The Nation October 17, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

First Lady expected in Abuja today

Gunmen kidnap school pupils

NEWS

NEWS Page 2

Page 59

•Masked abductors demand N30m

•Jet off to Germany to bring her back

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2281 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

ONDO 2012

N150.00

•Mimiko’s party chieftain held over voter cards •Coastal area declares support for Akeredolu •AND MORE ON •Workers decry order to attend LP rally PAGES 4&5

Senate pegs oil benchmark at $78 •National Assembly opens Budget 2013 debate From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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HE Senate yesterday adopted a $78 per barrel oil benchmark for 2013 fiscal year.

This is contrary to the position of the House of Representatives, which has adopted an oil benchmark of $80 for the fiscal year.

President Goodluck Jonathan, in his 2013 Appropriation Bill, presented an oil benchmark of $75 per barrel.

Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala has cautioned that the $75 oil benchmark should be retained in order not to disrupt the economy, in the event of unfavourable oil sales in the international market.

The Senate’s position followed the passing of 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, presented the report of the Joint Committee on Finance, National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, which considered the MTEF and FSP, to the Senate for approval.

Makarfi noted that after exhaustive deliberation on the 2013-2015 MTEF and FSP, in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and consultation with stakeholders, the joint committee arrived at its recommendations.

Continued on page 59

•Suspected killers of four undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) at the Police Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers PHOTO: BISI OLANIYI State…yesterday.

Suspect indicts policeman in UNIPORT killings

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NE of the 13 suspected killers of the four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) undergraduates yesterday relived the jungle justice that has brought Aluu community into infamy.

David Chinasa Ugbaje (30) said a policeman joined in

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

beating the youths; another was pleading that they be released.

The 13 suspects, including the paramount ruler of Omuokiri-Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State

Alhaji Hassan Welewa (59), were paraded at the Rivers State Police Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, by the Commissioner, Mohammed Indabawa, who said the video of the murder assisted the command in identifying the suspects.

Biringa Chiadika Lordson, Year Two, Theatre Arts, U2010/ 1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Year Two, Geology, U2010/ 5565149; Mike Lloyd Toku, Year Two, Civil Engineering, U2010/3010094 and Tekena Erikena, a Certificate student in Continued on page 2

Abdulsalami’s group wins Ikeja, Ibadan PHCN firms Fed Govt makes N19.25b from sale of 10 electiricty distribution companies

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NTEGRATED Energy Distribution & Marketing, a firm owned by former Head of State Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar emerged yesterday the core investor of the Eko, Ikeja, Ibadan and Yola electricity distribution companies.

The Federal Government raked in N197.25billion from the sale of its 60% equity in 10 of the 11 electricity distribution

WHO GOT WHAT •Integrated Energy Distribution (Eko, Ikeja, Ibadan & Yola) •Interstate Electrics Nigeria Ltd (Enugu & Abuja) •Vigeo Power (Benin)

•Aura Energy Limited (Jos) •Sahelian Power SPV (Kano) •4Power Consortium (Port-Hacourt) •NIC (Kaduna)

By Emeka Ugwuanyi and John Ofikhenua, Abuja,

pany of Nigeria (PHCN).

The Chairman of the Technical Committee, National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Mr.

companies (DISCOs) in the unbundled Power Holding Com-

Atedo Peterside, broke the news in Abuja during the opening of the commercial bids of the privatisation of PHCN successor distribution companies.

In the case of Kaduna Distribution company, he noted, “neither of the two bids received was technically qualified”.

“Therefore, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) will Continued on page 2

•SPORT P23 •LIFE P25 •MONEY P30 •INVESTORS P32 •POLITICS P51

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

NEWS 24 terrorists killed after Borno multiple explosions, says JTF

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•From left: Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Tony Anenih and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur cutting Dr. Ekweme’s 80th birthday cake in PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN Abuja…yesterday.

Abdulsalami’s group wins Ikeja, Ibadan, PHCN firms Continued from page 1

invite fresh bids from all the pre-qualified bidders, in accordance with the ‘Plan’ approved by the NCP in respect of the privatisation of any unsold successor company. Plan B entails inviting fresh bids from all the shortlisted bidders that paid the required $20,000fee for the bid documents.”

Peterside, who presided over the bidding, explained that there was an adoption of Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) loss Reduction for the choice of the core investors.

He added: “I wish to comment on the choice of the ATC&C loss reduction proposal as a basis for core investor selection. The use of this method for the selection of core investors for distribution companies is a clear departure from the NCP’s usual practice of awarding companies to the bidder who makes the highest financial offer to purchase an asset after being technically qualified. Furthermore, ATC&C loss level will provide Nigerian consumers and other stakeholders with specific parameters with

which to measure the outcome of the power sector reform and privatisation.”

Intergrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Limited won the bidding with 22.51% ATC&C. Its closest bidder, KEPCO, offered 21.

43% ATC&C. Gen. Abubakar is the chairman, Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Limited, which also won the bidding for Eko Distribution Company with 21.43% ATC&C. KEPCO offered 20.43% ATC&C. Integrated Energy Distrib u t i o n Company&Marketing Limited won the bid for Ibadan Distribution Company with 17.46% ATC&C. Western Consortium bidded 14.37%ATC&C. The bid for Enugu Distribution Company was won

by Interstate Electrics Nigeria Limited, which offered 20.83%. Its only rival Eastern Electric Nigeria (EEN) Limited, offered 15.99% ATC&C. Interstate Electric Limited won the bid for Abuja Distribution Company with 21.62%. Its rival KANN Consortium Utility, offered 18.45%.

Among the companies in

the Interstate Electric Limited is Mr. Emeka Offor’s Chrome Group.

For the Benin Distribution Company, Vigeo Power Consortium won the bid with an offer of 21.78%.

Southern Electricity Distribution Company offered 17.72% AT&C. Gbolade Osibodu is the promoter of Vigeo group.

The only bidder for Jos Distribution Company, Aura Energy Limited, won with 16.22% ATC&C. Sahelian Power SPV Limited won the bid for Kano Distribution Company with 22.12%. Integrated Power Distribution & Marketing Limited won the bid for Yola Distribution Company with 18.58%.

In the case of Port-Hacourt, 4Power Consortium emerged core investor, with 19.55%.

Companies that make up Sahelian Power SPV Limited that won Kano Electricity Distribution Company include Sahelian Energy & Integrated Services Limited; Kayseri Ve Civari Elektrik T.A.S (KCETAS); Dantata Investment and Security Company Limited; Incar Power Limited; and High-

land Electricity Limited.

For Aura Energy Limited, which is the preferred bidders for Jos Electricity Distribution Company, the consortium is made up of Aura Energy Limited and Aydem Elektrik Dagitim A.S. of Turkey.

The 4Power Consortium, which is the preferred bidder for Port Harcourt Distribution Company has nine companies in the consortium including Taleveras Group of Companies Limited; Lilleker Brothers (Nigeria); Income Electrix Limited/CESC Limited Joint Venture; Skyview Power Technologies Limited; First Independent Power Company Limited; Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Council (AKIIPOC); Paradise Power Nigeria Limited; Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited; and CESC. According to Peterside, to qualify to have its commercial bid opened, each bidder was required to furnish, within 15 business days, official notification of its technical qualification, a postqualification security in the form of a bank guarantee or Continued on page 59

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) said yesterday it shot dead 24 suspected terrorists after repelling Monday night’s multiple attacks in Maiduguri.

JTF spokesman Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa stated this in a statement in Maiduguri.

Col. Musa explained that the terrorists had made use of rocket propellers, grenade and Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) during the attacks.

“Suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched attacks with rocket propellers, grenades and IEDs and gun fires at different locations in Maiduguri on Monday night.

“The locations are Zannari, Lagos Street and Gwange General Area,” he said.

Col. Musa explained that the terrorists urged residential homes in launching the attacks at different times in the night.

“They used civilian residences and homes as launch areas for the attacks at different times,” he said.

Musa said the attacks were all repelled by the JTF and no soldier or civilian was killed.

“All the attacks were repelled, no soldier or civilian was killed.

“Twenty four suspected terrorists were killed,” he

said.

He said a number of weapons were recovered by the JTF after the operation.

“The following items were recovered: one RPG tube, four RPG charges, one General Purpose Machine Gun, seven AK 47 rifles, one FNC rifle and 24 assorted magazines.

“Others are two pistols, IED materials, bows and arrows and cutlasses, among others,” he said.

Musa said the city had returned to normal after the counter attack by his men.

“The JTF wishes to warn residents of the city to stop allowing their homes to be used as launch pads.

“Any person caught will be dealt with, according to the law,” he said A worker at Borno State Specialist Hospital told The Associated Press that soldiers dropped off 24 bodies there following the attack.

The worker said the military identified the dead as Boko Haram members and that many of the bodies were dressed in the long robes favoured by the sect.

The worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of angering either the military or the sect. A military spokesman later said a single soldier was wounded in the attack, though witnesses around the neighborhood said they saw more military casualties.

First Lady expected back today

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ARING a last minute change of plan, First Lady Patience Jonathan will this afternoon return to the country.

According to a source, Mrs Jonathan is expected back in Abuja around 2 p.m. after more than six week stay in Wiesbaden, Germany. She is believed to have undergone treatment for an undisclosed ailment at Horst Schmidt Klinik hospital.

Jonathan was last seen in public on August 28.But the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) last week showed a footage of the President’s visit to her in Germany.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

The Presidency initially said the ailing Mrs Jonathan was in Germany to rest.

Yesterday, the First Lady it was gathered, was in high spirits and excited about her home coming.

According to one of the sources, she spoke to some Presidential aides on the telephone about her return.

Another said she sounded elated about her return as she cracked jokes with them.

It was gathered that a Presidential jet was dispatched last night to bring her back home.

Suspect indicts policeman in UNIPORT killings Continued from page 1

the Faculty of Education were lynched in OmuokiriAluu on October 5, for allegedly stealing mobile phones and laptops.

Indabawa said two of the paraded suspects, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi, alias Kapoon (32) and David Chinasa Ugbaje, who were arrested on October 15, actively participated in the murder of the four students.

Reporters requested to speak with the paramount ruler of Aluu, but the police commissioner declined, for undisclosed reasons, stressing that all the suspects would be charged to court today (Wednesday). Three suspects were allowed to be interviewed.

Indabawa said: “It is not the philosophy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, (Mohammed Abubakar) to parade suspects. Nonetheless, the gruesome manner in which the crime was com-

mitted, coupled with the direct and glaring involvement of some of these suspects and the interest generated by the heinous crime, left the police with no option, but to parade them.

“The investigation is ongoing. As we arrest more suspects, we will let members of the public know, through the journalists.”

Indabawa said he was in the US when the murder was committed and was monitoring the developments.

Besides Welewa, Ugbaje and Amadi, the other paraded suspects were Lawal Segun (28), Lucky Orji (43), Cynthia Chinwo, (female, 24), Ekpe Daniel (30), George Nwadei (30), Gabriel Oche (33), Ozioma Abajuo (23), Chigozie Evans Samuel (22), Endurance Edet (27) and Uwem Sampson Akpabio (30).

Ugbaje, one of the three suspected killers, allowed to be interviewed, said: “Around 7 am, I left my

house. I dressed up to go to work. On my street, I saw a crowd of people with four naked boys, who were being led into my compound, No. 9, Royal Villa in OmuokiriAluu. I said what was the problem and they said the boys were armed robbers. I said that is my compound, let us go and see the person, if he is their member or let them point the particular person, who is their member they were going to look for.

“I opened the gate, they entered. A crowd of people that I could not control. They entered the compound.

They pointed to the room of one of our co-tenants, whose name is Bright. They said one of the boys was staying with Bright. When they got there, Bright’s door was locked. Some people wanted to break the door.

“They started beating the boys. Very serious. Along the line, two policemen came around. One of the policemen was pleading. The

other policeman joined in beating the boys and later said the crowd should hand over the boys to them, but the crowd said ‘no’. ‘We no go gree, we no go gree’.

“As the policemen were leaving, they said whatever this thing was going to bring, you would bear the result.

Since I live in the yard, I said if I stayed there and the people were killed, automatically, the house would be in trouble. We are now in trouble. I brought out my belt, I started flogging people and asked them to leave the yard.

I was beating the people (crowd) very seriously.

“One Ikwerre man in the crowd asked why I was beating the crowd for the boys to be moved from our yard. I continued to beat the crowd to carry the boys to where they brought them from. I drove them out of our compound and gate. They injured me in my hand, when I was trying to open the gate.

“I started flogging for them

to leave. There is water in our (house’s) frontage. They went there and soaked the boys (four) inside the water.

I discovered that one of the boys was my customer on campus, at the University of Port Harcourt, where I work.

He was an Igbo student. I asked the boy: are you a student?

“If you watch the video, you will see me where I held belt, asking the boy. The boy told me ‘no’, that he was not a student (of UNIPORT).

Quite all right, I knew him very well. He once bought slippers from me and used to repair slippers from me. I am a shoemaker at UNIPORT. Maybe the boy was afraid to tell me he was a student.

There was nothing I could do because of the crowd. If I talked more than that, they could join me with them.

“The beating was going on, here and there. At the end, they finally moved the boys out of my street. I then Continued on page 59

•Indabawa...yesterday

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

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS ONDO 2012

Lawyer to Mimiko: beg Tinubu

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N Akure lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, yesterday urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to apologise to former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He added that he should ask for forgiveness for lying that he did not receive moral and financial assistance from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader.

Ogele enjoined Mimiko to visit the graves of the late Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati in company with those he described as “credible Yoruba leaders” to seek forgiveness for betraying them during their time.

He said it was obvious that Asiwaju Tinubu spent a fortune to assist Mimiko reclaim his mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The lawyer, who spoke with The Nation in Akure, said Mimiko has a culture of deceit and betrayal.

He said: “The news credited to Governor Mimiko that Asiwaju Tinubu did not give him any money shows that he is an ungrateful person. It is an open secret that Asiwaju Tinubu raised a team of lawyers to prosecute election petitions in Osun, Ekiti and Edo states. The same legal team stood for Mimiko to reclaim his undeserved mandate.

“There is no doubt that Tinubu must have paid the professional fees for the legal team he raised.”

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

He also brought a forensic expert to support the prosecution of election petitions in the four states.

“Asiwaju Tinubu must have paid the forensic expert a professional fee worth millions and must have been responsible for his hotel accommodation, transportation and other logistics.

“Apart from this, Tinubu gave him a bullet-proof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth millions of naira when he lamented that some people attempted to assassinate him in Ondo State.

“During the inauguration of his administration at the Sports Stadium, Akure, Asiwaju Tinubu led a team of Yoruba leaders to the ceremony. He equally sponsored the inauguration with millions of naira.

“Any river that forgets its source will become dry.

“If Papa Ajasin and Adefarati were alive today, they would have told the whole world about their experience with Governor Mimiko.

“Adaba FM became the mouthpiece of Mimiko during his trying period. He placed adverts without paying a kobo. He now sees the radio station as his number one enemy.

“Mimiko should seek the assistance of the likes of Chief Reuben Fasoranti and Agbi to apologise to Tinubu.”

•ACN governorship aspirant, Jaiyeola Ajala (left) and Director-General, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Chief Omotayo Alasoadura.

• ACN supporters at the Akure rally.

Falae is anti-Yoruba, says ACO

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HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described the utterances of Chief Olu Falae at the Labour Party (LP) rally in Akure yesterday as a disappointment and unbecoming of someone who pretends to be an elder statesman.

A statement by the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of the organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, described Falae as a man who has enjoyed goodwill from the Yoruba nation with nothing to show for it.

He said: “The question one needs to ask Chief Falae is: Why would he in his old age stoop to tell lies in the name of canvassing for Governor Olusegun Mimiko? Why would Falae forget so soon that at the formal declaration of Mimiko, he confirmed that he had failed to provide jobs for youths in Ondo State? Why would an old man like Falae be in concert with Mimiko to celebrate markets, a fountain at a roundabout and boreholes as achievements by an oilproducing state in the 21st

century?

“One may find answers to Falae’s outburst by taking a look at his antecedent, which shows that he is a military apologist who joined in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) struggle by accident. He was the apostle of General Ibrahim Babangida’s Structural Adj u s t m e n t Progaramme(SAP), which impoverished our people and enriched him and his cohorts. He is a neocolonialist and imperialists’ agent whose stock in trade is to enrich foreigners at the expense of citizens.

“Today, Chief Falae has exposed himself as one of the greatest anti-Yoruba elements by his statement on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in which he claimed that the Alliance for Democracy (AD) would have given the governorship ticket of Lagos State to the late Funsho Williams instead of Tinubu. How could AD have preferred Funsho Williams, who was a key figure in the late General Sani Abacha’s transition programme, being a governorship aspirant

of the defunct United National Congress Party (UNCP), one of the five parties described by the late Chief Bola Ige as the five fingers of a leprous hand?

A man who killed Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane, shot at the late Abraham Adesanya and chased many Yoruba leaders into exile.

It is a fact that Asiwaju Tinubu won the primaries fair and square.

“Falae should point to one contribution he has made to the Yoruba race, apart from his opportunistic ride on the product of our collective struggle.

Even in Ilu-abo Falae’s country home where he claims to be the Olu, he had no footmark until recently when Mimiko built a block of classrooms for the pupils of a primary school located on an expressway. The pupils used to study, in the full glare of Falae, in a shed fit for goats and he could do nothing about it.

“The Akure people know their enemies and they would want to ask Falae to point to one man he has helped to achieve anything in life.

“It should be noted that Falae brought bad luck when he unsuccessfully contested 1999 presidential election on the joint platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All People’s Party (APP) against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“He has never attained any political significance, and his party, the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), could not win a seat in his home town in the last election.

“For us at ACO, we know that Falae can not at this time in our history be a clog in the wheel of the progress of the Yoruba nation. Ondo people are wiser, they can not be hoodwinked by the people who have fed fat on their wealth for so long.

The D-day between reactionary forces and the progressives, between light and darkness, between tokenism and an enduring development is October 20.

The great people of Ondo State will vote for progress, light and an enduring development, which ACN represents.”

Ex-ACN aspirant alleges assassination bid

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•Prince Rotimi Agunsoye. •Dr. Tunji Abayomi (left) and Senator Ajayi Boroffice.

•Senators Adegboyega Kaka (left) and Anthony Adeniyi.

FORMER governorship aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Olayato Aribo, yesterday

•Petitions police From Damisi Ojo, Akure

narrowly escaped being assassinated by suspected

•Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji (left) and ACN National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed.

Labour Party (LP) thugs.

Sources told The Nation that seven assailants stormed his home at Imoru in Ose Local Government about 5:30pm.

Aribo, a prominent industrialist, has written a petition to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIGP), Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State.

The petition reads: “A gang of eight LP thugs at Imoru... scaled the fence of my house with the aim of assassinating me, my family and political associates.

“Fortunately, we had left for Ifon to attend a rally.

“Because they did not

meet me at home, they damaged my property.”

The ex-ACN governorship aspirant said: “The suspected LP thugs told my neighbours that my name is on their assassination list and they will ensure I am eliminated.”

He said the suspects were armed with guns, axes, cutlasses and other weapons.

Aribo said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ifon Division and his men prevented the hoodlums from torching his house.

Aribo, who urged the security operatives to save his life, added that the AIGP should investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS NATIONAL HONOURS 2012 ONDO 2012

Coastal areas back Akeredolu

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BOUT 3,000 youths in the coastal areas of Ondo State under the aegis of the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Peoples Mandate Group (IEPMG) have pledged their support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saturday’s poll.

The group, the highest decision-making body that champions the cause of the youth in the coastal areas, in a statement said it has decided to work for the ACN because it is the only party that has an ideology that will boost the development of the areas.

IEPMG, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Omojugha Soye, Secretary, Mr. Akinbulejo Malon, Ijaw Arogbo Coordinator, Miss Ajama Opokio and Ijaw/Apoi

•Akeredolu From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Coordinator, Mr. Oloko Ayo, said the performance of the governors in ACN-controlled states is an evidence that better days await Ondo State indigenes if Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu is voted into power.

Mimiko to Jega: INEC must make our votes count in Ondo

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•Akeredolu’s running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure.

Workers decry order to attend LP rally

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IVIL servants in Ondo State yesterday criticised the manner the government forced them to attend the Labour Party (LP) rally held in Akure.

One of the workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of compromising the professionalism of labour unions.

He said: “It is forbidden for civil servants to be publicly partisan. We can belong to any party we want. We should not be coerced to support a particular party.”

The civil servant said the government “through our union leaders mandated us not to go to office today (yesterday) to partake in the LP rally held at the Democracy Park, Akure.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has condemned the deceptive plan of

•ACN slams forceful attendance From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the Mimiko administration to hoodwink the people of the state, especially public servants.

A statement signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, said the latest act of the LP would not yield any dividend as the people are determined to effect a change on Saturday and install a focused and purposeful government.

ACN said: “The decision of the people cannot be induced by material gains or subdued by threats by the government and its satanic agents.

“The people, having seen the ongoing transformation in the Southwest states and Edo, are eager to join their kith and kin in the regional integration agenda of the ACN.” The party flayed the despicable act perpetrated by the LP

government to force civil servants to attend its rally.

It said: “Information reaching us from the state secretariat has it that a special task force stationed at the secretariat has been moving from one office to another, forcing the workers to abandon their offices for onward mobilisation to the venue of the rally.

“The task force members make this illegal act more effective. Civil servants were asked to write their names as they boarded vehicles parked in front of the secretariat.

“ACN views this as the height of desperation by the LP government and willful breach of the constitutional rights of the workers to exercise their discretion in supporting a candidate of their choice.”

The party said it is ironic that a government which claims to enjoy the support and confidence of the people has to resort to forceful mobilisation of workers to its rally to present to the public a semblance of popular support.

ACN stressed that the government has to resort to the crude act, having failed this time round to persuade the workers with the N2, 000 it offered during the last rally.

“It is not surprising that the LP administration has to go this far because it cannot comprehend the unprecedented massive support being enjoyed by the ACN as manifested by the large turnout at the various redemption rallies and show of open support by the people of the state,” the party said.

‘Women Arise is partisan, should be de-accredited’

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is insisting that the accreditation of Women Arise to observe Saturday’s governorship election should be withdrawn because its impartiality is questionable.

The party said despite attempts by the group’s President, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, to present it as an impartial observer, there is no doubt that Women Arise is partial.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ACN said the vehemence with which Dr. OkeiOdumakin defended her group, even resorting to the use of an uncouth language, shows that “we hit the bull’s eye with our earlier statement.”

ACN noted: “What we said in our earlier statement is that INEC, in its choice of which election observers to accredit, has exhibited gross partisanship in favour of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State for the following reasons: The Coalition of Democrats for Election Reforms

(CODER) was de-accredited, apparently on the basis of alleged partisanship, and in its place, Women Arise was accredited.

That Women Arise cannot be put up as neutral when its President is the wife of Yinka Odumakin, who has endorsed Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the LP, in addition to being a political associate of Pastor Tunde Bakare who has also endorsed Governor Mimiko.

“We said Femi Aduwo of the Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), which has also been accredited to observe Saturday’s election, is a known supporter of Governor Mimiko of the LP. That RMG has been given 1,500 tags while other NGOs have been given only 100 each. That RMG plans to give its cards to LP thugs. That the Monitoring Unit of INEC, which is behind the shenanigans, colluded with a political party during the 2010 Anambra election and that the fake monitors were arrested and the matter is still in court.

“We are therefore renewing

our call on INEC to withdraw the accreditation of Women Arise and RMG, if the electoral body is serious about its intention to ensure that the Ondo State Governorship poll is not only free, fair and credible, but seen to be so.

“We concede the rights of Pastor Bakare and Messrs Odumakin and Aduwo to support and endorse any candidate of their choice. However, you don’t need a sixth sense to realise that such a person, his or her spouse or friend cannot be appointed as an election monitor or observer.”

The party said it will not respond to the personal attacks contained in the highly-defensive statement issued by an obviously-rattled Dr. OkeiOdumakin, because it (ACN) is known for dwelling on issues instead of personalities.

It said, however, that Dr. Okei-Odumakin missed the point in her statement concerning whether her being the wife of a known supporter of Dr. Mimiko compromises her group’s impartiality as an ob-

server in Saturday’s election.

“Nobody is interested in who is the head of the Odumakin family or whether or not she calls the shot. The question is: Will the average person believe in her impartiality, given her husband’s open endorsement of Dr. Mimiko?

Again, it is irrelevant whether Women Arise was appointed before or after CODER was deaccredited. The point is that CODER was de-accredited on the grounds of alleged partisanship and Women Arise is still on the list. We have not been told how INEC arrived at its conclusion over CODER’s partisanship, but we have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Women Arise and RMG cannot be perceived to be neutral.

“Dr. Okei-Odumakin also asked whether ACN was not aware of her marital links when the party enlisted the support of her group to protest the injustice meted out to Justice Salami. The question to ask is: Was her NGO hired for the protest and how much was she paid for it?” ACN queried.

ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday appealed to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that votes count in Saturday’s election.

He said the people would not allow the manipulation of the poll, to avert the scenario of the 1983 election when attempts were made to subvert the will of people.

Mimiko, who spoke at a rally in Akure, hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for assuring that there would be free and fair election.

He said: “We want to thank Mr. President for giving Nigeria a free and fair election in Edo State. He promised and delivered. We believe he is a man of his words. He has promised that there will be a free and fair poll in Ondo State and we also believe him.

“We appeal to INEC to, for the sake of our nation, for the sake of peace in our land, ensure that election on Saturday is not manipulated. I appeal to Prof. Jega that it is not enough for you to be a man of integrity; you must also ensure that all officers under you are not unduly influenced.”

LP chiefs accused of possessing voter cards

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LABOUR Party (LP) chairmanship aspirant in Ese-Odo Local Government, Mr.Festus Dabo, his brother, Peter Dabo and two others have been reportedly arrested by the police at Igbekebo riverine area for allegedly printing voter cards.

It was learnt that the suspects were apprehended at a cyber café owned by another LP bigwig.

Sources said they were caught with over 5,000 voter cards.

When contacted for confirmation, police spokesman Adeniran Aremu directed our reporter to the Commissioner of Police. Efforts to reach him proved abortive.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Igbekebo confirmed the arrest, but declined further comment.

The case has been reportedly transferred to the State Command in Akure, for further investigation.

A few weeks ago, a chieftain of LP in Ondo West Local Government, Mr. Olaolu Oladapo and a security guard with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Omolade Raphael, were arrested and remanded in prison for allegedly being in possession of over 1,000 unclaimed voter cards.

PDP: why we expelled Agbi, Adegoroye, Adegoke, others

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HE Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alerted the public to the activities of some politicians recently expelled for antiparty activities.

They include: Olu Agbi, Ademola Adegoroye, Segun Adegoke, Kunle Agunbiade and Akin Olowokere.

The Deputy Director of Publicity of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation (OOCO), Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, said in a statement that the politicians were reprimanded several times for anti-party activities and surreptitious romance with the Labour Party (LP) before they were expelled.

He said PDP expelled them because they have become a liability.

Ogunleye said: “A few of them have contested and failed repeatedly, while one of

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

them served as a mole even while contesting the governorship seat in the state.

“We know a Professor of Diplomatic History among them who has refused to be guided by a sense of history.

We equally know an old lawyer who has inherited the illluck of electoral failure.

“We are surprised that instead of showing remorse after their expulsion, these supposed gentlemen engaged in criminal activities by parading themselves as members of the PDP. “In their usual manner, they were paid by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to do a hatchet job. Part of the assignment, for which they have been paid, was to wear our vests, parade themselves as members of the PDP and declare for the outgoing Ondo State Governor.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS RAGE OF FLOODS

Reps to pass bill to establish Commission for flood, erosion •Dickson signs supplementary budget

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BILL to establish a commission for flood and erosion yesterday passed the second reading at the House of Representatives.

The bill, which was sponsored by a member, Uzoma Abonta, was referred to the Uche Ekwunife-led House Committee on Environment for further legislative input.

“A bill for a Act to provide for the establishment of the Coastal Erosion and Flood Control Commission, and to vest it with the responsibility for the control and management of coastal erosion and flood and for other related matters” was supported by most of the members on the floor.

Abonta, presenting the bill, said the commission has become imperative.

He said: “Like the bill suggests, we should have the commission that will handle such disasters. The problem of flood cannot be overemphasised. We have seen the damaging effect of flood on our nation. States like Lagos, Delta, Edo, Anambra, Bayelsa, Nassrawa and others are under threat of flood.

“Farms and animals are facing serious threat from flood. We face the threat of starvation. We should seek a permanent solution. It is not something we can deal with on a temporary basis.

“Therefore, I think that the management of the total fund, which is very huge, is important. If you look at the budget, a lot of money is being voted for the threat and there is no agency to manage the fund. If we do not plan to mitigate the floods we might run into trouble in future.”

The Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor and other members, such as Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Garuba Datti Mohammed and Abubarkar Momoh, threw their weight behind the bill.

Ogor said: “As we speak, more than 18 to 19 states are submerged under flood. What are the solutions to it? This bill seeks to find a final solution. We should stop throwing money at a problem whenever it occurs. We should be proactive. The management of the Ecological funds is not transparent.”

The lawmaker said the incursion

From Victor Oluwasegun, Dele Anofi, Abuja and Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

of the floods have security implications. He added: “There is another major issue facing us which is the issue of hunger. If we have a commission or agency that will advise us on this issue, we will not have this kind of problems with management of the situation.”

Onyejeocha said if the bill had come up two years ago, “it may not have succeeded as we have said we will no longer support the setting up of agencies and commissions.

But the present realities show we need it”.

He added: “As for the Ecological Funds, who are those managing it?

Already we have funds meant for ecological problems but it is not well managed.

If we have a specialised commission, the funds may be put under it and it will be well management. If we have a commission to manage erosion and floods, it will be more effective.”

Betty Apiafi drew the attention of the members to the fact that the scope of the bill was narrow.

She said: “ The Ministry of Environment is in charge of such matters. If an agency or ministry designated for a particular role is not working, we should ask why. If Nigeria Meteorological Agency had broadcasted that we will have flood, what did the Ministry of Environment do about it? Why have we not built buffer dams? Setting up another agency is not the solution. The funds meant for that could be used to make the existing ones effective.”

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has signed the 2012 State Supplementary Appropriation Bill into law.

Speaking shortly after signing the bill at the Executive Council chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, Dickson said the Bill was initiated to enable government tackle the challenges posed by the flood disaster.

He said: "In accordance with the law, government secured an approval of two-third majority of the State House of Assembly to spend 1.5 billion naira from the State

‘

Farms and animals are facing serious threat from flood. We face the threat of starvation. We should seek a permanent solution. It is not something we can deal with on a temporary basis

•Sagbama town submerged by fl ood

‘

Compulsory Savings Account.

"It is good to save. And because we have actually been saving…Outside this month alone, what we are going to put into that fund, the compulsory saving scheme is about 3.5billion naira.

"I had to request the Bayelsa house of Assembly in accordance with the laws that the House should

by Two-Third majority grant our request to spend 1.5 billion naira from our savings to address some of the immediate challenges posed by the crisis."

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Benson Kombowei, said the house passed the bill two days after its receipt.

Kombowei said the timely passage of the Bill was to enable government immediately cushion the effects of the flood.

•Jonathan's house at Otuoke

My personal house now under water, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s home in Otueke, Bayelsa State, is submerged .

The President disclosed this yesterday while commending development partners and organisations that have so far responded to the cries for help to rehabilitate flood victims.

He noted that his personal house in Otuoke that was initially spared, has been submerged in water up to window level.

Dr. Jonathan spoke at the launch of ‘Save one million lives’, a United Nations Commission on Life Saving Commodities for Women and Children at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “Nigeria is so devastated by the flood.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Sometimes when you watch on television, you do not appreciate what we are going through. I travelled from North to south and on Sunday I was in my village after touring my state. I left my village on Sunday morning and as at that time water was about entering my compound.

He said: “As at this morning, the information is that my house, up to the windows, is under water.

“So, you can see what people are passing through within this period. But with the assistance the development partners will give us and people who are in the humanitarian sector, we will soon get over it.”

•Daewoo Construction’s premises in Yenagoa taken over by water

THE NATION WENESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS RAGE OF FLOODS

Ex-militants donate N52.7m to victims •Senators to donate N22.8m to flood victims

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ORMER Niger Delta militants have donated over N52 million to flood victims.

The Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Kingsley Kuku, made this disclosure in a statement by the Head of Media and Communications, Mr. Daniel Alabrah.

He said ex-militants agreed to donate N2000 from their October allowances.

The actual figure to be donated is N52,716,000.

Kuku said: “The 26,358 amnesty beneficiaries in Phases One and Two of the programme agreed to donate about N2000 (Two Thousand Naira) individually from their October 2012 allowances to alleviate the suffering of victims in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.”

“Staffers of the Presidential Amnesty Office also donated between 20 and 30 per cent of their October allowances to support the efforts of the federal and states government on the flood situation.”

Kuku, while commending the amnesty beneficiaries for their ges-

From Faith Yahaya and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ture, said: “This is very commendable as it is a practical demonstration of the African spirit and tradition of being your brother’s keeper in times of distress.”

To ensure proper procurement and distribution of relief materials to affected states, the PAP Chairman formed an 18-member Flood Relief Committee comprising of key stakeholders in the amnesty programme and volunteers. The committee is headed by the Technical Assistant on Reintegration, Mr. Larry Pepple.

Also, senators will donate N22,8 million to flood victims, Senate President David Mark said yesterday.

Mark spoke in Abuja.

He said the 10 Principal Officers of the Upper Chambers would pay the N300,000 each. The other 99 senators would contribute N200,000 each.

He said donation would be in addition to other relief materials already given to flood victims by senators in their constituencies.

Foundation evacuates 12,300 victims in Delta, Bayelsa •Navy gives victims free medical treatment From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T •Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (right) speaking during a visit to submerged Sagbama Town by rising water level . With him is the Minister of Environment, Hajiah Hardiza Melafia ( second left) and Water Resources Minister Mrs. Sara Ochekpo (second right) and Police Commissioner Kings Omire (left) .

•Victims escaping from Yeengoa to Port Harcourt in a trailer

HE Dickens Sanomi Foundation has evacuated 12,300 flood victims in Bayelsa and Delta states.

The foundation’s Co-ordinator, Mr. Daniel Idonor, said Bayelsa and Delta state governments must establish more relief camps.

He said:”In our operations, we provided two 500-seater engine boat and four speed boats at the Arhavwrien waterside. For the first four days, theses boats were used to evacuate IDPs from all the riverine communities. We also engaged the services of Rukevwe Transport Company in Ughelli, which conveyed people from the waterside to Ewhu, Okwagbe, Ughelli and Warri; all at no cost to the people.

“The greatest success of the Dickens Sanomi Foundation’s rescue operation is the successful rescue and evacuation of the 118-year-old man in Orere, Elder Ighonido Ewhre, and his family to a safer place within the new camp, we set up in Orere. We also evacuated a two-day old baby girl with her parents to Ughelli.

“The Dickens Sanomi Foundation has also carried out major rehabilitation of the existing weak infrastructure, including replacement of doors, windows and ceilings of the dilapidated of the class rooms in the various Camps”.

“After five days of intensive rescue operations, the foundation is pleased to inform you that it has successfully evacuated total of 12,300 displaced children and adults, as recorded by our team from eight kingdoms and 42 communities, while fives camps have been set up. We are also providing support services in four government camps, including Orere, Arhavwrien, Ewhu, Okwagbe and Ughelli camps.

“We have also established a warehouse in Ughelli, from where we intend to distribute food, medicals, cloths, beddings, toiletries and other relief materials from, in the next few days”.

The Navy is providing free medical treatments to flood victims in Baylesa State.

The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral JO Olutoyin, said the gesture was to ameliorate the victims’ suffering.

He spoke when he flagged off the medical mission at the Sports Complex Yenagoa.

Ahmadu Bello Foundation gives to victims

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HE Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation has donated relief materials to flood victims in Edo

•Divisional headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Sagbama flooded

State.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole thanked the foundation for the gesture.

He said: “What your foundation has done in several ways will help to remind us across the length and breadth of Nigeria that we are indeed one and the same. It is moments like this that you know who are your brothers and your sisters.”

Paying tribute to the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, the governor said he was a beneficiary of the uncommon vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello who laid foundation that Ni-

gerians should live in peace without any form of discrimination whether by reference to tribe, religion or ethnicity.

“He believed rightly too that Nigeria should add value and not export primary commodity. He had a credible vision that Nigerians should set up industries to create employment. I am happy that the foundation is giving practical expression to his teachings and life styles.

“This kind gesture in such a time that Nigerians are confused about their future, by going round, you are rebuilding bridges and reminding us that we need each other and our unity is not negotiable.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS Senate to probe FCDA over estate demolition •Owners demand FCT minister’s sack

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ENATE President David Mark yesterday promised to probe the demolition of the Minanuel Estate on Airport Road, Abuja, by the Development Control of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

The promise came amid calls for the sack of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed and the Director of the Development Control Unit (DCU), Yahaya Yusuf, by subscribers.

The demolished 500 housing units were to be handed over to the subscribers by the end of this month.

But on September 29, the DCU rolled out its bulldozers and demolished the houses valued at over N3 billion.

A coalition of the subscribers, civil rights activists, religious and cultural organisations yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly.

Addressing the protesters on Mark's behalf, Senator

•The protesters at the National Assembly...yesterday From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Abu Ibrahim condemned the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He told the gathering that the upper chamber had met over the issue to review the FCDA's action.

Ibrahim said appropriate

Nigeria to host meeting

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HE Federal Government will this week host the sixth working group of civil aviation and director-generals meeting in Abuja, the Director- General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, said yesterday.

The objective of the meeting, Demuren said, is to bring together stakeholders in the aviation industry to draw a road map for the growth and development of the sector.

Other areas of discussion include maintenance, airport infrastructure, airline financing and operations, investments etc.

Member countries will be persuaded to ratify the Memorandum of Cooperation between the D-8, WGCA and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

D-8 members are Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.

Why petrol is scarce in Abuja, by NNPC

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has blamed the fuel scarcity in Abuja on panic buying and hoarding.

Acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Fidel Pepple, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that there was enough fuel for the nation.

Pepple said the corporation through its subsidiary, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), had at least 30 days stock of petrol and hoped that the queues would soon thin out. ``I want to appeal to consumers to avoid hoarding and panic buying of fuel; the NNPC through its subsidiary, the PPMC , has at least 30 days stock of the product,'' he said.

He said NNPC was working with relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate supply of the product across the country. ``We are working hard with the relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy and we hope the queues will thin out very soon,'' he added.

According to him, the delay in the repair of the vandalised pipeline in Arepo, Ogun has led to bridging of the product across the country with trucks.

Despite the assurances from NNPC on the availability of fuel, NAN, however, reports that the product was still scarce as evidenced by long queues in filling stations.

The queues resurfaced on Friday, as only few filling stations were dispensing the product, while others remained closed.

Committee on housing for teachers

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HE Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike yesterday inaugurated a Technical Committee to fashion out the modalities for the implementation of a Housing for All Teachers Scheme (HATS).

On the committee are the Nigerian Union of Teachers, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Wike said the President believes that teachers must be motivated to contribute meaningfully to the development of education.

He said: "We are committed to fully implementing housing for all teachers. This is important to the government and we are working towards giving the teachers their reward on earth."

steps would be taken to assuage the suffering of the subscribers.

In a protest letter to the Senate President read by their spokesperson, Festus Adebayo, the subscribers demanded adequate compensation.

They also called for the prosecution of the FCDA officials, who carried out the

exercise.

In the October 5 letter, entitled: "Wanton Demolition of our 500 housing units", the authors recalled their ordeal in the hands of the FCDA officials on September 29, when the demolition took place.

The protesters were barred from entering the National Assembly Com-

plex by security officials.

A subscriber, Goddy Nnorom, lamented how he invested about N4.7 million borrowed from his wife, a banker, who suffered a stroke as a result of the demolition.

Israel Ekrang, chief executive officer of Isvin Ventures and Chairman, Developers Association Goza called for compensation for the vic-

tims.

The developer said it acquired the land from N.C.R and Associates in 2004 after which he applied for relevant approvals that were duly granted.

The company has been involved in carrying out the business of mass housing development in various states for over 15 years.

Court adjourns ruling on N32.8b pension scam

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N Abuja High Court has again adjourned till November 6 ruling on an application to quash criminal charges in the N32.8 billion Police Pension Fund scam against three of the six accused persons.

Justice Abubakar Talba had, on July 17, fixed October 9 for ruling on the motion filed by Atiku Kigo (a former Permanent Secretary), Mrs Veronica Onyegbula (Cashier) and Sani Zira (ICT Officer).

The trio, who were charged with Esai Dangabar (Director), Ahmed Wada (Director) and John Yusufu (Assistant Director), are workers at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, but on suspension.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.

The EFCC said the alleged fraud was perpetuated between January 2009 and June 2011.

On October 9, the court clerk, Garba Isa, told the accused's counsel, Ricky Tarfa (SAN) and the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), that the ruling was

Court jails bureau de change operator

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KANO State High Court has sentenced a bureau de change operator, Muktar Yusuf Gwadabe, to two and half years imprisonment with an option of N250, 000 fine.

Gwadabe, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was convicted by Justice Dije Abdu Aboki for fraud, criminal breach of trust and issuance of a dishonoured cheque amounting to N70million.

The judge ordered the accused to pay N76million to the complainant, Alhaji Nura Ammani and in default, to serve a prison term of five years.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Gwadabe was arrested in February 2009, following a petition by Ammani, who allegedly gave him (Gwadabe) N152million for the supply of $1million.

The statement said: "The convict supplied $500,000, (equivalent of not ready.

Isa said the judge had asked the counsel to pick another date for the ruling.

They had then picked October 16.

But on arrival in court yesterday, after waiting for three hours, Isa told Tarfa and Jacobs to pick another date.

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operator

N76million), but allegedly misappropriated and converted to his personal use, the balance.

"The accused issued a cheque of N76 million to the complainant which when presented for payment was returned unpaid because of insufficient fund in the accused's account."

The EFCC also said it has arraigned Bernard Nebani before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for alleged stealing and fraudulent conversion of N5.72million.

According to the charge, "Bernard Nebani on or about June 13, 2008 at Lagos stole and fraudulently converted 57,200 litres of petroleum products valued at N5.72million property of Leadland Resources Limited.

"Justice Abiru adjourned the case till October 24 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in Kirikiri prison."

No reason was, however, given for the judge's absence in court.

The trio want the court to quash the charges on the grounds that the EFCC has no evidence against them.

They insisted that there was nothing linking them to the alleged offence.

Mrs. Onyegbula said the

EFCC could not prove to the court that she signed any document from the Pension Office.

The EFCC, in a counteraffidavit, urged the court to dismiss the application, and said the accused were "employing delay tactics" to frustrate the quick disposal of the case.

Reps pass bill to limit National Awards recipients

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HE House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill to limit the number of recipients of the National Honours Awards through second reading.

The bill sponsored by the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, was titled: " A bill for an Act to amend the Honours Warrant of the Subsidiary Legislation of the National Honours Act, Cap.43,

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to provide for the limit to the numbers of persons appointed to the different Ranks of the Order in any year and Related Matters."

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Governmental Affairs.

Gbajabiamila said the

award has been denigrated to a level of penality.

According to him, it should be for extra ordinary achievement, and certain standards and it should not be limited to people in the private sector but also be open to people in the public sector.

The lawmaker said the number of annual recipients is much and ought to be trimmed down.

Two members of the House Sanni Kalgo and Samson Ogbu objected to some aspects of the proposed bill, saying it was an effort to reduce the power of the President to confer national award on any citizen he considers deserving.

But Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said: "What the bill chooses to do is set a standard and not to limit the powers of the President."

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS Three injured in Ibadan market fire From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

THERE was a fire outbreak on Monday at the Omi-Adio Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Three persons, two women and a man, sustained varying degrees of burns.

They are on admission at the Emiloju Hospital.

A portion of the motor park within the market was razed.

Electronic beauty equipment and other valuables were destroyed.

The fire, which started at about 4.30pm, gutted about seven shops.

It was brought under control by residents before men of the state Fire Service arrived at about 6.20pm.

When The Nation visited the victims on admission yesterday, they were not allowed to speak.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

One of those whose shops were razed, Mrs. Kemi Abideen, said: “We do not know how the fire started or the root cause. I was at home when someone came to inform me that my shop was on fire. I do not know what caused the fire.”

She said she bought the goods in her shop with cooperative loan and urged the government to assist her.

Oyo technical varsity takes off THE Oyo State Government yesterday announced the take off of its Technical University with the grant of N250 million.

A management implementation committee has been set up for the university.

In a statement, the governor’s media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the institution’s take-off was approved at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting.

The bill for the establishment of the university was passed into law by the House of Assembly in June.

Adedayo said the forest reserve on Apete Road, Ibadan, and the West-End of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, are the take-off sites of the university, which would have satellite campuses in the two other senatorial districts.

He said the law establishing the institution would soon be gazetted.

The school’s Acting ProChancellor is Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, a former Head of Service.

Adedayo said members of the implementation committee would be appointed any moment from now, pending the constitution of the Governing Council.

He said the university would offer entrepreneurial courses.

Adedayo said: “Our mission is to produce technical professionals with requisite entrepreneurial skills capable of creating jobs for Nigerians.

“We want to provide a training/learning environment that will provide quality products that are socially and technically aware of their commitment to Nigeria and the global community.

Fed Govt owes Ekiti N6b for road repairs •’We’ve restored hope to the people’

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said the Federal Government is owing the state N6 billion for the repair of federal roads.

Fayemi spoke at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during the grand finale of activities marking his administration’s second anniversary.

He said his administration has sustained the peace in the state and reduced the child/ maternal mortality rate.

The governor said 20 ongoing road projects across the state would be inaugurated in December.

He praised the House of Assembly for passing 32 bills into law, which he said has aided the state’s development.

Fayemi said it would have been impossible to record the level of progress in the state without support from the legislature.

He said the laws include the Bond Law, Fiscal Responsibility Law, Social Security Benefit Law and Gender-based Violence Prohibition Law, among others.

Fayemi said: “Today, the state has successfully risen to address the critical questions of development and the restoration of hope. Even though we cannot claim to have

•Fayemi addressing the people...yesterday.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

reached our destination, we have nonetheless moved away from the spot of stagnation in our recent history.

“Our administration recognises the power of trust as the necessary variable to implement our vision of unparalleled progress for our state within a short period of time.

“We are living witnesses to the parlous state of affairs in our dear state when we

assumed office in October, 2010. Over N40 billion was hanging precariously on the state along with many uncompleted and abandoned projects in all sectors.

“At that time, the state was collecting N2.8 billion monthly from the Federation Account. At the time, there was a palpable loss of hope in the state among residents.

Violence and all forms of criminal activities reigned supreme. Also pathetic was the state to which governance

was reduced.

“Everybody was helping himself to the slices that could be taken, while acts of governance became thoroughly politicised in areas of resources allocation and location of social amenities and public facilities.

“We have to recreate the parameters to make people trust the intentions of government, especially those who have the legitimate mandate to represent the people and superintend over

their commonwealth.

“This is not an easy task, but I thank you, the good people of Ekiti State, for believing in us and showing us tremendous support everywhere we turn since we assumed office.”

Various trade groups, including the Market Women Association and the Commercial Motorcyclists’ Association said they were impressed with the governor’s performance and urged him to contest for a second term.

Aregbesola signs Security Trust Fund Bill into law •Governor restates call for state police SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday signed the state’s Security Trust Fund (STF) Bill into law.

He said the creation of state police would improve security in states.

Aregbesola spoke at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office in Osogbo, the state capital, while signing the Law. He said the police command structure is so centralised that order can only come from the InspectorGeneral of Police.

The governor said the “bogus appellation” given to governors as chief security officers of their states is “a mere expression”.

He said no police commis-

O

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

sioner takes directives from any governor, yet governors are blamed when there is insecurity in their states.

Aregbesola said his administration would work with the federal departments and agencies, neighbouring states, local governments and the private sector to sustain security in Osun.

He said: “Those who say Nigeria is not ripe for state police are not sincere. I do not know where they get their own reasoning from.

Even school campuses have their own police to ensure that criminal activities are curbed in their institutions.

“If there is any violation of rights, the judiciary is there to handle it, so the ar-

gument that state police will lead to the abuse of rights cannot be sustained.

“My administration, being a responsive and responsible one, is putting the security of our dear state on the front burner. Hence, we are developing a number of strategies to evolve an almost fool proof security for Osun State.”

Aregbesola said crime prevention is the collective responsibility of all residents.

He said intelligence gathering and the installation of security devices would curb crime.

Aregbesola said: “As a state, we must enhance the analytic capabilities of the police and other security agencies, build new capabilities and implement a State Security Advisory Sys-

•Aregbesola signing the bill ...yesterday.

tem. The STF Law takes these into consideration.”

Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties Ajibola Basiru said the STF Law provides funds for the acquisition of security equipment, such as Armoured Personnel Carri-

ers (APCs), communication gadgets and helicopters for aerial surveillance, among others.

He said government alone cannot provide security and it must be supported by individuals and organisations.

Two Osun College students die in accident WO students of the Osun State College of Education, IlaOrangun, yesterday died in a road accident.

Their colleagues went on the rampage, burning a part of the palace of the Orangun of Ila-Orangun, Oba Wahab Oyedotun Bibiire and other property in the community.

It was learnt that the students burnt a part of the Ila Local Government Secretariat when their

T

•Students ‘burn’ palace, secretariat •Authorities shut school From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

request to see the council chairman was not granted.

Sources said the victims, simply identified as Sodiq and Wale, boarded a commercial motorcycle and were going to attend a morning lecture when the accident occurred.

The protesters claimed that

the deplorable condition of the road leading to the school and the alleged failure of the institution’s management to provide a decent transportation system was responsible for the accident.

They made bonfires on major roads and popular junctions in the town.

The Welfare Officer of the Students’ Union Govern-

ment (SUG), Mr. Tanimomo Opeyemi, alleged that the accident was caused by the heaps of sand on the road, which is under construction.

He said the contractor handling the project had abandoned it and the students were victims of the institutional neglect.

The authorities of the institution have closed down the

college to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.

In a statement, the Registrar, Alhaji G. O. Kolawole, directed all students to proceed on a mid-semester break and vacate the campus.

He said the date of resumption would be communicated to the students through the media.

Police spokesperson Folasade Odoro said the police are on top of the situation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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Achebe: Between A Man of the People and There was a Country

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,

OES Chinua Achebe’s new offering portend the augury of his 1966 book, A Man of the People? This must be the silent question niggling the mind of the more perceptive reader of the mint fresh “There was a Country.” The book could well have been eerily titled, There was a Nigeria. Is this the central message of this 82 year-old sage and national icon who has lived through it all? Unlike in 1966 when the publication of his A man of the People almost heralded the first coup in Nigeria which he had predicted in the book, will Nigeria’s grim history repeat itself?

The book which has unfortunately welled up an ocean of controversy, having come to the world legs-first like an abnormal childbirth because of a mischievous excerpt published in a British newspaper, may have its vital message lost to a bickering that has degenerated to the age-old IgboYoruba supremacy tussle. There is no doubt that had that particular portion of the book not been highlighted by The Guardian of London, not many Nigerians would have found, or for that matter, noticed that contentious characterisation of Chief Obafemi Awolowo which is tucked away near the end of the book.

But in There was a Country, Achebe has written a strange little book that is at once his life story, his history of the Biafra War and Nigeria’s crises; a work of prose and a dash of poetry all skillfully meshed together. Shall we say that this is Achebe’s catharsis, a distillation of all that was good and all that was baleful for a man who was 30 years old, an established author and a senior civil servant under a colonial entity before the birth of Nigeria in 1960? By this tale, he has bequeathed to Nigeria a sprawling canvass of her once beautiful era, a political independence placed delicately on faulty pedestal like an accident designed to occur, the regression, the

There is no doubt that had that particular portion of the book not been highlightedby TheGuardian of London, not many Nigerians would have found, or for that matter, noticed that contentious characterisation of Chief Obafemi Awolowo which is tucked away near the end of the book.

,

•The late Chief Awolowo

•Achebe

By Steve Osuji

ANALYSIS war and the eerie danger of an impending violent end.

In a four-part book, he tells his story from the beginning: his early Christian convert father who embraced the Whiteman’s faith so very religiously and immersing his family unquestioningly into it. The seed of Achebe’s epic novel, Things Fall Apart was probably sown in these early days when in spite of early indoctrination inexorably found an undying fascination in the Igbo traditional religion practiced by many kinsmen of that era.

Achebe also gives us a glimpse of his precocious childhood, his appetite for study and books; his plucky school days, especially at Government College, Umuahia, and the University College, Ibadan. From his St. Philips Primary School in his rural Ogidi, now in Anambra State, and a stint in Central School, Nekede, Owerri, Achebe (aka

Dictionary as he was nicknamed then) had come out tops in the national common entrance to Government College, Umuahia, GCU, and earning a scholarship to boot. In like manner, he came out top graduating student at GCU too and again, winning what was called a “major” national scholarship to study medicine at the University College, Ibadan, in 1948.

Hear him: “I grew up at a time when the colonial educational infrastructure celebrated hard work and high achievement and so did our families and communities.

Government College, Umuahia, was so proud of my work that they put up a big sign announcing my performance in the national entrance examination. That notice stayed on the wall for years.”

Achebe had great company in the pioneer set at the University College, Ibadan; the very best of young Nigerians from every corner of the country. A most remarkable group made up of the likes of Chike Momah, Flora Nwapa, Mabel Segun, Ben

Obumselu, Emmanuel Obiechina, Kelsey Harrison, Gamaliel Onosode, Wande Abimbola, Iya Abubakar, Adiele Afigbo, Igwe Aja Nwachukwu, Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele, Grace Alele-Williams, Mohammed Bello, Elechi Amadi. This group was joined later by Wole Soyinka, J.P. Clark, Oluwakayo Oshuntokun, M.J.C. Echeruo, Christopher Okigbo, Ayo Bamgbose, Christine Okoli (his future wife), Chukwuemeka Ike, Abiola Irele, Zulu Sofola, and several others.

With such an array of home grown intellectuals of Nigeria’s preindependence era and a horde of foreign trained ones, how could the new country have gone awry and disintegrated almost soon as it was ‘founded’? Achebe asserts that the British compromised the country right from day one. Describing Nigeria’s immediate post-independence era, Achebe says: “Within six years of this tragic colonial manipulation Nigeria was a cesspool of corruption and misrule. Public servants helped

themselves freely to the nation’s wealth. Elections were blatantly rigged, the subsequent national census was outrageously stage-managed; judges and magistrates were manipulated by politicians in power.

The politicians themselves were pawns of foreign business interests.

“The social malaise in the Nigerian society was political corruption. The structure of the country was such that there was inbuilt power struggle among the ethnic groups, and of course those who were in power wanted to stay in power…”

If this was the situation in the 1950s and 1960s as Achebe observed, the situation has reached its nadir today, 52 years after, taking the country to a tipping point whence there may cease to be a country. To this chronic and nation-threatening condition, Achebe proffers solution thus: “Africa’s post-colonial disposition is the result of a people who have lost the habit of ruling themselves. We have also had difficulty running the new systems foisted upon us at the dawn of independence by our “colonial masters”. Because the West has had a long but uneven engagement with the continent, it is imperative that it understand what happened to Africa.

It must also play a part in the solution.

A meaningful solution will require the goodwill and concerted efforts on the part of all those who share the weight of Africa’s historical burden.

There was a Country is a quaintly nice book which, had Achebe not written it, he would have done grave harm to the history of Nigeria, being a learned, enlightened witness and a participant to this peculiar history.

Obviously tortured by his own story, he must have found some relieve in disgorging it. TOMORROW: THE POGROMS, THE ABURI ACCORD AND THE WAR BEGINS.

NEWS

N200b lifeline for coal sector

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HE coal sector of the energy industry got a boost yesterday in Enugu. A foreign firm, Green Pheonic Energy International, will establish a $1.5billion (about N200billion) coal power plant in the city.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brain Ransom, spoke in Enugu when he visited Acting Governor Sunday Onyebuchi at the Government House.

He said the proposed plant would generate about 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

T

•Enugu gets coal power plant From Chris Oji, Enugu

Ransom explained that the company would also be involved in water treatment and preservation of food crops.

He said it would economically empower and develop the residents.

According to him, during its operations in Enugu, Green Pheonic Energy will be about 30 years old.

Ransom added that the company would visit several communities to identify their

challenges and areas of needs.

He said the company had visited Lagos and other places before Enugu, adding that he was excited by the work ethics of the youths in Lagos and Enugu states.

Onyebuchi said Enugu State has major facilities for investors.

The acting governor explained that from the time coal was discovered and the United African Company (UAC) was established, Enugu has been playing a major role

in the socio-economic development of Nigeria as the capital of the defunct Eastern Region, East Central State and now Enugu State.

He said the company would find Enugu as conducive as the early European settlers found it.

Onyebuchi noted that the people are hardworking and hospitable to visitors.

The acting governor said there are over 400 communities in the state, adding that they have primary and secondary schools.

AIG warns vehicle owners at PPMC yard

HE Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 2, Onikan Lagos has warned owners of accident and abandoned trucks parked at the premises of Pipeline and Products Marking Company Limited, (PPMC) Mosimi area office, Sagamu, Ogun State to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction.

The trucks are Mack with registration numbers,XX159FST, Iveco SC280AGG, Fiat XA737KRE, Layland XB332YYY, Daf AA119SBG, Man Diesel KB223YLA, Daf unregistered, Renault XA198WRR, Mercedes XX782LSR, Turbo XB825AKN, Scania XX735FKJ, Daf XB673TKP, Daf XS277AGL, Iveco XS213EKY, Mack XN966SMK, Daf XH233RBC,

Layland Daf unregistered, Iveco unregistered, Mack XL621KSF, F65 XM219LRS, Nissan Sunny CN767SMC, Mazda XL305AGL, Nissan EX131AAA, Peugeot AP513AAA, Mazda unregistered, Mazda CM36GGE, Sporter BQ615BDG, and Opel KSF778AA. Others are BMW GV753EKY, nameless bus TA287AAA, Wagon CP730LSR, Mazda XT383EPE, Daf XP622LSD, Transit bus XH449FKJ, Nissan Sunny CF375LSD, Gallant GR118KJA, Nissan Bluebird AG672LSR, Opel HL749KJA, Toyota XV813EPE, Mazda XJ189SMK, Mazda KC256KJA, Mazda KG778FST, Datusun 120Y BC70SMK, Layland XA191SHK, Ford XA958AAA, Layland XA728SHK, Mercedes AA753KEY, Mack XE816KSF,

Layland XD770RBC, Mack XN183EKY, Layland XD118LUY, Man XC987AGL, Layland XA465TUT, Layland XP880AAA, Cabstar XM295FKY,Mazda XA548KNN, Man LX897KJA, Daf XA591NBS, Mack XA200KRA, Seddon Atkinson XN588BDG, Volvo XH690FST, Layland XD730EPE, Ford XG553APP, Volkswagen XP632JJJ, Iveco XE691LND, Layland XN504AAA, DafLayland XA918BDU, Volkswagen XP629ENU, and Mazda EC114LND. The also include Audi BM102KTU, Mazda XM285MUS, Volkswagen XV20JJ, Sunny XB326KNN, Volkswagen XW619APP, BMW DM725LND, Nissan Sunny DY429KRD, Nissan XQ553GGE, Volkswagen

AW325KTU, Mazda XD564SGM, BMW KP450KJA, Volvo FS322AAA, Volvo BX423LRS, Mistibushi FK823KJA, Nissan Sunny JJ986KJA, Mazda XM285MUS and an unregistered truck without name.

‘Go and vote for Akeredolu’ From Mveruter Orkaa, Umuahia

•Akeredolu

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HE Abia State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Egwuatu Egbulefu, has urged Ondo State indigenes in the state and other states to return home and vote for the party’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) on Saturday.

Egbulefu said Akeredolu has the pedigree and experience to transform Ondo State, if voted to power.

He said all ACN states are developing, adding that Ondo State residents would regret if they fail to vote for Akeredolu

in the Saturday’s election.

He advised Ondo State indigenes to “go home and participate truly to elect Akeredolu as the governor”.

Egbulefu added: “Let Ondo State join other states governed by the ACN in the Southwest.

All of Western states, except Ondo, are governed by the ACN. How can you, therefore, leave this state in the hands of the Labour Party (LP), when the people are not deriving anything from the Olusegun Mimiko-led administration?

The time has come to send away the LP and plant Akeredolu of the ACN for good governance.”

Through the party’s Organising Secretary, Mr Paul Chukwuezi, the ACN Chairman advised Ondo State residents that no sacrifice is too much to have a progressive administration in the state.

Secession: Igbo youths call for arrest of Northeast GROUP, the World Igbo Nigeria has come to stay. We leaders Youths Council (WIYC), shall all stay here and salvage

A

has urged the Federal Government to arrest the conveners of the North East Development (NED) for allegedly calling for the secession of the zone from Nigeria.

The group said the call should be seen as a treasonable felony.

In a statement by its

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Chairman, Board of Trustees, Comrade Chuks Ibegbu, WIYC said the call, when Boko Haram was attempting to dismember Nigeria, showed that some highly placed Nigerians were sponsoring the militant group.

It said: “No part of Nigeria must be allowed to secede.

Nigeria.

“The Federal Government must, therefore, take steps to apprehend those calling for secession and prosecute them for high treason. They have committed the same offence for which the Movement for the Actualisation of the State of Biafra (MASSOB) is being hounded around since 2000.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS NEXIM’s MD visits Origin Group

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HE Managing Director of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr Robert Orya, yesterday visited the facilities of Origin Group in Lagos.

The visit, Orya said, was aimed at selecting private sector players to boost the development of the non-oil sector through export promotion programmes of value added products.

He spoke of efforts by NEXIM Bank in supporting the Vision 20: 2020 of the Federal Government, especially through increased export trade activities in the West African sub-region.

He also spoke about different in-country trade barriers among ECOWAS member states especially in formal-

ising trade activities going on across Nigerian borders without being captured in national trade statistics.

Orya said the potential of the agricultural industry and other non-oil sectors for employment creation and national development are huge and must be given priority attention through consistent institutional support and risk mitigation frameworks by relevant agencies of government.

The NEXIM boss inspected the tractor assembly plant of Origin Automobile Works, (a subsidiary of Origin Group) where about 1,800 tractors of different capacities shall be assembled for a special agricultural development project tagged

‘Tractorise Nigeria.

He also visited the proposed factory site for tomato paste dilution plant of Vegefresh Company Limited, export processing facilities of the Group and furniture manufacturing factory, among other things.

The Managing Director of Origin Group, Mr S. J. Samuel, while responding, thanked the Orya for the visit, which he said was an encouragement to the Group.

He also pledged the support of Origin Group to the vision and aspirations of NEXIM Bank and the Federal Government, adding that more than 2000 jobs will be created by the Group before the end of the second quarter of 2013.

F

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

process the stolen oil.

In her address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, identified regulatory uncertainty "as the main obstacle to industry growth and expansion, saying it is a menace no economy can put up with.

She urged the government to step up efforts to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to address the challenges.

"It is most significant to note that when companies are unsure of judicial outcomes when deals go sour, or when companies fear uncertain liability, they are less likely to consummate some deals and

ket, thus slowing down the pace of economic growth.

"It is hoped that the PIB when passed, will stimulate largely eliminate a litany of legislative hiccups, form new bedrock and open up new frontiers for a more robust oil and gas sector that will be both private sector led and commercially driven."

Aloma-Mukhtar also stressed the need for the judiciary to be impartial and treat all litigants alike whether they are corporations or individuals.

The NJI Administrator, Justice Umaru Eri, stated that the survival of the economy rests to a great extent on whatever happens in the oil and gas industry.

Court halts contempt proceedings against to obey the FCMB, others unwilling USTICE Okon Abang of judgment, Hensmor initiated

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• Orya (left) and Samuel during the visit ... yesterday.

Oil firms aiding bunkering, says ex-CJN more likely to keep some Belgore new products from the mar-

ORMER Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Salihu Belgore, has accused oil companies of encouraging oil bunkering in the country.

Belgore, who spoke at the opening of a three-day national workshop on the judiciary and the oil and gas industry organised for Judicial Officers by the International Institute for Petroleum Law, Energy and Policy (IIPLEP), in Abuja, called for the reorganisation of the oil industry to curtail wastages and check bunkering.

Speaking on the theme: ‘The Nigerian Judiciary and the Oil and Gas Industry: Fostering a better understanding,’ he alleged that oil companies have refineries in neighbouring countries where they

the Federal High Court, Lagos has stayed further proceedings in a contempt proceedings initiated against First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc and three of its principal officers.

The judge, in a ruling yesterday, hinged his decision on the need to respect an October 15 order by the Court of Appeal, Lagos, staying the contempt proceedings pending the determination of an application by the bank and its officials.

He stated that an enrolled order of the appellate court was brought to his attention, in chambers, by 8.54am yesterday by a Deputy Registrar in his court.

The affected officials of the

By Eric Ikhilae

bank are Ladi Balogun (Group Managing Director), Segun Odusanya (Deputy Managing Director) and Peter Obaseki.

The contempt proceedings, initiated by Hensmor Nigeria Limited, was informed by the company’s claim that the bank refused, despite a garnishee order absolute made on July 2 this year, to defray a judgment debt of N6.8billion entered against one of its customers.

The court had, on December 2, 2011 upon a suit by Hensmor, held in favour of the plaintiff and entered judgment against one of the bank’s customers Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Realising that NIMASA was

a garnishee proceedings, resulting in an order nisi made by the court on May 15 this year. On July 2, the garnishee was made absolute against FCMB, even with the pendency of NIMASA’s appeal against the judgment and its application seeking to restrain FCMB from paying the judgment sum from its account with the bank pending the determination of its (NIMASA’s) appeal.

NIMASA also filed an application dated September 25 before the Court of Appeal, challenging the garnishee order absolute and urged the appellate court to restrain the bank from obeying the order absolute pending the determination of its appeal.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

PROJECTS

CONCESSION

PRAISE

Amosun awards 12 road contracts

Bomb blast victims to be compensated

Rotary hails vocational centre

Ogun

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Borno

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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ITH malnutrition now a threat in the northern states of the country, Nasarawa State government is partnering UNICEF with a view to tackling it.

The state is working with the D Field Office of the global body, which has a presence in 10 Northern states.

The partnership was forged at a one-day meeting whose theme was: “Sahelian nutrition crises, a call for collective action.”

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Lagos

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Page 17

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Nasarawa partners UNICEF to fight malnutrition From Johnny Danjuma, Lafis

The meeting held at theTa’Al Conference Centre in Lafia, the state capital.

Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura attended alongside several cabinet members and other government officials, as well as dignitaries from beyond the state.

Welcoming participants to the parley, Almakura said women and children are often the hardest hit by nutrition.

The governor also said women and children are the most vulnerable to diseases, illiteracy, ignorance and poverty.

“It is for this reason that the interventionist role of UNICEF in partnership with governments across the world to-

wards alleviating the adverse effects of development is highly commendable.

Almakura describedthe the theme of the meeting as “a reflection of the prevailing food situation in the Sahel region among which are many African countries including parts of Nigeria comprising some states in zone ‘D’.

“It is, therefore, a clarion call

on all and sundry to come together to explore possibilities of saving our people from imminent hunger.

“To this end, we must overcome the lip-service syndrome to realise our dream of the improvement in the living conditions of the citizenry.

“This means UNICEF alone •Continued on Page 44

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HE health profile of Ekiti State is rising, as a pact with a Canada-based nongovernment organisation (NGO) has boosted the operations of the state university teaching hospital (EKSUTH).

The NGO, CASA Foundation for International Development (CFID), donated a variety of medical equipment and disposables valued at millions of naira to EKSUTH. The gesture was facilitated by the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF).

Governor Kayode Fayemi has done a lot to enhance health infrastructure and operations in the state, including rolling out several health plans that continue to help the people.

It is reckoned that the partnership will greatly complement Fayemi’s efforts.

The event, which coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CFID and the EDF, held at the Central Medical Store of the hospital.

CFID focuses on empowerment through the promotion of infrastructural development with the objective of inspiring growth in communities, especially through the provision of equipment that promotes welfare and well-being of women and children.

EDF, which equally focuses on empowerment and advocacy programmes for women and children, is the initiative of Erelu Bisi Fayemi, wife of the state governor.

The equipment, according to the President of CASA, Ms Olutoyin Oyelade, included ultra-sound machines with approximately 10 probes; a complete dental room with dental chair, the arm, the lights, dental sinks and full-room cabinets.

Others items are two X-ray printers; automated external defibrillator; transfer stretcher with head and neck restrainers; computers and books meant to support the state hospital in its role as a tertiary healthcare provider.

In her speech at the event, Mrs Fayemi commended the efforts of the foundation, even as she urged Ekiti people in the

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Casa Foundation for International Development, Ms. Olutoyin Oyelade; founder, Ekiti Development Foundation, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasuba, during the donation of equipment to the hospital

Health boost in Ekiti Canadian partnership lifts teaching hospital Fayemi’s wife inspires pact port the state government in the effort to stamp out want among From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Diaspora to continue to support the state in its drive towards development.

Emphasising the importance of reaching out to those indigenous to the state in the Diaspora, Mrs Fayemi said the trend of develop-

ment in the state would be better assisted if private individuals could support the state from wherever they are.

“I am extremely proud that the EDF has managed to stay tuned to this vision and promises to the people of the state,” she said.

Mrs Fayemi stressed the need for public-spirited individuals to sup-

the people, adding that such people are at liberty to choose how they want to render certain helps.

She promised that her foundation would monitor and manage the use of the machines in the hospital so that they can best serve the interest of the people.

According to her, EDF has, since inception, been supporting the

state government in the areas of health, education, promoting women leadership and allied advocacies, youths, arts and culture as well as local philanthropy.

Mrs Fayemi signed the MoU on behalf of the foundation while the Chief Executive Officer of CASA, Ms. Oyelade signed for her organisation.

According to her, the foundation focuses on developing communities by empowering emerging leaders and spearheading social change in communities through development programmes in the public and private sectors.

Oyelade further said that the •Continued on Page 44

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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Borno to compensate victims of bomb blast

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HE Borno State government has inaugurated a 12-man committee to compensate victims of the October 8 bomb blast in Maiduguri.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Governor Kashim Shettima gave the committee one week to submit its report.

“As a responsible government, we will do our best to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims, by giving them some compensation.

“It is a known fact that human lives once lost cannot be replaced; we sympathise with those who lost their loved ones in the inci-

•Shettima

Flood: Community begins reconstruction of link road

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ABI Community in Ringim Local government Area of Jigawa State has begun reconstruction of its only access road recently washed away by flood.

The Chairman of the Dabi Community Development Association,Alhaji Ali Adamu, told journalists in Ringim that the road was their only link to the outside world.

He said the disaster had hindered transportation and exposed the community to difficulties.

Adamu said that the rehabilitation of the

road was being executed through communal efforts at the cost of N2 million.

He added that the flood had also crippled social and economic activities in the area.

The chairman appealed to the state government to relocate the community to a new site and empower them in view of the losses they had suffered as a result of the disaster.

Adamu said: “in fact, most of the families in Dabi and the neighbouring villages have migrated to other parts of the state because of the flood.’’

Council gives loans to youths, women F ASKARI Local Government in Katsina State, says it has empowered 600 youths in the council with N10,000 interest-free loan each to set up micro businesses.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahmed, disclosed this at a reception in honour of the council’s football team, Dandurami FC. The the club was honoured for emerging the champion of the just-concluded Senate President Soccer Youths Championship in Abuja by beating Paiko FC of Niger 4-2.

Addressing the players, Faskari-Ahmed added that 300 women had also benefited from the scheme.

He said the council had engaged auxiliary

Borno dent, they should regard it as an act of God,’’ Shettima said.

He also advised members of the Boko Haram sect to stop the ongoing violent attacks because of its negative effect.

“Members of the sect should know that what they are doing is not advancing the cause of Islam; we call on them to embrace dialogue because violence only leads to destruction,’’ he added.

He said government was willing to rehabilitate members of the sect who decided to lay down their arms and dialogue.

“We are going to take up the issue of excesses among the soldiers; and we will hold a securitycouncil meeting to discuss the issue of excesses among them,’’ the governor said.

In his response, the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Babakaka Garbai, promised to submit the committee’s report on schedule.

•Shema

Kwara spends N900m on energy

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HE Kwara State government has spent N900 million in the energy sector, the state Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Tajudeen Sulu-Oloje, has said.

He told journalists in Ilorin that an additional N400 million was in the offing.

Kano seals off two private hospitals

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HE Kano State government has sealed off two private hospitals in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Health, Malam Isma’ila Gwammaja.

It named the two hospitals as Taimako Nursing and Maternity Home in Tiga and Rahama Nursing and Maternity in Chiromawa, saying they were sealed for inefficiency.

The statement said the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Private Hospitals,

Dr Salisu Ibrahim, expressed dismay over the state of the hospitals.

He noted that it was worrisome to see that some private hospitals employed the service of just one medical doctor.

“The present administration has placed high premium on effective health service provision and it will not condone any violation regarding effective healthcare services,’’’ Ibrahim said.

The Special Adviser had been monitoring the state of private hospitals in the state, an act which had led to the closure of some of them .

Customs warns smugglers

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HE Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), has arrested smuggled goods with estimated duty paid value (DPV) of N3, 211,282.75 in September,it has been reported .

A document made available by the Controller in-charge of the command, Comptroller Audu Zakka through the Public Relations Officer, Chado Zakari showed that within the first month of assumption of duties by the new controller, the command carried out the arrest on six different items.

They include: 320 cartons of smuggled poultry products valued at N2.8 million and with estimated duty paid value put at the same amount; 150 bags of imported rice valued at N665, 025 and having dpv put at N864, 532. Other items were 110 kegs of petroleum products valued at N266, 750 and dpv at the same amount.

The command said the arrests were made possible partly by information from

By Uyoatta Eshiet

good Nigerians when they noticed movement of smugglers.

The command’s new controller who assumed duty on September 4, warned smugglers in the entire Western Region to stop their illegal activities, adding that the region is now a ‘no go area’ for them. He said he came into the command with the aim of stamping out smuggling from the Western part of the country.

He called on all Nigerians especially those living within the command’s area of operation to give them all necessary support as they are poised to drive smugglers out of the area. He said the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Abdullahi Dikko, is doing everything within his powers to reposition the Customs Service generally and the Western Marine Command in particular to enable them achieve their set objectives.

•Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru (right) presenting execuatur to Dr Taiwo O. Afolabi, Chief Executive Officer, Sifax Group as the Hon Consul of the Republic of Djibouti in Abuja

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Revival programme

•From right: Protem Secretary of Lagos State Councillors’ Leaders’ Forum, Hon Abolore Shobayo AbdulAzizi; Chairman, Hon AbdulAkeem Sulaiman; Chairman, Oriade Local Development Area, Hon Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi; Secretary to Local Government, Hon Kareem Sunmola and Leader, Oriade Local Council Development Area legislative arm, Hon Akeem Agbelega at the Councillors’ Leaders’ forum held at the council secretariat

Kwara The commissioner said the sum had been voted for the construction of injection sub-station in Ilesa Baruba in Baruteen Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

“It is an electrification project and we are now in the rainy season. But once we enter the dry season, work will commence fully on providing electricity in these communities.

“These electrification projects of the 200 communities will cut across the 16 LGAs of the state and before the end of this administration, all the projects would have been completed,’’ he said.

Sulu-Oloje said further that the injection substation at Kwara Polytechnic Area had been upgraded from 7.5 MVA, to 15 MVA. He said this was due to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, the Polytechnic, the Kwara State Television Authority and other complex buildings situated in the area.

The commissioner disclosed that some of his ministry officials recently paid a visit to the Jebba Hydro-Power Generating Station.

“The visit with some of the officials of the ministry was to access the condition of facilities on ground and the level of work done on the station,’’ he said.

Sulu-Oloje said the state government, through the ministry, had distributed 117 transformers within the Ilorin metropolis and in various communities in the state.

THE Foursquare Gospel Church, City of Refuge, Anthony Village will hold a weeklong programme of concert, revival and anniversary from October 21. The time from Monday to Friday will be 6pm and Sunday is 8am.

The theme is: Back to Bethel and the venue is 1/3, Adeteju Adeyeye Street, Anthony Village, Lagos.

Highlights of the programme include praise worship, revival, word exposition, counselling and healing.

Speaking on the programme, Head of the Planning Committee of the church, Brother Adegbenga Adekoya, said that guests will live to remember the concert as God has promised to surprise them.

By Dada Aladelokun

He spoke further: “It is not a sin for one to enjoy the riches of life. Of course, one needs money to enjoy the good things of life. However, it becomes a disaster when people are being encouraged to place prosperity above the love of God and His commandments. The time has come for men of God by whatever nomenclature to bring people back to the path of righteousness “Look at what has been happening in the northern part of the country; look at the constant killings. Look at the spate of armed robberies and other various indices of man’s inhumanity to man. While the government can be said to have failed in the area of fulfilling its bounden responsibilities to the led, it behoves religious leaders to do their bits to mitigate the attendant awry fallouts by encouraging people to live pious life.

“Of what benefit is it for one to inherit the goodies of life and lose one’s soul?” Olatunde asked, adding: “It is time we men of God let our congregations know that this world is vanity; we are leaving with nothing and we shall all give account of whatever we do here on earth before our creator.

Therefore, every moment, we must endeavour to live within the ambit of God’s commandments in order to reserve a place for ourselves in His •Pastor Olatunde Kingdom.”

Katsina teachers and community health officers, who were being given monthly stipends to supplement existing manpower in the education and health sectors.

“This is to supplement the existing manpower needed in education and health departments in the council and the state.

“Many others were also assisted to attend vocational training schemes in bore hole drilling, mobile phone and electronics repairs, while some with certificates were fixed at various establishments to promote self reliance.”

The chairman cautioned youths in the area against all forms of negative tendencies, advising them to engage in useful ventures.

Faskari-Ahmed praised the club for its wonderful performance, saying they were a pride to the entire local government.

He pledged the council’s continuous assistance to the team so as to attain more successes in other national competitions.

Also speaking, the Chief Coach of the team, Bishir Ibrahim, expressed appreciation for the honour and said it would motivate the players to do more.

Bishir assured that the team was ready to win more trophies and solicited for maximum support from individuals and the council.

Umar Barau, the Team Manager, also praised the council for its support to the team and other youths in the area.

•From left: Senator Gbenga Ashafa, member, Senate Committee on Gas Resources; Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke, Petroleum Minister and Mr Andrew Yakubu, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), during an oversight function of the Senate Committee on Gas Resources to NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

‘Involve communities in pipeline protection’ T

HE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Prosperous Oil and Gas Company, Mr Isinkaye Abiodun, has stressed the need for those indigenous to communities through which oil pipelines passed to be involved in security of the pipelines to prevent vandals from tampering with them.

He made this suggestion while commenting on the current scarcity of petroleum products across the country.

He stated that if members of the host communities are engaged in the enlightenment of the people on the need to protect the pipelines, the rate at which vandals operate in the areas would be reduced.

Kebbi From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

T

HE Kebbi State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers from Niger Republic who have been terrorising residents of the boarder area of Kangiwa and Kamba local government areas of the state.

Addressing newsmen at the police headquarter, the Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tonye E. Ebitibituwa said that one of the suspects, Hajiya Sa’adatu Mohammad, 40, was arrested at Barki Daji in Kangiwa area of the state.

The suspect was accused of being the leader of the notorious armed gang that operates along Kangiwa - Kamba Road. He further disclosed that the gang’s accomplices had also been arrested. He said: “We have arrested the matron of the armed robbery syndicate that comes from Niger Republic to unleash terror on motorists on Kangiwa-Kamba Road. They are foreign elements, They come from their country, strike on this road by blocking and dispossessing motorists of their valuables. After operation, they run back to their country.”

On how the suspects were arrested, he said his men mounted 24-hour surveillance on the area and villages surrounding it. He said they have since commenced investigation on the woman’s case.

“The gang has stopped coming but in the course of our surveillance, the woman was acfingerd as their matron. We ransacked her house and found three young men. Though no weapon was found in her house, in the area she has been known as the matron of the armed robbers. Some time ago she was arrested for same offence,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police commissioner reiterated his command’s commitment to make the state crime-free.He urged the people of the state to report any suspicious persons or movement in their communities to any nearby police formation for prompt action.

Ekiti

According to him, most oil marketers have been frustrated by the activities of the members of the communities, especially when their oil tankers tumbled.

He lamented that the members of the communities usually rush to the scene where tankers fell to scoop fuel, thinking that it was a national cake.

The people should be enlightened on the fact that the tankers as well as the content are owned by oil marketers who usually approached banks to access loans for the running of their businesses at high interest rates.

He observed that most of the vandals and the members of the host communities are ignorant of the hazards inherent in the cutting of the pipelines.

Eze Ndigbo loses mother

Suspected armed robbers arrested

How to tackle insecurity, by cleric ELIGIOUS leaders across the country must emphasise salvation and righteousness in their sermons as a way of shutting people’s minds against materialism which is spreading tension across the land.

The Shepherd in charge of the Christ Apostolic Mission Church (CAMC) Ilupeju, Lagos State, Pastor James Olatunde who expressed the view, said such an attitude is the only sure way of ending insecurity and crimes in the country.

Speaking further, the cleric who clocked 63 last week, described as unfortunate, the disposition of some clerics towards prosperity, which he bemoaned, had beclouded people’s interpretation of religion.

“The essence of religion is to ensure that people embrace righteous lifestyle in order to have sane relationships with their fellowmen and book a place for themselves in heaven.

Unfortunately, what we are facing in the land today runs counter to that principle,” Olatunde said.

47

From left: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Environment, Dr. Taofeek Oladiran Folami; President, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Chief Izoma Phillip Asiodu; Council members, NCF, Justice Bukola Adebiyi and Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi, during the 2012 Walk for Nature programme with the theme ‘Sustainable Energy for Us All’ orgarnised by Lagos State Government and NCF, in Marina, Lagos

T

HE Lions Club of Illupeju,Lagos State, has installed Engr.Reginald Chijioke Ibezim as its 31st President for the 2012/ 2013 Lionistic year.

The investiture of Lion Ibezim took place last weekend at the Officer’s Mess of 9 Brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Maryland under the supervision of District Governor, Lion Stella Agbogun, who handed over the instruments of office to the new president amid pomp and excitement from members of the club and well wishers who came in their numbers to witness the event.

Lion Agbogun charged Ibezim to uphold the tenets of lionism during his tenure in office and called on members of the club to give their total support to the new president.

Lion Ibezim while thanking his members for the confidence they reposed on him, assured that he would keep the flag of the club flying to raise the bar in surpassing the achievements of his predecessor, Lion Ola Opaleye.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Ernest Onyeze applauded the effort of the Lions Club in Nigeria in bridging the gap created by inadequacies of the government with the members’ selfless service to humanity, adding that “I have no doubt that the new president would ensure that the good work of Lions Club in Ilupeju is felt by the people.

Erstwhile president of the club, Lion Opaleye challenged the new president to take the club above where he left it, adding that he was able to take Ilupeju Lions Club to the Top 10 in Dis-

THE death has been announced of Mrs Helen Nwachukwu (neeOdun).She was a n community leader and devout Christian.She was 95.

Ezinne Lolo Helen Nwachukwu aged 95 years.

The mother of Eze Ndigbo Lagos State, Dr Christian Udechukwu Nwachukwu, died on September 19 and will be buried on October 18, after a funeral Mass at Eze Nwachukwu’s country home, Ofeikpa, Umunwarahu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State.

There will be condolences from in-laws, friends and well-wishers on October 19 and 20. and thanksgiving service at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Obodo-Ukwu Imo State on October 21.

She is survived by several children, many grand children and great grand children.

Club gets new president trict 404 Nigeria during his tenure.

Chairman of the Gala Committee that organised the investiture ceremony, Lion Tunji Edward commended the generosity of the invited guests for donating towards the success of

the projects which the new president has earmarked to do during his tenure. “It is our belief that our new president will follow the tradition of excellence which Ilupeju Lions is known of over the year.

•District Governor 404 Nigeria, Lion Stella Agbogun (left) installing Lion Ibezim at the event.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 17, 2012

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Aviation sector woes •New policies are taking us back to the era we want to forget

T

HE deregulation of the aviation industry in Nigeria about two decades ago saw a substantial increase in the number of private airliners. But in recent years, the industry is in retreat. While generally, harsh business environment has contributed to the death of many airlines, we are worried that the situation has been aggravated in recent years. It is even more worrisome that despite the multi-billion naira Federal Government intervention in the sector, the situation seems to have deteriorated.

As such, there is this incongruity of massive investment in exchange for greater woes in the aviation industry.

Recently, the Federal Government set up a multi-billion naira lifeline to aid the ailing aviation sector, and the impression from government officials was that the industry was headed for a rebound. Despite this intervention, nearly all the private airlines have packed up, leaving only about three (of the 18 that were granted licenses to operate in the country in the last 10 years) in operation.

The result is a throwback to the prederegulation era when travelling by air was such a tedious process, and also exploitative, as desperate passengers were compelled to bribe touts to gain access to the limited seats in the aircraft. With few airlines now running on major routes, Nigerians are suffering and the matter is made worse by the inefficiency of other means of transport.

Even more annoying is that many

of the airlines which benefited from the Federal Government’s intervention fund seem to have diverted the money to other ventures. While the aviation ministry has accused some airline owners of such diversion, it has not taken any concrete steps to bring those involved to account. Intriguingly, many of those accused of the diversions have also denied ever receiving the funds, without the federal authorities shutting them up with provable facts of their receipt of the money. Some that received the fund, still closed shop.

Part of the fallout is the unprecedented increase in the number of private jets in the country. According to press reports, Nigeria is presently competing with China as the biggest market destination for private jets in the world. Indeed, a report in a national newspaper said that in 2007, there were a total of 20 private jets in Nigeria, which has now risen to 150. It also gave the average cost of a jet as 50 million dollars, which saw Nigerians spending about 225 million dollars on private jets between March 2010 and March 2011.

The result is that the wealthy that could influence positive changes in the industry have all migrated to owning private airlines, leaving the rest of Nigerians at the mercy of the uncertainty and inefficiency in the commercial airline sector.

The report also said that about 40,000 passengers daily suffer as a result of the inefficiency in the sector. Many

Nigerians rue the decapitation of the Nigeria Airways, and the inability of the Federal Government to healthily regulate the private sector that took over the industry. Indeed, recently, one of the airlines that had issued tickets to passengers, simply closed shop, leaving their passengers stranded; without a word. A few of the airlines also died following their involvement in air disasters.

While the defunct Nigeria Airways remains a sad commentary on how a public corporation with high hopes can be ruined by indiscipline and corruption, the private airlines appear not to have fared any better. With road and railway transportation still a nightmare, Nigerian air travellers may have to brace up for more hardship in the near future.

‘Recently, the Federal Government set up a multi-billion naira lifeline to aid the ailing aviation sector, and the impression from government officials was that the industry was headed for a rebound.

Despite this intervention, nearly all the private airlines have packed up, leaving only about three (of the 18 that were granted licenses to operate in the country in the last 10 years) in operation’

Fayemi, two years on •Ekiti is witnessing a rebirth, even if there are always ways to improve

T

HE most piquant thing about two years of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State is not what he has done or what he has not done. It is rather the perception of his mandate as that not stolen; and therefore has earned the right to rule. That is the power of legitimacy in a democracy – that your people have given you the charter to rule: with the proviso that that charter would be withdrawn if you did not rule well.

The mandate, like a sword of Damocles, which nevertheless comes down in a democracy, appears to be driving Ekiti. The result is obvious for all to see.

That Ado-Ekiti, the state capital and other parts of the state are one huge workin-progress is apparent. In two years, Ekiti, under Fayemi’s charge, has constructed 103 kilometres of roads in 10 different

‘In two years, Governor Fayemi has put in place laudable pattern of governance – from an ethical campaign that strives to return Ekiti to its Omoluabi credo, to concrete strides in visible infrastructure. But the end, not the beginning, is the issue. So, the government would do well to be focused and consolidate its achievement, before the inevitable distraction, with the din of re-election’

parts of the state. That is remarkable and encouraging. But even more remarkable is that the roads come with standard specifications. They come with adequate drainage, setbacks, pedestrian walkways and even floral beautification.

That could be routine in other areas, but for a largely rural and sleepy state, this urban renewal is a sign of commendable modernisation. With improved road infrastructure, transportation receives a boost and the state economy receives a healthy jab in the arm.

But Fayemi’s focus has not been on road infrastructure alone. Indeed, that is only part of an eight-point agenda, the other seven being sane governance, modernised agriculture, education and human capital development, health care services, promotion of industries, tourism and gender equality and empowerment – empowerment including social security for Ekiti Elders, as a mark of the government’s recognition of their past services to the state.

Sanity in governance has come mainly from the frugality in managing public funds. Even with the state’s modest receipt from the Federation Account and equally modest internally generated revenue (IGR), the Fayemi government has made a laudable attempt at harnessing the state’s resources for maximal results.

This has been most remarkable in the Ekiti Elders’ social security programme where anyone from age 65 and above is given a monthly stipend of N5,000. It is the first of its type in the South West, though the State of Osun has followed in that direction, by putting in place a simi-

lar social security scheme.

Frugal management of resources is also apparent in tourism-driven investment in which the Ikogosi Warm Springs, the wonder of nature where there is confluence of warm and cold water, is being upgraded into a resort to attract global tourism traffic. This is another economic empowerment project to create jobs and rev up the state’s economy to drive prosperity.

The Fayemi government’s intervention in education is fundamental: by instituting periodic tests for teachers in the state’s employ, it is insisting on the basics – that teachers who teach our youths and will shape their future for good or for ill must be on top of their game. That is noble and legitimate.

The challenge, however, is that the programme must be served with utmost sensitivity and mass enlightenment. That would not only make the teachers buy into the scheme as part of their own much needed professional improvement, it would augur well for the development of education at the grassroots; and further consolidate Ekiti’s well-known love for education.

In two years, Governor Fayemi has put in place laudable pattern of governance – from an ethical campaign that strives to return Ekiti to its Omoluabi credo, to concrete strides in visible infrastructure.

But the end, not the beginning, is the issue. So, the government would do well to be focused and consolidate its achievement, before the inevitable distraction, with the din of re-election.

Adolescents in grown-up jails

T

HE practice of confining young people to adult jails and prisons is both counterproductive and inhumane. Adolescents who are locked up with adults are more likely to be raped, battered or driven to suicide than young people who are handled through the juvenile justice system. After the trauma of doing hard, adult time, young people often return home as damaged individuals who are more likely to commit violent crimes and end up back inside.

The prudent approach would be for the states to keep children out of adult jails and channel them through the juvenile justice systems, where they could get the counseling and mental health services that so many of them clearly need. But, as it stands today, tens of thousands of young people each year are charged as adults, even for nonviolent offenses and property crimes that do not warrant adult time.

Many states have adopted various protective strategies, under which young inmates are separated from adults who would otherwise prey on them.

One of these strategies is to segregate young people in solitary confinement — a soul-killing punishment that condemns young people to spend weeks or even months locked up alone in small cells for up to 23 hours a day, cut off from all contact with other prisoners.

A new study issued earlier this month by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union shows the degree to which extended isolation — which is hard going for mature adults — can easily lead to mental illness and other damage among emotionally immature young people.

The report, Growing Up Locked Down, is based on interviews and correspondence in 2011 and 2012 with more than 125 individuals who were sent to jail or prison in 20 states while under the age of 18.

Prison officials use solitary confinement for several reasons that apply to all prisoners: to isolate inmates who need protection or could be dangerous to others; to deal with those who have mental problems or have threatened suicide; or to punish inmates who break rules, even minor rules like failing to make their beds or close their cell doors.

Young people are naturally more prone to rulebreaking because they are impulsive and generally less capable of reasoned judgment.

Like others in solitary, young prisoners are routinely cut off from their families, sometimes denied books or forbidden from writing home. All of this deepens the terminal sense of isolation. Many of the young prisoners interviewed for the report spoke of struggling with acute anxiety, depression or hallucinations. Some spoke of deliberately injuring themselves or thinking about suicide. Others spoke of being overcome with an uncontrollable rage, which, of course, would get them bounced right back into solitary once they got out.

Corrections officials have a duty to protect the public from crime. But they also have a responsibility not to permanently scar the lives of young people who are far from fully developed when they land in custody. To meet that responsibility, states and localities should ban or sharply minimize solitary confinement for young people, and, more broadly, make sure that fewer of them land in adult jails in the first place.

– New York Times

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: I was stuck, recently, watching the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy, Douglas Oronto itemise government’s “Sure and Steady Transformation of Nigeria” agenda on a Sunrise Program on Channels Television.

If dreams or set goals were to be awarded on merit of their presentation, or of their change-effecting potential, then the objectives of this present government deserve a national honour for their simplicity, objectiveness and seeming enticement.

Unfortunately however, like it has always played out, a lot more is easier said than done. From Agriculture to Aviation, Health, Education and Infrastructure… both past and present records of government

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Whither government of the people? efforts puts it way below the possibility of achieving these lofty aims.

The keywords has always been an increasing government scope and size, underachievement and sadly, unapologetic requests for another shot at their failure.

The Government, according to Oronto, is determined at improving agricultural productivity in Nigeria, increase access to

standardised education, improve the conditions of airports, work on sustainable healthcare and improve the level of infrastructure, citing the recent positive remarks on improvement in power supply by citizens all over the social media.

Oronto’s message to the people is simple. That the elected government is simply a gracious machinery, foisted on the people it was meant

to serve and protect. Hence, the sworn duty to protect and defend the people is replaced with favours within the corridors of power, and a sympathetic consideration for the people at the mercy of the whims and discretion of whoever holds power.

The facts proving the government’s position as a babysitter on a blank cheque is ap-

Anambra and a governor’s passion

S

IR: Nigeria has been traumatised by the menace of malignant water which besiege and sack neighbourhoods with no threat spared on lives and properties. Lives have been lost and princely properties either swept off or laid waste by rampaging flood.

The situation elicits sadness as those affected lay abandoned and helpless while the devastation seeks new victims. Many travelers have had tastes of the bitter pill, being either cut off by failed roads and bridges or caught up in surging water. It has been pains, ruins and emptiness in the hearts of victims while the physical environment bows too in submission.

Signs are that Anambra State, east of the Niger, seems to be experiencing an overflow of the sadness dotting the route of the uncontrolled spread of the mighty River Niger and many other large bodies of water in the state. The gory scene has not been witnessed before in the communities as not even the oldest of men in the affected communities have any faint memory of such mishap among them. Majority of the communities in Ogbaru, Anambra West, Anambra East and Ayamelu Local Government Councils are submerged in water. Some parts of Awka North Local Government Council and parts of Onitsha also suffer heavy flooding. And the hope of an immediate recess hangs loose, as the water would not stop surging

into new grounds.

While these calamities on man and materials are bemoaned, the capacity of leaders to rise to the daunting challenges of leadership is here scaled. Given the impromptu nature of the hazards, none (victims and leaders alike) had the luxury of a programmed window-dressing for political posturing. The nature of it all caught everyone in their true elements. It is in the light of this that one makes a critique of Governor Peter Obi’s response towards alleviating the pains of his people in the floodravaged parts of Anambra State.

Governor Obi has proved himself an exponent of politics for

the development and well-being of his people. Watching him wade through deep flood in search of his people submerged in water in many of the affected communities tells the story of commitment in leadership. Where most leaders would at best send their aides, Obi would rather confront the crises himself preferring his aides attend to less challenging tasks.

The situation in Anambra where residential houses, including upstairs, industrial estates, vast areas of cultivated farmlands, markets, schools, churches, hospitals, roads and bridges are submerged in water terrifies still as there seem to be no ready clue as

to how much longer both the government and the people of the state would contend with the challenges attendant to the disaster that flooding has visited on the State and its people.

It is hoped that public spirited persons, organisations and indeed the Federal Government would heed the entreaties of Anambra State government and make haste to bring relief to the displaced persons whose hope of survival hinges on such interventions.

• Okechukwu Anarado Adazi-Nnukwu, Anambra State.

parent and vast. Regardless of how good promising adevelopment blueprints are, or their potential for maximum results, a society without security is akin to a basket being filled with water.

It is time to quit drawing water into baskets as there can never be any meaningful socio-economic growth and development in an atmosphere riddled in insecurity and chaos. No matter how beautiful the picture of a country is painted, and forced down the throat of gullible citizens using state propaganda machinery, you can only succeed fooling all the people some of the time, but surely as Abraham Lincoln maintains, “you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”

The gory picture of four young Nigerians cold-bloodedly murdered in a conspired effort of an entire community requires no effort to shed tears. This barbarous act only reflects the very attitude of the government towards the security of its own people. While lives and properties were continually being assaulted into extinction in parts of the country, the government is busy boosting security in the seat of power.

The need for a nation, poised for growth and development is not a gracious government, but a government constituted for the benefit of the people, by the people and for the people, to protect inalienable their rights to life, defend their liberties and secure their properties.

• Fiyinfoluwa Elegbede Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

Jonathan’s Yoruba friends

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IR: Nothing can be more unfortunate than hearing that the so-called Yoruba leaders were pursuing President Goodluck Jonathan for juicy and sensitive positions. There can be no better way of eradicating the policy of principled opposition established by the Yoruba sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

An Awoist can be justified if the government of the day were ideologically sound and progressive, but not a government flown by those milking the nation dry, perpetrating abject poverty and criminal activities, such as armed robbery and kidnapping.

The Nigerian security forces and the general populace are under severe attacks from Boko Haram, kidnappers, armed robbers, and marauding Fulani herdsmen all over the country. The Police are misused in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and elsewhere in the country. How unimaginable to hear that the concern of the so-called Yoruba leaders is how to solicit juicy positions for Yorubaland, rather than how to overthrow mediocrity and corruption?

Yes, it is selfish, self-centered and myopic at the same time. It is a subtle way of seeking legitimacy for a discredited government that

has imported Boko Haram terrorism, petroleum scam and scarcity, together with the attendant mass penury.

I am again appealing to wellmeaning Nigerians to rally round opposition unity. What is happening in Yorubaland now, under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is an indication that the opposition will not perpetrate business as usual. However you view it, things have changed for better in Edo State and Yorubaland under the ACN. Yes, I criticize the ACN governors because no condition is perfect, but I know the difference compared with when the

states were under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Indubitably, Pa Awo must be lamenting in heaven that unexpected persons are betraying his policy of principled opposition to ask an anti-people government for juicy and sensitive positions. As the Yoruba would say, Omo eni iba joni iba dun (How pleasant it will be to see your own child resemble you in character and behaviour!).

Let the selfish ethnic leaders continue to romance with Jonathan while Nigeria is wrecked by missgovernance.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

COMMENTS

Politicians must take potholes seriously.

They kill people and business and taxes!

L

ET the deaf hear.

Potholes are a yardstick of political success. It is official. Do you know why we talk about potholes so annoyingly freTony quently in the column?

Marinho It is because potholes are the symbol of national failure, destroying lives and businesses and making a mockery of going to school to learn about good governance, Internally Generated Revenue, Foreign Direct investment and tourism proposals and repositioning Nigeria using 20-2020 vision. Potholes are a simple assessment of the commitment of politicians, political parties and individual governments to a social and moral contract with the citizens. The ‘Politics of Potholes’ is not about ‘making straight’ the path to an LGA chairman’s country home or to a particular governor’s son’s wedding venue.

Potholes are about failed responsibility to the people and about abuse or non-use of power. Potholes are not a game of ‘guess how many potholes are in my LGA, state or country’.

Potholes are murderous and about human suffering and blood, human blood, not contracts. Are politicians and civil servants blind, misinformed or totally incompetent? The people bleed and see the blood on roads, cars, danfos and buses and staining the operating uniforms in Nigeria’s operating theatres where we remove the ruptured spleens and broken limbs of ‘Pothole Attack Victims’. Potholes are not about ‘excuses’ and inflated non-executed contracts and delayed budget. Potholes are about societal decay, incompetence and delay and the abdication of government’s responsibility to the citizenry. Nigeria is just one big ‘Government Neglect’ pothole in spite of sufficient funds to fix every road within one dry season since it refuses to work during the rainy season out of mental and engineering laziness not due to a lack of civil engineering capacity.

Unfortunately, the most powerful ‘road user’ voices in the land are silent. We do not hear of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NMA, NURTW etcetera, market women at their

AGMs catching ‘anti-pothole fever’ and shouting about potholes. No country with our pothole achievements should have travel and entrepreneurship programmes. We are all held hostage in our own country, confined by the strictures of our potholed roads. For millions, daily travel is a nightmare for which serious prayers are needed to avert a disaster. Often prayers are not enough. And our government seems powerless to prevent the continued infliction of massive unnecessary pain on the collective psyche and physical bodies of the population. The deliberate clogging of the Ogere traffic artery on the Lagos-Ibadan road is a case in point and a recurrent national shame and security disaster waiting to happen. The trailers used to commit these terrible crimes are owned and registered by the high and mighty in the petroleum industry who are now donating to flood relief almost nationwide.

That Ogere park is too often strangled by tanker and trailer drivers is not news, nor is it news about the impunity with which they do it. Only in Nigeria would that be a two or less lane road. Even Ikorodu road should and can easily be six lanes each side. No one will be brought to book for holding the nation to ransom for 11 hours. Since all the major players in the Ogere hold up are known, they should be fined by the federal government to act as a deterrent to their staff repeating such a crime against the citizens of Nigeria in future. We are used to students shutting down trunk ‘A’ roads for perceived transgressions. This new one where adults embark on similar activities is an unwelcome event that puts at risk millions of lives and billions of naira. A Boko Haramic conflagration in that circumstance would have had catastrophic repercussions. Only God can quantify the losses caused by such a decision. But who cares. It reminds us of the danger of putting police with ‘big shots’ to attempt to drive roughshod over the rest of us. We must also remember that in all likelihood, the shot tanker was probably wrongly parked causing unnecessary go-slow or full stop.

Remember that the Ogere is notorious for indiscipline and obstruction just like its predecessor Sagamu. It was these same people’s fathers who blocked Sagamu to the extent that it prompted the building of the expressway in the first

place. This was typical knee-jerk reaction and no long term plan to anticipate problems and build additional lanes in advance. Since then, 40 years the road has not improved, but it has deteriorated and in fact narrowed to its present sorry state where one tanker can paralyse the key artery out of the port city of Lagos. What a shame and we are not at war. By now in any forward looking country, there would be five major and several minor roads out of Lagos. But like they say, there are more bridges in river-less Abuja than in the whole of the rest of the country put together. Na wa O! Such selfish politicians cannot build a great Nigeria which is as weak as the smallest pothole.

Now that potholes at federal level have been declared wanted dead or alive on or before December, let us pursue with equal vigour the execution of potholes on state and LGA roads. All Nigerians must renew ‘The Great Nigeria Anti-Pothole War’ and fight it to its logical conclusion-no more deaths. Nigerians must no longer accept rough and rubbish roads. Nigeria can afford and must provide standard roads.

‘Now that potholes at federal level have been declared wanted dead or alive on or before December, let us pursue with equal vigour the execution of potholes on state and LGA roads. All Nigerians must renew ‘The Great Nigeria Anti-Pothole War’ and fight it to its logical conclusion-no more deaths. Nigerians must no longer accept rough and rubbish roads. Nigeria can afford and must provide standard roads’

The Hajj conundrum

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OING on pilgrimage is a religious obligation that every Muslim is expected to perform, at least, once in his or her lifetime if he/she has the means.

For the Christians, it is Jerusalem, in Israel, that they head to every year to perform their pilgrimage.

The Muslims go to Mecca and Medina to observe theirs.

But by far, it is the Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia that attracts the highest number of faithful all over the world every year.

With this also comes the high publicity that is attached to the yearly ritual. Apart from the yearly pilgrimage, many Muslim faithful also visit the Holy land for Umrah or “Lesser Hajj”. However, this is done at anytime of the year without really engaging the attention or the probing eyes of journalists and other media commentators.

The popular yearly hajj, which culminates in ram-slaughtering, the Id-El- Kabir festival, is undertaken two months and a few days after the Muslim’s 30-day fasting period known as Ramadan. This yearly hajj is a very big event as so many activities are involved in it. Good enough, the Saudi Arabian government has put several measures in place to accommodate the large influx of Muslims to the country on the annual religious ritual. But in spite of all the measures put in place to ensure hitch-free hajj operations, some of the pilgrims have run into one problem or another while in the Holy Land. In most cases, the Saudi Arabian government has al-

ways risen up to the occasion by attending to any issues that may arise during the annual pilgrimage.

Surprisingly, this year’s pilgrimage by Nigerian pilgrims has attracted a huge controversy because of the forced deportation of some female pilgrims. The dust raised by the action taken by the Saudis is just about to settle with the flurry of diplomatic meetings and shuttles embarked upon by the Nigerian government, particularly the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and his team also dashed to the Kingdom on a one-day fence-mending visit.

Finally, the Saudi government softened its stand on some of the pilgrims who had earlier been repatriated to Nigeria. That incident itself is the crux of this discourse.

The first thing is that, side-by-side our generally accepted Western attitudes and values that lay emphasis on the freedom of the individual adult to act according to his or her own needs and general personal desires, Islam is a different ball game, especially with regards to women. Simply put, women are generally seen as minors who require permission from their husbands or father or the adult male equivalent in the family. Generally speaking, choices for women in Islam on a lot of things simply follow a well-guarded path with little or no room for any ‘creativity’ on the part of the woman. Of course, this tradition is most jealously upheld and guarded in Islamic envi-

‘What usually happens to the hordes of women who are reportedly ‘arrested’ by Saudi security forces for breaches of the social and moral rule only to be off the streets for the night or a couple of days and be back ‘doing their thing’ afterwards?’

ronments were Wahabism – a stricter, more extreme version of Islam – is practised such as you find in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Taliban-controlled-Afghanistan and a few other places, including among many Muslims in northern Nigeria.

This is where, in hajj, the issue of mahram (chaperon/guardian) comes into the picture. One thing though, it is not true that the issue of a chaperon has only just come to be recognised in hajj. It’s just that the practice has, over the decades, been bent to accommodate modern political and social nuances. In short, the practice of mahram for women on hajj has merely learned to recognise the fact that because of the peculiarity regarding the number of pilgrims of various backgrounds from even one country, it cannot be practical for every single woman going on hajj to necessarily have access to a family member who is an adult male to act as chaperon. Hence the waiver that had been in existence for Nigeria’s female pilgrims since the 1980s. Under this arrangement, the leader of the delegation (the Amir-ul Hajj) from each country is sufficient to act as the chaperon/guardian of all female pilgrims from that country.

So, what went wrong this time?

Well, an exhaustive answer may only be provided by both the Saudi authorities and their Nigerian counterparts. But it is first worthy to note that even by the regulations on hajj and the chaperon/guardian issue, it is permissible for any woman who is 45 years old or older to go on hajj without a mahram. This also brings us to the issue of the category of women who have so far been denied entry into Saudi Arabia in the current controversy. It is, perhaps, not ordinary happenstance that while some older women have been granted entry with the minimum of fuss, most of the ones who have been denied

entry are young women all under 34 years of age and even much younger. In the case of one contingent from Kano, it was allegedly discovered that a whole plane only had three male passengers, with all the other passengers being female.

And it certainly begets curiosity as to why a passenger plane could have such a lopsided composition of passengers. It becomes more interesting when we throw into the fray Nigeria’s history with regards to the behaviour of some members of our contingents at such gatherings of mass proportions abroad. It is a well-documented development that it is usually a hard battle preventing some members of our contingents from absconding during sports meets anywhere in the world. And unless we are bent on calling a spade by some other name, we cannot feign ignorance of such incidents often taking place with our contingents on pilgrimage whether to Jerusalem or Mecca.

Even where some of these people in this case, the women - do not abscond outright, there have been alleged cases of various unwholesome activities on their parts such as prostitution, begging and the like. And unless we insist on wallowing in self-denial, many such stories abound about our pilgrims’ conduct in Saudi Arabia.

Therefore, it might be safe to assume that in the case of the current controversy, our legacy has simply preceded us. In essence, the Saudis may have finally caught on to the antics of our people and decided to try and put a stop to it, starting, of course, with the crackdown on that (in)famous three-male-out-of-hundreds aeroplane incident from Kano.

If this is the case, then perhaps the Saudi authorities are absolved of all blame, right? Well, not quite.

Firstly, it is highly implausible that the Saudis have only recently caught on to this attitude and have,

Dele Agekameh even more belatedly, found a noose to throw around the problem. In addition, as a retort to a question on why more and more men are becoming adulterous around the world, a psychologist once asked: “Who do you think these men are sleeping with?” Perhaps, it is similarly legitimate for us to ask: After all other pilgrims have returned to their countries, which men then patronise the Nigerian women who often decide to stay behind and hawk their bodies for money in Saudi Arabia? What usually happens to the hordes of women who are reportedly ‘arrested’ by Saudi security forces for breaches of the social and moral rule only to be off the streets for the night or a couple of days and be back ‘doing their thing’ afterwards? Could the possible answers to these questions be the main reason the Saudis have allegedly not given any reason for their new-found brazenness in injuring their country’s diplomatic ties with Nigeria while not offering any explanation for the sudden aggressive treatment of Nigeria’s female pilgrims this year? Well, maybe, as they say in Yoruba, oro p’esije (too serious beyond response).

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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COMMENTS

Why Mimiko can’t win Ondo election

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S the clock ticks daily to the D-Day for the Ondo State gubernatorial election and the flurry of political activities and intrigues that accompany it, the question on the lips of observers is; can Mimiko win? The answer is hanging in the air but the reason for asking the question is not far-fetched. Olusegun Rahman Mimiko, Governor of Ondo State and until recently, the candidate to beat in the October 20, gubernatorial election in the state, is the candidate of the Labour Party. He is the only governor produced by Labour Party in Nigeria. His major contenders are Olusola Oke of the PDP and Rotimi Akeredolu of the ACN. Watching the debate of the candidates on AIT last Thursday, Mimiko looked troubled, emaciated and forlorn. Olusola Oke of the PDP was in his best element while Rotimi Akeredolu did not do badly. Recently, a poll watch that gave victory to Akeredolu popularly called Aketi with 40.28 percent; Mimiko came a distant second with 24.84 while Olusole Oke came third with 22.84. This may be correct considering the turn of events in Ondo State in the last few weeks. What led to the turn of events for Mimiko who three months ago was sure to beat other candidates silly in a free and fair election?

Mimiko rode to power with a lot of goodwill arising from the 2009 landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin division which returned him as the duly elected governor of the state while stripping the then incumbent, Olusegun Agagu of the PDP the certificate of return already issued by INEC. Mimiko was so popular that his inauguration witnessed multitudes of supporters from within and outside the state. Overwhelmed with the crowd and level of support, he wept. He promised to work for them and they believed him. But shortly after he assumed the reins of power, the real Mimiko manifested. He reduced governance in Ondo State to a family affair by alienating leaders of his party and his close aides in major decisions of government.

The first sign of trouble was when a Senator from his party defected to the ACN. But when the state chairman of the party, Olaiya Oni resigned, it was a sign that all is not well with

‘The Mimiko ship is already leaking and it is a matter of time before it sinks. Only the Nigerian factor can ensure victory for Mimiko on Saturday given the fact that it is near impossible for him to win in a free and fair election.

By Jimoh Ibrahim Mimiko. Recently, five of his closed aides resigned in a day while others followed in quick succession. His party members have left in droves. The trouble was however temporarily mitigated by the seeming performance of Mimiko especially the N5billon street lighting of Oba Adesida road and the water dispensing roundabout. This soon pale into insignificance when the scale fell off the eyes of Ondo people that Mimiko only did the grandiose project on Oba Adesida road and nowhere else in the state capital not to talk of other major towns like Ikare, Owo, Okitipupa and Ore. He ought to have taken a cue from neighbouring Ekiti and Osun states where construction work is going on in other local governments in the states.

The Mega school project of Mimiko is a colossal waste of money as a general renovation of schools as recently done in neighbouring Ekiti State would have been more cost effective and result oriented. He embarked on a dome project of N2.9 billion which is now abandoned. On health, his N4 billion Kaadi Igbeayo project has been abandoned. Agagu claimed he left a sum of N38 billion naira in the treasury but Mimiko claimed he met a debt of N117 billion. He was alleged to have thrown the state into huge indebtedness to the tune of about N100 billion naira by borrowing and yet he has received in three and a half years about 300 billion from the federation account. He owes many contractors without any hope of paying back if he does not secure a second term. The Sunshine Liberation Movement has exposed many shady deals of the Mimiko administration and they have provided documents to back this up which the government has not been able to debunk till date. The sharp practices include contract inflation, over invoicing and frivolous awards of non-existing contracts to family members and cronies.

What observers regard as the greatest undoing of Mimiko is his treacherous nature. He was alleged to have betrayed Ajasin, Adefarati, Agagu, Obasanjo and Tinubu. He had a pact with Tinubu who bankrolled his bid to reclaim his mandate with the understanding that he would join ACN thereafter but reneged on the agreement and even castigated Tinubu his benefactor. Mimiko could not be trusted. He once shocked a colleague governor from a neighbouring state when he sponsored hoodlums to disrupt the venue of a lecture for late Adefarati after he has assured his colleague that there would be no problem.

Another problem confronting Mimiko is that he is in the midst of performing governors in the South-west from Lagos to Edo State. Like a bad dream, his popularity has drastically waned in the last one month when Ondo State people started comparing the state which earns an average of N6 billion from

the federation account monthly as an oil producing state to Ekiti, a non-oil producing state with just N2.5 billion. The level of work in Ekiti’s 16 local government areas is stupendous and this made Mimiko’s supposed achievement juxtaposed with the resources available to him pale into insignificance.

Governor Raji Fashola recently took him to the cleaners when he gingered Ondo State people to wake up from their slumber and chase Mimiko out. He said it is shameful that Ondo had not fared better than when Mimiko took over more than three years ago despite the resources available to him. As if Ondo people have been waiting for Governor Fashola to show them the way, they turned the table against Mimiko. The first sign that Mimiko is no longer the candidate to beat was the Ikare rally that was well attended to the chagrin of Mimiko. The crowd at Ore rally of the ACN was more than that of Ikare.

Ondo rally of the ACN was an embarrassment to Mimiko who hails from the town. It was a mammoth crowd. From that moment, it was clear that Mimiko is in trouble.

In Akure last week, 400 members of his Labour Party defected to the ACN saying Mimiko would lose the election this Saturday. We all know huge crowds at rallies don’t win elections but for ACN to record such a huge crowd, the signs are bad for the government of the day. Ondo State people also wanted to be part of development in the rest of the South-west states and would not want to be left out in the impending greater benefits that would come with the regional integration of the region which Mimiko has shunned.

The analysis of the election proper is also a cause of worry for Mimiko and his genuine supporters. In Ondo Central which has the largest number of voters and where Mimiko has the strongest support base, he is not sure of total victory except in Ondo town. Akure, Ile-Oluji and Iju Ita Ogbolu is likely to be won by the ACN. Ondo South comprising of Ore, Odigbo, the riverine areas of Ilaje, Ikale and the Mahin and Arogbo clans is for former Governor Agagu and by extension, the PDP but the ACN will have a good showing having made in-roads into the area recently.

Ondo North comprising of Akoko and Owo is Akeredolu’s base and he is sure of victory. Mimiko is in for a shocker as most of his trusted aides and friends are working for the opposition and are still the men he relies on to deliver votes for him on October 20. It is so for Mimiko because of his politics of exclusion. He does not trust his aides and his aides don’t trust him but are only waiting to collect whatever he has to offer before bolting. The Mimiko ship is already leaking and it is a matter of time before it sinks. Only the Nigerian factor can ensure victory for Mimiko on Saturday given the fact that it is near impossible for him to win in a free and fair election. With this scenario, the question comes up again, can Mimiko win?

• Ibraheem writes from Ore.

Another view on onshore-offshore oil debate

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NE regrettable thing about not speaking out on issues that have the potentials of defining the direction, quality of life, development and growth of society, is that one lives with the burden of failing to act right and on time, too, forever. Over the years, this has been the lot of poor majority Nigerians, who seem always comfortable to either sit on the fence or act as bystanders and impartial arbiters in issues that affect them. The consequence has been that politicians smart enough to identify this weakness have continued to brew subversive policies and live large while the people suffer steady decline in fortunes.

Today, the issue of the abrogation of onshore-offshore oil dichotomy, which has maintained an increasingly delicate presence on the controversy table, is challenging the peoples’ will to determine their future, organize and achieve their personal and collective goals in life. The bill, which provides adequate financial reward and compensation for oil producing communities or states where oil is drilled whether offshore or onshore, has since pitched the North against the South. With tempers running high and fingers pointed at key politicians, particularly former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Honourable Ghali Na’ Abba, former Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, in whose administration and leadership of the House, respectively, the controversial bill was introduced, the president has since added salt to injury by pronouncing the issue settled.

While Obasanjo is accused of introducing the bill to divide the House and as well as scuttle an impeachment moves by the National Assembly, Na’Abba is accused of

By Igbalaiyefa Aiyekooto doing little or nothing to protect the north, which today, is on the receiving end of the bill. The former Speaker, his traducers insist, was blinded by greed, an alleged gubernatorial ambition and hate for the then Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, with whom he never enjoyed the best of relationships, to permit the bill, to spite him.

However, in an interview, recently, the former Speaker dismissed his accusers, saying that he did his best to prevent the bill from sailing through and protect the interest of the north. But rather than assuage frayed nerves, Na’Abba’s reaction has since deepened the controversy surrounding the matter. Indeed, to keen followers of politics in the National Assembly and Kano State at the time, Na’Abba’s belated defence possibly qualifies as warped tales from dream lands. Equally coming close to the typical situation of a drowning man desperate for survival, Na’ Abba in his bid to wriggle out of a condition, which he watched as the north walked into, deliberately decided to twist bare facts out of shape. Seeming like the proverbial monkey that clapped and jumped, while his house, the trees, were being felled by the enemy, Na’Abba’s mind, perhaps, was set on other things while Obasanjo acted his scripts to the hurt of the north.

But assuming, without conceding, there was any meat in his argument that no northern governor raised a finger in opposition to the abrogation of the onshore-offshore dichotomy bill, why would he settle for a strange ‘clause’ to, ac-

cording to him, discourage Obasanjo from signing the bill, when an open and outright opposition and condemnation of the bill would have settled the matter pronto? This featherweight defence, for the discerning, further gives away the deceitful manner in which the matter was handled by Na’Abba’s leadership. This is why one considers his finger-pointing to northern governors annoying and ridiculous, to say the least.

Bad as it were, it is never too late to make amends since lessons have been learnt from the action and inaction of those who should know better, just as its practice has manifested grave inadequacies in the distribution of national wealth for growth and development of the nation. This is why not a few people were shocked when signs emerged that President Goodluck Ebere Jonathan was not disposed to revisiting the issue.

While one is constrained by the volatility of this issue, it would spell doom not to speak out against stay of review for an issue that is potentially strategic in achieving the Nigeria of our dreams where everyone irrespective of creed or class can grow together and enjoy equal opportunities in all spheres of human endeavour.

There is no disputing the fact that until the discovery of oil on land and sea, the nation had found life in other money-yields such as cocoa, palm oil, groundnut, among others. Even at the discovery of oil, money made from these sources was deployed to develop it, just as natives of oil communities had benefited immensely from these revenue sources before oil became the main source of sustenance.

There is no doubt, therefore, that there are apparent disparities in revenue sharing formula, which

leaves a sour taste in the mouth particularly as it negates the spirit of brotherhood and unity that reigned before the abrogation of the dichotomy.

One clear sign today is the slow pace of development in most of the non-oil producing states. The abrogation has equally widened the poverty grid and also weakened the capital base of non-oil producing states, thus making it difficult to deliver democracy dividends without so much struggle. Most of the non-oil producing states find it difficult to evenly grow as their oil producing counterparts.

As currently obtains, South-south and people of the oil-producing littoral states are at prime position with 13 per cent allocation, thus underscoring the urgent need for a review. Funny enough, while this has weighed negatively on the north, governors of South-south states, typical of the literary character, Oliver Twist, want more!

The position of governors of ‘Prince’ States, who are opposed to the dichotomy is understandable.

They hinge their argument on the fact that the matter had long been decided by the nation’s apex court, the Supreme Court, in favour of the subsisting sharing formula. But truth, however, is that the Supreme Court ruling like a sticky plaster, has simply continued to provide a temporary cover for an already nourished oil producing states, while for the non-oil producing states, challenging economic conditions have since drifted from a prickly state to a growing cancerous sore needing urgent medication.

I believe fervently that Nigeria is a country destined to stay glued by the creator. Our forebears made no error in their judgement that we share a common destiny. The kind

of security challenges we are sailing through could only have happened in a society that offers no hope for its coming generation. Increasing the current revenue allocation in favour of the non-oil producing states, could no doubt restore hope to the hopeless, but thousands of kilometers away from solving the mirage of problems confronting, especially the North.

It may be a temporary succour, more importantly the kind of relief needed to cruise to the next level.

It is not time immemorial when agriculture sustained the nation. In the early 60s. agriculture constituted more than 75% of this country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign earnings. So, where and how did things go awry?

Maybe, we say, the oil boom. But it is not a curse that we discovered oil. The tragedy is the failure to invest the earnings to develop other natural endowments, especially agriculture. God forbid, what happens if “our oil” dries off? It is a common knowledge that our foreign earnings from agriculture, expectedly but regrettably, began to fall when we discovered oil in 1956 and abandoned the farm. Agriculture related industries like cotton industries, leather factories also plummeted. Unemployement, poverty and other vices followed.

My verdicts: the oil producing states, in the spirit of neighborliness should let up the issue of a revisit of the dichotomy. Yes, it is a common sense to benefit from one’s resources, but more common and apt is to be one’s brothers keeper.

• Aiyekooto writes in from Ilorin, Kwara State

Eagles propose CAF disqualifies Senegal Pg. 24

Zimbabwe training camp

from 2013 Nations Cup

Pg. 41

Sport Wednesday, October 17, 2012

PAGE 23

Peter Rufai out of coma

• Recuperating in Tiko Medical Centre after he slumped on Monday • Brother calls for prayers “He is out of coma and he can now eat and he recognises everyone around. He is fine.”

—Bruce Rufai, bother of the ex-international PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NATION SPORT

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Kanu hails Golden Eaglets' superb style

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WANKWO KANU, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ambassador and former Super Eagles' captain, has commended the ball artistry of the Golden Eaglets following their 3-0 victory over their Guinean counterparts at the weekend.

Kanu, who is regarded as the best player of his generation, said he was pleasantly surprised about the creative handling of the ball by the Nigerian youngsters, adding that they have the wherewithal to go all the way in their forthcoming competitions.

“No Nigerian team is playing the way you do and I'm so impressed with your fine display," Kanu who led Nigeria to a historic Soccer Gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics told the players in the locker room

•Kanu

of the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium on Sunday " You are by far the better team when compared with Guinea and I know everybody that watched the game would agree with me that you a very good team."

Kanu, however, enjoined the players to listen to directives from their coaches if they are determined to be successful in their chosen career as footballers.

“We all can see that you are very good players but you can become better if you continue to listen to the coaches," advised the gifted player whose goals helped the Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 1993." You are young, talented and the best way to improve yourself is to listen to the coaches because they have the experience more than you do.

“You are lucky to be working with these set of coaches and we all can see what they have been able to do with you under a very short time. To become better players, you must listen and be ready to do what you are told on the field,” he advised.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets have admitted that the unexpected appearance of Kanu at their locker room was a morale booster to their fledging careers. Ndidi Wilfred, the team’s assistant captain said the former Super Eagles star is a first choice hero for most of them, stating that it was a privilege that he came to counsel them. “We felt really good to see Kanu before the match when he met us on the field but we were all fulfilled when he came to the dressing room to advise us,” said the beanpole defender. “It was a rare privilege because we only used to watch him on the television. We really thank him and we are not going to disappoint him and Nigerians in general.”

LOC intensifies sponsorship drive for Eko 2012

T

HE marketing and sponsorship sub committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 has intensified its sponsorship drive for next month’s sporting fiesta.

With corporate companies like Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), Alliance Autos, Greenlife Pharmaceutical Company and Nigeria Breweries Plc (NB) among others already backing the multi-sports tournament, there are plans by LOC to involve more firms in the competition.

The Sub-Committee chaired by business mogul, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas is working hard to bring more corporate bodies to be part of the tournament.

Frantic efforts have also being made by the Okoya-Thomas-led sub committee to woo financial institution to partner the state in staging the first ever private sector driven sporting championship.

It would be recalled that during the unveiling of the icons for the festival, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has assured that the state would deliver a ‘private sector-driven’ championships.

“For Lagos, it will be nice to win the festival but more importantly, we hope to discover more stars at the festival that will bear our torch at global level,” Fashola said.

“With Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, I believe if we cannot deliver a private sector-driven festival, I doubt if there is any state that can do it.

“Hosting the festival is part of our commitment to sports because we intend to provide facilities for our youths so that they can take part in sports.

“For Eko 2012, we are committed to putting up a good show and we believe it help to bring us back to the right path from our wilderness in sports,” Fashola added.

Sunshine leaves for Cairo Thursday

Peter Rufai

Zimbabwe training camp first round matches would inform where the team will train.

“You would agree with me that it would be too early to begin to say the particular camp for the Eagles. For instance, what if we are drawn at Nelspruit which has the same weather conditions with Mozambique?" the top official explained.

The Nigeria training camp in Zimbabwe will be opened by players from the Nigeria Premier league, while overseas-based players will only join up the mandatory 14 days before the big kick-off. As part of their build-up for the AFCON, they will take on Venezuela in a friendly in Miami, USA, on November 14. For the 2010 tournament in Angola, the Eagles trained in South Africa.

The Super Eagles have returned to African football’s showpiece event after they sensationally failed to qualify for the 2012 edition. They are not among the top seeds for South Africa 2013 and so may face the likes of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana as early as the first round of the tournament, which begins on January 19 in Johannesburg. The draw for the biennial championship will be staged in Durban on October 24.

NATION SPORT

I

Eagles propose IGERIA’s football officials studying a proposal to train in Zimbabwe for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, officials have disclosed.

“There's a proposal from the team officials for such a camping arrangement in Zimbabwe,” Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman Ademola Olajire informed MTNFootball.com “The team would like to camp in a country that shares the same weather conditions with South Africa before the Nations Cup. "It is a proposal and if approved it would be from the first week of January, probably January 4, but the technical committee has the final say on the team’s camping arrangement.” It is believed that Zimbabwe, which is on a high altitude like South Africa, was picked ahead of Faro, in Portugal, where a contract covers the country’s various national teams’ long-term preparations.

Another top NFF official told MTNFootball.com Mozambique has also been pencilled to host the Eagles prior to the Nations Cup. The official said that the South African city the Eagles are eventually drawn to play their

41

A

HEAD of their departure to Cairo, Egypt on Thursday, Sunshine Stars of Nigeria's Tamen Medrano has stated that the Akure Gunners are only thinking of playing in the final of the CAF Champions League and would do everything to make that possible against Al Ahly of Egypt in the second leg of the semi final clash.

Sunshine were held to a 3-3 draw in front of their vociferous fans nearly a fortnight ago but despite the first leg disadvantage the Cameroonia n import noted t h a t t h e team wou l d g o t o Cai ro, pla y the gam e of their lives a n d book

out of coma

•Recuperating in Tiko Medical Centre after he slumped on Monday •Brother calls for prayers

F

ORMER Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, slumped Monday night at his Adeniran Ogunsanya office at 9pm and had to be rushed to Tiko Medical Centre in Surulere. He could only recognise people on Tuesday although he still being observed in the inetnsive care unit.

One of his brothers, Bruce said he complained about some discomfort and needed to walk around the office. The brother followed moments later only to find Rufai gasping for breath on the floor. He raised an alarm. Neighbours helped in rushing Rufai to the hospital.

By Ade Ojeikere Word was, however, rife Tuesday morning that Rufai is stable, according to his brother, who asked Nigerians to pray for him. In fact, Bruce called those who were close to his brother on Monday night for them to offer prayers for him. Rufai lost his mother one week ago and it is said that he was close to her.

His mum Christiana Jaja Rufai died last week he was close to his mum.

“He is out of coma and he can now eat and he

recognises everyone around. He is fine,” the brother of the e x internatio nal Bruce, the brother added.

Give us our money, Akwa players cry out

A

KWA UNITED players have again cried out over their outstanding payments spread over two seasons.

The players claim they are owed 20% sign-on fee for the 2010/2011 season and 80% sign-on fee for the past season.

Speaking with MTNFootball.com, a dejected

Akwa United player said the club boss Isang Isong told them during the past season that the money to pay them has been approved, but they are still to be paid.

"The chairman assured us he has got approval for the money to pay us, and that was before the Olympics in London, and nothing has happened since then,” said the player. “We

AFCON 2013: Onigbinde urges support for Eagles

F

ORMER national team coach and member Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Adegboye Onigbinde has called for technical and moral support for the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Onigbinde who spoke on the backdrop of the Super Eagles qualification for next year’s Africa Nations Cup in South Africa said he has confidence in Keshi’s ability to take the national team far at the Nation’s Cup Speaking further he said that football stakeholders across the country are looking forward with high expectations, on what government will really do to ensure that the Super Eagles compete favourably in South Africa.

The FIFA licensed-coach noted that he is ready to offer his advice if Keshi ever needs it, saying all hands must be on deck for Eagles to prepare well and compete in the class of top football playing countries in South Africa.

“Super Eagles technical crew, led by Stephen Keshi need support from every sector of the country, Onigbinde has said, saying that to promote the course of youth football at the national and grassroot

By Paul Oluwakoya level needs public and private partnership adding that government can’t not do it alone.

“The next thing to do now that Nigeria has qualified for the Nation’s Cup will be for the Federation to organize good camping for the team ahead of the competition. They should bring private bodies in to support and also spread wide the cope of the technical crew in search for the best players.

“For the technical crew to successfully integrate the local players with the foreign base a lot is still needed to be done. Though Nigeria qualifies for Nation’s Cup but there is a poor blend of the home and europe-based players which obviously created some weaknesses.

For me the best thing a coach can do is to make home based players the core of the team.

“I will also urge stakeholders to do away with critics that could pull back the national course and as well do more to assist. But I must not that the rebuilding campaign is to develop youth sport and not celebrating glorified players,” he said.

•Peter Rufai are therefore calling on the Governor of the state to come to our rescue so we could be paid."

Another player said, "This management does not have our welfare at hand at all. The season has ended long ago and no news about our monies.”

Maigari inaugurates MOC on Akanu Ibiam Cup

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RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari on Tuesday inaugurated the Main Organizing Committee of the Dr. Akanu Ibiam Memorial Super Cup competition.

The competition, which is being proposed by Fairplay Sports Agency, managed by Rudder Sports Management, will involve teams in the south eastern part of the country and is expected to be launched in the second week of December 2012.

Speaking at the inauguration, the NFF President Aminu Maigari said the NFF will always support all programmes and projects targeted at positive development of Nigeria football.

He charged the MOC, which is headed by the 1st Vice President of NFF, Chief Mike Umeh and includes Commissioners of Sports of Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States, to go into overdrive to secure sponsors

and ensure a credible organization of the competition, to the glory of the good name of the late Dr. Akanu Ibiam, a one-time Governor of the old Eastern Region.

“The NFF has endorsed the proposed competition because of the good name of late Dr. Akanu Ibiam and the calibre of persons in the Main Organizing Committee.

We believe it is a competition that will contribute to the development of football in our country, and perhaps in future, be taken to the national canvass from the regional level,” said Maigari.

Also speaking at the inauguration, the Anambra State Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Edozie Okey Aroh said the Anambra State government is very much interested in the competition and urged the proponents, Rudder Sports Management, to work assiduously hard to deliver a championship that will be applauded by football lovers around the country.

Glo commends Super Eagles for picking qualifying ticket

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EADING Telecommunications Company, Globacom, has commended the Super Eagles for its outstanding performance against the Lone Stars of Liberia on Saturday in Calabar.

In a press statement released in Lagos on Monday, Globacom gave kudos to the Super Eagles for not only defeating the Liberians comprehensively, but also qualifying for the next Nation’s Cup in South Africa.

The company urged the team not to rest on

its oars as the battle has just begun.

“This is the time for the coaching crew to correct all lapses noticed in the team during qualifying matches as Nigerians expect the team to go and conquer Africa", the statement said.

As the preparation for the next Nations Cup begins in earnest, Globacom has called on the Nigeria Football Federation to line up friendly matches with top footballing nations with a view to keeping the team in shape and

ready for the biggest continental tournament which starts in January 2013.

The company also commended the rebuilding process so far undertaken by the technical crew, advising that emphasis should be placed on selecting the fittest players who are capable of making Nigeria proud at the tournament.

Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of Nigerian national teams.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

a berth in the final.

Medrano who initiated Akure Gunners' late fightback from a goal down told NationSport that the fact that the match would be played behind closed doors and their intimidating away record would swing the battle in their favour.

"We are leaving Nigeria on Thursday with so much expectations and promise that we are going to Cairo to come back with the final ticket.

"It may sound daunting but we know our capabilities and we are ready to stake all what we have to ensure that we get the final ticket. What is on our minds is the final ticket and Al Ahly will not stop our dreams of playing in it,"Medrano explained.

He further enthused that the players' form leading to the encounter also gives him another assurance that Sunshine are ready to dare the odds and get a berth in the final.

Sunshine have remained at the Temperance Guest House at Otta, Ogun State shortly after their 3-3 home draw against the North African and with their awesome form ahead of the match, they still have chance to pull surprises.

Nigeria not scared of facing Obio/Akpor, Okrika, others Ghana at 2013 AFCON RIVERS GOVERNOR's CUP

clash in semis today

T

HE Shell sponsored 2012 edition of the Rivers Governor's Cup tournament is gradually heading towards conclusion as the event hits the Semi final stages today with defending Champions, Obio/Akpor and three other Local Governments battling for a slot in the final at the Liberation stadium, Elekahia.

Having thrown up more talents from the annual inter local government grassroot event than the last few editions, probably due to the number of scouts present around the venue, this edition has been quite competitive.

In the Quarter Final matches played on Monday, the 15th of October 2012, Obio/Akpor local government defeated Opobo/Nkoro by 7-5 on

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt penalty kicks after a heated ninety minutes ended on a 3-3 draw. Oyigbo local government also suffered a 0-2 defeat from Ahoada West in another explosive encounter.

Akuku Toro local government could not also make it to this year's semis as they were stopped 0-1 by Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government (Onelga) while last year's runners-up, Okrika local government trashed Abua Odual by three goals to nothing in the last quarter final match.

Semi final games comes up today at the Liberation stadium with Obio/Akpor battling Onelga while Okrika faces Ahoada West in the second semi final game.

CAF disqualifies Senegal from 2013 Nations Cup

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HE Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday announced the disqualification of Senegal from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The impending AFCON will be hosted by South Africa from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10.

This was contained in a CAF statement released in Cairo, Egypt on Oct.. 16, after a disciplinary committee meeting.

It said: ``The CAF Disciplinary Committee met in Cairo, on Oct. 2012 to look into the incidents that led to the abandonment of match No 56, Senegal vs Cote d'Ivoire, during the final qualifier for the 29th edition of the 2013

CAF AFCON in Dakar.

"Missiles, stones, bottles and firecrackers were thrown onto the pitch and tear gas was used, prompting the referee to stop the match after 74 minutes of play. "As a result, CAF decided to officially confirm the result of the match as 2–0, in favour of Cote d'Ivoire, in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 paragraph 20 of the regulations of the competition’’.

The statement noted that CAF now considered Senegal the loser of the match and eliminated it from the competition, without prejudice to any other sanctions that might be imposed by the CAF Disciplinary Board.

N

IGERIA has insisted they are not afraid to come up against seeded teams Ghana or Ivory Coast in the first round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

There is a big possibility that the Super Eagles could be pitched against Cote d’Ivoire or Ghana as early as the first round of next year’s Nations Cup when the draw is made on October 24 in South Africa.

However, Eagles defenders Elderson Echiejile and Efe Ambrose as well as winger Ahmed Musa expressed confidence they will hold their own against any of the seeded teams for this tournament.

“They are good teams, but we have the quality to beat. We are not scared of any of them,” Sporting Braga star Echiejile told MTNFootball.com “At Angola 2010, we also faced defending champions Egypt in the first round and still made it to the semi-finals. So, there is no big deal about meeting Ghana or Cote d’Ivoire as early as the first round in South Africa.”

Celtic ace Ambrose said it should even be a case of other teams avoiding Nigeria and not the other way round.

“I am not afraid of facing Cote d’Ivoire or Ghana or any other team.

They are both strong sides but we are a very good team as well who fear no team,” Ambrose said.

“The question should be who would like to be in the same group with Nigeria?”

CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed

Musa said Nigeria have the class and drive to do well in South Africa and so cannot afford to be intimidated by any team.

“Why should I be afraid of playing against country who have players like me? We have a quality team, so any team in our group know they are in for serious trouble,” the Russiabased forward declared.

•Ahmed Musa

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

Life

25

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Text only: 08023058761

•Cuban Women troupe, Obinin Bata, entertaining guests at Ikogosi

Ikogosi: Emerging tourists’ haven •STORY ON PAGE 26

Akinyemi: The unsung hero – Page 27

Festival harps on peace, empowerment – Page 39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

26

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

After nine years in the doldrums, the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts is back on track and full of life. Ekiti State government is investing about N1.258 billion to turn the site into a world-class tourists’ destination, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME

S

OME metres away from the gate leading to Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts were hundreds of students.

They lined both sides of the road in their school uniform.

Also, on the sides of the road were beautifully dressed old women and men, some drumming as they walked happily towards the resorts, defying the increasing heat of the morning sun. That was the spectacle that preceded the arrival of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to the Ikogosi Day celebration, last Saturday.

Nine years after being moribund, the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts has received a fresh breath. It hosted the first-ever all-female international bata dancers, Obini Bata from Cuba, as well as performances by a cultural troupe, from Ekiti State. The Obinin Bata performed with their hourglass-shaped drums accompanying various Yoruba songs.

From the Ekiti troupe, it was a drama presentation of Mich Yomi Longe’s Building Our Own House by a 23-man cast, which left no one in doubt of the mission and vision of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration. The message of the drama was clear and simple: Rebuilding time is now.

The drama was also symbolic of a nation that is rich in resources yet remains in doldrums due to negative innate tendencies, which have grown into a monster that constantly impedes meaningful development. Building Our Own House is a tool for social change, especially, to promote attitudinal change and approach to issues of common good.

The presentation was in celebration of Ikogosi Resorts Day, which was part of activities marking the second year in office of Governor Fayemi’s administration in Ekiti State.

Building Our Own House centres on a group of people within a geographical location called Okiti land. The people of Okiti land unanimously accept Akinlabi to lead them to the promised land because of some exceptional leadership qualities they saw in him. In his acceptance speech, Akinlabi solicits for their support and enjoins all hands to be on deck, which, to him, is a panacea for Building Our Own House.

However, hardly did they start the journey when the dreaded monster rears its head again. The people of Okiti land in their usual manner start condemning Akinlabi. At this point, Akinlabi seeks the face of the Lord and he was told to embark on cleansing rites among his people. The cleansing rites bring out the spirit of collectivity in the people, thus, helping them to cage the monster and its total derobing to the state of purity. The reconstruction of the House goes on uninterrupted because of attitudinal change and approach to issues of the people. They appreciate Akinlabi, while celebrating their victory as the journey continues.

The Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts, which was allegedly looted and abandoned before the Fayemi-led administration was inaugurated in October 2010, is being repositioned to serve as a money-spinner and employment hub for Ekiti State.

Fayemi said the first phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction has been completed at the resort, which would be fully opened in December while work is ongoing on the second phase.

Fayemi, who noted that the resort once had a zoo, added that 10,000 hectares of land have been set aside in the host community for wild life while the resort will also get a golf course and apartments in the third phase.

He said the vision of his administration for Ikogosi would turn the place to a destination of choice for local and international tourists, stating that the resort has all it takes to divert tourists from Obudu to Ikogosi.

Fayemi said tourists visiting Ikogosi should worry about transportation hardship as the roads leading to the site are now motorable, from all gateways that lead to the state.

He assured that Internet facilities for tourists to have access to their families and offices during their visit to the wonder hot and cold springs would be put in place. He added that the resort, on completion, will not only be a place for “leisure but also a cash-cow”. The governor stated that the resuscitation of the resort is a fulfilment of his promise, expressing optimism that the state was nearer to the new dawn he promised during his campaign.

A walk round the awe-inspiring resort shows that Ekiti State is endowed by nature. Long stretch of green valleys, vast rain forest and colossal mountain range dot the landscape; Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort will take your breath away. The once abandoned tourists’ site is emerging into a choice destination for tourists given the massive construction at the resort.

To give tourists and visitors a long-lasting experience, a well-landscaped 116-hectare resort is now the flagship of Ekiti tourism. It has one executive VIP chalet, three VIP villas, 12 western suites, 70-five standard rooms of various styles, themes and offerings and seven support staff quarters. All accommodation facilities are undergoing redevelopment to turn the place to an international standard resort.

Other facilities are nature spa / beauty centre; gym/fitness shop; herbal shop for local medication; arts and crafts shops for souvenir items; 300-seat multi-purpose conference hall, 120-seat and 50-seat meeting and function rooms; variety/ shopping mall; amphitheatre; double standard rooms for

•Ikogosi swimming pool

•Ikogosi structure

Ikogosi: Emerging tourists’ haven TOURISM students on excursion and campers and 300-car parking space.

Also on ground are brook walk lanes, waterways, relaxation spots, open green areas, external area beautification and gated exclusive areas for tourists.

Its General Manager, Mr John Dixon said in December, the first phase of the development would witness the opening of a three-star hotel, among other facilities.

“This is a tremendous investment by Ekiti State government. There are huge potential and it is about developing the market and making sure it is operational, staff deployment and training, marketing locally and worldwide and providing a wide range of services. We have a very strong marketing plan in place for all these. We are also very strong on standard and we do things right.

“Every site, whether in South Africa or Europe, has its own challenges when you carry out development. Our job here is not as a developer but to do a technical review on behalf of the state, give advice on what can work and what cannot work,” Dixon said.

The Special Adviser to the Governor (Bureau of Tourism Development), Mr Segun Ologunleko, said the first phase of development cost the state about N1.258 billion, which was raised from bonds at the capital market. According to him, five per cent of the funds raised at the capital market were dedicated to tourism development which is a catalyst to economic development of the state.

“In fact, we have something different and we are serving it. Very soon, Ekiti will emerge as the melting pot of fun seekers,” he said.

Ologunleko noted that the driving force of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts is economic emancipation because the state has abundant natural resources. “But how to translate them into wealth, dignity, employment and self-respect for the people is the fulcrum of the vision of Fayemi. This is to ensure that Ekiti tourism corridor, which is about 400 square

kilometre, is developed. This comprises communities, such as Aramoko, Erijiyan, Iloro, Okemesi and Efon Alaye,” he said.

According to him, in phase two, the government would allow private investors to have majority shares in the funding.

“Government will sit back and will only own about 10 to 25 per cent of the equity. And there will be a special purpose vehicle, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts Limited, to drive the project. This is the path to sustainability which is the plan of government,” he added, noting that the government has brought in Mantis from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to train workers in hospitality. He disclosed that private investors are approaching the state to build facilities, such as three-star hotel, golf course, and a games reserve.

Already, art and crafts designers and marketers are showing strong presence at the new shopping centre at the resorts. Madam Oyebola Aderinsoye Adeboye, a farmer, arts and crafts designer and one of the occupants at the shopping centre, described the development as a boost to investors, especially, in tourism industry. She said beyond that, it would generate employment for the youth, adding that the resorts is a very serene location tucked in the heart of a rich forest.

“The operators can in the future develop areas such as wild life. But I hope the services would be affordable to clients. More importantly, I hope there would be the basic amenities such as electricity and water,” she said.

The traditional leader of Ikogosi, the Onikogosi of Ikogosi, Oba Deacon Abiodun Olorunisola and his subjects were full of appreciation to the Governor, but noted that the development of the site was long overdue.

“The real development of the resorts as a tourists’ attraction is long overdue. The former military governor, Colonel Opaleye made efforts to develop the site but shortly after he left government the place was abandoned. We lost •Continued on page 28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

27

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘Since it takes two to tango, let us look at some of those who might have worked against Major Akinyemi and us his comrades prior to his incarceration in Bama.

The opposition’s response to our efforts to liberate Nigerians from the stranglehold of Abacha, was led by the following ten officials...’

•Continued from last week

Operating between the continents

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ROF Wole Soyinka, the late Beko Kuti, Ambassador Antonio Dehinde Fernandez, Chief Harry Akande, Prince Dipo Eludoyin and the youngest of Prof Wole Soyinka’s sons, Makin Soyinka. They were also the useful contributions of Major (Pastor) Cletus Obahor, whose house in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, we operated from.

National Liberation Council of Nigeria (NALICON) NALICON, a group founded and led by Professor Wole Soyinka (WS) helped us to open many doors into the treasures of the Noble Laureate’s goodwill and international connections. It was a great opportunity to work closely with the enigmatic professor and the present National President of the Pyrates Confraternity, Cap’n Oscar Egwuonu, Philip Ileberenemen, Ochudi Ihiejito and Tola Obembe in London.

The reputable lawyer Deji Sasegbon (SAN), Mr Olu Agunloye, and other National Association of the Sea Dogs (NAS) leaders, who operated within Nigeria, made it unbearable for members of Abacha’s regime. The discipline, selflessness and the righteousness of the calling of the Pyrates, especially in support of the oppressed, impressed me very much. Hence, it was good doing business with them.

There are some comrades who I have included in this record of selfless heroes, who in fact till this moment were not known to have played a part in the struggle. Major Akinyemi’s important contribution is one of such roles that was not popularly known in the open NADECO circle.

This is not surprising, given the nature of the covert or underground operations which we were engaged in. The principle of sharing information on the need to know basis was then paramount to us. There were, in actuality, many groups or cells working for one common goal. I happen to know the names of many of the comrades because of my readiness to work with whichever group could bring the desired result. It is from this angle that I was privileged to be in an informal coordinating position.

Some of the most remarkable leaders of the liberation struggle were General Alani Akinrinade, who chaired the war cabinet of NADECO, the iconic Wole Soyinka who we have indicated above, the very useful roles of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Great Ogboru, Dr Frederick Faseun, Professor Ade Segun Banjo, etc.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s invaluable contributions The consummate strategist Senator Bola Tinubu inspired and funded so many pro-democracy groups operating from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and within Nigeria. His motivational reach extended to various labour and trade unionists’ activities against the oppressive government.

Asiwaju Tinubu sold many of his properties to fund the struggle.

Prince Dipo Eludoyin One of Asiwaju Tinubu’s best friends and a dear friend to me too, Prince Dipo Eludoyin, also contributed to the funding of the prodemocracy groups actions. Prince Eludoyin, who speaks fluent Igbo, is one of the most de-tribalised Nigeria. It is saying the least for me to say that the Prince has worked hard behind the scenes for the stability of many Nigerian federal and state governments. So, also is his influence in other African countries.

The publicity shy and multi-billionaire Prince of Ife was one of the few people who was fearless in accommodating me in his house after I returned in 2000 from ten years exile. Others were Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a lawyer friend, Mr Banjo.

Chief Great Ogboru I am ever thankful to God for blessing me with very good friends. The unassuming truly great leader, Chief Great Ogboru has for over twenty two years been fighting against injustices and oppression of the average Nigeria.

He was there for the late Aka Bashorun, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, the late Chief MKO Abiola and for thousands of the living.

Like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Great’s interest in politics is for making a difference in the

•The late Akinyemi

Akinyemi: The unsung hero

By Tony Nyiam

TRIBUTE lives of the ordinary Nigerian. During the prodemocracy struggle Great single-handedly funded groups working legitimately from Britain and a few African countries for the restoration of democracy to Nigeria.

Inter-continental guerrilla war cabinet All political and other operations were conducted after some form of approval by an inter-continental guerrilla war cabinet that included directly or indirectly the following members: Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Air Commander Dan Suleiman, Chief Bola Ige, Prof Wole Soyinka, General Alani Akinrinade, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue-President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Papa Chief Alfred Rewane, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Lai Balogun, Senator Cornelius Adebayo, Segun Osoba, Ayo Adebanjo and Olu Falae; Senator Bola Tinubu, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Lady Kofo Akerele Bucknor, Chief Ralph Obiora, Chief John Oyegun, Ayo Opadokun, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Admiral Godwin Ndubusi Kanu, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Prof Ben Nwabueze, etc.

Helpful foreign countries Our struggle was assisted particularly by countries like Norway, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, etc. From Africa we were given support by Presidents who had been beneficiaries of Chief Moshood Abiola’s generosity. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Blaise Campoare of Burkina Faso come readily to mind.

Gratitude must go also to Chief Emeka Anyaoku. This former Commonwealth Secretary is alongside Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmund Tutu, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe some of Africa’s, and the world’s greatest human beings. Not only was Chief Anyaoku and the likes of Professor Bolaji Akinyemi part of the instrumentalities that freed Africans from former Rhodesia, and apartheid South Africa, bondage, Chief Anyaoku has always been there for the protection of the dignity and freedom of the human.

Spy masters with conscience General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau and his long-term deputy, Col Kayode Are, and the late National Intelligence Agency veteran, Biodun Ajoje, need to be commended for consistently advising the United States and United Kingdom governments rightly. Actually this is an understatement as they have over time done a lot for Nigeria.

Why the commendation? This is because these three remarkable professionals and General Ade Ajibade are four just men and spy masters with good conscience. It is not only that they did not allow power to get into their heads, their efforts over decades helped to save many innocent lives.

Consciense driven military officers The remembrance of these good-conscience driven spy masters has also reminded me of a number of military police officers with equally good nature. One of such good officers is Colonel Olu Craig. Colonel Craig was the officer with the courage to be able to convey my clear message (as the Secretary of the Army Board of Enquires which looked into the case) to the President of the Army Court Martial which tried Major Akinyemi, General Oladipo Diya that being a conscientious objector does not amount to planning a coup.

This role of Colonel Craig and General Diya’s fairness are what prevented General Sanni Abacha as the Chief of Army Staff from executing Major Akinyemi.

Military officers whose fate indirectly helped our struggle There were military officers whose fate, following their being wrongfully accused of planning a coup, indirectly helped the progressives’ struggle. The unfortunate experiences these officers went through, confirmed to us that there were cracks in the junta’s establishment which we needed to widen.

The following is a list of some of the officers: General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Colonels Lawal Gwadabe, Olusegun Oloruntoba, Gabriel A. Ajayi and R. N. Emokpae; Lieutenant Colonels M. A. Igwe, Matthew Popoola, S. E. Oyewole, K. H. Bulus; Commander I. M. O. Fabiyi, etc.

The opposition Since it takes two to tango, let us look at some of those who might have worked against Major Akinyemi and us his comrades prior to his incarceration in Bama. The opposition’s response to our efforts to liberate Nigerians from the stranglehold of Abacha, was led by the following ten officials: • Major Hamza al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Commander in Chief.

• AIG Ismaila Gwarzo, National Security Adviser (NSA).

• Lt General Ishaya Bamaiyi, the Chief of

‘Agents of the British former colonial power and their internal colonisers of Nigeria lackeys have always penetrated any Nigerian civil society or organisation, in the UK and Europe, which is not serving their interests. One means of doing this is...’

Army Staff.

• Brigadier General Ibrahim Sabo, Director of Military Intelligence. We must recognise here the courage of Gen. A. S. Muktar who refused to be used to frame up any officer, and thus removal for Brig Sabo to take over as the DMI. • Lt Col Paul Okuntimo, Commander Task Force on Terrorist Activities, an Internal Security Task Force.

• Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, the Inspector of General of Police (IGP).

• Colonel Nathaniel Madza was the consistent Judge-Advocate of Military regimes who worked closely with the notorious former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Clement Akpamgbo.

• Daniel Kanu. This is a young man who for his ambition and pursuit for money became the goon who set up the so-called Youths Earnestly Ask For Abacha (YEAA).

• Ambassador Uche Okeke, Director General, National Intelligence Agency.

• Rear-Admiral Duro Ajayi, Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Use of the Nigerian Intelligence Community by Abacha’s goons The use of the Nigerian intelligence agencies by the Abacha regime could be categorised as follows: • Willing Agencies • Ambivalent Agencies Agencies whose bosses were willing executioners of Sanni Abacha or Major Mustapha’s dictates were the then Directorate of Military Intelligence under the head of a new comer to the Intelligence Directorate, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Mohammed Sabo, and the State Security Service (SSS).

Brigadier Sabo was assisted first by Lieutenant Colonel Kola John Olu and some notorious hatchet men like Lieutenant Colonel Frank Omenka, Assistant Commission of Police Hassan Zakari Biu and Commander G Akpollo.

Agencies like the NIA and the DIA who were caught as it were between the devil and the blue sea. DG NIA Ambassador Uche Okeke and his agents were caught between acting as counter to foreign intelligence and other kinds of threats and defending an illegal and dictatorial government. The National Intelligence Agency managed the balancing act very well.

The NIA’s closeness to Western intelligence agencies helped to constrain the extent to which Abacha’s stooges could mis-use the agencies.

Abacha regime’s unconventional response to the progressive The Abacha’s regime’s unconventional responses to the progressives were channelled through at least two organizations. Such as the Nigerian Union and underground groups in Britain and the US respectively.

The Nigerian Union Agents of the British former colonial power and their internal colonisers of Nigeria lackeys have always penetrated any Nigerian civil society or organisation, in the UK and Europe, which is not serving their interests. One means of doing this is through the use of the Nigerian Union in Britain.

This they did by ensuring that the key members of the organization’s Central Executive Committee are their agents or stooges. There was no more a time when this was the case than when Sanni Abacha was in office. Through the Nigerian Union, the junta got some information on us in order to throw a clog into the wheel of our operations.

Abacha’s government sympathizers in the Nigeria Union were the organisation’s Central Executive Committee Chairman, Dr Adebayo Oladimeji and Publicity Secretary, the late Mr Tunji Olorunipa. Dr Oladimeji is now a trustee of the British-Nigerian Association and President of Nigerian Elders Council, UK. Helping to check the excesses of the Central Executive Committee of the Nigerian Union were the efforts of diplomats with integrity and good conscience. Examples of these were Deputy High Commissioner Ambassador Gotip and Ambassador Fafowora. It is necessary to make the recognition of the commendable efforts of the NIA veteran Mr Biodun Ajoje.

•Nyiam is a retired Colonel.

•To be continued

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

28

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

NAFEST 2012

This year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) began yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Its focus is on peace and empowerment as panacea to the challenges facing the country, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

Festival harps on peace, empowerment

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OURISM, Culture and National Orientation Minister Chief Edem Duke has urged Nigerians to employ the virtues of the nation’s cultural heritage in promoting community understanding and peaceful coexistence. He said there was no alternative to peace if “we must achieve the strategic plan of transforming and developing the country in the light of the expectations of the founding fathers.”

The minister described the 26th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), which opened yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as an auspicious outing, adding that the panacea for the various challenges of security, poverty, and youth restiveness could be found in culture. For the first time ever, the unity festival will run till October 20.

Duke said in Abuja that this year’s edition would be a unique one aimed at harnessing cultural heritage for economic empowerment and job creation. He said the festival was targeted at raising raw talents, particularly, in the areas of indigenous sports and games, with the ultimate aim of exploring the fundamentals of peaceful existence among Nigerians.

According to him, the unity festival, with theme Culture, Peace and Economic Empowerment, is being reorganised to drive the transformational agenda of the Federal Government. This, he said, will facilitate job creation, talent hunt as well as empowerment of women and youths across the federation.

“NAFEST 2012 is coming at an auspicious time and, in the light of our present challenges, which cannot be separated from poverty and ignorance, the festival is dedicated to the promotion of peace and national unity in addition to growing the culture of economic empowerment. The platform provides us with the unique opportunity to explore the fundamentals of peaceful co-existence and deploy our large population and cultural diversity to advantage rather than allow them to become sources of problem,” he said.

Duke said as a national event envisioned to raise entrepreneurs in diverse areas of creativity, NAFEST 2012 shall showcase Nigeria’s diverse culture and heritage in many colours, with all states, the FCT Abuja, individuals, corporate organisations and stakeholders assembling to celebrate the country’s endowments According to Duke, part of the dream of the festival is to reduce social vices among youths, aside using creativity to exchange ideas and celebrate African culture. “It also gives us the platform to inculcate in our citizenry a heightened consciousness of our country’s unique position within Africa and the black race,

•Maidugu

•NCAC stand at the festival in Calabar

FESTIVAL thereby imbuing them with a sense of pride as citizens of Nigeria, the country with the richest and most diverse culture in the world…I, therefore, urge all and sundry to reflect on and employ the virtues of our cultural heritage to promote community understanding and peaceful co-existence. There is no alternative to peace if we must achieve the strategic plan of transforming and developing the country in the light of the expectations of the founding fathers,” he added.

The minister, who called on stakeholders to participate in the festival, allayed fears on security challenges, saying Kwara State was prepared to host a hitch-free festival. He said all participating states resolved to support the host to ensure safety of lives and property during the festival.

Continuing, he said: “We need to focus our

attention on traditional sports by throwing up competitions, such as traditional wrestling.

We also need to embark on talent hunt early enough…all committed stakeholders are welcome to the festival. There is no plan or reason to shut out any organisation or stakeholder from NAFEST. We expect stakeholders to be more active and committed. They need to disclose their areas of interest to pave way for partnerships and collaboration with the ministry and its parastatals.”

He hinted that, very soon, the ministry would inaugurate the board of tourism development fund which will provide opportunity of support from stakeholders.

The Director-General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), organisers of the festival, Mr Maigwei M Maidugu, said this year’s festival would offer the best opportunity for participants to market their creative works, particularly, in the craft in-

‘NAFEST 2012 is coming at an auspicious time and, in the light of our present challenges, which cannot be separated from poverty and ignorance, the festival is dedicated to the promotion of peace and national unity, in addition to growing the culture of economic empowerment’

Ikogosi: Emerging tourists’ haven

Jazz festival at Muson

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FTER a successful jazz/highlife session that had two of Nigeria’s legendary

and iconic musicians - Victor Uwaifo and Victor Olaiya perform on stage at the MUSON Jazz Festival 2011, Midwestern Oil and Gas, an indigenous company, is putting their weight behind the MUSON Jazz Festival 2012.

The event will feature an allNigerian line-up of international and home-based jazz and jazz related (NAIJAZZ) musicians playing at two shows (3pm and 7pm) on Saturday, October 20 at the Shell Nigeria Hall, MUSON Centre.

The artistes include South Africa- based guitarist (Ayodele – the tungba jazz master), South Africa- based bassist Mike Ebere, Germany-based Piano Virtuoso -

dustry. He said the events of the festival were carefully selected to showcase and celebrate what Nigerians are capable of producing in the arts and culture sector. Maidugu said the wrestling competition was strategically targeted at the intermediate category, with a mission to raising new and dedicated talents who would compete with their counterparts around the globe and win laurels for the country.

On the children events, he said: “We are training the children to develop interest in these areas of art and perhaps become experts in drawing and painting. Again, we are trying to use the platform of the festival to develop children that will have a career in visual art and also make the children task their minds on what is culture, what is peace, and the relationship between culture and peace, and the relationship between culture and economic empowerment.”

Events for this year’s NAFEST include dance drama, traditional furnished apartment, traditional moonlight games, children’s essay competition, children’s painting competition, arts and crafts exhibition and traditional wrestling. Others include book fair, cultural market and the colloquium. Nigeria will use the festival to celebrate its treasures, and the richness of its diversity. It shall also promote community understanding and tolerance through various competitive and non-competitive events.

•Imole Afrika

By Chinasa Ekekwe

Dapo Dina, El Jazz - the blues guitar maestro, Saxtee – the Saxologist, Victor Ademofe – Trumpeter

Extraordinaire and Adesua – the eclectic jazz vocalist. Jazz Festival is part of the annual MUSON festival and is powered by Inspiro productions.

•Continued from page 26 all the animals in the process. So it has been till the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi that turned the site around.

“We thank Fayemi for this laudable initiative because Ikogosi spring meant a lot to us as a people. It is not only known to the nation but also to the world; and its development will rub off on the people in the environs as rent, small-scale business will receive a boost. In fact, it is economically useful to us than the state, and by extension, the country.

“Ikogosi is a gift from God and we will be eternally grateful.

“Apart from Ikogosi residents, communities such as Erijiyan are very enthusiastic about the tourism potential of the site. And we appealed to the government to construct the Ogotun to Ikogosi road to facilitate easy access from neighbouring communities,” he said.

On the therapeutic benefits of the spring, he said the spring was wor-

shipped in the pre-colonial days but was stopped by one of the early traditional rulers in Ikogosi, Oba Alagbogbo Danija following the coming of Christianity. That was around 1914 or earlier.

“However, the water from the spring is medicinal as no one contacts cholera or other water borne diseases here in Ikogosi as a result of drinking the water from the spring.

“Sometimes ago, a woman came here with a big duck as sacrifice to the spring. She said that was what she promised the spring if her prayers were answered,” the traditional ruler recalled.

Ekiti west local government caretaker chairman, Barrister Tajudeen Akingbolu acknowledged the initiative of Governor Fayemi saying that at the completion of the project, the world would know that Ekiti State is the place to be. “After Mr. Governor is done with the project, the tourists site would be better than Obudu Cattle Ranch,” he noted.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012 NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts Profit after tax N590.797m NIGER INSURANCE Gross Premium N2.73b Profit after tax N212.95m MUTUAL BENEFITS Gross Premium N2b Profit N885.633m REGENCY ALLIANCE Gross Premium N812.596m Profit after tax N256.437m LEARN AFRICA Turnover N1.06b Profit after tax N58.336m TOTAL Nigeria Turnover N46.676 b Profit after tax N942.1m MRS OIL Nigeria Turnover N51.20b Profit after tax N712 m ETERNA Turnover N27.64b Profit after tax N563.834m OKOMU OIL PALM Turnover N2.667b Profit after tax N1.044b STANBIC IBTC BANK Net Operating Income N16.805b Profit after tax N2.737b ASL Turnover N1.084b Profit after tax N101.355m GT ASSURANCE Gross Premium N3.892b Profit after tax N710.62m CORNERSTONE INS Gross Premium N1.223b Profit after tax N80.01m OASIS INS Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax N79.868m AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS Gross Premium N1.215b Profit after tax N107.213m BERGER PAINTS Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover N835.0m Profit after tax N18.200m DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY Turnover N38.251b Profit after tax N3.49b STUDIO PRESS NIG Turnover N3.375b Profit after tax N20.422m JULIUS BERGER NIG Turnover N80.125b Profit after tax N2.55b INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS Gross Premium N1.41b Profit after tax N250.450m EQUITY ASSURANCE Gross Premium N2.45b Profit after tax N287.283m STANDARDALLIANCEINS Gross Premium N2.142b Profit after tax N475.964m CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE Gross Premium N6.917b Profit after tax N805m PRESCO Turnover N2.60b Profit after tax N800.9m RT BRISCOE Turnover N4.553b

‘Customs’ N1.5tr revenue target unrealistic’

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HE N1.5trillion revenue target set for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) this year by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance is not realisable based on the number of goods under prohibition list.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that there is sharp decline in the revenue accruing to the Federal Government from most of the Customs commands across the country.

For instance, at Tin-Can Island Port where the monthly revenue target is over N22 billion, the command has been confronted with server problems.

The server, which makes entries, valuation and payment difficult for importers,t remains the heart of Customs’ operations at the port.

By Oluwakemi Dauda

In the last one month, the issue of the server has been serious between Customs, clearing agents and the service providers.

The large chunk of the money, which was expected to be generated through the importation of goods using the nation’s seaports and the land borders is not forthcoming because of the low level of importation into the country.

A senior Customs officer, who does not want his name said it was in a bid to realise the amount that the leadership of the service introduced Tax Identification Number (TIN) for importers, policy which is yet to be understood by the importers and their clearing agents.

The officer pointed out that the failure of the Assycuda system to accept any declaration made without the TIN number of many importers has created problems for the service.

Sources at Customs Headquarters said a trillion revenue collection announced by the Nigeria Customs Board for this year is unrealisable because of false declaration of imports, the inability of the NCS to block existing avenue for leakages and corruption.

He said efforts by senior officers at the seaports, airports and land borders to enforce import regulations and coordinate anti-smuggling operations around the border areas to generate N1.5 trillion targets have not yielded the expected results.

Customs Public Relations

Officer (PRO), Tin-Can Island Ports Complex (TIPC), Superintendent of Customs, Chris Osunkwo, however hoped that Customs would surpass its N1 trillion revenue target set by the board as a result of discipline, training, encouragement and leadership shown by the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko and his management team.

The decision of the government to increase the revenue target of the Service, the image maker said, was aimed at ensuring hitch-free, steady and prompt delivery and clearance of cargo from the ports.

“It is the best thing to do if we are serious in moving forward as a serious maritime nation and becoming the maritime hub in West and Central

Africa,” he said, adding that the Comptroller-General has sounded a serious note of warning that no officer has any reason to fail.

When contacted to comment on the revenue target for Customs this year, its implications on the fragile economy, importers and the clearing agents, the National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said the efforts of the Customs to meet the targets may fail because the government did not put in place logistics that would enable Customs to perform its duties.

For instance, Shittu said, the issue of indiscriminate waivers being granted by the government was part of the problem confronting the service in realising its revenue target.

RIM, Slot partner on software upgrade

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•From left: Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Mr Babatunde Osho; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Brett Goschen, both of MTN Nigeria; and Group Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group, Mr Austin Okere, at the signing ceremony of a Micro-banking Solution partnership between the two organisations at the MTN head office in Lagos ... on Monday.

‘Paucity of loanable funds, high interest rate, bane of NASME’

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NABILITY of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to access loans and the high interest rate charged when the facility is made available have been identified as some of the factors militating against the devlopment of SMEs in the country.

Other factors identified are the inclement operating environment and dearth of infrastructure, factors which have led to making goods produced locally not to be competitive with foreign ones, the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has lamented.

Speaking with The Nation, Director, Membership Service and Public Relations Officer of NASME, Mr Nerus Ekezie, said a combination of these factors have made SMEs poor

CBN audits credit cards to check money laundering - P 30

By Toba Agboola

debt managers. ‘‘Most SMEs are definitely not good debt managers due to various factors including inadequate human capacity, electricity, high cost of raw materials and general high cost of production. For this reason, their businesses are most times negatively affected. ‘’The effect of this is the inability to make profits or break even, but many of the SMEs are highly leveraged in an unbelievable way,” he said, decrying that only a few SMEs had access to financial assistance to grow their businesses.

According to him, when this financial assistance comes at all, it is always with a punitive interest rate that serves as a disincentive because of the

difficulties that usually accompany its repayment. ‘‘Loan acquisition and repayment are serious issues for most small and medium businesses in Nigeria and SMEs find it difficult to obtain loans because of the risks involved in their businesses. ‘’They are usually compelled to provide collaterals before they can be given loans and many of them do not even have properties they can tender as collateral. The interest rates applied to these loans are too high for the SMEs; it kills their businesses,” he said, adding that instead of using the loan to guarantee the growth of the business, they are usually pre-occupied with the battle of repaying the debt and its accumulated interest to the banks.

AMCON chief predicts N6.2t gains for equities - P32

AKERS of BlackBerry smartphones, Research In Motion (RIM), have consolidated their hold on the market with the signing of a software upgrade agreement with an indigenous firm, Slot Systems Limited, the Regional Managing Director for Africa and the Middle East of RIM, Mr Robert Bose, has said.

According to a statement by firm, its 60 upgrade centres include all Slot retail outlets in the country, adding that it is due to a long standing relationship with the company.

Said Bosewho: “Today, BlackBerry is sold in about 300 retail stores nationwide. Our strategy is to continue working with local partners to help deliver a strong retail presence. With our new regional entity, we are looking forward to further cementing our relationship with the Nigerian market and working with our partners to support our customer base and the transformation of the ICT industry in West Africa.”

He also said that BlackBerry would introduce in-warranty

repair and after-sales in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

The smartphone giants also told reporters of the opening of RIM’s first BlackBerry Experience Centre in Nigeria – the BlackBerry SLOT store in Lagos.

Apart from being a fully branded BlackBerry store, the store is intended to give retail customers the same experience retail customers can get in a BlackBerry store anywhere in the world.

The shop, which is located in the Ikeja Computer Village, would provide free software upgrade to Operating System 7.1 (OS 7.1), including Bold 9900, Torch 9810, Torch 9860, Curve 9360 and Curve 9380.

He said: “As the leading smartphone provider in Nigeria and Africa, our customers are our number one priority.

So, we are very pleased to cement our physical presence with local staff, establish a new legal entity and work with local business partners to expand our retail and customer care across Nigeria.”

IMF board sees biggest reshuffle in 20 years

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HE International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board is undergoing the biggest reshuffle in two decades in a shift emerging markets including Brazil say remains insufficient to reflect their rising economic power.

Starting next month, some western European countries are realigning to give nations such as Turkey and Hungary more say under a 2010 pledge to give up two seats on the 24-seat board. Changes are also taking place among emerging mar-

kets, with Colombia leaving Brazil’s group to join Mexico’s.

Bloomberg reported that the overhaul reflects “significant economic realignments at the global as well as regional levels,” said Eswar Prasad, a Cornell University professor and a former IMF official.

“Small countries are jockeying for position to make sure their voices are heard while some of the larger but less dynamic economies are trying hard to preserve their clout despite their diminishing economic significance.”

Customs seizes goods worth millions in Lagos - P 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

30

MONEY

CBN audits credit cards to check money laundering

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has started the audit of Naira credit cards issued by banks. It also directed the banks to unify account opening forms to check money laundering.

Investigation showed that the apex bank took the step to forestall the use of accounts for money laundering and financial terrorism by bank customers.

CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, U. A. Obot, who confirmed this, said lack of uniformity in account opening procedure and documentation for prospective customers has continued

Stories by Collins Nweze

to hinder the effectiveness of Know Your Customer requirement in banks and other financial institutions (OFIs).

He said the apex bank has prepared a draft copy of the proposed form and asked forn banks’ and OFIs’ input to enable it to approve the final copy for implementation by the lenders.

The director said the adverse effect of this on the fight against money laundering and financial terrorism could not be over-emphasised.

The apex bank said the card audit became exigent after it started the implementation of its antimoney laundering/combating financial terrorism (AML/CFT) risk-based supervision framework for banking transactions, which it issued in 2011.

To achieve this, Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Batari Musa, has asked authorised dealers to forward hard copies of their returns on forex transactions on Naira-denominated cards, showing the source of funds monthly for 2010 and 2011.

Batari said authorised dealers should provide information about banks used in facilitating the transactions, card funding source at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) and Interbank, month and year of transactions, card type, amount loaded in Naira, dollar equivalent and naira or dollar exchange rate.

In addition, the regulator requested for hard copies of the information to be forwarded to designated address.

In both cases, the information should be received in Trade & Exchange Department, of the CBN

by today.

The regulator said execution of risk-based supervision to combating money laundering and terrorist financing depends on a sound understanding of the threats and vulnerabilities of the menace to each financial institution in particular and e financial industry in general.

It said the measure is further supported by the importance the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) attached to the risk-based approach to AML/CFT supervision in its revised recommendations issued earlier in the year.

CBN recovers N5b wrong bank charges From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has recovered over N5 billion which it said was wrongly taken from customers as bank charges.

Deputy Governor of the CBN, Kingsley Moghalu, disclosed this during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions in Abuja.

He said the CBN has worked out a strategic framework to prevent bank failures in the future.

He listed the strategic priority of the CBN for the financial sector, between now and 2015, to include macro prudential framework, consumer protection and data integrity.

Moghalu said: “Do the reforms mean that we have come to the end of history and there will no longer be any bank failures in Nigeria?

“I will not be responsible if I give you that type of assurance because we do not know the future.

“However the much we can see, we have tried to take care and in addition we have tried to put in place a number of safe guards to take care of contingent situations that may not be foreseen.

“By putting in place systems of risk management and very importantly, moving to the area of macro prudential supervision and regulation of the banking system,” he said.

According to him, the CBN believes that the consumers of financial products need a far higher level of protection that has been the case in the past, adding that the apex bank was aware of complaints of all sorts of inappropriate bank charges and had taken a number of steps to begin to address the problems, systemically.

“I can tell you that in the last year or two, the CBN has been able to recover N5 billion in wrong charges to bank customers.

“Those monies have been returned to Nigerians by their banks at the directive of the CBN in the course of our work in consumer protection,” he said.

He added that the apex bank wants to ensure that all the data received from banks are completely accurate with no room for errors.

He said the CBN has made significant progress in stabilising the financial sector.

“The establishment of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has helped in no small measure to stabilise the Nigerian banking system,” he said.

He said the CBN has to stop banks from giving further loans to customers owing up to N5billion.

He said the step was meant to prevent AMCON from becoming a moral hazard.

•From left: Head Consumer Protection Council Lagos Office, Ngozika Obidike; Regional Manager, Apapa, Olufunso Popoola and Assistant Director/ Co-ordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos Zonal Office, Obi Iregbu during the first regional draws of the Ecobank Win Big promo in Lagos

$6.5b annual support for agric coming

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O secure more funding for agribusiness, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and banks are implementing fresh measures aimed at empowering farmers financially and providing favourable fiscal policies for their operations.

The regulator said an investment of $6.5 billion per annum was needed to take agribusiness to the desired growth level , contrary to annual fund supply of $1.5 billion.

The apex bank had granted zero tariffs for the importation of agricultural machinery and equipment. The bank said it took the action to create a robust agricultural sector and provide an enabling environment for investment.

CBN Director, Development Finance Department, Paul Eluhaiwe, said banks were working with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and other key stakeholders to develop an innovative financing mechanism, tagged Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).

The apex bank Director said the scheme is expected to provide farm-

ers with affordable financial products, while reducing the risk of loans to farmers under other financing programmes offered by institutions.

The initiative will build capacities of banks to expand lending to agriculture, deploy risk sharing instruments to lower risks of lending and develop a bank rating scheme to assess banks based on their lending to the agricultural sector. It is expected that the initiative will help unlock access to bank finance, critical for stimulating agric lending and increasing food and crop production in the country.

Besides, the N200 Billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) was established in March 2009 by the CBN in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to fast track the development of commercial agriculture in the country. The applicable interest rate under the Scheme has been retained at nine per cent even as the fund has continued to be disbursed to eligible applicants through the deposit money banks.

The banking watchdog admitted

that the future of agriculture in subSaharan Africa is clouded with several uncertainties that include increasing resource scarcity, heightened risks from climate change, higher energy prices, demand for bio-fuels and doubts about the speed of technical progress.

Head Agricultural Banking, Stanbic IBTC, Jacques Taylor, said in an interview in Lagos that access to agricultural input, market linkages, technical support services as well as access to financial services are vital to reviving the nation’s ailing agriculture sector. According to him, value chain financing will ensure the flow of financing within the agricultural sector, across all value chain actors, thereby getting agricultural products to the markets.

He said Standard Bank and Stanbic IBTC are driven by the conviction that opportunities exist to provide an endto-endbanking solution for agriculture in which the banks can leverage and cross-sell a full suite of products and services, from traditional commercial banking and lending products to crop and weather insurance products.

TBs offer rise at sale as yields advance

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UBSCRIPTIONS to Nigerian Treasury bills have risen to the highest in more than a month as investors sought higher yields and the Naira’s exchange rate stabilised.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold N171.9 billion Treasury Bills, with bids totalling N356 billion, the highest since September 5, the apex bank has said.

Debt sold included N30.2 billion of 91-day bills at a yield of 13 per cent, 30 basis points higher than the previous auction on September 26 and the highest since September 5, it said. The bank sold N73.5 billion of 182-day securities at 13.34 per cent and N68.2 billion of 364-day notes at 13.39 per cent.

“Demand for Treasury bills is rising as the central bank accepts higher rates to enable it mop excess liquidity in the system,” Tunde Ladipo, chief executive officer of Lagos-based Valuechain Investment Limited, told Reuters.

Bank supports shipping line to boost African trade

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HE Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) is providing funding and support to set up a shipping company to boost intra-African movement of goods, an official said.Vessels from the West Africa Sealink Co, as the company will be known, will call on ports on the Atlantic coast from Dakar, Senegal, in the north to Libreville, Gabon in the south, Chinedu Moghalu, a spokesman for the

Abuja-based lender, told Bloomberg in an e-mailed response to questions.

“Total investment for the new company is estimated at $60 million for a start,” Moghalu said.

Prospective investors will meet in Accra, the capital of Ghana, before the end of September to work out “‘the allocation of shares and conclusion of key appointments and partnerships” ahead of the company’s start by the first quar-

ter of next year, he said.

Trade among members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) accounts for about 11 per cent of the group’s trade, while business with Europe represents 45 per cent, according to the Nigerian lender also known as NEXIM. Factors slowing regional trade include current trans-shipment arrangements through Europe that result in an average of 60

days delivery from the port of Lagos to that of Accra, it said.

The Sealink project is intended to “increase trade flows, reduce time and costs” while “improving duty receipts by national governments and port authorities,” Moghalu said.

At the start, the shipping company will ply routes between west and central Africa before expanding its services to southern Africa and South America, he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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MONEY Promo: Unity Bank AMCON okays bridged presents car to winner banks’ performances A D From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

ESPITE the delays in selling the three bridged banks to investors, the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has given them a clean bill of health.

The banks are Mainstreet Bank Limited, Keystone Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited.

Speaking to The Nation yesterday, AMCON Managing Director Chike-Obi said the banks are safe, adding that his organisation was making efforts to sell them and put them on a sound footing.

He said the intention to list the banks on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the appointment of Ctibank Nigeria and Rennaisance Capital as advisers, among other options prepared to facilitate the sale of the banks, did not mean the banks are not secured.

He said: “As far as I’m concerned, there are no more problems in the three banks. The appointment of the two advisers to appraise the values of the three banks that were

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

nationalised last year does not mean that they are still battling withc problems, such as assets/ loan portfolios. We have done everything possible to ensure that the banks are free of problems. Our efforts have yielded results as the banks recovered huge toxic assets and provided sound risk management policies, among others.”

He said AMCON was awaiting the results of the valuations of the banks before taking the next line of action.

On the proposed listing of the banks, the AMCON boss said it was immaterial to think about whether the banks would be given considerations by investors in case they were listed on the NSE. He said it would amount to speculations to think about whether the investors would patronise the banks if they eventually get listed on the NSE, adding that there is no need of thinking about such issue now.

“It is wrong to speculate about the banks. We have put in place several options to sell the banks, and one of them is proposed listing of the banks.

“We appointed advisers for the banks three months ago. They would tell us what happen when they finish the evaluation of the banks. Right now, we do not know the fate of the banks,” he said.

Similarly, a market analyst, Mr Tayo Bello, said nothing could be grevious than to say the banks that are still enmeshed in financial crisis. Bello, a lecturer at Babcock University, Ogun State said the balance sheets of the banks have been cleaned to prepare them for sale.

He said the tendency is high that the three banks would get investors when the right time comes, adding that they appear to be in good financial position.

He said the stock market is rebounding, arguing that it would not be difficult to get investors for the banks if the plans to list them scaled through.

MAN Abubakar Usman Tata has received a car he won in the on-going Unity Bank savings promo, a programme which it initiated to boost saving culture among its customers.

Abubakar, and another winner, emerged in a national draw, held by the bank in Lagos. Executive Director of the bank Ismaila Galadanchi, said draws for the promo would be conducted in phases.

He said the presentation of the car demonstrated the bank’s commitment to its customers. He said the bank had concluded plans to stage zonal draws in Sokoto, as well as in Rivers, this month.

He explained that for customers to participate in the promo, they are required to build up their savings to N5, 000, for one and half month. For any of the customers who is interested in the draws for the car, he explained that they are also required to have up to N150,000 in their account within the specified period.

Galadanchi pointed out that three other cars, in addition to other gifts, such as television units, refrigerators, generator sets, are out for grabs by customers, during the promo.

He said Unity Pays, Unity BeTA, to Unity Holy Trip, Unity Kids Saving, among others, are some of the products that customers are expected to key into the enable them participate in the promo.

Standard Bank pushes for African expansion

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TANDARD Bank has said it will press ahead with plans to open another 30 branches in sub-Saharan Africa this year, to cash in on booming loan and deposit growth.

Africa’s biggest bank by assets Standard Bank is 20 per cent owned

by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. It blamed a belowforecast of nine per cent increase in first-half profit on costs of investment.

“It really has been growing rapidly and we’ve continued to invest, which is part of the reason for the cost growth that you’ve seen,” Chief Executive Jacko Maree told Reuters, referring to its 16 operations across the continent.

“But if you look at the profitability in Africa you saw the profits growing by some 80 per cent, just looking at the on-the-ground banks on the continent, which is a very big jump.”

He pledged to do all he could to control spending after a 17 per cent rise in the six months to the end of June but said costs would continue to climb as the bank seeks to cash in on an estimated 40 per cent rise in loans and deposits across the continent.

MasterCard partners Nigerian firm

M •From left: The Principal, Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Adebola Kolawole; Reginal Director, Ikeja Directorate, Skye Bank Plc, Owolabi Kamson; Head, Strategic Brand Management, Skye Bank, Tokunbo Adegboye and Chief Executive Officer, Gem Publications, Bola Olawale, during donation of books to the school by bank and Gem, in celebration of World Literacy Day.

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MFBs await launch of intervention fund

HE plan of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to launch Microfinance Banks (MFBs) intervention fund also known as Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) fund this month is causing discontent among operators, who are awaiting the launch.

CBN has fixed this month for the launch of the fund to ensure refinancing of the sub-sector of th economy and on-lending to the poor, but economically active poor. But, the apex bank did not give a specific date, prompting operators to conclude that the proposed launch of the fund may not take place.

The Nation gathered that operators are no longer taking the apex bank serious on this since they have on several occasions been disappointed with moves to strengthen the sub-sector via making funding available to them.

They argued that CBN has been showing a lacklustre attitude to financing the sub-sector.

A managing director of a microfinance bank-based in Lagos, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operators have not been briefed on when and where the launch would take place.

“Up till now, we have no inkling as regards arrangements for the launch of the fund. We have tried and persuaded CBN to release the N54 billion microfinance development fund, but to no avail. We have on several occasions been told that the banking watchdog would release the fund, but nothing has been done. They said the fund would be released towards the end of last year, nothing was done. At a time, we were told the fund would be released early this year. It is still the same old story. While waiting for this fund, CBN announced the introduction of a new funding scheme late last year at microfinance banks conference in Abuja,” the source said.

Other operators said the issue has raised their expectations because they need the fund badly.

They said whether the fund would be launched or not is a question begging for answer from the CBN because no specific date was given by the apex bank.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMBs), Southwest, Mr Olufemi Babajide said the sub-sector is under-funded in the country. He said there is need for CBN to provide a bail out for the subsector as it has done for the commercial banks after the CBN/Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC) joint examination of the banks in 2009.

He said inability of MFBs to mobilise capital has hindered the banks from achieving the its objectives.

Chairman, King Solomon Microfinance Bank, Mrs Angela Adegboyega, advised the CBN to make funds available to MFBs.

ASTERCard is partnering an indigeneous firm, Flying Dove Limited, an authorised distributor for Sony Corporation and owners and operators of Sony Centres in Nigeria, to foster

growth.

Through the deal, MasterCard will encourage its cardholders to use electronic payment solutions, thus supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) move towards a cash-less economy.

The joint venture between the firms signals the first cash-less initiative for MasterCard in Nigeria. The partnership, according to company, supports its vision to accelerate the move towards more convenient and safer payment methods for consumers.

Country Manager, West Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, Omokehinde Ojomuyide, said: “MasterCard cardholders will qualify for a five per cent discount on the purchase of any item at Sony centres across Nigeria. In addition, and as part of alliance with MasterCard, Sony centre staff will undergo card acceptance and fraud prevention training. We will also be supporting Flying Dove by marketing discount offer, further showcasing the benefits of moving towards electronic payment to our carholders.”

Also, the Managing Director, Flying Dove Limited, Ashok Jain, said: “MasterCard has allowed us as a retail leader in Nigeria to further solidify our position in the local market. Our vision is to help make payments in all of the Sony centres more convenient, easier and safer for customers and the Sony Centre staff.”

Euro rises on bonds purchase

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HE euro rose for a sixth day against the yen, the longest run since March, as European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said the currency was irreversible and that the bank’s decision to purchase bonds helped ease tensions.

Bloomberg report said the 17-nation currency gained the most in almost three weeks versus the dollar after Draghi said the ECB was ready to start buying government debt from nations, such as Spain as soon as the necessary conditions are met.

The dollar remained lower after minutes of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting showed policy makers saw manageable risks in a third round of United States bond buying. A measure of volatility fell to the lowest level in almost five years. United States stocks rose for a fourth day.

The euro appreciated against all but one of 16 major counterparts on speculation ECB President Mario Draghi will provide more detail of the bond-purchase program announced last month.

The euro advanced 0.8 per cent to 102.08 yen after rising earlier to 102.21 yen, the strongest level since September 20. Japan’s currency depreciated past its 200-day moving average against the 17-nation currency, 101.75 yen, for the first time in more than a week.

The shared currency gained 0.9 per cent to $1.3016. It jumped by as much as one per cent, the biggest intraday increase since September 14.

The yen was little changed at 78.44 per dollar after rising 0.2 per cent earlier to 78.30 per dollar and falling 0.3 per cent to a two-week low of 78.72. The Bank of Japan ends a two-day meeting today.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

AMCON chief predicts N6.2t gains for equities •Index to rise to 40,000 index points T

HE benchmark index measuring average return at the stock market would rally to 40,000 index points, with potential additional capital gains of N6.2 trillion for investors in equities by the end of 2013, Chief Executive Officer, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Mustafa ChikeObi, has said.

The stock market opened yesterday with a year-to-date average return of 30.62 per cent, indicating capital gains of about N2.1 trillion so far this year. With this prediction, the All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), is expected to rise further by about 48 per cent with additional capital gains of N4.1 trillion over the next 15 months.

Chike-Obi, whose corporation AMCON, is the second largest holder of quoted equities after the pension industry, said equities would remain the most attractive invest-

Stories by Taofik Salako

ment as interest rate would likely crash to single digit by the end of 2013.

According to him, notwithstanding a year-to-date return of more than 32 per cent, Nigerian equities are still substantially underpriced.

He noted that the Nigerian quoted equities have stronger fundamentals and substantial headroom for capital appreciation and would remain competitively on the uptrend within the emerging market “This is just the beginning of the long sustained improvement of the capital market. You have not seen anything yet,” Chike-Obi said.

He said current efforts by all stakeholders would build very solid foundation for sustainable growth.

He allayed fears of any bubble in the immediate future noting that sev-

eral stocks are still trading below their book values.

He assured investors on the prospects of the banking sector pointing out that the book values of banks are realistic values given that the Central Bank of Nigeria and AMCON have cleaned the balance sheets of banks.

Nigerian equities had yielded a monthly average return of 9.6 per cent in September, sustaining a bullish streak that has seen investors with highest gains so far this year.

Benchmark index at the Nigerian stock market indicated a steep rise in values of quoted companies with several stocks hitting new highs during the month. The ASI rallied to 26,011.64 points by the end of September compared with its opening index of 23,750.82 points.

Market capitalisation of all quoted equities also surged from its open-

ing value of N7.560 trillion to close at N8.282 trillion, indicating a total gain of N722 billion within the month.

Altogether, investors pocketed about N1.4 trillion in capital gains in the third quarter as sustained upswing in the latter part of the quarter spiraled returns to investors.

The last quarter witnessed notable rebound of the stock market, posting the biggest rally in recent periods. Value indices at the NSE indicated a return of 20 per cent during the three-month period ended September 30, 2012. Total average yearto-date return currently stands at 25.47 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities, which had opened the third quarter at N6.895 trillion, closed the period at N8.282 trillion. This represented an increase of N1.39 trillion.

The ASI jumped from its index on board of 21,599.57 points to 26,011.64 points, an increase of 20.43 per cent.

The market had closed the first half with a marginal gain of 4.19 per cent.

ASI closed the first half at 21,599.57 points as against its year opening index of 20,730.63 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities also showed modest increase of 5.54 per cent at N6.895 trillion by June compared with its value on board of N6.533 trillion for the year.

The market had closed the first quarter with a negative year-to-date return of 0.38 per cent as declines in share prices of highly capitalised stocks overwhelmed the market situation. ASI closed first quarter at 20,652.47 while aggregate market capitalisation of all equities closed the first three months at N6.550 trillion.

The performance of the market in the third quarter exceeded most estimates and reinforced confidence that the stock market would close 2012 with substantial gain.

NSE targets GDRs from world majors IGERIAN Stock Exchange (NSE) is working to attract major global companies to list their shares on the stock market through secondary dual listing.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, said the NSE was working on reversed Global Depository Receipts (GDRs), which would allow major global brands that have no primary listing on the NSE to list their shares for secondary trading in Nigeria.

According to him, the GDRs will enable Nigerian investors to trade on the shares of the multinationals using Naira.

Global Depository Receipt, otherwise known as global depositary receipt, (GDR), is a kind of derivate that represents the ownership of the underlying number of shares.

It is usually issued by a depository bank, which purchases shares of foreign companies and deposits it on the account. GDRs enable trade of shares, and are commonly used to invest in companies from developing or emerging markets.

Usually, prices of GDRs are close to values of related shares, but they are traded and settled independently of the underlying shares.

Reversed GDRs will enable global companies to present their shares for trading on the NSE. Many Nigerian banks including Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Diamond Bank and United Bank for Africa have GDRs. In July 2007, GTBank became the first Nigerian

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•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema; Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Oladisun Holloway and President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Ariyo Olusekun, at the bell ringing ceremony by the Lagos State Government as part of the activities to mark the Annual Stockbrokers Conference of CIS in Lagos

Dangote Flour Mills grosses N29.6b in first half

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ANGOTE Flour Mills (DFM) has reported total sales of N29.59 billion in the first half year ended June 30, 2012, as the company gears up to consolidate on its areas of strength.

Interim report and accounts for the six-month period showed that the flour miller recorded sales of N14.63billion while its subsidiaries accounted for the balance of N14.96 billion. The turnover however represented a drop of 13 per cent from N34.14 billion recorded in comparable period of 2011. Compared with modest net profit of N177.64 billion in first half 2011, the company’s bottom-line worsened with a net loss of N815.20 million in first half 2012.

The management of the company said it was adopting new measures and strategies to enhance the operations of the organisation and stay above competition in the industry.

DFM, which now has a new Managing Director following the divestment of the Dangote Industries Limited, a major stake-

holder, is expected to implement measures to maintain its leadership in the industry and introduce new measures to reflect its new international status.

It would be recalled that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) recently sold 63.35 per cent of its stake in DFM, to Tiger Brands Limited, a leading South African Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company (FMCG).

The business deal worth $181.9 million saw DIL selling 3.17 billion shares out of its 3.67 billion shares in DFM to Tiger Brands.

The transaction, which has been endorsed by the board and shareholders of DIL as well as regulatory authorities, provided for Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group to retain his chairmanship of the board of DFM. “The executed Share Sales Purchase Agreement (SSPA), which articulates the terms under which the Sale was consummated with Tiger Brands, pro-

vides that DIL will retain a strategic interest of 10 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of DFM for a minimum period of five years after implementation of the Transaction during which the Group will have the right to appoint two directors to the Board of DFM, with Alhaji Aliko Dangote continuing as Chairman of the company,” the Group said.

Dangote Group had explained that the decision to divest was in furtherance of DIL’s on-going optimisation and diversification objective.

It stated that the divestment was part of efforts to evolve a strategic partnership arrangement that transcends the operations and control of the company’s focus, thus delivering long term value for shareholders of the company.

DFM was incorporated as a public limited liability company in 2006 following the strategic decision of DIL to unbundle its various operations. It was quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on February 4, 2008.

and African bank to issue a full listed GDR on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The transaction comprised a two-tranche structure of a simultaneous $250 million domestic GDR offering and a $500 million international offering.

The GDRs issued are represented by the underlying ordinary shares of the bank with an exchange ratio of one GDR to 50 ordinary shares.

UBA also runs a GDR programme to enable foreign institutional investors to hold and trade UBA shares without having to expatriate funds into Nigeria. UBA’s GDRs are traded Over-the-Counter. The ratio between the ordinary share and the GDR is one GDR to 200 shares.

Onyema said the drive for the global brands was part of efforts to deepen the Nigerian market and provided investors with alternative investment avenues.

He reiterated the call for the listing of key companies in the major sectors of the Nigerian economy on the NSE noting that these companies are important in the development of the stock market as they are crucial to the Nigerian economy.

He recently noted that agriculture accounts for more than 40 per cent of GDP, oil and gas contributes more than 90 per cent of export earnings, telecoms sector has more than 80 million GSM subscribers and includes the fastest growing telecoms operator in sub Saharan Africa while the emerging utility sector has strong potential.

Experts advise on corporate growth

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XPERTS have underscored the importance of visible brand, continuing sales strategy and unique offerings to the success and growth of small and medium companies.

At the Fourth Entrepreneurship Conference Exhibition & Awards in Lagos, business experts and consultants said small and medium businesses must strive for visibility in their various industries in order to compete profitably with other established companies.

The event was organised by the Entrepreneurship Promotions Academy (EPA), a not-for-profit organisation with a focus on exposing entrepreneurs to ways of ensuring success.

Former managing director of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, said that for small businesses to be seen and heard in their fields, close attention must be paid to marketing and

By Josephine Owede

branding as tools for increasing sales.

Other experts at the event included Charles Aladewolu, the Chief Executive Officer of TECO Limited, Prof.

Sam Oluwalana and Professor Famous Izedonmi, who variously spoke on key areas of concern for small businesses including creativity and innovation and sourcing and managing business funds.

Participants at the event attested to the event being timely even as they were full of praises for the organisers.

The event was rounded off with an awards and dinner in the evening where institutions and individuals were recognised.

Award recipients were Mr Ucheckukwu Sampson Ogah, President, Master Energy Oil and Gas, Engineer Gabriel Bitar, Managing Director, STEMCO Limited, Mr Elie Farhat, Managing Director, Triacta Nigeria Limited and Prof Famous Izedonmi.

THE NATION WESDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

Stakeholders finalise new dispute resolution model for capital market A

NEW dispute resolution and enforcement framework for the capital market is being finalised and may come on stream before the end of this year.

The draft copy of the new complaints management framework is being fine-tuned with input from stakeholders. A sub-committee of the Capital Market Committee, which includes regulators, operators and other stakeholders in the market, was said to be working on the framework.

Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, who confirmed ongoing efforts on the new complaints management framework, said the new dispute resolution mechanism may be completed by the end of the year.

A copy of the new dispute management framework undergoing draft exposure to key stakeholders and obtained by The Nation indicated fundamental shifts in scale of

By Taofik Salako

preference for dispute resolution, constitution of adjudicatory committee and the enforcement actions.

Already, SEC has indicated that it would make necessary amendments to existing rules and regulations to accommodate the changes.

As against existing practice whereby SEC can order restitution to investor or disgorgement of illegal profit by operator, the SEC could only censure, fine or suspend a wrongdoer under the new framework and investors would only be able to recover their losses only through arbitration and court processes.

The commission based this shift on the lack of necessary institutional supports to enforce any or-

der for recovery investor’s losses.

Besides, the new framework also made dramatic changes to the composition and roles of the Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC). The APC was first established as an internal administrative committee of SEC in 2000 and it has jurisdiction over all disputes in the market. The APC consists of the Director-General of SEC, who presides over the committee, members of the board of SEC, directors in the operations departments of SEC and observers who are representatives of trade associations in the market including the stock brokers, registrars, trustees and issuing houses among others.

But under the new framework, the APC shall be constituted as an independent panel with membership drawn from retired capital market operators, lawyers and ex-

capital market regulators. Serving members of the board of SEC would not be appointed to the APC. The new scale of dispute resolution favours internal resolution by all operators and places mediation above all other means.

According to the new framework, it’s only when the commission is convinced that mediation has failed that it would advise parties to go for arbitration or litigation at the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST).

In line with the mediation option, SEC is already working to have a formal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system in conjunction with the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Capital Market Solicitors Association.

According to the commission, it will identify, train and document a pool of mediators and arbitrators from which disputants may choose whenever disputes arise According to the new framework, all capital market operators including registrars and stockbrokers, quoted companies and Self-Regulatory Organisations, such as Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange (ASCE) must have an in-house complaints resolution mechanism based on standards to be set the commission.

Any market operator without existing dispute resolution mechanism or where such existing mechanism falls short of acceptable best practices is expected to submit a proposal on the strategy and timeline for the implementation of the new framework.

The existence of formal internal dispute resolution mechanism by all operators would enable them to actively manage complaints. w

‘FMCG sector ‘ll maintain growth momentum’ Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are the best-return sector at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with a sectoral year-to-date return of more than 300 per cent, almost 10 times of the average return by the market. The prospective listing of new highly capitalised FMCG companies, such as Promasidor Nigeria Limited is expected to spur the sectoral performance. In this interview, Marketing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr Onyekachi Onubogu, speaks on the prospects of FMCG companies and Nigerian manufacturing sector among others.

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OW do you assess the performance of FMCG sector?

The FMCG sector has a wonderful future. From whichever perspective, you will see a fast growing sector with immense potential for future growth. As long as we have consumers with an ever increasing demand on their time, FMCG companies will keep thriving and growing. If you look at Nigeria population, the demography of the population, strategic plans by companies and reforms by government, you cannot but be confident that FMCG will continue to surmount operating challenges to maintain its growth momentum What can government do improve the operating environment?

Simply, fix power. One of the biggest operational costs for any manufacturing outfit is the cost of power. We need a significant improvement in power supply to have any real impact on the bottom line of most manufacturing concerns. Improvement in power will provide added impetus for our economy to grow and lead to job provision for our youth which will reduce the temptation for crime.

There is also the issue of security, government needs to equip the police better and train them on how to manage policing of its citizenry.

Also, government should fix our roads so that trucks will not break down on the roads. Finally, we should give every Nigerian a sense of pride so together we can act as our brother’s keepers.

Beyond making returns to investors, what does the society stand to gain from the corporate sector?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should be an integral part of any business concern. As a business we believe that it is mandatory to give back to the society in which we operate. When people in your society develop and grow, they

create wealth which in turn helps grow your business concern and vice versa. As such we at Promasidor believe that good corporate citizenship is essential if we must achieve our short and long term business goals.

You recently launched new variants of top tea into the market how are they doing in the market place?

The new variants are doing well.

We introduced the four new variants to give our ever discerning Nigerian consumers excellent products at affordable prices. Top Tea now has Lemon/Lime and Ginger flavours. They are the first locallymade flavoured teas in the Nigerian market. Consumers now have a choice with five various presentations of the tea brand in Nigeria and at prices they can afford. We are growing the tea category with our innovations and believe we are on our way to market leadership with our brand. Top Tea really comes top when we talk of variety, taste, flavour and speed of diffusion. It’s a great brand.

What are you doing to drive your corporate growth?

The Promasidor’s corporate brand is growing; driven by our excellent brands and our total commitment to our local communities and the Nation at large. Our singleminded focus on developing the capabilities of our youths through Cowbell National mathematics competition, our newly launched

Painting Challenge, the Cowbell Para-soccer program and also our soccer academy are testaments to our commitment to Nigeria and all this has helped in entrenching the Promasidor in the minds of our consumers. Promasidor is synonymous with quality and commitment to development of our most valuable asset in this nation ‘Our Youth.

We have had two fantastic promotions in 2012. The first was the Cowbell Choco Naija quest promotion. This was designed with two objectives in mind. The first was to provide our consumers another reason to keep consuming the nourishing Cowbell Choco brand. But more importantly, it was meant to teach Nigerian of all ages about how beautiful our country is that we don’t know about. It was a fun and educational promotion that consumers loved and has led to significant growth for the brand.

The second promotion was the Cowbell Olympic promotion. The idea also has two objectives. The first was to reward our loyal cowbell consumers with a trip to watch the Olympics live and the other was to encourage and support our athletes to excel and bring glory to our dear country. Again the promotion was a success as it rewarded our consumers and they loved it.

We, like all other Nigerians had hoped our team would have performed better than they did at Lon-

•Onubogu

don 2012 but all the same, we will keep supporting youth’s sports development so that in time our athletes will bring more glory to our nation.

What are the secrets behind the success of your marketing campaigns?

We are a law abiding company.

We do what is right always for our consumers while adhering to the spirit and the letter of the law. We involve all the regulatory bodies in planning of our promotions, pay all the legally stipulated costs and ensure that we reward consumers the way we say we would. Our business ethics has ensured that consumers trust us to do what we say we will do and the regulatory bodies know that as well. The right business ethic is in our DNA as a company and that will not change.

‘One of the biggest operational costs for any manufacturing outfit is the cost of power. We need a significant improvement in power supply to have any real impact on the bottom line of most manufacturing concerns. Improvement in power will provide added impetus for our economy to grow and lead to job provision for our youth which will reduce the temptation for crime’

What motivated your painting challenge in schools?

The painting challenge is a new one for Promasidor. Children are at the centre of most of our activities and we have constantly sort out ways to help them develop nutritionally and academically. Art, and indeed painting, helps young children develop fine motor skills which are important in every child’s physical and mental development as they grow.

We also realised that as a nation we are not investing a lot in developing the creative talents of Nigerian kids and if this is not addressed we would lose a lot of talents. This informed our decision to pilot the first ever painting challenge by any company in Nigeria.

Our objectives were firstly; to provide a platform for kids to have fun and interact with family. Secondly, to encourage the study and practice of fine art and painting in primary schools in Lagos and finally to help our young ones develop their fine motor skills as they grow. With this project we want the kids to have fun and hopefully we will discover the next Chief Ben Enweonwu or Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya or Mr Aina Onabolu.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

34

AVIATION Firm seeks buyers for aircraft

From left: Head, Corporate Communications, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd. (SAHCOL), Mr Basil Agboarumi; Head, Public Affairs, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr Tunji Oketunbi and HOD, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Sam Adurogboye, at the 7 th Safety, Services Summit, entitled: Building strong carriers in Africa through sustainable financial options and a robust economic and safety strategy: A case study of Nigeria, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Dana Air begins test flight amid victims’families’complaints

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ANA has begun a test flight ahead of its planned resumption of operation amid complaints of neglect by families of victims of its crahed plane in Lagos on June 3.

There are concerns over the airline’s failure to settle owners of properties the aircraft damaged in Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.

Owners of the warehouse and duplex the aircraft crashed into, Pastor Daniel Oluranti Omowumi, said he lost over N505 million in the crash.

He claimed that Dana Air offered him N500,000 as palliative which he rejected. He said since then, he had not heard from the airline. He described its management’s attitude “as inhuman, insensitive and ungodly.”

Pastor Omowumi, who briefed reporters, said he waited till now to seek redress over the insensitivity of Dana Air to his plight as a mark of respect for the 153 passengers who perished in the crash.

He said the attitude of Dana Air management in not responding to his plight after its aircraft destroyed his life investments was enough indication that it should not be allowed to operate in a civilised environment, where the rights of individuals are taken seriously.

Dana Air has embarked on a test flight ahead of its resumption of operations. One of its aircraft was spotted in the air in Lagos to ascertain the airworthiness of the airplane having been on ground for four months, after the crash.

The aircraft, it was learnt, had on

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

board officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), whose mission was to ensure that the carrier met the requirements to resume operations.

Dana Air spokesman Tony Usidamen confirmed the test flight, saying that it was one of the requirements set for the airline to resume operations.

A source hinted that staff of the carrier have since been recalled in readiness for operations, adding they are putting processes in place for a hitchfree resumption of flights.

The source said the carrier may resume flight any momemt , if all goes well. He said the insurers were working round the clock to resolve issues of compensation to family members who lost their loved ones to the crash.

Pastor Omowunmi said since June 20, following the request of the airline, he sent a statement of claims through his solicitor, Messers Dele Adesina and Co., to its management.

But, four months after, the airline was yet to respond.

He said: "I have waited till this moment so that families of our dear Nigerians and other nationals killed in the crash could be attended to by Dana Air. Today, I have come to realise that the management of Dana Air are killers and satanic.How could you destroy all that I have worked for in my life, yet be comfortable to turn deaf ears to my plight and homeless family. My lawyer clearly indicated in my letter to Dana Air that my property

serves as my residence and business premises, as I use the place as a furniture factory, warehousing goods for people and running a fish pond."

He vowed to embark on actions to seek redress, which are not limited to court actions to enforce his rights and that of his family .

He, however, called on President Goodluck Goodluck Jonathan, the Lagos State Governor and the minister of Aviation to put pressure on Dana Air management to discharge their responsibility to him as required under the law.

He listed the property damaged by the Dana Air aircraft to include a sixbedroom duplex, four-bedroom bungalow and two standard warehouses all located at N0. 8/10 Popoola Street, Iju/ Ishaga, Lagos State.

Besides, he said four fish ponds that were fully stocked were also damaged, alongside other items, including 517 panel doors, imported educational materials, imported kitchen utensils, furniture making machines and other equipment.

Meanwhile, Dana Air has reassured all affected residents that compensation would be paid by its insurers in accordance with the law.

Usadimen said: “ Dans Air would like to reaffirm that all claims are being paid by our insurers in accordance with the law. Cogents efforts to provide temporary relief to the displaced residents were made on July 3, 2012, when the airline presented cheques to affected families. But, some declined the offer citing personal reasons.”

‘Why aviation sector is in crisis’ IFTY-TWO years after Nigeris’s Independence, its aviation sector is still in a sorry state, according to President, Aviation Round Table (ART) Captain Dele Ore. Speaking with reporters in his office in Ikeja, Lagos, Ore said some policies executed by the government in the sector could not stand the test of time. He said instead of the government to allow the managers in the industry to do their jobs, it appointed non-experts, adding that, as a result of this, the industry has been in a traumatic state.

The former pilot with the defunct Nigerian Airways said: “I think in the last 52 years as far as aviation is concerned, I can say that it has been very turbulent to the extent that there are several areas where you can ask ques-

F

tions, such as: have we really learnt anything? And the answer is in the negative. We are not learning. I am going to start simply by recalling that in the last 52 years, we have had 34 ministers in the aviation industry and if we want to do a little bit of mathematics, it is merely one minister for every 18 months.

“What kind of policy can you put in place that could be enduring? It cannot endure and that is the bane of the industry.The industry would have been doing much more better if we allowed managers to do their jobs; instead we send ‘damagers’ to take over from them.

So, invariably, we are working with ‘damagers’ instead of working with managers in the industry and it is such a pity".

Ore, however, said the first disservice the government did to aviation was the liquidation of Nigerian Airways, point-

ing out that, since then, it has been motion without movement. He said stakeholders and the government were just dancing in a circle in the industry.

According to him, since the liquidation of Nigerian Airways, airlines in the private sector had been coming and going. He said at a time Nigeria had about 28 airlines, but now the viable ones are about five.

"The first and most disastrous disservice that we did to aviation was the liquidation of Nigerian Airways.Aviation has not been the same since then; so that was the beginning of the problem for aviation because by the time you killed Nigerian Airways or we assassinated it or we murdered it, so many things died with it.

That was when training also stopped, developing manpower stopped and if you don't have a continuous stream of manpower to replace ageing ones; that is a source of problem,” he said.

AS the global airline industry is going through crisis, leading to the liquidation of many, indications have emerged that Malev Hungarian Airlines has approached Arik Air to buy some of its airplanes.

Investigations revealed that Malevolent Hungarian Airlines, which is in liquidation, is seeking buyers for two of its aircraft: Boeing 737 800 , but the offer was rejected by Arik Air on the grounds that the aircraft first generation types ranging from eight to 10 years.

Arik Air's rejection of the offer to buy the aircraft, it was learnt, is predicated that the aircraft type is at variance with the aircraft type on the fleet of Arik Air. It was further gathered that at the time of the liquidation of the Malevolent Hungarian Airlines, it had 22 aircraft in its fleet, which are being kept.

There are also indications that some of the aircraft could find their way to Nigeria through other carriers, which source for aircraft held in storage by either liquidated carriers or airlines, which are ready to dispose their airplanes when in crisis.

The desire to acquire used aircraft from foreign carriers has become fashionable among Nigerian carriers because of the prohibitive costs of getting new airplanes either from the shelf or on order from major aircraft manufacturers.

Another factor that accounts for this is the seeming difficulty of Nigerian carriers to get lessors release aircraft to them because of high cost of lease rentals and insurance, which has increased, after the crash of Dana Air and the collapse of Air Nigeria, making Nigeria one of the high risk countries among aviation investors.

SAHCOL for Hajj operation THE Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has received approval to provide ground handling services for outbound and inbound operations of the 2012 Hajj Operations, the spokesman of the company Mr Basil Agboarumi has said.

By this, SAHCOL is expected to provide ground handling services, covering ramp, passenger and baggage to four airlines for the Hajj Operations. They include Marx Air, Kabo Air, Med View and Meridian Airlines.

He explained that the services would be provided at the designated airports for the Hajj , namely, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Minna, Yola, Sokoto, Katsina, Ilorin, Gombe and Kaduna.

Out of the 85, 000 pilgrims that would go through these airports, SAHCOL is expected to provide handling services to 65, 000 pilgrims.

Meanwhile, SAHCOL has already deployed personnel and equipment to these stations to allow for a hitch-free Hajj.

“The firm is geared towards ensuring efficient and speedy delivery of aviation ground handling services to its customers, thereby making SAHCOL a reference point where efficiency of a successful flight is born,” SAHCOL said in a statement.

Since the takeover of SAHCOL by the SIFAX Group in December 2009, SAHCOL has invested in personnel development and state-of-the-art equipment, fleet replacement, and massive infrastructural development, which have helped reposition the company to meet the needs and expectations.

NAMA boss seeks fresh ideas THE Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, has charged the new management staff of the agency to inject new ideas into the agency in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

While welcoming the new staff at the company’s board room at the headquarters in Lagos, he noted that their appointment was based on the their experiences.

Udoh, therefore, urged them to work as a family, saying that ‘’everyone is expected to work as a team member in order to move the agency to another level’’, advising that the new staff should be ready to disappoint anyone who comes to tell them anything some negative things about other officers.

He said: “If anyone comes to you and tells you something negative about me, call me and tell me and if the person cannot come face to face to justify what the person has said, please disregard such stories.”

He urged the new directors and general managers to dream big and think of what they could do differently to move the agency forward.

The NAMA boss appealed to them to bring their wealth of experience and values to bear, noting: “Cis what many people do not want but let us be circumspect because time waits for no one. There is a lot of work to be done, so let us embrace that culture of change, hard work and dedication to duty.”

Agency unveils new products TO boost air travel, a travel management company, Wakanow.com Limited, has unveiled some products and services.

According to its Managing Director, Mr Obinna Ekezie, the services were introduced at its head office in Lekki, Lagos. The event coincided with the Corporate Travel Day. “The Corporate Travel Day was a time for our corporate clients to meet our personnel and familiarise with our facility, the structure and how the back end works with the front end.

“It was also to educate and sensitise them on the corporate travel module and encourage usage. The theme of the event was: Revolutionising travel and that is exactly what we want to show our corporate travel clients and potential ones. Besides, we would like to demystify corporate travel by showing our clients that corporate travel is transparent, saves time, saves cost by providing the enabling tool and providing the personnel and back end support pre and after sales support. We have a lot to showcase on that day and our customers will be thrilled”, Ekezie stated.

He added that the event was attended by its travel industry partners, hotels, aviation professionals, including those of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), among others.

The company spends a lot of resources researching and churning out various packages to ensure its customers’ satisfaction whilst attracting new ones.

“Wakanow.com has a database of over 45,000 hotels in 900 cities. We’re the pioneer travel consolidator in Nigeria and Africa proffering both online and offline travel solutions”, he added.

35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Mrs Odutola

-Adebola Orolugbagbe

Laptop repairs as money spinner F

OR some time, laptops repairers have become the most sought-after by individuals and businesses. This is because laptops are now part of our lives.

Their use is not without associated problems. The main one being capable hands to repair brokendown laptops.

Also, daily, fairly used laptops and tablets which need repairing are brought in. So, laptop repairs has become a money spinner to those who can do it very well.

Thus, there is a big market for those wishing to go into repairs.

Chief Executive, Atibex Technologies Limited, Mr Oluwarotimi Atiba, an expert laptop repairer at the Computer Village, Lagos, said people are looking for quality repair technicians for their laptops as the device has become a necessity for the smooth-running of their lives and businesses.

Laptop repairs involves fixing all faulty parts, which affect the performance and efficiency of the device.

To succeed in the business, he said the technician needs to employ methods to restore a laptop to optimum operation.

Since quality repairers are hard to find, Atiba said one should be equipped with the skill before entering into the business. This is because a laptop needs an experienced hand to restore it to its best when faulty.

Atiba repairs worn-out power supplies to fried disk drives and

Stories by Daniel Essiet

busted motherboards.

The job requires his checking the hard drive to see whether the system is faulty or not. Sometimes, he has to replace the hard drive and the system transferred to a new one. The result is that the computer will work better. Like a vehicle, he said, laptops will not work for long without maintenance.

At some stage, it will experience data corruption and virus infections.

His goal is to provide customers with reliable service. According to him, a good job is sought by individuals and entities so, the most important factor is to have a repairer.

For a beginner, the starting costs are between N5,000 and N300,000; depending on the depth of business and whether the entrepreneur is working from home. For serious marketing, more money would be spent.

Atiba said the business gives him immense satisfaction beside job security.

He is running his own business and the motivation is there.

Atiba has built a large customer base. He gets many referrals from clients. He repairs many laptops daily. The success rate is tremendous.

His office buzzes with geekish intensity as he tackles a seemingly endless stream of battered and broken devices.

He fixes laptops of any brand.

There are new trends one has to adapt to survive in computer repairs.

• A laptop technician at work

According to him, service is a critical factor as there are many repair shops. Good service helps to get one’s name around.

Atiba keeps his tools in order.

Screwdrivers to open hard drives, disk cleaning material, diagnostic and antivirus software, spare parts and manuals. This prepares him for several problems.

The challenge in the industry is the dodgy technician that will say all sorts of things are wrong, despite that one only brought the laptop in for a check.

To start as a laptop repair technician, Atiba said there are many qualifications such as A+, MSCE,

MCP and CISCO to ensure some competency, but most clients don’t even know what they stand for let alone what they entail.

He said Comptia A+ certification is one of the industry’s most widely recognised for a laptop repair technician.

He has seen certified technicians who don’t know a thing, and uncertified ones who are good at what they do. To become a successful laptop repairer, he said one has

to be familiar with the problems associated with laptops.

This will require knowing more about the basics of troubleshooting, repairing and servicing various software and hardware-related laptop issues as well as problems in computer network.

Effective laptop repair, he noted, can also be done if one is aware of how to accurately and quickly detect the major reasons most hardware components fail.

Group empowers young entrepreneurs

T

HE Bridge Leadership Foundation, Calabar, Cross River State, is offering leadership and entrepreneurship training to youths to motivate them.

Its Programmes Officer, Miss Esther Eshiet, said the organisation provides a mentorship programme which connects youths with leaders who volunteered to provide assistance for six months.

She said the programme leverages on the experience of successful members of the public in various career sectors and transfers such expertise and knowledge to young people.

The aim is to help them become leaders.

Miss Eshiet said the programme was designed to find solutions to challenges facing young people.

According to her, there is great value in learning from other people’s experiences, and the linkage with successful people will inspire and motivate young people to develop confidence in themselves.

During the six-month period, the mentee and mentor are expected to achieve set targets.

According to her, the foundation is helping to tackle problems in education and provide the muchneeded support to young entrepreneurs at the start of their journey.

Nineteen mentees were selected from over 150 applications to be part of the second batch of mentees.

Speaking at the training, the Executive Director, Thots & Works, Mrs Seun Ogunleye, said: “Mentoring is one of the best in-

formal networking platforms that offers you the opportunity to get acquainted and learn from someone whom you would not have had the privilege of meeting”.

Another facilitator, Pastor Akomaye Ugar, who is a mentor in the TBLF Mentoring Programme, admonished participants: “Unless information meets a goal in the life of a listener, it may not have the impact it is intended for; hence mentees should begin to define their goals in life, so they can be met half-way by their mentors,” he said.

In the one year of its existence, TBLF has held a career day- attended by over 3,000 young persons. It has also held employability training for 80 graduates and others.

• From left: Director-General, Institute of Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria (IARN), Prof Jacob Etinagbedia and Provost, Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr Elizabeth Ikem when a fellowship award was conferred on her in Lagos.

Experts advise physically-challenged

D

• From right: The Acting Director, The Bridge Leadership Foundation, Ini Onuk,presenting a certificate to a mentee, Oden Ofem.

IRECTOR, Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos Business School (LBS), Mr Peter Bankole, has urged aspiring entrepreneurs, who are physicallychallenged, to be passionate about their businesses to succeed.

Speaking in Lagos at a summit organised for disabled entrepreneurs, Bankole said people with disabilities could become successful entrepreneurs.

“Your disability should not be an impediment to your success. There is ability in your disability; you only need to find out where your passion lies as a disabled person.

“Beethoven was deaf for the last 25 years of his life, yet he was one of the greatest music composers that ever lived. Yinka Ayefele is a musician that has been confined to the wheelchair, yet he has made so much money from his music,” Bankole told participants at the summit.

The summit had the theme: Entrepreneurship as a tool for social development.

Bankole said entrepreneurs should generate business ideas that

could meet the needs of people. ”There must be a need for the products and services you want to render. You can either spot a gap to fill or create a market gap to be filled.

He urged entrepreneurs to start profitable businesses and be wary of business competitors. The Chief Executive, Branson Centre for Entrepreneurs, South Africa, Mrs Tracey Webster, told participants at the summit that it was necessary for entrepreneurs to add value to their society.

“Value creation should be paramount to entrepreneurs. You should not start a business with the sole aim of making money alone.

“Your business should provide products and services that could benefit your community,” said Mrs Webster, who was at the summit.

Mrs Webster said good mentoring could help aspiring entrepreneurs overcome some of the challenges confronting businesses in Nigeria.

“There are many problems militating against the success of businesses. You have to go through many failures before you can be successful.”

36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

MARITIME

Customs seizes goods worth millions in Lagos O

FFICERS of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Lagos, have seized two trucks of contraband goods worth several millions of naira.

In the trucks were six suspected smugglers. The Customs accosted them on the Badagry Expressway, last Wednesday.

The smugglers, who hit the expressway from a bush near the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, with their specially-built vehicles loaded with contraband, were probably on their way to Alaba Rago Market in Ojo area of the state before they were intercepted by the Customs men.

Eye witnesses said the smugglers were daring, considering their number.

When The Nation visited the scene at about 8:00 am, the Customs officers were still arguing with the smugglers. As the argument was going on, the smugglers called their colleagues on phone to come to their aid and stop the officers from seizing their goods. They threatened to burn the Customs vehicle and attack any officer who stood on their way. Within a few minutes of their call many of the smugglers colleagues arrived the scene Although the Customs officers were armed, they told the smugglers why the vehicles and the items were seized. But their words fell on deaf ears. Instead, the smugglers threatened the officers with charms which they brandished.

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

As tension built up, one of the officers attempted to jump into his vehicle with Registration Number CS 183 HQ, threatening to call for re-enforcement.

For over 40 minutes, the smugglers continued to mobilise their members while the Customs insisted that the two seized vehicles parked in front of the Conoil Filling Station before IyanaIra Bus Stop would not be released to them.

The face-off lasted for over two hours before the smugglers were dislodged.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that the six smugglers, who specialised in using rickety vehicles for their illegal business along the porous borders, were accosted by men of the FOU near Iyana-Ira Bus Stop on the expressway.

The operation, investigation revealed, was in futherance of the renewed war by the Comptroller of the unit, Dan Ugo, to stem smuggling in Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.

Large quantities of contraband goods have been seized by the unit during its operations.

In the last few months, goods worth several billions of naira have been impounded by officers of the FOU Zone A, while several suspected smugglers have been arrested with some charged to court.

An eye witness, Mr Bolaji Kazeem, who spoke with The Nation, blamed the per-

• The Customs officers and some of the smugglers at the scene of the seizure.

sistent harassment and attacks on Customs officers on community leaders around the border areas, who, according to him, have failed to educate their people on the dangers of smuggling to the economy.

“The officers are not on the road on their own. The job was given to them by the Federal Government to stem the cycle of criminalities around our borders and checkmate economic sabouteurs. As you can see them, they have guns that are more sophisticated than that of the Customs and they also have deadly charms,” Kazeem said.

Another eye witness at the Conoil Filling Station, who refused to give his name, blamed the government and the smugglers for the crisis.

He said after almost 15 years of democracy, the government has failed to provide employment for the people, a factor which has led some youths to engage in smuggling and other crimes.

He blamed the smugglers

• One of the intercepted vehicles.

for sabotaging the efforts of the government at revamping the economy.

“The government is not doing enough to provide employment for the youth and that is why many of them engage in crime.

“Sometimes, you see the smugglers carrying goods that are smelling and they still find their ways to the market.

They use perfume to reduce the bad odour so that unsus-

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

pecting consumers will buy them. That is why we see many people dying after eating some smuggled items.

“Sometimes, you also see the smugglers carrying goods without stopping for routine check and any attempt to stop them by Customs men results in fracas,” he said.

A senior Customs officer, who spoke with The Nation on the condition of ano-

nymity, said some of the youth in the border areas see smuggling as a means of livelihood.

“When we arrest some of these people, they will tell you that the land belongs to them and that fayawo (smuggling) is their own crude oil. But we will continue to resist them, as far as what they are doing is against the law,” the officer said.

NNSL ex-workers protest non-payment of entitlements

A

LMOST 17 years after the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) was liquidated by the Federal Government, ex- members of staff of the national carrier have stormed the Federal Ministry of Transport, Abuja, to protest the non-payment of their entitlements.

The aggrieved ex- employees carried placards with different messages, such as: “We cannot continue like this”; “Some of our dead are still in the mortuary”; “Our children are out of school”; and “Many of us have no roof over our heads” to the ministry to demand for payment of their entitlements.

The protesters said some them are widows and widowers. One of them, Mr Oluremi Adetunji, who spoke with The Nation, said a top shot in the ministry had, after the verification of their documents, directed them to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA)

NPA seeks compliance with security checks

T

HE Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) has urged stakeholders to comply with the security measures at the entry gates of the ports in Lagos.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos, NPA’sAssistant General Manager, Security, Mr Samuel Asamagie, who represented the Port Manager, Mr Joshua Ashanga, urged port users to comply with the checks at the ports.

He said some of challenges

at the ports resulted from the human traffic so, emphasis would placed on checking port users at the gate before they enter the port.

He said security at the gate would be fortified, adding that such measure could lead to 80 per cent reduction of the challenges faced at the ports.

He stressed that there would be checks at the gate of Tin Can Island Port and the Lagos Port Complex and called on stakeholders to submit themselves to the checks.

‘’If we all expose ourselves to checks at the access gates , I can assure us that it will eliminate a lot of problems at the ports in Lagos. It may create a lot of inconvenience, but I want to say that it is better to suffer a little inconvenience than suffer the consequences that will follow,” Ashanga said.

According to him, the NPA has put in place measures to address stowaways and attacks on vessels, which, he said, pose security challenges at the ports.

to collect their entitlements, adding that, despite the directive, they had not been paid.

He said it was the responsibility of the ministry to direct NIMASA to pay them.

“Maybe the government wants us to die before paying our money; that is why we went to the ministry so that Nigerians will know the problem we are facing before our sudden death.”

A senior official of the ministry who does not want his name in print said the ministry had met with the protesters and that some agreements had been reached to solve the problem.

ANLCA threatens terminal operators

T

HE Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has threatened to shut the seaports, unless terminal operators resolved the alleged increase in some charges on imported goods.

The decision to close the ports was reached at a meeting of ANLCA’s trustees, national executives as well as

chairmen and secretaries of chapters in the Western zone, last week.

Ii was gathered that the association agreed that a fourmember committee, comprising the secretary of the Board of Trustees; Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Apapa Chapter Chairman; Comrade John Ofobike, Chairman, Tin Can Chapter; Mr Kayode Farinto

Collins and secretary of the association’s Presidential Compliance Committee; Chief Isdore Martins Agoha was constituted to interface with the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN).

The group, sources said, was mandated to write to the chairman of STOAN to resolve the issue or face its wrath.

Bureau gets nod to certify vessels

T

HE former Chairman, Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Akin Olaniyan, has said the International Naval Surveys Bu-

reau (INSB) has been authorised by the Maritime Administration of Moldova - Public Institution Harbour Master Giurgiulesti – to certify vessels flying the Moldavian flag.

This, according to him, is to

expand the authorisation of INSB and provide it with the ability to serve ship owners, managers or operators whose fleet is registered or intended to be registered under the Moldavian flag.

37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Diamond Bank backs Life in My City Art Festival

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•From left:Ajileye; Dzukogi; Nnolim; Ukah and his wife Petrolina and Agada at the event

Given the high crime rate, literary critics have said in literature lies the answer to moral reorientation. This is the view at the ‘Writers-in-focus’ organised by the Imo Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). The spotlight was on Camillus Chima Ukah and his works, reports EVELYN OSAGIE

ANA Imo honours its own

I

N Literature, critics say, lies the key to curbing crime and insecurity. They urged the government to focus on promoting it as a means of reducing the vices.

“I have always said only the humanities can cure and heal the minds of Nigerians. If they focus more on promoting the humanities, particularly literature, there would be no security problem,” said the former ANA Delta chair, Prof Sam Ukala.

Ukala made the statement at the ‘Writersin-focus’ organised by the Imo Chapter of the Association of the Nigerian Authors (ANA).

To mark its second edition, the association chose to celebrate Camillus Chima Ukah and his literature with a symposium which saw foremost critic Prof Charles Nnolim, Associate Professor Grace MT Emezue and Dr Ngozi Chuma-Udeh as discussants.

His is a moralistic writer that sometimes delves into extreme characterisation to buttress his point on the need for patriotism and integrity, it was noted. Some called it “a literature of lamentation”. Others said it’s one of advocacy.

Unfolding the literature of Ukah, Nnolim focused his lecture, entitled: New writer in a new context on Ukah’s novel When the Wind Blows. He observed that the book is “a weeping and didactic novel.”

With the impunity with which people perpetrate crime, the don, thus, called attention to the need for capital punishment in curbing the menace as depicted in the novel.

He said: “Camillus creates characters that are extremely good or bad and promotes to the place of God that says if you are neither hot nor cold he would not tolerate such. It is not just a book that condemns corruption, the protagonist took a total charge to making things right, got her parents jailed and killed.

“Beyond saying there is a problem, you have to condemn and proffer solution. When the Wind Blows must therefore be adjudged a great moral book that is recommended for the Nigerian youth as well as the old, for the moral cleansing of this nation in anomy. As Africa and Nigeria continues to wallow irredeemably in the cesspool and sewage dump of corruption, what

AWARD redeems in When the Wind Blows and gives it hope for redemption is the Jerry Rawlings’ treatment meted out to the culprits in the novel.”

On his part, former Minister of State and former President of ANA Dr Jerry Agada, who chaired the event, said not all political office holders were corrupt, “especially writers-inpolitics and in government”.

“We try to correct those in government. And a sometimes seen as the outcast. But we are hoping that the day will come when mentioning Nigeria, what comes to mind is people with good quality. A forum as this, that shows the good side of Nigeria and that one day we would get it right, is commendable.”

Professor Emezue’s paper, tagged: Camillus Ukah’s vision and the dilemna of human conditioning, locates human relationship and conditioning as the primary focus of Ukah’s visions. She observed that his novels, particularly Dollars, Height and Angel, share the characteristics of the modern novel while Diary exhibits traits of post modernism.

She condemned Ukah’s larger-than-life characterisation, saying: “However, what becomes a bit worrisome is the nebulous and ephemeral nature of these characters. They are not so endowed with plausible human strength and foibles that underscore the successes they later achieve. Perhaps, the reason could lie in the author’s attempts to inundate them with as many trials as possible.”

Dr Udeh’s lecture showcased Ukah as an advocate of women rights. Tagged: Blazing the Trail of Women Emancipation, Dr Udeh said Ukah is among the few Nigerian male-authors who conscientiously try to break the age-long iron-like cultural discrimination against women. “He consistently moves for the equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field,” she said.

On the man, Ukah, some called him an “unsung hero”. He is a man who has dedicated his literary life to promoting themes that touch on humanity and mentoring younger writers, Nnolim commended ANA Imo for calling at-

‘As Africa and Nigeria continue to wallow, irredeemably ,in the cesspool and sewage dump of corruption, what redeems in When the Wind Blows and gives it hope for redemption is the Jerry Rawlings’ treatment meted out to the culprits in the novel’

tention to Ukah’s feat.

Determined to sing the praises of its writers, ANA Imo established the ‘Writers-in-focus’. According to ANA Imo executives, the project seeks to bring the potential and achievements of its members to the public space.

ANA Imo Chapter chair Gbenga Ajileye said: “This is a nation where if your song is not LOUD; you are simply not heard! We have resolved to begin to sing the songs of those who have relentlessly devoted life and enormous energy to providing rhythm and beat to the literary songs of our clime and generation; true men and women of literature who have consistently provided the necessary aesthetics that adorn the pillars of literature creativity. We present to you, Camilus Chima Ukah, our ‘writers-in-focus’, a man who loves Literature and, like many of us, we hope Literature begins to love him.”

He noted that his administration seeks to make Imo “the literary capital of Nigeria.” To achieve this, he said, the chapter is creating more programmes and partnership. “We want to reawaken our literature in Imo from a despondent siesta. We appeal to the government, educational institutions, corporate organisations, individuals to come to our aid; provide funding for our programmes, sponsor writing residencies for writers, adopt a writer for publication, and above all, buy our books and READ them,” he added.

The author’s wife, Dr Petronilla Ukah, whose experience inspired Ukah’s When the Wind Blows, praised ANA for honouring her husband. “I feel on top of the world and humbled. I didn’t know I have such a great man in my house. He is so committed to his writing. We used to quarrel when he writes and writes that sleep or food is a problem. I am glad to see him honoured. I want to thank ANA Imo for bringing him to the limelight,” she said.

The event was attended by ANA National executives, including its Vice President Denja Abdullahi and its General-Secretary Baba Dzukogi, who also inaugurated ANA national teen authorship committee; and ANA members from across the nation including Chief (Mrs) Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu; ANA Kano chairman, Khalid Imam; Kamar Hamza (ANA Niger); Adedoyin Wale (Oyo) and Dame Chinyere Ibe. Others were founding member of the Society for the Promotion of Igbo Language and Culture (SPILC) Mrs Pauline Kanene Davids; Co-ordinator, Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), Imo chapter, Dr Ngozi Nwigwe, and His Highness, Igwe Iweka, among others.

The three-day event also featured a dramatic and award presentations, and commissioning of several art centres in schools, among others.

O provide backing for the arts industry, Diamond Bank Plc is to sponsor the forthcoming sixth edition of the Life in My City Art Festival.

According to a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications of the bank, Ms Akpo Daniyan, Diamond Bank’s decision to support the festival is a further demonstration of its commitment to growing the arts and creative industry in Nigeria.

“Our belief that the Nigerian arts and creative sector abounds with diverse talents forms the rationale for this sponsorship. Over time, we have come to realise that this industry is quite viable and with proper support from stakeholders, it can measure up to its contemporaries anywhere in the world,” said Ms. Daniyan.

Life in My City Art Festival, which began in 2007, is an annual celebration of creativity and fresh talent in the Nigerian art landscape. It is the largest gathering of artists and stakeholders of visual arts, featuring exhibitions, talent contest, symposia and workshops.

Executive Director of the festival Mr. Kevin Ejiofor said “the festival offers the single largest exhibition of new works in visual arts featuring a broad exposition of works in painting, ceramics, textile, sculpture and photography.”

Two other banks and various corporate bodies have signified interest in partnering with the annual celebration of visual arts skills among young people.

On Diamond Bank’s affiliation with the festival, Ejiofor said: “We are indeed grateful to have an organisation like Diamond Bank support this festival in particular, and the arts and creative industry in general. We are optimistic that collaborations of this nature would serve to promote and project our local arts industry to a global audience with positive ripple effects on the economy.”

Olu studio hosts ex-Edo commissioner

I

IN continuation of its monthly studio visitation aimed at promoting art appreciation, Olu Ajayi Studio has hosted the immediate past Edo State Commissioner for the Environment and Physical Planning, Prince Clem Agba.

The interactive forum provided the guest a first-hand experience on how and why the host-artist creates works of art.

According to Olu Ajayi, the interaction is in “keeping to our monthly programme of inviting distinguished guests to our studio for a chat and this provides the guest a first-hand experience on how and why we paint. Our talk ranges from conceptualisation to stages of production, choice of medium, colours, marketing among others.”

•Ajayi

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

38

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Life in the City of Excellence

I

T was indeed, a delight last Saturday as lovers of arts in Lagos came out in their numbers to witness the exhibition of Lagos Photo Festival at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

With the theme: Seven Days in the Life of Lagos, the festival aims to document the city of Lagos from a comprehensive and nuanced perspective, one that reveals the big picture by focusing on the minute details of social life.

Some of the works exhibited were Bayo Omoboriowo’s Where Are We Going, Progress or Regress, Stanley Greene’s Standing at the Graveyards of E-Waste, Benedicte Kurzen’s ‘The Steel Shell which showcases the present Lagos seaport.

Jane Hahn’s Makoko Now features the historic fishing village, Makoko demolished by the Lagos state Government on 16th June, 2012. As a result, thousands have been displaced, some resorting to living and sleeping in their canoes.

Maja Flink’s I was Welcome explores the diverse communities in the city. Flink captures a snapshot of her impressions of Lagos and its people working with medium and large format cameras and generations.

Fela and After, which celebrates the annual Felabration Festival featured seminal photographs taken by Anton Corbijn of Fela Kuti in the 80s with photographic series by Artists Chantal Heijnen and Judith Quax taken in the New Afrika Shrine.

Others included Chinenye Godsproperty John’s Kaleidoscope, Kelechi Amadi-Obi’s Family, Lolade Cameron Cole Nightscapes and Cityscapes, Halima Abubakar’s Night Traffic and Human Patterns in the City of Lagos, Bunmi Adedipe’s Underground Economy Waste to Wealth and among others.

LagosPhoto 2012 mission includes engaging the city of Lagos and the public by extending the exhibition to nine simultaneous satellite exhibition spaces throughout the city of Lagos.

•From left: Vice Dean, faculty of Arts, David Ogungbile, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, Prof. Dipo-Salami, Prof. Akin Oyebode and Prof. Remi Sonaiya at the Obafemi Awolowo University’s 50th Anniversary Workshop on Leadership in Nigeria

Creative strategies that work

T

HERE can be no successful business without marketing.

Business leaders, today need to be aware of the need for marketing and this is where BrandiQ, a 84page magazine comes into play.

BrandiQ magazine is an informative and intellectually packaged magazine that can enlighten one about the nitty-gritty of business. As can be found in the editor’s note, BrandiQ is poised to position itself as a multimedia platform with a radical forward shift in the business of marketing, and the marketing of businesses.

It has promises to be dedicated to stirring the creative energies of all stakeholders by researching, packaging and presenting a

By Ngozi Chilaka

relevant range of content that will always impact our readers beyond the lines in subsequent editions of the monthly magazines.

The magazine contains a segment of industry news both local and international, Public Relations dimensions, personality interview, industry feature, cover interview, Ghana brand scope, Nollywood digest, sport marketing and other interesting features to captivate the minds of readers. To top up the good job, there could be no better personality as the Ghanaian born marketing expert, Professor Kwaku Atuahene-Giwa to grace the cover page of the magazine, and he also

takes one through the paths of marketing on a five-page interview.

Though the colour selection and graphic design of the magazine coupled with the full back page spread MTN advertisement made BrandiQ magazine look like an MTN owned or better still, an MTN telecommunications initiated magazine. More efforts should be made to distinguish s sponsor from the owners and initiators of the magazine in subsequent editions.

But credits should be given to the editorial team of the magazine because they did a great job being its maiden edition and this has given an assurance of better and bigger editions to come. As Anthony Robbins said, the path to success is to take massive, determined action.

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17-10-2012

39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

He began as a broker and landed in the pen pushing industry. Joe Agbro Jr. is out with his book, Served, a memoir of his experiences as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. He shares his journey into his world as a writer, reporter, economist and more in this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE.

T

HAT is your book, Served, about?

Served is a synoptic journey of the year I spent participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch B in Ebonyi State in 2004. The idea of the book was borne from a conversation with my dad on the eve I was to resume camp. He asked me to write my experiences.

At that point, while I agreed, I never gave it a serious thought. But, during camp, I noticed everything happening was more than what friends and relatives who had participated in the scheme had told me. So, I knew I would write about it. The book also highlights my life in Ezzaland where I worked and lived as a teacher. So, Served is basically an NYSC memoir. In fact, you can call Served a depiction of the life of a regular city-bred corps member in a semi-rustic setting. And it is for everyone who understands what service to humanity is all about, and cares to read a story.

As an economist, how did you delve into writing?

I would say writing found me. My teachers have always told me I write well. But, I tried very much to run away from the life of a writer. At different points, I wanted to become a doctor, engineer, or lawyer. As a science student in secondary school, I was not able to pass Chemistry after two sittings, so I opted out of sciences. I later got admission to study Law at the University of Benin, but I did not write Literature-in-English at O’level, hence, I could not secure the admission. In later years, I wanted to study Economics and eventually got admission to study Economics at the Delta State University, Abraka. Even after NYSC, I was already registered to become a stockbroker in 2006, before writing found me, once again. This time, by becoming a rookie reporter at The Nation Newspaper.

How easy was it for you to adapt to the change?

I guess it was challenging as it made me write more than I would have if I wasn’t a journalist.

How did you feel, when you were assigned to Ebonyi State?

I wanted to be posted to Yobe or Borno State.

Then, there was no problem of Boko Haram and I was really fascinated by the culture there. I still am. I am yet to visit either of those states. Ebonyi was unexpected but I was relieved that I was at least posted to a state whose culture was new to me and I could learn things about. And, I really didn’t care

‘The NYSC is overdue for an overhaul. But, it must not be some hare-brained change, hurriedly conceived...With some creativity, I don’t see why corps members cannot engage in meaningful activities such as farming, too’ •Agbro Jr

A memoir like no other about remaining in Abakaliki, the state capital. Nowhere compares to Lagos where I lived city-life. But, I loved CSS Izikworo at first sight. And, gently walking down the slope towards Okoffia and Amudo, where I stayed is a refreshing memory.

What part of your childhood helped you during service?

Growing up was fun. In my family, there was an appreciable level of liberty. From an early age, I learnt to respect other peoples’ viewpoints. Also, my junior secondary school education at the Federal Government College, Warri, is a part of my life I look back at with nostalgia. At 10, I was already living with fellow students from every part of Nigeria. So, experiencing such, again, in camp was like de javu, one of the fondest memories I know I’ll hold on to till I die.

Who do you miss the most of that experience?

I miss many people - the people of Amudo, the community I lived in, in Ezzaland– my friend, Ogbonna Okwuru (OGB) who was in-

Lagos in a book

L

AGOS Book of Facts, authored by Barr. Anthony Aladekomo and published in 2012 by Almighty God Ventures, tells all about itself from the very title- Its history, geography, politics, economy, social life, tourism and who-is-who.

This is a book born out of good mind. As expressed by the author himself, the book is meant to ‘showcase the good in my country in the midst of pervading tendency’ to the contrary. Following two previous work which the author has successfully published, he turned to Lagos state, inspired by the good work being executed by the Lagos state government under the leadership of Mr Babatunde Fashola, the governor of the state.

This 400 plus pages book is a compendium of all that Lagos State represents.

Starting with the historical details, the author situates Lagos within the larger historical context of Nigeria. It narrates, very briefly but clearly, those events that shaped Lagos State; events such as the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its abolition, the coming of Islam and Christianity into Lagos, the colonial rule in Lagos, Lagos as the Capital of Nigeria at Independence, etc.

The book also conveys those facts that Lagosians must be well abreast with; its creation, appellations, political divisions, and the various administrations that have run Lagos State.

An interesting aspect of Lagos that is not left out is its social and religious life. The author exposes every dimension of these, making it possible for a would-be inquirer

BOOK REVIEW Title:

Lagos Book of Facts

Author:

Anthony S. Aladekomo LL.B.,BL

Reviewer: Dr Olusola Oyero Pages:

403

to understand what Lagos is to details. It is interesting to read of those slangs, manner of greetings, pattern of dressing, religious activities and the like that make Lagos what it is. Lagos State is an amalgam of ethnic mixture having witnessed the absorption of ethnic groups from the entire nation and has become a peculiar home of people from all other States in Nigeria. Similarly is the religious diversity of Lagos State. The Muslims, Christians, Traditionalists and other religious sects co-habit in the State without rancour unlike what is being witnessed today some parts of Nigeria. These qualities

strumental to my assimilation in Amudo.

Then, there was Chukwuma, on whose motorbike we usually caroused. I miss some of my students at CSS Izikworo like Ndubuisi Nwangaga, a brilliant boy I never knew till I started marking exam scripts. Last year, when we talked, he was enrolled at the College of Education, Ikwo. I also miss my petite landlady, Mama Chibuike, who really dotted on me like her own child.

No doubt, you enjoyed your service year.

In your words, what does the scheme represent in the polity?

At this juncture, it must mean many things to different people; but to me it is one of the greatest schemes that we, as a country, have been neglecting.

With the waves of violence, particularly in the north, leading to the attack and killing of corps members, what is your take on the debate about scrapping out the scheme?

It is very sad and unfortunate that some Nigerian youths have died while participating in this scheme. The death of any Nigerian should be a big deal. My book, Served, is dedicated to the memory of Nigerian youths who paid the supreme price in the cause of ensuring our unity as a country. But, we must not forget that NYSC members are not the only ones caught in these deadly and senseless splashes of violence, whenever and wherever they break out. I think we should concentrate on the larger picture of ensuring everywhere in the country is safe. As someone who has participated in the scheme and had discussions with many concerning the scheme, I know many Nigerians look forward to serving and have great stories of their NYSC year. of tolerance, brotherliness and acceptance of one another are some of the secrets that make for the thriving of Lagos State. Those turbulent states in Nigeria need to learn from this that development is only possible in an atmosphere of peace and tolerance.

The author also exposes those features that characterize the modern Lagos State; especially, the recent developments that are taking place in transport system, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Eko Atlantic City and the proposed Energy City. Those information about institutions, professional bodies, embassies and who is who, etc. in Lagos State serve the purpose of good reference material.

The book is wrapped up with the highlights of those problems or challenges, to use the author’s language, that are confronting Lagos. The author equally suggested solutions to those challenges.

While many of the facts contained in this book are not different from those that we can glean from encyclopaedia, atlases, historical books and books of who-is-who, the unique thing about it is its specificity to Lagos State and the updates it contains. The author went the whole hog, touching all aspects of Lagos life thus presenting to us a good corpus of Lagos. I doubt if there is any other single book that contains what this book contains.

However, the book, like everyone of its kind, is not without its imperfections. Some of the historical details about the origin of Lagos might be contested, depending on who is reading it. The book, while showcasing the good about Lagos and its administrations (exactly what it set out to do), keeps mute about the various shortcomings in its governance. Of course we can’t say that all the administrations that have governed Lagos State have been at their best.

But, I also know, as a journalist, it is bad news that sells. Hence, when corps members are killed, there is a tendency for the media to feast on such stories. And, even if momentarily, these news reports have a way of blinding people to the overall and intended purpose of the scheme. I think, except, we are ready to scrap Nigeria, anybody thinking about scrapping NYSC is not thinking properly.

In your opinion, is the scheme being run as it should?

Definitely, the NYSC is overdue for an overhaul. But, it must not be some hare-brained change hurriedly conceived.

What do you advise would make it more effective?

Ha ha… More qualified people have offered advice. But, the directive that corps members should teach is a welcome one. Nevertheless, I feel the energy of youths is not being tasked and channelled enough. With some creativity, I don’t see why corps members cannot engage in meaningful activities such as farming too.

How long did it take you to put Served together?

After compiling notes during the camp and sometimes during spare time at my place of primary assignment, I settled down to start writing Served in September 2005. And by December of the same year, I had a bounded first draft. For some time, I dropped it; but, dusted it up again about two years ago. And here it is now.

How was it received, especially by the youths and officials of the NYSC? The first commendation came from my dad, mum, and my brother Efe. At that time, he was yet to serve and it set the tone of what to expect during the service year for him. That was also the situation with other friends like Bolaji Banjoko, Ife Mshelia (nee Odusanya), Ademola Adesola, Kayode Odumboni, Tayo Obe and Vincent Nzemeke, who were fortunate to read the manuscript before going to serve on NYSC. As per reception from NYSC, I guess they are excited about it.

Who are your mentors and why?

My parents for one. Though, they’re far from perfect, I’ve learnt and still learn a lot from them. Then, there is Sam Omatseye. I like his writing style. Another person I consider a mentor is Lekan Otufodunrin, my former editor, for the opportunities he shares freely.

From these two men, I’m learning how to treat people fairly, have a disposition to share, and also a strong sense of duty.

Besides, there are also a few typographical, page planning and pagination errors, as well as some faded portions in the text.

The above nonetheless do not undermine the value that this book carries. Lagos Book of Facts is actually a window into the world of Lagos State. It is not a book that preaches, it’s a book that informs. Here is a book that every true Lagosian must take interest in.

As a matter of fact, this book is a must read for a would-be governor, commissioner, representative, or anybody seeking political office in Lagos State. Besides, anyone genuinely seeking to make contribution to the growth of Lagos State will desire to read a book of this nature. It will be a good treasure to our students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions to understand their roots, in order to know where they are heading to.

This book has provided another opportunity to us all, using the words of Abraham Lincoln, to increase our capacity and taste for reading which will give us access to whatever has already been discovered by others. I therefore recommend this book to everyone resident in Lagos State, and especially to those who see themselves as stakeholders in moving this State forward.

And as Austin Phelps puts it: ‘Wear the old coat and buy the new book’, Lagos Book of Facts.

I use this medium to congratulate the author for this great job. No doubt he has walked through closed doors going by the experience that surrounds the publishing of this book. Seeing this book through is evidently a product of passion, commitment, determination and diligence. Congratulations once again.

•Oyero is of the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ota

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

40

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

W

E buy, we use and when out-of-use or tired of use, we throw away, but it keeps coming back just like a buried seed, it rots and springs back to life. When things are thrown away they are re-christened, they become waste, trash or junk attracting such adjectives as; useless, “not needed” or “unproductive”; uninhabited, or worthless and so on. Then in the hands of others, they begin a new life, made valuable and attractive - One man’s junk, another man’s treasure one would say.

The process of making art of items that are primarily non-art materials, particularly trash or junk has attracted different names over time. Artists and art scholars, since Picasso’s Chair Caning (1912) and Duchamp’s Fountain, for want of specificity have labelled the by-product of this process (that though was initially found too radical to be accepted as art) such names as “readymade”, “funk art”, “trash art”, junk art” etc. Artists across the globe, since the early 20th century have been exploring and experimenting with discarded items (waste) as medium/media for artistic expression, through a process generally referred to as “conversion”, and the end products have not only been adjudge significantly impressive but beautiful.

Conversion refers to the use of an item or material for another purpose different to its original functional purpose(s). The processes has been explored over the years by studio artists and teachers of art, who are daily carrying out various studio-experiment oriented researches into devising new medium, new ideas, new materials, new means or new creative processes, in confronting their ever changing needs, thus breaking barriers in the transformation of ideas into visual forms.

Artists who are daily exploring waste or discarded items for creative expressions can be classified into two. The first are those who use waste as alternatives to the actual materials that are highly expensive. This is called “improvisation” and this is usually done in a bid to finding suitable alternatives for the actual materials that have become scarce, inaccessible, and the available few, unaffordable. This trend which cannot be disassociated from the depressed state of the economy at a point in time, forced artists and art teachers to look inwardly, to ‘local’ materials for substitutes.

The second are artists who deliberately and consciously explore waste as medium of creative expression. To the latter, both the process and the art are of significant connotations and thus require a proper discernment of the artist’s intent in order to really capture the very essence of their works. Majority of the artists in this latter category are environmental activist, and conservationists who are genuinely concern with issues affecting our environment be it social, political, cultural, economic, or physical. Beyond their interest in recreating waste and aesthetics, their works are more of social commentaries. Muraina Akeem falls into this latter category. His use of discarded materials, inspired by the gross decadence and degradation of our environment, is powered by aesthetic and artistic vision and not out of share necessity.

Here in this exhibition, The Eden before Us, Muraina, a member of Nigerian Conservation Foundation for over a decade who has been taking the discarded metals, repurposing it, and elevating it to “beautiful art works” for over the last two decades, calls our attention once again to the vanishing beauty of our land, of its increasing ugliness, the shrinking open space, and of an overall environment that is diminishing daily by unhealthy disposal of waste, creating more problems than could ever be envisaged.

Muraina’s works which takes us back in time to the natural and peaceful Adams’ Eden and the beginning of creation, in a peculiar way, is the conservationists’ own attempt at fulfilling man’s expected role as the ‘keeper of the garden’ and not its destroyer.

His waste exploration and metal-morphosis Muraina’s smiteries can generally be classified into three. The first are the assemblages which are made of scavenged motor

• Onigeleara

The beauty in the waste

By Adémúlèyá Babásèhìndé

VISUAL ART spare parts and discarded metal sheets that are creatively repurposed mostly into free standing figures. Here in The Eden before Us they are mainly of animal figures. This includes Ara nfe isimi, Wobia, Agbero, and Onigele-Ara among others. The second are the flat surface negative space figural patterns. In this, Muraina used his self created images, some abstracted and some idealised, as motifs, to create puzzled patterns. Like the typical puzzle game, the works in this category require some higher level of intelligence to comprehend. Erin folami, Adun barin, Oreke lewa, Afuni Maseregun, Afinju and Piri lo olongo ji and all in the group. The third category is the reliefs which in most cases are combinations of recreated flat sheets and discarded spare parts. Examples of this include Amolewa, Conference, and Iyawo oshingin. They all attest to Muraina’s capacity for metaphor and ability to see beyond the ordinary.

His concern - his messages Muraina’s concern in this exhibition is to call our attention to the purpose of creation as revealed by the Holy books and to remind us of our expected roles in “tending the garden”. It is

Three battle for $100,000 literature prize

S

HE was elated when she learnt she made the initial shortlist.

“I was very excited to hear the news. It is an honour indeed,” Dr Ngozi Achebe, author of Onaedo: The Blacksmith’s Daughter, said.

But little did she know, then, that she would be one of the three finalists gunning for the $100,000 literature prize. The prize rotates yearly among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

This year’s edition is for prose fiction.

Alongside award-winning Chika Unigwe’s On Black Sisters’ Street and Only a Canvas by Olusola Olugbesan, Onaedo: The Blacksmith’s Daughter has made the final shortlist for this year’s edition of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) literary prize.

The three books crossed the hurdle of the initial shortlist released last month by the prize advisory board. It featured the famed author of Eze Goes To School, Onuora Nzekwu’s Troubled Dust; controversial author, Jude Dibia’s Blackbird; cybercrime novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwuban; The Secret lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by women rights advocate, Lola Shoneyin and Ifeanyi Ajaegbo’s Sarah House; Sterile Sky by Emmanuel E. Sule and Vincent Egbuson’s Zhero.

The initial shortlist, the panel of judges

By Evelyn Osagie

LITERATURE said, was drawn from 214 entries from Nigerians at home and abroad, adding that the number was the largest they have ever received since the prize was inaugurated in 2004. The process, according to them, took months of intensive scrutiny.

perhaps good for man to know that he (man) though pride himself to be the VIP, yet to the Creator, the environment, the first Eden and today’s Eden (our natural environment) is much more important than the occupant (man) himself. The question today and as here raised by Muraina is How well are we (men) taking care of our environment “our Eden” – The Eden before us?

Muraina’s ‘metal-morphosis’ are to engage us in conversations and inspire change in our attitudes towards the environment, ‘our Eden’. The first step to doing this is evident in his choice of his mother tongue, Yoruba, for titles of his works which can be viewed in two ways; first is to avoid his real message of being misunderstood as no other language will drum home better his message than the one he could twist and turn at will. The second is his interest in the campaign for the preservation of our local languages. That our local languages are fast disappearing is nothing but a fact. Language is the greatest means of connectivity between kith and kin. It can only be compared to umbilical cord that connects the mother (the community) to her child as well as the siblings to one another. To Muraina, this is the real Okun Ebi that should not be allowed to “cut” nor run into extinction.

The focus on animals in Eden before us, though a metaphor, is to enable us define the environment beyond the physical. The animal figures cover a wide range of themes from physical degradation to social and even spiritual decadence. To Muraina, man’s failure to properly manage his physical environment is as a result of the deficiencies he surfers in his spiritual and psychological “Eden” a reflection of the failure of man’s immediate environment – his HOME. How many parents of today could really be called Abiyamo - Aboja gboro? How well do parents tend their homes to avoid raising Wobia who are never contented with whatever they have and no matter how rich they are, when placed in position of trust they still embezzle public funds. They could but best be described as psychologically imbalance and sick.

Other works on display, which include Akinkanju, Olofofo yera , Adigboluja, Ifura, Eni ba laya, Okun Ebi, run varied commentaries on social, political, cultural, economic, and physical issues thus, creating dialogue about environmental realities. In repurposing waste and as expressed above by Halliday (2012), a material or use of material simply does not hold one value, connotation or significance; instead, any material holds a different value and characteristic depending on the context in which it is used”. This is the same with all the exhibits here on display. In Agbero, for instance, while Muraina draws our attention to the menace of the typical Lagos “agbero” - the miscreant, he also addresses the issues of noise pollution and environmental trauma.

In The Eden before Us, Muraina’s effort at converting waste is a strong medium of calling the public’s attention not just to the fact that the so called waste is “no waste” but ever useful, it is also to awake our consciousness to the fact that our natural environment could be saved from degradation and unanticipated calamities if only we could care more for the waste in its varied shades and shapes. This is a successful attempt at presenting art to the public as end product of research and a function of exploration. All the works here on display are highly remarkable and one could perhaps say beautiful. The question then is what could be so pleasing in the waste for it to attract being said to be of beauty? The answer to this is found in The Eden before Us. While the likes of the Agbero, Wobia and Olofofo of this world are desecrating and polluting the environment, we have in Muraina another artist who is helping to make the world cleaner and more beautiful through sculpture. “One man’s garbage another man’s art, junk can be a beautiful thing, if only you have the eyes to see it.

•Ademuleya is of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Obáfémi Awólówò University, Ile-Ife,

But, will any of the two women (Ngozi and Chika) clinch the prize ahead of their counterpart, Olugbesan, who is the only man standing? The three finalists will have to wait till November 1, when the winner of the competition will be announced at a world press conference at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Since the organisers opened the prize to Nigerian authors abroad penultimate year, the shortlist has also featured authors within and outside the country like Dr Achebe. And if you are wondering if she is in any way related to the famed Prof. Chinua Achebe, you may not be wrong. She is a practising physician living in the United States with her children, Jennifer and Nnamdi.

Her book, Onaedo -The Blacksmith’s Daughter, the author said, came from a research on about the Biafran War published in 2011. The book, which is her first, is the story of Onaedo, a young teenager of Igbo extraction, in the time before the English colonialists, her daily struggles of being a woman in a patriarchal society and how she dealt with life, love and an unloving husband.

“I hoped to raise awareness of history as entertainment, with this tale of adventure, love, politics, loss and hope. I hope I achieved all I set out to do. I aimed to highlight the coming of the Portuguese during their age of discovery in Renaissance Europe and their influence along the West African coast which had an earlier and probably as profound an impact as the British who followed them centuries later. Lagos was named from a town with an identical name in Portugal. It was in that Portuguese town that a market for African slaves was created and the first sale was described in vivid detail by an observer in

1444,” she said.

Like Dr Achebe, Unigwe, author of On Black Sister’s Street, is based abroad. The Enuguborn graduate of English Language and Literature lives in Belgium with her family.

She has won several awards including the BBC Short story competition, a Commonwealth Short story competition award and the third prize in the Equiano Fiction contest.

Her novel major preoccupations are migration, neo-slavery (human trafficking and prostitution across border). On Black Sister’s Street tells a gripping story of the lives of four female protagonists (Sisi, Ama, Joyce and Efe), migrants working the red light district of Antwerp in Belgium brought together by bad luck and big dreams into a sisterhood that will change their lives.

Also like Dr Achebe, Olugbesan’s Only a Canvas is his first. It is a tale of exhilarating characters from various backgrounds with dreams intricately woven together to create a tapestry of life. He is an architect.

The organisers have also announced that from 2013 e-Book entries for the literature prize would be accepted. In addition, the advisory board, led by Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo, said “every year, three scholars with critical works published in reputable foreign journals would be given honorary mention, commendation letters and a cash prize of $5,000.” The organisers also said they hope the incentives ould encourage scholars across the world to bring Nigerian literature to international attention.

The five-member committee of judges is headed by Francis Abiola Irele, Provost of the College of Humanities, Kwara State University and Fellow of the Dubois Institute and Harvard University.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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NEWS

Expert advises Nigerians to live healthy lifestyle N IGERIANS have been urged to imbibe a positive lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart and heart-related diseases.

According to a Consultant Endocrinologist/ Diabetologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Anthonia Ogbera, everybody must take responsibility for his or her heart’s health and wellbeing.

Dr Ogbera spoke during a walk organised by GlaxoSmithKline in Lagos with the theme, Roadmap to

By Wale Adepoju

achieving optimal cardiovascular health. The theme for the World Heart Day was One world, one home, one heart.

Cardiovascular diseases, she noted, are the world’s worst killers, claiming 17.3 million lives yearly. “Of this figure, almost half are women,” she added.

Mrs Ogbera listed age, gender, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and glucose levels, smoking, obesity, stress, poor diet/hygiene and physical inactivity as some factors that in-

crease the risk of heart disease.

According to her, there has been a rise in the number of people experiencing non communicable diseases across the world, with heart diseases topping the list.

“Cardiovascular or heart disease is a lifestyle related disease. It is the leading cause of death in men and women and a major cause of death across the world,” she said.

Dr Ogbera described heart disease as any disorder of the cardiovascular system. “It affects the heart and blood vessels and the heart’s ability to

function normally.

“Heart diseases are well established as a leading contributor to ill health and death in countries in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) such as Nigeria. Heart disease is a major cause for heart attack (myocardial infarction), heart failure, stroke, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and ischemia (reduced blood flow).

Heart attacks are not discriminatory and can affect the rich and the poor alike.”

In her view, since heart diseases are lifestyle related, they could be effectively managed

with a healthy life-style.

“We have fantastic but costly drugs and medical interventions to treat these diseases.

But, we seem to have lost sight of every day fundamentals of healthy living, including nutrition, physical activity and stress management, which could prevent these diseases from occurring. The good news is that these preventive measures are cheap, readily accessible and affordable.”

She advised people with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes to lower the risk of heart diseases by

making changes. This includes checking their cholesterol, monitoring their blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

“On this all-important day of celebrating the World Heart Day, we call on individuals to take action for their own heart health and wellbeing, including giving up smoking and tobacco use, eating healthily and exercising regularly. We call on individuals to take responsibility to engage with appropriate healthcare professionals to discuss their heart health,” she added.

Senator urges Nigerians to take health seriously

T

•From left: Dean, Clinical Services, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Dr Fidelis Njoknma; Dr Mobolaji Ajanifuja; Chairman, Faculty of Paediatrics, National Post-Graduate Medical College, Dr Kike Osinusi; former Provost, Niger Delta College of Health Science, Prof Ralph Oruamabo, and President, Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr Dorothy Esangbedo, at the event

Paediatricians call for adequate funding of health care

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ONS at the Faculty of Paediatrics, PostGraduate Medical College of Nigeria, have charged government at all tiers to provide funding for functional and adequate health service delivery in child care, pre and antenatal services, backed with an aggressive media campaign and enlightenment on the need for curative and preventive medicine and treatment.

They also reiterated the need for Nigerians, especially grown ups and expectant mothers, to reduce alcoholic intake to avoid brain damage.

They spoke at the Faculty Day Lecture of the college, held at the Lagos State Uni-

versity Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

The immediate past Provost, Niger Delta University College of Health Sciences, Prof Ralph Oruamabo, warned against alcoholic intake, especially among expectant mothers and adults.

He condemned the taking of concoctions and abuse of medicinal dosage which, sometimes damages the brain or inadvertently affects the normal formation of the foetus.

The lecture was tagged Best brains are preserved in alcoholic, not necessarily so for foetal brain.

The Faculty Chairman, Dr Kike Osinusi, warned Nigerians that alcohol intake could do a great harm or

damage, especially, to those in the rural areas.

She said the seminar was a prelude to the graduation or convocation of the college.

Chairman, Organising Committee of the lecture, Dr Mohammed Adebayo Salisu, charged governments on adequate funding for effective media campaign and enlightenment on the prevention of alcoholic intake, especially, by pregnant women as it could lead to severe, permanent brain damage.

He advised on regular medical check ups to prevent and arrest such diseases.

Salisu further warned against alcohol intake which may affect the social behaviour of victims.

HE lawmaker representing the Lagos East senatorial district, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, has urged Nigerians to prioritise their health.

Besides, he praised members of the Eko Club International for coming back home to offer free medicare for Lagosians.

He advised Nigerians not to joke with their health, saying the circumstance surrounding the demise of Sulaimon Orilowo, whose death brought about the scheme, should serve as a lesson to people who do not take their health seriously.

Ashafa spoke in Ikorodu at the free health scheme organised by Eko Club International in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Health. The threeday healthcare programme was held at five locations within Lagos State.

He said: “Today, we received 80 medical experts all the way from the United States to offer selfless community services.

This is indeed a giant stride for the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with government to make Lagos a healthy state.

“This exercise will be focused on the most common health issues affecting our people such as diabetes, hypertension,

By Wale Ajetunmobi asthma and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, with a view to diagnosing these diseases, prescribing appropriate medication, giving some of these drugs on the spot and referring the patient for subsequent treatment where acute.”

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris lauded the Eko Club members for volunteering to organise the free health mission. He said the collaboration of Lagos government with Eko Club International over the years has yielded result, which was why the government always supported the initiative yearly.

“This is an expensive gesture and this support we are getting from members of Eko Club International in terms of contribution for the benefit of the people of Lagos cannot be forgotten,” the Commissioner noted. He said the government would continue to support private organisations to deliver healthcare to the people of Lagos.

While acknowledging the efforts of Ashafa and Governor Babatunde Fashola towards the success of the scheme, the president of the

club, Alhaji Zainudeen Popoola Aromire, a US-based medical doctor, said Lagos must be free of diseases. He urged Nigerians to always go for medical checkup to prevent untimely death.

Ashafa used the opportunity to give account of his achievement in provision of primary healthcare to the people of his constituency.

He said over 1,991 people benefited from Free Monthly Health Care Programme which involved free screening for diabetics and hypertension, free Eye Screening and provision of eye glasses, free drugs for various illness, provision of corrective surgery for some eye cases, provision of other surgeries that were referred to the hospital for our free screening exercise.

He mentioned other projects coming to Lagos East to include construction of Primary Health Care Centre at Oke-Odo Elemoro, Ibeju-Lekki, construction of Accident and Emergency Centre at Agbowa, construction of four Ambulance Points at Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju- Lekki. Others are procurement of ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Unit for the district.

‘Down Syndrome children need care’

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ANAGING Director, Pro-Optics Limited, Dr Ogechi Nwokedi, has advocated better care for children with Down syndrome.

According to her, they should be supported because they are children with special needs.

Dr Nwokedi spoke at a seminar organised by the Down Syndrome Foundation (DSF) in Lagos.

She said children with the condition have low muscle tone, small stature and short neck.

They also have flat nasal bridge, single deep creases across the centre of the palm, protruding tongue and large space between the toes, among others, and they are

Gbemisola Jimoh and Oluwaseun Ajayi

usually affected by eye diseases.

Describing the condition, she said, down syndrome delays a child’s development, mentally and physically.

They are usually with upward slant, oblique fissures, epicanthic skill folds on the inner corner and white spots on the iris, among others has affected many children in the country.

Ogechi recommended the use of correction glasses, vision training and surgery as the best way of correcting eye defects.

An officer of the Department of Occupational Therapy, Lagos State University

Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Oluwaseun Oni said children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or profound cognitive impairment (inability to distinguish between colours).

Oni said occupational therapy is useful in the development of children with special needs.

“It helps the children do what they cannot do themselves and in developing their skills to overcome sensory and motor skills problems,” he added.

Head Patrick Speech and Languages Centre, Aanu Sebanlo said parents, teachers and care agents can work together with therapists to help them manage their speech development.

• Sen Ashafa (in blue kaftan) inspecting the drugs being given to the people during the event

UNICEF to end child marriage

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HE United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and partners are set to end child marriage – a fundamental human rights violation that impacts all aspects of a girl’s life.

According to the Gender

and Rights Section of UNICEF, Anju Malhotra, the United Nations and partners are to unveil the progress made and highlight the ongoing challenges.

This attempt, Malhotra said is themed My life, my right, end child marriage.

At the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, Archbishop Desmond Tutu will join UNICEF, UNFPA and UN women to discuss ways governments, civil society, UN agencies and the private sector can come together to accelerate a decline in the practice of

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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Oyo women address plight at seminar T

Health boost in Ekiti

HE Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, has given women in the state the opportunity to speak on their challenges.

The legislator organised an interactive forum for the women in all the 20 wards of both Oyo-East and Oyo-West local government areas.

At the occasion held at the Durbar Stadium in Oyo town, women spoke one after the other on how they have been marginalised, neglected and persecuted in decision-making as well as in development.

While eulogising Sunmonu for her concerted efforts in empowering and improving the status of women, they lamented some retrogressive forces said to be working against them.

They told the Speaker: “We know your untiring commitment towards improving socio-economic status of women, but all these efforts are being thwarted and hijacked by those opposed to our well-being.

“We need your support and assistance in order to cope with the biting economic situation in the country.

•Continued from Page 17 foundation was committed to developing communities by facilitating leadership programmes for youths and entrepreneurs, noting that CASA supports these initiatives by providing equipment that promotes the well-being of women and children in the health and education sectors.

She said: “Our activities in Africa are executed through like-minded partners in our regions of operation.

“Through our various programmes and partnerships, communities are supported, entrepreneurs are identified and encouraged to pursue their dreams by providing them with a wide range of support services including equipment, seminars, workshops, clothing, food, learning resources like books and computers.

“CASA Foundation also builds social wealth and facilitates international development through its annual Friends of Africa Roundtable in Canada where leaders in the public and private sectors across countries share their perspectives on key economic and infrastructure development initiatives.”

“Today marks the beginning of a great partnership with EDF as we proceed with our goal to support healthcare in Africa beginning with Nigeria’s Ekiti and Osun teaching hospitals.

“As you know, the resources required for growth and development in our communities are immense, but as we join hands to work together, some of these gaps can be bridged. EDF is an organisation that is spearheading the empowerment of women and entrepreneurs.

In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Olusola

•Some of the donated equipment Fasubaa, expressed his appreciation for the gesture of both the EDF and CASA foundations. He noted that it would be better for the hospital if more public-spirited individuals could offer supports and assistance to the hospital.

Fasubaa also commended the continuous support of the state government for the hospital which has helped the institution to improve in its role as a tertiary healthcare provider.

He urged the benefitting departments to make best use of the equipment, safeguard and secure them to encourage the donors do more in future.

In his brief remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Patrick Adegun recalled when lack of infrastructure; including equipment drew caused patients to lament as they go to distant places to access services in such areas where the hospital lacked.

Adegun said: “You would recall that early this year, a friend of the hospital donated an equipment worth over N60m. We have also witnessed the donation of other types of needed equipment by various organisations and individuals such as Acare, the MTN Foundation and foreign-based friends of Governor Fayemi.

We need support and assistance in order to cope with the biting economic situation in the country. We no longer want to be sidelined, discriminated or excluded in the scheme of things.

It is our inalienable rights, and must be given to us

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

We no longer want to be sidelined, discriminated or excluded in the scheme of things. It is our inalienable rights and must be given to us.”

Responding, Hon. Sunmonu noted that women have continued to display great dynamism throughout the difficult period in the state. She said that they have displayed ingenuity and creativity in finding answers to any situation, individually at the household level, and collectively at the social level, thereby creating a conducive atmosphere for democracy and democratic governance to thrive.

“They constitute a dynamic breeding ground within the framework of any perspective for change. The issue of women empowerment has become a matter of concern in the world, and particularly for the present administration in Oyo State.

Considering their indispensable role in the society as mothers, custodians, and shapers of the society, the Ajimobi–led administration is of the conviction that empowering women is empowering the nation.”

The Speaker assured the women that any activity that can improve their economic power would be encouraged, and that government would also encourage them to develop confidence in themselves, through exhibiting their potentials.

Mrs. Sunmonu spoke further: “The woman exists for herself as well as for others. The seriously responsible duties she is called upon to perform in life require a cultivated head, as well as a sympathizing heart. Consequently, government would continue to provide an enabling environment for women, as well as intensify awareness campaigns among the rural dwellers for meaningful participation in the development process. This will go a long way in ensuring a bright and stable future.”

The Speaker later donated 40 bags of rice to the women.

Nasarawa partners UNICEF to fight malnutrition •Continued from Page 17

should not be left with this enormous responsibility. Similarly, Government alone cannot shoulder the burden. It is, therefore, necessary that all hands are on deck to achieve the desired goals, “he said.

In a communique at the end of the meeting, the 10 participating states resolved to develop a framework in line with the national nutrition policy as well as commit to transforming adhoc state and nutrition committees that will have adequate budgetary provision to support the implementation of nutrition services especially in addressing child malnutrition.

It was also agreed that the state community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) be committed to the scaling up, by at least 10 per cent, the current implementation level by the end of 2013.

CMAM is also expected to commence the implementation of the terms of its collaboration with UNICEF by piloting in at least one local government area

•Governor Umaru Almakura (second right), Nasarawa SSG, Hamza Elayo (second left), UNICEF Country Representive, Ibrahima Fall (left), and Deputy Governor, Damishe Luka (right), at the event

by the end of the first quarter of 2013 as well as strengthening the coordination of partnership on nutrition in each of the 10 states.

States are equally expected to intensify capacity development of health workers and community volunteers for adequate service and provision to support CMAM implementation and to support structures to accelerate creation of awareness, community sensitisation and women

empowerment to support interventions in respect of the nutrition crises.

In summary, a statement from the UNICEF D Field office media advisory stated that the aim of the meeting was to discuss the Sahelian Malnutrition Crisis and the need for action by all stakeholders; highlight the need for concerted and integrated approaches in addressing developmental problems in the region.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

45

Fashola’s wife, monarch praise council

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IFE of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola has praised the Chairman of Itire/Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon. Hakeem Bamgbola on his efforts in education.

Mrs Fashola, alongside Oba of Itire, Oba Lateef Dauda, inaugurated new classrooms constructed by the council boss at Akanji Primary school, Ikate and Odo-Olowu Primary School, Ijeshatedo.

The event featured entertainment provided by pupils from the schools.

After commissioning, the wife of governor signed the school’s register.

An elated Mrs Fashola urged the council boss not to rest on his oars to ensure the community benefitted more from educationoriented programmes.

“When our young ones are better educated, street urchins would be reduced in the society, then there energy will be channelled towards positive ways,” she said.

She hailed Bamgbola for keying into the developmental programmes of the state government.

Oba Dauda described Bamgbola as a blessing to the entire council.

His administration, the monarch said, has introduced and implemented various people-oriented projects.

He promised to ensure the community make judicious use of the infrastructure put in place by the council boss.

He urged parents and guardians

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HE Ogun State government has announced the award of contracts for the construction of 12 roads, including the popular IloAwela Road in Ota. Also awarded is the Sango-IjokoOke Aro–Ojodu-Abiodun Road which would link motorists directly from Sango Ota in the state with Ojodu Berger in Lagos State.

Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite, said that the project was intended to improve the existing infrastructure and enhance the urban

•Mrs Fashola cuts the tape to inaugurate the classrooms. With her (from left) are Hon Bamgbola, his wife Ashabi; Oba Dauda and Headteacher of Akanji Primary school, Mrs Amara Okoli not mortgage our tomorrow lead- the two schools, Bamgbola said the edge being a compulsory subject by

By Tajudeen Adebanjo ers’ future by asking them to sell on school did not accommodate the pri- 2013. the streets during school hours,” Oba mary five and six pupils because of He promised to donate another set inadequate number of classrooms of school materials comprising to ensure their wards do not go Dauda said.

Bamgbola thanked the governor’s and dilapidated building. school bags, mathematical sets, note hawking while their mates are in wife, the monarch and community He stated that the council has em- books and exercise books soonest. school. barked on computer training for According to the council boss, the “If truly, you want a better future leaders for their presence.

The council boss said education top teachers in all public primary school use of chalk has been completely for these children, then send them to school. You do not excuse now priority in the policy of his adminis- and some of the private schools. abolished in the schools by replacThis, he said, is in line with the ac- ing the black board with marker with these new structures put in tration.

Giving the reason for singling out complishment of computer knowl- boards. place by the council chairman. Let’s

Ogun awards contract for 12 roads development policy of Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration.

The commissioner, who was featuring on a television programme, disclosed that N100b would be spent on the roads, even as he added that they would be completed within 18 and 24 months.

Adegbite noted that the roads to be reconstructed are Sagamu-Benin Express, Junction-Oba Erinwole Junction

Road, Ejirin Road, and Oluwalogbon Junction both in Ijebu-Ode; IlishanAgo Iwoye Road and Ikangba-Ilese Road all located in Ogun East Senatorial District.

The government, the commissioner added, has also awarded contract for the construction of Ilara-Ijohun Road, Lafenwa-Ayetoro Road, Ilo-Awela Road in Ota and the 32 kilometer Sango-Ijoko,Oke Aro-Ojodu Abiodun

Road in Ogun West Senatorial District.

According to Adegbite, the OjereAdatan Roundabout, OGTV-Brewery Junction and Moshood Abiola Way are some of the roads to be reconstructed in Ogun Central Senatorial District, while Muda Lawal-Moshood Abiola Way Link Road in Abeokuta was being constructed to ease traffic jam often experienced by motorists on the Asero-Obantoko Road.

While reiterating government’s resolve towards providing high quality infrastructure, the commissioner added that a flyover bridge would be built at Sapon Roundabout in Abeokuta, Ejirin Junction in Ijebu-

Ode, Sagamu-Benin express junction at Sagamu to ensure free flow of traffic.

Adegbite said government would also construct the Arepo Underpass, Arepo-Journalists’ Estate and the major road that links Magboro Estate located along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The commissioner, who assured that there would be no problem concerning payment of compensation for those whose houses would be affected by the construction, said that government used the Ibara-Ita Eko-Totoro Road as a model while lessons learnt had prepared government for the next phase of roads to be constructed across the state.

A flyover bridge would be built at Sapon Roundabout in Abeokuta, Ejirin Junction in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu-Benin express junction at Sagamu to ensure free flow of traffic

From left: John Orji presenting his certificate of award of leadership by New Era Youth Camp (NEYOCA) to Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan at the council secretariat

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

46

Ndigbo celebrate new yam in Lagos

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DIGBO in Lagos State have celebrated their annual New Yam Festival at Obi Ndigbo.

In his address, the Eze Igbo in the state, Eze Nwabueze Ohazulike, said that the new yam festival has remained one of the strongest vehicles for the preservation of Igbo cultural identity in the country and in the diaspora.

“The truth is that our language is going extinct. our culture is dying. We have, in response, stepped up the tempo of our celebrations as our own contribution to Igbo corporate effort for cultural irridentism.

“For us, the crop, yam, has become a metaphor for this effort.

It is, therefore, a necessary imperative for our children, scholars and teachers not to allow our cultural heritage to die,” he said.

Speaking further, Eze Ohazulike expressed the gratitude of Ndigbo to the Lagos State government and leaders of the various Igbo socio-cultural organisations in the state.

His words: “We... commend His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, exceutive governor of Lagos State, who has made all our progress possible through the provision of a visionary and

By Paul Oluwakoya

dynamic administration.”

However, he appealed to the federal government to do more to empower rural farmers to combat famine in the country.

“Next week Thursday is World Food Day; the question is, is government really doing enough to put food on the table of every Nigerian? I think there is still much to be done to empower substantive and commercial farming.

“In the western world, the richest people there are the rural farmers but here in Nigeria we worship white elephant billionaires. Governments have to assist farmers and encourage young graduates to cultivate.

Look at, the price of a tuber of yam is not affordable for an average Nigerian. A lot of people don’t believe that farming is what we need to fight poverty.

Government needs to subsidise agriculture and also make it enterprising for intending farmers,” he said The festival, which was attended by prominent Igbo sons and daughters in Lagos and diaspora, was described as a unity festival that brings people from other ethnic groups to

We commend His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, exceutive governor of Lagos State, who has made all our progress possible through the provision of a visionary and dynamic administration

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HERE are distinct ways in which can shape the society and make it better for everyone.

They can use their unique positions to inculcate positive values in their children, and by so doing, help to shape a new, peaceful society in which people will love and respect one another.

This advice was given by the Plateau State Commissioner of

•Eze Igbo of Lagos State, Eze Nwabueze (right) and Acting President, Ohanaeze, Lagos State, Thompson Ohia.

With them are chieftains of Ndigbo in Lagos

celebrate with their Igbo friends.

According to Acting President Ohanaeze Lagos State, Thompson Ohia yam crop, in Igbo cosmology, is regarded as the king of crops. “It symbolises also the virile qualities of a successful man, prowess, progress and prosperity,” he said.

He also used the medium to clear the air on the reason why the executive committee suspended Chief Oliver Akubueze as the president of

association.

His Words:”The executive suspended Akubueze from office because of gross misconduct and abuse of office. A deadline date to retract a publication credited to him which is capable of causing the disintegration of Ndigbo Lagos State before the suspension.

Akubueze who was apparently absent at the yam festival declined the knowledge that he has been suspended from office. He spoke with our

correspondent on the phone, noting “that a vote of confidence has just been passed on him by the Igbo speaking community in Lagos.”

According to Ohia the executive committee which included himself, the Deputy President Collins Ozor, its Legal Adviser Fabian Onwughalu, the Publicity secretary Chief Louis Okafor, took the decision for the integrity of Ndigbos in Lagos.

Women urged to be role models Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olivia Dazyam while speaking at a women’s forum organised by her Ministry for women of the Plateau North senatorial zone.

The forum entitled “Peace Summit for women on the Pla-

teau” was organised as part of continued efforts to bring lasting peace to the troubled zone.

Speaking further at the oneday summit, Mrs Dazyam, a lawyer, identified early marriage, teenage pregnancy, prostitution, school dropout and other social

vices as being responsible for the increasing moral degradation in the society thereby increasing violence in the country and Plateau State in particular.

She noted the neglect of parental care among women in the state create room for these ills urging the women to be more responsive to their obligations as mothers in the society.

According to the commissioner, most parents seems to have failed to live up to their parental responsibilities of ensuring proper child up-bringing, which she stressed was needed to caution children and youths against ill-behaviors.

Dazyam lamented the rate of HIV/AIDS in the State stressing Plateau has the 6th position in the national rating of the diseases with women being the most affected.

She urged women to engage in meaningful economic ventures to

enable them to be self reliance and take proper care of their families instead of resorting to negative behaviours.

In a lecture, the guest lecturer at the event, and Human Right Activist Mr. Gad Shamaki in a paper presentation entitled “the role of Women in peace building” noted that women are most vulnerable in times of crises, hence the need for women to preach peace through their day to day activities both at home and at their places of work.

He pointed out that most women have suffered violence in the hands of their biological children as a result of lack of home training to the children and such children do not hesitate to extend violence to outsiders.

Participants at the summit pledged to remedy the situation and contribute their quota and ensure that lasting peace is achieved in the zone and the State at large.

Women can use their unique positions to inculcate positive values in their children, and by so doing, help to shape a new, peaceful society in which people will love and respect one another •Last batch of Muslim pilgrims from Gombe State boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia at Gombe Airport PHOTO: NAN

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

•Some of the vehicles donated

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HE people of Idemili North and South Federal Coonstituency in Anambra State have received a boost as their representative in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chiwendu Odedo, gave them vehicles, motorcycles and other items.

With songs of praise and thanksgiving, the beneficiaries of the scheme in their hundreds prayed for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lawmaker who they described as a God sent to liberate them from poverty.

They acknowledged that Odedo has since 2007 that he joined the lower chamber of the National Assembly, embarked on poverty alleviation schemes, although none has been as massive as the current one as no fewer than 100 vehicles including L300 buses and Toyota Camry, as well as Daylong motorcycles, sewing and grinding machines among other gift items were given to the people for their financial independence.

Odedo who said he dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) because of the poor leadership style, commended his people for entrusting confidence in him.

He said: “I was motivated to embark on this poverty alleviation programme because of the role my people played during my election

Lawmaker helps constituency

By Precious Igbonwelundu

and re-election to the National Assembly. I promised to adequately represent your interest if elected into the Assembly and I will not relent in doing so.

“I believe in human empowerment because it is more important than any other thing. If we as leaders give the people reasons to believe in this country by ensuring their financial independence, then a bulk of their security challenges we witness will drastically reduce.

“Nigeria is decaying, the roads are bad, and the hospitals are not working fine. The most terrible thing to lose is the mind. So I believe that people should be empowered alongside with the development of the infrastructure, in terms of education, in terms of training them, helping them with jobs, assisting them with cash to expand their businesses and other means that would alleviate poverty in their lives.

“I was assisting my people even before I joined politics and I always feel relief each time I notice that

my small contribution has added life to the family that got it because by empowering that person, if he or she is diligent, then the multiplier effect will rob off on his or her relations.

“So the benefit of human empowerment is what I have seen even before I joined politics and decided to stick with it. That is why I do empowerment programmes on yearly basis. I am happy that most of the people who have benefitted from the programme are feeding their families and even their extended families.”

Odedo who attributed the lack of efficient power supply as the major cause of unemployment in the country said many people would have established small enterprises but for the lack of electricity.

“That is why when I empower hair dressers, tailors, and even woman who grind food stuffs in the market, I usually include small generators for them. I support the view of most Nigerians that stable electricity was necessary for entrepreneurship to strive in the country.”

While acknowledging that government alone cannot take Nigeria

to the Promised Land, Odedo said the private sector has an enormous role to play to ensure that more Nigerians are engaged.

“I think the government should concentrate effort in providing enabling environment for business to progress by so doing, the private sector will expand and more job opportunities will be created,” the Lawmaker said.

A beneficiary, Mr. Okechukwu Nwoye, who got an L300 bus told The Nation that Odedo has been assisted the people since his return from the United States adding that the people insisted he must represent them when he indicated interest in politics.

“He has been helping us, he gave our children scholarship, empowers the widows and the less privileged persons. Then, since 2008, Odedo every Christmas and New Year celebration distributes over 200 bags of rice, cartons of tomatoes and cash gifts.

“Odedo promised to attract projects in all the 17 communities in Idemili North and South Federal Constituency before his election and today it has become a reality.

He constructed classrooms with

•Hon. Odedo modern toilet at Akwa Ukwu and Awka Etiti. He also gave us 500KVA transformer and a skill acquisition centre at Nnobi, among other things.

“What we are enjoying today is the reward of a good work. We stood for Odedo during his elections. We voted for him and ensured that our votes were not rigged because we knew he has our interest at heart.

Odedo will continue to represent us.”

Lagos community gets market stalls

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HE Odoragunshin community of Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Epe, a Lagos suburb, celebrated in grand style on September 7, when BHL Investment and Technology Ltd handed over 12 market lock-up stalls to the community at an event attended by Vice Chairman, Eredo LCDA, Chief (Mrs) Olayinka Olusanya, Board member and founder of Pro Natura-International (PNI) a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr. Phill Hall (OBE), representative of BHL Investment and Technology Ltd, Mr. Guus Hak, The Aladegunsebi of Odoragunshin, Oba Olawale Olagoke Ogunsanya and members of the Odoragunshin community.

Speaking at the event, PNI’s Acting Executive Director, Mrs. Nike Olaoye, noted that the handing over of the market lock-up stalls in Odoragunshin is one of many community development projects being implemented by PNI in six communities in the Eredo LCDA. “These projects were selected as a result of the needs assessment carried out in the area. It was based on the felt needs of the people after holding a series of forums and discussions with various groups.PNI is implementing these projects through the Eredo Community Development Foundation (ErCDF). The ErCDF is a Commu-

By Seyi Odewale

nity Based Foundation that was setup by PNI in 2010 with the full participation and cooperation from the six communities namely: Odoragunshin; Ibonwon; Ilara; Ijih; Igbonla and Odoshiwola. This was done with the financial and moral support of BHL Investment and Technology Ltd as part of the company’s CSR strategy as it prepares to kick off a bus assembly plant in the Eredo area in 2013,” Mrs. Olaoye said.

In his remark, Mr. Phill Hall (OBE) commended the Odoragunshin community in accepting to partner with PNI through the ErCDF. He expressed his organisation’s gratitude to Oba Ogunsanya for his cooperation and support for the project which resulted in the lock-up market stalls. He thanked the management of BHL Investment & Technology Ltd for their philanthropist role in the development of rural communities in Eredo LCDA. Mr. Guus Hak while responding expressed joy seeing the completion of the stalls. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Odoragunshin for their warm reception and entertainment. He also informed the community on the impending BHL Bus Assembly Plant to be located in Ilara community where the company has

•Oba Ogunsanya (third left); PNI Nigeria Founder, Phil Hall (fourth left) and PNI Acting ED, Mrs. Nike Olaoye (third right) with all the stakeholders acquired land from government.

He solicited for their support and explained that it was BHL’s intention to build the capacity and train members of the community to work on the assembly plant once it takes off.

The Chairman of Eredo LCDA, Honourable S. Adelaja represented by his Vice , Chief (Mrs) Olayinka Olusanya commended the efforts of market leaders for the tireless support given to the PNI and ErCDF staff during the construc-

tion of the lock up stalls. She advised Odoragunshin youths to desist from acts of destroying of community development projects. She expressed gratitude to PNI, ErCDF and BHL staff, promising that the community would continue to give more support and co-operation.

The members of the community expressed their gratitude to all stakeholders of the project, adding that they were originally cynical about the project coming to fruition after the needs assessment ex-

ercise was carried out.

Oba Ogunsanya while declaring the stalls open, praised the management of BHL Investment & Technology Ltd, PNI and ErCDF for their effort in implementing the project as well as promoting peace and harmony among his people. He urged the community to keep the market clean and welcome non indigenes (Hausa’s, Igbo’s, Urobo’s) to join them in the market in order to expand the level of patronage.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

On behalf of my students at the vocational centre here, we are saying a big thank you to you, to the Rotary Club of Akute. My students have been so wonderful in everything we have been teaching them

•Participants at the event

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HE effort of the Rotary Club of Akute, Ogun State, in providing young people with skills and helping them to be economically independent has not gone unnoticed.

The District Governor of the club, Kamoru Omotosho, who visited, spoke highly of the operators of the club’s vocational centre, urging them to move on continue the good work.

The coordinator of the Rotary Club of Akute’s Vocational Center, Esther Lawal said: ‘’On behalf of my students at Vocational Centre here, we are saying a big thank you to you, to the Rotary Club of Akute.

My students have been so wonderful in everything we have been teaching them. We started by November last year and we enrolled 15 students.

“Out of those 15 students, by the grace of God, I have 10 to graduate

Rotary hails vocational centre

By Olusoji Olukayode

and by the grace of God (with) the 10 we are able to sew (and) dye you this clothe and also bake you a beautiful cake. Also in our Catering Department we did little small chops for you to take home and taste how far we’ve been going.’’

Reacting to the situation at the center and the products before him, the District Governor said: ‘’But one thing I just want to say is let this just be the beginning, the beginning of good things to come not only for you but for the Rotarians too.

“When I look at the simple instruments with which you used to make this beautiful outfit I feel deeply touched and I feel so proud of you.

The centre also takes has an adult literacy centerpresided over by OsoAbimbolaand from where graduates also emerged. Speaking to the graduates Kamoru said: ‘’Sometimes ago I know they may not be able to read and to write, now with their certificates, I may not have inspected their books (but), I know they can now read and write.’’

Of the Akute Rotary Club members he said: ‘’When they started this programme I don’t think they anticipated it was going to come out fruitfully like this. But when they see what they have done there’s nobody who won’t feel proud of Rotary Club of Akute to please good round of applause.’’

Charging the Akute club, he said:

“No matter what impression you gave us today, I will still be waiting that Akute is just beginning. In another few years time we should be able to say Akute, one of the top ones in the District. Potential is nothing if there is no action. With what simple statement you have made today, I feel greatly impressed and hope you won’t just stop at that.’’

On his part, the chief host, the Rotary Club of Akute, Showunmi Michael Adesina thanked the Governor for his visit, adding that the club will take earnest heed to his advises.

He said: “We want to appreciate your coming sir and we have noted all your points as regards Vocational Center. I know you are not the one that will be coming as DG

next year (but) I’m sure you might be interested to come and see what this place has transformed to next year. And we promise we’ll continue raising this place. And as you rightly advised us, we will take them to West African Fair Project as well.

The team on leaving the centre went to the Light of Hope Orphanage, also in Akute, where they donated some cartons of noodles to that institution.

Responding to their visit to the orphanage, the proprietor, Pastor Omotayo Samuel Atunde said: “It’s a mark of good omen. We have enjoyed so much of their support in the past and we do know that more and more of such will come.’’

Earlier in the day, the entourage visited the palace of the Baale of Arifanla in Akute, Adeboye Adekunle with whom they inspected the community health centre being built by the club but which is yet to be completed.

Ogun CDAs urged to collaborate with govt

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From right: Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Rural Development, Hon Babatunde Hunpe and Chairman, Iba Local Council Development Area, Hon Ramota Adeyeri-Oseni at a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on water supply and sanitation policy in Lagos State

EING the closest group to the people, Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ogun State should collaborate with the government in its effort to enlighten the populace on the need to adhere to town planning regulations.

The Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Urban and Physical Planning,TPL Taiwo Megbope gave this advice while addressing some CDAs in Sagamu during the Bureau’s “Build Right” sensitisation programme.

Megbope reminded them that among others, town planning laws frown at erecting structures beneath high tension, on land designated for major road projects and on water ways and drainages to prevent flooding.

The Permanent Secretary declared that the programme was organised to sensitise the people on

the need to adhere to town planning regulations, warning that those who contravened would have their structures demolished.

To prevent the painful occurence of demolition of structures, TPL Megbope enjoined members of the CDAs to sensitise members on the need to visit the nearest Town Planning Zonal offices in their areas for clarification, saying that Government derived no pleasure in pulling down structures.

In his response, Chairman of Community Development Associations in the state, Chief Tokunbo Akinsowon described the “Build Right” programme as a great idea capable of assisting people to make the right decision when building their houses, promising that his members will abide by the rules and regulations guiding sustainable town planning and help in the process of rebuilding Ogun State

50

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

NEWS

•Chancellor, Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria, Justice Babasola Ogunade(second left) welcoming the Primate of the church, Most Revd Nicholas Okoh at the beginning of the bishop’s founder visit to the Diocese at the airport .... at the weekend. With them is the host bishop, Rev. Peter Adebiyi.

•Acting Enugu State Governor’s wife Mrs. Ada Onyebuchi (left), the Governor’s wife Mrs. Clara Chime and Commissioner for Water Resources Mr. Charles Anayo at the 2012 Global Hand Washing Day in Enugu... on Monday.

•Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) congratulating Mr. Amaju Pinnick after he was sworn in as the Chairman of the State Sports Commission, at the Government House, Asaba... on Monday.

•Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko (third right); his deputy, Muktar Shagari (fifth right) and Course 21 participants of the National Defence College during their visit to the governor.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed (middle) presenting a gift on behalf of Governor Babatunde Fashola to Brig.Gen Brigeni, who led students of National Defence College who are on a three-day geo-strategic study of Lagos...on Monday. With them is the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aderemi Desalu

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun with chairperson, Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Mrs. Amaka Okoye when her team visited the governor in Abeokuta... on Monday.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris (left) addressing a news conference on the launch of Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction programme at the Conference Room, Ministry of Health, Alausa, Ikeja... on Monday. With him are Commissioner for Information and Strategy Aderemi Ibirogba (middle) and the Special Adviser, Health Mrs. Yewande PHOTO OMOSEHIN MOSES Adeshina.

•Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr. Mike Omeri (middle) addressing political editors on the forthcoming All Political Parties’ Summit organised by the agency in Abuja...on Monday. With them are Director, DG’s Office, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba and Director, Political and Civic Education, Prince Afam C.I. Anene

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

51

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The new book by renowned author and literary icon Prof Chinua Achebe – There was a country - has continued to generate heat in the country. Former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing Femi Okunnu (SAN), who was in government between 1967 and 1974, queries the allegations and claims made by the author. He spoke with Staff Correspondent ERIC IKHILAE.

‘Achebe’s book is replete with inaccurate facts, claims’ W

HAT is your assessment of the new book by Prof Chinua Achebe?

I have read only newspaper reports and excerpts from the book, (that was published in The Nation on October 5) written by that erudite Nigerian scholar, Professor Chinua Achebe.

I am amazed at the extent of the intellectual dishonesty displayed by Prof. Achebe in alleging that the Federal Government under General Yakubu Gowon, in which I had the honour of serving, had a policy of denying our fellow Nigerians, who were trapped in Biafra, relief materials. There is no such policy by the government, in which I was a member.

Was it true that the then Federal Finance Commissioner Chief Obafemi Awolowo suggested to the government to adopt starvation as a war weapon?

Right from the declaration of war on May 27, 1967 until the cessation of hostilities in January 1970, to the best of my knowledge, whatever Chief Obafemi Awolowo might have said or said to have said, as reported by Prof Achebe, was not the Federal Government’s position. It was not the government’s policy at all. I say this as the leader or one of the leaders on the Federal Government side during the peace talks. Chief Anthony Enahoro (of blessed memory) led the federal delegation to the preliminary talks initiated by the then Commonwealth Secretary in London early in 1968. The talks shifted to Kampala, Uganda, with the then President of Uganda, Dr. Milton Obote, as the Chairman, who presided over the bilateral talks between the two sides. Chief Enahoro led the federal delegation to the talks in Kampala. I was not a member of either delegation, but I played a key role in the important peace talks, starting from Niamey unto Addis Ababa and Monrovia. In Niamey, Gen Gowon and Chief Awolowo were members of the federal delegation. Colonel Emeka Ojukwu also attended as leader of his own delegation. When the two leaders returned from Niamey, I led the federal delegation to the remainder of the talks, mostly to prepare the agenda for the substantive talks in Addis Ababa.

What was the focus of the various talks held between both sides?

The federal delegation left Lagos on August 3, 1968 for Addis-Ababa and the leader of the delegation was Chief Enahoro. I was the deputy leader. Col. Ojukwu attended the first day’s talks.

The talks started on August 5 and was presided over by the Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie. After a day or two, Col. Ojukwu left and turned over the leadership of his delegation to Professor Eni Njoku, who was Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos before the outbreak of hostilities. Chief Enahoro left after a week, leaving me as the leader of the federal delegation for the rest of the period.

The talks ended about the third week of September. And the main topic for our discussion was how to create corridors for the passage of relief materials from Nigeria, but mostly from outside the country, to our brothers, who were trapped within the Biafran enclave. The first week was taken up by political issues – cessation of hostilities and return of Biafra to the Nigerian Federation. When the talks on that issue was suspended, for the next four or five weeks, we were in Addis Ababa, with me as the leader of the federal delegation and Prof Njoku as the leader of the Biafran delegation, discussing various corridors which we proposed for passage of relief materials to Biafra.

We discussed air corridor, we discussed land corridor; we discussed sea and river corridors, no holds barred. But unfortunately, the various proposals, which we brought forward were

turned down by the other side. We couldn’t reach any good conclusion. So, to say that there was deliberate policy of the Federal Government, initiated by Chief Awolowo, is at best intellectual dishonesty. That is not the true position of the Federal Government at the time. And certainly, that was not our position during the peace talks.

Are there facts to support this position?

My autobiography contains the full discussions of all the talks. From London to Kampala, Niamey, Addis Ababa, and the last peace talks, which took place, I think in April or May in Monrovia. Let me also say this, Emperor Haile Selassie presided over all the joint meetings we had between the federal delegation, led by me and the Biafran delegation led by Prof Njoku, for all the five weeks. The meetings all centred on how to get relief materials to the Biafran side.

There is also this issue which I must emphasise.

There were reports and there were incidents of some of the aircraft carrying relief materials to the other side, also carrying arms. There were such incidents. We must be very frank and truthful to ourselves.

So, my autobiography devotes about 120 pages to nothing, but largely how relief materials would get to Biafra before the cessation of hostilities. Again, the main discussion between us was on the passage of relief materials to the other side. So, I deny completely that there was any Federal Government policy to starve our brothers in the rebel held area during the civil war. In fact, it was Ojukwu, who used hunger as a weapon of war because he denied any agreement on relief corridors. We proposed so many corridors - Lagos to Benin and Asba, across the Niger. That was rejected. Port-Harcourt, by river, to Oguta. It was also rejected. Fom Lagos, directly to the rebel. It was also rejected.

Fernandopo to Port-Harcourt; rejected. We discussed different corridors. Air, water and land, they were all rejected. Ojukwu was more interested in Biafra. Having got the support of France in getting its surrogates – Ivory Coast ( now Cote D’Ivoire) and Gabon - to recognise Biafra, and with Kenneth Kaunda of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania recognising Biafra, Ojukwu was more interested in the permanent sovereignty of Biafra. So he used relief materials at a weapon of war.

How true is Prof Achebe’s description of Chief Awolowo as a selfish and ambitious politician, who saw the war as an opportunity to advance his agenda of capturing political power for the Yorubas Well, as an ambitious politician, he was. As a man who wanted power, of course he did seek power and he acquired power in the Western Region. He was a powerful politician. For me, I was on the other side of the divide politically.

This is because like most young persons and students in London in the early 1960s, we were for a fairly meaningful federal system of government because the regions were too strong.

And Chief Awolowo was an advocate of strong regional governments.

We were for the central government being stronger than the regional governments at that time at least, to be able to hold the regions to-

• Chief Okunnu

gether. Then, the Premiers were more important than the Prime Minister of Nigeria. Having said that, I agree that he (Chief Awolowo) was ambitious and he sought power. We all know that he built his political power, using the Western Region of Nigeria, largely Yoruba speaking, as his power base. We as young persons, and that is where I differ from him, looked at Nigeria as a single unit. We wanted people who will look at Nigeria and speak to people; seek power from all the people of Nigeria and not just one part of it. We wanted a Nigerian leader, not a regional leader. So, that is the much I can say about Chief Awolowo.

That he was seeking power for his Yoruba people, well leave that. I think that is rather cheap.

That is because, at the end of the day, Chief Awolowo sought support from the minority groups in the North, notably in the Middle Belt and also in Borno area. He also sought and got support from the so called minority areas in the then Eastern Region, notably, what we now call the oil producing states.

Chief Awolowo built his power not only from the West, but also in the Rivers and Calabar part of Nigeria, and the Middle Belt and Borno. So, to say he wanted power for his own people alone is neither here nor there. Towards the end, he sought power to be the President of Nigeria and he failed. And as Ojukwu himself said, he was the best president Nigeria never had.

How will react to the author’s argument that the change of currency was meant to weaken the Igbos economically?

Again, that is very cheap propaganda. When the currency was changed, there were some reasons for it. Before the civil war and during the war, but largely during the war, Central Banks were looted and Nigerian currencies were looted.

That itself call for a change of currency by any sensible government. Secondly, I was Gowon’s emissary to negotiate with President Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo, when a plane load of Nigerian currencies landed in Togo. Gowon sent me to negotiate the return of the currencies and the plane. The story is told in my autobiography.

So, with Nigerian currencies flying around, any sensible government will change the currency.

The change of currency affected everybody.

Everybody was given a certain period of time to exchange the old notes for the new notes. I think the aim of the government at that time was to try and stabilise the currency of the country because of the looting of the Central Banks. Re-

‘The title of Achebe’s book: “There was a country”, is wrong.

There was no country. There was rebellion. As I said at the time, if Lagos declared secession out of Nigeria, I Femi Okunnu, will be on the federal side. There was no genocide.

War involves killing on both sides. And both sides killed...’

member the bank at Enugu was under the full control of Ojukwu. One or two other Central Banks outside the rebel held areas were also looted.

How credible is the claim that the banning of the importation of stock fish and used clothes was an anti-Igbo economic policy?

Are they the only one eating stock fish? Are the Igbos the only people that sell and wear second hand clothes? That is very irrelevant, although, in the context in which he wrote his book, it was all part of the attempt to liquidate the Ibo speaking Nigerians. So, outsiders, who do not know who eat stock fish or not , will have the impression that it is only the Ibo speaking who eat stock fish or wear used clothes.

How true is the allegation that in prosecuting the war, the state’s acted in a manner that could pass as genocide?

On the issue of genocide, I must confess that there was massacre of Nigerians who came from outside the Northern region after the Unification Decree of the late Aguiyi Ironsi on May 24, 1966, when he abolished the federal system and introduced the unitary system of government

by Decree. There was riot all over the place and most unfortunately, many Ibo speaking and other non-Ibo speaking Nigerians were killed in the Northern part of the country. We must admit that fact. I condemn what happened in the North in May 1966. There was reprisal in some parts of the East. I condemn all the killings by both sides.

But genocide during the war? No. I remember the incident during which a soldier, I think it was in the Third Div, under Col, later Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle, killed innocent civilians, the soldier was shot dead on the order of the Federal Government. There was no genocide from my point of view and from my knowledge as a member of government at that time.

What about the children that were reportedly taken outside the rebel area?

This was clear propaganda of war. It was a weapon of war by Col Ojukwu to prolong the war and also to make Biafra a reality, a sovereign state. The title of Achebe’s book: “There was a country”, is wrong. There was no country.

There was rebellion. As I said at the time, if Lagos declared secession out of Nigeria, I Femi Okunnu, will be on the federal side. There was no genocide. War involves killing on both sides.

And both sides killed. I must emphasise that Gen Gowon had a booklet of instructions given to his field commanders to follow Geneva Convention.

How can the people grow in the face of these contradictions and mutual suspicion among the various ethnic groups?

We should all learn to be Nigerians. You don’t find a Chinese either inside or outside their country saying he comes from a section of the country. A Chinese is a Chinese anywhere. China has 1.5 billion people, Nigeria has only 150million. And that is why China is almost number two in the world in terms of economic development. Same goes for India. Nigerians should be proud to Nigerians. I do not have problem with the development of culture. These are part of the riches of the country. So, until Nigerians begin to think of Nigeria as a single political and economic unit, and act in that manner, Nigeria will never make it. We only much noise about being the biggest country in Africa, many countries which were behind Nigeria in Southeast Asia – South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia. In the 60s and 70s these countries were far behind Nigeria in economics terms, but now they well ahead of us.

We rely only on oil. Palm oil and palm kernel industries are almost gone. Cocoa and groundnut are dead. So, we should make up our mind to return to where we were in term of production of cocoa, palm oil or palm kernel. Nigeria was number one and number three in the production of palm oil and palm kernel in the world.

Malaysia, which borrowed palm oil seedling for experimenting in their country, is now exporting palm oil to Nigeria. It is Malaysian oil that we now consume in Nigeria. Back to the point I am making, ethnicity should be dead. We can develop our individual cultures and tradition, but they must not be brought into political arena.

We should not allow ethnicity determine our political choice and decisions.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

52

POLITICS Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner Akin Orebiyi spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the governorship election in the state.

Ondo REC: we’ve learnt lessons from Edo election pitfalls

H

OW prepared is INEC for the challenge of October 20 in Ondo State?

We can confidently say that INEC is fully prepared for the conduct of the governorship election. As we speak, we have been receiving nonsensitive materials from INEC headquarters. We have also done quite a number of meetings with stakeholders. We have rounded up the voter education forum at the local government level. The essence of the voter education forum is to educate the voters on their responsibilities, their duties and also the procedures for the conduct of the election and the election process on the election day. It has been a useful experience and a unique one.

This effort is being sponsored by the International Federation of Electoral System (IFES), a partner of INEC in the last 13 years.

What are the elements of the voters education programme?

The voter education forum involves two major activities. One, there is a stakeholders’ meeting at the local government level, which runs for three hours. There, the electoral process is explained to the stakeholders, political parties, members of the civil society organisations and officials of the National Orientation Agency and INEC officials in the local government. Questions are taken and answers are provided by INEC. After that, we did a road show and distributed flyers and posters.

IFES provided 540,000 flyers and nearly 200,000 posters in English, Yoruba and Ijaw languages for the benefit of the electorate. we have been distributing them at the forum and various religious worship centres. We have presented to the political parties and electorate soft copies of the voters’ register. We have explained to them what to find inside the voters register and how the information could also help them to muster greater efforts in canvassing for votes at the 18 local governments, 203 wards and 309 polling units across the state.

We have trained the 334 agents of 13 political parties. We have trained our supervisors for the election. We will have 223 supervisors for the election. UNDP sponsored the second training for party agents. The first one was sponsored by the International Republican Institute (IRI).INEC has also conducted training for presiding officers and assistant presiding officers. The bulk will come from the National Youth Service Corps. Whatever shortfall we have will be filled by students of tertiary institutions.

What are the rules and regulations guiding the governorship campaigns?

The first is understanding the process itself. We are urging the political parties and electorate to adopt the electoral process as their own. The campaign started on July 24. It is to end on the eve of the election, October 19. Any other campaign after that is a violation of the guideline. All campaigns must end on Friday, October 19. On election day, there must not be any campaign. There will be no movement around the state on the election day.

Each voter will only go to his or her polling unit.

Party agents are not allowed to roam about the streets. There is a party agent for a political unit.

Government officials and party officials are not allowed to move around. They cannnot carry weapons to election grounds on the day of election . Security will be provided adequately. You are meant to carry to the polling booth only your voter’s card. If you don’t have a voter’s card, don’t bother to come to the polling unit. Accreditation will start 8.am. It is going to be different this time.

This means our officials, men and materials would have arrivedat the 309,000 polling units at 7 am.

Even, if there is delay, they should be there by 7.30 am. Accreditation will take place between 8.am and 12 noon. After accreditation, voting will start by 12.30 pm. But any polling unit where accreditation of voters does not end by 12 noon, the presiding officer will count the number of people yet to be accredited and he will now ask the security officer on duty to stand behind the last person on the queue, which means nobody can join the line after 12 noon.The implication of this is that voting may not start in some units at exactly 12.30 pm.

When voting starts, it does not end until the last accredited person has voted. That means voting will not end at a particular time. After voting, there will be sorting of the ballot papers according to the political parties voted for. There will be counting and after counting, there will be announcement of results. Only results would be announced and no winner will be declared at that level. Voters are free to stay within the vicinity, two or three hundred metres, to watch the entire electoral process on election day. After the announcement of

• Orebiyi

results, voters are advised quietly to return home.

We will move from there to the ward collation centre to do the collation of all the polling units in that ward. We announce the result, we don’t declare winner. From there, we move to the local government collation centre. Then, we move to the state collation centre at INEC office in Akure where the final collation will be done and results will be announced.

How are you responding to the complaints of political parties raising eyebrow about the voters’ register?

There have been complaints about the voter’s register. We perfectly understand their feelings and they are based on the previous experience they had about INEC as the electoral umpire.

INEC officials in the past have been part and parcel of the elections in the past. They have been partisan. But since Prof. Attahiru Jega came in with his new commission in June 2010, INEC has changed completely. It has very fair and unbiased in its activities and all the elections and rerun elections. This will also happen here on October 20. We are going to make sure that every aspect of the election will be laid open in a transparent manner for everybody to see.Concerning the voters register, we have organised a lot of stakeholders’ meeting, enlightening, informing and educating voters and political parties about the voters’ register. Also, we have reverted to the manual voters register as a back up where we are not able to use electronic voters register. Their names will appear this year as an addendum. The only difference is that it will not carry photographs of the voters.

INEC is doing its best to ensure that the voters register is credible. After we released the voters register on September 20, I can say that, up to today, no party has officially approached us to

complain about the voters register. When a party agent is given a voters register for his unit, he can verify whether the names are those who live in the vicinity or not. What we released last year was tentative. it has been upgraded now.

When was the voters register displayed by INEC? The law says voters register should be published 30 days to election. That was what we did on September 20 when we gave political parties a soft copy each. The point is that the voters register has over 80,000 pages. So, if you want to publish it, newspapers will not be able to finish it until the day of the election.That is why we have the benefit of the soft copy. We have 1.6 million voters.

On the day of the election, we will display voters register for the units.

What special arrangement is INEC making for the conduct of the election in the riverine areas?

We have two local governments in riverine areas; Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments.There are one or two polling units by the river in Irele, one island in Odigbo local government. Ilaje local government has 181 of its polling units on water.

Ese-Odo has 67 of its polling units on water. What we did was to work closely with security agents.

We had had toured the creeks for about four hours, assessing the polling units there, the wards, and meeting with the community leaders there, seeking their understanding and cooperation. So, we have done a lot of assessment concerning the difficult terrain in the riverine areas. In addition, we are making preparation for boats from Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states. We will also hire boats locally here to complement what INEC is providing. We are looking at not less than 68 boats for the election. We have obtained life jackets to take care of hundred of people in the riverine areas on election day. In order not to get late to the polling units, we are going to move election materials a day ahead for Ilaje local government. Parties’ agents will also accompany them to Igbokoda where we are going to warehouse the election materials until they are moved to the wards.Within an hour or two after opening the 203 wards so that men and materials can get to the 3,009 polling units without delay on October 20.

What were the lessons INEC had learned from the recent governorship election in Ondo State?

A lot. We have learned to be open and transparent, explain everything in details to the stakeholders. We must regularly feed them with information at various levels. We have learned to carry all the political parties along in whatever we do. We respond to their questions promptly across the 18 local governments.In terms of the challenges encountered in Edo State like the late arrival of materials to a number of polling units, we want to prevent this here. We will leave by 5 am and within two hours, we are the various polling units, ahead of the 8 am when polling units are expected to open. There was protest about the use of the addendum. We have been telling people since July this year that the addendum will be used. It was rejected in Edo State because they said they did not know in advance. So, we have been telling the people on radio and television.

Agbekoya warns political thugs

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

N

IGERIA’S frontline farmers group, Agbekoya Farmers Association has embarked on aggressive mobilisation of farmers in Ondo State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

It also vowed not to allow political thuggery to avoid rigging at the poll as efforts were in place by the group to join hands with security agencies to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election.

According to a release made available yesterday to The Nation by the group’s National Publicity Security, Chief Olatunji Bandele, the President General of the Association, High Chief Kamorudeen Aremu Okikiola was quoted as saying Agbekoya Farmers Association is a big stakeholder in the agricultural sector of Nigeria and Ondo State and therefore, the group’s position is to support an agriculture-friendly government who genuinely has the love of farmers at heart.

“We are currently mobilising farmers and educating them on the candidate to vote for in the Saturday election in Ondo State,” the release stated, adding that Agbekoya Farmers Association “has no political afflation with any political party, but we are ready to support any government or governor that supports Agbekoya Farmers Association and our agribusiness project.”

It further said: “In Ondo State, Agbekoya Farmers Association has about 22,000 members spread across all the 18 local government areas of the state, with majority of them languishing in poverty in the rural areas without any financial and technical support from government.

“On our own we have gone to the financial market to access fund for our agri-business projects. Our mission is to feed the nation and turn Ondo State to the food basket of Nigeria.”

The release further hinted that the group had put machinery in place to monitor the governorship election. “Agbekoya hereby warns political thugs and hoodlums to steer clear of the polling booths across the state because we are on ground

•Akeredolu

to monitor the election, protect our votes and also to assist security operatives to maintain peace.”

“We don’t belong to any political party. All we are interested in is to ensure that the man who is genuinely interested in real governance is voted for. We believe it is hightime we get involved in who govern us because as farmers, we are stakeholders,” Bandele added.

• From right: President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, UNDP Country Director Mrs Ade Letkoetje and Representative of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mrs Stella Aburimen at the Media Dialogue with editors on the Constitution amendment process in Lagos... yesterday.

Welcome to the new Kalakuta republic THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

53

CITYBEATS

407 members of “OneMillion-Boys” gang arrested

THE Lagos Police Command said yesterday that 407 suspected members of the “One-Million-Boys” gang, allegedly terrorising Ajegunle area of the metropolis are in their custody.

The suspects were arrested in the last two weeks, according to the Area Commander in-charge of “Area B”, Mohammed Ali, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspects were arrested during police raid on their hideouts.

According to him, 130 members of the gang were arrested on October 7, 160 others on October 11, while 26 and 91 members were arrested on October 13 and October 15, respectively.

“Some of the suspects have since been charged to court and some were screened and sent to Alausa for rehabilitation, while others are yet to be charged to court,” Ali noted.

The Area Commander said the police have not received complaints of violent crimes from the area since the raids were carried out.

Residents urged to back LASTMA, KAI

By Segun Balogun

LAGOS residents have been urged to cooperate with the 200 traffic law officers who have been deployed to test their skills on enforcement.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport Education, Dr. Mariam Masha, spoke of the importance of cooperation on the field project, saying it will inform government policies on the ongoing transformation of the three law enforcement agencies in the state. He listed the agencies as Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Neighbourhood Watch.

The officers have been deployed in Ojota, Ladipo, Mile 12 and Apongbon areas of the state as a critical part of their career evaluation during which they have also rendered community service at orphanages and old people’s homes.

Dr. Masha said: “We know what we want as a government and we want the right people in the right places. Therefore, what they achieve on the field matters a lot to their career and it is important the public cooperate with them.

“The officers were grouped and assigned to specific areas in Lagos with various traffic and environmental challenges that need to be addressed.

They developed plans to address these and work with the community to effect positive change and promote law and order.

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

Welcome to the new Kalakuta Republic AGOS State Government has inaugurated the Kalakuta Republic Museum at the home of the late afro-beat creator, Olufela Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, on Gbemisola Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

Unveiling the plaque on the museum on Monday, Fela’s 74th post-humous birthday, the Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Disun Holloway, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola, described the museum as a resolution of the government to immortalise the iconic Afro-beat maestro, who influenced the black race with his brand of music.

Similar to the conversion of the old colonial prison to a tourist centre, the commissioner said “the new museum is a deliberate attempt to ensure the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Lagos.”

He restated government’s determination to restore the “old social life” in the state through the creation of re-

L

•The new Kalakuta Museum INSET: Pairs of Fela’s colourful shoes

By Yinka Aderibigbe

laxation centres in safe and secured environment.

The event drew Fela’s huge followers and family members, including: his eldest daughter, Yeni, her brothers – Femi and Seun, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), film producer Tunde Kelani, and designer Ghariokwu Lemi among others.

Mr. Lemi, who has been an ardent follower of Fela since the 70s identified himself as one of the few attracted to Fela by his brand of music and has become a disciple ever since.

He described Fela as a philosopher who lived and spoke words of wisdom that have remain ever-green, years after his death.

He praised the govern-

ACN alleges tribunal’s ploy to frustrate appeal T HE Lagos State Local G o v e r n m e n t Tribunal’s delay in releasing the certified true copy of its judgment on Ikoyi/Obalende council election is a ploy to frustrate the appeal filed by the Lagos chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ruling party alleged yesterday.

A statement signed by its publicity secretary in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe, said the ACN’s lawyers have been denied on several occasions the requested copy of the judgment that was delivered in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 4.

The statement reads:

By Segun Balogun

“Whose interest is this tribunal serving in its decision not to release the copies of its judgment, we dare to ask? What exactly is the tribunal protecting by holding tight to such documents that should be public property once the judgment is delivered?

“Lagos ACN suspects foul play, which makes us to wonder whether there is more to this than meets the eye. We suspect that there is a deliberate effort to employ illegal means to frustrate the appeal of the ACN on this matter and we

state that this will never be acceptable to us. We suspect that the tribunal is intent on ensuring that the ACN does not go ahead with its appeal of the judgment.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our great party rejects the verdict of the tribunal and we promise that we shall do everything within the ambits of the law to redress that judgment.

We demand that the state elections tribunal release copies of its judgment without further delay if it is not on a deliberate mission to frustrate justice.”

ment for finally turning Fela’s house into a museum, a development he said is in line with global trends.

Falana, drawing from the years of free legal services he rendered to the late afrobeat king, described Fela’s cases as “too complicated to handle, but too easy to win”.

Responding to the gesture on behalf of the family, Femi Kuti praised the government for upgrading the house into a museum.

He said the time for people to rise up for their rights and for the leaders to fight for the actualisation of all that his late father fought for has come.

Fashola to open mother-child mortality reduction scheme

T

O achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 by 2015, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola will tomorrow inaugurate the state’s maternal and child mortality reduction programme.

Health Commissioner Dr Jide Idris, said at a press conference yesterday that the long-awaited programme will protect women and children from preventable death.

A recent study conducted by the Campaign Against Unwanted Pregnancy (CAUP), in collaboration with the state’s ministry of health, put the average maternal mortality rate at 555 per 100,000, which is slightly above the national average of 545 per 100,000 put forward by the 2008 Demographic Health Survey.

Idris reiterated government’s zero tolerance policy to illness, disability and death associated with pregnancy, childbirth and the first six weeks after childbirth.

By Wale Adepoju

“The state introduced the Safe Motherhood initiative between 1987 and 1997, then Making Pregnancy Safer Initiative in 2001 and the formulation of Reproductive Health Policy in 2002,” he said.

He said Lagos will engage in advocacy and sensitisation campaign at the community level to raise awareness on problems associated with pregnancy, delivery and the post-natal period.

Idris said: “The state has trained health workers on saving skills, emergency obstetric care and essential newborn care, among others. “It has also developed infrastructure and equip health facilities for effective performance.

“Fifty-seven primary healthcare facilities offering 24-hour services in each of the local councils were renovated and provided emergency obstetric equipment.

This is just one among many strides made by the state.”

Man arraigned for ‘stealing N900,000’

T •Sympathisers at the scene of the fire

T

HE prompt arrival of men of the Lagos State Fire Service could not save a bungalow on Jones Street, Ebute-metta, Lagos, on Monday.

The house was completely razed.

Eyewitnesses said the house caught fire as a result of an electrical spark triggered by power surge.

Fire razes bungalow

By Segun Akanbi

Michael Olarewaju, a resident within the neighbourhood, said the accident happened around 5:00pm.

“Suddenly, I saw the flame from my house, after some minutes, people rushed towards the direction to rescue

trapped residents and properties,” he said.

He said the fire service men arrived at about 5:30pm but their effort could not save the building, as it took them three hours to put out the fire.

Though, no live was lost, residents lost all their properties.

WENTY-EIGHT-yearold Nathaniel Osagie was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N900,000.

The defendant is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Police prosecutor Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that Osagie, posing as a forex expert, obtained N900,000 from one Mr. Charles Eluromma on July 23 at about 10am at 7, Awoni Murphy Street, Ogba.

By Tumininu Owolabi

Ekikere said that the defendant contravened Section 312 (3) and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Osagie pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Magistrate, Mrs F. Anabor, granted him a bail of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum. The sureties must possess Lagos State tax clearance.

She thereafter adjourned the matter till November 20 for mention.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 09-10-12

Transcorp grows profit by 81% •High-cap stocks restore bullish rally

T

RANSNATIONAL Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) continued to optimize its profitability in the third quarter as the conglomerate yesterday announced 81 per cent increase in profit before tax.

Interim report and accounts of Transcorp for the period ended September 30, 2012 released yesterday to the investing public showed profit before tax of N1.7 billion as against N922.7 million recorded in comparable period of 2011.

Profit after tax stood at N1.50 billion in 2012 compared with a net loss N77.22 million in comparable period of 2011.

The conglomerate’s operating expenses had dropped from N778 million in 2011 to N689.7 million in 2012 as it continued to reap from cost optimization strategy. Total assets grew by 19.44 per cent from N23.32 billion in 2011 to N27.85 billion in 2012.

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp, Mr. Obinna Ufudo said the third quarter performance was an affirmation of the continued success of the conglomerate’s business strategies and income diversification initiatives.

“We are quite pleased with the stable and positive growth of our earnings, and are already working out plans to further

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

improve on it," Ufudo said.

He outlined that the group’s enviable pipeline of deals and opportunities portend an even brighter future for Transcorp as manifested by its successful bid for the acquisition of the Ughelli Power Plant.

According to him, this giant step into the power sector as well as other initiatives would further position Transcorp for even better performance in the years ahead.

Transcorp’s conglomerate of businesses includes interests in the hospitality, agribusiness and energy sectors. Its notable businesses include Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja; Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar; Teragro Commodities Limited, operator of Teragro Benfruit plant - Nigeria’s first-of-its-kind juice concentrate plant; and Transcorp Energy Limited.

Meanwhile, gains by highly capitalised stocks in the building materials, banking and consumer goods sector yesterday snapped a two-day descent and restored bullish overall market situation at the Nigerian stock market.

As investors continued to take profits on several stocks, strong rally by a handful of top-30 stocks helped the market to a

gain of N10 billion or 0.12 per cent, propping the average yearto- date return to 30.77 per cent.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose from N8.628 trillion to N8.638 trillion.

The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), inched up from 27,077.66 points to 27,109.62 points.

With 36 losers to 17 gainers, the positive market situation was driven mainly by gains by Nigerian Breweries, Dangote Cement, Zenith Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, PZ Cussons Nigeria and GlaxoSmithKline Consumers Nigeria (GSK).

Nigerian Breweries rose by N3.06 to close at NN138.06.

Seven-Up Bottling Company followed with a gain of N1.95 to close at N40.95. Dangote Cement added N1.50 to close at N120. PZ Cussons Nigeria gained 93 kobo to close at N25.95. GSK added 50 kobo to close at N39 while Zenith Bank increased by 30 kobo to close at N18.30.

UAC of Nigeria led the decliners with a loss of N1.90 to close at N40. Unilever Nigeria dropped by N1.04 to N41.56.

Guinness Nigeria lost N1 to close at N280 while Ashaka Cement dropped by 95 kobo to N18.05 per share.

Total turnover stood at 444.92 million shares worth N3.75 billion in 6,617 deals. Banking stocks accounted for 312.41 million shares valued at N2.56 billion in 3,804 deals.

AttachmentsTranscorp grows profit by 81%.doc Download AllDelete ReplyReply ForwardSpamMovePrint Actions NextPrevious

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 09-10-12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

CBN reiterates need for corporate governance

T

Stories by Collins Nweze

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised banks to carry out their operations in line with sound corporate governance and international best practices.

Speaking at the 2012 Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) Continuous Educations Programme for Directors of Banks and Financial Institutions held in Lagos, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said the crisis era in the banking sector was characterised by series of corporate scandals that led to significant market disruptions before regulatory interventions.

He said that weak corporate

governance and unbridled corruption at financial institutions were at the root of the banking sector crisis that almost led to the collapse of the system but for the decisive intervention of the CBN. Sanusi explained that these governance weaknesses include weak board oversight, poor risk management practices which resulted in unbridled risk exposure to the capital market and the oil and gas sector, technical incompetence of board members, poor board leadership, conflict of interest, insider abuse, high incidence of non-

performing loans including insider related credits, among others.

The apex bank boss said if the boards and managements of the affected institutions adhered to the principles and practice of good corporate governance, the weaknesses and abuses that precipitated these scandals and crises would have been averted.

He explained that there has been a renewed emphasis by regulators around the world on compliance with codes of best practice for corporate governance.

“The promotion of sound corporate governance practice in Nigerian banks and financial

institutions has been a constant endeavour and the centre piece of the various banking sector reform initiatives of the CBN particularly in the aftermath of the consolidation programme of 2004 and 2005 and the on-going reforms initiated in 2009,” he said.

According to him, a key pillar of the on-going reform programme is enhancing the quality of banks through several elements which include the promotion of effective corporate governance at banks.

He cited the issuance in 2006 of the Code of Corporate Governance for banks in Nigeria post-consolidation which places

Diamond Bank to raise $300m for lending

D

IAMOND Bank Plc has disclosed its plans to raise $300 million needed to expand credit to customers. The Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Abdulrahman Yinusa who confirmed the development to Bloomberg said the lender’s target is for the loan to be raised by the end of this year, which will bring to $500 million what it had borrowed in the year. “The purpose remains to expand our loan books and fund infrastructure,” he said.

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has said it is partnering with Unity Bank Plc and other government and private bodies within and outside the country to enable it achieve its objective for the banking sector. .

The bank had revised its loangrowth target for this year to 40 per cent from 20 per cent, “a modest projection from our third quarter performance,” he said.

The forecast takes into account the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) decision to increase the cash reserve ratio for banks that has damped their lending, he said.

CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi said on July 24 that the Monetary Policy Committee increased the amount of cash as a percentage

of deposits that commercial banks must keep with it to 12 per cent from eight per cent while leaving the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 12 per cent since October last year to stabilize prices.

Diamond Bank’s first-half profit through June rose more than fourfold to N9.99 billion, from N1.71 billion a year earlier, it said on July 11. Net interest income gained 71 per cent to N42 billion. The bank achieved a return on equity of 23 per cent

in the third quarter against a target of 15 per cent for the year, “which indicates that it will exceed its targets for the full year,” Yinusa said.

“We want to grow our loan book aggressively to a level before we will consider slowing down,” he said. Having secured the approval of shareholders to raise $750 million in May, the $250 million that will remain may be borrowed over the next two years, depending on need, Yinusa said.

CIBN partners Unity Bank The Chairman of Council of the Institute, Segun Aina, stressed the need to partner with relevant stakeholders on capacity building and training of staff in the banking industry as well as other

engage the services of the CIBN Practice Licence holders and other well experienced professional bankers for their consultancy services, debt recovery, forensic audit, training and other services.

sectors of the economy in order to enable the country realise her millennium goals aspiration. Aina stated this during the Institute’s dialogue with key stakeholders held in Abuja.

He encouraged the bank to

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 9-10-12 SYMBOL

DNMEYER 7UP PORTPAINT CUTIX AFLEVENT PZ WEMABANK UNITYBNK CONTINSURE UPL

O/PRICE

2.21 39.00 3.29 1.24 1.50 25.02 0.54 0.56 0.91 4.30

E

COBANK and ICICI Bank of India yesterday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate trade and investments between India and Africa. The agreement was signed by Arnold Ekpe, the outgoing Chief Executive of the Ecobank Group, and ICICI Bank’s President for International Banking and Small and Medium Enterprises, Vijay Chandok.

ICICI is the largest private bank in India.

In a statement, Ecobank explained that under the MoU, it will collaborate with ICICI Bank to create a ‘One Bank Experience’ for their respective customers doing business in Africa and India.

It said the focus will be on the day-to-day banking and investment requirements of

their customers such as trade finance, payments and remittances and also on major projects as they arise.

He said that India’s trade with Africa has doubled in the past four years to over $50 billion in 2010 to 2011. “Stronger investment ties are complementing this steady growth in trade, with Indian investments in Africa across a range of sectors, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, Information Technology and infrastructure, reaching $33 billion in 2011,” the statement said.

According to Ekpe, both parties see potential in establishing an alliance for trade and investment between India and the 32 African countries that constitute our footprint in Africa.

C/PRICE

2.43 40.95 3.45 1.30 1.57 25.95 0.56 0.58 0.94 4.40

CHANGE

0.22 1.95 0.16 0.06 0.07 0.93 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.10

C/PRICE 1.98 3.26 0.65 5.10 1.40 4.05 2.19 18.05 2.47 5.37

CHANGE 0.22 0.36 0.07 0.50 0.10 0.27 0.13 0.95 0.13 0.28

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 9-10-12

SYMBOL O/PRICE STERLNBNK 2.20 FCMB 3.62 AIICO 0.72 DANGSUGAR 5.60 CUSTODYINS 1.50 DIAMONDBNK 4.32 FIDELITYBK 4.32 ASHAKACEM 19.00 HONYFLOUR 2.60 UBA 5.65

Ecobank, ICIC Bank sign MoU

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

nance practice in the banking industry, benefits of which, the regulator is committed to sustaining and consolidating.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

high premium on enhanced transparency and disclosures as some of the steps taken to restore normalcy into the banking sector.

The apex bank had also introduced and implemented risk based supervision aimed at promoting sound risk management at banks as well as implemented new prudential guidelines based on forward-looking capital provisioning, driven by stress tests.

Sanusi said that the combined impact of these and other reform measures taken by the CBN since 2006 led to significant improvement in corporate gover-

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 125.13 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 116.60 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.79 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,724.29 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 10.45 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,652.66 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.96 116.90 0.76 1.10 0.91 1,721.97 9.94 1.33 1.80 8,411.80 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

56

NEWS

Nigeria’s gas production stands at 8bcf/d T

HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has said that the country’s gas production currently stands at 8 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) out of which export accounts for 40 percent.

The Director, DPR, Osten Olorunsola disclosed this at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) pre-conference workshop held in Lagos.

In his presentation titled, “Defining an effective gas commercialisation policy,” he said that of the 8 bcf/d, export by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited accounts for 40 percent. He said the NLNG exports 22 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 3.5 mtpa by BGT. NLNG, he noted, has 24 dedicated LNG tankers and exports 3.2bcf/d.

Gas reinjection and other operational usages account for 31 percent, which translates to 2.5 bcf/d, while domestic consumption accounts for 11 percent or 0.9bcf/d and gas flaring accounts for 18 percent or 1.4 bcf/d.

He said the Federal Government’s aspiration is to create as much revenues from gas as oil, address environmental issues and end flaring, develop domestic market and create new industries out of the old oil industry. And similar to oil, the petroleum sector aspires to grow the gas resource base aggressively to catalyze growth of the wider national economy.

It is on this aspiration that the gov-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

ernment planned its policy direction for gas, to ensure thriving export, ensure domestic supply, move the gas sector from sub-commercial status and improve on the poor infrastructure and domestic market, attain full commerciality in domestic market and by 2014 attain full market driven status.

“Our efforts in power are focused on meeting a projected 3.5bcf/d of gas demand by 37 existing and proposed power plants, which have a collective potential to generate about 13GW by 2015,” he said.

He explained that an effective gas commercialization policy for Nigeria is to provide an enabling environment for increased private sector participation, clarify the rules guiding investors in the gas sector; define roles/ responsibilities/ rights of participants in the gas business; level the playing field between oil producers and other parties involved in the domestic gas business; set guidelines for gas pricing and transportation tariffs; facilitate third party access; define fiscal regimes for natural gas projects and provide for Anti-trust or Competition law.

However, the stakeholders at the workshop urged the Federal Government to utilise the abundant gas resources to improve the nation’s economy.

The President of NAPE, Dr. Mayowa Afe, said that natural gas is the fastest growing energy resource in most regions of the world owing to its abundance and relatively low

carbon content. He said this makes it more environmentally acceptable compared to coal or crude oil.

He said that gas transportation from production locations to areas of consumption was capital intensive, adding that it probably accounts for the large volume of unutilised gas in the country.

Afe said that the situation had encouraged flaring, while constraining its widespread utilisation in various industries including the

power sector.

The President, Nigeria Gas Association (NGA), Mr Chima Ibeneche, said that gas was directly supplied to power and other industries which drive the rest of the nation’s economy. He said: “Nigeria gas was more abundant, acceptable and affordable and if better utilised, the country will be among the top 20 developed economies in the world by 2020.”

The Vice President, Gas, Shell Pe-

troleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ubaka Emelumadu said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), pending before National Assembly, would play great role in gas production. “It is important that the bill should be passed into law for the development of the industry in the country.

“Shell is focusing globally on gas more than oil. From 1963 to 1998, Shell was the only supplier of domestic gas in Nigeria,” he said.

From left: Mrs. Bisi Okeowo-Bolade, Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Energy, Mr Taiwo Fagbemi; Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Energy and Mr Gabriel Kajero, Representative Mathesis Consultancy Company (UK) addressing the press on the forthcoming Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo organised

by Mathesis in collaboration with Ogun State Government.

New Petroleum Industry Bill: An analysis By

•Ms Obua •Continued from September 11

P

ETROLEUM Equalisation Fund - Section 100. Petroleum Host Communities FundSection 116.

It states that the fund shall be utilised for the development of the economic and social infrastructure of the communities within the petroleum producing communities.

See S. 117.

Section 118(1) states that ‘’ each upstream petroleum company shall remit on a monthly basis 10 per cent of the net profit as follows (a) for profit derived from petroleum operations in onshore areas and in the offshore shallow water areas, all of such remittance directly into the PHC Fund. (b) for profit derived from upstream petroleum operations in deepwater areas, all of the remittance directly into the Fund for the benefit of the petroleum producing littoral States.

Subsection (2) states that ‘net profit’ means the adjusted profit less royalty, allowable deductions and allowances, less Nigerian Hydrocarbon Tax less Companies Income Tax. Subsection (5) states ‘’ where an act of vandalism, sabotage or other civil unrest occurs that causes damage to any petroleum facility within a host community, the cost of the repair of such facility shall be paid from the PHC fund entitlement unless it is established that no member of the

Efuru Obua

community is responsible.

Issues: This key and novel provision effectively confers the status of equity stake holders on the oil producing states and repeals the 13 per cent derivation fund, if implemented it will radically transform the oil producing communities in terms of infrastructural, social and economic development, create employment, check youth restiveness and lead to overall sustainable development. A responsibility is placed on the oil producing communities to protect the facilities in their areas and introduces a sanction in the event of vandalism and destruction of property. This system of reward and punishment will no doubt check the wanton and reckless acts of vandalism in the oil producing communities given that no community will want to lose its benefits.

Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company - Section 120 Its functions include: to acquire and manage investments of the government in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Industry.

National Oil Company- Section 148 It states that the Minister shall not later than three months after the effective date, take such steps as are necessary under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to incorporate the National Oil Company as a public company limited by shares, which shall be vested with certain assets and liabilities of NNPC. Issues: The purpose of this provision is to make the former NNPC a commercial entity driven by profits and high efficiency. Section 151 states that the shareholding can be divested within six years from the date of incorporation further strengthening its operational efficiency and commercially driven status, it is hoped that the new team of the company will drive high profits and efficiency National Gas Company Plc – Section 159

It states that the Minister shall not later than three months after the effective date of the Act, take such steps as are necessary under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to Incorporate the National Gas Company Plc as a company limited by shares which shall be vested with certain assets and liabilities of NNPC Upstream Petroleum - Section 170 Ss (1) states ‘’ that all acreage for exploration, development and production of petroleum in Nigeria shall be administered by the Inspectorate’’.

Section 172 empowers the Minister on the recommendation of the Inspectorate to grant: A Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) to carry out exploration on a non- exclusive basis; a Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) to prospect for petroleum ; and a Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) to search for, win, work, carry away and dispose of petroleum.

S 172 (2) states that subject to the provisions of this Act, where the Minister decides to grant a licence or lease under this section, it shall be awarded (a) to the winning bidder pursuant to the bid process prescribed in section 190 provided the winning bidder has complied with all requirements specified in the bid process; or (b) directly to the existing licensee or lessee pursuant to the provisions of section 193 of this Act. Section 172 (5) states that a Licence or Lease under this section may be granted only to a company incorporated in Nigeria under the CAMA or any other corresponding law.

Issues: Section 170 retains the same exact provisions under the Petroleum Act 1969 but introduces a condition in 172 (6) that a grantee shall be a company that qualifies as operator. This is a stringent condition that should stem government patronage to non - operators who are awarded licenses. However the Act is silent on those companies currently owning licences or leases

but not necessarily operators.

Section 177 deals with the duration of a PPL which is a maximum of five years with respect to onshore and shallow water areas consisting of an initial exploration period of three years and a renewal period of two years with a possibility for further extensions and an area of not more than 500 square kilometres of not less than one parcel. (b) maximum period of eight years with respect to deep water areas and frontier acreage consisting of an initial exploration period of five years and a renewal period of three years with a possibility for further extensions with licence area of not more than one thousand square kilometers.

S 178 (1) states that a PPL shall contain the requirement for the licensee to commit to a work programme, SS (2c) states that the licensee is obliged to begin drilling at least one exploration well within eighteen months of the granting of such licence to a specified minimum depth.

S 179 (1) states that where the licensee declares a commercial discovery, the licensee shall within the period of two years submit a field development plan for the commercial discovery to the inspectorate which should meet all the requirements established by the inspectorate.

Issues: One of the significant requirements is that the plan must provide for elimination of routine gas flaring and include an approved Nigerian Content Plan. SS 4 provides that a licence may be revoked if a licensee does not submit a development plan. This is very welcome.

Further S.183 ties the Domestic Gas Obligation to licences and leases and stipulates penalties for failure to meet the obligation.

S. 184 states that a petroleum mining lease shall be granted for a maximum period of twenty years and twenty seven years where it is derived from a petroleum prospecting licence for onshore and shallow water areas and frontier acreages. Under ss (2) (a), the development period for a petroleum mining lease shall

be five years for onshore and shallow water leases and seven years for deep water leases and leases in frontier acreages.

Section 190 deals with the Awards process which shall be conducted by the Inspectorate. ss (1) states that the grant of a PPL or PML shall be by open, transparent and competitive bidding process. ss (2) states that the winning bidder shall be determined on the basis of a single bid parameter which can be based on a signature bonus ; a royalty percentage in addition to the relevant subsisting royalty percentage; a work commitment in terms of number of wells to be drilled to a specified minimum depth during the initial exploration period or work units.

Issues: This rigorous criteria with its points system will entrench openness and transparency in all future bid rounds in the industry thereby allaying concerns that the bidding process is flawed and subject to manipulation.

Ss (3) provides that there shall be no discretionary awards except as provided for in S.199, it states further that the inspectorate shall call for bids via a process to be made available to the general public through publications on the website of the inspectorate and two newspapers with an international coverage and two newspapers with a national coverage.

Section 195 states grounds for revocation of licence, ss (1) states that the Minister on recommendation of the Inspectorate may revoke a licence or lease under certain circumstances.

The Minister is empowered amongst others to; revoke a licence or lease where it has been obtained or acquired on the basis of false representations or corrupt practices or where it is owned or controlled by a former or present public officer who has obtained the licence or lease through misuse of public office. to be continued

•Ms Obua, a solicitor with over 20 years experience, is from the University of Dundee. She practices in the UK and also a partner at EN&N Legal Practitioners Victoria Island Lagos and can be reached atefuru@ennlawfirm.com/ eobua@hotmail.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

57

NEWS Akwe-Doma queries Al-Makura on N4b UBEC fund

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ORMER Nasarawa Governor Aliyu Akwe-Doma yesterday demanded an explanation from the Tanko AlMakura administration for the alleged disappearance of N4 billion from the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The funds were said to have been set aside for the construction and rehabilitation of UBE projects.

A former Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Suleiman Ubam, who queried the whereabouts of the funds, alleged, in a statement yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) administration might have misappropriated the funds.

He said the state government was yet to renovate a school, 18 months after assuming leadership in the state, despite inheriting N4 billion from the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.

The statement said: “It is pertinent for me to also put on record the incontrovertible fact that the education reform programme of the Aliyu Doma administration did not only positively impact on the development and quality of education at all levels throughout the state, but also left N4 billion in NASUBEB’s coffers.”

The Commissioner for Education Alhaji Abubakar Hussani said the SUBEB was an organisation on its own.

The commissioner said the question should be directed to the board chairman, Alhaji Abdulkarim Mohammed.

But Mohammed said there was nothing else for him to comment on since the governor had cleared the air on the matter, when he said he inherited an empty treasury.

‘Corps member’ held for alleged robbery From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE Kwara State Police Command yesterday paraded a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and another suspect for alleged robbery.

The Corps member and Taofeek Tobi Adesina were said to have been armed with guns when they invaded a phone shop on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin, on October 1. They allegedly stole 35 cell phones and phone accessories.

Police spokesperson Olufemi Fabode, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), told reporters that the value of the phone accessories was N400,00.

He added that the suspects allegedly dispossessed their victim of N8,850.

Fabode said: “The two suspects, who initially pretended to be customers, later held the owner of the shop hostage at gun point. They tied the victim’s hands and sealed her mouth with a cellotape to prevent her from shouting.

They ransacked the shop.

Kogi Speaker, principal officers K impeached OGI State House of Assembly Speaker Abdullai Bello and other principal officers were yesterday impeached.

Lawal Jimoh, who represents Okene II, is now the Speaker.

The impeached principal officers are Deputy Speaker Emmanuel Mebije; Majority Leader Yakubu Yunusa; Chief Whip Saidu Akawu Salihu and Minority Leader Adeyemi Abidemi.

They were replaced by Atule Christopher Okoche (Deputy Speaker); Aliyu Akuh, (Majority Leader); Suleiman Babadoko, (Chief Whip) and Sunday Raishiwe Shigaba, (Minority Leader).

Seventeen of the 25 members signed the impeachment notice.

But Bello said the impeachment was illegal because only 12 members, which he said was below the majority, signed it; 13 others were on his side.

He denied receiving an impeachment notice prior to his removal.

Bello said: “As far as I am concerned, I remain the Speaker of the Assembly, because the impeachment,

•Ex-Speaker, Malaye fault removal •Lawal Jimoh is new Speaker From Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja, Sanni Onogu and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

which did not get the majority, cannot stand.

“For your information, the symbol of authority is still in my custody and we will resume sitting on Thursday.”

Moving the motion during an emergency meeting, Gowon Paul Haruna, who represents Dekina I, explained that most members had lost confidence in the principal officers.

He said Bello did not respond positively to the recent killings in Okene and the floods, which submerged nine local government areas.

According to him, the impeached Speaker was not available when President Goodluck Jonathan and other eminent personalities visited the state.

The lawmaker alleged that when Governor Idris Wada

wanted to appoint some liaison officers, Bello attended a meeting on the matter.

Haruna said the former Speaker agreed with the governor’s choices but later convened an “emergency sitting” of the Assembly, where he allegedly gave the impression that the Assembly was not aware of the governor’s choices.

This, the lawmaker said, led to the rejection of two of the liaison officers.

“The acts of misconduct and high-handedness, among others, against the Speaker and other principal officers, were brought to their notice to give them a fair hearing,” Haruna said.

The impeachment motion was seconded by Shehu Idris (Lokoja II).

Jimoh (Okene II) was elected Speaker.

The new House leadership visited Wada yesterday.

Led by Jimoh, the new principal officers assured the governor of good leadership.

He explained that the Assembly changed its leadership in the interest of the state.

Bello and Wada were in January sworn in as governor in a political drama that was later resolved in favour of Wada.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, yesterday said the impeachment of Bello and other principal officers of the Assembly was a “huge joke”.

Melaye, who is also the spokesperson of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, told reporters in Abuja that the impeachment was a “satanic and unconstitutional act” that would not stand the test of time.

He wondered how 12 of the 25 lawmakers could remove the principal officers.

But the Special Adviser to the Governor, Yahaya Karaku, hailed Jimoh’s emergence as Speaker.

In a statement in Abuja, Karaku noted that Jimoh’s wealth of experience would accelerate the development of the state.

•Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Baraka Sani (left), receiving the Best State Participation Award from the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, at the close of the National Agricultural Show in TudunWada, Nasarawa State…yesterday.

Niger opposition parties accuse Aliyu of executing elitist projects M AJOR opposition parties in Niger State - Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) - yesterday accused Governor Babangida Aliyu of executing projects that “have no economic value to most residents”.

They took a swipe at the House of Assembly for failing to carry out its oversight function on the projects.

At a joint media briefing addressed by their chairmen and governorship candidates in last year’s elections, the parties accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration of not executing massesoriented policies but those that satisfy the elite.

Through the CPC Chairman, Mallam Umar Shuaibu, the opposition parties challenged the execution of some

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

projects, such as the NigerAmerica Medical City, Millennium Shopping Plaza, Minna Five-Star Hotel - where N500million has allegedly been expended - and Ward Development Project.

The parties alleged that the electorate was told that the projects were to be executed through the Public Private Partnership (PPP), adding that the “partners” have abandoned sites after collecting mobilisation fees.

They demanded a detailed account on the N5 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Aliyu administration and a private firm, Snecou Group of Companies, for the execution of the

multi-sector projects.

Shuaibu said: “Like other projects, the N5billion project was not only designed to fail but was indeed signposted by huge failure. In the first instance, the state government seemed not to have called on the services of its legal personnel before dwelling on the MoU. “The amount expended on this project has not been appropriated via the annual budget and implementation began even without any bill of quantity. The MoU offered the PPP partner a blank cheque.”

The opposition parties also alleged that the PPP projects were used to siphon state funds, adding that there was no evidence of endorsement by appropriate approving au-

thorities prior to their implementation.

Shuaibu was in company of ACN Chairman, Capt. Isa Mokwa (rtd), and their ANPP counterparts, Hajiya Jummai Mohammed and other top leaders of the parties.

They berated the House of Assembly for not monitoring the alleged mismanagement of state funds by the executive.

“The Assembly stands indicted for not pursuing the Appropriation Bill with deserved efficiency, if not for a silence of conspiracy,” Shuaibu said.

Mokwa said the opposition would send the ruling PDP packing and that the leaders of the three parties at the wards have been directed to work for the success of a new movement in the state.

Court dismisses Saraki’s suit against Belgore AN Abuja High Court yesterday dismissed the N5billion defamation suit filed by former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki, now a senator, against the Kwara Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) governorship candidate in the 2011 poll, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).

Justice Abubakar Umar threw out the case, following what he called repeated failure of the plaintiff’s counsel to appear to argue the case and non-presentation of evidence on the allegations of defamation.

Saraki’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, was not in court yesterday. He sent a letter, complaining of ill-health and requesting for another adjournment.

The court rejected the request and dismissed the suit.

The ruling followed a request by the defence counsel, Babajide Ogundipe, who wanted the matter dismissed, pursuant to Order 35 Rule 4 of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, (Civil Procedure Rules, 2004).

Ogundipe urged the court to make the plaintiff pay a N2 million cost to “teach the plaintiff a lesson not to treat the court like a joke”.

Justice Umar said the matter came up for trial for the first time on March 28 but could not proceed due to the unavailability of the plaintiff’s witness.

The matter was adjourned for various reasons and when it last came up on July 17, it could also not proceed to trial at the instance of the plaintiff.

Justice Umar said: “Today, again, the plaintiff’s counsel wrote a letter which was received by the court at 11am, seeking an adjournment on the ground of ill-health though there is no documentary evidence to back same up.

“However, the court will not allow the antics of illhealth to secure an adjournment as the plaintiff has shown lack of seriousness to prove their case.”

The court struck out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution. No cost was awarded to the defence, in the spirit of having the matter resolved amicably between the parties.

FCDA warns contractors From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has warned contractors handling its projects against delay as it resolved to regularly fund ongoing projects.

The Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Adamu Ismaila, told reporters in Abuja that it would no longer be business as usual.

He said: “The major issue is funding and once funding is steady, the projects will definitely be completed within stipulated time.”

Ismaila urged contractors to resume work, adding that FCDA engineers have been mobilised to monitor and supervise ongoing projects as directed by the FCT minister.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

NEWS 55 Naval trainees dismissed for presenting fake results •’Fake soldier’ held in Rivers From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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IFTY-FIVE naval trainees, including four girls, were yesterday handed over to the police in Rivers State for allegedly presenting forged secondary school certificates to the Navy.

The Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, Commodore Apochi Suleiman, said the suspects were withdrawn from the ongoing training of new recruits.

He said: “We are handing over the 55 dismissed trainees to the police for prosecution. It is a warning to the bad eggs that the Nigerian Navy has no place for them. We have put mechanisms in place to discover fake or altered results.”

Also yesterday, the police paraded a man, Frances Uche, who had allegedly been impersonating a Second Lieutenant.

Police Spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam said: “On September 22, 2012, the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, arrested Uche, a native of Okposi community in Ohazara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Ugwuegbulam said: “At Timber Shed in Oyigbo, he impersonated as a military officer. He was in full army camouflage a Second Lieutenant when he was arrested and handed over to the police.

“We conducted our own investigation and discovered that he was dismissed from the Army in 2009 and has been using the military uniform to engage in nefarious activities.”

WASTE-MANAGERS WANTED Become a representative of European Waste-management company in Nigeria for electronic scrap (Cell phone scrap, PCB boards). We need huge amount! It is a very good payment possibility!

You can apply by mail: rrr@metalorg.com PUBLIC NOTICE ALABASTER HOUSE ASSEMBLY This to notify the general public that the above named church has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied matters Act 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE 1.

Prophet Ernest Agortey Agortey 2.

Alabaster Aseye 3.

Chinenye Agortey 4.

Godwin Kojo 5.

Grace Adzigbe AIMS 1.

2.

3.

4.

AND OBJECTIVES To preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To propagate a life of purity in Christ.

Deliverance to the bondage.

Wining souls into the kingdom of God.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed PROPHET ERNEST AGORTEY AGORTEY

•From left: Executive Director, Policy and Loans Set up, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Mr. Newman Ordia; Director, Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of Education Mr. Chika Uwaezuoke and Minister of State for Education Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike at the inauguration of the committee on the National Teachers Housing Scheme in Abuja...yesterday.

Senators disagree on Labour Party petition

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ENATORS yesterday disagreed over the laying of the report of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges which considered a Petition from Labour Party (LP).

The party had petitioned Senate President David Mark, over the defection of Sen. Robert Borrofice (Ondo), from its fold to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Before the report could be laid, Sen. Femi Lanlehin (ACNOyo) raised a point of order, saying that there was no previous petition on the matter laid before the assembly. “ The procedure for the referral of a petition to the committee is stated in our rules.

“To the best of my knowledge, we have not received in this Senate, a petition either from Labour Party or the

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

government of Ondo.

“The rule states also in 21 that: all petitions are to be signed and presented while 41 (1) says a petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senate committee; “Based on the aforementioned provision, this petition cannot, should not and must not be laid,” he said.

Mark, however, disagreed with Lanlehin, saying that LP had forwarded a petition to him on the matter which he referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

“You are saying that no petition was brought before the Senate and laid before the table of the Senate.

“I got a petition that was written to me, and I referred it to the ethics committee. If the

Senate does not want to discuss it, I have no problem, ’’ he said.

Mark ruled Lanlehin out of order, saying that his reference to the petition to the committee was based on the fact that it affected a fellow senator, adding that he wanted to be fair.

The Senate President called on Lanlehin to second the motion but he declined. saying that he could not second it since he did not believe in the report.

Both the Senate president and Lanlehin proceeded to cite several sections of the senate standing rules to defend their positions.

Lanhelin stood his ground and refused to second the motion.

Mark told Lanlehin, “since I have called you and you have refused to speak, do not complain when you want to speak and I refuse to call on you.’’

Citing section 68 of the constitution, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said that the matter was a constitutional one and that the constitution was superior to the rules of the Senate.

The Chairman of the Ethics and privileges Committee Sen. Ayo Akinyelure(LP –Ondo ) eventually moved a motion that the report be laid and it was seconded by Sen. Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo) and the report was laid.

Mark had in an earlier statement distanced himself from the alleged plot to remove from the Senate.

He said that Boroffice was the architect of whatever fate befell him, on whether he (Boroffice) could retain his seat in the Senate after decamping from LP

How lawmakers’ passports were ‘stolen’, by ICRC

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THE management of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) yesterday in Abuja confirmed the theft of the international passports of three National Assembly members.

The passports, which were submitted to the ICRC office for visa processing for a capacity-building course in India, were said to have been discovered stolen on October 10.

From Yomi Odunuga, Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

The Nation exclusively reported last Saturday that eight persons were arrested over the matter and were detained by the Special AntiRobbery Squad.

This followed threats from the affected lawmakers that the stolen passports must be recovered because they contained valid visas to several countries.

The ICRC said the passports

belong to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze; the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties, Bello Kaoje and another Representatives member John Fakeye.

The two committees perform oversight functions at the ICRC. ICRC’s Head, Communication Gbenga Odugbesan said the lawmakers were to attend a five-day capacity-building course on

Public Private Partnership in Infrastructure at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, on October 15.

He said the passports were submitted to ICRC on October 9.

Odugbesan said: “There was an incident on Tuesday, October 9, when three diplomatic passports meant for visas to India for a capacitydevelopment programme for members of the National Assembly got missing in our office.

Court hears appeal on Edo Assembly seat HE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday began hearing the appeal filed by Anselm Agbabi.

Agbabi is challenging the guard Mr. Kabiru Adjoto as the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN’s) standard bearer in the 2011 House of Assembly election.

Adjoto represents AkokoEdo State Constituency 1.

Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court in April declared Adjoto the party’s standard bearer.

Justice Hobon said the party violated the Electoral Act by substituting Adjoto’s name with that of Agbabi, who was the runner-up in the ACN primaries held in January, 2011.

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, Adjoto’s counsel Nosa Osifo drew the court’s attention to

T

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

a letter signed by the ACN State Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah, dissociating the party from the suit.

The letter, dated May 23, 2012, said ACN was not a party to the appeal.

It reads: “It should be taken as impersonation, if any lawyer is purported to

have been briefed by the ACN. Adjoto remains the elected member for AkokoEdo Constituency 1.”

Osifo alleged that the signatories were different.

But Agbabi’s counsel Ken Mozia said there was another letter signed by Idah on October 15 instructing his firm to represent the party in the suit.

Justice George Shoremi warned Osifo not to interfere in the letters and said the ACN should state its withdrawal in an application.

When contacted about the party’s stand on the case, ACN State Organising Secretary Frank Airewele said the party was not interested in the case.

Delta commissioner back in Asaba

D

ELTA State Commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Hope Eghagha has returned to Asaba, the state capital, it was learnt yesterday.

Eghagha was freed on Monday at about 7pm in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area, 15 days after he was abducted.

He was kidnapped on September 30 at Owa-Ekei by gunmen, who killed his police guard and injured his driver.

A source said a large ransom was paid for his release.

Police spokesman Charles Muka con-

From Okungbowa Aiweerie, Asaba

firmed the release, but refused to comment on whether ransom was paid.

He said: “You know the police do not encourage the payment of ransom. I am not aware if any money was paid or not before the kidnappers released him. We will certainly arrest the kidnappers and bring them to justice.”

Information Commissioner Chike Ogeah said Eghagha was back in Asaba.

He said: “Eghagha is fine. I learnt he has returned to Asaba. He is still in a state of shock and needs to take good care of his health after being kidnapped for 15 days. He has to rest.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

59

Gunmen kidnap two school children in Calabar, demand N30m

U

NKNOWN gunmen yesterday morning kidnapped two school children along the Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

According to eyewitnesses, the three gunmen were masked; it was only the driver that did not cover his face.

The incident, it was gathered, happened at about 7.30am as their mother, Mrs. Juliet Eko James, was taking them to school.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

Mr. Johnson Eko James, the father of the children, relived the matter on telephone: “my wife and our three children were driving out of our street into the highway and suddenly, some people in a Vento salon car accosted her, using their car to block my wife’s car. They came out pointing a gun at my wife and asked for her mobile telephone. When she handed over her phone, they then picked up our four-

year-old daughter. The elder brother, Emmanuel, 10 years old, questioned why they were taking his sister away, they picked him up as well. It was at that point that our second child, a seven-year-old, ran out of the car heading back to the house.”

Mr. James, a civil servant with Cross River State civil service said he reported the matter to the Police at the Federal Housing Estate Police division in Calabar.

He said the kidnappers

called at noon, demanding for N30million.

He said all appeals from his wife to take their car, a Toyota Sienna, was rebuffed by the gunmen who took away their children.

But Police spokesman John Umoh said he had not got report from the Divisional Police Officer of the police station.

“I will get back to you as soon as I get the details,” he said. But he did not do so until press time.

Senate pegs oil benchmark at $78

•Mark Continued from page 1

The Senate adopted the recommendation of crude oil production per day of 2.53mbp, 2.61mbp, and 2.65mbp for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

It adopted that average exchange rate of N160/US$1 is appropriate.

Makarfi said the joint committee opted for a higher benchmark price of crude oil but agreed to recommend the adoption of $75 for purposes of the MTEF and FSP, pending submission of 2013 budget details.

The Senate adopted the recommendation that the Feder-

al Government should exercise extreme caution on foreign borrowing.

It also adopted the recommendation of corporate tax and vat rates of 30 per cent and 5 per cent for 2013-2015.

The comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) account transferred to Nigeria Custom Service, the Senate said, adding that the government should strengthen its fiscal strategy to narrow the gap between projected and actual revenue for the period 2013-2015 by curtailing crude oil theft and diversifying the economy to increase tax bases as to increase tax revenue.

It agreed that there should be specific provision for subsidy payments or a clear statement, if it is the intention of the Executive to stop subsidizing petroleum products.

The lawmakers rejected the structures being set up in states, senatorial zones and local governments on Federal Government SURE-P intervention programme.

It said that the details of SURE-P to be executed under the programme should be attached as an addendum to the annual Appropriation for scrutiny and approval of the National Assembly.

Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal at plenary yesterday said the House would concentrate on the bill by shelving all other matters to quickly dispense with the budget.

“We will dedicate the whole of tomorrow (today) and conclude on Thursday,” he said.

House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola presented the budget proposal under the title: “A Bill for an Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N4.924 trillion of which N380 billion is for statutory transfers, N591 billion is for debt service, N2.412 trillion is for recurrent expenditure while the balance of N1.540 trillion is for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2013.”

There are fears that the decision of the House to increase the $75 per barrel of crude oil benchmark proposed by the executive in the 2013 budget to $80 may impede the budget’s smooth passage.

Sequel to the recommendation of the House’s joint Committees on Finance, Legislative Budget and Research, National Planning and Eco-

Suspect indicts policeman in UNIPORT killings Continued from page 2

went out. My wife has just been delivered of a baby.”

On his role in the lynching of the four students, Ugbaje said: “I flogged the boys twice.”

Amadi, alias Kapoon, said: “I live at No. 9. Royal Villa in Omuokiri-Aluu. I am from Ikwerre. I work at UNIPORT. I am a printer. I do photocopying and binding.

In the morning on that day, I dressed up, as usual, so that I could go to my work. When I came out at the junction, so that I could pick a bike, I saw a crowd of people, with four boys. They were naked, with tyres on their necks.

“I shifted a bit, but to verify what was happening, they told me the four boys came to rob. I asked where they were taking them to. They said they were taking them to No. 9, where I live.

They said they mentioned one of our neighbours. That they came to look for him as well.

“I followed the crowd. Before I reached my estate, they had already reached the house with the four boys in front of my neighbour, Bright, from Ogoni. They said they were looking for

one of the boys. Before they came, the back door was locked. Some of the people in the crowd said they were going to break the back door.

Others said no, they should leave the door, since Bright was not around. At the end, they started beating the boys.”

On the role he played, Amadi said: “They started beating the boys. In the process of beating the boys, policemen came, but they said no, they were not going to leave the four boys. I called this my neighbour (David Chinasa Ugbaje), with other neighbours, that we were not going to allow that kind of thing to take place in our estate that we would be in trouble.

“This my neighbour (Ugbaje ) collected his belt. I collected a small stick, and we started chasing people, flogging everybody, to take the boys out of our yard. We started pushing everybody out, including the four students. They left their tyres, I said they should take their tyres out of the yard and we locked our gate.

“I flogged everybody, including the four boys, for ev-

erybody to go out. I beat one of the four boys twice and the other one, I beat once.

Segun said: “My name is Segun Lawal. I am from Osun State. I live in Omuokiri-Aluu. I was in the house, around 6:30 am to 7 am. I am a taxi driver. I saw a crowd and I parked my car outside.

I saw a police vehicle coming and I followed the police.

I saw four policemen. I saw the policemen enter the gate.

“As I reached the gate, they were beating the boys. I had to raise my hands up, to defend the boys. If you watch the video, you will see it. I wore blue polo shirt. I started pleading for the crowd not to kill the four boys. They did not listen.

“The Policemen left immediately. I had to leave. As I left, I went to GRA (Port Harcourt); one of my customers called that I should take him to Obudu Cattle Ranch (in Cross River State).

“I came back on Saturday night (October 6). I was in my house. Policemen came to arrest me. I never had this type of experience. I told the police that I was not around.

That I travelled to Obudu. I did not beat the four boys.”

Abdulsalami’s group wins Ikeja, Ibadan, PHCN firms

nomic Development, and Aids, Loans and Debt Management, which considered the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), the House passed a resolution adopting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2013-2015 earlier presented by the President with modifications.

In adopting the MTEF, the House increased the benchmark by $5.

The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jubrin, has however said the House will stand by its decision, adding that the Finance Minister should resign if she is incapable of implementing the decision of the National Assembly.

•Gen. Abdulsalami Continued from page 2

a letter of credit.

He noted that for Yola and Jos distribution companies, the post-qualification security required from each bidder is $5million.

The chairman also noted that bidders for Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Kano and PortHacourt distribution companies were expected to submit $10million bank guarantee or letter of credit. $15milliin is required for bidders from Abuja and Ibadan distribution companies.

Continuing, he said “I am very glad to report that many bidding consortia for the distribution companies, whose commercial bids are opened today, include owners and operators of some of the most successful and efficient

electricity distribution companies operating elsewhere in the world,” Peterside said, adding: “Nigerians should be comforted and pleased to know that it would be difficult to assemble a more qualified group of bidders for our distribution companies today other than the consortia that we have present in this room.“ Director-General Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa said in the distribution sector, the government focused less proceeds from asset sales, even though it would receive substantial proceeds.

She said: “We have emphasised the need for preferred bidders to display the ability to immediately bring in investments that will remove the high losers profile of all the 11 distribution companies.”

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Ishaka, advised the loser to take advantage of other opportunities in the sector.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Gbenga Obadara, noted that the business model of the winners must fit what they bid for.

“We will not give these companies to incompetent people,” Obadara said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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FOREIGN NEWS Pakistani teen activist ‘stable’

Jail break in Libya

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ORE than 100 inmates have escaped from the al-Judaida prison in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

The prisoners are said to be of various nationalities and officials say about 60 have so far been recaptured. It is not clear how the breakout happened.

Al-Judaida is one of Tripoli’s largest jails. Human rights groups accuse officials of abusing inmates.

The mass escape comes less than a week before the first anniversary of Col Muammar Gaddafi’s death.

The head of Libya’s national guard, Khaled alSharif, told the BBC that out of the 120 inmates that escaped at least half have so far been captured.

He said that some were illegal African migrants imprisoned for immigration violations and others were Libyans with criminal convictions.

Circumstances surrounding the prison break are unclear and officials say an investigation is under way.

The national guard says it has set up checkpoints in the area to try to hunt down the escaped prisoners.

Libyan jails are currently under the control of an array of different military councils and brigades.

HE medical director of the UK hospital where Pakistani girl Malala Yousafzai is being treated has said doctors are “impressed with her strength and resilience”.

Dr David Rosser said she was making good progress, but has a long way to go and is not out of the woods yet.

The 14 year-old schoolgirl was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for her campaign for girls’ education.

Pakistan’s president described it as an attack on “civilised people”.

Speaking in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, President Asif Ali Zardari said: “The Taliban attack on the 14-year-old girl, who from the age of 11 was involved in the struggle for education for girls, is an attack on all girls in Pakistan, an attack on education, and on all civilised people.”

Malala was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Monday night for treatment.

Security is tight at the hospital, with a police presence in place to deal with any unauthorised visitors.

On Monday night a number of well-wishers turned up hoping to see her but were turned away by West Midlands police.

Dr Rosser described the incident as “irritating”, but said the hospital and its partners are “comfortable with security arrangements”.

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From left: Peruvian First Lady Nadine Heredia, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and United Nations’ Women Executive Director and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet wave during a visit to Gamarra Comercial Emporium in the district of La Victoria in Lima for a conference....yesterday

Blame me for Benghazi attack, says Clinton

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NITED States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she takes responsibility for the security failure at the Benghazi consulate that led to the killing of four Americans in Libya last month.

Mrs Clinton said ensuring the safety of US diplomatic staff overseas was her job, not that of the White House.

US Republicans have strongly criticised President Barack Obama over the at-

tack.

And Republican challenger Mitt Romney is likely to raise it again in the second campaign debate with Obama.

“I take responsibility,” Mrs Clinton told CNN. “I’m in charge of the state department’s 60,000-plus people all over the world [at] 275 posts.”

It seems Mrs Clinton is trying to draw criticism away from Obama, who needs a strong debate per-

formance if he is to recover his lead in the polls, says the BBC’s Adam Brookes in Washington.

In her interviews with US TV channels, Mrs Clinton appeared to acknowledge that she was trying to shield the president, our correspondent says.

“What we had to do in the state department was keep focused not on why something happened - that was for the intelligence community to determine - but what

was happening and what could happen,” Mrs Clinton said.

“And that’s what I was very much working on, day and night, to try to make sure that we intervened with governments. We did everything we could to keep our people safe, which is my primary responsibility.”

Mrs Clinton said she was focused on tracking down the killers of the US ambassador to Libya and bringing them to justice.

NEWS

I will abide by what Nigerians decide on federalism, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he would abide by what Nigerians may eventually decide on how to restructure the country.

But he said the way forward is for all Nigerians to commit themselves to the cause of national integration.

Jonathan spoke at a colloquium at ThisDay Dome, ,Abuja, to mark the 80th birthday of ex-Vice-President Alex Ekwueme.

The panelists comprised Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Niger State Deputy Governor Musa Ibeto, the leader of Niger Delta and Southsouth Peoples Assembly, Chief Edwin Clark, former Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Northern Leaders Political Forum (NLPF), Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, former Minister of Police Affairs, David Jemibewon, Kano State Governor represented by his deputy Umar Ganduja and the former Vice-President of the World Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

The mini-conference was moderated by ThisDay Chairman Nduka Obaigbena, with the following respondents, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali, former Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah, former PDP National Chairman Chief Solomon Lar, a former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Bolaere Ketebu.

•Jemibewon, Fashola, others split over zones From Akin Orimolade, Abuja

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the President said he has resolved to work for the actualisation of national integration.

“The challenge of our time is the failure of our constitution. 52 years of independence, it is clear to all that there is really the need for every one to commit to national integration.”

On the agitation for true federalism, Jonathan assured that he would abide by the decision of Nigerians on how the nation should be structured.

He urged leaders to stay away from divisive tendencies in order to build the nation.

The President described Ekwueme as one of the architects of present day Nigeria and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed a great star of our time.

Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon, who chaired the occasion, said: “I do not accept call for sovereign national conference but a national constitutional conference.

“Today’s event may well serve as a mini national constitutional conference because people from various ethnic and religious groups are represented here.

“Nigeria needs a veritable platform such as this

one offered by the former Vice President’s birthday for us to redesign the way forward and where issues relating to the equitable distribution of our national resources can be discussed and resolved” On the celebrant, Gowon said: “Ekwueme’s mental alertness is never in doubt despite grey hairs, just as he may risk losing count of his string of degrees in Architecture, Urban Planning, Sociology, History and Law. “He is an astute politician and a consensus builder. I know him to be a good man and a patriotic Nigerian.”

Gowon, who stood in for former President Shehu Shagari, said Ekwueme’s penchant for acquiring academic degrees is perhaps unequalled.

Lagos State Governor Raji Fashola said he disagreed with the move to introduce the concept of six geopolitical zones into the constitution.

The governor said with the present agitation for more funds between the existing tiers of government, it is obvious that the six geopolitical zone structures will find it extremely difficult to find its bearing.

Fashola proposed the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) propelled regional economic integration being canvassed for the Southwest.

He listed some of the na-

tional values that the country must always stand for as multi-party system, true federalism and a resolve to address the insecurity problem and incidence of natural disaster as one body devoid of politicking.

He described Ekwueme’s as gentleman and one of the few good men Nigeria can boost of.

On his part, Obi said there is no need to amend the constitution.

The governor said: “The creation of the six geopolitical zones was based on injustice and inequality because some zones have seven states, whereas other zone like the Southeast has five states.

“There is, therefore, the need to amend the equality as contained in the six geopolitical zones.”

Ganduje said the six geopolitical zones as presently constituted is “not acceptable to Kano people”.

He said the zones were a military creation during the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference.

“The creation of the zones was deceitful. It was not based on land mass and population. We are deceiving ourselves; the six geopolitical zones are not acceptable to Kano people.”

Jemibewon, who spoke thereafter, opposed the call for the call for the cancellation of the zones, saying if anything like that is done, “there would be uprising”.

Ibeto, who represented

the Niger State Governor, called for the strengthening Said he: “There is nothing wrong with the six geopolitical zones, what I will advocate is that the zones should be strengthened to perform. We need to strengthen the zones by providing the enabling environment.”

Mrs. Ezekwesili said the significance of the colloquium is the identification of the vision and identity of the country.

She called for the establishment of the law and order as what happened in Port Harcourt and Mubi where students were killed still remain a challenge to entity called Nigeria.

Ciroma said he is opposed to zoning, but, in the long run, the best option is to improve the performance level of the states to ensure good governance.

He said if the argument of the zones is carried into a conclusive end, then the states as a federating structure would have to go.

Clark said the zones as the federating units are not equal, as “some zones have more states than others.

“There are zones with seven states and others with five. Where then is the equality?”

He said some states are dependent on others and cannot even initiate or generate funds as they depend on crude oil and federally collectible revenue as their source of income.

Clark called for the scrapping of the states to

be replaced with the six zones as the federating units.

Attah said a national conference where the future of the country will be decided should be planned and all ethnic groups will subscribe to the agreement of one Nigeria.

He said so far, Nigerians seem not be satisfied with the agreement of the constitution.

Ms Ketebu queried why Bayelsa State has only eight local governments instead of 10 that was recommended by the National Constitutional Conference of 1994 and 1995.

He said the White Paper of the Constitutional Conference was tampered with, as the outcome was not what the conference produced. She said Nigerians should be given opportunity to produce the constitution that is acceptable to it.

Lar called for the improvement in the status of the six geo-political zones.

He lamented that the powers at the centre were enormous and that in the past the regions had much powers before the military adventure in politics.

“It was the military that made the powers at the centre to be enormous. They made the states to become like local governments.

“My advice is that Nigerians should be patriotic and we should not be sectional. Let us work to improve the six geo-political zones, it is not good –to scrap them.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA

Lagos weightlifters begin closed camping

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WENTY-SIX athletes of the Lagos State Weightlifting Association, have started a closed camping at the Agege Stadium, ahead of the

forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos from November 27 to December 9.

Capt. Babatunde Adedimeji (Rtd), Chairman of the association, told the News

Commission plans beach volleyball courses

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USA NIMROD, Chairman, Nigeria Beach Volleyball Commission (NBVC), on Monday said that the commission would soon organise training programmes for coaches and referees.

Nimrod told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the training would be organised after the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF).

He said that for now, the commission’s attention was focused on preparations for the sports festival.

Nimrod said the training would enlighten its officials on changing trends in the sport, to enable them to be eligible to officiate in international tournaments.

"Since the commission is under the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) and we cannot organise any course for the officials now till the National Sports Festival ends in December. We are looking forward to training more referees because we have just Timothy Samuel as one of the world governing body, FIVBgraded referees in Nigeria, which is not enough.

"Locally, we want to train our

officials because the sport is new and if we want them to be recommended for international assignments by FIVB, they need to attend seminars,’’ he said.

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the weightlifters were made up of 16 males and 10 females. ``The camping began on Oct. 12 with 26 weightlifters; we are still expecting more before the end of week. The closed camping is to ensure proper preparation of our athletes for the festival,” he said.

According to him, the state government expected an outstanding performance from its weightlifters at the festival. ``So, we want to ensure that our athletes are adequately

prepared for the festival, to enable them to be able to win gold medals for the state at the festival. At the closed camp, our athletes are properly monitored by their coaches and instructed on what to do. There is no room for distraction at the closed camp. The athletes will remain in training at the camp until the festival begins,” he said.

Adedimeji said that training had seriously commenced at the camp, to ensure a glorious outing for Lagos State weightlifters at the festival.

GOVERNOR'S CUP FIRST LEG

Fatima Abinu runs into cul-de-sac

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T was tale of woe for the country's brightest female hopeful, Fatima Abinu, on Tuesday as she was sent packing at the on going 12th Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis holding at the Lagos Lawn Tennis. Abinu was sent out of the court by Grand Slam player Bratchikova in an easy flight that ended 6-1, 6-1 in the first leg of the championship.

Other Nigerians who were still

By Stella Bamawo in the fixtures failed in their bid to progress in the FCMB Plc and Etisalat Nigeria- sponsored ITF approved tourney as they were bundled out. Samuel Omoile fell 2-6, 1-6 to Egyptian Ka rimMohammed Maamoun while John Otu was stopped by Japanese Kento Takechi in 6-1,61 game.

In other results, South African

•Dalia Jakpovic (left) Valeria after a two-hour game PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Ruan Roelofse beats Uzebkstian Vega Uzakov 6-0,6-0 just as Portuguese Andre Gaspar Murta defeated German Mario Eckadt 6-4, 6-1.

In what happened to be the longest match of the tournament that lasted 4hours 15minutes, German Jasmine Steinherr had a good fight to dislodge Slovak Anna Prislan in 6-7,6-4,7-6 game.

Egyptian Karin Hossam beat Zimbabwe's Mark Lynn, while another Egypt star, Sheriff Sabry defeated Jose-Ricardo Nunez of Portugal 7-6, 6-4.

In the women's category, Israeli Valerie Patuk beat Dallas Jakupovic 7-6,3-6,7-6, American Riley Alexandra who is nursing a knee injury lost to Russian Alexandra Romanova 0-6,1-6.

In a chat with the NationSport: Rilley said: “I lost to the Russian girl because for sometime now, I had been nursing a knee injury.

The pains recurred in the course of the match, hopefully I should be able to do well in he second leg of the competition next week.”

In some doubles results, the duo of Abdumumini Babalola and Bolaji Olawepo of Nigeria beat compatriots Sani Adamu and Henry Atseye 6-3, 7-5, while the pairs of Abidemi Olanrewaju Adebisi and Ganiyu Yusuff of Nigeria lost to Michael-Bay Pllares-Gonzales and Murphy Parker of USA in 6-4,6-0 match.

•Felix Ekpo competes during the men's 77kg group B weightlifting event during the London 2012 Olympic Games in London

Coach wants handball in education curriculum

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NNOCENT Nwankwo, the Coach of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Handball team, has called for the inclusion of the sport in school curriculum to encourage wider participation in sports.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the early introduction of children to sports would help to stimulate their mental alertness.

"It is a wrong perception to think that when you introduce sports into the educational curriculum the students will not be coordinated. I want to state that if you introduce sporting activities into the educational curriculum, the benefit is enormous as the person will be mentally and physically alert. And until you are mentally alert you cannot reason well, but once you are mentally alert you can assimilate better when you go back to school,’’ the coach said.

Nwankwo added that once an individual has been put through the rigours of sporting activities the resultant effect will be apparent.

"So, once someone is physically and mentally developed he or she will be

able to think very properly,’’ he said.

The coach also urged the authorities to nurture the country’s budding talents in line with what obtains in other countries.

He said that for a country to belong to the elite hierarchy of world sports, the private sector must be wholly involved.

This, he said was because government alone could not handle the sector.

"Countries like the China and the United States that are advance in sports are also economic and world powers.

In the U.S., for instance, the government has no business handling sports; it is the private sector that handles sports. If we look at all the big time teams you’ll see that they are all about business, but first you have to invest in facilities, sporting equipment and personnel,’’ Nwankwo said.

According to him, ``gone are the days of using sports to while away time, we are in the era of using it for national development.

I think the relationship between sports and national development is not the one that you can divorce easily. With the abundant talents we have in sports, we can become an economic power through this medium,’’ he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

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TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.2,281

‘What usually happens to the hordes of women who are reportedly ‘arrested’ by Saudi security forces for breaches of the social and moral rule only to be off the streets for the night or a couple of days and be back ‘doing their thing’ DELE AGEKAMEH afterwards?’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HEN Prof Barth Nnaji left as Minister of Power in late August, it was not clear whether he jumped or was pushed. Most guesses including mine, however, was that he was pushed, if only because his departure was rather too sudden.

The terse two paragraph announcement of his departure by the spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, hardly suggested the minister left on his own.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” Abati said, “has accepted the resignation WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT of the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.

President Jonathan thanks Prof Nnaji for his services to the nation under the present administration and wishes him well in his future endeavours.” (Emphasis mine) Presidents don’t go about accepting the resignations of their sidekicks with immediate effect and without saying why.

In this case, the President did say why eventually but his reason hardly suggested that Nnaji jumped. In any case, sudden resignations are very unusual ways to depart lucrative jobs like ministering to a country’s electricity power supply.

Nnaji left on August 28. It took the President two days to say why. This was on August 30 during a town hall meeting in Onitsha after he’d inaugurated the town’s inland river port complex. “Barth Nnaji,” he reportedly said, “has not committed any offence. He is a very competent and seasoned professional.”

However, before seemingly exonerating the minister, the president made an oblique reference to the issue of conflict of interest involving not just the minister but probably other senior government officials as well.

“Before we started this privatisation,” Thisday (August 31) reported him as telling his distinguished guests, “some major stakeholders who had access to me, came to me and said, ‘Mr President, we heard all these privatisation of projects in the power sector had already been shared among the people and we want the president to assure us so that we do not waste our time.’ I said, ‘no you can keep faith in the process.’”

The minister, the President reportedly said, had willingly declared his interest in two companies that had bid for Afam Power Station and for Enugu Distribution Company.

This, he said, was what gave rise to a conflict of interest that made the minister resign in order to safeguard the privatisation exercise.

Obviously, it was contradictory for the President to say his minister did nothing wrong and yet point at the conflict between his pri-

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

PHCN privatisation: Now that Nnaji is gone

•Nnaji

vate interest and his public duty as the reason why he “resigned.”

The President did not say when Nnaji declared his private interest in the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), but anyone familiar with the exercise knows the minister’s conflict of interest did not arise yesterday. It goes all the way back to the time of the President’s immediate predecessor, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, when the minister was his special adviser on energy. That conflict of interest had been a source of serious, and a times violent, conflict between Nnaji and both management and workers of the PHCN. The minister could, therefore, not have resigned simply because the President suddenly discovered his private interest was in con-

RIPPLES PDP votes N5b to win Ondo–News

HARDBALL

•For comments, send SMS to 08023211188

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Mo Ibrahim Index: Africa’s famished leadership landscape

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This is what’s called BAD INVESTMENT

flict with his public duty; the conflict had been there all along. From the President’s oblique talk about some VIP stakeholders’ worry about the integrity of the exercise, a more likely explanation could be that the private interest in the exercise of some officials more powerful than the minister simply trumped the minister’s.

In which case it should be obvious that Nnaji’s resignation alone has hardly solved the problem of the conflict of interest of government officials responsible for the exercise.

When the president announced on August 28 that he had accepted the “resignation” of his minister, he said he would replace him quickly and with another Igbo. It’s now midOctober and Nnaji is yet to be replaced at all, never mind with an Igbo compatriot. This undue delay suggests the politics of PHCN’s privatisation has complicated matters for the President.

If this is the case, the President has only himself to blame; he ought to have known that a policy of allocating portfolios by ethnicity – or for that matter, by state, as seems to be the case with the ministry of defence which has remained vacant since he sacked the last minister, who is from Kebbi State, months ago - is as wrongheaded as it is untenable in a world where competence has no tribe, creed or colour. Not that there are no other Igbos even more competent than Nnaji. There are. But to insist on an Igbo replacement was clearly restricting his choice.

In announcing Nnaji’s departure as minister, the President praised him for his competence and professionalism. Few would or can

question the President’s judgement about the ex-minister’s credentials. However, it misses the main issue which is the integrity of the exercise. The fact is that competence and professionalism are no substitutes for integrity.

And it is the dubious integrity of the exercise that has left the country as poorly served today by its power utility company as it was nearly 13 years ago when President Olusegun Obasanjo promised he will turn the sector around.

Nnaji did little to enhance the integrity of the exercise which, by the president’s own admission, was why the gentleman had to leave.

The question is would his departure make any difference? It is doubtful that it would, for the simple reason that Nnaji is probably not the only senior government official whose private interest ran counter to his public duty. The evidence is there in the history of privatisation in this country where the commonwealth has largely ended in the hands of senior government officials and their cronies and kins. It is also there in the fact that, as with previous exercises, perhaps the most notorious of which was that of NITEL, the country’s telecommunication company, the assets of PHCN have probably been grossly understated.

Government ownership of companies may have been discredited in this country but the record of the private ownership in sectors like banking and aviation has given little cause to believe that privatisation is the only solution.

Elsewhere, among the Asian Tigers – South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc – and in China the world’s emerging economic super power, there is ample evidence that efficiency and profitability is not the preserve of privately owned companies. The evidence is also right here on our continent, where the publicly owned Ethiopian Airline, for example, has shown that public ownership is not necessarily an obstacle to commercial success.

By all means let’s go ahead and privatise our public companies since they have proved unviable. However, as we do so we must remember that their problem was less the nature of their ownership than the lack of integrity with which they were run.

Unless the authorities do all they can to guarantee such integrity in the sale of the public companies, their privatised offsprings can only bring even more pain to consumers than was the case before.

T must be embarrassing to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and humiliating to the African continent that no one was found eligible this year to be awarded the Mo Ibrahim Prize for good governance, which is given annually to a democratically elected leader who voluntarily quits office after registering great impact on his country. The award was instituted in 2006 by the communications entrepreneur and billionaire businessman of Sudanese origin, Mo Ibrahim. So far, only three former leaders have won the $5 million prize: Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007), Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008), and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde (2011). In the past four years, there has been only one winner, with the foundation declaring that it failed to give it in 2009, 2010, and now 2012 because it would not compromise leadership excellence, which the prize rewards.

Along with the inability of the foundation to give the award this year, it also issued its report on good governance, which it said reflected only a marginal improvement over previous years. Entitled the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), it uses 88 indicators supplied by 23 independent data providers from inside and outside Africa. The foundation reports, among other things: “While governance continues to improve in many countries, some of Africa’s regional powerhouses – Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and

South Africa – have shown unfavourable governance performance since 2006. Over the past six years, all four countries have declined in two of the four main IIAG categories – Safety & Rule of Law and Participation & Human Rights. Each of these four countries deteriorated the most in the Participation sub-category, which assesses the extent to which citizens have the freedom to participate in the political process. South Africa and Kenya have also registered declines in Sustainable Economic Opportunity.

And Nigeria, West Africa’s powerhouse, has for the first time this year fallen into the bottom ten governance performers on the continent.”

While the four powerhouses have proved a major disappointment to many analysts, Nigeria is understandably the main focus for Nigerians. It would have been a surprise to rate Nigeria highly given how brutish life has become in the country. It is hoped that rather than join issues with the foundation, Nigerian leaders, particularly their abrasive and unrestrained spokesmen, would see the report as a true reflection of the situation in the country and an encouragement to spare no effort at reversing the negative image insecurity, destabilisation of the judiciary, extra-judicial killings, and political exclusion have brought upon her.

South Africa’s poor rating is also not surprising, as readers of this column must have

expected. This column in 2008, it will be recalled, regretted the leadership change in South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) that brought in Mr Jacob Zuma, whom it described as distracted and sometimes frivolous, in place of the aloof intellectual, Mr Thabo Mbeki. Almost immediately Zuma became President of South Africa in 2009, his country’s image began to fare very badly in the face of his superficiality, social indiscretions and political blunders.

As the Mo Ibrahim Prize indicates, Africa is indeed a famished continent with few leaders of enviable reputation. Increasingly, the Foundation will find it harder to give the prize, and harder still not to lower its standards or compromise excellence as it vowed.

Take Nigeria, for instance. In its more than five decades of independence, it has had only one leader out of 13 who vacated office in line with constitutional provisions – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. But if Obasanjo fooled himself that he left office willingly, or that, as his praise singers chorused, he impacted positively on the country in line with the Mo Ibrahim Index, he fooled no one else. He left office groaning so loudly that the whole world noticed his pains. Even if the African leadership award were to suffer some little compromise and he was favourably considered, Hardball would himself lead the protest.

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