The Nation October 09, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Jonathan to Service Chiefs: end terror

Robbers kill police ASP, Inspector in Lagos

NEWS

NEWS Page 10

Page 8

•New military team inaugurated

•Two suspected robbers gunned down

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2273 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

ONDO 2012

N150.00

•Voter’s cards ‘fraud’: Court remands LP chiefs •AND •Another governor’s aide quits government MORE ON •Kuku accuses Mimiko of planning to rig PAGES 4&5

UNIPORT mourns four slain students From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, yesterday revealed the identities of the four students lynched at Omuokiri-Aluu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Friday.

In a strong but emotional tone, Ajienka declared that nobody had the right to engage in extra-judicial killing or resort to self-help, no matter the level of provocation. Whatever was the grievance of the mob, said the professor, it should have been reported to the police.

A visibly angry Ajienka, at a news conference in UNIPORT, declared a seven-day mourning for the students and cancelled the Students’ Union Week, which was scheduled to have started yesterday. Flags are to be flown at half mast.

The news conference was also attended by UNIPORT’s Chief Security Officer, Lt. Col. Reginald Isiguzo (rtd.) and other members of the management staff, who expressed sadness over the murder of the young men, for allegedly stealing mobile phones and laptops.

The four male victims are: Biringa Chiadika Lordson, Year Two, Theatre Arts, U2010/ 1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Year Two, Geology, U2010/5565149 and Mike Lloyd Continued on page 2

•Some of the awardees of the presidential special scholarship for innovation and development at the ceremony in Abuja…yesterday. Story page 61 PHOTO:NAN

A

Stem cell experts win Nobel Medicine Prize

T

WO pioneers of stem cell research have shared the Nobel prize for medicine or physiology.

John Gurdon from the UK and Shinya Yamanaka from Japan were awarded the prize for changing adult cells into stem cells, which can become any other type of cell in the body.

Continued on page 61

•Yamanaka

MILITARY officer was killed yesterday in an attack on a patrol vehicle in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Two soldiers, who are also members of the Joint Task Force (JTF), were critically injured in the attack.

The killing of the officer, a lieutenant, by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), an-

10 die in JTF’s reprisal for officer’s death

By Our Reporter

gered the task force’s men who shot sporadically, leading to the death of no fewer than 10 people.

The IED was buried on La-

gos Street, near the NUJ Press Centre. It went off at about 7.15am as the JTF patrol vehicle was passing by.

The lieutenant, sitting in Continued on page 2

Bakassi: Why Nigeria won’t appeal ICJ verdict, by govt Failed case will be diplomatically damaging, says Attorney-General

A

DVOCATES of a fresh legal action over Bakassi lost the battle last night.

The Federal Government last night declared that it will not appeal the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

The decision was communicated in a statement by Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke.

The nation’s number one law officer said after consultations locally and with an international firm, he decided not to explore the window of appeal because “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail.”

Besides, a failed application for review by Nigeria “will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.

The government’s position reflects The Nation’s exclusive story last Friday that the government Continued on page 2

•A HELL OF A DAY IN FAYEMI’S LIFE P44•BENIN TRADERS MOB OFFICIALS P58

2

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

NEWS 10 die in JTF’s reprisal for officer’s death Continued from page 1

•Senatorelect for Plateau North constituency Gyang Pwajok, celebrating his victory in Jos after being declared winner of the byelection…on Sunday

front of the vehicle was killed.

A few minutes later, another bomb went off in a residential apartment facing the spot of the first blast. Military sources said a middle age man who was believed to be coupling the explosive device was the victim.

He died.

The JTF spokesman, Lt Col Sagir Musa, in a statement said two soldiers were injured. “It is feared that two soldiers sustained injury,” he claimed.

Soldiers reportedly shot sporadically in the area particularly Gwange Ward adjacent the scene of the blast. Over hundred houses, shopping mall and offices were set ablaze while thousands of residents in the area were displaced.

Gwange is believed to be one of the flash points of the Boko

UNIPORT mourns four slain students Continued from page 1

Toku, Year Two, Civil Engineering, U2010/3010094.

The fourth person, Tekena Erikena, who earlier did Basic Studies at UNIPORT, according to Ajienka, was yet to be formally identified as a student of the university. Information on his proper identity is to be made available to the public, once his status was confirmed, he said.

The vice-chancellor spoke of how on Friday morning, the authorities of the Federal Government-owned institution received the news that four persons had been lynched at Omuokiri village in Aluu Clan, which he said was about three kilometres from the university’s main campus.

The vice chancellor pointed out that no university all over the world, had provides hostel accommodation for all its students, except the new private universities, noting that with UNIPORT’s 30,000 students’ population, providing accommodation for all on campus was not possible.

He said, initially, each student was paying N2,090 per bed space in the university’s hostels, which was being sold for N30,000, making the authorities to later increase the cost of bed space to N15,000, stressing that private investors would have assisted in building hostels, but for land challenge.

Ajienka said: “The reported lynching of the four men took place outside the jurisdiction of the university. The university is also not usually consulted by students and staff wishing to reside in any of our host communities.

“The university bears no responsibility for security outside the campus, even as it accepts the fact that students live and commute to the campus from some of its host communities, including Aluu.

“Because the incident took place outside the university, where it has no jurisdiction, it would be prejudicial to ongoing investigations for authorities of the university to issue independent statements on the issue, without cooperation

from such agencies, which are in the forefront of the investigations.

“Pre-emptive security measures have been initiated by authorities of the university to secure lives and property on campus. We can confirm to you that the situation on campus is stable, as a joint security patrol team has taken charge of the affected area and is also providing security within the campus.

“We wish to use this opportunity to reassure staff, students and other stakeholders that the university remains open, very safe and discharging its core mandate of teaching, research and community service in a satisfactory manner.”

The vice-chancellor also sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders in “these difficult times”, to ensure the supremacy of truth over the rumour mill, while pleading with the security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book and to unravel the exact circumstances surrounding the unfortunate inci-

dent.

He lauded Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, an alumnus of UNIPORT, for his timely intervention, which he said prevented the issue from boiling over. Besides, the Vice Chancellor praised the security agencies for promptly arresting the suspects, including a traditional ruler.

Ajienka lauded the students of UNIPORT for their maturity and understanding, as well as members of the public for their concern.

He said the university would contact the families of the murdered students to sympathise with them, even as he insisted that an excellent relationship exists between the university and Aluu, as well as other host communities.

Ajienka, who also marked two years in office as the seventh vice-chancellor of UNIPORT, called on the state and the Federal governments to intervene in the land encroachment by the host communities, who, according to him, are yet to be compensated since 1975.

He said the Amaechi admin-

Haram activities in the city.

Heavy shootings were heard in the city as most residents remained indoors. Many of the employees of the University of Maiduguri could not access their offices because the Lagos Street was barricaded.

Sources said the soldiers “believed many residents were aiding the activities of the sect.

Deputy Governor Zanna Mustapha inspected the area.

He appealed to Boko Haram members to lay down their arms. “If they say they are fighting for the sake of Allah, people are suffering and if they say they are fighting for people, our people are still suffering. Just see what they have put people into now. It is really sad.”

He said government would assess the extent of loss by the people and see how it could be mitigated.

There was heavy security around the construction site of a Chinese firm in the city yesterday following the killing of one of their colleagues and his aide at Gubio, north of Borno state.

Joanthan to make national broadcast From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

P •Amaechi

istration should assist in fencing the large expanse of land and the Federal Government should help the institution to compensate the original land owners for more development projects to be embarked upon.

Ajienka also said that in 1975, the yearly rent for the value of the land was N8,217.

The demand for land/crop compensation by the host communities stood at N5 billion, which the vice-chancellor said the university could not afford Continued on page 59

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will address Nigerians this morning.

Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said yesterday.

The statement reads: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will address the nation at 7 am tomorrow, Tuesday, October 9, 2012.

“All television and radio stations in the country are advised to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.”

The last time the president addressed the nation was on October 1, the country’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

Bakassi: Why Nigeria won’t appeal ICJ judgment, by govt Continued from page 1

had decided not to appeal the ruling. It was a day that many newspapers reported that government had decided to appeal the judgement.

Government said yesterday that it did not have any new evidence to enable it successfully challenge the judgment.

The full text of the Attorney general’s statement is as follows: “It will be recalled that on 10th October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered judgment in Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria, which covers about 2000 kilometres extending from Lake Chad to the Sea. It will also be recalled that before the judgment was delivered, President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon gave their respective undertaking to the international community to abide by the judgment of the Court.

“The commitment and undertakings given by both Heads of Government were confirmed by the establishment of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) pursuant to the Joint Communiqué adopted at a

Resettle people in Dayspring, Kwa Island, Ita-Giwa pleads

A

POLITICAL leader of the Bakassi people, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has urged the Federal Government to resettle of the people rather than pursue a review which, she said, is coming “suspiciously” late and not likely to have a headway.

She spoke in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, yesterday, urging the Federal Government to consider compensating Cross River State and Bakassi people in perpetuity for the loss of their land and its attendant resources.

Mrs Ita-Giwa said: “You are aware that the Nigerian media space for the past three months or thereabout has been awash with the Bakassi issue.

“At about this time 10 years ago, the ICJ gave a landmark judgement which handed over the sovereignty of Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroon. This judgement triggered lots of events, with far-reaching consequences on the lives of the Bakassi people.

Summit Meeting on 15 November 2002 in Geneva. The CNMC is composed of the representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria and the United Nations and is chaired by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa.

“The CNMC has held 29 Sessions since its inception and has peacefully, amicably

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

“Starting with the Green Tree Agreement, the judgement culminated in the mass exodus of the Bakassi people who refused to surrender their sovereignty to the Republic of Cameroon.

“Many well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and groups have severely advocated for the revisit of the ICJ judgement.

Quite recently, the National Assembly even passed a resolution asking for a revisit of the judgement. We equally remember that two members of the National Assembly representing Cross River State namely Hon Essien Ayi and Senator Prince Bassey Otu, at different times moved relating motions on the floor of the National Assembly sometime in 2006.

As we speak, all these efforts seem to be in futility.

“While acknowledging these efforts by these spirited Nigerians and the press, for bringing the plight of the Bakassi people to the front burner, we wish this issue of

and successfully: (a) brought Cameroon and Nigeria back to negotiation table; (b) supervised the handing over of 33 ceded villages to Cameroon and 1 to Nigeria in December, 2003 and received 3 settlements and territory in Adamawa and Borno States Sectors from Cameroon in 2004;

ICJ revisit had come much earlier.

“We the Bakassi people have had to contend with becoming Internally Displaced People in our country for the past six years with no particular place of proper relocation and settlement. The purported place for our resettlement was impossible as it meant fostering us on a densely populated and landlocked area.

“We unequivocally reject to be treated as slaves in our country, believing and knowing we have a right to be treated with dignity. By the Grace of God Almighty, in our quest to restore our dignity and fundamental human right, we registered our right to vote and indeed voted at Dayspring 1, 2 and Kwa Islands to reflect the traditional 10 wards of Bakassi. We duly registered and voted in these wards as Bakassi Local Government Area in the state House of Assembly, National Assembly and presidential elections, only to be disenfranchised in the rescheduled election of February 2012 by some spurious court injunction.”

(c) initiated the EnuguAbakiliki-Mamfe-Mutengene Road project as part of the confidence building measures between the two countries; (d) supervised peaceful withdrawal of Civil Administration, Military and Police Forces and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula

by Nigeria to Cameroon in

2008 in line with the modalities contained in the Greentree Agreement signed by Cameroon and Nigeria in 2006 which the United Nations, Germany, USA, France, UK and Northern Ireland witnessed; and (e) commenced the emplacement of boundary beacons/pillars along the land boundary and initiated final

mapping of the whole stretch of the boundary. It is instructive to note that about 1800 kilometres of the boundary have so far been assessed for Pillar Emplacement leaving only about 220 km to complete the assessment of the entire boundary.

“The Greentree Agreement was also signed by H. E. Paul Biya, and President President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, on 12 June, 2006, in Long Island, Greentree, New York, USA; reaffirming their willingness to peacefully implement the judgment of the ICJ. The Agreement contains the modalities for withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in pursuance of the ICJ Judgment.The Follow-Up Committee comprising representatives of Continued on page 59

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

3

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

4

NEWS ONDO 2012

ACN cries out over attempt to kidnap members •Petitions Ondo CP From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Director, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) in Akure North/South Federal Constituency, Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, yesterday petitioned the Ondo State Commissioner of Police over an alleged plan by Labour Party (LP) thugs to kidnap Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members wearing the party’s T-shirts and fez caps.

The party also cried out over alleged unlawful arrest of some of its leaders in Ondo town where Governor Olusegun Mimiko hails from.

It was learnt that a combined team of police and soldiers invaded Ondo town at the weekend and arrested the Ondo East Youth Leader of the ACN, Akintelure Akinsola (aka Jebutu) and Aloba Akindele along with two others.

They were reportedly whisked away to an unknown destination as a fallout of the massive crowd that graced the redemption rally organised by ACN last Wednesday.

Ogunleye said in the petition: “On October 4, at about 2.50pm, suspected hoodlums in a black unmarked Range Rover conveyed five hefty men wearing black suits and LP caps at the front gate of the Hospital Management Board (HMB), Alagbaka and attacked an ACN member, Mr. Segun Akinsote.

“Immediately they alighted from the vehicle, they attempted to drag him into their vehicle, but he escaped.

“They held horse whips, carried weapons and forced people to run for safety.”

He said the offence of Akinsote was that he wore an ACN T-shirt and fez cap, adding: “We wish to inform the police and other security agents that LP members and their cohorts have concluded plans to kidnap our members found with ACN souvenirs.”

The ACN chieftain noted that everybody has freedom to associate with any political party. He decried the attack on people for wearing the party’s T-shirts and fez caps.

He urged the police to be unbiased and perform their duties in a professional manner that would not heat up the polity during the election.

Copies of the petition were sent to security agencies including the State Security Service (SSS) and Divisional Police Officers (DPO) in Akure Division.

LP brings ACO

Voter’s cards: Court remands LP chieftains in prison

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Olaolu Oladapo, and a middle-aged woman, Omolade Raphael, have been remanded in prison.

They were arraigned by the police before an Akure Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit unlawful possession of voter’s cards and unlawful possession of 1,123 voter’s cards, contrary to Section 23(1)(a)(b) and (c) of the Electoral Act 2010.

They were alleged to have

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

committed the offence on October 5 about 4.30pm at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The offence was said to have been committed by the LP chief and his accomplice at Ondo town.

They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison

by Magistrate J. O. Adelegan till today.

An Akure lawyer and hu-

man rights activist, who also coordinates the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN’s) legal team in the state, Titiloye Charles, hailed the police for the arrest of the suspects.

He urged INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega to take over the prosecution pursuant to Section 150 (2) of the Electoral Act 2012, which gives the commission power to prosecute electoral offenders.

Charles said the era of open electoral fraud was over, adding that every voter is entitled to one voter’s card and one

T

•INEC chair, Jega

vote.

He said the suspects must be prosecuted to guard against rigging.

HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has alleged that a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) on Sunday night brought thugs to Akure and lodged them in two popular hotels in the town (names withheld).

The Director, Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, alleged that the thugs were brought into Akure in batches in a green CRV Sport Utility Vehicle with registration number MM 22 ABJ. He alleged that the hoodlums, numbering over 300, were brought in to rig the October 20 poll.

•Akeredolu’s running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Director-General, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Chief Tayo Alasoadura and PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, at the rally held in Ore, Ondo State.

Kuku accuses Mimiko of planning to rig poll

T

HE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, yesterday decried the desperation of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to win the October 20 election.

He said in a statement: “The realisation of an impending defeat at the polls has prompted a naked dance in the full glare of the public by Dr. Mimiko and his fast dwindling band of Labour Party (LP) apologists and supporters.”

Mimiko, through his campaign organisation, issued a statement, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to call Kuku to order over his alleged activities in the riverine communities of Ondo State.

He alleged that the Presidential Adviser was attempting to use his position as the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to “subvert the October 20 election in favour of his (Kuku’s) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

But Kuku said: “It is pertinent to respond to this unwarranted attack from the governor, if only to set the record straight and for the nation to be aware of his brand of deceitful politics in the state in the last four years.

“On the Presidential Amnesty, let me remind Mimiko as he feigns ignorance that the programme and office have beneficiaries and officials from Ondo State with different political affiliations, be it LP,PDP and ACN or persons with no political affiliation.

“Nobody involved in the amnesty programme has been

Call Kuku to order, Governor urges Presidency

T

HE Presidency has been urged to call the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, to order

over his alleged activities in the riverine areas of Ondo State, which are inimical to the October 20 poll.

Kuku, an Arogbo Izon, hails from Ese-Odo in the Southern Senatorial District of the state.

The Mimiko Campaign Organisation (MCO) had alleged that the Presidential Adviser was using his position of overseeing the amnesty programme of the Federal Government to attempt to subvert the election in favour of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

MCO accused him of arming ex-militants, some of whom have been brought from neighbouring Niger Delta states and are now being used to intimidate those perceived to be opposed to the candidature of the PDP standard bearer, Chief Olusola Oke. In a statement, MCO’s Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, said it is regrettable that Kuku has not only reversed the gains of the amnesty programme in Ondo by re-arming ex-militants who are loyal to him, he has surreptitiously removed the names of those opposed to his bidding from

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

discriminated against on account of his or her political party preference.

“It is therefore absurd to accuse me as the Presidential Amnesty Programme Chairman of partisanship, considering how sensitive the amnesty programme is to the economic well-being of the nation.

“In truth, it is this sensitivity to politics and the ability to manage men and the resources at my disposal that have accounted for

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the payroll of the amnesty programme.

He said: “We are alarmed that Kuku is not only reversing the gains of the amnesty programme of President Goodluck Jonathan, which has received commendations in Ondo State, he is going about with the aim of causing mayhem against opposition in the area.

“Today, Oke, the PDP candidate in the forthcoming election, has been supplied with armed militants who now go about with him, terrorising the state while ex-militants who are not in tandem with their plans are punished by not paying their monthly stipends.

“While we are happy because of the assurance

by President Jonathan that the October 20 election will be free and fair, a stance repeated by VicePresident Namadi Sambo when he came to Ondo State last week, we are at a loss why Kuku will now attempt to subvert this same election when his employers have stressed their commitment to a level playing field.

“We urge Mr. President to call Kuku to order.

We also enjoin him to beam his searchlight on the activities of those who manage this important programme, which has restored peace to the hitherto troubled Niger Delta states.”

the widely-acclaimed successful implementation of Nigeria’s home-grown Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme.

“It is laughable for Mimiko to attempt to splash mud on and unduly drag the amnesty programme into Ondo politics ahead of the governorship election.

“It is not a secret that I’m one of the PDP leaders from the state in government at the federal level. Before now, I had been an official of my council, Ese-Odo Lo-

cal Government and later a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, where I represented my constituency for one term between 2003 and 2007.

“Today, by God’s grace, I’m an Ijaw leader from Arogbo community. But I also hail from a unit, a ward, a federal constituency and a senatorial district that have felt the impact of a PDPled government in the state.

“The PDP-led government under Dr. Olusegun Agagu had a track record of performance compared to the Mimiko admin-

istration. I challenge Mimiko to point to any project he has executed in Arogbo and its neighbouring communities. Let him tell the world.

“In the riverine communities between Ese-Odo and Ilaje councils, the state government projects completed were those executed by the Agagu administration. Mimiko has not only abandoned the projects he inherited from Agagu, but has gone ahead to abandon the ones he initiated in both local government areas.

“The fact of the matter is that Ondo State gets its largest revenue from the oil resources in these two local governments. So what have the councils and indigenes done to Mimiko to warrant this crass neglect?

“Why has his administration decided to institutionalise underdevelopment in these riverine communities? Instead of the governor to face these issues, he is busy pursuing shadows and trying to distract attention from his woeful performance. “ Mimiko is my friend. But I cannot sacrifice the development of my area and the wellbeing of my people on the altar of friendship. My position on the October 20 governorship election is beyond friendship.

“For the PDP in Ondo State, me and the people of my area, Mimiko has performed woefully and we cannot afford another four years of his mis-governance and litany of unfulfilled promises. Performance should determine who wins the election and not Mimiko’s recourse to blackmail.”

Continued on page 5

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

5

NEWS ONDO 2012 NATIONAL HONOURS 2012

in thugs, Another governor’s aide resigns •Says he ‘ll lose poll alleges B Ajanaku said: “ACO urges the Commissioner of Police and other security agents to take note and investigate the matter because Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members will not allow themselves to be molested by the thugs brought in by a chieftain of the LP from the eastern part of the country.

“Ondo people have a reputation of repressing oppression.

Not even the late General Sani Abacha could cow them and their leader, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, who led the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).”

ARELY 72 hours after a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Project Monitoring in Owo Local Government, Mr. Femi Idris, resigned, another SSA to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Local Government, Prince Adepoju Adewusi, yesterday resigned his appointment.

He said Governor Mimiko would lose the October 20 poll.

Adewusi said he could no longer stomach the wastage and underdevelopment foisted on the state by Mimiko.

He predicted that the governor would lose the election because he has elevated fantasies above governance.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

According to him, his popularity is a creation of the media and his paid agents whose major jobs are to sing his praises in the media.

Adewusi, who hails from Akoko North West Local Government, said they only felt the impact of governance in the state during the Olusegun Agagu administration.

He said: “Forget about the paid agents whose jobs are to sing the praises of the governor. They are not here, so they don’t know how and where the shoe pinches.

“He has used our money to service cosmetic projects so that his friends and cronies could coast home with largesse.

This is why the dome, Arigidi Tomato Company, Ose Cement Factory, Ore Industrial Village and other white elephant projects only exist on paper.

“I dumped him because I’m sure he is on a voyage of deceit and my conscience can no longer bear his deceit.”

Adewusi said those still celebrating Mimiko as an achiever must have benefited from his extravagant life.

LP members defect to ACN

S

•Map of Ondo State

OME members of the Labour Party (LP) at the weekend defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The leaders of the three groups that defected at Ipesi-Akoko in Akoko South East Local Government are Kunle Olowo, Rotimi Olanrewaju and Aminu Isiaka.

Isiaka led the Ebira group.

He said the Mimiko administration is a failure.

He urged people to support ACN for good governance.

The defectors were received by an ACN chieftain and a former commissioner, Solagbade Amodeni.

From Damisi Ojo,Akure

They assured the new members of equal opportunities. About 1,000 LP members defected from the party to ACN in Ifira community with leaders such as Chief Festus Idowu and Mrs. Emily Ominowa Sanni.

The new ACN members slammed an LP leader in the area who they said was appointed as the chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) but could not influence the appointment of one person.

Amodeni and Kunle Oyegoke received the defectors in Ifira.

Mimiko is a confused politician, says ACO

T

HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described a statement credited to Governor Olusegun Mimiko that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is more of a good manager than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a statement coming from a confused politician who is using deceptive tactics to hoodwink the people to vote for him.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said yesterday: “For us at ACO, this statement has shown the desperation from the drowning Labour Party and Mimiko to cling to power at all cost despite being rejected by the Ondo people as a result of their failure in the last three and a half years.

“It is a fact that Asiwaju Tinubu is a leader of leaders because without Tinubu, Fashola wouldn’t have come to light.

“It is also a fact that the achievements paraded by Governor Fashola today, which are being acknowledged across the world, are as a result of the solid foundation laid by Asiwaju Tinubu in his eight years rule in Lagos.

“He reinvigorated the internally-generated revenue from N600 million to N9 billion before he left office.

“He established the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which was inaugurated in 2008 by Governor Fashola. The BRT has transported over 80 million people in the last six years and has become a model for transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Asiwaju Tinubu in July 2000 established the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to control and manage traffic in Lagos and reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses caused by ac-

cidents, congestions and delays that were rampant then. ”The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) responsible for the management, regulation and control of the signage and outdoor advertising in Lagos State is also a brain child of Asiwaju Tinubu. He conceived the idea in 2006.

“Tinubu also embarked on the strategic development of some business areas starting with the Lagos Island and tagged it: ‘Central Business District’, with the aim of creating a conducive business environment by addressing the challenges of infrastructure maintenance and order. ”He put in motion the Eko Atlantic Project, an ambitious project in real estate to regain the beach ground lost to over 100 years of sea erosion and surges and build a place Africa will be proud of.

“The ongoing 10-lane Lagos Badagry Expressway with light rail, the first of its kind in West Africa and other reforms in Lagos today have their root in Asiwaju Tinubu’s administration.

“The greatest achievement of Asiwaju Tinubu is the ability to identify an able successor in Governor Fashola.

“The success of a man is not measured by the material things gained, but his ability to identify a good successor that will continue his legacies and impart positively on the people.

“We advise Governor Mimiko to keep his words on Asiwaju Tinubu and his able successor, Governor Fashola, who has endorsed and described Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with a sound mind for the Southwest. He should stop using the names of performing ACN governors to polish his dented image.”

Kuku accuses governor of planning to rig poll Continued from page 4

Kuku said Mimiko is pointing accusing fingers elsewhere when it is a fact that the real person threatening the peace in the Ondo coastal communities is himself.

“How else can one explain the commencement of his politically-motivated security contract (which operates like the infamous and outlawed Famou Tangbe in Bayelsa State) in the riverine areas just a few months to the election? The governor doles out N70 million monthly to his hired goons in the two local governments in the guise of ensuring security

in the coastal communities.

“We have since found out that the money is being deployed to arm and compromise some of the youths that have embraced the Federal Government amnesty and he is planning to use them to rig the October 20 election.

“Some of these youths have been engaged in areas with naval and marine police presence and have been patrolling the rivers and creeks, causing tension.

“The people of these areas have vowed to resist them on the election day if they attempt to rig or steal their votes.

“It is not out of place to alert

President Jonathan and Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to the nefarious activities of this Mimiko-hired security outfit and to call for its disbandment if the October 20 poll is to be skirmish-free. Let me restate that Mimiko plans to use this so-called security outfit to rig the election.

“The PDP in Ondo State is convinced that given Mimiko’s miserable scorecard in the last four years, the electorate are determined to send him packing from the Government House on October 20.”

The presidential aide urged the security agencies to ensure that the will of the people is not

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Mr. S.S. Famoritiye, an engineer, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Police Command, over threat to his life.

In the petition signed by his lawyer, Oluwole Adeyemo, Famoritiye said some opposition political party members also destroyed his property and those of his relations and supporters.

He said privileged information at his disposal showed that he and some of his followers in ACN have been marked for elimination by hired killers prior to the forthcoming poll.

He said he believes he has become a target for elimination because he has been mobilising support for the ACN towards the victory of its candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), in the October 20 poll.

According to Famoritiye, a Golf car belonging to Mr. Isaac Anowo who defected from the Labour Party (LP) to ACN was set ablaze on September 18 by suspected LP agents.

His lawyer wrote: “Some desperate opposition members in LP at Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State who are bent on maintaining the status quo, are sending wrong signals that portend danger to the security of lives and property of our client, his family and supporters in Ilara-Mokin.

•Kuku

By Joseph Jibueze

“Our client and his supporters can no longer conduct their activities with ease and freedom guaranteed by the constitution for the fear that he, his family and supporters will in the process of their legitimate and political activities be exterminated.

“In the light of these facts, we urge you to cause urgent investigations to be conducted into this issue and at the same time bring this gang of hoodlums to book to avert loss of lives, breach of peace and ensure the security of lives and property of our client, his family and followers.

“We seek maximum police protection of the lives of our client, his family, supporters and their property at Ilara-Mokin.”

Adeyemo added that the development has jeopardised his client’s constitutional rights. He copied the petition, dated September 24, to the ACN leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alara of Ilara-Mokin, Oba A.A. Adefehinti and Akeredolu.

“Your rapid response and anticipated co-operation in this respect will be appreciated,” the petitioner wrote, recalling that several pre-elections political killings have remained unresolved to date.

INEC assures on prosecution of voter’s cards suspects •Confirms involvement of worker From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday assured the public that it will prosecute those caught with voter’s cards in Ondo State, regardless of their status or party affiliations.

A statement issued by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, hailed the Ondo State Police Command for taking a proactive step in arresting the suspected electoral offenders.

He vowed that the electoral body would get to the root of the matter to fish out the political party behind the electoral fraud.

The REC confirmed that a worker of the commission, whose name he refused to mention, was involved in the electoral fraud and he had been arrested by security operatives.

The statement reads: “The attention of INEC has been drawn to the arrest of a man with over a thousand voter’s cards issued by INEC purportedly given to him by a junior staff engaged as a security man by the commission, who has also been arrested by the police.

“Save for the voter’s cards and campaign materials of two of the political parties contesting the October 20 poll, no other electoral materials were found in possession of the suspects. For the purpose of emphasis, no ballot papers were found in their possession.

“Preliminary investigation by the commission indicates that some people did not collect their voter’s cards after registration last year. The unclaimed cards are in the custody of the Electoral Officer.

“Collection by proxy is prohibited and it is not part of the security man’s duties to handle, distribute or in any way deal with voter’s cards.”

T

subverted by those who do not mean well for the state.

ACN chieftain alleges threat to life

NBC threatens to suspend licences of two stations

HE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) yesterday asked ADABA FM, Akure and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation to desist from unwholesome programming or face sanctions.

In a statement in Abuja, NBC noted with grave concern, the unprofessional conduct of the Continental Broadcasting Services Ltd, operators of ADABA FM, Akure and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) in the ongoing campaigns.

According to the statement signed by NBC’s Director- Gen-

eral, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, the two stations have breached the provisions of the National Broadcasting Commission Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

The code stipulates: “In adherence to the principles of pluralism, equal airtime shall be provided to all political parties or views, with particular regard to the amount of time and belt during political campaign periods.”

NBC said despite several warnings, one of the stations continued to exhibit bias in political coverage and broadcast of jingles in favour of a political party.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

6

NEWS RAGE OF FLOOD

Floods take toll on more Nigerians The disastrous effects of the floods caused by the overflow of the River Niger seem not to be abating, with the victims urging the government to end their woes, report NWANOSIKE ONU, OSEMWENGIE OGBEMUDIA and OSAGIE OTABOR Seven die in Edo camp THE news from Fugar, in Estako

Central Local Government Area of Edo State, where victims of the floods are taking refuge was not chery yesterday.

Seven of the inmates reportedly died while the victims accused health officials of extortion.

But there were reports that other victims at the camp were delivered of seven babies.

Thousands of persons displaced in three local councils in the state when River Niger overflowed its bank, are taking refuge in six camps in the state.

Some of them told The Nation on the telephone that they were not being attended to by health officials sent to the camp.

They alleged that the officials made them pay for drugs provided free by the state government.

The victims said the women gave birth through the assistance of traditional birth attendants and that the medical personnel in the camp were inadequate.

One of the victims, Abdulazeez Alidu, said they only heard about medical kits sent to the camp on the radio but none is available for them.

The coordinator of the Primary Health Care centres in the locality, Dr. Alfred Esiamoghie, confirmed dearth of doctors at the camps.

According to him, only two resident doctors and two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) attend to the health need of more than 3000 inmates.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Cordelia Aiwize said the government did its best to provide relief materials to the displaced.

She said erring officials would be disciplined.

Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board (HMB) Dr. Irekpono Omoike said relief agencies had been saddled with coordinating the distribution of relief materials.

He promised to investigate those behind the illegal sales of drugs.

FADAMA farmers lose billions in Edo EDO State Coordinator of FADAMA III Project, Mrs. Momodu Judith, has said farmers benefitting from the FADAMA grant lost billions of naira to flood in the state.

Mrs. Momodu said the entire rice production belt in the state was washed away by the flood, which affected three local government areas.

In a chat with our reporter yesterday, Mrs. Judith identified the major areas affected by the flood as where farmers benefitting from FADAMA grants carry out their farming activities.

She said many of the farmers were harvesting their crops when the flood struck.

She said: “FADAMA groups at Agenebode, Imievba, Udaba and other places lost their products. Ifeko

Island is virtually gone. What was lost cannot be quantified. It run into billions of naira.”

Mrs Judith predicted heavy shortfall in food production in the state.

The Coordinator of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Edo North Senatorial District, Alhaji Abdulahi Mohammed, also urged the Federal Government to take adequate steps to avert food crisis that will arise as a result of flooding in parts of the country.

Mohammed noted that without rice from Udaba, Udochi and Anegbette in Etsako Central, yam and cassava from Etsako East and Esan South East, there will be no food in the state.

Harbour Industrial Layout in Onitsha submerged The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Mrs. Joy Emordi wept yesterday like a baby in one of the flood victims’ camp in Onitsha.

The former senator, who represented Anambra North zone, was consoled by victims of the floods as she wept uncontrollably at Bishop Crowther Primary School.

Mrs. Emordi, who was at the victims camps with various relief materials, said she never knew the extent of the devastation.

Some of the items included: more than 50 bags of rice, over 1,000 pillows, 1,000 blankets, 1,000 buckets, 500 cartons of Indomie Noodles, 500 cartons of detergents, 500 cartons of biscuits, many cartons of tomatoe paste, assorted vegetables oils and beverages among others.

She, however, called for the establishment of a special trust fund for such emergencies to discourage people from relying solely on the state and federal governments.

The trust fund, Emordi said, should be proactive in rehabilitating victims after the disasters, adding that wealthy Anambra people, state government, corporate organisations should be involved.

Besides, the former senator suggested that a special committee, made up of reliable Anambra indigenes should manage.

She urged medical personnel and non governmental organisations (NGOs) to rally round the victims.

The Anglican Bishop of Mbamili Diocese, the Right Rev. Henry Okeke, who received Emordi, said Anambra State Governor Peter Obi had already created many camps to shelter the flood victims.

He said that the Bishop Crowther Camp alone, was housing over 950 victims, mainly from Anambra East Local Government Area.

Another site visited by Mrs. Emordi is the flooded Harbour Industrial Layout in the commercial city of Onitsha.

At the Layout, Emordi noted that more than 39 companies, had been consumed by the ravaging flood.

Idheze community seeks govt's assistance RESIDENTS of Idheze, an oil producing community in Isoko South Local Government of Delta State, have called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to their rescue as flood has taken over their homes.

President of Idheze Community Development Union (ICDU), Mr. Richard Okogba, said, in a statement yesterday that the flood rendered many people homeless and destroyed farmlands.

Okogba said in the statement: "The flood got to our community last week and has destroyed our crops; took over our community clinic, part of the secondary school and many houses.

Right now, our people are taking refuge at the community primary school and that is temporary because we do not know when the flood will get there to the school. This is why we humbly calling on the government to come to our aid."

According to him, famine looms in the community because all their crops have been destroyed, urging the government to rehabilitate the affected people.

Fed Govt to introduce flood resistant rice, says Minister PLANS are afoot by the Federal Government to partner with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines for the introduction of flood-resistant rice in the country, Agriculture Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina said at the weekend.

The minister, who spoke in Ilorin, after visiting Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara at the Government House, was in the state to inspect farms destroyed by flood in Edu and Patigi local government areas.

He said the government would also distribute to farmers free of charge, high-yielding maize seedlings that can mature in 60 days.

He added that the government was making provision for other high -ielding and flood resistant seedlings.

According to Adeshina, the gesture is to ensure that the devastation of farmlands across the country by floods does not lead to food scarcity.

He sympathised with the government and people of the state on the incident, even as he attributed the floods to climate change.

Ahmed solicited greater involvement of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in providing succour to flood victims.

The flood affected more than 70 communities in Patigi Local Government Area and submerged 16 villages in the state.

•Mrs. Frank Akpeti in her living room...yesterday

Petroleum Minister’s family house submerged •Ex-CDS Gen. Ogomudia’s, Otobo’s homes too

T

HE houses of Chief Porbeni, grandfather of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke and father of former Transport Minister Admiral Festus Porbeni, the late Chief end in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, that the number represented those who complained to the union.

He said the number of those affected might rise, as the nine communities ravaged by the flood are “the food basket of the state.”

Adejoh predicted a sharp increase in the prices of rice, fish and other basic food items due to the floods, adding that the flooding occurred when farmers were set to harvest their produce.

According to him, over 200, 000 hectares of rice farms and other crops have been washed away.

He described the disaster as very ominous for the nation’s agricultural sector, “as many of the farmers obtained loans to cultivate large farmlands this year”.

Adejoh appealed to the federal and state governments to come to the aid of the affected farmers to enable them recoup their losses and remain in business.

Fear of hunger is real THOUSANDS of hectares of

5,775 Kogi farmers affected farmland, especially of cassava and At least, 5, 775 farmers in Kogi State had their farmlands submerged by the recent flood disaster in 41 wards of the state, the state Chairman, Rice Farmers Cooperative Union, Mr Umoru Adejoh, has said.

Adejoh told reporters at the week-

vegetables have been completely washed away by the floods in Asaba Ase, Abari, Ekregbesi, Uzere, Aviara and Iwelle among other areas.

At Okrama-Oyede in Isoko North Local Government Area, traumatised residents have resigned

From Shola O’Neil

James Otobo, a former deputy Premier of the defunct Western Region, are among thousands of houses submerged by flood in Delta State. to fate.

Their belongings were seen floating.

Okrama-Oyede is an agrarian community sharing boundary with Ibedeni, Ukpude and Ivori communities which are also submerged.

However, the victims, who were rescued through government emergency scheme are being quartered at St Michael’s College, Oleh, where government had created a relief camp.

Similarly, decomposing livestock, poultry and wild animals were seen floating, raising concerns about imminent food shortage and epidemic in the affected communities.

A passenger, who rode on a speedboat with our reporter from Uzere to Abari, said: “This land (water) where we are travelling now was a farmland.

We used to travel over five kilometres by road to get to the waterside to board a boat, but now it has become a river.”

Mr. Francis Seibido, the immediate past chairman of Abari community, lamented the plight of the victims in the community.

He said: “Right now there is no good water for us to drink in this community.

We drink this (flood) water that you are seeing and you know it is unhealthy for us. We need drugs. The only transformer we have has been submerged in the water and right now we do not have light.”

A trader, Mrs. Victoria Daniels, said the price of garri, a staple food in the

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

7

NEWS RAGE OF FLOOD

• Chief Otobo's house in Uzere...yesterday

• Emordi with some of the relief materials she donated to victims ...yesterday

• Member representing Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta in the House of Representatives,Gerald Irona conducting Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha to flood disaster areas...yesterday

•Displaced Asaba-Ase people at Uzere bush

Our reporter who visited communities in Burutu, Patani, Isoko North and South and Ndokwa East local government areas on Sunday, reports that no fewer than 200 buildings are submerged in Abari and Uzere communities in the two council areas.

The minister’s 38-year-old one-storey family mansion in Abari, on the fringe of River Niger, has been converted to a ‘refugee centre’ by nearly 100 beleaguered residents of the community and others around the Niger and Asse rivers.

Displaced persons fear imminent hunger and starvation. area, has shot up by over 250 per cent.

She said: “Today, a basket of garri is sold for N1,000 and we do not know how much they are going to sell it for us tomorrow. Foodstuff is expensive now because there is no food anywhere and we do not have money to buy food.

“It is true that government has warned us earlier but we did not know that it is going to be like this. Right now we are very hungry here. The government should come to our aid because we are suffering.”

We’re overwhelmed, says Uduaghan EDO State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said magnitude of the disaster was more than what his government can handle alone.

Uduaghan spoke through Mr. Tony Nwaka, his Commissioner for Special Duties and member of the interministerial committee he set up under the chairmanship of his deputy, Prof.

Amos Utuama, (SAN).

He said over 20 of the 25 local government areas of the state have been affected by the flood.

Nwaka said: “Beyond those local government areas far away from the River Niger - less than five - all local government areas of the state and nearly 1,000 communities.

“We have been moving round and we have set up resettlement centres across the state. There are two in Asaba,

‘Government is not doing enough to make impact. Asking the people to evacuate is not enough, the various tiers of government should have assisted them’ Eighty-two-year old Elder Frank Akpeti, whose bungalow was submerged to the roof, lamented: “This Illah, Osissa, Kwale, AGGS Ozoro, St. Michael’s College Oleh, Ughelli and Okwagbe, which was opened today.”

Besides, over 25,000 displaced persons in the government centres, the commissioner said there are thousands others scattered across the state.

He said the government is also providing food and medicines for those who shun the resettlement centres and chose to stay with their relatives.

“More and more people are being moved and we are providing medical services in the camps to cater for them. Unfortunately, we have also had to deal with cases of settlements, like that in Ashaka, which we had to close down because it was also flooded,” Nwaka lamented.

Kogi victims take refuge in Edo MORE than 1,000 victims of flooding in Kogi State are taking refuge in Illushi, Esan Southeast Local Government Area of Edo State.

The victims have since converted the Illushi Market into their temporary camp, where complaints trail the distribution of relief materials provided by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration.

One of the women was allegedly

•Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke's family compound

is the worst flooding in the history of our people. In my 82 years of existence, I have never seen anything close to this kind of flood; houses are being washed away, all our lifetimes of labours and savings have been swept away in a twinkle of an eye.”

Speaking in the same vein, his son, Lawrence Apeti, who braced the rampaging flood to embark on a rescue mission to the village, said the case of his people was more pathetic as they had in the past contended with devastating erosion that had gradually eroded the community’s shoreline over the years.

He said: “Look over there (pointing at a storey building painted in yellow colour), that is the home of the maternal grandfather of the Minister of Petroleum Resource (Mrs. Madueke), it was built in 1984. We have so many prominent men and woman from here, yet our people are suffering this untold hardship.

“Government is not doing enough to make impact. Asking the people to evacuate is not enough, the various tiers of government should have assisted them. Fishermen who could barely feed their families are now using their hard earned money to

evacuate themselves and at the end of the day huge sums of money would be allocated to this.”

The member representing Delta State in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Solomon Ogba, was just rounding off his tour of the flooded area at the Uzere-Abari road, which had become a running stream when our reporter visited the community.

At Uzere, the country homes of Gen Alexander Ogomudia, a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and those of Chief Otobo, were also submerged.

delivered of a baby boy last Friday.

One of the victims, Mr. Nelson Arome, said most of the victims came from Omabu community, in Oyedega Local Government Area of Kogi.

Admitting that rainfall was natural, Buhari urged the Federal Government to endeavour to provide drainage in strategic places.

Mrs. Beatrice Benjamin, a trader, said that the flooding had affected her fish business.

She said: “The price of fish has gone up a little, but the truth is that is very hard for me to get a carton of fish to buy these days.”

According to her, the Federal Government should act before more lives are lost to the flood.

Her words: “Now we are scared of travelling around in our own country. This should not be. Initially, it was security that was the issue in this country, but now it is flood. This is so sad.

“The government officials should visit Lokoja-Okene road, it is a terrible situation down there. Safety of lives is not guaranteed and trucks plying the route are not helping matters.’’

Mr. Suraj Hassan, a civil servant, said that the flood was due to the lack of proactive measures, suggesting that the river banks should be dredged and the displaced provided with accommodation.

Hassan also urged the authorities to relocate all the houses along the river banks to avoid future occurrence A businessman, Mr. Bethel

Lemchi, warned the government that the flooding being experienced in some parts of the country might lead to food shortage.

Lemchi, who gave the warning in an interview in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the disaster had wiped out several farmlands in various parts of the country.

He urged the government to devise measures of managing the expected food crisis which he described as ‘inevitable.’

Lemchi also urged the government to import food items to sustain the population to avert starvation.

“Importation of food should be paramount because the floods have ravaged crops and attention should also be paid to farmers’ welfare,’’ he said.

He attributed the cause of the flood to inadequate provision of drains on the roads.

He said: “A lot of roads have collapsed due poor or no drainage system. Most of the contractors who won contracts to construct roads are driven by selfish gains not the people’s welfare.’’

Lemchi noted that if the contractors had constructed the roads to international standard, flooding would be minimised.

“Flood is a global phenomenon but Nigeria’s case is worse due to poor road network.’’

Nigerians urge Fed Govt to act fast WORRIED over the number of lives and valuable properties lost to flooding in some states across the country, a section of Nigerians yesterday called on the Federal Government (FG) to address the menace.

Mr George Haruna, a civil servant, lamented debilitating toll flooding has taken the economy and food production.

Haruna spoke yesterday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said: “Most farmers have been displaced as a result of this flood and it has made the cost of foodstuff in the market to increase.”

Besides, the teacher said flooding is enemy to human health, since most of the potable streams and rivers in the country have been contaminated.

A student, Olanrewaju Buhari, said the flood had prevented some students from going to school and that some of their mates in schools not affected by the flood would be ahead of them in their studies.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

8

NEWS NANS to boycott academic activities

Death threats on reporter TWO human rights groups, Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum (NDAF) and Ikwerre Citizen for Democratic Movement (ICDM), have condemned death threats on a reporter, Precious Dikewoha.

Dikewoha, an indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has gone into hiding, following threats on his life by persons suspected to be politicians in the community because of a report he authored in the Nation Evening Express.

He said his phone is being inundated by callers, who threatened to abduct and kill him over the report.

NDAF and ICDM, in a joint statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, urged Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ndabawa, to unmask the perpetrators.

‘Tackle bird strikes’

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has been advised to work towards limiting bird strikes at the airports.

An industry expert, John Obakpolor, described the frequency of bird strikes around the airports as dangerous to air safety.

Obakpolor spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting on bird strike and wild animal hazard control in Lagos yesterday.

He said it costs an airline over $450,000 to change a blade of an aircraft engine, following a bird strike.

Obakpolor said the installation of aircraft birds strike avoidance radar system at Abuja airport would not stop the problem on its own.

“Air traffic controllers have a role to play in warning pilots on the movement of birds in and around the airport.”

He said data collection will assist the staff in plotting graphs to know the frequency of the strikes and how it would affect future plans in tackling them.

T

From left: Badeh, Ibrahim, Ihejirika and Ezeoba after their decoration at the Presidential Villa in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Jonathan to service chiefs: end terrorism

S

ERVICE chiefs yesterday got a marching order from President Goodluck Jonathan to end terrorism and crude oil theft.

The President challenged the Armed Forces’ chiefs to come up with new security architecture to combat the twin security challenges.

Jonathan promised to help families of members of the Armed Forces who died in active service.

He spoke at the decoration of the service chiefs with their new ranks.

The President was assisted

by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

The brief event took place at the Presidential Council Chamber, Abuja. The new Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sahad Ibrahim was decorated with his new rank.

Before the new posting, he was a Vice Admiral.

Also decorated were the

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, formerly, Rear Admiral and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Bade, formerly Vice Marshall.

The service chiefs were accompanied to the ceremony by their wives and relatives.

Jonathan said: “I will like to use this forum to specially charge you to rise up to the many security challenges confronting our nation today.

More specifically, the Chief of Naval Staff, along with his officers and men, has the honorary responsibility of providing security in our territorial waters.

“The unacceptable rising incidences of crude theft must be tackled frontally.

“Even with the direct adverse implication of the activities of crude oil theft on our national economy, I expect the Chief of Naval Staff and other

serving Chiefs to go to work to urgently bring the issue of crude oil theft to an end.

“May I further reiterate that the security of life and property in this country is a sacred obligation which our administration will do everything in its power to live up to.

“We cannot allow threat to national security to compromise our national transformation effort. While we remain committed to repositioning Nigeria for sustained growth and development, we shall proactively prosecute the fight against terrorism with total commitment and effectively check the activities of all criminal elements in our dear land.

“In this regard, we will step up initiatives aimed at strengthening and repositioning our security agencies for greater efficiency to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.”

The President said the new-

ly appointed officers together with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ehijerika, who retained his appointment, were appointed in recognition of their notable attributes of patriotism, excellence, loyalty, dedication, courage and unwavering faith in Nigeria.

The President also commended the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Oluseye Petirin and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Mohammed Dikko Umar.

He said they have served their father land meritoriously with steadfast patriotism, unwavering gallantry and dedication; adding that “they have both eloquently optimised the motto of the Nigerian Airforce, Willing Able and Ready.

“On behalf of a grateful nation I wish them God’s abiding guidance and provision in their future endeavours.”

Senators seek UI’s financial statements

T

HE Senate Committee on Education has given the management of the University of Ibadan (UI) two weeks ultimatum to explain the financial activities and budgetary implementation of the institution in the last one year.

The committee, chaired by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, gave the order yesterday dur-

‘Use funds well’

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on Communications has called for appropriate use of budgetary allocations to government agencies, ministries and departments.

The Chairman, Oyetunde Ojo spoke yesterday at the Lagos Campus of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Oshodi, during the inspection of ongoing projects of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“The National Assembly appropriates the funds. We must see what the appropriated funds have been used for From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ing its visit to the university as part of its oversight function.

Chukwumerije, who noted that there were grey areas in the presentation of the school’s financial activities, added that clarification would help the committee in the discharge of its duty.

He said: “We express deep commitment to the growth of education, especially tertiary education in Nigeria. It is in this respect that we embarked on a visitation of this institution.

“We need clarification on the grey areas on the financial activities and welfare of the

By Lucas Ajanaku

because at the end of the day, Nigerians will hold us accountable.

“Apart from being a knowledge-based institution, it is also going to take care of job creation. You can imagine how many people will be employed when completed,” the chairman said.

NCC’s Director of Public Affairs Tony Ojobo said the project will be completed on schedule and assured that new students will be admitted in the next academic session. school.

“The clarification, which must be forwarded to us within two weeks, touching on funding, will give us insight into areas where the university needs help.”

Chukwumerije cited what he described as inconsistency in the recurrent expenditure submitted to the committee by the university authorities.

“There are also grey areas on Internally Generated Revenue.

Information on other sources of revenue, such as intervention funds, loans and grants.

The international school and the zoo have not been captured in the document.”

Committee member Senator Oluremi Tinubu insisted that the institution should shed light on its IGR. She said: “My worry is the money appropriated for overhead in the school. I’m not impressed with the condition of the zoo. UI Zoo should be the pride of the nation.

Also, Senator Abubakar Bagudu said: “We have been to other universities in the country.

“The IGR for some universities like Ahmadu Bello University and University of Lagos are much more higher.

“No revenue was declared by the university on hostel accommodation charges to students. We want more information on revenue from students’ registration and other issues.”

The Acting VC, Prof. Arinola Sanya, said: “The details of the telephone, stationery etc shall be transmitted to you as requested.

“The zoo is supposed to be a huge source of revenue but we don’t have many animals.

Many people are donating animals to us after the flood in the state. During the August 26 flood, some animals were washed away.

“In the area of social responsibility, the university is being consulted by organisations on several areas of collaboration, especially in the area of channelisation.”

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has decried the killing of four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students and the inability of security agencies to arrest those who massacred 40 students at Mubi, Adamawa State.

The body called for students’ boycott of academic activities in all tertiary institutions in Adamawa State until their demands for safety are met.

A statement yesterday in Jos by NANS National President, Mohammed Dauda, said: “We are disappointed with security agencies over their seeming noncommitment in bringing the perpetrators of the murder of the Mubi 40 to justice.”

NANS has directed students in all tertiary institutions in Adamawa State to boycott all academic activities until the demands for security are met.

The statement condemned the extra-judicial killing of four students in Allu, Port Harcourt.

“We hereby call on the Rivers state government to immediately bring the perpetrators to justice and enjoin the security agencies to ensure that all those involved are arrested and made to face the law,” Dauda said.

Nigeria, Canada sign pact From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

C

ANADA and Nigeria yesterday agreed to work together to tackle terrorism in Nigeria and West Africa,.

The two countries signed the pact in Abuja during the inaugural meeting of the Nigeria-Canada Bi-National Commission (BNC), cochaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru and his Canadian counterpart, John Baird.

Reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, Ashiru said the countries agreed that effective political, economic, security and development cooperation between them will contribute to building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

The two countries, he said, have also expressed further commitment to promoting human rights for all, good governance and democratic development.

According to him, Canada has also made modest donation to the victims of the recent flood in some parts of the country.

Baird said the countries want to take the fight against terrorism and trade volume between the two countries to higher levels.

He said: “We have agreed to work together to fight terrorism, not just in Nigeria but in West Africa.

“In additional to its bilateral programme, Canada is providing assistance through multilateral and Canadian partner organisations.

“In 2011 – 2012, total assistance to Nigeria amounted to $25 million.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

9

NEWS

‘Ekiti Governor has laid enduring foundations’

F

OREMOST poet and literary critic Mr. Odia Ofeimun has said Ekiti

State Governor Kayode Fayemi has laid foundations for enduring development in the state.

Applauding the government’s Urban Renewal Programme, Ofeimun said the traditional building pattern in most Nigerian cities, “which many governments have accepted, is wrong for genuine planning”.

He said for meaningful planning to take place, “the amount of destruction you have to do is enormous”.

The poet spoke with The Nation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during a tour of the capital in preparation for his stage play, entitled Nigeria: The Beautiful, which is part of activities slated for the second anniversary celebration of the Fayemi administration.

Ofeimun said: “Kayode did something interesting. He slowed down the process of action in order to amass enough, so that when he launched, he did it in a more rapid pattern.

What I have seen points in that direction.”

He said the building of roads by the administration would boost commercial activities.

Ofeimun said: “A road makes it easier for people to commute and hastens development. If there is always traffic gridlock in your state, it means people would not able to do as much business as they can daily.”

The poet said he moved round the capital to ascertain

2013 budget will address water supply, says Fayemi

E

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said next year’s budget will address water problems in the state.

He spoke during Town Hall meetings at Ekiti East, Ilejemeje, Moba and Gboyin local government areas.

Fayemi said several millions of naira would be expended on Ero Dam, which serves about nine local governments.

He said representatives of the state at the National Assembly have pooled resources together for the dam’s rehabilitation.

The governor said the Ekiti Water Corporation would be re-organised, adding that five water treatment plants in Ido Ile, Okemesi, Ipole Iloro and others would be inaugurated this week.

He said the Egbe and Itapaji dams would be From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

whether Fayemi deserved the award he recently got as the “Leadership Governor of The Year”.

He said: “It is really exciting to see the roads being built in Ekiti. It is like turning the whole place into a large building site.

I want to be honest, I needed to see things for myself to be convinced he deserves the award he got recently and I am seeing reasons for the award.

“If a poor state like Ekiti is evidently doing this, what is happening in more blessed states, which have refused to commence the journey, despite having enough.”

Justifying his absence from the public domain lately, the writer said it is useless to speak

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

repaired and pipes that got damaged during roads’ repair would be replaced.

Fayemi said the government would dig solar-powered bore holes in some areas, pending the laying and replacement of ductile pipes.

He said the contract for the building of a fivekilometre road in Ilejemeje local government was terminated because of the contractor’s poor performance.

Fayemi said the contract has been re-awarded and the contractor would move to site early next month.

The road is expected to be completed in December.

Fayemi said his administration aims to build 80 kilometres of roads in councils annually.

all the time, if your comments would not bring useful changes to governance.

Ofeimun opposed the common opinion that Nigeria has enough resources to grow. He said the resources were trapped in a few pockets.

Ofeimun condemned the Federal Government’s policy, which allows the existence of alternative examination bodies such as the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

Decrying the fallen standard of education, he said the alternative public examination bodies were created by the political class to make things easy for their children.

Ofeimun said: “It is very embarrassing to see someone who will want an exam done

for him or her. I never knew until recently that someone can pass an exam he/she did not sit for. The first thing they discover when such person enters an institution is that the person did not actually attend any school.

“This all started when the Federal Government started changing the standards by which you enter an institution.

Consider Nigeria moving away from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) because the standard was too rigorous and creating NECO. “It is an embarrassment to realise that those who attended public institutions of the highest standards were the ones who set the basis for the growth of the existing decay. They now do for their children what their fathers would never have done for them.”

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun flanked by his deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun (right) and the State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, during the church service marking the beginning of the 2012/2013 Legal Year at the Cathedral of St. Peters in Abeokuta...yesterday.

Lagos ACN to appeal ruling on council poll

T

HE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has restated its decision to appeal the judgment of the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal on the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

It assured its members and supporters that there was no cause for alarm. Last week, the Justice Dolapo Akinsanyaled tribunal nullified the election of Mr. Adewale Adeniji of the ACN on the grounds that the election result in some units were not collated and declared Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, ACN said its lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for an appeal.

The party said even though it does not accept the judgment, it has exposed the hypocrisy of those who claimed there was no council election in Lagos.

ACN said the judgment is “no big deal”.

It said: “In a democratic dispensation, it is natural for disputes to arise after elections, and that is why the judiciary is there to sieve the grains from the chaff.

“In the case of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, we saw the desperate efforts to claim the LCDA by every means possible. We expected to contest against other parties and as such, we expected to either win or lose elections.

“After what we believe was a free and fair election, our opponents, who had planned another strategy, knowing their strength, went on an extensive campaign to tarnish the election and went to the extent of mobilising thugs to cause breach of the peace in Lagos. They denied that any election took place and in another breath claimed they won the election.

“While we felt the election was free and fair, we advised those who felt otherwise to approach the court. Thank God they did so after seeing the futility of resorting to self help and thank God that the judgment they are now celebrating was gotten through the same system they desperately tried to rubbish.

“Thank God what they presented as obtained in the same election they were desperately trying to deny is the basis of the present judgment, but we seriously object to this.”

Why we opted for bond, ADB loan, by Oyo Govt

T

HE Oyo State Government yesterday gave reasons for seeking N50 billion Bond from the capital market.

It said the bond was meant for the execution of capital projects.

According to a statement by Commissioner for Finance Zachaeus Adelabu, the projects include the Urban Mass Transit Scheme; the building of 10,000MT agricultural silos, ultra-modern markets and agricultural processing plants in each of the three senatorial districts; the building of the Ibadan Circular Road, a five-star hotel, a canning/agro-processing factory, housing estates and logistics centres/ industrial parks across the state.

Adelabu said the bond had been approved by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and guaranteed by the Federal Government.

He said in the long run, the bond would be cheaper for the state government than

commercial loans granted by financial institutions.

The commissioner said bonds are better suited to fund projects with long-term impacts and benefits, when compared to short-term funds.

He said: “The regulatory requirements for bond financing will force the state to utilise the proceeds for developmental/commercial projects specifically identified during the bond issue planning phase and strengthen our resolve for improved transparency and accountability.”

Adelabu said the bond would be in two tranches.

The first tranche of N30 billion would be finalised this year and the second next year.

Adelabu said: “There is really nothing strange about a state taking bond, as long as short term loans are not taken to finance long term projects. We would not do that. The bond we are taking is meant for capital projects.”

Police arrest Oni’s aide for ‘disrupting’ Ekiti teachers’ test

T

HE police in Ekiti State yesterday arrested an aide of ousted “Governor” Segun Oni, Mr. Lere Olayinka, who allegedly disrupted the Teachers Development Needs Assessment (TDNA) test at the OlaOluwa Muslim Grammar School centre in AdoEkiti, the state capital.

Olayinka allegedly led a group of suspected thugs, who threw stones at the teachers in the examination hall.

Police spokesman Victor Babayemi confirmed the arrest.

Babayemi said: “As the organ of the government charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order, our men were posted to various centres to ensure that the ongoing TDNA is without hitch.

“Consequently, Lere Olayinka was arrested for conducting himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace at a TDNA centre. He is presently being interrogated. The outcome of the interrogation/investigation would determine what the next action would be.

“We reiterate that we are doing our job pro-

•TDNA turnout low From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

fessionally without sentiments. Anybody who contravenes the law would be made to face the music, irrespective of his/her status or political affinity.”

In a statement, Governor Kayode Fayemi’s media aide, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Olayinka’s arrest has upheld the government’s position that some disgruntled politicians were at the root of various labour crises in the state.

Oyebode said: “The state government raised the alarm recently that some politicians were responsible for various allegations and protests by the National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE).

“It also alerted the public to plans by some politicians to frustrate the TDNA by spreading falsehood and harassing teachers, who already had the conviction that the test would impact positively on their careers. The arrest has vindicated our position.

“It is needless to say that Olayinka’s physical attack on the teachers was part of the calculated attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his pay masters to frustrate the TDNA and other government policies. Apparently piqued by the determination of the teachers to take the test, he resorted to physical attack.

“While we hail the police for rising to their responsibility of maintaining law and order, we hope they will, through their investigation, unmask the masterminds of the plot and bring them to book.

“The Fayemi administration is committed to maintaining the peace that has been the hallmark of the state since the inception of this administration. We are also committed to policies that will enhance development in all sectors.

Teachers and indeed workers are assured of adequate security as they go about their work.”

The turnout of teachers for the test was low.

Less than 100 of the 6,000 teachers expected for the test turned up.

At the Ola-Oluwa Muslim Grammar School, over 3,000 teachers were expected, but only 35, including the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Mr. Sola

Adigun, and executive members of the union, wrote the test.

At the African Church Comprehensive High School, Ikere Ekiti, only 28 teachers wrote the test.

No one turned out in Omuo, Ido and Aramoko Ekiti.

There was heavy presence of security personnel around the centres in Ado-Ekiti.

Commissioner for Education Mrs. Eniola Ajayi said: “We thank God that some teachers wrote the test, which is aimed at developing human capital in our education sector.

“You could see the level of failure recorded in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) this year. This is to tell you the level of rot in the system, which we were able to expose by canceling the so-called miracle centres.”

Commissioner for Labour and Human Capital Development Wole Adewumi said: “We have told the teachers that the competency test is not meant to ridicule, demote or sack them, but to develop their skills and make Ekiti great.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

10

CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Bank drivers, others held for robbery

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

•Weapons recovered from them

•Suspected members of the one million gang

Robbers kill ASP, Inspector in Lagos

A

N Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and an Inspector fell yesterday under robbers' bullets in new Oko-Oba, Agege, a Lagos suburb. The Police Command claimed last night that two robbers were also killed.

The officers reportedly displayed rare bravery as they engaged the robbers despite their superior firepower.

It was gathered that four policemen were on patrol around 2am when they sighted; a Hilux pick-up and two Toyota Sienna buses which they mistook for their Area Commander's.

Police sources said they parked as a mark of honour for their presumed boss, only

•Police parades 130 hoodlums

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

to be at from the vehicles.

The ASP and the Inspector, who were said to have taken cover behind the patrol van, returned fire.

Source said the robbers hit the ASP in the leg and he fell down and the robbers riddled his body with bullets.

The Inspector was also gunned down; the others, a Sergeant and a Corporal, escaped.

The Nation learnt that a reinforcement arrived at the scene after the robbers had fled.

Another version of the incident said the patrol team

was on its way to respond to a distress call when the bandits, who were in three vehicles, opened fire on them at Paying Junction near Olaniyi Street.

Police spokesperson Ngozi Braide confirmed the death of the police officers, adding that two of the robbers were also killed. The command has arrested 130 suspected members of a robbery syndicate known as "One Million Boys."

A few weeks ago, residents of Ajegunle sent a distress call to the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, on the gang, which they claimed has been terrorising the suburb.

The suspects were brought into the Command Headquarters in a Black Maria and two commercial vehicles.

Weapons recovered from them included five live ammunition, two double barrel guns, and 10 machetes.

Parading the suspects, Manko said their arrest was the fulfillment of his promise to get them.

Their arrest, he said, followed a raid of night clubs, a hotel, and Boundary in Ajegunle. He said a bag of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, one pistol, and a gun accessory were recovered. Manko assured the residents that the police would not relent until all the hoodlums are flushed out.

Some of the suspects claimed the "real armed robbers" ran away during the raid, denying that they are not members of the notorious gang.

A suspect, Onyekachi Amaechi, said the gun recovered from his compound belongs to a gang member he identified as Sanni. He said Sanni kept the gun there while on the run. According to him, residents that do not have "reasonable amount" risk torture, maiming, and raping by the gang.

Emmanuel Monday, 17, and Jude Ifegun 18, both residents of Ladiga Street, denied being members of the gang. They claimed they were arrested because they kept late night.

TWO bank workers are being held by the police for allegedly giving confidential information to robbers.

Taiwo Aremu and Rasheed Anifowoshe, who are drivers of Sterling Bank and Ecobank, were arrested following the confessions of Ahmed Ajofoba and Saheed Olawumi, who were caught during an operation at the Matori branch of one of the banks.

"We inform the gang on when to come and when there is money and also tell them how much money would be available,” the suspects said.

It was gathered that after the police learnt of a robbery on September 26, the Area Commander for Area 'D' led his men to the scene, where the suspected robbers were arrested.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who paraded the suspects, said: "Their confessions led to the arrest of eight other suspects and the recovery of one locally made pistol with one live cartridge and the case was subsequently transferred to the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation".

Manko said at SARS, the suspects confessed that their gang leaders, Adedokun Yusuf and Ahmed Adelakun are in Ayetoro, Ogun State and operatives moved in and arrested them.

Two locally made pistols and five live cartridges were recovered. The suspects, who operate with the aid of insiders, confessed to have robbed Sterling Bank, Matori branch, on May 25, carting away N8million and Ecobank, Isolo branch on August 29.

Others arrested are Muktar Eleduwa, the cleric of the two drivers; Lukman Adenuga, Idowu Adesola, Waheed Shuaib and Abdullahi Abdulkareem.

Manko said investigation was ongoing.

Council boss' wife donates textbooks

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

• Commercial motorcyclists protesting the proposed ban on motorcycles at the Governor’s Office, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

Traffic Law: Okada riders protest at Assembly OMMERCIAL motorcyclists, yesterday under the aegis of United Okada Riders Stakeholders' Forum (UORSF), the Lagos State House of Assembly to protested some sections of the new Lagos Traffic Law. Dandy Eze, the National President of Path of Peace Initiative (PPI), who led the protesters, said the law, specifically the part restricting Okada riders from 459 routes,

C

By Oziegbe Okoeki

should be reviewed.

The group claimed that only Schedule I of the law, banning their members from operating on highways, was agreed to during negotiations with the government. They said they were surprised to see the "long" list of restricted roads in the approved law.

Their petition, addressed to the House and signed by Tony Keroro and John Au-

gustine, Chairman and Secretary of UORSF, reads: "While we welcome many aspects of the new law, we are shocked and embarrassed at some aspects that seem to be designed to get rid of motorcycles from Lagos roads.

"Commuters in these places have no other means of affordable transportation other than okada. Banning okada operations on these routes will not only inflict

serious hardships on members of the public but also send thousands of okada operators into the already choked labour market."

"We render invaluable service to the public; indeed no okada rider would be on the road if there is no patronage by the public," the group said.

Eze said the impounded motorcycles, which were obtained through "hired purchase," are being sold to "in-

fluential people" for N15,000, under a plan to eliminate commercial motorcyclists.

Deputy Speaker Kolawole Taiwo said the law should not have caught the protesters by surprise because a public hearing was organised by the House to get the opinion of stakeholders on the bill before the bill was passed.

He promised that their complaints would be considered by the House.

THE wife of the Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, has said teachers contribute a lot to nation's building.

The woman, who spoke at the World Teachers Day at the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) secretariat in Abule-Oja, Lagos, said teaching is the most noble profession in the world, adding that it contributes to the development of any country.

Adekanye, who is also a teacher, listed her contributions to educational advancement, since her husband became the chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, to include the sinking of boreholes at Nawar-udDeen Secondary School, Ebute-Meta, free medical treatment for teachers in the area, donation of textbooks and magnetic boards to primary schools, among others.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Our product declined from 167,000 metric tonnes in 1961 to 25,000 MT by 2008. In the same period global production of palm oil expanded from 629,000 MT in 1961 to 33.3 million MT by 2008.

- Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

IMF to Nigeria: keep inflation, credit growth rates moderate

T

HE International Mon etary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigeria, other developing economies and emerging markets to retain their ability to respond flexibly to shocks by maintaining sound fiscal position, by keeping inflation and credit growth at moderate rates.

The agency disclosed this in its October 2012 World Economic Outlook (WEO), released yesterday.

The nation’s inflation rate for August was 11.7 per cent. Historically, from 2006, the inflation rate averaged 10.6 per cent, reaching an all time high of 15.6 per cent in February of 2010 and a record low of 3.0 per cent in July of 2006. Inflation rate refers to a general rise in prices measured against a standard level of purchasing power.

From Ayodele Aminu, Tokyo, Japan

Following the adoption of a tight monetary policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), credit extended to the private sector only increased 4.7 per cent between December 2011 and July 2012, despite yearon-year growth rates of 40 per cent-plus, which was partly attributed to the Assets Management Company of Nigeria’s (AMCON) bonds.

Analysts expect a pick-up in credit growth from the first quarter of 2013, which will accelerate once rates begin to ease. But the Federal Government has not really succeeded on the fiscal front.

The agency also noted that in emerging markets

• Cuts global growth forecasts and developing economies, activity has been slowed by monetary policy tightening in response to capacity constraints, weaker demand from advanced economies, and country-specific factors.

“Policy improvements have raised their resilience to shocks. Since the crisis erupted in 2008, expansionary policies have buffered the negative impact of the weakness in advanced economy markets: fiscal deficits have typically been above pre-crisis levels, whereas real interest rates have been lower.”

It said domestic credit has grown rapidly. “Over the medium term, policymakers will need to

• From left: Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, United Kingdom, Dr. Vince Cable; and UK Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Peter West; during a roundtable on doubling of Trade between Nigeria and the UK in Lagos ... yesterday.

2012 budget: Reps frown at poor release of funds to power sector

T

HE face off between the Executive and the Legislative arms over poor implementation of the 2012 budget seems unending, as the House of Representatives Committee on Power yesterday said budget implementation of the sec-

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

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

RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL -40.472

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

tor fell short of the Appropriation Act. The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Ebbo, said after carrying out oversight function in six different locations in the power sector, the committee’s findings showed that the implementation of the 2012 budget, oscilates between 34 and 40 per cent of the budget, less than three months to the end of the financial year.

Speaking with newsmen after a visit by members of his Committee to the Shiroro Hydro Power station, the Chairman stated that the development was not acceptable to the National Assembly and the country, adding that only 49.8 per cent of what was appropriated was released to them.

Describing the situation as outright violation of an Act of the Parliament, Ebbo warned that the national assembly will not hesitate to sanction relevant authourities for their failure to adhere to and implement a law duly passed by the National Assembly.

“My assessment on the impementation of the 2012 budget in the power sector is very pathetic. Here we are ap-

proving hundreds of billions of naira and we are still implementing at 34 -40 per cent.

This is not acceptable at all. If I have my way, I will say there is no implementation of the 2012 budget in the sector.

“That is not an acceptable situation especially since we are in October when all the funds should have been released. Any moment now, the President will be bringing the 2013 budget, and here we are dabbling with just 30 - 40 per cent implementation of the 2012 budget.’’

He said the budget allocated to the Shiroro Hydro-electrical Power Station, showed that out of the N734,606,123 appropriated, only N365,901,817 was released to the station.

Earlier the Chief Executive Officer of Shiroro Hydro-electrical Power Station , Daudu Abdul-Aziz, told the lawmakers that the station has only received N365,901,817 (49.8 percent) out of the N734,606,123 appropriated for in the 2012 budget, only N365,901,817.

Abdul-Aziz further said that out the funds released, the station has utilized N225,345,986 (61.6 percent) but disclosed that only the allocations for the first and third quarters were released while the second quarter was still pending.

ensure that they retain the ability to respond flexibly to shocks by maintaining a sound fiscal position and also by keeping inflation and credit growth at moderate rates,” the IMF stated.

In this respect, the Fund said policy tightening during 2011 was appropriate, stressing that given the growing downside risks to external demand, central banks have appropriately paused or reversed some of the monetary policy tight-

ening measures.

The IMF also lowered its global growth forecasts to 3.3 per cent and 3.6 per cent for the year 2012 and 2013, respectively.

This is slightly lesser than the July 2012 WEO update that projected a global growth of 3.5 per cent in 2012 and 3.9 percent in 2013, respectively.

“The recovery has suffered new setbacks, and uncertainty weighs heavily on the outlook. A key reason is that policies in the major advanced economies have not rebuilt confidence

in medium-term prospects.

Tail risks, such as those relating to the viability of the euro area, or major U.S. fiscal policy mistakes, continue to preoccupy investors,” the report said.

The Fund however forecast a relatively solid output in many emerging markets and developing economies, but noted that output remains sluggish in advanced economies.

“Unemployment is likely to stay elevated in many parts of the world. And financial conditions will remain fragile,” it added.

Nigeria, UK target N2tr trade

T

HE Federal Govern ment and the United Kingdom, said they have reached the final stages in their plan to double bilateral trade by 2014.

Addressing a joint press yesterday, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and the Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dr. Vince Cable, said the factors militating against effective trade between the two countries have been

identified and were now being addressed to ensure the actualisation of the 2014 deadline.

The current value of trade between the two nations stands at £4 billion (about N960 billion). Steps are being taken to raise the figure to £8 billion (N1.9 trillion) by 2014.

Identifying the areas being worked on by the two countries, Aganga explained that issues of barriers to trade were being looked into, in

addition to the strategies aimed at the Small and Medium Enterprises sector.

He said the meeting between the Ministry of Trade and Investment and its counterpart in the United Kingdom was a follow up to an earlier discussion between the leaders of the two countries, President Goodluck Jonathan and David Cameron, where they agreed to increase the volume of trade by 100 per cent.

12

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS

NERC blames lack of cost-effective tariff on PHCN

T

HE Nigerian Electric ity Regulatory Com mission (NERC), yesterday blamed the absence of cost-reflective tariff in the Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) on poor consumer service delivery practices amongst distribution companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) .

The Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, who made this disclosure in Abuja during the flag-off week-long twin-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

ning programme between the Commission and United States National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC), said utilities service provided in the sector are characterised by poor customer service delivery practices that have resulted in poor customer service delivery practices.

Utilities in the sector contributed to existing harmful issues militating against the

growth in the power sector of the country.

Amadi said: “One of the real crisis of this sector is lack of customer-centric by utilities. We have received several reports, people are not happy with the tariff, not because it is high, but they are yet to enjoy good service delivery.

They are complaining about bad billing system even though we have rolled out a methodology to sanitise estimated billing, but

the billing is still going on and people are complaining.”

While admitting that it is better to privatise the power sector, he said it is necessary to develop the capacity to regulate the level of customer service.

His words: “For us, it is good to privatise and we are happy to be where we are now, but then, you have to prepare to develop capacity to regulate especially at the level of customer serv-

ice “We have had this for a while now and it happens every year. But this year, we are focusing on thematic areas, we want to identify the areas where we have gaps as a regulator and close up on them through the wealth of experience that we can gain from the Michigan Public Service Commission, which is about 100 years old in operation.

“We are trying to become a world-class regulator and

we can only do that by learning from people that have been there for this long.”

Amadi disclosed that the twinning programme is in its eight edition and it is designed as a vehicle for the exchange of regulatory experience and information between NERC and NARUC. He said the officials are expected to share experiences that would further NERC’s institutional and decisionmaking capacities as regards market-based regulation.

SON to remove unregistered products from markets next month

T

HE Standards Organi sation of Nigeria (SON), said it would start removing all unregistered products from the market by the end of November.

By Toba Agboola

The Director General, Dr Joseph Odumodu, said SON will from next month start removing any product that

• To hold Quality Summit is not registered with it, adding that the new Act of the SON will be out before the end of the year.

He said in line with its plans to ensure standardisation, the body has trained more than 2,000 SMEs op-

erators, adding that SON will soon be empowered to start prosecuting those who are dealing a substandard products.

“The bill is already with the National Assembly. Apart from this, we will be publishing companies which meet standardisation. The agency will do everything to ensure standardisation in this country, “he said.

Also speaking at the event, the President, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce , Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr Ademola Ajayi, said the Organised Private Sector is in support of the SON initiative, adding that the OPS will also lend its input on the bill sent to the National Assembly by the SON. “We are fully in support of your activities and we urge you to please carry on the good work. Infact, we are also working on a bill which has to do with prosecuting those dealing in substandard products. Now that we are aware that you

have sent one to the National Assembly, we will send our own thinking to you,” he said.

Meanwhile, SON said it would host the first Nigeria Quality Summit at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja, next week, with the theme: ‘Less waste, better result: Standards Increase Efficiency.’

The one day event will pull together captains of industries and agencies, as well as Quality Control Directors for the purpose of learning first hand from global authorities and quality assurance leaders from emerging markets.

Experts said if a tenth of Nigeria’s SMEs and conglomerates can learn and apply global standards and become efficient, they would increase productivity, profits, work force and effectively fill the void the current zero-tolerance to substandard goods campaign would create, and take control of the market currently dominated by foreign goods.

Airtel appoints CEOs for Congo, Gabon

A

IRTEL Africa, yester day announced the ap pointment of Louis Lubala and Antoine Pamboro as the new Managing Directors of its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon respectively.

The new development sees the two vastly experienced Airtel top executives, take leadership roles in the two African nations with diverse potential in the telecommunications sector.

Gabon has one of the highest teledensity statistics at over a 100 per cent, whilst Congo, the second largest country in Africa by area, has an approximated 25 per cent penetration.

Speaking on the appointments, Mr. Tiemoko Coulibaly, CEO Francophone Africa, Bharti Airtel, said: “These appointments are a

clear indication of our commitment to appreciate and tap into the deep reservoir of management skills of the blue chip executive pool in Africa. Mr. Luballa and Mr. Pambaro have the requisite experience and leadership skills to successfully steer our top francophone operations.” He added: “Both executives will bring different perspectives to two of Africa’s most dynamic telecommunications markets.”

Louis and Antoine will add significant value to Airtel’s customers in each country, Mr. Luballa will lead an aggressive agenda in DRC to ramp up the organization’s network capabilities and grow availability across the vast country whilst Mr. Pambaro will build a strong data proposition for Airtel’s customers in Gabon.

‘Use budgetary allocation judiciously’

H

OUSE of Representa tives Communica tions Committee has called for appropriate use of budgetary allocations to government agencies, ministries and departments, stressing that such a step could address issues like unemployment.

The Chairman of the committee, Oyetunde Ojo, who led other members to the Lagos Campus of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Oshodi, during the inspection of on-going projects of the Nigerian

By Lucas Ajanaku

Commuincations Commission (NCC), yesterday, said as representatives of the people, it is appropriate that members see what the funds appropriated in the budget are used for.

He said: “The National Assembly appropriates the funds. We must see what the appropriated funds are been used for, because at the end of the day, Nigerians will hold us accountable.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

13

14

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

15

16

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

17

PROPERTY

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

World Habitat Day: Experts push for functional cities

•County Estate in Agege, Lagos State.

Globally, the first Monday of October is celebrated as the World Habitat Day. It’s a day to reflect on the state of towns and cities as well as on the basic right of all to adequate shelter, urban services and movement. The transformation in cities has brought with it several challenges. In some major cities, over 69 per cent of residents live in slums, grappling with poor infrastructure, lack of basic amenities and high cost of funds. Experts have agreed on the need to make the cities functional to act as engines of growth, reports, OKWY IROEGBUCHIKEZIE. •CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

18

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Abuja firm’s luxury flats target NHF depositors

A

PROPERTY developer, Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited, plans to erect blocks of luxury flats under its highbrow ‘Grenadines Home in Lokogoma, in Abuja.

The estate will host five threestorey blocks with 84 units of three-bedroom ensuite luxury flats.

Propertymart’s Abuja Branch Head Adeyemi Adeniyi said the initiative was informed by the need to make housing more affordable to civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who are contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and also entitled to access loans from the scheme.

On costs, he said a three-bedroom unsuited luxury flat would go for N17.5 million, but that its Independence Day promo reduced the price to N14.5 million. The promo, which started last week, is expected to end on November 15.

On mode of payment, Adeniyi said a beneficiary is expected to make a 10 per cent down payment and spread the rest between 18 and 24 months.

He revealed the estate is targeted at NHF contributors, who can access a loan of up to N15 million from the housing finance scheme. According to him, Propertymart is in talks with an Abuja-based Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) to facilitate the mortgage financing of the houses to lucky beneficiaries.

Apart from the blocks of flats, Propertymart is also building for sale homes, such as the four-bedroom terrace house (with a boys’ quarter), four-bedroom semi-detached duplex (also with a boys’ quarter) and five-bedroom fully detached duplex. Some of the

•Grenadines Home, Lokogoma, Abuja.

houses display penthouses with roof-top terraces for relaxation, loft-styled finish, personal car parking, glass curtain walling, jacuzzi and unique colour finishing.

Located in Lokogoma District around the Games Village in Abuja, Grenadines Home Lokogoma sits on a five-hectare stretch of land, with about 2,000 square metres reserved for recreation facilities and open spaces.

The estate will be equipped with facilities, such as swimming pool, gym and lawn tennis court. It is

about 15 minutes’ drive from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and also 15 minutes’ drive from the Central Business District of Abuja. Located in a residential area, it is also about 10 minutes from Shoprite, touted as Africa’s largest shopping mall.

Initiated through a partnership agreement between Propertymart and Omega Homes Limited, the Grenadines Home Lokogoma is targeting the middle and high income class.

The Lagos-based architectural firm of Messrs Play In Architecture

Limited designed the estate and the dwelling units, while Messrs Billing Cost & Associates are quantity surveyors to the project.

On what informed the choice of Abuja for the estate, Adeniyi said: “We want to repeat the same feat we have recorded in the Southwest over the on-going construction of ‘Grenadines Arepo,’ Ogun State, where the civil engineering infrastructure is being handled by the PW Group.

“Apart from desiring quality homes to be delivered at an affordable rate and on time, we want to

stand out in the real estate market and raise the standard being set by developers on construction of housing projects in Abuja.

“The aim is also to advance the economy through real estate.”

According to him, Propertymart nurses an ambition to build more estates in Abuja upon the completion of Grenadines Homes Lokogoma.

He added that other cities being targeted by Propertymart include some unexplored areas in Ogun State, Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Karu in Nasarawa State.

World Habitat Day: Experts push for functional cities •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

T

HE World Habitat Day offers an opportunity for governments to bring to the fore the challenges of millions who live in towns and cities.

It’s a fact that millions of the urban–poor live in slums with little or no access to basic amenities and well below the United Nations-Habitat standard for decent housing.

People live in houses without toilets or in some cases over five people share a toilet and bathroom.

Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola, speaking on this year’s theme, Changing cities; building opportunities, said it aptly described Lagos and the pursuit of his administration to become Africa’s model mega city.

He said positive change could help develop livable cities as engines of growth, which have the capacity to translate into opportunities for a larger number of people to have improved well–being if planned, but if not will result into urban degradation and unemployment.

Fashola said the reality that Lagos would be home to over 25 million people by 2015 challenged his government and stimulated innovative ideas which galvanised their plan to adopt systematic and directional developmental programme.

He, however, agreed that they wouldn’t have done much in creating a livable environment without the cooperation of the people.

On areas his government has worked on to create a livable environment, he listed good road network, construction of the Blue and Red light-rail network, which is progressing at an appreciable pace.

He said the affordable housing

scheme of the government was also geared towards an innovative and sustainable solution to make home ownership accessible to first-time buyers in a livable city.

UN Habitat Programme Manager for Nigeria Mallam Kabir Yari said the day is to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

He said over seven billion people reside on earth with half living in cities, calling on stakeholders to make the earth livable by their actions.

He said the United Nations agency had embarked on pro-poor land and housing programmes in some parts of Lagos, such as Ifako/ Agege, and Jos while engaging in structured planning in Anambra, Nasarawa and Osun states.

He observed that the theme of this year was underscoring the need for our cities to be better planned to avoid chaotic development, urban sprawl and declining economic productivity.

He said: “When cities are well planned, they continue to provide opportunities to the current and future residents. One distinguishing factor of our urban challenge today is that while the urban population continues to grow phenomenally, the supply of natural land is fixed.

“This implies that, despite efforts at creating new sand-filled sites, there is a tendency for the cost to spiral upwards, as the contest for land by competing uses increases.”

Yari advised governments to ensure that, in present and future developments, land is efficiently and effectively utilised in a sustainable manner so that future generations are not denied the benefits and use of land.

•From right: Ayinde, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire, Toyin Ajayi and Jimoh Ajao, at the event

Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr Ladipo Lewis, while commending Lagos for some of its strides on the environment, urged the citizens to be part of the development and obey building

‘When cities are well planned, they continue to provide opportunities to the current and future residents. One distinguishing factor of our urban challenge today is that while the urban population continues to grow phenomenally, the supply of natural land is fixed’

control and planning regulations to have a livable city.

An environmentalist, Uko Umoh, asked governments to use this year’s theme as a guide in their various development plans.

He decried a situation where they allow people to develop houses and then turn around to demolish them, citing non-adherence to planning regulations. He stressed that cities must build opportunities for their residents if not, they would stand the risk of abuse and degradation.

Director-General, Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Mr Bolaji Uthman, urged that historical places in the state should be preserved. He decried the destruction

of such places for newer development, which has no history. He argued that for a city to create opportunity for its residents, it must have a history.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Mr Olutoyin Ayinde said the state has accomplished many development plans, such as the Lekki, Badagry, Ikoyi/Victoria Island, Ikeja, Alimosho and Lagos central master plans, that have made the city livable.

He said the state has continued to experience change and also build opportunities for its residents, which has made it synonymous with the theme of this year’s celebration.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Mali burning

T

Barbaric •Those who killed the four Uniport students for alleged theft must be fished out and punished

T

HE Hobbesian state of nature where life was nasty, brutish and short was reenacted in the Aluu Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State at the weekend when some irritant rabbles in the area killed four students of the University of Port Harcourt. The students were accused of stealing phones and laptops in an off-campus hostel. The students, identified as Lloyd, Tekena, Ugonna and Chidiaka were mercilessly beaten and set ablaze.

The horrendous pictures of the torturing process that the students went through in the hands of the horde, and their eventual being set ablaze are still on the social and print media. The sight is nothing but a barbaric reminder of the abyss into which respect for human lives has sunk in the country. What could have informed the summary trial meted on the students, whether as phones/laptops robbers or even cultists?

We are aware of reports that the community had been disturbed of recent by hoodlums. While it is a good thing that the students, suspected to have committed an offence, were apprehended, it is incomprehensible that they would be so summarily murdered. It is indefensible for any citizen or group of citizens to take laws into their hands by killing others.

Definitely, resorting to barbarity smacks of returning the country to the Stone Age. We consider it a sad de-

velopment that jungle justice could be so meted out in a country that is supposed to be governed by written laws. Sadly too, this gruesome killing must have come to the fore because the affected persons were students.

The phenomenal social media technology actually saved the matter from being swept under the carpet, just as we are sure that there must have been several cases like this that happened in some remote parts of the country that were not reported or made known to the public.

The 1999 Constitution (as amended), being the country’s grundnorm, is quite explicit in section 33 (1) where it provides for respect of right to life of Nigerians. Though the constitution provides for situations where human lives could be lawfully terminated, we are cocksure that jungle justice is not one of those few provisos vitiating respect for preservation of life.

This is why the murderous act of the Aluu community mob is condemned for denigrating civilised values and for bringing global opprobrium unto the nation. The outrage that the incident has generated should be of tremendous concern to the authorities, especially when not too long ago, 44 students were murdered for inexplicable reasons in Mubi, Adamawa State. Our government should not be seen to be watching helplessly as lives are being wantonly destroyed by outlaws.

The security agencies must swing into action and ensure that those involved in the Aluu killings are fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law. The public wants to see whether the end of justice would be met so as to serve as deterrence to others thinking along that line. Such primitive thoughts should be perished once and for all in the country.

Nigeria should not be governed by the whims and caprices of mobs or any outlaw group; rather, the nation should be governed by written laws and guided by civilised standards.

We say no to this inhuman extra-legal capital punishment.

‘The outrage that the incident has generated should be of tremendous concern to the authorities, especially when not too long ago, 44 students were murdered for inexplicable reasons in Mubi, Adamawa State ... The security agencies must swing into action and ensure that those involved in the Aluu killings are fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law’

A troubled mill •The famous Abakaliki Rice Mill is embroiled in a crisis of change. Government must show wisdom HANGE is the only constant in life and it will come when it will. This may well be the story of the 45year-old Abakaliki Rice Mill (ARM), perhaps the most important heritage and landmark of Abakaliki, the capital of the Southeast state of Ebonyi. In an age when local agro-industries are a rarity and more than 90 per cent of rice consumed in Nigeria is imported from the far corners of eastern Asia, ARM is at worst an oddity and at best, a testimony to a people’s resilience and tenacity to hold dear, to their traditional source of livelihood and way of life.

The collection of the semi-manual old mills where the well-known local rice which takes its name from the town, is

C

‘Care must also be taken to protect jobs, especially the menial ones which provide daily sustenance to hundreds of people. On their part, the millers must be ready to embrace change and the modern ways of producing rice. All said, if the idea of the new mills is to improve the process and enhance the earnings and economy of the state, then the people need not be victims of this change. On the other hand, they should be happy beneficiaries’

produced, is currently a subject of relocation brouhaha between the throng of millers and the Ebonyi State Government.

At issue is that the Rice Millers of Abakaliki have been put on notice to relocate. Their current location on Gunning Road, Abakaliki is right in the centre of town. It is indeed just a shout away from the Government House.

According to state government sources, they are to move to purpose-built sites in Iboko, Ikwo and Oso-Eddah, one each in the three senatorial zones of the state.

The three rice mill clusters are equipped with modern mills as can be found in Thailand and Indonesia, and accordingly, are furnished with facilities for storage and waste management, among others. Said to have been built by a Japanese firm, it is a joint project between the state and federal governments.

Yet the major millers on Gunning Street are kicking. They would not want to leave their old locale where they had operated from for nearly half a century; not even for the new ‘paradise’. They are afraid the government wants to grab their prime land for which they have statutory ownership. In fact, they have dragged the state government to court to assert their right to stay put on their property. They are also worried that most of their members would lose their source of subsistent livelihood in the course of the relocation.

The state government on the other hand, is wary of the environmental

hazards of dust and heaps of rice husks on the city. Decades-old mountains of husk is said to pose serious health risks which has moved the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to start working out ways to convert the waste from rice to electricity.

Government also avers that apart from the environmental factor which has been taken care of at the new sites, it wishes to kick start a modern rice industry in the state that would produce the essential staple, not just for the state but for distribution nationwide, as part of the Federal Government’s programme to cut down on rice importation.

While we think the Ebonyi State Government is set on to a wonderful journey, we urge it to preface the move with deep reflection and perspicacity. It must work closely with the current rice producers and douse their fears about any collateral losses that may arise in the course of the transition. The millers need not lose their rightful tenancy of the current location they operate from.

Care must also be taken to protect jobs, especially the menial ones which provide daily sustenance to hundreds of people. On their part, the millers must be ready to embrace change and the modern ways of producing rice. All said, if the idea of the new mills is to improve the process and enhance the earnings and economy of the state, then the people need not be victims of this change. On the other hand, they should be happy beneficiaries. And the only way to do that is to carry them along.

HE REPORTS OUT of northern Mali are more appalling by the day. A vast, arid swath of Africa has fallen under the control of radical Islamists who are imposing a strict form of sharia and building a new stronghold for al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. As punishment for robbery, the Islamists have hacked off people’s hands and feet. A man told the Economist that the top of his ear was sliced off for smoking. “For drinking, they cut off your head,” he said.

The radical Islamists have also destroyed ancient landmarks in the north and become entrenched in an area larger than France or Texas. Two groups affiliated with al-Qaeda have carved it up among themselves, controlling Timbuktu and Gao. What they will do with this prize is anyone’s guess, but it seems likely to become a bastion for extremists to train and thrive with impunity.

There has been no shortage of alarms. “We have to act as quickly as possible,” France’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gerard Araud, said Thursday. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said last month, “We all know too well what is happening in Mali, and the incredible danger posed by violent extremists imposing their brutal ideology, committing human rights abuses, destroying irreplaceable cultural heritage.” She called Mali “a powder keg that the international community cannot afford to ignore.”

But the international community is once again slow to act. Granted, the central government in the capital, Bamako, is weak and disorganized. The democratically elected government was overthrown in March, followed by seizure of the north by ethnic Tuareg rebels, who were then rapidly displaced by the Islamists. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has asked the Security Council to authorize military intervention to oust the Islamists, but so far the council has demanded more details. Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, said last month that “the one course of action that we are not considering is U.S. boots on the ground in Mali.”

Short of boots on the ground, however, more can and should be done. The collapse of landlocked Mali into another unhinged, failed state will threaten the region. The country must resolve ethnic grievances, hold elections, and reestablish the defense and security forces. But that is a tall order that takes time. The United States has called for appointment of a special U.N. envoy and creation of a diplomatic core group. France is circulating a draft U.N. resolution that would step up pressure on Mali and its African neighbors to agree quickly on a workable military plan. Eventually, the use of force will probably be necessary, but any ECOWAS intervention will need U.N. backing and support.

Talk of a powder keg needs to be translated into concrete moves before Mali becomes a new Somalia or Afghanistan.

– Washington Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso

•Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

•Chairman,Editorial Board • Executive Director Sam Omatseye (Finance & Administration) •General Editor Ade Odunewu Kunle Fagbemi • Gen. Manager •Editor Online (Training and Development) Lekan Otufodunrin Soji Omotunde •Managing Editor Northern Operation •Chief Internal Auditor Yusuf Alli Toke Folorunsho •Managing Editor • Senior Manager (Sales) Waheed Odusile Akeem Shoge •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •Deputy Editor (News) •IT Manager Niyi Adesina Bolarinwa Meekness •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Manager, Corporate Marketing •Sport Editor Hameed Odejayi Ade Ojeikere •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu

• Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: If we don’t forget yesterday’s quarrel, we shall have nobody to play with.

The book–There was a country that the respected and popular authorChinua Achebe just released is uncalled for, unnecessary and illtimed. As a respected Nigerian and an elder statesman, Chinua Achebe should not have released the book at all.

The civil war has come and gone and I believe Nigeria as country has learnt her lessons. We know what happened then and even the youths do not pray for that to repeat itself again.

I am happy that the Igbo have since recovered from the war. They have businesses that are doing well all over the country. There is no where you will not find Igbo people doing what they know how to do best.

Contrary to Professor Achebe’s claim of Igbo backwardness after the civil war, Igbo people have occupied many top positions in Nigeria.

For instance, Dr Alex Ekwueme

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Achebe: Let the sleeping dog lie was the Vice President between 1979 and 1983; late Evan Enwerem, late Chuba Okadigbo, Adolphus Wabara and Anyim Pius Ayim have all tasted the goodies as Senate President. Charles Soludo, an Igbo man also occupied the office of CBN governor.

Ogbona Onovo once occupied the office of Inspector General of Police. Professor Maurice Iwu, former INEC chairman is a true son of Igbo.

This is just to mention a few among many top positions that the Igbos have held.

That is why I think it is unneces-

sary for Achebe to have released the controversial book now. The Awolowo he was blaming for Igbo predicament during and after the civil war is no more. The man who surrendered on behalf of Biafran nation, Lt. Col. Philip Effiong is no more. The Eze Igbo Gburugburu, the Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is no more.

So, why blame those that are not around to defend themselves?

Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who is still alive is old and leads “Nigeria Prays” because he appreciates that Nigeria really need prayers.

I call on Papa Achebe and other Igbo people to let their wounds heal. Instead or writing what will fuel enmity between Nigerians, I call on Pa Achebe and other Nigerians to write more on what will unite Nigerians.

We must pull together to overcome our present challenge which is the Boko Haram. Let’s put civil war experience behind us because united we stand, divided we fall.

As General Yakubu Gowon proclaimed after the civil war: “No victor No vanquished.

•Ajiboye John Tosin Osogbo Osun State

Amosun and Ogun Labour House

S

IR: I watched the news of the commissioning of the first ultra-modern secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ogun State chapter, on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) network news on October 1, by the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Upon further enquiries, I realised that the governor played a major role in the construction of that very first edifice of the labour movement in Ogun State.

As an ex-labour leader, I felt par-

ticularly elated by the kind gesture of the governor. For me that was the only public event that made the National Day celebration worth its while.

Not many actually understand that both Labour and government are partners in progress and that any investment by the latter on the former will only foster better employer-employees relationship, increase productivity of workers, all in the overall interest of the entire citizenry.

Senator Amosun had reportedly

said during the electioneering campaign in 2011 that he would help NLC with a new secretariat if its members gave their support to him in the election.

The fulfilment of this promise is an eloquent testimony to the credibility of Governor Amosun.

How often do many of our politicians renege on their promises after getting to power!

I commend Amosun not just for supporting Labour with this very first modern edifice in Ogun State but his commitment to payment of

salaries of workers as and when due since his inauguration in May, 2011.

Finally, I appeal to the governor to clear the arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities owed workers by the immediate past administration.

I know he inherited a lot of debt and has cleared some of the backlogs of salaries owed workers by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, but he should do more.

•Alhaji Lateef Ogunlana, Ilaro, Ogun State

Kudos to Yuguda

S

IR: I wish to express my appreciation to His Excellency Governor (Dr.) Mallam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State for the appointment of Maigari Khanna as the Sole Administrator and his subsequent posting to Shira Local Government. The appointment signifies the resolve of Governor Yuguda to work with serious people who will assist him in moving the state to greater heights. The appointment is one of the best that deserves a special mention and recommendation since the inception of the present administration in Bauchi State. This is because he possesses all the attributes that make a good public officeholder.

He is generally considered as a man with purpose and foresight, a mentor of men and women, a man who has inspired youth and humanity, a dynamic Nigerian and advocate for justice, consummate administrator and revolutionary politician.

Khanna is indeed the kind of person needed in any position of trust and leadership.

The civic reception organized by the people of Shira Local Government to honour their worthy son shortly after he was sworn-in into office attested more about his leadership qualities, credibility and integrity; those who spoke about his character and attitude describe Khanna as hardworking, brave, transparent, honest, resourceful and flexible.

Maigari Khana deserves much more than accolades; he deserves cooperation and support.

• John Akevi Bauchi

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

21

COMMENTS

C

R

AVEAT Emptor: the title of this with a ceremonial presidency. piece, after John Milton’s Samson If the January 1966 coup threatAgonistes, takes nothing from ened this delicate cohabitation, Prof. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, the post-coup taunts sent the without doubt Africa’s most popular novHausa-Fulani hegemony into elist. It is only to get into the genre of blind panic, realising their loss literary-powered political forays, as the of power might just be the loss literary giant first did in his The Trouble of everything. That drove the with Nigeria (1983); and now, with his counter-coup, which drove the Olakunle newly released Nigerian Civil War Civil War. So, whereas the Civil (1967-1970) memoirs, There was a Counlordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola War was sold as a patriotic entry. deavour to keep Nigeria one, it Both express Achebe’s long running was actually a northern plot to agony on how Nigeria savagely did in – consolidate federal power, if not and, in his fervent view, continues to do by the ballot box, then by the in – his native Igbo people. In the bullet. professor’s cosmos of demons, as far as Nigeria’s sad narraa bid to sustain the criminal annulment of the 12 June 1993 presiIn Things Fall Apart and its tragedy, Achebe created the Okonkwo tive is concerned, the Hausa-Fulani post-colonial empire builddential election that MKO Abiola won and for which cause he lost complex: that brash penchant to rush at a problem (consequences ers run neck-on-neck with their Yoruba co-conspirators, in an his life. Chukwumerije’s orchestrated threats and war drums sent be damned!), even if you were not in full control. As Okonkwo unconscionable bid to crush the Igbo. the Igbo scuttling across the Niger. And didn’t the late Ikemba rushed to his doom, many blamed Emeka Ojukwu for “rushAnd in the hottest part of this Achebe hell reigns Obafemi Nnewihimself gloat that his Abacha-era National Constitutional ing” headlong to war; and committing his people – as if many in Awolowo, in Achebe’s view, the Igbo Enemy No. 1. Though Conference “mandate” was superior to MKO’s presidential man- his shoes, under those circumstances, would have done otherChief Awolowo has been resting with his creator for some 25 date? wise. years now (leaving behind his profound thinking and winAlso, witness: the scandalous over-voting in the South East, in But so did Achebe, Okonkwo’s literary creator, in a stunning ning developmental ideas to rattle and dazzle a stiff-necked the southern electoral conspiracy to crown Goodluck Jonathan at case of life following art. Unlike Wole Soyinka who tried to Nigeria), the literature professor’s enduring clinical hate for, all cost; and give the Hausa-Fulani hegemony its comeuppance! explore a “third force” (neither Igbo secession nor northern and analytical prejudice against the Awo persona would apIn all of these, where fits in Achebe’s emotive tale of the Igbo as unification farce) to checkmate the war, and paid a hefty price of pear undiminished, the stuff of which professorial spite is perpetual victim, always sinned against but never sinning, to 22 months in solitary detention in a Lagos gulag, Achebe jumped made. borrow a phrase from Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles? into the war, on his native Biafra side, as war ambassador.

That was clear from Achebe’s The Trouble with Nigeria. It is Still on the Civil War: it was one mass slaughter to be decried, Unlike Ojukwu however, Achebe emerged from the war with reinforced in There was a Country; at least from the excerpts no doubt. But before that war, was the first coup (15 January 1966); an eternally poisoned psyche. That would explain his wild released by Penguin, the book’s publishers; and published in where the idealism of Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, and his charges against Awo as Igbo Enemy No. 1; and even wilder The Guardian of London, in which Prof. Achebe literally fellow braves badly miscarried. Then came the counter-coup (29 charges against the Yoruba as stoutest obstacles against Igbo canonisedAwo as the philosophical king of Nigeria’s post-inJuly 1966). success in Nigeria. dependence systemic and systematic crushing of the Igbo.

But in-between the two coups were the pogroms, the mass murThe Yoruba, with their Afenifere (live and let live) credo, have Yet, wild or jaundiced, Prof. Achebe has his points, particuder of the Igbo in the North, that turned the Thomas Aguiyi- more productive things to do than mount themselves as blocks larly in the sickening festival of mutual hurts – and hate – that Ironsi government a nightmare. against other people’s success; even if, to be fair, there is a great is the story of Nigeria.

The pogroms triggered the war, which was just as well – for deal of rivalry between the two peoples, as is to be expected in To be sure, the Civil War (1967) was an unconscionable whichever people would fold their arms and swallow the brazen a federation. gang-up against the Igbo by the rest of Nigeria. But so was the elimination of their kind, without lifting a finger? But something The Civil War and its heart-rending horror and bitter afterJune 12 annulment crisis (1993): a pan-Nigeria gang-up against else also triggered the pogroms: provocative Igbo youths taunt- taste resulted from serial errors for which everyone is today a the Yoruba. The Goodluck Jonathan opportunistic abridgeing Kaduna locals over the killing of the Sardauna, Alhaji Ahmadu victim. Explosive and insensitive comments in There was a Counment of the zoning policy; and his resultant “pan-Nigeria Bello, and other northern leaders in the first coup. mandate [as Ripples put in a previous piece] of Southern NigeOf course, at independence (no thanks to British perfidy) was an try, therefore, are highfalutin distractions (with literary licence ria and the Middle Belt” (2011) was a pan-Nigeria gang-up uneasy North-East power cohabitation, which left the North that to boot!) that do no one no good.

Even if Nigeria breaks up today, peoples of the former terriagainst the political North. Again, as Ripples earlier put it, worked least for independence, in the power cockpit; but which Nigerians at crucial junctures in their history, always band nevertheless rewarded Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s nationalist strivings tory would still find ways of relating with themselves – after all, that Yugoslavia is defunct does not automatically raze Serbs, together for injustice to inflict pains on the section at the reand the rest from the face of the earth. So, why is Achebe, “The trouble with Achebe, like his Croats ceiving end.

81, using yesterday’s hurt to poison the well for tomorrow’s While the East was at the receiving end during the Civil Trouble with Nigeria, is his unrelieved generation?

War, there is nothing to suggest that a section of the Igbo, The trouble with Achebe, like his Trouble with Nigeria, is his Prof. Achebe’s perpetual “victims”, did not merrily join the bigotry against others, ironically served unrelieved bigotry against others, ironically served as red hot pan-Nigeria gang-up against the Yoruba on June 12; and against as red hot jeremiad, protesting anti- jeremiad, protesting anti-Igbo bigotry. the political North in 2011.

That is the story of his just released bitter Civil War memoir.

Witness: the Uche Chukwumerije (now a senator of the FedIgbo bigotry.”

It is a most dangerous distraction. eral Republic) Goebbels show for Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in

J

epublican ipples

UST as rows between the executive and the National Assembly over budgets have become a permanent fixture of the nation’s experience, it is fairly easy to spot the contrived nature of the latest row now on the verge of being escalated. That the National Assembly is again hinting at a showdown with the executive over the shape and size Budget 2013 clearly suggest that the issues involved in the division are far more intricate, or rather deeper, than the parties would let Nigerians into. After all, it is barely two months since the Lower House threatened President Goodluck Jonathan with the sword of impeachment over an alleged failure to implement Budget 2012.

Whereas the bone of contention last time was the performance of the budget, this time, the disagreement centres on the basis of revenue estimates – the reference benchmark price for the nation’s crude to be used in the formulation of Budget 2013. The executive is said to have set the price at $75 a barrel –consistent with its 2013-15 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy, whereas the lawmakers prefer the higher price of $82 a barrel as part of its plans to reduce the budget deficit.

The more I reflect on the tango, the more I am reminded of the story of husband and wife locked in a feud. While both partners admit to the raging low-intensity war; however, the matter of the casus belli, being matters behind drawn curtains, would remain a guarded secret!

It does not matter that the ordinary citizens, on whose behalf the whole theatricals are being staged, are for all intents and purposes, unknown quantities in the equation.

Indeed, by the time the whole brouhaha is stripped of the pretences and the attendant grandstanding, the issues underlying the feud comes to nothing on substantive matters of governance – the very things that are supposed to count.

Not that the unfolding drama does not have a comical side to it. Courtesy of the impeachment axe dangled by the lawmakers in August, the budget implementation is believed to have gone some notches up – with the finance ministry reportedly turning on the treasury tap with capital releases to Ministries, Departments and Agencies in deference to the threat. However, while the degree of implementation remains a subject of guesstimates, the question of why the funds were held up in the first place has not quite been sufficiently addressed by the finance ministry.

That obviously would have to wait – that is if it will ever get attention.

For the Presidency, the dividend has come by way of the latest mantra: the mantra of performance contracts for ministers and other strategic officials of government. This is what the lack-lustre administration appears to have hung its new activism. Added to this is the fad –road shows mounted by ministers and heads of parastatals to announce commitments to timelines and specific deliverables in the budgets they formulated in the first place!

Of course, it seems unlikely that the angers of the Reps

Albert agonistes

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Why some things can’t change spoiling for war over perceived poor budget implementation of Budget 2012 would be doused permanently anytime soon.

In the first place, the field reports from its oversight activities would seem to suggest that the rosy picture of implementation painted by the executive is not exactly correct. Indeed, Abdulmumin Jubrin, the Chairman of the House Committee stated that much when he reportedly told the duo of Yerima Ngama and Bright Okogwu, the Minister of State for Finance and Director-General of the Budget Office penultimate week that the degree of implementation remained “dismal”. Second reason is the status of the pork said to have been built into the budget by the lawmakers which Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described as the fuel feeding the lawmakers fury. See why the lawmakers cannot but be angry?

What we are seeing would seem a case of the lawmakers bidding their time with the benchmark price of crude assumed in Budget 2013 supplying the perfect foil. Whereas the executive wants the 2012 benchmark crude price of $75 per barrel retained, the lawmakers have since reasoned that a higher price of $82 would be desirable.

Of course, the argument has long endured – and I agree to an extent – that a conservative benchmark price makes sense given the potential volatility of oil prices and the need to insulate the budgetary process from its possible shocks.

The arguments of the lawmakers in favour of higher benchmark price are, without question, no less persuasive.

Adopting the higher price means hiking the federally collectable revenue to N7.9 trillion from the N7.3 trillion figures of 2012. Aside translating to a federal government share of N4.137 trillion, the case of the hike would be better appreciated when it is realised that the 2013 Budget has an in-built deficit in excess of N1.3 trillion. Need I add that higher revenue figures portend good for the pork described as constituency projects?

The old illusions are, no doubt, back. I refer here to the illusion

that more cash in the coffers would somehow translate to better budget performance. This is where, in my view, the lawmakers erred tragically. They want more cash, no doubt; the pertinent question however is – more cash, for what?

Let me be clear, I have argued on this page that there is no way meaningful development can be achieved without bold and equally ambitious programmes of public expenditure, particularly in upgrading the enablers of the real sector. Just as it seems clear to me that the problem isn’t so much about what gets spent but the question of the value delivered in the end, it is even clearer that the posturing by the lawmakers over a patently flawed budgetting system is unhelpful.

Isn’t it amazing that the lawmakers cannot appreciate this elementary point – that for every naira spent to deliver on capital projects, the federal government currently spends thrice the amount to service the running of the bureaucracy and the allied infrastructure of governance? Are we ever going to address the question of how the bureaucracy’s cart has come to drag the nation’s development horse?

I must also state that the posturing of the executive is no less hollow. Apparently, it seems in order that the federal government would continually impose the so-called benchmark price by fiat and without the concurrence of state governments – co-beneficiaries from the consolidated fund.

And while it suits it, it mounts the high streets with its vacuous preachments on frugality even when – as the example of the illegal subsidy payments does show – it is not exactly averse to unilaterally dipping its itchy fingers into the piggy bank called the excess crude account.

I guess it’s time someone out there educate the rest of us on what makes the federal government believe that it has exclusive preserve of common sense. I suppose the same goes for the need for reconsideration of the basis on which the socalled funds are shared by the two-tiers of government. By the way, where are the federalists?

‘Isn’t it amazing that the lawmakers cannot appreciate this elementary point – that for every naira spent to deliver on capital projects, the federal government currently spends thrice the amount to service the running of the bureaucracy and the allied infrastructure of governance? Are we ever going to address the question of how the bureaucracy’s cart has come to drag the nation’s development horse?’

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

22

COMMENTS

W

ORLD acclaimed literary giant and celebrated novelist Professor Chinua Achebe was at his controversial best

last week. In his attempt to reopen the debate on the role of Nigeria’s war time leader, General Yakubu Gowon and his Finance Minister Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the 30-month civil war especially as directed towards Biafra, the literary icon let slip, once again, his hatred for those he perceived to be enemies of Biafra.

His selective perception of events of that unfortunate period in Nigeria’s history and the principal actors that helped shape them left one in no doubt that our dear Prof is more than ever prepared to not only drag us back to those bad and dark old days, but also sow the seed of discord and most likely hatred, between Yoruba and Ndigbo.

To continue to blame Awolowo for some of the policies, (economic and political) of the Gowon Federal Government during and after the war, as they affected Biafra, especially from a jaundiced point of view will do nothing to enhance the policy of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconsstruction that Nigeria introduced after the war.

History is good to the extent of serving as a useful guide to the future but when those who chose to write history decided to suppress some facts in order to justify their positions, then the generation reading that history will certainly be in trouble. That society, to the extent of relying on that history, is doomed.

It is not in my position to speak for Chief Awolowo. The late sage had answered all allegation relating to his role as a member of the Federal Executive Council during the war, at a town hall meeting he had in Abeokuta in 1983 so those who would like to blame the Yoruba or Chief Awolowo for the misfortune of Ndigbo in Nigeria should look in the mirror. Where else in Nigeria outside Biafra, were Ibos allowed to take back their properties after the war, apart from Yoruba land? Where else have Ibos prospered more outside the south east if not Yoruba land? Of all the ethnic crises that have been bedeviling Nigeria since after the civil war was there a time Ibos were targeted or sent out of Yoruba land?

Those fanning the embers of ethnic division in this country or revisiting/rewriting history for selfish purpose had better be careful lest they get consumed in the inferno that could follow.

Pray, what purpose is this Achebe’s history of the Nigeria civil war so to speak, suppose to serve especially now that Ndigbo is trying to

W

OULD a Director General wilfully disregard the directive of the nation’s chief law officer without any consequence? Or, should a lawyer flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order barring the agency he heads from any such act by despatching his men to raid such a body corporate? These posers would form the basis of this discourse. But first, a brief background to what has become a titanic rivalry between a government regulatory agency and a private organization within the same sphere of influence.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, came into being with the promulgation in 1988 of the Copyright Decree (No. 47) of that year. The Decree was re-designated the Copyright Act in Cap 68 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 and amended by the Copyright Act (Amendment) Decree (No. 98) of 1992. The Act makes provision for “the definition, protection, transfer, infringement of, and remedy and penalty thereof, of the copyright in literary works, musical works, artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings, broadcast and other ancillary matters”.

The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria, MCSN, on the other hand was set up in 1984 to take over the responsibilities of Performing Rights Society, PRS and Musical Copyright Protection Society, MCPS both of the United Kingdom as they divested from Nigeria. Prior to this, most Nigerian composers and authors were registered with them for the collection and distribution of performing and mechanical rights in musical works.

While many Nigerian creators transferred to MCSN, others remained with both PRS and MCPS. This prompted MCSN to enter into reciprocal representation contracts with them by which it (MCSN) became vested with the copyright in virtually the entire repertoire of copyright music in Nigeria.

Also, MCSN has reciprocal representation arrangement with SACEM of France, ASCAP of USA, whereby it represents their interests in Nigeria and vice versa. It is a full member of La Confederation Internationale Societies des Auteurs et Compositors, CISAC, (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), the International Bureau of Organizations Managing Mechanical Reproduction Rights, BIEM and affiliated to

Rewriting history court Yoruba in their quest to assume Nigeria’a presidency in 2015. It is possible to want to explain Achebe’s position away as that of a maverick, but if indeed he is, he is one maverick with gravitas. It would be foolish and dangerous to ignore him. If only Biafran leader, Colonel Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had written that book on the civil war that we all expected from him before he died, may be the issue of who did what during the war would have been put to rest and we wouldn’t be having jaundiced history of the war. But come to think of it, would Ojukwu’s account of the war have settled the controversy? I don’t think so. May be is good he took his memoirs to his grave. Sadly, we will never know.

45 and above

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is running against time to ensure that all Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia make it to the holy land before the closure of the Saudi airspace on October 20.

The commission has 11 days from today to accomplish the airlift and the omen looks good for now following the resolution of the row between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia over the participation of some unaccompanied Nigeria female pilgrims in the hajj.

As you are probably aware the Saudis turned back some of our women from the hajj on the ground of not being accompanied by male guardian or Muharram as stipulated by Islam.

After much diplomatic verbal boxing between both countries, the matter has now been resolved but only those among the women that are above 45 years were given the green light to come for the hajj by the Saudis. Any one below that age will have to produce her Muharram which in this case could be NAHCON. As you read this, the airlift has resumed and normal services restored so to speak.

Following my position: ‘That hajj humiliation’ last week on this page, a lot of you readers out there have been sending your responses, they were quite interesting. While I fully support any effort aimed at sanitizing hajj operations in Nigeria, NAHCON should not be spared as the main body in charge of Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in Nigeria. There are so many sharp practices going on there, especially in the appointment of airlines and tour operators for international pilgrims. Some airlines are fond of abandoning their passengers in Jeddah after the hajj, leaving them at the mercy of the Saudis only to be evacuated by NAHCON or even the presidency using other more efficient airlines. The case of some of the tour operators is even worse, they often times leave their pilgrims to fend for themselves, providing no accommodation for them and yet have been paid for this. The federal government should look into issues like these including the kind accommodation the Saudis give to our pilgrims in Mina where all pilgrims are expected to spend a minimum of three nights under tent as part of the hajj rites. Some of these tents are horrible and their condition worsened by the dirty attitude of some of our pilgrims. Things like this tell negatively on our image over there. Nigeria should look into this.

Here are a few of your views.

Sanitize hajj operation Salam. I read your sincere and frank opinion on the harsh treatment meted to Nigerian females on Holy Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Well, when I learnt about the incident I was happy because I felt, perhaps, the Saudi Authorities wanted to sanitize the system.

Since I went on Hajj in 1995, when I learnt that Muslim women on Hajj are expected to be accompanied by Muharram, I often wonder why our Muslim leaders are flouting this in-

junction. I became more disturbed when I experienced first hand, what these-so-called female pilgrims do while in the holy land.

Many marriages have been dissolved because of illicit affairs which have their roots in Saudi Arabia, just because the female went unaccompanied. The term ‘Alarafa Mi’ is one of the expressions commonly used by these pilgrims.

In order to avoid this kind of ‘humiliation’ in future, Aminu Tambuwal and other Nigerian Muslim leaders must sit down, guided by what the Quran and Hadith say, and sanitize the hajj operations in the country.

Those who have no duty performing hajj should henceforth not be allowed to even get near hajj camps not to talk of being in the holy land. They (Muslim leaders) must be prepared to leave the system better than they met it.

Thank you once again for your frank ‘talk’.

More ink to your pen. From Sulaiman Olagunju.

Tell them Salam, may Almighty ALLAH (SWT), grant you his mercies, protection, guidance and the wherewithal to continue telling the facts to those destined to hear and heed to them. Amen.

Expecting part 2 of “THAT HAJJ HUMILIATION”, GOD BLESS. From Shehu A. Hassan (Giginyu Quarters, Kano State).

Mistresses?

Could the humiliation have something to do with the fact that some of the women who go there end up becoming mistresses to Saudi men among other activities that make them not to return to Nigeria after the Hajj. I know of two of such cases, both of them married, one a pilgrim from Jos, another from Kebbi State.

It could be a moral thing. I am sure the Saudis need the money that genuine Nigerian pilgrims provide to the local economy during their stay.

Anonymous Cheap sex There is no humiliation in this matter of Hajj.

The rules of the holy pilgrimage are clear and no breach must be tolerated. I know not a few who made quick money prostituting during hajj. Some Arab men have very little self control and would easily fall prey to relatively cheap sex. Anonymous Good job Nice column today, Waheed. Very enlightening. Good job. But what kind of ‘immoral’ activities are you talking about? Why didn’t you explain? Anonymous

Copyright Commission and impunity

By Sammy Johnson 225 societies in 118 countries.

MCSN thus predates the establishment of the copyright commission and the expectation was that both would work together to create a robust copyright system in the country. After all, the government regulatory agency was just starting out and with MCSN already on ground, a symbiotic relationship was all that was needed to expand the frontiers of copyright for the benefit of musicians, authors and publishers. Sadly, the commission shut out MCSN from its radar once it took off, choosing instead to midwife a brand new organization, called Performing Mechanical Rights Society, PMRS, which morphed into today’s Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, licensed as “government sole collecting society”. Meanwhile, MCSN’s application for approval as a collecting society was rejected! Why the pioneer DirectorGeneral of the commission (and others that followed) could not license two collecting societies to pave the way for the liberalisation of the sector and create choice for stakeholders is still a matter of conjecture. Refused approval by the commission, MCSN was either to atrophy or seek life support. It thus instituted a series of court cases against the commission many of which it won giving it the leeway to operate as owner, assignee and exclusive licensee.

But the commission has refused to recognise the court rulings and would rather abate the infringement of MCSN’s works by writing to corporate pirates not to pay royalties to its rightful owner because it “is not approved as a collecting society”. This has crippled the administration of copyright in Nigeria since its “sole collecting society” does not own the works it was officially licensed to collect from! And the petitions to the commission

by MCSN are treated with levity. That was until the current Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, waded in.

Initially, he referred the dispute between MCSN and the commission to the World In-

tellectual Property Organization, WIPO, for mediation. But in a letter to MCSN dated August 10, 2011 discontinuing the process and signed by the current Director-General, Afam Ezekude, the minister directed that “both parties be advised to seek judicial resolution to the issues in dispute by pursuing on-going suits instituted at the Federal High Court.

Parties are further advised to refrain from taking any action which is capable of undermining the judiciary and to ensure respect for and observance of the law”.

A few days after, one of the pending cases instituted by MCSN against the commission for the enforcement of its fundamental human rights occasioned by the raid and arrest of its chief executive with another staff, as well as the removal from the office of files and essential equipment in 2007, came up for ruling.

In his landmark judgment on August 25, 2011, Justice Archibong of the Federal High Court Lagos, was unequivocal when he said: “The first Respondent (Copyright Commission) has failed to acknowledge, appreciate, or welcome the notion and reality that owners and assignees of copyright can enforce property rights without necessarily being registered as a collecting society by the copyright commission. registration as a collecting society is not a prerequisite for the enjoyment and exercise of rights of an owner or exclusive licensee of copyright”.

He had then pronounced: “Nothing in the Copyright Act denies the owner, the assignee or the exclusive licensee of a copyright the right to collect royalties for the performance of their works in public or to transact commercially with anybody in respect of such works or appoint agents to claim and enforce directly their rights under Section 6 of the Copyright Act and I so hold. The offence of purporting to perform the duties of a society without the approval of the copyright commission created by Section 39 of the Copyright Act cannot and does not relate to the activities of owners, assignees and exclusive licensees of copyright and I so hold”.

The judge further clamped a Garnishee or-

der of N40 million against the commission for damages with the specific order for the applicants: “not to be arrested or further arrested or detained by the respondent or any of its officers, or agents unless a proper and complete investigation has been carried out and the applicants are reasonably suspected to be guilty of a criminal offence”.

But on September 18, officials of the commission raided MCSN again, this time arresting five staffers who were detained for two days and carted away files and computer units.

In a statement justifying the action, Nseabasi Ukagwu, of the Public Affairs Unit of the Commission stated: “The operation was carried out following information that the said MCSN was performing the duties of a collecting society without the approval of NCC”. And it relied on a 2010 judgment which is on appeal at the Supreme Court by MCSN between it and an alleged infringer, not the commission as basis for the action.

Pray, what about the subsisting court order of 2011? Is it a question of selective adherence to judgments?

• Johnson, a public affairs analyst wrote from Abuja.

The judge further clamped a Garnishee order of N40 million against the commission for damages with the specific order for the applicants: “not to be arrested or further arrested or detained by the respondent or any of its officers, or agents unless a proper and complete investigation has been carried out and the applicants are reasonably suspected to be guilty of a criminal offence”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

23

24

NATIONSPORT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

41

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Anichebe holds Everton’s substitute record

N

O EVERTON player has made more substitute appearances than Victor Chinedu Anichebe, sportsrollcall.com has reliably gathered.

The Nigeria striker has played 108 times for the Toffees, with 99 of those occasions as a substitute since breaking into the main team from the fabled Everton academy in the 2005-2006 season.

What is more surprising is that David Moyes has never considered sending the 24-year-old on loan for a regular first-team action, but, unfortunately, the main reason undoubtedly surrounds the Nigerian's woeful injury record, with knees like Ledley King's it goes without saying that he's spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. His lengthy spells on the sidelines are unfortunately a common and familiar theme at the club, which means Moyes is always reluctant to allow any transfers even on loan that will see his squad depleted further.

He seems incapable of escaping the void that exists on the fringes of the firstteam, destined to fall further down the pecking order as Moyes continues to strengthen his frontline.

A loan stint at Hull was a genuine possibility back in 2009 before Moyes pulled the plug when he realised he would be unable to bring in reinforcements. Anichebe made his frustration and disappointment very public, which further restricted his already limited number of appearances.

Fast forward to the present day though and his career finally appears to be sparking into life, aided by the current

NIGERIA VS LIBERIA

Victory will be my birthday gift — Musa

injury status of Nikica Jelavic and the recent departures of both Louis Saha and Tim Cahill.

It's remarkable to think Anichebe is still considered an 'exciting prospect' in the Everton side despite the fact he's 24 years old. His performances still echo that sense of youthful exuberance, as he constantly badgers defenders and chases every loose ball. There are very rare glimpses of a player capable of emulating Didier Drogba, before that image is tainted by the naivety of a 'boy' who has never enjoyed a prolonged run of games in the starting XI. The Nigeria international who has already netted twice for the Toffees this season, will hope he can continue to imitate team-mate Marouane Fellaini's ability to impose himself in the final third of the pitch. The fact that he has spoken of his desire to remain injuryfree this season highlights his eagerness to finally make an impression on the Premier league. The club must be hoping to learn from his stop-start career and finally reap the rewards of a player they've left lingering in the background for far too long.

N

•Emenike

2012 Obudu Mountain Race gets Nov 17 date

T

M

ILLWALL vows to call in police over claims four Bolton players were abused during

match Millwall defender Danny Shittu Monday expressed his surprise at Marvin Sordell's allegation that police did nothing to stop Bolton players being racially abused during Saturday's match at The Den. The Football Association and police are investigating after Bolton forward Sordell tweeted that he and team mates Chung-Yong Lee, Darren Pratley and Benik Afobe received racist abuse from the stands during the game. Both clubs have issued statements of their own and the FA will also work with police as they determine whether to bring charges.

Sordell tweeted: “Chungy, Pratts, Benik and i had all sorts of things said to us. The police were standing yards away and did nothing . . .”

Shittu said: “I'm very surprised about that. It's something I didn't really find out about until I got home after the game and I saw it on the news. It's very sad to see.

Millwall have been doing a lot to combat

these kinds of things, as have a lot of clubs, but we're very disappointed to hear something like that going on. I didn't really hear anything on the day.”

Shittu is in his second spell at Millwall after rejoining the club from Queens Park Rangers during the summer. He continued: “Anyone who comes back as a former player will tell you it's a hard ground to play at and that the fans get on your back, but I didn't really experience any racism from them.

“You get a lot of abuse when you go back to any former club but I didn't get racist taunts or anything like that.”

•Shittu

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

B

ENDEL Insurance Football Club of Benin City in the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) season may receive a big boost in their quest to gain promotion to the Premier League as an exinternational, Kingsley Igbinovia has pledged to give the state government a helping hand in this regard.

Igbinovia, a former Bendel United defence ace, who now continues his football career as a manager in the United States of America (USA), was in Benin City earlier in the year when he expressed his displeasure with the present condition of the Edo State darling club.

However, Igbinovia, who assisted United to the final of the Mandela Cup in 1989, speaking through his aid in Benin City yesterday, asserted that the time had come for all stakeholders of Edo origin, home and abroad to come to the aid of the club.

He said: “Bendel Insurance is a football club that is traditional to the people of Edo land. It has made many people to become something in their lives as well as given the state a good public image locally and internationally.

“So, it becomes a very worrisome issue that the club today is struggling to survive relegation even at the lower league instead of fighting to gain promotion to the top league; the premiership.

“Whatever the case, we cannot fold our hands and watch the club collapse; we have to lend a helping hand. On my part as an Edo indigene, I will ensure the club this season gains promotion to the premier league”, he enthused.

On how to achieve the Herculean task, Igbinovia affirmed that, “I'm going to reach out to some other well-meaning Edo indigenes abroad, and corporate organisations too to come to the rescue of the club for aid and sponsorship”.

Commenting further, he said, “It is high time people realised that the government alone cannot do everything, there must be a synergy”.

•Storms Calabar today alongside Emenike

Anichebe's injury history Description Start Date End Date Groin/Pelvis 01/05/12 18/08/12 Gilmores Groin 06/09/11 29/12/11 Groin Strain 27/01/11 30/01/11 Knee Injury 30/10/10 22/11/10 Knee Injury 31/07/10 13/10/10 Chin Injury 01/06/10 30/06/10 Hip/Thigh 13/03/10 18/03/10 Back Injury 12/02/10 24/02/10 Calf Muscle 30/10/09 26/01/10 Strain

Shittu shocked by racist abuse claim

Succor comes way of Insurance

HE LOCAL Organising Committee (LOC) for the 8th Obudu International Mountain Race and the 4th African Mountain Running Championships has fixed Saturday November 17 for the two-in-one race. William Archibong, chairman of the LOC says the middle-of-the-month scheduling was due to the timing of the 18th National Sports Festival which Lagos is hosting. `The LOC has moved the timing of the race back to the middle of next month instead of the traditional end of the month scheduling due to the National Sports Festival which starts on November 27 in Lagos", reveals Archibong.

The LOC further revealed that registration of athletes for this year's race has since commenced and assured the committee will organise a hitch-free competition especially with the re-mapping of the race course to meet the standard set by the world governing body for mountain running. `This year`s race will be run over 12 kilometres unlike the previous editions. The race will also be run more on bush path than asphalted road which poses a new challenge but our experience of organising the event over the years will come in handy here. The LOC will not disappoint our number one supporter, His Excellency Governor Liyel Imoke, Cross Riverians, Nigerians and the World Mountain Running family,” he promised.

Archibong also revealed the 2012 and 2013 eighth and ninth editions of the race will be used as test runs for the 30th World Mountain Running Association Championships which will be held at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River State in 2014.

3SC put five on transfer list

N

IGERIA Premier League (NPL) side, 3SC have placed five of their players in the transfer market.

Kabiru Alausa, Tope Orelope, Kingsley Elvis and Raheem Owolabi are surprisingly among those the Oluyole Warriors are ready to farm out before the start of the coming season.

Little-known Kelechi Christiano is the fifth player placed on transfer by 3SC. Supersport.com learned that a sixth player, Afeez Awakan was given a reprieve and retained for the coming season.

"Actually the names of players placed on transfer was six but I'm only surprised that it is now five like you've said. Afeez Awakan is the sixth player but now there's only five on the transfer list.

"Letters have been officially given to the affected players notifying them about their new status, and that they can start looking for employment elsewhere before the start of the new season," a top official of 3SC disclosed to supersport.com.

The Ibadan-based club have retained 29 players for the coming season as well as coaches Babatunde Odubola and Hakeem Busari.

3SC finished last term in 13th place on the board on 49 points.

IGERIA strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa have confirmed their today's arrival at the Super Eagles camp ahead of this weekend's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in Calabar.

CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa revealed he reached that decision with Emenike after scoring once to help his Russian club to a 2-0 derby victory over Emenike's Spartak Moscow at the weekend.

“After the game, I went to Emenike and we both agreed to reach come on Tuesday. We hope to the part of the team's Tuesday evening's training session,” said Musa, whose birthday comes 24 hours after the October 13th crucial battle against Lone Star.

“Liberia cannot stop us from playing at the Nations Cup finals in South41 Africa next year. We would do our best to win well. My birthday is October 14, celebration will start on October 13 and a victory will serve as a perfect birthday present,” he added.

None of the invited foreign-based players had reached the team's camp by Monday morning. But the seven local players who made the cut Monday departed Abuja for Calabar, where they will be joined by 15 foreign-based counterparts.

However, Super Eagles and Maccabi Tel Aviv first choice Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor, who scored in the first leg in Monrovia, were expected at the team's Calabar camp on later on Monday.

All invited 15 foreign-based players have been given till today as deadline to report in camp by Stephen Keshi, who said he has not given any player permission to report a day later.

Super Eagles rounded off preparations at Abuja with a stalemated 1-1 friendly with FC Abuja at the weekend.

Apparently trying to avoid injury, the home-based Eagles team took the lead before FC Abuja restore d parity.

Speaking after the encount e r , head coac h of F C Abu j a , Friday Christo pher said S u p e r Eagles should not be judged by the result o f t h e match, explaining the Stephen Keshi's charges tried to avert injury that could mar their performance against Liberia.

Meanwhile, Liberia are expected to arrive the country on Wednesday from Ghana, where they have been training intensively for the duel.

•Ahmed Musa

Keshi promisesNigerians, a sweet win

N

OT known to be flippant when it comes to making promises, Super Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi, momentarily threw caution to the wind when he assured Nigerians and especially Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River and the people of the state that the national team will offer a sweet victory to the nation come Saturday October 13 when they square up against Liberia at the U.J. Esuene Stadium.

Keshi, who was overwhelmed by the huge reception accorded the team on arrival at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, thanked the leadership of the state and urged Nigerians

to continue to pray for the team, “...because by God's grace come Saturday we will give the nation a sweet victory and qualify for the Nations Cup in South Africa”.

Keshi also spoke on the arrival of his army of Europe based professionals, revealing for the umpteenth time that he has the promise of all of them to be in Calabar by today at the latest. He assured that there was enough time to prepare the team for the game against the Lone Star of Liberia, arguing that the fact that most of the players invited have been playing regularly for their clubs is enough to make up for lost time.

The team was welcomed at the airport by the

Commissioner of Sports, Hon. Patrick Ugbe, and a retinue of other top government functionaries, with the state chapter of the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporter Club drumming away to the delight of the seven home based players and officials.

The Arik Air plane that took the team to Calabar, left Abuja at 10:50am and arrived the airport at 11:50, an hour’s flight that was described as fairly smooth. The team has since moved into its abode at the Metropolitan Hotel, while expecting the foreign based legion to start streaming in later in the day.

Raheem Lawal debuts in big derby win

R •Keshi

BANKERS GAMES

Manu tasks Golden UBA grabs first win as others draw Eaglets on goal scoring U

G

OLDEN EAGLETS' Head Coach, Manu Garba (MFR, has told his wards that the easiest way to knockout Guinea, their second round opponents in the African Under-17 qualifier is to score as many goals as possible in Sunday's first leg match slated for the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Reviewing last Saturday's 4-1 win over Leopards Football Club of Calabar, during the team's training session on Monday, Garba told the players - particularly the strikers - to put on their thinking caps in order to convert the many scoring opportunities that would come their way.

The Golden Eaglets have, over time, displayed remarkable appetite for goals with an astonishing record of 73 goals in 16 matches played so far - including local and international friendlies as well as their first round matches against Niger!

While the team recorded 55 goals for and 11 against in matches against amateur

teams within Calabar and its environs, they beat Junior Wasps of Rwanda 5-0 and 3-0 in two international friendly matches before their 10-1 aggregate score line in their first round 2013 African qualifier against Nigercumulatively, the Golden Eaglets have scored a healthy six goals per match!

Yet Garba has charged the players to pummel Guinea on Sunday so that the second leg in Conakry would be a mere formality.

“The game we played last Saturday was okay but I believe we should have done better given the fact that we created so many opportunities,” noted the erstwhile captain of El-Kanemi Football Club of Maiduguri.

“We created about 12 chances but we were able to score just four goals and you would agree with me that this is even below your usual standard.”

He equally reminded the players that winning by a handsome goal margin against Guinea is the only way the team can

avoid elimination.

“What we want from you against Guinea is to occupy and take possession of the field, “he noted. “We want as many goals as possible because this is what we have been noted for.

“We don't want to concede any goal at home so that the job would be easier when we go for the return leg match in Conakry,” he added.

•Manu Garba

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) finally got their campaign on to winning ways with a 2-1 defeat of Ecobank to tie on points with Group B leaders, Standard Chartered that shared points on the day with First Bank. In the other fixtures for the day, Sterling Bank battled to a 1-1 draw with Stanbic, same as the fixture between Union Bank and Fidelity which meant that Skye Bank remained comfortable at the top of Group A even with a game on hand. A brace by Seun Mohammed rekindled the ambitions of UBA to challenge for their fifth football event title and leaving Ecobank only a mathematical chance of making the knockout stage after three defeats in as many games. The transnational bank got their consolatory goal off the boots of Chinedu Odu, his second in the tournament.

For last year’s football event

runners-up, Fidelity Bank, the draw against Union Bank meant they are yet to claim full points after three matches and are risking a possible cut-off from the knockout stage. With three points from three games, the Reginald Ihejiani boys only managed to halt the ambitions of the Stallion Boys to go top of the group ahead of Skye Bank that enjoyed a match-free day. Skye Bank thus leads the Group with six points, followed by Union Bank on five points.

First Bank slumped to third place in Group B after forcing table topping Standard Chartered Bank to a late 1-1 draw thanks to Tosin Faniyi’s added time strike. With four points from two matches, the Elephant Boys tag behind secondplaced UBA and the group leaders, Standard Chartered Bank on five points each. It opens the group to a tough battle for leadership in the remaining matches.

AHEEM Lawal finally debuted for Turkish club Adana Dermispor on Sunday in a big win in the Adana derby against Adanaspor.

The ex-Atletico Beleares midfielder was on from start to finish in Adana Demirspor’s 4-2 win over Adanaspor to get their first win of the five week-old season.

MTNFootball.com’s source in Turkey confirmed that Lawal, sporting jersey number 4, shone like a million stars in the game as he controlled the midfield to the admiration of all.

Lawal was denied a goal in the 62nd minute when his header hit the cross bar and was at the end of cynical tackles by the opponents who brought him down several times.

Adana Demirspor’s new coach, Mustafa Ugur, who was employed last week, started his career on a winning note.

He is the third coach to be appointed by the Adana-based team this season.

Adana Demirspor are now 15th on the table with five points from five matches.

•Raheem Lawal

INSIDE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

Page 25

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Here is winner of Hilton Kitchen programme - Page 27

Between floods and robbers’ bullets FCTA sets up committee on housing - Page 28

In many ways, Kogi State is crucial to the nation’s capital.

Road travellers to the seat of federal power pass through Lokoja, the state capital. That was why Abuja-bound commuters were trapped in the confluence city for hours as flood waters rendered the road impassable. Our reporter Franca Ochigbo, who toured the state at the height of the floods, was lucky to escape a hail of robbers’ bullets. She presents her impressions:

Anniversary marred by denials, killings - Page 40

F all the states ravaged by the floods, Kogi is the most devastated. The situation is so bad that at the moment, there is no farmland in sight.

Though the federal government is concerned with the relocation of the people to safer grounds and provision of relief materials, there is also the fear of food security next year.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the situation in Kogi is so serious that it prompted the agency to release

O

From Franca Ochigbo

relief materials immediately by ensuring that Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp are taken good care of.

The Director-General, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi said the agency is working with the Nigerian Red Cross to further assist affected persons. This necessitated a request for the deployment of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society‘s field assessment and coordination team.

Presently a three-man team has been reportedly mobilised by the Geneva Headquarters and the team is expected shortly in Nigeria for further assistance to the flood victims.

The most affected of all the areas in Kogi State flooding are Ibaji, Ajaokuta and Lokoja. Over 5,000 farmlands were washed away, triggering concerns that there may be sever famine next year.

The IDP camp in Adankolo, Lokoja is filled to capacity. Though majority of the camp occupants admitted that they were duly sen-

sitised and told to move from flood-prone zones, they declined, claiming they had nowhere to go with their families.

They said they were all in their houses when the flood came upon them, with many climbing trees to escape it.

The state government and NEMA rescued them after they had been reached on emergency numbers.

There are three IDP camps in Lokoja, the most occupied being the Dankolo Primary School IDP, which has 670 displaced people comprising 109 males, 161 females and 400 children.

However, the challenges they are facing now is that residents of the area who are not in the camps come for food and treatment in the health care centre set up for the IDP, shooting up the number of people the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) planned for, Mrs. Alice Ogedengbe, the IDP camp Deputy Director, said.

As our reporter went round the town on a motorised boat, there was no farmland in sight. All the

houses around the riverside were completely submerged.

Billboards were as submerged, as were storey buildings and other high-rise structures.

Arriving at Lokoja for on-thespot assessment of damage, on the invitation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the reporters boarded a canoe.

At the Kogi State Naval Base where we were provided a speed boat to go round the flood-ravaged state, Navy Captain Samuel Shiyanbade, the Port Commandant, disclosed that the Navy has been providing patrol for the two bridges in the state. They are the Jamata Bridge and the Ituobe Bridge. The Navy also provides logistic assistance to NEMA officials going for assessment, he said.

We travelled by boat for four hours to most of the local governments affected by the flood, and while on that trip, there were no houses in sight. We •Continued on Page 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

26

ABUJA REVIEW •Continued from Page 25 turned when we got to Koton Karfe back to Lokoja at about 7pm. It was obvious that the level of devastation was much; even the fishermen were nowhere to be seen. This, of course, has caused a significant rise in prices of foodstuff in the state, a signal that the coming year is going to be one of famine.

The state governor, Captain Idris Wada disclosed that nine local governments, 332 communities were affected by the flood.

The state government teams worked with NEMA officials to ensure that no life was lost as most of the people that could not move out of their environments were moved by canoe to safe places immediately.

He said: “NEMA officials on the ground did a very good job. We have not had this type of problem for the past 46 years in Kogi State. In 2009 the water came up a little but it was nothing serious. The flood is getting worse as the days get by. This is the effect of water released from the Ladgo Dam, Shiroro Dam and the Kainji Dam. “I am appealing to the people by the river to evacuate as soon as possible. It is obvious that more water will be released from the dams. All the people living in the state should move to higher grounds. The state government will do its best to support the people for their losses but the most important thing is for them to move first.”

While on the assessment tour, reporters proceeded to Edo State to witness another flooded area in Auchi. On the way we had an encounter with armed robbers. The bus driver in front of our vehicle was shot by the armed robbers.

The encounter was 40 minutes into Auchi. As the vehicle conveying us was approaching a particular spot, we saw other vehicles parked on the

•NEMA Rescuers and volunteers on a naval boat in Kogi

Between floods and robbers’ bullets side of the road with two young men flagging our vehicle to stop; they were shouting: “Armed robbers, armed robbers!” We parked.

All the vehicles waited for close to two hours, when their drivers saw big trucks passing without turning back, everyone assumed that the road was clear and we moved.

Three three commercial vehicles were in front of our vehicles, and the next thing we saw was a white vehicle blocking the road. We then heard a gunshot. The two policemen attached to our vehicles moved into action.

One of the policemen jumped out

of the vehicles pointing his gun where the robbers were, the other one in the car pointed his gun upward showing a sign of protecting the people in the bus. The Chief Press Secretary to NEMA, Yaushau Shuaibu jumped out of the vehicle and ran into the bush.

Immediately our driver turned and headed for Lokoja where we were coming from. He drove for about 20 minutes and drove into the first village close to where the incident happened. At this time it was drizzling. We ran out of the vehicle immediately the driver parked, all scared and praying that the police-

man and our CPS would come back safely.

Twenty minutes later, a white pickup van with some vigilance men drove down with our CPS and the policeman.

We insisted we were not going to Auchi and that were returning to Abuja.

When we got back to Lokoja, it was another harrowing experience as we had to wait by the riverside for six hours for our vehicle to be ferried to the other side of River Niger with passengers on the bus and the bus on the ferry. The ferries charged every vehicle N12,000 while individuals paid N500.

•Sani Sidi

0009

09-10-12

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

27

ABUJA REVIEW

Experts meet on orphans

I

N its determination to eradicate or control some tropical diseases in the area, the Federal Capital Territory Administration is developing a blueprint that will enable it to achieve the desired goal.

The FCT Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya disclosed this while receiving Michael W. Marine, an Ambassador and Chief Executive Officer of Sabin Vaccine Institutes, USA in Abuja.

He hinted that diseases on which the administration is focusing are onhocerchiasis, lymphatic filariasis; soil transmitted helminthes (STHs), leprosy, buruli ulcer as well as trachoma and blindness among other preventable diseases.

Dr. Onakomaiya reiterated that the level of control of these diseases in the territory is appreciable, even as he noted that they no longer constitute any public health problem.

According to him, this feat had been achieved through collaborative efforts of the FCT Administration, Federal Ministry of Health, Christofell Blinden Mission (CBM); African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC); Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Sight Savers and Standard Chartered Bank as well as Health Department of the six area councils in the FCT. He restated the commitment of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed-led FCT Administration to ensure complete elimination of these diseases by the end of 2020.

He further revealed that the FCT Administration has adopted integrated strategy for effective control of these diseases due to the dwindling Donor Support, adding that it will continue to engage the Village Heads and community members to participate in the control programmes.

Speaking earlier, the Ambassador

S

•

FCTA to eradicate tropical diseases

By Bukola Amusan

and Chief Executive Officer of Sabin Vaccine Institutes, USA, Michael W. Marine, said that Sabin Vaccine Institute was founded in 1993 in honour of Dr. Albert B. Sabin who de-

veloped the oral polio vaccine.

Ambassador Marine stated that the organisation was founded in order to reduce needless human suffering from preventable and neglected tropical diseases through innovative vaccine research and development; adding that advocacy for improved access to existing

vaccines and essential medicines for all people in need will be encouraged.

He lamented that Nigeria has more than 100 million people afflicted with one or more neglected tropical diseases, even as he said that his organisation intends to render helps to the country.

OME experts converged on Abuja last week to discuss the fate of orphans and vulnerable children in the country.

They said the future of Nigerian children will be bleak if nothing is done about their well-being.

Speaking at the symposium with the theme: Government Response to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab called on Nigerians to device a way to better the lives of many of the children in this category.

Worried by the increasing number of child hawkers and child rape in the country, the minister also called for new strategies that will enhance the survival of children in the society.

She explained that OVC survival and development are no longer matters of charity but a moral and legal obligation that requires the active participation of everybody as well as strengthening existing partnerships.

Hajia Maina tasked the experts in the sector to fashion out ways of reaching vulnerable children with a view to ensuring their inclusion in essential services and to protect them from exploitation, abuse and neglect.

The minister promised that the Federal Government will continue to advocate for an enabling environment for children to enjoy their rights and to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr George Ossi said that the rapid increase in the number of vulnerable children in the country has placed heavy burden and greater stress on the already burdened families and the government which has streamed government’s capacity to provide assistance and deliver services.

Winner of Hilton Kitchen programme emerges

T

WENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Abdulrasaq Tijani is the overall best graduate and winner of the 2010 Class of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja’s Kitchen Apprentice Programme.

At the final practical assessment which took place at the hotel’s Zuma Grill Restaurant, Tijani beat four other finalists to take first position.

The class of 2010 started with about 400 apprentices out of which only 11fulfilled the requirements to qualify for the programme.

After series of theoretical and practical assessments, six apprentices dropped out while Tijani Abdulrasaq, Oliver Gabriel, Adebisi Oladunni, Ayuba Umar and Helen Adaji, the only female apprentice, survived the rigours of the two-year intensive programme to be eligible for the final assessment and graduation.

The Zuma Grill Restaurant, venue of the dinner and practical assessment played host to a large number of guests including the jury. Everyone watched with excitement as the apprentices busied themselves in the kitchen. One after the other, they dished out their menus which they earlier chose by lucky dip for the guests to taste and assess.

After dishing out a five-course menu to the delight of the assessing guests, the contestants stood before the guests as they listened attentively to their scores.

•From left: General Manager, Etienne Gailliez; Tijani Abdulrasaq and the executive Chef, Thomas Preidelt of kitchen knives. ment to train and develop a pool of

By Nduka Chiejina Reacting to his victory, quality chefs for the hospitality inAbdulrasaq Tijani was announced Abdulrasaq said: “First, I thank God dustry, the Kitchen Apprentice Prothe overall best graduate and win- for this achievement. I’m also grate- gramme consists of theories, pracner of the 2010 Class of Hilton ful to the Executive Chef and the tical cooking and periodic examiTranscorp Hilton management for nations.

Kitchen Apprentice Programme.

Commenting on the programme, For his efforts, Abdulrasaq was creating the programme and givrewarded with Full Diploma Cer- ing us the opportunity to learn and the General Manager, Etienne Gailliez said: “We will continue to tificate, employment with the develop our talents.”

Conceived by the hotel manage- invest in creating opportunities for Transcorp Hilton and a luxury set

careers in hospitality industry through youth apprentice programmes that offer basic education and skills training. I am encouraged by the giant strides the past graduates of the programme are making in the culinary profession in other Hilton Worldwide hotels especially in the United Arab Emirate.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

28

ABUJA REVIEW

Church distributes one million books

T

HE Christ Embassy Church, Abuja has distributed one million copies of a special edition of Rhapsody, a monthly devotional book written by the founder of the church and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Oyakhilome.

The initiative, which has been on for over three years, is part of the church’s contribution to promoting patriotism in the people. The distribution of the devotional manual coincided with the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary celebration.

According to the Abuja zonal Pastor of Christ Embassy Church Pastor Chidi Ezimako, the October edition was aimed at promoting patriotism among the Nigerian people in order to engender national unity.

The pastor said emphasis is on patriotism as it is essential for nation-building.

Patriotism, he stressed, is a certain kind of quality of loyalty which involves love and support for one’s country to the point of conviction to defend the nation.

This sort of patriotism, he said, is what is lacking in the country.

The clergyman also posited that patriotism starts from the value of national pride, understanding of, and reverence for national symbols such as the National Anthem, the National Flag, and the Coat of Arms, among others.

He argued that these are virtues

By Vincent Ikuomola

which must form part of the people’s consciousness.

Ezimako said: “As a nation-building campaign, Reach out Nigeria has sought to re-define for Nigerians many vital ingredients of our national identity which had long been neglected.

“The most vital question in life, the answer to which puts a man in a position of tremendous advantage is ‘why?’ The man who knows why would always rule over the one who knows ‘what’ or even ‘how.’

“So, Why Reach out Nigeria? Why has believers’ Love World, (aka) Christ Embassy chosen in the last five years to make so much ado about Nigeria’s Independence? For what purpose are these investments in the sponsorship of tens of millions free copies of Rhapsody of Realities? What do we seek to achieve?

“Many years ago, the man of God Pastor Chris said that a major challenge in Nigeria is the misunderstanding of patriotism and the absence of a national ideology. We were a nation that didn’t stand for anything. And so, over the years, there was no true national culture to hand down to coming generations. Hence, in recent times, the celebration of our nation’s independence was relegated to the background; because many didn’t see

As a nation-building campaign, Reach out Nigeria has sought to re-define for Nigerians many vital ingredients of our national identity which had long been left unspoken of. The campaign has highlighted the excellence of our anthem and the beauty of our national colours through bold displays of these symbols

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has constituted a ministerial committee to evolve policy guidelines and modalities for the administration’s affordable housing programme.

The committee is chaired by the Director of Satellite Towns Devel-

T

•A low-cost housing unit

•From left: General Domkat Bali’s wife, Mrs Esther Bali; DIG Uzor Amakulor and Zonal Pastor, Pastor Dipo Fisho at the event in Abuja.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

anything worth celebrating.

“But thanks be unto God for the timely vision of Reach out Nigeria which has salvaged the situation and endeavoured to rekindle in Nigerians the spirit of patriotism that drives men to live for their country and die if there is need to protect her ideologies.

“With the original motto, “Promoting a Patriotic Spirit for Nationbuilding,” in the last five years, the Reach out Nigeria campaign has changed the course of Independence Day celebrations in Nigeria.

“As a nation-building campaign, Reach out Nigeria has sought to redefine for Nigerians many vital ingredients of our national identity which had long been left unspoken of. The campaign has highlighted the excellence of our anthem and the beauty of our national colours through bold displays of these symbols.

“After the first edition in 2007, many Nigerians were proud to wear our national colours. Since

then, boutique owners have learned to stock and display clothing and accessories that reflect the Nigerian colours (Green and White) as the nation’s independence anniversary approaches. This was a thing unknown in time past; no one even considered it fashionable to dress in these colours, let alone parade them in a carnival. But today, it’s an entirely different story.

“Gone are the days when Nigerians in other countries were ashamed to display the Nigerian Passport. We have succeeded in reinstilling national pride in our citizens,” he said.

He also explained that the annual distribution of the Reach out Nigeria booklets which kicked off in 2010 has succeeded in “not only spreading the message of patriotism, but also in exemplifying patriotism by executing numerous community development projects around the country through our 50 Smiles Initiative.

“This caused a great stir and indi-

cates the genuineness of our commitment to national interest, hence our decision to carry on with the campaign. As such, all over Nigeria, as copies of Rhapsody of Realities gets to the nook and cranny of the country, Reach out Nigeria would also be putting smiles on the faces of millions of Nigerians in different communities and localities as we endeavour to identify and meet their needs as best as we can.”

He further said that the messages contained in the October edition of Rhapsody of Realities “reveal a striking and deliberate effort to sow the seed of patriotism and national interest in the hearts of the reader.

He noted that there exists a world of difference between the efficacy of this communication of the Godkind and the average ‘patriotism jargon.’

Simply put, the message is more than just the letters. It is the Spirit of the Word. That’s why we talk about the Spirit of Reach out.”

FCTA sets up committee on housing

By Bukola Amusan

opment Agency (STDA), Alhaji Tukur Ibrahim Bakori.

Members of the ministerial

committee are Director of Mass Housing, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Jibrin Gambo; Director of Resettlement and Compensation, Francis

Okechukwu; Director of Survey and Mapping, Ade Medupin; Director of Urban and Regional Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, and Director of Abuja Geographic Information System Mohammed Isah Jalo.

Other members are Senior Special Assistant (Technical) to the Minister of State for FCT, Kunle Mokuolu; Special Assistant to the Minister of FCT on Lands, Hussaini Badeggi; Special Assistant to the Minister of State for FCT on Lands, Nasir Ahmed; representative of the Permanent Secretary, David Gende; Alhaji Saka Olajide, and the Director of Engineering Services, FCDA. The Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, Anthony Ozodinobi who inaugurated the committee, urged the members to establish a viable and sustainable partnership between the public and private sectors in the delivery of affordable housing.

“We need pragmatic policy guidelines that would deliver affordable housing in FCT. The Administration is committed to realising its affordable housing programme, which has necessitated the setting up of a technical committee to work out the policy guidelines,” he stated.

The terms of reference for the committee are: To set out modalities for the involvement of government ministries, departments and agencies in affordable housing delivery in the FCT, to determine strategies for involvement of estate developers, investors and building material manufacturers and suppliers in affordable housing delivery in the territory, to establish effective, transparent and credible procedures that will ensure that the targeted social class and categories of income group are direct beneficiaries of the housing scheme in FCT. Other terms of reference included: To determine types of houses to be developed and suggest specifications for them, to propose methods of land management and participation of developers and investors in affordable housing development, and suggest various ways of accelerating production of affordable houses in the FCT. The committee is expected to submit its report on October 15, 2012 to the Minister of State for the FCT. Responding, chairman of the committee, Bakori expressed the commitment of the members to produce sustainable housing policy guidelines for the FCT.

29

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

‘ But, the same question applies to the subject matter of practically all the sections, committees, and entities across the IBA, and should be answered urgently See page 32

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

’

• Justice Salami

• CJN Aloma Mukhtar

Many could not believe their ears when the National Judicial Council (NJC) came out with its position on the suspension of President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Isa Salami last week. In papers fitted in court, NJC said President Goodluck Jonathan lacks the power to determine Justice Salami’s fate, adding that he could not reappoint the Acting President of the Court of appeal, Justice Dalhatu Adamu without its consent. Lawyers view this as a healthy development and want parties to resolve the dispute without further delay. ERIC IKHILAE, JOSEPH JIBUEZE and PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU report.

Will Jonathan bow to NJC on Salami?

• Lawyers hail Council’s stand

T

HE judiciary, arguably, attracted the worst comments in its history on the case involving the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

Since Justice Salami’s suspension on August 18, 2011, the judiciary has attempted, in vain, to remedy the nastiest decision it ever took.

It played into the hands of politicians and got its hands burnt. Today, the judiciary seems to be a victim of its undoing.

The realisation of this fact may have in-

formed its new position that the Presidency lacks the powers to determine Justice Salami’s fate. The National Judicial Council (NJC) astounded all last week when it made a dramatic ‘U’ turn from its earlier position, arguing that the President has no constitutional role in Justice Salami’s recall.

At the height of the crisis last year, the NJC, under Katsina-Alu, wrote the President recommending Justice Salami’s sack, for alleged ground of unethical conduct. Despite the pendency of Justice Salami’s suit, challenging the composition of the Justice Ibrahim Auta panel (that recommended his sack), President Goodluck Jonathan wasted no time in approving his suspension.

In May this year, the NJC, under the immediate past CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, voted for Justice Salami’s recall and communicated same to the President. Rather than act

Inside: •IBA: Lawyers seek to strengthen rule of law... P.32

with the dispatch with which he enforced the earlier recommendation from the body, Jonathan became creative in devising reasons to avoid giving effect to the recommendation.

The President, speaking through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), argued on May 22 that the Presidency would not act on NJC’s request because of pending cases in court in respect of the matter.

Again, determined to reverse its earlier position, the NJC went before the Federal High Court, Abuja to challenge President Jonathan’s powers in facilitating Salami’s return to office and his retention of Justice Dalhatu Adamu as Acting Court of Appeal President. Justice Adamu’s appointment has •Continued on page 30

•SAN donates e-library to Law Faculty... P.36

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

30

LAW COVER CONT’D • Continued from page 29 been renewed about three times.

Citing the provisions of Sections 153, 158, 237 and 238, the NJC queried President Jonathan’s powers to determine Justice Salami’s fate.

The NJC, in a written address it filed in a suit by some rights activists, acting as Registered Trustees of the Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration (RTCPA), argued that under Section 238 (5), the renewal of Justice Adamu’s mandate by President Jonathan ought to be proceeded by its (NJC’s) recommendation.

Section 238 (5) reads: Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the President shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.

Sub-section 4 reads: If the office of the President of the Court of appeal is vacant, or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the President shall appoint the most senior Justice of the Court of Appeal to perform those functions.

Observers argued that the dilemma, in which the judiciary now finds itself, resulted from the obvious moral decadence in the society fueled by corruption, which has permeated all its segments. They noted that the most worrisome angle to the Katsina-Alu/Salami saga is the negative impact it has on the judicial system.

They said rather than allow reason to prevail and justice to take its natural course, they were manipulated in the case, resulting in a fragmented and highly bruised judiciary. Rather than speak with one voice on the issue, observers noted that the judiciary was divided by interest.

They observed that there are those who believe that Salami should be kept outside, despite the injustice this position may occasion, in view of the benefit they are deriving from his continued suspension; and the others who believe that it is just to allow Salami back.

This polarisation of opinion, they argued, is reflective in Justice Adamu’s position in the case by RTCPA. Adamu argued, in his objection to the suit, that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the reinstatement suit, because the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to bring the action.

In the application filed by his counsel, E.O Kanda, Adamu said a search conducted at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the plaintiff showed that it was registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), whose constitution did not give it the power to sue in representative capacity.

He further argued that with the plaintiff’s locus taken away by its own constitution, no suit would be deemed to be before the court. He objected to the hearing of the suit on the ground that it constituted an abuse of court process and amounted to forum shopping.

According to him, Salami had filed similar suit, seeking among others, to be recalled. Adamu added that though the plaintiffs in both suits were different, parties and the reliefs being sought were similar. He added that the current suit could only survive if it was consolidated with the existing one.

Rights activists, Bamidele Aturu and Jiti Ogunye faulted Salami’s suspension in the first place. They argued that the Presidency acted in error when it suspended Salami and appointed Adamu in acting capacity.

Aturu, argued last year in a statement titled “Justice Salami’s purported suspension- a farcical illegality,” that NJC’s suspension of Sa-

• Justice Katsina-Alu

• Aturu

• Mumuni

Will Jonathan bow to NJC on Salami? lami, in spite of service on it of the process filed by him, challenging the setting up of the Auta Committee, is a condemnable illegality.

“That the brazen decision was taken by a body that has responsibility for overseeing the judiciary shows that our attempt at building a liberal democracy is imperiled simply on account of the illiberal persons that superintend the administration of justice in this country.

“The decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Ojukwu v Military Governor of Lagos State has made it clear that it is an act of lawlessness for a party to present the court, as the NJC as brazenly and contemptuously done in the instant case, with a fait accompli.

What the NJC has done is nothing but a farce. First the NJC evaded service, then, it pronounced definitively on a matter that is pending in court; what nonsense?” Aturu noted.

Ogunye in his article titled: “Justice Salami’s suspension by the NJC is illegal and unconstitutional,” published in the wake of the suspension, argued that the NJC has no power to suspend Salami from office, but that it can only, competently, recommend his suspension, to the President, in deserving cases, and the President can only act on such recommendation if it is supported by a two-third address of the Senate.

“Although the National Judicial Council has the power, under the Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph I, Section 21(b) of the Constitution to

recommend to the President the removal from office of the President of the Court of Appeal and exercise “disciplinary control” over him, it is clear that by virtue of Section 292(1)( a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, any recommendation of removal of the President of the Court of Appeal from his Judicial Office can only be effected by the President, acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.

“It is our contention that just as in the case of removal of any removal of the President of the Court of Appeal from office, any exercise of power of “disciplinary control”, over him, such as this suspension, must be subject to the approval of the President, acting on an address of two-third majority of the Senate.

“The correct interpretation of the above-cited provisions of the Constitution is that if the President of the Court of Appeal can only be removed from office only when a two-third address of the Senate directs the President to do so, in the same vein, the President of the Court can only be effectively and consummately suspended from office by the NJC, with a two third endorsement of the Senate and a decision of the President to that effect. This is the principle of checks and balances that is crafted in the Constitution,” Ogunye said.

Lawyers, including Dr. Joel Adedigba, Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni and a Senior Advocate, who pleaded not to

be named, praised the new position by NJC. They said although the NJC’s position appears a reversal of its earlier stance, parties should ensure prompt resolution of the crisis so that the judiciary can focus on effort to rebuild its battered image.

Adedigba said: “The current situation has provided the court with another opportunity to formally ensure justice in the Salami-case.

The decision to right a perceived wrong is now left for the Judiciary. I say this because the case, in which the NJC queried the President’s power to determine Salami’s case, is before a court. If the court wants to do justice, this is the opportunity.

“If it wants to continue to act as an appendage of the Executive rather than an independent equal, the choice can be made in the course of this case.

“The judge handling the case should allow an accelerated hearing so that the case can be decided with dispatch. Even of those opposed to Salami’s return want to appeal up to the Supreme Court, the court can speedily hear the case, determine it and ensure that Salami returns to office before his tenure expires,” he said.

Mumuni said: “The point being made and the position now being canvassed by the NJC is the correct position of law.

“However, the NJC acted earlier in the Salami matter as if the Presidency had a role to play in the discipline of a federal judicial officer. This is what the Presidency took advan-

tage of to meddle in a matter clearly outside its constitutional pursue purview.

“It is better late than never. Now that the NJC has re-discovered itself and made the constitutional position known the presidency should just keep a long distance from the matter and let the NJC’s recalling of salami be so that this monumentally embarrassing saga will be put behind the judiciary,” Mumuni said.

The SAN said: “Sadly, a group of individuals within the NJC initially didn’t want Justice Salami back. That group may be losing its influence now, and with the appointment of a new CJN in the person of Justice Mukhtar, there is a breath of fresh air.”

The Senior Advocate observed that until the new CJN came, the old NJC and the Presidency worked in tandem. “It suited all parties that Salami was not recalled. My worry was that push for his recall was taking an ethnic and political colouration which was not good for the judiciary.

“The new position being considered by the NJC, although seemingly contradictory to its earlier position of waiting on the President, is encouraging. But will they have the moral will to push it through?

“I think the ongoing Constitution amendment should spell out a few things more clearly. The Constitution provides that a President of the Court of Appeal shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the NJC subject to Senate confirmation. But it is not clear who recalls him in a situation where he is suspended. Ordinarily, it is he who suspends that should recall.

“I think the judiciary should not depend on the executive for such decisions if it must be truly independent, otherwise political considerations will always be brought to bear by the ruling party and other powers that be.

“We also see what may be a clear violation of the Constitution as the Acting Court of Appeal President ought to have left since. His first three-month appointment ought to cease and the President was not supposed to reappoint him after his first appointment had lapsed. How many more times has been reappointed now? I’ve lost count.

“I also believe Justice Salami should withdraw his suit. We are at a point of reconciliation, and if his court case will stand in the way of his recall, let him withdraw it.

“But I think the NJC under Justice Mukhtar should be commended for even considering taking steps to correct what many see as injustice and victimisation of Justice Salami.

It is never late to do right. Let us wait and see,” the senior lawyer said.

Adoke’s many controversial steps

S

INCE his appointment as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on April 6, 2010, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) has earned more criticisms than praises from the people.

He was appointed by then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to replace Michael Aondoakaa, who was controversy personified while in office, following the death of President Umar Yar’Adua. Many thought with Aondoakaa’s exit, the office would be controversy-free but that has not been the case. The situation is also not helped by a government reputed for many wrong decisions on critical issues.

Adoke’s reign has attracted controversies, the latest being the unpopular role he is believed to be playing in the unexplained and equally unpopular decision of the government on Bakassi.

Adoke’s name also featured prominently as being behind government’s plot to cripple the anti-corruption agencies and the questionable withdrawal of cases against prominent Nigerians, politicians and multi-national agencies.

For instance, when a case against four persons over fraudulent fuel subsidy payments was withdrawn at the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer said he was instructed by Adoke to withdraw the charge. The defendants were charged with offences bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.

They were alleged to have forged bills of lading and other documents, with which they perpetrated the fraud.

At the twilight of her tenure in office, former EFCC Chairman Mrs Farida Waziri and Adoke engaged in unfriendly exchanges, resulting in public speculation that Adoke was playing the card of a government determined to ease Waziri out.

At a point, Adoke was said to have written two letters dated July 20, 2011 to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), seeking clarification on the rank of Mrs Waziri at the time of her retirement.

Adoke has also been criticised over the series of controversial withdrawals of some high profile court cases, including those against the Vaswani Brothers; the case against the former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ahmed Bello, and the former Chairman of the Police Equipment Fund (PEF) Mr. Kenny Martins.

The AGF was at a time, accused on interfering in cases like that against former Chairman, House of Representative Committee on • Adoke Power, Ndidi Elumelu; the N5 billion fraud case against a former Chief Executive of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Ransome Owan, and 17 directors and members of his board have also stagnated on account of alleged interference in the cases filed by the EFCC. Adoke was also criticised over the November 22, 2010 agreement between the government and Siemens under which Siemens was to pay N7bn to the Nigerian Government in exchange for prosecution for alleged criminal conduct.

He attracted the anger of his professional colleagues recently for lamenting growing unethical conduct among legal practitioners in the country.

Adoke was reported to have, at a ceremony for the conferment the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on some lawyers on September 12, stated that “it is a matter of deep regret that lawyers, including some Senior Advocates routinely engage in unwholesome practices unbecoming of members of this noble profession.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

31

LAW & SOCIETY

Ozodinobi, Muhammed, Ekpo win Uwais Public Service Award

M

ESSRS Anthony Zikora Ozodinobi, M.B.W Dogo-Muhammed and Imo Ekpo have won the maiden edition of Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais Public Service Award.

The awards were presented to them at a lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

In his welcome address, Chairman of the Award screening committee, Chief Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) said: “I welcome everyone here to this very first lecture and award presentation of the Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award” “The award was designed to recognise and honour the outstanding contributions of Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, former CJN, for his years of selfless service to Nigeria culminating in the 11 years as Chief Justice of Nigeria (1995-2006).

“The public service award was designed to recognise individuals who have, in the course of their careers, made considerable impact in their areas of service, whether locally or internationally, demonstrated faithfulness, loyalty, and integrity in their areas of service to the nation, have unblemished records of service, made positive and useful contributions to the advancement, progress and wellbeing of the nation, demonstrated in the course of their service, a high level of discipline, dignity of labour, religious tolerance, self reliance and patriotism as enshrined as part of the national ethics in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended; demonstrateda high level of ingenuity and performance outside the call of their duty for the discharge of their duties, and showed exceptional qualities which the committee may reasonably find to positively contribute to national development.”

Awomolo said: “Considering the personality of Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais and knowing the magnitude of his individual and intellectual contributions to this nation, looking at how fast the work attitude of public and civil servants has depreciated, I couldn’t decline the opportunity given to me to serve as the chairman of the screening committee. It wasn’t an easy task; our mandate in the committee was to ensure an honest and transparent exercise.

He went on: “I immensely appreciate the professional and humble contributions of all the committee members throughout the screening process. Advertisements were made in both the print and electronic media, calling for nomina-

By John Austin Unachukwu

tions across the country, which got a massive response. The committee screened thoroughly from among the responses and selected the best. The first three are as follows: •First position: Engr Anthony Zikora Ozodinobi •Second position: Mr M. B. W Dogo Muhammed •Third position: Engr. Imo E. Ekpo Ozodinobi, Anthony Zikora is an electrical/electronic engineer and a public servant. He was born on March 6, 1953. He hails from Nimo, Njikola Local Government Area , Anambra State, Nigeria. He attended Holy Ghost Primary School, Enugu from 1959 to 1963, he then went to Municipal Council School, Port Harcourt from 1964 to 1965.

He later attended Trinity High School, Oguta, Imo State from 1966 to 1972, College of Immaculate Conception Enugu from January 1973 to September 1973. He graduated with B.Sc. Electrical/Electronic from the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1978.

He also got a PgD in Computer Science & Engineering from Enugu State University of Science & Technology in 1991 and also a PgD in Banking and Finance from University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1992.

Ozodinobi has an uncompromising style of leadership with officers irrespective of their ethnic nationality or religious inclination.

He believes strongly in the principle of delegation of duties with requisite authority to perform any task.

Early training that is punctually the sole of every business guided him through his service life from his very first national assignment as National Youth Service Corps member.

He maintains an open friendly attitude to colleagues and works cordially with people from both Christian and Muslim faith.

Muhammad Bello Waziri Dogo was born on June 24, 1954 in Azare, Katagum LGA, Bauchi State. He is married with children. He is presently the Executive Secretary/ CEO, National Health Insurance Scheme, Shehu Yar Adua Street, Utako District, Abuja.

Mohammed got an M.B.B.S from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in June 1978. And also got other additional qualification in the field of medicine.

Mr Dogo-Muhammad was appointed Executive Director of NHIS on 1st of March, 2007 for a period of 5 years in the first instance. He was determined to reorganize and reposition the agency to meet every international standard and be rated among the best practices. He

• From left: Ozodinobi, Uwais, Ekpo and Muhammed

• From left: Former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Minister of Information and Communication Dr Dora Akunyili, Justice Uwais and Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajomuke Akinjide presenting some books

by NIALS at the ceremony.

• From left: Profs Clement Dakas (SAN), Bolaji Owasanoye, Epiphany Azinge (SAN), Paul Idornigie and Bambo Adewopo at the event.

scanned the organisation using SWOT and PEST analyses after which he made a presentation to President, Olusegun Obasanjo in which he highlighted 10 areas that required urgent attention.

He was instrumental to the change of NHIS Departments from six departmental structures to seven departmental structures. ICT was approved by government under hios watch because he envisaged the positive impact ICT

will have on the operations of the scheme and programmes.

Engineer Imo Effiong Ekpo was born on January 16, 1952 in Uyo. He hails from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA of Akwa Ibom State. He is married with four children. He started his education at Lutheran High School Uyo and finished in 1970 at the University of Ibadan in 1978, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England in 1981 and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan

in 1987. He got a B. Sc (Hon) Degree in Geology, Post Graduate Diploma (Civil) Geological Engineering and a M.Sc Degree in Engineering/ Hydrogeology respectively. He specialised in Civil – Geotechnical/Water Engineering and Hydropower.

They have demonstrated high level of ingenuity and performance outside the call of their duty for the discharge of their duties

Driver, friend charged with unlawfully burying accident victim

B

UT for the vigilance of some hawkers at Ijora, Lagos, who witnessed the accident, one Emeka Nwoji would have still been searching for his 18-yearold brother he sent on an errand.

It all happened on August 21, whn 42-year-old Abdulateef Babatunde, the driver of a Volkswagen bus marked JJJ23XB and knocked down, Jeremiah Samuel, who later died in the hospital.

After waiting for several days without seeing Jeremiah whom he had just brought from Ebonyi State, Nwoji went in search of him.

Some hawkers at Ijora-Badia told Nwoji that a young man was hit around 7UP, adding that the driver was forced to take the victim to the hospital for treatment.

Nwoji, who shared his experience with The Nation, said he was

By Precious Igbonwelundu

horrified to discover that the young man he brought to Lagos was dead and buried without his knowledge.

“After those people told me about an accident involving a young man and how they forced the driver to take him to the hospital, I asked them the name of the hospital and they told me. The hospital is at Agbamalu, Ajegunle.

“So, I went to the hospital and was told that my brother was admitted by an auxiliary nurse, one Jonathan Fumilayo, on August 22. and he said my brother could not say exactly where he came from.

“At that point, I was only interested in seeing him because I was under pressure from the village.

His parents were already accusing me of using the young man for

rituals and I did not know what to do.

“When I insisted on knowing where he was and the person who brought him to the hospital, they told me he was dead,” he said.

Nwoji said he immediately ran to the Ijora-Badia Police Station to report the case and policemen followed him to the hospital.

He said it was with the help of the police that the driver was arrested and he disclosed that the deceased had been buried at the Trinity Cemetery.

“The Police arrested him and he confessed that, with the assistance of his friend, one Hassan Mamudu, and some personnel from the hospital, my brother’s corpse was taken to Trinity Cemetery the same day at about 10am and buried.”

Nwoji, who said he immediately

communicated the situation to the deceased’s family at Ebonyi, said by their tradition, the suspect was supposed to perform certain rites which he refused to do.

Having established that the deceased was buried at the cemetery; the police preferred a three-count charge against Babatunde and his friend, Mamudu.

According to the charge sheet, Babatunde on August 21, at about 5pm at Ijora, being the driver in charge of one Volkswagen bus marked JJJ23XB, drove recklessly and caused the death of one Jeremiah Samuel, 18, by hitting him with the said vehicle, an offence punishable under Section 20 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws 2012.

The second count stated that Mamudu, on August 22, at about 10am, at Trinity Cemetery, Ajegunle, Apapa, conspired to

commit accessory after the fact of manslaughter, contrary to Section 19 and punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

While the third count read: “Mamudu, knowing that Babatunde has unlawfully killed Jeremiah Samuel with his bus, secretly assisted the said Babatunde and unlawfully buried the corpse without the knowledge and consent of his parents and other relevant authorities and thereby committed an offence under Section 20 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws 2012.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and they were admitted to bail by Magistrate Patrick Adekomaya in the sum of N500,000 each with four sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate adjourned the matter to October 24.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

32

NATIONAL BAR

IBA: Lawyers seek to strengthen rule of law

T

HE International Bar Association (IBA) ended its 2012 An nual Conference in Dublin, Ireland last Friday with a resolve to working towards strengthening the legal profession and encouraging the world’s governments to uphold the rule of law.

The conference, which held from September 30 to October 5, had over 200 sessions with a fabulous line up of world leading experts as guests at the showcases, lectures and interviews. There were 5,200 delegates. Nigeria is said to have had the largest contingent of attendees.

Prime Minister of Ireland (Irish Taoiseach) Enda Kenny opened the conference. The keynote speaker was an expert on the global economy, Nobel Prize Winner, Dr Joseph Stiglitz, who had warned of the global economic crisis as early as 2003 in his book, Globalisation and its Discontents.

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Okey Wali (SAN), who was in attendance, said the conference was fruitful and rewarding.

He said what he learnt has broadened his knowledge, saying he would apply them leading the NBA. Wali said he would restructure the NBA secretariat for efficiency and better service delivery to Nigerian lawyers IBA President Akira Kawamura expressed his delight at hosting many lawyers from so many nations at one time! “Your presence has made this event the largest and most important gathering of international lawyers in the world today,” he said.

Ireland’s rich history of Law and the legal profession, he said, dates back many centuries making it the perfect venue for the conference.

“It is noteworthy that, in recent years, the legal profession of Ireland has accomplished great work in defending the people’s interests from the hardships of the Global Financial Crisis. I think that the impact of the aftermath of the GFC was lessened by the hard work of Irish lawyers, and I admire them!”

He presented his scorecard. “I have represented our association in the four corners of the world, and met very senior members of government, such as the Russian President Mr Medvedev, Sheikhs of Middle East nations, leaders of international organisations like Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the UN, chief justices, law firm partners and leaders of bar associations.

“All of them look to the International Bar Association to set standards for rule-making, strengthen

By John Austin Unachukwu and Joseph Jibueze

the legal profession and encourage the world’s governments to uphold the rule of law,” Kawamura said.

Stiglitz warned that the damaging effects of the recent global financial crisis are far from a thing of the past.

Calling for greater fiscal solidarity throughout Europe and the reelection of Barack Obama as President of the United States (US), he said improved unity between countries and communities in terms of both fiscal and societal matters was the only way that the western world was going to recover from the recent problems that it has endured.

Stiglitz told the conference that the world had not solved the problems of financial crisis and that austerity measures could be damaging for the global economy.

Europe would be in financial turmoil for some time, said Stiglitz.

“People are seeing not hope but despair. And that is explosive,” he told the conference, according to IBAnews. However, he said Europe should commit to a fiscal union both for economic reasons and to create greater solidarity, warning that the election of Obama’s Republican rival Mitt Romney would lead to a worsening of both economic and societal problems.

Prime Minister Kenny said the conference topics reflected the most urgent issues facing governments and societies.

“Human rights, poverty, economic development, taxation, family law, corporate law - the things that preoccupy politicians and that in some cases, can make or break, a life as it is lived,” said Kenny.

“And with such high stakes, and for government to get it right, we rely on your expertise as lawyers to inform our decision-making.”

Kenny also said Ireland was on the road to recovery and had become more competitive as a place to do business.

Chair, Public and Professional Division of IBA, Peter D. Maynard, said the association, born as a ‘United Nations of lawyers’, still has to work to develop its full potential.

“We must formulate that vision and constantly devise new and innovative ways to shape the future and to capture the attention and the imagination of the international community to increasingly recognise the important role of the IBA. “At the last annual conference in Dubai, I asked, ‘As the global voice of the profession, what are we say-

Legal Dairy

Institute holds inaugural lecture today The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) will hold its fifth inaugural lecture today.

Venue: Ayo Ajomo Auditorium, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, UNILAG Lagos.

Time: 4.00 p.m.

Topic: According to intellectual property. A pro-Development Vision of the Law and the Nigerian Intellectual Property Laws and Policy reform in the knowledge era.

Lecturer: Ademola Edu distinguished professor of Intellectual property law and former Director-General, Nigerian CopyRights Commission, Prof. Adebambo Adewopo.

Institute holds roundtable The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, (NIALS) holds one day roundtable under the late justice Chief Chike Idigbe Centre for Media Communication and Information Technology Law. Title: Social Media and Public Security.

Chairman: Chief Raymond Dopesi, Chairman, Daar Communications Plc Special Guest of Honour: Justice Uzo Ndukwe Anyanwu (JCA) Date: October 15, 2012 Venue: Old Court room, Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone FCT – Abuja.

Time: 10.00 a.m.

• From left: Wali (SAN), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Rickey Tarfa (SAN)

• Chairman, NBA section on business law, Gbenga • Hon Justice Adegbola Adeniyi(right) with Prof. Lanre Oyebode and Wilson Iorshe of Noble Crest Solicitors Fagbohun of the Nig Inst of Advanced Legal Studies

ing?’ I referred to issues such as war and peace, poverty, diversity, human rights, corruption, corporate social responsibility, pro bono service, ethics, access to justice and the rule of law.

“But, the same question applies to the subject matter of practically all the sections, committees, and entities across the IBA, and should be answered urgently. I therefore repeat that question. We need a paradigm shift, not only in how the world perceives the IBA, but also in how we see ourselves.

“Known as the global voice of the profession, the IBA is really a chorus of many voices. Indeed,

there are or can be within the IBA global voices in various fields, whether specialist or multidisciplinary, regardless of Division.

“We need to take stock at every opportunity of where we are and where we ought to be. It is not easy to become a global voice, and even more difficult continuously to say and do meaningful things and to remain a truly global voice.

“Therefore, more needs to be done. The IBA ought to continue to appeal not only to lawyers, firms, as well as regional groups of them, but also to governments, international organisations, mili-

tary lawyers and civil society at large.

“I am talking about the things which not only have made the IBA good, but will make it great. It is no mystery that the measure of greatness is how much we benefit mankind.

Islands of affluence in an ocean of poverty do not make a sustainable or just global economic order.

“The GFC and the Eurozone crisis have exacerbated the problem of poverty. But, much in the spirit of the work of our keynote speaker, Joseph Stiglitz, we must continue to question and improve upon the conventional ways of helping poor countries and the poor everywhere.”

Court adjourns Briton’s N1b suit against police till Nov 20

J

USTICE Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by a British citizen, Mr Khomeini Bukhari against the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar till November 20.

The court will hear a Preliminary Objection filed by the police chief that day.

He is asking the court to strike out the matter on the ground that he was not responsible for the alleged libel for which he was sued.

Besides, he said the action is statute barred.

Mr Bukhari had on May 25 instituted action, seeking a declaration that the alleged failure of the defendant and his officers to investigate the report he said he made to them on October 31 concerning a robbery incident involving some police officers on October 29 at the Millennium Park, Abuja amounts to a tortious breach of a statutory duty to investigate crime to his detriment.

He prayed for an order of mandamus compelling Mohammed to investigate the report he made and make public the outcome.

The plaintiff sought a declaration that the statements widely published by the print media on about

By Joseph Jibueze

December 7, 2011 credited to Mr Jimoh Moshood, the public relations officer of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force was libelous.

The police spokesman was said to have stated that no policeman was posted on duty to the place on the day in question, adding that the information given by the Briton was incoherent and has no bearing with what is known in the police hierarchy in the FCT. In his court process, the plaintiff alleged that the police spokesman said: “The man only wants to embarrass us. We were wondering what he could be doing at such a place by 6.00 p.m in the evening alone and no other person was in the entire vast park. We have also asked him to come forward to give a statement but he refused, saying he has travelled.

“The first time the man came, he looked unkempt and untidy and from his physique and the incoherent manner of his statements, it seems he is not in his best frame of mind.

“I suspect he only wants to embarrass us but we have commenced investigations into his complaints.

When we post policemen on duty

• Bukhari

in the evenings, we give them torchlight but the man said none of them had torchlight.”

Moshood was also said to have claimed that he could not understand why the plaintiff was carrying about a huge amount of cash.

The plaintiff sought N1billion as exemplary and aggravated general damages for the injury he claimed he suffered “as a result of the tortuous breach by the defendant of the duty to perform his statutory duty to investigate the robbery incident of October 29, 2011 and malicious and libelous publication against the plaintiff.”

He also sought a public apology from the police, and an order of perpetual injunction restraining them from further publishing the libelous statements.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

33

LEGAL OPINION

How couple stole N240m from Lagos firm

A

LAGOS High Court, Ikeja, has heard how a couple al legedly stole N239,999,349.23, belonging to Clarion Bonded Terminal Limited and betrayed the trust reposed in them by other directors.

Innocent and Bernadine Eloka are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing of N239,999, 349.23 belonging to the company preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Testifying before Justice Habeeb Abiru, the Chairman, Clarion Bonded Terminal Ltd, Mr Jude Igbanugo, said the couple took advantage of their being directors and signatories to bank account to steal from the company established in 2008.

He said in June 2010, when he and his wife went on vacation, the Elokas were given permission to sign cheques via a letter written to the bank ‘to make sure that the business did not stop.’

“While on vacation, I got a note via e-mail from Innocent Eloka that they got a container load of wine and

By Adebisi Onanuga

they needed N1.5 million to clear the wine. After consulting with my wife on the mail, I approved that the money should be collected. But instead of N1.5 million requested for, the Elokas withdrew N5 million.

“Upon discovery of the withdrawal of N5 million, I did nothing because, my Lord, I don’t know how to use the word, Mr Eloka is or was a good friend. So, for the sake of the relationship, I did nothing,” Igbanugo stated.

Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, Igbanugo told the court that the signatories to the company’s account with the Spring Bank Plc were himself, his wife and the Elokas.

He said the mandate was that once any of the Elokas signed, it covered the couple.

Igbanugo also told the court how the Elokas took N20 million from the company’s account while he and his wife were away to bury his father in December 2010.

He said based on the experience of the past, he and his wife had

signed 10 blank cheques for the Elokas to use in their absence in running the company, only to come back and realised that the Elokas had withdrawn N20 million to pay one Andrew Ajuku for a house they bought from him.

He said this was contrary to the earlier decision of the company to buy a house for the couplem, using a mortgage loan secured from Spring Bank.

He said this arraangement was in addition to N9 million already given to the couple for the house they were living in.

“So, I was really troubled when I heard that Mr and Mrs Eloka still signed cheques to pay Ajuku N20 million,” he said.

On getting back to Lagos, after the burial, the witness said he immediately wrote a letter to all directors of the company about what the Elokas had done.

He said the husband, Mr Eloka, replied, apologising that he was under pressure.

Justice Abiru adjourned further hearing on the matter to October 11.

Firm to hold public lecture on social security

T

O ensure that the lives of Ni gerians are taken seriously and basic amenities provided, the law firm of Bamidele Aturu & Co. has concluded plans to organise its fifth annual law and social development public lecture.

The lecture, which will hold on October 29, at 11 a.m, at the Banquet Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, has the theme Social security: taking the lives of Nigerians seriously.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

A release signed by constitutional lawyer, Aturu disclosed that renowned political scientist, Professor Adele Jinadu, will be the guest lecturer. He will address such issues as what social security is? Is there any form of social protection or security for the marginalized? If there is any, is it adequate or sustainable, and what are the strategies and mechanisms for

ensuring social protection?

Others include: In what context and by what means can social protection be actualised? Are there inherent limitations in liberal democracy that militate against social security? Is a system of social security a means of entrenchment and consolidation of democracy? What are the implications of a regime of social security on governance structure in the country?

Court restrains IGP, others from arresting Lagos USTICE Florence Duroha- Igwe determination on notice. lawyer Ozoani andOzoani of an Imo State High Court, had filed an application

J

Owerri has restrained the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), his Assistant (AIG) in Zone 9, Umuahia and Julius Berger Plc, from arresting a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Emeka Ozoani Also restrained are ASP P.S NJoku of Zone 9 and DCP Zone 9, Peter Ogunyanwo.

The order will subsist pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed by the applicant.

Justice Duroha-Igwe issued the order restraining the respondents or their agents from arresting Ozoani while ruling on a Motion Exparte dated October 2, 2012 which the lawyer filed after being declared wanted, in spite of an earlier court order which set aside the warrant of arrest.

The judge, upon reading through

By Adebisi Onanuga

the Motion Exparte, the affidavit of urgency and supporting affidavit filed with a written address and the arguments of the applicant ordered that the defendants should not arrest the lawyer.

She ordered that: “That the respondents, their agents, officers are severally and jointly restrained from arresting Barrister Emeka Ozoani on the strength of the newspaper publication declaring the applicant a wanted person in respect of a suit where he is discharging his professional legal services pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for enforcement of his fundamental rights.”

The judge stressed that the order will subsist pending the hearing

for the enforcement of his fundamental human right to personal liberty supported by a 59-paragraph affidavit, asking for an interim order restraining the respondents from arresting him pending the determination of his Motion on Notice and on the strength of the said newspaper publication He also asked for a declaration that the act of declaring him a category A wanted person as illegal and a order setting aside the declaration that he is a wanted person Ozoani had also asked that the respondents tender a public apology via two national newspapers for unlawful infringement of his right and asked for N50 billion as special, exemplary and general damages.

• Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Funmilayo Eso-Williams; Mr Femi Ifaturoti (second left); Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) and Osun State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Mr Stephen Kola Balogun at this year’s International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference held between September 30 and October 5 in Dublin, Ireland

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

The state, youth and crime

Y

OURS sincerely saw first hand why it is necessary that state governments should establish rehabilitation centers as part of our criminal punishment system, following an experience on Friday, September 28, 2012 at a Magistrate Court sitting at Tinubu square, Lagos. There, Mr. Martin Owumi, the presiding Senior Magistrate, grappled with the choices open to him, in a criminal charge against six young persons brought before his court. Sitting at the bar where a number of senior Lawyers, including this writer, waiting for other matters before the Court. That experience showed the need for such centers in metropolitan cities, bursting with youth, energy and delinquency.

The six young men on trial, where charged on a two count charge, under section 5(b) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Cap 389, Vol. XXII, Laws of Federation, 2011; and section 43 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. The alleged criminal conduct was relayed in the open court, by the Police Officer in charge of the investigation at the request of His Honour, Mr. Owumi, as many of us privately wandered what could the young men have done, to be charged with what is clearly an omnibus section in the Robbery and Fire Arms Act, aforementioned.

The story was roughly that one of them owned a gun which he gave his friend to keep, and which that friend put in a bag and handed over to yet another friend for safe keeping. The last two accused borrowed the gun from the temporal custodians, which according to them upon questioning by the Magistrate, they intended to us to harass some people, albeit at an ungodly hour of the day, when some vigilant police men caught them. What struck me was how one gun, which thankfully has not been used to maim or kill somebody in the narrated circumstance, has ensnared six young men into a criminal charge, which upon conviction, may reward all of them with life imprisonment.

The second charge was that they belonged to an unlawful society, which I found out from the charge sheet, was one of the dreaded confraternities joined by many deluded Nigerian youths, especially in the higher institutions. Apart from one of them who claimed to be a graduate of a road side computer school, and another who says he is an actor, the rest have no work, and stopped schooling after their secondary education, and have not learned any meaningful skill or enrolled to learn any. Watching them standing in the dock, they were not looking like the red eyed robbery suspects that are paraded once in a while by the police. In fact they could pass for well heeled graduates or young businessmen, who tried to confuse impunity for exuberance.

His Honour, Mr. Owumi apparently relying on section 15 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2011, conferred with the prosecution and the defense lawyers whether the young men can be giving an opportunity for redemption, without a full trial, under one of the disposition measures listed in that section. After his commendable interactions and adjournment of that case, a few of us turned amicus curiae of the court, and encouraged the Magistrate to exercise the option of community service, as punishment for the accused young men. I have taken liberty to relay this matter which is clearly sub judice to highlight a life case that underpins the urgent need for the society to begin to articulate measure to contain and contend with the un-channeled energy of our youths who have lost focus and direction.

While the accused persons standing trial in the case in question are adults, I was worried that many people who are convicted and are sent to prison, or even remanded in prison awaiting a formal trial, turn out as worst scourges to the society, when they come out. No doubt our prisons are punishment centers, and have little chance for rehabilitation of convicts. So when a judge is faced with first offenders that have not gone round the bend in a manner of speaking, there may be the need to rely on the commendable provisions of section 15 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. The section lists a number of disposition measures that a court can order as alternative to death, imprisonment, fine and forfeiture. Indeed community service order coupled with a binding-over order to be of good behavior I believe are commendable ways to deal with a clear act of delinquency or even putative criminality that has not mutated to hardened criminality.

There is also the need to remove prisons from the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 constitution, and put it in the concurrent legislative list. Most of the present prisons inherited from the colonial government are dilapidated and insufficient, resulting in overcrowding and dehumanizing conditions, as the camp of the criminals and suspected criminals increase. If our federal system is properly reordered, those convicted of state offences will head to state controlled prisons, while convicts of federal offences will head to federal prisons. Under the current system, the federal government does not make enough budgetary allocation for the prisoners and the welfare of warders.

In a way the inefficiencies at the states and federal level are willy-nilly transferred to each other. This is the case as most of the prison inmates infringed state laws and are in most cases awaiting the advice of the state Director of Public Prosecution; who in most cases may also be hamstrung by the inefficient investigation of the offences against the state laws, by the federal police. In the circumstance while the person who gets sent to jail, looses; the society is the ultimate looser with an increasing share of deviants.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

34

LAW & SOCIETY THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) BAR LEADERS SUMMIT HELD AT THE TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA.

• From left: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim;NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) and former Minister for Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN)

• General Secretary, NBA, Emeka Obegolu (left) and Chairman, NBA Abuja branch, Mazi Afam Osigwe

• Former Presidents of NBA Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Yusuf Ali (SAN)

• From left: former General Secretary, NBA, Ibrahim Eddy Mark; Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and former President, NBA, OCJ Okocha (SAN)

• Former President NBA, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) and Lanke Odogiyan

• Chairman, Egbe Amofin, Pa Bandele Aiku (SAN) and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN)

• From left: Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), former Chairman, NBA-Section on Legal Practice (SLP) Chief Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) and Chairman, SLP, D. C. Denwigwe (SAN)

• From left: J. S. Okutepa (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN) and Ibrahim E. Mark .

• Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) and Prof. Akinseye-George (SAN).

• Chief J-K Gadzama (SAN) and Chairperson, Arewa Lawyers Forum Hajiya Fatima Kwaku

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

35

LAW & SOCIETY 2012 ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURE ORGANISED BY THE LAW FIRM OF J-K GADZAMA & PARTNERS LLP IN LAGOS

• Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) (left) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Suleiman Barau.

• From left: Frank Nweke Jr, Justice Ayotunde Phillips and Sen. Nkechi Nwangwu.

• Akin Akintola and Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), representing NBA President • Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) (left) and Aminu Diko

• Chairman, NBA Abuja Branch Mazi Afam Osigwe and Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch Alex Muoka

•Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) (left) and Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN)

• From left: Adesina Adegbite, Omasan Agbajoh and Bernard Mixxo

• From left: Amaechi Nwaiwu (SAN), Zik Obi (SAN) and Dr. Jacob Nwachukwu.

• Dr. Ghaji Bello and Titus Abe

• Mrs. Ijoma Chuks-Okoye and Henry Micheal-Ihonde.

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

36

LAW & SOCIETY

SAN donates e-library to Law Faculty A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, has donated an electronic library to his alma-mater, the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. He was also honoured by the students, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE

T

HE Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State had a reason to rejoice last week. An ultramodern electronic library was donated to them by an alumnus, Yusuf Ali (SAN), to whom giving is a way of life.

Just recently, the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital received a boost with the inauguration of a Trauma Centre donated

by Ali. It was done in memory of his wife. He also partnered the Association of Nigerian Authors to endow the ANA/Yusuf Ali Schools’ Literary Awareness Campaign.

For the Law Students Society of the faculty, it was an opportunity to honour a man they consider a role model. They launched the Advocate Journal in his honour.

The e-library, made up of 42 internet-connected computers linked to the main library, also provides additional 72 students to use their laptops to access a central information system.

Ali said he felt privileged to be honoured by the students. “I can only say that I am overwhelmed, overjoyed and that today is a tremendous day in my life.

“To be identified, recognised and honoured by people who appreciate what you’re doing, by your peers, by people who take you as a role model, by people who also aspire to be like you – is not a mean feat.

“Not every person who has achieved in life is lucky to have this kind of day. Many people die unsung, even when they have done so much. So, one is eternally grateful to God and to those whom he has used to recognise one’s little effort – that one is not being allowed to die unsung. It’s quite tremendous,” he said.

The SAN said he was motivated by the need to give back to his alma-mater and to the society, adding that God only used him to provide tools to make learning easier.

“We must all develop the consciousness to assist others. I always tell my children to be in a hurry to do good,” he said.

Ali believes life should be made livable for everyone, and is concerned about rising insecurity in the country. It is not a task to be left for government alone, he said.

“Security is a matter for all of us.

Security is everybody’s business.

Because it controls all the leverages of force, the government must provide the working tools for those who are engaged in the business of keeping peace and maintaining law and order.

“But as citizens, we must also ensure that we provide information to these agencies of government, that we do not habour people of criminal tendencies and intentions, that we do not give support and succour to people who want to derail the society.

“So, all of us, we’re all stakeholders in the security of lives and property, of limbs and lives. It’s not just for the government alone.

Government is to provide for the agencies responsible for keeping of peace and order and law; we are to support those agencies.”

For government to gain the confidence of its citizens, Ali said they must be free to vent their grievances through protest if need be.

“The right to protest is constitu-

tional as long as it is peaceful. If you say people cannot protest against certain things, you drive them underground. And the result of driving people underground what we’re seeing in Boko Haram.

“So, let people give vent to whatever agitations they have. The ones that the state or the relevant agencies can address, let them address such issues, but it is not good to suppress people from expressing views.”

The senior advocate thinks some provisions in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution (Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy) should be transferred to Chapter IV (Fundamental Rights) to make them enforceable.

He said: “I wrote a memo to the National Assembly stating that some of the rights under Chapter Two should be transferred to the Fundamental Rights. Right to education for example, right to health – I believe they should be fundamental.

“The state has a minimum duty it must discharge to the citizens. So, I’m all for it. The job of the legislature is to enact laws for the greater interest and protection and good of the majority.”

Ali spared a thought for younger lawyers, urging the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to revisit the hike in Annual General Conference fees.

“I think its necessary (to reduce the fees) because the disagreement and disaffection about it was quite high, so I think that’s the essence of leadership. You revisit an issue when many people are complaining about it,” he said.

He spoke on his expectations as the new legal year begins. “My expectation is that the judges would rededicate themselves and that they would be giving us quality service like they have been doing, rendering justice to all manner of men without affection or ill-will.

“For lawyers, we should redouble our effort, and ensure that justice is not sacrificed on the altar of our professional fees alone, or on the altar of technicalities. The attainment of justice is quite necessary for the lawyers and for the judges and I think that’s the least we can do.”

At the event were a representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who delivered a lecture, and a former Defence Minister Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN).

Ali, called to bar three decades ago, attended the University of Ife, (now OAU) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree. In 1997, he was conferred SAN rank.

A member of several professional bodies, he was the Chairman Kwara State Law Reform Committee, as well as former Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Bar Journal. He was Pioneer Chairman, NBA Section on Legal Practice (SLP) and currently chairs its Committee on the Rule of Law. An Associate Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Ali has prosecuted several cases for many state governments, and was on the legal team of the former President, Late Musa Yar’adua that defended his election before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

He has published several articles in learned journals and contributed chapters to many books.

• Falana (SAN)

• Kayode (SAN) and Ali (SAN) at the event.

• President Law Students Society, OAU Ogunyemi Adeniyi, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) and Justice S.D Kawu

• Nathaniel Oke (SAN) and Olugbemi Fatula

• Senior Special Assistant to Governor of the State of Osun on Legal Matters, Dr Sunkanmi Anwo and Alhaji Gani Murgan of the Dept. of International Law & Jurisprudence, UNILORIN

• Cross section of students

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

37

LEGAL OPINION

‘Nigeria suffers from lack of vision, national goals’ Text of a paper delivered by former Chief Economic Adviser to the President Chief Phillip Asiodu at the Muhammadu Lawal Uwais Public Service Award Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in collaboration with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) • Continued from last week

N

O fault of theirs. Most of the comments on the past in our media since 1966 have been self-denigrating and abusive of the national psyche.

Let us remind ourselves that throughout British Colonial Rule the annual revenue of the Government never exceeded £40 million. It was under Balewa after Independence that it reached £50 million, and it rose to £100 million in the second year of Gowon’s administration and by then we were already engulfed in the Civil War. You can then try to imagine how frugally public funds were managed when you consider that the ports of Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar, the 4000 miles of railways, the telegraph lines which crisscrossed the country from North to South and East to West the good schools which mine and earlier generations attended and from which we went direct to the best British, American and other universities were all developed with such meager resources!

•The political parties and the party system have to be re-invented and re-engineered to become patriotic responsive vehicles for promoting the general welfare of all citizens and national greatness. They must adopt and believe in clear manifestos and programmes to promote national progress. Indeed, it will be desirable for all of them to base their programmes on Vision 2020 and let partisan competition and differences be on how best to achieve Vision 2020 and loftier goals beyond.

Indeed, achieving the targets contained in Vision 20:2020 may take us beyond 2025. What is important is to embark earnestly on its implementation. The political parties must become effective organs for selecting and disciplining candidates for positions in the executive and legislature all of them subscribing to the same policies and programmes for moving the nation forward. Only such re-engineered political parties can help the President and his successors in achieving Vision 20:2020 and good governance.

•The current epidemic of competitive corruption, and excessive greed amongst the political class and our elites in appropriating national resources to themselves must be stopped immediately.

•The President should lead the nation to adopt and live with more realistic national remuneration scales for all those paid from the public purse. Nigeria’s per capita income is only N300,000 per annum. I would suggest the following maximum figures for aggregate remuneration (basic salary + allowances) per annum– President N30 million. Governors N25 million. Head of National Assembly, Judiciary, and Federal Ministers N24 million.

•Proportionate reasonable adjustment of these figures down the various hierarchies.

•Enhancement of present relative positions of certain groups like teachers.

•Cost effective, transparent public procurement. Over 200 per cent inflation of costs have been reported in some instances these days.

•Return to the old values of patient, disciplined life-time career progression as opposed to the current craze to achieve billionaire status, if possible, before the age of 35.

•Above all, a far-reaching rationalisation of the Ministries and Agencies of Governments taking into account the Oronsanye Report. There must be a drastic reduction in the cost of governance at Federal, State and Local Government levels. Let us remind ourselves that the Federal Government of USA is run through 12 Departments (our equivalent of ministries) and no American State has more than six persons of the status of our state commissioners. Here some states have more than 24 Commissioners and scores of Special Advisers and Special Assistants.

If above suggestions are strictly implemented, we would be aiming for target resource allocation of at least Recurrent to Capital ratio of 45 Recurrent, 55 capital, compared with the ratio of 74 Recurrent, 26 Capital in the Federal Budget of 2012. Considerable resources will then be freed to be invested in Education, Power, Transportation, Health and other priority sectors in pursuance of the Transformation Agenda We must recall the example of Balewa, the Regional Premiers, and all the Ministers, who

in 1962 at the launching of the 1962 – 68 National Plan took 10 per cent cut in their salaries to signal the need for national savings to help finance the Plan. That measure brought the salary of a Federal Minister below that of a Federal Permanent Secretary!

I should add that in the First Republic, the salaries of a Professor, Federal Permanent Secretary and Federal Minister were about equal. A Federal Legislator who was part time then earned about 1/3 of the Minister’s figure.

Compare the position today!

The private sector in Nigeria also needs to improve corporate governance and to rein in excessive Executive Greed. Some of the charges in court against some bank managers, for example, made me extremely sad.

A few constitutional amendments would also be useful. There should be provision for independent candidates. Some outstanding independent candidates will get elected and help to improve the calibre of members in the legislatures. Consideration should be given to increasing the membership of the State Assemblies to make it more difficult for state governors to direct and manipulate the State Assemblies. They should not be full time but have two sessions of two to three months each a year. Their salaries and allowances should also be drastically reduced to free resources for capital investments. The Federal and Regional Legislatures before Independence and during the First Republic -1960 – 66 were part time.

The 774 local governments recognized under the 1999 Constitution are too many. Many of them are too small to be able to deliver their constitutional services unlike the situation before Independence and the First Republic where you had Local Governments like the Lagos City Council, the Kano Native Authority, and the Benin Native Authority etc. which were large enough and had the resources to maintain professional and technical departments, able to deliver good services in health, educational, and public works sectors. In our present circumstances of very atomized LGAs consideration should be given to enabling several LGAs to be grouped in viable catchment areas to establish competent Technical Boards funded equitably per capita by the co-operating LGAs to deliver services in sectors such as Educational Inspectorates, Teachers Commissions, Public Health Services, Rural Roads etc. There is no time to go into other desirable re-organisation details to ensure service delivery.

It is very necessary and urgent for the Government to continue the reforms towards the re-establishment of a greatly improved, reorganised, re-oriented, re-motivated, continuously trained and re-trained professional, non-partisan, empowered, well-remunerated, non-corrupt, investor-friendly Civil Service which is merit and productivity driven. This is to enable the Government deliver.

Can Nigerian leaders and citizens rise to these challenges and do what is necessary to save the country? Let us recall some achievements in the past : •The achievements in the vast improvement in the provision of education for children, the establishment of plantations and farm settlement schemes and initiating industrial development under Regional Self-Government in the late 1950s and the First Republic up to 1966.

•Despite the dire predictions of the doom of genocide and lynching which would follow the defeat of Biafran Secession, Nigeria surprised the world with the success of its programme of Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction under the 1970 – 74 second National Plan.

•The impressive average annual growth rate of 6 per cent + from 1962 - 1966; and after the Civil War, the average annual growth rate from 1970 – 75 of 11.75 per cent.

•Supposing even after removing Gen. Gowon, his successors had continued with the disciplined implementation of the 1975 – 1980 third National Plan, and if under subsequent National Plans, 10 per cent + average annual growth rate was maintained for the next two decades, Nigeria would have escaped from poverty and under-development and would today be an African Lion or Tiger amongst Asian Tigers.

Other initiatives for promoting national integration Besides economic growth and improving

welfare for all citizens there are other initiatives a patriotic leadership can take to foster national integration. Supposing following up on the early successes of the National Youth Service, the Nigerian leadership was able to introduce a Language Policy to foster national integration?

This people like me would have urged on the patriotic nation-building listening leadership which we had then but for the termination of the Gowon Administration by the coup of July 1975.

Such a policy would require each child to learn to read and write the local language where he is born. By the age of 10, the child begins to receive his instructions in English. The new policy would be that by the age of 12 or 13 when he or she enters a secondary school, he/she has to make a choice. If he is in the North, he must choose one Southern Language which he will be taught to speak, read and write. The chances are that the child will choose either Ibo or Yoruba. In the South, the child will likely choose Hausa as a Northern Language which he will be taught to speak, read and write. All secondary schools will have the necessary language departments.

The upshot of this policy will be that within 15 to 20 years all educated Nigerians (like the Swiss) will, apart from their local language and English, be able to communicate in one or more Nigerian languages. With the ongoing inter-action and cultural exchanges and the pressures of globalization, you can imagine the situation among our children and grand children twenty years hence. Such a policy should be implemented after careful detailed consultations and preparation.

Reform and repositioning of the Civil Service A great deal of effort and resources have been devoted since 1999 towards reforming and repositioning the Civil Service and the Public Service generally to enhance service delivery.

External organizations such as the World Bank and The British Government DFID are supporting some of the programmes. Many workshops and training programmes have been conducted and are continuing.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) was established in 2004 as a central coordinating office for reforms of the Civil Service. SERVICOM (Service Compact With All Nigerians) was also established to monitor ethics and efficient service delivery.

More recently, the Government has adopted a National Strategy for Public Service Reform which we are informed will lead to the creation of a “world class Public Service, delivering government, policies and programmes with professionalism, excellence and passion”. The NPSR has three phases 2011–2013, 2013 – 2016 and the final phase 2016 – 2020. What is important is that the efforts will be intensified to achieve : •Effective and fair Governance of the Civil Service; •Organisational efficiency and effectiveness; •Professional and result-oriented civil servants; •Ethical and accountable workforce with a positively changed work culture; •Improved competence and capacity; and •Knowledge based workforce.

It is critically necessary at this stage of Nigeria’s development to return to a meritdriven Public Service. The Federal Character principle should not be used to prevent it. It is better at the point of recruitment to stretch the net as wide as possible to ensure as much widespread representation of areas and communities as possible. But every candidate recruited must meet the minimum pre-set qualifications. After recruitment, there must be training at various stages and good career planning to be undertaken by the greatly improved Human Resources Management Departments being developed. Once in the service promotion and advancement should be strictly on the basis of merit and productivity. The practice of transferring junior less experienced and not so competent officials from outside organizations and other services to become bosses of their former seniors after contrived promotions in such external organizations must not be allowed.

It is also important to implement a Remuneration and Rewards system for the public service that will attract the best talents.

That was the situation in pre Independence days. As far back as 1955, the British Government adopted the principle of

• Asiodu

“comparability with private enterprise rates”.

The USA adopted the same principle in their Federal Salary Reform Acts of 1962 and 1964.

This principle could be applied in formulating the more realistic national remunerations which I recommended earlier.

We were informed in a recent seminar of many significant milestones already attained in the ongoing Civil Service Reforms.

Unfortunately, the image of the Civil Service and the Public Service amongst the citizens is not good. This may not be the fault of the Public Service. It does not operate in isolation. At the end of the reform process, the civil servant must earn and acquire a new image - that of a friendly, helpful, prompt, competent servant of the people who is proinvestment and is a willing midwife to the birth of new productive enterprises and to wealth creation. He must discard the image of the arrogant intimidator or of the corrupt extortioner. It is then that he can help to deliver the desired Transformation Agenda.

Need for a call to order To the outsider, the pace of the conduct of national affairs appears lethargic. There is a prevailing mood of insecurity and uneasiness amongst the general public, I believe that there is need now for a dramatic “Call To Order” by Mr. President that the leaders of all sectors of government and society must try to undergo the necessary drastic change of attitude and embrace all the aspects of good governance which entails : •The Rule of Law; •Efficient and prompt administration of justice; •Predictability, objectivity and consistency in government measures; •Respect for the sanctity of contracts; •Abandonment of the pursuit of selfenrichment as the motive for seeking political leadership and office; •Zero tolerance for corruption and the prompt application of adequate sanctions against offenders including seizure of all properties corruptly acquired; •Efficient and timely service delivery by all government agencies; •Return to planning and submission to the discipline of planning, respecting predetermined priorities in the utilisation of national resources; •Return to the principle of collective responsibility of government; and •Entrenchment of merit and the pursuit of excellence as a core.

The Government should also embark on effective and sustained publicity of the Transformation Agenda - what it means for all of us and why we should all support it and participate in delivery where we can.

Nigerians are governable. The people need to be mobilized so that the Transformation Agenda can be achieved.

I thank you all for listening to me patiently.

•Chief Asiodu, CON Abuja

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

38

LEGAL OPINION

ICJ judgment on Bakassi: The ‘fresh facts’

B

ARELY few days before Nigeria loses her right to appeal the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula, the legal climate still remains cloudy on the issue. .

On October 10, 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) sitting at The Hague entered a judgment in the case of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon V. Nigeria: Equatorial Guinea intervening).

The ICJ Judgment definitively delimited the frontier between Cameroon and Nigeria from Lake Chad to the sea.

In the Bakassi section, the Court decided that the boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria in Bakassi is delimited in accordance with the Anglo-German Agreement of March 11, 1913 and that the sovereignty over the peninsula lay with Cameroon.

However, arising from the reports of gross violations of the rights of Bakassi population, and the increased agitation and restiveness of the said population, the National Assembly took interest in the matter and consequently passed a resolution urging the Executive to explore ways and possible appeal grounds on the matter.

As a result, the Presidency organised a consultative meeting with all stakeholders in the Bakassi matter. The two Governors of the affected States of Cross-Rivers Governor Liyel Imoke and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio were present at the meeting.

Nigeria’s former Judge of the ICJ, Judge Bola Ajibola (SAN) was also invited by the Presidency along with four other experts to address the meeting on the matter and the possibility of Nigeria’s success on appeal.

Other experts invited by to address the meeting include the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Benjamin Njemanze, former AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice in Cross River State, Nella Andem Rabana (SAN) and Prof. Bakindo The principle of res judicata as enshrined in Article 60 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) makes judgments of the Court final and without appeal.

The exception, however, is contained in Article 61 which recognises a party’s right, within 10 years from the date of a judgment, to make an application for its revision based upon decisive facts which were unknown to the Court and the party claiming revision.

Reliable sources at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa informed The Nation that after listening to the various perspectives on the matter, the President directed the leadership of the National Assembly to put a legal team together under the leadership of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) to work night and day to make sure that Nigeria beats the deadline to appeal on the matter.

As a result of this, a committee was set up comprising Adoke, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN), Dr. Ali Ahmed, Nella Andem Rabana (SAN) among others. The committee agreed to meet in the house of the Senate Leader Victor Ndoma Egba on Friday.

Unfortunately, the proposed meeting did not hold as some of the members could not agree or reconcile the mandate of the committee with what others believed to be the intention of the Presidency. They however agreed to seek clarification from the appropriate authorities before reconvening this week.

The Nation reliably gathered that the Bakassi Movement Group has briefed an international legal expert to assist them with the appeal while waiting for the government to put its act together.

The group is of the view that an application for revision is in compliance with the ICJ Statutes. It drew attention to the fact that the Nigeria’s position before and consistently after the judgment, was that of strict compliance.

It therefore submitted that the nation would be discharging its constitutional responsibility if it took steps to protect the rights of its citizens by taking advantage of the opportunity available in Article 61 of

• Senate President, David Mark

By John Austin Unachukwu

the ICJ Statute.

“The anguished cries of the Bakassi people are real, true and ongoing,” is said, adding that only recently they had discovered decisive fresh facts which on their behalf the Nigerian Government could present to the ICJ for revision.

ICJ rules provide that any fresh facts must have been unknown to the Court and country seeking the review. The fact must be decisive, cogent and compelling enough to warrant a revision. The court must be satisfied that the facts presented could not have been discovered, even if a thorough search had been undertaken at the time of the proceedings.

In other words, the failure to present those facts even when they existed at the time of the proceedings is not attributable to lack of diligence on the part of the party seeking revision.

The facts must have been discovered not earlier than six months from the time of applying for the revision.”

Bakassi indigenes believe they have such fresh facts. They said that these facts were discovered within the last eight weeks when indigenes of Southern Cameroon communicated to the people of Bakassi.

These facts were then made available to His Eminence, the Obong of Calabar and grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom who set up a Palace Committee on Bakassi made up of Efik sons and daughters with diverse cognate experience to investigate and research the matter.

“From the totality of the information and facts two new facts emerged. The federation which ought to have resulted from the Union of Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun to become the Federal United Cameroon Republic in accordance with the signed and published agreement between the Southern Cameroons and Republique du Cameroun witnessed by the United Nation and international community which contains the conditions for ‘achieving independence by joining’ was never complied with.

“Evidence to show that the required Constituent Assembly comprising members of both countries i.e. Republique du Cameroun and Southern Cameroons for the purpose of drafting a constitution for the Federal United Cameroon Republic never took place.

“Consequently, it became evident that the proposed amalgamation of the two Independent States on equal footing as contemplated by their Pre Plebiscite Agreement was never consummated.

“It therefore means that the Post Plebiscite State had not legally completed the process of unification and had no locus to argue a matter which involved the other territory.

“The Second Fact was the fact that the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 was never signed and never ratified by the German Government. Research revealed that no Treaty made in 1913 was ratified by the German Parliament until outbreak of the world war in 1914.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

39

ABUJA REVIEW

Jonathan from Mohammed’s eye-glasses T

HE recent media tour of Federal Government projects in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was as revealing as it was reassuring. The tour, tagged the good governance tour is being packaged by two federal ministries: information and national planning and the office of the senior special assistant to the President on performance monitoring.

The object of the tour, as revealed by information minister Mr. Labaran Maku, is “to entrench the principle of accountability and good governance, and ensuring promises made to the public are being fulfilled”. This position was reiterated by both FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed and Special Assistant to the President on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye. With members of the civil society organizations, local and international media, government officials and interested members of the public at hand to assess performance, it is also hoped that the tour will expose performance deficits, identify hiccups and create the platform for taking remedial measures aimed at delivering the much needed ‘democracy dividends’. The tour also has as one of its lofty objectives “to…showcase investment opportunities” in Nigeria. Ultimately, the tour, which is expected to take the team to the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, will provide an opportunity for evaluating the success of the Jonathan transformation agenda.

Judged from the tour of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, two weeks ago, FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed emerged from the assessment holding his head high. By the same token, President Jonathan can say with some confidence that his administration is on solid ground to deliver on its promise of transforming Nigeria for the better.

Continuity One salutary revelation of the tour is the assurance that the country is on course towards eliminating the scourge of abandoned projects; that it is time to recover the huge capital tied down in abandoned projects; that the President’s assurance of continuity is indeed on course. No one who is familiar with the philosophy of Bala Mohammed would have been surprised at this development as the minister had reiterated, time and again, that completing existing projects, no matter the initiator, was the overriding preoccupation of the FCT administration under him.

Thus, as the team moved from one project to the other: from the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project to the rehabilitation and expansion of Airport Expressway (Yar’Adua Drive), from the Lower Usama Dam Water Treatment Plant to the construction of Usman Dam, Gurara Road and the iconic World Trade Centre being strung together by the Churchgate Group, the team of assessors were happy not just with the pace and quality of work but satisfied that the federal capital territory administration headed by the minister Senator Bala Mohammed has given profound credibility to President Jonathan’s pledge of completing projects inherited from previous administrations. And the residents of the FCT will be happier for these.

Take for instance, the water treatment plant. On completion, the project has a capacity to deliver two million liters of water per hour; talk of literally setting Abuja awash and eliminating, from the capital city, one of the nightmares of urban life in Nigeria. In tow with the treatment plant is the reassuring pace of work at the Tanks 1 and 6 and associated Trunk

By Emma Agu

Mains aimed at facilitating water reticulation in Abuja. Any fears of delayed delivery of the project was allayed by Alhaji Kumo, chairman/ managing director of Sarplast Nigeria Limited, the firm handling the project. Reminded by FCT minister Bala Mohammed of the importance of the project and the need to deliver on schedule, Kumo, who exuded uncommon confidence throughout the inspection, assured the team that the project would be delivered before the end of 2013.

But it is in the Abuja Light Rail project, a landmark project of immense value, that the Bala Mohammed FCT Administration has demonstrated utmost fidelity with inherited projects of high value. It had barely taken off the ground before Bala took over as FCT minister.

Thus, the administration could easily have abandoned the project citing any hackneyed excuse from paucity of funds to execution problems. But President Jonathan wouldn’t have any of that nor would Bala Mohammed rest on his oars until the project is delivered.

Prior to the tour, much of what was heard about the project was the Chinese loan. But was the loan all there was to the project? The answer is a capital NO! That, perhaps, explains the excitement of the inspection team as it was taken through the project.

Starting from Jamilah Tangaza, Bala Mohammed’s irrepressible SSA media to Engineer Jonathan Ivoke, the FCT’s transport secretary, you would see the air of fulfillment as they took the inspectors through the various stages of the track laying process. Not to talk of the Executive Secretary of the Federal capital Development Authority, FCDA, Engineer Adamu Ismaila, a man whose all of 31 years at the FCT was amply demonstrated as he expertly explained every tiny detail, exhibiting not just a mastery of the issues and projects but who, like Senator Bala Mohammed, could not hide some great passion and emotional attachment to them.

Now, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the rail road show? Is it CECC, the Chinese contracting firm handling the project? Is it President Jonathan? Is it the minister? Or is it the people? You can reach a conclusion whichever way you want. But one thing was evident. It was a great opportunity for CECC officials to demonstrate why China has taken the global economy by storm. At the firm’s construction plant at Idu, the project manager Yuan Yong, a Chinese national delightfully took inspectors through the massive pile of rail track materials, enough to lay 60 kilometres of railroad. In other words, the firm has achieved 100 percent the track requirement for the project! Similarly, it has attained 80 percent in the production of both ballast and sleepers.

Besides, the CECC Idu production plant is a beehive of activities, engaging hundreds of Nigerian engineers, artisans, skilled and unskilled workers and sundry service providers. Just a glance at the faces of the scores of female factory hands, who tirelessly manned the iron-bending and casting sections and it is easy to see why Senator Bala Mohammed has all along staked the success of his tenure on the completion of the project. And that is not without solid

•President Jonathan

•Bala Mohammed

grounds. Check out some of the benefits: employment for 309 Nigerian engineers plus 4500 other workers; transportation of an average of two million commuters per day; opening up of new areas; decongestion of the city centre, and more. The multiplier effect is staggering; simply reassuring.

Fired by the profundity of the project, its huge promise and the sheer ecstasy of the moment, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, who described himself as a mountain climber, insisted on climbing the stack of rail materials, a suggestion that Bala Mohammed quickly subscribed to. It was instructive. Defying obvious danger, tens of enthusiastic observers joined the two ministers in a rare spectacle that was not only symbolic of the great heights a people could attain with determination but symptomatic of the promise the Jonathan transformation agenda holds for the country. From what we saw, and with the consummation of the Chinese loan, meeting the completion target of 2015 is virtually assured. And with that, the traffic woes of millions of commuters to and from the FCT would have been eliminated.

the obviously unsuspecting contractors to task over what they considered to be the unsatisfactory pace of work, eliciting some desperate explaining and occasionally, buckpassing. But you couldn’t but admire the candour from everybody. It was a reassuring spectacle especially.

Both contractors and ministers were at the mercy of their ‘employers’, the people. They were not left alone.

Bala Mohammed was brutally frank, not for once holding back liability for any situation. Time and again, the people applauded his sincerity especially when, betraying some disappointment and frustration, he queried a project manager over the fact that work had not progressed beyond where it was three months earlier.

But if the situation at the project sites was transparent, what obtained during the town hall meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja was simply electric; even explosive.

Such was the level of openness that when one of the minister’s aides attempted to micro-manage the questions, Mr. Maku clinically reined in on him. The audience applauded. Maku was right. If those questions had been suppressed, perhaps the audience, nay Nigerians, would have been denied the opportunity of knowing that an Abuja government hospital has the best MRI equipment in Nigeria, that the Bala Mohammed Administration had built and equipped over 15 hospitals in the FCT, that the FCT administration is building houses where illegal squatters at Mpape area of the city would be resettled.

As an aside, it needs be stated that the town hall meeting provided an opportunity for Nigerians to see Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya, secretary, FCT health and human services secretariat. With his confidence level, the FCT is well on track towards fulfilling its mandate in health services.

It was not all about projects being executed by the Bala Mohammed Administration. Three other projects can be cited in this regard: the Civil Defence Academy, the Space Research Centre and the Passport Office Annex project all in the FCT. Comptroller General of Immigration Mrs. Uzoma and the Acting Commandant of the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC) Professor F. A. Adeyinka both earned high encomiums for demonstrating focus and prudence in resource application and creative management. The versatility of the NCDSC management came to the fore when the team inspected the

Transparency The FCT tour, for once, defied the penchant for government officials to micro-manage perception projects with a view to creating the impression of make believe. As it turned out, at every turn, the tour lived up to the promise by both Mr. Maku and Senator Mohammed that, in line with the Jonathan agenda, transparency would be the watchword, notwithstanding the fact that it would lay bare the performance of public officers and by extension, President Jonathan.

At no places was this more evident than during the inspection tour of engineering infrastructure projects strewn across huge terrains in Guzape, Jahi, Maitama Extension, Wuye and Kubwa districts of the FCT. For clarity, these are billion naira projects aimed at proving roads, drainage networks, storm water drains, etc to create the incentive for beneficiaries of plot allocation to develop them. Senator Mohammed’s FCT administration believes that without this, it will be difficult to achieve President Jonathan’s promise of delivering a capital city that would compare with the best in the world.

Paradoxically, in spite of massive scope of construction work at the sites, the team of inspectors, particularly the journalists, took some of

‘The FCT tour, for once, defied the penchant for government officials to micro-manage perception projects with a view to creating the impression of make believe. As it turned out, at every turn, the tour lived up to the promise by both Mr. Maku and Senator Mohammed that, in line with the Jonathan agenda, transparency would be the watchword’

agency’s large fish farm, a project designed as a revenue-yielding venture.

Although the good governance tour has only just begun, several conclusions can be drawn from the rigorous inspection and robust debates that animated the FCT angle. The first, I would say, is the need for sustained on-the-spot assessment of public projects by civil society groups, the media, government officials and the general public. This way, contractors would be kept on their toes, while public officers will realize that they are servants, not masters whose fate could be determined by their paymasters-the electorate. The second, by extension, is that commendation and blame should be based on measurable criteria, not political differences or personal grudges. But for the tour, who would have believed the magnitude of work being done by the Jonathan Administration in Abuja through the activities of the FCT under Senator Bala Mohammed’s leadership? The tour was an eye opener. The third lesson is the need for team work; the need for public officers to buy into government projects as a first step towards corralling the populace into a huge stake-holder group. No one who followed the FCT tour or the town hall meeting will deny the unity of purpose that exists at a certain level of the FCT administration. Without such a synergy, it would have been difficult for members of the FCT management team to give the kind of unrehearsed, yet credible responses that elicited applause from audiences throughout the tour.

All said and done, the FCT good governance tour could be regarded as one of President Jonathan’s finest moments. Politics aside, the benefits of the transformation agenda are measurable. For Senator Bala Mohammed, it should simply mean work in progress because there is still a lot to be done.

The FCT tour produced many exciting moments. But one is bound to stay with me for a long time to come. You can say that, for me, it produced the defining moment of then tour; when both Bala Mohammed and Labaran Maku stopped and alighted from their bus to inspect the ‘guard of honour’ mounted by the pupils of LEA Primary School, Paipe-Abuja. That was one brilliant display of responsiveness by public officials. Given that it was not on the itinerary, some ministers would simply have waved at the pupils and passed. Bala Mohammed did not.

With Mr. Maku, he walked somberly into the premises of the area council school. You could see that he was pained by the partially blown off roof. Everybody stood still. As the school head teacher offered some explanation, my interest was with the pupils, Nigeria’s future, and the reason why Jonathan is pursuing a transformation agenda. They giggled, smiled, shuffled and waited patiently.

They probably had never witnessed such a spectacle before: The symbol of their country was present, two ministers representing their President. Bala did not disappoint. He promptly summoned his Special Assistant on Education/Health Services, Barrister Ogechi Nwosu and gave her the marching orders: the relevant level of government must get the roof fixed within weeks and the minister should be notified. Don’t ask me what the minister did next. One thing is certain though: for many years to come, the pupils of LEA Primary School, Paipe will continue to remember that, once upon a time, Jonathan’s minister, Bala Mohammed, passed by. Goodluck Nigeria!

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

40

ABUJA REVIEW

F

OR the Presidency, the events in the past week were ones it would wished did not happen. The week started with the low-key celebration of the country’s 52nd independence anniversary which many have attributed to the security challenges the country is experiencing.

Though the Presidency has continued to deny this, arguing that it was conserving fund for the big celebration in 2014 when the country will be hitting the Centenary mark.

Hence action was shifted away from the Eagle Square, the traditional venue of celebration to the fore-court of the Presidential Villa where the usual parade and military display by men of the Nigerian Army Brigade of Guards, inspection of fitness and weapons, a symbolic colour-parade as well as band parade in different military tones and melody were carried out with a small number of Nigerians and foreign diplomats on hand to witness.

President Goodluck Jonathan, assisted by the Service Chiefs and Heads of other Para-military agencies, also released the pigeons, an action which signifies the unfettered peace and harmony of the nation.

As part of the programme, the President also signed the anniversary register and cut an anniversary cake decorated in the nation’s colours.

A new special force battalion, 176 was also consecrated by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the activities lined up for the 52nd independence anniversary celebration. This brings to three the number of battalions. The others are 177 and 7 battalions of the Presidential Guards Brigade.

The Guards Brigade is a special unit of the military, specifically charged with the responsibility of securing the President and the Seat of Government. The reason for the establishment of the new battalion has, however, turned out to be an issue of disagreement between two of the Presidential Aides.

Barely 24 hours after the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe told journalists that the battalion was established because of the serious threat posed by the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Okupe was quoted as saying that the President, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, needed to beef up security around him.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who should know better disagreed, saying that the newly-established 176 Special Forces Battalion of the Brigade of Guards was not established to beef up security around President Goodluck Jonathan alone as

Anniversary marred by denials, killings From the Villa

By Vincent Ikuomola Nigerians are being made to believe.

Abati argued that the approval for the creation of the battalion preceded Jonathan’s Presidency as was also to meet the provision of the Nigerian Army Order of Battle which recommends that Brigades must have three battalions.

While the country was still savouring the anniversary celebration, two things happened that altered the mood in the Presidency.

First was the news of the gruesome murder of 40 students in Mubi, Adamawa State.

The President has since ordered the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of Independence Day

massacre in Mubi, Adamawa State.

The President described the killings as tragic, sad, barbaric and shocking.

He, therefore, directed security agencies to investigate the matter and get to the root of the matter because this kind of incidence, where people are called out and shot at, was really shocking.

Abati said government regretted that the massacre occurred at a time when considerable progress was being made in tackling the security challenges in some parts of the country.

Forty-Three students were killed at the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State University, the School

of Health Technology, Mubi and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on Monday, October 1.

The Federal Polytechnic, Mubi lost 26 students, 14 were killed at the other two higher institutions.

Also, three other people, including a retired soldier, a guard and father to one of the students, reportedly lost their lives.

The unfortunate incident happened a day after the President urged Nigerians to join hands with him in the efforts of rebuilding the country as he cannot solve its problems alone.

He, however, described the current challenges which the country is experiencing as temporary.

Another issue that marred the anniversary celebration was the denial of the Presidency’s claim that its efforts towards taming corruption got a high rating from the famous Transparency International.

The Presidency claimed that it was misled by a write-up in one of the daily newspapers that it was rated second to the United States of America in the drive to curb corruption, a report Transparency International has since debunked.

The President, within 24 hours, flaunted the unconfirmed report twice,

Minister urges commitment From Bukola Amusan

•Bala Mohammed

T

HE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed has cautioned workers of the ministry to be more dedicated to duties rather than engaging in rumour mongering and gossips.

The minister gave the warning during an emergency stakeholders meeting on the performance of the FCT Administration on environment, social development and traffic issues in Abuja.

Senator Mohammed told the over 400 workers of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, and Social Development that the environmental situation of the city has deteriorated to the extent that is giving him and the Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide sleepless nights.

The minister said litter, street hawkers, beggars and commercial sex workers have practically taken over the city; saying that this has

happened because the secretaries and other senior officials have abdicated their responsibilities thereby making the administration to be on its toes.

Senator Mohammed stated that he could not continue to condone incompetence, inefficiency and lack of performance, insisting that “the tea party is over”.

According to him, “Since we came on board, we have paid all your entitlements on time, we never owed you a kobo yet you sit doing nothing while filth, beggars and street hawkers fill the streets.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Those of you who want to work should work and those of you who are not ready should tell

us and we will show you the way out!” he announced.

The minister remarked that his administration would approach the challenges squarely including restructuring and strengthening agencies to perform better.

He also added that his administration would approach the National Assembly to give the necessary legal backing to the needed enforcement capacity in the city.

Mohammed noted that team work, cross-agency collaboration and the generation of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) are significant to take care of the restructured FCT Departments and Agencies to ensure optimum performance.

He said that the Federal Capital

first at the special church service to mark the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary and also in his national broadcast to the nation on the country’s independence anniversary.

But the President’s joy was cut short when the group denied publishing such report.

The Presidency, however, defended the President saying it acted in good faith and his statement was based on notorious facts.

The week also saw the Presidency living up to its promise to assist states affected by flood. The President met with governors of the affected states and directed that preliminary measures be taken to address the situation in the interim while measures to address the situation in the long-term are worked out.

The Presidency also convened a meeting of stakeholders on the Bakassi Peninsula, where a committee was set up to advise the government on whether or not to seek the review of the judgment of the International Court of Justice(ICJ) on oil-rich Peninsula as requested by the National Assembly.

City, Abuja is expanding and the FCT Administration has no option but to come up with counter-measures if the government must achieve the desired goals of keeping the country’s capital clean, secure and moving.

All secretaries, directors and, coordinators and other senior workers across the three agencies were given the opportunity to express their views as to what exactly are the issues causing the challenges.

They also made remarks as to how such problems can be solved.

Ending the emergency meeting, the minister said he would continue to meet face-to-face with each department including holding a retreat, but at the same time directed that all the senior officials go back to their departments and agencies and instantly address the problems at hand while awaiting the outcome of reports and consultations.

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY, LAGOS DIVISION WHEREAS the person whose names are set-out in the first Column under died intestate on the date and place stated in the said Column. AND WHEREAS the person or persons whose names and addresses and relationship (if any) to the deceased are set out in the second Column here have applied to the High Court of Lagos State for a Grant of Letter of Administration of the Real and Personal Properties of the deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE GRANT is filed in the registry within (14) days from the date hereof.

S/N 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

S/N

NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSON:

Mrs. Oparaji C. Augustina Otherwise known as A.C. Oparaji Mrs. And Augustina Chinyere Oparaji late of 24, Serebe Abaranji Rd., Ikotun, Lagos who died intestate on 1st day of July, 2011 at Lagos.

Akinade Olayinka Otherwise known as Akinade Yinka, Akinade Jibade Y. late of 16, Ojevba St., Tedi Ojo, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd day of Oct., 2011 at Lagos.

Elizabeth Uwaezuoke Otherwise known as Uwaezuoke Unenna Elizabeth and Lizzy Uwaezuoke Nnenna late of 3, Folorunsho St., Bariga, Lagos who died intestate on 9th day of May, 2012 at Lagos.

Mrs. Opeloye Araile late of 42, Ojumola St., Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on 26 th day of August, 2011 at Lagos.

Mr. Lawrence Abor otherwise known as Abor Lawrence late of 15, Adefemi Adeboye St., Akute-Otun who died intestate on 29th day of Dec., 2011 at Ikeja.

Oluwole Benjamin late of 13, Duru Av., Owode Elede Mile 12, Rd., Ikorodu who died intestate on 1st day of Oct., 2010 at Lagos.

Najim Ahmed Abdulrahman Otherwise known as Mr. Abdulrahman Ahmed Najim late of 1, Sherifat Abiola St., Mowe-Ibafo, Ogun State who died intestate on 13th day of July, 2008 at Mowe.

Mr Ade Bello late of 19, Isaac Oladipo St., Ikotun, Lagos who died intestate on 4 th day of Oct., 2011 at Lagos.

Mrs. Subadatu Folake Odukomaya Otherwise known as Folake Odukomaya late of 5, Duru Av., Owode Elede B/ Stop, Mile 12, Ikorodu who died intestate on 15th day of August, 2009 at Lagos.

Isaac Faniyi Sunmoye Otherwise known as Sunmoye Isaac Faniyi late of 32, Ijaola Oshindele St., Ipaja Ayobo, Lagos who died intestate on 24 th day of March, 2011 at Lagos.

Mr Albert Macaulay Ebong otherwise known as Ebong Albert Macaulay late of 160, Adetola St., Aguda, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 11 th day of April, 2009 at Akwa Ibom State.

Mr. Sunday Oloruntoba Otherwise known as Sunday Oloruntoba Jimoh late of 1, Anita Marquis St., Ijoko Ota, Ogun who died intestate on 11th day of May, 2012 at Ogun State.

Chiejie Francis late of 2, Ayo Olufutuye St., Baruwa, Ipaja who died intestate on 15th day of May, 2012 at Lagos.

Nkwocha Ben Ikechi late of 31, Olajumoke St., Iba Town, Lagos who died intestate on 26th day of Dec., 2011 at Lagos.

Alh. Adewale Waheed late of 33, Ligali St., Off Ojo Rd., Ajegunle, Lagos who died intestate on 8th day of Nov., 2011 at Lagos.

Mary Okon Otherwise known as Mary Hanson Okon late of 29, Oni St., Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 20th day of July, 2011 at Lagos.

Mr Emmanuel Fayomi Bamidele Otherwise Known as Mr Emmanuel Bamidele Fayomi late of Blk. 29A, Line Medium Barrack Kirikiri, Lagos who died intestate on 2nd day of Jan., 2012 at Lagos.

Malam Idris Sokoto late of 35, Cole St., Ebute Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 8th day of April, 2012 at Lagos.

Onwuamaeze Benedict late of 21, Tayo Oyefeko St., Aguda, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 28 th day of May, 2011 at Akwa , Anambra State.

Balogun Rasheed Olawale late of No.1, Ikotun St., Fatunwa Ipaja, Lagos who died intestate on 1st day of June, 2011 at Lagos.

Mr. Bamide Akanbi Thomas late of No.1, Thomas Bamide Close, Ajah, Lagos who died intestate on 3rd day of August, 2010 at Ibadan.

Mr. Nwoke Kalu Otherwise known as Nwoke Kalu Kalu late of 54, Sholape Owuru St., Ago, Lagos who died intestate on 9th day of April, 2009 at Lagos.

Mr. Charles Ifeanyi Onwuenwuzor Otherwise known as Onwuenwuzor Charles late of 7, Ogunyemi St., Maba, Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on 3rd Feb., 2012 at Lagos.

Mrs Nwosu Christiana Onyema Otherwise known as Mrs Christiana Nwosu late of 8, Prince Hamidu Williams Way, Okota, Lagos who died intestate on 24th day of July, 2011 at Ogun State.

Adigun Tajudeen Otherwise known as Akanmu Tajudeen late of 209, Agege Motor Rd., Mushin, Lagos who died intestate on 8th day of Jan,., 2011 at Lagos.

Amos Olufemi Kuton late of Misinayi Compound Segba Badagry, Lagos who died intestate on 31st day of July, 2010 at Badagry, Lagos.

Rahmon Amoo Otherwise known as Rahman Amoo Oyerinade latge of 15, Evans St., Lagos who died intestate on 18th day of Dec., 2011 at Lagos.

Olayinka Dawodu late of 23, Asopo St., Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 8th day of Jan., 1984 at Lagos.

Chief Iheanacho Chuku Otherwise known as Mr. Chuku Iheanacho late of 6, Adejoke Shokoya St., Unity Estate, Ojodu, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd day of January, 2007 at Umuahia.

Mrs Josephine Chinaka Ikeji Otherwise k known as Mrs. Josephine Ikeji late of 41, Ayantuga St., Mushin, Lagos who died intestate on 29 th day of March, 2005 at Lagos.

Owa Adewunmi late of 14/16, Agboola St., Ibafo, Ogun State who died intestate on 21st day of Sept., 2009 at Lagos.

Emmanuel Oloyede Oyegoke late of 5, Ogo-Oluwa St., Ilo Alagbado, Lagos who died intestate on 17 th day of Dec., 2011 at U.S.A. Sir Chief Silas Iheanyichukwu Iwuoha Otherwise Known as Silas Iheanyichukwu Iwuoha and Silas Ifeanyichukwu Iwuoha late of 19, Otto Causeway, Iddo, Lagos who died intestate on 10th day of Sept., 2009 at London.

Kenneth Ehirim late of 60, Abeokuta St., Isheri, Lagos who died intestate on 16th day of Feb., 2011 at Ogun State.

Alabi Akanni Amodu late of 3, Olatunji St., Ilaje, Bariga who died intestate on 1 st day of Nov., 2011 at Lagos.

Mr Wale Olaide Ogungbenro late of 75, Aina St., Ijesha, Lagos who died intestate on 11th day of May, 2010 at Lagos.

Odedairo Joseph Oluyomi Otherwise known as Joseph Oluyomi Odedairo late of 22c, Hogan Bassey Crescent, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd day of Dec., 2010 at Lagos.

Mr Emmanuel Abolade Adewusi Otherwise known as Emmanauel A Adewusi late of 32, Eric Moore Close, Surulere,.

Lagos who died intestate on 2nd day of Dec., 2011 at Lagos.

Popoola Ayodele Otherwise known as Ayodele Popoola late of 80, Way Bridge Owode Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on 14th day of May, 2009 at lagos.

Odey Gregory Inyemere late of 9, Oyewole St., Alaagba, Agege, Lagos who died intestate on 9th day of April, 2009 at Obudu, Cross River State.

Bello Quadri Otherwise known as Bello Kadiri A. and Bello Kadiri Nominees late of 19, Adeyemi St., Off Faith Rd., Mushin who died intestate on 6th day of June, 2009 at Ifo, Ogun State.

Akindolire Abiodun Williams late of 72, Canos Adeyemi St., Ondo who died intestate on 2nd June, 2007 at Ondo.

Oluwagbenga Johnson Odumosu late of 3rd Av., A. Close, House 4, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on 24th day of Feb., 2012 at Lagos.

Asibor Promise late of 150, Old Ojo Rd., Agboju, Lagos who died intestate on 11th day of March, 2012 at Lagos.

Nwachukwu Joseph Chukwudi Otherwise known as Nwankwor Joseph Chukwudi late of 29, Ladipo St., Mushin, Lagos who died intestate on 25th day of Dec., 2011 at Oko, Anambra State.

Umoru Sedi Osilama late of 11, Mogaji Str., Okokomaiko, Lagos who died intestate on 2nd day of July, 2011 at Lagos.

Alh. Fehintola Mudashiru Babatunde late of Blk. 487, Flat 2, Jakande Estate, Oke Afa Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on 29th day of Oct., 2011 at Lagos.

Mrs Sanni Olodo Kayode Abimbola Samiat Otherwise known as Sanni-Olodo Abimbola late of D 9142, Shomade Crescent, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 11th day of August, 2011 at Lagos.

Felicia Wemimo Mosaku Ogundeji Otherwise known as Mrs Felicia M. Ogundeji late of 14, Aminu St., Mende Maryland, Lagos who died intestate on 22 nd day of Feb., 2000 at Lagos.

Mr. Orabueze Edwin E. Otherwise known as Orabueze Edwin late of 1st Av. 112 Road, B Close, House 14, Gowon Estate Ipaja, Lagos who died intestate on 12th day of Feb., 2011 at Lagos.

Mr Sabo Sunday late of 18, Victory St., Iba, Lagos who died intestate on 18th day of Feb., 2012 at Ogun State.

Mr. Aluko Wole Dotun late of Blk. 7, Flat 20, Games Village, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 20th day of August, 2011 at Abuja.

Abata Esther late of Blk.2, FLAT A, Nepa Quarters Ijora-Olopa, Lagos who died intestate on 14th day of Oct., 2009 at lagos.

Mr. Ezekiel Morakinyo Ojo Otherwise known as Ojo Ezekiel Morakinyo late of 54, Orisunmibafe Area, Ikumapayi, Ibadan who died intestate on 12 th day of Jan., 2007 at Ibadan.

Agbalaya Kudirat Gbemisola late of 6, Oseni St., Ajah, Lagos who died intestate on 26th day of Nov., 2009 at Lagos.

Oyagbaro Joseph Agboola late of 223, Kirikiri Rd., Olodi-Apapa,, Lagos who died intestate on 14 th day of March, 2012 at Ogun Mr. Magnus Gbolade Oshinubi Otherwise known as Oshinubi Magnus late of 22, Eletu Odibo St., Abule Ijesha, Yaba, Lagos who died intestate on 19th day of Nov,., 2005 at Lagos.

Inne Harry Ogaree late of 2A, Emmanuel Disu St., Ojodu Berger, Lagos who died intestate on 8th day of May, 2011 at U.S.A. Folashade Jemilat Adedokun Otherwise known as Adedokun Folashade Jemilat late of 1, Orile Ilasan, Lekki EtiOsa, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd day of July,2010 at Lagos.

Mr Efe Ogwe Otherwise known as Mr. Efe Ogwe Onisuru late of 19, Ayodele St., Mafoluku, Lagos who died intestate on 17th day of July, 2011 at Lagos.

Augustine Ibekwe Chikwendu Otherwise known as Ibekwe Chikwendu Augustine late of 18, Unity St., Ilawe Ikotun Egbe, Lagos who died intestate on 27th day of Jan., 2012 at Onisha.

Aderonke Serifat Sofola Otherwise known as Aderonke Sofola late of 5, Birikisu Iyede St., Onike Yaba, Lagos who died intestate on 25th day of July, 2012 at Lagos.

Dr. James Chibunine Okafor Otherwise known as Dr. J.C. Okafor late of 17, Odo St., Obalende, Lagos who died intestate on 14th day of Jan., 2012 at Lagos.

Ephenus Ogungbamila Otherwise known Ephenus Olorunwa Ogungbamila late of 12, Obalende St., Ejirin Epe who died intestate on 25 th day of March, 2011 at Lagos.

Mr Jacob Taiwo Johnson late of 4, Kadiri St., Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd day of Feb., 2007 at Lagos.

Celestine Amobi Ozor late of 22, Chijoke St., Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on 2nd day of June, 2012 at Lagos.

Mr Gabriel Tunde Akinola Adeniyi Otherwise known as Mr Adeniyi Gabriel late of 6, Akinola St., Gbagada, Lagos who died intestate on 2nd day of Nov, 2009 at Lagos.

Mrs Victoria Bamgbose late of 10, Onabadejo Close, Ipaja, Lagos who died intestate on 5th day of Oct., 2002 at Lagos.

Alh. Mukaila Oyewole Fijabi Otherwise known as Fijabi Mukaila Oyewole late of 107, Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Lagos who died intestate on 17th day of July, 2012 at Lagos.

Ogadi Samuel late of Blk.1, Flat 1, Churchill Police Barrack Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on 4th day of April, 2010 at Lagos.

Gbenga Felix Ajibode Otherwise known as Ajibode Gbenga late of 7, Akamson St., Alakuko, Lagos who died intestate on 16 th day of April, 2012 at Lagos.

Olusegun Amusan Otherwise known as Olusegun Amusan Olufemi late of 17, Akeemson St., Alapere, Ketu, Lagos who died intestate on 4th day of Nov., 2006 at Lagos.

Dosunmu Samuel Taiwo late of Plot 19, Akanbi Arimi St.,. Aguda, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 23rd day of Nov., 2005 at Lagos.

Mr Olufemi Sunday Sosimi Otherwise known as Sosimi Olufemi late of 25, Sanusi St., Somolu, Lagos who died intestate on 11th day of Dec., 2011 at Lagos.

Ms Etukudo Ekaette Campbell Otherwise known as Thomas Ekaette Etukudo Campbell late of 3, Oluwaseun Crescent Ikosi-Kute, Lagos who died intestate on 4th day of Jan., 2012 at Lagos.

Anthony Ijiga Otherwise known as Ijiga Anthony late of 6, Arigbabowo St., G.R.A. Mowe, Ogun State who died intestate lon 4th day of Dec., 2010 at Mowe.

Farayola Raheem Kolawole late of 6, Oluwasiji St., Ilasa, Lagos who died intestate on 27th day of Dec., 2011 at Lagos.

Obibi Sampson Eyomaguvia late of 120B, Assoc. Rd., Dophin Estate, Ikoyi who died intestate on 16th day of August, 2011 at River State.

Obibi Sampson Eyomaguvia late of 120B, Assoc. Rd., Dophin Estate, Ikoyi who died intestate on 16th day of August, 2011 at River State.

NAMES OF APPLICANT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

1. Mr Coleman Chimechefulam Oparaji, Nancy Onyinyechi Oparaji and Genevieve Ugochi Oparaji all of 24, Serebe St., Abaronje Rd., Ikotun, Lagos. The Widower and Children respectively of the said deceased.

2. Mrs Pat Akinade and Mr Oluwaseyi Bamidelde Akinade both of 16, Ojevba St., Tedi Ojo, Lagos The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

3. Chikezie Uwaezuoke, Nnamdi Uwaezuoke and Blessing Uwaezuoke all of 3, Folorunsho St., Bariga, Lagos. The Mother and Brothers respectively of the said deceased.

4. Erikena Omoniyi and Omobolanle Araile both of 42, Ojumola St., Olodi Apapa, Lagos. The two of the children of the said deceased.

5. Mrs.Mary Abor and Mr. Abor Samuel both of 15, Adefemi Adeboye St., Akute-Ottun. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

6. Adesoji Benjamin and Oluwatobi Benjamin both of 13, Duru Avenue, Owode Elede Mile 12, Lagos The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

7. Ojelade Temitope and Miss Anifat Ahmed both of 1, Sherifat Abiola St., Mowe. The Brother and Sister respectively of the said deceased.

8. Mrs Bello Folami and Dele Bello both of 19, Isaac Oladepo St., Ikotun, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

9. Mrs Olayemi Ajiboye and Odukomaya Olusegun both of 5, Duru Av., Owode-Elede B/Stop Mile 12, Ikorodu The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

10. Folashade R. Sunmoye and Solomon O. Sunmoye both of 32, Ijaola Oshindele St., Ipaja Ayobo, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

11. Mrs. Glory Ebong and Joseph Ebong of 160, Adetola St., Aguda, Surulere and 84, Orodu St., Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos. The Widow and Brother respectively of the said deceased.

12. Mrs Blessing Ajayi Oloruntoba and Mr Adefarati Samuel Adewunmi of 1, Anita Marquis St., Ijoko-Ota and 6, Norman Williams St., Ikoyi, Lagos The widow and Brother respectively of the said deceased 13. Ndubuisi Chikwado Francis and Chekwube Francis both of 2, Ayo Olufutuye St., Baruwa, Ipaja. The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

14. Chinyere Nchwocha, Chinaza Nchwocha and Uchenna Orji all of 31, Olajumoke St., Iba Town, Lagos The Widow and Son and InLaw respectively of the said deceased.

15. Adewale Silifat and Adewale Aminat both of 33, Ligali St., Off Ojo Rd., Ajegunle, Lagos. The Two of the Children of the said deceased 16. Etoh Esther Akam and Enebong Bassey Esuabana (Mrs.) Of 29, Oni St., Surulere, Lagos and 6c, Club Rd., Ikoyi, Lagos The Daughter and Cousin respectively of the said deceased.

17. Alice Foyeke Fayomi and Michael Fayomi both of Blk. 29A, Line Medium Barrack Kirikiri, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

18. Abdulmumini Idris Sokoto and Haruna Idris Sokoto both of 35, Cole St., Ebute Metta, Lagos. The two of the children of the said deceased.

19. Anna Onwuamaeze and Christopher Onwuamaeze both of 21, Tayo Oyefeko St., Aguda, Surulere, Lagos. The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

20. Ganiyu Balogun and Hammed Balogun both of 6, Gbalamu St., Itire, Lagos. The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

21. Mrs. Christiana Ajayi Thomas, Mr. Oluseun Abayomi Thomas and Mr. Henry Olufemi Thomas all of 1, Thomas Bamidele Close, Ajah, Lagos. The Widow and Two of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

22. Mrs. Kate Kalu Nwoke and Mrs. Okpete Onwuka both of 54, Sholape Owuru St., Ago, Lagos. The Widow and Sister respectively of the said deceased.

23. Mrs. Chinagozim Ekwubinem Onwuenwuzor and Mr. Michael Adewunmi both of 2nd Av., Roko Estate, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos. The Widow and Family Friend respectively of the said deceased.

24. Joseph Nwosu, Chidinma Nwosu, Nkechi Nwosu and Onyinyechi Nwosu all of 8, Prince Hamidu Williams Way, Okota, Lagos. The Widower and Children respectively of the said deceased.

25. Adigun Yusuf and Adigun Kafayat both of 19, Moshalashi St., Mushin, Lagos. The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

26. Mrs Victoria Tola Kuton and Mr Semako Kuton both of Misinayi Compound Segba, Badagry, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

27. Modinat Abiola Salami, Taofeeq Osuolale Rahman and Sodiq Bolaji Rahman all of 15, Evans St., Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

28. Sherifatu Koleosho and Oluwatoyin Koleosho both of 23, Asopo St.,Surulere, Lagos. The Daughter and Grand Daughter respectively of the said deceased.

29. Mrs Rose O. Chuku and Mrs. Ugo E. Madubuike both of 6, Adejoke Shokoya St., Unity Estate, Ojodu, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

30. Miss Mareen I. Ikeji and Engr. Adrian O. Ikeji both of 41, Ayantuga St., Mushin, Lagos. The Widower and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

31. Owa Adetokunbo Omobayowa and Owa Yewande Oluwakemi both of 14/16, Agboola St., Ibafo, Ogun. The Brother and Sister respectively of the said deceased.

32. Mrs. Adetuntan Olufunmilayo Oyegoke, Mr. Samuel Oluwatoyin Oyegoke and Miss Eunice Oyeronke Oyegoke all of 5, IloAlagbado, Lagos. The Widow and Children respectively of the said deceased.

33. Chinedu Innocent Iwuoha and Ifeanyi Iwuoha both of 19, Otto Causeway Iddo, Lagos. The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

34. Mrs. Ngozi Juliana Ehirim and Mr. Shibigem Uchenna Christopher both of 60, Abeokuta St., Isheri, Lagos. The Widow and Brother respectively of the said deceased..

35. Saidi Alabi and Sodiq Alabi of 13, Alolagbe St., Gaskiya Amukoko and 30, Oreofe St., Iyana Isasi Okokomaiko, Lagos. One of the children and Brother respectively of the said deceased.

36. Mrs. Felicia Ogungbenro and Mr. Bolaji Ogungbenro both of 75, Aina St., Ijesha, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

37. Mrs. Gladys O. Aina and Mr. Olusegun Odedairo both of 22c, Hogan Bassey Crescent, Lagos The Children of the said deceased.

38. Mrs. Comfort O. Adewusi, Mr. Olugbenga A. Adewusi, Mrs. Olubukola Bamgbose and Mr.Oluseun Adewusi all of 32, Eric Moore Close, Surulere, Lagos. The Widow and Children respectively of the said deceased.

39. Popoola Olubunmi and Popoola Olawale N. both of 1, Olusanya St., Ilupeju, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

40. Attah Odey and Godwin Oniah both of 9, Oyewole St., Alaagba, Agege, Lagos The Brothers of the said deceased.

41. Ajoke Odebunmi and Saidat Okesanya of 36, Onifade St., Mushin and 41, Onifade St., Mushin, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

42. Mr. Babatunde A. Akindonire and Mrs. Adelanke Ashimi both of 60, Bajulaiye Rd., Shomolu, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

43. Festus Odumosu and Oluwaseyi Odumosu both of 13, Taju Salami St., Aboru Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. The Brothers of the said deceased.

44. Juliana Chinenye Asibor and Chidiebere Uriem both of 150, Old Ojo Road, Agboju, Lagos.The Widow and Brother respectively of the said deceased.

45. Nwachukwu Ifeoma Gladys and Nwankwor Florence Enema both of 29, Ladipo St., Mushin, Lagos. The Widow and Sister respectively of the said deceased.

46. Mrs. Balikis Umaru and Mr. Yusuf Yinus of 11, Mogaji St., Okokomaiko, Lagos and 4, Ikale St., Okokomaiko, Lagos. The Widow and Cousin respectively of the said deceased.

47. Alhaja Monsiat Ope and Mr. Qudus Fehintola both of 11, Fakolujo St., Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

48. Sanni Olodo Kayode and Sanni Olodo both of D9/42, Shomade Crescent Surulere, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased 49. Kuburat Adijat Abdullai and Rasheedat Mobolanle Abdullahi both of 14, Aminu St., Mende Maryland, Lagos. The Daughter and Grand Daughter respectively of the said deceased.

50. Orabueze Ifeoma P., Orabueze Chukwuma A, Orabueze Nnedinma C. and Orabueze Nnamdi O. All of 1ST Av., 112 Rd, B Close, House 14, Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos. The Widow and Three of the Children respectively of the said deceased.

51. James Sunday and Anthony Sunday both of 18, Victory St., Iba, Lagos The Siblings of the said deceased.

52. Mrs Moji Aluko, Temitope Aluko and Ayobami Aluko all of Blk. 7, Flat 20, Games Village Surulere, Lagos. The Widow and Children respectively of the said deceased.

53. Mr. Tersur Kange, Mr. Luben Kange and Miss Nguseer Kange all of Blk. 2, Flat A, N.E.P.A Quarter Ijora Olopa, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased 54. Mr Akinwale Oluseyi Ojo and Mr. Gbemisola Abiodun Ojo both of House 12, Rd., 23, RCCG Comp. Mowe, Ogun. The Children of the said deceased.

55. Alagbaya Khadijat and Alagbaya Wasiu of 67/69, Odunfa St., Lagos and 6, Oseni St., Ajah, Lagos. The Widower and Daughter of the said deceased.

56. Agboola Olaleye Jacob and Agboola Olayemi James of 74, Decemo St., Lagos and 223, Kirikiri Rd., Olodi Apapa, Lagos . The Children of the said deceased.

57. Mrs. Augusta F. Oshinubi, Mr. Emmanuel B. Oshinubi and Mrs. Tope Temiro all of 22, Eletu Odibo St., Abule Ijesha, Yaba, Lagos.

The Widow and Two of the Children of the said deceased.

58. Damatte Oruwari, Emily Kainne Dokubo and Capt. Onengibia Wenike Harry all of 2nd Emmanuel Disu St., Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

The Daughter, Sister and Brother of the said deceased.

59. Abimbola Idowu Lateef Liasu, Aminat Olamide Liasu and Folake Adetutu Liasu all of 1, Orile Ilasan Eti-Osa, Lagos. The Mother and Sisters of the said deceased.

60. Mrs. Vivian Ogwe and Vincent, Onoghojebi both of 19, Ayodele St., Mafoluku, Lagos. The Widow and Uncle of the said deceased.

61. Mrs. Angela N. Ibekwe and Ibekwe Augustine both of 18, Unity St., Ilewe, |Ikotun Egbe, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

62. Adekunle A. Sofola, Mrs. Morayo G. Okunrinboye, Miss Fausat F. Sofola and Miss Temitayo A. Sofola of 5, Barikisu Iyede St., Onike Yaba, and 7, Raymond St., Yaba, Lagos. The Widower and Children of the said deceased.

63. Mrs. May Uju Okafor and Lucia Orji both of 17, Odo St., Obalende, Lagos. The Widow and Daughter of the said deceased.

64. Mr. Olajide Moses Ogungbamila and Miss Abosede Ogungbamila both of 5, Brown Close, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

65. Ms. Titilola Johnson and Johnson Oluwaseun Adejumo both of 4, Kadiri St., Surulere, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

66. Chinenye Ozor and Peter Ani Ozor both of 22, Chijoke St., Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

67. Ayodeji B. Adeniyi and Victoria I. Adeniyi both of 6, Akinola Adeniyi St., Gbagada, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

68. Kofoworola Edun and Monsur Fadipe of 33, Osholake St., Ebute Metta, Lagos and 48, Simpson St., Ebute Metta, Lagos. The Daughter and Brother of the said deceased.

69. Mrs Moriamo Fijabi, Mr. Moshood Gbolagade Fijabi of 107, Ojo Ajegunle, Lagos and 28, Imam St., Amukoko, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

70. Ogadi Blessing and Ogadi Kingsley both of Blk.1, Flat 1, Churchill Police Barrack Apapa, Lagos. The Sibling of the said deceased.

71. Mrs. Kehinde Ajibode and Mr. Rotimi Adegbasa both of 7, Atunrase St., Alakuko, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

72. Mrs. Abosede Amusan and Mr. Emmanuel Amusan of 7, Ogunsehinde St., Ketu, Lagos. And 553 , Ikorodu Road, Ketu, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

73. Dosunmu O. Sunday and Dosunmu Abiodun both of 19, Akanbi Arimi St., Aguda, Surulere, Lagos The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

74. Mrs. Aderonke Oluwabunmi Sosimi and Mr. Taiwo Sosimi of No.25, Sanusi St., Shomolu, Lagos and 5, Owolabi Balogun St., Shomolu, Fola Agoro, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

75. Mr. Eshiet Etukudoh and Mrs. Eniola Eshiet both of 36, Church St., Ejigbo, Lagos. The Brother and Sister 窶的n-Law of the said deceased.

76. Janet Ijiga and Ameh Francis both of 5, Snake Island, Igbo-Logun Village, Lagos The Widow and Cousin of the said deceased.

77. Mrs. T.O. Farayola and Mr. Taofeek Farayola both of 6, Oluwasiji St., Ilasa, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

78. Nicholas Obibi and Emmanuel Obibi both of 120B, Association Road, Dorphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

G.A. SAFARI ESQ. PROBATE REGISTRAR

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

As the campaign trains of the various political parties hit the nooks and crannies of Ondo State, canvassing for the people’s votes, attention has been drawn to alleged non-performance by incumbent Governor Segun Mimiko by critical stakeholders in the state who maintain that he does not deserve a second term. AUGUSTINE AVWODE reports.

Mimiko’s many failed promises W

HAT should qualify an in cumbent for re-election?

Should the electorate critically examine how far he was able to march words with action in terms of the promises he made when asking for their votes the previous time? Should his sense of prudence or profligacy be examined?

Experts are agreed that, the electorate should be more discerning in taking the critical decision. At a recent one-day sensitization workshop for party executives, stakeholders and candidates ahead of the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State organized by the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs Senator Ben Ndi Obi, described it as the “moment of truth” and a “nightmare to nonperforming politicians” in his opening remarks.

According to him, “periodic elections remain paramount in a democratic dispensation because it is the moment of truth for both the leader and the led. “While election is a nightmare to nonperforming politicians, a great expectation it is to the people as it affords them the opportunity to choose their leaders as well as drop nonperforming ones”.

This is the yardstick the Concerned Citizens of Ondo State (CCO) want the people to apply at this critical moment. The group, in a detailed and well articulated document, catalogued the many promises which the governor made but has failed to deliver on just as it also listed critical projects started by the previous administration of Dr Olusegun Agagu abandoned by Mimiko.

The group alleged that in the last three and a half years, that the Mimiko administration has been in power, it has been blessed with the good fortune of raking in more than N400 billion as allocation from the Federation Account, in addition to the now well known N38 billion it inherited from the Agagu administration.

The document obtained exclusively by The Nation, gives a detailed analysis of what the administration claimed to have done in the three senatorial districts of the state; what the governor promised to do but failed to i and the projects inherited but abandoned.

In all, while the administration can lay claim to only three verifiable projects it accomplished in Ondo North, it could only boast of six in Ondo Central while in the South senatorial district, it has only three projects to its credit.

These projects are mainly market stalls, town halls, a Mega School, water fountains, bus stops, the much publicized Mother and Child hospital and some uncompleted or abandoned road projects.

In the northern district, the group listed “the construction of markets stalls at some locations in the senatorial district, the construction of town halls at some locations and the only project that could be regarded

as the most outstanding of all is the construction of one mini Mega School in Oka Akoko” as all the administration can lay claim to in the last three and a half years.

In Ondo Central, among the six items listed are “uncompleted Mega Schools five uncompleted and abandoned road expansion projects in both Akure and Ondo”, two major towns in the zone.

The south senatorial district which does not fare better, has “ market stalls at some locations town halls and the construction of one Mega School in Okitipupa”.

Failed promises Those who insist that promises are better not made than fail to keep them feel affronted on account of the failed promises allegedly made by Governor Mimiko while seeking for the votes of the people of Ondo three and a half years ago.

The people of Ondo North are worst hit as the list shows important projects that could have impacted positively on their lives. They include the “ dualisation of Owo Township roads, construction of mechanic villages in all the local government areas, dualisation of the township roads in all the local government headquarters , the Construction of Mother and Child Hospital in each local government area, the Arigidi Akoko Tomato Industry on which more than over N200 million has been spent, establishment of the Okeluse Cement Factory, construction of Mega Schools in all the local government areas, Kaadi Igbeayo designed for job creation and empowerment of artisans but abandoned after spending more than N2 billion creation of local government areas after spending about N600 million the promise to resurscitate the Ifon Ceramic Industry and the Alpha 3D Factory in Ikare”.

The list of un- kept promises to the Central senatorial District reads more or less the same with those of other districts but there is also “the Dome which is yet to be delivered after allegedly spending about N4 billion, and the 40,000 capacity Akure New Sports Stadium.”

In the South senatorial district, the failed promises include “ rehabilitation of township roads, reactivation of Okitipupa Oil Factory, reactivation of Oluwa Glass Industry, construction of Mega Schools in all local government areas,” among others.

Among the projects described as “ people oriented” which were on before the Mimiko administration came into office and which he is reported to have abandoned or jettisoned are the Ifon Games Reserves, Ifon Ceramic Inustry, Akungba Township Roads, Imeri Bridge, Owo - Ikare- Ajowa Road, the Igedegede Bridge, water work at Owo, Egbe and Ido Ani. A Cassava Flour processing factory, at Oba Akoko, the Emure- Eporo road, Ikare township roads and Ifira-Sosan asphalting”.

Those abandoned in the Central dis-

• From left: Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Akeredolu at the ACN Redemption Rally in Ore... last week.

trict include the “Akure township stadium, he multibillion naira Owena multipurpose dam, Idanre Golf Course, Idanre Hill UNESCO World Heritage Project, Akure township roads (asphalting), Ondo township roads (asphalting), and the OgbeseIgbatoro road.

In the South senatorial district, the administration is said to have abandoned the following: “Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa, Adagbakuja New Town for land strapped Ilajes, Olokola Free Trade Zone and Sea Port Project, Oluwa Industrial Park, Omotosho, Oluwa Bridge linking Okitipupa to Irele, Igbokoda-Igbonla Road, AbotoOlokola road, Ajagba-Iyansan road, Ajagba-Ijuosun road, Ode-Aye Igbotako road, Akinfosile-Ayede road, Inikorogha-Oboro road, Atijere-Aboto and AyetumaraItebukunmi road.”

Of the three major parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have consistently accused Mimiko of non-performance and held that he does not deserve the votes of Ondo people for a second term in office.

Agagu reacts In a recent interview, former Governor Agagu described Mimiko as a failure. In his review of the three and a half years of the administration, Agagu, who is leading the charge for the PDP campaign, reckoned that the people are not happy because of the “downturn in their economic well being”.

His words: “From my interaction with the people, they are not happy as their economic well-being has taken a down-turn. They cannot see any hope in the horizon. Infrastructure around them is beginning to decay from the level where it was before. Those who had good roads no longer have them because they have depreciated. You know every road needs to be maintained. The road projects started by my administration were discontinued.

Those who had good water supply, especially through the network of solar powered-bore holes, don’t have them anymore because the maintenance culture that was put in place was jettisoned. The expectations of the people to have pipe-borne water in their homes in the entire central senatorial district of six local government areas; which was about to happen by the time the PDP administration left, has been dashed because the government jettisoned the Owena multi-purpose dam project.

“It a very comprehensive agricultural revival programme that goes through farm settlement centres in every local government, horticulture farm, hatchery

• Governor Mimiko

in each of the three senatorial districts to produce 5 million fingerlings each to help our people in aquaculture.

“The one that is in Akure is not running very well; the one in Okitipupa, though completed, has not been commissioned by the government and the one in Owo has been jettisoned. The oil palm company that was working before is nowhere, the Ifon Ceramic and the Oluwa Glass companies that were about to be revived through injection of new capitals by well-established companies were jettisoned, the Omotosho/Oluwa Industrial Park has been jettisoned, the Olokola Free Trade Zone, which was meant to energize industrial development, not only in Ondo State or Nigeria, but in the West African context has been jettisoned. “We can go on and on. Enlightened people understand these things. They also understand why the economy is on the downturn, and therefore, they all think this administration must change. Those who are not literate enough to know why the economic downturn is there can feel it, and they all believe that the administration must change. But it won’t come on a platter of gold. There is not going to be a fight, it is going to be tough. But we have the best product on offer, a good candidate and a past that the people now know is better than the present.”

Akeredolu: No more room for deception In the same vein, the candidate of the ACN in the October 20 election, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said he harbours not the least doubt that Mimiko would be rejected by the people because he has failed to live up to expectation. He said that the people of the state are not foolish. “ But I don’t have any doubt in my mind that he is going to lose. And if we are to look at it critically again, are the people of Ondo State foolish? They

are not.”

On the much-orchestrated Oba Adesida road, Akeredolu said: “I mean we are talking about Oba Adesida Road.

The road has been there all the while, with street lights on it and then you remove them and put other ones. At what cost? There is no project today he can commission except for the markets which are responsibilities of the local governments. And this is someone who has refused to conduct election at local government levels. And the markets, nobody is even going there. Just drive through Ondo state and you will see that there are no people in those markets. Some people have refused to go to the markets because they believe they are more or less rituals stuff. Of course, I don’t believe in such any way because they don’t mean anything to me.

“The other one, you force people to go and be building town halls. What has the state government got to do with the building of town halls? What are the people there to do? These are what people could raise money among themselves to build. And in fact some of these town halls are already collapsing. In Opete for instance, a side of the town hall wall has collapsed. So for a government that has not achieved anything, except hardship. The economy is grounded. How do you expect people to retain it? You need to go to Ondo state, the whole place is dry. There is no money. That is the reality people of Ondo state are facing and many people who are not there don’t know. And that’s the reason we are confident we are going to win.”

Mimiko’s defence But in apparent defence of his tenure and justification of his actions so far in office, Mimiko told a campaign rally in the state last week that he would continue to work for the people as he has been working since day one when he stepped into office.

“In 2007, we promised to work for you; we promised that your concern shall be our concern; that in all seasons, we would work for you; that we shall unleash our incredible creative ingenuity to develop the state. In the last three and half years, there are empirical facts on the ground that we have delivered on our promises and Ondo State is working again and we are happier. We have in place over 350 projects in all our rural communities dictated by our people themselves” Given the claims and the counter claims, the fact that the people of the state are enlightened, the October 20 election would be a veritable opportunity for them to demonstrate to the world that indeed, like Akeredolu described them, they are ready to take control of their collective destiny.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

44

POLITICS A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A GOVERNOR

A hell of a day in Fayemi's life What does a typical day in the life of a governor look like? Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU, who spent a day with Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, whose administration will clock two years in office next Tuesday, writes his experience

T

IME was 6am. It was Thursday, October 4. John Olukayode Fayemi sprang out of bed. He had had only two hours of sleep. He was expecting a stickler for time in another one hour. As expected, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, a former governor of the old Ondo State, came calling. He was led into the inner chamber to meet Fayemi, who has been governor of Ekiti State since November 15, 2010.

Some minutes into their meeting, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin arrived. He too went into the inner chamber.

Inside the waiting room of the Governor’s Lodge, Fayemi loomed large in a life-size photograph. His infectious smile radiated from a scroll. The inscription on it shows that it was presented to him by the Senate, Staff and Students of the Osun State University, Osogbo after he delivered their second convocation lecture on July 23.

As they were in, the governor’s security aides, including the Aide De Camp (ADC), Adeyanju Ajayi, were getting set for him to begin what turned out to be, perhaps, one of his busiest days in the last two years.

“Oga’ ll soon go out,” one of them announced around 725am. But, it was not until 8.15am that bespectacled Fayemi, Olumilua and Omirin sauntered into the waiting room. His security aides began to jump over one another.

Waiting outside was a metallic black Land Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). An aide opened the rear door of the car and Fayemi , who was dressed in a blue buba and sokoto, with a pair of black shoes, hopped in. The ADC, dressed in a well-starched mobile police khaki uniform, jumped into seat beside the driver.

The car made its way to the office of the Ekiti State Fire Service, opposite the Governor’s Office, where Fayemi participated in the closing ceremony of a five-week training for newly-recruited fire fighters and paramedics.

Immediately Fayemi got to the venue, he inspected a guard of honour. The National Anthem and Ekiti Anthem were sung, with the governor singing along, his left hand on his chest. The anthems over, the Master of Ceremonies (MC) took the microphone and began heaping praises on the governor, who appeared unmoved by the accolades.

He, however, bowed when the MC asked the people to welcome him by clapping their hands.

Around 8. 48am, Fayemi presented prizes to outstanding trainees. It took him 12 minutes to complete the exercise. He was up standing again around 9.10am to see the trainees demonstrate their new-found skills.

His speech came around 9.30am, with Ajayi standing some steps behind him after giving a salute and handing over a prepared speech.

By 9.50am, the programme was over. But, the governor’s day was just beginning. He had waiting in his of-

fice a team from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), led by its president, Adedoyin Owolabi, the first Ekiti indigene to lead the umbrella body of accountants. They were waiting at the Executive Council Chambers.

Before going to meet the ICAN team, Fayemi went to his expansive office, almost the size of an Olympic stadium, on the second floorwhich has corridors, ante-room, a waiting room and the secretary’s office, where security aides ward off intruders. The Governor’s Office was originally meant to be an ho-

‘

No sane person should be governor. But, how do you make real changes in people’s life without being in government? You can be outside and pontificate, but it amounts to nothing, if it does not change lives

‘

tel before former Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration converted it into an office. Fayemi says it must return to original plan.

Mrs. Toyosi Omope, the secretary’s office is next to the governor’s.

He quickly attended to some matters in the office, which has a conference table and swivel chairs. By 10.05am, he made for the EXCO Chamber. The National and Ekiti Anthems were read, with the governor singing along and placing his left hand on his chest.

Fayemi was accompanied to the session by Secretary to the State Government, Ganiyu Owolabi. Introductions over, Owolabi took the microphone. He described Fayemi as his brother, friend and result-oriented personality. He hailed the governor for the infrastructure development in the state, the professionalisation of accounting in the civil service and so on. He also solicited his participation in the institute’s annual conference due for Ado-Ekiti later this year.

Almost all through the time

Owolabi was speaking, Fayemi was busy writing on a jotter, with a red biro. When it was his turn to speak, he expressed his delight at the fact that an Ekiti indigene is head of ICAN. He said he has what he considered too many accountants in his administration, joking: “You know they can be difficult for an average politician to deal with when they put on their professional caps.”

He added that accountancy is a profession built on integrity, observing that brilliance without integrity means nothing to him and that intelligence without character would yield next to nothing.

Speaking on why he declared his assets openly the day he was sworn into office, Fayemi described the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as a shenanigan. According to him, “there is no sense in declaring assets without making it public.” He argued that dictionary meaning of declaration means making public.

After the governor’s extempore speech, Owolabi presented him gifts, including ICAN instructional materials. Some minutes to 11am, the National and Ekiti Anthems signaled the end of the meeting. But, the ICAN team would not let him go without picturesque evidence of their visit.

After he shook hands with the entourage—no fewer than 40—he took photographs with them inside the EXCO chamber and outside of the Governor’s Office.

He retired to his office. But not to rest. He had the Public Private Partnership team, made up of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Sir Remi Omotoso, waiting for him. They had come to present a report to him. As he was busy with the team in his office, a security aide eased out a gatecrasher, with Mrs. Omope urging the plain-clothed aide to be civil about it.

ROUND 11.17, Mrs. Omope asked the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, to invite the Press Crew in.

When after some minutes, the crew was nowhere near the office, Mrs. Omope said: “E pe awon press wa (Call in the press). “ Oyebode soon led them in to document the presentation of the report by the Aare Babalola-led team.

At 11.35, when the Babalola team was presenting their report, the Chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu, and Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Biodun Akin-Fasae, went into Mrs. Omope’s office. After Fayemi saw off Babalola and co, he went into his office. Oyebode followed him. He was telling the CPS some people needed his attention.

As he was speaking with Oyebode, his security aides, some commissioners and Special Advisers, including Information Commissioner Funminiyi Afuye and Akin-Fasae, were getting set to accompany him to townhall meetings in Ekiti East and Gbonyi local government areas.

Omirin, whose Aisegba hometown was part of the itinerary, was also getting set. A white luxury bus was waiting outside for the team.

A

• Dr. Fayemi

Behind the story

By Olukorede Yishau

WORE a black suit. And it gave me another identity. My mode of dressing was an ‘unconscious’ way of mourning my father, Alhaji Olukayode Yishau who died two days before I headed for Ado-Ekiti to keep an appointment with Governor Kayode Fayemi.

It was past nine in the evening when I got to Ado last Wednesday.

After making contact with Yinka

Oyebode, a former colleague and the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), I found my way to Queen’s Court, Ikere-Ekiti Road to pass the night.

Formalities over, I headed for my room. But sleep really did not come easy. Not because of my father’s death.

But, it is natural to me that when I have an early morning date, I usually find it difficult to sleep soundly.

So, by 5am last Thursday, I was up.

I took my bath, drank water and settled down on the bed with V.S. Naipaul’s In a Free State to while away time. As soon as it was 6am, I jumped up, locked the door and got a motor-

A little after mid-day, the governor, Omirin, Afuye, Akin-Fasae, Ajayi and security aides climbed into the bus for the ‘long’ journey to Ekiti East, which shares a boundary with Kogi State. But, as the bus was about leaving the Governor’s Office, Fayemi’s sharp eyes caught side of veteran journalist, Mohammed Haruna, dressed in a light blue buba and sokoto. Bespectacled Haruna was accompanied by another veteran journalist and governorship hopeful in Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

“That is Mohammed Haruna. He is supposed to be in this bus,” he told the ADC, who jumped down to fetch Haruna and Emenike. Haruna took the space beside Fayemi. Emenike made himself comfortable beside Omirin.

The governor and Haruna started talking and after some minutes, the ace columnist called the governor’s attention to Emenike’s presence. He turned round to greet the man he called ‘Oga Ikechi’. They spoke about

Haruna’s column on Ikechi’s failed bid to be Abia State governor and other issues, as the bus glided through the road to Omuo.

It was not until 1.45pm that the bus got to Methodist Primary School, Kota venue of the townhall meeting. There was dancing— and singing— as the governor’s entourage arrived. His party supporters, elderly people, who are beneficiaries of his administration’s social security scheme, and women ran to catch a glimpse of their governor, who was flashing his trademark genial, gaptoothed grin and waving his hand.

There were also placard-bearing groups. One declared: “JKF-Governor of the people”. Another screamed: “Ekamefa Youth Forum supports Gov. John Kayode Fayemi for continuity”.

With the help of his security aides, who managed the crowd, he found his way to the high table and sat on a white seat with the coat of arms on it. As usual, the national and Ekiti anthems were sung to open the meeting. After this, the community presented a list of their needs

He thought I was an SSS officer

I

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

45

POLITICS A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A GOVERNOR

• Fayemi inspecting a guard of honour by fire fighters.

•HIS GUESTS GUESTS: Olumilua

• Aare Babalola

• Some of the newly-recruited paramedics

• Sir Remi Omotoso

• Owolabi

cycle to take me to the Governor’s Lodge at Fajuyi Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Not sure if the security men would allow me in, I called the CPS who told me he was going to make a contact for me. He later called me and told me what to do. He joined me later, introduced me to the ADC Adeyanju Ajayi, who was to ensure I had access to everywhere the governor went in order to observe what a typical day in his life looks like.

Signs that it was not going to be an easy assignment emerged when Fayemi came out of his house with a former governor of old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua and the Speaker of the Ekiti House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin. The

ADC hopped into the car with Fayemi and forgot me. Thanks to an aide at the gate I was told where they were headed, I fought my way there, sought out the ADC, who held my hand and we stood a step away from the governor watching demonstrations by newly recruited fire men and paramedics.

But, when it was time to leave again, the ADC forgot me and I found my way to the governor’s office. The ADC told me what was next and after that he made sure I had access to watch the governor closely.

While all these were on, I had an impression the governor did not

know who I was. But I told myself I was not going to introduce myself, except the CPS did. But he never had the opportunity, as he was busy with some other assignments.

The ADC, at a point, told me the governor had taken note of me after making an eye contact. But deep within me, I felt the governor did not know my identity. I felt he would have spoken with me if he had known I was the one.

My assumption was confirmed when around midnight the governor asked someone well-known to my wife and I if I was the purveyor of a message. At that point, I said I was from The Nation and

he shouted: ‘Korede’. He hugged me and after seeing off some guests, he held my hand and led me into an office within the lodge.

There we spoke about the fact that he had known me for years through byline and some senior colleagues.

He was shocked when I told him I had been watching him since he emerged with Olumilua, who he described as a stickler for time. He said he forgot that Oyebode told him I was coming. “I hope I have not said what you are not supposed to hear,” he joked and added: “but it is good you saw me in my natural element.”

He added that because of my

black suit he probably just took me for another SSS personality all through my ride with him in the bus that took him on his town-hall meetings to Ekiti East and Gbonyin local government areas.

When Oyebode came after going to pick a team from The Sun, he told the governor he informed him of my arrival on Wednesday night.

The governor said he just totally forgot. That is understandable for a man who said he had only two hours sleep having woken up by 6am to await Olumilua who was coming by 7am.

After the gist, we had an interview. The Sun team later had theirs and he said bye after 2am.

through a representative, Alhaji Shittu Bello. They asked for water, transformers, modern markets and rural roads to ferry their agricultural produce.

As Bello was reeling off the list, Fayemi was busy taking notes. He spoke extempore around 2.30 pm. He acknowledged Haruna’s and Emenike’s presence. He later pleaded to be allowed to speak to the people in Yoruba. He promised the people that their needs would be accommodated. He also received defectors into the ACN before heading to the next point, Obadore, where the needs placed before him were not significantly different.

But, there was a dramatic twist to the list of needs in Obadore. The old man, who said the opening prayer, was the first to give a hint of this. As he was praying, he kept asking God to ensure that the governor sites a higher institution in the town. After the prayer, Fayemi’s reaction suggested that he was not at home with the request.

So, when he took the podium, he chose to address the issue. As he made to talk,

the people interrupted him in a manner that suggested they were preempting him. But, he chose to still say his mind. First, he declared that he would not lie to them like an average politician would do.

E said: “ I’ll not lie to you.

I’m not that kind of a poli tician. Omuo is important to Ekiti because of its closeness to Ondo and Kogi states. It is like a gateway. If the Federal Government is planning a higher institution for Ekiti, Omuo will be considered.”

He was interrupted by clappings.

Then, he continued: “The state government has no plan to establish any higher institution, for now. We want to build the ones we have already.”

Soon, Fayemi was out of Obadore.

On the way to Gbonyin Local Government, he rubbed his hand with a moisturiser, checked his wristwatch and remarked that the time for a dinner he was billed to have with the ICAN team must be adjusted.

As he was approaching Agbado-

Ekiti town, which was not part of the itinerary, he received information that some youths were barricading the road. The ADC informed him that it was a peaceful protest by the youths who wanted him to also stop and address them. An obviously fatigued Fayemi remarked that the town was not on the itinerary. The ADC advised him to step out of the bus, address them and continue on his journey.

As the bus got to the town, the road was heavily barricaded. The crowd was huge. It was more than any in even places where he was billed to stop. Fayemi waived at women and children. Some were singing: “Oju ti PDP (Shame to PDP)”. He spent some minutes with them and found his way back to the bus, which headed straight to Aisegba, the last stop for the day.

By then, it was close to 7pm. The event was rushed. As the team was about leaving for Ado, Omirin excused himself, perhaps to spend

some time with his people.

Back at Ado, the ICAN team was at the Lady Jibowu Hall, inside the Governor’s Lodge. Fayemi made for his apartment. Still wearing the same dress, he later emerged with his wife Bisi, who was wearing a silver gown.

A Toyota Camry car was waiting for him in front of the apartment. The governor noticed that the car’s exterior was dirty. He complained. Ajayi got a driver to bring another one. The governor and his wife hopped in.

Ajayi stayed back, but an orderly wearing a black top and khaki trousers sat with the driver.

The dinner ended around 11pm. But the day was not over yet for the governor. He still had some people waiting for him at the lodge. One of them was a white man, probably Briton.

Their meeting lasted about five minutes. There was also a two-man team of guests who looked like Israelis.

Then, there was a third team of three, who Mrs. Fayemi supervised the kitchen staff to prepare some meal for.

As the governor was leading out the three-man team about midnight, he said: “No sane person should be governor. But, how do you make real changes in people’s life without being in government? You can be outside and pontificate, but it amounts to nothing, if it does not change lives.”

Through with this team, it was time for him to answer some questions from this reporter.

At a point in the interview, Mrs. Fayemi came in, holding a phone. She said, smiling: "Mo le hale mo eyin woyin. Mo fun yin ni 30 minutes. Oko mi koi ti yoju si mi lati aro. (I can harass you guys. I give you 30 minutes.

My husband has not had time for me since morning)."

The session was over by 1am last Friday. Fayemi spoke with a twoman team from The Sun immediately after. As he saw both teams off some minutes after 2am, this reporter advised him: “Go and sleep sir.”

It has been one hell of a day. Time was 2.10am.

H

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

47

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

With dilapilated infrastructure, many Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the country have gone seedy. They cannot even be referred to as “mere consulting clinics” as the late Head of State Gen Sani Abacha once described public hospitals. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA, WALE ADEPOJU, AUSTIN EHIKIOYA, Abuja; OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki; ADESOJI ADENIYI, Osogbo, OSAGIE OTABOR, Benin; NWANOSIKE ONU, Awka and LEKE AKERE DOLU, Akure, report.

T

HEY were established to handle what can be referred to as minor health challenges, such as child and maternal care. It was a lofty idea sold to the then administration of former military President Ibrahim Babangida by the late Health Minister, Prof Olikoye Ransome-Kuti. Fifteen years down the line, the primary health care scheme is beset by problems.

Many of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) nationwide have become an eyesore. They are not what an hospital should be.

Unkept premises; fallen fences; failed sewage systems and dry taps have become their lot. From Lagos to Osun, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Ondo and Abuja, the story is the same. These Federal Government facilities have been left to rot away.

The Lagos PHCs were established in 2001. The situation at the PHC in Ajegunle, Ilo in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State is pathetic. Its equipment are decayed, infrastructure obsolete and the referral system has collapsed.

Primary healthcare, which is supposed to be the bedrock of the country's health care policy, cater for less than 20 per cent of potential patients.

Besides, the Ajegunle Ilo PHC has been over grown by weeds. The septic tank and soak away have collapsed. The toilets are in a deplorable condition. The building itself is repulsive, as it is too dirty to be identified as a health institution.

At this 12-year-old facility, the infrastructural development and management are not in tandem with the health exigencies of the host communities, as the centre does not have enough qualified and experienced staff. The only qualified worker suitable for employment is the Head of nurses; others are ad-hoc private hospital trained nurses and health workers.

PHCs are supposed to be manned by Community Health Workers/Community Health Officers/Community Health Extension Workers (CHW's/ CHO's /CHEW's ) with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with the Institute of Child Health and Primary Care of the University of Lagos.

The Nation observed that the borehole is no longer functional; hence patients buy water sachets to, for instance, cool down rising temperature in children; especially if such is billed for injection.

The Nation's investigation revealed that out of the four people perceived to be 'staff', two or even three may be absent or resume to duty with impunity.

The patients comprising expectant mothers, nursing mothers and babies are made to suffer their discrepancies.

It was quite revealing that drugs, even the routine drugs for mothers and children that are given free by donor agencies are scarce to come by.

When contacted on the state of the centre, the Chairman of one of the host communities, Akinde/Kanran Community Development Association (CDA), Adeyemi Adesina, said: "The centre was a beauty to behold at inception. But we learnt that after the creation of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, some miscreants, assisted by some nurses were alleged to have aided the pilfering and breaking of the centre to cart away drugs and some of the equipments at the centre. The traditional ruler then, late Chief Adenekan threatened to report the case officially but there was pressure from some quaters to let sleeping dogs lie. Since then, there had been changes in the composition of committee membership at the discretion and instance of the late Chief Adenekan,who was the patron until his death.

• PHC Ute, inset, collaps fence of one of the PHCs in Lagos State

The sorry state of PHCs "As at now, Chief Z.A James still holds sway as the Chairman. He holds the key to the pharmacy where purchased drugs are kept and he is responsible for the purchase and issuance of drugs to the nurses, who recycle same, which is common knowledge."

Shedding more light on the situation, Chairman, Joint Community Development Area (CDA), Ward G, Olusola Davies said: "Drugs are not always available in the centre since there was no transparency and committed administrative mechanism for purchasing and dispensing of drugs. It has been widely rumoured that fraudulent arrangements were made for nurses and members of the committee to purchase drugs on private basis and sell to patients through the collaboration of nurses.

If the centre is upgraded, it can cater for the over 32 communities in the LCDA. Vice, Mrs Fausat Olajokun, told The Nation that the LCDA is aware of the problems confronting the PHC. "And we have written a letter informing and inviting the committee members in charge of the PHC to a meeting where we would forge ahead with our plans to renovate the centre. The letter had been written about two months ago and we do not want to make any issue out of such," she said.

The sad story of decay of PHCs is the same in Edo, Ondo, Osun, Ebonyi and other states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

It appeared expectant mothers in Edo State do not visit the PHC centres for pre and ante-natal care, and child delivery.

Many PHC visited in state said they have at most two deliveries monthly.

Findings showed that some PHC’s are in two-room rented apartments and the services they render are mainly immunisation for children.

At the Oredo PHC in Ikpema Street, the matron, Mrs Mercy Aigberie was not around but one of the nurses on duty said they were yet to move to the permanent site.

The PHC is a single room with benches where patients can sit.

The nurse said they only carry out immunisation and treat minor ailments such as malaria, pneumonia, among

others.

At Iwogban and Ute PHC in IkpobaOkha local council, it was gathered there were dearth of staff and shortage of drugs at the centres.

The Matron at Ute, Mrs. Odiase Dolly said they were supposed to operate 24 hours but could not because of shortage of staff. She said they have applied for drugs from the local councils but they were yet to be delivered.

Mrs. Dolly said water is not available at the centre and they have between two or three child births monthly.

In Ondo, Primary Health [PHC] is an essential delivery system, which is often made available to the rural dwellers.

This is because the rural community is a significant part of the larger society.

Over 70 per cent of the people in the state live in the rural area.

In Ondo State, the PHCs cut across the 18 local governments and are located in the rural communities where the people can easily get access to health care delivery.

In the last administration of Governor Olusegun Agagu, PHCs came alive, following the priority attention given by the administration.

More medical practitioners were employed and infrastructure upgraded But the present government in the state focused more on health programmes designed to provide safe delivery for expectant mothers.

The government led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko embarked on the construction of Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) in Akure which is the state capital, with a promise to construct mega hospitals in the 18 LGAs. This has brought less attention on the health care centres, thereby leading to people seeking medical attention in Akure where the only mega MCH exists.

The state government through its Ministry of Health said it has spent billions of naira to provide accessible health care in rural communities.

Despite the fund expended on the PHC in the state, the health centres visited by The Nation left much to be desired.

In Ose Local government, the Ifon Comprehensive health Centre is still

wearing its old look, with little facilities to cater for the demand of the people.

It was gathered that the only available treatment at the health centre is the prescription of Paracetamol and other generic drugs for minor ailments.

The popular thinking is that since the government embarked on the MCH programmes, the health centre has been receiving less attention.

Rural dwellers in those communities are said to be seeking medical attention either in Owo General Hospital or the Federal Medical Centre also in Owo Local Council.

In Araromi, Obu, in Odigbo local government, the health care centre is illequipped; the pure agrarian community is faced with infrastructural challenges, coupled with its sub-standard health care centre.

Alaajagbusi in Akure North still lacks functional and equipped health centres.

Most of the patients who need medical attentions are either transferred to General Hospital, Iju in Akure North Local Government or the State General Hospital in Akure South Local Council In Eleberese community, the government built a health care centre which has not been functioning for a long time.

The Nation’s visit to the agrarian community shows that expectant mothers travel as far as Ore to access health care.

The hospital built to serve the community has been abandoned without necessary materials and infrastructure such as drugs, electricity and potable water.

In Osun State, many PHC claimed to have sufficient drugs to dispense to the sick. An investigation carried out by The Nation revealed that there is enough patronage within the limit of the local population. For instance, in Ede, a neighbouring community to Osogbo, the Osun State capital city, records show that the sick visit about 36 health centres serving the ancient town and its environs.

It was gathered that some of the biggest challenges facing the health care delivery in this area is lack of motorised water supply. Others are lack of toilet facilities and electricity to use in the centres.

In Olusokan ward 5 of Ede and health centres in Abere, a community hosting

the state secretariat, there are no storage facilities for vaccines and drugs being administered on the local residents. It was also gathered that there are no resident doctors attached to these rural health centres.

At a community maternity centre at Asubiaro community, located on a road leading to the sacred Osun Groove, it was gathered that many women came to be delivered of their babies.

Majority of the PHCs in the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 63 Development Centes of Ebonyi State could be regarded as mere dispensaries. Rural dwellers now access health care at the mission hospitals.

Most of the drugs expected to relive pains are not readily available in some of the centres. Some centres also lack qualified medical personnel.

The PHC centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, which are located in the satellite villages, are in dilapidated state.

The poor decoration and furniture in most of the centres in Abuja are enough to aggravate the illness of a patient.

Apart from few health workers, who normally report for duty, nothing seems to be working in line with the aims for setting them up.

Most of the centres neither have drugs to dispense nor the necessary health equipment to do treat the patients.

The establishment of PHC in Anambra State has raised more questions than answers. Some are located in rented apartment without drugs while others have staff sleeping in them.

During imunisation, the PHC staff find it difficult to go to the field to monitor the exercise which is the main trust of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The PHC which are suppose to be neat have become dirty. For example, the PHC Centre at Oba -Ofemili in Awka North LGA is a shadow of what it should be but the story is different at Nteje. Mrs Kate Ajaitu, Head of Facility at the centre, said the major challenge is procuring drugs. Despite the condition of Oba-Ofemili PHC patronage is stil high, according to Mrs Fidelia Nwabunie. She said drugs have not been supplied for about two weeks.

48

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

49

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY, LAGOS DIVISION WHEREAS the person whose names are set-out in the first Column under died intestate on the date and place stated in the said Column. AND WHEREAS the person or persons whose names and addresses and relationship (if any) to the deceased are set out in the second Column here have applied to the High Court of Lagos State for a Grant of Letter of Administration of the Real and Personal Properties of the deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE GRANT is filed in the registry within (14) days from the date hereof.

S/N

S/N

NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSON:

1. Mr. Lukman Olakunle Ishola late of 45, Amoke Shoderu Street, Haruna Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on 15th June, 2012 at Lagos.

2. ‘Mary Emmanuel late of 15, Lewis Street, Lagos who died intestate on 21st February, 2011 at Lagos.

3. Mr. Digbo Lawson known as Digho Longson late of 3, Shakiru Tobun Street, Epe, Lagos who died intestate on 3rd November, 2010 at Lagos.

4. Ferdinard Udeh known as Udeh Ferdinard late of 5, Ebute Road Bogije, Lekki, who died intestate on 3rd December, 2010 at Lagos.

5. Mr. Sunday Oniovosa Ideni known as Ideni Oniovosa Sunday late of 49, Alebiosu Street, Satellite Town, Lagos who died intestate on 22 nd December, 2010 at Lagos.

6. Onuoha Daniel Obirieze late of Flat M6, Block AA, Navy Barracks Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos, who died intestate on 9th March, 2010at Lagos.

7. Mr. Kenneth Ugwuanyi known as Kenneth Ugwuanyi Jnr. and Kenneth Uguanyi O. late of of 161, Muyibi Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on 19 th February, 2009 at Lagos.

8. Benedict Oghenevo Olughor known as Benedict Olughor late of 18, Oshinowo Street, Medium Estate, Gbagada, Lagos who died intestate on 26th August, 2011 at Lagos.

9. Mrs. Emmanuela Aina Bello known as Bello Aina Emmanuela late of 25, Igunnu Street, Lagos who died intestate on 23 rd April, 2011 at Lagos.

10. Veronica Oluremi Ojo late of 2B, Kayode Otitoju Street, Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos who died intestate on 3rd May, 2011 at6 Lagos.

11. Onyechefule Chukwuemeka Kingsley known as Onyekwere and Onyechefuwa late of 15, Aina Road, Agility Mile 12, Lagos who died intestate on the 10th July, 2006 at Gwagwalada.

12. Benedict Ungwugwaye Agiande late of 19, Akani Bashua Street, Somolu, Lagos who died intestate on 16th December, 2010 at Lagos.

13. James Ogungbemi Daramola late of 43, Dumare Street, Lagos who died intestate on 13th September, 2009 at Lagos.

14. Fredrick Adewole Taylor late of 61, Patey Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 8 th December, 1994 at Ikeja.

15. John Olufemi Taylor known as Mr. Taylor Olufemi late of 61, Patey Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 28 th March, 2005 at Lagos.

16. Kassimu Abiodun Aliu late of 5, Raimi Street, Onireke Opposite Ojo Barracks, Ojo Lagos who died intestate on 15th August, 2010 at Lagos.

17. Simonson Anthony late of 27, Ikilo Street, Ajegunle, Lagos who died intestate on 19th December, 2011 at Ikot.

18. Mrs.Ngozi Ndukwe late of 11, Oludegun Street, Ire- Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd April, 2012 at Abia State.

19. Onwumere Irene Chibuzo (Mrs) known as Mrs. Irene Chibuzo Onwumere late of 25, Omo Alade Alafia Pedro, Lagos who died intestate on 24 th April, 2012 at Achina.

20. Omoreghe Emma Lucky late of New Market Road, Onitiri Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos who died intestate on 16th April, 2012 at Lagos.

21. Mr. Frank Loko late of 3, Patience Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 12th July, 2009 at Lagos.

22. Chief Franklyne Ubaka Onuegbu known as Onuegbu Franklin late of 8, Abayomi Kiyomi Street, Apole Estate Mile 2, Lagos who died intestate on 10th January, 2012 at Lagos.

23. Ibrahim Usman late of 54, Owodunni Stret, Iwaya, Lagos who died intestate on 2nd day of September, 2006 at Lagos.

24. Mrs. Muhammed Adeyinka Mulikat known as Muhammed Mulikat late of 9, Awoniyi Street, Mushin, Lagos who died intestate on 12 th July, 2010 at Lagos.

25. Idowu Bolaji Oni known as Mr. Bolaji Oni late of 12, Kamal Onitolo Street, Awoyaya, Lagos who died intestate on the 30th August, 2010 at Lagos.

26. Mr. Rauf Adewale Ojobaro late of 35, Sokubi Street, Aba Aiye Ogun State, who died intestate on 9th April, 2010 at Aiyepe Ogun State.

27. Eno Idem Bassey known as Eno Idem Akonduono and Mr. Eno T. Bassey late of 4, Adeyinka Street, Ariola Ikotun, Lagos, who died intestate on 10 th February, 2012 at Lagos.

28. Mrs. Chibuzor – Anozie (Nee Ezuezuaba) late of 3, Fure Lane Onireke Ojo, Lagos, who died intestate on 6th December, 2011 at Lagos.

29. Odekunle Omolara Omobolanle late of 223 Borno Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 20th April, 2008 at Lagos.

30. Ezeobika Chinenye late of 3, Corner Road Yaba, Lagos who died intestate on 8 th January, 2012 at Lagos.

31. Mrs. Elizabeth Uzoma Agbanusi known as Agbanusi Elizabeth Uzoma late of Plot 633, V. Close 1 st Avenue Festac Town, Lagos, who died intestate on 24th December, 2011 at Enugu.

32. Mrs. Felicia O. Duroshola late of 7, Leigh Street, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 19 th January, 2012 at Lagos.

33. Mr. Paul Attach late of Queens Barrack, Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on 7th August, 2011 at Ibadan.

34. Saleh Ibrahim late of D.I.S.Legico Kofo Abayomi Victoria Island, Lagos, who died intestate on 19th November, 2008 at Lagos.

35. Sabo Dauda late of Itoga Road, Badagry, Lagos who died intestate on 5 th November, 2011 at Badagry, Lagos.

36. Makanbi Olowolayemo known as Olowolayemo Makanbi late of 24, Matiminu Street, Ijora, Lagos who died intestate on 25 th December, 2006 at Lagos.

37. Mrs. Ngozika Patricia Aniemeka known as Aniemeka Patricia Ngozika late of National Library Quarters Close 2, House 8, Satellite Town, Lagos who died intestate on 21 st February, 2012 at Badagry, Lagos.

38. Richard Igwenma known as Igwenma Richard late of 1, Oke – Oko Street, Magbon Badagry, who died intestate on 16th June, 2011 at Lagos.

39. Ige Joseph Olabisi known as Mr. Ige Joseph late of Stephen Adesina Close Ojodu Berger who died intestate on 25th July, 2011 at Lagos.

40. Mr. Jeremiah Olushola Folaranmi known as Folaranmi Olushola late of 34, Abule-Nla Road, Ebute-Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 1st January, 2011 at Lagos.

41. Rapu Emmanuel known as Rapu Chukwuemeka Emmanuel and Rapu Emmanuel C late of 6, Akinrele Estate Oworonshoki Lagos, who died intestate on 24 th February, 2012 at Lagos.

42. Yussuf Abebi late of 22, Saliu Ariyo Street, Balogun, Lagos who died intestate on 26 th December, 1998 at Lagos.

43. Mr. Benjamin Jamgbadi late of 1, Enoma Ekhator Street, Odogunyan Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on 22nd April, 2007 at U.B.T.H. 44. Mr. Adesina I. Olukoya known as Mr. Adesina Idowu Olukoya late of Plot 44, Agbojesu Crescent Agbede Omolaye Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on 21st October, 2011 at Ikorodu, Lagos.

45. Mrs. Ayinde Grace known as Ayinde Grace Oluwafunmilayo late of 59, Jinadu Street, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on 20th August, 2010 at Lagos.

46. Mr. Christian Sunday Nzekwe known as Nzekwe Christian Sunday late of 5, Shotayo Hughes Street, Ikate Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 25 th April, 2010 at Imo State.

47. Matthew Akhighemidu Uduebo known as Mr. Uduebo Mathew A late of 6, Ilori Street, Ire-Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on 25th May, 2010 at Ore, Ondo State.

48. Alhaji Taofeek Olawale Olatunji known as Alhaji Taofeek Olatunji , TaoGross Ventures and TaoGross Ventures Ltd late of 13, Oremeji Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on 17th June, 2012 at Lagos.

49. Chike Onwuchekwa known as Onwuchekwa Chike late of 80, Lumac Street, Satelite Town, Lagos who died intestate on 24 th October, 2011 at Lagos.

50. Nicholas Iroholegbubem Okoro late of 48, Adeshina Street, Bariga, Lagos who died intestate on 10th March, 2009 at Imo State.

51. Francis Adedeji Adeniran late of 37, Eric Manuel Crescent Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on 28th March, 1991 at Lagos.

52. Osaze Osifo late of 11A, Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos who died intestate on 29th February, 2012 at Abuja.

53. Pa. Aimuengheuwa Igbinogu known as Pa. Gbinogu Aimuenghenwa late of House 17, ‘A’ Close, 712 Road Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on 21st June, 2007 at Benin – City.

54. Abe Gbenga Obafemi known as Gbenga Abe late of 1, Yeside Abeke Street, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 16 th May, 2011 at Lagos.

55. Balogun Felicia Alake late of 7, Olokun Close Ishagatedo Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on 14th May, 2012 at Lagos.

56. Babatunde Ajibike Oluwatosin known as Babatunde Ajibike late of 43, Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos who died intestate on 12th June, 2009 at Lagos.

57. Mr. Kamoru Lamina known as Lamina Kamoru late of 9, Eluku Street, Ijede who died intestate on 12th December, 2011 at Lagos.

58. Bokinni Biliaminu Akanni late of 41, Massey Street, Lagos who died intestate on 31 st May, 2002 at Lagos.

59. Ojonugba Lawrence Ochigbo late of 8, Akinola Solanke Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos who died intestate on 3rd of April, 2008 at Lagos.

60. Pa Isaiah Ogunbodede late of 74, Ogunsami Street, Itire Ijesha Lagos who died intestate on 8th August, 2011 at Lagos.

61. Ocheme Godwin late of 8, Akindehinde Close Egbe Ikotun, Lagos who died intestate on 6th January, 2012 at Lagos.

62. Rev.Uzor Obike known as Uzordinma, Nzekwe Obike late of 28, Funsho Williams Street, Ojota, Lagos who died intestate on 24th October, 2011 at Lagos.

63. Ogunlaja Ajibola Thompson late of 22, Surulere Street, Dagbogogbe, Epe Lagos who died intestate on 24th March, 2009 at Epe, Lagos.

64. Julius Achirika Okwor Okpong known as Mr. Achrika Julius Okpong late of 7, Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos who died intestate on 3rd December, 2011 at Obudu Cross River State.

65. Saheed Olayinka Idowu late of Allen Avenue Ikeja, Lagos who died intestate on 14th February, 2011 at Lagos.

66. Sodiq Ibraheem known as Ibraheem Sodiq and Sodiq Ibrahim late of No. 50, Folawiyo Street, Agarau, Lagos who died intestate on 2nd March, 2008 at Lagos.

67. Abdul Rahman Ajenifujah known as Abdul Rahman Aremu Ajenifujah late of 5th Avenue 52 Road, House 12 Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on 15th May, 2008 at Lagos.

68. Anne I. Chris – Aladun late of 511 Road ‘B’ Close House 7, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on 7th December, 2011 at Lagos.

69. Abdullahi Inuwa late of Block 4, Flat 24, Alapafuja Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on 18th December, 2004 at Lagos.

70. Mr. Mojeed Adewale Ishola Lawal known as Lawal Mojeed Adewale Ishola late of 1, Princess Folasade Ojutalayo Close, Lekki, Lagos who died intestate on 4th January, 2010 at Lagos.

71. Francis Iyomana Osague late of 6, Sikiru Oloko Street, Oke Ira Nla Ajah, Lagos who died intestate on 23rd March, 2012 at Lagos.

72. Odukoya Frederick Olanrewaju late of 2, Taju Bello St., Iju Ishaga, Lagos who died intestate on 15th day of May, 2008 at Lagos.

73. Taiwo Oseni Lukman known as Lookman Taiwo Oseni late of 17, Fashina St., Iwaya Yaba, Lagos who died intestadte on 1st day of August, 2010 at Lagos.

74. Major Mofoluso Adeniran Otuyelu known as Otuyelu M.A. late of 17, Anifowoshe St., Shomolu, Lagos who died intestate on 5th day of Oct., 1989 at Lagos 75. Mr. Owolabi Dele Oluwatoyin known as Mr. Owolabi Toyin Dele late of 43, Baaale Crescent , Ajegunle Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on 8th day of Sept., 2010 at Ikeja, Lagos 76. Josiah Theodosius George late of 7, Balogun St., West, Lagos who died intestate on 31 st day of May, 1916 at Lagos.

77. Mr. Olajuyigbe Taiwo late of No.1, Missionary Street, Off. A.I.T. Road, Alagbado, Lagos who died intestate on the 5th day of Nov., 2010 at Lagos.

78. Rasaki Olugbade known as Olugbade Rasaki late of 33, Pattey St., Lagos who died intestate on the 7th day of March, 1996 at Lagos.

NAMES OF APPLICANT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

1. Olakunle - Ishola Adeola Olubunmi and Olalekan Ishola of 45, Amoke Shoderu Street, Haruna, Ikorodu, and 265, Adeyemo Layout Molete , Ibadan. The widow and brother of the said deceased.

2. Edet Emmanuel John and Richard Emmanuel John both of 15, Lewis Street, Lagos. The brothers of the said deceased.

3. Onyeulo Nnabugo John and Onyeulo Osita both of 1, Odedegboro Street, Ojota, Epe. The children of the said deceased.

4. Beneditta Udeh and Andrew Udeh both of 5, Ebute Road, Bogije. The widow and Elder brother of the said deceased.

5. Mr. Charles Udeni, Miss Oghale Ideni and Mrs. Uzoezi Upelomo All of 49, Alebiosu Street, Satellite Town, Lagos. The daughter, brother and sister of the said deceased.

6. Salomey D. O. Onuoha and Dora Edet Effiong both of Flat M6, Block AA, Navy Barracks, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos. The widow and sister In –law of the said deceased.

7. Mr. Innocent Ugwuanyi and Mr. Charles Nwamba both of 161 Muyibi Street, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos. The brother and uncle of the said deceased.

8. Mary Blessing Oleighor and Udumebraye Ideh both of Oshinowo Street, Medium Estate, Gbagada, Lagos. The widow and sister In- law of the said deceased.

9. Miss Juliana Alaba Bello and Mr. Emmanuel Laja Bello both of 25, Igunnu Street, Lagos. The children of the said deceased.

10. Olujide Akindele Ojo and Olayide Ibidapo Ojo both of 2B, Kayode Otitoju Street, Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos. The Widower and Daughter of the said deceased.

11. Mrs. Maria Onyekwere and Wisdom Onyekwere both of 15, Aina Road, Agility, Mile 12, Lagos. The Widow and Son of the said deceased.

12. Mrs. Rosemary Idagwu Agiande and Nathaniel Agiande both of 26, Military Zone John Michael Oko – Afo Badagry, Lagos.

The widow and son of the said deceased.

13. Miss Oluwakemi Daramola and Miss Comfort Daramola both of 43, Dumare Street, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

14. Mr. Adewole A. Taylor and Mrs. Aderonke Adekoje of 61, Patey Street, Ebute-Metta, and Plot R. 194, Co-operative Villa Badore.

The Grandson and Grand Daughter of the said deceased.

15. Florence Amoke Taylor and Aderonke Adekoje of 61, Patey Street, Ebute-Metta, and Plot R, 194, Co-operative Villa Badore. The widow and daughter of the said deceased.

16. Mrs. Rabiatu Aliu and Mr. Sumaila Aliu both of 5, Raimi Street, Onireke Opposite Ojo Barrack, Lagos. The widow and son of the said deceased.

17. Simon Anthony and Becky Anthony both of 27, Ikilo Street, Ajegunle, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

18. Ndukwe Awa Kalu and Ndukwe Chinaza both of 11, Oludegun Street, Ire- Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos. The children of the said deceased.

19. Odilichukwu Onwumere, Amaka Onwumere, Amara Onwumere and Chigbo Onwumere all of 25, Omo Alade Alafia Pedro.

The children of the said deceased.

20. Mr. Joseph Umana and Mr. Anthony Christopher both of 15, Olabola Street, Agungi, Lagos. Cousins of the said deceased.

21. Mrs. Perpetual Ronke Loko and Mrs. Funke Olanrewaju both of 3, Patience Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The widow and sister of the said deceased.

22. Chinwe Scholastica and Linda Adaobi Onuegbu both of 8 Abayomi Kiyomi Street, Apple Estate Mile 2, Lagos.

23. Ibrahim Taiwo Abiba and Ibrahim Kafayat both of 54, Owodunni Street, Iwaya, Lagos. The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

24. Odekunle Raolat and Odekunle Shakiru both of 9, Awoniyi Street, Mushin, Lagos. The sister and brother of the said deceased.

25. Kehinde Okedairo and Sarah Oni both of 12, Kamal Onitola Street, Awoyaya, Lagos. The widow and sister of the said deceased.

26. Mr. Abdul Fatai Ojobaro and Mr. Lukman Ojobaro of 35, Sokanbi Street, Aba Aiyepe Ogun State. The sons of the said deceased.

27. Elder Felix Eno and Pastor Ananem Ebito both of 4, Arida Ikotun, Lagos. The brothers of the said deceased.

28. Anozie Christian C. and Chidiebere Ezuezuaba of 3, Fure Lane Onireke Ojo, Lagos and 20, Aina Street, Ojota, Lagos. The widower and brother of the said deceased.

29. Odekunle Olufemi and Odekunle Enitan both of 223, Borno Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The children of the said deceased.

30. Michael O. Ezeobika, Elizabeth N. Ezeobika, Arch. Obinna Ezeobika and Elizabeth N. Obaloje all of Corner Road, Yaba, Lagos.

The father, mother, brother and sister of the said deceased.

31. Miss Uchwechukwu Agbanusi and Mrs. Oriaku Ifeoma both of Plot 633, V Close, 1st Avenue Festac Town, Lagos. One of the children and brother of the said deceased.

32. Olurotimi Duroshola and Mr. Gbenga Duroshola both of 7, Leigh Street, Surulere, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

33. Mrs. Gloria Attah and Mr. Jacob Attah both of Queens Barrack Apapa, Lagos. The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

34. Bala Ibrahim and Abdulaziz S. Ibrahim both of D.I.S. Legico Victoria Island, Lagos. The sons of the said deceased.

35. Mary Dauda, Victoria Dauda and Mr. Ikpantere all of Itoga Road, Badagry, Lagos. The two widows and brother of the said deceased.

36. Makanbi Isaiah, Makanbi Ayo and Makanbi Patience all of 24, Matiminu Street, Ijora, Lagos . The children of the said deceased.

37. Gozie Ekene Aniemeka and Chito Nonyerum Aniemeka both of National Library Quarters, Close 2, House 8, Satellite Town, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

38. Mrs. Mary Igwenma and Maxwell Igwenma both of 1, Rasheed Street, Magbon Badagry, Lagos. The widow and son of the said deceased.

39. Mrs. Ige Oluwatoyin Serah of Stephen Adesina Close Ojodu Berger. The widow of the said deceased.

40. Mrs. Juliana Nkemasowe Folaranmi and Mr. Richard Oyekunle Folaranmi both of 34, Abule Nla Road, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

41. Mrs. Rapu Mary Layoke and Ifeanyi Chiamuga Lawrence both of 6, Akinrele Estate Oworoshoki, Lagos. The widow and nephew of the said deceased.

42. Olalekan Afeez Adeyemi and Ramon Adeyemi both of 22, Saliu Ariyo Street, Balogun, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

43. Mr.Blessing U. Jamgbadi and Mr. Bright O. Jamgbadi both of 1, Enona Ekhator Street, Odogunyan Ikorodu, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

44. Mrs. Janet A. Olukoya and Samuel O. Olukoya both of Plot 44, Agbojesu Crescent Agbole Omolaye Ikorodu, Lagos. The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

45. Ayinde Adeshina Alade and Ayinde Mary Tosin both of 59, Jinadu Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos. The widower and daughter of the said deceased.

46. Mrs. Mary Ogochukwu Nzekwe and Mr. Jude Ifeanyichukwu Okafor of 5, Shotayo Hughes Street, Ikate Surulere, Lagos and l, Ododi Okuta Street, Mushin, Lagos. The widow and brother of the said deceased.

47. Agnes Ebakota Uduebo and Lilian Osomomen Olukoya of 6B, Ilori Street, Ire Akari Estate Isolo and 8, Adekunle Kolawole Street, Ado Road Ajah, Lagos. The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

48. Mrs. Taibat Olatunji, Mr. Buraimoh Ayinde Mustapha, Mrs. Bilikis Olatunji and Mr. Sadiq Olatunji all of 13, Oremeji Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.

49. Victoria Chike Onwuchekwa and Nonso Onwuchekwa both of 80, Lumac Street, Satellite Town, Lagos. The widow and brother of the said deceased.

50. Monday Vitalis Okoro and Uchenna Okoro both of 48, Adeshina Street, Bariga, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

51. Segun Victor Adeniran and Mrs. Oladele Adeniran Olubunmi both of 37, Eric Manuel Crescent Surulere, Lagos. One of the children and one of the grand children of the said deceased.

52. Ibukun Osifo, Egbe Osifo Dawodu and Anthony Youdeowei all of 11A Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The widow, sister and family friend of the said deceased.

53. Mrs. Rosaline E. Gbinogun and Mr. Charles Aimuengheuwa Gbinogun both of House 12, ‘A’ Close 712 Road, Festac, Town, Lagos. The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

54. Alhaja Abisoye Lagoku and Ms Oluwabukola Esther Abe both of 30, Grifith Street, Lagos. The mother and daughter of the said deceased.

55. Ebenezer Adetayo Balogun and Adebola Olufunmilola Balogun both of 7, Olokun Close Ishagatedo Isolo, Lagos. The widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

56. Omolara Adediji and Taiye Adeyemi both of 43, Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The younger sister and brother of the said deceased.

57. Lanre Ajasa Lamina, Mukail Lamina and Gafar Lamina all of 9, Eluku Street, Ijede. The three of the children of the said deceased.

58. Kudirat Bikinni and Saheed Adetutu of 41, Massey Street, Lagos and 4, Freeman Street, Lagos. The children of the said deceased.

59. Ochigbo Benedicta Ada and Ojonugbo Sunday both of 8, Akinola Solanke Street, Lagos. One of the children and brother of the said deceased.

60. Olatubosun Ogunbodede and Adewoti Ogunbodede both of 74, Ogunsami Street, Itire- Ijesha, Lagos. The widow and son of the said deceased.

61. Virginia Ocheme and Andrew Abah of 8, Akindehinde Close, Egbe Ikotun, Lagos and 20, Church Street, Ijora, Lagos. The widow and cousin of the said deceased.

62. Mrs. Ihuoma Obike and Mrs. Ugonna Idaboma both of 28, Funsho Williams Street, Ojota, Lagos. The widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

63. Ogunlaja Kayode, Ogunlaja Mosunmola, Ogunlaja Ayo and Ogunlaja Jeda all of 2, Ajayi Close, Ajegunle, Lagos. The children of the said deceased.

64. Eunice Okwor Julius and Thompson Inyambe Julius both of 7, Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

65. Magret Foluke Idowu and Olabode Otubu both of Allen Avenue Ikeja, Lagos. The widow and cousin of the said deceased.

66. Mrs. Seliat Sodiq, Mrs. Evelyn Sodiq and Mr. Ibrahim Aiyelara all of 50, Folawiyo Street, Agarau, Lagos. The widows and brother of the said deceased.

67. Moriam O. Odukoya, Shakirat O. Ajenifujah – Abubakar, Aminat O. Ajenifujah – Abubakar and Modinat O. Ajenifujah all of 5th Avenue, 52 Road, House 12, Festac Town, Lagos. Four of the children of the said deceased.

68. Chris – Aladun Okechukwu and Chris Aladun Ugochukwu both of 511 Road, ‘B’ Close House 7, Festac Town, Lagos. Two of the children. of the said deceased.

69. Larai Inuwa and Makki Ganitai both of Block 4, Flat 24, Alapafuja Surulere, Lagos. The widow and brother of the said deceased.

70. Mrs. Ladun Kofoworola Lawal, Ayoade Lawal and Ariyike Akinbobola all of 1, Princess Folasade Ojutalayo Close Lekki, Lagos. The widow and children of the said deceased.

71. Franco Osague and Ameze Osaque both of 6, Sikiru Oloko Street, Oke – Ira Nla Ajah, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

72. Olayemi Olufemi Odukoya of 2, Taju Ballo St., Iju Ishaga, Lagos. The Son of the said deceased.

73. Lukman K. Atolani and Lukman A. Temidayo both of 17, Fashina St., Iwaya Yaba, Lagos The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

74. Mrs. Aduramigba Omowunmi Oyekan (Nee Otuyelu), Mrs. Kikelomo Oluwaseun Alaka (Nee Otuyelu), Mrs Temitope Ayodele Enilolobo (Nee Otuyelu) and Mrs. Shola Adefioye (Nee Otuyelu) all of No.17, Anifowoshe St., Shomolu, Lagos The four of the Children of the said deceased.

75. Titilayo Adenike Omowunmi, Oluwaseun Abidemi Owolabi and Owolabi Omowunmi Esther all of 36, Lala St., Bada Ayobo.

The Widow, Sister and Brother of the said deceased.

76. Oluwaseyi O. Onanuga and Akinwande O. George of 9B, Blk. D Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

77. Mrs. Mary Abazan Olajuyigbe Taiwo and Oluwasegun Victor Olajuyigbe both of 1, Missionary St., Off A.I.T. Road, Alagbado, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

78. Mrs. Idiatu Olugbade, Mr.Morufu Olugbade, Ms. Saidatu Olugbade and Mr. Shakiru Olugbade all of 29, Memudu St., Orile Iganmu, Lagos. The Widow and Three of the Children of the said deceased.

G.A. SAFARI ESQ. PROBATE REGISTRAR

50

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

51

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Ikeja PHCN spends N501m to strengthen network T

HE Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company said it spent N501 million on old and new projects to strengthen its network aimed at ensuring improved electricity supply.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Chris Okaa Akamnonu, disclosed this when the members of House of Representatives Committee on Power, paid a visit to the company as part of its oversight functions.

Akamnonu said the money was spent on 65 projects, including completed and ongoing ones and promised that once there are funds, which he said that the government is committed to providing, the majority of the ongoing projects would be completed before end of the year.

He said the materials needed to complete the projects would be sourced from Nigeria, therefore it would not be difficult to procure and install.

He said the company has worked hard to ensure that customers within the network do get get regular power supply, which some customers present at the event testified to.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, urged the company to follow due process in its activities and ensure accountability and quality service deliv-

Stories by Emeka Ugwuanyi

ery. He also urged Akamnonu to be committed in implementing constituency projects of House of Reps members that fall within his company’s areas of operation.

When the committee members visited the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Oladele Amoda, told them that millions of naira belonging to them is still trapped in some branches of Firstbank following Mareva court order secured by the Lagos State Government, which restrained the utility company from accessing the fund.

Amoda told the lawmakers that Eko’s funds totalling N480,331,269.28 is still stalled in the banks as a result of the order.

He noted however, that the order affects only PHCN’s funds in First Bank. Further enquiries by The Nation, showed that the Mareva order, which was handed down by a high court in May, affected all PHCN’s deposits in First Bank until perhaps lodgements were stopped A breakdown of the trapped funds are as follows: May N138,904,214.75; June N289,457,059.68; July N51,734,351.10; and August N235,643.75 but Amoda said that

the issue was being handled at the highest level of the power sector management.

It was also learnt that if other companies’ funds trapped in the banks as a result of the court order are added, it would run into tens of billions of naira.

The Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale and his members including Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, promised to unravel the complexities in the case and seek ways to resolve the conflict.

The presentations by the two distribution companies showed that the government is yet to release the budgetary allocations to them.

Ikhariale stressed the need for the distribution companies to follow due process in the ongoing privatisation of the assets of the PHCN. He said such due process will not only boost investors’ confidence, but also enable the companies to know the cost incurred in carrying out their businesses and how to recoup their investment.

The committee advocated that the Federal Government should have a stake in the power sector in spite of the privatisation programme. The chairman said there is nowhere the power distribution, generation and transmission is left for the private sector.

He said: “The government must still have a stake in the power sector. The fact that privatisation of the power sector is ongoing does not mean the government should hands off its duties and responsibilities in the sector.”

DPR commends Gulf Treasures for products delivery

T

HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has commended Gulf Treasures Limited, an indigenous oil and gas services company, for the delivery of quality products and services to consumers of petroleum products across the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The DPR made the commendations when the Managing Director of Gulf Treasures, Dekeri Anemero was conferred with the award of distinguished ambassador of the Faculty of Law of the Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State by the law students association.

Speaking on the occasion, which held in Lagos, the Chief Technical Officer of the DPR, Enilama Victor, said the company as a player in the downstream sector of the oil gas industry, had maintained quality services to its consumers. “As a regulator, we don’t see people on the side, we see people on the quality and we see quality in the management services,” he added.

Gulf Treasures, he said, was a registered oil and gas company in Nigeria, which specialises in oil and gas exploration, trading, shipping services, logistics and manufacturing. It also engages in the importation of petroleum products including dual purpose kerosene (DPK), automotive gas oil (AGO), premium motor spirit (PMS) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

He said the company has an average turnover of 60,000 metric tons with over 50 trucks for prompt delivery to numerous customers. It also has a loading terminal located at Ibafon, Apapa with a total capacity of 45,000 metric tons and its retail outlets na-

By Ambrose Nnaji

tionwide is known as Danco Petroleum.

Enilama said the company was one of the major independent petroleum marketers that had maintained quality of product that had served the interest of the people so well for many years He said the company had petrol stations spread across the country, especially in the western part of the country, which according him, helps to ensure prompt delivery of the product to consumers and urged other operators to maintain good industry practices.

Anemero said the award had only challenged him to further impact positively on the lives of the people, including management and staff of the company. While expressing hope for the growth of the oil and gas industry, he appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the ongoing reforms in the industry, saying the benefits in the oil and gas were yet to be tapped.

He has also urged the youths to shun any act of unrest and vandalism and reassured the management’s commitment to creating more job opportunities for the teaming youths The Director of Administration, Ibru Group, Henry Muogho, said Anemero was a silent achiever and committed to adding value to the society, adding that the award was a reward for hard work, determination, honesty and discipline of character.

The President, Faculty of Law of the university, Monday Mawah, said Anemero had contributed immensely to the faculty and Edo State.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Trust Insuarance, Hanson Aimofumeh; Managing Director, Gulf Treasure, Dekeri Anemero; President, Law Students Association (LAWSA), Ambrose Alli University, Ojore Mawah and Enilama Victor of the Department of Petroleum Resources, during the conferment on Anemero with Achiever’s award by LAWSA in Lagos.

NNPC eyes 40b barrels reserves, 4m bpd HE Nigerian National Peproduction by 2020 troleum Corporation

T

(NNPC) has said it is determined to grow oil reserves from its current level of 37 billion barrels to 40 billion barrels by 2020.

Speaking in Kaduna State at a reception organised by the state government in honour of some of its illustrious sons and daughter, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, who also is one of the illustrious sons of the state, stated that apart from ensuring an increase in the level of proven oil reserves, the corporation is working assiduously towards increasing daily production from the current 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) to four million bpd by 2020.

Nigeria’s production of crude oil now averages at 2.4 million barrels daily after recording an all time high of 2.7million bpd late July.

Yakubu said: “As we endeavour to achieve effective transformation of the oil and gas industry in line with the transformation agenda of Mr President, our target is to ensure that we grow our proven crude reserves to 40 billion by 2020 and also increase our production to four million barrels per day by 2020.”

Yakubu assured that the NNPC and its Joint Venture partners, are

strategically focused on power generation through effective alignment with the power supply aspiration of the Federal Government.

He said the NNPC is also working on strategic upgrade of gas infrastructure in Kaduna and other Northern states to help resuscitate the ailing textile industry in that part of the country. He reassured residents of Kaduna and adjoining states of adequate supply of petroleum products, noting that Kaduna Refinery is producing about four million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per day.

“The Kaduna Refinery is one of the best run in the country today.

It produces four million litres of PMS every couple of days and this has helped us to stabilise supply in Kaduna and its environs especially at this trying period,” he said.

He pledged that the plan to ensure complete turnaround and rehabilitation of the country’s refineries is still intact as the lead equipment for the TAM of Port Harcourt Refinery has since arrived. “Once we are done with Port Harcourt Refinery, Kaduna will be next in line and from there we move to Warri Refinery,” he added.

Yakubu thanked the government and people of Kaduna State for the special recognition, noting that it is reassuring to know that “you are loved back home when embarking on a journey like this.”

The event, which had Vice-President Namadi Sambo as special guest of honour and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Muhammadu Lawal Uwais as Chairman conferred awards to three other prominent indigenes of Kaduna State. These include: Minister of the Environment Hajiya Hadiza Mailafia; Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Kumai Akaahs and National Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha.

In his remarks, the Vice-President commended Yakubu for piloting the corporation in the right direction especially the recent effort to resuscitate the search for oil in the inland sedimentary basins particularly the Chad Basin, which has shown some significant breakthroughs.

The Kaduna State Governor, Sir Ibrahim Yakowa, corroborated the Vice-President and praised Yakubu for his focus and sterling leadership qualities.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

52

ENERGY

Kalu makes case for deregulation of downstream sector

T

HE former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, has said the way forward to developing the oil and gas industry is by deregulating the downstream sector and embarking on a robust development of the Niger Delta region.

Kalu, who spoke to reporters in Lagos, commended government efforts toward the deregulation of the downstream sector insisting that it is the only way government could harness potentials of the sector, which is the cash cow of the economy for optimal benefit to Nigerians.

Kalu, also a member of the Ledum Metee Committee charged with harmonising reports on the Niger Delta development, said to enhance efficiency, which would arise from competition through deregulation, the government may have to fully deregulate the sector in line with

•Charges govt on devt of Niger Delta

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

global best practices. He noted that the deregulation of the downstream sector has been his position since 1995, and which he made known in his presentations at different fora.

He said it is only through deregulation that the government would be able to attract foreign investors into the sector and create jobs through increased productivity. He also said the removal of oil subsidy is a necessary condition but recommended a phased removal with efficient management of resources.

Kalu, who was until recently the chairman of the special taskforce set up by the government to look into the country’s refineries to

Brittania-U boss bags CELD award

T

HE chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, has won this year’s African Female Energy Leader of the Year Award for her pacesetting contribution to the advancement of energy business on the continent as the only female upstream operator in Africa, with upstream operations in two African countries.

The award was presented to her recently in New York, United States of America at the Global Forum on African Women in Leadership, which held on the sidelines of the recent United Nations General Assembly.

The award ceremony held at the Waldorf Hotel, New York, which had the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, as a guest speaker, was organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD), in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The leadership forum and awards is designed to create platform for African women leaders to connect with notable international development partners and funding organisations and other distinguished global leaders on gender issues.

The award to Ifejika is coming on the heels of several others in Nigeria and abroad for her contributions to energy development, especially in growing Brittania-Ufroma humble beginning about five years ago, into a highly diversified oil and gas multinational company with interests in upstream, subsurface engineering, marine services and downstream.

Ifejika began her working career with Texaco Nigeria Plc (now MRS Oil Plc) in 1986/87, and rose over the years holding several positions of increasing responsibility to the position of Company Secretary and Manager, Public and Government Affairs with responsibility spanning Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Benin Republic, Cote D’Ivoire and Congo, before she took a voluntary exit in September 2007.

bring it into optimal use, revealed that production from the refineries is only meeting less than 20 per cent of domestic requirement, which he noted, is a far cry from the demand, adding it is a shame to a country that has been producing for the past 55 years.

He said: “From our study, which I don’t want to go into details until the report is released by the government but all I can tell you is that we were too shocked to see that the capacity utilisation of our refineries was the lowest in Africa by far. The issue at the refineries are many, which include misallocation of personnel, wrong system and wrong models. It is not like business model. It was made to operate like business model.”

On the Niger Delta issue, he advised the government to massively develop the region through

capacity building and infrastructural development. He said Niger Delta should be made to look like Texas or Dubai because we have the resources there and because we have the resources there. The essence is to leverage on that knowing well that what we would benefit would outweigh the cost.”

On the report of the Niger Delta committee-led by Ledum Metee, which he was a member, he said the report went beyond harmonising previous reports on the Niger Delta as directed by the government and made far-reaching recommendations, such as restitution from all those companies that have been involved in the production of oil and gas in that region by payment of adequate compensation.

He said: “Personally, because I was very much involved in the financial aspect, I suggested going

beyond the revenues to talk about how we will get restitution from all those who have been involved in the production of oil and gas to hold what I called the pledging conference to get all the countries that benefited in our petroleum resources, the oil companies, their political leaders, business leaders and set up a framework to get prominent people like the former heads of the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and former prime ministers to hold a pledging conference where all these people are expected to come and contribute to the proper plan to the development of the Niger Delta.”

He noted that from interactions he had with people outside the country on the issue, a lot of people are willing to come to contribute provided there are panel of respectable chairman, board of trustees and directors that would identify problem areas that need to be funded.

•A burning vessel by Shell’s Bomu-Bonny Trunkline, close to Okololunch in Niger Delta.

Training power sector workers for efficient delivery

By Uche Aneke

•Darius Ishaku, Minister of State for Power

IVEN the renewed focus on the power sector reform and the tremendous successes already achieved since the launch of the roadmap on power sector reform

by President Goodluck Jonathan, it would not be out of place to concur with optimists in the sector that Nigeria is a miracle waiting to happen.

It is a miracle because, there are accompanying potential benefits not only for the citizens but also for the international investors who are waiting in the wings to take advantage of the transformation in the power sector, of which some of the investors have already shown considerable interest.

Sharing in this optimism is the Minister of State for Power, Darius Dickson Ishaku. While flagging off the National Power Training Insti-

G

tute of Nigeria Graduate Skills Development Programme (NGSDP) in Abuja, described the expected benefits in the power sector as an ‘explosion.’

He expressed confidence in the government’s privatisation programme, which he hoped would bring stable power supply. According to him, “electricity is the road to modernity; wherever you are even in the jungle, you are connected worldwide; therefore, there is the need to get the sector functional.”

Perhaps one of the greatest pillars erected by the government to quicken this transformation in the power sector is the creation of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in 2009. The agency is dedicated to providing capacity building programmes that will meet the training needs of the power sector and beyond. Of course, if the power sector is to be transformed, there is also a need for sustainability. This obviously makes it imperative for a ready plan of succession in the industry, in terms of manpower needs.

It is, therefore, in recognition of this manpower needs and in exercise of their mandate in the power sector that on September 24, 2012, NAPTIN launched its newly initiated capacity building project-the NAPTIN Graduate Skills Development Programme.

The programme entails one yearof intensive, hands-on capacity building, and is part of the Federal

Government’s efforts to reposition the power sector and to promote excellence in the learning of electric power engineering and to bridge the gap between the required and available skilled technical manpower needed to manage and sustain the growth of the power sector.

Statistics by NAPTIN showed that 67 mechanical engineers and 173 electrical engineers, which is a total of 240 candidates, were privileged to participate in the programme. Out of the number, five are female.

The Director-General of NAPTIN, Mr Reuben Okeke, described the capacity building approach as a structured training process for the development of technical manpower, with the requisite skills and competencies needed to operate, manage and sustain the infrastructural expansion and growth evolving within the power sector.

Upon completion of the programme, the trained engineers would, no doubt, be seen as relevant and effective players in the power sector as they would have been equipped with the requisite skills and practical know-how, required for engagement in the different fields and professions of generation, transmission and distribution sectors of the electricity industry.

This is a positive development, for instance, statistical information gathered from PHCN successor companies puts the technical manpower deficit in generation, transmission and distribution companies to sustain the ongoing expansion in the industry at about 8,400 employees,

while in five years, a total of 17,441 additional skilled manpower would be required.

The huge gap in required skilled manpower raises serious concerns.

But with the commencement of the training of graduate engineers to fill up the gap in the industry, the future cannot be but bright and promising.

The relevance of the training can further be appreciated against the backdrop of some existing critical statistics released by NAPTIN, which showed that 34 per cent PHCN, more than 90 per cent of the power sector workforce, would be exiting within the next eight years. Of these numbers, 27 per cent are employees classified under technical profession.

What this means is that if there is no succession plan, the situation in the sector would become critical and helpless.

Commending the effort by NAPTIN, the Minister of State for Power, Ishaku stated that the graduate trainees at the end of their 12month training would not only have been prepared to professionally take over various segments in the electricity value chain, but would have been prepared to re-write the history of the sector.

The minister said: “I will prophetically refer to the programme as the Nigerian power dream; and this will be a dream come true. This is my hope, this is my vision, and this is the reason I am proud.”

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Dr. Dere Awosika, said it was this vision of developing ad-

equate manpower support that has led the Ministry of Power to establish NAPTIN to drive the training of relevant qualified engineers for the power industry in Nigeria. She charged the participants to see the programme as an investment into their future and the future of the country.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, said the programme was timely and relevant and would provide adequate human capital management for proper utilisation of the proposed government investment in the power sector during the period 2011-2015. According to him, the total amount, which is about N1.896 trillion, is expected to cover investments in four major areas of power-generation, transmission, distribution and alternative energy.

It is gratifying to note that this training initiative aimed at repositioning the workforce in the power sector has received very wide acceptance, as well as support from private and public institutions. For instance, a total of 1,149 applications were received by NAPTIN for the Graduate Training. Of this number, 750 people were deemed qualified for the training but only 240 people met the final conditions for enrolment into the programme. Initially, 18 state governments had indicated interest in the programme but only 15 of them actually fulfilled their financial obligations.

•Uche Aneke wrote from Abuja, uche_aneke@yahoo.com 08033481569

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-10-12

NSE consolidates rally with N56b gains T HE Nigerian stock market opened this week with modest momentum as equities rallied N56 billion to push average return to 28.4 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) increased from N8.420 trillion to N8.476 trillion, with more than two gainers in every three stocks which prices changed.

The benchmark index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI), chalked up a modest 0.67 per cent gain to close at 26,442.67 points as against its opening index of 26,618.70 points. This nudged average year-to-date return at the stock market to 28.40 per cent.

Besides preponderance of gainers to losers at 34 to 14, the uptrend was orchestrated by substantial gains by several highly capitalised stocks

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

including Zenith Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Access Bank, Unilever Nigeria, Oando, Nestle Nigeria and GlaxoSmithKline Consumers Nigeria (GSK).

Nestle Nigeria led the advancers with a gain of N10 to close at a new high of N625 per share. Unilever Nigeria followed with a gain of N2.09 to close at N43.90. Zenith Bank gathered 88 kobo to close at N17.98. GSK added 70 kobo to close at N38.70 while Union Bank rose by 58 kobo to N8.99.

Other top gainers included Julius Berger Nigeria, with a gain of 49 kobo to close at N29.49; Cadbury Nigeria added 44 kobo to close at N28, First Bank of Nigeria

rose by 34 kobo to N15.86, Access Bank rallied 29 kobo to close at N8.80, Ashakacem gained 21 kobo to close at N16.96 while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria rose by 20 kobo to N5.40.

On the downside, Nigerian Breweries topped the losers’ list with a drop of N2.30 to close at N137.55. Okomu Oil Palm lost 70 kobo to close at N35. Arbico dropped by 44 kobo to close at N8.49 while PZ Cussons Nigeria lost 35 kobo to close at N25.42 per share.

Turnover stood at 208.56 million shares worth N1.67 billion in 4,270 deals. The financial services sector was the most sought after with 149.094 million shares worth N1.040 billion in 2,426 deals.

Consumer goods followed with 30.862 million shares worth N443.362 million in 778 deals.

Other actively traded sectors were conglomerates, oil and gas, industrial goods, health care and services 13.388 million shares, 3.786 million shares, 2.596 million shares, 2.561 million shares and 1.968 million shares.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-10-12

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

Cashless: Telcos decry regulatory exclusion

T

ELECOMMUNICATIONS companies have called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow them to participate in the regulation of the mobile money subsector, one of the services provided by banks in support of the cashless banking initiative.

Speaking yesterday at a seminar in Lagos on “Nigeria Transiting to A Cashless Society: Possibilities and Challenges”, Tunde Kuponiyi, Globacom’s Director, Telebanking Unit said that the current regime of mobile money regulation, which is being bank-driven, is not friendly to telecoms companies

Stories by Collins Nweze

who provide the mobile payment platform. He said that though there was a lot that telecoms companies could contribute in a cashless economy, their current mandate was limiting.

Kuponiyi explained that since the mobile payments business is 90 per cent dependent on the mobile industry, it was unfair that the mobile networks are prevented from advertising their various mobile payment products which are the foundation on which the bank products operate.

“From the customer’s mobile phone, to the mobile payments system and feedback to the mobile phone, the mobile payment transaction utilises mostly mobile resources, makes use of mobile time and is supported largely by mobile engineers, but unfortunately the CBN has restricted telecom companies from advertising in the mobile payments space,” Kuponiyi said.

He argued that telecom companies should be allowed to speak about the capabilities of their networks, the quality of user experience and the choice of mobile payment services

available on their networks.

He lamented that the passive role to which the telecoms companies have been compelled to play has led to the slow growth of the mobile payment sub sector. “It is now roughly a year since the first mobile money went live and approaching a year since cashless economy came into operation. Meanwhile, none of the individual players can boast of having more than 10,000 active subscribers”, he stated.

The CBN Representative Olu Adaramewa said the apex bank was aware that infrastructure will be a challenge and is al-

Nigeria, Brazil trade volume hits $9.6b

T

HE volume of bi-lateral trade between Nigeria and Brazil currently stands at $9.6 billion, the president of the Nigeria-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI), Emmanuel Ibru has said.

Speaking at the third anniversary cocktail of the chamber held in Lagos, he explained that Nigerian imports from Brazil was $1.2 billion while its export stood at $8.4 billion.

Ibru said the persistent unfavourable trade balance

By Ajose Sehindemi

against Brazil makes it imperative that there should be increase in trade between the two countries to achieve reasonable balance of trade.

He said: “While Nigeria is the second largest trade partner of Brazil in sub-Sahara Africa and 11th in the world, Brazil on the other hand is the third largest importer of Nigerian export, mainly crude oil, after the United States and India.”

Brazilian Acting-Ambassador

to Nigeria, Jose Mario Ferreira Filho said both Nigeria aand his country are part of the emerging economy. “Nigeria certainly is one of the countries to play a leading role in the near future.

“This sustainable growth should be maintained. The recent developments in Brazilian rich economy demonstrate the huge opportunities that we can advise the business community of both countries can find.

“Therefore, there is probability of sustainable GDP growth of the current year,” he

said.

He said Brazil is investing extensively on infrastructure that will allow for economic growth. “Brazil just discovered what it called “elephant field,” a pool of oil believed to hold billion barrels or more and this when in full production will make Brazil a major South America oil player, he added.

He said that Brazilian government has plans of implementing new tax reforms, reduce the cost production and attract increased productivity.

European, Nigerian Business forum underway

I

N order to further promote trade between Nigeria and European countries, the German Delegation of Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, together with the Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA) and the Nigerian Belgian Commercial Information and Documentation Centre (NBCIDC), is set to organise the first European-Ni-

By Ajose Sehindemi and Olawunmi Kolade

gerian Business forum in the country.

The forum will be held in Lagos from October 23 to 24, with 152 firms already indicated their willingness to participate and is supported by the Delegation of the

and European countries.

Ronne said 10 banking, finance, health care and renewable Energy, oil and gas, information and communication technology (ICT), education and vocational training, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and security among others will be discussed.

European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS in Abuja as well as by all European Consulates and embassies in Nigeria.

One of the orgnisers, Andre Ronne, said the forum seeks to bring together high ranking personalities from the private and public sectors from both Nigeria

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 8-10-12 SYMBOL

ACADEMY DNMEYER FIDELITYBK AIICO UBN ZENITHBANK UNILEVER AGLEVENT NEIMETH MAYBAKER

O/PRICE

1.94 1.27 1.87 0.68 8.41 17.10 41.81 1.38 1.38 1.61

O/PRICE 8.93 3.40 1.96 1.58 1.17 1.15 35.70 139.85 0.61 25.77

T

HE UBA Foundation will be extending grants to secondary school students that win the ongoing National Essay Competition organised by the foundation.

The Foundation will give out a total of N2.5 million, laptop gifts among others.

The overall winner, first and second runners up will get N1 million, N750,000.00, N500,000.00 respectively.

In a statement, the Foundation said the call for entries from eligible students for the essay competition commenced last week and will be closing November 2, 2012. The Foundation said it is giving the students opportunity of winning university educational grants.

Students are expected to write on the topic ‘As an African President, what would your plans be for the educational sector?’ The three winning finalists, who will be selected by a panel of three Nigerian professors, will get educational grants to study in African universities of their choices.

Applicants are expected to send in handwritten essay entries of not more than 750 words on the competition topic, with their

complete contact information (name of school and address, residential address, phone number and e-mail) to UBA Foundation in Lagos .

“We are excited at hosting this competition again. As with most of our programmes and initiatives, the National Essay Competition is annualised and we hope to use this opportunity to again touch the lives of some Nigerian children,” said Ijeoma Aso CEO, UBA Foundation.

Last year, Miss Enitan Amodu from the University of Lagos International School, Akoka, Lagos , emerged the overall winner, getting an educational grant of N1 million.

The essay competition is running concurrently with the ‘Read Africa’ project of the Foundation, which was flagged off recently by the Kenyan Author Ngugi wa Thiong’o.

Under the ‘Read Africa’ initiative, role models in the society and top management of UBA Plc will be visiting secondary schools to mentor the students and give out copies of this year’s literature book ‘Weep not Child’ by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o to the students, courtesy of the Foundation.

C/PRICE

2.13 1.39 2.04 0.74 8.99 17.98 43.90 1.44 1.44 1.68

CHANGE

0.19 0.12 0.17 0.06 0.58 0.88 2.09 0.06 0.06 0.07

C/PRICE 8.49 3.24 1.87 1.51 1.12 1.11 35.00 137.55 0.60 25.42

CHANGE 0.44 0.16 0.09 0.07 0.05 0.04 0.70 2.30 0.01 0.35

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 8-10-12

SYMBOL ARBICO VITAFOAM MANSARD LIVESTOCK IKEJAHOTEL TRANSCORP OKOMUOIL NB JAPAULOIL PZ

UBA Foundation to extend grants to students

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Sanusi

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

•CBN Governor, Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

ready working towards improving on that, although that responsibility is outside its powers.

He said the CBN governor, had last week, met with the Minister of Communication Technology and other stakeholders, to deliberate on the issue of infrastructure. All of these put together will ensure the

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 125.13 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 116.60 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.77 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,724.29 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 10.45 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,652.66 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.96 116.90 0.74 1.10 0.91 1,721.97 9.94 1.33 1.80 8,411.80 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

56

NEWS Kwankwaso: we’ll block wastages

Gunmen attack Benue Majority Leader

G

K

ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said his administration would continue to block wastage in the next financial year to maintain the pace of development of Kano, the state capital.

The governor spoke at the opening of a two-day zonal advocacy workshop on: Economic Diversification and Enhanced Revenue Generation for North-west, at the African House of the Government House in Kano.

He said his government’s target is to improve on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to enable it pay the salaries and allowances of civil servants without resorting to Federal Allocation.

Kwankwaso said measures have been taken to improve on the IGR, adding that the Revenue Board generated N1.7 billion monthly through the initiative.

According to him, his administration would block all wastages to boost the IGR.

•Kwankwaso From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

The governor urged the Revenue Mobilisation Board to ensure fairness, equity and justice in its revenue formula to eliminate controversies.

He said the government would not borrow to complete ongoing projects across the state.

Kwankwaso assured that the federal allocation his administration would receive henceforth would be used to develop the state.

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Mr. Ellias Mbah said the workshop would sensitise state governments in the Northwest on the need to diversify the sources of revenue to meet the increasing expenditure requirements of governance and development.

UNMEN, suspected to be assassins, have attacked the Majority Leader of the Benue State House of Assembly, Paul Biam.

The gunmen reportedly ambushed the lawmaker on the Zaki Biam-Katsina-Ala Road. They shot at his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

Biam represents Ukum Constituency in the Assembly.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Makurdi, the state

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

capital, the lawmaker said his assailants were about 30.

He said hoodlums had earlier disrupted a meeting of the Ukum Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the home of the chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, Terfa Bosua.

According to him, the thugs damaged some vehicles and injured those at the meeting.

Biam said he was heading to Makurdi from Zaki Biam when the gunmen, who were on two motorcycles, trailed him to Ankya village, a suburb of Zaki Biam, and opened fire at his vehicle.

He said: “As my vehicle approached Ankya village on the Zaki Biam-Katsina-Ala Road, four gunmen on two motorcycles, appeared from the bush and shot sporadically at my SUV, with the intention to assassinate me.”

The lawmaker explained that he wanted a particular candidate to become the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area.

He said this did not go down well with those he described as his enemies.

Biam said he might have been attacked for backing the candidate.

As at yesterday afternoon, the lawmaker said he was yet to report the matter to the police.

Governor inaugurates 13-man panel

K

ANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has inaugurated a 13-member advisory committee on constitution review to articulate issues on the constitution and advise the government on the position to take.

Members of the committee are: Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, the chairman; A.B. Mahmud, Secretary; Prof. Hafizu Abubakar, Prof. Dahiru Yahaya, Mallam Aminu Daurawa,

Ex-NPA employee for burial Nov. 10

T

HE remains of Pa John Idialu Omokhoa, who died in Lagos on April 29, aged 81, will be buried on November 10 at 11am.

The late Pa Omokhoa worked at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as a technician for years and retired in 1989.

A statement by the family said a service of songs will be held on October 23 at the Aganju-Aka Primary School, Okokomaiko, Lagos, at 5pm.

There will be a wake on November 9 at the late Pa Omokhoa’s home at Ihumudumu Quarters, Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, at 6pm.

Traditional dances will hold at Ihumudumu Primary School, Ekpoma, from 11pm till dawn.

Pa Omokhoa is survived by a wife, Mrs Janeth Omokhoa, eight children, including Mrs Mabel Ifijeh, wife of the Managing Director of The Nation, Mr Victor Ifijeh, as well as many grand-children.

•The late Pa Omokhoa

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Sheikh Karibullah Nasiru Kabara, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu.

Others are: Alhaji Tanlo Yakassai, Prof. Isa Hashim, Lamido Ado-Bayero, Ahmed Rabiu, Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed and Mallam Maliki Kuliya.

Kwankwaso said his administration has been attentive to national issues, adding that Kano State’s position should be articulated in them.

The governor said Kano and its people would rely on the experience of the committee members, who he described as “wise people”.

He urged them to be patriotic in discharging their duties.

Kwankwaso reminded the committee members that they need to work hard because the position of the state must be properly articulated in the constitution.

The governor urged the committee to incorporate the experiences of other stakeholders into their assignment.

He said: “You should take a deep look at where we are now and chart a way forward for our state and our great country. We rely on your advice. Work together with members of the state and National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure that Kano is well prepared for the exercise.”

The committee Chairman, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, hailed the governor for his foresight and ensuring that Kano is prepared for the exercise.

He promised not to fail the governor and the people of Kano, even though the time for the assignment is limited.

Dambatta said: “We thank you for selecting us out of the millions of people in Kano to examine the issues and advice accordingly. We are all aware that constitutional review has always generated controversy and tension. This is to be expected. What is not to be expected is the self-serving way many of our compatriots approach the matter.

•Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari (right) handing over an appointment letter to newly appointed Acting Sate Chief PHOTO: NAN Judge, Justice Bala Mairiga, in Birnin Kebbi…yesterday.

ACN berates Kwara over burglars’ invasion of Finance Ministry T HE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said the reported invasion of the Ministry of Finance by burglars was not ordinary.

But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the opposition of circulating “fake documents” on the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration to deceive the public.

The government had said the incident was a robbery and that it was being investigated.

A statement in Ilorin, the state capital, by PDP Director of Publicity, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, said the opposition was painting the PDP “in bad light” with the documents.

But ACN maintained its position on the burglary at the Finance Ministry, that it was more than a robbery. It also raised some questions for the public to ponder.

In a statement in Ilorin, ACN Chairman Kayode Olawepo said the incident was a conspiracy to cover up some alleged underhand deals.

The statement reads: “These are some of the questions beg-

•PDP accuses ACN of circulating ‘fake documents’

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ging for answers, although the handwriting on the wall is clear enough for an average person to sense a cover-up and conspiracy of sort. This incident adds to the long list of suspicious actions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration which ultimately explain why it would do everything to remain in power so that the people will never know the truth.

“But the truth can never be buried. The timing of the burglary, the place of the burglary (the Ministry of Finance, of all places) and the fact that sensitive documents were carted away, leave no one in doubt that the incident was no ordinary armed robbery.

“Quite a number of disturbing news have been emanating from Kwara State in the past few months, all bordering on corruption, misman-

agement, deceit and grand conspiracies to keep the people perpetually groping in the dark for a brighter future.

“On September 17, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a circular banning all commercial banks from lending further credits to Kwara State Government, among other debtors said to be owing the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

“That incident confirmed the fears of our people about the profligacy and corruption of the PDP-led administration in the state. Many patriotic citizens have called for a probe of the embarrassing blacklisting. But the PDP government does not seem to be tired of its shameful conducts, as the story in Sahara Reporters on the burglary at the Ministry of Finance indicated.

Firm begins second phase of N6b housing HE management of projects in Adamawa Resort Savings and

T

Loans Plc has begun the second phase of its N6billion housing project in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

The mortgage firm delivered 30 housing units in Yola in the last quarter of last year.

In a statement in Lagos by its Managing Director, Mr

Abimbola Olayinka, the firm said buyers have begun taking possession of the homes.

The buyers, the statement added, include those who bought the homes from the company through the National Housing Fund mortgage facility.

It explained that the com-

pany has begun the second phase of the project, in which it will build 100 housing units.

The mortgage firm assured that the project would be taken round the country, adding that the second phase in Yola started because of the increasing demand for housing in the area.

“As scary as this incident was, even scarier is the fact that the Kwara State Government has carried on as if nothing ever happened! We understand the civil servants have been directed not to mention it to anyone. Clearly, many things are not right here and many questions are begging for answers.

“Was the September 21 failed attempt at breaking into the ministry reported to the security agencies? If yes, why was there no security beef up at the place, in view of the sensitive nature of the ministry?

“Why has the state government kept a sealed lip about this terrible incident, given the dangerous signals it sends to the public? These signals include that nobody is safe, if burglars can, at will, break into guarded property of the government.

“This burglary came at a time anti-graft agencies are vetting the books of the former administration on its handling of the controversial local government allocations/joint accounts/State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds.

“We understand that the governor’s spokesman Femi Akorede said on twitter that it was an armed robbery case and is being investigated. If so, what would armed robbers do with documents, including carting away the eback-up of financial transactions between 2003 till date?

And, finally, why did the police command not respond to the distress call by the injured guardsman?”

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2010

57

NEWS

APGA chair: Court stops Umeh From Chris Oji, Enugu

A

AN Enugu High Court yesterday restrained Chief Victor Umeh from performing the functions of the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

The court, presided over by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, also restrained Umeh, his agents or proxies, in an interlocutory injunction, from expelling any member of the party.

Ruling on a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction

by Jude Okuli, who is challenging the legality of Umeh’s position as National Chairman, Justice Umezulike noted that the motion was to be heard on July 29 but was stalled by various interlocutory motions brought by the defendant.

He averred that since the defendant had not filed any defence, the motion remained unchallenged.

Justice Umezulike said: “Therefore, the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction succeeds. The defendant is hereby restrained from taking steps as Chairman of APGA and expelling any member, pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

Security agents take over UNN Enugu campus

S

ECURITY agents yesterday took over the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to prevent a “planned protest” by the students over an increase in their school fees.

But authorities of the university denied any plan to increase the tuition fees.

They said the university only introduced a service charge for 24-hour Internet service on the Nsukka and Enugu campuses.

On-campus students could not enter the university and off-campus students and workers were also disallowed entry.

The security agents cordoned off the entrance and

•From left: Mr Jeff Nnamani, General Manager, Strategic, representing Managing Director, Total (Up and Down stream); Mrs Abiodun Duke, Investors Relations Manager, Total (Downstream); Prof Stella Okunna, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and Dr Isaac Ogbuka, Retail Sales Manager, Port Harcourt, at an HIV/AIDS campaign in Awka, Anambra State.

Tsvangirai, Babangida others celebrate with Okorocha at 50

From Chris Oji, Enugu

other outlets into and from the campus. They also patrolled the campus.

Students remained indoors in their halls of residence.

Some of them said the university’s Senate increased the school fees by about N12,000.

This, they said, was done despite the complaint that the prevalent fees were too high for them.

The students also said their appeals to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, to reduce the fees fell on deaf ears.

“He rather decided to increase it,” the students said.

In a statement by the Registrar, Mr. A. Okonta, the university authorities allayed the fears of the students.

Z

IMBABWEAN Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

and former military President Ibrahim Babangida were among the dignitaries at the 50th birthday of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Others were Governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Rotimi Amaechi (River).

Kalu can’t compare self with Awolowo, Abiola, says PPA chair

T

HE National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Ken Gbalokoma, has criticised

former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu for ranking himself with the like of the late Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Moshood Abiola.

Awolowo was the Premier of the defunct Western Region, who ensured an unprecendented development of the area.

The late Abiola was a renowned businessman and philanthropist. He was the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, which the military annulled.

In a statement in Abuja, Gbalokoma noted that Kalu had no basis for comparing himself with the two national legends.

According to him, because while the duo were political icons, the former Abia State governor was “a political liability and

influence peddler”.

The PPA chairman recalled that Kalu, in a recent statement, compared himself with Awolowo and Abiola because he offered himself for the leadership of the country but was rejected, like the duo.

The former governor said this has resulted in the country’s present mess.

But Gbalokoma said: “Unlike the respected Awolowo and Abiola, the Kalu we know is a political spare parts trader...”

The politician urged Ibo leaders to spearhead the struggle for Igbo presidency.

He cautioned that “leaving the advocacy to the like of Kalu would obfuscate the dream of the Southeast”.

Gbalokoma said the former governor had no presidential ambition, adding that he was merely seeking relevance and credibility by declaring interest in the coveted position.

Why I don’t blow my trumpet, by Orji

A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji said yesterday he has not been blowing his “trumpet of performance” because he believes in working quietly for the people.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Ben Onyechere, the governor explained that because of his efforts, Abia State has avoided devastating floods that hit have other states.

The statement reads: “Abia State is known as major flood-prone area but we are thankful to God that we are not witnessing the kind of devastation in other states that are susceptible to aggressive flooding, given the fact

that our roads are affected by the climatic change.

“The governor has deployed many options at tackling infrastructure challenges, particularly the impending demolition of illegal structures.

“The negligence, which was perpetrated by the former administration, held the state hostage through powerful media hypnosis without anything to show.

“This can also be complementary to the senseless war of attrition waged by the previous administration against the Olusegun Obasanjo-led Federal Government for which the state is paying dearly now in more ways than one.

“But despite the shortcoming resulting from a lack of foundation and vision by the previous government for development, Governor Orji is undaunted. He wants to make history as not only the man who rescued Abia State from bondage of sorts but also as the one who brought the state into limelight.

“This is the reason he is adhering to a well articulated road map for the achievement of set goals, which can be verified and measured.”

The statement noted that the governor is “building a new Government House, which is surrounded by infrastructure befitting of a state capital of many years”.

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

The event coincided with the 10 th anniversary of the Rochas Okorocha Foundation.

Markets, schools and public offices were closed for the celebration.

The event caused traffic gridlock and attracted a huge crowd in Owerri, the state capital.

The celebration began at 6.30am when dignitaries and well-wishers began to troop

into Heroes Square, the venue of the event.

Civil servants locked their offices at noon in line with a directive of the government.

They adorned the customary black and white attire, which added colour to the event.

Babangida hailed Okorocha for his philanthropic dispositions, addig: “Today, we are in Imo State to celebrate the eradication of illiteracy, poverty and the uplifting of the Nigerian

child.”

The former military leader urged the governor to always weigh everything he does and allow superior reasons to guide his decisions.

PUBLIC NOTICE SHONOWO I, formerly known and addressed as Shonowo Joy Bosede now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dada Joy Bosede. All formal documents remains valid. General public should please take note.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

58

NEWS Avoid tight pants, paediatrician advises men From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

A

CONSULTANT paediatric surgeon, Mr. Osarumwense Osifo, has urged men to avoid wearing tight pants and sitting on vehicular engines to prevent undescended testes, which may result in infertility and cancer.

Osifo spoke yesterday while delivering a lecture entitled: ‘Undescended Testis in awareness-poor sub-region’ during the monthly seminar organised by the Institute of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

The doctor said the testes function at a temperature lower than the body temperature and wearing of tight pants and sitting on hot engines may lead to testicular malfunction.

He said: “If you are wearing tight pants, you are likely to have testicular malfunction. The reason why testes are outside the body is to relieve them of high body temperature.

“Every time the testes are plastered to your body, the body temperature would damage the testes. So, if you are wearing tight pants or sitting on hot engines, you are doing yourself a disservice.”

Osifo said undescended testes is the major cause of cancer, especially when the testes is exposed continuously to high temperature.

He said parents should not panic when they observe that their babies’ scrotums do not have testicles.

The doctor said the testes may descend within seven months.

Uduaghan, 78 others for honour

D

ELTA STATE GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan; his deputy, Chief Amos Utuama, 61 other prominent Deltans and 18 corporate organisations will receive the Delta Advancement Awards (DAMA) on October 25 at the Grand Hotel in Asaba, the state capital.

Others are include

Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Chief Peter Nwaoboshi; Deputy Leader, Federal House of Representatives, Leo Ogor; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Delta House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei; Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Chief Edwin Clark, among others.

•TROUBLE IN PDP: Members of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protesting the invasion of their secretariat by suspected armed thugs in Abeokuta...yesterday

Oshiomhole urges tribunal to strike out witnesses statements

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday urged the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Benin, the state capital, to strike out the statements of witnesses in the petition filed by Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.), the can-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

didate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July election .

In an application, Oshiomhole’s counsel Adeniyi Akintola said the statements have become an academic exercise in view of the tribunals ruling on September 27.

Akintola said the statements relate to issues of academic qualifications have no bearing on the issues before

the court.

He opposed a motion on notice filed by Airhiavbere’s counsel Paul Itua seeking an extension to allow for more witnesses.

Akintola said the application will serve no purpose and that the ruling of the tribunal has taken care of the application.

He said: “The issue sought by the petitioner was qualification, which is no longer before the tribunal. The matters of pleading go to no is-

sue.”

Itua urged the tribunal to uphold his application and strike out Oshiomhole’s reply.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Ambrusa Suleiman adjourned sitting till today.

Justice Suleiman ordered Itua to collect certified true copies of documents pertaining to the conduct of the July 14 governorship election from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Edo traders mob govt official

A

MEMBER of the Edo State Environmental Protection and Regulatory Unit, Mr. Henry Isibor, has died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) after he was beaten up by traders at the Oba Market Road in Benin.

Isibor was said to be on an official assignment to get rid

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

of traders selling on the walk-ways when he was mobbed.

Executive Director of the Environmental Protection and Regulatory Unit Maj. Lawrence Loye (rtd.) confirmed the incident.

Loye said his men were

working on his instructions not to fight the traders, but they will henceforth defend themselves, if attacked.

He said the traders injured his men, some critically, leading to Henry’s death.

Loye presented some cash to Henry’s widow, Joy, and their four children.

NDLEA seizes 16.436kg illicit drugs

T

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akwa Ibom State seized 16.436kilogrammes of illicit drugs last month.

The drugs comprise 16.428kg of Indian Hemp, 2.6g of cocaine, 5.9g of Heroine and 91trs of Combine.

Combine, according to NDLEA, is a mixture of alcohol and Cannabis.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

NDLEA’s State Commander Mrs. Josephine Obi announced this yesterday.

She said the agency has arrested 33 suspected drug peddlers, comprising 29 males and four females.

Mrs. Obi said most of those used by drug barons to perpetrate the illicit act are the poor and minors.

She said: “It is really pa-

thetic that it is the same kind of people that we keep on coming across as we raid the joints. They are destitutes and their excuse is always that they have nothing else to do.

“But we have to do our work and arrest them. When we arrest minors, we hand them over to the social welfare agencies. This is because the law recognises that a minor is not criminally liable.”

Rivers lawmaker hails Head of Service

T

HE member representing Bonny Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Aye Atamah Pepple has congratulated Mr. Samuel Tamunotonye Longjohn on his appointment as the Head of Service.

Speaking with reporters at his office in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Pepple described Longjohn’s appointment as well deserved.

He said Longjohn possesses “sterling leadership qualities” and would suc-

ceed in his new assignment.

Pepple thanked Governor Rotimi Amaechi for finding a Bonny son worthy of “such exalted appointment”.

He said: “Without mincing words, Amaechi has been quite generous to Bonny people in terms of appointments.

“I know it is difficult for a politician to sound this passionate in terms of how we have gained from the present administration, but I must give it to the governor that he has been quite generous in terms of ap-

pointing Bonny indigenes into positions of trust.

Presently we have two commissioners in the state executive council, we have a member at the senior secondary school board, one in the UBE board, a member at the Rivers state House of Assembly commission and if we recall also, the Chief of Protocol Rivers state Government House, is our own brother from Bonny so we are deeply appreciative of his Excellency’s generosity and Bonny people are saying thank you” he was quoted as saying.

59

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

NEWS Bakassi: Why Nigeria won’t appeal Continued from page 2

Nigeria and Cameroon wasestablished to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and settle any dispute regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Agreement. Nigeria handed over the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008.

“The Statute of the International Court of Justice provides that the Judgment of the Court is final and without appeal. However, following the resolutions of both Houses of the National Assembly calling on the Executive to take steps to apply for a review of the judgment, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan called a Stakeholders meeting comprising the leadership of the National Assembly, the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, the Members of the National Assembly from both States, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director General, National Boundary Commission to review the situation.

“The Stakeholders Meeting after due deliberations constituted a Committee comprising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director General, National Boundary Commission and Members of the National Assembly namely: Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Dr. Ali Ahmed and Nnena Ukaje to examine the issues in contention and available options for Nigeria including, but not limited to the application for review of the ICJ Judgment, appropriate political and diplomatic solutions.

“Although the judgment of

the ICJ is final and not subject to appeal, the ICJ Statute provides for circumstances under which its judgment can be reviewed. The relevant provisions are: (a) Article 61 (1) which provides that the Court can review its judgment upon the discovery of some fact of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given, unknown to the court and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was due not to negligence; (b) Article 61 (4) which stipulates that application for revision must be made at least within six months of the discovery of the new fact, and (c) Article 61(5), which provide that no application for revision may be made after the lapse of 10 years from the date of the judgment.

“The implication of the above provisions of the ICJ Statute is that a case for revision of the judgment of the court can only be successful if: (a) the application for revision is based on the discovery of a new fact; (b) the fact must have existed prior to the delivery of the judgment; (c) the newly discovered fact must be of a decisive nature; and (d) the party seeking revision (Nigeria) and the Court, must not have known of the fact at the time of the delivery of the judgment.

“The Committee proceeded to examine the case for revision against the requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute and was constrained to observe from the oral presentations made to it by the proponents of the revision that the strict requirements of Article 61 could not be satisfied.

This is because theirpresenta-

tion was unable to show that Nigeria has discovereda decisive fact that was unknown to her before the ICJ judgment, which is capable of swaying the Court to decide in its favour.This is more so as most of the issues canvassed in support of the case for a revision of the ICJ judgment had been canvassed and pronounced upon by the ICJ in its 2002 judgment.

“The Federal Government also retained a firm of international legal practitioners to advise on the merits and demerits of the case for revision.

The firm after considering all the materials that were placed at its disposal against the requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute came to the reasoned conclusion that “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail” and that “a failed application will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”.

11. In view of the foregoing, the Federal Government is of the informed view that with less than two days to the period when the revision will be statute barred (October 9, 2012), it would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) (5) of the ICJ Statute.Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgment in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.

“Government is however concerned about the plight of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula and the allegations of human rights abuses being perpetrated against Nigerians in the Peninsula and is determined to engage Cameroon within the framework of the existing implementation mechanisms

UNIPORT mourns students Continued from page 2

•Adoke

agreed to by Nigeria and Cameroon in order to protect the rights and livelihoods of Nigerians living in the Peninsula. Nigeria will also not relent in seeking appropriate remedies provided by international law such as the invocation of the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ; Petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council and good offices of the United Nations Secretary General which has played pivotal role in ensuring the peaceful demarcation and delimitation of the boundary between the two countries and other confidence building measures and calls on the United Nations to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations.

“Finally the Federal Government wishes to assure all Nigerians especially the people living in the Bakassi Peninsula of its determination to explore all avenues necessary to protect their interests including but not limited to negotiations aimed at buying back the territory, if feasible, the convening of bilateral meeting of the Heads of State and Government to ensure protection and development of the affected population.In the meantime, we call on all well meaning Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsula to be law abiding and to allow the various initiatives being undertaken by the Federal Government to bear fruitful results.”

to pay on its own.

He lamented that the university authorities could not access 52 per cent of the institution’s land; the accessible 48 per cent is being encroached on by the host communities.

The President of the Students’ Union Government of UNIPORT, Soye Maxwell Nyamabo, yesterday in Port Harcourt, also pleaded with the students to be calm and avoid any reprisal.

Nyamabo insisted that the killed students were not robbers or cultists, urging the security agencies to ensure thorough investigation.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, also yesterday decried the lynching of the students.

The main opposition party, through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, described the action of the Aluu people as “wicked”, “most unnatural” and “animalistic”.

ACN said: “For the killers not to pause awhile to confirm their suspicion before recourse to onthe-spot decimation of the four students shows they are more inhuman and devilish than the robbers they claimed to be guarding against.

“It is unfortunate that this is happening in Rivers State, whose people are in the forefront of the condemnation of similar massacres of hapless innocent people in northern Nigeria by the Boko Haram insurgents.

“We wonder why the police patrol teams scattered all over strategic points around Port Harcourt metropolis and the UNIPORT axis would not be found around the scene, several hours after the incident, even when a distress call was made.

“While not holding brief for any of the parties and/or exonerating the dead from any crime alleged, nonetheless, it is most sinful and satanic to subject mere suspects to the kind of tor-

ture and excruciating death as done to these students.

“We condemn it in its entirely and call for a full scale investigation into the incident and plead that this case should not just be handled as one of such cases, as was the case in the past.

The lives and future of these students cut short in their prime and sent to their early graves must not be in vain.”

A prominent Rivers State indigene, Princewill Dike, described the incident as barbaric, gruesome, heinous, inhuman and senseless.

Dike, who is a former students’ union president of UNIPORT, said the killers must be brought to book.

Amaechi, on Sunday, at an emergency State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, ordered a thorough investigation into the stripping, killing and setting ablaze of four male students of UNIPORT. Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), described the mob action as barbaric, sad and unfortunate, warning against lawlessness and impunity. He asked the security agencies to arrest and prosecute those involved in the dastardly act to deter others.

The Rivers police Spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam, on Sunday evening, confirmed the arrest of 13 persons, including a king.

Most UNIPORT students who could not secure accommodation on the campus reside at Aluu, making the area to be thickly populated, with a lot of commercial and social activities . Aluu is off the ever-busy EastWest Road, which is being dualised by the Federal Government through Setraco Construction Company.

Residents of Aluu are fleeing the ancient community to avoid indiscriminate arrest by policemen, especially of innocent persons.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers ello Uche, my name is Andrew. I have been reading your column and I want you to help me with a problem. When I am making love to my fiancée, she does not satisfy me at all. She does not like sex. I try to explain to her and she said that I should look for someone who will satisfy me and she won’t be angry. I have asked her whether she really loves me and she said yes. She is even telling me that we should get married. I really don’t know what to do. We don’t like the same things. How will this marriage work? Please help me because I love her – Andrew Dear Andrew, your story reminds me of an article I read about a trend in China where gay men and lesbian women agree to marry each other just to blend into society. They have no sexual relationship and they give each other permission to have sexual relationships with other gay people outside their marriage. From everything you have told me, there is a real possibility that your fiancée is a lesbian. The signs are there. I have never heard of a woman telling her fiancée to go and have sex with other women.

It does not make sense. Heterosexual women don’t do that. That is why I suspect your fiancée is gay and is just taking advantage of you to get married and blend in. In any case, sex is a big part of a romantic relationship and since you are not sexually compatible, I don’t recommend marriage for both of you. It won’t work. The signs are already there – Uche Hello Uche, my fiancée has been trying for a while now to completely get a cure for his staphylococcus infection but it just keeps resurfacing. What treatments can one use for total eradication? Agnes Dear Agnes, there is a sexually transmitted disease called herpes.

It is characterised by itching, rashes and boils and it has no permanent cure. The herpes virus bonds with the nervous system and resurfaces during periods of sexual activity inspite of treatment. People often mistaken herpes for staphylococcus but they are not the same thing. Unfortunately, hospitals in Nigeria H

lack the equipment for herpes test. There is a hospital in Lagos that can take his blood for testing in South Africa but I have forgotten the name. My advice is to look for a very good hospital and request for a herpes test. He may be lucky and find a hospital with the equipment to test and diagnose this disease. Sorry – Uche For two years now, I find it difficult to get a strong erection.

Sometimes the erection is a bit strong but when intercourse starts, it gets soft again. I am 58years old – Ononiwu These are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, and it is common for men your age. You need an erection supplement. Ask for Enzyte or Xzen 1200. Any of these two will restore your erections and have you performing better than before – Uche After I born five children, my vagina is loose and husband not happy. What to do? Mrs Waziri Dear Mrs Waziri, you need to start exercising your pelvic muscles.

You can do this with a device called the Ben Wa Balls. You should also use the Reverse Vagina Tightening Gel during intercourse. It is a great lubricant that will make you tighter for a few hours – Uche How can I put an end to premature ejaculation for ever? My own is really bad – Funso Premature ejaculation has no permanent cure. But with the right desensitizing lubricant, you can be rest assured that when you have sex, you will last longer. Find and apply the Emperor’s Delay Cream during intercourse. It will control it – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

60

FOREIGN NEWS

‘I thought I was going to die’ •In this transcript of the interview by Fareed Zakaria of CNN, Salman Rushdie, author of the controversial Satanic Verses, speaks on the events that led to his recluse life, the Fatwa on his head and 10 years of running and hiding

F

AREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST: This is GPS, the Global Public Square. Welcome to all of you in the United States and around the world. I’m Fareed Zakaria.

The state of the economy, it was the topic at this week’s presidential debate and will be the deciding issue of the election. We’re often told that we need to get businesses to start investing and hiring.

Well, we have three, powerhouse CEOs on the show, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs, Andrew Liveris of Dow Chemical and John Chambers of Cisco Systems.

Next, 11 years after 9/11, do we have to worry about al-Qaeda again? I’ll talk to the former CIA chief, Michael Hayden, about the aftermath of the Benghazi attack.

And Salman Rushdie on his decade in hiding after a fatwa was placed on his life. Also, if China’s growth slows, should the rest of us cheer? No. I’ll explain.

But, first, here’s my take. Sometimes the conventional wisdom is right. Minutes after the Denver presidential debate, the pundits declared Mitt Romney the clear winner. And he was. He seemed engaged, forceful and punchy.

Obama seemed passive, detached and glum.

But what’s more significant than how Romney said things was what he said. Romney repeatedly insisted that he was not advocating a big tax cut. In fact, he declared unequivocally that he would not cut taxes at all if they added to the deficit at all.

Now, as the Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler points out in his fact- checking column, for two years, Romney has been campaigning on a tax cut that that would cost around $5 trillion over 10 years. Romney says he would eliminate deductions and cut spending to pay for it, but he never gives any details.

Well, he offered one at the debate. He would cut funding for public broadcasting, which was 0.01 percent of federal spending in 2012. Medicare was 13 percent.

But, anyway that tax cut appears to be off the table.

Romney also spoke in favor of regulations, including much of the Dodd-Frank bill, and he repeatedly held up as a model his health care plan in Massachusetts, which has, at its center, the individual mandate, and on which Obamacare is based.

Romney’s transformation did not happen overnight. The candidate has been reworking his stump speech. In a very smart analysis, NPR pointed out that Romney now has a five-point stump speech.

The first four points are actually identical to Barack Obama’s stump speech. Romney argues for (1) Exports (2) Domestic energy (3) Retraining programs (4) Deficit reduction. It’s only on the 5th that they diverge. Romney talks about small businesses, Obama about national security.

I’ve long argued that Romney

is an intelligent man trapped in a party that has forced him to embrace extreme and impossible positions. One of his advisers had predicted that once the Republican primaries were over, Romney would erase the image from the primaries and, like an Etch-aSketch, just draw a new one.

Well, he appears to be doing just that. The Republican Party might hate Obama enough and be frustrated enough to wink and let him do it. If so, President Obama faces something far more challenging than a good debater in the last weeks of the campaign.

He faces a moderate Republican.

America’s biggest corporations have a unique perspective on the economy. I recently had an opportunity to talk to the heads of three different, very successful businesses in finance, in manufacturing and in technology when I chaired a panel for the Clinton Global Initiative.

RUSHDIE: Everybody who loved me, said what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind? I thought, you know, maybe, actually. Maybe.

ZAKARIA: How do you live knowing that the world’s most powerful Islamic cleric wants you dead? Salman Rushdie lived under a Fatwa, an edict to kill him from 1988 until it was retracted in 1998. It was all because of a book he wrote, “The Satanic Verses.”

Did you think you were going to die?

RUSHDIE: At the beginning, yeah. I mean when I first heard about it, I thought, almost certainly because I knew the nature of the beast, you know. And I knew that there had been assassinations carried out in Europe of supposed opponents of the Iranian regime. So it was a thing that they did. They saw it as a legitimate extension of their rule.

ZAKARIA: And you couldn’t have imagined that you would get, I’m guessing, the kind of protection that would allow you to be safe.

RUSHDIE: Yeah, I had no idea what I would get if anything. You know, the whole thing was unimaginable. It was — it put me in a position where I literally didn’t understand the shape of my life anymore. You know, and then thought, well, there probably isn’t much more life to have — understand the shape of. And that’s what I really thought, to begin with.

ZAKARIA: People forget, that we didn’t know — nobody knew quite what to do. This was one of the first episodes of this kind of Fatwas and Muslim rage ...

RUSHDIE: Yes. ZAKARIA: And there wasn’t very strong support from governments. I mean even Margaret Thatcher was somewhat ambivalent, did you say?

RUSHDIE: Well, I mean to be fair to the conservative government, they did, you know, they did support the police offer of protection and that was maintained throughout the period. Most, you know, so, yes, that sort of bedrock level of making sure that a British

•Rushdie citizen was protected. They did do that. But I mean, it was well known that I had not been a supporter of the conservative government, you know, and I had written sort of satirically about it often and non- satirically. I had written to the op-eds and so on. And some of that satire is actually in “The Satanic Verses.” So — so it wasn’t a novel that endeared itself to the then ruling group, you know, and I think that maybe somewhat reduced their energy to solve the problem.

ZAKARIA: Like Margaret Thatcher never made a kind of ringing speech about ...

RUSHDIE: No, she didn’t. And some of her senior cabinet ministers said extremely rude things about me. I mean, you know, Douglas Hurd who was then the foreign secretary actually gave interviews, in which he said I was a very unpleasant person, which I don’t know how he knew because he never met me. I mean I literally never met him, you know. But he was prepared to say that. And I remember there was an interview, in which he was asked what had been his most painful duty in office and he said reading “The Satanic Verses.” So ...

ZAKARIA: So you got a bad review from the foreign secretary.

RUSHDIE: Well, Douglas Hurd himself, one of the crappiest novelists on earth. Geoffrey Howe, who was then home secretary, within days of the Fatwa, said, he said — I’ve never forgotten it, he said, the British people have no love for this book. It compares Britain to Nazi Germany, which is astonishing remark. I mean — you — and I would ...

ZAKARIA: And untrue.

RUSHDIE: I’d pay a million dollars to somebody who could show me where in the novel it does anything remotely like that.

It’s true that it’s not polite about the Thatcher government, but that’s a little bit of a step away from comparing it to Nazis.

ZAKARIA: Talk about the period when people prevailed upon

you to make an apology.

RUSHDIE: Yes. ZAKARIA: And I can understand the pressure. You know, if somebody says to you, look, if you say this, it will all go away, describe what you were thinking.

RUSHDIE: Well, there — I meant there was — there was that.

That was the carrot if you like.

There was also the stick, which is that a lot of people in the British media and public spokespeople, commentators in the newspapers and politicians were essentially saying, you broke this, you fix it.

And so I allowed myself to be suckered into this compromise, you know, in which I was supposed to make some declaration of adherence to the Islamic faith, which I did, and I mean, you know, it wasn’t true for a start, because I’ve never been a religious person. I wasn’t then. I’m not now. And so it was the one time, I think, that I really agreed to, you know, sort of push myself into a position of make — telling a lie. For a good motive, to try and solve the problem. But nevertheless ...

ZAKARIA: And it didn’t work.

USHDIE: A, it didn’t work, and b, it did some thing worse than that. It disgusted me with myself. And I literally, my body knew it before my mind. I mean I came out of the meeting and I was physically sick and I had — and then everybody who loved me said what the hell are you doing, have you lost your mind and I thought, you know, maybe actually. Maybe.

But in a way I’ve come to think of that moment, later I say it in the book as a pivotal moment, not just in that story, but in me, and my life, and my character, because when I, you know, came to my senses and repudiated what I’d said and, you know, apologized for having said it, and, you know, regained my honest self, if you like, it also had clarified something for me, you know. It really made me feel you’re never going there again. Enough with compromise, apology, appease-

R

ment, you know. Enough with giving in to — with letting this other side set the agenda, you know? I know what I believe in. I know what I’m standing up for, and I’m just going to do that from now on and if you don’t like it.

Tough. And it gave me that kind of strength and purpose. What all novelists know is crisis reveals character. You know, you put people in a stage of crisis, you shipwreck them, whatever, you know.

You find out what they’re like.

And this was a moment like that.

It was a kind of shipwreck and we — I find out what people were really like because they were obliged to reveal themselves.

ZAKARIA: Salman Rushdie, a pleasure to have you on. A great book.

RUSHDIE: Thank you.

ZAKARIA: And we will be back.

ZAKARIA: Despite President Ahmadinejad’s claims to me last week that Iran’s economy is not in chaos, there was chaos in Tehran bazaar this week when shopkeepers protested the devaluation of the Iranian rial. It was trading at about 40,000 rials to the dollar, which means anybody with $25 to their name is a millionaire in Iran. That brings me to my question of the week.

What is the largest denominated currency note ever issued? Is it, a, 500 billion Yugoslavian Dinar, B, 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar, C, 100 quintillion Hungarian Pengo, or D, 100 sextillion Somalia shillings? Stay tuned, we’ll give you the correct answer. If you miss our recent special on jobs, or any of our shows for that matter, go to iTunes. You can get the audio podcast for free or you can buy the video version.

Itunes.com/fareed.

This week’s book of the week is, “The Parties Versus The People” by former Republican Congressman Mickey Edwards. If you worry about partisanship, gridlock and the breakdown of the American system, you must read this book. Edwards doesn’t just wring his hands. He has a series of practical smart proposals that will pull America off the ledge and give politicians an incentive to make American government work. Now, for “The Last Look.”

Posed like chess pieces around the Avenue of Reform in Mexico are monument after monument, some to local heroes, there’s the last as tech ruler, some to world heroes, here is Gandhi, and Christopher Columbus, and Abraham Lincoln, and the latest statue to go up is of Heydar Aliyev. You might ask yourself who? That’s what the locals are asking, too. He was the authoritarian leader of Azerbaijan, the Central Asian petro-state until he died ten years ago. His son who is currently the president spend $5 million of his nation’s oil riches to rebuild some Mexico City parkland. It’s now called Azerbaijan Park, and that’s where the statue sits. If you take a look at this map, put together by “Radio for Europe,” you will see that while this is the first statue of Aliyev in the Americas, similar statues have already conquered much of Eastern Europe and made inroads in Asia.

Perhaps this one is coming to a park near you.

The correct answer to our “GPS Challenge” question was C. In 1946, Hungary printed 100 quintillion pengo notes, that’s one with 20 zeroes after it. It is said to have been worth about 20 cents.

All of those other bills did exist, except the 500 sextillion Somali shilling. That was a red hearing, and the highest denomination is just 5,000. Thanks to all of you for being part of my programme this week. I will see you next week.

Stay tuned for “Reliable Sources.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

61

NEWS

FOREIGN NEWS Eurozone rescue fund launched

T

HE eurozone’s new permanent fund to bail out struggling economies and banks has been formally launched at a meeting of finance ministers in Luxembourg.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will have a full lending capacity of 500bn euros (£400bn; $650bn) by 2014.

It will initially run alongside, and then eventually replace, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).

Europe’s largest economy, Germany, will make the biggest contribution to the fund, about 27% of its total.

The ESM, which is a new European Union agency, will be chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and chair of the Eurogroup.

The launch of the ESM “marks an historic milestone in shaping the future of monetary union”, Mr Juncker said after the inaugural meeting of the Eurogroup of finance ministers that makes up the fund’s board.

Countries will make their first payments towards the fund this week.

Earlier, the EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner, Olli Rehn, said: “It provides the eurozone with a robust and permanent firewall and it provides us with a strong toolbox of effective and flexible instruments.

Cote d’Ivoire opens borders VORY COAST has reopened its land and maritime borders with Ghana, more than two weeks after they were shut following a deadly crossborder attack.

Ivorian Defence Minister Paul Koffi Koffi said both countries had tightened security along the border “with the aim of stopping all incursions”.

Several people died when gunmen attacked an Ivorian army checkpoint in the border town of Noe on September 21.

Officials blamed exiled supporters of ousted President Laurent Gbagbo.

Ivory Coast responded by closing land, air and sea borders with Ghana but restarted flights between the two countries a few days later.

The border closure has blocked the main transport route along the Gulf of Guinea, stretching from Ivory Coast to Nigeria.

In a statement broadcast on state TV, Paul Koffi Koffi said: “President Alassane Ouattara decided that from Monday at seven in the morning the land and sea borders will reopen.”

I

Romney condemns Obama’s foreign policy R EPUBLICAN presidential candidate Mitt Romney has called for a “change of course” in the Middle East, criticising US President Obama on foreign policy.

Speaking in Virginia, he lambasted the White House over an attack in Libya that killed the US ambassador.

He said he would put Iran “on notice” over its nuclear plans, and called for arms to go to Syrian rebels.

With four weeks to go before the election, polls show Obama retains a foreign policy lead over his rival.

The former Massachusetts spoke at the Virginia Military Institute for his first major policy speech since the candidates met on Wednesday for their first face-to-face debate, on the US economy.

Obama was widely seen as having “lost” the debate after a hesitant performance in Denver. Their vice-presidential running mates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will debate on

Thursday.

Romney has repeatedly criticised the president for a foreign policy that he believes has left the US less respected and less powerful in the world.

In his speech at the military institute he said he wanted to “offer a larger perspective on these tragic recent events” and share his vision for a “freer, more prosperous, and more peaceful world”.

Romney linked the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya to the president’s foreign policy and criticised his administration’s response.

“The attacks on America last month should not be seen as random acts,” Mr Romney said. “They are expressions of a larger struggle that is playing out across the broader Middle East - a region that is now in the midst of the most profound upheaval in a cen-

tury.”

“This latest assault cannot be blamed on a reprehensible video insulting Islam, despite the administration’s attempts to convince us of that for so long.”

Initial reports said the protests and attacks were sparked by an anti-Islam film made in the US. But since the attack, the Obama administration has said that the attack in Benghazi, which killed US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three others, involved some people “linked to groups affiliated with, or sympathetic to al-Qaeda”.

Romney was criticised at the time after saying that the administration appeared to “sympathise with those who waged the attacks” before the situation in Libya and at another protest in Egypt became clear.

The White House has faced

repeated questions over the security situation in Benghazi in the run-up to the attack.

Yesterday, US media reported that Ambassador Stevens wanted a specialised security team to stay past their August deployment, but that the staff was told to makedo “with less”.

A state department official told ABC News that embassy’s security officer never made a specific request for the team to stay and that there was no net loss of security personnel.

Before Romney spoke, the Obama campaign released an ad highlighting his gaffeladen international trip this summer as well as his response to the Libya attack.

“We’re not going to be lectured by someone who has been an unmitigated disaster on foreign policy,” Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday.

The two candidates will debate foreign policy in their last meeting on October 22.

Stem cell experts win Nobel Prize •Continued from page 1 Prof Gurdon used a gut sample to clone frogs and Prof Yamanaka altered genes to reprogramme cells.

The Nobel committee said they had “revolutionised” science.

The prize is in stark contrast to Prof Gurdon’s first foray into science when his biology teacher described his scientific ambitions as “a waste of time”.

When a sperm fertilises an egg there is just one type of cell. It multiplies and some of the resulting cells become specialised to create all the tissues of the body including nerve and bone and skin.

It had been though to be a one-way process - once a cell had become specialised it could not change its fate.

In 1962, John Gurdon showed that the genetic information inside a cell taken from the intestines of a frog contained all the information need to create a whole new frog. He took the genetic information and placed it inside a frog egg. The resulting clone developed into a normal tadpole.

The technique would eventually give rise to Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal.

Forty years later Shinya Yamanaka used a different approach. Rather than transferring the genetic information into an egg, he reset it.

He added four genes to skin cells which transformed them into stem cells, which in turn could become specialised cells.

The discoveries of Gurdon and Yamanaka have shown that specialised cells can turn back the developmental clock under certain circumstances The Nobel committee said the discovery had “revolutionized our understanding of how cells and organisms develop.

“The discoveries of Gurdon and Yamanaka have shown that specialised cells can turn back the developmental clock under certain circumstances.

“These discoveries have also provided new tools for scientists around the world and led to remarkable progress in many areas of medicine.”

Prof Yamanaka said it was a “tremendous honour” to be given the award. He also praised Prof Gurdon: “I am able to receive this award because of John Gurdon.

“This field has a very long history, starting with John Gurdon.”

It is hoped the techniques will revolutionise medicine by using a sample of person’s skin to create stem cells.

The idea is that they could be used to repair the heart after a heart attack or reverse the progress of Alzheimer’s

disease.

Prof Gurdon, now at the Gurdon Institute at Cambridge University, said: “I am immensely honoured to be awarded this spectacular recognition, and delighted to be due to receive it with Shinya Yamanaka, whose work has brought the whole field within the realistic expectation of therapeutic benefits.

“I am of course most enormously grateful to those colleagues who have worked with me, at various times over the last half century.

“It is particularly pleasing to see how purely basic research, originally aimed at testing the genetic identity of different cell types in the body, has turned out to have clear human health prospects.”

Prof Yamanaka, who started his career as a surgeon, said: “My goal, all my life, is to bring this stem cell technology to the bedside, to patients, to clinic.”

The president of the Royal Society, Sir Paul Nurse, said: “I was delighted to learn that John Gurdon shares this year’s Nobel prize for physiology or medicine with Shinya Yamanaka.

“John’s work has changed the way we understand how cells in the body become specialised, paving the way for important developments in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

“My congratulations go out to both John and Shinya.”

Prof Anthony Hollander, the head of cellular and mo-

•Gurdon

lecular medicine at the University of Bristol, said: “This joint Nobel Prize traces and celebrates the wonderful scientific journey from John Gurdon’s pioneering early work to the sensational discovery of somatic cell reprogramming by Shinya Yamanaka.

“It’s fantastic news for stem cell research.”

Sir Mark Walport, the director of the Wellcome Trust, said: “John Gurdon’s life has been spent in biology, from collecting insects as a child to over 50 years at the laboratory bench. He and Shinya Yamanaka have demonstrated conclusively that it is possible to turn back the clock on adult cells, to create all the specialised cell types in the body.

“Their work has created the field of regenerative medicine, which has the potential to transform the lives of patients with conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke and diabetes.

“This is a wonderfully well-deserved Nobel Prize.”

US accuses Chinese firms of ‘espionage’

C

HINESE telecom firms Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to the US, a congressional panel has warned after an investigation into the two companies.

The two firms should be barred from any US mergers and acquisitions, according to a House Intelligence Committee report.

The panel says the firms

failed to allay fears about their association with China’s government and military.

The firms - among the world’s biggest makers of networking equipment - denied the accusations in front of the panel.

Yesterday, ZTE issued a statement insisting its equipment met all US standards and posed no threat.

“ZTE has set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a congressional investigation,” China’s Xinhua news agency quoted the firm as saying.

Huawei is expected to respond formally to the charges later but the firm’s vice-president, William Buckley, earlier denounced the allegations as “danger-

ous political distractions”.

The House Intelligence report is highly critical of the two companies.

“China has the means, opportunity and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes,” the report says.

“Based on available classified and unclassified information, Huawei and ZTE cannot be trusted to be free

of foreign state influence and thus pose a security threat to the United States and to our systems.”

The intelligence committee also accused both companies of providing “incomplete, contradictory, and evasive responses to the Committee’s core concerns” during their nearly yearlong investigation.

Fed Govt scholarships for 101 First Class candidates From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

EWARD came yesterday for 101 Nigerians who came out with First Class Honours. They were awarded scholarships to study in 25 top varsities across the world by the Federal Government.

The scholarships are up to PhD level.

Education Minister Pro Ruqayyal Rufa’I, who announced the award, said it was a celebration of yet another milestone in the development of the education sector.

Prof. Rufa’i said the Federal Government was confident that by awarding the scholarships to the deserving candidates, it was sowing a seed that would bring tremendous benefits to the country.

She said the Presidential Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development was instituted by the Federal Government as part of efforts to achieve the Vision: 20:2020 and the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Her words: “The Federal Government plans to develop a critical mass of professionals who would serve as catalysts of change and agents of scientific and technological advancement, as well as sustainable economic development.”

The minister said the scheme was meant to select candidates who had excelled in specified disciplines such as sciences, basic medical sciences and special aspects of Biology.”

R

GTBank officials to pay N100m to The News reporter From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

A

N Abuja High Court has awarded N100 million to a Senior Reporter with The News magazine, Desmond Utomwen, who was brutalised by the Police acting on the prompting of Guaranty Trust Bank officials.

Utomwen was attacked on December 11, 2009, while covering a protest at Area 3, Abuja, over the “massive fraudulent” withdrawals via ATM said to have been made by the bank officials.

A statement by Ugichukwu Ezekiel and Ahmed Tinani, who are lawyers in Festus Keyamo Chambers in Abuja, said Justice U. P. Kekemeke gave the judgment on October 4.

“This judgment came after a long legal tussle between Desmond Utomwen, on the one side, and Guaranty Trust Bank and Nigeria Police Force, on the other side.

“After several demands to the bank and Police for a thorough investigation and compensation, the journalist, through the Solicitor, Ugochukwu Ezekiel, Esq, of Festus Keyamo Chambers, approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, .......”

62

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

NEWS Alleged N1.051b subsidy scam: EFCC to arraign four more suspects today •Four suspects in trouble over N2.9m scam

T

•Lagos State Transportation Commissioner, Kayode Opeifa (middle) addressing a news conference on Vehicle Inspection Safety Campaign Week at Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday. With him are Permanent Secretary, Mr Akin Hamson (left) and Information and Strategy Commissioner Lateef Ibirogba

•Co-ordinator, Eko Free Health Care, Lagos State, Dr Dolapo Fasawe addressing a news conference organised by the Lagos State Government, in collaboration with Eko Club International at Iga Idunganran, Lagos...yesterday. Wtih her are President, Eko Club International, Alhaji Zairudeen Popoola (left) and Chariman, Board of Directors, Dr Olu Magnus Otubu PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

HE Economic and Fi nancial Crimes Com mission (EFCC) yesterday said four more suspects will be arraigned today in Abuja for alleged N1.051billion fuel subsidy scam.

AIhaji Saminu Rabiu, Jubril Rowaye and two companies, Alminnur Resources Limited and Brila Energy Limited are to face trial.

EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects allegedly collected the subsidy to purportedly import 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The EFCC said the suspects would be arraigned before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court on a 17count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraudulently obtaining N1, 051, 030, 434, 63 from the Petroleum Support Fund as payment for the purported importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS. “Thirteen suspects were arraigned before Lagos courts on Friday, October 5, on similar charges. They are Aro Samuel Bamidele, Abio-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

dun Kayode Bankole, Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah. The five companies involved are A.S.B. Investment Company Limited, Anosyke Group of Companies Limited, Dell Energy Limited, Downstream Energy Sources Limited and Rocky Energy Limited,” he said.

The EFCC has arraigned the duo of Uzoma Loius Jerry Okonkwo and Okonkwo Ugochukwu alongside their companies - Mayor Global Resources Investment Limited and Okonkwo Energy Solution Limited - before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos , on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

Louis Jerry Okonkwo, Ugockukwu, Mayor Global Resources Investment Limited and Okonkwo Energy Solutions Limited were said to have on September 8, 2009 in Lagos

obtained from Dezern Nigeria Limited under the false pretence that the money was the cost of 33,000 litres of DPK, knowing this to be false.

The offence is contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 77, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1990 read in conjunction with section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.” When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

EFCC counsel Anselem Ozioko prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody, pending the hearing of the case.

Defence counsel Frank Ndigwe, however informed the court that he had filed an application for bail for the accused persons and urged the court to consider the application.

Justice Okechuku Okeke adjourned the matter till October 29 and November 1, 9, and 19. He ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

Alison-Madueke confirms recovery of three NNPC in the country. She ETROLEUM Resources officials’ bodies scarcity attributed the August fuel

P

Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday confirmed the recovery of the mutilated bodies of three management staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The officials were killed last month by suspected oil thieves in Ogun State.

Mrs Alison-Madueke made

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

this known when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

The minister was at the session to throw light on the persistent fuel and kerosene

scarcity in Abuja and Lagos to the vandalisation of NNPC pipelines and the fire incident at Arepo village, Ogun State.

She noted that three officials who went to fix damaged pipes at Arepo village were abducted.

Reprieve for deported pilgrims •Saudi rescinds decision•Airlift deadline extension likely we had serious and deep enFrom Victor Oluwasegun and HE Saudi authorities gagement. The first good Dele Anofi, Abuja have agreed to accept Tambuwal, who ex- news is that all of those pilthe deported pilgrims pressed happiness at the grims who have secured valid that have valid visas. outcome of the meeting, also visas are being taken back.

House Speaker Aminu Those in the delegation said the issue of male comTambuwal, who led the Presipanion for female pilgrim include the Emir of Zuru, dential committee to Saudi was also settled as the Nige- Alhaji Sani Sami, Alhaji Arabia broke the news yesrian delegation made it Aminu Dantata, Prof. Shehu terday at the presidential wing known that the vexed issue Galadanchi, Chairman of of the Nnamdi Azikwe Interis open to different interpre- Nigerian Hajj Commission national Airport.

Alhaji tations from the four (NAHCON), According to the Speaker, Mohammed Bello and the jurisprudences in Islam. the Saudi authorities is also He said: “Our interface Minister of State for Foreign considering Nigeria’s request with the Saudi authorities has Affairs II, Dr. Nurudeen for extension of the airlifting been very successful because Mohammed. deadline.

T

•116th Lord Mayor of the City of Sheffield, Councillor John Campbell (left), Head of Football Administration, Sheffield United Football Club, Carl Shieber at the presentation of a customised Jersey for the Mayor of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale at the club’s Hall of Fame, Sheffield.

•The 12 finalists for the ninth edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) after their selection at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

THE NATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA EL CLASICO MIRACLES!

Amazing facts of Sunday night's game

R

ONALDO scored the 1st goal.

After 7mins Messi scored Barca’s goal!

Messi scored the 2nd goal After 7 mins Ronaldo scored Madrid’s second goal!

Date of the match: 7/10 Clasico scorers’ shirt numbers: 7 and 10 Clasico match number: 222 Draw number: 22 Full Time score: 2-2 Coincidence? Miracle?

Cole charged over FA tweet

A

SHLEY Cole was Monday charged with misconduct by the Football Association following his foul-mouthed outburst on Twitter.

The Chelsea and England defender called the FA a “bunch of t***s” after the governing body’s independent regulatory commission investigating the John Terry racial abuse case cast doubt on his evidence.

A statement on the FA’s website said: “Chelsea FC’s Ashley Cole has been charged

by The FA in relation to a Twitter comment which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.”

Cole has until 4pm on Thursday, October 11 to respond to the charge.

Keshi: Eagles will roast Liberia if...

S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi says this weekend's second leg of the final qualifying game for next year's Africa Cup of Nations against Liberia may turn out to be a no contest if his foreign based players reproduce their club forms in Calabar.

Keshi said he had a squad that can take the Lone Stars to the cleaners if they play to their full potential on Saturday.

“Barring any ill health or loss of form between now and Saturday, I don't see how the Lone Stars can stop the Super Eagles from winning and qualifying for the

12TH GOVERNOR’S CUP:

Lawal gets ITF wild card in IGHEST ranked Nimain draws gerian tennis player,

H

Sheu Lawal has been given a wild card by the International Tennis Federation, ITF to play in the 12th Governor's Cup which serves off Friday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.

However, other Nigerian tennis players are still going to play in the main draws in both the Men and Women’s Singles of the competition, sponsored by FCMB Plc and Etisalat Nigeria, but they would have to go through rigorous qualifying matches and wild cards which are usually given by the world tennis governing body to the host country for less qualified players on the ranking.

The ITF in its website listed number 1409 ranked righthanded Lawal in the 20-man main draws in the Men's Singles for the first week of this year’s Governor’s Cup. The local male players who will fight for the main draws slots in the qualifiers (if they are not in the wild cards list) include Clifford Enosorogbe (1469), Onyeka Mbanu (1669), Kehinde Alade, Destiny Ford Da Silva, Monday Igbinovia, Samuel Omolie, Ganiyu Yussuf, Pekun Akingbade, Sunday Igbinovia, Omolayo Kazeem Rasaki, Sanni Adamu and Bolaji Olawepo.

In the Women’s Singles, Nigeria female number one player, Fatimah Abinu is leading the pack in the qualifiers, though she is favoured to get the wild card slot. Other players include Christie Agugbom, Chinenye Ndidi Izuogu, Blessing Samuel, Blessing Anuna and Osariemen Airhunmwunde.

By Stella Bamawo Secretary of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Mrs. Nkana Mbora said Monday that she was compiling the applications from the Nigerian players requesting for the championship’s wild cards after which a committee would seat to select the deserving players for the wild cards.

Nations Cup in South Africa.

“After the first leg draw in Monrovia, we took some positives from that game and I can assure you that we are wiser now and would not give them breathing space to score us at home. It is a game we will go all out to win because we prefer that option.

“I know the Liberians are highly motivated to cause an upset but my boys are driven by the hunger to qualify and try to win the trophy in South Africa next year. Having missed the last Nations Cup, my boys would not want a repeat of that'', he stated.

Speaking on why he picked only seven home based players from the 22 in camp, Keshi said that with 15 foreign based players invited for the match, he does not need more than the seven to join them.The former Eagles captain noted that Calabar has become a fortress for the Super Eagles and nothing will please him more than to continue that 100 per cent win there.

He said the fans in Calabar need also to get behind the team all through the game adding that the cheers from the crowd will ginger the players to give their best.

National School Sports Festival gets new date O afford the host – Rivers State the opportunity to stage a befitting National School Sports Festival, the organisers of the sporting fiesta, Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) has postponed the competition to November 1 to 11.

Disclosing this yesterday to journalists, NSSF President, Ibrahim Muhammad said the postponement became necessary as Rivers is planning a colourful and glamorous championship.

“I am sorry to inform you that the earlier National School Sports Festival scheduled to commence this week in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital has been moved to November 1 to 11.

This is necessary to allow the host to ensure that things are in place for thousands of students coming for the championship,” Muhammad said.

The NSSF boss however

T

By Innocent Amomoh

pleaded with the states for the postponement, saying, “I believe this will also give the states the opportunity to prepare their teams very well for the championship.

We want to also appeal to the participating states for this quick change because our students must be given the best during the games and we are confident that Rivers is ready to host the tournament.”

Meanwhile, Rivers at the weekend inaugurated the 21-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the multi-sports tournament.

Inaugurating the LOC at the Ministry of Sports, the Commissioner for Sports, Fred Igwe said the state governor, Chibuike Amaechi, approved the state to host both the state and national schools competitions to give the country a new crop of athletes.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

A conclave of freeloaders

•The President and members of the African First Ladies Summit

Jonathan, with her husband, and with the people of Nigeria.

Whatever happened to ubuntu, that hallowed imperative that enjoins us, Africans, to look out for one another, and in this particular instance summons the first ladies to be their sister’s keeper?

Where is the solidarity?

Dame Jonathan even took a shellacking for allegedly muscling her way through the bureaucracy to secure for the organisation’s headquarters building choice land in Abuja — land to which her predecessor claimed to have genuine title. She was called all kinds of names in the media, but she endured it all graciously, unshaken in her commitment to the goals and objectives of the African First Ladies Initiative.

RIPPLES WE’VE NO BUSINESS IMPORTING FUEL, RICE - Sanusi

Is it too much, then, to expect her fellow first ladies to show humane concern for the health and well-being of one who has sacrificed so much and endured so much to advance the organization’s interests?

When it comes to Nigeria the host country of its most recent summit, the African First Ladies Peace Initiative has been even more remiss. Since that summit, hardly has a week passed without some shadowy organisation carrying out a slaughter of innocents, much of it sectarian, in the northern part of Nigeria.

The Independence Day massacre of 42 students of the Federal Polytechnic, in Mubi, Adamawa State, is only the latest episode of what Festus Eriye, editor and columnist for the Sunday edition of this newspaper, has

HARDBALL

with his accustomed perspicacity called a “descent into depravity.”

If any country not at war qualifies for an urgent visitation from the African First Ladies Peace Initiative, that country, surely, has to be Nigeria, which hosted its most recent summit.

Yet, there has not been the merest hint of a move in that direction; no appeal to the rampaging bomb-throwers and gunmen to end the slaughter and allow for the kind of mediation that women are uniquely suited to promote, as mothers and wives. They have sent no message of commiseration to the beleaguered, and offered no succour to the most vulnerable casualties, children and older women especially.

They had better prepare an answer for their serial derelictions, for their chairperson is sure to demand an explanation when she returns to circulation any moment from now.

And it had better be a robust one.

Dr Jonathan will have some explaining to do, too.

Something tells that if Dame Patience finds on returning to circulation that “First Lady” is no longer reflexively prefixed to her name; that she is now largely seen more as her husband’s wife than as Nigeria’s preeminent woman, and that she can no longer command the kind of attention she used to command, she is sure to demand an explanation.

She will surely find out that her husband treated her indisposition as a family matter that did not rise to the level of national concern, and that he did not give a damn about the public’s right to know, even if only in outline, what was happening to the woman they had come to regard as Her Excellency the First Lady.

In the process, he reduced her to an object of tawdry gossip and tabloid titillation.

She will discover that, by his silence and his secrecy, Dr Jonathan blocked the outpouring of sympathy and goodwill that Nigerians typically manifest toward the indisposed, and that by the same measure, he may have taken her out of public consciousness.

The video clip aired on national television the other day showing Mrs Jonathan “hale and hearty” with her husband and children at an undisclosed location in Germany did little to clear the air.

While the reservoir of sympathy and goodwill has not dried up, she will find it no easy task to re-enter the public consciousness in a positive light.

But one writes off Mrs Jonathan only at one’s peril. I will not be surprised if, the day after her return, she carried on where she had left off unfazed, and unstoppable as ever.

Still, I don’t envy Dr Jonathan.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Uniport killings: In the name of God, let this be the last

N

Don’t worry sir, one day we’ll IMPORT SAND

NO.2,273

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

F

REELOADERS, all. And ingrates to boot.

Some six weeks ago, they dominated the front pages and the headlines in the national media, from the moment they landed at Abuja Airport until they departed some four days later and even thereafter.

They were the talk – and indeed the envy – of the town as they were whisked from one event to another in the finest automobiles that ever rolled off the assembly lines of the Bavarian Motor Works in Germany, from lavish breakfast, with judicious helpings of cassava bread, I gather, to sumptuous lunch, and thereafter to opulent dinner, with the choicest victuals in between.

By one account, one of them could not find her way to Abuja in a manner befitting of members of the conclave. Pronto, an executive jet from the Presidential Fleet had to be dispatched to Lilongwe to fetch her, and apparently to fly her back at the conclusion of the proceedings.

Practically all of them were heard to remark in their less guarded moments that never had they never enjoyed such a good time, inured from the querulous intrusion of the media back home and the malicious gossip of the domestic staff.

They came, they ate, and they left, laden with precious souvenirs.

But not a word of solicitude or solidarity has been heard from members of this conclave, severally or jointly, about their ailing Abuja host who left nothing to chance to ensure that they would forever remember their visit as the happiest time of their lives.

As far as I could ascertain, they have not sent flowers to her bedside in the German hospital where she is reportedly convalescing, let alone a deputation to comfort her.

Nor have they summoned the presence of mind to send a goodwill delegation to her husband through whose office all that munificence they enjoyed had flowed.

Anyone who has hosted a regional conference, to say nothing of a national conference, knows how exacting the task is. Hosting an international conference is prohibitively more exacting. When it comes to staging a continental conference involving first ladies, the task grows by geometric progression.

Indeed, so enormous was the stress and strain occasioned by the convening and hosting of such a conference that the convener had to repair to the quiescent clime of Dubai just to decompress. But the damage had been done, and opportunistic complications set in.

And yet, as I was saying, the African First Ladies Peace Initiative, to come right out with it and call the conclave its proper name, has expressed no concern or solidarity with its chairperson and convener, Dame Patience

VOL. 7

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘Isn’t it amazing that the lawmakers cannot appreciate this elementary point – that for every naira spent to deliver on capital projects, the Federal Government currently spends three times the amount to service the running of the bureaucracy and the allied infrastructure of governance? ’ SANYA ONI

O ONE who has watched the video clip of the lynching of three University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) students and a yet-to-be-identified fourth youth at Omuokiri village near the campus can fail to be truly and deeply horrified by the depth of barbarism we seem to be capable of plumbing in Nigeria. To describe the lynching as gruesome and stomach-churning is an understatement. Now, imagine that parents and relations of the victims also watched the video and saw how their loved ones were horrifically put to death, and you may begin to vicariously feel not only a sense of loss and hopelessness, but a sense of despair as to how alone and unprotected the Nigerian citizen truly is.

The three Uniport students and the fourth youth were beaten to pulp and burnt to death last week by members of the Aluu community in Omuokiri. The students have been identified by the school authorities as Biringa Lordson, a 200-level theatre arts student; Ugonna Obuzor, a 200-level student of Geology; and Mike Toku, 200-evel civil engineering. The fourth victim, Tekena Erikena, had yet to be properly identified, said the university vice chancellor, Professor

Joseph Ajienka.

Nigerians have always suspected that such barbarism was commonplace in their country, what with the disturbing news of frequent extra-judicial killings and officiallysanctioned torture by security agents, as documented by international organisations and local civil society groups. Their suspicions have now been confirmed. But the Uniport video also brings it home graphically to everyone just how irresponsible we have become in putting up with such abhorrent practices over the years, whether they were committed officially by government agents or carried out by private entities such as vigilance groups and ethnic militias.

The video of the lynching has gone viral on the Internet. It will confirm to the world the bestiality they always felt we were capable of. It will also diminish us in the estimation of the world. Coming barely a week after the cold-blooded murder of over 40 students in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigerians must be forgiven if they wonder whether their country is not much closer to the precipice than most people imagine. We must also wonder, as indeed this column

asked after the Mubi massacre, how much more the country, particularly youths, can take.

In the name of God, the federal government must seize this occasion of the Uniport killings to make it the last time extra-judicial killings and other bestial practices would be tolerated. It is not enough for the police to bring the perpetrators to book; the president must recognise that the Uniport killings have raised national revulsion to fever pitch deserving of his personal attention and strong policy initiative.

Whether the murdered students actually stole laptops and phones as alleged by their tormentors, or they were robbers or cultists as some others claimed, is completely beside the point. The government must come up with firm initiatives to eradicate cultism from campuses, put a complete stop to extrajudicial killings by agents of the state, halt torture as a means of extracting confession from suspects, and put an end to the degrading treatment citizens publicly suffer at the hands of security agents, all of which have spurred the country’s rapid and seemingly inexorable descent to anarchy and barbarism.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mila 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO