Saturday October 13, 2012

We've no hand in UNIPORT's students' killing -Villagers

EFCC seizes N310m houses traced to ex-Bayelsa Governor Sylva Uncovers another Page 57 710m mansion

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Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL.07 N0. 2277

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

ONDO 2012:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

N150.00

Opinion poll favours Akeredolu PAGE

CP must be removed, ACN candidate insists 4

FG votes N5.8bn for Mark,

Tambuwal, others’ new quarters To spend N500m on Villa’s slaughter slab, zoo No going back on $80 bench mark Reps -

Flooding: Harvest of babies at relief camps

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Awolowo did not prosecute civil war for personal ambition, says David West PAGE 8

A set of triplets born in one of the relief camps in Anambra State. Story and more pictures on Pages 11-14

SEE PAGE 63 FOR DETAILS

Keystone Bank gets new MD

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2 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Boko Haram: We’re disappointed, Borno elders tell FG

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MINENT citizens of Borno State yesterday deplored Federal Government’s combative approach to resolving the insecurity challenges in the state.

The citizens, made up mainly of elder statesmen, made their position known five days after soldiers al-

Joseph ABIODUN, Maiduguri legedly went on a reprisal attack, killing 35 residents of Maiduguri, the state capital and setting dozens of houses ablaze.

The soldiers’ action was

•Say brute force can’t stop sect provoked by the killing of a lieutenant in a bomb attack on a patrol van of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

The army has since denied the involment of its men in the mayhem.

However, a forum of Borno elders, at a meeting they held yesterday to review the situation, opined that the Federal Government had failed the people of the state.

They said the military op-

•From left: Member of the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola (left); Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Adeola Solomon; Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri Erewa and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Sam Tsokwa, after the joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

tion, as against dialogue, had only succeeded in encouraging the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum, Alhaji Bulama Mali Gubio, who briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting, said that on the evidence of the prevailing situation in the state, the people had come to the conclusion that the Federal Government had abandoned them to their fate and Boko Haram.

The people, he stressed, could not understand why government would prefer the use of force to dialogue; a situation they said had been claiming their lives and property. ‘’It is clear nowthat the Federal Government is not interested in solving this problem, for there is no part of the world where the use of force crushes an insurgency like this,’’ he said.

Gubio said the meeting, which was convened at the instance of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, resolved that it was time the people of the state held the bull by the horn and say enough is enough to the insecurity problem that has crippled social and economic activities.

Presidency votes N5.8bn for Mark, Tambuwal, other lawmakers’ new quarters, offices

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EW residential quarters and an office complex are to be made available to principal officers of the National Assembly with a princely sum of N5.8 billion this year, according to the budget estimates now before the legislature.

The said sum will cover the

Nduka CHIEJINA (Assistant Editor) design and construction of the buildings.

The Federal Capital Territory is saddled with the responsibility of executing the projects for which N2.3 billion of is ear-

Keystone Bank gets new MD

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EYSTONE Bank yesterday announced Shehu Muhammad as its new Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. Until his appointment, Muhammad was Executive Director, Corporate Banking within the bank.

The Board of Directors had after a meeting, formally accepted the resignation of former Managing Director/ CEO of the bank, Oti Ikomi, who resigned on Thursday, October 11.

In a statement, the Corporate Communications Unit of the bank described Muhammad as an astute and experienced banker. He holds a doctoral degree in Development Economics from Universite de Granoble II,

Collins NWEZE France (1989), Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Business Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

According to the statement, Muhammad brings to Keystone Bank robust intellectual capital, strong management consultancy skills and extensive commercial banking experience acquired over 18 years of engagement at ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers), Bank of the North Limited and Unity Bank Plc. He is also experienced in strategy development, corporate planning, corporate banking, treasury marketing and product development.

PDP suspends National Vice Chair

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HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the party’s Vice Chairman, North East, Alhaji Girigiri Lawal, for one month.

The suspension, which took effect from yesterday, was announced by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement. Metuh said Lawal breached Articles 51(1) (b) (c) (h) of the constitution of the party.

According to him, the action was in furtherance of the resolve of the leadership of

Gbade OGUNWALE, Assistant Editor, Abuja the party to entrench discipline at all levels.

The statement reads: “Following the breach of the constitution of the party by Alhaji Girigiri, he was invited by the National Working Committee for preliminary hearing in accordance with Article 57(3) of the constitution of the PDP. “After the preliminary hearing, the National Working Committee resolved to suspend Alhaji Girigiri Lawal for a period of one month with effect from October, 12 , 2012”.

marked for design and construction of the presiding officers’ (Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker) residences and guest houses.

The ministry is also expected to spend N3.5 billion to construct the National Assembly Complex Phase lll, Part ll and Part lll in Abuja. The National Assembly appropriated N500 million for the construction of the complex in this year’s budget.

Other projects to be executed by the FCT ministry include the Abuja cultural Centre and mil-

lennium tower at the cost of N2 billion, and the design and construction of the Vice President’s residence also at the cost of N2 billion.

The sum of N2.5 billion was appropriated for the cultural centre and millennium tower this year.

Similarly, the ministry plans to spend N5.6 billion on the provision of water for residents of the FCT. The project entails the construction of the 20,000M3/HR Lower Usuman Dam water treatment plants for N529 million; tanks 1 and 6 and associated trunk mains at

a cost of N2.25 billion and the design and construction of dam treatment plants, tanks and other bulk water supply infrastructure to Karshi satellite town for N2,832,700,000.

The sum of N1 billion is to be spent on renting office space for displaced personnel of the United Nations office, Abuja following its bombing last year

by Boko Haram.

A separate N700 million is earmarked for the settlement of outstanding rent for international organisations in the FCT as against the N370,189,600 that it spent in 2012.

Foreign trips fallout: Eight arrested over Senators', Reps' missing passports in federal agency

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FEMALE member employee of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (names withheld), her male friend and six cleaners are being interrogated by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over the theft of four international passports belonging to National Assembly members.

Sources at the National Assembly told our correspondent in Abuja yesterday that the passports were submitted to the protocol department of the ICRC by the lawmakers for the procurement of visas to India for a capacity building course which was to be sponsored by the government agency.

Although it was not known if the India trip enjoyed the blessings of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, our correspondent gathered that the affected lawmakers had initially visited the corporate office of the ICRC on oversight function and had expressed displeasure over some fiscal matters.

The relevant committees that visited the office last week were the Senate Committee on Works and the House Committee on Special Duties.

It was gathered that after the visit, the ICRC mooted the idea of the foreign trip and it was agreed that two senators and two members of the House of Representatives from both committees should embark on the trip.

The missing passports were subsequently forwarded to the arrested protocol officer for the processing of visas before other logistics would be addressed.

A source said: "I can tell you that about eight persons are being detained over the missing international passports of four lawmakers who visited the ICRC last week on oversight function. The Senate President and the Speaker have been briefed

•Suspects detained at SARS Yomi ODUNUGA, Abuja Bureau Chief on this matter.

"A lady who works in the ICRC protocol office and her brother were the first to be quizzed by detectives and we were told that she insisted that she kept the passports in the office and could not understand how they developed legs and walked out of the drawers.

"The detectives from SARS then returned to ICRC office and arrested all the cleaners, about six of them, and they are currently being detained at the Area 10 office of the command.

"The affected lawmakers are not happy about the development because those missing passports have valid visas to some important countries and you know what that means. For now, no one is sure if the passports will be retrieved as those arrested are yet to give any relevant clue on how to track them."

A lawmaker, who spoke with our correspondent, questioned the haste with which his colleagues submitted their travelling documents to a government agency they were expected to oversee, but dismissed insinuations that the capacity building training in India might be a smart way of settling the lawmakers who apparently were not happy with how most government agencies have implemented the 2012 budget.

"If the passports had not gone missing, we wouldn't have known that some of us still accept such perks from Ministries, Departments and Agencies despite the warning by the leadership of both chambers and our joint resolve to be careful this time.”

Before the leaders commenced the closed door deliberation, the Shehu appealed to all residents to continue to pray for peace to return to the state.

The palace, he said, is not in a position to tell the JTF how to conduct its operations, adding that thebest it can do is to plead with the soldiers to exhibit professionalism in the discharge of their assignments in the state.

Among those who attended the meeting were Second Republic governor of the old Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Goni, and his successor, Alhaji Asheikh Jarma.

Reacting to reports that JTF soldiers went on the rampage lastMonday, spokesman for JTF, Lt-Col Sagir Musa, said: “There was no incident involving the killing of 30 civilians. Also, there was no arson and harassment by the JTF troops in Borno State.”

Only on Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a report, indicted both the military and the Boko Haram sect for alleged habitual killing and maiming of innocent people.

...Yobe Governor urges security operatives to sustain success against sect Duku JOEL, Damaturu YOBE State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has tasked security operatives not to relent in their efforts to restore peace to the state.

The call of the governor is coming in the wake of the gradual return of peace to the state, following the intensive house to house raid for members of the Boko Haram sect by men of the JTF in Damaturu.

Governor Gaidam, who spoke while receiving the AIG Zone 12, Ibrahim Abdu, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Damaturu, noted that the state government was taking adequate measures to ensure the safety of the citizenry, while commending the JTF for containing the situation.

“As part of our efforts to maintain peace, the present administration in Yobe State is taking measures aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of lives and property of all, irrespective of their affiliations or background.

“I, therefore, wish to seize this opportunity to re-assure the people of the state, including the nonindigenes. It is in view of this that I would like to commend the efforts of the military, police, SSS and other security operatives in containing the present security challenges in the state.

“I urge them to intensify their efforts and not to relent by adopting various strategies in order to achieve the desired objectives of peace and tranquility in the state,” Gaidam appealed.

Earlier in his remarks, AIG Ibrahim Abdu called for a synergy between the six governors and the police commissioners and other security operatives in the north-east in order to arrest the deteriorating security situation in the region.

“I think there is the need to harmonise the security operations in the entire north-eastern states. If we have this kind of harmonization, these hoodlums will not have a hiding place. But in the absence of this synergy, they can move to another place if they discover that a particular state is no longer safe for them.”

COMMENTARY 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Early detection can save your life “-...MARGARET is a chartered accountant. She was never able to concieve chidren but has a wonderful husband that dotes on her.

Eary this year, Margaret was offered a fabulous new accounting job in Kaduna, to start at the end of the year. Discussing the appointment with her husband, they decided that the appointment would be a great opportunity for her.

With no family history of breast cancer and no reason to believe her life was about to change for the worse, Margaret started getting dressed for the interview with her prospective employers. As she was getting dressed, she discovered a hard lump about the size of a small bean, just above her right breast. Margaret worried about it for a few days before she realised it wasn’t going away and she should really consult a doctor. She was apprehensive because she knew the lump might mean something was terribly wrong. The first doctor she saw diagnosed the lump as a subcutaneous cyst and declared it was nothing to worry about. Not fully satisfied, Margaret went for a second opinion. The second doctor insisted on carrying out a Mammogram and the test confirmed all of Margaret’s worst fears. The biopsy report showed that the lump was a malignant tumour in the advanced stage... Margaret Audu, the brilliant chartered accountant, wife, and a woman with so much to look forward to was diagnosed with breast cancer...!”

“-...Laraba is a hard working kola-nut seller. She has four children, 9 grandchildren and a caring husband. For the last 26 years, Laraba has not eaten meat and she lives on a diet, mainly consisting of fruit and vegetables. On a daily basis Laraba walks about 15 km from her house to the market where she sells her kola. She may not identify it as such, but Laraba is an extremely healthy and fit 59 year old. Early this year, Laraba was asked to supply 500 bags of kola for the wedding of a Chief in Lagos.

Elated that the proceeds of the supply would allow her to set up a kiosk to sell her kola nearer her house, Laraba saw this as a great opportunity for her.

With no tales of a history of disease within her lineage and no reason to believe her life was about to change for the worse, Laraba started getting ready for the trip to Lagos to deliver the kola. As she was geting ready, Laraba noticed some yellow pusslike liquid oozing out of her left nipple. For sometime, she kept wiping away the liquid, but when it persisted, she decided to visit a herbalist. The herbalist told her it was only an infection and gave her some balm to spread on the breast and beverage to drink at night. However, when the puss started turning into blood, Laraba made the decision to go to the General Hospital.

At the General Hospital, Laraba was given an Ultrasoud Scan, which eventually showed the growth of an aggresive form of cancer in its advanced stage... Laraba Olusore, the hardworking mother, grandmother and wife. A woman excitedly looking at the prospect of an easier life, was diagnosed with breast cancer...!”

In the year 2012, experts predict that at least 1.5 million people will learn that they have breast cancer. Of all the different forms of cancer, breast cancer is said to be the most prevalent and one of the principal causes of female mortality in the world. As we mark Breast Cancer Awearness month this October, every woman and some men must take seriously the prospect that any one of us could be suseptible to this dreadful disease.

The story of Margaret and Laraba, two women looking for-

ward to a positive stage in their lives, is tragic, but it is not dissimilar to the tales of millions of women who suffer from breast cancer. For the last ten years that I have been writing, I have tried to address the subject of breast cancer anually because the message of awareness for this dreadful ailment can never overstated. Too often have I witnessed with dispare my friends and relations suffer and succumb to breast cancer. Some years back a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with the disease.

I was obviously devastated becuase this is a beautiful-spirited woman with a young family and, as they say, her whole life ahead of her. But what was most disturbing about her diagnosis was the fact that she didnt fit the stereotype of a woman within the risk bracket. Being in her twenties and the healthy mother of two babies, whom she had both breast-fed, on paper she did not belong to the category of women at risk from breast cancer. But regardless of what the text books say about the pre-disposing factors of having breast cancer, despite the theories science throws out at us, the reality is that every woman, whether she is age sixteen or seventy, whether she eats healthy and exercises, whether she is overweight or whether she has breastfed or not, could be told that she has breast cancer today.

The subject of breast cancer is rarely discussed in Nigeria and the gravity of it is largely underrated. This lack of discussion has led to vast ignorance and misconceptions of the disease. As women, we need to talk about breast cancer to other women so that we can be aware of the factors surrounding it; so that we dont have continue detecting it accidently; so that we dont find out too late. In this country we urgently need established national screening programs. Without early detection, the sufferers of breast cancer have a smaller chance of survival, without early detection women like my friend face a long and tedious uphill struggle to beat this vicious and unforgiving disease.

Without early detection, Margaret and Laraba have no hope and their story will end as follows...

“-...After her diagnosis, with the chances of survival for such an advanced form of cancer very thin, Margaret religiously tried every option money could buy. But the cancer had already spread.

Within a very short time, the cancer devoured Margaret’s body.

Her hair began to fall out, she bore rippling pain, her skin become ashen, she had become emaciated, she could barely speak and was bedridden. Within a very short time, Margaret succumed to the cancer. And on one dreary morning, with her husband by her side, death finally claimed her... Margaret Audu died of breast cancer...”

“-...At the time of Laraba’s diagnosis, her family didnt have the kind of money required for the treatment she would need.

With few options, Laraba continued to take the concoction the herbalist had given her. As the cancer ate at Laraba’s body, she became bloated, her body developed sores, her skin became very dark and her left breast became green in colour. The puss easing out of Laraba’s nipple had become so constant and so pungent that her husband was almost repulsed at the thought of being near her. Almost as quickly as it began, with her daughters next to her, the desease that had laid claim to her life, finnaly came to collect and Laraba gave up the ghost... Laraba Olusore died of breast cancer...!”

Laraba and Margaret were two women with very different lives. Two women who had every reason to fight for their lives

AMAA set to screen movies across Nigeria

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HE Africa Film Academy (AFA) organizers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has announced that it will be hosting a screening of its 2012 award-winning movies in five major cities across Nigeria.

The event, which has telecommunication giant, Airtel Nigeria, as its main sponsor, promises to give movie lovers delightful moments.

Starting from Benin City, Edo state, the movies “Adesuwa” and “Otelo Burning,” which were produced in Nigeria and South Africa respectively, will be screened on 13 October 2012 at the

Nollywood Cinema’s Royal Hall, Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin. Other cities where AFA will be hosting the screening include: Ibadan, Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

As part of its commitment to promote local and international films that focus on Africa, the screening is AFA’s platform for creating an experiential engagement between African movie stakeholders and their numerous fans.

Speaking about the significance of the screening of the film, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Film Academy, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe,

Orile Owu: Youths Forum, others back police image maker

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S the race for the vacant stool of Orile Owu, Osun State hots up, different groups have started drumming sup ports for their favourite candidates.

The Orile Owu Youth Forum, Muslim Community and Orile Owu Woman Group, have joined the group clamouring for the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State, Prince Muyiwa Adejobi as the next traditional ruler of the town.

Since the passing away of Oba Moses Adejobi in a motor accident on March 15 2011 at Gbongan, the town has been without traditional ruler.

The youths under the aegis of Orile Owu Youth Forum, maintained that, through consultations, both traditionally and spiritually, have revealed that it is only the blood of the late Oba who was believed to have died in a mysterious way that can be picked to replace him.

In the same manner, both the Orile Owu Women Group and The Muslim Community of Orile Owu, in another letter to the Osun State government, insisted that the making Prince Muyiwa the traditional ruler of Orile Owu would bring development to the community.

noted that the viewing of AMAA winning movies is part of AFA’s efforts to promote African film and cinema locally and internationally.

She further said: “Africa film makers work hard with very little and managed to build a virile film industry recognized worldwide in terms of both production quality and profitability while also exploring film as a vehicle for development. AMAA was therefore conceptualized to reward African filmmakers.”

In order to provide its subscribers with an unforgettable experience, Airtel Nigeria will give its consumers chance to win free tickets to the Screening. Subscribers who visit and like the AMAA Facebook page stands a chance of been selected to attend the event.

According to the organizers, viewers at the screening will have an opportunity of meeting with their favourite stars at a cocktail after the screening.

The African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is the largest and most prestigious awards ceremony for the African film industry with business hubs in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. The AMAA event has over 53 countries participating annually.

Established in 2005, hundreds of filmmakers and international celebrities have participated in AMAA’s various initiatives.

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OODLUCK Jonathan on Thursday night met with South South leaders

at the presidential villa,Abuja,on how to foster understanding the between the northern and southern parts of the country.

Participants at the reviewed the violence in theNorth and expressed disgust at the continued attacks on southerners during such violence.

The southern leaders who claimed to represent the 17 southern states pledged their loyalty to the Jonathan administration and their faith in Nigeria’s unity The Ijaw leader,Chief Edwin Clark who spoke for the southern states said they are prepared to dialogue with their brothers and counterparts from the north to ensure that the violence is

but started their fight against breast cancer too late. While not all women can be saved from breast cancer, not all cases of this desease have to end the way Margaret and Laraba’s did either.

We have a unique chance to reverse the incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria by creating general awareness. Our National, General and University Teaching hospitals should put up posters, train nurses and enlighten patients on how to determine their breast status for early detection of cancer. Our governments have a duty to provide new and modern screening equipment for hospitals all over the country. They should provide hospitals with Mammogram, Ultrasound scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus.

Knowledge is power, and every woman should be equipped with the knowledge to examine her breasts for evidence of cancer, at least once every month, just around the week she finishes her menstrual cycle. Knowing the early detection signs of breast cancer is the surest way to beat the disease. If they had detected the cancer early, Margaret and Laraba could have had a chance to beat the disease. If they had detected it early, Margret and Laraba’s life might not have ended in the tragic manner it did. Instead, it could have ended as follows...

“-...Margaret detected the tiny lump during one of the breast screening examinations she gives herself monthly. She was lucky becuase the breast cancer was in its early stage. And eventhough, she went through a brief bout of Chemotherapy, became very ill and lost all her body hair, Margaret gave breast cancer a good beating and she overcame it. Slowly, she regained her strength, prospective on life and her hair! Today, because of early detection, Margaret is a survivor of breast cancer...!”

“-...Laraba recognised the swelling in her breast, the purites and constant feaver as early warning signs of breast cancer because the women in the market often spoke about the symptoms. When the doctor told her that it had been detected early, Laraba was overjoyed. And although, she had to have both breasts removed, Laraba’s husband and children continued to love and admire her. Today, because of early detection, Laraba is a survivor of breast cancer...!”

For our two fictitious heroines, Laraba and Margaret, their story could have had an encouraging ending had they detected their breast cancer early. I hope that the difficult journey my friend and so many women out there are embarking on will conclude with them being ‘survivors of breast cancer’. I urge every woman reading this article to take some time to consider the message I have tried to relay and become breast cancer aware.

Even if it is not something that has been of concern to you before, let this Breast Cancer Awareness Month be the start of you taking control and becoming aware. Let women consider enquiring into ways to examine themselves, let women know their breast cancer status, let women save their own lives. While nothing can truely be fool-proof against breat cancer, it is a fact that early detection can save a life.

Clark at South South meeting with Jonathan asks for National Conference President checked.

Chief Clark, who called for the convening of a national conference, also argued that the National Assembly alone cannot craft a constitution that will be agreeable to all constituent parts the nation.

He said: “We are not talking about a Sovereign National Conference; we are talking about a national conference. A conference whereby Nigerians will meet to discuss the basis of unity in this country and also to look into our constitution and decide whether it is the

best instrument we have for this country.

“We believe that the National Assembly cannot do it alone. We believe that if there is a National Conference which is constituted by representatives from over 250 ethnic nationalities in this country, they will be able to produce a document to form the basis of their unity.”

The former federal commissioner for Information said the recommendations of the national conference would then be forwarded to the National Assembly.

NURTW boss condemns Tokyo’s return bid

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HE President of the Na tional Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin has warned the embattled former chairman of the union in Oyo state, Alhaji lateef Akinsola a.k.a Tokyo to ignore the recent court judgment that reinstated him, and stop parading himself as the chairman of NURTW in Oyo State, noting that his tenure has as the union’s boss has long expired.

Yasin gave this warning yesterday while addressing a stakeholders meeting of the union in Ibadan.

The NURTW boss said the national headquarters of the union only recognize the lead-

Tayo JOHNSON, Ibadan ership of Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde a.k.a Fele-led caretaker committee of the transport union in the state.

“Tokyo is not the chairman of our union in Oyo State, even with the court judgment. His tenure has expired, and going by the constitution of the union, someone cannot run more than two terms in office and Alhaji Akinsola has run more than that.

“Immediately we dissolve the National Executive Council of the union, all the 36 states executive council of the union stand dissolved, of which Oyo state is not excluded. I don’t

know what he is claiming, but not certainly Oyo NURTW chairmanship position” Yasin said.

He assured that immediately the three months extension of the office of the caretaker committee expires in the state, a date would be fixed for the proper reconstitution of the Oyo State council of the union by the national body.

The NURTW president, therefore commended the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for not interfering in the affairs of the union, adding that the restoration of the union in the state has bring about peaceful coexistence among all bounds.

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

4 NEWS

ONDO 2012

We'll ensure peaceful election, says Ondo CP

Opinion poll favours Akeredolu A

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in next Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is favoured to win the election in the latest of the Public Opinion Poll (POP) ahead of the election.

40.28 per cent of the respondents in the poll conducted by the Nigeria Gallop Poll Watch (NGPW) in association with Track pool Ltd (UK) said they would vote for Mr. Akeredolu.

The incumbent and candidate of Labour Party (LP), Dr. Olusegun MImiko came a distant second with 24.84 per cent while Mr. Olusola Oke of the PDP came third with 22.84 per cent.

In the fourth position was Mr. Bolarinwa Adeyemi of ANPP with 2.72 per cent, followed by Lawrence Blanle of NCP with 1.78 per cent, Olatuni Omoreghe of PPA with 1.18 per cent and James Olusola Abikanlu of NSDP with 0.96 per cent.

According to NGPW,the field studies were conducted between August 13 and 14 across the 18 local government

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areas of the state.

In all, 4350 or 87 per cent of the respondents were polled in the wards. 250 or five per cent other respondents were senior citizens and 400 or eight per cent came from institutions of higher learning.

The respondents indicated that they would vote for the Candidate, who they believe would provide them with the following amenities when elected into office: Provision of portable water supply 1,050 poll (21%) Provision of regular electric power supply 900 poll (18%) Provision of employment opportunities 750 poll (15%) Construction and maintenance of roads 600 poll (12%) Provision of free and qualitative education 500 poll (11%) Provision of good healthcare delivery 400 poll (8%) Assistance to farmers to boost agriculture 300 poll (6%) Provision of affordable low-cost housing units 200 pool (4%) Construction of good drainage system150 poll (3%) Others, mainly of local demands 100 poll (2%)

n Damisi OJO, Akure n

HEAD of next saturday governorship election, the Ondo State Police Command, yesterday assured political parties in the state of a level playing ground.

The state Commissioiner of Police, Danladi Mshelbwala said this in an opening address at a workshop in Akure, the state capital, organised by the British Council in conjunction with the Nigeria Police.

The police chief assured the citizenry of adequate security of lives and property before, during and after the forthcoming election.

He said the force will not fold its arms and be watching political parties, groups of persons or individuals try to cause a breach of public peace or any form of violence.

His word: "The determination of the Nigeria Police to make the forthcoming election exercise hitch-free is nonnegotiable because it is glaring that the expectation during the election process is high, that is why the Nigeria Police, in conjuction with the Britrish Council came up with this workship.

Mshelbwala noted that the workshop became imperative in order to show the effective policing of elections so that the aims and objectives of a peaceful electoral process can be achieved.

The Ondo State command has said it will begin massive deployment of mobile and conventional units of policemen across the length and breath of the state.

According to a release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Aremu Adeniran, members of the public are enjoined to give maximum support and cooperation to the police and other security agents that will be assigned for the special duty.

LP plans to frame me, says ACN Chieftain •It’s a lie –LP chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Mr. Femi Adekanbi, yesterday raised the alarm over plans by the ruling Labour Party[LP] to order his arrest without committing any crime.

Adekanbi who is the Director of Security of the Independent Campaign Network (ICN), an arm of the ACN Campaign Organisation, also alleged that LP agents are threatening his life.

Addressing reporters in Akure, the Owo-born politician said the LP was afraid of the rising profile of ACN governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.

He alleged that he has been receiving strange calls from people suspected to be members of the LP, warning him to steer clear of the election.

According to him, the ruling LP has mapped out strategies to implicate him and his supporters in Owo by planting dangerous weapons in their houses.

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•Governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (2nd right); Dr Olusegun Abraham and Wale Akinterinwa, addressing supporters at the rally held at Oka Akoko, in Ondo State yesterday. Photo: NIYI ADENIRAN

Why Ondo must vote out Mimiko –Group A HEAD of October 20, governorship election in Ondo State, a non-political group, “Forum for Good Governance [FGG] has advised the electorate to vote out the present ruling Labour Party [LP] administration from power.

The group which praised the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] national leadership, particularly Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for picking the former national President of the Nigeria Bar Association [NBA], Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as its candidate, said the party had presented the most credible flag-bearer.

A statement signed by its President, Tayo Erejuwa and General-Secretary, Ayo Williams in Akure, the state capital, described the present administration led

n Leke AKEREDOLU, Akure n

by Governor Olusegun Mimiko as a colossal failure.

It noted that Mimiko, with all the resources accrued to him, has the opportunities to write his name in gold like late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, stressing that Mimiko jeopardized his good name because of greed and avarice.

According to the statement, “What significant thing can we point to as Mimiko’s legacy if not deceit, profligacy and proliferation of millionaire thugs? Ondo is the richest state in the South West, apart from Lagos which generates huge internal revenue, still, it is the most under-develop among its sister states.

“Its monthly allocation is more than other four states

in the South West combined, yet it is the only state that does not have a teaching hospital, despite its wealth and resources. Despite that he is a medical doctor, the governor cannot influence a teaching hospital to the state, but is busy spending billions on propaganda.

“Even a small state like Ekiti, is proud of a teaching hospital. Can we then say the governor is bereft of ideas or has unprogressive plans?

Mimiko’s government cannot point to any meaningful achievement for almost four years in power. Mimiko’s government cannot explain to the electorate and the entire world why he failed to complete the previous PDP government projects and those initiated by his own administration.

“We urged the people to

wake up from their slavery and take on LP’s government to explain what happened to N4.9billion Akure-Arakale road, Ondo township road and Owo dualization project? So also, the N2.5billion doomed dome, N400million tomato factory, N3.2billion card Igbe-Ayo, N5billion Akure and Ile-Oluji stadia.

“The entire people of Ondo State demand an explanation from Mimiko’s government, for the N61billion alleged fraud in OSOPADEC and why Debo Ajimuda is still parading himself as the Chairman of the commission?

“We demand to know how LP’s government spent over N600billion allocation accrued to the state so far without any project commensurate with the fund.”

n Damisi OJO, Akure n He said: “My life has been under serious threat for the past two days by agents of the LP who are desperately after my life.

"They have petitioned the IGP to place me on house arrest to ensure that I am rendered useless on the election day.

“I have it on good authority that they are planning to also plant incriminating weapons in my house and that of my supporters. Any attempt to eliminate me by supporters of LP will not augur well.”

Adekanbi, however, noted that no amount of intimidation will stop him from pursuing Akeredolu's course to a logical conclusion.

But the Publicity Secretary of LP, Barrister Femi Okunjemiruwa described the allegation as unfounded.

He said it is the ACN members that are planning evil to destabilize the next saturday election because of their unpopularity among the people.

Group backs ACN group, Progressive Youth Network (PYN), yesterday backed the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the October 20, Ondo State governorship poll the state, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The group vowed to mobilise all its members in all the 18 local government areas of the state to vote massively for Akeredolu in the next Saturday's poll.

A statement signed by its President, Yomade Olukayode and Publicity Secretary, Basusi Sanmi, said it is only the ACN that could return the lost glory of the state.

The group said they are in

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n Damisi OJO, Akure n support of the proposed economic integration in the South West championed by the ACN leadership and some prominent Yoruba leaders.

According to the statement, "the integration and development of the South West, as it was in the days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo must be pursued vigorously.

"There will also be equal accessibility to same educational standard and facilities across all the 18 local governments in Ondo State which is presently lacking, due to the wide gap between the so-called Mega

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

NEWS 5 ONDO 2012

Mimiko has failed Ondo, says Akeredolu •'Police commissioner is a Labour Party collaborator' O

NDO State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship standard bearer, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday alerted prospective voters to alleged plans by the Commissioner of Police to help the ruling Labour Party (LP) in its bid to rig the October 20 poll.

He said: "Labour Party is distributing guns to its members in Ondo State. We have reported to the police, but the Commissioner has sympathy for the Labour Party. He must be removed.”

Akeredolu said the voters card is more powerful than the AK 47 being distributed in the state, urging voters to use it to chase away the governor from power. He added: “ACN will tar roads in Ondo State, provide water, health cenres, jobs for youths and give loans without interest to our women. Don't be afraid of their AK 47. Our voters card is AK 49. Let us vote wisely on October 20. Let us fast and pray for change. Let us chase them out of Alagbaka."

The Asiwaju of Akokoland, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice said Governor Olusegun Mimiko is not bothered about the development of Ondo State because he is not an indigene of the state. He added: "Mimiko is a citizen of Ondo State and not an indigene of Ondo State. That is why he is not concerned about our plight.

Vote for Aketi, who is one of you. He will not disappoint you."

Akeredolu, Boroffice and other party leaders spoke in Akokoland, where a mammoth crowd welcomed the ACN campaign train to the contiguous towns and villages in the North Senatorial District yesterday for the grassroots

n Emmanuel OLADESU, Deputy Political Editor n rally of the party.

Accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, the Otunba of Ikaleland and Osooro, Wale Akinterinwa, Ifedayo Abegunde, Segun olulade, Lanre Ogunyemi, Jibayo Adeyeye, Kayode Aremo and Gboyega Adefarati, the standard bearer declared that Governor Olusegun Mimiko had failed the north district by failing to construct a single road in the zone in the last three and a half years.

He said the Labour Party (LP) candidate does not deserve a second time because he had been a consistent advocate of 'one zone, one governor, one term', recalling that he mounted a virulent attack against the second term ambitions of former Governors Adebayo Adefarati and Olusegun Agagu.

Akeredolu likened Mimiko to a clever person endowed with an uncanny capacity for grand deceit, urging the people to halt his mischief and misrule. He addressed ACN rallies at Oke-Agbe,

the home town of Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Arigidi, the domain of the legendary Zarki Olanipekun, former Western Regional Minister without portfolio, Oka and Isua-Akoko. He was welcomed to the rallies by defectors from the LP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were received into the party on behalf of the state Acting Chairman, Pa Akin adesoji, by former governorship aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham, on Thursday.

At Oke-Agbe, old men and women who have always voted progressive parties trooped out with their brooms, promising to vote for ACN. They prayed for Akeredolu, after complaining to him that the ancient town had been cut off by bad road. The standard bearer sympathised with the lack of infrastructural facilities in the area, assuring that he would repair the damage, if elected as governor.

Ai Isua, indigenes and non-indigenes, particularly representatives of Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Ebira and Efik communities came to endorse Akeredolu's candidature. Waving his

broom at them, he said all the people in the state would have equal access to dividends of democracy without discrimination.

His running mate, Akintelure, urged the people to remain committed to the push for change, adding that October 20, is a day of actualisation in Ondo State. He said ACN government will return the state to its glory by giving honourable and transparent leadership to the people.

Akeredolu enjoined prospective voters to disregard the threat by LP leaders to retain power by force, assuring that the will of the people will prevail on poll day.

He said: “Labour Party is a violent party. They depend on guns and cutlasses to win. Don't fight them. We don't want anybody to die among our members. We will get to Alagbaka in peace. We will defeat them with our votes. Try to convince more LP and PDP members to embrace change for better in Ondo State.”

At Oka, the crowd doubled, thanks to the mobilisation efforts of Boroffice, Dr. Jayeola Ajatta and Dr. Segun Abraham. Before addressing a rally in the town, the ACN candidate visited the palace of the Olubaka of Oka, Oba Adebori Adeleye. Community chiefs and elders prayed for him after he explained his mission.

He promised to turn around the state by fighting the infrastructure battle.

At the rally were Mr. Gboyega Adefarati, Mrs. Ogedengbe, Mrs. Ronke Ojo, Ambassador Yusuf, Hon. Apoti, Boye Ologbese and Bola Ilori.

‘How my father was detained for wearing ACN vest’

‘Ondo people should vote wisely’ n Kunle AKINRINADE n N Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain in Ondo State, Prince Olaniyi Michael, has urged the people to vote for the party and its standard bearer, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu in the forthcoming election.

Speaking at the handing over of campaign bus to Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) in the council area, he said: “Ondo State deserves a good leader like Barrister Akeredolu because of his tenacity of purpose and leadership qualities he demonstrated as P,resident of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

He commended the choice of Dr. Paul Akintelure, as deputy governorship candidate of ACN, adding that the duo of Akeredolu and Akintelure would change the face of politics in Ondo, if elected into office.

“I also want to commend the leadership of our party for choosing Dr. Akintelure and I believe he would work together with Akeredolu for a victorious outing.

n Damisi OJO, Akure n

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candidate Schools and other public schools, without Mega Teachers and Mega Instructional materials.

"Employment and genuine empowerment of our youths, graduates and our women.

Creation of jobs through industrialisation of the state.

Genuine urban renewal in the state.

"Consolidation of pratical agriculture to increase food production, food security, increased in our source of revenue and reduction of poverty.

"We, therefore, appeal to the minds and hearts of the people of our beloved state to vote for the party that will transform the it, put smiles on the faces of our people.".

AUGHTER of the detained Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] member from Ondo town, Chikozor Samson yesterday told an Akure Chief Magistrate Court how her father, Otugbo Samson was arrested by police for wearing Akeredolu-for-Governor vest at Ita-nla, Ile Oluji junction on October 3, while going to his farm.

Her deposition was contained in a 10- paragraph affidavit of urgency filed on her behalf by an Akure-based lawyer, Titiloye Charles, before an Akure Chief Magistrate court presided over by F.A. Akintoye.

She averred that her father who is 66 years old, suffers deteriorating health conditions relating to old age as a result of the order of the said court remanding him at Olokuta Prison, Akure.

She averred that her father was framed up and charged to court by the police because he is a member of ACN and has never at anytime conducted himself in a manner likely to breach public peace as alleged by the police.

Titiloye Charles, who coordinates the ACN legal team is seeking for the bail of 5 accused persons arrested at different locations in Ondo town after October 3, ACN rally in the town.

Titiloye hinged his application on the deteriorating health condition of two of the accused persons who are aged 66 and 67 years respectively.

He urged the court to release them on bail since the prosecution team led by Taiwo Olubodun who represented Attorney-General of Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has not commenced trial of the case due to absence of all their witnesses and the complainant.

The court sitting in Akure has fixed October 16th for the hearing the application.

D •At the Oka Akoko rally yesterday. Photo: NIYI ADENIRAN

‘We don't have confidence in Ondo REC’ N Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), member, Mr. Olawale Eminence, has expressed doubt in the sincerity of the Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi of conducting a free and fair election in the state.

Eminence who is also the Independent Campaign Network (ICN) Director of Youths and Students Mobilization, condemned some of the electoral commission staffers whom he alleged of romancing with the ruling Labour Party (LP)'s government.

He said the recent arrest of some LP chieftains and a staff of INEC, has proved to the

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n Leke AKEREDOLU, Akure n

whole world that the LP governorship candidate, Olusegun Mimiko was planning to rig the October 20, poll.

Speaking at the swearing-in of ICN senatorial districts Director of Youths in Akure, the ACN chieftain said it was unfortunate that INEC who had earlier presented itself as an unbiased umpire was caught in such electoral fraud.

At the event, ICN would be represented at the Northern Senatorial District by Ismail Olarinde, in the South by Omotuwa Johnson Adeoye and Central, Adewolu Mayowa.

The ICN State Director of Youths and Mobilization

vowed that no plot by the INEC and Governor Mimiko would stop the people from voting him out.

His words: "We have agreed to work against Mimiko's second term ambition. Mimiko is the sole proprietor of the LP and he only allows a few of his close friends to benefit from the government, while millions of the people are left in abject poverty. In Ondo State, only five per cent of the total population are living a better life, while the rest are wallowing in penury.

"The youths, since the inception of this administration, we are only hearing promises that never come to pass. He promised to provide jobs for us, but he

failed, the scholarship and bursary allowances are not paid. But now that he wants our vote, Mimiko has promised again to give us job by resuscitating all the moribund industries in the state. My answer to ‘Mr. promise and fail’ governor is that we are not fools, he cannot deceive us again.

"ACN governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has promised to create 30,000 jobs in his 100 days in office, if elected. We believe in his promise because of the background of the party that he represents. Such things were achieved in Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States.

Akeredolu is a man of integrity, he will never fail the people."

’Disband illegal security outfit in Ondo waterways’ group in the riverine area of Ondo State, the Arogbo-Ijaw People’s Assembly (APA), yesterday urged the Inspector General of Police [IGP], Mr. Mohammed Abubakar to urgently disband the newly formed waterway security outfit in the area.

Tagged: “Gallery Security Services'', the outfit is said to

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n Damisi OJO, Akure n be led by ex-militant warlord, Bibopere Ajube aka shoot-at-sight and allegedly being sponsored by the state government.

The group said the call became imperative following what it described as “heavy build-up of arms and ammunition by the so-called

Gallery Security outfit under the guise of securing the waterways of Ese-Odo Council Area of the state.”

It stressed that the setting up of the outfit at this critical period of the governorship election in the state was politically motivated and mischievous on the part of Mimiko.

In a statement by APA,

signed by it public relations officer [PRO], Deinkumo Kimiebi, the group said Mimiko, in the twilight of his administration has heavily funded former militant leader, Ajube by allegedly awarding a security contract worth about N100 million monthly for purportedly securing the state waterways.

NEWS 6

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

2015 poll: INEC seeks 12 amendments

S part of its preparations for 2015 poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is seeking about 12 amendments to the 1999 Constitution, including the power to determine the order of elections.

The commission said it needs freedom to choose the order of elections in order not to allow a political party to have an advantage over the others.

While calling for stringent conditions for registration of parties, it noted that it is also constitutional amendment that would prevent weak parties from being listed on the ballot paper.

It has also called for the establishment of Election Offences Tribunal to deal with

•Wants Election Offences Tribunal, power to determine order of elections Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation those engaging in electoral malpractices.

While the electoral agency may shelve plans to deregister parties, it is urging the National Assembly to amend the constitution to disallow unviable or weak parties from being on the ballot paper.

According to a position paper obtained last night, INEC has sought for 12 amendments to the Constitution and three to the Electoral Act 2011. The sections of the constitution which INEC is seeking changes are 76, 116, 132, 77(2), 134, 117(2), 178, 179, and 285.

Areas of amendment to the Electoral Act are Sections 25, 31(1) and 87(9).Top on the shopping list of INEC is the order of elections. The position paper reads in part: “There is no doubt that laws guide elections and good legal framework for elections constitutes the foundation of good elections. The 1999 Constitution was amended twice in December 2010 and January, 2011, about three months before the April 2011 general elections.

The second alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) gave the Commission the power to fix the date of elections between 150 and

30 days before the expiration of the tenure of the various elected office holders. ”The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) as well as the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) need further amendments. These further amendments will inevitably enhance the functions of the electoral commission and impact positively on the conduct of elections.

“Some of the sections are: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is mandated by Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)

to appoint dates for conduct of elections in accordance with the Electoral Act. “It is proposed that these sections/provisions be amended by deleting the phrase ‘In accordance with the Electoral Act.’ “The rationale for this proposal is that the Commission should be allowed to determine the order of the conduct of elections in such a way that no political party will have undue advantage over the others.

“The provisions of Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), which repeals the above provisions of the Constitution, is null and void in accordance with the rules of constitutional interpretation.”

Constitution review: FG endorses six geo-political zones, rejects state police •Wants thorough devolution of power to states, LGA A

GITATORS for the recognition of the six geo-political zones in the constitution received a major boost yesterday.

The Federal Government declared that the creation of six geo-political zones in the country is in tune with the Federal Character Commission which is provided for constitutionally.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, made the declaration in his presentation at a two-day public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution organised by the Senate Committee on Review of the Constitution in Abuja.

Adoke, who was represented at the event by Mr. Patrick Etta Uyong, noted that the existence of the six geo-political zones has been recognised in many Acts of the National Assembly providing for the composition of some governing councils and boards.

He said: “The creation of six geo-political zones is in tune with the Federal Character Commission which is provided for constitutionally.

“More so, the existence of the six geo-political zones has been recognised in many Acts of the National Assembly providing for the composition of some governing councils, boards, etc, of parastatals or commission to reflect membership from the six geo-political zones.

“Following from above, there is need to constitutionally recognise the six geopolitical zones.”

On the creation of new states, the government said the requirement in section 8(1) CFRN 1999 as altered that an Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if a request by 2/3 majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in the Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly in respect of the area and the local government councils in respect of the area is received by the National Assembly is too cumbersome.

It suggested that Section 8(1) (a) (iii) requiring the local government councils to send a request to the National Assembly be deleted.

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

On devolution of powers, government said there is need for “thorough devolution of power from the Federal Government to states and local governments.” The devolution, it said, should be reflected on the composition of

the legislative lists viz: Exclusive Legislative List, Concurrent Legislative List and State Legislative List.

It said: “This proposed review of functions to be performed by each tier of government is very central to the reform process.

“The beauty of a federal structure is that each tier of government should be as-

signed those functions for which it has both the comparative advantage and suitable level of competence.

“Therefore, there is the need to decongest the centre by devolving more powers and functions to the states and local governments.”

On roles for traditional rulers, government said that the status quo should be main-

tained as inclusion of traditional institutions in the constitution will make them to be more involved in politics than their traditional roles.

On local government matters, it said there should be a section of the Constitution that allows the states to have a body to do the allocation of all monies meant for local •Continued on Page 7

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Anastasia M. Daniel-Nwaoba; Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, during the public hearing on bills on ineffectiveness of fire service and the population of persons awaiting trial in prisons, at the National Assembly, Abuja yesterday. Photo: Abayomi FAYESE

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Regarding voting, the agency has asked for legal powers to determine what form of voting to adopt, including the use of electronic machines.

INEC said: “Section 52 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) prohibits the use of electronic voting machine.

While we appreciate the apprehension of Nigerians in the past that electronic machines could be misused, best practice in many parts of the world is that for efficient conduct of elections and timely declaration of results, electronic means offer a solution.

“Consequently, the Commission would like to see an amendment of the law that allows it to determine what form of voting to adopt. This will also be in line with its legal powers to determine how elections are conducted.”

Although INEC is asking for stringent conditions for registration of political parties, it is no longer keen on deregistering weak or unviable parties.

Instead, the electoral commission has pleaded with the National Assembly to ensure that only serious-minded parties are on the ballot paper.

The document added: “Sections 222 – 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) should be reviewed to have stringent conditions for registration of political parties.

“The current provisions only focus on the constitution and programmes of the association seeking registration.

“The rationale for the proposal for stringent requirements is to avoid the proliferation of political parties in Nigeria which invariably causes serious administrative problems to the commission and avoidable expenditure by the county.

“Section 78 of the Electoral Act (as amended) provides for the de-registration of political parties that fail to win presidential, or governorship election or a seat in the national or state assembly election.

“INEC’s position is that parties should be free to exist.

However, it should have the power to determine the crite•Continued on Page 7

Ohanaeze backs six-region structure, state police

HE apex Igbo cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday threw its back on the vexed issue of fiscal federation.

The body also canvassed for recognition of a six-region structure in the constitution and the establishment of state police.

These were contained in a position paper Ohanaeze presented at a two-day public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution organised by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in Abuja.

A top Chieftain of Ohanaeze, Dr. Olisa Ebigwei, made the presentation tagged “The position of the Igbo nation.”

Ohanaeze said that there should be six regions corresponding with the present six geo-political zones and the federating units should be headed by an elected Governor General.

The body said that each region should enjoy the same powers and autonomy as was the case at independence in 1960 “shorn of the distortion that came with military rule

•Ask court to void Green Tree Agreement Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja and to determine the number and responsibilities of the states and local governments in the region.”

On fiscal federalism, Ohanaeze noted that at independence, revenue sharing formula was 50 per cent on derivation to the region of origin, 20 per cent to the Federal Government while the balance of 30 per cent was shared equally among the regional governments, including the regions of origin.

It said that the formula was reconfirmed in the 1963 Republican Constitution.

To make more funds available to the proposed six regions, Ohanaeze recommended 30 per cent based on derivation and 70 per cent to be shared by the Federal Government and the six regions, taking into account the reduced responsibilities of the Federal Government and the

increase in those of the regions.

It said that the agreed allocation for the six regions should be shared equally among them.

On the tenure of the chief executive at federal, regional and states, the body said a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall hold office for a single term of six years and shall not be eligible for another term of office as president of the country.

It said that the president shall be assisted by a vice president of his choice as running mate, whose role shall be defined by the constitution.

It said: ”Apart from stopping the inevitable distraction from the time and attention of the office holder in the quest for a second term, a single tenure eliminates the crucial and unfair advantage enjoyed by an incumbent with access to vast official facilities, which are not available to his or her cocontestant in the conduct of electoral campaigns.”

The body also said that the

office of the President shall rotate among the six regions.

According to the body, “when a vacancy occurs by whatever cause (demise, incapacity on health grounds, impeachment, resignation) the Governor General from his/ her region shall assume the office of the President of the Federation for the remainder of the six-year tenure allotted to that region.”

Ohanaeze said that Ndigbo considered the question of census as the veritable base for the enthronement of democracy in the country’s political life and called for an early credible exercise.

It suggested that the constitution should clearly state that census delineation exercise must include region of origin, state of origin, local government/town of origin, language group, ethnic group, religious affiliation, gender and age.

The information in the National Identity card regarding

region/ state/ town of origin, it said, should be in tandem with census data.

On re-organisation of the Nigeria Police, it suggested that there should be national and regional police, with clearly defined areas of responsibility.

Ohanaeze endorsed fully, section 11 of the proposed constitution by the 1994 constitutional conference, which stated that “the Government of the Federation, or State, or a local Government shall not adopt any religion as state or Local Government religion.”

It said that the same provision should apply to the six regions.

On citizenship rights, it said: “Keenly conscious of the danger to national cohesion, unity and social political stability caused by the destruction of lives and property in ethnoreligious incidents in the recent past and at present, Ndigbo consider it absolutely necessary to have citizenship rights clearly specified, guaranteed and defended by both the Federal and regional governments.”

NEWS 7

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

2015 poll: INEC seeks 12 amendments, •Continued from Page 6 get on the ballot. This will be consistent with best practice in many parts of the world.”

It sought for sanction against political parties that breach internal democracy and timeline for resolving pre-election matters.

The document stated: “Neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) nor the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provided for sanctions against political parties that violate internal party democracy.

It is proposed that the Constitution be reviewed to allow the Commission to sanction political parties that breach their internal democracy as

that will enhance the democratic process.

“In the spirit of Section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the provision for time limit for the determination of pre- election matters need to be made in the Constitution.

“The rationale for this proposal to limit the period within which to institute and determine pre–election cases is to reduce the volume of unnecessary litigations against the Commission and elected officials.

Timeous determination of pre-election matters will reduce distractions and allow the elected officials to settle down early enough in their respec-

tive offices.”On electoral offences, the commission said only a designated tribunal could bring culprits to book.It said: “INEC has consistently made the point that it lacks the capacity to deal adequately with the number of election offenders. Yet, strengthen the electoral process requires that the impunity of election offences be curbed. “In line with the recommendation of the Uwais Committee, the Commission recommends strongly that an Election Offences Tribunal be established for investigating and prosecuting electoral offences.

The commission is also after a law to reject candidates who did not win primaries from contesting any strand of election.

States bow to pressure, agree to keep Excess Crude Account

•FG, others shared N567bn in Sept, ECA rose to $8.4bn

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HE state governments have bowed to pressure and have agreed to join the Federal Government to fund the Excess Crude Account (ECA), even as the accruals to the Excess Crude Account (ECA) have risen to $8.46 billion.

Rising from a lengthy Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting which lasted well into Friday night, the Chairman, Commissioners of Finance Forum told journalists that all the tiers of government have agreed to fund and continue with the ECA. Chairman of the forum, Barrister Timothy Odaah from Ebonyi State, said the decision was taken in the interest of the nation because there was need to save for the rainy day.

He denied that the state governments had gone to court to stop the continued funding of the account but stated that the state governments were ready to settle out of court, the pending litigation with the Federal Government over the London Club debt and the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

At the end of the September FAAC meeting, the three tiers of government shared a total of N566.5 billion for the month of September from Statutory, Value Added Tax, SURE-P and refunds from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, who briefed newsmen at the

Nduka CHIEJINA (Assistant Editor) end of the the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja, said the gross revenue of N594.7 billion for the month was higher than the N564.884billion received in the previous month by N29.6billion due to a rise in crude oil production and an increase in the price of crude oil in the international market.

The minister stated that“ income from oil rose by 52.4 billion naira to 504.2 billion naira in September from the previous month. The distributable statutory revenue for the month is N453.9billion and that due to the shortfall, there was augmentation of N13.008 billion, VAT was N56.3billion.

He added that “in addition, the sum of N35.5billion is also proposed for distribution under the SURE-P Programme. Also distributable is the N7.6billion refunded by NNPC. The policy government is pursuing is to raise the balance in the account to a certain level of not less than $10billion. This is to ensure that at any time the government has enough revenue to take care of the allocations for at least two months.”

The rise in the ECA to $8.4 billion, up from the $8.03 billion realised as at the end of August 2012, was due to the transfer of N1.24 billion to the account in September.

Constitution review: FG endorses six geo-political zones, rejects state police •Continued from Page 6 governments. The monies, it said, should be shared according to a set formula based on population, infrastructure, health, education and other indices that may exist within each local government of the state.

It said that members of such committee shall be appointed for a fixed tenure which may be renewed for another term and such members cannot be removed before the expiration of their tenure unless for special circumstances like serious health condition, criminal conviction or gross misconduct.

It said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct all local government elections to ensure uniformity, fairness, transparency and credibility. It said that the Presidential System of Government being practised at the federal and state levels should be extended to local government for uniformity, inclusiveness and consistency.

Government said that State Local Government Service Commission should be inserted into section 197(1) of the 1999 Constitution. On removal of the Land Use Act, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act and Code of Conduct from the Constitution it said that the Acts should remain as existing

Acts of the National Assembly but outside the Constitution so that they may quickly be altered to meet existing circumstances.

“To amend the Constitution is more cumbersome than amending an Act of the National Assembly,” it said.

On immunity clause, it said that the immunity clause should be retained in the Constitution “otherwise the incumbent office holders will be so distracted and would not be able to focus on governance.”

On the Nigeria Police Force, government said that the Presidential Committee on the Review of the Constitution recommends that the word “Force” in the Nigeria Police Force should be removed.

“This word gives officers the impression that they must always use force. This often gives rise to forceful handling of matters and thereby making the police unfriendly to the populace.

“This suggestion will require amendment of sections 214, 215, 216 and paragraph 28 of Part 1 of Third Schedule.

“State police should be rejected.

The police should remain an arm of the Federal Government.”

On the judiciary, it said that appeals on interlocutory matters should terminate at the

Court of Appeal except for decisions in criminal proceedings.

“The reason is to prevent the Supreme Court from being loaded with interlocutory matters which do not dispose of the final claims of the parties.

“The constitution of the Supreme Court should be increased to 11 justices provided that it will sit as a full court when considering an appeal where any person is sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal or Court of Appeal has affirmed a sentence of death and the validity of election of the President or VicePresident, term of office of President or Vice-President and vacancy of office of President or Vice-President.

“The Court of Appeal be allowed to hear and determine simple motions in chambers with one Justice sitting. The rationale is to prevent so many motions on simple matters coming up before the normal court sittings,” it said.

On election petitions, government said that it should be determine by a High Court presided by the Chief Judge of another state and two senior judges of the High Court of the state. “The reason is that Judges are disciplined and conscious of their integrity than other members who may easily be influenced.”

No going back on $80 bench mark ––Reps Victor OLUWASEGUN and Dele ANOFI. Abuja

•Tambuwal

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EMBERS of the House of Representatives have vowed to stick to the crude oil bench mark of $80 for the 2013 budget.

According to several lawmakers of the lower chamber who spoke with The Nation, the executive must come up with a superior argument to overturn the decision of the legislators, a task that appears to be uphill.

Besides, the lawmakers rued the fact that the executive has been economical with the truth concerning comparisons with other economies around the country.

Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abudlmumin Jubrin, said it appeared a group of people are determined to keep the country perpetually in darkness over the revenue accruing to the government.

He said: “Yes, we increased the bench mark, but we are not sitting here like people

who don’t know what they are doing. Two important questions we ask ourselves are, why did they peg it at $75 and what is their objection to a slight increment? It is only when you address those questions that you may be able make a decision. We addressed it and we provided our argument but we are waiting for them tot give us a superior argument, but they have not been able to.

“So we have a situation where few people running our economy are assuming monopoly of knowledge. At $75, the only argument they provided in terms of analysis of international crude price, they brought up the issue of crisis in Euro zone. Of course we know the crisis in Euro zone and we know the consequences can be severe.

“We are not being complacent about that and not taking it for granted but it will not be fair when making important decisions like the bench mark when other factors that can also affect demands of crude oil in international market are conveniently ignored. So they did not remind the nation but we are telling Nigerians that yes there is crisis in Euro zone but at the same time, there is huge crisis in the Middle East and that can actually affect supply.

“There is also instability in Sudan, they did not tell us that that the Sudanese situation can

also affect supply. Why are they not telling us Nigerians that the economy of the United States is building up?

And of course the relative growth in China, India and other countries.?

“They based $75 in considering 5 and 10 years moving average, we agree with them over that but the point that Nigeria has the highest bench mark among all other OPEC countries, they cannot justify the rationale behind their decision and always economical with the truth because it will be unfair as clearer picture would not presented.

“But the pertinent question we ask is, what does those countries with so low bench mark do with their surpluses.

The answer is the first thing they do is to balance their deficit because or the importance of deficit to global economy.

Why are not balancing deficit with ours but the question is: if we are not doing same thing as they are doing, then why are we drawing comparison with those countries? Are we going to save the way those countries are saving? Are they saving the way we are saving? Are they borrowing the way we are borrowing?

“Look at the pattern of our own economy, on the issue of bench mark, we are operating on surplus, we are having large deficit, we are saving hugely and we are borrowing hugely. I ask all of them to interpret this pattern of the economy to the committee, none of them could that.”

8 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Awolowo did not prosecute civil war for personal ambition, says David-West

F

ORMER Minister of Pe troleum Resources, Prof.

Tam David-West, yesterday, stated that Chief Obafemi Awolowo did not use the starvation weapon against the Igbo during the civil war in order to realize personal ambition as posited by renowned novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe, in his latest book, There was a country.

David-West, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said that all members of the war regime cabinet, led

by General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) employed the stoppage of food supplies to the Igbo as a weapon to win the war.

He added that it has been explained many times that players in any war use whatever weapon they believe could help them defeat the other party, stressing that it would not be correct to assert that Awolowo, who was then the Federal Commissioner of Finance, did what he did in order to realize a personal ambition to rule Nigeria.

The professor of virology insisted that Awolowo and other cabinet members at the time employed the weapons to keep Nigeria as one indivisible entity.

“Awolowo never promoted genocide because he wanted to become president. The entire Gowon administration promoted genocide. That does not mean that any player in the government did that for personal ambition. Starvation was a weapon to fight the war then.”

However, David-West said that he would not criticize Achebe for expressing his own account of the war. He took exception to the hullaballoo generated by the new book, saying it was already assuming ethnic dimension.

According to him, Achebe could only be criticized for his interpretation of the war, not his presentation. He emphasized that there was genocide, and insisted that anyone that denies the genocide is as good

Bisi OLADELe, Ibadan as denying the holocaust.

He said: “There is no need to crucify Achebe for chronicling his own experience. It is

even painful that the criticism is becoming ethnic now. I respect Awolowo and his contemporaries, including the Sardauna.

“For example, Awolowo prosecuted the civil war for 30

•Cross section of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officers on their Field Project at Fatai Atere Way, Ladipo area of Mushin as part of the on-going Career Evaluation Training Program for Law Enforcement Officers in the State on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. INSET: The sensitization banner for pedestrians’.

Gowon, Fayemi, S/African law maker urge participatory democracy

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ORMER Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Mrs. Lindiwe Maseko, Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, South Africa, yesterday, urged leaders across the three tiers of government in the country to give more attention to participatory governance.

They said this was the only way democratic practice and the democratisation process can be both enhanced and deepened.

The three spoke at the Ekiti Legislative Assembly’s Annual Lecture Series 2012, held at Bishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

This years’ event was made to coincide with Governor Kayode Fayemi’s 2nd year in office.

Gowon, represented by the Coordinator of Nigeria Prays in Ekiti, Evang Eunoch Ajibade, urged political leaders to accommodate the views of the opposition, adding that the kernel of useful criticisms hold the secrets to desirable progress in the country.

He said: “I will, therefore, counsel this way that all encomiums, petitions, advice, criticisms and challenges that you received from the common people should be meticulously pondered, digested and worked upon as promptly as possible if actu-

Police recover dynamites, arms, ammunition in Lagos

O

PERATIVES of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested hoodlums who specialize in attacking residents with dynamites and other sophisticated arms.

Lagos Police Command boss, Umar Manko, who said the arrest was part of the efforts of the command to combat the activities of criminal in the metropolis, noted that the feat was achieved following a major raid by detectives attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) led by its commander, Superintendent Abba Kyary, Addressing newsmen at the command Headquarters, GRA, Ikeja, Manko disclosed that another raid was led by the Area E Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dan Okoro, Area D Command, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Omololu Bishi and the Area K Command respectively.

The teams, described by Manko as ‘crime busters to the glory of Nigeria Police’ conducted random raids on some black spots in Lagos.

It was gathered that at the end of the operation, which

months without borrowing one kobo. There is no question about the fact that a lot of people died in the East. When the war started, Biafra was even more organized than the Nigerian government.

•290 miscreants in police net Jude ISIGUZO and Ebele BONIFACE started on Tuesday, about five locally made dynamites and 11 different kinds of automatic rifles were recovered from a local suburb at the Ajangbadi area of Ojo. The firearms include seven AK 47rifles, one K2 rifle, one rifle and three pump action gun.

Manko also disclosed that about 290 miscreants, popularly known as ‘’One million boys’’ ,who have terrorized women and other residents of Ajegunle and Apapa have been arrested.

The police boss said the city was being ‘cleaned up’ ahead of the National Sports Festival (NSF) to be hosted by Lagos State.

The police boss said: “On October 10, at about 9.30 am, based on information that a group of young men operating in a white Toyota Sienna Space bus, with. Registrations number, AMC 347 AE and a commercial bus, suspected to be armed robbers were oper-

ating at Dapo Bus Stop area of Adaloko Jakande, Ajangbadi, a team of police detectives from Area K swooped on them.”

ally you want to entrench true democracy.”

Gowon equally advised the lawmakers to redouble attention to their oversight functions to halt the excesses of the executive arm.

In her lecture, on the topic: “Deepening Democracy for Good Governance”, Ms Maseko observed that Nigeria deserved plaudits for the strides made since the advent of the fourth republic in 1999.

She noted that the military era was marked with experiences of callous abridgment of the rights of individuals.

The speaker noted that one of the immediate gains of the return to popular democracy in 1999 was the cancellation/ debt forgiveness of the N18 billion Debt owed the World Bank by the country.

Responding to a question, Ms Maseko held that legislating against possible moves to cross carpet before or after being duly elected was oppositional to the principle of basic democracy which allows for freedom to associate.

Gunmen kill beer parlour operator in Osun

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UNMEN, suspected to be cult members, have killed a middleaged beer parlour operator in Iree, Osun State.

The victim, Ekundayo Awotunde, was said have been expelled from the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, about seven years ago.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the victim was in his shop, located at the Oris area of the town, when the attackers stormed his shop, and shot several times at point blank range. He was, however, rushed to the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, where he gave up the ghost.

“It was around 6pm on Monday when Awotunde was offloading cartons of beer from his red Kombi Volkswagen van. These strange men came and pumped bullets into him,” the source said.

Awotunde, a native of Ipetumodu, was said to have had a fight with some customers in his shop few weeks before his death.

His wife was said to have reported the case to the police.

Meanwhile, students living around the area where Awotunde was killed have fled their homes for fear of reprisal attack by suspected cultists.

However, spokesman for the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Mr. Tope Abiola, said the victim was never a student of the school.

According to him, Awotunde’s name was not in the school’s records, saying his death has nothing to do with the polytechnic.

The state police command could not be reached to comment on the murder as the Police Public Relations Officer, Folashade Odoro’s cell phone was switched off.

Alleged N87.5b theft: Court admits exhibits against former Afribank bosses

A

N Ikeja High Court, yesterday, admitted 20 documents as exhibits in the trial of Sebastine Adigwe, a former Managing Director of the defunct Afribank Plc.(now Mainstreet Bank), over alleged stealing.

According to agency reports, Adigwe is accused of stealing N87.5 billion belonging to the bank.

He is standing trial alongside five other former directors of the bank — Osa Osunde, Isa Zailani, Chinedu Onyia, Henry Arogunde and Peter Ololo.

The six defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The documents admitted as exhibits were tendered by EFCC counsel, Mr Abubakar Mahmud (SAN).

Justice Olabisi Akinlade admitted the documents as Exhibits P1 to P20.

Mahmud had told the court that the documents detailed a loan facility of N15 billion granted by Afribank to a stock brokering firm, Rehoboth Assets Management Ltd. in September, 2008.

The counsel, then, called the prosecution’s first witness, Mr Ndubuisi Osakwe, a staff of Mainstreet Bank, to testify about the transaction which took place while he was the Head of Special Project of Afribank.

Osakwe, who is currently the Group Head, Energy Department of Mainstreet Bank, said that the loan was granted to Rehoboth for the purchase of Afribank shares from the capital market.

He testified that the purpose of the transaction was to protect the bank from hostile attacks by some investors who were planning to take over its management.

Arisekola, Babatope , others to honour Third Eye publisher

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OMMUNITY leaders, politicians and business icons are expected to attend this year’s annual harvest in honour of a renowned business man and publisher of The Third Eye publications, Chief Akanni Aluko .

Among dignitaries expected to grace the occasion are the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland , Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao and Chief Ebenezer Babatope .

In a statement by the annual harvest Committee, the ceremony, which will take place tomorrow, will be chaired by Sir Olu Abiola and supported by eminent indigenes of Ijesa and prominent Nigerians.

The statement added that the programme, which will begin by 9am, will be conducted by the Associate Priest, Rev. Father Anthony Adegoke and the Parish Priest Rev. Father Paul Awowole and supported by other priests.

A special Apostolic blessings from the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo, Most Rev. (Dr) Gabriel Leke Abegunrin would be part of the activities to markg the annual festival at St. Victoria Catholic Church, along Ijebu-Jesa road, Ilesa ,Osun State.

Oyo boosts public schools

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YO State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has distributed instructional and recreational mate rials to all public schools in the state, as a means of boosting the Early Child Education{ ECE) programme.

Executive Chairman of the board, Dr. Busari Adebisi, disclosed this during the distribution of instructional and recreational materials to all the education secretaries who represented the 33 local government areas in the state.

The chairman said the success of UBE programmes hinged, not just in providing an increasing number of children and young adults access to education, but also to guarantee a qualitative education that ensures the acquisition of relevant and sustainable skills that could be achieved by empowering the teachers with relevant adequate tools to train the children.

According to the chairman, “having realised this, the state has intensified its efforts in providing the necessary learning aids textbooks for our schools.”

The SUBEB boss also said, “just like Early Child Education{ ECE} is seen as the education given to children between age 0-5 prior to their entry into basic schools, its purpose is to promote smooth transition from home to schools.”

Ronnie schools partner Lagos State Resource Centre

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ONNIE schools, Ojodu, Lagos, in partnership with the Lagos State Educational Resource Centre, has embarked on training of teachers on production and utilisation of instructional materials at the centre's ultra modern complex, located at Oba Ogunnusi Road, Isheri Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

The training is in line with the school capacity-building programme, aimed at providing school teachers with solid foundation for their teaching practice and help students build confidence and critical skills.

The programme is part of activities the school has lined up to prepare both teachers and students for the current academic session. Other activities include: improved learning environments, reviewed curriculum, additional education infrastructures and sporting facility. These standards encompass the many aspects of the school's core value, including relationship, openness, naturalness, novelty, integrity and excellence.

9

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

L

AST Wednesday the Nige rian President Goodluck Jonathan presented the 2013 National Budget Proposals to a joint session of the National Assembly and got a mixed reaction from both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President of the Senate commended the timing of the budget and noted that three issues have always dogged the budget issue in Nigeria namely its timing, the powers of the National Assembly over the budget and the implementation of the budget. The Speaker on his part noted that revenue from gas running into billions of naira was not reflected in the 2013 budget proposals as well as the external borrowing.

The Speaker reportedly said that NASS is closer to Nigerians and can know better, what their budget needs and plight are, than the government making the budget proposals. Since the presentation of the budget proposals however, the usual analysis of figures have begun with the attendant fanfare on government priorities arising from the various sizes of the budget allocations. It is however the spirit of the budget as well as the underlying principles that govern budgeting in a democratic dispensation like ours, which is a presidential system like the US, that concerns me today.

Let me start by using an event in another nation this week to illustrate what I have in mind about the 2013 budget proposals put before the NASS by Mr President. In Israel the Prime Minister Mr Bejamin Netanyahu has announced fresh elections for next January 2013 because he could not agree a budget with his coalition partners in Government. The elections were originally scheduled for October next year but because his partners in government were not cooperative on the budget proposals he is asking all stakeholders in government to go back and refresh to their mandate in governance from the source - which are elections into political office from the ballot box.

Personally, Netanyahu is said to be popular according to the polls but the elections will determine what sort of freehand he will have in forming a coalition that will endorse his budget proposal. The election result may throw out the parliamentary irritants to his budget proposals by giving him a solid majority that does not need a coalition to lead Israel. The elections results are also perfectly capable of making him lose his majority and go into opposition and out of government. Also the mere announcement of early elections can possibly make the coalition partners, who may not be popular with those who sent them to parliament – their electorate - to kow tow and play ball by approving Netanyahu’s budget - therefore rendering the election in January unnecessary which anyway is a strategy that Netanyahu had used in the very recent past. This to me is the essence of budgeting in a democracy which is that those elected use the budget for the benefit of the state and those who elected them or lose their mandate in case of default or any other unwarranted and extravagant usage or diversion.

The same principle is inherent in the ongoing US presidential elections and the concluded first debate in which the two contestants took part. In addition Mitt Romney the Republican candidate has criticized the foreign policy of the Obama administra-

Budgets, elections and mandates

tion in strong terms saying that it is not protecting global US interests sufficiently, relative to the huge resources at the disposal of Pentagon and the mammoth industrial military complex involved in the global war on terror. During the presidential debate which Mitt Romney won, he accused Obama of creating the largest deficit in US history.

Obama countered that he had used good money to chase bad and had saved jobs in banking, industry and the auto industry and that the economy was on a rebound which really showed up in government statistics a few days after the debate.

However the credibility as well as the suddenness of the economic rebound was questioned by one of the most respected and successful corporate managers in the US and a former Chairman and Chief Executive of General Electric Mr John F Welch who sneered – ‘these Chicago politicians cannot debate and they change figures’. Which is like saying that the economic statistics of the US are being politicized because of elections to favor the party in power which also is as unfortunate as it is as Obama is from Chicago. But this too is as mischievous and dubious as saying that the polls or rating of presidential debaters may not be affected by success or otherwise at the debate. This is because the

TV debates provide a visual assessment of the intellect and personality of a leader of the nation and that should affect voters’ decision or choice - for good or bad anywhere, and more importantly in the highly wireless, virtual and digital environment of the US. In effect then, the media polls or ratings as well the debate performance of presidential candidates provide a clue as to who can win a presidential election in the US and they must be objective, and transparent, just as elections are expected to be free and fair in an old democracy like the US. Some cynics have said that the elections are too close for the debates to affect the polls meaningfully and reverse the Obama lead, but until November 6 when the elections hold, neither Romney or Obama should rest on their oars.

The close competition also shows that Americans bother greatly about who will rule or lead them and direct the spending of their budget on coming to power.

Even though the political or ideological differences are wide in that Romney represents free market extreme of individual wealth and widening income while Obama stands for massive social welfare, reduction of social inequalities and income disparities; the closeness of the race shows that all Americans know what is at stake for the next four years for the winner and the loser in their

winner takes all brand of presidential politics which we have copied in Nigeria.

Going back to Nigeria I think it is now apparent why we took a detour to Tel Aviv and Washington to arrive in Abuja where our president presented a 10.84 trillion naira budget that has a deficit that is within the limit stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 which according to the president, highlights the government’ s commitment to fiscal prudence. This I think is commendable. This is more so since as now know that fiscal indiscipline can cripple a nation economically sooner than later and bring opprobrium in global financial circles abroad and harsh austerity measures leading to redundancies and strikes at home.

This has happened in the nations called PIGS namely Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain in the euro zone, in recent times. No one wants that to happen in Nigeri . However as I said earlier I am not interested in the budget figures but the spirit behind those figures and it is on this score that I take on the comments of the principal officers of the NASS on the budget.

Of course a budget should be presented in time for vetting by the appropriate authority and released for implementation to the appropriate cost centers . So the observation of the Senate President is in order. Similarly all sources of revenue should be identified and recognized so that Nigeria stops being a ‘wild economy that does not know all its sources of revenue‘ - like someone said a few years back. Plugging revenue leaks will certainly eliminate wastage and the creation of an informal economy which is another name for looting and plundering of the economy On deficits, it is important to stress that keeping within budget limits is of no use when no one

knows or sees what the budget has been spent on. Budget book keeping should not be on paper alone but should be manifest concretely in terms of physical structures or services put on the ground from the approved budget. Indeed budget deficits, where they are productive as in construction of airports, roads and highways or the making of power turbines are desirable and preferred to deficits acquired for renovation of official residences or loans for purchasing existing official accommodation by incumbents or present occupiers.

On the powers of the NASS on the budget which is largely that of vetting, such process should not lead to an increase in personal emoluments of legislators or a negotiation for such with the executive to pass the budget.

That is pure blackmail of the executive and is indeed unethical.

In addition Ministers who have just signed performance bonds with the president should be held to their commitments and undertaking to implement what has been approved as it had their input in terms of time, cost and viability of implementation.

As the Israeli and American examples have shown government expenditure and its direction can make or mar the electoral prospects of any government in power. That to me should be the guiding principle in the implementation of the budget proposals tabled by the government to the NASS last Wednesday. It is my fervent hope that our legislators and the government of the day can use the 2013 budget proposals to win more votes by implementing them to the letter in providing jobs, roads, security and light for our people - rather than alienating them by poor or non implementation of the budget on the eve of the next elections in 2015, which is just around the corner.

10 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Tell them, Tambuwal, budget is no ritual vincentakanmode@yahoo.com

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HILE the dust raised by the House of Representatives over the abysmally poor implementation of the 2012 budget was yet to settle, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday presented the 2013 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly. The House had been at daggers drawn with the executive arm of government, threatening to commence impeachment proceedings against the President if the N4.7 trillion budget presented by the President last year was not fully implemented.

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila representing Surulere, Lagos, who initiated the debate on budget implementation after the various committees constituted by the House to monitor the MDAs had discovered that funds were not released to the MDAs which were supposed to implement the various projects in their purview, had threatened that if the economy was not properly greased by September, the House would be left with no option but to begin impeachment moves against President Jonathan.

It was on the basis of the foregoing that the House initially threatened to boycott the presentation of the 2013 budget when Jonathan informed the Senate and the House of his plan to present the budget to a joint session of the two chambers on October 4. The lawmakers had earlier warned they might reject the presentation altogether if the level of performance of the current budget remained unsatisfactory.

They, therefore, passed a unanimous vote, calling on the President to defer the presentation to allow the House to complete its evaluation of the budget implementation. After some pressure from the executive arm, the House eventually yielded ground and agreed to join the Senate to host the President on Wednesday.

The budget read by the President on Wednesday would pass for a good one, considering the fact that for the first time in a very long while, the education and health sectors enjoyed a good share of the budget. Only defence would seem to have to have enjoyed more vote than these two critical sectors whose importance have hitherto been undermined by successive administrations. And it is understandable if defence is given as much attention as it has enjoyed in the budget, given the scary security situation in the country.

One would, however, expect that more money would be voted for agriculture, particularly when the President is conscious of the looming prospects of food scarcity on account of the terrible floods that have ravaged Kogi, Niger, Benue and other parts of the country considered as the nation’s food basket. Thousands of acres of farmlands where the bulk of the nation’s food crops like yam, cassava, maize, millets and guinea corn are grown have been washed away. If food is still the most critical necessity of life, agriculture deserves more than was allocated to it.

The real worry, however, stems from the fact that budget in this part of the world has been reduced to mere annual ritual with public office holders in charge of its implementation and their cronies the only beneficiaries. Last year, the nation had a budget of N4.7 trillion even though its income from oil revenue alone could be in excess of N10 trillion. But the life of the average Nigerian remains miserable.

Our roads remain the death traps they have always been. Water taps continue to run dry. Even claims of improved electricity supply in some

These, ordinarily, ‘should be good news in a country where budget means more than rhetoric. But in our part of the world, all we have are figures without nuances

Blood on a flooded canvas “Justice is the only thing that can assuage the pains and emotional traumas consuming us and clear the name of our son so that he can rest in peace.”

—Mrs. Chinwe Biringa.

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OME said it was the crudest form of barbarism on display.

Others, shell-shocked by the gory details in the horrific video, described it as the height of man’s inhumanity to his kind. These and such other words remain an understatement.

The beasts in the four-minute video I watched deserved worse appellations. Anyone with the smallest jot of milk of human kindness running in his veins can never be found in the midst of the cannibals in that video. Those primitive butchers belonged to another age and time. And it does not matter if they claimed to be indigenes of Omuokiri village, Aluu, a suburb in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They are monsters in human clothing. The real sons and daughters who may wish to save whatever is left of that name should denounce those blood-sucking bigots now! I really do not want to believe that the entire Aluu community is a conclave of savages. However, while the tears continue to flow, we need to ask questions. If you are a regular follower of news trend in Nigeria, you will be amazed to see how soon we will hear about more human lives being wasted in needless tragedies. How and when did we lose it as a people?

Why is life so brutal, crude and short in this country? Why the utter disrespect for human dignity and the sanctity of life?

We ask these questions not just because of the ruthless murder of four university students by some persons in Aluu over what has turned out to be a spurious allegation that they stole laptop computers and Blackberry phones. We ask because we cannot fathom any justification for the monstrous jungle justice meted out to the boys by the gathering barbarians. How did striping the victims naked, pummelling them to stupor, smashing their heads with cudgels of all types, circling them with used tyres and setting them ablaze equate the due punishment for stealing laptops and handsets if we were to believe the Aluu murderers’ outrageous tale? Who mobilised the crowd of low hirelings and street urchins chanting ‘die, die, die’ as the murderer-in-chief incredulously kept the pace with the bloodthirsty mob’s predilection for making burnt offering out of innocent youths? How could a whole community go gambolling as the blood of four youths was needlessly spilled?

With its egregious reflection of a thoroughly damaged collective psyche, Aluu, for me, is a classic example of all that is wrong with our society and I blame it all on a failed governance structure. I perfectly understand the nation’s outrage over the latest spillage of blood on our flooded canvas of woes and the flurry of condemnations that has greeted it. Any man born of a woman should be petrified by what happened in Aluu where a set of deranged individuals joyously participated in the sordid murder of Biringa Chiadika Lordson (Theatre Arts, Year 2); Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor (Geology, Year 2); Mike Lloyd Toku (Civil Engineering, Year 2) and Tekena Erikena (who had completed a basic studies course at the University of Port Harcourt). In one moment of unexplainable madness, a community that ordinarily ought to protect them cut these lives short. Their dreams, hopes, aspirations and desires were burnt to ashes. Parents who had looked forward to the day their chil-

‘

quarters remain a mystery to many, including the residents of Otunba Gbenga Daniel Housing Estate, Ota, Ogun State, where some of the residents told me recently that they have not sighted public power for months!

The only perceivable impact from successive budgets has been the exotic lifestyles of many of our public office holders. Their castles, exotic cars, wives and concubines are multiplying in geometric proportions simultaneously as the mass of the people sink deeper and deeper into poverty because the enabling environment is not created for their trades to flourish.

The foregoing explains why Jonathan’s announcement at the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday that the 2013 budget would witness an increase of 5 per cent from N4.7 trillion last year to N4.92 trillion would make little or no meaning to the average Nigerian.

The President had said his budget of “physical consolidation with inclusive growth” was underpinned by parameters

dren would return home with academic laurels and certificates of honour have become recipients of death certificates. It was a wicked twist of fate.

You do not need to be a procreator to feel the painful lamentations of Mrs. Chinwe Biringa who, like many other parents, craved justice in our unjust society where mindless impunity prevails.

Mindful of how such cases had been swept under the table in the past as one tragedy eclipsed the other and haunted by the video of her son’s morbid attack, Mrs. Biringa had petitioned the National Assembly, demanding that the truth behind the killings must be unearthed.

Her paragraphs of sorrows read in part: “I rushed to the scene only to see my son’s dead body being taken away naked to a mortuary. I could not believe my eyes and I collapsed. What did my son do? What did the other three young men who died with him do? First, we heard that the four students were alleged to have stolen a Blackberry phone and a laptop computer. This could not be farther from the truth. My son has had a Blackberry phone and in fact, a laptop computer since he was in primary school. To waylay them and beat them with planks until they died like chickens is the most savage thing one can witness in Nigeria of 2012. First, they were stripped naked, marched around like frogs and then beaten to death. What savagery and bestiality. My husband and I want only two things, namely: a) to clear the name of Chiadika, b) justice!”

Yes, justice may ease the pain. However, can it heal the scar etched deep in the heart following such tragic loss? Will it bring the children back to their parents’ bosoms? Will it re-ignite the sparks of laugher and convivial union that once made homecoming such a wonderful experience? Will it wash off the memory of how some bastards acted the roles of the accuser, the judge and the executioner in an evil act where four lives were sadistically wiped off the face of the earth?

In all this, one thing stands out: the Aluu 4 incident happened because we did nothing - absolutely nothing - about the countless extra-judicial killings that have taken place in this country of wonky legs. Here, I speak not only of what was once a routine in big cities like Lagos where alleged armed robbers, witches, wizards, kidnappers, one-chance fraudsters and all manner of criminal elements as well as unlucky innocent ones were lynched and burnt alive in the name of jungle justice. I do not speak of the usual human rights abuses where policemen and their counterparts in the armed forces ‘waste’ lives without any due recourse to the law. I do not even speak of the excesses of the high and mighty who fiendishly trample on the rights of the weak among us, ordering the killing and maiming of presumed enemies with the assurance that power silences all infractions, no matter how deadly.

Probably, Aluu 4 would not have happened if decisive actions had been taken in the past to deal with the evil men that strut our streets daily, spilling the blood of the innocent. In a country with a government charged with the responsibility of securing the lives and wellbeing of the citizens, it is a shame that criminal elements have continued to hold the nation by the jugular. Numerous ‘investigations’ of violent crimes and ethno-religious conflicts end without any so-called government White Paper or other definitive actions. Yet, some persons claim not only to be in charge but also in control of the ship of state. How reassuring?

Were they not in charge when over 40 students were murdered in

that would reflect government’s prudent economic policies. The parameters, according to him, include the rise of oil production from N2.8 million barrels per day for 2012 to N2.53 million barrels per day. And the benchmark of US$72 per barrel in the current budget will increase to US$75 per barrel next year. These, ordinarily, should be good news in a country where budget means more than rhetoric. But in our part of the world, all we have are figures without nuances.

The matter is even more complicated in the case of the Jonathan administration because it is one that thrives on insincere promises. One and a half years into his tenure after the initial two years he spent to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, virtually none of his electoral promises has been fulfilled.

Defending the nocturnal hike in the price of fuel in January, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had vowed that with the additional revenue from the fuel price hike, the nation would start witnessing serious transformation of its infrastructural facilities from June this year. She had also vowed that luxury buses purchased by the Federal Government would pimple our roads to ease transportation problems arising from the price hike.

Besides, she said our roads would be so neatly tarred that a motorist would drive on them with a cup of tea on his dash board. The month of June has come and gone and another June is approaching without any sign that the promises will be fulfilled any time soon.

It is just as well that Tambuwal reminded the President on Wednesday about the colossal failure of the current budget. Interim reports on field oversight of the 2012 budget by the House standing committees, he said, “are clearly unimpressive both in terms of releases as well as utilization.”

Will the implementation of this year’s budget be any different?

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 cold blood in Mubi, Adamawa State? Where were they all this while as gunmen killed and maimed with reckless abandon across the nation? What have they done, in concrete terms, to put a halt to our headlines of pain and sorrow? Why should our story continue to be written with tears and blood on a flooded canvas?

In this moment of national pain, it is not out of place for the President to show a more humane side. Unfortunately, that genuine feeling for humanity seems to be missing. At a period when many parents are grieving over the needless loss of their wards to unprovoked attacks and morbid killings, the least I had expected from the President, during Tuesday’s nationwide broadcast, was to spare a line for them in his seven-minute speech. It is called empathy and, if properly delivered, it can soothe the pain.

Instead, a costly presidential howler made nonsense of whatever message he was trying to sell about his administration’s belated efforts to tackle the floods that ravaged most parts of the country.

What I heard was a cold, plastic message from his high pedestal; throwing money at our problems as usual. You hardly find a care for human feelings and there seems no stirring of human passion whatsoever. As usual too, there was “no quotable quote” to comfort bereaved families. How could he have missed the opportunity to show us that he feels our pain and understands the general rage in the land?

Again, this is not about the President and the now prevalent lethargy in all tiers of governance. It is more about how we have completely lost the moral ethic that should bind us together – a sense of social solidarity or what the father of Sociology, Ibn Khaldun defines in Arabic as Assabiyya. Khaldun, a truly great African put down thoughts on Sociology and philosophy some four centuries before European “fathers of sociological thought” like Auguste Comte articulated it. The less the sense of Assabiyya, the more the society tears apart. It is about our descent into anarchy. It is about a nation that is sliding into an unwelcome categorisation of a failed state, a Hobbesian ‘state of nature’ where everyone is a law unto himself. It is about communities being controlled by marauding vigilantes instead of proactive law enforcement agencies. It is also the gory picture of Nigeria as painted by one of the greatest believer in the Nigerian dream, the iconic Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili when she cried out that: “We are broken, we need to be mended and nobody will mend it other than ourselves. We are getting to the precipice and we need to pull ourselves back. The government has to take full responsibility; it has to be in charge to prevent anarchy. The only way out is for the government to prove that it is really in charge!”

Are they listening? Put bluntly, can they ever be in charge?

The impact of violence on kids in the North

‘How spiritualists swindled us’

–Pages 19 - 21

–Pages 16&17

THE NATION, Saturday, OCTOBER 13, 2012

F LO O D I N G Harvest of babies at relief camps •I’m grateful to God but...

–Mother of triplets

11

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

12 HE situation in the local government areas affected by floods in Anambra State can easily be described as horrible.

There were boats everywhere but nobody to enter them. Most of the flood victims have relocated and the boats are lying fallow.

A boat maker, Mr, John Onwukwere, lamented that he was idle as no one was requesting for new boats. He said there had been a boom when the floods began as people changed their old boats to new ones.

Thereafter, he said, there had been no business at all.

Onwukwere said: "There is no business and we are not happy that our people have been flushed out by flood. Every building in our community is now under water and our people have been relocated to either the refugee camps or with their family members in the city.

"We did not come out with anything and there would be no need of going to farm to harvest or even travel home, since all the houses are under water and all our farmlands are submerged.

"Although we initially made brisk business and thought that the flood would subside, for days and weeks, it worsened and rather than do business, we became volunteers to save our people’s lives.

“That was the situation then. Now we are just idling away because nothing is happening and nobody is using the boats.

Where would you go with the boats?

“We make a new boat for N10,000, but there is no business now because there is nothing you are going to see in the submerged communities. In a week, we made about three to five boats then.

Nobody prays for flood. We are praying that it dries up and life will be back in the communities involved. We are not making money or doing brisk business but service to our people.

"Look at all these boats. Who do you see ferrying them? There is nobody or load to ferry across. We are all refugees in our own land, pleading for food to eat every moment of the day."

Besides the boat business that has collapsed in the affected local government areas, especially those who were into water transportation before the flood disaster, like Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru and some parts of Awka North and Anyamelum, another kind of business, namely childbearing is now thriving in the camps.

For want of what to do, the men have resorted to impregnating their wives and

T

•Ngozi Anikpe (left) and Veronica Oguguo were delivered in the camp

•Twin sisters: Ijeoma Chudekwu with baby, Chioma Ogbeche is pregnant

Flooding: Relief camps •30 women delivered •350 n Odogwu Emeka ODOGWU, Nnewi n mistresses at will. This is in spite of the seeming challenges in the camps. More than 350 women are now pregnant in St Joseph‘s Catholic Church Camp at Aguleri, according to the member representing Enugu-Otu and Mkpu-Nando Ward in Anambra East Local Government Area, Hon. Lucy Okafor.

Okafor said: "There are more than 4,000 people in this camp and the government has been taking care of them medically and otherwise in accordance with directives from the state government. And out of the 4,000 displaced in the camp, about 350 women are pregnant."

Okafor could not give the figure of deliveries, but said many women had been delivered of babies, including a woman

who had triplets.

The mother of the triplets, Mrs Josephine Ejimoffor, exuded joy as she narrated how she was delivered of three boys. She was, however, sad that nothing had come to her financially to take care of the babies, having lost everything she had to flood.

The babies were at the St. Joseph’s camp before they took ill and were asked to be taken to Immaculate Heart Hospital and

Pregnant victims, the aged relive experiences HERE are mixed feelings in Umueri flood camp, Anambra State. For some, it is an admixture of gloom and despair, while for others, it is one of excitement heralded by the birth of new babies.

For the former group, the loss of a home is too bitter a pill to swallow. But for the latter, in spite of the disaster, there is still reason to celebrate. Amid their displacement by ravaging floods, procreation is still taking place. Mothers are not only giving birth, they are doing so in doubles and triples. Twins are being born as well as triplets.

Ninety-year-old Oguguo Nwabunwannne who hails from one of the flood ravaged communities in the state remains a sad man. He is at the camp of flood victims located at Umueri General Hospital in Anambra East Local Government Area.

His grief has not so much We are to do with the accommodation or the comfortable. But feeding in the camp, but the how do we cope unimaginable destruction caused by flooding in his next year when house where all his property, including farm hunger strikes produce were submerged. as a result of But beyond the loss of property, there has been this? Our farms nothing like loss of life since have been the deluge registered its devastating presence. At washed away by least, for this, they remain flood. These thankful to the Almighty.

At the Umueri flood relief materials camp, no fewer than 12 being given to women were pregnant while about nine of them us, will they had given birth already.

A set of twins, Ijeoma continue?

Chudekwu and Chioma Ogbeche, are both married.

While Ijeoma was delivered

T

,

,

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n

augment the ones sent by NEMA and the state government.

He said: “Another problem we are having here is health.

Many of the people are sick. They use the little money they were able to save before the disaster to buy drugs at the chemist around.”

The Nation gathered that the medical doctor in charge of the non-functional general hospital only comes once a week.

In fact, the last time he visited the camp was on Monday, it was learnt.

Some of the nursing mothers who spoke with The Nation,

of a baby, Chioma is heavily pregnant and awaiting delivery any time soon.

Ngozi Anikpe and Veronica Oguguo were also delivered of babies about three weeks ago when the flood was at its peak. But they are not happy that no medical care is being given at the camp.

According to them, “If we are well fed and our children die, of what use will it be to us? Right now, we are suffering.

The issue now is how to take care of our babies.”

When The Nation visited the camp on Thursday morning, a cow was being slaughtered by the flood victims for the day’s meal, while officials of National Emergency and Management Agency (NEMA) were busy erecting tents for the victims numbering about 1,000.

The South East coordinator of the agency, Dr Onimode Bamidele practically relocated to the area to make sure that they did not lack anything.

Security at the camps is also a challenge. Some questionable elements were reportedly sneaking into the camps located in the state to steal the relief materials provided for the victims. The state police command is said to have drafted a good number of policemen to protect the refugees day and night.

The chairman of the camp’s management committee, Sir Hyacinth Nwakasi told The Nation that the only challenge the victims were facing was lack of electricity at the general hospital.

Furthermore, he said that private individuals had done wonderfully for them by bringing relief materials to •The septuagenarians and octogenarians at the camp

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

13

•From left: Nkiru Nwachukwu, Theresa Mbanefo and Blessing Ifeanyi all with babies in camp

•Uju Sunday also pregnant

brim with new babies pregnant victims in camp Maternity, Aguleri, for medical attention.

She said: "My triplets were sick and I was directed to take them to this hospital by the government. And since I came, they have been taking care of us. But the only money I have got from the government is N2,000; nothing more.

"I was rushed to Waterside Hospital from the camp. I remember that a football team paid my bills there before I returned to the

camp. I don’t know the name of the team.

"I am delighted that God gave me triplets.

But they need to be taken care of to enable them grow better and stronger. That’s why I am pleading with the government to come to our aid with the necessary assistance that would enable me breastfeed them properly.

“I am not ungrateful for the help we have received from government, but we are looking for more assistance."

She described the babies, namely Chukwuka (God is great), Maduabuchi (nobody is God) and Ekenechukwu (thank God) as a bundle of joy.

The nurses in the hospital could not volunteer information on the number of deliveries, but unofficial sources said more than 30 women had been delivered of babies since the flood began in that camp.

Multiplied by over 27 refugee camps, the

figure is definitely high.

However, despite the pronouncement of Governor Peter Obi to the transition committee members, commissioners and other government officials as well as Permanent Secretaries to visit the camps in batches to ensure the inmates are properly taken care of, there are still complaints. One Mrs Agnes Chukwuemeka, who lay sick, said: "I have not taken drugs and there is no money to do so."

There are more than 27 refugee camps in Anambra State according to the South East Zonal Coordinator of National Emergency and Management Agency (NEMA), Dr Bamidele Onimode. But the agency could earlier identify only seven refugee camps in its bid to distribute relief materials.

He admitted that Anyamelum and Awka North were submerged while other local government areas affected partially were not in the arrangement.

There are already over 50,000 refugees in various camps besides those who relocated with their relatives in urban areas. There is no single up land in Anambra West and Ogbaru, just as Anambra East is almost gone.

The irony of the situation was that people whose homes have been submerged refused to leave the flooded areas despite pleas from government and individuals including Head of Public Relations, NEMA, Yusuf Shuai, who advised residents of the communities at coastal areas to move to hinterlands for their safety as the flood rises.

Apart from relief from NEMA and that of the Anambra State government, a philanthropist and founder, Charity (Ezeemo) Trust for the Less Privileged, Mr Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo donated 300 cartons of water guard containing 12 packs in each cartoon to make their water safe for drinking, 500 bags of sachet water, 50 bags of foreign rice, 10 coolers of cooked rice, drugs and medicare as well as cash donation of N500,000 to Anambra East and Anambra West local Government Areas for the refugees upkeep.

The Medical Director, Zion Hospital, Enugwu Ukwu/President Old Boys Association Comprehensive Secondary School Nawfia, Dr Oliver Onwughalu who visited with over five medical doctors and ten nurses said that more than 300 people were treated of various ailments such as high blood pressure, malaria, diabetes and arthritis.

It’s painful, but business is booming -Canoe operators especially the pregnant ones, said they needed some items to use during childbirth as they could no longer go back to their homes.

Benedict Okoye, Blessing Nwachukwu, Benedict Nwabunwanne, Caroline Diata, Chinaza Akwaoba and Ifeoma Michael, all pregnant women, lamented that the flood had dealt a serious blow on them.

For instance, Nkiru Nwachukwu, Theresa Mbanefo and Blessing Ifeanyi, were all delivered of their babies in the water. They complained of nonavailability of healthcare, adding that life outside their homes had not been easy in spite of the relief materials sent to them.

Pa Nwabunwanne, however, told The Nation that they were well and happy, adding that other elder statesmen in the camp had said they could not be more comfortable staying outside their homes.

Among the aged are Akwuba Okafor (72), Madubueze Ifezue (79), Joseph Onuorah (74), Sunday Nwasa (74), Okonkwo Okechukwu (81), Okoye Onuorah (84) and Umebo Okechukwu (84).

The refugees said: “We are comfortable. But how do we cope next year when hunger strikes as a result of this? Our farms have been washed away by flood. These relief materials being given to us, will they continue?

“When you look at us and our ages, you will know that we are no longer young. Some of us have little more time to live on earth. What we want from the government is to give us more support to overcome this trauma."

N an instance of contrasting fortunes, some of the flood victims are counting their losses materially and psychologically while others are making a kill of the situation and smiling to the banks.

For instance, operators of speed boats and canoes are doing brisk business following the flood disaster that has ravaged about eight local government areas in the state.

Out of the 177 communities in the state, more than 40 were affected by floods.

But despite the pains and agony of those whose buildings and property were

I

submerged, the boat and canoe operators who are also affected by the disaster are not counting their losses in any way. Rather, they are stashing their pockets with proceeds from the disaster which, according to some experts, may take longer than expected to abate.

At the marine waterside in Onitsha, speed boat operators are stationed to ferry visitors to Nzam, Mmiata and Ukwalla, among other communities, and a journey to these areas cost about N3, 500.

In Oba-ofemili, Awka North Local

•Canoes waiting for passengers

Government Area, the canoes used by the young men to ferry people across the flooded areas charge between N100 to N200 per trip.

A boat operator who plies the River Niger to Anambra West, Nwabunwanne Felix, whose house was also submerged, told The Nation that though they were at pains, business had been good for them.

He said: “We have doubled our price from what it used to be because of fuel. We are not happy that flood submerged our area, but if we stop, how will people move?

“The joy is not the money we make; the joy is that our people are being evacuated. If not for the fuel we buy from the filling stations, we would be doing it free of charge.

“This journey costs about N3,500 to and fro. And for those who are not from this area, we charge them more because it is safer and more convenient. Because if you use the canoe, it will be difficult for you to paddle to such a distance in River Niger, and it will be a day’s journey.

“But with engine boat, it will take you about one hour twenty minutes to get to Nzam. So, it is not easy at all.”

Ogbuagu, another canoe operator in Awka North Local Government Area, told The Nation that although they were in mourning, the situation has really enriched their pockets.

Another operator, Friday Oforkansi, who was stationed at Ugbene community, was busy ferrying people from the community to their destinations.

Each passenger was made to pay at least N800 this week without load. But they charge more for loads because according to the operator, they do not have any other option.

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

14

•Flooded areas in Oguta

Oguta Lake: from tourist attraction to ravaging ocean NTIL recently, the Oguta Blue Lake was one of the wonders of nature. Located in Oguta Council Area of Imo State, it trasverses the two oil producing local government areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, providing aquatic splendour.

Before it overflowed its banks, the blue lake was an awe inspiring sight to behold as tourists from far and near trooped into Oguta to relax and marvel at the wonder of nature. Oguta and other satellite communities around the lake benefited from the fame brought by the publicity that was given to the lake.

Although predominantly farmers, the communities in recent times witnessed upsurge in commercial activities as small scale businesses and the hospitality industry received significant boost.

Recently, the Imo State governor, Owelle, Rochas Okorocha, laid the foundation stone for the Oguta Lake Tourist Centre, with the intention of harnessing its huge tourist potentials.

And to this end, the Oguta community, apparently awed by the beauty of its

U

•Tears, pains, agony of submerged Imo communities n Okodili NDIDI, Owerri n scenery and the huge oil deposits within its shores, composed a community anthem, sang in Igbo dialect, “Oguta obodo oma, Oguta obodo oma, obodo oma, Oguta bu Obodo anyi maramma”, meaning Oguta the beautiful city, Oguta the beautiful city, Oguta our beautiful city.”

Still basking in the charm of their community, their once beloved blue lake, like a rampaging monstrous beast, overflowed its banks, submerging over 200 buildings, washing away hundreds of acres of farmland and displacing over 5000 people, including women and children.

About 15 communities, including Ngegwu, Abatu, Umuamam, Umuachiashi, Okposa and other communities in the two oil rich council areas were submerged by the surging lake.

Recounting their ordeal, some of the victims who spoke with The Nation, said

that despite the loss they suffered as a result of the flood, they could imagine life outside the banks of the lake.

A pregnant woman, simply identified as Madam Rose, said that the flood came upon them while they were still asleep.

“The lake was calm and beautiful as usual before we went to sleep. Suddenly, there was a heavy noise like that of a mighty wind and the lake became turbulent and began surging.

“At first, we thought it was one of those nights when the lake experienced increased current. But at about 3.30 am, water started rushing into our homes.”

Others who shared the same experience with Madam Rose noted: “We fought hard to stop the surging wave by erecting obstacles, but they were washed away by the current and we lost hope and started evacuating the little property we could after we had rescued our sleeping children.”

Most pathetic was a man who relocated to the roof of his submerged building and

In Bayelsa, the rich also cry •Father machetes own son, mistaking him for fish OTELS, mansions, fish ponds, fuel stations where people eke out daily living are gone with the flood in Bayelsa State.

Besides the drowning of children and other household items in the flood that ravaged most parts of the state, another tragedy that made history in the state was that of a man who cut his son with a machete, thinking he was a fish.

The incident which occurred in the Obele suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital, sources said, occurred when the man’s son fell into the flooded surroundings of his compound. When he brought it out, behold it was his son’s body.

Unconfirmed sources say the man later committed suicide.

In a similar incident, a woman was said to have watched her child drown in the flood while washing bitter leave for soup.

In another flooded community, some youths were seen spreading net to catch fish. The young men, Godbless Captain and Alfred Zebidi said: “We spread the net to catch fish around here. The flood is a blessing in disguise as it has enabled us to catch fish for our daily meal.”

The hazards of the flood did not also spare a fuel station named Kripoli. According to the attendant, Mr. Ebibo Akpaeto, “This morning, we woke up to see the cemented area of the underground fuel tank was outside.’’

At the Niger Delta University campus, canoes were being used as means of transport within and out of the campus.

A student of Biological Science, Miss Dezibe Trust, said students of the university were going through rough times as a result of the flood. She said the flood had got to the waist level on the campus as the locals now make

H

•Hausa women cooking outside their flooded houses in Yenagoa.

brisk business with canoes for transportation within and outside the campus.

Udeme Hotels is one of the big hotels in Yenagoa, and since the flood started, it has recorded very low patronage.

“Only loyal customers now patronise us because of the water. Only SUV owners can drive through the water into the premises. It has affected our business. We are just watching the movement of the water and praying

fervently for God to take control,” noted a worker who pleaded for anonymity.

Also, no fewer than 1,000 indigenes from various communities have been evacuated to the relief camps located in the state capital.

A 120-year-old woman, Mrs. Rhoda Tamunu, on Wednesday in Yenagoa, escaped death by a whisker as she was saved from being overrun by rampaging flood which entered the second week in the state.

•Another flood story on Page 18

refused to come down.

According to his neighbours, the man, identified as Kenneth, about 38 years old, refused to vacate his house after it was submerged by the flood because he had nothing left and would stay on top of the roof till the flood dried up or die waiting. \seventy-year-old Pa Rufus Ignatius described his ordeal thus: "Since I was born, I witnessed an ocean surge once but nothing can be compared to what we are seeing today. My only building has been submerged. How can I build another house at my age? I lost my wife last year and two of my children equally lost their buildings to the flood. We have nowhere to go now."

During his visit to some of the flooded communities in Oguta, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, accompanied by the House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife; Chairman, Banking and Currency, Hon. Jones Onyereri and Deputy Committee Chairman on Gas, Hon. Gerald Irona, expressed shock at the level of devastation, while urging the flood victims to remain calm as urgent steps would be taken to cushion their plight.

He assured that the House had resolved to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the 22 states that were ravaged by the recent flood disasters in the country.

He explained that the visit was to enable him have an on-the-spot assessment of the damage done by the flood for onward passage to the House for action, stating that the extent of the damage done to these states by the unfortunate incident would be factored into the 2013 environmental hazard budget.

Ihedioha who donated N800, 000 to the flood victims, regretted that both residential houses and public institutions had been reduced to ruins by the surging flood, but promised that the House would urgently engage the executive for immediate solution to the menace.

“We are studying the situations in the 22 affected states and we will engage environmental experts who will provide comprehensive information on the way out.”

Hon Gerald Ironna, the member representing Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta Federal Constituency, described the flood as strange and destructive, adding that Oguta and Ohaji–Egbema Council Areas were not only the oil producing areas of the state but the food basket as well.

“My people are passing through a horrific time. We appeal to international agencies and the Federal Government to come to our aid. Our people have been rendered homeless by the flood. We implore the oil companies working in our communities to be alive to their responsibilities especially in these trying times,” he appealed.

15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

How victim's ATM cards, e c n e c i l 's r e driv exposed robbery gang

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five-man robbery gang, which had been terrorising residents of Oworonshoki, Bariga, Shomolu, Gbagada and Ikorodu parts of Lagos, has been crushed following some ATM cards and driver’s licences recovered by police from two innocent boys. Suspected members of the gang ignorantly gave the two items to the two boys to throw away. Trouble began for the suspects when the innocent children decided to use the items as toys.

As they moved about with the items, a patrol team of policemen from the Oworonshoki Police Station saw them at an odd hour and place and decided to interrogate them. In the course of the interrogation, they found the ATM cards and driver’s licence, among other items, which the children could not really account for.

Hence, they were taken to the police station.

At the police station the investigating police officer (IPO) discovered that the case he was handling had something to do with the ATM cards and driver’s licence the police found in possession of the two boys. The IPO alerted the Divisional Police Officer who quickly directed the transfer of the two boys to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of Lagos State Police Command.

The transfer of the case occurred at a time the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, had drawn the battle line with armed robbers in the state. Manko immediately ordered that the hoodlums be fished out. He directed the officer in charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, to swing into action. Before long, four of the suspected armed robbers were arrested and presented to the CP. Confessing his involvement in the robbery operation for which he was arrested, one of the suspects, Rasheed Semino (28), a native of Abule-Oloni, Ogun State, who claimed to be an apprentice armed robber, said: “I fix tiles, but I don’t have office. I go anywhere they call me to do work. I live at No. 34, Oshogbamu Street. It is a family house. Even my father is still living there.

“I was doing well in my job before I met these criminals (pointing at the other suspects). In fact, I was the pride of my father before I met these criminals. Even the one called Lateef was sponsoring the gang I joined. I bought my gun from him for N50,000. It was later that I knew why he was

Ebele BONIFACE sponsoring our gang. I found that he was both the sponsor and the receiver/buyer. This his position made the work very easy. Just go and collect a vehicle of his choice and take it to him and you get your money instantly.

“I am a car snatcher. I bought my locally made pistol from Lateef, like I told you. I don’t know his residence because this work is such that if your members know your permanent place, if they are arrested it will quicken your own arrest and nobody wants to be arrested whenever a member is arrested.

“Lateef is a bad buyer. I gave him two cars and the money he gave me for each was N100,000. By the time four of us shared the money, it was N25,000 each. Hence we tried to give him more cars and jeeps and he continued to dribble us. I want SARS operatives to go after him, arrest him and get all our money he has seized. They can take the money to our various families.”

Semino said the operation he participated in took place in Bariga. He said the victim wanted to park in front of his house and they rushed towards him and ordered him to hand over his car keys at gun point. They then drove away with the man and later dropped him at Bariga junction on the expressway that leads to the Third Mainland Bridge.

He also said he participated in more than six car snatching operations, 11 robbery operations and five kidnapping operations.

But he said it was the last car snatching operation that resulted in their arrest.

He said: “We saw a man trying to park in front of his house. We rushed towards him and one of our members called Sunday Olaniyan pointed a gun at him and ordered him to go to the back seat. We drove to Bariga/Oworonshoki side. At a point, we dropped the owner of the vehicle and drove to Lateef’s discharge point. We handed the vehicle over to him and collected N100,000.

“When we shared the N100,000, Hassan collected N30,000, Rasheed collected N30,000, Sunday N20,000 while Femi collected N20,000.

“The laptop, handset, driver’s license and other petty items and cash were collected by Hassan. He later gave two small boys who are our friends some money and begged them, especially the one called Small, to go and throw the ATM card and driver’s licence into the river or burn them, but Small decided to

keep those things as toys.

“Unfortunately, Small was arrested by the police on patrol and he could not give them a reasonable explanation. He was taken to Oworonsoki Police Station to meet the IPO handling the case of the snatched vehicle of the owner of the ATM and driver’s licence, which prompted the transfer of the case to SARS. “Hassan was the first to be tracked down

by SARS operatives and his arrest led to the arrest of Sunday and then Rasheed and to Femi. We started our criminal activities in 2011 when we met at an Indian hemp joint at Oworonsoki. We started by collecting cell phones and laptops before we got a sponsor who gave us access to guns at cheap rates.

He was the one who gave us instructions as to the type of cars we should snatch because he is both the sponsor and the buyer of snatched vehicles.

“We hold gun in turns. If one person holds the gun in one operation, another person holds the same gun in another operation. Lateef wanted to provide money for guns but it costs so much as N50,000 per gun and nobody was ready to buy it because any gun one buys becomes the gang’s property.”

The second suspect, Hassan Jimoh (27), a native of Ogunmakin community in Ogun State, said: “I am an armed robber. I don’t go to my village every time because the villagers are bad people. They are fond of killing people who are progressive in my village. If they notice the slightest sign of progress, they will target you with charm or poison to eliminate you. Before you know it, you become sick and die.

“I trained as an auto mechanic. My first experience when I tried to open a workshop in my place was burying a charm where I wanted to build a workshop. That was why I relocated to Lagos.

“I have a mechanic workshop at Ifako side of Bariga. At present, my wife is six-month pregnant, yet I have not seen her since I was arrested.

“I reside at 24, Olorunfemi Street, Oworonshoki with my parents. I don’t know why I should not be allowed to see my wife. When I asked why I should not see my wife, they told me that it was unfortunate that I was arrested following

the order of the CP, Umar Manko, to clamp down on all the armed robbers in Lagos because of a recent bloody robbery operation in which the gang killed policemen and innocent civilians.”

The third suspect, Sunday Olaiya aka Baba Dara Sobo (26), from Ikare, Ondo State, claimed to be an electronics dealer and resides at No. 27, Akinwumi Street, IfakoBariga. He has two children.

He said it was one of the gang members called Olu, who is now late, that forced him to become a member of the gang. He said he was doing well in stealing and burglary before he was forced to become a member of the gang.

He said Olu, who was their first gang leader, was killed at Pedro when the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) was chasing dangerous criminals out of Lagos. He said they pursued Olu to the canal at Pedrol and stabbed him to death in 2009.

The fourth suspect, Yomi Olorunfemi (26), who claimed to be a vulcanizer, said he started his journey into crime at Ikorodu after training as a vulcanizer under a relation in Shomolu Bariga. He said he was newly married and was looking for money to maintain his beautiful wife before he was arrested.

He said: “I am an armed robber. I snatch vehicles. I knew the consequence of what I was doing, but I beg of one thing: let me see my wife and advise her on how to live life after I am gone to prison. I want to tell her that I still love her and I pray for her in spite of my condition and that she should take care of my baby in her womb. She should not tell the baby that I am an armed robber.

Meanwhile the batteline drawn by Manko has continued to yield result with the arrest of three suspected members of the gang that rattled Lagos recently and the recovery of two rocket launchers, two machine guns, 25 AK 47 rifles loaded with 30 rounds of GPMG live ammunitions, one rocket-propelled grenade and five dynamites with its detonator, all neatly concealed in two vehicles.

Addressing crime reporters, Umar said he was not yet done because it should be a total clamp down and all the corners of Lagos would be touched. He also vowed to liaise with the Ogun State Command to see that none of the criminals escaped.

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

16 HE Biblical story of the prodigal son was re-enacted in Lagos State recently when a number of former ‘street boys’ who ran away from their various homes for over five years were re-united with their parents and family members.

The repentant teenagers had for reasons ranging from poverty to divorce absconded from their parents’ homes to live rascally at various hideouts in Oshodi and Kuramo Beach without minding the pains their parents were going through over their disappearance.

As street children, they were mentored by hardened touts and criminals who groomed them in the art of criminality.

They graduated from smoking cigarette to smoking Indian hemp and consuming other hard drugs such as skunk. They mingled with other equally depraved teenagers and engaged in all manners of vices.

But before they could graduate to hardened criminals, mother luck brought them in contact with Street Child Care •Fatima Abdulazeez and Welfare Initiative (SCCWI), a nongovernmental organisation based in Lagos. The encounter marked a turning point in the lives of the ex-ragamuffins.

They took them to their parents and later took them into their shelter and reenrolled them in school.

Today, six of them have completed their secondary school education with at least six credit passes in their O’ level examinations and outstanding performances in their JAMB examinations.

Some of the parents who spoke with The Nation during the re-union party organised by the organisation tearfully recalled the pains they passed through searching for their children for many years. They lamented that many herbalists and spiritualists drained them of their hard-earned income in their n Innocent DURU n desperate bid to find their children. information, I believed him because that Mr. Peter Ologhoboh said he spent was the last place Sunday went to before over N300,000 in various herbalists’ he was missing. We did not give up homes searching for his son. One of the searching for him because we were told herbalists, according to him, said his son at a few of the places we visited to search had been used for rituals by his pastor. for him that he was still alive.

He said: “Sunday left home in 2007 “I later arrested the pastor based on from Ore. He went to church with his the herbalist’s divination. I arrested him younger brother and later asked him to twice but the police mediated in the go to the junior class while he left for the matter and asked me to keep searching senior class. When my wife went to the for my son. After a long search for him, church to see them, Sunday was no we gave up and lived with the pains of where to be found. After a fruitless his disappearance. search, we assumed that he had gone to It was after some years that some play with his friends. When we waited people from this organisation came with till late in the night and did not see him, him to Ore. I was shocked when I saw we went to report at police stations. The him because I never police made radio thought I would see announcement to all him anymore. When the stations in the I asked him where state. We searched he had been, he said everywhere we he was in church thought we could Thompson left home some forces find him without five years ago when our when compelled him to success. We could walk out of the not go to work or do mum died. Our mum church and go to the anything meaningful had him for another express. From the anymore because we church, he said he spent all our time man different from took a motorcycle to searching for him. mine. The father the express. From “In our desperate married another woman Ore expressway, he bid to find him, we said he took a bus to visited many apart from the mother.

Lagos and that was herbalists and After our mother died, it.” spiritual homes Mrs. Esther within and outside the father took him to Clement, mother to Ondo State and paid the second wife who one of the ex-street heavily for the kids, also had a consultations. I paid maltreated him.

It was similar experience. over N300,000 to the the humiliation that he She narrated that she various herbalists lost her job in the and spiritualists we got from the stepprocess of searching consulted. Even mother that made him for her son who when we did not incidentally is the have food to eat, we to run away.

We first child. She said borrowed money to searched everywhere she lost all the pay herbalists to help money paid to her us find the but could not find him. by her organisation whereabouts of our We were lucky that he to herbalists. son. Most of the She said: “Ezekiel herbalists told me was picked from the left our house at that my son was street of Lagos and Ijoko area of Sango a dead. One even told year ago. I was me that the pastor of rehabilitated by this surprised by his the church used him organisation sudden for rituals to attract disappearance from more people to his the house because church. When the herbalist gave me the

T

•Adeyemi

Spiritualists swindled children were dead

,

,

•Mr Ogunlade and son, Yusuf he had been a good boy all along. His father and I divorced a few years ago.

The father was working but later lost his job along the line. After losing his job, he was not doing anything anymore. I later took my children and went to live with my mother. Ezekiel left home after my mother could not take him along to church because of financial challenges.

When we did not see him for some hours, his friends told us that he went fishing. We waited with the hope that he would come back later but he did not.

We combed everywhere for him, but could not find him. Later, I was told that he was at a police station over a minor offence. Before I got to the police station, he had disappeared. I was sacked from my place of work because I was always taking permission to go and look for him.

I gave all the money I was paid to herbalists. They told me that my son was dead but I refused to believe them. I resorted to fasting and praying for my son to come back to me alive. Fortunately for me, he was brought home by workers

21

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

inspection of primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Governor Kwakwanso’s administration also foots examination fees for every child sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) School leaving examinations. So far, the incumbent administration has allocated over N35 billion to primary and secondary education alone in the state. The initiative is geared towards furnishing the pupils with opportunity to enjoy quality education and at the same time shield them from becoming easy targets for criminal masterminds seeking to use them as canon-fodder for fomenting armed violence.

However, the state government has a more comprehensive policy in the pipeline for the street kids. The State Commissioner for Information, Prof. Faruk Jibrin, said a report has been submitted to Governor Kwankwaso. He said the state would implement it by rehabilitating the Almajiris.

•Meal time for old Almajiri: With the AEP initiative, Almajiri kids are expected to enjoy better living conditions

•This youngster was hit by stray bullet during sectarian violence in Northern Nigeria

•These kids lost their father, late Mallam Goni Tijani, during an outbreak of violence in Budum, Maiduguri, Borno State

‘

I ran into a bush and jumped into a dry well...I didn’t leave the well until the following morning... In the well, I defecated in my pants and at some point, I got too scared that the stench of my faeces would lead them to me. By the time I got to the field the following morning, the sand on our pitch had congealed with blood...

and even the youngest children can be affected when they witness an attack on a mother or a sister.

One important aspect of relief that particularly affects women and children is the distribution of resources such as food, water, firewood and plastic sheeting. Control of these resources represents power. Men are usually in charge of distribution and often abuse their power by demanding bribes or sexual favours.

This puts adolescent girls and women at risk, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR alleged that the first days and weeks of a mass displacement of people usually result in high mortality rates for children. Among displaced children, measles, malaria and malnutrition account for 60 to 80 per cent of reported deaths.

Factors contributing to high mortality include overcrowding and lack of food and clean water, along with poor sanitation and lack of shelter. Pregnant and lactating women require particular attention, as do displaced children living with disabilities. Children coming from armed conflict are likely to have injuries that require special medical attention.

In these circumstances, only a multi-sector approach to health and nutrition can protect young children. Camp environments are often highly militarised. In some instances, children have been taken, either forcibly or fraudulently, from camps to a third country for “political education” or military training.

Child health under attack Thousands of children die each year as a result of armed violence – from knives, bullets, bombs and landmines. But many more die from the indirect consequences of warfare as a result of

’

the disruption in food supplies, for example and the destruction of health services, water systems and sanitation. In poor regions where children are already vulnerable to malnutrition and disease, the onset of armed conflict can increase death rates – with those under five years at particular risk.

But beyond the physical dangers, children may also suffer lasting psychological damage as a result of the loss of their families. Children and adolescents also have very different capacities, and the lines between them are often blurred. In a child’s early years, the focus is on survival, with special attention needed in health, nutrition and protection. Research shows, however, that cognitive development is equally important.

The ways in which children respond to the stress of armed conflict also depend on their particular circumstances. These in turn are affected by such factors as age, sex, personality type, personal and family history, and cultural background.

Moreover, armed conflict often pushes children into roles beyond their capacity. It can also prolong certain transitions for young people.

Because children are agents of their own protection, and appropriate coping mechanisms require specific cognitive competencies, a key priority is supporting children’s cognitive development through various life stages.

The different ways in which armed conflict may have already shaped children’s lives can expose them to additional risks. Children can be especially vulnerable if they are living with a disability, with HIV or on the street, or if they lack access to school or health care.

Similarly, separation from family, the experience of gender-based violence, internal displacement or refugee status, and current or former association with the armed forces or

other armed groups can heighten the risk of further violations. A child’s reaction depends on the accumulation of risks, and also on her or his coping skills, available sources of support and other resources.

Children are also affected by other distressing experiences. Armed conflict splinters communities and breaks down trust among people – undermining the very foundation of children’s lives. Different children will respond in different ways to such distressing experiences.

Most will recover fairly quickly but a few may suffer permanent damage.

The Almajiri factor The northern almajiris have also been found to be easily instigated and used as perpetrators of armed violence in the region. One young man sent by his family from neighbouring Niger told the American Cable News Network (CNN) then how the schools used him and other children as foot soldiers in religious clashes.

Fearing for his life, he spoke on condition of anonymity, telling how he lost his arm in the 2000 in religious violence that killed about 1,000 people in the northern city of Kaduna.

Tsangaya schools or almajirici as they are popularly known in the North, consequently were identified as breeding grounds for political thugs. Investigations revealed that the almajiris are exposed to city life with all the attendant corruption that comes with it at very impressionable ages. Left with no parental control or adequate social guidance, they turn vagabond with very real likelihood of drifting into a life of crime. Unfortunately, they are not equipped to cope with the pressures of city life.

They hardly wish to be where they belong and they never fit in the city where they find themselves.

The Kano initiative Asides the Federal Government-sponsored Almajiri Education Programme (AEP), which seeks to accord northern almajiri kids opportunities at a well-rounded education process, Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State has done a lot to improve the lot of the kids.

Currently, Kano runs four Almajiri schools and the schools among other benefits seek to eradicate illiteracy and begging along the state’s major roads. The state government is playing a major role in the almajiri school system by providing the teachers and maintaining the schools and the good thing about the scheme, according to most residents, is that the schools have practically thrown their doors open to almajiris from neighbouring states.

And as part of its bid to improve the lot of its youths, the state government has provided vehicles for all the institutions in Kano for the

A call to action Gladys Mobolade, coordinator of the Child Hope Nigeria Network (CHNN), suggested that an emergency assistance in periods of armed conflicts should always seek to specifically address the health needs of children. Emergency health teams should always include pediatric care and ensure access to reproductive healthcare for adolescents. She emphasized the building of community resources – helping close family members as well as school teachers and other community workers to provide children with the long term support they need.

However, in the long run, UNICEF suggested that local and international NGOs, the government and affected communities must pool concerted effort to prevent the outbreak of armed violence by addressing the socio-economic roots of conflicts and guarding against the shipment of arms and ammunition into the conflict zones.

In the short run, Farayoola said that conscious efforts must be made to protect child victims of armed violence. According to him, the most effective and sustainable approach is to mobilise the existing social care system. “This may, for example, involve mobilising a refugee community to support suitable foster families for unaccompanied children. Through training and raising the awareness of central care-givers including parents, teachers and community and health workers, a diversity of programmes can enhance the community’s ability to provide care for its children and vulnerable groups.

“Some organisations, for example, put a great deal of emphasis on trauma therapy in residential treatment centres. Exploring a child’s previous experience with violence and the meaning that it holds in her or his life is important to the process of healing and recovery. However, such an exploration should take place in a stable, supportive environment, by care-givers who have solid and continuing relationships with the child.

In-depth clinical interviews intended to awaken the memories and feelings associated with a child’s worst moments risk leaving the child in more severe pain and agitation than before,” said Farayoola.

The most urgent wish made by the affected youth, however, is to be free to grow into adulthood safe from violence of any kind.

Many of them would love to grow in communities that guarantee their right to attend school, to play and compete with each other, and learn the skills necessary for future jobs. The role of the community is paramount. In their recommendations, children and young people emphasize the importance of looking for solutions through dialogue with parents and local elders.

Families and communities are seen as best equipped to respond to children’s educational, health and psychosocial needs, and to foster peace and tolerance.

Most of the recommendations recognise that the state bears principal responsibility for protecting and caring for children, especially those who are abused and exploited. But youth led organisations also pressed their case for change in their communities, noting the obligation of governments to help foster changes through better implementation and monitoring of policies already in place. Young people ask for stronger legislation and better enforcement of the rule of law, especially in rural areas. They see clear links between security and peace building, peace education, and constructive dialogue between youth and authorities. In their responses, they emphasize preventive measures that foster peace and tolerance within their communities. They couldn’t possibly be asking for too much. Could they?

SOCIETY

22

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

At the induction of ex-CBN Governor Joseph Sanusi as Rotary President

I

T started as a house fellowship as two Rotarians, Rotarian Kola Ramos and the As sistant Governor of Zone 1 of District 9110 led his club members to visit few friends and associates working and/or living in Victoria Garden City since 1997.

Fifteen years down the line, the club has now outgrown its little beginning and contributed greatly to the development of its host community.

Last Sunday, dignitaries, club members, their families and associates converged on the Le Real Hotel, VGC, to witness the change in leadership.

The hall was filled to capacity with guests from different walks of life and in their various attires.

The event also offered some networking opportunities for guests.

The club’s anthem was recited to flag off the event. It was followed by a call to order of the outgoing President, Rotarian Babatunde Sowobi.

The Rotary Grace was recited, followed by the Object of Rotary and the 4-way Test.

The incoming President, Joseph Oladele Sanusi, was full of smiles. He was decked in buba and agbada, even as his wife, Chief (Mrs) Abigail, added glamour to the event. Both looked like a newly married couple.

Gbenga KUTELU The father of the day, Chairman of Honeywell Group,Airtel Nigeria and Fan Milk of Nigeria Plc, Dr. Oba Otudeko, was also in attendance. The event was compered by the duo of Rotarian Adegoke and Rotarian Ogunmeka.

The outgoing President, Rotarian Sowobi, gave detailed account of his stewardship during the one year of his leadership and was thankful to all for their support and commitment.

He described his successor as a well-principled man who pays attention to details, and exemplary leader with outstanding virtues.

The outgoing President decorated the new president, under the watchful eyes of Chief Segun Osunkeye.

Dignitaries at the occasion included: Professor Wale Omole, H.R.H, Oba Dokun Thompson, Admr. Peter Adeniyi (RTD), Senator Martins Kuye, Bisi Onasanya, Dr. and Mrs. Kingsley Moghalu, Mr Sunday Ehindero.

•Babatunde Sowobi decorating the new District President, Chief Oladele Sanusi, wife, Chief (Mrs) Abigail, and Chief Segun Osunkeye

•Prof. Wale Omole and wife, Sade

•Mr Sunday Ehindero, Chief Ganiyu Ogunleye and Chief Olusegun Osoba

•Dr Oba Otudeko

•Chris Mammah, former Senior Special Assistant to ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (right) and Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma showing off their awards recently presented to them at the University of Calabar

•Senator Martins Kuye ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

WHAT & WHERE

•Chief Gbenga Obasa

•Chris Folarin and Dr. (Mrs) Ehida Williams

PHOTOS: GBENGA KUTELU

•From left: Vice Chairman Bariga LCDA, Hon. Kolade Alabi; Supervisory Councillor for Works, Somolu Local Government, Hon. Olisa Adefalujo; an elder statesman, Chief Tayo Soyode and the celebrant, Senator Anthony Adefuye at Senator Adefuye’s 68th birthday concert by the Somolu ANTP chapter at Somolu LG Hall, Somolu

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 07029013958

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

23

o k o s o K e d i J l l e h s b m o b drops

There is nothing like Nollywood

SEE PAGES 28-37

24

STAND BY! h

Wit

VICTOR AKANDE

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 07029013958 (SMS only)

nt part of An importa s of any the succes is its civilisation late the mu ability to e t led to the a th factors ther success of o Eric .— s civilisation rt Reine

Re: The NCC, MCSN, COSON triangle

D

EAR Victor, I found your article, 'the NCC, MCSN, COSON Triangle' published in The Nation in two parts on Saturday, September 29 and October 6, 2012 very interesting. I am a sucker for unique literary styles and the style of the article was such that I could not but say, 'fantastic!' There was quite a bit to make one laugh but that could not have been your intention. Yes, the article was quite hilarious but at the end it was also informative.

For instance, the conversation behind the article revealed the extent to which key facts in the development of collective management of copyright in Nigeria remain unfamiliar to important people who the public may consider knowledgeable in the area and probably would depend on for information. That tells me clearly that despite writing a major book on the subject and hosting numerous copyright forums, there is still a lot of work for people like me to do to continuously inform and educate people on the subject of collective management which I must confess can be rather confusing, even to brilliant people.

The conversation was also revealing as to how emotive we all can be when the issues concern people who are our friends or family. It also shows how creative we become in finding justification for that which if it had to do with other people, we would have whole heartedly condemned.

The other observation I need to make is how propaganda repeated over and over starts looking like facts even in the eyes of the architect of the propaganda. Nowhere has this become more real than in the 'shouting match' over CMOs where the positions taken by most people are not based on the facts or the law but on which side 'my friend' belongs to.

Considering that my name was mentioned at least ten times in the article and my photographs used to illustrate the write up on the internet, I believe that I have earned the right to comment on the article and The Nation has an obligation to publish my comments.

I believe that a critical error in the discourse on collective management in Nigeria is the assumption that a CMO is a private business enterprise and 'Okoroji and Ayilaran ought to be allowed to own their own'. That is why the word 'monopoly' is everywhere in your article. Those who have called for 'liberalization' may believe that only COSON and MCSN will exist as a result. They are wrong. The truth is that you cannot then stop any group of 419ers from calling themselves a CMO or stop them from collecting money from home and abroad and pocketing the money. Imagine the chaos that will result from ten CMOs unleashed on users of music in Nigeria.

I wish to repeat that a CMO is not a business organization. Under Nigerian law, it must be a company limited by guarantee and forbidden from making profit. A CMO is a closely regulated facilitator that stands in trust between the owners of the works and users and ensures that the rights and duties of each are respected. A CMO only makes deductions approved by the regulators for its administration. While I am an elected Chairman of COSON and I defend the rights of every member of COSON with all the vigour I can muster, I am not the owner of COSON. COSON is not my private business.

During my tenure, COSON is growing and acquiring assets but none of these assets belongs to me or any member of the COSON board and none of us will leave office with even a stapler belonging to COSON. COSON is not

...the conversation behind the article revealed the extent to which key facts in the development of collective management of copyright in Nigeria remain unfamiliar to important people who the public may consider knowledgeable in the area and probably would depend on for information like MTN, Airtel, Glo or Etisalat which are business concerns. COSON in a way is a non-profit public trust similar to NBA, NMA, NUJ or PMAN, all of which are de facto monopolies. I was at the headquarters of PRS for Music of the UK a few months back. This organization from which most of the English speaking world draws inspiration in collective management, is a de facto monopoly with respect to the licensing of performing and mechanical rights in music in the UK. Another falsehood being simulated is that COSON is interested in a monopoly while the unapproved MCSN wants liberalization. Does anyone really think that if MCSN had been approved instead of COSON, its leaders would have encouraged another CMO to operate in the same field? During the period that I was president of PMAN, the same MCSN did everything to discourage the emergence of another CMO being promoted by PMAN arguing vigorously that the existence of more than one CMO in the field will create chaos in the industry.

I want to state emphatically that there is no attempt to exclude any right owner from the collective management system in Nigeria and a sole CMO does not exclude anyone. What we have set out to do is to sing with one voice and end the divide and rule game which the powerful users of music have deployed for many years to pauperize musicians and the music industry in our country. Every reasonable person in our industry has long understood that with collective management, together we stand, divided we fall. I was involved in the many years of efforts to bring unity to the collective management system in the Nigerian music industry. There is no compromise that was not presented to the leaders of MCSN for the industry to work together but they refused.

Eventually, every other group in the industry decided to come together under COSON and the leaders of MCSN chose to take the risk of applying for approval alone. They fully knew what the law says and that there would be huge consequences if they failed to obtain approval. They failed!

Now I read the convoluted arguments that the law should be jettisoned and that MCSN should be allowed to operate even without approval!

Even when MCSN failed to get approval, COSON opened its doors to MCSN members and their staff to join COSON and work with us for the good of the industry. The Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed BelloAdoke, repeatedly appealed to the leaders of MCSN to integrate themselves into COSON. Many former MCSN members joined COSON. No member of MCSN who applied to join COSON was rejected. There has been no discrimination against any member of MCSN in COSON, some of whom have been elected to the COSON Board. In COSON, we are working as one family and today COSON is

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

THINK

distributing millions of naira to right holders, millions which would have been lost to the industry and this is being done transparently. The big and previously untouchable users of music are being taken on in a way we could never do. The collective management system is finally working in Nigeria yet we are being told that we should go back to the chaos of the MCSN/PMRS era so as to appease one man who has never composed a song and his friends.

Repeatedly mentioned in the conversation behind your article is the judgment of Hon Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court Lagos in favour of MCSN. I have my views on the reasoning behind that judgment but a judgment of a court is a judgment whether we like it or not. A great example of the selective amnesia displayed by those who spoke in your article is that no one mentioned the well-known judgment by a full panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos in MCSN v.

CDT which in any other clime should have brought the activities of MCSN to an immediate halt. No matter how you spin it, every person who went to school knows that a Court of Appeal judgment takes precedence over a high court judgment. MCSN knows the devastating effect of the Court of Appeal judgment which was why they rushed to appeal the judgment at the Supreme Court where the appeal was thrown out.

In Nigeria, no one can operate a GSM company without the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission. Woe betide you if you try to run a bank in Nigeria without a CBN licence. You cannot even sell pure water in Nigeria without the approval of NAFDAC and it is not for us to choose which law to obey and which to disobey. The leaders of MCSN are trying to start a 'human-rights' media hype to confuse everyone, deflect the real issues and mask their rabid lawlessness. This is a strategy they have used effectively for many years but it won't work this time. They are trying to use bold face, pretend to be the victims when indeed they have for long victimized everyone. They want to hide under the law to protect themselves from their lawlessness but he who comes to equity must first wash his hands clean.

Afam Ezekude, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, does not make laws in Nigeria. His job is to enforce the law as it is in the books without fear or favour. The law is clear that it is a crime to operate a CMO without the approval of the NCC. The leaders of MCSN know this well but have continued to operate an unapproved CMO. Under five different DGs of the NCC, MCSN has requested for approval. Each time the request has been refused and MCSN has continued to operate despite its non-approval.

The Attorney General of the Federation has intervened and asked the MCSN leadership to respect the law and they ignored him. The Court of Appeal clearly told them that they cannot continue with what they are doing and they ignored the court. They went to the Supreme Court and their matter was thrown out yet they want to be above the law, impose themselves on the Nigerian nation and use an unapproved and unregulated body to feast on innocent music users and innocent musicians. Those who truly care about the MCSN people must find the courage to tell them that they cannot deploy propaganda to wriggle and dodge the consequences of their actions forever. NCC must uphold the law because Nigeria is not a banana republic. It is about time.

—Tony Okoroji is Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON)

WRITE TO US! Do you watch Nollywood movies? What do you think of the Nigerian motion picture industry? Send your review of any movie or short essay on any topic of your choice about the film industry in not more than 200 words. Send entries by e-mail to: victor_akande@yahoo.com or SMS your short comments to 07029013958

SNAPSHOTS

Brand new jeep for Mercy Aigbe

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HESE are certainly good times for Mercy Anuoluwapo Aigbe who meteorically shot herself to limelight with sterling cameo performances after barely spending two years in the movie industry.

The mother of two and multiple award winner who never doubted her capabilities when she plunged headlong in the

world of make-believe is now a proud owner of a black Infinity FX50 jeep.

Sources revealed that the car was bought by her husband after she returned for her trip to London. The actress is also said to be really fascinated by the automobile which has a customized plate number with the inscription: “MERCII”.

Joke Silva gets UN appointment

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ETERAN Nollywood actress, Joke Silva was recently named the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

(UNODC) as its `Goodwill Ambassadors', in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Angela Atangana, introduced Joke Silva during the launch of “I am priceless”, a campaign against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

The campaign is aimed at promoting better management of migration in Nigeria, by combating and reducing irregular migration that occurs, interalia, through trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The campaign is sponsored by the EU in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) and the Nigerian Immigration Service.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

RE ELNEW S

A

rd

UDITIONS for the 3 season of Nigerian Idol reality TV show kicksoff this weekend in the Federal Capital, Abuja. The auditions which will take place at the Rockview Royal Hotel on Saturday 13 October starts by 7am.

“We are excited to hit the road for season 3, says Tiwa Medubi, Project Manager, Nigerian Idol. “This is the first part of the most exciting journey for me. Seeing the hopefuls come out in their thousands and fighting for the outstanding prizes".

Nothing good comes easy and young Nigerians have to imbibe the culture of fighting hard for what they want. We are looking forward to experience the talents from this buzzing city. Every year, Abuja has brought its game on and provided outstanding talents on the show. Though the city is yet to produce a winner, its talents have been strong contenders.”

In its tradition from last year, lead sponsors of Nigerian Idol; Etisalat would be sponsoring a concert with

Nigerian Idol auditions hit Abuja leading acts at every audition city to excite and entertain the contestants.

•From left Wale Adenuga Jnr, . Tunde Kelani (TK) , Deji Adesanya, Jamiu Shoyode and Victor Akande

PEFTI premieres students’ projects

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Asurf Films grabs Google deal

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HE world of a movie Director is seen as an unrewarding one but for Amuwaoluseyi Asurf, the passion keeps it going. Fresh from a diploma course at London Film Academy, the

•Asurf

Video Director says that he is undeterred with the challenges that come with the profession.

To his credit, he has been involved in several productions, both home and abroad among which is Directors Diary, currently running on Soundcity. Simply known as Asurf, he revealed that his outfit was recently charged with the responsibility of producing a documentary for Google+, details of which he said will be released later.

“I am excited at the prospects the deal brings. I have done a couple of works both in Nigeria and abroad. I run a company called Asurf Films. We have done over 30 short films and presently, we are working on our first feature films. We will be starting production early next year. At the moment, we are talking with partners both in Nigeria and UK. Our partners, Phoenix Media are based in the UK,” the young director said.

Culture Ministry endorses NCUK

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S the count down to the Nigerian Carnival, UK (NCUK) gets underway, organisers have said that the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation has thrown its weight behind the event with an endorsement.

Describing it as a landmark achievement, Kashif Jones, founder of the carnival said that the involvement of the Federal Government of Nigeria facilitates a whole new dimension to the carnival this year and the future events as it is expect to see the best yet convivial cultural showcase come October 20th 2012.

“In the same measure, we are proud to announce that Ambassador John Fashanu is one of our brand ambassadors.

He will lead the delegation to this year's event. A host of other eminent Nigerians from Nollywood superstars to our

music icons will be at the event to make it resplendent and reminiscence of our boisterous heritage. This year's carnival will be held at Kennington Park, South East, London SE11 4BE on Saturday October 20th 2012 from 10am until 6pm,” he said.

NCUK, he further stated, was born out of the need to bring Nigerians and friends of Nigeria together under an atmosphere of hospitality, where they can showcase the vast cultural heritage of our dearly beloved country. “The vision is to project the entity of our diverse cultural antecedents before the world and to celebrate the Nigerian Spirit internationally. We hope to showcase the culture and commercial vibrancy of the country in a bid to further launch her into international mainstream and defeat negative stereotypes,” Kashif added.

PPROVED by the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the annual PEFTI Film Institute National Innovation Diploma (NID) Programme, recently held a premiere for its final year students' projects.

The event which took place at the PEFTI Film Institute campus situated at Ajao Estate, Lagos, recognized the presence of prominent practitioners in the media industry, including Tunde Kelani (TK) of Mainframe Productions; Lanre Olupuna,

Director iRep International and Victor Akande of The Nation Newspaper. The Managing Director of Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP); Mr. Wale Adenuga Jnr., was also present.

They also served as the panel that previewed the works done by the final year students, to ensure that the skills acquired during the course of their study, are well utilized and will also play a major role in the growing media industry.

Some of the students' projects were screened and the invited guests were very impressed with

the outstanding performances cum ideas of the students. They were praised for their unique performances and also encouraged to work harder.

Elated at the piece presented by the young film makers, Kelani told them how fortunate it was for them to have acquired such a formal education in film-making.

Managing Director of WAP, Mr. Wale Adenuga Jnr., encouraged the graduating students and advised them to package their work for local and international film festivals and get ready, for the industry awaits them.

20 budding acts for Next Movie Star

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ECENTLY, hundreds of aspiring talents thronged the final auditions of the 2012 Next Movie Star reality show, held at the exclusive Troy Bar and Lounge in Ogba, Lagos. Following the struggle for space in the competition, the judges, comprising thespians and arts buffs like Jude Orhorha, Bukky Ogunnote-Ogunade, Doris Simeon, Raphael Stevens and Omoba Jerry Adesemowo settled for 20 of these wannabe actors.

The lucky 20 include Okeke Chimezie Ivan, Okeowo Oluwatosin Speens, Alaha Gift Iyua, Aitsegame Halimat Sadiya, Josephine Micheal Ukpong, King Ojikemba, Samuel Babatunde Jameson, Ifovboa Ehijemen Jude, Oruambo Chrystabel, Esigbone Ejiro Kingsley, Obi Lilyjean,Tonia Ese Oria-Arebun, Ajuyah Sarah Onome, Million Santong, Alabi Folake, Mina

Horsefall, Musa Olajoju, Chigbufue Bright, Perpetual Andy and Nnachortam Patrick.

Chosen from audition centres in Port Harcourt, Benin and Abuja, the talents have qualified as prospective housemates for the show. However, four of them will be evicted from the training and grooming session which will last a week.

The training and grooming session, according to the Executive Producer, Sola Fajobi, “is one of the unique selling points of the Next Movie Star because this is where we prepare these aspiring actors for a future that can be bigger than their wildest imagination; a future that can see them become the biggest brand in the industry.”

Judge in the hunt, Doris Simeon said that she was stunned and surprised at the quality of talents on display. “I used to think that they (the producers) just handpick those who would appear on the show;

•Akio Precious

I never knew that it is such a labourious and long process. I think that is why some of their products go on to excel in their endeavours.”

Ben 10 returns with Omniverse

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ITH a global launch, Ben Tennyson, the kids' hero, returns to DStv's Cartoon Network in an all-new series, Ben 10 Omniverse.

For the first time in its history, Cartoon Network territories will premiere a series closely together with a coordinated global. With 10 new alien transformations at his disposal and a brand new lease on life, Ben 10 is back and more fun than ever.

In the new animated series, Ben 10 Omniverse, Ben has a new character design that pays

homage to his past, as well as a whole new batch of aliens to battle. With a little help from his new, by-the-book partner, Rook, Ben explores the quirkier side of things in the alien underground and discovers enemies from his past looking for a rematch; all while a mysterious hunter is hot on his trail.

Ben 10 Omniverse is the latest original series from Cartoon Network Studios, with Matt Youngberg (Transformers: Animated) as the supervising producer.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

I want to enjoy my marriage before having kids —Gospel act, e Nikki Laoy

Come December, newly married gospel act, Nikki Laoye, will be hosting a new talent hunt show. The petite singer speaks with DUPE AYINLAOLASUKANMI on her foundation, marriage and other issues in this interview.

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HAT is Nikki Laoye up to?

Presently, I am working on my new project, my foundation called Nikki Laoye Angel for Life Foundation. I am working with the Nigeria Lagos State Association for the Blind. We are actually organizing the Lagos State edition of the International White Cane for the blind. It is a special day that is celebrated all over the world, to celebrate the achievement and independence of blind people. On that day, we will be having a walk to raise awareness on the existence of blind and impaired people in our society.

At the same time, we will be raising funds to buy white canes for free distribution to the blind. That is what I am working on now with support from Sammie Okposo Hope Initiative, Wahala Media Entertainment, Mission Control Nigeria and Cairo Aika. It has been amazing because we have been getting a lot of responses. We are doing it to encourage the blind in our society.

What inspired this project?

I worked with Cohbams on my very first single and he is very close to me.

Right now, we are like brother and sister.

While we were working together, I had the opportunity to study how he is able to survive on his own despite the fact that he is visually impaired. He was able to make use of his situation and right now, he is the one of the most sought after producer in Nigeria. He learnt everything himself right from his childhood. He has been able to stand against all odds. With time, I got to meet with a young man called Adeola who I took under my wings three years ago.

He is actually an additional part of my family and he is now my fourth brother.

Adeola is very independent and just being around him and watching the way he stands above his blindness motivates me. He schools at the University of Ibadan, lives on the mainland and works at Victoria Island. When he came up to me as the Youth Coordinator of an Association and said he wanted me to help them, I said I would do anything for him because he is my brother. I have always loved to help people who don't have the opportunity that those like Cohbams had. Cohbams had he very

good family who always backed him up.

Apart from the blind, I also help the physically challenged as well, especially the gifted ones.. I am trying to help and empower them as well.

When is it expected to kick off? th On the 15 of October, we will be walking from Shoprite down to Ajose Adeogun. The walk ends at Kings College where everyone will gather for a little reception. We are also trying to bring in a motivational speaker, Mark Pollock, known all over the world.

He is the first blind man to walk to the South Pole. We hope to bring him to Nigeria to speak to these people so that they can know that despite their challenges, they can stand and be what God has destined them to be. Right now, we are doing a promo tagged Buy Me a Cane. We will be making posters and TShirts to get people involved in the project. Buy Me a Cane promo is just a way to get people to donate as many canes as possible for distribution.

On the music scene, what have you been up to?

I just released two singles recently No Be Beans, featuring a young Yoruba rapper called Base, and a lovely dance track entitled 123 just praising God in this latest Azonto style. I am just working on my music, hoping to improve by the day, running my foundation by the side and being married too.

Talking about marriage, how do you balance it with your career?

I won't lie to you; there has been a lot of sacrifice from my husband. He has

home and we are not in a hurry to do some certain things or start having children. It is not because we do not want to, but we want to build a proper foundation of our marriage. A family can start coming later. That is the problem a lot of marriages face.

They do not take time to be with themselves but start having children immediately. Coming together, you have to build a foundation for yourselves before having children and that is what we are trying to do at the moment.

What other things do you do, apart from music?

Well my foundation is number one.

When I say my foundation, I am constantly with the people I empower because they have become my brothers and sisters. I hang out with them a lot. I take them out, I sit with them at the Modupe Cole home, I am always there. I am always busy helping people, because I just love to help in whatever little way I can.

Has you stature ever been a challenge to you?

I would say my stature has been a major standing point for me because when people see me physically, they say that I look so small on ground but on screen I look big. At some point, I was nicknamed the little girl with a big voice.

When I sing, people ask if it is coming from this little body. The way I am, I am cute and petite but I have a lot inside me.

What is the secret behind your beauty? had to sacrifice a lot for me because most I smile a lot. I come from a home of the time, I am out of town. We have to where we love to laugh a lot. We have a shuttle between Abuja and Lagos very high sense of humour. I have not because we live in both towns. found any like my family. Even when I am just happy to have married a we are watching a movie, we notice little wonderful man who has allowed me to little stupid things that other people fly. At the same time, I try my best to would not have taken make sure that my notice and make fun of it. marriage does not suffer. It Being happy makes me My stature has is all about wisdom, look younger and a lot of planning my time and been a major people don't actually schedule. I won't lie, God know that I am older than standing point has been my help, because it has been a lot of work. for me because I look.

Do you mind sharing Don't you feel that your when people see you age then? busy schedule might (Laughs) I am in my me physically, break-up your marriage?

(Laughs) God forbid o. The they say that I thirties.

What has being the most important thing is my look so small on host of Stars4Christ husband and I constantly keep in touch. You know ground but on talent hunt been like?

I was very happy when these GSM network and screen I look big. I was called to be the host their different packages have been helpful. We talk At some point, I of the show because it is a that serves as a for hours nonstop was nicknamed show platform for gospel everyday just to keep in music. As we know, in touch. That way, even the little girl gospel music has when we are not with each with a big voice Nigeria, been relegated to the back other, we are constantly a lot and this is the music talking and trying to see that the people need. It is each other as much as the music that people listen to when they possible. It is either he travels down here are going through a lot in life. They do or I travel down there to see him. There not listen to all the Jupa Jupa all over the is no breech of communication. place. They want to listen to the music How soon do you hope to start that will lift up their soul. It is a good raising a family? project as long as it is done properly. As Definitely I will need as much help as an artiste, I stand for excellence and I possible when I start raising my own kids. My husband and I are planning our always look for that in whatever I do.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Mike Okri, others, light up ‘Nite of a Thousand Laughs’

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•Keri Hilson

Face of SOFA 2012 with Keri Hilson postponed

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HE organisers of the Sofa Lounge's Face of Sofa pageant with international artiste Keri Hilson have issued a statement informing the general public that the bespoke event has been rescheduled to Saturday the 17th of November 2012 at the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC).

According to the statement, the event was rescheduled due to a conflict in scheduling. The organisers went further to apologize for any confusion or conflict that the change may impact on the schedule of invited guests.

Meanwhile, aspiring contestants have been informed that registration closes on th Wednesday 10 October, 2012.

N a night where the present met the past generation of entertainers, Opa Williams' Nite of a Thousand Laffs Xtra was held at the Muson Centre on Monday, October1.

Sponsored by telecommunications outfit, MTN, Loya Milk with support from Baachus Lite and Qatar Air among many others, the show saw fast rising hip hop singer Leo'nel, son of thespian, Zach Orji and legendary Mike Okri both giving the crowd a taste of both worlds in an explosive event.

The second show which kicked off at about 7pm, almost an hour after its advertised 6pm saw young comedy acts Pencil and Ajebo came on in quick succession. It was time for Leo'nel to climb the first big stage of his young career and he did not disappoint.

Leo'nel who just finished playing the Cokobar concert in Manchester, United Kingdom, on September 28 made the audience to rock as he sang his hit single Rockstar. However, as if to counter Leo'nel's moves and prove to the younger generation that he still has a lot to offer the Nigerian music scene, veteran musician, Mike Okri, took the event from where Leo'nel stopped and brought it to an electrifying climax.

The comedian, Funny Bone, who just returned from a tour of America held the crowd hostage for about 20 minutes. Also on the bill were Bovi, popularly called Akpos who doubled as compere, four foreign acts, Eric Omondi from Kenya, Salvador and Coltida, the onlufemal act, both from Uganda and one of Nigeria's comedy legends Okey Bakassi. Songstress Omawumi rounded up a beautiful night.

Upstream venue for St. Remy Gbedu Slam Jam

I-Crown returns with a bang

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•Mike Okri

Erriga set to stake claim

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ET to serenade the air come Friday, October 19 is the October edition of French Brandy, St.Remy's monthly gig tagged St. Remy Gbedu Slam Jam. Billed to take place at Upstream Club, Ajah, Lagos, organisers say that the event promises a lot of fanfare.

This month, according to the producers of the spirit, guests will have the opportunity to party with Tillaman, Phenom, Slim T, Orezi, DJ Atte of Naija 102.7 FM and others at Upstream Club, on a night that promises to provide an unforgettable experience of fun and great excitement.

According to St-Rémy Brand and Markets Manager, Antoine Couvreur, it is their desire that fans and loyal consumers see without a doubt that the brand has no intentions of relenting or drawing back in its resolve to keep providing entertainment

EEING music lads becoming superstars in a twinkle of an eye is a common phenomenon in the entertainment world. Just like Siamese twins, music and riches work side-byside. But in this reign lies some hidden facts.

This and more was revealed by Israel Ogundele better known as ICrown in his much-anticipated album -Music and Riches. The album is expected to hit the music shelves soon.

Preceding the album launch are two promotional songs off it entitled Serenade and Bugatti Money: fantastic songs good for listening pleasure. The songs which have now become a club banger are well-penned and laced on good funky beats.

Having hailed from a royal lineage, it is expected that I Crown should be exposed to good music.

But besides, the Kwara State born musician seems to be extremely talented from birth.

In 2010, his quest to take his music globally saw him leaving the shores of the country for South Africa. And since then, he has continued to work hard to be among the top music acts making the country proud in Diaspora.

•Erriga

I •Orezi for everyone on a monthly basis. He added that it could only get better each passing month as things progress.

Last month's party took place at Club Amnezia, Surulere, Lagos on Friday 21 September, 2012 with a lineup of top acts aided by a fine blend of some of Nigeria's rising stars. The St-Rémy Gbedu Slam Jam monthly party is supported by Trace Urban and Naija FM 102.7.

Seun Kuti to rock at Terra Kulture

N a bid to continually keep the fire of Afrobeat music genre burning, Seun and Fela's Egypt 80 Band will be performing live on stage at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island for a concert tagged “ Felabration Awareness Concert” on Saturday October 13, from 8pm to 12 midnight.

The show promises to be exciting as Seun Kuti will be trilling Afrobeat enthusiasts with heavy vibes amid political commentaries on the state of the nation. The scion of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela will share the stage with other artistes such as Jaiye D' Kaytarist, Jah Device and Black Magic while comedy will be provided by Virgin Boy.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

ntertainment

ntertainment

With over three decades of experience on the movie scene, veteran actor Prince Jide Kosoko must definitely is worth his salt in the sphere of moviemaking. The successful thespian opened up on a range of issues including his docudrama on Climate Change in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

ntertainment

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•Jide Kosoko

completed and it was accepted. I have witnessed so many instances; I have seen a whole building cave in due to the effect of flooding. I have also witnessed a child being swept away by flood and I remember shedding tears at what I had just seen. I feel the campaign to educate people on the effect of climate change should be more aggressive and as a creator of wisdom I thought the only way for me to contribute towards spreading the word about the inherent dangers of climate change is by creating a docudrama on the issue. We intend to picture real images of Climate Change induced disasters and how our future hangs in the balance if simple, efficient and cost effective mitigation and adaptation measures are not urgently embraced by all and sundry.

How long has it been in the

pipeline?

The project has been in the pipeline for over a year and in that time we also thought out the best way to approach such a project. There are some other things that went the process of getting things done like participating in an initial docudrama by the Ministry of environment which was produced by a Nollywood filmmaker. It was after then that I realized that there was a need to do something more professional and on a high scale. That is one of the reasons why I decided to assemble a crack team of actors and other movie professionals that cut across all geographical sectors in Nigeria.

What plans have you put in place to ensure the docudrama is properly marketed and distributed when it is ready?

We have plans in place to effective market, distribute and circulate the movie when it is eventually released. I know the docudrama will also not lack in the area of publicity and other necessary modules which will see to the effective promotions of the movie.

Will you be working with other actors in the industry?

I have the responsibility of choosing the cast for this movie alongside other proven professionals such as Ngozi Nwosu, Segun Arinze, Anthony Akposheri a.k.a Zaki, Rachael Oniga, Tunji Bamishigbin and a host of others who are also working on the project.

Other actors that are part of the project are Kate Henshaw, Chinedu Ikedieze, Ali Nuhu and Nkem Owoh. I want to do it professionally; I would have table casted my preferred personnel if I wanted to but I want to do it professionally and I want contributors because the issue of climate change is not my problem alone but a global one.

The caliber of professionals that are on board are people that can add value to the project; that is why they are involved.

Would you say this is your biggest movie project thus far?

I would say yes to that; it is my biggest movie project thus far not in terms of financial reward but in terms of the challenge that it has presented.

That's because the docudrama must be detailed and it should be explanatory enough. It's about passing on information and educating the people; there is a need for us to strictly adhere to instructions and other safety guidelines like not building houses in heavy flowing drainage and also ensuring that our drainages are not blocked.

What's your take on re-branding the movie industry especially with movie producers not focusing on telling

stories of our rich culture rather than telling stories of cyber scam, ritual killing and prostitution?

There is a need for movie producers to redirect their minds and ensure that they produce films that educate and inform the public. I am using this opportunity to tell movie producers to insert a scene or statement on serious issues that affect mankind.

Nigeria clocked 52 recently and as a veteran actor what do you think should be done to better Nollywood?

Nollywood…? There is nothing like Nollywood.

Okay, I mean the movie industry…

I have always told people to refer to the film industry in Nigeria as the movie or film industry. There is nothing like Nollywood! People fail to understand or agree to the correct history of the movie industry and I will not be a party to that. What they refer to as Nollywood only started in 1992 with the movie titled Living in Bondage.

What about the effort of the pioneers of the movie industry? What about the effort put in by those who started making celluloid films long before what in now being referred to as Nollywood?

Where do you want to place the efforts made by Pa Hubert Ogunde? We can always find a place for the movie Living in Bondage and not deceive ourselves by

referring to that movie as one that gave birth to film productions in Nigeria. The movie Living in Bondage only improved the standards of moviemaking at the time.

My movie entitled Asiri Nla and Bello's film entitled Asewo tori Mecca also improved in the standards of moviemaking in the Yoruba genre.

What exactly should be done to improve the standards of the industry especially at a time when Nigeria is a year older?

First, I congratulate myself and congratulate Nigerians as Nigeria recently clocked 52 and I must say a lot still needs to be done to improve the standards of the movie industry. There have been internal crisis here and there but as a nation we are not divided. We do not want bloodshed and chaos and there is a need for us to set an example for other African countries. On what should be done to improve the movie industry? I think I said it earlier that our movie producers should concentrate on telling our stories in a manner that glorifies our rich culture and tradition. They should also concentrate on telling stories that enrich lives and most the support of government and corporate bodies because I believe the potentials of the industry is still largely untapped. We

There is nothing like Nollywood! People fail to understand or agree to the correct history of the movie industry and I will not be a party to that. What they refer to as Nollywood only started in 1992 with the movie titled Living in Bondage. What about the effort of the pioneers of the movie industry?

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‘The movie industry is largely untapped’

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OU are currently neck deep in the production of your docudrama 'Battle for Life'; is there any particular reason for venturing into this project?

I am sure you all know that it is a global calamity if I may put it that way and there is also a need for us to address the trend. That is why this docudrama is very close to my heart. I am not doing it for the sake of money but I feel there is a need to contribute my own quota to educate and inform our people through this docudrama.

There is still more danger ahead and with much more information and education about the Climate Change and its disastrous effect more people will be properly equipped more ways than one to limit the negative effect it may have on our environment and our lives. The situation in Lokoja is terrible and it is enough for us all to be prepared for more danger. It has happened in Lagos, in Oyo, In Delta and now in Kogi. So we must all be prepared.

How did you come about the title Battle for Life?

If you look at it critically, the effect of Climate Change is a threat to mans existence and that explains why I settled for that title. I feel we need to address the issues of climate change today otherwise we may fall victim of its dangerous effects tomorrow. What we intend to highlight is not just to dramatize Climate Change as an issue we are also going to take a look at the inherent dangers of climate change.

We intend to for the docudrama to drive home the message of Climate Change while also visually picturing the effect of climate change on our immediate environment in order to create a feeling of empathy in the mind of the viewer. We want people to know that what they've been hearing about really exists.

What really inspired your quest to venture into this project?

The Governor of Lagos state Babatunde Raji Fashola decorated me some years ago as one of the environmental ambassadors and having accepted such role, responsibility and honour; I thought it was pertinent for me to contribute my own quota towards the campaign and advocacy for Climate Change. As far as I am concerned, drama is a veritable tool for us to pass on such a message and that is why I settled for a docudrama entitled 'The Battle for Life'. I approached the UNDP when the script of the docudrama was

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

also need to tackle piracy to an extent; I believe the inability to effectively tackle the scourge of piracy is also down to the situation in the country and those are some of the things we need to tackle for us to have a vibrant industry.

As the outgoing President of the ANTP, what's your take on the usual disunity and rancor that has besieged entertainment bodies such as PMAN, AGN, DGN and other bodies in Nigeria?

Well, all I can say is that there are problems everywhere and it is not only limited to associations or guilds that are run by people in entertainment. Professionals like lawyers do have their misunderstanding too; engineers do experience such problems and so do doctors. But the fact that entertainers are very popular individually and collectively makes our case more pronounced. The press is also our greatest enemies and friends because you people inform people about whatever that is happening from time to time. We may have internal crises here and there but it is all geared towards seeking change.

The same thing happened during my tenure as ANTP President; there is no way you cannot have any form of misunderstanding in such situations because in life you disagree to agree. When I was became the ANTP President, I thought I had all the solution to make the association the best it can be but it wasn't easy and frankly speaking, I have done my best in lifting the association to where it is today and I wish my successor all the best. Entertainers are a pack of ambitious people and that applies to what we have here; so when you see crises here and there, it is not that it is peculiar to entertainers, it is a general phenomenon.

Is it not proper that these entertainment guilds and associations be regulated by an umbrella body?

The Nigerian Film Corporation is about now facilitating the motion picture council and it is a body which I equally serve on the ministerial committee. The industry has gotten to a stage where we need a regulatory body that would sanitize things.

There are no structures and it is only when bodies such as ANTP, DGN, AGN and others are under one umbrella that we can have a united vision.

Being a veteran actor and a very busy one at that, how do you balance work and the family?

I have been balancing that perfectly over the years; there is time for work and there is also time dedicated for my family. I don't mix both because there is always a border line drawn between my job and my family.

What's your take on the waning theatre culture in Nigeria?

There are efforts on my part to present a stage play before the year runs out; it's a stage play titled 'Boiling Battle'. It is based on the history of Lagos in the eighteenth century; it is about the feud between King Akintoye and King Kosoko. It will be staged for the last time before it becomes a movie. There is also a campaign in the pipeline to try and encourage people to support stage performances.

Nigeria’s Got Talent auditions revs-up in Benin and Lagos

A

FTER a session that got judges and audience literary speechless at the level of talent that showed up for the auditions last week in Port Harcourt; it was the turn of the ancient city of Benin and Lagos.

“Benin City has always been iconic, as only a few cities in Nigeria and in the world can boast of its rich cultural heritage that the city is endowed with,” said Nigeria's Got Talent host Andre Blaze.

Opening the show in Benin was a magnificent dance group, Code Red, which got a standing ovation from the audience and the judges. Budding comedian, MC Medical (whose real name is Chibueze Daniel) also dazzled the audience with jokes too.

Then it was the turn of ballroom dancers Aisosa and Joanna, a handsome pair indeed, who performed an exhilarating routine to a resounding triple “yes” from the judges. Joining them in the semi-finals are female drummer, Blessing Christopher, and violinist, Godwin Uzowuru.

Then the Nigeria's Got Talent train moved to Lagos with Joshua Essien, a 25-year-old musician who performed an acoustic version of his original song “Be My Wife”, throwing in the audience into a “love” mode. He was the first of a string of “yes” that were received in Lagos. Also passed to the semifinals was Princess Jennifer, a rapper. It wasn't all amazing, however, as Ofenga Buraimoh, a razoreating stunt man and Iyke Michael; a singer failed to impress the judges and got sent home.

Hosted by Andre Blaze, the judges for the 1st season are radio host Dan Foster, actor Kate Henshaw and entertainment entrepreneur, Yibo Koko, the Airtel-sponsored first season of Nigeria's Got Talent began to air on 16 September and will run until December 2012.

Pomp at the Miss Plus size pageantry

S

CORES of guests and industry heavy weights in the south-south gathered at the Grand hotel, Asaba, last weekend when pretty plus size ladies battled it out for the Miss Plus size beauty pageant crown initiated by Victoria Iheakonye, the CEO of Vichiano Service Limited.

The event kicked-off with over 2000 women applying to take part in the contest, but only 18 made it to the finals in Delta state.

The event had a truly international feel with a few Americans taking part in making the show a success.

The judging committee was headed by Qristyl Frazier, a notable face at the Black Entertainment Television (BET). Also standing in as a judge was one of Nollywood's finest, Aquila Njamah and plus size actress, Ifeoma Okeke. The event kicked off on time at 7pm with Ola of Big brother hosting the show and it was fun all the way with performances from various artistes including Delta State born twin sensation, '2 sec'.

After much deliberation from the judges, Onyeka Nwanne, a final year undergraduate at the Madonna University was declared winner and she walked home with a brand new Toyota saloon car.

The first runner-up and second runner-up won N1m and N500,000 respectively. The three finalists were also made ambassadors of Plus Size Women's Health Foundation. They will be working with projects which include creating awareness for Fibroid and fertility related problems.

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

NATIONS CUP FINAL ROUND QUALIFIERS Lone star won't go scot-free —Enyeama

•Enyeama

Nigeria set to clinch ticket

•Ideye

Ideye promises Nigerians goal rain

Austin Ejide: Eagles are mentally, physically ready

•Echiejile

•Ejide

We'll beat 'boastful' Ahmed Musa: There won't Liberia —Igiebor be any threat for Eagles

Eagles will overrun Liberia, says Keshi From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja

•Igiebor

•Keshi •Ahmed

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

I

N Goebel’s philosophy, a lie repeated many times assumes the cloak of truth and that seem to what the federal government and its agencies have adopted in transacting businesses in foreign currencies. Recall the allegation by the civil society group, Save Nigeria Group (SNG) that they were offered $50, 000 for transport after a visit to the Presidency. While presidential spokespersons concentrated on explaining the purpose of the ‘gift’, there was no dispute over the currency type. We have equally seen federal government projects being quoted in foreign currencies such as the US Dollar, British Pound etc and the Central Bank don’t seem to be bothered nor are the security agencies inviting such persons to explain why they are using illegal currencies in Nigeria. They are illegal currencies because the constitution duly recognizes

Let us stop this Dollar Bonus Madness the Naira as the only legal tender and medium of financial transactions in the country.

This wide-spread abuse of the currency regulation gained prominence in Nigerian sports through football during the era of Dutch Manager of the Super Eagles, Clemens Westerhof with the clear approval of the government of General Ibrahim Babangida. With Nigeria having players based outside the country, it became fashionable to pay their allowances and bonuses in US Dollar and it still remains a mystery why

By

Harry Iwuala the British Pound was not the currency of choice given our traditional link to the Queensland. It is possible that football officials sought to motivate (spoil may be the more appropriate word) the players to justify humongous budgets spent during the Westerhof era (1989-1994) may have initiated that

violation of the sovereignty of the Naira or the players may have threatened the usual boycott if they were not paid in such currency.

A freak justification of the practice is readily found in the excuse that the players resided outside the country and therefore needed to be paid in a currency they can

spend. This flies in the face of logic because no consideration should warrant the violation of the laws of the land. More so, every other citizen within the jurisdiction of the Naira complies with the regulation and only need to go to banks and FOREX dealers to obtain whichever currency they require for transactions. In the countries where they play their football, whatever currency that is alien to the land is first exchanged to the local currency before transactions are conducted.

But we are a country of

Odibe ready to fight on M

ICHAEL ODIBE has stated his readiness to keep fighting for his regular shirt under Juande Ramos after Dnipro stunned Dynamo Kiev 2-1 at the weekend.

Odibe enjoyed 90 minutes game at their home victory against Dynamo Kiev whìch paraded four Nigerians as Dnipro Dniprotevsky stay closer to Shaktar Donesk who remains at the top.

"Football is about giving your best at all time to guarrantee the next game," said Odibe.

"But at times, you may still be at your best and the coach decided to make rotations but whenever I get my chance, I used it better to convince the coach for the next game."

"I know my game has improved a lot since I moved to Ukraine and it is a privilledge playing under a great and well respected coach like Juande Ramos. He has shown me love, he has made me to understand why he needed me and I am happy playing for him.

"We all keep learning everyday, I have learn under some coaches in the past and I think Ramos is different, he has a lot to give and I have a lot to learn under him as well."

"Everybody is important under him but he's difficult to predict, he has left me on te bench in our last Europa game but he keeps telling us we are all equal but he's trying to avoid fatigue in the team."

"Well, like I keep saying that I can always get better, the fighting spirit still there for me to keep fighting on for my place and win trophies for the club."

•Odibe

Onazi set to grab opportunity S

S Lazio of Italy player, Onazi Ogenyi has informed SportingLife that he will grab with both hands if the opportunity comes for him to make his debut for the Super Eagles on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in Calabar.

Onazi featured for the Golden Eaglets about three years ago when Nigeria hosted the rest of the world and was in that team that staged a famous comeback from 0-3 at halftime to equalise 3-3 and later got to the final before an agonising 0-1 loss to Switzerland in the final.

He was a surprise inclusion in the Keshi's list which has 15 foreign based players and 7 Nigeria Premier League stars and the ebony player told NationSport that he is honoured to be given a call up and would put more than 100 percent on the field if given a look in by coach Stephen Keshi on Saturday.

He noted:"First of all, I will like to give

From Tunde Liadi in Calabar thanks to God for making this possible. It is a great opportunity for me and it is good feeling for me. I am thrilled to get my country’s call again after the U17 World Cup and it will continue to be very special for me. It is a good place to be and normal too since what I am expected to do is to come around and give in my best and ensure the team achieve set objectives.

"I am 100 percent prepared and ready to do my nation proud if I am considered. I also know that the team is equally prepared as well. We have been training for couple of days now and on Saturday we will ensure we play as a team and fight harder until we get a decent victory that will mark our return to the Africa Cup of Nations. We are going to achieve our aim as I have said," Onazi concluded.

foreign passions as seen in our preference for everything foreign including fake Chinese products that are inferior to those produced even on the back streets of Ariaria Market in Aba. It is this same passion for things foreign that has led to the neglect of the domestic football industry by administrators and technical managers who have their eyes permanently trained on sundry foreign clubs for selection of national team players. It has been so bad that Nigerians go as far as Vietnam, Thailand, Guam and such other remote Asian countries to play football even when such countries are not running professional football. Beyond the quest to earn salaries in foreign currency, the players also know that it makes it easier to grab the attention of coaches when they are cited as foreign-based.

Rather than abate, successive administrators have elevated the transaction in foreign exchange to an art where even match bonus for kindergarten teams are denominated in dollars. It is so bad these days that foreign currency bonuses for qualifying matches are announced with fanfare including those for women teams that comprise largely domestic league players. It was shocking to learn that a supposedly U-17 women team playing in a FIFA Women World Cup were promised a winning bonus of $10, 000 each by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) delegation that included members of the National Assembly. It is not the fact that teenagers that are supposed to be in school were being promised cash rewards but the indecency of ridiculing our legal tender in an international forum. That report was captured by all major news agencies. What obtains in other lands is that rewards are announced in the domestic currency and it is left for the media to convert to whatever international currency that suits their fancy. Only recently, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to two United States Scientists but the cash attachment was still stipulated in the Swedish currency (Krona).

International media still reported it with some estimating the value in US dollars. It’s about the prestige and sovereignty of a nation and its currency which we must uphold to make other nationals value it.

The Aminu Maigari-led board may have just continued with a practice they met on ground but it is never late to right wrong steps. As the National Assembly crafts what they have called the Patriotic Bill, the NFF can lead the way by also instilling in our footballers some value and respect for our currency. On this note, I wish the Super Eagles a successful flight to South Africa as they peck on Liberia this afternoon in Calabar, the Canaan City.

Up Eagles, Up Nigeria and Up Naira.

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

T

ODAY, the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2013 African Cup of Nations finals holding in the Republic of South Africa, between 19th January – 10th February, 2013.

I am confident, like other Members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, all stakeholders and the players and technical crew as the day finally comes to show Liberia that we are not in the same class.

It is said that misfortune comes with a lot of other mishaps. Our failure to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations, held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, by reason of a drawn game in Abuja against Guinea, has now emboldened a string of less endowed football-playing nations to nurse ambition when playing against Nigeria.

Only three days after that failure to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles were in London to play a friendly match against the Black Stars of Ghana. of course, the Black Stars had qualified for the finals and naturally expected to run over the Super Eagles, what with their 4-1 defeat of the Eagles in a similar friendly in London in February 2007 and with expected low morale from the Nations Cup failure.

However, the Super Eagles did not lie down at Watford

I

F Super Eagles lose today in Calabar in the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier, which I do not pray for but which is impossible in the game of football, unpredictable as it is, it won’t be the Lone Stars of Liberia that beat them figuratively.

They would have beaten themselves. The Stephen Keshi-lads have the advantage. They have their destiny firmly in their hands and the Liberians do not have what it takes to do the impossible despite the commendable preparation they have had in Ghana for the second and final leg of the qualifiers. Eagles do not have to pray for another to lose so that they can ride on the back of that to qualify for the edition holding in South Africa in January. This has been the lot of the senior national team in the past few years as the country had struggled to remain in the thick of things in international football in the continent and beyond. Eagles did not lose the first leg in Monrovia though they had no business drawing the game which they had in control and led for the greater part of the day. They were forced to a 2-2 draw by the hosts despite creating chances, especially in the first half, which were wasted by the strike force led by Uche Ikechukwu. The Joseph Yoboled team needs only a barren draw to scale through, while the visitors require just one goal to make history repeat itself in the lives of the homers.

If they score, they would have to do everything possible for Nigeria not to reply in 90 minutes. They would have to pack the bus to keep the Eagles at bay and leave some men upfront to punish the former champions who would be forced to throw everything into the game at that point in time. They would have adopted this strategy if they had won the first leg in Monrovia, but in the South South city, known for tourism and beautiful women, Lone

Inside The

Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

A battle like no other! but played a good game, which ended 0-0.

After that, came friendlies at home to Botswana and Zambia (which had qualified for the Cup of Nations) in Benin City and Kaduna respectively. The Botswanans held firm for a 0-0 but the Eagles defeated Zambia (which would go ahead to win the African Nations Cup) 2-0 in Kaduna.

That was after the change of Head Coach. Since the coming of Stephen Keshi, we have all been involved in the rebuilding process one way or the other. And the former Captain has done well to scour the entire country looking for good and teachable players, who have shown immense

promise and potential and continue to improve with exposure and mentoring.

While there are those who have their fears about the long time that the rebuilding process is taking, it is important to reiterate here that Keshi has the support of the Nigeria Football Federation and we believe he will only lead us to greater heights.

However, that journey has to begin today and the simple message is that nothing less than outright victory will suffice against the Lone Star at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

While in truth, football is not mathematics and no two games are the same, the fact remains that Liberia has never

beaten Nigeria in Nigeria and it will not start now. Not with the kind of team that Coach Keshi has assembled for this assignment.

I was able to watch one of the team’s training sessions and I believe that the goals will rain in the Liberian net and keep raining until the end of 90 minutes. South African 2013, here we come.

My special appeal to the people of Cross River State and environs who will throng the U. J. Esuene Stadium is to come decked in their white-and-green attires to give the arena a special ‘Nigerian look’.

It is the same thing that happens in several other nations, plus the fact that spectators in those countries cheer their team for the entire

period of the match no matter the turn of events.

My simple charge for the fans is to support the Super Eagles from the first blast of the referee’s whistle to the last, keeping the faith and showing a good example for some other cities that may also be called upon to host any of the National Teams in the future.

I remember when we went to Ethiopia for a 2012 Cup of Nations qualifier: the fans kept rooting for their team all through and they were all decked in the country’s red colours, intimidating atmosphere enough for any opposition.

The same thing happened when we went to Malawi for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. The whole stadium, old and dilapidated as the structure was, erupted in chants for the home team every second of the 90minute encounter.

I have never doubted the ability of our people to support the National Team for the duration of a match.

One thing I can be sure about is that they will once again prove their capacity today.

Coach Stephen Keshi and boys know what is at stake and the team has been in Calabar since Monday feeling the atmosphere and the turf where they will take the Lone Star to the cleaners.

Hard work, drive and

Nations Cup: Who can stop Eagles?

Stars will be forced to attack because they need to win the match or, in the alternative, play a 4-4 draw to have the chance of qualifying for the continental show-piece. It is a tall order, a herculean task, and the fellow West Africans do not have the technical and tactical depth to turn back the hand of the clock. They blew it at home.

An opportunity was presented them by sloppy defending to take the match towards the end but they left the Eagles off the hook and that looks to have torpedoed their dream to return to the Nations Cup after many years of absence. There is no way the Lone Stars would score in Calabar that the Eagles would not reply. History and statistics are on the side of Keshi and his men. I do not remember the last time Eagles played at home without scoring in a competitive game.

I have to be reminded the last time Nigeria lost a competitive game at home in both the Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers in the last ten years. It has been on few occasions that we were stopped at home from qualifying for the Nations Cup and World Cup through a home defeat in the modern times. We lost to Tunisia and Morocco in World Cup qualifiers in the seventies and eighties and played a goalless with Zambia in Lagos in a qualifier when the current Director General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Patrick Ekeji was in charge of the senior national team as coach. The loss to Tunisia came through an own goal scored by Godwin Odiye while the defeat by Morocco was as a result of tampering with the team. Some players who had retired from international football were brought back and we paid dearly for it. We did not qualify for the last edition of the continental competition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com despite playing a 2-2 draw with Guinea in Abuja. The result was not the sole reason we missed out of the party early this year. It is the first leg which Eagles had lost 2-1 in Conakry that shut us out. If we had not lost the game, we would have made it.

Eagles had a good run in the seventies and eighties and it spilt into the nineties, but always found it almost difficult scaling the last hurdle due to tough luck and last minute bungling. We were beaten by ourselves before we found the formula in 1980 and 1994. The players were the cream of Nigerian stars and were on top of their game. They always had the fans behind them and the country always stop any time the national team had a game.

The national team was feared all over the continent and the players respected. The greatest problem then was the North Africans who were technically and tactically better. They were closer to European football and had imbibed the modern approach to the game. We were stronger physically and gifted and we used those to our advantage. The gap has been narrowed in the modern time and we have imbibed some element of technical and tactical savvy to our brawn which has won us the Nations Cup twice and got us to the World Cup finals on several occasions. The country has gone on to win the soccer gold at the Olympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia while our cadet teams have won the World Cup thrice in the couple of years.

I often disagree with the opinion that the rest of the

continent caught up with us because there are no more minnows in the game. Lack of planning and inability to manage success are responsible for our fall. We failed to build on our successes and rested on our oars. We were taking part in competitions but left development of the game in the back pocket. There is no deliberate plan put in place to remain on top. Merit was slaughtered on the altar of mediocrity. Players were no longer invited to camp on current form but on the basis of who you know. Coaches were appointed on the basis of ethnic balancing and federal character.

There were unconfirmed allegations of players paying coaches and officials to get invited and get a shirt to play for the country while our foreign legion grew wings.

If it were in the past, there would be no debate or fear by Nigerians as to whether the Eagles would win. Victory is always guaranteed. The discussion is usually on how many goals would be scored.

Remember we squeezed seven past Burkina Faso in a qualifier in Lagos. We had late Rasidi Yekini. He was deadly in front of goal and feared across the continent. His goal scoring records are yet to be matched in the national team. We had Thompson Usiyen before him.

He was the live wire of the national team, scoring great goals in the seventies. His decision to go to USA was one of the reasons why Nigeria did not qualify for the World Cup before 1994. Usiyen and Yekini were always at the right place and at

the right time. Positioning make great strikers in the game and that is missing in the ones we have in the modern team.

Uche is struggling to fill the big boots left behind by Yekini. Though he is more of a winger than a striker, he has shouldered the responsibility of getting goals for the national team in the few years. His wastefulness in front of goal in Monrovia denied Nigeria victory.

Emmanuel Emenike has been on fire for club in both the local and Champions League this season.

tenacity will matter a lot in today’s game, no matter the pattern that the coaches adopt.

The players must be ready to give their all and push for victory for the entire match.

And Golden Eaglets Too...

I have heard so many wonderful tales about the new Golden Eaglets and the opportunity comes for me to cheer the team against Guinea at the U. J. Esuene Stadium tomorrow.

Coach Manu Garba and his assistants have been doing marvelously since they organized a credible screening programme in Abuja where they looked at over 3,000 players, did a second phase in Calabar and then came up with their list of 40 players.

Eventually, the 40 players were subjected to the MRI examination and they passed, meaning that the coaches knew their onions and never set out to cheat.

The results have been coming on quickly, with the team having scored 73 goals in 16 matches as at Tuesday, including slamming their Rwanda counterparts 5-0 and 3-0 in freindlies before humiliating Niger Republic 10-1 in the first round of 2013 African U-17 qualifying series.

Tomorrow, they just have to consolidate by earning a handsome win over the Guineans, in order to make the second leg in Conakry a formality.

Delta Football House...

I am excited as I write this piece, thinking about the foundation-laying ceremony for the Delta Football House, which took place in Asaba on Thursday.

A delight it was to be the one to lay the stone for the foundation and witness such a historic move by one of the leading sports-loving States in the country.

As I said at the foundationlaying ceremony, the move will ginger other States into doing projects and programmes that will have great impact for Nigeria football development.

Kudos to Amaju Pinnick and his Executive Committee.

•Mikel

NIGERIA AT 52

Saturday, October 13, 2012

36

The rebirth of the Abeokuta

GOLFLINE

with

Tony Akhigbe golflineintl@yahoo.com 08094863638

golf club Woods denied the chance to be a hero

• Woods

Government and private sector must rise up for sports development

38

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

HO LLYWOOD I

Bobbi Kristina engaged to Nick Gordon

N August Bobbi Kristina Brown was given a ring by her brother-turnedboyfriend Nick Gordon. The giant sapphire stone surrounded by diamonds which Bobbi placed on her ring finger sparked rumours of an engagement, which the couple denied claiming the ring was just a gift.

However footage taken from the 19year-old's reality show, entitled The Houstons: On Our Own, has allegedly confirmed that she is in fact engaged to Gordon.

According to reports, in the exclusive clip Bobbi, daughter of late singer Whitney Houston shocks her family when she tells them of her plans to wed Nick.

Reports say that Brown announces the news as she laughs, saying: 'We're engaged!’

Madonna strips down to her thong

R

OCCO Ritchie took to the stage with his mum during the first leg of her MDNA tour in Philadelphia in August and now it seems that Madonna's son David also wants to get in on the action.

The seven-year-old, who was adopted by Madonna in 2006, certainly seems to have taken on his mother's lifestyle as he performed for the first time as part of the popstar's world tour at the Staples Centre in LA on Wednesday night.

Taking to the DJ booth with DJ Martin Solvang, David seemed to have got the hang of it at such a young age.

Madonna however gave

the LA crowd a treat as she stripped down to a thong on stage Staying true to form, Madonna delivered a raunchy and sexed up performance, at one point stripping down to her underwear.

Her imaginative routines included being dressed up as a drum majorette, being bound and gagged by masked militia and a take on her iconic conical bra outfit.

The late-night show, which didn't start until gone 10pm, was as controversial as ever and while some children might have been shocked by her on-stage antics, David seemed in awe of his adoptive mother.

•Madonna

Crane over Ghollywood

•Van Vicker

•Nana

Owen Wilson enjoys session with mystery lady

39

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

I can’t allow any bitch to steal him from me I cheated on my Hello ma, I love my boyfriend so much that I can’t allow any bitch to steal him from me, but the problem is that I don’t really know if this guy truly loves me as I do.

Please ma tell me how to know if he loves me? Miss Olivian.

Miss Olivian, your language alone shows you must be a bit aggressive. Nobody has even tried to take this guy (at least you didn’t say that), yet, you’re already using the word bitch.

Anyway, for your information, love alone does not guarantee your boyfriend’s safety from other ladies. A whole lot of works go into a relationship – respect, being considerate, intelligent and enterprising are just some of the qualities men look out for in a woman. It wouldn’t matter if it is a bitch that offers him all these things and you are a saint, men are looking beyond only the profession of love now.

See you; you’re not even sure of the guy’s love, yet you’re ready to fight. Below are tips to help you know if he truly loves you: He shares your favorite pastimes - While not a deal breaker, any man who continues to be active in your favorite pastimes, even though you understand he does not like them, loves you. One of the most important things for a man in a relationship is connection. The context and content does not matter. He just wants to be with you.

He calls you frequently - Does it really matter why he is calling? Are you not glad that he is? A man who is involved with his relationship and in love with you will always call. When there is a thought on his mind and he wants your opinion, when he just wants to see if you are ok, and sometimes it will be just because he misses you. If you’ve argued with him and you ignore those calls, be aware that the action does not escape your mans attention.

Consider the alternative, he could never call and wait for you to do it. Next time, pick up that phone when it rings, otherwise you will not know how he has thought to express his love and apologies.

He brags about you to his family & friends - Sometimes you may feel he talks

ad nauseum about you. However, put yourself in his shoes and see how proud your man is of you and how lucky he feels to be a part of your life. He shows this in the greatest way possible, he tells his family and friends.

For a man, including family and friends on the details of his relationship is a very big step for him in that relationship. If he is talking about you, he loves you - guaranteed.

He tries to be nice to your family & friends - Some women may not like the idea of their significant other being friends with their friends. Such issues as friends being caught in the middle during problems may arise.

However, just the notion that your man cares to be nice to family and friends and have positive interactions with them shows that he cares about the people that you care for.

He wants to please you and make you happy.

He never stops romancing you - No matter how busy your man is, does he set time aside for you? Forget setting time aside, does he actually make time for you? If so, you are looking at a man who loves you. He will stop caring about his own stresses to relieve you of yours. He will send you an email, leave you a sticky note, write you a letter or leave a message on your machine when he knows you are not around to pick up the phone. He spends your time together relaxing you and occasionally giving you a present or a card. That kind of attentiveness cannot be faked. He is in love.

He says so, in so many ways - Every action may show his feelings for you, but no action is more certain than a verbal expression. The tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, the wrap of his arms around your shoulders as he whispers he loves you should leave you with no reservation about how he feels. Some people feel that saying ‘I love you’ too often makes it less special. For a man, saying I love you is the height of his expression of his feelings for you. The more you hear it, let it be known, the more he feels it.

Now, you ask if anything else that will tell you if he loves you. Your answer is—What else do you need? These simple signs are tried and true. His willingness to perform these actions will show you that your man loves you.

My cousin and I had sex once and since then she has been insisting we do it again Good morning madam, my name is D from Benue state. I am 21 years old. My cousin sister has been kissing and romancing me and we both had sex and since then she has been insisting we do it again. And I don’t want to.

Please help me. Thank you.

I know that in some parts of the North, it is allowed for cousins to marry each other. I wouldn’t know about the legality of it in your part of Benue State. Even if it is allowed in your culture, I’m sure that your culture frowns at sex before marriage. If you’re sure your

parents would oppose to a relationship with your cousin and if you know that it is considered a taboo, then stop it.

Let your cousin know in strong

terms that you do not wish to go on with it. If it’s the sex that is holding her to you, then let her know you’re not her sex toy.

There are four guys who say they love me but I have eyes for someone else Please, Aunty, i am confused, there are four guys who say they love me but I have eyes for someone else. B. As far as I am concerned, you do not have business with the four boys running after you. The one you want should be your main focus. But if the one you love doesn’t feel the same, do not rush to meet any of the four waiting in the wings. Wait until you meet another person you truly admire. There’s no point in managing people we honestly don’t feel anything for just because we want to be in a relationship.

boyfriend and now the other guy won’t go away

Dear Aunty, am 21 years old, I have been dating a guy close to five years now and we both love each other but there was a time I thought he did not love me so I tried so many things including cheating on him, but right now i want to quit the second guy but he seems to love me too, so am confused. Please help me. Thanks. From V. Dear V, I don’t subscribe to cheating in relationships, so I do not pity you for the dilemma this other guy is putting you through by sticking to you. You have to make up your mind now and choose the one who makes you really happy between the two.

Sentiments such as long duration of friendship and so on do not count when happiness is the major consideration. Do yourself right and stay with the one you’re most comfortable with.

What do I do to be focused on becoming a political scientist?

Good evening ma, my name is Elvis. I want to be a great political scientist and I try hard to put my best, I’m always discouraged, what do i do?

To achieve anything in life, it is essential for you to be focused.

According to those who know, being focused means putting five basic things in perspective: lifetime plans, yearly plans, weekly plans, daily plans and current plans.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t even have written plans, so we take each day as it comes. I tell you, without a well-written out plan, you may waste each day and that affects your lifetime plans.

Write down your priorities. Tell yourself you will become that important political scientist.

Visualize yourself in the midst of great people. I’m positive that before long, you will take your studies more seriously and you will achieve what seems hard today. My prayers are with you.

Hearts With Adeola Agoro E-mail: libranadeola@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 08023162609

Matchmaking Females for Love •Helen, 37, divorced needs a responsible man aged between 40 and 45 for a serious relationship. Call: 08178516220.

•Blessing, 28, Ibo lady needs a God-fearing and matured man btw 30 and 40 who is ready to settle down for a decent relationship. 08066766729.

•Omowunmi is 26, undergraduate, God-fearing and humble seeks for a God-fearing man btw 30 and 45 in a serious relationship. Contact: 08107205835.

•Loveth, 30 needs a God-fearing and lovely man to settle down with. Call: 08058366321.

Males for Love •Oluwaseyi, 45, civil-servant from Osun-state, AA needs a God-fearing lady between 30 and 44 for a seriousrelationship. 07082266417.

•Doyin is 30 and looking for serious relationship.

08163974070 •Abdul, Muslim, civil servant, HIV positive needs serious lady as wife who would take him as he is and aged btw 30 to 35, she must be Yoruba. 08164557898.

•Tagwai, 52, Abuja based, works in a radio station needs a Muslim woman of 50 for a relationship. She should be Abuja based or any part of the North. Call: 080 28854461.

•Dele, 37, educated, civil servant from Ondo state needs a woman btw the ages of 32 and 47 for a romantic relationship.

Call: 08030896968.

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•Abayomi, 30, working class from Ibadan needs a God fearing pretty lady for a serious relationship. Call: 08068239555.

•Fred, 40, based in Port Harcourt, graduate, handsome, sexy and a gentleman needs a wealthy single lady either a businesswoman or a banker for marriage. 08157120261.

•Taiwo Emmanuel, 33, a graduate who deals in toks cars needs a serious lady for marriage. 07053570599.

•Wale, 26, businessman living in Ibadan needs an independent, thick, busty and mature lady for a serious relationship. 07065893054.

•A man of 42 needs a woman of the same age or above who is responsible for friendship. 08034206054.

•Biodun, 28, a South African based scientist wants an Ibo lady btw ages 21 and 25 to marry. 08022066595 •Julius, 40, single father of one, an Engineer, from Ekiti needs a 33 to 38 widow, single mother from any Yoruba states for a serious relationship. 07026208794.

•Sunday 34 year old,4rm Anambra needs God fearing lady likely teacher or nurse,well employed lady 4marriage.call 08061376007

60 and Searching Dear sister, you are worthy of praise for the good job you are doing out there. Keep it up. You will do me a great favor; I need a fairly pretty lady of age between 45 and 50.

She could be a Muslim or Christian, a widow or divorced and accommodating for a serious relationship. I am Anthony 60, Phone number: 08065664429. Thanks in anticipation.

Some Birthday Thoughts Is it proper for a lady to I’m so blessed to have a friend like you. This one comes with many loving tots and warm wishes. May your day be filled with laughter on this your special day and may the finest things in life always come your way, amen. Happy Birthday to my darling sister and friend. – 08088882539.

Today marks the beginning of another year of bountiful harvest of fruitfulness, happiness, gud health, wealth, longlife, upliftment, success & contnued service in God’s vine yard. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR. Wit love 4m Iya Ire348051420060 Dear Sister, I pray that God will continue to keep you.

HE that keepeth Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers. He will continue to deliver you from the snare of the fowler. He will be your shield, fortress, guard, guide, buckler, refuge and help in Jesus name, Amen. Happy Birthday(9/10). We love you! Ola Bakare. – 08080337008.

This month of October, 2012 may GOD bless and reward you richly all through as you are highly favoured. Remain bountifully blessed and fulfilled. Happy birthday - Imeba Davis Olayi. 08099446984.

•From right: Oba Odekunle Oyelude, Olowu of Kuta, Osun State and his wife Olori Oyelude, after his installation as the Olowu of Kuta.

Great shall be yours, happiness shall be yours, success and good things shall be yours. God will bless every area of your life. Be blessed and shine to the world. God bless you and family in Jesus name. Happy Birthday. B.O.Tyler.

– 08024235531.

fall in love with somebody she doesn’t know and accept to marry him?

Hello ma, My Neimz Christabel. Ma is it proper for a lady to fall in love with somebody she doesn’t know and accept to marry him?

You obviously cannot fall in love with someone you have not met, unless maybe you may have spoken to them on phone, and notice some attraction there. It isn’t possible to call that love though because it is an illusion. You can’t also be thinking of marrying somebody you haven’t met, though these days, people meet and marry on the internet, but even that is not safe. You have to know what the guys does, what kind of person he is and his family should be in the know. Knowing you two have not met; could the guy even serious about the marriage talk in the first place? Be smart.

40

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

H! Abby! I’m so happy for you! So, you will soon be leaving us to join your husband abroad.

You are so lucky! I really envy you!” enthused my friend, Tari.

“Na so we see am o, my sister!” I replied in pidgin, a wide grin on my face.

I had gone to her house that Saturday afternoon to break the news to her about my impending trip out of the country to join my husband, Henry. She had screamed with excitement and though, it was over an hour since I arrived at her place, she had not stopped talking about the matter. That was the problem with Tari; she loved to talk and she could go on and on about an issue until one got tired of listening to her. But that day, I didn’t mind her loquaciousness as I was in such a good mood.

I felt pleased and happy that finally, my beloved husband and I would now be together.

The journey to this point of our relationship had been long and tortuous most of the time. In fact, there were times, it looked as if there was no hope for us and I was fighting a losing battle. But through it all, I had persevered, not giving up hope until I realised my dream-of spending my days and nights for always with Henry.

There had been all sorts of talk from my family, friends and even colleagues on my long wait for Henry, who had travelled out of the country five years earlier.

“It’s not very wise to wait for all these guys who travel abroad. Are you sure he hasn’t married someone else, like an oyibo lady, for instance?”

“What if after waiting all these years and at the end of the day, he doesn’t return for you? What will you do then?

Time is going and you are not getting any younger! Do you want to end up an old maid and childless?”

“I will advise you to forget about him and marry one of these guys who have been proposing to you. What’s so special about this Henry that you ca’’t forget him. Girl, wise up...” were some of the comments they made.

Bride of winter (1) All these remarks and pressures put a great strain on me and it was tough coping during the time of waiting for Henry. If it had not been for friends like Tari and a few others who kept encouraging me to persevere, I doubt if I would have been able to endure for so long. That was the reason she had been one of the first persons, outside my family that I had broken the news about my impending journey to.

“I hope you won’t forget us when you leave. It’s like that with most people who travel abroad. They forget those they left behind,” stated Tari, frowning slightly.

“Even if I forget everybody, I can’t forget you and the love and support you gave me all this while,” I reassured her.

She smiled, then said: “In that case, I better give you the list of items I want you to buy for me when you get there. Remember that dress we saw at that boutique in Surulere that I liked so much but I couldn’t afford? I want you to get me something like that and some skirts and

Patience Edirin Saduwa On Saturday 08023201831 (SMS only) Email: psaduwa@yahoo.com

I

N organized societies, certain age groups are deemed vulner able and as such require the protection of the authorities against any form of abuse or maltreatment. Top on the list are OAPs (old age pensioners) and the very young (those 25 and below).

For the latter, programmes such as good educational facilities both academic and vocational are provided to equip them for the challenges of adult life in a modern world.

All this investment in the young is highly necessary as the youths are the main inheritors of the future. The law of nature with regards to Man’s mortality ensures that the older ones die out and the next generation takes their place. It’s an immutable law that man, no matter his advancements in science or medicine, can change. This is the reason, societies with a keen eye for the future invests heavily in its young people.

As for the OAPs, these have spent the best parts of their livestheir youth and most productive years-serving their fatherland and communities. With retirement comes a time to put their feet up and take a well deserved rest from their labours. A situation made easier with the monthly pension often paid to them. But what happens in a situation where the pensions, as small as they are, are not paid regularly? Hunger, disease, suffering and even early death becomes common. That is the lot of most OAPs in our dear country.

But let’s leave the retirees for now and talk about the young ones who are making news for all the wrong reasons right now.

If you have been living in this country for the past decade or so, you will agree with me that this is not a good time to be young.

It’s like everything has been done to not just emasculate but

tops, shoes, some cds and dvds, handbags, make-up, cream, mobile phone, laptop, a microwave...” she enumerated.

“Thief! Ole! Where do you expect me to get money to buy all those stuff? You want me to go and steal?” I said.

She shook her head.

“You won’t need to do that.

Your husband has money-just a little amount of his wealth will take care of the shopping.

Abi I lie?” she queried, a mischievous look in her eyes.

I laughed and playfully pulled at her long, braided hair, making her scream with pain...

The strange proposal That night as I lay in bed, unable to sleep from excitement, my mind kept drifting to the past, to when my story with Henry began. You see,

Henry and I didn’t meet in the conventional way that most couples often meet. It was through his father that I met him. This was how it happened.

His dad and I worked in the same office though in different departments. I didn’t know him that well and I only related to him on an official basis. But I noticed that he was always looking at me in a special way whenever we passed each other. If he was a younger man, I would have concluded that he was ‘interested’ in me but that was not the case as he was quite elderly.

Then one day, the mystery was solved when he eventually spoke up.

He had called me into his office and I had gone reluctantly, all the while wonder-

ing what he wanted.

“I’m sorry for bothering you like this, my dear, but there’s something very important I will like to discuss with you,” he began after I had sat down.

I stared at him, patiently waiting for what he had to say.

His words took me by surprise.

“The fact is, I like you. I like the way you behave and comport yourself,” he said, pausing briefly.

He must have noticed the look of surprise on my face, for he quickly went on: “I have a good reason for saying this, so please hear me out. I’ve been watching you for some time and I like what I see. You are not only beautiful but you seem to be a girl of good character. I believe you will make a good wife.

So, based on that, I want to marry you!”

To say I was surprised was putting it mildly. For a while,

I sat with my mouth open, just staring blankly at him. When I eventually found my voice, I blurted out in an angry tone: “Sir, I know today is not April 1 so this can’t be a joke.

How can you be talking about marriage to someone you barely know, and one that is old enough to be...”

“My daughter!” he concluded for me then burst into laughter.

“My dear, take it easy.

When I say, I want you as a wife, it’s not for me. It’s for my son, Henry. You will make a good wife for him and I know he will like you. As I do!” he stated, still smiling.

I calmed down then and seeing the funny side of the situation, I even smiled.

“Sir,” I began, “I appreciate the nice things you’ve said about me. But I’m sorry to say that I can’t accept your proposal. In the first place, I don’t know your son...”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. When the time comes, you will meet him,” he said.

“But what if I don’t like him?” I stated sceptically, trying to wriggle out of the situation as politely as possible.

He looked at me fondly, then said: “I assure you, that won’t be a problem. Just meet him first, ok. I’ve told him about you and he’s keen on meeting you.”

After I left him, I kept thinking about the man’s proposal. I had had many marriage proposals in the past but this was the first time I was getting one like that. Not that I was keen on getting married then. I was in my mid-20s back then and I was not in a hurry to settle down. I was more interested in my career and making money and having fun with my friends.

But the manner of the proposal piqued my curiosity. So, I agreed to meet the son, Henry, though I had no intention of having a relationship much less marriage with him.

But I was in for a pleasant surprise when we eventually met...

To be continued Read the juicy details next Saturday about Abby and Henry’s first meeting!

No country for the old or the young frustrate the nation’s youths. Successive administrations, lacking in vision and with no clear-cut plans for the country have failed woefully to invest in the young. The result is poor educational facilities with disenchanted and restive academic staff as well as students forced to study and live in environments that are sometimes unfit for animals.

After finally graduating maybe 5-7 years after matriculation (for a 4 year course), what does the youth of today face? Massive unemployment, with a labour market that is virtually non-existent as new jobs are not created each year despite the fact that millions of job seekers, pour into this market from the numerous tertiary institutions in the country. Indeed, these days, it’s far easier for one to walk to the moon and back than get a job, months after graduation in Nigeria. The few exceptions are those with parents with top connections or long legs, who can pull a few strings from behind the scene to get good jobs for their kids.

As if all these are not enough to give these young ones grey hairs before their grandparents, they have to contend with a gradual reduction in their numbers. The past few years have seen a systematic attack on this group. Youth corps members posted to certain parts of the country to serve their fatherland with the zeal and vigour associated with youth, have been mauled down like animals in a slaughterhouse. The Boko Haram menace has been particularly hard on the youths as many have been ferociously cut down in their homes, churches, schools and other places.

The recent incidents in Mubi and Port-Harcourt involving students have only added to the frightening statistics of a nation losing the flower of its youth. Both incidents coming so close together have left most Nigerians, who have been completely desensitised and traumatised by years of bad governance, mass poverty and a general loss of hope in the system, shocked beyond words. The bestiality of the acts is beyond belief, like scenes from a horror film. That such barbarism can occur in a 21st century Nigeria have left many wondering whether this is a sign that we are gradually retrogressing, going back to the stone age or medieval times when the law of the jungle prevailed.

What I find so distressing about these incidents is the pointlessness of it all. What could these young boys have done to warrant such brutality, to be plucked down in their prime in such a brazen, heartless manner? It’s just too horrible to contemplate that in our society of today, we have people in our midst whose beastly behaviour would put wild animals in the jungle to shame.

Many have condemned the acts and called for the culprits to be brought to book. It shouldn’t end there because we have heard such sentiments before and nothing comes out of it at the end of the day. The sad truth is that this is a country where crime is treated with great levity. Most criminals get away with their crimes and it’s the innocent who suffer. An official is caught stealing billions of naira from the national coffers and what happens? He’s often given a slap on the wrist and allowed to walk away free, to enjoy his ill-gotten loot in peace.

That is the reality of our society today and why corruption has become the biggest industry in town. And the reason for an increase in such criminal activities like kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, rituals/voodooism, yahoo yahoo, etc among the youths who have been socialised to believe that it is only through crime that one can become successful in life. That crime pays in Nigeria. They are a product of their environment, you know (but that’s a topic for another day).

Meanwhile, all those responsible for the deaths of those students must be prosecuted and jailed. That’s the only way such evil acts don’t occur again as we are tired of burying our young people. Most youths are very angry with this country because they have no sense of belonging. The feeling among them is that their collective patrimony have been stolen by their greedy elders and there’s nothing left for their present or even future.

The OAPs too, who see their pensions looted by those who are supposed to look after them are equally frustrated and bitter against the country. Indeed, Nigeria has become like the movie of the same title, ‘No country for old men.’ Or young ones for that matter. A pity...

&

LIFE

Society Profile

THE NATION, Saturday, OCTOBER 13, 2012

STYLE Gossip Interviews

41

SEE PAGES 44 & 45

At 60, life has been good to me

-Lagos fabric merchant Ojugbele

42

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

With KAYODE ALFRED

E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com

&STYLE

LIFE

Society Profile

Gossip Interviews

TEL:08035733605

Uba brothers

bury mum

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

TEL:08035733605

43

44

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

On Sunday September 16, Lagos top socialite and fabric merchant, Alhaja Chief Mrs. Basirat Olayinka Ojugbele, had a fabulous party by the swimming pool at her swanky home at Zion Estate, LekkiIkate Elegushi. It was a grand birthday bash to mark her 60th year on earth.

In attendance were the crème de la crème of society folks. A roll call of guests indeed included the high and mighty.

These influential friends flocked around her and poured encomiums on her, as she celebrated this day of joy.

Alhaja Basirat Olayinka Ojugbele is the Chief Executive Officer of 'Bayinkus International', a foremost fabric outfit on Lagos Island. A prominent Action Congress of Nigeria Woman Leader in the Ijaiye-Ojokoro area of Lagos, Mrs. Ojugbele is the Borokini Adinni of Alakuko Central Mosque Lagos, the Yeye Gbegba-Aje of Owode town and the wife of famous city estate developer Chief Lamina Ojugbele. She spoke to PAUL UKPABIO.

‘The secrets of my success’

C

ONGRATULATIONS on your 60th birthday celebration. It was indeed an assembly of politicians, business tycoons and lots more.

How would you define that particular moment in your life?

I was so excited with the guests who came around. I had wanted a few number of people at my birthday; maybe 60 guests but the number turned out big and I think that is a sign of compassion on the part of my friends. But above all, I thank God Almighty for giving me the grace to see the day. All praises and honour goes to Him. Without God, I wouldn’t be 60. I also thank my children for being there for me.

Again, what can I say, but to keep thanking Almighty Allah? I will always thank Him because He is the all merciful and benevolent, I will always thank Him. Can you tell us a bit about your journey of life through business, marriage and raising a family?

My life is one endowed with the grace of God. I started facing challenges of life at a very tender age. I remember that my mother was the only person we had. We lost our dad at a very early age and we had to cope with a very industrious and enterprising mother who struggled to raise us all. At that particular time, the highest we could get was a G-4 certificate.

So, I had one. When my mother said she couldn’t send us to university, I had to face the challenges of life with a rare vigour.

The first place I worked was a company called Bugat International Ltd as secretary to the CEO. I was at Bugat for two years before leaving to start my own business with a very little amount of money. I thank God that I was able to increase and record success in the business I embarked upon.

Nobody helped me except God. And the same God was the one who helped me to train all my children. I lost my husband at a very tender age. That is my first husband; he was a very, very responsible man: kind, caring and a loving husband. I lost him when I was 37 and that means I was still very young at the time. I couldn’t just sit down and watch my beautiful children suffer.

I had to sow my oats in order to guarantee their future (She had her first son, Kayode-Olajide-Ojugbele, a property expert in VI; second son, Hon. TundeOlajide-Ojugbele, an ACN leader in Amuwo Odofin; Miss Oladunni-OlajideOjugbele, a top banker with Stanbic IBTC; Miss Morayo-Olajide-Ojugbele, a senior banker with WEMA Bank and Demola Ojugbele, her last child who is now in an

•Celebrant (right) with her friends Ivy-league school). I can say I started my journey with the special grace of God because there was nowhere to go then. It was in the course of my life activities that I met my second husband, Chief Ojugbele whom I had a son for. He is equally a great man. I thank God that today, not that I have a lot but I am contented with what God has given me. I have my own house, I have four successful graduates who are doing well in their chosen fields and my business is not wavering. I brought all my children up successfully; I was the one who sent them all to their various universities in London. I was working and all the money I had was used in raising them. So, that is why I said, I am very happy to see that day. To see all my children sit beside me to say something about me. I really felt like shedding tears. It is a rare honour and privilege because nobody helped me except God. What were the good things you missed with the death of your first husband?

Ah! I miss his love o. I haven’t seen anyone that I can compare to him. Alhaji Oladejo-Olajide, my late husband, was a very caring husband and father and business man. He was a man of good conduct, a disciplinarian and a focused business man. For every situation we find ourselves in life, we can only thank God. I miss his caring attitude but to God be the glory, I found an achiever in my present husband, Chief Ojugbele.

Was his death an accident or natural?

God knows everything. I can’t say this was what led to his death, but I will only

say I thank God for his life. I know wherever he is now; he is okay with his God and would not be ashamed of what God has done for his children. I hope I did a good job on his behalf. After his demise, some years later, I married Chief Ojugbele.

What lessons did life teach you after you lost your first husband?

The first lesson is this; it is not easy for one person to raise children. If it was to be so, God would have created Adam without Eve. It is not easy for a woman to raise five children and all of them become successful.

It can only be done with prayer and hard work. The holy books describe children as gifts from God. If God refuses to give you His gifts, what can you do to Him? But if you are blessed with lovely children, then you must pray to God to help you spare and shape them.

You have to be prayerful, you must be a prayer machine because nobody wants you to succeed in the first place unless you face your God and say “God, this is what I want my children to be”. If you leave them alone, they will go astray. You need to commit them to God’s hands and keep rededicating them to the glory of God. For me, my tool is prayer, discipline and faith in God. I have been used to prayer since my youth. I can fast and pray for seven days non-stop. And if I pray for seven days, with fasting, God grants me my request. If it is going to come to pass, I will see it. So, I am used to it. Prayer is my way of life.

But you are a Muslim, why are you so fascinated with prayer and fasting? You even quote the Bible well?

Of course, we are serving only one God now. Our God is not different; it is our translation that is different. The way we call God in my own religion might not be the way you call God in your own religion. But, we serve the same God. A common God, God hears all the languages. He is a universal God. The only thing that I cannot do is to worship idol. I cannot worship idol, but if you invite me to the church, I will follow you down there. If I am called to a mosque, I will be there. Why? We serve the same God but our translation is quite different.

Many of your friends call you ‘Margaret Thatcher’, why do they call you this special name?

(Laughs), they call me that name because I don’t tolerate rubbish. My life is very simple.

Number one, I detest people telling lies. I don’t like to dribble people. I am a straightforward person; so, if you do anything I don’t like, I tell you straight to your face. I tell you I don’t like it and I will not take it from you.

I don’t pretend. If I don’t like you, immediately you will know that I don’t like you, there is no room for pretence. All my friends know me for that, you know we have a lot of people who pretend and act as a chameleon. They are angry with you yet they pretend. For me, that is not it. They will say ‘one is too harsh’. No, I am not too harsh o. I am a very straight-forward person. If you commit a breach of attitude towards me, I will tell you immediately that I don’t like what you did. And once I move out of that environment, it ends there. I don’t backbite and I don’t pretend. I am glad I am like that and I am not praying to change my attitude.

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

49

better houses but opted in 100-yr-old mud house’

,

I refused to go to the office, they refused to sack me. I now said if I wanted to be sacked, the best thing I would do was to join a friend of mine when he was going for a political rally. I now joined him by holding a broom during one of his campaigns. Oyinlola saw it. The second day, they brought my letter of sack. I was happy to take the letter of sack and we celebrated the sack by going to The Place (a joint in Osogbo). We celebrated my sack.

,

health wise I'm sound. I'm always alone in this car.

When are you going to quit activism?

Till death do us part. I can not leave politics, I cannot leave the struggle. More importantly, the present governor is not a coward, he is very tough. I love him, he is a great man.

What role did you play in the choice of your sister as the deputy governor? Was it as a result of the

part you played in the struggle that made her to be appointed a deputy governor ?

No. Rather because my sister is the deputy governor, it has created more problems for me because I cannot take any major position in government. A lot of people come to me for obligations which the two of them (the governor and deputy) are meeting. I go to neither deputy governor

nor governor’s office but let me tell you the truth of the matter, my hands are in both offices. There is no time I write my leader, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, that he will refuse to come to my aid. We communicate at different times positively; I don't get negative answers from the two of them. I'm okay, I'm rich in mind more than any serving commissioner.

Where did you imbibe the culture of activisim?

I took my political tutelage from the Cicero of Esa Oke (the late Chief Bola Ige). When I was young, I was always in the struggle. I led a team protesting against our principal when I was schooling in Freetown. I attended Government College Freetown, we were agitating against the authorities, I was to be expelled alongside other students. Imagine a guy who went to Freetown because he could not get a place in Nigeria, he had nobody, my father died when I was eight years. Imagine you had a chance to school in Freetown, you were leading a protest, forgetting that you are not a Sierra Leonean. I took part in the process of activism through my senior in school in Sierra Leone, I used to admire him. I copied this my senior in school and when I came to Nigeria, I was involved in activisim. When I saw the Cicero of Esa Oke after returning to Nigeria, I was impressed.

He had what I could call oratory prowess, he was a commander. I loved him, he was a man of so many languages. Luckily, I met Chief Awolowo, December 5 1978. I was the one who mobilised all the youths in Osogbo for the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). It was there the Cicero spotted me and gave the job of Organisiing Secretary of the defunct UPN. How come you have so much political influence here?

I have mixed with a lot of present and past leaders like Dr. Hammed Oladepo Kusamotu of blessed memory; the late Major-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the elder brother of the late president, Umaru (he has my picture in his home); Arthur Nzeribe, he is a friend. I’m younger to them but very close. If I go to Oguta, I will sleep in his house. I was here in 92/93 to work for the election of Chief Kolapo Olawuyi Ishola and when Osun State was created, I came home with Dr. Wale Adeniran. Adeniran happened to be the pioneer Education Commissioner here.

What about Oyinlola’s government, did you take part in the election of the governor too?

I took part. But after the election, I didn’t like the position they gave me – the Chairman of the State’s Sports Council and I also had a grouse with the governor then. By and large Action Congress (AC) came. My wife is a politician too,very powerful. At present, she is treasurer of the party at Olorunda Local Government. She left me in the PDP, she went to join the AC, which later became the ACN. Immediately the ACN people saw her, they said Hakuna would soon join them.

I refused to go to the office, they refused to sack me. I now said if I wanted to be sacked, the best thing I would do was to join a friend of mine when he was going for a political rally. I now joined him by holding a broom during one of his campaigns.

Oyinlola saw it. The second day, they brought my letter of sack. I was happy to take the letter of sack and we celebrated the sack by going to The Place (a joint in Osogbo). We celebrated my sack. I now fully joined ACN and we started dismantling the structure from Olorunda that we helped them to build.

I have to thank God today over the growth and development we are seeing in Osun State. I swear over the dead of my mother and son. The PDP can never win any election in Osun again. See what ACN is doing, see roads, see what is happening; see O’Yes thing, they employed over 20,000 people a thing which Oyinlola refused to do. In the next few months, the roads will be tarred. When that one is done, you will have a smooth ride with your vehicles and they are not stealing money. There are lots of changes on our roads, in every facet of lives, but Oyinlola, for seven and half years, they did nothing.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

It’s prayers that have saved Nigeria from break-up —Anambra PFN chair Bishop Eberechukwu Bishop David Eberechukwu is the Anambra State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the General Overseer (GO) of Overcomers Bible Ministries, Nigeria, with branches in other countries of the world. For the first time in years, he bared his mind on a lot of issues concerning PFN, Christians and his life as a Christian. In this encounter with ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU in Nnewi, Bishop Eberechukwu spoke on the insecurity in the country, his philanthropy and calling, among others. He also disclosed why he has never bought a car since 1991. Excerpts:

•Bishop Eberechukwu

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HO is Bishop David Eberechukwu?

I prefer answering ‘Brother’ because I cannot forget how Jesus met me and how I gave my life to Jesus Christ. So, I like answering Brother Eberechukwu.

But I know that by ordination, I am Bishop David Eberechukwu.

Our ministry is Overcomes Bible Ministries. It has three arms, namely Overcomers Bible Institute and Seminary. It is an arm which we use by God’s mandate to train ministers, pastors for the work of the ministries.

We do that free of charge and we have operated since August 1991.

We started it out of an encounter I had with Jesus Christ when He visited me and told me that I should not sell His word. I complied, and God has been faithful to His word.

We have graduated 787 pastors/ ministers of the gospel from there in various levels as the case may be.

Free tuition, free accommodation.

I thank God for what He is doing

with that arm of the ministry. The other one is Overcomers Bible Church.

How come everything in the institution is free?

That is the mandate of God. He has used people that love the kingdom to support whatever we are doing. People that obey the word of God, that if you can give a cup of water to God’s servant, that you will by every means get your reward. By the grace of God we have branches in Anambra, Port Harcourt and Abuja and other places outside Nigeria. God has been helping us.

Overcomers Bible Church is another arm of the Overcomers Bible Ministries. It is a growing church as well, with headquarters in Anambra. Then we have an outreach for crusades and missions.

My wife has her ministry focused on children. It is called Children Gospel Commission. She organises bible quiz exclusively for children during the August long vacation.

It is always a month-long activity in August; dedicated for studying the bible.

Did you jump into the ministry or you started as Bishop?

I started in a little way after my graduation from Cornerstone University, Nigeria campus. I read Special Education Management and Missions. Most of the things I see myself achieve in life and the ministry is nothing but miracles, and I give God all thanks and praises.

My education is also a miracle because without God’s mercy, I wouldn’t have been anybody. My struggles in life wouldn’t have also achieved much for me, but for God’s mercies.

I have an award of PhD from Cambridge University and I was consecrated Bishop five years ago by the Wesley Synod Kent England, comprising a college of bishops, numbering over 5,000 from all over the world; they operate a university called Saint Thomas Abaket

University, Kent England.

Why are you not preaching prosperity like other overseers in your ranking?

Well, I don’t believe in any preaching of prosperity in my ministry. What I received is the gospel. The gospel is all about the kingdom. The kingdom is all about a king and the king is all about Jesus Christ. He died and resurrected. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and He liveth forever more.

If we preach about the resurrected Christ, everything would be added – prosperity is there, health is there and everything that one would need in this life is there. But above all, you’ll have eternal life. So, if I am preaching the whole gospel, then I won’t lack. There is no sense in taking a part of a whole as your anchor point when you have the whole.

I see prosperity preaching as mailing the gospel through envelops. Prosperity is one envelope; healing another envelop and so on. It makes no sense. The whole gospel carries all the potentials that would make one dwell in the supernatural. And once you are in that realm, everything is made possible for you by God. But you are wealthy, with cars, magnificent church edifice among others?

No! It is not like that. Appearance is deceptive they say. I have told you that when you preach the full gospel, everything will follow.

When you don’t preach to merchandise, you preach the word as the word is. God will cause the blessings to come. If you preach to mercandise, people will know because it is a matter of time, and you wil be exposed. I have seen people that came up with prosperity preaching or merchandising the gospel, but today they are no where. But if you are preaching the right gospel without diversion, the Lord will bless you.

But it would be at God’s own time not yours. I started preaching sleeping on the ground. When I answered the call, I didn’t go out

with anything, but my bible. The first place I pastured I slept on the ground from early 80’s to 89. It was somewhere around 1991 that I started putting foam on the ground.

Let me tell you, if you preach this gospel the way it is supposed to be, the Lord will visit that person at the appointed time. So, at the appointed time, God started to embarrass me with blessings. Every preacher of the gospel of God must be tested, and after God must have tested the person, He would start to bless the person if the person remains faithful. I don’t believe that God would allow His messenger to be static when people in the secular world are promoted daily from one level to the other.

So God promotes His workers accordingly. No evil servant is promoted with queries everywhere in his or her file. That is the way it is with the gospel. If somebody is preaching the gospel faithfully, one day God will remember that person more than expected. Modecai was remembered at a time. He did something right, but went unrecognised until the appointed time and the king became restless until he blessed the life of Modecai.

Since my life of ministry, I have never bought a car.

All the cars I have gotten in my ministry have always been given to me by people. They would always say take this or that when they must have seen your faithfulness. It’s not a matter of preaching prosperity for crying out loud. When you preach the gospel you preach holiness, you preach sanctification, you preach obedience.

Did you request for the cars or they were simply given to you as gifts?

How can we request? They just do it. We don’t have time to request.

You do the right thing and God who knows how to reward the right thing would reward you. I have never gone to anybody to ask for cars. I have never. But I have seen people walk in and say ‘Bishop, have this. The Lord is saying we should give you this. I should give you this.’ I have been receiving cars

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 since 1991 till today and that is the way I am giving them out. They would give me, and I will give out. Ministry is about giving and taking. We grow by giving and taking. As we receive, we give. We are giving and keep receiving.

Do you have any particular regret since you started this ministry?

There are some of the things I’m supposed to do that I did not do. But I believe that the grace of God is becoming sufficient for me. I know that by the grace of God, we should have started preaching the gospel through the printed word, but we have not been able to do that. I pray and believe that God will help us actualise that by giving us a printing press.

I had an opportunity, I but did not make use of it. Somebody walked in here and wanted to give us a printing press, but I said no, that wasn’t what I was called for. Another person wanted to give us a machine for packaging water, which we turned down. If I had accepted those offers then, it would have created employment for our youths now and enhanced our income generation too. But God’s desires will come to pass.

If I had started a school aside the Bible School, by now we would have gone far.

They promised to help me then, but I turned it down thinking it would distract the gospel, but I have realised it is no distraction. Those are part of the regrets I have. So if I have my life to live again, I would put those things in place. But I have not really missed any of them because I am still young.

What are the challenges you encounter in your ministry?

My highest point is that I depopulate hell and populate heaven heavily. That’s my zenith, because I don’t believe hell should contain more people than heaven. But I don’t have challenges that should persuade me to rely on fellow men. The person I call is God, and I rely on Him. PFN has a specialist hospital that has gulped millions of naira, how far?

We have this vision to run a hospital to serve humanity because healthcare cannot be neglected in our society. We are building three hospitals in the three senatorial zones in Anambra State. We started building the one for the central senatorial zone at Awka, and then somehow, some unidentified people came and demolished where we have invested over N70 million, both in the purchase of land and other expenses in building the structure. We are looking and we are trusting God that the Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, would one day do something about it. We wrote the governor explaining our predicament.

But, we have another one storey building for our PFN Specialist Hospital, which was commissioned on 15th September, 2012, at Amawbia. It costs us over N100 million and it has 32 private wards and six-bedroom duplex for the medical personnel, as well as an administrative building. The medical director is Dr. Samuel Ihejioffor. The hospital will be committed to saving humanity as a specialist hospital.

What are the things that you can point to as your achievements As PFN Chairman in Anambra State?

We have achieved a lot. Immediately I took over, we conducted election into the PFN in 21 local governments of the state. We had a football competition for the youths in the 21 local government areas and gave awards to the best three teams and other awards.

The best three players were offered scholarship to the university level. Our women wing has not been as strong as they were before this administration. The women wing now has its presence in the 21 local government areas of the state. PFN, with its teaming population, is not a block to be toyed with at all.

The wife of Pastor Ayo Oritsajefor was here during the women’s convention last year.

This hospital, we are determined to complete them one in each zone. We already have a 40-feet container load of medical equipment for the hospital. We believe God that the state government would help us resolve the demolition saga for work to continue.

Your ministry is hosting an international summit. What is it about?

We hosted a clergy/church workers summit from 12th to 14th September, 2012.

This is the programme we have been hosting for the past three years now. Over 2,000 participants attended the summit.

It is all that is connected with the Rhema that God gave to me in 2008. And in 2009, the Lord spoke to me through the book of Psalm 114: 1-8, where the Bible says: ‘When

•Eberechukwu

If the church fails, there will be nothing like Nigeria in the first place. In fact, it is the prayers of the church that have been holding this country from collapsing... We have been doing something and the evidence is that we are alive today and we are enjoying Nigeria because without the church, this nation would have collapsed

‘

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the Israel went out of Egypt and the house of Jacob from the people of strange language, Judah was in the sanctuary and Israel his dominion. The sea saw them and fled. The presence of God was with them and the mountains were submitting. Every obstacle was submissive.’

They were all submitting to the Israelites because the presence of God was with them.

The Lord gave me a command that I should

go and order His people back to His presence.

That was what gave birth to the summit, which started since 2009.

It is all about a movement that is unbursting the glory of God that has been caged inside the church. There has been revival in the church. It is geared towards training the ministers, packaging the ministers to bring them to the concept that will bring the church to her expectations in accepting the society until the church starts to take over the society. In all the civilised countries we know today, the church transformed them. So we are trying to make way for this presence of God we have been enjoying in the church to start radiating in the society. That is transformation. The church has the primary function of evangelisation, civilisation, and education.

So we are actually looking for a national transformation, bringing a positive impact on our society by bringing experienced men who have been there to show us what is what. So the expectation has to do with spiritual, physical, mental, economy and political. Just like what we are experiencing today in Nigeria. So this year’s summit will bring a lot of changes, not only in the church world, but in the society at large.

You run a scholarship scheme for pastors.

How many are they?

That is what I am telling you. As I am talking to you now, we have over 200 pastors on scholarship. They are being transformed to transform the society. The society cannot be transformed without the church. India was transformed by a man of God who was just a shoemaker.

South Korea is transformed today because of Paul Yongi, he was a gift given to them.

America was transformed because of Christianity. So, if the church will be mobilising as we are doing to the society, this nation will be transformed in the nearest future. By 2020, Nigeria will never be the same Nigeria of today because the church is

mobilising gifts that will transform this nation.

And our target is to meet up with the standard of heaven and rapture. So it is not borne out of so much abundance, but out of the encounter I had with Jesus that has made like-minded people to flock around me to give me support in order to make those things happen. So it is not by power nor by might, but by the Spirit of the living God. Dont you think the church has failed the society?

We cannot say that the church has failed in the transformation agenda. If the church fails, there will be nothing like Nigeria in the first place. In fact, it is the prayers of the church that has been holding this country from collapsing.

The church is meant to take over nations and we start from Nigeria, from every domain we are – that is where we are going to. Jesus said in Matt. 28. ‘All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me.

Therefore, go yee into the world and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.’

So, it is the right of the church to take from what they have been enjoying inside to affect the society the more, not that they have collapsed completely in the sense that they have not been doing anything. We have been doing something and the evidence is that we are alive today and we are enjoying Nigeria because without the church, this nation would have collapsed. But we want to motivate the church and bring it to the point where they will start taking dominion of their environment, territory and domain.

How have you affected the lives of your host community people through your ministry?

It has been wonderful. We have so much impacted on the lives of Umunze people.

Overcomers Ministries have so much changed Umunze and added taste to this community. Through Overcomers, Umunze has been heard about throughout the world.

My cable network programme where I minister to over 150 nations in the world, Umunze is heard and seen every week.

African Broadcasting Network (ABN) has projected Umunze. By the grace of God, we are about going on NTA and other networks.

We have been a year in ABN. By the grace of God and with the hands of God upon my life, we have so much beautified Umunze.

We run international church workers summit here, and nations gather. We have done it since 2009. Ministers gather here in their thousands for a three-day training programme for them to go back to do better in their lives and ministries. Umunze as a whole has so much benefited. We have borehole here and we don’t charge money from people to fetch water. One of the most challenging things in Umunze in the 80’s and 90’s was water.

I know what we suffered here before we got this borehole. I have trained both indigenes and non-indigenes of Umunze. It is difficult to come from another state to come here and hold anything meaningful, but I think integrity has to do that. The PFN chairman of Enugu State is from Anambra State. The PFN chairman in Abia State is from Anambra, the CAN chairman in Abia State is also from Anambra, while the CAN chairman Imo State is from Anambra. So it is not a big deal. There is this notion that if you are not from Anambra State, you become a suspect, whereas Anambra people are everywhere in positions of authority.

What’s your opionion on the issue of security and unemployment in the country?

Well, the issue of unemployment is the reason for the fuel subsidy. I am believing God that Nigerians will comprehend the concept of Mr. President’s intention for removing the oil subsidy, which is to create employment for the unemployed. When you talk of the security threat in the nation, it is not unconnected with unemployment.

We should co-operate with Mr. President to ensure that what will come out of subsidy will be enough to employ our teaming unemployed youths.

The terrorism issue has been there, and I believe Mr. President and his team are not sleeping. And I told people that what we need to do is to keep praying for our nation. If not the prayers of the church, this nation would have collapsed, and we keep praying, believing that our Lord God in His infinite mercy will direct our president to tackle the issue. The president is doing a nice work, but I think that it should be fine- tuned.

FAMIL Y HEAL TH AMILY HEALTH

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Keys to a lasting marriage (2)

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EAR Reader, Welcome once again to this column. Last week, we began by looking at the concept of marriage.

This week, we shall examine the keys to a lasting marriage. Let us examine some of these keys.

•Communication This key is very vital in marriage. You may not enjoy your marriage, if you and your spouse don’t know how to communicate effectively. It is like having gold in a garden, but not knowing how to dig it out. The gold is there, but as long as it is not dug out, you cannot be enriched by it.

The basis of any fruitful and lasting relationship is effective communication. God our Father and our Ultimate, proved this to us by communicating His plans and intentions to those whom He trusted. He spoke clearly to Moses, Samuel, and David, right through to Jesus, and beyond Him, to those of us who love and serve Him. Marriage without effective communication never works.

A wise man once said,” If you talk together, you stay together.” How true!

In times past, particularly in the African societies, women were regarded as mere objects and a part of a man’s possessions, and were not consulted on major issues, neither were their views regarded as important. In those days, women stayed married because they had no choice. But that has never been God’s arrangement. He made marriage as an avenue for both husband and wife to find

fulfilment, which comes when there is effective communication.

Family Finance It is important to understand the place of money in marriage to avoid tension. Ecclesiastes 7:12 says: For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Money is simply a medium of exchange. It is required to live comfortably on the earth. It is a defence, because with it, you are not embarrassed.

However, handling finances is a very sensitive area for couples. It is, therefore, crucial to say a few things about family finances here.

Husbands: Right from the onset, when God blessed Adam with his wife Eve, he was made the head of the family. This charged him with the duty of providing for the house hold (1 Timothy 5:8). So, by God’s order, the husband is to provide for his family. He is the one who must ensure there is food for members of his family, that they are well taken care of, especially his immediate family members.

Wives: Everything the wife has belongs to her husband, even her income. If she is employed outside the home, she must submit all to him. This does not mean that she may not have her own separate account, if they both agree to this. But by divine order, this account also belongs to him.

The term “his” and “hers” is not allowed in the family finance. They both should have access to each other’s money. Where there‘s a joint account, no one should spend money without informing the other. As agreed by them, at an appointed time, they can both sit together to plan the family budget, mapping out how much should be spent on food, children and each other, as well as paying electricity bills, etc. It is refusing to work together as a team that places families under tension. Trust is the underlying factor in family finance.

•Commitment This is the backbone of any successful relationship, mar-

Your persistent back and neck pain What you would want to know; what you can do?

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HETHER you are engaged in p h y s i c a l l y demanding activities, or you spend most of your time sitting or lying down doing nothing, back and neck pain may occur singly or in combination accounting for over 60% of visits to the (OPD)outpatient department. In fact, the world health organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of adults will experience low back pain once in their life time. What you wear, how you wear it the way you stand, sit, bathe, pray, lie down to sleep, eat and drink can predispose to pain, take for instance, someone whose feet are flat on the floor (pes planus)instead of having the normal dome shape with a small hollow running from front to back on the inner side of the foot.

The attenuated longitudinal foot arches distorts the biomechanics of the foot and the unequal distribution of body weight makes it difficult for affected individuals to stand for prolonged periods, no matter how long they train. Affected ladies will do better to avoid wearing high heeled shoes or risk developing low back pain as they grow older.

Back pain can be acute or chronic.

Acute pain develops quickly and usually lasts no longer than 6 weeks. This is the most common type of back pain.

An example can be found in a situation when a sixty year old woman attempts to lift and transfer a fifty liter container filled with palm oil, and feels a sharp pain at the lower back.

Chronic pain, on the

other hand can be sudden or gradual and is usually of more than three months duration. It is usually less common.

CLINICAL ANATOMY The vertebral column runs from the occiput to the sacrum and acts as a scaffold for the structures of the head, neck trunk, upper and lower extremities. The three curves seen at the levels of the neck, thorax and the lumbar spine give the structure the resilience to withstand a total force nine times what a column that

is straight would carry. This became necessary to enable man assume and maintain the upright bipedal posture. The angles so formed have been described as cervical lordosis of the neck, thoracic kyphosis of the chest and lumbar lordosis of the lower back. These angles have been metrically analyzed in different populations across the world and have been found to be within some certain range; such that moving the body into positions that significantly increase or decrease the angles will set up series of adjustments that will in the final analysis result in back pain. At various levels, the cervical fascia, thoracodorsal fascia, the central tendon of the diaphragm, with the pericardium of the heart, the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, the vertebral column is connected to very vital structures such that deraignment of any segment can result in prolonged disability or even death from respiratory arrest [* File contains invalid data | In-line.JPG *] [* File contains invalid data | In-line.JPG *] A number of habits may be associated with back trouble:Lying in awkward positions, Holding head up too high while operating your personal computer, Pregnant and wearing very high heeled shoes, Kneeling down to pray for long hours at a stretch, sitting for too long, prolonged standing is not very good either, but better than sitting for too long, Sitting without a back rest, Sitting without a neck rest .Sitting on the floor with no back support to watch television is particularly bad for any one Children spending long hours in classroom even with well designed chairs, Wearing of back packs, and Scuba diving equipment, lifting weights with the knees held straight in extension Other factors Age: Except in cases of cancer ,e.g advanced cases of breast cancer the risk of developing back pain, increases with advancing age beginning from age 25 years Gender, Women are more likely to report symptoms of back pain compared with men just as, women wearing high heeled shoes are more likely to develop low back pains High parity( having large number of kids)is also strongly associated with back problems especially for mothers not keen on post natal exercise, Physical fitness, if you go on sitting down not even with non exercise activity thermogenesis(NEAT) , you stay off exercise for some time and suddenly –return —you could very quikly develop low back and waist

riage and family inclusive. It is the adhesive of every marriage. When commitment is lacking in the relationship between husband and wife, the chances of that home surviving is very slim.

Therefore, to enjoy family success, you must be committed both to the institution of marriage and to your spouse.

God has joined you together, but you must be so committed, both to the institution and your spouse that nothing is allowed to put you asunder (Mark 10:9).

Commitment makes you choose the expedient above the lawful. It makes you forgo some things that you like or take pleasure in at times. Rights and privileges that are lawfully yours, may have to be forfeited in the interest of the family.

God’s Word says: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Commitment, therefore, demands that you promote whatever it will take, for you to ensure that peace reigns perpetually in your marriage. Whatever shortcomings your spouse or other members of your household may have, commitment demands that you find a way to cope with them.

Your commitment to God is the gateway to your commitment to your spouse; you must therefore, first be committed to God. This entails surrendering your life to Christ by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you are set for this change, please say this prayer of faith: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Till I come your way again next week, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-17747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102 For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches, and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, and Building A Successful Family.

Health Matters With DR MIKE OYAKHIRE 08170268670 email: drmikeoyakhire@yahoo.com pain Heredity. Know yourself before you indulge. There are three groups of body types –the ectomorph type of person is slim built and looses energy rapidly ,He can eat and drink whatever he can with little or no effect on his weight .The heavily built mesomorph can build up muscles which if kept underutilized quickly becomes liable to traction and back pain The round soft fatty features of an individual endomorph instruct that he eats sparingly because no matter how hard he tries, only little fat is burnt with exercise as he accumulates fat readily even with little meals One leg may be significantly longer than the other one, as to cause sacral unlevelling, Pes planus (flat feet) may be compounded with wearing of high heeled shoes High riding iliac crest (the Hip bone) with almost no space between the lowest point of your rib cage and highest point of your hip bone. All these may cause incapacitating back and neck pain Racial factors have been suggested, ;Research has shown that African women, for example, are two to three times more likely than white women to develop spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebral bone of the lower spine slips forward on another . Recent studies have found that Nigerians have low lumbosacral angulation, compared with whites Oyakhire et al., higher percentage of work related musculoskeletal disorders (Qmonkhodion et al, Odebyi et al).

Presence of other diseases: These include various forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and cancers elsewhere in the body that may spread to the spine. E.g advanced breast cancer, sickle cell anaemia, tuberculosis of the spine etc Occupational risk factors: poor ergonomics, wrong fitting of machine to man- akward position , confined space, chair design, farming tools designed without ergonomic principles.

Jobs that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, particularly when these involve twisting or shaking the spine, can lead to injury and back pain.

Jobs that require prolonged sitting put you at a higher risk of developing back problems, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day in an uncomfortable chair or if you are working in a narrow confining space.

Life style: cigarette smoking interferes strongly with the metabolism of the versi nervorum with consequent reduced ability to deliver nutrients to the intervertebral disks Bouts of coughing due to heavy smoking associated with Chronic bronchitis may cause back pain. For women in the period around the menopause, heavy smoking increases the risk of osteoporosis, and the resulting weak, porous bones, can lead to fractures of the vertebrae.

Smoking interferes with the metabolism of vitamin C slow healing, What you eat and drink-high carbohydrate, high fat low protein diet, excessive alcohol.

To be continued

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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EFCC seizes N310m duplex traced to ex-Governor Sylva

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has seized a duplex valued at N310million traced to exGovernor Timipre Sylva.

The commission has also uncovered another N710million mansion in Abuja allegedly belonging to the former governor.

According to a top source in the commission, the two houses were allegedly bought through some fronts, including a company, Marlin Maritme Limited. It was learnt that investigation into

Boko Haram: Nsukka Catholic Cathedral bans women with big head ties, handbags

…uncovers another N710m mansion Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation the N710million mansion was still in progress as at press time with the EFCC launching manhunt for the Managing Director of Marlin Maritme Limited, who is said to be on the run.

The source said: “The EFCC has raked up more startling discoveries in the investigation of the looting of Bayelsa State treasury by former Governor Timpreye Sylva.“ The agency has uncovered a network of fronts through which the former governor acquired choice property in major cit-

ies, especially the FCT. One of the property linked to the former governor is a duplex valued at N310m situated at Cachez Estate, Mpape, Abuja. ”This duplex has been seized under the Assets Forfeiture Clause in Section 26 of the EFCC Act 2004 pending the determination of the trial of the exgovernor. Section 26 reads in part: (1) “Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the Commission in the following circumstances – (a) the seizure incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the court following

an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules. (2) Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may – (a) place the property under seal, or (b) remove the property to a place designed by the Commission. (3) Property taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in the custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a court.

The source also gave details of the second mansion allegedly traced to the exgovernor which is under investigation. The source added: “Another is a mansion valued at N700m located

Chris OJI and Moses OYEDIRAN, Enugu

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OMEN have been banned from coming to Sunday service in St Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral Parish, Nsukka with big-head gear and hand bags.

This is with a view to guaranteeing the safety of church members from bomb attacks.

The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has said that the recent ban was in order.

Monsignor Taddeo Onoyima, the Vicar-General, in an interview with The Nation in Nsukka said it has become imperative, considering the continuous activities of Boko Haram members in targeting places of worship.

“It has become imperative that the church becomes wiser in handling the insecurity posed to it by the Boko Haram sect, so we deemed it fit to outlaw the wearing of head gears and carrying of hand bags to church.

“They may disguise themselves as women and smuggle bombs inside the church.”

Onoyima who doubles as the chaplain of St Peter’s Catholic Church University of Nigeria, Nsukka commended the move by the administrator of the cathedral.

“I commend Rev. Fr. Uche Obodochina, the initiator, for his foresight in putting in place a measure for the safety of members, we are all aware of the menace of Boko Haram in the country for some time now.

“The move is welcomed, given the security challenges in the country,” he said.

He, however, applauded the Federal Government’s efforts, in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, but urged it to do more to ensure that the activities of Boko Haram is eradicated.

“It is incumbent on government to protect lives and property of citizens which I know they have been doing to stop the activities of these terrorists. However, they must work harder to end the present security challenges facing the county.

According to him, this restriction on women had been enforced in St Peter’s chaplaincy earlier before that of the cathedral.

“It is aimed at ensuring security as well as instilling moral discipline among church members,

off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent in high brow Wuse II, Abuja. “The Wuse mansion was acquired in the name of Marlin Maritme Limited, a company owned by Timpreye Sylva. The Managing Director of the company is currently on the run. “Operatives of the Commission, following the money trail, are closing in on the front

Displaced Bakassi fishermen protest in Calabar Nicholas KALU, Calabar

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UNDREDS of Nigerian fishermen displaced from the ceded Bakassi Peninsula on Friday marched through the streets of Calabar, protesting alleged rape of their women and harrassment by Cameroon gendarmes. They also lamented homelessness and inability to assess the waters for their fishing business.

The protesters said they were residing at the ceded peninsula before the Federal Government surrendered it to Cameroon.

Some of the placards by the protesting fishermen had inscriptions such as “Our women/children have been abused sexually due to the loss of our land,” “Bakassi returnees are not settled, yet the land has been ceded, where do we stand?

“We have lost so much, houses, farmlands, products, canoes, fishing nets etc, how do we start all over?

At the governor’s office,, their spokesperson said they were the affected returnees in Bakassi Peninsula ceded to Cameroon and that they protested to inform the governor what they had lost and the pains they were passing through.

He said: “Bakassi is our ancestral land and we were born and brought up there. Our parents trained us there, but now we cannot have access to our homeland. We are over 2, 500 returnees that came back in 2009, up till now, we don’t have accommodation.

“When the governor came here, he promised us 100 units of houses, but up till now, there is no foundation. We do not have medical facilities and it seems to us that we don’t even have a future. The governor had approved N5, 000 to each of us every month, but those in charge have not paid us for some time now. We are disappointed that government did not appeal against the ICJ judgment.

“Where we are staying now, any of the returnees that dies there, there is no place to bury the person as we are not allowed to bury our dead at the place,” he said.

•President Jonathan (left), with Governor Obi in Anambra... yesterday

Jonathan shocked by extent of Anambra, Delta flooding

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on the second day of his on-the-spot assessment of states devastated by flood, yesterday, expressed shock at the extent of the flooding in Anambra and Delta States, but pledged Federal Government’s succour for the victims.

President Jonathan said at the Father Joseph Memorial High School, Aguleri, Anambra State camp for the displaced that top on the list of government’s provisions for them, is proper resettlement of the victims.

“The Federal Government will work with the state government and other organizations to resettle the victims,” the President said, explaining that the National

Okungbowa AIWERIE, Asaba Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation was set up for the purpose of assisting the flood victims return to normal life.

Governor Peter Obi, who cancelled his trip to Japan for the World Bank/IMF meeting to receive the President, thanked him for identifying with the state and noted that the visit has brought a lot of relief to the victims. He said no fewer than 20 camps have been set up in the state to accommodate the victims.

The Aguleri camp alone accomodates 6721 victims.

Earlier at another displaced persons’ camp in Asaba, Delta

State, President Jonathan pledged government’s assistance of provision of hybrid seedlings to farmers in the affected areas.

The President who assessed the affected areas aboard a chopper said: “You are not alone in this and I have come here to sympathise with you.

We are working hard to provide you with high yielding seeds and seedlings that will grow fast and mature quickly so that you will have something to fall back on when the flood reduces.”

The President commended Delta State government for providing comfort at the camp, especially medical facilities such as ultra-modern ambulance equipped with

operational theatre and wards.

Dr. Jonathan said he was impressed with the condition of the flood victims and commended the state governor for the programme lined up to keep the victims busy. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his address, told the President that four local government areas in the state have been totally submerged, while 12 local government areas were affected overall.

Governor Uduaghan, however, expressed fears of how to resettle the displaced persons at the post-flood era, saying: “Our greatest concern is how to resettle the victims when the flood recedes. They have lost everything and they are to start all over again.”

Tension in Imo over EFCC’s visit

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HERE was palpable tension at the weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, following the visit of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the state to probe activities of the previous and present administration in the state.

When The Nation visited some of the ministries, some of the staff who appeared apprehensive, declined comments and referred the reporter to the appropriate quarters.

It was gathered that some of the commissioners have gone into hiding to escape the EFCC operatives who have been in the state since Wednesday and have quizzed a substantial number of former commissioners in the

Okodili NDIDI, Owerri state.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Rev. Emmanuel Ebomuche, denied rumours of his arrest and detention by the antigraft agency.

Ebomuche who spoke with The Nation, confirmed that the EFCC operatives stormed his office on Thursday but did not arrest him or any of the officials of the commission.

He, however, disclosed that the EFCC demanded for records of contracts and financial dealings of ISOPADEC from 2007 to 2011.

He described the speculation that he had been whisked to Abuja by the EFCC as “malicious and a desperate attempt” by politicians to tarnish the image of the Commission.

“EFCC operatives were here and they demanded for official working documents of the ISOPADEC from 2007 to 2011 and we handed all documents to them.”

According to him, the commission, in the last one year under the Rochas Okorocha’s administration, has been battling to reverse the case of abuse of office perpetrated during the previous administration. disclosing that between 2007 to 2011 ISOPADEC received about N10billion without any

who helped the former governor to acquire the property.

“A number of accounts traced to the front, were opened in his name but bearing different passport photographs. The front, (name withheld) is currently on the run. Ex-Governor Sylva is already standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on some charges bordering on fraud and money laundering.

thing to show for it.

When contacted the Imo state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, said that the visit of the EFCC to the state was not strange, adding that, “EFCC is a government Agency that has the right to demand for the working document of any state government. There visit to the state is to investigate the billions of naira spent during the previous administration”.

Offor who described as false the rumour that some of the Commissioners have become jittery, noted that, “the current Commissioners have nothing to fear, we are in our offices doing our work, this administration is barely one year and we have nothing to hide”

Imo robbery scare: CP orders banks to re-open

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he Imo State Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta, has directed banks in the state which have remained closed after last week’s robbery scare to re-open with immediate effect.

The CP assured the banks that the state command had strengthened security arrangements around financial institutions and other public and private places in the state, noting that enough manpower had been deployed to patrol all strategic places in the state.

It was reported that some banks in Orlu, Orlu Council Area of the state have remained under lock and key after last week’s attempted robbery which was successfully foiled by the police.

Briefing journalists in his office, Bolanta, disclosed that the command has intensified police patrol around banks in the state, to ensure adequate security around the financial institution: “I held a meeting with the regional managers of the banks and assured them of our commitment and efforts to safeguard the banks and they all agreed to reopen, but in Orlu, some of the banks are yet to re-open and it is an act of sabotage to remain shut despite everything the command has done to provide security at the banks.”

THE NATION, Saturday, October 13, 2012

58 NEWS

UNIPORT Four: We had no hand in their murder, says Ogbakor Aluu chair n Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt n HE Ogbakor Aluu, comprising OmuokiriAluu where four students of the University of Port Harcourt were murdered penultimate Friday,says it had no hand in the incident.

Ogbakor Aluu comprises nine communities.

Responding to wide spread condemnation of the community for the murder of the students, Chairman of Ogbakor Aluu,Mr.Emma Wawhor,said the community does not even have a vigilance group which some people have been cited as spearheading the attack on the victims.

Mr.Wawhor who spoke at a press conference said that majority of the residents of OmuokiriAluu are students and non-indigenes and that the tradition of the area forbids the people from

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spilling the blood of a fellow human being.

He condemned the gruesome murder and condoled the families of the deceased students and the entire staff and students of UNIPORT, on the ugly incident.

Wawhor said: “The area where the late students were accosted by the so-called faceless vigilantes is not the area inhabited by natives (of Aluu), but students and non-indigenes.

“We urge the government and its security apparatus to fish out the true perpetrators of this dastardly and barbaric act and bring them to justice, as being demanded by the entire world, including the good people of Aluu clan.”

He accused the police of abandoning the people of the community when they needed their protection most when their lives,vehicles and houses became objects of assault from those protesting the students’ murder.

He said the security agencies knew those threatening the peace of the area but rather than curb their menace they turned the other eye.

Wawhor said: “The area (Omuokiri-Aluu) has been recording on a daily basis, incidents of armed robbery, rape, kidnapping and inter-cult war.

“The security situation in Aluu further degenerated when the government (Federal Government) decided to camp militants (repentant) in Aluu, as part of the amnesty programme.

“There was the case of a man, who was robbed at gunpoint and the robbers made him to hold a torch for them, while they gang-raped his wife. In another instance, a pregnant woman was raped, which led to her having miscarriage.

“Very recently, there existed a gang of robbers in Port Harcourt, which specialised in

shooting policemen. Upon intelligence, their hideout, which was still within this part of Aluu, was raided by security agents and the cache of arms recovered there is enough to arm a small army.”

Wawhor also stated that prior to the lynching, the Ogbakor Aluu, being the Community Development Committee (CDC) of the entire Aluu clan had on many occasions engaged the government and the security agencies in fashioning out ways of minimising the high rate of insecurity, caused by criminals.

He noted that the Aluu people had on September 16, 2008, written to the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) and the chairman of Ikwerre local government, to upgrade the Aluu police post to a divisional police headquarters, lamenting that till date, nothing had been done on it.

Kano electricity company generates N1bn revenue n Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano n HE management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company has declared that it generated N1.02 billion as revenue in the month of September.

The Kano office said that the increase in revenue was as a result of improved service due to recent increase in power supply to 260 megawatts.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Balogun, told a team of House Committee on Power yesterday in Kano said that “When the present management assumed duty some three years back, the monthly revenue base was a paltry N400 million. But today, we are celebrating our latest unprecedented achievement of a landmark N1.02 Billion last September.

Balogun said the major constraint of the company is that they are yet to receive the second quarter allocation of the 2012 budget from the Federal Ministry of Finance adding that the management only received allocation for first and third quarter, while that of the second quarter was still hanging.

According to him, of the N886, 022, 331 allocated to Kano Electricity Distribution Company in the 2012 budget, only 38 per cent of the total sum has been received from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

He further listed some of the challenges facing the management to include the continued destruction of PHCN properties by vandals, inadequate budgetary provisions, late release of appropriated funds, as well as inefficient workforce in the company.

Despite the short comings, the CEO stressed that, “through the judicious use of the appropriated funds, we were able to accomplish a number of projects that have impacted significantly on the stability and integrity of our distribution network through our scope of coverage over the recent years,”.

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•Fuel queue in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Handcuffed suspect escapes from police custody in Ilorin FFICERS of the Kwara State police command are presently trying hard to find answers to the mysterious disappearance of a handcuffed suspected gun runner from their custody.

The suspect, according to police sources, was expelled from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, over alleged involvement in anti-social behaviour.

The suspect, said to be a son of a traditional chief in the are, arrested by security operatives who trailed him to his residence at Agbo-Ile in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin, for allegedly selling a rifle to another suspect, who is being held by the police.

He allegedly escaped while the police were still preparing papers for his appearance in court. It was, however, gathered that two of the suspect’s younger brothers had been arrested to lure him back to the security agency.

When contacted, the State Police Spokesman, Femi Fabode, denied knowledge of the incident.

Meanwhile, an Ilorin Magistrate Court has remanded a policeman, Salami Adesina, and three others in prison for alleged involvement in armed robbery.

The other accused are Raman Musa, Emmanuel Ogbonaya and Abolarin Sunday.

They were said to have robbed their victim of the sum of N20, 000 and one Nokia cell phone at gun point.

They were arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery, which the prosecutor argued contravened Section 97 of the Penal Code and Section

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1(2) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms Act. The policeman, serving with Police 'A' Division, Ilorin, was said to have been attached to a new generation bank, located on Unity Road in Ilorin, before his alleged involvement in the crime.

He was said to have been

issued with a service browning pistol with 10 rounds of live ammunitions for official use.

The accused was said to have on the day in question introduced himself to three people as a police officer and went ahead to arrest them without any reason.

The arrested persons were said to have been handcuffed and with the assistance of the other accused, took the victims to a secluded spot around Flower Garden area of the metropolis, where they were allegedly disposed of the money on them.

Gombe to rehabilitate 6,800 physically challenged S part of the efforts to make life better for its citizens, the government of Gombe State has embarked on the construction of two rehabilitation centres, where about 6,800 people with disability in state can learn trades and be self-dependent.

Briefing the press after the State Executive Council meeting, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, said the decision was reached after taking a census of the people with disabilities in the state.

She disclosed that the immediate-past administration in the state earmarked some employment slots for physically-challenged people and diverted same to the able-bodied members of the public.

The Commissioner said government is planning to absorb the qualified ones into the civil service structure, while the others would be deployed to learn trades at the centres being constructed in Gombe, Balanga ,Gombe North

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n Vincent OHONBAMU, Gombe n and South local government areas respectively.

In the same vein, three ultramodern Women Development Centres have been earmarked for construction across the three senatorial districts.

The decision, she said followed the unacceptable level of dilapidation, decay, and in some cases, disappearance of supposed existing centres, adding that plans have reached advanced stage for the construction of an orphanage and an amusement park in the state capital to cater for interest of children.

She, however, explained that the state was foot-dragging on the Child Rights Act issue due to its sensitivity, vis-à-vis the social-cultural norms, promising that the state would do so as soon as the modalities for its workability and compatibility are worked out.

Don’t hold Almakura responsible for poor state of schools, says commissioner HE Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, Hussaini I. Abubakar, has said the previous administration in the state is to blame for the poor conditions of some schools in the state.

The commissioner’s assertion came on the heels of the photograph of dilapidated buildings of a primary school, the Central Pilot Primary School, Akwanga, published on the front page of a national newspaper, recently.

Speaking in a statement, Abubakar said it would not be fair to blame the conditions of the

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schools on the administration of Governor Tanko Almakura, which he said is in the state on a rescue mission. Instead, he said, the previous administration in the state, under whose watch the condition of the school degenerated should held responsible.

“It is a clear demonstration of the kind of rot that was inherited by the CPC government from the past administration, arising from insensitivity and recklessness occasioned by diversion of funds meant for the development of the people of our dear state,” Abubakar stated.

STF confirms killing of 75-year-old grandma, 13 others in Plateau HE military Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau in Jos on Friday confirmed the murder of 14 persons in separate attacks on some rural communities in the state between Wednesday and Thursday.

The STF said in a statement that among those murdered was a 75-year-old woman in Sara village of Riyom Local Government Area.

The statement, signed by the STF media officer, Lt. Kingsley Egbo, said: : ``The old woman was killed along with her three children.’’

It said gunmen also attacked and wiped out a family of eight at a remote village, near Sop in Makera and two others at Lotton village in Jol, Riyom Local Government Area.

The statement said the task force had got a lead on the possible attackers and was making efforts to arrest the suspects.

The STF also said that its personnel had arrested some herdsmen, who allegedly attacked farmers working on their farms at Rarin-Sho village of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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Governor Segun Mimiko’s inaccuracies on Tinubu’s education legacy

T was only natural that the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Segun Mimiko, and his Labour Party would respond forcefully and fiercely to the recent massive campaign rallies of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ikare, Ondo and Ore. The leadership of the ACN at every point promised to replicate the ongoing radical modernisation of infrastructure in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo and Oyo in Ondo State if the party’s candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, is voted into office on October 20. They decried the perceived non-performance of the Mimiko administration over the last three and a half years, aggressively made the case for the ongoing process of regional integration in the South West and argued that Ondo, where the Action Group was launched in the first republic, cannot afford to be isolated from the rest of the region at this critical stage in the evolution of Nigeria. On the character issue, the ACN campaign hit Mimiko hard over his alleged reneging on his pledge to join the party following the fervent support he received from the progressives during the legal battle to reclaim his mandate. They contended that such lack of gratitude and breach of trust is alien to the ‘omoluabi’ culture of the Yoruba.

The Labour Party seized the opportunity of its rally at Okitipupa in the Southern Senatorial District of the state to hit back at the ACN. Taking a swipe at the ACN national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Mimiko said: “In Ondo State, the ACN is not on ground and they will meet their political waterloo. Please ask them what they are doing in Osun that we have not done better? In any of their states, Ondo State is better managed than them. I salute Babatunde Fashola, whatever anybody may say, he has shown a flash of brilliance in governance. But the eight years before Fashola, what did they do in Lagos? They used eight years to build just one Millennium School; we in Ondo State, in just three and a half years built world class mega schools all over the state”.

Now, there are several problems with the governor’s logic here. First, he is imprecise on the number of ‘world class mega schools’ his administration has built. Secondly, his admission that Governor Fashola has performed brilliantly is instructive. Fashola is not implementing his own personal programme in Lagos. He is executing the policy plank of the ACN, which was actually commenced by the Tinubu administration. Mimiko is, therefore, indirectly admitting that the ACN has a workable and coherent policy programme.

Again, it was Tinubu that recommended Fashola as the best man to succeed him amidst fierce opposition within the party. If Fashola has justified Tinubu’s recommendation by performing well, according to Mimiko, it means that the

•Mimiko

•Tinubu

Now, is it true that the Tinubu administration built only one Millennium school in eight years? The whole idea of Mega schools was actually copied by Mimiko from Lagos. The Tinubu administration built four of such Millennium secondary schools in its first term in office

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THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Segun AYOBOLU

former Governor of Lagos State is a good judge of leadership qualities and the people of Ondo State can thus rely on his recommendation of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu as a candidate that can transform the state.

Beyond this, Mimiko contended that ACN’s talk of regional integration “is the integration of the pocket of one person”. If that is so, how come that Fashola in Lagos has effectively managed the resources of the state to demonstrate “a flash of brilliance” as Mimiko admits? If the aim is to milk the resources of Ondo State as Mimiko alleges, would the ACN have chosen a candidate like Akeredolu, a SAN and former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) with a reputation for character, integrity and a

fiercely independent mind?

Now, is it true that the Tinubu administration built only one Millennium school in eight years?

The whole idea of Mega schools was actually copied by Mimiko from Lagos. The Tinubu administration built four of such Millennium secondary schools in its first term in office at a cost of N145 million each. These are Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Iloro, Agege; Ajibola Ige Millennium Senior Secondary School, AjeromiIfelodun; The Millennium Senior Secondary, Egbeda and the Babs Fafunwa Millennium Secondary, Ojodu, Ikeja.

With the construction of these four mega schools, the Tinubu administration deliberately changed its strategy and focussed on the aggressive rehabilitation of existing schools as well as the construction of smaller and more efficiently manageable school structures.

Some of the Tinubu administration’s achievements in this regard include the provision of 22-storey prototype blocks in 15 secondary schools at a total cost of N130 million; the rehabilitation of 39 functional blocks of classrooms at a cost of N108,689, 939.00; the establishment of 10 new secondary schools in rural and riverine areas of the state; the construction of 39 functional blocks with the 6 in I Bungalow classroom blocks at a cost of N54, 300,000.00; the construction of 501 classrooms in 24 primary and 26 secondary schools at a cost of N1,195 billion; the rehabilitation of 602 schools in four primary and 50 secondary schools at a cost of N561 million; the completion of 68 abandoned classrooms in four primary schools and the central workshop in two technical colleges at a cost of N347 million

and carrying out of emergency repairs in 68 schools across the state at a total cost of N50 million.

Between 1999 and 2007, the Tinubu administration constructed 215, 230 pairs of dual desks and benches in primary, secondary and technical colleges.

In the first two years of its first term, the administration spent N44, 591, 302.00 on the provision of science furniture, fixtures and fittings to schools. Between 1999 and 2007, the Tinubu government expended N419,693, 740.00 on the provision of science materials for students in public schools towards the WAEC/NECO Senior Secondary Certificate Practical Examinations.

Throughout his tenure, the Tinubu administration paid the WAEC and NECO fees for Senior Secondary 111 students in public schools. The Tinubu administration established Computer Resource Centres in 40 public secondary schools in the state equipped with Computer systems, Printers, UPS stabilisers, Computer tables, chairs and scanners. The sum of N7.1 million was expended on the construction of five Introductory Technology workshops and N4,749,000.00 for the installation of Introductory Technology Equipment in the Junior Secondary Schools.

The administration established 14 new primary, Junior and Secondary schools between 1999 and 2007 to accommodate increase in the school age population. These schools are Ije-Ododo Grammar school, Ojo; Onilekere Junior High School, Ikeja; Oto-Awori Junior High School, Ojo; Olorunishola Community High School, Ayobo-Ipaja, Alimosho; Elepe Community High School, Ikorodu; Community Primary School, Ishefun, Alimosho; Community Primary School, Amikanle, Alimosho; Community Primary School, Baruwa, Alimosho; Community Primary School, Togodejoye, Ikorodu; Aiyekoto Primary School, Imude, Ojo; Community Primary School, Shibiri, IbejuLekki and Community Primary School, Nanty Village, Apapa.

In 2006, the administration for the first time in the history of the country paid N4.7 million for the NABTEB examination fees for all final year students in the five state government Technical Colleges. The Ministry of Education presented cheques of N200 million to principals and head teachers of senior and junior secondary schools in December 2006. In 2005, the administration re-structured the state into six new Educational Districts and for the first time, teachers were able to rise to the position of Permanent Secretaries/Tutor Generals as heads of each education district.

This brief overview demonstrates that Governor Mimiko was grossly inaccurate in his assessment of Tinubu’s legacy in the education sector of Lagos State.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-10-12

‘Govt should make capital market cornerstone of transformation agenda’ • Pencom to increase PFA’s equities’ limit to 50%

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HE Federal Government needs to fully integrate the capital market as the cornerstone of the transformation agenda as there could be no transformation without the catalytic roles of the long-term arm of the financial markets.

This was the consensus of leading private and public sectors executives at the 16th annual stockbrokers’ conference and induction of new associates of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) held at Orchid Hotel, Ajah, Lagos.

Speakers and participants at the high-profile conference included Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; President, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, managing director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi; director general, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh; director general, Debt Management Office (DMO), Mr. Abraham Nwankwo; director general, National Pension Commission, Mr. Muhammad Ahmad; president, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr Ariyo Olushekun; managing director, Livestock Feeds Plc, Mrs Modupe Asanmo; chief executive officer, NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema and several chief executives of stockbroking firms.

They noted that long-term capital formation and appropriate mechanism for distri-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

bution of such capital are crucial to sustainable development.

Governor Fashola, who was represented by commissioner for tourism and intergovernmental affairs, Mr Disun Holloway, stressed the crucial roles of government in the creation of robust economy.

He pointed out that government’s expenditures should be targeted at enhancing the growth of the economy through creation of jobs, provision of infrastructure and distribution of wealth across the cadres.

Dangote outlined the need for the government to support sustainable development of the capital market by providing fiscal and direct incentives including tax holiday and tax break for quoted companies, inclusion of Nigerian capital market as investment avenue for the sovereign wealth fund, establishment of capital market stabilization fund, debt forbearance for stockbrokers with margin loans and a cardinal policy enforcing the listing of large-cap companies in major sectors telecommunication, oil and gas and power.

Oteh said government should use the capital market as mechanism for its privatization programme by ensuring that companies that are being privatized are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

In his address, Olushekun said government should ad-

dress the lopsidedness of the Nigerian growth noting that stock market as a barometer of national economy usually represents sizeable proportion of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) but this is not the case in Nigeria.

According to him, the only way to make Nigerians participate in the economic development and wealth creation of the country is through the listing of major companies on the NSE. “Listing of such companies should become a requirement for renewing their operating licences. Similarly, the residula interests of the government in the power companies being currently privatized should be sold to Nigerians by offer for sale and same listed from the very first day,” Olushekun said.

He noted that capital market remains the only place where private investors and governments can access long-term funding needed for infrastructure and capital project funding.

Ahmad, said that the commission would in 2013 release new savings classification for both young, middle age and retiring workers.

Ahmad, who was represented by Mr Ehimeme Ohioma, Head Investment Supervision Department of PENCOM, said that under the new structure, equities market investment limit for young segment could be as high as 50 per cent.

The director-general noted that Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) under the new structure would ensure investment of middle age and retiring workers savings in less volatile areas.

He however urged the capital market operators and regulators to step up efforts aimed at sustaining market integrity and confidence.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-10-12

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA

Eagles… redeem your image • Continued from back page professionals, especially when they started blaming NFF eggheads for failing to interpret the rules to them. Such is the commitment of our players to Nigeria's matches that no one will blame the fans, if they shun the stadium today for better things. However, it could be a redemption day for the Eagles and it is about time.

In past years, many fans would be in a party mood, predicting who would score the goals. You won't blame them because watching Eagles then could reduce one's blood pressure. Fans stormed the stadium in smart kits to join the celebrations. Many of them lost their voices. Work stopped the following week, with everyone talking about the highpoints of the game. In fact, the week preceding the game, the discussion would centre on how fans could save money to watch their idols, where friends could gather to watch the game on big screens, especially those outside the city where the match was played and where fan would spend the evening savouring the sweetness of victory. Not anymore.

Now, the fan's heart is broken- always.

Years past, players played with their hearts. They knew what it meant to disappoint the fans because they lived with them and would not want to be asked the question: what happened? Since these players of yore lived with the fans, they gave their best. They knew that disappointed fans could take the laws into their hands. They had also seen how those who failed in the past were treated.

Not anymore. Now, there is a new generation of Eagles who play in Europe. They leave the fans gnashing their teeth and raining curses on them. In their absence, the fans vent their spleen on the NFF as if the ones before them were any better. Don't remind me of incidents such as that in which the Eagles cut their tracksuits into shorts to play a game. Or is it the incident where we forgot players' passports at home? What stood Eagles' players out was their fighting spirit, laced with the non-stop support from the world acclaimed Nigeria Supporters Club. Many have asked what happened to this fighting spirit.

But today, the Eagles must confront the Liberians as if their lives depend on the match. As they walk onto the pitch, they may find half-field seats. Rather than allow this setting to dampen their minds, they should see it as the challenge to win the fans back. And only a resounding victory can lure heart-broken Nigerians to watch them.

Our coaches must pick our best 11 players. They must pay attention to the trends in the game. They must be prepared to take early decisions than wait for the crucial moments. We must start to score goals with the first three opportunities. Early goals anchored on sustained pressure that will force the opponents into committing more errors.

Asking the wingers to fall into the midfield is obsolete; it must be discarded. What this system has caused Nigerians is panic, high blood pressure and disappointment. Samson Siasia adopted this pattern and failed.

Tasking the wingers with additional responsibilities of dropping into the midfield burns their energy. Little wonder, the Eagles trek on the pitch in the closing stages of games and are unable to defend slim goal margins.

One may not be a coach, but the language of football is the same. Eagles have natural midfielders who can win the balls back from the opposition and pass it to fellow midfielders, who will supply the sublime passes to the strikers to rip the net open.

One won't join the league of critics chastising goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. Stephen Keshi's preference for two holding midfielders creates a void in the midfield, which the opposition exploits. Again, Eagles don't pay attention to such details as man-marking the opponent's danger men.

Enyeama should still be in goal, but one must plead with the coaches to parade overlapping wing backs to increase the supply line of crosses from the flanks for the two strikers to bang in the goals. One doesn't know what the Eagles' tacticians see in Emmanuel Emenike. He falls easily, making it difficult for referees to support him, given his physique. One would opt for a two-man attack of Brown Ideye and Ike Uche.

Eagles coaches have watched how Chelsea's manager Roberto D' Matteo plays John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses in their recent league matches. Moses is given a free role to operate at Chelsea; because he is fast, he commits his markers into making hasty tackles in critical areas where free kicks can be converted into goals. Besides, he passes and shoots the ball well. One will opt for Joel Obi and Onazi Oguenyi for a water tight four-man midfield. I know that Keshi will pick Obiora Nwankwo ahead of Onazi and one won't quarrel with him. Nosa Igiebor was confused in Monrovia and lacked the initiative to co-ordinate the midfield even though he scored the first goal. Who won't score that as a professional, anyway? This idea of asking Ahmed Musa and Uzoenyi to fall back is cumbersome and has not yielded any dividend.

Defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey Oboabona, Umar Zango, Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile have been the Eagles' albatross in matches. They are so uncoordinated that one pass beats them hollow, leaving Enyeama exposed for slaughter. Only Egwuekwe plays well with unmatchable his aerial prowess.

All said, one doesn't need to worry if the opposition is Liberia, given the two countries' pedigree in football. Therefore, Keshi and his men must crush Liberia at dusk. We don't want to hear that there are no minnows in football. Liberia is a minnow to us just as we would be in the eye of pundits, if Nigeria is pitched against Spain at the 2014 World Cup. Good luck great ambassadors. This is your best chance to redeem your image.

BATTLE OF CALABAR

Oboabona to replace injured Yobo

S

UNSHINE STARS’ skipper Godfrey Oboabona is most favoured to replace injured Joseph Yobo in Saturday’s AFCON showdown against Liberia.

MTNFootball.com can specially reveal that Oboabona will be picked ahead of Glasgow Celtic ace Efe Ambrose because he has a better understanding playing alongside towering Warri Wolves centre half Azubuike Egwuekwe.

Oboabona posted a stinker at right full back in the first leg in Monrovia last month, but he will now be pushed to the heart of the back four, while the more tactically smart and versatile Ambrose will play at right back.

Oboabona is equally versatile as he is comfortable playing at right back, central defence as well as a defensive midfielder.

"We are in top form for the game and we are not afraid of them. We will do our best to stop their strikers from getting goals," Oboabona told MTNFootball.com ahead of the game.

From the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Oboabona, Egwuekwe and Enugu Rangers left winger Ejike Uzoenyi are guaranteed starting shirts on Saturday.

This means that Keshi will start eight other players who are based in Europe, the most he has done since he has lined up in a competitive fixture since

013

he took charge in November.

MTNFotball.com checks further showed that Chelsea midfielder Mikel will play alongside Real Betis of Spain ace Nosa Igiebor with Uzoenyi and Victor Moses the two wide, attacking players.

This means that Russia-based winger Ahmed Musa will start from the bench just as he did in Liberia.

Villarreal of Spain striker Ike Uche will partner Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike as was the case in Monrovia.

Eagles likely starting XI (44-2): Vincent Enyeama – Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Mikel Obi, Nosa Igiebor, Ejike Uzoenyi, Victor Moses – Ikechukwu Uche, Emmanuel Emenike

• Oboabona

13-10-12

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012

SPORT EXTRA

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TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION Apparently, Governor Okorocha knew that armchair critics would take him to task if he did that; so, he decided to collapse the two ceremonies into one, thus killing two birds with one stone. Some savings had been made from this decision; obviously, from whichever coffers the money for the celebrations came

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.7, NO. 2277

‘N

IGERIA’S Socio-Economic Maladministration: Any possibility of a Revolution?’ That was the topic of this year’s 8th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual lecture/symposium delivered at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, by the distinguished scientist, Marxist scholar and social activist, Professor Omotayo Olorode of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja.

With his characteristic brilliance and analytic clarity, Professor Olorode clinically dissected contemporary Nigeria’s political economy and its glaring revolutionary pressures. In his contribution to the discourse on that occasion, the Chairman of the event, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola, stressed that the fundamental key to resolving the country’s contradictions is to deepen the emergent democratic culture. A skilled Marxian dialectician himself, Ogbeni Aregebesola has obviously tempered his revolutionary zeal with the realities of practical politics in a complex geo-cultural entity like Nigeria.

But then, I believe that the governor’s contention is being proved more and more correct by the day. Yes, the country confronts frightening realities. Insecurity is pervasive.

Corruption is endemic. Infrastructure has collapsed. Structural deformities impede progress. Social services are anemic. Moral values are famished. But in the midst of this gloom, democracy remains the only feasible light out of darkness. But then, democracy is no magic wand. It can promote development only if the people understand the ‘grammar of politics’, appreciate the issues in contention and utilize the power of the vote in a rational and enlightened manner. It is only through the constant and consistent practice of democracy that the political instincts of the people can be sharpened and they become increasingly acculturated over time to utilizing the power of the vote in a way that can promote development.

It is all too easy to focus always on those myriad of things that are wrong with Nigeria. Equally tempting is the tendency to give up hope on the country and assume that things have irreversibly fallen apart. That is why last week I wrote, borrowing from Garcia Marquez, of hope in a season of national cholera. For as long as we keep striving to strengthen the structures, processes and values of democracy as well as the culture of the rule of law, we will gradually and systematically overcome the obstacles to national transformation. While Nigeria has unquestionably regressed in virtually every sphere of national life since 1999, she has in the last few years shown signs of democratic resurgence. The people are clearly becoming more aware of the power of the ballot box. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for governments to take the people for granted.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s minders understandably try to give him credit for the growing reliability and credibility of our elections. I really do not think he has a choice in the matter. Nigerians are gradually coming of age politically and there is no stopping them. In spite of his incumbency, President Jonathan himself had to campaign most vigorously to win votes in the last election. In the process, he made so many extravagant promises that are today haunting his administra-

Above all, democracy

•Akeredolu

•Mimiko

tion. The President battles daily with the deep frustrations arising from the yawning gap between his promises of national transformation and the lack lustre performance of his administration. If things do not change, the people will surely be waiting for both he and his party at the next election. Even in Lagos, where he is universally acknowledged as having excelled, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola had to campaign rigorously throughout the nooks and crannies of the state for his re-election. It was the same story for Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who eventually triumphed after being given a stiff competition by the opposition despite his impressive record in office. Welcome to the age of peoples power and the gradual erosion of the arrogance of incumbency.

The latest theatre in the ongoing battle for the deepening of democracy in Nigeria is Ondo State. What is becoming obvious in the run up to the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State is that propaganda not backed by actual performance on the ground can only be of negligible electoral value. My good friend and brother, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, is clearly doing a yeoman’s job.

But it is only a magician that can sell a nonexistent product. As I travelled extensively through Ondo State last week visiting Akure, Ikare, Ore and Ondo, the chasm between the contrived television images and the actual developmental realities in the Sunshine state

was glaring.

It was no wonder that in Thursday’s debate among the candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a usually confident and self assured Governor Olusegun Mimiko was testy and tense. He was clearly on the defensive. For a man who had nursed the ambition to be governor for so many years, Mimiko is clearly not in an enviable position.

From whom so much was expected so little has been delivered. The PDP candidate, Olusola Oke, is obviously a confident and competent debater. But he stands on the flawed platform of a party that has grossly underdeveloped the country over the last 13 years. Like Governor Fashola of Lagos State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), is no soaring orator. He is more legalistic and serious minded rather than populist in his approach to issues. Given his track record as a professional over the years and his brilliant tenure as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which has named its national head quarters in Abuja in his honour, Akeredolu has the pedigree to replicate in Ondo the transformational feats of his fellow SAN, Fashola, who Mimiko has admitted is performing excellently in Lagos.

Mimiko’s handlers have effectively publicised endorsements for the governor’s re-election by such figures as Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Frederick Faseun and Mrs Ganiat Fawehinmi. Even

—Tunji Adegboyega though these are highly respected Nigerians, it is unlikely that their endorsements will be of any meaningful electoral value to Mimiko on October 20. In any case, none of them has come out with any detailed facts and figures on why they believe Mimiko deserves a second term. The charismatic and controversial Lagos preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has also emphatically backed Mimiko. In Bakare’s words, “Mimiko will win hands down in Ondo State and nothing will happen. Thereafter, he will muster strength and there will be an alternative party as people would begin to see leadership by living right and not by material acquisition of flying jets over the people, without letting us know how you come about the jets when you have little or no money in your pocket when you became the governor of Lagos State.”

Now, it is difficult to categorise Bakare’s words here as prophesy or analysis. He merely makes assertions without attempting to demonstrate them logically or empirically. On what basis, for instance, will “Mimiko win hands down”? Is it based on performance or because Bakare has heard an authoritative voice from God on the matter? Utilising helicopters for campaigns is not new in Nigeria.

The great Awo used this mode of transportation for his campaign in the run up to the 1959 elections. Awo even used sky writing mechanisms that emblazoned the name and symbol of his party in the sky! The Labour party is a hollow shell and does not pretend to be an alternative to any party. If Pastor Bakare has evidence of corrupt enrichment by anybody, he should petition the anti-corruption agencies rather than making unsubstantiated insinuations.

It is important that a person of Pastor Bakare’s stature and integrity does not make frivolous statements lacking in empirical accuracy and analytic rigour. Must the people of Ondo State vote for Mimiko because Bakare says so or because the Governor has performed? Is it true that the state has received over N600 billion in the last three and a half years including the N38 billion inherited from the Agagu administration, Federal Allocation and Internally Generated Revenue? Do the projects executed by the Mimiko administration do justice to this huge inflow of resources, which makes Ondo the second richest state in the South-West after Lagos? Is it true that the Mimiko administration has incurred a debt of N20 billion and yet has borrowed another N50 billion from the capital market?

Is it true that the following projects promised by Mimiko have either been abandoned or not even commenced at all? : the N273 million stadium at Ile-Oluji; the N1.5 billion Dome project in Akure; the Akure stadium; the OndoAkure dualisation project; the Arakale road dualisation project; the Owena Dam at Owo; the five kilometre road dualisation project in Owo town; the Igbokoda township road from Ugbo junction to the jetty; the N5 billion Ore sunshine Mega plaza City planned for 153 hectares of land along Ore-Sagamu road; the expansion of Oyemekun road in Akure to a sixlane Mega highway or the promised water project in Akure to name just a few? Surely, Nigeria’s democracy has grown beyond political pastors hoodwinking the people in the name of God.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Eagles… redeem your image

T

ODAY, not a few Nigerians would wish that they had better things to do. For those who have societal engagements to attend, they would prefer that their destinations are places where they won't monitor the Super Eagles game against the Lone Star of Liberia at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar. Others will opt to watch corresponding European qualifiers than raise their blood pressure watching players who feel that they are doing Nigerians a favour by playing in the Eagles.

Going to watch the Eagles in the past was akin to attending a bazaar in church. The massive crowd moving towards the

stadium, armed with food packs, games setsludo, scrabble, cards, draught and chess boards, umbrellas etc - all meant to kill boredom while waiting for the game to start.

The camaraderie in and around the stadium and the brisk business from the market setting of wares made it a place to be on match days.

What about the drum beats from the fans?

Those who cannot afford the gate fees watching the game from roof tops, not to talk of those holding their radio sets inside and outside the stadium to follow the commentaries. Such was the craze surrounding the Eagles that everything came to a halt when the team played anywhere in the country.

Nigerians deserve to boycott the uninspiring Eagles. When our players are not complaining of bad pitches, they grumble over allowances owed them. The big ones choose the matches they want to play.

Indeed, the Eagles' attitude to our matches has left much to be desired.

Discipline is a problem, with many players being caught importing girls into their hotels. The show of shame in Tunisia 2004, where some Eagles stars were expelled from the camp is still fresh in our minds. Or is it the case of one Eagles star who would have been shot by security operatives at the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations while he

was jumping the hotel fence to another hotel in town? The security operative said he spared the player because he had seen him pass earlier that night. He recognised his dress and dreadlocks, hence he spared him.

Well, we can say that Keshi and, indeed, the NFF have curtailed that untoward act by keeping them in hotels where they are the only residents.

Nigerians haven't forgotten how they stormed the National Stadium in Abuja, last year to watch the Eagles clinch the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification ticket against Guinea. Many have not recovered from the shock resulting from the Eagles' dismal 2-2 draw against Guinea. Their angst stems from the fact that neither the players nor the coaches knew what could guarantee them victory. This shocking post- match revelation put a lie to the fact that they are

•Continued on Page 63

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