The Nation October 11, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Ekwueme leads Ohanaeze to meeting with Arewa

Alao-Akala ‘blew’ N3.37b UBEC fund

NEWS

Page 8

NEWS

Page 57

•Igbo, North hold cooperation parley

•Official: we rebuilt schools

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2275 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

ONDO 2012

N150.00

•Akeredolu: power ‘ll shift on October 20 •3000 LP members defect to ACN in Owo •Mimiko, Akeredolu, Oke to debate

•AND MORE ON PAGES 4&5

Soldiers seal off village over UNIPORT killings

U •Abubakar

NIVERSITY of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students yesterday stayed put on the campus, vowing to burn more houses of the suspected killers of their colleagues in nearby Aluu community.

Twelve houses were burnt on Tuesday in retaliation for the killings.

But yesterday, soldiers and

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja and Kelvin Osa Okunbor

policemen were deployed in the community.

The four lynched students are: Biringa Chiadika Lordson, Year Two, Theatre Arts, U2010/1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Year Two, Geology, U2010/5565149 and Mike Lloyd Toku, Year Two, Civil

Engineering, U2010/3010094.

The fourth person, Tekena Erikena, who earlier did Basic Studies at UNIPORT, was yet to be formally identified as a student of the university.

Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar vowed yesterday that the police will investigate the killings.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) urged the govern-

ment to prosecute the suspects without delay.

The soldiers and policemen barricaded the roads, checking the few people and vehicles passing. The community has been deserted by the residents, especially the vigilance members, who allegedly killed the young men.

The spokesman of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori

Camp, Port Harcourt, Major Michael Etete, described the heavy deployment of soldiers and other security personnel as one of the proactive measures taken by the security agencies to quickly restore normalcy to the area.

Rivers police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam, said the security men were there to Continued on page 2

House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution poor •SEE ALSO PAGES 6,7,12,53&62

President proposes N4.92tr for 2013 We won’t rubber stamp it, says Mark HIGHLIGHTS

•Education - 426.53b •Defence - 348.91b •Police - 319.65b •Health - 279.23b •Sure-P - N273.5b •Works - N183.5b •Agric/Rural - N81.41b •Power - N74.26b

•Statutory transfer - N380.02b •Debt Service - N591.76b •Fuel Subsidy - N9716 •Euro Bond - $1b •Free phones for 5m women •Oil search in Chad , Benue, Yola, Anambra to cost N16b •0% duty on aircraft, parts

KEY FIGURES

$75 •Oil benchmark N1.03tr•Deficit N4.94tr •Expenditure N10.84tr•Projected revenue N1.54tr •Capital vote N3.89tr •Fed Govt revenue

T

O a packed House chamber, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday presented next year’s budget proposal of N4.92 trillion to the National As-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

sembly.

He got a standing ovation at the end of the expectedly long speech, but the excitement was shortlived.

House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal delivered a damming verdict on this year’s budget: it was poorly implemented, he said in his vote of thanks.

Besides, according to the Speaker, next year’s proposal does not contain revenue from gas and external

•President Jonathan...yesterday

The $75 benchmark price will safeguard what is precious to the economy which is the macro economic stability of the country —Okonjo-Iweala burning is not neglected.

Jonathan said the N4.92 trillion represented a modest increase of about 5 per cent over the N4.7 trillion appropriated for this year.

The $80 per barrel will reduce the deficit in the budget and consequently reduce domestic borrowing by 66 per cent —Tambuwal

He gave the breakdown of the fiscal estimate to include N380.02 billion for Statutory Transfers, N591.76 billion for Debt Service, N2.41 trillion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Ex-

penditure and N1.54 trillion for Capital Expenditure.

The President explained that the budget of “fiscal consolidation Continued on page 2

•SPORT P16 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •N/HEALTH P45 •E-BUSINESS P47

2

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

NEWS Why oil benchmark is $75,

by Okonjo-Iweala

F

•120-year-old Madam Rhoda Tamunu being rescued from her submerged home by officials of the Bayelsa State Emergency Medical Services at Agudama in Yenagoa

INANCE Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has explained why the government pegged the 2013 Budget oil benchmark at $75.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said the the executive believed that the $75 benchmark is “the sensible price that will shore up the economy and make for macro economic stability”.

The 2013 budget, according to her, is predicated on the assumption that the country will produce 2.53 mn barrels per day, but, more importantly, the executive wants to be prudent with its finances.

To stave off frictions between the executive and the legislature, the minister said the executive will “put forward the argument why government submitted the budget with $75 benchmark to the National Assembly”.

Soldiers seal off village over UNIPORT killings Continued from page 1

protect lives and property of law-abiding citizens.

Some students in the Faculty of Education, who were still on the campus, wondered why they would be forced out of their hostels, while protesting to ensure justice.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, called for the sack of the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Indabawa; Ugwuegbulam and the area’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for alleged dereliction of duties.

The online video clip of the murder showed that it took some hours before the four students were murdered. They were paraded naked round the community, before being clubbed to death. All of them did not die at the same time.

“While heavy planks and

rods were being used to hit the victims on their heads and other sensitive parts of their bodies, they were struggling to escape, but the mob never allowed it, with one of the killers overhead saying: ‘This one don die, bring tyre and petrol.’

When the mob was sure that all the four students, who were alleged to have stolen mobile phones and laptops, were dead, they put tyres on their necks and took time to drench them with petrol and set them ablaze.

The ACN said: “It smacks of irresponsibility and unbecoming of men and officers trained to protect lives and property. “ The party also described as dereliction of duty, the failure to mobilise men and officers of the police to the scene of the murder, upon receiving the distress calls.

The Trade Union Congress of

Nigeria (TUC), Rivers State chapter, also condemned the murder.

TUC Chairman Chika Onuegbu said: “We have consistently raised the alarm over the manner in which human lives are wasted across the country and the inability of the relevant government agencies to address this ugly trend. We are deeply worried that violence is fast becoming a way of life in Nigeria.

“We are also worried by the refusal of ordinary Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers in times of need. We note that the UNIPORT Four would not have died, if some of those who witnessed the sad event made genuine efforts to save their lives by reaching the police, other security agencies or even radio stations.”

Inspector General of Police

Abubakar who spoke in Lagos on his way from Turkey, said: “I am aware of the situation. I have been briefed on it even while in Turkey, we are on it, we are commencing investigation; the investigation will tell what exactly has happened. I want to assure all Nigerians that we are doing our best to bring out all the culprits of that very ugly incident and we shall not, under my administration, and this government will not tolerate any such barbaric act in this country and you will hear from me as soon as I get the brief from the commissioner of police and the AIG.” He added: “Investigation is on. I don’t want to give you the number of persons that have been arrested.”

On the killing of students in Mubi, Adamawa State, Abubakar said:” It is still un-

der investigation too. We are making progress and I will say that we are making very good progress on that and you will hear from me soon.”

He also spoke on the activities of vigilance groups, saying:” No vigilance group is supposed to operate directly, except under the administration and operational control of the police and any vigilance group that is not so registered and which will not comply with the rules and regulations is operating illegally.”

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday called for the prosecution of the killers of the students. Its President, Okey Wali (SAN), spoke at the inauguration of the NBA working group on strategic planning in Abuja.

“There is no disputing the fact Continued on page 59

House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution poor

The benchmark, she explained, “is based on an econometric module that estimates five and 10 years moving averages. Government can not just take the number from anywhere; you have to have a basis for developing the benchmark.”

However, the executive, she said “can smooth it out with a dollar here or there, to round it up; that is what the government has done.”

The $75 benchmark price Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala added, is similar to what other oil producing countries use. “The benchmark for Algeria is $37, Venezuela $50, Qatar $55, Kuwait $60, Saudi Arabia $60, Oman $75 and Angola $77.

What government is proposing is within the ambit of what other countries are proposing.

We don’t see any country with $80 benchmark.”

The $75 benchmark price Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said, “will safeguard what is precious to the economy which is the macro economic stability of the country. If we go with a high benchmark, a lot of liquidity will be thrown into the system because it’s not just the Federal Government we have to worry about, the benchmark also affects the money that goes to the states.

“So even if you are trying to reduce federal government’s fiscal deficit; the states are not under that obligation. They will be spending and that will throw up a lot of liquidity, which can lead to higher inflation and depreciation of the exchange rate, which will force the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor to raise interest rates, which is not pleasant for the private sector.”

She also argued that with the Continued on page 59

Reps condemn Excess Crude Account management

Continued from page 1

with inclusive growth” is underpinned by some parameters which reflect the government’s prudent economic policies in an uncertain global economic environment: The parameters are oil production of 2.53 million barrels per day, up from 2.48 million barrels per day for 2012.

The benchmark oil price is US$75/barrel, a modest increase from the US$72/barrel approved in the 2012 Budget.

The benchmark price is based on a well established econometric methodology of estimating oil price moving averages, according to the President.

Projected GDP growth rate is estimated at 6.5% compared to 6.85% in the Fiscal Strategy Paper.

The revision, Jonathan said, is underpinned by the fact that the severe floods experienced over large parts of the country are expected to impact on economic activity in 2013, especially agriculture.

He said the growth prospects may improve with the plan to boost dry season farming.

On revenue, the President noted that based on the above assumptions, the gross federally collectible revenue is projected at N10.84 trillion. Of this, the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s Budget is forecast at

From Nduka Chiejina, and Mercy Madu, Abuja

T

HE House of Representatives yesterday expressed concern over the management of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the non-inclusion of the Gas revenue in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sent to the House by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said there were two critical omissions in the 20132015 MTEF namely: “That the Revenue from Gas, running into billions of dollars, is not reflected, and External borrowing is similarly not reflected.”

The House also flayed the high budget deficit in the 2013 budget, saying the reduction of the deficit and domestic borrowing was its reason for increasing the benchmark for crude oil to $80 from the $75 proposed by the Executive.

The deficit in the 2013 proposed budget is N1.037 trillion.

Tambuwal was delivering a vote of thanks after the presentation of the 2013 budget by President Goodluck Jonathan to a joint session of the National Assembly yesterday.

Tambuwal spoke of the Legislature’s concern for the management of the excess crude revenues. He said: “Since 2010, the Appropriation Act has legislated that the excess crude component of N3.89 trillion, representing an increase of about 9 per cent over the estimate for 2012.

Non-oil revenue is projected to continue to grow as the ongoing reforms in the revenue collecting agencies, and the implementation of initiatives to further develop the non-oil

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

the Federation Account be operated under separate records for purpose of transparency and accountability. Besides, Section 30 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act makes it mandatory for the Budget Office to submit budget implementation Assessment reports to the National Assembly and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission on a quarterly basis and to publish same on the Ministry of Finance Website.

“The President may be unaware that the National Assembly is neither availed evidence of implementation of this policy along with the records of Federal Government’s portion of the excess crude funds nor the quarterly implementation reports, as required under the two Acts. Mr. President may wish to give appropriate directives to ensure full and speedy compliance by relevant agencies.”

He expressed displeasure at the level of implementation of the 2012 budget, saying: “As I speak, interim field oversight reports from House Committees on the 2012 budget implementation are clearly unimpressive both in terms of releases as well as utilisation and this is a great challenge to all of us. “ The Speaker charged the President on

sector continue to yield results.

He said: “Based on the above, the fiscal deficit is projected to improve to about 2.17 per cent of GDP in the 2013 Budget. compared to 2.85 per cent in 2012.

“This is well within the threshold stipulated in the

the composition of the Council for Public Procurement, saying it is very critical for budget implementation.

“The Composition of the Public Procurement Council provided under the Public Procurement Act is very critical to budget implementation. The sanctity of extant legislations and respect for the rule of law are critical hallmarks of true democracy, we therefore once more call on Mr. President to expeditiously constitute this council so as to free the Federal Executive Council from the burden of contract administration, so they can concentrate on the more sublime issues of their constitutional roles and responsibilities.

“Incidentally, the present Constitution of the Bureau of Public Procurement has been identified as one of the bottlenecks to effective capital budget implementation.”

On the huge deficit in the 2013-2015 MTEF he said: “It will be recalled that the 2012 budget contained a deficit and the main source of funding this deficit was domestic borrowing. Figures emanating from the Debt Management Office regarding domestic borrowing are however worrisome.

Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and clearly highlights our commitment to fiscal prudence.

“We are determined to further rein in domestic borrowing, and this way, ensure that our debt stock remains at a sustainable level.”

Jonathan said the govern-

Continued on page 59

ment’s focus on critical economic and social sectors would continue.

According to him, some of the sectors are largely driven by private sector activity. Others require a great deal of public sector support.

Some of the key sector allocations are: Works – N183.5

•Tambuwal

billion; Power - N74.26billion; Education – N426.53 billion; Health – N279.23 billion; Defence – N348.91 billion; Police – N319.65 billion; and Agriculture & Rural Development – N81.41 billion.

Jonathan said that power and gas sectors require a lot of investments to sustain supply improvements.

“We shall, therefore, complement available resources with a proposed Infrastructure Euro Bond of about $1 Continued on page 59

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

3

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

4

NEWS ONDO 2012

‘Strange LP aircraft in Akure’

T

Planned arrest: Ondo varsity union leaders go underground From Damisi Ojo,Akure

T

HE protracted workers’ unrest at the Ondo State owned-Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), Akungba Akoko, has assumed another dimension with the leaders of the three unions under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) going underground for fear of arrest by security agents.

They are allegedly being trailed by security agents on the directive of the state government.

Workers in the institution recently protested against poor condition of service, abnormal career structure, elongation of typist cadre and inconclusive 2010/2011 promotion exercise.

The other complaints are nonpayment of arrears of 33 months hazard allowance and selective victimisation of some workers, particularly Mr. P.O. Tametawo, who, according to a source, has not receivedsalaryforthepast22months.

He was said to have faced two panels set up by the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Mimiko, and he was discharged and acquitted, yet his salary is yet to be reinstated.

A source close to the university said because of the protest, the management has concluded plans to arrest seven of the union leaders.

Those pencilled down for arrest are the Chairman, Non- Academic Staff Union (NASU), Aguda Bamidele, Vice- Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mrs. Akingbesote, Chairman, National Association of Academic Technicians (NAAT), Comrade Giwa, NASU Treasurer, C.A. Ekundayo, NAAT Secretary, E.O. Akele and two others.

•Akeredolu (right) addressing the rally...yesterday. With him is his running mate, Dr. Akintelure.

T

Akeredolu: power ‘ll shift on October 20

HE standard bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the October 20 poll, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday said power would shift in the state after the election. He urged the people to get set for a new dawn.

He told the people of Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government that ACN would alleviate their suffering, adding that from February 23, next year, they would begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Akeredolu said: “The labourers party is a violent party.

They know that they cannot come back to power. So, they are desperate. Power will shift in Ondo State and a government of the people, by the people and for the people will be installed.”

The ACN candidate stormed Ile-Oluji about 3pm after a road show. But supporters converged on the town square near the palace of the Jegun of Ile-Oluji, Oba Sulade Adejugbe, from 9 am.

As the chopper carrying Akeredolu landed in the ancient town, shouts of “ACN, Democracy for Justice” filled

•LP members harass ACN supporters in Okitipupa

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

the air, with followers waving brooms the party’s symbol.

Akeredolu rode through the town, waving at the people who trooped out to welcome him. Flyers containing his programme of action were distributed by party agents who began door-to-door mobilisation and voter education.

Akeredolu was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, former Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa, a promising politician and governorship aspirant from the town who stepped down for the ACN standard bearer at the congress, Acting Chairman, Akin Adesoji, Secretary, Gboyega Adesida, House of Representatives members, Ifedayo Abegunde and Dele Ogunsakin, Osun State Special Adviser on Environment, Bola Ilori and Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Akano. They were ushered into the Jegun’s palace by the members of the Road Trans-

port Union, the singing women and youths to pay homage to Oba Adejugbe, an engineer who conferred the honorary title of Aare of Ile-Oluji on ACN leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a few years ago.

Akeredolu told the monarch, his chiefs and other community leaders his mission. He promised to work for the people and become a model governor, if elected on October 20.

The traditional ruler prayed for him and wished him success.

He urged the political class to demonstrate tolerance and play by the rules of the game.

During the rally, news reached ACN leaders that their followers had been attacked by suspected Labour Party (LP) thugs in Okitipupa in Ondo South Senatorial District.

At the rally, old political war horses in the Ile-Oluji/OkeIgbo axis rekindled the memory of leaders who had served the town, including the late Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati, stressing that ACN

is an incarnate of the defunct Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). One of the town’s political leaders, Pa Joseph Fapounda, reminded the people about their devotion to the progressive cause from the Awo and Ajasin days. He advised them to be firm and committed to ACN. He said the party has great ideal close to their vision for rural development.

Prof. Opeke, another community leader, alerted the people to what he called the antics of the LP, lamenting that their leaders are now wooing people with money, instead of using the state resources to develop the local government.

The eminent scholar urged the people to resist the temptation to sell their voter cards, adding that those who offer money to them during campaigns would abandon them after the poll.

Bubbling with confidence, Akinterinwa, who introduced the leaders, said: “After voting, we will sing songs of joy. Mimiko packed us in a one chance bus. ACN has

come to rescue us.”

He said the LP tricks would not work in the town, enjoining supporters to be committed to the end.

He charged the non-indigenes in the local government to vote for ACN. Said he: “You non-indigenes will enjoy under Aketi government.

Akeredolu is a great lawyer. He was the President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for two years and did all of us who are lawyers proud by building the Law House in Abuja, now named in his honour. He is a great lawyer. He is not a doctor who is afraid of the hospital, a doctor who cannot inject patients.

LP is now giving out money and rice. Take the money because it is your money, but vote for ACN.” Dr. Akintelure said: “On October 20, vote for Akeredolu and ACN so that I can serve as a good deputy governor in Ondo State.”

Akeredolu reiterated his determination to turn the state around.

He said: “Unemployment is increasing in Ondo State and our graduates are now okada riders. I will provide 30,000 jobs for youths.”

3,000 LP members defect to ACN in Owo

A

FORMER Labour Party (LP) House of Assembly aspirant in Owo Constituency 1, Kehinde Bello (aka H.K. Bello), has led over 3,000 members of the Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership (MGGEL) in the community to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Bello, who is the state coordinator of the group, said they defected to the ACN to support its governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), following his achievements during his reign as the President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

He also led LP executives in Owo to the ACN fold.

They are former Ehinogbe Ward I Chairman, Mr. Bowale Obatooto (aka Omo-Emi), Idasen Ward Secretary, Mr. Adetoyese Adewunmi, Igboroko Ward Treasurer, Mrs. Enuogbope Oyekorode, Ijebu Ward Secretary, Ruth Ebemebo, leaders of LP Elders Council in Igboroko I and

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

II, Mr. M.I. Balogun, Ex-officio, Uso/Emure Ward, Mr. Babatunde Olupitan, among others.

They were welcomed into ACN by the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akeredolu and Chairman, Mr. F.O. Osedimibola, at a rally in Owo Local Government.

Speaking at the event, Bello described LP as a one man business whose sole proprietorship lacks the ethics of leadership.

He added that it is a party where ignorance reigns supreme over experience.

Bello said LP was a party run by a clique of self-seekers, bourgeois and mudslinging leaders whose pedigree was to subvert the will of the people.

He said: “Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who is the sole proprietor of the LP, believes that the only way he can succeed in his criminal act is by giving power to thugs, mediocrity, naivety

,

HE Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, yesterday alleged that a strange aircraft is being used to bring unknown materials to the Akure Airport in the last three days.

He said: “The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) wishes to draw the attention of the security agents to a strange aircraft being used to bring unknown materials to the Akure Airport in the last three days.

“The curious aspect of it is that it is not only that officials of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are always not involved in the discharge of the materials, but it was alleged that such materials were received by top officials of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration.

“For us at ACO, this is a strange development occurring a few days to the October 20 governorship poll. We urge the security agents to investigate this and furnish the public with their findings.”

At the rally of the ACN yesterday in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government, some party members also alleged that a strange aircraft was sighted at the Akure Airport and airport workers were not allowed to move near it. They enjoined the police to keep surveillance at the airport to prevent importation of fake ballot papers.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who is the sole proprietor of the LP, believes that the only way he can succeed in his criminal act is by giving power to thugs, mediocrity, naivety and those who cannot challenge his authority

,

and those who cannot challenge his authority.

“For instance, in Owo, go and check the past records of the political appointees of Governor Mimiko, including those elected to represent the local government. You cannot see one without a criminal record. We are being ruled by thugs. Owo must be liberated. We believe the only party that can bring rapid development to the community is ACN.

“Ondo State cannot continue not to be in mainstream politics.

We must join Southwest progressive states. The defection of our team from the LP to ACN brings an end to the reign of LP in our community.”

Receiving the defectors, Akeredolu eulogised the leader of the group for his political sagacity and praised his wise decision to join ACN at a time leadership change in the state is imminent.

He described Bello as a man of honour who was progressive minded. He said he is a political asset to the Owo community.

“You have taken a wise decision. I want to assure you that when I’m elected into office, your group will be recognised,” Akeredolu said.

The ACN standard bearer described the large turnout of members of the group as a great asset to ACN’s chances at the polls.

No fewer than 1,000 members of LP and Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) defected to ACN at Ward nine and 10 in Isua-Akoko, as well as Ward I in EpinmiAkoko, all in Akoko South East Local Government.

The PDP group was led by Mr. Awolowo, while the following people led various groups from LP: P.K.D. Omoogun, Mr. Agbaje Ehinola, Mr. Dahunsi and Mr. Apata.

The leaders are of the opinion that anybody still working for Mimiko for a second term is not only living in a fool’s paradise, he is an enemy of the generation unborn.

They said if Mimiko is given the second term mandate, the state will not recover from the wounds in the next 10 years, adding that generations unborn would not forgive those responsible for this.

They were received by Dr. K. B. Shaba, Hon. Oguntoyinbo and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Aderogboye.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

5

NEWS ONDO 2012 NATIONAL HONOURS 2012 ACN chieftain escapes assassination •Accuses LP of being mastermind From Damisi Ojo,Akure

A

•Oba Adedugbe flanked by Akeredolu (right) and his running mate, Dr. Akintelure...yesterday...

Jonathan for Akure

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will storm Akure tomorrow for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally billed for Saturday, it was learnt yesterday.

A PDP chieftain, Ayo Fadaka, who disclosed this on an Adaba Radio programme, Legacy, said the President would visit the state to dispel the rumour being peddled by the Labour Party (LP) that he is not supporting the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke. Fadaka said Jonathan will be accompanied by ministers, members of the National Assembly and leaders of the PDP. The Southwest PDP leader, Mr. Segun Oni, will lead other chieftains to welcome them at the Akure Airport.

He said: “The President will raise the hands of Oke and his running mate, Saka Lawal. This will end the lies of the LP that Dr. Jonathan is backing Governor Mimiko. There have been rumours that the President is not supporting our candidate and that he does not know Saka Lawal. He will raise their hands on Saturday.”

Mimiko, Akeredolu, Oke debate today

‘Money comes to the state, but we cannot see what it is spent on. This is unlike the PDP. In three and a half years, Mimiko could only complete one mega school project. When would he complete the rest?’

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

L

•Dr. Jonathan

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

Fadaka said Ondo State people have woken up to the reality that Mimiko has deceived them for three and a half years, adding that his administration has been characterised by budget failure.

He challenged Governor Mimiko to point to any road he had built, urging the voters to judge him by the way he had neglected the infrastructure battle.

Fadaka added: “This is a government of endless proposals.

What they know how to do is to use computer to take away the money. They will not implement a budget, and towards the end, they will come up with a supplementary budget. Money comes to the state, but we cannot see what it is spent on. This is unlike the PDP. In three and a half years, Mimiko could only complete one mega school project. When would he complete the rest? This is unlike the PDP. When PDP was in power, we built roads. Now, the people know which party had served them better.”

NBC warns radio, TV stations on violation HE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of broadcasting codes yesterday warned radio

T

and television stations in Ondo State to stop violating the broadcasting codes or face sanctions.

The Director-General of NBC, Yomi Bolarinwa, gave the warning at a press conference in Abuja after closed door meeting with the chief executive officers of the broadcasting organisations.

He said the meeting was convened after several warnings were issued to media organisations on the need to adhere to the broadcasting codes.

Bolarinwa stressed that any failure to comply with the NBC codes, either prior to or after the election, would attract sanctions from the commission.

He said: “NBC will no longer tolerate the continuous violation of the broadcasting codes by abusing the need for equal air time for all the candidates contesting the governorship

•Assures candidates of level playing field

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

election and engaging in unreasonable and unpalatable method in informing the electorate.

“I am optimistic that they (broadcast stations) will do the right thing. But if they don’t do the right thing, we’ll do the right thing by sanctioning them.

This is the final and last warning, which is part of the sanction procedure.

“Whether government or privately-owned, nobody owns the stations, they hold it in trust for the people.”

Bolarinwa assured of equal opportunity for the candidates.

He said: “We have had a heart-to-heart discussion to secure their assurance that the past violation will stop. That the airwave will be sanitised and that all candidates and parties will

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

be given equal opportunities to meet the indigenes of Ondo State.

“We have got their assurance that the language of broadcast will be kept decent, reasonable and palatable for the people of Ondo State.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Adaba FM, Dayo Johnson, said media establishments in the state have resolved to be more professional and work for the interest of the people.

The Director-General of the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), Ladi Akeredolu-Ale, said: “What is important is for us to go back and make the necessary corrections.”

The NBC recently fined Adaba FM N400,000 for violating the broadcasting codes in the state after several warnings.

ABOUR Party (LP) candidate Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) standard bearer Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer Olusola Oke will today participate in the debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Group, led by veteran broadcaster, Aremo Taiwo Alimi.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who is said to be a sympathiser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, is also a member of the debate group. A few months ago, AIT gave Mimiko an award as the best governor.

The debate, holding at the Adegbemile Cultural Centre, Oke-Eda, Ondo State, trails the first round that featured six candidates. However, three candidates of mushroom parties would be excluded from today’s debate, which would be televised live.

Last week, the running mates also participated in two debates, answering questions on the duties of a deputy governor.

During the last debate, the audience and the candidates breached the rules by engaging in attacks. At a stage, the panelists reminded Akeredolu about the rules, but the ACN candidate told them that Mimiko, who had first attacked him, was not cautioned.

Alimi frowned at the violation of the rules by the audience, saying it was a dent on the state. The six candidates received certificates of participation after the debate. An Akure politician, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We have confidence in the eminent broadcaster, Taiwo Alimi, but it is important to stress that a debate group should not have any partisan politician on board to safeguard its credibility.”

CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former deputy governorship aspirant, Chief Adewale Omojuwa, yesterday escaped being assassinated by unknown gunmen.

Omojuwa, in a petition sent to the Commissioner of Police, entitled: “Save my soul from kidnappers”, dated October 10, a copy of which was made available to reporters, said the assailants trailed him to Ayeka in Okitipupa about 4:30pm after attending a rally in the town.

The former Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) chairman said he became aware of the plan of the assailants when they attempted to overtake him.

He said the occupants of the vehicle threatened to shoot him if his driver refused to stop.

Omojuwa said his driver deceived the assailants by pretending as if he wanted to pull up, but later drove through an adjoining road that led to Ayeka, speeding.

He said the assailants had earlier called one of his aides on his mobile telephone with a hidden line, telling him to drop him (Omojuwa) near a bush where they hoped to execute their evil plan.

The ACN chieftain alleged that the assailants promised to reward the said aide handsomely if the arrangement worked.

He accused the Labour Party (LP) of being the mastermind of the evil plan, saying the assailants promised to take the aide to some chieftains of the party after the operation, who would hand over the cash to him.

Omojuwa said he thanked God that he and his family who were with him in the vehicle survived the assassination attempt.

He said that was the third attempt to kill him in the last three months and urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar to provide security for him and his family before, during and after the election.

The former OSOPADEC boss said LP felt threatened by his political clout and the rate at which members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling party in Ondo South Senatorial District have been defecting to the ACN because of him.

Omojuwa was a member of the state caucus of the PDP in the state, but defected to the ACN early this year. He has been involved in the activities of the party to ensure its victory in next week’s poll.

Lawyer cries out over plot to assassinate Akeredolu

A

N Akure lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, has cried out over an alleged plot by the Labour Party (LP) to assassinate the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. Ogele alleged that the LP was planning to ambush and kill Akeredolu during his campaigns across the local governments.

According to him, LP is relying on its killer squad to achieve illegal success in next week’s election.

He noted that it is unfortunate that while Akeredolu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, are campaigning, LP is busy planning how to assassinate an opponent and rig the poll.

Ogele urged LP to forget rigging, saying it is no longer business as usual.

He said: “Since LP is finished

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

politically, its plan is to eliminate an opponent. While Oke and Akeredolu are campaigning, telling the electorate how they will alleviate the hardship unleashed on them, LP is relying on its killer squad to snatch ballot boxes and eliminate opponents.

“The party should be told in a plain language that it is no longer business as usual.”

The activist said it was not too late for the LP to withdraw its unpopular candidate and join a party of its choice.

He said no amount of intimidation could win the forthcoming poll for Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Ogele said he supported the Arogbo Ijaw People Assembly in calling on the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar to dissolve the security outfit of Mimiko.

He said any mysterious death in Ondo State would be accounted for by the LP.

ACN warns workers against Mimiko’s ‘deceit’ From Damisi Ojo,Akure

T

HE Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has decried the deceptive plan of the Mimiko administration to hoodwink the people ahead of the October 20 election.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Rotimi Agbede, said in a statement: “This time round, they have turned their attention to the neglected civil servants with the sinister plan to pay the October salary and outstanding leave bonus of the workers before the election on October 20.

“The government, having failed to enlist the support of the enlightened civil servants, reasoned that dangling the poisoned carrot before them would do the magic and sway their support for the rejected second term bid of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

“The governor, having seen his satanic bid receiving bashes across the state, is holding on to any straw for survival as the boat of his government is set to capsize.

“His troubled mind becomes more agitated on seeing the reality on ground coupled with the desire of the people to have a change from the purposeless and rudderless government foisted on them by his administration in the last four years.

“With his unconvincing record of performance as the governor of the state and dwindling political fortune, Mimiko is trying to use the civil servants to augment his eroded support base.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

6

NEWS BUDGET 2013

•Sambo and Ihedioha... yesterday. Watching is Ekweremadu

•Jonathan... yesterday

National Assembly will tinker with budget, says Mark

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday said the National Assembly has the power to tinker with the budget.

In his speech during the presentation of N4.92 trillion 2013 Budget to the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives, Mark told President Goodluck Jonathan that lawmakers are constitutionally empowered to make input into the budget.

The Constitution, he said, did not intend to turn the National Assembly into a mere mechanical rubberstamp that must robotically pass budget estimates as presented.

Mark said the country’s budgets, from his experience since 1999, have been dogged by three main areas of controversies.

These are the time of presentation of the estimates to the National Assembly, whether the National Assembly has the constitutional power to make inputs into the budget estimates and implementation of the budget.

On the time of presentation, he

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

said it was gratifying that the 2013 Budget was presented in October.

He said: “Yet, Mr. President, a compelling case can still be made for a consistently earlier presentation.

“This will allow for a meticulous and exhaustive consideration and debate and ensure that we work towards passing it before the end of the year.”

On the power to make inputs into Appropriation Bills, Mark said: “Our stand is that parliament is constitutionally empowered to make inputs.

“What the Constitution enjoins Mr. President to lay before the National Assembly are mere estimates, not immutable figures.”

Mark added that once the estimates are laid, their consideration “becomes subject to the constitutionally prescribed modes of exercising legislative power”.

He added: “Therefore, we do not think that the Constitution intended to turn the National Assembly into

•Mark and Tambuwal... yesterday

a mere mechanical rubber-stamp that must robotically pass budget estimates as presented.

“However, in exercising this constitutional power, we will be mindful of the fact that the social and economic challenges currently besetting our nation are the severest in our contemporary history. The National Assembly is also conscious of the fact that urgent steps need to be

taken to address our dire infrastructural challenges.”

On implementation, he said the lawmakers believed that so long as the budgets are only partially implemented, “the full benefits of your administration’s economic policies may not be accomplished”.

He said when the 2013 Appropriation Bill becomes law, the National Assembly would deploy its weapon

of oversight, more than ever before, to ensure accountability, probity, transparency and full implementation.

The need to ensure the efficient utilisation of public finance for the promotion of the public good, he said, would be the National Assembly’s guiding principle.

The Assembly, he said, would work to ensure that the lofty developmental goals embedded in the budget are fully

Fed Govt releases N711.6b fo •Foreign reserve hits $41.6b

T

HE Federal Government has released N711.6 billion to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) this fiscal year for implementation of capital projects, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday.

He was presenting a budget estimate of N4.92 trillion for the 2013 fiscal year at a Joint Session of the National Assembly.

Jonathan said further releases are to follow shortly for the fourth quarter of the year.

The President said the implementation of the 2012 Budget was on track, having begun effectively in April when it became law.

He said: “We have so far released N711.6 billion to MDAs for the implementation of their capital budgets while further releases are to fol-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

low shortly for the fourth quarter.”

Jonathan said the implementation of the 2011 capital budget in the first quarter of 2012, affected the implementation of the 2012 Budget.

The President said he took personal interest in the budget implementation since May by chairing weekly sessions with ministers and heads of parastatals on their progress.

Government, he said, was determined to use the budget to improve the people’s welfare.

The 2013 Budget, he said, was designed against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty.

He said: “By the end of the second quarter of this year, the global

economy was recovering but at a very slow pace.

“Growth in a number of major emerging market economies, has been lower than forecast.

“Overall, global growth is projected at 3.3 per cent in 2012 and 3.6 per cent in 2013.

“The uncertainty surrounding the global economy, which could have adverse effects on commodity prices, highlights the downside risks for our economy.

“The oil market is well known for its volatility. We recall the 2008 experience at the height of the global economic downturn when oil prices fell almost overnight from $147 per barrel to $38 per barrel.

“This threat of oil price volatility remains constant and underscores the need to rely on a robust and prudent methodology to estimate the benchmark price.

“The global economic slowdown can also have far-reaching implica-

tions for the demand for our export commodities, given that the Euro zone and the USA account for over 50 per cent of the nation’s crude oil exports.

“These global developments are also being transmitted to our economy through a dampening effect on foreign capital inflows and remittances by Diaspora Nigerians.

“These are uncertain times in the world economy and my Administration is taking necessary steps to mitigate possible adverse effects of the global economic slowdown on Nigeria .

“I assure you that we are going to build up the necessary savings to protect the economy against a possible global recession or a slow recovery.”

Jonathan noted that despite the uncertainty in the global economy the country’s economy has done relatively well.

He said: “Over the past nine

months, through a number of initiatives, we have created new jobs directly and supported many young entrepreneurs running SMEs to create jobs.

“Nigeria is looking to become more self-reliant again in food security, and we are increasing local content in our manufacturing processes and the oil and gas sector.

“As at the end of the second quarter, the economy recorded an impressive growth of 6.28 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent forecast for sub-Saharan Africa.

“It is gratifying to note that the nonoil sector remains the main driver of growth.

“There are also improvements in other macroeconomic indicators. Inflation has dropped from 12.9 per cent in June 2012 to 11.7 per cent in August 2012, and our goal is to reduce it further.

“Our foreign reserves now stand at US$41.6 billion – the highest it has been in over two years.

“We intend to continue with our programme of fiscal discipline and pru-

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

7

NEWS BUDGET 2013

President, National Assembly still on collision course?

T

emadu

realised.

Mark said a nation’s budget, covers the administration’s economic and social vision and the practical means of attaining it.

The presentation of the budget, he said, carried profound social and economic implications for the nation.

Mark said effort should be made to make the country’s economy conform to global best practices.

He said: “Experience has shown that the most virile economies are private sector driven.

“We advise that we continue to follow this time tested economic philosophy. It is important to ensure that the 2013 Budget appropriately regulates the compass of the national economy and confronts our various economic, political and social challenges.

“Our budgets tend to incorporate every conceivable project, including even those that Local Governments are better positioned to execute. I advise that we depart from this practice and target projects that are realistically attainable with defined mechanisms for implementation and easy monitoring.”

Mark assured Jonathan of the constructive collaboration of the National Assembly, within the context of the principle of separation of powers, “as your administration continues to steer the ship of State towards the shores of national transformation.”

HERE is no sign that the differences between the National Assembly and the Presidency have narrowed despite yesterday’s presentation of the 2013 Budget Estimates by President Goodluck Jonathan. The undercurrents were clear in Senate President David Mark’s opening speech and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s Vote of Thanks.

Mark emphasised that contrary to previous contention by the Presidency that the figures cannot be tinkered with by the legislature, the Assembly would exercise its power in scrutinising the figures and only appropriate that which it considers to be in the country’s best interest.

Tambuwal, too, insisted that, as “I speak, interim field oversight reports from House Committees on the 2012 budget implementation are clearly unimpressive both in terms of releases as well as utilisation and this is a great challenge to all of us.

It is important to state at this point the clear provisions of Section 8 of the Appropriation Act to the effect that approved budgeted funds shall be released to MDAs as at when due.

This is sadly observed more in breach.”

The year had started with disagreement over the executive’s management of oil subsidy fund. As the Labour movement took exception to the unilateral withdrawal of oil subsidy by the President, the House of

By Bolade Omonijo, Group Political Editor

Representatives convened a special sitting on a Sunday where it supported Labour’s position, calling for a suspension of the policy. The Presidency felt affronted.

Another source of disagreement has been the non-execution of the constituency projects captured in the budget.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, once alluded to this in responding to charges by the lawmakers. She said the projects had not been ignored, but were undergoing the due process of release. The legislators took exception to the executive’s refusal to ensure due release of funds for the projects that would have endeared them to their constituencies.

In August, confronted with an earlier resolution of the House threatening to remove the President if he failed to ensure 100 per cent implementation of the budget, Dr. OkonjoIweala said it was wrong to hold that the budget had only been implemented to the tune of 34 per cent. She put the figure at 56 per cent.

However, a week after, while appearing before the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriation, Finance, Public Account, Public Procurement and Poverty Alleviation, the Finance Minister revised the percentage to 41

per cent.

Just before the House went on recess in July, a motion by Albert SamTsokwa and 20 other members sought to reprimand the executive for poor handling of the economy.

In his contribution, Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said: “President Goodluck Jonathan promised Nigerians a budget of transformation, but what we have is a budget of abracadabra.” He then added the more controversial clause, “if by the time we resume on September 18, budget has not been implemented 100 per cent, we shall begin impeachment process on Mr. President.”

It did not stop there. While some Nigerians argued that it was just Gbajabiamila’s opinion as there was no such resolution by the House, no sooner did the lawmakers resume than they made it clear that they would not be available to receive the President on October 4 for the budget implementation. The House resolved that members should go on oversight and physical inspection of projects, a hint that it was still angry with the executive.

The Senate was not left out. At a plenary session, outcry over economic performance and the security situation led respected Senator Uche Chukwumerije to threaten to lead the compilation of signatures that would pave the way to serving the

President with a notice of impeachment if there was no noticeable improvement in the handling of public affairs.

In obvious response to the growing disaffection with the legislature, the president last month came up with a Performance Contract Bond that would hold the ministers to their programmes of action. An innovation of the National Planning Ministry, the bond is expected to be reviewed every six months ostensibly in a bid to ensure that the muchorchestrated Transformation Agenda works.

The President’s presentation of the 2013 Budget three months before the year ends is an improvement on previous years. Last year, the budget could not be signed into law before April 20, a situation that provided an excuse for the Finance Minister over the failure of implementation of the Capital Budget.

The Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, told reporters after a recent Federal Executive Council meeting that “the controversy is distracting the implementation of the budget”. Would things change in 2013? Would the National Assembly pass the budget before January 1 to allow for full implementation of the proposed fiscal plans?

If the row enthrones sanity in the management of the economy, the people will rejoice.

A presentation with drama, laughter

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan walked into the green chamber at 10.18am accompanied by Vice- President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur,among others. He was dressed in his trademark Niger Delta attire with ‘resource control’ hat and black shoes.

Cabinet members and PDP chiefs arrived before the President.

Jonathan was ushered in by the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alh. Salisu Maikasuwa. He led him to shake hands with Senate President David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

Mark, who took charge after the National Anthem, addressed Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as Eze Ndigbo, to douse any tension with Representatives who might have issues with him giving precedence to his deputy over Tambuwal.

The comment drew laughter and some murmurs from the floor.

When Mark said the National Assembly possesses the right to make input into budget proposals, the floor erupted in thunderous applause.

Cabinet members and PDP chieftains feigned ignorance of the import of the statement.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The lawmakers showed no sign of being impressed with the budget presentation as they refused to applaud the initiatives introduced in the proposal. Members of the cabinet did not disappoint their principal as every milestone mentioned in the address was applauded.

Female legislators gave the President a standing ovation when he mentioned programmes for women.

When Tambuwal rose to give the vote of thanks, he was given a standing ovation even before he uttered the first word. The ‘brief’ vote of thanks was applauded at every juncture and when it was over, the ovation was astounding.

Before the President took his leave, he shook hands with Mark and Tambuwal. He was seen shaking Tambuwal’s hands more vigorously as he exchanged banters with the two leaders. He personally collected the addresses of the Senate President and the Speaker before handing them over to his aides.

The President took his time to greet the lawmakers.

b for capital projects for 2012 dent monetary policy in order to continue to improve our country’s macroeconomic environment.

“Furthermore, in addition to being upgraded last year by Fitch and S&P rating agencies, Nigeria has now been included in the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index, signifying increasing investor confidence in our economy.

“In addition, the World Economic Forum has upgraded our ranking from 127 to 115 in the global competitiveness index.

“Here in Nigeria , we do not join the debate on fiscal consolidation versus growth because we believe in the need to do both; hence, we are continuing our focus of fiscal consolidation with inclusive growth.

“The fiscal consolidation policy has helped to strengthen our finances with a programmed budget deficit of about 2.85 per cent of GDP in 2012, now projected to drop to 2.17 per cent in 2013.

“Moreover, the share of capital expenditure in the total budget is increasing

as we gradually reduce recurrent expenditures and also develop non-oil revenue sources.”

Jonathan said the 2012 Budget focused on achieving fiscal consolidation with inclusive growth using the budget balance as a fiscal anchor.

He said: “In that respect, while investing in key priorities, the budget also ensured that the deficit followed a downward trend over the medium term.

“This is being done through a more aggressive revenue collection drive and prudent management of available resources.”

On the cost of governance, he said government is determined to reduce it.

He said: “We are reviewing the recommendations aimed at rationalising agencies of the Federal Government with overlapping functions.

“This has been taken into account in the preparation of the 2013 Budget, and we expect some modest cost

savings from this exercise in the course of the 2013 fiscal year.

“However, more significant progress will be made in 2014, as we work with the Legislature to harmonise those agencies that have enabling laws, but which also have duplicative mandates.”

He recalled assuring Nigerians that the proceeds of the partial withdrawal of petroleum subsidies would be applied to implementing the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P).

The implementation of this programme, he said, is continuing over the medium-term.

He said: “In the 2012 fiscal year, we had voted N180 billion for the implementation of social safety net programmes, road and rail infrastructure projects.

“So far, N36.5 billion of this amount has been utilised to support maternal and child health programmes as well as mass transit,

roads and rail projects and job creation through the Community Services and Public Works programme.

“The SURE-P Board under the able chairmanship of Dr. Christopher Kolade is presently working hard to ensure the successful oversight of the implementation of this programme.”

The Federal Government, he said, has entered into partnership agreements with states for the provision of 6,000 housing units, adding that another 600 housing units had been completed under the direct construction scheme of the Federal Housing Authority in these states.

He said the petroleum sector has continued to play a crucial role in the country’s economy.

“In this regard, we are taking steps to modernise the sector. A robust Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been delivered as promised to the National Assembly for consideration.

“When passed into law, the Bill

will provide the new legal framework that will govern Nigeria ’s oil and gas industry,” he said.

On fuel subsidy, he said: “We are tightening up the payment regime, to weed out corruption while working hard to recover monies fraudulently obtained from the subsidy regime.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting those found wanting and the efforts to crack down on corruption in this sector will continue.

He said government’s drive to build up the nation’s oil reserves was yielding results with discovery of crude oil in some inland sedimentary basins.

The President said: “These include the Chad Basin , Benue Trough, Yola Basin and Anambra Basin amongst others. We are determined to further develop on these findings and expand the scope of such explorations.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

8

NEWS Court dismisses Daniel’s suit

No contact with abductors of Osun Speaker’s wife

A

N Abuja High Court yesterday dismissed a suit filed by former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

Daniel had urged the court to declare that his arrest and detention by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from October 6 to 12, 2011, at the Asokoro Headquarters of the commission was unconstitutional and a violation of his right to freedom of movement.

He said he was “unlawfully” detained for seven days without being charged for any offence and demanded N200 million as damages for what he called “psychological torture, harassment and threat”.

Daniel demanded that the EFCC apologises to him in Punch and ThisDay. He also sought an order restraining the EFCC from further arresting, detaining or threatening to arrest him.

Justice Folasade Ojo held that the EFCC acted within the limits of its statutory powers, when it arrested and detained Daniel.

She said Section 6 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, gives the commission power to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes.

Justice Ojo said Daniel’s arrest and detention on suspicion that he siphoned about N7 billion from the Ogun State Treasury during his eight-year tenure was lawful.

She said under the laws setting up the EFCC, anybody could be invited, arrested and detained for a certain period of time.

Justice Ojo said the evidence the EFCC brought to court showed that the commission granted Daniel administrative bail on October 7, 2011, after taking his statement.

She said the bail was granted on the condition that Daniel presents two sureties, who must be serving directors and own landed property. The second condition, she said, was that Daniel deposits his international passport with the EFCC. Justice Ojo said: “The evidence before me, as provided by the EFCC, shows that he was granted administrative bail with some conditions to be met. I find the conditions upon which bail was granted liberal enough.

“So, how can he explain to the court what he declared in his affidavit that he was not able to meet the bail conditions because the terms on which he was granted bail were too harsh?

“I find this hard to believe. How can a former governor not be able to produce two serving directors in a ministry as sureties? Or is it the part that says deposit your international passport that is harsh for him to meet?

“I have carefully looked at this case. The plaintiff has failed to show that his stay in the EFCC custody for seven days amounts to a breach of his rights. I, therefore, hold that this application for compensation for violation of rights lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.”

HE abductors of Alhaja Muibat Salaam, wife of Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam, are yet to contact the family.

Alhaja Salaam was on Tuesday kidnapped by gunmen on her way home from her shop in Ejigbo, her husband’s hometown.

The Assembly condemned the kidnap, describing it as “barbaric, criminal and strange”.

In a statement by the speaker’s media aide, Mr. Goke Butika, the House said the abduction was designed to “adulterate the atmosphere of peace in the state.”

It described Alhaja Salaam as “a responsible mother and wife, who does not believe in living on her husband alone, but working hard to

T

•House, ACN decry kidnap From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

support her family”.

The Assembly said it was “unfortunate for some gunwielding men to waylay a helpless woman” and urged security operatives to get to the root of the matter.

It said: “Osun State is known for peace and tranquility. The crime rate is very low and kidnapping is strange. So, the abduction of the wife of the speaker, who keeps an open door policy, is worth investigating.”

The speaker said he would not comment until the issue is resolved.

The state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said Alhaja Salaam’s kidnap is an “ominous de-

‘The situation is getting worse and this calls for serious thought about the creation of state police to help the Federal Government cope with the rapidly deteriorating security situation’ velopment, which signals the gradual spread of criminality and anarchy across the country”.

In a statement by its Publicity Director Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, ACN said: “This is

a matter of serious concern because the Federal Government has lost total control of security in the country. The situation is getting worse and this calls for serious thought about the creation of state police to help the Federal Government cope with the rapidly deteriorating security situation.

“We urge the political class to take a second look at the issue of security. No doubt, the Federal Government is losing the war against criminals and if we allow total anarchy to set in, the country would be the worst for it and its corporate existence would be endangered.”

ACN urged the police to find the speaker’s wife and advised the kidnappers to release her unconditionally.

Varsity disowns suspected fraudster

T

HE Leads City University, Ibadan, yesterday disowned a 23year-old suspected Internet fraudster, Nurudeen Oyeniyi.

He was paraded with four of his friends last Thursday for Internet fraud by the police. They all claimed to be students of the university.

Oyeniyi claimed to be a 300-Level student of Mass Communication at the university.

But the university, in a statement by its Director, Corporate Affairs and Communication, Dr. Ayobami Owolabi, yesterday disowned the suspect.

Owolabi said: “According to the university’s records, the suspect is and was never our student. The university has also communicated this to the police. The suspect lied to the police and the command should have verified its infor-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

mation before rushing to the press.”

Oyeniyi, who drives a N6.2 million Range Rover, was arrested with his friends on October 1 at a hotel in Ibadan.

Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu said the suspects were arrested and taken to their houses for a search.

He said their laptops were seized and the police discovered some of the shady deals on their laptops. The deals, according to Mbu, involved between $500,000 and $10 million.

Oyeniyi said: “I have told them (police) that I do yahoo yahoo. My two most recent deals fetched me $27,000. The first was $17,000 and the second was $10,000. I got that from a woman in California.”

He said he received the money through Western Union Money Transfer.

‘Don’t disrupt the peace in Ogun’ HE Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, yesterday warned the feuding factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State against disrupting the peace in the state.

Mamman met with the factions behind closed door at the Ogun Police Command Headquarters in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, was at the meeting.

PDP Secretary Alhaji Semiu Sodipo led the Prince Buruji Kashamu faction to the meeting. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s faction was led by Mr. Dapo Adeyemi.

Speaking with reporters at the Police Officers’ Mess, Ibara

T

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

GRA, Abeokuta, after the meeting, the police chief urged the factions to resolve their differences amicably.

He said the factions have assured him of peace and warned that anyone who disrupts the peace would be dealt with.

Mamman said: “They are all Ogun indigenes and can solve their problems themselves.

Nobody will do it for them.

The only thing is that they should not allow their quagmire to affect other segments of the society.

“They have assured me that they are going to solve their problems by themselves. I am sure there would be no breakdown of law and order based on the assurances given to me by the factional leaders.”

•From left: Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; Executive Chairman, Grand Towers Group of Companies, Nze Chidi Duru and Secertary to the Ekiti State Government Ganiyu Owolabi during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy to the company in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital... yesterday.

‘Akala misappropriated N3.37b grant’

T

HE Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Busari Adebisi, yesterday said over N3.37 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) intervention fund, which was allocated to the state from 2008 to 2010, was misused by the administration of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Adebisi said when he took over in 2011 and till date, no financial record or money

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

was found in the board’s account.

He spoke in his office in Ibadan, the state capital, while hosting the Senate Committee on Education.

Adebisi said over 270 classroom projects awarded by the Alao-Akala administration were shoddily executed and the board had to demolish and rebuild them.

He said: “We have demol-

ished and rebuilt some of the blocks of classrooms to prevent them from collapsing and killing our children.”

Adebisi said several contracts awarded by the AlaoAkala administration have been revoked and reawarded, adding that some contractors have sued the board.

Appealing for more fund, the SUBEB boss said: “We depend on you as our representatives to press home the truth that there is need for

the Federal Government to invest more in education to enable us upgrade existing infrastructure and carry out articulated development.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Mr. Uche Chukwumerije said the committee and the board are partners in progress.

The committee inspected one of the classrooms built

by SUBEB at St. Johns Primary School, Atenda, and described it as a modern structure.

PDP is not economically literate, says Oyo ACN

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo and the Southwest is not economically literate.

ACN was reacting to the PDP’s criticism of the N50 billion Bond and the African Development Bank (ADB) loan being undertaken by the state government.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN said the criticisms showed that “those running the PDP lack knowledge of economics, especially the concept of borrowing from the capital market”.

It said: “All over the world, there is an understanding that governments can hardly be run without

borrowing. What you intend to do with the borrowed money is far more instructive than the fact of the borrowing.

“The PDP’s criticism smacks of mischief, because one of the Oyo State PDP chieftains, who signed the release attacking the ACNled government, purportedly schooled in London. He ought to have educated his

party that even the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) national debt, that is the total amount of money the British Government owes the private sector and other purchasers of UK gilts, is £2311.6 billion. “ Instead of constituting itself into a megaphone of antidevelopment, the PDP should concentrate on ensuring that the money is spent on the projects it is meant for.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

9

NEWS ‘Strengthen security in schools’

Arisekola’s son arraigned for alleged N1.11b fuel subsidy fraud

A

BDULAHI Alao, son of Ibadan businessman Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao , has been re-arraigned on a new charge of fuel subsidy fraud for N1,110,049,444.35 He was arraigned for the third time before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, with four others, including two oil companies.

Alao was arraigned with three others before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo on a nine-count charge for alleged subsidy fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in July.

He and his company, Axenergy Limited, were also arraigned before Justice

By Adebisi Onanuga

Habeeb Abiru of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a sevencount charge for alleged subsidy fraud in the same month.

The younger Alao was also arraigned on a six-count charge for alleged subsidy fraud with four othersAxenergy Limited, Opeyemi Ajuyah, his company, Majope Investment Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi.

Alao and Axenergy are the third and fourth defendfants in the new suit filed by the EFCC. The EFCCaccused them of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and

other Fraud Related Offences.

They were also alleged to have forged a document titled, “Shore Tank Certificate” dated January 22, last year, purporting the document to have been issued by an officer of Q & Q Control Services Nigeria Limited.

The commission said the offence contravened Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

All the accused pleaded not guilty .

Their counsels, Taiwo Taiwo, West Idahosa and D.A. Awosika, pleaded for bail on their behalf.

Justice Lateefa Okunnu adjourned the matter till October 19

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

•Chukwumerije,

T

HE Senate Committee on Education has called for the upgrading of security system in tertiary institutions to curb the increasing wave of violence and crime.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, spoke when

MACHINE 88 (JOBS)

the committee visited the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in Osun State.

Chukwumerije condemned violence in tertiary institutions, calling for more security votes in the universities.

A minute silence was observed for students killed in Mubi, Adamawa State and Aluu, Rivers State.

He said if the committee had envisaged the increase in crimes in the universities, it would have passed an extra ordinary budget for security.

Chukwumerije said: “The essence of our visitation is in accordance with Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution.

He said it is an avenue for stakeholders to move

the sector forward.

“We urge the university to improve its town and gown relationship.

The host community must be impacted on by the university community.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, appealed to the Federal Government to increase the budgets of federal universities.

He said inadequate funding of universities is affecting their performance.

Omole said most universities are underfunded and that government subvention is not enough to take care of universities expenditure.

Other members of the committee Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Prof.

Olusola Adeyeye, Senator Atiku Bagudu.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

10

NEWS N12b for poly labs From Austine Tsenzughul Bauchi

THE Federal Government has approved over N12 billion for the supply of equipment and rehabilitation of laboratories in 51 federal and state polytechnics.

The National Technical Board of Education (NTBE) yesterday said this is to revive research activities for national development.

The board’s Executive Secretary, Mashuud Kazaure, spoke at the 10th National Conference of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) lecture titled: “Towards Sustainable Environment in Developing Nations”, at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

He said most of the challenges facing developing nations in their quest to utilise their abundant resources can be surmounted if only science and technology are given priority.

IRS plane hits FAAN truck at Lagos Airport

T

HERE was tension among the 91 passengers on an IRS Airlines aircraft yesterday, as the aircraft wing tip hit a truck belonging to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on the runway.

This forced the pilot to taxi the aircraft to the parking bay of Terminal Two of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for passengers to disembark.

The airline’s Managing Director, Yemi Dada, said the incident could have been avoided if there were airport personnel on ground.

In a statement, he said: ” This morning, Flight LVB 3306, with 91 passengers, taxied out at 7:48am on a Lagos to Kano flight with a transit stop at Abuja.

“On the taxi way, the cap-

•Airline: they could have told us •Your pilot acted out of line, says FAAN

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

tain observed a FAAN truck in a ditch. There were no marshallers around it neither was there any marking to indicate that it encroached into the taxi way.

“There was no NOTAM issued to that effect as well.

“The captain continued and the wing tip hit a protrusion from the truck towards the rear of the truck.

“This made him request for a return to Ramp from the tower. He notified the tower about the incident and the danger posed by the truck.

“The passengers were

disembarked and re-accommodated on another aircraft, which departed Lagos at 10:15am.

“The incident has been reported to the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and we await its clearance to repair and return the aircraft for service.”

But FAAN in a statement by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Yakubu Dati, blamed the pilot for not doing what is right.

Dati said: “The pilot, Capt. D Kelly, was informed by an Arik pilot of an obstruction on the taxiway towards Runway 18L.

“Capt. Kelly felt he could manoeuvre the obstacle but this failed because the tip of the wing of the aircraft collided with a section of the gully emptier at about 7.45 a.m.

“Capt Kelly did not stop but taxied back to the boarding gate of MMA2 to discharge his passengers.

“Officials of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the NCAA were invited.

“FAAN engineers are on stand-by to evacuate the stuck sewage tanker as soon as preliminary investigations by both AIB and NCAA are concluded.”

545 women die annually FIVE hundred and forty five women die annually during childbirth in Nigeria, a report by the BBC Media Action has revealed.

The National Coordinator, Yusuf Gusau, spoke yesterday at a workshop for journalists and health care providers on the use of contraceptives and importance of child spacing.

He said the figure represented 10 per cent of global mortality rate with 545 mothers dying in every 100,000 live births while infant mortality had also risen to 110 in every 1,000 births in the country.

Gusau blamed the situation on inaccessibility and poor awareness of family planning products and methods as well as poor attitudes of the service providers.

He said his organisation, which established another arm known as Expanded Social Marketing Project in Nigeria (ESMPIN), was working towards creating more awareness in 15 states.

Fed Govt to import rice seeds From Olugbenga Adanikin and Helen Iyoko, Abuja

THE Federal Government is to import rice seeds from Bangladesh and India.

The decision became imperative, following the flood in some parts of the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, spoke during a visit to the management of Park ‘n’ Shop, yesterday in Abuja. The visit was to jointly promote production and sales of cassava bread in the country.

Adesina said the seed which is a product of the International Institute for Rice Research can survive 21 days after being submerged.

•Dr. (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesi

•From right: Akintola Williams, the honouree, Nkembilim Iheanachor of Lagos Business School and Chairman Board of Trustees, Akintola Williams Lecture Series Dr. Tony Kayode, at the PHOTO: RAHMAN Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos...yesterday SANUSI

Convene national dialogue, Ezekwesili urges Fed Govt

F

ORMER Minister of Education and Vice-President (African Region) of the World Bank, Dr Oby Ezekwesili yesterday urged the Federal Government to convene a national dialogue to solve the country’s social, political and economic problems.

She said there are crucial issues which must be addressed

By Wale Adepoju

for the country to move forward.

Ezekwesili, who was the Guest Lecturer at the Akintola Williams Distinguished Lecture Series in Lagos, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure he stops the niggling social, polical and economic crises

facing the country.

She said the proposed dialogue must be a sincere one which should not be left in the hands of politicians to manipulate as they usually do because “a lot has been swept under the carpet.”

Governance, she said, should be all-inclusive.

“The government has to bring in the voices of the citi-

zens in a honest and sincere way.

Mrs Ezekwesili said good corporate governance is not just about business but much more as a wealth creator.

She said Nigerians are alienated with no sense of belonging in their own country, adding that this has made them lose faith in it.

Court dismisses Akingbola’s application HE former Managing to recall witness Director of defunct In-

T

tercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, yesterday failed in his attempt to recall a defence witness to the witness box.

Justice Habeeb Abiru of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, dismissed the application filed by Akingbola, seeking the court’s permission to recall a witness, Mrs Ayoola Ayinde.

Akingbola is standing trial with his associate, Bayo Dada, for allegedly stealing N47.1 billion belonging to the de-

By Adebisi Onanuga

funct Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank Plc).

In his application dated October 9, which was filed by his counsel, Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), Akingbola sought to recall Mrs. Ayinde, the former head of foreign operations of Intercontinental Bank to tender 75 documents as exhibits.

Akingbola had wanted Mrs. Ayinde to tender the documents and to explain the £8.5

Relief committee to tour flood areas From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will begin a tour of floodravaged communities today after the inauguration of the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

He is also billed to visit the various relief camps created for victims across the country.

The President raised the committee as part of Federal Government’s intervention to bring succour and relief to flood victims.

In a statement, the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the inauguration would hold at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after which his boss is expected to begin the tour of affected states.

million and £1.3 million transactions she carried out on his instructions.

Fagbohungbe said this was to show that the money transferred to Fulgher was owned

by Rockson Engineering Ltd, which contradicted the charge before the court.

He said:” In the charge, the first defendant (Akingbola) is alleged to have stolen the bank’s money.

“We are now saying through these documents that the money belonged to Rockson and that the total amount in Rockson’s account was paid out based on the 75 instructions, including that of the first defendant”.

Ayinde had, on June 21, testified that Akingbola had instructed her to transfer the money to Fulgher Solicitors, a United Kingdom law firm and that it was a regular transaction.

But the EFCC counsel, odwin Obla(SAN), opposed the recall of the witness.

Obla argued that the request

•Akingbola

for the recall of the witness was a ploy to delay the trial.

In his ruling, Justice Abiru held that it was not necessary to recall Mrs Ayinde as she had tendered all the relevant documents in her possession as exhibits.

Abiru said:”There is nothing new the witness is coming to say. It is pointless for me to recall her.

“Of these 75 documents, only one is relevant to this charge and she has tendered it and it was admitted by the court as Exhibit D4.”

He adjourned the matter till October 23.

‘Capital Oil boss still being interrogated’

By Jude Isiguzo

C

APITAL Oil and Gas Managing Director, Dr Patrick Ifeayin Uba and five others arrested over an alleged N22.4billion fuel subsidy fraud are still being interrogated, the police said yesterday.

Uba, Joseph Orji, Executive Director (Operations), Afam Azubike, Executive Director (Special Duties) Chibuzor Ogbuokiri, General Manager (Operations), Godfrey Okorie, Depot Manager and Nsikan Usoro, Head, (Trading) were arrested on Tuesday by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Lagos.

SFU spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume said the police investigations were still on.

“Ubah and five others who were arrested yesterday by operatives of the Unit are still being interrogated, he said.

“The investigation is at the instance of the Aigboje AigImokuede led 15-member presidential panel constituted by the Ministry of Finance.

“The Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Tunde Ogunsakin, is a member of the Presidential Committee and SFU is anchoring the criminal investigation of the fuel subsidy payment.

“The arrest is thus sequel to the company’s indictment by the auditors of the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payment.

“Investigation revealed that a total subsidy amount of N43.291 billion was due to Capital Oil & Gas Industries Ltd, based on 538.74 million litres of fuel imported last year which comprises twenty-six (26) transactions.”

Protesters shut ministry From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

A

CTIVITIES at the Ministry of Transportation were disrupted yesterday as protesters from the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSP) stormed the ministry to demand their allegedly unpaid terminal benefits.

The protesters, under the aegis of Shipping Federation Unit of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, began the demonstration at 9:45am, preventing workers from entering into the building.

Visitors were also denied entry into the premises.

The union is demanding N50 million for each member as their terminal benefit but after a closed session they agreed to reach a consensus next Wednesday.

Speaking during the protest in Abuja, the Chairman, Sunday Ben, said the ministry has refused to take the matter seriously.

Ben said: “For so long, we have been asking for our terminal benefits from the ministry which it said it asked a committee to look into.

“The committee sat and even sent us to protest at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which we did and verification was done.”

He said 1,000 of the 2,133 exworkers of the shipping company were confirmed during the verification on February 4, but actions are yet to be taken.

Ben said five members have died prematuredly as a result of the delay.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 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

Losses from natural hazards hit $3.5tr, says World Bank

E

CONOMIC losses caused by natural haz ards have more than tripled over the last three decades, the World Bank Group disclosed yesterday.

The multilateral institution, said at a discussion forum, tagged, ‘The Sendai Dialogue,’ hosted by the Japanese government and the World Bank Group at the on-going 2012 World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings, that about $3.5 trillion has been lost to natural disaster.

The World Bank and the host government, together with global policymakers, at the forum, which featured

From Ayodele Aminu, Group Business Editor in Tokyo, Japan

government officials, multilateral institutions, and civil society with the goal of sharing knowledge that would advance the integration of risk management into development planning, called for greater efforts to integrate disaster risk management into national development planning and international development assistance.

A joint statement, issued by the stakeholders, urged national governments and development partners to accelerate efforts to pro-actively manage growing disaster risks, by incorporating

disaster risk management in all development policy and investment programmes.

The statement, said: “We need a culture of prevention.

No country can fully insulate itself from disaster risk, but every country can reduce its vulnerability. Better planning can help reduce damage and loss of life from disasters, and prevention can be far less costly than disaster relief and response.”

Japanese Finance Minister, Koriki Jojima, said: “I hope that lessons derived from Japan’s long-established disaster management culture, as well as the Great East-Japan Earthquake and its reconstruction process,

will be globally shared. I expect the Sendai Dialogue, to help form a consensus on the need to mainstream disaster risk management in all aspects of development processes.”

The dialogue was informed by the Sendai Report: “Managing Disaster Risks for a resilent future,” which is an official Development Committee paper for the 2012 Annual Meetings, incorporating 32 knowledge notes produced by the World Bank in cooperation with the Government of Japan.

Dialogue participants, who included World Bank Group President, Jim Yong

T

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Appeal Court reserves judgment in sacked CBN staff’s suit

T

HE Court of Appeal, Lagos has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by 1,132 former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) workers who were retrenched in 1996 and 1998.

The retrenchment was in compliance with the orders of late General Sani Abacha’s military government in a

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

By Joseph Jibueze

Staff Rationalisation Exercise.

The appellants are asking the court to reinstate them and declare that their appeal is not statute-barred.

The presiding Justice, Ibrahim Saulawa said the judgment date would be communicated parties after they adopted their briefs.

Counsel for the appellants, Mr. Fred Agbaje, represented by Mr. Sesan Dina, said based on the circumstances and the evidence before the court, the matter could not be said to be statute-barred.

He further stated that in view of the fact that the Court of Appeal had in its earlier judgment of July 19, 2004 held that the matter was not statute barred and had directed the trial court to “hear the substantive matter on the merits” -devoid of the technicalities, it was therefore totally wrong for it to hold otherwise.

On the issue of statutory flavour, he drew the attention of the Justices to the fact that the Supreme Court had in a judgment delivered on May 14, 2007, in a matter between the CBN and one of its retrenched staff, Dr. Igwilo, held that the employment of all CBN staff

enjoyed statutory flavour.

The appellants’ counsel also urged the Court note the fact that the CBN had already reinstated two of the affected workers.

He said it would amount to double standards if the rest are left to suffer and therefore pleaded that the appeal should be upheld by reinstating his clients without loss of seniority and benefits.

CBN counsel, Chief E.A Oshe (SAN), urged the Court to dismiss the appeal, insisting that the matter was statute barred.

The suit was filed on May 19, 2003, by the aggrieved ex-workers through eleven of their named colleagues as plaintiffs.

The House of Representatives had organised a public hearing in Abuja on the matter on November 16, 2000.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) then under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and some human right groups failed in their bid to make the CBN to significantly shift grounds.

The CBN set up the Dr. A.Z. Musa led panel between 2001 and 2002 to review the entire staff rationalisation exercise of 1996 and 1998.

Bank said it financed nearly $18 billion in activities focusing on natural disasters, which has helped to protect the lives and livelihoods of people in 92 countries.

“More than two-thirds of the World Bank’s country partnership strategies have already started to incorporate disaster risk management, and the goal is to bring that figure to 100 per cent,” the World Bank added.

Sendai is the largest City in the Tohoku Region along the Pacific coast of Japan, which bore the brunt of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

Toyota recalls 7.43m vehicles OYOTA Motor Corpo ration is recalling 7.43 million vehicles in the US, Japan, Europe and elsewhere around the world for a faulty power-window switch — the latest, massive quality woes for Japan’s top automaker.

The recall announced yesterday affects more than a dozen models produced from 2005 through 2010. The power-window switch on the driver’s side didn’t have

• From letf: , Nwokorie Kingsley, Adigun Abolore, Uchenna Iyiagwu and Olorunsogo Olalekan Winners of Eight edition of STAR GAME TV SHOW held at LTV 8 Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

Kim, Japan’s Minister of Finance, Koriki Jojima, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde and EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response,Kristinalia Georgieva and President Haruhiko Kuroda of the Asian Development Bank, reaffirmed their commitment to providing technical and financial support for building resilience to disasters in vulnerable countries.

Disaster risk management is increasingly central to World Bank business.

Over the last 10 years, the

grease applied evenly during production, causing friction in the switch and sometimes smoke, according to Toyota.

No crashes or injuries have been reported related to the defect. But more than 200 problems were reported in US and a fewer number of problems were reported elsewhere, including 39 cases in Japan, Toyota spokesman Joichi Tachikawa said.

Recalled in North America are the Yaris, Corolla, Matrix,

Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia and Scion models XB and XD, spanning 2.47 million vehicles.

Some 460,000 vehicles are being recalled in Japan. The models are the Vitz, Belta, Ractis, Ist, Auris and Corolla Lumion.

Another 1.39 million vehicles such as Yaris, Corolla, Auris, Camry and Rav-4 are being recalled in Europe, China and the Middle East, among other places.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

12

NEWS

The Nigeria we’re building together, by Jonathan Text of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2013 Budget Speeach at the National Assembly...yesterday

P

ROTOCOL It is my pleasure and honour to present the 2013 Federal Budget Proposal before this esteemed Joint Session of the National Assembly.

I am particularly delighted to present this proposal to you earlier in the year, and soon after the commemoration of our national independence, to signal our commitment to evolving a new Nigeria. This proposal is the product of extensive consultations with key stakeholders and would further translate the government’s development plans into concrete actions.

When I presented the 2012 Budget, you will recall, I emphasised the fact that it would be “a stepping-stone to the transformation of our economy and country in our walk to economic freedom ...”. I am glad to report that we have made progress in this regard. Today, in the face of critical resource constraints, the defining moment of our work is in actualising our promises to Nigerians. We need to create a structured economy where everybody plays by the same rules, and contributes their fair bit. That is the Nigeria our heroes past craved for; that is the Nigeria we believe in; and that is the Nigeria we are building together.

Global Economic Developments As we build this nation and walk the path of development, we must be mindful of the realities of our circumstances and those of the changing global economy. This Budget Proposal was therefore designed against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty. By the end of the second quarter of this year, the global economy was recovering but at a very slow pace.

Growth in a number of major emerging market economies, has been lower than forecast. Overall, global growth is projected at 3.3% in 2012 and 3.6% in 2013.

The uncertainty surrounding the global economy, which could have adverse effects on commodity prices, highlights the downside risks for our economy. The oil market is well known for its volatility. We recall the 2008 experience at the height of the global economic downturn when oil prices fell almost overnight from $147 per barrel to $38 per barrel. This threat of oil price volatility remains constant and underscores the need to rely on a robust and prudent methodology to estimate the benchmark price.

The global economic slowdown can also have far-reaching implications for the demand for our export commodities, given that the Euro zone and the USA account for over 50% of the nation’s crude oil exports. These global developments are also being transmitted to our economy through a dampening effect on foreign capital inflows and remittances by Diaspora Nigerians. Fellow Nigerians, these are uncertain times in the world economy, and my Administration is taking necessary steps to mitigate possible adverse effects of the global economic slowdown on Nigeria. I assure you that we are going to build up the necessary savings to protect the economy against a possible global recession or a slow recovery.

Developments In The Domestic Environment In spite of the foregoing, our economy has done relatively well.

Over the past nine months, through a number of initiatives, we have created new jobs directly and supported many young entrepreneurs running SMEs to create jobs. Nigeria is looking to become more self-reliant again in food security, and we are increasing local content in our manufacturing processes and the oil and gas sector.

As at the end of the second quarter, the economy recorded an impressive growth of 6.28% compared to 5.4% forecast for sub-Saharan Africa. It is gratifying to note that the non-oil sector remains the main driver of growth.

There are also improvements in other macroeconomic indicators. Inflation has dropped from 12.9% in June 2012 to 11.7% in August 2012, and our goal is to reduce it further.

Our foreign reserves now stand at US$41.6 billion – the highest it has been

in over 2 years. We intend to continue with our programme of fiscal discipline and prudent monetary policy in order to continue toimprove our country’s macroeconomic environment.

Furthermore, in addition to being upgraded last year by Fitch and S&P rating agencies, Nigeria has now been included in the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index, signifying increasing investor confidence in our economy. In addition, the World Economic Forum has upgraded our ranking from 127 to 115 in the global competitiveness index.

Here in Nigeria, we do not join the debate on fiscal consolidation versus growth because we believe in the need to do both; hence, we are continuing our focus of fiscal consolidation with inclusive growth.

The fiscal consolidation policy has helped to strengthen our finances with a programmed budget deficit of about 2.85% of GDP in 2012, now projected to drop to 2.17% in 2013. Moreover, the share of capital expenditure in the total budget is increasing as we gradually reduce recurrent expenditures and also develop non-oil revenue sources.

Review of the 2012 Budget Implementation Fellow Compatriots, the 2012 Budget was focused on achieving Fiscal Consolidation with Inclusive Growth using the budget balance as a fiscal anchor. In that respect, while investing in key priorities, the budget also ensured that the deficit followed a downward trend over the medium term. This is being done through a more aggressive revenue collection drive and prudent management of available resources.

On the expenditure side, the implementation of the 2012 Budget is on track, having commenced effectively in April when it became law. We have so far released N711.6 billion to MDAs for the implementation of their capital budgets while further releases are to follow shortly for the fourth quarter. The continued implementation of the 2011 capital budget in the first quarter of 2012, clearly affected the implementation of the 2012 Budget.

I have taken a personal interest in the budget implementation since May by chairing weekly sessions with Ministers and Heads of parastatals on their progress in this regard. We are determined to use the instrument of the budget to improve the welfare of Nigerians. You would recall my assurance to Nigerians that subsequent budgets will be presented earlier to the National Assembly. It is in this spirit that I lay this Proposal before this Assembly today, to give sufficient time for deliberation on the Proposal and approval of the budget, and to enable us commence implementation from January 1st 2013.

Let me stress that Government remains focused on the tangible outcomes from the implementation of the Appropriation Acts, not just the amounts spent. In this respect, I have signed Performance Agreement Contracts with my Ministers with a view to ensuring delivery of projects and programmes in their respective budgets. The Ministers in turn, are signing similar agreements with their Permanent Secretaries, Heads of parastatals and Directors to cascade down the need for responsibility and accountability. Key government officials with responsibility for implementing different aspects of the budget will be appraised based on these performance agreements. My goal is to ensure optimal implementation of our annual budgets.

Government is also determined to

reduce the cost of governance. We are reviewing the recommendations aimed at rationalizing Agencies of the Federal Government with overlapping functions. This has been taken into account in the preparation of the 2013 Budget, and we expect some modest cost savings from this exercise in the course of the 2013 fiscal year. However, more significant progress will be made in 2014, as we work with the Legislature to harmonise those Agencies that have enabling laws, but which also have duplicative mandates.

Subsidy Reinvestments and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) You will recall that we had assured Nigerians that the proceeds of the partial withdrawal of petroleum subsidies will be applied to implementing the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P). The implementation of this programme is continuing over the medium-term.

In the 2012 fiscal year, we had voted N180 billion for the implementation of social safety net programmes, road and rail infrastructure projects.

So far, N36.5 billion of this amount has been utilized to support maternal and child health programmes as well as mass transit, roads and rail projects and job creation through the Community Services and Public Works programme. The SURE-P Board under the able chairmanship of Dr. Christopher Kolade is presently working hard to ensure the successful oversight of the implementation of this programme. We are grateful to them for their hard work and patriotism.

Key Achievements in the 2012 Fiscal Year In the 2012 Budget, Government outlined some projects and programmes that were to be implemented in key sectors of the economy in order to improve the livelihood of Nigerians. We have numerous activities in various sectors such as: Power, Health, Agriculture, Education, Housing, Transport, Aviation, etc. Let me highlight a few of these sectors.

Power The Power Sector Reform is on course. Our efforts have begun to pay off as we have improved power supply to various parts of the country.

Our gas-to-power and other initiatives are making this possible, but I acknowledge the fact that we still have a long way to go. As you may be aware, the ongoing privatisation of the generation and distribution companies has reached an advanced stage. In some cases, Preferred Bidders have already emerged. When completed, the programme will bring into the sector significant private investment, along with the requisite power output.

We have accomplished a number of goals in the Power sector reform programme in line with the Roadmap, including: a. Completion of new units at our thermal power stations, to increase generation; b. Rehabilitation of existing power infrastructure, which has yielded up to 1,000 mega watts of additional electricity; c. Fast-Tracking 3 NIPP projects, which will bring an additional 1,055 mega watts by the end of the year; and d. Facilitating a power and gas financing package, which includes Government Guarantees, proposed Infrastructure Bonds of about $1billion, and $150 million of external funding from the African Development Bank to support continued gas supply and the liberalization of the power sector.

Agriculture My Administration has instituted key policy reforms to establish staple

crop processing zones aimed at attracting the private sector into areas of high production, reducing post-harvest losses, and adding value to locally produced commodities. So far we have succeeded in attracting $7.8 billion investment commitments to the agricultural sector. These investments and the value chain approach being used to transform the sector have the capacity to create 3.5 million additional jobs in the medium term by 2015.

• You will recall that Government provided incentives to support cassava value chains, including zero duty on machinery and equipment to process high quality cassava flour. Cassava bread is increasingly commercially available with 20% cassava flour content. In addition, a total of one million metric tonnes of dried cassava chips, are being exported to China this year.

• Achieving self-sufficiency in rice production in 2015 remains our target. In response to our new fiscal measures, 13 new private sector rice mills with a capacity of about 240,000 metric tonnes have been established. These mills buy and process local paddy and create employment for Nigerians.

Housing Fellow Nigerians, the provision of affordable housing is one of the Administration’s strategic imperatives for guaranteeing our citizens’ productivity and well-being. We are creating an enabling environment for the private sector to produce much needed housing, whilst creating jobs in the process.

To facilitate this, I will be holding a presidential retreat on Housing in early November, to discuss policy and modalities for dealing with land titling issues, developing an affordable mortgage finance system and reducing the high cost of housing construction.

In the meantime, under various social housing programmes, close to 2,000 housing units have been completed, while over 24,000 housing units are at various stages of completion.

This is outside housing being constructed for the use of the Armed Forces and Paramilitary services. The Federal Government has entered into Partnership Agreements with several States for the provision of 6,000 housing units. Another 600 housing units have already been completed under the direct construction scheme of the Federal Housing Authority in these States.

Gradually, we are ensuring that more Nigerians enjoy the benefits of having their own homes.

Transport You are already familiar with the improvement in the functioning of our ports, the details of which I provided in my 52nd Independence Anniversary Speech. With regard to Rail transport, in our continuing effort to boost infrastructure development in the country, work is ongoing to rehabilitate the rail system across the country. These include the Lagos-Kano line as well as the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line. Our people have started enjoying rail service again.

Our railway modernisation programme is progressing with the Abuja-Kaduna line now at 46% completion, while work on the Lagos-Ibadan line is to commence soon. We also expect to complete the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri line in 2013. In the same vein, we are fast-tracking the implementation of the mass transit Abuja Light Rail system. When completed, it will improve transportation for all residents in the FCT, especially workers living in the satellite towns.

Inland Waterways: Our inland waterways programme is on track to boost commerce in the surrounding communities, and I had the pleasure

‘We need to create a structured economy where everybody plays by the same rules, and contributes their fair bit. That is the Nigeria our heroes past craved for; that is the Nigeria we believe in; and that is the Nigeria we are building together’

•Dr. Jonathan

of commissioning the Onitsha Inland Port on 30th August 2012.

Aviation We are working hard to improve the regulatory regime and safety of the Aviation sector and will continue to look for ways to support its development. This Administration identifies this sector as a key part of the Transformation Agenda. As such, we have embarked on a comprehensive programme to transform our airports to world-class standards and improve air travel safety standards across the country.

For instance, the remodelling of airport terminals and the upgrading of airport runways are presently at advanced stages of implementation across virtually all our airports. In addition, we have just concluded arrangements to commence the construction of five brand new terminals in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, and six perishable cargo terminals, early next year. In line with international best practice, these new terminals will be private sector-managed.

Roads: We know that Nigerians are disturbed about the state of our major highways. We are addressing this issue frontally. With the rains receding, the Ministry of Works will intensify the construction and rehabilitation of major roads in the country, for example, the dualization of the AbujaLokoja road, the Benin-Ore-Shagamu road, and the Kano-Maiduguri road.

Also, the Enugu-Port-Harcourt road rehabilitation has been awarded to four contractors in order to fast-track its completion. It is gratifying to note that resources from the Petroleum Subsidy Reinvestment Programme are being used to supplement the regular budget for these projects.

The Petroleum Sector The petroleum sector continues to play a crucial role in our economy, even as we seek diversification. In this regard, we are taking steps to modernise the sector. A robust Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been delivered as promised to the National Assembly for consideration. When passed into law, the Bill will provide the new legal framework that will govern Nigeria’s Oil and Gas industry. This Bill, which encompasses major reforms, will encourage additional investments in the sector, create accountability and transparency, and ensure that the management of our petroleum sector is commercially driven.

Our gas to power initiatives are moving firmly ahead, with the 12month gas supply emergency plan already yielding more than the targeted volumes of gas for power generation.

With respect to the Petroleum Subsidy Programme, Government is succeeding in substantially cleaning up the management of the petroleum subsidy regime. We are tightening up the payment regime, to weed out corruption while working hard to recover monies fraudulently obtained from the subsidy regime. The EFCC is prosecuting those found wanting and the efforts to crack down on corruption in this sector will continue.

On Frontier Exploration, the GovernContinued on page 62

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

13

I4

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

15

16

NATION SPORT

Big Boss

‘Why I Yobo in tears over Lone Star miss didn't invite …As Keshi confirms skipper’s injury …Enyeama steps up

S

UPER EAGLES’ skipper, Joseph Ikpo Tambarin Yobo, spent over one hour on phone with Head Coach of the team, Stephen Keshi to confirm his unavailability for this weekend’s crucial tie against the Lone Star of Liberia, the coach confirmed on Wednesday. Yobo’s knee is said to have swelled after he played 70 minutes for his Turkish side at the weekend Keshi revealed that it was a tearful Yobo, who revealed to him that the medical team at Turkish side, Fernabahce, have ruled him out

•Yobo

of the Nigerian tie with a torn cruciate ligament, and have put him on medical examination to determine whether he can travel to Nigeria to morally boost his mates for the crucial tie against Liberia.

“If the medical team in Turkey clears him, we should be expecting Yobo on Friday, for the Saturday game. Our hearts go out to him and his family and at this point we want to say his health is most important to us because we will still need him soon for the Nations Cup proper and the World Cup qualifiers. We know he loves to play games like this, that was why he was shedding tears but we have assured him that capable replacement will help secure the ticket to South Africa 2013 Nations Cup”, Keshi said.

Keshi praised the patriotic zeal of the players in camp, who have assured him that they will pick the ticket not only for Nigeria but for their injured skipper. “There is no panic over Yobo’s injury, we are just motivated to secure the ticket and reassure him that we will all be together at SA 2013.

Expectedly, Yobo’s deputy and first choice keeper, Vincent Enyeama, has stepped up as the team skipper in the absence of the influential centre back and has been playing the role quite well. He is now expected to lead Nigeria out against Liberia on Saturday in the final round of the Nations Cup qualifier.

NFF backs CAF over SA referee

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said that there is nothing wrong with the appointment of Daniel Bennet as the centre referee for the all-important match between the Lone Star of Liberia and the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday in Calabar.

The Lone Stars Mobilisation Committee Chairman, Edwin Snowell yesterday expressed grievance that Confederation of African Football (CAF) permitted Bennet to stay back in Nigeria for seven days to enable him officiate the Nations Cup qualifiers against Nigeria.

Bennet who was the centre referee at the African Champions League semi final match between Sunshine Stars and Al Ahly of Egypt last weekend in Ijebu Ode had since then stayed back in Nigeria but Liberia said CAF should have appointed another referee for the October 13 match instead of the South African.

According to Nigeria football house, Head of Competitions, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed who spoke live in an interview on radio this

By Paul Oluwakoya morning said Liberians are only looking for excuse in fear of a defeat.

"Liberia is not new to Nigeria, they are fond of antics and caprices, they cannot be dictating for CAF, if you would recall that in 2011 the George Weah-led Lone Stars team raised allegations against CAF and its leadership before their World Cup qualifiers against the Super Eagles in Port Harcourt.

"They are only creating unrealistic insinuation but I must tell you that Nigeria is hoping and preparing just like them for the AFCON ticket. If I need to go down track record, Nigeria has not won any match officiated by this South African referee, at most the country only pick a draw from the matches." he said He, however, urged Nigerians to pray and support the Super Eagles saying that there is high optimism that Nigeria will qualify for the 2013 South Africa Nations Cup and go ahead to redeem his glory in the continent .

Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp •Says it’s a win or nothing

C

HELSEA midfield ace, John Mikel Obi, finally arrived the Metropolitan camp of the Super Eagles on Wednesday afternoon, after his protracted battle to get a Ukrainian visa for his side’s UEFA Champions League game next week. The player has already said he was super fit for the encounter against Liberia.

The development had kept Mikel away from the Super Eagles camp since Monday, leading to speculations that the player might be in Nigeria and was avoiding the national team’s camp. That was finally put to rest when Mikel breezed into camp on Wednesday at lunch time. Head Coach Stephen Keshi said he was not sure that the Chelsea midfielder even got the Ukrainian visa and may have forced the protocol team at Chelsea to release his passport for the Nigeria versus Liberia game on Saturday.

“We must reduce the level of speculation on our top players as that could dampen their spirit and affect performance on the pitch.

Mikel is here now and ready to play on Saturday and if we found him suitable, he would be played because he has shown enough national commitment”, Keshi said.

The coach called on Nigerians to keep praying for the team, as the team is thinking of the Nigerian people and President Goodluck

49

NATIONSPORT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

Jonathan, who personally visited the team during its training session for the first leg encounter in Monrovia. “I will not be here talking to you if I think the job of qualifying Nigeria for the Nations Cup is too big for me but I need the support of all Nigerians including critics of the team and together we can take the national team to greater heights”, Keshi said during a media interaction in Calabar on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the former Lyn-Oslo of Norway player has said in an earlier interview has said that winning is the only thing that matter when the Eagle confront Liberia Saturday.

goes spiritual

Anichebe’

•Says Martins, Aiyegbeni others still have Eagles' future From Tunde Liadi in Calabar

•Prays for players’ health •21 players in camp •Tutors Emenike on prowess

E

AGLES' chief coach, Stephen Keshi has stated that Everton of England striker, Victor Anichebe still remains in his long term plans and did not invite him for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia because he just recovered from an injury and has not played too many matches for his premier league side.

Keshi revealed that Anichebe hasn't played more than two matches for Everton about the time he made up his mind on the list of players for the crunch tie but added that inviting him for another international game barely a year after getting an injury from the last one he had might have come too soon for him and his career.

The Edo-born former international, however, assured Anichebe and other Eagles players like Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Peter Utaka, Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche and the like that they would get their chances at the ideal time since all cannot play for the national team at the same time.

"It is true that I said that invitation of the players would be by merit and current form alone and that it won't be by favouritism or sentiment.

"Anichebe just played his second game for Everton when I made the list and this guy has been out for about a year. He had injury against Madagascar and he has been on and off playing 15 or 20 minutes and the first game he started was about 2 weeks ago. Honestly speaking, I would love to have him but at the same time I need to think about his career because he is just coming in.

"He needs to slow down and get into shape before we bring him back. He is a very good player. We need him. We also need Obafemi Martins, Uche Kalu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and other good players that we have around. But we cannot bring everybody at the same time there must be a number of player that I can work with and the ones that are ready to give us what we want at the same time."

By Innocent Amomoh

S

UPER EAGLES’ coach, Stephen Keshi has gone spiritual in the verge to clinch the ticket to the 2013 Nations Cup as Nigeria host Liberia on Saturday in Calabar.

The former Mali tactician said most important to him now is the health of his players ahead of the cracker against the country of former world footballer of the year, George Weah.

“I pray the players are in good health, if they are okay health wise, it will be just fine.

The players are looking good and if they continue like this then we can take it from there,” he said.

With 21 players’ already in camp with th late arrival of Chelsea midfield player Mikel Obi there are no injury worries so far.

Reports from the camp reveals that Keshi took time out to tutor Spartak Moscow striker, Emmanuel Emenike on his prowess, especially how he can use his weight against the opposing defense come Saturday, while commending him for the brace against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League last week.

Liberia according to findings have been playing pranks with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), but recently lost 3-4 in a friendly against Niger in Miami.

The match was worth its intent especially with a few days to the show down in Calabar, Nigeria where the last lap of game to the South Africa 2013 Nations cup finals is to unfold.

The Lone star played with 4 players on the bench (15 players in total). Leading goalie Nathaniel Sherman did not dress as he is fight fitness.

•Keshi

NIGERIA VS LIBERIA

No excuses, NFF warns Keshi

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told Eagles ‘coach Stephen Keshi’ they expect his team to beat Liberia on Saturday and qualify for the 2013 AFCON. NFF director of technical Emmanuel Ikpeme made the declaration in a chat with MTNFootball.com Ikpeme, who led the advance party of the NFF to Calabar, said, "The federation have given the coach

all he needs to give Nigerians result this weekend so there would be no room for excuses.

"No national team coach should wait for last minute calculations to qualify for any tournament.

Every national team coach should win all their matches and that is what we expect from the Eagles.

“They should win this weekend in Calabar and save us the headache of any mathematics as regards

qualification.” Last October, the Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup after they were held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Guinea in Abuja.

Coach Samson Siasia would subsequently lose his job after he urged his players to go for a third goal when they were leading 2-1 only for them to leave their defence wide open for Guinea to launch a quick counter attack and score a crucial equaliser in

T

•Mikel

But Keshi in a media parley shortly before Mikel's arrival explained that Ukraine visa hitches actually delayed the Nigerian trip and was not even sure he got the visa before withdrawing his international passport from the Eastern

Emenike calls for prayers against Liberia

S

UPER EAGLES striker Emmanuel Emenike has turned his attention Skywords, in supplication to God ahead of Super Eagles’ 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in Calabar on Saturday.

Emenike scored a brace against Celtic in UEFA Champions League fixtures last week remains optimistic over the cracker, but admitted that with the prayers of all and sundry the team will excel.

"We need prayers because prayer answers all problems. The match against Liberia is a problem that we need prayers to tackle.

"I am positive that we will qualify but faith without prayer is vanity, so I am praying for myself and for the whole team to have a good day.

"I don't care who scores, for me I am not desperate for self glory in this kind of match but if God want it to be my day, it will be a pleasure.

"I always wanted to score for my country and I don't need to be under pressure to do that. It’s just a matter of being there at the right time to score the goals and maybe I have not been there yet but I will try more."

European nation's embassy to hour his fatherland.

"Mikel is not coming late. I am sure most of you guys must have read it in the newspapers and other media about his visa problem with the Ukrainian

embassy.

"He is playing in a Champions League match right away after the international game with Nigeria and he needs to get a visa. I am not even sure he got that visa but he had to retrieve his passport back to make this journey (to Nigeria) "We wanted him to be here today and he is already on ground. It is good to have him around.

By Innocent Amomoh "Nigerians can't wait for the ticket; it will be disastrous losing this ticket again God forbid. Nigerians are tired of promises on the pages of newspapers, they want results, they love the team and that is why we must give it all this time around.

"Going to the Nations Cup is our image, and I am looking forward to it, that is why I keep praying against ill-luck." He concluded.

•Emenike

Obudu LOC retains $50,000 top prize for winners

T

HE Local Organising Committee for the 8th Obudu international mountain race and the 4th African Nations Mountain Running Championships has revealed an unchanged prize money outlay for this year's edition.

Two years ago, the total prize money for the 6th edition of the race was increased by over $35,000 by the organisers following the introduction of the women's version of the African Nations Mountain Running Championship. The total prize money which went up from $245,500 to $278,000 has been retained for this year's edition.

The prize money for the first to the 10th position for this year's race remains the same with the winners in each gender category going home with $50,000 each while $20,000 and $9,000 respectively will go to the second and third placed finishers.

The prizes for 4th -10th placed finishers in each category also remain at $4,500, $4,000, $3,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively. William Archibong, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee explains the reason for the retention of the prize money structure for the 8th edition which holds at the Obudu

Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River state on Saturday November 17,2012.

"His Excellency, the executive governor of Cross River state wants the race to maintain its status as the highest paying mountain race in the world. He is happy with the way the competition has been organised since its maiden edition in 2005 and wants us to make this year's event even bigger and better in terms of the technical organisation of the race as well as the quality of athletes who will participate', he said. The African Championship draws prize money of $15,000 for first team position, $10,000 for second and $7,500 for third team position for both men and women.

The prize monies for best Nigerian finishers (men/women) and Media Race (men/women) are also unchanged with the top three finishers going home with $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.

Also unchanged are the prize monies for the Children’s race where a total of N590,000 will be shared among the top 10 finishers with the top three in the boys and girls categories carting home N100,000, N80,000 and N50,000 respectively.

Copa Lagos can drive Beach Soccer in Africa — Olawale

C

APTAIN of Nigeria’s Beach Soccer team Isiaka Olawale believes that the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer tournament is the perfect vehicle for driving the growth of Beach Soccer not just in Nigeria, but in Africa. Olawale captained the Sand Eagles to Copa Lagos glory in last year’s edition, the Sand Eagles overcame former World Champions Brazil in a final day show down, and emerged 9-4 victors with Olawale managing to get on the score

stoppage time to eliminate Nigeria from the competition. A 2-1 win over Guinea on that fateful day would have qualified Nigeria to the last AFCON. Keshi’s contract is tied to a performance clause which stipulated he qualified Nigeria to the Nations Cup in South Africa and reach at least the last four of the biennial tournament.

Coach defends Mikel’s late arrival

HE handler of the Super Eagles, From Tunde Liadi in Calabar Stephen Keshi has explained the reason why Chelsea of England's midfielder, Mikel Obi reported late to the Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar around 12:13pm clad in a Tee Shirt and a camp.

Mikel breezed into the Eagles' camp at blue jeans with a pair of canvass to match.

NATION SPORT

•Olawale with cup

sheet.

Commenting on how Copa Lagos has aided the Sand Eagles, Captain, Olawale revealed, “It really helped the team a lot, especially in getting exposure for Beach Soccer. Nobody believed Nigeria could host and win the tournament, this has given us great confidence”. Olawale went on to express how Copa Lagos has helped Beach Soccer in Nigeria, stating that, “A lot of people now have an interest in Beach Soccer, especially after we defeated Brazil in the final”.

Kinetic Sports, organisers of Copa Lagos have gone on record as saying that they plan to expand the tournament, it is reported that these ambitious plans were integral in being able to attract sponsors such as FCMB. For Olawale and the players these ambitions bode well for them, he explained, “I believe if we can start a league in Nigeria it will help the country a lot, it will help to discover new talent and it will also help us to get sponsorship to improve our training” The 3 day tournament kicks off on the 14th December and ends on the 16th. So far 3 teams have been confirmed, Nigeria, Argentina and Lebanon. Excitement continues to surround the confirmation of the final team this announcement is expected to be made in the near future.

Olawale is clear on whom he would like the final team to be, “For me I want Italy to be the last team to compete as they are also a good side”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

17

INDUSTRY

Industrialists raise alarm over decline in bank loans

I

NDUSTRIALISTS have picked holes in the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), condemning what they call the decline in aggregate credit to the economy, especially the private sector.

Aggregate credit is the amount of loan available or given to industries.

In a report made available to The Nation, the CBN said the aggregate net credit by banks to the domestic economy fell by 0.1 per cent and 2.7 per cent in the first and second quarters of the year.

In a statement, Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerceand Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, attributed the decline to CBN’s sustained monetary tightening, significant rise in government’s domestic borrow-

•CBN monetary policy flayed Stories by Toba Agboola

ing and attractive yield of government’s bonds and treasury bills.

It said the tight monetary policy is keeping funds out of the reach of the private sector, adding that with the planned issuance of Treasury Bills to absorb all maturing instruments in the fourth quarter, liquidity is expected to remain tighter with the private sector at the receiving end.

“Over the last nine months, we have seen a steady decline in discretionary spending by households and firms, weaker uptake from suppliers and distributors and softer operating performance among consumer

goods companies.

“While we hope that our concerns do not degenerate before the next MPC meeting scheduled to hold in

November, it is important for the monetary authority to commence an adjustment of monetary policy course, towards boosting private sector credit, domestic demand, employment and growth,” Muda said.

Trend in MPR and its corridor over the last one year MPC No Meeting Date MPR (%) SLR (%) 85 17-18 Sept. 2012 12.00 14.00 84 23-24 July 2012 12.00 14.00 83 20-21 May, 2012 12.00 14.00 82 19-20 Mar, 2012 12.00 14.00 81 30-21 Jan. 2012 12.00 14.00 80 21-22 Nov. 2011 12.00 14.00 Ex-Ord-79 10 Oct. 2011 12.00 14.00 78 19-20 Sept. 2011 9.25 11.25 Source: CBN MPC Communiqués, various issues

SDR (%) 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 7.25

He said contrary to industrialists’ yearnings for a relaxed monetary regime, the MPC kept all the key monetary policy variables unchanged at its last meeting in September.

He said the committee affirmed that its decision at its meeting in July, had the desired effects on inflation, stability of short-term interest rates, build-up of the external reserves and the stability of the exchange rate.

“MPC held MPR unchanged at 12 per cent, sustained the symmetric corridor at 200 basis points, retain Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 12 per cent and minimum liquidity ratio is retained at 30 per cent. Since July 2010, the MPC has adjusted the MPR by 100 per cent, from six per cent to 12 per cent currently,” Muda said.

EU invests N6tr in Nigeria •To partner Fed Govt on power project

T

HE Trade Investment of European Union (EU) in Nigeriia is worth about N6 trillion (30billion euro), its Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. David MacRae, has said.

The Union is also set to partner with the Federal Government on a project tagged, “Energy for all initiative,” as part of efforts to tackle power supply challenge in Nigeria.

Briefing reporters in Lagos, MacRae, said the EU Energy programme, which is a new initiative, is designed for the federal and some state governments to meet the energy needs of the country, adding that the project would be unveiled soon.

He said improved power supply would enhance business activities for small and medium-scale enterprises and create additional opportunities for employment.

MacRae said: “EU is committed in the negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Nigeria.

“Nigeria constitutes around half of the EU exports to the region and nearly 70 per cent of the imports. Of course, oil takes the biggest share, but the EU also attracts more than 50 per cent of the Nigerian non-oil exports, and is a key partner, through trade and investments in the industrialisation of the country.

Stocks of EU investments in Nigeria alone amounted to no less than 30billion euro in 2010. “ We see EPA as a development tool to reinforce regional integration process and foster growth and development. The EU believes that the EPA represents an opportunity to Nigeria in terms of attracting investment to the no oil sectors, improved access to the EU market and economic governance”.

He said Nigeria has remained EU’s key partner in Africa.

“For these and associated reasons, EU’s commitment to Nigeria has been on the ascendancy in recent years. Our

unwavering commitment to make this country better, a safer place, firmly anchored on the ideals of democracy and good governance has remained on course,” he said.

He said the Union and the National Planning Commission have signed the Financing Agreements for two European Union- funded projects valued at N12billion( 62 million euro) to support the Federal Government’s efforts in the fight against drugs and related organised crime and the justice sector reform in the country.

In a related development, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said about 18 countries have declared their intentions to invest in the country.

Aganga spoke in Lagos at the second Nigeria International Investment Forum organised by his ministry.

He said: “Out of the 20 countries I have visited in the last one year, about 18 countries have shown intentions to invest in Nigeria’s economy. “ Japan and 17 other countries were keenly interested in investing in different sectors of Nigeria economy.

In a related event, the bilateral trade between Nigeria and Brazil recorded an overall balance of $9.6 billion (N1.5 trillion), in 2011.

Speaking at the Nigerian Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (NBCCI) Thirrd Anniversary cocktail in Lagos, its President, Emmanuel Ibru, said the bilateral trade has been in favour of Nigeria, mainly because of the value of its crude oil export.

He said: “The total figure of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Brazil for 2011, stood at $9.6 billion.

Nigeria’s import was $1.2 billion, while her export was $8.4 billion.”

To correct the unfavourable trade balance against Brazil, he emphasised the need for increased trade between both countries to achieve a reasonable balance of trade.

APCON to withdraw certificates of unregistered members

A

DVERTISING Practitioners Council of Nigeria(APCON) has threatened to withdraw the certificates of unregistered practitioners to stem quackery.

Speaking at the inauguration of new members in Lagos, APCON Chairman Mr Lolu Akinwunmi said most advertising agencies had been operating illegally, adding that it is a criminal offence to practice without registration by APCON. He said there was need to bring all stakeholders together so that the industry could come up with a workable and strategic road map.

The body, he said, would continue to review the practice and regulation of outdoor

By Damilola Ogunfuye

advertising in order to identify grey areas.

On integrity, Akinwunmi said APCON wants to be seen as fair.

“APCON encourages quality and versatile of information because with every approval given by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), APCON must be able to substantiate it,” he said.

He urges the new members to ensure that all adverts abide by the code of advertising practice.

New members committee include ADPC Chairman Mr Funmi Onabolu, APIP Chairman, Mr Gabriel Abah, Practitioners Devepment and Training Chairman, Mr jimi Awosika.

From left: Chairman, House Committee on Industries, Mohammed Onawo; a member, Agafar Akintayo; Project Manager, Mosaf Project Management, Mr Afam Uffot and Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joseph Odumodu during the Committee’s visit to SON’s new site in Lagos.

Delta told to partner OPS on industrialisation

D

ELTA State Government has been asked to improve the business environment, tackle unemployment and enhance industrialisation.

To realise this, the government is expected to work with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and other professionals to set up microfinance banks to close the financing gaps that hinder enterprise development.

This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a symposium organised by Delta North Think Tank, in Asaba, the state capital.

The communiqué, signed by the Chairman/Vice-Chairperson, Executive Committee, Delta North Think Tank (DeNoTT), Prof Eric Eboh and Prof Josephine Alumanah, said there was need to improve entrepreneurship training and technical assistance to enterprises and disseminate simple and affordable enterprise models, involving youth groups as training avenues for their members.

The group urged the government to consider setting up microfinance banks to close the financing gaps that hinder

enterprise development. The group called for stock taking of oil and gas resources and potentials in Delta North to guide and facilitate exploitation.

DeNoTT noted that relevant agencies of government at the federal and state levels should be engaged to undertake comprehensive inventory and update of the assessments of the oil and gas resources in the constituent communities and local communities should co-operate assist to make these inventories successful.

It said: “Delta North communities have relative comparative advantages in many agricultural commodities/enterprises including arable crops (cassava, yam), tree crops (rubber, oil palm), and vegetable crops (tomato, pineapple), livestock (goat), aquaculture and fish farming, among others. But, these commodities are poorly developed and currently underperforming in terms of productivity, profitability and competitiveness.”

“The agricultural post-harvest

subsector, particularly processing, storage, distribution and marketing are very weak, thereby subduing the agricultural commodity value chains. As a result, the full benefits of value addition to raw agricultural produce are not realised by the farmers, agribusiness operators and local communities.

“The development orientation should shift away from driving agriculture from the production (supply) side, to triggering change from the processing, market and industry sides. Using the market-side approaches to accelerate agricultural production is the key to unleashing the value chains and ensuring sustainable increases in production efficiency and farm output.”

On how to develop commodity processing corridors (CPCs) in the zone, the group charged the community (town) unions, cooperative societies and farmer groups to identify possible processing and marketing hubs and engage local government and state government authorities for partnering.

FIIRO boss urges firms on food fortification

T

HE Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos, has called on industries manufacturing fortification for sugar, salt, flour and vegetable oil to consider their food processing methods to avoid losing Vitamin A nutrients during production.

FIIRO’s Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gloria Elemo, gave this advice at a lecture entitled: Consumer acceptance of foods containing carotenoids, in Lagos.

She said despite Vitamin A fortification of some products, the country is still regarded as Vitamin A deficient, adding that the status of the mineral

should be monitored to know where things went wrong.

She added that it was high time people changed their attitude towards some foods and drinks and endeavoured to accept and consume functional foods developed for their health benefits, such as foods that contain carotenoids.

She said: “We need to also go back to our vanishing foods because we have virtually lost most of our core foods.

These foods are nutraceutical that is they are both nutritional and medicinal duplication. We should recall them back and do more work. This will build new product development and up-

grade indigenous technology that has been used previously and to set up consumer acceptance and sensory properties to get people into buying the goods”.

The Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Head of Department, Biochemistry, University of Lagos, Prof.

Albert Ebuehi, said one of the biggest challenges in creating a new food product is predicting how it would be accepted by consumers, adding that price and packaging are factors that determine acceptance.

He said some consumers should accept foods that contain carotenoids despite their tastes since their health benefits are important to the body.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

18

INDUSTRY Unilever advised to remain relevant

T

From left: Chairman, Vitafoam, Mr Samuel Bolarinde; former Director, Vitafoam, Mr Isaac Achonu, former Managing Director, Vitafoam; Mr Dele Makanjuola and Director, Vitafoam Bashiru Lasisi, during the presentation of gifts to Children of School of the Handicap, Surulere, Lagos.

HE Executive Vice President of Unilever Africa, Mr Frank Braeken, has urged Unilever Nigeria to keep doing its best to remain globally competitive as much is expected from them in contributing to the total turnover of the company.

Mr Braeken, who was hosted in Lagos by the Management and staff of Unilever, said despite the economic crisis in Europe and other parts of the world, the company still had success ahead of market growth and will continue to make great contributions to the future of the whole mankind because they believe that they have a role to play.

“We have to protect people’s health, people’s situation and to protect the environment well beyond our business.

My big contribution I think i can

do for Unilever globally is to grow fast but every company that want to be successful has to grow.

“As for me, this is more than a job.

It is a passion, which seems very touching that I can work in this part of the world and be part of what I believe is going to be a real success story in West Africa for many businesses in the future,” Braeken said.

He said Africans who are globally competitive must be critical in it characteristics, mind blowing in dressing, must be passionately curious and unimpressed by hierarchy.

He said Unilever ensures the right leadership and spend a lot of time on measuring happiness which shows how well they manage their employees to deliver the right services to their consumers, stressing that “ we don’t pay the best but we pay properly.”

Ruff ‘n’ Tumble excites kids

I

From left: Chairman, Economic and Statistics Committee, Nigeria Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Adams Idufueko; Dr Ademola and Director-General, NACCIMA, Dr John Isemede, during the briefing.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

‘Trade sectors still down, 52 years after Independence’ T THE Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has criticised the poor state of infrastructure, quality of the financial systems, capacity utilisation and the macro-economic condition of the country.

NACCIMA President, Dr. Herb Ademola, during a briefing to commemorate the nation’s 52nd Independence anniversary, said the resultant effect was that for over 13 years of Nigeria’s democracy, the trade and investment sector has not reached its desired potential. About 50 per cent of the population still languish in poverty as they live below the poverty line of $1.25 a day.

“Available information to us reveals that while the nation witnessed various government initiatives, programmes and reforms at the three levels of governance to drive their agenda, a lot of energy was dissipated on self-inflicted crisis management while at the same time we continue to struggle with the ‘bubble-burst’ pattern character-

Stories by Toba Agboola

istic of past oil price cycles,” he said.

He said the on-going efforts of our various governments with regards to infrastructure, especially power supply, though significant is yet to meet the expectations of Nigerians and the business community.

“The Nigerian business sector admits that this challenge is already being battled by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan with its Transformation Agenda.

“And with the development in the trade and investment sector picking up faster than ever, Nigerians cannot afford to be hopeless or despondent,” he said.

He said a critical analysis of Nigeria’s trade and investment sector since 1999 despite the achievements or improvements recorded on the performance of the economy, it must be admitted that the country like other developing economies has its own peculiar chal-

lenges.

Ajayi said the prospects of positive improvements were also quite bright and NACCIMA has no doubt that the trade and investment sector environment, which is the pivot of economic growth, would continue to improve.

“We would like to draw attention to great advantages in reorganising our civil service, especially the human resources and expertise locked in within civil servants through training and re-training programmes because they are the most important managers of the nation’s policies and progress that would ensure the success of the transformation agenda,” he said.

He tasked the government consider putting in place entrepreneurial training by the OPS for Youth Corp members to help them discover themselves as employers of labour instead of applicants.

Nigeria to increase cocoa production to 500,000mt by 2015 M INISTER of Agriculture Dr Akinwumi Adesina has unveiled plans by the Federal Government to double cocoa production from 250,000metric tonnes by 2015.

Adesina, who delivered a keynote address in Ibadan at the 1st International Cocoa Conference, said 3.6 million hybrid cocoa pods would be distributed free to cocoa farmers to meet the target.

The minister, represented by Dr Talabi Odeyemi, a director in the ministry, said this would lead to the cultivation of 114,000 hectares of cocoa.

Adesina said it was gladdening that the new hybrid cocoa pods were developed by researchers for

local farmers.

He, however, called on the private sector to partner with the government in exploring the opportunities in cocoa production.

Adesina called for intensification of efforts toward adding value to cocoa for the country to be a global player in international arena.

In his welcome address, the President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr Sayina Riman, announced plans to create a data base for the industry and farmers.

Riman said CAN’s vision was to initiate a robust “bean-to-bar database of the cocoa economy.’’

“In a networked and global economy, where traceability has become a major determinant for service delivery provision, policy making and customer experience, we cannot and must not continue to operate in the dark.

“It is, indeed, an embarrassment that we have different accounts or sources of the cocoa output in Nigeria; embarrassing the even more that we do not know for sure how many producers are actively involved in production, indeed, how many are sharecroppers, lien croppers, tenants etc and indeed how many farmlands are under active cultivation and by what farmer,“ he said.

N a bid to showcase trendy talents in kids, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Nigeria’s foremost children’s apparel designer and manufacturer, has organised this year’s ‘rock ur style promotions and fashion show for kids.

Speaking at the grand finale of the kiddies’ fashion show, the Chief Executive, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi said: “The aim of the promo was to find the next set of models to represent the brand, instill confidence in our children while also showcasing that kids can be trendy”. At the end of the exercise, 10 models were selected after a rigorous selection process as hundreds of lovely children turned up for the auditioning.”

The highlight of the event which was held at the Atrium of the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos was the fashion show during which various young kids as models showcased Ruff ‘N’ Tumble’s new collections. It was an event filled with

fun, music and celebration as kids from different schools and parents that attended the show witnessed music performances and dance choreography by kids among other entertaining lined up events.

Ogunlesi said Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, a quality brand, promises to make the show bigger next year and call on parents to allow their kids to participate and see the exciting world of fashionable dresses to the delight of the kids.

As part of their yearly activities to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence Day, the firm is alsoy showcasing new trendy dresses for kids in all their outlets in October.

Her words: “As a proudly Nigeria outfit with the patriotic zeal to promote made in Nigeria dress for young kids, we are currently displaying for sale in all our outlets across the country, trendy wears for the kids that resonates with Nigeria’s Independence celebration.”

World Bank’s $31b for investment in Africa

E

CONOMIES in Sub-Saharan African are expected to grow at 4.8 per cent this year, despite setbacks in the global economy.

According to the World Bank, the expected growth, which is said to be largely on track will not be changed from the 4.9 per cent growth rate in 2011, an indicator it said has fuelled investors’ interest in the region with $31 billion in foreign direct investment flows expected this year, despite difficult global conditions.

The statement from the World bank said, excluding South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to rise to six per cent, following a rebound in African exports, notably in the first quarter of 2012, which grew at an annual pace of 32 per cent, up from the -11 percent pace recorded in the last quarter of 2011.

Though, with these strides, the statement said that African countries have not been immune to the recent bout of

market volatility stemming from the Euro Area crisis, as well as the growth slowdown that is occurring in some of the largest developing economies, in particular China, which remains an important market for Africa’s mineral exporters and urged Africa to spend their wealth wisely.

It, however, noted that the consistent high commodity prices and strong export growth in European countries which have made mineral discoveries in recent years, have fuelled economic activity and are expected to underpin Africa’s economic growth for the rest of 2012.

World Bank Vice-President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, said: “A third of African countries will grow at or above six per cent with some of the fastest growing ones buoyed by new mineral exports such as iron ore in Sierra Leone and uranium and oil in Niger, and by factors such as the return to peace in Cote d’Ivoire, as well as strong growth in countries such as Ethiopia.

50 benefits from Indomie poverty alleviation scheme

A

S part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to support the poverty alleviation drive of the government, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie instant noodles, has empowered 50 unemployed people in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State by providing them with Indomie Mobile Carts otherwise known as’ Indomie Buka’ to start up small scale business.

The empowerment programme, which was carried out in partnership with the caretaker Committee of the Local Government, is aimed at providing a decent means of livelihood to unemployed people within the local government by empowering them with mini restaurant.

Present at the presentation of the

Mobile Carts to beneficiaries, held at the headquarters of the Local government in Ojo , the member of the House of Representatives from Ojo Constituency II, Hon. Toyin Isiaka Soara, commended the effort of the company for the opportunity given to the less privilege within his constituency as this will have a very great impact not only on the beneficiaries but also a multiplier effect on their family and the society at large.

He urged the 50 beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity and make the best of it.

The Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr Tope Ashiwaju, explained that the company decided to carry out the gesture as part of its contributions to the society.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Conspiracy World

Honorary degrees • That V-Cs now want procedure followed is commendable; but will they have the courage?

U

NIVERSITIES the world over give honorary degrees to people that have made significant contributions to the society, and professionals with ground-breaking discoveries and innovation. However, most universities in Nigeria that give such awards do so to undeserving people whose only qualification is that they have deep pockets or they are political office holders. The attraction, to them, more than anything else, is the pecuniary gain that the institutions would get from such persons. This has made the awards an all-comers’ affair, thus eroding the privileges and respect that go with them, a thing that has remained a source of worry to people who know the value of the degrees.

The good news now however is that the university administrators themselves have seen the need for a change of attitude with a view to restoring the lost glory

‘Honorary degrees, under normal circumstances should not be given to politicians in office. Indeed, honour cannot be an all-comers’ affair, hence the maxim, ‘give honour to whom honour is due’. This is probably one of the reasons why the universities themselves award their certificates and degrees to people found worthy, not only in learning but also in character’

of the honorary degrees. With effect from January 1, next year, the universities would stop giving honorary degrees to just anybody. The Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities says it will, from that date, stick to best practices by giving honorary degrees only to those deserving. Its secretary-general, Prof.

Michael Faborode, said with effect from 2013, only persons who meet the criteria set for such purposes would be given the awards.

This position, taken at the 27th conference of the association held at the Nasarawa State University in Keffi is commendable; that is however if the vicechancellors have the courage to put their words into action. Honorary degrees, under normal circumstances should not be given to politicians in office. Indeed, honour cannot be an all-comers’ affair, hence the maxim, ‘give honour to whom honour is due’. This is probably one of the reasons why the universities themselves award their certificates and degrees to people found worthy, not only in learning but also in character.

Of course, the descent of standards on the part of the universities is a reflection of the larger Nigerian society. We have completely lost all sense of values, hence the country is what it is today; things can only get worse if we do not retrace our steps. By beaming the searchlight on themselves, the vice-chancellors have played a pivotal role expected of them.

As leaders in the Ivory Towers, many of them have seen it all; they have the benefit of what obtains in other countries and should have an idea of how to make

things work in the country. Nobody expects them to have a cure-all answer to all the country’s problems, but the decision they have taken is important, no matter how tokenistic it seems. It is also courageous, to the extent that it specifically envisages that serving politicians would be shut out of the awards.

This is a pleasant and distinct departure from the national practice whereby some persons are given National Honours just because they have been elected or appointed into certain offices.

This is wrong and many people have always said so, but the government would not listen. Thus, we have had situations where some people were given such honours only to be pushed out of office for fraud or other criminal behaviours.

It is heartwarming that those at the helm of affairs in our universities have realised the need for them to retrace their steps by giving honour only to the deserving. Perhaps nothing could be more disgusting than seeing universities giving honorary degrees to non-performing political office holders. There are clearly laid out procedures for giving such degrees; we urge the universities to adhere strictly to these to stop the erosion of academic culture and tradition.

Honorary degrees are not necessarily about generating money for the universities; they are more about contributions to the society and integrity. The vicechancellors have demonstrated wisdom in their new thinking; they however need the courage to see through their dream.

Obama’s money •Nigerian politics can learn a thing or two about how to account for campaign funds

I

N the build-up to next month’s presidential election in the US, fundraising could prove crucial in the final stretch of the White House race.

This was highlighted by the reaction of President Barack Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, to the inflow of a record $181 million in September to boost the president’s re-election effort. “That’s by far our biggest month yet,” he reportedly said in an e-mail to supporters, urging them to chip in more as the November 6 election date draws near.

Obama’s campaign said via Twitter that 1,825,813 people donated to the campaign last month. Of that, 567,000 were new donors. A vast majority of the donations – 98 percent – were $250 or less; the average contribution was $53. Obama’s advisers are reportedly proud of his campaign’s base of low-dollar donors, especially at the end of the election cycle when supporters can keep giving even if they have donated before, as the president may need fresh infusions of cash to fund ads in swing states such as Ohio, Florida and Iowa. Since the campaign officially kicked off in April 2011, 3.9 million people have donated to the Democratic Party candidate, Obama’s campaign said.

On the other hand, although Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has not yet released his September fundraising figures, the results are also expected to be on the high side. The Romney team reportedly raised $12 million online after the recent first presidential debate in less than 48 hours, with 60 per-

cent of the money from first-time donors.

Both candidates continue to raise money even in the final month of the campaign, reflecting the importance of deep coffers to fund expensive advertising on the home stretch. Reports say that Obama’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee raised more than $114 million in August, just beating Romney’s $111 million; that followed three months when Romney out-raised the incumbent.

This detailed accounting of campaign funds and identification of sources is truly remarkable, from the Nigerian point of view, and actually reflects the workings of a developed democracy. The beauty of the fundraising figures is the transparency of the process, which is sadly lacking in our country. What is clear from the fundraising record is that the system encourages donations from every stakeholder, however small or apparently insignificant. The donors, in this case, were not necessarily moneybags, contrary to what our own local structures encourage.

In Nigeria, it is a notorious fact that candidates for political office more often than not rely on funding by a select number of moneyed people, who will then be in a position to influence governance on account of their financial contributions. The democratisation of fundraising, which is obvious in the US case, is to be commended as it gives the ordinary people a voice in the scheme of things.

It is noteworthy that despite the fact that Obama is the incumbent president, he is still bound to raise campaign funds publicly and declare such funds publicly. In

our own context, incumbent political office holders are known to abuse their positions by using public funds to drive their campaigns. The public is never informed about the source or scale of campaign funds and the political space is often a theatre of claims and counterclaims about campaign spending and funding.

For example, the coming governorship election in Ondo State has thrown up wild allegations about the size of the incumbent governor’s war chest and many members of the public are ready to swear that the source of the funds is the state coffers. The US example of political fundraising and accounting offers useful lessons to our polity that we can only ignore at our peril.

‘This detailed accounting of campaign funds and identification of sources is truly remarkable, from the Nigerian point of view, and actually reflects the workings of a developed democracy.

The beauty of the fundraising figures is the transparency of the process, which is sadly lacking in our country. What is clear from the fundraising record is that the system encourages donations from every stakeholder, however small or apparently insignificant’ .

W

HEN Republicans began questioning President Obama’s birth certificate four years ago, it seemed at first like a petulant reaction to a lost election, a flush of nativist and racist anger that would diminish over time.

But the preposterous charges never went away. As this election cycle shows, many in the Republican Party continue to see the president as the center of a broad and malevolent liberal conspiracy to upend the truth.

To live and seethe in that world of conspiracy theories means rejecting any form of objective reality. When unemployment numbers make the administration look good, they are obviously “cooked.” When poll numbers put Mr. Obama ahead, they are skewed. Birth certificates are forgeries. Safety-net programs are giveaways to supporters. Health insurance reform is socialism. And campaign donation disclosure is antibusiness.

It’s an upside-down version of life, and it is not innocuous. When desperation leads political critics of the president to discredit important nonpolitical institutions — including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve and the Congressional Budget Office — the damage can be long-lasting. If voters come to mistrust the most basic functions of government, the resulting cynicism can destroy the basic compact of citizenship.

Last week, the Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had fallen to 7.8 percent, depriving Mitt Romney of his standard talking point that the rate had never been below 8 percent during Mr. Obama’s term. No one expected Republicans to celebrate a positive trend for the country, but almost immediately the anchors on Fox News and the editors of right-wing Web sites saw something more sinister: a conspiracy, led by the Obama campaign, to manipulate the numbers to make the president look good a month before the election.

The charge was absurd. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which along with the Census Bureau conducts the underlying household survey, is run by career civil servants and is impervious to political pressure and manipulation, as all but the hypnotized in Washington understand. But, this time, the conspiracy theorists went beyond the usual suspects. Jack Welch, the former chief executive of General Electric, said Mr. Obama’s Chicago staff obviously changed the numbers, though he had no evidence of chicanery beyond the outrageous charge that the numbers came from an “ideologue division of the federal government.”

To Mr. Welch and his fellow cynics, the facts were inconvenient, so they had to be wrong. And not just wrong, but deliberately so. That’s the same mentality that led ideologues last month to accuse independent pollsters of deliberately skewing polls to show Mr. Obama ahead, though no such charges are emerging now that Mr. Romney is improving in the polls. And this trend is reinforced when people who know better, like Newt Gingrich and Senator John McCain, trash the civil servants atthe State Department and the Congressional Budget Office. (Mr. Romney, to his credit, did not question the latest jobless figures.)

Democrats aren’t happy about the latest polls, but they aren’t suggesting Mr. Romney is manipulating them, just as they didn’t undermine the Bureau of Labor Statistics when the jobless numbers were high. Many are far more worried about a conspiracy that is verifiable and serious: the concerted effort by Republicans over the last four years to deprive minorities, poor people and other likely Democratic supporters of their voting rights.

That, of course, doesn’t seem to bother those who see“Chicago’s” evil hand everywhere. When there is real-world evidence of political collusion, the conspiracy theorists are nowhere to be found.

– New York Times

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 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: I was travelling to Ibadan from Osogbo on Tuesday October 9, when I ran into a traffic gridlock in from of the Osun State Secretariat at Abere caused by students of Osun State in tertiary institutions allegedly protesting non-payment of their bursary by the state government.

Out of curiosity and seeing that I was trapped anyway, I got out of the car and joined the students in order to have first hand information. I took one of the leaflets they were circulating and looked round the banners they were holding. I was horrified. The leaflet was disjointed, full of grammatical and spelling errors, the kind you won’t even expect from a primary school pupil. It got worse when I tried to engage some of them in discussion as I discovered to my chagrin that they were talking gibberish, they were incoherent and cannot stitch together a grammatically correct sentence, apart from the incomprehensibility of their statements.

They looked unruly and unkempt, with many of them speaking with coarse voices, as if under the influence of marijuana. They certainly do not look like the leaders of tomorrow. If anything, the thuggish looking boys that laid siege to Osogbo are promising wreakers of tomorrow, unless they are put to check now.

When the governor appeared, they swarmed round his vehicle in clear breach of security, and demanded that he address them. The governor said he would only address them in his office, seeing that their presence had blocked an expressway and would disturb the peace and disrupt travels and eco-

S

IR: The Tatalo column in the Nation on Sunday is very educative. The problem is the writer’s sometimes dubious duplicity of principles and position. This contributor makes it a duty to read the column every Sunday and looks forward to meeting the masquerade behind the pieces to celebrate his brain and to caution his most times unpardonable non-definitive stand on major issues concerning the southwest Nigeria.

Tatalo’s last week lead article on ‘Why we seek total integration-1’ reflects the ambivalent Tatalo in his typical fashion of trying to appease

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

Osun students’ show of shame nomic activities. They refused. They had laid siege to the secretariat and sacked the security personnel at the gate. They then left the secretariat to arrest traffic at Olaiya junction, the major arterial road that links other parts of the city, thereby disrupting traffic movement and economic activities.

We must begin to address the students question now before they birth tragedy. We have revelled on

false assumption that those riff-raff are student leaders fired by the idealism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel, Ola Oni and Eskor Toyo and Segun Okeowo and Segun Maiyegun. They are not. Their real grouse is the decision of the state government to pay the bursaries through the students’affairs department of their institutions and not through the students unions. It was the practice in the past for the mea-

gre sum to be paid through Osun Students Association and this had become a gold mine of sort for their leaders. The money hardly gets to the intended beneficiaries. Why then should they hold the state to ransom because their corrupt source of freebies is being taken away? Student union leaders have become corrupt, if not more corrupt than politicians. We should see them as they are and not look at

them with eye of idealism of the past.

Secondly, we should define rules of engagement. The idea of misguided youths holding everybody to ransom must be checked. We must put in place a civilised protocol of protest. What happened in Libya recently when terrorists hijacked a protest and used that to murder the American ambassador and three others must be avoided. When Governor Aregbesola’s convoy was stopped, a terrorist could have slipped a bomb under his car (God forbid), killing many, including the students.

Students are self accounting adults and cannot be above the law in any decent society. Constituting nuisance, disrupting public peace, molesting innocent people etc are not the hallmark of intellectuals.

• Olayiwola Olawunmi, Osogbo, Osun State

Justice for the Uniport Four

S

IR: For anyone who has had watched the video of the barbaric and premeditated killing of the four students of Uniport, there certainly would be want of appropriate adjectives to describe the horror that took place in Aluu, the primitive community that so unfortunately hosts a few thousands students of the Eastern Nigeria university.

When the news first broke out on October 7, many a Nigerian actually tended to treat it merely as one of those day-to-day instances of jungle justice that our pathetically insecure, unsecured nation has grown used to.

As a journalist, I have covered bloody and gruelling events. But in my 22 years of active practice, I never

witnessed such abhorrent savagery.

Even Lucifer himself would be moved to tears!

One can only wonder what type of unfettered evil took over the people who, in broad daylight, nay, in the presence of women and children, brutalised, dehumanised, denigrated and ‘destroyed’ four young, exuberant able bodied young men who had looked up to their community as a choice habitat, in the pursuit of their academic endeavour.

Okay, the villagers’ allegation against the four boys was that they stole a laptop computer and three pieces of smart phone (which the has been largely pooh-poohed, anyway). But let’s go ahead to assume the allegation is true; did the stu-

Tatalo on Ondo all power blocs and in the end not saying anything. Any avid reader of the column will agree that whoever he/she is a master of semantics. What is important is that Tatalo should not use the mastery of English language to befuddle the public on the Ondo State election.

Tatalo in part 1 of that article (October 7) was ambivalent on the coming Ondo state election because he/she speaks from both sides of the mouth. Teaser includes the part he/she wrote that ‘A great political drama is unfolding in the oil and bitumen-rich and humanly endowed state of Ondo as presided

over by the politically adroit Rahman Olusegun Mimiko…. This is why it would amount to a grave error of judgement and lack of political subtlety if the unfolding political drama in Ondo State were to be framed as a clash of will and wits between two titanic personalities or a duel unto death between a rampaging lion and a rampart Iroko.

Yes, there is surely a bitter personality tussle somewhere. Yes, this is a power struggle between two of the most successful masters of political mobilisation thrown up by the post-military Yoruba nation. As a ringside observer and thwarted

dents actually get the right punishment for their ‘crime’? These were ‘thieves’ who carried no single arm at the time of crime and arrest- not even a knife! These were ‘suspects’ who had been beaten, battered, stripped naked and made to walk round the community. And assuming they actually stole, were those actions taken not punitive enough?

And this was a community that had a police post and with detention facility.

Yet the villagers, (acting under the charge of their leader -the traditional leader inclusive- as we have heard on national news channels) were not satisfied. It was horrific to watch on video how characters bludgeoned the young, able-bodied per-

arbitrator, this writer can write a tome on a political romance gone very sour.

As a matter of fact, why is Tatalo not bold to mention what makes the Lion rampaging and the dying Iroko rampart? Ruing over this Tatalo’s writing gloating, point is that no quality exists to make the Iroko one of the most successful masters of political mobilisation thrown up by the post-military Yoruba nation.

• Engr. Wale Akinola Molipa Estate, Ijebu-Ode Ogun State.

sons with cudgels,heavy trunks and stones. The beasts would go on to collar them with tyres, douse them with petrol and set them ablaze.

Nigerians have variously and severally reacted, condemning the Aluu murder in very strong terms. Nigerians must not allow those behind this dastardly act go unpunished. We cannot allow university students and our youths to be the sacrificial lambs in a state that continuously demonstrates a sickening incapacity to protect its citizens. For once, maybe opponents of State Police will now look at themselves in the face and have a rethink.

We are waiting to see how our ‘so-called’ leaders will react to this incident: the presidency, the National Assembly, the hierarchy of our security agencies, the Civil Society organisations, religious leaders, the entire student body e.t.c.

Our cry for justice will not be for Llyod Michael (a.k.a. Big L), Ugonna Ibuzor, Tekena Elkanah and Chidiaka Baringa alone, it will mean justice for thousands of innocent Nigerians killed by Boko Haram and armed robbers; for the Mubi massacre; for the Apo 6; for Dele Giwa, and for many other Nigerians who have lost their lives as a result of that monster Nigerian leaders seeming have no clues about how to conquer: INSECURITY! • Babs Daramola Ado Ekiti.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

21

COMMENTS

Mushrooming private universities in Nigeria

T

HERE is no doubt that there is a great need for university placement in Nigeria for the millions of young Nigerians streaming out of secondary schools.

The total enrolment of young Nigerians in tertiary institutions including universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education both private and public is not more than one million. This, in a country with a purported population of about 160 million people shows the low level of access to tertiary education. It follows therefore that there is a need for expansion of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Virtually all the state governments now have universities and there is also a federal university in each of the states of the federation and Abuja.

After the pandora box of private universities was opened, there had been a mad rush of various sectarian organizations and individual businessmen and all kinds of do-gooders to establish universities. The result has not been uniformly good.

In general, most of the sectarian universities are likely to have some quality, although no one can vouch for this, but very few of those established by individuals have any quality whatsoever. Unfortunately, this tendency is undermining the genuine efforts of those who are committed to public good like Chief Afe Babalola and Chief Ade-Ojo who by all standards have built institutions that are certainly physically imposing. The National Universities Commission (NUC) needs to be very careful in approving licenses to all and sundry in establishing universities. I know that the NUC has various criteria including money in hand, huge hectarage of land, staffing and so on and so forth but one has doubts as to whether these criteria are being enforced. The most dangerous trend that most of us in the system have noticed is that because of shortage of staff, criteria for promotion of staff across academic levels are being jettisoned to the extent that people are being promoted and even appointed professors without proper assessment in the traditionally acceptable way. Not only that, some universities rent staff and even books and equipments for the purpose of securing accreditation. Some young academics sometime teach in three or four universities at the same time all in a mad rush to make money and certainly at the expense of academic quality and integrity.

Some of the names of some on-coming universities make one to laugh because the names are so foreign that one wonders the reason for approving such names.

I have just had the opportunity of travelling to some universities in England and Scotland and noticing new trends

in university education and the stupendous resources needed to realize the academic goals of the well-established universities in these countries. To be specific, the University of Glasgow was established in 1451 and over these centuries, the university has built first-class infrastructure that has enabled it to produce Nobel laureates but in spite of this, the university is still building to renew itself and this year alone, it has a budget of about N266 billion for its services. If one were to compare this with any of our so-called universities in Nigeria, one would get the picture of why no university in Nigeria can be in the first one thousand league globally. The universities in Nigeria generally are poorly funded, poorly governed and poorly staffed.

When the University of Ibadan was the only university in Nigeria, some of its products were acclaimed as one of the best in the whole commonwealth and at a time, the College of Medicine in the University of Ibadan was one of the best in the world. Those were in the halcyon days when things were done properly in Nigeria. Since the mushrooming of universities in Nigeria, things have gone to the dogs academically speaking, but what worries one is the speed and rate at which these so-called private universities are springing up. The Federal Government and even some state governments have also joined in this madness of announcing the establishment of universities apparently without thinking them through and locating them sometimes in inaccessible areas presumably in the interest of even development as if universities were roads, railways and ports. The whole situation is so confused and confusing that one worries about the future. Universities are about people, they are about the future of the country, and they should be anchored on the idea and notion of building our youths for the future of Nigeria.

In a world of knowledge industries, the preparation of the youths for the future is very critical but the way we are going about it in our country raises fundamental questions about our plans for the future. We need to do things a little differently. Of course, every section of the country’s economy is crying for development whether it is telecommunication, transportation, electricity and health but all these are predicated on availability of the right kind of manpower, this is why education is critical. So, what do we do? We need to go back to the regime of planned development as was the case after independence when we used to have five-year development plans at the state and federal levels instead of

the haphazard socalled “rolling plans” that was foisted on us by the military. This was the way the old Soviet Union, India, China and the entire Eastern Europe were able to attain the technological level in which they are today. There is no miracle about it, planning is essential to development. The lack of planning in the educational Jide sector is Osuntokun symptomatic and a reflection of the lack of planning in the country as a whole, licensing and building mushroom institutions and calling them universities is not the way out. There are minimum standards of university education all over the world and what we have in Nigeria is by and large a travesty of these universal standards.

‘There is no miracle about it, planning is essential to development. The lack of planning in the educational sector is symptomatic and a reflection of the lack of planning in the country as a whole, licensing and building mushroom institutions and calling them universities is not the way out. There are minimum standards of university education all over the world and what we have in Nigeria is by and large a travesty of these universal standards’

Salami : A Daniel has come to judgment

W

HEN in August 2010, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, was suspended, right thinking members of the society kicked against the irrational act.

They were ignored because the government was working towards the answer in a calculated and clinically executed plot to get Salami out of the judiciary.

Out of the way? Yes, the ruling government considered and still considers him a threat to its ‘political fortunes’. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not comfortable with having Salami around because he does not stomach nonsense. This judge is not ready to dine with the devil even with a long spoon.

As a party, the PDP believes in doing things in the dark. Openness and transparency do not exist in PDP’s dictionary. They are Greek words to the party, so, wherever people of light like Salami are gathered, it feels threatened and is ready to do anything to tar them.

They have applied different kinds of tar brush on Salami, but this incorruptible judge has always come out clean. But they are unrelenting; they are determined to give him a bad name in order to hang him. Nothing will be more pleasing to the party than to lay hands on evi-

dence to do Salami in as a corrupt judge. It has searched everywhere for such evidence to no avail.

If the party had been able to get such evidence, I bet you, Salami would have been history today after an ignominious sack from the bench, with a trial to boot. Salami, probably never knew that a day like this would come when he was joining the judiciary, but being an upright person, he stood firmly by his oath in the discharge of his duty.

And as fate would have it, he made it to the pinnacle of his career following his appointment as PCA after the retirement of Justice Umar Abdullahi. He was doing his job without any hassles until politicians came with their troubles after the 2007 elections. The Appeal Court, which he headed, played a crucial role in the post-election matters.

The court upturned the election of sitting governors all of who were elected on PDP platform. The party was aghast. It was shocked by the temerity of the court in unseating its governors, wondering why the judges could not turn a blind eye to the rigging which brought them to power.

Rather, the court dug into the rigging by doing a forensic analysis of the ballot papers on

‘By now if the Presidency is actually acting with sincerity of purpose in the Salami case, it would have reinstated him in light of the NJC’s stand. But then as we have always maintained in this space, there is more to its action than meets the eye’

the strength of which it removed the governors. The court was about delivering judgment in the Sokoto State governorship election appeal when former Chief Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, in his wisdom, intervened.

All he wanted Salami to do was a simple thing, at least, according to Nigerian standard.

He invited Salami to his office and told him to please ‘’arrest’’ the verdict. Salami asked why and when he did not get a plausible answer, he rejected Katsina-Alu’s request.

The chief justice could not believe it that a judge in the judiciary headed by him could turn him down. He forgot that he could only throw his weight around where he is acting true to his oath of office. There is nothing in the rules of court that allow the chief justice to use other judges to subvert justice as Katsina-Alu tried to do in the Sokoto case. Salami resisted him and for that Katsina-Alu plotted his suspension.

EVERSING that asinine action has become a prob lem for the Presidency, which hastily intervened in a matter, which was best left to the judiciary to sort out by itself. Instead, President Goodluck Jonathan listened to no-gooders and appoved the suspension of Salami.

When the president took that action, Salami was in court to challenge his planned elevation to the Supreme Court by Katsina-Alu and also stop the National Judicial Council (NJC) from giving effect to the report of the panel, which recommended his suspension. The president sidestepped the case and suspended Salami instead

R

of sacking him as demanded by Katsina-Alu. The plotters have had their day on the political turf, but Salami has continued to rubbish them in court even though judgment is yet to be delivered. The matter is becoming more interesting by the day. The Presidency and NJC seem to have parted ways on the matter; they are no longer on the same page.

This is a plus for Salami because those hitherto against him are now backing him, demanding that he be returned to office, without any input from the president, who thinks that Salami can only regain his job just by his saying so. Last week, the NJC, which has been hiding in between the Presidency’s legs on this matter, came out to assert its authority to reinstate Salami without recourse to the president.

My fear is that the same set of people, who advised him to suspend Salami over two years ago are still around him and may urge him to ignore NJC. To them, NJC’s well-informed position may not be more than the rantings of an ant. That is where they are making a mistake.

NJC is constitutionally empowered to discipline judges and in the exercise of that power, it does not report to anybody, including the president, but politics has changed things. This is why today, the NJC is tied to the apron string of the Presidency to which some of its past leaders sold its birth right. NJC under KatsinaAlu was a toothless bulldog in the Salami case because the former chief justice was working hands in glove with politicians to get the PCA out of the way.

What the present NJC leadership is trying to do is to reverse the

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

wrong done Salami and restore the people’s hope in the judiciary as the bulwark against oppression and injustice. Salami has suffered indignities in past two years despite his high office. If Salami could be so treated, what will be the fate of those who are not as privileged as him? The NJC has said it all that it reserves the right to recall him.

In papers filed in court, it said the president has no power or role under the 1999 Constitution or any other law to recall or reinstate Salami or any other justice of the appellate court. It also frowned on the retention of Justice Dalhatu Adamu as acting PCA for two years now in contravention of the Constitution, which Jonathan swore to uphold.

By now if the Presidency is actually acting with sincerity of purpose in the Salami case, it would have reinstated him in light of the NJC’s stand. But then as we have always maintained in this space, there is more to its action than meets the eye. No matter what happens, one thing is sure, a Daniel has come to judgment, with NJC’s new found courage to state the true position of things. It is a matter of time before Salami returns to his job.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

22

COMMENTS

P

RESIDENT Jonathan last week paid glowing tributes to Nigerian founding fathers, who 52 years ago ‘brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people after six decades of colonial rule’. They, as he has rightly observed, achieved the near impossible by working together to restore dignity and honour to a ‘multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse peoples, with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups.’ It cannot be more ironic than that while their unique contributions were being acknowledged, the general lamentations of the people has been about the exploitation of this very diversity by brigands that have left in their trail, a legacy of inept leadership, missed opportunities, corruption, greed and debilitating poverty in the amidst the bandit’s illegitimately acquired opulence.

But then our current state of affairs was a tale foretold by the colonialists who were forced from their hostile environment where life was the survival of the fittest, by a desire for exploitation. If the misery of others will guarantee the attainment of goals of better life for those escaping from an environment where life was ‘nasty, brutish, and short’, sowing the seed of distrust and instability among the newly conquered territories was not considered immoral.

We have since observed from ‘The End of Empire’ (BDEE) (ed Martin Lynn) that the British influenced the outcome of the pre-independence census and elections in favour of the north which as a result went ahead to hold onto power for about 40 years of the 52 years of independence producing nine of the nation’s 13 leaders. And as was pre-planned, all with exception of Buhari, supported the West’s economic policies that merely ensure we continue to pay for the social problems of Europe. Today as equal member of globalised economy, cattle farmers in the West get government daily subsidy of $2 per cattle while 80% of Nigeria so called equal partners live below a $1 a day.

And as it is always the case, nationalism itself is not often driven by a deep sense of altruism. In this regard, it soon became obvious that our celebrated nationalists were no exception. Their resistance to foreign rule was driven more by personal ambitions and as representatives of ethnic nationalities. Thus they craved for their own nation states within the greater Nigerian nation. Nigeria, they said was a ‘geographical expression’ or a British intention’. Two years into independence after their epic battle against the unrepentant exploiters who merely replaced slave trade, the outdated and primitive tool of exploitation with neo-colonialism, which Nkrumah

S

TIFF-NECKED and rebellious! This is the Bible’s apt description of the collective obstinacy of the Israelites concerning God’s original plan to establish them as a divinely-chosen Model Community of God–for the instruction of man.

Spiritual fable had it that after the fall of man at Eden, it was God’s primordial plan that an exemplary community of “believers and doers” in any one corner of the earth was sufficient to infect the world and thus pave the way for establishing God’s will on earth. Peoples of different nations, according to the fable, would simply come, from time to time, to the model city of Jerusalem, and in the practical life and ways of the”chosen dwellers” observe and imbibe righteous living.

By and by, it was hoped, man would recreate lost Eden-on earth.

And this divine plan although it necessitated an inequitable concentration of a line of prophet-hood in a chosen tribe, it should have –if it had succeededpractically eliminated the necessity for God to come down in the flesh; let alone to suffer at Calvary. It was thus the collective and repeated failure of the Israelites to build Jerusalem for the Lord (in spite of the agency of a long line of prophetic instructors), that necessitated the advent of the Son of Man with an initial mission, the Bible says, to reassemble “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” and to give them one last shot at the divine project!

But even with God right in their midst to help them push, the Israelites lost it!

The electoral battle for the “lost sheep” of the house of the progressives in Nigeria is only a couple of days away in Ondo State. And the irony of it is that the case of the South-west has never been, like that of “the house of Israel”,one of a stiff-necked

A nation hijacked by brigands pronounced the worst form of colonialism, signs of cracks became noticeable and by 1966, the whole edifice had collapsed.

It started in 1962 when Balewa encouraged hoodlums to take over the South-west and legitimized the action by an illegal declaration of state of emergency with tacit support of Zik, ostensibly over throwing of chairs by a few hoodlums in the Western House of Assembly. The hoodlums were to be further rewarded with the 1965 Western Region rigged election. The mayhem that followed the federal government perfidy was the only excuse required by more vicious brigands to unleash terror on their benefactors and comrades in arms. An orgy of more mindless sectional killings of military personnel was to follow in July 1966.

From then on, every new set of hoodlums have been more vicious than the last.

If we thought the reign of brigands ended with the civil war, we were living a lie.

Babangida emerged in 1985 at the head of economic brigands that was to finally bring the nation to its knees. Just as colonialism held no pretentions to exploitation, the military with a culture of pillaging conquered territories descended on Nigeria under western-inspired Structural Adjustment Programme, (SAP). With its dubious privatisation and commercialisation policies, they sold all the commercial concerns established by the founding fathers to themselves and their cronies. For about 13 years stretching through Babangida and Abacha periods, the economy came under severe strains. Part of SAP legacy is that an exchange rate which was almost at par with American dollar in 1985 is today N160 to$1.

For 13 years, Babangida and Abacha groomed new breed of politicians that bred nothing but corruption. When unleashed on the nation in 1999, it instantly took the form of an economic gangster. El Rufai’s recently disclosed how, through the instrumentality of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), members of the gang shared among its members most blue-chip Nigerian companies. As if to confirm they are all brigands, nearly all their leading light such as, former party chairmen, ex-Senate presidents, ex-Speakers of the Lower House, ex-Governors, serving House Committee chairmen, top bankers and other leaders of industries have by different judicial pronouncements in the past 13 years been declared ordinary felons.

Now we have been reminded by those who have always benefited from our instability and stand to gain even more if we descend into warring sects of ethnic nationalities that we are rated 14thon the index of failed state.

Some of the signs we are told include endemic corruption by the governing political class, absence of transparency and accountability by the political class and loss of confidence of the ruled in the existing institutions They gave as further evidence; absence of functional government that can guarantee safety of lives and properties, the two major reasons why people trade their liberty for government protection; corrupt judiciary which in own case has in recent months ceded its function to other nations’ judiciary, endemic corruption, as evident in the mindless looting by government agencies as we have catalogued above. A recent study has also shown 80% of businesses in Nigeria bribe government officials. An earlier study has also

Mimiko’s anti-Christ-tic

By Lisa Olu Akerele and rebellious people. South-westerners, collectively, have never been obstinate, self-harming bums!

On the contrary the South-west has consistently been on the experimental Bunsen burner as the veritable model community of progressives –and one from whence good governance, in an oftbetrayed Nigeria, may finally take its centrifuge. But the region, ironically, has always been held back, not by the failure of a ‘collective’but each time by the heady, cantankerous, self-harming antics of one political renegade or the other. A case of lone-political-cooks always angling to spoil the broth, you might say. What with an Akintola in the First Republic throwing spanner in the works; or an Akinloye in the Second Republic rocking the boat; or yet an OBJ, of most ignoble memory, playing Judas! And what now with a visionless, tribe-hating Mimiko playing the political anti-Christ!

Yes the anti-Christ of the Progressive South-west. Because anti-Christs have no better reason for swimming against the tide of the Will of God than their retrogressive passion to sustain a sinful status quo in the world and to pull humanity down to damnation! Else how can anyone rationalize Mimiko’s obstinate stand in the way of an only chance for the bastion of the progressives to properly seal the proportions of defense in their life-long efforts to create Nigeria’s only model community of righteous political action. All is on throttle to power

the shuttle of the leading opposition party, the ACN, to infinity and beyond but Mimiko opts to have his black leg right on the decelerator.

And although Mimiko is less than deft and astute, politically; he is nonetheless not altogether politically naïve. He knows the consequences of his action and it appears he is prepared to pay the price – for pulling a lonely furrow in the face of a renascent South-west ardent at self rediscovery and whose disciple-governors have at last brought alchemy to the political science of governance. Because the question is: what does Mimiko want?

A second term! And which every first term governor covets. Often at all cost. But the irony of it all is that Mimiko could have had it all at no cost; simply by keeping his word to his progressive-benefactors: and then leaving his pot-holed, capsizing boat to hop on board the ACN Saviora. But that he has chosen not to tow even this electoral line of least resistance, speaks metaphors especially for his anti-Chris-tic disposition to the collective will of the South-west and the long-term good of the nation.

The Anti-Christ

Mimiko has, thus far, already earned himself the infamy of the political antiChrist who rather risks losing a second term than act collectively to move society a notch. He is a political boil on a fatigued national buttock that is an enemy of ease; the obnoxious pregnancy on the knee that is a hindrance to spiritual genuflection.

Hell, Mimiko has become the proverbial lizard on the mouth of the earthenware pot –pelted at grave danger to the pot and ignored soon to sully the precious, scarce

shown the police, the customs, the road safety agency are all havens for corrupt officials.

But is there any light at the end the tunnel with the on-going reign of economic gangsters, political brigands and hoodlums that have taken over parts of the South-east, Southsouth and the whole of North-east? President Jonathan thinks so. Curiously, he is putting his bet on the old strategies that brought the nation to its knees. He alone for instance thinks repeating Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo fraudulent approach to constitutional review will produce a good architectural design that is needed to build a new edifice for the future of our children. He alone thinks economic whiz kids who have been alleged to be part of the banking scams and who are benefiting from the current anarchy will guarantee development.

And as for the rest of us, the submissive members of a nation of miracle-seekers who dream of victories without wars, we have become prayer warriors. In my church, our bishop composed for us a very powerful prayer for Nigeria in time of distress which we have recited with glee all through Babangida, Abacha and PDP’s 26 years. Our Pentecostal cousins are praying hard to ‘stop evil men from ruling us’. Our Muslim brothers are engaged in the same ritual, doling out huge amounts to Muslim clerics. The only thing missing in all this is our refusal to hearken to God’s admonition that ‘we reap what we sow’.

Perhaps it is time to stop mocking our Almighty Father who has lain down in all the holy books, the precepts on how to govern societies including details on how to curtail the excesses of brigands and hoodlums, to whom God in his infinite wisdom assigned roles.

‘Curiously, he is putting his bet on the old strategies that brought the nation to its knees. He alone for instance thinks repeating Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo fraudulent approach to constitutional review will produce a good architectural design that is needed to build a new edifice for the future of our children’ drinking water.

In fact Mimiko has become the “igi gangaran” in the Yoruba riddle that is bent on poking the eye of the progressives.

All hands, especially of Ondolites, must be on deck come October 20 not only to dodge this self-harming reed, but in deed once and for all to break its stiff-necked rebellion! This is the Armageddon before the Armageddon. The ACN cannot afford to lose. This is the battle for‘the lost sheep’ of the house of the progressives that the Jagaban, Asiwaju Tinubu needs the prayers of all lovers of country and the action of true sons and daughters of Ondo to win!

This is the time to regionalize Southwest; and to rid the zone of self-harming, mainstreaming bums-like Mimiko!

• Akerele, a media consultant wrote from Abuja

‘Else how can anyone rationalize Mimiko’s obstinate stand in the way of an only chance for the bastion of the progressives to properly seal the proportions of defense in their life-long efforts to create Nigeria’s only model community of righteous political action. All is on throttle to power the shuttle of the leading opposition party, the ACN, to infinity and beyond but Mimiko opts to have his black leg right on the decelerator’

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

23

24

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

25

THE NATION

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

INSIDE NANS,AASU condemn Mubi killings

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Teachers are moulders of character. In many instances, they do their job without adequate remuneration. Ever heard of the saying that teachers’ reward is in heaven? Well, many teachers cannot wait for that. They want their reward here on earth as some said during the celebration of the World Teachers Day (WTD).

THE leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the All African Student Union (AASU) • NANS National have president Comrade condemned Dauda Muhammed the killing of 26 students of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi in Adamawa State Monday last week by yet to be identified gunmen...

-Page 28

Sokoto Poly expels 77 for malpractice AT least 77 students have been expelled by the authorities of the Sokoto State Polytechnic following their involvement in examination malpractice.

Also, 44 students had their examination papers cancelled...

-Page 40

CAMPUS LIFE •An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Gunmen unleash terror on UNIJOS ALL was calm at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) that fateful Wednesday. There was no sign of the violence that would later engulf the campus.

A part-time Management Science student, Lydia, woke up that morning hale and hearty.

She left for school to write her final exam. After the exam, she followed her course mates to the main library garden for photographs. She was posing before a camera...

-Page 29

• Anambra teachers during the World Teachers’ Day celebration at Ekwueme Square, Awka

Giving their today for others’ future T

EACHERS’ reward, according to a saying, is in heaven. Not any more, as many teachers today will prefer to get their reward on earth. Last Friday, during the celebration of World Teachers Day (WTD), many teachers lamented what they see as their neglect. They complained of the poor remuneration and condition of service.

If some had their way, they would take up jobs with the Federal Government, Lagos, Rivers and Imo States, which they say are taking “good care of teachers”. The celebration of WTD by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) provided a platform for teachers to their grievances.

Many were thankful for being alive and belonging to a profession that builds lives. It was also a time for sober reflection, considering the problems of the sector. Many teachers complained of poor pay, lack of motivation, non-implementation of the minimum wage, delayed salaries, career stagnation, and poor teaching facilities.

Salaries and promotion The difference in salaries is part of reasons some teachers may consider going for greener pastures. From the survey by The Nation, teachers in Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will not like to teach elsewhere because of the good pay and the seriousness of their governments in addressing the needs of the education sector.

Mr Galadima Usman, a primary school teacher in Minna, Niger State, said governors in Lagos and Rivers are considerate.

"I am a Level 6 teacher in primary school. If I were to teach in another

PAY Level

Fed Govt

Lagos

Delta

STRUCTURE Anambra

8

Kwara

N61,525

9

N80,000

10

N70,000

12

N90,000

13

N40,000+ N96,000 N90,000

14

N110,000

15

N150,000

16

Rivers

N115,000

N89,000 -N96,000

N30,000-N35,000

N98,000 -N138,000 N65,000

N120,000

N77,000

N60,000

N99,000 N152,000

Story by Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Adegunle Olugbamila, Seun Olalude, Lagos; Aiwere Okungbowa, Delta; Nwanosike Onu, Awka; Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi; Isaac Ombe, Bayelsa; Clarice Azuatalam, Rivers; Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja; Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi; Nicholas Kalu, Calabar, Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin; and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

state, I will prefer to teach in Rivers or Lagos because the governors are considerate to the plight of teachers.

Here, we are still struggling for the government to fulfil some promises it made to us. But I heard in those states, the government always fulfils its promises to teachers."

Lagos Chairman, NUT Apapa branch, Comrade Olayinka Emmanuel, who earns about N120,000 as a Level 14 officer, said though welfare could be better, the state has done well, investing in education.

"The state government is not treating teachers as expected though there has been an improvement in the past

two years. What we earn at this level is not the best but the government has really invested well in education and we can see that public schools now look like private schools because they are being renovated and beautified. I cannot afford to work in another state aside Lagos State," he said.

Another Level 14 teacher, Mr Sikiru Balogun, who teaches Physical Health Education at Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe, praised Lagos for being serious with education.

"I will still choose to work in Lagos. The state government is trying in terms of provision of facilities, infrastructure and welfare of the

children, even in terms of prompt promotion. As of today, there is no teacher that has not been promoted for the 2010/2011 period," he said.

In Lagos, a Level 13 officer earns N90,000; Level 16 earns N152,000.

However, not all teachers are satisfied. A Level 16 teacher in Ojo said the 'Lagos factor' could have been considered in setting the wages higher.

"Let me say the state is trying in the area of prompt payment of salaries. But Lagos being a cosmopolitan state has created many social challenges - traffic, insecurity, high cost of accommodation and all that.

These are some of the things government can pay more attention to, to ameliorate our plight. The cost of living in Lagos is high and, some• Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

26

EDUCATION Fed Govt urges tertiary institutions to ensure students' safety •JAMB inaugurates Ilorin zonal office •To begin e-examination partially next year From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•Prof Rufa’i

T

HE Federal Government has told heads of tertiary institu tions in the country to ensure the safety of students under them.

Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayattu Rafa’i, handed down the

order in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the inauguration of the new Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) zonal office.

She used the occasion to condemn the killing of students in Mubi and four in University of Port Harcourt, describing them as unjustifiable under any guise.

Prof Rufa’i said: “I would like to remind vice chancellors, rectors and provosts that the safety of lives and properties under your headship should remain a major

priority as we all know that without these souls and properties, there would be no basis for your appoinment in the first instance, therefore while we expect the law enforcement agencies to continue to carry out their statutory and constitutional responsibilities of protection of lives and properties, it should remain incumbent on the heads of the institutions to know that they have equal stake as law enforcement agents.

“The protection of lives and properties of your students, even

when they live off campus should be of utmost concern, especially when it is not absolutely their choice to live off campus, but because we cannot afford to accommodate all of them on campus.”

At the event, JAMB Registrar, Prof ‘Dibu Ojerinde, said the board would begin computerbased testing (CBT) for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) next year.

He said: “The board shall be introducing CBT in our matriculation examination starting on a transitional scale in 2013 accommodating between 150,000 and 250,000 candidates in the first experiment next year and hopefully converting CBT for all candidates in 2015.

“We have identified testing centres for the 2013 transitional experiment all over the federation, including Kwara State, but these are inadequate for the envisaged full blown exercise in 2015. This is the way of the future and Nigeria cannot be left behind in ensuring that global best practices are achieved.”

Ojerinde added that the board would soon start the construction of similar prototype buildings in Abia, Taraba, Benue, Kebbi and Kano states.

“We shall also commence the building of a model computer-based testing centre in Bwari which shall benchmark the building of similar centres all over the federation,” he added.

Giving their today for others’ future • Continued from page 25

times, too high for teachers."

Delta In Delta State, some teachers would sooner relocate to Lagos if given the opportunity, despite earning slightly higher salaries.

A teacher, simply known as Miss Odhomo, said she earns N96,000 as a Level 12 officer - N6,000 more than a Level 13 teacher in Lagos. However, for her, the sea weed is greener in Lagos.

"If I have an opportunity to transfer my service, my favourite destination will be Rivers or Lagos States, " she said.

Another teacher, Mr Ogboko Isaac, likes Lagos for a different reason. The primary school teacher accused the Delta State government of discrimination between primary and Secondary school teachers, something he says does not happen in Lagos.

His words: "Teachers in primary schools in Delta State cannot be promoted beyond Grade Level 14 while secondary school teachers cannot exceed Level 16. But in Lagos State such discrimination does not exist.

While secondary school teachers in Lagos can attain Level 17, primary school teachers can exceed Grade Level 16."

However, Ogboko, who has 31 years teaching experience and earns N120, 000 as a Level 14 officer, said, despite his unhappiness with the state of welfare of teachers, he will remain in Delta State.

Defending the government, the NUT Chairman, Delta State Wing, Comrade Emmanuel Adhe, said the large workforce may be responsible for poor funding of the education sector.

"Delta State has many teachers and that is what is affecting funds meant to be invested in education. Delta State has about 35,000 teachers in its employment. The state government has been doing a lot for teachers and other civil servants," he said.

Anambra In Anambra, teachers are eyeing their counterparts in Imo State, who they said Governor Rochas Okorocha is taking good care of.

Mr Umetiti James of Community Secondary School, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, said the salary of teachers are poor in the state compared to what others earn in other states. Though he praised Governor Peter Obi for doing well, nevertheless, he said the issue of salaries should be looked into.

While a Level 10 teacher takes home a little above N40,000 per month, in Imo, he would earn close to N60,000. Also, he said a Level 14 teacher in Anambra earns about N50,000 while his counterpart in Imo take shome N70,000.

Zonal Head Teacher, Central School, Umuchu, Anambra, Mr Eusebius Umeh Agudosi, also said Okorocha has liberated Imo teachers from the bondage of those he referred to as “money bags” by paying gratuities, pensions and en-

hanced salaries. He admitted that Obi had equally shown teachers they belong to the society.

He praised Obi for rehabilitating schools and providing computers.

For teachers in some states, if their poor salaries were to be regular, they would be grateful. Many also complained about the delay in effecting their promotion.

Cross River In Cross River, where many teachers are unhappy with the pay, teachers on Salary Grade Level 8, which is the entry point, earn about N46,000.

Level Nine earns N49, 000; Level 10, about N53, 000 and Level 12, about N62, 000. However deductions of about N5,000 are made on these figures for various payments and levies.

Mr Pius Ashaka, chairman of the Association of Primary School Head teachers and the Head Teacher, Government Primary School, Obanliku Local Government of Cross River State, said primary school teachers suffer, waiting for their salaries to come.

He said: "A lot is still required of government. I am talking of primary schools. For secondary school, there is improvement because they collect salaries much earlier than us. In our case, we do not know what happened.

Council chairmen who are supposed to pay us salaries delay, sometimes, we get salaries on the 20th of the following month and we have children to take care of. We have families.

How do we fare?"

Ashaka also complained about unfair promotion of teachers based on connections.

"Recently, promotion interviews were conducted across the local governments. The earlier they release the promotion letters and implement them, the better. Implementation should be uniform. The last time, about seven years ago, implementation kept going on among selected persons. It became a survival of the fittest. Those who were fast enough got their own implemented earlier.

Some till today have nothing. For so many teachers promoted since 2005, their promotion has not been implemented," he said.

Another teacher, Mr Ignatius Ekpe, lamented the stoppage of the rural allowance in favour of the minimum wage.

Ekpe, who teaches in Government Secondary School in Akamkpa Local Government, is seeking its restoration as well as the implementation of the 27.5 per cent Teachers Special Allowance (TSA).

"The restoration of rural allowance

for teachers who are serving in rural areas should be done so that it would motivate them to teach well. They were paying this rural allowance but they stopped, when they started paying the minimum wage.

"The government should also do something about our salaries because of the economy today. But now even the 27.5 is not being paid, we expect that more should be paid to us. I remember that our salaries were tax free during the previous administration, but now, it is not so. We pay heavy tax now. It should be removed," he said.

Kwara Teachers in Kwara are also lamenting. A Fine Arts teacher on Level 14, who claimed anonymity, said he earns less than N60,000.

"I know in Kogi, Osun and Ogun states their salary structures for teachers are far better than Kwara State’s.

I have a friend whose wife works in Ogun State and she is on Level 8. What she earns is the equivalent of Level 10 in Kwara. If I am to remain a teacher and I get a better offer in a neighbouring state, I will gladly jump at it.

"What I have realised, teaching in Kwara, is the significant difference in remuneration compared to some other neighbouring states. A Level 10 teacher's take pay per month in Kwara is between N30,000 and N35,000. I am a Level 14 officer and my pay is below N60,000."

Benue In Benue State, teachers did not celebrate their day as always. Rather, they opted for a sober reflection.

They retreated to the NUT House on old Otukpo Road, Makurdi, to deliberate their bleak future under the present administration.

They said there was noting worth celebrating because of non-payment of salaries for more than two months.

The Chairman, NUT, Benue State, Wing Comrade Godwin Anya painted the deplorable condition of teachers in the state: "Teachers in Benue are dying. The last salaries they received were in July. August, September have ended, very soon October will end. Aside the issue of minimum wage on which the government has been foot-dragging for so long, there was nothing to celebrate."

He added: "Benue State government said before they pay us the minimum wage they would do table payment to determine the number of teachers, we agreed. But, instead of doing so, they set up a committee which carried out a verification ex-

•Bayelsa teachers during the World Teachers’ Day celebration

ercise to determine the exact staff strength of Benue teachers. Up till now, as I am talking to you, the report of the verification is yet to be made public while teachers in other states, especially in neighbouring North Central have since implemented the minimum wage.

A female teacher with L.G.EA Primary School, Wurukum, Makurdi, Miss Dooshima Ulam,said she is on Level 7, and her take home pay is N20,000. She said sometimes, she is paid less than that because of tax.

Miss Ulam said she would love to teach in Lagos because teachers are well paid. She also described the working environment as poor and called on the government to renovate primary schools to make learning and teaching conducive for teachers and pupils.

MrTerlumun Uwua, who teaches at St. Theresa's Primary School, Naka, said as a Level 10 officer he earns between N33,000 and N40,000.

"Benue has not done enough for teachers and the welfare is nothing to write home about compared to what obtains in other states like Kogi, Nassarawa and Lagos," he said.

In the Federal Capital Territory, teachers in the public sector earn salaries commensurate with some comfortable private sector non-teaching jobs.

‘Teachers in primary schools in Delta State cannot be promoted beyond Grade Level 14 while secondary school teachers cannot exceed Level 16. But in Lagos State such discrimination does not exist. While secondary school teachers in Lagos can attain Level 17, primary school teachers can exceed Grade Level 16’

FCT, Abuja Comrade Mangtu Bala said he earns almost N200,000 on Level 14. He knows he is fortunate.

"I am on Grade Level 14 and my salary is close to N200,000. This is not commensurable with other profession but our union has been trying to see that we are remunerated reasonably compared to other professions to cope with the standard of living in Abuja. I will not want to go to any state to teach because the state governments are not paying up to half of what we are collecting here," he said.

Adamu Sehidu who earns N97,000 is seeking better allowances.

He said: "The celebration is a thing of joy, but the painful aspect is that teachers are not appreciated the way they should. But, we thank God things are improving gradually. I pray we get there. I am on Level 13 earning N97,000. The most painful thing in FCT is that teachers who go on transfer do not enjoy transfer allowance.

No study leave to upgrade knowledge in FCT. I cannot go out of FCT." Comrade Adamu Adamu, an FCT teacher, condemned the discriminatory salary structure in various states.

He said: "I am on Level 12 and the salary is encouraging. With the present reform of President Goodluck Jonathan, workers nationwide are supposed to earn the same salary and if that is in place it will further encourage any teacher to work anywhere."

Rivers Teachers in Rivers State are happy with Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

On coming into office in 2007, he declared a state of emergency in education. On the advice of stakeholders, the state government took over • Continued on page 27

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

EDUCATION

Giving their today for others’ future • Continued from page 26

the payment of teacher's salaries from councils and set about re-building primary and secondary schools.

Before teachers' salaries were paid irregularly, since Amaechi took over, the teachers are no longer told to expect their rewards in heaven. They are always smiling home with regular salaries.

Teachers were reluctant to comment on their salaries for fear of sack.

However, it was gathered that those on Level 8 earn about N61,525; Level 9, N80,000, Level 10, between N89,000 and N96,000, and Level 12, between N98,000 and N138,000.

With the amounts they receive, teachers in Rivers State said they would not trade places with those in other states.

"The reason is, despite whatever we are paid, it is very regular. The government is urging all of us to professionalise by obtaining qualifications like NCE or post graduate diploma in education", said a teacher.

Bayelsa On the average, many Bayelsa teachers will remain where they are.

They commended the government for implementing the 27.5 per cent Teachers Special Allowances in full.

The NUT Chairman, Brandla Ogola, said Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration is trying its best, noting that no state pays better than the Bayelsa.

"You cannot leave Bayelsa and go and teach in Kwara or Ebonyi where they are paying lesser salaries, "said Brandla, who said only Rivers State

pays a little above Bayelsa.

Another teacher, Mrs Pamela Deinbiri, who spoke on teachers remuneration, it is okay. In every sector, you have the salary structure approved by the Federal Government. The state works in accordance with the salaries approved by the Federal Governemnt. So, we are using the federal consolidated salary structure.

"I don't think I will chose another place to Bayelsa to teach because there are so many factors. It is not all about salary. I have a family here. I am from this place. So, whatever happens you need to adjust. I wouldn't want to leave my family because of a difference of maybe N5,000, N10,000 to N20,000.

•From left: Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina chatting with the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris at the convocation of the Lagos State College of Health Technology held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Lecturers urged to show good example

By Adegunle Olugbamila

•Prof Fadayomi

F

OR Nigeria to improve, academics must be role models that government and people can emulate, says a professor of Public Administration at the Lagos State Uni-

versity (LASU) Sylvester Olubanji Fadayomi.

Delivering an inaugural lecture entitled: "When the State Goes to Sleep: Of Citizens and State Relationship" at LASU new auditorium on Thursday last week, he said lecturers should live above board to be good examples.

"Academics are to caution the society. Unfortunately, because of our corrupt environment, academics also get themselves caught up in the web of same thing we are talking about as far as the society is concerned.

"Unfortunately, it is a syndrome!

People believe that if you don't play along, you risk being faulted. But I

say that is not correct. It is not correct.

We as academics can stand our ground and kick against what is not right, especially those of us in government appointments. By that, we will be setting a good example for other leaders and the entire citizenry," he said.

For the society to work well, he argued that citizens must take a clean break from money politics and sheer praise -singing and genuflecting before dishonest leaders, fully participate in governance and ensure they elect credible leaders that will make positive changes.

Fadayomi also recommended what he called participatory budgeting, citizens report card, and community

score cards all which enhances more of citizens' participation in affairs of governance and funding.

"Participatory budgeting, for instance, enables people to decide how to allocate whatever resources come to their constituency in the annual budget. One advantage of this approach is that citizens are allowed to identify, discuss, and priortise how public money should be spend. This approach to budgeting has encouraged more equitable public spending, higher quality of life, increased satisfaction of basic needs, greater government transparency and accountability, increased level of public participation and democratic and citizenship learning."

Veteran journalist and columnist Olutade Makinde visited the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) and was amazed at what he saw. Here are his comments:

ABUAD: Leading light in academic sector

T

ODAY, the mustard seed which Aare Afe Babalola, Founder and President of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), planted at the commencement of academic activities on January 4, 2010 has grown into an awesome, durable oak tree, metamorphosing into a leading light in the tertiary educational sector.

I was at ABUAD recently when Chief Babalola asked his Chief Security Officer (CSO) to take me on a tour of the campus and I marveled at what I saw.

At the Law College, what I saw in the Library was close to what I saw at Yale and Harvard when I was on a seminar tour to the US in August 1984. And when I saw the Yale and Harvard references segment at ABUAD library, including access to such resources as LexisNexis, I became certain that Aare Babalola is set to lift law studies. And it has to be so because with ABUAD's Law e-library and other facilities, including high quality law lecturers, Babalola is playing the urban game in which he is a genius.

This much was confirmed by the NUC Executive secretary, Prof.

Julius Okojie, when on his visit to ABUAD Law College, he said:" I came to visit the Law faculty of this institution and I am marveled with the books and facilities provided at the faculty. It is certainly the best Law College in West Africa. I want to believe that the faculty got all these things because of the pedigree of the owner of the university. That is why we tell people not to dabble into what they don't know. I know they also have good facilities for other faculties and I am impressed with what I saw because what they have here can be compared with the best anywhere in the world".

By Olutade Makinde

In all, Aare Babalola's aspirations to take the University to the high level has put him on the same page with his dainty, workaholic pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sidi Osho, regarded as the Iron Lady of the University community, whose resolve is to ensure excellence, high academic and moral standards for the University.

A sticker for standard and discipline, the "impossibilities made possible", self-made man, Afe, has the dream of establishing ABUAD as a means of practising, by example, how problems militating against the growth of Nigerian Universities can be solved and wanted to effectuate this in the philosophy of "leading by example". This was why he has got all infrastructures on ground at its permanent site before the commencement of operations, as opposed to the practice whereby some universities exist only in name with no infrastructure of their own but operated from rented buildings.

As former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Babalola was able to gain insight into the myriad of problems confronting tertiary education in the country - problems such as indiscipline, cultism, strikes, unstable university calendar and inadequate funding - all of which have adversely affected the quality of education in Nigerian Universities. Babalola's dream of a university with a stable academic calendar has been realised. That is why he is able to produce graduates under four years, because with the level of discipline, teaching and learning at ABUAD, there are no carry-overs, re-sits or extra years.

Living up to the tenets of its motto, which translates into "Labour

•The College of Law. Inset: Afe Babalola

(work), service and integrity", ABUAD has shored up the dictates of the 3 - word motto in its daily routine of academic operations, with Babalola blazing the trail during his romance with the dignity of labour (work) syndrome when he worked as a labourer in Clayton factory, Chelsea, London between 1962-63, where he was singing and smiling while sweating as a common labourer, hypothetically signposting the first word "labour" in his later year ABUAD motto. The other two words in the motto, "service and integrity" were earned, crystal clear, by him during his future life.

(Methinks: Does Afe Babalola's Chelsea stay make him a Chelsea fan? No, Afe is an Arsenal fan (laughs).

It is not often that people realise the importance of having people like Babalola in their lives until it becomes late. But for students and workers at ABUAD as well as those who have gained from his philanthropy, free legal services and scholarships, see him as a man of integrity. No doubt ABUAD will produce graduates imbued with these

qualities traceable to their Founder.

At an address to ABUAD students and staff at the Founder's Dinner held on July 14, 2011, Aare Babalola urged the students to develop interest in their chosen courses. He added: "If you do so, you will never find learning and class attendance difficult in order to obtain a degree.

If your interest in the chosen course is cultivated and sustained, then you will find learning very easy and interesting". That sermon, according to St. Emmanuel Afe Babalola, had got tattooed into the students' brains, in the pursuit of their individual academic laurels at ABUAD. During my visit, I found that the Law College boasts of a Moot Court where mock litigations are carried out, with real judges on the bench, while students argue cases as are done in regular courts. This is to prepare the law students practically for the tasks ahead after graduation.

New multi-capacity male and female hostels and cafeteria are being built to supplement the existing ones. Feeding arrangements are on "pay as you eat" system, the staff

quarters and Guest House, in which Gen. Yakubu Gowon once stayed, are spectacles to behold while ABUAD operates the best security system ever known to mankind in any University society.

Added to all these infrastructures is the state-of-the-art Engineering College building near completion.

In all that it takes to make a university tick, ABUAD is self sufficient in all spheres, callings and departments, which makes the institution an independent community on its own.

In the words of the university's Prochancellor, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, CON, Afe Babalola "is a priest in the temple of justice, an uncommon man with a vision in an uncommon environment and a man with extraordinary courage". Lending fillip to Prof Hagher's assessment of the ABUAD Founder/President, I will describe the Aare of Oyo Empire, Chief Babalola, SAN, CON as an extraordinary person - a person with a vision that is in motion at ABUAD. •Makinde, columnist, publisher and veteran journalist, sends this piece from Ado-Ekiti

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

EDUCATION NGO trains female pupils

By Olawale Dawodu

TO join millions of girls in the world to celebrate the United Nation International Girl Child Day today, the Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), a non-governmental organisation, has designed a career talk on science and technology for secondary school pupils in schools around Lagos.

Beyond today, W.TEC Executive Director, Ms Oreoluwa Somolu said the organisation has been equipping girls with technical and professional ICT skills through its numerous programmes.

"W.TEC seeks to equip girls with the technical and professional skills required to successfully navigate and work in this technology - driven world.

Upcoming W.TEC programs to empower girls include the Create with a Purpose multimedia program November 2012 - March 2013, W.TEC Girls Technology Camp April 2013 and August 2013.

Create with a Purpose is an innovative program, which delivers training in media production for girls, so that they can create films and digital artwork , which share their perspective on the social issues that affect them."

Somolu said girl child cannot be handled with levity due to the challenges confronting them.

Her words: "Girls face double discrimination due to their gender and age, and are the most marginalised and discriminated group across the globe. The day will promote girl's human rights, highlight gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and address the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls round the globe."

T

HE leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the All African Student Union (AASU) have condemned the killing of 26 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in Adamawa State on Monday last week by yet-tobe identified gunmen.

In a statement signed by the NANS Vice President, Comrade Moreno Ehimemenn in Benin City, the Edo

NANS, AASU condemn Mubi killing From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

State Capital the students gave one week ultimatum to relevant authorities to produce the perpetrators of the heinous crime and punish them accordingly.

"What did the harmless students do?

We cannot fold our arms to see our colleagues being horribly killed. Failure to investigate and produce the militants, we would not hesitate to mobilise to Abuja after the seven-day ultimatum to peacefully protest against the ungodly acts. We also urge

• Pupils writing the re-sit at Eva Adelaja Junior Girls School, Bariga, Lagos.

parents, well meaning Nigerians and friends of Nigerian students to join us in the peaceful protest," he added.

Ehimemenn expressed worry that if the situation is not quickly checked, it will further reduce the interest of education in Nigeria.

The statement further added that the students should not be buried if adequate compensation is not duly paid.

Similarly, the members of AASU from different African countries, condemned the killings when they visited Yola to confer the Nkwame Nkrumah Leadership Award on the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Yola, Prof Abdul-Mumin Sa'ad.

The Deputy Speaker of the AASU Parliament, Yinka Gbadebo, while condemning the killing of the students called on the Federal Government to engage any aggrieved group in a dialogue to prevent loss of lives and property.

He said, "We want to use this opportunity to strongly condemn the killing of our fellow students at the Federal Polytechnic Mubi on Monday. We call on the government and all parties involved to dialogue to prevent further loss of lives. " Speaking on the award, he said the Provost was found deserving because of his leadership qualities and commitment toward uplifting the FCE Yola.

28,000 retake JSS1 placement tests in Lagos

I

NSUFFICIENT writing materials and OMR sheet, and overpopulation delayed the re-sit examination for pupils who scored below 50 per cent in the Primary Six pupil's placement test of July 14 at Eva Adelaja Junior Girls School, Bariga, Lagos on Wednesday last week.

For over three hours, candidates at the centre had to wait to write the examination while officials of the Lagos State Examination Board, the

By Ramat Musa

Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and teachers of the school sorted out the issues.

The re-sit examination conducted by Lagos State Examination Board for about 28,000 out of 100,000 pupils who wrote on July 14. The number comprised of those who failed the exam at first, those who missed it and those that were prevented from

writing before as a result of negligence of their school.

Lagos SUBEB chairman, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu said by next year, the examination board would have overcome the challenge of conducting the examination.

She said: '' There are still many challenges we face during the conduct of the exam but it shows there will be great improvement this time around.

Though some faults were not from

the pupils but the school which refuse to register them and those who missed the exam at first.

"Some of the challenges are some centres that were not informed of the examination and some were not informed of the population which caused overpopulation and inadequacy of OMR sheet and this will make some students to write their answer on a photocopied OMR sheet.�

0011

11-10-2012

29

Lynching of students stirs row Page 31

*CAMPUSES Exciting *NEWS farewell *PEOPLE to *KUDOS& people’s KNOCKS Last week, all hell was let loose at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) following the death VC of a final year student of Accounting, Teslim Adebola Ibrahim. OLATUNJI AWE reports. *GRANTS Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0802-4550-354 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The peace of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) was shattered when two gunmen opened fire Anslem Ekechukwu on a student, but he escaped unhurt. Irate students lynched one of them; the other was graduated last month in Law from the beaten to a pulp, ESTHER MARK (Mass Communication) reports.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. When he was in school, he established Anseek Designers, a fashion and modelling outfit popular among students in the Southeast. Anslem shared his passion with UCHE ANICHEBE (500Level Law).

‘I opened my outfit with my school fee’ •UNIJOS main gate

Gunmen unleash terror on UNIJOS A

LL was calm at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) that fateful Wednesday. There was no sign of the violence that would later engulf the campus.

A part-time Management Science student, Lydia, woke up that morning hale and hearty. She left for school to write her final exam. After the exam, she followed her course mates to the main library garden for photographs.

She was posing before a camera when a shot came from nowhere. Lydia was hit by a bullet on her left arm, below the shoulder. She fell immediately; and, out of fear, her colleagues ran for dear life.

The peace on campus was shattered.

Members of the National Association of English and Literary Students (NAELS), who were holding election in their department, scampered for safety. Students, receiving lecture in a four-storey building, almost jumped down as gunshots rang out. Two students lost consciousness amid the chaos.

•Students kill one Many students had thought it was a Boko Haram attack. After recovering from the shock, they discovered that it was an attempt on the life of a male student. When they learned that the gunmen had wounded their colleagues, students went wild.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the main target of the assailants, a 300Level Psychology student, ducked when the gunmen shot at him. He was said to have disappeared immediately from the scene. When they learned their attack had failed, the assailants took to their heels, shooting sporadically. Students went after them.

They were chased from the permanent site library to the Red Bricks near the main gate, then to the Abuja Hostel. One of the gunmen was overpowered on the bridge between the Red Bricks and Abuja Hostel. The students,

who were angered by the rumour of Lydia’s death, descended on the gunman and hit him with various weapons till he died.

Students went after the second gunman. He was caught at the Aluta Centre in the Abuja hostel; the attacker was almost killed before he was rescued by security operatives. Eyewitnesses said the gunman attempted to shoot the security man working in centre but the trigger seized. That was the time the angry students arrived.

As the drama unfolded, Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials arrived in their mini bus and pleaded with the mob not to apply jungle justice. But the irate students pounced on the SUG officials and chased them away from the scene. The vice president of the union was said to have lost her pair of shoes as she ran for safety.

The members of Plateau State Spe-

cial Task Force (STF) were called to control the lawlessness. The assailant, who was almost dead, was rescued by the task force.

Furious students blocked the way as the soldiers tried to move out of the campus. The STF men were said to have put their Toyota Hillux van on full motion to disperse the students.

By press time, the reason for the assassination bid was yet to be ascertained. The two students, who were rumoured dead, were rushed to the University Health Centre.

One of them, Uju Imo, 100-Level English, who voted in her department’s election a few minutes before the incident, was said to be with her friends when she was suddenly hit on the head by a stone being hurled at the gunmen during the chase. Uju was discharged the following day.

Recounting her experience to CAMPUSLIFE, Uju, whose parents are lecturers in the university, said: “I •Continued on page 30

•Anslem •Continued on page 30

•AfricanLiberty.org/ The Nation essay winners get prizes-P32• Final year student dies in pool-P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE

The assault on tertiary education

I

FIRST read about what is now termed the “Mubi Massacre” where 40 (some reports say 26, others say 30, is one life not precious?) tertiary institutions students were murdered in cold blood on Reuters a few hours after it happened. My first reaction was to castigate the foreign media for being at it again. I began monitoring the local media, but it was all blank. A few hours after the Reuters report it was picked up and actually appeared in the online version of some newspapers. A cold chill went down my spine; I was shocked, befuddled and dumbfounded at the same time. Who or which group carried out this senseless murder? What was the motive? What would anyone gain by killing undergraduates? My mind was abuzz with questions that I could not find ready answers to.

Perhaps we need to refresh ourselves. On Independence Day, a group of yet to be identified assailants stormed three tertiary institutions in the town of Mubi, Adamawa State, the Federal Polytechnic, Adamawa State University and the School of Health Technology. About 26 students were killed at the Federal Polytechnic with the other two institutions accounting for 14 deaths.

Authorities of the polytechnic were forced to close the institution. The students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi were said to have defied their ongoing semester examinations and packed their bags and luggage’s to use the free period preceding the curfew imposed on the town to flee. Students who were lucky boarded commercial vehicles while the not so lucky patronized trailers to leave the town. Those not fortunate enough to meet up the free time opted to trek over 15kilometres to Mararaba to board buses going to Maiduguri, Yola or anywhere.

Lecturers and students who witnessed the gory spectacle said that some of those killed

Pushing Out with

Agbo Agbo 08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com were final year students who were preparing to defend their academic projects while others were starting their examinations to move to the next class. In Abuja, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the killings which elicited condemnations from all members. As has become the norm now, Presidential spokesman. Dr. Reuben Abati said President Jonathan described the killings as tragic, sad, barbaric and shocking.

“The President has directed security agencies to investigate the matter and get to the root because this kind of incident, where people were called out and shot, is really shocking. He directed that no stone should be left unturned in the bid by the law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the mayhem are brought to book”.

Abati said government regretted that the massacre occurred when considerable progress was being made in tackling the security challenges in some parts of the country.

The Senate, on the other hand, urged President Jonathan to expeditiously apprehend the killers and prosecute them. The upper Legislative Chamber also observed one-minute silence in honour statutes. The Senators “expressed sadness and anger over the massacre.”

After the condemnations, reports from witnesses started filtering out about victims being called by name before being killed and talks about students’ union elections just a few days before the killings. If this is linked to union elections or cult activities, then it’s

very scary and portends danger for tertiary education in Nigeria. I refer to myself as an incurable optimist always believing that something good will eventually emanate out of Nigeria someday; the undergraduates I interact with regularly through this noble Campus Life project gives me such hope, but I must confess that my hope is at its lowest ebb as I review these unnecessary killings for a number of reasons.

In the first instance, if it is confirmed that the incident is linked to student union elections, then the terror campaign in the country would have entered a very dangerous phase that could have far reaching repercussions. I say this because if you put weapons in the hands of educated and intelligent young men without direction, conscience, vision and morals then you’re courting disaster of unimaginable proportion. We’ve seen the sophistry of our so called yahoo yahoo boys in the area of scam and fraud, translate this to a terror campaign and you’ll begin to imagine how I’m feeling right now.

The domino effect of the killings, according to witnesses, got to the level that Christians and people of southern extraction started moving from places with more problems to those presumed to have more Christians and vice versa. Wuro Puteji, with its high concentration of churches and many people from the minorities such as Higgi, Marghi, Fali etc, looked a reasonable alternative with its high population of students, making it look neutral and having a balanced mix. A lecturer who witnessed the incident was quoted as saying, “We got to Mubi on time and were surprised to note that there were no checkpoints, although in Song, Gombi, Hong and Marraraba, these checkpoints were there days earlier when the JTF carried out its massive house to house checks resulting in arrests and discovery of weapons.”

The systematic and coordinated manner the killings were carried out also calls for concern given the fact that the killers went to three institutions the same night to carry out their dastardly act! Since the dreaded Boko Haram has not come out openly to claim responsibility, we are left to work with the hypothesis that it might be connected to the union election, and if it is, then

Gunmen unleash terror on UNIJOS •Continued from page 29

went to vote with friends in my department’s election, after which we heard gunshots. As we tried to run for safety, I saw students chasing two guys with guns. One of the stones hit me and I fell down. People thought I had been hit by a stray bullet and rushed me to the health centre. I am really grateful to God because it could have been worse. The injury was not serious because I was discharged the next day from the school centre.”

Speaking, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Communications, Mr Steve Otowo, said the gunmen were not students of the institution. He said: “Two gunmen came to the campus and started shooting. The bullet hit a student but the gunmen were pursued by angry students who killed one of them. The other was almost killed before the security men of the STF

came and whisked him away to the hospital. I want to categorically state that none of the gunmen was a student of the institution. Their mission to the school is still being investigated.”

The Chief Security Officer, Shoky Bature, told CAMPUSLIFE: “The gunmen were after a 300-Level student of Psychology. Unfortunately for them, the bullet hit another student while the main target escaped unhurt. After the incident, the student was interrogated by the security. We discovered that he had an injury but there was no physical trace of blood. An X-ray had to be conducted and it was discovered he had a bullet in his stomach. He was transferred to Bingham University Teaching Hospital where an operation was conducted on him to remove the bullet. Where he got the bullet wound from, and why the assailants

were in school to kill him, are being investigated. Right now, he is recuperating at the Bingham Teaching Hospital.”

A student and resident of Abuja Hostel, Peter Istifanus, said: “We cannot fold our hands and watch criminals inflict pain on us. We cannot be battling ethnic crisis in the state and yet we won’t have peace on campus.

This is why the angry students descended on the gunmen.”

By the time of filing this report, Lydia was still recuperating in an undisclosed hospital but CAMPUSLIFE gathered that her condition was stable.

Meanwhile, because of the incident, many departmental elections have been postponed till further notice.

Otowo advised students to be security-conscious and not to engage themselves in unlawful killing.

•An Accountant,Dr M. A. Ayeni, with Accounting students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) after a seminar organised by the students on the campus.

PHOTO: SIKIRU AKINOLA

we cannot rule out cultists taking over to settle perceived or imagined scores.

Another reason for concern is the easy way arms and ammunition is easily “acquired” in Nigeria. Who gave the murderers the sophisticated weapons they used?

Who tracks the inflow of arms into the country? Who taught them how to use the weapons? These are issues we have to grapple with. Are our campuses now a training ground for future terrorists who may use the high rate of unemployment as an excuse to rob, kill, maim and run this country aground? I’m worried because an educated terrorist can effectively use propaganda to confuse the real issues on ground.

As a result of the frequency of similar attacks, Nigerians are no longer shocked by news of these terrible happenings. Our collective psyche-I say this to our shamehave become so benumbed that sanctity of life does not mean much any longer! Often times, we see the Police and witnesses trading banters about the number of lives lost, this ought not to be so. Neither joblessness, nor hunger, anger nor anything else, could justify the culture of impunity that pervades the nation these days. Anything short of a thorough investigation into the incident in Mubi should not suffice. There should be no cover-ups, no scapegoats, and no half measures. Our tertiary institutions should be a place for providing solutions to the complex challenges facing the nation and not a ground for these complexities to fester. Given all the stories and the theories as to what might have been responsible, it is important for the security agencies to ascertain what really happened and why; and also ensure that culprits (if it is confirmed that they have a hand in it) are apprehended and brought to book.

The manner of the execution of the Mubi killings, no doubt, points to some form of premeditation. The victims were called out from their rooms and properly identified before being killed, according to some accounts. Those who attempted to run were gunned down. One gory account was that of an old man who was killed because he could not produce his son who was allegedly marked for death. When and how did things get so bad in this country that human life is no longer sacred? What manner of future “leaders” are we grooming?

‘I opened my outfit with my school fee’

W

HAT informed the name of your fashion company, Anseek?

It is a combination of my first name and surname. ANSEEK is a fashion label based in the eastern part of Nigeria, which specialises in male outfits, especially suits and shirts. We are also involved in modelling and recruiting of prospective models of both genders; we train them and ignite their potential.

What is your appraisal of the Nigeria fashion industry?

Nigeria fashion industry has taken a new look unlike a few years back. Now, we see much creativity and style in people’s sense of dressing. We no longer copy the western mode of dressing and it makes me feel good that our own native attires have been modernised to reflect our identity.

What has Anseek achieved in fashion and modelling trades?

We have made some progress that encouraged us to work harder. We discovered and trained the current Miss Anambra, Ijeoma Mbonu, who was also the first runner-up of the Southeast Beauty Pageant.

Also, the first runner-up of Mr Glo, Janel Ilem, had his modelling training under our outfit. In 2010, Apex Entertainment honoured me with the award of Best Creative Designer in Enugu.

Also, Law Students Association (LAWSA) in UNIZIK awarded me

the Best Student Entrepreneur in 2010 and 2012.

How did you combine fashion and academic?

Everything in life is all about determination. I had the zeal to study law as first degree, and also have the passion for fashion. The two areas are really a responsibility for me. Though, the situation posed a great challenge for me but it kept me going while I was in school. My philosophy is: if a man does not have challenge, he will never know his strength.

Do you think that the calendar of tertiary institutions favours entrepreneurship?

No, because the university system makes students to go through tasks that are time-consuming. Universities’ calendars don’t allow students to have time for other activities except reading and reading. No. This is not the way it should be done. But this is the situation we have found ourselves in this country.

What are the challenges besetting student entrepreneurship?

The major challenge is finance.

I remember using my school fee and house rent to start Anseek and I don’t think many youth can take such risk. If you understand where you are going, you will do something extra to get something extraordinary. Government should help students that have passion for entrepreneurship by giving them the financial support.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

31

CAMPUS LIFE Were they really robbers? This is the question many are asking following the killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State in Aluu community for alleged robbery.

Their mates are threatening to attack the community if the allegation turns out to be false. CHRIS OKAFOR (Microbiology, UNIPORT) and GERALD NWOKOCHA report.

T

HEIR death first hit the airwaves through the social network media. It generated conversation, with those exchanging mails, wondering what they could have done to warrant being killed like that.

Ugonna, Lloyd, Tekena and Chidioka, all students of Universality of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State, were lynched by some members of Aluu community last Friday after being accused of robbery.

Did they really rob? Who did they rob? Were they found with the stolen items? There were some of the questions asked by friends on the social media. Aluu is about 20 minutes walk through a bush path from the campus. Since their death, their mates

•Lloyd

•Ugonna

•Tekena

•Chidiaka

Lynching of students’stirs row have been spoiling for a fight with the community over the way they were killed.

Before their death, the community has been terrorised by robbers, who killed each time they came if they got nothing. During an attack, the robbers were said to have killed a family head and raped his daughter.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that this incident made the community to step up security.

However, there are still conflicting reports on the visit of the burnt students to the area. One account had it that the villagers caught them while returning from an operation. Guns, laptops and smart phones, such as Blackberry belonging to students living in the community were said to have been recovered from them.

Another account said the students were cultists who were rounded up during the initiation of new members.

Yet another source said the victims were set up by a student, who owed one of them.

Students and members of Aluu community watched as the victims

were beaten with sticks and other lethal weapons. Some of them took the pictures of the incident with camera phone and other devices. The video obtained by CAMPUSLIFE showed middle-age men placing tyres round the necks of the victims, with another holding a container of petrol. Then another threw a lit match from behind after the dying students were drenched with petrol.

But a student, who lives in the community, told CAMPUSLIFE that the students were not robbers as claimed by the community. “They were made to confess to killings and previous robberies because result of excess torture,” the student said.

Two of the victims - Ugonna and Lloyd - were cousins. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that they were upcoming rappers. Lloyd, who was known as Big L, won a rap contest, Turb Show, aired on Silverbird Television in Port Harcourt.

However, whether the lynched students were robbers or cultists, the community has been criticised for unlawfully killing them.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, at an emergency State Executive Council meeting, condemned the action, describing it as barbaric. A former Vice President (Africa) of the World Bank, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, expressed outrage, saying something was fundamentally wrong with the nation. She described the killing as savagery. The traditional ruler of the community and some of his subjects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Students condemned the act, threatening to attack the community.

According to Frank Weli, 300-Level Microbiology, the story about stealing of Blackberry phones and laptops is a lie. “The mob killed the students to probably make a point to robbers who have been terrorising the community,” he said.

A student, who lives in the community, said under condition of anonymity: “The allegation that the students stole phones and laptops is a lie. When they were being beaten, we could not see the materials that they claimed they stole. But none of us could talk

because the people were violent and could rope any student who may want to stop them from killing the four students.”

Shola Akinjobi said the man that supervised the lynching should be arrested and killed also. “How could someone organise the killing of individuals in such a violent manner?” he asked. Bene Oweredada, another student, described the killing as brutal, said: “We can go on reprisal attack if we discover they didn’t steal anything.”

The management of UNIPORT has confirmed that the deceased were students. Addressing a press conference last Monday, the management named the students as Biringa Chidiaka Lordson, 200-Level Theatre Arts, with matriculation number U2010/ 1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, 200-Level Geology, with matriculation number U2010/5565149; Mike Lloyd Toku, 200-Level Civil Engineering, with matriculation number U2010/3010094; and Tekena Erikena, whose details were still being sorted out at press time.

The Southwest zone of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has held a symposium on causes of security breaches and the way out. NURUDEEN YUSUF (300-Level Law, Lagos State University) reports.

Charting a course for peace

H

OW can religious bodies help the government to curb insecurity? The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Southwest zone, attempted an answer at its symposium on security challenges facing the country.

The symposium with the theme, Insecurity in Nigeria: Myth, reality and panacea, was held at the multipurpose Hall of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

The zone comprises Lagos State University (LASU), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Federal Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) and College of Education, Yewa, among others.

Dignitaries at the event included the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hajia Idiat Adebule; former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, represented by Dr Bala Muhammed; Chief Imam of Lagos State Alhaji Garuba Akinola; Baba Adinni of Lagos Sheikh Hafeez Abou and Chief Missioner, Ansarud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Ahmad Others were Proprietor of Daaru Na’im Islamic Centre, Sheikh

•Cross section of Muslim students at the symposium

Imran Eleha, and Prof Abdulkareem Hussein, an emeritus professor of Medical Biochemistry.

Mushaua Alaran, the Amir of the zone, in his address, said the symposium was organised to address critical security challenges tearing the nation apart. He listed Boko Haram insurgency, Niger Delta militancy and kidnapping, among the myriad of socio-political and economic problems Nigeria is grappling with.

“These insurgencies that are being witnessed in Nigeria leave no one in doubt that all is not well with our nation. It is even more worrisome that some of the agitations emanating from dissident groups have religious connotations, thereby making many Nigerians have the erroneous belief that a religious war is being

waged by adherents of a particular religion. Islam and Muslims have been the most vilified in this regard,” Mushaua said.

He added: “MSSN believe that the outcome of this symposium will provide the template for those at the helm of affairs to solve the problems that stand in the path of the progress of our nation.”

Dr Muhammed noted that the root of the present insecurity in Nigeria could be found in mass poverty and social injustice. He urged the government not to rely on force in containing insecurity.

He said establishment of a righteous society would naturally put an end to the challenges. He advised the youth to cultivate the good attitude such as integrity, respect for law and order, hard work and prudency.

Sheikh Ahmad, who spoke on

•Sheikh Ahmad while delivering his lecture

Solving security challenges in the prophetic era: Its relevance in the present dispensation, noted that Prophet Muhammed faced similar challenges in Mecca before he migrated to Medinah.

“The Prophet (SAW) created an egalitarian, just, morally-upright and stable society to solve the problems. He involved settlers and migrants to build the society, offered a good leadership example, preached justice and addressed poverty,” the Islamic scholar said.

He added: “To tackle security challenges in Nigeria, we need a sovereign national conference; we need dialogue more than ever in this country, we need to discuss our fundamental religious rights, the people must be given a sense of belonging and then their human rights.”

Hajia Adebule urged the youth not to engage in antagonism rather, “we should learn to understand the system and educate others by passing the right information and analyse the way forward.”

She said Muslims are organised people, advising the Muslim youth to promote unity in the country.

Sirajudeen Abdulazeez, MSSN national president, in his closing remarks, said insecurity was fast becoming a household name in Nigeria. “May Allah assist us in our quest to make this country a safe and secure place which will spring up development and truly make us great; may Allah accept this programme from us a responsibility to build one country and may He reward us accordingly,” he prayed.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

32

CAMPUS LIFE ESUT sacks eight lecturers •500 students expelled, Okada banned on campus

E

•The matriculating students on the sport day

Freshers tasked on academic excellence

T

HE management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV COLLEGE), Jos has organised a three-day orientation programme for the newly-admitted diploma students. The event was aimed at creating awareness on the rules and regulations of the institution.

In his address on the first day, the Rector of the college, Dr Ayo Fasan, congratulated the new students for their admission, saying the privilege came with responsibilities which required the students to take their studies serious.

He said: “For those of you who want to continue studies in the institution by re-applying for the degree programme, the beginning of the journey starts now and I urge you to give in your best to achieve

From Gotodok Lengshak TV COLLEGE

success.”

There were other speakers, who orientated the students on the first day. Prof Ema Ema spoke on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse and Hon Gambo Nbilamut spoke on the career opportunities in the media circle.

The second day featured pep talks on decency and good dressing by the Registrar of the college, Hajiya Hadiza Lawal, and exams malpractice and its attendant consequences

by Mrs Phoebe Rishante among other speakers.

There was also “know your environment” walk when the students were conducted round the college to know the lecture halls, studio, library, female hostel, language

laboratory clinic and canteen. This was followed by a sport event organised in the evening.

One of the new students, Emmanuel Idu, appreciated the management for the orientation programme.

He said: “I can now move freely knowing what to do and where to go every time. I also know where to access help and get information.”

Another student, Mary Joseph, said: “The orientation programme has provided me the opportunity to know almost all the staff of the institution as well as meeting my new course mates. I can’t wait to start lectures fully because everything looks exciting here.”

About 250 students were admitted into the departments of Television Journalism, Television Production and Television Engineering departments.

African Liberty.org/ The Nation essay winners get prizes •To travel to Kenya

T

HE winners of the essay contest organised by AfricanLiberty.org in conjunction with The Nation newspaper have been presented with their prizes. The presentation ceremony was held in Computer Auditorium, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) last Monday.

The competition, which was put together for students in African countries, was held between June 7 and July 20 with three topics – The Predatory State: Its Origin and Implication for Economic Growth; Statism or Free Markets: An Essential Ingredient for Africa’s Economic Growth?; Protectionism or Trade: Alternatives for Africa’s Economic Growth.

The winners of the essay were announced on August 9. They are Moses Oluwanifise (first prize), OAU, Nicholas Omoh (second prize), University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Dave Mankhokwe (third prize), University of Malawi. Hannah Ojo, OAU, and Marcus Adeniyi, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) shared the fourth prize.

Moses, who also won the 2011 edition of the essay, received $1,000 cash prize and scholarship to attend a Free Society conference in Kenya. Other first, second and their runners up also received $750, $500 and $300 with return tickets to Kenyan conference.

The presentation also featured a seminar tagged From poverty and serfdom to prosperity and freedom. The African Liberty Organization is an initiative for Africans who want genuine development for Africa. They establish African Liberty Student Foundation in different universities and also organize seminars and essay competitions in collaboration with the schools and newspaper.

•Hannah and Moses after they received their prizes...last Monday From Opeoluwa Sonuga OAU

The Director of Outreach of Africa Liberty Organisation, Mr Adedayo Thomas, urged the students embrace free market economy, which he said remained the solution Nigeria’s developmental problem. He noted that the competition, which has been on for three years, recorded its largest entries with about 221 students applied from various African countries.

He said 197 entries were later accepted.

Thomas said the aim of the essay was to develop the interest of students in practical economic issues which will bring them out of poverty. He said the organisation also promoted reading culture among students, which is why it always donates free books to higher institutions and secondary schools in Nigeria.

Equally present at the ceremony were the Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof.

Salami represented by Prof. Segun Adekoya, The Dean Students Affairs, Dr.Mrs Durosinmi able represented by Mrs I.F Awofoye; The Head Counselling Unit, DSA, Mrs C.B Obisakin; Mrs A.O Awofisayo, members of Moses Class, friends and well wishers.

Moses told CAMPUSLIFE: “I have been writing essay since my 100Level days and the last year edition was the first time I won any essay prize. It is not all the time you win but participating is the most important thing.”

Hannah, who was visibly elated, said: “When you do something, you expect result; so I am very grateful that I was among the winners.”

The programme was ended with donation of books to OAU main library. The students that attended the presentation were also given free compact disc containing information about the organisation and over 80 texts on political economy.

IGHT staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) found to be involved in admission racket have been sacked by the management. Six of the indicted staff including a senior lecturer, were found to have been responsible for the illegal admission of over 500 students who were expelled

by ESUT authorities recently. The sacked members of staff worked in various departments of the university.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations, Mr Osita Ugwuoti, said one of the affected workers was discovered to be engaged in double employment in ESUT and Institute of Management (IMT) earning salaries from both institutions.

He said another was sacked for mutilating students’ results, sale

From Chinenye Igwe ESUT

of degree results as well as other malpractices. The affected students have been expelled as well.

The ESUT Governing Council approved the sack of the affected workers at its 126th regular meeting at the Agbani permanent campus held recently.

In another development, the ESUT management has resolved to ban commercial motorcycles known as Okada from operating on the campus. The management adopted a resolution, which took effect from September 27.

Efforts by CAMPUSLIFE to reach the Students’ Union officials for their reaction were futile as at the time of this report. The Association of the Okada riders, however, frowned at the decision of the management.

Union remembers hero

T

HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Ibadan (UI) has held a lecture in memory of Adekunle Adepeju, who paid the supreme price for the welfare of students of the institution. Adekunle was gunned down by the Nigerian police during the protest by UI students in 1971.

The theme of the memorial lecture was The role of students in fostering national unity and integration.

The union president, Raymond Edosa, said Adekunle died in the struggle for better welfare services for students. “His death came as a shock to many which make thousands of students present at his burial,” Raymond noted.

Dr Gbolade Osinowo (OON), who was the roommate of the late Adekunle, chaired the programme.

He described the deceased as a gentleman with noble character, intelligence and fear of God. He said at 23 years, Adekunle exhibited features of a future leader. He added that Adekunle’s death highlighted problems facing students.

He praised Nigerian students for being in the vanguard of national struggle and praised the union executive members for remembering the late students.

The guest lecturer, Dr Wale Okediran, spoke on the present challenges facing the nation. To overcome these challenges, Okediran recommended a true

•The late Adekunle From Hammed Hamzat UI

democratic value and leadership in the country.

Prof A.R. Alada, Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), who spoke on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, said Adekunle represented many things to different people. He described the lecture as a call for freedom.

Prof Alada said in recognition of Adekunle’s struggle, the Students Union Building (SUB) was named after him.

Chief Segun Okeowo, former president, National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), praised the university management for lifting the ban placed on unionism in the premier university. Family members of the late Adekunle were present at the programme.

‘His death came as a shock to many which make thousands of students present at his burial’

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

33

CAMPUS LIFE ICAN president visits OAU

I

•Mudi (middle) flanked by some of the new members of the executive after the event

Dept honours head, inaugurates leaders

T

HE National Association of Quantity Surveying Students (NAQSS), Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) chapter, has honoured the Head of the Department (HOD), Mallam Adamu Mudi.

Also honoured was the president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Hammed Omuiyadun.

The programme took place at the newly-reconstructed Stella Obasanjo Lecture Theatre on the mini campus of the institution.

The Dean, School of Environmental Studies, Mr Anthony Otunola, while delivering his lecture titled Life after graduation, thanked God for

From Akinola Oluyi OFF POLY

the lives of the outgoing executive members who were graduating. He encouraged them not to influence their national service posting, explaining that God has plans for every one of them.

While presenting the award, the outgoing president, Kazeem Olorunosebi, said: “We are presenting the award to our HOD for his undiluted support, courage and fatherly role towards achieving success in our department. During your short tenure, through your effort and commitment, we had six different courses accredited under

your leadership and three different presidents in SUG, faculty and department. It is happening for the first time in the history this department.”

Adamu, after receiving the award, said: “I am the happiest person on earth today. I appreciate all my students for this laudable honour. I pray that God grant you success in all your endeavors.”

NAQSS also inaugurated new leaders for the 2012/2013 academic session. The new leaders included Babatunde Oludare, President, Bashir Muktar, General Secretary and Sunday Olaoye, Public Relations Officer.

T was a historic homecoming last week for the 48th president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Doyin Owolabi, who visited Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), his alma mater. Owolabi is the first alumnus of the institution to head Accountants’ body.

He was accompanied by professionals in private organisations and academic when he was being conducted round the campus by the Vice–Chancellor of the university, Prof Tale Omole.

Owolabi said he was happy at the maintenance of the architectural and horticultural beauty of the university, which made it, according to him, the most beautiful higher institution in Nigeria.

In his remarks, which were laden with experiences of his undergraduate days, the Economics graduate said that he was elated to visit the institution in the period of its

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

golden jubilee anniversary. He described OAU as a stakeholder in the Accountant body.

Prof Omole said he was not only happy receiving his childhood friend, but also the first OAU alumnus to be president of ICAN. He assured the professional body of OAU’s support. “If before now we were not supporting ICAN, we are going to support the body now that one of our own, a very distinguished alumnus, is the helmsman,” the VC said.

He continued: “When we were young, we never knew we would be what we are today. OAU’s department of Accounting is the most vibrant in the country. This fact is evident from what our graduates and undergraduates are doing in their various professions.”

At the reception held in honour of the ICAN president were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Ayo Salami, Registrar, Mr Ayorinde Ogunruku, Acting Bursar, Mrs Ronke Akeredolu, Heads of Department of Management and Accounting, and Economics, Professors Taiwo Ashaolu, Joseph Adebayo respectively.

‘Education impetus for national growth’

E

DUCATION has been described as the necessary impetus for Nigeria’s technological development. This statement was made by the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO POLY), Prof Godwin Onu, who spoke at the annual national conference organised by the School of General Studies.

The theme of the conference was Meeting the challenges of sustainable development in Nigeria. Onu said education was pertinent to the development of the nation. According to him, the school’s curriculum contains courses that provided cross fertilization of ideas for both the science-based courses and li-

From Geraldine Okolie OKOPOLY

brary-based disciplines.

He said Nigeria was still in search of robust and market-driven curriculum that would project it to the level of technological growth and development. “This is the third time the School of General Studies has hosted this conference; a school that can be described as the least in terms of income generation, having no students of her own or association of students tied to any of her departments and yet have no less than 14 academic doctors in different disciplines,” he said.

Outgoing Corps members told to be creative

T

HE Cross River State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Nkereke Ibangha, has charged the outgoing 2011 Batch “C” Corps members to use the opportunity of the one year service to gather experience that would help them to live a proper life in the future.

Ibangha gave the charge during an interaction with journalists at the NYSC Secretariat in Calabar.

He said the service year was a time Corps members must start behaving as adults. “How you manage the allowance paid by the Federal Government during service year gives you an insight on what life outside school looks like. You have learnt one or two things in the course of service, don’t go and start looking for jobs that are not readily available for now, do something no-matter how small immediately you get home,” he charged the youths.

•The uprooted pawpaw tree...last week

Final year student dies in pool •Tree falls on another

A

LL was calm when Kayode Omoyele, a final year Economics student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), left his residence, 31Ede-Osogbo road, Ile-Ife, with friend to swim in a pool at a nearby motel. He never knew what fate had for him. Few hours later, he died in the pool.

When the news of Kayode’s death got to his colleagues on campus, the pall of grief descended on the campus.

Students gathered in group to discuss what could have led to their colleague’s death.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Kayode went to have fun in Motel Royale along Ede- Osogbo road. The deceased was said to have taken alcoholic drinks beyond his content when he dived into the pool. Unable to control himself in the water, Kayode was said to have lost consciousness and died in the pool.

Upon learning of his death, his friend took to his heels but was later arrested by the university security operatives.

Kayode had few days to complete his final year project work.

Sola Adeyemo, a 300-Level student,

From Oluwafemi Ogunjobi and Temitayo Ayetoto OAU

who lives near the late Kayode’s residence, said: “It should not have been Kayode because he was a nice person whom anyone could easily admire.”

However, the motel is presently under lock and key as investigation is in progress to unravel the cause of the death.

In another development, students scampered for dear lives when, last Wednesday, a pawpaw tree fell without prior sign. However, a student was trapped beneath the branches of the tree. The incident occurred at about 6pm along a path between Moremi and Fajuyi halls of residence.

The trapped student, Vasitha Njoko, was passing by when the tree fell. It took the heroic act of students who saw the incident to rescue the girl. The victim, who was unconscious when she was pulled out, was rushed to the university health centre. Though she regained consciousness on arrival at the hospital, but she was in pain as she

•The late Kayode...few minutes before his death

was being attended to by doctors.

Vasitha, 100-Level Nursing, was heading back to her hostel with a course mate after a laboratory practical exercise when the tree unexpectedly fell on her.

A 500-Level Crop Science student, Temilolu Ajetumobi, who witnessed the scenario, said the uprooting may have been caused by the heavy downpour, which could have weakened the roots of the tree.

From Victor Gbonegun NYSC CALABAR

Speaking on Community Development Service, Mr Ibangha explained that there was need for reorientation of Corps members on the idea of what community development project should be. According to him, CDS must touch the lives of ordinary persons in the rural areas, noting that projects such as building of market, roads and bridges have endeared the NYSC to the heart of the people.

On the activities of the scheme in Cross River State, Ibangha said he was able to sell NYSC to the local government in the state through meetings with the council officials on the need to provide accommodation, security and welfare for the serving youth, adding that the meeting had started yielding positive results.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

34

CAMPUS LIFE Next Tuesday, Prof Ishaq Oloyede will bow out as Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) after a five-year tenure. Students are singing his praise for a job well done. HABEEB WHYTE (500-Level Law) writes.

N

EXT Tuesday, the five- year tenure of the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, will end. The professor of Islamic Religious Studies, who is also an alumnus of the institution, succeeded Prof Shamsudeen Amali in 2007 as the eighth VC. Like the tenure of some of his predecessors, notably Prof Abdulraheem Oba, the sixth VC, the Oloyede-led management also recorded its share of controversy.

However, students and stakeholders believe that he succeeded in reorganising the school’s administration, which in turn boosted its local and international image.

The Oloyede-led management introduced programmes that changed the face of administration.

It inculcated a high-level of discipline in staff and students. That the university under him intensified its campaign against indecent dressing and immoral act is not news. Many students were also expelled for examination malpractice.

Oloyede also built more lecture rooms and offices. Some of the facilities he built included the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre, Faculty of Law block, Geology Lecture Theatre and offices, ultra-modern Geography laboratory, e-Library centre and Faculty of Communication and Information Science, which he completed. The upgrading of the university stadium was done during his tenure, too.

In academics, the Oloyede administration introduced new faculties and disciplines, such as Pharmaceutical Science, Vetinary Medicine, Mass Communications, Nursing,

•Prof Oloyede

•Tojola

Exciting farewell to people’s VC Library and Information Sciences and others. The administration also built a radio station for effective communication between management and the students and also for the practical training of Mass Communication students.

Oloyede, for instance, is credited with exterminating the yoke of cultism on the campus; a development that many said made UNILORIN one of the violent-free campuses nationwide. He also introduced a tuitionfree scholarship scheme for best students in each department of the

school. Funding of research works of UNILORIN lecturers within the school and outside is another area the stakeholders have applauded Oloyede for making the university as a model in research and learning.

Given his strides as the UNILORIN VC, students of the university have commended the achievements of the departing VC and wished him a farewell.

Dapo Ipoola, 400-Level Zoology, said: “Prof Oloyede, with his leadership style, has elevated UNILORIN to an institution of na-

Barely two weeks into the new semester, the Director of Socials, Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University Calabar (UNICAL) held a show for students to celebrate Nigeria at 52.

STANLEY UCHEGBU (400-Level Accounting) was there.

The joy of Independence

I

T was Nigeria’s Independence anniversary last Monday and students of University of Calabar (UNICAL) gathered at Malabo Republic to celebrate the event. The funfair was organised by the Director of Socials of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Josiah Eghrudje.

The event started with an early morning rally by female students marching round Malabo and back to the hostel. Then, there was an interactive forum with the theme Is Nigeria truly independent?

At the Malabo Square, students displayed their talents in music and dancing. The event also featured an eating contest and comedy with Koboko and Yujokes, both students.

Among those at the event was Emmanuel Emori, Speaker of the SUG parliament, who stood in for the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Eyong Eyong.

Others were Olayi Emmanuel and his house of men, the Chief Security Officer and his deputy, Mr Adie Boniface and Mr Jarlath Abang, Exectives members of Nigeria Union of Campus Journalist Unical Council and other dignitaries.

The DSA stressed that the university would impact knowledge and virtues that would help students to become agents of change and solve the country’s contemporary problems. He urged them to work hard, adding that success could not be achieved through shortcut.

During the dancing time, mem-

•Adetona

bers of the SUG executive entertained students with the President, Ayi Ekpenyong, dazzling with his dance steps. There was an official presentation of an eight-page magazine designed to re-orientate students on academics and culture.

More than 500 copies were distributed free to students.

The fiesta ended with an interactive forum organised by the Vice President, Irene Utuen, at the porters’ lounge of the female hostel.

The female students had a good time to share their challenges on the campus.

Gloria Mfom, 400-Level of Mathematics and Statistics, said: “We always hope in vain that the government would improve our condition. But at the end of the day, we will queue up every four years to cast their votes even when our conditions have not changed.”

Jerry Ettah, former Speaker of the union, urged the Nigerian leaders to return to the basics, saying it was the only way the nation could overcome the present challenges. He tasks the government on the need to develop responsible citizens and advised the youth to stop criticism, charging them to shun ethnic sentiments and tribalism.

The event featured awards.

Honoured were Prof Eyong, the Chief Security Officer of the university Mr Adie Boniface and his deputy Mr Jarlath Abang, president of Female Leadership Forum (FLF), Rejoice Eziedo, and Blaise Akpan, Financial Secretary of the union.

•Students at the fiesta

•The dancing time

tional and international prominence. The school now receives post-UTME applications that double the so-called the first generation universities. Another area we should also look is the Computer Based Test (CBT) initiative.

UNILORIN experimented and tried; it worked well and others universities have follow the same direction. This shows that Oloyede is a pace-setter and it would be good if he is allowed to repeat the feat in other area of governance.”

Saleem Amubikan, 500-Level

Law, said: “Oloyede means different person to different people. But to me, he is the best administrator anybody can count on. Under him UNILORIN was been rated as the best university in Nigeria twice and the school has been among the top four since then. Admission seekers now prefer the university because of its academic records and uninterrupted calendar.”

The outgoing VC has left his footprint on the sand of history, said Adetona Adejumo. The 500-Level Law student remembered writing an examination slated for 2pm at the CBT centre at 12am because of hitches. She said: “Oloyede is always brought innovation and changes to things. He changed the method and provided more computers. As I talk to you, the era of missing scripts has gone; our results are released as at when due.

All these point to his astuteness. I will miss him.”

Lanre Abdul, a Law student, said the issue of fake students has totally been resolved in the institution. “You can be a fake student elsewhere but not UNILORIN. You will be embarrassed after you might have paid school fees for several sessions. This is an area I believe Oloyede should be commended.

Though, he has his soft part but I think I will miss him,” Lanre quipped.

Tojola Yusuf, a 100-Level student, said: “Although, I was admitted when his tenure is rounding up but I felt Oloyede’s style of administration. He pioneered CBT in Nigeria universities. The construction of a new stadium and the successful holding of West African Universities Games (WAUG) earned him my respect.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Nigeria @ 52: Arguments of the dejected

I

T was a morning with a slight drizzle. The sound of the rain was like the whisper of a baby’s drone – a comforting nuisance. So, I woke up late because I remained in bed while it was raining.

As I got off my bed, I tuned to a radio station playing the Lazy Song

by Bruno Mars, an American artist. It was a coincidence, so I smiled.

Then, I rubbed my empty stomach and realised how hungry I was. I sighed and rolled my eyes at my ceiling as if it was the reason for my hunger.

My eyes gazed at the calendar on the wall, and I stared at the date, it was October 1, and Nigeria’s Independence anniversary.

Then the president’s speech. I always love to listen to President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech but I do not have a television, so I decided to buy a newspaper the following day to read the usual “message of hope”. As I stood in the middle of my room thinking about Nigeria at 52, I reflected on how many Nigerians were in my shoes – being battered by hunger every

T

HE Igbo are a unique people.

In their bid to conquer the world of business, they are found in every nook and cranny of this country. Everywhere, including remote villages where no one speaks English. They are easily integrated into their host communities that they speak the indigenous languages fluently.

Given their wide reach, every crisis anywhere in the country affects them more than other ethnic groups. Following the insecurity across the Northern part of the country which is caused by the activities of the Boko Haram sect, there have been calls from various quarters that Igbo should leave the North. But is this the solution, and even if it is, how feasible is it?

To begin with, individuals who make this call share the sentiment that the Igbo traders are primary targets of this violence. There may be some truth in it, but it is not the true picture. In fact, Igbo are always the worst victims of conflict not because they are Igbo, but because of the nature of their profession.

Majority of Ibos are traders and businessmen who own vast business enterprises across Nigeria.

Wherever there is conflict, they

By Oluwasegun Ogundipe

T

HERE is beauty in nature. The sun shines to its effulgence in the day. At night, the moon gives us its cool rays with the beam

day. I had pap and Akara (bean cake) that morning. I bought the food from Iya Tunde with the little I had in my bag.

It was 9:26am on Nigeria’s birthday. The pathway was slippery with mud spread across the stretch of my street’s road. I sighted some youths standing at the balcony of a distant three-storey building. They didn’t seem to be in celebration mood; perhaps to them, it was just another new month. I moved closer to the building; every one of them was talking but given their gesticulation, it appeared they were having an interesting debate.

These were Nigerian students and fellow Corps members. Everybody was struggling to make a contribution to the debate. A man emerged from nowhere, splashed spittle on my neck and said: “Ha...aah, don’t say that. We are making progress? You cannot compare Nigeria with foreign countries. Just that Africans are not always proud of what they have.

We should be grateful for everything.”

He was a loud man but he gave me a glimpse of the debate topic. I turned slightly around then and my hand brushed his pot-belly. I smiled apologetically and took a better standing spot. Another man hollered from a corner. I recognised him, he was the manager of the community petrol station.

“What are you talking? There is no fuel in the country. I have closed my station for the past one week.

No fuel. No customers. I am not making money. They always give us bad Independence Day gift. It is not fair. Imagine, we are celebrating independence and there is no petrol,” he thundered.

A female teacher in the school where I am serving entered the fray.

“Why should we be proud of our country? Personally, I have tried to be patriotic but what has it got me?

Nothing! All I am saying is that most times, our leaders have misplaced priorities,” she said.

A young girl ventured in. She was a student at the state polytechnic.

“I promised to delete any friend on

my Blackberry Messenger that sends me any independence broadcast today. Thank God so far, I am yet to see any. Independence Day ko, October 1 ni,” she hissed.

A woman strapping a baby to her back joined the argument in Yoruba, translating to mean: “As for me, the idea of celebrating independence Day does not even occur to me. There is so much poverty in the land. Boko Haram is still there. Our politicians are still embezzling. Why should we celebrate?”

Finally, it was my turn and I brought out my N50 akara. Then, I left the place back to the corper’s lodge, thinking over all that the people had said.

I must confess I was so afraid and got really irritated. Why was everybody so cynical? I am not cynical; I said aloud and repeated it to myself severally. Then, I began making resolves. I am not unpatriotic. I will not nag at my country or her leaders. I will not complain. I will do my quota to better her. I am a youth. I am Nigeria. I am a

Should Igbo leave the North?

By Msonter Anzaa risk losing these investments. Often, hoodlums have seized the opportunity presented by crisis to loot the shops and cart away goods worth millions. We would have to understand, however, that the primary reason for looting these items is not that the traders are Igbo. The criminals don’t care who owns which shop they want to loot.

In other words, those items would still be looted even if they belonged to people of other tribes. Also, given his profession, an Igbo man is the least willing individual to leave a crisis zone.

This is because most of the investments made are not portable establishments. His nature of profession also requires stability.

Again, in a place like Northern Nigeria today, most of the nonindigenes are students, civil servants or businessmen. And the Ibos constitute the lot of these too.

Since they are mostly Christians, they also tend to be the major owners and worshippers at churches across the North. This ex-

of stars dotting the luminous sky.

In the rain, the cloud displays its beautiful multi-colours to give us the rainbow. The green bloom flourishes in the rainy season and the placid waves of the ocean with its accompanying cool breeze.

Everything God created is beautiful. Everything that adds value to human existence is superb. Everything that works well is impressive and so is every harbinger of societal development. God created the earth with His authoritative words but authority has its origin in the rule of law. With law as a profession today, the reason for the orderliness in the society is not farfetched.

Nobody can aptly define the concept of law and how it operates remains mysterious to humanity. To me, law makes man the noblest of all animals; without law man is a wild beast. The beauty of law is the beauty of life; the beauty of our existence lies in whether we obey the law. The law may not make a man to like his fellow man but it surely restricts him from killing the other man.

plains why there might be some truth in the claim that Igbo have been worst hit by the incessant bombings that have ravaged the Northern states.

However, to create the impression that they are deliberately singled out for attack is to allude to xenophobia, which at this moment, does not appear to be real.

Now let us look at it. Ordinarily, why would anybody in the North want to hurt the Igbo? Will it be out of envy for their success which is clearly a product of hard work?

It is obvious that wherever the Igbo live, they take on roles which are central to the development of such communities. Talk about private schools, Igbo people constitute the majority of school proprietors.

In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to state that the extent of penetration of a community by the Igbo can be taken to be a growthmeasuring factor. They are responsible for the development of otherwise rural areas into semi-urban centers. They help bring close to the people elementary services that were hitherto not available.

Now, is it advisable for the Igbo to leave the North? I think the answer is no, based on two reasons.

One, the stay of the Igbo in the North is also to their advantage.

With little competition from the natives, Igbo have created and expanded new markets for their trades and have reaped profits in the return. Two, their presence in Northern part of the country is also an advantage to the people of the region.

If one does a survey of the shops in major markets across the North, the result would reveal they are majorly owned by the Igbo. They travel the length and breadth of the country and even beyond, acquiring products of different kinds for their customers. Are the natives in any way, capable of filling the vacuum that would result if the Igbo were to pull out?

Of course, the resulting non-availability of the products will make prices of commodities to increase in geometric proportion and make the ordinary Northern man uncomfortable. The solution to the problems facing the Igbo and indeed all Nigerians resident in the North lies

The beauty of Law The discipline of medicine is imperfect without the law that regulates it, just as power without control leads to tyranny. The beauty of law affords every man a thing so expensive that no amount of wealth can buy and so cheap that the most disadvantaged man is entitled to it.

This is justice!

The beauty of law, unlike other fields of human endeavour, can be felt, seen and perceived. The science of law is no magic, yet it does wonders. In Biological Science, an observer needs a microscope to decipher the compositions of micro organisms’ cells. But in law, even a shortsighted man will see justice being done.

In the law of morality, it is wrong to make a promise one cannot fulfill. As rational creatures, humans tend to be irrational under certain condition, such as when under tension or duress. Law comes to play both when men are rational and when they are not; even a contract

with an insane man is binding on him.

Law is attached to the past; it is very much active today and of course it will continue to guard the excesses of humanity in the future.

To me, law is the best discipline on earth and I have no shred of doubt that it would surely be in heaven too.

Like magic, law foresaw the likely humiliation of men in authority and hence, such powerful men may want to be the arbiter in their dispute. The principle of nemo judex incasasua, which means one can’t be a judge in his own case, prevented excess of such men.

Sex, status, colour and infirmity are not hurdles to fair hearing in the sanctuary of justice, for audi alterem patem makes case for judges to hear both sides. The law is not applied blindly and falsely. Commission of crime alone does not suffice to justify punishment for the crime; a guilty intention must

By Ngozi Emmanuel

leader. What is your resolve, Nigeria is 52?

Ngozi is a serving Corps member, NYSC ILORIN in improvement of security by the government. The many approaches adopted so far and have achieved varying degrees of success. Regarding their vulnerability during conflict, the Igbo should continue to expand their relationships with their host communities and traditional authorities to minimise mistrust and suspicion. This way, they would be so integrated into the life of the host community that it would be difficult to treat them as aliens.

Finally, the call for Igbo to leave Northern Nigeria is neither feasible nor advisable. Apart from greatly disrupting the investment opportunities available to them and underdeveloping the host communities, such a massive relocation will send a fearful signal across the nation and provoke sentiments and reprisals that have a potential to accelerate the nation’s journey into trouble. Instead, the Igbo should continue to integrate into their host communities and collaborate with local authorities to ensure their protection, and the government of Nigeria must hasten to contain the security challenges so that the people of Nigeria can live and work in peace anywhere in the land of their fathers.

Msonter, 200-Level Medicine, BSU

be clearly established.

There is law in everything and everything revolves round law.

How did law fund its way into Economics? The law of diminishing returns. Even in Physics, Faraday’s law of electrolysis. What about the laws of thermodynamics in Chemistry? I predict no one is ignorant of the fact that our movement is predicated on the law of motion. The law of life itself is change. No field is self-sufficient without law. If in doubt, ask why doctors, engineers, journalists, linguists, historians, writers and others patronise the court of law for justice.

If there is no law, the life would be brutish and ordinary. The beauty of law is enormous; its essence is beyond every imagination. It is good to learn the law, it is better to know the law; the best is to live by the law. By doing so, we are keeping the law and if we allow the law to guide us, it would surely guard us.

Oluwasegun, UNILORIN

500-Level

Law,

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE AAUA students kick against vacation •Ondo students support Akeredolu

S

TUDENTS of Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA) have criticised the management of the institution over what they described as “unnecessary break” given to them. The students were surprised to receive a text message from the management that asked them to vacate the campus till after the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State.

The message reads in part: “The Vice-Chancellor has approved, on behalf of the Senate, that students should proceed on mid-semester break with effect from Tuesday October 2, 2012. Students are enjoined to note the above approval and vacate the campus as scheduled for the mid-semester break.”

However, the students, who resumed for the second semester on August 6, raised question on why the break is coming up a week before the scheduled date on the school calendar.

This is coming at a time the Ondo State students studying in the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ekiti State University (EKSU), Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (ADO POLY) declared their support for Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the flag bearer of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the coming election in

•AAUA gate

By Wale Ajetunmobi

Ondo State.

The students, under the banner of National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), said the Labour Party government under Olusegun Mimiko has failed the students, which is why they are supporting Akeredolu.

A chapter president, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on condition of anonymity, said: “Students of Ondo State have suffered a lot from the misrule of Labour Party government headed by Mimiko. I have spent four years in this school and I only received bursary twice. Yet, Mimiko is spending

millions of Naira on campaign.

He raised the bar of Ondo State scholarship from Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 to 4.0; whereas, it is a known fact that Mimiko failed in College of Medicine when he was at Obafemi Awolowo University.”

A member of the association in EKSU, said: “The scholarship scheme of Mimiko government is a fraud. They published the names of six students in EKSU that won the scholarship but when we cross-checked the names, we could not see students with such names.

The leadership of the AAUA Students’ Union Government (SUG) said it was not contacted by the

management before the notification of the break. The speaker of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Abiodun Akomolafe, said: “I came back from lecture to hear students talking about a text message notifying them on mid-semester break.

The union leaders were not informed about the senate’s decision. We met with the school management few weeks ago and we were informed that we may go on break before the governorship election but the situation on ground is surprising.”

The President of the union, Waliu Ismaila, called the congress of students last week at the

university’s relaxation centre. He said the management could not guarantee the security of students, which was why the school was closed.

He lamented the challenges being faced by students which include water shortage and electricity. He said the strike embarked upon by the AAUA’S chapter of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) had plunged the university into chaos.

The union leader asked the students if they were ready to go on break. The students unanimously replied: “No”. The congress ended with the union leader promising to intimate the management on students’ position to the university management.

A final year Biochemistry student, who pleaded anonymity, said: “I am confused when I received the message. Most of us have already induced animals we are using for our project work with chemicals and we have to monitor them.

In the department of Microbiology, some of the students are already thinking of sharing the snails they initially planned to use for their project work. Why asking to go on unnecessary vacation?”

Mayowa Fagboye, a Law student, said: “It is pathetic that the school authority is closing the school down without considering the effect on the students. I am not happy just like every other student.”

Afolabi Vincent, 400 level Geology reacted: “This is just a case of two fighting elephants where the grass is at the receiving end. Again, we are suffering the consequence”.

Temitayo Fatoba, Environmental Biology and Fisheries student, said: “NASU on strike; students are to vacate the university environment indefinitely. Nobody considers the 400-Level Science students handling life-related project. This is not fair enough.”

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Some of the members of CDS group with the pupils after the programme

Editorial CDS enlightens kids

T

HE Editorial Board Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abuja chapter, has organised an enlightenment campaign for the pupils of Junior Secondary School, Area II, Garki, Abuja.

The campaign, according to the members of the group, was borne of out the desire to impact the lives of teenagers in their host community.

The co-ordinator of the group, Olamide Johnson, said: “We are set to leave an indelible landmark in the heart of those in our immediate community. This, we believe, is what the service year is all about.

Service to humanity.”

The Corps members also painted the fence of the school and tutored the pupils on different skills. They

From Gerald Nwokocha NYSC ABUJA

advised them through career talk and donated academic materials.

The principal of the school, Mrs Adebisi Badmos, praised the Corps member for the programme.

The president of the CDS group, Aide Udoh, said the Corps members chose the school because of its location and uniqueness.

Some of the pupils, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, thanked the Corps members for the tutorial. Jesica David, Junior Secondary School 2, said she learnt how to keep her body fit and how to prevent communicable diseases, such as HIV and cholera. Marvis Macauley, in the same class, thanked the Corps members for coming to paint their fence and teaching them to be socially active.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

37

EDUCATION UNILORIN FILE Awoyemi delivers Inaugural Lecture PROFESSOR Ademola Olugbenga Awoyemi of the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health will deliver the 117th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) today.

The lecture entitled: "Occupation and Health: The Interplay , Interlock and Interaction", will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Is-haq Oloyede.

2012/2013 session begins ACADEMIC activities for the 2012/ 2013 academic session commence on Monday this week, according to a press statement signed on behalf of the Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mrs. O.O. Oyeyemi, by the Deputy Registrar, Human Resources, Mrs. F.M. Olowoleni.

Part of the statement, which is addressed to fresh and returning students of the university reads:"Procedure for registration has been placed on the university web-site. Students are advised to visit the site and commence registration immediately.

28th Convocation next week

• A cross-section of RUN graduands. Inset: David Busayo Adeloye

Redeemers Varsity gets first overall best male student •Adeboye defends RUN management

D

AVID Busayo Adeloye will go down in the history of the Redeemers' University (RUN), Mowe, Ogun State, as the first male to finish with the overall best cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in the insitution.

There were loud cheers as the 20year-old made his way to the podium to receive his scroll, awards and handshakes from the principal officers and dignitaries last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Youth Centre.

Underscoring the significance of the feat, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Debo Adeyewa praised Adeloye for redeeming the image of the male students.

"Ladies have the largest share of first class graduate. Female occupies the upper class division of the students," he said, as he urged the male students to compete with the females.

Adeloye, a student of Transport and Tourism Studies, graduated with CGPA of 4.87 and carted away six out of 26 awards. He said the only reason behind his success was commitment.

His achievement stood him apart among the 489 graduands at the event.

Speaking on the feat, he said: "I give the glory to God. I came to this institution as a young Jambite not expecting something like this but I was committed to God's work on campus. I used to be an average student

By Seun Olalude

in my secondary school days though coming this way was not easy but I thank God for His grace and favour."

Adeloye commended his parent for their support.

His father, Pastor Michael Adeloye who recalled that he was a first class graduate in his university days, said despite the cost of education, his son has encouraged him to invest the more.

His words: "As a father I feel so great, happy and honoured. When a child is doing well whatever the cost you put, you will not know it though at the begining of his programme I was not expecting this but I'm grateful to God for this."

Mrs Mosunmola Adeloye also did not expect her son to make the best result in his set.

"He is a cool headed boy and respectful. I have never expected this from him though he started very well. Since he began, his results have always been wonderful. I thank God he made it to the end," she said.

Visitor to the university, Pastor Enoch Adeboye who spoke on the occasion, urged parents to bring up their children in a godly manner.

Reacting to the pressure by some parents whose wards were rusticated for bad behaviour, the General Overseer of the RCCG, owners of the institution, said the church will not interfere in the administration of the university, as such their decision

stands.

His words: "This institution is not established to reform characters of those that are not ready for the will of God. I feel bad as a pastor and father to see students being rusticated yet the church will not interfere in the running of the institution.

The vice-chancellor and board decide what happens."

He therefore urged parents to warn their children against evil vices.

"Parents tell your children that this institution does not stand for nonsense, we are not a reformatory institution but to build leaders," he said.

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adeyewa said the university has a promising future.

"We have array of world class professionals to deliver and build a world class institution. I believe that our past has been so colourful, our future shall be exceedingly great. We have continued to attract and build human-capital base that would transform our university to one of the best tertiary institutions in the world," he said.

The Pro-Chancellor and chairman of Council, Prof. F.O. Aboaba who commended parents, pastors and partners of the institution likewise encouraged them to do more.

"I must commend the efforts of parents for ensuring that your wards acquire quality education; yet I want appeal to you to rally round us for the development of our permanent site at Ede," he urged.

THE 28th convocation of UNILORIN will flag off on Monday, October 15 with a briefing to be addressed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Is-haq Oloyede.

Other events scheduled to hold before the convocation proper for awards of degrees, diplomas and certificates on October 22 and 23 include convocation play (October 17); convocation lecture entitled: "African Schooling and Education; The Hopes Aspirations and Challenges: A Critical dialogue" to be delivered by Prof Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice-Chancellor, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana (19th); and colloquium/interactive session with Prof S.B. Chumbow (19th).

Vet Medicine vaccinates pets IN commemoration of the World Anti-Rabies Day of September 28, the UNILORIN Faculty of Veterinary Medicine inconjunction with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, (NVMA) Kwara State chapter, plans to give free anti-rabies vaccines to the pets (dogs and cats) of members of the university community today.

YABATECH joins BlackBerry

•Dr Ladipo

T

HE Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has joined the BlackBerry® Academic Program in Nigeria.

The college is introducing the freeto-use BlackBerry resources to their students, joining a worldwide program that includes nearly 700 institutions in more than 113 countries.

The BlackBerry Academic Program, which is available to tertiary institutions and students throughout Nigeria and around the world, gives educators access to the latest teaching resources and BlackBerry technologies, equipping students with the knowledge and practical handson experience to enhance their development skills and create applications.

Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Margaret Kudi Ladipo, said joining the program will boost the training of students.

"Together with RIM, the BlackBerry Academic Program will help Yaba College equip our students with new skills and knowledge that will enable them to take advantage of the local and global opportunities available on the BlackBerry platform, a leading platform in the mobile market," she said.

Robert Bose, RIM Regional Managing Director for Africa and the Middle East said, "Nigerians are a very important part of our global developer community so we are very excited to announce that the Yaba College of Technology is joining the BlackBerry Academic Program."

Bose added, "Today, staff and students in more than 100 institutions across Africa are using BlackBerry academic resources to prepare students embarking on careers and starting businesses in the fast growing mobile computing sector.

Don blames poor varsity system on brain drain

A

FELLOW of the Nigeria Academy of Science, Prof Ikenna Onyido, has blamed the dwindling standards of the nation's university system on the mass exodus of academic staff for more lucrative jobs.

"Many academic staff are leaving for greener pastures outside the university system," Onyido lamented while addressing reporters in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, said the situation is injurious to the system. For instance, he said former vice-chancellors prefer more lucrative posting to the classrooms after their tenure.

He said, "Former Vice Chancellors hardly return to their classrooms and laboratories after their tenure; they are associated with seeking elective offices as governors or members of parliament. Alternatively,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

they look for other agencies of government where they relocate as Director-Generals and Chief Executive."

He said that losing such caliber of academic staff was a great disservice to the system, because of the long period it takes to nurture them to such status.

"Take count of those who wield one level of power or the other in the university (Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Deans and Heads of Departments); these are all academic staff. If the vast majority of former executives in the university leave the system, there is incurable loss of institutional memory," he noted.

Onyido said the only way the Nigerian university system can be salvaged is for the various stakeholders to re-dedicate themselves to academic pursuits.

• A cross section of teachers at a symposium organised by the Standard Mandate International (SMI) to commemorate the World Teachers' Day at the University of Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

EKSU FILE Arsonists under investigation VICE-CHANCELLOR of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), AdoEkiti, Prof Oladipo Aina, has said investigations are on to unmask those who committed arson and vandalised properties during a protest following the death of a student on September 28.

He said the culprits will be fished out and punished according to the university's rules and regulations to forestall a reoccurrence.

Aina stressed that the university would take measures to eradicate cultism, in addition to reviewing the security system.

During the protest, which caught members of staff unawares, several vehicles and buildings were vandalised, while the university's Teaching and Research Farm was looted.

ICAN honours VC THE Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) has commended the EKSU for being the highest employer of its members, aside government.

The commendation came when the top management of the institute visited the university.

ICAN President Mr Adedoyin Owolabi noted that the VC, Prof Aina, has proved himself to be a manager of people by surrounding himself with qualified accountants.

The President pledged on behalf of ICAN the donation of textbooks and journals worth N100,000 to the university which would be kept in the library of its accounting department.

Owolabi on the occasion conferred the VC with the honour of Friend of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA).

Responding, Aina described ICAN as a noble profession, while also expressing his determination to continue the transformation of the university to a world-class status.

Christ's School Alumni honours old boys NIGERIA'S former ambassador to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade, is among the old boys to be honoured by the alumni body of his alma mater, Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti during their 2012 Homecoming programme this weekend.

A statement by the Chairman, Homecoming Planning Committee, Mr Sanya Haastrup, said the programme holding at the 79-year-old secondary school between October 12 and 14 will be hosted by the UK chapter of the alumni body led by Mrs Adenike Adetiloye Babatola.

Other distinguished old boys who will be honoured during the reunion banquet of the homecoming programme holding at Adetiloye Hall, Ekiti, are: Chief Fola Alade, a renowned architect; Prof Olufemi Oyebode of the University of Birmingham and the Chief Examiner, Royal College of Psychiatrists from 2002 to 2005; and Mr Bisi Olawole, onetime President of Christ's School Alumni Association of North America.

Homecoming is an initiative of the Platinum Club of Christ's School old students. The annual event provides an avenue for all ranks of alums the opportunity of reunion at their alma mater premises.

The Homecoming programme will be rounded-off with a thanksgiving service at the School's Chapel on Sunday.

APPROACHING DEADLINES International Scholarships for PhD, MSc and Graduate Level at University of Kurdistan, 2012 Iran University of Kurdistan (UOK) offers PhD, Masters and Graduation scholarships for overseas students to study Literature & Humanities,Social Science,Economics,Engineering,Basic Science,Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2012 Iran Study Subject(s):Literature & Humanities,Social Science, Economics,Engineering,Basic Science,Agriculture,Natural Resources Course Level:PhD, Masters and Graduation Scholarship Provider: University of Kurdistan Scholarship can be taken at: Iran Eligibility:-Holding a valid degree/certificate in the previous level.

-Minimum GPA of 12/20, or equivalent, is required for admission to Bachelor's Degree.

-Persian/English Language Proficiency. Some postgraduate programs may be offered in English.

-Certain pre-requisite courses might be necessary to be taken by some departments.

-Tuition payment Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: UOK eagerly

welcomes overseas students, at all levels. UOK treasures the educational, socio-economic, political and developmental advantages that the international students bring with them to the university. In return, we will make sure that the foreign students will receive the best education possible at the UOK. Most international students who come to study in Islamic Republic of Iran have to pay tuition fees and should be prepared to support their living and other costs while studying at the UOK. Sanandaj is a reasonably affordable city to live and the UOK helps the students with accommodation and several other services.

How to Apply: By Post and In person Scholarship Application Deadline: June 30, 2012 John Dillon Memorial Fellowship in Agricultural Research Management, Agricultural Policy and Extension Technologies at ACIAR, Australia Fellowship in the field of Agricultural Research Management, Agricultural Policy and Extension Technologies at ACIAR, Australia Study Subject(s):Agricultural Research Management, Agricultural Policy and Extension Technologies Course Level:Fellowship Scholarship Provider: ACIAR Scholarship can be taken at: Australia

Eligibility:-The Fellowship aims to develop leadership skills in the areas of agricultural research management, agricultural policy and/ or extension technologies. This is achieved by providing exposure to Australian agriculture across a range of best-practice organisations involved in research, extension and/or policy making.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, India, China Scholarship Description: The Fellowship aims to develop leadership skills in the areas of agricultural research management, agricultural policy and/or extension technologies. This is achieved by providing exposure to Australian agriculture across a range of best-practice organisations involved in research, extension and/or policy making. The visit programs are tailored by negotiation between ACIAR and the selected Fellow to meet the needs of individual Fellows and their employing organisation.

How to Apply: By Post or by electronically Scholarship Application Deadline: 31 August of the year.

OOU graduates over 4000, clears backlog TOTAL of 40, 130 graduands were conferred with degrees and higher degrees across faculties and departments at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye on Monday and Tuesday.

With this feat, it appears OOU is set to relaunch itself into global reckoning, while putting the past behind it for good.

The breakdown is as follows: 4, 014 (diploma); 34,200 (first degree); 1,856 (masters); as well as 51 PhDs. Interestingly, the occasion was a combined graduation of five different sets.

OOU held its last convocation in 2006, and the nearly three decadesold institution has since been enmeshed in crisis ranging from poor infrastructure, frictions between management ad staff leading to industrial strikes, managerial ineptitude, among others, a development which retarded the university with backlog of student who were unable to graduate.

However, with the graduation , the Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof Saburi Adejimi Adesanya, assured that the university is set to wriggle out of its predicaments, while efforts are in full gear to restore some of its lost glory. He also assured that graduates would henceforth receive their transcripts within one year of graduation in line with universities

A

• OOUActing Registrar Mrs Omolara Osunsanya; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Adewale Sule- odu, Prof Adesanya and Mr Odubela at the event...on Monday PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

By Adegunle Olugbamla certificates for employment pros-

best practices globally.

He said: “The university by this combined convocation, has succeeded in clearing all the backlog of students’ results and certificates outstanding since 2006. Since our university would be 30 years old by January 2013, we also plan to hold another convocation in Januray 2013 and thus will finally clear all backlog of students results- and certificates till 2012. By this process, we would have removed the major impediments and problems that have spoilt the image of our university over the years. Our graduates once again, would have access to their

pecting immediately after graduation. `”This is a situation that has opened doors of hope for our graduands and brighter future for our university. Let nobody say it is not good here again, let nobody say nothing ever happened in Olabisi Onabanjo University again. By this act today, we have easily demonstrated our capacity to achieve a lot.

If the conditions are right. The sun is on the rise again.”

He praised the Council which he said within its short period of its inauguration has acheived some landamarks including, changing

'Education system cannot move Nigeria forward'

T

HE Nigerian education system at all levels has remained patiently bookish, incapable of moving the nation forward, a professor of Education Psychology, Shehu Jimoh, has said.

He spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when he presented a paper at one of the activities organised by the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU, Kwara State branch) to mark the institution's 50th anniversary.

The topic of the lecture was: “Fifty years of university education in Nigeria: So far, so what?”

Jimoh said: "Our education system at all levels has not achieved the objectives for which they were set up. It has not changed radically from the type we inherited from the colonial era. It remains bookish with very minimal attention paid to the raining of the hands in addition to the training of the head.

"There is no correlation between

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

what the students learn (if we call that learning) and what they need to function effectively in their respective communities. There is a craze for certificates, mere paper qualifications without the concomitant skills and competences.

While the number of universities and student enrolment are increasing rapidly, there is no corresponding quality-assurance measures put in place. This is why we turn out thousands of graduates every year without equipping them to find their way through the conceptual landscape of the knowledge-driven economy of the 21st century."

He linked these problems to dearth of a comprehensive blueprint detailing the focus for development.

"Without such a philosophy on national development, our efforts in the education sector cannot yield desired results. The university

teacher needs to know where we are going as a people and the kind of Nigerians we expect the school to produce, especially against the background of the loud dissonance between the values promoted by the school and those sponsored by the larger society outside school.

"The same basic factor also accounts for why we have all along been bedeviled by the twin factors of poor policy formulation and poor policy implementation, especially those that affect the principle and practice of education. The learning institutions at all levels, especially our universities, have become mere examination centres.

"The summary of what I have been struggling to say so far is that our education policy, both in its formulation and implementation, has not been adequate in producing citizens who can function effectively in the world of work outside school."

the university's financial regulation, reducing corruption, and overseeing a successful Students’ Union election.

He said the university management has also restructured its academic programmes vis-a-vis upgrading its curriculum, adding that as part of the restructuring, the previous Council pruned down existing departments from 75 to 56 across board. Adesanya said the management has also introduced a new Postgraduate programme in Management, Engineering Sciences, as well as Medical and Paramedical.

He assured that the management would continue to improve its crop of dedicated staff and students many whom he added have, and still winning laurels for the university both locally and internationally.

According to Adesanya, 19 projects have now been fully completed, while 15 are currently ongoing.

In his brief address, the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun who was represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Scinec and Technology Mr Segun Odubela, said plans have reached advance stage by the government to sign an MOU with some private partners towards building new hostels for the university.

Odubela on behalf of the governor, also donated two brand new Ashok Leyland buses for the SU government of the school.

“As i’m talking to you, we are about moving new equipment worth over N100 million to the (OOU) College of Medicine. You know the governor does not joke with education issues. The reforms have started in earnest, and we shall not sleep on our oars,” Odubela said.

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

EDUCATION

Six states plan summit •Amb. Joe Keshin

G

OVERNORS of five states, Bayelsa, Rivers, AkwaIbom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED states) are putting heads together to improve education service delivery in their states.

They will meet at a summit to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from November 15 - 17.

Ambassador Joe Keshi, DirectorGeneral of the BRACED Commission, the secretariat of the group, said the summit would provide the six states a forum to find solution to problems bedeviling the education sector and improve the learning environment and over all wellbeing of the various stakeholders in the education process especially the teachers and the students.

Keshi said the summit would help the governors, school administrators and other stakeholders to compare notes and seek ways of breathing fresh life to the sector.

"The conference will therefore review the state of basic, secondary and technical vocational education, higher education, teachers' education

and training of teachers, in addition to reviewing the standard of science and technology education", he said.

The education summit, a sequel to two successful economic summits by the commission, would be attended by the governors of the BRACED states, ministers of Education, Science and Technology; commissioners for education, permanent secretaries, ViceChancellors, Rectors and Provosts of universities, colleges of education and polytechnics in the states.

Other attendees expected are deans of education faculties, principals, head teachers, teachers associations, chairmen of States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB), faithbased educational organisations, NGOs, as well as donor agencies.

At the end of the summit, Keshi said the states will produce a common education policy that will impact on science and technology, improve and strengthen the content of basic education, revive technical and vocational education.

Other outcomes expected from the summit include infrastructural development, provision of instructional materials; and enhancement of creativity and innovation through the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT).

•From left: Ifeoluwa, Joseph, Inioluwa, Darasinmi and Omotobora

'Don't get too big for good grades'

F

IVE pupils of Cayley College, Agidingbi, Lagos, are to enjoy tuition-free scholarships for the 2012/2013 session for making a minimum of 4.70 Cumulative Grade Point Average in the last school year.

The quartet, Ifeoluwa Folami, 4.89 (Year Seven); Joseph Boluwaji, 4.88 (Year 8); Inioluwa Oni 4.79 (Year 8); Darasinmi Oloyede, 4.78 (Year Seven); and Omotobora Alonge, 4.71 (Year10) were honoured at the prize

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

giving ceremony of the school last Wednesday.

Of the five, only one, Omotobora Alonge, is in the senior class, a development that made the Executive Director of the school, Mrs Mary Iyayi to challenge senior pupils to set aside distractions and strive for excellence.

While urging recipients to do their best to maintain their grades to continue to enjoy the scholarship, she charged other students, especially the seniors to become more serious.

"The reason we are doing this is to let you know there is a chance for you to be part of this scholarship. It is a deal. If you make the minimum GPA you will get a tuition-free scholarship; and if you maintain your GPA at the end of the session you enjoy the scholarship, we will give you a letter again.

"Four of the students came from the junior school. Only one is in the senior school. I want to use this as a challenge to the seniors: you don't get too big for good marks. We want to see more of this in the senior school. The junior

school is doing better than the senior school. I am sure most of the parents here are from the junior school," she said. She also praised Omotobora for winning the scholarship again and again, since joining the school.

The quartet, who also won many subject awards, and other recipients, were also presented with gift prizes during the programme.

In his address, chairman of the event, Mr Joseph Olofinshola counseled award winners to keep working hard, while he told others to make good use of the knowledge they gain from the school.A parent at the event, Mrs Olukemi Ogunsola said even if her daughter, Similoluwa, a Year Nine (JSS3) pupil had not won the swimming award, she would still be happy because of the quality of education she gets from the school.

"Cayley College is a school with a difference. It is not about just academics. They do a lot of cocurricula activities. They encourage every child to be a total child. When a child is not that good academically, they do not write him off but keep encouraging him," she said.

Parents' day in class

P • Parents in Mrs. Akpan’s class

UBA Foundation flags off essay competition

S

ENIOR Secondary school pupils in Nigeria have an opportunity to win university educational grants if they win the National Essay Competition being organised by UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of UBA Plc. The call for entries for the topic: "As an African president, what would your plans be for the educational sector?” will end on November 2.

Applicants are expected to send in handwritten essay entries of not more than 750 words on the topic, with their complete contact information (name of school and address, residential

address, phone number and e-mail) to UBA Foundation in Lagos.

The top three finalists, who will be selected by a panel of three Nigerian professors, will get educational grants to study in African universities of their choices.

A statement from the foundation quoted Ms Ijeoma Aso, chief executive officer, UBA Foundation, as saying: "We are excited at hosting this competition again. As with most of our programmes and initiatives, the National Essay Competition is an annual event, and we hope to use this

opportunity to again touch the lives of some Nigerian children."

A total of N2, 250,000 will be doled out as cash prizes by the Foundation. Apart from laptop gifts, the overall winner, first and second runners up will get N1,000,000, N750,000, N500,000. Last year, Miss Enitan Amodu of International School, University of Lagos, Akoka, emerged the overall winner, with 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.

ARENTS sat in the classrooms of Scholastic Hall School, Opebi, Lagos last Friday learning what the average school day is like for their wards.

At the sound of the bell, they moved from class to class interacting with teachers of various subjects who informed them about topics, policies, home work, projects and rules and regulations. They also had time to ask questions.

Before they moved to the classrooms, Mrs Scholar Onyekwere, a director of the school, coordinated a sort of assembly for the parents at the school hall during which she gave them an overview of what to expect from the class sessions.

"This is a time for you to know your children's teachers, what they teach, how they teach and the grading policies they use. Apart from learning your child's schedule, you also learn their methods, what the pupils do during recess," she said, urging the parents to ask as many questions as they liked."

In an interview with The Nation, Mrs Onyekwere added that the school

Lagos Ministry trains music teachers

T

HE Lagos State Ministry of Education has organised a three-day workshop for 50 music teachers in the state public schools. The initiative is to ensure enough preparation for 2012/2013 school academic session At the flag off of the workshop held at the ministry's Department of Curricular Services, Akoka, its Director of Co-Curricular Services, Mrs

By Wale Dawodu

Omobola Babs-Akinyeye, urged the participants to restore pupils' interest in classical music, since music is a science and a culture for the ear and culture moves with time To this end, she charged music teachers to differentiate between classical music which is good for children and other genre of music, which are dangerous to their upbringing.

Mrs Babs-Akinyeye who represented the honorable Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, stressed that music is an integral part of the society, which cannot be eradicated.

She said the government appreciates teachers' input in the delivery of standard and qualitative education in the state. Prof Anthony Mereni of the University of Lagos, Akoka also added that about 80 per cent of music

in Nigeria today are merely noisemaking, containing no message that can uplift the society.

His words: "Teachers need to work hard to encourage pupils to appreciate the music learnt in classrooms, as it can really show, educate and enlighten them on good music which is conceptualised towards their development and not the ones that mislead, and give wrong impression about the society."

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

employs a differentiated approach to teaching its pupils so that none lags behind.

She said: "We use differentiated delivery in our classrooms. A child may be good in maths and another good in English. When its time for English, the child that is good in English will sit at the Independence table; while the one that is weak, will sit at the 'I need help' table. The average pupil will sit on the average table. When its time for Maths, the child that was poor in English may be good in maths so she will move to the Independence table. That way, we don't let children that are slow drag others down or otherwise."

In the Head Start Class for two-year olds, Ms Mercy Nwani told the parents of her 14 pupils how the routine for each day before they settle to the task of numeracy, literacy, and sensorial.

"School resumes at 8am. We teach the pupils to push their chairs under the table when they stand up; line up in a straight file for assembly. It teaches them orderliness and how to take turns. During assembly, they meet others and learn to be social.”

Our circle time helps the pupils to lighten up before the day starts. We recite rhymes and sing songs. We teach one concept in Numeracy or Literacy in two days so they do not become overwhelmed," she said.

Mrs Eno Akpan, Value Education and Science teacher for Grades one, two, four and five, told parents that she uses dramatisation and active story telling to each the first subject; and pictures for the second.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

40

EDUCATION

Sokoto Poly expels 77 for malpractice

A

T least 77 students have been expelled by the authorities of the Sokoto State Polytechnic following their involvement in examination malpractice.

Also, 44 students had their examination papers cancelled.

The disciplinary step taken was contained in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Rector,

Prof Bashir Garba.

Garba said the Academic Board of the institution approved the decision and warned that the institution will not condone exam malpractice of any kind.

"Henceforth, the management of Sokoto Polytechnic will not take the issue of examination malpractice lightly," he said.

EDUTALK

with

However, he noted that at least 23 students were cleared of any examination malpractice offence.

Some of the offences the students were penalised for included: entering the exam hall with note books, copying answers from fellow students and exchange of exam booklets, and the inability of the affected students to appear before the Examination Malpractice Committee.

On UNIPORT, Mubi killings FUNAAB seeks partnership with donors

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Oyewole, has called on individuals, corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations to partner with the university to enhance training and create employment for her products.

Oyewole added that such partnership would also go a long way in "poverty reduction" among members of the society.

The Vice -Chancellor, who spoke last Monday during the opening ceremony of the 16th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops at the institution's Auditorium cited Community Based Farming Scheme for Students (COBFAS) as an area where such partnership is needed.

"We are ready to partner with industries, donors, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and other

I

From Mariam Sanni, Abeokuta

interested parties to expand these initiatives to more viable commercial ventures," he said.

Oyewole said COBFAS which was established in 2010 by the institution helps students to match theories with practical in modern commercial agricultural methods.

Under the scheme, students are assigned to work with the existing farmers in targeted communities for six months as part of their training process before graduation.

He added that another scheme, Graduate Farming Scheme (GRADFES), was also established to provide land farm inputs and credit access to graduates of the university to enable them take up farming as business venture.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State government has expressed willing to collaborate with FUNAAB to ensure that research work of the institution are turned into business ideas

•Prof Oyewole

for job creations and industrial development.

The Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, who represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the occasion, said the state has already working in that direction through its ministry of Agriculture.

•Volunteers at the training

Careers, leadership counselling for pupils UPILS schooling in public secondary schools in Agege, Lagos will learn a lot about careers, leadership development and project management this session, courtesy of an initiative by a youth corps member, Olufunbi Falayi, tagged Project 4.

To this end, Falayi organised a three-day capacity-building training for 20 volunteers, including 10 corps members on career guidance, leadership development and project management between the September 17

P

and 19 at Agege Local Government Secretariat, in preparation for the launch of the initiative next month.

Speaking on the project, Falayi said: "Project 4 is an intervention project targeted at public secondary schools in Agege local government, which tends to invest and engage the minds of these students by leveraging on four key components namely: mentoring, leadership development, career guidance/skill acquisition and project management.

"The aim of the project is to equip

them with leadership capabilities, human capacity and entrepreneurship skills, therefore preparing them as change agents, future leaders, potential business owners and reducing the prevalent unemployment rate in the country.''

The volunteers were trained by seasoned guidance counselors and professionals from Leap Africa, Pro-training centre.

They will pass on their knowledge to the pupils who have been recruited for Project 4 for a period of six months.

UNN resumes on schedule URRENT and fresh students of the University of Nigeria (UNN) have resumed for the 2012/2013 academic year, marking a return to normal school calendar in the federal university for the first time in nearly a decade.

UNN welcomed fresh students on September 27 while returning students resumed last Thursday in all campuses of the university that clocked 52 on Sunday.

A statement from the university quoted Vice Chancellor Prof Bartho Okolo as expressing the joy at the

C

return to normalcy in the school calendar following years of elongated or truncated academic calendars caused by strikes by academic and non-academic staff, internally or nationally, and students' unrest.

"We have worked hard to get to this point. We project that the 2012/ 2013 academic year would run from September 2012 and end on June 30, 2013. That way, students can expect to have the hitherto normal threemonth vacation at the end of the session", Okolo stated.

The VC called on all stakeholders

of UNN to work with the university administration to ensure attainment of the projected academic calendar, urging them to utilise all avenues for dispute resolution within the system so that there are no further disruptions internally.

"We cannot control external factors, but we can work together, university administration, staff and students, to ensure that we sustain this return to normalcy and never have reason to rush through our academic year again or shift it forward because of problems," he said.

COULD not bring myself to watch the video of Kofoworola the murder of four undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt Kofosagie@yahoo.com (UNIPORT) on Friday. With 08054503077 (SMS only) the help of social media the video must have gone viral within minutes of the incident.

I was at work on Sunday when an intern on my desk mentioned he had the video but I told him I was not interested in watching it. Hearing about the barbaric act of inhumanity was enough torture for me. The mental video in my mind was disturbing enough for me to make matters worse by viewing the recording of what actually transpired. But I was forced to see a bit of the graphic details when a correspondent sent the story and photographs to me.

When incidents like this happen, you hear various versions of the story. One version has it that the students were robbers caught stealing a laptop and cell phones in Omuokiri-Aluu, a community that had recently suffered robbery attacks. Another said they were cultists who seized the items from somebody that owed them some money.

They were apprehended as thieves after the person raised an alarm. They were beaten, stripped naked, then set on fire. I also learnt fellow students were involved in the murder, jeering as the victims struggled to cope with the beating and burning.

Whatever the version, the way they were killed was wrong.

What I cannot quite get over is how whoever produced the video could hold his phone with steady hands long enough to record such cruelty. It was a case of jungle justice at its worst because we do not know whether the victims were truly guilty of the allegations. If they were, the law clearly spells out how they should be treated once apprehended.

The unfortunate incident occurred a few days after 46 students of the Adamawa State Polytechnic were killed around their off-campus residences in Mubi Monday last week - a day before their examinations were meant to start.

I agree with the Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa'i that Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts need to do more to protect registered students in their care. Like she rightly noted while inaugurating the JAMB Zonal office in Kwara State on Tuesday the safety of the students should be a "major priority" for authorities of any tertiary institution whether they are resident on campus or outside.

The two incidents took place outside the campuses of both institutions. It is not like bad things do not happen on campus. But there is greater security on campus. As such, tertiary institutions should make efforts to accommodate more students on campus.

Most public-owned institutions have adequate landmass to build enough hostels that can accommodate all their students if they want to, but on-campus residents are hardly adequate for students. Even when available, they are in such bad shape that some students would prefer to rent rooms outside.

Schools should seek partnership to expand their hostel facilities on Build Operate and Transfer basis. They can also dedicate grants from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for that purpose.

It should also be the business of school administrators to liaise with the host communities where their students take up residence and ensure the relationship is very cordial.

Past incidents of clashes between host communities and students have shown that students are usually at the receiving end because the communities have the upper hand. It has happened in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Abia State University, Uturu, Federal Polytechnic, Offa and Ire Polytechnic within the past 12 years. And in all the cases, many students paid for it with their lives. This need not continue.

Belo-Osagie

From my Inbox Re: Mini memoir of a corper (Thursday, October 4, 2012) Dear Kofoworola, your piece, Mini Memoir of a Corper reminds me of my service year in Sokoto in 1998. I pray that the NYSC scheme be re-engineered to be more germane to contemporary times. God bless you. Pastor Victor, CGM Cross River State.

Ms Kofo, if you don't mind the abbreviation. Your column is always an exciting read and the mini memoir of a corper is no exception. Keep up the good work. Matthew.

Read your piece, Mini Memoir of a Corper. I also served at Abakaliki, Ebonyi in 2007/2008 and I know well I cannot write my story without including my experience during NYSC. Life changing. 080322163--.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

41

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

43

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

FAYEMI’S SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY On October 16, 2010, Dr. Olukayode Fayemi took charge of Ekiti State.

He was sworn into office, following a decision of the Court of Appeal declaring him the duly elected governor. What difference has he made in the lives of the people who look up to him for succour? He spoke with OLUKOREDE YISHAU on these and many more.

My gains, my pains as governor I

T has been two years since you were sworn in as governor. How has it been?

It has been tough, challenging but ultimately fulfilling. It is not entirely surprising the way things have gone.

I guess I was not unprepared for the ups and downs. Naturally, two years is that point that political analysts, watchers will tag as mid-term. I must say that we have it together here. We have the ups and downs but for someone who is an incurable optimist, I see the challenges as opportunities. In all of the areas that we promised to make a difference, I think, by and large, we have changed the culture of governance. It is a lot more transparent and accountable. We have changed the perspective of our people. Education is probably the area, where we have made the biggest impact based on the lackadaisical nature of things before now. I must say it has earned me opponents as well who genuinely feel I have been more unrelenting in my attack on the areas that were creating problem for Ekiti existence. Our health, sector together with our social service sector, has also been impacted on, but there is still a lot of work to be done, a lot of roads to travel. There is tourism and environmental sustainability. We have worked on Ikogosi and using it as a hub for the tourism corridor. We are about achieving that primary objective. We have facility managers because we have always said we are not in the business of managing business. We should leave it for the private sector to run decently. We are getting in more private sector, especially in the agric sector, cassava processing plant. It is all geared towards realising the objective of making poverty history in Ekiti State. When we were campaigning in 2005, that, we promised. Of course, health and education are the intangible things we have done. But, the one most people talked about are the infrastructure, like roads, the water plants, the Legacy projects that we have. By and large, we are achieving our objective of creating optimum communities because we are not just doing these things in a vacuum. Even though we have a vision of where we want to travel, you cannot do development to our people, you must do development with our people.

From your experience, what really do the people expect from the government?

We give them the opportunity through our village square meetings to input policies and budget-making from their own perspective. What are their own issues? What are their own priorities? What do they want from government? They don’t ask for anything extra-ordinary. They ask for the basics. Give us water, give us light, help us make our young people useful in the society by giving them jobs to do. They want us to tackle ecological problems, purely basic things.

So after two years, would you say

you have met these needs?

I think I can reasonably say after two years, there is nothing we promised our people in our campaigns in 2005, such as lap tops per child, social security for the elderly, land management for youths in commercial agriculture, that we have not done. Everything we promised we have managed to do.

They may not be completed, but the course is steady. And we are progressing.

What would you consider the high points of your administration so far?

I think the high point is our social security benefits. It was not something I started from day one of my administration, although it was in my inaugural speech. I campaigned on that issue. We started a year later on October 4, 2011. We were almost one year in office. So, social security has been in operation here in the last one year.

Everywhere I go, the way the adults, the elderly come out to thank me shows how much difference this has made in their lives. I consider it a high point. Of course, the lap top initiative, which has also resulted in Samsung partnering with us by building an engineering academy here, is another high point. Development agencies have returned to Ekiti in droves. They took off in the past when things were a bit awry. But, they are all virtually back now. World Bank is here, helping us with development. The UK DFID is here. The European Union is here.

What are the challenges facing your administration?

There are challenges. The resources are just limited. That is one of the big challenges a state like Ekiti confronts for a government that wants to do a lot. We obviously have to be a lot more creative and innovative in our management of resources. In fact, even now a lot of people still ask, ‘where do you get this from?’ This is because they know we are not an oil-rich state and we are not reeling in enormous wealth.

So, how do you cope? Frankly, I think it is a bit of foresight on our part. We knew we had an agenda to deliver to our people. Of course, we knew we were going to get money from the capital market. We got money from the capital market nine months into being in office. The money we have hardly meets our operational needs, our recurrent expenditures. So, you have to look for money for development. And that has had to come from the capital market and international development partners and other agencies that are interested in development at the local level.

What do you consider the low points

of the last two years?

I don’t want to say there are low points. There are moments of despair.

I would not want to describe them as low points. I get worried about the quality of public examination results in Ekiti. Again, I have just seen the WAEC results and I am worried about why we have the challenges we are confronted with in public examination. I really am cracking my brain and asking myself what do we have to do to turn things around as far as public examinations are concerned?

There is a thin line between success and failure, but once you miss the boat, it might destroy the life of that young person for life and it does get to me, having grown up in this system, having been produced by this structure in Ekiti. I think there is a lot we can do in that regard.

Another thing that worries me is politics of bitterness that we play in this part. There is a lot of ill-motivated, unfounded and irresponsible politics.

May be, the intellectual in me, not the politician in me, finds it odd to stomach this unscrupulous business that comes from the opposition. The opposition has the right to be critical.

But, in a state where we have a freedom of information law, where information is available at the tip of your fingers, just for you to request, why do you resort to irresponsible claim? This is the only state where we have domesticated the freedom of information law. I don’t read these things, but it gets to me because people will ask my CPS or the Ministry of Information. For me, the greatest joy is when I see those old people because, for them, they are not playing politics with the lives of Ekiti people. Those who want to entertain themselves, which for me is the way I see what they do, they have the platform to do that. When you are in this vocation, a lot of brickbats get thrown at you and you must have the capacity to accommodate these things.

What would you say being the governor has taken away from you?

Oh, my privacy. I am a very private person. I cherish, I don’t want to say, my lonesomeness, but I am the last child in my family and there are certain things that are associated with being the last child. You cherish your own environment. You don’t like the disturbance of a crowd. You are even selfish with your time. Politics does not allow me that luxury. I am out there, doing my village square meetings. So, I straddle both worlds, which is why when I wrote my exile memoirs, I entitled it Out of the Shadows. I enjoyed being anonymous, but it is

• Dr Fayemi

also a duty you owe people, particularly in politics, to let the people feel you. They want to feel their leader and they want to own you. There are supporters of mine who sit in beer parlours in town and call me just to prove to their friends that ‘I have got Mr. Governor on the line. We are here with our people o. Mr. Governor, greet Lagbaja’. That is the reality of politics.

It is not my forte but I have to adapt. I am also lucky. I have a spouse who has a public persona, who does not mind that space. So, I cede that space to her. She does a lot of hand holding for me in the public space, attend all the social events and I think it is a nice balance. She is far more equipped in dealing with the public, yet she is also very intellectual. It is a unique balance that I am still struggling with.

What mistakes have you made in the last two years?

I am sure I have made a lot of mistakes in two years. I must say I have an advantage. I am surrounded by people, who are very loving and supportive. I have leaders that are fantastically supportive of me. I stand on the shoulders of giants. What do I mean by that? I have people who have occupied this position and they understand what it means to be in a public office as sensitive as this and they are supportive without being overbearing, which is a very tight rope to walk in politics. You will not see Otunba Niyi Adebayo here all the time, but he is always at a moment’s notice, if I need to get him for anything. I can invite him on issues; I can invite him on a particular matter, to even go and represent me. He is always willing to back for me, ditto Evangelist Olumilua, who you saw here very early this morning. I am lucky in that sense. I also have a lot of Ekiti elders who are not even partisan or who do not even share my own political ideologies or belief. I had Chief Afe Babalola here this morning, talking about an issue of concern to the development of Ekiti. Sir Remi Omotoso, Prof. Oyebode, I have Chief

‘Another thing that worries me is politics of bitterness that we play in this part.

There is a lot of ill-motivated, unfounded and irresponsible politics. The opposition has the right to be critical. But, in a state where we have a freedom of information law, where information is available at the tip of your fingers, just for you to request, why do you resort to irresponsible claims?’

Wole Olanipekun. They all have things they do for me and mostly advisory. It is not what they can make from me as governor. I think I am luckier than most governors who have overbearing people sitting on their necks, trying to do things out of their agenda.

Initially, there were criticisms that you were slow…

The people are fastidious. So, all the time I have to think of how they will react to things I do. So, that generally makes you to be more careful. At first, they didn’t quite understand where I was coming from. They thought we were taking too much time to plan some of the things we were doing and they were critical, responsibly so. The same people when they see me now, on the road ,inspecting one project or the other, they are funnily adulating about what they see as different, either the quality of the road, constructing or the bearing of the initiatives we are taking like the social security for the elderly. They just find these things very strange. One of the areas I think I haven’t done well and I think I refer to it early is that I need to develop my people’s skill.

Why are you and your deputy not fighting?

Why are we not fighting? One, my deputy was not imposed on me, just as I was not imposed on my party. There were many people who wanted to be deputy. Our party showed preference for us to have female deputies and we were given all the support to look for people who could fit into that position.

I never met my deputy before the search for the position began. When I met her, a professional to the core who spent virtually all her life in the corporate world, in the banking sector, she understood where I was coming from and she walked into the vision completely.

I think that is something that has helped us. She is not in any competition with me on the vision to transform Ekiti State. So, to that extent, she understands what is at play. Two, I think it also has to do with my wife and I will be the first to admit that my wife played a major role in ensuring I have a female deputy. We have a clear division of labour in what she does and what I do and I see it, if we will describe it in managerial terms, I am more of the CEO and she is more of a COO, Chief Operations Officer of a multinational conglomerate. What really matters is to ensure the vision is truly shared.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

44

POLITICS

Ondo’s redemption rallies and new songs P

RIOR to the flurry of activities and frenetic pace at which rallies were held last week, anyone would be forgiven if he had the impression that the Labour Party was the only one with the structure needed to run the governorship election in Ondo State. The view must have stemmed from the usual predominance of the parties in power in Nigeria. It is believed that they can do whatever they want and have everything available.

But, this is fast changing as it is antithetical to the tenets of democracy. In a democratic setting, the people are central and key to the choice of leaders and decisions. It may look difficult to remove a sitting governor because he controls the instruments of state, but it has been demonstrated in some cases that the will of the people can be made to prevail. This much happened in Oyo and Osun states very recently. It was also the case in Imo State where Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) upstaged the former Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, at the poll last year.

With what was seen on ground during last week’s three days of redemptive rallies in the three senatorial districts (Ondo North, Ondo South and Ondo Central), it has become apparent that Dr. Olusegun Mimiko seems to have been alienated from his people in terms of meeting their expectations regarding the provision of good governance. Mimiko, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the October 20 election, seems to have forgotten all the things he promised his people before mounting the saddle.

The journey from Lagos to Ondo State went on with high expectations of witnessing the muchtalked-about ‘achievements’ of the Mimiko administration. But after crossing the Owena/Ijesha Bridge that demarcates Osun from Ondo state, this reporter was eagerly anxious to see a beautiful Akure, the state capital that would be reminiscent of what he left some few hours after leaving Lagos for Akure. But alas, that was not the case. Akure was bereft of the green revolution of Lagos. It cannot even match the neatness of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State or Ilesa where

•Akeredolu, ACN national leaders at the Ore Redemption Rally

By Mobolaji Sanusi

Aregbesola is silently creating a modern city.

On the Ilesa/Akure express road that passes through the front of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) began the disappointment of the day. For an oilrich state that reportedly had collected about N500billion allocation, far higher than what Lagos collected, in three and half years from the centre, the state of disrepair of that road was a confirmation of higher disappointment awaiting us in places that the reporter visited. The fact that the road is a federal road should not have stopped the Mimiko administration from dualising it as he had promised before he got to power. Afterall, most inhabitants of the state and their visitors ply the route and their safety should be of utmost concern to the helmsman. Mimiko has obviously abandoned the people’s welfare.

The eagerness to see the current state of the celebrated Oba Adesida road in Akure was doused by the filthy state of that road. The constructed few bus-

stops on the road look more like make-shift items. Obviously copied from Lagos, they are far below the Lagos exemplar. The drainage system servicing the road needs to be desilted but the Mimiko administration does not seem to consider this important. Thus, an avenue that could have been used to create thousands of employment and add value to the environment is rotting away because the Ondo government is undiscerning.

At the Chicken Republic eatery at the Oba Adesida junction, this reporter sat on the same table with a man, obviously a visitor to the state who chuckled: ‘this town is too dirty and the roads are narrow, bad and need urgent attention.’

The man, who simply identified himself as Ajenifuja, upon this reporter’s inquiry, could not be faulted.

The median constructed by the Mimiko administration and the flowers/trees planted on Oba Adesida road look so tousled and malnourished. The state of that median, the colourless outlook of the plants and the dishevelled position of that road all underscore the debilitating state of infrastruc-

ture over the years. Such scenery would definitely make the people regret ever voting Mimiko to power.

During the reporter’s journey to Ikare, Ondo town and Ore, where the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) redemption rallies took place, Ajenijuja’s observation became apparent. The Akure-Owo and Akure-Ondo roads look more like death traps. It is inconceivable to think that roads leading to major towns where the large chunk of votes come from in that state could be that bad and neglected by the Mimiko administration in over three years of having reportedly collected whopping allocations.

If the crowd of ACN supporters that witnessed the Ikare rally was rousing, that of Ondo town where Mimiko hails from was tumultuous and that of Ore was incredible. But in all of these places, the presence of government had not be felt. Bad roads, silted environment, forlorn faces of inhabitants seeking for help (which the ACN promised to offer) are routine. The case of Mimiko’s town, Ondo, is more

pathetic as he could not even complete in over three years, the fivekilometre road that passes through the famous town. Perhaps the imperativeness of the question: What has happened to the aphorism that charity begins at home? The people of Ondo town inhale more dust than fresh air even when their son is a sitting governor. They would definitely not prefer this to continue for another four years. Definitely not!

In Ore where Mimiko promised to dualise the road leading to Akure, the only visible achievement of his administration is the air-conditioned Public Toilet that was built very close to the express road. Of all the infrastructural needs of that area, is Public Toilet the best that Mimiko can offer?

Ondo, especially Ore people should ponder over this!

If a government is only performing on paper with no empirical dividend to show for it, as the reporter has observed in Ondo, then its people must earnestly be redeemed from perfidy arising from maladministration and corruption of the Mimiko administration.

That is why the redemption rallies that ACN recently held in the three senatorial districts in the state were more auspicious. It shows from the massive authentic crowd at those rallies that signalled the final arrival of broom revolution in Ondo state, The same crowd that rooted for Mimiko in 2007 is now calling for his head: The same people yearned for Adefarati in 1999 but later voted him out. These same people booted Agagu out through votes, prayers and the court when they got tired of him after his first four years. They voted in Mimiko and in just three and half years of lacklustre performance, it is obvious that the days of Mimiko and his Labour Party in power are numbered. Ondo people are saying that come October 20, they need a new lease of life, a fresh and not dusty breath; they need redemption, not the deception for which the Mimiko government is known. They are saying that the one-tenure-per-governor policy must stand. The people’s feelings during the redemption rallies and the new songs of the broom revolution highly favours the ACN.

Abike Dabiri- Erewa, quintessential woman at 50

By Tessy Igomu

• Hon Dabiri-Erewa

A

N ultimate example of a truly strong African woman sums up her rare virtues. A quintessential woman, icon of pivotal strength and courage are traits that stand her out. As the sages say, life is not about how long but about how well. For this enviable amazon of our time, it has been 50 years of grace and glory.

Attaining the golden age of 50 is no mince meat, as many people

look forward to it. But, like a colossus, Abike has not only clocked the age, she has recorded quite a milestone along the way.

Even before attaining this golden age, she has, through perseverance and unflinching courage, transplanted herself to heights many fear to attain. She is not just a role model, but a performer with a glowing track record to show. To her immediate family, she is a lovely wife and cherished mother.

While to others, she is simply a distinguished politician, reliable colleague, trusted friend, an engine house, a priceless jewel and a gem of inestimable value. Abike is an orator and an irresistible speaker with an ability to hold an audience spell bound. Describe her as a sturdy bamboo in the dense forest of Nigeria’s intellectual universe, and you would be apt. Her razor sharp intellect and charisma exuded at any given opportunity stands her out.

A journalist of repute; daring; highly positive about the future of Nigeria; principled to the core, are qualities that adhere her to the hearts of all. In the midst of these glowing attributes, her

demeanour bellies all.

She is a woman with great depth and the fear of God. These are reflected in the way she tackles issues on the floor of the House of Representatives and on the type of issues she choses to dwell on.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, an accomplished journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) rose through the ranks in a remarkable and meteoric manner, and joined the rough terrain of politics to become an indefatigable lawmaker. In all her years as a journalist, her professional ability, competence and integrity were never called to question. Blunt to a fault, this lawmaker is nonetheless always outspoken on critical national issues as it affects the country and Nigerians.She was elected into the House of Representatives, where she became first, the chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, and currently, the chairman of House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.

Though, from Ikorodu in Lagos, She took in her first breath in Jos, Plateau State, in North-Central. She started her education in 1968 at Maryland Private School in Ikeja, from where she proceeded to Saint Theresa’s College, Oke Ado, Ibadan.

Abike then, moved on to Lagos Polytechnic for her basic studies and later to Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, where she graduated with a B.A Hons in English Language. Also in her kitty is a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and also a Masters Degree in the same course from the same institution. This amazon of intelligence also attended the Harvard University (Kennedy School of Government) USA. A widely travelled woman, she is a member of many professional associations and has bagged quite a bunch of enviable awards.

Though married with children, this multi-tasking woman has been able to balance her life so that no aspect suffers. In all of these, she would readily tell anyone that listens that the road to success wasn’t a bed of roses, neither was it smooth-sailing.

She represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos in the National Assembly. Her doggedness in the pursuit for justice, equity and welfare for the rights of the common man no doubt made her constituency to keep her on board.

This is Abike’s third term in the

parliament.

Despite the rigours of her job, Abike is always loving, humble and sensitive to the plights of people.

By natural inclination, she has time for everybody she comes across, notwithstanding status. Always going beyond the call of duty to help, no matter what the odds are.

To this woman, politics should be all about service, humanity and making a difference in the life of the electorate.

Going beyond the call of political duty due to her compassionate nature, made Abike to initiate the Abike Dabiri Foundation. Many children have benefited immensely from this course.Abike, by a wide consensus, has been a role model to many, particularly women. She is a hallmark of integrity in service.

A woman of strength and character, hers has been a 50 years of distinguished life Like her or hate her, at 50, she has through dint of courage and hardwork etched her name in the country’s history of indomitable women. In essence, Abike is a trail blazer that makes the womenfolk rock.

Tessy Igomu, a journalist writes from Lagos.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

You are what you eat, says nutrition expert 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234

T

O ensure total health, a wellness and nutrition expert, Mr Sam Ayeni, has recommended healthy eating and regular exercise.

He also advised Nigerians to minimise the toxins in their system, reduce stress and drink plenty of water to stay healthy.

This, according to him, will improve their overall wellbeing as it is the best strategy to stay healthy.

He condemned people’s attitude of substituting vitamins and minerals among other supplements for real food. Nothing can compare with natural food, he added.

On an ideal life, he said, the Federal Government needed to tell the people how long children born today have to live because of pollution, among other environmental hazards, they are exposed to.

He urged the government to place emphasis on hygiene and proper lifestyle than on immunisation, among other preventive measures.

Ayeni, who is the Managing Director, Seaduck Nigeria Limited, said an estimated 60 per cent of the population were malnourished, adding that fast life in cities, such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, among others, may be responsible as many often settle for fast food.

He said: “Nutrition is important for everybody because food gives the body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, grow and work properly. Nutrition is often seen as a combination of some of the most important basic necessities that is food and water.”

He advised the people to eat right, adding that poor eating patterns early in childhood can be a cause of some diet-related illnesses in later life.

Ayeni called for the introduction of a healthy eating pattern as early as possible for children. “In our fast moving society, many parents prefer packaged foods to cooking fresh meals. But studies show that many of these meals mislead in nutritional value loaded with sugar and fat.”

“Eating more sugar in the diet means consuming the lowest levels of many vitamins and minerals. So in order to grow it is essential that the human body receives a fair amount of nourishment. Depending upon the activities the individual is engaged in, the kind and the amount of nourishment is required.”

Nourishment, he said, is also a prime requirement to maintain one’s health and keep oneself away from illness. The body ensures that the nutrients that are present in the food people consume are equally distributed to the various parts of the body. If there were no nourishment, the regular bodily functions will be altered. This can lead to an in-

12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 12345678901234567890123 •Dr Ogunkoya

Ma

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

•Ayeni

•Assorted fruits Stories by Wale Adepoju

creased susceptibility to illness.

“Foods are made up of six classes of nutrients. Good nutrition means getting enough macronutrients and micronutrients.

Macronutrients contain proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Micronutrients include vitamins, water and minerals.”

Protein, he said, builds muscles and a strong immune system. It is the one of the most abundant type of nutrient found in our body. Protein builds new tissues and repairs damaged cells. It is also needed for the formation of hormones and enzymes which play variety of roles in our body such as metabolism and sexual development.

He said carbohydrates supply the body with energy and helps in the formation of cellular constituent. “A lack in carbohydrates can lead to the production of ketones in the body which later results into a condition known as ketosis.”

He recommended that the daily intake of carbohydrates should not exceed 60 per cent of total food consumed.

On the usefulness of fat, he noted that it gives extra energy. “Fat helps to correct the usage of fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A,

D, E and K. It is not always there to make people fat as they usually believe. Fat also insulates our bodies by giving us protection from sudden changes in temperature and at the same time protects our vital organs.

“Vitamins, on the other hand regulate body processes. It plays an important role to make our body function properly. It keeps your cells working properly, but will not prevent weight loss.”

He said most people under-estimate the importance water which is a natural endowment.

“Water gives cells shape and acts as a medium where body processes can occur. It is the well known yet most important nutrient our body needs. It is also the most abundant type of liquid found in our body contributing 70 per cent of our total mass. It helps to dissolve and carry the essential nutrients to all parts of the body. It is also needed to help maintain the body temperature and aids to carry away the body’s waste products.”

Minerals, Ayeni said, regulate body processes, saying it also responsible for the make-up of body tissues. It also keeps your cells working properly, but will not prevent weight loss, he added.

Herbal remedy for prostate disorders

N

ATURE has remedy for all kinds of prostate disorders, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer, a naturopath and Provost, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) Nigeria, Lagos, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya, has said.

According to him, an herbal preparation made from corn silk, Etiponla in Yoruba, known botanically as Boerhavia difusa and Epakun (Culculigo pilosa) can relieve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Prostatitis remedy is made from corn silk, Etiponla (Boerhavia difusa) and Ehinbisowo (Phylanthus niruri), he said.

Prostate cancer, he said, can be managed with a concotion made from Etiponla (Boerhavia difusa), Oruwo in Yoruba (root) known botanically as (Morinda lucida) and oro (Euphobia laferiflora).

Ogunkoya said prostate cancer is the most common cancer in elderly men and second most common cause of cancer-related death in men. “It appears in 70 to 80 per cent of men in their 70s. It is also a non-cancerous of unknown cause,” he added.

He described prostate as the tube which carries

123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234 123456789012345678901234

urine from the bladder to the pennies, saying it is a chestnut shape organ found in all males. “It has fluid which helps to keep sperm found in semen alive and healthy thereby increasing the chances that it will fertilizer the female egg,” he added.

Ogunkoya said prostatitis is an inflammatory condition of the prostate found in men between 20 and 50 years.

“This can be non-bacteria and bacteria prostatitis. Non-bacteria prostatitis is the most common form of prostatic inflammation. It causes pelvic pain, problem with urination and discomfort after ejaculation and lower back pain. Bacteria prostatitis can be transmitted sexually. It is the bacteria in the prostate gland lead to infection, swelling, pain and difficulty in urination. The penis may release bacterial fluid and blood may appear in the urine,” he added.

Prostate cancer, he said, often leads to difficulty in urination, as it progresses, and sometimes bleeding in the urinary track.

The positive side to natural medicine, he noted, is that it can manage, if not cure, critical diseases with herbs and leaves.

“Having good nutrition means eating the right types of foods in the right amounts so you get important nutrients. There are no special diets, or particular foods, that will boost your immune system. But there are things you can do to keep your immunity up. For example if you are underweight or you have advanced disease you should include more protein as well as extra calories in the form of carbohydrates and fats in your diet.”

He said proper diet can delay fatigue, decrease recovery time, prevent injuries and chronic disease, and enhance overall performance, including endurance and speed.

Many factors, Ayeni noted affect people’s health, adding that some of them cannot be controlled, such as your genetic makeup of their age, but can be managed through lifestyle changes. “Leading a physically and mentally well-balanced existence is the ideal way to live a healthy lifestyle,” Ayeni said.

Secrets to sleeping well

T

HERE are many reasons why people have a difficult time staying asleep.

The good news is that common problems with sleep are often easily addressed without the use of medication - there are no guaranteed natural cures for insomnia, but there are effective steps you can take. Ask yourself these questions (and try the simple sleep aid recommendations) if you find yourself waking frequently in the night: Are you physically uncomfortable? A too soft or too firm mattress, an uncomfortable pillow, or an older, worn-out bed can all impede a good night’s sleep. Check your mattress for signs of wear at least twice a year, and consider new pillows. You may also want to see an osteopathic physician who specializes in osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT). A session or two of this safe and effective sleep aid treatment can be life-changing.

Is your bedroom noisy? Consider a “white noise” generator, an inexpensive but effective device for making soothing sounds to mask jangling ones.

Is your mind overactive? If you can’t sleep because of thoughts whirling through your head, try the Relaxing Breath - it can help you put aside the thoughts that are keeping you awake. A few stretches can help with sleep aid, too.

• Culled from www.drweil.com

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

46

NATURAL HEALTH

Descent from Life, as Great Cycles Close OMETIMES, when reading and writing tire me, and I stare at the world through the large window of my study, but at nothing in particular, thoughts of heart breaking events in Nigeria fill my heart. Inevitably always, I come to the inescapable spiritual conclusion that great cycles of old in which many, if not all of us, were involved, are closing, under compulsion of the natural law which makes everything return to its point of origin. Just as the blood flows out of the heart and returns to it, or as water evaporated into the clouds from the rivers and seas returns to them in rainfall, so do events we once originated or partook of return, for us to experience their consequences or to harvest fruits of their seeds, sour, bitter or sweet, or sour. Today, I remember a young Christian Tutsi woman from Christian Rwanda, a land of the Hutus and Tutsis devastated a few years ago by ethnic Christian -on- Christian genocidal civil war. I remember, also, the 40 or more southern Nigerian Christian students at the Nigerian polytechnic in Mubi, a northern Nigerian town. They were woken up from deep sleep in the dead of the night by radical Islamic militants, asked to renounce Jesus Christ, and then shot in the head or chest. I remember as well the predictions of the great French seer, Nostradamus, who about 400 years ago foretold man's landing on the moon, the two world wars, great scientific discoveries of today, the possibility of a huge earthquake in America that is likely to convulse western United States, the appearance of a second sun in our solar system which will outshine the present sun, a war between Islamic countries and Christian nations, an earthquake in America just as Islamic forces are close to victory, the consumption of Islamic and Christian forces in the earthquake, the collapse of religion, in its present cast and the search for a better explanation of God and His Creation, a serious climate change in which the earth's North pole and the South pole will reverse positions, changing configuration of the solar system and turning Africa into a temperate zone and making Europe become tropical, the rising of a huge land mass in the Atlantic which sank long ago, displacement of huge bodies of sea water as the land resurfaces, flooding or submergence of coastal lands and nations as displaced water infiltrates land, the appearance of a huge lake in the Sahara desert, widespread, large scale confusion on earth, loss of the power of technology, return to simple, communal lifestyle …and the emergence of Africa as new hope and leader of earth men as it once was in the days of Atlantis.

S

THE TUTSI WOMAN

F

OR many reasons, I cannot mention the name of this woman.

She is a Tutsi from Rwanda, a country peopled also by Hutus.

Both tribes are also found in The Congo and in Burundi, nations that were created with dissimilar peoples in the European scramble for Africa. These artificial political creations, an example of which Nigeria is, is a defiance of Nature which, as the bearer and anchorage of God's Will in His Creation, has placed kind among kind to produce culturally, historically and linguistically harmonious people together as nations. Look at the human body, as a further example. Cells of the eye are not to be found among cells of the brain. Women who suffer from endometneosis should appreciate this. The endometrium is the lining of the womb. If its cells escape into other parts of the reproductive system, there is "war" with the hosts, so to say, and inflamation, pain and sometimes life-threatening bleeding that doctors may have to scrape out the invaders or surgically remove affected organs. In Nature, dissimilarity does not bring harmony and peace, and, one day, disharmonious people must draw the dagger or pull gun on one another. Ants don't live with bees. Nor do lions and elephants cohabit. In the sea, salmons have their abode and tilapia theirs. The specie must be homogenous for peace to reign.

In Rwanda, the Hutus decided to eliminate the Tutsis. I will simply call our friend T. When Hutu soldiers invaded her home, T. her mother and younger sister fled together, Her father and other siblings were not so lucky. T, her mother and younger sister found refuge in the home of a Tutsi woman married to a Hutu. The couple dug a manhole in their compound where they hid mother and children. The refuges came out in the night to feed and returned to their prison cage before dawn. Then, one day, Hutu soldiers came to the house in search of Tutsis. The man told them no Tutsi lived there. But the soldiers knew better. They asked for his wife. They spoke to her in Hutu language, but her Hutu was not fluent. They gave her husband a gun and asked him to kill her. He was reluctant.

They told him they'd kill her and then kill him if he did not kill her He …killed his wife, and was never the same again. He fled the house afterwards. Before the incident, mother instinct had made T's mother leave the house, against pleas by her daughters in search of her youngest daughter who was barely seven. For one week or longer after the murder of their hostess, T and her sister remained holed up without food, water, sufficient air and sunlight. The younger girl was feeble and dying until they would die. T took a risk, brought her sister out and made whatever meals that would sustained them until they would doe. Again, soldiers came, this time, Tutsi soldiers liberating the land. Identified as Tutsi, the girls told their story and led the fighters to their home. There, to their horror, lay the remains of their parents and little sister, chopped to pieces, like logs chopped into bits. It was indescribable trauma. The events in Rwanda, glimpses of which are now occurring in Nigeria in the burning of churches and killing of Christians, by Islamic militants, are going on in many parts of the world, but unknown to us in this country.

proven blood links to leaders of the militant Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt. President Obama is accused of being a disguised Moslem who attends church as a Christian to mask his beliefs. But none of his challengers can prove their fears that his high mission is the Islamisation of America! There is no doubt, however, that he has pursued policies which encourage largely Moslem illegal immigrant infiltration into the country. When Hillary Clinton is told her government is too soft on Islamic militants, she canvasses understanding and respect for Islam and race, and annoys her audience with reminders that Christians, too, have been or are still militants, citing the Crusade, the Hutu massacre of Tutsis, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) war on Britain and the Ku Klux Khlan in America.

The American gun industry has politicized, along the lines of Islamic take-over of America, President Obama's bid to dispossess American citizens of personal light arms. He says if no citizen bears personal arms, the high crime rate, for which the country is notorious would decline. But the Opposition says this is a ploy to make America powerless when the Arabs strike, as Nostradamus predicts they would. Under American Constitution, every citizen must be a member of the Peoples Militia and bear personal arm. This is distinct from the Regular Army. It is the Army of Last Resort when all else fails. The architects of the Constitution may have created this mass force to wrest power from the aboriginal West Indians, and, having conquered the land, this Army may have outlived its usefulness. But being a constitutional creation, it cannot be abolished without an amendment to the Constitution, which appears impossible in a country where practically every one loves to own guns and where the personal arms industry is big, big business. So, Obama went through the back door… to the United Nations, to propose a treaty among nations banning their citizens from owning or bearing personal arms as a means of curbing terrorism. Countries which sign the treaty would be obliged to disarm their citizens. So, President Obama, too, would be able to disarm Americans, because the Constitution would have to bow to the Treaty. I almost lost the confidence of some of my anti-Obama American friends when I supported the president on account of my belief that such an international UN Policy, if well enforced in Nigeria, could help the slack and sagged security situation of this country. They thought I was too myopic not to clearly see where Obama was heading. Accordingly, there is mass mobilization on the internet to resist the President. In the campaign are military and other security officers. Some say they are under institution to be on red alert in November. One even warns that, at that time, no one should be too far from his home because, due to unfolding events, he may be unable to return.

As I write this Monday morning, I read two posts in the internet.

One titled MILITARY & POLICE CALL IN ABOUT GUN CONSFICATION ORDERS says: St. Louis city residents have been warned not to be alarmed at the sight of U.S. Army tanks rolling down residential neighborhoods after sightings of the vehicles provoked fears of martial law".

The details could not be immediately obtained as the server was unreachable. A second post today, obtained on infowars.

Com says: "The battle lines are drawn and you should prepare for massive civil unrest and civil war. A Federal Appeal Court has ruled that the U.S. Government can still indefinitely detain citizens.

from its hands, and it collapses like snow melting in the scorching tropical sun.

Where in any case, other than the abyss, would a country which legalises homosexualism and lesbianism and forces teachers in primary schools to teach them positively as part of a subject curriculum? I am glad Mark Hitchcock says this much in the just ended conference titled UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES in Eden, Prairie, a Minneapolis suburb. Hitchcock, author of over a dozen books and the well read The End: A Complete Overview of Bible Prophesy and the End of Days was reported by BEN MILLES on face- book. Says Milles: "Hitchcock also spoke about America's role in the Bible prophesy and said that although some try to twist possible hints in the Bible about America, there are far too many problems with those views. Instead, he says, America doesn't seem to be part of an endtime scenario.

"He admitted that any conjectures on why America may not be involved in the end times would only be a guess, but he offered a few plausible scenarios" Milles quoted Hitchcock as saying: "We could see a nuclear 9/11, or a financial apocalypse or even an oil crisis."Well, that seems to tally with the NOSTRADAMUS PREDICTION. He said an earthquake of serious magnitude would hit California. It took hundreds of years after for science and technology to discover a huge fault in the California earth plate that could cause such huge earth movement about which science and technology could do nothing. If, as Nostradamus said, America becomes infirm and Japan goes under water as once did Atlantis, with parts of LOWLAND Europe also going under, what would the world of the future look like? In the 1970s when we discussed this in spiritual contemplative meetings, grave pictures emerged. If, as an example, Europe is in no position to sell us water purification chemicals, wouldn't the municipal water works fail?. Many of us advised ourselves should be build our own houses, to provide no fewer than two deep wells. Boreholes may not work. Where will there be fuel to run generators or spares to maintain them?. Forget about cars or air travel. Forget the computers. We would be back to simple lifestyles. And for Nostradamus' students and scholars who like to believe the Christianity/ Islam war would start from the Middle East, Miles reports: "Hitchcock says today's news reports indicate a new alliance is developing of nations that haven't regularly gotten along with each other in the last, oh, few thousand years. And their common foe would be Israel, said Mark Hitchcock.

"What makes this century different than any other, said Hitchcock, is that Israel has once again been reconstituted as described in Ezekiel 37 in the prophesy on the Dry Bone.

Milles report Hitchcock as saying that nations from Russia to Iran, Libya and Turkey have never been allies throughout history, and yet here in modern times each of these countries is not only prominent in the head- lines, they seem to be forming alliances none too friendly with Israel.

As Hitchcock said: "All of the Ezekiel 38 nations are identifiable today and are forging alliance with each other'' "He was addressing a packed house at the UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES CONFERENCE in Eden, hustled by Olive Tree Ministries Attendees came from as far as India and Jerusalem for the 15th annual conference at a large church auditorium '' He quotes Hitchcock: ''It is as if today's headlines were written 2000 years ago," adding "He pointed to one prophesies he feels is nearing fulfillment known by those watching prophesy as the Gog-Magog war. The text of the prophesy can be found in Ezekiel 38. It described an alliance of nations that go to war with Israel.

Nigeria

W

E are still a simple, pure but dissimilar people living in a complex radical and militant global village in which we seem unable to protect ourselves. With that militant world anchoring in northern Nigeria, it is still unclear how a southern politician will be safe in the north in 2015 campaigning for the Presidency. That year will be the 101st anniversary of the forcing together by British colonialists of dissimilar people in breach of natural laws. There is fear in the land. Will President Jonathan rerun or flee? Will a Moslem President turn Nigeria into an appendage of Arabia? Will northern Sudan or northern Mali happen here? Will a northern Christian president such as David Mark be a compromise? If the Moslem North wishes to adopt sharia life should the Christian south stop them? If the militants ask southerners and Christians to leave the north, isn't it their land and haven't they got the right to decide whoever they want to live with them? I pity President Jonathan he is the man of the moment.

But like Wiston Churchill he would not bring down the Wall, even if Nature so demands, and for its greed. Last week, greed for Bakassi oil drove America, Britain and France on solidarity misNostradamus sion to the Cameroon; as Nigeria prepares to appeal the World court judgment which gave this oil-rich peninsula to its belligerStudents and scholars of Nostradamus' and other prophesies of ent neighbour. There they go again. great import for our time look to the Middle East for the handCycles of events triggered long ago are closing. The Crusade writing on the wall. Long ago, long before the time of Moses, this and the Jchad in particular. Christian have learned from the Cruregion hosted a people and events which set the ball rolling for sade that man is unworthy to "fight" for God. Islam, like Christianthe time in which we stand. Few people know about these events ity, preaches love and peace among men. Who is like God? Who and this Arabian tribe whose land lies buried today in the desert, among us men can command underground water to rise and it to preserve it for the future world when the cycle of those events will, flooding oceans and cities? Who can command the sun begin to close. This is not speaking in tongue or in parable. There to move only one kilometer upward to cause the earth to are people who know of this anchorage of power in Arabia, which freeze and life to end? Who else can order it to move closer to may be one of the reasons why this region is aglow with energy AMERICA AND EUROPE the earth and make heat end earth life? Who can else can and restlessness which, unfortunately, are being expended in the Opposition literature, which would appear to be suppressed by command the moon to fall over the earth to destroy it? Does wrong directions. This tribe was a Chosen people who were to the mainstream press, suggests that Arabia and Islam have a stronger God need man to create His world or to run it? These is a lead earthmen spiritually to God. I believe that, after them, the hold on the United States today than ever. In the drive for petrodollesson radical Islamic militant's will yet learn. Islam preaches mantle fell on Jews and, after them , Germans, who blew it up in lar, America dined and wined with the so-called Devil" with short love, not hate; peace, not strife. two world wars, a spiritual mission having been mistaken for spoons. President Barrack Obama, unlike conservative American Suddenly, I rouse from seeming slumber and remember I political dominion of the earth. I do not think the United States, Presidents, would not avenge the slaying of American diplomats in have a column to write. So, here is it. today unipolar world leader, has a place in these matters. It is a Libya in an election year. Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State White America is paying for the Slave Trade. Whatever is power based on the power of technology. Take technology away (Foreign Minister), is accused of keeping a Personal Assistant with false in Nature that man has forcibly sustained will collapse. A of purification will sweep through Africa if, as Nostradamus e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08034004247,gale 07025077303 predicts, it will be the hope of man in the future.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

47

THE NATION

e-Business In so short a time, the use of Information Technology (IT) has gained prominence worldwide, especially in emerging economics like Nigeria. But there is danger: Children are subjected to abuses such as bullying, rape, murder, kidnapping and suicide. LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

Tackling the effect of cyber abuses on children H

ER daughter expressed her desire to open an account on Facebook, but she objected. After allowing her to have one of her Blackberry phones, she agreed to her demand, but with a proviso: she must know all the details of the account, including its password. Since mother and daughter are close, the 13-year-old girl did not object. So, the mother kept a constant tab on the account, logging in and out periodically.

Franca Anaka, a Nollywood actress, said she kept running the account on behalf of the teenager, only for her to discover that an adult was actually trying to woo her by sending amorous chat messages to her.

Anaka said she was shocked that an adult could descend so low to start luring a young girl to a relationship.At a point, she could no longer conceal her disgust and called the paedophile to order.

Anaka spoke at the First Stakeholders’ Tech4D Forum on ICT and Child Development, convened in Lagos by Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN).

Taiwo Akinyemi, a teacher in Abule Odu, a Lagos suburb, was shocked when one of her pupils suddenly screamed as lecture was going on. The pupil had concealed her cell phone and was surfing the Internet while class was on. Only nine years old and in Junior Secondary School One (JSS1), her “internet friend” had sent her the video of a group of masked men, like butchers, slicing open the throat of one of their captors and celebrating while committing the savagery. “She shouted unconciously and grabbed her colleague, weeping. I was attracted and asked what the problem was only to discover the horrible video she was watching,” Akinyemi said, adding that she impounded the phone and later sent for her parents.

These are but few examples of what children go through in their daily application of ICT tools, especially the mobile phones. There are growing concerns on the distribution of materials targeted at children and young people making them vulnerable to child pornography, sexual abuse, harassment, exploitation, extremism, brainwashing for terrorist acts of violence and human trafficking. For obvious reasons, it has to be so.

According to reports, in the last 12 years, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented growth in the telecoms sector. As at the end of August, the country had attained 105.239 million of (fixed & mobile) active-subscriber base. Total teledensity which was less than 0.4 per cent (0.4 lines per 100 inhabitants) in 2000 soared to 75.17 per cent by the end of August (using the population figure of 140 million).

At the end of February, telephone penetration equally hit 69.01 per cent, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). An expert has even predicted that it would hit 82 per cent by 2015. Also, the total number of mobile Internet broadband subscription is 18,538,451, averaging an

•Ndukwe

•Anaka

•Pupils surfing the Internet

•Adeyemo

•Omoro

Internet penetration of about 14 per cent.

Matthew Dawes, Managing Director of All Amber Communications, said across the continent, the mobile web and applications opportunity has continued to have profound effect on all echelons of society.

According to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), 45 per cent of teens in the country own a mobile phone.

Since the Child Right Act defines a child as anybody under the age of 18 years, it is worrisome the rate at which children are having unfettered access to mobile phones and the deceptive short service messages (SMS), operators send to their customers.

Since 2000, blogging, twitting, social media, Facebook, high broadband penetration, tablets, smart-phones, inbound marketing, cloud computing (which is just starting), and Google (who changed how we search online) are factors that have revolutionised the internet.

Tari Omoro of NITDA identified a wide range of potentially negative effects of the new media. Violent content–including imitation (in the form of aggression or anti-social behavior), desensitisation and fear: sexual content–including imitation (in the form of promiscuous or un-

safe practices), arousal, and shock or disgust; advertising – in relation to misleading claims, as well as consumerist or materialistic attitudes are some of the dangers he identified. Others are inappropriate or unwanted contact with others–for example in the form of ‘stranger danger’ or bullying; health–for example to do with smoking, alcohol and drug-taking; general personality disorders, such as low self-esteem, ‘identity confusion’ or alienation; reduced time for family interaction, or relationships with peers; reduced levels of educational achievement, or reading; and mistaken values, attitudes or beliefs–for example in relation to gender or ethnic stereotyping.

He nonetheless identified benefits such as learning through watching fims, improve vocabulary and learn new languages,.making a child feel more confident enhance imagination and creativity, foster parentchildren relationship and a source of entertainment.

Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Eugene Juwah, acknowledges the challenge and said Child Online Protection initiative was launched in 2008 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and endorsed by the UN Secretary-Gen-

‘What children view on line should be appropriate for their age. Parents roles should not be delegated to a filter, since there is no age when it is completely safe to use this technology; it is left to parents to assess their children’s judgment, critical faculties and level of responsibility. It makes sense to rule out any unsupervised internet use especially for younger children’

eral, Heads of State, Ministers and Heads of international organisations from around the world as an international collaborative network for action to promote the online protection of children by providing guidance on safe online behavior in conjunction with other UN agencies and partners.

“Virtual National Security Taskforce (VNST) will be created which will work with Virtual Global Taskforce. (VGT) is a law enforcement body which provides a 24/7 mechanism to receive reports about illegal behaviour or content from persons in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Nigeria will join this global security platform most especially for countermeasures against terrorist recruitment and online predators,” he said, adding that with the growing participation of Nigeria Child in cyberspace and the avalanche of Child Abuse Materials, there will also be a national legislation on Child Online Protection and Safety of Nigeria.

Mrs Veronica Adeyemo, acting director, IT Department, Federal Minsitry of Information, said parents have to be realistic to note that holding back the spread of internet use among children is practically impossible. “As a parent, one might be tempted to want to deny the child access to the internet as a means of punishment, especially those who are not convinced of its advantages,” she said, adding that parents should therefore try to focus on the behavior rather than the use of the tool itself.

She suggested that parents should be intimate with their children to get to know his/her profiles such as address, pass word etc. on the net, assist the child to surf the net. “By consistently assisting your child when he surfs the net, you will searching together for the answer to questions you both have”, she added Internet filters can be installed on the PC for younger children to help select and control the contents being viewed. There are some filters that can even go to the extent of us-

ing SMS messages to inform parents remotely what words their children are keying in, or even allowing them to see what their children are writing on the computer. Unfortunately, finding out the best way to install and use a filter is not always easy for parent when it comes to choosing one. Adeyemo said “What your children view on line should be appropriate for their ages.

Parents roles should not be delegated to a filter, since there is no age when it is safe to use this technology; it is left to parents to assess their children’s judegment, critical faculties and level of responsibility.

It makes sense to rule out any unsupervised internet use especially for younger children”, she counselled.

Omogbadegun Zacchaeus Oni, lecturer, Healthcare/Medical Informatics Researcher, Department of Computer & Information Sciences, College of Science & Technology, Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State, said the internet is often presented as an unsafe or untrustworthy space: where children are preyed upon by paedophiles, cannibals seek out victims, offline relationships are torn apart by online affairs and where individuals are addicted to gambling, love, and cybersex, warning that while online, the opportunity to commit a crime is a few clicks away.

For former Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC and co-chair, Presidential Committee on Strategy and Roadmap for Universal Broadband Access in Nigeria, Ernest Ndukwe the internet has become a universal library, where books, journals, articles and other materials can be sourced right within the confines of individual’s homes in any part of the globe.

While encouraging the concept of Digital Inclusion, which aims at making the benefits of ICTs available to all, incorporating regulatory, self-regulatory, and other effective policies and frameworks to protect children and young people from abuse and exploitation through the use of ICTs, into national plans of action and e-strategies is essential.

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

51

52

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

53

BUDGET

Budget 2013: OPS seeks diversified economy Varied reactions continue to trail President Goodluck Jonathan’s presentation, with some agreeing to some of the projections, while others urge more concerted action, report SIMEON EBULU, EMEKA UGWUANYI, OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE, TAOFIK SALAKO, COLLINS NWEZE, DANIEL ESSIET and TOBA AGBOOLA

T

HE business community was quick yesterday to assess next year’s budget, saying it was wrong to put all the eggs in one basket – oil.

The Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said the Organised Private Sector was not comfortable that the 2013 budget is tied to only the price of oil.

Speaking with The Nation, the DirectorGeneral, John Isemede, said this is too dangerous for the economy.

‘The budget is tied to $75 per barrel oil benchmark. What happens if the price of oil falls? That means the economy will be affected. Government needs to focus more on the non oil sector, most especially agriculture and solid minerals. ‘’Look at the case of South Africa, they depend so much on their solid minerals. If we are not careful, we will have the kind of problem we had in 1981 when the cost of production was higher than the price of oil,’’ Isemede said.

On the five per cent reduction in the recurrent expenditure and five per cent increment to capital expenditure, he said this was not enough, arguing that a larger percentage should have been allocated to capital expenditure.

Fiscal consolidation Standard Chartered Bank’s Regional Head of Research, Africa, Razia Khan, said the year-to-year rise in spending, is relatively modest, and compares extremely favourably with the magnitude of spending increase that was seen since the 2010 budget.

She said the budget figure showed an ongoing plan to achieve fiscal consolidation.

This is also reflected in the budget deficit, which falls to a projected 2.17 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, from an estimated 2.85 per cent in 2012.

She explained that the make-up of that spending is encouraging, adding that the adoption of a $75 per barrel of oil benchmark assumption is still relatively positive.

“Given global risks, and Nigeria’s on-going fiscal and export dependency on a single commodity, the priority for Nigeria has got to be increasing its rate of saving,” she said.

Were oil prices to fall, Nigeria would currently be left very vulnerable, with no sound mechanism for being able to smooth spending, let alone provide a counter-cyclical boost to the economy. She said the Sovereign Wealth Fund, while encouraging, is not yet sizeable enough to create a sound buffer against external shocks.

Oil benchmark unresolved The National Assembly differed with the Presidency on 2013 budget oil price benchmark. While the Presidency presented a proposal of $75 per barrel based on global economic uncertainty and volatility of oil price, the National Assembly insists on $80 per barrels in view of appreciable price stability since the beginning of this year.

President Goodluck Jonathan said the $75 benchmark adopted in 2013 appropriation is because the oil market is well known for its volatility. “We recall the 2008 experience at the height of the global economic downturn when oil prices fell almost overnight from $147 per barrel to $38 per barrel. This threat of oil price volatility remains constant and underscores the need to rely on a robust and prudent methodology to estimate the benchmark price.”

He also noted that the global economic slowdown being witnessed in the developed economies can also have far-reaching implications for the demand for our export commodities, given that the Euro zone and the USA account for over 50 per cent of the nation’s crude oil exports.

These global developments are also being transmitted to our economy through a dampening effect on foreign capital inflows and remittances by Diaspora Nigerians.

However, the National Assembly insists on $80 per barrel, saying oil price will remain stable and even rise in view of the crisis in some

oil producing nations.

The Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on economic issues, Eze Onyekpere, said the $75 per barrel is to ensure that the budget is not distorted in the event of a downturn in price, even though he noted that on the average, oil price has continued to increase since 2009 to date.

He said: “The adoption of the oil price based on five to 10 years moving average prices with some adjustments, in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), is a positive development for fiscal management. In 2009, crude oil prices averaged $63 per barrel; in 2010, it averaged $81 per barrel, while in 2011, it averaged a little above $111 per barrel. For the first six months of 2012, crude oil prices have averaged $116.23 per barrel. Considering the need to delink the budget from the volatilities of the international oil market, the projection of $75 per barrel is realistic,” he argued.

The President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Dr. Afe Mayowa, however, backed the National Assembly’s proposal of $80 per barrel. He said: “The purpose of benchmark is to forecast the income and expenditure, while the extra income is paid into the Excess Crude Account and shared without recourse to the National Assembly’s input.”

He said $80 per barrel benchmark is acceptable because on the average, oil price is currently over $100 per barrel, therefore, with the benchmark; the country is still in a comfortable zone.

Power Of all the allocations to the critical sectors, power got the least, with only N74.26 billion. The reason for the low allocation is not far-fetched. The sector is undergoing reform, and it is expected that by end of this month, most of the assets in the sector would have been privatized. This implies that the new owners would assume full responsibility of developing the sector.

The President said: “The power sector reform is on course. Our efforts have begun to pay off as we have improved power supply to various parts of the country. Our gas-topower and other initiatives are making this possible, but I acknowledge the fact that we still have a long way to go. As you may be aware, the on-going privatisation of the generation and distribution companies, has reached an advanced stage. In some cases, preferred bidders have already emerged. When completed, the programme will bring into the sector significant private investment, along with the requisite power output”.

To also ensure that the thermal power plants are not starved of gas supply, government is facilitating a power and gas financing package, which includes government’s guarantees, in the proposed Infrastructure Bonds of about $1billion, and $150 million of external funding from the African Development Bank to support continued gas supply and the liberalization of the power sector.

Increased oil out put Oil production was raised from 2.48 million barrels per day in 2012 to 2.53 million barrels per day, in 2013 indicating an in-

• Jonathan

crease of 50,000 barrels per day translating into more money for the government and sovereign wealth purse. Besides, oil price is expected to remain at reasonable price next year.

Fuel subsidy will continue in 2013 as the President maintained that the government would continue with Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which is funded with the money government saves from increasing pump price of premium motor spirit (petrol) from N65 per litre to N97. He said: “The SURE-P will continue with the expected resources of N180 billion in 2013 augmented by the projected 2012 unspent balances bringing the total to about N273.5 billion. We hope to make further progress in the programme, providing additional infrastructure investments and social safety net schemes for Nigerians.

Construction and real estate sector Experts in the construction and real estate sector have given President Goodluck Jonathan’s budget a mixed reaction. They say it failed to accord due recognition to the central role the construction and real estate sector play in the growth and development of a country. They noted that the construction sector remains a huge employer of labour, but unfortunately, it is neglected though the current administration touts its job creation as part of its transformation agenda.

The housing sector has remained in comatose with a gap of over 16 million housing units, but the only mention it received is that the president will hold a presidential retreat on Housing early November, to discuss policy and modalities for dealing with land titling issues, developing an affordable mortgage finance system and reducing the high cost of housing construction.

Last year, Lands, Housing & Urban Development received N24.9 billion but this year, no figure was apportioned it in the budget.

A developer and Managing Director, Fine

‘Personally I have reservations with Nigeria’s foreign borrowing because of the country’s history of mismanagement of foreign loans or suboptimal deployment of such loans. The $1billion Eurobond is recommended only on the strength of the country’s current economic managers who have a track record of prudent management of economic resources’

Homes Ltd, Mr. Afam Icheku criticised the paltry figures on housing which he argued cannot add up to 30,000 for a country with over 16 million housing deficit. He stressed that nothing in the budget suggests that government is working towards encouraging home ownership. National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Institute of Builders (NIOB), Kunle Awobodu, said the 2013 budget is not different from that of last year.

He questioned the projected one million houses proposed for this year which never saw the light of day, wondering how the huge housing gap can ever be closed. He berated government for not taking housing seriously, while in the developed climes, it is used to measure growth in the economy.

He also questioned the number of relevant professionals engaged in government housing projects and asked for more patronage.

On works, he wondered what difference the budget figure of N183.5billion as against last year’s N180.8 billion will make in the sector. According to him the difference in figure must have been built to check the inflationary trend and not to really make any difference in the sector. He asked for a review of the budget to make more meaningful to current needs in the sector.

For Mr. Kunle Adebajo, Past President, Nigeria Institution of Structural Engineers (NIstructee), the difference in the budget figures on works is surprising and also sad.

He said he had expected a huge cash injection into the sector to upgrade the poor infrastructure in the sector but was thrown aback with the fact that the status quo seems to have been maintained.

Sinking fund The decision to establish a N100 billion sinking fund as back-up pool for payment of matured domestic debts represents another commendable step in government’s domestic debt management. In addition to the gradual reduction in domestic borrowings, government’s commitment to longterm debt management plan would continue to reinforce confidence in the domestic debt market, and probably serve as a linchpin for development of a robust private debt market.

Following the success of the earlier Eurobond, the planned $1 billion Eurobond would further enhance Nigeria’s credit assessment and approval in the international financial market.

Managing director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said government must ensure that bond issues are tied to viable and verifiable projects.

“Personally I have reservations with Nigeria’s foreign borrowing because of the country’s history of mismanagement of foreign loans or suboptimal deployment of such loans. The $1billion Eurobond is recommended only on the strength of the country’s current economic managers who have a track record of prudent management of economic resources and the need to fast track infrastructure development in the country.

It is therefore imperative that any foreign loan by the government must be channel towards the development of critical infrastructure, which can catalyze the country’s economic development,” Chukwu noted.

He commended the improvement in budget estimates noting that increase in capital expenditure to N1.54trillion or 31.34 per cent share of the total budgeted expenditure should lead to an appreciable improvement in the size of physical infrastructure that the government can implement so as to further narrow the country’s infrastructure gap.

Also, the narrowing of the Federal Government budget deficit to 2.17 per cent in the 2013 budget and recurrent spending from 71.5 per cent in 2012 to 68.7 per cent in 2013 indicate an improvement in the level of fiscal consolidation at the federal level of government.

Chukwu noted that reduction in budget deficit would have indirect positive impact on monetary management and access to capital.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-10-12

Stock market hits 30.3% average return •Equities may remain investors’ favourites, says Chukwu

T

HE Nigerian Stock Market rallied to another milestone yesterday as Nigeria’s country index crossed the 27,000 index points, indicating average year-to-date return of about 30.3 per cent on equities.

With several stocks setting new highs, the All Share Index (ASI)- the benchmark valued-based index that tracks all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), improved by 0.62 per cent to cross to 27,006.77 points from its opening index of 26,840.87 points. This implies average return of 30.27 per cent.

Riding on the back of gains by 37 stocks, aggregate market capitalisation of all equities increased from N8.546 trillion to N8.599 trillion, representing additional gains of N53 billion.

Managing director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said proposed national budget for 2013 may improve the at-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

tractiveness of the equity market.

According to him, the reduction in both budget deficit and estimated government borrowing will create a supply pressure on federal government bonds leading to significant reduction yield.

“This will in turn make the fixed-income instruments less attractive. Consequently, I expect to see local fund managers realigning their portfolio in favour of equities.

With an upsurge in secondary market equity prices, the primary market will become more activate for capital raising by quoted companies as they will find the fair pricing of their equities attractive for them to make new offer of shares in the market,” Chukwu said.

He advised discerning investors, especially institutional investors to take preemptive positions the equities market ahead of the full

impact on investment instruments of the 2013 budget.

Meanwhile, Guinness Nigeria led the rally yesterday with a gain of N10.80 to close at N280. Nigerian Breweries followed with a gain of N1.10 to close at N138.80. Julius Berger Nigeria gained N1 to close at N31.

Flour Mills of Nigeria rose by 90 kobo to close at N65.90.

Ashaka Cement added 89 kobo to close at N18.69.

Okomu Oil Palm increased by 70 kobo to close at N35.70 while Dangote Sugar Refinery gathered 56 kobo to close at N6.21 per share.

On the other hand, CAP led the decliners with a loss of N1.45 to close at N27.55. International Breweries dropped by N1.35 to close at N12.65. Northern Nigeria Flour Mills declined by N1.07 to close at N20.41.

Roads Nigeria lost 53 kobo to close at N10.07while First Bank of Nigeria dropped by 37 kobo to close at N16.51 per share.

Aggregate turnover stood at 481.17 million shares valued at N4.03 billion in 6,299 deals. Banking subsector accounted for 326.64 million shares worth N2.69 billion in 3,182 deals. Insurance subgroup occupied a distant second position with a turnover of 55.21 million shares valued at N41.4 million in 355 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-10-12

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

MONEY LINK

Bridged banks: CBN forecloses N32b refund to shareholders •Says financial sector stability overrides investors’ interest

H

OPES of recovering the N32 billion shareholders’ funds trapped in bridged banks dimmed yesterday as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the goal of maintaining financial stability supersedes the narrow interest of the shareholders.

The three banks are former Afribank (Mainstreet Bank), Bank PHB (Keystone Bank) and Spring Bank (Enterprise Bank).

About N32 billion was the total worth of shares of the three banks as at August 5, 2011 when they were bridged.

CBN Deputy Governor, Fi-

Stories by Collins Nweze

nancial System Stability, Kingsley Moghalu said the position of the CBN on the issue is that the wider goal of financial stability overrides the narrow interest of these shareholders whose investments in the intervened banks had effectively been wiped out.

Moghalu spoke yesterday at the 2012 Continuous Education Programme for Bank Directors and Other Financial Institutions organised by the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) in Lagos.

lators and shareholders.

The deputy Governor explained that there are two broad perspectives of corporate governance. The first, according to him, is the shareholder perspective which is focused on growing the bottomline and the maximisation of shareholder value. This perspective, he said, deflects attention from the questions of ethics and the concern for values.

He explained that stakeholder perspective, demands that the interests of all stakeholders be considered even if

He said CBN’s combined effort with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was in the wider public interest. He said the regulatory action was in line with its statutory responsibility to protect depositors and maintain financial stability.

He explained that major issue in the corporate governance is whether managers and directors of corporations should serve the interests of shareholders or the interests of all stakeholders such as employees, creditors, suppliers, customers, community, regu-

StanChart to invest $100m in new units

S

Consumer Banking business, including over 900 sales staff in the Consumer Banking business.

At the conference, Diana Layfield, Standard Chartered’s CEO for Africa, set out her vision for the African franchise over the next five years against a backdrop of how far the business has travelled to date.

In a statement, the bank said investment spend will also be

TANDARD Chartered yesterday told investors at its inaugural Africa Investor Day on the Group’s aspirations for the region that it will invest over $100 million on 110 new branches in Kenya, Ghana and, Nigeria.

This will be done alongside five other core markets over the next three years, as well as making substantial hires across both the Wholesale and

accelerated in mobile payments technology, physical infrastructure, staff hires, establishing new onshore presences and deepening existing ones.

The bank currently covers 37 markets in the region – 15 on a full presence basis and 22 further markets on a transaction basis following its clients; providing extensive reach across the continent, thereby covering 92 per cent of sub-Saharan Af-

rican Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Group will expand its geographic reach to establish new onshore presences and deepening existing ones.

It intends to open new Wholesale Banking office locations in South Africa and invest in new products in Islamic banking and Mortgages, as well as establishing an onshore presence in Mozambique.

FirstBank holds customers’ forum in Abuja activities lined up to celebrate this year’s Customer Service Week was aimed at getting feedbacks and inputs from customers in Abuja and its environs on how best the Bank can improve on its service delivery.

Speaking at the forum, FirstBank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer,

F

IRST Bank of Nigeria has organised a programme tagged “Customer Engagement Forum” in Abuja.

The bank said in a statement, that the gesture demonstrates its commitment to engaging its customers on how best to provide sound and efficient financial services. The programme, one of the

Bisi Onasanya said the bank recognises the need to interact with its customers irrespective of their economic class, location or vocation, adding that without the support and loyalty of its customers, the bank would not have been where it is today.

The Group Head, Business Service Group, Eyitope St. Mat-

thew- Daniel thanked the customers for their unwavering support and loyalty over the years and urged them to continue to patronise the bank and avail themselves of the various innovative services even as the Bank continue to strive to delight and provide world class financial services to them.

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 10-10-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

DANGSUGAR STERLNBANK DNMEYER ACADEMY DIAMONDBNK FCMB FIDELITYBK AIICO HONYFOUR ASHAKACEM

5.65 1.72 1.52 2.34 4.07 2.30 2.24 0.78 2.40 17.80

O/PRICE 3.39 14.00 29.00 10.60 21.48 3.23 3.46 1.12 16.88 0.62

M

junction with Gem Publications, has donated educational and inspirational books to three secondary schools in Lagos State.

The bank said in a statement that the gesture was in furtherance of its commitment to learning and improving the standard of education in the country.

The book donations which were done under the auspices of the Gem Initiative to re-awaken the reading culture among secondary students in the state, formed part of the Gem Publications Group’s initiative to commemorate this year’s international literacy day.

The schools which benefitted from the initiative included Agidingbi Grammar School, Ojodu Junior High Schhol and Babs Fafunwa Memorial Senior Secondary School, Ojodu.

Speaking at the book presentation ceremonies at the various schools, the Regional Director, Ikeja Region of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Owolabi Kamson, noted that the bank and its employees placed a very high premium on education, as continuous learning is one of the bank’s core values.

Specifically, he said knowledge obtained through education is the key to life-long success and outstanding accomplishments by individuals, adding that only those who are educated rule the world through their ideas.

Kamson assured that the bank would continue to partner with public spirited organizations and non governmental organizations to improve the standard and quality of education in the country.

C/PRICE

6.21 1.89 1.67 2.57 4.47 3.59 2.40 0.83 2.52 18.69

CHANGE

0.56 0.17 0.15 0.23 0.40 0.29 0.16 0.05 0.12 0.89

C/PRICE 3.06 12.65 27.55 10.07 20.41 3.07 3.29 1.08 16.51 0.61

CHANGE 0.33 1.35 1.45 0.53 1.07 0.16 0.17 0.04 0.37 0.01

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 10-10-12

SYMBOL REDSTAREX INTBREW CAP ROADS NNFM TRANSEXPR PORTPAINT IKEJAHOTEL FIRSTBANK JAPAULOIL

Skye Bank staff, group support EMBERS of staff of education Skye Bank Plc, in con-

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

through several elements which include the promotion of effective corporate governance at banks,” he said.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

it will reduce the company’s profitability, adding that a good corporate governance policy must be anchored on considering and protecting the interests of all stakeholders.

Moghalu said the promotion of sound corporate governance practice in banks and financial institutions has been a constant agenda of the various banking sector reforms particularly in the aftermath of the consolidation programme of 2004 to 2005 and the on-going reforms initiated in 2009.

“A key pillar of the on-going reform programme is enhancing the quality of banks

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 125.13 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 12.0.13 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.79 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,732.33 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 1.00 124.96 119.60 0.76 1.10 0.91 1,726.86 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

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

NEWS

Bakassi: Govt set to protest rights’ violation ESPITE the final ceding of Bakassi Penisula to Cameroon, the Federal Government has been advised to seek redress on the alleged violation of the rights of Nigerians living in the area.

A London-based law firm, TOALAW Group, which was consulted by the Federal Government on the issue, gave the advice.

It urged the government to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the United Nations (UN) for justice on the abuse of the rights of Nigerians in the Penisula.

The firm said the Federal Government could join issues with Cameroon in ICJ and the UN on human rights abuses based on Article 36(2) of the ICJ. The legal advice reads: “We understand that there are concerns about the violation by Cameroon of the rights of some of the persons resident in the Bakassi Penisula.

“We also understand that consideration is being given to the possibility of Nigeria bringing proceedings against Cameroon with respect to such violations of human rights.

“Both Nigeria and Cameroon have made declarations recognising the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ under Article 36 (2) of the ICJ Statute.

“The combination of these declarations entitles Nigeria to bring cases against Cameroon before the ICJ (just as Cameroon brought the original ICJ proceedings against Nigeria.)

“Cameroon has made a general declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the ICJ, which is to say Cameroon has not excluded any matter from the

D

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

scope of its acceptance of the ICJ’s compulsory jurisdiction.

“Nigeria has made some reservations on the matter, with respect to which Nigeria accepts the ICJ’s compulsory jurisdiction.

“The compulsory jurisdiction works on the basis of reciprocity.

This means that though Cameroon has not excluded any matter from ICJ’s jurisdiction, Cameroon can invoke, as against Nigeria, any reservations that Nigeria has made in its declaration under Art. 36(2).

“A preliminary review of the Nigerian reservation suggests that none of them is likely to exclude the jurisdiction of the ICJ with respect to human rights matters.

“However, it is worth noting that Nigeria’s declaration excluded matters within Nigeria’s domestic jurisdiction. It may be argued on the principle of reciprocity that matters within Cameroon’s domestic jurisdiction are also excluded.

“Furthermore, it may be argued that the matters at issue are within Cameroon’s domestic jurisdiction.

Some intricate issues of law and ICJ practice at play here would require more detailed attention. However, at first glance, it appears that ICJ’s jurisdiction is not excluded.”

The legal advice made references to treaties which Nigeria could invoke to call Cameroon to order on the violation of the rights of Nigerians in Bakassi.

It said: “Both Nigeria and Cameroon are parties to a number of multilateral human rights treaties. The most important are the In-

ternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 1966, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1981 (AFCHPR), the Convention against Torture (CAT) 1984.

“In addition, Cameroon made some human rights commitments under the Green Tree Agreement between it and Nigeria. These treaties set out a number of rights and the documents sent to us suggest violation of some of the rights included in those treaties, including the right to life, the right to be free from torture and cruel and degrading treatment.

“The ICJustice has recently dealt with a number of inter-state cases in which it has pronounced on the violation of human rights treaties by the respondent state. These cases include: Question relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v. Senegal, 2012); Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2010); Armed Activities on the Territory of Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda, 2005).

“In these cases, the court has found violations of a number of human rights treaties, including the ICCPR, the AFCHPR and the CAT. “Admissibility of any Human Rights Claim - Issues of Standing: In addition to satisfying itself that it has jurisdiction to consider the case, the ICJ would also consider whether any particular claim is admissible. Questions may arise as to the standing of Nigeria to bring a claim of violations by Cameroon of the rights of persons who are in

the territory that is presently considered to be Cameroonian territory (the Bakassi penisula). There are a number of grounds on which it can confidently be argued that Nigeria does have standing to bring this case.

“First of all, the persons whose rights have been violated remain Nigerian nationals though presently resident in Cameroon. It should be noted that under the Green Tree Agreement, Cameroon has committed not to require these persons to change their nationality. Under international law, a state is entitled to bring a claim against another state on behalf of its nationals.

“This procedure of diplomatic protection, with respect to human rights, was recently invoked by the ICJ in Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2010).

“Secondly, the Green Tree Agreement represents a bilateral commitment between both states and

it is recognised that in cases of breaches by one side of a bilateral treaty, the other side has standing to bring a claim (Art. 42(a), International Law Commission Articles on State Responsibility 2001).

“Thirdly, some human rights treaties contain what are known as obligations erga omnes partes (obligations owed to all parties), such that every party to the treaty is entitled to invoke a breach by another party. “Where this is the case, a breach by one treaty party can lead to an ICJ case brought by any other treaty party, even if the breach was not to a national of the latter. It was on this basis that Belgium brought a recent case against Senegal with respect to violation of the Torture Convention: Questions relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v.

Senegal, 2012) “In summary, our preliminary view is that Nigeria would be able to utilise declarations made by both Cameroon and Nigeria.”

Delta civil servant ‘killed’ by herdsmen From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

A

TOP civil servant in Delta State, Mr. Bernard Chigwe, was allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen yesterday.

The late Chigwe was Head, Personnel Management, Ijoko North Local Government Area (LGA).

The Nation gathered that the late Chigwe found some herdsmen grazing their cattle on his farm and reported to the Divisional Police Station, Kwale, where some policemen followed him to his farm.

Sources said the herdsmen took to their heels when they saw the policemen and Chigwe was shot. Chigwe died before he could get medical attention.

Sources said he might have been shot by one of the herdsmen.

Delta Police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the incident.

He said: “For now, we cannot confidently say whether the HPM was killed by the Fulani cattle rearers because investigations have not been completed.”

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

NEWS

Ekwueme leads cooperation meeting with ACF

PDP, ANPP, slam Okorocha for closing schools, markets for birthday From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

•Call for cooperation among Nigerians

L

EADERS of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have agreed to work for Nigeria’s unity based on equity, justice and cooperation among the various ethnic nationalities.

At the end of their meeting yesterday in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, they jointly issued a terse communiqué, which said both sides agreed that the channel of communication opened by the meeting should be maintained.

The two regional groups could not reach a consensus because the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was said to have requested time to study and respond to the issues the ACF raised on a future meeting.

ACF, through its chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, spoke on inter-regional dialogue, temporary challenges of development, tackling challenges with courage, national/sovereign conference, federal structures and revenue allocation formula.

The ACF said it was not opposed to any talks that could engender a better and united Nigeria.

It, however, frowned at the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) because “it amounts to vote of no confidence on our democracy and its institutions”.

It added: “Moreover, most of the issues, which agitate the minds of proponents of the SNC, or National Conference, have now been listed for review with the Constitution underway by the National Assembly.”

The ACF did not accept the call for a “people’s Constitu-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

tion”, which is said to have the potential to enhance “true federalism” or “fiscal federalism” through which each ethnic nationality can develop at its pace.

It said: “This school of thought feigns ignorance of the fact that the 250 ethnic nationalities cannot reasonably be expected to be the federating units of the envisaged true federalism.”

The ACF said the North was not also opposed to derivation as a basis for revenue sharing as long as it is designed to reward efforts and compensate environmental degradation.

“We have made the distinction that in the case of off-shore exploration, no efforts are expended by litoral states nor does any appreciable degradation of environment of any host communities occur,” it said.

The group regretted that Ndigbo has been the target of ethnic fury in the North.

ACF said: “We have frequent outbreaks of conflicts accompanied by violence. At times, the brunt of such violence has been borne by relatively well-off members of the community which, unfortunately, in many urban centres of the North, include your members, Ndigbo.

“As a result, allegations have been made suggesting that Southerners, especially Igbo, are deliberately marked out for attacks.

Even more distressing is the damning propaganda that the violence that has taken place in the North was masterminded by Northern leaders, supposedly for political reasons.”

Praising the Igbo for promoting national unity through their settlement in larger numbers across Nigeria, the ACF said it

was “under pains to reassure Nigerians, especially our brothers, the Igbo, that leaders of the North do not, and will never condone violence, let alone those targeted at specific groups of Nigerians.”

The meeting was jointly presided over by the chairmen of the two groups, Ralph Uwaechue and Mohammed. It was attended by leaders of both groups.

Ohanaeze had former VicePresident Alex Ekwueme; former President-General of Ohanaeze, Justice Eze Ozobu; Prof. Joe Irukwu, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu; Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, Prof. Obiorah Ike, Chief Nduka Eya and Senator Offia Nwali.

Others include Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, Chief Kalu U. Kalu, Col. Victor Ozodinobi (rtd), Chief Onyenso Nwachukwu, Dr. Emmanuel Omeh and O. A. U. Onyema.

The ACF delegation had Alhaji Mohamed and the Secretary-General Col. Musa Shehu (rtd).

Others were Deputy Chairman Saidu Barda; Assistant Chairman Joseph Kennedy Waku; Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd.); Ambassador Adamu Mohamed; Hajia Halima Alfa; Amina Ladan Baki, Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule and Alhaji Ladan Shinnu.

The Legal Adviser, Mr. Bitrus Gada; the Publicity Secretary, Mr Anthony Sani; the Treasurer, Ismaila Zarma; Amina Ladan Baike and Col. Mohamed Abdu, also attended the meeting.

•Okorocha

L

EADERS of opposition parties in Imo State have berated Governor Rochas Okorocha for closing public schools, government institutions and markets for his 50th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his foundation.

Last Monday, schools, ministries and markets were closed throughout the state to celebrate the governor’s birthday, the 10th anniversary of the Rochas Foundation and the graduation of over 1,000 pupils of the Rochas Foundation College.

Describing the situation as

“an abnormal setting”, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, said the state had never witnessed such display of power and wastage of public funds.

The party scribe alleged that “the state is in the firm grip of a lawless and unstructured government”.

According to him, closing down economic activities and approving three days’ public holiday to celebrate a birthday was an act of intimidation against the governed.

Amajirionwu said: “There was an unprecedented buying of air time on Television and Radio with people’s money.”

The Imo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), through its Secretary, Mr. Christian Oguoma, said: “It amounts to misplacement of priority for the state government to be throwing a multi-

million naira birthday bash while over 500,000 residents, who were displaced by ravaging floods, are still sleeping under the trees at the mercy of the weather.”

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Chairman, Vitalis Ajumbe, chided the governor for closing down government institutions to celebrate his birthday and the anniversary of his private institution.

He said: “Where in the world are governors shutting down their states to celebrate birthday parties? This is waste of public funds. He (Okorocha) should be reminded that government is not run as a private business.”

The Southeast Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Comrade Uzor A. Uzor, described the elaborate birthday celebration as “unacceptable and unbecoming of a public servant who should be accountable to the people the elected him to manage their common wealth”.

Reps Committee on Power warns against HE House of Represenprivatisation of PHCN tatives Committee on

T

Power Sector yesterday warned against the privatisation of public enterprises in Nigeria, especially the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc. It said the privatisation must be handled with the caution to avoid building the process “on quicksand”.

The Chairman of the Committee, Patrick Ikhariale, spoke at the company’s SouthEast Zonal Headquarters in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, when members of the committee inspected projects

From Chris Oji, Enugu

executed by the company.

The inspection was to determine if the budget allocation to the company was well implemented.

Ikhariale explained that if the privatisation is not transparent, it would not endure.

He said: “Today, privatisation is the issue. You will recall that I was here some time last year to talk on of privatization. I did mention to you that given the greater analysis, privatisation is a

way out. But there’s a caveat: privatisation must be done with due diligence. It must be executed with sufficient expertise. It must be handled with e accuracies. Otherwise, we will work on quicksand.

“We are talking of privatisation because we are expecting a better service delivery. So, it will amount to crime against humanity if people show interest or buy when they don’t have the financial capability or technical knowhow to manage the business.”

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

H

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 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 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

58

NEWS How ace broadcaster Bode Alalade died, by daughter

F

ORMER General Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 10, Chief Bode Alalade, died on Tuesday in his Lagos home.

He was 74.

His first daughter, Yemi, said her father’s death was shocking because “there was no sign at all”.

“We were together till 10pm on Monday,” she told The Nation yesterday.

“He was editing a profile for me. And by noon the next day, when I wanted to leave for Ibadan, I knocked on his door and there was no response. We had to force the door open. We saw his lifeless body.”

Yemi described her late father as “someone who always looked after every-

By Segun Balogun

body’s interest”.

She added: “All five of us, his children, will tell you the same thing.”

A condolence register, which was opened for him, had entries from the residents’ association; NTA Lagos Channel 10; Oluyole Club, Lagos; Ibadan Grammar School Old Students’ Association, Lagos branch and other quarters.

One of the entries, by Siju Alabi, said: “Where do I start from? Uncle, you turned me from a ‘no-class TV Presenter’ to an ‘AClass Presenter.’ Thank you for all you did to ensure that I succeed.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.

Bill soon on demolishing ‘terrorists homes’ in Niger

T

HE Niger State House of Assembly will soon get a bill empowering the state government to demolish any structure used by suspected terrorists, it was learnt yesterday.

Three policemen were killed within a week in Minna, the state capital, by those suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, addressed reporters in Minna after the State Security Council reviewed security situation in the state.

The commissioner said the Babangida Aliyu adminis-

14 killed as gunmen invade Plateau communities U

NIDENTIFIED gunmen on Tuesday night killed 14 residents of three villages in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attacks were said to have been carried out simultaneously between 7pm and 9pm.

The Riyom attack came barely 12 hours after that of Barkin Ladi, where three people were killed.

As security agencies were examining the killings in Barkin Ladi, where the local government has imposed a curfew to avert a clash between Berom and Fulani youths, the Riyom killings occurred.

Both communities are neighbours.

The casualty figure in Plateau North, a predominantly Berom community, has risen to 18 within 24 hours.

The police command, however, said six people

•Women, children flee

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

SOME OF THE VICTIMS •Dalyop Mancho •Gyang Mancho •Thueung Manpang and her three children were killed in the raid on three villages.

The Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Sam Gyang Audu, was reportedly having an emergency meeting with Police Commissioner Emmanuel Ayeni in Jos, the state capital, over the killings.

Police spokesman Emmanuel Abuh, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed the attacks.

He said: “We counted six

bodies when we visited the scene. At about 7pm on October 9, Dalyop Mancho and Gyang Mancho, of the same parents, were ambushed on Jos Road and shot dead by the gunmen.

“Shortly after a woman, Thueung Manpang, and her three children in their home at Sara village, Ganawuri, were also attacked by unknown gunmen. All of them were killed.”

Besides, the casualty figure from the police, residents of the affected villages told The Nation that 14 people were killed.

A source said: “In Sop village, Riyom Local Government Area, another attack was carried out about the same time, where eight people were killed in the

Berom village.”

Abuh said no arrests have been made over the attacks.

“But Police Commissioner Ayeni has deployed armed policemen to the affected areas to forestall reprisals. Besides, investigations have begun into the killings.”

The police commissioner recently warned Berom and Fulani that he would wield the big stick against anyone who attacks another.

Following the renewed attacks on Berom villages, many villagers, mostly women and children, have been fleeing their homes.

Some residents said the military and police operations in the areas have failed.

The Special Task Force (STF) claimed to have combed the areas following the death of two Plateau lawmakers, the late Senator Dantong and Gyang Fulani.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

tration would stamp out terrorism from the state.

He noted that the bill, when passed, would empower the government to tackle insecurity more effectively.

Wuse, who was in company of members of the Security Council, explained that the government wants to ensure that terrorists do not have any hiding place in Niger State.

He said there is need for landlords to know who their tenants are, what they do for a living and other salient facts before letting out their property to them.

‘Case for herbal medicine’

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to take practical steps to boost healthcare delivery through the integration of alternative medicine into the nation’s health sector.

Foremost herbal medical practitioner and President of

PUBLIC NOTICE OKUGBESAN I, formerly known and addressed as Okugbesan Grace Olaide now wish to be known and addressed as Akinbode Grace Olaide. All formal documents remains valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE THIS IS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF UMUAHIA YOUTH PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION, LAGOS, GOT BURNT IN MARCH 2011.THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS FOR OFFICIAL AND RECORD PUROSES. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE PLEASE. SIGNED OBINNA EHUMADU CHAIRMAN.

Herbal Therapy Society of Nigeria, Dr. Akintude Ayeni, who made this call in a statement on behalf of the society, said both alternative and orthodox medical practitioners should join hands to find lasting cure to most of the sicknesses killing thousands of people daily, “Let both orthodox and herbal practitioners join hands and rub minds periodically, synergise research efforts and collaborate to evolve solutions to the myriad of challenges inhibiting the growth and development of healthcare delivery in the country. Orthodox and herbal medical systems must coexist and work hand in hand to move the healthcare of the citizenry forward,” he said.

According to him, the index of measuring good governance and socio-political impact of any leadership is the effectiveness of its health policy on the people because a healthy citizenry is a precursor to meaningful development.

BAKASSI A CHILD WITH TWO FATHER Bakassi A Child With Two Father.

A Film Play In Script

FOR SALE!.

Buy And Shoot;Contact Address.Essential Drugs Programme No.30 Barrack Road Calabar Cross River State.

MR.AWUM 08134205865.

•Bauchi State commissioners taking their oaths of office at the Government House in Bauchi…yesterday.

T

PHOTO: NAN

Eight suspects arrested for killing two policemen in Kano

HE Kano State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested eight suspected gunmen for killing two policemen on Tuesday.

Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris confirmed the arrest to our correspondent on phone.

He said the suspects were arrested in an uncompleted building at Kofar Dawanau Quarters in Dala Local Government Area.

The police chief said three AK-47 rifles were recovered from the suspects, adding that two of the rifles belonged to the two policemen who were killed on Tuesday.

Idris said: “The area was cordoned off by the security operatives and we succeeded in arresting eight suspects. Three AK 47 rifles were recovered from the uncompleted building where the suspects were arrested.”

He promised that any innocent person among the suspects would be released after interrogation.

The police chief assured

Gunmen kill two FRSC officers, injure one

A

BOUT 24 hours after gunmen killed two policemen on polio immunisation in Kano, two other gunmen on a motorcycle yesterday killed two Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials on patrol vehicle.

Another officer was injured.

The incident happened at 1pm at Madobi Road, near the Sani Abacha Youth Centre.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Zaki Alkali, confirmed the incident.

He said four of his men were in the vehicle when the assailants opened fire on them.

Alkali said: “Two officers died instantly while one sustained bullet wounds. But the fourth person was unhurt. It is a very sad incident.”

The police also confirmed the incident, From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

that the command would ensure the protection of life and property.

Idris urged the residents

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

saying a special squad was searching the area for the gunmen.

Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris told our correspondent on phone that his men had arrested eight suspects in connection with Tuesday’s attack.

The police chief added that his men were after the killers of the FRSC officer.

Idris said: “We are on the lookout for them and I assure that my men would soon round them up. We have also put in more efforts to fight terrorism in the state.

“I urge the public to be on the alert and report any suspicious movement to security agencies. Kano is no place for them. We shall make sure that the hoodlums move out of the state.”

to cooperate with security agents to enable them perform their constitutional duty more effectively.

He said: “The cooperation of the public assisted in the

arrest of the suspects.”

The police chief also urged the public to report any suspicious movement to law enforcement agents for prompt action.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

59

EFCC operatives storm Imo to probe Ohakim, Okorocha T HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed a team of operatives in Imo State as part of the ongoing probe of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim for alleged mismanagement of N18.5billion out of the N40bilion bond secured in June, 2007.

The team is also probing Governor Rochas Okorocha over alleged abuse of the Joint state and Local Government Account.

The details of the allegations against Okorocha have not been made available.

The EFCC has so far quizzed three former commissioners and two special advisers in the Ohakim administration.

According to a top EFCC source, the operatives have been in Imo State since Monday, looking into the records of the past and present administration.

It was learnt that out of the bond sum, N201m was spent on Christmas Rice in 2007 by the Ohakim administration.

The investigation weighs heavily on Ohakim’s administration because of the inability of some state officials to account for N18.5billion out of the N40billion bond applied for the state under the ex-governor.

The source said: “The EFCC stormed Owerri as investigation into the case of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and money laun-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

dering against Former Governor Ohakim.

“The operatives of the antigraft agency have been poring through files and had by yesterday quizzed some ranking officers of the Ohakim administration and carted away vital documents.

“Among those quizzed are former permanent secretaries of the ministries of finance and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as a former Chairman of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (IMOPADEC).

“Apart from these officials, other officials of the Ohakim administration have been quizzed in the last few months by the anti-graft agency and released on administrative bail.

“Some of those earlier quizzed are former Commissioner of Finance, George Irechukwu; former Special Adviser to Ohakim on Project Monitoring and Implementation; Ben Ekwueme; former Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu Obioha; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogaziechi Kezie.

“They are being probed for their alleged roles in the mismanagement of the

N18.5billion secured out of the N40bilion bond applied for by the Imo State Government in June 2009. The bond was supposedly secured to finance the following projects: (1) Rehabilitation of 37 water scheme at a cost of N1.3bilion; (2) Construction of 16 critical roads at a cost of N3.7billion; and (3) Cconstruction of Phase 1 of the Imo Wonder Lake Resort and Conference Centre, Oguta at a cost of N12.5billion.

“From preliminary findings, we have a strong lead that the proceeds of the bond were misappropriated as the Ohakim administration and the lead Issuing House (UBA Capital) never bothered to file the mandatory quarterly report on utilization of the bond proceeds to SEC. This prompted the capital market regulator to slam a fine of N1.2million on the state. The fine was paid by the Okorocha administration.

“The Ohakim Government in July 2007 had secured a loan of N10billion from UBA as a bridging facility prior to floating the bond but did not disclose this information to SEC. “From this money, N1.6billion was diverted and misappropriated through mundane expenditure such as the N201m paid for Christ-

mas Rice in 2007, N50m for SSG as logistics for festival, N500m for purchase of Zenith Bank shares, N55m as DTA to Permanent Secretary Governor’s Office, N50m as professional fees to Nwoko “Some of the water projects listed for execution with the Bond proceed had been funded and executed under the State’s Millennium Development Goals, MDG “The Ohakim administration also allegedly withdrew N6.7billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) Escrow Account without the approval of members of the Committee “Above all, in March 2011, barely two months before his exit from Government House Owerri, Ohakim took another loan of N6billion from UBA Plc Mbari Branch Owerri and disbursed it within four weeks.

“Records available to the EFCC have shown that the disbursement was supervised by the ex- governor’s brother and Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ohakim.

“Some of the suspects have made useful statements and volunteered document that will assist the ongoing investigation.

“Governor Okorocha, Ohakim’s successor, is equally being probed by the EFCC over allegation bordering on abuse of the Joint state and local government account.”

Reps condemn Excess Crude Account management

•Senate President Mark Continued from page 2

“At a whopping $33.6 billion government appears to be monopolizing domestic borrowing to the unhealthy exclusion of the private sector. This is certainly a matter of grave concern because global statistics on sustainable debt-GDP ratio percentages can not continue to be used as guide for an economy that is not keeping pace with global trends.

“In our effort to address this concern, only yesterday (Tuesday), in passing the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is the basis for annual Budgets, the House resolved to raise the oil price benchmark from 75 US Dollars per barrel to 80 US Dollars per barrel with the objective that the difference of 5 US Dollars per barrel be channeled exclusively towards reducing the deficit in the budget and consequently reducing domestic borrowing for same purpose by 66 per cent.

“The trend of Nigeria’s foreign reserves has taken an upward trajectory in recent months, on the back of steady production levels and robust oil prices. The latest figure for the country’s foreign reserve, as of 04 October 2012, stands at 41.48Billion US Dollars, a 26month high.

“Concerns are however being expressed regarding the management and accounting reportage of our foreign reserve stock as to whether the figures reported are cumulative accruing inflows only or are inclu-

sive of interests accruing from the management process or attributed to other sources of accretion. This matter becomes urgent especially when accruing management fees thereof is not reflected in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

“There must be transparency, accountability and probity in the management of our resources generally, given recent developments that indicate our exposure to unforeseen natural disasters. We certainly, for instance, cannot take the protection of our environment for granted.

The Speaker said there would continue to be friction between the Executive and Legislature if the president keeps shunning resolutions of the National Assembly.

He said: “I am compelled however to state that the National Assembly is becoming increasingly concerned about the disregard for its resolutions and public comments by certain functionaries of the Executive on same. I cite the Senate Resolution on the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the House Resolution on the state of insecurity of the nation, requesting Mr. President to visit and brief the House, the House of Representatives Resolution on the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the concurrent Resolution of the two Chambers on Bakassi among others.

“This does not promote cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislature and consequently stability in the polity.

“We must therefore, continue to work together to redeem this nation from the clutches of poverty and disease. The vaunted growth in the nation’s GDP must be reflected in the lives of everyone, not just a few people privileged to hold public office or those enjoying unfair public patronage.”

Why $75 oil benchmark in budget,

by Okonjo-Iweala Continued from page 2 •Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (second right), supported by from left: Speaker State House of Assembly, Alhaji Inuwa Garba, Deputy Governor Tha’Anda Rubainu and the Emire of Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Mohammed, during the governor’s farewell address to intending pilgrims from the state …on Tuesday

House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution is poor Continued from page 2

billion in order to complete gas pipelines and other infrastructure investments.

“We have also programmed other grants and soft credits critical to infrastructure and other sectors in our medium term external borrowing plan,” he said.

The President said that Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) will continue with expected resources of N180 billion in 2013 augmented by the projected 2012 unspent balances to bring the total to about N273.5 billion.

The government, he said, hopes to make further progress in the programme, providing additional infrastructure investments and social safety net schemes for Nigerians.

Jonathan laid the 2013 budget for the SURE-P before the Joint Session.

On fiscal policy, he noted

that to promote agriculture and industry, the government will continue to implement supportive fiscal measures for some priority areas.

He said: “You will recall that in my 2012 Budget speech, I announced fiscal measures on rice, cassava, wheat and machinery for the agriculture and power sectors.

“In this regard, I am pleased to announce the following additional measures which will be effective from 1st January 2013: *Sugar: Machinery and spare parts imported for local sugar manufacturing industries will now attract 0per cent duty; there will also be a five-year tax holiday for “sugarcane to sugar” value chain investors. *Import duty and levy on raw sugar will be 10 per cent and 50per cent respectively, while refined sugar will attract 20percent duty and

60per cent levy; *Rice: A 10 per cent import duty and 100 per cent levy will be applied to both brown and polished rice; •Aircraft: All commercial aircraft and aircraft spare parts imported for use in Nigeria will now attract 0 per cent duty and 0 per cent VAT. •Jonathan noted that the measure will appreciably improve safety “in our skies as newer fleet and less onerous maintenance will prevail.

•Solid Minerals: Machinery and equipment imported for use in the solid minerals sector will now attract 0 per cent import duty and 0 per cent VAT; and •Public Mass Transit: In order to encourage the production of mass transit vehicles in Nigeria, duty on Completely Knocked Down components (CKD) for mass transit buses of at least 40-seater capacity, will now be 0 per cent, down from

5 per cent.

“Government is desirous of supporting green growth and, in this regard, will explore options for providing incentives for energy efficient vehicles from the 2014 fiscal year,” Jonathan said.

On gender empowerment, he said his administration is gender friendly and has worked to improve the position of women in society and empowered them economically.

Continued on page 61

global uncertainty ravaging the world, the impact will be that of low global demand for products “and when you have low global demand, it affects the prices of those products and countries that depend on a mono product will be exposed.”

The minister said subsidy was provided for N971 billion as against the 2012 figure of N888 billion.

The 2013 budget she noted, is centered on stimulating the economy by creating jobs, giving specific incentives and “engendering women who are known as the third emerging market because unleashing the potentials of women in any economy contributes vastly to GDP growth.”

Commenting on the 2013

budget, the finance minister said President Goodluck Jonathan has approved that recurrent spending be scaled down from 71.4 per cent to 68.6 per cent.

Also in 2013, the federal government will put in place a sensible debt management strategy, with a sinking fund that it will finance every year. Already, N100 billion has gone into the sinking fund to retire some bonds that are coming due in February.

In 2013, the government has budgeted a N1.03 trillion deficit, representing 2.17 per cent of the GDP. Financing the deficit will be from signature bonuses from the sale of oil blocs, privatisation proceeds, domestic borrowing and internally generated revenue.

Soldiers seal off village over UNIPORT killings Continued from page 2

that these show a total system failure. Neither of these dastardly acts took place in a time frame that the security agencies would not have arrived at the scenes and prevented the murders, if there had been timely intervention,” he said.

“Wali urge the government to intensify efforts to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the

inhuman acts and their collaborators to serve as deterrent.

“Nothing short of the identification and prosecution of the Mubi and Aluu Killers and collaborators will assuage the feelings of Nigerians,” he added.

Reiterating the call for state police, Wali said the police lacked adequate funding, training and intelligence gathering.

To address the challenge, the

NBA boss said the Bar would go ahead with the proposed National Summit on Peace and Security.

On the Federal Government’s position on International Court of Justice (ICJ’s) judgment on Bakkassi Peninsula, Wali said “NBA was not part of the committee; so, we are unable to tell the quality of materials available.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

60

NEWS Biko’s memoirs published

Pope to pray in Arabic THE head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has for the first time spoken in Arabic during his weekly address to pilgrims to the Vatican.

“The Pope prays for all the Arabic-speaking people. May God bless you all,” The Pope said.

The introduction of a sixth language is to express support for Christians in the Middle East, officials said.

The Vatican said Arabic was also introduced to remind all faiths to pray for peace in the region.

At the weekly papal audience which draws pilgrims from many countries, a priest read a summary of the Pope’s address in Arabic for the first time, joining other briefs in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Slovak, Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Russian.

Vatican officials said that they hoped the use of Arabic during the event, broadcast live on television and radio throughout the world, would send a comforting word to Arab Christians in the Middle East, home to many Christian holy places.

A Pakistani-born UK tourist said he thought the move was a good idea.

“Everybody has a lot of respect for the Pope, irrespective of what religion you follow or what language you follow.

But, still, I think it will be a very good idea,” Khalid Hussain told the Associated Press news agency.

Court frees ‘Pussy Riot’ member A MOSCOW court has freed one of the convicted women from the punk band Pussy Riot but upheld two-year jail terms for the other two.

There were cheers in court when the two-year jail term of Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was suspended.

Earlier the trio spoke defiantly at the appeal hearing, saying their protest song was political and not anti-Church.

In August they were jailed for staging an antiKremlin protest in Moscow’s main cathedral, Christ the Saviour.

Samutsevich, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”.

Their imprisonment sparked widespread international condemnation.

The judges on Wednesday accepted the argument of Samutsevich’s lawyer - that Samutsevich had been thrown out of the cathedral by guards before she could remove her guitar from its case for the band’s “punk prayer”.

The other band members cheered and hugged Samutsevich when the decision was read out.

T

•Pakistani civil society activists carry candles to pay tribute to Yousafzai and protest against her assassination attempt in Lahore...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan offers reward for P girl’s attackers

AKISTANI officials have offered a 10million rupee ($105,000; £66,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the attackers of a prominent teenage rights campaigner.

Malala Yousafzai, 14, is recovering from surgery after being shot on Tuesday in north-western Swat Valley.

The Taliban said they had shot her because she had “promoted secularism”, and that they would target her again.

Protests against the shooting have been held in several Pakistani cities.

Malala Yousafzai is still unconscious in hospital in Peshawar, where she has been visited by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Interior Minister Rehman

Malik.

Malik said the “whole gang” who carried out the attack had been identified and said the nation “will not let them run away, we will catch and punish them”.

Gen Kayani said it was time to “stand up to fight the propagators of such barbaric mindset and their sympathisers”.

“The cowards who attacked Malala and her fellow students have shown time and again how little regard they have for human life and how low they can fall in their cruel ambition to impose their twisted ideology,” he said in a statement.

He said the armed forces

refused to “bow before terror” and would fight on against the Taliban, “regardless of the cost”.

Malala Yousafzai was just 11 when she started writing a diary for BBC Urdu about life under the Taliban militants who had taken control of the Swat Valley in 2007 and ordered girls’ schools to close.

Writing under the penname Gul Makai, she exposed the suffering caused by the militants and particularly focused on her attempts to continue her education.

The Taliban were ousted from Swat in 2009, but her family said they had regularly received death threats.

They believed she would be safe among her own community, but on Tuesday, she was stopped as she returned home from school in Mingora, in north-western Swat, and shot in the head.

Two other girls were also injured, one of whom remained in a critical condition yesterday.

Malala Yousafzai’s family said her condition was stable after she underwent surgery to remove a bullet lodged in her shoulder.

A decision would be made in the next 48 hours over whether to fly her abroad for treatment, they said.

The news of the bounty was announced in Peshawar by the information minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

US panel investigates Benghazi security

S

ECURITY in Libya was complex and ever-changing in the run-up to a deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, a US panel has heard.

A former US Army officer, Lt Col Andrew Wood, told the hearing that security “remained a struggle” and was weak until he left Libya in August.

Debate centred on whether the state department’s security chief sought more security staff to protect US diplomats.

Republicans have criticised the Obama administration over the incident.

On Tuesday, the state department said it had no “actionable intelligence” on the 11 September attack that killed the US ambassador and three others.

In his testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Lt Col Wood said the security situation deteriorated as Libya’s situation remained uncertain.

He was was in charge of a security support team at the US embassy in Tripoli.

“Diplomatic security remained weak. In April there was only one US diplomatic security agent stationed there,” he said. “The RSO [regional security officer] struggled to obtain additional personnel there but was never able to attain the numbers he felt comfortable with.”

A state department security chief, Eric Nordstrom, is

also appearing before the House of Representatives committee, after reports emerged that he alleged that Washington-based official Charlene Lamb had wanted to keep the security presence in Benghazi “artificially low”.

Ms Lamb also appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday, and faced questions about her role in the process of deciding the security level in Benghazi.

HIRTY-FIVE years after the death in police custody of Steve Biko, an online archive about the South African anti-apartheid activist has been published.

It features documents never seen before in public, including his 1973 banning order restricting his activities.

Curated by the Steve Biko Foundation, the archive is part of 42 historical exhibitions published by Google.

They aim to narrate major events of the last century, including apartheid, D-Day and the Holocaust.

Google says each exhibition in its Cultural Institute initiative has links to archive material to give different perspectives on the events.

“First-hand testimonials, photographs or manuscripts - many times these things are not accessible because they’re either held within vaults or people can’t travel thousands of miles to get to them,” Mark Yoshitake of Google’s Cultural Institute said.

“The aim of the Cultural Institute is to preserve and promote culture online and make it accessible to the world,” he said.

The Steve Biko archive goes back to his childhood and shows his political awakening as a 15 year old.

Syrian plane forced to land

T

URKISH fighter planes have forced a Syrian passenger plane to land at Ankara’s airport for investigation, Turkish state media report.

The plane, which was travelling from Moscow, is suspected of carrying weapons to Damascus, reports say.

A Turkish foreign ministry official confirmed that a Syrian plane had been ordered to land and that authorities were inspecting the cargo.

Turkey has made clear its support for the rebels in Syria’s civil conflict.

The 35-passenger plane was escorted by Turkish F4 jets to the capital’s Esenboga airport for security checks, the Anatolia news agency reported.

It follows an earlier warning to Syria by Turkey’s top military commander that Ankara would respond with greater force if it continued its cross-border shelling.

Five Turkish civilians were killed by Syrian mortar fire last week, prompting Turkey to fire into Syria for the first time since the uprising.

Nobel for US chemistry duo

T

HE 2012 Nobel prize in chemistry has gone to two US researchers whose work shed light on how the billions of cells in our body sense their environments.

Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka will share the prize of 8m Swedish kronor (£750,000; $1.2m).

Their work focuses on what are called G proteincoupled receptors, a number of proteins that reach through cell walls.

Understanding how they work has been crucial to unravelling the complex network of signalling between cells.

Sven Lidin of the Nobel

committee started his summary of the work by shouting “Boo!” to assembled reporters; the rush of adrenaline one gets when scared, he explained, is just one manifestation of this vast network, communicating a chemical signal across billions of cells through otherwise impenetrable cell membranes.

Dr Lefkowitz, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Maryland, was reached by phone during the conference.

He was asked about receiving the fateful phone call informing him of his win, saying that he had not heard the phone ring.

“I must share with you that I wear earplugs and so my wife gave me an elbow, ‘call for you’, and there it was: a total shock and surprise, as I’m sure many before me have experienced.

“I’m thinking this is going to be a very, very hectic day.

I was going to get a haircut which if you could see me is quite a necessity - but I’m afraid that’ll have to be postponed.”

He went on to explain that the receptors “serve as the gateway to the cells for many different neurotransmitters and hormones in our body”.

They capture signalling molecules both in healthy bodies and are the target for

•Kobilka

half of all pharmaceutical drugs.

“They are crucially positioned to regulate almost every known physiological process in humans. As physicians, what we need to do in cases of disease is regulate the activity of these, like

•Lefkowitz

adrenaline, as you heard, serotonin, and dopamine,” Dr Lefkowitz added.

But signalling goes further than just the network of cells; ulitmately these same receptors link the cells to the outside world, ultimately allowing us to see, taste and smell.

61

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

NEWS Toyota to recall 7.4m cars TOYOTA is voluntarily recalling more than seven million vehicles worldwide, including some Yaris, Corolla and Camry models, over faulty window switches.

It affects 1.39 million cars in Europe - 138,000 in the UK - 2.47 million in the US and 1.4 million in China.

It is the biggest single recall since Ford called back eight million vehicles in 1996.

Toyota said there had been no reports of accidents, injuries or deaths as a result of the window problem.

Toyota is also recalling 459,000 vehicles in Japan, 650,000 in Australia and Asia, as well as hundreds of thousands from across the Middle East, and from within Canada and its other, smaller markets around the world.

The number of vehicles being recalled is roughly the same as its sales for the whole of its last financial year.

The carmaker did not say how much the recall would cost.

The range of Toyota cars affected worldwide include certain models of the Yaris, Vios, Corolla, Matrix, Auris, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, xB and xD produced between 2005 and 2010.

In the UK, the models affected are the RAV4, Yaris, Auris and Corolla.

Sudan expels Norwegian envoy SUDAN has expelled a Norwegian diplomat from the country in a tit-for-tat row over spying allegations.

The move was a response to Norway’s expulsion on Tuesday of a Sudanese diplomat working in Oslo.

He was suspected of spying on Sudanese refugees in Norway.

Neither diplomat has been identified.

Most European countries shun President Omar alBashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court, accused of alleged war crimes.

In a statement, Sudan’s foreign ministry said it had summoned the Norwegian ambassador to inform him of the expulsion.

“The foreign ministry told the Norwegian ambassador it hoped the incident would not harm bilateral ties,” the statement said.

Norway’s intelligence agency announced on Tuesday the arrest of a 38year-old Sudanese immigrant they said had been secretly collecting information on Sudanese refugees and passing it on to the Sudanese diplomat.

The Sudanese ambassador denied the allegations of spying in an interview with Norway’s national broadcaster NRK.

Kenya president reject MPs’ bonus pay K

KENYA’S President Mwai Kibaki has rejected an attempt by MPs to award themselves a bonus of more than $105,000 (£65,660) each.

The MPs, already among Africa’s highest paid lawmakers, had wanted the money to be paid when parliament breaks up ahead of elections due in March 2013.

But their attempt sparked angry protests against “greedy hyenas”.

Kibaki said the bonuses were unconstitutional and unaffordable given the country’s financial situation.

Kenya’s 222 lawmakers receive a tax-free salary of about $10,000 (£6,200) a month. The minimum wage in Nairobi is about $1,500 a year.

But on Thursday they introduced a last-minute amendment to the Finance Act which would have seen them receive the bonus - 2bn Kenyan shillings - as a sendoff package.

Analysts says tax increases were likely in order to foot the $23m bill.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Kibaki’s office rejected the bid, saying he “objected to the amendment on the grounds that it was first unconstitutional, and secondly untenable in the prevailing economic circumstances in the country”.

It comes shortly after salaries for teachers and doctors

were increased after weeks of strikes over pay and conditions.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga also expressed his opposition to the bid, saying earlier on Twitter: “I would like to make it clear as I did this past weekend that I am against the MP’s gratuity bonus.”

According to the AFP news agency, someone earning the minimum wage in Kenya would have to work for 61 years to earn the equivalent of an MP’s proposed bonus.

More than 100 people had marched through the capital carrying placards denounc-

ing the MPs as “thieves” and “greedy hyenas”.

They then marched towards parliament and camped outside, chanting “mwizi”, which means thief in Kiswahili, when any MP drove by.

“How come our teachers had to strike for three weeks to get a salary hike, yet within a single sitting the MPs could easily increase their remuneration?” said Morris Odhiambo, one of the protest organisers.

“Where is the two billion shillings going to come from?”

Rights groups, including Transparency International and the Kenyan Human Rights Commission, had issued a joint statement de-

• Kibaki scribing the bonus move as “extremely disturbing”.

They called on Kenyans to let MPs know “that they are not willing to foot the cost of their greed”.

US forces for Jordan

T

•Pope Benedict XVI (left) greeting the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, Rowan Williams, on the sidelines of a synod at The Vatican. PHOTO: AFP

Russia to end arms agreement

R

USSIA will not renew a decades-old agreement with Washington on dismantling nuclear and chemical weapons when it expires next year, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

The death of the 1991 agreement, which had been renewed twice, is the latest in a series of hitches in relations between the United States and Russia and casts doubt on the future of the much-vaunted “reset” in relations between the Cold War-era foes.

“The basis of the program is an agreement of 1991

which, by virtue of the time when it was conceived, the way it was worked out and prepared, does not meet very high standards. The agreement doesn’t satisfy us, especially considering new realities,” Interfax quoted him as saying.

U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, a veteran disarmament campaigner, was in Moscow in August to push for the renewal of the program, known as the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, which he helped launch.

The project, intended to dismantle nuclear and chemical weapons in the former Soviet Union, was

last ratified by Russia in 2006 and is due to expire in 2013.

Aides said it had resulted in the deactivation of more than 7,650 strategic warheads.

Ryabkov said that Russia now had the finances to carry out its own programs and that Moscow was interested in continuing partnerships in third countries.

During his trip to Moscow Lugar said he had brought up the idea of Moscow and Washington working together to reduce Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles, though he said response to the idea had been cool.

HE United States has sent military troops to the Jordan-Syria border to bolster that country’s military capabilities in the event that violence escalates along its border with Syria, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday.

Speaking at a NATO conference of defense ministers in Brussels, Panetta said the U.S. has been working with Jordan to monitor chemical and biological weapons sites in Syria and also to help Jordan deal with refugees pouring over the border from Syria. The troops are also building a headquarters for themselves.

But the revelation of U.S. military personnel so close to the 19-month-old Syrian conflict suggests an escalation in the U.S. military involvement in the conflict, even as Washington pushes back on any suggestion of a direct intervention in Syria.

It also follows several days of shelling between Turkey and Syria, an indication that the civil war could spill across Syria’s borders and become a regional conflict.

“We have a group of our forces there working to help build a headquarters there and to insure that we make the relationship between the United States and Jordan a strong one so

that we can deal with all the possible consequences of what’s happening in Syria,” Panetta said.

The development comes with the U.S. presidential election less than a month away, and at a time when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee, has been criticizing President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, accusing the administration of embracing too passive a stance in the convulsive Mideast region.

The defense secretary and other administration officials have expressed concern about Syrian President Bashar Assad’s arsenal of chemical weapons. Panetta said last week that the United States believes that while the weapons are still secure, intelligence suggests the regime might have moved the weapons to protect them.

The Obama administration has said that Assad’s use of chemical weapons would be a “red line” that would change the U.S. policy of providing only non-lethal aid to the rebels seeking to topple him.

Pentagon press secretary George Little, traveling with Panetta, said the U.S. and Jordan agreed that “increased cooperation and more detailed planning are necessary in order to respond to the severe consequences of the Assad regime’s brutality.”

House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution is poor Continued from page 59 He added that to further integrate women in the various sectors, “we have developed an innovative approach to mainstreaming gender issues starting with 5 pilot ministries – Agriculture, Health, Communication Technology, Water Resources and Works”.

These ministries, he said, are signing MOUs with the Ministry of Women Affairs to deliver on specific services for women.

The President noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, will work with the Ministry of Communication Technology to ensure that “5 million women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs receive mobile phones to be able to access information on agroinputs through an e-wallet scheme.”

Besides, “the Ministry of Health, in addition to scaling up its ongoing ‘Save a Million Lives’ initiative, plans to give back health and hope to onethird of the pool of young girls and women who have been waiting a long time for VVF repairs through surgery and economic rehabilitation.”

He said the government was in addition, up-scaling routine immunisation.

The President noted that for 2013, the Ministry of Work plans to increase the number of women are employed in public works programmes as contractors, workers and project evaluators, setting itself a target of 35 per cent for women in FERMA rehabilitation work.

According to him, in every geopolitical zone, at least three roads leading to areas

where women’s socio-economic activities are concentrated, will be prioritised and completed.

“To support these activities, we have set aside the sum of N3 billion to be disbursed to participating MDAs as incentives for them to deliver on these targets.

Our focus on empowering women is part of our agenda for improving the country’s human development indicators.

“In this regard, we shall not relent in our efforts to improve access and quality in our health and education sectors,” he said.

On sports, Jonathan said that the performance of the country’s sportsmen and women continues to strike an important chord for all Nigerians.

He said: “We all recall our disappointment with our performance in the recent Summer Olympics games in London. At the same time, we were very delighted with the success of our paralympics athletes. My Administration is committed to addressing the challenges faced by our sports men and women.”

Jonathan noted that later this month, he will host a Presidential retreat on sports to strategise on ways to support the sports sector to achieve greater heights.

The President described the proposal as a budget that “gives priority to our concerns for security, infrastructure, food security and human development sectors.”

He went on: “It is a budget that introduces a series of in-

novative features. This budget is a push in the right direction borne out of our well thought-out and articulated developmental policies.

“This is a budget for every Nigerian. It belongs to the farmer, the investor, the entrepreneur, the youth and the elderly.

“Yes, we have challenges, but also incredible opportunities.

“Ours is the task of transforming these opportunities into real, tangible outcomes which all our people can experience and call their own.

“We need the cooperation of everyone to make it work, to grow the economy, and to create jobs for our people. I continue to call on all Nigerians to act. Making Nigeria work begins with you and me.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

62

NEWS

‘A budget for every Nigerian’ Continued on page 12

ment’s drive to build up the nation’s oil reserves through exploration of new frontiers for oil and gas production is beginning to yield results with news of the discovery of crude oil in some inland sedimentary basins in the country. These include the Chad Basin, Benue Trough, Yola Basin and Anambra Basin amongst others. We are determined to further develop on these findings and expand the scope of such explorations. To support this, we have raised the provision for frontier exploration services from N12 billion in 2012 to N16 billion in 2013.

Job Creation Fellow Compatriots, in spite of the economic growth noted earlier, it is clear that as a nation, we still face economic disparities across the country.

This constitutes an obstacle to sustainable development as it limits improvement in living standards, output and social cohesion which are key factors for achieving inclusive growth.

Our challenge therefore, transcends how to achieve growth. Our objective is to achieve inclusive growth by identifying and developing job creation opportunities. We have mentioned the 3.5 million jobs we aim to create in agriculture and more jobs in the housing and construction sectors, solid minerals sector, aviation and the creative industry.

In my Independence Day Speech, I spoke of the 80,000-110,000 jobs we are supporting young entrepreneurs to create through the YouWin programme. We have received numerous testimonies from young men and women who have been able to expand their businesses through the programme. We have just launched a second round of the competition targeting only women entrepreneurs. Across the country, our youth are developing new ideas and enterprises, and we must support them.

I launched the Community Service, Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (CSWYEP) under the SURE-P in February 2012. This is now working in pilot phase in 14 states, and to be replicated in other states in 2 weeks. We also have the Graduate Internship Programme, in which participating private companies provide one-year internships to 50,000 graduates, paid by the Federal Government.

So far, 700 firms, and 20,000 young graduates have applied to participate in this scheme.

Fellow Nigerians, even as we review our achievements in 2012, we are also conscious of the unprecedented floods, which have ravaged many parts of our country, displacing tens of thousands of fellow Nigerians, and causing massive destruction of property, farmlands, and infrastructure across the country. My heartfelt sympathy goes to the affected families and communities.

Yesterday, I made a broadcast on the Federal Government’s actions to deal with the situation. I authorised the disbursement of N17.6 billion to states and MDAs to help bring succour to our fellow citizens affected by the floods. This will complement ongoing efforts by Federal and State agencies, and private initiatives.

A Presidential Technical Committee to properly assess the extent of the impact, and propose a rehabilitation strategy, has submitted an Interim Report and is continuing to visit all the affected communities. I have also set up a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the Federal Government to raise funds to mitigate the pains and ensure effective post-impact rehabilitation of victims.

I have also directed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development put in place a flood recovery food production plan. This will include the provision of early maturing varieties of maize, which mature in 60 days, to several flood affected areas.

In addition, flood-tolerant rice varieties are being procured for flooded rice growing areas. We will also accelerate dry season production of major food crops.

Security

‘This is a budget for every Nigerian. It belongs to the farmer, the investor, the entrepreneur, the youth and the elderly. Yes, we have challenges, but also incredible opportunities’ Fellow Compatriots, we are conscious of the fact that without security, no meaningful development can take place in our land; and our collective efforts at building the nation would only amount to little. This is why we channelled a great deal of resources to security in the 2012 Budget. We remain conscious of the impact of security challenges facing the country and are determined to bring the situation under control.

I commiserate with all our citizens who lost loved ones in the recent Mubi killings and all the other acts of senseless destruction of lives and properties in the country. We have already made arrests in the Mubi case, and I want to assure Nigerians that all the culprits will be made to face the full weight of the law. I want to thank our brave men and women of the security services for their commitment. I also want to acknowledge and thank the various state Governors for their cooperation and untiring effort to ensure peace in their domains. The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable Theme of the 2013 Budget Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you will recall that in furtherance of my Administration’s efforts to transform our economy, the 2012 Budget was established on four main pillars – Macroeconomic stability; Structural reforms; Governance & institutions; and Investing in priority sectors. The 2013 Budget promotes continuity of these pillars and is designed with the theme: fiscal consolidation with inclusive growth. We will remain prudent with our fiscal resources but also ensure that the Nigerian economy keeps growing and creating jobs. To this end, the government will continue with the mediumterm theme and interventions that are consistent with the objectives of the Transformation Agenda.

Macroeconomic Stability One key plank upon which our economic transformation is based is the achievement of macroeconomic stability. My Administration has made significant progress in putting the finances of the nation on a sound footing and laying the foundation for rapid and sustainable growth. We will stay focused on maintaining macroeconomic stability in Nigeria.

Budget Structure Now let me turn to the structure of the 2013 Budget. In recent years, recurrent expenditure has tended to crowd out capital expenditure in the national budget. Over the 2013-2015 medium-term, my Administration will continue to implement measures aimed at correcting this imbalance in the budget structure in a viable and sustainable manner.

In the 2012 Budget speech, I noted that Government was going to focus on cutting recurrent expenditure to sustainable levels through reduction of waste, corruption and duplication in the functions of government agencies. In this respect, the biometric verification of employees is being extended to all agencies of Government, while the process for rationalizing public agencies and reducing duplication of mandates among different government agencies has begun, following the Report of the Oronsaye Committee.

I am therefore pleased to announce that the share of recurrent spending in aggregate expenditure is set to further reduce from 71.47% in 2012 to 68.7% in the 2013 Budget, while capital expenditure as a share of aggregate spending is set to increase from 28.53% in 2012 to 31.3% in 2013.

Public Debt Management Government will continue to exercise fiscal prudence and limit its borrowing requirements in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act,

2007. Consequently, we have developed a responsible domestic debt management strategy that, for the first time, seeks to start paying off our domestic debt rather than rolling it over. In this respect, a sinking fund of N100 billion is being established in the 2013 fiscal year to be used for repaying Government’s maturing debt obligations and to curb the rising domestic debt profile. We have further reduced our annual domestic borrowing from N852 billion in 2011, N744 billion in 2012, and to N727 billion in 2013.

The 2013 Budget The 2013 Budget is underpinned by the following parameters which reflect Government’s prudent economic policies in an uncertain global economic environment: • Oil production of 2.53 million barrels per day, up from 2.48 million barrels per day for 2012.

• Benchmark oil price of US$75/barrel, a modest increase from the US$72/ barrel approved in the 2012 Budget.

This benchmark price is based on a well established econometric methodology of estimating oil price moving averages.

• Projected GDP growth rate which is now estimated at 6.5% compared to 6.85% in the Fiscal Strategy Paper.

The revision is underpinned by the fact that the severe floods experienced over large parts of the country are expected to impact on economic activity in 2013, especially agriculture. However, the growth prospects may improve with the plan to boost dry season farming.

Revenue Based on these assumptions, the gross federally collectible revenue is projected at N10.84 trillion, of which the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s Budget is forecast at N3.89 trillion, representing an increase of about 9% over the estimate for 2012. Non-oil revenue is projected to continue to grow in 2013 as the ongoing reforms in our revenue collecting agencies, and the implementation of initiatives to further develop the nonoil sector continue to yield results.

Expenditure Proposals An aggregate expenditure of N4.92 trillion is proposed for the main budget of the 2013 fiscal year, representing a modest increase of about 5% over the N4.7 trillion appropriated for 2012.

This is made up of N380.02 billion for Statutory Transfers, N591.76 billion for Debt Service, N2.41 trillion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure and N1.54 trillion for Capital Expenditure.

Based on the above, the fiscal deficit is projected to improve to about 2.17% of GDP in the 2013 Budget compared to 2.85% in 2012. This is well within the threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and clearly highlights our commitment to fiscal prudence. We are determined to further rein in domestic borrowing, and this way,ensure that our debt stock remains at a sustainable level.

Our focus on critical economic and social sectors continues. Some of these sectors are largely driven by private sector activity, while others require a great deal of public sector support.

Some key allocations are as follows: Works – N183.5 billion; Power N74.26 billion; Education – N426.53 billion; Health – N279.23 billion; Defence – N348.91 billion; Police – N319.65 billion; and Agriculture & Rural Development – N81.41 billion.

The power and gas sectors require a lot of investments to sustain our supply improvements. We shall therefore complement available resources with a proposed Infrastructure Euro Bond of about $1 billion in order to complete gas pipelines and other infrastructure investments. We have also programmed other grants and soft

credits critical to infrastructure and other sectors in our medium term external borrowing plan.

The SURE-P will continue with the expected resources of N180 billion in 2013 augmented by the projected 2012 unspent balances bringing the total to about N273.5 billion. We hope to make further progress in the programme, providing additional infrastructure investments and social safety net schemes for Nigerians. I am pleased to also lay before this esteemed Assembly, the 2013 Budget for the SURE-P. Fiscal Policy To promote Nigerian agriculture and industry, we will continue to implement supportive fiscal measures for some priority areas. You will recall that in my 2012 Budget speech, I announced fiscal measures on rice, cassava, wheat, and machinery for the agriculture and power sectors. In this regard, I am pleased to announce the following additional measures which will be effective from 1st January 2013: a.Sugar: Machinery and spare parts imported for local sugar manufacturing industries will now attract 0% duty; there will also be a 5-year tax holiday for “sugarcane to sugar” value chain investors.

Furthermore, import duty and levy on raw sugar will be 10% and 50% respectively, while refined sugar will attract 20% duty and 60% levy; b. Rice: A 10% import duty and 100% levy will be applied to both brown and polished rice; c. Aircraft: All commercial aircraft and aircraft spare parts imported for use in Nigeria will now attract 0% duty and 0% VAT. This will appreciably improve safety in our skies as newer fleet and less onerous maintenance will prevail; d. Solid Minerals: Machinery and equipment imported for use in the solid minerals sector will now attract 0% import duty and 0% VAT; and e. Public Mass Transit: In order to encourage the production of mass transit vehicles in Nigeria, duty on Completely Knocked Down components (CKD) for mass transit buses of at least 40-seater capacity, will now be 0%, down from 5%. Government is desirous of supporting green growth and, in this regard, will explore options for providing incentives for energy efficient vehicles from the 2014 fiscal year.

Gender Empowerment This administration is gender friendly and has worked to improve the position of women in society and empower them economically.

Nevertheless, to further integrate women in the various sectors, we have developed an innovative approach to mainstreaming gender issues starting with 5 pilot ministries – Agriculture, Health, Communication Technology, Water Resources and Works. These ministries are signing MOUs with the Ministry of Women Affairs to deliver on specific services for women. a. The Ministry of Agriculture, for example, will work with the Ministry of Communication Technology to ensure that 5 million women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs receive mobile phones to be able to access information on agro-inputs through an e-wallet scheme. b. The Ministry of Health, in addition to scaling up its ongoing “Save a Million Lives” initiative, plans to give back health and hope to one-third of the pool of young girls and women who have been waiting a long time for V.V.F repairs through surgery and economic rehabilitation. In addition, we are up-scaling routine immunization. c. For 2013, the Ministry of Works plans to increase the number of women that are employed in public works programmes as contractors, workers

•Dr. Jonathan

and project evaluators, setting itself a target of 35% for women in FERMA rehabilitation work. In every geopolitical zone, at least 3 roads leading to areas where women’s socio-economic activities are concentrated, will be prioritised and completed.

57. To support these activities, we have set aside the sum of N3 billion to be disbursed to participating MDAs as incentives for them to deliver on these targets. Our focus on empowering women is part of our agenda for improving the country’s human development indicators.

In this regard, we shall not relent in our efforts to improve access and quality in our health and education sectors.

Sports The performance of our sportsmen and women continues to strike an important chord for all Nigerians across the country. We want to take our sports to great heights again. We all recall our disappointment with our performance in the recent Summer Olympics games in London. At the same time, we were very delighted with the success of our Paralympics athletes.

My Administration is committed to addressing the challenges faced by our sports men and women. Later this month, I will be hosting a Presidential retreat on sports in order to strategise on ways to support our sports sector to achieve greater heights.

Conclusion Mr. Senate President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished and honourable members of this esteemed Assembly, Fellow Nigerians, the Budget Proposal I lay before you today represents our continued drive for real and sustainable growth for the wellbeing of Nigerians.

It is a budget that gives priority to our concerns for security, infrastructure, food security and human development sectors. It is a Budget that introduces a series of innovative features.

This Budget is a push in the right direction borne out of our well thoughtout and articulated developmental policies.

This is a budget for every Nigerian.

It belongs to the farmer, the investor, the entrepreneur, the youth and the elderly. Yes, we have challenges, but also incredible opportunities. Ours is the task of transforming these opportunities into real, tangible outcomes which all our people can experience and call their own. We need the cooperation of everyone to make it work, to grow the economy, and to create jobs for our people. I continue to call on all Nigerians to act. Making Nigeria work begins with you and me.

Finally, I must restate my appreciation of the contributions and cooperation of the Legislature in discharging our collective responsibility to build the nation of our dreams.

I look forward to an expeditious consideration and passage of this Proposal, as we strive to guarantee positive socio-economic transformation for the benefit of our people.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I thank you.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA

Ideye wants committed Eagles D

INAMO KIEV of Ukraine forward and Nigeria international, Brown Aide Ideye has charged his teammates to be battle ready and not be tensed up as they get set to play the Lone Star of Liberia on Saturday in an African Cup of Nations qualifier at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

Ideye in an exclusive chat with NationSport noted that a relaxed playing each other knowing fully well that they are playing in front of their vociferous fans, would help the mission to beat Liberia than a squad already gutted by morbid fear of their opponents before entering the field.

The former Ocean Boys of Yenagoa striker opined that a united team on Saturday would definitely work together to de-

L

AGOS state Deputy Governor Princess Adejoke Adefulire, has described the annual NNPC/ Chevron junior tennis masters now in its 13th year, as a laudable project with potentials to reposition the game in the country.

The future of the game according to her, lies in developing younger ones to re-enact the era of the likes of Nduka Odizor, Sadiq Abdullahi, David Imonite among others, even as she enjoined the players to make the best use of opportunity provided by the championship which its deput in 1999.

"I encourage you all to see this tournament as a springboard to maximize your God-

From Tundi Liadi in, Calabar

feat the Lone Star and avoid another sad end to the 2013 campaign just like it was in the 2012 edition.

"They are a good team for sure

but the most important thing for us is not to come out tense because we are playing at home and we have to take it one step at a time and believe that giving our best will be the best

thing that can happen to Nigeria.

"We also have to play as a team because this match means a lot to us," Ideye, who has been scoring goals with fun in Ukraine told NationSport.

Walker tips Moses to shine in Chelsea free role

E

X-CHELSEA star Clive Walker has tipped Victor Moses to make the most of his chance at Stamford Bridge in a free role. The Nigerian forward, 21, joined ‘The Blues’ this summer from Wigan Athletic in a deal worth around £10 million. And with Chelsea playing free-flowing football this season, Walker said he believes the talented youngster’s natural ability could stand out for Roberto Di Matteo’s men. “Victor Mo-

ses has been given an almost a free role. This attacking midfield three have really got license to run free and when you can do that because of the defensive solidarity of the two in midfield, then I think those three can just express themselves,” Walker told the Weekend Sports Breakfast. “I think Moses has come in at a great time for a young man.

He’s got a super opportunity every time he’s on the field of play to go out and do what

comes naturally. “Sometimes things are given to you naturally, things that you’re born with. The basics you are taught, but the natural ability that man has got is beginning to shine through.” Moses, who has joined up with Nigeria for an Africa Cup of Nations clash on Saturday, has already found the back of the net for his new club and made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 4-0 win at Danish club Nordsjaellend.

CHEVRON TENNIS MASTERS

Adefulire desires return to Odizor era

By Julius Okorie

given talents and propel you to worthy lives ahead," she said during the closing ceremony of the 2012 edition.

Number one seed of the week-long championship Umoru Balami lived up to his seeding when he emerged champion defeating hardfighting second seed Emmanuel Idoko in two sets 6-3 6-2.

For his effort, Balami went home with the sum of N100,000, while Idoko received the sum of N70,000. The

tourney as usual maintained its tradition of not being a winner takes all event, as semi-finalists received the sum of N50,000 each while 12 players who reached quarter finals received a total of N120,000. The prizes were accompanied by other gifts such as tennis rackets, tennis shoes, shirts and short and tennis bags.

Balami thus joins the list of players in the project's hall of fame which also has kid brother to Davis Cup player Jonathan Igbinovia, Monday Igbinovia who won the title

back to back in 2003/2004 and Samuel Omoile whose record of three-time victories 20092011 remains intact .

Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop noted that the objective of the tournament is to develop participants mentally and physically on one hand, and support the growth of the game in the country on the other. No fewer than 15 secondary schools in Lagos and its environ graced the finals which attracted a lot of dignitaries to the Lagos Lawn Tennis club Onikan at the weekend.

Injured Yobo to hit Calabar Friday •To cheer teammates to victory from the stands

I

NJURED Super Eagles' skipper, Joseph Yobo will arrive Calabar on Friday to cheer up the senior national team who have an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria and the Lone Star of Liberia on Saturday after a knee wound forced him out of the tie.

The chief coach of the Eagles Stephen Okechukwu Keshi who confirmed the development in a chat with the media on Wednesday stated that Yobo called him over weekend and told him he got a knee injury in Fenerbahce of Turkey's league match and was substituted in the 70th minute of the encounter.

Keshi noted that further checks carried out on the knee showed Yobo would not be available for the second leg of the crucial AFCON qualifier but would come to Calabar on Friday to show solidarity to the team's

From Tundi Liadi in, Calabar quest to book a ticket to the 2013 Nations Cup slated for South Africa.

The Big Boss, however, wished Yobo well "My captain, our captain is injured. Yeah! He played the last game with his club and was in the pitch for about 70 minutes and he was substituted.

"He called me right away that he had a little problem with his knee and I told him no problem. I also told him he should let me know what is going on.

"The next day he called back.

He (said) he has a swollen knee and he can't move. He can only be here on Friday but even with that he cannot play.

"We wish him quick recovery because we need him and hopefully he can make it here to ginger the boys because he still my captain,"

PASCAL TO FOREIGN PROS

Do your best against Liberia

E

X-INTERNATIONAL, Patrick Pascal has charged foreign professional on the Eagles camp preparatory to the African Nations Cup qualification match against Liberia to replicate club form in National team colours.

The Atlanta Olympics gold medalist in the football event said with the array of foreign based invited for the duel, Nigeria cannot afford to lose against less fancied Liberia.

Speaking life on Brilafm, the Bauchi state born former defensive midfielder said Nige-

By Innocent Amomoh rian have waited for so long to the see the Eagles at the Nations Cup again, adding that there’s no better time than now.

“With 15 foreign professionals in camp the Eagles don’t have any excuse to lose against Liberia that will be parading few foreign players.

If we fail to qualify this time it will be a disaster,” he said.

Nigeria tackles Liberia for the second leg final round of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers slated for Calabar on Saturday.

Drogba: We’re trying to move forward

I

N CÔTE D’IVOIRE, the name Didier Drogba stands for far more than football. It’s the incarnation of the power of sports as a tool for development and hope.

When conflicts arise and even when civil war was raging in his country ahead of Les Elephants’ participation at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, Drogba emerged as a strong symbol to play a pivotal role and use the integrative force of football to unite a whole nation.

After all, scoring the winner in the UEFA Champions League final and being a symbol of hope for Côte d’Ivoire are not considered big burdens

by Drogba, but as a “feeling of pride” he has embodied throughout his career.

FIFA.com met up with the emblematic striker in Abidjan to discuss the symbiotic relationship between football and development, and his own mission off the pitch.

To what extent can football be used as a tool for social development in Côte d’Ivoire?

I think in recent years it has become clear that football has played an important role here in Côte d’Ivoire, not only on a political level during the crisis that affected the whole country, but particularly with regard to the development of Côte d’Ivoire and of its people. Many players have been trained here and have gone on to become big stars in Europe, like the Toure brothers and Salomon Kalou, so football plays a key role in Côte d’Ivoire.

You played a vital role yourself in 2005 in bringing peace to Côte d’Ivoire. Could you tell us a bit about that and explain how football can be used to bridge the divide that separates the country?

I believe that what we experienced in 2005 was a key moment, an historic moment. We couldn’t help but be swept along by the events, and it was the love of our country, its passion for football, that led us to put out that message, and I believe that because of that, we managed to avoid a tragedy. [After qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 2005, the Côte d’Ivoire players launched a national appeal for reconciliation.]

In the past, you have played some international matches surrounded by rocket launchers and with a

number of weapons in the stadium.

What is the situation today?

That only happened once. It surprised us and was because of the situation at the time, when the country was in a state of crisis. It’s part of our history, the history of Côte d’Ivoire, but things have changed since then, lots of things have happened. We’re trying to move forward, we’re trying to get back on our feet, to show people through football that we can live together.

What does the national team, Les Elephants, mean to people here?

The national team means a lot to this country. I think that today – and I choose my words carefully here – it is Côte d’Ivoire’s only unifying force. It’s the national team of Côte d’Ivoire. All our ethnic groups are now represented in the team – Baoulés, Bétés, and so on. They are all there. So there’s a complete cross-section in the Côte d’Ivoire team and I think that it’s the only good example there is today. Of course, there are other sports in Côte d’Ivoire, but football is currently the most popular one, and it’s the sport that brings the whole country together in my view, whereas in everyday life that isn’t necessarily the case.

And what sort of pressure does that mean for you? There’s the

pressure of scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final, but it’s another form of pressure altogether when you know that your whole country is counting on you.

I don’t think of that as pressure, it’s more a feeling of pride that you have been selected out of so many players. I was lucky enough to be selected from millions of people to represent my country, so it’s not pressure, it’s pride, it’s an honour.

Could you tell us what you have achieved so far and what you hope to achieve in the future through your foundation?

The Didier Drogba Foundation was created in 2005 and we made sure we didn’t grow too fast, we have made a lot of donations to orphanages, hospitals, we have tried to grow and to focus more on helping the people who need it. The areas that the foundation works in are health, education and children.

We tried to choose areas that affect Africa as a whole; it’s a foundation that doesn’t only operate in Côte d’Ivoire, but all over Africa. We were also able to make donations to Haiti and other countries like Japan that have been hit by earthquakes. So the aim of our foundation is to collect donations, we have organised a number of charity dinners in London with stars who came to help promote our foundation. So we’ve collected some donations with a view to building clinics here in Côte d’Ivoire because after the crisis that hit the country, I think there has been a lack of funds and so it’s a way for me to make a contribution, to help the country in a small way to get back on its feet.

There will be more projects and schools, because education is the foundation of everything.

What led you to create this foundation? As a footballer you could have an easy life, do whatever

you like...

No, I don’t think so, although not many footballers have set up foundations, they give donations to help. It’s just that they don’t necessarily have the profile that I have. So like I say, I feel privileged because I have a bigger profile, but I know a lot of players who get involved. Take Emmanuel Eboué’s foundation, for example – I was at his gala three months ago, which he held to try and create jobs; people don’t talk about it much because it’s not Didier Drogba, but what he’s doing is fantastic. So we have to encourage this kind of attitude.

What led me to do it was, when I come here and see the conditions that my compatriots live in, I can’t change everything, I just do what I can, to make everyday life a bit more comfortable.

FIFA has carried out many projects in Côte d’Ivoire, such as a course for coaches, which took place in September. To what extent do you think that projects like this can help to develop football in the country?

It’s important, I am very grateful to FIFA because a lot of young people want to be like Yaya Touré, Emmanuel Eboué or me, so it’s important to have an organisation like FIFA to support young people and to make sure that educators in Côte d’Ivoire can improve and share their knowledge with young people. So it’s a very good initiative and one that should be encouraged.

Côte d’Ivoire has some of the best players not only in Africa but in the world, but this generation has yet to win any silverware. You came very close at the last CAF Africa Cup of Nations. What is it that you need if you are to win the tournament at last?

If it ever happens, it would mean a lot to the country. For me and my team-mates, of course it would be a

•Drogba

great trophy to have, a just reward for these past ten years, when we’ve worked so hard and tried to carry the country. And for the people of Côte d’Ivoire, who have been waiting more than 20 years, it would be truly wonderful.

How has Côte d’Ivoire managed to produce so many brilliant players over the last ten to 15 years?

I think it has been based on sound ideas, on having training centres, but also on continuity. Because in Africa in general, when a new generation comes along, everyone looks after it but no-one thinks about what is to come. You live in the moment, you don’t think about the next ten to 15 years. So I think that Côte d’Ivoire was lucky to have people who were able to look ten years ahead.

What would it mean to you to play in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil?

It would be massive to qualify for the World Cup, for a small country like Côte d’Ivoire, a country that had never taken part [before 2006].

We were the first to do it and it would be really great for this generation to qualify for the Brazil World Cup. And if it happened, we would certainly be aiming higher than finishing third in our group.

Culled from fifa.com

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

DAPO FAFOWORA

T

RIPPLES NIGERIA COULD BECOME FUTURE TOURIST DESTINATION - Expert

...TOURIST or TERRORIST?

VOL. 7, NO.2,275

‘‘By now if the Presidency is actually acting with sincerity of purpose in the Salami case, it would have reinstated him in light of the NJC’s stand. But then as we have always maintained in this space, there is more to its action than meets the eye’’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

•Continued from Thursday, September 27 HE 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria was a sham. It was certainly unpopular in both Northern and Southern Nigeria at the time. In the North, the powerful Moslem Emirates were opposed to it, as it was feared that a centralized administrative system would weaken their authority, while in the South the fear of the Lagos based educated elite was that it would lead to the extension to the South of the obnoxious practice associated with indirect rule, and the curtailment of the few political rights that they enjoyed under the legislative council system. Lord Lugard and most of his successors as governors were committed to the maintenance of the existing aristocratic Emirates and social order in the North. They admired the Islamic way of life in the North. Northern Nigeria seemed more orderly and stable. Why disrupt this order by bringing in foreign cultural influences, including western education? While allowing the Christian missionaries to start schools in Southern Nigeria, the British colonial authorities did little to encourage education in the North. Churches were virtually barred by the British colonial government from starting schools in the North.

The practical effect of this basic commitment by the British colonial authorities to maintain and protect the Islamic way of life in the North was that a yawning gap between the North and the South in western education began to develop rapidly. This gap in education between the North and the South is one of the major sources of conflicts and instability in the country, even today. It is directly responsible for the emergence of religious sectarian groups in the North such as Boko Haram. The pre-independence political process in Nigeria has also contributed to sectarian violence in Nigeria. On the surface, the constitutional framework at independence appeared flexible enough to permit compromise, adjustment, and change. It seemed loose enough to satisfy regional aspirations and at the same time to accommodate conflicting national interests. What it did in reality, however, was to conceal the essence of the Nigerian political process which, in practice, showed that there was a basic incompatibility between the formal side of the system and the political needs of the country.

As one observer of the post independence situation in Nigeria rightly remarked, “the organization of power in Nigeria for the creation of political stability, whether for democratic or non-democratic purposes, is extremely weak’.

Economic and social factors account for some of the friction between the largely Moslem North and the largely Christian

TODAY IN THE NATION

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Nature and dynamics of insurgencies (III)

•The late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf

South. The lack of a consensus over societal values, including a division over religion, is also a major source of the frequent religious conflicts in Nigeria as exemplified in the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria which, despite years of political domination of the country, con-

T

his year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been won by Sir John Gurdon, 79. He shares the prize with the Japanese scientist, Professor Shinya Yamanaka. The Nobel Prize Committee praised Gurdon for “…revolutionising (the world’s) understanding of how cells and organisms develop.” Yamanaka, it was noted, built on Gurdon’s work. But the two, said the Committee, “discovered that mature, specialised cells can be reprogrammed to become immature cells capable of developing into all tissues of the body.” As revolutionary as this discovery was, the unusualness in the prize comes from the fact that Gurdon was very nearly not a scientist but for his perseverance. He may have shown the world a deeper understanding of cell genetics, and is properly considered the godfather of cloning and stem-cell therapy, but much more importantly, he has shown the world the virtues of fortitude and belief in self.

Back to Eton College in the 1940s, where Gurdon schooled. After having consistently failed to impress in his academic work, his science teacher described him unflatteringly as follows: “It has been a disastrous half (that is, midterm). His work has been far from satisfactory. His prepared stuff has been badly learnt, and several of his test pieces have been torn over; one of such pieces of prepared work scored 2 marks out of a possible 50. His other work has been equally bad, and several times he has been in trouble, because he will not listen, but will insist on doing his work in his own way. I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite

tinues to lag far behind the South in terms of economic and social development. The North is far poorer than the South. Per capita income in the North is less than half of that of the South where, until recently, economic progress had created a small but rapidly mobile middle class. Some of the educated Southerners have migrated to the North for jobs and commercial enterprise.

Most of these Christian emigrants in the North have been largely successful financially as their education has given them an advantage over their Northern Moslem brothers. There are vast economic opportunities in the North. But the Northerners are ill equipped to take advantage of these opportunities because they lack access to education. They are simply unable to compete with the better educated Southerners who dominate commerce in the region.

The Northern Moslems resent this development for which they blame, not only their own selfish leaders, but Christians who have lived with them for generations as well. Even without religious differences, this situation of economic inequality was bound to generate some hostility against Southerners living in the North.

The grievances of the Boko Haram insurgents range from religious and cultural differences with the South to their inability to take advantage of the economic opportunities available in the North. Over

time, they have seen how their hopes for a better society and living conditions have failed to materialise.

The progressive breakdown of the old and powerful Emirates has also created an opportunity for these insurgents to challenge the old traditional authority in the North. The old and powerful emirates no longer have any power of coercion and rely on state security forces for the maintenance of law and order in their domain. Over time, they have also lost the moral authority that they enjoyed in pre-colonial times.

Even though the process of modernization has been slower in the North, the hold of the Emirates on political and economic power has declined significantly. They have lost their political stranglehold on the people. Recently, there have been physical attacks by the sect on some of the Emirs.

The insurgents want a return to the old values of a society governed under Islamic laws. They want to establish an Islamic theocracy in the North as they believe that this would provide them with equal opportunities for social and economic development. They believe it will end the corruption of their own Northern leaders and make the Northern ruling class more accountable to the talakawa, the poor. Their vision is that of a strict Islamic society in which their basic needs would be met by the state. This is the religious nexus binding the insurgents to one another. The widespread poverty in the North has provided the Boko Haram insurgents with a formidable instrument for seeking the overthrow of the existing order in the North. This order has not served the people well.

When the Boko haram insurgency first came to light in 2009, it was a weak, poorly organized, and inchoate movement. Since then, it has been transformed into a powerful organization posing a serious threat to national security with an impressive strategic strike capability. This transformation has been made possible by a more determined, better educated, and committed leadership.

•To be continued • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

An unusual Nobel Prize

Gurdon, Churchill and Einstein remind parents of the sleepless nights they sometimes have to endure, and the frustrating battles they often must wage to get their children up to par in their studies. What parent does not dread the day a son would give up in frustration and opt for either music, with all the uncertainties of success, or football, with all the broken bones and shattered dreams, or simply embrace hooliganism, often with the certainty of ending in prison?

How many parents do not fear the day a teenage daughter would come home with pregnancy or ask for early marriage instead of facing the drudgery of hard study?

Gurdon’s and Churchill’s teachers, like many frustrated parents, were quite sure their two students would not amount to much in life, and they said so with harsh unambiguity.

Often such views became self-fulfilling prophecies; except the students themselves, like Gurdon and Churchill, exercised irrepressible belief in self. And like the Chinese educator asked rhetorically, how many of such children had been inadvertently sent to the garbage heap, assured that they were irreparably damaged goods?

Confronted with underperforming children, parents should encourage themselves in the life stories of Gurdon, Churchill and Einstein. There are hundreds of thousands of laggards turned geniuses out there whose stories never made it to the front pages of newspapers, but whose lives have become an inspiration to youths everywhere, neighbours and contemporaries. It is for such unsung heroes and their longsuffering parents that Gurdon’s unusual Nobel Prize must be dedicated.

ridiculous, if he can’t learn simple Biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a Specialist, and it would be share waste of time, both on his part, and of those who have to teach him.”

Perhaps you think such dismissiveness is too brutal to be repeated elsewhere. However, consider former US President Richard Nixon’s account of his discussions with a Chinese educator during a trip to China. The subject of the discussion was Britain’s onetime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

Wrote Nixon in his book, Leaders: “It is well known that Churchill, like Einstein, was a mediocre student in his early years. One of his tutors observed, ‘That lad couldn’t have gone through Harrow School, he must have gone under it.’ In China or the Soviet Union he would not have been selected as one of the elite who are sent on for higher education and given an important position in government or industry. On one of my trips to Beijing a Chinese educator told me with pride that all children in China are guaranteed a free elementary education. When they finish grammar school, he went on, they are given a comprehensive examination, and only those who pass are allowed to go on to higher grades. Those who fail are sent to work in the factories or on the farms. He then added wistfully, ‘Under our system we provide better education for the masses, but we lose our Churchills.’”

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