The Nation November18, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Belgore leads 21-man Constitution Review Committee P4 Sport I have no say in Yakubu’s Eagles future, says Yobo P24 Business Ovia, Rabiu, Belo-Osagie make Africa’s Rich List P12 www.thenationonlineng.net

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VOL. 7, NO. 1948 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE BATTLE FOR BAYELSA

•PDP insists on primary •Sylva writes INEC again •North’s elders chide Jonathan •Yenagoa residents trek as •PAGES police flood town 3, 6 & 43

F

ORMER British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has predicted a bright future for Nigeria’s economy.

According to him, if well developed, Nigeria’s economy will become one of the strongest in the next 30 to 40 years.

But he gave a caveat: the

How Nigeria’s economy can grow, by Brown From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

economy cannot grow without the development of power/electricity, road/transport, education and agriculture, among others.

Brown spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday in his keynote address at the Rivers State Investors’ Forum. The theme of the conference is: “Change That Works”.

The former British Prime Minister said: “For the world economy to move forward, there must be cooperation. We are at the turning point in world economy, which

will no longer be dominated by Europe and America. Nigeria has a bigger role to play, especially with oil and gas.

Continued on page 4

•From left: Redeemed Christian Church of God General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the late President Musa Yar’Adua’s wife Hajia Turai, Minister of Education Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, frontline lawyer Mrs. Folake Solanke (SAN) and University of Ibadan (UI) Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole at the university’s 63rd Foundation Day ... yesterday. Pastor Adeboye, Mrs Yar’Adua and Mrs Solanke got awards.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

Subsidy: Lawmakers give Jonathan four conditions President intensifies lobby of Senators, Reps

S •Dr Jonathan

ENATORS and members of the House of Representatives have tabled four conditions before President Goodluck Jonathan to approve his request for fuel subsidy withdrawal.

It was also learnt yesterday that the President planned to meet with the principal officers of the Senate again on why the National Assembly should reason with the government on the controversial issue.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Barely 24 hours after the National Assembly kept Jonathan in suspense over the withdrawal of the subsidy, the Presidency began intense horsetrading to woo Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

But most Senators and House members have asked their leaders to prevail on the President to meet four conditions.

The conditions are: •publication of the list of the beneficiaries of past fuel subsidy; •presentation of facts and figures on the true picture of the “subsidy”; •release of palliative measures Nigerians will enjoy, if the subsidy is removed and an Action Plan to make the measures work; and •concrete work plan on how to make all refineries function at optimal level.

A source, who pleaded not to be

named, said: “We have presented these tall demands to our principal officers as conditions for the acceptance of the government’s plans to withdraw fuel subsidy.

“We said they should take all these conditions to Jonathan and get satisfactory answers before we can back him.

Our position cuts across all parties in the National Assembly.

“We do not want a situation whereby Continued on page 4

•AGRIC P17 •SPORT P24 •SOCIETY P29 •POLITICS P43 •MONEYLINK P55

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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NEWS THE BATTLE FOR BAYELSA

No court can stop Bayelsa primary election, says PDP

T

•THE SUMMONS PDP DENIED: A court bailiff pasting summons on the wall of the party’s headquartres...on Wednesday

HE Bayelsa primary to pick the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate will hold tomorrow, in spite of a court order stopping it.

The PDP said yesterday that no court can stop it, going by Section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

The section states: “Nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general elections under this Act pending the determination of any suit”.

Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva on Wednesday day obtained an order of a Federal High Court restraining the PDP from conducting the primary as scheduled.

A statement issued yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali restated the party’s earlier position that no court has any injunction restraining the party from going ahead with the Bayelsa primary.

Alkali also cited Section 31 (1) of the Electoral Act which limits the time frame within which political parties must submit names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to not later than 60 days to the date of elections. INEC has fixed the Bayelsa governorship election for February 11.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) therefore wishes to make it abundantly clear that our decision to continue with our scheduled primary elections in Bayelsa State is clearly in line with the provisions

Sylva urges INEC to shun primaries

F

OR the second time in two days, the embattled Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on this Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election.

In the letter addressed to the INEC Chiarman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Sylva is asking the duo to respect an order of an Abuja Federal High Court which warned against holding the scheduled primary.

The letter is a follow-up to the November 15 letter written by Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana.

In the separate letters captioned Demand For Cessation of Action[s] On Fresh Gubernatorial Primary Election in Bayelsa State written by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and dated November 17, 2011, Sylva drew their attention to his pending legal action which he instituted.

In the said suit, Sylva is challenging the party’s decision to conduct another primary while his nomination on January 12, 2011 at an earlier primary is still subsisting, stating that the processes arising from the said action was pasted last Wednesday on the wall of the party as ordered by the court.

Fagbemi stated that the position of the law requires that all parties to the suit stay action capable of affecting the substance of the suit.

“Therefore once a party is aware of a pending court process, and whether the court has not given a specific injunctive order, the parties are bound to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the court process. They should, on no account resort to self – help”, he stated.

Sylva urged INEC to maintain

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

neutrality and uphold the rule of law by not monitoring the primary in compliance with the directive of Justice Gabriel Kolawole on the pending suit.

“May we quickly add that the hallowed principle of rule of law and democratic ideals and values dictate that all parties to this suit should not engage in anything that would prejudge the case at hand, and in the process not only pollute the stream of justice but desecrate the sanctity and integrity of court and the rule of law.

“The neutrality and fairness of INEC in this case cannot be over-

emphasized and must not be in doubt. INEC’s position must be seen to subscribe to the preservation of the integrity of the court and shun any acts laced with illegality or capable of making nonsense, the rule of law. In other words, INEC should, not, in view of the pendency of this suit and the order of court contained in Annexures A and B, supervise, monitor or countenance any Governorship primary election in Bayelsa State pending the hearing and determination of this suit”, the letter stated.

In the letter to the PDP Acting Chairman, Sylva advised him to embrace wise counsel by staying

further action on the primary, pointing out that a decision to proceed would amount to an affront against the authority and sanctity of the court. He said: “Please be advised that the mere filing and service of the aforesaid processes ought to have served as enough notice to you and your party to put on hold all actions as far as the conduct of fresh primary election in Bayelsa State is concerned in view of the established principle of law enunciated in our case law, One of such case law is EZEGBU vs. F. A. T. B. LTD. (1992) 1 NWLR (PT. 220) where per Tobi J. C. A. (as he then was).”

PDP should obey court order, say lawyers

C

AN the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conduct the primaries for Bayelsa State governorship election despite a pending court order stopping it from doing so?

Senior lawyers who spoke last night were unanimous in their answer: No. Former Nigerian Bar Association President, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), Chief Emeka Ngige and Mr Fred Agbaje said the PDP should obey the order if it respects the rule of law, to prevent chaos.

Akeredolu said: “If there is a substantive matter upon which an order was made, I expect the PDP to obey the order. If they go ahead and conduct the primaries in defiance of the order, they will be inviting chaos. I think they should obey the court order.”

By Joseph Jibueze

Fagbohungbe said he hoped PDP was joking by threatening to go ahead with the primary. “That will be lawlessness. They may be joking.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has said his administration would stick to the rule of law. I don’t think he will encourage the PDP to go ahead with the primaries. It will cause chaos. The order must be obeyed.”

For Ngige, “what the PDP is saying is wrong.” He added: “By their intention to conduct the primary despite the court order, it means that the rule of law is under serious threat. We’re heading to anarchy. President Jonathan should not allow the PDP to rubbish his rule of law mantra.”

Agbaje said the PDP should obey

•Dr. Jonathan

the order first, then challenge its legality later. “Why would a reasonable court grant that type of order when it should take judicial notice of a provision in the Electoral Act barring courts from issuing such injunctions?

“Nevertheless, I would expect the PDP to obey the order, whether rightly or wrongly made, and then they can go back and challenge its legality.”

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended”, Alkali said.

The party’s National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke who also reacted to the development ac knowledged the existence of the court order, but stated that the party would respond appropriately to the court processes at the right time.

Oke said: “We are aware that the Bayelsa State Governor has gone to court as reported in the newspapers of today. Without doubt and prejudice, it is within his constitutional right to ventilate his grievances in a court of law, especially as now guaranteed by the Electoral Act” “I want to trust that before the end of Thursday, the party would have concluded consultations and come out with a clear attitude on the pending suit on the Bayelsa State governorship primary election” “Our position is the provision of Section 31 of the Electoral Act which limits the time within which the party could submit its candidate’s name for the election to not later than 60 days to the date of the election.

“We will surely respond to the court processes and justify the stand of the party in this matter on the return date of November 22 2011. We have assembled a legal team to appear in court on the return date to tell our own side of the story.”

Nothern leaders flay Jonathan

S

OME prominent Northern leaders have condemned the Peoples Democratic Party for stopping Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva from contesting the primary.

Speaking in separate telephone interviews in Kano yesterday, the Northern elders blamed the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP of dancing to the whims and caprices for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Among those who spoke are Second Republic Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Abubakar Manman Dan-Musa, Second Republic House of Representatives member and disciple of the late Aminu Kano, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed and social critic, Alhaji Abdulkareem Daiyabu, who is the national president of the Movement of Justice in Nigeria.

Dan-Musa condemned the clampdown on the Bayelsa governor by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as undemocratic, high handedness and return of dictatorship.

Daiyabu said the situation points to the fact that President Jonathan is no longer capable of protecting the country, if he can allow the situation to degenerate to that level.

Daiyabu said: “It is an embarrassment to the country’s President to be associated with such a trivial political matter, more so that the decision barring his home state governor from re-contesting on the platform of PDP is linked to their political disagreement. This is a dangerous trend.”

Dan-Musa said: “In a democratic dispensation, it is the will of the people that should prevail and not that of a few individuals in the corridor of power. This action proves that people around the President, including party leaders are mere stooges who implement instruction or directives without questions.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

NEWS How Nigeria’s economy can grow, by Brown Continued from page 1

“Nigeria needs to diversify its economy – Petrochemical is crucial. There is huge prospect in Nigeria, by placing emphasis on manufacturing.

Agriculture must also be taken seriously.

“The young people must have better future. Prosperity and jobs will depend on education. We must give the children the opportunity to get qualitative education.

“There are more children not going to school in Nigeria than any part of the world and this must be urgently addressed. Prosperity and growth depend on infrastructure, education, agriculture and others.

“Nigeria’s 20:20-20 dream is a good idea about the future. Nigeria has the resources and people to have greater success in the future, thereby having a country that everybody can be proud of.”

Brown lauded Amaechi for the changes he is making in education, power and infrastructure, among other sectors of the economy.

Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala gave an insight into the 2012 budget and the Sovereign Wealth Fund. She urged leaders, especially governors, to be transparent in information about finances.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said President Goodluck Jonathan is focused on security, with the security agencies directed by the President to deploy

•From left: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Amaechi, his wife Judith, Brown and Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan at the Government House Port Harcourt during the Forum ... yesterday.

new tools/approaches, with emphasis placed on intelligence gathering, in order to be proactive.

She said: “The transformation by President Jonathan may not work, until there are positive changes in the states.

We must work together. The Federal Government must work closely with the states.

“The poor global outlook is weighing down on the global economy. The direct consequence of the global uncertainty is a fall in crude oil price in the short, medium and long terms.”

She made a case controversial Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), which governors rejected.

The minister said: “Without the 2008 excess crude account, the situation would have been terrible. SWF is an instrument for saving for future generation, control volatility at the federal level and

to control the shock.

“We are all united now, in the launch of the SWF. We are using the $1 billion. We won’t go beyond that. Sometimes in Nigeria, dialogue is missing.

Dialogue has been applied to the SWF. “Budget of fiscal consolidation is being embarked upon.

We have been spending above our means. President Jonathan is keen on the budget of fiscal consolidation.

The budget will be based on $70 per barrel of crude oil; 70 per cent of the budget is spent by the states and local governments.”

The minister said the ports and Customs were fraught with corruption, with the nation losing revenue to neighbouring countries. She said President Jonathan is determined to address it.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi declared that the security challenges in

Nigeria, especially the Boko Haram menace, is not ideological, but caused by poverty, unemployment and hunger.

Also at the forum were Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; his Anambra State counterpart, Peter Obi; the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and his Power counterpart Prof. Barth Nnaji.

Foremost banker Atedo Peterside chaired the Forum’s Organising Committee, other eminent personalities, attended the event.

Amaechi described Rivers state as an ideal business destination.

The governor said: “Three years ago, Gordon Brown would not be in Port Harcourt. The relocation of the headquarters of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) from Lagos to Port Harcourt is another confir-

mation that Rivers State is safe and investors’ friendly.

“Rivers State is the nerve centre of the Nigerian economy, accounting for 10 per cent of the Nation’s GDP, according to World Bank statistics. The state accounts for over 40 per cent of crude oil produced on-shore in the country and 100 per cent of the liquefied natural gas exports from Nigeria.

“The state is also quite attractively positioned, being the economic hub of the South - South and South - East regions of Nigeria. With its accessibility by land, air, water and rail, it is definitely your ideal business destination.

“Yet this is the first time Port Harcourt is hosting an event of this nature – a private sector-led, private sector-driven collaboration with government. Such an initiative is as exciting as it is significant.

Collaboration between gov-

ernment and the private sector is a powerful tool for attracting the requisite financial investment needed to drive development in the state.

“When this administration assumed office in October 2007, we met a state that had been brought to its knees by the criminal conduct of a few individuals.

“These were people who selfishly dispossessed the larger populace to feather their own nests. Oil theft was rife, as were the more heinous crimes of kidnap and murder.

“Government seemed to have lost the political will to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book. Naturally, the economy was the first casualty of this sad state of affairs.

Businesses had fled. Government had to act and fast too, if we were to be able to deliver on our promises to our people.

•continued on page 63

Belgore leads 21-man Constitution Review Committee

W

ITH the inauguration yesterday of a 21-member committee, another attempt at reviewing the constitution has begun.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who inaugurated the team, spoke of controversies – about the approach to use – that preceded the latest move.

Said Dr Jonathan: “There are a lot of controversies about the approach. The first thinking is, let us bring Nigerians together again just like Obasanjo did, but we consider that the exercise wasted a lot of money from the federal government and state and individuals. If we go all out to repeat it, it will communicate the wrong signals to the public; they will feel this is another jamboree, where government wants to play music to distract attention instead of facing Boko Haram or economic issues; we want to generate debate to distract the attention.

“We feel that first of all, let us select some committed Nigerians, few of them, to look at those areas that we have already agreed on, package them and put it to the National Assembly. Then to identify those broad areas that agreement has not been reached, then we can expand the team to look and debate those areas separately so that people will see the seriousness because already we would have forwarded some bills to the National Assem-

•Jonathan: we don’t want another jamboree From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

bly. So, when we expand the team to discuss, they will know that it is not a discussion that will be locked up in the drawers of Mr. President or other stakeholders of the government. That is why you see yourself so few because the first set of issues that you will examine are issues that had been reasonably agreed.”

The Presidential charged the panel to go through past documents on the constitution, especially the 2006 national conference, as well as any relevant aspects of the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference.

The committee is to consider and, where necessary, update the missing resolutions that were unilaterally excised from the 1999 Constitution.

Besides, it is to study the resolutions, recommendations and implementation guidelines of the last National Political Reform Conference.

The 21-member committee is led by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Belgore. Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma is the Vice Chairman.

Other members are: Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Mr. Ledum Mitee, Dr. Abubakar Saddique, Ms. Comfort Obi, Mr. Peter Esele, Prof.

Oladapo Afolabi, Prof. Jerry Gana, Barr. Tessy Ikimi, Mr. G.O.S. Miri, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, Amb. Jibrin Chinade, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Alhaja Salimot Badru, Hajia Najatu Mohammed, Mr. Ferdinand Agu, Alhaji Wakil Mohammed and Mrs Halima Alfa.

In February 2005, then President Olusegun

Obasanjo inaugurated a National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) to examine all aspects of the 1999 Constitution and make recommendations on legal and political changes. The 400-member body was given three months within which to submit its reports.

By its sheer size, the body ate up into national revenue, even though the President did not disclose how he raised the

fund outside the approval of the National Assembly. All states, professional groups, political parties and sectors of the country were represented.

Delegates were accommodated in choice hotels and their bills picked by the government. They were all paid allowances.

The conference lasted about five months and ended without a finale as the Niger Delta question led to sudden termi-

nation of its deliberations.

However, in the same way that the government found an “ingenious” way to fund the conference, the secretariat of the NPRC came up with a final report. Some of the recommendations include establishment of a special court for addressing corruption in the polity and electoral reforms that would ensure that all election petitions, including appeals, are disposed of before winners are sworn in.

•continued on page 63

Subsidy: Lawmakers give Jonathan four conditions Continued from page 1

we will be tricked to concede to the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy without palliative measures to cushion the effect for the masses.

“The executive claimed that the fuel subsidy may take about N1.5trillion this year.

But it has not given us the breakdown; how fuel was imported by companies and the list of the beneficiaries.

“What most members of the National Assembly are suspecting is that the subsidy so far this year may not be more than N500billion.

“At the end of the day, if there are no palliative measures, we will be putting our democracy in jeopardy because Nigerians can revolt.”

Another Senator said: “We were all angry that the President merely defended plans to withdraw fuel subsidy

without any statistics to back his arguments.

“Even when the President addressed us, he could not tell us the palliative measures. We were all shocked.

“And when Jonathan maintained that the economy might collapse, if the fuel subsidy remains in place, he did not substantiate his claim with statistics. We cannot just take his submissions hook, line and sinker.”

Sources said last night that the President was expected to meet with the principal officers of the Senate.

It could not be confirmed whether the meeting took place.

A Senator said: “After the session at the Villa on Wednesday, the Presidency started lobbying Senators and members of the House to show some understanding

and back its plan to withdraw subsidy.

“I am aware that we were told that Senate President David Mark, and his principal officers would meet with the President for follow-up talks on the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“But I cannot tell you whether the meeting took place.”

Some of the principal officers expected at the meeting are Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN); Deputy Senate Leader Abdul Ningi; Chief Whip Hayatu Gwarzo; Deputy Chief Whip Hosea Agboola; Minority Leader George Akume; Deputy Minority Leader Ahmed Rufai Sani; Minority Whip Ganiyu Solomon and Deputy Minority Whip Abu Ibrahim.

As at 7.45pm, all calls to the spokesman of the Senate, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, to con-

firm the status of the second session with the President did not go through.

But it was learnt that principal officers of the House were not invited to the session.

A member of the House of Representatives, who confided in our correspondent, said: “Our principal officers have not been invited for any follow-up talks. But we learnt that the President might meet with the President of the Senate and the principal officers.

“We are still maintaining our position that with N500billion fuel subsidy per annum, the nation can still afford it instead of the withdrawal of the subsidy.

“Our members have made up their minds that we won’t approve the withdrawal of fuel subsidy because it will hurt the masses and the nation’s democracy.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

5

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) with members of the presidential committee on review of Constitution after the panel’s inauguration at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Suswam leads Exco, council chiefs to visit aide

Strikes undermine learning in varsities, says Jonathan P

B

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday led members of the state Executive Council (Exco) and the 23 local government chairmen to visit his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Cletus Akwaya, who was recently attacked by unknown gunmen. He is receiving treatment in a hospital.

The governor told Akwaya that his administration would ensure that his attackers are brought to justice.

He alleged that the attack on his aide was planned in the Gboko home of a former council chairman.

The Chairman of the state branch of the Association of

•Suswam

Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Ukum Local Government Area Chairman Sevav David condemned the attack, urging any aggrieved person to seek redress in a civilised manner rather than resort to violence.

PDP alleges bias against Borno election tribunal

By Our Reporters

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Borno State yesterday alleged that the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed its petition out of bias.

The stakeholders, led by the Director-General of Governor Goni Campaign Organisation, Mohammed Kumalia, said they discovered sufficient elements of bias against them by the panel.

Goni, the PDP governorship candidate in the April election, filed the petition against the conduct of the election in the state.

The election was won by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate.

The tribunal, on November 12, dismissed Goni’s petition on the grounds that it was “abandoned”.

But Kumalia, who addressed reporters in Abuja, insisted that “at no time did we abandon our petition”.

He said after a few preliminary sittings in Borno State, the tribunal stopped further sittings, and sought to relocate to Abuja on the pretext of insecurity in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Contempt: Court adjourns hearing against NUC chief till Dec 7 HE Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned till December 7 further hearing in the contempt charge against the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie.

The adjournment followed the withdrawal of the application for stay of execution by Okojie’s lawyer, Peter Erivwode, and an application for the extension of time to file his counter-affidavit to the charge.

Justice J. Shakharo had summoned Okojie to come and explain why he should not be committed to prison for allegedly failing to implement

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

a July judgment of the same court.

The notice issued by the court, Form 49, Okojie is to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for his refusal to obey the orders made by the court in the judgment delivered in the case filed by a law graduate of the university against the NUC. Justice Shakarho had delivered judgment in favour of the Law programme of the university, declaring, among others, that the Law programme of Lead City University, Ibadan, is legal, valid, recognised and accredited.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday lamented incessant strikes in Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions, saying the strikes undermine learning and complicate the reform process.

Addressing the grand finale of the 63rd convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan (UI), the President noted that tertiary institutions are unable to run their academic programmes on schedule due to incessant strikes.

Dr Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufa’i, said the consequences of unpredictable calendar and negative public image, among others, further frustrate the efforts to address the challenges facing universities.

He urged trade unions lead-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan.

ers to stop using strikes to press home their demands when there are other avenues for resolving differences between government and Labour.

The President said: “Let me use this opportunity to assure you of the Federal Government’s readiness to always dialogue with all stakeholders in order to move education sector forward. I appeal to our unions to show restraint and allow dialogue through negotiations.”

He saluted the Governing Council and management of UI, reminding them that the vision of the university’s

founders was to build a world-class institution. Dr Jonathan urged them to intensify effort in bringing the vision to reality.

“I am pleased to inform this convocation that the University of Ibadan emerged as a centre of excellence for African Union, and host of the Pan-African Union University’s (PAU’s) programmes on Life and Earth Sciences. This is a giant stride by the university and the beginning of greater things to come,” the President said.

Admitting the poor funding of federal universities, Dr Jonathan said: “We recognise the funding shortfalls faced by our universities, the Uni-

versity of Ibadan inclusive. In fact, because of your long history, you have to deal with more financial demands than younger institutions.”

He promised the commitment of the Federal Government to work in unison with the university in solving the problem of funding, saying: “We are prepared to continue to work with you to resolve this problem.”

Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Adewole said the convocation ceremonies, which began on Monday, had produced 102 First-Class honours and 840 Second-Class graduates.

Among those honoured are: the General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; former First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua; legal practitioner, Mrs Folake Solanke (SAN).

ASUU urges Fed Govt to implement 2009 pact

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to address the decay in its university and implement its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU).

The union warned that the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the agreement it reached with its leaders in 2009 is capable of attracting an indefinite closure of the universities by the end

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

of this month, causing more problems for higher institutions.

The Bauchi zone of the union addressed reporters in Jos, the Plateau State capital, yesterday after its zonal meeting.

The zone, which comprises of eight universities, noted that funding, allowances and the bill on 70 years’ retirement for academics in the professional cadre, remained

the source of the lingering disputes between the the government and the union.

The Zonal Coordinator Daniel Gungula said: “You recall that in September 2011, after our one-week warning strike, the Federal Government pleaded to our union to grant it a concessional period of grace to address the issue that had not been addressed in the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement.

“As a reasonable, responsible and principled union,

both parties agreed to draw out a workable and realistic plan for the outstanding issues, considering the fact that it is billed for review in 2012.

“November 22 was the date for a workable implementation timeline agreed upon between ASUU and the Federal Government. It is expected that by the set date, all figures that should go into the next year budget would have been worked out, agreed upon and ready for submission to the Budget Office.”

Tambuwal assures councils of autonomy

T

HE Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal has assured the 774 local government areas that the House would ensure their autonomy in its review of the constitution.

He urged local government functionaries and administrators to take advantage of the proposed review to address issues of utmost importance.

The Speaker spoke yesterday during a 2-day National Local Government Summit organized by the House of Representatives Committee on States and LGA Affairs in collaboration with Segnip promotions in Abuja.

Tambuwal who was represented by his deputy, Chief Emeka Ihedioha assured participants that the bill has passed through its second reading. He said the house was able to drive autonomy for the judiciary, legislators stressing

•Bill scales second reading ‘This summit is to enable Committee members and the representatives of the people...come up with actionable positions on issues of interest to the councils’ administration in Nigeria and development at the grassroots’ From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

that that of local governments will not be left out.

He said: “Though the bill has passed through its second reading but there is need to give real autonomy to local governments. As you know, this agitation has no opposition in the house.

“Begin to tune your minds towards having autonomy.

We have achieved the autonomy of judiciary and legislators; we will ensure the local government has theirs so that democracy can get to the grass roots because it may be difficult to implement your mandates if the autonomy is not achieved.”

The Speaker who maintained that developmental activities of the chairmen may be fruitless without proper legislative autonomy, urged stakeholders to remain accountable to the people they govern.

The Chairman House Committee on States and Local Government Administration, Hon. Rasaq Adewusi said the committee found it necessary to hold the interactive meeting with local government administrators so as to harmo-

nize critical national concerns.

He said restated that the bill has passed through its second reading and has been committed to the Ad hoc Committee responsible for constitution review.

Adewusi added that deliberations would be made on issues regarding joint state and local government accounts, tenure of elected local government officials as well as autonomy of the third tier of government.

His words: “We, as committee members, have constitutional responsibility to adequately represent the states and local governments during deliberations on the floor of the House. This summit is to enable Committee members and the representatives of the people at the grassroots to deliberate and come up with actionable positions on issues of interest to the councils’ administration in Nigeria and development at the grassroots.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

6

NEWS Residents trek as police flood Yenagoa From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

T

HE presence of many police road blocks on the streets of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has made residents resort to trekking long distance.

It now takes hours for commuters and okada riders to get to their destinations as they have resorted to trekking to escape ‘harassment’ by the security agents.

Virtually all the streets of Yenagoa now have at least two to three road blocks mounted by armed riot Policemen who were reportedly brought from various parts of the country.

The policemen were deployed in the state police in the wake of the PDP governorship primaries tussle.

For instance, along the popular Mbiama Yenagoa road, over ten road blocks are mounted to check movement of vehicles, Okadas and their occupants. It is the same scenario along the popular Isaac Boro expressway.

Spokesman of the police in the state, Egwavon Omokpae, denied that the presence of the road blocks has caused more hardship than good. He said the series of killings in the state had necessitated the presence of more Policemen and the road blocks in Yenagoa.

“We are all aware of series of killings, the road blocks are for the purpose of curbing crime. There is no way such number of police men will come into the state that people will not suffer. They have to suffer a little to enjoy freedom,” he said.

Sashore faults process of registering company

F

ORMER Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State Supo Sashore (SAN) has faulted the process of registering limited liability companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), saying the steps required in the registration “are too cumbersome and bureaucratic.”

Sashore spoke at the 35th Annual Conference Dinner of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja.

According to the former Lagos A-G, the steps taken to register a limited liability company with the CAC should be reduced to make it faster.

“Eighty-two steps are required by the Corporate Affairs Commission to form a limited liability company. This is too cumbersome, too bureaucratic. It will be tedious to get foreign exchange if we take 82 steps to register a limited liability company in Nigeria. This should be addressed,” Sashore said.

The President/Chairman of the institute, Mr. Teslim Olatunde Busari, said:“It is also a rare opportunity to update our knowledge with

Obasanjo, Baraje meet over Ogun PDP crisis

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, Acting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Kawu Baraje, and the National Vice-Chairman (Southwest), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo will tomorrow meet in Lagos over the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the party.

The chapter has been enmshed in crisis for over one year.

A source said the meeting will hold at a location to be determined by the former president.

•The late Tayo Abe

•Tayo’s remains being carried into the church...yesterday

Tears as remains of slain T

HE remains of the late Miss Tayo Abe, the 27-year-old Corps member allegedly killed by the police on October 20, were yesterday buried. Family members and friends wept uncontrollably.

The remains were brought into the town of Orin-Ekiti around noon by a procession from the Federal Medical Cen-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

tre, Ido-Ekiti.

The remains were in a goldcoloured casket. A Mercedes Benz wagon, which brought the body was surrounded by scores of sympathisers.

The procession, made up mostly of young men and ladies in

Moving songs like “Botiwu keniyan je, oni lati ku dandan ni”; (whatever material height attained by man, he is fated to fall); and “Aye loja ara mi orun ma nile o”; (man is in transit on earth, the world beyond is home) were sung by friends and family members.

The funeral service held at St. John’s Catholic Church.

‘Stop dabbling in local politics‘

Chieftain advises delegates

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

B

AYELSA State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Hon. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has urged delegates to vote for Hon. Seriake Dickson during the governorship primaries holding tomorrow.

Markson said: “We are tired of having political jobbers as leaders. We need leaders that will build a state of our dreams. Given the enormous resources at the disposal of our state, we need leaders with a clear agenda to harness and exploit these resources for the benefit of all our people.

“We need a leader that will take maximum advantage of the current privileged position of the President, a son of the soil, to attract huge federal presence and economic benefits to the state” The politician said Dickson had served the state without blemish as Justice Commissioner and member of House of Representatives.

He added: “Dickson’s candidature represents a credible alternative to the status-quo. This much can be gleaned from the series of press interviews he has granted.

“Among other things, he talked about instituting comprehensive reforms and overhauling the educational sector at all levels, where emphasis will be on the provision of infrastructure and the development of science and technology”.

their teens and early twenties are said to be indigenes of Orin-Ekiti. They sang dirge and cursed the killers.

Tayo’s siblings, including her immediate elder sister, Toyin and her younger siblings, Niyi and Michael wailed uncontrollably. They were consoled by friends who held them firmly from time to time.

•Sani

C

IVIL Rights campaigner Mallam Shehu Sani yesterday advised President

Goodluck Jonathan to concentrate on the challenges of governance and fixing the nation’s teething problems. He should not dabble in local politics in his home state, Bayelsa, Sani said.

Sani also urged the President to display his self-confessed respect for the rule of law by ensuring that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respects the court ruling stopping the conduct of the PDP governorship primaries in the state this weekend.

Speaking at a news conference

in Kaduna, Sani said the PDP does not have any cogent reason to exclude Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva from the PDP governorship primary. He described the action as an insult and an assault on democracy and the constitution.

He noted that if the party goes ahead with the conduct of the primary election, the much-talked about respect for the rule of law by the Jonathan administration will be a mere charade, adding that it is unlawful to bar the governor from contesting the primary in defiance of the court order.

Forum urges President to be fair

T

HE Bayelsa Young Leaders Forum yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to create the right environment for a free and fair governorship primary election in the state.

It asked the President to demonstrate that he is a democrat.

The Forum, in a statement in Abuja by its Chairman, Comrade Nengite Amabiobo and Secretary, Famous Tom-Abali said: “He should know that Nigerians will judge him by what he allows to happen in his home state. Mr President should also note that when you contested for the office of the president of Nigeria, it was not based on primordial sentiments.

Nigerians massively voted for you without political party inclination or consideration.

“Nigerians did not consider zon-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ing, ethnicity or other considerations but went out to vote for you massively. Mr. President, to whom much is given, much is expected”.

“Bayelsans expect the President to re-enact what happened in his presidential election by creating a level-playing field and a conducive atmosphere for a credible and visionary leader to emerge as Governor of Bayelsa state in 2012.

“President Jonathan should please create the right political environment that will enable Bayelsans decide who will govern them.

There should be no consideration for any other primordial calculation like friendship but rather, credibility should be the cardinal consideration.

“Mr. President, you cannot afford to be non-chalant about the desires

of Bayelsans to be governed by a credible leader. Bayelsans have suffered enough in the hands of mediocre leaders and we say no to violent characters hijacking the political process in the state”.

The Forum urged the President to save Bayelsa from unnecessary crisis.

The forum added: “Bayelsans will hold President Jonathan responsible for anything that goes wrong as a result of his non-chalant attitude. Bayelsans cannot afford to move from the frying pan to fire.

“Mr. President, please act re and be dictated to by the genuine interest of the development of the state. Bayelsans are ready to make their votes count and as the leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) he(Jonathan) should intervene and allow free and fair primary to hold in the party.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

7

NEWS

•Niyi, Tayo’s immediate younger brother, crying during the service

The late Tayo Abe

•Pa Abe, Tayo’s father...yesterday in Orin-Ekiti

Ekiti Corps member are interred The Parish Priest, Dr. Peter Asumpta Ajayi, enjoined the congregation to learn a lesson from the death of Tayo.

“All of us gathered here must know that death cannot be conquered. The when, where, what and how of death must remain eternally hidden from man.

“You and I must, therefore, prepare for its coming the way

we conduct the business of life and living in a way to show awareness of the certitude of eternity.

“Early on the morning of Thursday, October 20, Tayo Helen Abe never knew she had finished her assignment here.

She had to join her siblings to carry out an assignment on the farm, which turned out to be her

last.

“That day even the angels of God themselves wept in their holiness in Orin-Ekiti in the manner of Tayo’s death. One must say this is the nature of death which we must be aware of,” Dr. Ajayi said.

Quoting copiously from the Bible, the priest enjoined the congregation to return to their

homes and renew their pact of sanctity and devotion with the Almighty.

While the Priest was about to conclude the sermon, he broke into a song rendered like a dirge again “sibe oluwa dara, b’otiwu ki ori o (God is good still, whatever befalls man); Idaamu aye lepo, sibe Oluwa dara (trials and tribulations may abound in life,

God is good still).

The dirge provided an interlude marked by loud wails in which the officiating priest helplessly participated.

After the service, the coffin was moved to the cemetery of the church located within the premises, where the remains of Tayo Helen Abe were interred few minutes after 1 pm.

Customs impounds arms, ammunition at NAHCO’s strong room

Appeal Court nullifies Ekiti Rep’s election

O

•Fresh poll in 30 days

FFICIALS of the Nigeria Customs Services yesterday impounded a cache of abandoned arms and ammunition in the strong room of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Limited NAHCO).

According to the Customs Area Comptroller at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Michael Adewole, the seized abandoned arms and ammunition include: six double barrels, one single barrel, one pump action, one Uzzi, two magazines, one barretta pistol and one becheverria pistol.

Adewole listed the ammunition as 20 pieces of 5.56 mm calibre, 19 cartridges, 500 pieces of blank Armour and a sealed box of cartridges.

He said the servicing accessories are four pieces of pull trough, two brushes, oil rifle bag as well as a sling colt belt.

The Customs chief explained that the items were seized because they are prohibited items that only government security agencies could bring into the country.

He said the command swung into action following information that some unidentified persons abandoned the arms at the strong room of NAHCO. Adewole said Customs carried out the exercise as part of its mandate to improve security around the airport.

He said investigation has begun to find out those behind the im-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

C

•Some of the impounded arms

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

portation.

The Customs chief said the arms have been taken to the government Customs warehouse.

Security agencies around the airport, including the State Security Services, Police, Nigeria Air Force, and Nigeria Intelligence Agency have been carrying out surveillance activities around the

airport to prevent attempts to breach the peace.

Sophisticated Close Circuit Televisions have been installed at strategic locations around the airport.

OURT of Appeal sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State yesterday nullified the election of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ojo Oyetunde.

Justice Sotonye Denton-West delivered a dissenting judgment contending that Ojo was validly elected.

But the majority judgment given by Justice Tom Yakubu, in conjunction with Justice Obande Ogb uniya, upheld the verdict of the Lower Tribunal.

The judgment contended that the missing of the logo and names of the Natioal Transformation Party (NTP) candidate contravenes the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

The court ordered fresh election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within 30 days of the judgment.

Earlier in September 2011, the Election Petitions Tribunal nullified Oyetunde’s election on the grounds that the name of the NTP candidate, Mr. Peter Bamigbade Adekola and the logo of the party, were missing on the ballot papers.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

8

NEWS EFCC meets with lawyers From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri yesterday said the commission is already meeting with its prosecuting lawyers to meet the sixmonth target for the trial of 14 ex-governors and 61 others.

Waziri spoke while answering questions after the inauguration of EFCC/ Nollywood Working Group in Abuja. She said the new Practice Directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, is a welcome development which will boost the trial of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

The EFCC is currently prosecuting 75 high-profile cases (PEPs) and 1500 others.

Out of the 75 high-profile cases, are those involving 14 ex-governors and two former Ministers.

The ex-governors and Ministers are Chief James Ibori, Senator Saminu Turaki, Peter Odili, Mr. Michael Botmang, Senator Joshua Dariye, Mr. Boni Haruna, and Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja.

Others are Mr. Jolly Nyame, Alahji Attahiru Bafarawa, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

Ayo Fayose, Chimaroke Nnamani, Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Babalola Borishade.

Waziri said: “We are very happy with the directive of the CJN that outstanding corruption cases should be treated with dispatch within six months. We are waiting to see what will happen next.”

NLC warns against amending minimum wage

T

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday advised the federal government not to tnker with the new minimum wage act.

NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar gave the advice in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, at the seventh National Labour Relations Summit of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS).

He said he was aware that governors plan to push for the review of the law. He is afraid that such amendment would lead to the end of the Act. Omar said the alleged plan to amend the Act was obnoxious.

He argued that fixing the minimum wage was done to ensure protection of the workers’ wage.

He said if there was no nationally binding law on the minimum wage, it would give state governments the leeway to execute a wage policy that suits their interests, but detrimental to interest of workers’.

•Southwst Heads of Service seek common front

By Miriam Ndikanwu and Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The NLC boss stated: “I call on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, forget about the issue of amending the minimum wage law. If there is a process in the implementation of the law that needed correction, let us correct the process.”

“The essence of the law is to ensure the protection of the workers on their wage so that they are not denied their due wage. We should try to sustain this.”

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was the chairman of the event, said governors are yet to take a position on the issue.

Mimiko said governors were not against fixing a benchmark as minimum wage payable to workers but in the case of the state workers’, the government of the states should have the opportunity of negoti-

ating the agreement with them.

Acting General Secretary of NLC, Mr Owei Lakemfa told reporters that four months after the agreement was signed, workers were yet to enjoy the wage.

Heads of Service of the six states in the Southwest geo-political zone have identified the need for States within the region, to come together and adopt a common front in handling the minimum wage and other labour related matters.

The Heads of Service made their position at the First Summit of Heads of Service in the Southwest geo-political zone held in Lagos with the theme, “Towards a Transformed Public Service: Collaborating for Enhanced Efficiency and Effectiveness”.

The event, which was held at the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Center, Magodo was attended by the various Heads of

From Adeola OladeleFayehun

•Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUA) proprietor, eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola receiving an award at Ekiti State Golf Club in Ado-Ekiti

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in last April’s election, Gen. Adetunji Olurin and a chieftain of the party have disagreed over the running of the party.

Olurin, at a meeting in Ilaro on Wednesday, spoke against Kashamu and his group, OmoIlu. Kashamu fought back yesterday. He said although he hails from Ogun East Senatorial District, he has since been involved with the people of Ogun West Senatorial District.

Kashamu said the PDP leaders threw their weight behind Olurin because of Obasanjo’s strong recommendation of him and the long aspiration of the Yewa people to rule the state.

“We accepted without any hesitation because of the love we have for the longsuffering Yewa people who are mostly honest and level-headed. Given our grass-

Alleged N420m fraud: ICPC threatens Shekarau

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HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said former Governor of Kano State Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau will face trial for alleged N420 million fraud and misappropriation of public funds.

Shekarau was alleged to have built an 11- bedroom house for himself while in office at N286, 434,168.51.

According to a statement by its Resident Consultant (Media and Event), Mr. Folu Olamiti, the ICPC said the probe follows a petition by a Kano Non-Governmental Organization (NGO. The statement said: “The NGO had in a petition forwarded to the anti-graft agency alleged that Mallam Shekarau indulged himself in some unwholesome acts in breach of several provisions of the ICPC Act 2000.

“The former presidential candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the

•I am not corrupt, ex-Governor replies ICPC From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

April 2011 general elections was specifically alleged to have committed fraud, abuse of power, inflation of contracts sum, double awards of contracts and other vices in gross violation of the ICPC Act. “The petitioner alleged further Mallam Shekarau engaged in diversion and embezzlement of billions of Naira belonging to the state government through an ambiguous expenditure known as reciprocal arrangement.”

“The ICPC investigators in their report alleged that Mallam Shekarau awarded the construction of an 11- bedroom house for himself while in office to the tune of N286, 434,168.51 in gross violation of laid down rules and regulation.

“He was also alleged to have awarded contracts to a company in which he had substantial interest as well as

paying for some furniture twice.

“Based on the petition, the ICPC team of investigators visited the state and uncovered a lot of financial malpractices in the award of contracts as claimed by the petitioner.

“In the report submitted by the ICPC operatives to the acting chairman of the commission, a prima facie case was established against the former governor.

“The report stated emphatically that the contractor handling the project was mobilised ‘with the sum of N119, 330,955.91 on the 18th October, 2007, representing 50 percent of the contract sum, contrary to Section 35 of the Procurement Act which provideds for 15 percent mobilisation for any form of contract awarded’.

“Already, the contractor and officials of the Ministry of Works, Kano State have made useful statements to the

•Omar that will not only operate in line with best practices but will also insist on international standards.

His counterpart from Ondo State, Mr. Ajose Keduhinbu, stressed the need for the zone to tackle agitations by labour for wage increase.

Ekiti State HOS, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya said regional integration was paramount to the south west states calling for peer review between states in the zone.

Olurin, Omoilu bicker over Ogun PDP

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Adoke wins ILC election at UN ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke has won reelection into the 2011 International Law Commission (ILC).

He defeated 12 other African nominees for the nine seats given to the African Continent on the Board of the ILC. He won by 135 votes, defeating the nominees from Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Libya, Mali, Egypt, Cameroon, Algeria, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Sudan, and Kenya.

Adoke will begin his new five-year term on January 1, while the 34 members of the Commission’s tenure for the 2007-2011 quadrennium expires at the end of 2011.

The Attorney-General arrived New York on Tuesday, to a reception and African Dinner at the Nigeria House, organised by the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Joy Ogwu.

The ILC is a body of experts subordinate to the General Assembly, created for the purpose of codifying and developing international law. Since its creation in 1947, it has worked extensively in the field, meeting annually to review issues such as the law of the high seas, nationality and statelessness, and treaty law.

Service as well as permanent sectaries and directors from the six states.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) opening the summit, noted that the Civil Service has continuously served as the fulcrum and engine room of service delivery to the citizens for the socio economic development of society.

Governor Fashola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, challenged the Zone on the need for collaborative efforts and sharing of notes, stressing that the challenges of the 21st century demands the civil service structure to rise up and respond to the numerous needs of the people.

Lagos Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, explained that the three-day summit was expedient to chart a new path for improved civil/public service

anti-graft agency on the issues raised by the petitioner. ” Shekarau yesterday said he is not corrupt and has not mismanaged any public funds.

He said his controversial 11-bedroom house was built for him by the state government based on a law enacted by the Kano State House of Assembly.

Shekarau spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Yau Sule Yau. He said: “We are used to these kinds of allegations, this is not the first time. In 2007, when ex-Governor Shekarau wanted to recontest for governorship, similar allegations were levelled against him that he had various accounts with money stashed abroad but later it was proved beyond reasonable doubt by a High Court in Kano that he did not stash funds abroad.”

roots approach to politics in the new PDP, we supported the Yewa aspiration as represented by Olurin and put our structure behind him,” he said.

The party chieftain said the PDP had planned to field the former state Chairman, Chief Olalekan Ojo. “But, given Olurin’s track record, we never hesitated to support him. We abandoned Ojo and queued behind him.

Till date, Ojo has not forgiven us. He sees us as his enemies,” he said.

Kashamu explained that his and other leaders’ intervention in the party affairs in Ogun West “was to make all the founding members of the PDP who had defected to other parties to return to the PDP so that the party could form a united front.”

He said the leaders of the party should commend them rather than castigate them for their initiative since party members were left without a direction.

Oyo Assembly reinstates sacked council chiefs From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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EPRIEVE came the way of the sacked 29 chairmen of Transition Committees in 29 Local Government Areas of Oyo State yesterday as the state House of Assembly reinstated them and granted them three months extension as requested by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The council bosses were sacked last week following the expiration of their three months tenure as stipulated by relevant laws.

But they were reinstated at yesterday’s plenary following the consideration of a report by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. The report also recommended how local government administration could be improved.

ears as family bids slain banker THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

9

NEWS Ex-Ondo LP chair flays radio station’s blockade

EFCC probe stalls Daniel’s trial

F

ORMER Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State Dr. Olaiya Oni yesterday criticised the alleged deliberate cut-off of a private radio station in the state, “Adaba FM,” from the road.

The company handling the project of the road leading to the station in Ilara-Mokin, Cornerstone Construction Company (CCC), penultimate Friday dug a gully on the road with an excavator, cutting the station off from its clients.

Oni accused the state government of being instrumental to the blockade.

He spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, after inspecting the road.

Oni said: “The intention of the state government is to cut off the road, so that when the station exhausts its diesel, it will have no option but to wind up. This is an act of wickedness and abuse of power by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

“It is unfortunate that somebody who swore to put public interest above his personal interest is doing something this shameful. When we were in the trenches and Mimiko ran away to Abuja, it was this same Adaba FM that we were using to propagate the ideas of the LP. “We had our progressive

•Court adjourns till Nov 28

T

HE trial of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel at the State High Court in Abeokuta, the state capital, was stalled yesterday by the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude investigation into the 16-count charge it levelled against him.

Daniel was arraigned last month before Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje by the EFCC on corruption charges, bordering on stealing, fraudulent conversion of government property to personal use and failure to truthfully declare his assets as statutorily required.

He was granted a N500 million bail bond.

The trial was to begin yesterday, but EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, prayed the court to give his client a week’s grace, to enable it conclude its investigation and amend some clauses in the charges against Daniel.

Jacobs said the one week would also avail the accused sufficient time to study the case.

He said: “Daniel was arraigned last month because the constitution says he has to be charged to court within 48 hours. As such, we had to rush to court, while the investigation continued. We have established a case against him and are concluding our investigation.

“We have very comprehensive allegations against him, so it is necessary to bring all what we have to the court and give him (Daniel) sufficient time to study the case.

•Daniel in the dock... yesterday From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

“We have our witnesses in court and are well prepared, but the accused prefers to see all the charges against him before the trial commences.”

Justice Mabekoje adjourned till November 28.

Daniel’s counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, said his client

would wait for the anti-graft agency to substantiate its case.

Osipitan urged EFCC to bring its documents on the adjourned date, adding that the documents would enable the accused adopt the right strategy.

He said: “The prosecutors know what they are looking for and what they need to prove their case; we will wait

for them patiently. Let them come with their documents; we will look at it, go back to the drawing table and adopt the appropriate strategy.

“We will take them on their documents and show the world that we have nothing to fear or hide.”

The EFCC said it would file the application for amendment before November 28.

ACN opposes Bode George’s wife for NPC

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State has condemned the Senate leadership for allegedly imposing Mrs. Roli George as the Lagos State representative in the National Population Commission (NPC).

ACN said the Senate leadership is trivialising important national issues with its bias for partisanship.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, ACN said Lagosians insist on Mrs. George’s replacement.

It said: “We witnessed the Senate leadership act the script of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as it foisted someone that was not nominated by the people and government of Lagos as our representative in the NPC, despite the stiff protest of our three senators and several other senators

from other parts of Nigeria.

“The Senate leadership went ahead to impose Mrs. George, wife of PDP leader Bode George, on Lagos, even though the process demands the recommendation of the representative by the governor to the President.

“We note that Governor Babatunde Fashola had written to the President on this issue and forwarded the authentic nominee of Lagos State, only for Mrs. George to be nominated, not as a true representative of Lagos State, but as a political settlement to her husband.

“When the nomination came up at the Senate, the three senators representing Lagos, citing existing convention that the nominee must have the support of the senators from the nominating state, opposed this nomination and were backed by senators from oth-

er parts of the country.

“The Senate leadership, obviously pandering to narrow and selfish political considerations, waved aside this convention and ensured that Mrs. George was approved as the representative of Lagos in the

Man charged with attempt to kill Obama

A

21-YEAR-OLD man who called President Barack Obama the “devil” and “anti-Christ” was charged yesterday with trying to assassinate the U.S. leader by opening fire on the White House with an assault rifle.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, were not in Washington at the time of the shooting Friday night and no one was hurt, according to Reuters report.

Oscar Ortega-Hernandez of

I’m open to criticisms, says Aregbesola

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration is open to constructive criticism.

Aregbesola spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, during his investiture as the Grand Patron of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said he was worried about the falsehood being peddled by the opposition

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

under the guise of criticism.

Aregbesola said: “I am not against opposition and criticisms. What I consider dishonourable is the fabrication of stories and publication of falsehood.

“I owe my victory over the forces of despotism and retrogression largely to the forthrightness and uncompromis-

NPC. “We wonder why the Senate leadership believes that at this time and age, it will impose the narrow interests of its party over the interests of other Nigerians.

ing stand of the media on the truth.

“However, I regret to say that a tiny section of the media is still being used to perpetrate falsehood, cause disaffection and bring dishonour to the media.

“There are media outfits that have constituted themselves into stumbling blocks and are being used as the arrowheads of attack on my government and the people of the state.”

Idaho Falls, Idaho, appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Pittsburgh, who ordered him transferred to Washington. He was arrested on Wednesday at a hotel near Indiana, Pennsylvania.

No one was hurt in the shooting on Friday night. The Secret Service said one bullet broke a White House window but was stopped by protective ballistic glass, and the other round struck the exterior of the building.

A witness reported seeing the occupant of a dark car shooting at the White House and speed away, while another witness reported hearing eight “popping” noises from a dark car that sped away, according to court papers.

A Honda Accord with Idaho licence plates was found abandoned nearby with a semi-automatic assault rifle with a large scope as well as three loaded magazines of ammunition, nine spent shell casings, an aluminium baseball bat and brass knuckles, according to court papers.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ideas and at that time I thought he was one of us, not knowing he is the most retrogressive person ever. In certain instances, this station wrote off our bills, even after giving us discounts. This amounted to millions of naira in concession.”

The former minister alleged that the governor deliberately told the contractor to create the 6 feet deep ditch on the road to stop certain programmes from being aired on the station. Such programmes, he alleged, were beginning to reveal the financial recklessness of the governor.

Oni said: “Mimiko created the gully, stifle Adaba FM’s operation. He professes that he is a democrat, but he is the worst dictator I have ever come across.

“I am very much pained to see the havoc Mimiko is doing to democracy in this country.”

He called on security operatives to protect the management, staff and clients of the station.

No CCC worker was on the site during the visit. Two heavy equipment were stationed by the gully.

Commissioner for Works Mr. Gboye Adegbenro said the government is working on bad portions of the road.

Mimiko’s ally Boroffice seeks ACN governorship ticket

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Senator Robert Boroffice, is set to join the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Boroffice, who represents Ondo North Senatorial District in the Senate, is seeking the ACN’s ticket for the 2013 governorship election.

One of his aides, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “He would have defected, but for the preparations for the December 3 governorship election in Kogi. After the election, he would be officially received into the ACN. He is aspiring to be governor in 2013 on the platform of the ACN.” When Boroffice spoke with The Nation, he said: “By the grace of God, I will join a party of the choice of my people, who gave me their mandate, and in a short while, you will see democracy in action.”

Last Tuesday, a rally in support of Governor Olusegun Mimiko was held at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital, to condemn Boroffice’s planned defection.

But a socio-political group, Ondo Democratic Crusaders (ODEC), described the rally as “a sponsored gathering.”

In a statement by its State Co-ordinator, Mr. Olumide Dada, and Secretary Mr. Sola Richards, ODEC said: “The so-called protesters were mere hirelings, paid agents, who came to dance to the tune of their paymaster.

“The rally was a comic relief in the regime of hardship and hopelessness to which Ondo State has been consigned in the last three years.

“Mimiko is less bothered about other aspirants, but Boroffice, who has not left the LP or declared a governorship ambition, is giving the governor and his men sleepless nights. Our conclusion is that Boroffice has the needed leadership qualities, which is why he is a threat to the governor.

“We urge Boroffice to leave the one-man party called LP and contest the Ondo governorship.”

PUBLIC NOTICE GOD’S BANQUET HOUSE CHRISTIAN CENTRE The General public is hereby notified that the above named centre is seeking registration under the Company and Allied Matter Act Pact C THE PROPOSED TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Oluwajumoke O. Alausa 2. Rev. Kayode Fashola 3. Rev. Dr. Kola Matthews AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: • To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ through various evangelical outreach.

• To train disciples and raise missionaries for the same cause.

• To do all such other things necessary for or expedient to the realization of the above objectives.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. Maitama, Abuja within Twenty-Eight days (28) of this publication.

Segun Obe & Associates 18, Isaac John Street, Igbobi Lagos.

10

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

NEWS Mark to ACF: restore peace From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday urged the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to work out a blue print that would end violence in the North.

He lamented that insecurity in northern Nigeria has become worrisome.

The Senate president advocated a collaboration between northern elders and the government to find solution to the problem.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Senate President, Paul Mumeh, said Mark spoke when he received a delegation of ACF Contact and Mobilisation Committee ahead of its forthcoming conference with the theme: Sustainable Peace in the North, to address rising violence in the region.

Mark noted that violence has put the government and the governed in a difficult situation, saying no government would allow violence to continue to claim life and property.

He admitted that though some people may be aggrieved, but “they must follow the proper channel of dialogue and resolution rather than resort to violence”.

Continued violence in the North, he said, has denied the region the needed development.

Mark said: “I am sure that the founding fathers of the North would weep in their graves if they see what today’s violence has done to the region. We, as the leaders of Northern region, must rise to stop this orgy of violence. You may not live in those areas, but the death of every Nigerian resident in those places is a loss to all Nigerians.”

The Senate President urged the organisers of the conference and other stakeholders to be frank and honest about issues and avoid politicising the parley.

He said: “If we politicise it, it would end up like another talk show and that is not what we need now. We are all from different political backgrounds. We should not play politics with ACF. We should be honest, patriotic and nationalistic so that we can truly achieve the aim of the conference.”

Leader of the delegation, Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, expressed concern over insecurity in the region, saying: “The North that used to be known for peace has now become a harbinger of violence.”

‘Wada should step down for me’ From Mohammed Bashir, lokoja

T

HE Kogi State governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr James Ocholi (SAN), has said the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Captain Idris Wada, ought to step down for him, and not the other way round.

There have been speculations that Ocholi has been under pressure to step down for Wada because they both hail from the Dekina Local Government Area.

Ocholi said he was in the race to contribute his quota to the development of Kogi State.

He said some other governorship candidates would step down for him, adding: “I am in the race to win and not to bargain with any political party or any individual, just because we are from the local government.”

T

Yobe federal lawmaker wins appeal in Jos HE Court of Appeal

in Jos, Plateau State, has upheld the election of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Alhaji Hassan ElBadawy, representing Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency in Yobe State.

The Independent National Commission (INEC) had declared him winner in the April National As-

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

sembly election and issued him the certificate of return.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Yawu Zekeri Galadima, challenged the results at the State/National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

CAVEAT EMPTOR It has come to the notice of the people of Enuagu, Akator, Ikem (be it Ikem Ivite or Ikem Nando) that some people are planning to sell Inyi Ubala/ Nwangba, Ikwuke land situate between Okwulukwu Stream and Ezu Ikem River.

Be it known to the public that the owners of the land, i.e. Enuagu, Akator, Ikem comprising Iruabunetiti, Umuagbana and Iruabulogene kindreds do not want to either sell or lease any portion of the said land.

Any person who tries to lease, sell or buy in the said area does so at his own risk.

Again, court transfers Suswam’s alleged certificate forgery case to Benue

T

HE case of alleged certificate forgery filed against Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the state, Terver Kaki, has again been transferred by the Federal High Court in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Kaki contested with Suswam at the PDP primary in Benue State but was defeated. He filed a petition challenging Suswam’s victory, the PDP and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), for alleged anomalies and irregularities during the primary.

He alleged that the governor did not obtain the requisite certificate to hold a public office and that he possesses a forged secondary school certificate.

The petitioner joined the PDP and the others as co-

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

defendants in the suit at a Federal High Court in Benue State. The matter dragged on for seven months before it was transferred to Abuja and later to the Federal High Court, Jos, on grounds of neutrality.

When the matter came up for hearing on October 27, WAEC said it was not ready, as its counsel, Odigwo Nwogwu, claimed his client was not properly served.

He prayed the court to adjourn the matter to allow WAEC enough time for proper service.

Nwogwu averred that the documents the plaintiff was relying on emanated from Lagos, wondering why his client was served through the Benue State office. He added that the procedure for

service was wrong.

But counsel to the plaintiff Mr. Femi Falana argued that the service was in line with the rule of tort.

He urged the court to proceed with the matter.

Justice Ambrose Alagoa said the case was a pre-election matter, which needed to be treated with urgency.

He adjourned the matter till yesterday to enable the parties file their preliminary objections as well as fulfil the processes.

He warned that he would not entertain any technical or academic intrigues that can delay the case.

But when the matter came up yesterday in Jos, a lawyer, J. S. Okutekpa, filed a memorandum of appearance to represent Suswam and the PDP. He had a petition addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) that

petition was a delay tactic and that it should not be honoured He said: “J. S. Okutekpa is a senior lawyer and he has my contact. I am surprised that he chose to treat me in this manner. He should have remembered that I am his senior. We were together at the Supreme Court in Abuja but he did not inform me that this is the step he wanted to take. I should not bother myself coming to Jos again.”

Falana argued that the petition was against the directive of the judge, who had asked the counsel to file their preliminary objections as well as other processes and refrain from any technical or academic matters that could delay the case.

He urged the judge to ignore the petition.

Justice Alagoa ruled that the case stood transferred.

‘ACPN is dead in Kwara’

S

ECOND Republic Senate Leader Dr Olusola Saraki has declared that the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) is dead in Kwara State.

He said the former members of ACPN were determined to join the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration to develop the state.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abdulwahab Oba, the former Senator spoke through the party’s ex-leader of the Elders’ Forum, Alhaji Amosa Jiddah.

Saraki said ACPN is history in Kwara State, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains an indissoluble family in the state.

The elder statesman, who led a delegation to the GovEXCLUDE YOURSELF! from all kinds of car frustrations etc. GET MORE, SAVE MORE! from your car vehicles.

Get details send ‘more’ to 08035798911 or e-mail: onyema034u@gmail.com

PUBLIC NOTICE SALAMI I,formerly known and addressed as Salami Aishat Olayemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olabamiji Aishat Olayemi. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

OKORIE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Okorie Ifeyinwa A., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ifeyinwa Uchechukwu John. All former documents remain valid. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NYSC and general public should take note.

GILBERT I formerly known and addressed as MISS AMA GILBERT now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMA GREEN.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

SIGNED: I. Chief Hon. Ozodigbo Aghaduno (Onowu Ikem) II. Ichie Aniegboke Ekweonu Rep. Iruabunetiti Clan III. Chief Uchechukwu Madukolu Rep. Umuagbana Clan IV. Chief Chiamogu Ameke Rep. Iruabulogene Clan

case be retransferred to •Falana: I won’t return to Jos the Benue State.

Falana averred that the

This is to notify the general public that the underlisted documents got missing in transit, all efforts made to trace it, proved abortive.

(Receipt, Allocation paper, Survey Plan, School Leaving Certificate, Weight-Lifting Diplomal Award Certificate in Buefainia, WAEC Certificate, Weight-Lifting Certificate.

Signed: Mr. Enefiok Bassey

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ernment House in Ilorin, rejoiced with the governor on his recent victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

He promised the support and loyalty of former ACPN members to the Ahmed administration.

Saraki said the visit was a reaffirmation of the merger of the ACPN with the ruling PDP in the state, assuring the governor of their readiness to work together to ensure the success of his administration.

The former Senator, who described the short sojourn

of the former members of the ACPN from the PDP as a period of great lesson and experience, prayed God to avert such occurrence in the future.

Ahmed promised to run an all-inclusive government without discriminating against any individual or group.

The governor, who promised that no section of the state would be marginalised in the execution of projects, sharing of positions and patronage, described the return of the former ACPN members into the PDP as a reflection of one house coming together for a common

•Saraki

purpose.

He said as one big family, they have a government that would carry them along in the administration of the state.

Woman, five others arraigned for alleged N3m fraud

A

30-YEAR-old woman, Faridat Ameen, and five others have been arraigned at an Ilorin Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding their employer of N3,025,900.

The other accused are: Babatunde Alake, 32; John Kolawole, 35; Ibitoye Adebayo, 35; John Kolade, 37; and Obisakin Adewole, 40. They reside in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

They were arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and forgery, contrary to Sections 97, 312 and 364 of the Penal Code.

The Managing Director of Deltrot Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olabode Afolayan, who is the employer of the accused, had, on November 2, petitioned the police command, accusing them of stealing the company’s money.

The complainant, an estate developer, alleged that the receipt of a pre-paid electricity meter; insurance and maintenance fees of Royal Valley and Harmony Estates, in Ilorin between

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

April and October, were not remitted to the company’s account.

Police Prosecutor Moshood Adebayo, an Inspector, told the court that preliminary investigation showed that the accused defrauded the company of the money and shared it.

He said the receipt was in Alake’s name, while he forged some others.

Adebayo objected to the bail for the accused on the grounds that their offences were not ordinarily bailable and that investigation was still ongoing.

He prayed the court to remand them in prison custody pending the completion of investigation.

Counsel to the accused, Mohammed Fatai, urged the court to discountenance the submissions of the prosecution, noting that denying them would amount to a pre-trial punishment.

Nyame to judges: be fair, courageous

F

ORMER Taraba State Governor and the state’s Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rev. Jolly Nyame, has urged judges to be fair and courageous in their verdicts on election petitions.

He said the court should be a place for the common man to seek redress.

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Nyame addressed reporters in Jalingo, the state capital, when he received the report on the restructuring of ACN in the state.

Chairman of the Restructuring Committee, Bishop Charles Yohanna, submitted the report to the former governor.

Nyame hoped that the new judges for the tribunals would be just and incorruptible so that they could give the fairest verdicts.

He urged judges to be “courageous and reject the money that flies at night”, adding: “If it is on merit, we (ACN) shall carry the day.

But if it is moneybag judgment, there would be no ruling in our favour.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Reps threaten Alison-Madueke From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

HE House of Repre sentatives has de clared a frontal war on the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The lawmakers, said the rumoured belief that the Minister is untouchable seems to be responsible for her disrespect for the National Assembly.

The problem started when the Minister failed to appear for an interactive session with the Muraina Ajibola-headed House committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream).

The lawmakers thereafter threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against her, if she fails to appear before the committee next week.

The Committee said it wrote her a letter dated 31st of October, stating that the letter was received by the Ministry on the 1st of November.

In the letter, the Committee requested for the budget performance for 2009, 2010 and 2011. It also asked for the staff nominal roll of the ministry indicating year of appointment, date of birth, date of possible exit, with state by state and local government by local government analysis.

The committee also requested for the list of bankers of the Ministry “with the summaries of the cost of charges deducted from the account by the banks in respect of each bank for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 supported with appropriate bank statements.”

The group life fund has been released and underwriters have been paid. The truth of the matter was that the group life of this year was not concluded on time.

-Fola Daniel, Commissioner for Insurance

Fed Govt bans ministries, others from registering contractors T N

Britain, Nigeria row over fare prices, landing slots

HE Federal Govern ment has banned Min istries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) from registering contractors and providers of services before securing contracts from them.

From now on, only the Bureau of Public Procurement (also known as the Due Process office) is mandated to register contractors and service providers.

Speaking at the opening of a workshop for building and civil engineering contractors on the classification and categorisation of contractors in Abuja, the Director-Gen-

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

eral of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh, disclosed yesterday that the Federal Government announced a unified registration of contractors and service providers, to put an end to the issue of multiple registration.

Henceforth, the BPP boss warned, any MDAs which insisted on registering contractors and service providers before giving them contracts should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Ezeh described, as illegal the practice by MDAs to individually register contractors

and service providers. He said the decision of the BPP to take over the registration of contractors and all service providers, was in keeping with part of its statutory responsibilities as enshrined in section 3(h) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which expects the bureau to maintain a national database of the particulars of federal contractors and service providers for ease of information sourcing and analysis, and in conformity with the needs of the new information age.

The BPP boss, said the centralised data base and categorisation of contractors

doing business with the federal government, is expected to enhance efficiency, save cost in public procurement, improve budget implementation and increase professionalism, as well as introduce transparency in the public procurement process.

Ezeh, said the advantages should not be lost on our system. “ It is our fervent hope that when the programme is completed, the cost of doing business in Nigeria would reduce through the elimination of multiple registration and pre-qualifications in the various MDAs,” he stated.

• From left: President, China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, Mr Zhao Guangfa (admiring a Nigerian art work); Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Lagos State, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, after a meeting in Beijing, China recently.

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

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

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

-

0.2958 206.9 242.1 151.8 1.9179 238 40.472

Tax evasion: FIRS clamps down on 31 firms, arrests CEOs

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HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday went after tax evaders, arresting chief executive officers of 31 firms.

The arrests followed the expiration of a notice given to the firms to pay their outstanding taxes or face the wrath of the law.

The FIRS Deputy Director, Special Tax Office, Federal Capital Territory, Peter Olayemi, led a special enforcement team to effect the arrests It was revealed that about N170 billion is said to be

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

outstanding tax liabilities currently being owed by tax defaulters.

These staggering tax liabilities forced President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the FIRS to ensure that all outstanding tax obligations were recovered within the shortest possible time.

Addressing journalists shortly before the clampdown, Olayemi, said

the arrests became imperative following the companies’ failure to register for tax remittance.

Most of the companies whose CEOs were arrested had not filed any tax returns since commencement of their businesses, despite series of reminders from the FIRS. Justifying the enforcement, Olayemi said section 33 of the FIRS Act, empowers it to enforce compliance with tax laws at

the expiration of notification without further recourse to such companies.

He said: “After about two months of service of the tax envelope, we discovered that some are yet to register.

This attitude is viewed as deliberate and an affront on the tax laws of Nigeria which should not be allowed to stand.

“These hotels have been in business for years without discharging their statutory responsibilities to register as a tax payer, a case of outright criminal evasion of tax,” he added.

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor with agency report

IGERIA said on Thursday it was fin ing airlines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic a total of $235 million, as an ongoing row between Britain and Africa’s most populous nation over landing slots and ticket prices escalates.

Flights between Britain and Nigeria almost came to a halt this week but a last minute deal on Tuesday ensured British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Nigeria’s flagship airline Arik Air continue to fly from London to Lagos and Abuja.

“We are charging British Airways $135 million and Virgin Atlantic $100 million for abuse of a dominant position, fixing prices, abusing fuel surcharges and taking advantage of passengers,” said Harold Demuren, Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“We have been investigating for the last six months.

Lagos to London has the highest route yield in the world.

Our market is open for exploration, not exploitation.”

British Airways said it rejected the Nigerian authorities allegations and it was “vigorously defending our position”.

“We pride ourselves on offering competitive fares, a choice of products and connections to our Nigerian customers,” a statement from the airline said. “We remain committed to Nigeria and have been flying there for more than 75 years.”

Nigeria threatened last month to reduce British Airways flights between London and the West African nation’s commercial-hub Lagos to three from seven weekly, after London Heathrow stopped Arik Air flights from the capital Abuja.

A deal this week means all flights will continue until the end of the year when the Nigerian government wants something done about the high ticket costs on British airlines.

Nigeria’s aviation ministry says British airlines charge far more to fly to Nigeria than to neighbouring Ghana, while it believes Arik Air should not have to pay high costs to land at Heathrow when Lagos airport doesn’t charge those fees.

‘Accounting officers liable for illegal jumbo pay’

H

ENCEFORTH, the ac counting officers of government agencies would be held responsible for the over payment of public or political office holders in the country.

This is the position of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday when it reacted to allegations that legislators receive

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

remunerations well above what the law stipulates.

Chairman of the RMAFC, Elias Mbam, while addressing journalists on the forth coming zonal advocacy workshop on economic diversification and enhanced revenue generation in Abuja, warned that “any agency that draws more than what is allowed,

will face the law and the accounting officers will be held responsible for any act that contravenes the laws.”

Mbam also clarified the ongoing salary review of public and political office holders, saying the Commission is only conducting a comprehensive analysis of what public and political office appointees earn to ensure that equity prevails in the system.

The salary review, he explained, is a continuous process to harmonize the remuneration of certain public and political appointees, and not a general review of salaries for all public and political office holders.

With regards to the expected new revenue formula, the RMAFC boss, said the Commission is consulting with stakeholders and visit-

ing countries with similar issues as well as carrying out a review to help the Commission come out with a fair, just and equitable formula, adding that the Commission would call for memoranda from the public in December this year and would submit the proposed new revenue formula to President Goodluck Jonathan in the first quarter of 2012.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS

Past management’s infraction delays UBN right issue

A

LLEGED infraction by the previous manage ment of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc in its fund raising has created a temporary hurdle for its new rights issue.

Sources said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) frowned at the inability of the past management to explain how the proceeds of the 2005 public offer and rights issue were utilised.

According to the sources, SEC had issued three queries to the previous management of Union Bank to explain the utilisation of the proceeds of the offer, especially how the portion of the offer that was earmarked for UK investment was utilised, but the management failed to respond to the queries.

The source said SEC has insisted that irrespective of the fact that the infraction did not happen under the purview of the new management, the bank as a going concern must still respond to the query before its planned rights issue would be approved.

Union Bank had under the previous executive management sought to raise N37.8 billion through a combined rights and public offer. The issue was oversubscribed to the tune of N55.1 billion.

According to the offer prospectus, the bank earmarked

Taofik Salako

N14.68 billion or 38.8 per cent of the offer proceeds for working capital, N11.11 billion or 29.36 per cent for information technology upgrade, N8 billion or 21.14 per cent for investment in Union Bank (UK) Plc- its off-shore subsidiary, and another N3.17 billion or 8.38 per cent in the then ongoing banking consolidation, wherein it acquired four small-sized competitors- Union Merchant Bank (its subsidiary), Broad Bank and Universal Trust Bank. The remaining N880 million was to be ploughed into opening 23 new branches across the country.

There were indications that SEC might however, approve the impending rights issue as the Commission was said to have been impressed by the response of the current management to the issues raised.

UBN plans to issue about 1.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N6.81 per share in the ratio of five new ordinary shares for every nine ordinary shares held as at the September 30, 2011.

As part of the recapitalisation plan, Union Bank’s shareholders would receive three new shares for every 16 shares

held and would subsequently be offered additional rights, which altogether would push their total shareholdings to 21.5 per cent in the fully recapitalised Union Bank.

Already, Union Bank has rounded off pre-offer processes at the completion board meeting for the rights issue, where all parties including the directors, issuing houses, legal advisers, representatives of the regulators and other professional parties signed off the issuing documents.

Pre-scheme shareholders of Union Bank gained more than any of the rescued banks, according to the exchange ratios and other details of the schemes of arrangement of the four quoted rescued banks.

With the approval of the scheme of arrangement, Union Bank would receive about $500 million equity capital and $250 million Tier 2 capital from new core investors to retain its nearly century-old brand and regain its competitive verve as one of the strongest and reliable banks in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has already raised UBN’s capital base from negative to zero through funds already deposited for shares.

NLC asks PHCN workers to resume work

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HE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yes terday directed protesting workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to resume work today.

This intervention is coming on the heels of a meeting, which the Congress held with the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and an undisclosed arm of government on Wednesday.

NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, who stated this, said the congress has an agreement with the Federal Government to withdraw the armed soldiers it drafted to PHCN offices.

But should government renege on the understand-

• Gives Fed Govt two weeks ultimatum From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

ing to recall the troops from the offices before two weeks from today, the congress will support the NUEE in an indefinite strike, he added.

He however, explained that the workers were not on strike but deserted their duty posts because of fear of being molested by the armed soldiers.

His words: “The NLC had a meeting with the workers of the PHCN and their union and the leaders. And we have appealed to them to let the prayers come to an end today, and that whatever protest is going on, would end to-

day. We made a promise to them that if they heed our advise and call off the action, we shall ensure that the Federal Government addresses their primary concern within two weeks.

“We have done this in the interest of the Nigerian people, and the union has agreed. So with effect from tomorrow (today), 18th November, 2011, all PHCN workers will return to their duty posts. And we hope that government will keep to its own side of the agreement by ensuring that soldiers do not occupy their offices. So tomorrow (today) the PHCN workers will go back to work”.

Ovia, Rabiu, Hakeem Belo-Osagie IGERIA’s renowned make Africa’s Rich List banker, Mr. Jim Ovia;

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Cement and sugar magnate, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hakeem Belo-Osagie among others have made Africa’s rich list according to Forbes magazine.

Business mogul Alhaji Aliko Dangote retains his position as Africa’s richest man. Dangote is credited with $10.1 billion fortune.

There are seven other Nigerian wealthy men on the list of 40.

Behind Dangote is South African diamond magnate, Nicky Oppenheimer, with a $6.5 billion fortune.

Dangote and Oppenheimer are two of 16 billionaires among Africa’s

top 40. Egypt has the largest number of billionaires on the continent, with 7 (primarily from two families—the Sawiris and Mansours).

South Africa, the African country with the biggest gross domestic product (an estimated $357 billion in 2010), is second with four ten-figure fortunes but it is home to is members on the richest list. Egypt is second with nine members while Nigeria has eight.

There is no woman on the list.

Nigeria’s Mike Adenuga, whose fortune comes from his telecom company, Globacom and his oil firm, Conoil is fifth on the list with a $4.3 billion fortune.

The founder of Zenith bank

International Plc, Jim Ovia is 17th on the list with a $775 million fortune. He is followed by former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma with $600 million fortune as number 21st.

Other Nigerians on the list are: Chairman of Honeywell Group, Mr. Oba Otudeko who is 24th with $550 million.

Otudeko is followed as number 28th by Hakeem BeloOsagie with $450million.

Chairman of BUA Group, Rabiu and Maiduguribased Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources, Mohammed Indimi are 29th and 30th with $400 million and $330 million fortunes.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011 AUCTION! AUCTION!! AUCTION!!!

GOING! GOING!! GOING!!!

AUCTION! AUCTION!! AUCTION!!!

GOING! GOING!! GOING!!!

With the Authority of Union Bank (Nig.) Plc, we hereby announce the auctioning of A Storey Building A. Garden Food Processing Nig. Ltd. (Mortgagor) 1.

Land & Building: Property covered by a Certificate of Occupancy No JGL 111166, Volume 101. This is to certify Containing Boys Quarters of that Garden Food Nigeria Limited of P.O. Box 417, Jos is entitled to a right of occupancy in and upon plot No R.P.8T. Fascol Chemical (Nig.) Ltd. (MortRayfield indu District in the area known as Jos Local govt. Area, Sabo Gari, Plateau State.

2.

Plant & Machinery: The list of plant and machinery is as contained in the investment and morgage agreement gagor) situated at No 24. Olikere Street, Ojomo Quarters Behind as No 23 page 23 in volume 10 Jos. Government Girls Grammar B. Joseph Olayemi Nig. Ltd. (Mortgagor) School, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

A Complete Soap Making Machine with: Special Gift to the Highest Bidder. With the authority and appointment letter of Bank of Industry, we hereby announce the following Factory, Equipment and buildings for auctioning.

1.

1 unit of German made complete Soap Making Machine.

2.

Soap Crusher.

3.

Cutting Machine.

4.

Water Softening Plant.

Location in Ila Orangun, Ogunlade Junction B/Stop New Garage, Oke Ogbun, Osun State.

SPECIAL PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Action Operation Organisation, a task force on C. Colossus Papers Ltd. Building on 4.5 Hectares of Land located at Yemule River Road, Ikangba. It is on the Western side of the Old Lagos- Debt and Loan Negotiator with Ijebu-Ode Road towards Ogun State Water Corporation. The Factory is directly facing both the Unique Turkey Nig. Ltd. Banks, Debt Recovery for Banks and Alpha Paints Nig. Ltd. It shares the boundary with Ogun State Water Corporation, Ikangba. The factory carries no and individuals under the Chairsign-board at the front. The Equipment in the factory includes: 1.

300KVA Transformer manship of Dr. Sheu Naheem 2.

250KVA Standby Generator Kukoyi (Pioneer).

3.

M300 Semi-Automatic Milling Machine If you are indebted to Bank or 4.

Shaw’s Double Sided Disk Ruler 5.

Giant Folding Machine individual in anywhere in the 6.

Schneider 115cm Grinding Machine country of vise visa we make ami7.

Jumbo Knife Grinding Machine 8.

Ford Stitching Machine cable settlement without hitches.

Contact us on these lines: 0816 D. Enyibros Food Processing Co. Ltd. (Mortgagor) 1.

Land & Building: Property covered by a Building lease Registered as No 88 at Page 88 in volume 1041 and 155 2426, 0818 973 5691, 0809 Power of Attorney Registered as No 57 at Page 57 in volume 1203, Land Registry Enugu State.

242 2265 or e-mail us at 2.

Plant & Machinery: The list of Plant and Machinery as is contained in the investment and mortgage agreement registered as No 29 at page 29 in volume 302, Enugu located at plot 1, N34/36 Harbout Ind. Layout off Atoni Rd, actionoperationcompany@gmail.com Onitsha, Enugu State. or actionoperation@yahoo.com Interested Buyers on any of the above listed properties/equipment should inspect the property before calling our Chairman, Dr. Sheu Kukoyi of Action Operation Organisation (Authorised Auctioneer) on any of these lines: 0816 155 2426, 0818 973 5691, 0809 242 2265, 0818 806 0738 or e-mail us at actionoperationcompany@gmail.com or actionoperation@yahoo.com or contact our Partner BOFEWA VENTURES NIG. LTD. Or email Mr. Olanrewaju Onifade on Rilwanonifade@yahoo.co.uk 0807 077 0417.

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Auction_Robinson Osirike.pmd

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11/17/2011, 8:30 PM

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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AGRO-BUSINESS

Nigeria, six others to get Gates Foundation funding N IGERIA and six countries have been listed as key target countries in Africa for grants of Bill&Melinda Gates Founation. The others are Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Deputy Director of the foundation’s Agriculture Development Division, Prabhu Pingali said: “These countries will benefit from significant investment to translate the movement [of Research and Development (R&D) from the lab to farmers’ fields.”

“This doesn’t mean that we don’t care about other countries, but it certainly means that these are the areas where we would see significant investments from our side and see spill-over benefits to other countries,” Pingali told a seminar on the foundation’s agri-

Stories by Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

cultural policies portfolio at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in the United States.”

Pingali said the country focus, was part of a two-pronged approach, with the second prong concentrating on international research, policy and advocacy, and stepping up global funding for improvements in collecting and analysing data on agricultural production and improvements.

Funding for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, the Food and Ag-

riculture Organisation and the World Food Programme and some other agencies will also be strengthened.

The Gates Foundation’s US$1.7 billion of agriculture research funding until 2010 had been geared towards smallholder agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. But Pingali said there was a need to be more targeted.

In particular, he said, the foundation wants to understand the entire value chain “from molecule to mouth” and work out what are the necessary investments.

Within the selected countries, work on R&D, agriculture policy, and access to markets will be more

closely interlinked on a crop by crop basis, he said. Grants made to these countries will be based not just on technological interventions to reduce productivity gaps in certain crops but also the infrastructures, institutional reforms and policy changes required to improve productivity.

“It’s a much more proactive, bottom-up approach to grant-making,” Pingali added.

Pingali further said the foundation would be putting more money into country policy work, particularly in the target countries to improve agricultural productivity; in capacity-building, such as analytical capacity and overall capacity to manage and run large scale agricultural transformation and in analysis and data, such as better metrics to analyse environmen-

•Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Akinwunmi Adesina

tal consequences and the connection between agriculture and nutrition in poor communities and better post-harvest data.

Cross River, Fidelity Bank grant farmers N1b loans

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From left:: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives Dr Olajide Basorun; Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Senior Manager, Sustainable Development Department Africa Region, World Bank Anna Bjerde, during a visit to the ministry at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

IITA to raise research, build partners

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NCREASING research quality, building partnerships, and enhancing capacities to generate impact at the farm level will form the major agenda of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in the years ahead, according to Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, IITA’s new Director-General.

The new focus is aimed at confronting the emerging challenges to food security and livelihoods in tropical countries including climate change and the degradation in soils and other natural resources.

“Equally important is IITA’s internal organisation,” says Sanginga during a welcome address to staff.

According to him, improving the quality of research on a continuous basis will enable the institute to retain and maintain its position as the top

agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organisation in Africa.

“This is imperative,” he says.

In its 44 years of existence, IITA led research on the control of cassava mealybug (a cassava pest) that generated benefits worth between $15.6 and $27.8 billion based on 2004 estimates.

The institute has, over the years, developed several improved varieties of cowpea, banana and plantain, cassava, yam, soybean, and maize.

These varieties are transforming the lives of farmers, enhancing wealth and guaranteeing food security especially in subSaharan Africa.

Currently about 60 per cent of the maize grown in West and Central Africa comes from IITA varieties.

Sanginga emphasized the importance of partnerships and the

need to help build the capacity of partners. He noted that the growing interdependence with partners was crucial in carrying out the institute’s mission and vision of eradicating hunger and poverty.

Prior to this appointment, Sanginga, who is the seventh IITA director general, was the director of the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (TSBFCIAT) based in Nairobi, Kenya.

He has more than 21 years of experience in agricultural research and development, particularly in applied microbial ecology, plant nutrition, and integrated natural resources management in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Sanginga had worked for IITA for 14 years from 1989 to 2002. He also did his postgraduate training at IITA.

Anambra seeks Fed Govt’s support in agric

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HE Anambra State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to come to its aid in transforming the agricultural sector of the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Godson Ezenagu, made the appeal in Awka, when a sevenman ministerial committee of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Cassava Transformation Agenda, visited him.

Ezenagu observed that lack of de-

veloped land, high cost of labour and inadequate tractors were militating against cassava production in the state.

He explained that the state would also require assistance in the supply of improved cassava stems to farmers.

The commissioner frowned at the the importation of food in the country, in spite of the clement weather and other potentials favourable to mass production of food.

Ezenagu called for concerted efforts

by Nigerians to reverse the current unimpressive trend in the agricultural sector in the country.

Earlier, the leader of the team, Dr Martin Fregene, emphasised the readiness of the Federal Government to develop agriculture through cassava transformation.

Fregene, however, pointed out that a lot of incentives would be created in the country to attract investors to the sector.

ROSS River State Government and Fidelity Bank Plc have flagged off N1 billion Agricultural Loan Scheme to enable farmers to create value chain, which is not just planting and harvesting but also engage in processing.

A breakdown of the beneficiary schedule shows those in Cassava production numbering 283 farmers receiving N171.776 million, Cocoa with 74 farmers receive N147.402 million, fisheries – 59 farmers N94.494 million, Oil Palm – 117 farmers – N225.175 million, and Piggery – 14 farmers N9.445 million.

Others are Pineapple – 8 farmers N5.908 million, Poultry 163 farmers – N162.212 million, Rice – 54 farmers N78.940 million, Agro Marketting – 16 farmers N74.646 million and Agro Processing – two farmers N30,000.

According to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State while distributing the cheques to the farmers at the Yakurr Local Government Council Headquarters, Ugep, it was time agriculture was moved from the subsistence level to commercial farming, and processing.

He said those involved in substance farming have not taken full advantage of what agriculture provides as farming is no longer farm-

ing as it is now a big business, adding that it is a fast growing business and if those involved are seen as subsistence farmers, they will never get value from it.

Governor Imoke said it is in realisation of the value that the government is encouraging them to be involved in the value chain of what they produce. He said the government wants them to produced to create value chain which could culminate into big time business in cassava, plantain, cocoa, oil palm and rice productions because the one who processes them gets the value for them.

He explained that the era when the government-owned agricultural plantation or estates is over because it provided opportunities for competition between farmers and the government and now the government wants to encourage them, adding that the government is prepared to work with them.

The governor observed that farmers have the lowest yield because no attention has been paid to improve agriculture, explaining that the distribution of cheques was not about party membership, but for those who are farmers and are contributing to the community while urging them to understand that it is a loan and if it works, it will add value to boost the sector.

‘Removal of fuel subsidy will affect farmers’

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HE Federal Government’s plan to remove fuel subsidy will have negative effects on small-scale farmers in the country, Mr Joshua Mabinuori, has said.

Mabinuori, National Vice-President of Association of SmallScale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), stated this in IjebuOde, Ogun State.

He said removing the subsidy would “be tantamount to putting holes in the pocket of small scale farmers”, and urged government to drop the idea for the sake of the poor small-scale farmers.

Mabinuori said: “We believe that the fuel subsidy removal would have very harsh effects on Nigerian farmers, particularly the small-scale farmers, even the bigscale farmers.

“Bringing farm produce from the farm into the open market has always been a problem to Nigerian farmers in the sense that most of the roads are bad so the

vehicle drivers are even reluctant to go there.

“Now, when the cost of fuel is increased, going to rural areas where roads are bad, to bring farm produce to market would be more expensive because that will simply mean additional cost of production“.

Mabinuori, who explained that with fuel subsidy, farmers still paid through their noses to transport farm produce to market, said small-scale farmers would find it difficult to break-even if the subsidy was eventually removed.

The ASSAPIN boss said farmers needed to be encouraged in terms of food production, adding that the proposed removal of oil subsidy would burden them with high cost of transporting farm produce.

Mabinuori said the government should rather work toward subsidising farm produce for farmers rather than planning to remove fuel subsidy.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Bayelsa politics •The PDP’s move against Governor Sylva reminds us of the worst of our politics

F

OR the past few weeks, the nation has been fed with a diet of politics from Bayelsa State, the home of President Goodluck Jonathan. The diet serves up the worst of Nigerian politics. It is a battle, but it is also about contempt for due process and the arrogance of power.

It involves the disqualification of the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, from running for re-election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on which ticket he is serving as the state’s chief executive.

There was some murkiness in the news reporting until last Sunday when the party finally came out of the shadows to declare its displeasure with the governor’s reelection bid. But prior to that day, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) would neither disqualify

‘Bayelsa State has been a fragile place because of the past of militancy. It is still fragile, and that is why the president, as the leader of the nation, his party and, consequently, his home state should have ensured that due process and peace are not sacrificed on the altar of parochial dreams of local power. What we have seen is ominous’

nor clear Sylva to run.

But observers say it was in the aftermath of his rally in Yenagoa the previous day in which the governor dared the party establishment that the party announced his disqualification. All accusations have pointed to the doorstep of President Jonathan, and that accounted for the droves of visitors, including the Governors Forum and the Niger Delta governors, to appeal to him to allow the party clear Governor Sylva.

Apparently, the attempts failed. So, Sylva who, until the time of writing, remained in the PDP, has been in the centre of defection rumours to other parties.

But the narrative began when the state security outfit was disbanded without reason by the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, and that was followed by declarations of interests by other party men, including broadcaster Ben Murray Bruce and representative Seriake Dickson. Chief Timi Alaibe, who had moved to the Labour Party, also declared interest.

The process seemed in good stride when the screening process took place in Port Harcourt, and the party issued the names of all those cleared. Suddenly, the matter went to the National Working Committee, and what followed was befuddlement. Some party members have insisted that the NWC has no right to screen and that it was a regional affair.

But the party at the centre insisted on its powers even if not backed by the party rule.

No clear reason was given for not clear-

ing Sylva, except the preponderance of rumours about threat on the president’s life, whose authenticity is yet to be unveiled. The president has still not spoken in public on this matter, while a sense of omen looms in a state once bedeviled by militancy.

Meanwhile, the state was supposed to have carried out ward congresses on Monday, November 14th, but it turned out to be a farce. The party headquarters deployed men and police from Abuja, gathered the delegates and other party faithful, and whisked the materials to Abuja after misinforming the party men and women that they wanted to pay a courtesy call on the governor who never saw them.

This has led other candidates to protest the so-called ward congresses that never happened. Consequently, it has been challenged in the court and an injunction secured to cancel the primary scheduled for today. Indications at press time pointed to a defiant PDP top brass intent on holding the primaries.

Bayelsa State has been a fragile place because of the past of militancy. It is still fragile, and that is why the president, as the leader of the nation, his party and, consequently, his home state should have ensured that due process and peace are not sacrificed on the altar of parochial dreams of local power.

What we have seen is ominous. The president has too many raging matters at hand. Adding his home state to his worries would be a mistake.

National dishonour • Nigeria disgracefully abandons its sporting heroes N the wake of the furore caused by the recent 2011 National Honours, it is ironic that there is a class of Nigerians whose sterling contributions to the progress and development of the country’s sporting prowess have never been considered for honours of any sort.

These citizens make up a shamefully long list, and their very presence is a testimony to the widespread amnesia that bedevils the Nigerian populace and those who purport to govern them. They include top performers from almost every major sport, but the majority are drawn from football.

There is the ace midfielder, Sam Ojebode, who lies critically ill in hospital in Oyo State; Dejo Fayemi, Olu Onagoruwa, Idowu Otubusen and Haruna Ilerika, all pioneers of Nigeria’s vibrant national and club football, whose tremendous skill and passion for the game took it to new heights.

In more contemporary times, the

I

‘A nation that forgets the past achievements of its own citizens will soon find that it has fewer and fewer achievements to celebrate.

It can already be seen in Nigeria’s declining fortunes in sports generally, especially in its football’

country has witnessed the virtually unnoticed decline and fall of sporting superstars like Best Ogedengbe and Emmanuel Okala, as well as the shameful refusal to commemorate individuals like Sam Okwaraji who virtually laid down their lives for their country on the field of play.

For a nation that takes its sports seriously and savours sporting success to the fullest, it is surprising that its citizens and leaders appear to forget their heroes the moment they leave the sporting arena for the last time. It is almost as if the public acclaim and adulation of their heydays stand in inverse proportion to their post-sports existence: the more famous they were, the more quickly they are forgotten.

In other countries, athletes who have brought honour to their countries are held in high esteem long after their playing careers are over, and the genuineness of such adulation is seen in their continuing relevance. Many move on to distinguished careers in sports administration, where their namerecognition is very often a useful tool in the murky world of sports politics.

Some of them go into politics, and are thus able to make even more significant contributions to the growth and development of their countries.

Most importantly, deliberate efforts are made to ensure that they are forever entrenched in the collective memory of their countries. Streets and sports facilities are named after them; their shirt numbers are retired, never to be used by successive players again; their

exploits are infused into national history and passed on to the younger generation who are thus made fully aware of the significance of their achievements.

A nation that forgets the past achievements of its own citizens will soon find that it has fewer and fewer achievements to celebrate. It can already be seen in Nigeria’s declining fortunes in sports generally, especially in its football.

This lamentable situation has been complemented by the selfishness and greed of many of the nation’s current sports stars, who seem to feel that they must maximise their advantages in preparation for the inevitable onset of retirement and obscurity.

Part of the problem lies in the arbitrary nature of the country’s support for ex-sporting heroes. When news emerges that a sporting icon is ill or in financial difficulties, responsive governments and individuals sometimes come to his aid. We threfore commend Governor Abiola Ajimobi for Oyo State’s decision to take care of Ojebode.

However, such situations should never be permitted to arise in the first place. It should not be too difficult to establish welfare associations for veteran sportsmen domiciled in state ministries of youth and sport.

Pensions, gratuities and similar payments could also be made to them on a regular basis.

Nigeria must begin to give honour to those who truly deserve it.

The Mayor Confronts the Protesters

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HE Occupy Wall Street protesters had achieved a great deal before they were rousted from Zuccotti Park by New York City police on Tuesday morning. This ragged group, living in tents and tarps for two months in the financial district in Lower Manhattan, helped focus everyone’s attention on the growing income inequality in this country. They made “99 percent” into popular language for the have-nots. They spawned protests against further enriching the already rich 1 percent, like those in Chicago, Boston, Oakland, Calif., New Haven, and even London.

For two months, a confrontation between the demonstrators and the City of New York has been steadily brewing. Mayor Michael Bloomberg restrained the police and resisted political pressure for weeks, but he had some legitimate worries about crowding, drug use, noise and unsanitary conditions. His decision to clear tents and sleeping bags out of Zuccotti Park, the focal point of the protests, and have the area cleaned, was justifiable legally.

The Supreme Court has made it clear that city governments may prohibit overnight camping in public spaces. A state judge followed that law in backing up Mr. Bloomberg on Tuesday.

But Mr. Bloomberg hasn’t done as good a job as he might have in managing the appearance of this last move, and we worry that his decision to clear the park of tents could end up quashing the entire protest.

We suspect there was a better, less-disruptive way to get demonstrators to deal with problems cited by the city and the park’s owner, Brookfield Office Properties. Howard Wolfson, a deputy mayor, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that he had tried to meet with protesters and found that they “did not want to negotiate with the city.” That should not have been the end of it.

Many of those protesters wanted to stay by obeying laws and respecting the community.

In that same interview, Mr. Bloomberg said that the park’s owner had asked the city to clear the area. He insisted that the surprise police action in the middle of the night was safer for everybody because fewer people were at the park. It is certainly true that the tumult showed much more restraint by both protesters and police than the rioting and use of tear gas in places like Oakland.

For the mayor, the test will now be how to make certain these important protests can go forward.

He has said that the park should be open to everybody, not just the occupiers. Well, yes, but we doubt that that was the real motivation for clearing the park of tents. It sounded like a justification spun up by political advisers. In any case, protecting everybody’s right to be there should not be a pretext to keep out the Occupy Wall Street protesters.

The mayor promised that the protesters would be allowed in the park 24 hours a day but not to sleep. They will almost certainly test those limits. Asked what happens when somebody lies down or goes to sleep on a bench in the park, the mayor said the protester would be asked to leave.

If that does not work, the demonstrator would be carried out. Sounds like a recipe for conflict.

Now that Mayor Bloomberg has dismantled the anti-Wall Street group, he must keep his promise to support the protesters’ right to speak up about income inequality, especially in the city’s financial district.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

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• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

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•Managing Editor Waheed Odusile •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: My attention has been drawn to the speech made by Hon. Funmi Afuye, Ekiti State Commissioner for Information.

The speech which was reported in some national newspapers asserted, among other that “Ekiti is not his (Abacha’s) creation. Ekiti has existed from time immemorial. That somebody carved it as a geographical unit is not enough for honour….”

My reaction and those of many who have called by phone across the land, can also be described as “Ekiti State: Facts and fiction”.

It is not my pleasure to join issues with Hon. Afuye. He is a young man for whom I have a deep respect. When things were hard, Afuye’s voice was the lone ranger on the opposition bench, and there is no record he sold out. Now in government he effectively sells government to the populace and vice versa. But he has allowed the aura (is it burden?) of office to weigh heavily on him to the extent that before our eyes, history is being wantonly distorted.

Abacha did not create Ekiti State, he only carved out a geographical area. Really?

Some issues are being confused here. The issue is not that Abacha should be honoured. Nor that Ekitiland did not exist as a geographical fact. What we are saying, and what did happen is that the Abacha administration created the political and administrative entity called ‘Ekiti State’. That Ekiti Obas and leaders for the period starting from May 191 to October 1996 met severally in Ewi’s Palace and more routinely in the premises of this writer. That we presented over 20 papers to the Federal Military Government canvassing our position.

That we as a group or as sub – committees made thirteen trips to Lagos and more importantly to the core-

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 1000 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.com

Ekiti state: the Abacha connection North. That we met Gen. Abacha five times. That all Ekiti Obas (except one) and more leaders believed that the solution to the underdevelopment or benign neglect of Ekitiland lay in carving out Ekiti from Ondo State. That many indigenes of Ekiti in Diaspora made contacts with friends in other places and these friends helped to facilitate our requests. That in this category we shall always remember the assistance offered by Dr

Olusola Saraki, and a Northern Chieftain based in Ibadan, facilitated by Afe Babalola and visited regularly by the Ewi. That there were requests for six new States in the West – Ekiti, Ijebu, Coastal, Ibadan, Oke – Ogun and Oduduwa States. That because we presented our case in the various convincing memoranda, the visits undertaken by groups, the integrity shown by our Obas and leaders who would not sell out, and the fact htat Sanni

Abacha promised and kept his word all made possible the declaration of Ekiti land as a separate State in October, 1996.

Those other places particularly Ijebu and Oke- Ogun which have strong personalities and great wealth and influence and are today doning Ankara (Aso Ebi) and dancing round the Chambers of the National Assembly in an attempt to convince Assembly men of their desire for State will not be amused

Ghana as Nigerian investors’ haven

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IR: There is, arguably, no gainsaying the fact that the principal investment objective of the average entrepreneur is, essentially, to package a marketable business idea, seek an enabling environment for the business to implement such a concept in order to make it thrive, and possibly maximise gains or returns on his or her investment at the need of the day.

That is why the leading stakeholders in the Nigerian enterprise, particularly the Government and its relevant agencies, directorates, commissions, departments and councils responsible for the provision and rehabilitation of requisite, supportive infrastructure that could create an investmentfriendly environment that will enable such serious-minded

entrepreneurs to actualise their business visions should rise to the occasion now.

It is disheartening to note that even long before the advent of the current economic and financial meltdown, a sizeable number of Nigerian businesses had found the country’s business climate tough and unfriendly. Many of them closed shop and headed for neighbouring countries in West African subregion, particularly Ghana.

Incidentally, three of the major areas –agriculture, manufacturing and tourism– where these Nigerian businesses are said to be making meaningful contributions in Ghana are some of the areas in which the Nigerian economy is gravely lacking at home. For instance, the country still imports foods of different kinds in several billions of naira every year, due to near neglect

of agriculture in the face of “cheap” oil money; dwindling fortune of the industrial sector as a result of principally epileptic power supply and capacity under-utilisation; and tourism, in which Nigeria, is yet to have a definite framework to tap into the huge investment opportunities endlessly lying fallow.

Today, the greatest threat to any potentially viable investment in Nigeria today is the issue of insecurity of lives and property.

That is why one readily shares the sentiments of the foreign investors at the just concluded 17th session of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group in Abuja, who expressed doubts about further investments in Nigeria as a result of perceived insecurity.

Contrary to President Goodluck Jonathan’s pronouncement at the

Bad leadership is Nigeria’s bane IR: There is no gainsaying that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is in difficult times; ditto the states governors.

Nigerians are expecting purposeful, resourceful, godly leadership.

One is surprised that since May 29, when we began another democratic dispensation, Nigeria’s development continues to be hampered by bad leadership, moral decadence, hunger, poverty, insecurity and deep-rooted corruption.

Our leaders tell lies under oath, and utter deceitful words. They make promises and break them.

What Nigerians need now is a good and God-fearing leader who will work hard in raising the standard of living of the people, transform the society, enact policies that

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by Commissioner Afuye’s dismissal of the influence of Sani Abacha on the creation of new states in Nigeria.

As a sub-ethnic group in the Yoruba nation, we are noted for fairness and honesty. We do not claim what is not ours, but we also give to others what belongs to them.

That is why we must remain grateful to Sani Abacha for presiding over a meeting where Ekiti State, and not any of the other five contestants in the Western block, was approved. No doubt Abacha had his problems in many parts of Nigeria, offended many segments of the Nigerian society and many did not wish him well. But here in Ekiti, we affirm ‘history is the authentic records of past events’.

• Deji Fasuan (JP) Chairman Committee for the creation of Ekiti State.

would give all Nigerians a sense of oneness. Some of the challenges of national integration and development in Nigeria include the challenges of economic crisis and poverty, unequal development, crisis of governance and poor political leadership.

Nigeria has big potentials to become one of the most powerful countries of the world. For it to occupy the position, it must transform its system, integrate the people, grow the economy, and fight poverty and hunger. Nigerians and the leaders should also allow God to direct the affairs of their governance towards a successful tenure.

Nigerians and the rulers should be full of prayers, so as to

empower President Jonathan-led government to access divine assistance and grace to tackle the raging socio-economic and political problems facing the nation such as suicide bombing, kidnapping, political killing, the Boko Haram, smuggling, removal of fuel subsidy, international terrorism, religious and ethnic crises, among others.

The President’s team need to urgently tackle energy problem, revive industries, encourage entrepreneurs, create mass emoployment for the youth, look into the security situation in its entirety, tackle corruption seriously, adhere to the tenents of the rule of law, improve infrastructural facilities, convocation of prayer summit at all levels of our government

among others.

Nigerians must create the atmosphere of trust, transparency, honesty and accountability in the spirit of the fear of God, otherwise it will remain where it is. We have to harness the God’s given abundant gifts of nature around us to make the country great. Our leaders have to learn and start taking decisions on what is best for the country rather than their self-serving interests.

Unless and until we address the challenge of leadership, the country can never move forward.

Religious leaders in the country should not feel shy to address issue of bad leadership and also make their views read and heard.

•Prophet Oladipupo FunmiladeJoel (Sekunderin), Lagos

summit, that “anybody who fails to invest in Nigeria now because of these incidences of Boko Haram will regret it” and that “those who think that Nigeria is a place where they can always come and dump their products will eventually be disappointed because this will not continue for long,” his subtle threat to potential investors in Nigeria may not sound convincing unless the country acts to improve on the disheartening security situation and revive its comatose and struggling industrial sector to prevent further dumping of all manner of goods and products on the supposed “Giant of Africa”.

Instead of sounding utopian as if nothing serious is bugging down the country’s socio-economic development security-wise, or that Nigeria does not need the support of these identified foreign investors, aside from giving them incentives such as custom duties exemption for plants, machinery, equipment, reasonable corporate taxes and tax holidays, and relief from alleged double taxation, the government needs to appeal to and reassure them by creating the needed conducive environment to guarantee the safety of their investments.

If these measures are put in place and faithfully implemented, then, they also will be consistent with the aspirations of the administration’s stated transformation agenda. It is high time we walked the talk.

Charity however must begin at home: Nigerian investors and businesses should also be encouraged to have confidence in the system, and create wealth and extend opportunities for empowerment to others in their fatherland as well.

• Gbenga Kayode, Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011 16

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

The end (1)

Reality Bites T

Olatunji Ololade

HIS is no country for upright men. An honest man is a hideous thing; a tattered crow upon a tree – in our fatherland. We are truth-alienated; that is why we smother the true among our men.

Sometimes, we buy their conscience. These days we simply murder them.

Today, we relinquish our freedom; independent captives that we are. We do not have men anymore. We do not have women too. If by both terms depicting both sexes, you think I speak of gangs of fops parading our state houses and unreasonably “high-society,” you are wrong. I would never refer to such characters by such mature terms as ‘men’ and ‘women.’ To do so will be tantamount to dressing a bunch of juveniles in the robes of adults.

The Nigeria of our dream is not the Nigeria of our will. That is why we allow mainly hooligans and swine unrestricted access to our corridors of power. Every minute, a different plot; every day, a bizarre tragedy; and thus we suffer through

spells of tumultuous seasons and bloody years.

Nothing seems to faze us –think ethnic militia; think terrorism; think greedy politicians; think dishonest bank chiefs; think duplicitous journalists; think satanic clerics; think every evil and every depravity you and I and everyone are innately capable of.

Every Nigerian, an extraordinary demon; every Nigerian, a terrorist – makes it quite easy to deal with our grief. The world can see the colourful canvas of our grief. That a nation so gifted by nature, the heavens and even unforgiving time, could choose to survive by meanness and plunder beats our neighbours’ imagination.

Today, they are vested in the wondrous impact of our absurdities. Today, they prey on us.

That is why they project endless tragedies from our whims. Every tragedy and every distress “foreseen” may eventually come true. But not because the predictors are imbued with some extraordinary gift of clairvoyance

‘We shall not be the ones to receive political asylum from our neighbours in the “First world.”

We shall remain the negligible indices in a state of war. We shall remain what is to be concealed until our sores erupt into lesions and blood bursting blisters. Reason and morality shall elude us and we shall actualise the worst versions of every tragedy the world should be done with – in the name of God, patriotism, mammon and tribe’ “No person was ever honoured for What he received. Honour has been The reward for what he gave” – Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th President of the United States of America

A

ALL over the world, the use of reward system and recognition as a way of motivation, appreciation of excellence and

hard work, innovation and dedication to service have been generally acceptable as veritable means of celebrating worthy sons and daughters of a nation.

I am sure that would have been the thoughts of our Founding Fathers, who in 1964 established the National Honours Award. The novel idea has no doubt afforded outstanding and deserving Nigerians and friends of the nation to be duly appreciated.

Lately, going by the controversies that have trailed the awards, critics have called for outright cancellation, reform or overhaul of the concept. The argument has been that people of questionable characters have now dominated the list of awardees, making prominent Nigerians to turn down the offers, simply because they have disagreed with the parameter used in the selection as well as the pedigree of some beneficiaries.

The late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, turned down the offer of the award of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).

The renowned virologist, Professor Tam DavidWest declined the award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Minority Leader, House of Representatives also rejected the OFR award while the literary guru, Professor Chinua Achebe turned down the OFR and CON awards in 2004 and 2011, respectively.

Rejection of national awards is not new or peculiar to Nigeria alone. For instance, in 1960, a Tamil national, Padma Shri declined the Indian honour because the invitation sent to him by the government was allegedly written in the Devanagri script, which he refused to accept, being Malayali-born.

There is really nothing absurd about the awards but as we all know, nothing works normally in Nigeria. If care is not taken, the essence of instituting this historic event may have been lost and turned into mere jamboree, serving as an opportunity to reward political and

that we lack – think “Psychological operations (Psyops)”; “Psychological conquest” or whatever tactical dictum suits every predator hovering about our dying state, like a vulture.

But President Goodluck Jonathan could not know that even if he tried.

And his cabinet cum tactical team of political, economic and media advisers are basically incapacitated – by dishonesty and greed – to know that. They would rather draw out swords and haul verbal bricks bats at perceived critics and detractors of “His Excellency.”

The time for pleasuring their greed will soon be over. I moot no violent insurgency or uprising; neither do I believe that our stars would change if we could incite Nigeria’s home version of the Arab Spring.

Every nation begets the leadership it deserves; the quality of a nation’s citizenry is reflected in its leadership. Neither violence nor spite could rid us of our treacherous leadership. I could recommend a more drastic measure – especially that radical action we wish we could take if we had spine, but that would be “treason.”

It is a good thing; this democracy that we have. Makes it easier for me to label our incumbent leadership a murder of crows and at once, a savage kind. But I could call them as much names as I like, it wouldn’t deter them from looting us blind and staying rich. It wouldn’t deter us from playing wimp.

We could not stop President Jonathan and company from removing fuel subsidy even if we tried. We will not stop them by mass protest and elongated strike actions when they remove it. We will not stop them from imposing “Plea Bargaining” as a rule of law, despite our rant. We will not stop them from depleting our coffers by “jumbo” salaries, elephant projects

and expenses.

We cannot force them to be the leaders of our dreams nor could we stir the cockles of their savage hearts to swarm with warmth. No matter what we do, the incumbent leadership shan’t assuage our pains, it will only compound it. And when we get to the breaking point, we shall not stop them from fleeing to safe houses abroad with their families.

We shall not be the ones to receive political asylum from our neighbours in the “First world.” We shall remain the negligible indices in a state of war. We shall remain what is to be concealed until our sores erupt into lesions and blood bursting blisters. Reason and morality shall elude us and we shall actualise the worst versions of every tragedy the world should be done with – in the name of God, patriotism, mammon and tribe.

We shall watch the deployment of arms to our lost and brainless youth. Having seen too much bloodshed and suffered it; we shall learn to think with the machete and speak with bullets. We shall hound and hack to death, people with whom we used to be next door neighbours, our in-laws and “best friends forever (BFF)”; simply because they are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Itsekiri, Ibibio etc.

We shall watch our mothers and wives get raped to the death. Our daughters and sisters shall become “comfort women” and hyper-active courtesans to at least, four or five soldiers and revolutionaries at a go.

And when they are delivered of such pregnancies that no honourable man will take charge of, we shall name the poor, regrettable products of our shame: Okwuoeimose (War is ugly), Okwoeinata (Not to be told), Okwoba (Red is the colour of war), Enitaiyeko (The one whom the world rejects), Enitan (Child of intrigue); Aiyeteminimowa (I have

On national honours award

By Adewale Kupoluyi business loyalists. In this sense, it becomes a waste of resources and unproductive venture.

As observed by Richard Pascal and Anthony Athos, in “The Art of Japanese Management”, three forms of reward exist in most companies – remuneration, promotion and recognition.

Of the three, the first two are less flexible than the third in the everyday scheme of things.

Therefore, the rationale behind the awards is noble. The problem is the process and the quality of recipient.

To regain the lost glory of the award, a number of things should be ironed-out. First, selection of qualified prospective should not be the sole responsibility of government. As practiced in other climes, respectable personalities from the government, media, civil rights group, religious organizations, academia and industry should carefully be appointed to handle the nomination.

It is instructive to note that the United Kingdom Nomination Committees are now chaired by independent and eminent people from outside of government, who have experience in various fields. Majority of members are not civil servants but professionals in relevant fields, appropriate to the honours involved.

Transparency in the selection process should be entrenched. As is presently obtainable, the various stages of nomination to screening (if any) and finally, to pronouncement are shrouded in secrecy. This makes it easy for manipulation. It is a known fact that whenever a selection process is made transparent, the citizens are given ample opportunities to make inputs and ensure that outputs from such sensitive national exercise are thorough.

The cost of hosting the award could be trimmed to correct the impression that conferment of the award is wasteful and a drain pipe to the nation’s economy. Professor David-West had once decried that the huge allocation to the awards amounted to “a waste of resources”.

What has now turned into an annual ritual may be a national burden, which is avoidable.

If necessary, the awards may not be held on an

annual basis, as presently obtainable as this will help to save cost and guarantee that only the best and eligible candidates are selected and picked. After all, one award was conferred in 1970. So, it is not a matter of quantity but of quality!

To buttress this, the last award was marred by a shortage of medals and certificates. A total of 335 Nigerians received the awards this year alone, bringing the number of awardees to 3,924, from its inception, to date.

Perhaps, the easiest way to do this is to reduce the bureaucracies involved and trim down bloated expenses. The government should realize that what makes the award unique and worthy is not the social glamour of the investiture itself, but the prestige to the awardees that a nation, symbolized by its President is bestowing an award on its deserving hero or heroine.

The Federal Government should also review the award ratio. Presently, public officers and politicians constitute over 85 per cent of the awardees at the expense of other sectors of the national life, translating to less than 15 per cent of the recipients, from the private sectors, including traditional rulers, religious leaders and artisans.

This trend makes the people to ask the question: are government officials the critical mass that contribute more to nation building? The President should remember that the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964 empowers him to honour deserving citizens “who have contributed to the development and progress of the country in any field of human endeavour”. Nigerians will be excited to see more of eligible poor and the not-too-important people being recognized by their nation.

Another area the Federal Government should seriously look into is the institution of punitive mechanism. That is, anyone found to have been given the award either erroneously, or have been found to have been involved in acts that are detrimental to good morality, after bagging the award should be stripped of the title.

come to live my own life); Ogunbayoje (War has destroyed our joy) and so forth.

Our boy-child shall shudder to hold position in the blazing wind, relishing the cold muzzle of an assault rifle over the dullness of a freshly sharpened pencil. Along our deserted sidewalks, within our bombed and cratered streets, we shall avoid and trip over clutters of human bodies and bones decomposing like orange rinds in the dust.

We shall hunt our journalists, poets and writers to the death; we shall crucify them for luring the world to see the septic belly of our pride even as we export our grief to arouse the sympathy and “support” of our “First world” neighbours.

We shall turn our plantations into mass graves while we jostle for aid and confer with dying hope in a dark place. Through the sadism of it all, we shall accomplish the separation we love to talk about.

The Igbo may have Biafra; the Hausa may have their Emirate; the Yoruba, Oodua Republic; and the South-south, Niger-Delta Republic.

Every tribe shall have its nirvana; in those lands of our dreams, the earth shall be fertile but the heat of our greed shall burn all of our heaps with the seeds. Our fates will be worse in the dreamlands that we seek – whether we like it or not, we shall be led by the same old brutes that made Nigeria a living hell.

Neither terrorism nor violent secession will put paid to our grief.

The monstrosity we swore to survive subsists in our current leadership. Now that we know that we frittered our chances last April, let us not like lower brutes, seek recourse in violence and everlasting bloodbath. Come 2015, we just might change our stars.

To be continued…

For SMS only 08038551123

Let’s quickly consider the British and Jamaica models for possible adoption. The UK Honours Forfeiture Committee exists to consider cases where an individual’s actions merit continued privileges. A recipient could lose a title if he/ she has been found guilty by courts of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than three months. Also, any recipient could be culpable if he/she has been censured/struckoff by relevant regulatory authority and professional body for actions or failures to act, which are directly or indirectly relevant to the granting of the honour.

In Jamaica, nominees undergo stringent process as they are first cleared by the legislature as stipulated by the country’s National Honours and Award Act of July 18, 1969. The Act reads in part, “no regulations shall be made under this section unless the draft thereof has been laid before the Senate and the House of Representatives and approved by a resolution of each house”.

Here the reverse is the case. While a reasonable number of past recipients could be said to have merited the honour, not a few have been widely known to have contributed to the woes of the nation. Are we now celebrating mediocrity? I have never heard of anyone being stripped of his or her award after being indicted for corruption or criminal acts. While declining the OFR award, Hon. Gbajabiamila had admitted that “year in year out, we have had many rotten eggs on our honours list. This has reduced what otherwise was a well-intended and noble idea to a national joke”.

Beneficiaries of the largesse, under the aegis of the Association of National Honours Awardees (ANHA) feel otherwise. On its website, ANHA insists that recipients are “made up of citizens of Nigeria who have, through dint of hard work, contributed to the development and progress of the nation”. Really?

But thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that the selection process is flawed.

That may be the beginning of the change we are talking about. Until the appropriate measures are put in place, wrong persons will continue to be at vantage positions to receive what is meant to be a national pride.

• Kupoluyi writes from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State,

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION ‘He that lives upon hope will die fasting.’

———Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) U.S. statesman

H

OPE is an English word that connotes expectation or optimism.

It enters the political lexicon of this country when in the year 1993, the late MKO Abiola adopted it as the catch phrase of his successful nationwide presidential campaign train. On the lips of every Nigerian then was Hope ’93. Unfortunately, that hope never materialised because the election won by Abiola was annulled by the Babangida led military administration while the AbdulSalami junta finished the dirty job when Abiola died after taking state prepared tea in the presence of the UN and US alleged mediators.

Ever since then, Nigeria has been living on hope that remains forlorn.

The Nigerian situation upon reflection is causing serious worries. Are Nigerians going to continue to live on hope considering the fact that nothing works in this nation. The Nigerian problems have been causing me insomnia since last week when the national honours list was made public. Ordinarily, one should not have been bothered in view of the fact that over time, the list has been replete with names of mostly people that should have been vilified for their disservice to mother land.

Moreover, the greatest shock was realising that the greatest problem facing the country today is insecurity emanating from the evil activities of Boko Haram Islamic sect. Added to this fact is the reality that no meaningful economic activity can take place where insecurity is rife. However, there are people that are saddled with managing the security of the country. From empirical examples, no one can controvert the fact that there is failure of intelligence in the country today.

Even some few weeks ago, specifically during the sallah period, the US Embassy in the country warned its citizens not to move near three leading hotels in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The admonition came on the heels of Boko Haram attacks in Yobe State that led to the death of over one hundred people.

Shamefully, those leading the State Security Service (SSS), the Police and the Army that could not save the nation from

C

HINUA Achebe needs no disambiguation. As a universally acclaimed man of letters, his forte is lucidity of language. His prose is unencumbered and plain. Perhaps more than any other author of his time, his strength lies in making simple words strong and beautiful. This may explain why the world loves his books particularly his epic, Things Fall Apart (TFA) which he wrote in 1958 at only 28. TFA has been translated into no fewer than 50 languages and has been rated among the 100 best books in the history of man.

Again Achebe has probably spared a thought for the Nigerian condition more than most of his compatriots. His book, The Trouble with Nigeria is among the most quoted in discussing the conundrum called Nigeria. Two other books, A Man of the People and Anthills of the Savannah give lucid insights into pre and post independent states of Nigeria as never have been framed by any other author.

In the last two decades the Achebe name, symbol and works have become elements of national pride and icons for projecting of flag and country. He has become the exemplar of the best of Nigeria. This master storyteller of our time has himself, become our best story.

Achebe who earned the more prestigious (though less celebrated) Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) about 25 years ago, has twice turned down the much ballyhooed National Honors award. Achebe has turned down this Presidential award twice in 7 years.

First in 2004 under President Olusegun Obasanjo and now as offered by President Goodluck Jonathan. Surely, his rejection each time threw a dampener on the national event but on each occasion, the reaction of the government has shown our people in power as incurably obdurate and people living in perpetual denial of reality. Let’s look at five quick reasons why the Presidency must listen

‘Surely Achebe would be happier if our National award was something akin to the United State’s Presidential Medal of Freedom (PMOF) which was instituted by President J.F. Kennedy in 1963’

Wandering in wilderness of hope

•Jonathan

the siege of Boko Haram were in astonishment given national honours by President Goodluck Jonathan. This act of national irresponsibility in the doling out of national honours raises the poser regarding the criteria for giving out the annual honours. Were these security chiefs being rewarded by this administration for their epileptic and ineffective management of security affairs of the country?

If those that failed the nation’s intelligence and are still serving deserve national honours, then the nation is on the verge of losing complete focus. This also shows the

trivial handling of the annual event that usually deserves better handling if the nation were to be serious. No doubt, if every necessary precaution is not taken, the honours would soon lose relevance since it would have become something that any idiot can procure at a whiff of hand.

Nigeria must get its act together so that things will not further degenerate to a level where Nigerians would continue to wander in the wilderness of hope. Things must come up politically and economically for the nation and the only way to guarantee this is to get a leadership that is ready to be sincere in its approach to national issues affecting the country.

President Jonathan is not showing good signs in this regard. Although he looks gentle but so far his recalcitrant acts have re-enacted the past that Nigerians are so eager to forget and do away with. Beneath his meekness is a ruthless disposition that reminds of the vindictive leadership that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) foisted on the nation in over twelve years of its lack lustre reign.

How can the people of this country stop wandering in the wilderness of hope when this administration has discarded vision 202020 saying that it is not attainable when civilised countries of the world are working towards realising this global target. The president has gone ahead to implement the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) initiative

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS O8055001684 email:steve_osuji@yahoo.com

Achebe and the Jankara National awards to Achebe: The prerogative of an awardee: it is the duty of the award committee to nominate and the prerogative of the recipient to accept or reject it. People turn down awards all over the world and for a myriad of reasons. From the Nobel to the Grammy and even Membership of the British Empire are all known to have been thrown back at their givers at one point or the other.

Achebe had rejected the ‘honor’ so very gracefully, stating that the reasons he decline the offer seven years ago were never addressed let alone solve, therefore, he would decline the offer again. His rejection, he said, was meant to be a wake-up call to government to pay attention to simple but critical matters of state. Government’s response on each occasion has been inelegant if not disrespectful.

Jankara National Award: Jankara, a popular market in Lagos is used here to connote that our ostensibly National Honors award has been so bastardised, it has become an all-comers affair. Most of the people decorated these days have not earned it. Not by work or any distinction in any field of endeavor. In fact, the award seems to be symbolic of the Nigerian state which has been overwhelmed by the crooked and dishonorable. There are only a few honorable men left among us.

It is my opinion that Achebe may not want to be yoked with pillagers of the state, party pimps, mistresses and small men hankering after medals and epaulettes to pump

themselves up. Surely Achebe would be happier if our National award was something akin to the United State’s Presidential Medal of Freedom (PMOF) which was instituted by President J.F. Kennedy in 1963. It is awarded for meritorious contributions and not as a handout. In 48 years, only six U.S. presidents have received it; 27 cabinet members, and 32 members of congress. Only an average of 11 recipients gets it annually. In the eight years of President Bill Clinton he honored less than 100 people. President Jonathan in just one outing has surpassed Clinton four times over.

The U.S’ list of recipients is a roll call of the brightest and best of humanity, people of impact in all fields of endeavor: the William Safires, the Sam Waltons, the Galbraiths, the BB Kings, the T.S. Eliots, the Walt Disneys, the Jesse Jacksons, the Jonas Salks, the Collin Powells…Phew! Why do we muck up every good thing?

What has changed? The first thing that has not changed is that this has remained the gbogbo ero (all-comers’) award that it was in 2004. What would it take President Jonathan to say: please give me just 12 names of Nigeria’s best? Achebe had said in 2004 that he as sad that Nigeria was not working.

Between 2004 and 2011, if we have recorded any changes in our affairs, they are in the negative. All the human development indices released by the UN show it. All our institutions are in regression. Government discarded the report of its own electoral reform panel (Uwais Panel), Corruption in is now enacted in billions of naira; we still have

despite aversion to the idea by governors of states across the federation. The president has been vehement on his resolve to hatch his six-year single tenure agenda despite the abhorrence of the people for the agenda. It is bad that the president that we have is out to remove non-existent subsidy on fuel. People are saying that subsidy removal will inflict hardship on Nigerians but the president will hear nothing of that. He believes that he knows more than all reasonable Nigerians.

Yet, this president has not shown any sign that power outage will be a thing of the past in the land if only to justify his ill-thought out move on fuel subsidy removal.

The future under this leadership where nothing is moving looks bleak. But Nigerians must be made to realise that hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances which we know to be desperate. Though the suffering created by inept leadership might look insurmountable as we all wander in the wilderness of hope. However, fellow Nigerians should take solace in the words of that British lexicographer and writer, Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) when he said: ‘Hope is necessary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness, of captivity, would, without this comfort, be insupportable.’ This wilderness of want that Nigerians have been sentenced to by the reigning clueless administration will be a pass over- The time is when no one can predict.

‘President Jonathan is not showing good signs in this regard. Although he looks gentle but so far his recalcitrant acts have re-enacted the past that Nigerians are so eager to forget and do away with.

Beneath his meekness is a ruthless disposition that reminds of the vindictive leadership that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) foisted on the nation in over twelve years of its lack lustre reign’ daily power outages, we still have retirees dying on pension queues, we still import fuels, we still have no petrochemical complexes. And now we added Boko Haram to our woes. And here is the mother of all ironies: all the security chiefs who have been beaten silly by a band of half-educated boys are all rewarded with this national ‘honour’.

One gruesome example of inertia: Reverend Father Bonachristus Umeogo (God bless him) of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Umunya, Anambra State gathered a few of thebereaved people last week and a made gentle prayers with them; a solemn moment by the highway. Two years ago at Odumodu junction, Umunya along Enugu-Onitsha expressway, a laden petrol tanker navigating that failed portion of this Federal road lost control and caught fire, pulverizing a long queue of vehicles about one kilometer long.

When the inferno died down, about 92 people trapped in their vehicles were charred.

According to report, this included a busload of school children. As Father umeogo prayed for the souls of the forgotten 92 last week at Umunya, the spot remained a death trap till today.

Listen to Achebe: it will profit the Presidency to listen closely to Achebe instead of trying to disparage him. He is not looking for fame or fortune, he is not a politician. He is a writer, a thinker, a humanist, and a man who has seen the world and who has seen systems and institutions work elsewhere.

Most important, Achebe is a super patriot, if there was any such thing. Were he like most other Nigerians, he would have used his stature to collect as many Jankara awards as there are from Jankara governments; he would have used his name to drain the country of millions of dollars in patronage. But no such thing for Achebe; all he asks is for successive governments to do the right things.

LAST MUG: Between Roche and Rochas: the piece on Expresso last week about Adapalm and its new Irish owners has thrown up a fresh twist in the tale that yours truly could never have conjecture all by himself.

Not a few readers sent in texts saying: can’t you see a connection between Roche and Rochas? (And I should add – you fool!) Oh mi gawd, have I swallowed it? The text messages are so many that the government of Imo state would do well to respond to the questions raised in last week’s write up. This space is available to carry the response.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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NATION SPORT

WMRA hails Imoke I've no say in Yakubu's future—Yobo on CON award, assures on Obudu C APTAIN of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, has stated that he has no powers in determining the future of Yakubu Aiyegbeni with the Nigerian men's national team.

The 31-year-old explained that only the national team coaches can take a decision on calling back Aiyegbeni, who is fondly referred to as 'The Yak,' into the Super Eagles' setup.

"It is left for the coaches to determine whether they want him (Aiyegbeni) to be part of the team or not. I can't determine anything," the Fenerbahce centre-back said in a radio programme monitored by SuperSport.com.

But the Nigerian captain, who hit 86 caps after the 2-0 win over Zambia on Tuesday, believes Aiyegbeni is a "special" footballer.

Yobo apparently pointed out that

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RESIDENT of the world mountain running association (WMRA), Bruno Gozzelino says the governor of Cross River state, Liyel Imoke deserved the Commander of the Niger (CON) award conferred on him

by President Goodluck Jonathan early this week in Abuja.

Gozzelino who took over as WMRA president over three years ago following the sudden death of ersthwile president, Danny Hughes, is convinced senator Imoke has done more than enough to merit the award.

'I am not surprised that governor Imoke was given a national honour by the president of Nigeria.I have worked with him for over three years now and I know that he is a great man, a man of vision who thinks beyond the present', says Gozzelino from his base in Italy. ''The Governor has demonstrated that he is not only a sports lover but also one who believes in the development of the youth of his state.The race has been a good advertisement for the tourism potentials of the state',he further added.It was his idea that a mountain running championships should be developed for African nations and this project has been on now for three years.

He is a man who also thinks about what is best for his state, Cross River and for his country, Nigeria," he said and wanted the head of the Local Organising Committee for the Obudu international mountain race to set up a meeting for him with the governor so that he can poersonally thank him for what he has been doing for the youth of Nigeria as well as the governor's desire to see thst the Obudu Ranch Resort hosts the 30th edition of the WMRA World Championships in 2014.

Gozzelino insists the Obudu Ranch Resort,venue of the annual Obudu international mountain race is good enough to host the association's flagship event.

The WMRA president is convinced the organisers of the race in Nigeria have also shown a mastery of the sport and only a few logistics in terms of travel and the terrain would only be improved upon.

'I strongly believe that the Obudu Ranch Resort has a good chance of staging the biggest competition in our calendar, the world mountain running championships',he assured.

'In my opinion only two areas needed to be adjusted for the competition to come to Nigeria and they are the travel arrangements for participants and the

Aiyegbeni faced a difficult period after the FIFA 2010 World Cup as well as at Everton before he sealed a move to Blackburn Rovers.

"The Yak is always going to be The Yak. He's a player that you need to understand. He's special because people don't know what you go through as a player. I've trained together with him and I know him and what he's capable of coming up with on the field.

"I'm happy for him because when people thought he's finished he has fought back and now he's playing regularly (with Blackburn Rovers)," Yobo said.

Aiyegbeni, 28, last appeared for Nigeria against South Korea on June 22, 2010 during the Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

The Blackburn Rovers' man has made 57 appearances for the Super Eagles and has scored 21 goals.

Kaita claims Keshi support •John Sompol in action at the last Obudu Mountain Race terrain of the Ranch.In terms of travel,I think the Local Organising Committee for the international mountain race has been doing a perfect job.What the WMRA will only require is a guarantee and days for accommodation increased to at least five days.

'As you all know,a world championships involves a minimum of 500 people around the world and that is only speaking about athletes and coaches.We still have the fans,the media and the invited guests.So the LOC only needs to increase the number of rooms and make arrangements for easy transfer from Lagos to Calabar before the road trip to Obudu',he explained.

The Obudu international mountain race and the African Nations Mountain Running Championships is organized by the Cross River State Government,in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).It enjoys tremendous support from the African Athletics Confederation(CAA),the World Mountain Running Association,(WMRA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The race covers a distance of 11 kilometres uphill to an altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level, taking you to one of the finest tourist destinations in the world, the Obudu Mountain Resort.

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K R A I N E - B A S E D midfielder Sani Kaita has revealed to MTNFootball.com that he has spoken to new Eagles coach Stephen Keshi with a view to a recall to the national team.

Kaita has been frozen out of the Nigeria team since his red card drama against Greece at last year’s World Cup in South Africa.

“Yes, I have spoken with the new coach, who told me to keep working hard and keep playing regularly for my club and he will consider me for the team again,” Kaita told MTNFootball.com.

“Like I have kept saying, I can’t wait to return to the Super Eagles to continue where I stopped.

“I’m playing week in, week out for my club for several months now and I know that based on current form I merit a return to the national team.”

Keshi admitted that his Eagles lost the midfield war against Zambia in Tuesday’s friendly in Kaduna, where a section of the fans displayed banners demanding for the recall of Kaita.

“I’m surprised by the reaction of the fans. I was told about it but I was not behind it. It was possible that a few of those who believe in me are behind this,” Kaita said.

Samson Siasia shut out Kaita during his short-lived stint as Nigeria coach, insisting that

Nigerian fans are yet to fully forgive the former Kano Pillars star for his dismissal against Greece in a mustwin World Cup game.

Skipper Joseph Yobo has already thrown his weight behind a recall for another 2010 World Cup fallguy, Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Yakubu was Public Enemy No.1 after he missed a sitter against South Korea in another World Cup group game and has since not featured for the Eagles.

“It would be great to have ‘The Yak’ back because he is a striker and I am a defender and I know what he brings to a game,” said Yobo.

Keshi charges Eagles Kalu drags Keshi E to Otta S on CAF award S

UPER Eagles' head coach, Stephen Keshi has thrown down the gauntlet to his players to battle their way into being nominated for the next edition of the African Footballer of the Year award.

The Nigerian manager also expressed disappointment at having none of his countrymen in the shortlist for the 2011 African Footballer of the Year.

Keshi told SuperSport.com on Thursday afternoon that he held showdown talks with players of the Super Eagles on the development.

"I'm disappointed that no Nigerian is nominated for the award. I have spoken to the players about it. We talked about it before the games against Botswana and Zambia. And I will continue to remind them about it.

"I've told them that as my players I want to see them up their games and worm their way into the hearts of not just Nigerian fans but fans all over the world. For me this is unacceptable and things must change," he said.

The Nigerian coach holds the view that it is alarming that it is over a decade since a player from his country last won the African Footballer of the Year.

Keshi, 49, also attributed the blackout of Nigerians in the CAF award to players' mentality of being content with earning

Victor Moses undecided over Nigeria IGAN winger Victor Moses could still decide to represent Nigeria despite his no-show for the Super Eagles' squad last week, according to his agent.

FIFA cleared him last month to play for the land of his birth, even though he has played England at junior levels.

The 20-year-old was called up by coach Stephen Keshi for the friendlies against Botswana and Zambia this week.

However, Moses withdrew from the squad the day before it was due to assemble citing personal reasons.

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• Moses

His excuse was condemned as 'ridiculous' by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)'s technical committee chairman Chris Green.

The NFF has even threatened to report Moses to FIFA but his agent Tony Finnigan explained that the former Crystal Palace player had been scheduled to move house at the weekend.

"They called Victor for a friendly and he happened to be moving house so he couldn't go," Finnigan told BBC Sport.

"If he had come back on Wednesday and then had to move and prepare for a Premier League match on Saturday it would have been tough for him. This international break is over and he didn't go but Victor can still play for Nigeria in the future."

Having failed to qualify for January's African Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria's next competitive match will not be until June - when the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup begins.

Finnigan acknowledged that leaves the door open for Moses to delay his decision to play for them in the hope of getting a call-up for Fabio Capello's England squad.

"Victor is eligible to play for both Nigeria and England so he is entitled to make a choice," he said.

"He was born in Nigeria and it's in his blood, but he is domiciled in the UK and he has a British passport, so if England want to call him then they can.

"It would have been different position if Nigeria were about to play in a tournament but we will just have to wait and see what he decides when then the time comes.

"I can't stand in Victor's way - if they pick him in June, then he has a big decision to make," Finnigan added.

After signing for Wigan from Crystal Palace for £2.5 million in January 2010, Moses has featured in every Premier League match for Roberto Martinez's side so far this season.

Talks over extending his deal that expires in 2013 began last month but Finnigan expects nothing to be resolved just yet.

"We had discussions a month ago and I haven't heard anything since. But he's got 18 months left on his contract so it's not an issue at the moment," he said.

"Wigan wanted to reward him with another contract for doing so well and of course you have to negotiate that."

NATION SPORT Bosso, Premier League scouts storm Bauchi

millions rather than achieve greatness through winning team and individual honours.

"I remember in 1988 I was nominated as fourth best in Africa and then as a defender. In 2005 I won the best coach award on the continent, and I think in 2009 I got an award as a legend. At that particular award I was shocked that no Nigerian was mentioned except for me. It's over 10 years and no Nigerian has come close to winning it. This has to change.

"As coach of Mali I remembered telling them to play themselves into recognition, and Frederic Kanoute and Seydou Keita were nominated.

Kanoute won the award that year. If any player in this team is willing to win things then we are ready to help and work with such a player. As a

footballer you must make sacrifices to win things.

"Seriously the situation has nothing to do with psychology but the attitude of the players to the game. If as a player you give 100 percent in every game then you will be part of those nominated like we have the Ghanaians and Ivoriens dominating now," he said.

The former Mali and Togo manager also declared that one of his priorities as Eagles' coach remains working on the mental attitude of his squad.

Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigerian to win the African Footballer of the Year award in 1999 while Austin Okocha is the last to closest to winning it in 2003 and 2004 finishing in second and third positions respectively.

...Set for CAF B Licence

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ewly appointed Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is reportedly set to complete his CAF B Licence test in the near future.

Keshi has come under intense criticism from African football's governing body over his lack of qualifications, but Christian Chukwu, a member of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee, has revealed the 49-year-old is set to undertake the test this year.

"There's no controversy over that (his coaching abilities) because Keshi is experienced enough to be coach of our

national team. But I think what CAF is talking about is grading of coaches, which he is not a part of right now," Chukwu told SuperSport.

"I know there is a coaching course coming up for CAF B Licence in the country, so he will be part of it just as many of us who are coaches in the country will take part in that programme."

Keshi has already taken up the reigns of the Super Eagles team, with the coach having gone unbeaten in his first two games in charge against Botswana and Zambia.

AGLES' coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi's task was clearly spelt out Thursday by former Abia state Governor Orji Uzor Kalu who urged him to relocate his training Camp to Otta in the bid to make things happen.

Kalu's words drew from Clemens Westerhof Days when there was always a standing team at home to challenge the swashbuckling Eurobased stars in the event of perceived recalcitrance.

"Keshi must look inwards,therein lies our salvation.He should set up a permanent Camp in Otta.It is idealnot far from Lagos,not to easy for unwanted guests.Westerhof did that,and called the bluff of many.The Dutchman kept the likes of Amir Angwe,Eson Osagie,Godwin Eke,Fubara Owonaro there and polished Finidi George,Daniel Amokachi,Ben Iroha and Uche Okechukwu to stardom,"he said.

The ex-governor admitted that just a few of the present Eagles could form part of the new team,just like what happened in 1990.

"Nigeria got to the grande finale of the Nations Cup in 1990 with only three Professionals-Rashidi Yekini,Andrew Uwe and Ademola Adesina.Westerhof dropped Keshi,Samson Siasia and many

others.When they all came back they had to fight extra hard to make the first team.Against Benin Republic in Cotonou later in the year,Peter Rufai played from the bench, while Aloy Agu captained the Eagles to 1-0 victory.It brought the best in Dodo Mayana who reclaimed his shirt in 1994," Kalu explained.

Kalu wished Keshi well describing him as a true patriot who started small from NICON Lagos through Seven Planners Badagry,JohnsonWyatt,ACB,NNB before the Chris Udemezue induced move to Stella Abidjan pushed him to the big Leaguers Anderlecht via Lokeren.

"A real Nigerian,born in Zaria of Illah Igbo parents,groomed in Yorubaland and married to an Esan Edo wife.Not many remember that in January 1993,French club Strasbourg took the Captain's band from him for playing for Nigeria.Coach Gilbert Gress was like a father,yet he did that.Again in 1994,Belgian side RWD Molenbeek sacked him for honouring Eagles invitation.I wish him Goodluck,"Kalu added.

I’ve confidence in my squad—Eguavoen

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IGERIA National U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen on Thursday charged his wards to justify their inclusion in the final list of players for the Africa U-23 championship billed to kick-off next week in Morocco by ensuring that the country’s flag is hoisted at the male football event of the London 2012 Olympics.

Eguavoen gave the charge during the Dream team V morning session inside the main bowl of the National stadium, Surulere.

“We all know that the nation is looking up to us. It was painstaking to get out the final twenty-one because you all have shown promise determination and talent.”

“For those of you that have been chosen, its now up to you to do your country proud and justify your inclusion in the team” Eguavoen charged his boys.

The former Enyimba of Aba gaffer who beat the midnight deadline for submission of his final 21 man list to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF affirmed his confidence in the ability of the team.

“Everyone has continued to ask what happened to the likes of Lukman Haruna, Ekigho Ehiosun, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Odion Igalo and others. The truth is that I got the green light from their clubs and a host of others but surprisingly in the eleventh hour some of the clubs changed their minds; noting that the tournament is not in a FIFA free window” Cerezo explained.

“But in any case I have confidence in the squad we are taking to Morocco” he affirmed.

Coach Austin Eguavoen on Wednesday, night made public his list of 21 players with 5 others on standby.

The list parades eleven homebased, nine foreign-based and one unattached.

LIST Goal Keepers: Dele Ajiboye, Olufemi Thomas and Theophilus Afelokhai.

Defenders: Kingsley Udoh, Markson Ojobo, Usman Amoda, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Edet Ibok, Suswam Terna, .

Midfielders: Osas Okoro, Ayo Saka, Odah Onoriode, Obiora Nwankwo, Nosa Igiebor, Lawal Raheem.

Attackers: Jude Aneke, Kayode Olarenwaju, Stephen Worgu, Babatunde Micheal, Uchechi Daniel, Gbolahan Salami.

Standby Semiu Liadi, Papa Idris, Olabiyi Rasheed, Olaitan Otubanjo, Atu Irumekhai.

• Eguavoen

Sammy Ameobi signs new Newcastle deal • Sani Kaita

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AMMY Ameobi’s been offered a new contract by Newcastle United.

The 19-year-old’s forced his way into Alan Pardew’s first-team squad this season.

Ameobi’s progress through the ranks has been startling, and the striker – who made his England Under-21 debut last week – is now a regular on the bench.

And the Gazette understands the club have offered him a new threeand-a-half year deal, with his present contract running out next year.

For his part, Ameobi’s just grateful for the faith that Pardew – who

handed him his debut at Chelsea late last season – has shown in him since taking over at Newcastle.

“As a young player, all you want to do is get an opportunity for the first team – and I’m grateful for the manager for giving me a chance,” Ameobi told the Gazette.

“I’m enjoying every single minute of it, and I’ll continue to do that.”

Ameobi came off the bench in United’s last game, a 2-1 win over Everton before the international break, and he’s hopeful of again being involved at leaders Manchester City on Saturday when the Premier League resumes.

COUTS from Nigeria Premier League teams including Kano Pillars coach, Ladan Bosso have stormed Bauchi in search of players. The Duty Manager at the Zaranda Hotels was heard telling a colleague that the boom in patronage has been the first since the last Muslim Eid festival Sallah attributing to reservations made by football people.

Bosso, who drove all the way from Kano said the tournament is offering him a onestop solution to recruitment of the very best from the Professional League.

“We have the opportunity to assess players who are coming into the Premier League next season and since they are from the top four teams of the National League, they are as good as players from other Premier League sides”, argued Bosso.

A scout who preferred anonymity said he came to monitor players already penciled down by his foreign partner.

“We have followed some of the teams during the regular season and the Super Cup is a further opportunity to assess the players and maybe, hunt for new ones”.

However, their presence is unsettling to some of the teams whose players are targets of the scouts. A representative of Rising Stars said “our players are being distracted and it is also throwing our plans into disarray. The organizers should do something about the presence of these scouts”, he pleaded.

Lagos/GTB Principals' Cup gets underway • 313 schools to participate

By Innocent Amomoh ll is now set for the kick off of the annual Lagos State/ Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Principals’ Cup football competition among secondary schools in the state, with Two million naira up for grabs.

The competition which was relaunched three years ago from oblivion with GTB emerging as the official sponsors, is directed at ensuring that aside academics, the students are encouraged to exhibit their talents football –wise for all round development.

In a briefing held yesterday in Lagos to herald the 2011/2012 edition ,the Commissioner for Education in the state, Barrister Olayinka Oladunjoye said:“I am proud to say that the rich heritage of this competition, dating back to the 40s and early 50s, which led to the discovery of several notable sports personalities like Austin Okocha, Henry Nwosu, Stephen Keshi, to mention a few has not gone into oblivion,” she said.

With 313 schools indicating interest to participate this year, Oladunjoye said that seven players discovered from the last edition were part of the U- 17 national team that prosecuted the African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers which Nigeria eventually did not qualify to participate in.

Also adding her voice on the package for this year’s competition, the General Manager, Communications and External Affairs, Lola Odedina said two years ago, the strong passion of GTB for youth development and grassroot football led to the partnership with the State Government on the Principals Cup, the most celebrated and historic football competition in Lagos State.

“For us at GTBank, The Principals cup goes beyond just football, it is also a veritable platform to mentor youths and encourage them to pursue their dreams. This is why we introduced two distinct mentorship programmes– The Principals Cup Tournament Ambassador’s Programme (TAP), where thousands of students were mentored by role models in the society and Camp GTBank – a football summer camp organized for the best and most skillful players selected from the competition,” she said.

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PROGRAMME

CRIME

EMPOWERMENT

Uduaghan flags off polio immunisation

Detectives investigate woman’s death

Lawmaker provides loans for constituents

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Imo plans cancer screening centres

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•Governor Okorocha

HE Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu has assured that the Rochas Okorocha administration will set up cancer screening centres in the state to ensure early detection of the disease.

Uwajumogu gave this assurance when S. O. Solidarieta (across the border), an Italy-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) visited the Assembly.

He disclosed that the present leadership in the state is interested in helping Imo people in healthcare delivery, where expectant women and children would receive free medical care in all gov-

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

ernment established hospitals in the state.

This, he said, has informed the provision of over 50 new buses to facilitate the delivery of “free health and medical services” to every doorstep in the state.

The facilitator of the group, Mr. Chime Nzeribe, an engineer, introduced members of the team and explained that they were in the state to give adequate healthcare delivery system to the people.

Also speaking, the leader of the NGO, Dr.(Mrs) Tonia Naria Aolide

said they came to the state to seek government’s permission to set up a free cancer screening centre to assist the people especially women who are suffering from cervical and breast cancers.

She said she has been in the Southeast for over 10 years and within the period, the number of women with cervical and breast cancers have continued to increase.

Continuing, she said: “S. O. Solidarieta is a group made up of Italian pathologists who decided to start a non-profit volunteer organisation or association.

“Our sole interest is to contribute towards improving the stand-

ard of healthcare in developing countries and to ameliorate the treatment of patients by means of accurate and timely cytological and histological diagnosis.”

Another member of the group, Dr. Boxvelle Anthonio who is the project manager of the NGO, revealed that Nigeria has few pathologists, even as he advised that every woman in the state should undergo the tests and screening for early detection of cancer, adding that early detection will help in saving lives.

“We have come to spread the •Continued on Page 26

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HE people of Ohafia in Abia State have marked the centenary anniversary of their freedom.

But it was not freedom from some opressive neighbours or colonialists. Rather, it was emancipation from savagery, idolatory and backwardness.

The liberation came with the advent of Christianity, and with it education. In a short space of time, their wild past began to give way.

That transformation means a lot to the people. So they turned up in the best attires to express the joy in their hearts.

The celebration took place in the community on Friday, November 11, 2011 in Ohafia.

The Ohafia people in Abia State, right from when they settled in Igbo land, have been a people that thrived on war and conquests. In the olden days, manhood was neither measured by a man’s ability to acquire wealth nor enterprise in commerce or farming, rather by the number of human heads he had gathered during wars.

It took the church rigorous efforts to change this and other ills prevalent then. It all started on November 11, 1911 when the Church of Scotland, currently known as the Presbyterian Church established its first church in Ohafia.

The plan to found a Presbyterian Church, however, was initiated by Onuoha Kalu; a man from the neighbouring Abam community. This was in 1909.

However, officially, the church started with the coming of one Rev. Robert Collins. This was on November 11, 1911.

The place of worship used by the church was at Obu NdiImaga, in Elu-Ohafia, the traditional capital of the Ohafia people.

A hundred years later, the establishment of the church changed the whole of Ohafia for good. The people have turned from being head hunters to a people that cherished education and had produced famous men

•Central Presbyterian Church, Ohafia

Community celebrates transformation Abia town marks 100 years of Christianity

By Okorie Uguru

who had contributed and are still contributing, in no small measure, to the socio-political development of Nigeria.

Ohafia people are rolling out the

drums to mark the centenary of Christianity in their land.

Certain facts, however, need to be clarified. According to history, it was the Ohafia people that appealed to the missionaries from the Church of Scotland to come

and open a church in their domain.

Secondly, this was not borne out of any desire for salvation but because of other benefits that follow the establishment of missionary churches in a community.

The Ohafia people needed edu-

cation, having been administered by a certain high-handed colonial officer called AjagaraIgwe. Education, for them, was the only way to escape the clutches of a wicked officer and if Christianity would be the only way out, so be it.

The leader of the centenary organising committee, Elder Ukpai Onum Ndukwe spoke on the history and influence of Christianity in Ohafia and why the people are celebrating.

He said: “Christianity brought a change of life. Before the advent of Christianity, the community was ruled by superstition, fear of the mini-gods, every•Continued on Page 26

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MO State governor Rochas Okorocha has described his election as one ordained by God, hence he has promised to serve the people of the state with the fear of God. He said this when the Pro Nuncio of the Holy Sea, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja and a delegation of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu led by its bishop, Rt. Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Owerri.

Governor Okorocha posited that the church has been the strength and guide against waves of violence and crisis that would have enveloped the world, promising to partner with the church in the state in the project of moving the state forward.

The governor stated that in line with the principles of the church to educate every child, the state government has adopted education as

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Okorocha defends his election its cardinal project and assured that all missionary schools would remain with the church.

He further disclosed that new classrooms are being constructed in all the 305 wards of the state and about 2, 000 teachers would be employed to add to the staff strength of the state schools.

Archbishop Kasujja said that his visit to Imo wais part of activities to mark the end of the Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, adding that the theme of the synod which focuses on the family, affords the opportunity to protect family values.

He thanked the government of Nigeria for its adherence to the just principles of the family values and enjoined it to effect further justice and hand over all schools to their

former missionary owners.

In a related development, Governor Okorocha has described the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Owerri to uphold his election as the governor of the state as a second victory for

the people of the state.

The Tribunal presided over by Justice E.N. Ekpojeme, in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the election of Governor Okorocha in the April 26 election and the May 6 supplemen-

All who are aggrieved should sheath their sword and join hands with this administration to improve on the living standards of the common man for we justify power by taking care of the common man

tary election, held that the suit filed by the former was contradictory and lacked merit. It therefore dismissed the suit.

Governor Okorocha, while reacting to the judgment said the victory in court affirms the decision of Imo people to rally round him and rescue the fortunes of the state for the good of all.

He counselled that all who are aggrieved should sheath their sword and join hands with this administration to improve on the living standards of the common man for, according to him, “we justify power by taking care of the common man.”

He thanked the judiciary for living up to the billings of being the last hope of the common man.

Council chief urges peace S Plateau State prepares for the local government election, the Acting Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Hon. Bendel Domfa has cautioned residents of the area especially the youth on the need to be orderly to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the area is not breached.

Speaking at Mabudi, the headquarters of the local government area, Hon. Domfa called on the youth not to make themselves ready tools in the hands of desperate politicians who may use them to achieve their selfish aims.

Domfa further appealed to parents to watch and correct their children, maintaining that the peace currently enjoyed in the state needs to be sustained.

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From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

He stated his intention to contest the chairmanship position of the local government, even as he reminded his supporters that power comes from God hence, there is no need to perpetrate violence because one wants to occupy a leadership position.

The Acting Chairman called on other would-be contestants to sensitise their supporters on the need to maintain peace saying: “We should allow our works to speak for us and not engage in illegality because we want a position at all costs.”

However, Domfa urged politicians in the state to play politics with the fear of God as doing so would ensure credibility and faithfulness in the discharge of their duties to humanity.

Imo plans cancer screening centres •Continued from page 25

•Missionary House, Ohafia •Continued from page 25 where in Ohafia was dotted with nchuchuaja (sacrifices to different gods), and every compound had more than three gods. There was Kamalu; there was Uduma mmini, and Ali Nfejiokwu was both the god of land and yam. So, all these were at every T-junction, at every turn of the road. The fear of what these gods will do if anybody violated their supposed laws gripped the people.

“With Christianity, the worship of these gods gradually disappeared and people became liberated. In addition, in Ohafia, the church introduced wearing of clothes. Before then, the vagaries of weather were endured by everybody. The government had already abolished going about naked; but they were still prevalent before the coming of Christianity.

“Also, some diseases that were hitherto regarded as incurable, leprosy for instance, yaw and other skin diseases, were common because of unhygienic living conditions. The church established schools where hygiene was taught, the church built hospitals and lepers’ colony was also built. Hunger was rampant, the period of famine between planting and harvesting of yams used to be a terrible one. But with the advent of

Community celebrates transformation Christianity, inter-communal trade flourished and there was food always.”

Continuing, he said: “Ohafia people then were head hunters, but with the advent of Christianity, the urge to fight and hunt heads was converted to hunting for glory in other areas of human endeavour.”

The most prominent area of influence that the church had on the people of Ohafia was in education.

Elder Ndukwe said: “To me, I think the greatest impact Christianity had on the people was in the area of education. You remember it was in a bid to acquire book knowledge that the Ohafia people accepted Christianity. They didn’t accept Christianity because of the message of the Holy Book or for salvation. Schools established then offered the people the needed opportunity to learn and be able to free themselves from the victimisation of the district officer.

“So, Ohafia people pursued education very vigorously. By 1922, 11 years after the advent of Christianity, Ohafia had started produc-

ing teachers of various cadres. The first university graduate in Ohafia, Prof. Eni Njoku who was the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, graduated in 1944.

“Education performed the magic in many areas of human endeavour in Ohafia. Education is the greatest legacy because it opened the eyes of the people to the truth and gave them chances of broadening their horizon. Prof. Kalu Ezera, and Prof. Emeh Awa, among others, were some of the early recipients of western education in Ohafia.”

In the late 40s, Ohafia cherished education so much that they had to sponsor three Ohafia children to study abroad. Among them was Prof. Emeh Awa. 100 years later, with the benefit of hindsight, one could see that the forebears of Ohafia who clamoured for the establishment of the church in Ohafia meant well for the community. The people, in every aspect, are better for it. This explains why the people are rolling out the drums in celebration.

good news about our ability to tackle cancerous growth in humans especially breast and cervical cancers. We have come to carry out projects aimed at improving public health through the development of pathology services, cancer diagnostics and cytological screening.

We are here to spread a culture of solidarity and sharing of the appropriate technologies.

“Mr. Speaker, we have come to create a network for the collection of outdated equipment for use in projects of co-operation. Indeed, we have come to address issues concerning the foundation and education of local medical and technical personnel so as to render them, in the suitable time and manner, fully operational and autonomous in their profession,” Dr. Anthonio stated.

Contributing, Dr. Lobeto called on the state government to assist them to make their vision and mission for Imo State a reality.

In his response, Hon. Uwajumogu expressed his happiness over the commitment of NGO

to assist the state in its quest to provide adequate healthcare system for the people, even as he assured them of government’s readiness to partner with them to set up cancer screening centres in the state.

He said: “On a personal note, I lost a loved one to breast cancer which encouraged the establishment of Ego-bekee Foundation in the Southeast in memory of my beloved relation. I know what it means to have cancer. There is a new awareness in cancer.

“I also know how difficult it is to pay for drugs related for the cure of cancer. We need partners to help run our hospitals. This administration has already considered building new general hospitals in all the 27 local government areas in the state and we are going to equip them with mammography which is used for the treatment of cancer.

“We therefore need critical partners like you to assist in running the hospitals when completed. The Imo State House of Assembly will back it up with a motion calling on our women to come out to be tested. You have come to the right place.”

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

•Pupils from Image Makers Nursery and Primary School, Lagos with officails of Unilever Nigeria Plc and some Nollywood stars at the Pepsodent Toothpaste walk against tooth cavities in Lagos

Akwa Ibom celebrates Akpabio’s award

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HE International Conference Centre, Abuja venue of the event, was not very friendly on November 14, 2011.

Outside, stern-looking security operatives spread a cordon that kept off unwanted guests. But inside, hundreds of distinguished Nigerians waited patiently in an orderly manner. Soon, 355 of them walked up front and tasted an experience of a lifetime.

Resplendent in his white attire, Governor Godswill Akpabio stood out among the pack. Like others, he approached President Goodluck Jonathan in measured gaits. Yet, his was majestic; a step of a confident man who has won the heart of the country with his uncommon achievements in four short years.

Shortly, his citation over, he got

By Toluwani Eniola

a presidential decoration of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) medal; received a certificate and then a warm handshake.

Unlike Jonathan’s handshake with other recipients of the awards, the one with Akpabio seemed to have had a hidden message. As they shook, the President looked the Akwa Ibom governor in the eyes and a knowing smile of pride played across his lips. He seemed to have said: “Well done, the uncommon transformer!”

Last year, the president had openly confirmed what many already knew. After criss-crossing Akwa Ibom State to inaugurate some projects, he declared that Akpabio is one governor who does

not play politics with development. Thus, he publicly dismissed the various petitions which had inundated his office alleging mismanagement of funds and poor governance against the governor.

He said: “I had been in this state when I was in OMPADEC. I had also been here twice when I was the deputy governor and I want to tell you that from the projects I have seen and inaugurated, your governor (Akpabio) is not playing politics with projects…From what I have seen so far, it is evident that Akwa Ibom State Government is driven by a singular commitment to enhance the welfare and wellbeing of the people with true infrastructural development and the provision of critical social amenities, human capacity

Orji orders contractors back to site From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

•Orji

A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has ordered contractors handling various projects in the state to go back to site or face the wrath of the people who are expecting them to perform.

Speaking in Umuahia during a meeting with the contractors working in the state, Governor Orji hinted them that the dry season is here now and that they should make use of the periods which do not last for more than three months.

He also urged them to go back to site and work for the people, stressing that the government

has set aside some money and some funds from the local government joint account. “We have set aside some money for the contractors which will be given to them to work for the people during the dry season.”

The governor noted that roads are essential for the development of the state, adding that there are a lot of projects which the government is carrying out which are housing, and agriculture among others. “But when nothing is done on the roads, the people will grumble and we do not want them to do that as it is their right.”

He decried the state of roads in the state, stressing that the people value good roads better than any other project being carried out by the government.

Governor Orji further said that the people desire good and solid roads and not what he called Dubai roads that do not stand the taste of time. He therefore urged the contractors to do quality work on all the roads being constructed.

He said: “Even when money is not yet paid to you, you should

not stop working. No government will have money and deliberately refuse to pay its contractors. You should show some level of understanding to the state as every strata of government wants to excel for its people.”

The governor hinted that the contractors have the capacity to raise funds on their own to work on the contracts they have been given.

Orji further said that the state government wants to build one road in each local government area in the state. By so doing, in the next three years, roads in the urban and rural areas will be better than they are right now.”

Responding on behalf of other contractors, Ifeanyi Okechukwu assured the governor that they will go back to site immediately and that any of them that is found wanting should be dealt with appropriately.

Okechukwu said that the time of doing a shoddy job in the state is over, even as he sympathised with the state government over the lean resources available to it, adding that in the next two months, there will be a change to the better on the state of roads in the state.

development…The pace and level of development definitely demonstrates that the governor and his team are focused and committed to transforming Akwa Ibom State.”

A few hours after, those who are indigenous to Akwa Ibom State literally lit up Abuja in celebration of their own. For them, it was one of the highest moments in their history as a state, as six people were honoured during the Monday occasion. Others are: Air Vice-Marshal Nsikak Eduok (rtd), Senator Edoma Udo Udoma; Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, (rtd); Moses Ekpo; DIG Udom Ekpoudom, (rtd).

To show their joy, the Akwa Ibom State liaison office in Central Area of Abuja and its environs experienced heavy traffic as Akpabio’s supporters and wellwishers thronged the venue. It was indeed a colourful display of a people’s gratitude to an equally grateful country. Beside the traditional display and the socio-political groups, key entertainers from the state raised the bar at the reception.

Then, goodwill messages started pouring in. From the Congress of the United States, House of Representatives in Washington DC was a message from Ms Shiela Jackson Lee. In fact, while she sent the same message through e-mail to Akwa Ibom State Speaker, Hon. Sam Ikon, she sent a hard copy through Senator Emmanuel Ibok-essien.

It reads in part: “I want to personally congratulate you on being honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan and his conferring upon you the award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). I also want to congratulate you on being awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Management Sciences by the Nigerian Defense Academy.

These honours speak volumes about your transformational lead-

•Akpabio ership and the direction you are taking Akwa Ibom. Your tireless efforts have positioned the state of Akwa Ibom to lead the nation as a model state. The people of Akwa Ibom should be proud of your accomplishments and the great strides you have made in rebuilding the infrastructure and investing resources in human capital development.”

Speaker after speaker praised Akpabio’s efforts at repositioning the state. In fact, it was learnt that in line with what Lee said, Akwa Ibom become a constant point of reference at the recent meeting of Heads of States and Governments in Australia, whenever Nigeria was being discussed. It was learnt that at one meeting, the governor was asked to take a bow for making the state a model for the nation. Indeed, that spirit of fulfilment was noticed at the reception venue where every Akwa Ibom person present attempted to show how •Continued on Page 39

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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Obi’s wife advises parents on girl-child education T HE wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Margaret Peter Obi, has charged parents on the need to encourage girl-child education, describing it as panacea for the development of the society.

Mrs. Obi, who spoke during the 34th annual speech and prize giving day of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha maintained that time it is no more fashionable for parents to treat female children’s education with levity.

According to Mrs Obi, who incidentally is an alumnus of the FGGC, Onitsha, education should be made available to every child irrespective of his or her sex, adding that when girl- child education is encouraged, it would reduce social vices in the society.

Referring to students, she said: “You are the future of tomorrow, and that is why you need

Anambra

From Adimike George, Onitsha

to take your education very seriously because some of you may become the wives of governors or even presidents or be president yourself. I am the wife of the governor and I was a student like you here in the same school” Earlier in her address, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Chinyere Nzerem, said that the school had recorded tremendous development in terms of academic excellence and infrastructure.

Orji challenges national honour recipients A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has urged indigens of the state who are recipients of the 2011 national honour award to continue to uphold good virtues so as to remain good ambassadors of the state.

Orji gave the advice in a statement issued on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ugochukwu Emezue and made available to the newsmen in Umuahia.

He said that the state was proud of its sons and daughters listed for the highly revered award in the country.

Orji reminded the recipients that the recognition was a call for more sacrifice for Nigeria and the state.

He urged them to always strive for excellence, noting that Abia people were noted for their integrity.

Notable among the recipients are; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihijirika, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, Ms Aruma Oteh, Eze John Akaniro, Prof. Herbert

Abia

Orji.

Others are Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, retired Justice Sunday Imoh, Acho Nkemdirim, Dr Gab Okenwa, Onuoha Ogba, and Mrs Georginia Eucharia.

Meanwhile, Orji has congratulated the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr Chidiebere Nwoke on his recent victory over the All Progressive Grand Alliance candidate, Chukwudi Apugo at the election petition tribunal in Umuahia.

Orji described the victory as victory for democracy and urged him to continue his good work at the house of assembly.

The governor noted that PDP was the only party in the country with people-oriented manifesto and appealed to the people to continue to support PDP.

Mrs. Nzerem said that the school recorded 100 percent excellence in both English Language and Mathematics in the last West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, (WASSCE).

She solicited for an improvement in the girlchild education in the society which she said, would enhance performance in the country.

“However, there is still room for improvement as we strive to make Nigeria great through the education of the girl child”, she said.

On the academic records of the school, the principal said that the students that sat for the last (WASSCE) made the college proud by breaking records in many subjects which she said included English Language and Mathematics despite the challenges which she said included lack of accommodation for the increasing population of the college.

In her speech entitled: “Girl Child and Development in the Contemporary Society, Prospects and Limitations” the guest speaker, Prof M.O. Edema said that the problem of unemployment could be a thing of the past if girl-child education is encouraged.

Prof. Edema however maintained that most of the outdated treatments that hampered the development of the female children in the country were the bane of underdevelopment, while calling on the government of all levels and parents to invest more in the development of girl child education.

A

D

‘Pay your tax to support development’ •Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, presenting keys of some refuse disposal trucks acquired by the state government to Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) at the Government House, Umuahia

Foundation donates 8000 books to pupils A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Ovu Foundation, has donated 8000 books to three primary schools in Ovu, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.The schools are: Ovu Catholic Primary School,Ovu Baptist Primary School and CMS Primary School.

Presenting the books , the Chairman, Board

Edo Most states are violating this issue that has been guaranteed by the constitution.

“The governors should not just wake up and create transition committee for local governments when the constitution has guaranteed elected officials.

“When this issue is addressed, we can dovetail to the joint account issue.”

Ohajuruka said the joint states and local government account administered by state governments had led to financial incapacitation of the councils.

Ohajuruka, who was a former Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, said that financial autonomy of the local government system would make them responsive to the people.

“The local government system has failed not because it wants to fail but because other levels of government have not allowed it to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

“Local government should be autonomous.

The chairmen cannot inaugurate projects because they are only responsible to those who appointed them.”

• Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastrusture Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru receiving an award for commitment to professional excellence in Civil Engineering Practice in Nigera at the 9th National Civil Engineering conference and Annual General meeting at Rockview Hotel, Abuja. The award was presented by Engr. Rabiu Alimasuya, representing the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers

Uduaghan flags off polio immunisation

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has advised healthcare workers to treat their patients well as it helps in accelerating the recovery process.

He also advised fathers not to leave their children’s health issues to mothers alone.

Uduaghan spoke at the second quarterly polio eradication sensitisation campaign at Bomadi.

The governor enjoined health officials to refrain from exhibiting negative attitude as it could worsen the illness of patients.

He said some medical workers were always aggressive even when administering treatment.

He therefore appealed to them to be humane,

Ex-lawmaker urges local govt reform FORMER member of the House of Representatives,Chief Stanley Ohajuruka has emphasised the need for a constitutional reform to make the local government system in Nigeria responsive to challenges at the grassroots.

Ohajuruka made the call in an interview with journalists in Umuahia,the Abia State capital.

He stressed that there were public outcries over incapacitation of the local government system in Nigeria, particularly in Abia State.

In the last two years, the local government system in Abia has been administered by Transitional Committee Chairmen.

Ohajuruka said the appointment of such chairmen to the councils was unconstitutional because the law provided for elective executive and legislative arms.

He said: “anybody who operates a local government system in Nigeria without elective officials is violating the constitution.”

He urged the National Assembly to intervene by making appropriate proclamations that would guarantee the financial autonomy of local governments.

“I think we have to look at the autonomy of the local government in the first instance.

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Delta

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

of Trustees,Evangelist Emmanuel Okorodudu, said that education remained a cardinal programme of the group ,and this informed the distribution of education materials.

He said the group focused on education because of its role as an eye opener and a leveller, promising that the foundation would always do its best to ensure that Ovu sons and daughters get the best in education.

According to him, the foundation is out to give qualitative education to sons and daughters of the community and promised that the it would equip the primary schools with computer machines to expose pupils to modern technics.

The National Coordinator of the foundation, Mr. Adjekukor, said the foundation would embark on a de-worming programme for children between age one to five next month. It also promised to provide television sets for the pupils to enjoy fast learning.

By Charity Williams

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has stressed the need for residents to pay their taxes promptly and keep their environment clean.

He spoke at a prayer conference organised by ministers of God Prayer Network International at the Chapel of Christ the Light in Lagos.

The governor was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Religious Matters, Rev. Akintoye Buraimoh.

Stressing the importance of prayers, the governor said: “It is necessary to pray for the nation. Our leaders need direction from God to be able to perform effectively”. He said the effect of prayers is reflected in the massive infrastructural development and peace enjoyed by the entire citizenry in Lagos State, saying the people can only ask for more.

Governor Fashola used the forum to thank church leaders, community leaders, traditional rulers and the entire residents for the peaceful conduct of elections in the state, saying: “jointly and with determination, we can achieve great heights for our nation”.

Appreciating the special love of God he said: “we are great and strong people and I believe that God will lead Nigerians to the promised land”.

Iher speech, Mrs Funmi Olushoga, representing the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, said the success of any state depends on collective prayers and there is no doubt, success will follow.

Present at the event were Pastors Itua Ighodalo and Bola Oyegbami, the national coordinator, Sustainability of the nation.

Workshop for physically challenged women

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•From left: Engr. Kunle Ogunbayo and Dr Tahir Bashir, Director, Multishield HMO Ltd, during the company’s Annual General /Board meeting held in Lagos

Group tackles corruption

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HE Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Femi Babafemi, has said Nigeria cannot make progress until the scourge of corruption is uprooted. Noting that corruption has affected the country, he enjoined that all hands must be on deck to tackle it.

He stated this at the launch of Kill Corruption before it kills you campaign by the Patriotic Forum in Ikeja, Lagos last week .

Babafemi, who was represented at the event

by Wilson Uwujaren, praised the organisers for their efforts in fighting corruption in the society. He canvassed support for the commission, saying that in its eight years of existence, EFCC has made some modest achievements. He listed these as creation of more consciousness on corruption and conviction of offenders as well as recovery of looted money and property.

On criticisms of plea bargaining, he said the law should be blamed and that it is practised in some parts of the world. He asked Nigerians to also note some of the merits of the aspect of the law.

He said some of the challenges of the commission include inadequate staff, adding that with its 3,000 workers, it is difficult for it to cover the country effectively.

A United Kingdom-based solicitor, Mrs Adeyinka Eweje, said as long as there is plea bargaining, the war against corruption will be lost. “You steal and you are asked to refund a part of it. You don’t just refund the money, you go to jail to serve as a deterrent to others.

Eweje, who decried the state of roads in Lagos, urged Nigerians to make their political leaders

By Joseph Eshanokpe

to be accountable. He said they should monitor and write petitions against those who are not working, noting that they have the power to recall those who are shirking their responsibilities.

Managing Director, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr Steve Ayorinde, who spoke on the role of the media in fighting corruption, said since independence, the country has lost about $40 billion to corruption.

Ayorinde, who defined corruption to include political and institutional, said none is good for the country. “The effect of corruption in any society is bad. As we all know, it affects each and everyone of us in one way or the other.

It(corruption) is like a terminal cancer,” he said.

On the role of the media, he called for good welfare package, adequate protection and good training for journalists. He asked for the teaching of a corruption reporting in journalism schools. He asked reporters to train their periscope on both government and corporate organisations.

The Divisional Police Officer, Isokoko Police Station, Agege, Lagos, Chief Superintendent of Police, Monday Agbonika, suggested community policing as a panacea to tackling corruption in the Police Force. He called for training of his colleagues, adequate monitoring and withdrawal of those found guilty from their beats and good welfare to discourage bribe-taking. He asked members of the public to report any officer found to be shirking in his responsibility.

capacity building workshop has been held to discourage physically challenged women from begging in the street for alms.

The two-day event took place at the Banquet Hall, Jalingo Motel, Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The participants with various disabilities came from the six states that make up the North-East geo-political zone: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, who declared the programme open, said disability is a major problem to the country, as it reduces individuals to a poor state, which compels them to result to street begging.

“This administration cannot fold her arms and see these set of people suffer here”, said Suntai.

The governor, who was represented by the state Head of Service Augustine Yazang Basing, urged the participants to be attentive to absorb the process, methods and skills they

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

would be exposed to, for future use and benefits.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina stated that the workshop would harness the great potential of the physically challenged women for national development.

“When trained, they could play active roles in national and socio-economic development.

And they would become self-reliant”, the minister said.

Maina, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, Lawal Alasan Tambari, added that the workshop would be a forum for the physically challenged women to share ideas.

Newsetra gathered that the participants are to be trained to use certain substances to produce soap, cream and other items, as well as design clothes –using the tie and dye method.

Delta tolerant and friendly so that patients would have the good psychological frame of mind to recover fast.

“Health workers should have positive attitude towards patients. Some of you are aggressive and do not exhibit friendly attitude. Show concern and be humane,” Dr. Uduaghan advised.

The governor promised to sustain the status of a free polio state and directed stakeholders in the health sector not to allow the campaign end at the venue of the sensitisation ceremony.

Dr. Uduaghan said the glamour and fanfare that featured at the venue should not blind their sense of commitment towards the actual polio immunisation.

He described polio as deadly and appealed to fathers not to leave the health problems of their

•Governor Uduaghan children to their mothers alone, adding, “The health problem of your children should be the joint responsibility of both father and mother so that it will be comprehensive. You should not be failed fathers.”

•From left: British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Lloyd; Speaker and pro-Chancellor, Pan-African University, Dr. Christopher Kolade; President, Nigeria Britain Association (NBA), Mr Tunde Arogunmati; Life Patron NBA, Mr Akintola Williams during Akintola William Annual Lecture, with the theme: The human factor in British-Nigerian relations, sponsored by Dangote Group, at NIIA, Lagos PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

‘Let’s work together for our people’

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HE Chairman of Somolu Local Government Area in Lagos State , Omoba Gbolahan Bago-Stowe has advised the newly inaugurated legislature of the council to hearken to the yearnings of the people of the area.

He gave the words while swearing in the councillors in the council’s secretariat, even as he emphasised that both members of the council’s executive and legislature were there primarily to improve the welfare of the people.

With appropriate cooperation from the legislature, the council boss pledged that his administration would continue to build on the achievements recorded in his first tenure and

By Dada Aladelokun

promised to care more for the aged in his domain.

Members of the legislature are: Adebola Adetona (Leader); Adesegun Alabi (Deputy Leader); Ademola Wasiu (Majority Leader); Adeyinka Adeniyi (Chief Whip) and Babatunde Ladejo (Minority Leader). Others are Tajudeen Rasak, Olufemi Onisarotu and Fatai Kasali.

Adetona, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, pledged to collaborate with the executive to fashion out policies that would ensure better living condition for residents.

Group urges Jonathan to respect public opinion

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RELIGIOUS group, the World Christian Council Association, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to respect the opinions of Nigerians on oil subsidy removal and return of toll gate fees.

In a press statement in Lagos, the group advised the Federal Government to carry out people-oriented programmes rather than those will

compound the poverty situation of the citizenry.

The group said: “We must put the feelings of Nigerians into consideration in carrying out any policy. The masses are facing hardship and leaders should do their utmost to reduce this rather than aggravate it. They must remember that they will one day return to the electorate”.

Church holds programme

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•Prophet Jegede

HE Dynamic Faith Bible Church has been holding a programme tagged: Unlimited Glory, at the church auditorium, Iju Ogundimu Ajuwon Road, beside Dutun Petrol State, Cele Bust Stop, Iju, Lagos since Nivember 13.

The event begins 11:00pm every day.

Speaking with the host Pastor,Prophet J. O. Jegede on the programme, he said: “ As we approach the end of the year, we need God’s protection, blessing and capacity to overcome.

“We sought His face and on His instruction we have gone into the programme. We are confident it will be well with all that attend”.

The programme features prayer sessions,counselling and ministration.

He said it has been a season of testimonies for the participants.

The programme ends today.

•Bago-Stowe (left) and Adetona at the inauguration

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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PEOPLE THE NATION

A SEVEN-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

As expected, the 2011 edition of the annual Ojude-Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State was colourful. It attracted eminent personalities to the city of the Alares. The event was held at the Palace Extension, report EMMANUEL OLADESU and TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

• Oba Adetona flanked by Governor Amosun (left) and Asiwaju Tinubu

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HE atmosphere was a perfect blend of religion and culture, one that unites people from divergent backgrounds and religious beliefs.

The monarch’s arch-way was jam-packed with human traffic. Thousands, from within and outside Ijebuland, made their way to the Palace Extension of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

On both sides of the road, one could see canopies of various colours, shapes and sizes, with chairs arranged inside and band stands. Passersby needed not be told that was a festivity.

As usual, this year’s Ojude-Oba festival in IjebuOde, Ogun State held on October 8 was a gathering of glamour, a celebration of grandeur and carnival of sorts.

Though it has its history in religion, the yearly event has transcended religion as indigenes of Ijebuland gather for celebration. The festival was said to have started when the first set of Muslim converts in Ijebu-Ode led by Balogun Kuku paid homage to the monarch, Awujale of Ijebuland, two days after their first Eid-il-Kabir. They had gone to the palace to visit the Awujale, present him with festival gifts, which included part of the ram slaughtered for the sallah and pray for him.

An elated Awujale asked for an encore the following year. Thus, what was meant to be a oneoff event became a yearly one.

Ojude-Oba has undergone a series of transformation since it started over a century ago. Now, it is not just an occasion for Muslims to pay annual homage to the traditional ruler, though it is still observed two days after the Eid-il-Kabir celebration, but an opportunity for the Ijebus to celebrate their king. It also affords the indigenes, both at home and in the Diaspora to invite their friends to their root to savour the best of African tradition and culture.

The newly-built Palace Extension, a mini stadium-like structure, was lively with eminent personalities including the town’s age-grade groups fondly called Regberegbes.

They were gaily dressed in various attires.

Top on the list of guests were the host Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his deputy, Segun Adesegun; EkitiState governor Dr Kayode

A celebration of grandeur and fashion Fayemi; his Osun counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Ogun State Governor Aremo Segun Osoba; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Obi of Onitsha, Nnemeka Achebe Also in attendance were Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly Hon Surajudeen Adekunbi; his Lagos counterpart, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Senator Olabiyi Durojaye; Chairman, First City Monument Bank, Ounba Subomi Balogun; Alhaji Rasak Okoya and his wife, Sade; Prof Adebayo Adedeji; Senator Gbenga Kaka; Mr Dele Alake; Olorogun Oscar Ibru; Olorogun Sunny Kuku; Justice George Oguntade (rtd); Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Chief Judge of Ogun State Justice Tokunbo Olopade; Head of Service Mrs Iyabo Yusuf; Commissioner of Police Nicholas Nkideme; Chief Alex Duduyemi; Chief Bisi Rodipe; Hon Lanre Oduote; Hon Ipoola Omisore; Hon Ade Famurewa; Mrs Modupe Oguntade; Adetola Hassan and Mrs Sina Williams.

Others were Chief Pius Akinyelure; Alhaji Afolabi Salami; Lagos Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ademorin Kuye, his Housing and Information counterparts; Bosun Jeje and Lateef Ibirogba, Lagos council chairmen Abiodun Mafe; Yemi Ali; Ayodele Adewale and Benjamin Olabinjo; Tunde Braimoh, Bayo Osinowo and Toyin Hamzat.

The guests watched in awe as the whole town moved in batches to pay homage to the Awujale.

The Regberegbes danced before the Awujale one after the other. The dance is not just a movement to the lyrics of the provided music, but also an occasion to show off the latest wardrobe acquisition of the age group. Each group took time to look for the best in the world of fashion for the visit to the palace. They flaunted their latest fab-

rics. From exotic lace attires to striking shoes, bags, jewellery and other fashion accessories.

At the end of the parade, prizes were presented to the winners - Egbe Bobagunte Obinrin came first while Egbe Mafowokan and Egbe Arobayo were first and second runners-up.

Tinubu lauded the Ijebu people for sustaining the Ojude-Oba for over 100 years by paying homage to the Awujale yearly after the festival. He said the festival, which is a celebration of the conversion of the people to Islam without oppression and intimidation by the monarch, symbolised religious tolerance in Ijebu and Yorubaland.

The Jagaban Borgu expressed delight that the huge crowd converged with one accord to rejoice without the fear of security challenge, especially the bomb blasts rocking the country.

Thanking the Awujale for fostering unity, harmony and cohesion among his people, Tinubu noted that that exceptional character and patriotism have been the hallmark of his life.

“I have to thank the Awujale for his hospitality and courage in the days of the military, when soldiers surrounded his palace. Yet, we had our meetings there. He prayed for us. The prayers were answered. We were liberated and we are making progress. No development can come in slavery and poverty,” he said.

Urging the Ijebu to continue to support the royal father, he also enjoined them to always sustain their pride, dignity of labour and sense of industry.

Fayemi congratulated Oba Adetona, saying he is a dependable and reliable monarch worthy of respect.

“We are proud of Awujale and the great strides of Ijebu people, and their ability to turn stone to money,” he said.

Thanking God for the power shift in the state,

he added: “Governor Amosun has started well. He will do well in Ogun State and the Southwest bid for regional economic integration. He will not disappoint Ogun and Southwest.”

Aregbesola savoured the Ijebu cultural heritage.

“Ijebu has challenged other Yoruba towns to promote their culture. This is a blending of religion with culture. You have shown that Yoruba is united and can organise themselves. I challenge other Yoruba towns to copy the people of Ijebu,” he said.

Osoba described the day as Amosun’s day.

“I am happy to celebrate with the governor, Asiwaju Tinubu and Awujale, who is one of the greatest rulers in Nigeria,” he said.

Obi Okagbue thanked Globacom for sponsoring the festival the same way it had sponsored the Ofala festival in Onitsha.

“I hail the great sense of unity in Ijebuland.

I thank God for Awujale, ruler of resourceful, hardworking and united people. Awujale has been a source of great inspiration to Nigeria, especially to the monarchs who now follow his footsteps,” said the monarch.

Oba Adetona thanked Allah for His protection and mercy.

The Awujale was full of appreciation to the guests, indigenes and sponsors.

He described Tinubu as a worthy Nigerian, who has a lot to offer the nation.

He reiterated the call for the creation of Ijebu State. “… we believe that with elections out of the way, and the cooling down of the economy, progress will be made towards the creation of our state. We are not the only people in suspense. But, with patience, success will eventually be ours,” the monarch said.

Amosun thanked the monarch and the Ijebus for their support.

He promised to deliver the dividends of democracy in no time.

More pictures on page 30

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THE NATION FRIDAY,NOVEMBER 18, 2011

SOCIETY A celebration of grandeur and fashion Continued from page 29

•Igwe Achebe (left) greeting Oba Akiolu

•From left: Ogbeni Aregbesola, his wife, Alhaja Sherifat and Dr Fayemi

•From left: Hon Tola Banjo; Hon Adekunbi; Mrs Funso Amosun and Olori Kemi Adetona

•Aremo Osoba (left) and Adesegun

•From right: Prof Adebayo Adedeji; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Mrs Adesegun; Justice Olopade and Mrs Iyabo Odulate-Yusuf

•From left: Naibul Imam of Ijebuland, Alhaji AbdulRasaq Salaudeen; Eketa Adinni, Alhaji Mufutaudeen Ayanbadejo and Chief Tafsir, Alhaji AbdulWahab Adeyemi

•Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Gbenga Ashiru

•Otunba Subomi Balogun (left) Hon Ikuforiji

•Hon Ibirogba

•Senator Kaka flanked by Baagbimo of Ijebuland, Chief Fassy Yusuf (right) and Chief Funlola Okunowo

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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SOCIETY

Towards better advertising The 17th anniversary of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) was held last Thursday at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos. The event, which included a lecture, attracted the creme de la creme of the advertising industry. NNEKA NWANERI was there.

T

HERE were guests and special guests.

They thronged into the banquet hall of the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos as early as 9am. Their coming was not unconnected with the 17th anniversary of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) being stakeholders in the advertising industry.

They had come from the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON); Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN); Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN); Outdoor Advertising Associations of Nigeria (OAAN); Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) and Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN).

They came to brainstorm on moving the profession forward. Others who joined them were those to be inducted as fellows and members. Not only this, they were to benefit from a lecture entitled: A segmentation study of the advertising market in Nigeria: The portfolio strategy and positioning implications for advertising agencies.

The compere was Dr Ken Ikpe. Dignitaries present were Minister for Information Mr Labran Maku, represented by Mr Abiodun Anbulu; the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Value, Mrs Sarah Jubril; APCON’s Chairman, Mr Lolu Akinwunmi; the council’s Registrar, Alhaji Bello Kankarofi; a senior practitioner, Sir Steve Omajafor and a member, House of Representatives in Kano, Hon Salisu Mohammed.

Others were Mr Funmi Onabolu; Mrs Funmi Thomas; Mrs Azuka Odunuka of the Nigerian Press Council; former APCON Chairmen, Mr Chis Dodhje and May Nzeribe.

The welcome remarks and address were given by Kankarofi and Akinwunmi, who welcomed guests and expressed happiness to

receive new members into the association.

Introducing the speaker of the day, Akinwumi described him as an icon in the marketing industry. “The topic was carefully chosen to see local segmentation and to prepare people for future challenges, as we cannot be ignorant in the practice of advertising if we still want to stay in business. Commercialisation shouldn’t take over professionalism’’, he said.

Chief Executive Officer, Media Space, Mr George Thorpe, who delivered the lecture, said there was a serious problem of knowledge and understanding in the industry. According to him, Nigeria, and indeed, the continent lack leaders with moral values and integrity. This, he said, has led to lack of trust in leaders.

He said leaders at the three levels of government should be double checked for values, as key to good governance.

“There is nothing like re-branding, but relaunching a campaign to convey new ideas behind the necessary improvement of the brand. Nigeria needs to sort out the problem first then communicate the attributes.

Thorpe said the issue of segmentation in the print media should be looked into, condemning half-baked advertisers who overload the television and radio stations with bad adverts.

Kankarofi expressed delight that his fellow advertisers will be educated, as he identified all his council members by their names and faces.

One of the special features of the day was the conferment of award on a lawyer, Jenifer Aborime, who was honoured with a plaque and a medal. Kankarofi encouraged others to do same as the lawyer, who has consistently since 2007 corrected them and brought to their notice bad adverts.

The registrar later administered the oath of practice on the inductees as they stepped out to receive their certificates of membership.

•Mrs Sara Jubril and Mr Angulu

•Mr Lolu Akinwumi (left) and Mr George Thrope

•Alhaji Kankarofi

•Mr Funmi Onabolu (left) and Mr Kriss Duroje

•Sir Omojafor

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

NATIONAL WOMEN CONFERENCE AT EKO HOTEL AND SUITES, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS

• Wife of Ogun State Governor Mrs Olufunsho Amosun (left) and her Osun counterpart Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola

•Wife of Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly Mrs Mayowa Ikuforiji (left) and Mrs Ibikun Awosika

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

32

SOCIETY

• Bride’s mum, Mrs Pinmo (left) and groom’s mother, Mrs Titiloye

• The couple Adebayo and Temitope

When Jos was ‘painted green’ Last Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, families of Adefemi Titiloye and Omotayo Pinmo witnessed the wedding of their children, Adebayo and Temitope. The event was an assurance that there is still life on the Plateau, despite the pall of despondency and loss that had gripped the city. AMINU IDEGU reports.

W

HEN Adebayo and Temitope literarily ‘shook’ Jos, the capital of Plateau State last Saturday with their wedding, it was to convince everyone that life still remained on the Plateau. The couple and their families put all they had into the wedding as it is the only rite of passage mortals witness on earth.

Everyone in attendance agreed that life still existed on the plateau, especially in the Tin city.

To the couple, Jos’ crisis notwithstanding, there was no better time to celebrate their union. Little wonder their wedding was the talk of the town; their guests, families and friends painted the city green with various shades of green attires.

The invitation cards, wedding cake and souvenirs were all in green. Their message, as it were, was: “It is the beginning of a new life.”

The Plateau State chapter of the Redeemed

Christian Church of God (RCCG), Alheri, Zaria Road, Jos, popularly known as Jesus House Parish, was the venue of the solemnisation and a senior pastor of the church, Pastor Idowu Omage was in charge.

Typical of such events, the officiating pastor has to confirm from the congregation if there was any opposition to the marriage, or if there was any reason the couple should not be joined. He did and there was none. He then cautioned church members, relatives, parents and friends not to put asunder what God had joined together.

The marital oath was administered on the couple; the groom presented a new Bible to his bride as typical of the Redeemed. The couple later signed the dotted lines and was presented their marriage certificate.

• Chief Olanrewaju

• Groom’s father Mr Titiloye

Pastor Michael Obadofin while giving the sermon advised them against domestic violence. He said: “Couples should avoid becoming wrestlers at home. They should understand each other, forgive always and be humble to one another throughout their marriage life.”

The cleric also warned their parents not to dictate to their children on how they should live their lives. He encouraged the newly wed to turn to their Bible when temptations set in and when their marriage is under threat.

At the ECW A Conference Hall, venue of the reception, Chief Banwo Olarenwaju advised the couple to eschew arrogance as a way of achieving a long lasting marital life.

Both Bayo and Tope were full of appreciation for those who found time to attend the event. They said almost in chorus: “Your presence made the difference, you honor our invitation and you were part of our special day. May our story and song light up your lives beyond this day for keeping this date with us. We thank you most sincerely.

God bless you.”

The father of the groom when asked how he felt said he was so happy to have witnessed the day. Mr Titiloye, who is the Registrar of Rainbow College, Surulere, Lagos said: “I’m the happiest man today because this is my second son that I’m witnessing his marriage. One got married last year, this is the second. I have six boys in my family and I wish and hope that God will give me long life to witness the marriage of all my sons. My appreciation goes to all the invited guests and The Nation newspaper.”

The Iponri Central Mosque hall came alive during the Aqdun Nikah between Raliat Bamgbopa, the daughter of the Vice Chairman of Nawair-ud-Deen Society, Mushin/Oshodi branch, Alhaji Nafiu Bamgbopa and her beau, Abdul-Wasiu Ademola. OSAS ROBERT and SHEHU BELLO were there.

Joined by love after facebook meeting

C

REAM, blue and white were the colours of the day. The women were the cynosure of all eyes with their expensive and gorgeous Iro and Buba lace attires, beads, bracelets and headgears of various styles. They looked resplendent as they moved about to hug and chat with friends.

The bride, Raliat, looked charming. She was dressed in a beautiful cream flowing ball gown.

Her hands were designed with lovely tattoos.

Everyone stood as she entered the hall to take a seat beside her husband. She was all smiles throughout the ceremony as she looked adoringly at her husband.

The groom, Abdul-Wasiu, was not disappointing with his outfit. He wore a cream Agbada and a matching cap. His numerous friends hailed him as he went to take his seat.

Their love story started on the facebook, a social network site on the internet, where they chatted as friends until love crept in. They have many things in common. Both are devoted Muslims, highly principled and very reserved.

Interestingly, Adul-Wasiu said he stored Raliat’s phone number as “my wife” the very first day he met her.

In the sermon, Imam Musa Yussuf urged the couple to be committed to each other. He described marriage as a life time commitment that should not be rushed into to avoid rushing out from it. He urged them to be tolerant, patient and receptive of each other.

“You too should remember always that you made all these people come out today in their best, leaving the comforts of their homes and, probably, one appointment or the other just to make your day. And you should not expect the

same people here some years later for a divorce because I am sorry to disappoint you that there is no ceremony like that in existence,” he said.

They exchanged marital vows and were presented copies of the Quran, which they were advised to use as a guide in their marriage.

The bride told The Nation that she met her husband on the facebook and that their relationship followed afterwards.

“We met on facebook and he has been my friend on facebook for more than two years. We just used to chat and that’s all until one day, I posted a particular comment on my wall and he called to comment and the comment really attracted me,” Raliat said.

Her husband corroborated the story: “We met somehow through the normal search and the very first day I set my eyes on her, I knew that this is my very own. All the signs written over her showed clearly that this is my own. She gave me her number and I saved it as my wife. And after a few calls and hanging out, she eventually agreed,” he said.

The bride’s mother, Alhaja Kaosara Bamgbopa, who drew many to their feet as she danced with her husband, was full of joy as the day was a dream come true for her.

“I feel very happy and I thank almighty Allah who has given me the grace to see today. I thank my husband and every member of my family who trained me that I was able to, in turn, to train my daughter. I will advise her to tolerate him like I tolerated her father,” she said.

The bride’s father prayed for the blessings of Allah for the couple. “I am very happy and it’s a pleasure that God made today possible for me and my family. My advice to them is that they

•The couple Abdulwasiu and Raliat

should stick to the tenets of the holy Quran with all the sayings of the prophet as regards marriage. Allah has ordained marriage and I pray Allah to bless their marriage and to give them good children and all the good things of life. I pray that they will build the nation from their home,” he prayed.

The groom’s brother-in-law, Alhaji Ahmed Adenekan, who represented the groom’s father, told the couple never to al-

low a third party in their marriage. “He is a quiet person, easy going and very religious. He has high aspirations and said he was going to have everything he needed in his home before he wedded. Even if there is any conflict between them they should not take it to anybody rather they should resolve it within themselves because the more you go to someone you will find out that different kinds of advice will start coming in; and at the end of the day, it will destroy their marriage. They should understand each other well and God will see them through,” he prayed.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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SOCIETY The waiting for the fruit of the womb by the parish shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ, Miracle Centre, Alagbole Ogun State, Evangelist Owolabi Jacob Idowu and his wife, Comfort Adenike, has ended with the birth of their baby boy after 27 years of marriage. Last Saturday, Baby Oluwadamilare was christened. They were joined by family members, friends and members of congregation to celebrate God’s miracle in their marriage. AMIDU ARIJE reports.

After 27 years of waiting... comes baby, Oluwadamilare

I

F someone had told them in December 1984 when they got married that their marriage would not be blessed with the fruit of the womb until 27 years after, they would not have believed. But it happened.

Evangelist Owolabi Jacob Idowu and his wife, Comfort Adenike, waited for 27 years for God to give them a child. And he did.

The baby boy, Oluwadamilare, was christened last Saturday.

Expectedly, relatives, friends and members of the congregation were around to felicitate with them for the precious gift God has given to them. To many, their story was exceptionally incredible. That they could wait for 27 years was not only a testimony of their faith, but a confirmation of their trust in God. Remarkably so, Evangelist Idowu had, a number of times, helped many couples while he remained childless. Age was not much on their side. Evangelist Idowu is 65 while his wife is 54.

Their miracle pulled a large crowd of wellwishers and faithful to the Celestial Church of Christ, Miracle Centre, Alagbole, Ogun State where the precious Oluwadamilare was christened.

Kini ise re? Iyanu iyanu ni, oba ti oji oku dide olugbala oba mimo. Kini ise re? Iyanu iyanu…

(Meaning: What are His works? Wonders, wonders…) was among the songs sang to appreciate God that day. Everyone was full of joy that day; a day they had looked forward to; a day the Lord actually made.

To Mrs Owolabi, the journey to her new status as a mother might have been rough and tough, but her faith, perseverance and prayerfulness saw her through.

“The beginning of the journey was tough and rough, but I thank God my case is one of the incredible news of the year. I thank God and glorify his name because I just obtained mercy from Him,” she said.

She described the day as her happiest. “Today is the most excited day in my life because it was unexpected. I didn’t know this day will come because doctors have said that age is not on my side, that I cannot make it again. But I thank God, it was miraculous. I was overwhelmed with joy.s I can’t just explain my joy,” she said, singing a song: “Unquestionable you are the Lord, unquestionable you are the Lord, unquestionable, unquestionable, unquestionable you are the Lord.”

She continued: “There was never a time I thought of quitting the marriage because the man (her husband) is my boss, mentor, a father, a loving and caring husband. Though there were challenges from the families, but I thank God because we never allowed that to disturb us.

“Whenever he saw me crying he would tell me that this woman you are not too old, you are not as old as the Sarah in the Bible.

•From left: Mr Olubunmi Ojo; Mrs Owolabi; Evangelist Owolabi with the baby and Otunba Davies

•Mrs Olufunmilayo Alatise (right) and Mrs Christiana Ayaji

God will do it for us too, and now He has given us a baby whom I will call Oluwawemimo, Oluwadamilare, Oluwadarasimi, Mofaratijesu, Iyanuoluwa and Ifeoluwa.”

She urged women in her category to exercise patience and be full of prayers, saying there is nothing God cannot do.

The father of the baby, Evangelist Idowu, also agreed that the journey was not easy for them.

“It has not been very easy; the saying that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown is apt in my case. If you are not in Christ Jesus people will advise you wrongly and when

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

you take to their advice, you end up being like them and that will amount to losing the track of Jesus. I appreciate God, nobody gives me instruction because I am a man of God. As a disciplined person, I don’t follow the multitude to do the wrong thing. That my wife is barren does not mean she is going to be barren forever; I have that strong belief that there is going to be a breakthrough and that at the end, we are going to be celebrated,” he said.

He went on: “There has never been any time in my life I thought of quitting the marriage because I read about Isaac in the scriptures who was 40 years old before he

marriedRebecca and spent another 25 years before he could have a child and he was celebrated. So, I have no regret whatsoever, my faith in the Lord is very powerful, it is very wholesome, I don’t compare myself with an ordinary person who does not know Christ Jesus. I have been bringing people onto Christ, how then will I be having problem and think that Jesus cannot solve it?

“Today, I am overwhelmed with unquantifiable joy. I have never experienced this kind of joy since the 65 years of my birth.

I was unable to eat. I was unable to sleep. I swallowed tablets, yet I could not sleep, because I was full of joy.

“My wife is not just a wife; she is like my mother who doesn’t leave her child alone.

She is the type who does not think much about worldly things. She is my umbrella and I am her umbrella,” he added.

A close member of the family, Otunba Femi Olaoshebikan Davies, who was at the christening said: “I have known this family for the past 17 years. One thing that is certain is that God’s miracles are unlimited. This is a marriage of 27 years that was childless, but with the waiting on the Lord and lots of praying and fasting things happened for them. This is a man of God who had predicted the fruit of womb for so many people and they saw results, but who, unfortunately, was unable to predict his own. Today’s event has proven God’s universality, that God is the Supreme Being. It is possible for one to wait for 24 hours, 24 days, 24 months, but it is not easy to wait for 27 years. Our father in the Lord is an epitome of discipline, righteousness and commitment. It is a profound miracle that has happened in his life. I think this baby can be called the OBAMA of our time. We thank God for the life of our father, for this bundle of joy in his life.”

Another friend of the Idowu, Mrs Christiana Ajayi, described the baby as a miracle. “It is a miracle baby; miracle of the millennium, because everybody has lost hope that this woman was going to have a child in life, but because the God we serve is a miraculous God, He gave us this baby,” she said.

Mrs Ajayi described the couple as strong, patient and enduring. According to her, they were able to surmount the problems that came their way because of these virtues.

A childhood friend of Mrs Owolabi, Mrs Comfort Alatise, also described the family as strong believers in God. She said the day was most wonderful and named the baby Iyanuoluwa.

Another family friend, Mrs Aderoju Osineye, noted that the birth of the baby was simply miraculous.

The whole congregation and guests sang and danced tirelessly to express their joy.

MARITAL BLISS

AWARD

From left: Reverend Jude Anyaehie with Mronyebuchi Osuji and former Miss Edith Chigbu during their wedding at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic church Aguda, Surulere, Lagos

•Assistant Comptroller of Customs Adesanmi Omiye (middle) displaying an award recieved from the National Association of Akoko Students (NAAS). With him are (from left) Abdulrasheed Aluko(President); Rashidi Adekunle(Asst. Sec-Gen); Ebenezer Akinola(Sec-Gen) and Olujude Daisi(PRO)

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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SOCIETY Family members, friends and well-wishers gathered last Thursday at the expansive hall of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, for the presentation of Ambassador of Peace awards to distinguished members of the Universal Peace Federation and the fifth annual conference and lecture entitled: Towards an era of universal peace in Africa and the world. VIVIAN EBBAH reports.

•Chief Olusola (left) and Bishop Abiodun Olugbenro

•From left: Saka Kadri; Mr Gbadebo Olamerun and wife Busola

•Rev Imo Nkanta (left) and Alhaji Lateef Shoyemi

•Dr Ogurie (left) and Mr Olaleye Alao

T

HEY came in their various traditional and corporate attires, looking stunning as they exchanged pleasantries and posed for photographs.

It was at the fifth annual conference and presentation of award to distinguished members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Lagos State Chapter at the Osun Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Its theme was Towards an Era of Universal Peace in Africa and the World. Everyone passionate about peace jostled for seats in the ornately decorated hall which was filled to capacity. Gold and green embellished with sparkling lights hung around the hall.

The event started with a documentary highlighting the activities of UPF. However, the business of the day began when the Secretary-General, Mr Olaleye Ala, mounted the podium to say that the event was part of a wider initiative that included observance of the United Nations International Day of Families.

The first speaker, Dr Oluyemisi Pitan, spoke extensively on the topic: Urgent need for Africa peace and security in the world as a whole through conflict prevention and mediation.

He said the lasting substances for any individual are internal peace, external peace and

Peace from within global peace. She noted that peace is not merely the absence of war and hostility, but the presence of co-operation, tolerance, compassion and justice worldwide.

Mrs Pitan quoted the legendary Mahatma Gandhi: “Happiness is what you think, what you say and what you do in harmony.”

She stressed that to achieve peace, one must be kind and not destructive.

She noted that it was the break of a new era for Africa to resolve its crises and embark on peace-building mission; permitting justice to reign.

She stated that mediation is the key principle behind the formation of Peace and Security Council (PSC) hence, its major function.

She noted that since its formation, mediation has aspired to explore conflict management in Africa as a continent, but regrettably, unable to achieve any meaningful success under the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

As one of the steps towards achieving peace on the continent, Dr Pitan said co-operation

among the Africa Union (AU) and partnerships among nations will generate strength for the process of mediation and assist in conflict prevention.

“Mediation should be seen as an end to a means by getting it institutionalised as this will serve as a buffer to the strength of AU’s mediation capability. Mediation expertise could be explored. This is very necessary because professionalism will further lay credence on the output of mediation machinery set in motion and some permanence in mediation processes will be internalised,” she said.

She concluded that the aim of the seminar was to inform the AU mediation work programme on areas to focus on, which include initiatives for mediating peace in Africa,; lessons learnt and proactive measures to maintain peace; experiences derived from mediation; transfer of those experiences to the resolution of crisis and challenges in future and peace opportunities to minimise conflicts in Africa, and if possible at the global level.

The last speaker, Dr George Ogurie, talked

PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

about: Marriage and family for peace and national development.

Ogurie stated that the central pillar of UPF mission was its support for marriage and family through empowerment seminars and the marriage and family blessings for world peace events.

He said the UPF founders have long taught that marriage and family are the cornerstones of peace and that the UPF is a leading voice for a vision of marriage and family that stand firm in the array of forces that challenge and undermine the traditional family.

Ogurie noted that family decline and breakdowns, ultimately, lead to corruption, crime, poverty and moral confusion in society.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of UPF, Chief Segun Olusola, urged the awardees to make good use of the honours bestowed on them.

“This award should prompt you to do more in the pursuit of peace,” he said.

One of the awardees, Mr Gbadebo Olamerun, who runs a foundation that looks after the elderly in the society, said he was excited and fulfilled.

“I am so happy and fulfilled, this award is dedicated to God for more strength to be able to carry out that which I am called to do,” he said.

WEDDING

INDUCTION

• Solomon Asowata of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and his wife, former Miss Osarugue Irogue after their wedding in Benin City

From left: Former president, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Sir Peter Edioho; Chief Michael Olawale-Cole; President, NIM, Dr Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko and Registrar, Maurice Lakanu at the isnstitute’s induction of Management Practitioners.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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SOCIETY

A unique night The Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos was filled when the Nigerian Breweries Plc hosted its customers to a reception last Friday, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

A

CROSS the world, last Friday (11-11-11) was regarded as a unique day in the Gregorian calendar.

In some parts of the world, Asia to be precise, people, especially lovers, hurriedly fixed their wedding for that day while various events were also lined up by corporate bodies and religious organisations in Nigeria to mark the day they considered special.

Nigerian Breweries Plc was not an exemption. The brewing giant gathered its customers alongside eminent personalities for a dinner.

The Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the event, was lively throughout the night.

Tagged Night of a ‘Hat Trick,’ it featured scintillating performance from popular comedian I go die.

Nigerian hip-hop sensatio, Innocent Ujah Idibia a.k.a Tuface Idibia, thrilled the gathering with one of his hit tracks, One love.

Tuface, the African Queen crooner, got many a guest on their feet.

Other musicians were John Abaga otherwise known as MI (Mr Incredible) and Guitar man, Bez. The highpoint of the night was the unveiling of three new products of the brewing company Heineken Magnum in a classic champagne-style bottle, complete with cork and cage seal; Fayrouz PET bottle and Legend can.

A special appearance of Eric Monjoin, the Heineken man of the world and iconic actor that featured in Heineken’s latest global campaign, was like icing on the cake for the event.

The organisers, Nigerian Breweries (NB), seized the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment toward the production of high quality drinks that meet international standards.

Its Marketing Director, Mr Jacco Van der Linden thanked the guests for gracing the event.

Van der Linden said Heineken Magnum comes in an impressive 150cl unique and innovative bottle with a cork that allows consumers in Nigeria to actually share a beer for the first time.

“It is the only beer that pops which makes it perfect for occasions, especially the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations,” he said.

Senior Brand Manager Jacqueline Van Faassen thanked the customers for helping the firm to grow from strength to strength.

Van Faassen promised not to disappoint their customers in terms of quality products.

“We decided to put legend in a can because it was what our consumers wanted and because it reaches those places the bottle cannot due to convenience. We did this to deliver satisfaction to all consumers who desire afford-

•From left: Mr Henk Wymega; Van Der Linden; Nicolaas Verveld and Chairman Board of Directors, Chief Kola Jamodu

•MD Insight Communications, Mr Jimi Awosika (left) and Mr Yusuf Ageni

•Mr Okoh Friday

•Jacqueline Van Fassen

•Chief Executive Officer Neo Media Mr Ehi Braimah

•Mr Victor Olaotan (left) and Mr Kunle Coker

•Senior brand Manager Fayrouz Mrs Nnnena Ifebigh-Hemeson and Monjoin, Heineken man of the World

•Oyvind Boiesen (left) and Mr Patrick Allchurch

•Corporate Affairs Manager, Nigerian Breweries, Mr Edem Vindah

able and best quality,” she said.

Brand Manager Funso Ayeni attributed the success of the company to their loyal customers.

“Our company is growing impressively in volume every two years. This great achievement is unheard of in Nigerian markets

and we are excited about it. We believe that, despite these huge achievements, we can still grow faster in the future and the con-

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

sumers can be assured of getting better service wherever or whenever they want it,” he said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

COMMENTARY

“C

ONSCIENCE is an open wound; only the truth can heal it”.

Uthman Dan Fodio Your Excellency, This is the second time an open letter is coming to you from this column following your election into the presidency about six months ago.

Sir, you are the President of Nigeria today, by the grace of Allah, not because you are wiser, more pious, better informed or more experienced than others.

Your ascension to that exalted seat is a fulfilment of Allah’s promise thus: “Say oh! Allah, the Sovereign of all sovereignty. You bestow sovereignty on whomever You will and take it from whoever You please. You exalt whomever You will and abase whomever You please. In your hand lies all that is good. You have power over all things….”

Your Excellency, power in the hands of a ruler is like a sword which can be used to attack or defend the ruled. It is also like destiny which can be used to demote the aristocrats or promote the hopeless downtrodden peasants. It is an instrument of dismantling hegemonies and enthroning hope in the hopeless masses. Power is capable of being used to appoint or disappoint people across tribes, religions and interests. It can also be used to elongate or terminate lives depending on who wields it.

But, sir, beyond every human power there is a Supreme Power which neither wanes nor ends. It is to that Supreme Power that all the power wielders in this world will finally render their account especially on how they used the power entrusted to them. As a Christian sir, you must understand that everything in this world is ephemeral. The world has witnessed, in various countries and millennia, how men of ‘timber’ and ‘calibre’ ruled positively or negatively and what eventually became of them. History has always been an eyewitness.

Your Excellency, after security, law and justice, nothing else is held more sacrosanct in Islam than governance which can be likened to a magnificent umbrella under which the people are supposed to take cover during torrential rains or burning sun. In a democratic environment, such umbrella is owned, not by those who hold it in their hands but by the citizenry who handed it over to them. Its bearers are just servants holding it in trust for the people.

Perhaps that was why your predecessor, the late President Yar’Adua called himself a servant leader on assumption of office in May 2007.

Sir, I wrote a similar letter to President Yar’Adua in this column shortly after his assumption of office in 2007. In that letter, I reminded him of two important incidents in the history of Islam both of which today serve as indelible models for world rulers especially those of the West.

One of the incidents was a letter which the fourth Caliph in Islam, Ali Bn Abi Talib wrote to Ashtar Bn Malik whom he appointed as Governor of Egypt. The other was the practical example of good governance exemplarily demonstrated by Caliph Umar Bn Abdul Aziz who ruled the Umayyad dynasty about 85 years after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Please, find below an excerpt from Caliph Ali’s letter which has since served as a code of conduct in governance for all people who aspire to rule. You may have some benefits to derive from it sir. It goes thus: “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Be it known to you Oh Malik, that I am sending you to a country which had experienced in the past both just and unjust rule. The People you are going to rule will scrutinize your actions with searching eyes just as you used to scrutinize the actions of those before you.

They will speak of you just as you did speak of those before you. Note that the public speak well only of those who do well. It is they, who furnish the proof of rulers’ actions. Hence, the richest treasure that you may covet should be the treasure of good deeds.

Keep your desire under control and deny yourself that which you have been warned against. By such abstinence alone, you will be able to distinguish between good and bad”.

“Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindness and blessing to them. Do not behave to them like a barbarian in power and do not appropriate to yourself that which belongs to them. Remember that

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08051101861

Letter to Mr President

•Dr. Jonathan the citizens of the state are of two categories. They are either your brothers in religion or your brethren as human beings.

They are subjects of infirmity who are prone to making mistakes. But you must forgive them as you would like God to forgive you.

Bear in mind that you are placed over them as I am placed over you. And there is God Almighty above him who has given you the position of a Governor in order to look after those under you and be sufficient for them. You will be judged by what you do for or to them”.

“Do not be tempted to use power and authority of office without exhausting investigation and facts concerning the matter at stake as that will corrupt your heart, weaken your faith in religion and create disorder in the state.”Never take counsel of a miser, for, he (or she) will vitiate your magnanimity and frighten you with poverty around. Do not seek advice from a coward, he (or she) will weaken your resolution and dampen your morale. Do not take counsel of a greedy person, he (or she) will instil greed in you and turn you into a tyrant. Miserliness, cowardice and greed deprive man of piety and push him into unbridled desperation. The worst counsellor is one who had served a tyrant before and shared his crimes. Do not appoint such a person as your adviser. He will lure you into crimes and turn you into a criminal”.

“Great care should be exercised in revenue administration to ensure, not only the prosperity of the tax payers but also that of the masses. You should regard the proper upkeep of the land in cultivation (or economic resources of the nation) as of greater importance than the collection of revenues. He who demands revenue without helping land cultivators (or the workforce) ruins the state”.

“Fear God when you are dealing with the problems of the poor who have none to patronize or protect their interest. They are forlorn, indigent, and helpless as they have have become victims of the vicissitude of time. Assign for their uplift a portion of the state exchequer (Baytul Mal) wherever they may be. Let no state preoccupation slip them away from your mind for no excuse whatsoever, will be acceptable to Allah for neglecting their rights.….”

“Finally, dear Malik, shun self-adoration. Do not indulge in self-praise nor en-

courage others to extol you because of all the viruses that undo good deeds of pious men, Satan relies most on praise and flattery. Breach of promise annoys God and man alike. Do not act in haste nor defer the execution of a good decision. Do not insist on wrong doing or slackness in rectifying the wrong already done”.

“When people as a whole agree upon a thing, do not impose your own view on them just because you are in power. Note that power is transient and you will eventually exit or be forced to exit from it one day. And, remember that you will be called upon to render account to God while you remain in the negative chapter of history if your performance is abysmal....”

Your Excellency, Caliph Umar bn Abdul Aziz who was cited above as the second historical incident was a famous Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. He became Caliph about 85 years after the demise of the Prophet.

In a particular year during his reign, the state made so much money that the problem was how to spend it. The tradition, according to Islamic injunction, was for the state to dispense zakat to the poor among the citizenry from the much money made through the collection of zakat just as social welfare is dispensed to the jobless, the aged and weak in some sane countries today. But when this was to be done, it turned out that nobody in the entire state was so poor as to be a zakat recipient. The huge amount earmarked for zakat that year had to be returned to the state treasury. It is taken for granted here that a state without poor people is surely a state without beggars.

Umar Bn Abdul Aziz, who became so famous in history as an ingenuous economic manager, ruled for only three years from 717 to 720 C.E. Yet, he died at the age of 37. The secret of his success was his ability to identify two major areas of economic management in governance. One was to regulate the cost of governance by ensuring that those in government were neither too many nor paid undeserved salaries even as he ascertained that the poor public employees were not enslaved, if psychologically, to the privileged political appointees or those elected to legislate for the state. And there was an independent body responsible for the determination of public workers’ remunerations.

Caliph Umar’s second secret of success was his official recognition of the middle class as the greatest employer of labour.

He knew that if two million professionals or artisans in the state could employ three staff each, the burden of gross unemployment would be off the neck of the government because eight million people would have been effectively employed. And that would not only have ordinarily brought the rate of crime in the state to its lowest ebb it would have also enhanced the state economy tremendously.

What he did, in emulation of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), therefore, was to use the resources of the state to encourage self-employment through professionalism and artisanship. He knew very well that whatever was spent on such a vital venture would return to the state treasury in many folds through taxation. Not only that sir, he also facilitated an education curriculum to suit that design.

This economic genius has since become the heritage of the Western countries and they are thriving gloriously in it today in the name of privatisation. Any govern-

ment that eliminates the middle class as in the case of Nigeria automatically opens the gate of poverty and crime to the populace.

Sir, Nigerians are suffering today. They are hungry. They are jobless. They are also hopeless. No school for many children. No jobs for many school leavers.

No food for most parents. No housing for most families. Despair is the common language of this era.

Your Excellency, this is not the time to tell Nigerians of any removal of fuel subsidy the existence of which they do not believe in the first instance. They are ignorant of the cost of production of a barrel of oil which can enable them to know the amount of subsidy on it if any at all.

And the government is not ready to tell them. They are puzzled by the fact that of all the OPEC nations’ only Nigeria cannot refine her own oil internally. And in the debate that ensued on this matter, they looked up to you for succour. But your declaration that “those who opposed the removal of oil subsidy were planning to bring down your government” came as a disappointment to them. Their interpretation of that declaration is that of a presidential blackmail that is tantamount to governmental bully.

Most Nigerians are at a loss over the issue of subsidy because they are yet to know what the billions of Dollars realised annually for years from the oil sector has been used to achieve especially when the federal government alone takes a lion’s share of 52% in it.

To most if not all Nigerians, the year 2012 is the year of Armageddon. That is the year in which new vehicle number plates will be rolled out for every vehicle owner to purchase by force at exorbitant amount. It is the year in which new driver’s licence, new vehicle particulars and removal of oil subsidy will be forced down their throat willy-nilly.

Already, the electricity tariff has been spirally increased without the consent of the people. And that was done in anticipation of when electricity will become stable in Nigeria. That can be called another ‘BLIND TRUST’ in governmental business.

Yet the pittance called minimum wage is not paid to workers just as septuagenarian and octogenarian retirees who had spent the best of their youthful lives are tossed up and down in the bid to show evidence of being alive over the pension that may not be paid for years. And the issue of insecurity in the land is another matter entirely.

Sir, in an insecure environment like ours currently, it will take a foolish investor to come down to Nigeria for the purpose of investment when those hitherto on ground have been trooping out to neighbouring countries in torrents. Just as it may not be wise for Nigeria to go and invest in countries like Somalia or Afghanistan now so will no sensible foreign investors come here now to invest.

This is without prejudice to Your Excellency’s advice to the French business men whom you told recently to ignore the Boko Haram menace and come up to invest in Nigeria. It is certain that those people know more than we are telling them about our country.

But by and large sir, in steering the ship of this giant country, I pray the Almighty Allah to give you the faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), the patience of Prophet Ayub (Job), the courage of Prophet Musa (Moses), the bravery of Prophet Daud (David), the wisdom of Prophet Sulayman (Solomon), the innocence of Prophet Isa (Jesus) and the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Through the constant and genuine prayers of the ruled the rulers are able to measure their performance and their acceptability.

Sir, gold and silver, ‘THE MESSAGE’ has none to offer you. But we believe that a genuine piece of advice based on pure intention is more valuable than all the ornaments of this world.

“If we work marble it will perish; If we work upon brass, time will efface it; If we rear temples they will crumble into dust; But if we work upon immortal minds and instil in them just principles; We are then engraving that upon a tablet which no one can efface but will brighten into all eternity” As-Salam alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu.

THE NATION

38

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

CRIME WATCH

•Mike (left) and Ikechukwu

S

•Ismaila (right) and onlookers

OME residents of Itire-Ikate, a suburb of Lagos, have blamed a gang of kidnappers, said to use their victims for ritual purposes, for the spate of killings in the area. The searchlight on the mysterious deaths was beamed on the area after Rafiu Ismail, a resident of the community, became the latest victim of an alleged ‘bloodthirsty’ kidnap ring.

On Thursday, November 3, a landlord was electrocuted on Smith Street along Lawanson Road in the Itire-Ikate area of Lagos as he made to connect electric power from a high tension electric wire in the company of one of his tenants.

While the tenant was fortunate to have survived the ordeal with a couple of severe injuries to boot, the landlord, a 35-year-old man who, until the time of his death was popularly called IK, had to pay with his life.

IK, according to sources who pleaded anonymity because of security reasons, made a living from selling rugs and carpets around Lagos.

He also owned the property on No. 33, Smith Street where he met his untimely death. His woes had begun, sources said, when he invited one of his tenants who work for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to help him reconnect his house to the main grid after faults were discovered from an electric pole which hitherto supplied power to the building and a few others in the vicinity.

According to eyewitnesses, while the

Kidnappers blamed for alleged killings Stories by Titilayo Banjoko

PHCN employee made his way through the rungs of the ladder, Mr IK clasped to the ladder below in a firm grip to prevent his tenant from falling.

The steel ladder had made contact with the high tension wire above, unknown to the two of them, sending landlord and tenant into a vicious spin, eyewitnesses recounted.

While the landlord was said to have died on the spot, his tenant was reported to have been in a state of coma as he was badly bruised and torn.

The late landlord’s family, however, would not take his death lying low. Accusing fingers were immediately pointed the way of a Muslim cleric called Alfa Lukman, who was alleged to have predicted that the deceased would certainly join his ancestors within three days.

Another source who spoke to Newsextra said the deceased had discovered a fetish substance on the front terraces of his compound one morning and had contacted a more seasoned Muslim cleric who informed him that the fetish substance was certainly

not a good omen and sacrifices must be offered to the gods to turn the omen on its head.

Piecing the stories together, the deceased’s family reportedly went into a rage. Unable to lay their hands on Alfa Lukman, the aggrieved family of Mr IK seized a close ally of Lukman’s; 28-year-old Rafiu Ismail to carry out their reprisal attacks.

“I was coming back from work on November 4 when six able-bodied men who I immediately recognised as the late landlord’s boys descended on me. They dragged me forcefully and pulled me into the compound from where I was taken into the backyard…..they tied my hands and feet and beat me with canes and charms…..” Ismail recounted.

Ismail continues; “They brought out two native white eggs, muttered some incantations and requested from me the names of my parents. I refused to mention my parents’ names. So, they proceeded to break the eggs on my head. They told me they would kill me if I didn’t speak. I was shouting at this point. A young boy who heard my screams alerted people who rushed to my

rescue.”

Ismail further told Newsextra that he overheard the gang say they needed seven human heads to perform the rituals for the late landlord’s burial.

Two of the suspects who harassed Ismail, Ikechukwu Eze, 28 and Nwakore Mike 33, have since been picked up by the police and have confessed in separate statements to be part of the group who brutally assaulted Ismail, with order from the deceased’s family.

Ikechukwu, who was supposed to have tied the knots with his would-be bride last Saturday, has blamed the devil for his role in the onslaughts in the area and the twosome have confessed that ritual kidnapping and killings are what they engage in to earn a living.

Some residents of the Itire community in separate interviews confided in Newsextra that rituals for the purposes of making money have been going on in the community for a while now. They pointed to the deluge of decaying corpses exhumed around the area recently when work for the dredging of the nearby carnal commenced, as proof that kidnappings and killings abound in this Lagos suburb.

Investigations into the reprisal attacks carried out on Ismail by the gang of six is ongoing and the case has been charged to court.

All attempts to get the views of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Samuel Jinadu, proved futile at the time of filing this report, as his mobile phone was switched off.

Detectives probe woman’s death

•Adekoya

D

ETECTIVES are working hard to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of Mrs Toyin Adekoya, 36, whose lifeless body was found dangling from a rope in her family apartment on October 10, 2011.

The death was said to have occured a day after she reportedly had dinner with her husband, Mr Adeniyi Adekoya. The couple, until the incident, lived together in the Apata area

of Ibadan.

Mr Adekoya said on that night, he and his wife had dinner, watched television together and engaged in their usual small talk without a hint of what would follow.

“There was certainly no misunderstanding between us,” Mr Adekoya told Newsextra, still looking griefstricken. On the day she died, I had series of meetings at work and she had enquired of me what I would want to eat when I return home. I just asked her to prepare anything of her choice. She later called to say I should buy some eggs so we could have yam and eggs for dinner……”

Sources however told Newsextra that Mrs Adekoya’s history of miscarriages during pregnancy may have played a role in driving her to take her own life. Three years after her union with her husband, according to sources who would not want their names in print for security reasons, the deceased had watched helplessly as her dream of delivering a child for her husband had always been cut short by series of miscarriages. It was a view her husband corroborated.

“I was certainly concerned about the unborn baby when I got home because she was pregnant and look-

ing moody that night. She had a medical history of losing her baby between the second and sixth months of pregnancy.

“So, I was curious as to whether the baby was still intact. I would want to believe this was the only reason she took her life because we certainly had no misunderstanding prior to her death,” he said.

According to Mr Adekoya, his late wife said nothing to him upon enquiry as to the well-being of their unborn child and the couple had shared the same bed that night. Not another word was said between them, the husband of the deceased said, until he woke up the next morning to find the body of his wife dangling from a rope. It was a rude shock

to him, he told Newsextra, not least because they had shared a night (on separate ends of the bed, though) before the gory event of that morning. He would never have suspected she could kill herself in that manner, he mourned.

However, opinions appear divided as to whether or not the deceased actually took her own life or if the suicide scene was created as a cover up by a yet-unknown murderer.

A homicide detective who was on the scene shortly after to convey the corpse to the Ade-Oyo Hospital mortuary on Ring Road, Ibadan said: “The death of Toyin may not have been a suicide after all. We were told upon arrival here that the deceased had sent a text message to a

I was certainly concerned about the unborn baby when I got home because she was pregnant and looking moody that night. She had a medical history of losing her baby between the second and sixth months of pregnancy. I would want to believe this was the only reason she took her life because we certainly had no misunderstanding prior to her death

member of her family a few days before she died with the chilling words ‘Niyi (her husband) wants to kill me.’”

Mr Adekoya, however, denied upon questioning that he had anything to do with his late wife’s death.

“That is a lie. If anything, it was Toyin who had promised to end her own life some time ago when we had a misunderstanding. She had infested her food with insecticide and was ready to swallow the meal when I stopped her. I had to report her to her mother who pleaded on her behalf,” he said.

However, homicide detectives still suspect some level of foul play. They point to the posture of the body when they arrived as reason not to jump into conclusions with regard to suicide. The homicide experts say her hands were not dangling as they should have in the event of a suicide by hanging, and her legs were making contact with the floor beneath her, even though a chair had been pushed away from the corpse.

Speaking on behalf of the police, DSP Femi Okanlawon said investigations are ongoing and should anyone be found culpable for the death of the late Toyin Adekoya, the full wrath of the law would be meted out to the individual.

THE NATION

39

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

T

HE Abia State Government has inaugurated a committee that will sensitise the people of the state on the need for appropriate population data to help the state to plan for its development.

The committee, headed by the Executive Secretary Planning Commission Uloma Uruakpa, is saddled with the responsibility of educating the people on the need to have the children they can

Abia inaugurates population committee From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

manage and help the country and state have a manageable population which, in turn, will reduce population explosion.

Inaugurating the committee in Umuahia, Mrs Uruakpa urged

This kind of data will help the government to plan for what they people will need without stretching its limited resource…Until the people imbibe the spirit of registering both births and deaths irrespective of the age, the government will not have enough data to help it provide amenities for the people

the members to evolve a policy direction that will help the state plan for its people now and in the future.

Uruakpa said that they needed to sensitise the people on the need to register all births in every part of the state, stressing that until that is done, no state government including Abia will have a definite development plan.

She further said that the committee should also educate the people on the need to register the deaths of their loved ones. “This kind of data will help the government to plan for what they people will need without stretching its limited resources.”

The executive secretary noted that until the people of the state

imbibe the spirit of registering both births and deaths irrespective of the age, the government will not have enough data to help it provide amenities for the people.

She called on the members of the committee made up of project officers of the various UNFPA line ministries, the National Population Commission in collaboration with the UNFPA to sensitise the citizens on the need to be counted during census.

Uruakpa recounted that during the last census, the people of the state were marginalised because of lack of planning, stressing that the result has been hampering the fast development of the state and reduction in the revenue accru-

ing from the Federation Account.

Responding on behalf of members of the committee, the Director of Information, Nathan Harbour said that the task ahead as spelt out for them, is a charge that will task their experience.

Harbour noted that when good planning is put in place, the development of the state will become faster and more focused, stressing that such will benefit both the citizens and those living in the state, as no proper planning impairs development.

He assured that the group will do its best for the good of the state and its people, even as he called for maximum co-operation from every member of the committee for their job to be made easier.

Akwa Ibom celebrates Akpabio’s award •Continued from Page 27 grateful he was to Akpabio for taking the state not only into Nigeria, but into the world.

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma did not hide his elation at what he called the governor’s efforts to give everyone a sense of belonging. He told a crowd that included former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Chief Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) stalwart, captains of industries, security buffs, and so on that in recent times, he has felt deeply proud to be identified as an Akwa Ibomite.

Udoma, who also received the CON award, also expressed gratitude to Mr President for finding him fit for the honour.

Similarly, the Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Sam Ikon, narrated how he now proudly introduced himself simply as a citizen of Akwa Ibom State. According to him, each time he does that abroad, eyes turn in his direction and people comment freely on how the Niger Delta state is becoming a beacon of hope for the country.

For Umana Okon Umana, the Sec-

retary to State Government, Akpabio’s vision and efforts at changing the fortunes of the state for the better is paying off in tangible development models.

Consequently, he added, it should not be surprising if a grateful country and even international bodies rise in one huge ovation for an exemplary icon of good governance.

Here, Akpabio’s Senior Special Assistant on Print Media and Research, Usoro I Usoro, agrees. According to him, his boss deserves the highest award in the land because he is not just sincere about good governance; his achievements are tangible and verifiable.

According to him, no matter how mischievous a critic may want to be, he cannot deny the existence of the Ibom Airport; free healthcare; pipe-jacking underground drainage system; the e-library; five general hospitals; the free and compulsory education; five dualised federal highways; 210 urban roads; over 3,716 inter-ministerial projects, among others.

Asked to justify the numerous awards on his boss, Usoro said Akpabio is like the wind whose effect is felt by all.

“As I often say, the numerous national and international awards are a reflection of the fact that truth can never be hidden. Like the goldfish, he has been spotted and commended by various institutions and individuals. The CON award is, perhaps, a final confirmation of how worthy Governor Akpabio has been to receive those other lesser but equally important awards.

The important thing is that as he has personally said, these awards encourage him to do more for national progress.”

Surprisingly, while Akpabio receives national and international recognitions for his achievements, a section of the opposition says he has not done enough to merit same.

Still, Akpabio is increasingly sought after and appreciated. For the masses of Akwa Ibom who voted him into office, the governor is a shining star, well beyond their expectations. They refer, with pride, to the comments of the American whistle-blower, Wikileaks, which earlier alerted that Akpabio should be understudied for the secrets of

good governance.

“Today, the story is that if this good thing can come out of Akwa Ibom, then if genuinely replicated, Nigeria could experience the impact of good governance in the next few years.

Recently, in far away United States, the 18th Congressional District of Texas described him as a ‘shining example of leadership that is truly worthy of respect, admiration and commendation of the United States Congress.’

‘How to achieve stable power supply’

T

HE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi has said that the decentralisation of electricity generation process would help achieve the much-clamoured stable power supply in the country.

The NERC boss also announced the removal of meter maintenance charge from electricity bills with effect from the end of November, 2011.

•Governor Peter Obi (right), his wife Margaret and broadcaster Bisi Olatilo at the burial of Chief Ikenna Ndaguba in Onitsha

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

Amadi disclosed this to journalists during the combined 42nd convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu in Ebonyi State.

He stated that although the Federal Government is currently making every effort to achieve the target of steady power supply to engender speedy development of the country in the shortest time, the time frame could further be abridged if there is decentralised policy as well as integrated power generation mechanism.

Amadi noted that the grid system being operated in the past allows every power generated in any part of the country to be channelled to one source, national grid, from where it will be apportioned to the states, adding that a new process has been evolved by the current administration whereby small grids or power stations and dams can be built by individuals and states for the purpose of supplying electricity to a particular state or area.

He regretted that Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is not connected to the national grid, saying that it shows the extent of malfunction and lack of capacity for expansion in the power sector before now.

“Ebonyi is a core agriculture state. We should use small generation stations. We don’t have to do major power stations. You can do some renewable ones and you can do small dams, you can do solar with government support to help in the decentralisation of power generation.

“There is no reason why we should not have a micro-grid in Ebonyi State to supply Ebonyi with electricity. That is why we are now doing the independent electric distribution regulation that can allow a small grid. You

QUOTE We feel it is no longer necessary to continue to charge meter maintenance fee. And secondly most of the consumers themselves pay

can take 5, 10 mega watts for some local governments in Ebonyi State instead of waiting until the national grid comes.

“It is unfortunate that since many years we have had electricity, we have not connected this local government to the national grid. It shows the level of malfunction and the failure to expand. But now we are building the capacity and we are also building the network to carry the capacity.

“It’s like you are harvesting your goods, you are also tarring the road to where the goods will go to, the market. So, we are doing double because if we had laid out the grids properly earlier than now, we would have been concerned with more power that is the problem,” he said.

Amadi, who also delivered the convocation lecture entitled “Agriculture and Power: the Nigerian Situation,” announced that, as from November ending, the meter maintenance fee being charged electricity consumers by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria would be removed.

“We feel it is no longer necessary to continue to charge meter maintenance fee. And secondly most of the consumers themselves pay for the meters. So, in the new tariff, we are going to issue multitariff order. There will be no meter maintenance. But before then, we have already given instructions. So, in November bill there won’t be meter maintenance fee,” he said.

He gave the assurance that the various Independent Power Projects would soon be inaugurated to add to the national grid, which, according to him, would boost electricity supply even as the Federal Government is also strengthening the gas supply infrastructure to the power stations as well as the transmission networks to be able to receive the power being generated.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

40

I am committed to economic emancipation of my constituents especially the youth. My foundation has equally mapped out plans on how to give scholarship to over 200 youths in the senatorial zone in advanced Information Technology (IT) courses

Lawmaker provides loans for constituents From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

•Senator Anyanwu

S

ENATOR Chris Anyanwu, representing Owerri Senatorial District in the Senate has declared that the era of perennial poverty in the state is over.

Senator Anyanwu said this at Rosy Art Theatre, Owerri while

addressing the beneficiaries of interest and collateral-free revolving loans which she attracted for members of his constituents under N. D. Uka Foundation and in collaboration with National Agency for Poverty Alleviation and Eradication Programme (NAPEP).

She pointed out that the people of the state are enterprising, hardworking, intelligent and proud people but lack government’s and corporate bodies’ assistance to explore their business and entrepreneurial potential.

The Senator, who is the Chairman Senate Committee on Navy, insisted that days when the people are subjected to perpetual economic slavery by being given fish instead of teaching them how to catch fish are over, even as she decried the inimical rat race principle among political office holders that has impoverished the

people.

The lawmaker said: “I am committed to economic emancipation of my constituents especially the youth. My foundation has equally mapped out plans on how to give scholarship to over 200 youths in the senatorial zone in advanced Information Technology (IT) courses.”

She warned the over 800 beneficiaries that the money was not free and should not be used to enhance their well-being, stressing that it is for investment into serious business and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Senator Anyanwu also disclosed that the Federal Government, together with her foundation, has sent up serious monitoring group to ensure that the beneficiaries made maximum use of the seed money by improving on their businesses and skill acquired.

She further warned the beneficiaries to remain focused and venture into result-oriented busi-

nesses, stressing that the loan has no political intention but rather to help them in their vision for socio-economic independence.

In his speech, Mr. Emmanuel Agama, the Deputy Director of NAPEP who came with some senior staff of the organisation, commended the Senator for having passion for his people especially in tackling poverty and alleviating their economic woes.

Agama told the beneficiaries that the programme is akin to planting the mustard seed, assuring them that on return of the annual interest and collateral free revolving loan that they will be qualified for larger amount of money as loan.

He appealed to the beneficiaries not to let down the vision and aspiration of their Senator by considering the money as Christmas or political gift.

The Deputy Director further commended the quality of leadership in Owerri Senatorial Zone as well as followership. He urged

the people not to relent in ensuring brotherly love, peace and stability in the zone.

Speaking, the Executive Director of N.D Uka Foundation, Chief Nwakanma Dialla Uka showered praises on Senator Anyanwu and the management of NAPEP for their love for the people of Owerri zone.

Uka further explained the ground rules for the money. He pointed out that for security reasons and proper accountability, the money will be disbursed in two phases and that the entire disbursement must be completed before the end of this month.

The beneficiaries were overwhelmed with joy as many of them were given N500, 000, N200, 000 and N100, 000 respectively. However, the amount given to beneficiaries depends on the entrepreneurship and business interest for which they had presented feasibility studies. Some beneficiaries received up to N1m and N2m while the least got N50, 000.

‘Let’s strengthen local govt system’

T

HE Leader of the Legislative Council of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon. Akeem S. Agbelega has called for a robust local government system that aims at enhancing the well-being of the people, especially at the grassroots.

Hon. Agbelega, who expressed regrets at what he called the defective nature of the 1999 Constitution as regards local government administration, stated this during the House’ second Plenary Session on Monday while inaugurating chairmen of committees for the smooth running of the third Assembly of the council. A total of 12 committees and their various chairmen were inaugurated.

The committees and their chairmen are those of Budget and Appropriation, Revenue and Market which is headed by the Deputy Leader Hon. Aregbesola Tunde Saliu. Hon. (Princess) Rita Arabome-Odofin is the chairman of Health and Environment, Finance and Procurement committee while the Chief Whip of the legislative council Hon. Jimoh Moruf chairs those of Agriculture and Rural Development, Information and Strategy.

Others were those of Education, Peace and Security headed by the Minority Leader Hon. Arafat BabsOlorunkemi; Works and Infrastruc-

By Chinaka Okoro

tures, Transport and Marine Services chaired by Hon. Lawal Idris Olajide; and Hon. Ibrahim Abari heads Intragovernmental Relations, Sports and Youth Development.

A release jointly signed by Hon. Agbelega and the HOD/ Clerk of the Council Mr Gabriel O. H.

•Members at the plenary session

Hunsuwegbe states that “all Hon. Members are to serve in the various committees while the Clerk of the House remains the secretary to the various committees.”

After the inauguration, the Leader advised both committee chairmen and other members to see their positions as call to duty and not as an avenue for personal enhancement, even as he urged them to swing into action in order to engender development in the area. He

The level of development that the councillors are able to bring to bear would be dependent on the level of commitment on their part…The committees would make or mar the council in terms of the efforts of the various committees in moving the council to a greater height

equally urged them to work hard so that in future they would be found worthy for higher responsibilities beyond the local government level.

He disclosed to Newsextra that the committees would help in accelerating the business of genuine governance in the council area, adding that “though the legislative arm of the council acts as checks and balances on the activities of the executive, the essence of the committees is primarily to perform their oversight functions on certain or all development projects in the LCDA.” Hon. Agbelega further said that “each committee head must be able to give insight to the House on certain knotty issues and furnish it with information on what should be done to enhance the business of governance, which, in turn, will impacts positively on the lives of the people they represent.”

Contributing, the Majority Leader Hon. Rita Arabome-Odofin opined

that all the Hon members of the House are enjoined to provide adequate information to the chairmen of the committees to enable them to provide optimum services to the people. She also urged them to work as a team and be alive to their responsibilities.

The Chief Whip advocated a situation whereby information data bank would be developed for greater productivity.

The Clerk of the House was of the view that the level of development that the councillors are able to bring to bear would be dependent on the level of commitment on their part.

He therefore recommended that they should exhibit a high sense of commitment and dedication towards moving the LCDA forward.

He said: “The committees would make or mar the council in terms of the efforts of the various committees in moving the council to a greater height. The committees will tell the history of this third Assem-

•Hon Agbelega bly. Therefore, we should work hard in developing our communities in such a manner that would make history and posterity to smile at us.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Tomorrow is the day all leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had looked forward to. The governorship primary is scheduled to hold in Yenagoa, the state capital. President Goodluck Jonathan forces are pitched against Governor Timipre Sylva’s troops. Will the primary hold? Who blinks first? Correspondent ISAAC OMBE paints the scenarios and examines the strength of the seven cleared aspirants.

Bayelsa 2012: How the aspirants stand I

T was in Abuja on Wednesday.

Seven persons gunning for the governorship seat in Bayelsa State were cleared by both the PDP Zonal Screening Committee (ZSC) and the National Working Committee (NWC). Hence, they got their Certificates of Clearance to go into the contest next year.

They include Fred Ekiyegha, Francis Doukpola Amaebi, Christopher Enai and Seriake Dickson, all from Bayelsa West Senatorial District. Others include Youpele Kalango from the East Senatorial District; Austine Febo and Bolubo Orufa, from the Central Senatorial District.

With the number of aspirants coming out of the West Senatorial District, the people of the district have clearly shown that it’s their turn to produce the next governor of the state.

Most of the aspirants had worked with President Goodluck Jonathan; thus, they are all banking on this advantage to clinch the ticket.

Seriake Dickson For instance, Dickson was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice when Jonathan was the Governor of Bayelsa State.

With the relationship, he made it to the National Assembly and he is still very hopeful that the President would give his blessing in the coming election.

Seen as one of the Jonathan ‘boys’ who is backed by henchmen and close associates of Jonathan, notably Chief George Turner and almost all the former chairmen of the PDP in the state including Chief Fred Agbedi, Chief Dorgu and Chief Rufus Abadi, he is already being described as the anointed one. Besides, he is the only aspirant among the seven cleared that has gained so much popularity especially since after his declaration last week.

Observers of the unfolding scenario in the state believe that since leaving Labour Party for the PDP, Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe has lost grip of his political structures.

Dickson had already been seen as the man to beat until recently when his fellow aspirants called for his disqualification over his alleged antiparty role during the party’s Ward Congress.

Replying those claiming that there was no ward election, Seriake described them as liars, and agents of a failed system, while insisting that the election held.

Doukpola Amaebi Another hopeful is Amaebi who almost became governor in 2007. It is believed in many quarters that since Jonathan could not install him at that time, it’s now the most auspicious time for him to effect his agenda for the Agbere-born politician who had battled severally for the governorship position.

A prominent politician who craved for anonymity fervently prayed that “God should touch Jonathan to give Amaebi the ticket because the man has acted like Abraham Lincoln of America who contested for the Presidency severally”.

There are equally feelers that he may

• Dickson

• Sylva

• Jonathan

Politics with bitterness

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

S

INCE the beginning of this dispensation, oil rich Bayelsa State has not been reputed for politics of affection. Gladiators under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are usually locked in a war of attrition. The number one seat in the state has always been the bone of contention in postAlamieyeseigha period. The battle has often been fought with bows and arrows, guns and bullets, brains and brawns.

Tension is brewing in the land of oil as usual. Militants are not on the rampage. In the ring today are President Goodluck Jonathan and Timipre, the embattled governor of the rich, yet backward state. Other stakeholders in the highly polarised state are queuing behind the warriors.

The two senior politicians have always belonged to different political camps within the ruling party. Four years ago, Slyva could narrowly escape the vice presidential hammer. Jonathan was not indifferent to his successor. But his likely successor was not in his good book. The rerun poll provided an opportunity for him to bare his fangs. Sylva could not clip Jonathan’s wings. But the Vice President could not have his way as well. Both suffered psychological bruises. The war was escalating when PDP leaders rose swiftly to restore order into a state of pandemonium.

It was not without a compromise. However, the terms of the agreement were never kept. Sylva won the PDP governorship ticket. But Jonathan’s man, Ebebi Peremebowei, his running mate, was imposed by the Vice President. The marriage of inconvenience predictably broke down the same year. Ebebi, the deputy governor, was shoved aside in a crude impeachment, which Jonathan considered as an affront. The former Vice President was derided as an ‘Abuja politician’ with shaky structure at home. The governor basked in the euphoria of being the party leader at home.

Sylva could not have contemplated the turn of events.

Then, he could call off the bluff of Dr Jonathan, his predecessor who had moved up the ladder to become the spare tyre in Aso Rock under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. No thought was spared for reconciliation either.

The tune changed when fate catapulted the Vice President to the number one seat in the country. Both of the governor fixed their gaze at 2012.

Now, the governor battles with a ceil to his political career. The national leader of PDP is up in arms against the leader of the party in his home state. There is now a wide gap between Sylva, one of the 36 governors, and the power-loaded President, who, like his mentor and

enjoy the sympathy of the present government in the state because he is a major contractor in the Sylva-led administration. And besides the fact that only his campaign jingle is being aired on the state FM radio, his brother is also heading a major parastatal under the government.

Being the Chairman of Bayelsa State Elders’ Forum, Amaebi is also

role model, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, can bully, at least, his principal foe and governor of his native state.

It started like a drama. It was not unexpected that Sylva would seek for a fresh mandate. He had oiled his structures, mobilised traditional rulers and wooed other influential community leaders to his side. Banners and posters adorned the cities and villages in the creeks. The governor had challengers- Timi Alaibe, Ben Bruce, Igali.

Suddenly, the hammer fell on their ambition as the PDP decreed that they had been banned from the primaries. That was barely six hours after the governor held a declaration rally.

The President’s camp alleged that Sylva was after the life of the Commander-In-Chief. The governor cried out in denial, saying that his foes invented that tissue of lies. Governance is put in abeyance in the Southsouth state as much energy is dissipated on crisis-management.

The governor is not ignorant of the tendency and style of his party. But he has held on to the instrumentality of law. Early this week, he took his case to the temple of justice. Outside the court, he is running from pillar to post. From Abuja, the seat of power, the President is getting minute-by-minute report on the political situation in the state, although he has much on his hands-the Boko Haram bombing, fuel subsidy crisis, soaring unemployment and power failure.

The two camps in Bayelsa are glued to the drawing board, perfecting their strategies. It is believed that PDP, now cast in the image of the President, would hardly trample on the wish of the national leader, which is to ensure that Sylva is out of the race. To the governor’s camp, which is now in a sober mood, it smacks of presidential vendetta.

The court had ruled that the primaries, which had excluded the governor, should be put on hold. PDP had fired back, saying that the shadow poll would still hold as planned. National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Alkali described the court’s order as wild rumour, explaining that the party had not been served.

Ahead of the controversial primaries, troops have been deployed to Yenogoa, the state capital. It is an indication that all is not well with the ruling party in Bayelsa State.

well respected by the people across the state. Observers are of the opinion that the President has enormous sympathy for him.

A four-time governorship aspirant in both Rivers and Bayelsa states, Amaebi narrowly missed the governorship slot of the state as he was placed third in the primaries

that later ushered in Sylva as governor.

Seen as a matured mind that could pilot the affairs of the state, Amaebi is being supported by most elders in the state.

Fred Ekiyegha Chief Fred Ekiyegha is seen as an-

other aspirant that may spring a surprise in the race to Yenagoa Creek Haven. He is reportedly close to Aso Rock in recent times. Having also contested several times for the exalted position right from Rivers State like Amaebi, Ekiyegha has grassroots appeal. And as determined as he has been to clinch the seat, his slim finances have not helped his ambition.

Seen as a gentleman to the core, his quiet and focused struggle to lead the state has continued to draw sympathy from many across the state.

Sources have hinted that the presidency is also interested in him as a person who does not make so much noise in his bid to clinch the governorship position.

With his campaign slogan, ‘a divine mandate, on the rescue mission,’ Ekiyegha who hails from Angalabiri community in Sagbama Local Government Area believes that politics must not involve guns, cutlasses and axes.

“You use words to show what you can do and what you have done.

Anybody who wants to do more than this is insulting your consciousness and sensibilities,” he noted, while advising Bayelsans to accept peace to salvage state, adding: “If you kill for Fred Ekiyegha, it is a sin between you and the righteous God on the day of judgement. Fred Ekiyegha won’t be involved because he did not kill.”

As a delegate to the Constituent Assembly, Abuja in 1988/1989, he advocated for the direct allocation of funds to the LGAs among other things.

An admirer of former American president Franklin Roosevelt, who laid a new foundation for the growth of, development and pride of the Americans, he said he’s one among the aspirants who can take Bayelsa state to the Promised Land.

Christopher Enai Christopher Fullpower Enai, a onetime chairman of Ekeremo LG contested and clinched the Sagbama/ Ekeremo Federal Constituency ticket for the House of Representatives.

Enai, among other things, relies on his achievements during his tenure as chairman of the council, which he said, witnessed massive youth employment. He said that thousands of jobs were created while youths were empowered.

Besides, according to him, the transformation of the hitherto rural Ekeremo community, headquarters of the council commenced during his tenure.

If given the chance to rule the state, he has pledged to put God first in all his functions as governor, saying: “With God, all things are possible.”

Youpele Kalango Kalango is the only aspirant from same East Senatorial District with incumbent governor Sylva. He hails from Nembe Gbasambiri community and was a one-time federal lawmaker who represented Brass/ Nembe federal constituency.

He was among the aspirants in the last aborted governorship elections in the state.

Observers see him as another aspirant to watch especially if the in• Continued on page 18

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

POLITICS No fewer than 19 political parties are contesting the governorship of Kogi State on December 3. The challenges before the electorate and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are numerous. As the major political parties put their houses in order, the less popular ones have also stepped up their acts, writes Correspondent MOHAMMED BASHIR.

Kogi election: Challenges before INEC, electorate T

HE race to Lugard House on December 3, may be the most interesting as 19 men jostle for the seat that Governor Ibrahim Idris, will be vacating next April. Prince Abubakar Audu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Captain Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), among others, will present themselves to the electorate to make a choice.

Although, the fact that 19 contestants are vying for the seat means that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has some challenges on its shoulder, it is obvious that the ballot papers have to be well harmonised in order to specify the logos and names of the various political parties.

It has been said that if INEC must show its preparedness to face the challenges, unlawful exclusion of party name and logo must not repeat itself like in 2007 when this was the case.

The logo of ANPP was omitted on the ballot paper, a situation that prompted another election in 2008.

It is expected that there will be a lot of sensitization by the various political parties; this will keep the electorates well informed on how to identify party logos. It has been observed that cases of invalid ballots emanate as a result of the electorate’s inability to identify the party of their choice. This is particularly so as party logos appeared to be alien to some electorate who merely come across them on the day of election.

Political watchers have argued that most of the parties are not really serious and their presence on the ballot list could creates confusion in the electoral process. It was gathered that some parties have often ensured their names make INEC list not minding the flawed and ridiculous process through which they emerged.

The Nation investigation reveals that the parties sometimes beg people to governorship tickets for free unlike other parties that offered their party forms for millions of naira. Some are even said to be offered at beer parlour.

It is common knowledge that the contest will be between the ACN, PDP, ANPP and CPC candidates, while others are in the race to seek relevance.

Interestingly, the ACN and PDP have their running mates from the same senatorial district- the West.

It was learnt that the ACN could make a serious impact from the Western Senatorial District that has been proclaiming power shift with the strong conviction that the ACN candidate, Audu had only one constitutional four year term that would enable the zone earlier access to the seat of power in 2016.

Prince Audu, in several political fora, had promised to set the record straight, especially as it has to do with power shift from one zone to the other. Key politi-

Why crisis persists in Afenifere, by Adegbonmire

A

FENIFERE chieftain Chief Wumi Adegbomire has said that crisis may persist in Afenifere because some leaders have arrogated to themselves the power to act as puritanical guardian of Awoist philosophy, despite the fact that their behaviour cannot support their ideological claims.

He said, while reconciliation is not foreclosed in the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, the agenda for peace may be stalled because leaders of the group have always acted without circumspection.

Adegbomire spoke on the solidarity visit of the factional Afenifere leaders to former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who is facing corrupt charges in court, chiding them for sparing thought for the moral implications of the visit.

The foremost politician said Afenifere leaders are unable to sift the chaff from the grain, insisting the visit, which may have been wrongly interpreted as the group’s clean bill of health for the former governor when investigation is still on, is improper and painful.

Adegbomire said: “Daniel is not my enemy. I don’t hate him. But the visit to him shortly after he was accused

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

by the EFCC was ill-timed. A Yoruba proverb says that, when you hear from one side, you must listen to the other side. But they cleared him.

Those who visited him are eminent lawyers and they should know that the EFCC or the court has not cleared him.

“It gave us headache that Afenifere leaders could fall into the trap by clearing Daniel. It was a pain in the neck. I am not Mr. Nobody in Afenifere, right from Awolowo days.

For some people to drag us like that is unacceptable. The problem is that some people in Afenifere have been acting as puritanical guardians of the Awoist philosophy, but their behaviour cannot support their claims”.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain however, said that reconciliation is still possible in the group. He stressed: “It should be possible for us to come together again. We subscribe to the same ideology and affection for Yoruba .

There is no serious Yoruba man who is happy with the situation at present”.

Bayelsa 2012: How the aspirants stand • Continued from page 17

• Audu

cal players in the west are already rooting for the former governor based on the agreement. One other advantage that could favour Audu is the strong craving of the Okuns in Kogi west for the Yoruba agenda, hence ACN is basically the South west project.

The PDP is well rooted in every part of the state, particularly in the eastern and central parts. Based on the record, the current elected members of the national and state House of Assembly are PDP members their influence is believed to count for the party. But sharp internal opposition within the party could undermine its influence.

The Director General of Wada/ Awoniyi campaign organization, Prince Olusola Akanmode during the flag off campaign of the PDP in Lokoja said: “The PDP has no opposition anywhere, the only opposition we have is within the PDP, and must be nipped in the bud.”

The former executive director Afribank, Alhaji Jubrin Isah Echocho who won the first PDP governorship primary in January, is still kicking against his alleged stolen mandate in the federal high court. Echocho has been a strong financier of the PDP in recent time and has a lot of supporters cut across the state, was not taking this lying low.

Speculation making the round is that the aggrieved politician may end up working against the party if stakeholders of the PDP fail to achieve reconciliation.

Efforts are made by party stakeholders, including the party candidate and running mate, Wada and Awoniyi, to settle the problem before the general election. Also, a member of the State House of Assembly representing Dekina/Beraidu constituency from where Wada and Echocho hail, Hon. Gowon Haruna, is organising a reconciliatory meeting to bring the two factions together.

• Wada

The meeting which was held at Idrinana Comfort Resort recently at Ayingba involved the chairman of Wada/Awoniyi reconciliation committee, Gabriel Yakubu Aduku.

Though Echocho was not present the meeting was said to be successful.

Okpanachi cannot be dismissed as a lone ranger under the ANPP. He has alot supporters and may be a hard nut to crack. As a former Accountant General of the state, he is a seasoned Civil Servant and a man of the people.

The parties, in their different campaign rallies, have promise to uplift the standard of living, and provide basic amenities and social infrastructure to the people of the state.

But will they stand by their words? The electorate will return averdict on December 3.

cumbent governor is eventually out of the race.

Stakeholders from that senatorial district, it is being may go for block vote for him to clinch the ticket to complete Sylva’s second tenure.

Augustine Febo Austine Febo was a Commissioner for Lands and Housing under Jonathan.

Febo who hails from Opukuma Community in Kolokuma/Opoukukma LGA, is also seriously banking on Jonathan’s support.

As commissioner then, Febo had to his credit, housing estates built during the period including the Okaka and the new Azikoro estates.

He has been a manager of a microfinance bank that made lots of impacts on market women, youths and traders of various categories.

Now, he has promised to concentrate on massive development of infrastructure in the state, encourage the establishment of micro-finance banks in most parts of the state to enable people get easier access to finance for available business opportunities.

Bolubo Orufa Bolubo Orufa, who hails from Gbarain Kingdom in Yenagoa Local Government Area in the Central Senatorial district, has ‘Redemption Movement 2012’ as his campaign structure.

Believed to be a ‘boy’ to Senator Emmanuel Paulker who is a close associate of Jonathan, he has the vision to usher in a people-oriented administration that will restore and transform the political, social and economic landscape of the state.

A one-time chairman of Yenagoa LGA, Orufa who has served as Special Adviser in various capacities to a minister, said the mission of the Redemption Movement is to mobilise for good governance, social justice, peace, security and team work geared towards sustainable political, socio-economic and cultural growth.

The thrust of the movement, he said: “Underscores our desire, resolve and determination to lift Bayelsa to greater heights.”

As it is now, the controversial circumstances leading to the emergence of delegates at the ward delegates’ elections may be a major problem. But the chairman of the party in the state has assured that all was ready for the primary elections as security and other logistics had been put in place.

• From left: INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jaga; INEC National Commissioners, Dr Ishmael Igbani, Mrs Thelma Iremiren and Dame Gladys Nwafor, at the Independent Electoral Commission’s Consultative retreat in Enugu ... yesterday.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

SHOPPING

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THE NATION

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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

e-mail: janicenkoli@yahoo.com 08033349992 sms only

email:- shopping@thenationonlineng.net

The competition to dominate the market has grown tougher, with companies deploying various marketing strategies in a bid to get a big share. Prominent is the branding of products with celebrities. What really ascertains the superiority of a product? The celebrity endorsing it or its indisputable quality? JANICE NKOLI IFEME asks.

•The Trade

Battle for market shares • Items from blue chip companies on display.

W

HEN in the 80s the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, did the Pepsi advert, the brand grew in popularity. Apparently, people began to wonder that there might actually be something about the sugary black drink. Many identified

with the drink more out of curiosity and their love for Michael than for its value. That is the power of branding a product with a celebrity. Whether it was the favourite drink of the super star was another matter, altogether. But the world later discovered that the cost of the

advert was more than Jackson bargained for. His hair caught fire in the process and caused much damage as the bid to recover his hair and looks signaled the pop star’s vulnerability about his looks.

Various blue chip companies, operating in diverse spheres, such

as manufacturing, telecoms, banking, consumer services, are applying the same method in branding their products. In the eye of the public, the celebrity is seen as a rare breed with a special touch. He or she becomes famous because he has stood out

The Arena offers to accommodate displaced Yaba traders Shopping for Christmas tree Page 50

Page 51

in his sphere of endeavour; a well known face that could be spotted in any crowd and always the cynosure of all eyes. They are well loved by many who automatically become

•STORY ON PAGE 50

MY SHOPPING ‘I buy inspirational books’ Page 52

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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SHOPPING •Continued from Page 49

their fan and adore them. Perhaps this aura is what blue chip companies are channelling towards their products. If the star is so loved, their products would also be loved if endorsed by the star.

Revered actress, Genevieve Nnaji is one of such. She became a screen goddess and a household name as a result of her acting prowess. She became Miss Lux after she emerged winner in a pole conducted for the most popular star to model the face of lux. If the soap was the secret of her beauty, then her many fans would likely go for it.

Kanu Nwankwo, an international footballer is the face behind the ‘Peak it’s in you’ trademark. Kanu’s golden goal that gave Nigeria the gold cup at Atlanta ‘96 remains indelible in the hearts of sports lovers.

If Peak milk is what fuels Kanu’s skills, then everyone might as well go for it. His little son was even featured in another advert, meaning-every child should drink the milk. Super Eagles goal keeper, Vincent Enyama featured the cocacola advert while International Footballer, Julius Agahuwa advertised robb.

Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, would not relent in telling everyone to cook with Onga. They are rife: Joke Silver, Nkem Owoh and recently, Chioma Chukwuka Akpota for herpic, Patience Ozokwo for good mama detergent, Nollywood actor, Jide Kosoko for Chivita, artist, Sunny Neji for Chi Exotic, Comedians, Ali Baba, Julius Agwu; Actresses Omotola Jalade Ekehinde and Bukky wright for hollandia milk; Nollywood actress, Dakore Egbuson for Amstel Malta; Artiste, D’Banj for Power Fist, .

E

Battle for market shares Nollywood actors, Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze for Ok Sweets, Songster Tu Face Idibia for Guinness and Airtel, Nollywood actor, Jide Kosoko for Yoyo Bitters and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot for Damatol. R and B crooner, Banky W came forth with Etisalat’s Naija 4 life and now brands Samsung with wrapper, Sasha.

Even Lagos State Government is not left out as it involved Kate Henshaw- Nuttal, Funke Akindele, Bimbo Akintola and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on the payment of tax.

Glo Mobile lines the streets with posters of Nollywood artists, such as Monalisa Chinda, Funke Akindele, Basket Mouth, Ramsey Nouah jnr, Ini Edo and more.

Celebrities by reason of their popularity naturally possess the power to influence consumers to swap loyalty to the endorsed brands, and make such adverts to linger continually in their memory data banks. On a wider pedestal, celebrities such as James Earl Jones endorsed CNN, Catherine ZetaJones Elizabeth Arden, and Pepsi has continually made use of International top rated footballers and

‘The ultimate expectation is to have shoppers streaming into shops to purchase the products’

VERY year is different when it comes to the availability of Christmas trees and it is hard to imagine Christmas without displaying one in your home.

Purchasing a very good one could help cut down on your expenses yearly because you would not need to shop for one every Christmas. It calls for a little maintenance, when you are able to set it up for the first time and decorate it, you may just leave it as it is. All you need do is to find a good area to store it and then learn how to properly clean it for the next year.

The Christmas tree is a great addition to households during Christmas seasons. It has developed from basic to modern designs reflecting the current era.

Taste and preference should not be a problem since there are a variety of trees to choose from. So there will always be something to fit rooms of any scope, which could be set up much earlier and left up for longer.

There is a four feet tree; there is also a 30 feet tree. The colour, as well as the tree shape varies. Modern Christmas trees are made of high quality standards that make them appear unique and beautiful. Christmas lights could be put up permanently on the tree, likewise other accessories such as garlands.

There are varieties of Christmas trees made from wood and feathers such as duck and goose which were dyed green to resemble the pine needles and attached to wooden sticks to look like the branches.

Many would love to own a huge Christmas tree in their homes loaded with lights and ornaments and plenty of room beneath for

•White Christmas tree.

artistes to promote its brand.

The reason these companies chose celebrities to brand their products is not far fetched. However, the ultimate expectation is to have shoppers streaming into shops to purchase the products. The Managing Director, Samsung West Africa gave insight while speaking on why the outfit chose its brand ambassadors. He said: “There is no single brand that has the style, the design, the innovation, our pre-

mium value and the character itself.

Look at the artiste we signed on as our ambassador. He is endeared towards the youth and a big population that has a style. If I am going to tell a youth that Samsung is about style, I will show what style is. That is why we are using what is the best way to show the style. The ambassador of Nigeria in UK is the face of Nigeria in UK. So the face of style is not Samsung but Banky W. Again, with Samsung which brings the

•Consumer products.

Shopping for Christmas tree Do you have a favourite Christmas tree or you just buy the first tree you see in the market? You should shop for Christmas trees earlier as it will pay off with less competition for quality ones. Mid-November is considered a time to plan and follow through on your Christmas tree purchase, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN. gifts. But some do not have room for a big Christmas tree, therefore they settle for a small slim type. It has the normal shape but uses less space when placed on the floor. It could be placed at the corner with the impact of a full sized tree.

They are designed more in the style of book ends, to grace your door way or any entrance.

They are found mostly decorated or plain.

But you have more freedom with a plain tree to string lights, ornaments, and tinsel, as well as place an angel or whatever you choose on top of the tree.

There are various types of Christmas trees, namely; Fraser fir- an attractive one, soft to touch with space between the branches and easier to decorate, Nobel fir- deep green in colour, with lovely branch shape. Its branches have good spac-

•Fibre optic Christmas tree.

Sam and Sung comical series you don’t have that balance only with Banky W and that is where Sasha comes in. We realised that the link between Samsung and mobile is not as strong as people think about television and other appliances. So we need some distillation that creates relevance and differentiation so Samsung Mobile is driving the pedestal of affinity with Sasha and just to be able to bring out Samsung Mobile.

ing between them, so it is easy to hang ornaments on them.

The Colorado blue spruce has a pyramidal shape with strong limbs that can hold heavy ornaments. Know for its lovely blue foliage which can also appear slivery, but if your decorating scheme does not include this bluish tint, this tree may not be right for your home.

Balsam fir is of beautiful dark green colour with airy, flexible branches that may not be able to hold heavy ornaments, but gives your home a pleasant fragrance.

Grand fir with its lovely dark green colour, is soft to touch. It is so pretty that it grows as

high as 300 feet, making it more popular.

There is the white fir for those who can maintain it, with its pleasing natural shape, aroma and needle retention. The popularity of the white tree could be because of the famous Christmas song. Some people choose it because it symbolises purity and peace. Others go for it because white simply fits anything. Some also love it because of its similarity to a real tree if fully covered in white snow. The amount of care applied in preserving it would make it last longer.

With the Scotch pine, you need a glove to decorate because its needles could be as sharp as pins, but it resists dryness. The Norway spruce could be purchased a week to Christmas because of its poor needle retention.

Other are the frosted, flocked, ultra realistic PE trees, giant, coloured, upside down, aluminum, fiber optic, feather with brush bristles, plastic, glass Christmas trees and lots more.

There are other unique ones which come in various colours such as pink; which will surely be an instant favourite of your daughter. Others come in the colours of purple, red or gold.

Christmas trees are without doubt a worthy addition to the home at Christmas and you will get years of continued use, saving a fortune.

•Blue Christmas tree.

51

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

SHOPPING

The Arena offers to accommodate Shopping Right with displaced Yaba traders Maximising T trade shows

HE management of The Arena has made space available for Yaba Market traders who were displaced following its closure.

Director of Woobs Resources Limited, managers of the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena, Oshodi, Mr Whoba Ogo, said interested traders could pay as low as N55,000 per year for a space.

He said the vision behind The Arena is to accommodate all, while providing world class facilities that will meet the needs of shop owners and shoppers.

“The famous Yaba market, popularly known as the main base for clothing sales, was recently closed from its popular location on the railway level cross at Yaba.

“As a result, over 1,600 of these traders have taken shops and since commenced trading at The Arena within the F Block segment.

“While welcoming them, the management of Woobs Resources Ltd, in conjunction with the Nigerian Army, urged other traders who are still trading on the streets to come on board and experience the peace of trading.

“It offers a one stop shopping experience as it is segmented into the various sections where shoppers can also buy computers, GSM phones, electrical equipment, cosmetics, processed foods, generators, fabrics/cloths, vegetables and food stuff, among others at very competitive prices,” Ogo said.

He said the shopping complex has a land size of almost 13 hectares, independent water supply, power supply, power station, an abattoir, clean toilet facilities, generous parking facilities and a diversity of customer shopping offerings.

Trading was going on when reporters vis-

By Adewunmi Abolanle

ited the clothes section.

Leader of New Materials Section, a traders group, Mr Chris Nweke, said they have been making good sales since they set up shop at The Arena.

“We have stayed here for three weeks and are making sales. This place is even more conducive for trading as customers can feel more relaxed and there is enough space for vehicles to park without problems,” he said.

He urged his colleagues who are still displaced to join them.

Another trader, Mr Vincent Ohanaba, said traders were made to spend almost all they made in paying various levies to government officials and area boys.

“We suffered a lot at Yaba Market, so, we see The Arena as a promised land, a place where we make sales and save our profit, not spending all we make paying one government official or the other, both fake ones and real ones,” he said.

•Part of second hand clothing section of Yaba Market.

Fiberglass tanks for water storage

T

HIS year’s Archibuilt, an exhibition of building materials and allied products held in Abuja, witnessed the introduction of glassfibre reinforced polyester tanks and flexible water tanks by Devtek Tanks Limited, an engineering company that provides water storage facilities for the populace.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Dayo Adesuyi, said the company decided to introduce the products because “people think of getting clean water, but after getting it, there is a challenge of storing it and that is where we come in. Our new product, glassfibre is reinforced plastic tank. It has the advantages of plastic combined with the strength of steel. They do not corrode nor allow the growth of algae and they have strength. There are different capacities. There is 3000 litres down to 500 liters for commu-

nities, house hold and domestic use”.

He explained that even though the prices are lower than the original steel tanks, they are more durable and stronger than plastic tanks.

Similarly, a water closet that saves water used in flushing by 50 percent was also introduced. Speaking on the innovation, the Managing Director of Dayak Nigeria Limited Mr. Ifedayo Akindoju said: “The average tank for WC you will see in Nigeria is one that uses up to nine litres of water per flush. But this one imported from Australia uses 4.5 litres of water per flush, so water is saved. He noted that though imported, the products are designed in the country.

He said the company imports because of the poor state of infrastructure and power supply in the country, adding that they are made purely of stainless steel.

Bank to boost indigenous building materials underway

T

HE Federal Government is planning to establish the Nigerian Construction Bank. The Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, disclosed this at a dinner in Abuja.

He said the bank, when established, would provide funds at low interest rates “for the development of local/indigenous building materials and capacity building of the building/construction industry”.

The Vice-President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, counselled that to complement the achievements of the programme,

“much emphasis should be placed upon skills transfer and acquisition”, adding, “as we all know, an excellent building material installed wrongly undermines the overall project delivery.”

He expressed the hope of witnessing a bigger Archibuilt, where companies and vendors carry out practical demonstration of the installation procedures of their products and services: “this action, when adequately propelled, will be in tandem with the skill acquisition drive of the government,” he explained.

T

HE year has witnessed several trade exhibitions. Among them was the Eko Expo held at the National Stadium, Lagos, which saw the display of various indigenous products. Also, the tourism fair which sought to develop tourism by showcasing products depicting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage held at the Eko Hotel and Suites; the fashion week also held in the same place later to display indigenous clothing, while the music and runway show was held to flaunt models in indigenous outfits catwalking to the live performances of Nigerian artists. Discount and clearance exhibition was held while another was organised at Ikeja, Lagos for discount sales on products from famous designers from different parts of the world. There JANICE NKOLI IFEME were specialised trade fairs such as the Archbuilt 2011 held in Abuja, Cogzy Cake and Sugar craft exhibition held at the Golden Gate First, develop a list of goals for the show Hotels, Ikoyi, Lagos and the Abuja Cake Carnival coming up later this month in Abuja. that includes everything that you hope to acThere were major ones such as the Enugu, complish and go prepared.

A trade show as this is a great opportunity Kaduna and the Abuja International Trade Fairs. The latest of them, the Lagos Interna- to connect with new companies and review tional Trade Fair ended last week at the mas- your competitions’ products and services. sive trade fair complex along the Lagos - Look for learning opportunities to help you acquire new skills or to run your business Badagry Expressway.

The motive behind such trade shows is es- more effectively. Going to the trade show will sentially to create an atmosphere for shop- give you a chance to meet and talk face-topers and buyers to interact. It creates room face with key companies.

Networking is a main reason to attend a for variety and competition among sellers, which brings about reduction in prices, which show. Look for dinners, cocktail hours, and other opportunities in turn, is of great bento connect with your efit to shoppers. It is all peers and potential about shopping. Shop‘Trade exhibition poses a business partners. ping is one big theater want to make where every actor lot of competition among a You grand entrance comes, exhibits his acts sellers, especially those and make an imand leaves. As a shopGreat, most per or vendor at the who sell the same products. pact? companies come trade fair, you need to You could easily get con- un-prepared and adequately maximise use basic maryour presence. Here are fused about what each only keting principles, so some tips. make has to offer. Here, with a little outside For the shopper the box thinking, If you can, dress for you would need to be dis- of you can take your the occasion. Dress show by simple but cute. Put on creet and patient so as to trade storm! Incorporatsomething comfortmake the best choice’ ing quality trade able to enable you walk show displays can be around and have a good an added attraction. feel of the environment.

One of the biggest aspects you need to conTrade shows enable people display good, as well as new products, so equip yourself sider will be the staff you bring to man your with cash, because you might just run into booth. You need to select good sales people something interesting that you would love to who have your best interests in mind and will go above and beyond to make an impact. Try have.

Make yourself relaxed as you might run into to sensitise them. Also motivate them by way some over zealous traders who could spoil of commission and other benefits.

I would recommend that you hold pre-show your day, if the situation is not well controlmeetings to identify goals and objectives. Come led.

Trade exhibition poses a lot of competition up with unique ideas to accomplish a few among sellers, especially those who sell the things. You want to find a way to grab the same products. You could easily get confused visitors’ attention in a unique way. You need about what each make has to offer. Here, you to offer the customers something to take home would need to be discreet and patient so as to that won’t simply get thrown away and that make the best choice. Like a bank manager they will remember as often as possible. You once told me, your money is always better in also need to get the product benefits across to your hands. If you are not able to make up the visitors as quickly as possible so that they your mind, ensure to get the contact address understand why you are the company for the of the dealer so you could still make your job, product or service.

You must agree on ways to interact with cuspurchase after the fair. Meanwhile, expect a good bargain, as many products would be on tomers, handle objections and qualify customers. promotion and discount.

Also, make sure they leave your cubicle with For the exhibitor Large companies can easily send a repre- something they will remember and be able to sentative to a show without disrupting their locate you after the fair, so you do not simply operations, but for a small business owner, it end up with promotional material in the trash can. could be a difficult task.

Finally, recount your experiences so far and If you plan carefully, however, the opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with other figure out how to make next year’s show betbusinesses can outweigh the time and expense. ter.

Write to us, express your views, observations and experiences. Let’s have your comments about shopping. Your comments, questions and answers will be published first Friday of every month. With your full name and occupation, send e-mail to: janicenkoli@yahoo.com SMS - 08033349992

52

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

MONEY LINK

CBN advocates PPP, BOT in infrastructure financing

T

HE Central Bank of Nige ria (CBN) has implored the Federal Government to explore infrastructural financing options such as ‘Public, Private Partnership’ (PPP) and ‘Build, Operate and Transfer’ (BOT).

The apex bank has also approved a Development Finance Department that will work with stakeholders in the finance, infrastructure and development sectors, to draft an Infrastructure Finance Policy for the country.

The policy will also assist in designing a framework for issuing guarantee for public-private partnership (PPP), of which infrastructure financing is para-

By Collins Nweze

mount.

A statement from the bank said the initiatives taken so far have in no small measure addressed the huge challenges confronting the nation. It added that such pro-activeness has provided a roadmap for resuscitation of critical infrastructure.

It said infrastructure plays a key role in economic development of the country; hence, “concerted efforts are being made to reverse infrastructural decay.

The CBN assured that the government shall continue to create conducive environment to attract

foreign investments in the area of infrastructural development.

CBN said symbiotic relationship, which exists between infrastructure and economic development it decried the absence of key infrastructure due to poor performance of state-owned enterprises involved in infrastructural development, huge financing gap and absence of maintenance culture.

It also identified major challenges confronting infrastructure financing in Africa and indeed, Nigeria to include non-availability of long term funds, harsh economic environment, absence of risk sharing structures and lack

of refinancing facility to boost liquidity for banks engaged in infrastructure financing. Other impediments to infrastructure finance according to the Governor include inadequate capacity building for stakeholders and policy reversal by government.

The CBN has also approved a Development Finance Department, that will work with stakeholders in the finance and infrastructure development sectors, to draft an Infrastructure Finance Policy for the country.

The proposed policy is expected to, among others; specify the infrastructure financing options, dispute resolution mechanisms, roles of stakeholders, and incentives offered by relevant government ministries and agencies. This will serve as a guide to investors and other stakeholders in making infrastruc-

Keystone Bank showcases trade financing potentials K EYSTONE Bank Limited has in troduced several measures tar geted at advancing customers’ international trade business.

Speaking at the maiden edition of Trade Business Forum on International Trade organised by Keystone Bank in Lagos on Tuesday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Bank, Mr. Oti Ikomi, stated that the bank has put several measures in place to enhance the efficiency of its customers that are involved in trade business. He added that the bank is prepared to assist the customers with the needed funds to facilitate their business.

Part of the measures, he said include launching of an integrated trade portal solution (KEYSTONE TRADE) where importers of goods could leverage on the bank’s platform to initiate their trade transactions such as Form ‘M’, foreign exchange purchase and shipping documents processing, among others. He added that the bank is also currently running a comprehensive trade sales training programme for its sales team, opera-

By Akinola Ajibade

tions, support and risk managers bank-wide.

“For us, banking is about adding value to our customers. We are continually challenging capacity to increase customers’ financial options in a bid to create better solutions for everyone and this would continue until Keystone Bank becomes a reference point for Trade Finance,” he said.

Ikomi who spoke on ‘Advancing Trade Barriers - New Horizons,’ pointed out that developments in the banking sector and the lingering financial crisis underscored the motive behind the forum, stressing that though there had been several efforts by governments and world bodies at developing trade, not much have been achieved in that direction.

He added that the motive behind inviting all stakeholders such as the Central Bank Nigeria, the Nigerian

Custom Service and Cotecna Destination Inspection to be part of the forum to discuss on the way forward was to ensure that the disjointed and inefficient landscape are addressed in a holistic manner for the benefit of the bank’s customers.

“If banks do not drive the modernisation of trade, who will?

New trade patterns will lead to new financial instruments and new ways of adding value to customers. We need to find a way to bring these advantages to more of our middle market clients. We believe that greater collaboration among all the elements in the supply chain, banks, financiers, regulators, CBN and others will enhance trade modernisation and facilitation,” he stated.

In her presentation titled: Keystone Bank Integrated Trade Solutions, Divisional Head, Global Transactions Banking, Keystone Bank, Uchenna Okwodu disclosed that the bank has designed specific solutions to meet the specific needs and requirements of importers and exporters.

Standard Bank targets Africa’s SME sector

S

TANDARD Bank Group is fi nancing small and mediumsized (SME) enterprises, tapping into a lucrative segment that was previously ignored by mainstream lenders but is increasingly on the agenda for most African governments.

There is a $140 to $170 billion financing gap for SMEs on the continent, according to research by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and McKinsey.

According to Reuters report, with some 40 million SMEs in the 17 countries that it operates in, Standard is aiming to extend more loans to SMEs by the end 2012.

The financing product known as Ouick Loan lends between $300 and $30,000, which it expects to be repaid

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 10-11-11 SYMBOL

ETERNAOIL MAYBAKER OANDO CADBURY AGLEVENT TRANSEXPR MORISON SCOA EKOCORP TRIPPLEG VITAFOAM

O/PRICE

4.00 2.40 28.00 12.64 1.81 3.63 9.52 6.11 5.31 3.09 5.58

C/PRICE

3.80 2.28 26.60 12.01 1.72 3.45 9.05 5.81 5.05 2.94 5.31

CHANGE

0.20 0.12 1.40 0.63 0.09 0.18 0.47 0.30 0.26 0.15 0.27

LOSER AS AT 10-11-11 SYMBOL

IKEJAHOTEL DANGSUGAR FO ECOBANK DANGFLOUR BAGCO CONTINSURE NAHCO AIICO TRANSCORP REDSTAREX

O/PRICE

3.01 4.42 12.19 2.04 5.35 1.50 0.88 5.08 0.52 0.59 2.22

C/PRICE

3.16 4.64 12.79 2.14 5.61 1.57 0.92 5.30 0.54 0.61 2.27

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

within three, six or 12 months, said Amrei Botha, head of SME banking for Standard. Interest rates range between 1.2 to 6 per cent per month, which Botha says is a third or half of what competitors charge.

“The future in Africa definitely lies in the small and medium enterprise sector,” she told Reuters. “What we had underestimated is the huge demand.” Standard has rolled the product in four countries; Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania, and charges on average between 1.2 to 6 per cent interest per month.

The vast majority of Africans are not employees and earn their income from small businesses or farming.

Many do not keep proper records or have collateral, which causes obstacles when they need loans.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

ture project investment/financing decisions.

The policy is expected to leverage private finance for infrastructure development; diversify and develop the non bank sources of long term debt finance of Infrastructure and reduce the cost of projects. It will also promote the involvement of specialized funds and/or multilateral agencies and international banks in financing a growing number of development projects.

The CBN said there is need to explore infrastructure finance policies in other jurisdictions, especially in emerging economies to determine what can be leveraged from such experiences and liaise with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on their current policies on infrastructure financing and/ or incentives provided for PPPs.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 100.28 0.77 1.03 0.89 1,639.36 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 99.71 0.74 1.03 0.88 1,634.12 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE

0.15 0.22 0.60 0.10 0.26 0.07 0.04 0.22 0.02 0.02 0.05

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

NEWS NBA cautions on treaty signing

Military pensioners threaten to blow up oil pipelines

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned the Federal Government to be cautious when signing treaties.

The association said government needs to consult civil society organisations such as the NBA before signing any treaty.

The warning is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the fifth Annual Conference of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (SLP) in Abuja with the theme: “Legal Practice in Nigeria: Venturing Beyond Usual Borders”.

The communique signed by the SLP Chairman, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), also asked for a review of labour laws.

The NBA said the labour law in use “is obsolete”; all lawyers are enjoined to work together for an improvement of the law.”

The Bar also called for appointment of more judges to the National Industrial Court and the need for right of appeal against decisions of the court.

The body said: “It would be poor judicial practice for the court to be of first instance and at the same time make final and unappealable decisions in respect of some matters.

“We call for more divisions of the court to be established alongside state high courts.”

The 35- point communiqué also called for general reforms on the customs, norms and laws relating to domestic violence in Nigeria to prohibit sexual violence in intimate settings, and for criminal laws to specifically penalise sexual assault and genderbased violence in the family, home, school and workplace.

To curb domestic violence, the association reiterated the need to domesticate treaty provisions in Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), ICPD and International Standards to National Laws, signed and ratified by the state.

T

JAMB lifts ban on Ondo centres From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

T

HE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has lifted the ban it placed on some special centres in South Senatorial District of Ondo State.

The centres were shut in 2008, following alleged irregularities by some fraudulent examination officials.

The affected local governments are Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje, Odigbo and Ese-Odo. The lifting of the ban was sequel to a letter of appeal written and addressed to the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof Dibu Ojerinde,

by Senator Boluwaji Kunlere.

Kunlere said: “The closure of the centres had brought untold hardship to thousands of innocent applicants seeking admission to higher institutions through JAMB. “I would like to inform you that the perpetrators who were not indigenes of the areas must have learnt their lessons and desist from the ignoble acts.”

The board said the suspension takes effect from the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

M

ILITARY pensioners in the Southsouth have threatened to blow up oil pipelines, if the Federal Government refuses to pay the 53 percent pension arrears owed them four years ago.

Speaking yesterday after a four-hour meeting of Nigerian Military Pensioners Welfare Association (NMPWA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, their leader, Maj. Danjuma Kibo (rtd), in a statement also signed by the National Secretary, Capt. Don Pedro, said the Federal Government is “taking the veterans for a ride”.

The statement said: “We have been trained in the art of warfare, we have knowledge of combat of any sort and we can blow oil pipelines in the region and cripple the economy.

“We want to say that we can be more deadly than Boko Haram, so we should

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

not be taken for granted.”

The group said it is “seriously disturbed that the government would acknowledge early this year that military pensioners are being owed 53 per cent arrears only for nothing to be done or heard.”

They also claimed that the Directorate of Military Pensions (DMP) in April told them that the arrears would be paid as soon as the budget was approved and at the approval of the budget that the money was being prepared in July for payment but nothing has been heard since then.

“This is the height of inconsistency by a nation that we invested our youths in, if these crops of leaders were not around when we fought for the unity of this country, at least some of the senators,

‘Our children are out of school, families have been broken because of lack of money. We cannot wait forever as we shall soon strike and wait for the consequences’ traditional rulers and opinion leaders were around then.

“We have watched with dismay the vulgar display of ill-gotten wealth by some unscrupulous politicians even as we and our families wallow in penury and are being deprived of our constitutional entitlements.

“We do not want to become tools in the hands of some enemies of the present

administration who have approached us to act negatively so as to bring down this government.

“We cannot hold on forever because of the level of poverty and hunger that has accosted us,” they stated.

They further lamented that “ ex-militants are being paid N65, 000 monthly, but exservicemen who are either maimed or amputated are paid N20, 000 monthly.

“Families of soldiers killed during the war have not all been compensated.

“Repentant militants are sent overseas for training to empower them but retired military pensioners have nothing to show for their years of patriotism.

“Our children are out of school, families have been broken because of lack of money.

“We cannot wait forever as we shall soon strike and wait for the consequences.”

Ex-militants vow to fight From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

F

OLLOWING today’s expiration of the 14day ultimatum issued by ex-militants under the aegis of Iduwini Volunteer Force (IDF), the group has warned multinational oil companies of dire consequences.

It warned expatriates to relocate from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

The group said except the Federal Government convenes a stakeholders’ meeting where the amnesty programme would be given “a human face, more protests and deadly attacks lie ahead.”

In a statement by “General’ Gift Tare, the group accused the Kingsley Kuku-led Presidential Amnesty committee of indiscriminate arrest of some ex-militants, adding that it would resist the intimidations.

Senate has three versions of PIB, says Abe From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

T

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle); his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi (second left); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (right); Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos Officials (COWLSO) Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (second right) and Mrs. Bisi Fayemi at the closing of the three-day conference organised by COWLSO in Lagos

‘No contract bid for UBEC N787m contract’

A

N investigative officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Goji Mohammed, yesterday said there was no genuine contract bid in the N787 million contract trial of some officials of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The contract was for the supply of plastic chairs and desks to junior secondary schools in the country.

Mohammed also said there were no newspaper adverts announcing the bid as claimed by the accused.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

The prosecution witness said the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) confirmed to the EFCC that the companies the accused claimed participated in the bidding do not exist, except Intermarket Nig Ltd, which eventually got the contract.

He added that the letters sent to the addresses provided by the companies were sent back to the commission.

Besides, he said the accused allegedly master-

minded payment of 85 per cent of the contact sum to Intermarket Nig Ltd, in defiance to the Public Procurement Act 2007.

A prosecution witness, Bridget Ojoma Onekutu, had on Wednesday told the court that there was conspiracy, forgery, and subversion of due process in the contract award.

Former Deputy Executive Secretary of the Commission Prof. Bridget Sokan and three suspended directors are facing a 64-count of alleged fraudulent inducement, criminal conspiracy and subversion of due proc-

Fed Govt recalls FUPRE VC

T

HE Federal Government, in a concerted effort towards resolving the crisis at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State, has recalled the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Alabi and the Registrar, Dr L. O. Onwuka, from suspension and forced leave.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. I. B. Osazuwa and the acting Registrar, Mrs. Evelyn Gbagi, have both been directed to revert to their former positions of Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Registrar.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

In a statement by the Deputy Director (Press), Ministry of Education, Peter Obidiegwu, a visitation panel would soon be constituted to investigate the management crisis in the institution.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, has also directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to deploy a team to the institution to fast-track peace process.

esses.

The directors are: Molkat Manasseh Mutfwang, Michael Mtonga Aule and Dr Andrew Ekpunobi.

They were re-arraigned with Intermarkets USA; Intermarkets Nigeria Limited and Alexander John Cozma, a foreign contractor on December 10, 2009 before Justice Adamu Bello.

Apart from Sokan and Intermarkets Nigeria Limited, the five others were first arraigned on May 19, 2009 on a 26-count charge.

Ms. Onekutu identified the certified true copy of Punch, This Day and the New Nigerian of June 2004 where the accused claimed they advertised for the bidding of the contract.

According to her, the accused gave the governing board of the commission wrong information about the contract and that; it was based on the information that the board gave approval for the award of the contract.

The matter continues on February 9 and 15, and March 1.

HE controversy over the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) deepened yesterday.

This followed the revelation by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum, Downstream, Magnus Abe, that there are three versions of the bill in the National Assembly.

Abe, who represents Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, said the PIB must be re-presented by the executive.

The lawmaker said he was shocked to discover that there are three versions of the bill, an indication that it may have been doctored.

Abe spoke yesterday at the Rivers State Investors’ Forum at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

He said since the PIB could not be passed, a new version must be re-presented to the Senate.

The senator maintained that the PIB had been returned to the executive.

But the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the PIB was before the National Assembly and that when passed into law, it would ensure transparency in the oil industry.

She described security as a major barrier to investment in the oil and gas sector, stressing that the situation in the Niger Delta had improved, with the Federal Government’s amnesty offer.

Mrs Alison-Madueke said in 2008, Nigeria’s crude oil production was 1.8 million barrels per day, but now 2.5 million barrels per day.

The minister said: In the oil and gas industry, sanctity of contracts must be maintained. The reforms in the industry are now being vigorously pursued.

“In the next 24 months, I’m optimistic that our refineries would be operating between 90 and 95 per cent of installed capacity.”

The session was moderated by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Odein Ajumogobia.

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NEWS

Supreme Court dismisses appeals against Obi, Uduaghan

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HE Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the appeals challenging the elections of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and his Delta State counterpart Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Dahiru Musdapher dismissed the appeals for lack of jurisdiction.

Great Ovedje Ogboru challenged the election of Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.

Ogboru challenged the result of the January 6 election won

by Uduaghan.

In Anambra, Mike Okoye

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

challenged the election of Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on the grounds that he was not qualified.

The matter was dismissed by both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal which ,before the amendment to the 1999 Constitution, was the final court in governorship election matters.

The new amendments to the 1999 Constitution has, however, given the Supreme Court the jurisdiction to hear appeals in governorship mat-

ters.

In a unanimous decision read by the CJN, the apex court held that the new amendments to the 1999 Constitution giving the Supreme Court the jurisdiction to hear appeals in governorship matters was limited to appeal of general elections held after the amendment has come into force.

“It is for this reason that I am of the firm view that this court has no jurisdiction to hear this appeal emanating from the result of the election of Governor Peter Obi which was months before the amendments”, Justice Dahiru Musdapher held.

328 private schools shut down in Ebonyi

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HE Ebonyi State Executive Council has directed the Commissioner for Education Chibueze Agbo to close down 328 illegal and substandard private schools.

The affected schools were recommended for closure by the Committee on Identification of Illegal and Substandard Schools.

Addressing reporters yesterday after the State Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Com-

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

rade Chike Onwe, said the affected nursery, primary and secondary schools were not approved by the state g o v e r n m e n t .

The commissioner urged pupils in the affected schools to look for alternative place.

“In line with the state’s resolve to ensure quality education of Ebonyi children, council has approved the recommendation of the

Three dead in Anambra road accident

M

EMBERS of a family of three died yesterday in a road accident in Onitsha, Anambra State.

A source said the father was carrying his family on a motorbike to Onitsha when a bus crushed them.

A fourth relation was injured. He is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The accident reportedly

From Adimike George, Onitsha

caused heavy traffic for several hours.

Sympathisers, who gathered at the scene, decried the increasing rate of road accidents in the area and urgedthe government to rehabilitate the deplorable road.

Police spokesman Larry Osita declined comments.

N450m bail-out for Imo schools From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

E

ACH of the 45 schools handed over to Christian Missionaries in Imo State in September last year would soon receive a N10 million bail-out from the state government.

The money was a pledge by the previous administration to the schools.

This was part of resolutions reached at a meeting between the Imo State Government and proprietors of mission schools at the Asumpta Pastoral Centre in Owerri.

Deputy Governor Jude Agbaso said government would partner all mission schools.

He added that some primary schools would be handed over to churches, adding that N1 million would be given to such schools.

“The government would help the mission schools to improve their infrastructure and partner them in value re-orientation and elimination of corruption and immorality among the young ones,” he said.

He warned host communities to desist from interfering in the affairs and management of mission schools.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, his Deputy Jude Agbaso, House of Assembly Speaker Ben Uwajimogu, Commissioner for Education Mrs. Ada Obasi, Religious leaders, among others, attended the meeting.

Group holds convention

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HE Ideal Sisters Fellowship will hold its annual convention from November 18 – 20 at the New Testament Life Mission, Illupeju, Lagos.

The theme of the convention is: “Be it unto me according to thy Word”.

According to Pastor

Toyin Adelaja, the convention is aimed at transforming and developing women towards fulfilling the will of God for them. Dance, songs ministration, couples night and inspirational talks will feature at the convention.

Committee on Identification of Illegal and Substandard Schools. It has directed the Commissioner for Education to close down the 328 illegal and substandard schools.

“The schools are advised to look for alternative place,” he said.

The commissioner urged individuals intending to establish schools in the state to do so on the approval of the Ministry of Education as a way of ensuring conformity with set standards.

Police officers warned against cultism From Adimike George, Onitsha

THE Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police (DIG) in charge of Administration, Azubuko Udah, yesterday warned his colleagues against involvement in cultism and other dangerous activities.

Udah said security operatives do not need to belong to secret cults to become successful in their chosen careers, saying he declined pressures to join cult groups.

The police chief spoke during the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Assemblies of God Church in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“What a Christian in public office should do is to be firm and committed in his belief in God. Trials and tribulation will definitely come but they will pass over you,” he said.

Pastor Matthew Chukwu urged the participants to continue to do God’s will and predicted a brighter future for the church.

Church holds fellowship THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, Throne of Grace, will hold its annual Excellent Men’s Fellowship on November 20 at the Church headquarters, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The theme is: “Building an Excellent Home”.

President of the Fellowship, Deacon Kola Solomon, said sincerity, tolerance, sensitivity, integrity and mutual understanding would feature at the event.

He said these are the ingredients for a happy home.

THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

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NEWS NYSC BATCH ‘C‘ SWEARING IN Jang advises host communities From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

P

LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has appealed to host communities to provide security and other facilities to enable corps members posted to their domain give their best in the service year.

Jang made the appeal yesterday through Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjan at the swearing-in of the 2011 Batch ‘C’ corps members, who are at the temporary orientation camp at Zang Commercial School, Bukuru.

He said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has, over the past 38 years, come to represent an enduring vehicle for the inculcation of positive citizenship and leadership values.

“I formally welcome you to the commencement of the service to your fatherland through your swearing-in and induction into the scheme.

“Over the past 38 years, the scheme has come to represent the enduring vehicle for the inculcation of positive values in our youths.

“My dear compatriots by fully participating in all activities during the orientation, you are preparing yourself for the challenges of the service year.”

Aregbesola decries violence •A cross section of corps members deployed to Plateau State, taking the oath of allegiance during the swearing-in of the Batch C in Jos yesterday PHOTO:NAN

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

O Senate decries mass rejection of

corps members by govt agencies

T

HE Senate yesterday lamented the mass rejection of corps members by Federal Government establishments.

This followed a motion by Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (Zamfara North) titled: “Rejection of NYSC members by federal establishments.”

Ya’u noted that the objectives of the scheme, established in 1972, could only be achieved through the equitable distribution of corpsmembers to states other than theirs.

He said the scheme, among other things, was meant to encourage the de-

•Urges re-evaluation, reactivation of scheme From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

velopment of common ties among Nigerian youths.

The lawmaker bemoaned a situation where corps members accept their postings and assignments willingly and are rejected by their potential employers.

Ya’u said: “If not checked, the routine rejection of corps members by federal establishments would blunt their zeal to serve and provide a psychological template for misguided national human

capital.

Most senators, who supported the motion, spoke glowingly of the scheme and called for its resuscitation.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, however, opposed the motion.

They said it would be wrong to mandate federal establishments to accept all corps members posted to them without first ensuring that their services would be needed and budgetary pro-

visions made to cater for them.

Senate President David Mark said the scheme has lost its original intent.

He noted that it was initiated to enthrone unity and sense of oneness in the country.

Mark said that efforts must be made to bring back the scheme to its original intent.

However, the Senate adopted a resolution, urging the Federal Government to ensure that the scheme is reevaluated and reorganised to enthrone its original objectives.

DG calls for relocation of Abuja camp

I

F the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), BrigGen Nnamdi Okorie-Affia has his way, the Abuja Orientation Camp would be relocated.

Already, he has requested the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to consider the relocation of the camp from Kubwa to a more spacious and well-secured environment.

Okorie-Affia spoke yester-

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

day in Abuja when he visited the FCT Minister of State, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide.

He also requested for the construction of residential lodges for the corps members to help alleviate accommodation problems.

His words: “We request the relocation of the NYSC orientation camp in Kubwa to a more conducive place suitable for expansion.

“We have more universi-

ties coming up and that will translate to an increase in the number of corps members.

“We also request for land anywhere in the FCT for the NYSC mass housing scheme and the construction of corpers’ lodges to help alleviate the problems of our corps members who are unable to secure accommodation in their areas of primary assignments.”

The minister noted that in view of the current security situation in the country and

the continuous expansion of the immediate vicinity of the orientation camp, it has become imperative to relocate the camp.

She said: “We will work closely with you and plan ahead.

“So, we will consider your request to relocate the camp to a more conducive place so that even in cases of emergency, the evacuation of the corps members would not be hampered.”

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has decried the spate of violence against members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

Aregbesola assured the corps members of his administration’s commitment to their safety.

He spoke through the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Laoye-Tomori, at the swearing-in of Batch ‘C’ corps members at the permanent orientation camp, Ede. The governor expressed the state’s determination to support the scheme, saying the government’s resolve was borne out of the realisation that it is only when youths realise their creative productive potentials that the nation can achieve national transformation.

His words: “I am confident that the commendable attainments, as well as the evident spirit of dedication, selflessness and patriotism of your predecessors in the scheme will serve to spur you to even greater service to our dear state and the nation generally.

“As you are deployed to your host communities for your primary assignments, you should be guided by the fact that you are not only ambassadors of the NYSC, but you also represent Nigerian youths. You must, therefore, strive to always present yourselves creditably at all times.”

Wamakko: be agents of change From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

S

OKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday said Nigeria’s problems can be solved if corps members see themselves as agents of change.

Speaking at the swearing-in of Batch C at the Farfaru Technical College temporary orientation camp, Wamakko said the scheme was designed to play a key role towards the achievement of national integration, social development and a just and egalitarian society.

His words: “You should see yourselves as agents of achieving these set objectives. Therefore, the primary objective of your service is to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the nation “The service year calls for sacrifice, selfless and dedicated service to humanity. You are expected to commit yourselves to the ideals of the NYSC scheme as spelt out in the enabling act.”

The governor reminded the 1,691 corps members (968 men and 723 women) , sworn in by Justice Bello Abbas, to lay emphasis on education, healthcare, legal aid, social mobilisation and enlightenment campaigns.

NEWS Akande, Tinubu, Ikimi endorse Oshiomhole’s re-election bid

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday got a vote of confidence from his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

National Leader Bola Tinubu; National Chairman Bisi Akande and former Minister of External Affairs Tom Ikimi endorsed Oshiomhole’s second term bid.

The governor also got the support of traditional rulers led by the Oba of Benin, who was represented by Chief Sam Igbe, President of Nigeria Labour Congress Abdulwahab Omar represented by

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

NLC Vice-President Isa Aremu and other party leaders.

They made their positions known yesterday at a Town Hall Meeting in Benin City where Oshiomhole gave account of his three years stewardship as governor.

Tinubu said the ACN does not challenge a performing governor who wants to seek second term in office.

The former governor described Oshiomhole as a precedent performer who has done much for the people.

He said the most critical

part of governance is the planning period which, according to him, Oshiomhole carefully executed.

“Oshiomhole is a great achiever and everybody has been patient enough to listen to him because he has expressed the fact of the benefits of government. He will soon start to protest against himself.

“He took time to plan and execute. We can only appreciate you (Oshiomhole), particularly when Edo people are commending you. Drive around the state and you will see it.

“A man who could perform in this type of constitutional centralised democracy, in the face of godfathers who are bent on destroying him, he proved them wrong and proved us right.

“This is a local politics. It is the tradition of the ACN not to challenge a performing governor.

“We are taking this as an endorsement of second term.

He has been tried, tested and found competent.

“We will take it for ratification at the national level. He has received the endorsement of the people. The result of the

success of first three years is more jobs for him.

“You will do more and you will succeed,” Tinubu said.

Aremu said Oshiomhole did not forget his uniform as a comrade and has made labour proud.

Ikimi said the ACN would roll out its campaign train after Christmas to ensure that Oshiomhole is returned for another four years.

Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, noted that anybody contesting against Oshiomhole will lose what he termed ‘deposit slip’.

Group marks 35th anniversary A GROUP, Igbide Union (Women Wing), will, on November 26, mark its 35 year anniversary in Lagos.

A statement by the group’s Chairperson, Mrs. Gladys Akelemor, said the activities for the celebration include presentation and the launching of the almanac.

The recipients are Godspower Okpohro; Benson Osieme; Mrs. Beatrice Igogo-Oyibotha; Alex Egbeo; Mrs. Rose Okoroze and Henry Fomah.

The celebration will end with a thanksgiving service at St. James Anglican Church, Mile 12.

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NEWS

Belgore leads 21-man Constitution Review Committee •Continued from page 4

The conference also recommended that any lawmaker who defects before the end of his tenure should vacate his seat. It suggested that power be devolved to the states in line with provisions of the 1960 and 1963.

Despite the recommendations, the report was rejected by the National Assembly that had been spoiling for a fight since it was sidelined from the process of inaugurating the panel. Besides, the recommendation that a third term be allowed executive office holders at the federal and state levels rankled the general public. The strong public opinion stopped the National Assembly from passing the recommendations into law. It was a wasted exercise.

Jonathan blamed legislation process for the non implementation of the recommendations from the last National Political Reform Conference.

His administration, he said, will revisit some of the recommendations for policy changes, course corrections and consider new initiatives, so long as they improve the governments’ capacity to serve the people better.

He urged the committee to develop draft

bills on previously agreed issues that would go a long way to strengthen the bonds of unity.

He also asked them to feel free to suggest fresh solutions to old problems, especially those that may have defied consensus.

Said the President: “We recognise what Nigerians want, which are inclusiveness, justice, equity and national cohesion, so that we can unleash the bustling energy and spirit of enterprise that abounds in our people.

“Ours is a nation of great promise. Our responsibilities as a generation; and our duty as a government, are to realise that promise of good life for our people. That is why the urgent task of this generation is to consolidate our unity, strengthen our democracy and to expand the frontiers of our wealth creation strategies.

“We need to embark on crucial social engineering through a process that respects existing national political and social institutions. We need a process that will inspire the engagement of the Nigerian people and one that makes the best use of previous patriotic contributions. All these are readily available to members of this panel and to the generality of our people.

“Nigeria is on the threshold of great

possibilities. Despite the present challenges, our sense of togetherness is strong and our democracy is deepening. At the national level, our electoral practice is now universally adjudged as credible. Individual and group freedoms are secure. Governance institutions – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary – are all bustling with new ideas.

Everywhere, there are concerted efforts to improve service delivery.

“Our economic planning is sound, even as the implementation framework unfolds.

I make bold to say that the outlook for the future of our country is good. We are at peace with the world, and we remain wellrespected internationally.”

“Yet, since every nation is a work in progress, each one has its own share of unfinished businesses. Nigeria is no different.

Now is the time for us to make even greater efforts to find new answers to old-age problems that have long confronted us.

Now, more than ever before, is the right time to work together to defuse new threats and address current challenges, so that this nation will advance with greater unity towards our goal of positive socio-economic transformation.

“I am always mindful of the fact that our

How Nigeria’s economy can grow, by Brown •Continued from page 4

“But there were other challenges. It was obvious that a good number of our people had no livelihood. Infrastructure was in a state of decay and the larger oil and gas economy did not support the majority of the people.

“Despite efforts of previous administrations, there remained a manpower gap caused by an education sector in ruins.

“One thing was clear. In spite of the many investment opportunities in our state and its great potential, there still remained several constraints, which were of concern to potential investors.

“Our task as government therefore was to ensure a stable development of the state’s economy, by putting in place policies and structures, which will in turn translate to improvements in the quality of life of our people.

“While there were things, which we as a state could do about some of these prob-

lems, there were others for which we face constitutional constraints because they fall under the responsibility of the Federal Government.

“For instance, a State Level Doing Business Survey found that we had one of the most cumbersome regimes for registering property in the country. In response, we are at an advanced stage of adopting a new land policy and new procedures for property registration. Very soon, it will take only a few weeks to register property in Rivers State.

“Similarly, with regard to the shortage of skilled labour force, our State has already invested massively in education and health systems. The construction of modern schools, health centres and hospitals have been one of the hallmarks of this administration.

“However, we realise that the construction of structures alone does not guarantee quality education. We are therefore also investing in teaching and learning materials, as well as in the training and supervision of our teachers.”

Amaechi then lauded the organisers of the forum, who put everything in place to ensure its success, while assuring them of Rivers state government’s commitment that they would reap every benefit of the gains of the forum.

Peterside, in his welcome address, said the organisers opted for a world-class event, to showcase the potential of Rivers state and its environs.

Chairman of the organising committee added that the investors’ forum would be setting the pace, for others to follow.

unity is forged from the sacrifices of the generations before us. That unity is sustained by the strong commitment of countless leaders and peace-loving citizens across this nation. It is this same commitment to secure peaceful ends through peaceful means that unites all our national debates, dialogues and conferences since 1922.

“That commitment to dialogue culminated in the Clifford Constitution (1922); Richards Constitution (1944); Macpherson Constitution (1951); Lyttleton Constitution (1954); 1960 Independence Constitution; 1977/78 Constituent Assembly and the 1979 Constitution.

“Similar credits go to the Political Bureau (1986) and the 1988/89 Constituent Assembly; as well as the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference that substantially shaped the 1999 Constitution. The most recent effort was the National Political Reform Conference of 2005, which provided the basis for some of the proposed and on-going amendments of the Constitution.”

Apparently replying critics who accuse the government of mixing politics and governance, the President said: “I am determined that our nation devotes more resources, time and energy to the pressing issues of development, so that we progressively reduce the drama of politics, the cycles of group agitations and needless contentions.”

“I am inaugurating this Committee to develop draft bills on previously agreed issues that would go a long way to strengthen the bonds of our union. These settled issues include strong recommendations from past Constitutional and Political Reform Conferences; on National Security, Human Rights and Social Security, People’s Charter and Social Obligations; Environment and Natural Resources, Models and Structure of Government, Public Service, Power Sharing, Local Government Reforms and the Economy,” he said.

www.thenationonlineng.net

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 7,

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

A weekend with Yoruba Descendants of America

•Mrs. Tenabe

As is well known, Chief Enahoro with other distinguished Nigerianslaunched the Movement for National Reformation (MNR) in 1992, with the objective of canvassing for the restructuring of Nigeria on the basis of using the nation-state concept for creating inter-nationality federations “to move Africa forward.” And it was on the basis of his prognosis of the diseased Nigerian quasi-unitary state that he sounded the clarion call for the Yoruba in terms of three options: accept the present structure and commit national suicide; reject the present structure and seek your salvation outside Nigeria; or work with others to seek a workable solution to the predicament of a failing Leviathan.

RIPPLES ROBBERS RAID FIVE BANKS IN OGUN VARSITY–News

For Chief Enahoro, what the present situation meant was that the Yoruba, as well as other nationalities, “could face ultimate disintegration as a people, upon strict application of the principle that in order to make a Nigerian omelet which is acceptable to alien palates, we must break our indigenous nation-eggs, or that you would have to seek your peoples’ destiny outside Nigeria; or that if Nigeria is to survive and fulfill our collective aspirations,you will have to work for a true, federal system with nation-state (or nation-regional) components—a federation of nationalities…”

This was not totally foreign to the listening ears of the Egbe. Finding a way to revive the national soul of the Yoruba in the midst of a suffocating environment has been its raison d’etre since 1994. Almost twenty years after, it still is the driving force.

Between 1997 and 2011, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. As in any living entity, there have been moments of triumph and periods of angst; but the fighting spirit of 1994 lives on in the innermost chamber of every member and has been a source of strength for the association. Indeed, as I told the gathering last Saturday, despite occasional painful betrayals and inexplicable disappointments, every chapter, indeed every member that has made selfless contributions to the sustenance and flourishing of the Egbe in spite of individual struggles to make it in the land of opportunities, deserve an unreserved commendation.

Yet, in the eternal wisdom of our people, the booming sound of gunfire is always a reminder of the incomplete grade that we must clear from our record of accomplish-

HARDBALL

DAYO SOBOWALE

ment. (O ku nii ibon n dun) And when there are still remnants of lice in the crease of our national dress, our fingernails cannot be free of blood. I cannot indeed see how the Egbe can stop to rest having not yet achieved a key component of the 1997 resolution: “to work for a constitutional arrangement and political restructuring in which the Yoruba nation, along with other nationalities in Nigeria, has an unfettered autonomy that will advance the development of Yoruba civilization as well as those of other nationalities.”

Notice that in the spirit of Yoruba liberalism and the philosophy of live and let live which was encapsulated in the profoundly meaningful name of its foremost organization—AFENIFERE—this resolution caters for the interest of other nationalities as well, unless there are nationalities that abhor an unfettered autonomy.

In the light of this, and absent a false consciousness about its condition and prospects in the present unwieldy arrangement, no nationality can be rationally opposed to the political restructuring of the country. If so, the Egbe needs to join its force of ideas and skills with other groups not only across the Yoruba nation, but also across the Nigerian landscape in the spirit of Adolor’s clarion call, which was echoed in Philadelphia in 1998 by the late Yoruba Leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, and in 1999, in Atlanta by the late Chief Bola Ige. With the caliber of the leadership that is provided by Yeye Afin Monilola Tenabe, and her team of hard-working and dedicated officers, including the talented General Secretary, Ayo Idowu-Samson, all members of the National Executive Committee, Chapter Presidents and their membership, I have no doubt that this Egbe is up to the task.

In the hope that I avoid the charge of favoritism, I must specially recognize some of the foundation members who as elders still remain dedicated and committed to the cause. Attorney Olu McGuinnis Otubusin and Hazeez Ajayi served with me as Legal Secretary and Treasurer respectively from 1997 to 1999. Olu took over as President in 1999 and did a superb job. It is commendable that both of these patriots continue to make their wisdom and talent available. I am proud of them and I wish them Godspeed in the collective effort to rid our nation of the vestiges of feudal and colonial imposition, knowing fully well thatwe have nothing to lose but these chains and fetters that unjustifiably immobilise us.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jonathan, National Assembly and fuel subsidy

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...and what about the POLICE? SLEEPING ON DUTY

NO. 1948

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

T has been a while since I attended a National Executive Committee meeting of Egbe Omo Yoruba, the National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America (henceforth referenced as The Egbe). In fact, this past weekend was my first in almost a decade and it was facilitated by the kind and thoughtful gesture of the newly elected president of the association, the amiable and smart Yeye Afin Monilola Tenabe whose historically significant election occurred in New York last August.

As the first lady president of the association in its almost two-decade existence, it is certainly one for the history books. And with the tremendous reservoir of good will and political capital at her beck and call, and with her own combination of a superior native intelligence with a willingness to seek common grounds, I am more than hopeful for a successful tenure for Yeye Afin Tenabe and her team.

The Egbe injected itself into the consciousness of our people in April 1997, three years after its founding, with its well-articulated “Houston Declaration”,a communiqué of the 5th National Convention held in Houston,Texas. That declaration, inspired by the collective awareness of members about the objective record of achievements of the past, juxtaposed uncomfortably with the frustrations of a damning present, insisted on the restructuring of Nigeria to allow for the release of the latent creative energy and positively competitive spirit that has always animated our peoples.

It was also at the Houston convention that the late Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, the firebrand political juggernaut of our time, and NADECO leader at the time, gave a keynote address which rekindled in members the need to “resume andpursue the federating postulations of our founding fathers to their logical conclusion, and by doing this to liberate ourselves finally from the bondage of European colonization.”

With particular reference to the Yoruba, the Adolor recalled, to the admiration and pride of conferees, the distinctive contributions that their forebears had made to “African existence”—from history and culture, to music and “feferity”, artifacts and dress modes, democratic norms, including the statutory regulation of the chieftaincy system, a progressive governance that facilitates the adoption of policies such as popular free education, farm settlements, housing estates, and a liberal religious ethos with its guarantee of religious tolerance.

‘What thrills me on this energy or electricity diplomacy is the confidence that I have as a Nigerian that no nation on earth, neighbor or not, can threaten Nigeria with electricity supplies successfully like Turkey is doing to Syria, for the simple reason that those who do not have electricity already cannot be bothered by a threat of a lack of it.’

HOUGH no reporter attended Wednesday’s interaction between President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly on the controversial fuel subsidy issue, virtually all the newspapers that reported the parley agreed that the president could not convince the lawmakers that subsidy existed or should be withdrawn. A paper said the president’s presentation was difficult to sell, while another said it was sketchy, disappointing and unconvincing. The summary of all the reports is that the president was admonished to do a better homework on the issue. Now, if the president could not convince our usually obliging lawmakers, some of whom attended the meeting, does he stand a chance of convincing the country as a whole if he took the case directly to them? His stiff style and tortured logic would make this doubtful.

Students of logic will recognise where the problem lies in the president’s presentation.

We know he is not the most eloquent of the presidents we have had since independence.

But far beyond that, the lawmakers were saying that the president could not convince himself about the fuel subsidy matter, not to talk of trying to convince other people, many of whom are more knowledgeable about petroleum matters. But if the president knew his elocutionary weakness, and we suppose too

that his aides and ministers also knew, why was he still the one that presented the case before a highly educated and discerning legislature? We suspect that the president is neither fully apprised of the subsidy issue nor, even if he is, can he present the case with the cogent drive of a skilled polemicist and rhetorician.

Calling for removal of fuel subsidy is a hugely unpleasant job best suited to someone inured to political dangers. Jonathan should have left the job for Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, his Minister of Finance and probably the most ardent apostle of subsidy removal.

We may never know why the Jonathan government put its weakest foot forward when it met with the lawmakers. All we know is that he botched the argument, and may have made legislative approval in future a more difficult venture. For instance, some of the reports on the meeting quoted lawmakers as asking the president to deal with the oil cabal he argued was benefiting from the subsidy. But it is either Jonathan does not have the courage to deal with the cabal or there is in fact no cabal.

The president has the difficult task of proving to all of us that indeed a cabal exists. Worse for him, assuming he proves this fact, he has the even more difficult responsibility of either dealing with the cabal or showing cause why he prefers to punish the country for the sins of the

cabal.

Jonathan’s problems are two-fold. He must deal with the cartel he swears exists in the oil sector, or he must convince us why we should ignore the cartel and instead absorb the punishment of subsidy removal. Neither is a promising proposition. It is doubtful whether he can find a legislature to convince to support subsidy removal, or a masochistic country to persuade to accept this economic measure. If he is really convinced the country would collapse without subsidy removal, let him present Okonjo-Iweala before the lawmakers next time he meets with them. But let them not come with arguments about some ghoulish fat cats profiting from subsidy.

If Jonathan has even a little of the imagination Chief Olusegun Obasanjo claimed he had before the election that brought him and the late Umaru Yar’Adua to power in 2007, let him use it to find alternative austerity measures to save the economy from collapsing as he feared.

The unadorned truth is that he is unlikely to find a legislature or a country to persuade on the subsidy issue. But he can of course ride roughshod over the country by abruptly removing the so-called subsidy. We wait to see whether a government that fears to grapple with a cabal can summon the reckless courage to defy an entire country.

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