This is what makes geography students unique,”

he said. He said as geographers the students need not to wait for the government but be self-enterprising by being proactive in creativity. “Maybe you don’t understand the discipline you are into. As a geographer, you need not to be fake but to be sincere. Try to be self-enterprising, don’t depend on government; create your own ideas that could be acceptable,” he said.

EDUTALK

with

Kudos to WAEC for e-marker scheme

WAS pleasantly surprised to learn of the e-marking scheme of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) last Friday. Kofoworola The examining body has been marking the theory part of three subjects for three years now. It only made the initiative public when it Kofosagie@yahoo.com discussed the work with some ex08054503077 (SMS only) aminers at a seminar in Lagos. It was refreshing to learn that the examining body is making efforts to enhance the quality of the assessment of its examinations in line with accepted standards worldwide. Given the amount of work involved in getting the scheme started constraining test questions/answers, developing the ICT software and the online platform to host it, training examiners, providing logistics, among others - WAEC deserves commendation for its efforts. The scheme is a step in the right direction. To learn that research showed that there was wide discrepancy in the scores awarded manually by examiners was quite disheartening. It meant that in the past, candidates could get various grades for giving similar answers. Though there was a system put in place to check the practice - vetting of the scores by the chief marker - it was not rigorous enough so only few of the scripts were vetted eventually. With the e-marking of theory scripts online, the gaps between marks awarded by various examiners have been greatly reduced if not closed. Examiners can no longer award unfair scores because computers have been programmed to raise alarm when the grading is wrong. All the examiner has to determine is if a question is answered rightly or wrongly. The computer awards the mark and adds up the total score for the candidate, which is good. However, since the pilot started in 2011, only three subjects out of the 37 that WAEC tests have been marked online - and that is only for the November/December version of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which has significantly lower candidature than the May/June (an average of about 300,000 compared to 1.6 million). It means that for some time to come, many subjects would still be marked manually. While WAEC gradually transits to the e-marking of all its subjects, it is necessary that it should put machinery in place to check the failings of the manual process. Since research has shown that inter-rater reliability of scores awarded by examiners cannot be totally trusted, then efforts should be made to adequately vet what examiners do. Examiners should be made aware of the findings of this research and trained to do their work professionally.

Belo-Osagie

‘The scheme is a step in the right direction. To learn that research showed that there was wide discrepancy in the scores awarded manually by examiners was quite disheartening. It meant that in the past, candidates could get various grades for giving similar answers. Though there was a system put in place to check the practice vetting of the scores by the chief marker - it was not rigorous enough so only few of the scripts were vetted eventually’

Sad day in Potiskum

GAIN, the Boko Haram sect succeeded in attacking a school and killing a large number of young people seeking to be educated. The loss of 36 budding boys to the wicked act of the sect is condemnable in its totality. However, beyond condemning it, we really need to check terrorism. The terrorists seem to be gaining more ground. This should not be. If our government were to face terrorism with the seriousness of Ebola, the situation would not be this bad. The sect should not extinguish the desire of our youth to get educated. We should not be relaxed thinking that we are very far away from the scenes of bloodshed. We should act now to save our people in bombed out and occupied towns who are suffering under the sect's repressive rule. With determination, we will win this war.

From my Inbox From my Inbox Re: Yero's good advice (published October 23, 2014) How can Governor Yero's advice be a good thing if it is ONLY applicable to PUBLIC SERVANTS? Are our legislators, ministers, governors, vice-presidents/president public servants too? Why such 'discrimination' among fellow citizens? Finally, isn't Yero's advice AGAINST the Fundamental Human Right to Education and Freedom of Choice? Your last paragraph simply 'trivialised' an important issue and I am keeping to your advice to "forget you wrote it".

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR CALABAR PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF VARIOUS WORKS AND GOODS EXTENSION OF DEADLINE The University of Calabar intends to apply part of the funds for Special Presidential Intervention, Phases I and II, based on The Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities, for the procurement of some works and goods. Therefore, interested and reputable companies that can meet the technical requirements in section 2 below, are invited to apply for prequalification to bid for the under-listed works and goods: 1.1 Lot 1: rehabilitation of plumbing and electrical systems in the female students’ hostel, halls 8; 1.2 Lot 2: rehabilitation of plumbing and electrical systems in the female students’ hostel, halls 9; 1.3 Lot 3: rehabilitation of plumbing and electrical systems in the male students’ hostel, hall 4; 1.4 Lot 4: rehabilitation and reconstruction of one block of post-graduate students’ hostel; 1.5 Lot 5: rehabilitation/reconstruction of pavilions I and II (phases I and II); 1.6 Lot 6: rehabilitation of Faculty of Social Science lecture block; 1.7 Lot 7: rehabilitation of pavilions I, D, E, F and Atiku Abubakar lecture theatre; 1.8 Lot 8: rehabilitation of work-tops in some laboratories in the College of Medical Sciences, Faculties of Science and Agriculture 1.9 Lot 9: completion of the University Library; 1.10 Lot 10: construction of 500-seat twin lecture pavilion;

1.24 Lot 24: construction of packaged water treatment plant and connection to the central water supply system; 1.25 Lot 25: construction of elevated water tank at the staff village; 1.26 Lot 26: construction of 2nos lawn tennis courts with seating galleries; 1.27 Lot 27: supply of 500 nos. 8-spring double bunk beds with 3,000 nos. 8-spring mattresses; 1.28 Lot 28: supply of 2,000 nos. lecture theatre seats with swivel writing pads; 1.29 Lot 29: central gas supply to the Faculty of Science; 1.30 Lot 30: supply of library books to faculties; 1.31 Lot 31: supply of computers and peripherals to faculties; 1.32 Lot 32: Supply of teaching and research equipment to faculties and 1.33 Lot 33: construction of classroom and offices for the Institute of Education. 1.34 Lot 34: construction of offices and classrooms for the Faculty of Science 2.0 TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS Only companies that can show verifiable evidence of the documents listed below should apply and complete the pre-qualification documents: 2.1 company registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); 2.2 Corporate Affairs Commission forms CO 2 and CO 7, showing the directors of the company and share holding pattern;

1.11 Lot 11: construction of 500-seat lecture pavilion;

2.3 company tax clearance certificates for the last three years, expiring in December, 2014;

1.12 Lot 12: construction of laboratory, resource room and library for Department of Dentistry;

2.4 VAT registration and remittances;

1.13 Lot 13: construction of Department of Physics workshop;

2.5 company’s registration with the National Pensions Commission for contributory pensions scheme for staff in accordance with the Pensions Reforms Act, 2004;

1.14 Lot 14: construction of hatchery for Institute of Oceanography; 1.15 Lot 15: construction of dance studio for the Department of Theatre Arts; 1.16 Lot 16: construction of 120-room hostel block for Medical and Dentistry students; 1.17 Lot 17: construction of 120-room hostel block for female students; 1.18 Lot 18: construction of 120-room hostel block for male students; 1.19 Lot19: construction and furnishing of an academic building opposite Faculty of Management Sciences; 1.20 Lot 20: construction of academic building, incorporating science laboratory for the Faculty of Education; 1.21 Lot 21: construction of faculty office for the Faculty of Education; 1.22 Lot 22: installation of solar energy street light in the University, and inverters in the University Library and some laboratories; 1.23 Lot 23: drilling of 2 nos. 300mm diameter boreholes with submersible pumps;

2.6 compliance with the Industrial Training Fund Act, 2011; 2.7 a sworn affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer o f the University of Calabar is a former or present director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and confirm that all information presented in its bid is true and correct in all material particular; 2.8 minimum turn-over in the tax clearance certificate in any of the last three years (i.e. 2011, 2012, and 2013) shall not be less than: 2.8.1 N3.0 million for lots 1-4, 6-11, 13-15, 21, and 23-33; 2.8.2 N10 million for lots 5, 12, 22 and 34; 2.8.3 N20 million for lots 16-20; 2.9 payment of a pre-qualification fee of twenty thousand Naira (N20,000.00) by a bank draft, raised in favour of University of Calabar, at the Bursary Department of the University; 2.10 audited accounts for the past three years; 2.11 financial capability to execute the project;

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 2.12 experience/technical qualifications of at least of three (3) key technical personnel, including photocopies of registration certificates with professional regulatory bodies (i.e. ARCON, COREN, QSRBN, and CORBON for works (construction and rehabilitation) projects); 2.13 a minimum of three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years for government agencies, oil and gas sector, recognized international agencies, and public quoted agencies, indicating their locations, letters of commission, job completion certificates for completed projects, as projects executed for individuals shall not be accepted; 2.14 details of key plants and equipment deemed to be relevant to the project, stating the year of manufacture and whether or not they are owned by the company or on hire; 2.15 name of bankers, with references; 2.16 companies which are currently handling projects for the University, and whose jobs are not up to 60% completion level shall not be considered. 2.17 companies shall not apply for pre-qualification for more than one project in lots 5, 12, 16-20 and 22 and two for other projects. The above-listed requirements shall form part of the technical evaluation criteria and non-compliance with sections 2.1 to 2.9, 2.16 and 2.17 of the requirements, which are mandatory, shall result in automatic disqualification of the bidder. 3.0 COLLECTION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION EVALUATION DOCUMENTS The pre-qualification evaluation documents from the: Office of the Director of Physical Planning University of Calabar Calabar on the presentation of an official receipt from the Bursary Department of the University for the payment of the tender fee and a photocopy of the bank draft. 4.0 SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS Eight (8) copies of the pre-qualification documents should be prepared, paginated or serialized in the order listed above and bound with a table of contents for each project. Non-adherence to this instruction shall result in the rejection of the bid. Completed pre-qualification documents should be put in a sealed envelope with the title of the project and the name of the bidder clearly written on the back of the envelope. The envelope should be addressed to the: Registrar University of Calabar Calabar and deposited in the tender box in the Office of the Registrar ON OR BEFORE 12 NOON, 3RD DECEMBER, 2014. Documents brought after the closing time shall be rejected. 5.0 OPENING OF THE PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS The pre-qualification documents shall be opened at 12.05 pm on the closing date at the Senate Chambers of the University. Bidders and interested members of the public are invited to witness the opening of the documents. NOTE: Companies should note the pre-qualification exercise is not an invitation to tender or bid and does not create any commitment by the University to any company.

SIGNED DR. (MRS.) JULIA OMANG REGISTRAR

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Lagos trains trado medics on killer-diseases T

HE Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) has trained some traditional medicine practitioners to identify and manage some killer-diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell disorder (SCD), malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Its chairman, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the capacity building initiative for traditional medicine practitioners will have a far-reaching effect on the capacity of participants and the society. He said practitioners in Ikeja division of LSTMB administrative category, which consists of Ikeja, Agege and Alimosho local government areas and Mosan-Okunola and Ejigbo Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), were exposed to modern methods of diagnosing diseases. “This training is for Ikeja Division of traditional medicine practitioners. The next will be at Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry respectively,” Omoseyindemi said. The six killer diseases, the chairman noted, were the priority of heads of governments of African Union (AU) and as such, this year’s African Traditional Medicine Day was dedicated to all people suffering from the diseases. Moreover, the West Africa region through its West African Health Organisation (WAHO), has been involved in research studies for some time. “It discovered some potent herbal drugs for malaria, tuberculosis and hypertension, among others,” he said. This, he said, made WAHO contract some scientists, such as pharmacists, pharmacologists and pharmacognosists as well as botanists, among others, to develop suitable herbal drugs for the treatment of these diseases. “These scientists are to study the plants that have been used over the years by traditional medicine practitioners to treat the diseases,” he said. Besides, the plants are available in Nigeria and other West African countries so it can set up mini-industry to produce such drugs. Omoseyindemi said the LSTMB has designed a training manual to

•A cross section of participants

•Dr Omoseyindemi and the Registrar, Dr Bodunrin Oluwa at the event By Wale Adepoju

build capacity of practitioners, adding that many experts supplied needed information as inputs. Some of the content in the

manual, he said, are the steps to take in diagnosing the diseases. The LSTMB chair said the practitioners are to send those who have these diseases to the laboratory for

tests before commencing treatment, stressing that it is through the laboratory tests that they would be able to tell what disease a person is suffering from. More-

over, it should not be guess work. “After that they can use the result of the tests to start the treatment with the drugs WAHO is formulating. Even in orthodox medicine, it is not the doctors who prepare the drugs. It is the pharmacognosists and pharmacists that produce the drugs,” he stated The experts, he said, have joined hands to ensure they formulate herbal drugs for the six prioritised diseases. Omoseyindemi said there are herbariums where plants are grown for herbal medicine, adding that experts have done the signature and code for the plants to make them easily recognisable and accessible. “People can see the same plants in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire and in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The issue of poisoning, that is toxicity has been done as well as chemical analysis. So we are using common plants in the region,” he said. He said the anti-malaria which is presently being used is the artemisimin combination therapies (ACTs), this does not make economic sense as it is quite expensive. “It is a Chinese product that was synthesised in Taiwan. Our scientists, however, have come up with better anti-malaria herbal drugs but they need to call the pharmaceutical industry to buy into it,” he said. Omoseyindemi said the same diseases are being tackled in Cote D’Ivoire, Burkinafaso and Ghana, among other countries. He said traditional medicine provides about 70 per cent of healthcare services, adding that this makes it necessary for practitioners to be trained on how to mitigate the diseases. “This training will also enhance their knowledge on the diseases and as such make them relevant to the current health system in the country,” he said. Omoseyindemi said that with the right knowledge, traditional medicine practitioners would be able to support the orthodox medicine treatment.

Sleeping positions that reduce back pain Sleeping on your side (1) BY making simple changes in your sleeping position, you can take strain off your back. If you sleep on your side, draw your legs up slightly toward your chest and put a pillow between your legs. Use a full-length body pillow if you prefer.

Sleeping on your back (2)

Sleeping on your stomach (3)

IF you sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to help maintain the normal curve of your lower back. You might try a small, rolled towel under the small of your back for additional support. Support your neck with a pillow.

SLEEPING on your stomach can be hard on your back. If you can’t sleep any other way, reduce the strain on your back by placing a pillow under your pelvis and lower abdomen. Use a pillow under your head if it doesn’t place too much strain on your back. If it does cause strain, try sleeping without a pillow under your head. •Source: www.mayoclinic.org

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 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. 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.

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.

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

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

Infections 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 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 from food or water join the estrogen chain

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

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 micro-organisms 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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THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

RACE TO 2015 Darius Ishaku, an architect and former Minister of State for Niger Delta, is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Taraba State. The politician has been adopted as a consensus candidate by stakeholders from Taraba Southern Zone, which has not produced a governor since the state was created 23 years ago. He spoke with Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO on the succession battle, his ambition and other issues affecting the Northeast state.

Ishaku: no going back on zoning in Taraba

OU have been endorsed by Taraba South for the gover norship. What is the assurance that you will win the primaries? If I am given the opportunity to become a governor, I will not be the governor for only Southern Taraba District. I would be the governor of the entire state. We are talking of power shift because that is the arrangement in the PDP. The zoning is what makes the PDP different from other political parties. Without zoning, the PDP will be like any other political party. But, zoning has kept the ruling party going. Positions have to be zoned to rotate round the state. Imagine in Taraba state, the North has had the governorship for 10 years, the Central for eight years and now, somebody (Garba Umar), who is from the North, who is the acting governor, is contesting to come back for another eight years! Is this fair? We are saying it is not fair. Do you feel threatened by his Umar’s candidacy? I don’t feel threatened about him. In a free and fair election I will crush him. I am not afraid of him at all. The agitation for power shift in the state has divided the party. What is the way out? The power shift in Taraba State was initiated by the North and Central. It is their initiative. The North and the Central came to us and said the South should produce a consensus candidate for them for the 2015 governorship election, and that is how it came to me. So, it is the entire state that worked out this system that produced me. That is why I am very popular. Don’t you notice the popularity? My popularity is overwhelmingly across the entire state, because my zone had worked out a democratic process that I emerged as its consensus candidate that was also acceptable by the north and south as the consensus candidate for the state.

•Ishaku

What should the people expect, if you become governor? Are you happy with what is happening in Taraba State? Are you happy with the attacks and killings in Taraba? Are you happy that a simple ward congress cannot be held in a democratic regime? The police are being used to terrorise citizens. The chairman of our party, Victor Bala, has to run away because his life is being threatened because of the ward congress. Is this the society you want? If you meet me in my office, I will open my drawer and show you how many people that have been gruesomely killed in Wukari, Ibi, Bali, Gashaka, Gassol and other local government areas. There is no peace in Taraba State now, with the worsening case in southern zone. Is this the kind of state you want? So, I am coming to correct the wrongs. I am on a rescue mission. A lot of damages have been done, I will clean the mess. Democracy is about being free to express your opinions. If the opinion is done properly on a free and fair

election, I am not afraid of anything because I am very popular. Some people say you are not known in the state... These are minority views. How can I be popular, if I am not known? And what do you mean by popularity? I cannot go to the over three million people in the state to visit each individual one after another for them to know me. Politics is all about reaching out to those who are reaching others – connecting those that connect other people and wooing those who are power brokers within and outside the state. It is all about connectivity and wooing people’s hearts. I am connecting well and so many people have drifted to me, even from the opposition camp. So, it’s a question you should even ask, that what is the magnate that I have that is attracting people to support me? If you become the governor, what areas would you give priority attention to for development? All the areas in Taraba need intervention. And the worst is security. Once a government cannot establish security to protect lives and property, what else can it do? People are being attacked and killed in their homes because there is no security. Is that a government? If they kill everybody and the state, then, who would you rule? Everything in the state has to be corrected. But, the security of people and their properties are paramount. I want to assure all Tarabans that there would be a better Taraba, a new hope, and we shall intervene in virtually all facets because a lot of things have been messed up. As a matter of fact, this is not the state we wished to have. We shall make sure workers are paid as to when due. We shall make sure people are secured. The level of unemployment is frightening. When I was minister the biggest volume of visitors I used to have in my office was that of unemployed youths.

•Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Dr. Leke Pitan (fourth left) during his declaration of intention at the Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Lagos. With him are members of his campaign organisation.

thinking of pro-zoning crusaders is that, ‘ The if Wike becomes the governor, then, the Ikwerre would be in power for 16 years, to the consternation of other ethnic groups, including Ijaw and Ogoni.

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Rivers PDP may zone governorship to riverine area

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in Rivers State are push ing for a candidate from the riverine areas, ahead of next year’s election. The push for power shift from the upland area came to the front burner at the reconciliation meeting for the resolution of the crisis triggered by the recent ad hoc delegates elections in the Southsouth state. During the exercise, a governorship aspirant, Emmanuel Georgewill, outsmarted former Minister of State for Education Chief Nyesome Wike as his followers allegedly dominated the delegates list. The delegate selection process is critical to the proposed primaries. According to sources, following reports that 16 aspirants had threatened to boycott the exercise, owing to Wike’s involvement, the Wike camp presumed that it was a collective decision, not knowing that Georgewill was prepared for the election. The threat to boycott the exercise affected Wike’s projections. His camp thought it had a total control over the party machinery. Georgewill’s Campaign Organisation, the New Dawn, had boasted that it controlled 620 delegates. It could not underrate the former minister. The group mobilised its delegates by securing for them delegate forms. Wike’s group also stormed the party secretariat to buy forms, but there were no forms left. Again, the camp thought that, since others had boycotted, its members got all the forms. On poll day, delegates loyal to Wike could not be accreditted in the absence of forms. Thus, Georgewill’s men filled the vacuum. The aspirant was said to have commanded absolute majority. But, Wike’s supporters cried foul, saying that the process was not credible. Both camps headed for Appeal Panel for final settlement of the crisis triggered by the electuion. But, as Georgewill and his group were busy assembling facts to support their claims to victory, PDP leaders intervened in the crisis, urging the two camps to give peace a chance. At the reconciliation meeting in Abuja, chaired by former Information Minister Senator Edwin Clark, the issue of zoning came to the fore. To many PDP chieftains, unless the zoning controversy is settled, there can be no peace in Rivers State chapter. Many of them believe that power should shift to the riverrine areas. However, if the PDP decides to zone the slot to the lowland area, Wike, who is an Ikwere like Governor Chibuike Amaechi, whose tenure expires next year, will be out of the race. The thinking of pro-zoning crusaders is that if Wike becomes the governor, then, the Ikwerre would be in power for 16 years, to the consternation of other ethnic groups, including Ijaw and Ogoni. Protesters told the reconciliation team that the riverine/upland structure is critical to zoning, adding that, for the PDP to also make a headway in future elections, the ward and local government executives should be replaced by caretaker committees. Apart from the chairman, Felix Obuah, and the secretary, no other party position was upheld by the court verdict that sacked the Chief Godspower Ake executive. At the meeting were former Aviation Minister Alabo Tonye GrahamDouglas, Alabo Dagogo Fubara, B. M. Wifa (SAN), Senator Silas Nuniel, Obi Njoku and the leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dakubo.

Delta 2015: Olejeme calls for credible primaries By Musa Odoshimokhe

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has called for a levelplaying ground to avoid post-primary crisis. She alleged that some men are plotting to edge him out of the contest on account of gender. The aspirant promised to focus on education, agriculture, health and infrastructural development. She said: “I will create more jobs, ensure budget surplus, provide a transparent and interactive government, promote employment-friendly policies and also pay contractors.” Olejeme spoke with reporters, shortly after submitting her expression of interest and nomination forms to the PDP National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, in Abuja. She said she is in the race to make Delta State a place where businesses can flourish and youths can earn a living in thriving jobs. Olejeme promised to encourage potential businesses by reviewing the current regulatory environment and business taxes. She said service to the people is her priority, adding: “This is a divine mandate. I am not in the race for material things. I have traveled across the state and spoken to thousands of Deltans about the future of the state. I’m the best for Delta State. I have the capacity and intellect to deliver and to move Delta State to greater height- from the height we are presently and to build an El Dorado for our people”. Olejeme stressed: “God has always been my backbone and where the Lord places me, I will always perform wonders there. The turnaround of NSITF speaks volume of my performance and leadership qualities. I was given a moribund organisation and within a space of one year, God turned that moribund organisation to the envy of all those who know about it. God will use me to •Dr. Olejeme do wonders in Delta State”.

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

RACE TO 2015 Ondo APC aspirants obtain nomination forms

LL Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections in Ondo State have obtained their nomination forms at the party secretariat. No fewer than 150 aspirants have obtained forms, according to the according to the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya. He said 120 aspirants have paid for the forms and that the APC national leadership has released the 120 forms for the House of Representatives. He said 89 have collected the forms. Adesanya disclosed that 12 members have signified their interest for the Senate. The aspirants include the federal legislator from Akure North/South Constituency, Mr Ifedayo Abegunde, who is eyeing the Ondo Central Senatorial ticket, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, a senatorial aspirant in Ondo Central District, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati, the son of the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati, who wants to represent Akoko South West/East Constituency in the Lower Chamber, and Temidayo Akinbobola from Odigbo. Others are former Education Secretary, Akure North Council, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, Dr Olajide Owoka, Tunde Imolehin, Morayo Lebi, Olayato Aribo, Sunday Oteruku from Akoko Southwest Constituency, and Lucky Ayedatiwa Presenting the forms to aspirants, the party chairman, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, promised to organise credible primaries where the candidates will emerge. He urged members not to engage in any activity that is capable of creating friction in the party. Kekemeke said members should join hands in building the chapter and learn to tolerate one another. The chairman said the priority of

‘The APC would initiate programmes and projects that would give a new lease of life to the people in the coastal areas’

• Fasehun

a major pillar in the life of a political party. We at the UPN are elated to secure this important instrument that gives us the right to file candidates.” The National Treasurer, Okey Nwaneri, said the party has fixed nomination fees for aspirants He said presidential aspirants will pay N5 million; governorship N2.5 million; Senate N2 million; House of Representatives N350,000; Council Chairmanship N200,000 ; and

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From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

•Kekemeke

mocracy to his constituency through robust legislation. Owoka, who hails from Ute Ward 12, also collected nomination form for Ose/Owo Federal Constituency. He was a candidate for the same position under the defunct Action Congress(AC) in 2007. Owoka promised to articulate the interest of the constituency on the floor of the Natinal Assembly, if elected as a legislator. He also promised to assist in tackling youth unemployment. The aspirant also said that he would provide scholarship for students and set up a micro finance scheme to guarantee loan opportunities for women. The aspirant, according to observers, is a consistent politician. He has remained in the progressive camp since the days of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ayedatiwa lamented that Ilaje Ccmmunities are lagging behind, despite their contribution to the economy of the state. He said, although Ilaje/Ese-Odo communities are on water, the people lack access to potable water. The aspirant said that the APC would initiate programmes and projects that would give a new lease of life to the people in the coastal areas.

UPN not for highest bidder, says Fasehun HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released nomination documents to the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) for the regisration of candidates for elective offices. Its National Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, collected the documents, which came in a compact disk format, at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja. Although many parties got their documents last week, the UPN could not collect the document, following the leadership crisis that engulfed the party. The materials, CFO1 and CFO2, are nomination forms for candidates at the ward, local government, state and federal levels. Fasehun said it was a major breakthrough and recognition for the party. He said the party would soon release its timetable for primaries. Fasehun added: “Securing the forms, CFO1 and CFO2, is a positive development, especially in the light of the recent developments in the party. “Being able to file candidates for elective and public office is

The UPN is not sending politicians to steal and loot the treasury. Moreover, it must be emphasised that public position is held in trust for the party by the nominee or candidate

2015: Group mobilises for Jonathan

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the party is to win the election. He noted that the APC has enlarged its coast in Ondo State, to the surprise of other parties. Speaking with reporters after picking their forms, Abegunde and YusufOgunleye said they decided to pick the form because of pressure from the people. Abegunde said, having served his people diligently, he was asked to prepare for a higher duty in the Senate. The lawmaker, who also reacted to the withdrawal of the security details attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, described it as an act of impunity by the PDP government. Abegunde said the action is contrary to the constitution, noting that the PDP has displayed absolute lawlessness. Yusuf-Ogunleye, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), promised to continue where Abegunde would stop. He said he was worried by the plight of his constituency, which has been neglected by the Federal Government. Another APC chieftain, Imolehin, promised to bring dividends of de-

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Councillorship N50,000. Nwaneri said aspirants, except those for councillorship, must present a letter of intent, following the payment of N50,000. However, he said that aspirants, who had previously purchased nomination forms, would be exempted from the payment of N50,000. The politician added: “Applicants will be profiled first by their relevant chairmen, at the ward, local government, state, or national office they are interested in contesting, before they recommend them to the National Secretariat for due diligence and the purchase of nomination forms.” On why the application fees are cheap, relative to fees announced by other parties, Fasehun said it was to curtail corruption in public office. He said:“The UPN is not sending politicians to steal and loot the treasury. Moreover, it must be emphasised that public position is held in trust for the party by the nominee or candidate. The party is supreme always. So, what we charge is merely to cover administrative costs.”

GROUP, the Mass Movement for Good Governance in Nigeria (MMGG), has unfolded plans to galvanise support for President Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid in Rivers State. The group said nothing can stop Dr. Jonathan’s re-election, adding that the President has more supporters in the state than other states. Its National President, Bishop Godswill Jumbo, at a rally in Port Harcourt, the state capital. He noted that many groups have adopted President Jonathan as a candidate for next year’s election. Jumbo said the group will not only work for the President’s victory, but it will also sensitise the people on his transformation agenda. He said: “This group has volunteered to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid. We are mobilizsing Rivers people for Jonathan. The President has many supporters in Rivers State than he has in other states, including his home state, Bayelsa. “We are happy today that Mr. President has finally accepted to serve this country again for the next four years. Another thing is that all the delegates have accepted that Goodluck Jonathan is the only presidential candidate we • Dr Jonathan will vote for.”

‘No automatic ticket for PDP senators’

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Senator Nurudeen AbatemiUsman (Kogi Central District) has debunked the allegation that the party has resolved to give automatic tickets to senators. He said the media report on a“harmonized” list of automatic ticket holders is false and misleading. Abatemi-Usman said in a statement that the report, which was credited to a senator, has caused confusion in the party. He said the false publication has created the false impression that he is close to the President, who he said, has endorsed him for the position of the Senate President in the next dispensation. Abatemi-Usman said: “My colleague should be careful as he is becoming known as the purveyor of dubious information. I was at the meeting from the beginning to the end and at no point was any list of senators drafted. “It is unfortunate that a senator could peddle rumours and some newspapers could publish the report without checking the facts.” “The senator behind the false report complained that his governor was trying to scheme him out of office by installing his political opponents as delegates in his senatorial district. “What our national chairman did after some senators had spoken their minds was to look at the situation in each state, and he said where there are issues, they will be resolved amicably. If there was any such list my name definitely would have been included because the chairman said he is not aware that I am having any problem in Kogi Central while speaking on the situation in Kogi State. “He said the problem in Kogi West will be resolved. That was the manner in which the chairman went through all the States. Neither he, nor the President at any time mentioned names of Senators to be granted automatic tickets. It seems my colleague behind the purported report is being mischievous.” • Abatemi-Usman

Lawmaker: Why I want second term By Oziegbe Okoeki

AGOS State House of Assembly member Hon. Abdulbaq Ladi Balogun has unfolded his second term ambition in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Con stituency. At a rally, which was witnessed by constituents led by a party leader, Alhaji Rabiu Oluwa, the lawmaker promised to attract more amenities to the constituency. He said: “We want to see our youths gainfully employed. We want to see our people economically empowered. We want our schools to be the best. We want to see traders trading. We want peace and unity to reign in our midst. And those are the things I will continue to do when I get to Lagos State House of Assembly. Balogun added: “I will not forget the footballers, entertainers, youths, transporters, market women and men. I have being representing you well in the House and I will continue to give you effective representation. That is my promise and my covenant with you, to continue to render selfless service, impactful stewardship and every thing that will bring progress and development to each and every one of you; and I pray that God will strengthen me and give me the wisdom to continue to do more. “ Ajegunle is a mini Nigeria. We have every ethnic group represented here, every one is rallying round me and they want me to continue to do the good work I have been doing for them and I pray I will not disappoint them, I pray I will continue to do more to deliver the dividends of democracy to my people.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Maritime workers to down tools over tariff reversal

ORTS Operations will be shut down from next Monday, if the Federal Government fails to withdraw its directive to terminal operators to revert to their 2009 tariff, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has warned. The union noted that following the directive, terminal operators and Stevedoring contractors refused to negotiate dockworkers’ condition of service, which is due for re-negotiation this year. The union, in a petition to the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umaru, dated November 10, and signed by its Secretary-General, Mr. Aham Ubani, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent directive from Shippers’ Council to seaport terminal operators instructing them to revert to their 2009 tariff as a panacea to achieving an acceptable lower overall cost of doing business in our sea ports.” The petition titled: “Demand for Withdrawal of Shippers Council’s Directive on Reversion of Sea Port Terminals Charge Tariff to 2009 Rate” copy of which was made available to The Nation, read in part: “We acknowledge the need

By Chikodi Okereocha

to make our seaports less expensive as one of the critical factors in making our ports the preferred ports within the sub-region. We, however, wish to observe that the prevailing high cost of doing business in our ports needs to be addressed holistically if the desired goal is to be achieved in its entirety.” Ubani noted that the under listed cost factors need to be addressed realistically. The petition listed poor access roads to the port, which gives rise to higher cost of trucking goods in and out of the ports, presence and practice of illegal tolls/extortions by various agencies operating in the ports both legally and illegally, activities of some customs men and officers as adding to the operational cost of ports. It also decried the effect of congestion, which gives rise to demurrage and additional increase on the cost of clearing goods in the port, as well as delay in effecting custom examination and the attitude of most customs officers, who act as lords who must be worshipped by agents rather than serving the

needs of the customers as diligent civil servants, among others. “We are alarmed that an institution with or without known legal authority to perform the duties of port regulator could evolve such biased directive targeting terminal operations costs alone with dire consequences on our members–the Dockworkers and operational efficiency without informed consultation with relevant stakeholders on all the above elements and their cost burden implications on the seaports,” the Union said. MWUN noted the non-consideration of the present customers price index and current rate of inflation, saying that they felt aggrieved by the consequences of the directive as manifested in the refusal of employers (i.e. terminal operators and stevedoring contractors) to negotiate the dockworkers condition of service, which is due for re-negotiation this year. “Our members, the dockworkers, have become restive and may resort to self-help nation wide with effect from Monday 17th November, if the terminal operators still refuse to negotiate on the grounds of being incapacitated by the directive,” the Union said.

NLC:Nigerians import N300b textiles

IGERIANS import yearly about N300 billion worth of textiles without paying duties,the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said. Its Vice President, Mr. lssa Aremu, who disclosed this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said 90 per cent of textile products in the market were smuggled goods. “It is sad to note that the Federal Government had talked about a new textile policy since February 2013, but there had been no progress on this policy initiative to critically turnaround the fortunes of the sector,” he said. He warned that unless effective steps were taken by the government to reverse the decline in the textile industry, gains achieved in 2010 would be lost, adding that the situation had aggravated the unemployment situation in the country. According to Aremu, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would observe this year’s ‘Africa Industrialisation Day’ on November 20 in its effort to arouse the interest of the international community to the industriali-sation of Africa.

Judiciary workers may proceed on strike

• From left: Ogun State Chairman of TUC, Comrade Seyi Adebanjo, Controller of Labour Ogun State, Mr Anthony Ogayemi, President, Chemical and Non Metallic Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSA), Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed and Assistant Director of Labour, Ogun State, Comrade Olayanju at the CANMPSSA Industrial Relations Training in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

‘Agric mechanisation will jump-start economic growth’ T HE association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), has said Nigeria’s technological challenges can only be met by the input of technological advancement and entrepreneurial solutions. Speaking with The Nation, ASSBIFI President Sunday Olusoji Salako said President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to set aside N50 billion mechanisation intervention fund is a welcome development. If judiciously used, the agricultural projects will speed up the full establishment of the 1,200 private sector driven agricultural equipment hiring enterprises in all the states of the federation. President Jonathan has directed the CBN to set aside N50 billion as agricultural mechanisation intervention fund for farmers in the country. “As a farmer, I am aware that other Nigerian farmers, when fully supported by the government, will not only feed Nigeria, but also become major contributors to feeding the world.

Stories by Toba Agboola

“This is why in our recent policy statement, while we were inspecting our farms in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, we called on the three tiers of government to put in place policies that would ensure complete mechanisation of agriculture in the country as this would jumpstart economic growth of Nigeria,” Salako said. He said it was unfortunate that farmers, for too long, had depended on rudimentary tools, such as hoes and cutlasses and as a result, small- scale farmers that produce 80 per cent of food in the country have very little or no access to modern agricultural machineries. To Salako, this low level of mechanisation limits the abilities of farmers to expand to sophisticated areas, reduces chances of performing timely operations, hinders opportunities to achieve economies of scale in raising food production and lower returns on

agricultural investments. Nigeria, Salako said, has all it takes to be the most developed nation of the world, but that political leaders and Nigerians need self-discipline to ensure that the potentials God bestowed on the citizenry are not wasted. He appealed to the political leaderships at all levels to redouble their efforts in curbing corruption. “We are of the view that unless there are prompt deterrent sanctions against those brought to book, the problem will continue to fester. This is because recent developments and revelations concerning the various probes in the country give much cause for concern. It is difficult for an economy bleeding from corruption to recover quickly and deliver value to the citizens,” he said. The nation’s security situation, he said, has become a major challenge for both local and foreign investors, as it is already taking its toll on the economy of the affected states.

He praised the move by Dangote Group to reindustrialise Africa through an unprecedented investment of $9 billion in an oil refinery and petrochemical complex in the country, saying that its job creation potential was very strong and gratifying. On next year’s general elections, the NLC boss appealed to Nigerians, particularly politicians, to end the ugly trend of violence in the nation’s democratic process. He warned against the use of inflammatory statements capable of causing disaffection in the society. Aremu also enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections. Labour, according to him, would only support development and labour-friendly candidates, who have respect for labour laws, workers rights and also believe in the payment of minimum wage to workers. The NLC Chief reinterated that labour must remain on the exclusive legislative list and should not be transferred to the concurrent list.

HE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has said all negotiations with the Federal Government on autonomy of the judiciary will cease if the meeting the government fixed for 19th of this month fails to address workers’ call for autonomy. A court had ruled that state judiciaries should receive their funding direct from the Federal Allocation instead of going through the state governments, but that order has not been implemented months after given. A meeting at the instance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, was adjourned to November 19, to allow Chairman of the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) and Minister of State, Finance, to peruse the document submitted by the union. JUSUN President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said the union accepted the adjourn-

ment with a caveat that the issue must be resolved on that day. Adamu added that the union had already fixed an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) for November 20 in order to take decision, which would be determined by the outcome of its meeting with government. He lamented that a court order is being neglected by those who swore to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because it does not go down well with them. “We fixed our NEC meeting for 20th November to discuss and deliberate on the outcome of the 19th November meeting. In other words, the 19th meeting is going to be the final meeting between the government and the union. If the outcome of the meeting is positive, fine, but if it is not okay, we have an instrument to take decision on the matter at the NEC level,” he said.

NASU, others threaten strike

HE Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) have threatened to go on strike following the refusal of the Federal Government to implement agreements reached with them. The unions, at a press conference, said government must step up or be held responsible for a shutdown of the system. NASU’s General Secretary, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, who addressed reporters, said the issues, which government is reneging, include: non-payment of outstanding 12 months’ arrears of Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), non-implementation of the retirement age of 65 years and the demand for the with-

drawal of circular on non-skipping of CONTISS 10. Other unresolved issues include payment of peculiar/earned allowance, establishment of a central body for the effective coordination of research activities in the research institutes to be known as National Research Institute Commission (NARICOM) and increased funding for research institutes. Comrade Adeyemi called on the government to honour an interim report of a presidential committee and pay the 12 months salary arrears on CONRAISS and stop paying lip service to the issues. “In as much as the leadership of the three unions would have loved to remain calm, the very restive workers we lead are already losing patience on the matter. We want to emphasise that the leadership remains open and committed to further dialogue on the issues, so as to sustain industrial peace and harmony in the research and allied institutions,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

MONEYLINK

Risk management failure breeds crisis, says credit bureau chief HE failure of risk management process remains one of the key factors responsible for the global financial crisis, the Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau Limited, Tunde Popoola, has said. Popoola, who spoke at the Second Annual Credit and Collection Conference organised by the Institute of Credit and Collection Management of Nigeria, said countries that emerged from the depression with little negative impact, continue to practice conservative and water-tight risk management to avoid repeat of the crisis. “Little wonder, most countries that were affected decided to embark on solutions with focus on enhancing risk management frameworks and governance principles. “In the financial services industry, Basel II and III Accords came into being and a lot of central banks across the globe began to drive their implementations, he

Stories by Collins Nweze

said. He said Nigeria took the right credible and sustainable routes to addressing the failure of risk management in 2008. “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), took significant measures to address the issues that led to the collapse or failure of the Money and Capital markets. Apart from the rescuing operations of the eight banks and the purchase of six of them by government, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), was also established. Thereafter, a great deal of efforts went into changing the governance structure and risk management departments of banks, including reporting on risk management issues,” he said. He said the CBN brought risk management and compliance functions to the front burner. Also, in

Diamond Bank seeks increased export of non-oil products

January 2013, NAICOM issued its popular, ‘No Premium, No Cover’ policy to protect insurers and the insurance industry. It also instituted other risk management policies to address the challenges of risk management in the insurance industry. He said lending at that time was influenced by perception, personal relationship and size of collateral offered by customers adding that lending was taking place in the dark and in the environment of information asymmetry. He explained that risk is a fundamental aspect of any human endeavour. “To financial institutions, they are basically involved in the business of risk. Risk refers to the chances of having an unexpected or a negative outcome. Risks are of different dimensions, cutting across business, nonbusiness and financial. Financial risk in particular involves financial loss to firms, which generally arises due to instability and losses in the financial markets

• Popoola caused by movement in stock prices, currencies, interest rates and more,” he said. Popoola said financial risk includes risks associated with the market, credit, liquidity and operations even as each of these requires different approaches to manage. He said that in the investment and financial services spheres, risk implies the possibility that an investment or an asset created would be worth less than the original amount or value invested or created.

Govt unveils new N100 Centenary note

HE new N100 centenary banknote was formally presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, yesterday. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefuele, who presented the note, said the note is to commemorate 100 years amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in 1914.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Stressing that it was produced with the most advanced technology in the world, he said that the note retained the picture of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the front side, adding that the new note has security features against counterfeiting and with special durability tolerance. The Zuma Rock at the back of the current note has been replaced by Q.R. code and other pictures.

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

O/PRICE 19.67 19.28 38.38 3.43 6.01 24.15 7.66 3.12 4.82 1.76 156.89

C/PRICE 21.68 21.25 42.30 3.78 6.62 26.56 8.30 3.38 5.21 1.89 164.98

CHANGE 2.01 1.97 3.92 0.35 0.61 2.41 0.64 0.26 0.39 0.13 8.09

LOSERS AS AT 12-11-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

DATA BANK

CHANGE

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 20/10/2014 15/10/2014 13/10/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: October

8.1%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

Foreign Reserves

$37.9b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

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

12.464

12.393

13.281

13.201

140.60

.205

9.94

8.98

-0.96

LEARNAFRCA

1.51

1.37

-0.14

55.42

52.64

-2.78

14.110

508.53

483.11

-25.42

SEPLAT

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

FOREX RATES

MAYBAKER

1.64

1.56

-0.08

NAHCO

4.84

4.62

-0.22

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

CUTIX

1.55

1.48

-0.07

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

ACADEMY

1.18

1.13

-0.05

18.00

17.30

-0.70

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

0.85

0.82

-0.03

ETI COSTAIN

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 350m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 349.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES November 11, 2014

$83

Money Supply (M2)

CHAMPION FLOURMILL

for students to catch up with the history of Nigeria. Various programmes were held prior to the issuance of the note to Nigerians. While the launch of the partnership programme aimed at banknote equipment manufacturers and other machine suppliers will hold next Wednesday, the newe notese will be issued into circulation on Friday 19th December, 2014.

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 12-11-14

SYMBOL OANDO PZ CADBURY TRANSCORP DANGSUGAR ASHAKACEM NASCON ETERNA PORTPAINT UBCAP NB

Speaking on the Q.R. code, Emefiele said that with telephone set and iPad having QR code scanner and the application to be released by the bank, Nigerians will be able to scan and read historical facts about Nigeria. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, despite wondering how much it will cost to print the notes, noted that the Q.R. code features will be useful

IAMOND Bank Plc has urged entrepreneurs in the import and export business to focus on increasing non-oil exports, especially as the glut in oil and gas production and supply has led to a slump in the price of the product in the international market. Speaking at a symposium organised by the bank in conjunction with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Head, Retail Banking, Diamond Bank, Jude Anele said that the sole dependence on oil and gas export is inimical to the growth and development of the economy. According to him, “Nigeria needs to export high quality products to other nations of the world. Some of the thriving non-oil export sectors include manufacturing, agroprocessing and solid minerals with great demand from Europe, America, Asia and other African countries. To maximize the opportunities in the sector there must be commitment from all stakeholders as this is a very specialized industry.” Head, Trade Products, Diamond Bank, Sylvester Onoja-Idoko, noted that a major challenge within the industry is the often tedious documentation process which invariably leads to inaccurate valuation of transactions. Accordingly, the bank has introduced innovative services such as pre-shipment advances to exporters at the confirmation of the order, post-shipment discount of invoice and Diamond Logistics Support Services to address these challenges and help exporters get true value for their transactions.

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

US Dollar

154.78

155.78

Pounds Sterling

247.6944

249.2947

Euro

193.4286

194.6783

Swiss Franc

160.4104

161.4468

Yen

1.3617

1.3705

CFA

0.2764

0.2964

228.0521

229.5255

Yuan/Renminbi

25.2949

25.4592

Riyal

41.2582

41.5247

SDR

228.8113

230.2896

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 13, 2014

NEWS

One in four Nigerians at risk of high blood pressure, says study

IGH blood pressure - already a massive hidden killer in Nigeria - is set to sharply rise as the country adopts western lifestyles, a study suggests. Researchers who conducted the first up-to-date nationwide estimate of the condition in Nigeria warn that this will strain the country’s already-stretched health system. Increased public awareness, lifestyle changes,

PUBLIC NOTICE OFORBUIKE I, formerly known and addressed as MRS OFORBUIKE CHIDIEBERE JENNIFER now wish to be known and addressed as MISS IROANYA CHIDIEBERE JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

screening and early detection are vital to tackle the increasing threat of the disease, they say. High blood pressure - also known as hypertension - is twice as high in Nigeria compared with other East African countries and less than 20 per cent of Nigerians are aware that they have the condition. Hypertension puts people at risk of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Researchers estimated that there were more than 20 million cases of hypertension in Nigeria in 2010, affecting one in-three men and one-in-four women. This is set to rise to 39 million cases by 2030. Data from South Africa suggests that

‘Hypertension - is twice as high in Nigeria compared with other East African countries and less than 20 per cent of Nigerians are aware that they have the condition. Hypertension’ high blood pressure is treated effectively in less than 10 per cent of cases. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh, who car-

ried out the study, say that understanding of hypertension in Nigeria and other African countries has been affected by lack of patient data. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Hypertension. Dr Davies Adeloye, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Population Health Sciences, said: “We have conducted a systematic search of high quality studies on hypertension across Nigeria and provided estimates of the prevalence and number of cases of hypertension in the country. We hope this will prompt appropriate policy response in the health sector.”

Hunters retake Maiha from Boko Haram

DAMAWA town Maiha has been retaken from the grip of Boko Haram by local hunters. Some members of the sect were killed by the hunters who battled and flushed the insurgents out of the town. The insurgents were forced to beat a retreat to Mubi. They were planning to install an Amir before the local hunters who forced them out. After they took Maiha, Governor Bala Ngilari ordered the immediate mobilisation of hunters and traditional medicine men to recover the town. The Governor also donated three Hilux vehicles to them. A resident of Maiha Mallam Sani Pella said before the attack on the insurgents by the local hunters, he saw about 10 truckloads of the

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

vigilante groups and local hunters heading towards Maiha. One of the hunters told reporters in Yola, the Adamawa State capital that the capture of Mahia on Monday by the insurgents irked the local hunters who mobilised hunters in their neighbouring communities to team up against the insurgents. He said the hunters fought gallantly, killed 80 of the insurgents and recaptured Mahia. But the figure of those killed could not be independently confirmed. The hunters appealed to the military authorities to authorise them to face the Boko Haram insurgents in a battle which he believed the hunters will win.

•The suspects in Awka...yesterday

DSS smashes car-snatching syndicate •Eight arrested

HE Department of State Service (DSS) in Anambra State has smashed a car- snatching syndicate and arrested eight suspects. Four of the snatched cars at Awka and Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government were recovered with two pistols from the suspects. Parading the suspects yesterday in Awka, the state Director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, hailed Governor Willie Obiano for fighting crime. He praised the neighbouring commands for investigating the matter, which took them to Kaduna State.

•The snatched cars From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Okeiyi warned criminals involved in car-snatching to desist. The suspects are Chizoba Cosmos Agwuike (aka Malife), Kingsley Ifeanyi Okpara (aka Method), Arinze Philip Nweke, Onyedika Vincent Okoye (aka Don Pacino), Uche Ike (aka Uche white), Umeh Kelvin Afamefuna and Uche Chibuzo (aka Nwanwanyi Ukwuogbu).

The vehicles recovered are a Honda saloon car belonging to Anene Albert Onyemaechi, which was snatched in Awka and a Ford Escape belonging to Elochukwu Osondu, stolen at Ogidi. Others are a Sienna bus belonging to Christian Chike Okudo, which was snatched at Ogidi and a Toyota Camry saloon car belonging to David Onyiliofor, a lawyer, which was stolen

at Awka. Onyiliofor said the suspects snatched his vehicle on August 27 at Dr. Hezekiah Dike Street in Awka when his wife died. Agwuike, 20, said they sold some of the vehicles between N250,000 and N300,000. Arinze said he joined the gang when he returned from Togo because of hardship, adding that he had only made N50,000.

•Youths of Igbooye Community of Eredo-Epe, Lagos State protesting against the building of Phase 2 of the Escravos-Lagos Gas PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Pipeline expansion project ‘without Environmental Impact Assessment compensation’...yesterday

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS Ijaw declare ‘war’ on Itsekiri over $16b EPZ project

HE Ijaw in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State warned President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday against going to Warri for the groundbreaking ceremony of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project. Dr Jonathan is expected in Warri to kick off the project tomorrow. But the growing tension between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri over the project’s name, ownership and other issues threatening to cause a crisis between the two age-long foes. “Do not come to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ogidigben Export

From Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor, Warri

Processing Zone (EPZ) or there would be a war,” Patrick Allah (aka Ebelebe I), a member of the clan, said yesterday at a protest in Oporoza. A youth leader, Comrade Keston Pondi, said his kinsmen would be forced to resort to “self-help, if the President ignores the warning and visits the area for the ceremony on Friday”. They spoke as thousands of Gbaramatu leaders, members of the Traditional Council of Chiefs, youth leaders and women’s groups stormed Oporoza

to express their displeasure about the project. Masked youths, who stormed the community in several boats, heightened tension. They were dressed in the traditional black and white Ijaw war attire, singing war songs. The youths were joined by women and other groups, who displayed several placards condemning the handling of the project, alleging undue influence and bias by the state government. Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who read the resolution of the protesters at the media briefing, said: “We are convinced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Fed-

eral Government is taking sides with the Delta State Government, which is bent on promoting an Itsekiri agenda aimed at continuous oppression and marginalisation of the interest of the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom in a project that Gbaramatu people have a major stake in.” The spokesman said the larger portion of the land for the project belonged to Gbaramatu communities. He wondered why the Federal Government named the project after the Itsekiri of Ugborodo, who he said contributed marginal land.

Imoke has delivered, says aide By Joseph Jibueze

CROSS River State Governor Liyel Imoke has delivered on his electoral mandate, the Commissioner for Information, Chief Akin Ricketts, has said. He said there would be no succession crisis in the state ahead of next year’s governorship election, adding that it would be peaceful. The commissioner said Imoke’s democratic disposition had ensured that the desperation to hold political offices, which he said triggered “the beast in some political players,” had been curbed. Rickets said the various political camps springing up were normal, adding that Imoke’s legacies would be sustained and improved upon. The commissioner said every sector had improved under the governor. He said: “Is it the revolution in the Education sector, where public schools are not only renovated but re-equipped, necessitating increased enrolment and better performances by our students? “Is it in the Health sector, which has enjoyed increased patronage due to better equipped facilities across the state? Is it the social welfare schemes – Project Hope and Project Comfort?”

Calabar youths protest non-release of delegates’ list From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

UNDREDS of youths, under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Movement for President Goodluck Jonathan, protested yesterday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the delay in releasing the names of delegates who emerged in the November 1 ward congresses. The placard-carrying youths besieged the PDP secretariat to express their grievances. The protesters’ spokesman Solomon Edem said the protest was meant to appeal to PDP to release the names of those elected at the ward congress.

‘Harvest of divine prosperity’

F •Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos chapter, protesting their poor condition of service on the campus in Lagos... yesterday.

Tributes as UI ASUU remembers Iyayi

HE University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) paid tributes yesterday to its late president, Prof Festus Iyayi. The activist died a year ago in a road crash involving the convoy of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada. At a special commemoration organised by the union at UI’s Faulty of Art, the university’s ASUU Chairman, Prof Segun Ajiboye, described the late Iyayi as a hero, who used his powers to defend and fight for a functional education system. Ajiboye said: “One year has gone by that we lost a great comrade who fought earnestly for the standardisation of the

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

education system in this country. He was a dodged fighter who singlehandedly fought for the union at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and was even sent away for nine years by the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Grace Alele-Williams. “To me, he laid down his life for our EARNED Allowances, but he never had the opportunity to spend from it. The fund has been released to Nigerian universities but Iyayi is no more. Let us reflect soberly and emulate his great legacies.” A former ASUU Chairman at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof Biodun Saani, said:

“Prof Iyayi was my hero, who mentored me and ensured the sustenance of our union. We need to reinvigorate ourselves and we must not compromise our principles.” Saani said ideological mentoring was missing among the union’s members. The academic urged them to bridge the gap. He said: “What I learnt from Prof Iyayi was to wake up early as a man. What I have achieved today in my career should be credited to him.” The Convener of ASUU Committee on Human Rights, Dr Sola Olorunyomi, in an emotional tribute, said the union was celebrating the life of a great man.

APC presidential aspirant Nda-Isaiah’s dad dies

A Clement Nda-Isaiah, the father of the publisher of LEADERSHIP Newspapers and a presidential aspirant of he All Progressives Congress (APC), Sam Nda-Isaiah, is dead. He was 80. The late Pa Nda-Isaiah died at his Kaduna home after a brief illness. His children said they were consoled by the fulfilling life their father had. Pa Clement was an outstanding newspaperman. He worked with The Nigerian Citizen and Gaskiya Corporation in Zaria before to The Mail, the political newspaper of the defunct Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in Kano. He was a pioneer worker at the New Nigerian in 1966, where he held several top positions. He was Sports Editor, News Editor, Chief Sub-Editor, Assistant Editor (North) and Associate Editor (North).

•Our father lived a fulfilled live, say children From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

His friend and renowned journalist, Dr. Haroun Adamu, poached him to The Triumph, the national newspaper published from Kano in the Second Republic. He was the Managing Editor at the newspaper and later its Acting Managing Director. In 1983, Governor Solomon Lar offered him the job of managing director of The Standard in Jos, but the Second Republic ended before the announcement of

the appointment in January. The founder of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group and APC presidential aspirant, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, addressed reporters in Kaduna on his father’s death. The publisher described his late father as an upright man. He said: “My father lived a fulfilled life. He was very happy. He saw all his children grow and saw his grandchildren. He did not lose any of his children and grandchildren. My father died a happy and fulfil man.”

Church holds programme

HE Spoken World Endtime Ministry, 5, Umuago Street, off Mosalashi, opposite Ojo Military Cantonment, Lagos will today begin the men’s convention with the theme: “Men of Honour”. The event will start at 5pm with a revival at the church auditorium and it will be rounded off on Sunday. Those expected are Chris Nmezi, the host pastor, Bro Tony Guinea and other clerics.

IRST Baptist Church, 12, Oremerin Street, Itire, Lagos (a member of the Nigerian Baptist Convention), will on Sunday celebrate this year’s annual family thanksgiving service tagged: ‘Harvest of Divine Prosperity’. The Chairman of the Harvest Committee, Mr. M.O. Okerinde, said members should invite their families, relations and friends to celebrate the event. The minister-in-charge, Rev. A.P. Oyeyemi, said: “This Harvest of Divine Prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:18), which will start at 11am, will bring members and all Nigerians prosperity.”

THE NATION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS

‘Insurgents planning massive attacks in Plateau’

ESIDENTS of Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State have alerted to fresh plans by insurgents to attack the state. They alleged that there were heavy arms build-ups at a Fulani settlement in Mahanga village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Gunmen attacked Rim village in Riyom Local Government Area, killing a resident and injuring several others.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in the local government, ASP Joseph Madugu, said he had noticed the movement of strange vehicles in and out of Mahanga village in the last few days. He said: “What I saw could be likened to a group of fighters preparing for a war. Several Hilux vans have been moving

into the Fulani settlement, called Mahanga. On Monday, a strange and unidentified helicopter landed in the same village. With the movement, I suspect an arms build-up. There are obvious plans for fresh attacks.” Mahanga is suspected to be an armoury for insurgents terrorising some communities in Plateau State. There have been over 150 attacks in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments since 2010.

The chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Emmanuel Loman, confirmed the suspected arms buil-up. He said: “Yes, it is true. There is tension in the locality because we have experienced terrible attacks by gunmen in this place. Our people have always suspected that the Fulani settlement, located between the two local governments, might be hosting terrorists.

Maiduguri, the state capital, when he visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai. Sa’ad said the commission had not worked out the modalities for the IDPs to vote. But he said INEC had slated November 28 for the commencement of the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state.

The REC explained that the distibution would hold in 12 of the 27 local government areas because of the security challenges. He said: “The issuance of PVCs to registered voters will take place in only 12 local government areas considered to be relatively safe in Borno. The exercise will last six days.”

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

•Jega, INEC chairman

Murtala’s son joins Kano governorship race

BBA, the son of a former Head of State, the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed, has joined the Kano State governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Abba, who was at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja on Tuesday to return his nomination and expression of interest forms, addressed reporters.

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

The aspirant said the PDP would win in Kano. According to him, he stood a better chance to win the governorship poll than any other aspirant. He said Kano PDP was formidable, adding that he joined the race with a personal conviction that the state would return to the PDP in 2015.

Abba noted that epileptic power supply was among the major challenges in the state. The aspirant said he would focus on electricity generation, if he got the party’s ticket and won the election. He said: “I believe that once we are able to provide electricity in Kano, everything else will fall into place because electricity is the engine of growth. I believe that I have a lot to

offer the people of Kano State. I have already come up with my programme, which focuses on electricity, education, health care, agriculture and infrastructure.” Abba dismissed reports that the PDP already had a preferred candidate for the election. He said the party’s leadership would ensure a level-playing field for all aspirants.

Admission seekers protest non-inclusion of names by Kwara Poly

CORES of admission seekers yesterday barricaded the gate to Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin. They were protesting the non-inclusion of their names in the admission at the institution. The protesters also

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

mounted road blocks on the Ilorin-Jebba highway in front of the gate, obstructing traffic on the busy road. The police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the institution’s security

intervened, which forestalled a bloody incident. Executive members of the polytechnic’s Students’ Union Government (SUG) and the directorate of students’ services reportedly joined the security operatives to ease gridlock on the high-

vigilant. He said: “This is not the time to sleep; people should cooperate with security agencies to frustrate the intention of the terrorists.” Riyom Local Government Chairman Josephine Piyo said: “Already, there are gunmen who have been attacking Rim village in the last two days. We need immediate and prompt intervention of the Federal Government.”

FRSC warns drivers to avoid alcohol

INEC makes plans for IDPs in 2015 poll HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will make provisions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to vote in the 2015 elections. Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, the Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. Tukur Sa’ad spoke on the commission’s plan yesterday in

“Now, the residents have sighted a helicopter landing in Mahanga. Several Hilux vans have been conveying people to the village. This is an unusual movement. “The security agencies have always asked us to report such strange movements to them and we have called their attention to this one. We are waiting for their action.” The local government chairman urged the residents to be

way. A statement by the school’s Deputy Registrar (Information and Publications Division), Moshood Amuda, urged parents, guardians, applicants and the public to bear with the management.

HE Benue State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has educated commercial drivers on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. The commission reminded them that the ban on the sale of alcohol at motor parks was in force. Sector Commander Habu Dauda urged the drivers, including commercial motorcyclists, to change their attitude towards drink driving. He noted that this was especially important at this period of the year when vehicular traffic increased. Dauda expressed disappointment at drivers who consumed alcohol outside the motor parks before embarking on journeys, despite the ban on such items.

CVR: Prospective voters in Kano disappointed From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

NDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) adhoc workers were absent yesterday at the various registration centres for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Kano State. Scores of prospective voters were disappointed when they did not find the INEC workers at the centres. This reporter who monitored the exercise within Kano metropolis observed that there was a large turn-out of Nigerians who were anxious to get their voter cards, but could not register because there was no INEC worker to attend to them. In some areas, such as Hotoro Quarters, Tarauni, Naibawa, and other parts of Kano city, the registration of voters commenced as early as 9 a.m. with large turnout of eligible voters. At the Protocol Office in Kano state Government House which has about eight registration units, there was large turn-out of people, especially women who were disappointed and stranded owing to the absence of ad-hoc INEC workers, who were supposed to attend to them.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

NEWS Jonathan’s performance poor, say APC leaders Continued from page 4

the armed forces to rig election will be fire for fire. We will stand as soldiers of democracy. We will stand as Nigerians who cannot be defeated.” Fashola, who spoke in Lagos, lamented that the country handed over intact to President Jonathan’s administration had degenerated, so much that some parts of it have fallen into the hands of the insurgents.

He said: “They enjoy making promises they cannot keep. You have heard promises about security, not so? Promises made four years ago. But, we handed them the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with all its component parts intact and we are back four years after with some parts of Nigeria already taken away from them and they are saying the next four years will be better.”

The governor advised Nigerians to be wary of politicians who come to them during electoral period to make superficial promises, urging the electorate to critically assess the track records of the politicians and their political parties before deciding for them. “It is election time and they will start coming with vote catching promises, but they have never kept their promises,” Fashola said.

2015: PDP senators renew battle against governors Continued from page 4

something. “So I believe that we should go to the contest. I am not saying that he should step down for

me. I will not go to Mr. President to ask Gemade to step down for me. “If we go to the field and he defeats me I will support him

and I expect the same from him. But this propaganda in the newspapers that the Presidency or Abuja has stepped in, that won’t work. That will not work.”

Govt to buy arms from Russia Continued from page 4

tion with Russia for arms bailout. We want to buy military hardwares from them.” The source spoke about the reported training of 1,200 special troops in Russia, saying it is all propaganda to frustrate Nigeria’s moves to get equipment to fight Boko Haram. “More countries are also interested in assisting us. We need this help urgently now,” he said. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, on Tuesday, criticised the US refusal to sell arms to the Federal Government. He said: “The US Government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time. “We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more

deadly.” It was however gathered that the US turned down the nation’s request for arms because its laws ban the sale of lethal equipment to nations whose military have alleged worst human rights records.” Another diplomat said: “The ban is not peculiar to Nigeria; many countries are covered by the ban.” The National Coordinator of Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA), Mr Chidi Omeje, yesterday faulted the US arms embargo on Nigeria. Omeje made the call during a media interaction hosted by INigerian Initiative in Abuja. Omeje said: “The group deplores the cold indifference of United States towards Nigeria in her time of need. This is now the time for the true friends and allies of Nigeria to declare their stand. “The spate of bombings and sundry attacks on civilian targets in the north eastern part of Nigeria is enough to attract global

support for the Nigerian government and its security forces. “For almost two years, the US Government refused to label Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) even with glaring evidence of major atrocities displayed by the group against unarmed citizens. “From our enquiries, it was also discovered that for more than 20 years, United States Government has not endorsed the sale of Western military hardware to Nigeria and this has led to a situation whereby our country always resorts to getting supplies from the alternative market or shop from other power blocks. “How is the situation in Syria and Iraq different from that of Nigeria that the US decided to send in troops and its air force to confront the IS terrorists?” He said it was no longer tenable to keep citing alleged abuse of human rights by Nigerian troops as the reason for the arms embargo.

Two die as female suicide bomber strikes in school Continued from page 4

other girl I am sure was just unlucky because she is a student who was just walking along when the bomb went off. I am still in shock. After I finished my exams, I sat under the tree, waiting for my friend. Then the bomb exploded.” Another eye witness said the bomber might have beaten the internal security arrangement. “The situation would have been disastrous if the suicide bomber had hit her target. If she had got to the lecture theatre where students were writing examination, the casualty would have been unimaginable,” he said. The suspected bomber had her lower part - from the abdomen and the legs blown off. The upper part of her body was burnt beyond recognition. Military men and the police anti-bomb squad cordoned off the explosion site. The Provost of the college, Dr. Nathaniel Odediran, said that a female student who was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, a 300-level undergraduate of ABU Distance Learning de-

gree programme in the College, Miss. Fasilat Oludege, passed on at about 5pm yesterday. “ We lost one of our female students who was initially injured in the explosion this evening, bringing the number of casualty to two.” The Provost added: “We thank God for answering our prayers because He did not allow the enemies to succeed in carrying out their enterprise.” Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu condemned the blast and the insurgency in the Northeast. He described the reports that soldiers retreated from terrorists as depressing, lamenting that the military is finding it difficult to end insurgency. Aliyu, who spoke in Minna during the fourth annual MBA International Literary Colloquium, one of the activities marking his 59th birthday, called for the security alertness and cooperation of all Nigerians. “We need to go round houses and enlighten our people on the need for peace to reign, which will, therefore, bring an end to all these killings. We must not

be partisan about security; the role of government is to provide security for people, regardless of their differences. “I am calling on my colleagues to support the president and fight Abubakar Shekau (Boko Haram leader) and his people,” the governor said. In the address entitled: “Leadership and National Development”, former Mozambican President Joacquim Chissano urged African leaders to address “potential trouble spots”, saying they should not “wait until it is too late”. Chissano said: “ Early warning demands early action. Leadership is the state of mind and not position, and as a result, we should try to develop leaders in all areas of endeavours, if we truly want to change the situation on the continent.” Niger police spokesman Ibrahim Gambari said the situation had been brought under control, with the anti-bomb squad dispatched to the scene. Gambari said the level of casualty was limited, adding that three injured persons taken to the hospital had been discharged.

Insurgency: Senate summons Service Chiefs Continued from page 4

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesola Amosu , Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba, and the Director, Directorate of State Security (DSS), Mr. Ekpeyong Ita. Senate President David Mark at the start of plenary yesterday charged the military to declare “total war” on Boko Haram. Mark spoke against the backdrop of the attack at the Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State. He noted that since it was obvious that Boko Haram had ignored all entreaties for dialogue, the military should flush out the insurgents from the

country. He described the wanton killing of innocent pupils as crime against the country and insisted that Nigerians must unite to defeat terror in all its ramifications. Abba has said the police would recover illegal arms in circulation across the country before the elections in February. Abba accused politicians of arming their supporters illegally to perpetrate illegality during elections. He urged individuals or groups in possession of such firearms to surrender them to the police or face prosecution when arrested. “The mopping up of arms is a

continuous exercise. I have directed the Commissioners of Police in all the states to not only ban the possession of illegal weapons, but to also advise members of the public to return those arms to the police”. Abba, who spoke during a meeting with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, said the police would ensure violence-free elections. The police boss said only one of the 30 policemen that were missing following the Boko Haram attack on the Mobile Police Training School in Gwoza, Borno State, a few months ago, had returned and reported at his duty post. The remaining 29 are still unaccounted.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

Spacecraft Probe lands on Comet

UROPEAN robot probe Philae has made the first, historic landing on a comet, after descending from its mothership. The landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was confirmed at about 1605 GMT yesterday. There were cheers and hugs at the control room in Darmstadt, Germany, after the signal was confirmed yesterday. It was designed to shine a light on some of the mysteries of these icy relics from the formation of the Solar System. The landing caps a 6.4 billion-kilometre journey that was begun a decade ago. The lander sank about 4cm into the surface, suggesting a relatively soft surface. But there remains some lack of clarity over whether the harpoons designed to fasten the spacecraft to the ball of ice and dust fired as

intended. “This is a big step for human civilisation,” said JeanJacques Dordain, the director-general of the European Space Agency (Esa). Shortly after the touchdown was confirmed, Stephan Ulamec, the mission’s lander chief, said: “Philae is talking to us... we are on the comet.” The first pictures from the surface have already reached Earth and are being processed in preparation for release. Astronaut Chris Hadfield, famous for performing David Bowie’s Space Oddity on the space station, said of the comet: “Now we’re close enough to lick it, and see what it’s really made of.” Prof Monica Grady of the Open University, who has worked on the project from its earliest days, was at mission control in Darmstadt and was jumping for joy when the news came through.

Scientists initially said Philae’s harpoons did not fire as intended, but BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos said this remained unclear. If they did not deploy, then scientists will take a decision on whether to refire them. However, sources said that screws in the feet that are also designed to anchor the robot into the soil did work. Earlier, a thruster system designed to push the robot down into the surface of the comet failed. Part of the difficulty is the very low gravity on the 4km-wide ice mountain. Philae could have alighted upon terrain whose constitution is anything between rock hard and puffpowder soft. Controllers in Darmstadt have already received pictures from the surface of the comet, but are getting intermittent drop-out in the lander’s signal.

Ukraine crisis: Russian troops crossed ATO officials have border, Nato says seen Russian mili-

tary equipment and Russian combat troops entering Ukraine this week, its top commander says. lRussia’s defence ministry denied that its troops were in eastern Ukraine to help pro-Russian separatists there. However, the rebels have admitted being helped by “volunteers” from Russia. The United Nations Security Council is convened an emergency session later yesterday to day to discuss the reported sightings. Heavy artillery fire rocked the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the industrial hub

•Russia denies charge held by pro-Russian separatist rebels, on Wednesday morning. There were also reports of fighting near the rebel-held city of Luhansk. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another injured north of Luhansk, when rebels fired on government positions near the village of Schastya, Ukrainian security forces said. General Breedlove also confirmed that Nato believes Russia is deploying nuclear-capable weapons to Crimea - a reference to re-

ports that Russia is deploying short-range Iskander ballistic missiles there that could potentially be equipped with nuclear warheads. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has reported seeing unmarked convoys in the region in recent days. The main city in Ukraine’s east, Donetsk, has seen its heaviest shelling in weeks Russian defence official Maj-Gen Igor Konashenkov said “there was and is no evidence” to support Gen Breedlove’s claims.

Ebola: Mali quarantines dozens

UTHORITIES in Mali quarantined dozens of people yesterday at the home of a 25-year-old nurse who died from Ebola in the capital, Bamako, and at the clinic where he treated an imam from Guinea who died with Ebola-like symptoms. The imam from the border town of Kouremale was nev-

er tested for the disease and his body was washed in Mali and returned to Guinea for burial without precautions against the virus. Two aid workers said that another person who lived in the house where the imam stayed in Bamako had died this week and was buried without being tested. A doctor at the Pasteur

Mexico missing students: Violence rages

ROTESTERS in Mexico have set fire to the governing PRI party’s offices in south-western Guerrero state to vent their anger at the official handling of the case of 43 missing students. Their disappearance more than six weeks ago from the town of Iguala has sparked a series of sometimes violent protests. Officials say local gang members have confessed to killing the students and burning their bodies. But remains found nearby have not yet been matched to the missing. About 1,000 people marched in the Guerrero state capital, Chilpancingo, before unrest broke out. The protesters, which included students and members of teachers’ unions, fought battles with the police They also attacked vehicles outside the headquarters of the governing party The PRI governing party headquarters had been renovated last year A group of protesters fought running battles with police, throwing stones and petrol bombs. Officials said three police officers and two journalists were injured in the clashes. The disappearance of the 43 trainee teachers and the links it has revealed between the local authorities and a gang calling itself Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors) have triggered mass protests.

Clinic where the nurse worked - one of Bamako’s top medical centers - is also suspected to have contracted Ebola. Mali, the sixth West African nation to record Ebola, must now trace a new batch of contacts just as people linked to its first and only other case - a two-year-old girl who died last month completed their 21-day quarantine on Tuesday. Concern is growing at the time it took between the imam dying and the steps needed to contain the deadly disease being put in place. Dr. Samba Sow, head of Mali’s Ebola response, said the imam died on Oct. 27, two days after going to the clinic. “This case shows the lack of training of doctors in Bamako. This training should have been done six months ago,” one aid worker told Reuters, asking not to be named. The government said in a statement on Wednesday that the nurse was confirmed to have Ebola on Tuesday and died later that evening. All necessary steps to identify people who had come into contact with the nurse had been taken, it said. Ousmane Doumbia, secretary general of the health ministry, said 70 people had been quarantined. The Pasteur Clinic was locked down by police on Tuesday night.

THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

SHOWBIZ

HE industry sessions at the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), taking place in Calabar, Cross River State, has continued to explore topics of interest- especially one of them, the Art of Film Criticism, which appeared to have pitched art journalists against filmmakers. The filmmakers appeared battle ready, determined to pour out their mind about the perceived damages done to their movies by film critics. They figured that it is unfair to rubbish a film which has gulped so much money on the pages of the newspapers, adding that such also discourages potential investors. But the session, which had Don Omope, Editor of African Screens Magazine and Shaibu Husseini of Nigeria’s The Guardian Newspapers debunked that film criticism is destructive, asking the filmmakers to have a rethink. Anchored on three main questions: What do you think of the film critic? Are they partners or spoilers? Do they help box office returns or not? The panel noted that the input of critics can only enhance filmmakers’ attempt to do what is right. However, in doing so, it was reasoned that the wouldbe critic needs to know the genre so that he/she would speak convincingly about the work. The critic, it was also noted, should endeavour to have a sound knowledge of film history, genre, know the style of the director and, perhaps, check whether he or he/she has been consistent in creating the screen image. Husseini, who pointed out that the actual art of criticism, is done in the academics, said, “as a journalist doing his re-

Gone Too Far excites UNICAL students Stories by Victor Akande

• Filmmakers at one of the industry sessions

AFRIFF 2014: Panel says film criticism isn’t derogatory view and appreciation of movies in The Guardian Newspapers, which is titled Movie Run, he has made so much enemies.” He, however, noted that this has not deterred the effort to have a thriving criticism culture. He has made the art selfless and agenda focus. In other words, his mission as a critic is to help sustain a germane film tradition that is devoid of incongruities. He said: “You cannot review or critique without watching the entire script. Your impression of the film should not be solidified until you have seen the film to the end.” He equally noted that a film critic should be bibliophilic, not just a cinephile. “You need to read books and books on

film criticism and appreciation.” According to Omope, filmmaking cannot grow in isolation. However, there is a conflict between the critic and the filmmaker, which has created a subtle tension in terms of quality and box office returns. Not acceding to the opinion that critics should be part of the ‘filmmaking process because it kills the independence of the critic, he noted: “you cannot think or teach the filmmaker how to do his/her work.” Omope also advised critics not to play small letter god, as they are partners in the growing film industry and where it is going is ahead and great. Also speaking on the role

of critics in the development of a film culture, Prof. Johnson of the University of Uyo said filmmakers should develop thick skin, adding that, “the more prominent a filmmaker is, the more attention he or she gets.” Johnson, however, nudged filmmakers to look properly at what people say about their work. “There isn’t any need to be in a hurry and don’t allow your ego to stifle, what would otherwise have been a quality work.” Also speaking, producer of the popular Ije movie, Chineze Anyaene, said “a filmmaker should be open to criticism. Nothing is perfect, pick the ones that are constructive and drop the rest.”

HERE were just several exciting sides to the screening of Gone Too Far, a film written and produced by London-based Nigerian filmmaker, Bola Agbaje, at the Conference Center of the University of Calabar, Tuesday evening. The movie screening was part of the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), taking place in the tourism city, meant to mentor students of the Theatre Arts department of the school. The presence of Nollywood actresses, Rita Dominic and Kenshaw, their counterpart from South Africa, Xolile Tshabalala and several other celebrities threw the school into an unusual mood, and as the movie was being played, the laugher, giggles and occasional applause gave credits to the filmmakers and organisers of AFRIFF. Sponsored by the British Film Institute (BFI), Gone Too Far, the British film by Nigerians, explores racial disparity among blacks in the white man’s land. Directed by Destiny Ekharaga, the film features British-Nigerian teenager Yemi (Malachi Kirby) who is ashamed to let his peers know that his just-arrived, socks-and-sandals-wearing Nigerian brother Ikudayisi (OC Ukeje) is his biological brother. The underlining message in the comic film climaxes with an exposé of the folly of denying one’s identity in a bid to feel British among fellow Africans, even when the British don’t see them as one of their own.

• Henshaw, Ude and Dominic

SPORT EXTRA

Enyeama sure of victory against Congo • Banks on Nigerian’ votes to win African Best Player award

UPER Eagles’ Captain, Vincent Enyeama and teammate Efe Ambrose have assured soccer loving Nigerians that the team will defeat Congo Brazzaville in Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifying match to brighten Ni-

• Enyeama

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja geria chances of playing in the finals of the competition next year. Super Eagles will travel to Congo tonight for the battle of Pointe Noire, and team Captain Enyeama is confident of his team’s victory on Saturday. "The important thing for us as a team is to go to Congo and get a good result. In football there are three results; win, draw or loss. Anything can happen but we want to get the three points at stake. “I read a report that the coach said that we are going to play African football in Congo. So, this is the lesson that we learnt and this is the practice we want to adopt. Just want to go there and get 3 points by hook or crook. Anyhow! Enyeama also dismissed the

insinuation that the he and his colleagues were not under any pressure to win the match in Pointe Noire. “No! This is football; we are not under any pressure. It's football, why should we be under any pressure? I mean this is football, you will always make people happy, you will make some sad. That is the reality of life. This is what has happened to us and it has happened. This is football. Anything can happen. We want it to be our day onSaturday.MayGodhelpus.But this is football. What can we do? The Eagles’ skipper, however, expressed happiness that Ikechukwu Uche has returned to the team and tagged it a welcome development as they have prayed for his return to the team. On his double nomination as CAF and BBC player of the year, the Lille Metropole of France

I'm not under pressure, says Ike Uche

ILLARREAL striker Ike Uche has maintained he was not under pressure to score goals for Nigeria on his return to the Super Eagles after more than a year’s absence. Uche fell out with coach Stephen Keshi, but when the coach was reinstated to his post earlier this month, he finally agreed to bury the hatchet and recall the striker, who last

featured for Nigeria in the final of AFCON 2013 against Burkina Faso.. And now the striker who scored 14 goals in the Spanish La Liga last season said he is not under pressure to deliver in Saturday’s all-important qualifier against Congo in Pointe-Noire. "It’s always an honour to play for my country and I am ready to give my best," he declared.

"I am not under any pressure to deliver, but the team spirit is high and as a team we would together do our best to qualify our country. "We have a very important game ahead of us and I am here to help my country qualify." He has now described his relationship with Keshi as "good", adding "I am happy to be back".

safe hands expressed hope of emerging winner while counting on the votes of Nigerians to help him win the Player of the Year award. "I feel happy about the nomination and I hope and pray to win too. But that depends on how Nigerians vote for me, if they all vote for me then I stand a chance to win it" he stated.

Keshi praying for good luck

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi is praying for good luck in Point Noire when they face their Congolese counterparts in a must win Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The Super Eagles will surely need some luck when they face the Red Devils, knowing that anything short of a win – possibly with a two goal advantage – will end their chances of qualification. And as a result, the former Hawks of Togo manager hopes ‘everything works well’ in Congo. The 52-year old has also told SL10.ng that he is impressed with what the players have shown so far in training. “I think I like what I’m seeing, I hope we just concentrate and continue with the same attitude and atmosphere and pray that everything works well for us in Point Noire,” he told SL10.ng. “It’s just that we don’t have enough days for training, we just have three days training sessions. Wednesday will be the second day and probably Thursday before we travel,” he added.

NATIONAL SCHOOL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Mark to release food subsidy balance today

ENATE President, David Mark has promised to make good his promise to release the balance of the N3m remaining as subsidy for meals. His Special Assistant on Sports, Dr Deshi who revealed this said the Senate president was aware of the balance and promise made on his behalf of him by his wife Mrs Helen Mark, while dropping the initial N3m on Saturday last week. “The senate president has not forgotten his promise on feeding of the children. He is aware of his promise and will redeem it. In fact it will

be redeemed tomorrow (Thursday). I have gotten in touch with the wife of the Senate President on the balance. Even the Senate President will be on ground himself,” Dr Deshi disclosed. It would be recalled that Senator Mark on Saturday intervened in the food crisis being faced at the festival by giving the NSSF N3million out of the N6million requested from the Benue government. Mark said he was intervening because the state government had not shown any form of assistance towards the effective hosting of the festival themed “Mark of Excellence”.

Lagos, Anambra dominate gymnastics event

AGOS and Anambra States have dominated the gymnastics event at the ongoing school sports festival in Otukpo, Benue as the competitions I the game ended on Tuesday. The Anambra came second on the medals table with five gold, nine silver and eleven bronze medals behind winners Lagos with 16 gold, nine silver and four bronze medals. Other states that won medals in gymnastics as obtained from the NSS secretariat were, Cross River with five gold, four silver and six bronze, Niger won one gold, one silver and no brone to come fourth while hosts Benue go no medal.

John Oyewuwo head of the technical committee I gymnastics congratulated Lagos and Anambra for coming out tops in the event, he said while Lagos was a strong force in the sport, Anambra had improved tremendously. Oyewuwo said Anambra should encourage gymnastics as there were lots of potentials to be developed there, adding that the state should acquire more equipment and expose their athletes to more competitions and training. Benson Udeh, coach of the Anambra gymnastics team thanked the governemnet for their support adding that he was glad to have contributed to the medal haul of the state.

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

T has been more than 100 days since July 31 when Suleiman Abba was named Acting Inspector–General of Police. The next day at the Villa in Abuja, he excitedly raised his hands like a politician and flashed those toothy smiles as he posed for photographers. If not for the uniform, many would have thought he was just an ordinary fellow who had just won the lottery. But then, isn’t a police chief’s job seen among officers as hitting the jackpot? There were hopes and expectations of a new era amid daunting tasks. Boko Haram had moved from a band of violent intruders to an army of insurgents, snatching town after town and village after village to realise its dream of a caliphate. Armed robbers seized cities by the throat, as if they had sworn to an oath to avenge some inexplicable wrong. Kidnappers cut short what looked like a short vacation and stepped up their evil trade. Communal clashes failed to subside. Abba, a tested officer, vowed to tackle them all. He set his hand to the plough. But time, that old trickster, is at its game. It is just a little over 100 days since Abba mounted the saddle. Now, many are saying haba! He announced his arrival with a massive shake-up, which many an observer insisted was made to favour his cronies. A police chief eager to change things would have departed from the old way of seeing postings as a largesse for the boys, but a tool for fundamental change that will enhance professionalism and change the perception of the police as an organisation with little or no redeeming feature. An officer is asked to police an area that is strange to him in culture and history. He ends up muddling things up. This won’t ever help the police. Abba was never bothered by such criticisms. He was too busy making history. Now it shall be recorded that under him the Police Academy in Gwarzo was on August 20 seized and turned into a Boko Haram camp. Besides, no fewer than 30 trainee-policemen were abducted, perhaps never to be found again, their families left to mourn their horrific fate. Good news–Abba said yesterday that one had returned; now 29 missing. Will they ever return? When reporters pestered him with questions on the trainees, Abba would sometimes reply that efforts were being made to secure their release, saying nothing about the nature of such efforts and who was making them. Other times, he sounded helpless, pleading for help to find the missing men. If a police training facility could be overrun and annexed so easily by Boko Haram insurgents, then the September 18 invasion of the College of Education in Kano was no surprise. A gang of gunmen stormed the school while lectures were in full swing. They were shooting and throwing bombs. The pandemonium was unimaginable. By

RIPPLES NIGERIA IS NOT BROKE, SAYS OKONJO-IWEALA

Yes, it’s NIGERIANS that are BROKE!

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 9, NO. 3,031

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

Abba: The first 100 days

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As if these were not nauseating enough, the police became an accomplice in the assault on the Judiciary, an institution it is expected to protect and respect •IG Abba

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the time the smoke cleared off the scene, 13 students lay dead. Two gunmen also died. These incidents, one had thought, were enough to embarrass any police chief. Not so Abba. Some of his men are redefining the job, even as he carries on like a builder who has no architectural drawing. The repulsive abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls has elicited emotional reactions from the world. The BringBackOurGirls campaigners have been meeting in Abuja to arouse whatever is left of the government’s conscience to the need for these girls’ rescue. First, the government called the protesters names and claimed –without any proof whatsoever – that they were being sponsored by the opposition. Then, it encouraged those campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term to mount electronic billboards as a kind of distraction at the venue of the daily protests. Instead of deterring the protesters, the cowardice fired them up the more – to the shame of the Jonathan-for-2015 crowd. Enter Mbu Joseph Mbu. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner suddenly announced that rallies had been banned, warning the Chibok girls campaigners to go home or get arrested. The world was appalled. Abba watched as Mbu turned the police into a laughing stock, until a court stepped in to stop the

joke, ruling that the police could not ban rallies. But Mbu wasn’t done. Puffed up with conceit, he recalled his tour of duty in Rivers State and described himself as a leopard who tamed the lion – a curious allegorical allusion to his unnecessary running battle with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in which he was apparently doing the Villa’s bidding. Not quite long after, a reporter, Amaechi Anakwe, described Mbu as controversial in a report. Mbu “the lion” roared into action. He seized the reporter and hurled him into detention. The next day, he bundled the poor fellow before a magistrate. He was granted bail. It is not on record that Abba called Mbu to order. There were suggestions that he gave Mbu a slap on the wrist because he was afraid that the Villa could reprimand him. Not long ago, former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President Okey Wali was kidnapped. Lawyers cried out. His family screamed and prominent Nigerians pleaded for his release. His abduction provided a vivid picture of the danger we all face. Eventually, Wali was let go by his abductors, obviously after getting a hefty ransom. The police are yet to arrest a suspect. As if these were not nauseating enough, the police became an accomplice in the assault on the Judiciary, an institution it is expected to protect and respect. When the then governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, visited the Election Petition Tribunal where his victory at the June 21 election was being challenged, a band of thugs went on the rampage on the premises, which also houses the State High Court, smashing windows and tearing documents. A judge was beaten up, his dress shredded. The police watched the scene, unmoved. Besides, the police also lent their strength to the despicable siege to the courts, sealing off the place and preventing judges from sitting for many days. The louder the protestations against this aberration, the longer Abba and his men stood their ground. At a point

HARDBALL

ONFUSION must be ruling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), considering the news that it has fixed November 26 for the screening of President Goodluck Jonathan who, from the look of things, is its recognised sole presidential aspirant in connection with the 2015 general elections. For the purpose of clarity, it is noteworthy that Jonathan’s aspiration has enjoyed institutional protection and promotion to the disadvantage of any other person who might have been nursing a presidential dream on the party’s platform. Indeed, perhaps it is unrealistic to refer to Jonathan as just an aspirant in the sense of someone seeking endorsement by his party, because he already enjoys the image of a chosen candidate. Of course, it is no news that Jonathan has been exclusively endorsed for re-election by the PDP governors, Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee, which effectively foreclosed the conventional presidential primary election to choose a candidate. Upon reflection, Jonathan’s stunning choreographic approach to next year’s presidential poll may qualify as arguably the most systematically planned and methodically controlled pursuit of power in the country’s history of democratic politics,

When screening is a smokescreen which should not necessarily be seen in constructive terms. To go by the party’s latest timetable, November 15 is for “Return of Forms” by presidential aspirants; and it is expected that only Jonathan would do so because no one else was allowed to get the relevant form. Against this background, it is food for thought that, by fixing a date for a so-called presidential screening, the party is trying to give the wrong impression that it had not already approved Jonathan’s candidacy. Now, why would the party apparently consider it important to project an appearance of propriety when it has all along been a model of subversion? To think the unthinkable, is it possible that Jonathan could fail at this screening stage? Doesn’t having the prior backing of the party’s most influential organs and

when they no longer could shut down an arm of the government without an explanation – an action legal giants described as a coup – the police said they were simply keeping their lordships from harm’s way as they had found a bomb on the premises. “Could you show us the bomb?” “How soon will it be removed?” their lordships asked the police. There was no answer. But the National Judicial Council (NJC) insisted that the rights of the courts to adjudicate on disputes without hassles from any quarters must be enforced. The Chief Judge should reopen the courts, it said. By that time, the partisanship and stupidity of the police had become so glaring that they could no longer hide behind one finger. They then withdrew from the courts. No apologies. No regrets. No qualms. Haba! Louis Edet, Kam Salem and all those other noble souls who nursed the police to maturity must be spinning in their graves. The other day when House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Villa’s anger hit the overdrive. Apparently playing the good boy, Abba – parading a dubious interpretation of the law – withdrew Tambuwal’s guards. Abba’s police became the PDP’s court and the enforcer of the law. There were cases in court on the matter of politicians leaving one party for another. That did not matter to Abba. A court has ruled that he was wrong. We await his reaction. It is not as if Abba’s report card has been allred. No. The other day in Edo State, a man lured a dog into an uncompleted building and slept with the animal. Neighbours seized him and raised the alarm. The police, ever vigilant, promptly arrested the suspect and announced that he would soon be charged to court. The owner of the dog, apparently disappointed by its attitude, disowned it. The police are yet to tell us what fate befell the poor dog. Neither do we know if the suspect has been taken to court. Investigations continue? Anyway, I am told, the suspect remains on bail – remember bail is free o! Dogs seem to be giving Abba’s police a nightmare. Two dogs that attacked a kid at Igando on the outskirts of Lagos have been booked. Their owner has been arrested after a painstaking investigation conducted by experienced officers. The dogs, I learnt, will soon have their day in court. Good job. A sloppy police would have found the dogs but not their owners or the owners and not the dogs. Abba’s police found both. Bravo! A word for Abba and all those using the police to promote impunity: anarchy blows no siren. We must avoid it. How? By building institutions and respecting the rule of law. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above decision makers suggest that the advertised screening may be nothing but a smokescreen? In the unlikely event that Jonathan is unsuccessful at the screening show, he has a chance to appeal on the same date. What if the appeal fails? Remember, Jonathan is the sole aspirant. Predictably, at the party’s December 1011 national convention, where its presidential candidate is expected to formally emerge, everything will go according to plan and premeditation, meaning that Jonathan will officially get the ticket, as if he had not always had it. Who is fooling whom? This is an inevitable question for both the puppeteer and the puppets. It would be intriguing to hear Jonathan’s speech at his party’s national convention, after the perfection of the execution of the mind-blowing plot. It would be equally interesting to note the response by party members to his address. Birds of a feather flock together, they say; and this should largely explain Jonathan’s strikingly stage-managed emergence as PDP’s presidential candidate in the coming elections. It is a tale that has not only further exposed the party’s fundamentally flawed character, but also its flawless darkness.

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