The Nation November 21, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 1951 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

KOGI 2011

N150.00

•PDP is stockpiling arms, Akande alleges •NTP candidate unfolds agenda •AND MORE •PDP receives defectors at Ankpa

•COUNTDOWN TO THE DECEMBER 3 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN THE CONFLUENCE STATE

•PAGES 8 & 57

Subsidy: How House plans to stop Jonathan Presidency considers palliatives

Alex Ibru dies at 66 •Jonathan, NPAN, others mourn The Guardian publisher

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

From Olukayode Thomas, Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja,

T

HE Federal Government may go ahead with the withdrawal of fuel subsidy without the National Assembly’s approval, The Nation learnt at the weekend.

But the House of Representatives is said to be planning to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from using Executive Fiat to get the job done.

The House may invoke its statutory powers in Sections 80-85 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to stop Dr. Jonathan from withdrawing fuel subsidy without recourse to the National Assembly.

But the government is fine-tuning its palliative measures or safety nets ahead of the subsidy withdrawal.

About 11 key palliative measures have been drawn up.

The thinking in some presidential circles is that withdrawal of fuel subsidy should be purely an Executive decision and not a legislative matter.

Those pushing this line of argument maintain that the President should not have conContinued on page 4

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HE Nigerian media lost one of its leading lights yesterday.

Alex Uruemu Ibru, publisher of The Guardian, died at 66.

His death was announced in a statement by the newspaper, which did not state any cause. It said: “The passing on of Alexander Uruemu Ibru, Chairman and Publisher of The Guardian, flagship of the Nigeria press, has been announced. He died at about 2.30pm today (yesterday), November 20, while in the course of an illness. He was aged 66.

“Ibru was born on March1, 1945, the youngest of the famous Ibru brothers who hailed from AgbharaOtor, in Delta State and whose entrepreneurship made the name almost synonymous with business in Nigeria.

•The late Mr Ibru

SEE ALSO PAGE 5

Continued on page 4

•NCAA, BA, VIRGIN ATLANTIC BICKER OVER DAMNING REPORT P2&3

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

2

NEWS

•Branson

•British Airways aircraft

NCAA, British Airways, Virgin British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA) say they have always had the interest of Nigeria and its people at heart. But, the full report of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) enquiries into the activities of the two airlines obtained by The Nation and facts from the UK competition watchdog, Office of Fair Trade (OFT) and US Department of Justice (DOJ) detail unwholesome acts by the foreign airlines, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

I

TS inaugural flight to Nigeria was over 75 years ago. In all of these years, the British Airways has enjoyed its status as, perhaps, the most favoured. But for the British carrier, the last two weeks have been testy. It was still grappling with the reduction of its flight slots into Lagos, when the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said the outcome of a six-month long investigation on it and another British airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA), shows that the two world famous carriers were involved in pricefixing. It slammed BA a fine of $135 million and VAA $100 million.

Aside the fines imposed on the two airlines, the NCAA also wants them “to reimburse and compensate Nigerian consumers who purchased tickets and travelled on both airlines during the relevant period in a manner that is not only commensurate to what they have agreed to and are doing in the U.K and U.S, but that also reflects and highlights the yield, profitability and importance of this route to their business.”

The NCAA said failure to comply with the directives will result in disallowing their flights into the Nigerian airspace.

The two airlines have rejected the allegations. BA, in a statement, said: “We reject the allegations made by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and we are vigorously defending our position. We remain committed to Nigeria and have been flying there for more than 75 years. We pride ourselves on offering competitive fares, a choice of products and connections to our Nigerian customers.”

Virgin, through its country representative, Chief John Adebanjo, said: “I don’t think we have vio-

Downward movement of oil prices without equivalent PFS decrease NCAA’s findings

NCAA comparable routes analysis for October 2011

lated Nigerian law in any way. We hold the Director-General of the NCAA and the agency in high esteem. We respect the laws of the land. A full response will be com-

ing from our office later.”

The Nation learnt that the NCAA, in arriving at its decision on both airlines, gathered information from other aviation authorities all

over the world, courts in the United States and Canada and travel agents. It also interviewed over a dozen witnesses, including officials of both airlines and their

service providers.

Its investigators pored through over 10,000 pages of documents, over 650 pages of transcribed witness testimonies and representations made by and on behalf of BA and VAA. Its conclusion is that “BA and VAA have engaged in unfair and deceptive practices against Nigerian consumers, the downstream aviation sector in Nigeria and the Federal Government of Nigeria. ” The NCAA report accused both airlines of engaging in unfair methods of competition.

The report noted: “Starting sometime in 2004 and continuing to 2006, BA and VAA colluded together and started a conspiracy to fix, periodically increase and maintain Passenger Fuel Surcharges (PFS) as a component of the fare passengers pay to travel. This collusion and conspiracy was ultimately discovered and became the subject of investigation in the U.S. and U.K and several class actions to protect consumers. BA has since pleaded guilty to the criminal conduct in the U.S and paid a criminal penalty of $300 million and a fine of GBP 121 million in the U.K, based on investigations by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) and U.K. Office of Fair Trading (OFT).”

The Nation obtained documents from the OFT showing that the BA admitted colluding with VAA to short-change customers. VAA was the first to admit to the crime. As a result of this, it escaped paying fine. But BA was slammed with the highest fine ever imposed by OFT for anti-competition moves.

In a document dated August 1, 2007, the OFT said: “British Airways has admitted collusion over the price of ‘long-haul passenger fuel surcharges’ (surcharges) and will pay a penalty of £121.5m to be imposed by the OFT, thus ena-

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

3

NEWS

•Walsh

•Aviation Minister Oduah-Ogiemwonyi

Stella

•Collins

•Dr. Demuren

Atlantic bicker over indicting report bling the OFT to close its civil investigation and resolve this case.

The penalty will be the highest ever imposed by the OFT for infringements of competition law, and demonstrates the determination of the OFT to deal vigorously with anti-competitive behaviour.

“British Airways has admitted that between August 2004 and January 2006, it colluded with Virgin Atlantic over the surcharges which were added to ticket prices in response to rising oil prices. Over that period, the surcharges rose from £5 to £60 per ticket for a typical BA or Virgin Atlantic longhaul return flight.

“Virgin Atlantic is not expected to pay any penalty as it qualifies in principle for full immunity under the OFT’s leniency policy. Under this policy, a company which has been involved in cartel conduct and which is the first to give full details about it to the OFT will qualify for immunity from penalties in relation to that conduct. In addition, any company staff involved in the price fixing disclosed will qualify for immunity from criminal prosecution in relation to that conduct. The OFT’s investigation was prompted after Virgin Atlantic came forward with information about price fixing with BA over the surcharges. British Airways has also provided full co-operation with the OFT’s investigation under the leniency programme and this is reflected in the penalty announced today.

“British Airways accepts the OFT’s finding that on at least six occasions the two companies discussed and/or informed each other about proposed changes to the level of the surcharges, rather than setting levels independently as required under clear and well-established competition law principles.”

At the time the OFT was investigating both airlines, the United States Department of Justice also investigated the two airlines and returned a guilt verdict.

OFT Chairman Philip Collins said: “This case, and the substantial penalty imposed, will send an important message to corporate boards and business leaders about our intention to enforce the law, and serves to remind companies of the substantial risks involved if

How US couched out compensation from airlines

T

HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) report against the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways bears semblance with the outcome of enquiries in the United States and the United Kingdom on the two airlines.

Following the discoveries of their anti-competition activities, the United States Department of Justice instituted a class action law suit against them.

Virgin Atlantic had blown the whistle that it colluded with BA to gouge trans-Atlantic passengers with fuel surcharges. The suit was brought on behalf of 5.1 million passengers who bought airplane tickets in the United Kingdom and another 2.1 million passengers who purchased tickets in the United States.

Under competition law, tipping off a rival about a price change is illegal. Competition law bans firms from agreeing prices. Competition between companies is supposed to lead to cheaper goods and services for customers.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco in September 2008 approved British Airways PLC and Virgin Atlantic’s out-of-court proposal to refund one-third of the surcharge paid by each of the airlines’ passengers between August 11, 2004 and March 23, 2006.

Aside the refund to customers, British Airways paid nearly $550 million to U.S. and British officials for price fixing. Virgin was not fined or charged because, in March 2006, it informed the US and UK officials of its collusion with BA. Virgin executives told investigators that the company would tell BA counterparts it was planning to increase fuel surcharges seven times between 2004 and

they are found to engage in such behaviour. It also illustrates how the OFT’s leniency programme enables companies to eliminate or reduce their exposure to penalties by taking prompt and effective action. On a broader front, the OFT is committed to strong and effective competition law enforcement, especially in relation to price fixing and other hardcore infringements. Our commitment to enforcement emphasises the importance of effective and comprehensive competition law compliance led by boards and senior management and supported by effective risk management systems and corporate governance.”

The OFT also put on trial officials of BA believed to have had a hand in the price-fixing cartel. But, it later withdrew the case. On November 8, the OFT issued a Statement of Objections to British Air-

2006. The surcharges rose from £5 to £60 per ticket for a typical BA or Virgin Atlantic long-haul return flight.

Scott Hammond of the DoJ’s antitrust division said that “virtually every American business and consumer was impacted by these crimes”.

“American companies rely on competitive shipping rates to export their goods to foreign markets, American consumers rely on imports for so many consumer and household goods, American families flew these airlines on international destinations.

“In every instance American businesses and consumers ended up paying more as a result of these crimes.”

Virgin Atlantic, owned by billionaire Richard Branson, said it informed the OFT in 2006 as soon as its lawyers were made aware of the nature of contacts that had occurred between individuals from the two airlines. We take complying with competition laws extremely seriously and regret that contacts were made between the two companies,” it said.

This was what prompted the investigation, which led to the class action suit.

BA’s chief executive Willie Walsh acknowledged that the conduct of some of the carrier’s employees had been wrong and could not be excused.

Walsh said: “Anti-competitive behaviour is entirely unacceptable and we condemn it unreservedly. We have a long-standing competition compliance policy which requires all staff to comply with the law at all times. I am satisfied that we have the right controls in place. However, it is deeply regrettable that some individuals ignored our policy.”

ways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic in its civil law investigation into alleged collusion over the pricing of passenger fuel surcharges for long-haul passenger flights to and from the UK between August 2004 and January 2006.

It said: “Issuing a Statement of Objections is a necessary procedural step before the OFT can proceed to a final decision. The Statement of Objections outlines the OFT’s proposed decision and invites the parties to make representations. BA reached an early resolution agreement with the OFT, which was announced in August 2007. Virgin Atlantic was granted conditional immunity under the OFT’s leniency policy in 2006, having brought the matter to the OFT’s attention.”

A source told The Nation that the NCAA investigation was prompted by the OFT and US Jus-

tice Department’s findings. The NCAA stated in its report: “Both airlines have settled consumers in the U.S. and U.K approximately $204 million in compensation of the anti-competitive method of setting and conspiring to increase the PFS.” In both countries, customers who bought both airlines tickets between August 11, 2004 and March 23, 2006 were asked to fill a form of eligibility for refund.

This was after a class action was instituted against both airlines.

The settlement arrived at after the suit requires the companies to refund up to £73,531,076 to members of the U.K. settlement classes who submitted valid claim forms and $59,007,273 to U.S. class members who submitted valid claim forms.

From the NCAA report, the pattern of the alleged collusion in the country was similar to the ones used by the airlines in US and UK.

The report noted: “BA and VAA did in fact collude and in furtherance of that collusion periodically increased PFS, including against Nigerians. BA and VAA operate approximately 90% of the direct flights between Nigeria and the U.K. Being a duopoly, the effect of this collusion was and continues to be devastating on Nigerian travellers who have limited choices and have had to and continue to pay indiscriminately high fares. The increases in PFS had no linear correlation with the changing price of crude oil or the cost at which BA and VAA were buying Jet A-1 fuel in Nigeria.”

The NCAA found that for the period under review the two airlines, despite reduction in the oil price never decreased the PFS. It said as a result of these several hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been victims.

“There was no reason for BA or VAA to impose these burdensome arbitrary and high surcharges on Nigerians because the Nigerian route ranks as one of the most profitable in their networks providing large yields and wide margins to their businesses.

“The PFS in the manner it was imposed and maintained was and is deceptive as both BA and VAA sought to, and succeeded in conveying the PFS to consumers as a third party charge or cost recovery fee that did not either go to them or contribute to their profits. This is untrue as the PFS was nothing but an additional fare.

The PFS is essentially a fare increase that goes to the airlines,” the report said.

With both airlines rejecting the allegations against them, the stage seems set for a major fight. NCAA Director-General Dr. Harold Demuren has vowed not to bend the rules. He said: “What we are saying is that our market is open for exploration but closed to exploitation. We will no loner tolerate exploitation, deceptive and discriminatory practices that cause regional imbalance in fares.”

A source said the Federal Government may institute a class action as done in the UK and US to get the airlines to toe the line.

The battle has just started. Who wins?

4

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS NPAN, NGE, others mourn

His attempted murder 15 years ago

T

By Eric Ikhilae

H

E cheated death about 15 years ago when he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. On February 2, 1996, he was shot at on the Falomo Bridge area in Ikoyi, Lagos by people suspected to be state agents. The attack cost Mr Ibru an eye and two fingers.

Over two and half years after the attack, former Chief Security Officer to the Continued from page 60

•President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience, his mother, Madam Eunice and his children cutting the cake to mark his 54th birthday at the Presidential Villa ... yesterday.

HE Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday commiserated with the Ibru family over the death of The Guardian publisher, Mr Alex Ibru.

NPAN, in a statement by its President, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, said Ibru reshaped the newspaper landscape.

“Chief Alex Ibru reshaped the Nigerian Newspaper landscape with the founding in 1983, of The Guardian Newspapers which had as its mission, the desire to be among the five best English language newspapers in the world.

“The emergency of the

The Guardian publisher Alex Ibru dies at 66 Continued from page 1

“He attended Yaba Methodist Primary School(19511957), Ibadan Grammar School(1958-1960), Igbobi College, Lagos(1960-1963) and the University of Trent (formerly Trent Polytechnic)(1967-1970) where he studied Business Economics.

After working briefly in the family business under the tutelage of his older brother and patriarch, Micheal C.O. Ibru, Alex launched out on his own and soon became one of the most successful young businessmen in the country.

“He founded The Guardian in 1983 with a mission to make it one of the five best English language newspapers in the world.

It soon established itself and has since remained the flagship of the Nigerian press.

“Ibru is the Chairman of Trinity Foundation, the vehicle through which he did his massive philanthropy, giving support to the poor and the needy.

He was also the founder of the Ibru Centre which promotes ecumenism and religious harmony.

“Alex Ibru is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International. He was minister of Internal Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and member of the highest Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), from 1993 to 1995. As minister, he introduced far-reaching reforms in the management of Nigeria’s prisons and the Immigration Service.

“He left the Sani Abacha-led

A sad loss, say Babatope, Osoba, Kusa

A

S Nigerians mourn the demise of Mr. Alex Ibru, more eminent Nigerians have described his transition as a sad

loss.

Former Transport Minister Ebenezer Babatope described him as a “highly principled and humble person. Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, said he was a forthright person and a man with a passion for excellence.

Former Editor of The Guardian Mr. Femi Kusa said Ibru was a great man who helped him to develop his business skills. The Lagos State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) described Ibru’s death as a colossal loss.

Babatope, Osaba and Kusa, who described the deceased as their friend, spoke glowingly about their time together.

“I am sad to learn that a great Nigerian, Alex Ibru” has passed on. Alex served Nigeria with all the talent and resources our God had given him. He was a highly principled and humble person to the very end of his life.

“We were both cabinet Ministers in the late General Sani Abacha regime. Alex was at the same time, a member of the Provisional Ruling Council. As Minister, Alex never received any estacode allowance for all the trips he made on behalf of Nigeria.

“He survived assassination bullets in 1996.

My friend, Alexy Kosygn has answered the supreme call. God will console his wife, Maiden and the large Ibru family. My God

government on principle, after which an attempt was made on his life, allegedly on the orders of the ruling junta. The case on that attempted murder is still in court.

“He is a recipient of D.Litt honoris causa of the University of Port Harcourt.

“A man extremely passionate

By Eric Ikhilae bless the memory of our Alexy Ibru, a.k.a Alex Kosygn,” Babatope said.

Osoba said “we were very, very close. He and I conceived the idea of The Guardian newspaper. We, in Sketch then, were printing The Guardian when he first started. He had a vision of producing a highly respectable and quality newspaper.

“Because of his passion and vision for quality newspaper, he was able to establish and sustain the quality of The Guardian newspaper.”

Kusa said “”Our paths were parted physically by the events which took some of us out of The Guardian, but the threads we had spun held us together somehow.

“Until recently, he did not stop appearing in my dreams long after I had thought the cycles of our relationship closed. Once, he telephoned me in error or so I thought, although it was short, it was nevertheless, a beautiful reunion sort of.

“Meanwhile I had come to recognise he was not the terrible bad guy some people painted him before some of us. He had his own faults like all men, no doubt. I will remember him as a true businessman friend when, as the Editor of The Guardian, I tried to make editorial changes that were to balloon financial fortunes of the newspaper.

about Nigeria and a compassionate promoter of joy of humanity, Ibru’s philanthropy, his outstanding entrepreneurship, contributions to the development of the mass media in Nigeria and commitment to selfless service stood him out all through his life.

“Burial arrangements will be

Continued from page 60

announced soon by the family.”

Tributes have been pouring in torments.

President Goodluck Jonathan said he received the news of the death of Ibru with shock.

The President, according to his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Mr. Ibru contributed immensely in shaping Nigeria’s

media industry, setting the standard for the industry with the publication of high quality newspapers.

“This man, whose life recorded a pattern of good works, has definitely gone too soon.

Many will remember him for founding The Guardian which set the tone for independent and balanced journalism in Nigeria.

Those who knew him closely will remember him for his life’s work of quiet philanthropy,” the President said.

The President recalls Mr. Ibru’s service to the country as Minister of Internal Affairs, noting that he was devoted to the promotion of reconciliation and national stability in the wake of the post-June 12, 1993 electoral crisis. “The country benefitted from his wealth of experience and peaceful disposition. He believed in and sowed his life as a seed to God by, among other things, building up the Ibru Centre to advance the study of religion and religious harmony.

We can see that his life demonstrated that he valued his relationship with God, with man and with his family,” the President said. According to him, Nigeria has lost an astute businessman and a committed nationalist who willingly accepted to serve the nation when the odds may have dictated otherwise.

President Jonathan expresses his condolences to the Ibru Family, praying that God would grant them comfort and consolation.

Continued from page 60

newspaper also came with improved conditions of service for journalists employed in the stable.

“He not only ensured that the newspaper lived up to its motto of “conscience nurtured by truth”, the newspaper under his watch fought against oppression, dictatorship, and bad government for a progressive Nigerian state founded on justice.

“He was unarguably one of the most outstanding businessmen in the country who made his mark as part of the famed Ibru brothers whose pre-eminence in the business and economy of Nigeria can not be understated.

“Alex ibru also lent his wealth of experience to Nigeria when he served as Minister of Internal Affairs between 1993 and 1995.

Nigeria will surely miss this champion of conscience nurtured by truth.

The NGE, in a statement, said Ibru contributed to the development of journalism.

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has received with a heavy heart the news of the passage of Mr. Alex Ibru, Publisher of The Guardian newspapers, yesterday in Lagos, after some illness.

Mr. Ibru, a scion of the foremost Ibru family of AgbharaOtor in Delta state was most remarkable for business success and wealth which came to him from his conquering entrepreneurial spirit at a young age.

But most people regard him for publishing The Guardian, a most respected newspaper of record that has earned journalism and journalists great esteem. Publishing truth nurtured by conscience, Mr. Alex Ibru’s paper has been a major employer of journalists and editors, shaping national discourse, moulding opinions and directing critical thoughts about making our nation great.

The Guardian is his lasting legacy; the indelible epitaph.

“As an individual, he gave of himself selflessly in the service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a minister of Internal Affairs. He was a notable philanthropist, promoter of peace and religious tolerance.

“The NGE commiserates with the the Ibru family, the management and staff The Guardian newspapers even as they continue to hold the torch after the passage of this great Nigerian.”

How House plans to stop Jonathan from removing fuel subsidy Continued from page 1

sulted the National Assembly, in the first instance.

A source said: “I think the President is just being modest because by virtue of Section 16(1) (b) of the Constitution, the Federal Executive Council is empowered to control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.

“Section 16(2) also says that the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring the promotion of a planned and balanced economic development.”

But the President is said to have favoured broad-based consultations because of the “sensitive” nature of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

Another source said: “There is pressure, no doubt, on the President to use Executive Fiat, but he prefers to consult with the National Assembly. That is why he may still meet further with Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

“I am aware that some people are not too comfortable with the fact that the President has not used Executive Fiat.

“After consultations with Senators and Representatives, however, the President will not send any bill or letter to the National Assembly on the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.”

But a top officer of the House, who confided in our correspondent, said members were working on a “Plan B”, if the President decides to ignore its advice and if he goes

ahead with the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

The source said: “Those who are making a case for Executive Fiat have forgotten that the withdrawal of subsidy will be part of the 2012 budget.

“And by virtue of sections 80-85 of the 1999 Constitution, we can stop the President from withdrawing fuel subsidy.

“The option left for the Executive is to meet those four conditions we gave it, especially the proposed palliative measures.

“We are ready for dialogue because we want the best for the country, but we won’t accept Executive Fiat.

“Let me give you a specific example of Section 81(1) which may be applicable to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the 2012 budget.

“The section says: “The President shall cause to be prepared and laid before each House of the National Assembly at any time in each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Federation for the next following year.

“The heads of expenditure contained in the estimates (other than expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation of this Constitution) shall be included in a bill to be known as an Appropriation Bill providing for the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the sums necessary to meet that expenditure and the appropriation of those sums for the purposes specified therein.”

The government is said to be considering about 11 palliatives to cushion the ef-

fects of the proposed withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

Some of the proposed measures are: •Massive road rehabilitation and construction nationwide •Heavy investment on security •Subsidy for electricity tariff •Infrastructural development in power, education and other sectors •Scholarship scheme and low tuition fees •Mass transit scheme, including completion of the ongoing expansion of the railway network, mass •Making maternal and child care affordable •Job creation •Loan facilities/credit scheme for farmers, smallscale industrialists, and the poor.

•Social safety nets for workers, such as accessible mortgage system, car loan and affordable medical bill •Likely introduction of a social security scheme.

A highly-placed source in government, who confided in our correspondent, said: “No government will just withdraw fuel subsidy or any form of subsidy without palliative measures.

“We are already working on far-reaching palliative measures or safety nets. But discussions with the National Assembly will further assist in cushioning the effects of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“Our plans are such that Nigerians will not feel the effects of the subsidy withdrawal as such. We are ready to unfold all these palliative plans soon.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

5

NEWS ALEX IBRU 1945 - 2011

My miraculous escape from the killer gang, by Ibru After his attack by gunmen, The late The Guardian publisher, Mr. Alex Ibru, stayed away from his 17A, Alexander Road, Ikoyi home. He returned five years later. He made some illuminating remarks on his return on February 2, 1996. Excerpts from The Daniel from the Lion’s Den:

F

EBRUARY 2, 1996 had to be a day of strange coincidences indeed, or else one of unique ironies.

But in retrospect, perhaps it was only meant to play out yet another curious stanza in a systematic revelation of God’s intricate purpose for me.

I set out from this house for my office at the Federal Palace Hotel that morning, with no extra-ordinary expectations, certainly I had no premonition of any personal disaster. I hoped to be back home to my wife in the evening.

Alas, the journey of a few minutes has taken five years through a labyrinth of despair and anxieties, fear and expectations but nevertheless of determination, faith and hope. It is great to be back.

My last act before leaving that evening was to hand my final Will to my brother, Goodie.

It is possible to reconstruct the events of that day especially the aspect of the Will, and say that I had some inkling of what was to happen. But it would be hardly the case that I was remotely aware of any danger looming ahead and decided to prepare for it. To suggest that I got my Will ready just in time is, therefore, in my view, to exaggerate my sense of fatalism, or to credit me with an unlikely fondness for tragic drama.

I believe that it is fairer to say that my decisions and actions of that moment were routine and ordinary, without denying that there is often an unseen hand in the various networks of causes and effects in our lives.

The man Alex Uruemu Ibru

A

LEXANDER Uruemu Ibru, known simply as Alex Ibru, was the publisher of The Guardian which was established in 1983.

In 1983, after carefully assembling some of the nation’s best hands in the trade, he set out to produce the nation’s finest newspaper that would remain fearless, independent, and courageous in the coverage of news and its presentation.

Before his foray into newspaper publishing, Ibru was a businessman with considerable investments in the automobile, construction and hospitality sectors; he at several fora had said he went into newspaper business out of a resolve to give back to society.

Born on March 1, 1945, Ibru, attended Yaba Methodist Primary School (1951 – 1957), Ibadan Grammar School (1958 –1960), Igbobi Grammar School (1960 – 1963), and the Trent Polytechnic (now Trent University), between 1967-1970, where he studied Business Economics.

Shortly after returning to the country, he joined the Ibru Organisation, which was the holding company established by his senior brother, Michael, and soon thereafter in 1970, he established Rutam Motors Ltd, which soon became a frontline motor franchising concern. He had extensive business interest in insurance and computer and allied sectors.

He was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, in 1993, and undertook a vast reform of the Prisons and Immigration Services. But he became a target of the same administration for the principled opposition of his newspaper to the administration of late Gen. Sani It is improbable that I can recount every bit of my feeling, sensation or even observation as we drove home.

I cannot thank all of them enough. But I want to acknowledge specially the great efforts of my brother Goodie, who with my wife reportedly co-ordinated in a

By Yinka Aderibigbe

Abacha, whom he served. As a result of his principled non interference in the editorial content of the newspaper, he was left with no option than to resign in 1995. He, thereafter, announced his retirement from public life.

On February 2, 1996, he survived an assassination attempt along the Falomo ramp while returning home from a hard day at work, an attack which was hurriedly poopooed by the then Inspector-General of Police as an armed robbery attack, but thereafter gained a life of its own, as one of the principal actors Barnabas Jabila, better known as Sergeant Rogers, confessed at the Oputa Panel that Alex became a marked man when he refused to allow his paper toe the line and an order for his elimination was given by the Security setail of the head of state Major Hamzat al-Mustapha.

Alex Ibru; a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International, was a recipient of D. Litt (Honoris Causa) of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

For his commitment to and faith in the Nigerian project, his philanthropy, his contributions to the development of the mass media, his outstanding entrepreneurship, and his life-long commitment to the values of service and industry, Mr. Alex Ibru was decorated with the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON),

by President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2001, and only last year received another Lifetime achievement Award from This Day, an award his wife, Maiden, received on his behalf from the former U.S President Bill Clinton.

most efficient manner, plans for my evacuation to the UK. They were said to have spent hours enlisting the support of many of our friends in the UK, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States of America, and were soon successful in securing the services of two air ambulances.

Always by my side was my gorgeous wife, Maiden, now sullen and distraught, but fathoming all necessary logistics, even as she would, as often as possible, got to my bed side as if to urge me to my feet, with spirited invocations.

I had left the office on Friday

roundly satisfied that the necessary groundwork had been established. I looked forward enthusiastically to Monday, February 5 to commence the next phase of operational instructions towards the realisation of my plans for The Guardian and the Ibru Centre, before the year 2000. But instead of a meditative weekend, there had been a dastardly truncation.

February 5 did come along nonetheless. And the resumption of work manifested well beyond my widest imagination. Instead of sitting in my spacious, 14th-floor office at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, I was being wheeled out of the theatre in London, after a successful operation that had all the trappings of miracle.

The Almighty had given me lease of life, a spiritual translation through the symbolism of a surgeon’s knife. I recognised, as soon as I became conscious again, that God had spared my life in order that I could continue to serve Him and humanity in my chosen ways.

I was told later that if I had arrived in the UK any moment later than I did, I would have had no chance of survival at all.

Even with the promptitude of evacuation, the doctors were not exactly optimistic about their chances of success. They had painted the picture of an ultimate tragedy on the table, or a tiny escape with permanent damage that would render me a vegetable for life. My wife preferred to hope for the best and proceeded, in supreme faith to sign the authorisation for surgery.

Governors, ACN urge Nigerians to emulate The Guardian publisher

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OVERNORS Timipre Sylva, Adams Oshiomhole, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Abiola Ajimobi, Olusegun Mimiko, Raji Fashola, Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said the late publisher of The Guardian, Mr. Alex Ibru, led an exemplary life worthy of emulation.

Sylva, in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, described the late publisher as a patrotic Nigerian who founded the first intellectual newspaper in Nigeria.

Sylva extolled his public record as unparalleled, saying he was a man who believed in the ideals of liberalism and who fought for democracy, justice and equity for all Nigerians.

“He will be greatly missed by all Nigerians and lovers of democracy and freedom. The ideals and principles which he stood for should be emulated by all Nigerians,” the governor said.

Oshiomhole said the country has lost one of the pillars of modern journalism in Nigeria.

He said: “After the epic contribution of the media to the anti-colonial and post-colonial struggle for the building of Nigeria, The Guardian founded in 1983 by Mr Alex Ibru could be said to have defined the agenda of the democratic struggles particularly from the early 80s.”

He added: “No doubt Alex Ibru has left his invaluable imprint on the sands of Nigerian journalism.

A mighty tree propelling the development of the Nigerian media has indeed fallen.

“No doubt he was not rewarded gladly by those who wish to clobber the democratic rights of the people, but his contribution for

• Senator Oluremi Tinubu and residence...yesterday

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

making The Guardian not to buckle under at a defining moment in the nation’s political history stands him out as a colossus.”

Uduaghan, who expressed shock at the death, said Ibru revolutionised the journalism industry with the injection of the academia, thereby compelling the intelligentsia to play part of the critical role of the watchdog of the society.

Ajimobi, in a statementby his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Fes-

another sympathiser at Alex Ibru’s PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN

tus Adedayo, recalled Ibru’s patriotism, his sterling devotion to Nigeria’s togetherness and what he called Ibru’s stellar forthrightness.

The Oyo governor made reference to Ibru’s stint as minister under General Sani Abacha and how he bowed out at the risk of his life.

“There is nowhere or no time the history of patriots and those who spoke truth to power would be written that a sizeable number of pages would not be dedicated to this foremost patriot and exemplary Nigerian,” Ajimobi said.

Mimiko described the late business mogul as an exemplary leader and father whose contribution to the growth of journalism and the nation’s economy can not be over emphasised.

Governor Mimiko said the nation would not forget in a hurry the effort of Ibru in ensuring that the nation toed the pact of honour by embracing democracy.

Fashola and Amosun, who spoke in separate interviews on arrival from Kogi State, where they attended the campaign of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, said Ibru will be greatly missed for his contributions to national development.

Fashola explained that he will greatly miss the businessman, because of his closeness to him, and his principled stance on issues.

Amosun described the passage of Ibru as a lesson to all Nigerians because of his many battles.

Also speaking, the National Publicity secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed described the passage of Chief Alex Ibru as a big loss to the country. He described him as one of Nigeria’s modest icon.

Mohammed said: “It is a sad loss, Alex Ibru has been a quiet man, who has shown that life is about principles, and not about privileges and position. Those who cared to remember his role during the turbulent military era; he almost lost his life, because of his principled stance.

Nigeria has really lost an icon, he was not a noisy icon, not a noisy politician, but he did more for this country in terms of believing in principles as most politiains have done.”

According to Fayemi, the late Ibru kept a good name both in and out of office, adding that this made him to be one of the most respected statesmen in the country.

The governor also credited Ibru for various reforms he introduced while he served as Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995.

He also lauded him for establishing the Ibru Centre, which focuses on promotion of religious harmony.

Fayemi said: “He was a pragmatic leader, an effective and efficient manager of men and resources. He maintained a good name both in government and business.

He also displayed a high sense of altruism and concern for the common man in the course of his public and private life.

“It is sad that Dr Ibru died at a critical time in the nation’s history when his wise counsel would be needed by many who are willing to tap from his wealth of experience.

“The late Ibru would be remembered as a highly principled leader and an institution builder.”

Aregbesola said: “Mr. Ibru’s establishment of The Guardian Newspapers brought about a revolution in the newspaper business in Nigeria.

“The paper’s ability to attract the best minds in editorial writing and balanced reporting has helped the cause of democratic struggles in Nigeria.

“Of course, Nigerians remember very well how critical his newspaper became of the corrupt government of Late Sani Abacha which he had earlier served as a minister.

That effrontery earned him the dastardly attempt on his life by the goons of the Abacha killer regime.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS BAYELSA CRISIS

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Sylva to PDP: tell Nigerians my sins

MBATTLED Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has challenged the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abubakar Kawu Baraje to tell Nigerians the sins he committed to warrant his exclusion from the governorship primary.

Baraje had said Sylva had been told the reasons he was excluded from the primary and that such “sins” would be made public in due course.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola, entitled: “Bayelsa Shall Witness Daybreak”, Sylva said at no time did Baraje discuss the so-called sins with him.

The governor said the PDP chairman has been giving different reasons to different people on his exclusion from the primary.

According to him, it could be deduced from Baraje’s actions that there was no reason known to law and commonsense for his exclusion.

He said it’s illegal and unjust for the PDP to exclude him from contesting without any cogent reason.

“We are aware that the PDP national chairman has been giving different ‘reasons’ to different people on the illegal exclusion of the gover-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

nor. “But at last, Baraje has exposed the fact that there was no reason known to law and commonsense for the exclusion of the governor.

With Baraje’s tone of voice, we fear that after having excluded Governor Sylva without any justification, there is now a desperate attempt to cook up reasons, how ever untenable and tenuous, as an afterthought.

Governor Sylva feels it is saddening that PDP is descending to this level and believes it is up to something sinister.”

The statement regretted Baraje’s attempt to compare Sylva’s case with that of the former Anambra State Governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju who similarly lost his re-election bid in 2003.

“We wish to refresh Baraje’s memory, if he does not know or has forgotten, that Mabadinuju was never disqualified by PDP. He contested the party primary and was rigged out. But in the case of Bayelsa State, Sylva is not even given the opportunity to compete with whosoever has been “anointed”

Varsities may begin strike tomorrow

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ROM tomorrow, universities classrooms across the country may again be shut to academic activities, following the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Members of the union yesterday served a notice to begin an indefinite strike if the government failed to meet the November 22 deadline they had earlier given for the implementation of the agreement.

Also at the weekend, Dr. Clement Chup, the Chairman of the University of Abuja chapter of ASUU decried what he described as “government’s insensitivity to issues bordering on the education sector.”

Chup said the Federal Government had, during the one-week warning strike in September, promised to mplement the agreement.

According to Chup, having made the promise, the NEC met and fixed a meeting for November 30, an additional one week grace to

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

review government’s position.

The ASUU chief said less than a week to November 22 promised by the Federal Government, ASUU had not been called for any meeting.

His words: “Failure of government to keep to its promise will amount to an indefinite strike after NEC meeting since strike is the only language preferred by the Federal Government.”

Chup, who said the Federal Government had only implemented the salary component of the agreement noted that funding and amendment of certain laws affecting operations at the universities have been left out.

“The current struggle by ASUU for better funding of the nation’s universities is to enhance good teaching and learning environment,” he said Chup, therefore, called for the intervention of stakeholders to forestall the pending strike in the interest of the students and the falling nation’s educational system.

He said funding and amendment of certain laws to address some contradicting issues affecting staff and operations of universities were components yet to be met in the 2009 agreement.

The union also threatened to withdraw its members from the campuses over what it called ‘’government’s illegal dissolution of the governing councils of universities.

Rising from a zonal meeting of the union yesterday at Federal University of Technology Minna (FUT), the union, in a statement by the Abuja Zonal Cordinator, Dr. Abu Mallam, deployed the continued refusal of the Federal Government to fully implement the agreement it signed in October 2009.

The zonal meeting, which had the executives of three federal and four stateowned universities in attendance appealed to its national executive council (NEC) to reconvene and take an action to save the system from total collapse.

ASUU had, last month, embarked on a one-week

Johnson- Sirleaf for convention LIBERIAN President Mrs. Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf will tomorrow address the 34th Convention of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) holding in Lagos.

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf, who was recently re-elected, will deliver the Keynote Address with the theme, “Women Through the Ages and Sustainable Empowerment” at the Convention holding at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 10am.

The lecture will be chaired by a legal luminary and the first woman Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs. Folake Solanke.

Lawyers differ over Dickson’s emergence From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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HE emergence of Henry Seriake Dickson as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has led toa disagreement between two senior lawyers.

A Port Harcourt, Rivers State, lawyer, Sebastine Tar Hon (SAN) yesterday said PDP leaders acted in great error, by ignoring the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Another lawyer, Richard Anthony, said nobody had challenged in court, the provision of Electoral Act 2010, which is inconsistent with the constitution.

He said PDP leaders are right by holding the primary, which he insisted was the party’s internal matter.

Anthony urged Governor Timipre Sylva to be a loyal party man, by withdrawing the suit for soft landing and abide by the decision of the party, which he described as supreme.

Hon said: “The PDP hierarchy is in great error, to have conducted the primary election, having been served with the court order, with INEC making its position known to the party, that its officials would not be present at the venue.

“The Acting National Chairman of PDP, Abubakar Baraje, cited Section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act, which is inconsistent with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The section of the Electoral Act is illegal, null and void, since it is inconsistent with the constitution.

“The order of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of Federal High Court, Abuja ought to have been obeyed by PDP leaders. Electoral Act is inferior to the constitution. The court that gave the order is a creation of the constitution.

“Sylva’s lead counsel Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) can call the court’s attention to the disobedience of the court order by PDP leaders, who are playing with contempt or can also ask the court to set aside the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional primary.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. If PDP leaders continue to abuse the nation’s constitution and the rule of law, we are heading for anarchy.”

Anthony, however, maintained that the decision of PDP leaders to conduct the Bayelsa primary was in line with the Electoral Act. He said: “Holding the primary is an internal matter of PDP, as already decided by the Supreme Court. The Electoral Act is also very clear on the issue and nobody has challenged it till now.”

Dump PDP now, says Legogie

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ORMER Deputy Senate President Albert Legogie yesterday advised Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), if he wants to retain his seat.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday, he faulted the PDP in its process which excluded Sylva from contesting the governorship primary.

Even as he maintained that

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

every party has its guidelines for selecting candidates for elections, he said the process adopted by the PDP in disqualifying Sylva was not transparent.

He also noted that Sylva can also choose to remain in the PDP if he is willing to wait and contest for other positions in the future.

warning strike forcing the Federal Government to request the union to grant it till tomorrow to implement the agreement.

The union, however, lamented government’s nonchalance towards the agreement, despite appeals from the Union and other wellmeaning Nigerians.

It further stated that rather than working towards the implementation of the agreement, both the Federal Government and some state governments had dissolved the Governing Councils of the institutions, stressing that the dissolution did not follow due process.

The statement called for the re-instatement of all dissolved councils to enable the councils complete their various terms, or the union may be forced to call its members out of the classrooms again.

The statement reads: “The union requests the Federal Government to ensure complete implementation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement on or before November 22 to avoid industrial disharmony.”

NIMS to aid police, says Ringim From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja •Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole presenting the third anniversary report to the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, at his palace in Benin City.

How Nigeria’s pluralism can be managed, by Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the recommendations on how to manage the nation’s pluralism and ensure peace will be implemented.

The President spoke at the weekend through VicePresident Namadi Sambo at the graduation of the Senior Executive Course 33 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos. He assured the Institute of Federal Government’s support to ensure that it remains a standard place where ideas and policies emanate to solve some major problems the nation is going through.

According to him, “government will ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Executive Course 33 participants and

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

we assure the Institute of the Federal Government’s continuous support as we will look into the request of the Institute and see ways which they could be met”.

The Acting Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, said despite Nigeria’s diversity in ethnic groups, languages and religious affiliations, studies have shown that the people appreciate their common historical, socio-economic and political connections.

Muhammad-Bande said: “President Goodluck Jonathan approved the theme for the Senior Executive Course No. 33, 2011 to be ‘Managing Nigeria’s Pluralism for

Peace and National Development’.

The detailed report of the findings of that study has been submitted to Mr. President while the highlights and policy recommendations were also presented to Mr. President.

“Suffice it to say that the outcome of the study reinforces the conclusions of most other similar studies about Nigeria.

“Despite Nigeria’s numerous ethnic groups and different languages and religious affiliations, the overwhelming majority of Nigerians appreciate their common historical, socioeconomic and political connections and are desirous of forging a more prosperous and united entity”.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, has said implementing the National Identity Management System (NIMS) is effective to the implementation of quality service delivery in the Force.

Ringim spoke in Abuja when the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Chris Onyemenam, visited him.

Ringim said the police would benefit more when NIMS is fully implemented with the database to identify Nigerians and legal residents.

His words: “Currently, security agencies are not able to identify who is truly a Nigerian or a legal resident therefore the project is coming at the right time when security agencies need to identify who is who in order to be able to curtail the security challenges facing the country.

“I am assuring the commission of security and hope the programme is successfully carried out.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS 247 ex-militants for training

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

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HE Federal Government at the weekend sent over 247 former militants in the Niger Delta region to a six-month vocational training in pipeline welding, crane operations, electrical works and automobile installation in South Africa and Malaysia.

The batch brings to 1,735 the number of youths who have been sent abroad for training courses in other countries, such as Ghana, South Africa, Malaysia, Philipines, Israel, Russia, United States of America, Sri Lanka, to enhance human capacity in the region.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Kingsley Kuku, noted that the first and second phase of the disarmament programme has closed following the proclamation of amnesty in 2009.

Tribunal upholds Senator Kuta’s victory

Vaswani brothers to Reps: we didn’t get N50b rice waiver T HE Vaswani brothers yesterday said they did not get any N50billion tax waiver to import rice into Nigeria.

The businessmen claimed that they did not apply to the Federal Government at any time for any tax waiver.

In a statement in Abuja, the three brothers - Sunil, Haresh and Mahesh - made the clarifications against the backdrop of a fresh probe instituted against them by the House of Representatives.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had probed them over alleged evasion of N2.5billion rice importation duty, leading to their deportation on April 20, 2009.

But following a judgment by a Federal High Court, the Vaswanis were pardoned by the Federal Government and allowed to continue their businesses.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Last Thursday, the House of Representatives mandated its Committees on Customs, Agriculture, Finance and Commerce to probe an alleged N50billion tax waiver given to the Vaswani brothers for the importation of rice into the country.

The decision to probe the Vaswanis followed a motion on Thursday by a member of the House from Kano State, Mohammed Wudil, alleging that the Federal Government has been granting frivolous waivers to many foreign companies, especially the Stallion Group owned by the Vaswani brothers.

In a statement through their counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), the Vaswani brothers said they neither applied for

import waivers nor were they granted any by the Federal Government or any other authority.

They said the probe is a “welcome development”.

The statement reads: “The Vaswani Brothers have expressed shock at the purported granting of a phantom N50billion waiver to them through their company, the Stallion Group, on rice imported into the country.

“They, however, welcome the probe by the House of Representatives into the allegations of import waiver granted to the Stallion Group/Vaswani Brothers.

“We write on behalf of our clients (Stallion Group/ Vaswani Brothers) to inform the appropriate authorities and the public that our cli-

ents (Stallion Group/ Vaswani Brothers) did not apply for any rice import waivers and no import waivers were granted to them by the Federal Government or any other authority.

“The latest onslaught against the Stallion Group/ Vaswani Brothers is only a continuation of the dirty tactics aimed at tarnishing the image of the brothers and their company.

“Following the wrongful deportation of our clients from the country – an action which was quickly set aside by the Federal High Court on the grounds that it was illegal and unlawful – our clients have been the victims of all sorts of lies and rumours aimed at scandalising them and tarnishing their image and reputation.

Baba Suwe was treated fairly, says NDLEA

From Onyedi Ojiabor,

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

Assistant Editor

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HE Election Appeal Tribunal, sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has upheld the election of Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, representing Niger East Senatorial District.

It said Kuta got valid votes to represent the senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Kayode Bada threw out the of appeal filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate, Inuwa Zakari.

Zakari had approached the tribunal, citing electoral malpractices, including over-voting in some areas.

He claimed that Kuta did not call witnesses.

The petitioner alleged tht there was intimidation and violence in the April 9 poll in the senatorial district.

Justice Bada upheld the ruling of the lower court that Kuta was validly elected.

Anglican Church for seven-day fasting, prayers

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HE Anglican Church has declared a sevenday fasting and prayers for Nigeria and its leadership, Primate of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has said.

Okoh spoke at this year’s Carnival for Christ, a gathering of Anglicans in the Abuja Diocese.

The Primate said the programme would take place from November 28 to December 3. He said the prayers are for God’s intervention to bring peace back to Nigeria.

Okoh noted that the forces of evil that had taken over some parts of the country could only be defeated through prayers.

“It was decided during the general synod that a sevenday prayer and fasting be organised for the president and the whole country,” he said.

“Fortunately, on every such occasion, the truth has prevailed and our clients have been vindicated as investigations conducted by the Federal Government have confirmed the innocence of our clients.”

“The Stallion Group/ Vaswani Brothers support wholeheartedly the decision of the House of Representatives to investigate these allegations.

“In the past, falsehoods of the type, which the House is set to investigate, provided the platform for actions as extreme as the illegal deportation of our clients. The action of the House is worthy of commendation in that opportunity is now afforded for the accusers to come forward and justify, if possible, their false accusations, while our clients will be equally opportune to know and to confront these false allegations with indisputable facts.”

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•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (middle) with his wife, Florence (second right); Prof Adeniyi Osuntogun (left); Prof Oladapo Afolabi (second left) and Alhaja Sherifat Kola Daisi at a banquet organised by the Oyo State Government for recipients of national awards in Ibadan...on Friday.

Jonathan condemns ‘pull him down’ politics

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday criticised politicians who engage in “pull-himdown” to achieve their political goals.

He said such politicians see the tactic as the only way to succeed.

The President spoke at a church service at the State House Chapel after cutting his 54th birthday cake.

He said most national issues are politicised, perhaps because Nigerian politicians think they can only succeed if they bring down the occupants of the offices they wish to occupy.

Dr Jonathan noted that those who deliberately politicise issues know the right things to do but refuse to do them.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Citing the presentation of national honours held last week, the President said the GCON was awarded to Alhaji Aliko Dangote because he is the highest private sector employer of labour in the country, adding that the claim that the hon-

our was previously reserved only for Vice Presidents was erroneous.

“Before Aliko, over 75 distinguished Nigerians had received the GCON,” he said, adding that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo received the GCFR, though he was never a President of Nigeria.

Dr Jonathan said criticisms

and opposition were normal in a democracy, noting that every leader who has made significant contributions to his country has faced stiff criticisms and opposition.

He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the nation.

The President praised God for keeping him alive to dischrge his duties to the nation.

‘Judiciary facing many challenges’

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ORMER Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey has said the legal system in Nigeria is going through many challenges.

He said there is need for

By Adebisi Onanuga

institutions of justice to embark on self-help if the rule of law must be entrenched in the country.

Arthur-Worrey spoke at the weekend at the Annual Bar Dinner and Award Night of the Ikorodu branch of the

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to round off its 2011 Law Week.

He described as ominous recent developments whereby pronouncements of judges were dishonoured by those in authority.

‘Nigeria will crash if Jonathan insists on subsidy removal’

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is planning to destroy Nigeria if he succeeds with the fuel subsidy removal, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) said yesterday.

The umbrella group of the nation’s opposition parties is outraged by a statement credited to the President at a meeting he had with members of the National

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Assembly at the Villa in Abuja.

The statement, according to the opposition parties, is not only “un-presidential and unpatriotic but also calls into question the motive of President Jonathan in fiercely rejecting the public opinion against the fuel taxation, which is the meaning of removal of the so-called

petroleum products subsidy.”

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Osita Okechukwu in Abuja, CNPP said it was at a loss on how Jonathan... “would align with those in favour of fuel taxation, hence building a poor country of few rich people”.

He should read the lips of his countrymen, the legislators, trade unions and

the clergy.”

It reads: “ We are of the candid view that the national consensus subsisting is that instead of wasting N1.2trillion per annum in the last years in subsidising petroleum products importation; the money could have been used to build new refineries, employ Nigerians and utilise the crude oil derivatives to power our textile industries.

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said popular Yoruba actor and comedian, Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe, was treated fairly when he was in its custody.

It denied the comedian’s claim that he was treated as a common criminal.

A statement yesterday by the Head, Public Relations Department of the agency, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Baba Suwe was treated in accordance with the law, especially the observance of his right to human dignity, presumption of innocence, search and other investigative processes in line with best international practices.

The statement reads: “Omidina was calm, friendly and cooperative while he was under observation. There was no justification for him to have been chained. It is not true that he was chained.

Having agreed in the open court that he was treated fairly and was not harassed, the sudden volte-face by the actor is, therefore, shocking.”

Ex-NDDC member faults Mark on board’s dissolution From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Ondo State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Benson Enikuomehin, at the weekend criticised a statement credited to Senate President David Mark that the board was dissolved because the memebers made their personal interest the priority of the commission.

Mark spoke at the confirmation of the new board members on the floor of the Senate last week.

Enikunomehin told reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, that Mark should not have crucified the former board for an offence allegedly committed by the management of the commission.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS KOGI 2011 NTP candidate laments lack of growth From Mohammed Bashir Lokoja

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•From left: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Akande, Audu and Tinubu...yesterday

Kogi PDP is stockpiling arms, army uniform, alleges Akande T HE Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is stockpiling arms and soldiers uniform, National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chief Bisi Akande alleged yesterday.

He said the PDP plans to use the weapons to rig the December 3 governorship election in the state.

Akande made the allegation this in Lokoja at a rally in support of the party’s governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu.

He assured the supporters that God will protect them from the intimidation and onslaught of the ruling party.

Akande urged the voters to fearlessly vote for Audu, who he said would provide good roads, electricity, water and quality education for their children as other A CN governors have demonstrated in their states.

He said: “What we are saying and we have been telling you is that we are going to send your children to school. But they are piling guns to fight you. Are you going to fight them?

Are you going to vote for the killers? Don’t be afraid of their guns. Your God is bigger than all the arsenals

Six ACN governors storm Lokoja for Audu

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CTION Congress of Nigeria (CAN), governors, led by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos, yesterday urged the people of Kogi State to support the ACN in transforming the state.

With him were Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Comrade Adams Oshiomole (Edo), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chief Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Chief Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

They were in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to support the governorship ambition of Prince Abubakar Audu.

The governors urged the electorate to be more vigilant. They gave reasons the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must be flush ed out of the political system in the state.

Fashola said the PDP has no stake in the development of the state, as its eight-year rule has further impoverished the citizens.

He said the only way to send the PDP packing is by voting itout of power.

Fashola said: “You all have what it takes to chase the PDP out and that weapon is your From John Ofikhenua, Lokoja

they are piling together.

“They have enough money to buy guns because they stole your money. The money is there. When we are in control, we will spend the

vote. You must not only vote them out, but also stand to protect your votes.

Aregbesola, who began his speech with the popular Bob Marley song entitled: “Get up, Stand up, Stand up for your right,” urged the people to stand up against the PDP’s manipulation.

He said Kogi is the gateway state to the North for the ACN and the state will become the seventh ACN state come December 3rd.

The Edo and Oyo governors recounted their experiences on how they saved their various state from the anti-people PDP administrations.

Ajimobi said: “If we can successfully unseat the visionless PDP government, then, Kogi will be a soft-landing state for the ACN. Oshiomole said the ACN has turned his predecessor and the PDP into political vegetable, and also transformed the state from decadence to loftier heights.

Governors Amosun and Fayemi urged the people to vote the ACN candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, in on December 3.

money for you.

“In Lagos,we spend the money for the people. In Edo, we spend the money for the people. Am I lying? In Ekiti, we spend the money for the people of the state. Is that not true?”

ACN National Leader Asi-

waju Ahmed Tinubu urged party supporters to be courageous and free themselves from poverty.

He said members of the ruling party have brothers and sisters among them and cannot kill them.

Tinubu said the only job

the PDP has for the youths is provision of guns for thuggery.

Making biblical references, Tinubu said it took David to kill Goliath, and Moses to liberate the Israelites from the Egyptians.

He said former Osun State Governor Olagusoye Oyinlola was a soldier, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was a general and former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala a policeman, but the A CN defeated them all.

Tinubu said: “Don’t be afraid. They don’t want you to come out on the election day, that is why they said they have bought gun. It is a lie. The police and army have brothers and sisters among you.”

He assured the party’s supporters that with their support, the ACN is ready to embark on the broom revolution on December 3, no matter the number of arms assembled by the PDP. Dignitaries at the rally include all ACN governors; ACN General Secretary Senator Lawal Shuaibu; Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu; and former Minister of Labour and Productivity Isah Gwadabe; among others.

Tinubu urges electorate to vote ACN

N

ATIONAL Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State is stoppable.

Tinubu said the ACN and the people of the state are capable of stopping the PDP from rigging the December 3 governorship election in the state.

The former Lagos State governor addressed thousands of ACN supporters at the grand finale of the campaign rally of the party ‘s

•Ex-governor: PDP stoppable From Mohammed Bashir Lokoja

governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, in Lokoja, the state capital.

Tinubu said: “I urge every one of you to volunteer and organise 10 of your friends and each of your friends should also organise 10 friends and mount your various polling stations, so that you can all protect your votes. They will come with money to enslave you, don’t take it because that money

will finish and you will suffer another eight years of their maladministration.

“They have used your money to purchase guns and other dangerous weapons to intimidate you. But don’t be scared of their threat; they cannot do anything.

“They will send battalions of soldiers and policemen to shoot and scare you.

But even the soldiers and policemen are hungry, just as you are. They are also tired of failure; they want their children to have bet-

ter education and quality life.

“Stay and protect your votes and get better life, better education, better healthcare services, good road s and better employment.”

The ACN leader described the PDP’s eight years administration in Kogi as a total failure.

He said: “If they could not develop the state in the past eight years, is it now they want to do so?

“They also, in the past

eight years, promised us constant electricity supply, good roads, good education and quality health services.

But what do we have, bad roads, hunger, cases of maternal mortality, bad education system.

“And now, they want to continue enslaving us. I want you all to say God forbid.”

Tinubu described the ACN as “progressive and the only party that has people-oriented manifesto.”

He said: “Our manifesto is manifesting in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Oyo and Ogun state.

“Why can’t we allow same to manifest in Kogi State?”

HE governorship candidate of National Transformation Party (NTP)in the December 3 election in Kogi Steta, Mr Gowon Usman Egbunu, yesterday described the state as the least developed state in Nigeria.

The 42-year-old governorship candidate blamed the lack of development on the election of money bags who have nothing to offer but to engage in self agrandisement.

Egbunu, in a chat with The Nation in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, lamented that despite the abundant natural resource, the state has remained at the threshold of backwardness.

According to him, the state should be saved by people of proven integrity, accountability and transparency like him.

The reporter-turned politician said his administration if elected, will reawaken the long forgotten agricultural sector in the state.

He said: “With the vast arable land across the three senatorial districts of the state, my government will engage in mechanised agriculture which is one of the surest ways of generating employment for the generality of the people.”

ANPP chief defects to PDP From Mohammed Bashir Lokoja

A

MEMBER of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP)in Kogi State, Alhaji Yakubu Enape yesterday decamped to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Enape, who dumped the ANPP with some of his supporters at Ankpa Local Government Area at a rally for the PDP governorship candidate in the December 3 election, Captain Idris Wada, said his decision was informed by the achievements of the PDPled administration in the state.

He said the state under incumbent Governor Ibrahim Idris has succeeded in transforming the state, since taking the saddle eight years ago.

Enape said he parted way with the ANPP to join the PDP based on its strength in the political sphere of the state.

Receiving the defectors, Idris, described Enape as a big fish that any political party could yearn for.

He pointed out that the PDP was ready to carry along every member irrespective of the time they joined the party.

Speaking at the rally, Wada, promised to provide more job opportunities to the teaming youths through agriculture and the establishment of small and medium scale industries.

He said his administration if elected, will improve on the achievement of his predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

9

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS

Jonathan to probe politicians over Boko Haram’s activities

Robbers kill Kwara CSO’s wife From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

A

RMED robbers have killed the wife of Mr Idris Mohammed, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The news of Mrs Aishat Mohammed’s death shocked everyone at the Government House in Ilorin.

It was learnt that the robbers shot at the occupants of the four wheel drive in which Aishat was being driven near a village near Ogbomoso, Oyo State, at 11pm on their way to Ilorin.

This reportedly caught the driver unawares, making him to reverse the vehicle from the scene. But the robbers were said to have kept shooting at the vehicle.

Aishat was reportedly asleep when the shooting started and was said to have been hit by some bullets as the vehicle’s window was wound down during the journey.

When the vehicle parked at

•‘Military operations won’t solve problems’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

•Aliyu

F

OLLOWING incessant bombings by the Boko Haram Islamic sect, President Goodluck Jonathan has planned to engage some prominent northern politicians to get to the root of the sect’s activities.

It was learnt that the source of funding of the sect has been traced to some politicians and some former political office holders.

The latest move followed a recent meeting of the nation’s

Why I want to rule Adamawa, by Marwa

F

ORMER Military Governor of Lagos State Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa is set to contest the next Adamawa State governorship election.

He said some elders and groups were not satisfied with the present condition of the state.

Marwa, who said he would contest on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), addressed indigenes of Adamawa State in Abuja.

He noted that during his tenure as a military administrator in Borno and Lagos states, he set good records, particularly in education, health and housing.

Marwa said: “The important aspect of our programme is free education for all, just as I granted it in Borno State and Lagos State; followed by free medical care. I mean completely free medicines: diagnosis, admissions, even wom-

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

en deliveries. We will build new general hospitals in all the local governments.”

The former military administrator decried shortage of medical doctors in Adamawa hospitals, saying he plans to employ medical students after their internship.

Marwa attributed the crises in the state to unemployment, saying the state “is a civil service state”.

He promised to create jobs through small and medium scale enterprises as well as agriculture.

“So many crises have happened in the last few weeks and they are tied to socio-econmic conditions. Adamawa is a civil service state with no industry.

The workers are owed salaries of several months. Christmas is approaching; Sallah has come and gone with no salary,” Marwa said.

North’s ACN caucus demands resignation of Deputy Chair

T

HE Chairmen of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 19 northern states and Abuja have demanded the resignation of the party’s Deputy National Chairman and National Secretary, Boss Mustapha and Senator Shuaibu Lawal.

The ACN chairmen’s demand is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting yesterday in Kaduna.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Northern States Stakeholders’ Forum, Mohammed Soba and Ibrahim Orume.

Soba is the party’s Chairman in Kaduna State and Orume is its Chairman in Nasarawa State.

The communiqué reads: “We condemn the manner in which Bafarawa was frustrated out of the party and further demand the immediate resignation of Mustapha and Lawal from office for their

contributions to making the ACN very unpopular in the North by orchestrating deliberate campaigns of calumny and blackmail against prominent ACN leaders from the North.”

The forum accused both leaders of misleading the party into a political outing that caused its poor performance in the Northeast and Northwest geo-political zones in the April elections.

It criticised the query issued to Bafarawa by ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, for alleged antiparty activities without reference to the party’s organs. the forum described the resignation of Bafarawa as a major setback to ACN, noting that it happened when the party was struggling to have a national outlook and acceptability.

“The North is being deliberately short-changed in the ACN political equation to weaken our political base and make us vulnerable...,” it said.

top security operatives. It was learnt that the meeting resolved that a former Northeast governor be interrogated over his alleged link to the group.

The security searchlight has reportedly been beamed on some prominent northern politicians who allegedly funded the sect’s activities.

The final security report is billed to be submitted soon to President Jonathan.

The meeting, it was learnt, advised the President to engage key northern politicians in talks to find lasting solutions to security challenges in the North.

A source said the idea followed the outcome of investigations by security agencies on the sect’s activities.

A top security source, who spoke in confidence, said the meeting agreed on one of the reports at its disposal, that Boko Haram became handy to some politicians, adding: “The disgruntled politicians are feasting on the activities of the group for their selfish interest.”

On the planned investigation of some notable politicians and some former governors, the source hinted that there was evidence that some prominent individuals have recently been linked to the sect.

“The government is concerned about this emerging fact, which has led to the suspicion and allegations that some notable individuals were linked to the sect. We want to find out the bond between the suspected politicians and the group,” the source said.

The Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Babangida Aliyu, has said military operation would not solve the Boko Haram crises.

The Niger State governor urged the Federal Government to negotiate with the sect to stop its orgy of killings.

“Boko Haram is beyond military operation. It should be looked at in its proper context, and we must endeavour to communicate with the people to solve their local problems,” he said.

The governor spoke at the weekend at the maiden Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu National Literary Colloquium, with the theme: Building Intellectual Power to Fix Nigeria, organised by the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA).

He noted that Islam forbids

suicide bombings and killing of innocent persons for unjust cause.

Aliyu urged members of the sect to desist from killing innocent people or face the wrath of Allah.

The governor urged Boko Haram to choose a peaceful medium to resolve disputes between its members and the government, adding that its grievances could be settled peacefully, if its members give room for dialogue instead of embarking on unholy acts that have negative effect on the nation’s unity.

Aliyu said: “I want to call on everyone in leadership positions to be courageous in taking tough decisions and seeing them through in the best interest of the majority of the people we are serving.

I know it is sometimes difficult but inescapable if we must leave behind us worthy legacies.”

10

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We are charging British Airways $135 million and Virgin Atlantic $100 million for abuse of dominant position, fixing prices, abusing fuel surcharges and taking advantage of passengers.

-Harold Demuren, DG, NCAA

Interbank rates rise on forex, bonds sales

Jonathan to attend investors’ council meeting in France

N

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is expected to lead a Federal Government delegation on a threeday official visit to France for a series of meetings of the Honourary International Investor Council, HIIC, from November 23-25, 2011.

Jonathan is the Chairman of the HIIC, which works with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council and has the responsibility to take practical steps to attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria, while Baroness Lynda Chalker is Coordinator of the Council.

Members of the Council are top-level international and local personalities who can authorise or influence investment decisions of companies and countries.

According to the president’s itinerary made available to State House Correspondnets by Dr. Reuben Abati, Special to the president on Media and Publicity, on the first day of the visit, President Jonathan will attend a reception for African Ambassadors, organised by the Nigerian Embassy in Paris.

The following day, after President Jonathan’s opening remarks, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, will brief investors on the ‘Economic Environment of Nigeria’, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, will present a paper entitled, Increasing Foreign Direct Investment and Enhancing Nigeria’s Competitiveness.

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

• Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Davendra Puri, presenting gift to MD/CEO, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr George Noah, during a courtesy call on the bank in Lagos ... Friday. With them are HOD, Business Development, LASAA, Mr Siraj Bello and Head, Brand Management and Communication, Sterling Bank, Mrs. ‘Bimbo Sowemimo.

Naira at desired stability, says CBN • May reduce exposure to euro, renminbi T

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has reached the desired degree of stability for the naira and does not have a cause to be concerned over inflation due mostly to recent stability in its core components, Governor Lamido Sanusi, has said.

Speaking ahead of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting today, Sanusi told Reuters that the bank may reduce its exposure to the euro and buy renminbi.

“When the naira reached 167 (to the US dollar in October), every currency was going through a crisis ...

Now, we have retraced that.

We have created the stability that we needed. We have stopped the panic,” Sanusi said in an interview on the sidelines of a conference in the Moroccan city Tangier.

Asked if the apex bank has reached the desired degree of stability for the naira, Sanusi said: “I think we have and I think that within the next few days you might

hear an announcement on what the sense is.”

Inflation rose to 10.5 per cent in October from 10.3 per cent in September, but Sanusi said a breakdown of month-on-month numbers shows that“inflation has come down on all three components: headline, core and food inflation”.

“Year-on-year, core (inflation) hasn’t increased, which has not been the increasing trend seen in the past,” he said. “Month-to-month (inflation) has been moderating and core (inflation) is also not increasing (which) would suggest that as far as non-structural components are concerned at this moment ... we don’t have a cause for concern.”

Sanusi also said the CBN may reduce its exposure to the euro currency.

“We have not increased (exposure to the euro) since the crisis started in Europe.

We have held more and

more US dollars. We have missed the train on the Swiss franc, I wish we had gone in earlier. I think we missed the train on the gold, I wish we had gone in earlier.

“But we are trying to move some into renminbi and while we move some dollars we will probably move more euro, more out of the euro,” he said. Asked if this meant arbitrage deals to the detriment of the euro, Sanusi said: “Most likely.”

Sanusi is not as concerned about the euro currency as he is about the fortunes of European economies.

“If they go into a deep recession it is likely to affect commodity prices and with that the price of oil and then it will come with difficulty for us in terms of the fiscal position of the government, the reserves positions and the exchange rate,” he said.

The bulk of Nigeria’s oil exports go to the United

States, Sanusi said. “The United States and Europe together account for about 80 percent or more. What we export to China and African countries is probably about 20 percent”.

Sanusi reckoned that any crash in oil prices from a potential recession in Europe would not be as acute as it was in 2008.

“The (oil) market is a little bit tight at the moment.

Libya will take time to get back on stream; Iraq is back on stream ... The market seems to be driven by fundamentals. So the crash in the oil price, in the event of a recession, is not likely to be as steep as it was in 2008 for example.

“There would be a decline in demand but the supply condition is also tight ... I think there would be a collapse if there is a recession but it will not be anywhere near what we have seen in 2008,” he added.

‘Round-tripping accounts for 20% of forex trading’

A

BOUT 20 per cent of forex in the country is from autonomous sources, usually diverted into the parallel market through round-tripping.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, who disclosed this in the firm’s report for this month, said the defect is exploited by operators to make huge profits, leading to volatility and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) adopting stabilisation measures.

He noted that Nigeria’s forex market is a price discriminating oligopoly where the CBN is the main supplier.

Round tripping is the practice of selling foreign exchange sourced from the CBN at the black market to make gains.

News about the round trip-

• Analysts oppose further tightening

By Collins Nweze

ping came just as Rewane and another expert, Razia Khan, Regional Head of Research, Africa Global Research, at the Standard Chartered Bank, insisted that further monetary tightening by the CBN will not achieve much in curbing inflation and maintaining price stability.

With CBN comments suggesting that they are encouraged by the more conservative fiscal stance likely to be adopted by government (the benchmark rate for oil in the 2012 budget is likely to be reduced to USD 70/bbl from USSD 75/bbl), there would appear to be fewer reasons to tighten policy, at least until the Budget for next

year is published, and spending pressures gauged,” Khan said in an e-mailed statement.

Khan said the CBN is expected to keep the monetary policy rate (MPR) on hold, for this month’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting holding today in Abuja.

Rewane also said: “Central banks, during speculative attacks, normally effect interest rate hikes to stabilise the currency in the short run.

The fear is that the CBN may have to reverse some of their previous decisions, as pressure from the market mounts.”

But he forecast that should inflationary pressures persist in coming months, the CBN may have to further

tighten monetary policy.

“The CBN has shown that it can move quickly to stabilise the currency by regularly intervening at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS), but it is the sustainability of these interventions in view of stagnant external reserves that poses the real challenge,” he stressed.

Rewane said the CBN could also adopt a one-time devaluation without changing the current band or further restrict the activities of certain buyer groups at the weekly auctions.

According to Rewane, the divergence in the exchange rates in the three segments of the forex market has created a situation where traders take advantage of different prices across markets for the same product, a practice common in most economies.

IGERIA’s interbank lending rates climbed last week to an average of 15.50 per cent, from 13 per cent the previous week after foreign exchange, bonds and treasury bills purchases drained liquidity in the system Dealers, according to Reuters News, said liquidity in the system receded drastically this week with the market opened last Friday with a cash balance of N84 billion ($529.63 million) from about N214 billion last week.

“The Central Bank was consistent in conducting open market operations in the week in an effort to mop-up perceived excess liquidity in the system, while forex and bonds purchases further drained cash from the system and led to an increase in the cost of borrowing in the market,” one trader said.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) rose to 14 per cent from 12.50 per cent last week, 200 basis points above the CBN’s 12 per cent benchmark rate and 400 basis points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement climbed 16 per cent from 13 per cent, while call money rose to 16.50 per cent against 13.50 per cent previously.

Some dealers said the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) also transfer a portion of its deposit with some lenders to its account with the CBN this week, further draining liquidity in the system.

Knocks for NIMET over project From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

M

EMBERS of the House Committee on Aviation have condemned the National Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for poor execution of capital projects geared towards forestalling crisis in the nation’s airports.

The Committee Chairman, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha noted that the 2011 Budget Performance Sheet indicated that so much cost had been incurred on capital expenditures most of which were yet to be completed.

The lawmaker spoke at the weekend during a visit to the agency’s Weather Forecast Station with other members of the committee in Abuja.

She said: “People have lost relations, friends and family in the time past. You should be dedicated in your activities. You can’t afford to complain of insufficient funds to properly execute your projects. If you cannot do your capital projects from the beginning of the year up till November, when do you plan to complete them?

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS

Union Bank MD among world’s top 50 businesswomen

A

GLOBAL jury of experts constituted by the Financial Times of London (FT) has named the Group Managing Director of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, as one of the world’s 50 leading businesswomen.

According to FT, Osibodu was chosen in recognition of her impeccable turnaround at Union Bank, where the jury noted she was” responsible for strengthening the management of the bank, improving discipline and ensuring transparency.”

The Union Bank chief was the only African woman and Nigerian that made the top 50 businesswomen list, which included Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft Foods, Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo, Dong Mingzhu of Gree Electric Appliances, Angela Ahrendts of Burberry, and Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank to mention but a few.

By Taofik Salako

The top 50 was assessed on a range of factors including biographical data; size, scope and complexity of the company including turnover and number of employees, number of sectors, countries of operation and competitive landscape.

The judges’ decisions were based essentially on performance and durability and only executives managing a group’s controlling company and those that have served at least 12 months in the main executive role were eligible.

The jury applauded Osibodu’s roles in the Nigerian economy, pointing out that she “is a highprofile figure in Nigeria’s business community.”

The selection particularly underscored the contribution of Osibodu to the stability of Nigerian financial services sector and economic

growth, pointing out the importance of Union Bank as one of “Nigeria’s biggest banks.”

The Jury noted that with almost three decades in banking, Osibodu has an excellent leadership track record.

Osibodu was chief executive of Vigeo Capital and head of the financial and investment services arm of Vigeo Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in energy, shipping and financial services. She served as managing director of two banks-MBC Merchant Bank and Ecobank Nigeria and later joined the board of the Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI).

The top-flight banker studied Economics at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, before completing the advanced management programme at Harvard Business School.

Appointed by the Central Bank

Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY

• Mrs Osibodu

of Nigeria (CBN) to restore the then failing Union Bank, Osibodu successfully managed the rescued bank into an attractive financial institution and capped her success with a $750 million recapitalisation deal that saw the century-old bank retaining its brand and shareholders reclaiming some values for their hitherto lost investments.

Fadama III: Lagos pays N112m counterpart fund

By Daniel Essiet

T

HE Lagos State government has paid N112 million as part of its counterpart fund to the Fadama 111 project in the state. Also, beneficiaries have contributed N88 million The Commissioner Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said the objective of Fadama III project is increase the incomes of users of rural land and water resources on a sustainable basis.

He said 75 per cent of Fadama users households, who have benefitted directly from the project have increased their incomes by about 45 per cent.

In the rural areas, Lawal said Fadama farmers are entrepreneurial cash earners supporting families and creating opportunities for others.

Lawal disclosed that FADAMA projects are in farms and nine out of the 10 rural access roads are ready for inauguration.

He explained that the access roads will help farmers take their produce hitch-free to and fro the farms, which would lead to reduction in the travel time and costs.

Lawal said the programme is expanding access to assets such as capital, land, knowledge and technologies.

‘Nigeria is destination for investors’

T

HE Chief Executive Officer of Koinonia Ventures Nigeria Limited, Mr Olufemi Boyede, has observed that Nigeria is a haven for serious investors.

He made the remark just as his company successfully hosted the non-oil export conference exhibition and award NNCEA which held in Abuja.

Boyede, who was fielding questions from reporters shortly after the conference, said there are indications that Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the leading economies in the world by 2020 is feasible.

He said: “We have got to a point in this country that we need to begin to harness our resources, get ourselves prepared because investors will have no choice, but to come to Nigeria.”

While noting that the security situation is worrisome, he said: “My advice to government is that efforts should be made to stem the tide of terrorism. The government should also create an enabling environment for investors.”

LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

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5.

6.

7.

8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1.

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero

• From right: Minister for Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his Special Assistant, Joseph Makoju, during a presentation on the readiness of Dangote Group to inaugurate its Ibeshe Cement Plant in Ibeshe, Ogun State.

Jonathan praises CBN’s performance

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for executing the policies of the Federal Government.

He gave the commendation when he inaugurated the bank’s branch in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

He noted other concerted efforts CBN has been making to improve the economy.

Jonathan said: “The bank’s shared initiative in the banking sector aimed at reducing banks’ overheads and thus reducing lending cost and other banking charges as the banking industry gears up to enhance lending to real sectors of the economy, to power rapid growth in the years ahead.”

Represented by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the President also ad-

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

vised all users of the building to ensure that its existence would contribute positively to the economic growth of Rivers State and Nigeria.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, highlighted the bank’s recent policy initiatives in the banking sector, which are geared to maintaining stability in the system.

Sanusi also said the initiative on less cash in transaction policy billed to start from June 2012 was aimed at addressing the currency management challenges in the country as well as enhancing the national payments system.

He disclosed that the Consumer Protection Division has been established at CBN to address users’

complaints concerning banking and payment channels. He added that biometric authentication for Point of Sales and Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) would also be included to address customers’ safety issues and avoid losses through compromise of PIN numbers.

In his goodwill message, Governor Chibuike Amaechi expressed delight that the CBN’s new building has changed the landscape of Port Harcourt.

While urging the bank to give employment to people of the state, Amaechi also expressed the hope that the services that would be rendered from the building would be for benefit Nigerians.

The wife of the President, Mrs Patience Jonathan, who was present at the occasion later inaugurated and inspected the building.

Dangote injects N10b into Osogbo Mill

T

O meet the January 2012 dead-line set for the com mencement of production at Integrated Steel Rolling Mill, over $62 million (N9.9 billion) has already been sunk into the revival of company.

Managing Director of the Mill, Bharat Lal, who disclosed this, said the facilities of the company have already been renovated and upgraded.

In a statement, he said the complete turnaround of the moribund Steel Mill (formerly Oshogbo Steel Rolling Mill), which was bought over by the Dangote Group, about five years ago, is expected to cost over $70 million (N11.2 billion).

Against the backdrop of demand by the community for quick rehabilitation of the company for production to commence earnestly, Lal, who conducted reporters round the Mill, explained that the Steel Mill was not like any other factory. He said the rehabilitation was capital intensive and time consuming.

He said but for readiness of the Dangote Group to provide the necessary fund to carry out the rehabilitation works, the management would have gone far in the turnaround efforts.

He promised that with the level of restoration of obsolete equipment in the Mill, production of steel would

commence as soon as it gets its billet which is coming from India.

Lal stated that the management of the Mill had taken the pain to ensure an holistic re-invention and re-packaging of the company in the current process of rehabilitation so as to make it rank among the best steel mill in the world.

While assuring the agitated community of soonest resumption of production, the Mill’s Managing Director cited non-availability of input materials, frequent and prolonged equipment failures due to obsolete equipment and inadequate supply of spare parts, as some of the reasons why it took the company so long to roll out its first product.

1.

2.

3.

4.

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1.

2.

3.

4.

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LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

13

ISSUES There was tension, last week, in banking circles after a court stopped dealings in equities of Enterprise, Mainstreet and Keystone banks, which was misinterpretated that their operations had been stopped. But the tension was defused when the court explained the order. For stakeholders, the question is, what does this judicial intervention portend for banking reforms? COLLINS NWEZE reports

•Enterprise Bank GMD, Ahmed Kuru

•Mainstreet Bank GMD, Faith Tuedor-Matthews

Keystone Bank GMD, Oti Ikomi

In the eye of banking reforms storm T

HE banking reform was threatened last week. But the threat fizzled out before it could cause any serious damage to the process. The threat was brought about by the rivalry between the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and shareholders of the nationalised banks (Afribank Nigeria Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Spring Bank Plc). The shareholders went to court to stop the nationalised banks - Mainstream, Keystone and Enterprise - from operating. But within 72 hours, the court which granted their request, reversed itself.

Afribank Nigeria Plc, Bank, PHB Plc and Spring Bank Plc’s licences were withdrawn

by CBN and the organisations liquidated by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in August following their inability to show signs of meeting the regulator’s September ending recapitalisation deadline. Their assets and liabilities were transferred to the newly created banks, which have since been operating under a new management. But the other rescued banks, Union Bank, Oceanic International Bank, Intercontinental Bank, FinBank and Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) scaled the hurdle. While Union Bank is recapitalising through its global investors - Union Global Partners Limited; Oceanic has been acquired

by Ecobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI); Finbank is in the hand of First City Monu-

ment Bank, ETB has gone to Sterling Bank and Intercontinental is now with Access Bank Plc. These developments had calmed the industry.

But the relative stability was disrupted last Monday with an ex parte injunction restraining the new banks from further dealing in the assets, businesses and operations of the nationalised banks. The court order was telling the regulators and management of the new banks, to hands off the operations of the institutions.

Judge reverses order But as the three new banks and the regulators were reassuring stakeholders that the banks remain in operation, Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday explained that the order was not to halt their operations.

In the new order, Justice Archibong said the order granted last Monday was made specifically to freeze dealings in the equity of the affected banks in relation to the relief in the main application of the applicants for the enforcement of their fundamental rights in the suit.

He added that the order was not intended to freeze the day-to-day business or banking operations of the affected banks.

The judge submitted that the order was equally

not intended to interfere with the current management of the banks in any way other than to freeze dealings in the equity of the targeted banks.

Archibong, while ruling on the ex-parte application filed by Chuks Nwachuku, on behalf of some aggrieved shareholders of the former banks, restrained the banks from further dealing with the assets, businesses and operations of the banks pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The order caused panic in the industry and among depositors, with analysts describing it as "reckless". In spite of the order, normal activities continued at the affected banks as their managements said they were not served the injunction.

A couple of months ago, some shareholders opposed the apex bank’s plan to recapitalise the rescued banks through mergers, acquisitions or capital injections from investors. To buttress their point, a coalition of shareholder groups went to court to stop possible mergers and acquisition.

They also held several rallies to ensure that CBN failed in its bid to get core investors for the banks.

But the shareholders lost part of the battle on August 5, when the CBN/NDIC moved to nationalise three institutions. AMCON, which is now the shareholder, has injected over N2 trillion – meaning that shareholders of the three banks had lost about N32 billion. But exparte court injunction granted shareholders has thrown

new challenges to the banking system.

CBN/NDIC’s stance But the NDIC and the apex bank have assured depositors of the three new banks of the safety of their funds, saying the institutions remain in business.

The duo, in a joint statement, said: “The CBN and the NDIC wish to inform the general public that Keystone Bank Limited, Mainstreet Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited are banks duly licenced by the CBN and are thus authorised to carry on banking business. We urge all customers of the said banks as well as the general public to continue transacting their business with the banks as hitherto done and hereby issue our assurances once again that all depositors’ funds in these institutions are safe and banking operations will continue as normal.”

They stressed that the three banks are fully insured by the NDIC and all depositors are assured of the safety of their funds. The duo also denied the court judgement, saying they have not been served.

“The CBN and the NDIC state categorically and with all sense of responsibility that we are • Continued on page 14

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

ISSUES

•Ex Spring Bank GMD, Sola Ayodele

•Ex Bank PHB GMD, Cyril Chukwumah

•Ex Afribank GMD, Nebolisa Arah

In the eye of banking reforms storm • Continued from page 13

not aware of any such order as no such order has been served on either the CBN or the NDIC,” the statement signed by Mohammed Abdulahi and Sule Birchi, spokemen of the CBN and the NDIC respectively said.

New banks’ responses The management of Mainstreet, Enterprise and Keystone banks also assured their customers that banking operations will continue as usual in all their branches nationwide. They implored them to disregard the court order.

Mainstreet Bank assured that the institutions will carry on business as usual as there is no order against it. ”The bank is certain that no order was made ex parte requiring the bank to shut its doors to millions of our depositors and customers. We wish to assure all our customers that our over 200 branches nationwide are open for full banking business as usual,” said Executive Director, Operations and Technology, Mainstream Bank, Mr. Anogwi Anyanwu.

He said the bank will continue its banking operations as usual, and therefore advised the public to disregard any statement or statements that the bank has been restrained from carrying on business.

Enterprise Bank said in a statement: “We wish to assure all our customers that our over 150 branches nationwide are open for full banking business as usual. Banking operations will carry on as usual and the public should disregard any statement or statements that the bank has been restrained from carrying on business.”

It said the bank will carry on business as usual as there is no court order against it, adding that no order was made ex parte requiring the bank to shut its doors to millions of our depositors and customers.

Keystone also insisted that no writ of summons or court order has been served on the bank. ”We enjoin all our customers and the general public to disregard the reports as the bank will continue to carry out normal business operations. ”We appreciate and assure you of our usual excellent services in all business outlets of the bank,” the lender said in a statement.

Experts’ perspectives Meanwhile, analysts have continued to fault the court ruling, describing it as baseless and an affront on the Federal Government represented by the CBN and AMCON.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane said the shareholders request was reckless and frivolous. For him, the country is going to lose a lot of money if the order is complied with.

He, however, said that the CBN is going to appeal against the court order and overturn it as it is not in the public interest. “The implications of complying with such court order are grave for the economy. The action is un Nigerian and uncalled for. The CBN will appeal against it and overturn it,” he said.

Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Ike Chioke said the step taken by the shareholders was baseless because they have already lost their funds in the banks before the institutions were recpaitalised.

He said the banks belong to the Federal Government and for anyone to think that they will take over the bank , it is not feasible.

Oladele Solanke, Corporate Governance expert, said the shareholders are not in touch with global reality.

He wondered what would have happened had the CBN allowed the banks to be liquidated. “We should not get emotional with this matter.

As far as I am concerned, these shareholders have already lost their funds and should not drag the public to their matter,” he said.

Managing Director, Financial Nigeria International, Jide Akintunde said the shareholders’ action is not good for Nigeria and for profiling the economy. He said such action will increase legal risks involved in investing in the country, adding that such risks discourage foreign direct investment.

Brokers’ views CEO of Lambeth Trust and Investment Company Limited, Mr David Imafidon Adonri said although he is yet to see the full details of the judgment, its practicality may be difficult to ascertain. “Considering the huge funds AMCON has deployed into recapitalising the banks, what will be the immediate fate of the banks if the CBN and AMCON withdraw their financial support? Will the judgment not provoke a run on the banks and hence complicate their state of liquidity and solvency?,” he asked.

She noted that several judgments

have so far validated the CBN’s action in the management of the banking crisis, which led to protection of depositors and creditors fully. “The CBN has also received global acclamation for preventing any bank failure during the crisis. If CBN had failed to intervene, the financial crisis tormenting Europe would be a child’s play compared to what would have befallen the economy. To prevent those banks from collapse and hence continue the protection of depositors and creditors, I predict that the financial authorities will appeal against the judgment,” he said.

Chairman of the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Alhaji Rasheed Yussuff, said the association is still watching developments. “ I have not fully read the court injunction and what it implie. We as brokers, we are watching the reaction of the public and the reaction of the depositors. We want to see if it will create panic. If the court says don’t use the assets of the banks nationalised for operation, we need to know what the judgment means.

We are watching carefully and keenly.

“My understanding of the bank’s operations simply means opening of the branches, having depositors put in money or withdraw money. From the CBN and NDIC angle, they said the shareholders fund of the banks in question were negative. Literally it means they don’t have assets, we need more clarification. To me the banks should realise they have lost their shareholders funds and are only using AMCON’s fund which is not theirs. The court order to me has added more to the uncertainty, when we should be going forward. It sends more negative signals, on the surface it sends several interpretation; we need to get the real position of the court, “he said.

CEO of Partnership Investment Company Limited, Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, said it will be difficult to comment until the order purportedly obtained from the High court is seen. “All we have now are newspaper mentioning. It is doubtful if a judge will make an order to stop the operations of a bank not to talk of three banks. Even if the aggrieved parties are wronged, public interest should over ride private rights, especially when the issues are monetary

and not human rights related. They can always obtain monetary compensation when they win their case. We have to be careful about publishing malicious rumors capable of doing grave damage to the concerned banks.

Shareholders’ perspectives Shareholders’ leader and activist, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said: “I don’t know what they want to achieve with the courts order. At the end of the day, in accordance with the law, CBN, NDIC/AMCON shall have upper hands. My position is that of ‘sit down and look’. If you look at what the judge said, from my own understanding, no matter how big a business is, in as much as it’s operating under a regulator, their rules must be abided with. We shareholders made a mistake of not cooperating with the CBN in the first place. There is nothing we can do.”

President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA) Chief Timothy Adesiyan said : “We believe in dialogue, it was dialogue we were following all along but the decision to nationalise was unilateral. We are asking the Federal Government to revisit the issue of nationalisation so that shareholders would not lose their investments. Government should pay shareholders the value of their investments in the spirit of fairness and encourage investors in the capital market. Unless the issue is amicably resolved, it will continue to affect investors’ confidence in the stock market,” he said.

Assessing the CBN reforms, so far, Renaissance Capital, an investment and research firm, said the global financial crises of 2008 and 2009 altered the equation of the country’s banking industry.

“The big Nigerian banks have remained big, and some of the previously mid-to-small-scale banks have leapt into the big banks’ league, creating more top-level concentration.

Going forward, we believe size, liquidity, capital and efficiency will define the champions in the emerging banking landscape and the healthy banks will have first mover advantage,” Renaissance said in an emailed statement.

The projection is that in total, the number of banks will reduce by four

‘The step taken by the shareholders was baseless because they have already lost their funds in the banks before the institutions were recpaitalised. He said the banks belong to the Federal Government and for anyone to think that they will take over the bank , it is not feasible’

to 20, with the tier -one controlling 65 per cent and 66 per cent of assets and deposits; the tier-two controlling 25 per cent and 23 per cent of assets and deposits; and the tier-three controlling 10 per cent and 11 per cent of assets and deposits.

The journey so far Sanusi had advised shareholders of the rescued banks to endorse the recapitalisation bids of the banks or lose their investments in the banks.

The action prompted the shareholders of the un-nationalised five banks: Intercontinental Bank, Finbank, Oceanic Bank, Union Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank, which hitherto opposed the CBN action to comply.

Between September 26 and 30, when the rescued banks’ recapitalisation bids were tabled before shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs), for approval, a coalition of 25 registered shareholders associations expressed their willingness to endorse the lenders’ deals.

Shareholders of Oceanic International Bank, on September 27, overwhelmingly approved the planned merger with ETI. At a court-ordered meeting, the shareholders consented to the proposal brought before them by the board of Oceanic Bank.

Same feat was achieved by shareholders of Union Bank. They voted overwhelmingly in support of the lender’s scheme of arrangement, paving way for the 94 year old institution to progress with its recapitalisation plan. At the Court Ordered Meeting) held in Abuja, 2,955 shareholders translating to 2,174,349,978 shares voted in favour of the scheme. This represents 99.9 per cent of the value of shares of shareholders present at the meeting. Only 189,000 shares voted against the scheme, representing 0.01 per cent of value of shares of shareholders present at the meeting. The core investor is expected to inject $500 million equity funds and $250 million Tier II capital into Union Bank.

Shareholders of Sterling Bank had also endorsed the acquisition of ETB. The duo are integrating the human capital and are expected to fully integrate their systems and processes within the next two months.

FCMB has also guaranteed N15 billion to ensure Finbank meets 15 per cent capital adequacy ratio. The two institutions are awaiting the SEC approval.

Ditto for Intercontinental Bank, which has become a subsidiary of Access Bank. The two institutions are expected to run separately for one year and thereafter their systems and processes would be integrated.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

17

‘Lekki Free Trade Zone to generate 1m jobs’ •Lekki Free Zone

Part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda is the creation of jobs. Free trade zones are a major channel of achieving this. Stakeholders have said the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), if properly managed, is capable of generating about one million jobs. TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

T

HE hope of generating more jobs through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will soon become a reality once the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) begins operation. It is expected to generate about one million jobs. This is the view of many stakeholders who shed more light on the advantage of the project.

Consistent with the strategic intent to make the LFTZ a major growth driver and

catalyst for socio-economic development, the Federal Government has pledged its unflinching support to the Lagos State Government, the consortium of Chinese investors and other stakeholders to ensure the take-off of the LFTZ in earnest.

Also, LFTZ management has recorded some significant developments, thus reinforcing the viability of the project as a kickstarter for economic transformation.

The Executive Secretary, Africa Free Zones Authority (AFZA), Chris Ndibe, said if properly managed, the project is capable of generating about one million jobs annually, which is in keeping with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Minister for Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga said this is in line with the Federal Government’s agenda to create jobs for Nigerians, especially, the youth.

Aganga, who was on tour of the zone recently, described the project as laudable, stressing that it is critical to Nigeria’s economic development in terms of job creation and poverty alleviation, foreign exchange earnings, technology transfer and economic integration among other significant benefits that the free zone will impart on the socio•Continued on page 18

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

JOBS

‘Lekki Free Trade Zone to generate 1m jobs’ •Continued from page 17

economic landscape.

He said the Federal Government will support Lagos State and the Chinese investors to ensure the success of the LFTZ project.

“The Federal Government is delighted at the technology that would be brought into the country through the zone; the jobs that would be made available when the zone commences operation and investments that will come with the free trade zone,’’ Aganga enthused.

The site tour was more than the usual on-the-spot assessment for the minister because it afforded him the opportunity to see the rapid progress that has been made in the zone. Thus, Aganga said the LFTZ is the biggest of the 19 trade zones which investors from China have been involved in, stating that the significance of the LFTZ project to Nigeria and Africa could not be under-estimated.

“We want to increase our yearly earnings and augment our foreign reserves. Free trade zone is one major channel by which we can achieve these objectives easily,’’ he stressed.

Aganga and his entourage were hosted by the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Olusola Oworu.

Other dignitaries were the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Wale Raji; Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Dr Sina Agboluaje; Chairman, LFZDC, Mr Segun Jawando; Deputy Managing Director, LFZDC, Mr Adeyemo Thompson; Economic Consul, Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China, Mr Jia Ping and Managing Director, Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, Mr Tajudeen Disu.

The highpoint for the minister was the revelation by one of the Chinese investors to the effect that plans had been perfected to begin assemblage of 100 trucks monthly, a development buoyed by the completion of a number of infrastructure that will aid industrial and commercial activities.

According to Thompson, who reeled out the achievements of the zone, the milestones include the construction of an administrative complex which serves as a one-stop service centre; reclamation of over 1.5 square kilometres of land; ongoing construction works; construction of two staff camps, eight kilometres of surfaced roads and another six kilometres of stabilised access roads.

He said others are four factories already built and the automobile as-

•From Left: Ping; Aganga and Mrs Oworu at the LFZ.

sembly plant; installation of over 150 solar-powered street lights; bonded warehouses as well as construction of three deep boreholes for intermediate water supply and three hectares of beautified green-areas.

Besides, he said that investors had subscribed for over 100 hectares of land so far since the launch of the free zone, adding that nine new companies had also signified their interest in the zone while in terms of marketing progress 73 enterprises had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) just as another 12 had signed Investment Agreements, noting that there were presently 53 Registered Enterprises on ground at the zone.

Aganga, who also enlisted the buyin of media stakeholders in order to engender increased awareness for the free zones as a major economic power house for Nigeria, assured of government’s readiness to assist the Lekki Free Zone in overcoming some of the challenges it faces. The chal-

lenges according to Mr Thompson include off-shore banking; poor electric power supply; disruption of operations by customs personnel and unavailability of nexus of roads from the zone to other parts of the state among others. In his response, the minister assured that steps were being taken to ensure that the identified challenges were quickly addressed before the completion of the construction works at the zone. As part of efforts to further give a lift to the LFTZ, Aganga who led a delegation to China recently, disclosed that issues that bordered on the development of the zone were also discussed with the Chinese Minister of Commerce during his meeting in China. Mrs Oworu and top management staff of the LFZDC were also on the trip.

To demonstrate its pro-activeness, the LFZDC management did not only identify the challenges being faced by the project, but it has also gone a step further to identify solutions to miti-

gate the challenges. Among the solutions are request to the Federal Government to remove inhibitions imposed by the Nigeria Customs and Immigration Services respectively by designating LFZDC as a terminal with own customs and immigration commands manned with officers who are empowered to take decisions relating to the implementation of the preferential policies. On power supply, he said LFZDC intends to generate uninterrupted power through the use of dual fuel turbines while the excess power generated will be fed into the national grid for the benefit of host communities. ‘’We currently have investors who are ready to invest in the construction of natural gas pipeline. So, we request the Federal Government to give a right of concession to LFZDC to build the pipeline into the Lekki Free Zone,’’ he said.

On roads, Mr Thompson solicited the construction of the proposed

‘The Federal Government is delighted at the technology that would be brought into the country through the zone; the jobs that would be made available when the zone commences operation and investments that will come with the free trade zone’

coastal highway which is planned to connect the Lekki-Epe Expressway in addition to seeking a further expansion of the proposed road to link the Lekki Free Trade Zone to Olokola Free Zone, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Port- Harcourt and the Calabar Export Processing Zone just as he made a case for the dualisation of EpeIjebu Ode Road to accommodate increasing traffic demands between Epe and Ijebu Ode axis. Other requests include the development of alternative mode of transportation such as the construction of the Lekki-Epe International Airport and the East-West Rail line which can connect to the proposed Lekki Port through the Lekki Free Zone.

In his remarks, Dr Agboluaje thanked the minister for taking his time to apprise himself with the progress of development that is ongoing at the Lekki Free Zone, noting that it was a significant boost for the project.

Located in Lekki axis, the multibillion dollar Lekki Free Zone project covers 553.62 hectares of land or 20.20 per cent for residential use, 575.03 hectares or 21.42 per cent for industrial use while Central Business District covers 226.43 hectares or 7.57 per cent with 150 hectares or five per cent as the start-up area. The major players in the LFTZ project are NEPZA as a regulatory body established by the Federal Government in charge of free zones in Nigeria; Lagos State Government; Lekki Worldwide Investments Ltd (SPV) - a special vehicle set up by Lagos State Government to promote, plan and coordinate local and foreign investors and developers for the four phases of the Lekki Free Zone; China Africa Lekki Investment Ltd – a consortium of Chinese companies involved in the development of Phase 1 and LFZDC, a joint venture company between the Lagos State Government and a Chinese Consortium authorised to develop and lease land for Phase One of the Four phase zone.

Lekki Free Trade Zone was established with a mission to develop an offshore economic growth zone, attract foreign investments, promote export, create job opportunities, minimize capital flight and establish a one-stop global business haven. It is a product of a vision which is to engage directly in the economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria by providing a choice for investors in the most conducive free zone business environment that will be recognised for setting standards of excellence.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Deloitte approves appointments

D

ELOITTE has unveiled one of its strategic growth initiatives across its West & Central Africa (WeCA) region with the appointments of Stuart Leighton, Mrs Uche Erobu, Oduware Uwadiae and Tony Olokoju.

Adeniyi Obe, CEO, Deloitte WeCA says the appointments are to ensure that Deloitte strives to enhance its growth profile and stay ahead of competition.

Stuart Leighton, a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, becomes the Audit Function Leader. Leighton, who has been with Deloitte for most of his career starting in the UK (Leicester and then Aberdeen offices) before going on international assignment, holds a Bachelor of Accountancy and Finance from Napier

University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Leighton’s primary objective is to build an audit function of the highest quality that matches best practices in any of the Deloitte mid-market offices globally Mrs Erobu, a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants, Senior Partner, formerly Audit leader and first female partner of Akintola Williams Deloitte, takes over the responsibility as the new Audit Market Leader. She is expected to anchor all the firm’s ‘go to market’ strategies and efforts in the market.

One of the top 50 women of Deloitte recognised worldwide in 2006, Mrs Erobu sees her new role as exciting as well as challenging. She has led audits in a wide variety of industries and, until recently, served as the partner-in-charge of the quality control function. She has also

•Uwadiae

•Mrs Erobu

•Olukoju

handled reputation and risk functions, as well as headed the Financial Advisory function for the Nigerian firm.

Anthony Olukoju, who remains the Talent Leader, will also lead the Enterprise Risk Services (ERS) function for WeCA. He has extensive diversified client services experience in auditing, accounting, finance, and consulting.

Uwadiae assumes the IFRS lead-

ership role and will be in charge of IFRS implementation in Deloitte .

A member of the Deloitte IFRS specialist group, which provides oncall IFRS technical advice to a number of clients and Deloitte audit teams. Uwadiae was a member of the committee involved in the drafting of the roadmap for IFRS implementation in Nigeria. He was also the leader of Deloitte WeCA’s technical team that carried out a

comprehensive comparison of NGAAP and IFRS. Uwadiae is a member of the faculties of most industry regulators in Nigeria.

These appointments are not only strategic but significant for Deloitte, as it reflects its drive to build on a market leadership position, while it focuses on its vision of being the standard of excellence.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION COMMENT

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

War in the skies

GYPTIANS are embarked upon the next step in their Arab Spring evolution — electing a democratic civilian government. Tunisia’s elections went smoothly last month. But the signs in Egypt, a far more influential player, are not good. The army, which is still running the show, appears to be far more interested in protecting its power than promoting real democratic change.

The United States, which provides $1.3 billion in annual military aid, has leverage. The Obama administration understandably wants the generals to continue honoring the 1979 peace agreement with Israel. It must also push them to ensure free elections and commit to a specific date for ceding power. The army will only provoke more instability if it insists on clinging to power.

Voting for a new Parliament is scheduled to begin on Nov. 28. But the plan drafted by the generals is a befuddling process of multiple rounds that is to span three months. After that, Egyptians are to choose a council to write a new Constitution, hold a constitutional referendum and, eventually, elect a new president.

That could leave the military in charge for another year or more.

The generals raised serious doubts about their agenda when they objected to Washington using some of its military aid to train election workers and political party operatives on a nonpartisan basis. They also balked at letting international observers attend the elections, insisting they be downgraded to “witnesses.” They recently laid out demands that the new Constitution shield the army and its budget from parliamentary oversight. After a public outcry, they said the proposals would be amended, although it is not clear they are backing down. The army has also not lifted a repressive Mubarak-era emergency law.

Over the past three decades, the United States has given Egypt $60 billion, mostly military aid. That must be adjusted over time to better suit the needs of an emerging democracy. Congress should quickly approve a promised $1 billion debt swap for Egypt so the money can be plowed back into joint projects that benefit civilians.

The Egyptian people showed great courage when they overthrew Hosni Mubarak. It is now up to them, with international support, to ensure a democratic transition. Voters should aim high and elect a Parliament that will assert civilian control, ensure transparency and protect the rights of all, including religious minorities and women.

– New York Times

Egypt’s elections

•Disagreement between Nigeria and Britain over BASA opens a can of worms

A

S it appears – there seems to be no imminent end to the row between the Nigerian government and its British counterpart over the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Last week, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ordered the two British carriers – the British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA) to pay $235 million in compensation to Nigerian passengers for unfair competition, deceptive practices and violation of Nigerian law. Earlier, the Nigerian government threatened to cut the slot of British Airways; diplomatic shuttles later forced it to back-off.

The grouse of the Nigerian government seems understandable – the climax of the below-the-table deals that forced the Nigerian operator, Arik Air, out of the lucrative Abuja- Heathrow slot. That deal

‘The issue obviously goes beyond Arik – although we see nothing wrong with the Federal Government rising to defend the commercial interests of its nationals. The idea behind BASA is to ensure reciprocity, equity and to ensure fairness to the parties. The good thing about the BASA row is that it has opened a can of worms on the lopsidedness of relations between the UK and its one-time colony’

saw British Midland International and Airport Coordination Limited hiking Arik’s landing slots from 52,250 pounds monthly to 90,000 – only to be picked up – allegedly – by BA. The rule of the BASA was clear. Nigeria and UK both have a maximum frequency of 21 flights weekly on either side. The BA and VAA, which account for 90 percent of direct flights between the two countries, have unhindered access to the Nigerian territory. On the Nigerian side, the agreement is for all intents and purposes a nullity; not with several insurmountable hurdles thrown in the path of the Nigerian carrier to make its operations uncompetitive and unprofitable.

A fall-out of the row is the “discovery” that the tariffs charged by the two British carriers are well over the top – compared with what they charge in other countries within the sub-region. A First Class Lagos-London one-way fare is said to cost $5,408 while the same booking for Accra-London is $2,399. BA has offered 20 percent cut on the Lagos route. That decision further amplifies the concern that the fares are not competitive. What was the criterion for even arriving at the 20 percent cut?

As far as the current row goes, we consider the Nigerian government right – and the British, wrong. Our position is informed by the provisions of the BASA which guarantee access by the two countries’ carriers to their skies in a fair, equal and reciprocal manner.

It is arrant nonsense for the UK authorities to hold lamely to the argument that the ‘hawking’ of the slot which resulted

in Arik Air being thrown out of its AbujaHeathrow slot is pure commercial transaction. It is not.

What is an agreement worth when a party to it can willy-nilly deny both the letter and the spirit behind it because it enjoys the advantage of dominance?

Other than the tardiness in invoking the spirit of the BASA, it is hard to find any blame for the Federal Government.

For far too long, foreign operators have treated the country as one of anything goes. It seems ironical that officials of British government have had to shuttle between London and Abuja to prevent the Nigerian government from subjecting BA to the Arik treatment even when the cries of the Nigerian carrier failed to move it.

The issue obviously goes beyond Arik – although we see nothing wrong with the Federal Government rising to defend the commercial interests of its nationals. The idea behind BASA is to ensure reciprocity, equity and to ensure fairness to the parties. The good thing about the BASA row is that it has opened a can of worms on the lopsidedness of relations between the UK and its one-time colony. It should be an eye-opener for the Nigerian authorities that agreements are as good as the good faith of the parties to them.

A BASA that cannot guarantee equity and reciprocity is worth less than the paper it is written on. The choice for the British authorities is either to respect the letters and the spirit of the agreement or to jettison it. The duty of the Federal Government to protect its vital interests should be seen as non-negotiable.

Frank talk •Minister confirms fears about impossibility of meeting Vision 20-2020 target FTER much grandstanding about “economic reforms” all through the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential years, the proverbial chicken appears to have come home to roost: Dr. Shamsudden Usman, Nigeria’s Minister of National Planning Commission has dropped a bombshell: Vision 20-2020 risks being dropped because it appears unattainable.

According to a report in the Sun newspaper of November 15, the minister explained that the economic vision to move Nigeria to the Top 20 economically strong nation by 2020 is now a tall order and that the country would even be lucky if it is able to make the first 25 by 2020. It is not clear though whether that pronouncement was the minister’s frank conclusion from brutal personal analysis, or it was an official policy pronouncement formally burying Vision 20:2020, the crown jewel of economic policy of the Obasanjo era.

But whatever it is, the minister’s statement has further confirmed the suspicion of not a few that Vision 202020, no matter its perceived strength as an economic blueprint, was, ab initio doomed, as a result of the failure to implement key signposts, principally power.

By Vision 20-2020 projections, power generation, transmission and distribution were expected to grow thus, peaking at 35, 000 by 2020; 3, 700 mw (December 2009), 8, 000mw (December 2010), 16, 000 mw (December 2013) and 35, 000 (December 2020). But that was even after the initial plan to 5, 000 mw by 2007 and 10, 000 mw by 2010 had been revised.

The lag in power implementation alone

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has obviously doomed the Vision 20:2020 dream; not to talk of other serious shortfalls in physical infrastructure (basically roads, rail and housing) and social infrastructure (mainly health and education). But even if the power situation had gone according to plans, it is still a mute point if that alone could have galvanised Nigeria to be among the globe’s top 20 economies by 2020.

This is because the 35, 000mw 2020 target is rather modest related to Nigeria’s huge population now standing at about 150 million, compared with other countries: South Africa (40, 000 mw for 50 million population), Brazil (100, 000 mw for 192 million population) and United States (700, 000 mw for 308 million population). Still, if Nigeria had pulled off the target, but still did not make the top Global 20 economies, it would at least have laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth and development.

But why is the Vision 20:2020 plan going so awry? It is 2011 and power generation is less than 5, 000 mw. It is not only below the 8, 000 mw projected for 2010, it is also less than half of the 16, 000 mw projected for 2013. Why the grave shortfall?

That had nothing to do with the theoretical brilliance that went into marshalling the 20:2020 document.

Rather, it had everything to do with an ideological gallery play that took little or no cognisance of the objective reality at home.

Just like the Vision 2010 Document before it that strove to use economic matters to buy legitimacy for the Sani Abacha military government which was hated at home and was a pariah abroad, the Vision 20:2020 was busy pitching

Breton Woods. It talked the ideological talk and made a fetish of “reform”, as if that buzzword was capable of instant magical transformation. But because it did not seriously ponder the grim objective reality on the ground, the document has remained what it is – a plan that may never be successfully implemented.

So, what to do is to target development triggers at home: power, education, health and roads. It is also key to fix the civil service, as the implementation agency of the public sector. With the service still reeling from the near-mortal wounds of the military era, it needs special attention for the government to implement development programmes that could match the success of the National Development Plans, the last of which was in 1975.

‘So, what to do is to target development triggers at home: power, education, health and roads. It is also key to fix the civil service, as the implementation agency of the public sector. With the service still reeling from the near-mortal wounds of the military era, it needs special attention for the government to implement development programmes that could match the success of the National Development Plans, the last of which was in 1975’

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Terrorism is nothing new to most Nigerians today.

Most troubling is the continued spate of bombings in parts of the country despite attempts made to curtail them. The recent UN House bombing in Abuja is just another pointer that terrorism in Nigeria has evolved from being spontaneous to being highly coordinated. President Goodluck Jonathan has met a monstrous problem he didn’t create but if he fails to solve or reduce this problem within his tenure, then the country called Nigeria might witness a complete breakdown of law and order as a result of a sectarian crisis.

Illiteracy is specifically high in the northern part of Nigeria which can partly explain the tendency of many there to resort to religious violence over the slightest provocation which logically might not have had anything to do with religion in the first place. Illiteracy creates a lack of understanding among individual or groups in a society. The lack of understanding serves as a potential weapon in the hands of dubious leaders and elites in fermenting discord in the society.

The fact is that any major unchecked crisis in an ethnically and

Tax: let Lagos ‘carry go’

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IR: The Ogun State government claims that Lagos State has been collecting taxes that should have come to Ogun State. If these Ogun residents work in Lagos then they should contribute to the development of Lagos. After all, these workers will use the facilities belonging to Lagos to earn their salary and it would not be fair for them not to give back to Lagos.

If the law says the money belongs to Ogun State, then that law is wrong; at least we can see what Lagos is doing with the money being collected.

• Benson Akhidegbe Ijoko, Ogun State

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Averting sectarian crisis in Nigeria religiously mixed or cosmopolitan Nigeria has the potential of wrecking havoc to the extent of gradually bringing down a government.

No scenario is ever exhausted. Because something hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t. Life is an unpredictable process that can never quite be figured out. As a principle in Murphy’s Law it is stated that ‘’If anything can go wrong, it will’’.

Human nature somehow guarantees that nothing turns out quite the way it’s supposed to. Therefore, though ethnic and religious differences might never allow a nationalist inspired revolution to take place in Nigeria, there is a tendency for people to rally round cultural organizations, political movements, regional and factional groups e.g. OPC/Afenifere for the Yoruba’s, MASSOB/Ndigbo for the Igbos , and Arewa for the

Hausa’s. Minority groups will either align themselves with these larger groups, or form new groups of their own. With significant government control only at the centre as seen in Afghanistan and Somalia, the government’s security apparatus will be overstretched by fighting factions and keeping factions from fighting one another.

Then the government would be accused of taking sides if one faction is dealt with more severely.

An arms race would develop between groups, and leaders will be tempted to arm their groups. The security agencies who wouldn’t be immune from ethno-religious sentiments themselves, will consequently find it hard to crack down on particular groups.

Politics will now be between liberals and traditionalist on the one hand and religious extremist and

secularist on the other. Those that see a total collapse of Nigeria as an ideal process should study the history of Lebanon, Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan to have an in-depth idea of what war-torn countries look like.

Boko Haram has most likely discovered that they can only take their agenda to the next level by carrying out attacks outside the North. Part of the aim is to attempt to unify all Muslims both moderate and fanatical under the platform of ‘Nigerian Muslims’ versus ‘enemies of Islam’. Since they cannot win as a sect alone, their aim seems to temporary accommodate Muslims of all views for now with the intent of discarding them when they achieve their aims. Thus, their greatest threat for now isn’t Christianity but Muslims who publicly don’t share their views and maybe

the murder and assassination attempts on some Islamic clerics by supposed members of the sect is a pointer to this fact.

The greatest asset the sect members have is the level of unemployment, infrastructural decay, and official insensitivity to poor Nigerians in the midst of ongoing corruption in the country. On the other hand, the greatest tool the government can ever have at its disposal in tackling this threat to national security is ‘accelerated development’. Robert McNamara a former United States Secretary of Defence was once quoted as saying ‘’Any society that seeks to achieve adequate military security against the background of acute food shortages, population explosion, low level of productivity and per capital income, low technological development, inadequate and sufficient public utilities and chronic problem of unemployment, has a false sense of security’’.

Unfortunately though, Nigeria is still striving to overcome not one, two or three of all these challenges but all of them.

• Bulus Nom Audu Old Karu Abuja,

Kudos to Ajimobi on Ojebode

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IR: If there is anything that has endeared Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to me, at least in recent times, it was his prompt intervention in the health challenges currently being faced by the former captain of the defunct IICC Shooting Stars Football Club, Samuel Ojebode.

Ojebode, who is lying critically ill at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan having been diagnosed of heart-related disease, has been crying for help from government and wellmeaning individuals in the country so that he could be back on his feet.

His story had been reported in some national dailies, with the newspapers underscoring the urgent need to rescue the veteran footballer who, in his active soccer days, had given his all to his fatherland.

Pronto, Ajimobi headed straight

for UCH to see Ojebode at his bedside, not only to sympathize with him but also to assess his condition and see where the state government could be of assistance.

Moved by the sight of the ailing former footballer, the governor did not waste time in telling those who cared to listen that the state government would offer financial assistance to Ojebode in order to save his life.

“We are here for a sympathy visit and to demonstrate our support to one of our heroes, Samuel Ojebode, who was at one time the captain of the IICC Shooting Stars,’’ Ajimobi was quoted by a national daily as saying.

While acknowledging the contributions of the former Green Eagles player to the development of soccer in Nigeria, the governor noted that Ojebode had served not

only Oyo State but also the country meritoriously, and so, deserved the support of the government.

He assured the former footballer that government would take care of all the expenses so far committed to the treatment, both at the Jericho hospital in Ibadan where he was first admitted, at the UCH since his admission, as well as all other expenses he would incur while his treatment lasted.

What could be more exciting than what Gov. Ajimobi has done? He has demonstrated that governance is not about grandstanding, but service to people. To me, his is not just a responsible government but also a responsive one.

For people like us who knew Ojebode during his active days in football and his contributions to the development of soccer in Nigeria, what Ajimobi has offered is nothing but the needed tonic to

enliven the spirit of the veteran footballer and bring him back on his feet. More fundamentally, it will rekindle the spirit of patriotism in our upcoming youngsters because they will be made to believe that if they serve their fatherland, government would not forget them.

Indeed, when I read the story in the newspapers, I was moved that at last, Oyo State has been blessed with a governor with the milk of human kindness, a clear departure from the immediate past when human lives were not worth more than a tissue paper.

I want to urge the governor not to relent in his avowed commitment to giving good governance to the people of Oyo State so that he can leave his footprints on the sand of time.

• Kola Oderinde Ibadan

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Unthinking PHCN Strike

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TEXT message I received from a friend last week on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers’ strike summed up the universal feelings of many Nigerians. According to him, as long as the generators are still working, PHCN workers can go on strike for ever if they like. The darkness being experienced in most parts of the country does not make any difference from when the company was fully operational. He concluded that going on strike would only deny the workers of collecting illicit money from the public - which of course is good for the people. It was a message needed less to drive home the power sector torment the nation has interminably been stumbling with.

If any workers’ protest and subsequent strike has ever been unpopular, this is one. The action was denounced and lambasted, not because there was no basis at all for it, but more because of the mendaciousness of the protesting workers who are believed to be essentially propelled by protection of their self-interests.

The Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), with the backing of Nigeria Labour Congress President Abdulwaheed Omar called on its members to plunge the unlighted nation into further darkness in protest against Federal Government’s deployment of armed security agencies to the vital power facilities ahead of plan to privatise PHCN. NUEE officials argued that the process of unbundling the PHCN by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was against FG’s agreement with the union, expressing the fear of downsizing the workforce which in itself is seen as liability to the organisation. According to the union officials, they do not want to allow the fatal fate that befell NITEL and the Nigerian Railways Corporation to become the portion of PHCN. But PHCN management insisted that there was no basis for the industrial action since there was no trade dispute between it and the workers.

It expressed the realisation of the fact that PHCN being the sole provider of electricity services to the nation is an essential services provider under the laws of the land.

Justifying the reinforcement of security at critical infrastructure across the nation, Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji warned that any staff member who absents himself or herself from work without legitimate authorisation stands a high risk of forfeiting his or her job in line with extant PHCN Conditions of Service (2010). He also considers it awkward that the NUEE General Secretary vehemently rejected the FG’s policy that all public service employees, including

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OR the ‘’I don’t care’’ Nigerians, and that is a great majority of us, the goings-on in the PDP-controlled Bayelsa State, the home of the first President of Nigeria to come from the minority South South, is nothing unusual. But without sounding alarmist, one is constrained to say that the gentleman from Otuoke is unwittingly putting the deathnail on the coffin of our nascent democracy. For many this assertion may sound rather too farfetched.

For those who are not fully informed on the goings-on in Bayelsa, it will suffice to paint a simple summary here.

Pursuant to the judgement of the Federal High Court that the initial swearing-in of the five PDP governors on 29th May, 2007 was void ab initio, the Court ruled further that the ‘PDP 5’ properly and constitutionally came into office after their re-run elections and thus their tenures began at various dates following their re-run elections. By this ruling which was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, the next governorship election in Bayelsa is now fixed for 2012.By the same token the other four governorship elections were shifted to late 2011 (for Kogi State) and 2012 for the rest.

All along, those in the know have sounded the alarm buttons that President Jonathan and his imperious wife wanted their lapdog as Governor of their home state. First, the scheme was to ensure that a hurriedly set-up appeal to the Supreme Court to upturn the concurrent decision of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal so as to strip the Bayelsa governor of his immunity before the PDP primaries.

The President is now on desperation mode and will do just about anything to remove governor Timipre Sylva and to install any of the lackeys who will lick his spittle just to ascend to the ‘’throne’’ of Bayelsa. First he ousted the Chairman of the party in the State. And now, using

‘And now, using the party machinery in Abuja, he has decreed that the incumbent governor is disqualified from contesting under the banner of the PDP. The reason, as the rumour mills would have it, is that the governor has threatened to kill the President and his family’

ministers, undergo biometric verification which all ministries, departments and agencies have undergone, entailing the provision of appointment letters, staff numbers, fingerprints and other undemanding requirements.

Talking to show that he meant business, the minister insisted that the N9billion, which the FG has made available to the PHCN management for the payment of the 50% increase in staff salaries for June, July and August will be paid to only PHCN staff members who have been verified.

To Nnaji, it was improper for any person to reject, in the name of trade unionism, the presence of security forces in power facilities, in which the nation has made huge investments over the decades. While tagging the strike as a grave danger to national security and to the country’s development, he noted that military personnel at critical facilities have restored public confidence in the safety of the high profile places.

In truth, PHCN staff who are not comfortable working under security surveillance might just be scared of being exposed of their transgressions that have been stalling the power sector.

If there is no hideous plan, then there should not be any fear of the presence of security forces at their locations, as long as they are not intimidated or harassed, especially in this era when a terrorising Boko Haram is reigning and ruining the land.

Since government says its decision is a pro-active measure to protect national assets, true patriots ought to be willing and ready to cooperate. Resorting to blackmail to achieve personal goals by detested power sector workers is an unthinking error. No individual or union can pose bigger than the nation’s collective longing interest of uninterrupted power supply through whatever means.

While one is not pretending to be in position to know if there is a hidden motive behind government’s action going by the mishandling of NITEL’s privatisation, it is also not surprising why the threat by PHCN authorities to sack its workers who are on strike was not being taken serious. If the power sector would not function to meet the nation’s vital needs in spite of government’s heavy funding, PHCN workers, being the insiders know where the problem lies. The revealed anger of the junior staff was that while they were the labouring monkeys, they are not blind to seeing the baboons doing the consumption. They see themselves as tools used in collecting the escalating resources from the public, while the top ranks, apart from manipulating the colossal grants from the government, do the sharing among themselves.

If a well-implemented privatisation of PHCN is what will guarantee stable power supply and economic growth of the nation, so be it. A wise administration would have learnt some lessons from the past errors that made privatisation counterproductive. Let the whole process be transparent. Let BPE ensure that credible and competent investors are the buyers.

When this is done, any grandstanding campaign by holding the people to ransom with prolonged blackout is bound to emerge a futile exertion.

Bayelsa: Jonathan’s puppet game

By Wale Adeniran the party machinery in Abuja, he has decreed that the incumbent governor is disqualified from contesting under the banner of the PDP. The reason, as the rumour mills would have it, is that the governor has threatened to kill the President and his family.

The big question that the President and the party must answer is: what is the sin of the governor? Yes some might say that the governor has not performed. But that is a judgement left solely to the delegates of the party at primary and ultimately to the Bayelsa electorate. It is not up to the entire executive of the PDP in Abuja or indeed the President. As for the rumoured allegation, the less said about it the better. Until the governor’s term expires, no charges can be preferred against him.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended guaranties every adult Nigerian the right to vote and to be voted for. The same constitution makes provisions for exceptions. These include where a Nigerian has been convicted of an offence or where he is certified to be mentally incompetent or physically unfit to hold office. To emphasize this inalienable right, the courts have held that being indicted of an offence, no matter how heinous, does not rob a Nigerian citizen who has the requisite limited educational qualifications of the right to contest for an office.

It may be argued that a party is at liberty to choose who should represent it at an election. But this is only through an open contest at the primary conducted by the party and observed by INEC. It is not open to the party hierarchy to decide who will not participate at the primary.

One would have thought that the case of AmaechiVs the PDP and others and several other decisions of our superior courts to the same effect would have thought this President and his party a lesson.

Which brings us to the initial assertion that this seemingly innocuous act of Mr. President and his PDP may be sounding a dirge for this wobbling Republic. At this point in the life of the nation, a lot is going wrong. Unemployment is at a record high. The nation produces nothing of

Honour and dishonour Talk of a national icon, Professor Chinua Achebe is an indisputable one. For the second time, he rejected being part of the ritual called national honours award. For him, his rationale for snubbing the same award several years back under the Obasanjo presidency still remains the same: nothing significantly has changed in the nation.

As a man of principle, he basically displayed true patriotism by obeying his conscience. Title means nothing to him in a land where the few privileged remains wickedly committed to vanity and self-satisfaction at the expense of the swarming millions that are abandoned to live in unjustified penury.

Yes, the Chairman of the National Awards Honours Committee, Justice Modibbo Alfa Belgore made efforts at defending the integrity of the national honours. But the respected retired jurist only ended opening up the deficiency in compiling the so-called honours list. According to him, to qualify, “you must be a patriot, a nationalist and a super achiever in your field.” He was further quoted: “You must have integrity.”

Let’s admit that in the annual list, there have been those who truly meet the Belgore-committee set criteria, they are much fewer than the unfaithful politicians and office holders with whom they are often lumped up with. Year in, year out, the story has been the same. Those who apparently rigged their ways to public office are honoured just the same way as evident looters of public treasuries.

Unlike the position of President Goodluck Jonathan at the last award ceremony, not all those he decorated were worthy of a genuine national honour. While his justification of somebody like business tycoon Aliko Dangote’s GCON award is unquestionable because of what are discernible, honouring many other obviously non-performing public officials and those who are supposed to spend their remaining days behind bars is detrimental to building a righteous nation.

To be of value, national honours must never come cheap.

The only way to build a blessed generation capable of taking the nation to the place of long-denied destiny would be by displaying only exemplary attributes of honourable citizens and public officers who genuinely fulfil their mandates. Not through flawed awards based on political, ethnic or religious sentiments.

A highly deserving Achebe is not looking for fame but for a government that is ready to serve right through performances that are in the interest of the masses and the nation.

‘They see themselves as tools used in collecting the escalating resources from the public, while the top ranks, apart from manipulating the colossal grants from the government, do the sharing among themselves’ substance except crude oil. Our schools (primary through to universities) are in a state of stupor. Not much of research is going on anywhere. Such vexing issues as true federalism, resource control, restructuring, etc have taken the back seat. Boko Haram looms large and the quest for foreign investment has become a non-starter.

Yet all that the gentleman president and his party can do is try to violate the constitution in such a crass manner just so that he can be not only the President of Nigeria but also the alpha and omega of Bayelsa, his home tuff.

When a man who is a shining example of the dividend of democracy becomes anti-democratic and begins to violate the letter and the spirit of the constitution, he is doing nothing but pulling down the structure over his own head. The President and his all-powerful wife must be told in no uncertain terms that Bayelsa is not their play pen. In the Bayelsa State PDP they have only two votes.

Their lofty positions which they got by divine grace and not by their oratory or competence or wisdom (they score less than average in each of these categories in my humble view) does not empower them to decide who rules Bayelsa State. As any other Nigerian, the President is entitled to his view. He can legitimately say that the governor is not up to scratch and is unworthy of the office. In deed he can accuse the governor of committing any number of crimes. As long as our constitution retains the governor’s immunity, all that the President may say or allege will remain his private view and of no consequence. But that will not in itself translate to a legitimate order barring a non-convict of sound mind from testing his popularity with his political colleagues. It is up to them to reject or accept him. I fear that the President knows that the incumbent governor remains the man to beat in the Bayelsa PDP and the State in general.

Now that the President and the first lady have apparently finally shown their hands by the purported claim that the governor has planned to kill them, it has become obvious to the nation and the entire world that the boy without shoes from Otuoke is now the drum major, the leader of the orchestra and the puppet master in the ugly developments in Bayelsa. Until a few days ago, the man who sees no evil and does no evil had continued to claim that he had no hand in the Bayelsa saga. Let the President know today that if he continues to let this instability to fester in Bayelsa State, it might affect the entire Niger Delta, the cash cow that keeps his Aso Rock running and rocking.

• Adeniran writes from Port Harcourt

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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EEN observers of contemporary political events in Imo State will not be surprised at the predictable outcome of the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha in the May 6 supplementary election. In that suit, the PDP had asked the tribunal to uphold the inconclusive April 26 governorship polls and declare its candidate Ikedi Ohakim winner as he scored a majority of the votes cast. It further urged the tribunal to declare the May 6 supplementary election that produced Okorocha illegal, unconstitutional and null and void as INEC lacked the powers to cancel elections.

But in its verdict, the tribunal upheld the results of the April 26 polls and declared that the May 6 supplementary election that produced Okorocha as governor was valid as it was a continuation of the April 26 inconclusive election. The tribunal summed up its ruling by declaring that the petitioner only succeeded in ‘dumping worthless evidence before the tribunal’ and dismissed it.

It needs to be recaptured here that when the result of the rescheduled election was announced, the then outgoing governor Ikedi Ohakim had in a well publicized statement congratulated Okorocha on his victory. He had also said he had accepted his defeat in good faith and would not challenge the election at the tribunal. That statement was generally viewed as a face saving exercise given the humiliation he suffered at the polls. It would have been absurd given the events of that well celebrated election for Ohakim to have come out shortly after to announce his intention to challenge its outcome. The poser would have been, if he could not win the election with his much touted power of incumbency, backing from the ruling PDP and the stupendous resources available to him, what is the propriety in pursuing same at the tribunal in an election he was clearly beaten?

Not only did the Imo people ensure that he was disgraced in that election, they took immediate steps minutes after the results were announced to destroy anything that will serve as a reminder to that unpopular, discredited and loathed regime.

It remained strange how the head of that regime could have challenged an election in

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AN any honest person oppose the capture of biometric data in our civil service? Can any patriotic Nigerian constitute a stumbling block to the unbundling of the bastions of inefficiently run pivotal institutions that have constituted an obstacle to rapid economic development in spite of Nigeria’s abundant natural resources? Is it still fashionable for labour or any segment of society to remain blindly trapped by the old-fashioned labour practices that arrested development in Soviet-era Eastern Europe? Does it not amount to barefaced sabotage to scuttle the sustained improvement in power supply, a development that is already receiving the applause of Nigerians?

These questions and more are bound to resonate in public discourse as the nation is subjected to one of the most ill-informed and badly-timed strikes in its history. As we are all well aware, the leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) had ordered workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to embark on strike since Monday ostensibly to protest the presence of soldiers guarding power installations in the country. While the stated reason for the action is that the presence of soldiers constitutes a threat to workers’ safety, power sector insiders insist that the real motive of the strikers is to prevent shortlisted companies, among those that have expressed interest in the unbundled companies, from carrying out the due diligence precedent to making an offer. If the later is the case that will amount to being criminal in the extreme.

But let us begin with the biometric data saga. One wonders what disability PHCN workers will suffer by having their biometric data obtained. Is there a health hazard, a social stigma or any economic drawback inherent in such a harmless exercise? Could it be that somebody, somewhere, is afraid that accurate demographic information could checkmate the padding of staff lists and stop benefits to a cabal that could include beneficiaries of workers check-off dues? If anything, workers stand to benefit from proper biometric information because it ensures transparency, accountability and proper planning.

If the biometric data saga is laughable, the objection to power installations being

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Imo guber verdict: matters arising which he was very clearly defeated even with the awesome state powers and huge resources available to him- resources which he shared in the most scandalous manner and still failed.

It remained curious how Ohakim could in this circumstance, still nurse the convoluted ambition to again, rule Imo State when it was sound and clear that such a pipe dream was a clear invitation to anarchy of monumental proportion. As if to confirm these, he was soon to find a convenient plank to circumvent anticipated public anger through his party, the PDP, which went to the tribunal to seek the same relief for the same Ohakim.

But the tribunal faulted them on many grounds. Not only did it rule that INEC had powers to cancel elections, it equally upheld that there were pockets of violence in the four local government areas cancelled. The tribunal ruled that the PDP failed to prove that its candidate Ikedi Ohakim scored the majority of lawful votes in the April 26 election. It was on these grounds that the tribunal was of the opinion that the entire exercise was a mere dumping of worthless evidence before it. That is what the suit actually represents.

The truth of the matter is that from the results released by the INEC in the April 26 polls, Okorocha had a majority of the valid votes cast. But for the last minute cancellation of that of Mbaitoli, there would have been no need for a supplementary election as the APGA

candidate was already coasting home to victory. How the PDP generated results that led it to the conclusion that Ohakim won that election can only be rationalized as part of that desperation to capture power by foul means. It was also very amazing for the PDP to have contended that INEC had no powers to cancel election when Ohakim himself came to power through the same process. In his own case in 2007, INEC had cancelled the governorship election believed to have been won by the same APGA while upholding the state assembly elections that were held the same day and time using the same ballot box.

Ohakim came to power through that rescheduled election. The protracted legal battle between him and then APGA candidate Martin Agbaso is well known to all. It therefore smacks of dishonesty for a beneficiary of a cancelled election to return to the same courts to question the powers of the same INEC to cancel election. That is the type of charade we see in this country.

It is good a thing that the tribunal has spoken very unambiguously on the matter. Its ruling is no doubt in consonance with the trend of events in that election and the overall expectations of the Imo people. Perhaps, if we were to be operating in a clime where power is not sought by hook and crook, it would have been nigh impossible for any

Let’s tame the power sector monster

By Emma Agu guarded by soldiers is patently absurd, irritating and provocative. What, with the obvious security threat posed by terror groups of all hues? While PHCN staff union is entitled to being hypersensitive to the return of jackboot patrimony especially in a democracy, we must be vigilant and guard against any subterfuge aimed at hoodwinking us into accepting the elevation of private interests to public goals. I stand to be contradicted but considered against the facts the PHCN workers union cannot be sincere. For far too long, soldiers have been guarding construction workers in various parts of Nigeria either from errant natives or dare-devil militants. If no labour union has raised eye-brows against this practice, why is the power sector union kicking against the same principle in the case of a more strategic national asset such as PHNC installations?

One thing stands out clear: the PHCN staff union has shown an unusual interest in the affairs of the power sector since the Goodluck Jonathan presidency and the emergence of Professor Barth Nnaji as the arrowhead of the administration’s power sector reform agenda. But such behaviour is as baffling as it is inexcusable. For, beyond Nnaji’s sterling antecedents as a scholar and patriot, he stands out for his passion for the job, loyalty to Jonathan’s agenda and doggedness in trying to dismantle the power sector cabal that has defied previous administrations and frustrated the nation’s developmental aspirations.

To buttress this argument, one only needs to scan through the progress made in the power sector since May 2010 when President Jonathan co-opted Professor Nnaji into the Danjuma-led Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) with specific responsibility for the power sector. A good starting point will be in the area of technical capacity where, under Jonathan, power generation rose from 2400 megawatts to 3, 800 megawatts within one year. But as we will all remember, the system collapsed due

to the inability of the existing transmission infrastructure to carry the load, thereby exposing a major defect in power sector planning. Truth is, over the years, previous administrations focused on power generation without a corresponding investment in transmission and distribution.

It is to the credit of the Jonathan Administration that that deficit has been addressed. It is also not surprising that many consumers have started dreaming of reliable power supply.

But it is in the area of staff welfare that the Jonathan Administration deserves even greater commendation. And to wit, the PHCN workers don’t really dispute the claims. To the President’s credit N57 Billion Naira was released last year to settle the monetization benefits of PHCN staff. As if that was not enough, based again on Nnaji’s recommendation, President Jonathan went on to make provision of N142 Billion Naira in the budget to enable PHCN staff either acquire shares from the companies to be unbundled or, in the alternative, easily access their retirement benefits. But the icing on the cake of PHCN workers remains the salary raise that has jacked the organizations monthly wage bill from seven billion naira to N11 Billion Naira. A PHCN insider confessed that the wage hike came to the workers as a pleasant surprise, especially against the background that Nnaji got the President to release Nine Billion Naira, to settle the differences for the months of June, July and August.

Against the background of the foregoing, it stands to reason that the current crisis could only have been ignited by a desire to derail the power sector reforms. Three reasons have been adduced for this. To start with, it has been suggested that when consummated, the ensuing corporate governance environment will frustrate extant practices that permitted for ghost workers and bloated check-off. That’s shameful, isn’t it? Besides, there is a strong opinion that a

sane person to nurse the feeling of procuring another spurious mandate for Ohakim even with his disgraceful and humiliating outing in that election. It would have been unthinkable for anybody or group to root for Ohakim’s return to power with the unmitigated calamity his regime was. If we were to be a people of conscience, repute and decency; if we have any modicum of respect for the sovereignty of the electorate as expressed at the ballot box, nobody will busy himself contriving all manner of subterfuge to smuggle Ohakim back to power against the wishes of the Imo people. Not with what Imo people suffered during his unmerited tenure. Not with his abysmal performance rating, the low opinion Imo people have of him and the frightening prospects of such a scenario precipitating a total breakdown of law and order. But ours is a peculiar society where politicians nurse warped strategies to capture power irrespective of the dangers such pose to peace and order. So if by any design another mandate is procured for Ohakim to return as governor of Imo state now, he will shamelessly take up such a foreboding offer?

That would be vaulting ambition of the worst order. God forbid!

‘The truth of the matter is that from the results released by the INEC in the April 26 polls, Okorocha had a majority of the valid votes cast. But for the last minute cancellation of that of Mbaitoli, there would have been no need for a supplementary election as the APGA candidate was already coasting home to victory’ cabal in the power sector that has benefitted from unreliable public power supply has developed an unpatriotic liaison with some PHCN labour leaders to frustrate the power sector reforms. You need not go far for the reason. Reliable power supply will terminate their strangle-hold on Nigerians. Third, and perhaps more sinister is the speculation that the internecine arm-twisting by the Ajaeroled union is a dress rehearsal of the strategy for the 2015 general elections. Should that be true, then we must ponder the sinister makeup of those who want to plunge the nation into a power gridlock just to achieve very narrow political goals. Haba!

In fact, industry watchers believe that the current strike has two immediate motives: First, to prevent shortlisted companies from carrying out due diligence on the companies to be unbundled; second, to thwart the bidding process due in the next week or so.

How else do we interpret economic sabotage?

How much more unpatriotic can an individual or a group be?

With the unparalleled opening of the economy through the unbundling of the aviation and telecoms sectors, only a wicked pessimist and selfish predator will insist on sentencing us to perennial state control of a critical facility like the power sector. Those were the same blights that the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) set out to obliterate. We must remain focused on that and refuse to be held down by a cabal whose time is up. When all is said and done, PHCN has been precluded from going on strike. Or are PHCN union leaders above the law? By the way, who are they and their co-travellers working for? While on this, the nation’s gratitude should go to those patriotic PHCN staff who defied threats from their union leaders and kept faith with the country by risking their lives at their duty posts. Without their sacrifice, the gains of the past few months would have been completely eroded through the mindless sabotage of some selfish power mongers.

The choice before PHCN staff is clear: either taming the obnoxious power sector cabal and enjoying a smooth transition or capitulating to their selfish ploy and risking a rough yet inevitable transformation.

Agu is publisher and a commentator on national issues.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

National League gets kick-off date as Board backs Maigari

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kick-off date for the 2011/2012 National League season has been approved by the Board of the Nigeria National League (NNL) which rose from its inaugural meeting at the Zaranda Hotels in Bauchi with a vote of confidence passed on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

The kick-off date and other programs of the Board was contained in an eight point communiqué raised at the end of the meeting which was highlighted by a resolution to set up a strong marketing machinery that will support the packaging of the league into a viable sponsorship platform for corporate partnerships. It stated ““that the Board reviewed the current state of the National League and approved a road map for the prompt and vigorous repositioning of the League to make it attractive to corporate Nigeria, fans and other major stakeholders”, the communiqué stated.

The communiqué signed by Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha and Hon. Kunle Sonada disclosed that “the 2011/2012 season has been slated to kick-off in January and end in June 2012 to align with the international football seasons’ calendar”.

Harping on a harmonious relationship with the nation’s apex football governing body, the communiqué stated “that the Board expresses confidence in the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-led Board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and pledges to work harmoniously with the NFF and the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to build a viable football industry in Nigeria”.

The communiqué also conveyed the approval of the Board to launch the league’s website and logo at an event that would be staged in a yet to be named town. “That the Board approved the commissioning of a website and logo to be launched very soon”, the communiqué stated adding “that the Board shall put in place marketing machinery towards attracting robust sponsorship and partnership for the League”.

Other resolutions of the Board include the approval the clubs’ Congress and Pre-season’s Draw and Seminar to hold on the 16th and 17th of December 2011 at a venue to be announced soon. It also resolved to thank the people and government of Bauchi State for their contributions to the success of the maiden NNL Super Cup which the state hosted.

Obiora joins Olympic team in Morocco

Dream Team V arrives Morocco

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ARMA of Italy Midfielder, Obiora Nwankwo on Saturday night joined the Dream Team V camp in Hotel Anfa Port Casablanca, Morocco.

Nwankwo, who will lead the team in the absence of Captain Lukman Haruna, was part of the team’s general meeting where Coach Austin Eguavoen reminded the boys of the task ahead.

“I want to welcome you all to Casablanca. As you already know; we are in early to acclimatize to the weather, perfect our tactics and do our country proud” he stated.

Eguavoen further urged his wards to stay focus on the task ahead.

“We started this journey way back in the early part of this year. Now is the time to reap the fruits of our hard work and to do that we must stay focus on the task ahead. You must write you names in history books because our country is depending on us” he charged.

The Dream Team V will have its first training session this evening.

Meanwhile, Ukraine based Babatunde Micheal is expected to

T •Lukman Haruna team up with his colleagues later today.

The arrival of Obiora Nwankwo has taken the number of players in camp to 19.

HE Nigeria Under-23 team has arrived in Casablanca, Morocco ahead of this month’s CAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

The Nigerian contingent touched down at the Mohammed V international airport at 10:30 am local time on Saturday.

They will now begin the acclimatization phase of their preparations that will see them facing Algeria, Senegal and the hosts, Morocco in the group stages of the competition.

Players and officials of the team had to deal with unfriendly weather conditions upon arrival in Casablanca as they weather conditions were pegged at a chilly 16 degrees Celsius.

NATIONAL SCHOOL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Lagos tops medal table

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EFENDING champion, Team Lagos is current leading the medals table with 14 gold medals amassed from gymnastics at the ongoing National School Sports Festival tagged Calabar 2011.

The team led by Omobola BabsAkinyeye was crowned the overall champion in the gymnastic event with the team winning 14 out of the 30 gold medals at stake in the event.

The gymnatic team coached by John Oyewuwo dominated proceedings ahead of Ondo which amassed 10 gold medals to come second in the event.

Ekiti won four gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals, while the fourth team on the medals’ haul, Team Cross River picked two gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

Also, Ebonyi became the first team to win gold medal in the match past beating Adamawa and Ondo to second and third places respectively.

For Babs-Akinyeye, it would be impossible for any team to stop the team from holding onto the overall title it won at the 2010 edition in Kano.

Apart from the 2008 edition of the competition hosted by Lagos, the state has always being among the top three and this performance of the team in Calabar has also confirmed its readiness to retain the title. At the Ogun 2009, the team came second

By Innocent Amomoh behind host, while it topped at Kano 2010.

Affirming the state’s intention to hold on to the diadem, Babs-Akinyeye said that the team really prepared very well for the championship.

Meanwhile, Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) has given reasons why some athletes were disqualified from taking part in the championship.

There have been protests by coaches, who were picking holes with the federation over its harsh stance on the screening, A member of the ad-hoc screening committee, Adeleke Olaiya told journalists that they decided to use psychology to ascertain the true age of the athletes.

“I think most of the people complaining are not really helping us at all because they know the guidelines and they don’t want to follow it. They know at NSSF are made up of experienced sports tutors across the country and we cannot bring the federation to disrepute by allowing use of overage and mercenaries in our competition. We are the one kicking against use of overage athletes in our national teams and we cannot allow that to happen when we are organising competitions for students. We want to produce athletes that will grow from being junior to senior,” he said.

Akpoborie to coordinate ‘Goal against Violence’ project

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ORMER Super Eagles’ striker Jonathan Akpoborie is to oversee the functions of the 1 GAME ‘Goal against Violence’ project as coordinator, the 1 GAME: Football without Violence campaign have announced.

The 43 year old former VFB Stuttgart forward is currently a FIFA licensed football agent and is involved in the U-15 football program at German Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenhiem.

Born on October, 1968, Akpoborie spent the majority of his playing career in Germany. He started his professional career at Julius Berger, before moving to USA. In 1990 he joined FC Saarbrücken of German Second Bundesliga.

Akpoborie also had spells with FC Carl Zeiss Jena, Stuttgart Kickers, for whom he scored 37 goals in one

season, and Waldhof Mannheim, before finally joining top-flight Hansa Rostock in 1995. He moved to VfB Stuttgart in 1997 and then VfL Wolfsburg in 1999 thereafter finishing his playing career at Saarbrücken in 2002.

At international level, he was named in the Nigeria squad for the 1992 and 2000 Africa Cup of Nations but was not used in either tournament. He was also part of the Super Eagles team to the US Gold Cup in 1995. He made 12 senior appearances for Nigeria and scored 4 goals.

The 1 GAME ‘Goal against Violence’ project which would be implemented basically in secondary schools and is aimed at tuning the minds of school pupils towards playing football and imbibing the culture of fair play, unity and non-violence while doing so.

The 29-Man Nigerian contingent that departed the Muritala Mohammed international airport, Lagos at 7.25am on Friday is comprised of 18 players and 11 officials.

Only one player from the list of standby players earlier released, traveled with the team, (Atu Irumekhai) while the other four were asked to remain in the country until deemed fit

to join the team in Morocco. Players expected to join the team in Morocco are Obiora Nwankwo, Babatunde Micheal, Stephen Worgu and Nosa Igiebor. The Dream Team V begins it Africa U-23 championship campaign next Saturday against host nation Morocco.

Kickoff time for the game is 6.30pm Nigeria time.

Obuh: Ameobi not lost to England F

LYING EAGLES coach John Obuh who passed off Sammy Ameobi in March has said the Newcastle youngster could still be capped by Nigeria.

Ameobi has recently won two caps for the England U21 side, but Obuh told MTNFootball.com he now does not see any reason why the languid forward could not be invited to the Super Eagles or the Nigeria Olympic team.

“He is doing well in the English Premier League and so there is no reason why he cannot be capped by the Super Eagles or even the Olympic team,” said Obuh.

“It all depends on how the federation and the other national team coaches approach this issue.

“But I strongly believe all is not lost and Ameobi could still play for Nigeria.”

Incidentally Sammy’s older brother Shola has already perfected his own nationality switch and he is now eligible to star for the Eagles after he represented England at agegroup levels.

Nineteen-year-old Ameobi trained with Nigeria’s U-20 team in March in Turkey but in the end he was not considered for the Africa Youth Championship which the Flying

Eagles went on to win South Africa.

“He was good when he trained with us, but he was not ripe enough and strong enough for the African football we would be up against at the AYC,” Obuh told MTNFootball.com “Also, we had very little time and patience for him to stay with the team as he insisted on heading back to England to fight for a place at his club.”

Ameobi, according to other Flying Eagles officials, was also not willing to fly down to Nigeria from another training camp in Dubai.

“He bluntly refused to fly down to Nigeria, saying he has never been there and so we had to let him be,” said one of the officials.

Last week, the younger Ameobi penned a three-and-a-half contract with Newcastle United to underline how much progress he has made since March when he trained with the Flying Eagles.

He has so far made appearances and scored a goal for ‘The Magpies’.

The new deal is expected to ward off big-name suitors like Chelsea from the striker or winger, who is a big Lionel Messi fan.

Rivers win Mabisel U-21 Hockey Championship

R •Nosa Igiebor

IVERS hockey teams Rivers Flickers and Rivers Queens Saturday evening emerged winners of the male and female events of the maiden Mabisel U-21 Hockey Championships, which came to a close at the ultra modern hockey pitch of the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, in Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State U-21 side defeated Union Bank of Lagos 1-0 in a hotly contested match that ended in sudden death when the home lads flicked in the lone goal in the extra time.

Interestingly the state female team, Rivers Queens had claimed the women trophy beating Plateau Queens 3-0 in the final match. They achieved a perfect record winning all matches and scoring 14 goals, and conceding none at the event.

Rivers Flickers also completed a near perfect record, winning all, but one of their matches which they drew against Plateau Flickers.

The final, watched by an impressive crowd led by the Managing Director of Mabisel Trading and Construction Limited, Joseph Francis Alagoa, the sponsoring company, NHF President, Mr Patrick Ukah and other members of his board and representatives the Rivers State Sport Council, lived up to billing as Union Bank also gave a good account of themselves.

In the third place match played

early in the morning, FCT Flickers defeated Ekiti Flickers by 2-0 to seal the bronze medal.

Before the final match, an exhibition match involving veteran players and ex-internationals also took place led by President of the federation, Mr Patrick Ukah and former skipper of the national team, Felix Ghegor, who is now a Director of Sport in Delta State. Others are Salisu Jabbo, Tournament Director of the competition, Donatus Ghego, Ismael Jaiyeola, chief coach of Yobe Desert Warriors, Yusuf Lawal and Arthur Jombo, Sola Cole, Fatai Atanda and hockey coaches and judges from all over the federation.

Tournament Director, Salisu Jabbo said he was impressed with the standard of play, especially in the male event. He said talents have been discovered while attributing the absence of some states to the preparation for the Club Championship next month.

Sponsor, Mabisel Trading and Construction Limited informed that it would continue to support hockey while NHF boss in his address said the focus of the board is squarely on scouting for younger players for the senior national team.

Mabisel Trading and Construction Ltd operates some of the world’s best offshore marine support vessels, serving the West African oil and gas exploration and production industries with head office in Port Harcourt.

Blackburn boss hails Aiyegbeni B

LACKBURN Rovers Manager, Steve Keane was full of praise for Yakubu Aiyegbeni and his teammates after their 3-3 draw with Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Saturday..

"We put in a real team performance and the lads were really backing each other up. Then when we went down to ten men the team effort to come back and get something from the game was tremendous. I felt as although we were a man shy we were strong in our defensive play and were great on the break.

"We are disappointed that we never got three points, we came here with confidence, we had been playing well.

"We put in a real team performance and the lads were really backing each other up," said Kean on Rovers Player after the match.

But then when you take the game in context, to lose David Dunn so early in the second half, and then to concede late on, to come back means it is a good point for us," he said.

The ‘Yak’ got things started with a clinically dispatched finish inside the first 120 seconds as to put Blackburn in front.

Wigan battled back and finished the half with a 2-1 lead.

Then came controversy. Yakubu won a corner on the hour mark.

Morten Gamst Pedersen took the corner.

He trouble was that the 30 year old Norwegian took the corner to himself before squaring for a surprised Junior Hoilett to prod home.

Wigan was to retake the lead again before Yakubu coolly converted a last minute penalty won by goal keeper, Paul Robinson.

•Aiyegbeni

UEFA licensed coach commends Keshi From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja

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UEFA Pro Licensed Coach Donald Malomo Paris has commended the Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi for insisting that players invitation to the national team would only be based on merit not minding where such players are based.

The Northern Ireland based coach who spoke in Abuja at the weekend said that country is blessed with abundant talents and if equal opportunities are given to prove at national level, the country would dominate African football for many years. He said that for the former International to excel effectively, he would need to be focused and give all players equal opportunity to prove themselves.

Malomo who has spent over twenty five years in Europe, said he was home to contribute his quota to the development of the game in country "football has been part of me right from childhood growing day in Lagos and Ibadan. I have spent 25 years in Europe.

I became involved in game from the grassroot to coaching Premier League club in Northern Ireland. I have followed football development in Nigeria for the past 17 years and feel it is time for me to come around and contribute my own quota". He said that he desires to handle a professional or premier league club in country in the new football season. He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with Stephen Keshi, saying that programmes would take some time to develop.

Quadrangular Games’ mascot, logo unveiled

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HE official Mascot and Logo of the 21st Quadrangular Games, involving four foremost clubs in Lagos – Apapa Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Ikoyi Club 1938 and Lagos Country Club – has been unveiled. This year’s edition is being hosted by the Lagos Country Club.

At the formal presentation of the official Mascot and Logo on Thursday, the Chairman Planning Committee of the games, Pharm. Akin Soyoye, said the event would now start on November 26 with the Children’s games’ while the official opening ceremony will hold the next day. The tournament will be concluded on December 3.

The children, who are taking part in

the championship for the first time in its history, would compete in all the games including football and basketball and would be awarded certificates of participation.

According to Soyoye, the Mascot’s head, which is designed like a house, depicts the host club as a home big enough to accommodate all participants at the games, while the dominant white colour represents fairness, the hallmark of the championship. Soyoye assured that 2011 edition would be uniquely different as it would involve games officials who have handled international competitions. This he said “would bring standard to the games.”

He assured that all is set for the

commencement of the championship and expressed gratitude to corporate organisations that have identified with the games as sponsors. He urged others to join the train because of its marketing opportunities.

The Quadrangular Games started about two decades ago and has subsequently created an avenue for social and business networking, friendship and sportsmanship among the participating clubs. It is held annually on rotational basis among the four clubs. The championship involves several games, including Tennis, Swimming, Badminton, Snooker, Table Tennis, Chess, Taekwondo, scrabble, squash, Table Tennis and Dart.

•Pharm. Akin Soyoye, Chairman Planning Committee of the games (2nd right); Chief Manny Igbenoba, Past President, Lagos Country Club (2nd left); Mr Kunle Oyekanmi, Assistant Secretary, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (left) and Mr Anthony Owolabi, Chairman Table Tennis Section, Ikoyi Club 1938 (right) at the unveiling of the Mascot for the 21st Quadrangular Games at Lagos Country Club........Thursday

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

• Belgore

• Babatope

• Obi

• Kingibe

• Gana

• Anya

Constitution review: The wise men get the baton It is a mixed bag of names. There are the experienced and the not so experienced. Many are old, others are still relatively young. From the academics, to the legal profession, activist, unionist, representatives of the women folk and the private sector. They are united in the task of reviewing the 1999 Constitution. It is not the first time. Last year, the National Assembly altered sections of the law largely perceived to stand in the way of conducting credible elections. The more controversial parts of the grundnorm were save for another day. That day has came. Already, both Houses of the National Assembly have set the ball rolling. President Goodluck Jonathan, early in life of his administration gave a hint on the working of his mind. For example, he want a single term of seven years governors and president. No is the term of harmonization. The President has set up a 21-member committee to rummage through documents submitted by various previous constitutional conference. EMMANUEL OLADESU, DADA ALADELOKUN and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE review their profile.

Justice Alfa Belgore

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USTICE Alfa Belgore was appointed as Chief Justice of Nigeria in 2006. He held sway when the obnoxious tenure elongation was proposed by under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was believed that the National Assembly might buckle, leaving the judiciary as the last hope as the citizens were already getting hurt by the blistering heat. The position of the Chief Justice of Nigeria was therefore to prove decisive.

There were cases of election petitions which would have to be fought to the apex court. Again, the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria was expected to shape the outcome of any verdict, especially in the presidential election petitions. At every point, Justice Belgore lived up to expectation.

Ebenezer Babatope Ebenezer Babatope is a writer, historian as well as a lawyer/politician. He is a graduate of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s political philosophy. His analysis of events is clear, accurate and his presentation mature, educative and thought-provoking.

Babatope who had worked at the University of Lagos as Students’ Affairs Officer was sacked because of his ideological principle by General Olusegun Obasanjo regime. It was after his sack that Awolowo invited him to be the Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Babatope was a delight to watch as a party spokesman and was indeed a powerful speaker and historical analyst.

He is regarded as extremely simple and harbours no any malice. This as is said, is due to his upbringing as a son of a Methodist clergyman.

Ledum Mitee Barrister Ledum Mitee was the vice president of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), led by the late Ken Saro Wiwa who was executed as a result of the deaths of four prominent Ogoni elite on May 21, 1994.

It was gathered that Mitee did not include in some of his speeches, the issue of military relocation to Ogoniland. And particularly because he has altered MOSOP consti-

tution, his leadership has continued to seek the path of dialogue with the relevant authorities.

His style of leadership was said to have betrayed the cause of the Ogoni struggle, this has caused enormous frictions within the group.

Udo Udoma Senator Udoma was a two-term member of the Nigerian Senate from 1999-2007 where he served variously as Chief Whip, Chairman of the Committee on National Planning, Revenue Mobilisation and Poverty Alleviation, and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He served as the first Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (1991-1992) and he is currently the part time Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

He has served the nation in other roles such as Special Adviser to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in 1993 and Chairman of the Presidential Committee Waivers, Incentives and Concessions in 2007.

Udoma specialises in advising on Nigerian investment laws and the investment environment generally, particularly in the petroleum, energy and natural resources sectors; advising Nigerian and international companies on company law, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and the raising of financing in the capital and money markets, as well as on major construction and engineering contracts.

Prof. Jerry Gana Niger State-born Gana, 66, is a renowned scholar, politician and former Minister for Information under the Ernest Shonekan-led short-lived administration. He had run unsuccessfully for president in 1992 on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform after having been elected Senator in 1983 and serving briefly until the military coup that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power. He was appointed chairman of Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) under General Ibrahim Babangida’s government. He was once a minister of Information and National Orientation (NOA).

In the Fourth Republic , Gana was the founding national secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998. In June 2001, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Gana Minister of Co-operation and Integration in Africa and in January 2001, Obasanjo dissolved his cabinet. In the new cabinet announced in February 2001, Gana was Minister of Information and was also secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees. He resigned in July 2006 as special advisor to President Obasanjo and in August same year, he announced his bid for the PDP candidature for the 2007 presidential elections.

Prof. Oladapo Afolabi Professor Oladapo Afolabi is a former academic who was sworn in as Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan on November 18, 2010 .

He succeeded Steve Oronsaye who retired upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.

Afolabi, son of Princess Asimau Gbemisola Aweni Adeyemi and grandson of the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Lawani Adeyemi, Oyeloja II, played a vitalrole in organising the first Ecological Summit in 1988, leading to the creation of the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Afolabi joined the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) in June 1991 and later, Federal Ministry of Environment in 1995. In October 2006, he was appointed a permanent secretary of the Federal Civil Service by President Olusegun Obasanjo and in June 2007, he became permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour. In November 2007, he was moved to the newly created Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. In August 2009, he became permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education.

Afolabi was sworn in as Head of Service on 18 November 2010 . He succeeded Steve Oronsaye, who retired on 16 November 2010 after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.

Peter Esele Esele, two-time President-General of Nigeria ’s Trade Union Congress (TUC), was a President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Esele had served as Deputy Vice-President of PENGASSAN prior to 2005 when the tragic airplane crash of December 10, 2005 claimed the life of PENGASSAN President Uche Okoro. He took over those duties of the association and later got re-elected to steer the ship of the body in 2006.

Comfort Obi Comfort Obi is the publisher of the popular Source Magazine and a member of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

She had worked for the Imo State-owned Statesman newspaper and as a defence correspondent for Chris Anyanwu’s defunct TSM Magazine. Obi was the first winner of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) for Reporter of the Year in 1991.

Babagana Kingibe Kingibe was the Secretary to the Federal Government in the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua administration. As a politician, he was the National Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) before emerging as the running mate to the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.

A former Ambassador and a one-time Minister of Foreign Affairs under the late General Sani Abacha’s administration, he was African Union Special Representative in the Sudan, a position he held to the admiration of the continental body.

Though he had aligned and re-aligned, depending on the side of the divide he found himself, it has been said that his loyalty to those he worked with has not received positive response too often.

Prof Anya O Anya A chartered biologist, Fellow and past Vice President of the Nigerian Academy of Science; Fellow of the Institute of Biology of the United Kingdom, he is also Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society and former president, Union of African Biologists.

Born January 3, 1937 at Abiriba, Imo State, he was educated at Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, the University College, Ibadan and the University of Cambridge (St. John’s College) England, where he obtained • Continued on page 26

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER -21, 2011

POLITICS Ace journalist Zakari Mohammed became the House of Representatives Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs when the lower chamber was grappling with negative public perception. In this interview with VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI, he reveals how the 7th House of Reps has strategised to improve its image to evolve a people-oriented legislature.

‘Southwest integration on course’

‘Why current House of Reps stands out’ A

H

ow would you tackle the nega tive impression Nigerians have about the House of Reps going by some cases that tainted the previous House?

Since we came in, we have not left anyone in doubt as to our sincerity of purpose. We have told you we have a guiding principle in our legislative agenda and part of it is that we are going to be accountable to the people; we are going to be transparent in our dealing and at the same time, we are going to carry all along, that is what we call the people’s parliament.

The emergence of our leadership was people-based and of course, we know that Nigerians have been with us in prayers up to this level and as true representatives of the people, people have access to us than any other. Our phone numbers are everywhere, there are no security personnel driving them away.

That means in the 7th Assembly, we have started to carry you along, to let you know our activities so that you will know why we are taking certain actions and what we seek to achieve by that and that is exactly how it will continue. The leadership of Aminu Tambuwal and Ihedioha has demonstrated in concrete terms that this arm of government has to thrive and it’s about time for us to have a change of direction. If you look at all the motions that come to the floor of the house, they are people-based.

How do you mean?

If you look at the issue of the fuel subsidy, we have taken a position on it; even unemployment, even journalists that are being unduly harassed.

We have taken up issues of people whose rights have been denied. Look at what happened on the Customs’ Single Window issue. These are some ways by which we can carry on, Nigerians shouldn’t be spending double, we are on that and the virement issue that was brought in recently, we took a position on that and said virement is not desirable at this point in time and the President should concentrate on 2012 budget. When kerosene was scarce, it was this House that invited the Minister of Petroleum Resources and of course, she came up.

Instances with ASUU coming headlong with government, we have intervened. Since June that we came in, these are issues that I think are closest to the heart of the people. We have demonstrated at the House that we are living up to our oath.

The 6th Assembly was generally seen as a failure, what step is the 7th House of Reps taking to avoid going the same way?

Some people keep referring to the 6th Assembly as a failure, I think within the limit of what they saw and how they were, they did their own best and government is continuum.

What we just need is cooperation.

What happened in the 6th Assembly happened elsewhere too. I just want to call on the Nigerian press to let us carry on. Democracy is what we all fought for and which we must guard jealously. The National Assembly is an institution that is always the first point when any military coup comes in, first thing they do is suspend the constitution and the Parliament, while other arms of government will still continue. In a way, our power will now be fused with the executive and everything will be done with military fiat, but how far can that go? It is unfashionable, very unfashionable to announce fellow Nigerians and our prayers is that we won’t go back to those dark days again for us to become a pariah in the comity of nations. As stakeholders in the Nigeria Project, we expect the media to give us a helping hand in the National As-

• Mohammed

sembly. This is because what we are going to do is what we have said in our legislative agenda which we are following to letter. Very shortly, we will start our town hall meetings that will commence with the six geo-political zones. The town hall meetings are meant to get us closer to our electorate and it is part of our interface with the public, so that we can always meet; take stock of how far we have gone, take stock of what we should do to be on the path of righteousness.

You said something about 64% cut, how does that affect each member?

It does affect us and that’s why at some point, people are mistaken the loose stand that the house is broke as it affects the whole member in carrying out their duties. It affects us but every member believes there is a challenge and that is to turn Nigeria around. We have promised our constituents before being elected that we are going to change gear. We are going to refocus Nigeria and that is the process we doing and for every point in life where there is turning point, there is bound to be sacrifices. We believe that 60 per cent cut in our running cost is part of the sacrifices that the 7th assembly will give and as young Nigerians, we believe that is part of our own gesture to move Nigeria forward. We cannot pretend to be here being rich whereas out there, there is hunger, so the mood of the nation is what is driving all the decisions we are taking and we told you that this is the people’s parliament.

By insisting on doing the right thing, don’t you think that you are getting set for friction with the executive? How do you intend to get Nigerians to appreciate your point of view?

One of these is what we are doing, let Nigerians know our intentions and we said we are not at war with any arm of government, rather, we will constructively engage other arms of government for the benefit of the Nigerian people. We will disagree with them if the plight of Nigerians is clashing with certain decisions or policies they are bringing up. For God’s sake, they want Nigeria to move for-

‘We cannot pretend to be here being rich whereas out there, there is hunger; so, the mood of the nation is what is driving all the decisions we are taking ... this is the people’s parliament’

ward and we are heading towards the same direction. So we cannot go on collision course with anybody because we came here to exercise our mandate and that we are going to do within the confines of the law and of course the executive can’t do legislative job and vice versa, our jobs are clearly demarcated.

This crop of legislators have the Nigerian project at heart and you could see it in the way they contribute on the floor of the House.

What is your expectation of 2012 budget?

We have made it clear to them that emphasis should be placed on capital budget rather than the recurrent as it was done in the past. The capital budget of any nation is supposed to move forward and recurrent can come in after because recurrent is the means of running capital. That is what we expect and we have sent our warning signals to the executive arm. They should bring up the budget that would address decay in infrastructure, how do we turn them around, how do we fix our roads, how do we take care of our schools, security and so on because if you do not have security, you won’t have investments, people would not come and put money where there is crises today and crises tomorrow. Those are the issues we expect the President to address in the budget. We have not seen the budget yet, but we expect that we are on the same page, we are thinking project Nigeria, we believe they are thinking the way we are thinking, so there wont be cause for alarm.

There have been questions concerning the House of the Speaker, that the house he bought for N45 million, he wants to rent it to for N40m yearly, does the Speaker have a house or does he live in a hotel?

The Speaker has a house; he is not a Speaker of no fixed address. All the members of the House know where the Speaker stays and of course I don’t want the matter to blow more than this. He does not stay in Hilton or any hotel, but lives with his family in his house.

Is there any difference in experience from where you came, is it better or worse?

I was Commissioner for Youth and Development and later transferred to ministry of power and energy in Kwara.

Obviously, there are issues that are very different, legislation looks a bit slow because you had to be careful with your debate and that its democratic, people have to take on a lot of argument for and against before you arrive at conclusions, so you will feel that is a waste of time. It is a different sphere entirely because Nigeria is you own constituency compared to what you have in the state constituency, but all the same, they are geared towards service to humanity, the only difference is that law making could be slow.

So far what do you think have been your challenges?

When I came in I said to myself where do I start, but I had my consolation that there in I the speaker that believed in me in first place. Secondly, as journalist who has been there for 13 years or there about, I understand the language of my constituency which is Nigerian press.

Thirdly, FRS bill is there and no information is secret, so I have to be the manager of men.

So far the job has been challenging because you never can tell what will come out in the papers next morning, so the only thing you do is to be available for the sight of the house always and that is why we are here and to run a very open door policy. We are going to be accessible and there will be free flow of information at the same time and I am very sure that by the end of the assignment, God will be by my side and I will look back and say we have made a difference.

MEMBER of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu 1 Constituency, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade has described the integration of the South West part of the country for accelerated prosperity as a much-needed development.

Explaining it, he said: “The integration of the South West is an agenda that if we cannot get things corrected at the federal level for now, with what we have, we will demonstrate our vision and conviction, that we love our people.

Thus, what they make impossible at the federal level will be made possible in the South West.

What is happening to Lagos state is an agenda of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and it is the same agenda that is now being operated in other ACN-controlled states. And you will see that people are appreciating it even among our opponents the PDP. So, integration is on the front burner; it is something we are discussing.”

Asked if as a Yoruba man, he was satisfied with the current political arrangement at the federal level, especially as it affects his race, the lawmaker responded: “What has been happening in Nigeria since independence as per federal character in the composition of every government at all levels which is not totally obeyed. But we believe that a time will come when all this things will normalize. I am not pleased with it but I know that gradually truth will find its way and justice will entrench itself and fair play will come to be. And I am very sure when the ACN controls the federal level, most of these anomalies will be rectified because it is a party that be-

• Agunbiade

By Oziegbe Okoeki

lieves in justice, fair play and good conscience.”

Commenting on the crisis of confidence in the judiciary vis-à-vis the nation’s political rejuvenation, he said: “Every system has its own problem and you can’t have a perfect system for too long. It is very unfortunate that at the time we were praising the judiciary that it is actually coming up stronger, something happened. Of course, judiciary operates within a larger system and it is controlled by the people. To that extent you will expect that when something is becoming so beautiful it can only be sustained by the people and that is why ACN is saying ‘let us sustain this thing which is the last hope of the common man. As it is doing very well, let us not drag the name in the mud.’

“That is the only reason ACN was condemning what happened to Justice Ayo Salami at the Appeal Court.

I believe that the present crisis in the judiciary is just for a while; things will normalize. And I hope that Justice Musdapher will actually correct all that is wrong and chisel his name on the granite of history as somebody that redeemed the image of the judiciary which is on the verge of being seriously tarnished.”

The wise men get the baton • Continued from page 25

Ph.D working at the World famous Mol leno Institute of Biology and Parasitology.

He also published a number of highly rated papers on the hatching, development and physiology of nematode eggs.

Some of these papers are still the major sources of information in the area of nematode physiology.

Chukwuemeka Ezeife A politician and former governor of Anambra State, Ezeife

• Afolabi

holds Ph.D in Political Science from a reputable university in the United State. He was a Special Adviser on political matters under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

He has consistently preached a better Nigeria, ensuring that the Ibos are not marginalised.

Alhaja Salimot Badru She was the deputy governor to the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Mrs. Badru who hails from the Yewa axis of the state maintained a harmonious working relations with her boss.

• Esele

ADVOCACY

PROJECT

School marks 132nd anniversary

Residents excited over dredging Osun

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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APPEAL Kidney patient seeks help Lagos

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Page 27

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

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HE old may have something to learn from the young, as members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are taking up worthy projects and lifting various communities where they are serving. One of the Corps members, Dr. Adewumi Ayobanji, serving with Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC) in Ipele town, Ondo State, has just conducted a free medical test for members of the community.

Ipele is in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The exercise thrilled members of the community who had been looking forward for such interventions.

In Edo State, a Corps member changed the profile of prison inmates by building recreational facilities within the high walls of the prison. The effort excited the prisoners who quickly took to the court and started keeping fit. It also earned the Corps member praise from many people, including dignitaries.

In Kano, a female Corps member took skills to women in purdah. Her effort was particularly striking because it came when parts of the North were attacked by youths following the declaration of the results of the Presidential election in April.

Many people were killed, houses torched.

In Ipele, Ayobanji has delivered healthcare service to residents, offering them an opportunity to be examined free of charge. They were checked for ailments that may have been undermining their health. He also offered them free advice, urging them to take their health seriously and always report to their doctors for examination.

“Take your health matters seriously,” he told them. “Most of the diseases affecting the people are due to negligence because people do not like to go for regular medical checkups.”

•From left: Mr. Taiwo Babalola, Chairman, State Agriculture Input Supply Agency; Hon. Olatunji Dairo; Dr. Adewumi Ayobanji, and Oba Abel Olaleye at the seminar

Corps member provides free medical service 200 tested in Ondo Benefactor urges regular check-ups

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Across the country, such initiatives are in short supply, but the young may be leading the way

now.

The Ipele free medical test lasted one day, and no fewer than 200 residents turned for it. It was sponsored by a member of the

state House of Assembly, representing Owo constituency II, Hon. Olatunji Dairo, who is also the Chief Whip of the House.

Dr. Ayobanji said the pro-

gramme was part of his Community Development Project.

The lawmaker told Newsextra that the programme will go a long way in boosting the health of his constituency members, adding that it will make them to be more productive.

Dairo also advised people in the community to visit the health centre regularly, stressing that efforts will be made to ensure that the centre runs a 24hour service.

He disclosed that he has been providing accommodation for •Continued on Page 28

Council chief seeks help for triplets’ mother

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•Hon. Aleshinloye

HE Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State, Mr Abass Aleshinloye has solicited help from well-meaning members of the public for a woman, Mrs Esther Emmanuel, who has been delivered of a set of triplets in a hospital in the council.

The Emmanuels have a total bill of N150,000 to pay to the hospital, but are unable to do so.

Aleshinloye has, however, led the charity effort with a donation of N50,000.

He also feted several motherless babies in Ibadan during the Sallah celebrations. Items given to the children included a ram, foodstuff and

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

cash.

Thirty-five-year-old Mrs Emmanuel, who hails from Benue State, was unable to pay the bill due to financial constraints and cried out for help. Her case was compounded by the joblessness of her husband.

The triplets-two girls and a boywere delivered at a private hospital in Ibadan. The hospital charged her N150,000 after a successful birth by Caesarean Section.

Aleshinloye said he was at the hospital to pay a visit to the triplets whom he learnt were born through

surgery. He described it as an act of God, saying there was no need for the family to have any regrets.

The council boss said he was told that their hospital bill was N150, 000, adding that the family could not pay because the husband was jobless. He expressed happiness that the triplets were delivered within the domain of Oluyole Local Government. The council chief also donated clothes and other items useful for the new babies.

The politician appealed to the public and well-meaning Nigerians to assist the family with the rest of the bill, baby materials and the upkeep of the babies.

He said: “I am here to see the mother of the triplets because we heard that she was operated upon and in need of assistance. The babies are God’s making and there won’t be any regrets from the delivery of these children. We also learnt they are stranded here after they had been given a bill of N150,000 and can’t pay because the father of the triplets is more or less a jobless person. But at the same time, we thank God for these gifts because it is happening in my local government area. I pledge to donate the sum of N50,000 to the tri•Continued on Page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

28

Church launches varsity

By Osas Robert

I

N its determination to contribute to the growth and development of the

society, the Church of the Lord Aladura Worldwide has launched its proposed university that will help in enhancing the country’s educational sector. The launch took place in Lagos.

The proposed institution, Divine Grace University (D.G.U.) will take off during the 2012/2013 session with two campuses located at Ogere and Ishan-Ekiti in Ogun and Ekiti states.

The university authorities said they have designed the institution’s programmes to run in phases such that at the end of 15 years, all the programmes would have been functional.

According to the chairman of DGU commission, Rev. Ogunfemi Kalesanwo, the preparation for the establishment of the university started through divine revelation.

“The journey for the establishment of DGU started through a divine revelation to the primate at the 2004 Tabieorar festival with instruction that the church should establish a university.

“The revelation was confirmed with the persistent clarion call by the government for private organisations and individuals to support government in university education by establishing more universities. This, they said, was because less than 10 per cent of the qualified candidates were offered admission into government universities,” Kalesanwo said.

•Continued on Page 37

•Dr. Adewumi Ayobanji attending to Oba Abel Olaleye during the medical test

Corps member provides free medical service •Continued from Page 27

Corps members posted to the community in the last four years.

Ayobanji hailed the lawmaker for his support as well as the entire Ipele community particularly its traditional ruler,

Oba Abel Olaleye.

He advised Ipele residents and the entire citizenry o the state to pay attention to their health, noting that people often neglect their health. He said most of the diseases affecting the people result from

T

Shed no blood, cleric says

A

N Islamic cleric and founder Al-Adabiyy Institute of Arabic Studies Sheik Jubril Solahudeen Ya’Kub, has sued for peace among Nigerians. He said the multi-ethnic and multi religious nature of the country makes it impossible for any tribe or group to make it a mono-religious state. He, therefore, warned trouble makers to desist or otherwise risk the wrath of Allah The cleric was speaking against the backdrop of sporadic killings and bombings by members of the Islamic Sect Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is a Nigerian Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Shariah law throughout the country.

It became known internationally following sectarian violence in Nigeria in 2009. As of 2011, it is thought to be responsible for increasingly violent and sophisticated attacks in Nigeria particularly the northern part to date. The official name of the group is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati walJihad, which in Arabic means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.”

“It’s a big sin to shed blood. No Islamic law mandates us to kill our

By Adegunle Olugbamila

kind. Islam is a peaceful religion Islam enjoins us to live in peace with one another;and I believe those Boko Haram members must have come against same quote in the Quran. God says if you kill a fellow Muslim, you will go to hell.

“The Boko Haram people seem to be laying emphasis to the Jihad war which Holy Prophet Muhammad fought; But the so-called Jihad war was not that kind of war prophet Muhammad fought. He was only fighting infidels and was even compassionate while he fought. There were many of his enemies who came close to killing him, but he overcame them, and instead of taking a revenge by killing them, he freed them and even preached Islam to them converting many to Islam in the process.”

Sheik Jubril called for peace, saying Muslim should not fight Christian and vice versa and one should not insult each other prophet.

He urged fellow Muslims to adhere to the tenets of Islam including almsgiving and commitment to Allah.

The cleric also called on those in

•Alhaji Solahudeen Ya'kub authority to remember their pledge to improve the living standard of the poor as Allah enjoins all to fulfill any promise made. He said by circumstances, some people run into difficulties which sometimes make it difficult for them to fulfill their pledges.

He nonetheless added that through prayers and belief in God, he always makes provision on how such vows will be fulfilled.

Council chief seeks help for triplets’ mother •Continued from Page 27 plets family.

“I appeal to the general public and Nigerians at large to assist this family especially the babies with the balance of the hospital bill and help in the babies upkeep”.

The father of the triplet, Mr Augustine Emmanuel ,said he was filled with joy and total gratitude to Prince Aleshinloye for his timely

intervention and donation towards his babies.

He recalled that he was dejected and confused when the babies were delivered and was told to pay the sum of N150,000. He added that he was jobless and could not afford the bill thereby seeking for the chairman’s assistance.

He said: “ When I was told that my wife delivered triplets, I was confused because I didn’t know how I will be able to cater for their needs especially

the hospital bill of N150,000 but when I went to seek for the assistance of the Chairman, he promised to help. I want to appreciate the chairman for his timely intervention and I pray that may the good Lord continue to bless him and his family.

“I appeal to all well meaning Nigerians to come to my assistance and get a job for me and more also help in donating baby materials, pay the remaining hospital bill of N100,000 and cater for the upkeep of the triplets.”

such negligence.

In his remarks, Oba Olaleye commended Dr. Ayobanji for his initiative and also called on his subjects to patronise the hospital, rather than visiting the traditional doctors for their medical problems.

HE Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN) has said that over 330,000 women in rural communities in 32 states are presently benefitting from its rotational loans system in the country.

Disclosing this to Newsextra in Akure, the state capital, the National Coordinator of COWAN, Chief Bisi Ogunleye described the beneficiaries as “the poorest of the poor”.

Ogunleye said she would attend a global micro-credit summit on the need to explore the latest breakthroughs and innovations from the field.

She said 90 per cent of most developing countries populations are poor either monetarily, politically or socially.

She added that the summit would aim at ensuring that over 100million of the world poorest families move from below US$1 a day adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity [PPP] by the end of 2015.

The National Coordinator, who was the founder of COWAN, said she started the programme in 1982 with N450 which according to her was her monthly salary.

“Immediately I received my salary in 1982, I met with those women whom I knew it was very difficult for them to feed themselves and their families in Ondo

330,000 women benefit from rotational loans From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

State and I grouped them into 10 per each group. I distributed my salary for them; after a month they returned it to me and I distributed to another group in another community and that was how we developed”.

Ogunleye noted that they witnessed a support from Ford International Foundation (FIF) in 1986 which boosted the programme, stressing that the loan scheme was also supported by the Ondo State government in 1984.

She said the Spain summit would also be looking at a way of ensuring that 175 million of the world’s poorest families especially women are receiving credit for self-employment and other financial services by the end of 2015.

Ogunleye advised government to stop seeing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as rivals, but should support their programmes.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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Oyo assembly plans tenancy law

Osun residents excited over dredging

G •Governor Aregbesola

OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has earned commendations over the foresight of his administration to embark on massive dredging and channelisation of all rivers and streams in the state which have helped to avert annual flood disasters previously experienced in the state.

The governor, during an inspection of the channelisation projects in the state, said the government had to be proactive given the indications that the climate change phenomenon would cause heavy downpours

‘Make use of treated nets’

O

YO State residents have been urged to ensure clean environment and make use of insecticide treated mosquito nets provided by the government with a view to achieving Roll Back Malaria (RBM) targeted year of 2015.

Dr. Iyiola Yemisi, Director, Primary Health Care and Disease Control of the state Ministry of Health gave this charge while delivering his goodwill message at the 2011 World Malaria Day, tagged: Achieving Progress and Impact : Play your part, held at Award Hall, Moniya in Akinyele Local Government area of the state.

He stressed that the battle against malaria is an arduous one where the entire populace must be involved to make Oyo State in particular and Nigeria as a whole malaria-free.

Dr. Iyiola whose message was delivered by a senior officer in the ministry, Mrs. Adeleke Elizabeth, pointed out that the state government has been in the vanguard of promoting health and preventing death related to malaria.This is done by ensuring that health facilities have Astemisinin Based Combined Therapy (ACT) and Sulfadiazine Pyrimethamine (SP) so as to meet RBM goal by 2015.

In his goodwill message, the state roll back malaria manager, Dr Taiwo Olabode Ladipo,

L

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Oyo

By Jeremiah Oke

explained that millions of death attributed to malaria were still recorded globally.

According to him, the disease constitutes a huge epidemiological burden in Africa and continues to cripple economic development in the region. In Nigeria, the disease is responsible for 60 percent out patient visits to health facilities, 30 percent childhood death, 25 percent of death in children under one year an d 11 percent maternal death.

PHC and Disease Control Director explained that different measures have been put in place by combined teams of the National Malaria Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, State Ministries’ of Health as well as local governments and stakeholders on their renewed efforts to tackle and prevent malaria in the country.

Earlier in her welcome address, Akinyele Local Government Director of Primary Health Care (PHC), Dr. Zainab Hamzat, also implored the nursing mothers to take good care of their children in order to prevent them from malaria and other killer diseases.

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Osun which were capable of causing disasters.

At Iwo Local Government Area of the state, Aregbesola was applauded by residents for the channelisation of Aiba and Kuti rivers where some residents had earlier relocated because of threats of flood.

The governor received an open commendation at one of the sites when a retired school principal, Mr. Popo Akinwumi, whose house is close to one of the streams, came out to express his gratitude for the dredging.

In what looks like a mild drama, the retired principal told the governor that he is filled with joy as he was about sourcing for funds to construct higher retention walls to secure the building before the governor came to his rescue.

The governor in turn, having listened to him, asked the retired principal if he would encourage the payment of tax to the state in order to carry out more development programmes.

Replying, Akinwumi said though he had faithfully paid tax while serving as a teacher, he would further enlighten people around him to pay taxes.

Also, the Association of Flood and Erosion Management in a letter of appreciation sent to the governor signed

by Alhaji M.M Orabiyi and Elder I.B Ogunleye, the chairman and secretary respectively, thanked the governor for the dredging of rivers and streams in Ife Central Local Government.

•From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Lagos Deputy Governor, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Director, Development Finance of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Paul Eluhaiwe, during a presentation on Financing for Agricultural Development by the CBN at the Deputy Governor’s Office, Alausa,Ikeja

Ondo to establish ethanol plants, sugarcane plantations

O

NDO State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ademola Olorunfemi, has said that the current administration in the state had perfected arrangements to establish three ethanol plants in the state.

Olorunfemi, who stated this in an interview with journalists in his office, added that the state had also proposed the establishment of sugarcane plantations in each of the state’s three senatorial districts.

The commissioner explained that the three ethanol plants would process the sugarcane to

Ejigbo/Ajao-Estate link road to cost N2.4b

AGOS State government has approved the construction of the Ejigbo/AjaoEstate Link Road, Isolo, nine years after the Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast, in which hundreds of people were drowned inside the carnal.

The road, which stretches from NNPC depot through Akinsanya Street to Adelekan Street, is 2.8 kilometer long and the dual carriage bridge expected to be constructed on the carnal is 50 meters long.

Already, construction work has started by the contractor, ECCT, a Chinese company, on the road. Residents have shown gratitude to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) following the approval of the contract by the State Executive Council. Initially, an engineering company, Advanced Engineering Consultants, has turned in the road design, which csot N72 million. The design shows that the road will have street lights, broad median

Lagos

By Emmanuel Oladesu

and expanded walk-ways. Two bridges were proposed and contractors are expected to act with speed.

Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairman, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, said: “The expectation is that this project will be commissioned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the bomb blast on January 27, 2002.

He said the new road would decongest the busy Isolo-Ejigbo Road, thanking Governor Fashola for fighting the infrastructure battle in the area.

Ondo raw materials for industrial and pharmaceutical usage.

He said the projects were aimed at maximising the potential of the vast agricultural resources of the state in employment generation and industrialisation.

He said government would acquire suitable lands on which sugarcane farmers would be clustered for maximum usage of inputs assistance from the state.

He also said that the establishment of the three plantations, would not only boost the economy of the state, but would also generate employment.

He said: “Government is proposing the establishment of these plants with an eye on participating in the emerging global fuel economy that is gradually moving away from conventional use of petroleum products as the dominant energy source.

“With ethanol already a constituent of automobile fuels, a new frontier of economic growth would soon be opened for the state through the initiative.”

He said the development would facilitate the emergence of industries and have a generally positive effect on the local economy.

Briefly

NIM boss performs last task Chairman,Ikeja Local Government Area, Hon Wale Odunlami with his wife, Sade,(right ) after the swearing-in ceremony at the Blue Roof, Ikeja

Ondo council tackles insecurity

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UTHORITIES of Ese-Odo Local Government Council in the riverine area of Ondo State is addressing the security challenges of the area.

The council has embarked on the clearing of its water ways as one of the measures.

The Chairman, Mr. Akin Sowore, told reporters at Igbekebo, headquarters of the council that various security challenges in the coastal area compelled the council to embark on the project .

He said the development would also ease transportation problems in the area.

Sowore disclosed that the local government would soon engage the services of various youth groups to complement the effort of the Navy and other security agencies at combating crime in the coastal area.

He said it was the constitutional responsibility of the council to put in place adequate security measures that would guarantee the security of lives and •Hon Kemi Surakat,Chairman, Ibeju Lekki Local Government(left) presenting certificate of property of the people.

The council chief specifically lauded the office to Hon Tajudeen Idogun, with Mrs Folake Roberts,the Legal Officer at the council Naval officers of Igbokoda Forward secretariat

Ondo From Damisi Ojo,Akure

Operation Base (FOB) for their patriotism and selfless services to make the coastal area of the state crime free.

He hinted that the council would ensure that all strategic places in the waterways within its jurisdiction are properly manned by the joint security outfit.

He charged traditional rulers, opinion and community leaders in the area to cooporate with the council in its bid to transform the area and make the council a crime-free zone.

He disclosed further that his administration would soon embark on sinking of boreholes in some communities to address shortage of potable water .

He praised the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for showing interest in the welfare and development of the people in the area.

He appealed to the people to report strange faces or people of questionable character noticed in their area to security operatives as such would assist the council in tackling crime.

THE president and chairman in council of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr Sally Nkem Adukwu-Bolujoko, performed her last task as the president of the institute as she churned out and licensed chartered management practitioners at the Management House, last week in Lagos.

Dr Adukwu-Bolujoko was also among the distinguished Nigerians that received the national award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) last week.

The event has been part of the institutes’ control and assurance mechanism for the activities of individuals and corporate managers specialising in management consultancy, learning and development, research, management education and executive selection.

Charging the newly inductees, she reminded them of their expectation to impart knowledge and innovate new management practices. “The Nigerian business environment is laden with corruption and unethical business practices. You are now ambassadors and must render selfless services, live above self and continue to contribute to strategic transformation of the Nigerian economy.

“You must address the low capacity utilisation of our industries through quality human capital development and applied research. It is no longer a case of what the government can’t do but what we can’t do,” she encouraged. She also mentioned that NIM is, as part of its objectives to better the country, undertake a national orientation for attitudinal change.

HE Oyo State House of Assembly would soon roll out tenancy laws that would guide tenancy-landlord relationship and transactions in the state.

The plan, which is sequel to that of Lagos State, was disclosed by a member of the Assembly, Hon, Olusegun Olaleye, at the commencement of his constituency projects in Ibadan last week. The projects were kicked off with a football competition tagged “Lam Adesina Constituency Cup.” Lagos had led other states by coming up with the law two months ago. It stipulates collection of a maximum of one year rent for properties as well as payment of only six months renewal rent for tenants. The development has been hailed by tenants across the country.

Olaleye, who represents Ibadan North 11 Constituency, said the Seventh Assembly would distinguish itself by passing laws that will improve the standards of living of people in Oyo State.

Oyo From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

The lawmaker also declared that the Assembly was not a lame duck, stressing that the lawmakers can only move against the Executive when it violates the constitution.

According to him, the House has been acting as a check on the activities of the Executive and keeping it on its toes for the progress and development of the state.

Olaleye, who is a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, explained that the insinuation that the Assembly has not been active arose from the perception of the law-making body as a House of confusion because of its multi-party nature.

He said: “Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who heads the executive arm in Oyo State, will only have problem with the House if he violates the provisions of the constitution. But at the moment,

•Governor Ajimobi the governor has not violated the ground norm and there is no reason for ‘war.’ So, there is a harmonious relationship between the House and the executive.”

Ajeromi-Ifelodun hosts students’ cooking competition

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non-governmental organization, Women for Positive Change has organised its 2nd Annual Schools Cooking and Reading Competition at Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area in Lagos State.

The even, which was held at the multipurpose hall of the council, featured free medical services including Diabetes test cancer and cataracts screening .

Six different schools participated at the cooking and reading competition. Blessing Ejezie from Ajeromi-Ifelodun Junior Secondary School won the cooking competition and was given a cash prize in addition to a table-top fridge. Others were Amarachi Akwarandu from Expressway Junior Secondary School, Happiness Ifon representing Reservation Junior Secondary School and Folashade Ayenuberu from Alakoto Junior Secondary School who came second, third and fourth respectively and were awarded different prizes such as cash incentives, a gas cooker and powerful oven for the contestants to enhance their cooking skills.

The wife of the council chief, Alhaja Shakirat Bayewu, hailed the students for their cooking prowess.

Alhaja Bayewu who doubles as the Chairperson of the NGO, said that hosting the annual cooking competition was a way of promoting family values in the homes.

Apart from encouraging the students to develop interest in cooking, she said, it would also increase their culinary skill and turn their hobbies into profitable ventures.

“As the chairperson of Women for Positive change, we are committed to our youths who are our future leaders and we want our mothers to encourage their children to learn the art of cooking a balanced diet for healthy

I

T was boundless joy for pupils, members of staff and parents of the Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba as the school marked its 132nd anniversary.

Anniversary activities began with an inter house sports and cultural day and gradually climaxed in the founders’ day celebration. The purpose of this was to thank and appreciate the founders for the good work they left behind.

The principal of the school, Mrs Ruth Olusheye Awobiyi stated that the purpose of the celebration was to appreciate God and the founding fathers for their foresight for the establishment of the school.

“We are thanking God who has been our strength and appreciating the founding fathers for their foresight,” she said.

Mrs Awobiyi stated that the school has been living the dream of the founding fathers which is producing morally and religious upright students among others.

“The school has been living up to the standard we have achieved; our set principles are still intact to keep the flag flying; the students are trained with so many important peculiarities on morals and academic excellence, anywhere you go you will see our students there, the type of education we give here is with the fear of God, because with the fear of God, you will be upright in your doings,” she said.

She urged the students to be God fearing and disciplined to attain success in life.

Commenting on the state of education in the country, Mrs Awobiyi said the standard is not falling but rather that the implementation method of education policy is faulty.

Oyo

By Shehu Bello

growth. Most of our children believe reading of books end in the classroom, they need to be motivated to cultivate a good reading habit in and out of classroom.

“We believe the reading competition among

the primary schools in our local government is geared towards catching them young,” she said.

One of the highlights of the event was a pep talk by Dr Bosun Babajide from City Hospital who advocated for better health awareness in the community as health is wealth.

Dr Babajide noted that women are potential change agents in any community.

He gave the audience 10 tips for their wellbeing which includes regular exercise, regular check-up, proper nutrition, adequate rest and taking proper care of their environment.

From left: Hon Akintunde Fadayomi, chairman, Ifako Ijaye Local Government; Dr Oloruntoba Oke; Olu of Isahga, Oba Abass Ajibode; Council Manager, Mr. Rufai Fashola and Rev. Oladotun Shotinoye during the donation of relief material to flood victims in Lagos.

School marks 132nd anniversary

By Amidu Arije

“I think the standard of education is not falling but the method of implementation of policies in the education is falling, they should implement the adopted system properly, this will give rise to education in the country,” she said.

Present on the occasion was the wife of the

former Governor of Lagos State, Mobolaji Johnson, Mrs Dame Johnson, who is also the Chairman Advisory Board of the School, President Old Girls Association, Mrs Stella Jackson, Mrs Adebisi Adeyemi, Mrs Abimbola Alli, Mr Joseph Oyegbile, Rev Iyabo Bukola, and Chaplain of the school Deaconess Juliet Eneh.

•From left: Co-ordinator Indomie Ms Nutrition Scholarship, Prof. Tunde Oguntona, Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr Deepack-Singhal and Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr Tope Ashiwaju at the media presentation on the 2011 Indomie Ms Scholarship Award in Lagos PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

CITYBEATS THE NATION

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E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Urban taste for riverine communities R

ESIDENTS of Ishagira VilBy Miriam Ndikanwu lage went wild with jubilation last Monday as the so- nities.

The ministry, working with a N2 lar powered water project provided by the Lagos State govern- billion budget, swung into action, establishing projects including poment was inaugurated.

It was the first time the people table water and rural electrificawould be witnessing water rush tion in the communities.

It was the handing over of some out of a pipe and the presence of government as access to this es- of the projects that took the Comsential commodity has been a rar- missioner out last Monday to Ishagira, among others. ity for the villagers.

Ishagira village, with a populaBereft of all life-supporting facilities, such as good roads, pota- tion of about 2,000, came alive as ble water, electricity and others, the boats conveying the commismany of the youth left their com- sioner and his team got to the harmunities in the Oto-Awori Local bour.

The villagers, who had been Council Development Area in their numbers, moving to the ur- waiting for officials of the Rural ban centres where life is a lot bear- Ministry to inaugurate the solarable and amenities more abun- powered modified Type ‘A’ water project, welcomed the visitors with dant.

But the trend may be reversed, songs in its local dialect: with the steps being taken by the “Kabo,kabo,” meaning welcome, state government to provide as welcome.

Despite the big river in the area, many of such communities with the village, for over a century, amenities.

Apart from Ishagira, other com- never had potable water. They munities, such as Pompoku, Ibode made use of wells.

To alleviate the plight of the loand Irewe (the village of former cals, the ministry provided Deputy Governor Printhe water project. The waGovt cess Adebisi Sarah Sosan), ter is powered with solar also benefitted from waplans energy. ter and rural electrifica“The water from the river big for tion. They are among is not drinkable. Members other communities, rural of the community lodged a spread across the state’s three senatorial zones, communities complaint with us last month and we were able to faced with unique infrastructural deficits which complete the project this month.

“Because of the epileptic power range from lack of accessible roads (most of them can only be supply from PHCN, we decided to reached by canoes and boats), po- power the water project using sotable water, as they are sur- lar energy. There are six outlets rounded by saline water, which is where the people could fetch waunfit for drinking; electricity, lack ter,” said Mr Abiodun Ayeni, Diof functional health centres, and rector, Rural Water, Ministry of schools and educational materials Rural Development.

Handing over the project to the among others.

With their occupation predomi- community, Ojelabi said the govnantly farming and fishing, pov- ernment was concerned about the erty is at its peak in the communi- poor quality of water the rural ties. The youth, who stayed back populace consumed, urging them either took to their parents’ trade to maintain the project so that it of farming or fishing, or roamed could last long.

“You have to embrace the culture the village.

Most of the villages lack func- of maintenance; maintain this fational schools, but provided edu- cility and you have to support the cation in some dilapidated struc- government so that it could also tures provided by the missionary. support you,” he said, while enBut determined to make life couraging the people to contribmore meaningful for residents, ute to build a town hall.

The commissioner also urged the especially rural dwellers, Governor Babatunde Fashola directed villagers to form cooperatives to the Ministry of Rural Develop- obtain assistance from the state ment to establish developmental government, especially to boost projects that would change the •SEE PAGE 32 standard of living of the commu-

Lagos partners Foundation on Botanical Park THE Lagos State Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) is seeking collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation ( NCF) to ensure that the state’s Rural Botanical Park at Igbodu, Epe is self-sustaining.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the NCF headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.

He said the collaboration being sought was in the development of a fauna unit at the park, which would make the Agro Diversity Model, an integrated Agricultural based development model.

• Top: Ishagira borehole project. Bottom: A rural electrification project at Ponpoku.

Council hosts cooking competition A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Women for Positive Change has organised her second Annual Schools Cooking and Reading Competition.

The event ,held at the multipurpose hall of the council, also featured free medical services that include test on diabetes, cancer, cataract and many others. Dignitaries within the community joined the residents to cheer the students. Six schools participated at the cooking and reading competition. Blessing Ejezie from Ajeromi-Ifelodun Junior Secondary School, won the cooking competition and was given a cash prize in addition to a table-top fridge.

Other winners are Amarachi Akwarandu from Expressway Junior Secondary School; Happiness Ifon, from Reservation Junior Secondary School, and Folashade Ayenuberun from Alakoto Junior Secondary School who came second, third and fourth respectively.They won different prizes such as cash , a gas cooker and oven.

PHOTO: MIRIAM NDIKANWU

Badagry Coconut Festival gets corporate support THE third Badagry Coconut festival tagged "Akunkefest 2011" was held last week with artistic offering of cultural performers, musical entertainment, games, art & craft exhibitions and beauty contest to the admiration of local and international visitors.

The annual event, which was put together by Gunuvi Heritage Entertainment & Events, with support from Grand Oak's Calypso Coconut Liquor brand, aims to further boost the tourism potentials of Badagry.

According to Prince Doherto Mesi, President, Gunuvi Heritage, the motive behind the event is to promote, preserve, and enhance the tourism potential of Badagry as the preferred tourism destination in Africa.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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CITYBEATS

Urban taste for riverine communities

•Continued from page 31 food production.

At Ponpoku and Ibode villages, he inspected the ongoing rural electrification project to service the community.

On completion, the two riverine villages will be hooked onto the project at Irewe, which has just been connected to the national grid by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

At Irewe Village, Ojelabi inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the Micro Water Works.

Speaking after the tour of riverine communities, the commissioner said the vision of the state government was to open up rural roads and provide social amenities for the dwellers to stem rural-urban drift.

According to him, when social amenities enjoyed by those living in the city are in rural communities, it will take away the allure of city life, thus, curbing urban drift.

He said in 2012, the state government would lay emphasis on open-

ing of rural roads, adding that the budget has captured this. He emphasised that the government was determined to impact on rural dwellers.

According to Ojelabi, the budget allocated to the ministry this year is N2 billion, saying that during the last budget re-ordering, the governor added more funds for rural development.

He disclosed that the ministry has spent at least N900 million this year on construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, culverts and drainages, among others.

He added that over N900 million was expended in providing rural electrification for rural dwellers this year, while a lot had also gone into rural water and agriculture.

Ojelabi stated that 2012 would witness massive transformation in rural communities across the state as the government will pay more attention to meeting their needs.

A resident of one of the communities, Mr William Tunji, who holds a Diploma from one of the

• Pastor Ojelabi, flanked by other officials of the ministry, during the handing over of the projects PHOTOS: MIRIAM NDIKANWU

state’s College of Education, told The Nation that the challenges confronting rural dwellers are so overwhelming.

Tunji, who said he returned to the village due to his parent’s inability to raise fund for him to continue his education, explained that most youth in similar

situation have no alternative but to join their parents either in fishing or faming in order to sustain living.

“Some of us that had the opportunity of living in town have always looked forward to when our village can boast of electricity, because we know that this will go a

long way to empower many people who may not find farming and fishing interesting.”

He praised the government for the gesture which he said will not only alleviate poverty within the communities but will also improve their standard of living.

Samuel needs N6.8m to stay alive

• Samuel ... before

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21-year-old 300 level undergraduate of History and International Studies at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Edeyokun Samuel, is clinging to life with much gusto and resolute determination. But to stay alive, he needs N6.8million (44.620 USDs).

He is suffering from sickle cell nephropathy.

He needs the money to undergo kidney transplant outside the coun-

•...now

By Oyeyemi gbenga-Mustapha

try - Medanta (the Medicity) Hospital, Gurgaon, Haryana, India. The treatment and intensive care will last 10 days.He will stay in a guest house for 60 days. The budget covers contingency expenses (pre and post medications for one year).

Each week, since August, this year, Samuel has undergone 11 sessions of kidney dialysis , instead

of twice per week. Each session per week, since August this year costs N60, 000 per session.

His father, Mr Edeyokun, a former staff member of the rested Daily Times of Nigeria, now an applicant, struggles each week to get the money ready. His colleagues, friends and relations are his rescuer.

Samuel has no mother, having lost her in 1995, when he was in secondary school. He struggled through secondary school and obtained admission. But his dreams in life are being sabotaged by his conditions. He is an Hb patient (otherwise called sickler) and to compound his miseries, his two kidneys have shut down.

His predicament started in February , when he was diagnosed at Ado Ekiti General Hospital with Renal failure.

Already, the foreign hospital is set to do the whole process of the renal transplantation, since a donor is ready for same, but the clog in the wheel of Samuel's treatment is lack of fund. Mr Lawrence Edeyokun can be reached on 08033591732; 07081825687 or the

Dialyzer Medical Centre, 45, Oshodi Expressway, opposite BOC Gases, Oshodi, Lagos or LASUTH, Nephrology Department. Cash or cheque can be paid into: Skybank, a/c number- 1010392405, Lawrence Edeyokun.

His medical reports, from the dialysing centre and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja are detailed.

The Dialyser, the specialist Medicl Centre, where he obtains his weekly dialysis diagnosed his case as being HbSS Nephropathy. His 24 hour Creatinine clearance is 12.34mb/l indicating stage V chronic kidney disease.

It recommended that Samuel will benefit from twice weekly maintenance dialysis and erythropoietin therapy pending when he will be ready for renal transplant which is the gold standard treatment for the condition.

While LASUTH said investigation results showed: Deranged electrolytes-Na-142.2mmoL; Kl- 5.63,,ol/ L; Urea 56.6 mmol/L; creatinine1287 mrnol/L; PCV-20 per cent; WBC 12, 450. Underlying actielogy

of his Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is considered to be sickle cell nephrology.

His father, Lawrence Edeyokun described his son's condition as unusual, "Because despite being born a sickle cell patient and receiving treatment from age four at the then General Hospital, Ikeja, now LASUTH, he has been ambitious to pick up a career in Internationl Diplomacy after completion of his programme.

"Right from age four, I have been with him and I double as father and mother. I have always gone with him to the clinic at the then General Hospital, Ikeja, many even tought I worked there. As a parent, I feel the pains of my son and want to appeal to all Nigerians, Mr President, former Governor, Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola and all and sundry to please help me with the money required for the treatment of my son. The government should please come to the aid of renal patients in this country. The suffering is too much," said Edeyokun.

Patient needs N0.5m for treatment

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RS Rosemary Ugenlo, 55, mother of seven, was hale and hearty until late last year, when she suddenly took ill.

Initially, she thought nothing of the illness believing that she would bounce back to radiant health soon.

That had remained a mirage as she has been confined to bed since last December, due to hypertension and diabetes. Since then she has been moving from one hospital bed to another.

When her condition grew worse, she was admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), on December 17, but the inability of the family to pay the medical bill led to her compulsory discharge from the hospital in January.

At present, Mrs Ugenlo, is helplessly bedridden at home, with no hope of getting any money to foot her hospital bill, which has accumu-

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

By Wale Adepoju

lated to about N500,000. She was also diagnosed of kidney disease. As if that wasn't enough, Mrs Ugenlo recently went blind due to the illness.

The Public Relations Department of the hospital where Mrs Ugenlo received treatment, said the management lost patience with Mrs Ugenlo's inability to pay her medical bill, which has risen to about N500,000 and consequently asked her to vacate the bed so that other patients could come in.

Her husband, Mr Philip Ugenlo, is retired. Only two of her seven children are working and their salaries could not support their mother's treatment.

She could not raise the money to offset the accumulated bill. Her husband with teary eyes said: "I want people to help me. I cannot afford

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

the bill; its killing and I want kindhearted people to help me. My wife has lost her sight due to her illness.

She also has high blood pressure (HBP). The doctors said if we don't do something urgently abot her health that we may lose her. So, I am calling on the government, Nigerians and well-meaning organisations to help me so that my wife can live."

Rose, as she is fondly called, also appealed to well-meaning individuals, corporate bodies and even the government to help save her life.

“I want to live, please, help me, before death snatches me away,” she pleaded.

The Account Number: 2008804552: First Bank Nigeria Plc., the son Kingsley Ugenlo Intercontinental Bank 0252110000001412 Rosemary Ugenlo.

• Mrs Rosemary Ugenlo on hospital bed and husband, Philip

EMERGENCY LINES 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 080-75005411; 080-60152462 080-23111742; 080-29728371 080-23909364; 080-77551000 01-7904983

4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 070-35068242 080-79279349; 080-63299264 070-55462708; 080-65154338

767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

34

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The more women you have in the cabinet, the more you reduce cases of corruption. Women have greater roles to play to make our economy great . But they are often taken for granted.”

CITYBEATS Senator, firm donate to school

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S part of efforts to improve the performance of students in the Senior School Certification Examination (SSCE), a lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and D-United Foods Limited, maker of Indomie Noodles, have donated science laboratory equipment worth over N1 million to Kosofe Senior Secondary School, Ketu, Lagos.

Ashafa said the donation was meant to reverse the rate of failure of students in examinations. He noted that it is essential for the government and private organisations to rescue the sector from total decay.

The federal lawmaker explained that many students fail examinations because they lack practical knowledge of what they were taught, stressing that if everyone contributes his quota in assisting the schools, it would enhance the quality of the education system.

He added that he identified with D-United Foods because the company's corporate social(CSR) responsibility conforms to his electoral manifestoes.

"The D-United Foods has many things in common with my electoral manifestoes. I'm more concerned with human development projects. That is why I partnered with them", he said.

Ashafa also gave N100,000 for the provision of First Aid equipment in the school and promised to ensure adequate supply of drugs to its clinic.

The Head, Public Relations, Event and Sponsorship of DUnited, Mr Ashiwaju Temitope, said the company realised that some schools were not properly

River State Governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, at the 11th Women National Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

By Toluwani Eniola

funded.

"Some of these students have not seen human skeleton and other science equipment before. This is why most students fail and this explains our commitment to change the situation. It is a way of touching the lives of many students who may pass through the science class in the school", he said.

Principal of the school, Mrs Olanireti Fawole, praised the senator and D-United Foods, for the gesture, saying that with the equipment, there will be radical improvement in the performance of the students.

She urged other corporate bodies to emulate the gesture, adding that government cannot do everything alone.

•Ashafa (middle) receiving a gift from Mrs Fawole and a pupil, Ekpeyong Bassey

Council plans town hall meetings

C

HAIRMAN,Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area(LCDA),Mrs Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe has said plans are underway to hold Town hall meetings with the residents of the council.

Mrs Akinyemi-Obe, in a chat with CityBeat , said her administration believes interpersonal communication is essential for devel-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

opment in the area.

She said : “It is my belief that development is not driven by passion alone, that it is not just enough to embark on what you think a community interacting with them on their needs.

“We do not want to work in isolation. So, the first thing we are

going to do is to have a town hall meeting with the people that are in our community through the Community Development Associations (CDA), Community Development Committee (CDC), all ethnic groups so that we know what they really want,” Akinyemi-Obe said.

She said the meeting would enable her to exchange ideas to achieve even development plan.

She vowed not to commence projects that her administration will not be able to complete before the end of her tenure.

“There will not be outstanding of projects that will now be left undone. So we take a step at a time so that it is what they want and what we can afford that we will provide so that we can have a better accomplishment and the people will be happy. I do not believe in an elephant project which people will not appreciate. So with the town meetings, we will be able to know what people really want.

“We want to encourage youths to be self-sufficient in terms of vocational training and after the vocational training, we support them financially so that they will be well sustained. Because if you give anybody any vocational training and you don’t provide enabling amenities, the person is just halfequipped,” she said.

“We urge the people to co-operate with us because this is a listening government that has just come in. We want to improve on the lives of our people through numerous people-oriented programmes,” Akinyemi-Obe added.

The Vice-Chairman, Ismail Bello added that theirs is not a noisemaking administration as is always the case in Nigerian politics, most especially during campaigns.

Bello urged the people of the community to be patient with them and promised that they would see the dividends of democracy.

‘

We urge the people to co-operate with us because this is a listening government that has just come in. We want to improve the lives of our people through numerous people-oriented programmes •The waste bin on Shyllon Street, Ilupeju.

T

HE Environmental Sanitation Committee of Greater Ilupeju Township Association, Ilupeju, Lagos Mainland, has called on the state government to give drainage system the priority it demands.

Its Chairman, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, made the call during a tour of some streets with blocked drainage.

Sunmola said the blocked drainage causes untold hardship to the people when it rains.

The group also called on the state government to remove a refuse bin placed on Shyllon Street, off Ikorodu Expressway because it causes traffic gridlock and poses health hazard to the people.

"We are asking the government to intervene on this situation. It is an eyesore. It causes environmen-

’

Photo: Amidu Arije

Residents call for effective drainage system

By Amidu Arije

tal hazard to the people living in this environment. Anytime it rains there is flood everywhere on the expressway, because of blocked drainage. We want them to remove this waste bin. We want the state government to come to our aid, so that this thing can be relocated from here and there can be free flow of traffic in the area and to prevent health hazards," he said.

Sunmola also lamented the drainage blockages on Awoyokun Street, Oluwakemi Street and Kayode Street all of which are off Ikorodu Expressway.

"These blocked drainages cause floods. We are calling on the state

government to come to our aid to open up these drainages for water to flow," he said.

He urged the government to quickly address the situation, saying: “It is disheartening that the streets don’t have proper drainages.” He said during the regime of the former chairman of Mushin Local Government, Apostle Babatunde Odele, drainages were well taken care of.

The group The street thanked the D r a i n a g e don’t have Maintainance proper and Operation drainage (DMO) unit of the Lagos State

Ministry of the Environment for maintaining some drainages in the area.

A shop owner on Shyllon Street where the waste bin is, Mrs Ifalade Bolanle, said the waste bin causes traffic jam and flooding when it rains and poses a health hazard.

"Whenever it rains everywhere is always flooded, even the odour from the waste bin is terrible and poses a health hazard to us. Customers cannot buy something because of the bad odour, so we want the government to remove this bin and take it to another location," she said.

A vulcanizer in the street, Musiliu Ademola, also com-

plained that the refuse bin on the road side caused a lot of hazards to health and that it has affected his work.

"This waste bin they put here is causing traffic gridlock and poses health hazards. In fact, when it rains everywhere will be flooded with tyre and other dirt, the law enforcement agents have arrested me several times, saying I’m the one who put tyres on the road," he said.

The association is headed by the former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande. He is assisted by Gen Mobolaji Johnson (rtd), also a former governor of the state.

SEND YOUR STORIES AND PICTURES TO CITY BEATS at ynotcitybeats@gmail.com OR SEND AN SMS TO 08033054340

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

36

NGO facilitates community/ police partnership

A

GLOBAL Alliance for Security and Justice, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has continued its effort to foster a better relationship between the police and communities, with the aim of checking criminality and insecurity more effectively.

The group which is called ALTUS, initiated the Police Station Visitors’ Week (PSVW) in collaboration with another organisation, CLEEN Foundation.

According to ALTUS chairman, Mr Innocent Chukwuma, the PSVW is a yearly event that seeks to build a stronger relationship between the police and members of the community.

“It is a global initiative that is geared towards improving the state of the policing function. It was initiated in 2006 with annual awards ceremonies at national, regional and global levels. PSVW provides a new independent vehicle for police departments to establish better relationships with their host communities by receiving

By Evelyn Osagie

valuable and ‘difficult-to-obtain’ feedback from community members on where services lag, and how to improve the quality of services available. Additionally, as part of a global programme, visitors are able to place their individual judgments about the quality of police service at their own police stations in national, regional, and global contexts,” he said.

Police stations across Africa played host to over 1000 citizens from eight African countries under the PSVW project. 332 Police Stations were part of the visit from the participating countries.

This year’s edition ran till on Sunday, November 6. It was marked by 21 countries, including Ghana, Liberia, Republic of Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, India, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, USA, Russia, and Latvia. Mr Chukwuma said: “In Nigeria, the visit took place in Lagos, Imo, Kano, Akwa

It is a global initiative that is geared towards improving the state of the policing function. It was initiated in 2006 with annual awards ceremonies at national, regional and global levels

•Nyanya Divisional Headquaters, Abuja Ibom, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Over 700 visitors visited 192,294 Police Divisional Headquarters in these states. Three hundred and thirtytwo police stations would be part of the visit from the participating countries and over 1000 visitors were mobilised to visit the participating police stations in Africa.”

The visitors were given a PSVW Kit which they used to guide their visit following protocols that are the same for visits around the world. At the end of the visits, visitors were asked to rate the stations on five categories: Community Orientation, Physical Condition, Equal Treatment of the Public, Transparency and Accountability,

and Detention Conditions.

Chukwuma said: “The programme does not seek to shame and blame any participating police department, but only provides score information to participating stations and visitors. PSVW relies on these planned annual visits by community groups to their local police stations towards the end of year, annually. They join with people around the world to visit and review their local police stations by using a simple assessment tool composed of 20 questions based in five human rights areas (the PSVW Kit). In doing so, participants are overseeing and improving police services using an innovative webbased model. Simultaneously, a

database is being established,” he said.

For many of the visitors, the experience provided them a first real access to local law enforcement and a platform for expressing their views on whether the police were serving all members of their community as it should.

This reporter met some of the visitors at the Garki Police Station, Abuja where the team leader, Mr Ernest Amodu expressed disappointment at the nonchalant attitude of some of the members of the police towards the visitors.

Though permission is usually obtained from the authorities prior •Continued on Page 37

Ex-council chair leads community service

A

N Ilupeju community leader Apostle Babatunde Odele has saved the community from what would have been a great tragedy. A cable allegedly belonging to the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) had fallen on the busy Town Planning Way on Coker Road Junction causing terrific traffic jam.

He was not comfortable with the situation and he had to mobilise other residents to remove the cable. The action has brought relief to the inhabitants of the area as there is free flow of traffic.

Odele, who led others in the service of the community, said the cable has lain on the road for days, even as he told Newsextra that residents had contacted NITEL officials who had refused to act on the information.

He said: “NITEL is no more in existence and I have called on them to come and cart away the cable in this area. In my street, we have removed all NITEL cables because they are no more functioning. This cable that fell here is causing traffic jam. It has been lying here for days now and nobody, especially NITEL cared. But as a citizen, I felt it is necessary for me to do it by mobilising people to lift the cable off the road.”

The action, he added, is his own way of working for the progress of the community and the state.

“I believe my championing the removal of the cable is one of the ways to serve humanity and for the progress of the state. I am supporting the state governor to make progress in all spheres, especially on the roads.

•Odele (in red cap) and other residents lift a fallen electricity pole

By Amidu Arije

“Whatever we can do to make things better in Lagos State we shall continue to do it. You can see now that the traffic situation has improved greatly,” he said.

The cable, it was learnt, also caused destruction to some build-

ings in the area. The cable damaged the fence of a house and caused obstruction to another.

Speaking on the effect of the cable on the houses, Mrs Olubunmi Dolamu said it has caused them a lot as the fence of the building collapsed as a result of the impact of the fallen cable.

I believe my championing the removal of the cable is one of the ways to serve humanity and for the progress of the state. I am supporting the state governor to make progress in all spheres, especially on the roads

THE NATION

37

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Church launches varsity

Kidney patient appeals for help 28-YEAR-OLD undergraduate, Ndidiamaka Anuforo, is down with kidney failure.

She has held unto life since 2002 when her kidneys were confirmed as having come to end stage renal failure.

According to a medical report that confirmed Ndidi’s kidney predicament, dated April, 2002 from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Miss Anuforo was diagnosed as having non-specific kidney disorder causing it to leak large amounts of protein, otherwise called Nephrotic Syndrome in medical parlance, from an underlying secondary Glomerular Disease.

She was treated with steroids, diuretics and angio-tension converting enzyme inhibitors. Unfortunately she did not respond to the drugs and her renal function deteriorated irreversibly since then.

That was how she ended up with End-Stage-Renal-Disease; meaning complete failure of the kidneys to function because her kidneys can no longer sustain her.

She will require a kidney transplant to enable her stand on her two feet. Meanwhile she has been placed on twice-a-week haemodialysis sessions to keep her alive pending when the transplant surgery will be done.

•Continued from Page 28

A

•Continued from Page 36 to visits and each selected Divisional Police Officer (DPO) receives communication from the police hierarchy and from the visitors, Mr Amodu and his team were not initially granted access to the station.

After several phone calls the station officer, Mr. Usman Na’Abu who was delegated by the DPO welcomed the visitors. With him was the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), a lady in charge of criminal cases.

The visitors were ushered into the reception area after which they

•Ndidiamaka

By Sulaiman Gbenga Idowu

Her mother, Mrs. Angelina Anuforo who has volunteered to donate one of her kidneys, is joining other members of the five family to call on fellow Nigerians to help provide the estimated N6 mil-

lion required for the operation to be done overseas.

To help Miss Anuforo in kind, contact her on 08037577142, or her mother, Mrs. Angelina on 08074449355. And if in cash, send to: Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Account No: 231/703932/1/59/0

The Primate of the church Rev. Rufus Ositelu has doused the fears in some quarters that while most parents make their own little contributions in building private and missionary universities, their children can not be part of the institutions because they cannot afford the fees which many describe as high.

He promised that the university when established would cater for the need of the common man as the aim for its establishment is to render service to the community.

“This university is going to be different from all the private universities in Nigeria. We have over 40 years experience in educational administration right from primary and secondary school levels. Fees payable in this university are going to be affordable for the common man.

“For any member who could afford to send his children to a state university, you can send them to Divine Grace University because the fees are going to be subsidised as obtainable in our primary and secondary schools every where,” he said.

He equally called on the government to subsidise fees paid in private universities as is done in Liberia so that, at the end they can even decide how

much they charge the students.

He added that they aim at producing graduates who will not be dependent on government for jobs as they will be trained to be self-reliant and employers of labour.

“DGU is informed by the need to create an atmosphere of academic freedom for deep exploration of mind and matter, nurture a culture of research that defeats the age-long practice and reliance on opinions and anti-intellectual tendencies that dominate the public sphere in many developing countries thereby dimming the light of development,” he said.

The royal father of the day, Oba Oladele Ogunbade, the Ologere of Ogero Remo in Ogun State expressed his joy that he was part of history that was being made in TCLAW. “My father used to tell me that whether you like it or not, the church of the Lord will not only carry your burden, it will also be your resting place. I have a son in Babcock University and another in Covenant University and I used to ask myself, how about the church of the Lord, Aladura?

“I am happy that I am here today as history is being made and I want the university to take off because our children are suffering. There is no admission space for all of them,” he said.

NGO facilitates community/police partnership visited the departments and the cells where they saw the ways at which the police carried-out their activities. The visitors were unimpressed with the way in which the police stations had been neglected in the country.

“While we hear of magical budgets that are being pumped for increasing the security of the nation,” one visitor retorted. “We dare to ask why our stations are still looking like match box houses, why a typical police officer who just came

out of the scorching sun does not even have ordinary air conditioner to cool him from the heat of the day, not to talk of cold water to quench his thirst.”

“A hungry man is an angry man, so the picture of the police today is as a result of their poor condition,” a female visitor, who did not want her name in print, said as they reached the Admin Office.

They were shocked that the police still operate the old filling system in this 21st century instead of

the computer filling or archival system. Old files are dumped outside, in decrepit patrol cars. The visitors said under-funding is the key factor that has caused the police a major setback. Over the years, most police stations are seen to use only two to three patrol vans in the whole of the town and when the fuel finishes the staff would have to sacrifice part of their poor earnings to get patrol cars running.

Or ask for a pittance from citizens they come across.

Asked on the level of police and community relationship, Mr Na’Abu says the relationship has been quite impressive based on the level of public orientation through pamphlets and the stakeholders meetings which usually take place every month. He said these have helped to reduce the rate of crime drastically.

Another issue that was highlighted was that the condition of detainees who were said to be about eight in one cell before press time. The detainees shared two toilets and a bathroom; but the visitors expressed grief on the poor nature of the toilets which are available for both staffs and visitors to use.

The station, it was praised for been highly sensitive to gender related issues, and so the visitors

scored them 80% in that category.

With this visit, the visitors said their perception towards the Nigerian Police Force is beginning to change.

The members of the police and the community thanked the visitors; they also welcomed the CLEEN and Altus initiative as bringing up the much needed improvement on the ability of the Nigerian Police Force to serve and protect by actively engaging members of the community thereby proffering a solution to the insecurity issue in Nigerian.

The results, the organisers said, would be released by the second week of December, adding that the National award ceremony would also be organised at the end of the year. “Since 2006, Nigeria’s two police stations have topped African ratings. The two stations that have been awarded the best in Nigeria and in West Africa are Ilupeju Police Station and the Badagry, Seme Police Station both in Lagos State,” she said.

Although Nigerian police stations have performed creditably in these awards, he said, a lot remains to be done.

This year’s visit in Nigeria was supported by the Department for International Development (DfID), an agency of the United Kingdom government.

We dare to ask why our stations are still looking like match-box houses, why a typical police officer who just came out of the scorching sun does not even have ordinary air conditioner to cool him •Aminu Garba, DPO, Nyanya Police Station

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

38

The distribution of the free books has indeed brought a smile to many families as the gesture is helping to rekindle people’s hope in the government’s ability to restore the lost glory of education in the state

Free books for Oyo council schools Hundreds of rural dwellers in Saki West and Ido Local Government Areas of Oyo State were delighted to witness the distribution of free books in their primary schools in fulfillment of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s free education policy. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports

I

T is a milestone in governance at the local government level of Oyo State. Books are being distributed in the state’s council schools. During one of the distribution exercises in Saki West and Ido local councils, excited residents turned up in large numbers.

They all shoved aside their various businesses, particularly farming, a major occupation in the communities, to enable them grace the auspicious occasion.

The direct beneficiaries of the free exercise books comprising mainly little children were guided by their teachers to collect their own free copies for use in the classrooms.

To thousands of parents, the distribution of the books came as a huge relief.

Apart from the excited school children, others in attendance were high-ranking government officials at local levels, contractors, major stakeholders in the educational sector, traditional rulers, officials of the state Ministry of Education, amongst other dignitaries.

Areas where the distribution ceremonies were held were Ido, Saki West, Oluyole, and Ibadan North West local governments. Other 29 local government councils also taking their turns in the distribution exercise across the state.

The Chairmen, caretaker committee of Saki West and Ido Local Government Areas Hon. Dapo Popoola and Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela at their various councils stressed that the provision of quality education to the pupils is one of the priority of the present administration in Oyo State.

Popoola said: “Education is the bedrock of any meaningful development”.

He said it is on this premises that Governor Ajimobi made education development one of his cardinal programmes in order to raise its falling standards in the state.

Popoola called on the teachers to be up and doing by imparting standard knowledge to the pupils and promised to extend more assistance to the schools in the area.

In addition, Director of Personnel Management of Saki West Local Government, Mr. S. A. Aremu stated that all hands must be on desk to support the present government to raise the standard of education in the state.

He further urged the pupils to make judicious use of the exercise books and enjoined parents to reciprocate the good gesture of the government by paying their statutory taxes.

Describing the gesture as a tip of the iceberg in Ajimobi’s plans to provide qualitative and free education in the state, the Chairman of Ido Local Government, Professor Olowofela said consultations were already on to commence the distribution of core text books to pupils at the local government levels.

Olowofela, a Professor of GeoPhysics at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta charged teachers and parents to ensure that they monitor their children to make good use of the books especially at home and school.

In Ido Local Government where the distribution exercise first started on September 12, 2011 throughout the 33 councils in the state, a total of 80,000 big notes and 35,000 exercise books were distributed in 75 primary schools in the council .

•Dapo Popoola and his wife present the free exercise books to pupils Also, in Oluyole Local Government, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan the Chairman Caretaker Committee, Hon. Abass Olajide said the distribution of the free books has indeed brought a smile to many families as the gesture is helping to rekin-

dle people’s hope in the government’s ability to restore the lost glory of education in the state.

Hon. Olajide said a total number of 79,420 big notes and 98,750 exercise books have been distributed so far to pupils in schools and prom-

ised to make the exercise a continuous one in the local government.

Parents and community leaders present at the colourful ceremonies praised the present administration in the state for making children’s education a priority.

Lawmaker pledges intervention in health From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

•Senator Kaka

S

ENATOR Gbenga Kaka has said he would focus his attention and resources to tackling malaria, diabetes and hypertension in his constituency - Ogun East Senatorial district. There are nine local governments in the district.

Kaka, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)’s Senator, said the scourge of malaria is not only “re-

ducing productivity of his people and that of the nation,” but also a source of drain on income via treatment with each bout of malaria attack.

The former Deputy Governor who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the monthly dialogue of the State’s Correspondent Chapel, added that diabetes and hypertension are equally “twin killers” that should be addressed in the lives of people.

According to the Senator, a “mobile” healthcare programme is being designed to tackle the identified health challenges among residents as part of his constituency projects.

He said he will also dole out interest-free loans which would be tied to people in certain categories of empowerment or vocations while a “job shop” will also be created to serve as data centre for people seeking employment so that he can facilitate some of them picking white collar or blue collar.

Kaka whose election to the Senate on the ticket of ACN was affirmed by the Tribunal recently, said he would also award Scholarship to indigents students in his constituency, to enable acquire at least minimal education.

“With whatever that is available to me, I believe that as a person who did not give a dime to any person to get the party ticket or give the electorate to cast their votes for me, I felt compelled to resolve that whatever comes to me must be returned to my constituency,” he said.

Kaka said the since the seven legislative session began, he had proposed two bills while there are equally two motions pending in his name at the Senate.

Both Bills and motions, he added were geared towards tackling the growing cyber crimes, electronic money transfer, improper retirement of members of the nation’s armed forces and how to use agriculture to solve unemployment situation in the country.

His words: “The first is a bill to prohibit and prescribe necessary punish-

With whatever that is available to me, I believe that as a person who did not give a dime to any person to get the party ticket or give the electorate to cast their votes for me, I felt compelled to resolve that whatever comes to me must be returned to my constituency

ment for electronic transfer of funds, and other computer, cybercafé crimes with the hope of sanitising the system and then making the country move along with the global trend.

“While the second is for the harmonisation of the retirement age of the armed forces which was motivated by the fact that colossal amount is being lost to the premature retirement of our well trained army officers.

“Beyond these, I have two motions pending in my name; the first one is leveraging on agriculture for national development and the other is using our school system to replace the aged hands in our various farming communities.

“All these are geared towards ensuring that unemployment situations are frontally tackled through development of our various rural areas, enlisting the interest of our students and graduates in agriculture.”

He said this will be the ultimate solution to the unemployment challenge in the country.

MOTORING

39

THE NATION

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

The all new Passat combines distinguishing attributes including elegant styling, sportish look and an inviting interior that is yet unmatched among competing brands, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

•Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat, redesigned for more comfort C

OMPARED to its predecessor, the all new Passat is designed to appeal to people with urbane tastes and imaginative disposition for exceptional cars with roomier interior and responsive engines.

In the Nigerian market, the Passat is available in three 1.8litre turbocharged engine variants with the 1.8 turbocharged FSI (160PS) Highline SEL topping the range followed by 1.8 turbocharged FSI (160PS) Highline SE and the 1.8 turbocharged FSI (160PS) Highline (S).

These cars all offer Tiptronic seven-speed DSG automatic transmission that promises more than 60 kmpg on the highway and a maximum cruising range of nearly 2,000 kilometres.

Other features such as multi-functional threespoke leather steering wheel, mixed alloy wheels including the ‘Minneapolis’ and ‘Michigan’ variants with 17 inch wheels respectively and the ‘Perugia’ ‘S’ base model which is fitted on 16 inch alloy wheels distinguishes the Passat from competitors.

These and more is what the new generation Passat represents, Anurag Shah, Brand Manager, Volkswagen passenger cars, Volkswagen Centre Lagos said.

Shah said the choice of engine though varies

from one region to another, the new Passat cares for various categories of people.

Previous owners of VW’s mainstream sedan would no doubt lament the change in direction for the Passat, but the fact is VW’s entry in the crowded family sedan category is now a better fit for the majority of consumers - perhaps because of its right pricing, smooth drive and roominess, large enough to comfortably hold a family of five without sacrificing its German roots.

“The new Volkswagen Passat remains uniquely positioned to reverse a driver’s aspiration for either Japanese or Korean engineered cars,” Anurag explained.

And unlike in key competitions, the VW lineup starts with the 1.8litre ‘S’ base model, which comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, full power accessories, three spoke multi functional power steering, front fog lamps with fixed bending lights, auto headlight activation plus day-time running lights, and a six-way semi-electric driver seat adjustment.

The Passat’s tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an eight-speaker sound system, an MP3

•Interior of the car

player, auxiliary audio input with a front-seat centre armrest and an analogue clock in the dashboard are added features that distinguishes the German engineered sedan.

Now move up to the SE trim level where 17inch alloy wheels, a six-way power driver seat, heated front seats, leatherette premium alcantara/Vienna upholstery and a touchscreen audio interface places the Passat way ahead of rival brands.

Anurag further lists other extraordinary options on SE models as a wood finish inserts, park distance control (front and rear), dual zone climatronic air conditioning system and sun blinds for the rear passenger compartment.

The 1.8 cubic litre SEL, however, adds upgraded power front seats with driver memory functions, KESSY- keyless entry and ignition, Nappa leather (sport) upholstery,

privacy glasses for rear passenger compartment, sun and moon roof, sports alloy wheels, ambience package and Bi-xenon headlamps with LED separate day time running lights.

Talking safety, antilock brakes, traction and stability control, driver and front passenger airbags, front side airbags and side curtain airbags, fire extinguisher and c-caution are provided as standard in the upgraded Passat.

Anurag said a new feature called Intelligent Crash Response automatically cuts off the fuel supply, unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard flashers in case of a crash.

On the road, Volkswagen Passat’s character depends a great deal on which engine is under the hood - thanks to its well-sorted suspension, turning radius; precise steering feel and strong brakes.

40

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

MOTORING

Lagos holds seminar for LASTMA, VIO T

HE excesses of the various enforcement agencies in Lagos state in recent times have been a major discuss by residents who now see them as demons on the roads.

Considering the alleged asking for tips from motorists forceful entrance into an offender or violator’s vehicle among other series of complaints from the public, Governor Babatunde Fashola has at various forums appealed to these officials that they have his mandate to go out to the public and enforce the law, stressing that this mandate should be done without aggression and brutalisation of citizens

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Poised to address these complaints and evolve a new breed of traffic enforcement, the state government held a special training workshop for officers of LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) on non-aggressive enforcement of traffic laws.

Addressing participants at the training, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said the training was conceived by governor Babatunde Fashola in February.

He said it is geared towards changing the public perception of LASTMA and VIO officers in the

manner discharge of their duties.

He blamed the long military era for the non-compliant nature of defaulting motorists when apprehended by traffic management officers, however promising a brand new law enforcement era devoid of aggressive force and unwarranted scuffles between members of the public and traffic officers.

He said: “For too many years, we have had military dictatorship and many believe we have to be forced before we can obey laws. In the last four years, we have been working on the mentality of Lagosians, to remind them that we are working and are paid through the money they pay as tax. But we will change

all that and I promise you a brand new LASTMA, VIO era befitting of the new Lagos we crave for” Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa advised the officials to be mindful of the fact that they are ambassadors of the state government, urging them to desist from their unwholesome attitudes capable of giving the government a bad name.

Addressing the officers, at the session, Managing Director of Universal Anchor Limited, Mr Sesan Awonoiki said it behooves on them as law enforcement officials to control their temper and hostility in such a way that will portray the

Osun to impound rickety vehicles

O

SUN State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has ordered that all rickety vehicles parked by the road sides in Osogbo and other towns should be impounded.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Mr

Oladepo Amudah made the announcement in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.

The statement said the vehicles to be impounded also include those emitting smoke on motion and others damaged beyond repairs.

According to the statement, such vehicles have become eye-sores as well as a nuisance to the public as they obstruct human and vehicular movement.

The governor directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to embark on the exercise to ensure the

safety and comfort of the people.”

The statement said the government would sanction the owners of any vehicle found in bad condition by the road sides or any unauthorised place.

FRSC mounts campaign against under age drivers in Katsina

T

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Katsina State has embarked on an aggressive enlightenment campaign against underage driving across the state, as part of its ember month safety campaign.

The state FRSC Commander, Alhaji Habu Dauda, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina that the campaign also involved cautioning children riding bicycles on major roads.

Dauda said that the focus of the campaign became necessary due to the increasing cases of accidents involving such children in the state.

He said: “We have mobilised the marshals and NYSC members in the campaigns that are being held at public places in major towns of the state, as part of efforts toward addressing the situation.

“It is very worrisome, but we are using persuasion to convince their parents toward stopping the act.

Dauda, who said road accidents, had reduced drastically in the state within the last three months, called on the public, especially drivers and motorcyclists to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, the sector com-

• FRSC boss Osita Chidoka

mand in Abia State has said that lack of towing trucks hindered the evacuation of disused vehicles from major roads.

The Sector Commander, Mr Gilbert Igbokwe, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia.

NAN reports that abandoned and damaged vehicles abound on major roads in the state owing to the FRSC’s inability to remove such vehicles for free flow of traffic.

“We only resort to patronising private tow truck operators within the limit of our resources. We feel pained when abandoned vehicles obstruct the roads because such situations are dangerous.

He said the worst challenge was that of lack of ambulances to convey accident victims to hospitals.

“We have only one ambulance in the state and it is in Aba and none in Umuahia. So, we resort to using our patrol vehicles to carry accident victims and this is not conducive for accident victims,” he said.

Igbokwe said the command had no hope of getting such facilities that would aide them in their jobs and urged spirited individuals to come to their rescue.

He said men of the FRSC were adequately prepared for the Yuletide, stressing that adequate preparations had been made to curb traffic challenges.

He said that the recent promotion of 14 of their men to the next grade level would serve as a morale booster to keep faith with commuters.

NAN recalled that Corps Marshall Osita Chidoka had during a working visit to the state vowed

not to promote any officer from the state.

According to him, none of the FRSC personnel could explain the meaning of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) which is in line with offering best quality management system in traffic control.

“Our men are now in high spirit and it is in the interest of the state because it will impact on their work.’’

Igbokwe said two officers were promoted to the rank of Assistant Corps Commander; six to Chief Route Commander; one to Superintendent Route Commander, adding that one officer was promoted to Route Commander and four were elevated to Deputy Route Commander.

Igbokwe also said that 692 traffic offenders were arrested and tried by the FRSC Mobile Courts.

“Drivers in the state are interested with what they make. They commit offences and we have found them difficult to correct.’’

“We also visit commercial bicycle owners to advise them against hiring bicycles to small children, all with the aim of controlling the menace. ”

image of LASTMA in good light.

He stressed that by the nature of their job, the society will abuse them while they are trying to protect the society.

According to Awonoiki, the regime of LASTMA officials forcing their way into vehicles of recalcitrant motorists should be done away with, as it gives the impression of the willingness of the officer to compromise. He recalled that a VIO officer had lost his life from being pushed out of a moving commercial vehicle.

He said the era of aggressive enforcement of traffic laws does nothing more than give LASTMA bad press, bad public relations as well as public mistrust and low productivity.

“Aggression creates enforcement challenges. It is counter-productive and you must reduce it to the barest minimum. Even if you are provoked, you must learn how to manage your temper. Always remember the issue and the society you are dealing is very sensitive”, Awonoiki said.

He urged the LASTMA officials to be morally upright to enable them enforce the law diligently, adding that it is when the official gets rid of aggressiveness that the desire goal of ensuring free traffic flow in the state metropolis can be achieved. He urged them to deal with everyone with courtesy regardless of the nature of the offence.

Awonoiki also enjoined the officials to be of high morale standard, saying “When there is low morale, with some of your colleagues, you may be disillusioned. You need to have high morale to enforce law.

The level of your morality affects your attitude towards work. Be very conscious of your moral, if your morale is okay, nobody will disrespect you. Remember you are only productive when your morale is high”.

At the interactive session, participants spoke on the challenges they encounter with motorists, with majority of the officers submitting that inasmuch as some of the officers have been culpable of some of the accusations against them, the public also needs to be oriented to see adherence with traffic rules as a civic duty and not one that should be necessitated out of force.

DRIVING TIPS

T

HREE basic factors are responsible for the rate of road crashes globally They are; •Human factors – Drivers and other stakeholders.

•Mechanical – the vehicles •Infrastructure – Road and road furniture.

In this write up, I want to beam a light on few of the facts about vehicle standards.

•Turn indicators (pointers) – it is now becoming rampant to see vehicles with their turn indicators and hazard lights in red.

Fundamentally, the colour of turn indicators and hazard lights is yellow.

In road safety education, every colour has meaning. Red light is synonymous with stop and yellow colour is synonymous with slow down and proceed with caution.

Virtually, every motorist is already familiar with the yellow turn indicator or pointer. The use of red colour for turn indicator is confusing and could be mistaken for brake light which could result in a crash.

In a nation, where adequate at-

Traffic signs and vehicle standards tention is paid to vehicle standards, such vehicles will not be allowed into the country. I, therefore, use this medium to plead with all the authorities concerned with the regulation of vehicle standards in Nigeria to look into this case to prevent the attending hazard.

•Air bag – it is disheartening that in this millennium, some vehicles are still being manufactured without airbag.

Considering the benefits of airbags in road crashes, it will be suicidal to allow vehicles without airbag into the country no matter how cheap they are. Life is more than the savings on the purchase price.

The authorities should also look into this and take proactive steps to stop the influx of such vehicles.

•Right-hand wheel – Though the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been talking about this problem but the rate at which righthand vehicles are being imported into this country is still high.

Many of the importers or buyers do convert the vehicles from right

to left hand but it is a universal fact that such converted vehicles are safety risks on the road, particularly Nigerian roads. Some people even drive the right-hand vehicles on the roads thereby confusing and distracting the attention of other road users.

The noise of the Federal Road Safety Commission will not suffice unless the Nigeria Customs and other relevant authorities take proactive and unbiased actions to stop this evil practice.

•Road worthiness – when I was in the secondary school, I used to ask questions whenever I see a vehicle tagged “OFF THE ROAD”. The explanation I was given then is that those vehicles did not comply with the stipulated safety standards and that they constitute safety risks on the roads.

It is however disheartening to see vehicles whose conditions are far worse that those ones still plying Nigeria roads. Are the rules guiding the Vehicle Inspection Officers of those days different from the road

safety regulations of today? Is it negligence or compromise?

It should be known by the Vehicle Inspection Officers and other authorities that a single compromise for whatever reason may lead to the loss of innocent lives and valuable properties.

It is my sincere plea that the relevant authorities will without passing bucks take appropriate actions to ensure that the stipulated vehicle standards are conformed with, in the overall interest of safety on Nigeria roads. A vehicle that falls short of the safety standards could constitute a threat to the life of the president of a nation. It is, therefore, expedient for appropriate actions to be taken to forestall the problems that can emanate from vehicles that fall short of the safety standards irrespective of people’s complain about the state of the economy. The life of a human being is not quantifiable and it is irreparable when damaged.

Travelling on inter-state roads, it is not uncommon to see faded traffic signs, wrongly positioned signs,

wrongly coloured signs and inappropriately marked roads. All these could be misleading thus increasing the possibility of road crashes.

It is, therefore, important for the Ministries of Works and/or Transport to regularly monitor and appropriately correct these shortcomings for the safety of lives and properties on roads.

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LABOUR

Oshiomhole to NUJ: be guided by Constitution G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to always exercise the contitutional rights of the union in the face of harassment and intimidation of members by employers.

Speaking at the opening of the NUJ Constitutional Conference where the union’s constitution was reviewed in Benin, the governor said members should be guided by the constitution because it is a good tool for directing the affairs of any association.

“Most of the time, the problem is not with the constitution, but with the people who are to be guided by the constitution. People don’t like constitution.

Bad people are giving bad interpretation to constitutions to save themselves, because they can not cope with the demands of the constitution”.

He also noted that journalists are doing so much for the society but not doing enough for themselves. He said they have used their stories to strengthen non-state institutions. “ I was in the NLC, if I survived, it was because the media rose whenever I was in danger to defend me, and to defend the NLC. “I believe that the media has empowered non- state institutions like organised labour, civil rights groups, NGOs, and so on. What I am not too sure that NUJ has been able to do is to use the power of the media to help its own members. I still hear of media people not paying salaries as and when due. Those stories are never in the newspapers. Even the reporter that is reporting retrenchment in other place is unable to report how a reporter in the media industry was unjustly dismissed.

“And I asked when I was with the NLC, why do you behave like the needle that patches everybody’s cloth except its own. I once asked the labour reporters that why don’t you in the face of anything use the power of strike, not as a means of solving anything but just a way of communicating your grievances to your employer. They said it is never heard of that the media refuses to report.

But it has been heard of, that a man works and is not paid for about two or three months? And he must continue to work? Is the media more essential to life than the medical doctors? I am not saying the doctors should do what they do but to prove a point, if they can go on strike, I don’t see why journalists should suffer in silence. I think NUJ ought to be using its tools about the weapons available in the avalanche when interest of its members are in danger.”

He said NUJ must not ignore its professional roles which requires an obligation as a trade union that has constitutional right to defend its members. And to explore all legitimate simple methods to canvass and if possible to harrass

• From right: Special Adviser media to Edo state Governor, Mr. Tony Iyare; Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu and NUJ President Mallam Muhammad Garba exchanging views during the NUJ Constitution review conference in Benin Edo State.

PHOTO: AKINOLA ARIYO.

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

those who are intimidating, exploiting and otherwise dehumanizing journalists.

Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu advised the leadership of NUJ to show objectivity and creativity in amending the union’s constitution.

He said that constitutional review was as dynamic as the Nigerian society, adding that every constitution made provisions for its amendment at the right time.

Ekweremadu, said: “I am happy that your constitution not only has made provision for how it should be amended, but also has a time frame.

“I appeal to you to do a thorough amendment to ensure that the outcome of this review is objective and creative.

“Do not do anything less and expect that those who will come after you will amend it again because it would not tell well of those who made the amendment.”

Ekweremadu urged the union to ensure that the constitutional review would stand the test of time, adding that nobody was sure of who would be a beneficiary in the future.

He also warned against amending the constitution that would create crisis in the union, adding that the exercise should make the NUJ proud.

He said the Senate would want the union to contribute their quota during the deliberations on state creation and setting up the state police among others.

“I want you all to ensure professionalism, so that bad eggs will not spoil the good apple.”

National President of NUJ, Mallam Mohammed Garba said the union’s constitution is reviwed every five years, and his administration acted in conformity with the dictates of the NUJ Constitution and not for potecting any interest.

Highlight of the conference was the

‘I once asked the labour reporters that why don’t you in the face of anything use the power of strike, not as a means of solving anything but just a way of communicating your grievances to your employer. They said it is never heard of that the media refuses to report. But it has been heard of, that a man works and is not paid for about two or three months?’

presentation of an award for good governance to Governor Oshiomhole by the NUJ. Malam Mohammed presented the award at a luncheon organised by the Edo Government for the delegates.

Garba said the union gave the award to the governor in recognition of the developmental projects he had implemented in the state.

“NUJ has honoured you in order for you to continue with your designed policies and programmes in the state and the country at large,” the said.

He said that the presentation of the award was part of the union’s effort to encourage leaders, who did good works in their states.

Responding, Oshiomhole expressed appreciation to the union for the gesture and in turn, presented the NUJ with a statue of Oba Ewuare the Great, which, according to him ,symbolises, “development”.

Ewuare ruled the Benin Kingdom in 1440. He was reputed to have built the Akpakpava Road, widely acclaimed as the “apian way” of that era in BeninCity.

“I thank the journalists for finding me worthy for this award,” he remarked, adding that the award would spur him to do more for the state and the nation.

“A worker will always be a worker’’.

He noted that the lunch with the union was one of the finest hours he had ever had since he assumed duty in the Government House

Applicants besiege Governor’s office in Abeokuta

M

ANY applicants have besieged the governor’s office in Abeokuta, to ascertain their employment status, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The applicants who were on November second and third, interviewed by the state’s Civil Service Commission, were asked to

return for their employment letters on November 16.

However, some of them who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise that their names were not out as promised by the commission.

“They said our names will be out today and that our letters will be ready tomorrow but here we are now, nothing to show that

they will employ us, “ one of them said.

Another applicant expressed surprise at the inability of applicants to access the commission’s web site.

“Now that the web is shut down, how do I know if my name is out or not? I want to appeal to the Governor to be good to his promise by employing us as he promised, “ he pleaded.

RATTAWU, NUJ shelve strike over salary structure

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HE Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have suspended their proposed strike over media salary structure.

The strike was planned to begin last Thursday.

Deputy National President, RATTAWU Sunday Olu-Jethro said the strike was postponed due to the just concluded NUJ constitutional review conference in Benin.

“Our principal counterpart, the NUJ are having their conference in Benin, so we cannot take a definite decision concerning the proposed strike until after the conference ‘’ Olu-Jetro explained that RATTAWU had on Tuesday met with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, noting that NUJ did not attend.

“We cannot take a definite decision now, so the meeting next week will determine whether to still go on strike or not. “

He said the Ministers of Information and Labour told the union the issue was before Mr President and that they would do a follow up.

Olu-Jetro further said that the unions were awaiting the ministers‘ feedback, before they could take any further action.

National Secretary of the NUJ, Mallam Shu’aibu Leman, who also spoke in a telephone interview, said the strike was shelved due to NUJ conference in Benin.

Save on Mac 27 - Labour - 21-11-11 - Mon

Reacting, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shuaib Salis, who addressed the crowd, said the list of successful applicants would soon be out.

According to him, the list was ready as promised by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, but awaiting ratification from the commission before being made public.

“We have compiled the list as promised, but we don’t want to make the same mistakes as the last administration by not properly regularising it.

“It has to go through the board of the Civil ervices Commission for approval and ratification, then we alert them through the web or text message to come for their letters. “ Chairman of the Commission, Mrs Aderonke Folarin, said it had done a thorough job to select the best out of the applicants.

She appealed to them to be patient for final ratification of their application, saying it was important to get the successful applicants once and for all.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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CAPITAL MARKET Bond and Money Market Review

C

OMPARED with a fortnight ago, the bond segment of the money market last week ended activities on a bearish note.

The FGN bond index declined by 0.11 per cent to stand at 1432.16 points.

Capitalisation also swang in the same direction as it dropped by 0.57 per cent last week. Bond prices declined throughout the week except on Tuesday (15/11/2011) when price of short and long term instruments rose slightly, the bearish returns may restore uncertainty in the market and this will rub off on the market performance this week.

Market index decreased by 0.11 per cent while capitalisation dropped by 0.57 per cent to stand at N1.739 trillion up from a value of N1.741 trillion recorded the penultimate week.

The market declined by 0.24 per cent in value on daily evaluation.

Fortnight ago, the market appreciated by 0.45 per cent showing the magnitude of the bullish trading in the penultimate week. The weekly drop in performance was as a result of continuous decline in prices of all short and long term instruments, relative to what was experienced in the penultimate week.

The FGN bond Index began the week at 1,433.71 and closed at 1,432.16 points, dropping by 161 basis points against an increase of 629 basis points a fortnight ago.

It ended the week at 1,432.16 points.

Average index was 1,434.24 points, compared to 1,429.54 points the previous week. The 30-day and 60-day and 90-day indices rose by 0.75 per cent, 0.71 per cent and 0.54 per cent to claim 17.08 per cent, 17.37 per cent and 17.58 per cent respectively.

Volume of market transaction decreased from N1.741 trillion to N1.739 trillion, while the index on the other side closed at 1,432.16 points, as it started the week with 1,433.71 points.

Market capitalisation closed with N 1.739 trillion to end last week transaction as against N 1.741 trillion observed in the penultimate week. The daily changes in the index declined slightly to close the weekly observation.

The FGN bond Index movement represents a decrease in the market performance supported by the changes on daily examination as it also decreased slightly due to fall in price of some short and long term instruments for foreign exchange financing. These price changes in cited instruments are the major drivers of the market performance a fortnight ago.

Among the 15 traded bonds, almost all of had their price decline while other price remain unchanged throughout the last week . Surprisingly, the prices of short term instruments witnessed depreciation throughout the trading week.

The top price gainer was the 20year bond, 15.00 per cent FGN Nov 2028, which appreciated by N1.43 to close at 106.94. However, the 5-year bond, 10.50 per cent FGN Mar 2018, which also declined by N0.63 to end the week at 91.31.

Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold foreign exchange worth $250 million to authorised dealers at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) window as against $100 million a fortnight ago. The dealers had demanded $333.81 million before the auction while the actual amount offered stood at $250 million.

At the foreign exchange market, the naira depreciates by 3.50 per cent as the lowest bid rate stood at N151.00.

Figure 23 illustrates the year-todate change in the bra FGN bond Index.

The bra FGN bond index is a market value weighted index and is designed to measure the performance of the Nigerian investment-grade fixed income market.

Although the index stabilised during most periods of January and February as shown above, it recorded a sharp drop in March as investor out-

Bond market activities down by 0.11% Table 4: Key Statistics of Market’s Stock Performance as of Nov. 17, 2011 S/N

Company Name

Share Price Gain (‘N)

% of Shares’ Gain by Investors

TOP FIVE GAINERS BY PRICE 01

FO Plc

12.79

0.60%

02

Dangote Flour Plc

5.61

0.26%

03

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

4.64

0.22%

04

NAHCO Plc

5.30

0.22%

05

Ikeja Hotels Plc

3.16

0.15%

Nestle Nigeria Plc

405.00

-5.00%

02

Oando Plc

26.60

-1.40%

03

WAPCO Plc

38.01

-0.98%

04

Cadbury Plc

12.01

-0.63%

05

Ashaka Cement Plc

13.56

-0.54%

TOP FIVE LOSERS BY PRICE 01

Source: NSE and bra Limited Indicator Turnover Value Deals FGN Bond Index Market Capitalization Index Weekly Returns (%) Index Year-to-Date Returns (%) 1-Month Returns (%) 3-Month Returns (%) 12-Month Returns (%)

CurrentWeek 197.8 million N160.43 billion 1,301 1,432.16 N1.739 trillion 2.80 5.38 0.78 4.55 3.28

PreviousWeek 192.8 million N157.84 billion 1,296 1,433.71 N1.741 trillion 2.86 5.42 0.70 4.51 3.22

% Change 2.59 1.64 (0.11) (0.57) (0.06) (0.04) 0.08 0.04 0.06

Source: BRA Figure 1: FGN Bond Index

Source: FMDA

Figure 2: Nigerian T-bill Primary Market Auctions

Primary Market Auction

look turned negative in the bond market in anticipation of elections.

The FGN index recorded its biggest decline (108 points) in Marchlosing roughly seven per cent of its value. We observe the stabilisation of the declining trend in April and a gradual recovery in May and June.

The month of July followed this recovery trend with index values reaching their March levels. The index stabilised in August closing at 1512 points on August 26 compared to 1517 points on July 30.

Besides the sharp drop witnessed in August 23 to about 1504.4 points, the index sustained its upward trend,which peaked at 1525.26 points at September 22 to end the month low at 1497.69 points.

Noticeably, the index recorded a consistent decline in the month of October but later closed high at 1434.34 points but with a negative growth of 4.23 per cent over the preceding month’s value.

The over-the-counter bond market notched up by 2.59 per cent last week, yielding N160.43 billion with a turnover of 197.8 million units in 1,301 deals.

The amount compared favourably with the N157.84 billion invested on 192.8 million units in 1,296 deals a fortnight ago. The activity was boosted by the 20-year bond, due in July 2030 with 10.0 per cent coupon rate. It traded 41.95 million units valued at N31.30 billion in 316 deals.

This was followed by the three-year bond, 5.5 per cent FGN Feb 2,013 which

Source: Financial Markets Dealers Association traded 33.55 million units valued at tober declined by 8 per cent from the N30.04 billion in 281 deals. Sixteen total auction in November. of the available 34 FGN bonds were However, in terms of FGN bonds, traded during the week, compared there were no issues at all in the month with 12 the previous week. of October. The market only traded In the NTB Primary Market, there on existing instrument. were three new issues of NTBs with 364, 182 and 91 days maturities with Nigerian Yield Curves annual true yields of 19.35, 17.39 and Overall we observe an increase in 15.58 respectively.

NITTY yields on short term TreasurThese yields are significantly ies had being on the rise since Sepabove the previous month’s Treastember. ury bill auction with true yields of This suggests that investors are 12.67 for 364 days issue, 11.47 yields relatively selling their stake to have on the 182 days issue and 10.50 on adequate liquidity to edge the liquidthe 91 days issue. ity squeeze brought about by the reAs for the FGN bonds, there was cent monetary tightening. Hence, inno issue at all in the month of Octovestors currently prefer other alterber. More explicitly, the volume of natives to both short term instruNTB primary Auctions issued in Ocments.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

THE CEO The Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Joseph Odumodu, was the first indigenous managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nigeria’s oldest and largest pharmaceutical manufacturing company, May & Baker Nigeria. An accomplished professional, Odumodu, in this interview with TOBA AGBOOLA, speaks on how Nigeria is losing N50 billion annually to sub-standard goods and other issues. Excerpts:

‘Nigeria loses over N50b annually to fake products’ Y

OU have been on this job for about nine months. What are your experience, achievements and challenges?

It has been tough but I thank God that we are winning the war against fake products. As of today, there is nobody in the country that is in the business of importing or selling, or in Alaba market (in Lagos), who does not know that the landscape has changed. In fact, what we see today is that people are now routing their goods to Warri and Calabar ports.

Some are shipping through Sokoto and Niger Republic. We are going to meet them. No wahala! We now have reports that people are no longer much disposed to routing their goods through Lagos. Ask the owners of warehouses in Lagos. They are fretting. Most of the warehouses are locked. I am sure you see a lot of goods out there (referring to a long chain of impounded containers and truck loads of goods lining up on Victoria Onibudo Street, Victoria Island hosting SON’s headquarters).

You can go and give your bribe at the ports, once you step out of there, we’ll grab you and ask you to tender your papers.

We are even using that to check the activities of our officials. Because, for example, the laws are clear on SONCAP and all that. So, if you see a document stamped without a SONCAP and we ask you for it and you fail to produce it, then we can use it to indict our own staff. So, there are lots of revelations. We know that they are also flying containers at night. We are also waiting for them, even at night!

As for the experience, it is an exciting one.

It is a learning process for me also. I had some ideas before I came here. But what I met on the ground punctured most of those assumptions. I then had to step back and spend about three months studying this environment. I found out that the public sector is a bit more thorough but slow in its processes. An average civil servant takes his time in what he wants to do. In the private sector you can easily get people to do things. But, over here, sometimes, you get into a situation where you may have to shout at people to get things done, which, unfortunately, they are not used to in the public sector. But, I am now a more balanced Nigerian when it comes to understanding how the system works.

You must have been to the streets, the markets and the ports. What did you find in those places?

Everywhere we went, we insisted on getting rid of fake products. After one of the forums we had, the feedback we got was like, “if you can solve this problem, then any other problem could be solved.”

When I was young, I recall that changing

•Odumodu

‘You can go and give your bribe at the ports. Once you step out of there, we’ll grab you and ask you to tender your papers.

We are even using that to check the activities our officials’ electric bulbs was like once in a long while, maybe once in a year. But now, it is like a daily or weekly ritual. I went to schools to talk to children and each one I asked how often do you change bulbs in your room? I don’t know whether they all met to agree on two weeks. Everybody was saying, two weeks. That is scary. I

found iron rods that are substandard. I found tyres, some of them new tyres that don’t meet specifications; helmets that you can actually break with your hands; you can actually pull them apart. I found automatic voltage regulators (AVR), the ones we call stabilisers, that don’t work. In fact, I can tell you that there are no standard

stabilisers in Nigeria today and I want somebody to challenge me on that.

You speak passionately on zero tolerance. Two months ago, you gave importers of non-SONCAP compliant goods up till August 15, to regularise their docu• Continued on page 51

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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THE CEO

‘Nigeria loses over N50b annually to fake products’ •Continued from page 50

ments or have such goods impounded.

Now that the deadline has expired what is the situation?

When we announced this, people shouted: “Ah, you are making new laws.”

Then we sat back. I even remember that we gave May 31 as a deadline, and they said, “no, no, you have to explain to us...you have to give us time. Some of the supplied goods have been on sea, so you need to give us time so that they can be cleared.” And I said, okay!

And so August 15 came. We also capped it with a stakeholders’ meeting and we had opened the market desks in Alaba then. Now if you go to Alaba, you have the SON-Help-Desks. You want to buy something, you can now ask them, what should I buy and how do I buy it. How do I know which is real and which is not?

They are all there.

They all know that the market has changed! We have sealed about 22 warehouses in the Alaba area. They are mainly electronics shops; electrical and all that. I am sure that there must have been a lot of people there because they are all coming now. What we ask when we seal, is that you show us the documents with which you brought the products into the country.

You must have the right documents. If you don’t have them, even when you escape into the market, you will meet us there.

What do you do with seized items that cannot be recycled?

We burn them, but I will give you an example of what they call ‘energy saving bulbs’. These bulbs are imported in millions into Nigeria. Of course, they are not energy saving. They are all substandard. And because they burn too frequently, the frequency of use and change is high, and they are all discarded all over the places. But we look at the hazard of throwing mercury into the roadsides… into the gutter, because they all contain mercury.

So, we are just creating health problems for ourselves. You know what happened to lead in Zamfara State. So many people died. We are going to create an epidemic of mercury within the metropolis and urban areas, because of the way we use

•Odumodu

and dispose these so-called energy saving bulbs. It’s good for people to make money, but I think we should do it in a judicious way, so that we don’t also kill people in the process.

Having said that, let me warn that from now onwards, if you import a product that has the potential to kill, we will no longer stop at merely seizing the products and you forfeiting all that, we will be prosecuting. We have also found out that even though the SON Act does not cover that (prosecution), but Nigeria has laws that prosecute people who have intentions to kill. So, I am actually very excited about that opportunity.

The only thing is that, we now have to work… because we don’t have prosecution powers, but the state governments all have those powers. And so, we intend to collaborate with them to make it a huge success. In fact, we are already discussing with the Attorney-General of Lagos State and I can tell you that I am very excited, because people need to be punished. If you don’t punish them they will just think its business as usual. People need to know that things have changed!

And they really have changed.

What is the fate of the huge pile-up of impounded goods?

We are waiting for their owners. You know when a container leaves the port there are certain basic documents you should have. For example, there is a certain document called verifying sheet. It shows that SON has finished its assignment on your goods. If you have your verifying SONCAP document, you don’t have any problem with us. We will only take a sample and let you go. All we require is that you just give us the address of where you are taking your goods, just in case we have an issue to clarify.

Do you have the capacity to test all imported goods coming into the country?

No, we don’t have. No country in the world has full capacity to test all its imported products. What happens is that there are certain things we can test, and there are others that we can’t because we don’t have the capacity to test them, but there’s capacity outside; we don’t do all our testing in SON. There are some pri-

•Odumodu

‘Let me warn that from now onwards, if you import a product that has the potential to kill somebody, we no longer will stop at merely seizing the products and you forfeiting all that, we will be prosecuting’ vate companies that we have arrangements with that help us to test certain products which they have equipment for.

So, it’s nothing strange.

There are some organisations we are involved with that are into testing. In fact, there was a time we were testing tyres in Ghana. But now, we are doing it here.

Some items were even taken to South Africa for testing. But in such cases we allow the importer to take the goods away and then, we do the testing. And even if there are those who may want to play smart, we will wait for your next consignment. When it comes, we hold you.

Even right here, we are building a laboratory and, before December, it will be functional. Today, we can test major electrical and electronics, food products, paints and all that.

We can test paints…and you know there are a lot of elements involved in paint making. So we test for those critical elements. We are not able, for example, to test bulbs now. This is because bulb testing is a very intricate, complex process. It takes time. In fact, it takes about 42 days to carry out full testing on bulbs.

On the average, a bulb should last for at least one year or about 4,000 hours. But averagely, Nigerian bulbs are lasting for less than 10 hours!

In our estimation, Nigeria is losing over N50 billion to faked and substandard products utilisation yearly. Auto spare part is another area where these things are prevalent. Of this N50 billion, almost N20 billion is in the auto spare parts sector alone.

A lot of spare parts, supposedly from Toyota Company are faked. Toyota has said that they don’t know anything about them. They don’t even know how they came into the country, because they are not Toyota spare parts. So, this is a direct loss. I am not talking about other losses like health hazards! The loss of lives and

the loss of opportunities by the local manufacturers for not being able to supply his own goods because of the preponderance of substandard products is another issue.

There are fears that given the mounting pressure, very soon, you will compromise...

Those people apparently don’t know me. I am someone who will do a job that I have accepted to do. I am a man of my word. If I say this is where we are going, that is it. The war against fake product is on and we are not deterred. This is a matter of life. By my training, I believe in the sanctity of life and the fact that we must try as much as possible to preserve life.

What is your relationship with other agencies and how much support do you get from the government?

Well, we are collaborating with other agencies, no doubt. But, of course, there are challenges with the Customs. We need to ensure that there is delineation of duties. While Customs is responsible for generating revenue, they should also appreciate the fact that we are responsible for quality assurance. We all have to do our jobs so that, at the end of the day, it will be for a better Nigeria.

How will you marry your experience in the private sector with that of the public sector?

I think, generally, the knowledge I gathered as the CEO in the private sector also prepared me as Chief Executive in the public sector. My job is also a peculiar one because you can measure outcome. If we are doing well, you don’t need me to tell you; the average Nigerian will know if SON’s intervention is working. With the level of substandard products in the market today, if we are doing well, it will also get to a point where you can measure our performance with the improvement in the industrial sector.

52

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Investor’s Worth

Growing with value stocks T 43, Mr Orikolade Karim sits atop boards of directors of 10 companies including three quoted ones. With a diversified portfolio of value stocks, Karim is a role model for positive youthful exuberance-direction of youthful energy to creative and rewarding outlets. From financial services to construction, oil and gas, engineering, agriculture to power among others, his interests span nearly the whole economy.

Karim holds the majority shareholding in Costain (West Africa) Plc, a multi-billion naira quoted construction company. Shoreline Energy International, where Karim holds substantial equity stake and serves as group managing director and chief executive, holds the largest and controlling equity stake of 47.43 per cent in Costain.

Costain opened today with a market capitalisation of N2.5 billion and it’s ranked as one of the value stocks- an indication of headroom for further capital appreciation overtime. Karim chairs the board of the 63 years-old Costain and also serves as director in seven subsidiary companies including Schlumberger Testing & Production Services Nigeria Limited and Trans Amadi Facilities Limited.

He is also a major shareholder in Nigerian Ropes Plc where he doubles as major shareholder and chairman of the board of directors. Nige-

A

rian Ropes, a quoted construction-material company, is currently valued at N2.2 billion. With the strategic linkages with other related companies where Karim has significant influence, Nigerian Ropes is also categorised as a value stock. In a sense, both Costain and Nigerian Ropes also qualify as growth stocks given the recent restructurings that have enabled many competitive advantages and started to impact on fundamentals. The delayed recognition of •Karim growth potential is the primary cause of a value stock. own company- Koda Trading Besides, Karim sits on the Limited. He has since then board of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, been actively involved in forthe Nigerian banking busi- mation of several companies. ness of the pan-African A Young Global Leader Ecobank Transnational Incor- 2008 Award Honoree and a porated (ETI). Ecobank Ni- pioneer member of the Glogeria opened today with a bal Agenda Council on market capitalisation of about Emerging Multinationals of N30 billion. the World Economic Forum, Given the high corporate Karim has attended several governance required by fi- leadership courses including nancial services regulators, management and leadership serving as a director in three courses at the prestigious quoted companies is a Harvard Business School and pointer to the influential roles John F. Kennedy School of being played by Karim in Government. He is a strong Nigerian economy. advocate of youth economic A 1987 Business Law gradu- empowerment and investate of City University of Lon- ments generally and has led don, Karim started his career discussions at several internawith the Guardian Royal Ex- tional conferences, investchange, United Kingdom, as ment fora, business schools a Trainee Manager and later and universities. Karim is a moved on to H.K. Beaumont member of the Institute of & Associates, United King- Directors, Nigeria (IoD), Ladom, where he held senior gos Polo Club, Ikoyi Club management positions. He 1938 and Lagos Motor Boat left Beaumont to form his Club.

Ask a Broker

What is Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)?

E

XCHANGE Traded Fund (ETF) is a security that tracks the performance of a specified security or other assets including stocks, basket of assets, indices, commodity prices, foreign currency rates, and derivatives among others.

ETF is distinguished by some defining factors including fixed capital or where the company has variable capital, then the amount of the paid up share capital of the company shall at all times be equal to the net asset value of the company and its shares shall have no par value.

An ETF combines the valuation feature of a mutual fund or unit investment trust, which can be bought or sold at the end of each trading day

for its net asset value, with the tradability feature of a closedend fund, which trades throughout the trading day at prices that may be more or less than its net asset value.

The most important type of exchange-trade products, ETF may be attractive as investment because of its low cost, tax efficiency, and stock-like features. By owning an ETF, the holder get the diversification of an index fund as well as the ability to sell short, buy on margin and purchase as little as one share.

Meanwhile, ETF does not sell individual shares directly to investors as only authorised dealers and investors are allowed to buy the usually large blocks of shares known as “creation units”.

There are many types of ETF. Index-based ETF, like index fund, tracks specified market index. Leveraged or inverse ETF seeks to achieve a daily return that is a multiple or an inverse multiple of the daily return of a securities index.

An important characteristic of this type of ETF is that it seeks to achieve its stated objectives on a daily basis, and its performance over longer periods of time can differ significantly from the multiple or inverse multiple of the index performance over those longer periods of time. Active-ETF derives its name from its management strategy, which entails day-by-day active trading and publication of portfolio holdings on a daily basis.

Ways and Means

Tips on electronic cards safety (1)

T

HE latest report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that many Nigerians are fast adopting electronic payment systems, especially cardbased payment systems.

According to this year’s first half report of the apex bank, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) remained the most patronised of the various echannels accounting for 98.09 per cent and 91.37 per cent of the volume and value of the transactions respectively.

The volume and value of electronic card (e-card) transactions rose from 106.74 million deals valued at N610.22 billion in second half of 2010

to 167.96 million deals worth N764.14 billion in first half of 2011.

While the adoption has been driven by personal choice and convenience, the January 2012 commencement of the new cash withdrawal and lodgement policy of the CBN would definitely compel more people to transact on the basis of e-cards. The new policy fixes daily cumulative limit for individual and corporate customers on cash withdrawals and lodgements with effect from June 1, 2012.

The pilot run of the policy will however commence on January 2, 2012.

Although the apex bank and

financial institutions have instituted commendable rules, processes, systems and technologies to forestall card fraud, the primary responsibility for safety of e-card rests with the cardholder. The following tips will assist cardholders in safeguarding their cards: 1.

E-card is a personalised item; never let your credit card out of your sight whenever possible and do not let another party privy to your Personal Identification Number (PIN).

2.

Be wary when using an open-air ATM; insist on a safe distance between you and the next person on a queue.

How to use shares to secure loans (1) C REDIT security has increasingly become an important element in the new financial architecture.

In Nigeria, Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new riskbased regulatory approach emphasises credit risk management, which is majorly determined by adequate assessment and guarantee of loan.

Lenders generally require presumable level of assurance that borrowers will honour their obligations under the terms of agreements. From the less rigourous traditional use of guarantor to complex legal agreement involving securitisation of creditor and debtor’s obligations, the major concern of the lender is the security of his funds and realisation of expected return.

Although lenders, including banks and other financial institutions, still offer loans on personal recognition, the lending process now is mostly material-based, with loan obligations tied to tangible and assessable assets. A typical analysis of loans and advances of a bank will show the nature of security, collateral or guaranty. Banks generally classify security under three broad headings- loans secured against real estate, loans otherwise secured and unsecured.

Latest audited analysis of the loans and advances several Nigerian banks showed that real estate remained the highest form of guarantee but nonreal estate collaterals still remain substantially high. One of the major non-real estate collaterals is quoted shareholding. Shares quoted on the stock exchange are increasingly becoming preferable collaterals for loans by banks and other lenders. Reports of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) have continued to show increasing usage of shares in its depository as collaterals.

Quoted equities are generally accepted as highly liquid investments and are treated, in most instances, as instant convertibles such as cheques and bank drafts. Quoted shares enjoy the advantage of a ready, organised market where values are ‘fairly’ apportioned and conversions, in either way, can easily be done within stipulated period with little or no risk of renegation. These advantages, in addition to a less costly, rigourous and legalistic process of participation, make equity investments prefer options to many investors and financial experts among all other assets, real or financial.

For Instance, the Nigerian stock market operates a T+3, trading cycle, which makes conversion of good shares to cash possible within four days.

Many investment houses provide cash advances to their needy clients upon placement of sell orders and appropriate authorisation to deduct the cash advance from the proceeds of the sale. This, customerfriendly initiative further shortens the convertibility cycle.

One major advantage that investors in equities enjoy is the acceptance of their share investments as collaterals for loans from financial institutions and non-financial institutions. In spite of the margin loans crisis and the negative impact abuses by banks and other financial institutions, quoted shares still rank appreciably high as acceptable collaterals, although lenders have become more stringent in their choice of stocks and as-

Mac 72 - 58-59 - CAPITAL MARKET

By Taofik Salako

sessments.

The use of shares as collateral is a process whereby a prospective borrower releases his share investments to a prospective lender as security for the loan with authorization of the latter by the former to sell the shares in the event of default in lieu of the loan. Giving the low capital requirement for equity investments, as low as N10, 000 sometime, the usage of shares as collaterals for loans opens enormous window of opportunities to small and medium net worth persons, who do not possess tangible physical assets such as buildings, to access loans and further enhance their fortunes, without necessarily losing their investments. In other words, a small entrepreneur without any landed property but with share investment worth N500, 000 can use it to access loans of up to the same value, depending on the nature of the stock. This definitely provides the necessary ingredients for oiling the wheel of economic development.

Understanding the process and requirements for the usage of shares as collaterals for loans provides strong competitive advantages to market-knowhow investors and further enable them to benefit maximally from their investments, besides the traditional wait for cash dividend, capital appreciation and bonus shares. Like every capital market issue, each jurisdiction has specific rules guiding the usage of shares as collaterals and the subsequent process and requirements are based on the operating rules in the Nigerian stock market.

Nigeria operates a monostock exchange policy, in which case the only stock exchange, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), provides the country specific rules for secondary transactions on shares, under supervision of the Securities & exchange Commission (Sec), the apex capital market regulator. NSE regulates the usage of shares as collaterals through its subsidiary, the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), which provides clearing, settlement, delivery and depository services to trades.

The combination of NSE and CSCS as parties to the agreement enhances the reliability of the scheme. As depository for shares, CSCS plays twin important roles of ensuring that shares to be used as collateral are available in the borrower’s account as well as ensure that the shares are kept in trust for the lender until the borrower fulfill his contractual agreement with regard to the loan.

CSCS does these functions principally through the instrumentality of a lien. A lien means the right to retain the possession of another’s property until the owner pays a debt or fulfills his contractual obligation. CSCS operates a Reserved Lien Account in which all shares used as collaterals for loans are deposited until the fulfillment of the contractual terms by the borrower, upon which the shares are returned to him.

The process and requirements for collateralisation of shareholdings are simple and can be completed within few days. Unlike the many other collaterals that need complex legal and administrative re-

quirements, the borrower and the lender only need to follow the step-by-step process in the case of using shares as collaterals.

Step 1. Agreement: This is the start-point of the borrowerlender relationship. The shareholder who wishes to secure loan and use his shares in the CSCS as collateral will approach the lender with details of his request. Agreement is reached where the prospective lender agreed to extend credit facility to the shareholder based on the latter’s credit worthiness as evidenced by his statement of his stockholding.

Step 2. Confirmation: After consenting to the request for loan, the lender will demand for the current statement of stock position of the borrower issued by the CSCS. The statement of stock position states the details of shareholdings of the holder and is electronically generated by the CSCS. If unaltered, the CSCS statement of stock position gives accurate, up-to-date and reliable information on a shareholder’s worth. The lender must double-check the authenticity of the statement of position by directly obtaining another statement from CSCS. The borrower must provide the lender with a letter of authority empowering the former to collect the statement on his behalf. In addition, the lender may require for a letter of confirmation from the stockbroker to the borrower confirming his ownership of the shares. This is to ensure that no debt obligation, like margin trading, is pending on the shareholding.

Step 3. Evaluation: After the verification of the details of shareholding of the prospective borrower, the next step involves evaluation of the shares with a view to determining whether the total value provides adequate coverage for the loan requested. The simple method to evaluate the total value of quoted shares is to multiply the volume of shares with the average value per share for the day.

Average value is determined by summation of the high and low and division of the result by two. Depending on the lender, the closing value of a stock may also be used for estimate of its value.

However, many analysts prefer adjustment of the market value to cater for vagaries in the stock market. For this purpose, the lender may use the average percentage price change within a given period, preferably not below a month and not beyond six months to mark down the current value of the shares. Given peculiarities of each stock, the lender may however vary the duration for the calculation of average price change.

Usage of average price change to adjust the current market worth is based on the premise that the stock market correct its pricing overtime and the average price change of a stock represents the band of that correction. The argument is that if the stock has risen or fell by this percent; it can also fall by the same percent.

To err on the side of caution, the average price change is used to mark down the worth of the shares, even for upwardly stocks. Also, adjustment can be made for transactional charges for sale of shares to further undress the estimate to a more realisable level.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

53

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

54

EQUITIES

SEC seeks support for market recovery

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-11-11

•International Breweries’rights issue opens

2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,410 2,205.00 4,410 2,205.00

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Quotation(N) 7.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 52,880 399,200.00 52,880 399,200.00

Quotation(N) 1.90 5.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200,000 380,000.00 66,902 365,992.75 266,902 745,992.75

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.47

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 27,232 13,616.00 38,546 56,392.72 65,778 70,008.72

Quotation(N) 4.75 3.10 2.14 4.20 1.58 9.78 14.80 8.00 4.67 1.10 2.80 0.57 0.60 12.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,588,922 7,497,353.61 4,431,517 13,397,711.50 891,508 1,886,084.30 489,114 2,031,492.37 5,329,747 8,373,395.40 9,275,420 90,543,875.99 10,338,889 153,004,956.73 397,129 3,174,322.00 3,530,740 16,624,266.75 242,693 262,360.04 11,365,325 31,765,792.74 5,684,160 3,239,971.20 1,286,327 766,535.41 29,858,938 356,993,784.54 84,710,429 689,561,902.58

Quotation(N) 202.00 91.65 0.93

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 285,997 58,219,591.90 954,654 87,528,301.42 31,775,679 29,860,738.26 33,016,330 175,608,631.58

Quotation(N) 13.56 5.00 103.10 38.01

Quantity Traded Value 419,920 98,993 339,464 411,149 1,269,526

Quotation(N) 8.55 15.91 1.12 9.04 0.57 5.11

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 237,600 2,031,480.00 7,127,456 113,397,824.96 105,936 118,648.32 264,750 2,393,340.00 228,000 130,960.00 500 2,430.00 7,964,242 118,074,683.28

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 15 17

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 8 11 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 94 56 34 37 58 395 314 32 69 21 179 13 29 243 1,574 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 204 2 250 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 11 31 31 117

of Shares (N) 5,875,323.65 494,855.20 34,994,912.80 15,951,634.65 57,316,726.30

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 6 2 17 6 1 44

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 13 15

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.31

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 281,000 140,500.00 117,700 274,974.00 398,700 415,474.00

Quotation(N) 1.72 30.00 0.64 29.58 26.00

Quantity Traded Value 26,288 303,299 4,997,653 718,091 335,435 6,380,766

Quotation(N) 38.43 0.50 7.17

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 35,485 1,414,203.15 2,000 1,000.00 270 2,030.40 37,755 1,417,233.55

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 28 48 57 40 176

of Shares (N) 43,112.32 9,087,229.20 3,197,311.39 21,423,202.21 8,672,505.74 42,423,360.86

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 1 2 14

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 1 6

Quotation(N) 1.70 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 16,000 27,320.00 4,200 2,100.00 20,200 29,420.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 31 127 51 46 20 25 26 2 339

Quotation(N) 48.00 12.38 5.89 4.87 62.00 2.94 4.15 405.00 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 19,792 530,926 1,943,705 869,252 335,650 259,584 497,722 27,772 200 4,484,603

of Shares (N) 903,365.59 6,549,675.33 11,390,731.42 4,229,911.24 20,738,912.93 763,253.96 2,042,431.76 11,286,317.63 100.00 57,904,699.86

Quotation(N) 0.79 1.23 27.00 2.28 1.43

Quantity Traded Value 2,731 1,540 51,191 140,037 897,828 1,093,327

of Shares (N) 2,142.49 1,884.20 1,361,966.75 305,010.29 1,283,894.04 2,954,897.77

No of Deals 2 3 14 22 20 61

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 65 65

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

sue of International Breweries Plc opens today, giving existing shareholders opportunity to buy additional shares at lower-than-market price and further consolidate their shareholdings in the company.

International Breweries Plc is offering 1.48 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N5.08 per share, a significant discount to the current market price of N6 per share at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Application list for the rights issue closes on December 28, 2011.

There are strong indications that the rights issue would be fully subscribed as key shareholders had earlier indicated interest in picking up their rights, a measure that encouraged the company and the parties to the issue to open the offer in spite of the prevailing situation at the capital market.

The rights are tradable on the NSE and the discount to the market price would serve as incentive for new investors who could buy the rights through the stock market.

GTI Capital Limited is the lead issuing house, supported

by Radix Capital Partners Limited.

The net proceeds of the rights issue estimated at N7.28 billion would be used to strengthen the balance sheet of the company and provide amenable financing support for the long-term sustainable growth of the company.

About N6.2 billion would be used to refinance earlier facilities taken to finance the expansion of the brewing firm, while N1.12 billion would serve as additional working capital.

Managing Director, International Breweries, Otunba Michael Daramola, said shareholders were unanimous in their support of the rights issue as the equity funds would ensure gains for the shareholders rather than as interest

Quotation(N) 3.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,393,160 11,018,028.20 3,393,160 11,018,028.20

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-11-11 3 3

No of Deals 3 1 10 14

Quotation(N) 7.10 0.50 5.30

No of Deals 1 4 2 7

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.60 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,851 925.50 50,150 130,390.00 25,005,000 12,502,500.00 25,057,001 12,633,815.50

Quotation(N) 0.53 0.92 0.50 2.56 0.53 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.03 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 1,148,790 16,000 617,500 694,500 128,500 11,334,800 501,500 14,247 20,000 857 21,500 13,704,000 5,957,313 5,000 126,600 75,000 5,000 900 80,600 34,452,607

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 45 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 1 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 3 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 11 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 1 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 9 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 2 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 3 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 1 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 2 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 50 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 19 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 1 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 1 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 5 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 1 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 1 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 3 Sector Totals 161

of Shares (N) 609,835.50 14,080.00 308,750.00 1,905,445.00 68,105.00 17,004,300.00 250,750.00 7,123.50 10,000.00 437.07 10,750.00 6,852,000.00 2,978,656.50 2,500.00 63,300.00 74,475.50 2,500.00 450.00 40,300.00 30,203,758.07

LEASING Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

42,498 42,498

31,448.52 31,448.52

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 29 29

Quotation(N) 0.66

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 795,895 522,826.70 795,895 522,826.70

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND TRUST PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 1 4

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.02 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 22,000 11,000.00 4,300 8,686.00 1,089 544.50 27,389 20,230.50

Quotation(N) 1.61

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,030,722 1,667,687.76 1,030,722 1,667,687.76

PACKAGING Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,400 46,840.00 2,000,000 1,000,000.00 123,750 655,670.00 2,130,150 1,702,510.00

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC IHS NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

0.77

MARITIME

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

expense.

He said, irrespective of the market situation, shareholders have agreed to pick their rights as they know the intrinsic value locked in the company.

Meanwhile, investors staked N10.34 billion on 1.25 billion shares in 17,992 deals last week but the pricing situation at the NSE remained bearish.

Banking subsector was the most active with a turnover of 839.22 million shares worth N5.6 billion in 9,309 deals. Insurance subsector ranked second on the activity chart with 151 million shares valued at N123.54 million in 729 deals.

The benchmark index at the secondary market, the All Share Index (ASI), depreciated by 0.5 per cent to close at 20,311.51, while market capitalisation of all equities dropped to N6.392 trillion.

Nearly all other group indices dwindled, an indication of the widespread bearishness that pervaded the market last week.

The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalized companies, depreciated by 0.5 per cent to close at 906.45 points. The NSE Food and Beverage Index declined by 7.0 per cent to close at 569.10 points. The NSE Banking Index depreciated by 1.1 per cent to close at 287.78 points.

The NSE Insurance Index depreciated by 1.7 per cent to close at 150.40 points. However, the NSE Oil and Gas Index appreciated by 0.9 per cent to close at 242.27 points.

Two out of every three stocks that witnessed price changes ended on the negative. Guinness Nigeria Plc topped the 45-stock losers’ table with a loss of N8 to close at N202. Ashaka Cement Plc followed with a loss of N1.13 to close at N13.56 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle Nigeria Plc led 19 other advancers on the gainers’ table with a gain of N4 to close at N405. Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of N2 to close at N62 per share.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

T

HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has called on stakeholders to deploy their energies in revamping the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

In a keynote address during the annual conference of the Capital Market Registrars in Lagos at the weekend, Director- General of SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh, said it was time for stakeholders to move away from rhetorics and concentrate their efforts at revamping the market.

Oteh, who was represented

by Moses Ishaku, a senior official of SEC, said all hands must be on deck to follow through on the reform agenda of the commission.

She said the recent downturn in the capital market was due to the uncertainties of the banking sector reforms and the global economic crisis in the US and European markets, noting however that some positive developments have occurred, including the purchase of banks’ non-performing loans by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), through the issuance of bonds, a development, she said, has resulted in the emergence of a stronger primary bond market.

Ms Oteh attributed the stifling atmosphere experienced in the Registrars lately to CBN’s directives, noting that divestment of banks from their non-banking subsidiaries has place pressures on the shares registration operating firms.

She disclosed that Registrars fall under constraints of cost of operations as their parent companies struggle with the spate of banking reforms, stating that the option of mergers and acquisition will become a reality in the Registrars segment of the capital market in the near future.

A cross-sections of the Registrars at the event praised Ms Oteh for emphasising the need to restore investor confidence in her keynote address.

Meanwhile, application list for the N7.5 billion rights is-

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N)

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 44

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 15 20 8 52 15 133 16 260

Quotation(N) 0.50 63.86 35.00 3.80 12.79 141.00 26.00 200.00

Quantity Traded Value 10,000 28,013 23,324 94,198 246,638 8,450 1,288,288 29,989 1,728,900

of Shares (N) 5,000.00 1,712,433.30 786,276.60 352,669.92 3,309,881.96 1,151,070.60 32,861,854.96 5,759,584.00 45,938,771.34

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 13 16

Quotation(N) 2.24 3.55

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 11,980 25,517.40 7,000 25,717.90 18,980 51,235.30

Quotation(N) 12.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 44,200 548,589.60 44,200 548,589.60

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 11

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

Quotation(N) 0.56

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 25,500 13,774.00 25,500 13,774.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 15 15

Quotation(N) 11.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 74,916 839,947.90 74,916 839,947.90

3,269

208,587,766

1,252,117,059.64

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

FIRS to stakeholders: resolve ambiguities in tax laws

T

HE Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, has urged stakeholders to come up with proposals that would help address areas of ambiguities in the nation’s tax laws.

FIRS, in a statement by its Director, Corporate Communications Department (CCD), Emmanuel Obeta, said Okauru made the plea at the KPMG inaugural forum of the Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) while answering questions from members on tax related matters in Lagos at the weekend.

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor) She gave assurance the Services’ readiness to partner with the relevant stakeholders to resolve such ambiguities so as to deepen tax administration in the country.

She said: “We don’t have answers to everything. Raise your concern so that we can together resolve them. Know that some of these ambiguities had to do with the issue of laws and to change them cannot be by my own regulations. We have to go through the process of legislation and amendment to our

expand the tax base.”

She stated that FIRS, through the Ministry of Finance, could handle the present rate of Withholding Tax administratively before legislative review of the relevant law, but that stakeholders must be clear on their positions.

Mrs Omoigui-Okauru, urged stakeholders to direct their complaints to the relevant address in FIRS web-site and take steps to ensure that such complaints receive the necessary attention they deserve.

Earlier, in her presentation entitled Future Direction of Taxation in Nigeria, Okauru explained that determining the direction of taxation is not a duty for only tax authorities or governments.

She said taxpayers and profes-

extant laws.

Beyond what we are doing in the FIRS, individuals and stakeholders must be willing to bring proposals in order to address areas that need changes.”

She explained that programmes presently initiated by agencies of government are aimed at furthering President Goodluck Gonathan’s transformation agenda, adding that her job is to expand the tax base. “ With your support and the cooperation of relevant stakeholders, including other government agencies, we will leverage on the cashless economy to

Stanbic IBTC partners Lagos on N71b Lekki-Epe airport

By Collins Nweze

S

TANBIC IBTC Bank has been appointed sole finan cial, adviser to the Lagos State government on the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport project.

To be developed on a modular basis at an estimated project cost of N71.64 billion ($450 million) in its first phase, the Lekki-Epe International Airport would commence operations with a conservative capacity of two million passengers per annum. It is projected that the airport’s passenger traffic would reach five million passengers by 2015.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Sola David-Borha, said the project reinforces the bank’s long standing partnership with the Lagos State government in the area of infrastructure development, which is informed by the knowledge that infrastructure is the foundation on which socio-economic development is built.

“We are indeed proud to partner with the Lagos State Government on the Lekki-Epe Interna-

tional Airport project.

Our involvement is yet another testament to our commitment to infrastructure development in Lagos State, which is founded on our deep belief in Nigeria and our confidence in its massive developmental potential.”

As part of the competitive tender process for the construction of the Lekki-Epe International Airport, Stanbic IBTC Bank has made available Request for PreQualification (RFPQ) to 33 Nigerian and international firms who have indicated interest to participate in the project.

The companies had earlier submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) in August 2011, bidding for the project under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The RFPQ provides the bidding companies with guidelines for the submission of a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) which highlights their technical, operational and financial capability to design, finance, build and oper-

ate the Lekki-Epe International Airport, before its transfer to Lagos State Government at the expiration of the concession period.

NAHCO Aviance, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Arab Contractors Nigeria Limited and Cappa D’Alberto Plc, are among the 20 Nigerian companies that have been provided with the Request for Pre-Qualification.

They will compete against 13 international firms that includes Munich Airport Germany, Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co Limited (Korea), Canadian Commercial Corporation and Orascom Construction Industries, among others, for the development of the first phase of the airport project.

Situated about 10 kilometer from Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), the proposed airport will boost economic activities at the LFTZ scheduled to begin full operations in 2012. It would also drive urban development and tourism in the Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos State.

A

HEAD of the deadline for the commencement of the im plementation of the cash withdrawal limit policy in Lagos State, Enterprise Bank has concluded arrangements to ensure a hitch-free continuance of transactions for its numerous customers.

In a statement, the bank said, its robust electronic banking service which comprises the internet and mobile banking channels, have been strengthened to ensure seamless transactions for its customers across its various outlets in Lagos State.

It said: “Through the internet banking channel of the bank, customers will be delighted with the EnterpriseBank Connect, which allows banking transactions from the comfort of their offices and homes anywhere in the world.

These transactions can range from checking account balances,

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) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 18-11-11 SYMBOL GANGFLOUR AIRSERVICE DANGSUGAR CAP TRANSCORP JAPAULOIL IKEJAHOTEL NASCON WEMABANK CADBURY

O/PRICE 5.61 1.81 4.64 15.16 0.61 0.63 3.16 4.00 0.58 12.01

C/PRICE 5.89 1.90 4.87 15.91 0.64 0.66 3.30 4.15 0.60 12.38

CHANGE 0.28 0.09 0.23 0.75 0.03 0.03 0.14 0.15 0.02 0.37

LOSER AS AT 18-11-11 SYMBOL PAINTCOM BERGER NIG-GERMAN SKYEBANK HONYFLOUR IHS NEIMETH CUSTODYINS UNITYBNK GUINNESS

O/PRICE 0.60 9.00 9.51 4.91 3.09 2.73 1.50 2.67 0.59 2.7.00

C/PRICE 0.57 8.55 9.04 4.67 2.94 2.60 1.43 2.56 0.57 202.00

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

viewing or downloading statements of accounts, requesting for cheque books and banking transfers, to as much as N10 million in one go.

The banking transfers can be intra or interbank as the case may be,” the statement added.

The bank explained that for customers without access to PCs, their mobile phones will suffice, “as the Enterprise eMobile will enable them carry on the same banking transactions as the EnterpriseBank Connect.”

It stated that both new and existing customers can sign on for these services that would in addition to providing transaction options in the face of the cashless system policy deadline, also give added value in the form of convenience banking in any of its branches in Lagos State.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

sional bodies have a critical role to play since actions of tax authorities directly impact them.

Enterprise Bank ready for cashless banking

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

•Omoigui-Okauru

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 100.28 0.77 0.04 0.88 1,639.36 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,251.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 99.71 0.74 0.04 0.87 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 0.03 0.45 0.47 0.24 0.15 0.13 0.07 0.11 0.02 5.00

• 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

56

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

57

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS Aregbesola seeks religious tolerance

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called for religious tolerance in the state.

He said economic growth is only possible in a peaceful atmosphere.

Aregbesola spoke at the weekend while receiving representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital.

He assured CAN leaders that his administration would ensure fairness, equity and justice among people of different faiths.

The governor said since founders of many Christian ministries, such as Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Prophet G.O. Fakeye and Dr. T.O. Obadare, are indigenes of the state, his administration is working towards constructing a massive •Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (left) inaugurating Efon Community House at Apapa Street, Shomolu, Lagos... at the weekend. With him is the Chairman of the occassion, Dr. Kunle Olajide.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

T

Ogun Lands panel summons Daniel’s aide, PDP chieftain

HE Ogun State Lands Commission of Enquiry has summoned former Commissioner for Education Elder Yemi Akinwunmi to appear before it on Friday for questioning.

The summon is in respect of a piece of land at Ibara GRA in Abeokuta, the state capital, which was originally allocated to the former President of the Institute of Chattered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), late Chief Folorunsho Oke. Also summoned is the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Babatunde Osolake.

Giving evidence to support her petition before the five–man panel at the weekend, Oke’s widow, Mrs. Ronke Oke, said the land was allocated to her late husband in 1977, with the deed of sublease issued in 1993 by the Ogun State Housing Corpo-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ration (OSHC).

She said while development of the land was ongoing, OSHC issued a notice of revocation in 2004, which prompted the late Oke to write former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who reversed the order of revocation.

Mrs. Oke said shortly after the revocation was reversed, the perimeter fence around the land was flattened and somebody started developing the site.

The Acting Director of Estate and Planning, Mr. Sola Adelakun said two revocation notices were issued in 1998 and 2004 to the late Oke. Adelakun said the corporation complied with the reversal of the revocation, but a year later, another instruction came from the government that undeveloped parcels of land at Ibara GRA be revoked.

He said the land was real-

located to Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, who was the OSHC Chairman at the time. Akinwonmi later transferred the ownership to Senator Tunde Osolake.

The commission also summoned an Egba chief, Apagun Oluwole Olumide, to appear before it on Friday in respect of a petition by some members of the Abeokuta Golf Club, over the ownership of 79 hectares given to the Club by the state government for public use.

The petitioners alleged that Apagun Olumide registered the club in the name of his private business and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued to suit his personal interest.

The Olumo Tourist Complex, home of the ancient Olumo Rock, has not been able to break even, four years after it was concessioned to a private company, Resort Support Limited.

Executive Director of the

company Major Tunde Sawyer (rtd.) said the political crisis that characterised the Daniel administration scared prospective tourists away.

Major Sawyer said the company has only paid N24 million to the government since 2007.

Chairman of the Commission Justice Abiodun Akinyemi directed Major Sawyer to provide details of the agreed amount payable by his company to the government yearly, record of payment made so far and the company’s statement of account since it took over the tourist centre at the panel’s next sitting.

Acting Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Mr. Kunle Salami said the Daniel administration was unable to fulfil its part of the agreement on the dualisation of the road leading to the complex and provision of power to run the lift.

Ondo ACN warns LP on fake defections HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State has debunked the alleged announcement by the Labour Party (LP) that some ACN members have defected to its fold.

ACN said the announcement was an antic by the LP to make the public think it is still popular.

It warned LP to stop announcing non-existent defections from the ACN, adding that the people are enlightened about political events in the state.

ACN’s Publicity Director Gbenga Akinmoyo said: “Nobody in his right mind, who is a true progressive and has laboured for democratic principles to be enshrined in this state, would think of leaving the ACN at this time when its future is very bright.

“LP recently said in each of the 18 local government areas of the state, 5,000 ACN members would defect to

•Akoko people join ACN From Damisi Ojo, Akure

LP. “But on the contrary, LP chieftains and public officeholders in the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko have resigned their positions, dumped the party and joined the ACN. “These are not mere conjecture, but real people with names. They include former LP State Chairman Dr. Olaiya Oni; former Vice-Chairman in Akoko Southwest Dapo Fasesin; Wale Akinterinwa; Otunba Yele Omogunwa; Kunle Odidi; Senator Omololu Meroyi; Otunba Omoniyi Omodara; Saka Lawal and Prince Solagbade Amodeni, to mention a few.

“The message is clear; these former LP chieftains from across the state have left for the ACN with their loyalists.

“Their number is in thousands and there are many

more to come, because the LP has failed and the only party worth considering as a prospect in Ondo State is ACN. “As gloom and doom fill the air with the unfortunate leadership by the LP administration, I urge the public to make the right decision for the sun to shine again in Ondo State.”

Also at the weekend, many people in Erusu Akoko, Akoko Northwest, joined the ACN. ACN Chairman in Akoko NorthWest, Mr. Dayo Bello, received the people, who were led by the leader of the youths, representative of the chiefs and women’s leader in the community.

The youth leader, Segun Agun, said the youths have decided to support former minister Dr. Olu Agunloye and reject the LP government, which it said has abandoned the Akoko region.

Agun said: “Youths in the community decided to join ACN due to the neglect of our region by the LP government. We have decided to go with our own Agunloye into the ACN.” The Orowa of Erusu Akoko, Chief Arogundade, and Prophet Eniolorufe David, who represented the chiefs, said the entire community is behind the ACN. ACN Chairman in Ondo North Senatorial District Chief Idris Elemeje, who represented the state chairman, said the party would not let the community down.

Agunloye thanked the community for its confidence in him.

He said: “This is the first time a whole community will defect to a party. This is a sign of our collective resolve to bring genuine development to the community and it shall be done by the ACN.” Mimiko’s former aide Mr. Fola Ajimakin was at the event.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Oosgbo

Christian worship centre in Ilesha.

Aregbesola advised the Christian leaders not to let people given to religious bigotry divert their attention from the issue of development, which is the major focus of his administration.

He said he is working on fresh initiatives in the areas of education, environment, agriculture, health and employment.

The CAN team was led by Mr. Dayo Ojo, Venerable Ojelade Williams and Prophet Elijah Adeloye.

Ojo pledged the support of the Christian community to the government.

Adeloye said the association would continue to preach religious harmony to its members.

Ajimobi to hasten trans-border market

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said he would fast-track the take-off of the Okerete Trans-border Market in Saki.

Ajimobi spoke at the weekend while receiving officials of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and the representatives of some development partners.

He said his administration is working towards making the market No. 1 in the country and urged the development partners to help hasten its take-off.

Leader of the delegation Mr. David Adejuwon said the market would curb informal trading around the Nigerian borders and facilitate the movement of goods and people among members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

MBADUGHA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss MBADUGHA IFEOMA CORDELIA now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ANICHEBE IFEOMA CORDELIA. All formal document remain the same.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogechukwu Serah Mbakpuo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogechukwu Serah Uzoechi.

All formal document remain the same. Imo State University, Owerri, NYSC and the general public take note.

MBAKPUO

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

58

NEWS Pharmacists urge National Assembly to sanitise NHIS T

HE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged the National Assembly to deploy its oversight powers to sanitise the “uncoordinated” operation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The society, in a communiqué issued at the end of its national conference in Enugu, acknowledged that the way the scheme was currently being operated falls short of public expectation.

PSN particularly urged the National Assembly to help “bring sanity and equity to the operations of the NHIS by compelling the agency to provide a level playing field for care-providers which guarantees Nigerians true access to credible healthcare delivery system.”

In the communiqué signed

by National President, Azubike Okwor and National Secretary Gbenga Olubowale, PSN praised the Federal Government’s plan to sanitise the nation’s drug distribution system.

The conference observed that the “current chaotic drug distribution channel has contributed to the loss of confidence in services in Nigeria.”

•Pass no-confidence vote on PCN Registrar

By Eric Ikhilae

It urged the government and other agencies charged with supervising the sector, to ensure strict enforcement of provisions of the relevant laws in an effort to evolve sustainable measures aimed at dealing with identified inadequacies in the nation’s drug distribution system.

PSN praised the Federal Government for dissolving the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) board in an effort to end the crisis occasioned by what the PCN termed its “faulty composition since 2009.”

The conference passed a vote of no-confidence on its Registrar, A. T. Mora and expressed dismay at his alleged refusal to retire in line with the requirement under the Public Service Rule 020180, having served for eight years on Salary Grade Level 17 (HATISS15).

It urged the Federal Minis-

try of Health, as the supervising agency of the pharmacy profession, to ensure that Mora retires as required by existing rules. It also urged the government to suspend all registration formalities in respect of pharmaceutical premises and annual licences for 2012 on the basis of any document signed

by Mora after September 30, when his tenure purportedly lapsed.

The conference applauded the Federal Government’s approval of the fellowship programme of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacist by the National Council on Establishment. It appealed for the prompt release of the official gazette to that effect.

The conference was attended by Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai, a pharmacist.

Another Pharmacist and Director- General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joe Odumodu gave the keynote address.

Fed Govt to make Nigeria investment hub

T

HE Federal Government plans to establish Trade and Investment Councils in six developed countries.

Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga broke the news during the Rivers State Investors’ Forum at the weekend.

The Forum was tagged: “Change That Works.”

Aganga said the initiative would act as a vehicle to channel big, transformative investment into Nigeria and strengthen the country’s balance of payment position in the global market.

The minister said: “To enhance the level and quality of foreign direct investment, we have created trade and investment desks in Niger-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

ia’s main embassies across the globe.

“We have also agreed with the relevant authorities to make it possible for genuine investors to get multiple entry visas in their home countries or visas at the point of entry.

“Our strategy is to make Nigeria the hub of investments in Africa. And to be able to fast-track this process, we have started with the inauguration of the Australia-Nigeria Trade and Investment Council in Australia during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Australia last month.

“The Ministry of Trade and Investment is looking at replicating this for six other ad-

vanced economies. This vehicle will channel big, transformative investments into Nigeria and strengthen our balance of payment position.

Already, Chinese companies are excited about the investment opportunities in Nigeria.”

“We have secured firm commitments from the Chinese government to make Nigeria a preferred manufacturing hub for Africa. The government has already embarked on holistic investment climate reform programme to remove barriers of Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria.

“The government has identified the holes to be plugged in the quest for an investorfriendly environment. “

DPR warns oil marketers against fuel diversion

T

HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned petroleum marketers in Kano State to desist from diverting petroleum products meant for the state.

It said it would resist attempts to disrupt steady supply of the products.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

The warning became necessary, following the scarcity that hit the ancient city at the weekend.

DPR’s Operations Controller in Kano Alhaji Sayyadi Suleiman Abubakar issued the warning during the Annual Petroleum

MASSOB to assist security agencies in Southeast From Adimike George, Onitsha

T

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday said it would assist security agencies in fighting crimes in the South-

east.

MASSOB Administrator, Onitsha Region IV, Chief Arinze Igbani, spoke yesterday at the commercial city. He said the decision would ensure protection of life and property in the Southeast.

He decried the incessant arrests of MASSOB members by the police, adding that the Movement had foiled robbery in the commercial city and returned stolen items to their owners.

He condemned the harassment of MASSOB despite its non-violent approach.

The MASSOB chief explained that this would not deter them from protecting the people.

He condemned the arrest of nine members of MASSOB by the police in Onitsha for allegedly wearing MASSOB caps last Monday.

He also blamed the army in Onitsha for harassing MASSOB’s members.

Products Marketers meeting, organised by the Department in collaboration with major independent marketers operating in Kano and Jigawa.

Abubakar explained that the meeting was aimed at, among other things, reviewing activities of the oil sector in the last two years.

Abubakar vowed not to renew the licencese of any operator who fails to comply with safety requirements.

He urged the operators to be safety conscious in operations involving loading, transportation, discharging and dispensing of petroleum products.

Abubakar warned that the operational base of erring marketers would be shut down.

“Despite the difficulties experienced in the past, occasioned by nation-wide petroleum products scarcity, we are happy to observe that there was a remarkable improvement in products supply and distribution and as such, we would not relent in ensuring effective monitoring of products distribution,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

59

60

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS

The Guardian publisher dies at 66 Continued from Page 4

Ibru’s House 17, Alexander Road, Ikoyi, Lagos was immaculately white as ever yesterday. The one storey building on a large expanse of land was clean as usual. The flowers were lush green. At the gate, there were two security guards, dressed in blue. Although Ibru, died a few hours before our reporter visited, everything looked normal.

The only thing that appeared unusual was that on the large expanse of land next to the house, there were many cars and security detail.

But since yesterday was the day Ibru’s wife, Maiden, turned 62, one could safely assume that members of the family and friends were having a get together to mark the birthday.

This was the thoughts of Mallam Guja, the security guard who worked over night for The Ibrus and was just resuming work at about 5.00 pm; he did not know that his employer had gone to the realm from where he will never return two and a half hours earlier.

Guja just walked in and

greeted everybody who he thought where around for Madam’s birthday.

But inside the house, dignitaries from all walks of life where condoling with Mrs Ibru and the family members on the death of Mr. Ibru.

Most of the callers wore long faces. Mr. Goodie Ibru, elder brother of the deceased and Mr. Toke Ibru, one of his children look devastated. They pleaded to be excused by interviewseeking journalist.

Early callers include former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, publisher of This Day and President of Nigerian Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Mr. Nduka Obiaghena, publisher of Vanguard Mr. Sam Amuka.

Former Cross River Governor Donald Duke and Chief Kayode Williams.

There were also Senator Remi Tinuba, Ambassador Approve Clark, Mr. Bode Emanuel, Dr. Amayo Adadevoh Mrs. Derin Osoba and Mr. Olumide Osoba.

Prof John Duncan,

formerly of the World Health Organisation (WHO) described the late Mr. Ibru as a wonderful man, “he left his family at a time they needed him most”.

Mr. Williams said: “I am very upset and very sad that Alex is gone. He was a very good and loyal friend in every sense of the word. I pray that his soul rest in peace, we his friends will miss him”.

Duke described Ibru’s death at this time as very sad. “But it is not how long, it is how well, he lived well, every moment of his life made meaning. He touched the life of many in a positive way.

His good work like The Guardian will live after him.

He can look back and say he has served humanity well.

Also around to receive visitors were former Delta State Governor and the late Alex’s brother, Chief Felix Ibru, Managing Director of The Guardian Mr. Emeka Izeze who informed journalists that the family had already issued a statement, he urged journalists to wait till today for further development.

A sad loss, say CAN, Babatope, Osoba, Kusa Continued from Page 4

In a territory, at that time, which fought my ideas, he was the only one at the management and executive levels who understood me.

“He would call me to his office to help me fine-tune those ideas and back me up if those ideas were fought later on the shop floor.I have tried to close the cycle of those experiences and so, do not wish to revisit them.

“I will be grateful to Alex Ibru for helping me add business insights to my journalism skills. I pray that he awaken to joyful life wherever he is now,” Kusa said.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council in a statement by its Chairman, Deji Elumoye, expressed shock over Ibru’s death and described it as a colossal loss not only to the media industry but the nation at large.

While praying for the repose of his soul, Lagos NUJ said “the late Ibru will be fondly remembered for creating a platform for the practice of developmental journalism with his establishment of The Guardian about three decades ago.

“We, in Lagos NUJ also remember the deceased for his non interference in the editorial policy of The Guardian because he allowed professionals to dictate the editorial direction of the flagship as The Guardian is known in the media circle.”

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejafor, said: “I received with rude shock the death of Mr. Alex Ibru this evening. It is a big loss to the nation and media world in particular.

Mr. Ibru was a good man who interfaced his business acumen with true conscience as he demonstrated during the despotic era of the late General Sani Abacha by quitting the cabinet at the most trying time.

Like the Biblical Moses, Mr. Alex Ibru chose to suffer with the masses of this country than to continue enjoying the spoils of office in an oppressive regime. And he did pay dearly for this honourable decision as an attempt was made on his life by the killer squad of Abacha regime. It is very likely that the effect of this horrified experience might have contributed to the prolonged illness that eventually took Alex away

Ajimobi berates PDP group over ‘wild’ allegations From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has described as a display of ignorance and idleness the allegation by a group sympathetic to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) group that he has disappointed the people by dropping the payment of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) of final year secondary pupils in the state.

The PDP Synergy League had yesterday accused the governor of abandoning poor parents in the state on the payment of examination.

A statement by the spokesman of the group, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the decision as deceitful, stressing that it came after the governor promised to offer free and qualitative education.

But Ajimobi, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, described the allegation and others by the group as “a cache of amateur lies.”

The statement reads: “The Oyo State government has never for a minute wavered in its commitment to education in the state and, despite having inherited dilapidated educational infrastructure and ill-motivated teachers, leading to woeful failure of occupying the 34th position in the federation by its students under Alao-Akala, will continue to pay the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees.

from us.

“The Guardian publisher will be remembered for his contributions to political and social development of this country through The Guardian, his newspaper and the Trinity Foundation, the platform he used in channeling his massive philanthropy, giving support to the poor and the needy. His Ibru Centre, which promotes ecumenism and religious harmony remains one of his enduring legacies in Nigeria.

“I pray God will grant the great Ibru family and The Guardian group the fortitude to bear the loss. May his soul rest in peace.”

His attempted murder 15 years ago Continued from Page 4

the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza alMustapha, former Military Administrator of Zamfara State, Lt Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Police Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr. James Danbaba, and former Head of State House Anti-riot Police, Mohammed Rabo Lawal, were arrested on October 22, 1998, and charged with the offence.

After over 10 years of trial in a case delayed mostly by the antics of the defence, Justice Muftau Olokooba of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere discharged and acquitted the accused persons in a judgment given last December. The court, among others, held that the prosecution failed to prove its case against them.

The Court of Appeal in Lagos earlier this year threw out an appeal filed against the judgment by the Lagos State Government on the ground, that it was not diligent in handling the case, as it failed to file the necessary documents on time.

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS Pope celebrates stadium Mass as Africa tour ends

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OPE Benedict has said an open-air Mass for tens of

thousands of people as he wrapped up his three-day African tour.

The pontiff called for reconciliation as he addressed the Friendship Stadium in Cotonou, Benin’s main city in the heartland of the Voodoo religion.

The 84-year-old handed over a document showing how doctrine in the Roman Catholic church could heal rifts.

The liturgy was delivered in at least 10 African languages and also broadcast in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City.

Many in the crowd dressed in colourful robes emblazoned with the Pope’s image, and some of those who had not made it inside, kneeled and prayed in the car park.

The Pontiff urged them “to be attentive to the cry of the poor, the weak and the outcast” as well as “those affected by Aids or other illnesses”.

His spiritual vision for Africa - contained in a formal treatise - has been called a “papal road map” for the continent.

It applies doctrines like turning the other cheek and forgiveness to try to address the conflicts in Africa, such as those fuelled by ethnic divisions.

Voodoo is recognised as an official religion in Benin, followed by some 40% of the population.

People across West Africa, especially Togo, Ghana and Nigeria hold similar beliefs.

Egyptian military police fight protesters in square

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GYPTIAN military police in riot gear have stormed Tahrir Square in Cairo to try to seize control from protesters who had set up camp there.

Demonstrators fled as officers fired tear gas and beat them with truncheons.

At one point the police appeared to be in control but running battles are now being fought.

The violent clashes between the security forces and protesters have lasted two days in Cairo and other cities.

The demonstrators say they fear Egypt’s military rulers are trying to retain

their grip on power, in spite of elections due in just over a week.

The second day of clashes began when stone-throwing protesters advanced from the square towards the interior ministry.

The fighting has continued for much of the day with large numbers of police and protesters confronting each other in and around Tahrir Square.

The violence in Cairo began early on Saturday when riot police tried to remove protesters who had spent the night in the square following protests on Friday.

After clashes that lasted for much of the day and well

HE Arab League has rejected a demand by Syria to alter its plan for ending the country’s conflict, which has reportedly left at least 3,500 dead.

It dismissed Syria’s demand to amend its proposal for a 500-strong observer mission to be sent to the country.

The Arab League’s deadline for Syria to end its crackdown passed overnight with no sign of violence abating.

President Bashar al-Assad has said his country will not bow to “pressure” and predicted the conflict would continue.

Speaking to the UK’s Sunday Times, he said the unity and stability of Syria were at stake.

Despite accusing the Arab

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League of bias and of acting as a stalking horse for the Western powers, the Syrian foreign minister did not close the door on the Arab initiative.

He said Damascus would reply with a list of queries before deciding whether to sign a protocol allowing the pan-Arab body to deploy observers in the country.

In its statement a few hours earlier, the league ruled out proposed Syrian changes, which it said would radically alter the nature of the mission. But it reiterated its own commitment to resolving the Syrian crisis within an Arab framework. So in theory a last-minute deal cannot be ruled out.

But time is running short.

being held but it could be either Zintan or Misrata.

Concerns have been raised about the possibility of illtreatment, after Gaddafi himself was killed in custody.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo plans to visit Libya next week for talks with the interim National Transitional Council (NTC) on where the trial will take place.

Britain’s Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt suggested a joint trial could take place in Libya, which involved international observers, but said that was a matter for the ICC and Libyan authorities to discuss.

There are concerns that the powerful militia holding Saif al-Islam may use him as a bargaining chip in negotiations over the make-up of Mr Keib’s new cabinet, to be announced in the coming days.

Zintan fighters said Saif alIslam had been captured near the southern town of Obari along with several aides without a shot being fired as they tried to smuggle him out to neighbouring Niger. He was later flown to Zintan.

Saif al-Islam was captured as he tried to flee to Niger, officials say A photograph widely circulated on Saturday shows him in custody, sitting by a bed and holding up three bandaged fingers as a guard looks on.

Iran daily closed over Ahmadinejad’s aide interview RANIAN authorities shut down a reformist newspaper yesterday after it published a scathing attack by an aide to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the president’s rival conservatives, the latest sign of a split in the highest echelons of the Islamic Republic.

The aide, media adviser Ali Akbar Javanfekr, was also sentenced to a year in jail and banned from journalism over a separate publication which was deemed to have offended public decency, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Both incidents spotlighted a feud between Ahmadinejad’s camp and others in the conservative establishment that runs the world’s fifth biggest oil exporter and faces increasing interna-

I

eyes.

Clouds of stinging tear gas again fill the air. Police are using it on nearby streets to drive back demonstrators trying to advance on the interior ministry.

Much of central Cairo is again closed off. Traffic is blocked and stores are shuttered up in what would usually be a busy shopping area. Some locals expressed anger at the disruption but a woman activist says the people must reoccupy the streets until there is a complete handover by the military to civilian rule.

For a while there was a makeshift camp in the

Arab League rejects Syrian demand to change peace plan

‘Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam’s trial to be fair’ T

HE prime minister of Libya has vowed a fair trial for Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam after his capture while trying to flee to Niger.

Abdurrahim al-Keib gave the assurance after visiting the northern town of Zintan, where he was being held after being detained in the desert.

He said he trusted militia in the town to take care of him.

Libyan prosecutors were expected to begin his interrogation yesterday, a senior justice official told the BBC. The official, Abdel Basset Zueraik, said that, according to Libyan law, questioning must begin within 48 hours of arrest. He would not confirm where the prisoner was

into the following night, the police eventually pulled back into the surrounding streets, leaving thousands of protesters in control of the square.

Two people were killed on Saturday in Cairo and Alexandria.

Once again Tahrir Square resembles the makeshift camp that toppled the president during Egypt’s 18-day uprising. There are makeshift field hospitals treating the injured. The “KFC clinic” has reopened outside the fast food restaurant.

A volunteer medic told me that many people have injuries from rubber bullets and buck shot, particularly to the

tional pressure over its nuclear activities.

Tehran’s prosecutor’s office ordered the daily Etemad to close for two months for “disseminating lies and insults to officials in the establishment,” according to Fars.

In the interview in Saturday’s edition, Javanfekr hit back at critics who accuse Ahmadinejad of being in the thrall of a “deviant” circle seeking to undermine the Islamic clergy, saying they had “poisoned” politics and implying many were corrupt.

“What have we ‘deviated’ from? Yes, we have deviated from those friends, from their beliefs, behavior and interpretations,” Javanfekr, who also heads the official Iranian news agency IRNA, told Saturday’s Etemad.

“If they meant the deviant current is a deviation from their beliefs, we confirm it.”

The League announced that an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers would be held in Cairo on Thursday to follow up on Syria.

If Damascus cannot find a way of complying seriously with the Arab initiative by then, it could face tougher sanctions from the League and renewed pressure for hostile moves at the UN Security Council.

The Arab League plan, seen by the world as the best hope for resolving the conflict peacefully, seems to have crashed in flames, the BBC’s

•Assad

Jim Muir reports.

On Sunday, there were reports of a grenade attack on a building of the ruling party in the capital Damascus.

Chemical explosion kills 14 in China AN explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China has killed fourteen workers.

It happened at a melamine production unit in Xintai in Shandong province where a condenser was being maintained and repaired, local officials say.

The cause of the explosion is not yet known.

Industrial accidents are common in China and are often blamed on widespread disregard for basic safety measures.

The state news agency Xinhua reported that the explosion happened on Saturday afternoon.

The plant belongs to Shandong Liaherd Chemical Industry Co Ltd, according to a statement issued by the Xintai city government.

Four workers were killed outright and ten more died in hospital, while another five injured were in a stable condition, said the statement.

An investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.

Melamine is a nitrogen-rich chemical used to make plastics and other products: however, Xinhua said no poisonous or harmful substances were released by the explosion.

China has a notoriously poor workplace safety record, with rules widely flouted as companies chase contracts and profits.

Accidents in factories and on construction sites are common - and China’s coalmines are the most dangerous in the world, despite the government’s efforts to improve safety standards.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Wife of Delta ex-Clerk kidnapped From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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HE wife of the former Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs. Igho Yabvieri and four children have been kidnapped.

Raymond Yabvieri was recently sacked by Speaker Victor Ochei.

Police spokesman Monday Osayi said the police have recovered the green Toyota Camry, with registration number DDF 850, which the family rode to church at Issele –Uku, Aniocha North Local Government.

He said Mrs. Yabvieri and four children were kidnapped at 9.15 am on their way to church.

According to him, “four armed men attacked the vehicle and abducted the female occupant with four children”.

The kidnappers are said to be requesting for N50 million.

Osayi said the police are on the kidnappers’ trail.

Consensus candidate in Edo

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ABOUR Party (LP); Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) in Edo State are to present a consensus candidate in next year governorship election.

The parties said they have agreed to work in coalition “towards the achievement of a governor who would truly reposition the state for development.”

Acting Chairman (LP) Sun-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

ny Aguebor and Publicity Secretary Isaiah Osifo said the coalition would jointly sponsor the candidate after formal declaration and selection of the consensus candidate.

Aguebor said the coalition does not preclude progressive persons, organisations and political parties that might be interested in the same agenda of electing a governor who would reposition the state for development.

Fake corps member, policeman arrested in Akwa Ibom T

HE police in Akwa Ibom State yesterday paraded a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and a man who posed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police at its headquarters, Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo. Police spokesman Onyeka Orji said the command also arrested Titus Asuquo and Eyo Akpan of Ikot Akpa Ekang Village in Uruan Local Government.

The duo allegedly sold a three-year-old child, Emilia Etim, to human traffickers.

Orji said the command recovered N60, 000, being part of the proceeds from the sale of the little girl, from the suspects.

The police spokesman gave

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

the name of the suspected fake corps member as Chibueze Emeka from Enugu State and the suspected fake DSP as Jackson Mfon from Akwa Ibom State.

Emeka was alleged to have forged an NYSC call-up letter and notification of results of a university in the Southeast.

Mfon, who paraded himself as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Anti-Fraud), was arrested in Uyo, the state capital.

A graduate of Sociology and Anthropology of the University of Uyo, the suspected fake policeman said he had been

bragging about his position to extort money and drinks from residents.

His words: “I have been telling people that I am a DSP in charge of Anti-Fraud section in the state CID just to get money and drinks from them.

So far, I have solicited for the release of one Keke NAPEP. “I also tell people that I am a police officer so that they will respect me in the neighbourhood.

“I know the implications of impersonation but I don’t know what led me into it.

“I wanted to join a security outfit in order to change certain things but I didn’t make

it.”

Emeka said his action had brought disgrace to his family.

He said the result was given to him by a friend whom he failed to identify.

The suspect said: “The certificate was given to me by a friend and I have not used it to do anything. I just wanted to use it to deceive my parents due to my poor performance in school that had prevented me from graduating.

“I am having two carryovers, which I intend to write next year but I had to make the fake results to deceive my parents.

“I don’t even know the implication of what I did. I was too ashamed of myself. I paid N150,000 to get the results.”

Community protests school handover From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

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UNDREDS of women in Ovu community, Ethiope East Local Government of Delta State at the weekend blocked the Warri/Asaba Road to protest government’s plan to

hand over Ovu Grammar School to missionaries.

The protesters said government cannot hand over the school built by the community to missionaries.

In a statement by the Ovu Council of Chiefs and Elders, the community opposed the decision of the government to handover the school.

The statement said the school by name does not have the semblance of a missionary school and should not be handed over since it was built by the community.

It reads: “Ovu Grammar school was founded in 1975 through the influence of Chief T. E. A. Salubi and Gen. David Ejoor. .”

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, said the name of Ovu Grammar school came to the office as a mission school and since then there has not been a counter statement to prove that the school is a community school.

Delta NUJ Week begins

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HIS year’s Press Week of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) begins today with a rally round Asaba , the state capital.

In a statement by the Press Week Committee signed by Barry Agbanigbi and Michael Ikeogwu, Chairman and Secretary, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

will, tomorrow, declare the Press Week open at Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, by 10am.

PUBLIC NOTICE ANIETUKABASI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anietukabasi Tom-Okon now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gift Ogbuokiri.

All formal document remain the same. General public take note.

•Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime (left), his wife, Clara, with Chime’s Orderly, Anthony Embugus and wife, Elizabeth, at the ECWA Church, Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State... at the weekend

Ogoni cry foul over Fed Govt’s paper on UNEP report

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HE Ogoni of Rivers State are crying foul over the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report submitted by the Inter-ministerial Committee of the Federal Government.

The committee was set up to look into the matter but the indigenes were not allowed to make their input before it was allegedly sent to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Forum of Elected Ogoni Leaders (FEOL) which comprises the chairmen of the four local governments,

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

namely: Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme, as well as lawmakers from the area, said nothing would be achieved by the report, if the Ogoni, who are directly affected by the UNEP report, were not consulted.

FEOL spokesman Senator Magnus Abe said months after the report was made public, no action had been taken, despite the warnings in the report.

Abe, who represents Rivers Southeast, said the responses from groups in the area did not mean the Ogoni are divided. He said they are

simply fighting the same cause from different angles.

Abe said: “We had appealed to the Federal Government to appoint an Ogoni indigene into the committee to act as a liaison between the committee and the Ogoni people.”

He said despite the technical nature of its assignment, UNEP visited all the four local governments and met with the people, just like the state did.

“So, the least we had expected from the committee was not only to consult with us, but to see what has been written the report and see the people who are involved.

“But we were surprised

when a couple of days ago, we heard from the Chairman of the committee, who incidentally is the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, that the committee has finished its work and submitted the report.

“We are shocked that no Ogoni indigene was consulted .

“We don’t know what recommendations the committee has made, we don’t know what part of the report they looked at, we don’t know what they considered, we don’t know what they are planning to do and when they are planning to do it,” Abe said.

Clark urges return of East-West Road to Works

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JAW leader Chief Edwin Clark yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to return the EastWest road being handled by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the Ministry of Works.

Clark spoke at an interdenominational thanksgiving service/reception organised in honour of former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Pastor Power Aginighan.

He said the Niger Delta Ministry has become a toothless dog that can only bark but cannot bite.

He said: “The ministry is faced with a lot of internal problems, so if allowed to carry on with the project, even for 10 years, it cannot be com-

•Warns against blackmailing Jonathan From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

pleted.

“The Niger Delta has not seen any changes in President Jonathan’s administration in terms of massive infrastructural development.

“And this is as a result of blackmail by some ethnic groups that he awarded over 70 per cent of capital projects to the Ijaws which is not true.

“When former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua were in office, they favoured the Yoruba and Hausa, why should Jonathan’s case be different?”

He urged the President to shun all forms of blackmail and

pay attention to the development of Niger Delta.

“We are not saying we should take everything but every attempt to make a Southsouth man part of the Presidency have been resisted by our detractors, blackmailing Mr. President that he wants to fill the whole place with his people.

“I am using this occasion to say that Jonathan should not be different from other presidents before him. He should do what Nigerians want, he should do what God has put him there to do; so I am using this occasion to appeal to Mr. President that he should not leave us where others left us.

We have not benefitted from his Presidency.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA CHELSEA 1- 2 LIVERPOOL

LAGOS TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

Mikel flops in home loss

Oyetayo stuns Adeniyi in week three

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OHN Mikel Obi was a shadow of himself yesterday at the Stamford Bridge as Chelsea hosted Liverpool in a Premier League match giving away the ball to give the visitors the lead in the first half through a Maxi Rodriguez's shot.

Having stayed away from the two friendly matches for Nigeria in the last FIFA free day owing to a purported back injury, football bluffs, especially Chelsea fans were disappointed to see the Nigeria International play below expectation.

Though Mikel started on a good note, but the error committed could not be condoned

by Manager Villas – Boas who

By Innocent Amomoh got him substituted at the end of the first half. Chelsea still went on to loss the cracker despite Daniel Sturridge's leveler in the opening minutes of the second stanza.

Defender Glen Johnson had made it two for the Reds in the 87th-minute to heap more pressure on his former club.

Coming In the wake of the 5-3 home defeat to Arsenal in their last match at Stamford Bridge, another loss against one of the Premier League’s heavyweights was the last thing Chelsea needed.

With another match on hand against Wolverhampton next

weekend, Mikel and his teammates at Chelsea will do well to salvage the confidence

Osun agog for Governors Cup semi-finals

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EMI-FINALS of the ongoing Osun State Governors Cup will be decided today Monday November 21, 2011 at the Oshogbo Township Stadium and Army Barracks, Ede playing field. The motive behind the soccer championship, apart from using it to discover budding talents from the grassroots and also serve as recruitment platform for clubs in the state to discover hidden football talents, it is also designed to mark one year anniversary of Rauf Aregbesola.

The semi-final pairing according to Osun State Football Association Secretary Akin Adio will be between Alao Babes of Iwo and Ilesha West FC of Ilesha who will battle for supremacy at the Oshogbo Township Stadium by

• Mikel Obi vies for the ball against Liverpool’s Bellamy yesterday

2.30pm, while Orolu FC of Ifon Osun will lock horn against Egbedore FC of Awo at Army Barracks, Ede by 2.30pm.

To get to the semi-finals of the keenly contested competition Alao Babes defeated Boluwaduro FC of Otan-Ayegbaju 13-12 on penalties after the regulation time ended 1-1.

Ilesha West FC defeated Arabamibe Babes of Gbongan 21, Orolu FC piped Ifelodun FC of Ikirun 2-1, while, Egbedore FC knocked-out Alhaja Adekanmi Babes of Ede 6-5 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1.

The final of the competition may likely come up on Sunday November 27, while third place is fixed for Wednesday November 23.

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Yabatech carts home T/Tennis prizes

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By Innocent Amomoh the 3rd Tertiary Games played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos Sports Complex.

In the final watched by the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi and other dignitaries, who included the Chairman of

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EEK two champion, Kazeem Adeniyi was made to swallow his pregame boasting after he was thrashed by Sola Oyetayo in the final of week three of the Lagos table tennis league.

Even before he was made to eat his words Adeniyi was taught how to play the game

by Oyetayo when the Union Bank player emerged as winner.

Oyetayo won the first game but Adeniyi rallied back to level up. T his brought out the best in Oyetayo, who won two games consectively to win the encounter at 3-1.

A disappointed Adeniyi said he was not happy losing the title and he blamed his defeat to loss of concentration. "From the preliminary I knew it was not going to be easy and I ensured I gave my best. This helped me to the final but I loss focus in the final after coming from a set down to level. I want to admit that it has been tough and every player has been putting in their best with new champion emerging every week," Adeniyi said.

In the women's singles, Fatimo Bello, who was a fi-

nalist since the competition began, was also unlucky in week three as she narrowly lost to Tolu Durosimi-Etti.

An unfortunate Bello has been tipped to win the championship in week three and she never hid her intention from the start of the final against ageing Durosimi-Etti as she won the first two matches. But she failed to round off the match as her opponent grew in confidence to nail her at 3-2.

Once again the technical coordinator of the championship, John Peters acknowledged the competitive nature of the tournament.

"This competition has proved to be competitive because every week new champion emerges and once again the week three has confirmed this. So for us, it is now glaring that the materials for the next National Sports Festival are emerging," he said.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) umpire however admitted that the reign of Union Bank Sports Bank has been halted by unknown players who have continued to shine every week.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

NNL kicks off June 2012

3RD LAGOS TERTIARY GAMES ABA College of Technology, (Yabatech), won the first and second prizes respectively at the weekend in the men’s table tennis event of the ongoing Lagos Tetiary Games.

Ahmeed Adigun of Yaba College of Technology defeated compatriot Mojeed Olayiwola 4-1 in the final of the Men's Singles of

reposed on them by their teeming supporters by clinching the three points at stake.

the Local Organising Committee, LOC, of the tournament, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Adigun beat olayiwola in 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 11-12 game. Adigun was presented with a gold medal and the sum of N100,000 by the Commissioner, while Olayiwola got N60,000.

In the Women's Singles, Fatima

Bello of Lagos State University, LASU beat Aminat Fashola of Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH 4-2 to lift the women's crown. The explosive match ended 11-4, 7-11, 14-16, 11-5, 1210, 11-6.

Bello was awarded a gold medal and the sum of N100,000, while Fashola got N40,000 and a silver medal.

The second runners-up in both men and women's event got the sum of N40,000 and a bronze medal each.

HE Board of the Nigeria National League rose from its extra ordinary meeting on Sunday in Bauchi resolving the beginning the 2011/2012 League season in January ending June 2012.

In a communique released at the end of the meeting and signed by Emmanuel Ochiagha, the Board said the congress of the League will hold from 16th to 17th December at a venue to be decided later. They also approved the hosting of a website and designing of a logo for the body, while agreeing to an aggressive marketing strategy to get sponsors for the league. They finally expressed total confidence in the Aminu Maigari

From Andrew Abah and Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja led NFF board, while agreeing to work harmoniously with them and the NPL to the development of the country's football.

Meanwhile, Wikki Tourist of Bauchi on Sunday became the winners of the Super League held in Bauchi. The team led the pack of the four teams with seven points charting home the sum of N500,000. Rising stars of Akure came second with 4 points going home with N300,000. Akwa United of Uyo won the best behaved team with a cash prize of N200,000.

Nura Nakogo of the Wikki Tourists won the Golden Boot of the tournament.

www.thenationonlineng.net

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘Nigerian youths expect their country to take care of them. It is then and only then, that their country can earn their patriotism’ TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

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F you followed what happened in Bayelsa State over the weekend, you can appreciate why President Goodluck Jonathan cannot understand the meaning of honour. A gangster moment played out in his home state and his signature was all over it. He turned a party primary into brigandage. It was an act of shame and dishonour barely a week after he bemedalled many undistinguished Nigerians. Chinua Achebe, a literary luminary, taught President Jonathan a lesson about honour: he rejected his Greek gift.

A primary of his party, the PDP, took place in spite of a court order forbidding it. But that in itself was lawless. The number one citizen of the country and leader of the party sat cozy in Aso Rock while a full force of the military unleashed impunity in his home state to execute a kangaroo election. On the ground, he deployed soldiers and Ringim’s men, the police force. In the air, the Nigerian Air Force planes buzzed ominously. The water was not left out. The navy ships chugged on the high seas in full gear. The sledge hammer fell on an ant.

Was this the same Jonathan all those who shouted transformational president hoped to get? What happened was clearly an act of brigandage by a power vortex in Abuja with the president at the top. It had nothing to do with due process. It had nothing to do with fairness. It had nothing to do with law and order.

It was a day of jackals.

It was an attempt to ensure that a candidate, Chief Seriake Dickson of the House of Representatives, became the party candidate for the governorship election billed for February next year. The drama unfolded in interesting ways last week. On Monday, the ward congresses were scheduled to take place. All the delegates appeared. But the PDP sent security men with party officials from Abuja to Bayelsa, gathered material, pretended they wanted to pay a visit to the governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, but fled to Abuja. No election happened. The only party candidate who endorsed the charade was Dickson. The other candidates cried foul. The party top brass had done the unexpected: a brazen heist of electoral materials.

Consequently, the court ordered that the party should not conduct the primary on Saturday. The party leaders said the court order was illegal because an electoral act said nothing should stop a primary or election. But an electoral act is an act of The National Assembly, and it is subordinate to the constitution.

The court is a product of the constitution.

Rather than go to court to challenge the decision, the president’s men tossed the law aside and went ahead with the so-called primary.

They turned the state into a zone. People in the state could not move around in some parts and had to trek in others. What we had was military rule in Bayelsa State. This reminds us of a time when militants overtook land and water, and it was easier to take shelter under the militants than under government.

...MERRY CHRISTMAS

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

•Dr. Jonathan

So it was a primary of impunity, and that makes Dickson a candidate of impunity... So, how does the PDP want to get away with the act of gangsters of Saturday? If they go ahead with this in the primary, would they do same in the election and make Dickson a governor by impunity, a chief executive by illegality, a chief law officer by fiat?

Thanks to the efforts of the Governor, Timipre Sylva, who initiated the idea of amnesty, that story is in the past, to all intents and purposes.

But what happened at the weekend was the flip side. Militancy became the official act of government, a contradiction of the officers of the law acting like militants. We cannot forget that then Governor Jonathan of Bayelsa State once ran away from the Government House when militants came calling.

It is an irony that he should deploy official force to pursue the same as the president and commander in chief of the armed forces.

The Bayelsa crisis began after the president asked the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, to disband the security outfit of the state. That was the quiet seed of the coming of the federal might to the state. That preceded the screening process, and it became a drama resembling the Baba Suwe tragi-com-

edy over the famous narcotics charge. The NDLEA expected the substance to come down but the watch became endless until the court intervened and said it was becoming too dark a drama for Nigeria’s appetite. But in the PDP histrionic, it was more enigmatic. Day after day came with the party playing coy in telling the nation whether the state governor would be cleared or not even though he had been cleared in Port Harcourt. It took the rally in Yenagoa over a week ago to force the craven party to say Sylva would not be their candidate.

Even at that, they went ahead with their impunity last Saturday to hold a primary. Why did the president not attend the event? After all, in January this year, he voted at the primary in which Governor Sylva flew high as the party candidate. He is the party leader in

the country and also in the state. He should have attended to show example. Here again, the president played to form. He would not come out in the open but play the serpent by hiding in the shrubbery.

Analysts still wonder how the delegates were arrived at. The president, members of the House of Representatives – except Dickson -, senators, members of the state assembly and local government council chairmen, among others were absent. We must add that former governor Alamiesiegha was present. He is now playing poodle to his former lieutenant.

So it was a primary of impunity, and that makes Dickson a candidate of impunity. The Independent National Election Commission was not present. So, how does the PDP want to get away with the act of gangsters of Saturday? If they go ahead with this in the primary, would they do same in the election and make Dickson a governor by impunity, a chief executive by illegality, a chief law officer by fiat?

This is not good for our democracy. Neither is it good for Goodluck Jonathan, who has bumbled in about every task he has placed his finger. He was a barefaced dictator last week, and we have seen one case after another where he is acting the role of a sole administrator with a deceptively gentle face.

Yet another irony. While he deployed full force in Bayelsa, three persons were kidnapped in a Niger Delta creek in a Chevron offshore field. In Bauchi State, some persons died and several injured in a communal clash and two died from gunmen’s fire in Kogi State. The president was shooting in the wrong direction. Yet, in his day of honours, he bedecked his service chiefs and IG with national medals. Was he thanking them for the deaths and fear in the land or was it a case of ignorance? Has the President forgotten about Boko Haram?

This is tragic. What Jonathan and the PDP have done is an ominous precedent for this democracy. President Jonathan ought to give us a moral explanation for this act of brigandage. If Dickson was indeed popular in the state and the party, why not set the process free and see if he would win? It is clear Jonathan is bringing Hobbesian and Machiavellian logic to this democracy. This is what many fought against in the days of military tyranny. The PDP chiefs and Jonathan remind one of misuse of power dramatised in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. A character spoke of “my false overweighs your true.”

This is what we saw in Bayelsa. But the victim in the play replied, “To whom shall I complain?”

It has to be the law to which we must complain. Now, will the courts stand by impunity or by justice? The Bayelsa case is a crucial test for this democracy, and we shall see if Chief Justice Musdapher’s judiciary will rise to its impressive claims.

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009 (D.A.M.E) •Columnist of the Year 2009 (NMMA)

Military rule in Bayelsa

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RIPPLES AL-MUSTAPHA’S CASE ADJOURNED TILL JANUARY 30–News

VOL.7, NO. 1,951

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HERE is hardly any newspaper or electronic medium that has not complained about or published stories

and pictures of the Federal Government’s abandoned roads all over the country. There is also no Nigerian that has not been embittered by the harrowing experiences endured sometimes daily on those neglected federal roads. They recollect that when they complain about state roads, there is a tendency for the states concerned to rouse themselves into action after some time. But hard as the media and the public did to compel the FG to do something about its roads, the more obstinate and aloof it got. It simply abandoned the roads, claimed shortage of funds, and did virtually nothing to even take palliative measure to ease the people’s daily torment. How the FG managed to be so indifferent over many years is hard to explain.

The neglect reached its climax in the abandonment of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, which leads to Nigeria’s main and largest seaport. After many years of neglect, the road finally failed a few weeks

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Fed Govt and its famous roads ago under relentless rainfall, causing repeated traffic gridlocks that were impossible to both to break and endure, and with many container trucks falling on their sides. Commuters spent hours on end on the road, while loss of lives caused by motor accidents mounted. Finally, after a visit to the failed road, the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, an architect, roused the government into action, or the government roused him into action. Either way, construction giant, Julius Berger, was contracted to begin work on the road. For a government that often claimed implausibly that road construction could not be undertaken during the rains, not only was work begun, the palliative measure eased traffic so suddenly it brought immense relief to the commuting public.

The long neglect of the road and the reluctant effort to mend it bring to the fore a

number of embarrassing issues about the functions and responsibilities of a government. If the FG had a vision of the kind of country it hoped to re-engineer into a modern 21st century society, and if it had the ambition to create an image of a country the rest of the continent should look up to, it would never have left its leading roads, some of which lead to the borders, to deteriorate so badly. The roads did not all go bad under the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, but it was irresponsible for any government, past or present, to watch as its roads virtually disintegrate and its people suffer untold daily hardship.

We must hope that the repair work on the Apapa-Oshodi road is not an aberration. It is expected that the same fairly quick response witnessed on the seaport road would be accorded the other bad federal roads that take Nigerian lives daily. For once, let us see a government that has both a vision for country and an ambition worthy of the size and image of the most populous black nation on earth.

•This article was first published on August 8

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