The Nation, October 04, 2014 by The Nation

will be guided by

THE NATION,

EID-EL-KABIR

2 News

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

2015: Factors that will guide my decision —Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured that his decision to run for second term will be guided by national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness.

•Seeks prayers for peaceful 2015 elections •Greets Muslims at Eid-El-Kabir Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja In an Eid-El-Kabir message to Nigerians he personally signed yesterday, the President said he would place na-

tional interest above any personal ambition or sectional agenda. He challenged other politicians to do the same as they prepare for the 2015 general

elections. Felicitating with men and women of the Islamic faith as they celebrate this year’s Eid-El-Kabir, he also urged them to pray for peaceful

and successful conduct of the 2015 general elections. He said: “With this week’s issuance of a formal notice of the impending general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), another national campaign season is now truly upon us and I urge all political leaders in the country to place the overriding interest of the wellbeing and progress of our fatherland above all other considerations in the coming campaigns and elections.

“I thank the many individuals, stakeholders, groups, associations, nongovernmental organisations, unions and political leaders from across the country who have, in recognition and appreciation of our efforts and commitment to repositioning our dear nation for more rapid growth and development, urged me to seek a second term in office. “In deciding on an appropriate response to such calls, I will place the greater inter •Continued on Page 4

Tambuwal tasks leaders at Sallah

•Eid-el-Kabir travellers at Kawo Motor Park in Kaduna... yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

NACA urges safe sex during Yuletide

S the Muslim faithful celebrate the Eid-elKabir all over the world, the Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof John Idoko, has said it is important to reflect on the significance of the celebration and its lesson as it relates to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care. He said Qu’ran Chapter 37 highlights how, in a singular act of obedience to a divine command, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) took Ismail his son, which was begotten in his old age, to a location and prepared him for ritual of immolation as a piety to God. “As he blindfolded him and was ready to slaughter, behold, a ministration came from the heavens. Al-

Oyeyemi GBENGA-MUSTAPHA lah conveyed good tidings stopping the killing and revealed that a ram had been approved by Him as a replacement for the sacrifice. “God added that Ibrahim had passed the ultimate test of faith and would be amply rewarded. “The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the HIV/AIDS multi sectorial response in Nigeria, will like to key into this festival, asking Nigerians to reflect on the lessons of sacrificing one’s most precious thing in the way of God’s command. “If Nigerians obey the command of God, the HIV

epidemic in Nigeria will become a thing of the past, as pre-marital sex, extra-marital affairs and casual sex among young people will not be happening as we learn and become educated regarding the dangers of contracting HIV/AIDS and other relates sexually transmitted infections (STI).” prof Idoko said reflecting on the love of almighty Allah, the level of HIV stigma is worrisome among those infected and affected. “The love Allah showed to Prophet Ibrahim can be emulated by us. This will allow us show love and care to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. “If this is done, it will not only help encourage more Nigerians to get tested and

get treated but it will also allow many more people to be open about their HIV status, thereby making the disease less frightening and dreaded. “As true servants of Allah, we are expected to protect our neighbours as much as we protect ourselves. Doing this as it relates to HIV/ AIDS is to get tested for HIV virus, do all that is necessary to remain negative if tested negative, commence treatment therapy if tested positive, avoid mother-tochild transmission of HIV virus by encouraging all pregnant mothers to attend antenatal clinics and ensure they give birth in government-approved designated hospitals or with trained birth attendants.”

Pray for national unity, stability, Dickson urges Muslims

OVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called on Muslim faithfuls in the Country not to waiver in their belief for the Nigerian project by using the period of Eid el Kabir to pray for the unity, peace and stability of the Nation. He has also urged them to pray to ALLAH to always direct the leadership of the country a right and those charged with the responsibility of conducting

the 2015 elections to conduct a process that will be acceptable to all stakeholders as well as strengthen the unity of the country. Governor Dickson, who gave this advice in his Sallah message to the Muslims, stated that, the nation needs the collective prayers and unity of purpose to not only forge ahead, but continue to occupy the enviable position of the giant of Africa in all its ramifications. The Bayelsa State chief

executive also called for collaborative efforts in the ongoing fight against terrorism, describing the security situation in some parts of the Country as unacceptable and contrary to the dreams and aspirations of the Nation’s founding fathers. Describing Islam as a religion of peace, he enjoined the practitioners to follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, (SAW) that centres on tolerance, peace

and brotherliness. “Irrespective of our religions and tribes, what should be uppermost in our minds is the unity of Nigeria, since we don’t have any other country to call our own. The Governor, however, expressed gratitude to Muslims in the State for their ever supportive and peaceful disposition, calling on them to maintain the existing relationship between the Muslims and practitioners of other religions.

PDP urges rededication to God

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Eid El- Kabir to reflect on the virtue of faith and total submission to the will of the Almighty God, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim who was willing to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael, in obedience to God’s command. The party, in a goodwill message signed by its Na-

Gbade OGUNWALE, Abuja tional Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh on Friday said the Eid El-Kabir grants Nigerians a great opportunity to rededicate themselves to God by rekindling the spirit of sacrifice, patience and love. The statement said: “Indeed, the Eid El-Kabir teaches great lessons in faith in the Almighty God who, in His in-

finite wisdom, destined Nigeria as one united, indivisible and prosperous nation where the welfare, freedom and happiness of all citizens are guaranteed. “We therefore urge all Nigerians to keep hope alive, pray and work towards the greatness of our dear nation. We must rededicate ourselves to the values that unite and strengthen us as a people and resist all vices that

seek to weaken and tear us apart”. The party further reiterated its commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria. It assured that it would remain steadfast in guaranteeing a free and democratic society. It also canvassed a just society where the welfare and prosperity of the people are assured through sound policies and rapid infrastructural development.

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged leaders at all levels to make necessary sacrifice that will enhance unity and national cohesion. According to him, the period of Eid-el-Kabir provides a new opportunity to show love and compassion, especially for the less privileged. In his Sallah message issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal urged the Muslim faithful

and indeed all Nigerians to view the Sallah celebrations as a call for love, care and promotion of peace in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He said as the 2015 general election approaches, politicians must subject themselves to the rules of the games, and urged them to avoid acts that would lead to a breach of the peace. The Speaker equally wished all Nigerians a peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Ekweremadu seeks unity, selflessness •Assures on Constitution Amendment

HE Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday advised Nigerians to show greater sense of unity in order to move the country forward. Ekweremadu stated this in a goodwill message to the Muslim umah on the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir. According to a statement issued by his special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja, Ekweremadu stressed that “only peaceful co-existence, selflessness service to the nation and total obedience to God, as it was demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim, could take the nation to the Promise Land.” Ekweremadu added: “Selfcentredness and greed are the nutrients that nurture corruption and compromise national development. “Let us all live out the true meaning and teachings of our religions by putting the nation first in all that we do.

Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja “Let us eschew all actions and utterances that divide us or tend to pull the nation down, but show a sense of sacrifice and see ourselves as a people destined to swim and succeed together.” The Deputy President of the Senate, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, assured that the ongoing constitution amendment process would be concluded and sent to the state assemblies for ratification immediately after the Sallah break. He explained: “The immediate conclusion of the current constitution review process is one of our major postSallah legislative priorities. “The Committees of both Chambers had just harmonised the positions of the Senate and the House of Representatives before the Independence and Sallah breaks.

Pray for Nigeria, Amosun charges Muslims GUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has urged Nigerian Muslims to use the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir to pray to almighty Allah for peace and continued coexistence of the country. He noted that the much needed development of the country can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace, which is being threatened by the continued activities of insurgents. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said: “I want to enjoin our Muslim brothers and sisters to always pray for Nigeria. “The much needed development can only be achieved and enjoyed when there is peace in the land.” Amosun also called on the Muslim faithful to continue to offer prayers as the country prepares for the 2015 general election. He congratulated the entire Muslim umaah and wished them a happy celebration.

THE NATION,

EID-EL-KABIR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

News 3

Plan to bomb Maiduguri, other Borno towns at sallah uncovered

EHICULAR movement has been restricted in Borno State during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The military authorities who are charged with the responsibility of keeping terrorists at bay in the state said the restriction followed fresh threats of

bombing by Boko Haram. The sect, according to the spokesman for the 7Division of the Nigerian Army, has “perfected plans to launch multiple bomb explosions in Maiduguri metropolis and other major towns across Borno State during the Eid-ElKabir celebrations, using mo-

•Movement of vehicles to trouble spots restricted torcycles, tricycles, etc.” The insurgents’ main targets include Sallah praying grounds, markets and other public places, he said. Consequently, vehicular movement is banned in the en-

tire state from 5 pm yesterday to 7 am on Monday. He advised Muslims to perform their Eid El Kabir prayers at praying grounds nearest to their respective residences. He added: ”While necessary

security measures are being implemented, members of the public are hereby requested to comply fully with this embargo as defaulters will be severally sanctioned. However, workers on essential

services such as hospitals and fire services with clear identification are exempted.” He requested the public to report any suspicious movement of persons or vehicles around them to the nearest security agencies.

Hajj 2014: Muslims pray on climax of pilgrimage

OUNT Arafat , Saudi Arabia — Some two million Muslims from around the world yesterday gathered at a desert hill near Mecca in Saudi Arabia in an act of faith and repentance during the climactic emotional and spiritual moment of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Men and women wept openly at Mount Arafat as they stretched their hands out in prayer and supplication, saying “Labayk, Allahuma, labayk,” — “Here I am, God, answering your call. Here I am.” The faithful believe that on Arafat day the gates of heaven are open, prayers are answered and past sins can be forgiven. The pilgrimage is physically demanding and involves performing several rites, such as circling the cube-shaped Kaaba seven times at the start and finish of the hajj. It is a main pillar of Islam and one that all ablebodied Muslims must perform once in their lives. Abdullahi Mu’azu K/Na’isa from Nigeria said he paid $5,000 to perform the hajj, and would do it again if he could. He said the day spent in Mount Arafat is his favourite moment of hajj because it is the best example of unity and diversity. “Hajj brings happiness and

(the) oneness of all Muslims because you can see that all races are here, and it is a way to mingle with them and have a connection somewhere else,” he said. All male pilgrims, regardless of wealth or status, wear seamless terry white cloths to symbolize equality before God during the hajj. Women cover their hair and wear long loose clothing, forgoing makeup and other adornments to help them detach from worldly pleasures and outward appearances. It was at Mount Arafat some 1,400 years ago that the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon during hajj. He called for equality and for Muslims to unite. He reminded his followers of women’s rights and that every Muslim life and property is sacred. While following a route that the prophet once walked, the rites are believed to ultimately trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail . The journey of hajj brings together Muslims of all stripes and backgrounds, praying side-by-side in and around Mecca for about five days. The pilgrims later left Mount Arafat — about 20 kilometers east of Mecca — around sunset to collect pebbles to be used in a symbolic stoning of the devil today which marks the first day of the Islamic holiday Eid -elKabir.

Airlines record huge passenger traffic

OMESTIC airlines yesterday recorded huge passenger traffic at both the new and old terminals of the Lagos Airport ahead of the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations. The large turnout of passengers occasioned upward review of air fares by some airlines on some routes. The influx of travellers was due to the two-day holiday (Monday and Tuesday next week) declared by the Federal Government to mark the celebrations. Intending passengers were seen struggling to get seats on the few available flights to their various destinations across the country. An air ticket from Lagos to Kano, which used to sell for between N22,500 and N27,000, rose to about N37,000. Flights from Lagos to Abuja, which normally cost between N15,000 and N26,000, depending on the airline and the time of flight, had their tickets sold for N30,000 or more. Most of the flights that witnessed increased fares were headed for the northern part of the country. The Aero Contractor Airlines check-in counter witnessed the longest queue of passengers at the MMA2, while the Arik Airline witnessed same at the General Aviation Terminal One (GAT1). A passenger, Mrs Fatimoh Lawal, who was travelling to Abuja with her children, said she had purchased a ticket for the flight from Lagos the previous week, but got to the air-

Kelvin OSA-OKUNBOR port a few minutes after the first boarding call but was denied access to the plane on the excuse that she was late. “I was surprised to get here only to learn that I was late. My flight was scheduled for 12.30 p.m., and I got here at 12.10 p.m. because of traffic, but the airline’s officials didn’t check me in. They said I was very late. “I had to run around to raise extra money to pay in order to be able to go with the next available flight. I think it is rather unfair, because I should still have been allowed to get on the plane,’’ she lamented. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) advised air passengers across the country willing to travel for the holiday to get to the airport on time to avoid lastminute rush.

•Muslim pilgrims gather to pray on Mount Arafat, as they take part in one of the Hajj rituals on October 3, 2014. From dawn until sunset, Muslim pilgrims stand in earnest supplication and devotion, praying for God's abundant forgiveness. PHOTO: AFP

Police beef upKolade security in Kano

S Muslims mark the Sallah celebration (Eidel-Kabir), the Kano State Police Command has concluded arrangements to ensure security of lives and property during and after the festivities. The Command has also assured the general public of a hitch-free celebration, disclosing that police officers would be deployed to strategic locations within the metropolis to ensure water-tight security. It however warned that they

should also be vigilant during the festivity. The Acting Police Public Relations Officer in the Command, ASP Mustapha Abubakar, disclosed that the Command, among others, advised the Muslim faithful against carrying anything to the Eid grounds, except their praying mats. He also said that the police had been placed on red alert,

adding that security had been beefed up in and around the state capital, especially the flash points and the praying grounds in the city. The PPRO warned parents and guardians not to allow under-aged children, who had no driver’s licence to drive vehicles, just as it also insisted that children must always be accompanied by adultswhen going to the praying grounds. The Command appealed to motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations, as

Gridlock rocks Ibadan as shoppers throng markets, malls

RAFFIC gridlock held commuters down at various locations in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday as residents trooped out in large numbers for lastminute shopping for the Sallah holiday. The traffic snarl was heavy in areas like Sanngo. Challenge, Mokola, Oja’ba, Iwo Road, Apata and New Gbagi along Old Ife Road.

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan While Muslims rushed to purchase rams, foodstuff and other necessary items, nonMuslims were out at popular markets, malls and other stores to shop for the long weekend. Ram sellers opened stalls outside traditional markets at various locations to cash in on

the festival sale opportunities. They displayed their stocks at roadsides but were not disturbed by law enforcement agents. The situation was compounded by the movements of large numbers of undergraduates and workers undertaking long journeys from noon. Taxi drivers, commercial bus drivers and commercial motorcycle riders made brisk

business with the surge in the number of commuters. Foodstuff sellers, fabric traders and supermarkets also recorded huge sales. Reports from other towns in the state also indicated a similar experience. At press time yesterday, the traffic situation had not thawed, signalling that many travellers around Ibadan might experience delay.

Let’s be our brothers’ keepers, Mark tells Nigerians

ENATE President David Mark yesterday reminded Nigerians of the need to maintain a harmonious relationship with one another irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations. This, he said, is the needed elixir for maintaining peace, unity and progress in the country. In a goodwill message to Nigerians to mark this year’s

Pray for Nigeria’s military —Saraki

ORMER governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerians to use this Sallah celebration to pray for our military men and other security personnel to combat terrorism. He said that they toil hard day and night towards securing the country’s territory and bringing back the abducted girls from Chibok, Borno State. Saraki, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), added: “This particularly is the recipe for peace that Mus-

ADEYEMI, Kano

well as avoid dangerous driving, overloading and high speed, to avoid accidents. Apart from seeking the cooperation of the general public with all the security agencies operating in the state, such as the Civil Defence Corps, the Road Safety Corps, Hisbah, KAROTA, vigilance groups as well as other Volunteer organisations, the Command urged the public not to hesitate to contact the Command’s always available emergency lines, among which are 08032419754, 08123821575, 064977004, 06497705 and 08099831808.

Adekunle JIMOH, Ilorin lims the world over are enjoined to put an end to violence and raging crisis that threatens our peaceful co-existence. “As Nigerians, It is important for us to unite on all fronts and live harmoniously with people of other faiths while carrying out our religious obligations. “The moral lessons of these historical characteristics of Prophet Ibrahim must not be forgotten.”

Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja Sallah, Senator Mark noted that there is no problem too difficult for the nation to overcome if we unite and maintain the sanctity of our brotherhood. He stated that the issue of insecurity could easily be tack-

led “if we confront it with a single purpose, honesty and unwavering commitment. “Government has all it takes to tackle this problem, but government cannot make the needed impact if the people fail to cooperate. It requires all the arsenal and goodwill of the citizens to fight. “ Mark added that the National Assembly would con-

tinue to play its role by providing the necessary legislative framework for the executive arm of government to operate. On the 2015 general elections, Senator Mark reiterated that the nation should not be turned into a battle field in the desperation to clinch political offices.

Ram sellers lament low patronage in Kano

ESPITE the affordable cost of rams in the commercial city of Kano for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, ram sellers have decried poor sales of the sacrificial lambs; a situation they attributed to insufficient funds. In an interview with one of the ram sellers, who identified himself as Mallam Sani Ado, he lamented that most of the customers only ask for the price without buying. One of the ram sellers, who spoke with our reporter on the eve of Sallah celebrations de-

Kolade ADEYEMI Kano scribed the situation as disturbing, adding that he had recorded lower sales than he did in the same period last year. He however expressed the hope that the situation would improve by the time the Muslim faithful began the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir. A teacher who identified himself simply as Mallam Sanusi disclosed to our correspondent that he had sampled the prices in various ram mar-

kets but lacked the money to buy one. Abubakar Aliyu, a civil servant, appealed to the state government to pay them their ram bonus to enable Muslims to purchase the sacrificial animals for the celebration. Following the lack of funds to procure rams, many Muslims in the state resorted to buying chickens for the festivities. Already, security operatives have intensified their patrol of the streets, particularly areas designated as black spots, to ensure a crime-free Sallah.

THE NATION

4 NEWS

EADING voices from the North yesterday derided President Goodluck Jonathan's self appraisal in his 54th Nigeria's Independence Day address in which he claimed to have performed well in his five years at the helm of the nation’s affairs. But the SouthSouth Peoples Assembly and Ohanaeze Ndigbo say he has performed creditably. Former Presidental adviser on agriculture, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Second Republic federal legislator, Dr. Junaid Mohammed and civil rights activist, Mallam Shehu Sani, scored the President low on all counts. They said the President failed inasmuch as he shied away from dealing firmly with those that are slowing down the nation’s progress. Prof. Abdullahi, currently spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), said: "There is nothing for one to say than there is no reason to celebrate Nigeria at 54. "Those of us who are over 70 have a different view about what is progress and what is development. Those of us who saw independence and what happened at independence with our founding fathers, our leaders of those days, in the North, in the West and in the East and at the centre recorded

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

Independence Day speech: Jonathan has failed, say Ango Abdullahi, others •Ohanaeze: he came at the right time •He has out-performed his predecessors — S’South leaders Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna/ Okorie UGURU/Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa

far more progress with the limited resources they had than what we are witnessing today. The revenue of Nigeria between 1999 till date is far more than the revenue this country had from 1914 to 1999. "Almost 90 years revenue is not equivalent to what we have accrued within the last 15 years. And we had steady power supply in those years. We had free medical services in hospitals. We had free education in most parts of the country, particularly in the Western Region and the North. And then, we could sleep with our doors opened and we could move freely from one village to the other and from one city to the other, no matter what time of the night it was, without fear of being robbed or killed. "So, I don't know what is their yardstick for celebration. If they are talking about concrete buildings and so on, as

their measure of progress, that is not my own measure of progress in socio-economic terms. "The ordinary Nigerians have nothing to celebrate. Those who are celebrating must be those who are looting our treasury. "Reacting to President Jonathan's claim that he had done well in his five years of leading the country, the NEF spokesman said: "Do you expect him to score himself failed? But that is his own assessment and those praise singers around him. Ordinary Nigerians will tell him he has achieved nothing.” The Arewa Consultative Forum said Nigeria is in dire need of credible leadership to navigate it out of its current quagmire. The forum's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, said in a statement that Nigeria has the potential to be one of the biggest economies in the world

with the right leadership and urged all eligible Nigerians to fully participate in the imminent 2015 general elections by “ensuring that they register as voters and also vote for competent and credible candidates of their choice in all the elections.” In Dr. Junaid Mohammed’s view, Nigeria is not in “the right direction towards development.” He said: “We are only in the direction towards mayhem and confusion, poverty, corruption and irresponsible governance. Therefore, there is nothing to celebrate about our being 54. And those who go out of their way to loot our treasury to celebrate know within themselves that there is nothing to celebrate. "The only thing that Nigerians may want to celebrate is attaining the age of 54 and its survival. But just mere survival is not a human attribute; it is an attribute for animals. Only animals celebrate their survival when others are being killed. "A politician is assessed by the promises he made at the outset of coming to power or at the time he was canvassing for votes during election. But I remember vividly when he was canvassing for votes in 2011, he promised the following: That he was going to bring down drastically the level of poverty. He also promised to do something about infrastructure, particularly power. “He also promised to lead the country justly and pave way for harmonious co-existence. He also promised to do something about corruption. Now, I can tell you and every Nigerian who has been around in this country will confirm that the life of the average Nigerian has gone worse, because from 2011 to date, corruption has been institutionalised.” Mallam Shehu Sani claimed that the Jonathan administration has been able to appease only the yearnings of the people of South South to produce the president of Nigeria. “But all that has happened

over this case is that he ended up enriching a gang of militants and he has become so inept and incapable of prosecuting corruption and the nation has never been divided like they have under Goodluck Jonathan. And the worst of all, today we are faced with a serious problem of insurgency and people are being kidnapped. "The President has woefully failed politically and has woefully failed by his inability to stamp his feet and deal with some certain persons in his government who have been seen to be cog in the will of progress for the country and have also been giving his government a bad image." The South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), however, described President Goodluck Jonathan as the county’s best performing President ever. SSPA Secretary, Dr. Ayakeme Whisky, said there are clear facts to show that President Jonathan had outperformed his predecessors. He said for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the economy is being diversified. He said: "No Nigerian President before him performed as much as he has done. I say that

without any apologies and there are clear statistics to prove that. "For the first time in this country, the Nigerian economy is shifting from monolithic focus to a multi-resource economy. "Before Jonathan, the desire for oil was over 90 per cent. But today, there are other veritable contributors to our GDP, including agriculture which is the most viable sector with potential of reducing the nation's unemployment rate. "I am not going to lay emphasis on rebasing the economy. The fact that we are moving away from oil-dependent economy to other resources clearly shows that we are making progress," he said. Declaring that Jonathan deserved re-election, he said Nigerians should consider the way and manner he pursued the privatisation in the power sector. In a separate assessment, the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Igarhiwey, said Jonathan has done very well so far. His words: “He came at the right time for Nigeria. His disposition as a person is the best for Nigeria at this time. He believes in dialogue and that is also what he has done so far. Most of the problems he is grappling with are what he inherited. Most especially, he has achieved much in infrastructural development and growing the economy.”

Factors that will guide my decision, by Jonathan •Continued from Page 2 ests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda. “I urge all other political leaders in the country to do the same. Let us all rise above unedifying, unpatriotic and selfish personal interests and divisive sectional agenda in the coming national elections. “Let us also commit ourselves more to the sustenance of democracy and political stability which are essential prerequisites for the advancement of good governance, inclusive economic growth and rapid development.” On the 2014 Eid-El-Kabir celebration, he said: “I greet and felicitate with all our countrymen and women of the Islamic faith as we celebrate this year’s Eid-El-Kabir. I also congratulate all believers who have successfully undertaken the Hajj this year as enjoined by Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon Him). “As they conclude the rites of the Hajj and prepare to return home, let us all join them in offering special prayers for greater security, peace, unity and progress in our dear country as well as for the

Ex-Kano Governor, Senator Gaya, mourns Remi Oyo •Husband of the late Mrs Remi Oyo, Mr Vincent (left), with former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Editor in Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, who paid him a condolence visit over the death of his wife, Remi, former Managing Director, News Agency Of Nigeria, in Lagos...Friday PHOTO: NAN

ORMER Kano State gov ernor and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Sanator Kabiru

My last moment with Remi Oyo in UK hospital – Nephew

HE late former Manag ing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, Oluremi Oyo, had looked forward to returning to the country before the cold hands of death snatched her away, The Nation has learnt. She was said to have planned to take a date for her return before she died in a London hospital on Wednesday. Femi Oke, a nephew to the deceased, who visited her in a United Kingdom hospital shortly before her death, made this known when The Nation visited the deceased’s residence on Friday. He said she was full of life when he visited and was already planning to take a date for her return to the country.

Innocent DURU He said: “When I visited her in August, she was expressing hope of returning to the country. In fact, she was planning to take a date for her return but we the family members prevailed on her to relax until the doctors certified her okay. “We took the decision because if she had returned and there was an emergency, it might be difficult to handle the situation. We felt it was better for her to be where she could have easy access to medical attention.“ He said he was in great shock when he heard the news of her death because he had looked forward to her safe return to the country, adding, “We will miss her. We will really miss her because she was

a very caring and generous person. Everybody was a family member to her and she personally taught me that family comes first. She would bend back to help even people that she didn’t know even when people did not appreciate or recognise her efforts.” The deceased’s brother-inlaw, Joseph Oyo, also described her death as a great shock to the family. “The news of her death is shocking and very difficult to express. She was a God fearing woman. She was loving, caring and philanthropic all her life. She touched many lives. The family would take over from where she stopped,” he said, adding, “She was in high spirits before she died. She had a fighting spirit and was full of all that

until she died. She was a workaholic as well. “We were expecting her back in the country before the news of her death came. As Christians, we leave it to God because He knows everything. One of the relations who gave her name as Mrs Agunsoye Lara also bemoaned her exit. She spoke glowingly of her generousity and humility. She recalled: “When I was working in a Lagos State hospital in Isolo, she asked me what she could give to the hospital. She provided over 100 bed sheets for the hospital. That was how she had always extended her support to organisations and every individual that came her way. We will miss her a great deal.”

Tony AKOWE, Abuja Ibrahim Gaya, has described the death of the former Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Media, Mrs Remi Oyo, as a tragedy to the journalism profession in the country. Senator Gaya, who is one of the governorship aspirants of the APC in Kano State, said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that the death of the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria was also a national loss. In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Prince Idris Afegbua, Senator Gaya commiserates with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian press, the family of the late Oyo and Nigerians for the death. He said that the late Oyo would be remembered for her doggedness on national issues when she held sway as presidential spokesperson,

adding that she was the first woman to be appointed to such a position in Nigeria. He noted that the death of the former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had dealt a terrible blow to the Nigerian womenfolk, particularly coming soon after the demise of Dora Akunyili "The death of Mrs Oyo is the end of an era as her passage has continued to relegate our women to the background in the affairs of the nation. I express my heartfelt sympathy to the former president, Nigerian women, her immediate family and friends and, of course, her constituency, the journalism profession. "I pray that the Almighty gives them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. I particularly use this medium to tell the family and the former president that death is the way for all mortals and like Shakespeare said, it is a necessary end that will come when it will come."

THE NATION

NEWS 5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

•From left: Parents of the groom, Prof. and Dr. Adigun Agbaje; the couple, Ayodamope and Irene Agbaje; and the bride’s parents at their traditional wedding in Calabar.

HE military yesterday said it was still probing the claim by Boko Haram that it beheaded one of the pilots whose fighter jet was declared missing about three weeks ago. The investigation includes the last communication between the pilot and the control tower in Yola, Adamawa State. The last minutes of the two pilots were also relayed to our correspondent by a reliable Defence source. According to the military source: "Experts are doing forensic analysis of Boko Haram to ascertain whether it was a make-believe or there were really encounters between the pilots and the insurgents. "The alleged claim of beheading of the pilot was part of the video clip purportedly released by Boko Haram on

Military probes alleged beheading of pilot Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Thursday. "We are in receipt of the 'gory' clip. We are studying every bit of it in line with military ethics. Do not forget that there might also be an element of propaganda on the part of the insurgents. The video clip has a tint of psychological warfare, but the military is undaunted." Responding to a question, the source added: "The report on the last minutes of the pilots indicated that they had completed their mission and were returning to their base. "They had their last successful assignment in seized areas in Adamawa State. Something was wrong while returning to base. This is what we are look-

•Pilots’ last moments, by Defence source ing at. "So, they had a successful outing on that day. This is why the military had considered the likelihood of the jet being shot by Boko Haram as ‘remote.’ "These pilots were among the best in the Air Force; they were always willing to go to the war front even when others were a bit sceptical of the weather or mode of operation. They were thorns in the flesh of the insurgents and they accounted for many successful air strikes we have recorded. "We have retrieved communication data to know whether the plane got missing because of mechanical challenge or otherwise."

The new video shows Boko Haram leader ‘Abubakar Shekau’ disputing claims of his death, and the beheading of a man who identifies himself as the pilot of a missing Air Force jet.

CCIDENT Investiga tion Bureau yesterday issued an interim statement on last year’s crash of Associated Airline EMB -120, which occurred in Lagos. The spokesman of the bureau, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, said investigations into the crash

•Nigeria is still an invalid baby in incubator at 54, says APC national leader

Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta sure reconciliation within PDP, particularly in the Ogun State chapter of the party, so that "everybody should be brought on board." The Senate President said the fact that Obasanjo's home plays host to politicians from different parties same day attested to his being the "father of the nation." Tinubu on the other hand said he was in the expresident’s home to share ideas with him in connection with his (Obasanjo) "former boys" who are now aspiring to run for elective positions on the platform of the APC in 2015 general elections. On the state of the nation, Tinubu described Nigeria at 54 as an "invalid child in an incubator." He asked Nigerians to rescue the country from its "bad managers" and the spell of "clueless leaders." "Nigerians have a decision to make to rescue the country from mismanagement or replace the clueless leaders. We must take our country back from bad managers,” he said. "There are a lot of projects about this country. We cannot know it all. We need to consult. Equally, we take observa-

tion of his former boys who are running for Presidency in our party. What can he say about them. "I have gone too far to tell you why we are here. I have been nice enough to tell you. I would not tell you what the discussion is about ,but you are privileged to have heard why I am here. The end discussion, I will not tell you. "Your assumption will be yours, he (Obasanjo) is a card carrying member of PDP. So let him remain so. "We are still an invalid baby in the incubator. That is the truth. We are blessed with human capital. We have not developed it. Every Nigerian needs good education. Today, it has not been developed. "Today, we are being relegated from the high class of Oxford, Cambridge and other best universities in the world. We have been relegated to the Third Class. “You have information technology that has taken the rest of the world faster. Infrastructure that will make a distance between Ibadan and Lagos shorter, enjoyable and tourist facilities. What's our pride? All these are not available here, pipe borne water is not available. "On the leaders, we don't

It shows burnt out plane parts with military markings. Two pilots and their Alpha jet have been missing since September 11. The man beheaded with an axe identifies himself as a wing

commander, saying he has not seen his second pilot since the jet was shot down. The military claims to have killed Shekau last year. The video was made available to the AP through the usual channels and seems to show the same man who appeared in previous videos.

One year after: AIB issues interim report on Associated Airline plane crash

2015: Obasanjo meets Mark, Tinubu, Ladoja, Oni HE Abeokuta Hill Top home of former Presi dent, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was yesterday a beehive of political consultations between him and several other key players across the political divide. At the consultations were Senate President David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, and APC leader in the South Segun Oni, as well as Senator Rasheed Ladoja of the Accord Party (AP). Also in attendance were Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; PDP Women Leader, Mrs Josephine Anehih and Senator Polycarp Nwite, all of whom were on Mark’s entourage. But it was Ladoja who first met with Obasanjo. After him were Tinubu and Oni . Their meeting ended at about 2.25 pm and they departed immediately. Mark and his team turned up moments later and left about an hour later at 3.55 pm. Speaking to reporters at the end of his meeting with Obasanjo, Mark said it was all about “the party (PDP) and other national issues." He said they wanted to en-

•Ayodamope and Irene Agbaje

have good leaders. The leaders are clueless, the followers appear sadistic. We like being punished, because if you work for an honest system, I don't see why a president will remove subsidy on onshore and wins an election in the second week. "To me, there is need for a common sense revolution; common sense revolution of security overhaul, army we use to respect and also respect the people. Common sense revolution in job creation, better condition of living for everybody.”

Kelvin OSA OKUNBOR had reached an advanced stage. The bureau said it was still waiting for the outcome of the engine teardown, including the aircraft propeller systems, to be able to reach certain conclusions on the investigations. Oketunbi said components were sent to Canada and the United States of America to determine why the propeller went into auto-feather during take off. Also speaking, the Commissioner of AIB, Dr. Felix Abali, yesterday in Abuja at the marking of one year anniversary, described the crash as a tragic incident He said: "On the 3rd of October 2013, about 0930hrs, 5NBJY EMB 120 on a domestic charter flight crashed into the Joint Users Hydrant Installation area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos "The aircraft experienced a power loss on the right engine

propeller resulting in autofeathering activation on takeoff from runway 19L of the airport. Twenty (20) persons were on board the aircraft,which included seven(7) crew members. Sixteen(16) persons were fatally injured and four(4) persons survived the accident including two (2) crew members "In accordance with Annex 13 to the convention on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation Regulations 2006, this is an interim statement being issued at the 1st anniversary of the accident to provide an update on the status of the investigation. “The purpose of this investigation is to prevent aviation accident and incident, It is not to apportion blame or liability. "The investigation has examined available factual, operational, and technical evidence to identify causal and contributory factors involved in the accident.

Two feared trapped in Abuja building collapse

WO people were feared trapped while five oth ers were rescued and rushed to the hospital from a collapsed one-storey building in Jikwoyi, a suburb of Abuja yesterday. The building, which was located within the indigenous setting of Phase 4 in Jikwoyi, used to be a local club and collapsed in the early hours of yesterday. Rescue team of the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who were at the scene said that they had been informed of the collapse by 10.30 am and had so far rescued five people and the

search was ongoing to ensure that the suspected remaining two people were also rescued. Public Relations Officer FEMA, Josie Mudasiru, stated that it was possible that no one else might still be trapped or the number might be more since the rescue team was working based on statements from eyewitnesses. Mudasiru also said that Director, FEMA Alhaji Idriss, reinstated that no stone was going to be left unturned until all the victims were rescued. Her words: “A story building collapsed in Jikwoyi. Search-and-rescue unit of the FCT Emergency Management

Agency have rescued five persons alive and they have been taken to the hospital. “Rescue operation is still ongoing. The building which is said to be a local club had no building plan approval and it is located within the indigenous setting.” She also added: “In another development in Jikwoyi, two children who fell into a well have been rescued alive by FEMA search and rescue team. Director, FEMA Alhaji Abbas Idriss have said that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that the rescue is thorough and all victims are saved.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

NEWS

•Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, (third left); Chief Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, (middle); Chief of Air Staff, Air Mashal Adesola Amosun, (second right); Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Olutayo Oguntoyinbo, (first left); General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Tamunomiebi Dibi (second left) and Real Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, representing Chief of Naval Staff at the funeral...yesterday

•From left: Representative of General Yakubu Gowon, Major General Emmanuel Abisoye; late Gen. Adekunle’s widows and Gen. Alani Akinrinade

Gowon, Fashola, Army Chief bid Adekunle farewell MINENT Nigerians yesterday paid their last respects to the late Brig Gen Benjamin Adekunle. He was laid to rest yesterday at the Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens, after a funeral service at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Chief of Army Staff Kenneth Minimah; Lagos State Governor

n Nneka NWANERI n Babatunde Fashola and Chief of Air Staff Adeola Amos were among those present at the funeral. It was more or less a state burial. Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, in a tribute, de-

scribed the late Gen Adekunle as a gallant soldier who ensured his fatherland remained strong and united during wartime Nigeria. Gen Gowon, who was represented by Gen Emmanuel Abisoye (rtd), said the late Gen Adekunle was dedicated to duty as an exemplary fearless and loyal officer.

"He was one of my commander of commanders, a through bred soldier, my 'brother in arms' and we should thank him for fighting for a just cause." First daughter of the deceased, Mrs Bisola Olatunji, said her father had a lot of potentials and dreams for the country. “His re-

gret was that we did not live up to our potential in his life time, the reason for the civil war,” she said. Other dignitaries in attendance were Gen Alani Akinrinade (rtd), former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Ogomudia (rtd) and traditional rulers.

Ondo PDP warns Mimiko against dissolution of exco Coroner’s inquest into Synagogue •Vows to resist imposition building collapse to start Oct 13 HE Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is up in arms against Governor Olusegun Mimiko following his return to the party on Thursday. The state executive council of the party in the state is uncomfortable with the Governor’s return ,fearing that he and his followers from Labour Party will, sooner than later,hijack the structure of the PDP from the old members. It has already filed a suit in

n Gbade OGUNWALE, Assistant Editor, Abuja n and Damisi OJO, Akure

court to restrain the governor from dissolving the exco. Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi warned yesterday that the governor's defection could destroy the party if not properly managed. Alabi deplored the decision of the national leadership of the

Ex-Lagos attorney-general urges special status for Lagos ORMER Attorney General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore (SAN) has restated the call for the creation of special status for Lagos. Speaking ahead of public presentation of his new book, ‘Possessed- a history of law and justice in the crown colony of Lagos-1861 – 1906’, he said Lagos has played a unique role in the evolution of Nigeria. According to him, Lagos was responsible for the reception of English law into the country, which was the first set of law that Nigeria ever knew. “The recognition to be accorded Lagos is because of its uniqueness, which it doesn’t share with any part of Nigeria. It is the truth that there had to be a colony in Lagos before there could be a colony in Nigeria.” Shasore explained that the new book will emphasise the uniqueness of Lagos. While explaining that one of the uniqueness of Lagos is its ability to accommodate people from different areas without any problem, he said this did not start today. According to him, during the colonial era, “ There were people of all walks of life from all parts of the West Coast of Africa, living in the colony who referred to themselves as Lagos-Africans. It forged a sense of unity. It de-emphasise ethnicity into a much larger picture, which gives them the force to survive colonialism.”

PDP to hand over the party’s structure to Mimiko. The implication, according to him, is that the governor has been empowered to sack the exco. Alabi said: "We are not opposing the governor's return to the party, but we are against moves by him to dissolve the state executive of the party. "We were duly elected on 17th March, 2012 and our fouryear tenure will end in 2016. So any attempt by the governor to change the leadership of the party will be regarded as an affront on members of the party who have remained loyal through the years. "So it would be illegal for some people to sit down somewhere and cut short our tenure. We believe it is illegal. And that is why I promise that if it should happen, it will not go unchallenged. "And we heard that there is this bundle which they have negotiated with him (Mimiko) and that they are ceding some executive positions of the party, including the state chairmanship to him. Like I said, we believe this is very wrong. It is an affront on us. "We have constitutional right and we have opted to defend

Ex-TELL editor, loses dad HIEF Moses Oyewale, father of a former award-winning Assistant Editor of Tell Magazine, Dele Oyewale, has passed on. He died peacefully on Thursday at his country home, Asi, in the Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State at the age of 96. The late Oyewale was a highly respected community leader, politician and elder at Ebenezer African Church, Asi. He was an Awoist and

prominent leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria. He was survived by five children among whom are Reverend Emmanuel Oyewale, Honourable Isaac Oyewale and Dele Oyewale who is now a media strategist with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In a statement signed by Reverend Oyewale, burial arrangements for the late community leader will be announced soon.

our constitutional interest. And that was why we have filed a suit in Abuja rejecting any dissolution of the executive.” He vowed that the State Executive council of the PDP “will not tolerate a situation where their tenure will be cut short because somebody is joining the party.” The party chair cautioned the leadership of the party against setting the governor against existing party members, saying that there are alternative platforms for aggrieved members to move to. In Akure, the deputy chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr, Fatai Adams addressed agitated party supporters on the issue and vowed that "we are not ready to collapse the structure of the party particularly at this crucial time when its primaries are less than one month away.”

HE coroner’s inquest into the September 12 collapse of a building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) at Ikotun Egbe, Lagos ,is to commence on October 13,the Lagos State Ministry of Justice announced yesterday. Venue is the premises of Ikeja High Court with Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe presiding Spokesperson for the ministry, Mrs Bola Akingbade, said Prophet Temitope Joshua of SCOAN and the contractors handling the church building are among those expected to testify at the inquest. Others are members of the families of the victims of the incident, some media houses including NAN, Channels TV, Television Continental, Vanguard newspaper, Daily Independent, The Nation and Punch Newspapers. The statement said an eye witness, Lindiw Ndwande and Mr Rebone Tau, Chairman of the Youth League’s International Relations Committee of South Africa, would also give evidence. It urged the expected organisations, bodies and persons to contact the coroner’s registrar immediately to schedule their appearances.

Oyo tourism stakeholders to hold festival HEAD of the 2014 edition of the TAMAC festival, stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry in Oyo State have passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The two-day festival, billed to take off on November 5, 2014, is being packaged by the Cultural Centre Traders’ Association, Mokola, Ibadan. According to the association, Governor Ajimobi has successfully changed the physical landscape of the state, while at the same time promoting tourism in the state. The festival, which promises to attract culture and tourism enthusiasts, both within and outside the state, is a collaborative effort between the association MacSteve Innovative Concept, a licensed tourism consultant. According to the Chief Executive of MacSteve Innovative Concept, Mr. Jide Olatubosun, TAMAC Festival 2014 will coincide with the first anniversary of the association, adding that the event will feature the launch of the association’s registration certificate, while awards of excellence will be presented to deserving culture and tourism

enthusiasts. Mr. Olatubosun described the members of the association as strong voices and visible faces in the tourism and hospitality landscape of Oyo State, adding that the cultural centre, where the traders operate is the largest recreation spot in the south west, outside the popular Abe Igi, the recreation centre of the National Theatre in Lagos. As part of the activities lined up for the festival, the traders will pay a solidarity visit to Governor Abiola Ajimobi. .

Community leaders hail planned creation of states

n Damisi OJO, Akure n OMMUNITY leaders in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, at the weekend hailed the delegates of the just-concluded National Conference for recommending the creation of additional states in the country, including Ose, to be carved out of the present Ondo State. It will be recalled that the conference ratified the creation of 18 new states cutting across the six geo-political zones of the country.

CORRECTION

•Pa Oyewale

The headline on Page 27 in this edition should have read: I still cook for my husband because I donʼt want anybody to steal him from me instead of I still cook for my husband because I donʼt want anybody to steal him for me. The error is regretted – Editor

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

NEWS

•Chicken vendors on Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Road for Eld-El-Kabir in Bauchi... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Yakassai faults Senate directive to INEC over creation of additional polling units Federal Government nominee at the just concluded National Conference, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has expressed opposition over Senate's directive to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) against creation of additional polling units in the country. The elder statesman, who was also the former Adviser on National Assembly Matters to ExPresident Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic, during an interview with Reporters, lamented that the recent directive by the Senate to the electoral body to halt the exercise amounts to usurpation of the functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as provided by law. Yakassai, who cited the provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to support his argument, categorically stated that the responsibility to add or reduce the polling units is the exclusive function of the electoral umpire. Disturbed by the situation, Yakassai, who is also the Chairman of Northern Elders Council (NEC), described the Senate's directive as not only an avoidable interference but a distraction of the democratic process. “For the purpose of emphasis, we all are aware that the Senate does not possess such powers to

Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano direct the Electoral Commission to suspend the exercise. The Constitution is very explicit on this function, which is exclusively that of the electoral body,” he stated. “As much as I am surprised among all those, who participated in the debate are very important principal officers of the Senate, who should know better that the Senate or National Assembly has no powers to interfere on this matter” “However, It should be noted that INEC is one of the federal executive bodies specified under Part 2, Schedule 3 of the Nigerian Constitution that cannot be dictated or directed to by anybody, including the Judiciary and the Executive in the discharge of their functions” he stated. Yakassai therefore stressed that any attempt by anybody to dictate to these bodies on how to discharge their constitutional responsibilities or how to discharge their mandate, amounts to a violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act (as amended). Concluding, Yakassai cautioned politicians, especially those in the Senate to always avoid taking steps or actions that would undermine the collective effort of Nigerians to advance the ongoing democratic dispensation.

Taraba police arrest seven-man car robbery syndicate HE Taraba State Police Command has recorded another success in their efforts to fighting crime. It arrested a seven-man syndicate that has been "terrorising and robbing" residents. The names of the suspects, who were paraded at the command headquarters, were given as: Aliyu Salmanu, 20years, Aliyu Abubakar' 23, Matthew Haruna, 25, Abiodun Sunday, 25, Aminu Abubakar, 30, Mohammed Manu, 30, and 24-year old Kingsley Bitrus. Police said Alhaji Ahmadu, Aminu and one Umar, who are also part of the syndicate, have been at large but police were trailing them. The state Police Commissioner, Ademola Omole, who briefed newsmen in Jalingo said the suspects are a syndicate specialised in robbery of cars and household valuables. He said the arrest followed an investigation into a robbery incident reported by one Aliyu Liman, a resident of Nyamusala suburb of Jalingo. Omole said the suspects who were armed with machetes had broken into the house of the complainant on September 6, 2014 and stolen his car, an Honda Anaconda 2008 Model valued at N2million, six expensive phones and a plasma television valued at N35,000. "The same syndicate is responsible for series of car snatching in Jalingo metropolis. It has been terrorising innocent citizens of the state at night", Omole said.

Fanen IHYONGO, Jalingo The police chief said the syndicate, after stealing such cars, sells them to one Alhaji Ahmadu an international business man based in Jimeta, Adamawa State, who in turn takes the vehicles to Cameroon Republic to dispose them. One of the suspects, Mohammed Manu is alleged to be one of the drivers employed by the said Ahmadu who drives the stolen vehicles across the border to Cameroon. Omole added that a Toyota Venza valued N5.5 million was also stolen from one Joshua Tabki, a Jalingo resident, by one of the suspects, Aminu Abubakar and sold to the said Alhaji Ahmadu at the cost of N1 million while the said Honda Anaconda was sold to him at the cost of N500,000. Omole disclosed that when police searched the house of one of the suspects, Aminu Abubakar, the original particulars of the Toyota Avenza car, with registration number ABC 254 JN, a staff Identity card, two ATM cards, 14 passports, voters card and driver's license all belonging to Joshua Tabki, owner of the stolen car, were recovered. He promised to leave no stone unturned in combating crime in the state, while asking the public to always assist the police with useful information that would help to crackdown armed robbers. He said the suspects will be charged to court after investigations.

Kano court restrains APC leadership from conducting primary Kolade ADEYEMI Kano HE leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has been restrained by a Federal High Court, sitting in Kano from parading itself as the executive body of the party in Kano state, pending the determination of a motion on notice. Also, the Court, presided over by Justice Fatin Riman, who is presiding over the court also restrained the leadership of the party from conducting the forthcoming primaries, billed for this month. The court's decision court followed an ex-parte motion filed by counsel to the plaintiff, Mr U.U Eteng on behalf of a member of the party, one Alhaji Muhiyi Magaji, who alleged that the process, which produced the party's leadership violated the electoral Act. Magaji also alleged that the process not only violated Nigeria’s constitution but that of the party. While praying the court to declare the leadership of the party in the state as null and void, the presiding adjourned the case to October 17 for hearing of the case on notice.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

COMMENTARY

Justice, communications and security I found the screaming headlines in some newspapers this week quite disturbing even though they provided ready ammunition for me to write this piece. One was about a letter from the National Judicial Commission [NJC] asking the Inspector General of Police to prosecute those who assaulted judges in Ekiti State recently. Two of them concerned the dead and living Boko Haram leader and the military trial of mutinous Nigerian soldiers. The fourth was the announcement in India mid week that the nation’s PM Narendra Modi would address the nation through radio so as to be able to reach millions of Indians who have no access to television. The fifth was the offer from Egypt to Libya to help it fight Islamic militancy as it has intelligence on them from Egypt’s experience in subduing for ages the Islamic Brotherhood whose member, the deposed former President Mohammed Morsi is awaiting trial in Egypt for treason. For various reasons I will narrate here, I found these pieces of news quite fascinating in drawing lessons to move our great nation forward especially as we have just celebrated our 54th Independence birthday in a mood that even the President of the Republic described as’ sombre’. I agree totally with the sober analysis of our No 1 Citizen and really wonder how, as deeply enmeshed in the eye of the Nigerian political and Sahel storm as he is, he can still sound so distant and aloof from it all and still carry on his onerous responsibility in an amazing ‘business as usual‘ manner. Grudgingly, I concede this to be a rare leadership trait but before you hastily proceed to give him another Independence Day Award in addition to the many he just conferred this week on distinguished Nigerians in Abuja, I ask you to tarry awhile and be patient, till I have finished my self – given assignment of today, on the news items I listed before. Let me first of all state my initial reaction either of amazement, joy or revulsion on each of these news items before I proceed to draw my conclusions or moral there from. In the attacks on judges in Ekiti, one is left wondering why the good people of Ekiti State, renowned for their great learning and endless Ph ds, who recently had a peaceful election, suddenly took it into their heads to take umbrage at judges and beat them up in their courts. Certainly that is definitely un Ekiti – like. On the death defying Boko Haram leader, whether he is alive or dead is immaterial as long as his followers still continue to kill innocent people and are trying to maintain their declared caliphate in Nigeria. It is therefore sheer horror for any right thinking or decent person to see his tape and watch it as that is just like giving the devil a platform it does not deserve for its murderous activities. On the mutiny trial of Nigerian soldiers, including four lieutenant - colonels, I feel sad that the Nigerian army is washing its dirty linen in public at a time when it should not allow itself to be distracted from the present task of crushing Boko Haram by all means at its disposal and as speedily as possible. The fourth news that technology giant India has millions of people that have no access to TV is quite baffling and it shows how caring their new PM is in getting civilisation and governance to the farthest reaches of India. That in itself provides a show case for Nigeria where every state capital has at least two TV stations, one from the state and the other from the Federal government. The last is the timing and relevance of the Egyptian offer to Libya after it was reported that together with Saudi Arabia and UAE air forces it has conducted airstrikes against Libyan Islamic terrorists just last month. This then marks a watershed in the politics and diplomacy of the Middle East as Arabs turn on themselves in a crucial bid to create much needed security and peace in a region rent apart by religious militancy and sectarian strife. We can now proceed to do some sober reflection on these incidents

serially starting with the letter from the NJC to the Police IG to prosecute those involved in the attack on judges in Ekiti state. To me it seems the NJC is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea as it finds itself precariously on the horn of a dilemma. The judges affected were said by their assailants to be corrupt or to have been giving dubious judgements. Is the NJC aware of this and has it got some information on this in its record? This is because those who live in glass houses should not throw stones .Secondly the attackers were said to be supporters of a governor elect who was initially reported to have slapped a judge but who denied this, saying his overzealous supporters did. Obviously, this governor elect has the mandate of governorship in his pocket from the last election that he won. Will the IG initiate his prosecution for not controlling his supporters or is he expected to fold his arms while his supporters are being prosecuted? It is a well known fact that the governor elect belongs to the ruling party and from all indications he will be protected by federal might till he is sworn in after which he has immunity from prosecution. Of what use then is the NJC ‘s letter to the IG except for record purposes?. Nobody is deceived that the governor elect has taken the law into his hand and should not be allowed to get away with it. But in this Nigeria of today he will get away with murder right before our eyes. That is most unfortunate and disgraceful but that is the stuff of our democracy as we proceed towards the inevitable 2013 presidential elections which has claimed the honor and dignity of judges in Ekiti state for now and is a warped and corrupt democracy which the NJC, the sancto sanctorium of our temple of justice, can not beat its chest and claim total ignorance about. For now I see the NJC letter to the IG on the Ekiti judge beating debacle as a futile, judicial barking at the moon given our present socio- political environment and the weight of corruption on the neck of the judiciary dangling dangerously like the famous sword of Damocles. The next two issues namely Boko Haram and the army mutiny trial are really two sides of the same coin and border on security and justice in our nation. First the army must maintain discipline within its ranks by all means. That is its prerogative and nobody or institution can take that away from it. Not even its Commander in Chief as it is apparent that the President is not interfering in this matter. But then the army should not cut its nose to spite its face as it is doing now. I say categorically that this mutiny trial should be an internal affair of the army and should not be for public consumption as it is at present just because of the war against Boko Haram which is our priority consideration. Justice should be done army style and not in full public glare and ridicule of the image of the army, its officers and ranks. Obviously espirit de corps of the army is being wounded by this public trial of a mutiny which in itself is a disgrace to any army and its leadership and which should be contained firmly and fairly. Again, army style. That is all that is required for the army to again raise the slogan –‘ To keep Nigeria one is task that must be done ‘ Which was our slogan during the civil war against secession and which should be adopted now by the army to stop the rampant Boko Haram drive towards phantom caliphates that are really ‘killerphates‘ in the North East of Nigeria.

Next is the import of India’s PM Narenda Mordi’s radio address to Indians which is expected to reach 99% of Indians which was far higher than expected through TV audience size in India. What interests me here is not the gist of the PM’s address but the medium, radio, which also has a formidable audience here for different reasons some of which have serious security concerns especially now that we are at war with Boko Haram. This is because the radio has always been a potent means of communications amongst Northerners both in the North and in any part of Nigeria especially Lagos where most security workers in the posh Ikoyi, Lekki and Ajah Estates are Northerners permanently glued to the Hausa Service of BBC and Radio Kaduna. Even though illiterate, most of these security people are abreast of world news even more than their employers ‘. It was to such people that the Indian PM sought to speak to because they do not have access to TV which in some ways is the same in Nigeria . Except again that our President and his ministers are on twitter which the average Nigerian does not know or care about because he does not have the electricity to plug his phone whereas the ordinary security man in Ikoyi is permanently tuned to global news because of his ‘ever ready’ or Chinese batteries. In terms of security and communications you can just say its win some lose some. For now in India radio is winning and that is good for its teeming masses of almost a billion people. The fifth issue concerns Egypt’s offer to Libya to help it fight Islamic Militancy because it has useful information on them. This again is a welcome development because religious extremists generally rely on blind faith to get support and millions into their ranks especially in a mono religious environment like the Middle East in which Egypt has always been a key player. Again this is the second time that it would seem Egypt is breaking ranks with the other Arab States especially the powerful Arab League which must be in a real quandary now as key Arab states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia have turned against Islamic State which is Arab grown and based . Egypt ha s always borne the war of the Arabs against Israel which is the Arabs common foe against which they were united before the advent of beheading IS against which they have again broken ranks . Egypt first broke ranks with Arabs when former President Anwar Sadat went to Jerusalem to meet late Israeli PM Menachem Begin. That exposed Egypt to other Arab nations hatred and led to the assassination of Sadat by the Muslim Brotherhood on which the new Egyptian President al Sisi said that Egypt has information on, to help Libya track their terrorist supporters fighting against the government in Libya which is fast collapsing. Again the Egyptian experience on surviving the Tahrir Square mass street demonstrations that led to the collapse of the Housni Mubarak regime in 2011 should be useful to Chinese authorities in Hong Kong which faced a government shut down by thousands of students this week as seen on global TV. One thing is certain about the Egyptian army in or out of government. It knows how to manage power, politics and politicians. It recently lost and gained power through its deft and Machiavellian manipulation of democracy and political institutions in Egypt. Now, its former Commander is Egypt’s president while the man Egyptians elected is facing treason trial. Indeed Egypt under its present government has sterling credentials to market its brand of political stability and politics anywhere in the world especially in the Middle East which is its turf and N Africa which is its backyard. Anyway I advise the demonstrators in Hong Kong to recall the Tahrir Square Street demonstrations in Cairo and how it ended for those demonstrators in Egypt. A word certainly, is enough for the wise.

NASS: The ‘roar’ this time OU would have thought their abysmal underperformance or even the earth-shaking scandals involving some of the leading lights would have sobered them as they resume earlier in the week after a prolonged, logic-defying ‘break.’ But, instead of burying their heads in shame for abdicating what should, ordinarily, be a key responsibility at a critical moment in our national history, their return to the business of making laws for the good governance of the collective was enveloped in cheerless crisis. At a time when Nigeria needs real men who can speak truth to power, it is, unfortunately so, contending with men with no fire in their belly, mere political turncoats who are desperate to sacrifice all on the altar of an irreverent Presidency with loads to give in dubious benevolence. How on earth did we end up having men and women who have relegated the interest of millions of ordinary people to the background, all in a bid to remain politically correct and curry favours in the hallowed chambers? Honestly, when members of the National Assembly resumed legislative duties last Tuesday, common sense dictates that they should hit the ground running as there were a number of matters of national importance hanging in the wind. If they had kept tabs with developments at the home front (as they said they always do) throughout the duration of that endless break, they would have noticed that the story of the abducted Chibok school girls had not changed from where it was before they decided to take a rest. It’s been over 165 days and no one is sure if these ones would ever be reunited with their families. They would also have noticed that the bloodletting by the insurgents and callous killings by cattle rustlers in some parts of the country continue to escalate while the government wrings its hands in confusion. At least, they would have seen the clear signs of movement without motion that has consigned us to this murky puddle of arrested development in a transformative era. But then, what exactly did they do during the near-hedonistic break? Strategizing about how best to put the executive on its toes in walking its talk? Not really. The occasional roar from their holiday spots left little or nothing to cheer about. One of them was quoted as vowing to probe the poor WASCE and NECO results. You just laugh. Though on break, its leadership was always available for negotiations at the seat of power even in the dead of the night. The same legislature that could not sacrifice some days to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the approval of a one billion dollars loan to purchase needed arms and ammunition in prosecuting the war against terror had time to endorse Jonathan as a sole candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 election. Is it not intriguing that while we lay claim to the best ethos of democratic governance, we are being told of a queer political arrangement in which an aspiring senator, former member of the House of Representatives and current Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has spoken about the incontestability of the Office of the President of

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 the Senate? Only God knows how many of such key political positions have been farmed out in this marriage of convenience! I wonder if anyone has really given a thought to the grave damage the latest political permutation would inflict on the polity. Glimpses of that can be gleaned from the farcical drama presently playing out in the two chambers of the National Assembly. As long as this specie of human beings refuse to take themselves seriously or come to grip with their importance in this democratic journey and nation building, the executive would continue to side-track their directives and dare them to do their worst. However, it must be stressed that a toothless legislature is useless to any democratic set up in which the principle of check and balances is key. Take, for example, what happened on the floor of the Green Chamber on Tuesday when opposition members staged a walkout following the rejection of a motion to debate circumstances surrounding the smuggling of $9.3 million cash to South Africa allegedly to purchase arms for the Nigerian military. Ordinarily, one would have thought an investigative probe of the scandal by the lawmakers would afford the government the opportunity to explain its role in a deal that has put a huge dent on our international image and our ability to follow certain established rules in international relations. Even if the outcome of the proposed inquiry may end up like many others which do not worth the value of the papers in which they were written on, the citizens would have been enlightened on certain aspects of a deal in which two Nigerians and an Israeli were arrested for using a private jet owned by a well-known Pentecostal pastor to freight the money to South Africa without due consultations with relevant agencies in both countries. Unfortunately, this somewhat simple task has not only torn the lawmakers along political divides but it has also thrown the lower chamber into another round of scandal in which allegations of monetary inducement has been made. And then, you ask: will these honourable members ever learn to do something that is truly honourable

and beneficial to the collective? It is infantile logic for anyone to blurt out the thrash any attempt by the legislature to investigate a matter that has caused us international embarrassment would ridicule the Presidency. Of course, one had thought that the House would have grown out of the putrid smell of graft at every investigative enquiry. But what do we know? Habits, they say, die hard. Maybe it's something we may have to live with while we continue to search for a legislature that is truly representative of the people because hardly can one remember any of such probes that was not robed with the garment of corruption. It was there when the legislature probed the power sector. It re-echoed when NASS investigated developments in the Aviation sector. It reared its ugly head when a searchlight was thrown at the Aruma Oteh-led Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). And we cannot easily forget the mess and harm it caused following the discovery of a $620m 'sting' operation on a major character probing the subsidy scam in the oil sector. It ruined whatever change the Dimeji Bankole leadership had brought into governance. But question is: must things remain like this forever? Well, since these folks don't get it, let me spell it out for them. They may go ahead with their shameless bickering, heckling over a $20,000 bribe for every lawmaker that opposes a debate over the $9.3m cash-for-arms deal that went awry in South Africa. This time, the joke is on them. While they point one finger at the Presidency, the remaining four are pointed right back at their faces. Are they that broke that they could not even decipher between what is right and what is atrociously forbidden and condemnable? Less than one week after returning from a break that was fully paid for by the taxpayers, our lawmakers are on the front pages again, dancing naked in the marketplace besmirched with the gnome of corruption. And these ones still roar about taming the same monster in the executive? Does anyone still wonder why many of the resolutions made in the past are treated as "mere advisory" materials for the attention of a President who is not under any compulsion to implement? One thing is clear though: with a National Assembly bent on satisfying a newly-endorsed President in the 2015 election and with a Senate President certified to return to power, it is safe to say that this dance of shame is not about to end soon. And for those who think something concrete would be achieved with the decision of the Senate to probe the circumstances leading to the seizure of $9.3m in South Africa, I can only share in their optimism. Yes, that kind of optimism that pervades you when The Presidency denied reports that Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff played a key role in Joanthan’s trip to Chad to discuss security issues! What gives anyone the assurance that this latest effort by the Senate to unravel the mystery and story behind the dollarized trip to South Africa would not change after one of those usual ‘closed-door’ meetings at the Place of the Rock! Would this latest wild roar melt into a mild bleat? Time will tell.

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

KODJI ISLAND: Faced with eviction threats, residents of Lagos community cry for help Story on pages 14&15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

14 HERE can be no argument as to the fact that Lagos city has witnessed tremendous transformation under the Governor Babatunde Fashola administration even if it has not completely become the mega city that is the dream of the administration. The roads, the bridges, the schools, the security and transport systems and other infrastructural facilities so far provided by the administration have endeared it to residents as well as visitors. However, some communities in the state are yet to feel the Midas touch of the administration, making them to be so close to modernity but yet far away from it. Their slum nature makes it difficult to reconcile their existence with the emerging mega city. One of such settlements is the Kodji Island located between CMS and Apapa areas of Lagos. The community can be accessed with an 18-minute boat ride from CMS, a major transport terminus in Lagos. More than 80, 000 people reside on the island, which is broken up into five communities, namely Bishop Kodji, Whlakorji, Akopkonawa, Sagbokodji and Ganvie. The inhabitants of the five communities are predominantly of the Egun tribe, having migrated to the place from Badagry. The remaining population is made up of Ijaw people and other migrants from Ghana and the northern part of Nigeria. The island was believed to have been discovered in the early 19th Century by some fishermen who found the virgin land while sailing from Badagry and decided to settle on it. That much was corroborated by the community leader of Bishop Kodji, Baale Sewani Felix. While the people live mainly on fishing, the island has lately been faced with socio-economic cum ecological problems that threaten its continued existence. In a trip facilitated by the Policy Advocacy Project Partnership on Climate Change (PAPPCC), a network of civil society organisations and professionals concerned with the threat of climate change to Lagos State, many of the residents were seen crying for help because their fishing business was under severe threat while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was said to be threatening them with eviction. The people also lamented lack of infrastructural facilities like roads and electricity. The island, according to Joseph Gomu, a Benue indigene who has spent his entire life there, has more than 65 churches and numerous mosques, town halls, vocational centres and a football pitch that make it the delight of young ones. Vocation The people are predominantly fishermen. On a daily basis, they host hundreds of people who come from the city to buy fish and different kinds of sea foods. But with the near absence of government’s support and inadequate infrastructure, their trade and living condition are at risk. Speaking at a forum with journalists, one of the community leaders, Baale Sewani Felix, said: “Our main preoccupation here is fishing, which was passed down to us by our forefathers who sailed down to this island in a bid to expand their fishing business. We were enjoying abundant blessings from fishing until man-made activities began to threaten our livelihood.” Felix lamented a situation where the people defecate in the river they also rely on for their domestic needs and pour in materials that pose serious threat to the fishes in the river. More worrisome, he said, is that there are often pieces of ship wreckage that remain in the sea for a long time and hinder the activities of fishermen who have to travel far into the sea to catch fish for sale. According to him, the big ships, when abandoned for a long time, begin to emit chemicals that endanger the lives of the fishes and reduce the quantity they could catch. But the Assistant General Manager,

•Some leaders in the community

•Abandoned borehole in community

•A mkeshift toilet in the community

Faced with eviction of Lagos community n Adeola OGUNLADE n

Public Affairs of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Musa Iliya, told The Nation that it is not the body’s responsibility to remove ship wreckage from the sea but that of NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) which were supposed to take such wreckage to their sites and later auction them. “We have our channels on the sea where our ships from around the world pass through. And if we find any critical wreckage on the sea that is blocking our channels, we remove and give them to NIMASA,” he said. The Deputy Director/Head of Public Relations of NIMASA, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, admitted that NIMASA is the receiver of such items, according to the Merchant Shipping Act 2007. He said the agency had secured the approval of the Federal Government to remove them through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. He said the agency had already carried out surveys to identify them on the water ways. “This process is not limited to Bishop

Kodji community but across the entire coastline of the country. I am sure this activity will certainly get to that community shortly,” he added. On the leakages from ships on the sea, Osamgbi said: “Our surveyors and marine pollution inspectors are regularly on board of various vessels plying our waterways as one of their daily schedules to check the necessary equipment to guide against these leakages within and outside the harbours.” The inspectors, according to him, usually identify some of these vessels and report and detain erring ones when and where necessary. Environmental threats The island is facing ecological problems. Due to the near non-existence of appropriate waste disposal mechanisms on the Island, human waste and household rubbish are dumped directly in the river, causing significant environmental damage and disrupting the balance of the river’s ecosystem. When toxic wastes are thrown into the river, they make it difficult for the fish to survive. In spite of the large population of peo-

ple who live on the island, there is no waste disposal point. The people defecate and throw their refuse into the river and the bushes around the island. The foregoing conditions cause the area to smell badly and predispose the people, particularly women and children, to epidemic. The Baale (community leader) of Whlakodji, Chief Joseph Ogenajo, said the environmental challenges in the area were mind-boggling, even as he hoped for a redress soon. He said: “We are in need of social infrastructure, especially potable water, schools and electricity. To get potable water, we are left at the mercy of private individuals who have to get us potable water from Ebute in Yaba Local Government Area. “Although the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government gives them 10,000 litres of water per day and sunk boreholes but we discovered that we could not get the kind of water that was clean enough for drinking. Hence, many of them go to CMS and Apapa in search of water.” The Special Adviser to the Local Gov-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

He, however, did not rule out the possibility of other institutions or companies dredging the island and causing hardship for the residents. Asked whether Iliya was aware of the dredging, he said “no, I am not aware. But there may be other organisations dredging the island.” Dilapidated schools There is an organic relationship between the nature of a learning environment and the performance of pupils. Our correspondent visited two of the schools that cater for the educational needs of more than 25,000 inhabitants on the island. One of them, Bishop Koji Community Nursery and Primary School, was established by the community several decades ago before the local government took over its administration. The school has only four classrooms for nursery and primary classes, but only three of the four classrooms were usable. Three of the classrooms were functional while the fourth had been leased out to an organisation for other activities. Basic one to three pupils, who numbered about 70, share only one of the classrooms while the kindergarten and basics one, four and five classes also share one. The classrooms are not plastered. They have tattered roofs and the children usually run home as soon as it threatens to rain because they know that their classrooms would be flooded. A woman, who spoke with our correspondent at the school’s premises on condition of anonymity, said that three classes were merged into one classroom because of lack of space. The Nursery One pupils and their KG 2 counterparts occupy one classroom. She said the children were exposed to locust bees and many of them had stop coming to school for that reason. Also, because of the open nature of the school, the community uses the classrooms for social engagements. The teachers and pupils have to take time out to clean up the mess generated by the ceremonies. She recalled a Monday morning they got to school and found a pig in one of the classrooms. She said: “We found a dead pig in one of the classrooms and the pupils had to drag the pig into the river. The atmosphere here is not conducive for learning. There are no chairs or tables even for the teachers. The classrooms are not properly plastered while the roofs are leaking. There is also no fence or enough windows for ventilation.” The staff room is also not habitable because locust bees disturb the teachers. Broken chairs and tables littered the floor when our correspondent visited. In the staff room were household utensils like stoves and pots. Indeed, our correspondent accidentally dipped his leg in a small fire that had been made in one of the classrooms to scare locust bees away. Another school in Samgbokodji community has six classrooms, but the learning environment is hardly better

than the one at Bishop Kodji. Although, the school has a very good structure and is located close to the primary health care centre at the community, it has a good number of classrooms but does not have sufficient teachers, chairs and tables for the pupils. One of the classrooms in which 105 pupils are crammed could not boast a single chair for pupils. Another individual, who also did not want his name in print, said that the school employs the services of NYSC members to complement the efforts of the very few teachers at the school. Threats of eviction The Nation learnt that there have been plans by the Nigerian Ports Authority to evacuate the people from the island since 2007. The NPA is said to be laying claim to the island. While the people are not disputing the fact that the stretch of about 100kms from the shore line of the sea belongs to the Federal Government, they are of the opinion that the NPA cannot acquire the entire land. A resident, Comrade Mogaji Baba Samuel, said: “We have a problem with the NPA. They are telling us to vacate the island. The land is no longer safe. This morning, they blocked me and wanted to evacuate me from the community. “We are all worried as some of us have inter-married and have lived here for years. We don’t know where the evacuation threat is coming from; whether it is a decision of the Nigerian Ports Authority or that of the Federal Government.” The wife of the Baale of Whlakodji community, Mrs. Vicky Weto, said: “Our father came here more than 100 years ago. The island was a bush and our father cut the bush and made an abode here, and the NPA has suddenly woken up and threatening to send us away. Where do we go from here? Where will our children go to? This is our land. We only go to visit our people in Benin. Here is our hope and future. We are Nigerians from Badagry.” On what the Local Government is doing to allay the fears of the people over the threat of evacuation, Mr. Solomon said: “The NPA has been making efforts to evict the people. We have written to different organisations and the marginalised communities in Lagos to intervene and help us in fighting. “We have also written to government agencies who came here to hear the side of the people. The NPA has already assigned part of the land to the LNNG and other oil companies. The NPA is claiming 250 hectares of the land while from what we know of the law, the Federal Government only has access to 100 kms of the coastal area.” Asked about the threat to evict the people, Iliya said the NPA has a lot of such cases. He also demanded to see the eviction letter writer by the organisation. “Where is the letter ejecting them? Who issued the letter? There is a law that established the Nigerian Ports Authority and we have a law that guides the institution. We will not go to areas that are not ours. We can only go to areas that are given to us by law. “

Our father came here more than 100 years ago. The island was a bush and our father cut the bush and made an abode here, and the NPA has suddenly woken up and threatening to send us away. Where do we go from here? Where will our children go to? This is our land. We only go to visit our people in Benin. Here is our hope and future. We are Nigerians from Badagry

threats, residents cry for help ernment Chairman on Cheiftancy and Boundaries Matters in Amuwo-Odofin, Hon. Henry Solomon, said the local government had initiated policies that would better the lots of the residents. He said: “We have civil society groups who are helping us to create awareness on environmental sanitation and public enlightenment. We are working together to improve all aspects of our work. I fund campaigns to make the people clean their environments. We have also engaged the services of LASAPA and educated the community heads on how they can improve lives in their communities.” Another source of environment risk in the area is the dredging being undertaken by the NPA. The Deputy Baale of Sagbokoji community, Victor Ahutu, said the alleged dredging of the lsland by NPA had caused untold hardship for the people, because each time the rain falls, the whole community is submerged by water. “We cannot go out to work and our children stay back home when it is raining because of the growing effect of

dredging in the area. We have complained to the appropriate authorities but nothing seems to have been done,” he said. Ahutu explained further that coupled with the dredging of the island by the NPA, the horn from the ships is very disturbing and the whole community is always awake whenever the ship passes by on the river with loud noise. It seems as if the Nigeria Port Authority is not cautious of the fact that human beings are living in this community and they have the right to live and not to be traumatised because of their activities”. Meanwhile, Mr. Iliya of NPA refuted the claim that the agency is dredging the island, saying it is not true. He said: “we have a responsibility to dredge our channels to allow for free movement of ships in and out of the port. We have what we call capital dredging and maintenance dredging, which we do when it is needed.” Iliya said the NPA was already dredging the back of the port but would not dredge the islands “because we don’t have any business with them for now.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

At Ugbine Village is the spot where the remains of Captain Philip and others killed before the Benin massacre were buried. The tomb of Queen Iden, who sacrificed her life for the unification of the kingdom, is located at the Oba Market. Some statues of important figures that adorned the city include those of Chief Asoro, General Ebikhimwin, Emotan, Mue-Mue and Oba Ewuare, among others. Benin City’s master-plan, including the drainage system, was first designed during the administration of Dr. Ogbemudia. The plan was, however, distorted and drainage systems were blocked due to maladministration of successive governments. Benin became a dirty city even as development spreads beyond Oluku village, Idogbo and other villages. During the rainy season, residents of Five-Junction, Arousa and other streets live in fear of flood. The Kings Square was once an eye sore and a den of pick pockets. Buildings were erected on waterways, major streets were turned into markets and the city was dark due to the absence of street lights. Today, the story of Benin is changing. Governor Oshiomhole in his avowed commitment to restoring the Benin City master plan, has given the city a new look. All the roads leading to the city centre, except Ekenwan, have been expanded, rebuilt and installed with streetlights and walkways. Flowers planted at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square have turned the place into a tourist attraction. Hundreds of fun seekers now visit the Benin Museum ground because of the Water Fountain built by Oshiomhole. Several buildings were demolished for the beauty of Benin City to be restored. Heavy flooding experienced at the popular Five Junction, Upper Lawani, Costain-Isonorho, now Gani Fwehinmi Layout and other streets, have been solved. An ongoing N30bn Water Storm project is expected to check flooding in more than 12 streets. Traffic lights, which were not seen in the city for almost 20 years, have been restored and men of the War Against Indiscipline are on hand to arrest offenders. The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Francis •Water fountain at the Kings Square. Evbuomwan, in an interview, said the original Benin master plan Ethiope Publishing, First Bank and the Oba’s with respect to physical planning, urban dePalace. sign and building development, had been alAt the Sokponba Road is the Ogiamen tered. Palace, the only building that survived the Evbuomwan said the state government British punitive expedition of 1897. There is had made progress towards realising the Igun Street where Benin Bronze works are original master plan of the city. He observed made. There is also Erie Street where the first that some property owners in the city had storey building was erected in Benin Kingbuilt structures indiscriminately, thus comdom. The famous Benin moats could be pounding the problem of flooding and erofound round the city, but a large part of it has sion in the state. been brought down and used for refuse He stated that illegal conversion of propdump. erty for other purposes different from the Other places of interest are the Usama ones originally intended disrupted the Palace, Chief Oliha Palace where the first beauty of the town and vowed that more Kings of Benin (Ogisos) lived, the building buildings would be demolished. where Prince Oranmiyan lived at Egor, However, observers, who commend the Isekhure Palace, Chief Obaseki Palace, Chief Oshiomhole administration for the infraEro Palace, Ughoton village where the Bini structural revolution it has embarked upon believe is the passage way for the dead to the in the state, want the government to extend land of the dead. Ughoton was also the tradthe feat to tackling the menace of street ing post between the Binis and European traders and unwholesome activities of comtraders. mercial drivers.

Today, the story of Benin is changing. Governor Oshiomhole in his avowed commitment to restoring the Benin City master plan, has given the city a new look. All the roads leading to the city centre, except Ekenwan, have been expanded, rebuilt and installed with streetlights and walkways. Flowers planted at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square have turned the place into a tourist attraction. Hundreds of fun seekers now visit the Benin Museum ground because of the Water Fountain built by Oshiomhole

•The modern King's Square in the heart of Benin City.

BENIN: A city torn between history and modernity ODERN day Benin-City, Edo State capital, is expanding. It is quite different now from what it was as the traditional headquarters of the ancient Benin Kingdom. It was then defined by surrounding walls and moat with the nine gates erected during the reign of Oba Ewuare in the 15th Century. The name ‘Benin’ was coined by the Portuguese from Ubinu which it was originally called. In the book, A Popular History of Benin: the Rise and Fall of a Mighty Forest Kingdom, Roese, P. M., and D. M. Bondarenko wrote: "The kingdom and the capital city were both called Benin. The city of Benin was laid out in a system of huge straight streets. These streets were very wide, very long, and well maintained, although they were not paved. “You could travel on foot in a straight line for 15 or 20 minutes and not see the end of the street. Other streets opened from the main streets. They were also wide. Houses

•Street lights now adorn major towns in Edo State.

n Osagie OTABOR, Benin n were built in rows along all of the streets. “On the street front side, houses had covered porches to keep people dry as they sat outside. The Dutch and Portuguese traders who came to Benin by sea were not invited into the nobles' or artists’ homes. So we don't know how their homes were arranged, or what the back looked like. But we do know about the palace." The streets as described by the early visitors to Benin still exist. Even now, all roads to Benin from any part of the country lead to the city centre formerly known as Kings Square but popularly called Ring Road. The city centre has a roundabout built during the administration of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia. Kings Square has been renamed

Oba Ovoramwen Square by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The popular and highbrow commercial streets in Benin include Mission Road, Sapele Road, Sokponba, Ekenwan, Akpakpava, Airport Road, Forestry, James Watt, Cook Road, Oba Market Road, Siluko Road and Plymouth Road. Within these streets, old mud houses built after the Benin Massacre could still be found, which makes many to regard Benin as an ancient city. A visitor to present day Benin will surely find a wonderful time as tourist sites abound in the city. Along Akpakpava is the Holy Arousa Church where the Benin monarch is the General Overseer. The church was founded by the Portuguese. Around the Oba Ovoromwen Square is the Edo State House of Assembly, Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin Central Hospital, Benin Musuem,

ca s Y t i C

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

OUR FRUSTRATIONS •Amazing world of Nigerian graduates doing menial jobs

Story on pages 18,47&48

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

Amazing world of Nigeria’s graduates doing menial jobs

•Dorcas

IME was 1pm and the weather was as hot as it could ever be. The putrid smell of rotten materials rent the air. But not minding the unpleasant smell, the young men and women went about their business as if their lives depended on it, digging deep into the rubbish in search of valuables which they wished to dispose for money. To a large extent, their lives truly depend on scavenging on dump sites. With hot sweat streaming down their bodies and not showing any concern with the several on-lookers, they scramble and sometimes fight over seemingly worthless metals. This is the daily routine of these young Nigerians, many of who are graduates; they throng the popular

•Stella with her keke

Segun AJIBOYE, Innocent DURU,

n Rukayat JIMOH and Osumah IBRAHIM n Ojota refuse dump site in search of their daily bread. While many of them earn their daily bread as scavengers, many more have taken to other seemingly-demeaning jobs like commercial motorcycling and domestic servants, among others. Daniel Emeka, a Psychology graduate from the University of Ibadan, resorted to riding commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada after his efforts to get an office job failed. He said: “I graduated in 2010 and searched for job everywhere to no avail. When life was becoming very unbearable, I decided to put the pride of being a gradu-

ate aside and took to commercial motorcycling to make both ends meet. It wasn’t easy starting the okada business itself because I didn’t have the money to buy a motorcycle. I was able to raise money from a family friend to purchase a motorcycle that has been helping me to survive,” he said. He blamed the apathy of the government and the culture of godfatherism in the country for the growing rate of unemployment, saying: "It is so unfortunate that our country is faced with the problem of godfatherism, a situation in which you have to know somebody before you can get a job. “Sometime ago, I went for a job interview, and on getting there, I was asked to provide a note from a rep-

utable person standing for me. Because I could not provide one, I was not even asked anything. It is rather too bad that in this country, you would have to know somebody before you can achieve what you want." Though Daniel is not totally happy with his present job, he said it was not a bad idea because it is better than getting involved in criminal activities to survive. “As a Christian, I have been taught not to forget the days of my little beginning. Being a dirty okada man is better than being a clean criminal. I believe that God will elevate me with time,” he submitted. Alice Owolabi is a graduate of the University of Ilorin. As an undergraduate, Alice had lofty dreams of what she wanted for herself. For her, a job in a bank is the most ideal. Years after graduation, Alice trekked the length and breadth of Lagos without a job. Her prayers were finally answered when she eventually got a job in one of the new generation banks. But while her dream was to work in the mainstream banking, Alice was employed as a cleaner. "I am managing the cleaning job since there are no jobs out there. My intention is to work in the bank as one of the key staff. It is so unfortunate I found myself as a cleaner. But I am still hopeful that God will change my situation. I will keep praying to God that one day, the manager would be led to look at my C.V and give me an opportunity to work as a staff and not as cleaner," she said. Wale is 27 years old. The only son of a family of seven, he had lofty dreams of what he wanted to be-

I am not happy with the kind of job that I do. As a graduate, I am supposed to be rendering intellectual service to people and not be going through the hard labour that goes with working in a factory. It is rather sad that the rate of unemployed graduates in the country is on the increase. That is why you find many graduates doing jobs they are not supposed to do...

47 work here.” Wale has not given up on hope. According to him, he hopes to go back to school someday. And towards that, he saves a huge chunk of his earnings. “I will go back to school one day. I started saving money from the first day that I started work here. That is even the reason why I am not married yet. My priority now is to get back to school.” Taye Taiwo graduated from a technical college, majoring in bricklaying, a profession he practised for several years. A self-acclaimed hard worker, Taye is not happy that despite several years of hard work put into his profession, he has not been successful. To make up for the shortfall in his earnings, he made a trip to a dump site one day. By the end of that day, Taye said he made enough that made him realise that he may have probably wasted his time working as a bricklayer. “I was a bricklayer. But after working for many years without having anything to show for it, I decided to look for another job. When I was working as a bricklayer, I would work and the owner of the job would refuse to pay. It was like I was working without anything to show for it. So, one day, I decided that rather than die in silence or become an armed robber, I would go and work on a dump site.” More than eight years after making that decision, Taye said he is proud of what he has been able to achieve. “I have a wife and children. I am also able to send my children to school without much difficulty. So, I am sure that I made the right decision to come and work here.“ Taye believes most of the problems confronting man are self-inflicted. According to him, some young men resort to stealing, armed robbery and other violent acts because they regard some jobs as demeaning. “I can do anything to earn a living as long as it not stealing. I tell you, most of the problems we have are because some people feel ashamed to do some jobs. They feel they are too big to do a particular type of job. Unfortunately, these same people are not ashamed to go into armed robbery. “I am not ashamed at all. I live in a comfortable house with my wife and children and my neighbours know the type of job that I do. If all of us would do away with pride, we would realise that there is a lot of things that we can do to earn a living without resorting to armed robbery of violent acts.” The stories of the two are not particularly different from several other young Nigerians who have found succour in the several dump sites scattered across the country. Michael Ajayi works in a factory. He resorted to the factory job after years of fruitless search for a job after graduation. While lamenting the nature of his job, Ajayi said, "I am not happy with the kind of job that I do. As a graduate, I am supposed to be rendering intellectual service to people and not be going through the hard labour that goes with working in a factory. “It is rather sad that the rate of unemployed graduates in the country is on the increase. That is why you find many graduates doing jobs they are not supposed to do. There is little or no hope for the youth. It is simply by the grace of God that one can be successful.” This is also the case with Rasheed Tajudeen. For over a decade now, Rasheed has concentrated his efforts on making a living by working at the Ojota dump site. Prior to this time, he had worked with several firms after training as a mechanical engineer. “I trained as a mechanical engineer. After graduation, I tried to get a good job without luck. At a point, I was working with some people who had contracts with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), but that also failed to bail me out of my

I am managing the cleaning job since there are no jobs out there. My intention is to work in the bank as one of the key staff. It is so unfortunate I found myself as a cleaner. But I am still hopeful that God will change my situation. I will keep praying to God that one day, the manager would be led to look at my C.V and give me an opportunity to work as a staff and not as cleaner

come when he grew up. But much of his dreams of becoming an engineer is fast fading away as he inches towards the proverbial age of 40. For seven years, Wale has made the dump site his work place, going there every day to make a living. “I started coming here about seven years ago. At the time, it was tough for me to decide, but today I am happy that I can feed myself without looking up to anybody. That is the reason why I am happy.” Indeed, Wale has good reason to be happy. His mother and two of his sisters also eke a living at the dump site. “As a child, I wanted to be an engineer. I went as far as the model college where I received engineering training. But I could not afford the fees and I had to drop out. Much as I tried, but I realised that I cannot continue to fold my hands and hope that a miracle would happen. That was why I decided to come here and work. I have my mother and two sisters who also

Continued on page 48

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

•Some of the kegs seized from them

, •The suspects

I started the business because I was hungry and have many children. I have 15 children. I gave birth to eight but my husband brought the other ones. I am only trying to feed them

Hunger pushed us into •Confessions of oil theft suspects in custody ERHAPS, Julius Fredie, a 24-year-old man from Ahoada West, Rivers State, had thought that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State chapter, would listen to his pathetic story of abject poverty and set him free on compassionate grounds. But to the security outfit, his story is the usual singsong of any arrested criminal. His tales are not "born again". Therefore, it seems to be the end of the road for Julius whose fate is to be decided by the court if eventually

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n prosecuted as vowed by the NSCDC. His case looks unpardonable. He was caught red-handed while allegedly engaging in the illegal act of cutting pipelines belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. Some community folks led a team of the NSCDC to the scene where Julius was about carrying part of the severed pipe. But Julius, who was among

the suspects paraded recently by the state Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said poverty forced him to commit the crime. Looking unkempt, the youngster, who had many scars on his body, however, disclosed that a chief recruited him into the illegal business. He explains that the chief is in the criminal deal of cutting pipelines belonging to oil companies and later negotiating with such firms to repair the pipes and become their surveillance contractor. "I was just on my own in the

house thinking about my lonely world when the chief from my community came and asked me to come and help him cut a pipe. He also called one Mr. Precious to join in the pipeline cutting. "He promised that after cutting the pipe, Shell would give him the pipeline repairs and surveillance contract and that he would give us part of the contract to help us make money and feed ourselves.’’ But Julius lamented that after cutting the pipeline, the chief got the contract but refused to sublet part of it to them as he promised.

He said the chief abandoned and neglected them, a situation that infuriated Precious, his alleged partner in crime. "Precious was angry and decided to go and cut the pipeline again. After he found it difficult to carry the pipe, he came to wake me up where I was sleeping and asked me to come and help him remove the sand. Just as I was removing the sand, security operatives, led by some members of our community came and caught me", he said. On why he joined the illegal business, he said it was easy for the chief to convince him because of his poverty. "I am hungry and I have no helper. So, when the chief sent for me, I went there. He promised me surveillance job. I am just on my own in this world and since I was arrested, nobody has come for me", he said. Like Julius, 60-year-old Victoria is allegedly notorious for ille-

Continued on page 50

I was lured into robbery to raise N25,000 school fees, says undergraduate arrested with girlfriend HE Delta Police have arrested an undergraduate of the state-owned university and his lover for their alleged role in armed robbery. Raphael Ekarebe, 22, is a 300 level student of the Department of Political Science at Delta State University, Abraka, while his girlfriend, identified as Endurance Akpore, is a student of Shaka Polytechnic in Edo State. The duo were paraded along with 14 other suspects in Asaba for alleged crimes ranging from armed

n Okungbowa AIWERIE, Asaba n robbery, kidnapping, trafficking in fake currency notes and rape. Ekarebe, who confessed to participating in the crime, said he was forced into crime due to his inability to raise N25,000 for school fees, adding that his indigent mother could not afford to pay his fees. His words: ‘’We went to rob a man of his car at Agbarho. I am a member of the gang; it was my first time. I am a student in Delta State University, Abraka, and we are start-

ing our exams soon. I came from the school because we will be starting exams this week and I have a problem with my school fees. So, I went to meet my girlfriend she promised to give me N5,000, but the money was not enough. So, I went to meet my friend called Makolomi who promised to give me some more money.’’ He said his friend, who promised to give him money, however, lured him into crime, taking advantage of

Continued on page 51

•The suspects

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

Rose

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

CHIELLINI

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS...

MESSI DECLARES

NEYMAR CAN BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD

‘FOCUS IS ON MATCH AGAINST ATLETICO’

COSTA DECLARES SELF FIT TO FACE ARSENAL Ramsey: Welbeck can become an Arsenal legend

ROMA NOT JUST TOTTI

PAZZINI SEEKS RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

Player

FIXTURES

ENGLISH BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Team Barcelona Valencia Atletico Sevilla Real Madrid Celta Vigo Villarreal Eibar Rayo Almeria Granada Espanyol Malaga Getafe Real Sociedad Bilbao Deportivo Elche Levante Cordoba

P 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

W 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0

D 1 2 2 1 0 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 0 2 1 1 1 1 3

L 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 3 4 4 4 4 3

GF 17 14 11 9 20 11 7 5 10 5 4 7 3 3 8 4 7 5 1 3

GA 0 3 4 7 9 7 6 4 10 5 9 8 6 10 9 6 15 14 17 10

GD 17 11 7 2 11 4 1 1 0 0 -5 -1 -3 -7 -1 -2 -8 -9 -16 -7

Pts 16 14 14 13 12 12 8 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 3

TOP SCORERS

Cassano Di Natale Tévez Osvaldo Albin Ekdal Filip Vázquez Menez Callejón Honda

JONES COULD BE FIT FOR EVERTON CLASH

‘ANFIELD DRAW CAN SPUR US ON’

TOP SCORERS Team

Parma Udinese Juventus Inter Cagliari Lazio Palermo Milan Napoli Milan

FIXTURES

Saturday Verona v Cagliari Milan v Chievo Sunday Empoli v Palermo Udinese v Cesena Lazio v Sassuolo Parma v Genoa SampdoriavAtalanta Juventus vRoma Fiorentina v Inter Napoli v Torino

Goals

4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

ITALIAN SERIE A TABLE

‘My dream has always been to be a footballer’

NTER midfielder Mateo Kovacic believes his desire to succeed was the driving force behind his decision to become a professional footballer. The 20-year-old is grateful for the opportunity the Nerazzurri have provided him, and the Croatian international admits that becoming a professional footballer has always been his dream. “I never once thought about what I would do if I didn’t become a footballer, because this was and remains my only dream,” he said on Inter’s official website. Kovacic has scored twice in 50 league appearances for the Nerazzurri, to go along with a hat-trick in the Europe League that came earlier this season against Stjarnan.

Pos Team

Pts

Juventus

Roma

Udinese

Sampdoria

Inter Milan

AC Milan

Verona

Napoli

Lazio

Fiorentina

-1

Genoa

-1

Torino

-2

Cesena

-5

Atalanta

-5

Cagliari

-1

Chievo

-2

Empoli

-3

Parma

-4

Palermo

-5

Sassuolo

-8

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

38 Remi Oki is a professor of Chemistry at Prairie View A&M University, Texas, United States of America. He is also a traditional title holder in Odo Ayandelu, a community in Lagos State. The member of Eko Club, a social cultural group of Lagos indigenes in the U.S., and recipient of United States of America national honour was thrice on the verge of becoming the Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) but lost out on each occasion at the last stage of the interview. He speaks with GBENGA ADERANTI about the activities of his group in the U.S., the best way to run university education in Nigeria and why he failed to emerge as the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, among other issues.

Remi Oki

Of all jobs, why did you choose teaching? I have always been an independent person. I’ve always liked my freedom and being able to manoeuvre my time. When I looked out for things that would allow me to do that, I found that the educational environment would be the best for me in the US. That kind of offers me the flexibility to do what I want to do and not what people impose on me. As a faculty in the US, a lot of time, you have a teaching commitment. It could vary from six hours to 12 hours a week. That frees a lot of your time to do all other things that include research. Of course, your research is not what they ask you to do; it is coming from your own creative mind. You have that freedom to express your will to be able to focus on things you like to do or you want to do, which matches that area. You also know that the US system is one that rewards success in teaching and research service by being granted tenure. Tenure simply means you have a job for life. What that means is that we don’t have a retirement age, I can decide to work for as long as I retain my physical and mental capability. You can work for unlimited number of years. And then because in education system you are given that tenure, it also grants you the freedom to do things even if the administrators of the university don’t like you, as long as it is legal. What that means is that you can’t be victimised. So, education system is good. Working in educational environment gives you the freedom and flexibility that prompts you to be an independent thinker. Don’t get me wrong, you have some people who are edu-

OU seem to be always willing to do something for Lagos. What is the attraction? Well, I grew up in Lagos and I have seen the good sides of living in a community. It just saddens you to see the movement from community-based empowerment to individuals’ decisions and total disregard for others. I think the government has far more responsibility to be a cohesive force to bring people together rather than being in focus for individualism. For some of us in the Diaspora, we see issues in Lagos that kind of sadden us. As the president of Eko Club in Houston and other leadership of Eko Club internationally, one of the things we try to do is to empower more people in Lagos and to get involved with the communities. Of course, there are great initiatives that came about from that place. One of them was the medical initiative we brought from the US, which provides health and medical needs for some communities in Lagos. There are several other things we can do. We know what we do in the community we came from in Houston; how we help to raise awareness in the community and empower the people. How does the Lagos of today compare with the one you grew up in? It is a big contrast. The Lagos I grew up in is not the same Lagos we have now. There are lots of changes in terms of migrations, population, technology and all of those things. But the sad thing is that the family structure has been totally destroyed. They had to break down family structure and care more for their individual survival. When I was growing up, it was never like that. We had uncles, cousins and extended cousins, and we reached out to one another. We do not have that kind of structure anymore. People are now interested in acquisitions; living self-centered lives and yet being happy in the midst of the poor. Again, it saddens you that we have so many rich Lagosians and yet we have very few giving back to the community to empower others. We don’t expect the government to do everything, rather, we expect individuals who are so blessed to positively impact on other people in the community and collectively solve the problems. How did you feel wining national awards in the U.S. as a Nigerian? Awards are marks of recognition from the people. A lot of times, you do things because you want to do things; and when people see you do things and appreciate you, they put you up for award. A lot of times, you don’t even know about it until they say you have been given so, so and so award. These are the kinds of things that inspire you to do more. I feel blessed for the award, but it is only asking me to serve more, and be more creative in what I do to warrant more recognition.

How I missed being LASU V-C thrice –US-based don A lot of time, when you come back from abroad, people have so much fear rather than hope. Their fear is that this man may not understand LASU’s terrain. We have cults, we have this and that. But we keep making the same mistake every time. The same mistake we make is that we don’t communicate with the students.

cators, who kind of lag behind. Perhaps after tenure, they stop doing anything. We know them. And we have some people who abuse the system also. But again in the US, they just try to protect the system with the tenure system. So, when they employ you as a faculty member, you have seven years to attain tenure. If you don’t, you have to go. Now before they grant you tenure, they must have been convinced over the years that you must be the kind of person they are making that big investment on. Is it because you have more freedom in the US that you never bothered to teach in Nigeria? No, I started in Nigeria. I worked with NEPA. In fact, I was the chemist that started the Lagos thermal station, Egbin. At that time, I worked there for two or three years. I was one of the commissioning chemists. One of the things I found about my job there was that it was boring, the challenges were not there and I felt we were over-staffed. I had so many lines of people reporting to me, and at the end of the

day, my job was just to sign signatures at that young age of 23. The opportunities were not there. It became boring and I said let me go further and pursue my academic career. Academic institutions used to be very good in Nigeria, because I schooled at the University of Ibadan. It used to be very good and independent. But the structure of the system started dwindling during the military regime. It started before then but became more pronounced during Obasanjo’s regime as military head of state. The trend of destroying the academic system continued after then. Of course, there was hope when we were advancing to civil rule. But then, most of the academicians became politicians. A lot of them focused on politics. The ones who wanted to retain their stability ran out of the country. Government has to limit their interference in university education. The federal level seems to be a bit stable now. But at the state level, we still have a lot of problems. Could that be the reason why you failed thrice to become the V-C of Lagos State

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

•Oki

interview lasted 30 minutes. They brought a lot of candidates one by one; you are interviewed for 30 minutes and you are gone. The first time I was asking, what should I bring? How long would it last? I was thinking it was going to be a whole day. You interviewed someone for 35 minutes and you make your decision and recommendation based on what? The second time, I wanted to make a video presentation and share certain things; they said no, we didn’t plan for that. The question they asked during the last time I was here, to me, was out of place. They asked me if there was Boko Haram around LASU, what would you do as a V-C? To me, this question was strange. Yet the question was asked by someone I respect so much. When I was asked that question, I kind of went back to my brain; what kind of question was that? These are State Department questions. A lot of time, when you come back from abroad, people have so much fear rather than hope. Their fear is that this man may not understand LASU’s terrain. We have cults, we have this and that. But we keep making the same mistake every time. The same mistake we make is that we don’t communicate with the students. We don’t know what they want. We just want to impose on them what we think they want or what we think is right, forgetting that in the university, we have to treat students as young adults. And as young adults, we want to manage and mould them. How can we prevent crisis? Strikes and crisis are two things that have eaten so much into the structure of the system. Perhaps look at the history of the crisis: what caused it and how can it be resolved? This is how individuals react and protect certain things, but they are limited on what they can do in the underlining problem of looking at the past events and learning from them. When I was at the UI, we had two crises. The one that was more destroying was the Ali-Must-Go riot. That was when they increased feeding from 50k to N1.50k. People lost their lives. Perhaps when you don’t negotiate things with the people involved, no young adult will be receptive to that; perhaps a good leader would have handled that differently. In Nigeria, we have over 100 universities. Do you think it is healthy? We have over 100 universities and I don’t think we have enough. Just look at the statis-

University? The first time was when Prof. Abdul Hussein was the V-C. The second time was when he was seeking re-appointment and the third time was the last one. You see, I don’t want to be the V-C of LASU at all cost. My goal was to help Lagos State, and I believe that one area where I could contribute significantly was in the education sector. They have to challenge the management of the universities to have a creative way of raising money to cover the needs of the university. And there are so many ways. Of course, we can’t depend on government for everything. They have to look at academic institution as an enterprise. In that way, how can we generate more money? One of the problems I have also seen in LASU is that we are over-staffed. Again, when I look at what happens in a particular department and I compare that to what happens in the US, it is easy to come to that conclusion. We are in the age and days of technology. We have to take the advantage of technology to increase and enhance our operational efficiency. In that wise, I’m not advocating the lay-off of staff, but you have to redeploy and retrain staff for other things. Perhaps some of the staff can be retained and converted to faculty members, or some of them can be converted to other areas. These are the good things that government can invest in. I was also talking about progarmmes. I believe every university should be created for the need of the community where the university resides. There are some programmes that might not be relevant to Lagos State which the university is running. Then you ask yourself why is the university running these programmes? So, those are the things they have to critically look at and make a rational and informed decision on what role they want the university to play in Lagos State and the community they serve. How would you describe the selection process of VCs in Nigerian varsities compared to what you have in foreign universities? VERY institution has its own policy in the schools here. They have governing councils, they have research committees. The role of the governing council is to forward three names to the governor who appoints one. Unfortunately, what I see in the system they use is that when you bring in someone for the VC, you can’t just interview someone for 30 or 45 minutes and you make a decision on that. To me, we are not taking the position seriously. Over in the US, when we need to interview any senior management staff or position whether the dean or department head, whatever it is, we always devote a day for the interview process. My thinking is that you have a lot of stakeholders in the institution. Seven men making a recommendation do not reflect the interest of the university. The students are stakeholders in this. The unions are stakeholders in this. The faculty members, academic unions are stakeholders in this. Yes, in schools you have research committees. Research committees are just facilitators of the process. Now, you bring in someone, when he comes in, I believe he will meet with the research committee who talks over, welcomes him and takes him round the university and tells him about the university. The research committee will now plan, it could be one hour meeting, presentation with each of the stakeholders, and you give them the presentation of the kind of vision you have for them and let them know what are their own expectations for who is coming in. Over there, you talk and negotiate things and tell them your ideas. Yes, they will ask you questions that bother them. It could be problems in the past and how you can resolve the problem. You talk with the academic staff union: what are your needs and concerns? You can also share perhaps things you can do and things you don’t know. You would say those are the areas I will look at. You go to senior staff members, have a presentation with them, and at the end of the day, meet with individuals in the governing council so that by the time the person leaves, he has the full representation of what the school is all about and who the players are. Each group knows their expectation if that guys comes in. Then they can make an informed recommendation for the council to the governor. So, those are the things that they need to put in place. The two, three times I have been here, the

tics, how many students are coming out of high school? What is the capability of these universities? In fact, in some of these 100 plus universities, some of them are even over-stretched, because when I see a school like LASU, a school like UNILAG, I look at their population, I look at their faculty strength, the manpower, to me, those schools are over-stretched. To me, when I was at the UI, our students population was 8,000. How much infrastructure has been added to the system? I don’t know what the school population is right now, but I can bet you that it is close to 20,000, but with the same infrastructure. We can have so many universities, but if we don’t fund them to become good enough to produce the kind of graduates we want, then it is a big problem. What was it like growing up in Lagos? I grew up in Lagos. I went to St. Paul’s, Breadfruit. I spent one year there and my dad moved me to Ibadan Alafia Institute; that was a boarding House. That was where I completed my elementary school and then came back to Lagos. I went to Ansarudeen College, Isolo, I did my O’ level and then moved to St. Gregory College and I stayed two years for my HSC (Higher School Certificate) and then went to the University of Ibadan to read Chemistry. From there, I worked with NEPA (National Electric Power Authority) for three or four years before I went to the US for my doctorate. I was very fortunate in my growing up days because I had a supportive father and we had a family that was focused on education. Then we had a community in which people supported one another. The problems we have now weren’t there while I was growing up. The teachers in our schools, especially Ansarudeen College, were not perfect. I can tell you that the guy that taught me some courses in high school, I was surprised to see them in the university entering for the same course while I was there. But then, the Nigerian education system does not teach you how to learn. When I kind of reflect on the Nigerian educational system, it does not teach you certain skills you need, like critical thinking and problem solving skills which American schools focus on. And when you look at high school education skill in Nigeria and education skill in the US, they are so different. Even when you go to universities, all universities in the US have areas they focus on. They all have general education area they

One thing I believe is that the Federal Government has no business owning a university. In America, the Federal Government doesn’t own a university. Universities are either private or state public university. But the Federal Government has a way of controlling university education because it can regulate certain things

have to focus on, like specific skills they impact on you. Regardless of what is your major field, they want to be certain that you acquire enough quantitative skill, you acquire enough communication skill, oral and written, critical thinking skill and all of those things. In fact, they design some subjects to really look at that and they actually access those things. And some of those high schools focus on those things too. I recall while I was in high school in Nigeria, if we were preparing for one subject like Economics, the kind of questions they asked you are not the kind of questions they ask in American system. People would ask you what is money or what is demand and supply? American kids understand those things without going to school. What is stock market? Those things, they don’t have to go to school to learn, they have enough knowledge of those things. But here, they have to make it as if it is a question and you have to answer it the way the man teaching you understands it, because he does not allow you to think beyond what he is providing you. But we have pockets of problems around. That is why when a Nigerian comes to the US from high school, he will excel in the system as long as he is an average Nigerian, because he only needs one or two semesters to adapt and he sees volumes of books around to excel. It only requires of him to say let me study this, which is not the way an average American studies. They don’t study because they have diverse resources. They are not really hungry for it as much as Nigerians who don’t see them. When I was here on sabbatical, students were seen writing everything you said. He is not even thinking. He is not processing those things in his head. Americans don’t write. They listen to you because they have their own books. They go back and read just the important things. What is the way out of these challenges? At what level? Let me focus on tertiary education, I believe the Federal Government should be more involved in initiatives aimed at helping both the state and private universities. One thing I believe is that the Federal Government has no business owning a university. In America, the Federal Government doesn’t own a university. Universities are either private or state public university. But the Federal Government has a way of controlling university education because it can regulate certain things. The Federal Government can say, you know, I have this big money that I can use to support university research or I want each university to choose this type of course and you can tap into my money or it can decide to assist every student regardless of any university they go to, based on their needs. Those are things the Federal Government can do. Let them stop owning universities, The University of Lagos, the University of Ibadan and others should either be turned into private universities or they allow the states to acquire them. The challenge is now on the V-C who would be so empowered to run the institution the way he thinks could be profitable. It is non-profit making, but you have to invest back into the university. Perhaps they should look at the way they run schools in the US and the role of Federal Government and let’s start with that. But if Federal Government hands-off education, many people will be denied university education in Nigeria… eople will go to universities, because you cannot be denied education based on your economic needs, say for example Lagos State gives bursary. Whether you are poor or rich, you get bursary. If I’m rich and you give me bursary, what do I do with it? I enjoy my life. If I’m poor and you give me the same bursary, I need to look for more money to be able to pay part of my tuition. Is that fair? But if I can deny a system that can correctly assess your financial needs and I’m able to meet your financial needs to be educated partly, it could be loan than once you graduate, after six months you are employed, you will start paying back, that will be a fair system of making sure that anybody who is qualified will not be denied education, based on their economic situation. In the US, that doesn’t mean you don’t go to school. If you are poor, that doesn’t mean you can’t attend the university. Being poor does not prevent you from getting admitted to top schools because there is a federal financial aid package that will guarantee that you will attend that school. We don’t have that system in Nigeria.

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

with KAYODE ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com Tel:08116759807 08035733605

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

with KAYODE ALFRED

E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com TEL:08116759807

Bola Shagaya acquires private jet for 55th birthday

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

Jesutomi ROTIMI

Zainab ABUBAKAR

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

Cultural dancers in native attire Continued from Page 44 the tourism minister, Chief Edem Duke, said it is obsolete. As at today, tourism in Nigeria has no focus. Last year, a new tourism brand identity, Fascinating Nigeria, was launched. It was touted as a the catch phrase for the promotion of Nigeria as preferred destination. A little over a year later, it has become history. Even the Presidential Council on Tourism created by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration to discuss and strategize on tourism development has become dumped by the Jonathan administration. The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), with the statutory mandate to develop and market Nigerian tourism, has lost focus. But to some Nigerians, tourism is all about jamborees and visiting local tourism sites and taking pictures for newspapers. Stakeholders in the industry are of the opinion that the tourism industry can be better and expect the NTDC to be in the vanguard of the move to develop Nigeria’s tourism. The private sector is not left on the decay in

the industry. The once vibrant umbrella body for tourism, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has become a shadow of what it used to be. However, it is not all bleak, Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, is a perfect example of how tourism can improve a community. We have seen how the annual month-long tourism fiesta, the Calabar Festival, with its flagship product, the Carnival Calabar, has succeeded in turning around the economy of the city. In the last few years, there has been a phenomenal improvement in almost every area of business in the city, thanks to tourism. The same applies to cities like Oshogbo, with the annual Osun Osogbo festival. For Nigerians to feel and benefit from tourism, it is important that the tourism ministry and the NTDC live up to their responsibilities. They can learn from the South African Tourism(SAT), the arm charged with tourism development and marketing of the country's tourism. Until there is a change in the current approach, the impact of tourism in Nigerian communities and by extension, economy, would continue to be minimal.

Golden Tulip Warri opens for business

HE Niger Delta has continued to maintain its lead in the hospitality sector in the south-south states, with the recent opening for business by Golden Tulip Warri Airport Hotel. Located adjacent the former Woodridge Hotel, by P.T.I Junction, Effurun, the magnificent hotel, with an impressive aesthetically appealing edifice, is easily accessible from any part of the oilrich city of Warri. It is well-situated for business, leisure and travels. It also enjoys a high sense of luxury, comfort and beauty. With 192 luxuriously furnished rooms, its array of facilities and services include a conference hall, meeting rooms, restaurant, bar, leisure and entertainment of all classes.

According to the General Manager, Akram Daoud, the hotel, with an international ambience tempered by local flavours, offers high standard and quality facilities and services and managed by staff that are professionals and highly motivated to deliver on the mission of the hotel. Set to change the face of hospitality in Warri and the entire Niger Delta, Daoud revealed that the hotel offers customized and personalized. With its array of facilities, including shopping and office outlets, the hotel is a one -stop centre where residents and visitors would have all the needs met, ranging from accommodation, dining and wining, shopping, retreat, social and relaxation.

Starwood Hotels celebrates Eid el-Kabir

tarwood Hotels in Nigeria, made up of Sheraton, Lagos; Sheraton Abuja Hotel; Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos; Le Meridien Ogeyi Place- Portharcourt and Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resorts- Akwa Ibom, will join the Muslim faithful to celebrate Eid al Adha next week. In each of the hotels, the Feast of Sacrifice will be specially commemorated with a Sallah Brunch, where families can come together to enjoy Roast Lamb and other delicacies prepared by renowned chefs of the hotels. The hotel teams have equally extended their goodwill to families and friends with bountiful offers on room rates, commencing from the 1st of October till the 7th of October, 2014. The package will include breakfast, as well as access to the hotel pools, gyms and high speed internet. The package also include unlimited access to the Golf course of le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resorts. The food and beverage teams are geared to provide professional outdoor catering services to customers who will wish to dine at home. The long weekend will unfold with a myriad of activities in each of the hotels, ranging from social hour at the lobbies to jazz and African hit favorites in the evenings. Guests are guaranteed a restful stay, considerable savings and a lineup of memorable experiences for the months to come.

...Federal Palace offers special promo

T From left, Alhaji Muhammed Lawal Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Oba Stephen Oparinde, The Akibio of Ilora, HRM, Oba Lamidi, Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale, the Samu of Oyo and Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida The Nigeria High Commissioner to United Kingdom during the Royal Visit to Nigeria House in Central London .

he Federal Place Hotel said it has put in place special packages to make the Moslem festival of Eid el Kabir memorable for its guests. The promo is from the !st and 12th of this month. The hotel said it has a special promo room rates for the accommodation facilities. This, according to a release by the hotel

include, welcome drink, buffet breakfast for two . The guests will also be entitled to access to the hotel's exclusive Pool Club comprising gym, game arcade, lawn tennis, mini golf course, water slides, swimming pools, jungle gym, jumping castle, Atlantic Garden, children play ground, beds etc.

Students return from tour to Singapore Emirates upgrades Abuja capacity

tudents of Grace High School, Lagos, who went on a two-week educational tour of Singapore are back to the country. Speaking of the trip, the School Administrator, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun, said education has gone beyond rudimentary ability to read and write, but production of complete personalities who can make positive impact and turn the society around for good. “Our students can only achieve much if they interact with the best from other climes. At Grace High School, we understand that the world is now a global village and therefore prepare our students to have global outlook, which is one of the reasons for our international exchange programme with top schools across the globe.” Edun, while explaining the reason for the trip, said: “We were in Singapore because this is a country that, at a time, was on the same level of development with Nigeria,

but has since made giant strides that has placed her in the league of developed nations of the world. Our thinking for this exchange programme with a top school in Singapore is that our students can learn from the pragmatic educational system that has produced best brains that turned around the fortunes of Singapore from developing to a developed nation. “Our believe is that if Nigeria must attain her lofty vision of joining the league of developed economies in the nearest future, then her young minds must not be push-overs,” she added. Mrs. Edun explained that the exchange programme is designed to challenge their students to be the possible best they can, particularly because of the school's belief that a society is a reflection of her educational system. While in Singapore, the students were involved in both academic exercises and other extra mural activities.

arely two months after launching its operations to Abuja, Emirates has announced it will upgrade the route's operating aircraft to a Boeing 777-200ER, starting from October 1st 2014. Emirates launched a daily service to Abuja, its second Nigerian gateway and 22nd passenger destination in Africa, on August 1st, utilising the Airbus A340-300. The new aircraft will continue to operate daily to Nigeria's capital and offer 274 seats in the three cabins; 12 luxurious lie-flat seats in First Class, 42 deeply reclining seats in Business Class and a generous space for 220 passengers in Economy Class. “The upgrade of our Abuja service to a Boeing 777 demonstrates our commitment to the Nigerian market and another step to ensure we offer world class products to our customers in Nigeria. “Since its launch on August 1st 2014, Emirates boosted international tourism and trade in Abuja from a raft of destinations in the Far East, West Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America,” said Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Northern and Western Africa.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

•Ojota refuse dump

‘I took to scavenging to save my marriage’ misery.” Rasheed said he finally decided to work at the dump site, at first scavenging, before finally worming his way into the hearts of many truck drivers after he proved his worth as a good mechanic. “After that, the drivers started giving me jobs to do. Since that time, I have been here doing my work without any regret. I tell you, if most of our youths would seize whatever opportunity available to them rather than waste their time running after criminalities, this country would be better.” Wakil Moshood confessed that he was compelled to earn a living disposing refuse when he realised that he does not want to lose his wife. According to him, years of fruitless search for a non-existent job after graduation forced him to put aside his shame and opted for a life as a scavenger. He is particularly scared of losing his wife to other men who could lure her with the good things of life that he is unable to provide. “The Yoruba have a proverb that a jobless man’s wife belongs to another man. I went round searching for a job without luck. And I see around me men whose wives engage in extra-marital affairs because their men could not provide for their needs. I cannot afford to go through such experience, so I decided to forget about shame and come here to hustle.” When Olujide Moyosore Dorcas gained admission to study Business Education at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, it never occurred to her that she would one day end up as a commercial tricyclist. After her graduation, she went into the labour market with the full hopes of landing her dream jobs. But after several years of combing the street, she gave up the search and settled for commercial tricycle business, a job majorly under-

Continued from page 47

The Yoruba have a proverb that a jobless man’s wife belongs to another man. I went round searching for a job without luck. And I see around me men whose wives engage in extra-marital affairs because their men could not provide for their needs. I cannot afford to go through such experience, so I decided to forget about shame and come here to hustle

taken by men. “I searched for a job from when I graduated in 2011without any success. When things were getting very difficult, somebody introduced commercial motorcycling to me. It looked odd to me at the beginning, but I had no option than to go for it. “I first applied to a pure water company at Abule Agba for employment, but didn’t get it. Later, I applied to different schools for a teaching job without any luck. Thereafter, I applied for the post of a manager in a yoghourt manufacturing company in Mushin. I got the job, but the salary was nothing to write

•Mosood

home about, so I had to quit,” she said. She narrated that it wasn’t easy when she started because her friends were not in support of it. “My friends didn’t buy the idea of driving tricycles. I would have given up because of that, but when I told my dad about it, he encouraged and gave me his full support. “I am not regretting my decision because I am earning enough money to meet my basic needs. I am living well and have no reason to look inferior before my male colleagues at the park. They are very friendly and encouraging,” she explained. She added that the passengers that pa-

tronise her have always admired her and at times dash her their balance. “My advice for those that are jobless is that they should try and find something doing to make both ends meet. This is very important because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. If they put aside shame and do something, they would not have to depend on anybody for their basic needs. As I am now, I pay my rent, feed and clothe myself without waiting for anybody to give me a dime.’’ The story is the same with Stella Iroaja. In a chat with The Nation, the mother of three and widow said she does the job to make ends meet. She revealed that she started as an okada rider, which she also used to supply bread to people. After three years of engaging in the business, she saved sufficient money and bought a tricycle. “I have been running this Keke-Napep business for more than two years, and it is from this business I pay my children’s school fees, house rent and also take care of myself. “As a widow, I have to struggle to take care of my children because there is nobody to fend or cater for my needs. My first son is 21 years of age and he is in university. It is from this business I pay his school fees,” the Imo State born woman said. She proudly added: “I have my own personal car and it is through this KekeNapep business I bought it. I am very popular in this business, being the first woman to start such around this area, so I do not face any challenge from either police or LASTMA because they know I am struggling to survive.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

CRIME

OTHER STORIES

Two die, one lands in hospital after drinking herbal mixture T was a grim nightfall penultimate Monday in the Adeta area of Ilorin, Kwara State, when two men died and another landed in hospital shortly after taking a local herbal mixture, popularly called Opa Eyin or Paraga. To enjoy more of the drink, the trio were said to have poured some water into the remaining potion served them by the bar attendant. An impeccable source, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, recalled that the trio of Bami, Yunus and Ganiyu had gone to a popular joint in the community to take their favourite herbal drink. “That was not the first time the three friends would be visiting the joint. They were fond of visiting the place to catch fun after work. On the day of the incident, the man that owns the joint was not

n Kunle AKINRINADE n around when the three men got there but one of his boys sold the herbal mixture to them. “Trouble, however, started shortly after they took the herbal drink when Yunus complained of stomach pain and he died a few minutes later. Ganiyu died in the early hours of Tuesday. As we speak, the third victim, Bami, is in a critical condition in a private hospital but I don’t know the name of the hospital,” Attempts by our correspondent to reach the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Kwara Police Command, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, at press time was fruitless as he did not pick his calls or reply text messages forwarded to his phone number.

•Mama Militant and some of her boys

Our stories, by Continued from page 19

•Barr Mike Longe speaking at the meeting

Rivers immigration boss, stakeholders parley on crime fighting n Precious DIKEWOHA and Rita KPAZOP, Port Harcourt n o maintain a proactive strategy in curbing trans-border crime, the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Rivers State, Barr Mike Longe, has held a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt. At the meeting held at Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, Longe said: “The border crime and other security challenges made the command to establish a new border patrol in 2013.” Appraising the new policy of the command, the immigration boss said:” Over 1000 officers have been trained in modern techniques and trends

of curbing insurgency and terrorist acts with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) as coparticipants in providing the much needed capacity during the training session.’’ He noted that the trained personnel have since been kitted with new camouflage dresses and deployed in 19 land border posts. “The immigration service is witnessing a dynamic and purposeful leadership under Mr. David Parradang. Like the last stakeholders meeting, it is to be noted that in order to effectively check influx of irregular mi-

grants who are mostly taking the advantage of about 1,500 illegal routes, 27 new patrol bases and 30 additional border control posts were established to support the existing functional 84 posts through the approval of the Honourable Minister of interior, Comrade Abba Moro,” he added. “Those who attended the stakeholders meeting included the representatives of some companies, the Representative of Comptroller General of NIS, Mr. Obua Chukwuemeka Patrick Pius, and Amanayabo of Abonema, King Gbobo Bob Manuel.

gal refining of petroleum products. The fat, dark-complexioned woman, who hails from Futorogbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, is popularly known in the creeks as Mama Militant. She was so entrenched in the crude cooking of crude oil that she was said to have recruited men who worked for her. In one of their missions, three of the men were arrested by the operatives of the NSCDC. Victoria admitted doing the business for more than one year. She said she once owned an illegal refinery site at Etikpama, claiming that the site was allocated to her by an unnamed security operative. She, however, claimed to have repented before his arrest. Victoria owned boats, many boat engines and fire hoses with which she used to operate her unlawful activities. "When I was arranging the place and finishing it in January, the boy who gave me the site said the government asked us to stop, then I stopped. I did this business for about one year and then stopped. I didn't achieve

anything with it. "After l stopped, I couldn't remove everything I used in doing the business. We dumped everything there because we were no longer cooking. We bought all these things before to go and do the business. But when all these things stopped, I kept them. "I was not hiring them out. It is only the big engine I installed in the big boat to transfer it. It was an empty boat", she said. On why she started the business, she said: "I started the business because I was hungry and have many children. I have 15 children. I gave birth to eight but my husband brought the other ones. I am only trying to feed them." Explaining the circumstances that led to the arrest of Victoria, the leader of the operation and Head of Unit, Anti-Vandal, NSCDC, Mr. John Oluvua, said the arrested workers of Mama Militant gave her away. He said they were arrested in a big boat carrying illegally refined kerosene, adding that on interrogation, they named the woman as their alleged sponsor. He said the boat was burnt after its contents were evacuated. He said: "Moving that boat to this place

Why we rolled out Armoured HE Controller of Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, DC Turaki Usman Adamu, has explained why the unit rolled out an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) when it intercepted smugglers ferrying 11,264 imported parboiled rice along Igbesa, a suburb of Ogun State last Tuesday. The seizure was valued at N56,320,000 with payable duty of N39,424,000 and a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N95,744,000. In a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Uche Ejesieme, the controller said: “We had to roll out its Armoured Personnel Carrier for these operations in view of the volatile nature of the terrain. This tank was rolled out with the express permission of the Comptroller General , Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, who clearly understands the nature of such assignment. “The Lagos roving team met a stiff opposition from the smugglers, hence the need for reinforcement from the neighbouring commands of Ogun and Seme, as well as the military, NSCDC, Navy and others who provided security for the evacuation of the consignment.” The controller expressed disappointment with some people in the community who, according to him, allegedly con-

n Innocent DURU n fessed that they live on the proceeds of smuggling. “It was actually amazing to see the naivety of one of them who seemed not to know that smuggling is an economic crime. “He told us point blank that smuggling is their only means of survival as the proceeds they get from it are what they use for developing their community. I was perplexed at that and I want to use this opportunity to urge the media both print and electronic to embark on mass education and sensitisation using local dialects to disseminate information on the dangers of smuggling,” he noted. The controller appreciated the CGC and his management for the enormous support the unit has received from them and promised that the unit will strategise on how to sustain its present anti-smuggling tempo, particularly in the ember months to guide against complacency. “Some smuggling flashpoints have been identified along the creeks and other illegal routes. I promise that very intensive and aggressive patrol activities would be mounted in those areas in order to nip the activities of smugglers in the bud.“

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

51 olukunle87@yahoo.com

Man faces trial over murder n Rukayat JIMOH n OR allegedly killing 24-year-old Obinna Azomba, Chika Emechata, 21, has been arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court. The late Chika and Obinna were said to be working at a construction site at Harrison 2 Site, Lekki Gardens Estate, Ikate Elegushi, Lagos, when they had an altercation. Thereafter, the deceased was said to have first hit Chika on the head but he allegedly died when Chika retaliated in the same manner. The charge sheet reads in part: “That you Chika Emecheta, ‘M’ on August 30, 2014, about 0500 hour, at Harrison 2 Site, Kellogg Garden Estate, Ikate- Elegushi, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did unlawfully kill one Obinna Azomba 'M' aged 24 years, by hitting him with a 2×2 plank on his head and thereby committed an offence under Section 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of 2011.” The Police prosecutor, Inspector Nwosu George, asked the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending a legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.N Ojuromi, granted the prosecutor's plea and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending advice from the office of the DPP. The case was adjourned till November 3.

•Desmond Agu, the commandant

•Bagged petroleum products referred to as the ‘condom’ system

suspected oil thieves was a difficult task because the size was heavy. So, the task force in operation decided to set the boat ablaze and recover the exhibit found inside. They will be presented during prosecution. "She has to explain at what point she denounced the illegal business. The boat engines are the engines she used to facilitate the process. The fire hoses are plugged inside the pipelines and then used to siphon the product into the big boat. "She sent her workers to go and carry out the action. So, when they were apprehended, we asked them the sponsor of their activities. They said the mama who usually sent them lives in Fish Town. We trailed her up to Fish Town and arrested her there. "We brought her back to her camp but she said she built the camp but was no longer cooking there. But there was every evidence that that camp is still in operation. All the equipment were recovered from them, the fire hoses and the pumping machine". Indeed, it is different strokes for different folks. For one Festus Diabo, who hails from

Funimbiri, Southern Ijaw, his mother's illness compelled him to engage in ferrying illegally-acquired products belonging to one Juliet. Though Juliet is at large, Diabo is in the custody of NSCDC. He said: "One Juliet asked me to carry the products. I know these products were illegal but I carried them for a reason. My mother is on sickbed and I don't have money. So I depend on transporting goods of any kind to raise money for her medical treatment." The state commandant, Mr Desmond Agu, explained that the Southern Ijaw area of the state had become too hot for pipeline vandals and operators of illegal refineries. He, said the oil thieves have, however, adopted a new method. "The new method they have devised now is to carry the products from Southern Ijaw and go to a destination yet unknown to us to cook it there. The cooking is no longer done in Southern Ijaw because of the fight we have instituted in the place. "Now, we have discovered that what they do is to siphon there and take to an unknown destination. We learnt that they

go as far as Delta State to refine it and we are tracking them to ensure that we stop it. "They are afraid in Southern Ijaw because the moment you flare up fire and smoke, we see it and go there to destroy it. That is why they now take these products and go to a different destination to cook it", he said. Agu further revealed that the oil thieves have devised a new strategy called the Condom System to transport their illegal products. He said huge quantities of illegally refined products tied in condom-like cellophane bags were intercepted recently by vigilant operatives from the command. "They tie them in long and strong cellophane bags and store them in sacks. When you see them, they will look like bags of garri or rice. This method is to beat security", he said. He added: "We are warning members of the public to desist from such inimical act. People should think of better and lawful ways of earning a living. We are not going to rest on our oars until we fight illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism to a standstill."

Personnel Carrier against smugglers –Customs

•The APC used for the operation

•The Controller DC Turaki (right) with the team leader, AC Abubakar Adamu

‘I was lured into robbery’ Continued from page 19 his financial situation. He added that he was not aware that they were going on a robbery operation. According to him, he participated in the robbery because he was desperate to raise the money to pay his school fees. His words: ‘’I did not know we were going for a robbery operation. When we reached the place, we intercepted a man and showed him a gun; the man ran away leaving his car. I participated in the robbery because I was in need of money to pay my school fees which is N25, 000. My mother cannot pay my school fees because she has no money. We are five children.’’ He said he would not return to a life of crime if he is set free, adding that this robbery operation was his first attempt. His lover, 23-year-old Endurance Akpore, who also claimed to be a student, said she met the suspect three months ago and they became friends. She said she went to the residence of Raphael Ekarebe to remove his belongings, adding that someone else had, however, gone ahead of her to remove them. The Delta Police image-maker, DSP Tina Kalu, said the gang had allegedly terrorised Ughelli and environs in recent times, adding that the Police made a break by acting on a tip-off.

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

NEWS 57

Seven feared dead in renewed cults’ clashes E in Delta community

NERHEN Community in Uvwie area of Delta State was in the grip of fresh tension yesterday following the escalation of bloody clashes between rival cult groups, which has led to no fewer than seven deaths since Sunday evening. Although the state police command denied cult hostilities in the area, various sources told The Nation that the people of the area have been living in fear after rival cult groups intensified counter-attacks . A source who is familiar with the development said trouble started on Monday, when a member of one of the cult groups, stabbed someone to death on Enerhen Road which links the community and Effurun and Udu area of the state.

n Shola O’NEIL , Regional Editor, South-south and Bolaji OGUNDELE, Warri n The attack and death of the stabbed person stirred the anger of his comrades, who regrouped and went after the aggressor-gang. The source said further that while fleeing from superior gun power of opponents, they accosted a fisherman returning home at the riverside and ordered him at gunpoint to ferry them in his boat across the river. “As they were going, those that were chasing them got closer and started shooting at them. This led to panic and the boat then capsized. The fisherman jumped into the river and swam away; one or

two swam to safety, others could not make it and four of them died there. “That episode had started a cult war, leading to attacks and counter-attacks. Yesterday (Thursday), two more corpses were retrieved from the river, around a private jetty there. Two other persons were shot dead; one was shot in the belly, another in the mouth. The second one died while he was being rushed to the hospital”, the source revealed. But the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), said :“There’s no

report like that. I’ve asked about that information, they said it’s not true, I’ve asked the DPO Enerhen, he said there’s nothing like that. He only talked of a corpse they found on the water, floating and then there was somebody that was shot the other day. “So anything like cult clash,

eight corpses is not true, that is unfounded now.You know that kind of thing cannot be hidden, it’s not true”, she said ,adding that one arrest had been made in respect of a shooting that occurred on the 28th of September”, she said. Nevertheless, residents of the area contradicted the police’ all-is-well claim. A source said people living around the scene and the Old Enerhen Police Station area have imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew on themselves to avoid being caught in the

crossfire. “As I am talking to your now some of the boys are demonstrating using keke (tricycle) and they are coming into the community from the Okorodudu Junction area of Effurun Sapale road,” another source added. At the time of this report yesterday afternoon, a team of military men from the Joint Task Force had moved in again following another round of skirmish in the community.

Crisis over zoning deepens in Bayelsa PDP …as leaders, elders, reps endorse Senator for second term HE crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened yesterday after a meeting by the elders, leaders and representatives of the 26 wards in the Bayelsa West senatorial district, as they distanced themselves from the decision of some major stakeholders of the party to apply zoning in the forthcoming elections. After the enlarged meeting, held in Yenagoa, the leaders and elders from the district passed a vote of confidence on the senator repre-

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n senting them at the national assembly, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri. Contrary to the decision of some party leaders that Lokpobiri should not be returned in 2015, the stakeholders endorsed the senator for reelection. The stakeholders queried the statements credited to the former PDP chairman in the state, Mr. Charles Dorgu, on zoning. They argued that the rally where Dorgu made the con-

troversial statement was convened for the sole purpose of adopting President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson for a second tenure, insisting that the statements on zoning canvassed at the rally were clearly beyond the power, scope and authority of the event. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting yesterday, the stakeholders declared their support for Jonathan, Dickson and unanimously endorsed Lokpobiri for reelection.

Gunmen kidnap 64-year-old Bayelsa monarch's brother 64-year-old former employee of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Mozilla Agara, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Agara is the younger brother to the paramount ruler of Kolokuma Kingdom, King Mozi Anya Agara, in Koklokuma/ Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It was learnt that the gunmen, numbering five, disguised as respectable politicians to carry out their criminal act. They were said to have stormed the residence of their victim at Olobiri and later

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n whisked him away to an unknown place. A close relation of the victim who confirmed the incident, Amaran Suoyo, said the victim's vehicle was later recovered at the Odi area of the local government council. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Akighbe Alex, said the police chased the kidnappers to the Odi waterfront where the gunmen escaped through a waiting speedboat.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

Enugu guber: ‘Chime had no hand in Ugwuanyi’s emergence’ HE Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF) has dismissed as unfounded and misleading, statements credited to the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Ayogu Eze, suggesting that the process that produced Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the consensus governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was manipulated to favour the House of Representatives member. A statement signed by Tony Agu, the publicity secretary of the group, said it was particularly uncharitable for anyone to insinuate that Governor Chime had a hand in Ugwuanyi’s emergence when the choice was clearly and openly made by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District to which the PDP in the state had zoned the gubernatorial slot. He noted that the governor’s role in at the meeting where Ugwuanyi was endorsed and which Senator Eze and other aspirants also attended, was that of an impartial observer who merely introduced the issue and never contributed in the discussions that culminated in the selection of Ugwuanyi by the zonal caucus of Enugu North PDP. Agu also pointed out that the popularity of the decision was underscored by the fact that not only had it been greeted with wide applause in Enugu North but that it had already been endorsed by both the Enugu East and Enugu West senatorial zones.

Jonathan, Obiano, Ngige, Obi condole with Senator over sister’s death

Morgue mix-up leads to family burying wrong corpse in Delta n Shola O’NEIL, Regional n

Editor, South-south ELATIONS of a deceased 90-year-old woman (names withheld) in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state are now seething with rage after realizing that the corpse they buried penultimate Friday was a wrong one. They were handed the wrong corpse at the Oleh Central Hospital in a mix-up. The truth only came to light last Monday, three days after the burial. The bereaved family quickly went to exhume the wrong corpse and interred the ‘real’one, The Nation gathered yesterday. A source close to the family told The Nation: "The problem started when the family went to the mortuary to collect the corpse of the old woman. One of her sons insisted that it was his responsibility to take charge of his mother's burial; he refused all advice on how it is done and wouldn’t even allow his mother to be laid in state for her friends and well-wishers to bid her final goodbye. “If he had allowed us to do that, someone would have noticed the mistake and rectified it before it got to the embarrassing stage. But nobody saw the corpse and the burial went on smoothly, with prayers said and social activities. We buried someone we thought was our sister.”

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige and former Governor Peter Ob all paid tributes during the burial of Senator Ben Ndi Obi’s younger sister, late Prof. Josephine Obiananma Anagbogu, yesterday in Awka, Anambra State. Obiano, who read the message from Dr. Jonathan, prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. The church service, which was conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, held at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith in Awka. More than 50 Priests were in attendance, including prominent men and women in the society. There was heavy traffic, while security operatives had hectic time clearing the way for easy movement. Also in attendance was oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, who gave the church the sum of N5 million. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, was also attended the event. Other dignitaries included the Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, members of the state executive council, senators and House of Representatives members. In his Sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Rt Rev. Alex Ibezim, told the congregation that this was the right time to seek the face of God. He said that people live their lives today as if nothing would happen. Ibezim, however, prayed for the repose of the departed, adding that God would guard the family to bear the irreparable loss.

•From left: Gov Obiano; Senator Obi and Dr. Okeke during the burial of Sen Obi's sister yeserday at St. Faith, Awka

Disquiet in Imo community over killing of 60-year-old accused of witchcraft HE Umube village in Ilile autonomous community of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State has been deserted following the brutal killing of a 60-year old man, who was allegedly tortured and buried alive by angry youths who accused him of witchcraft.The victim, who was abducted by the aggrieved youths for allegedly killing his younger brother, Mr. Celestine Ofurum, said to be one of the prominent sons of the community, was found buried in a shallow grave by the police. Most of the villagers have absconded from their homes for fear of possible reprisal by relatives of the victim who have threatened to avenge his gruesome death. When The Nation visited the sleepy community, the few old men who were still in the village declined to speak on the incident, describing it as an abomi-

•VIctim buried in shallow grave n Okodili NDIDI, Owerri n nation. However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that the victim was not buried alive as speculated, but was tortured to death by the youths and buried in a shallow grave for allegedly using witchcraft powers to kill his younger brother. According to him, “a group of youths abducted the victim, 60-year old David Umar and took him to a nearby bush and tortured him to death for killing his younger brother through witchcraft. When the police learnt about the incident, we quickly moved into action and recovered the corpse from where it was buried.” Speaking further, he said, “All those

fingered in the dastardly act have fled the village and are currently on the run. But some useful arrests have been made and investigations are on to unravel those behind the crime.” Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the autonomous community, HRH Eze Bonny Umah, has expressed deep regret over the action of the youths, believed to have been engineered by one of the community leaders. He said that he had previously given an order prohibiting everybody from summoning the people for any meeting of any kind except approved by him. According to him, it was after the meeting summoned by one of his community leaders without his consent that the late David was handed over to the angry youths who carried him into the bush.

2015: PDP may lose Rivers to APC, says group HE declaration by the chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, that zoning principle would not be upheld in choosing the party’s candidate for the up-coming governorship election has continued to receive knocks from members of the party in the state. A group, the ‘Coalition of Democrats’ ( CoD), yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, joined other political pressure groups in the state to campaign against the perceived plan by the PDP to impose a governorship candidate on the

n Rosemary NWISI, n Port Harcourt people. In a statement signed by its media Director and Publicity, Philip Gbaranwi, the group predicted victory for the state APC in the election if the PDP insists on doing away with zoning and rotational arrangement for the governorship seat. It will be recalled that Obua, after a meeting with members of his executive and party chairmen from the 23 local government areas of the state, had resolved to jettison zoning of electives offices, especially

the governorship position of the state in the 2015 election. Analysts believed that the move was meant to pave way for the Supervisory Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, to succeed Governor Chibuike Amaechi next year. Wike and Amaechi are from the same Ikwerre ethnic nationality and of the south east senatorial district. Groups and individuals, especially from the agitating riverine and Ogoni extractions of the state, had earlier condemned the announcement, maintaining that it is wrong for another

Ikwerre person to emerge governor after Amaechi. Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi and his All Progressive Congress (APC), members have been canvassing for either a riverine or Ogoni governorship candidate to allow for equity, justice and fair play in the multi-ethnic state. Earlier several groups and organizations had opposed the plan. A delegate at the just-concluded National Conference, Annkio Briggs, had said that the state would be forced to vote against the PDP if it did not present a riverine or Ogoni candidate in 2015.

Synagogue building collapse: Ex-militants commiserate with T.B. Joshua X-MILITANTS in the Niger Delta have commiserated with the General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Senior Prophet T. B. Joshua, over the collapse of a section of the church, which claimed several lives. In the a message, signed by the Chairman, Commander Josiah Oyakongha Oyimi, the ex-militants, under the aegis of the Movement for the Actualization for the Dreams of Niger Delta (MADND), expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident and prayed that those who lost their lives would have

n Polycarp OROSEVWOTU, Ughelli n died in Christ Jesus. “We want to use this medium to express our condolence to Senior Prophet T. B. Joshua and the families of those that lost their loved ones in the incident. We assure them that those who died in the incident are heroes and are resting in the bosom of the Almighty. “What happened is not a natural occurrence, but the handiwork of the devil. We enjoin all believers in Christ to remain steadfast because this is the time the children of God and all those

who truly love the servant of God should rally round him in prayers.” The former militants said they were shocked by the collapse, urging the children of God to be strong. “We were shocked about the collapse. It is clear watching the footage of the video that the devil was at work. We believe that the enemy will be used as stepping stone for the children of God to be strong and support T.B. Joshua.” They called on the Federal Government, Lagos State and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of the church, adding that, “this is not the time for playing the blame game.”

Delta APC to give women, physicallychallenge persons free nomination forms n Polycarp OROSEVWOTU, n Ughelli HE executive body of the Delta State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has promised to give women and physically-challenged members of the party aspiring for elective position free nomination forms. It also warned party leaders to avoid any attempt to impose candidates on the party, urging the leaders to employ the use of consensus to pick the party’s candidates for the 2015 general election, but warned that the aspirants should go for a free and fair primary election if the consensus option fails. The state chairman, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, who disclosed this while addressing members of the party in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, said that the stakeholders’ meeting was conveyed to discuss the forthcoming local government billed to hold on October 25, 2014.

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 3-10-14

Market dips by N10.5billion THE NSE All Share Index (ASI) declined 8bps yesterday to close at 41,103.75 points on account of depreciation in the share prices of Guinness (4.2per cent), GTBank (1.3 per cent) and Zenith Bank (0.8 per cent). In line with yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance, market capitalisation dipped N10.5bn to close at N13.6tn, while activity level as measured by volume and value however lost 16.9 per cent and 8.9 per cent to 560.3m units and N5.8bn apiece. Most sector indices within our coverage revealed mixed performances with the Oil and Gas Index advancing 0.8 per cent to emerge as the best performing sector yesterday. Within the Oil and Gas

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

basket, Oando led the gains appreciating by 2.4 per cent to close at naira N26.37. The Insurance Index followed in line gaining 0.2 per cent on the back of price appreciation in International Energy Insurance (7.3 per cent), N.E.M Insurance (2.6 per cent) and Continental ReInsurance (2.0 per cent). Likewise, the Industrial Goods Index advanced by 0.2 per cent on the back of CCNN (4.4 per cent) and Lafarge (0.2 per cent). On the other hand, the Consumer Goods Index lost ground for the second time this week, linked to selling pressure in Guinness (4.2 per cent) while the Banking Index followed in line declining (0.4 per

cent). Market Breadth closed at par with 1.0x (Advancers/ Decliners ratio as 23 stocks advanced against 22 declining stocks). Top gainers include Champions Breweries (10.1 per cent), Ikeja Hotel (9.9 per cent) and International Energy Insurance (7.3 per cent), while top losers were Inter link (4.9 per cent), Guinness (4.2 per cent) and PZ (3.3 per cent). However, the NSE All Share Index gained 70bps bringing the YTD performance to negative 0.5 per cent. Similarly, market capitalization gained N93.8bn to close N13.6tn, while activity level measured by aggregate volume and value advanced 103.9 per cent and 15.6 per cent to close at 560.0m units and N5.8bn WO-W.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 3-10-14

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Jos High Court summons Danagogo, Maigari, others

HE High Court of Jos has summoned the Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo and other defendants: former Nigeria Football Federation President Aminu Maigari, NFF Scribe Musa Amadu and all the 36 states FA chairmen to appear before it and also to explain before the court why they should not be thrown into jail for going against its order. A new order by the court in Form 49 released on Thursday by the Jos High court but was served at the Wuse Zone 7, Abuja Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)at exactly 3pm demanded that the other defendants in the case, Maigari, and his executive committee board members, Amadu, Plateau states football federation and all the 36 states FA chairmen including the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) and the Minister of Sports must appear before the judge on the October 8 to adequately explain why

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja they went against the order of the court which was released on September 19. The Jos High Court fresh order states that “Take Notice that the plaintiff will on Wednesday the 8th day of Oc-

tober, 2014 at the hour of 9 0.clock in the forenoon apply to this court for an order for your committal to prison for having disobeyed the Order of this Court made on the 19 day of September, 2014, enjoining and restraining you and severally from…”

ALLEGED TAX EVASION

Messi to face trial

IONEL Messi is to face a court trial for alleged tax evasion after a judge rejected the Barcelona star's appeal in Spain. The four-time Ballon d'Or winner and his father, Jorge Messi, are accused of withholding about £3.4million in unpaid taxes between 2007 and 2009. The Spanish judge's statement read: 'In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be

aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to them.' In July, Spain's public prosecutor recommended charges be dismissed against the 27-yearold, arguing Messi was not responsible for his family's finances, as that was his father's duty. A court in Barcelona, however, decided the Argentina captain could have been aware and approved the creation of a web of shell companies that were allegedly used to evade taxes due on income from image rights.

Amaju, watch your back (1) • Continued from back page outside Nigeria. It’s about time the Eagles played in Nigeria, to reawaken Nigerians’ interest in watching matches. The Abuja National Stadium will be too small to for the crowd if we have the Eagles pitched against Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing. The same scenario would be the lot of the fans if the Eagles’ next game is against Argentina, with Lionel Messi and Di Maria featuring. These two matches are box offices. Revenue from such matches will increase cash flow. Again, the new NFF board must stop this idea of paying players and coaches match bonuses for qualifiers - they ask and even hold us to ransome for appearance fees. We must emulate the Germans, who pay at the end of the exercise. For winning the World Cup, each German player got $370,000. This isn’t appearance fee. What it means is that the over $25 million that Germany will get from FIFA will serve as a form of revenue for the German FA. But, in Nigeria’s case, the players have already taken $3.8 million out whatever would be Nigeria’s earnings for participating at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. This rubbish must stop, if the NFF must remain solvent and self financing. Aside, Amaju must insist on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for the players and coaches. Our players have such rule books in their European clubs. No player dares to lead any revolt against his club management. I’m confident that Amaju will deliver on his promises to them. After all, the Greeks donated their appearance fees to the government for building a hostel for national teams to prepare for international competitions. Most of the Germans donated their World Cup bounty to charity homes. Our players’ and coaches’ argument that NFF men will siphon the money is warp. This is one of the reasons why the NFF is always cash-strapped. But what we see here is the penchant for playing games in London or in countries, whose entry visas are difficult to get. Put simply, NFF men have used

their international matches to enrich their Nigerian passports with visas to prominent European countries and America. Sadly, Amaju is coming to the Glasshouse to manage an Eagles side that is torn through its ranks by all-knowing coaches, who thrive in belittling our best players in the media, forgetting that such derisive comments put these boys in disadvantageous positions with their foreign clubs. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to Amaju that most of our big boys in the Eagles are taking their turns to lampoon their coaches in the media. This needless trend has further destroyed the Eagles, culminating in vindictive removal of star players who have an axe to grind with their coaches. The Eagles are sixth in Africa. This is incredible at a time when we are the African champions. It is not enough to give the coaches the two games against Sudan to determine if their contracts will be renewed. Amaju must sit down with the coaches and insist on having our best players in Omdurman, whatever it will cost us to do so. Such pragmatic decisions are what we need to rescue the sinking Eagles. The 24-man squad named for the two matches is laughable. It includes at least four new players, who may not have played in Africa before. One is not sure if the coaches considered the bad pitch and the prevailing humid weather in Sudan before picking some of those players. The battle of Omdurman is not an assignment for weaklings. It is a Trojan’s war and only our best players can secure a victory for us. Amaju needs to contact our players to establish a relationship with them. Get them to trust you and key into your blueprints for the game. If Eagles fail to grab the qualification ticket to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, you have failed. Nigerians will count it against you, even if your tenure inherited a house in commotion. If the Eagles don’t beat Sudan at home, the return leg game won’t attract the fans to the stadium and no firm will buy any

marketing activity, knowing that such an exercise would amount to winking in the dark. I also don’t think that the few big boys in the team will be interested in the return fixture, if we lose – God forbid - in Omdurman. In renewing the coaches’ contracts, Amaju must insert extant clauses to curb some of their excesses. The coaches must see the NFF as their employers and not dictate to it. NFF must negotiate salary packages that it can pay. In the new contracts, the coaches must be told explicitly that all national invitations must be discussed with the technical committee before the list of players is released. We are in this mess today because Eagles’ coaches act as tin gods hiding under the cloak of being given a freehand to pick their players. They have failed us. They have used such lists to punish those who offend them to the detriment of the team. The shame is on Nigerians, if we don’t qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations. Sadly, the coaches will dump us and still take one of the qualifiers to the tournament. It has happened before.

Enter the dragon The headline of this sub column is the title of the late Bruce Lee’s popular film. And it aptly fits what we may experience when the Eagles reconvene for the “Battle of Sudan” next week, when Stephen Keshi meets with Emmanuel Emenike. The media were awash with a report where the Eagles chief coach explained why he dropped Emmanuel Emenike from Nigeria’s starting line-up against Congo DR. In the report, the coach said that some members of the team were angry with Emenike’s conduct since his feat at the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which Nigeria won in Johannesburg on February 10. Expectedly, Emenike has replied the coach and made several insinuations that could lead to his being dropped against Sudan. If this happens, we are doomed. Mark my word. Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 2989

No scientists were ever burnt at the stakes on our continent. But this also means that no scientist ever achieved a heroic stature as the defender of the scientific spirit and enterprise against the forces of religious medievalism

T is a torrid, impassioned and absolutely astounding love affair being played out be tween the church and the State in contemporary Nigeria. Millions of Christians watch in utter consternation and amazement as their leaders’ romance and legitimate corrupt power without embarrassment. Of course, a not insubstantial number of Christians have become victims of religion as numbing opium. Nothing will hinder the latter from continuing to revere their ‘daddies in the Lord’ even when the latter are implicated in the most brazen acts of criminality. The responsibility of the church is to offer spiritual leadership to its adherents as well as serve as conscience of the nation. This is a moral vocation. The state on its part exists to enforce the law, maintain order and stability as well as create the necessary environment for citizens to engage safely and securely in the ordinary business of life. This is a legal imperative. The monumental scandal involving the illegal smuggling of $9.3 million into South Africa on the private jet of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), offers a classical example of how the church has compromised its moral vocation while the state has abandoned its legal imperative to enforce the laws of the land justly and impartially. In normal and healthy societies, where the rule of law prevails, the state would have moved swiftly to investigate this scandal, which would necessarily involve interrogating Oritsejafor on his role in the sordid affair. The flamboyant pastor admits that the private jet involved belongs to him but had been leased to another agency in which he has a ‘residual interest’because of high maintenance costs. The initial company that leased the jet then leased the jet to another company, which, by implication should be held responsible for the criminal cash haul. This way, Pastor Oritsejafor thinks he has successfully distanced himself from the scandal. He emphatically claims that he knows nothing about the criminal cash transfer. However, he has had no answer so far to the devastating legal question posed by Mr Femi Falana (SAN). Falana contends that Oritsejafor has only further implicated himself by claiming that the jet was leased to another company because such an act is in itself a violation of the law. According to the SAN, “A jet registered for the facilitation of evangelism cannot be leased to another company for commercial purposes as churches are registered under part C of the Company and Allied (CAMA) as non-profit making organisations”. Oritsejafor claims that he obtained a permit to enable the jet fly in and out of the country. The question is: which agency issued such a permit and was it in consonance with the law? Rather than move decisively to investigate, identify and prosecute those responsible for violating the country’s laws, making nonsense of its own cashless policy and embarrassing

Unholy matrimony

•Oritsejafor

•Jonathan the country by breaching South Africa’s financial transactions laws, President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency has jumped to the pastor’s defence. The presidency claims that the money involved belongs to Nigeria and it

was meant to procure arms in South Africa to strengthen the counter-insurgency offensive in the North-East. It cannot get more interesting than that. The money involved is the property of Nigeria and Dr Goodluck Jonathan is

…State of example

contended two weeks ago in this space that Nigeria owes Lagos State a debt of gratitude for the critical role it has played in containing the Ebola virus in the country. Since the index case, Thomas Sawyer, came in through Lagos, the entire country would have been endangered with a lethargic government in the state. Once the heroic Dr Stella Adadevou triggered the system, the Fashola administration responded admirably. But what was responsible for Lagos state’s success in this respect? I think the answer lies in proactive thinking and methodical, professional action as can be seen from the following points: (1) Lagos already had in place a public health law that empowered the state to compulsorily apprehend and place under isolation anyone considered to be a health risk to society. (2) The state already had in place a cremation law that allowed for the cremation of bodies. This is very vital since dead bodies are even more serious agents for the spread of Ebola Virus disease. (3) The well-publicised Ebola sensitisation visit of Lagos State officials to the Synagogue Church of All Nations helped to sensitise the entire nation and even religious leaders to the danger of the virus spreading through their large congregations. (4) Governor Fashola very thoughtfully publicly received and interacted with those who had been treated, certified free of the disease and discharged. This was a strategic move to deal with the stigmatisation problem. (5) Again, Fashola made the wise move of visiting the First Consultants Medical Centre at Obalende where the index case was prevented from escaping. This visit will help restore confidence in the health facility. (6) The Lagos State government last week disbursed N171 million as research grants to 31 beneficiaries from seven institutions and the governor promised to provide funding support for scientists involved in basic research to contain Ebola and other viral diseases. This is surely the way for Nigeria to go.

—Biodun Jeyifo

the President of Nigeria. The jet involved belongs to Pastor Oritsejafor and our beloved pastor is a close friend of the President. This is a curious vicious cycle indeed. This is a clear case of unholy matrimony between church and state in Nigeria. A pastor’s jet is allegedly used to perpetrate obvious criminality. A thorough investigation would probably tar the man of God leaving no option than his prosecution if indicted. To preclude such a possibility, the presidency wades in assuming ownership of the smuggled funds. Surely, no greater love than this can one entity have for another. It is a case of you rub my back I rub yours. The state turns a blind eye to brazen infringement of the country’s laws utilizing the private jet of a Christian leader in whom it is well pleased. In turn, the church turns a blind eye to the impunity, corruption and sheer irresponsibility of occupants of public office at all levels. It is a thrillingly romantic scenario. But then, it would be unfair to single out Pastor Oritsejafor for condemnation. He only symbolises a wider phenomenon of churchstate romance that can only be ultimately destructive both for the church and the state. It is not surprising, for instance, that with the exception of Anthony Cardinal Okogie, no prominent Christian leader has come out to denounce Oritsejafor’s behaviour. Since silence means consent, I can only assume that all members of CAN agree with the body’sdiversionary and partisan statement issued in defence of Oritsejafor. That would be most unfortunate. The colourful pastor himself contends that the harsh criticism directed at him in the wake of the scandal is an attack on the body of Christ. I do not think so. Many of those who have heavily censured him are disappointed because of the high esteem in which he is held as a renowned pastor and his current symbolic office as CAN President. Matters are not helped by the unnecessarily combative stance he has adopted on the issue and the attempt by CAN to blame the opposition APC for the fiery darts of criticism hurled at the pastor on this matter. The truth is that millions of Nigerians who are not members of any political party are morally outraged by the scandal. It is understandable that many Christian leaders who are members of CAN will want to deal with this issue ‘in-house’ rather than in the media. They will be anxious to avoid further damage to the image of the organisation, the church and even the reputation of Christ. But it is, in my view, their silence and seeming condoning of wrongdoing that can bring the church to irredeemable disrepute. Even if they are not inclined to ask pastor Oritsejafor to step aside because he has not being proven guilty of any crime, they can prevail on him to publicly apologise for what is clearly a serious indiscretion on his part. That would be more in line with the humble spirit of Christ.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Amaju, watch your back (1)

INNICK Amaju must be celebrating his Tuesday feat in Warri. He richly de serves to be the new NFF President, given his achievements in Delta State. A selfmade man, Amaju knows what he wants. He gets things done. He doesn’t know how to explain failure. He is hot tempered, but he flips over for the right reasons. For instance, when the centre referee from Bayelsa State who handled the Delta State FA Cup final last year nearly bungled the best final held in the country, he showed his foul mood. An avid supporter of Arsenal, Amaju knows that football is big business. He has a working template already in Delta, but that shouldn’t translate to the norm. He needs to widen the horizon. But in doing that, he should ask what the template on ground is and find a way to improve on it; not destroy or stop it.

In developing marketing plans, Amaju needs to get the National Assembly to fasttrack the process of abrogating Decree 101. Otherwise, he would face the frustration of getting the government or the minister to overturn juicy deals on spurious grounds, such as making Nigerian firms handle the projects. There are several unexploited marketing windows in the NFF. Amaju must sit with the firm in charge and the marketing department to draw up a new roadmap for our football that would respect existing structures, even with the new deals to be struck. The plank on which government apostles insist on its interference is that the NFF comes to it cup in hand for funds to run its activities. Sponsorship comes with good packages; Amaju should get people to repackage structures in our football that can attract more cash. He should, in the next six months tell Nigerians how much the NFF got from inter and intra club transfers in the last two years,

perhaps in his first 100 days in office. He needs to establish what the revenue generating platforms at the Glasshouse are and ask how funds from such avenues were spent. He should institute instruments that would make the Glasshouse chiefs more prudent. And this should start by ensuring that Nigerians are told yearly what the body received and what is left in the tilt. He should also publish the body’s audited accounts yearly to help improve its profile among corporate firms. It must be said that no firm would fund a corrupt organisation or one not open to laying its books for scrutiny. Amaju, NFF presidency position isn’t a job. You have no business being at the Glasshouse every day. Learn to delegate functions. Some board meetings can be done online, now that majority of your members are literate. Get everyone at the NFF to work with timelines. Evaluate workers quarterly. Desist from making controversial statements in the media. Think through what you want to say. Always

communicate through the NFF media department. On no account should board members arbitrarily talk to the media on NFF matters. These are some of the pitfalls in the NFF that make the president a laughing stock. Such utterances pitch the NFF against its critics, waiting to pull the body down. NFF’s biggest brand is the Super Eagles. Prior to the Aminu Maigari-led board, the Eagles were derided as “Super Chicken,” a toga which made the brand worthless in the eye of potential investors. Indeed, with Eagles’ poor rating, it was difficult to get quality friendly games to help increase the NFF’s earnings to prosecute its activities independent of government cash. Need I tell Amaju the benefits of a high rating for the Eagles and our chances of getting bigger countries to come to Nigeria for friendly games? We must stop the practice of the Eagles playing international friendlies

•Continued on Page 63

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