The Nation November 16, 2014

SYNAGOGUE: South Senators, Reps team up with Africa collects citizens' remains First Lady

Stop seeking my downfall, Ekiti speaker tells Fayose

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66 bodies released, flown home

against Dickson

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Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.09, No. 3034

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

N200.00

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

2015: Coomassie, Junaid write off Jonathan –Page 6

•Junaid

Boko Haram:

Jonathan’s Top 10

. . . Military Administrators for 2011 troubled states BROKEN OTHER OPTIONS

Non- renewal of emergency Extension for another six months –Page 5

PROMISES –Pages 9-12

SECTOVERRUNSANOTHERTOWNINADAMAWAKILLSEX-DSSOPERATIVE,SON

–Page 5

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

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Merkel heads for pub in Brisbane

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OST of the world's powerhouse leaders arriving in Brisbane for the G20 summit headed in motorcades to relax at their luxury hotels, but not Angela Merkel who opted for the pub.

The German Chancellor -leader of one of the world's biggest beer-producing nations -was determined to see some of the Queensland capital before high-powered weekend talks on issues such as economic growth and tax evasion.

After jetting in midevening on Friday, she made an impromptu appearance at one of Brisbane's most popular pub strips, stopping by bars to shake hands and pose for selfies with locals.

Her down-to-earth appearance drew big cheers from pub-goers, according to the Brisbane Courier-Mail newspaper with locals taking to social media to offer praise.

"The sign of a true leader, mixing it up with the locals!" wrote Jan Green on Facebook.

Courier-Mail photographer Sarah Keayes, who was at the scene with friends, added: "She was in a great mood, she seemed to get a real buzz from the crowd, and took the time to say hello, and was all smiles.�

Whale Funeral In some parts of the world, a beached whale attracts people with knives to cut its flesh for food. But in the municipality of Rivas, a whale that got stranded in the small beach town of Popoyo, in southwestern Nicaragua, was buried yesterday.

Photo: AFP

BAROMETER

country and its leaders. Our troops, like the rest of us, have no great concept of country to fight for or defend, sunday@thenationonlineng.net let alone die for. They are exasperated by what the government has made of democracy, and are not inspired by a president who is neither inspired himself nor clever enough to even visit despondent vicon how their country, using the lion, a little more populous than involved and a scientific approach tims of the insurgency, such as the strategy of Total Security, defeated Lagos State. In addition, its demo- to solving it." parents of abducted Chibok schoolThe objective conditions on the girls, and hundreds of students masthe Tamil Tigers who had fought a graphic make-up is infinitely less 26-year insurgency against the complex. With more than 70 per- ground in the Boko Haram war sacred while they slept or assembled country. Rising from the lectures, cent Sinhalese majority and less have not changed a bit. Our soldiers for morning devotion.

Nigerian military chiefs suggested than 12 percent Tamil, the civil war flee battle not because they are The problem with Nigeria's counthey would study the Sri Lankan was a straightforward Sinhalese inherently cowardly or are lacking terinsurgency strategy is not just lack strategy and adapt it as much as pos- versus Tamil conflict. Nigeria's eth- in battle experience, but because, as of sophisticated arms, corruption, nic and religious pastiche is on the the Borno State governor once said, and Boko Haram using women and sible.

This columnist was alarmed by other hand problematically com- they are not as motivated as the mili- children as human shields. Until we the eagerness with which the Nige- plex, a situation Boko Haram has tants. With the supply of fresh have a great sense or concept of Nigerian military was prepared to adopt more imaginatively exploited and weapons and now regular payment ria which a vast majority can identify a tactics that wars against our coun- aggravated. Total War or Total Secu- of allowances, it was expected our with, and a leadership that knows try's culture, ethnic pastiche and rity may seem sound on paper, in troops would fight more sureAST week, newspapers pub- religious sensibilities. Should we go reality, however, the Nigerian anti- footedly. If they are not doing so, it how to inspire the people to feats of lished stories of Nigeria's mili- ahead to adopt the Total War con- terror war calls for a much deeper is because, as I also said somewhere derring-do, our soldiers will flee battary awaiting presidential cept, this columnist argued some- understanding of the issues else, they are not motivated by their tle, a situation no amount of Sri Lankan-style Total War can redeem. directive to declare total war where else in this newspaper in against Boko Haram insurgents. June, Nigeria's security crisis could They appeared tired of fighting clin- become more complicated. Sadly, ical war, assuming they ever tried it. however, even the 19 northern Sources within the military, suggest states governors and other norththe newspapers, are eager to receive ern elders have tearfully advocated HE government of Ayo Fayose town. Fast forward to the present. the orders. The eagerness is a reflec- the Total War doctrine. They are in Ekiti seems fated to give Abridging due process, Mr Fayose tion of the frustrations the Nigerian shortsighted. On June 19, I had newsmen a steady stream of wants the legislature to approve a military has endured since the war offered the following argument: depressing cops and robbers news, all short list of his appointees and enable against the militants began to go "Sri Lanka may have defeated the anchored on the simple but woeful the reconstitution of local government badly. Now, arguing that Boko terrorist Tamil Tigers in 2009, but strategy of shock-and-awe. When Mr administrations. To get round what Haram were recruiting child sol- that country's democratic creden- Fayose suspected that his prehe describes as a deliberate effort to diers and their commanders were tials remain suspect, with no pros- inauguration judicial trial for ineligislow down his government, Mr using women and children as pect for a change for the better any- bility might harm his political forFayose has accused the legislature of shields, Nigerian military brass are time soon. In fact the consensus is tunes, he instigated a brutal and asking for N135m bribe, and has even putting their hope, perhaps the last that the 26-year civil war 'under- unprecedented intimidation of the proceeded, according to the Speaker, to hope, in the adoption of the Sri Lan- mined democracy and eroded the judiciary. That intimidation was in also financially castrate the Assembly kan war strategy described as Total rule of law.' The United Nations turn anchored on propaganda that cerin retaliation. Mr Fayose's spokesmen War. The tactics puts enemies and (UN) estimates that some 12,000 tain unnamed judges had been finandeny the accusation. shields equally at risk. But it is sur- people detained by Sri Lankan secu- cially induced to pervert the course of It is not clear when Mr Fayose's prising that local hunters and others rity forces have disappeared, and justice. Realising how easily the undemocratic and destructive tactics will become clear to Ekiti people. What who reclaimed Mubi in Adamawa are presumed murdered by the method worked, the Fayose governis clear, however, is that his bullying State from Boko Haram last week state. Sri Lanka acknowledges that ment has put together many more tactics will continue a little longer were neither hamstrung by child sol- about half of the detainees have bogeys and red herrings to deceive until those who voted Mr Fayose diers and women shields nor did died. The civil war itself cost about and inflame the public against its recognise that by conniving at his retthey blast their way indiscrimi- 80,000 to 100,000 lives, about half of political enemies.

When the House of Assembly tion. Promptly, demonstrators took to rogressive practices and uncritically nately through the civilian maze. It them civilians. will be recalled that sometime in "Sri Lanka may have defeated adjourned for a few weeks shortly the streets. The lawmakers panicked embracing his simplistic dualism of May, Sri Lankan defence chiefs vis- Tamil insurgency, but it is a country after the governor's inauguration, and quickly reversed themselves and government and life, they are harming ited Nigeria and presented papers with a population of less than 21 mil- Mr Fayose accused its leaders of con- reconvened, lest they be run out of not the opposition but the state itself. spiring to stifle the new administra-

Nigeria's persistent, sentimental talk of total war

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Ekiti perfects woeful strategy

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

COLUMN

Political War-games in Nigeria The Helium Balloon from Hargeisa L AST Tuesday, one of the worst kept secrets in the history of Nigerian politics became public property. After months of intense preparations marked by guile and dissembling , as well as the saturation bombing of public consciousness by his storm troopers, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan finally made it known to the Nigerian public his intention to vie for the highest office in the land once more.

Many discerning observers of Nigeria’s colourfully chaotic political opera have hinted that right from his early days in office, Jonathan, either through one elongation scheme or the other, or through some more brazen self-perpetuating scams, has never hidden his obsession with ruling Nigeria for as long as it is possible. For him, longevity in office seems to be all that matters and not actual achievement. But this needs not delay us.

A man cannot be hanged on the basis of ambition however overweening and ignoble. In any case , there may be compelling ethnic, religious and regional justifications for turning the Nigerian president, an otherwise meek and amiable fellow to his admirers, to such a polarizing and divisive figure at this particular conjuncture of Nigeria’s history. Jonathan will not be the first person to rule Nigeria in extremity.

Ruling a nation in extremity and utter adversity often has its historical justification and logic. According to Lenin who claimed to have learnt the argumentative dimension of the tactic from Machiavelli, if somebody bends a stick utterly in the wrong direction, you do not achieve equity by straightening it but by bending it utterly in the other direction. Equity can then be arrived at after arduous negotiations and intricate deal making. This is the dangerous and intriguing conjuncture that has come upon us in Nigeria.

It has been a colourful pageant of political intrigues at the Eagles Square in Abuja; a moveable feast of state intimidation; a bazaar of Byzantine plots and furtive blackmail. The political pantomime might have come straight out of Dr Caligari’s cinematography. All the usual suspects who have laid Nigeria low were either lurking in the background or cavorting in the foreground. They are what the French call pompier pyromanes, those who set off fires in order to show their skills at putting them off. This time, the fire may well consume them.

The Jonathan declaration was a carefully coordinated and clinically choreographed affair. Before then, and despite a subsisting ban on political campaigning, his voluble assault troops had subjected the whole country to carpet bombardment with subliminal messages extolling the superhuman virtues of their avatar. No weapon was considered too crude and nothing was sacred and inviolable, not even the execrable and egregious comparison of their master to world-historical leaders who have been of great benefit to their society and humanity at large. In their wanton crudity, they conflated epochs and rammed together societies with dissimilar synchronic manifestations.

But even they in their heart of heart know that this is going to be a very hard sell; a lie that flies in the face of the ugly and damning facts. Unfortunately when they finish with Jonathan, they will move on to the next game as if nothing has happened, leaving the poor man and his core supporters in the lurch. It is the seller who must beware in this instance. The doctrine

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

•President Jonathan during his declaration at the Eagles Square on Tuesday

of mercantile necessity is an equal opportunity employer. In Yoruba feudal parlance, whether a brand sells or not, the branded serf must receive his full wages.

In the event, and despite the glitzy razzmatazz , the Jonathan declaration was a damp squib.

There was something surreally obscene about it all. It was all eerily disturbing. You had to pinch yourself to ascertain that this was actually happening. It was an absolute disaster. The last rampart of reason has deserted the ascendant faction of the Nigerian ruling.

It was not just the callous insensitivity of it all, it was the brutal disregard for the sanctity of human life. A day before this event, almost fifty students from the Government Science Secondary School in Potiskum were blasted to eternity by a suicide bomber. It was a scene of carnage and apocalyptic horror.

Brave newspapers splashed the pictures of the mayhem along the pictures of the Nigerian ruling class wining and dining in nearby Abuja at Jonathan’s declaration.

There was not even a minute’s silence for the peaceful repose of the slain. That would have detracted from the boisterous chest beating and the orgy of self-congratulations. What will the international community think about us? Something must be driving the Jonathan crowd to this merciless and senseless disdain for the cultural and political sensitivities of a significant section of the country.

Even before the Potiskum massacre, we were still looking for the Chibok girls. The post-abduction

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O the magnificent Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre Onikan penultimate Thursday for the annual literary event of the Macmillan Publishers with the long-missing Okon Anthony Okon in riotous tow. As the Christmas season finally unfolds, snooper was in fine fettle and preppy spirit. Despite advancing years and the ravages of the soul by the post-colonial pandemic, there is still nothing as exhilarating as the Christmas season. In the event, it turned out to be a celebration of everything that is noble and ennobling about the Nigerian project.

It was Harold Macmillan, the famed scion of the great publishing house, who once famously told his British compatriots that they had never had it so good. With a rising tide of prosperity, with many households owning a car, a fridge and a television set for the first time, it was too good to be true. Coming in the second decade after the most destructive war in human history, it

drama has been as horrid as the actual abduction. Hundreds of pupils have been slaughtered. Thousands of citizens have been killed by the Boko Haram insurgents. Ranking military officers have been seen in videos as they were about to be summarily beheaded. What was known initially as a rag-tag militia has now transformed into a full blown army that has become a terror to the Nigerian military, outwitting and outgunning them at will. As we speak, and with a huge swathe of the nation held by the insurgents, Nigeria is effectively partitioned. Whatever remains is facing slow economic strangulation.

Unless there is some mass neurosis abroad, there is something strangely incompatible and in fact deeply incongruous about a presidential declaration of democratic ambition in a country that is at the losing end of a war with a non-state army. A state of emergency and/ or a Government of National Emergency are more rational probabilities. In more civilized climes, a president who has led his country into a losing war and with such dismal incompetence will not dare show his face in public not to talk of capering and cantering at the instance of a hollow orchestra.

It is very unlikely that President Jonathan will dare campaign in the areas he has treated with such devilry and insensitive disdain, and that is if they are still part of the nation by the time of the election and have not been steamrolled by the Boko Haram blitzkrieg. Yet it is also obvious that no amount of

mathematical and legal legerdemain can make him president of Nigeria based on his obvious popularity and acceptance in both the South South and South East.

It would be politically foolish and obtuse to the bargain to ever imagine that Jonathan and his strategists are unwise enough not to realize his electoral limitations at this crucial moment. If that is so, it brings us to the central thesis of this piece. Jonathan and his handlers may very well not be preparing for an electoral competition but for a physical conquest in the guise of a democratic quest.

This is war-gaming at its most perilous and devastating in the post-colonial polity. It is not about democracy at all. Recent acts of commission and omission by the Jonathan administration suggest that it may be the least interested in deepening the democratic process.

Rather, this is a project of brutal domination and decimation barely disguised in electoral garb. If the northerners like, let them continue to kill themselves.

Electorally speaking, the less the merrier. If the north likes, let it disintegrate and scatter to the winds.

They are more useful voting with their feet. They are no polling booths in refugee camps. If the Boko Haram religious thugs like, let them conquer the whole territory and give the people a new nationality as long as they leave the rest intact.

As we have said, Jonathan is not the first person to rule Nigeria in extremity. In a sense, Jonathan represents the final nemesis of the old northern Nigeria feudal power masters. Watching their historic rump these days, disheveled and disoriented, with their tail between their legs and in involuntary obeisance to the merciless logic of modernity, one cannot prevent a wry grin. After this conjuncture, it is historically impossible for anyone to go back to ruling Nigeria along the old lines. Those elements in the South West scare-mongering about the old north are merely flogging a dead horse.

All those who have tried to rule Nigeria in extremity and in stark disregard of its cultural sensitivities have always met their legendary comeuppance. This may be due to the great mythical spirit of the largest congregation of black souls. Or it

may be due to the great irrational dynamics of the post-colonial polity itself in which redoubtable contradictions tend to cancel themselves out on the way to a grand new synthesis.

The sociological explanation may well be that in war-gaming, you can only focus on your own game.

But other games are simultaneously going on. There are other gamers who may appear in paradoxical complicity but whose interests are not coterminous to or contiguous with yours. For example, if General Mohammadu Buhari were to win the presidential election next year, a swift reconquest of the Boko Haram territory may well be beyond his military ken. Having naturalized and entrenched themselves with the help of rogue Islamic brotherhoods, the Boko Haram by then may well be seeking a definition of borders and other protocols of effective partition.

This past week, the Nigerian Ambassador to the US cried out to the world about the uncooperative attitude of the US authorities in assisting Nigeria in procuring arms to defend the territorial integrity of the nation. Adefuye is a tame and temperate fellow not given to speaking out of turn. But the seemingly lax, laggard and lackadaisical attitude of the US authorities tells its own story, and the joke is on us. Could it be that the western authorities have given up on Nigeria as a viable nation? Are they trying to save us from ourselves and from needless and heedless bloodletting? It is very curious that the Americans would appear to turn their gaze away from a fast expanding Islamic enclave of prehistoric brutality deep in the Sahel.

We may as well be witnessing the endgame of the Lugardian state which itself is a trope for colonial nation-building. The American prediction about the unraveling of Nigeria as we know it may well be upon us and with chilling precision.

While they are helping to re-impose state formations in Somali almost twenty five years later, there is an enclave known as Somaliland with capital in Hargeisa which declared itself independent of the parent nation in the turmoil of war. It is not recognized by anybody yet, but it has all the trappings of a stable, orderly and well-run country. The puffed up pomposities in Abuja last Tuesday may well herald the helium balloon from Hargeisa.

roused from her upper class splendour and serendipity. At eighty one, the iconic first female permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service and gifted actress continues to defy the odds of gravity and age with her dazzling appearance. Little wonder then that the evening was a marvel of artistic delight and tightly controlled timing.

As soon as we reached the premises, Okon began his rabid commentaries. He had been complaining that he had not been paid for supplying a container of “human and woman being” for Jonathan’s presidential declaration. Very soon and to Snooper’s chagrin, the mad boy began introducing himself to everybody in sight as Mr Ebola whereupon they all recoiled in fright and horror. A punitive eye-whip could no longer do the trick. The rogue was brimming with malice and malign

humour. Very soon, Okon collared one of the female ushers and demanded from her where he could get good snuff. Snooper quickly disappeared into the crowd of distinguished Nigerians.

It was an excellent outing for the Macmillan people. The Ben Tomoloju troupe did not disappoint with its searing critique of the Nigerian political condition. The chairman of the Company, Bode Emanuel Esq, gave a rousing speech which showcased the triumph of human will over adversities. The guest of honour, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo ,delivered an inspirational address which warmed the heart and spirit. The evening concluded with dinner at the adjoining La Scala restaurant.

Once again, “General Franco” was on patrol to make sure that nobody sat in the wrong place.

An evening with Macmillan was a remarkable feat of social engineering pioneered by the leftwing government of Clement Atlee and consolidated by the conservative interlude of Churchill, the ill-stared Anthony Eden later Lord Curzon and Macmillan.

It was a moveable literary feast.

Snooper has not had it so good in a long time. It was the night when old literary gurus and the aficionados of high culture interfaced with the younger avatars. The chairman of the Macmillan Literary Event Committee, Mrs Francesca Yetunde Emanuel, was at her energetic and indefatigable best. As painstaking and meticulous as ever, Mama FYE sat behind a desk meant for ushers personally ticking off the attendance register.

Known behind her back in her Civil Service days as General Franco, mama does not take hostages when

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS

HE Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State and Consultant Forensic Pathologist, Prof.

John Obafunwa, has released 66 bodies of persons that died in the September 12 collapse of the guest house, owned by the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), in Lagos.

The release of the bodies was done at the General Hospital, Mainland, Yaba under the supervision of the chief medical examiner, when 40 bodies were released to the team that represented the South Africa Government; while Dr. Soyemi supervised the second leg at Isolo General Hospital, where 26 bodies were released.

Each of the 66 bodies released at the General Hospital, Yaba was put in a three layer bag, consisting of a clear bag; normal body bag with continent pad linen and finally in an Insulated bag.

The Nation gathered that two planes arrived in the country from South Africa at midnight for the recovery of the bodies from Nigeria and flown them back home. A cargo plane flew in four trucks and six pick up vans.

The four trucks are disaster refrigerated vans and two were stationed at each of the hospital, while the six pick up vans were loaded with utilities, medical devices, water, edibles, two collapsible tents and other items needed in such exercise. Three of the pick-up vans were drafted to the two different hospitals, to enable the team from South Africa have everything that was needed, including edible and trash nylon bags to carry away the disposable personal protective equipment (PPEs) used for the exercise. The team flew in, in the second plane.

Synagogue: South Africa collects citizens’ remains •Chief Medical Examiner, S/Africa team in face-off

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

Giving an insight into the decision of the South African Government to send four pathological trucks and six pick–ups, Obafunwa said it portrayed the preparedness of the South African government.

He said, “The South African government took the samples of the relations that presented themselves and sent samples to the laboratory in South Africa. I have done my professional bit on the bodies here. Out of the 80 bodies, 60 are South Africans. When the results came here, we only did identification (cross matched). The bodies have been labeled and once they get to South Africa, their relations will just pick them up.”

Asked why South Africa had to send trucks, tents and other materials, Obafunwa retorted, “They brought in everything including trolleys, dustbins, and water. The South Africans decided to bring in all these. It is puzzling that Nigeria can conveniently provide 10 to 20 of this, yet, none is in existence. I don’t see any reason why each state cannot provide its own disaster refrigerated vans.

It is highly useful in the scene of mass disaster. One doesn’t need to take in a

body into a building, but with this disaster refrigerated vans; one can carry out forensic analyses.”

He, however, admitted that disaster management in Lagos State has improved. According to him, “So many years ago, I talked about disaster management.

The government set up a committee for managing disasters; we have been rehearsing for a situation like this. Each individual knows what role to play in disaster management, so that in less than 24 hours, there is response. Lagos State has improved on its Coroner Laws. We can no longer be doing mass burial. You recall the Dana crash where we identified 148 of the 152 bodies. And Associated Airline crash, where we associated all the bodies. With Synagogue’s case, we will know how

many we have been able to identify. I also know that Lagos State has in the pipeline a Forensic Science laboratory. It has already acquired about five acres of land. The state has been able to put together a sketch of how the forensic laboratory would be. It is of note that South Africa has not complained about how we handled the forensic investigation. We have been working together.”

Obafunwa further added, “What we are dealing with here is a situation where over 60 South Africans are involved.

Individuals could have come to collect their corpses, but the South African government said it is its responsibility to collect the over 80 bodies. In doing so, it decided to plan to do it this way instead of moving them individually in caskets. In my own judgment, I don’t see this

South African government bringing in this paraphernalia as a show off, but this is just keeping to the standards. There are a lot of things we need to do in terms of managing disaster, in terms of response, a functional forensic laboratory for instance. Those are failure of a nation. Bringing in these things is not indictment, but something we should copy.”

At this juncture, a South African told Obafunwa, “You are obscuring the process of bringing out the bodies, Prof., mind moving away?”

The renowned pathologist in response said, “I am not obscuring anything. I am part of the team involved in this. I repeat, I am not obscuring anything.”

The South African went further, “We are saying…

(Prof Obafunwa cuts in)

But the South African went on to speak with some members of his team in South African language. To which Obafunwa replied, “Excuse me; don’t let us get in to that at all.”

Members of both sides were getting agitated with the South African team later leaving the spot.

The chief medical examiner now faced the reporter saying, “I have been working with them for some time. I have made them realise they can’t talk to me in those lines. I have had series of meetings with them and they were surprised at some of the facilities at LASUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital).

There is something I’m proud of in Lagos State. The mortuary is far better than most mortuaries we have around the globe. That I can give credit to Lagos State Government for.”

Mrs. Taiwo Ogunsola is the CEO of TOS Funerals, the outfit that manages LASUTH’s Mortuary services. She tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA her over two months experience embalming the South African corpses.

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HAT was it like handling bodies of this nature?

We are professionals at this. We have managed successfully mass disasters involving bodies from plane crashes, building collapses, drowning, accidents, and fire disasters. But this particular one in from the Synagogue collapse required more attention and skill because of the diplomatic relationships between the two countries. We wash the

•Ogunsola

corpses everyday; unlike with Nigerians that bury on time. The bodies were with us for over two monthssince September 12. The peculiarity of the case is the diplomatic issue.

Did you obtain foreign assistance during the embalmment?

We did not contact any outsider either for suggestions or practical involvement in handling the embalmment. It was TOS Funerals that solely did everything. I remember General Raars, a representative of the South African government in Nigeria gave us kudos just as he did the mortuary too.

Were there issues with identification?

Not at all, as you know Prof John Obafunwa was on top of the game. There was no room for error. It was zero tolerance for mistake. There cannot be. And there are no complaints from the team that has come to take the bodies. As you can see, everything is going on well.

•South African officials collecting the bodies of their nationals who died in the September 12, 2014 collapse of the guest house owned by the Synagogue Church of All Nations.

PHOTO: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA

Dead South Africans flown home

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HE bodies of South Africans that died in the September 12 collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) were flown to Johannesburg aboard two cargo planes yesterday.

The planes took off at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The two aircraft, Russian Antonov, arrived the airport last Friday.

It was parked at the

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

tarmac of the airport.

The airlift of the bodies, due to have commenced around midday yesterday, was delayed due to clearance and diplomatic issues at the morgue.

It was learnt that South African officials had to put necessary measures in place to ensure the bodies were intact before they were ferried into the aircraft.

As early as 4.00pm, the

luggage of the victims arrived the presidential wing of the Lagos Airport for onward carriage into the aircraft.

Some officials of South African government were on hand to ensure the preflight activities for the dead bodies went on unhindered.

Apart from officials of South African government, personnel belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as well as the Lagos State

Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) were also on hand to facilitate the process.

At a hotel in Ikeja, scores of journalists waited for hours for a briefing by a South African minister, Mr. Jeff Radebe, which did not hold as at the time of writing this report.

Some officials on hand said they will get back to reporters with a statement updating them on the modalities for the airlift of the dead bodies.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

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T the expiration of the third tranche of emergency rule in the North-East on November 20, President Goodluck Jonathan is in a fix on the next line of action because of the increasing Boko Haram insurgency in the geopolitical zone.

Jonathan may seek both legal and security advice in the week on the options available to the government.

According to findings, the president had on May 13 sought the nod of the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

But the request was granted on May 20 by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

By constitutional implications, the third segment of

NEWS

Boko Haram: President may appoint military administrators

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation the emergency rule will end on Thursday.

According to investigations, the options available to the president are three. A senior government official said: “ These are ending of the emergency rule, another extension and a declaration of a total emergency with military administrators in charge of the three states. Let me make it clear that the constitution is silent on how many times the president can extend emergency rule in a state or any part of the fed-

the presidency to be weighing options on the • Non renewal of emergency forced next step in the light of the ongoing seizure of more • Impose full emergency towns by Boko Haram and

eration.

“The three states may oppose extension of emergency rule. Also, with the crisis in the House of Representatives, it is impossible for the president to secure a fresh extension of the emergency.”

It was gathered that there were fears of a plot to impose a total emergency in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.

A third source added:

“We learnt that there is pressure on the president to declare a total emergency in the three states and appoint military administrators.

This may, however, be resisted by the opposition because proponents of total emergency are mostly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unless the president is tactical, the war against insurgents may assume political colour.”

The development has

the counter-insurgency operations by the military.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The president is in a fix on whether to lift the emergency rule in the North-East or ask for more extension.

“Jonathan has up till Thursday to make up his mind on the fate of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. The governors of the three states had come out frankly to say that the emer-

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gency rule failed to address the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The president has to be ingenuous in designing ways out. This is why he will be seeking legal and military advice in the next few days.

“With 2015 election fast approaching, it will be difficult to conduct poll under emergency situation unless all the stakeholders reach a consensus. Yet, two of the states under emergency rule are being controlled by the opposition.”

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the president to impose a state of emergency with the consent of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Section 305(4) also mandated the governor of a state to ask the president to proclaim emergency rule in his or her state.

Chibok under Boko Haram state of emergency, not FG’s, says community

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EMBERS of the Chibok community have said with the turn of event, their community and the whole of Borno State have been placed under a state of emergency by the Boko Haram sect and not the federal government.

They said that they do not see how the federal government can claim to be in control of the state and have it under a state of emergency when the insurgents continue to prove to the people that they are more powerful than the federal government.

According to an elder from Chibok, Ayuba Alamson, the community is tired of believing in the government and have handed their situation to God because He alone can deliver them from all their pains and suffering.

He stated this yesterday, in a telephone conversation with The Nation, where he said that only God can save them since the president that promised to protect them when they visited him has failed in his promise.

According to him, “If they can capture this amount of communities in Borno State that is under the state of emergency, they are simply telling us that they are more powerful than the federal governmentý.

“As long as we can see, it is Boko Haram and not the federal government that have placed

From Grace Obike, Abuja

us on a state of emergency right now which is quite unfortunate.

“With the look of things right now, we can now only depend on God and ask him to come and deliver us, that is all I can sayý, for long, we had been crying and asking the government for protection but they have been unable to do anything. We are completely frustrated, we have been neglected for long and I pray God, the owner of life will do something because with him all things are possible, that is our only hope now.

“We are now leaving our faith to God because we are tired of complaining to a government that ignores our cries.”

He also said, “Ever since the kidnap of our daughters, we have been living in fear, after the event many of us migrated to Maiduguri, Mubi and other parts around but most of our people returned back to Chibok after Mubi fell since at that time Chibok was relatively safe.

“Some tried to return to their normal life of farming and some people have even begun harvesting their hard worký but now, Boko Haram returned and everybody fled into bushes and caves, some might have died in the process, some may be haunted by wild animals, some might die of hypertension.”

•From left, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Ogun State Governor; Senator Ibikunle Amosun, newly married couple, Mr and Mrs Lukman Mustapha, and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, during the Nikkah ceremony between Sidikat Tinuade Sanyaolu and Lukman Olalekan, son of Senator Lekan Mustapha in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: BIODUN ADEYEWA

Boko Haram has 6,000 fighters- Insider

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HERE are indications that the Boko Haram sect has about 60,000 fighters, including underage insurgents.

A top source, who is central to the initial peace talks with the sect, gave these rare insights in some notes made available to our correspondent.

The source explained why the war against Boko

Boko Haram overruns Hong, Hawul

I

N what was apparently a reprisal attack also on Saturday, Boko Haram insurgents seized Hong town, the administrative headquarters of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

This follows the recent hit on the insurgents by the combined efforts of local hunters and civilian JTF in Mubi, Adamawa State, resulting in the killing of several insurgents while others were chased them out of Mubi and Mahia.

A security source disclosed that the insurgents launched a reprisal attack on Hong town in the early hours of Saturday after they thought that the insurgents had fled the area for the fear of the local hunters.

He said the insurgents burnt down a police station and killed an undisclosed number of persons.

The source said soon after they were flushed out of Mubi, the sect relocated to a primary school in Manjakwa, Hawul Local Government of Borno, restricted movement of villagers in the neighbouring villages of Kwajjaffa, Tashan-Alade and other smaller settlements around Manjakwa village of Hawul Local Government.

One of the eyewitnesses told newsmen on Saturday morning that he saw insurgents slaughter three people while others were lined up to be slaughtered.

Reacting, former minister of state, Health, Aliyu Idi Hong, who hails from the area, confirmed the attack to journalists in Yola.

He added that a few days ago, the insurgents had attacked two villages in Hong Local Government area, killing at least five persons.

A resident of the area revealed that the militants attacked the residence of a retired general near Hong.

At about 2pm of Saturday the insurgents were in control of Hong town.

However, residents said the local hunters have been alerted to come to the rescue of the town.

Fleeing residents of Hong were optimistic that before sunset, the hunters will deliver the area from the clutches of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Military authorities in Yola could not be reached for comment on the attack.

The insurgents had earlier attacked Chibok town, killing not less than 30 people and burning down houses in what was described as hit and run while fleeing Mubi town as a result of heavy military power, which overwhelmed the sect.

Haram is difficult and what the government can do to tackle the insurgency.

The source said: “Boko Haram has nearly 10,000 ideological army and over 50,000 conscripts, including 40 per cent underage. We are not even counting numerous sect members in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and in different parts of Nigeria, West Africa and as far as Sudan.

“Most of them prefer to die in battle than to be back to their camps safely due to the endemic indoctrination within the cult group.

“This is the reason why I always say here and everywhere that this crisis is far from over. The only thing for now: Ya Allah protect us and unite us to defeat our enemies.”

The sect is also said to be operating active cells in Kogi, Lagos with many members in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and in different parts of the country, West Africa and as far as Sudan.

The source decried the increasing insurgency in the North-East and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

According to the source, “The crisis is far more serious than it is being reported. Last week, my father’s friend and former DSS colleague was

slaughtered by Boko Haram in Hawul, his son drove to the scene to pick his father’s corpse and he was killed too.

“Yes, they are now in Hawul, few kilometres to Biu. My mum’s twin sister is missing in the past two days, she ran away from Boko Haram to the bush in Garkida. Many of my relatives have fled to the mountains, some barefooted.

Nigeria is at war.

“There is indeed a silent humanitarian emergency in the North-East that is being shielded from the rest of the world.”

The highly-placed source asked all Nigerians to come together, irrespective of political leanings, to address the insurgency in the NorthEast.

The source added: “Gwoza, Sambisa and Mandara mountains are the vortex of Boko Haram insurgency. Until we take these areas, we have a lot more to do. Boko Haram has very active cells in different parts of the north including Lagos and Kogi.

“What is important in my opinion is for Nigerians (leaders and the led) to figure out what is responsible for the problem in the first place.

“The blame game started from Jonathan and everyone

and political parties started pointing fingers at one another.

“When I spoke to the Commander-In-Chief in May/ June, I saw the level of his ignorance, I was alarmed. This ignorance is not only with the president alone, even our religious and traditional leaders in the north have continued to miss the live wire that feeds the insurgency.

“We have reached a stage where we can no longer manage this problem, not only because of an important leader like Jonathan but he inherited failed institutions.

“Today, Boko Haram and IS are in contact and people are even surprised when it was confirmed yesterday. But some of us said it repeatedly in the media.

This is a problem that needs all Nigerians to be on board.

I blame the National Assembly the most for not insisting on accountability from the military and the executive arm. Alas, they are equally not accountable to Nigerians.

“The people in the NorthEast do not care about the conspiracy theories we peddle here, they just want to survive another horrifying day.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS

6

Stop seeking my downfall, Ekiti Speaker tells Fayose

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HE Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has advised Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop trading in blackmail and face serious business of governance for the benefit of Ekiti people.

Reacting to reports of alleged plot to frame him up for crimes he knows about as a way of putting him out of circulation, Omirin alerted Nigerians of this devilish plot saying plans were rife to arrest him for alleged criminal offences.

He also spoke on the report on the state television station EKTV to the effect

that he addressed a press conference in Lagos where he allegedly told reporters that he would be the Acting Governor that would conduct a rerun governorship election in January, Omirin through his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said the report allegedly sponsored by the governor is nothing but the hallucination of a serial law breaker, who has chosen blackmail to kill the institutions of government to receive undeserved public sympathy.

Saying that he would not have reacted if not that the unsuspecting public could be

deceived by the report, Omirin said he was nowhere near Lagos of recent and so he had no contact with reporters to make that unfounded comment. ý”The governor’s agents are on familiar terrain of subterfuge. They had fabricated many ridiculous lies to deceive Nigerians to gain public sympathy. He employed blackmail alleging bribery by the judges to bring the judiciary to its knee. He cowed the parliament through blackmail and accused the lawmakers of demanding for bribes to clear his commissioner-nominees.

Insistence by members to fol-

low due process of screening drew a reprisal by freezing the accounts of the Assembly,” the Speaker said.

He added, “All Nigerians are monitoring the proceedings at the Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.

Damning reports of alleged fraud were established at the hearings and discerning Nigerian public know the truth about Ekiti election matter.

He had opportunity to defend his certificate forgery and perjury allegations but he refused to come to the tribunal becuase he was afraid to enter the witness box for cross-examination,” Omirin said.

•Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke acknowledging cheers from supporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport shortly after arriving Calabar from Abuja, yesterday

Saraki cautions FG against naira devaluation

F

ORMER Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, has cautioned the Federal Government against going ahead with its proposed plan to devalue the naira.

Speaking in a telephone interview with The Nation yesterday, the ex-governor said the policy would not only inflict untold hardship on Nigerians, but have adverse effect on the social and political stability of the country.

Saraki, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the lawmaker representing Kwara Central in the Senate, added that rather than devalue the nation’s currency, the Federal Government should, without delay, introduce measures aimed at plugging the

…says it would inflict hardship on Nigerians

By Remi Adelowo loopholes in its revenue generation mechanisms.

Obviously exasperated by the government’s insistence in going ahead with the devaluation policy, Saraki declared: “The Federal Government must not devalue the naira. It is a hydra-headed that would not serve the nation and the people any good.”

The lawmaker also described $78 oil price benchmark for the 2015 budget as unrealistic, Saraki, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, challenged the Federal Government to give full disclosure of the state of the nation’s economy, even as he

declared that the nation’s revenue base is caving in under the stress of falling price of oil in the international market.

Rather than devaluing the naira, Saraki challenged the Federal Government to stop massive crude oil theft, halt payment of subsidy on kerosene and granting of pioneer status to some oil companies, which has denied the nation revenue, as well as the controversial oil SWAP project of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He added, “This is not the time to paint over the rust, discussions and the choices we make now must be based on economics not politics. The current

ers, 346 senior lecturers and 768 lecturers and assistant lecturers, the premier institution continues to be the flagship of postgraduate education in the country.

At the event which took place in Prof. Oritsejolomi Thomas Hall, International Conference Centre of the institution, the VC said the 5,959 candidates awarded the higher degrees of masters and diplomas attested to the continued confidence and trust candidates had in the institution.

He maintained that the graduands awarded the certificates had been trained, ex-

amined and convincingly found to be worthy in character and in learning.

Prof Adewole reassured that the vision of the premier University which is anchored on the pursuit of the national goals of development through knowledge creation and dissemination, with a view to promoting national transformation is still vigorously being pursued by the management of the institution.

He said: “The realisation of this vision is reflected in our commitment to the continuous development of teaching, learning and research efforts

position to put the benchmark for oil price at $78 is inconsistent with the economic trend and attitude of the managers of our economy, which has shown in the past to be very wary of over optimistic benchmark assumptions setting rather for the more prudent conservative base. We have a problem in our hands, but not one that cannot be surmounted with the right political will.”

The senator also advised the government not to inflict further hardship on Nigerians, saying, “Before Nigerians are called upon to make sacrifices, government must show the will to tackle the monumental revenue leakages in our finances.”

2015: Coomassie, Junaid write off Jonathan

•Says President’s declaration, looming disaster for Nigeria •He’s looking for tenure elongation

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other leading voices from the region have rejected the public declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan seeking re-election as President in the 2015 general elections, saying that, he has nothing good to offer the country.

This is coming as the region has urged all Nigerians to out rightly reject the President during the presidential poll, arguing that, his declaration is a monumental disaster awaiting the country.

Speaking in a telephone interview with The Nation, former federal lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed said, President Jonathan has done nothing to deserve another term and it would be irresponsibility on the part of Nigerians to vote him in 2015.

According to him, “Well I have always said and this is not something new for me to say but his declaration is first and foremost a monumental anticlimax. Everybody who studied him, his body language, the statement of his handlers and spokesperson knew that this man is determined to go through and contest the elections even if it means destroying the country.

“So, as far as I am concerned declaration or no declaration, the man is going to contest in spite of bad cloud that he was going to contest election in the country.

“But even by his standard, I thought the way and manner he chose to celebrate his declaration less than 24 hours after the terrorist attack in Yobe killing more than 65 and close to 85 wounded is reckless and irresponsible. It shows that when it comes to striving for power, this president does not care about the welfare of the country, he only thinks about himself.”

He added, “ I think if that is the case, we are all going to

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna be in very serious trouble.

Now, I wouldn’t bother myself commenting on what he said because everybody knew what he said was a lie.

And when you compare what he said in 2011 and what he is saying now, you can see that the man cannot differentiate his right from his left.

“What we have now after his declaration is a monumental disaster awaiting this country. God save us all.

“Therefore, my advice to Nigerians is to reject him outright.”

Similarly, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said, it was not surprised by the insensitivity of President Jonathan to declare and celebrate when parents of 75 Yobe students were mourning the killing of their children by insurgents.

ACF Chairman and former Inspector General of Police Ahmadu Ibrahim Coomassie, who asked so many rhetorical questions in his reaction to the President’s declaration said, Jonathan is tactically looking for extension of tenure.

According to him, “You people published our open letter to Mr. President and you made a good summary and analysis of what we said in the letter. Since then has anything changed? Is it not getting worse?

“With the general election coming, we don’t know what they are after. Whether they want the election to hold or not. Are they tactically looking for extension for two years?

Because if you cannot vote what will happen to the government when the time expires? Is that not what they were looking for even when we were at the conference?

“My advice to all Nigerians at this point in time is that, we must continue to pray for peace to come back to this country,” Coomassie stated.

UI renews commitment to postgraduate studies

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HE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has restated the commitment of the University to the goal of focusing on postgraduate studies.

He stated that the institution has the professional and academic personnel that would make this achievable.

Speaking at the award of postgraduate diplomas and degrees as part of the activities marking the 2014 Convocation and Foundation Day Ceremonies of the University, Prof. Adewole explained that, with 341 professors, 118 read-

that would provide the required skills for internalising the learning process and to serve as catalyst for the political, social and economic development of the nation.”

He reiterated the institution’s many accomplishments in academic and sustainable capacity since the beginning of the session.

Also, he highlighted various newly mounted programmes/courses which have attracted massive acceptability by applicants. These include Academic Masters Degree in Research and Public

Policy, Programme in Gerontology, Academic Master of Science (M.Sc.) programme in Public Health, among others.

Felicitating with the higher degrees’ graduands on what he described as “landmark achievements in their academic endeavours” he expressed the hope that they would make their own outstanding contributions towards tackling the problems that fester in the centenary of the nation’s amalgamation.

He, however, lamented that although, the acceptability and popularity of the new and existing postgraduate

programmes of the premier University attracted well over 16, 000 applications during the 2013/2014 academic session, only 6, 139 qualified candidates were admitted.

At the occasion, 5, 959 graduands were awarded their higher degree certificates from the institution’s 13 faculties and centres. The figure comprises 46 graduands for the M. Phil; 123 for the Master’s in Public Health; 4,467 academic master’s degrees; 1,313 professional master’s degrees and 153 candidates for postgraduate diplomas.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Obasanjo makes case for education

By Ahmed Rufai, Dutse

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has canvassed for investment in quality education to preserve the future of the nation.

Obasanjo, who is the Chancellor of Jigawa State University Kafin, made the call yesterday while delivering his address at the maiden matriculation of the university.

He said: “The future of any nation lies on the good quality of its youths.”

The Chancellor called on the federal and states governments to adequately fund universities with modern facilities and logistics to offer quality education to the teaming youth.

Obasanjo also called on universities to subsidise the tuitions of female students and appealed to the institutions to give female students equal admission opportunities to achieve gender balance.

He asked the newly established state university to give opportunity to people beyond the state.

Obasanjo also commended Governor Sule Lamido for his foresights and long- term planning in establishing the institution “which would make a lot of impact on the lives of the people in the state and country at large.”

Lamido commended the former president for attending the maiden matriculation.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Abdullahi Ribado, said the institution admitted 774 students.

Senators, Reps team up with First Lady against Dickson

S

ENATORS and members of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State may have joined forces with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, against Governor Seriake Dickson.

The federal lawmakers were said to have formed a formidable force to upturn moves by Dickson and his camp to deny them reelection in 2015 by zoning them out of reckoning.

The angry lawmakers were said to have aligned with the moves by the first lady to replace Dickson with her loyalist in 2016.

It was gathered that some of the senators held separate meetings with President Jonathan and his wife to fine-tune strategies of outsmarting the governor to clinch their party tickets for 2015 elections.

Dickson has been in a running battle with the lawmakers following their ambitions to return to the National Assembly

•Gov: We’re a peaceful, united family From: Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

for second and third terms.

The camp of the governor had through stakeholder meetings reached decisions to zone the National Assembly seats in the state in the interest of equity, unity and peace.

The agitation for zoning had unsettled the state chapter of the PDP and compelled the lawmakers to hold parallel congresses to counter the moves of the governor’s loyalists.

With the development, the governor was said to be fighting the alleged plots by the first lady to remove him from office and insistence of the federal lawmakers to have their way.

It was learnt that the federal lawmakers seized last Thursday’s visit of Dame Patience to make a bold statement

to the Dickson’s camp.

Senators Emmanuel Paulker (Central), Clever Ikisikpo (East) and Heineken Lokpobiri (West) including all the members of the House of Representatives from the state attended the programme while Dickson was absent.

The first lady, who was apparently elated at the solidarity shown her by the lawmakers, informed the crowd that the senators held a meeting with the president at the eve of the event.

She said, shortly after the meeting, the senators promised they would attend the programme on a chartered flight.

She thanked them for making good their promise.

A source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the absence of the governor at the occasion was

an indication of a widening crack between the presidency and Dickson.

The source recalled that President Jonathan refused to attend the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day, which held recently at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

“Jonathan was in the state but instead of identifying with the event, he chose to go back to Abuja after giving some excuses.

“Jonathan has been going to other states including Akwa Ibom State to commission projects but he has refused entreaties from the governor to visit Bayelsa and inaugurate some of his projects. All is not well.

“The governor was not present at Dame Patience’s event but all the senators and members of the House of Representatives were there.

7

“They are passing a strong message to Dickson. None of them attended the Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day. But they were with madam. The battle has just started,” he said.

But Dickson, in a statement yesterday, described the PDP in the state as one peaceful, united and focused family under the leadership of the president and the governor.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor said the party was working collectively and rallying the needed support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the next elections.

He cautioned party faithful, especially person seeking elective positions and their supporters, to be mindful of their utterances and actions.

He feared that unguarded utterances could be used by the opposition to paint a wrong or misleading picture of the state of affairs in the state.

Dickson reaffirmed the state’s unflinching support for President Jonathan’s re-election bid and called on the political class and the entire people of the state to rally round him at all times.

NDLEA arrests technician smuggling cannabis to UAE

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

O

Why graduates are unemployable, by ACCA

From: Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

T

HE Country Head of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ademola, has advanced reasons where many graduates remain unemployed in the country.

Ademola explained that based on demands from corporate organisations, it was discovered that some of the graduates write the ‘wrongest’ curriculum vitae.

She spoke at the ACCA Nigeria November Summit at the weekend in Abuja.

Ademola said: “Basically, what they tell them is what they expect to see on their CV, how they expect it and how to write it because some of these organisations look at the CVs. “One of the reasons Nigerian students are not employable is because they probably have the wrongest CV ever and they don’t understand it.

“ACCA has over 20, 000 stakeholders including students and members. Some are not graduates. I know that First Bank and some other banks hire them on internship basis pending when they finish and get engaged.”

She said the core value of ACCA was opportunity and accessibility stressing that the event was organised as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to support all stakeholders.

Ademola explained the association has been in partnership with employers of labour in the country and globally to reduce discrepancies arising from job agencies.

NEWS

•L-R Vice President Namadi Sambo; Assistant Corps Marshal Special Marshals and Partnership, Zaki Alkali and Head of Section Sports, Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem during the Juma’at prayer for the 2014 African Road safety day/ world day of remembrance for road traffic accident crash victims in Abuja… at the weekend

ALGON appoints interim committee

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HE National Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has appointed the Chairman of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Sahabo Aliyu, to head a nine-man interim committee.

The committee will run the affairs of ALGON until the date of election.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by Aliyu said other members of the committee include:

From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Waltson Chubby from Bayelsa as deputy chairman; Ibrahim Dankaba from Katsina as treasurer; Barr. Chinyere Nwanoke from Ebonyi as legal adviser; Rotimi Rahman from Ogun as Publicity Secretary.

Others are: Bello Mohammed from Nasarawa; Bello Dankade from Zamfara; Adebisi Uyi from Ondo and Ahmadu Kallamu from Taraba

as executive members.

The statement reads: “We the members of the National Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) have watched with keen interest the developments in our association and hereby unanimously agree as follows: “That a nine-man interim committee to run the affairs of the association until the date of election through a National Convention has been appointed.

“The Interim Chairman and members of his team drawn from the six geopolitical zones have been charged with the responsibility of organising and conducting a successful transition of the ALGON leadership.

“That ALGON as a tier of government, which is the closest to the people, will continue to ensure that the association is one, united, indivisible, and we continue to ensure development in the grassroots.”

NLC constitutes caretaker committee for LP

T

HE leadership of the trade unions has constituted a caretaker committee to oversee and reposition the Labour Party(LP) and convene a credible national convention that will produce leaders based on the ideals of the party.

A statement in Abuja yesterday by the Chairman and Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Salisu Muhammed and Comrade Lawson Osagie, respectively, said that the committee is also mandated to take inventory and recover all assets belonging to the party.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Members of the committee include Comrade Salisu Muhammad, who will serve as National Chairman and Comrade Lawson Osagie who will serve as National Secretary.

Others are: Comrade Isa Aremu as National Director of Ideology, Research and Education; Comrade Baba Aye as Director of Strategy and Mobilisation; Comrade Ikpe Etokudo as National Director of Publicity; Comrade Sylvester Ejiofoh as National Political Ad-

viser and Comrade Lucy Offiong as National Women Leader.

Mohammed said: “To reposition the Labour Party, there exists the urgent need for the Nigerian trade unions and the labour movement to take control, revitalise and strengthen the Party to prepare it as a viable platform for political contest, good governance and deepening of democracy in the country.

“In furtherance of the above resolution, the NLC and TUC mandated their National Political Commissions to give urgent

effect to the resolutions.

“The National Political Commission of the NLC, in consultation with major stakeholders advised against holding the convention of the party in Akure and urged all loyal party members who share the ideals of the Labour Party not to attend the convention.”

He explained that the congress was against party members attending the convention in Akure because the constitutional processes and procedures for convening party conventions were grossly violated.

FFICIALS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a technician for allegedly possessing 665 grammes of cannabis.

The suspect, Friday Ufot, hails from Akwa-Ibom State.

The arrest took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) during the outward screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.

Dried weeds, which tested positive for cannabis concealed in foodstuff, were found inside the suspect’s luggage.

NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar, stated that the case was under investigation.

The 31-year-old technician, who services and installs electrical appliances, told investigators that he was given the drug by a man who assisted him with his travel documents.

“I am a technician by profession. I suffered financial hardship and could not settle my bills.

Kwara gov loses mum

K

WARA State Governor, Dr. Abdul Fatah Ahmed, has lost his mother, Hajia Ramotalahi Ahmed.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said Hajia Ahmed, who was 90, died yesterday after a brief illness.

The deceased is survived

by Alhaji Ayo Ahmed, Alhaja Hajarat Ibraheem, Hajiya Sidikat Sadiq, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, Abdulrasak Ahmed, Hajiya Binta Atolagbe, Hajiya Nimota Abiara and Hajiya Basheerat Ahmed.

The deceased has since been buried according to Islamic rites in her home town of Share, Kwara State,

CORRIGENDUM

W

E inadvertently published ‘Newspaper of the Year’ in our issue yesterday.

The error is regretted. – Editor.

8

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS

Fire guts Ekiti Federal Poly

Violence: Oyo PDP chieftain petitions police boss

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T

A

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, has called on the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, to call to order the police operatives attached to one of the party’s governorship aspirants in the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

Olopoenia alleged that the policemen attached to Makinde, along with his Personal Assistant, Mr. Seye Famojuro, have been going about threatening and harassing party members and members of the public.

The PDP chieftain spoke yesterday while addressing journalists at his Basorun residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

“I wonder why eight policemen should be attached to an ordinary governorship aspirant in the state, thereby causing problems and harassing party members,” Olopoenia queried, adding, “Makinde and followers of former NURTW boss, Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxiliary), during his declaration harassed members of the public at IwoRoad. Also, last week Tuesday during the PDP meeting at Yemetu, his Personal Assistant led by his police escort, beat up our party members and chase them away. It was the party chairman in Ibadan North Local Government, Musiliu Anibaba, that appealed to them to stop the act.

“Also, on Saturday, Makinde’s escort led by one Famojuro and eight policemen attached to him around 5pm came to disrupt the PDP leaders congress at the party secretariat in Dandaru, Mokola, with his four campaign buses and three Hilux trucks. This is an abuse of the law.”

Olopoenia urged the police commissioner to caution the policemen attached to Makinde in order to prevent the breakdown of peace and order within the party and the entire state.

Groups endorse ex-council boss for Lagos Assembly

By Kunle Akinrinade

A

HEAD of 2015 elections, six political groups have endorsed the former Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Hon. Benjamin Olabinjo, for Ifako/Ijaiye constituency 02 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Olabinjo’s aspiration to fly the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received a boost during a consultative tour of the constituency on Thursday, with groups including the Justice Forum, Royal Alliance, Eko Circle, Mandate Group, Lagos Friends and Ifelodun Group backing his candidacy.

Speaking during the visit, Olabinjo said: “My visit is to engender support for my aspiration, because I want to carry all the groups along. I want everybody to feel my impact when I get to the House of Assembly, just like when our late leader, Hon. Olaitan Mustapha, carried everybody along and he was able to bring stability and development to Ojokoro.”

A chieftain of Justice Forum, Alhaji Tunji Tijani, pledged the group’s support for the ex-council boss, adding that the voting delegates of the group are solidly behind him.

•University of Ibadan Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole (left) congratulating the best graduating MBA student, Mrs. Khadijah Morhason-Bello with Miss Arume Ighoroje, the representative of the Tony Elumelu Foundation at the 2014 Convocation and 66th Foundation Dayin Ibadan...yesterday.

APC ticket: All aspirants must agree on consensus, says Atiku F

ORMER Vice President and a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said any decision by the leadership of the party to adopt the consensus option in picking its presidential candidate must be based on an agreement by all the aspirants.

Speaking to journalists after his visit to the Lagos State House of Assembly to solicit for the support of the lawmakers for his presidential ambition, the former Nigeria’s number two man said: “You cannot force consensus down the throat of people who are not willing, so it depends on how the party handles it. For now, the party has handled it in a very respon-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

sible and mature manner. It has requested for aspirants to explore the option of consensus, if they find that it is something that is workable, fine, if not, then they can subject them to primaries.”

Earlier, Abubakar had held a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers which lasted about an hour.

Describing the entry of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, into the APC presidential race as a welcome development, the former VP added, “His entry is legitimate; as far as democracy is concerned, the more the merrier. I do not

see any problem his entry is likely to bring as far as the selecting or electing a presidential candidate for the party is concerned.”

On the security situation in his home state, Adamawa, Atiku commended the resolve of people of the state to resist Boko Haram, saying, “We have recovered two local governments from them through our own vigilantes and local hunters. I mean these are not invisible group, but unfortunately the armed forces have failed to contain them, so we have to defend ourselves.

“The federal government has consistently lost ground and they have not been able to recover not even an inch of the

lost territories since the crisis started; I think the government has not done well.”

The former Vice President condemned the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), noting, “The exercise has not been conducted efficiently. I have always believed that INEC is not an independent body to conduct our elections, because everybody in INEC, from top to bottom is appointed by the ruling party, so how can they be independent. I think for us to have an independent INEC, we must also have an independent body to appoint all these officials.”

forthcoming 2015 governorship election.

But to his surprise, however, the plaintiff claimed that on the 9th of May this year, the EFCC, which is the third defendant, served him a notice indicating that the property had been temporarily forfeited to the federal government pursuant to a court order.

He alleged further that unknown to him, the fourth defendant had earlier been involved in a transaction with another person over the same property, a deal that later broke down due to undisclosed reasons.

While alleging that the sealing off of his campaign office was politically motivated to truncate his political ambition, the governorship aspirant further claimed that he has suffered serious political setback and reputational decline as a result of the action of the third defendant.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff is asking the court for an order restraining the defendants from further disturbing, harassing and intimidating him from possession of the property; the sum of N2billion naira as damages from the first defendant and a letter of apology from all the defendants.

Ogun PDP governorship aspirant sues EFCC, others over property

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leading governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Hon. Kayode Amusan, has sued the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke and the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the sealing off of his campaign office located at the Oke Ilewo GRA in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Also joined as a co-defendant in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, is the Federal Government and the owner of the said property, Mr. Felix Oriyomi Ewulo.

In his statement of claim,

By Remi Adelowo

Amusan, a PDP stalwart and former member of the House of Representatives, said sometime in November 2012, he bought the property in dispute from the fourth defendant, Felix Oriyomi, for a sum of N30million and immediately took possession of the property, a bungalow located at 19a, Gbadebop Street, GRA, Oke Ilewo in Abeokuta.

The plaintiff added that in May 2013, he commenced the renovation of the property for the purpose of converting it to his campaign office for the

Expert laments underfunding of government hospitals

U

NDERFUNDING has been identified as the major constraint affecting the effective operations of government-tertiary hospitals.

This assertion was made

by Prof. Adetokunbo Lucas, who was the guest speaker at the University College Hospital (UCH) bi-annual lecture and College of Medicine Endowment Fund Raising ceremony at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos.

The lecture and fund raising was held in honour

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

of the former Chairman of Nigeria Breweries Plc, Mr. Felix Ohewerei.

Speaking on the topic ‘Can Nigeria Afford the Luxury of a Modern Hospital?,’ Lucas noted that the bane of the health system in the country is the failure of government to effectively plan the financial details of the daily running of the hospitals.

The emeritus professor further noted that while financial crisis has contributed

to the decadence of these hospitals, inadequate monitoring and evaluation of the human resource management are also factors affecting the smooth operations of government-owned hospitals.

To address these challenges, Lucas called on the government to allocate more funds to hospitals in the procurement of modern equipment and hiring of competent professionals.

He added that physical infrastructure, human resources, staff training, health

education, research, monitoring and evaluation should also be taken seriously to enable Nigerian hospitals deliver excellent services.

Advising the management of Nigerian hospitals “to cut their coat according to their cloth,” the renowned medical expert added, “We should not buy modern equipment that we cannot afford to maintain; we can buy a smaller and less expensive equipment and also train people who can manage them.”

HE School of Engineering complex at the Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti, was last Friday night razed by fire.

According to eyewitness accounts, the fire which started around 11 pm destroyed the offices of the Dean of School of Engineering, Heads of Department of Mechanical, Civil, Electrical/Electronics and Agricultural Engineering, alongside a large lecture room.

It took the timely intervention of the men of the Ekiti State Fire Service, the Polytechnic Fire Service team, security officials, alongside ranking officials of the institution, including the Registrar, members of the Governing Council, as well as students who battled for nearly four hours, to bring the inferno under control.

Commenting on the incident, the Rector of the Institution, Dr. Taiwo Akande, described the experience as “a disaster of monumental proportions.”

He disclosed that many sensitive documents and materials ranging from computer systems, furniture items, office cabinets and the building complex were lost in the fire incident.

Youths support Adaranijo for Reps

By Joe Agbro Jr.

Y

OUTHS under the aegis of Orile-Agege Community Youth Congress have thrown their weight behind Hon. Taofeek Adaranijo’s campaign to represent the Agege constituency at the House of House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group described Adaranijo, the immediate past chairman of Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, as a grassroots politician who understands the peoples’ feelings and would initiate and support bills that would be beneficial to them.

“Adaranijo is the most experienced political office holder presently in Agege APC by virtue of his being a former councillor, vice-chairman for two tenures, executive secretary and chairman for three terms,” said the general coordinator of the group, Mr. Yinka Adeyeye.

Having worked with various legislators in the course of his political career, he is well-prepared to represent Agege at the federal level,” the group noted.

Boroffice gets nod for second term

T

HE coast is now clear for the second term bid of Senator Ajayi Boroffice as he received the endorsement of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leaders of the party in the Ondo North Senatorial District.

National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the endorsement is well deserved, while describing Boroffice for his commitment to the party ever since he defected to the party from the Labour Party (LP).

The leaders of the APC in Ondo North Senatorial District have also endorsed the lawmaker, who is the Asiwaju of Akokoland, for providing the needed support at the teething stage of the party.

9

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

• Jonathan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan's presidency in 2011 was heralded by some exhilarating promises which brought fresh hope to Nigerians, especially youths and the oppressed majority, who were yet to recover from the rude shock occasioned by the sudden death of former President Umar Yar'Adua.

Jonathan's campaigns, described as "fresh and dynamic," added momentum to the unfolding drama, a drama of a once shoeless Nigerian destined to bring hope, restoration, transformation and 'good luck' to a blessed nation that has long been abandoned in the harsh desert of gross maladministration and corruption.

In an ennobled voice of a seeming messiah, Jonathan had said on September 18, 2010, as he made the formal declaration to contest the 2011 Presidential Election: "I stand before you today (18th September, 2010), humbly seeking your support for me, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, to run for the office of the President of Nigeria with Architect Namadi Sambo as my running mate.

"We will fight for justice!

We will fight for all Nigerians to have access to power!

We will fight for qualitative and competitive education!

We will fight for health care reforms!

We will fight to create jobs, for all Nigerians!

We will fight corruption!

We will fight to protect all citizens!

We will fight for your rights!

My dear country men and women, give me your support, give me your votes and together we will fight to build a great nation of our dreams!"

As would be expected, most Nigerians took these promises as Gospel truths, especially because of the humble sociopolitical background of the giver.

Dr Israel Udodirim, a political scientist in Lagos, recalled the impact of the

JONATHAN'S TOP 10

2011 broken promises and U-turns

Following President Goodluck Jonathan's declaration to contest for reelection at the 2015 Presidential Election in spite of the promise he made during the 2011 presidential election campaigns not to seek for a second term in office, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on Mr. President's broken political promises and U-turns declaration speech and the other political promises from Jonathan on the electorates and the common people. "Nigerians saw in Jonathan, way back in 2010, when he made those thrilling promises, the ideal change we have been clamouring for, the fresh politician with little or no baggage, the ideal leader with the right education and the right background to tackle the unique problems of the country, bearing in mind the challenges millions of Nigerian masses face on a daily basis."

Perhaps, it was with the same understanding that Jonathan easily won the 2011 presidential election and was sworn in as President, May 29, 2011.

Since then, critical observers have continued to accuse Jonathan and his government of failed promises and U-turns.

Broken political promises and U-turns One of the areas President Jonathan's opponents say he has failed to fulfill the promise he made to Nigerians is on the

political field, particularly on the issue of his tenure. They argued that at the heat of the campaigns for the 2011 Presidential Elections, Jonathan had clearly promised not to seek reelection in 2015. But during the week, on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, Jonathan formally declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election on the ticket of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The controversy over Jonathan's political future in 2015 dates back to 2010 even before he formally declared his 2011 presidential ambition. At a crowded press conference in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, just a day before his formal declaration, his promise to govern only for a term was first broached to Nigerians.

At that auspicious briefing, Dalhatu Tafida, the then Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, told Nigerians in clear language that "The President wants to run for one term…Let us give him the four years and see how he performs," he said.

It was a promise few doubted, especially because of the peculiar political realities then following the death of former President Umar Yar'Adua and tension in the polity over power rotation and the tenure of the North.

Some powerful political leaders from the North had tried desperately to stop Jonathan's ambition then, arguing that the alleged eight years tenure for the North, which the late Ya'Adua would have done, will not end until 2015 and that it would not be right for Jonathan, who is from the SouthSouth to continue in office. But Jonathan's supporters across the country, taking into consideration the unique political realities of the time, rallied round him to ensure his election. According to some sources, it was in the course of this top flight negotiation that the option of a single term was considered.

So, when Tafida made the promise on behalf of his boss, many took it as a genuine

•Contd. on page 10

10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS REVIEW

JONATHAN'S TOP 10

2011 broken promises and U-turns •Contd. from page 9

promise by Jonathan.

It did not end there for Jonathan himself, who never at that time denied or faulted Tafida's utterances, also made the promise in very clear terms.

Few days after the Abuja press conference preceding his official declaration to seek presidential office in 2011, Jonathan personally confirmed Tafida's assurances when on January 31, 2011, while addressing Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he attended an African Union Summit, he told the audience: "I would have loved that Nigerians in the Diaspora vote this year. But to be frank with you that is going to be difficult now. Nigerians in the Diaspora will not vote, but I will work towards it by 2015, even though I will not be running for election."

He also promised the special audience of Nigerians that if voted in for the next four years, he would ensure significant improvement in key sectors of the economy - security, power, education, road, health amongst others.

"Without security, there is no government. So it is not debatable, it is something we have to address and we are working towards that with vigour. But if I'm voted into power within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can't improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for the next four years."

In what a critic described as 'a callous uturn,' Jonathan on Tuesday, at a huge rally in Abuja, formally declared his intention to run in 2015 elections for the office of president.

He explained how he came about the decision to throw his hat on the ring in spite of the criticism of his opponents thus: "After seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with my family and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on the platform of the Peoples' Democratic Party, for reelection as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general elections."

As would be expected, Jonathan has been flayed by some Nigerians, including his political opponents. For example, Nigeria's

P

•Jonathan at his declaration for 2015 main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) roundly condemned the timing of the declaration, questioning why the President and his party chose to make the declaration of his ambition for a second term less than 24 hours after about 50 students were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Potiskum, Yobe State.

APC's National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, described the declaration as "insensitive and senseless."

He lamented that the President was "dancing on the graves of the students,' adding, "Since this President has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year."

Part of the APC statement said this "act of blatant hard-heartedness, Jonathan was only continuing along his well-trodden path of acting without deep introspection.

"When about 60 students were killed in the terror attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in February 2014, President Jonathan never visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims.

When over 80 people were killed in the first Nyanya bombing in April 2014, President Jonathan went dancing 'Azonto' in Kano less than 48 hours later.

"And when almost 300 girls were freshly abducted in Chibok, President Jonathan neither acted fast enough to rescue the girls nor visited the village. His administration

even denied anyone was abducted, until 19 days after!

"This President has therefore established a pattern of putting his political interest above the security and welfare of Nigerians who voted him into office. This President has trampled upon the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which makes the security and welfare of the citizenry the raison d'etre of the government's existence.

"It is time for Nigerians to respond in kind by trampling on his political ambition and sending him back to Otuoke."

Responding, the Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described APC's statement as 'mischievous.' PDP said APC in their "characteristic manner, instead of accepting the successes already acknowledged by Nigerians, went into their usual shadowboxing and mischievous propaganda in a failed attempt to score a cheap political point."

Metuh also said in the statement that: "All over the world, it is known that terrorists plan their evil activities to manipulate political events and policies and that the more you allow them space, the more dastardly and frequent they turn. If terrorists must be denied the publicity they crave so much for, it becomes the responsibility of all patriots in moments like this to work hard to prevent them from hijacking events or taking control of our destiny."

Besides the timing of the declaration, his opponents and some other observers say Jonathan did not keep his words on his reelection ambition and that electorates will not forget that on the day of election. It remains to be seen how if the alleged u-turn on the issue of tenure will affect Jonathan's electoral fortunes in 2015 elections.

Question mark on human rights Notwithstanding repeated claims by Jonathan-led Federal Government that his administration ensured protection of human rights and freedom of speech as it supervised the signing into law of Freedom of Information Bill, observers said a recent harassment of some media houses has put a big question mark on the administration's record in this sector.

It would be recalled that in spite of Jonathan's promise to defend all the rights of Nigerians, including the freedom of information, when he said in 2011, "we will fight for your rights' there were reports of harassment of newspaper houses sometime in June 2014, when military clamped down some media houses.

Although the Defence Spokesman, MajorGeneral Chris Olukolade, officially denied the clampdown, it was confirmed that soldiers actually intercepted some newspaper distribution vehicles going to some states.

Also during this period, The Nation noted heavy presence of military men near the corporate headquarters of the affected media houses.

A statement released by the management of Media Trust Limited (publishers of Daily Trust), one of the affected newspaper houses, said: "Armed soldiers this morning confiscated copies of today's edition of Daily Trust across the country and disrupted the distribution of the paper in major cities including Abuja, Kano, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt," the statement said.

"The soldiers, who claimed they were acting on superior order, mounted roadblocks along the major highways through which the newspaper is distributed and intercepted the delivery van. They also mounted road roadblocks around our offices in Abuja and Kano," it added.

The statement "recalled that Daily Trust had published an exclusive lead story on Wednesday on the sharing of an Abuja barrack plots to Army generals and their spouses for personal use."

Corruption, bad roads ta

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan was in an upbeat mood while speaking on his administration's achievements in the road sector during his declaration to run for a second term at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

"When I assumed office in 2010, he began, "Out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide, only about 5,000km were motorable. Today, that number has increased to about 25,000km. We expect to complete the remaining 10,000kmin three years while initiating new ones," he added amid applause from the audience comprising top government officials, leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), supporters to mention but a few.

A few months earlier, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, had also given his ministry a pass mark on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Speaking while presenting his ministry's score card, the minister noted that giant strides have been recorded in road development since the inception of the Jonathan administration.

Onolememen added that on May 29, 2011, Nigerian roads were described as death traps and many road projects were abandoned, while a number of ongoing projects were moving at snail speed.

Four years on, Onolememen added that Nigerian roads can no longer be described as death-traps "as a result of the unprecedented rehabilitation, construction and expansion of major arterial highways under the leadership of Jonathan.

Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, reports on President Goodluck Jonathan's failed promises following unresolved high level corruption cases "Today, travel times between origins and destinations on most of these arterial routes have been drastically reduced. Also, maintenance costs of vehicles have been reduced as a result of improved driving surfaces, devoid of potholes that hitherto put 'holes' in the pockets of vehicle owners due to frequent repairs occasioned by bad roads."

But not many Nigerians agree with Jonathan's and the minister's self adulation. Indeed, many Nigerians are quick to point out that despite the trillions of naira spent by the present administration to fix road infrastructure, the realities on ground clearly paint a dismal picture.

Instances abound to buttress this claim. For instance, critics say Jonathan has not fulfilled one of his 2011 campaign promises to reconstruct the road leading to Nigeria's premier international gateway, Murtala Mohammed Airport.

Also, the Apapa-Oshodi expressway leading to the major ports where the Federal Government earns huge revenue has not been fixed till date. In addition, the construction of the Oyo-Ogbomoso expressway has been abandoned despite the fact that its other phases comprising of Ibadan to Oyo and Ogbomoso to Ilorin were completed by previous administrations.

In the South-East, the Onitsha to Enugu and Enugu to Port-Harcourt remain in deplorable condition despite President Jonathan's promises in 2011 to fix the roads. The two roads, which are

considered very strategic, have worsened in the last four years without any intervention from the relevant quarters.

Major federal roads in Abia State, according to findings, have also virtually collapsed. The condition of roads particularly in Aba, a major industrial hub in the entire South-East, has been worst hit.

Piqued by the deplorable state of federal roads in the South-East geopolitical zone, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, sometime last month, summoned Onolememe to "revisit all federal roads in the zone."

National Publicity Secretary of the party and the leader of the party's Publicity and Evaluation Committee, Chief Olisa Metuh, while fielding questions in Umuahia, Abia State, after the committee's facility tour of some project sites in the state, expressed dismay over the poor condition of federal roads in Aba in particular as well as other parts of the South-East, and assured that the party would mandate the Works' Minister to undertake a tour of all federal roads in the zone for first hand information on their condition with a view to fixing them.

Apart from the famous East/West road which construction has suffered neglect in spite of government assurances, almost the whole of South-East and South-South regions are littered

with federal roads crying for urgent attention.

These include Aba/Ikot Ekpene, Owerri/Port Harcourt, Umuahia/Ohafia, Port Harcourt/Aba/ Umuahia, Umuahia/Bende/Arochuckwu highways.

At several fora, many state governors had raised the alarm over the collapse of federal roads in their domains, while calling on the Federal Government to hand over such roads to the state government for rehabilitation with the attendant increase in their allocation from the federation account.

Private sector to the rescue The Federal Government is however considering other options to address this challenge, one of which is allowing the private sector to take charge of the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of its roads.

Former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made this known in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing organised by his ministry for the Works Ministry.

"Everywhere in the world now, or major countries that are strong economic powers like Nigeria, people are not looking for Federal money or government money for road construction.

People are returning to the private sector. India, Malaysia - several of those countries - attract billions of dollars for road construction from the private sector," said Maku, who noted that the Federal Government has spent N1.765 trillion on 184 ongoing projects across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

He noted that despite the huge sum being spent on infrastructure, a huge gap still exists, hence the need for the private sector to take over.

"There is no money that you will get today

NEWS REVIEW

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

W

HILE entreating Nigerians to give him their votes in the run up to the 2011 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan emphasised his readiness to tackle the then festering problem of insecurity in the country if elected as the President.

So much did he desire to be believed over his promise to provide security for lives and properties all over the country that everywhere he went, he never failed to make a vow out of his plans concerning insecurity.

On February 17th, 2011, he was in Jos, Plateau State, where he pledged to put an immediate and total end to the age-long inter-ethnic fighting in the state as soon as he was elected. Using the state as a point of contact, Jonathan promised to police the country adequately in such a way that will ensure easy detection of looming violence.

Few days later, on Feb 27, he was in Asaba, the Delta state capital. On that fateful Sunday, he revealed that a vote for him was a vote to end the menace of kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The President promised to chase criminals out of the country in no time once elected.

And at the Katsina Township Stadium on March 15, 2011 Jonathan promised to tackle the then festering Boko Haram uprising in the north firmly to prevent a disturbance of the peace in the northern regions.

Assuming power as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2011 after his victory in a disputed election that resulted in widespread violence, Jonathan reiterated all his promises concerning security in his maiden speech.

"Conscious of the negative effect of insecurity on growth and development, my administration will seek collaboration at bilateral and multilateral levels, to improve our capability in combating trans-border crimes. In this regard, we will intensify our advocacy against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which have become the catalyst for conflicts on the African continent.

"You have trusted me with your mandate, and I will never, never let you down. I know your pains because I have been there. Look beyond the hardship you have endured. See a new beginning, a new direction; a new spirit," he said.

But following his declaration to seek another term in 2015, Nigerians are saying the President has not only failed to deliver on his promise, he has also failed in his duties as the Chief Security Officer of the country.

Pundits say considering the series of security challenges currently confronting the country, the promises have been dashed.

Widespread upsurge in insurgency, violence, kidnapping and killings across all the zones of the country, in spite of his promises, the security situation is worse under the watch of Jonathan.

Tales of annexation of towns and villages by the rampaging Boko Haram sect, incessant bomb explosions and shoot-outs, persistent killings of

JONATHAN'S TOP 10

Insecurity: Jonathan, man of his words?

Insurgency and the general state of insecurity across the country have made a mince meat of the promises President Goodluck Jonathan made to Nigerians in 2011, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

•Boko Haram farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State, constant violence between farmers and herdsmen in Benue and Nasarawa states, kidnapping and armed robbery in the South-East and South-South, as well as ritual killings in the South-West have all contributed to the appalling score card of the current administration in the area of security of lives and properties.

A Kaduna-based retired army officer, Capt.

Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, while assessing Jonathan's handling of the Boko Haram insurgency and other security issues, concluded that the President need to tell Nigerians what he has been doing about the upsurge of violence across the country.

Alawuje, who served in the 29 Motorised Infantry Battalion, said he participated in peacekeeping and the Army never failed to crush insurgents.

"The Chief Security Officer of the country is Mr. President. He is the one everyone will cry to in a time as this. But in a situation whereby the President is politicising security matters, there will be a serious problem. I am speaking from experience.

"This Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East has been ravaging the country for almost five years. With my own experience, I don't believe this thing is just happening. I don't want to believe that. I want to believe that some people, even in the government, are involved in this thing. If not, the Nigerian Army, which has been in every part of the world to keep the peace, would have crushed the insurgency.

"I know the competence of the Army. I know what they can do. But in this situation, they find it difficult to solve the problem. We

should ask President Jonathan what he has been doing," he said.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is also of the opinion that Jonathan has failed to fulfill the promises he made to Nigerians while campaigning in 2010. The forum recently at an emergency meeting with nongovernment organisations from the North, accused the President of failing woefully to protect the people of the region.

The ACF National Executive Council (NEC) Chairman, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, a former Inspector-General of Police, thinks Jonathan has no intention of solving the many security challenges facing the country, especially the north.

"As we gather here today to discuss, let us not lose sight of the fact that there is a Federal Government, whose responsibility it is to protect the lives and safeguard the property of every citizen of this country. What we are witnessing today is a complete reversal of that role. The government of the day under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has woefully failed to protect us.

"While the North is being battered, the people in government have not made serious effort to end it. For the first time in the history of this great nation, our President is being openly condemned for his ineptitude, immaturity and ineffectiveness. Since the advent of the Boko Haram uprising in 2009, the region has witnessed a speedy descent into anarchy. The insurgency and insecurity situation we are faced with in the North is such that we have never imagined would happen to Arewa that we all grew up to know, love and cherish.

"The Arewa that was bequeathed to us by our fore-fathers is no longer the same. Today, the entire Northern region is under siege. The North is being attacked from all angles and fields. Now, the general belief is that this government and its leadership do not like us.

The current policies and the government attitude towards the insurgency leave us with no better conclusion than to assume that there is a deliberate plan or attempt to emasculate the North economically, to reduce us numerically, disunite us religiously and divide us politically," Coomassie has argued.

In the words of former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, "President Goodluck Jonathan has been chasing shadows in Federal Government's efforts at curtailing the activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram."

To him, Boko Haram's declaration of parts of the North-East as a caliphate was an affront to the Federal Government. "The truth is that Goodluck Jonathan has failed, he should throw in the towel," Tsav said.

s taint Jonathan's record

•One of the bad roads from the federal budget that will deliver on these infrastructure," Maku explained. He disclosed that by 2019, the construction and maintenance of roads will principally be handled by the private sector.

Would this option be the final solution to the decrepit road infrastructure in the country? Only time can tell.

Railways back, but still largely archaic One of the achievements touted by the present administration is the revival of the railway system.

In President Jonathan's words at his second term declaration rally, "Railway system was practically dead when we came in. Today, we have

11

revived the rail sector. The narrow gauge line from Lagos to Kano has been rehabilitated with improved coaches providing regular services.

"The rehabilitation of the Port-HarcourtMaiduguri rail line is progressing with the PortHarcourt-Gombe segment, as well as the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to be completed and fully operational by December 2014. Already, work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line is progressing.

"The tracks of the rail line will be completed

by December this year 2014. Upon completion of the project in the first quarter of 2015, it will be

possible for Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari standard gauge line has attained an advanced stage, with the track completely laid. We hope to commence full operation before the end of 2015‌" The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, spoke in a similar vein during the presentation of his ministry's score card a few months ago.

Umar disclosed that a major achievement by his ministry is the rehabilitation of railway tracks across the country, a development that led to the resuscitation of the Lagos-Kano railway line which was launched with fanfare earlier this year.

In addition to the plan to complete the Eastern rail line from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri before the end of this year, the Federal Government has also intensified efforts towards the commencement of Mass Train Transit Service (MTTS) on several routes, among which is the Lagos-Ilorin train service which began operations recently.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), according to the minister, has also taken steps in its efforts to resume goods haulage across Nigeria following the launch of Ewekoro-Ilorin weekly cement haulage, adding that the ongoing railway revitalisation and modernisation is designed to enhance economic growth of the country.

Apart from the ongoing rehabilitation of the entire fixed and movable assets of the rail transport industry with the 1,315 kilometre Lagos-to-Kano track, the government claims to have procured 25 new general electric locomotive engines and workshop equipment; installed three generators of 1,000KVA, 750 KVA and 5,000 KVA; and refurbished 500 wagons and coaching facilities.

In spite of the relative success, there are

concerns that the government's strategic objectives of providing rail transport infrastructure capable of supporting significant economic development in the country may be a pipe dream judging by the slow pace of work by five out of the seven contractors working on the project.

The 25-year Railway Strategic Vision, broken into phases 1, 2 and 3-system transition (20002007); system modernisation (2007-2015) and system stabilisation (2016-2017)-is intended to make the railway system function effectively and become attractive to potential concessionaires.

But in the opinion of many experts, the government's claim of reforms in the railway sector has been high on promises but abysmally low on delivery. For instance, questions are still being asked as to why the Federal Government is just rehabilitating the old railway tracks in this modern era of fast metroline and bullet trains.

Corruption still a major cankerworm Anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International in its corruption perception index 2012, rated Nigeria as one of the 35th most corrupt countries in the world.

In the report, Nigeria was 139th out of the 176 countries surveyed. The 2013 Global Survey by the same agency stated that 84 percent of Nigerians surveyed by TI believed that corruption had increased in the past two years, a higher percentage than almost any other country in the world.

More worrisome is the fact that 75percent of those surveyed also said the government has been ineffective at fighting corruption.

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NEWS REVIEW

JONATHAN'S TOP 10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Power, employment, economy: So far, so poor

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan took oath of office on May 29, 2011 amidst thunderous expectations from the generality of Nigerians promising to deliver a very ambitious development plan in different spheres of the economy, specifically in the area of generation and transmission of stable power, employment creation, infrastructural development, improve security of lives and property, among others, all encapsulated in his now famous Economic Transformation Agenda.

But four years down the line, not a few Nigerians are convinced that the country has indeed attained lofty heights in the key areas of the economy in line with the promises made by President Jonathan.

Transformation Agenda in brief The Economic Transformation Agenda, if you may, is a five-year development plan from 2011-2015, which focused on three key areas including: strong, inclusive and noninflationary growth; employment generation and poverty alleviation and value re-orientation of the citizenry, all driven by a world class team of 28 technocrats under the chairmanship of the President himself and being coordinated by Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala.

While the jury is still out to determine the extent of the success or otherwise of the much hyped Economic Transformation Agenda in its entirety, at this juncture, a cursory view of the measurable outcomes of key areas of the Transformation Agenda becomes imperative.

Power Not long after he succeeded his late boss, Umaru Yar'Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan launched the Road Map for Power Sector Reform, in which he outlined his plans to effectively address the challenge of epileptic power supply in the country.

Speaking at a public forum in Lagos in August 2010, the President told his audience, which included members of the diplomatic corps and senior government officials that with the road map, the problem of power outages in the country would end by December 2012.

Under the programme, President Jonathan said, a Super Transmission Network would be implemented while 5000 megawatts (MW) would be generated by international oil companies just as he promised that there would be active exploitation of hydro-nuclear and coal power, a new gas policy, constitution of two presidential committees on power, the reconstitution of the boards and membership of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and privatisation of PHCN. The president promised to provide more power to Nigerians in the earliest possible time and even set a minimum target of 16,000 MW which he said would be achieved by 2013.

Besides, he promised to rehabilitate all existing power generation, distribution and transmission assets to give a minimum of 6,000 MW of electricity, complete all National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, to produce at least 4,000 MW by 2012 and harness alternative sources of energy such as coal, wind and solar to generate an initial 13, 000 MW. The president also assured that he would privatise power generation and distribution, concession transmission networks and construct new transmission network in 2011-2014 using the public-private partnership model.

"By common consent, solving the electricity supply problem in Nigeria is the key to the country's development as it would unleash the tremendous capacity in the economy that has been hobbled by the inadequate and epileptic power supply," President Jonathan assured.

However, after four years in office, President Jonathan is far from fulfilling

Power, unemployment and grim economic realities show that President Goodluck Jonathan has not fulfilled the promises he made to Nigerians in 2011, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf reports

•Transformers the Power Road Map. Current power situation Available information sourced from different government documents show that the country's current electricity generation for the over 160million population is a paltry 4,600 MW, a far cry from the 16,000 MW the President promised would be achieved by 2013.

The Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe while reeling out the achievements principal, recently said, "The Goodluck Jonathan administration has improved the power generation from around 2, 000 megawatts to 4, 600 megawatts in September, 2014, the highest since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999."

Okupe added that before the end of the year, power generation will hit 6, 000 MW and by December this year it will increase to 10, 000 MW. The power situation is, however, so bad that most Nigerians have now resorted to the use of generators. Even government establishments, including those under the Presidency as well as the Aso Rock Villa have generators as major source of power supply with the government-funded PHCN as standby.

Studies last year showed business concerns generate about 28,000 MW of electricity with over a trillion naira while households, according to NERC's estimate, spend N796.4 billion a year on self-generation.

This figure is strikingly similar to the federal budget of N796.7 billion for capital expenditure for the current fiscal year.

A breakdown shows that N540.9 billion is spent on diesel and N255.5 billion goes into the purchase of petrol annually for power generating sets.

To many observers, the big expenditure on power generation is perhaps a sad commentary on the low level of infrastructural development in the sector.

In the view of Godfrey Ogbemudia, Programme Director, Community Research and Development Centre, the expenditure on power largely due to inadequacy

in power supply.

With the about 4, 0000 MW the country generates for its 160 million people, Nigerians are among the most deprived of electricity supply in the world despite being an oil producer. It is nowhere near comparable to South Africa which generates 45, 000 MW for its 45 million people.

However, analysts are quick to point out that although ensuring steady power supply remains in the minds of those at the helms of affairs, the sector is bedevilled by challenges which the government officials scarcely have the will to confront. One of the challenges is corruption and bad management which the country's electricity workers have repeatedly asked the government to tame.

The other is inadequate budgetary provisions. In the 2011 Budget, the first he prepared as President Jonathan allocated about N90 billion to the sector, about N66 billion less than what his predecessor, Mr. Yar'Adua allocated to it. The sector got the second largest allocation in 2012 with N161.42 billion after security which got N921.91 billion. In 2013, the sector got N77.36 billion.

But it is not only in the area of power sector that President Jonathan has failed Nigerians who elected him.

In the area of employment creation, the president is yet to translate his promises into reality.

Employment President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged the fact that unemployment had become one of the biggest challenges in Nigeria and that it could only be addressed with innovative ideas that would empower youths to create jobs.

"My conviction is that if government decides to create enterprises, to employ people, the rate will go at arithmetic means but if we have a programme where we identify some talented creative youth and empower them to employ, the rate of employment will grow in a geometric progression."

To underscore his administration`s commitment to creating job opportunity for the army of unemployed youth in the country, he

set up the much touted 'Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria', otherwise known as YouWin! Under the scheme, an estimated 110,000 jobs was planned as part of government`s efforts to tackle unemployment in the next four years.

The President disclosed that due to the age distribution of youths, "which makes them more in number", it was imperative for them to take the driver's seat of the country's development and therefore need all the support his administration could offer.

The Federal Government declared her irrevocable commitment to creating job opportunity for the army of unemployed youth in the country.

To underscore the need for partnership and collaboration, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has said job creation and employment generation is at the fore-front of the transformation agenda of the administration under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan. The Minister said this when playing host to Ambassador Terence McCulley. He added that one of the cardinal objectives of the Jonathan administration is job creation and employment generation. These pronouncements underscore Jonathan's commitment to job creation.

The President also reiterated that more than N50 billion will be set aside for employment generation, even as he hinted that partnership with the private sector is very critical.

With the enabling environment created by the administration, more of such private sector jobs would be created in the foreseeable future.

Current situation But sadly, despite some of the efforts, which many analysts consider cosmetic measures, unemployment continues to pose serious challenges to the country.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, put the figure of unemployed Nigerians last year at 25.9 per cent, up from 22.1 per cent in 2012 and 19.7 per cent in 2010.

As at last year, the total number of unemployed Nigerians rose to more than 20 million in 2012 from

more than 14 million in 2011, with the figure increasing by 1.8 million between December 2010 and June 2011.

Indication that the unemployment crisis is tough is the outcry that attended the needless deaths of applicants for the immigration jobs in different parts of the country, in which hundreds of job seekers died during the melee that ensued at those venues.

Still, the growing army of unemployed youths, analysts have argued, has become easy recruits for unscrupulous individuals involved all kinds of nefarious activities.

Economy To be fair, when the current administration came into power on June 29, 2010, its impact in the area of economy began to manifest as early as the last quarter of 2010 when the GDP grew by a record 8.29% and by over 7% in 2011 and finally peaked at the second quarter of 2014 when the economy was rebased and thus became the largest economy on the continent of Africa besting South Africa.

Under the current administration, the country had verifiably become the fourth fastest growing economy in the world as recently attested to by several multilateral bodies and trading partners.

Still, followers of the economic policies are quick to remember that in October 2011 international ratings agency, Fitch Ratings, revised the country's outlook upwards from negative to stable just as Standard and Poor's, another internationally respected and independent ratings agency, revised Nigeria's ratings from stable to positive.

The Jonathan administration also initiated the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and a seed capital of $1 billion was provided to kick start the fund as well as establish three sub-fundsthe Nigeria Infrastructure Fund; the Future Generations Fund and the Stabilisation Fund, which will be the pillars of the SWF. The CBN's banking reforms, which began before the coming on board of the Jonathan administration, however, received a great boost with the setting up of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) under Jonathan's watch.

AMCON emerged as a unique institution that combines buying non-performing loans (NPLs) with loan restructuring, and recapitalising troubled financial institutions.

AMCON, as the governmentowned 'bad bank' is known, was set up as a resolution mechanism for the Nigerian banking crisis and it is the sole owner of the three bridged banks at present-Mainstreet Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited.

In terms of monetary policy, the administration, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, has been conservative and the regime of tight monetary policy has kept inflation at a single digit for most part of last year.

The Jonathan administration's handling of the economy led to JP Morgan Chase the reputable American investment and Securities Company to list Nigeria on its Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM). It is the second African company after South Africa to be listed. This inclusion of Nigerian bonds could mean an `inflow of at least $1.5 million of inflow into Nigeria's bond market.'

However, analysts hold the view, and very strongly too that in the last four years, the economic front shows a plethora of activities in key sectors such as fiscal policy, banking reforms, et al, but in terms of performance, it leaves little to cheer.

Ropo Sekoni

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Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

The road now taken Aganga charts path towards improving industry, trade and investment

tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

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ITH 17 parastatals, it would appear the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI) has the largest number of government agencies in the country. By the way, I have always searched in vain for the meaning of the word ‘parastatal’ in any good dictionary, to no avail. I guess I must have missed the golden opportunity of knowing what it means or how we came about it in our civil service lexicon at the fourth edition of the media workshop for industry, trade and investment correspondents and senior editors of the local and international media held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, from November 7 to November 8. The workshop, with the theme: “Building a Greater Nation Through Sustained Transformation” was attended by the minister, Dr Olusegun Aganga, the permanent secretary, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa, as well as directors in the ministry and the heads of its parastatals. Since the event was well attended by the heads of the parastatals, it should have been a good opportunity for me to ask them what the word means and how come it is only in Nigeria’s public service that it has gained currency.

Anyway, there will always be another chance.

And, talking about parastatals under MITI, one is not talking about some of those idle or irrelevant agencies of government but very crucial ones, especially in the area of developing the economy and weaning it away from its perilous dependence on oil and the vagaries of the international oil market. Here, one is talking about agencies such as the Bank of Industry (BoI), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Industrial Training Fund, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), among others. The credentials of the heads of most of these agencies and parastatals are equally intimidating. Indeed, this was the impression I got on the very first day of the workshop when some of them delivered their papers and answered questions from the participants.

In this respect, Dr Aganga took the heat off my zone when he reeled out the academic and professional attainments of three of them, including that of the CPC boss, Mrs Dupe Atoki, on the second day of the workshop. Mrs Atoki, apart from the many national appointments she has had, had also served the African Union in diverse capacities including: legal consultant in the drafting of legal instruments; member of election monitoring/ observer team to several African countries; commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as the chairperson of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa. I singled her out deliberately because when she started her presentation and kept talking about challenges that are not making the consumer king in our (kind of) environment, I already gave her presentation the title “Lamentations of the CPC boss”. She

•Aganga however redeemed herself by the time she touched on the achievements of her council, particularly the celebrated case of the 39 air passengers allegedly abandoned by one of the airlines in the country without compensation or apology, which the CPC took up and over which it was challenged by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). I am waiting to see if by the time the matter is resolved by government, the passengers would still retain their crowns as the kings that they should be.

One thing that cannot be taken from the minister is his business-like approach to issues.

Another is the open-mindedness with which he took questions at the workshop. For instance, when I took him up on his automotive policy, his response was not totally satisfactory to me but he had his own point. My issue is with the state of infrastructure, particularly power, which is crucial to the success of the dream of a cheap Nigerian car and all its accompaniments. While I thought we should have sorted out the power problem first, at least; he felt otherwise. My concern is exacerbated by the fact that some of these things crisscross one another; it is not something for a single ministry to determine.

In the specific case of the automotive policy, loans and interest rate (CBN) will be involved; the power ministry will be involved, etc. The danger is that all the ministries and agencies involved might not have the same passion and commitment to the project, which will invariably tell on the end-result.

However, the bone of contention over our respective positions is which comes or should come first. It was not a fundamental question of the desirability of the dream car.

There have been some firsts in the line of Aganga’s achievements. But I take personal interest in one. For the first time in about 100 years, the ministry has switched over from manual to automated registration of industrial property through the Industrial Property Automated System (IPAS) to improve the integrity of registration of trademark patent and design in the country. As the registrar, commercial law department in the ministry, Salman Mann said, “The automation is modern technology that would make it easier and faster for our staff and applicants in line with the international best practice as well as put the registry on the same

“My fear is that much as the minister seems passionate about the government’s transformation agenda; his passion to transform industry, transform trade, and transform investment won’t end up making him a victim of political transformation. We once had a power minister that many of us thought was leading us out of darkness only to wake up one morning to be told that he had to go”

footing with other registries in the world.

It’s going to enhance our revenue and block all leakages and no process can be skipped in the course of the registration”, he said.

In essence, a ministry like MITI is not one to be left in the hands of just anybody. It is a strategic ministry that should be handled by a pragmatic helmsman who knows his onions, especially in the country’s diversification efforts, given the recent developments in the oil sector. Without sounding unduly alarmist, we must begin to think creatively and vigorously too of viable alternatives to oil revenue before we start drinking the commodity or before we start hawking it like we do pepper and groundnuts, seeking buyers at rock bottom prices.

However, there are a few things that I noted at the workshop which I cannot but touch on since two days were not enough to tackle all the relevant issues that arose from there. One of these is my observation that the ministry too believes this impression that the country’s huge population remains one key factor attracting investors into the country. This may be working for us now but there is need to caution that things must keep improving economically for this to continue to be, because what is important in the final analysis is not the absolute figures but the vital segment of the population; that is those with the ability to buy or make effective demand, as the economists would say.

The point may be made that if the ministry is this efficient, how come we are not beginning to see or feel the impact? Perhaps the answer can be explained by the fact that things are so bad that the impact of little drops of water here and there from a single ministry cannot be felt immediately. The important thing though is that the minister appears to know what his job entails and has charted a course that he believes would take the country to the Promised Land, at least from the point of his own portfolio.

Another important point that should be stressed is that whatever the major decisions reached at the yearly workshop should be summarised and implemented.

In addition, the implementation must be well monitored, say quarterly, to see the progress made on them. Otherwise, the workshop would be like any other talk shop that the country is notorious for. I do not think there is any other country where seminars and workshops are held the way we do in Nigeria. The sad thing about it all is that we allow the papers and resolutions to gather dust in government shelves.

All said, one can only hope that the minister’s case would not be like that of the cockroach that wants to dance, wriggling its waist, but which the prowling fowl looking for cockroaches to devour would not allow. Succinctly put, my fear is that much as the minister seems passionate about the government’s transformation agenda; his passion to transform industry, transform trade, and transform investment won’t end up making him a victim of political transformation. We once had a power minister that many of us thought was leading us out of darkness only to wake up one morning to be told that he had to go. Yet, many people who do not know their left from their right are still sitting pretty in office where they are consuming unproductively at the taxpayers’ expense.

CHIBOK GIRLS. STILL IN LIMBO. SINCE APRIL 15.

Munroe: Maximising potentials

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HE President of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, Dr Myles Munroe, who died last Monday in a plane crash along with his wife and seven others, will be remembered for his teachings on many practical issues of life.

In this tribute to him, I wish to share one of his very inspiring messages on maximising potential.

Everything in life has potential It is a tragedy to know that with over five billion people on this planet today, only a minute percentage will experience a significant fraction of their true potential. Perhaps you are a candidate for contributing to the wealth of the cemetery. Your potential was not given for you to deposit in the grave. You must understand the tremendous potential you possess and commit yourself to maximising it in your short lifetime.

What is potential, anyway?

Potential is dormant ability, reserved power, untapped strength, unused success, hidden talents, capped capability.

All you can be but have not yet become. All you can do but have not yet done. How far you can reach but have not yet reached. What you can accomplish but have not yet accomplished.

Potential is unexposed ability and latent power. It is also important that you never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life that never realised its full potential. You must decide today not to rob the world of the rich, valuable, potent, untapped resources locked away within you. Potential never has a retirement plan.

To simplify this concept, let us look at one of the most powerful elements in nature, the seed. If I held a seed in my hand and asked you, “What do I have in my hand?” what would you say?

Perhaps you would answer what seems to be the obvious, a seed. However, if you understand the nature of a seed, your answer would be fact but not truth.

The truth is I hold a forest in my hand. Why? Because in every seed there is a tree, and in every tree there is fruit or flowers with seeds in them. And these seeds also have trees that have fruit that have seeds, that have trees that have fruit that have seeds, etc. In essence, what you see is not all there is.

That is potential. Not what is, but what could be. God created everything with potential, including you. He placed the seed of each thing within itself (Genesis 1:12), and planted within each person or thing He created the ability to be much more than it is at any one moment. Thus, everything in life has potential.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

COMMENT

The chicken of rentier states coming home to roost? (2) The country now needs, more than ever before, governments that are sincerely committed at all levels to fighting corruption.

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HE conclusion to the piece last week pointed at the two suggestions from the federal government about the fast-falling oil price: devaluation of the naira and the imperative for states to look for new sources of revenue. Some of the readers of this column called me last Sunday to advise me to desist from being pessimistic about the future of petroleum and Nigeria. I was urged to accept that there was nothing in the facts I had listed regarding advances in energy research that can be taken as providing a sufficient condition for my conclusion that the value of fossil fuel may be waning from now on rather than waxing.

The intention of last week's piece and of the piece for today is not to propagate pessimism, as some of my commentators have alleged, but to heed pragmatism. Moreover, there is no effort to use the piece to criticise the Jonathan presidency. The problem of our political leaders' irresponsible attitude to petroleum revenue is much older than Jonathan's presidency. It goes back to the years following the civil war and under the watch of several leaders: military and civilian, but the Jonathan regime has not done much to right the wrongs of the past on this matter. It was not Jonathan that started the policy that transformed the existence of petroleum into a curse for the country. It is also hard to argue that his presidency has done anything to end the curse that petroleum would not bring progress but hardship to citizens. Readers should resist the temptation to read partisan politics into a matter that is likely to affect the life of every Nigerian, regardless of his or her political party affiliation.

Getting back to the two suggestions by agents of the federal government, devaluation may not be a very bad option if the country eventually has something other than petroleum to export, to attract foreign exchange. No doubt, devaluation will be painful. It will drive inflation up and further impoverish those already at the bottom of the economic ladder.

But with an economy that uses oil to acquire over 90% of its foreign exchange; to determine the size of its budget; and to pay for about 85% of import bills, a Nigeria with drastic reduction in revenue from oil cannot but devalue. Not having a huge reserve and not having saved a lot in the excess crude account, devaluation has to be high on the list of responses to the country's latest challenge. Devaluation then becomes a bad consequence for poor judgment of the past.

One way to delay devaluation is to look for ways of increasing the country's reserve.

This will require adoption of a more aggressive attitude to corruption. Probing as many of past political leaders and bureaucrats as possible, with the hope of liberating much of foreign exchange stolen and stashed in foreign banks by them and repatriating this to the country can boost the country's reserve and increase the chances of the country to pay for its high import bills in the event that the flow of foreign exchange from petroleum refuses to get better.

But even such additional revenue may not be able to stave off devaluation for long. It may delay it a little only if new outflow of funds from petroleum revenue is stemmed or stopped through draconian steps to discourage further stealing of public funds. In other words, the country now needs, more than ever before, governments that are sincerely committed at all levels to fighting corruption.

The other piece of advice by the federal government last week that states should look for sources of new revenue may sound creative.

But this advice is not any better than the rhetoric of diversification that citizens have been fed decades to no avail. The imperative of diversification of the economy has been around since the era of Structural Adjustment Programme. If it has not happened in close to thirty years, there is a need to look into why it has not happened.

Guaranteed revenue from oil has fuelled corruption. This has been so, largely because over 50% of the revenue that flows into the

country has gone and still goes to the federal government. This level of government has no direct population that it serves. But like other levels of government, it has a huge bureaucracy that consumes a lot of revenue while producing very little. Now that the chicken seems to be coming home to roost with respect to the country's use or misuse of oil revenue over the years, it is more important for the federal government with a huge chunk of national revenue and very little direct interaction with citizens to review the revenue allocation formula than it is for minders of the federal government to call on states to look for sources of additional revenue.

This should be no time for blame game or for scapegoating the states. Most of the states were created at the instance of mangers of the federal government between 1967 and now.

When citizens and even governors cried out since the exit of military dictatorship that many of the existing states are not sustainable, owners of federal power who out of misconception of what national unity means in a multiethnic state have ignored such calls. For example, the recent amendments to the constitution by the national assembly and the recommendations from the recent national conference convened

by Jonathan failed to come to terms with the danger inherent in structuring the polity on the expectation that revenue from petroleum is more or less infinite and will always be sufficient to foot the ever-increasing recurrent bills of the three levels of government that live off the manna from the bowels of the earth.

It is ironical that the federal government which has dispossessed states of their traditional sources of revenue is now quick to call on the states to find new ways of attracting revenue. All the services that used to bring revenue to states and local governments have virtually been taken over by the central government or passed to federal agencies. A federal agency is in charge of issuing driver's license, vehicle registration, collecting and distributing consumption taxes, etc. For

decades, the central government has turned states into agencies to spend money allocated to them from the federation account, made possible largely by petroleum.

As this column had observed in three articles in the past titled "Petroleum and the future of Nigeria,"dwindling revenue from petroleum provides an opportunity for the country to re-examine its methods and re-invent itself. The new economic challenge that may ensue from reduced revenue from the country's only crop may make obsolete the view that all that is needed for Nigeria to survive is that the country is pampered and made to be seen to be united. After throwing whatever is not stolen from the revenue that has accrued to the country since 1967 at sustaining 774 local governments and 36 states put perpetually on life support by huge flow of oil revenue, Nigeria does not appear to be any more united than it was when the country had just four regions and each region functioned as a centre for production and development by using the model of optimising comparative advantage.

To continue to think that the present structure of the polity can be sustained if the era of oil boom comes to an end is for our leaders to knowingly bury their heads in the sand in order to avoid coming to terms with an unpleasant reality. There appears to be plenty of time to do a lot of re-thinking before the few amendments of the 1999 Constitution reach the state legislatures. Endowing 774 local governments with autonomy to spend funds allocated from a petroleum-driven federation account may no longer in the next three months be as realistic as it was to federal lawmakers a few months back. Correspondingly, President Jonathan needs to review his pledge to delegates at the recent national conference on implementing their recommendations, particularly creation of additional 18 states. The game may not have changed completely but it is changing fast. Let us start to get realistic and embark on removing traces of military inscriptions on our polity and economy.

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

15

Jonathan’s declaration It is security, stupid!

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, at his second term declaration of November 11, rolled out fantastic claims of achievement — and even more fantastic pledges on security and corruption, two grounds on which the Jonathan presidency is most threadbare, if not entirely barren.

Electricity: The presidential score sheet clocks the completion of a 700 MW Zungeru Hydropower plant, even as it claims the 3,050 MW Mambila Hydropower plant is about taking off. Among other lollies: 37 dams completed, 10 rehabilitated, “several others” being constructed.

Water: 5,000 rural and semi-urban water schemes completed, shooting access to potable water to 67 per cent now, from 58 per cent in 2010. Sanitation, according to the president in his declaration speech, is up 41 per cent today from 32 per cent in 2010.

Rail: Hitherto dead, the railways have come to life. The narrow gauge from Lagos to Kano is reportedly revived and operational; swank air-conditioned coaches now available; rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, Port HarcourtGombe narrow gauge is on and due for completion in December.

Besides, the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge is on, which, the president said, would make it possible for workers to commute from Kaduna to Abuja daily and back. Besides, there is a golden promise of costal rail, traversing 10 states, from Lagos all the way to Calabar, via South East and SouthSouth.

Internal waterways: The president spoke of an already dredged lower River Niger, from Baro in Niger State to Warri in Delta State, triggering a boost in water transportation: 6.7 million passengers and 1.6 million tonnes of cargo in less than three years.

Roads and bridges: According to the president, only 5,000 km of the 35,000 km federal road network were motorable in 2010; but now, 25,000 is; and work is ongoing on the remaining 10,000, aside from new road initiatives nationwide.

Also, a new bridge across River Benue, connecting Loko in Nasarawa State to Oweto in Benue State “has reached an advanced stage”. Work has also “commenced on the Second Niger Bridge.”

Housing: The president announced a “revolution” in housing production, with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage and Refinanced Company (NMRC), targeted at low-income housing ownership, with the World Bank putting down the seed money of US $300 million in interest-free credit and the Federal Government matching the grant with a counterpart funding of N100 billion.

Agriculture: The Jonathan Presidency has turned agri-

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HAT the late Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto) will be turning angrily in his grave or heaven about the current plight of northern Nigeria is not a strange thing to imagine. Here was an elder statesman that saw to the rapid development of the region irrespective of religion, ethnic affiliation or gender.

Under him as the premier of the northern region, there was development in all facets of progression. Like the late sage Obafemi Awolowo, development to the premier of northern region was synonymous to existence in itself. Under him, a university sprang up in Zaria, a polytechnic and various industries in Kaduna, diverse scholarships for educational attainment and an assured future for the region in Nigeria.

Today, the story is different and abhorrent to all northerners and all Nigerians in general .In Nigeria, what constitutes a northerner? To some scholars, a northerner in Nigeria is anybody that is born in the northern part who has embraced the culture and traditions of the region. Thus the elder statesman General Yakubu Gowon is an embodiment of what a true northerner is having been born and brought up in Zaria even though originally from Plateau State as well as other southerners born and bred in the north. Yet to some parochial others, a northerner is anybody who can speak Hausa language

culture from a mere development activity to a thriving business, with private sector investment, across agricultural value chains worth US $5.6 billion; and 14 million farmers, of which two million are women, accessing fertiliser through their cell phones via e-wallet. That singular act, according to the president, had dealt corruption in agriculture, via fertiliser racketeering, a fatal blow.

Impressive, isn’t it, for a government said to be clueless?

Still, in which polity are all these goodies taking place? A territory that cannot guarantee its own integrity against Boko Haram? The more President Jonathan tried to play down the grave security question and the moral burden that crushed his shoulder even as he read his speech, the clearer it is that security is the issue.

“It’s the economy, stupid!” US President Clinton quipped, on his way to unhorsing President George Bush, in Clinton’s successful run for first term.

“It’s security, stupid!” — that should be the slogan, even as President Jonathan attempts a second term, after a clearly unimpressive first. Indeed, the rude breach of the integrity of the Nigerian territorial space is a clear and present danger that should sober everyone, beyond the zest and passion of partisan politics.

In 2011, President Jonathan took over Nigeria whole, after the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon. Today however, with the Boko Haram insurrection, we risk losing chunks of Nigerian territorial space, and throwing law-abiding citizens into permanent anguish, particularly in the troubled North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The president stacked his cards by trying to underplay the grievous security situation, with his claims of achievements, against the general feeling that his presidency has been a harvest of failures. On the president’s claims, the jury is out — the fidelity of the claimed success and the

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

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integrity of the pledges.

But even the most uncritical of Jonathan’s friends is faced with the notorious fact that no previous president in Nigeria logs Jonathan’s parlous security records, not helped by the president’s serial and grave misjudgments, which give the unfortunate impression that the chief security officer of the Nigerian state often dances on the graves of innocent victims of his own presidential failures.

In April, Boko Haram bombed and left burnt remains of minors at the Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, in Yobe State. The next day, the president was dancing Azonto on the hustings in Kano, during a so-called Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) North West unity rally. Again, on the eve of his November 11 second term declaration, no less than 39 students of a Potiskum, Yobe school were slain by a suicide bomber, on their morning devotion assembly. But this heinous killing did not stop Nigeria’s compassionate president from, in Abuja, declaring for second term in fanfare.

The closest to the president’s admission of the grave security situation was his passing mention of the Chibok girls kidnap — and the now hollow-ringing pledge to save the girls — and a minute silence for the memory of the Potiskum 39 (and still counting). Thereafter, people can bury their dead, so that politicking for 2015 can continue apace? How about that for presidential compassion!

Yes, the president also talked of a Presidential Initiative for the North East (which mainly involves stimulating economic activities there and reducing poverty), a Victim Support Fund and a Safe School Initiative. All three may be worthwhile projects.

But as usual, their birthing appears to have elicited no confidence from any quarters, outside the hustling and flattering crowd that staged the unfortunate Abuja event, even as the country is threatened with anomie, which precedes anarchy, which itself may precede disintegration.

In saner climes, Jonathan’s parlous records across the board would earn him panic to cut his loss and flee. Rather, he is pressing his democratic right to re-contest — not a crime, to be sure. But run again to do what: replicate his harvest of failures, and cook fanciful statistics that make no sense to the supposed beneficiaries of the goodies, the people?

If President Jonathan is really serious about his running again, he had better get a grip on the security situation. But, from all objective analyses, that appears beyond the capacity of the commander-in-chief. And if a president cannot execute the basic chores of statehood — guaranteeing security — why should anyone take his bid seriously?

It is security, stupid!

LETTER

The many travails of the North fluently even though not all people from the northern states can speak the language. To others, the concept of a monolithic north does not exist in Nigeria. What then are the many travails of the north?

Firstly, it is the problem of education. This problem which was recognised nationally on the basis of educationally disadvantaged states was taken care of by past administrations through admission quotas allocated to the region and through the various schools of basic studies. Why then would a Shekau and his cohorts rise up in this generation to torment the north and Nigeria in general given this opportunity that would have captured him as a beneficiary?

Similar programmes had been put in place and lately the Almajiri program of President Jonathan to address the educational lapses of the region. Without serving as a mouth piece of the same administration, nine out of the twelve universities established to resolve the imbalance in federal universities in all states of the country came from the region. So why is the region so educationally backward and in effect dragging the entire country in the reverse direction?

Perhaps post-graduation

employment would be the answer. For many graduates remained jobless many years after graduation nationally and therefore the incentive of citing new universities did not become an automatic carrot to bite.

Secondly, it is the problem of transportation. Incidentally, the present Minister of Transport is from the north.

Since the north has no sea ports and rather land-locked it must rely on the ports of Lagos, PortHarcourt and Calabar.

Moreover, the population of the north has expanded considerably thereby putting pressure on our road networks for the conveyance of goods from the sea ports to the north.

The goods are variable from consumer goods to petroleum products since our railroads are phenomenally only working on papers rather than on the tracks.

A trip on the southwestern flank of the roads to the north will convince doubting thomases.This include from the Oyo city through to Ilorin, Jebba .Mokwa, Kaduna, Minna and Abuja. The roads are literally closed down by heavy haulage trucks especially at bad sectors of the road thereby increasing cost of procurement on the end users in the north. What business

has heavy tankers conveying petroleum products on our roads when they can be conveyed by pipelines for refining in Kaduna and onward distribution at the NNPC depots? To the most ardent Jonathan supporter, a trip on the Oyo-Ogbomosho, IlorinJebba, Mokwa and the other parts of the north will convince you about the slim chances he has in 2015 save for the minimal repair works going on there. This anger can be sighted in other parts of the country as well.

Thirdly, it is in the area of air transport. There are no cargo airports in the north and this explains why the roads are continually choked up to a gridlock stage. For if there were cargo airports in the north, most of the goods would be imported directly to the main cities and the heavy trucks blocking the highways would only have to convey the goods from the airport to their various destinations that would be nearby anyway. Who is then ready to rehabiliate the truck owners when the development comes? Water melon that is a delicacy in all parts of the country would be internally airlifted as much as other fruits and vegetables from the north

to other parts of the country thereby making the roads free of traffic jam and prone to accidents. It also appears most northerners see themselves more in the light of the religion which they profess rather than as Nigerians thereby obstructing their collective need to demand for international airports that would airlift them to their various pilgrimages for spiritual rejuvenation and for cargo transport that would create jobs.

Fourthly, the north more than ever before faces the problem of security of lives and property. This is occasioned by the incessant Boko Haram attacks that does not spare anybody .The most recent is the Mubi and Gombe attacks with complete takeover of some parts of Adamawa by the insurgents. Most shocking is the fact that the sect leaders have a dream of leading Nigeria (not even northern Nigeria!).This shows that the sect has noticed a leadership vacuum in the north as provided by the late Sardauna of Sokoto which unfortunately cannot be reversed to the previous status quo. The north as we know it has been officially fragmented into different states created by the federal government with

irreversible power affiliation to the old northern region. This is why the security arrangement is different in all states of the north and Benue for instance can order the evacuation of her students from Adamawa schools especially in Mubi for safety reasons from the rampaging and neurotic insurgents. This was unheard of during the days of the Sardauna when security was intact in the north.

Fifthly, the north faces the problem of trust among the various constituents. This is why you can hear of northwest, north-central and northcentral that is all self-serving to politicians and the powers that be on paper. Unemployment and poverty remains very high in the region. Some blame it on neglect from past leadership of the country which was held in trust for many years in the north. Most industries in Kaduna and many parts of the north have remained closed down due to diverse problems.

Textile industries that used to be one of the highest employers of labour in the north are also majorly shut. There is the need to support agriculture in the region in order to solve the twin problems of unemployment and poverty.

In conclusion, the north needs peace in order to develop competitively with other regions of the country. Boko Haram is not the answer.

- Emmanuel Tyokumbur Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan.

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16

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

Re: Fani Kayode’s some hard questions for Buharists

To get involved in any discourse with Femi Fani Kayode, the 'most brilliant' Nigerian polemicist, must be the equivalent of throwing oneself into a conundrum

I

T is curious how some scions of thoroughly illustrious Yoruba fathers easily lose it once they are close to the power loop and this is usually in spite of being very educated in their own right. Examples are too many to delay us here but writing recently on the phenomenon, Dr Jide Oluwajuyitan of The Nation attributed it to an infernal fear of having to live below the stinking opulence they were used to growing up. But should that be enough reason to lose one's integrity and overall bearing?

To get involved in any discourse with Femi Fani Kayode, the 'most brilliant' Nigerian polemicist, must be the equivalent of throwing oneself into a conundrum of unending self promotion by a man who so loves President Jonathan any criticism of the number one citizen is a dagger in his throat. Femi obviously has more than enough reasons to love a man who has the power to cause the EFCC, or any anti-graft body for that matter, to withdraw court cases, even if there are enough grounds to secure conviction.

Add to this the need for the young man to be adequately compensated for dumping the APC. It is small matter if, like he did to former President Obasanjo, he had severally thrashed the president before his Pauline conversion in an archetypical case of crass opportunism.

Let me briefly narrate a not too dissimilar story. I once wrote on these pages an article that was very critical of my aburo, Akin Osuntokun. That was during the Obasanjo era when he, FaniKayode and Segun Awolowo were top

men in the Villa with Fani Kayode eagerly playing the president's armour bearer, throwing tantrums at whoever it was who disagreed with President Obasanjo on any issue. Osuntokun, not exactly as acerbic, was not particularly far behind. That was what triggered my article. Being Obasanjo's blue-eyed boys, Akin could very easily have got me arrested and heavens would not have fallen.

But he chose differently. He telephoned me, remonstrating: Egbon, you were very unkind to me in your column today and he went on to explain why, out of sympathy to an old man, he felt constrained to always defend President Obasanjo who, in truth, was having a real bad press. I then asked him if he knew a certain Segun Awolowo to which he said, of course, yes. I went further to ask if he had ever seen him insult anybody to which he said no, even though they were both in Obasanjo's service.

I then reminded him that, like Segun, he too is from a lofty pedigree and should therefore be guided in whatever he does. Not once again did I see him roughly address anybody in defence of Obasanjo. Not so a truculent Fani Kayode who forever sees himself in superlatives and as having a divine right to act with impunity. Nobody, not a Wole Soyinka or a Muhammadu Buhari, is immune to his uncultured tongue.

Now, coming to matters of the moment, if anything surprised me in his recent tirade titled: Some Hard Questions For The Buharists, it is the statement credited to Opeyemi Agbaje,

an astute professional I had interacted with severally. According to FaniKayode, the following are Ope's questions: ''How come the only debates we have in Nigeria are over a "MuslimMuslim" ticket? How come the opposition party's instincts are always in that direction-Nuhu Ribadu/Fola Adeola? How come a discussion of a Christian-Christian presidential ticket is completely inconceivable? How come Buhari, who even in a military regime instituted a Muslim-Muslim/NorthNorth ruling clique along with Idiagbon and eight or nine out of 11 Supreme Military Council members, is now testing the ground again with another possible Muslim-Muslim pairing? Is it that we have a shortage of capable Christians in Nigeria?''

Given Agbaje's assiduity, these questions should rather be directed to a president for whom, going to Jerusalem, when not kneeling before pastors, has become an annual ritual.

The president it is, who not only frequents Jerusalem but ensures that jetowning pastors are in tow. He, it is, who has completely politicised religion that integrity and efficiency have been pushed far into the background as determining factors for office. Opeyemi should cast his mind back to 2011 and tell Nigerians who and who were more qualified to take Nigeria out of its present morass than the duo of Nuhu Ribadu and Fola Adeola. These are relatively young men you would never see romancing corruption or directing that corruption charges be withdrawn from courts; men who will never protect corrupt ministers or aides. It is essentially to mask these foibles, these predilections in some quarters, that religion has been deliberately imported,

as a façade, into our politics.

As to why not a Christian -Christian ticket, the APC as a thinking party, must reasonably walk away from the religious booby traps the president and his minders, especially the CAN leadership, have woven into our politics. A ticket of same religion has since been rendered completely unreasonable for any party that wants to win election. Nor could it be a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the same reasons and the eagerness of the Metuh's of this world to dub the APC a Moslem party. APC is considering a Moslem Presidential candidate because equity demands that it should be the turn of the mostly Muslim North to have its turn at the presidency, come 2015, or for how long can we keep a part of the country away from power in a democracy?

Fani Kayode also quoted the views of one Oladeji in support of his quaint views but to treat those views with more than a benign neglect is to waste precious time on nothing. Described by Fani Kayode as a seasoned and experienced journalist on the stable of Mr Nda Isaiah's Leadership newspaper, it should not be difficult to see where Oladeji is coming from and what motivations drive him.

Fani Kayode's uneasiness is, however, much simpler, as he personally elected to put himself in a bind by promising what he could not deliver. His defecting to the APC, in the first place, is allegedly, the result of a promise he gave to a well-heeled northerner to influence the emergence of a Christian northerner as APC's presidential candidate. He bolted the minute he saw the futility of that selfinflicted assignment. We should therefore expect more of his diatribes

against APC leaders as we inch towards the elections. Only that this time around, he demonstrated a level of illogicality so unbecoming of one so seemingly brilliant.

Among other things, he had written: "‌ in the APC-controlled Lagos State today 80 per cent of State House of Assembly members are Muslims, 80 per cent of Local Government Area Chairmen are Muslims, 80 per cent of National Assembly members are Muslims and 80 per cent of Commissioners and key government functionaries are Muslims. It is also a fact that every single state that is under the control of the APC in the south west today is governed by a Muslim whilst 90 per cent of APC governors throughout the Federation are Muslims'. Then he concludes jubilantly: 'That is the APC for you. With them you will never see what you will get until it is too late."

Now if this young man were in full control of himself, shouldn't he have remembered that this had been the position long before the merger of the parties and the founding of APC? This inexplainable gaffe should be enough to tell Nigerians how desperation has driven Fani-Kayode to his misadventures.

Having also failed miserably to add any value to Senator Omisore's quest for the governorship seat in Osun State, in respect of which he must have characteristically promised much to his new friends, and given his gift of the garb, I will advise this young man to try his schemes towards emerging a top member of the Jonathan campaign; that is, if his loquaciousness would not turn awry for both party and candidate.

The idiot's approach to the Nigerian economy The minister is saying that the economic road ahead is going to be rougher for the 99% of the population living on the remaining 1% resources of the nation

M

INISTER of finance, Dr. N. Okonjo-Iweala, dropped a bombshell not long ago that oil prices were dropping in the world but that Nigerians should not fear because we were adequately covered: the budget had been planned on an oil price of seventy-nine dollars ($79).

Then followed another bomb shell from a government quarter that said because oil prices were dropping, salaries may soon be affected. I wondered then why anyone would aim straight for people's salaries out of all governmental spending as the first thing to bear the brunt of such a fall. Why not the colossal and largely unmerited legislative allowances?

Why not the president's lunch? Why should mine be the scapegoat?

Anyway, then came the most recent bombshell from the minister: this month, the country will begin to witness the result of this oil price slide; so we should get ready for tougher times. And I thought, tougher times this month, eh? What about the tougher times the people of this country have been experiencing for decades as a result of little or no governmental intervention in their lives?

Let me present this idiot's perception of the Nigerian economy as observed in the people's experiences. For decades now, I have watched in sympathy as my nearest and dearest neighbour in the house has agonised on the phone nearly every morning trying to describe for

the repairman the latest sound coming out of the little generating set that supplies electricity to the apartment. I have usually heard the laconic reply of the repairman at the other end as he too often tried to place the fault in the complex machine he could not see but must repair, like a doctor making a phone consultation. You can expect some roughness, but you'll get some pain remission, even if most times the patient and the doctor are talking at cross-purposes. For the generating set owner and the repairman, this has been a daily routine.

As a matter of fact, it has been the daily routine for most men in Nigeria now. I think they would just wake up in the morning, greet everyone in the house and pick up the phone to call the generating set repairman. Whenever that one has failed to turn up because he is tired of tinkering with old sets, the owner must undertake the repair himself. He must sweat and puff to change the plug. He must puff and sweat to change the oil. He would then find that the plug has been placed in one remote, inaccessible or difficultto-reach corner of the set as his hand and arm disappear into the machine, all the while crouching uncomfortably and hissing from both ends. The reason has been the absence of electricity supply whenever it has been needed.

Did you read about the most recent (yes, the most recent because there have been many others) unfortunate incident where a couple lost all their

children to a fire started by a candle because there was no electricity? Before that, there was another incident in which a young man had gone to kick his generating set and unknowingly answered a call on his phone at the same time. The explosion took his life.

There are so many 'before thats...' that if I do not cut them, this page will be filled with the stories of many families that have perished from inhaling generator fumes while sleeping at night; factories that have folded up for unbearable overheads, etc. The relatively safer and cheaper public electricity system is not available to anyone for love or money.

Any intercity wayfarer in Nigeria now is lucky to arrive home from his destination, even if all he is covered in is dust and not his blood. Not only are roads insufficient, they are in such disused states that Socrates would not walk on them in his sandals, much as he liked walking. Potholes deep enough to sink cars litter the roads from the weight of trailers, trucks and tankers owned by people in or close to government. Northern youngsters barely out of nappies are consigned to drive trailers longer than their villages and so do not have the experience and patience to prevent their trailers from lying down, coma-like, in the middle of the highways, causing days-old traffic jams. Other road users drive as if they are unaware that lives can be lost because there is no one to check them. How then can we move products cheaply, safely and fast across the states without the rail system?

Those are just two examples, from my perception, that provide insight into this nation's economy. For decades

now, basic amenities (including energy, water, roads, etc.) have been provided by house owners, factory owners, manufacturers, etc. Yet, Nigeria is said to earn anything between twelve (12) to eighteen (18) billion Naira from oil PER DAY. This is in addition to the billions more generated unofficially through oil bunkering. It is not recorded, yet regarded. So, I ask you, who is to provide the enabling environment for the economy to grow: champagne swirling leaders?

Just check the amount of money that has been released by the Ministry of Finance from the time of Gen. Obasanjo to the present for the revamping of the nation's electricity project, and you'll see that it did not come anywhere near 'We the people...'

While you are at it, could you also check who was contracted to handle some of the nation's highways Ogbomoso-Oyo highway, EgbeKabba highway, and many more. This is so we'll know who to curse when next we are on those roads. Those are the ones giving us rough roads, not oil price slide. Unfortunately, the government's blind eye to these things makes the roads rougher for 'We the people'.

Right now, the country is not only regarded as the most corrupt nation in the world but also the most foolish. It is only a foolish country that awards its low achieving legislative arm of governance such allowances and emoluments that are higher than those of their counterparts in developed nations where people do real work, or light years ahead of the gross or net earnings of the nation. It is the more

foolish when you remember that the country parades a poverty-afflicted population that is among the highest in the world. I just love the way some online commentator has succinctly described the situation: the government's blind eye is putting 99% of the nation's resources in the hands of 1% of the population. This means that the remaining 99% of the population must exist on the remaining 1% of the resources. Yet, I believe that the minister's ratified audience is clear: she is saying that the economic road ahead is going to be rougher for the 99% of the population living on the remaining 1% resources of the nation.

The shameful truth about Nigeria's economy is that it has been left to run wild with little or no governmental intervention. Have you noticed that all the gains of the Gen. Obj. era in terms of forcing the country to look inwards and build her economy through self-reliance have been jettisoned out the window?

Now, just about anything can be imported into the country; and that greatly discourages local participation in the economy. So, what economics are we really talking about?

This is my idiot's approach to Nigeria's economy. There are many countries in the world without the resources that Nigeria has been blessed with. Yet, they are making do by exporting the products of their brains and what they can gather from social services such as provision of public utilities and infrastructures.

Nigeria can do the same. Let us use the pittances we have left to prepare for this rainy day.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

COMMENT

17

Tribute to Chief Tayo Akpata (1931 – 2014) I

DO not now recall the precise circumstances of our first formal meeting. But, regardless, there was a déjà vu feeling when we met.

He had been keeping track of my journalism career, flattering me beyond measure for my reportage and analyses when I was a Correspondent based in Southern Africa in the late 1980s. I, too, had always admired him from afar. In the 1970s, he was Commissioner for Education in the then MidWest State, under the high-achieving military administration of Col. (as he then was) Samuel Ogbemudia. I remember vividly how, in 1974, the state Ministry of Education, under his watch, caused High School pupils to draft poems, the best of which were published in a collection aptly titled, “Budding Poets,” with a front cover of an illustration of a figure holding an umbrella against rain drops. Under the “Timbucktu Project,” Tayo Akpata was one of the brains behind the establishment of the University of Benin, which transformed from the then Mid-West Institute of Technology.

At the time of his service under Ogbemudia, Mr. (as he then was) Tayo Akpata had a trademark sartorial elegance that was accentuated by his hairstyle with a parting in the middle. He also at the time spotted a goatee that was an imitation of Vladimir Lenin, a fact that was a visible reminder of Tayo Akpata’s ideological leaning. He was steeped in Marxism; but like Karl Marx, Tayo Akpata was from a privileged background. He hailed from the distinguished Akpata family of Benin, and in the 1950s, when Nigeria had only one University, that is, University College Ibadan; he was shipped off to Hull University, where he studied Politics and Law, a dual discipline that grounded his analytic approach to public affairs. His family background was one that also fostered his keen interest in activism for public causes.

He was active in student unionism in the United Kingdom, along with his age-long soul mate, Chief Femi Okunnu, who preceded him as President of the African Students Union in the UK. Chief Akpata had a memorable phrase he often liked to quote. The expression, he said, belonged to the late Labour Leader, Chief Michael Imoudu, who was quoted to say: “I eat fire, so the people may have wa-

M

R. “Infrastructure” Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State has proven that he is a leader with the love of his people and is committed to ensuring rapid development of his state.

His good intentions on assumption of office to alleviate the suffering conditions of Benue people made him to embark on life-changing projects most of which he has carefully executed to a logical conclusion. We are talking about a leader who does not play to the gallery nor one who plays politics with the welfare of the people.

A predominantly agrarian society, Benue State was hitherto in a messy underdevelopment situation particularly in critical areas of infrastructure and physical projects.

Think of how the deplorable roads were left in shambles, schools were not given facelift, public hospitals were underperforming as some of them became “mere consulting clinics”. The sports sector like the transport system were in a pathetic state requiring urgent attention. Similarly, the provision of pipe - born water, conducive housing, and other such amenities that make life worth living were in many places grossly inadequate. Other sectors of the state’s economy like security, information and communication, tourism, commerce and industrial development among others, were faced

By Kingsley Osadolor

ter to drink!” With the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1999 and the ensuing shenanigans, Chief Akpata bemoaned the absence of oratorical skills among politicians, in particular lawmakers. He would recount how as a young man, he used to go to rallies and the Legislative House in Lagos, just to hear politicians speak. Chief Akpata was concerned about speech and writing. He often stressed the power of thoughts reduced into writing.

One day in 1998, in his office in Abuja, Chief Akpata produced from his brief case an exercise book that was more than 50 years old, and had been preserved for him by his mother, before he took archival possession personally. In the exercise book, Chief Akpata showed me a Composition (essay) he had written when he was about 10 years old. The boy became the man, and the man transformed into an elder statesman. It was both a privilege and an honour when Chief Akpata requested me to edit his collection of writings, which was published in year 2000 as “In Pursuit of Nationhood: Selected Writings on Politics in Nigeria”. The essays therein spanned more than 40 years of his robust engagement with the issues of nationalism, political economy, politics, and statecraft.

For some 25 years when he and I interacted very closely, I found in Tayo Akpata an abiding interest in public affairs, a humanist, public intellectual, thinker, historian, an elder statesman worried sick by the approach to governance by the younger helmsmen of today who, in his view, worry not about history, nor are they concerned about the wider ramifications of their policy actions and inactions. Whenever an issue broke, or there was a raging public debate on an issue, Tayo Akpata who read my columns in The Guardian religiously, would pick up his telephone and call. Sometimes, we had lengthy conversations on the phone, but mostly, I would end up at his residence in Lagos, where we would further thrash out the issues. If he felt persuaded to write on an issue, he would write, and I got it published.

But because opinion spaces are often limited, and he would like to explore the fuller amplitude of a discourse, in later years, he preferred an expository interview. On different occasions, Reporters whom I sent to interview him

•Akpata

returned with amazing tales of the insights he provided on topical issues.

Chief Akpata was well at home with the media and allied industry.

Till the end, he maintained an interest in book publishing. In fact, during his years of service under Ogbemudia, he over-saw what was then called MidWest Mass Communication Corporation (MMCC). His interest in the media was also a family trait. His elder brother, the late Chief Okungbowa Akpata, was a very senior staff, when I encountered him as an intern in the newsroom of what was then Radio Bendel in the early 1980s. Their only sister, Mrs Omobolanle Onajide (nee Akpata), is a retired journalist. She, too, read at Hull, and was probably the first female graduate ever to be employed in the newsroom of Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Ibadan. She would later move to MidWest Television, serve in the Cabinet Office of the Federal Government, and was Special Assistant (Media) to Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the Second Republic. Mrs Onajide is a Chorister of the Anglican Church.

There was a story Chief Akpata never tired of telling me. I, too, was never bored of listening to the recall, which often appeared as if it occurred only the previous year. He was a student at Edo College, Benin City. One day, he and his brother joined others in rushing towards Oluku Junction on

As Suswam turns 50

By Akwaya Cletu

with various challenges.

Benue’s turning point came in 2007 with the assumption of office of Governor Gabriel Suswam. A visionary leader, Suswam showed that he had a clear mission of improving the people’s conditions of living through infrastructural development thereby bequeathing lasting legacies to the upcoming generations.

That Benue State has witnessed unprecedented achievements under the administration of Governor Suswam is today glaring and indisputable. Uncountable development projects executed by this pragmatic leader have earned him nickname of ‘Mr. Infrastructure’.

Governor Suswam took over a deplorable rural and urban road network. But today, he has completed over 500 kilometers of these roads within the state. These include, 65 kilometres Orokam-OwukpaOkpoga-Utonkon road; and others that are awaiting to be commissioned.

The prioritized construction of an extensive road network in the state is primarily targeted at providing adequate access to and from the rural communities so as to revitalize and boost agriculture which is the mainstay of the state’s economy.

To boost agriculture, the Suswam administration procured and distributed 147 tractors to farmers to enhance mechanized farming.

This has been supported by timely procurement and distribution of assorted brands of fertilizers and improved seeds to farmers, as well as acquisition of modern knapsack sprayers for teeming farmers for weed control. The state government entered into partnership with the University of Iowa to achieve improved animal and crop production, processing, mechanization and training which is manifested by the establishment of a modern piggery farm situated at the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture Yandev in Gkoko local government area.

Ensuring a significant infrastructural progress in the area of education, Governor Gabriel Suswam has, in the sector of science and information technology, seen to the establishment of three functional technical colleges in the three senatorial districts, the rehabilitation or construction of classrooms in the secondary and primary schools across the state. The governor has also intervened in the provision of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions by which his latest undertaking is the construction of an ultramodern fe-

the Benin-Lagos Road. They surged past the gates of Edo College on Urubi Street (by Iyaro, where the school was located at the time), and standing outside the gates was the Principal, who was perplexed by the enthusiastic crowd moving towards Ugbowo.

The principal sighted him and his brother, and as Chief always recalled, the Principal asked, “Akpata I and Akpata II, what is the commotion all about? Where are you headed?” Chief Akpata said he could hardly catch his breath, nor did he have the patience to stand and explain to the Principal. Instead, as he moved with the crowd, he said he asked the Principal somewhat rhetorically whether he had not heard of the big event in Benin City that day, namely, that they were going to welcome to town the first-ever Bini person to train and qualify as a lawyer, the late Justice Ighodaro!

In December 2001, Chief Akpata called, asking where I was. His voice was broken. He had just learnt of the assassination of Chief Bola Ige, a long-standing family friend. In a trembling tone, Chief Akpata wondered how an incumbent AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, the country’s Chief Law Officer, could be taken out in such gruesome circumstances. His primary concern was that the murder might never be solved, a concern that was not misplaced as the events of the past 13 years have shown. When the trial of the murder suspects began, Chief Akpata and I discussed the legal ramifications and concluded that it would be to no avail, a fact that also precipitated the shock that claimed the life of Bola Ige’s widow, the late Justice Atinuke Ige. By the time Chief Akpata passed on on October 13, 2014, he had, so to speak, seen it all. He earned two chieftaincy titles from the Oba of Benin; he was awarded Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa by the University of Benin. In 2011, he was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). A Close is named after him in the Gwarinpa suburb of Abuja.

Without question, Chief Akpata had

worthwhile experiences in both the public and private sectors. He and Olorogun Michael Ibru, patriarch of the Ibru family, were contemporary Management Trainees at the United African Company (UAC). Chief Akpata served as Deputy Registrar of the University of Ibadan, he was Commissioner for Education in the old Mid-West State.

He joined politics in the Second Republic and became Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the former Bendel State, during which time he was involved in an automobile accident on a night journey that he always regretted undertaking on the Asaba-Benin highway. He chaired the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, and served also on the Board of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). Chief Akpata was a member of the National Constitutional Conference from 1994-1995, and his last public service assignment was being Member/Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), where he adroitly managed the often testy relationship with the Chairman of the Board. In the current political dispensation, Chief Akpata offered support and counsel to a few politicians: those whom he said had ears to listen and the courage to do the right thing.

“Ah! Kingsley, how are things?” was his trademark baritone response whenever I called him on phone. That response echoes in my mind as I write this tribute to a man whom I admired.

He was full of advice to me whenever I encountered obstacles in the corporate terrain. He was a broad-minded intellectual ready to engage, and to be engaged in a healthy articulation of viewpoints. In conversations, his handy transitional expression was “Now,” usually stressed to begin his next sentence. Another favourite phrase of his was: “You see”. “Very well,” and “That’s right” came in handy when he was in agreement with you. Chief Akpata had a radical spirit, yet was comfortable among conservatives. He was a quiet investor who did not flaunt his affluence. An ebullient family man connected to the upper crust of society, he was cautious, patrician, full of wit and sarcasm; his faith in a united Nigeria was unshakeable; his desire for a better Nigeria never waned. I wish you eternal rest, Chief Omotayo Osayande Akpata, the Ima of Benin.

male hostel and a world class Faculty of Law complex at Benue State University, Makurdi.

Governor Suswam also gave due attention to healthcare infrastructure as can be seen in the completion and new General Hospitals and the renovation of existing general hospitals in the 23 LGAs of the state. His intervention in the purchase of ambulances, drugs and modern health equipment transformed the delivery capacity of the General Hospitals for the better. The completion of the gigantic Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) is a signature project that was commissioned on March 9, 2012 with fanfare

by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Apart from these, a gigantic water processing facility-the Greater Makurdi water works which has a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters per day was completed and commissioned the same day with the Teaching Hospital by Mr. President during his official visit to Benue state. Alongside, Governor Suswam has Other water projects in Otukpo and KatsinaAla were completed to cater for the needs of the people of those areas.

As a lover of sports, Suswam has committed adequate funds into the total renovation of the Aper Aku stadium which the attention given to sport facilities has greatly helped the state owned Lobi stars football club

to record appreciable performance at national sports events.

Electrification of urban and rural communities is another key area which Governor Suswam has delivered creditably well. His administration has completed and commissioned electricity projects to over 300 communities. The objective is to stimulate economic activities in the rural communities with the resultant positive impact on reducing poverty, generating employment and creating wealth.

For a state famously confronted with dire security challenges, apart from enhancing peace and harmonious coexistence among the people, the Governor has acquired and donated operational vehicles including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), as well as communication gadgets to various security agencies in the state especially the Police to enhance their efficiency in the fight against crime.

There is no doubt that Governor Suswam has written the name of his administration on the sands of history. He has proven that he is leader with the interest of the people at heart, an exemplary leader who does what he says and who keeps his promises with the people.

As he marks his golden age of 50, it is an auspicious time for him to do so because he is a role model, quintessential public servant and an epitome of hope to all and sundry.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

COMMENT

sms only: 08116759748

Is Jonathan Nigeria’s Jimmy Carter?

A

S I watched the colourful Eagle Square, Abuja carnival where President Goodluck Jonathan formally declared his intention to seek a second term in office, I kept thinking that sometimes one problem or episode can make or mar a presidency.

Despite the determination of the president and his party men to project an optimistic and cheery front, nothing could mask the fact that the declaration was being made against the backdrop of one of the administration’s major burdens – the failure to rein in the virulent insurgency in the North East.

Just the day before, a suicide bomber sent

by Boko Haram killed 47 school children in Potiskum. As if anticipating that the terrorists could rain on their parade, some of Jonathan’s 2015 boosters like the so-called Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) had placed wrap-around advertising on the front pages of leading papers.

The adverts were designed in such a way that not much else would be noticed.

Amusingly, while the TAN advert was labouring to assure us that ‘history’ was about to be made on Eagle Square, the very little space left on the front pages of the papers that had the advertising carried the depressing headline about the murder of 47 innocent children – obliterating the feelgood factor that any spin doctor might have been trying to project.

More than anything, Jonathan’s inability to bring the insurgents to heel, or to, at least, create the impression that momentum is on the side of the government and the armed forces, might just turn out to be his undoing at the general elections. His supporters may choose to believe that he was making history at Eagle Square, but in reality his handling of the insurgency suggests his presidency might soon be history.

This is where the parallel with the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, leap at you. Carter came to the White House against the backdrop of the Watergate mess that brought down Richard Nixon.

He was a breath of fresh air that blew into Washington to clear the foul smell of scandal. He was a former governor of southern state of Georgia with very little name recognition on the national scene. Despite that handicap he emerged the Democratic Party candidate in 1978 against all odds.

Just like Carter, Jonathan’s route to Aso Villa can only be described as a fairy tale.

At the time he was asked to run with late Umaru Yar’Adua he had no ambitions to seek federal office. He was content to be governor of his home state, Bayelsa – and then fate intervened. Not only did he become Vice President, Yar’Adua’s demise ferried him into the highest office in the land on the magic carpet called good luck.

Carter like Jonathan is often described as a good man, amiable, humble and wellmeaning. The former US president’s tenure had some noteworthy achievements like the Camp David Accords, the focus of American foreign policy on human right rights and renewed attention to Africa.

Unfortunately, towards the end of his term, the widespread perception of Carter was that of an incompetent and failed president. And it was all down to one incident – the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 to 1981.

The Americans became pitched against Iran under Ayatollah Khomeini after fifty-

•Jonathan two American diplomats and citizens were seized by revolutionary students and held hostage for 444 days. Their ordeal began on November 4, 1979 and ended on January 20, 1981.

The hostage crisis put a lot of strain upon Carter and in the later stages of the crisis he often looked harassed in public appearances. Things came to a head after the US decided on a military rescue after all negotiations came to nought. On April 24, 1980, ‘Operation Eagle Claw’ which attempted to free the hostages ended badly with the deaths of eight American servicemen, one Iranian, and the crash of two aircraft.

The failure of the rescue was a huge blow to American prestige and the preeminent global super power of the age.

It came to symbolise the failure of the Carter presidency. It was no surprise that he lost the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan and the Republicans.

Interestingly, Reagan was not regarded by most voters as intellectually superior to Carter. If anything, he was given to gaffes, memory lapses and often dozed off in meetings because of his age (He was almost 70 when assumed office).

However, he always projected that confident, can-do spirit of the American cowboy. That seemed to resonate with the electorate who were fed up with the rubbishing of their proud country under Carter.

Just like Carter, Jonathan has his own hostage crisis. Over 200 days ago in the tiny village of Chibok, Boko Haram gunmen swooped on hapless schoolgirls sleeping in their dormitories at night.

They carted away hundreds of them. Today, 219 of them remain in captivity with no hope in sight that they would soon be freed.

The government, of its own accord, has severally raised hopes of their release, announced ceasefires that turned out to be flukes. The upshot is that no one places much store these days by whatever the administration says on the matter.

More than anything else the Chibok schoolgirls saga and the seeming helplessness of the government to free them has come to define the Jonathan presi-

•Carter dency. Over this matter the pride of the Nigerian military burnished by its prosecution of the civil war and exploits in peacekeeping operations around the world has been badly bruised.

The president appears to have played all his cards. Once upon a time the declaration of a state of emergency seemed to be the mighty stick that would whip the insurgents into line. But it seems like more people have been killed since the socalled emergency measure came into being.

He and his men have tried blaming everybody but themselves. First, it was embittered Northern politicians and lost out in the 2011 presidential contest in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and promised to make the country ungovernable. Next it was the opposition All Progessives Congress (APC) which only came into existence late last year. In a moment of contrived excitement at Eagle Square, Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio, denounced its leaders as blackmailers and sponsors of terror.

The accusations have since been shown up to be hot air because if the accused are truly the powers behind the insurgency, and are still walking the streets as free men, then this administration has only confirmed that it is not capable of enforcing law and order in the land. No responsible government would have evidence against terrorists and their sponsors and not move against them.

Again, the Chibok saga, the recourse to the blame game and name calling is also a manifestation of another of the president’s problems. He is out of touch and surrounded by people who tell him what they think he would like to hear.

Nobody expects Jonathan to march into Sambisa Forest – guns blazing to free the girls. There is no superman president anywhere – not even in Hollywood movies.

Sometimes all a leader needs do is project empathy and the people would be satisfied. He would be judged to have shown leadership at critical moments.

But what have we seen with the Chibok episode and the wider question of the insurgency are actions that support all who question the president’s suitability for the

office he occupies. He swear he’s concerned but his actions tell a different story.

He and his wife began by doubting whether any kidnapping actually took place. Next, he would not even deign to visit the town in question despite the fact that it had become a global cause. Citing security concerns, the president of Nigeria with all the military resources at his disposal pulled out of visiting a locality that CNN journalists ventured into.

The day after the Abuja motor park bombing he was off to Kano to receive a defecting politician. A day after the massacre of the 47 school children he was grinning and dancing on Eagle Square. Where is empathy – even if faked? What? A minute silence and let the show go on? Shame!

President Jonathan stood on the podium and declared that he had fulfilled all electoral promises he made to Nigerians in 2011. I was shocked because I can think of several that are still awaiting fulfilment.

But I will just touch on one for this Sunday.

Four years ago gigantic billboards welcomed you into Abuja with the visage of Jonathan promising a ‘breath of fresh air’ in governance. That suggested back then that there would be a new way of doing things.

On the cusp of the 2015 polls the one who promised fresh air is battling to clear the stale air that is practically choking us all. Nigerians have always struggled with our differences over our beliefs and ethnicity. But in the last four years all that has been exacerbated to the extent that people are threatening fire and brimstone because of religion and ethnicity.

We are back to the era of manipulations of the state’s weapons of coercion in pursuit of personal ends. A typical example is the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, jumping into a political tug-of-war and assuming the role of judge. Nigeria deserves better.

I am sure that the president must have tarred a couple of roads in the last few years. But it takes more than that to be president of a country. At this point in time it all comes down to the question of whether Nigeria under Jonathan is headed in the right direction. I don’t think so.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

POLITICS 37

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-- Page 53

Is divestment by oil majors a blessing for Nigeria?

Page 60, 61

‘Nigeria's a role model among global capital markets' •Oteh

Page 62

NSIA may lose assets to foreign litigants N

IGERIAN Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has raised the alarm that it could lose some of the assets it is managing to foreign interests that have taken the federal government to court in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).

According to the NSIA, "the NSIA is concerned that there are FGN cases that could adversely affect the profitability of NSIA. For example, there was an arbitration proceedings in the UK where judgment was given against the Minister of Interior and the Attorney

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja

General of Federation."

The federal government agencies, it was revealed, "having failed to meet up their obligations, compelled the plaintiffs to enroll the judgment in the District Court of Columbia USA seeking to make discoveries of the asset of NSIA and other government agencies in the custody of JP Morgan.

This case is ongoing."

Addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, the NSIA Managing Director/CEO Mr. Uche Orji told

the legislators that the NSIA is now faced with the challenge of getting more funds.

Uche Orji expressed "the desire to have the support of all Nigerians for the NSIA to earn sustained funding to achieve its statutory mandate."

He stated the NSIA objective to judiciously manage seed capital as given to it and affirmed the transparent nature of NSIA activities.

He advocated for the support of the House in passing the National Tolling Policy.

In his response, the Chairman House Commit-

tee on Finance, Jibrin Adulmumuni, expressed his committees' maximum support for NSIA. He said members of the committee were "impressed with the NSIA's level of efficiency and responsiveness in responding to the committees demand."

The legislator then promised to mobilise his colleagues in the House to find a lasting solution to the legal angle of NSIA. Adulmumuni lamented that "the dwindling oil prices could lead to high deficit making the NSIA even more necessary for situation like this."

From left: Mrs. Nireti Adebayo, Chief Executive, Whyte Cleon Ltd, Mr. Tunde Lemo, former CBN Deputy governor, Mrs. Franca Ovadje, Lagos Business School and Mr. Femi Mokikan, Executive Director, Human Resources, 7UP Bottling Company Plc.

T

HE Chairman of Nigeria-America Business Chamber of Commerce (NABCC), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has impressed the need for more savings in the sovereign wealth funds and excess crude account, stressing that it would help in cushioning the dwindling revenue in the oil and gas sector.

Ohuabunwa made this call at a two-day exhibition and training organised by the Chamber in Lagos recently.

The programme brought together over 32 indigenous and foreign small and medium scale enterprises which cut across manufacturing companies, healthcare organisations, banks, soap making, bag

Ohuabunwa urges more funding of excess crude account

By Adeola Ogunlade

and textile companies.

The NABCC boss, who observed that the dwindling fortunes of the nation's oil fortunes has been hotly debated over the last 50 years, as every commodity reacts to demand and supply at every point in time, lamented that Nigeria may be on its way to insolvency if the agitation by the state governors to stifle the sovereign wealth funds is accepted.

He opined that the fall in the oil revenue in the global market is a welcome

development as it will help in reducing the cost of energy which ultimately reduces the cost of doing business all around the world.

"Energy is major component of doing any business and as the price of oil goes down; it will help to reduce the cost of doing business and promote growth and stability across the world."

Ohuabunwa cited President Barrack Obama who said recently that the United State of America has saved $500million for every household in the US because of the drop in price of oil globally.

"Excess crude access has continued to suffer distress because of the state governor's insistence on sharing of the money than to save for the rainy day as the oil revenue decreases," he said.

E x p a t i a t i n g , Ohuabunwa said the call for the removal of oil subsidy was welcomed as this would release more funds for developmental programmes.

"It is high time we remove oil subsidy because if the price of oil keeps going down, we will be forced to remove it and there will be no subsidy for anyone. Let us remove the N1trillion that we waste every year."

'I share skills and experience with my team' •Dayanand

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Lemo charges public agencies on labour laws

By Adeola Ogunlade HE former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo has appealed to government agencies to step up actions in the implementation of the existing labour laws as this would help stabilise national economic growth and development.

Lemo made this appeal during a one-day forum for top executives organised by Whyte Cleon Limited in Lagos.

Tagged: 'Employee Engagement and Talent Retention', the event drew participants from top chief executives, senior managers, management staff, human resources managers, academics, among others, to the first of its kind master class on employee engagement and talent retention in Nigeria.

According to Lemo, the need to strengthen employeremployee relations through existing laws and instruments is very apt, timely and germane for national development in Nigeria.

He said poor implementation of existing labour laws and loose systems are inimical to the growth of employer-employee relation.

He noted that the free market policy of the federal government which has helped in developing our economic base should not be an excuse for the loose and low entrance standards for engaging outsourced staffs and contract workers which has pervaded all sector of our economy and can only be checked with proper monitoring and implementation by government agencies and civil society groups.

On whether there is a need to review existing law, he said: "The problem in Nigeria is not with the law because we have the best law in Nigeria but it is enforcing the law to the benefit of the common man who rely on state as they strive to be the best in their place of work."

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Human Resource, 7UP Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Femi Mokikan who lamented the poor implementation of the existing labour law said that indigenous and foreign firms will continue to trample on human right and welfare programme of their employees because of the loose system that we operate in Nigeria.

He said "the regulatory authorities would need to do more on the enforcement of our labour laws. There are human right issues with some foreign firms in Nigeria and it is pronounced because they benefit from our loose system."

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of Whyte Cleon Limited, Mrs. Nireti Adebayo said that the master class was aimed at restating the essence of good employer-employee relationship model in the work place.

She cited a study carried out last year by the organisation which indicated that over 65% of employees working in many organisations are disengaged and are only buying time in their work largely because of the gap between employees and their employers are so wide.

T

Mantrac offers customers high quality used equipment

O

WING to the harsh economic realities and budgetary constraints which oftentimes make it difficult for contractors to purchase brand new equipment in the smooth execution of their jobs, Mantrac Nigeria, the authorised caterpillar dealer in Nigeria, is offering customers across the country the opportunity to purchase a wide-range of high quality used caterpillar certified equipment at very affordable prices. These used equipment come with a six month warranty and free nationwide delivery.

Mantrac Nigeria also organised a three-day exhibition at its head office, Oregun Lagos, where some used equipment were put on display. Speaking during the exhibition Head of Sales, Construction Machine Equipment Mr. Alex Nwoko, stated that the exhibition was aimed at interacting and fostering a stronger relationship with customers as well as giving customers the opportunity to see the quality of machines on display.

He said, "This exhibition is the fourth in the last four years.

As a market leader in the industry, this is something we do to bring the customers together to foster a stronger relationship with them and educate them more about our offerings."

Commenting on the quality of the used equipment on sale, Nwoko stated that, "The fact that the used machines are coming with a six months warranty and free nationwide delivery, shows that we are very confident of the standard and quality of the machines we are selling. When it comes to reliability, caterpillar machines are top-class performers."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

BUSINESS

N a move reminiscent of The Great Scramble for Africa by the European powers from 18881899, several international oil companies (IOCs) from different parts of the world literarily fell over themselves to get a slice of the nation's lucrative oil wealth, following the discovery of the famed black gold in the late 50s, as they explored and produced the prized crude as they deemed fit.

But in a clear twist of fate, the same IOCs are now frantically divesting their hitherto prized assets, for reasons which border on the complex and the superficial.

The Nation can authoritatively report that the purported story of the planned divestment of the oil majors, which once fed heavily on the rumour mill, has since become a glaring reality today.

Why IOCs are no longer at ease with Nigeria's oil assets The IOCs account for more than 70per cent of the nation's daily crude production. Naturally, a wave of divestment of oil and gas assets previously held by these IOCs will no doubt ignite interest from different stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Confirming this development, Comrade Sara Igbe, a petroleum expert from Niger Delta, while speaking with The Nation recently, said a constellation of factors could be responsible for the mass exodus of oil multinationals from the oil-rich Niger Delta.

According to him, "The reality today is that many oil majors who hitherto ran thriving businesses in the Niger Delta region are no longer persuaded to continue as before for a good number of reasons."

The reason for the lull in business is not far to seek. Chief among the reasons, he said, is the problem of diminishing output of marginal fields, insecurity and threat and sabotage to infrastructure as a result of warring communities, to mention just a few.

In a research tagged: 'Divestment of Nigerian Oil and Gas Assets by IOCs', carried out by Akintola Williams Deloitte, the foremost accounting firm, made available to The Nation, the firm, while acknowledging that investment opportunities in Nigeria are huge considering the fact that the country is acclaimed to have the largest gas and second-largest oil reserves in Africa, however, observed that: "The oil and gas assets within the divestment programme have largely been those assets notably in the onshore and shallow water areas although Royal Dutch Shell has included two offshore blocks in its divestment programme," adding matter-of-factly that: "The rationale for the divestment decision is founded on pure economic and quasi-economic reasons."

Analysts further noted that the reasons given for the myriad of asset sales over the past 36 months have been many and varied.

Among these include the problem of operational and security difficulties of operating onshore in the Niger Delta region as well as portfolio rationalisation to the regulatory uncertainties from non-passage of the hotly debated oil industry law, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Onshore security concerns, analysts noted, have been a particular concern for Shell, which has suffered persistent security incidents including pipeline sabotage and oil theft.

Shell has stated that oil theft incidents in the country has cost it an estimated $700m, a figure hotly disputed by the federal government and the NNPC. Overall, many of the assets being sold are mature assets onshore the Niger Delta region, which are naturally more vulnerable to operational and security problems in the region.

Asset sales not an easy deal However, the IOCs' attempts to sell their assets to local companies have not always been smooth, particularly where difficult operating or security conditions feature prominently.

Is divestment by oil majors a blessing for Nigeria?

With majority of the multinational oil companies divesting their investments in the country's oil wealth in the last couple of years, the belief in some quarters is that this development may be a mixed blessing of sorts for the economy, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

•Oil rig Two of four assets planned for sale in a second round of divestments by Shell - OMLs 13 and 16 - are located in Ogoniland in Rivers State in Nigeria's southern oil region. It may be difficult to attract buyers for these assets given the legacy of operational difficulties in Ogoniland in general.

Although neither the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) nor its upstream arm, NPDC, plan to bid for the Chevron assets, the involvement of NNPC and NPDC and the exercise of pre-emption rights have also periodically posed a challenge to previous divestment attempts.

NPDC has often encountered difficulty in attracting acquisition finance from foreign backers, due to perceived operator risk, though, arguably this has provided local banks with an opportunity.

In a bid to remedy some of these challenges, NNPC has explored the possibility of seeking technical partnerships for the NPDC to put forward joint bid for future divestments. It is likely that both Chevron and Shell will seek to avoid the problems that clouded the Shell's previous divestment rounds.

To date, NPDC has acquired more than 55 per cent equity stakes in four onshore oil assets divested by Total, Shell and ENI, including OML 30. With an ambitious plan to increase NPDC's production from its current 100,000 bpd (according to the NNPC) to around 250,000 by 2015, it would still be fair to assume that NNPC plans to exercise at some point a rights of first refusal, in the near-term or in the forthcoming round of IOC asset divestments.

Meanwhile, the year-long process

by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its joint venture partners to divest some of their onshore assets has run into a hitch, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has moved to stop the sale of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 25 to Creststar consortium, The Nation has learnt.

However, despite the execution of the SPAs between Shell and the buyers, the transactions would only be deemed truly sealed after a ministerial consent is granted by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, as provided by the Petroleum Act. The Nation, however, gathered that the NNPC had stopped the sale of OML 25 to Crestar consortium.

Shell's Corporate Media Relations Manager, Mr. Precious Okolobo, declined to comment on the controversy trailing the OML 25 transaction when contacted.

Value of divestments by IOCs As at 2013, IOCs operating in the country had sold at least 300,000 barrels per day (bpd)-worth of equity in onshore and shallow-water producing assets in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, all valued at over $5 billion.

The total number of blocks divested by IOCs and National Oil Companies (NOCs) since 2010 is expected

to increase to 22 by the end of 2014.

Corroborating the foregoing, Rolake Akinkugbe, Head of Energy, Oil and Gas Research at Ecobank, panAfrican bank, in an article titled: 'IOC Divestments in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges and Outlook,' while attempting a historical excursion into the basis of these divestments by oil majors, recalled that: "In 2009, UK gas group BG Group kick-started the divestment programme amongst IOCs operating in Nigeria, when it announced a pullback in financing for the Olokola LNG export development on which it partnered with Chevron, Shell and NNPC, and sold rights in three Oil Prospecting Licenses - 332, 286 and 284."

Shell, she further recalled: "Followed suit in 2010 launching a divestment programme that eventually resulted in the sale of eight Oil Mining Licenses (OMLs) to indigenous Nigerian companies and junior explorers by the end of 2012. The first of these

was completed in December 2011 with the acquisition of a 45 per cent stake in OML 26 from SPDC, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd., and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), by First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN), backed by London-listed Afren Plc. The last of these was the assignment in November 2012 of OML 30, in the Niger Delta region to Shoreline Natural Resources Limited, a joint venture between Nigeria's Shoreline Power and UK-listed independent Heritage Oil Plc." Continuing, she said: "Since 2012, several oil companies have announced planned asset sales in Nigeria. US IOC, Chevron has also embarked on a divestment programme with five shallow water blocks offer, and that are estimated to hold as much as 250 million barrels (bbl) of oil reserves. We estimate the current value of those blocks - OML52, OML53, OML55 OML 83 and OML 85 - to be in the region of US$1.5 billion. US oil firm Conoco Phillips in 2012 also sold its stake in the Brass LNG project to Toronto-listed Oando Energy Resources (OER) for $1.79 billion.

"However, a very small portion of assets divestments have also extended offshore and have not necessarily been limited to local acquirers.

In November 2012, Total sold its 20 per cent contractor interest in OML 138 block in the offshore Usan field to the wholly owned subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), for approximately US$2.5 billion in cash, while in early 2013, Brazil's National Oil Company, Petrobras stated that it would sell its Nigeria mostly-offshore interests for $5bilion, though it eventually sold its stakes to Brazilian investment bank, BTG Pactual, for only $1.5billion. The momentum continued in 2013, when Shell announced it would divest a further four assets in Nigeria; OML 13 and 16, both onshore, as well as OML 71 and 72, both offshore."

A blessing in disguise For the discerning mind, the divestment is largely a blessing in dis-

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

•Sanomi guise considering the opportunities this has offered local players.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that many local Nigerian companies now own more than 100 blocks across Nigeria's oil-producing regions, and own at least 30 marginal fields even as the companies have a mandate to deliver on production deadline in order to avoid revocation by the government.

Those figures are likely to double over the next few years, creating new local contractor opportunities and thus new local financing opportunities; at least 19 local banks in Nigeria have access to tier 1 capital worth more than US$1bn.

A document obtained by The Nation from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) confirmed that the deadline for the companies to bring the fields to production is March 2015 and not January 2014, a development which gives enough leeway for the companies to bring the fields to production.

Shedding more light on the reasons for the divestments, Akinkugbe further reiterated that the recent asset divestments in Nigeria are not the result of a single factor, noting that this represent the culmination of several important trends; onshore operational and security risks; a re-balancing of IOC's Nigerian portfolios towards the offshore; growing regional competition in the West African upstream; global capital re-allocation in the upstream industry; and regulatory uncertainty fuelled by Nigeria's delayed oil law, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

"We do not believe that the current wave of divestments portends a mass wave of IOC exits from Nigeria in the near-future. In actual fact, the divestments represent, in our view, a re-balancing of asset portfolios towards the offshore which now accounts for at least 80 per cent of Nigeria's total production."

She was, however, quick to admit that the nation's oil production has declined in recent months to below two million bpd and the country will need to retain a competitive edge upstream, given the emergence of new exploration and production frontiers in the Africa region; namely Ghana, and the Gulf of Guinea pre-salt plays (Angola, Gabon, Congo) and East Africa, which has rapidly gained worldclass hydrocarbons status. Thus, the attractiveness of fiscal terms for offshore exploration within the delayed PIB could be crucial, given operators' commercial shift towards the offshore.

"In the near-term, Nigeria's oil and gas industry - public and private - may take comfort from the fact that the continued oil and gas discoveries (most recently by UK-listed Afren and Lekoil), the ability of these junior explorers to successful tap foreign equity capital for their Nigeria activities, the country's still robust crude oil reserves base (37 billion barrels), and the relative stability of offshore production, signal or at least guarantee that investor appetite for the country's oil sector will remain resil-

ient despite the operational and regulatory challenges.

"We do not believe that the current wave of divestments portends a mass wave of IOC exit from Nigeria. In actual fact, it appears to represent a shift in IOCs' strategy towards the offshore which now accounts for at least 80 per cent of Nigeria's total production. While the pace and volume of sales have also suggested a wider IOC gradual exit from Nigeria and fed much media frenzy on this issue, a closer examination of the upstream asset landscape and development plans of various IOCs paint a slightly less dramatic picture."

Shell, for instance, still retains ownership in 30 onshore blocks, while Total, ExxonMobil, and Chevron are still likely to commit large amounts of capital to Nigeria's offshore region in the next decade. For instance, within a year of announcing that it was selling its 20 per cent operating stake in its Usan field in OML 38 to China's state-backed oil firm, Sinopec, for US$2.5 billion, French IOC, Total, in June 2013, announced that it had begun development of its offshore Egina field for US$15 billion in a bid to boost its production base.

The new kid on the block It is a twist of irony that while many of the IOCs are opting out of the business, the development, more reassuringly, is serving as a fillip for local players to thrive.

For instance, oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to sell a prolific Nigerian oil block, Oil Mining License 29, and an associated pipeline, for $2.5 billion to a consortium led by Taleveras Group, an oil trading firm founded and owned by a 39 year-old Nigerian multi-millionaire, Igho Sanomi, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Shell had been looking to divest from four of its onshore Nigerian assets since last year - OMLs 18, 24, 25 and 29, as well as the Nembe Creek Trunk line, a 60-mile aging pipeline which has served as Nigeria's major crude oil transportation channel- moving oil through the Niger Delta to the Atlantic coast, but which has been beleaguered by leaks stemming from oil theft for many years.

Taleveras will be getting a sweet deal. Of all the assets Shell put up for auction, OML 29 was the most coveted. The Africa Oil & Gas Report magazine reports that OML 29's remaining reserves (P1+P2) are about 2.2billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), while its hydrocarbon fields could deliver as much as 160,000 barrels of oil per day and 300MMscf/d at peak, with focused, aggressive work programme. The Nembe Creek Trunk Line is also an extremely valuable asset as many other oil exploration companies in Nigeria pay to use it to transport their oil to international markets.

Taleveras Group, the company acquiring OML 29, is owned by one of Nigeria's most successful young entrepreneurs, Igho Sanomi.

Sanomi, 39, founded the Taleveras Group in 2004 at the age of 29 as an energy trading company. Today, the company trades over 100 million barrels of crude oil as well as several million tons of gasoline, LPG and jet fuel annually. In April 2012, Sanomi's company acquired production sharing contracts (PSCs) for three offshore oil blocks in Ivory Coast.

Like Sanomi, a few upwardly mobile and high-heeled Nigerians have also invested heavily in the downstream oil and gas sector, a move, industry analysts have argued, that signposts progress for the sector.

While many would rather the country retains the IOCs in major commanding heights of the economy, especially oil and gas, which they reckon requires high level expertise, others, who are persuaded largely by patriotic fervour, want Nigerians to participate more in the nation's bourgeoning oil and gas industry.

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BUSINESS 61 Foundation frees 400 prisoners, to build model prisons

N its quest to assist in the human capacity development and quick rehabilitation of inmates, Human Rights Foundation, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organisation, has secured the freedom of over 400 Nigerian youths languishing in jail for lack of representation and abnormal criminal judicial system.

This was made known by the Executive Director, Mr. Victor Fakunle at the first Annual General Meeting of the Foundation held recently in Lekki, Lagos.

According to Fakunle, the organisation has secured the release of over 400 inmates from Lagos and Abuja prisons since inception. Among these are promising Nigerian youths that have spent between four to six years in the prison awaiting trial.

"Our passion lies in giving voice to the voiceless and providing free human rights services and solutions to the needy. We help those without the means to help themselves. We are committed to ensuring that every individual that is accused or convicted

Stories by Olabisi Kehinde

of an offence in Nigeria knows and is able to assert his or her rights,'' he added.

The Nigerian criminal justice system itself is flawed with all sorts of inadequacies, various acts of criminalities and inhumanity, a development, Fakunle asserts, is why HRF is committed to expose and address these abnormalities.

Echoing similar sentiments, the President, Board of Directors of the NGO, Mr. Adebola Adejonwo emphasised the need for an aggressive and sustained membership drive and awareness campaign through the print and social media.

This, he said, would be achieved by raising an army of human rights activists in every nooks and cranny of the country and setting up of a well structured development faculty where all members will achieve the role of advocates and rangers.

While mentioning prison rehabilitation, establishment of bail offices, creation of citizen's advisory

centres in all local government areas and construction of a model prison in partnership with government authorities as the medium and long term objectives of the organisation, Adejonwo reiterated the focus of HRF as the implementation of 'rule of law' in Nigeria criminal justice system and its mission to ensure that every inmate has proper representation in court to uphold their human rights.

According to him, close to 90 per cent of people in Nigerian prisons are 'awaiting trial' and most of them without representation. Some of them have been forgotten and have been in prisons for between four to ten years on charges that have not been brought before the courts or charges with six months to two years imprisonment or even payment of fines as little as N5, 000.

He, therefore, called for partnership with other NGOs and compassionate minded individuals to save these souls and provide sustainable rehabilitation system to realign the released inmates back into the society as useful citizens.

•From left: Mr. Bode Araba, Mr. Bidemi Daniels, Victor Fakunle, Mr. Adebola Adejonwo and Mr. Kayode Oguta, all members, Board of Directors of HRF at the AGM held at Pistis Centre, Lekki, in Lagos…recently

•From left: Consultant, Cameroun, Ms. Golda Makoge, Principal Partner, Mr. Sola Fijabi, Executive Director, Mr. Taiwo Ogunwumi all of Brooks and Blake, receiving the PR Agency of the Year Award for Brooks and Blake Nigeria from General Manager, Business Development, MTN ((Sales and Distribution), Mr. Kola Oyeyemi at the 2014 Marketing World Award in Lagos…recently.

MTN invites customers to join fight against Ebola epidemic

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TN Group has invited its over 219 million customers across Africa and the Middle East to join hands with the company in a threemonth campaign, starting 1 December, to raise funds for a "United Against Ebola" initiative.

In response an appeal from the African Union (AU), MTN and other leading companies in Africa committed logistical support and in kind contributions as part of the first wave of pledges at a recent Africa Business Roundtable hosted by the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The companies also agreed to leverage their resources and capacity to help galvanise citizen action

around a "United Against Ebola" campaign, and to provide individuals across Africa and globally with an opportunity to contribute.

As part of its pledge, MTN has committed US$10 million and is now inviting customers to participate in an SMS campaign to donate a minimum of US$1. MTN is also working with some of Africa's most celebrated musicians to produce an inspirational song for digital download on its MTN Play store. All proceeds from sales, post publishing rights and subscription payments, will be donated to the AU campaign.

MTN has been an integral part of

efforts to tackle the spread of Ebola in countries where the company operates, with special emphasis on Guinea-Conakry and Liberia.

"MTN is supporting this campaign to give further impetus to concerted efforts aimed at combating the Ebola epidemic and saving lives. As MTN, we believe the only way to start reversing the devastating effects of the outbreak is to come together to tackle the spread of the disease, and ease the suffering it continues to inflict on families and communities," says Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group President and CEO.

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OU were named the African Business leader of the year 2014, how does that feel?

Well, I'm grateful for this. ABN has changed the landscape of business reporting and has been connecting Africa to the world. So I am really honoured that I am able to be some evidence of excellence. I also just want to say that this recognition for me means very much. I had vision, but I had a team around me, the SEC staff who tapped into that vision.

We also have had capital market operators who have aligned behind our vision. I want to celebrate SEC staff, capital market operators.

This is very important to me because I think it is an outstanding category for what we do at SEC. I think what we have done is to create an enabling environment such that businesses can realise their potentials but also such that our nation can realise its potentials. But in doing that, what we have seen is that we have been such a role model for other countries around the world because we have been bold, we have done things people have wondered whether they should do. We have taken risks, and those risks have paid off for us. But I think what is most important for me in this recognition is that around the world, capital market regulators feel that there is a greater understanding of the role that capital market play in transforming society.

Whether it is to help businesses or creating jobs, whether it is just building a meritocracy, but even as we deal with the security challenges that we face today, all of us as regulators, whether market participants believe that what capital does is to enable social cohesion and enable us address some of the challenges that we face today. As such, I see the award as a better understanding of the impact of the capital market on society. It was really an emotional moment for me.

What’s your assessment of Nigeria and the global financial market overall?

First and foremost, Nigeria is a role model in the regulation of capital markets, we sit on the board of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) we

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2014

BUSINESS

HE new policy regime by the apex bank which supports moveable collateral such as jewelry, cars and other moveable assets as an alternative to fixed assets currently used by the banks as collateral for loans has been described as a very laudable policy indeed .

Firing the first salvo, Fayo Williams, a Lagos-based entrepreneur believes that this is a step in the direction especially for those who genuinely needs to access funds would maximise the opportunity "It is definitely going to bring relief for small businesses especially women who constitute a large percentage of this companies.

‘Nigeria's a role model among global capital markets' Arunma Oteh, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who has been leading the Africa Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) since June 2010, was re-elected Chairperson in September 2014.

Oteh who was recently awarded the 'Most Innovative Capital Markets Regulator in Africa in 2014' in recognition of her managerial prowess by ABN, spoke with some select journalists on concerted efforts to build the capital market of her dream, her plans for SEC, among others. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf was there. support the organisation in building the same kind of system that we have built in terms of our regulation. We recognise that as the country that has the largest economy in Africa that we have to make sure that our capital market counts. We believe that it is very important for people to understand the value of capital markets in transforming society. If you are not distributing wealth, then you have some of the challenges that we face in the world, whether it is security challenge, whether it is social cohesion, we feel that what we do in regulating the capital market helps build first class businesses, helps create environment where citizens feel they are part of the success of the economy. It is very important in terms of the impact of the capital market and we in Nigeria want to be the role model for that capital market that transforms society.

What in your view do you think can be done to restore investors' confidence?

First and foremost, your first line of defence is your knowledge and so my advice to the average person is to make sure that they learn about the options available to them, so, it starts with you. When you have had a bad experience, in your next step, learn from the bad experience. The second one is track record, like in the case of Nigeria, this is a market where market integrity is priority, supporting our investor is a priority. Therefore you have a regulator and you are sure the regulator will support you if you have any complain. First you need to learn and understand what the options are. You should know what you are saving

•Oteh

for either the rainy day, for your child's education, for the future or anything else.

In retrospect, how would you describe your experience as the DG of SEC in the last few years?

I will say it has been fascinating, challenging, exciting, I have run on everything that I have been.

I could not have been better prepared for a role because one I had basically covered the capital markets around the world. So joining the SEC and deciding to go world class market, I knew what that meant. But I think even more important is really getting by, carrying people along, having people connect with our vision and take action even though those changes may be

initially painful.

You have introduced reforms and faced some challenges, do you think it would have been any different if you were a man?

I think that it would be different whoever you are. I think gender is important, there are advantages to being a man, and I think there are greater advantages in being a woman, particularly when you are introducing change. First, people do not think that you are one of the boys anyway, so if you do things differently, they kind of expect it because it is not what they are used to. And so they expect it, it gives you time to create the momentum you need as you drive change.

The other things are, of course, there are attributes that many women bring to a work place. I think that women, not at the risk of being stereotypical, are very team-oriented. So in general, it is easier for me as a woman to carry others along. And when you are creating change, being sustainable, when you are trying to be different, carrying other people along is very important.

Some of the more difficult areas that people don't think very much of being in the first place, some of people have cultural problems in having women lead them. You address that very quickly by having early success. People like success, they are not worried whether you are a man or woman, whether you are young or old, or green or black. If you are successful, everyone wants to identify with success.

Still talking gender, what do you have to say to a woman who is scared or skeptical about taking up an otherwise male-defined role?

I will say to women what do you have to lose in trying when you have a whole lot to lose in not trying at all?

But I think more importantly, I want to say to women and mothers to lay early foundations. I had a mother and father who always told me the sky was the limit. They did not say to me if you are a young man the sky is the limit and if you are a young woman the sky is not the limit. We were all basically encouraged to try and realise our potentials. I think, those early beginnings, those early foundations and women playing a role in nurturing children and making sure that all that God has put in

them is realised.

Who are your role models?

I think my parents because they laid an early foundation to stand up for what is right, to make sure that I'm working and whatever I'm doing impacts on society. And their lives was something I would emulate. Also business leaders like Bill Gates, he is someone that I have admired both in terms of what he has achieved with Microsoft, but also just giving all of it to transforming society and focusing on real development challenges.

Madam Walker, the first female billionaire in the US who was looking for products for her hair and did not find it, made something for her hair and decided that she would make it available to other black women.

People who are innovative, people who have changed the world, those are the ones that inspire me.

What is your next step in business?

There is a lot to do, I think that where we are in Africa, we need to make sure that Africa’s rising narrative is not just something that is in fashion, we need to lay that foundation so that every action people take, they can educate their children and this can resolve whatever challenges they have, they can have a roof over their heads among others. I think the capital market is doing that. As the head of SEC in Nigeria there is a lot we can do in our markets, we have laid a strong foundation, as the Chair of Africa and Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC). There is a lot we can do in building capital markets that are world class. So basically there is a lot that we can do.

Experts hail CBN's policy on moveable assets

By Yetunde Oladeinde However, we would appreciate it if the modalities and framework for the implementation of this initiative is concluded on time."

She adds that: "Commercial banks that are the source of funds used by microfinance banks for lending should end the practice of demanding for cash- backed bank guarantees because this usually increase the cost of lending which is subsequently passed onto the borrower."

Echoing similar sentiments, Tinuola Thompson

Ajayi, a member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and President, Professional Women Bankers, agrees as well: "This is part of the agitations that has been going on for a while. A committee was set up consisting of professional women's groups across the country and they have been engaging the CBN and other stakeholders."

Ajayi also believes that: "In addition to these, they have been compelled to bring out more gender-friendly policies.

The group driving the access to credit is made up of women

who are seasoned professionals. This time around, women are encouraged to go in groups and not individuals to maximise the opportunities that are available."

Some of the fallout of the development, Ajayi informed, would be deliberated upon at her organisation annual corporate forum and dinner in the coming week.

"What we would be focusing on is sustaining financial inclusion through micro enterprise development. Our speakers include the CBN Deputy Governor on Economic Policy,

Dr. Sarah Alade and Mrs Modupe Ladipo of Elfina."

Like Thompson, Titilola Adisa who leads the Association of Nigerian Women in Business Network noted that this is an issue that has been on the front burner for women.

"A few months back we had a forum where we xrayed some of the factors affecting women entrepreneurs and this was one of the items on our communiqué.

We are therefore happy that government has looked into the matter making policies that would make things

better."

Adisa further notes that :"Most women are entrepreneurs and we all have hobbies which can be turned to money. And with the right policies, support and guidance from the relevant stakeholders, things can only get better. Ordinary savings can help to make a difference as well as transform a simple business idea."

Adisa adds that: "The financial exclusion level of Nigeria is amongst the highest in Africa, the result is lack of opportunities to maximise income and expand businesses."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

'$1billion investment will boost jobs in Edo'

Abdul Oroh, the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture, in this interview with Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia is very optimistic that the recent $1billion investment for rice production by the Dangote Group will not only create jobs but boost the economy of the state across all frontiers. Excerpts:

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DO state recently signed an MOU with Dangote Group on production of rice, how far is the project?

Well, the project is on already. As we talk now we are surveying the land in Ekperi area of Etsako Central. The surveying is ongoing, we are also doing crops enumeration to compensate the farmers who were already on the land and after that the state government will formally acquire the land and lease it to them for the project. So the process is on, they have done their due diligence.

When we signed the MOU at the Federal Government level, six states were supposed to be affected. Edo state will provide 50 hectares of land but the other states will provide about one hundred thousand hectares. So we are already in the forefront of this and we are happy to have Dangote Group investing in Edo state.

What does the people of Edo state stand to gain from the establishment of this gigantic project?

We expect that annually we will be producing as much as 450, 000 tons of rice and compared to what we import as a nation, it will drastically reduce our dependence on foreign rice. Like Dangote said during the ceremony, this rice thing will be bigger than cement.

He said I have done my own work, the land is good, we have abundant water resources and the policy of Edo state government is exciting. So, what we are trying to do in Edo state is bigger than the cement project.

What he was talking about the cement project is that the cement project started with about less than 1.8 million tons of cement per annum. Now they are hitting about 37 million tons from 1.8m tons. He said that rice is even bigger if we can do two cropping seasons if not three in a year and the market is huge, even if we are not exporting it, the Nigerian market is huge and there is no day people will not eat and rice is the staple food of humanity. Rice is the main food of all countries of the world. So there is no reason why the business will not be huge. And looking at this, it will be of enormous and tremendous benefit to the people of Edo state. More than 4, 000 people will be employed in the next one or two years. There will be a lot of other benefits in terms of contractors working with them for land preparation, supplying of this and that. We have growers scheme that will affect thousands of youths in the area who are willing to farm,

•Oroh

land will be apportioned to them; they will be assisted with seeds and fertilisers and other things to produce rice and sold to the Dangote Group as an offtaker. Purely, the economic benefits are enormous. All those youths who will be employed will form part of the new tax net of the state. If they pay N1, 000 per annum as taxes, you know what that amounts to. And they are going to produce the paddy rice, which will be processed in Edo state.

In fact, the land will be set aside for them, they are already designing it; they will cut it into blocks and fields where they will be able to take off and spray crops and maybe for other uses.

So clearly, it is going to open up that part of the rural part of Edo state where the economic activities in that area and we hope that would even spur other investors to stimulate other investments to come to Edo state once they see the operation.

What is the security consideration and major stake of the host communities in the area of security because Edo state is strategic in the South-South region and the huge investment is one that should attract atten-

tion?

Edo state is the most secured part of the South-South. We already have huge agro businesses in Edo state that are doing very well in the stock market; they are doing very well in terms of their annual produce. They make huge profits every year and they are at peace with their host communities. You can talk of Presco Oil, Okomo Oil Palm, Rubber Estate of Nigeria and other new agro businesses that are also setting up in various parts of Edo state. The Dangote Group even though they have not had a factory here but their warehouse is here. They already have foot on ground in Edo state where they sell cement and other produce. It is a big conglomerate. So, they are not new to Edo state and the state is secured and we all know. It is the most secured part of the South-South.

Will this latest move serve as an avenue to revive the Agbede and Anegbete rice production areas of the state?

You know that area has the same ecological zone up to Ilushi. They all fall within the River Niger and Ovia River plain where the soil is rich in terms of water resources with

all kinds of water flowing across. So you can actually farm all year round. With the take off of this new investment, others will now want to either reactivate the old investment or new investors will come in to seek partnership with other investors. We believe that in no distant time, both the AgbedeWarake farm and the Anegbete farm and all other initiatives that we have before, will take off and they will be influenced and affected.

Our oil export is dwindling and our population is growing, how do we sustain food import?

It is oil money that we use to import food. So if we can produce enough to meet our table needs, our industrial needs from those that can be processed to industrial products, for instance cassava can be used for ethanol, chips, feeds, flour to bake bread and all that, all kinds of pastries, sweetners for bottling companies and confectionaries and even for pharmaceuticals for tablets or capsules. So if we can process and transform the value chain and become a major agro-based economy then we will say Nigeria has take off. Countries like Brazil, from soya beans, rice and all others they are now self-sufficient. United States is self-sufficient in food production. Most western civilised countries are.

Enter some of the super markets in Nigeria, they sell imported potato chips, shrimps, fish imported from other countries. Is that not a shame? So Nigeria has to fight the shame of dependence on food importation.

Some time ago the Dangote Group wanted to set up a fertilizer company. What is delaying the exercise?

You know in elementary economics, to set up a factory you talk about land, labour and capital, nearness to raw material, infrastructure and entrepreneurial ability. All these are conditions for business entity to take off.

They said they discovered that they could not transport their materials through the River Niger even though they said River Niger had been dredged.

We are not worried about that.

It was absolutely his prerogative to take his business decisions.

Now, he said he is ready to do rice here. We are happy to welcome him to do rice here. We cannot have any delay again. We have access to the River Niger, rail line which goes to Ajaokuta and could be used for other purposes; there is drainage and electrical grid. So everything that you can think of that will make this project take off as quickly as possible is already there.

Canadian envoy to commission N2.4billion youth entrepreneurship project in Cross River

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HE High Commissioner of Canada, His Excellency Perry J. Calderwood is scheduled to launch the Youth Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Access and Development (YouLead) project in Cross River State on Tuesday, at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, the state capital.

The five-year prong project worth CAD $15.9 m, about N2.4 billion, to be implemented by Canadian organisation Cuso International in collaboration with Cross River authorities and funded by the Government of Canada, aims to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship in the natural resource sectors of agriculture, forestry, ecotourism and aquaculture in all 18 Local Government Areas in Cross River State.

The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke as well as Cuso International's Chief Executive, Derek Evans, among others, is expected at the launch.

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Institute organises entrepreneurship training for members

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to organise an entrepreneurship development programme as part of the Continuing Compulsory Professional Development (CCPD) programme for the year for professional members of the Institute in order to enable them to attain the required CCPD credit.

The event, which is expected to attract eminent bankers and other distinguished stakeholders in the industry is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 25th November, 2014, at Bankers House, PC 19 Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The programme will provide a unique platform for participants to identify and explore business opportunities in the financial services industry, develop effective pricing strategies and retool for business success in private practice.

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How handheld devices boost online marketing

IGERIA'S leading online marketplace Kaymu has revealed that online sales growth is influenced by hand held devices.

A few years ago, desktops accounted for the majority of online activities but that is changing rapidly. According to Managing Director of Kaymu, Evangeline Wiles, "Nigeria's mobile audience is growing exponentiallywith more and moreNigerians owning smartphones and tablets. The mobile phone has become ubiquitous in Nigeria."

A newspaper report recently stated that mobile has rapidly risen to become the primary digital platform, with the total activity on smartphones and tablets accounting for an astounding 60 percent of digital media time spent in the U.S. Wiles further stated that mobile consumption is fuelled largely through app usage. "Since the launch of Kaymu's mobile app in September, our sales figures increased significantly with most of the growth coming from the mobile platform. Consumers are now able to shop on their mobile devices at any time and in any location. You can even shop while you are stuck in traffic,"she said.

M-commerce is revolutionising the buying and selling process.

While mobile allows consumers to shop from anywhere, it also has a major impact on sellers. Merchants on Kaymu are able to manage their online shops from any location, they are no longer tethered to a desktop.

Mobile enables anyone, from students with busy schedules to experienced professionals, to easily manage an online store on Kaymu.

With more than 120 million mobile subscribers, Nigeria is the largest mobile market in Africa and the tenth largest in the world. Nigeria has one of the highest internet penetrations in Africa via mobile and handheld devices. In 2013, over 10 million smart devices worth $1 billion (N167 billion) were sold in Nigeria according to reports; a large part of this attributed to affordable access to data on mobile devices.

"M-commerce saves buyers the stress of visiting brick and mortar stores. And it expands the universe of people who can sell online, with just a mobile phone and a few products, anyone can become a retail entrepreneur,"Wiles added.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

• Rolls Royce by James-Iroha CHE James-Iroha, is the son of the late James Iroha, (Gringori), the renowned artiste who created and directed the now rested New Masquerade, a hilarious Tv-sit-com which thrilled Nigerians from the 1970s to 1980s. Like his father, Uche is also an artist – indeed a photographer. Even though he read Fine Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Uche chose photography because according to him, “a year after my graduation, I realized sculpture had enjoyed massive popularity in both traditional and contemporary eras and idioms. It then became a kind of journey for me to explore the possibilities of engaging art via a new media which is photography.”

In his on-going photography exhibitions in Lagos titled Power and Powers Uche truly explored the core indices of power and energy and why the society may not go far if the power situation continues to totter between life and death, between hope and hopelessness. He said, “this exhibition is called power and powers and the situation is simple. We are here revisiting in a very clear way, what we’ve been living with almost all our lives in this society. It is not a new issue. The problem is the problem of epileptic power supply in this country. And I felt that the whole populace has been complacent to face this problem. I felt then, what role can photography play here to bring this issue to the fore; to the consciousness of the people.”

This was why he insisted on the various segments of the pictures of power which graced the exhibition. “I do not consult anyone to buy a generator. When the issue came up for me to do the pictures, I did not need to consult anyone. The power problem in Nigeria affects everyone, both big and small.

Power is energy. Those cabals, those machinations that make it impossible for Nigerians to have power and energy need to be unmasked. By 2011 when I began to conceptualise this work, the power situation in Nigeria had become too unbearable. Therefore this collection of images, explore the dark and unprogressive romance between political power and electrical power distribution in Nigeria. By far the most populous nation in the African continent with vast human and material resources and enormous potentials, electricity is still a big issue.”

As an artiste, James-Iroha has taken his art to different parts of the world where his modern way of doing photography has distinguished him from his peers. He is an experimentalist artiste whose love for sculpting cannot be ruled out, but who also feels that photography can be used to mirror back the African society, “especially the most important resources we have – that is the human capital. Oh, not natural re-

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‘My father, strongest influence on my works’ • James-Iroha

Uche James-Iroha, is the son of James Iroha, (Gringori), the creator of the defunct TV-sit com, the New Masquerade. He is a visual artist by training but a photographer by profession. He spoke to Edozie Udeze on his ongoing exhibition holding at Omenka Gallery, Lagos. Excerpts. sources like oil and diamond which we have that have deluded us into resource wars and separatist violence, both in the polity and at the social level.”

Since the nation is caught in the web of deceit when political office seekers clearly use the promise of ‘light’ as the most potent and effective bait and weapon to hoodwink the people, James-Iroha opines that life cannot be better, industries cannot produce or operate fairly well in a society when energy and power cannot be guaranteed. He said, “It is interesting to know that a ton of white elephant projects which include a cashless economic system and automated rail transport are in the works gulping mamoth budgets, which all depend on an efficient electrical supply system”.

As an artiste, James – Iroha says that arts as a profession chose him. “Yes, it has to be so. Even my younger brother who is also an artist said he had to look into the profession away from theatre arts. He is today a writer, using advertising as a platform.

However, it is possible to also see some elements of drama even in photography. Even in designs, in paintings, sculpting, you have plenty of infusions of drama. Art is total in all these elements. So, because I did not follow the exact form of art of my father does not make any difference. I am an artiste of a different genre, but I am an artist all the same, the son of James Iroha, not Gringori (laughs).

Why not Gringori? he was asked. Hilariously, he enthused: “Ah, Gringori was a Calabar man, a house-boy. But James Iroha was a full-blooded Igbo man. You can see the difference now, eh? Yes, he created the New Masquerade and brought himself into it as a gifted artiste, a first class comedian and actor. When we were growing up he told us to be whatever we wanted to be. But he also warned that we must be the best in whatever profession we found ourselves. He never did anything to help us pass exams, but

insisted we should all study very hard to be the best.”

A striking resemblance of Gringori, Uche explained that this resemblance often distinguishes him out in a crowd. “Well, I don’t know how much of him that I carry about physically but all I know is that his blood is in me. Your surname is your father’s name and you want to keep it. Iroha is my name and James is my father and that blood runs in me.

So whatever, I am Uche Iroha. However, it is often difficult to fit into the yawning gap your father created in the world. Considering all this, often I feel the shoe is just too big for me to step in. But I want people to always look at my works than my personality. That way, people can easily define and digest the art of photography for which I am known.”

Having acknowledged also that his father’s influence speaks volumes about who is today, Uche said “I love the heart, mind and art of some other artists. They are all very remarkable, but the strongest influence on my works would be the work of James Iroha (OON).” In all that he does as an artist, James – Iroha tries to put himself into the picture of the society. This is why the titles of his works are drawn extensively from the particular situation the images tried to present. A good example is Potty training, one of the exhibiting pictures which deeply depicts a scenario where an adult is in a position of being taught how to use the talent while sitting on a electrical metre. The piece satirically tells the audience how difficult the very elementary stage of power production is for us and that we are still in this basic stage. The X-ray is an actual x-ray of the chest of a Nigerian who breathes in dangerous carbon-monoxide emissions from electrical generations which have become a perilous phenomenon in Nigeria. I like to throw in a slice of humour knowing it might be a hard spill to swallow by my viewers.”

Born in 1972 at Enugu, Uche graduated from the University of Port Harcourt in 1995,

specializing in sculpting. In 2008, he won Prince Claus award in photography. Earlier in 2005 he had won the A F D award for the African photography festival held in Mali. He has done several solo exhibitions depicting the society in various forms and styles. Most of his exhibitions abroad had chosen to depict his international exposure and touch. He has equally been involved in many local and international photography projects and publications that have earned him both respect and accolade.

“For me,” he said, “all these awards have shown the level of professionalism which photography has attained. However, it shows that it can help to ginger on the younger generation of artists to be able to do more. I am happy photography has become a bigger, progressive and a larger income-earner. Yes, there have been pockets of growth here and there. But there is still a lot to be done to improve the profession. There are very few purpose-built display spaces if any to start with. There is also a huge gap in professionalism and general infrastructure. But above all, the biggest void is in the area of integrity.”

With a cursory look at the issues photography addresses in Africa, Uche stressed that “as a profession, it has covered remarkable ground in the current past, in Africa and especially Nigeria, looking back at the commercial chart of the Nigerian art scene in the last 20 years. There is a fresh interest in photography which I think will grow into a proliferation. It is just a matter of time. Yet, I would say the proliferation came upon the country like a thief in the night”.

He explained that it is clear that this situation was not unexpected somewhat. “Yes the score sheets are easier to see when you look at the recent quality standards in magazines, general publication designs and music videos).” Therefore, photography has to move a few steps higher to make it more glamourous and formidable.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2014

How artistic performances resolve conflicts

HE first stakeholders parley by the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) was held in Lagos last week. At the parley, the Artistic Director of the Troupe, Mr. Akin Adejuwon used the opportunity to unveil his plans to make the Troupe attain more heights to justify the transformation agenda of the federal government.

It was an opportunity for various interest groups and artistes and other stakeholders who have been working for the good of the Troupe to make their own contributions on how to ensure that the performative aspects of the National Troupe of Nigeria is maintained if not surpassed.

Adejuwon stated that henceforth the primary assignment of the Troupe is to discover new talented artistes and encourage them to attain their goals in life as professionals. With these new artistes, it is hoped that the National Troupe assignments would not only become more widespread in outlook, but is also geared towards reaching out to a greater number of people both at home and abroad.

He said: "We intend to begin this revival project with a three state tour scheduled for this November.

We will organize two festivals. The first, is the

Title: Resilience in Leadership Author: O. Olanlokun Year of publication: 2014 Reviewer: Yusuph Olaniyonu

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

ARTS

USUPH Olaniyonu reviews a book written on the life and times of one of the pre-independence political leaders of Nigeria, Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, who was a dramatis personae in the Western Region crisis which eventually triggered the events that led to the collapse of the nation's first attempt at democratic rule.

Courage. Loyalty. Steadfastness. Devotion to a cause. Community service. Astute political leadership.

Grassroots mobilization skills. These and many other attributes form the core of the repackaged biography of Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, a political leader in the pre-independence and immediate postindependence period in Nigeria's political history. The 196-page book written by late Dr. Olajire Olanlokun who once served as chief librarian of the University of Lagos was launched on October 16, 2014 in the hall of the Ogun State Television, Abeokuta, at a grand occasion attended by top politicians, academics, professionals, businessmen, community leaders, students and others.

The book, first published in 2005 was recently revised with more contributions from members of the family and associates of the subject of the biography.

The new effort was co-ordinated by one of the colleagues of the late author, Dr. Taofiq M. salisu. The book is divided into 12 chapters which cover the early life, early involvement in party politics, parting of ways of Chief

By Edozie Udeze

Domestic Festival of Performing Arts. The other is an Abuja International Festival of Performing Arts. The maiden edition of the first one is planned for 2015 while subsequent editions will be rotated among the states. The second one will happen first in Abuja 2016 to make the federal capital territory feel the pulse of the Troupe in its epitome."

On the whole, Adejuwon intends to make Nigerian soldiers be a part of the tempo of this performative tendency of the Troupe. In this regard, he said, "the present security situation in the country brings the import of this arm of government to the fore. We will represent this importance through our performative expressions and then promote same. Interestingly, we have just been invited to perform at the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration 2014. I therefore consider this performance by the Troupe a unique one. Apart from being the first foot forward within my vision of making the Troupe current and relevant in the Nigerian scheme of things, I see the performance which is billed to take place at the Aso Rock presidential Villa Banquet

hall before a select audience of the president, his family and all service chiefs as a way of deploying the performative expression in a conflict environment."

Adejuwon also promised to maintain most of the old programmes of the Troupe in order to continue to promote the indices of the art, "since the National Troupe is the apex of Nigeria's rich cultural heritage.

In his keynote speech, Professor Sunday Idodo of the University of Maiduguri and the President of the Society of Nigerian Artistes, (SONTA) highlighted the need for the Troupe to be more visible. In his theme, the performative expressions in a conflict environment, he stated that an active National troupe should be in the forefront of making the whole people, the whole nation and indeed everybody to see, feel, watch and gain from its numerous, constant and engaging performances spread across the nation.

He said "In the creative enterprise conflict is a constant, especially in the performative genre. The preoccupation of any drama for instance is to generate conflicts and resolve them. These conflicts are also derive from human experiences and

When leadership matters

S.L. Akintola with his colleagues in the Action Group (AG), the war of brothers in AG, legal battle for Premiership and post-Emergency politics in Western Nigeria.

Others issues covered by the various chapters of this major work on Nigeria's political history, particularly the early experience of Nigerians in political party administration, the practice of parliamentary system and regionalism include first post-independence regional elections, postelection developments, Owu chieftaincy tussle, the last political activities of late Adegbenro as seen by his associates and the concluding remarks by the author.

Like every good biography, the book goes beyond the story of a man. It is the reproduction of the history of Nigeria and the politics of an era in which Alhaji Adegbenro found himself and operated in. The author, while writing about the early life of the subject, takes us through the history of the early settlement of the people of Owu quarters in Abeokuta and some of the villages in present day Ewekoro and Ifo local government areas in Ogun State. From the second chapter, the book takes us through the political life of late Adegbenro and it

continues in that line till the end, except for chapter nine which dwells on the tussle over the Balogun of Owu and Ekerin of Egba chieftaincy titles. Even then, the chieftaincy tussle was in itself a form of local politics.

From the second chapter, the importance of this book in correcting historical misstatements and clearing long held misrepresentations becomes obvious as it makes it clear that unlike the falsehood that was often spread on the so-called 'cross-carpet' story of the constitution of the 1952 Western Regional Assembly, the members including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Adegbenro and others were elected as independent members who later for the purpose of the election of first Premier chose whether to team up with the Action Group led by Awo or NCNC led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

It is also necessary to relate how this book helps to authenticate the claim that the debates in the Western Regional parliament were so enriched and with great depth so much that the quality was comparable to what obtained in Westminster, London. The copious use of quotes from contributions of the Nigerian legislators to parliamentary debate helped to demonstrate this.

Incidentally, from chapter three of the book, the reader is taken into the details of the Western Region crisis where late Adegbenro led the pro-Awolowo forces in battling the break-away faction of the AG led by Chief S.L. Akintola. No doubt, the story on this crucial development which was to determine Nigeria's first attempt at democratic rule after independence was

engagements with his/her environment. When conflicts are stimulated or imagined, they are also placed within plausible context of human appreciation. The capacity of the performing arts to interrogate human condition and proffer solutions is innate to drama and the art forms of music and dance can add value and substance to the conflicts. No one watches a theatrical piece without taking one or two lessons home apart from its entertainment values.

The beauty of performative expression is its captivating intensity to hold spell bound an audience to a recreated world of imaginative reality that an audience can hardly dissociate itself from. In other words, when a performative expression is well constructed and presented it does have a hold on its audience and capable of influencing and transforming them too. It is on this account that the role the theatre can play as a change agent and as agency of mediation in conflict resolution can be understood." This is what we expect the National Troupe to be doing constantly.

In the meantime the Troupe is embarking on a three-state tour of Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara from 19 to 26 of this month with different performances.

written from the perspective of the political tendency to which the subject of the book belonged.

It is interesting reading in chapter four about how Adegbenro was chosen to become the new party deputy leader over and above many top party leaders who were earlier considered in the race for who succeeded Chief Awolowo as Premier of Western Region. It was obvious that Awo, who was a good judge of men's character and values, had seen Adegbenro as the man for the moment. The time then required a deputy leader whose virtues included loyalty, resilience, consistency, humility, piety and ability to ignore the lure of the lucre.

However, much as one will recommend this book to students of history and political science, present and aspiring politicians as well as others who are interested in learning about Nigeria in her teething period of nationhood, there is so much work yet to be done in the area of proof-reading the text. There are so many spelling errors which sometimes are not only embarrassing but also altered the intended meaning of the author.

Similarly, the author does not seem to have any respect for punctuations. And this is a major minus for the easy, free-flowing narrative style adopted in the presentation of the facts.

Also, on page 143 is a great omission as the author claims that "Akintola's biographer even maintains that there was no shred of truth in the official results as the election was shamefully rigged". However, in the references listed on page 157, not only is the name of the quoted author, Osuntokun, wrongly spelt, the page being referred to, is missing. So, how does one crosscheck the veracity of the claim?

- Olaniyonu is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

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O you think Nigerians can have free and fair elections come

2015?

When a society that is not of honest people wants to have a fair election, it doesn’t add up. This is a country where the rule of law does not obtain; a country where there is no respect for the sacredness of human being around us. A situation where people don’t have the fear of God in their conscience, they can’t be fair to anybody.

God will help us not to allow the 2015 general elections not to destroy Nigeria.

Is that to say the elections could pose danger to national unity?

That Nigeria is still one is a puzzle and miracle. If not for the prayers of the saints, this country could have been sacked long ago because the things that make for unity are not there.

No corporate sentiment of our nation. Nigerians don’t think like a nation but they think like tribalists.

If one’s father is not from a given place and even if that person is born in that place, he would be taxed and be treated like a stranger not like one of them.

It is difficult to have a united nation because the practices and constitution do not support that unity.

Unfortunately the most cheated man in life is the most selfish man. We are going to cheat ourselves in 2015 elections because of selfishness and only God’s mercy will keep us together after 2015.

What are the things to expect?

Well as usual, we shall witness stealing of voting materials, disorganised elections and killing but God in His infinite mercy would take control that the country would not be overturned. We shall have bruises, people shall be

INTERVIEW

‘We cannot overlook religion in politics’ Renowned evangelist, Dr Uma Ukpai, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on 2015 elections and sundry national issues. Excerpts: wounded and some of the wounded soldiers would be left behind.

All these are already on but we could have more as we approach the elections.

We are political lepers who don’t feel any pains when hurt; Nigerians don’t feel pains anymore. We have lost the capacity for wonderment and that makes us dangerous and we can do the unimaginable.

But INEC has promised free and fair elections. Is that achievable?

History will repeat itself but if we want a change, let all the politicians go to school and learn the rule of politics. As long as we have untrained politicians, they will continue to break the rule of the game. When we have thugs as politicians, we will continue to have the same results. We need a school for politicians urgently. The longer the delay, the more people shall die.

Look at the ward congresses of the PDP we had, how many people were killed and nobody has been arrested for the killing? Security agencies did not say anything about the killing but the family members of the slain are weeping. A nation that kills her own is not a good nation; we are killing ourselves. It is the sheer mercy of God and miracle that makes Nigeria to still exist.

But how long do you think this mercy of God will continue to keep us?

Well, the bible says God’s mercy endureth forever and as long as His

mercy endures, Nigeria will continue to exist. As long as God remains merciful, so shall we remain as a nation.

What we do does not really add for us to be a nation.

Love, care and appreciation for one another which are the basis for unity are not there. Nothing shakes us any longer.

Do you think there is something that makes us to be so?

Because we have no respect for God, a man who has no regard for God cannot have regard for his neighbours and this is frightening. I cannot even go near any of the congresses for instance.

What do you have to say about the Muslim/Muslim ticket, which some allege one of the parties is planning?

Muslim/Muslim ticket contradicts common sense; it is selfish. Whoever thinks about it is not thinking about its consequences and such is selfish. It is a selfish agenda to field Muslim/ Muslim or Christian/ Christian.

Are we not mixing religion with politics here?

You cannot separate religion from politics. The issue of M.K.O Abiola and Kingibe added to our sins.

Did they rule after the elections? It is because God is not in support of that and that issue would have killed Nigeria if they had successfully ruled.

You cannot overlook religion in politics; it is like committing suicide in a broad day light and that has made Nigeria like an

NEWS

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‘Personal interests, conflicts banes of the pastor and the Christianity’ tween church committee.

ERSONAL interests and inability to manage crises are responsible for the setbacks of the body of Christ.

This was the consensus at a seminar organised by Excellence Glory Theological College, Ajegunle Lagos with the theme: A soldier with sword.

Apostle Felix Okwubunne, who spoke on the theme, lamented that today’s ministers have used the pulpit to launder personal, as against collective interests.

He noted that many have accumulated wealth and influence for themselves through the pulpits instead of working to change lives.

According to him: “Lack

By Ibrahim Adam

of concentration on individual responsibility causes hindrance to the growth of the church.

“A soldier with a sword doesn’t go after material things. Money will come, success will come but working together as Christians will make the gold and silver work in our path.”

Dr. Paul Ndubuisi, who spoke on ‘managing conflicts’, said conflicts are not the problems but the inability to manage it.

“Conflicts have become part of our daily experience.

If the disagreement is not within the pastorate, it’s be-

“Everybody wants to satisfy himself and the church will not move forward until we eliminate the word ‘I and Me’.”

On how to handle conflicts, he said: “Communication is so vital. Some marriage today collapse when the people involved lack the knowledge of marriage.”

Ndubuisi called on pastors and churches to adopt creative conflict resolution, which focuses on problem and give a new beginning.

Rector of the College, Rev. Dr. Ngozi Out, said the college was founded to prepare, equip and educate men and women to discover their spiritual gift.

accident that is about to happen. Politics is what we do every day. Politics is what we all practice every day. When some people go to church and not a mosque and vice versa, it is politics. So, we are already playing that politics.

When the church bells and you head to the mosques instead of the church, you are declaring your position.

Your home church, the Assemblies of God has been undergoing a leadership crisis. What is your take on it?

I think we have done well in that in 80 years, we have only had our major crisis.

Even Jesus had a Judas. So, to that extent, I will say we have done very well. It is not easy to manage a church.

The hardest thing under the sun is to be a leader of men.

This is the first major crisis we have had. I won’t go into who is right or wrong.

Rev. Paul Emeka believes you belong to the other camp… …No, let us not go into what he said and did not say. …But you sent a goodwill message to the last General Council meeting where you congratulated the new leadership. Is that an endorsement of a sort for Rev. Chidi Okoroafor?

Yes because that is where my heart is. I am old enough to know what I want. It is an endorsement for the new leadership. Before then, I had called the two to Benin and made efforts to reconcile them but it failed woefully.

What were their contentions?

I will not go into that. But

•Uma Ukpai

that was a big sacrifice on my part. Since I failed, the next thing was to look at what to do to save the church. So, everything we did was in order. The day we called Paul Emeka, he should have been there because I was the speaker but he didn’t. If he had been there, things wouldn’t have gone this bad. When I asked him why he did not come, he said he felt the people would have mobbed him.

You cannot say that because it means your mem-

bers are thugs.

Many believe that Christian leaders like you are working for the PDP. How do you react to this?

What is wrong with that?

Since the APC has Islam practitioners, it is only natural that the PDP will attract Christians.

Isn’t that dangerous politics?

We shouldn’t be afraid of that because I told you that when you wouldn’t go to church but go to mosque, you are already playing politics.

WHAT AND WHERE

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HE 25th edition of the Kingdom Life World Conference of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) with the theme “God and God Alone” kicks off today.

The conference, which holds at the TREM National and International Headquarters Anthony Oke Bus Stop/Gbagada Express Road, Lagos, ends next Sunday.

Kingdom Life conference kicks off Ministers expected include Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Dr. Mensah Otabil, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, Dr. Felix Omobude, Bishop Simon Okah and Dr. Abel Damina.

Artists scheduled for an allnight gospel musical praise

concert tagged Zamar slated for Friday, November 21st from 9 pm, include Nathaniel Bassey, Cobhams Asuquo, Chinyere Udoma, Ali Baba, Tee A and Evangel voices.

The hosts are Bishop Mike & Bishop (Mrs.) Peace Okonkwo.

years.

“The anniversary would also be a time to pray for the nation at this time to have mercy on the citizens , bring

peace and tranquility to the nation as well as usher us all into a new beginning as we get set for 2015 , the year of the general elections.”

Wisdom Church marks 10th anniversary

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ISDOM Church of Christ International is set to mark its 10th anniversary next Sunday at the church’s headquarters in 6b Oshinteye Street, Demurin, Ketu Lagos.

The host, Prophet Bisi Olujobi, said: “As a church, we thank God for how far the Lord has led us and the transformation that has happened in the lives of members over the

CAC (Palace of Joy) celebrates

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HE Christ Apostolic Church (Palace of Joy) Orimerunmu-town, Ogun State will begin a fiveday crusade to celebrate its third anniversary.

The crusade holds from November 17-21 by 5pm daily.

The host, Pastor Timothy Adams (Arole Jesu) assured participants will never remain the same again.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

WORSHIP

70

COLUMN

Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

The covenant of rewards! (3)

•General overseer of Liberation City Church Ojodu Lagos, Dr Chris Okafor, with some church officials during the 11th anniversary of the church… last week

Adeboye to govt: Treat teachers well T HE General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has appealed to government and other stakeholders to keep encouraging teachers so they can give their best to the nation.

He spoke at a special prayer and thanksgiving service for teachers and students organised by the church at the National Headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta in Lagos.

According to him, teachers all over the world are the instruments used in positioning youths for exploit and deserve encouragement to offer their best.

He lamented the spate of neglect of teachers’ warfare, which he described as a generational problem that has

By Adeola Ogunlade

inhibited the performance of today’s students to excel in the work place.

Adeboye, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, noted that proper investment in education is not negotiable because it remains a veritable platform to prepare youth for a prosperous future.

He said: “I have discovered that if we want to make progress, it is the youth that is engaged, empowered, and envisioned that would lead the change we want to see in Nigeria.”

Adeboye added: “We cannot drive the engine of the 21st century with old, obsolete and parochial mechanisms, which have pervaded the system and

continue to draw us back among the emerging economies of the world.

“We are all products of the work and commitment of a teacher and they are supposed to be appreciated and celebrated to do more.”

He admonished the teachers to perform their duty with patience, honesty and the fear of God, which would go a long way in shaping the future of their students who look up to them for guidance and direction.

“Teachers, please train these children to fear God, train them to love God. When they are young, the song we sing and the words we speak go deep into their heart and at crucial moments when they have to decide, they remember and it help them to lead a better life,” he said.

He restated the commitment of the church in supporting education, especially in the remotest parts.

Trinity House mourns Munroe, wife, daughter

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T was a time for sober reflection, hymns and songs at Trinity House Lagos during a night of tributes for the late renowned leadership coach and pastor of the Bahamas Faith Ministries International, Dr Myles Monroe, who died with his wife, Ruth and daughter Christy in a air crash on November 9 in the Bahamas while on the way to a

By Nneka Nwaneri

crusade.

The night of tributes was one of the ways Trinity House honoured Munroe, who was slated to be in the church next month for ministration.

The session featured Bible readings and video clips of the last interview of the late Monroe.

The senior pastor of the

church, Ituah Ighodalo, described Monroe as one of the most dynamic men in the world, who influenced so many people with his sermons, books and lifestyle.

In a brief sermon, Pastor Niyi Akenzua urged the congregation that since all will die some time, everyone should try to fulfill purpose before death comes calling.

Odeleke celebrates 40 years on pulpit

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FTER 40 years of fulltime ministry, Africa’s first female Bishop, Dr Bola Odeleke, is set to move on to new projects.

The nation’s first female televangelist informed she is set to return to television ministry with a new talk show that focuses on practicality Christianity.

Speaking last week ahead of the convention of the Power Pentecostal Church with the theme Grace made me, Odeleke,

•Set for ‘new move’

By Sunday Oguntola

who pioneered television evangelism with the likes of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa and late Prophet Timothy Obadare, said the new TV show will commence in the first quarters of next year.

According to her: “There are too many sermons on television these days and I just thought I should have a show where entrepreneurs, pastors

Cleric urges patriotism

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HE Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church in Kano, Pastor Festus Olotu, has admonished Nigerians to tolerate one another and imbibe the spirit of patriotism towards fighting terrorism in the northern parts of the country.

He spoke last week during the annual convention of the church.

Olotu said only the collective prayers of Nigerians will enable the nation overcome its

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

daunting challenges.

Describing the spate of terrorists’ attack in the region as unbearable considering the huge damages of lives and properties, the cleric added that the situation is a spiritual war which requires intensive prayers.

On the 2015 elections, Olotu urged the non- indigenes in the northern region not to relocate due to fear but remain prayerful as nowhere is crisis-free.

and Christian professionals can talk about practical Christianity.

“It is so easy to preach but people want to know how to bring God into their daily activities and professional life.

That is what the show will be seeking to achieve.”

Odeleke described herself as a product of grace, saying setting out on November 16, 1974 as a female preacher without bible training was nothing but sheer miracle.

According to her, grace has kept her in 40 years of ministry despite all the ups and downs.

She also disclosed the launch of a non-governmental organisation that will focus on the empowerment and education of girl-child across the nation.

The anniversary, which kicks off today, features guest speakers such as Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Apostle Anslem Madubuko, Prophet Wole Oladiyun and Pastor Kalejaiye, among others.

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ELCOME to your regular column. I started this teaching a fortnight ago. In the first week, I explained what a covenant is. By way of refreshing your memory, I said a covenant is like a contract, involving two or more people.

In this case, it involves just you and God. God is the Covenantor and you are the covenantee — you are the beneficiary of the deal. All you need then is a good understanding of what the covenant entails, and you’ll be a beneficiary of God’s rewards for your stewardship to Him. Also, I considered faithfulness, as a vital requirement of the covenant of rewards.

At the second week, I taught on diligence, continuity and consistency as requirements of the covenant of rewards. On diligence, I said God is a Rewarder of all those who diligently seek and serve Him (Hebrews 11:6).

When you serve God diligently, you will be rewarded openly.

On continuity, I cautioned that you should never mind your mockers! Stay On! Continuity is a vital rule in your quest for full rewards (Luke 22:29). As long as you are not tired of rendering your continuous stewardship, in spite of temptations, God won’t be tired of dazing you with unstoppable rewards.

Finally, on consistency, I said you should never get to a point where God becomes untrue to you! I know for long that God does not need me; it is me that need Him! So, remain steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). That is the rule that entitles you to the rewards. I

am too sure of God’s reward system; no devil can confuse me of this reality in my life. So, receive grace for steadfastness, in the name of Jesus!

In continuation of that teaching this week, I will consider other requirements of the covenant of rewards – Rendering service cheerfully: Recognize that our rewards are reserved for us, until we are properly positioned.

The Word of God says: Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

You need to be joyful while rendering your services to God. Joel 1:11-12 says: Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

There are many whose rewards are just wasting, simply because their joy level is nothing to reckon with.

God’s Word says: And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God (Jeremiah 23:36). If you see stewardship as a burden, you have lost the rewards and blessings from God. There is nothing of real

NEWS

value that will not require patience. After you have patiently waited, you will eventually have the reward. So, endeavour to be cheerful at all times, if you must be entitled to your rewards. May the oil of joy come afresh upon your life today, in the name of Jesus Christ! Remember, it is never late to be right!

Your stewardship must be love-motivated: If you must qualify for God’s rewards, your stewardship must be love-motivated. The Bible says: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries…and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor… and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:23).

Your love for God must be the livewire of your stewardship. Love is a facilitator of all the vital forces required.

Whatever service you are rendering, let your love for God be your primary motivator.

Love should be the motivation for your stewardship. Please let your stewardship be lovemotivated, if you must be entitled to God’s rewards without hindrance.

Friend, the grace to key into the above, is for those who are born again. You become born again, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Say this prayer in faith: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, for saving me!

Now, I know I am born again!” I will continue this teaching next week.

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books: Born To Win and Understanding Your Covenant Rights.

From December 9-13, the story of many lives will be rewritten at SHILOH 2014 tagged, Heaven On Earth.

Shiloh is a historic and prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, coming up at Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Idiroko Road, Ota. Come for a change of status! Jesus Is Lord!

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Build intimacy, couples urged

D

O you know your wife’s lingerie’s sizes?

Do you know the name of the primary school she attended or her grandma’s name?

If you are not too sure, you can start working on these areas and more so you don’t get caught pants down.

These were some of the lessons garnered at the grand finale of the one- week conference of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Redemption zone, Lagos Province 9 Agege recently.

It was at a family seminar with the theme: The overflowing family.

Speakers after speakers spoke on how to successfully keep a home as well as sound parenting skills for the participants, who included men, pastors’ wives and members.

A guest minister, Pastor (Mrs.) Abigail Adarabioyo,

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

urged men to build intimacy with their spouses by taking note of seemingly irrelevant details such as the sizes of their shoes and clothes.

To women, she said: “Women should also not provoke their husbands to anger or disrespect them, either in public or in private. A wise woman builds her home.

“A good woman will follow the winning examples in Proverbs 31. The 10 Virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman reminds us that God’s Word is applicable to our lives today.

“When a couple is in unity of purpose, it will be easy to raise the children, hence an overflowing family.”

The hostess, who is also wife of the Pastor in-charge of the zone, Assistant Pastor (Mrs.) Olusegun John, enjoined men to learn to appreciate women.

•John

Speaking after demonstration of how to dress for babies by men, she said: “You can see that it is not easy to dress up for children. So whenever you feel your wife is taking time and ‘delaying’ you, bear in mind that children must not be mismanaged and your wife is a professional, trying to prevent crises.”

The weeklong event saw the women in the zone embark on evangelism and donation to motherless homes as well as environmental sanitation in the neighbourhood.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

72

Philosophy and the national question in Nigeria

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH T 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Face, not tribal, marks W

ELCOME to the NTA Network N e w s , Wednesday, November 12, 2014: “Students leaving with their luggages after the bomb attack.” Time; 9 p. m.

‘Luggage’ is non-count.

Next is Radio Nigeria (FRCN) 4 p. m. Bulletin, Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Here is the news: “President Goodluck Jonathan this morning declared under (on) the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party….”

“Can the CBN defend the naira” (The PUNCH Back Page Headline, November 10) Economic renaissance: this headline needs a question mark.

“Be a witness to history…as H. E. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR declares in response to Nigerians (Nigerians’) demand….” (Wrap-around in most national newspapers, November 10, by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria) “Book you space at Nigeria Pavillion @ ITU Telecom World 2014, Doha, Qatar” (Full-page advertisement by Nigerian Communications Commission signed by Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, THE GUARDIAN, November 10) Connecting Nigeria: pavilion “15 passengers drown as vehicle plunges into river” The victims could not have drowned inside the bush!

Therefore, delete ‘into river’.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, November 2, disseminated copious improprieties: “Aside the need to breath (breathe) fresh life into the brands, Guinness under Adetu had competitions in (on) all fronts to contend with.”

“Rivers: Developing economic potentials (potential or potentialities” “Your eminence, as you mark your eight (eighth) anniversary on the throne….”

“Lagosians raise alarm (the alarm)” (THE GUARDIAN Front Page Banner, November 9) “Imoke flags off 10 th Carnival Calabar Dry Run” (THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, November 8) Instead of ‘flag off’, use ‘inaugurates’ “We also seize (take/use) this opportunity to congratulate you and your entire (all your) family for (on/ upon) your humanitarian contributions….” Please note that ‘seize an opportunity’ is a piece of Americanism.

“Vandalisation, major threat to regular power supply” (THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, November 4) Vandalism of

the English language must stop!

“The recent Presidential approval for Grass Root (sic) Sports Development in….”

(Full-page advertisement by National Lottery Trust Fund, THE GUARDIAN, November 8) This way: grassroots sports….

THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of November 9 circulated just three errors: “…and the police has (have) no right to abridge them.”

“As law abiding citizens the campaigners did the right thing….” A rewrite: As law-abiding citizens, the campaigners did…. (Take note of the hyphen and comma).

“Unfortunately (a comma) the heart rendering (heart-rending) plight of the over 200 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok….” “,,,he speaks on the opportunities inherent in mobile apps and how startups can harness same (the same).”

“American mid term (mid-term) elections: Democrats eat (bite the) dust” “Rivers PDP at a crossroad” Politics: at a/the crossroads “He achieved this fit (feat) by always striving for excellence.”

“Leke, Akeem root for Eagles call up” Sports: Eagles’ call-up “Cycling Federation thumbs-up (thumbs up)….”

“41 insurgents killed, as troops (troops’) deployment continues” “Seventy-six years in the life of a man is a major milestone especially for one who has left indelible records in (on) the political landscape of our great country.” (Fullpage advertorial by Orlu Zonal Political Leaders Forum in THE NATION ON SUNDAY of November 2 signed by HE (sic) Chief Achike Udenwa (Leader) and Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Secretary) Yank off ‘major’. And this: Leaders’ Forum “Estranged first wife escapes death by the whiskers” Top stories: by a whisker “Uyo bubbles as Jonathan commissions (inaugurates) Akwa Ibom Stadium” “Eagles battle ready (battle-ready) for Ghana” “Empowering women to achieve their potentials” (THE GUARDIAN WOMAN, November 1) Already treated!

The following three blunders are from a full-page advertisement by the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State,

published in THE GUARDIAN, November 3 and signed by Tonbra R. Morris-Odubo, Registrar): “The Niger Delta University invites applications from suitable (suitably) qualified candidates for the following vacant posts….”

“A Good University Degree (unnecessary capitalization) preferable (preferably) masters in a relevant….” This aptly explains why our educational standard is not just falling, but has collapsed almost irretrievably!

FEEDBACK “APC gives quit notice (the notice to quit) to PDP” (AJAYI LAWRENCE, 08054674477) WHO or whom? “Who is fooling who” is correct while who is fooling whom is incorrect. Fowler’s usage bible (A Dictionary of Modern English Usage) has taken a stand. ‘Whom’ has been declared an obsolescent word (going gradually out of usage) except in dative case: by whom/for whom/to whom/through whom/with whom etc. Note well: who is who in Nigeria. Who is who in Africa, etc. Keep it up.

TRIBAL marks or face marks? Last week, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo gleefully and humorously told the media that he had three identity cards: his international passport, national identity card and his ‘owu’ “tribal” (face) marks.

He was obviously misled by NIMC’s National Identification Enrolment form which asks for your physical features that include height, gender, hair colour, tribal marks (instead of face marks).

Simply put, these NIMC officials are language barbarians!

(BAYO O G U N T U A S E , 08056180046) “THE party will continue to inspire confidence in all party faithfuls (faithful)” (Full-page advertorial by Cross River State PDP Stakeholders, THE NATION, November 11) The faithful (already plural) are believers in a particular religion, or loyal supporters of a political party.

(STANLEY NDUAGU, 08062925996) “MANY people who are soliciting for this consensus….”

(THE NATION ON SUNDAY, October 26) ‘For’ is needless.

(SUNDAY ADESINA ROYALSON, Abuja, 08065615799), “Then, the shoes were parked with cotton wool or paper.…” There is a difference between ‘pack’ and ‘park’.

“For a man who took the gospel of exclusive breastfeeding to grassroot (grassroots) level.…”

HE third Thursday of November every year is World Philosophy Day. This is a day unlike any others celebrated worldwide. We have the world AIDS day, the world mathematics day, world youth day, world environment day, world book day, and even world friend day. The World Philosophy Day isn’t a day that many people all over the world would take cognisance of. And the reason isn’t far-fetched—philosophy is an invisible abstract discipline whose relevance is grossly contested all over the world. Yet, UNESCO recognises its significance with an annual celebration. On its website, the organisation says it recognises the ‘enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual.’ It therefore dedicates and designates the third Thursday of November every year as the day to dwell on its relevance. We join the exclusive club of philosophers all around the world and the rather obscure and almost disappearing Nigerian core, professional or otherwise, to celebrate by way of a ‘philosophical’ reflection on our national question.

Philosophy’s travail in the world today isn’t a strange one or restricted to philosophy alone. That travail is the lot of all the disciplines in the humanities. Religious Study, Classics, History, English, etc.—they are all subjected to the test of relevance. In most cases, that test is that of their supposed place and role in national development.

We have no problem with deducing how mathematics, technology, management, and the sciences contribute significantly to the development of a nation.

But what can philosophy do?

Does philosophy bake bread?

Even philosophers do not spare their own vocation! Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Austrian philosopher, once joked: ‘A philosopher...says again and again “I know that’s a tree,” pointing to a tree that is nearby.

Someone else arrives and hears this, and I tell him: “This fellow isn’t insane. We are only doing philosophy”.’

Talking of philosophy as a profession, I am a layman, but I understand what Wittgenstein is saying. Philosophy has always been associated with the esoteric and the absurd. Yet, again as a layman, I have a special sympathy for the philosophical enterprise. While I was searching for a career path as a young boy freshly out of secondary school, I stumbled on Plato’s classic, the Republic. And I read it. That singular experience conditioned my desire not only to indulge my appetite for more reflective learning, but also motivated my single-minded resolve to pursue philosophy as a course of study at the university. I held that resolve until my parents and my entire world at the time managed to persuade me against what they considered my ‘stupidity.’

Plato’s Republic left me with one unforgettable insight, and that is philosophy’s confrontation with the political situation of Athens. Socrates had been murdered. In Plato’s assessment, Athenian politics was no longer a worthy vocation to pursue. What was needed was a philosophical scrutiny that could correct the political anomalies that led to the judicial murder of a good man who intended the good of the political community. And so, Plato

•Ake

By Tunji Olaopa came to the famous conclusion that unless philosophers become kings or kings become philosophers, no political community will know peace or even development. That is a dramatic declaration but its weightiness will become obvious and acceptable when we attempt to bring philosophy home to Nigeria. The pertinent issue, for me, concerns the national question in Nigeria. How does this question challenge philosophers in Nigeria?

What do philosophers in Nigeria have to say to the national question?

After 54 years since its founding, the Nigerian state is facing its most traumatic moment in its experience of nation building. The Nigerian state had witnessed so many shocks to its body politic since its inauguration. The most terrible of all these shocks continues to be the Nigerian Civil War. The state has been decimated and inundated with severe crises—presently, its authority is being challenged by insurgents from within and global economic forces from without. All these spell doom for the urgent task of not only providing social salvation for millions of Nigerians who have been waiting for it for 54 years, but also of integrating the various diverse elements into one coherent national entity. This is the gist of the national question. What role is there for philosophy and philosophers in all this?

‘A philosopher of imposing stature doesn’t think in a vacuum,’ says Alfred North Whitehead, the British philosopher. ‘Even his most abstract ideas are, to some extent, conditioned by what is or what is not known in the time when he lives.’ Thus, the first challenge Nigeria throws at its philosophers is the crucial task of insinuating themselves into their own national context as a kind of philosophical laboratory that generates issues, problems and concerns. Within the context of the national question, the Nigerian philosophers cannot afford the luxury of playful reflection that borders on the trivial, the abstract and the esoteric. Nigeria is a concrete predicament that must push the philosophers into concrete reflection.

What, for instance, says the Nigerian philosophers about the steady but escalating institutional decay and systemic dysfunction that characterise the Nigerian system? I am a civil servant and a political theorist. I have a perspective on the institutional trouble with Nigeria. I am an insider who has been grappling with our institutional dysfunction and theorising the idea of reform. But what says philosophy? What unique and

fundamental idea can the philosophers bring to the understanding of administrative phenomena the same way Max Weber enabled our understanding of the modern state and its bureaucracy? The fundamental challenge for philosophy and philosophers, as I see it, is that of facilitating the reflective process—and an enduring debate—that constantly presses the issue of institutions and values into our national consciousness. Philosophers are glaringly absent in Nigeria’s public sphere.

And this is an indictment!

This indictment is to the extent that any discipline, whatsoever their disciplinary boundary and concern, must contribute in a significant manner to the wellbeing of the country within which its practitioners operates. In other words, no discipline—and definitely not the humanities and the social sciences—possess the luxury of speaking to themselves. There should be a moral responsibility to speak to the nation too; to invade the fissures of our national existence and query its theoretical foundations, social formations and forces. It is possible that the invisibility of philosophy is responsible for its unpalatable status in the national scheme of things. And that wasn’t what Plato intended. Philosophy was supposed to be at the centre of political experience because philosophers deal with fundamentals either of existence, the universe or the state and its institutions. The Republic is Plato’s own blueprint for the concrete reconstruction of Athens.

On the other hand, however, the Nigerian nation also owes its intellectuals a duty; essentially, the duty of engaging their intellects for the sake of national development. A nation is the sum total of all its constituent parts, and no part is as critical as the intellectual capital represented by the scholars and teachers and specialists in the art of reflection and strategies. Paying attention to a nation’s intellectual capital, for me, goes beyond our narrow focus on science and technology as the sole motivator for national growth. The reconstruction of Nigeria requires a concert of intellectuals from across the spectrum to instigate a deep rumination on the condition of existence in Nigeria.

And the philosophers have a significant role to play in that concert of social transformation and national renewal.

Claude Ake delivered a stinging indictment of Nigeria in the foreward to my 1997 book A prophet is with honour: life & times of Ojetunji Aboyade.

For him, the paradox of Nigeria is that it needs heroes, in fact, it yearns for them; yet, it fails to acknowledge their existence and continually derails their efforts. If this national paradox is to burn itself out, then Nigeria must begin to engage its heroes—those intellectuals and philosophers who are as much patriots as the best of the politicians that we have—all in the process of making Nigeria work. It is the World Philosophy Day, according to UNESCO. But are the philosophers ready for their national task? Is Nigeria ready for the philosophers?

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014 Comet lander shuts down as batteries go flat

DR Congo declares itself Ebola-free

T

A

PIONEERING robotic spacecraft shut down yesterday after radioing results of its first and probably last batch of scientific experiments from the surface of a comet, scientists said.

Batteries aboard the European Space Agency's Philae comet lander drained, shutting down the washing machinesized probe after an adventurous and largely unscripted 57hour mission.

Photos and other data relayed by Philae show it finally landed against a cliff or crater wall where there was little sunlight to recharge its batteries.

Racing against the clock, scientists activated a series of automated experiments, the first to be conducted from the surface of a comet.

Before dying, Philae defied the odds and radioed its science results back to Earth for analysis.

Its last task was to reposition itself so that as the comet soars toward the sun, Philae's batteries may recharge enough for a follow-on mission. "Perhaps when we are nearer to the sun we might have enough solar illumination to wake up the lander and re-establish communication," spacecraft operations manager Stephan Ulamec said in a statement.

Scientists are particularly interested in learning about the chemical composition of any organic molecules in samples drilled out from the comet's body.

Morocco arrests five would-be jihadists

M

OROCCO arrested five people yesterday in the southern city of Marrakesh on suspicion of seeking to join jihadists in Iraq and Syria and of aiding terrorist activities, the interior ministry said.

Three of those arrested, whose identities were not given, were "preparing to join terrorist organisations in Syria and Iraq, in particular the Islamic State (IS)" group, a ministry statement said.

The other two were suspected of involvement in terrorist propaganda, with one of them calling for suicide attacks to be carried out in Morocco.

On Thursday, four French Islamists were arrested in Marrakesh and in Laayoune, in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara, for links to "terrorist organisations."

And at the end of October, Morocco said it had arrested two jihadists planning to attack banks and multinational companies in the North African country and in France.

More than 2,000 Moroccans, including people with dual citizenship, are believed to have signed on with jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq.

Worried about the possibility of those people returning and carrying out attacks at home, Morocco put in place reinforced security measures in August to counter the terror threat.

•Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L) and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel meeting 'Jimbelung' the Koala before the start of the first G20 meeting in Brisbane. Australia is hosting the leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies for the G20 summit in Brisbane yesterday and today.

AFP PHOTO

Western leaders confront Putin at G20 W

ESTERN leaders warned Vladimir Putin at a G20 summit on Saturday that he risked more economic sanctions if he failed to end Russian backing for separatist rebels in Ukraine.

Russia denied any involvement in an escalation of the separatist war in eastern Ukraine, where more than 4,000 people have been killed since April, but faced strong rebukes from leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I guess I'll shake your hand but I have only one thing to say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine," Harper told Putin at the summit in Brisbane, Australia, according to his spokesman Jason MacDonald.

Putin's response to the comment was not positive, MacDonald said in an email, without elaborating.

A source in Putin's delegation told Reuters that the Russian president would leave the summit early, skipping a working breakfast on Sunday, because he needed to return to meetings in Moscow.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any such plans, saying: "This is wrong.

The president is taking part in

• Threaten more sanctions

all the (G20) events."Western nations have imposed successive rounds of sanctions on Moscow, accusing it of sending troops and tanks to back proRussian rebels fighting to break away from Ukraine. Russia denies the charges.

The measures, aimed at sectors like oil and banking, as well as individuals close to Putin, are squeezing Russia's economy at a time when falling oil prices are straining the budget and the rouble has plunged on financial markets.

Obama said the United States was at the forefront of "opposing Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is a threat to the world, as we saw in the appalling shoot-down of MH17" -- a reference to the downing of a Malaysian airliner over rebel-held territory on July 17, with the loss of 298 lives.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union was considering further financial sanctions against Russian individuals because of the crisis

in Ukraine.

"The present situation is not satisfying," she told reporters.

"At present the listing of further persons is on the agenda."

Putin's isolation was evident with his placing on the outer edge for the formal G20 leaders' photograph. While Obama and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping were met by Australia's governor general and attorney general when they arrived in Brisbane, Putin was greeted by the assistant defense minister.

Despite being under intense pressure, Putin was all smiles, shaking hands with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The host had threatened to "shirt front", or physically confront, Putin over the downing of MH17, in which 28 Australians died.

A Kremlin spokesman said the Ukraine crisis was the only topic discussed at a one-on-one meeting between Putin and British Prime Minister David Cameron, but he added both expressed interest in "ending

confrontation" and rebuilding relations. Putin also met French President Francois Hollande, and both agreed to protect their ties from the effects of sanctions, the spokesman said.

The European Union demanded Moscow withdraw troops and weapons from Ukraine and put pressure on rebels there to accept a ceasefire, after the latest fighting wrecked a truce agreed in September.

EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday to assess the situation in Ukraine and whether further steps including additional sanctions are needed against Russia, said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Obama plans to meet European leaders to discuss the matter on Sunday, he added.

Outside the summit, Ukrainian Australians staged an antiPutin protest, wearing headbands reading "Putin, Killer".

Draped with the flags of the nations that lost citizens when flight MH17 was shot down, the demonstrators lay on a large Ukrainian flag, in what they said was a protest at the "murderous acts" Russia's president was responsible for.

Signing of Burkina transition deal pushed to today

T

HE signing of Burkina Faso's transitional agreement to return the west African nation to civilian rule has been pushed back by a day for "technical" reasons, a military source said.

The country's army, political parties and civil groups were yesterday due to sign the agreement, which lays out the steps to a one-year transfer of power from the military, which took over after mass protests forced out veteran president Blaise Compaore on October 31.

But the ceremony has been postponed because the building where the document was to be

signed was still being repaired after damage from the demonstrations and because traditional leaders from the regions invited to the ceremony needed more time to travel to the capital, the source said on condition of anonymity.

"The signing of the charter has thus been pushed back to Sunday" at 4:00 pm (1600 GMT), the source said. "We want to brief our traditional leaders on our discussions."

The transition charter, akin to an interim constitution, lays out a one-year transition to civilian rule that includes appointing a temporary president and calls for elections by No-

vember 2015.

Delicate negotiations had already begun on Friday in Burkina Faso's capital city Ouagadougou over who the country's next leaders will be, including the president, the head of the interim parliament and the prime minister.

Under the deal, an interim civilian president will be chosen by a special electoral college.

The president will in turn appoint a prime minister, either a civilian or a military figure, who will head a 25-member transitional government.

A civilian will also head a 90-seat parliament, known as

the National Transitional Council.

Opposition parties, civil groups, religious leaders and the military hammered out the transition pact during intense talks and unanimously voted in favour of the roadmap on Thursday.

Burkina Faso's military has faced mounting international pressure to transfer power to an interim government.

Compaore quit under pressure amid protests sparked by his bid to extend his 27-year rule by changing the constitution of the landlocked former French colony of some 17 million people.

HE Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday declared itself Ebolafree, after a three-month outbreak of the killer disease claimed at least 49 lives.

The DRC outbreak, which began in August, involved a different strain of Ebola from the one that has claimed more than 5,100 lives in West Africa.

"The end of the epidemic... does not mean we are completely out of danger," said DRC Health Minister Felix KabangeNumbi. "Like every other nation, the DRC remains threatened by the possible import of the Ebola virus disease raging in west Africa."

The all-clear in the DR Congo came 42 days after the last recorded case of the virus, which has a 21-day incubation period.

The outbreak raging in west Africa stems from the Zaire species -- the deadliest of the five known distinct species -- which caused the world's first known Ebola outbreak in 1976 in what is now known as the DRC. Until now that outbreak was the deadliest on record, with 280 deaths.

The disease takes its name from the DRC's Ebola River.

N. Korea warns of retaliatory strikes

N

ORTH Korea yesterday warned of retaliatory strikes days after South Korea fired warning shots at a North Korean patrol near the border.

South Korean troops on Monday fired warning shots as the North's patrol approached the military demarcation line (MDL) that designates the border, but there was no exchange of fire and the group eventually turned back.

"The south Korean puppet military warmongers should be mindful that such reckless military provocations in the area of MDL may invite unforeseeable retaliation strikes, which will immediately lead to a great war of justice for national reunification", the Front Command of the North's military said.

"If they continue the military provocation despite our warning, they will have to pay at the cost of their blood."

There have been a series of minor skirmishes, involving exchanges of fire but no casualties, along the inter-Korean land and sea borders in recent months.

The two Koreas are still technically at war as the 195053 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The Korean peninsula is divided by a 2.5 mile-(four kilometre)-wide band known as the demilitarised zone (DMZ) that runs 248 km (155 miles) from east to west.

The DMZ is something of a misnomer as it is one of the world's most heavily militarised frontiers, bristling with watchtowers and landmines.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014 CHANGE OF NAME EGUAVOEN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eguavoen Imade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aitokhaimen Imade. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ABUTU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abutu, Hope Ojochide, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinlola, Hope Ojochide. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OLOYEDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs OLOYEDE Abimbola Ayodele, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss OJO Abimbola Ayodele. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKINOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as AKINOLA A. AKINBORO, now wish to be known and addressed as IDANOSI ISAAC BORO. All former documents remain valid..

WAEC,OAU, NYSC . General public take note.

OGUNDUNSIN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogundunsin, Olukemi Busayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Airebamen, Olukemi Busayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NEWS

CHANGE CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as JOHN AZUBUIKE EZENWOKIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN AZUBUIKE ERNEST. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IBILOYE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibiloye Ronke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mojere, Esther Ronke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Comfort Jeremai Pelesai and Pelesai Comfort refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known as Comfort Jeremai Pelesai.

All documents bearing the above two names remain valid. NECO and general public take note.

UKHUEDOBA

AKULAKA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Rabiu, Kafayat Oluwabunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Koleosho, Kafayat Oluwabunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as GLORIA AREPITAN UKHUEDOBA now wish to be known and addressed as GLORIA AREPITAN UKHUEDOBA-EDIALE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Firm petitions police, US over alleged $60m fraud

CORRECTION OF NAME Salmon Numukumo was wrongly written in my post UME/Letter of Admission as Buokuromo K. that now wish to be known as Salmon Numukumo. All documents bearing the above two names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CYNTHIA ISEMUA OJERHEGHAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ISEMUA JOHN EBONG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OJERHEGHAN

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

AZENWOKIKE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faith Munachi Akulaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Munachi Theophilus. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, ABSU and general public should please take note.

UGWUANYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwuanyi, Ngozi Sandra, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anya Ngozi Sandra. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, ABSU and general public should please take note.

AGBOOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agboola, Mojisola Olutayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alapoti, Mojisola Olutayo. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Ministry of Education District 4 and general public should please take note.

ESSIEN

ADEWUMI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eno-Obong Etin Essien, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eno-Obong Nsikak Okokon.

All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

AJAYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eno David Inyang, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Mfon Oyuho. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

AKURA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbonnaya, Amarachukwu Berachah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esene Amarachukwu Berachah. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewumi Folashade Tawakalit, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojulari, Folashade Tawakalit. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi, Bunmi Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinade, Oluwabunmi Titilayo. All former documents remain valid. Ifelodun LCDA and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Akura, Msurshima Stella, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Msurshima Stella Edeh. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OTTA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oni, Oluwadunni Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Otta, Oluwadunni Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DAVIES

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Davies, Folake Olabisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunseye, Folake Olabisi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

NWAGWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Felicia Okwuchi Nwagwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Felicia Okwuchi Mkpeti. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AGOSA

I, formerly known and addressed as Agosa, Denase Oluwaseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Akanni, Denase Oluwaseun. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ABINA

I, formerly known and addressed as Abina, Itunuoluwa Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Oyinde Ifeoluwalodunni Itunuoluwa Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. AOCOED and general public should please take note.

MUSA

I, formerly known and addressed as Musa, Oluwatosin Yesirat, now wish to be known and addressed as Leloh Oluwatosin Olayinka. All former documents remain valid.

AOCOED and general public should please take note.

IDOWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu, Olajumoke Bolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajayi, Olajumoke Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

JOHN

I, formerly known and addressed as VIVIAN UKAMAKA JOHN, now wish to be known and addressed as VIVIAN UKAMAKA AZUBUIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DIKE

I formerly known and addressed as Dike, Charles Akachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Edward Charles Akachi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

75

INYANG

OGBONNAYA

UGWUH

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ugwuh Ikechukwu Benjamin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Chukwu Ikechukwu Benjamin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADENIYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeniyi, Seun Bunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akeredolu, Seun Bunmi. All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State Teaching Hospital and general public should please take note.

RABIU

LAWAL

I formerly known and addressed as Lawal, Moriamo Oluwabunmi Adenuga, now wish to be known and addressed as Adenuga Moriamo Oluwabunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHIKWE

I formerly known and addressed as Rosemary Ijeoma Chikwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Rosemary Ijeoma Igboenyesi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OLADIPUPO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladipupo Adesola Omotoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odusanya Adesola Omotoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AZEEZ

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Azeez, Risikat Moradeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Musa, Risikat Moradeke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OJUDUN

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Ojudun, Funmilayo Bose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunbowale, Funmilayo Bose.

All former documents remain valid.

Ogun SUBEB, Ijebu North East LGEA and general public should please take note.

AZEEZ

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Azeez, Risikat Moradeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Musa, Risikat Moradeke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UKONU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss JENNIFER CHINWENDU UKONU now wish to be known as Mrs. JENNIFER CHINWENDU NWADIKE. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

OKAFOR

KEHINDE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss CHIOMA JENNIFER OKAFOR. Now wish to be known as Mrs. CHIOMA JENNIFER ELEBEKE. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

AREMU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss OGBONNA ROSELYN IJEOMA now wish to be known as Mrs. NWACHUKWU ROSELYN IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kehinde, Lucia Olufunke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayodele, Lucia Olufunmilayo.

All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aremu Opeyemi Rachael, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olaniyan Opeyemi Rachael. All former documents remain valid. WAEC, LASU, Osun state council for Arts And Culture and general public should please take note.

EWEOYA

I formerly known and addressed as Eweoya, Ajibola Titilope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojuewe, Ajibola Titilope. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

OLOGUN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ologun, Rita Oluwanifesimi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abiodun, Rita Oluwanifesimi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DARE-ISIJOLA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dare-Isijola, Comfort Moyinoluwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Isijola, Comfort Moyinoluwa. All former documents remain valid. Federal Government College, Efon Alaaye and general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ogirigi Endurance Wisdom and Ogirigi Endurance refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known as Ogirigi Endurance Wisdon. All documents bearing the above two names remain valid.Niger Delta University and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ibobiri Peter Thankgod and Ibibiri Peter refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known as Ibobiri Peter Thankgod.

All documents bearing the above two names remain valid.General public take note.

OGBONNA

UNOGU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss UNOGU TONIA VIRGINIA now wish to be known as Mrs. OFOMA TONIA VIRGINIA NWADIOGO. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

IMHONTU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gladys Iriarebhe Imhontu, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Gladys Iriarebhe Okafor. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

TEMENU

I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. Miss Temenu Adewunmi Adeola, now wish to be known and addressed Dr. Mrs. Usinoma Adewunmi Adeola. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

EMEKA

I, formerly known and addressed as Onukegem Sixtus Emeka, now wish to be known and addressed Omeziri Chukwuemeka. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMOTAYO

ODUFUWA

I, formerly known and addressed as Princess Venisa Usman, now wish to be known and addressed as Princess Venisa Ojo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss OMOTAYO MUTIAT ADETAYO, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. AFOLAYAN MUTIAT ADETAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss ODUFUWA EBUNOLUWA OLUWADAMILOLA, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. OSHINGBADE EBUNOLUWA OLUWADAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEWALE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEWALE BOLANLE MUTIYAT, now wish to be known and addressed MRS. OLAWALE BOLANLE MUTIYAT All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EDEWEDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoiruele Rita Edewede, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs.Utubor Rita Edewede. All former documents remain valid. Federal School of Surveying Oyo, Federal Poly Auchi and general public take note.

UKO

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BLESSING UDUAK UKO, now wish to be known and addressed MRS. BLESSING UDUAK UKO-OMOSEBI. All former documents remain valid.

Federal School of Surveying Oyo, Federal Poly Auchi and general public take note.

OBIANKE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBIANKE BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AGUDOSI BLESSING. All former documents remain valid.

National Orientation Agency and general public should please take note.

GODWIN

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MAGDALENE OGBENE GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MAGDALENE OGBENE OKO-AGADA. All former documents remain valid. Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,Cross River State University of Technology (The Polytechnic Calabar) and general public should please take note.

OKWEKU

I, formerly known and addressed as Agbonefo Happiness Okweku, now wish to be known and addressed Agbonefo Happiness Temitope Okweku. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJAYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Sussan Oladunni, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Balogun Sussan Oladunni. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ANYASO

FAYOMI

I, formerly known and addressed as SHARON ANYASO, now wish to be known and addressed as SHARON AOFOLAJUWONLO. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADELUSI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Salisu Rasheedah Omolara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Saka Rasheedah Omolara. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fayomi Mosunmola Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Falajiki Mosunmola Eunice. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly and addressed as Miss Adelusi Tolulope Adejoke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faparusi Tolulope Adejoke Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. National Orientation Agency and general public should please take note.

ADEWALE

I, formerly known and addressed as Adewale Bidemi Okusaga, now wish to be known and addressed Adewale Bidemi Olaoluwa. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MICHEAL

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MICHEAL CORDELIA UZOAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UZOAMAKA BENNETH NWACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

SALISU

UGWELE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwele, Loveth Chinenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ozioko, Loveth Chinenyenwa.

All former documents remain valid. ESUT and general public should please take note.

USMAN

ABIODUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abiodun, Ayo Olubunmi Atinuke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Durodola Olubunmi Tinuke(Abiodun Ayo).

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OBIESILI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Obiesili, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chineye Juliet Odukwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLOFINTILA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olofintila, Funmilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Areola, Funmilola. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, NYSC and general public should please take note.

AJIBOYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajiboye, Monsurat Temidayo, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Hammed, Monsurat TemidayoAll former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just N4,500. The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number 2017220392 Account Name - VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or thenation_advert@ yahoo.com.

For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, Emailgbengaodejide@ yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

E

NERCON Nigeria Limited has petitioned the Nigeria Police, United States of America and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an alleged fraud against a US- based firm, Biowish Africa, in relation to a transaction worth N60million ($350,000).

According to the management of Enercon, the petition was to prevent a dangerous precedence and address the issue of alleged cover-up and protection of an American citizen.

Addressing journalists in Lagos at the weekend, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Enercon Nigeria Limited, Chris Iheanacho, explained that one Jim DanielsNnah and his company, Biowish Africa TM Africa Limited, deliberately defrauded Enercon Nigeria Limited to the tune of $350,000.00 under a distributorship business agreement, which was reneged after the receipt of payment from Enercon.

He said: “About September 2012, Jim Daniels-Nnah approached us to enter into business relations with him for the procurement of some environmental remediation products from Biowish Inc. USA. “Subsequently, we entered into an agreement right here in Nigeria with Biowish Africa TM Limited, which is a company registered in Nigeria and owned by Jim Daniels-Nnah, whose office is located at No. 66, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

“Consequent upon this agreement, we transferred a total sum of $350,000.00 in tranches to Biowish TM Africa offshore account in late 2012 but till date, we have neither received any product from Jim DanielsNnah nor received the refund of our money despite numerous demands, not even document to show the importation of the product, which was the reason the police wanted to investigate to know if Jim Daniels actually ordered any product or otherwise.

He went on: “Surprisingly, Jim-Daniels ran to the court to stop the police from investigating him but we discovered that within the same period we paid him, he (Jim-Daniels) acquired some exotic cars and paid for a new office space and residential apartment in USA. “Even when he had claimed that the products were already in the country and that he only needed an additional N500, 000 for NAFDAC registration, we made this money available to him, all to no avail.

“We even offered to clear the consignment and requested for the shipping documents but he could not provide any.

“To evade prosecution for this obvious case of obtaining money under false pretences, Jim Daniels-Nnah has embarked on a futile downward spiral by instituting multiple frivolous court actions in the mind-boggling belief that he would escape justice.”

Iheanacho noted that his company decided to make the matter public to ensure that the United States government stands up to its responsibility by ensuring that the investigation is not frustrated.

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C

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS

EMENT is a major component in a building. It is a binding agent and it is also used for blocks, pillars, beams and slabs. Concrete enforcements are composed of iron rods, aggregates, cement, among other materials. This major role played by cement in ensuring structural integrity of a building marks it out as the first culprit in building collapse.

It was in a bid to curb the spate of building collapse that Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) embarked on certification and standardization of iron rods in the Nigerian market.

To the consternation of the regulatory body and quite interesting too, investigations

Curbing building collapse through cement standardization have revealed that most structures that are giving way are those that are recently put up while old buildings erected over decades ago are still solidly standing.

Having achieved the target of eliminating substandard iron rods, the agency now focused on cement which is the major component in building. SON’s efforts at curbing building collapse is through cement classification and uses.

It is to be noted that prior to the SON’s enlightenment campaign, most Nigerians just thought that ‘cement is cement’, not knowing that there are grades of cement meant for different uses or that cement has a shelf life.

SON has rolled out guidelines on the cement specification which restricted 32.5 to plastering only, while 42.5 is certified for all purposes and 52.5 for specialized construction and has

PHOTO NEWS

•Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State,Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, (left) Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the benefiary,Mrs Bola Salau, Representative of Lagos State Governor, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, and Ramodu of Imota, Oba Mudashiru Bakare-Agoro, during Mega Empowerment Programme for Ikorodu APC Members by Lagos East Senator, Senator (Ashafa) at Ikorodu Town Hall Lagos, at the weekend.

PHOTOS: MUYIWA HASSAN

•Senator Ashafa (middle) being welcome to the gathering by the Youths of the District.

•Studens of Home Economics Centre Ikorodu receiving their empowerment tools.

embarked on a massive public enlightenment to educate the building public on the guidelines.

One of the most common misapplied materials as stated before is cement which is regarded as a binding agent in building and construction. The SON has come out to clearly differentiate the various grades of cement and their application as opposed to the claim by some of the builders that cement is cement, no matter the grade.

It was generally believed that if cement is misapplied, then the structure is in danger. Therefore, the cement must be classified so that users would be sure the uses into which each grade of cement could be deployed.

The three grades of cement commonly produced in Nigeria are 32.5; 42.5 and 52.5 grades. The 52.5 grade is reserved for specialized structures like bridges, flyovers, high rise buildings etc. the 42.5 grade is for general construction purpose while 32.5 which is the least grade has been consigned to plastering use only. The SON has also gone ahead to give each grade colour code for easy identification by the consumers.

Standardization Director General SON Joseph Odumodu speaking on the campaign said, “The enlightenment is very vital as it will enable people to know the right materials to buy when building their houses adding that people build houses to live in safely and not for the house to collapse on

them and kill them while those renting their houses out expect returns.”

He said SON will focus on public enlightenment to enable people know the type of materials to be used for different types of building adding that cement bags are to carry specifications on grade and usage as wrong application of cement has been found to be a key cause of building collapse.

In the process of ensuring sanity in the building sector, the authorities and stakeholders alike discovered that the construction industry has become all comers affair to the extent that quacks dominate the business space in the industry, low quality building materials are common place while the right applications of vital materials are disregarded.

Agreeing to the guidelines issued by SON major cement manufacturers have pledged their commitment to align with the position that the 42.5mpa cement grade should be the minimum standard of quality that should be produced in the country.

Already, cement manufacturing companies such as Bua Cement, Ibeto Cement and Dangote Cement said long before the quality review by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) which pegged the 42.5 grade as being for general purpose use, they have been producing the quality grade.

It would be recalled that Hon Dogara’s ad-hoc Committee on

Cement Composition and pigmentation had after a public hearing from stakeholders submitted its report to the House of Representatives, in which it asked the SON to commence implementation of its cement standardization and that manufacturers should retool their machineries for the production of the higher grade of cement.

Its recommendation according to the report was based on the fact that if offered the chance of choosing between 32.5 and 42.5 grades of cement, consumers would choose the 42.5 higher grade and that because those employed for building structures are mostly non-professionals it would be in the national interest to adopt a cement grade that is less susceptible to wrong application.

Chairman of Bua Cement, Abdulsamad Rabiu said that what the House of Reps has done was a patriotic one that should be supported by all manufacturers with the safety and well-being of the people at heart.

According to him, Bua which operates the oldest cement plant in Nigeria, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) has been producing the higher grade of cement right from the outset and that his company sees nothing wrong with the Reps decision.

“As a responsible corporate entity, with the interest of the nation and its people at heart, we value the lives of our people more than profit, and therefore support our lawmakers” He explained that what cement manufacturers and indeed other stakeholders should do is to cooperate with the SON as the regulating authority so that the menace of structure failures could abate.

T

raised.

The rise of the Islamic State this summer caught the Iraqi government, much like the rest of the world, unaware. Their success in Syria went unnoticed by international statesmen and media before crossing the border into Iraq. By then it was too late.

But I have never been to Iraq or Syria. The country of which I write is not in the Middle East. I am writing about an African country; I am writing about our country. I am writing about what has happened – still is happening, and will happen - in northern Nigeria.

In August, the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, announced the occupation of the remote Nigerian border town of Gwoza in Borno State. With the conflict raging in Iraq, Shekau’s vocal support for the Islamic State and his establishment of a new ‘Islamic Caliphate’ in Northern Nigeria went almost unnoticed in the Western media.

Just like the Islamic State, a key element ofBoko Haram’s policy when expanding the territory they control is to ‘cleanse’ the population of those they consider to be ‘infidels’. In Gwoza, as has been the case across Northern Nigeria, they targeted Christians. We do not know how many Christians were killed in a series of attacks on Gwozabefore Boko Haram occupied the town, but testimony from those that managed to escape suggests hundreds.

Gwoza was just the start.

More than 16 local government areas have fallen under the flag of Boko Haram at some point in the last few months.

Most recently, the small mostly Christian town of Chibok was occupied by the jihadists. The town, left almost completely unoccupied since a series of attacks earlier this year –

including the kidnapping of the hundreds of still missing schoolgirls that so caught the world’s attention - has already been cleansed of its Christian community.

And it is not just Christians that suffer at the hands of Boko Haram’s thugs. Animists, atheists and moderate Muslims are also regularly targeted. This month a suicide bomber killed at least 23 Shia Muslimswhile they celebrated Ashura in the town of Potiskum, Yobe State.Another grim and unnoticed parallel with Iraq.

This week, terrorist suspected to be Boko Haram bombed a secondary school in Potiskum, killing at least 47 young boys and a young female suicide bomberkilled 4 including herself at a college in Kontagora, Niger State. These attacks have horrifying echoes of a similar incident that occurred earlier this year in the nearby town of BuniYadi, when 59 young boys were brutally slaughtered in the middle of the night.

World leaders are happy to provide weapons and military support, as well as financial aid for those governments attempting to protect their democracies from the plague of Islamic extremism in Iraq and Syria. I hope they will stay true to the spirit of this historic struggle and provide the same support for their brothers and sisters here.

For the tens of thousands of dispossessed Northern Nigerians, and the families of the thousands of innocent civilians that have already been lost – particularly the Northern Christian community - it cannot come soon enough.

•Olaiya Phillips Chair, Northern States Christian Elders Forum Abuja, Nigeria

The African Islamic State?

HIS year I have watched from close quarters as a country has been torn apart. A militant Islamic group has successfully exploited an opportunity to carve out a sphere of influence in a riven nation. In a society divided by ethnic and more prominently - religious loyalties, decades of tension between communities has manifested as sectarian violence.

In a nation where it is accepted that the majority fall into either one of the two major religious groups, it does not take long for religious persecution to develop.

For those ethnic and religious groups unfortunate enough to be in the local minority, they suffer discrimination and persecution.

For others in the majority but marginalisedfor not supporting the winning candidate, resentment festers.

In this riven nation, an organisation which starts out as a reaction to the perceived corruption of the body politic begins preaching an extremist interpretation of Islam. Over months and years it grows in size, structure and rhetoric until it becomes a jihadist terrorist organisation.

With the support of other such organisations across international borders, the jihadist group eventually matures into an insurgency which can both match the functions of the state as well as its security apparatus.

Fully functional, professional and fully trained security forces, once respected domestically and internationally, are shown to be dysfunctional, amateurish and incompetent in front of the enemy –to the astonishment of both national and international communities. As the armed forces are pushed back, the rule of law evaporates as the black flag of the new ‘Islamic Caliphate’ is

POLITICS EXTRA

THE NATION ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2014

77

Ochendo not supporting any aspirant – Wachuku Chuku Wachuku is a technocrat, well known for his specialisation in job creation and small scale industries. A board member of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), he is also a thought leader and stakeholder in Abia politics. He spoke to Steve Osuji on the on-going transition process in his state.

W

HAT are you doing meddling in politics? It’s a jungle out there this Nigerian politics; having known you as a technocrat all these years are you sure you want to do this?

You’re right, it’s a jungle. The same reason I’ll want people like you to enter politics and the same reason I’ll ask everybody who is a technocrat to enter politics. As you described it, it’s a jungle, indeed. But if we don’t go inside that jungle to clean it up, it will never be clean. We are just going to have more and more of the same group of people, we are all just going to stay outside and criticise what is happening. So, I figured the best way to do it is to get inside and clean it up from within rather than criticise from outside. So, right there, more and more people who are educated and are technocrats will come in.

You know what Shakespeare said: if you don’t participate in choosing who rules you, then you have nobody to blame when fools rule you. So, if we don’t want fools to rule us, we have a say.

It’s not going to be easy, but it will surely come.

Please give us an overview of the situation in your state, Abia, concerning the question of zoning and the so called “Charter of Equity’?

Actually, what’s happened in Abia is that in the beginning it was supposed to be the old Bende zone and the old Ukawa Ngwa zone. But the party in its wisdom decided to entrench fairness by going across the three senatorial zones; Abia North, Abia Central (where I fall into) and Abia South.

But because the incumbent governor, Theodore Orji, is by political delineation from Abia Central, and having served for eight years as governor, it’s therefore not politically right to expect anybody else from Abia Central, despite the fact that I am from Ukwa Ngwa. To me, that’s a superior argument; everything cannot be about you as a person, political stability is very important. When you have a stable polity, things will move.

So now that you have been zoned out of the contest so to speak, what role are you playing?

Well, I am a political leader, and, as you said, I am a technocrat.

I am a stakeholder in Abia politics and we must ensure that the right things are done. I am not running for office of the governor, even if I wanted to, I can’t. But when you support the system, (it’s the system we are talking about) things will begin to go up.

So which zone is favoured to produce the governor?

Right now, it has been zoned to Abia South and having been zoned to Abia South, majority of the people from there are Ngwa and Ukwa people. That’s why we have been clamouring for power shift to Ngwa people and Ukwa people. So, I cannot fault that.

Politics should not be about me or an individual, but about the people and good governance; so, we support the zoning to Abia South because people from Abia South are as qualified as anybody else.

Are you gunning for any other position?

I am not gunning for any position; I am gunning for good governance. I cannot run for the Senate because we have, in my zone, unanimously endorsed the incumbent governor, T.A. Orji, to go for the Senate. And also fair play within the context of Abia Central; the outgoing Senator is from the Ngwa clan, so it must necessarily go to the Umuahia clan. So, it’s now zoned to the other divide of Abia Central, and it’s going to Governor T.A .Orji, who we all support.

How’s the transition process playing out in Abia?

What is happening in Abia now is so funny. He is a governor who has brought everybody together; we don’t have Abuja politicians anymore or local (home) politicians anymore, everybody is under one roof. Before politics kicked in, all of us under the same umbrella said that whoever the party brought up, we would all support him. And a bunch of fellows were even wearing Governor T.A Orji’s shirts with pictures plastered on their chests, shouting Ochendo, Ochendo. And now by their imagination, Ochendo is supporting someone, and from the body language it may not be them, though he hasn’t said he is supporting anyone. So, now, all of them are ganging up to attack the governor, and I’m asking myself, where is that solidarity among us?

There seems to be a serious gang up against the governor. Now, let me make it absolutely clear that the governor has not called or told anybody that this is his preferred candidate. What has happened is that the elders in Abia gave him a template of the kind of person; the qualities he should have, his academic qualification, his reach, his acceptance level, experience and everything. This job will suggest a review of all the aspirants, but he has not made any pronouncements.

However, the social media is abuzz with all kinds of attacks on the governor. And yet, what I know is that the primaries will come up on the 29th. He has not banned anybody, even I am qualified, but what I did was to adhere to the collective decision that the party leadership took that the position be zoned to Abia South. I am a team player, I support the system. We have to have a stable polity before we have our postions. So, our people, our brothers and sisters, are all over the place fighting one another over a non-existent issue, attacking one candidate or the other.

But that’s the natural way of politics…

It’s a natural thing but when you carry it to the extreme it becomes ridiculous, because politics should be played with decorum; that’s why you said it’s dirty and murky. I do not expect educated people that

•Wachuku

should be in politics to change the system to be worse than the system itself.

But he must have an interest in who succeeds him…

Any leader should be interested in who succeeds him because he would like someone who will continue his good works. Even if he has someone in mind, people should not begrudge him that. He has not foreclosed anybody, he didn’t take that decision but the party leadership did, that this position be zoned to Abia South.

Now within the context of the aspirants we have in Abia South, they should all subject themselves to the primaries.

We have seen rancorous ward congresses across the country?

Rancour is created by greed; people feel that this position must belong to them. And because of their greed, they fear some areas that they feel may not favour them. And in that fear, they make some utterances that tend to heat up the polity. Just look at the national level where some people arrogate unto themselves the power to decide for Nigerians who should be their president and we say no!

How do you rate the performance of Governor T.A. Orji?

The Governor of Abia State, in my opinion, has done exceedingly well. When you are judging somebody, you have to judge from different perspectives: Where did he come from? Where did Abia State come from? Abia State came from the position of total disunity and you cannot do anything in that kind of atmosphere. For the first time, Abians are one. We are all in the same family, to the extent that all elders now meet and assist the governor for good governance.

Second thing is that some instigated insecurity; as far as I’m concerned, it cannot be anything but instigated, the governor has been able to bring it to an appreciable level. These people talking are living in Abuja and Lagos, but they can talk now because they have the freedom to move around. Someone sacrificed his security vote to make that possible. Those are very salient points that people are not considering. I don’t want to overflog the issue, for the first time, government’s structure is actually being set up. Government structure that is being talked about include a

functional secretariat; the Government House, which is the seat of government. Abia’s capital, Umuahia, was a glorified village, but it is opening up now; street lights and town taxis are coming back. You can actually bring international conferences to the International Conference Centre now. Roads are being built, sure Aba’s roads are pretty bad now and that’s a sore point to everybody. The governor has this tendency and he talks about not actually awarding contract during the rainy season because Aba has a notorious topography that hasn’t been taken into consideration by the planners.

In fact, Aba has not been planned; there are no drainages, when you build roads they are washed away.

The governor, looking at his fortunes; his intake from internally generated revenues and the Federation Account are paltry; he has to manage them as much as he can.

He does not support nor can he afford to pay the so-called multinational corporations to come and do Aba roads. So what he does is to use indigenous contractors. Now you come to the federal roads in Abia, I don’t know why a contractor like Arab Contractors who will be mobilised wil not do the job for which they have been given a contract. They just scrape the roads and heap them up, everywhere they have gone. We need to call them to order because it’s always scrappy jobs that they do. We are calling on Mr. President if these people are giving us a bad name, they should terminate their contract and get a more serious contractor. So, are you now going to blame the governor for the roads that have been awarded by the federal government, just because they pass through Abia?

Clearly, that will be transferred aggression.

So what is your parting word, the way forward?

We’ve been one, and we hope and pray that we still remain one. You see the problem is when you don’t win you cry foul, so the people crying foul had they won they won’t be crying foul; but one person has to win. I want to appeal to everybody as long as the primaries are there, adjudged free and fair, we should all support who becomes the flag bearer. I think the most important thing is to have stability, because if we don’t have stability who are you

going to govern? By the way, we need to be educating the electorate now. We need to be asking every aspirant the positions they occupied for so many years what have they done with them?

Or do you consider the dividend of democracy as small “I pass my neighbour” generators?

Or are we subjecting our people to a colony of barbers and hair dressers? Because that’s about the only thing people give out and they call it empowerment. We should be cultivating these people into occupations that will transform their lives. Put them into jobs, those that have abilities in the openings in the federal systems, or build companies and assist them to have access to loans to reactivate the industries.

When you empower entrepreneurs, you are actually creating jobs. When you have the industries there will be jobs injected into the system. We must look at the demand gap in the skill position; it’s not about every legislator giving away wheel barrows, hair-dressing equipment, Keke NAPEP, refrigerators, Okada, grinding machines, etc, alone.

Look at the population density of the West African Sub-region that runs into three hundred million, these people demand things every day. We should be looking at small scale industrial manufacturing.

What are we going to do with “I pass my neighbour”? We should be looking at shoes that should be going to The Gambia, Ghana, Chad; we should be looking at clothings, books and industrial productions. That’s all we should be looking at and these people have had opportunities to create entrepreneurship.

People seem to think the governor is manipulating the process through his son?

There’s this buzz in the social media, about the governor and his son, his son. For Christ’s sake, when anybody becomes the governor, his family becomes influential; it’s a natural thing. I want to make it clear that Abia State is not a banana republic, not a banana state, and the governor that I know is in charge. So, if anybody is trying to create a situation where they are saying the governor’s son, who by the way is a very quiet young man, is trying to impose a governor on the people, that’s absolutely wrong. I am in the system and I know the governor is a resolute human being. All of them who are running for office have been clamouring for attention from the same young man they are now vilifying, looking for his endorsement. This young man that I know, an intelligent young man, has decided to switch off his phone. So, the boy went underground, there’s none of them who has not tried to get the young man to endorse him. They are not letting the people know the right thing; the right thing is that all of them actually went to him kowtowing, begging on their knees for his endorsement. And this young man that I know has not endorsed anybody. Whatever is being done is being done transparently. I needed to get this clear that there is not one politician of note who has one day or way not tried to get this young man to endorse him or his assistance. So, their perception is that a friend of his is in the race; they are creating images that don’t exist. If the young man wants to run for House of Assembly, it is within his right and if his constituents allow him to run, so be it.

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SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Omeruo enjoys striking role in Malta

EXTRA

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

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OT-SHOT Nigeria youth international Lucky Omeruo, has said playing as a striker for Pembroke Athleta of Matla is thrilling and challenging after scoring five goals so far this season.

The former Flying Eagles invitee began his career as a winger, or more or less like midfielder but his journey to the Maltese league has change his playing role as a main striker of the team which has yielded more profit to the team. The younger brother of Super Eagles stopper believes that he will excel and painting the world with lots of goals than playing from the wing.

“I have started my career as a winger, sometimes I do play behind the main striker, and that has been my position right from Nigeria but when I got here (Malta) I signed a striker's contract, after showing a bit of my stuff for the team, the coach believes I will be more useful in the main striking role, though I was nervous at the first instance but it took me less minutes to summon up my courage. Believe me, I have been enjoying it,” said Lucky.

Stakeholders bemoan neglect of Lagos National Stadium

By Bisi Kehinde

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AGOS state-based coaches, athletes and supporters have condemned the neglect of the National Stadium Lagos for the newly constructed stadia.

Coaches and players interviewed are of the opinion that the coming of new stadia, the latest of which is the Uyo Ultra Modern Stadium (Nest of Champions) will further compounds the problem of Lagos National Stadium.

They decried the state of the stadium, which has hosted many international matches and games, while declaring even bleaker future for the stadium that hosted the All Africa games in 1973.

A youth football coach, Godwin Chukwuebuka said the stadium, which, used to be one of the best in Africa, has been abandoned for newest stadiums in the country.

“It is bad that such an edifice like this will be abandon like that with little or no maintenance by government simply because there are other stadia.

However, let me tell you if the Uyo stadium is not maintained it will one day be like the Surulere stadium. “ Yemi Folorunsho, a coach with the Nigeria Deaf team, also decried the abandonment of the Lagos National Stadium insisting that it has affected the performances of the senior national team; Super Eagles.

“I remember this stadium (National Stadium Lagos) used to be the slaughter slab for national teams. Before any national teams would go out, they must come here to play and they always come back with honours. That has changed and we are not happy that Lagos fans have been neglected too.”

RESULTS: AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS Group A South Africa 2 - 1 Sudan Congo 0 - 2 Nigeria Group B Malawi 2 - 0 Mali Group C Lesotho 0 - 1 Burkina Faso Angola 0 - 0 Gabon Group D S/ Leone 1 - 5 Cote d'ivoire Cameroon 1 - 0 DR Congo Group E Uganda 1 - 0 Ghana Togo 1 - 4 Guinea Group F Mozambique 0 - 1 Zambia Group G Botswana 0 - 0 Tunisia Egypt 0- 1 Senegal

2015 AFCON Qualifier

Super Eagles keep alive AFCON hopes

A

FRICAN champions, Nigeria, put themselves back in contention for a place in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Congo 2-0 at Stade Municipal in PointeNoire on Saturday.

Ikechukwu Uche scored from the spot and China-based striker, Aaron Samuel got the second at the death to make sure that the Super Eagles climb

...after 2-0 win in Pointe Noire. ...As Bafana edge Sudan to qualify into second spot behind Group A leaders, South Africa, in the qualification.

Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, started Uche, who was making his return to international football for the first time in 19 months while

Warri Wolves defender and captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe, got the nod to start in place of Kenneth Omeruo in the heart of defence.

Congo's Red Devils would have gone into the lead in 58 seconds after Efe Ambrose

Mark, Akpabio hail Super Eagles

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ENATE President, David Mark, yesterday showered encomiums on the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the 2-0 win over Congo in the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON ) qualifier.

Commenting after the crucial encounter, Senator Mark said the Super Eagles have rekindled hope of the nation that they can still do the country proud in spite of the anxiety being expressed by soccer loving Nigerians.

This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh in Abuja The Senate President however charged the government of Congo and the

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, determination they displayed in the victory against Congo, Assistant Editor Nigerian Embassy in that country to ensure the security and safety of our players and officials judging by the unfriendly behavior of the Congolese fans.

He told the Stephen Keshi led team to remain focused and determined to qualify smoothly for the AFCON 2015 saying that all Nigerians now have reasons to be proud of them.

Similarly, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has praised the Super Eagles players and coaching crew for the

yesterday, calling on them to come to his state and seal the victory against South Africa on Wednesday.

Akpabio, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Deacon Jackson Udom, said "the Eagles demonstrated the can-do spirit known with Nigerians in challenging situations."

The governor said the new world-class stadium built by his administration called Nest of Champions, would be the perfect place for the Eagles to gladden the hearts of footballloving Nigerians and make the country retain its pride of place in international football.

CAF bars Morocco from next two AFCONs

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orocco will be barred from the next two Africa C u p o f N a t i o n s tournaments as punishment for refusing to host the 2015 edition in JanuaryFebruary, the Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou said on Saturday.

"We are going to stick to the rules, that means elimination from the next two Nations Cups," Hayatou told France's L'Equipe sports daily."On top of that there will be the

financial and moral damages to calculate."

Morocco are facing a $20 million fine for refusing to host the 2015 Cup in its scheduled January 17February 8 slot over fears of the spread of the deadly Ebola epidemic to the popular tourist destination, Morocco's Le Matin newspaper suggested this week.

The north African state had called for the Cup to be postponed, but organisers CAF rejected their request, stripping them of their

position as hosts and barring them from playing in the continental showcase.

Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, which co-hosted the 2012 edition with Gabon, were named as Morocco's replacement as hosts for the troubled 2015 tournament on Friday.

Aside from the former Spanish colony in west Africa who now qualify automatically, three countries are assured of their place in the troubled 2015 Cup - Tunisia, Algeria and Cape Verde Islands.

dilly-dallied over the ball and allowed Almeria man, Thievy Bifouma, steal the ball and shoot but Vincent Enyeama stuck out his hands to keep the early effort.

Three minutes into the game, Uche came close after John Obi Mikel provided him a good pass.

Congo gradually assumed control of the match as Nigeria's play looked bogged with poor passes and failure to cover every grass of the pitch.

Seven minutes to the break, CFR Cluj man, Ferebory Dore, was freed inside the box and had just Enyeama in goal to beat to give Congo the lead, but his shot only waltzed past the face of Nigeria's goal.

Dore again was at the end of Congo's play as his effort could only fly past Nigeria's face of goal with Bifouma lurking at the far end in the 43rd minute.

Congo began the business end of the match as they finished the first half but it was Nigeria who got into the lead 13 minutes into the second half through Uche's goal from 12 yards.

Mikel slipped a pass through Congo's defence to free Emmanuel Emenike, who was tripped in the box by Chancel Massa in goal for the Red Devils.Uche stepped up and scored from the spot in the 59th minute to give Nigeria a 1-0

lead.

Five minutes later, Congo won themselves a penalty after Godfrey Oboabona handled the ball in Nigeria's box.Bifouma's penalty was, however, saved by Enyeama, who kept Nigeria in the lead.

Keshi then threw on Samuel for Emenike with 15 minutes left and the former 3SC striker sealed the game for Nigeria with a superb leftfooted finish.

Nigeria are now on seven points with Congo but sit in second place behind South Africa, who have sealed their passage to the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.The Super Eagles will play hosts to South Africa on Wednesday in Uyo. Meanwhile, Goals from Thulani Serero and Tokelo Rantie booked South Africa's place in next year's African Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Equatorial Guinea.

Bafana Bafana successfully navigated a nervy final 15 minutes to secure a 2-1 win over Sudan in an 2015 African Cup of Nations Qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

The win means South Africa have successfully qualified for their first international tournament by means of a qualifying campaign, since the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

R-L: The special guest of honour Mary Stephen from the World Health Organization, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi,mni,mfr, the head of section Sports at FRSC head quarters, corps commander bisi kazeem during the executive walk for the 2014 african road safety day/ world day of remembrance for road traffic accident crash victims held at the National Stadium Abuja yesterday.

THE NATION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

79

Ahmed plans to enroll one million Kwarans in CHIS

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By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

he Kwara state Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) has been scoring a lot of firsts. Recently the United Nations designated the scheme as a global success. Shortly thereafter, officials and legislators of the Ogun state government visited the state to understudy the secret behind CHIS’s success story.

The state government in collaboration with Hygeia Nigeria Limited together with Dutch Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Pharm Access Foundation and Health Insurance Fund partnered in 2007 to implement donor subsidized the scheme for low income Kwara population.

The scheme commenced in Shonga and Bacita environs of Edu local government area that same year. Between 2007 and 2013 CHIS was expanded to Asa and Oyun local government areas to have its presence in each of the senatorial districts of the state.

The scheme is aimed ultimately, to achieve universal coverage of the estimated one million rural dwellers in the state.

Little wonder, the scheme won a finalist prize at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee awards for taking development initiative to scale.

• Share Hospital in Ifelodun LG

The scheme which entitles beneficiaries to subsidized year round basic healthcare for a N500 premium had earlier received applause from Bill Gates Foundation for its creative approach to pro-poor health care.

Speaking on the scheme during the Ogun state government’s officials visit, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said between 2007 and 2013 no fewer than 600,000 were enrolled, hoping to expand to about 800,000 enrollees during the second phase which runs between 2013 and 2018.

Ahmed added that “your visit provides further endorsement of the benefits of this approach to expanding access to quality healthcare for our rural dwellers. Here in the state our approach to health is holistic.

The previous administration focused on primary healthcare. While we have sustained that approach, our administration is also focusing on secondary and tertiary healthcare by up-scaling and remodeling Specialist and General Hospitals.”

The governor added that the CHIS was conceptualized to democratize access to quality healthcare for rural dwellers that comprise a significant proportion of the state’s population of 2.3 million.

He said the state is one of the first states to establish primary healthcare development agency.

He added that the expansion of the scheme “is being pursued through a strengthened primary healthcare system. We also recently supplied drug and equipment to 42 rural facilities and plan to establish new ones where necessary.”

• Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed declares Alapa Cottage Hospital open, one of CHIS locations

Principally, the visit of the Ogun state delegation’s visit was to create an interface on health services at the primary level to enhance health care delivery services in the two states.

The governor said constant engagements of health officials from the two states on primary healthcare delivery would improve accessibility through sharing of relevant information.

The governor promised that the visit would be strengthened into a broader platform for comparism of success stories, challenges and new ways of creating funding windows to enable the states expand the scheme.

The delegation led by Ogun state Commissioner for Health, Dr. OlaOgun Soyinka said his state launched its pilot scheme April, this year in five local government areas of Ogun state.

Dr Soyinka, who identified Kwara state CHIS as one of the foremost health schemes in Nigeria.

Objectives of the Kwara state CHIS are to increase access to affordable and quality basic healthcare to 600,000 rural beneficiaries (60 percent of one million) by 2018; build sustainable medical and financialadministrative capacity in the health sector; reach financial sustainability (all expenses medical, admin, marketing covered by premium) by 2016; transfer ownership of scheme management to KWSG and HCHC by 2017; strengthen collaboration with donor funded vertical programmes and to develop a replicable model as a blueprint for other states in Nigeria.

So far, under the scheme over 75,000 farmers in the state had been insured; 200 percent increase in healthcare utilization; 30 percent increase in hospital delivery etc.

Key features of the scheme, it was gathered include integrated health delivery and health insurance company in Nigeria, providing among others not for provide subsidized community health insurance policies for the rural poor families in the state.

Hygeia and Kwara state community health plan is basically set out on a public-private partnership basis to address the challenges of “providing affordable healthcare as well as improving financial protection, increasing investments, setting standards for quality of care and upgrading of health facilities.”

During the launches of the scheme, Manager of the Hygeia Nig Ltd, Dr Fola Laoye said the success of the programme in the state has demonstrated that strengthen healthcare delivery systems, alleviate poverty and catalyze the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said that the company’s partnership with the state government is to revitalise the healthcare delivery system of the rural people and improve health indices and socioeconomic profile of the state.

QUOTABLE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 9, NO. 3034

“In spite of the growing multitudes of wailing victims, of those killed, uprooted, destituted and sent into wilderness as refugees, the elites in Nigeria appear blissfully oblivious and give scant concern that their nation is fighting a most destructive war with Boko Haram .”

—Former Kaduna State governor and human rights activist, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd.) on the need for the federal government to declare total war on Boko Haram.

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has an uphill, but not insurmountable, task of keeping its states safe from predators and winning the 2015 presidential election. The party probably recognises the enormity of the task ahead, and may be planning an onslaught against it. But beyond recognising the obstacles, it will have to devise virtuoso ways of tackling the challenges that seem set to doom its efforts. As indicated in this place last week, some APC states are in turmoil, destabilised by internal dissension and plagued by powerful external enemies and neighbours. To retain its hold on its states, sustain unity within its ranks, and expand its suzerainty over hostile states and Aso Villa, the party will have to do almost the impossible, including wishing for a miracle, and looking for means of calming the tempest triggered by some of its radical and younger elements. Some of these younger elements camouflage self-promotion in altruistic, ideological and philosophical colours. And a few others have axes to grind with their party leaders, state and national. But even if the quarrels cannot be resolved outrightly, the overall success of the party in 2015 will depend somewhat on how successfully party leaders manage the rage within.

A few months before the June governorship poll in Ekiti, Opeyemi Bamidele (ACN/Labour, Ado-Ekiti/ IrepodunIfelodun), publicised his war with the APC and looked on imperturbably as the party drowned in the wake that followed the storm he unleashed. His grouse, analysts suggested, was not just the senatorial ticket that was coaxed from him, a loss some said he had reconciled himself to, but the rather uncomplimentary and disrespectful way he believed he was ostracised from the decision-making organ of the party and state government. He and his supporters believed party leaders and government officials played politics of exclusion.

What was intriguing about the misunderstanding in pre-election Ekiti was the implacability of the combatants: Dr Fayemi gave no quarter; and Hon Bamidele, anticipating APC would come a cropper, eventually defected to the Labour Party.

Hon Bamidele signposted the coming of the Young Turks in the APC, a group of irreverent, sometimes irascible, but iconoclastic politicians unafraid of rocking the party’s boat or provoking its mercurial leaders. While the embers of the revolt triggered by Hon Bamidele was yet to die, Muiz Banire, the National Legal Adviser of the APC and many times commissioner in the Lagos government of former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola, stirred up a hornet’s nest, pockmarking the Lagos skyline with incendiary comments on his party leaders and, in particular, Asiwaju Tinubu.

Where Hon Bamidele, the activist, had contrastingly restrained himself from dragging Asiwaju Tinubu into the Ekiti imbroglio, not even in snide remarks and insinuations, Dr Banire has shown less ruefulness, though as a legal practitioner he was expected to possess more conservative and diplomatic skills in polemics and discourse.

It should not matter to a party loyalist whether a candidate wins on his own merit or is helped by his party’s reputation and organisation, but Dr Banire, perhaps pursuing covert agenda against his party, surprisingly suggested that Governor Rauf Aregbesola won the August governorship election in Osun in spite of the APC. The August 9 win must be delinked from the party, he asserted. Why a party leader should gloat that his party had no significant input in helping candidate Aregbesola to win is hard to understand. It is a needless argument to make. But Dr Banire is a Young Turk, and from his imprecates against his leaders and sweeping dismissal of their relevance and proclivities, some of whom he deprecatingly described as a cabal, he creates the impression of a tough politician, one who can call his soul his own. Though his legal and political

Banire, Bamidele and APC’s Young Turks arguments fail to persuade completely, and his lexis a little roughhewn in some aspects, he cuts the image of an intellectual deserving of respect.

The APC needs internal opposition in order to enable it hammer out better platforms and establish a solid, robust and cohesive party. The likes of Hon Bamidele and Dr Banire are in my opinion invaluable to the APC or any other party for that matter. Hon Bamidele cannot flourish in a somnolent party like Labour, and his organisational skills, not to say his ambition, would be wasted or diminished.

And in the PDP, which his inexplicable and indescribable support for Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti makes him gravitate towards, his radical posture would both be repressed and absolutely misapplied. Dr Banire, on the other hand, is the perfect proponent of one eating his cake and having it. His intrepidity may not seem potent enough to lure him into defection, though I could be second-guessing him wrongly, and he seems precisely the sort of man to stay, fight and profit in his party, the APC. He even spent the better part of his stay in the party — a party he now casually lampoons — helped on every step of the way by mentors, some of them mentors of his own choosing. But now he is repudiating the methods by which he himself rose into prominence and by which he came to some comfort. His iconoclasm, sans his bad temper, obduracy and uncivil language, is not misplaced in a party desirous of sustaining its relevance and presenting itself as a change agent.

I

However, just like Hon Bamidele proved by his consequential defection from the APC to LP, Dr Banire’s beloved party can ill afford the ossification many party apparatchiks seem to be comfortable with, but which he and his fellow iconoclast have challenged and denounced. They want imposition to end, though they seemed to have profited from variants of its application before now, and are quite unable to appreciate and interpret its complex and adaptable nature and multiple nuances. While their ambition to end imposition and other undemocratic practices within their party is not misplaced, assuming their diagnoses are right, their unpolished style of fighting good causes within their party leaves much to be desired. Dr Banire, from his recent lecture and interviews, is predicting doom for his party if it failed to conduct itself in a manner he believes is unimpeachable. He leaves no room for any error on his part. In fact, he has unguardedly threatened worse consequences for even his party leaders, sparing no one.

There will be many more Young Turks like Hon Bamidele and Dr Banire, a few of them outrightly impertinent. The APC must learn how to deal with them and manage disaffection within the party. The party must also accept that its leaders are not infallible and can indeed be criticised or castigated by younger and radical elements in the party. But it is also imperative to understand that while they fought legitimately, Hon Bamidele and Dr Banire un-

fortunately fought blindly and unwisely. The logic behind their grievances may be right, but the methods of their fight, not to talk of the intended and unintended consequences of their battles, expose them as short on character and lacking in conceptual depth of what their party represents and envisions.

Judging from the actions and arguments of the two dissenters and perhaps other Young Turks within the party, I am afraid that even in the APC, whether among the leaders or followers, few really understand the visionary and aesthetic import of the party’s foundation and legacy. Many see the party as a vehicle for winning elections and self-promotion, which attributes easily become ends in themselves. But if my reading of the party is right, especially given its lofty promotion of Southwest integration when the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) held the reins, I think the party is an idea grander, loftier, and more sublime than its current methods, organisation and policies exhibit or match. Consumed by their sense of selfimportance and distracted by their loathing for certain party practices that seemed targeted against their interests, neither Hon Bamidele nor Dr Banire apparently possesses the rich understanding of what the party is or stands for — an identity far greater and nobler than what is set down in the party’s constitution and manifesto. Had they understood this fact, both gentlemen would have fought differently, with reverence for the party’s grand ideas and great future, and with cultured civility towards party leaders who, though their methods may be shaky and even contradictory, best approximate the party’s spiritual essence.

Many of the causes fought for by Hon Bamidele and Dr Banire are sensible. Their resolve and courage should be admired and channeled, for their party needs men like them to midwife a greater, bigger, stronger and more relevant political organisation.

However, their methods are unusually strident, and their manners suspiciously discordant, if not entirely objectionable. But party leaders, at least the few who can see beyond today and the chaotic manifestation of what the party represents, must find ways to reconcile the old and the new generation, and forge all of them into an exceeding strong army committed to truly transforming and renewing Nigeria. The party leaders’ vision must make them endure insults, be indifferent to mentee insolence, and enable them handle with perfect equanimity and fortitude the fractious tendency so common among the young and footloose radicals in the party, whether it be Hon Bamidele or Dr Banire, or any other Young Turk flushed with both the anger and unpredictable messianism that so often hobbles the young.

2015: INEC’s indefensible management of PVCs

N matters as fairly simple as registering voters, producing voter cards, and issuing them to owners with precision, it was expected that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would pull the exercise off with only a few hitches. It was also expected that in case of hitches, the electoral body was savvy enough to find adequate ways of remedying the problems. But not only has INEC approached the permanent voter cards (PVCs) matter with as much shoddiness as two or three generations of electoral commissions aggregating their incompetence can manage, it has stubbornly refused to appreciate the magnitude of its lapses, and seems determined to either disenfranchise voters or punish them bitterly. Nigerians are conversant with INEC’s administrative malfeasances, so let me spare readers a rehash. What I cannot understand, however, is that if INEC has no hidden motives as it claims, why is it pretending not to appreciate the weight of the problem it is confronting and is not summoning the urgency needed to tackle it?

I am among the more than one million registered voters in Lagos whose data were lost for whatever reasons — computer problems and other lapses. At least the sms I sent to them and their reply indicate as much. But the real

•Fashola

•Jega

puzzle is why it took INEC almost four years to realize that the commission faced a data loss/ mismanagement catastrophe. Beyond announcing that their computers and servers malfunctioned, as a result of which about a million registered voters in Lagos cannot get their permanent voter cards, INEC has not fully explained how the problem came about. They had almost four years since 2011 to make amends; but they have waited some three months before the next general elections to scramble for a solution.

Those whose cards are ready have faced an uphill task in collecting them. And those, like me, who have to register afresh are facing an even more daunting battle. INEC officials do not come to polling units on time, and in some cases don’t even show up at all. In many poll-

ing units, they showed up only on Saturday for the fresh registration billed to commence days earlier and discovered that their machines were either not functioning well or not functioning at all. It is shocking that a fairly straightforward task of registering enthusiastic voters has become so hugely complicated, as if this elementary administrative exercise is too burdensome for our public officials, or as if it is a deliberate ploy to disenfranchise potential voters.

INEC claims to have lost computer data.

If by a miracle the 2011 manual registers have not also been gobbled up by some goblins, and if it is true they mean well and are not working towards a predetermined end, they should be kind enough to revert to the use of manual register and temporary voter cards for the next polls. But if they are too proud to go back to former mode, they should kindly flood the polling units with functioning machines and prove to everyone they have no programmed agenda to disenfranchise us. The way they have handled the exercise is truly disgraceful. Let them be humble enough to make amends, and stop punishing Nigerians and making a spectacle of themselves before the whole world.

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Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE