The Nation November 14, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Baba Suwe: NDLEA made me fish through excreta P5 Sport Obafemi Martins pleads for another Eagles chance P41 Business Dangote spends N600m on women empowerment P11 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1944 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Governor Sylva: I didn’t threaten to kill Jonathan PDP disqualifies Bayelsa Governor, Alaibe, Ben Bruce, Igali

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HE drama over the Bayelsa Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary took a strange turn yesterday, with Govenror Timipre Sylva alleging plans to frame him up on false charges.

Shortly after the PDP disqualified Sylva, his spokesman, Dofie Ola, issued a statement, saying: “There are attempts to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable

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Governor Sylva wishes to bring to the attention of the public reports alleging that there are attempts to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable felony charges. The story is that there is a tape in which he threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan. This is completely false.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

felony charges.

“The story is that there is a tape in which he threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan. This is completely

Tribunal sacks Kebbi Governor

false. At no time did Sylva threaten to kill President Jonathan. He has no reason whatsoever to wish the President or any other person dead.”

Sylva accused the PDP of infringing on his right to vote and be voted for.

The statement, entitled “Bayelsa State people shall prevail, said:

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“The attention of H.E. Chief Timipre Sylva, Governor of Bayelsa State, has been drawn to a statement by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP), disallowing him from participating in the Bayelsa State PDP gubernatorial primaries scheduled for Saturday, 19 November 2011.

“Governor Sylva considers it disturbing that his full membership of the PDP is being abridged. In particular, his fundamental right to vote and be voted for has been trampled upon by his Continued on page 2

A DEAL ...

•Yar’Adua’s son in-law loses seat

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HE Kebbi State Governorship Election Tribunal yesterday nullified the election of Governor Saidu Dakingari.

He was elected on April 26 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His election was challenged by Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate Alhaji Abubakari Garimallam.

The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election within 90 days.

The nullification of the election of Dakingari, the late President Umaru

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

Yar’Adua’s son in-law, was greeted with wild jubilation in Birnin Kebbi.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Mairo Laraba Yusuf said INEC could not defend the results of the April 26 governorship poll.

She said the results “allocated” by INEC affected the outcome of the poll.

Justice Yusuf expressed regrets that INEC could “not produce the list of ballot papers allocated to all the 21 local governments.

She said the election was “not conducted in line with 2011 Electoral Act (as Continued on page 2

•Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Managing Director Mr. Abiye H. Membere (left) shaking hands with the Chairman of the Nestoil-led Consortium, Neconde Enegry, Dr. Ernest Azudialu during the Sign-off/Sign-on ceremony for the 45 per cent equity formerly held by SPDC/Total/Agip in OML 42 to Neconde Energy, the new partner in the new joint-venture, the NPDC/Neconde JV at the NNPC Towers in Abuja ... at the weekend. Watching is Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Mr. Mutiu Sonmonu.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

NEWS

•From right:Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, their former lecturer at the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Kunle Abayomi, Senator Joy Emodi, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, Cross Rivers State Governor Liyel Imoke and former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche during the Nigerian Law School Class ‘88 Alumni Dinner at the Lagos Motor Boat Club Ikoyi, Lagos ... at the weekend

Continued from page 1

Governor sacked

amended) and INEC manual.

Justice Yusuf added that the tribunal had no option than to invoke Section 140(1) of the Electoral Act 2011 to nullify Dakingari’s election.

The Section says: “Subject to subsection(2) of this section, if the Tribunal or the Court as the case may be, determines that a candidate who was returned as elected was not validly elected on any ground, the tribunal or the Court shall nullify the election.

She added: “The worst is that INEC cannot produce evidence on the number of ballot papers and boxes allocated to all presiding officers in the state.

“The fact that INEC could not defend the result of the governorship election proved that the re-

sult was not genuine. Therefore, the total result allocated by INEC affected the entire governorship election.

“We hereby declare the election null and void in accordance with the prayers of the petitioners.”

Justice Yusuf ordered INEC to conduct fresh governorship poll within 90 days in Kebbi State in “line with laid down procedure and the Electoral Act.” But Governor Dakingari’s lawyer Mr. Sam Nene, said the judges were unfair to the governor and his deputy by cancelling the election.

He said Dakingari will appeal the judgment after consultations.

But the counsel to the Congress for Progressive Change Mr. Sam Kargbo, said: “I commend the courage of the Chairman and members of the tribunal. Their verdict confirmed that CPC won the governorship poll in Kebbi State but it was robbed of its victory.

He said the tribunal was right by saying the election was not properly conducted.

INEC’s counsel Mr. Amechi Nwosu said: “INEC will study the case and take proper action.

The tribunal has the right to give such directive for a fresh election.

CPC candidate Garimallam on May 18 challenged the outcome of the governorship poll at the tribunal.

He averred that the election was marred by irregularities.

‘PDP’s screening is coronation, not competition’

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X-president of Silverbird Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce disqualified from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary, has described the screening as a coronation.

He said he did not willingly opt out of the race but that he was eliminated before the race began.

In a statement yesterday, the former NTA boss stated: “I believed in my heart as a democrat when I entered the race for the governorship of

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Bayelsa (state) that the race would be fair, democratic and competitive but it has now become clear that it is not a competition but a coronation.

“I want my followers and the people of Bayelsa to know that to quit is revolting to every instinct in my body. I am not a quitter but I was not allowed to run. I was eliminated before the race started.

“To my followers, though I may not get the chance to be our governor, I will continue

the fight for free and affordable education, quality healthcare, affordable housing, free maternal healthcare, development of the agricultural sector and the dignity of all Bayelsans.

“To the young generation, I urge you not to give up on your political dreams, do not leave the process but continue to struggle for your rights. Continue to struggle for economic empowerment.

Continue to struggle for justice and change and in the end we will prevail.

“When I began this race I said, if I run I may lose but if I don’t run we will always lose. The race has raised political, economic and social issues which any governor cannot ignore. Because of this race, we are now engaged in a debate about our future. So, in a sense, my candidacy has not been in vain”.

Also yesterday, the Voice of Niger Delta (VOND) cautioned against linking President Goodluck Jonathan to the disqualification of Sylva by the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP). The group’s President General Mr. Ibimie Odimabo said “Jonathan’s hands are clean”.

Odimabo said the party has taken a decision which should not be linked to Jonathan adding that: “Jonathan is not part of the plans to drop Sylva from bidding for the Bayelsa governorship ticket. You have to play your card well. If people are accusing Jonathan of being part of Sylva woes, it is too bad. I know President Jonathan can never do such a thing,” he said.

PDP disqualifies Bayelsa Governor, Alaibe, Ben Bruce, Igali

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AYELSA State Governor Timipre Sylva has been shut out of the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His disqualification by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party yesterday came less than 24 hours to the primary process.

Ward congresses are scheduled for today, to be followed by the local government congresses, which will culminate in the State Congress to pick the PDP standard bearer on Saturday.

Apart from Sylva, three other aspirants were disqualified, leaving only seven out of the 11 aspirants who collected the forms to battle for the ticket.

Others disqualified are a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe, former Silverbird President, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce and a Permanent Secretary, Amb. Godknows Igali, who launched his campaign in Yenegoa yesterday shortly before the announcement was made. The ceremony was marred.

Sylva may also face a disciplinary panel to explain why he should not be suspended by the party.

Cleared to run are Mr. Orufa Justine Boloubo; Hon. Dickson Seriake Henry; Mr. Christopher Fullpower; Mr. Kalango Michael Youppele; Mr Francis Amaebi Doukpola; Mr Ekiyegha Francis Korobido; and Mr. Austin Febo.

There were indications last night that some of the disqualified aspirants might gang up to vote against Hon. Dickson Seriake Henry, who is believed to be anointed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the state.

The decision of the National Working Committee of the PDP was contained in a statement by the party’s National Publicity

Sylva: I didn’t threaten to kill Jonathan Continued from page 1

own party, a party he has contributed so much in building. Consequently, Governor Sylva and his supporters are reviewing the NWC decision.

“Governor Sylva notes that the NWC decision does not annul his membership of the PDP. As Governor of Bayelsa State on the platform of the PDP, Sylva remains the leader of the party in the state. As a loyal party person, he will participate in all party activities.

“Similarly, Governor Sylva wishes to bring to the attention of the public reFrom Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali.

The statement said: “The National Working Committee of the PDP has concluded the review of the reports of the Screening Committee and Screening Appeal panel for the gubernatorial primaries in Bayelsa State scheduled to hold on the 18th of November 2011.

“After a thorough review of the two reports, and after a painstaking examination of all the issues raised about each and every aspirant, the NWC has cleared seven out of the 11 aspirants that purchased forms to contest for the primaries. Those who were cleared and shall contest the gubernatorial primaries are the following: I. Orufa Justine Boloubo II. Dickson Seriake Henry; III. EnaiChristopher Fullpower IV. Kalango Michael Youppele; V. Francis Amaebi; VI. Ekiyegha Francis Korobido; and VII. Austin Febo “However, in this last and final batch, four of the aspirants did not scale through the Party screening process and have therefore not been cleared to contest the primaries. Those not cleared are; I. Alaibe Ndutimi; II. Ben Murray Bruce; III.

ports alleging that there are attempts to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable felony charges. The story is that there is a tape in which he threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan. This is completely false. At no time did Sylva threaten to kill President Jonathan. He has no reason whatsoever to wish the president or any other person dead.

“Governor Sylva enjoins the people of Bayelsa State, especially his numerous supporters to remain calm, lawabiding and hopeful.

The people of Bayelsa State shall prevail.”

The Presidency said Sylva’s allegation

Timipre Marun Sylva; and IV. Igali Godknows Boladet.

“All Members of the Party, especially stakeholders in Bayelsa State should note that this is the final decision on the status of all aspirants for the forthcoming Primaries. All efforts should now be geared towards mobilizing Party members for the forthcoming primaries and Elections in the State.

“In view of the foregoing, all those aspirants whose names appear in para 2 above will be duly issued with final Clearance Certificates to enable them stand for the forthcoming primary elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, and in line with the provisions of our guidelines for primary elections, no aspirant can or should use a provisional certificate as a basis for unilaterally declaring himself or herself as a candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party for the Gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State.

“Even where he or she does so, it is of no value, effect or utility for the primary elections and is therefore redundant.

“The NWC wishes to reiterate its commitment towards enforcing discipline within the ranks of the Party at all levels.

“We shall therefore not hesitate to invoke disciplinary mea-

that there is a plan to arrest him on trumped-up treasonable felony charges, has nothing to do with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati said the concern raised by the governor was addressed to the party (the PDP) and so if there was going to be any reaction, it should come from the party and not the presidency.

He said after going through the statement issued by the government of Bayelsa state, it was obvious that it was targeted at the party and not the president, so the party is in the best position to react.

sures on any member who disregards lawful Party directives or who engages in acts capable of undermining the Party’s cohesion or initiates and takes any step that could lead to the breaching of public peace.”

Sylva was disqualified for what a member of the NWC described as “gross indiscipline”.

The source said: “The governor was rude to the party by going ahead with his declaration rally on Saturday and by claiming that he has been cleared by the party.

At a time the party was under pressure to review his case, he worsened it by bringing the PDP into disrepute with his declaration.

“Sylva’s rally amounted to a violation of Article 21.1 of the PDP’s Constitution, especially sub-sections (a), (b), (c), (f), and (h).

“The sub-sections say: Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the party shall have power to discipline any member who: commits any breach of the party constitution and or Manifesto; says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt; disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party; engages in anti-party activities; and engages in any conduct likely to cause dis-

affection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party.”

“With what the governor has done, we may subject him to a disciplinary process. Do not forget that the NWC can suspend him.”

On the disqualification of Alaibe, the source said: “By virtue of Article 16.4 of the PDP, ‘No member of the party shall be qualified for nomination or election or appointment into any of the offices of the party, unless he or she has been a registered member for at least 18 months and is of good financial standing in the party, except there is a waiver by the appropriate executive committee.

“As far as we are concerned, Alaibe has not been given a waiver at the state or NWC levels. So, we cannot clear him for the primary election.”

Concerning Bruce and Igali, the influential NWC member said: “Igali only gave a threemonth notice of disengagement from the civil service as a Permanent Secretary, which has not

been accepted or acknowledged by the Presidency.

“Although he is a good candidate, it will amount to illegality to allow Igali to participate in the primary election or be given the party’s mandate.

“You do not get a mandate through ambush or special anointing. We still rated him as a civil servant.”

On Bruce, the source said: “There is no sufficient evidence that he is an active registered PDP member in the last 18 months. No one will dispute his contributions to the victory of President Jonathan in April’s general election but you cannot equate that to the automatic membership of the party.

“We did a lot of homework on all the aspirants before clearing those seven that will participate in the primary election.”

Sylva and his supporters were at the Government House in Yenegoa, preparing for today’s ward congress when they heard the announcement of his disqualification.

It was gathered that the initial meeting held by the group was weighing the options of either supporting Chief Francis Doukpola or defect to another political party for Sylva to contest on its platform.

The Igali event tagged a Prayer rally, witnessed the presence of over 20 Pastors who supplicated to God not only for the peace and unity of the inhabitants of the state but for the victory of Igali at the Polls.

Igali also personally conducted one of the prayer sessions.

Senator David Birigidi, appealed to Bayelsans to rally round Igali as he’s the anointed one, saying “all other aspirants declaring will be harmonised into one to work for the success of Igali.

CORRECTION The headline of the story “Court rules Jan. 16 in the Kudirat Abiola murder case” published on November 11, should have read “Judgment in Kudirat Abiola’s murder case for January 20.

- Editor

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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NEWS

•Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Tafida (fourth right) with members of staff of the high commission and some Nollywood actors/actresses, at the Abuja House, in London…at the weekend PHOTO: NAN

Church leaders condemn stand on gay marriage From Dele Anofi, Abuja

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EADS of churches have condemned the Commonwealth of Nations’ decision to refuse assistance to its member states that failed to recognise the rights of homosexuals and gay marriage.

The clerics said they were shocked by the recent statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron, that his government would aid only those countries that adhere to “proper human rights”.

The declaration of the over 5,000 bishops, was made at the first Divine Commonwealth Conference which ended at the weekend at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The international, non-denominational spiritual conference was initiated by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) under the leadership of the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh.

The group pointed out some contradictions inherent in the Commonwealth’s decision, saying : “It is clear that his true agenda is to force the normalisation of homosexuality and gay marriage as a “human right.

“While acknowledging the sacred worth of every human being, we reject this erroneous notion as contrary to God’s intention for humankind and harmful to those he claims to protect.

“Another implication of this is that the Commonwealth of Nations is still being treated as a body of unequal partners, while because of economic status, some nations are still vulnerable to manipulation’’.

Urging the Federal Government to resist any such intimidation on this matter, the group said: “We believe that the family is an essential building block of the Divine Commonwealth and the institution of marriage worthy of our full support.

“We stand with those who are working to protect marriage, family life and values pastorally in local congregations. We also support the National Assembly in its efforts to protect marriage as between a man and a woman.

While the group regretted acts of terrorism and ethnoreligious crisis that have engulfed some part of the country, the Federal government was however challenged on means of putting a check to it.“

Boko Haram: Fed Govt re-activates 22 border patrol posts •Four-nation security talks ends S part of security measures to check the threats of radical Islamic sect- Boko Haram, the Federal Government has ordered the re-activation of 22 border security posts in the North.

The borders, according to a security source, are: Chad, Niger, Benin and Cameroun.

The source said Mali is being watched closely.

The move, which President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed, was reached at the end of a security meeting of the five countries in Abuja.

The meeting, it was learnt, approved the measures being put in place by Nigeria to curb terrorism.

Nigeria will supervise border patrols across the 22 posts in partnership with security personnel in the listed countries. The security men will be trained in Nigeria.

The reopening of the border posts is expected to curb the influx of illegal immigrants and weapons,

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Islamic sect tied to al-Qaeda, says Algeria

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NTELLIGENCE reports show there is coordination between Islamist sect Boko Haram and al-Qaeda’s North African branch, Algerian Deputy Foreign Minister Abelkader Messhel said yesterday.

“We have no doubts that co-ordination exists between Boko Haram and al-Qaeda,” Messahel told reporters.

“The way both groups operate and From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

especially from neighbouring countries.

The source added that though Mali does not have a border with Nigeria, its inclusion in the security watch-list became imperative because of its link with Al Qaeda.

The Federal Government was said to be discussing with border countries on the need for mutual co-operation in dealing with the emerging security challenges within the West African sub-region.

“We are doing our best to ensure that we protect the lives and property of the citizenry and foreigners in this country,” the

intelligence reports show that there is cooperation.”

Al-Qaeda’s North African branch, known as al -Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, draws its leaders from Algeria. Security forces there have the biggest intelligence-gathering operation on the group’s activities of any country in the region.

source said, adding that once the government puts the entire security apparatus into use, “you can be sure that these criminals causing so much trouble for the government will be taken care of adequately”.

The latest move is coming few days after President Jonathan directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to volunteer capable hands to be trained by security forces on counter terrorism and emergency response strategies.

The officials will manage related security issues in their MDAs to complement the efforts of key security agencies.

The source also said the security agencies have intensified physical security checks across the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT) and major cities across the country as well as deployment of intelligence personnel in hotels and offices across the country.

The office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), it was learnt, has ordered a 24-hour surveillance around all hotels that have over 50-room capacity. All public infrastructure and private recreational centres are now to be manned by plain-clothes security operatives.

A group, the Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), at the weekend called a meeting of youth leaders in the nation’s six geo-political zones to discuss the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram religious sect.

The youth leaders took the decision at a meeting of its National Executive Council.

In a statement by the group’s National President, Comrade Godspower Odenema, and National Secretary, Comrade Moses OmoIkirodah, the group noted that there is need to visit religious and political leaders in the North.

It urged Boko Haram members to embrace peace in seeking solutions to their agitation instead of picking up arms against their fatherland.

The statement said the group felt bad when it recalled how Niger Delta indigenes supported the Heads of State and Presidents from the North but expressed dismay that some people in the North have been making the country ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from Niger Delta.

The group urged the youths, who will attend the meeting, to bring proposals, ideas and initiatives that would end the insecurity caused by the activities of the sect.

Tension over suit against Senate President Mark

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HERE has been tension since Friday over a strange suit seeking to declare the seat of the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, vacant.

A businessman, Onoja Igoche from Opokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, filed a matter before the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Senate President’s seat vacant.

Although the hearing of the suit will come up today, it was considered a fall out of “the bitter” politics in Benue State .

Igboche said by virtue of the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act, 2011, the Senate President is the Chairman of the Institute, which is a parastatal.

The plaintiff said by virtue of Section 68(1) (e) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended), the Senate President is expected to vacate his seat accordingly.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

The Section says: “A member of the Senate… shall vacate his seat…if… he becomes a member of a Commission or other body established by this Constitution or any other law.”

The plaintiff applied for leave of the court to determine as follows: •Whether the Office of Senator David Mark-the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not become vacant by the joint provisions of Section 68(l)(e) of the Constitution , 1999(As amended); and Section 3(3) (a) of the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act, 2011?

•Whether the Independent National Electoral Commission has not violated Section 76(1) and (2) of the Constitution , 1999(as amended) requiring it to fix a date for the election to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the office of Senator David Mark not later than one month after the vacancy occurred.

‘They want to take advantage of technicality to win electoral battle through the backdoor. It is strange that such a suit will be filed’ •Such further or other order(s) as this Honourable court may consider just and appropriate to make in the circumstance for the determination of the questions above.

He sought a declaration that the office of the Senate President has become vacant since the 16th day of September, 2011.

He also asked for a mandatory order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

to fix a date for the election to fill the vacancy in Benue Zone C Senatorial District, in accordance with the Constitution , 1999(as amended).

A source in the National Assembly said: “It is a fallout of the last general election in Benue State . Some forces are just out to cling to anything to fight the Senate President.

“They want to take advantage of technicality to win electoral battle through the backdoor. It is strange that such a suit will be filed. But we are ready to defend the action.

“The Institute itself belongs to the National Assembly; it is not a normal parastatal or agency of government, which is managed by the President.

“The Senate President did not make himself the Chairman of the Governing Council but Section 3 (3) of the Act of the Institute makes him the chairman.

“Section 3(3) says: “The Council shall consist of the President of the Senate as

Chairman or at his instance, the Deputy Senate President; the Speaker of the House of Representatives as Alternate Chairman or at his instance the Deputy Speaker; six serving Senators(one from each geo-political zone nominated by the President of the Senate); six serving members of the House of Representatives(one from each geopolitical zone nominated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives); the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission; Clerk to the National Assembly; and Director-General of the Institute as a Member/Secretary.”

A source in INEC said: “We are not aware of any vacancy yet in Zone C Senatorial District in Benue to warrant the conduct of a fresh senatorial poll.

“All I can tell you is that we will be in court to defend any issue raised by the plaintiff, in line with our mandate and as it relates to us. We believe in the rule of law.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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NEWS

‘NDLEA made me fish through excreta’ A

CE comedian Babatunde Omidina yesterday narrated how the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made him fish through his excreta in search of alleged drugs.

Omidina, flanked by his lawyers, Bamidele Aturu and Ugwuzor Adindu, spoke in Lagos.

He said NDLEA officials gave him gloves to put on his hands and instructed him to be looking through his excreta for the narcotic substance they alleged he ingested each time he excreted.

Omidina, popular as Baba Suwe, said his arrest and detention by the NDLEA was a set up. He said the manner of his arrest made it clear that the NDLEA had been set up to arrest him before boarding the Air France flight that was supposed to take him to Paris to attend his engagement.

He said he has not even gone through the check-in processes when a woman accosted him and said,” you, you should go to the office of the NDLEA. You are wanted there”.

Omidina said immediately he stepped into the office of the agency at the airport, “they treated me like a common criminal. They arrested me and put leg-chains on me.”

Pointing out that he did not go under the scanning machine at the MMIA before his arrest, Omidina said that the first CT-Scan that the agency performed on him was on Friday, October 14 during which he said his system was flushed.

Omidina said a day before his release by the court on November 4, a tube was forced through his mouth and another through his anus. He said he was forced to take six bottles of water while a pill was forced into his anus, all in bid to force him to digest the alleged narcotic substance.

Aturu declared the ace comedian a free man, pointing out that he no longer has any case to answer based on events that happened when they visited the office of the NDLEA at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja last Friday as ordered by a Lagos High Court Judge, Justice Yetunde Idowu.

Aturu and Omidina spoke in Lagos yesterday. Aturu said the NDLEA last Friday has returned

Fed Govt advises states on Guinea worm INISTER of State for Health Dr. Ali Pate has called on State and Local governments to provide safe water supply to communities.

The Minister spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the third year anniversary of guinea worm disease zero case status in Nigeria.

He said: “I hereby called for the cooperation of States and local governments and water providing agencies to support all formerly endemic communities in the provision and maintenance of adequate safe water supply as this is one of the requirements for certification.”

According to him, there used to be over 600,000 cases of guinea worm in 6,000 villages in 1998 and with concerted effort in the implementation of the disease eradication strategies, the last case was re-

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ported three years ago in November 11, 2008.

“We Nigerians will not rest on our oars as sustenance of zero- case status for guinea worm disease reporting for three consecutive years does not automatically guarantee the award of the guinea worm disease- free certification by the World Health Organization.” He added He warned that since some African countries still have pocket of the disease, cross border transmission could also bring back the disease as the country is not immune from it.

The concept of the disease eradication, he said, is relatively new as the first disease to be eradicated in 1978 was small pox, pointing out that there were many other diseases like measles and malaria that would be subject for eradication.

‘Why democracy is stunted in Nigeria’

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•Omidina...yesterday

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They treated me like a common criminal. They arrested me and put leg-chains on me

By Adebisi Onanuga

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everything that was seized from Omidina on the day of his arrest which included his luggage, necklace, three GSM handsets and unspecified amount of money.

“So, as I talk to you today, Mr. Omidina is a free man. He has no case to answer. The NDLEA has seen that it has no case against my client. That was why they returned all the things they took from him when he was arrested,” he said.

Aturu described the experience of his client in the detention of the NDLEA as a violation of his fundamental rights and his experience as intolerable.

He said the way the arrest of Omidina was carried out showed that there are a lot of things wrong in the agency, saying “maybe their machines are obsolete or that the officials and their consultants are not capable enough to handle the job they are saddled with.”

He said some institutions, including Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), have to explain their roles in Omidina’s ordeal.

While stating that he does not encourage drug trafficking in any form, Aturu explained that it was high time agencies like NDLEA were made to stop violating the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

LLITERACY and poverty have been identified as the factors stunting the entrenchment of democracy particularly at the grassroots.

A lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olufemi Otubanjo, stated this at a lecture in the university at the weekend.

Speaking on the topic: “Leadership in Nigeria” at an annual seminar organized by Masters in Managerial Psychology Students Association of the institution, otubanjo explained that illiteracy renders the electorate vulnerable to “opportunistic leadership”, just as poverty heightens their vulnerability to inducement.

Prof. Otubanjo regretted that the country’s democracy has remained rooted in an “authoritarian and paternalistic culture” where the Nigerian people are mere spectators and peripheral participants in governance.

His words: “The fundamental problem of leadership in Nigeria stems from the pathological weakness of the followership. The led in Nigeria are, for the most part, poor, illiterate, complacent and even, down right stupid. “ According to the leadership expert, leadership in Nigeria can only be accountable if true and effective grassroots democracy was practised.

“What is commonly called grass-

‘What Reps expect from 2012 budget’ HE House of Representatives is poised for a collision with the Presidency over the 2012 budget.

It has vowed to insist on a budget that would emphasize bigger government spending in capital projects as against the current practice whereby spending on recurrent always surpasses capital expenditure.

House Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed said the stance of the House does not set the stage for confrontation with the Presidency.

The implication of the stance of the House may translate to lesser government spending on salary, which may lead to job cuts and review of pension administration.

Other aspect of government spending on the day-to-day running of its machinery that may feel the heat include reduced funds for overseas travels and training, courtesy visits, donations, gifts, maintenance of some equipment and a host of other ostentatious expenses like accommodation and vehicles attached to civil servants.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The Presidency may also go the way of the National Assembly by taking a huge cut in its wages and salary. The Senate cut its spending by 40 percent while the House of Representatives cut was 64 percent.

To avoid job cut, government may, however, take tighter control of its spending in some areas through genuine staff audit that would fish out ghost workers while pension administration would be subjected to stricter scrutiny.

The House spokesman said the House has resolved to be on the side of the people with the determination to change their plight.

He said: “We will harp on capital expenditure in the 2012 budget.

We will ensure that overemphasis on recurrent expenditure is reduced. When we have a situation whereby recurrent expenditure takes up 75 percent of the total budget, then what do we have left for capital expenditure?

“By placing emphasis on capital expenditure, I think we would have been able to give capital

projects that would provide the much-needed infrastructures. We are poised to reverse the trend because that is what we think would benefit the majority of Nigerians that elected us to represent and protect their interest.

“With recurrent expenditure taking a large chunk of the budget, that interest would have been defeated because it is just a routine spending meant to oil the running of government.

“We have made it clear that recurrent expenditure should not be anywhere near the capital expenditure in volume because what Nigerians want is good road, schools, sound health care delivery system, constant electricity supply, effective transportation and communication system, among others. Recurrent expenditure would not achieve this for us.”

He said what Nigerians require at this time was a buoyant economy driven by an engaged working population.

On the possibility of setting a collision course with the Presidency, Mohammed insisted that since the Presidency was keen on chang-

•Tambuwal

ing the lives of Nigerians for the better, such demand from the House would not become a problem. “ We sent a warning signal to the Executive to bring a budget that would address the decay in our infrastructure, how do we fix our roads, schools, security, because when you have no solution to these, then how would investors inject their money into our economy.

“Those are the issues we are expecting Mr. President to address in the 2012 budget. This should not be misconstrued to mean we are poised for friction with the Executive but the fact is that we will all be working for the betterment of Nigerians.”

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

roots democracy in Nigeria is no more than the arrogant, condescending attempts at mobilizing people for specific purposes – campaign rallies, elections and project support.”

Prof Otubanjo said the way out of the palaver was for the government, civil rights groups and all stakeholders to concentrate on educating and empowering the people. He stated that an economically empowered people cannot easily be mobilised for frivolous causes or misled.

‘Credible identification system ‘ll help combat crime’

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IRECTOR-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Chris Onyemenam, says effective identification system will assist security agencies in the country in combating crime.

Onyemenam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that the new system the commission was putting in place would provide needed infrastructure for the identification of any individual in any circumstance.

The director-general said one of the responsibilities of the NIMC was to provide infrastructure to enable an individual or organisation get valid and reliable information on the identity of any person.

“It (effective identification system) will be certainly be useful to the law enforcement agencies from the police to the intelligence community, the security agencies at large because at the, the common denominator is who are you, put differently, are you who you say you are.

“If you want to confirm some persons, our own responsibility is to provide an infrastructure that enables you within seconds of a request to obtain valid and reliable response as to the identity of the person that you have asked a confirmation for.’’

Onyemenam said the system would enable security agencies to easily track down people with fingerprints that could be easily matched when crimes were committed.

He said: “There will come a time when your national identity card will become a travel document even in the ECOWAS region. We have anticipated already what will happen in the not too distant future. It is already the rule in Europe.’’

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14 2011

NEWS Nigerian pleads guilty to visa racketeering in Britain A United Kingdom-based Nigerian and an immigration officer with the UK Border Agency, Samuel Shoyeju, has pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at the Basildon Crown Court for visa racketeering.

Shoyeju’s misconduct include: allowing scores of immigrants to stay in the country illegally in a scheme that has granted counterfeit visas to nonEuropean residents.

Ms Lucy Kennedy, who spoke for the prosecution, said Shoyeju’s motivation appeared to be money.

She said within the documentary evidence, there was a reference to two individuals who benefited from the counterfeit indefinite leave which Shoyeju unlawfully made.

“There is also a bank material which suggests or demonstrates that there was an awful lot of money, running into tens of thousands, that was going through Mr Shoyeju’s accounts,’’ it quoted Kennedy as saying.

Kennedy said there was an inference to be drawn that Shoyeju was motivated by money: “He did not do it out of the kindness of his heart. This was not an act of charity,” she said.

However, Stephen Linehan, QC for Shoyeju, told the Judge that this should not be taken into account when his client would be sentenced.

“It cannot be proven that he did it for money and we do not accept that.”

Judge Christopher Mitchell remanded Shoyeju in custody, saying he faced a “significant custodial sentence.”

I regret being in PDP, says ex-Vice Chairman A FORMER Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Etsako East Chief Ikhamata Wadada, has defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Speaking at the Government House in Benin City, Wadada regretted ever being a member of the PDP, saying: “I should be ashamed of myself to have been in that political party.”

He said he decided to join the ACN to develop the state, adding: “We want good things in Agenebode.

The primary school there is more beautiful than the house I built, I will no more mortgage the life of my children to remain in the PDP.” Governor Adams Oshiomhole received the new members into the party and congratulated them for the courage to reinforce the ACN in the state.

The governor said: “We will continue to restore hope to the hopeless and bring development to every nook and cranny of the state.”

Jonathan: Achebe not in tune with reality

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday hit back at Prof. Chinua Achebe, saying his excuse for rejecting the national honour is not in tune with the current political reality in the country.

While admitting that there are still facing challenges, the President argued that the country cannot be said to be where it was in 2004.

But the President also said as regretable as Achebe’s decision is, the literary giant remains an icon.

He urged the elderstateman to come back home and see for himself the progress being made by this administration.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said his administration is developing the country.

The statement reads: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan regrets Prof. Chinua Achebe’s decision to reject, once again, the conferment on him of the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).

President Jonathan is also surprised by Prof. Achebe’s claim that the issues which caused him to reject the same award seven years ago, still remain unresolved.

“Coming as it does against the background of the widely acclaimed electoral reforms undertaken by the Jonathan Administration, the claim by Prof. Achebe clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria’s current political situation.As reflected in the immense improvements recorded in the conduct of the last general elections which were applauded within and outside the country as the most credible elections in Nigeria in recent years, the Jonathan Administration has made tremendous efforts to positively change the political architecture complained about by Prof. Achebe and other Nigerians.

“Politically, Nigeria cannot be said to be where it was in 2004 as the Jonathan Administration has embarked on extensive electoral reforms to institute a regime of electoral integrity that all Nigerians can be proud of, believing that governance will be greatly enhanced in the country if the will of the people prevails at elections.

“While President Jonathan acknowledges that there are still challenges in the path of Nigeria’s attainment of its full potentials as a nation, he believes that his Administration is moving the country in the right direction and therefore deserves the support, encourage-

ment and cooperation of all citizens.

“The President continues to hold Prof. Achebe in very high esteem in spite of his regrettable decision which may have been borne out of misinformation as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria and hopes that he will find time to visit home soon and see the progress being made by the Jonathan Administration for himself.

“Prof. Achebe remains in President Jonathan’s consideration a national icon, a Nigerian of high attainments, indeed one of the greatest living Africans of our time.”

Achebe was listed with other 364 Nigerians for national honours today.

In rejecting the honour, Achebe, in a short statement, said: “The reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed, let alone solved. It is inappropriate to offer it again to me. I must therefore regretfully decline the offer again.”

Oil minister urges probe of ‘20m euro mansion’

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

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•ALL FOR FOUNDATION DAY: From left: Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Prof. Afolabi Bamigboye; and registrar, Mrs Omotayo Ikotun, at the 63rd foundation day anniversary of the university...yesterday

ACN urges referendum on subsidy removal, single tenure

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to subject his administration’s planned removal of fuel subsidy and the seven-year single tenure for the President to a rigorous debate and referendum, if he is indeed convinced they are good for Nigeria.

The party threw the challenge in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

“Mr. President, if you are convinced, as you said, that Nigerians know the truth and are in support of these policies, and that the ‘opponents’ of your administration have been misinforming the public, then let’s have a robust debate on the issues, especially concerning single-tenure and fuel subsidy.

“After the debate, which must not be governmentsponsored, the issues should be subjected to a referendum, and the outcome accepted by all. This is the way to go, instead of the current style of your administration officials talking down on Nigerians

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

with dubious figures calibrated to twist facts,” ACN said.

The party said the President’s recent defence of the single-tenure proposal has shown that he is not listening to the people, and that he is indeed fixated on what a few advisers are telling him.

“Mr. President, Nigerians are suspicious of your single-tenure proposal. It reads as tenure elongation to them. They are wondering why you have made it a key issue at a time the country is yearning for a strong leadership in tackling worsening security problems, revamping dilapidated infrastructure and battling social problems, especially mass unemployment. They think you are getting your priorities wrong.

“Our duty as an opposition party is to engage your administration in constructive criticism, which we have consistently done. ‘’But if indeed you are convinced we are misinforming the public, please take the issues directly to Nigerians as we have suggested,

through a debate of stakeholders and a referendum,” ACN said.

The party also said it remains resolute that the removal of fuel subsidy is not the solution to the so-called huge government spending to subsidise petroleum products, noting that the ultimate solution is ending the importation of the products and ensuring domestic refining of oil.

“Our stand is simple: Governance is about the people.

The planned removal of fuel subsidy is a knee-jerk approach typical of this administration. We do not support it because it will have a negative multiplier effect on all facets of life: education, transportation, cost of foodstuffs and the overall standard of living of Nigerians. In other words, it will deepen poverty,’’ it said.

ACN said the President’s contention that those opposed to the removal of oil subsidy are those with five Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) is wrong, and indicates the totally wrong approach to the issue by his administration.

“Mr. President, those who

•Mohammed

have five to Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are not overly worried by the cost of fuel, because they can afford it at any cost. ‘’Those most affected are the ordinary Nigerians, who have to contend with the effects of the so-called deregulation on the cost of public transportation, foodstuffs and others.

“It is unfair to compare the Nigerian situation with what obtains in France, for example, because the ordinary French people do not need to provide their own electricity or pay for the cost of an inefficient public transportation system, as Nigerians do daily,” the party said.

ETROLEUM Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has petitioned the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), asking for a probe of the allegation that she bought a 20 million Euro mansion in Vienna, Austria.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, in a petition to the DirectorGeneral of the NIA, urged the security outfit to carry out a thorough investigation into the source of the story.

The petition, entitled ‘’Phantom allegation by Heute newspaper’’, was personally signed by the minister, who sent a copy to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister implored the NIA chief to treat the matter with urgency because she considers the report a character smear on her, describing it as “spurious and an unjustifiable attack” on her person.

The petition reads: “I write to draw your attention to a recent report published by the Vienna-based Heute newspaper, alleging the purchase of a 20 million euro mansion at an undisclosed location in Vienna by my humble self. ‘’The story, which is clearly concocted to portray Nigerian public officials as corrupt and prodigal, was scripted as well to denigrate and embarrass the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“In the light of the above, it is my wish that you use your good office to cause a detailed investigation of the mischievous story with a view to ascertaining the real motive behind this unwholesome article.”

A source said: “ Heute is based in Vienna, which is the location of the said mansion.Yet Heute claims it culled or obtained the report from a Nigerian newspaper which it has so far refused to name.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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NEWS I didn’t cancel my birthday celebration, says Aliyu IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday denied reports that he shelved his birthday celebration following an alleged worsening health condition of former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

He described the reports as preposterous, unfounded and a figment of the imagination of their writers.

In a statement in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the governor said there is no truth in the stories published by some national newspapers (The Nation not included).

The statement reads: “The truth of the matter is that

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Aliyu does not celebrate birthdays; rather he dedicates his birthday anniversaries to the promotion of the cause of the less privileged.

The situation was not different this year as Aliyu dedicated his 56th birthday to the cause of wiping out polio from Nigeria.”

Aliyu had, on Saturday (his birthday), flagged off the fourth in the series of campaigns to kick out polio from Niger State with a symbolic administration of polio vaccines at Maikunkele, the headquarters of Bosso Local Government Area after which he left for Warri, the Delta State capital, to attend the wedding of the daughter of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Tribunal sacks Kwara PDP lawmaker From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin •Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right); and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environmental Sanitation, Bola Ilori, at the dredging of the Kuti River, on Baptist Road, Iwo, Osun State...on Saturday

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Reps groan under repayment of N10b loan

HE House of Representatives may have begun the repayment of the controversial N10billion loan obtained during the sixth House under former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, it has been learnt.

Bankole, before the close of the sixth House, had said the loans were taken in three tranches of N1.5 billion, N2.5 billion and N6.5 billion to service the interest of the House.

It was leant that the repayment of the loan, which caused so much row at the close of the House and for which Bankole and his Deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada, were charged before the courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has begun to take its toll on the operations of House committees.

It was believed that after an appeal from the last House leadership, the Presidency bought over the debt for political mileage and as a bargaining chip with the incoming House, at the time.

This has proved to be a

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

wrong notion as sources told The Nation that the House began the repayment of the loan about two months ago.

Committee chairmen are complaining over the development, saying they run their committees without the necessary funds.

They have also sourced for funds for their meetings and other activities and are mostly operating on shoestring budgets to avoid grounding the House’s legislative processes.

Members of the House are said be feeling the paucity of funds because of the various loans’ deductions and the 63 per cent reduction in the running costs of the House and members.

The situation is said to be so bad that many members are complaining to Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and urging him to resolve the matter.

But Tambuwal is said to be handling the matter care-

fully based on similarity in the current circumstance and the one that brought the last House into disrepute under Bankole.

A first-time member of the House, who spoke in confidence, lamented that constituency demands have tripled while income has reduced.

According to him, the new package earned by members is at variance with that of the last House and “is a great disappointment.”

Others blamed the deductions of the N7million car loan, which was given to each of the 360 members at the beginning of the seventh Assembly, on bureaucracy.

The deductions for the loan were said to have begun before some members could access the money.

The loan was to allow the lawmakers purchase personal vehicles of their choice pending the purchase of operational vehicles by the leadership of the House for

the members.

Bank sources told The Nation that some returning and new members owe debts running into hundreds of millions.

Some of the outstanding loans were reportedly used by most of the new members to buy homes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the orientation given to new members in the geo-political zones.

“Many incoming members who were elected as members for the first time and had no residence in the FCT also obtained loans from banks to purchase houses of their choice. In some cases, the loans run into hundreds of millions,” a bank source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

The deductions for the loan from the salaries of members were said to be so high that nothing is left of the salaries of most members.

House spokesman Zakari Mohammed said he would not comment on the N10billion loan and that he would later get back to our correspondents.

‘Nigeria’s anti-tobacco efforts threatened’

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IGERIA’S hope of enacting the anti-tobacco law is being threatened by the activities of tobacco manufacturers from Western countries, stakeholders have said.

The country, the stakeholders noted, has become the target of tobacco manufacturers from Western countries, who see a huge market with a higher smokers’ population, despite government’s efforts at reducing the habit because of tobaccorelated diseases.

The stakeholders spoke at a meeting in Abuja on tobacco control organised by the Coalition Against Tobacco (CAT).

In a presentation, entitled: Strengthening the Nigerian Response to Tobacco Control, the Director, Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, University of Uyo, Prof. Isidore Obot, noted that

because of increasing anti-tobacco laws in the West, tobacco manufacturers now target subSaharan Africa, especially Nigeria, for their business.

Obot said Nigeria’s tobaccorelated health problems would double, as the content of cigarettes sold in Nigeria is higher than that sold in most Western countries.

He said: “For us to achieve our objective of reducing tobacco-related diseases in the country, government must ensure the control of smuggling, direct prohibition of production, crop substitution, increase taxation and outright ban on advertisement.”

Former Lagos State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) said the influx of more tobacco companies into the country would create more health problems.

He said: “Their (tobacco

firms’) deliberate market strategy is to compound the nation’s problems. Tobacco companies have no qualms about creating new tobacco addicts and health problems for Nigeria.”

The CAT Coordinator Olatoyosi Onaolapo said: “Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death all over the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics has shown that tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is currently responsible for the death of 5.4 million people every year. If left unchecked, it is sure to increase to more than eight million in the current year. Unfortunately, 80 per cent of the casualties could be from developing nations, like Nigeria.”

A child rights activist, Maryam Uwais, noted that

unless the Federal Government signs into law the recently passed Tobacco Bill, Nigerian children would continue to be exposed to the dangers of smoking.

She urged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently sign the bill into law to protect the nation from tobacco-related diseases.

The National Tobacco Control Bill was initiated by Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth and sponsored by Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora. The bill seeks to regulate the production, sales, marketing and distribution of tobacco products in Nigeria.

It also prohibits the sale of cigarettes to minors, bans smoking in public places and prohibits the sale of cigarettes in single sticks.

The bill, which was passed early this year, is awaiting presidential assent.

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HE National/House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has nullified the election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ilorin West State Constituency, Salami Abdulfatah.

The Justice Bitrus Sanga-led panel held that the election was inconclusive in Alanamu and Oloje wards in the April 26 poll.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Aiyelabegan Kayode, had challenged the declaration of Abdulfatah for alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. The three-man tribunal noted that the Form EC8C, being the statements of the result declared at the wards, was dated and signed on April 27, while the final result (Form EC8E), a product of Form EC8C, was dated, stamped and signed on April 26.

The panel wondered why the final results were declared on April 26 when the results from the two wards were still being collated.

Taraba ACN governorship candidate to appeal verdict HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in Taraba State in the April election, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, yesterday said he would appeal the judgment of the election petition tribunal, which upheld the election of Governor Danbaba Suntai.

The tribunal, sitting in Jalingo, the state capital, dismissed the petition filed

by Ikenya, challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) declaration of Suntai as the elected governor.

In a statement, Ikenya described the verdict as disheartening, noting that the tribunal’s ruling has dashed

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From Dele Anofi, Abuja

the hopes of majority of the residents.

The ACN candidate said the process through which the tribunal arrived at the verdict defied known legal traditions and conventions.

He recalled that tribunal chairman, Justice L. B. Abba, had said it was not the responsibility of the tribunal to evaluate the exhibits brought before it, though they were admitted as exhibits.

“It is disheartening to hear the tribunal refuse to evaluate exhibits brought before it. In law, it is a known fact that documentary evidence speaks for itself. It is most unfortunate that in Taraba, the reverse is the case,” Ikenya said.

Kaduna moves to restore peace From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

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HE Kaduna State Government has said it would end attacks and reprisals on communities and reduce tension, which led to the imposition of curfew on Kafanchan and environs.

The government’s resolve to address the security situation in the state comes as youths said no amount of reprisals could bring back their lost ones.

They said the bloodletting must be halted to allow the rebuilding of the state.

It was gathered that the government at the weekend summoned traditional and religious leaders in the southern part of the state as well as youth leaders among Muslims and Christians to a meeting and told them that they must end the crisis in the area.

Sources said state and federal lawmakers from the area as well as stakeholders in southern Kaduna attended the meeting, which was presided over by the Secretary to the State Government, Lawal Samaila Abdullahi.

The source said the government decried the insecurity in the area and the need to end the killings and embrace peace.

The meeting was said to have resolved that traditional rulers should ensure the return of peace to the area.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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NEWS ‘How Ogun applicants were selected’

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HE Ogun State Government has condemned the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a group called the Ogun West Development Agenda (OWEDA) that Yewa youths were not included in the government’s Rapid Youth Employment Scheme.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged fair-minded citizens to objectively review the process leading to the short listing of 10,000 of the 60,000 applicants, who were interviewed last week.

Olaniyonu said after the initial screening of applications to eliminate those with incomplete data, multiple applications and fake application forms, the number of valid applications was reduced to 34,431.

He said 32 per cent of shortlisted applicants are from Ogun Central, 30 per cent from Ogun East and 34 per cent from Ogun West.

Olaniyonu said: “The number of applicants from the three senatorial districts are as follows: Ogun Central (14,498 or 42 per cent of total applicants), Ogun East (12,336 or 36 per cent) and Ogun West (6,583 or 19 per cent). The remaining 1,014 or 3 per cent of the applicants are non-indigenes.”

Peer review’ll foster growth, say Uwais, Amaechi, Fayemi C HAIRMAN of the Steering Committee of the State Peer Review Mechanism (SPRM) Justice Muhammed Uwais (GCON) has said the SPRM was set up to improve development in states, and not to compare or condemn.

He said this would be achieved through the periodic review of the progress achieved in the implementation of development policies, plans and programmes by states.

Justice Uwais spoke at the SPRM Initiation/Sensitisation Workshop in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the weekend.

He said the workshop was to sensitise stakeholders on the methodology for assessment.

Justice Uwais said: “The

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

steering committee was inaugurated in Abuja a week ago, so this is our first official engagement.

“The holding of this workshop in Ekiti State formally heralds the official commencement of the implementation of the process at the state level.”

Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ forum (NGF), Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said as development processes are periodically reviewed across states through the SPRM, positive and workable experiences would be shared.

He said the “reinforcement

of commendable and innovative practices would be unveiled” for possible adoption by peer states.

Amaechi said: “SPRM was created because of “a resolution of the National Economic Council (NEC), imploring all the 36 states of the federation to undergo peer review, in a manner modelled after the African Union Peer Review exercise.

“It is hoped that the Self Assessment Report and the State Programme of Action, prepared through an all-inclusive process, would be submitted to the NGF Secretariat not later than six weeks from today.

“This would pave the way for the Technical Review Visit and validation of the Self-As-

sessment Report, and, ultimately, peer review by members of the forum in a non-adversarial manner.”

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi called for the active involvement of people at the grassroots in the preparation of the annual budget of the states.

He condemned the “handing down of what-will-be” by the executive arm of government and advocated the collation of opinions from the lowest strata of governance on what should be.

Fayemi said involving the grassroots in budget making is the surest way to assure responsive and responsible governance.

He said: “We are con-

ICPC spokesman loses mum MADAM Julianah Oluwawemimo Olamiti, mother of Mr. Folu Olamiti, the spokesman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is dead.

She was 98.

Madam Olamiti died at her home in Alade, Idanre, Ondo State, on October 27, after a brief illness.

There will be a wake for her at her home on January 5 by 5pm. Her remains will be buried on January 6, after a funeral service at Saint Andrews Church, Alade, Idanre, Ondo State, by 11am.

Madam Olamiti is survived by five children: Folu; Mrs. Christie Adebamiwa; Sunday Olamiti; Grace Aina; Moses Olamiti; grand children and great grand children.

•The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu (middle); Olorogun Adodo of Lagos Chief Teslim Idowu Junid (left); Oniru of Iru land, Oba Idowu Abiodun (second right) and Otunba Alaba Oniru during a press briefing on the Eyo Festival at Iga Iduganran, Lagos...at the weekend.

PHOTO SOLOMON ADEOLA

Ladoja can’t dictate to PDP, says Oyelese

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CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Elder Wole Oyelese, has said former Governor Rashidi Ladoja is not in a position to give the partyconditions for his return.

The former Minister of Power and Steel urged Ladoja not to overestimate his political worth.

In a statement at the weekend, Oyelese said Ladoja was the cause of the misfortune that befell Oyo State in 2006, due to his inability to manage the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu.

He said Ladoja’s political miscalculations were responsible for his dwindled political status.

Oyelese was reacting to a statement by Ladoja, last week, that he would only return to the PDP, if the party

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

met some conditions. He also blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the party’s poor performance in the April polls.

Oyelese said: “The absurdity of listening to Ladoja comment on issues that do not fall in his domain and on which he should morally not have commented is fast becoming his flagship.

“Few weeks ago, during his birthday celebration, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had to silence him over claims that he was instrumental to Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s election.

“It is an irony that a person, who contested fiercely against Ajimobi, would turn round to say he helped the same Ajimobi win the election.

“It is, therefore, such an ir-

ritation to hear Ladoja say he would return to the PDP, if the party meets his conditions. He then went on to heap the blame of the party’s misfortune in Oyo on Obasanjo.

“If the truth must be told and Ladoja would be honest with himself, he will admit that he was actually the main cause of our party’s misfortune. His inability to manage the late Baba Adedibu was the beginning of the PDP’s problems in the state.

“How can a person, who brought the house down on himself, blame an external onlooker for his self-inflicted misfortune? If he had been fair to the late Baba Adedibu and the PDP, no external force would have been able to penetrate and upstage him.

“One wonders what makes Ladoja feel he is so precious and can dictate his terms to the

party.

“If Ladoja had stepped down for a competent aspirant, instead of insisting on being the PDP’s flagbearer in the April polls, it would have been impossible for Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala to impose himself as the party’s governorship candidate.

“How can a person, who was so selfish and uncommitted to the party that he joined the Accord to fight the PDP, expect to be respected and heralded back into the party as a beautiful bride?

Such thinking is the height of self-delusion.

“Has Ladoja stopped to reflect on what would have become of the PDP, if every member or leader had acted like him? His action is that of serious betrayal to the party and the people.”

ACN yet to decide on Ondo governorship candidate

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• The late Madam Olamiti

ational Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, have said they are confident that Governor Rauf Aregbesola would improve Osun State.

They spoke at the weekend after top functionaries of the state pledged their support for the development agenda of Aregbesola’s administration.

This declaration was contained in a document signed after a four-day retreat for members of the Osun House of Assembly in Offa, Kwara State.

Tinubu and Akande witnessed the signing of the declaration.

Tinubu described Aregbesola as a meticulous leader and strategic planner, saying he is incorruptible.

Akande praised Aregbesola’s efforts to deliver good governance in the state.

Aregbesola said his coming to Osun was not by accident and urged all political office holders and civil servants to key into the development agenda of his administration.

He said: “Osun must be a destination of choice; not only to Yoruba and Osun indigenes, but to all; inviting and economically viable. That is our goal and we must get there.”

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By Oziegbe Okoeki

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‘Aregbesola’ll perform’ From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Fashola presents 2012 budget AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola will present the 2012 Budget at the House of Assembly in Alausa today.

vinced that for our transformational agenda to gain traction, it must be driven by institutions and a workforce that are merit based, focused, responsive and up to date.

“This is what SPRM would help us achieve through a forensic, clinical assessment and in-depth appraisal of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, as well as the nature and intensity of institutional gaps in government processes and procedures.

“In driving our developmental agenda, there is a compelling need to foster the adoption of policies, standard and practices that will lead to stability, high economic growth, and sustainable development.”

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State is yet to decide on its candidate for the 2012 governorship election.

Leaders of the party have not agreed on the senatorial district that would produce the governorship candidate.

Many of the aspirants are from the Northern Senatorial District, especially Akoko.

A former senatorial candidate of the party, Dr. Paul Akintelure, spoke with reporters at the weekend after receiving

•LP, PDP members join ACN From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

over 1, 000 former members of the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the ACN in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

Akintelure said leaders of the party have assured aspirants of equal opportunities and urged all members to support any candidate that is picked as the ACN’s flag bearer.

He said: “Our leaders are

working towards success in the governorship election, so that we can rescue our people from the slave garden of the LP government.

“The present administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko has failed the people and the Southern region, in particular, has been neglected. You cannot point to any infrastructure in the region; even the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) that

is expected to be in charge of infrastructure in the district has failed the people.

“The constitution of Nigeria states that the provision of markets and stalls should be the function of local government councils and not the state government. The governor has failed to conduct local government election since the inception of his administration and is working with interim council leaders, who were not elected by the people.”

Ondo warns over posters From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Ondo State Government has warned that anyone caught pasting posters indiscriminately and defacing public monuments would be prosecuted.

Chairman of the State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) Mr. Kolawole Olabisi spoke yesterday in Akure, the state capital, while supervising the removal of posters from bus-stops, bridges and buildings.

Olabisi said: “It is sad that in spite of warnings, people still paste posters and bills anywhere.

“There is an extant law that prohibits this act and anybody that violates it would be prosecuted.

“We will provide alternative wall panels and billboards in strategic places across the state for people to paste their posters, bills and banners, after having taken the necessary permit from OSSAA.”

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Petroleum producers plan new contract sharing formula From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE African Petroleum Producers (APA) is planning a new petroleum contract sharing formula for its member countries, it was learnt yesterday.

The essence of the initiative, according to the Executive Secretary of the Association, Dansou Lokossou, is to ensure that the oil majors in the member countries do not take the producing nations for granted during negotiation.

Besides, the Executive Secretary, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, said the contract is to ensure the development of the host countries.

He, however, explained that the sharing contract is expected to be tailored in accordance with the peculiarity and reality of each member country.

Lokossou noted that the production capacity of the countries differ, stressing that a country, such as Republic of Benin used to produce 10 barrels of oil daily before it quit exploitation.

He explained that Africa had a total reserve of 119billion of oil barrel per day as at 2010, stressing that the reserve constitutes nine per cent of the global reserve.

The Executive Secretary said of the total reserve, his member countries alone own 99 per cent of which 33 per cent belongs to Nigeria. He said Africa has 491trillion cubic feet of gas, representing 75 per cent of the global reserve.

Lokossou added that Nigeria owns 38 per cent, which makes it the leading country.

In terms of crude oil, he noted that this year, African production capacity is 10 million barrel per day, which is 14 per cent of daily global production.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$115.3/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.3% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $32.820b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

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0.2958 206.9 242.1 151.8 1.9179 238 40.472

Mr President is concerned that in spite of all the measures taken so far, the government still has not arrived at what it considers to be a universally appropriate valuation of projects in the public sector in Nigeria.

-Labaran Maku, Minister of Information

Oil prices, supplies to be stable, says minister

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IL supplies and prices are expected to re main stable, Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke said yesterday.

She said supply from Nigeria would increase as security improved.

The minster told reporters on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) forum in Qatar that Nigeria produces 2.4 million barrels of oil daily.

Fears over weaker oil demand according to Reuters News, have been fuelled by the deepening euro zone crisis, which could trigger a global economic slowdown.

She declined to make predictions about outcome of the upcoming Organisation of Petroleum Exporting

• Shell reports new spill Countries (OPEC) meeting in December.

Meanwhile,Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell yesterday reported a fresh spill from a key delivery pipeline in southern Nigeria, but said it has contained the leak.

“SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Company) contained a spill in Adibawa delivery line, which was reported yesterday (Saturday),” Shell’s Nigerian joint venture said in a statememt.

“We had despatched our spill containment team to the site as soon as we received the reports and the personnel succeeded in containing the leak,” it said.

Shell, which announced a

production cut from the same facility last week, said it was investigating the incident to determine the cause and impact.

“The delivery line is part of the Okordia-Rumuekpe line, which SPDC shut down following a leak on November 8 and subsequent fire incident,” it said, blaming last week’s incident on sabotage.

“A joint investigation visit found that the spill was caused by hacksaw cuts,” it said, adding that there had been several hacksaw cuts on the Adibawa delivery line this year.

But Environmental Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FoEN),

which visited the site, ruled out sabotage in a statement yesterday.

“This is the 12th oil spill that has occurred between August and November 2011 in Ikarama community environment,” ERA said, adding that Shell should visit the area, clean up the spill and compensate the affected residents.

“Adequate compensation should be paid for damages to crops, impacted farmlands and general damages incurred by the victims of this latest spill,” it said.

In a related development, Nigerian crude oil differentials remained under pressure last Friday from ample supplies,while Angolan crude for December loading was pretty much sold out.

“A few cargoes have

cleared, but it is not looking good for light, sweet crude,” a trader said.

Higher flows of Libyan crude, which like Nigerian oil is high in quality, have pressured the market, as has a narrowing of naphtha and gasoline refining margins, the trader said.

About December 10 -15 cargoes were still looking for homes, a relatively high number for this point in the monthly trading cycle. That is thought to include two cargoes of Qua Iboe and one of Bonny.One seller was asking dated Brent plus $2.50 a barrel for a Qua Iboe cargo last Friday, down 30 cents from an offer published in Thursday’s report.

That suggests value could be approaching dated plus $2.00, a trader said.

Dangote empowers women with N600m

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• From right: Chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited, Tony Elumelu; Executive Director, CSR-in-Action, Bekeme MasadeOlowola, and MD/CEO, UBA, Phillips Oduoza, at the launch of Nigeria's premier CSR report tagged, Annual Sustainability Report: Nigeria 2012, at the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja ... on Thursday.

‘Nigeria’s economy to surpass South Africa’s’

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IGERIA’s economy will surpass that of South Africa sooner than previously expected, Renaissance Capital (RenCap) has said.

Reuters also said Nigeria’s plan to rebase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will enable it to project its power on the world stage and may pose a serious challenge to South Africa’s position as the dominant force on the continent RenCap, the global investment and research firm in its latest report, said the Nigerian economy, growing at a high-single-digit rate, will be driven by key sectors of the economy such as telecommunications and banking. The growth is also projected to be supported by the proposed review of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) early next year.

“We see the likely upward revision of GDP as affirming the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination, in addition to the increasing opportunities outside the hydrocarbons sec-

• Telecoms, banking to drive growth

By Collins Nweze

tor, such as its growing middle class, which is positive for consumer stocks,” RenCap said.

It projected that Nigeria’s economy is likely to significantly exceed $250 billion after it is rebased from 1990 to 2008, as being championed by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Most countries rebase their GDP on a regular basis (usually every five years in the West) to account for changes in production and consumption. “We think the most obvious change in Nigeria is the sharp rise of the telecommunications industry over the past two decades. We expect the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP to result in a significant upward revision,” it said.

It said the structure of the economy is likely to change, with agriculture shrinking and services industries growing.Output from Nigeria’s agriculture sector presently accounts for around 40 per cent of

overall GDP, one of the highest ratios in Africa.

“While the agriculture sector is likely to remain a significant economic provider, we expect the rebased GDP numbers to reveal a smaller contribution,” RenCap said.

The research firm also projected that the budget ratios to GDP and public debt ratios to GDP will improve. It said one of Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s immediate challenges is to reduce the budget deficit, following its significant deterioration in 2009 and 2010 to 10.2 per cent and 8.5 per cent of GDP, respectively, from a surplus in 2008, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data.

It said Nigeria’s relatively low public debt to GDP ratio, which is in the high teens, is expected to drop even further following the rebasing, making the government one of the least leveraged in the world, compared with overleveraged

Europe.

According to the IMF, the size of the country’s economy this year ($247 billion) is projected to surpass that of Egypt’s ($232 billion) and South Africa to become Africa’s largest economy in terms of GDP. Meanwhile, Reuters noted that the revaluing will advance Nigeria’s aim to be an African investment hub rivaling South Africa and make it more attractive for prized foreign investment, if its economy turns out to be nearly as big as its rival’s, analysts say.

That could also advance its claim to a permanent seat on the United Nations’ Security Council, if a proposal to expand the Council goes ahead, but Nigeria must tackle endemic corruption and unreliable power supplies to if it is to make progress.

A similar increase for Nigeria’s $247 billion economy would bring it to $395 billion, much closer to the continent’s top economy, South Africa — cur

HE Women Empower ment and Free School Feeding Schemes of the Kano State Government have been flagged off in Kano State with the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote donating N600million towards the programme.

Also, the business mogul promised to build a 500-student capacity for the Kano State University.

The programmes are key components of the Poverty Eradication Agenda of the state government.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall, Dangote said the donation under the auspices of the Dangote Foundation was to complement the state government’s efforts at reducing poverty to the barest minimum, especially among women.

He said:”The Dangote Foundation would like to send our best wishes to the women, who will benefit from our grant and, indeed, from other government initiatives. It is their efforts and business success that will strengthen family and community bonds that are needed to transform this great state and this great country.”

The women, who will be reached through the Community Re-orientation Committee in each of the local government, have already been selected through a process of assessment by a joint Kano State Government and Dangote Foundation.

The state governor, Engr Rabiu Kwankwaso thanked Alhaji Dangote for the good gesture and expressed the state government’s appreciation for the fund.

He explained that an arrangement has been made to ensure that not only the right women from the grassroots benefit from the scheme, but that the fund is judiciously utilised when requited and necessary.

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ISSUES The effect of climate change is felt everywhere. Rising sea level, flooding, deforestation, desertification, land degradation and earthquakes. Land available for real estate development is being washed off, no thanks to the effect of climate change. The impact is felt more in sub-Saharan Africa, incidentally among the world’s poorest. As for the real estate sector, land speculators may be the worst hit, especially in the Lekki/Ajah axis of Lagos and the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, OKWY IROEGBU reports.

Under the threat of climate change •A flooded area in Surulere, Lagos

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T announced its advent with a bang. A receding earth and a rising sea level, leaving land which would have been developed, submerged. The impact of climate change is felt worldwide, but the effects are more devastating in countries such as Nigeria, raising fears that the 16 million housing gap may be child’s play because of the factors militating against the sector.

Analysts argue that in the near future,

siting projects will be largely determined or influenced by climate change. The awareness of organisations and local planning authorities about the effects climate change will have on the future usability of buildings, is increasing rapidly.

This will lead to new requirements, tools and appraisal methodologies that professionals within the property development sector cannot afford to ignore.

Climate change in real estate development projects should be considered a stra-

tegic issue. At the early stage of a project, a developer should prepare a project climate-change strategy and consider issues.

The frequency and effects of flooding nowadays, where communities are washed away and lives and properties are lost, is a good sign-post to warn developers that the days of building anywhere and anyhow, are gone.

The media has been awash with news of hundreds of people who lost their lives and properties in Ibadan, Lagos and other

major cities. We are aware of desertification in parts of the north where arable land has been lost to sand dunes that cannot be put to any economic use, either in agriculture, or real estate development.

In Lagos and Ogun states, acres of land that would have been put to good use in real estate development, are lost to flooding. In the Southeast and Southsouth, mudslides have become common fea• Continued on page 18

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ISSUES

• Mrs Ama Pepple • Continued from page 17

tures, which is a pointer to the devastating effects of climate change, dealing a heavy blow on the construction and the real estate sector.

For instance, in New Isheri, Isheri North, Mowe and Ibafo areas of Ogun State, where intending developers bought into government and private schemes to build houses, they have since found out that it has turned out to be a bad deal.

After the crash of the capital market few years back, real estate became the toast of investors and land speculators. People suddenly realised that real estate could present a hedge against inflation and risk, and subsequently invested heavily in it.

Even for the most discreet investor along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway, little did they know that they could run into troubled waters, until the Oyan dam overshot its banks and the intermittent release of water over ran the Ogun River and spilled over to Ikorodu, Ketu, Ajegunle, Mowe, Ofada, Isheri and Kara. The resultant effect is that billions went down the drain and land that could have been deployed into real estate and construction activities, were lost to the devastating effects of the flood. In New Isheri town, where land was going for about N2 million, the value has since crashed by about 75 per cent.

The price of land at River View Estate, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway went up to about N5million per plot. Most people bought, knowing that it was on a water table. But with the government's promises to deploy engineering technology from South Africa to channel the water away from the houses, unfulfilled, no buyer wants to touch it for N1 million.

Even already built-up houses around Isheri, Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Ketu, Lekki and some parts of Lekki remain at the mercy of the angry flood at the slightest shower, as occupants are trapped in their homes, practically needing canoes to escape from the flood.

The aggregate of all these have impacted negatively on the real

•Awobodu

•Ukpong

Under the threat of climate change estate sector with little or no mitigating efforts, as government refers to lack of funds to mitigate the ugly effects of climate change resorting only to announcing early warning signs to the public and asking that precautionary measures be taken.

An estate surveyor and valuer, Sam Ukpong, said flooding and mudslides are characteristics of climate change and proof that it has impacted negatively on construction activities, as well as on the real estate sector.

He said: "Climate change is a devastation on the environment.

Rainy season and the construction sector do not go hand in hand, more so now that the duration of the rainy season is longer and heavier. Usually in construction, allowance is made for the period of the year when the rainy season is experienced, but now, all that permutation is gone as times and seasons have changed dramatically".

Ukpong said because of this unusual elongation of the rainy season in a particular construction circle, it adds to the construction cost because of time elongation and price differentials in material and men involved in a particular engagement. He observed that areas that were not prone to flooding, are now flooded which presents

another challenge to whoever is in charge of a particular construction in finding a solution to channeling the flood so that it would not pose a danger to people living in the house, and also protect the property from being flooded or retaining flood which can lead to its possible collapse, if not checked.

He said areas below sea levels are, forever, flooded which in turn puts pressure on the environment thereby giving developers fewer alternatives for development purposes.

He said if left unchecked, the situation could impact negatively, not only on the price of land, but also on available housing as fewer land would be available for housing development. " Land resources and other land areas zoned for real estate purposes have been forced to be put into other uses because of the negative impact of climate change. Places marked in urban areas for housing development may be rezoned for other uses to check the effects of climate change as the government owes it a duty to the people to protect lives and property," he stated.

Ukpong observed that in the event that the government desires to mitigate its effect through assessing ecological

fund, it has been found not to be adequate as it is hardly enough to tackle the effects in a given situation.

He called for concerted and novel ideas into mitigating the effects of climate change, especially as it concerns the real estate and construction sector, arguing that except that is done, the few available houses owned by individuals, if not well constructed and protected from the vagaries of nature, may be destroyed by flood or mudslide which may render many homeless.

National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB), Kunle Awobodu, said: "Before now, we thought climate change was an exaggerated phenomenon that cannot find presence in the country, but we know better now that in the last three years, there has been perennial flooding which has not been a part of the environmental factors before us. Currently, construction is on its lowest ebb due to constant rain, while property and land are subjected to severe flooding which in addition, negates construction work and devalues the land".

He said people, who once were falling over themselves to invest in real estate on the Lekki/Ajah corridor, are having a rethink about owning a property on the

‘Climate change is a devastation on the environment.

Rainy season and the construction sector do not go hand in hand, more so now that the duration of the rainy season is longer and heavier. Usually in construction, allowance is made for the period of the year when the rainy season is experienced, but now, all that permutation is gone as times and seasons have changed dramatically’

corridor. It must be stressed that this corridor was adjudged the fastest growing real estate corridor in Africa, but now it's fast losing its shine due to the effects of flooding. He also said the expanse of land along the LagosIbadan expressway, which of recent has turned to a hub of some sort in construction activities, has unfortunately been submerged by flood, thereby slowing down construction activities.

He said it is an established fact climate change is here with us, it is no longer the myth people took it to be before now. “The reality has dawned on us, he said. He said climate change has affected building materials with carbon constitution as it depletes the ozone layer, noting that products which are at variance with nature, are discouraged from production.

Awobodu regretted that people who bought land about three years ago with the hope of reselling at great gain on the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway and other places, are in for a hard time, as indicators abound that they would suffer some loss due to land degradation caused by flooding and mudslide, as the prices will automatically come down because of lack of patronage.

He said: " Land speculators may have miscalculated this time around on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, for instance, because no wise investor will see how flood has sacked residents on that axis and go ahead and put his money down either for virgin land or completed housing units.”

He called on the government to check sand miners whose activities, he said, is inimical to the environment if not checked. He, however, pointed out that even the minimal restrictions put in place by the Lagos state government on their activities have led to a sharp increase in the price of sand used in construction. He urged the government to take a holistic view of the issues involved in climate change and the construction sector and come out with responses that will minimise its impact on the real estate sector which not only provides accommodation for people but also is a great source of employment generation.

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

The truth about Iran

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Taking stock •CBN should engage bank shareholders who are in court

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ALK of the costs of the banking crisis still trickling in; last week, newspapers quoted the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as disclosing in its 2010 report that shareholders of deposit money banks lost N136.74 billion between 2009 and 2010. The report, said to be the latest, showed the industry’s adjusted shareholders’ funds dropping by 30 percent from N448.9 billion in 2009 to N312.36 billion in 2010.

The corporation attributed the decline to the crisis that rocked the 10 banks which forced the bailout by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It noted that things are expected to improve in the coming years, with the activities of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Citing as proof, the improvement in shareholders’ funds after the first round of the purchase of banks’ non-per-

‘As for the lingering shareholder problems, the CBN should not be weary of engaging those of them who have gone to court. We said it before – they lost quite a lot, hence they deserve not only a listening ear but accommodation in whatever scheme the CBN deems fit to put in place. It is not charity but common sense’

forming assets by AMCON, the corporation also reckons with things improving as core investors in the bailed-out banks infuse more capital.

Is the closure to the crisis finally here?

While there are grounds to believe that the worst – as far as the last cycle of crisis is concerned– may be over, we consider it premature to talk of any definitive closure at this time.

To start with, developments in the global financial scene, notably, the threat of contagion from the euro zone crisis, do not give room for much optimism that the relative stability currently experienced would endure.

Second is – the capital market – a key driver of the reform and growth – is yet to recover its verve, three years after it crashed.

The third reason is that the dark clouds of anger and uncertainty hovering ever since the apex bank took over the ailing banks, which culminated in the nationalisation of three, is far from blowing away. Proof is in the fact that some shareholders are still in court over perceived wrongful divestment of their shares by the CBN. We can even add the fourth factor –that normalcy, measured by full-scale lending activities - is yet to return three years after.

The above is to suggest that there is still a lot of work ahead. While the shareholders are still counting their losses, AMCON has undertaken the first and

possibly the most important step of taking off the toxic loans from banks’ balance sheets.

Now seems the time for the industry to cut the losses and move ahead. Most pressing task is the need to restore the confidence in the financial services industry as a whole. We expect the apex bank, even now to push more aggressively to ensure an early return to normalcy by actively encouraging banks to lend as this is the way to stimulate the economy. It is unfortunate that the industry has swung from one extreme – the regime of excessive risk-taking, to the other extreme of inaction which has hobbled any prospects of growth.

The same goes for the capital market; the regulators need to do more to bring back its lost vibrancy.

As for the lingering shareholder problems, the CBN should not be weary of engaging those of them who have gone to court. We said it before – they lost quite a lot, hence they deserve not only a listening ear but accommodation in whatever scheme the CBN deems fit to put in place.

It is not charity but common sense. We may well add that both parties have more to gain from promoting an atmosphere of a thriving, constantly improving financial services environment. The resort to litigations and endless recriminations, apart from doing further damage, can only detract from the bigger picture of instituting a sound financial services system. Time for the industry to move ahead.

Unpardonable blunder •Acting PCA’s verbal order dissolving election petition tribunal is regrettable HE hope that the judiciary had learnt appropriate lessons from its recent largely self-inflicted injuries, and is poised to regain public confidence as the last bastion of justice for the common man would have been a grand illusion if the acting President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Dalhatu Adamu, had not reversed himself about 24 hours after committing what was clearly a judicial error.

If we have not forgotten, a huge blow was dealt on the credibility of the judiciary when the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina- Alu, interferred with and caused the indefinite arrest on February 19, of the impending judgment by the Sokoto State Gubernatorial Election Appeal Panel on the petition between the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The refusal by the then PCA, Justice Isa Salami, to carry out what he saw as an unlawful directive by Justice Katsina-Alu to re-constitute the Sokoto State Gubernatorial Election Panel not only resulted in a public row between the two leading jurists; it led to the suspension from office of Justice Salami in one of the most controversial and disgraceful episodes in the history of the Nigerian judiciary. Indeed, the matter is still pending in court.

Despite the unsavoury role of the current CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, in the entire episode as Vice-Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) at the time, some still entertained the hope that his tenure would witness a fresh lease of

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life for the embattled judicial institution.

On assumption of office, Justice Musdapher frankly admitted that the judiciary was in crisis and promised decisive remedial action. Towards this end, he set up a high-powered panel under the chairmanship of a retired CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais, with wide-ranging terms of reference to look into and proffer solutions to the maladies plaguing the judiciary. The impression was thus created that Justice Musdapher was determined to etch his name in history as the CJN who restored the dignity of the judiciary.

But the Nigerian judiciary would have been far gone on the path of infamy if Justice Adamu’s order verbally dissolving the Borno State Election Petition Tribunal just a few minutes before it was due to deliver its decision on the petition

by PDP candidate, Alhaji Mohammed Goni, had not been reversed. Goni had challenged the election of Governor Kassim Shettima as winner of the last governorship election in the state.

The acting PCA aborted the impending judgment through a simple phone call with no attempt whatsoever to adhere to due process or even proffer any reason for the action. As the secretary to the tribunal simply told counsel to the parties, their supporters and journalists in the court: “The Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal just spoke with me on phone. The panel will not be sitting again as he said I should inform you all that the PCA has ordered dissolved the present panel. A new panel will be re-

constituted and communicated to parties”.

In taking this decision, Justice Adamu violated an order of the Supreme Court, which had on October 31, 2011, rejected the request by Goni to disband the Appeal Court Panel and directed the same tribunal to continue hearing the petition.

Although Justice Adamu was forced, as it were, to reverse himself, the fact is that he never should have given such an order in the first place. This is much more so when the dust over a similar incident in Sokoto is yet to settle. We are happy that the election tribunal eventually gave its verdict on Saturday affirming Shettima’s election as governor of the state. But it is still baffling that an experienced jurist like Justice Adamu could have made such an unpardonable blunder.

‘Although Justice Adamu was forced, as it were, to reverse himself, the fact is that he never should have given such an order in the first place ... We are happy that the election tribunal eventually gave its verdict on Saturday affirming Shettima’s election as governor of the state. But it is still baffling that an experienced jurist like Justice Adamu could have made such an unpardonable blunder’

EHRAN was in full dudgeon on Wednesday, denouncing the International Atomic Energy Agency — calling its top inspector a Washington stooge — after it reported that Iran’s scientists had pursued secret activities “relevant to the development of a nuclear device.” The agency did not back down, and neither should anyone else.

The report is chillingly comprehensive.

It says that Iran created computer models of nuclear explosions, conducted experiments on nuclear triggers and did advanced research on a warhead that could be delivered by a medium-range missile.

What gives the report particular credibility is its meticulous sourcing. The agency’s director, Yukiya Amano, built a case on more than a thousand pages of documents, the assistance of more than 10 agency member states and interviews with “a number of individuals who were involved in relevant activities in Iran.”

The United Nations Security Council — particularly Russia and China, which have been shielding Iran — has no more excuses. It needs to quickly impose a new round of even tougher sanctions on Iran, which is also enriching uranium five years after the Council ordered it to stop.

Russia, which is still doing a lot of business with Iran, ruled out more sanctions, saying they would be seen as an “instrument for regime change.” China said it would study the report. The enrichment program is having technical problems, and sanctions are making it harder to import materials. But not hard enough.

We’re not sure any mix of sanctions and inducements can wean Tehran of its nuclear ambitions. We are sure that a military attack would be a disaster — and the current saber-rattling from Israel should make everyone nervous. A military strike would not set back Iran’s program for very long. It would rally Iranians around their illegitimate government. And it would produce a huge anti-Israeli and antiAmerican backlash around the world — whether or not Washington had tried to stop it.

The last round of sanctions was approved 17 months ago. Since then, Russia and China have balked at further penalties while stalling on implementing those already approved. So long as that enabling continues, Iran will keep pushing its nuclear program forward.

– New York Times

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Bayelsans and Nigerians in general have been watching with keen interest the politics of the re-election of the governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) blew the whistle to conduct a fresh election for five states whose tenures where extended following the High Court and Court of Appeal Judgment, the media has been awashed with reports and insinuations that President Goodluck Jonathan would not support Governor Sylva to get the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party in the forth coming primary.

Even the opposition political parties under the CNPP platform who, naturally should be in a position to take on the PDP government in Bayelsa State have not done what PDP is doing to discredit its own achievements in the state.

To compound matters, associates of the President have been doing everything possible to put a wedge between him and the governor by erecting imaginary Chinese wall around them.

Governor Sylva has remained unperturbed and has spoken in several fora describing President Jonathan as “an elder brother, that he has no problem with him”.

The question is, is President Jonathan really beating the drum for his friends to do what they are doing or will he just disregard God’s grace upon his life and render himself vulnerable to the antics of those who want PDP to fail in Bayelsa State?

During the presidential campaign and the aborted governorship campaign in Bayelsa state in April, President Jonathan spoke profusely and passionately that he will not betray or cause acrimony in a party that brought him to limelight and the apex of political office in the country.

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President Jonathan, Sylva and Bayelsa guber race He went further to pour encomiums on the achievements of the party under the young and dynamic leadership of Sylva. The wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan spoke in the same vein and she described the governor as her son.

Those singular statements coming from the President and his wife did not only paid to put all the rumours of friction between the two illustrious sons of the state, but also rekindled the article of faith of the people in the two leaders in taking Bayelsa State to the next level.

So, the question of who will betray whom is inconceivable and re-

mains in the imaginary. And of course, if the President decides to succumb to the antics of those who do not want Sylva’s re-election, it will cast a dark spot on the history of his meteoric rise to the pinnacle of power, as a man that cannot be trusted and will diminish his statesmanship which he has built over the years.

By virtue of the constitution of the PDP, the President is the indisputable leader of the party. Many party faithfuls are looking forward to seeing the President call some of his associates to order by telling them to stop writing -off the achievements

of the party in Bayelsa State.

One need not remind the leadership of the party that the PDP government under Chief Sylva has recorded landmark achievements in the area of peace and security, human capacity development and empowerment, fiscal discipline, educational advancement, health and road construction.

It is a common knowledge that militancy and general insecurity was at it peak when the governor came on board. In collaboration with other governors of the Niger Delta, the state of insecurity was brought under absolute control to

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• Jonah Okah Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Local industries need protection IR:The recent call by the Governor of the Central Bank Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for protection of our local and infant industries is the best position I have seen from a Nigerian Government official in recent time. My fervent hope is that our dear President appreciates the import of this advice and heeds it. If properly implemented and sustained this could be the beginning of our economic turnaround. If not, the social upheavals caused by thousands of our jobless men and women will continue and stay with us for a long while. Today it’s Boko Haram tomorrow we can only guess what the next level will bring.The biggest problem confronting the na-

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tion today is joblessness which translates to hopelessness in the most energetic and therefore the most potentially explosive segment of our population – the youths of Nigeria. This segment that is easily induced by charismatic leaders who give them a sense of hope and belonging may invariably be the reason for the implosion of Nigeria, if care is not taken.As espoused by Sanusi, there is no free trade anywhere in the world. The biggest proponent of free trade, the USA spends approximately $30 billion annually (dispensed through the USDA) as subsidies to farmers and owners of farmlands growing specific types of crops which include wheat, corn, soybean, rice

and cotton. By protecting her farmers, US has created a playing field which tilts positively in favour of her citizens. One, she would keep farming jobs with US farmers because it is cheaper for Americans to buy subsidized American farm goods. Two, her import bill on food will be reduced. For years America has shouted herself hoarse because the Chinese would not open their doors to American rice and most other American farm produce.

China never bulged. They made feeding their over one billion people a Chinese affair and kept their farm jobs and savings in foreign exchange in China. America threatened retaliation but the Chinese just waved off their rants. Af-

Victor Emmanuel: bleeding posterity to death IR: The country succeeded in bleeding posterity once again. The blood of slain Victor Emmanuel is one of millions of such evidence. Emmanuel, 20 yrs old, was shot and killed by policemen at one of the checkpoints at Sanni Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, on Sunday Oct 16. right in the presence of the his mother.

His crime was that he dared to question why his killers should extort commercial motorcyclists on a Sunday, the Sabbath of all days.

Will Emmanuel’s story end up like others before it –buried with the dailies it was printed in, for-

the admiration of even the opposition, ardent critics and the international community. Vast majority of Niger Deltans believe that Governor Sylva deserves a national honour in not the prestigious Nobel prize for peace.

Interestingly, the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubarkar Kawu Baraje has dismissed reports of plans to disqualify Sylva. He is a founding member of the party unlike governorship aspirants who joined the party from ANPP and other parties, or abandoned the party at one point in time or the other. Governor Sylva has remained a disciplined and loyal party member.

It is quite unfortunate that only the guber election in Bayelsa state is taking this dimension. Enough is enough.

gotten until the Nigerian policeman again executes another agenda of unwarranted death?

My cause for worry is tethered around the ‘acceptance’ of the crime by notable human rights bodies which described the incidence as ‘extrajudicial killing’. How can plain murder be dressed in a cloth that does not even befit it? How could a boy of 20 years, bible in hand – the source of his fortitude and good-heartedness – have provoked the trigger-happy policemen to commit the murder?

Extrajudicial killing ought to be used to describe murder by law enforcers of suspected criminals who

ordinarily deserve the fate meted to them out of court. It should never be used to characterise the innocent – like Emmanuel – in the hands of the callous security personnel (security personnel indeed!).

As a law novice, I can’t help feeling that the term “extra-judicial” understates the gravity of the crime and cruel nature of the policemen and their accomplices. Victor Emmanuel was never a suspected criminal. He was a church goer who was murdered by bribe-addicted policemen. No extra-judicial jargon can change the fact.

If Emmanuel had lived, he could have been a lecturer, by which he

would teach his innate forthrightness and honesty to his students.

He could have become a pastor who will shelter his flock and protect them against the storm. He could have been a renowned activist who will fight for the defenseless.

With his killing, the country bleeds its posterity and forfeits the future. And as long as children are killed while the elders gallivant and politick, posterity will bleed some more.

• Damilola Owoyele, Lagos

ter all, China was producing the cheapest goods Americans could lay their hands on, so US had no choice but to keep quiet. The Chinese too always requested that America remove it’s farming subsidies. Today the US owes China over $1.3 trillion. China put its interest and that of its people first.

They did not do it through policy somersaults like giving subsidies to the textile industry today and announcing a lift on the ban of textile imports the next day.The poultry industry in Nigeria made tremendous progress when we protected that industry from imports from countries that was already way ahead of us. Today most poultry farmers are millionaires employing large numbers of Nigerians.Can anyone imagine how much we would save and the attendant job creation if we feed ourselves and clothe ourselves?

Nigeria is in the best position to achieve this now because our main export, crude oil is an essential commodity today. Even if we go the way of protectionism today, the world would only rant and rave but it will be of no consequence.

Dear President, please protect local industries so they can expand and help to mop up all these kids roaming the streets. They have become tools in the hands of the devil’s messengers who use them in committing atrocities to achieve selfish objectives.

• Bimbo Owolabi Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti State

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Act fast and bold, Mr. President

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F only President Goodluck Jonathan could permit a feedback body on the true feelings of Nigerians towards his administration, perhaps he would handle critical national issues in more pleasing ways. The reality today is that many of the people who voted for him in the last presidential election are already lamenting the wastage of their mandate. They could just not see any light at the end of the dark tunnel. Yet, those hovering around him would be protecting their personal interests by painting a different picture that would make him feel that all is well with the country and the people.

Today, things are not going the way that could build the confidence of the people in the government. If there is no trust, obligatory support would become stiff to harness. It is only a responsive government that can have the assurance of loyalty as payback in time of need.

The present state of security should be of prime concern to any serious administration wanting to satisfy the wishes of the people. A terrorised state should not expect any meaningful accelerated growth and development. This is because no rational investor desirous of returns would risk resources of value in an apparently insecure locality.

It has gone beyond debate seeing Boko Haram as a group fighting religious battle. Call it religious sect, but view it as what it actually is: a deadly political tool designed to destabilise the government. Just consider the categories of people that are being killed and structures being bombed; there is hardly a religious preference or partiality. Boko Haram has so far been beating the nation’s security set up to destroy lives and property, chiefly to have a laugh at the government.

Let me repeat an assertion I made before. The government and the security agencies cannot deny not knowing the forces behind Boko Haram. The problem has been the lack of requisite boldness and valour to confront and tackle the enemy of peace and progress. The consequence has been loss of innocent souls and continuing economic depression of the nation. The devious counsellors to the president would rather divert his focus to the primacy of tenure elongation and petroleum products subsidy removal.

The argument between the government and the United States over the warning about impending attacks of luxury hotels in Abuja was what would invoke another laughter of Boko Haram sponsors. The US mission issued a travel warning to their citizens coming to Nigeria and cautioning them to stay clear of some hinted spots.

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ONTROVERSY broke-out recently over the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) signed into law by the President on May 27. The on-going tussle over the fund assumed a pungent legal dimension last week when 23 governors filed an application before the Supreme Court over legality, and to restrain the Federal Government from tampering with money domiciled in the Excess Crude Account (ECA). Interestingly, not much public excitement has attended the political and legal controversies, partly because they have been out-flanked by the more combustible debate over the removal of the fuelsubsidy. The relative lack of public attention to the SWF may also be due to the fact of diminishing public trust in the ability of government- federal, state, and local to deliver on bold initiatives, too many of which are flagged-off enthusiastically but end-up in the filled-to-the-brim dustbin of abandoned projects.

This latter point bears repetition considering the fact that the ECA created during the Obasanjo administration to warehouse oil revenues above a benchmark per barrel of oil, in its heydays accumulated a reserve of $30billion, but which eventually cascaded down to a meagre $5billion. Not only that, Nigeria appeared to have returned through the well-known back door of raising jumbo loans to renewed debt slavery as its debt over hang now hovers around $40billion. And so, although Wall Street and other financial investment institutions are angling for a piece of the action in the SWF, they are doing so amidst pessimism that it may all end-up as another Nigerian project abandoned in the throes of sensational mismanagement and all-too-familiar incompetence.

SWF, defined as investment funds belonging to a state, comprising assets in the shape of bonds, stocks, properties, and other financial resources is traditionally viewed by economists as strategic planning auspices to achieve generational equity by which it is meant wealth stored-up for future generations; to accumulate buffers and financial shock-absorbers for the rainy days as well as to regulate a spending-spree mentality which can impact negatively on the economy. The objectives of the fund as enunciated by the Nigerian government are inclusive of these factors as the fund is divided into three compartments namely an Infrastructure Fund designed for addressing well-known woes in this area, a Future Generations Fund, as well as a Stabilisation Fund to defend the economy against rainy days, occasioned by commodity price shocks. If wellarticulated and managed, such a scheme may enhance the ability of a state to plan and initiate long range projects, approximating a kind of developmental state that is sufficiently stable to weather the volatility of commodity markets, and be less dependent on the vagaries of the international economic system.

The trouble however, is that, the fund has run into heavy political weather through a failure of statesmanship in squaring-up its admittedly noble goals with the stringent demands

Instead of our intelligence community to make adequate arrangement to frustrate any further attacks and bring all the sponsors of past destructions to justice, it waved off the warning as useless information, posing to be more than capable of handling the terrorists whenever it is ready to do so.

The only consolation for now is the Federal Government’s newly-released gazette on the regulations to fight terrorism.

Henceforth, all terrorists and their sponsors risk five-year jail term and global freezing of their accounts at home and abroad. Also, for the first time, the government is promising to publish a Nigeria list of terrorists and their sponsors.

With the Gazette, hopefully the government may unmask those behind increasing terror attacks in the country. But that would be if the president would walk on his appeasing assurance. Speaking at the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, he said international investors who because of the Boko Haram menace do not want to invest in the country will regret the decision.

He soothingly applauded the security agencies for working round the clock on the challenge which he considers as a temporary setback, assuring that “we are doing all we can to bring the issue to an end” and definitely “we shall get over it.”

Nigerians would only believe when the confident assurance becomes manifest with the gazette put to open work. But the worry is that we need not wait until we experience a total system collapse before the suppression of the mindless killers.

FEEDBACK Your write up, “Hypocrisy of the West” and those of Vincent Akanmide and Brian Briorie on Libyan crises were the most illuminating pieces on the Libyan debacle from The Nation’s stable. Many of the armchair critics have based their outright condemnation on Gaddafi or his repressive policy and failed to situate the Libyan invasion within the ambience of the West imperialism and the quest to plunder Libya. Soon, the partition of Libya into sphere of criminal exploitation among NATO predation would begin. Then the real motive of martyrdom of Gaddafi will manifest. – Adewuyi Adegbite, Ogbomoso Col. Ghadaffi was a martyr despite the manner of his death.

Jesus Christ died humiliated 2000 years ago. Ghadaffi fought for a cause: Dignity of Africa, and died for the cause. History will determine his place in Africa pantheon because he made the welfare of his people a creed. See his will published by some dailies to know that he prepared for his death instead of being cowered. – 2348066328387 After reading ‘Hypocrisy of the West’, I’m so elated we still have people upholding to the truth. Please write more of this so that people will get enlightened. Ghadaffi’s people enjoyed basic amenities; a benevolent despot. We are still tied to the apron strings of our imperial masters. West is still our enemies. – Segun, 2347067060729.

Imbroglio over the Sovereign Wealth Fund

By Ayo Olukotun of vertical-intergovernmental relations which require that the coordinate and co-equal sub-national authorities be carried along in such a long-term commitment. Early signs that trouble was brewing and that the fund would hang in the balance for quite a while was given in Port-Harcourt recently when a miffed Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum thundered that while the governors are not opposed to the fund, the way the federal government has gone about it was tantamount to “the kidnapping of our money”.

The governor went on to say that the rule of law had been flagrantly breached in the modalities adopted by the federal government. Of course, it may be hazardous to discuss the legal intricacies of a suit before the Supreme Court, but it is pertinent to mention however, that the governors’ actions are evocative of conflictual federal-state relations during the Nigerian Second Republic when a clutch of governors acting on the platform of the progressives successfully challenged at the Supreme Court, a Bill passed by the Senate, which tacitly effected an upward revision of the Revenue Allocation Formula in favour of the federal governments. In this sense and to a certain extent, the current imbroglio over the SWF is part of a long historical struggle to re-compact an over-centralised federation, and to renew the federal bargain in such a way that the states would enjoy the requisite autonomy due to them in a federal set-up.

Let us clarify however, that the SWF does not seek to revise the Revenue Allocation Formula, but the programme has been introduced in a way that falls into a pattern described by Professor Rotimi Suberu as “the systematic manipulation of statutory inter-governmental revenue sharing arrangement in a manner that has reinforced the financial hegemony of the centre and the fiscal emasculation of the states”. This is another way of saying that the federal government has gone about the whole thing as if it had a right to dictate to the states what proportion of their entitlement should be saved-up in the SWF, especially bearing in mind the provisions of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution which mandates the federal government to pay into the Federation Account “all revenues collected by the government of the Federation”.

Soji, in response to your article ‘Hypocrisy of the West,’ you got it wrong totally. What would you write if Ghadaffi had succeeded in crushing unarmed civilians? You have forgotten so soon Gaddafi’s threat to his people? You article makes no sense. You wrote for the sake of writing. Where were you when Ghaddafi ladled his own people? 2347067812572 I read ‘Hypocrisy of the West’ over and over. The facts presented are undoubtedly unarguable to the understanding mind and obscured to the parochial minded. Even though I never liked Ghadaffi, but the truth is the truth. Ghadaffi is dead without doubt but the circumstance show that western powers are the greatest mass murderers in the history of mankind. For what? Oil. All they intend to do is to dictate and we follow their dictates: How to run our economy, when and how to devalue our money etc. First, they eliminated Saddam and invaded Iraq and they have succeeded in eliminating Ghadaffi. Next is ….. – 2348100938367 In view of your write up in respect of NATO and NTC’s action in bringing 42 years of Ghadaffi’s illegitimate rule to an end, it is a welcome development to some sincere African leaders and other international community as well. The main reason why Ghadaffi was brutally killed was as a result of undemocratic governance during his reign. There is a lot of politics in dispensation of justice in the whole world at large.

Majority of us no longer believe in this ideology of delayed justice which has characterized the politics of big shots in the whole world. African leaders should learn a lesson from this history because the way our country is being governed by some elected politicians is giving some of us a great concern. – Comrade Oboh M.O Hypocrisy of the West? God bless you all the time. Africa has lost its only state with stable economy. May God save Africa from systematic slavery. – Surajudeen Mikars, Niger State I find your write up soul lifting. It has restored my hope that the people are not carried away. The West has finally succeeded in turning Libya into what they made of Nigeria – a toothpick importing ‘great nation’ of ‘good people’. As for the shamed leader Ghadaffi, the lesson is “you can’t be too long and not be wrong”. The right man stayed too long.

-Segun Adefila.

‘The government and the security agencies cannot deny not knowing the forces behind Boko Haram. The problem has been the lack of requisite boldness and valour to confront and tackle the enemy of peace and progress’ Thorny legal issues apart, the argument has been raised that if Nigeria had a capable state, which had all along invested in infrastructure and social services rather than a contractocracy slowly milking the nation to death, such investments would not only have jump-started the economy, but would have generated spin-offs which can endow future generations with a heritage. This is to say that had all the billions of dollars earmarked for infrastructural uplift been productively harnessed rather than having gone to enrich a handful of well-connected political chieftains, we would not be in the sorry mess in which we are once again imposing indirect taxes on the Nigerian people through the projected removal of fuel subsidy, and in a manner of speech, through the SWF. In essence therefore, the governors are saying: Why do you want to force us to pay for accumulated mismanagement which has laid the nation low by saving-up funds which could be more immediately utilised for pressing needs?

Such an argument strikes an echo with the Nigerian people, given the fact for example that many of the states run shoestrings budgets and can hardly make ends meet. To concede this fact is not to lose sight of the reality that the states, although relegated to second-fiddle status in a federal set-up in which they are meant to be co-equal with the federal government, have hardly been exemplars in financial prudence. The political culture at all levels of government is characterised by accumulative and prebendal propensities of a few men at the top and their cronies whose obscenely luxurious lifestyle contrast sharply with the increasing desolation of those they claim to govern. And this syndrome in which political top-shots live in more opulence than American billionaires cuts across all parties and all dimensions of government; between a blundering central government, providing a federal umbrella for the “democratisation” of the pillage of public resources, and the states, in which the corruption at the centre is replicated on a lesser scale, Nigeria has been cruelly short-changed. Not so long ago for example, Professor Pat Utomi revealed that hardly any major road projects embarked upon by the federal government since 1999 have been fully completed. This brings us in a round-about way to the persisting national question as well as issues of building an economy of productivity rather than one of rent-seeking.

To conclude, there are more issues that should be brought on the table than the current rupture in inter-governmental relations over the SWF; if the SWF must succeed, it must do so in such a way that does not further wither the severely eroded powers of the state governments. To the extent therefore that the controversy helps to police the boundaries of federal power, it is a worthwhile controversy which also underlines issues of political and constitutional reforms, as well as revamped political ethos.

• Olukotun, is professor of Political Science at Lead City University, Ibadan.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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HE United States of America (US) last week warned of possible bomb attacks on three luxury hotels in Abuja that are frequented by its citizens. The warning followed the shocking and awesome bomb attacks by the Boko Haram religious sect in Damaturu and Potiskum in Yobe State and Maiduguri in Borno State in which more than 150 lives were lost.

Apparently worried that its citizens who patronize these hotels may fall victims should the hotels be bombed, the US had to issue the warning in keeping with its usual practice.

But the security authorities in Nigeria saw the matter differently.

In a joint Press conference in Abuja, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi and the spokeswoman of the State Security Services (SSS), Marilyn Ogar said there was nothing new in the warning.

They said that security agencies were on top of the situation and considered the warning as “insulting to us as a nation” The NSA said for over three months now, the security services have taken pro-active measures to protect the designated critical facilities and others.

But reacting to these, an American diplomat who preferred to remain anonymous was emphatic that the warning was based on specific and credible information and they had no option but to alert their citizens.

Ordinarily, the concerns raised by the US on the prospects of the dreaded Boko Haram sect bombing some strategic institutions either in Abuja or in any other part of the country should not be a surprise to anyone.

It should not take warnings from the US to its citizens before our security agencies come to terms with the serious challenge the Boko Haram sect pose to the security of this country. It is largely on account of this that security has been beefed up not only in Abuja but around some strategic institutions in the country. Since the bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, visitors cannot but notice the long queue of vehicles around these hotels indicating that there are security checks on those entering them. As a matter of fact, bomb detectors have become regular features of these institutions. Even the churches and sundry private places are not left out in this heightened security consciousness. All these can be admitted.

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

US and Abuja bombs But that is not to say that the threat posed by the dreaded religious sect has been contained. It cannot possibly be so.

Thus, last week’s altercation between the US and our security authorities may not have been necessary after all.

And as Ogar rightly observed, ‘we all know that we have internal security challenges’. This fact is not in doubt. What has been in doubt is the capacity of our security agencies to adequately rise to the challenges they pose to lives and property. There is not much from the death toll that followed last week’s bomb attacks to indicate we have sufficiently insulated our critical institutions from vulnerability. If the US has some information regarding potential targets that could affect its citizens, it is good information that could be shared to nip the threat in the bud. Such information is not an issue that should bring about the kind of recriminations our security agencies were engaged in last week.

The US may have missed the point in not first sharing that information with our security operatives. However, what concerns Nigerians most today is the effective deployment of such information to stave off these deadly attacks. There is nothing on the ground today to imbue confidence in our people that the Boko Haram sect will soon be contained.

There is nothing to indicate that we have seen the last of these devastating attacks. There is also little to give hope that all sections of the country have been insulated from this menace.

Rather, the increasing sophistication, precision and lethality of the group have height-

ened fear and helplessness on the part of our citizens.

If anything, the exodus of people from Maiduguri, Potiskum and Damaturu is sufficient evidence of the helplessness and hopelessness of our people in the face of the increasing deadly successes by that sect. It may well be that Abuja has been sufficiently secured.

But it is one thing for the security agencies to feel they are on top of the situation and entirely a different ball game for the people to be so convinced. More over, we have become so much used to this cliché- ‘being on top of the situation’ that it has almost lost meaning to most people. For, each time serious security challenges arise, we are quickly told that security agencies are on top of the situation only to find out much later that not much was going on.

Thus, it may not be entirely neat for security agencies to have rushed to tell the nation that the prospect of bombing the hotels is not news. To many of us, it is big news.

That is why most of the national dailies celebrated it. After all, we all saw what happened to the UN building also situated in Abuja. We are yet to get at the root of that attack or apprehend the masterminds. I am sure if one visits any of those hotels thereafter, the effect of that warning would have been palpable from its level of patronage.

This may have been part of the discomfort of our security agencies in the way the US came out with its warning. In this also, they have a point. But the US has before now, acquired a penchant for issuing warnings that

most times have only succeeded in embarrassing foreign governments. Severally, it has issued travel warnings that were not in tandem with extant situation on the ground. It is therefore a matter that should be handled at the diplomatic level.

Next time, the US will be doing this nation good by sharing the necessary information with the relevant authorities before going public.

But beyond these, our security agencies must rise to the serious challenge of the Boko Haram insurgents. It is ridiculous to claim to be on top of the situation, when they cannot unmask the mastermind of this devious activity. Until we are able to get at the root of their sponsors, every alert on the potential activities of this group will remain a serious issue that must be treated seriously.

Readers’ reactions I have read your article of Oct. 31, on citizens Victor and Stephen. I believe the immediate solution will be the compulsory retirement of the military commander or police area commander under whose command these killings took place. Enough is enough.

From Clifford In your article on rising extra-judicial killings, you raised issues that should be critically looked at by supervisors of our security agencies. Unfortunately our leadership is good in downplaying matters of national importance. Soon that government may be left with a bad situation to contain. We should not forget that the Tunisian revolt was sparked off by police assault and the uprising in the UK was exacerbated by the way the police handled the mater. The police the world over are like a stray bullet. The government should watch out else the father of a stray child may bear the brunt. From Pam-Jos It is pathetic how those security agencies kill Nigerians. Let the families of those they killed take action to ensure that those security men do not go free. 08167830707 I feel so bad whenever I hear stories like this, so what has the family of the NYSC member done? From Tamunosaki, an NYSC member.

Was Citizen Victor a tailor when the police alleged that he inflicted injuries on them with a pair of scissors? From Tom Oaikhinan

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

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NE of the questions I wrestled with when writing about Steve Jobs was how smart he was. On the surface, this should not have been much of an issue. You’d assume the obvious answer was: he was really, really smart. Maybe even worth three or four reallys. After all, he was the most innovative and successful business leader of our era and embodied the Silicon Valley dream writ large: he created a start-up in his parents’ garage and built it into the world’s most valuable company.

But I remember having dinner with him a few months ago around his kitchen table, as he did almost every evening with his wife and kids. Someone brought up one of those brainteasers involving a monkey’s having to carry a load of bananas across a desert, with a set of restrictions about how far and how many he could carry at one time, and you were supposed to figure out how long it would take.

Mr. Jobs tossed out a few intuitive guesses but showed no interest in grappling with the problem rigorously. I thought about how Bill Gates would have gone click-click-click and logically nailed the answer in 15 seconds, and also how Mr. Gates devoured science books as a vacation pleasure. But then something else occurred to me: Mr. Gates never made the iPod. Instead, he made the Zune.

So was Mr. Jobs smart? Not conventionally.

Instead, he was a genius. That may seem like a silly word game, but in fact his success dramatizes an interesting distinction between intelligence and genius. His imaginative leaps were instinctive, unexpected, and at times magical. They were sparked by intuition, not analytic rigor. Trained in Zen Buddhism, Mr. Jobs came to value experiential wisdom over empirical analysis. He didn’t study data or crunch numbers but like a pathfinder, he could sniff the winds and sense what lay ahead.

He told me he began to appreciate the power of intuition, in contrast to what he called “Western rational thought,” when he wandered around India after dropping out of college. “The people in the Indian countryside don’t use their intellect like we do,” he said.

“They use their intuition instead ... Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That’s had a big impact on my work.”

The Genius of Jobs

By Walter Isaacson Mr. Jobs’s intuition was based not on conventional learning but on experiential wisdom. He also had a lot of imagination and knew how to apply it. As Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Einstein is, of course, the true exemplar of genius. He had contemporaries who could probably match him in pure intellectual firepower when it came to mathematical and analytic processing. Henri Poincaré, for example, first came up with some of the components of special relativity, and David Hilbert was able to grind out equations for general relativity around the same time Einstein did. But neither had the imaginative genius to make the full creative leap at the core of their theories, namely that there is no such thing as absolute time and that gravity is a warping of the fabric of space-time. (O.K., it’s not that simple, but that’s why he was Einstein and we’re not.)

Einstein had the elusive qualities of genius, which included that intuition and imagination that allowed him to think differently (or, as Mr. Jobs’s ads said, to Think Different.)

Although he was not particularly religious, Einstein described this intuitive genius as the ability to read the mind of God. When assessing a theory, he would ask himself, Is this the way that God would design the universe? And he expressed his discomfort with quantum mechanics, which is based on the idea that probability plays a governing role in the universe by declaring that he could not believe God would play dice. (At one physics conference, Niels Bohr was prompted to urge Einstein to quit telling God what to do.)

Both Einstein and Mr. Jobs were very visual thinkers. The road to relativity began when the teenage Einstein kept trying to picture what it would be like to ride alongside a light beam. Mr. Jobs spent time almost every afternoon walking around the studio of his brilliant design chief Jony Ive and fingering

foam models of the products they were developing.

Mr. Jobs’s genius wasn’t, as even his fanboys admit, in the same quantum orbit as Einstein’s.

So it’s probably best to ratchet the rhetoric down a notch and call it ingenuity. Bill Gates is super-smart, but Steve Jobs was superingenious. The primary distinction, I think, is the ability to apply creativity and aesthetic sensibilities to a challenge.

In the world of invention and innovation, that means combining an appreciation of the humanities with an understanding of science — connecting artistry to technology, poetry to processors. This was Mr. Jobs’s specialty. “I always thought of myself as a humanities person as a kid, but I liked electronics,” he said. “Then I read something that one of my heroes, Edwin Land of Polaroid, said about the importance of people who could stand at the intersection of humanities and sciences, and I decided that’s what I wanted to do.”

The ability to merge creativity with technology depends on one’s ability to be emotionally attuned to others. Mr. Jobs could be petulant and unkind in dealing with other people, which caused some to think he lacked basic emotional awareness. In fact, it was the opposite. He could size people up, understand their inner thoughts, cajole them, intimidate them, target their deepest vulnerabilities, and delight them at will. He knew, intuitively, how to create products that pleased, interfaces that were friendly, and marketing messages that were enticing.

In the annals of ingenuity, new ideas are only part of the equation. Genius requires execution. When others produced boxy computers with intimidating interfaces that confronted users with unfriendly green prompts that said things like “C:\>,” Mr. Jobs saw there was a market for an interface like a sunny playroom. Hence, the Macintosh. Sure, Xerox came up with the graphical desktop metaphor, but the personal computer it built

was a flop and it did not spark the home computer revolution. Between conception and creation, T. S. Eliot observed, there falls the shadow.

In some ways, Mr. Jobs’s ingenuity reminds me of that of Benjamin Franklin, one of my other biography subjects. Among the founders, Franklin was not the most profound thinker — that distinction goes to Jefferson or Madison or Hamilton. But he was ingenious.

This depended, in part, on his ability to intuit the relationships between different things.

When he invented the battery, he experimented with it to produce sparks that he and his friends used to kill a turkey for their end of season feast. In his journal, he recorded all the similarities between such sparks and lightning during a thunderstorm, then declared “Let the experiment be made.”

So he flew a kite in the rain, drew electricity from the heavens, and ended up inventing the lightning rod. Like Mr. Jobs, Franklin enjoyed the concept of applied creativity — taking clever ideas and smart designs and applying them to useful devices.

China and India are likely to produce many rigorous analytical thinkers and knowledgeable technologists. But smart and educated people don’t always spawn innovation. America’s advantage, if it continues to have one, will be that it can produce people who are also more creative and imaginative, those who know how to stand at the intersection of the humanities and the sciences. That is the formula for true innovation, as Steve Jobs’s career showed.

• Walter Isaacson is the author of “Steve Jobs.”

‘America’s advantage, if it continues to have one, will be that it can produce people who are also more creative and imaginative, those who know how to stand at the intersection of the humanities and the sciences’.

Nation Monday, November 14, 2011

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

BOTSWANA/ NIGERIA FRIENDLY

Keshi speaks after match T

HOUGHTS ON THE GAME? It was good. We picked up after the first 15 minutes and started playing the way we want. And in the last 15 minutes the level and the intensity came up, which is what I want to see.

In the second half it was much better. I am happy, its just that we had a lot of chances but didnt get to score. But the performance of the boys after three training sessions is something I hope we can build on.

ANY POSITIVES FROM THE GAME? Oh yes, we had plenty of positives. The pressure level to win the ball quickly when we lose it, and communication between the players. And they were playing for each other. There was this communication going on and I need to build more on that.

I just know that it will be okay DISAPPOINTED ABOUT LACK OF GOALS? Yes. I was disappointed that we didn’t score but not that much. If you look at the way they played especially in the second half, it would have been great for them to get the goals.

But I am not really that disappointed, because I am happy with the performance and this will allow me to know the preferable position to play these players and what system is good for the players and for the team ON CHANGING SYSTEMS DURING THE GAME I changed systems during the game because I was trying to see what is going to be alright for us. I dont really know the players that much for now and changing players can be difficult because for you to understand one system takes time.

But I was just playing and changing to see if these players can play intelligent football and I am impressed because each time I asked them to do something, they did it right.

That means, by the time I come out and pick one system they can do well.

STANDOUT PLAYERS? Joel Obi, mostly in the second half. Yobo was a rock. Reminded me of when I was playing. Taye Taiwo did well and even Efe did well at right back and the two central midfielders CHANGES V ZAMBIA? I dont want to make too many changes because we don’t have time. But I will see what we can do on Monday when we train in Kaduna.

I will speak to my players and exchange ideas with them because I like to hear their thoughts too.

BOTSWANA I never looked at them as underdogs. They beat Tunisia home and away and qualified with two games to the end of qualifying. They are no pushovers.

If it wasnt becuase of the way we played today, if we had given them even the slightest opportunity to play they would have done much better.

Its just that we were in their faces all the time and we didn’t let them play.

That is why they were defending all the time.

They are a very good team and I think they will do well at the Cup of Nations.

J

OSEPH YOBO

Joseph Yobo a Nigerian footballer, was born on September 6, 1980 in Kono, Nigeria. He is a defender who plays as a centre back for Fenerbahçe, on loan from Everton.

Club career Yobo was born in Kono, but he grew up in Port Harcourt and is close friends with Crewe Alexandra player George Abbey with whom he grew up. He consulted with Abbey before deciding to move to England.

Yobo left Nigeria to join Standard Liège in 1998. He made his first team debut in 2000, and went on to appear 46 times. In 2001, he was bought by Marseille.

Everton Soon after making his debut, Yobo was loaned to Tenerife. After around nine months, Yobo returned to Marseille, before joining Everton, again on loan, in July 2002. A £1 million fee was required to register the player, and he became the first signing of David Moyes. An option to make the move permanent was taken up and completed in 2003 after a dispute between Yobo and Marseille was settled, with Everton agreeing a fixed additional fee of £4 million.

Yobo became one of the most consistent players in the Everton squad, and was one of only seven players in the entire league to play every minute of every game throughout the 2006–07 season.

The delay, in 2006, in signing a new contract with Everton lead to rumours of a move to Arsenal, but on 22 July, Yobo committed himself to Goodison Park until 2010. As of 15 April 2007, Yobo is the record appearance holder for an overseas player at Everton. For the UEFA Cup match against Larissa of Greece on 25 October 2007, Yobo was named as captain in the absence of Phil Neville and thus became the first African to captain the club. On 6 May 2009, Yobo scored his first goal of the season against West Ham United to seal a 3–1 win.

In the 2009–10 season, Yobo had to adjust to his new defensive partner, Sylvain Distin, after Joleon Lescott left and Phil Jagielka became injured. On 29 November 2009, he scored an own goal in Everton’s 2–0 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby.

Distin, Jagielka and John Heitinga have recently been selected over Yobo, confining him to the bench for most matches.

Fenerbahçe On 31 August 2010 Joseph Yobo signed a 1-year loan contract with

NIGERIA’S MOST-CAPPED INTERNATIONAL PLAYER

Yobo set to upstage Muda, Kanu

By Akeem Lawal Fenerbahçe. Yobo made 30 official matches and 1 goal taken, winning 2010–11 Süper Lig. However Fenerbahçe also involved in the sports corruption scandal, which saw Diego Lugano was sold. On 6 September 2011, Fenerbahçe agreed another loan for •700,000 and Yugo signed a 1-year contract worth •2.35 million.

Super Eagles’ captain, Joseph Yobo, will become Nigeria’s most-capped international player if he features in tomorrow’s international friendly match against Zambia at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

Yobo made his 85th appearance for the Eagles in an international friendly against Zebras of Botswana at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State on Saturday which ended goalless.

Playing tomorrow against Zambia, Yobo will equal 86 cap appearance record jointly held by late Muda Lawal and Nwankwo Kanu. Incidentally, both Muda and Kanu were also the captains of the Super Eagles during their era.

International career After making his debut in the spring of 2001, the Nigerian international played in the Super Eagles’ three matches in Japan and South Korea, for the 2002 World Cup, and even provided the assist for his side’s only goal of the tournament. Yobo’s play at international level has received positive reviews. He was also part of the Nigerian squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, after which he assumed the Eagles’ captaincy on the international retirement of Nwankwo Kanu.

Death Lawal died in his home in 1991. The Ashero Stadium in his hometown Abeokuta was named after him after his death.

NWANKWO KANU Nwankwo Christian Nwosu Kanu, OON (born 1 August 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), or simply Kanu, is a Nigerian professional footballer, who plays for Portsmouth. He was also a member of the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010.

Kanu is a member of the Igbo ethnic group; his name, Nwankwo, means Baby boy born on Nkwo market day in the Igbo language.

Kanu has won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is also one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions

Personal life In 2010, following a brief courtship, Yobo married former MBGN Adaeze Igwe in a midnight ceremony held in Jos. The couple welcomed a baby boy named Joey Yobo April 2010 He is the younger brother of former Nigeria international Albert Yobo. In July 2008, his younger brother Norum was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and held for ransom. He was eventually released after 12 days on 17 July 2008.

It was widely reported in the Nigerian media that Yobo went to T.B. Joshua, a controversial Nigerian prophet and miracle worker for prayers after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Charity work In 2007, Yobo set up the Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation, to help underprivileged children in Nigeria. As of 18 July 2007, he has handed out over 300 scholarship awards ranging from primary to university level. Yobo has started a football academy in the Ogoni region of Nigeria. He also runs football camps in Lagos.

•Yobo

• Keshi

Amodu commends Keshi

F

ORMER Super Eagles’ chief coachAmodu Shuaibu had a lot of praise for Stephen Keshi and the squad after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Botswana in Benin.

Nigeria dominated the game and created tons of chances, but still somehow ended up with no goals.

Amodu however said he was pleased about the game overall and that Keshi would come good “I saw a very relaxed team that tried to express themselves. And that is all what friendlies are about. The fact that they did not win the game is not important. What is important is that the objective of coming together as one family was achieved.

“Secondly I believe that the lack of taking precise shots at goal was

obvious. “But we saw througout the 90 minutes that it was a one-sided game.

“I think its fair to say that the opposition was a bit lucky. By the time he plays the second game, he would have had the opportunity of knowing these players and what they can do and from there he can begin to plan how he can structure his team.”

Amodu however, declined to offer public advise to Keshi “I hardly give advice in public. I have a very good relationship with him and if there is anything I need to say, I will speak to him one on one.”

With Nigeria failing to qualify for the Nations Cup, it would have been easy to skip these friendly dates, but Amodu said the NFF deserved commendation for organising the games

• Lawal

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good performance,” Green told SuperSport.com.

“I am encouraged as I believe the future is bright,” he explained.

The NFF Chief was also quick to single out two players for special praise.

“Ogbuke Chinedu did very well on the wings and I lack words to describe the mercurial abilities of Dickson Etuhu who played with his heart; a real trojan.

“I understand (Super Eagles coach, Stephen) Keshi is trying out several (tactical) systems. “I am sure he will perfect on other strategies when he gets to Kaduna to face the Zambians,” Green said.

•Kanu

Albert Yobo Michael Albert Yobo (born May, 1979 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria) is a retired Nigerian football defender. He is the older brother of Nigeria international captain Joseph Yobo. His brothers charity, the Joseph Yobo Foundation, run a youth football tournament in Nigeria which bears his name, the Albert Yobo Soccer Championship.

Albert featured for Nigerian side, Rangers International from 1995 to 1997 before joining AJ Auxerre in 1998 and spent two years with the club.

He joined VfL Osnabrück in 2001 and moved to Grazer AK in 2002. He also had a brief stint with FC Zwolle and Pontevedra CF. Albert made his debut for Nigeria aged 18 against Zambia in a friendly in December 1997. He was also played for Nigeria’s Under-17 team in 1995.

International career He won 86 caps and scored 12 goals for his country, and is still the most capped Nigerian player. The only

‘Keshi will do better against Zambia’

HAIRMAN of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee, Barrister Chris Green has praised Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi for a ‘very good performance’ following Nigeria’s 0-0 friendly against Botswana’s Zebras.

The Nigerian team dominated Saturday’s friendly international against the Southern Africans but failed to find any joy in the form of goals.

Green is, however, ‘encouraged’ and has now voiced his sentiments on Saturday’s performance.

“We may not have won but we played very well and I can say it was a very

International career Kanu was a member of the Nigerian national team from 1994 until 2010, making his debut in friendly against Sweden. Earlier on at the start of his career, Kanu was instrumental in Nigeria’s overall success at the 1993 FIFA U-17 tournament in Japan and their subsequent 2–1 victory over Ghana in the final. With five goals, he was second joint-scorer in the tournament with Peter Anosike and Manuel Neira, behind compatriot and Captain Wilson Oruma.

As well as winning the Olympics gold in the football event at 1996 Olympics, Kanu participated in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. On 24 June 2010, Kanu ended his international career following Nigeria’s exit from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Nigeria lost their group matches against Argentina and Greece, before a 2–2 draw with South Korea ended their stay in the tournament. He won 86 caps and scored 13 goals for his country and is the joint most capped Nigerian player of all-time alongside Muda Lawal.

Yobo’ brothers

MUDASHIRU LAWAL Mudashiru Babatunde “Muda” Lawal (June 8, 1954 in Abeokuta – July 6, 1991 in Ibadan) was a Nigerian football midfielder.

He worked as a mechanic when his football talents were discovered, making his national team debut in 1975.

The same year he joined Shooting Stars F.C. of Ibadan, where he would play for many years, winning the African Cup Winners Cup as the first Nigerian team.

In 1985 the team was ordered disbanded by a military governor, but after four seasons he returned to Shooting Stars F.C. as a playing assistant coach.

League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. He holds the record for most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times. He is also a UNICEF ambassador.

T

player ever to appear at five consecutive Nation Cup final rounds (1976-1984), Lawal guided Nigeria to its first African Nations title, at the

1980 African Nations Cup. The team also competed at the Summer Olympics the same year.

NFF to sue Jide Fashikun

HE Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has concluded plans to take an Abuja-based journalist, Mr. Jide Fashikun to court for several false publications against the establishment as well as Members of the Executive Committee and Management of the Federation.

The NFF Executive Committee, comprising of elected, highly-placed Nigerians of integrity and good name, have come under attacks in the past few months from the scurrilous and

scandalous publications of the said Jide Fashikun.

Fashikun was arrested last week by officers from the Monitoring Unit of the Force CID, Inspector General of Police’s office and detained in Abuja in connection with some of his outrageous write-ups.

A journalist with the National Accord newspaper based in Abuja, Fashikun has developed a penchant for populating the pages of the newspaper with unsubstantiated publications which often bother on the ridiculous.

He is in close cahoot with the

discredited and illegal National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF), long banned by the global body for football players, FifPRO and held in outright disdain by world footballgoverning body, FIFA. The body has also been in tandem with some other discredited groups and fellows to create crises in Nigerian football.

NFF Executive Committee member and chairman of the Technical SubCommittee, Barrister Chris Green said at the weekend that Fashikun would have to prove the veracity of most of his incredible reports in the court of law.

Edwin Norum Yobo In July 2008, their younger brother Norum Yobo was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and held for ransom. He was eventually released after 12 days on July 17, 2008.

FIBA AFRICA WOMENS CLUB TOURNEY

Deepwater, First Bank to battle six others

N

IGERIA women’s basketball league champions, First Deepwater Basketball Club and runners up, First Bank Basketball Club will square up against six other champions from across Africa for the final round of the 16th edition of the Fiba Africa Champions Cup for Women from December 4 to 10 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Other clubs in contention include defending champion Inter Clube (Angola),Maculosso (Angola), N.J.S (Cameroon), Arc-en-ciel (DRCongo),

Ports Authority (Kenya) and O.C.E (Algeria).

Chairman of the club, Engr.

Babatunde Babalola said as the Nigeria champion, the club will go to Cameroon to make the country proud.

“We’re the current champion and going to Cameroon to compete. We hope to make Nigeria proud. As current best seven in African, we hope to become first in Africa.

“Our target is to bring Nigeria back to to the basketball map of Africa,” Babalola said.

Martins wants Eagles’ return •Promises goals

O

BAFEMI Martins has asked new Super Eagles’ coach

Stephen Keshi to give him another chance to prove himself just as he has backed the coach to succeed.

“The Eagles drew 0-0 with Botswana but with more time, the team will be back on top again,” said ‘Obagoal’ from his base in Russia.

“I hope I will soon get another chance to score goals for Nigeria again and I also believe that with time and a little more patience the Eagles will be winning again.”

He equally lauded the top-class strikers like Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa, Ikechukwu Uche and Brown Ideye currently in the Eagles.

Nigeria are drawn against Rwanda in a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in the first half of the new year and will also feature in the 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament later in 2013.

A long-term shin injury has shut out the former Inter Milan striker from the national team but he has since regained full fitness to star for his high-profile Russian club Rubin Kazan. He was last involved with the national team in March.

At the weekend, Martins visited the Orictoritak Motherless Babies Home in Kazan, to present gifts to the children in memory of his late mother and brother Ladi.

He disclosed that he will do a similar thing in Lagos on his return on holidays in December.

Nigerian starlet debuts for Sporting Lisbon

By Stella Bamawo

ORTUGUESE-BORN Nigerian defender Tiago Abiola Ilori has finally made his debut for Sporting Lisbon.

Ilori, who was born in England to a Nigeria father and Portuguese mother, was on from start to finish as Sporting beat Uniao de Leiria last Sunday. He also picked a 10th minute yellow on the night.

Ilori, born in February 26, 1993, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, had been playing in the junior team of the Portuguese giants before he was promoted to the senior team this summer. The young defender, sporting jersey number 34, was on the bench for 90 minutes in their Europa League game against Romanian club Vaslui last month. He also holds a British passport having been born in London.

Meanwhile, reports have it that the 19-year old defender has expressed his wish to play for the Super Eagles or the Olympic team and he’s willing to play for his father’s country of birth. He has not been previously capped at any level by either England, his country of birth or Portugal.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Bayelsa 2012 governorship election While those opposed to the second-term bid of Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva are still mapping out the plot, his loyalists are busy drumming up support for his ambition. ISAAC OMBE reports the development.

‘Why we stand

by Sylva’ N

OTWITHSTANDING the storms being faced by Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva’s re-election ambition in the 2012 elections, there appears to be light for him at the end of the seeming dark tunnel.

Reason: Some seem ready to literally die for him.

Those in the category have been quick to point out that in the last four years, there has been a boom in private business activities in the state owing to opportunities created by the Sylva-led administration that believes in self empowerment through hard work.

Also, they claim that among the youths, there have been increased vocational business outfits such as barbing salons, hair dressing among the females, graphic shops, hotel business and other social activities that have kept most people busy and more focused.

The development, it is also being claimed, has put to an end, the issue of blind loyalty to the government of the day in the state, while the youth, it is also said, have been enjoying various empowerment policies formulated by the administration.

The administration has also reportedly succeeded in training lots of youths in driving and they are currently handling the taxis, buses and Keke Sylva vehicles plying both urban and rural communities through the Stimulus Scheme Programme of the administration.

The scheme’s coordinator, Mr. Noel Inafa said: “The over 350 beneficiaries of the scheme from the eight local government areas will celebrate one year anniversary of the Transport Scheme later in the month and we will use the occasion to appreciate the efforts of Governor Sylva and that of the management of the scheme for its success.”

The administration, it was said, with partnership with New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), had also embarked on a grassroots mobilisation to train members of various cooperative groups in numerous farming techniques.

The state chapter of NEPAD recently collaborated with United States Africa Development Foundation (USADF) to provide grants to cooperative societies in the state.

Commenting on the importance of NEPAD to grassroots development, Mrs. Precious EliShama, coordinator of NEPAD in the state said its mission is to achieve a lasting improvement in the economic and social conditions of the rural population

in the state, especially the poorer sections of society and women in particular.

She added that “NEPAD is a powerful vehicle set up by Africa for Africans to enable practical development in corresponding workable relationship by focused people-oriented governments in which Chief Timipre Sylva in leaving positive mark.”

Throwing his weight behind Sylva, a youth leader in the state, Mr. Samuel Felix Brave, said that youths in the state had enjoyed the best in terms of empowerment by his government than any other.

According to him, the Sylva-led administration has sent more youths abroad for training than those he succeeded. For instance, youths in the Bayelsa Volunteer Outfit are empowered through monthly payments. While some were sent to India for ITC training, lots of others were sent to Malaysia for studies in various areas, while recently, some graduated from a tailoring and fashion design programme from Thailand.

“I am confident that when given the opportunity for second tenure, more achievements will be recorded by the Sylva-led administration,” noted Brave who expressed dismay that Abujabased Bayelsa State politicians are just unnecessarily after Sylva’s second tenure ambition.

“They should allow him to complete his second tenure.

Bayelsans back home are tacitly behind Sylva because he has done what past administrations did not do. Only few people in Abuja are the ones giving the wrong impression that Bayelsans are not in love with Sylva. We are in love with him and we are satisfied with his performance so far,” Brave emphasised.

Expressing concern over the emerging political developments in the state and disturbed by the stiff opposition especially form the Abuja end against the massive support Sylva enjoys, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has prom-

• Sylva

ised to engage in massive mobilisation to ensure the victory of the governor in the 2012 elections.

Exchanging views with journalists shortly before a recent pro-Sylva special prayer jointly organised by ALGON and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Mr. Tiwei Orumiegha, the state Chairman of ALGON re-emphasised his group’s preparedness to mobilise grassroots support for the governor despite the building opposition to his ambition.

He noted that the prayer programme was aimed at inviting God to take care of the spiritual aspect of the mobilisation.

“I believe the political landscape is changing, its not as quiet as before. Everybody is observing.

ALGON has decided to follow the man at the helm of affairs of

Bayelsa State,” Orumiegha declared as he added: “We are the people, we are the constant variables that select leaders and we have been given opportunity to select our leaders.”

According to him, the prayer session became very important because the emerging atmosphere made it necessary for Bayelsans to pray and fast for peace. “This is what can translate to the development of the state in all ramifications and the current peace in the state was made possible by Sylva. Why won’t he continue with it?” He asked rhetorically.

The ALGON boss who noted with pains that the state was always in turbulence whenever transition wants to take place added: “ALGON has mobilised the grassroots people to vote Sylva when the election comes.

‘They should allow him to complete his second tenure.

Bayelsans back home are tacitly behind Sylva because he has done what past administrations did not do. Only few people in Abuja are the ones giving the wrong impression that Bayelsans are not in love with Sylva. We are in love with him and we are satisfied with his performance so far’

We have brought God to clear the atmosphere.”

However, a new dimension emerged last Wednesday. A governorship aspirant in the last aborted governorship election in the state, Mr. Hinks Dumbo, also a member of the PDP, dragged the party to court to stop the proposed November 17 governorship primaries in the state.

But Dumbo’s motion was countered by a group said to be loyal to Hon Dickson Seriake led by Barr. Sylvanus Abila who prayed the Yenagoa High Court to dismiss Dumbo’s application, saying that he has no locus standi to stop the primaries in the state.

The pro-Sylva group did not only stop at dragging the PDP to court, it queried the leadership of the PDP over the initial exclusion of Sylva from the list of aspirants billed for the primaries.

In a letter signed by seven serving National Assembly members of the party in the state - Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West), Senator Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East), Hon. Ealman Igoriba (Yenagoa,Kolokuma/ Opokuma Federal Constituency), Hon. Foinghan Jephatha (Brass/ Nembe Federal Constituency), Nadu Karibo (Ogbia Federal Constituency) and Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency) – stated: “The powers and functions of the NWC as enshrined in Article 12.63 of the PDP constitution as amended do not include screening and clearance of candidates for any election.”

The group which also included a member of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of the Independent National Electoral Commission (IPAC-INEC), Hon. Sunday Frank-Oputu, noted in anger that the screening and clearance of candidates for gubernatorial primaries are the exclusive functions of the Gubernatorial Screening Committee (GSC) set up pursuant to Article 17.1 of the PDP and Paragraph 16 of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary 2010.

It further observed that in the current case, the GSC duly empanelled is the one led by Brig. Gen. Idi Adamu (rtd) which screened the aspirants in accordance with its mandate on October 27 at the zonal office.

The lawmaker, however, warned: “Whatever the PDP people do among themselves should not be repeated during the 2012 general elections in the state. We are tired of the PDP antics and we are set to end the reign of godfatherism in the state. It is sad that the PDP has gone back to the days of Obasanjo. They did it in Abia and failed. This is a good chance to throw out the PDP from Bayelsa State.”

As things turn out, it is waiting to be seen how far the growing support for the embattled governor will carry him in the forthcoming elections.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

POLITICS Senator Joy Emodi is the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters. In an interview with select journalists in Abuja, Emodi who was a leading light of the 6th Senate, bared her mind on executive-legislature relationship, constitution amendment, single term presidency and fuel subsidy. Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR was there.

Path to constitution amendment, by Emodi S

INCE your appointment about four months ago as Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, what difference have you made in the executive -legislature relationship I have succeeded in promoting an Executive–Legislature relationship that is anchored on mutual respect and trust in line with Mr. President’s governance orientation. My first major challenge cum assignment was to coordinate the screening and approval of ministerial nominees to by the Senate. I am particularly grateful to my former colleagues for the thoroughness, dexterousness, and patriotism they brought to bear on the whole exercise, making it possible for Mr. President to hit the ground running with his Transformation Team. In addition, I have also coordinated the screening of members of several executive agencies like federal Commissioners, and even appointees into key judicial positions. All these have gone smoothly. And Mr. President has neither been overbearing nor dictatorial, while the National Assembly has not been a rubber stamp by any stroke of imagination. That is how the wheel of democracy should run.

What is your agenda to ensure a smoother Executive-National Assembly rapport?

My major agenda in promoting the much needed Executive – National Assembly rapport would be to ensure that this natural relationship, mutual respect and trust which we have planted are well watered and well nourished. The major nourishment in this case is dialogue. The more I succeed in getting the Executive, and that includes Mr. President and all Executive functionaries like Ministers and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to interface on policy issues and legislative matters, the better for our democracy and our quest to move for-

ward. In other words, I believe that crises ensue primarily from a breakdown in communication and trust. But above all, once national interest is the rudiment of public service and governance, conflicts will be highly minimized.

How soon should Nigerians expect the Presidency to forward the much-talked-about proposed constitution amendment bill to the National Assembly?

The constitution is the document of all Nigerians; hence, its amendment is not necessarily about the Presidency sending a bill to the National Assembly. I am also aware several organizations and interest groups such as the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Governors Forum, and other are planning to send memos to the National Assembly towards constitution amendment. Such myriads of ideas are what strengthen democracy. However, while both Chambers of the National Assembly have constituted the Committees on Constitution Review, I am aware they have not been formally inaugurated. Once they do, nothing stops the Presidency from injecting its ideas in the form of proposals for Constitution amendment. Interestingly, I was a member of the Constitution Review Committee in the last Senate; hence, for me, it is a very familiar ground. Importantly, I have great confidence in the ability of the current National Assembly to get the job done better and faster because it already has precedence and experience garnered from the successful Constitution amendment achieved in the last National Assembly to fall back on. Also, quite a number of the eggheads of the last amendment, such as the Senate President, the Deputy President of the Senate, and the Senate Leader are all available to still the way; same with the Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker and

others.

The controversy over the proposed single tenure for the president and state governors appears to have simmered a little but we all know it is very much alive. If given a chance to advise the president on the proposal, what would be your candid advice?

My candid opinion about the single tenure issue is that it would be one of the best things to happen to our political system if it scales through.

If you go through the video or other records of the 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference, you will see that I was one of those who strongly canvassed a single and rotational term of five years among the six geopolitical zones then. The arrangement then was to test-run it for 30 years by the end of which it must have rotated among all the geopolitical zones. Nigeria is a multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic society; the best way to suppress the fear of domination which is one of the challenges of federalism anywhere is to give everyone a sense of belonging. If the nation enthrones a one-tenure arrangement, then every part of this country can rest assured the presidency of the country or governorship of a state will come to them someday soon, irrespective of whether they are in majority or minority. Besides, if an administration knows it has one life to live, it would live that life as carefully and fulfilling as possible so it would be remembered for good legacies. The current arrangement where people begin to canvass for a second tenure at a great cost to state resources and governance even from the beginning of their first tenure amounts to a massive distraction and disservice to the nation. So, it is a sound proposition, even if it came from the Presidency because at the end of the day what matters is the political health of the nation. So, let us try to separate the messenger from the message to be able to dissect his message properly.

• From left: Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; Member Steering Committee, State Peer Review Mechanism, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum/River State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); and Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, during a courtesy call on Governor Fayemi, prior to the Sensitisation Workshop on the Peer Review Mechanism, in AdoEkiti... on Friday.

• Emodi

‘The current arrangement where people begin to canvass for a second tenure at a great cost to state resources and governance even from the beginning of their first tenure amounts to a massive distraction and disservice to the nation. So, it is a sound proposition, even if it came from the Presidency because at the end of the day what matters is the political health of the nation’ On the on-going probe of fuel subsidy fund management by the Senate, some people feel that the Presidency is the target of the probe…

What did you expect me to do and why do you think the probe is targeted at the Presidency? And by the way, for how long has this administration existed? The Presidency has nothing to hide or cover. This administration is trying to evolve, and so far it has been evolving on the principles of transparency, accountability, and rule of law. The administration has not done anything to be ashamed of or something to cover. In any case, the Senate is carrying out its constitutional duties in the interest of the Nigerian people. I do not think it is fair to begin to insinuate that it is after anybody at this point.

What role are you playing in getting the National Assembly to endorse the executive proposal to remove fuel subsidy?

Though the government is yet to come out with a formal paper position on the issue of subsidy, I think it is another matter we have to look at very critically and dispassionately.

Good enough, this is not a military regime and there is virtually little the President could do on any issue without the support of the National Assembly. At the end of the day, the Nigerian people will decide on the subsidy matter through their elected representatives.

I am not aware that the Executive has initiated any lobby group let alone a high powered one as you called it to lobby lawmakers over subsidy. And if the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters is unaware of such, it means it is

just in the figment of the imagination of those peddling it. As I said earlier, the government has not come out with any formal paper on subsidy. And if does, there is nothing wrong with lobbying lawmakers.

You are among those to be conferred with National Honours award on Monday, November 14th. How do you view this national recognition?

Honestly, I am really grateful to God and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I view my selection for the conferment of the Commander of the Order of Niger as a humbling honour. It is a great challenge to really do more because to whom much is given, much is also expected. I have to redouble my work and make a lot of sacrifices in my service to the country because I know now that I am indeed appreciated. It is truly a humbling experience and I am very grateful to Nigerians for this.

You are apparently elated over this. But we learnt you cancelled the elaborate post conferment reception you were putting together…

Yes, it is true I called off the planned reception at Yar Adua Centre. The moment, for me, calls for just that owing to the number of human lives we just lost in the bombing spree in some parts of the country during the Sallah break. It is so saddening. I am a mother and I know the pangs of childbirth and the worth of human life. So, I just had to do what I had to do in line with the mood of the nation and my personal feelings over the wasted human lives. Also recall that Mr. President had as much as cancelled his trip to Bayelsa for his brother’s wedding once the news of the carnage broke out. That too is leadership.

INTEGRATION

ADVOCACY

Govt to integrate orphans, others

A move to lift artisans, others Lagos

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Osun

MONDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2011

SOS Mimiko disburses N73m grant

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Ogun

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

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NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Awesome Treasure Foundation (ATF) has trained over 5000 women in such skills as baking, bead-making and several other low-capital jobs.

The effort, its founder Mrs Olajumoke Adenowo said, is to empower them by boosting their productive capacity.

Many of these women have since established their own businesses, thereby enhancing their economic independence. “[The beneficiaries] have been empowered and have businesses of their own and seeking to empower others which has a ripple effect,” said Adenowo.

“We render business advisory services that give cutting edge information to business-oriented people.”

She said the women were trained in micro-finance skills, and that 20 girls were recently tutored in bead-making.

Adenowo was speaking at a forum tagged ‘Woman of Power’ at the AGIP Hall MUSON Centre, Lagos.

She also tried to inspire women to identify and explore their strong points.

She asked the audience: “What did God create you to do that you are running away from? People have taken jobs and made hobbies out of what they are supposed to do: their assignment.

“When you are let loose into your glory that is when you begin to manifest in your sphere of influence and you shine.

What will make you shine is hidden but in prayer, you can search it out. We should pray that the Lord will open our eyes that we might see the assignment of our glory.”

In an interactive session with journalists, Adenowo, a practising architect, explained that the NGO was founded in 1999 out of her passion to impact

•From left: Mrs Tara Durotoye, Stephanie Okereke, Mrs Olajumoke Adenowo and Mrs Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi at the event in Lagos

5000 women get NGO’s lifeline Beneficiaries trained in skills

By Kehinde Falode

lives and engage women and youths in the process of self and national transformation.

“My greatest achievement is the very women I see that have passed through our programmes,” she said. “They were a nobody but now they have been

empowered.

“We have five focus groups namely Awesome Princesses for Gender Empowerment, Legal Resource Group where we hold semi-

nars and symposium, Health Resources and Educational Resource Group where we focus on the youths and what pertains to them according the Millennium Development Goals. We have •Continued on Page 38

Council chair hails Tinubu, residents

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•Ariyoh

HAIRMAN of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos, Hon. Bolaji MuseAriyoh has expressed his joy at being given the opportunity to lead the council for the next three years.

He thanked the electorate for voting him in.

He also showered praise on the national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other party leaders in the state for the trust reposed in him.

The council chief described the mandate given to him as an enor-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

mous task, promising not to let the voters and the party down.

This administration, he said, is aimed at rebuilding new confidence in our people and improving the socio-economic well-being of the entire residents of Oshodi.

“I seize this opportunity to thank our great party and my mentor, the former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for allowing me to contribute my own quota to the development of the state,” he said.

“I must also express my appreciation to all party stalwarts, members and well-wishers for working assiduously to ensure a successful electioneering campaign.”

While congratulating the councillors, Muse-Ariyoh urged them to contribute their quota to the developments of the council.

“Your valuable contribution to the affairs of this council is very germane; the engines of pragmatic development we are going to witness in this dispensation will be jointly propelled because a people united can never fall, fail or

falter.

“You must associate yourself with all positive measures aimed at moving this local government forward and treat all legislative matters with the expediency they deserves.”

The council boss urged them to maintain good working relationship with the executive.

Muse-Ariyoh promised to improve the socio-infrastructural development, sustain maximum security network that would enhance empowerment scheme.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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Lagos Assembly to train councillors T

Osun to support orphans, others

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•Aregbesola

HE Osun State government plans to initiate programmes on how to integrate the orphans and vulnerable children across the state into the society.

State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega, dropped the hint in Osogbo, the state capital, at a one-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders on issues affecting orphans and the vulnerable children.

The commissioner said the aim of the workshop, jointly organised by the Women Affairs ministry, the USAID and Hope Worldwide Nigeria, was to develop an action plan that will assess and strengthen the communities, local and state governments’ ability to improve their care and support for children, particularly the vul-

‘Render selfless service’

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HE Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area,in Lagos State, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, has advised the new

councillors not to allow personal interests to supersede those of the voters that brought them into office. ‘’I must admonish you to always ensure that in all your dealings for the next three years, the people you represent must come first, and must be an influencing factor in all your decision-making.

This is the succinct definition of participatory and representative democracy.’’

Ayodele advised the councillors to use their constitutional powers properly as against invoking it as an instrument for distraction. In his words, ‘’I must also remind you that there is a conscious global paradigm shift from the reactionary posture of the legislature as a tool for distraction of the executive, to a more progressive image of the legislature as an active and supporting partner of the executive in developmental strides.

“Since the legislative arm of government is the symbol of democratic governance, and pillar upon which a democracy stands, the councillors should ensure they legislate for meaningful and sustainable development.”

The chairman also used the opportunity to high-

light some of the projects the new administration intends to embark upon, which include the building of more schools and primary health centres (PHCs) in the riverine communities and opening this said area for quick socio-economic development; building a multi-purpose office complex and recreation centre around the First Gate/ MazaMaza axis of Festac town that will house office blocks, a five-star hotel, shopping mall, car park and a befitting legislative building with more spacious gallery that to serve honourable members, commencement of the Folasade-Tinubu Ojo International Market at 6th Avenue, and rehabilitating the Festac and Mile 2 roads with funds from a proposed road user charge scheme, amongst others.

Just before rounding up the occasion, the chairman announced the appointment of the new Secretary to the Local government, Miss. Ajao, Folashade Sarat, with a formal notification of the legislative council.

Guests at the occasion include the executive chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, and his vice, Alhaja Kudirat Dada, the former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abayomi Kiyomi, the Alado of Ado Kingdom, Oba Lateef Olaynka Ado and others.

Osun From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

nerable.

The commissioner, who said the Aregbesola administration is more determined than any past government in the state to support the less privileged, appealed to parents, teenagers and young people particularly , to desist from children trafficking and abandonment.

Earlier, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs. Funmi EsoWilliams, who lamented the increase in the figure of orphans and vulnerable in the country, said the workshop would enrich the knowledge of participants on issues related to the less- privileged in the society.

She advised all stakeholders in the development of children to support government’s policies designed to respect, protect, facilitate and fulfil the rights of orphans and vulnerable in Osun State and in the country.

Project Director, Hope Worldwide, Dr. Ebunoluwa Jayesimi, expressed gratitude to the state government for the workshop, urging participants to apply what they may have learnt to improve the lots of the less-privileged in their various communities.

•From left: Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu; Project Manager, Mr. Shola Oyelade; the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka and Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism Development, Mr. Segun Ologunleko, during an inspection of ongoing projects at Ikogosi warm spring by the deputy governor

Mimiko disburses N73m grant

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HE Ondo State government will today disburse N73 million to beneficiaries under the government grant-in-aid communal self–help projects.

The state Commissioner for Community Development and Co- operative Services, Clement Faboyede, disclosed this at a news conference in Akure.

According to him, the gesture is coming at

Free exercise books for pupils

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HE Chairman of the Transition Committee of Ijebu North East Local Government Area in Ogun State, Hon. Idowu Osimade, has distributed free exercise books and chalk to pupils and schools in the council.

Speaking at the occasion, Osinade said the gesture was part of the vision of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and part of the cardinal programmes of theAction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) – to provide free and qualitative education.

He said: “Education is the best policy one can bequeath to a child. It is as a result of its importance that the local government decides to distribute exercise books and chalk to our children and schools. This, in our belief, will touch all and sundry and alleviate financial burden of the parents and guardians on one hand and improve the quality of teaching on the other.

Reeling out his achievements since assuming office, he said his administration had completed a block of two classrooms

•From left: Comrade Adewale, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abayomi Kiyomi; Oba Olayinka Ado; the new Leader of the council’s leslative arm, Hon. Wasiu Bello at the inauguration

Briefly

Group holds exhibition A PORT HARCOURT based non-governmental organization (NGO), Market-Place Apostles Empowerment Foundation, has concluded arrangements for a two-day international Christian business exhibition.

The exhibition tagged Market-place Apostles in Conference will begin on Friday, November 18 at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

A statement by President and Founder of the foundation, Uche Onochie, said the exhibition is aimed at creating an enabling environment for Christian business owners and executives to show-case their products and services to the public.

According to Onochie, transformation is a collective thing that the foundation aims to achieve by empowering Christians in the Market-place.

He stressed that only a transformed people can transform a nation.

“Our vision is to raise Marketplace Apostles who will be in the fore-front of positively transforming our cities and nation. Our tools for transformation are influence and wealth creation and to this end, we are organising an exhibition,” he said.

Ahmed’s wife canvasses fund for widows From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•From left: Apostle Segun Thompson; Most Sup. Snr. Ap. Joseph Olowofusi; Most Snr. Ap. Mother F. O. Durojaiye; Snr. Ap. Nejo Adebowale and Ap. Jerry Ogundairo at the 43rd Choristers Anniversary of Melototah Church of Zion, Mushin

Ondo

WIFE of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, has urged government at all levels in the country to include budgetary provisions annually for widows.

Mrs. Ahmed told reporters shortly after hosting 600 indigent children as part of Sallah festivities, at the Government House Ilorin.

She said: “Widows were languishing in poverty while governments had failed to make deliberate policies to ameliorate their situations.”

She stated there was a dire need for the government and wealthy individuals to come to the aid of the widows who she said “are in their present situations due to providence and not fault of theirs.”

The governor’s wife, who is also the founder and initiator of LEAH Charity Foundation, said she hosted the indigent children at theceremony to give them hope of a brighter future.

She submitted that the only way children could attain greatness was for the parents to be alive to their responsibilities and live by example.

She added that if the parents live an exemplary lifestyle and give their children sound and moral education, most of the social vices bedeviling the country would abate.

Mrs Ahmed, who noted that education is the bedrock of development of any society, enjoined parents to strive hard to educate their children.

She said that her foundation had put smiles on many faces because of its activities especially in the area of health care and assistance to the widows.

O ensure proper legislative performance at the grassroots, the Lagos State House of Assembly plans to train council legislators in the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in the state.

The House took this decision at plenary last week , when councillors from Yaba LCDA visited the House to study how legislative functions are performed.

Member representing Alimosho 11 Constituency, Bisi Yussuf, pointed out that since the councillors in all the 57 councils have been inaugurated by their various chairmen, ‘’there is the need for the House to organise training for them in order for the councillors to be conversant with their oversight functions,’’ Yussuf said.

Supporting Yussuf, Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu 1 Constituency, noted that the council legislators really need to be trained on how to perform their oversight function.

He pointed out that some of the council legislative arms don’t even have chambers to carry out their functions. According to him ‘’as a House, I think we need to talk to these chairmen to encourage legislative development. Some of these councils don’t have the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Council boss laments

a time the nation is celebrating the National Community Day. He said the aim of the government was to complement the efforts of various communities that have embarked on self help projects in the state.

Faboyede also stressed that government was trying to bring back the spirit of working together in various communities in the state, so as to guarantee sustainability of various projects the government had been able to put in place in rural communities.

The commissioner emphasised that the government also intends to inculcate maintenance culture at the grassroots.

ACK of funds and global acquisition of coastal lands have been identified as reasons for the inability of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to establish an international border market.

The Badagry West LCDA is located at the entry point of Benin Republic with two major border markets at Seme and Owode ends.

Mr Joseph Bamgbose, Chairman, Badagry West LCDA, said at its Kankon secretariat that the location of the area as border post would have made an international Market desirable. ``The twin factors of lack of funds and global acquisition of coastal lands by the Federal Government are hindering our plans to set up an international market in the LCDA,” he said.

Y

Ogun at Araromi African Church School, Idona Atan and rehabilitated that of Christ Church Schools at Odesenlu.A motorized borehole has as well been sunk at Odesenlu while those at Golden Gate Estate and Idomita are under construction.

The council would soon commission a health post in Omu Gbawajo. The council boss said the outstanding debts and bonuses met on ground were being settled gradually as to show concern for the welfare of the staff.

He said further: “We purchased a bus for NULGE to effectively enhance career staff, politician relationships”.

He pledged to serve and ensure development without recourse to sex, religion or party affiliation.

He enjoins the pupils to justify government investment in education by taking their studies seriously.

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By Oziegbe Okoeki

necessary instruments of training to perform what they are elected to do.’’

The Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye was of the view that the House must ensure that everything needed to train the grassroots lawmakers are put in place.

He maintained that the councillors might not perform effectively without proper training on their oversight functions.

Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji stressed the need for the House to ensure the survival of the local government system, adding that ‘’we should come up with uniform guidelines, which will assist them in performing their functions. Moreover, the education should not be for the councillors alone but

•Ikuforiji also for other top officials of the councils.

The speaker subsequently directed the Leader of the House to put the neccesary machinery in place to ensure that the training is organised within the shortest possible time.

L

Youths blame leaders

OUTHS under the aegis of Nigerian Youth League (NYL) have blamed the past and present leaders for failing the nation,emphasising the need for the older generation to allow the youth to play a role in the development of the country .

In order to achieve Nigeria’s of one’s dream, NYL in a public lecture with the theme: Next Generation Nigeria in Lagos at the weekend, the body urged all youths to unite and transform the nation.

Founder of the League, Mr Daniel Afilaka who made the declaration, said that the older generation has failed in their role of putting the country in an enviable position, and so the time has come for the new generation to take its place in the nation’s politics and economy.

He said that efforts by youths in the past have been resisted by the older generation, saying: “The Nigerian youth is not given a chance in our day. You cannot see a youth as director of any government parastatal because they think they are too young. But they have forgotten that this is our generation and this is our country. We are, therefore, ready to take over the affairs of the country because we believe the older generation has lost its touch, and do not have what it takes to rule this country anymore.

“This country is more than 50 years, and the next 50 years is going to be determined by the youths. Our message therefore, is that it is time for the youth to take over the affairs of this country and take the destiny of the nation to the next level”, he said.

On his part, human rights activist, Mr Gozie Ubani who spoke on Economic Injustice in Nigeria: the Solution, decried the wide gap between the rich and the poor, revealing that about 40 percent of the populace go to bed without food on a daily basis, when a few flaunt their wealth and power .

For the inequality and social injustice to be properly addressed, there is the need for all youths to sit down and dialogue on the way forward, and the earlier this is done, the better.

But for Mr Ajadi, one of the guest lecturer, the major cause of the country’s failed state was not only that of bad leadership but lack of organisation and system failure.

According to him,” We have gone to borrow western system, confusing it for the only system that can work for us here.

“Our greatest challenge, therefore, is how to move away from transaction to transformation “ But he pointed out that transformation would not come from the government alone but must

Lagos

Lagos

By Titilayo Banjoko

start from individual, family, admonishing that,”each family should have a standard of loyalty to transformation. By doing so, we will be developing a new system because the Nigeria of our dream is in everybody’s hand”.

•Senator Anthony Adefuye with his wife, Chief Olusunmisola at the funeral reception for her father, Pa Carter Olufunmi Agbo- Davies at Banilux Events Centre, Yaba, Lagos

Council chief restates commitment to HE Chairman of Coker-Aguda Local development Council Development Area, Hon

T

Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe has restated her commitment to meaningful development in the council.

Caretaker committee members advised

T

HE Caretaker Chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government, Hon. Isaac Adisa Olajide, has urged the caretaker committee members to take their appointments with all seriousness and rise up to the challenges of office. He enjoined them to cooperate with the management and entire members of staff in order to further the progress and development of the local government.

The council stated this at the inauguration of the committee members.

He advised them to see themselves as good ambassadors of the community and

Oyo advocated for peaceful co-existence among the party leaders.

The members include: Hon. Akinbiyi Eben; Hon. Akintayo, Simeon Adeyanju, Adeblowu, Jamiu Abdullah, Mrs Ruth Ogunlade, Others were Chief M. A. Fasola, Hon. Muibar Adeyinka, Hon.Yekeem Odunola, Hon. Oladipo Sunday Rotimi.

The ceremony was attended by party chieftains and management staff of the council.

•From left: Wife of the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ogbomoso South Local Government, Mrs Bosede Olajumoke Olajide; Wife of the state Governor, Chief Florence Abiola Ajimobi and the chairman of the council, Hon Isaac Adisa Olajide during the familiarisation tour and flag-off of mini-clinic for widows and the aged in the council

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Akinyemi-Obe who said this in a chat with Newsextra, promised to bring dynamism into the administration.

“My vision is to run a local government administration that is dynamic, by being a versatile and visionary administrator. This is to be achieved through genuine and sincere concern for the people, my in-depth appetite for problems solving and un-canning ability to frontally confront and surmount challenges and desires to excel in places where others had woefully failed and buckled,” she said.

She equally vowed to transform the council into socio-economic area that would attract people from far and near.

“I solemnly affirm on my honour to work assiduously for the socio- economic upliftment of my people, by leading a team of dedicated and discipline professionals and politicians who will see the plight of my people as being very ready to face and surmount challenges,” she said.

On education, the seasoned school administrator promised to revamp the educational system.

She said, “We would provide education for all children of school age in the council, to specially work to improve their ability to pass Mathematics and English Language by introducing sensorial education system and other performance enhancing teaching methods.”

The council boss said the security of the people will be fashioned towards crime prevention rather than crime fighting which, she said, has always failed to provide peaceful and crime free society desired by the residents.

Akinyemi-Obe stated the council would work to providing first class Primary Health Care facilities that will positively impact on the health of the people especially in the areas of childhood diseases control and reducing maternal mortality rate.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

CITYBEATS THE NATION

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

•A house marked for demolition

PHOTO: MIRIAM NDIKANWU

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HERE is no doubt that collapsed buildings have wreaked a lot of havoc in many parts of the country from Lagos to Ibadan; Abuja to Kano, there are telltale signs of the death and destructions left in the wake of collapsed buildings.

But the Lagos State Government is not taking things lying low. It has moved to address the problem by adopting some precautionary measures. The measures include ensuring that developers comply with building regulations; obtaining building approvals and using standard building materials.

To ensure compliance with the directives, the government, through its agencies, has sensitised the public. A similar programme was also held for professionals and it was collectively agreed that compliance to building regulations is needed

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Govt goes after defective buildings

By Miriam Ndikanwu

to sanitise the built industry.

In enforcement of these measures, the demolition gang of the Lagos State Physical Planning Development Authority (LSPPDA) stormed Orodo Street, in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, to demolish a three-storey hotel and a storey building shopping complex, for non-compliance with regulations.

Arewa urges Fed Govt to upgrade Lagos LCDAs NORTHERN indigenes in Lagos, under the aegis of Arewa United Group, have called on the Federal Government to upgrade the 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos (LCDAs) to Local Government Areas.

Its spokesman , Mr Ahmed Kabiru, an architect, said the Arewa community was set to embark on a campaign for the enlistment of the 37 LCDAs into full-fledged local government areas.

Kabiru explained that the development areas have stood the test of time, adding that residents of Lagos, especially the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), have witnessed unprecedented development in their localities.

The structures, at No 2 Orodo Street, were allegedly owned and developed by one Mr Friday Agbaja.

The demolition was carried out under the supervision of security personnel, who arrested no fewer than seven craftsmen and artisans who were on site when the team arrived.

The leader of the team, Mr Tunde Olugbewesa, alleged that the struc-

tures were marked for demolition, because they failed to comply with the stipulated road set-back. He added that the materials used for the buildings were substandard.

He said it was necessary for the government to act speedily to avert the looming disaster in the area.

Olugbewesa said the owner of the property did not get approval before embarking on the construction, adding that the agency served him

NGO asks govt to improve prisons’ condition THE Chief Executive of Altus Global Alliance, a nongovernmental organisation, Innocent Chukwuma, has called on the government to provide the police with the required resources to enable it to prosecute any suspect within 48 hours of arrest.

He spoke during the Police Station Visitors’ Week, which it commenced recently.

He said: “The Altus annual Police Station Visitors’ Week is an international programme organised to facilitate local community group visiting police stations and assessing the quality of services delivered by police departments.”

Chukwuma expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the prisons or cells where inmates are detained. “The police stations are supposed to meet some standards for the comfort of inmates,”he added.

several notices, including contravention, stop work, seal and demolition notice.

Olugbewesa, who said the demolition approval was given by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, said the shopping complex was situated within the right of way, adding that this contributed to the traffic snarl in the area.

He added that apart from building with substandard materials, the developer also did not take into cognisance the required air space, stressing that it was imperative to demolish it rather than allow it to collapse and destroy lives.

"When we got to know about the buildings, we investigated the situation and discovered that the developer did not have building ap-

•SEE PAGE 32

Monarch seeks better infrastructure THE traditional ruler of Pashi Village in Badagry area of Lagos State, Chief Abraham Godonu Hunsu, has appealed to the state and local governments in the area to provide the basic infrastructure such as roads network , electricity and pipe-borne water for the thousands of inhabitants of the community.

Residents of the Badagry community are also looking for the completion of the ultra-modern town hall in the community , while also basking in the euphoria of the celebration of the one year of ascension to the throne by the traditional leader of the village .

The monarch , while speaking after the celebration of his one year in office and the launch of the N50 million ultra modern community hall for the village , described the lack of basic infrastructure as the major problem of the village .

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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CITYBEATS Govt goes after defective buildings •Continued from page 31 proval or any submission.

So, we sent in men and sealed off the place. But the owner removed the seal and continued work.

"As you can see, the shop is built on the right of way of a road, while the hotel did not comply with the necessary air spaces and set-back.

The ideal set back is nine metres and six metres all round. But you can see that it has less than one metre here. There is no parking space and this is a hotel."

On why they waited till the building was almost completed before acting, he said: "We have sealed off the place but he broke the seal and instead of responding

•... and another goes down at Ajegunle

I

T was meant to be the unveiling of the folklore and roots music fiesta. It turned out to be that and more.

Guests, mostly journalists, were given a dose of what this year's edition of EniObanke Music Festival (EMUFEST) will be.

EMUFEST, as the first three letters emu, which means palm wine in Yoruba language suggest, is also a celebration of palm wine, a major ingredient of any traditional event. It will be held on November 20.

At the unveiling, there was plenty to go round, in addition to a lively interactive session on the state of music in Nigeria. This was held under a palm tree at the newlyestablished performance ground in Ikeja GRA. They also met some of the major acts who will feature at the music feast , such as Segun Akinlolu known in the entertainment scene as Beautiful Nubia and Akin Akinola, among others.

It is high time music fans were given a feel of what traditional African folk and root music is all about, all agreed. They blamed the incursion into the musical art space by foreign genres on neo-colonialism inspired by the electronic media that is ruled mainly by the West.

This is further heightened by the lack of creativity on the part of some music acts. In spite of this, it was noted that the trend is changing rapidly as many are returning to their roots, blending contemporary music with popular folksongs; with the likes of Nubia and contemporaries setting the space.

Nubia said his desire is to see more Africans appreciating folk and root music more than the hiphop music, adding that he would love to see traditional music taken to a higher level than is being done.

Nubia, who was one of the organisers, fielded questions from journalists on the festival. Holding a calabash of palm wine, he said the ritual prayers at the end of the session, perhaps invoking the gods of creativity, as he poured libation.

This ritual, he further said, is the unique feature of the festival which is aimed at promoting Africa's rich traditional and root music, including poetry and other performances.

"There will be plenty of palm wine to go round. There would be all kinds of exciting musical per-

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

he brought The in illegal po- structures lice officers had to go and area boys because and ordered his men to there is no approval continue with the work. But it is important we bring the building down and save the state from future disaster.”

One of the arrested craftsmen, who gave his name as Monday Ogboru, said he was contacted by the property owner to paint the building.

"I started work here three weeks ago, but some weeks back, we received a notice that we should stop work and we did. But the owner of the property later came back to inform us that he has resolved the matter with the

local government and we can continue with our work that was why we came back to site ."

Some residents described the development as a huge economic loss, but added that the demolition would serve as deterrence to others who might want to flout the government’s directives.

Mr Magnus Nwanaeke said: "While I must admit that this is a huge loss of investment for the owner, one must quickly add that it was better to stop this nuisance at this level rather than wait until the building collapses and kills people.

"Take a look at the hotel building.For instance, you can see that there is no parking space, everywhere is tight and I am just wondering where the customers will park their cars if the owner was allowed to complete it and begin operation,"he added.

Beautiful Nubia celebrates palm wine

•Beautiful Nubia (right) with other artistes

By Evelyn Osagie

formances, including poetry."

EMUFEST is organised by EniObanke Music and Publishing Limited. It is designed as an artistdriven and fan-sponsored festival that is poised to becoming the most innovative, youth-oriented grassroots music festival in these climes, according to the organisers. It is also a medium for spreading love, peace and communalism. "It is a not-forprofit venture initiated by artists and funded through donations by artists and fans - a true community event by the people and for the people."

Interestingly, EMUFEST is a travelling festival, moving across cities in the Southwest. Last year's feast, which was its maiden edition, started at Ife, attracting about

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

7,000, according to the organisers.

The festival train later moved to Osogbo and made its last stop in Ibadan. It featured various performances from 10 music artists/groups at the different venues, including a children's concert made up of children from schools in Ibadan.

This year's edition would kick off by 2pm at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja, Lagos on November 20.

According to the organisers, they are expecting about 10,000 people at its Lagos festival. In other states, the organisers said they are sure people would come out enmasse.

"You see, this not an everyday thing. It is unique in all regards; the folklore flavour is its greatest asset. The festival is not the kind where people just sit and watch the

musicians perform, they will surely be moved to put on their dancing shoes. It promises to be an exciting experience," Akinola said.

On Friday, November 25, EMUFEST will hold at the Amphitheatre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, Osun State by 4pm. And its last stop would at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, on Sunday, November 27 by 2pm. Tickets will sell at different prices at the three locations. Lagosians will buy the tickets at N1,000 (Standard), N5,000 (VIP) and N500 for students with ID. At Ile-Ife, tickets will be sold at N500 (Standard), N100 for students. Fans at Ibadan will be buying theirs at N1,000 (Standard), N2,500 (VIP) and N200 for students with ID.

EMERGENCY LINES 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 080-75005411; 080-60152462 080-23111742; 080-29728371 080-23909364; 080-77551000 01-7904983

4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 070-35068242 080-79279349; 080-63299264 070-55462708; 080-65154338

The festival will feature five major notable acts, such as the folk and roots innovators Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band; the legendary Pa Chris Ajilo; ace Afrobeat musician Orlando Julius Ekemode; soulful folk singer Jimi Solanke; and Afro-jazz diva Yinka Davies.

Other acts include Tunji Oyelana, Akeem Lasisi, Akin Akinola, Femi Ajayi, Eadoto and Ify Omalicha, among others. Supporting these acts will be other established and emerging musicians, poets and dancers, including a children's choir made up of children from schools in Ibadan.

On the festival holding only in the South-West, Nubia said: "Although the festival is holding in cities across the South-west for now, it is a Pan-African vision. We hope to take EMUFEST to other cities across the country and Africa. What kills vision is rush!

We are starting from here; and with time, we intend to reach Africa and the world."

The EniObanke is mostly visible in Nigeria for the production and marketing of the works of Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band, it was learnt. It also developed and managed the performance arts series, Nigeria, Word and Sound, where many today's music and literary stars had the opportunity to exhibit their talents.

"The EniObanke Music and Publishing Limited is a multi-arts production and marketing company.

We are focused primarily on music, literature and visual arts, providing support services for creative artists engaged in diverse fields. We produce, design and market music albums and book projects and represent the interests of our artists across the world.

Established in 1997, the company also engages in cultural heritage research, conservation and tourism. Other initiatives include the organisation of festivals, conferences and field trips for both corporate entities and general public," he said.

He praised the management of LTV for their support, saying that "hopefully, others would follow suit."

767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

33

CITYBEATS

Vitafoam fetes orphans

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Councillors challenged on good governance

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HE Chairman, Ifakoljaiye Local Government Area of Lagos state, Oloruntoba Oke, has urged the newly inaugurated members of the Legislative Arm of the local government to place the community above self interest to achieve good governance.

The council chief spoke at the inauguration of the Legislative Arm at the Multipurpose Hall of the Council on Old Akute Road, Iju. Oke, while proclaiming the Local Government Legislative Arm, said the event was as important as the survival and success of the administration without which there will not be legal or constitutional backing for its policies, programmes, initiations and implementation.

Referring to his electoral promises, Oke said his administration, christened "Government of empowerment and integration”, is poised to bring about better

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By Yinka Aderibigbe

days for residents. This, he intends to actualise, through the six-point agenda set out by the administration.

While charging the legislators to come up with people-oriented laws that would address the myriads of challenges confronting the residents, Oke sued for co-operation, teamwork and dedication of all stakeholders to move the local government forward.

Following the proclamation, the House commenced proceedings with the election of principal officers which saw the re- election of Hon. Niyi Fadare, Councillor Ward A, emerging as the Leader.

Other officers elected are Hon. Babajide Atala, Ward E, Deputy Leader; Hon. Oluwafemi Jolaoso, Ward F, Majority Leader, Hon. Omolaja Shodiya, Ward D, Deputy Majority Leader and the new comer, Hon. Bisola Fadayomi, Ward B, Chief whip.

•Oke

In his acceptance speech, Hon. Fadare, promised to justify the mandate given by initiating legislations that would help in executing numerous development projects that would improve the lots of the people, adding that the reward of hardwork is more work. He further promised, on behalf of his colleagues ,to strive harder to raise the bar of legislative business through accelerated law-making process.

Present at the ceremony were Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) party stalwarts and top functionaries of the local government.

HE joy of babies took the centre stage when Vitafoam Plc organised an Eld-el-Kabir party for babies of Babes-Salam Orphanage in Ikeja.

The home is the only Islamic orphanage in Lagos State, and the firm went there as part of its commitment and in fulfillment of Islamic injunction that mandates orphans must be taken care of to earn the blessings of Allah.

Akinyemi Oladiran, head of Human Resources of Vitafoam PLC, said it is the company’s way of giving to the society.

“Orphans are humans like us and it is not their fault that they found themselves where they are. As a responsible corporate organisation, we feel that we should let them feel a sense of belonging, and should enjoy life," he said.

The orphanage, which was founded in 1990, has produced lots of graduates from renowned institutions. The

By Osas Roberts

director, Mr Hassan Tahir, said they have children representing Lagos State in various fields.

"We have had graduates among them. One of them graduated from the University of Ilorin.We have about four in UNILAG. About six graduated from Yaba College of Technology. We have married ones and some of them have children now. We do not make any noise, but prefer to let others know about us through what our children do," he said.

After the donation of various products, Oladiran thanked the director and other officials of the home for their humanitarian services and urged them to make good use of the items donated.

Tahir advised individuals and organisations to help orphans in any way they could, to reduce the number of street kids, who may end up becoming a nuisance to the

•The orphans performing at the party

society.

"If we all collectively come to assist the less privileged, it would also go a long way in reducing the level of crime and criminality in the state and the country, because by the time those children are left unattended to, they will grow up tomorrow becoming nuisance to the society.

But by being taken care of, they become useful to the society," he said.

Vitafoam Plc urged other corporate organisations to join in community service to humanity and to stop having the notion that orphans are always lacking.

"Most people think that orphans are in want , but I want to say that these ones here are even privileged, because since they are the only Islamic Orphanage, a lot of people, especially muslim faithful, who want to earn the blessings of Allah, come here to shower them with gifts.”

PHOTO: OSAS ROBERTS

‘Execute people-oriented programmes’

T • Shobayo (left) being congratulated by Ariyoh

PHOTO: AMIDU ARIJE

Council chief inaugurates councillors

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HAIRMAN of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, Mr Bolaji Idris Ariyoh, has called on the new lawmakers to work hard to move the council forward and ensure the dividends of democracy get to the doorsteps of their people.

Ariyoh stated this while inaugurating the councillors.

He said: ‘’I want to state categorically that your contributions to the affairs of this local government are important.As the engines of pragmatic development, we are going to witness in this dispensation will be jointly propelled because people united can never fall, fail or falter.”

He urged them to expedite action while attending to legislative matters for fast and meaningful development of the council. ‘’You must associate yourself with positive measures aimed at moving this council forward and treat all legislative matters with the expediency it deserves. In this connection, I admonish you to maintain peace, work

By Amidu Arije

out a good working relationship with the executive arm and let the yearnings and aspirations of the people you are representing be the basis of your work plan,’’ he said.

Ariyoh promised to make the bad roads in the council motorable. ‘’The roads are the number one thing we want to do in Oshodi. If not for the Ileya festival, we would have started work on the roads.

But, notwithstanding, we have started working on our plans to transform the roads in the council,’’ he said.

On youth development, Ariyoh said his administration would empower them. ‘’The issue of the youth is what we are going to critically look into because the youth are really suffering in Oshodi. We are going to tackle the issue headlong.

We have our plans . I thank Governor Babatunde Fashola who helped in lighting up Oshodi. He has moved people out of the

bridges, which used to be our major headache and priority. We are going to consolidate on this. Right now, we are embarking on youth empowerment,’’ he said.

During the inauguration, Mr Abolore Abdul-Azeez Shobayo, representing Ogunoloko Ward D1, emerged Leader of the House, while Mr Adeyinka Corsim Adeshina is Deputy Leader.

Other officers are: Mr Ayinla Olanrewaju, Chief Whip, Mr Adebari AlaniOke, Majority Leader, and Mr Olamilekan Isiaq, Minority Leader.

In his acceptance speech, Shobayo promised to work for the progress and development of the council.

He said : ‘’I want to assure you that we are going to do our best for the development of the people of Oshodi.We will also give our overwhelming support to your leadership to achieve meaningful development in the council. We are going to work assiduously to transform Oshodi.’’

HE newly elected councillor of Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have been urged to plan and implement people oriented programmes that will benefit the people.

Chairman of the LCDA, Hon.Abayomi Daramola, said this during the swearing-in and proclamation of the Legislative House at the Council secretariat in Victoria Island, Lagos State.

Daramola noted that the

• Councillors at the event

By Risikat Ramoni

LCDA has tremendously affected the lives of people in the last 1,000 days and would want the new administration to follow suit.

He warned them to desist from inactive Legislative House and encouraged them to initiate legislations that would complement that of the state government's effort to provide infrastructural development and people-oriented pro-

grammes.

As representatives of wards, he added that the councillors were enjoined to be active as the expectations of the people are enormous.

The Leader of the House representing Ward D is Hon. Sanni Rafiu; his Deputy came from Ward B, Hon. Ashafa Bolaji. The Majority Leader is Hon. Oluwakemi Ajayi from Ward A; Chief Whip, Hon. Afolabi Abiola, is from Ward C while Hon. Gbadamosi Saudi is from Ward E.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We assure Lagosians that the government has put in place adequate measures to forestall any threat to their lives and we urge residents to co-operate by providing information about any security threats to security agencies.”

CITYBEATS

Mr Joe Igbokwe, Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria assuring Lagosians on security measures put in place by the Lagos State government.

'Protect yourselves against killer diseases'

N

• From left: Wola Ojo, Ms Perputua Okoye, Olabanji and Pastor Francis Aremu, at the event. PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

Cleric advises FRSC on fairness

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HE Executive Director of Standard Mandate International, Pastor Nelson Ayodele, has advised officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to exhibit fairness in the discharge of their statutory duties.

Ayodele gave the advice at a oneday Customer Service Delivery Seminar for officers and men of the FRSC, Lagos State Sector Command, organised by Access International School Limited at the Sector Command Office, Ojodu, Lagos.

Ayodele charged the FRSC leadership to think out of the box and adopt a new perspective and strategy that could maximise road safety management.

He said government agencies across the world are usually citizen-centred with proper understanding of their clients and citizens' needs, perspectives and satisfaction at all time.

"Those who deliver government services must balance interest and needs of different groups and categories of clients and citizens satisfactorily," he added.

By Adeola Ogunlade

Ayodele appealed to the FRSC to take the awareness campaign on road safety management to all levels of educational institutions in the country, as that would help entrench the culture of road safety among the youth.

The Chairman, Access International Schools Limited, Dr. Jonathan Akpan, said the essence of the initiative was the realisation of the interaction of the FRSC with the public, which he said requires moderation and hence, the need for efficient and decent customer service delivery.

He said: "We want to emphasise the citizens expects decent treatment from the public agencies rather than having such organisation taking on the toga of a group that communicates by the means of physical and mental assault and indecent verbal treatment."

He added that it is significant that government agencies should see themselves as corrective unit rather

•Cross section of participants on the occasion.

than punitive organs.

The Deputy Corp Commandant of the Sector/Head of Operations, FRSC, Lagos, Hyginus Omeje promised to partner with the school in domesticating the road safety message to the pupils in Access International school.

IGERIANS have been urged to protect themselves against preventable diseases.

The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Healthmax magazine, Mr Okunola Olabanji, made the call at the launch of the magazine. He said most killer diseases can be prevented, if people are sensitised on preventive measures to take.

Olabanji said there was a need to create among the teeming masses more awareness on how to prevent some killer diseases.

"Many people are still ignorant of their health status, even as many are unaware of prevailing ailments," he said.

The magazine being launched, he said, would provide the public necessary information on how they should take care of their health.

"We are aiming to educate and sensitise the populace on what their body needs to stay healthy at all times," he added.

Olabanji said the magazine is new but capable of providing necessary information on alternative therapy and medical solutions to health issues particularly various ailments, food and nutrition, physical and psychological well-being of the society.

By David Adejo

He said the idea of starting the magazine was drawn from pamphlets distributed at Gbagada, to sensitise and inform residents about their health.

"The people requested for more and the magazine is a product of such demand. The publication is set to correct the sheer ignorance of the populace on health matters which is still very high and the need to ensure that they are wellinformed about preventable diseases.

"It is not when people fall sick that they visit the hospital, but they need to also understand that they can prevent and protect themselves from getting sick," he said.

Olabanji, who acknowledged other health magazines in the country, frowned at their quality and lack of information on the subject that most of them present.

He said his organisation had contacted experts on physical health, physicians and other medical personnel as associate editors.

He urged journalists and researchers in health to come together to move the magazine forward.

‘Group immortalises former leader’

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ANY Muslim faithful assembled at the AnsarUd-Deen Society(ADS) hall at Ebute Metta branch to honour a former pillar of the group, the late Alhaji Surajudeen Olayiwola Ola-Ayinde.

The event was attended by members of his family, friends, colleagues and other well wishers.

Among notable personalities at the event were: the former Head of History Department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Provost of ADS College of Education, Isolo, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi; the Lagos State Council Chairman for ADS (LCCADS), Alhaji Nurudeen Ola Okuleye; the branch chairman, Alhaji Abayomi Adigun;ADS Chairman,Alhaji

By Sulaiman Gbenga Idowu

Aare Rafiu Ade Sann; Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) represented by his Secretary, and Alhaji Nuibi Adetayo Adebanjo.

They agreed that the late OlaAyinde's contributions and role in the development of ADS , especially the Lagos State Council which he championed its existence in 1979, were enormous, noteworthy and praiseworthy.

So worthy was his impact that a yearly lecture was institutionalised to immortalise his good deeds.

“In a quest to immortalise Alhaji Ayinde, who was regarded a true leader by Nuibi, a foundation was created in his name to immortalise him, having been known already for his enormous contribution towards the society (ADS) and education,” Nuibi said.

The late Ayinde, who was pioneer Chairman of Lagos State chapter of ADS, was also known for his generosity to poor students during his lifetime, as he provided them scholarship to pursue their academics.

"When he died and we recollect the role he played to reconstruct the society, we thought it well to immortalise him by continuing what he used to do during his lifetime, by establishing a foundation that will raise funds to assist indigent students for continuation of their education," Nuibi added.

In a progress report of the foundation, Nuibi expressed gratitude to Allah and ADS members for their support, adding that their donations had enabled the foundation to remain afloat.

He said the foundation generates its funds from proceeds of the yearly lecture for the late OlaAyinde and subscriptions from member-branches of the Lagos

State Council of the Society, add‘He was ing that, guests well present on the ocknown casion, should enfor his deavour to donate generously to- generosity’ wards its growth.

Speaking on the strength of the foundation, Nuibi said: "We have five beneficiaries so far. One of them has concluded his university education, the others are yet to finish," adding: "the foundation has widened the scope of her responsibility on the educational needs of our wards and, therefore, resolved to provide modern technology equipment to enhance the teaching in Ansar-Ud-Deen Nursery/Primary schools and thus ensure qualitative education for products of our schools."

He also revealed that the foundation stretches its service beyond Muslims.

"Once you apply, go through the screening and confirmed qualified, you will be granted a scholarship.

It is neither limited to members of Ansar-Ud-Deen nor Muslims alone," he added.

Two of the five beneficiaries present at the event, a 500 level Medicine and Surgery student, Miss Oladapo Rashidat Omolara, of the University of Ibadan, and a 500 level student of medicine from the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LSUCOM), Salmah Yusuff, confirmed the scholarship has aided their academic attainment as it has been useful in purchasing books and paying their school fees.

The guest lecturer, Prof.

Gbadamosi, wooed Muslims to practise the Islamic tenets to attain Al-Jannah (Paradise).

Gbadamosi urged all well-meaning individuals to donate to worthy causes.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

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THE NATION

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

‘We are ready to combat drug smuggling’ HE Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service, Seme border Command, Alhaji Sahabi Abubakar Sadiq has restated his commitment to combat drug smuggling in the area.

Sadiq, who urged the public to provide information that would help arrest drug smugglers in the country, said although drug trafficking is a disturbing trend in the country, the problem is not insurmountable.

Speaking about the activities of smugglers in the area which he said has become threats to Customs operatives, Sadiq noted that drug trafficking is a serious crime which requires concerted effort to combat.

He said in the last nine months, the Seme Command has re-

T

corded 378 seizures.

He said: “Consequently, our duty as Customs operatives is to stamp out smuggling to its barest minimum. We rely on public co-operation and support. This is why we are sensitising and

enlightening the public to join us in this struggle for the good of our country Nigeria.

“We seek intelligent and useful information that will help us achieve our goal.

Despite this challenge, the of-

Our duty as Customs operatives is to stamp out smuggling to its barest minimum. We rely on public co-operation and support. This is why we are sensitising and enlightening the public to join us in this struggle for the good of our country Nigeria

ficer pointed out that Seme Customs Command under Sahabi Sadiq will meet and even surpass the command’s projected revenue target.

Mr Ejike Metuselah, a member of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents at Seme Border expressed his satisfaction over the modest achievements the Customs Service has recorded so far.

He, however, berated the newspaper report which alleged that the command encourages smuggling.

He said : “Here we do business in the full glare of the public in terms of trade facilitation through importation of dutable goods, valuation duty payment and revenue generation.

•Dikko

A move to lift artisans, others

A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, STEM Business Academy, has taken steps to ensure that non-oil products are not neglected. This it is doing by providing adequate information on exportable products by artisans, local manufacturers and industrialists.

The organisation, with interest in empowering small and medium- scale entrepreneurs, in collaboration with the telecommunication giant, MTN, recently organised a business summit at which attention was drawn to the products.

It was a one-day seminar on export promotion tagged, “Equipping the Nigerian SMEs with opportunities in non-oil products and services. It was held at Excellence Hotel, Ogba-Ikeja, Lagos.

Chief Executive Officer of STEM Business Academy, Mrs. Ronke Adeyemo said there is need to expose Nigerian entrepreneurs to business opportunities because several businesses are operating below capacity due to lack of proper information.

The vision to embark on the seminar was conceived by Adeyemo after her visit to various prisons across Lagos State as she realised that beyond giving out material and food items, there is need to empower people Describing her initiative as divine, Adeyemo said: “Today is a revolution of a new day. There are several business opportunities we don’t know about. There is something in this land that can make us rich. You don’t have to wait until you have a mega business before you embark on exportation of local products.

“Why do Nigerians go abroad to seek greener pastures if they know that some of our local products like charcoal, shear-butter, black-soap, locally made adire could empower them financially

•From left: Mrs. Ogunleye, Mrs. Adeyemo, Taiwo Onabolu and Mr. Iseyemi Ayodeji at the seminar

By Dada Aladelokun

and even earn them foreign exchange.”

The seminar, targeted at tailors, farmers, arts and craft producers had every profession in attendance as the hall was filled to capacity. Over 1,200 participants were in attendance. They were there to learn the skills of exportation and adequate knowledge from relevant agencies.

At the seminar were Chief Executive Officer, Africasseed International Limited, Ms. Shade Bembatoum Young, Assistant Chief Trade Promotion Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr. Mogbolu Donatus, Facilitator,

Why do Nigerians go abroad to seek greener pastures if they know that some of our local products like charcoal, shear-butter, black-soap, locally made adire could empower them financially and even earn them foreign exchange

Bank of Industry, Mr. Iseyemi Ayodeji, Chief Executive Officer, Multipath Projects, Mr. Olaniyi Adeosun-Obabiyi and managing director, Thots and Works Limited, Mrs. Seun Ogunleye In a paper entitled “Export Opportunities and Documentation,” Mr. Donatus said his institution has played and is still playing a leading role in the creation of export incentives, promoting the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export trade, spearheading international trade fair programmes and liaising directly with commodity associations with a view to identifying products for development, among others.

“Export is doable and at the same time difficult. There is no short cut in exportation. Until you receive your money from buyers, you have only given a gift. Also, if you consider an export as a vehicle to earn foreign exchange, you have to do proper planning; you also need NEPC certificate before you can embark on exportation. NEPC also is ready and available to intervene on behalf of exporters in non-English countries and the exporters can also apply for a 50 per cent rebate of their tickets from the organisation upon return from their trips,” he added.

In his words on “Sourcing for

Exportable Products,” a bankerturned businessman AdeosunObabiyi advised the participants to be more sensitive to their environments, adding: “Seek information where necessary and take the opportunity. Almost everything that we need such as kolanut, bitter kola and so on are familiar to us and exportable. We need to embark on research for us to discover.”

Ms. Bembatoum Young said there is hope for Nigeria’s small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, even as she noted that “export is not a quick way to make dollars because it is not ready. You have to embark on research, and keep going when the going even gets tougher because what works in

European markets may not work well in an American market. And that is why as an exporter, you have to know a little bit about everything.”

For entrepreneurs to grow, Ms. Bembatoum-Young challenged government to create an enabling environment. “Corruption and extortion make doing business in Nigeria difficult and this has to change for our economy to grow,” she said.

Rounding off the seminar in a paper entitled, “Branding and Packaging: Getting Your Brand Export Ready,” Mrs. Seun Ogunleye, said: “Regardless of the type of business, we need rebranding because it is a totality of everything.”

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Ondo tackles unemployment with soft loans

A

LOAN facility totalling N2 billion given by the Ondo State government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) will help to curb unemployment in the state.

The loan, given to small and medium-scale industrial operators, is making a difference in the lives of the state youths, Chief Oladiran Adesua, a beneficiary, said.

The industries and co-operative societies that benefitted from the scheme are now employing more youths, he said.

The loans are in three categories.

The first involves society groups that have 10 or more members which are entitled to N10m loan each. Those that have small-scale industries were also given N5m loans while those who want to establish or expand their industries were given N50m.

The BOI loans which the state supported with N1b attracts six per cent interest.

The beneficiaries have expressed their gratitude to the state government.

Those who benefitted from the facility are creating job opportunities which are of immense benefit to unemployed youths. This will also be of benefit to graduates who will be employed in such industries. This is so because those who accessed the loans would want to expand their businesses to enable them to employ more hands.

The state government, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, started visiting the beneficiaries in their various industries in Akure, the state capital. On the visits, they discovered that most of the beneficiaries have been putting the facility to good use.

For instance, the Chief Executive Officer of Best Solution, Dr. Michael Abiodun who got N48.3m

•Continued from Page 27

had three life-changing summer camps so far free of charge and their parents have applauded the impact these have made on their wards.”

A book was also unveiled at the event, titled ‘LIFESPRING, The Mothers’ Prayer Manual’ authored by the ATF founder. It was unveiled by Tara Fela-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

said he has employed over 160 youths.

He said the loan he secured was used to procure new machines that would make work in the industry faster and easier. He added, saying, “When the machines arrive in the country, we would be able to employ over 1,000 youths.”

Abiodun, who decried the increasing number of youths who take to commercial motorcycle business and the sale of recharge cards, urged the youths not to focus only on white collar jobs. He said some of his workers are earning N80,000 a month as salaries.

Also, the proprietor of Flamingo Communications Limited in the state capital, Chief Oladiran Adesua who also benefitted from the BOI loans, said he has spent the money to secure new photo machines.

Adesua also assured that when his machines arrive by the middle of December this year when the new machines will arrive, he would be able to employ more staff that would be managing the new machines, even as he added that he would be expanding the company by moving to a more expansive location.

He described the scheme as one that has helped in reducing unemployment in the state, saying that Nigeria has a very large population of youths that are not employed.

He commended the state government for creating the scheme for the industrialists in the state, saying past governments had promised but failed to fulfill their promises.

Speaking with reporters shortly after inspecting some of the industries that benefitted from the

•One of the factories that benefitted from the loans facility

As long as those who received the loans are paying back, the programme will be continuous...

Many people are now applying for the loan grant since they discovered that the programme is real scheme in Akure, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Tayo Akinjomo expressed satisfaction over the commitment exhibited by the beneficiaries.

Akinjomo pointed out that Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s focus on

youths is a way of ensuring that they are engaged in profitable venture.

The commissioner said the purpose for which the scheme was established had been achieved, stressing that the loan facility was

aimed at eradicating hunger and poverty from the state.

He said: “The programme is real.

This is not a political gimmick. The present government believes that if the youth are engaged, thuggery, robbery and prostitution will be reduced.”

Continuing, he said: “As long as those who received the loans are paying back, the programme will be a continuous one and those who are yet to benefit from it will have the opportunity to experience the dividends of democracy. Many people are now applying for the loan grant since they discovered that the programme is real.”

He however urged the people particularly youths to avail themselves of the opportunity.

5000 women get NGO’s lifeline Durotoye of House of Tara and she testified that the former edition did something for her as a mother and wife. She said: “When I got a copy of the book, I could not help but marvel at the insight and scriptures outlined

in the book. And as I began to use the prayer points, I saw a change in my outlook of what motherhood entails and I became a better mother, wife and in-law.

I am sure this revised and updated edition will do more for

•From left: Former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams; Conference Chairperson and former Pro-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Bolanle Awe; Vice President, World Bank (Africa Region), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; and Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, at the 2011 Annual Conference of Women in Management and Business, in Lagos

mothers and mothers-to-be.”

Dignitaries at the Woman Of Power event were Pastor Adesuwa Lawal, Pastor Lara, Justice Shola Williams, AusbethAjagu, Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi of LDA and Nollywood actress Stephanie Okereke.

Asked about what the future holds for ATF, Mrs Adenowo smiled and mentioned that she would like to see the work being institutionalised and having more success stories.

She said, “I feel that I’m more passionate about Nigeria than most women I have ever seen. It’s almost like a disease.

“Ever since I was young, I had been inquisitive about my country and why we are not developed like other nations. I can say I am genuinely concerned about the plight of my fellow neighbours. I want you to be the best you can be. Until we restore hope

to the depraved and downtrodden, the so-called affluent will continue to worry on how to protect their wealth and properties because the ordinary man on the street sees you as an oppressor and someone that has stolen money to show off.

“If we don’t do something about their plight, they will not allow you to enjoy your wealth just like when a man threw a big stone and broke the windscreen of my friend’s jeep at Festac-town out of frustration. We should ask ourselves, what legacy are we leaving behind for the young generation? What hurts me all the time is that we just cannot do more. If we have more funds, we will be able to reach out to more people. We are planning to visit Makoko soonest, a community in Yaba which is a slum. You can imagine the stench that oozes from that place. The people there are living far below the standard of living”.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

THE CEO

‘We won’t tax Osun people unduly’ Osun Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning Dr Wale Bolorunduro speaks with ADESOJI ADENIYI on the finances of the state and sundry issues.

W

HAT is the financial standing of Osun?

It will be good to talk of the financial status of the state from the view of what we met on ground and where we are now. We actually met a state that was nearly comatose. The state was not credible and banks were not ready to lend to the projects of the state. If your bankers or lenders are not ready to lend to you on a long term basis, that means you have credibility crisis.

That was the situation we met. But because of the personal credibility of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the situation has changed. You would have heard of the suffocating N18.3 billion loan taken from a bank by the immediate past administration. The repayment of the loan was huge because we must pay back on a monthly basis close to N1 billion.

When you are earning N2 billion and you are paying N1 billion to service a loan every month, there is no way you can meet with the yearnings of the people. So, the state was under a heavy debt burden and what the new administration did was to first refinance the loan and get a moratorium to give us a breathing space so that we can prevent over-crowding in our expenditures.

What is the status now?

With the refinancing of the loan, the state is now credible, banks are now willing to give us loans to support our projects but that is not our priority now. Our priority is to compile a list of our projects in a way that will make them revenue-driven and to see that whatever we put money into is successfully delivered. So, we are now better off in terms of finance. Since the existence of the state, Osun could not have boasted of any savings, given the kind of money we have saved. In the eight months of this administration, Aregbesola has saved N10 billion for the state and N5 billion for the local governments. What that kind of contradiction does is that it enhances your credit status.

That is the result of the innovation of refinancing of the existing loan, which we inherited. We have just mobilised the contractor that is rehabilitating the township roads and the contractor gave us the commitment with the performance bond and it is because of that robust financial capability of the state.

The governor once put the savings of the state at N29 billion. How did you save this much within so short a time?

What I have told you was that about N10 billion for the state and N5 billion for local governments is the actual saving. In our head roll, if we want to do projects, we can draw N18 billion because it is growing by the day as this saving is yielding interest. If you add N15 billion to N18 billion that is N33 billion. If the governor told you that we had N29 billion about a month ago, I am now saying that it has moved up to N33 billion.

If we have N33 billion projects now we can do it because we have access to N33 billion in our savings. Also, our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is close to N600 million now as against the N300 million IGR that we met when we came in, despite that we have not gone to the streets to ask people to pay. What we have done on the IGR is basically to block the leakages in the system and the first thing we did was to first automate the process. We spoke to the banks that all revenue payment will now be going to the banks. This includes payment for fees, development levy and tax. So, we got the banks’ commitment to allow all their branches to be used as outlets for our revenue. We also put the banks under strict watch to ensure that they post the collections into our account immediately. So, that has brought increment to our revenue and we have used that exercise to focus on the formal sector in an accountable way. We have just told you that we inherited N18.3 billion debt and we have a saving because of the innovation of the governor to refinance the loan, but apart from the savings, we have brought several innovations into our financial management. We have just got two companies that will build roads for us and provide construction finance and most of the projects we have done now were done based on the goodwill of the governor.

•Bolorunduro

People are coming to assist the governor.

We have used the innovation of project finance in the construction of drainage, in the area of road, and the beautification of our cities. Look, what Aregbesola has done is like a mystery because suddenly, people are now willing to give us flexible payment debt.

Osun is described as a civil service state and you are talking about how you have blocked some leakages to increase the revenue, but you have not talked about how you will involve the people on the streets to participate in your tax regime?

We don’t have any plan to introduce fresh taxes. The governor is of the opinion that the people of this state have been abandoned for seven-and-a-half years; the government did not do anything for them. So, our governor believes that it will be grossly irresponsible for you to increase taxes now or overlabour the people. What we have done is to block leakages and look inwards to make

PHOTO: ADESOJI ADENIYI

the system efficient, accountable and transparent without bothering the informal sector, which is the average man on the street like the drivers, artisans and the rest of them.

So, we are not looking at them, yet because the governor is of the opinion that we must keep faith in terms of supporting them through co-operative lending and social supports. You are aware that we are registering co-operative groups because we believe that in those seven-and-a-half years of the previous administration, if they had been encouraged through micro credit, they would have been able to do good business. We believe that we must do that first and create wealth before we begin to ask them of any tax. When we want to do it, we will engage the necessary stakeholders. We will go about it by allowing them pay the minimum taxes through their associations, unions and cooperative societies which will now bring it to us to issue revenue receipt to them. So, as to what we want to do, we want to first of all

‘What we have done on the IGR is basically to block the leakages in the system and the first thing we did was to first automate the process. We spoke to the banks that all revenue payment will now be going to the banks. This includes payment for fees, development levy and tax. So, we got the banks’ commitment to allow all their branches to be used as outlets for our revenue. We also put the banks under strict watch to ensure that they post the collections into our account immediately’ create wealth. We have introduced what we call local contents where our contractors wherever they are working, must use the people in those communities to work with them. Our fiscal thrust is to drive income into the hands of our people. You can see what we have done in our O’YES programme.

We have even gone further now to look at the private sector that will take the O’YES, train them and give them capacities to do more. Very soon, you will see some of them engaged in the National ID card registration and that will bring more income to them and from there, we will begin to exit them from the scheme and bring in fresh people.

Apart from that, we have some intervention programme that will enhance financial activities. Osogbo used to be a commercial area but it has disappeared. What the governor has done is to recreate the commercial activities through what we call Osun Hub • Continued on page 46

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THE CEO •Continued from page 45

(O’HUB). People will be wondering where they will get money to finance all these projects, but if you look at the government’s intervention in the O’HUB, it is very minimal but it is a major intervention in the sense that the government is creating an enabling environment. We have provided ground for bringing finished goods from Lagos to Osogbo so that they can begin to sell at Lagos prices and people will be coming from neighbouring states to buy goods at subsidised rates. The governor has secured foreign investors that will handle the locomotives. That will boost our commercial activities. Through these innovations too, agricultural produce from Osun will be taken to Lagos and sold at Osun prices. You can see that it is a double flow activity. It means that the centre will be a commercial centre and farmers would be able to take their produce to Lagos where they can get good prices and with that we would have solved the pricing problems for farmers, which is a major problem. Another problem that farmers have is land holding and that is being addressed. You are aware that we have just handed over some portions of virgin farmland to farmers in Mokore, which translate to five hectares per farmer. We are making an arrangement for tractorisation for the farmers. So, there is a lot of activities going on. Apart from that, if you look at the 2011 Budget, despite the fact that Aregbesola came in when the budget was almost being concluded, he was able to salvage it and for the first time in our history, this is when our revenue will be more than capital expenditure. Also, we are encouraging and retraining our civil servants and you can see that when some other states are still battling with the issue of N18,000 minimum wage Osun has even gone beyond N18,000 and we are now paying a minimum wage of N19,000.

How will you spread the commercial activities to Ilesa and other communities such as Ife and so on?

There is what we call urban renewal programme and that is going to focus on those towns. I will like us to look at the fact that in terms of urbanised towns, we have probably the highest urban cities. Each of these towns has an historic empire and they have substantial population. If you look at a town such as Ilesa, it has a dual carriage all the way from Lagos. We are working towards building a shopping mall to be called Rent Park where you will have something similar to what is being done by Ondo State government at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Ore. We will not concentrate on Osogbo alone, we will concentrate on other towns too. Also, under the urban renewal programme, the governor has ordered that every one kilometre to the cities’ centres should be dualised and all the affected villages and towns have been visited. This will begin to take those cities away from being rustic to commercial centres. Then, under our extended urban renewal programme, the other towns and villages will be taken care of. So, what we are going to be creating is a mini-commercial business district in those areas. We know that some of the towns will be self sustaining and others would have to be maintained by us.

What is the state government doing on the privatisation of the Machine Tools Company and the Steel Rolling Company, which have ceased to function ?

Regarding those two industries that have been bought by Dangote, we are talking with Dangote on some other partnership. We are reaching out to Dangote to ensure that they begin operation as soon as possible. Aside that, you may not know that the state has the location advantage. We are the only state that has the national grid that transports all power generated or substantial power generated from Kainji and Shiroro dams and this lands in Osogbo before it is distributed to all parts of the country. What this means is that there must always be electricity in Osogbo, except there is a total blackout or system failure. So, we are already looking at how we can engage the stakeholders to look at the kind of investment we can undertake to make electricity much more available. Not only to make electricity available to our Free Trade Zone here in Osogbo, we will also make it available for our Ede Water Works and industries that will be springing up here. The governor, may be because of his exposure and his background, is the only governor that can actually be articulate in all the technical opportunities and advantages that we can use here. I think that the future of the state in terms of socio-economic development is very robust.

‘We won’t tax Osun people unduly’

• Bolorunduro

Can you shed more light on the ongoing beautification project?

(Cuts in) If the plants can survive in Lagos, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, they can actually survive in this state. I don’t think water will be a problem for these plants to survive. I believe that it must be well-coordinated. I am sure that by the time we conclude that beautification project, people will be begging that they want to come and experience what we are doing. So, that is to tell you that we know where we are going. We may be starting late, but we know where we are going, afterall, we had to wait for seven-and-a-half years that the last administration was in power, but now we have to do the right thing.

There are two conflicting salary structures.

Shortly after the strike, workers alleged the government is using a salary structure different from the one they and the government initially agreed upon. How correct is this?

Let me give you some historical background into what happened during the strike. Currently, we don’t have a payroll and I am saying this with all sense of responsibility because my understanding of payroll is that at every point in time, I should be able to sit at the centre and pay the salaries of workers, irrespective of the allocation. Whenever our people move from one day to another, we would have to wait for each managing director to tell us the number of people on each grade level and we use that salary table to multiply the number of people that they claim they have without even checking and we will come up to say

PHOTO: ADESOJI ADENIYI

each ministry would have this amount. So I am relying on manual system and the people, and I am assuming that they will do the right thing. That was what we met and it takes average of two to three weeks to prepare salaries. So, at times, I might have done it and given them their release, but they cannot collect from the Accountant-General until they break it down. So, what happened was that they finished earning salaries in July and they went on strike and strike was called off on September 10. At the subsequent Executive Council meeting, the governor directed that we should use July salary table and we pay them arrears in September and we went ahead to do that as the money was released, only for the labour leaders to say no, they will not take it and that the government was trying to breach the agreement.

We tried to convince them that their members have been waiting for more than 30 days, why don’t they allow us pay it that way, but they insisted that no, our people will wait and we will persuade them. By mistake, some ministries went ahead to pick the August salaries but the labour came back and said that they should return it because we did not honour the agreement. We had to go back and use the August table to pay and we were paying August salaries when they came back again that we must pay some peculiar allowances. This was not brought to the table during the negotiation, they kept it away and when we were about to pay the new salary structure, it came up and it became an issue again.

The governor said we should pay the al-

‘We will not concentrate on Osogbo alone, we will concentrate on other towns too. Also, under the urban renewal programme, the governor has ordered that every one kilometre to the cities’ centres should be dualised and all the affected villages and towns have been visited’

lowances too, which amounted to N155 million in addition to the gross increase we have done because he wants to encourage them.

In the process, we felt it will be good for us to know who we are paying and we now decided to pay them through cheque and the logistic was made available. I was surprised that we paid over 7,000 secondary school staff in just one day and we paid primary school teachers, for just one-and-a-half days. So, not only have we met with the minimum wage, we have done above minimum wage from N18,000 to N19,000 plus and we included peculiar allowance. We expect civil servants to respond in terms of service they are rendering to the people and government. Those increases that I have talked about do not include the increases for the medical workers because they have a different salary scale, which the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration did not implement and for whatever reason, they were able to play labour. So, we have to implement CONMESS and CONHESS from ground zero and that, on its own, is a salary increase of about N150 million. I just pray that our revenue increases and that our civil servants give us services for us to be able to meet that salary obligation.

What are you doing to collaborate with the Lebanese to make them site their factories and depots in Osun?

We have a plan for that because we are talking to some of the Lebanese. We are the only state and possibly with Ogun State that share what is called a tropical rain forest. You have heard us talking about opening up a road linking Ijebu-Igbo to stimulate commercial activities and encourage investors to come here. Now we are encouraging out-grower scheme. Not only that we have arable farmlands, we have much rainfall of about 1800mm in a year and in some areas we have 900mm. That makes our land fertile, but our main focus is food crops such as cassava, yam, maize and many others. We are not closing our minds to cash crops too. So, if we have any out grower, we are already encouraging them to come and manage our farmers and we expect those schemes to begin to yield results. In terms of commercial, we have some commitment from PZ and some other companies. We know that if they site their factories or major distribution depots here, they can transport their goods to wherever they want. So, we are looking at agriculture, commerce and tourism to drive our economy. We are looking for out-grower not only in the area of agriculture, but also in the area of manufacturing. Where you manufacture, you have big key distributors here who will distribute it to the neighbouring states. We are also looking for rice out-grower that can grow highland and lowland rice and when they come, they will not only encourage our farmers, they will also provide jobs. Our logistic centre in the first phase can take 5,000 people because there will be chain of trailers coming in and out and there would be commercial activities everywhere.

What are your plans on the use of railway?

With what we are doing, it should interest you that Kano and Kaduna states have already done concession agreement with the Nigeria Railway Corporation. It depends on how you handle it and the content of the concession. As I said, the rail is moribund and if you want to use it, the Federal Government will not mind. Kaduna and Kano are using it to transport their people within their areas and they have gone further to inter-state collaboration. So, I don’t think we will have any problem doing it.

On the civil service again, what are your plans to train workers and enhance their performances at work.

What we are doing is to retrain our civil servants. We have been running a scheme now and it will run for the next five weeks, where in every weekend, I train the staff in the Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Service on how to become computer literate. Not only that, the governor is very conscious of the fact that he has mandated me to make sure that functional staff members have computer system to work with. So, we are upgrading their skills and we are motivating them in terms of remuneration. We are giving them the support that will make them organised.

Also, the governor has mandated that salaries must be paid latest 26h of every month.

At times, it is workers themselves who delay the salaries. As I said, the business of government is to render social services and provide an enabling environment to encourage the private sector and provide capacity building for the public sector to be able to render services to the people.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

• The new Combi line

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PHOTO: DUPE OLAOYE-OSINKOLU

More jobs coming as Dangote Group embraces fruit farming At a time some indigenous and multinational companies are reducing their staff strength to stay afloat, Dansa Foods Limited, an arm of Dangote Group of Companies, is expanding and creating jobs. DUPE OLAOYE-OSINKOLU reports.

• STORY ON PAGE 48

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

JOBS

More jobs coming as Dangote Group embraces fruit farming F

OR many job seekers, there will soon be an opening in Dangote Group of Companies.One of its subsidiaries, Dangote Farms Limited, has gone into fruit farming to produce raw materials for the juice arm of the conglomerate, Dansa Foods Limited.No fewer than 1,000 workers are employed in Lagos and other states by Dansa Foods.

On its part, Dangote Farms has created hundreds of jobs in Calabar, Cross River State.

“Talking about juice, we have had to get involved in backward integration. We have in Calabar a wide expanse of land where we grow our crops. We grow citrus fruits and pineapples. Eventually, we have to rely on that expanse of land as a source of input for our juice manufacturing plants. In the next two years, our Group will not only produce fruits for Dansa, but for other juice manufacturers in the country,” Dansa Foods Managing Director George Eremionkhale said.

Dansa Foods also provides jobs by extension because it’s distributors employ workers for nationwide distribution, he added.

Eremionkhale said in manufacturing, an investor must strive to make profit to protect jobs.

“In the spirit of protecting existing jobs, the best any company can do in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to

be profitable to keep yourself in business.”

To meet international standard, Dansa Foods has installed a glass casing production line known as Combi line. It is the first in the country. Eremionkhale said the line, which ensures faster production process and safety at work, will boost the company’s business and protect jobs.

Five years ago, the parcel of land occupied

by Dansa Foods on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway was marshy and waterlogged. The first set of staff used to park their vehicles at the junction to walk through the muddy road to work. The road was impassable for vehicles. Today, the road has been constructed by the company.

On his expectations, he said the company would continue to expand to provide jobs for people.

“We have over 100 Store Keeping Units (SKU), various brands, in various consumer classifications — adults, teenagers, mothers, fathers and school children. We have products that meet people’s needs at any occasion, be it breakfast, lunch, dinner, entertainment, refreshment, even replenishment as in water. We have both dry and wet products, in the dairy business. Also carbonated soft drinks, such as juice. A lot of investment has gone into that. More will still go into it.

As the business expands, more jobs will be

• Dangote

• Eremionkhale

created,” he said.

Despite everything the company still has some challenges. The new Combi line consumes 75,000 litres of diesel monthly. In the next one year, Eremionkhale said the company would be converting its power generating equipment to gas, to cut production cost by about 35 per cent. Another challenge is getting the products across the country in the wholesome state they left the line so that consumers in Lagos and their counterparts in Sokoto and Maiduguri, will take the same quality. “This is why we are selective in the mode of transportation

of our products. Dansa, therefore, uses the services of a sister company that is into road haulage,” he said.

The Group, he said, wants the best for its workers, adding that management has invested in training and retraining to enhance their productivity. Eremionkhale said some workers were sent abroad in line with the company’s policy of turning them into its greatest assets.

He said workers are not gagged as they are free to express themselves at meetings and contribute to charting the way forward for the company.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

What employers are looking for (II) M

ANY job seekers have experienced a feeling of frus tration that after many interviews, they are yet to secure an offer of appointment. Many things could be wrong, but there is one area we started to look at last week.

What do employers want?

You attended interviews, they asked questions, and you provided answers. But are these answered the correct answers? You don’t know. May be nobody knows for sure, except the interviewer. But there are certain qualities and attributes desired by most, if not all employers. We noted however that • The point of emphasis differ from position to position.

• The requirement for entry point/low level position differs from that of senior/executive positions.

Listed last week as desirable by most, if not all employers are: (a) Basic competence- ability to do what you are to be employed for; (b) Communication skills-ability to understand and pass instructions both verbal and in writing; (c) Interpersonal skills- being able to relate to others, maintain and build relationships; (d) Adaptability -ability to welcome and manage change; (e) Willingliness to learn; (f) Initiative and independence ability to make your decisions and get result with little supervision; (g) Cooperation and collaboration - understanding and working well within teams; and (h) Motivation-inner desire for achievement and enthusiasm.

Now, let’s go on to discussion on the others in detail.

Commitment Employers want employees that

By Olu Oyeniran

are reliable and responsible. You are expected to identify closely with the company and her needs, for better for worse. To what extent is the candidate prepared to give committed service to the company? Although the employer does not expect a promise that you will stay for twenty years, he expects a not-too- short stay and sudden exit that will cause disruption in his system. He also expects that you will be committed to doing the job at hand and giving it your best, as long as you are in employment.

Integrity/Character Employers want employees that can do things right as well as those that can do the right things. No matter your brilliance, no employer would take you if you cannot be trusted. They do not like people with disruptive, pernicious, unstable, intolerant or any other negative character.

Positive Attitude A positive attitude to situation and circumstances is desired in all job situations. Every position has its own content of frustrations, disturbances distractions, but all of these are easily surmountable with the right mental attitude. I will tell you, an individual with “get up and go” attitude is worthy of consideration for appointment, even if he fails to meet some other job attributes/requirements.

Analytical skills To make decisions and properly evaluate situations, candidates with analytical skills are desired by employers. The ability to make reasonable jugedments and assess expected and unexpected situations is of great value on any job. Are you able to look at a given work

load, set priorities and find ways to solve the most, most immediate and important problems? Will you panic and fall apart in the face of work related crisis?

Personal presentation Employer consider that job candidates, indeed all of their employees to be well dressed and groomed. Like they say, at least dress the part i.e. dress in a manner and way that very appropriate for the position you are planning to occupy. Always, be clean and neat.

Healthy body To perform at all, you need to look and feel well. No employer will readily employ a sickly job candidate. It will cause disaffection and disruption of work later. Note that it is your primary responsibility to remain healthy and functional.

The attribute we have been discussing since last week applies mostly to entry to middle level managers, and to some extent the executive positions. However, there are some attributes that most employers desire specifically in respect of senior executives. They include the following:

(i) Experience and knowhow Senior manager who wants to move into new positions are expected to bring on the table expertise and practical knowledge. This is critical, as they are not only expected to work with little supervision, but also to provide leadership/coaching for their subordinates. They are generally expensive, and the major reason why they are wanted is that there is nobody within the system with the required experience and knowhow to perform the job. You see

incompetent executive represent an enormous waste and risk to the enterprise.

(ii) Track record of performance The position may have because vacant because the previous occupier was eased out for poor performance. Then it is reasonable that the employer will want a replacement with proof of performance.

Often history of excellent performance in previous job position(s) give comfort to the employer that if might be better this time.

(iii) Leadership As said earlier, senior managers are expected to provide leadership not only within then unit, but also across in the organisation. Employer therefore desire good and tested leaders. They want candidates who know how to be a leader, enjoying being a leader and fully appreciate the attendant responsibilities. He is also expected to understand team dynamics and be able to lead and function with team.

(iv) Administration and management competence Aside from technical and departmental responsibilities, employers expect senior executives to be versed in administration, policy development and implementation.

They need to understand management processes.

(v) Intrapreneurship As the organisation becomes large, ownership is somewhat shared, and the CEO may not be in a position to see all the opportunities and threat to the business.

He desires managed that would assume “ownership” and look out for business and growth opportunities. He also depends on them

for product people and process improvement that will reduce waste and increased profitability.

Now where does all these leave the job hunter? What about these in job hunting? One, jobs are lost and won often times on the basis of these attributes. A lot of times, more than the number of required candidates ties on the level of basic qualifications and experience.

In instances like this, candidates may be chosen the basis of which seemed better on one or two of the attributes we have been discussing considered critical to the job position.

Two, aside from your educational attainments, these desirables when combined well form your unique selling point. Three, match the key attributes you possess with the specific requirements of the employer for the position.

This will work well if you do enough research on the job/company/industry to determine which are the most relevant and critical.

Four, and finally, you must communication this. Even when you have the key attributes desired by an employer in a specific situation, you must endeavour to communicate it to the employer. Don’t ever assume that it is so obvious that he ought to see it. Blow your trumpet. Use every opportunity and contact with the employer to communicate the match (and your suitability)- application letters, telephone conversations, resume, interview, etc. Now that you have the syllabus, go win yourself some job.

See you next week.

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Investor’s Worth

A Princess’ bagful of equities

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RINCESS Adenike Adeniran has scored many firsts as a professional accountant and investment expert. A graduate of Catford College of Commerce London and Sundridge Park Management Centre, Kent, England, Adeniran was the first female President of International Federation of Women Accountants (IFWA) - African Region and also served as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) and Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA).

A qualified professional dealing clerk and stockbroker of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Adeniran has combined accounting and investment knowledge to emerge as one of the most astute female investors in the Nigerian financial services industry. She holds significant equity stakes in Skye Bank Plc and Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc.

As one of the largest investors and directors in Skye Bank Plc, Adeniran’s indirect equity stake represents 1.6 per cent of the total issued shares of the mid-tier bank.

She also sits on the board of Law Union and Rock Insurance, a N1.7 billion midtier insurance company quoted on the NSE. Adeniran also holds significant influence in Dominion Trust Limited, an investment company and Skye Mortgage Bank Limited, where she provides oversights as chairman of boards of directors.

Adeniran started her accounting career as an Assistant Accountant with Her Majesty Customs and Excise Accountant and Controller Division, London. She later worked with the legacy Cooperative Bank where she rose to become Chief Accountant. She has made invaluable contributions to Nigerian economic development serving on various committees and

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•Princess Adeniran

bodies including National Economic Intelligence Group and Privatisation and Commercialisation committees.

She was on Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria for several years.

With her multi-million naira investment portfolio cutting across the financial services sector, Adeniran has surely built a supportive edifice befitting of her status as the princess of the financial services sector.

Ask a Broker

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NDEX fund is a type of mutual fund, which in vestments objectives and stock selection is linked to a specific index. Generally, indices are designed to measure performance of a group of stocks-within a sector, many sectors, the entire market or many markets.

An index fund tracks and invests in the underlying stocks that form the index.

As such, the return of the index fund is closely related to the return of the index.

There are no known index funds in Nigeria but there are several indices that an investor can track and invest in the underlying securities.

The All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is the bench-

What is index fund?

mark value index for the entire Nigerian stock market and serves as country index for Nigeria. ASI measures changes in prices of all quoted companies and provides average view of the return in the market.

The NSE 30 Index represents the 30 most capitalised stocks at the NSE while the NSE Banking Index, NSE Food and Beverages Index, NSE Insurance Index and NSE Oil and Gas Index broadly represent the key sectors of banking, food and beverages, insurance and petroleum-marketing.

Index fund is usually passive but it may sometimes benefit from the broadness of the index it is linked to, especially in a bullish market. The

passive nature of index fund however makes it susceptible to the changing moods of the market, which necessarily may not be based on fundamental evaluation. Besides, return on index fund tends to fall below the average return of the linked index mainly because of selection and investment size errors.

These are due to the fact that an index fund only buys a number of shares in the stocks making up the index rather than the entire shares of all the stocks as well as the varying weights of the stocks in the index.

Transaction charges also tend to moderate return on an index fund compared with the linked index.

Ways and Means

What to consider before buying mutual funds

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HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has shown more interests in the promotion of collective investment schemes (CIS), generally referred to as mutual funds.

A mutual fund is a type of collective investment scheme that pools funds from many investors and invests such pool in previously agreed investments. Each investor thus becomes a co-owner, otherwise known as unit holder, of the fund.

Mutual fund usually has a professional fund manager that oversees the value creation functions of the fund and a trustee that ensures that the underlining agreements setting up the mutual fund are adhered to.

Other professional parties include the registrar that keeps custody of the register of members of the funds.

There are some 26 mutual funds quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Most mutual funds on the NSE

have showed more resilience and largely resisted the sluggish market situation at the stock market but returns on many pools of investments also fell below average market benchmark.

While the nature of a mutual fund may create defining peculiarities that set it apart from other funds, there are general factors that could serve as guides to investors in deciding on a mutual fund.

As part of disclosure requirements, mutual funds are required to explicitly state most of these considerations but in the absence of any, an investor reserves the right to ask question and seek clarification before making any commitment.

One of the red points to watch out for is the cost outlay of the fund. Professional fund manager charges fees to manage the mutual fund. An investor needs to consider the extent of professional fee as well as other expenses in relation to returns.

Share certificate, dematerialisation and other issues (2)

Also, investors need to consider the age and size of the fund to be able to make reasonable comparison with other similar funds as well as general market performance.

The age and size of the fund will paint a vivid picture of its performance track record.

Is it a stable growing fund or a fluctuating fund? This will also enable the investor to measure the volatility of the fund.

Highly volatile funds usually come with higher risks and may turn into traps in a declining market.

It is also important to consider how the mutual fund fits into the general portfolio structure of the investor in terms of diversification, sectoral allocation, and cash flow among others.

Investors also need to consider the fund manager’s investment strategy and risks therein in line with their own investment horizons and risk appetites.

HE process of amalgamation starts with a letter from the shareholder requesting for amalgamation of the share certificates. As constantly emphasised, any letter must meet basic conditions of identification and authenticity before any further consideration. As such the names, signature and address must correspond with the original filings with the Registrar. In addition, the shareholder will attach all the originals of the share certificates, which are to be merged in addition to listing their full details in the covering letter.

It is advisable for the shareholder to make and keep photocopies of the original share certificates should there be any need for follow up or clarification or most painfully, outright loss in transit.

Upon receipt of the letter, the Registrar will subject the letter to usual authentication process and if satisfied, mandate the computer or system department to merge the share certificates by printing a new single share certificate to reflect the total number of shares in all the merged certificates. The new share certificate will still bear the same account number, although it will have its distinct share certificate number while the cause of issuance will also reflect the fact of amalgamation.

The Registrar will then forward the new (amalgamated) share certificate to the company secretary for necessary signature(s) and seal. With necessary authorisations from the company, the Registrar completes the process by posting the new share certificate to the shareholder while simultaneously deleting the old (merged) share certificates from the system to avoid sharp practices.

However, in rare instances a shareholder with large shareholding on a single share certificate, such as a core investor with 60 per cent equity shareholding of a company on a single share certificate, may see the need to split the shares into many share certificates or accounts. This process is referred to as fractionalisation.

This may be due to safety or administrative reasons.

The process is similar to that of amalgamation except that the cause of action required differed. In this instance, the shareholder will write and indicate how many share certificates he wants the shares to be split into.

While amalgamation and fractionalisation deal with the same account number, consolidation of accounts involves several accounts under the same names.

Consolidation of accounts is a process through which a shareholder converge his many accounts for shares of a particular company into a single account.

This allows for effective and efficient portfolio management. For instance, where a shareholder has 10,000 shares spread in three accounts, he will receive three dividend warrants, three bonus share certificates and so on, which in many instances may not worth the trouble.

For example, one of such accounts may contain 2,000 shares, which could generate

By Taofik Salako

a dividend warrant with net payable value of N180 in the event of a dividend per share of 10 kobo. The processing costs around the dividend warrant may ultimately be higher than the net payable value. So, it makes much better investment management acumen to consolidate the accounts.

The process of accounts consolidation also starts with a letter from the shareholder requesting for consolidation of the listed accounts. The letter follows the usual process of authentication, then the Registrar verifies the accounts and subsequently merge them into one account.

Usually, the practice is to merge all the other accounts into one of the existing accounts rather than creating a new account.

Stakeholders’ role in e-allotment The move from manual or paper allotment to electronicallotment (e-allotment) marked a historic milestone in the annals of the Nigerian capital market. E-allotment is the direct transfer of subscriber’s share allotment to his investor’s accounts with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).

The process of capital issue is a long-drawn process with many steps but allotment is a major stage during which shares are allocated to subscribers according to their applications, the volume of shares on offer and the subscription level. After the verification and clearance of the allotment by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), then come several steps including printing of share certificates, signing and sealing of certificates and packaging and posting, all which are subject to many extraneous manipulations.

Besides, complaints of missing-in-transit, incorrect names and addresses and the often-excruciating process and cost of dematerialization are major disincentives in the share certificate system.

To the issuer, the cost element in the share certificate system is usually high given costs of printing several thousands of share certificates, some with units that barely worth the cost of the paper, packaging, posting and duplicate share certificates among others.

But under the e-allotment, the Registrar will simply send a soft (electronic) copy of the final allotment, cleared

by SEC, to the CSCS, which will automatically credit the account of all shareholders, cutting off all other cumbersome steps, especially dematerialisation. The Registrar however will still notify shareholders and send share certificates, in the mean time, to shareholders without CSCS account. However, the stock market is working towards cancellation of share certificate by 2012, making it mandatory for all shareholders in quoted companies to have account with CSCS. The obvious immediate gain from the introduction of the e-allotment is the enshrinement of the principles of equality and access in the capital market. All sharehold-

ers, high networth, medium and small; highly connected and uninfluential, insiders and outsiders, will be on the same pedestal with regard to access to their shares and can take investment decision as they wish.

This is an immeasurable gain to the general investing public. The share certificate system has recently came under intense criticism over allegations of preferential release of share certificates to select influential investors, who quickly take advantage of high capital appreciation before the masses of investors get their share certificates and follow through the windy dematerialization process.

Besides, equal access to listed shares, will enhance the efficiency of the market and minimize extraneous influences that unduly distort the price discovery process in the stock market. With other systems such as e-bonus, the electronic transfer of bonus shares to shareholders account, and e-dividend, the Registrar-tobank direct lodgement of shareholders’ dividends in their bank accounts, the e-allotment will overall enhance good corporate governance and best practices in the Nigerian capital market, the much-needed tonic for sustainable long-term growth.

But for effective implementation, all stakeholders have crucial roles to play. The first role is for all stakeholdersshareholders, registrars, issuers, issuing companies and other professional parties and the regulatory authorities, to put their collective will behind the e-allotment to ensure its success. A collaborative must-succeed spirit will enable the market to smoothen the process of implementation and surmount immediate and future challenges.

But individually, shareholders, arguably the greatest beneficiary of the e-allotment, should support the success of this scheme by complying with basic requirements for the e-allotment.

These include opening a CSCS account, filling the account details correctly into the application form and lodging a complaint with the SEC in the event of indication of preference for e-allotment, by filling the e-allotment information in the application form, but were rather issue share certificate.

Registrars have onerous responsibilities in the implementation of the e-allotment.

The main task is that of adequate technological and human capacity to back up the system. Registrars need to build up adequate resources including e-allotment compliant software to support the e-allotment.

Issuers, issuing houses and other professional parties should ensure allotment through e-allotment to subscribers who indicated their CSCS account.

Most importantly, the tripartite of SEC, NSE and CSCS should collectively work to create amenable legal and operational environments for the success of e-allotment, and other electronic systems.

The regulatory framework should enforce compliance and deter flimsy excuses that could detract from the success of the e-allotment.

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LABOUR

Disengaged Enugu indigenes send SOS to Chime

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NUGU State indigenes, who were recently disengaged from the Abia State public service have sent a “Save Our Souls’(SOS) message to Governor Sullivan Chime, urging him to re-absorb them into their state civil service.

More than 100 Enugu indigenes, mainly women, were among non-natives recently sent packing from Abia public service.

They were relieved through a letter with reference number HAS/S.0071/11/132, dated August 25 and signed by the Secretary to Abia State government.

However, a letter signed by Mr Igwe Onyia, on behalf of the affected workers made available to reporters in Aba, said they were asking their governor to re-absorb them to save them from the embarrassment received from the Abia State government.

They added that most of them were widows and bread winners of their various families, stressing that with the new Abia State government’s policy, members of their household had been left to suffer untold hardship.

“Most of us are widows and even those whose husbands are still alive, due to the

state government’s clamp down on traders in Aba, their businesses have been grounded and the burden of taking care of our families rests squarely on us,” they said.

They said it was unfortunate that they spent their youthful years serving Abia, only to be unceremoniously sacked without benefits.

“We have been treated like lepers in our fatherland.

“Most of us have spent as much as 30 years in the Abia State public service, and now we are supposed to reap from our years of hard work, we’ve been asked to go.

“About two or three of us are to retire this month and with this sack order, what will they do?” they wondered.

They said they were sending the SOS to Chime, who, they described as their Nelson Mandela, to save them from what they called

an “apartheid policy,” emphasising that they were stranded in Abia.

The workers regretted that on several occasions they made representations to their home government over the issue, but that nothing came out of it and wondered whether they would also be rejected in their state.

“On three occasions, we went to Government House, Enugu, over this man’s inhumanity to man and we were not given any attention.

“It was only on the last visit that we were asked to compile the names of the affected workers, which, we did, but up till now, we’ve not heard from anybody.

“Gov. Chime should as a matter of urgency re-absorb us into the Enugu State public service because we are being made the laughing stock in Abia and we do not know what to do again,” they pleaded.

‘Most of us are widows and even those whose husbands are still alive, due to the state government’s clamp down on traders in Aba, their businesses have been grounded and the burden of taking care of our families rests squarely on us’

•Governor Chime

TUC seeks review of criteria for National Merit Award

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HE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to review the criteria for selecting recipients for the National Merit Awards (NMA). Also, it cautioned political class not to destroy the essence of the award.

In a statement signed by the President-General, Comrade Peter Esele and Secretary General, Chief John Kolawole, TUC asked for total reappraisals of the NMA to ascertain if it has met the purpose and essence of the founders or if the exercise has turned to another jamboree in our national life.

Bringing the past to bear on the present happenings relating to selection of awardees, the labour centre said: “The Trade Union Congress is seriously concerned over the derisions that recently trailed the appointment and conferment of our hitherto National Merit Award instituted in the past to reward and recognise excellence in national service.

“In time past, qualification for selection into this prestigious and privileged class was purely devoid of sentiments and mediocrity ,but was based on merit and proven records in chosen fields or professions with the public acknowledging to the fullest whoever emerged as awardees.

It, however, noted that,the quality of the award recipients have

diminished in recent times. It attributed that to the faulty selection processes that is allegedly anchored on sentiments and resulting to people who brought misery and poverty on the citizenry easily leading the way as awardees.

“It is also worrisome to note how people with no known social, political or economic standings have capitalised on this to score cheap political points when they turn down offer for award which in the first place they are not qualified to receive under normal circumstance.

“TUC, therefore, demands a total review of the criteria used in the selection of awardees as well as the vesting of the power to appoint on a committee of elder statesmen proven to be free from tribal, political or religious sentiments or of questionable character. It should be separated from presidential award.

“We also demand total reappraisals of the NMA to ascertain if it has met the purpose and essence of the founders or if the exercise has turned to another jamboree in our national life.

TUC called on the political class not to destroy the true essence that the award is intended to convey on the mere pretence of gaining cheap political point, blackmail and popularity.

Lagos NUJ urges bombers in Borno, Yobe to dialogue

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HE Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Deji Gbolahan Elumoye, has appealed to those behind the bombings in Yobe and Borno states to dialogue with government towards settling any grievances.

The Chairman said destruction of lives and property will not solve any problem in the country.

Elumoye said blood-letting can never be a way out of disagreement with government. He suggested a round table discussion with government in order for peace to reign in the country.

Elumoye’s counterpart in Cross River State, Mr Eniang Ndem, also calls for caution. He said: “Terrorist acts should be condemned because whatever their grievances are, bombings and destruction of lives and property cannot be the solution.’’

He called on those behind the act to make their demands known

rather than perpetrating such acts, saying that terrorism tarnished the good image of the country.

According to him, the security agencies should also learn to be more proactive in unravelling such acts so as to protect the lives and property of the citizens.

He challenged security operatives to be more alive to their responsibilities, saying that they must reassure Nigerians and the international community of their readiness to protect lives and property.

“The further threats to bomb some parts of Abuja are a challenge to the security agencies in the country.

“The government and the security agencies must reassure Nigerians and the world, that they are capable of protecting lives and property of everybody,’’ he said.

He called on Nigerians to shun violence and always be their brothers’ keepers.

•From left: Vice President, National Society Of Engineers (NSE), Mr Ali Rabiu; immediate past chairman of the Society, Abuja Chapter, Mr Joseph Akinteye and a Niger Delta University Bayelsa State, don, Prof Telimoye Oguara, at the 9th National Civil Engineering conference and annual general meeting of the association in Abuja.

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Association to train miners on lead poisoning

he Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists ( C O M E G ) p l a n s to train artisanal miners on how to avoid lead poisoning in their operations.

The Registrar of the Council, Jonathan Ikeako, who this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said lead poisoning, which occurred in Zamfara recently, was caused by miners who indulged in using wrong chemicals to process minerals.

He explained that the application of the chemicals was to improve the quality of minerals before offering them for sale.

“There have been a lot of talks on finding ways of teaching artisanal miners the right methods of processing their minerals.

“COMEG is developing a programme on the issue. We want to teach people the right chemicals to use and how to use them, because of the lead poisoning incident in

Zamfara.”

He warned that mercury, one of the chemicals used by artisanal miners, could kill human beings if used wrongly.

“COMEG will teach small-scale miners the type of equipment and chemicals to use in processing their products.”

Ikeako said the enlightenment programme would commence in the first quarter of 2012.

He also promised that COMEG would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as well as other stakeholders to ensure that artisanal miners were protected from hazards.

“It is common to see artisans on road sides, breaking rocks and being ladden with dust. Also, in cement factories, workers are often not encouraged to cover their noses and are exposed to all kinds

“He warned that mercury, one of the chemicals used by artisanal miners, could kill human beings if used wrongly. COMEG will teach small-scale miners the type of equipment and chemicals to use in processing their products” of hazards. This is why we want to teach them how to protect themselves from these dangers” He said the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development had advised artisanal miners to form co-operative societies to attract credit facilities from banks.

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MONEY LINK

CBN disburses N137b agric fund

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed a cumu lative N137 billion to states participating in the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS). The amount is part of the N200 billion mapped out by the apex bank for the purpose.

A circular from the CBN said the beneficiaries are made up of 146 individuals/private promoters cut across 26 states. The states are expected to access funds for on-lending to farmers’ unions, co-operatives and financing of other areas of agricultural interventions in their various States.

By Collins Nweze

CBN data showed that United Bank for Africa disbursed N37.9 billion, Zenith Bank, N15.3 billion, First Bank, N14.7 billion, Skye Bank, N8.6 billion and Stanbic IBTC, N8.3 billion, among others.

The balance of CACS funds as at September 2011, was N63.253 billion.

It also showed that from January to September this year, N2.263 billion was released to four banks, with respect to 11 CACS projects.

Also from inception to date, 16

funded, while processing accounted for 42.18 per cent.

These activities were distantly followed by marketing, storage and input supplies which registered seven per cent, 6.12 per cent and 0.68 per cent respectively. With regards to value of funds released, processing accounted for 54.48 per cent, followed by production which accounted for 31.86 per cent of the value of enterprises financed.

These activities were distantly followed by marketing, storage and input supplies which registered 8.43 per cent, 3.88 per cent and 1.35 per cent.

Further analysis showed that the South-West Region ranked the highest with 69 registered projects valued N58.08 billion. The NorthWest region was next with 26 projects valued at N17.302 billion, while the North Central Region

banks, namely; Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Oceanic Bank, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Union Bank of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Unity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Sterling Bank, Citibank, Mainstream Bank and Wema bank, participated under the scheme.

The analysis of projects financed under CACS by value chain showed that out of the 147 CACS private sector sponsored projects, production accounted for 44 per cent and dominated the activities

Interbank rates fall on liquidity increase

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HE interbank lending rates eased further last week to an average of 13 per cent, from 14.83 per cent. This followed surplus liquidity from a budgetary disbursal and low cash outflows because of a two-day public holiday.

Traders, according to Reuters news said the market opened on Friday with a cash balance of N214 billion ($1.35 billion), while additional inflows from banks’ cash reserves requirements on Thursday further boosted liquidity, to keep rates low.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB)

fell to 12.50 per cent from 14 per cent last week, 50 basis points above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 12 per cent benchmark rate and 250 basis points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement fell to 13 per cent from 15 percent, while call money dropped to 13.50 percent, against 15.50 per cent previously.

“The market remained liquid from leftover cash from budget disbursal last week, while there were not many transactions in the market to drain cash from the system this week because of the public holiday,” one

dealer said.

Dealers said a disagreement over appropriate pricing could stall the sale of about N100 billion in shortdated treasury bills in an open market operation by the CBN on Friday, and this could help keep the system liquid and the rate stable this week.

The CBN had proposed to sell about N100 billion in short-dated treasury on Friday, but results are yet to be released to the market, due to what traders said was the unwillingness of the regulator to sell at rates quoted by banks, which it considered too high.

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against 16.29 per cent last week.

According to Reuters report, the apex bank sold N37.78 billion in 364day bills at 16.34 per cent, compared with 16.49 per cent last week.

The apex bank also hiked its benchmark interest rate by 2.75 per cent to 12 per cent and implemented a series of measures to free up dollar supply and tighten naira liquidity last month, causing a rapid increase in yields on fixed income instruments across the board. Traders said the

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NTERPRISE Bank Limited (EBL) is to partner with Ebonyi in its efforts to transform the state.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Governor, Martin Elechi, its Board Chairman, Emeka Onwuka, commended the Governor for the dualisation of the road leading into the state capital and the movement of the quarry/granite business to Umuoghara.

He said both projects will open up the respective environments for further businesses.

Onwuka, with whom was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Kuru and other bank representatives, stated that the bank is now in a better position to identify with the government and people of Ebonyi State so as to help deepen the current

market is gradually adjusting to reality after the initial shock by higherthan expected rate hike.

The CBN issued treasury bills regularly as part of monetary control measures to help lenders manage their liquidity. Total subscription stood at N241.42 billion, compared with N236.57 billion at the previous auction, while a total of about N127.06 billion in treasury bills matured this week, leaving a net outflow of N4.99 billion into bills.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 14-11-11 SYMBOL FO IKEJAHOTEL ECOBANK OKOMUOIL ABCTRANS GOLDINSURE UNITYBNK SKYEBANK GUARANTY STERLNBANK

O/PRICE 10.54 2.50 1.89 21.35 0.52 0.55 0.58 4.79 14.64 1.21

C/PRICE 11.06 2.62 1.98 22.30 0.54 0.57 0.60 4.94 14.90 1.23

CHANGE 0.52 0.12 0.09 0.95 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.15 0.26 0.02

LOSER AS AT 14-11-11 SYMBOL CADBURY FIDSON HOLYFLOUR NAHCO PAINTCOM BERGER UBA REDSTAREX ETERNAOIL PRESTIGE

O/PRICE 14.00 1.42 3.25 5.60 0.63 9.45 2.98 2.19 4.00 1.13

C/PRICE 13.30 1.35 3.09 5.33 0.60 9.00 2.84 2.09 3.82 1.08

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

developmental gains already in place.

In his response, Elechi, said the state would welcome professional assistance from the bank in key areas of development which the government had embarked on.

He listed the modern mega market development, road construction and rice milling as some of the projects which he added are capable of making Nigeria a nation to be reckoned with globally, especially in rice production.

He assured of the state government’s preparedness to support the bank in its vision to become the preferred bank for value creation.

Kuru also explained that the bank has been fully capitalised and adequately positioned to meet the expectations of all stakeholders.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

was third with 21 project valued N11.285 billion.

The South East Region had 15 projects valued N4.551 billion; the South-South had four projects valued at N5.6 billion, while the North East regions has 12 projects valued at N13.831 billion.

Enterprise Bank to partner Ebonyi on devt

CBN auctions N132b TBs

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sold N132.05 billion ($832.46 million) in short-dated treasury bills (TBs) at an auction on Thursday.

The yields fpr the intrument droped marginally against the trend in the last two consecutive auctions.

The apex bank sold N39.27 billion of 91-day TBs at a 15 per cent, down from a 15.29 per cent marginal rate at the last auction, and N45 billion in 182-day paper at 16.20 per cent,

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 100.28 0.77 0.89 0.89 1,639.36 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,251.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 99.71 0.74 0.88 0.88 1,634.12 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 0.70 0.07 0.16 0.27 0.03 0.45 0.14 0.10 0.18 0.05

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

55

56

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

57

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

NEWS

Edo denies spending N3b on anniversary T HE Edo State Government has denied spending N3billion on activities to mark Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s third year in office.

Oshiomhole spoke at a thanksgiving service yesterday at the St Paul Catholic Church, Benin.

He said he did not spend N3billion to host the international friendly between the Super Eagles and their Botswana counterpart.

Oshiomhole said what the footballers and artistes did was not for monetary gains but to celebrate with him on his third year anniversary.

He said the people would see more of what his administration had for them despite challenges faced by the government.

“Some people who don’t know the political cycles even alleged that we might have spent N3 billion to celebrate the anniversary.

“When the Super Eagles decided to host the Botswana

•How Oba advised me, by Oshiomhole From Osagie Otabor, Benin

team in Benin City, these people thought we hired them to do so.

“That was purely an act of goodwill and a mark of solidarity with this government. Edo people are appreciative.

“I ask you to continue to remember us in prayers and we would remain focused and continue to do those things that we are expected to do in order to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time,” he said.

The Catholic Archbishop of Benin Diocese, Dr Augustine Akubueze, has urged Catholic faithful and residents to continue to pray for

the governor to enable him deliver more dividends of democracy.

The archbishop made the request at a thanksgiving service.

Oshiomhole yesterday also spoke of how the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, sent him letters on areas of critical needs in the state.

Oshiomhole said he had lot of files containing letters from the monarch drawing his attention to areas in need of government’s attention.

He said the letters also contained advice on how he (Oshiomhole) would solve the problems.

He was speaking at a reception after the church service.

“The monarch has been supportive. I have in my of-

fice a file of letters from him.

“Virtually, every week I receive a letter from the monarch offering advice on what to do. When Ekenwan Road was almost cut off by flood erosion, the monarch sent me a letter on what to do.”

“The truth is I don’t know how he got information on what is happening in the state.

“I want to assure his highness that I will continue to ensure that under his reign, Edo will continue to witness development.”

Those present included Rasaq Bello-Osagie, Isaac Osahon, members of the State Assembly led by Speaker Uyi Igbe and leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state.

Residents were on Saturday night thrilled to a musical jamboree by top artistes, including D-Banj, Tu-face Idibia, Timaya, Osayomore Joseph, P-Square and others.

Court begins hearing in kingship tussle From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

A

HIGH Court sitting in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government, Delta State will, today, commence hearing in a kingship tussle in Nsukwa Kingdom, Aniocha South Local Government.

The claimant/applicant, John Ezedimbu Ezeamaka, is asking the court to restrain Kenneth Ezegbunem Ezeamaka from parading himself as the Obi of Nsukwa , pending the determination of the suit challenging the legitimacy of the crown.

Ezeamaka is praying the court for an order to declare the royal throne of Nsukwa kingdom vacant.

The applicant is also urging the court for a declaration that the “purported coronation of Kenneth Ezeamaka as the Obi of Nsukwa on March 30, last year, during the pendency of the above suit is a nullity and of no effect”.

The claimant is seeking an order to restrain the defendant from acting as the Obi of Nsukwa and to vacate the royal palace, pending the determination of this suit.

The applicant alleged that he is the heir apparent to the throne of Nsukwa kingdom, and being the first son of the late King of Nsukwa, Obi Young Ezeamaka, he is entitled to be crowned as the Obi of Nsukwa in accordance with Nsukwa native laws and customs.

Kenneth Ezegbunem Ezeamaka said he is the legitimate king of Nsukwa kingdom because upon his birth on August 6, 1958, his late father, Young Ezeamaka, performed the necessary traditional rites that herald the arrival of an heir apparent to the throne.

He said at no time did his late father introduce his brother (John Ezedimbu) as his first son or heir apparent to the throne of Nsukwa .

The monarch urged the discontinuance of the applicant’s argument.

Tribunal ends sitting in Edo •Upholds Deputy Speaker’s election

T

•Oshiomhole (middle) dancing with palace chiefs, who represented the Oba... yesterday at the reception

Gunmen kidnap ex-commissioner’s wife in Akwa Ibom U NKNOWN gunmen yesterday struck at Kri Itam in Itu Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

They snatched the wife of former Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Yingi Edunam.

Sources said Mrs. Edunam was returning home from an appointment when the hoodlums attacked her at the entrance of her house.

The gunmen were said to have escaped in a black

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Mercedes Benz.

Her husband, Dr. Effiong Edunam, confirmed the incident.

He said the abductors threw his young daughter out of the vehicle.

She had accompanied her mother on the errand.

The kidnappers also made away with their victim’s vehicle.

Edunam, who is a supporter of Senator Helen Esuene, ruled out any political undertone in the kidnap.

He said the elections are over and his candidate had no case against her in the tribunal.

His words: “I am living here in the outskirts of town.

I am living my quiet life and I am surprised that this is happening in front of my house.”

The husband said the kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding N100millon.

He called on the law enforcement agencies to come to his rescue, saying there is no way he could raise the money.

Police spokesman Onyeka Orji said he was not aware of the incident.

Girl, 10, ‘sets self ablaze’ in mum’s kitchen

A

10-year old girl, Egwonor Oboba, at the weekend alleg-

edly set herself ablaze in her mother’s kitchen.

She lived with her parents at Aroh road in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government of

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

Delta State.

The young girl was said to have been rude to her mother.

A source said her mother, Onome, scolded her because she refused

to do the dishes.

The source said: “Her mother scolded her and left for the market.

“She was called back that her daughter allegedly set herself ablaze with a gallon of kerosene.

“The young girl later called on neighbours for

help when she could no longer bear the pains.

“She was immediately taken to Ughelli General Hospital, from where she was referred to University of Benin Teaching Hospita.

“She died in Benin. It is just so tragic.”

HE Election Petitions Tribunal in Edo State ended its sitting at the weekend.

It upheld the election of Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) representing Esan South East.

Eleven petitions were filed at the tribunal which were all dismissed.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party filed eight ; ACN filed two while the Labour Party filed a joint petition, which was struck out at the pre-hearing stage.

Delivering judgment in a petition by PDP candidate Victor Emuakhagbon, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to prove noncompliance with the Electoral Act as amended.

The petitioner had alleged in his petition that the elections were marred by irregularities in 20 of the 100 units that make up constituency.

He prayed the tribunal to nullify the elections and cancel the results in these units or in the alternative declare

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

him winner of the elections.

But the tribunal dismissed the petition, saying the petition failed to prove alleged irregularities.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Paul Elechi, who led Justices Olayinka Gbajabiamila and Dije Abdul Aboki, said they enjoyed working in Edo State because of the warm hospitality of the people, He said: “We are happy that no petition was allowed to lapse while we were here.”

PUBLIC NOTICE OGUNKOYA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogunkoya Olayinka Sunkanmi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Yussuf Olayinka Sunkanmi. All formal document remain the same.

General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ADEDEJI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adedeji Bukola Funmilayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Idowu Bukola Funmilayo. All formal document remain the same. NYSC and the general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE Divine Estate Association Amuwo Odofin G.R.A, Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named organisation has applied to Lagos. the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. Mr. Eric Duruiheoma 2. Mr. George Ijewere 3. Alhaji Kazeem Abiodun 4. Mrs Gladys Mokedi 5. Alhaji Yekini Raji 6. Sir Ernest Edokor 7. Mr. Onwere Chibuike Afornne AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote fraternal unity and love among members of the Association.

2. To create a sense of belonging among members.

3. To encourage peace and empowerment among the youths of the estate.

4. To foster good relationship between members.

Any objection should be addressed to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 565, Ndola Square Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Nixon Igwe

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

58

NEWS

ACN, Belgore vow to appeal Kwara tribunal’s verdict

T

HE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said the confirmation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the April 26 election, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, was a miscarriage of justice.

The party and its candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) said they would appeal the judgment.

The Justice Ngozi Emehelu-led three-man panel on Friday upheld the election of Ahmed as winner of the election.

The ACN and Belgore had challenged the declaration of Ahmed by the Independent National Electoral Commis-

•‘It’s travesty of justice’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin sion (INEC), alleging widespread malpractices in some wards and local governments.

ACN’s state Chairman Kayode Olawepo condemned the verdict.

Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, Olawepo said: “The tribunal’s judgment comes to us as a big shock, considering the weight of evidence of electoral malpractices placed before it. We believe this is a gross miscarriage of justice, as the tribunal rejected all our

documentary evidence on untenable grounds.”

ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Belgore, the party’s House of Representatives candidate, Rev Bunmi Olusona, were among top party chieftains at the briefing.

Olawepo said: “The judgment cannot stand. We are confident that the higher court will not allow this decision to stand. We are dissatisfied with the judgment and we shall definitely appeal it. The judgment is only the first step in the judicial process for us to reclaim

the peoples’ mandate. We shall continue to fight for justice and the restoration of that mandate, whatever it lawfully takes and every step of the way. This is just Round 1 in our battle.

“We urge all our supporters and the good people of Kwara not to despair - to remain calm, peaceful and lawabiding because all hopes of getting justice is not lost. We urge our people to remain committed to the cause of freedom, purposeful political leadership and good governance. This judgment is merely a temporary setback.

“We are not deterred by it.

We urge our supporters to be strong as we enter the

next phase of the struggle to change the face of Kwara for good and uplift the lives of our people. We remain committed to achieving that and with your prayers and continued support. It shall surely happen.”

Belgore said: “We will challenge this injustice at every level and with what it lawfully takes. Truth and justice always prevail.

They can wind back the hand of progress but you cannot stop it. The era of denying people justice only lasts for a while. I’m now more than ever committed to the cause than when we started it.”

Suswam’s media aide shot in Makurdi

F

•Akwaya...yesterday

OUR gunmen have shot the Special Adviser to Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam on Media and Public Affairs, Dr Cletus Akwaya.

The gunmen reportedly stormed a bar where Akwaya and his friends were sitting, near NNPC mega station, on the Makurdi-Gboko road, and shot him several times.

Addressing reporters on his hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Apir, Makurdi, Akwaya said he was attacked about 20 minutes after holding a meeting at his ward.

According to him, two gunmen first emerged at the bar and one of them pulled out a gun, threatening to kill him.

Akwaya said he struggled with the gunman and wrestled him to the ground, but two others emerged and began shooting into the air.

Akwaya said his assailnats beat him up with sticks and shot him.

He said he managed to escape with gunshot wounds to a nearby house where he

received help.

The media aide said his survival is a miracle beyond description as the gunmen shot him several times.

Suswam and his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani, visited Akwaya at the hospital.

The governor condemned the attack, urging opposition parties to eschew violence and await the outcome of their petitions at the tribunal.

The Commissioner for Lands and Survey, John Tondu, and his Information and Orientation counterpart, Conrad Wergba, condemned the attack, urging security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

At the “B” Division Police Station at High Level, Makurdi, where the matter was reported, a police officer, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that investigation into the matter had begun.

He said the perpetrators would be apprehended to face justice.

Ogun targets N2b from residency tax THE Ogun State Government is targeting about N2 billion per month when Lagos workers resident in the state begin to pay their income tax in compliance with the residency rule of the Personal Income Tax Act, 2004.

Section 2(2) of the Act provides that workers should pay their income tax in their state of residence rather than where they work.

Spokesperson for Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mrs Funmi Wakama said: “We believe by our initial estimates, we should get between N1.5billion and N2billion per month as revenue, which we can deploy to develop the boundary areas such as Sango-Ota, Ifo, Mowe, Akute, Ibafo, Agbado, Lambe, Ojodu Abiodun, Agbara, among others.”

On what steps to be taken to ensure compliance with the residency provision, she said: “Our people are generally lawabiding, once they know the true position of the law. Interestingly, we are getting the understanding of the Lagos State Government on the matter. For now, we believe public enlightenement is crucial to achieving our targets.

The payment of income tax to your state of residence is a requirement of the Personal Income Tax Act. We believe residents and employers will begin to comply without any further delay. Lagos State will also ensure that any tax wrongly remitted to it will be returned to Ogun State.

Of course, the law will always run its course in any society governed by the rule of law.

“The state of social infrastructure in those boundary towns is shameful. The Amosun administration cannot close its eyes to such a sorry state of infrastructure even if the previous government did so. But the funds to revamp the areas are no longer available, given the staggering debt this government inherited.

“Governor Amosun also believes in the rule of law. So, the law on tax must be obeyed, just like other laws in the country.”

•Amosun

59

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS

External pressure builds up on Syria as violence persists

S

YRIA’S leadership is under mounting pressure from other Arab states to halt its continuing violent repression of pro-democracy protests.

The head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, said the organisation was “studying mechanisms it could implement to protect civilians in Syria”.

He spoke after the League froze Syria’s membership, a move which sparked riots by Syrian government supporters.

France has joined the condemnation of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

It summoned the Syrian ambassador to Paris on Sunday to demand an explanation for attacks by Assad loyalists on diplomatic missions in Syria, including its own, following Saturday’s suspension.

Turkey, which has begun

withdrawing non-essential diplomatic personnel and families of diplomatic staff, called on the international community to “respond with a united voice to the serious developments in Syria”.

The Saudi and Qatari embassies were stormed during Saturday’s pro-Assad protests, and new mass rallies by loyalists were held on Sunday.

With Syria’s suspension not due to take effect until Wednesday, Damascus has called for an urgent Arab summit and invited Arab League officials to visit.

Meanwhile, opposition sources said the repression of dissent continued on Sunday, with four people reportedly shot dead by security forces in the city of Hama.

The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have died since the start of the protests in March while the Syrian authorities blame the violence on terrorists.

Rival Libyan militias clash near military base

R

•Obama and Jintao at an APEC Summit in Honolulu… yesterday

Obama takes tough stand with China at summit

P

RESIDENT Barack Obama told his Chinese counterpart in a private meeting that the American public and business community are growing increasingly “frustrated” with China’s economic policies, stepping up his bid to force changes that might in turn boost job growth in the United States.

With complaints about China’s currency policy spilling into the Republican presidential contest and onto the floor of the Senate, Obama told Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday that his government is not moving quickly enough to remedy the problem, U.S. officials said.

Obama “made it very clear that the American people and American business community were growing increasingly impatient and frustrated with the state of change,” said Michael Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

IVAL militias clashed on the outskirts of Tripoli for a fourth day yesterday, the most sustained violence since the capture and killing of Moammar Gadhafi last month.

The fighting, which has left at least four people dead since late last week, raised new concerns about the ability of Libya’s transitional government to disarm thousands of fighters and restore order after a bloody eight-month civil war.

Libya’s interim leader, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, said his National Transitional Council brought together elders from the rival areas — the coastal city of Zawiya and the nearby town of Warshefana — over the weekend and that the dispute has been resolved. “I want to assure the Libyan people that everything is under control,” he said yesterday.

However, as he spoke, fighting continued.

Yesterday afternoon, journalists heard gunfire and explosions of rocket-propelled grenades on the outskirts of a major military camp of the ousted regime.

Remembrance services held across Britain

R

EMEMBRANCE Sunday parades and services have been held at war memorials in towns and cities across Britain, with the Queen, as is traditional, laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The central London ceremony took place in bright sunshine, with more than 9,000 former servicemen and civilian volunteers joining the march down Whitehall, taking nearly an hour to pass

the memorial.

The Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, who at 90 is one of a dwindling band of veterans of the second world war participating in services.

Dressed in the uniform of an admiral of the fleet, the duke laid the second wreath, followed by Prince Charles, in general’s uniform, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, both in naval uniform, and Prince William, in RAF flight lieutenant uniform.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

60

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 14-11-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 13 15

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 7.60

Quantity TradedValue 30,000 10,000,000 215,200 10,245,200

of Shares (N) 15,000.00 5,000,000.00 1,647,356.00 6,662,356.00

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 38 41

Quotation(N) 2.00 5.33

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 49,000 93,191.50 458,343 2,462,533.41 507,343 2,555,724.91

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.54

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 10,000,000 5,000,000.00 37,120 55,537.60 10,037,120 5,055,537.60

Quotation(N) 5.13 3.28 1.98 4.05 1.72 9.75 14.90 8.01 4.94 1.23 2.84 0.60 0.54 12.27

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 5,295,355 26,460,769.61 2,211,062 7,074,623.13 636,065 1,247,047.01 1,087,053 4,430,129.12 1,284,261 2,193,905.80 29,097,089 286,329,268.38 12,564,108 185,129,124.23 4,398,750 35,398,040.46 999,599 4,843,039.78 1,501,992 1,809,425.74 39,024,691 111,336,545.64 1,531,603 870,961.35 2,414,813 1,307,349.02 18,892,451 231,536,631.50 120,938,892 899,966,860.77

Quotation(N) 210.00 91.53

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 88,058 18,130,571.33 1,280,826 117,233,683.46 1,368,884 135,364,254.79

Quotation(N) 14.69 5.01 103.50 37.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 677,808 9,958,317.50 2,301,500 11,512,372.94 120,704 12,094,811.34 1,087,483 40,799,226.50 4,187,495 74,364,728.28

Quotation(N) 9.00 15.16 1.12 0.60 5.11

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 109,578 985,268.94 62,750 998,352.50 94,000 105,266.04 532,752 330,827.20 500 2,430.00 799,580 2,422,144.68

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 6 7 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 117 60 21 39 41 515 447 57 44 18 172 18 24 253 1,826 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 35 185 220 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 26 22 25 54 127 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 12 2 6 1 27

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 41 41

Quotation(N) 2.09

Nestle declares N1.2bn interim dividends T

HE Board of Director’s of Nestle Nigeria has earmarked N1.19 billion for payment as interim dividends to shareholders.

A breakdown of the distribution showed that shareholders would receive N1.50 for every share as at the closure of business on November 28, 2011. The dividends would become payable on December 12, 2011.

The interim payout represents 13 per cent of the company’s net earnings of 9.14 billion by the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

The company’s sales has grown by 23.8 per cent in the third quarter to N70.90 billion as against N57.25 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2010. However, with significant increase in short-term borrowings and resultant interest expenses, profit before tax slipped marginally by 4.4 per cent to N12.70 billion compared with the N13.28 billion it recorded. Profit After Tax was almost flat at N9.14 billion as against N9.11 billion in the corresponding period of 2010.

Nestle’s short term borrowings doubled to N7.82 billion in 2011 as against N3.40 billion in 2010. Shareholders’ funds meanwhile increased from N14.9 billion to N15.78 billion.

Nestle Nigeria operates almost 100 per cent payout policy through which it distributes nearly all net earn-

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,898,558 6,229,069.54 2,898,558 6,229,069.54

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 8.45

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,900 16,853.00 1,900 16,853.00

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 26 1 42 34 45 149

Quotation(N) 1.90 30.00 6.11 0.53 29.50 26.48

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 3,620.00 590,272 17,697,666.28 200 1,162.00 4,029,894 2,136,068.03 398,016 11,773,983.83 339,122 8,947,489.42 5,359,504 40,559,989.56

Quotation(N) 38.43 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 15,061 562,239.00 10,000,000 5,000,000.00 10,015,061 5,562,239.00

ings to shareholders as cash dividends. Shareholders would still expect to share some N11 billion as final dividends.

Nestle Nigeria is the highest-priced stock and one of the 10 most capitalised at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and its performance holds significant influence on the overall market direction at the stock market.

Meanwhile, two out of every three stocks that witnessed price changes at the stock market last week suffered price depreciation, forcing the benchmark index down by 0.6 per cent to 20,416.10 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities dropped from N6.516 trillion to N6.479 trillion at the weekend.

The bearishness was more pronounced in the food and beverages and banking subsectors as well as within the high-cap stocks. The NSE-30 Index, which gauges the price mood within the high-cap group, depreciated by 0.4 per cent to close at 911.08 points.

The NSE Food and Beverage Index also dropped 1.1 per cent to close at 611.95 points, while the NSE Banking Index depreciated by 1.7 per cent to close at 290.97

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 14-11-11 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 1 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 6 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 4 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 1 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 4 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 1 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 5 Sector Totals 136

No of Deals 10 1 11

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 1.70 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 9,000 15,750.00 700 350.00 9,700 16,100.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 20 83 55 34 10 22 82 1 316

Quotation(N) 48.00 13.30 5.00 5.00 60.00 3.09 4.06 401.00 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 41,212 1,970,895.38 1,616,300 22,178,663.23 931,007 4,648,836.21 5,214,113 26,002,316.92 61,101 3,725,302.60 229,600 711,476.00 246,700 1,009,818.68 293,964 117,810,784.24 3,000 1,500.00 8,636,997 178,059,593.26

HEALTHCARE Company Name FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 1 8 6 23

No of Deals 51 2 53

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

No of Deals 83 83

No of Deals 3 4 7

No of Deals 1 1

No of Deals 1 5 6

No of Deals 58 8 3 8 2 4 27 1

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 59,500 45,815.00 59,500 45,815.00

Quotation(N) 0.65

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 8,979,548 5,907,962.34 8,979,548 5,907,962.34

Quotation(N) 2.62 4.32

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 3,148,615 8,091,952.15 2,500 10,275.00 3,151,115 8,102,227.15

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 27,228 193,318.80 10,980 377,602.20 38,208 570,921.00

Company Name LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.95 0.50 2.77 0.50 0.57 1.50 0.50

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 63,750 31,875.00 63,750 31,875.00

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 5,000 2,500.00 2,178 1,089.00 7,178 3,589.00

Quotation(N) 1.61

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 993,220 1,593,162.86 993,220 1,593,162.86

PACKAGING

Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 7.10 36.19

No of Deals 1 2 3

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 124,926 168,650.10 1,522 39,039.30 65,105 149,738.72 1,570,000 785,000.00 1,761,553 1,142,428.12

No of Deals 24 24

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) No of Deals 1 1 13 18 35 20 129 13 230

Quotation(N) 0.50 63.86 35.00 3.82 11.06 141.00 26.00 200.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 3,000 1,500.00 750 45,502.50 15,429 519,678.38 133,435 513,506.92 1,569,632 17,359,619.92 6,932 933,761.55 522,277 13,321,589.86 8,709 1,654,710.00 2,260,164 34,349,869.13

PRINTING & PUBLISHING

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 306,828 153,414.00 1,009,000 504,500.00 1,315,828 657,914.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC.

Quotation(N) 0.81

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 4,394,333 2,245,016.91 500,000 475,000.00 202,100 101,050.00 117,839 311,604.52 499,821 249,910.50 328,250 187,047.50 5,908,334 8,722,546.00 768,517 384,258.50

No of Deals 1 8 9

Quotation(N) 4.20 3.70

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 4,322 17,244.78 120,200 439,751.58 124,522 456,996.36

Quotation(N) 12.90

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 22,670 292,318.00 22,670 292,318.00

REAL ESTATE

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

10,000.00 293,759.50 2,500.00 2,251,725.50 22,400.00 2,500.00 515,176.20 11,000.00 318,026.00 1,732,106.50 17,835,627.63

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC Sector Totals

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC Sector Totals

20,000 587,519 5,000 4,503,451 44,800 5,000 477,015 22,000 636,052 3,464,213 22,484,244

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 1.35 27.00 2.40 0.50

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.08 0.50 0.50 0.50

LEASING

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

points.

Nigerian Enamelware Plc led 40 other stocks on the losers’ list with a drop of N1.90 to close at N36.19 per share. UAC of Nigeria Plc, followed with a loss of N1.50 to close at N29.50 per share, while Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria dropped by N1 to close at N37.50.

On the positive side, the NSE Insurance Index appreciated by 0.7 per cent to close at 153.05 points, while the NSE Oil and Gas Index improved by 1.0 per cent to close at 240.09 points. Seventeen equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than the twenty-five of the preceding week.

Okomu Oil Pam Plc recorded the highest week-onweek gain with addition of N1.96 to close at N22.30 per share. Forte Oil Plc, followed with a gain of N1.02 to close at N11.06 per share.

UACN Property Development Company ranked third with a gain of 55 kobo to close at N12.90 per share.

Turnover during the threeday trading session stood at 937.44 million shares worth N5.98 billion in 11,563 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most active sub-group with a turnover of 427.03 million shares worth N3.8 billion in 6,238 deals. Insurance sub-sector followed with a turnover of 318 million shares valued at N187.44 million traded in 433 deals.

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 9

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.54

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 111,000 59,940.00 111,000 59,940.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 21 21

Quotation(N) 11.60

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 306,789 3,488,904.80 306,789 3,488,904.80

3,397

216,685,523

1,431,375,001.78

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

61

NEWS CNPP chieftain advises on national honour

A

S THE Federal Government confers national honours on some Nigerians today, Secretary-General of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Chief Willy Ezugwu has called on the government to follow due process in the selection of the nominees.

He explained that while the honour had been conferred on some questionable characters, some other deserving Nigerians have been ridiculed with the category of awards bestowed on them.

The CNPP chieftain spoke in Abuja. He hailed the choice of Aliko Dangote for the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the second highest honour in the country.

However, he condemned the Officer of the Niger (OFR) award to be conferred on Chief Arthur Eze, saying the oil magnate deserved a bet-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

ter award.

According to him, Eze, an industrialist and philanthropist, has contributed immensely to the development of the nation.

Ezugwu said the national honour should be used to reward industry, patriotism and nationalism.

“At times when you look at the roll call of those being honoured, you can hardly bring out 10 persons out of about 300 that merit the award. While the one being conferred on Alhaji Dangote was well deserved, so many others did not deserve the national award. Yet some others are being ridiculed with the honour.

“I think government needs to review the yardstick being applied for the selection of persons for this national honour thing.”

Church holds convention

T

HE 56th Annual International Convention of the Foursquare Gospel Church will hold from November 14 -20 at the Foursquare Campground, Ajebo, Ogun State. The theme of the convention is: ’Spirit of Exploits’.

The convention is targeted at all workers, leaders and ministers of the gospel in Africa.

According to the National Convention chair, Rev. Rotimi Andu, the convention is aimed at transforming and developing their leadership skills towards fulfilling the will of God for their lives.

National Ministerial Council, Bible seminars, Celebration of Grace, Ordination of Ministers, among others, will feature at the convention.

The General Overseer of the church, Rev. Felix Meduoye, among others, are expected to minister at the event.

ASUU, David-West slam planned removal of fuel subsidy T HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David- West and President Goodluck Jonathan’s former aides at the weekend warned against the planned withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

They threatened to mobilise Nigerians for a protest if the Federal Government should remove the fuel subsidy.

They spoke at a symposium organised by ASUU on the proposed subsidy removal at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI).

ASUU Chairman,Dr Demola Aremu, said Nigerians are fed up with the injustices in the system and would be forced to react.

“Is any refinery working in Nigeria in spite of all the money spent and appropriated for turnaround maintenance? I am not a prophet of doom, but we are fed up with the system. The system is full of injustices and as long as injustices exist in the country, people are reacting through deep seated grievances,” he said.

Prof. Tam David- West, who described the proposed removal as sanctified falsehood, urged Nigerians to protest the planned fuel subsidy removal.

He said: “If they do it, we must all go to the street. People should not stay at home. Oil subsidy is a sanctified falsehood, absolute lies. I challenge Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala and Alison Maduekwe to prove me wrong.

How can Jonathan stand on the way of the people. He is saying there is no going back on oil subsidy. I say NO, he will go

From Joseph Okwuofuto, Ibadan

back. It is a lie to say Nigerians are paying the least oil price in the world. Going by their analysis, Nigerian workers should be earning about N184,000 to be at par with their mates in USA. They have killed refineries through sabotage.

You are asking the masses to pay for your inaction and asking them to tighten their belts because their waste is loose

while you grow belly and cheeks in Abuja. How can Okonjo Iweala be talking about economy now when she is being paid in dollars. This is hypocritical,” he said.

Prof. Isaac Albert, Director, Institute of African Studies, noted that Nigerian leaders are deceptive.

“Nigeria is moving towards a very dangerous point and this is one nation that lives in self-denial. The Nigerian state

is collapsing. Our security agencies are overwhelmed because we have a Boko-Haram group that has been operating freely for the past two years and yet we have no clue. The economy is also collapsing, yet our leaders are deceiving us. A friend in Central Bank confided in me that they don’t really have the indices on the state of the nation’s economy but have to produce figures that the economy is growing at certain percentages. Our leaders are deceiving us. Things are not going well with us.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

62

NATION SPORT

•Venus Williams

Venus Williams changes her diet T

HE lifestyle change follows the revelation that the American has Sjogren's Syndrome, a chronic disease where white blood cells attack moistureproducing glands and can cause disfunction of organs and body systems.

And Venus is hoping the

new approach will propel her back to the top of the women's tennis rankings.

'I changed my diet completely, so lots of vegetables,' the 31-year-old former world No 1 told a sports conference in Qatar on Sunday.

'I (altered) my mind frame

completely because I was the person who always ate their steak first and their salad second.'

The seven-times grand slam champion suffered with fatigue and swelling because of the illness and has slipped to 103rd in the rankings.

'My goal next year is to play

PacMan retains title after beating Marquez

M

ANNY Pacquiao won a majority verdict against Juan Manuel Marquez to retain his WBO welterweight title.

The Filipino had beaten his Mexican opponent in similar fashion in 2008, four years after an epic draw between the pair, and he narrowly claimed victory once more as the trilogy was completed.

Both fighters attempted to strike a victorious pose after the conclusion of the 12 rounds, but Pacquiao was controversially awarded the fight 115-113 and 116-112 by judges Dave Moretti and Glenn Trowbridge, with Robert Hoyle scoring it as a

draw. The verdict drew boos from the Las Vegas crowd.

'I got robbed,’ blasted Marquez. 'I don’t know what else I can do to win. I'm really, really frustrated. I don't know what I have to do for the judges to win this fight. It's hard when you're fighting your rival and three judges too.

'The result of this fight has me thinking of retirement. This fight was the biggest of my career. I prepared so hard. We wanted the judges to score this fight the way it happened, not how they scored it.

On the back foot: Marquez took the bout to Pacquiao and was unfortunate to be on the

•Pacquiao

losing side 'I was preparing for somebody in my corner to raise me and take me around the ring.

But I was surprised again, surprised by the judges.'

When asked about the crowd reaction, Pacquiao said: 'My fans are very happy because they thought I won.

'The fans of Marquez of course are very disappointed. I understand how they feel. But I blocked a lot of his punches.

He's a counter puncher. He headbutted me a lot."

Pacquiao shaded the early exchanges, which were unusually cagey, and stepped up with a two-punch combo to the head in round four.

Best foot forward: Pacquiao retained his WBO title with a controversial points win over Marquez But Marquez hit back with a crashing straight right in the fifth and Pacquiao's corner had to give him a pep talk.

Marquez drew blood from his opponent's mouth and landed two good body shots in round eight, but Pacquiao responded as the next produced the most big shots of any round to date.

A slip by Marquez and a Pacquiao claim for a headbutt followed and, despite a late flurry from the Mexican, Pacquiao was the one left celebrating.

a full schedule. It will take some work to get there, but I'm no stranger to hard work,' she said.

'I love the game. The racket feels right in my hand and I'm planning on going right back to where I was at the top of the rankings in the singles and doubles sometime within the next 12 months.'

Williams' last grand slam singles triumph was her 2008 Wimbledon crown.

Since then, younger sister Serena has won a further five grand slams to take her tally

to 13, although she has struggled for form after suffering health worries of her own, such as a pulmonary embolism earlier this year.

'Her achievements over the last years have been monumental and even with health issues she's been able to continue to be great, right now I think she's one of the best players in the world,' Venus said of her sister, the world No 12.

Five-times Wimbledon champion Venus said she had

no time for anything outside tennis and her business interests, which include a fashion label and an interior design company, 'It's so much fun being single - at some point I'll be mature, but it just hasn't happened yet,' she said. 'I'm shocked at myself by my inability to settle down and to commit to anything besides tennis and work.'

She added she would never date a fellow tennis player.

'Those are my colleagues,' she said. 'Handshake, that's it.'

Boltsetshimselfanewchallenge

T

HE WORLD’S fastest man has set himself a new challenge for the London 2012 Olympics.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, 25, says he will run the 4x400m relay for the first time, as well as defending his Olympic titles in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.

He said: "I will probably be in good shape and I know the guys are really stepping up the 400m level in Jamaica."

He retained his 200m crown at this year's World Championships in Daegu, where he also helped Jamaica defend the 4x100m relay in a new world record time of 37.04 seconds.

However in South Korea, Bolt also surrendered his chance to defend his world 100m crown when he was disqualified from the final for a false start, allowing compatriot Yohan Blake to succeed him.

Bolt made his declaration after being named IAAF Athlete of ther Year. It is the third time the the charismatic sprint legend has been named

athlete of the year by governing body the

•Bolt

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA KESHI'S HOME-BASED EAGLES

Dickson Etuhu drums support

S

UPER Eagles and Fulhammidfielder, Dickson Etuhu has declared that the desire of new coach, Stephen Keshi to anchor his team on the home based players could not have come at a better time.

Etuhu who emerged the Man-of-the-Match in Nigeria's barren draw against Botswana on Satuday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City told NationSport, that such plans will not doubt improve the fortunes of the squad.

"Of course it is important that we mix. There is a lot of hidden talents in Nigeria and that I can testify to though I come from abroad and I have been living in Europe for the most part of life.

"I have played against some of the players based in

From Uchenna Ajah Nigeria at training and I said whao! These are good players and that some of them are even better players than my club mates. It is important that we mix the home based players with those based abroad," he said.

The Agbor-born Etuhu further stressed that significant

Technical Committee to be overhauled soon—Green

T

HE Chairman of the Technical Sub Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Christopher Green has stated that the employment of a Technical Director for the nation’s national teams would ring certain changes in its Committee to

FCThandball tourney begins today

I

N its bid to win the handball competition of the forthcoming Federation of Civil Service Games and National Handball Open Championship in Kano next month, the Federal Capital Territory Handball Association in collaboration with Centre for Children and Youth Excellence in Sports are organizing a 5day inter-ministerial/ Parastatal handball championship from Monday 14th- Friday 18th November, 2011.

Fourteen teams will be participating in the championship and have been divided into three groups. Two groups have five teams, while the third group has four teams.

The championship which is being sponsored by Urban Shelters Limited, has Industrial Court, State House, Education, High Court and Ministry of Finance in group A, while group B has National Planning Commission, National Orientation Agency, National Museum and Monument and Ministry of Environment. The last group

has Niger Delta Ministry, Civil Service Commission, Ministry of Interior, Office of Secretary of Government of the Federation and Head of Service.

Statement from the office of the organiser signed by Coach Bala Mohammed said that all is now set for the competition which will start today in the handball court of Old Parade ground in Abuja will be restricted for the staff of the participating establishments adding that a technical committee has been set up to select the best players that will represent FCT in the forthcoming Federation of Civil Service Games and National Handball Open Championship.

“FCT has in the recent time been blazing the trail in the area of handball and for us to maintain the status quo, we have to organise competitions like this in order to fish out the raw talents in the territory and we sincerely believe that this championship will also replicate the same old record we used to achieve”

Olape, Bassey rule NBL Chess Championship

I

NTERNATIONAL Master Bunmi Olape was the star of the just concluded 34th Nigerian Breweries International Open Chess Championship after emerging top in the FIDE category and won the star prize of N200, 000.

Olape, a gold medallist at the last All Africa Games in Maputo secured eight points in the nineround Swiss event paring tournament with over 270 chess players from all the states of the federation and Abuja in attendance.

The quartet of Bomo Kigigha, Lolomari George, Yinka Adesina and Leonard Etukapan all tied for the second position with seven points each, while USA import, International Master Dapo Adu finished with six points with no prize money for his effort.

In the female category, All-Africa Games debutant, Nsisong Bassey demolished all opposition and secured a perfect score of nine points while Vivian Dzaayem was next with seven points and Blessing Davies placed third with 6.5 points.

In the category two, Akande Azeez Taiwo from Federal Capital Territory was the revelation

changes have been noticed in the present Eagles when compared to the one that played at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"I feel there is a lot more spirit. There is lot of spirit in the present national team than it was in the past and I hope we will keep going forward."

in the category with a total of seven points from nine games and finished behind the duo of Nesimeye Ejomafuvwe and Abiola Akinseye who had eight points each just as Femi Balogun was clear first in the Category One section.

Young prodigy, Emmanuel Onwuka Azu placed top in the Under-14 boys’ category with 6.5 points, while Raphael Titolowanimi was next with six points and Vinit Talikoti placed third with 5.5 points.

In the girls Under -14 section, Okpegbuo Somtochukwu placed top with six points while Awotoye was next with 5.5 points and Jimoh Yetunde placed third with five points.

In his closing remarks, the representative of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Edem Vindah, advised all Chess players to be committed to their education and profession and apply the wisdom of chess in all their daily activities to help develop the society and promised that the company which had sponsored the competition for 34 years will still continue with the sponsorship for more years to come.

From Tunde Liadi and Uchenna Ajah, Benin bring about dynamism to it.

Barrister Green told journalists shortly the goalless draw between the Super Eagles and the Zebras of Botswana that the Committee’s present itinerary has not absolutely lived up to its expectation and noting that an overhaul of the Committee is imminent.

He stated that the new arrangement would witness the revamp of the Committee’s programme and activities which he emphasized was aimed at making the nation’s football experience a sort of rebirth and to halt the recent unimpressive results

Special Sports Festival holds in Oyo State

By Akeem Lawal

T

HE Organisers and sponsor of the maiden Oyo State Disable sports Festival Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporations (NDIC) and the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports have budgeted the sum of 5million naira for the games scheduled to hold at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium from 14th -17th November, 2011.

The Oyo State commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honourable Dapo Lam Adesina revealed to NationSport that about 150 special sports athletes will participate in the weeklong festival.

According to him, the athletes will participate in Powerlifting, Swimming, Athletics and Table Tennis in carnival-like sports festival aimed at encouraging the special sports athletes to have a sense of belonging.

Speaking further, Lam Adesina informed that the athletes, who will be camped at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium hostel will apart from trophies, win many prices including sports equipments that will boost their performances. ''The importance of the disable sports festival is to encourage the special sports athletes in the state and the country at large having realised that they are the pride of the country at major international games, and the fact that the special sports athletes needs to be encouraged so that others can emulate them and see nothing in disability'', he said..

Lam Adesina thus informed that the sponsorship fee include allowances of the officiating officials, camping of the athletes and the officials as well as other logistics, just as he assured of a hitch free festivals.

www.thenationonlineng.net

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

T is not easy to defend Goodluck Jonathan.

Even when he enjoys apparent advantage, he commits what tennis fans call unforced errors. He is the yanga that wakes up trouble.

When I draped him in serpentine prose and called him His Excellency the Snake, readers’ reactions were mixed. Some said it was a felicitous metaphor, hitting the bull’s eye. But a few others endorsed the point while asking for milder animal metaphor. If the man said he was no lion, and no tiger, and one needed an appropriate animal metaphor, the sly ways of the serpent fit like a slough.

Last week, I felt vindicated. When the shadowy religious group known as Boko Haram struck again and took down over a hundred lives, his reaction upset good conscience because of its cowardice. Rather than take responsibility, he acted the victim. He evinced the quality of the coward. He said most of the countries in the world were assailed with terrorists, so it was excusable.

Not long after, the United States issued a warning over three hotels in Abuja as targets of terror. They included the Transcorp Hilton, the Sheraton and Nicon Luxury, which are frequented by the foreigners, including Americans, and well-heeled Nigerians.

Rather than show gratitude, his government lashed out at the publication of the warning.

They should have warned them in private, they insisted. It became obvious that the United States had shared information with them before in private and they probably pooh-poohed it. That was why the Federal Government said it was nothing new. If it was nothing new, why did they not respond when it was new, when they first received the intelligence? The Americans obviously did not want to play poker with the lives of their citizens. If the Nigerian government recoiled from action, they did not. What is wrong with making such augury public anyway? They learned from the United Nations building tragedy.

The purpose of intelligence is not to make it secret. That would be intelligence for intelligence sake. The purpose is to save lives and hound down the culprits. In the United States, once there is an inkling of an attack, the public is alerted with a view to co-opting the cooperation of the civil society since security is a collective endeavour.

But Jonathan’s men acted like Jonathan. They pushed the blame elsewhere, and wanted to smear the Americans as if there was a great breach of diplomatic behaviour for exposing the incompetence of Nigeria’s intelligence officers.

Jonathan wanted to act the victim. It was not his fault, he went on; blame the hoodlums. Is that how the commander-in-chief should respond to such a matter? I forget that he claims he is not a general even though he is a commander in chief. Talk about farce!

He has a police chief called Hafiz Ringim whose men reportedly mix with the Boko

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009 (D.A.M.E) •Columnist of the Year 2009 (NMMA)

The victim president

‘

Jonathan has done nothing to ask from them a grand idea and strategy for dealing with the problem. How can he find that grand idea? He does not think grandly. No one can pick one grand idea he has espoused since he took over the country over a year ago •Dr. Jonathan

Haram folks, yet no helpful arrest has happened. How can Ringim handle this when he could not save his convoy from the infiltration and bombing by the group? It is obvious we have an incompetent police chief. Jonathan deployed soldiers all over the place. They went to war without intelligence. War without knowledge is a waste of brawn and calories. A day after a report that arms were recovered from day-to-day searches in Borno State, the sect struck. It made the security services look absurd, like jokers in a grand scale. We have an incompetent secret service.

Jonathan has done nothing to ask from them a grand idea and strategy for dealing with the problem. How can he find that grand idea? He does not think grandly. No one can pick one grand idea he has espoused since he took over the country over a year ago. A coward has no bold ideas. A snake is one of the cowardly animals. It does not think big or strike far. It strikes as though it has not stricken. You feel the bite

RIPPLES OPPONENTS WANT TO BRING DOWN MY GOVERNMENT–Jonathan

Yes...opponents like FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

VOL.7, NO. 1,944

T

HE controversy over the return of toll gates is unlikely to subside in a hurry.

Mr Mike Onolomemen, the Minister of

Works, broached the idea to the Senate Committee on Works when he suggested that the federal government would reintroduce toll gates scrapped in 2004 by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo government. According to the minister, the government was simply no longer able to maintain its roads on account of the huge cost required to repair and even rebuild some of the roads. At the moment, the Senate appears to be in agreement with the minister.

If the rising opposition to tolling of roads proves insufficient to deter the government, the policy will be implemented in 2012.

Apart from the fact that Nigerian roads are among the most costly to build and maintain in the world, it is not surprising that the roads suffer more from long years of neglect and incredibly inept and contradictory government policies. It is, for instance, ironical that tolling began under the Obasanjo government with the commissioning of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and also ended with his return to government when in 2004 he brusquely abrogated toll gates. His argument for the removal of toll gates was that he wished to spare Nige-

‘

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘Let Jonathan and his IMF wizards invest in new refineries and hand them over to whoever can efficiently run them.

Then they can sit back and withdraw their so-called subsidy’

but you don’t see the assailant.

That is what Jonathan is trying to do, and we see this everywhere including in the handling of the PDP governorship screening in his home state of Bayelsa. It is all about the process. The governor was cleared by the only legal body with the power to do so. This was made clear by the lawmakers from the state. Even if the National Working Committee is to clear the group legally, it has turned what is a simple process into an abracadabra. Why can’t they clear Governor Sylva? If they have a reason, why can’t they come out with the reason?

The president has received several groups, including the governors, and he says he is not involved and only the leadership of the party should handle this. Who is the leader of the party? In a democracy, once a party produces a president, he or she is the party leader. Can Jonathan say the NWC is not reporting to him?

He should stop kidding us. That again is the quality of the snake, striking furtively, in the dark. Finally they disqualified him out of frus-

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

tration from Saturday’s mammoth rally. They could not even wait till Monday. They did it on a Sunday as though it were an emergency.

Look at the issue of oil subsidy, and you see President Goodluck Jonathan playing the victim again. Those who oppose him want to derail his government, topple him and bring him down. Would that also include the majority of Nigerians who do not want it? That would mean he understands that he is unpopular. He wanted to place the blame on somebody else. There was nothing wrong with subsidy, he wanted us to believe. It was just the case of some subversives who want him out, he Mr. Goodluck, the man with the most magical meteoric rise in the firmament of Nigeria’s political history. He went as far as to lie in the name of Muhammadu Buhari, saying the former general and rival in the presidential race wanted the removal of the so-called subsidy.

Buhari responded promptly through his spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, and showed that Jonathan had again committed an unforced error. He wanted to hide under Buhari like a green snake in a shrubbery. But it did not work. Odumakin explained that Buhari only questioned the mathematics of the so-called oil subsidy claims, propounding questions such as how much do we produce and sell the oil per litre abroad, why endless demurrage charges, why round tripping, etc. How did questioning the logic become an endorsement?

How do these legitimate acts of opposition amount to trying to topple his government?

President Jonathan’s only antidote to such relentless pounding is performance. He has not put together any blueprint against terror. No silver bullet for power or for the economy.

He pitches the removal of oil subsidy as a source of funds for infrastructure. Then he unveils a contract to build toll gates all over the country. Is he going to charge us for fuel and then for traveling in order to build roads?

Haba!

But the tragedy of Jonathan’s show of victimhood is that he is so Nigerian. Most Nigerians want to blame somebody else for their woes. If it is not their in-laws, it is their enemy in the village or the neighbour’s wife or the other ethnic group or the pagan, Christian or Muslim heretic. Jean Paul Sartre probably had Nigerians in mind when he quipped: “Hell is other people.”

If Jonathan embodies this flipside of the Nigerian character, how can he be transformational? He has not risen above the nether parts of the crowd. Herbert Spencer wrote about a cadre of leaders: “Before he can remake his society, the society must first make him.” The flipside of Nigeria made Jonathan, so how can he remake Nigeria? How can he be transformational?

Transformational leaders rise above the times. Jonathan should.

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Toll and be damned

the process of selling the idea of road concessions that would give concessionaires the right to toll roads. By fixing a date for the reintroduction of toll gates for 2012, the government seems to be suggesting that it could not wait to rebuild the roads before tolling them, or for its policy to mature before succumbing to another of its debilitating brain waves.

Judging from the views of the Senate and the Works minister, and irrespective of what the constitution says, the government is bent on tolling roads even if it is damned in the process. It claims, without proof or precedence, to have the antidote to the corruption that wrecked previous toll gates. It is also quiet on the fuel subsidy it wants to remove and the road tax component of that subsidy. More, it is trying to formulate, as usual, a policy that is half-baked, but one it would not have us debate. There is of course a chance that toll gates may be beneficial to our roads and the economy as a whole, but there are so many questions the government has irresponsibly given the impression we should not ask. If anyone seeks answers to why Nigeria is poor, underdeveloped and badly managed, he should go no further than our governments.

rians the burden of double taxation. He had just introduced petroleum products tax as part of the argument to sell the removal of what his government claimed was fuel subsidy. In that year, Obasanjo neither brooked debate nor tolerated opposition to the removal of toll gates. It was, however, widely believed that he took the measure to spite his chief political opponent in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It is curious that the same ruling party that worried itself sick over double taxation in 2004 is now planning to remove fuel subsidy and, unperturbed by multiple taxation, also return toll gates. More interestingly, it remains to be seen how the government hopes to overcome the problems that undermined previous toll collections. First was the corruption that afflicted the toll gates, leading to the enrichment of private individuals rather than the government or the roads themselves. How does the government hope to curb sharp practices when corruption has become more hi-tech and endemic?

Second is the fact that the government is still in

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