October 18, 2014

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www.thenationonlineng.net

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 18, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

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5 PAGE

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VOL.07 N0. 3005

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THE NATION,

2 NEWS

SATURDAY,OCTOBER 18, 2014

Chibok girls: We’ve reached deal with Boko Haram — CDS THE Federal Government yesterday struck a deal with Boko Haram on ceasefire and freedom for the 219 secondary school girls abducted by the sect in Chibok, Borno State about six months ago.

The agreement was said to have been reached in Saudi Arabia.

As part of the deal, some key Boko Haram leaders may regain freedom anytime next week at the same time with the abducted Chibok girls.

The affected leaders might be moved from their detention facilities to designated locations in Chad on or before Monday.

But military and security agencies kept the swap deal under wraps last night to avoid what a source described as a “costly slip.”

According to the Defence Headquarters, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, announced the ceasefire at the end of a session between Nigeria and Cameroon on trans-border operation.

A tweet by DHQ said: “While closing the coordinating conference between Nigeria and Cameroon on trans-border military operations, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, informed the delegates that without any prejudice to the outcome of the three-day interactions and conclusions of the forum, a ceasefire agreement

•Sect set to release girls after 186 days in captivity• Key sect leaders to be freed too HOW sincere is the ceasefire agreement reportedly reached yesterday in far away Saudi Arabia between the Federal Government and members of Boko Haram, the dreaded Islamic sect?

Nigerians are obviously in quandary following the sect’s serial denial of such agreement in the past.

In 2011, a Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the NorthEast Zone, set up after bomb attacks by the Islamic sect, submitted its final report, asking President Goodluck Jonathan to consider granting amnesty to members of the sect wishing to surrender their arms to the Federal Government.

The panel, headed by Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, recommended that the Federal Government should consider the option of dialogue and negotiation which should be contingent upon the renunciation of all forms of violence and surrender of arms, to be followed by re-

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Gbade OGUNWALE and Bukola AMUSAN, had been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ahlul

Shehu Sani, Salkida doubt Boko Haram ceasefire deal •Culled from Premium Times A NIGERIAN journalist, and an activist who have been involved in several negotiations with extremist sect, Boko Haram, have expressed doubt over reports Friday that the Nigerian military and Boko Haram agreed a ceasefire.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, an Air Chief Marshal, announced the ceasefire deal Friday and ordered all field officers to comply with the agreement.

Reports say the deal was reached at a meeting involving the Principal Secretary to the President Goodluck Jonathan, Hassana Tukur, a representative of Boko Haram, Danladi Ahmadu, and a representative of the Chadian government.

The reports also said the deal was reached in Ndjamena, the capital of Chad Republic.

But online medium, Premium Times, reports that both Ahmad Salkida and Shehu Sani, journalist and activist respectively, who are known for their access to the Boko Haram group, doubted the ceasefire deal.

According to the medium, Mr. Salkida expressed doubts about the deal with Boko Haram in several tweets yesterday.

He said: “I guess Nigerians are tired and as such, any news that offers respite on this protracted war between Nigeria and Boko Haram is alwys welcomed.

“Sadly, anybody that dimisses such good news becomes Nigeria’s enemy. But the leadership of Boko Haram are said to be miffed

that a nation of the profile and magnitude of Nigeria, with high level of intelligent people is being easily encased in deceit and nobody seems to be askng tough questions.

“What is most worrying here is, government at the highest level and the intelligence formations in Nigeria have embraced this ‘good news.’ This shows lack of understanding of the reality that this is an ideology that can only be neutralised after long hardwork that is yet to start.

“It also appears that government is more interested in shadows and bubbles than in substance and clear headed engagement with the Boko Haram ideology.

“May God help Nigeria.”

On his part, Sani said his contacts had told him that Boko Haram members had denied knowing any Mr. Ahmadu as their representative.

“All my attempts to confirm the ceasefire deal did not produce any result. My sources are telling me that they don’t know who that person is,” Sani said.

He also said for Boko Haram to reach any ceasefire agreement, such information must come from the leader of the group.

“Any statement that is not coming from the leader of the group cannot be said to be credible and will not be complied with by the group members,” he said.

Obviously referring to Abubakar Shekau whom the Nigerian Armed forces said is dead, Mr. Sani said: “The leader is the only person they respect and listen to.”

The thorny road to a deal

Innocent Duru

habilitation.

In November 2012, the sect said it was willing to cease all hostilities and attacks if the Federal Government should arrest a former Borno State governor and meet its other demands.

They demanded compensation to all the families of their members that were not killed in the battle field from 2009, including their leader, Mohammed Yusuf; the release of all their members that were not captured in battle by the government as well as reconstructing their place of worship (Markas Ibn Taimiyyah) in Maiduguri.

On January 7, 2013, the insurgents. for the second time within a space of time restated its commitment to ceasefire in order to pave the way for dialogue.

One Sheikh Abu Mohammad Abdulazeez

Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad.

“Accordingly, he directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field.

“At the meeting was the Cameroonian Chief of Defence Staff, GCA Meka Rene Claude, leading his country’s military delegation.

Service Chiefs and senior military officers also attended the event.”

Ibn Idris, who claimed to be a top member of the major faction of the group led by Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, spoke on behalf of the group.

He said: “We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers, agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children, are suffering unnecessarily.

“Hence, we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end. We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our course to from today lay down their arms.”

Few weeks after, Abubakar Shekau denied any such agreement between the group and the Federal Government.

He publicly denied the claim and was quoted to have said: “We are stating

it categorically that we are not in any dialogue or ceasefire agreement with anyone. And we have never asked anybody in the name Abdulazeez to represent me, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of this movement.

“I want the world to know that we have no dialogue with government. I have on several occasions attempted to pass this message across via the Internet and Youtube and we later realised that some agents of government kept removing our messages from the net and preventing its online publication so that our messages will not be heard.

“They know that if the world hears our position on this fake dialogue, their efforts of deceit would be exposed.”

The group continued to unleash terror on innocent citizens thereafter.

•Continued on Page 61

Also, the Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, who spoke alongside the spokesperson of the Defence Information unit, Chris Olukolade yesterday at a security briefing in Abuja, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s Principal Private Secretary, Hassan Tukur, met with the Boko Haram representative,

Danladi Ahmadu and the president of Chad, Idris Deby in Saudi Arabia and have reached a ceasefire agreement.

He said the Chief of Defence Staff has reportedly ordered the service chiefs to comply with cease fire agreement.

“We can confirm to you that there have been contacts

between the Government and representatives of Boko Haram” “The discussions are essentially in relation to the general insecurity in the North East and also the need to rescue all captives of the terrorists, including the students of the Government Girls Secondary school, chibok” “From the discussions, they indicated their desire for and willingness to discuss and resolve all associated issues” “They also assured that the school girls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well” “Already, the terrorists have announced a ceasefire in furtherance of their desire for peace, in this regard, the government of Nigeria has in a similar vein declared a ceasefire” “This is to assure Nigerians that the greater goal of this process is to ensure the return of nolmacy in the land, especially in parts of the country troubled by the activities of terrorists” “President Jonathan’s commitment to peace and secuyrity in Nigeria and indeed all parts of the world has been the driving force of all engagements and measures taken since the war on terror began in the country,” he said.

A statement issued by Badeh on the ceasefire agreement during the coordinating conference on Nigeria – Camerooon Trans-Border

•Continued on Page 3

•File photo of some of the abducted girls

Ensure release of all captives, Ezekwesili’s group charges FG THE group of women at the vanguard of the agitation for the release of abducted Chibok girls reacted yesterday to the ceasefire deal allegedly struck with the Boko Haram sect by asking the Federal Government to ensure that other Nigerians in the custody of the sect are releasedn alongside the school girls.

A statement signed by Obiageli Ezekwesili, Hadiza Bala Usman, Maryam Uwais and Saudatu Mahdi on behalf of the Bring-Back-OurGirls campaigners said they hoped that the abducted 219 girls would be released in a

matter of days.

The statement reads: “Local and international news media have been awash with news that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Boko Haram Sect have reached a ceasefire (agreement), which also includes the release of the 219 abducted Chibok girls.

“While we await official confirmation from our President over this development, we are extremely anxious but cautiously optimistic that the abducted Chibok girls will be released swiftly or at least in a mat-

ter of days.

“Beyond the release of the Chibok girls, we call on the FG to also ensure the release of all other Nigerians and non-Nigerians that have been abducted by the sect before and after the Chibok girls were kidnapped.

“We hope that the ceasefire will allow for dialogue, peace and an atmosphere that will promote the rapid development of the North East sector while continuing to prioritise the education of children, especially girls.

“Early evidence of the workings of the ceasefire

will help considerably to boost public confidence. So we encourage the FG to release as much information as possible, within reasonable constraints “The #BringBackOurGirls Abuja Movement will continue to monitor the situation and provide any update as events unfold. We thank all our partners and supporters globally who’ve supported the movement since inception and continue to do so till date.

“As promised on April 30 2014, we will not stop our campaign until our Girls are Back and Alive.”

THE NATION,

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014 THE All Progressives Congress (APC) is to hold an extraordinary convention in Abuja on Wednesday, October 29 to amend the constitution of the party in order to allow it to function more effectively.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the extraordinary convention will also rectify the modalities for the con-

APC to hold extraordinary convention October 29 •To amend constitution • Party chair says no candidate adopted yet for presidential race Tony Akowe, Abuja duct of the presidential primaries of the party.

He said: “Principally, we proposed certain amendments to the constitution of the party that will allow the party to function much more efficiently. And to that ex-

‘We’ve struck a deal with Boko Haram’

•Continued from Page 2 Military Operations held at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Abuja yesterday reads: “Without any prejudice to the outcome of our three-day interactions and the conclusions of this forum, I wish to inform this audience that a ceasefire agreement has been reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Jama’atul ahlul Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad.

“I have accordingly directed the Service Chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with the development in the field”

Boko Haram had not made a public statement at press time.

Reports by the Voice of America (VOA) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said the negotiation involved the Chadian President, Idris Deby, and some high-level officials of Nigeria and Cameroon.

The BBC quoted Mallam Hassan Tukur, the Principal Secretary to President Goodluck Jonathan, as saying: “They have assured us they have the girls and they will release them. I am cautiously optimistic.”

While the VOA said the girls might breathe freedom on Monday, BBC quoted Tukur claiming that “arrangements for their release would be finalised at another meeting next week in Ndjamena.”

A top military source said: “It is true that the government has entered into an agreement with the sect.

Based on the political compromise, military and security agencies were advised to cease fire.

“We have asked all the military formations to abide by the decision of the government in the interest of all.

This is a positive development.”

Asked if the military was part of the negotiation, the source added: “I think it was a political initiative, laden with diplomacy that aided military operations.”

Another source however added: “Typical of most wars, this insurgency is about ending at the negotiation table. This is a positive development for the nation.

“The military has welcomed it with cautious optimism.”

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the deal with Boko Haram sect actually began during the recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Chad.

It was gathered that at the instance of President Idris Deby, the President had audience with some representatives of the sect.

At the session, it was gath-

ered that some terms for the swap deal between the sect and some facilitators working for the Federal Government were discussed.

The Chad talks were said to have paved the way for the mileage gained by the facilitators of the dialogue with Boko Haram.

One of the sources privy to the negotiation said: “The swap deal gathered more momentum when the President visited Chad. This is why President Deby is playing a critical role in facilitating the conclusion of negotiation with Boko Haram.

“At a point, some of the negotiators asked that the military and security agencies be kept out of the deal.

“The overall gains have to do with the return of peace to the country, the NorthEast and the release of the Chibok girls.”

There were indications last night that some key Boko Haram commanders and coordinators might be released simultaneously with the girls.

A third source said: “Definitely, it is going to be a swap but it is too early to say how many commanders or Boko Haram members in detention might be released.

“Do not forget that the sect had demanded the release of 19 of its commanders, but the stake can still be higher.

“We are expecting that the swap might be simultaneous when the deal is sealed.”

The 19 Boko Haram commanders slated for the trade off are Awwal Albani Sultaniya; Mallam Abdullahi Damasak; Mallam Bashir; Baa Malam; Mallam Tijjani al Barnawi; Mallam Musa Moby; Mallam Awara; Mallam Zindar Zindawi; Baa Alhaji; Bana Mongono; Baraa Mallami; Sheikh Umar ibn Mustapha; Mallam Jabir Al Jjihad; Tanko al Kurd; Mallam Aradu; Abidina Janzila and Mallam Aboul Kaka.

Prior to the latest ceasefire agreement, there had been intense talks between Boko Haram and some facilitators of the Federal Government who were coordinated by the President, Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Shehu Sani.

In September, the negotiation was witnessed by some officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The last talks in Abuja were attended by Shehu Sani; ICRC officials; a former Minister of Information; a Geneva-based Human Rights Activist; a twoman delegation of Boko •Continued from Page 61

tent, we will hold what I call an extraordinary convention of the party on the 29 of this month in Abuja to submit the proposals of the amendment to the national convention of the party.

“We have already published our guidelines on our time table and so far nothing has changed.

“The modalities for the primaries is part of the reason why we need to amend our constitution because the Electoral Act 2010 as amended says that one can conduct a primary.

“But if you are going to do that, then one must be explicit on how you are going to conduct it, and that is why we need to amend our constitution.”

On the bring back our girls campaign, Mohammed, who spoke hours before the reported deal between the

Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect for the release of the girls broke, said that the APC as a party believes strongly that the President owes the nation a duty “to secure our lives and property. And for as long as those girls are missing, we as individuals or as a party will continue to demand that Mr President does everything to make sure the girls are released.

“I think he’s trying to cause a distraction. The issue of bring back our girls is not about who is a member but is it right or wrong. I commend those who have been part of the campaign in the last six months. And if any member of APC is a member of that group, we commend them “I have made it clear, we have never said in our press

conference that we have evidence that Mr President is keeping a secret from us. But we have cited three instances that Mr President needs to come out and explain to Nigerians, that it took a whole 19 days for him to even believe that the girls were kidnapped.

“Secondly, about four months ago, the CDS told the whole world that we know where the girls are; and thirdly, on 23rd September in New York, we woke up to see a tweet from the Ministry of Defence that the release of these girls were imminent.

“We saw people in a hotel in Manhattan, New York who were already wearing pro-Jonathan vests who were trying to welcome these girls, and we know for a fact that he booked press conferences with major networks to announce the release. So, this is

surprising. We are asking him if he truly knows where these girls are. He should not use them as pawns for his political re-election.”

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has laid to rest speculations that the party has subtly endorsed the candidacy of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as its flagbearer in the 2015 presidential election.

A high powered delegation from the national secretariat of the party and several leaders of the party across the country attended the formal declaration of intention to contest for the party’s sole ticket by Gen. Buhari, fueling specula•Continued on Page 6

•From right: President Goodluck Jonathan; the visiting Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama; Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriaki Dickson during Mahama’s one day official visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: Akin OLADOKUN

Unity schools resume Monday as teachers, others suspend strike LEADERSHIP of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) yesterday suspended its about threeweek-old strike following a deal struck with the Federal Government on the payment of N1.8 billion arrears of salaries and allowances.

The union has therefore, directed its members, who are teachers at the 104 Federal Government Colleges and workers at the Federal Ministry of Education, to go back to work.

Organising Secretary of ASCSN, Comrade Musa Abbas, told The Nation that the strike had been suspended following the signing of an agreement with the Federal Government.

The agreement reached at the end of a meeting between the management of the Federal Ministry of Education and leadership of ASCSN, indicated that the government had commenced the payment of first batch of 2007 to 2010 promotion arrears with the sum of N527,643,444.

This was contained in a communique signed by Dr. Clement Illoh, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; Dr. M. B. Umar, Director Human Resources Management, Federal Ministry

•As FG pledges to pay N1.7 billion balance of arrears Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja of Education and Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, SecretaryGeneral ASCSN, made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

The parties have also agreed that no staff of the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, the inspectorate offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges would be victimised for taking part in the strike action.

The communique reads in part: “Following the strike action embarked upon by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) in the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, Federal Inspectorate Offices and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges, the management of the Federal Ministry of Education and the national leadership of the ASCSN met in Abuja under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on Wednesday 15th October, 2014 and noted that: “The payment of 1st batch of 2007 to 2010 promotion ar-

rears has commenced with the sum of N527,643,444.00 (Five hundred and twenty-seven million, six hundred and fortythree thousand, four hundred and forty-four naira) received by the Ministry from the Budget Office.

“The sum of N1.7 billion still stands as arrears of promotion and other allowances yet unpaid to affected members of staff of the Ministry.

“The breakdown is as follows: 2nd batch of 2007-2010 Promotion Arrears; 3rd batch of 2007 to 2010 Promotion Arrears; Supplementary Promotion Arrears for 2011; Promotion Arrears for 2012; Re-instatement Allowance; Outstanding salary for newly employed staff.

“The parties, then, agreed as follows: Payment of the first batch of 2007-2010 Promotion Arrears will be completed on Friday, 17th October, 2014.

“The task force made up of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity will link up with the Budget Office of the Federation with a

view to pursuing the release of the outstanding balance of N1.7 billion before the end of the year, 2014.

“A letter to that effect will be jointly signed and delivered to the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action.

“The outstanding sum of N1.7 billion which covers the balance of 2007 to 2010 Promotion Arrears, the supplementary Promotion Arrears for 2011, Promotion Arrears for 2012, Outstanding salaries for new employees and reinstatement allowance will be paid immediately the sum of N1.7 billion is released to the Federal Ministry of Education by the Budget Office.

“The sum of N25 million will be set aside by the Ministry monthly (with effect from September, 2014) to offset other allowances owed members of staff.

“These allowances include:, first 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation; Duty Tour Allowance; 2010 Mandatory Training Allowance; Burial Expenses Allowance; FTC course allowance; and Repa-

•Continued on Page 6

THE NATION

4 NEWS

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HE tension in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over Senatorial seats in 2015 heightened as some of the incumbent Senators have vowed not to vacate their seats for the outgoing governors.

The new reality may have threatened the ambition of at least 10 of the PDP governors to go to the Senate after their second term tenure.

The party was also in a fix following the proposal from the leadership of the National Assembly that some experienced Senators should be allowed to return to their seats to guide the incoming ones in 2015.

The President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, was said to have recommended the retention of at least one experienced Senator per state to avert the Senate starting afresh.

The Senate left a window for the retention of at least 36 out of the PDP Senators.

But the crisis has also extended to Bayelsa State where all members of the National Assembly have lost out.

None of the Senators and members of the House of Representatives will return in 2015 Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

War in PDP •Senate bid of 10 governors threatened •Incumbents vow not to step down •Battle heightens in Bayelsa, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Niger, others GOVERNORS DISTRICTS 1. Sullivan Chime Enugu West 2. Saidu Dakingari Kebbi North 3. Babangida Aliyu Niger East 4. Gabriel Suswam Benue North East 5. Theodore Orji Abia Central 6. Jonah Jang Plateau North 7. Martins Elechi South East 8. Godswill Akpabio A/Ibom North West 9. Emmanuel Uduaghan Delta South 10. Isa Yuguda Bauchi South Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation of the Senators have told the party leadership that they will not step aside for their governors who had been using state machinery to oppress them.

It was learnt that attempts

to iron out the stalemate in the last 72 hours had left some of the governors stranded as they could not obtain nomination forms.

Some of the governors have opted for automatic slots instead of facing the incumbent Senators in primaries.

ADAMANT SENATORS Ike Ekweremadu Isa Galaudu Nuhu Zagbayi Barnabas Gemade Nkechi Nwaogu Gyang Pwajok Christopher Nwankwo Aloysius Etok James Manager Gumba The ‘war’ fronts are Enugu, Kebbi, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Plateau, Abia, Niger and Cross River State.

The most pronounced crises are in Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Niger, and Cross River where PDP leadership is insisting on the re-

turn of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, because of “good performance and quality representation.”

A party source said: “We have a challenge at hand because some incumbent Senators are resisting alleged moves to hijack their seats by governors who are seeking automatic senatorial slots.

“We have been managing this because about 10 governors are demanding automatic Senate tickets including from the districts where we know the Senators have performed.

“Some other governors have sought to impose Senatorial candidates.

They are asking the party to leave the nominees for senate to them. We cannot do such a thing.

“The situation is compounded by the fact that most of our former governors who went to the Senate, after completing two terms in office, have been rated “very low” in attendance and performance.

Asked of the alternative, the source added: “The PDP is discussing with these governors to avoid losing some Senatorial seats.”

Meanwhile, the National Assembly leadership has advised the presidency and the PDP to allow some experienced Senators to return to their seats in 2015.

According to a reliable source, the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, was said to have recommended at least the retention of at least one experienced Senator per state to avert the Senate starting afresh.

The source said: “Mark has suggested the need to have high-ranking Senators back in 2015 instead of greenhorns who may spend

up to one year to know what to do.

“Some of these experienced Senators will also be able to head strategic committees. The Senate President believes that the nation does not need to be going forward and back all the time.

“Mark has asked the party to allow at least one experienced Senator in each state to be retained for effective legislature.”

As governors and Senators tried to iron out their differences, findings showed that all the eight members of the National Assembly have lost the battle to return to their seats in 2015.

Some of the National Assembly members were seen complaining loudly to their colleagues during the week.

It was gathered that they felt “used and dumped” by the party.

The affected members of the National Assembly are Senators Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) and Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East).

Others are Foingha Jephthah (Nembe/ Brass); Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw); Warman Ogoriba (Yenegoa/KolokumaOpokuma); Dr. Stella Dorgu (Sagbama/Ekeremor) and Nadu Karibo (Ogbia).

A source said: “They are all not coming back because most of them have spent two terms in office. The power rotation formula in the state needs to be respected.

“Although Stella Dorgu just spent a term, it is assumed that she only came to complete the second term tenure of Governor Henry Seriake-Dickson.

“Some of these Senators and House members are certainly unhappy, but we need to give others a chance to contribute.”

INEC commences distribution of voter cards in Lagos, Borno, Adamawa, 10 other states

T •From left: Author’s wife, Mrs. Gbemi Shasore; the author and former Lagos State Attorney General, Mr Supo Shasore; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN; his wife, Abimbola; Alhaji H.O.B Fasinro; Oba Rilwan Akiolu at the presentation of Possessed: A History of Law and Justice in the Crown Colony of Lagos-1861-1906 at City Hall, Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Cameroon kills 107 Boko Haram fighters

A

MID reports of a ceasefire agreement between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect, Cameroon yesterday announced that it had killed 107 members of the terrorist group.

Cameroonian soldiers reportedly killed the deceased members of the deadly sect in an ambush shortly after the sect’s members beheaded 30 civilians.

AFP quoted Cameroon’s defence ministry as saying in a statement read on state radio that the combat occurred on Wednesday and Thursday after militants from the Nigeria-based Boko Haram drove into the border towns of Amchide and Limani.

Officials said eight Cameroonian soldiers died in the battle, which the ministry called “fighting of rare violence”.

It was not possible to inde-

...after sect beheaded 30 civilians pendently verify the information or the toll.

Boko Haram rebels, who have been waging attacks in Northern Nigeria and who kidnapped more than 200 school girls in April, frequently cross into neighbouring Cameroon.

A police officer speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said that before the military confronted them, the Boko Haram fighters “cut the throats of many civilians, 30 at least.”

The manager of a money transfer agency was among the murdered, he said, and a Catholic church, a Protestant church and several bars were burnt.

“They wanted to attack the camp” where elite soldiers were garrisoned “with a

booby-trapped car, but the soldiers were one step ahead of them and destroyed it,” the police officer said.

A security guard in Amchide at the time of the attack confirmed the officer’s information.

“The Boko Haram fighters killed many people in town.

They cut the throats of my neighbours. They killed the Express Union manager and two security guards in his shop. They burned the churches and a mosque,” he said.

“The army told us to leave town, so we did,” he added.

The defence ministry made no mention of civilian deaths in its statement.

It said that the heavily armed Boko Haram members were travelling in armoured

vehicles that crossed over from Nigeria.

The fierce fighting started late Wednesday and after a pause resumed on Thursday, ending with Boko Haram fleeing back over the border, according to the ministry.

A tank, a pick-up truck and a Peugeot car packed with ammunition and explosives were destroyed by the soldiers, it added.

“Several light and heavy arms were seized,” the ministry said.

“Calm has returned and our defence forces are in control of the border areas”.

Cameroon shares a border of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) with Nigeria, where Boko Haram has been waging a bloody insurgency since 2009 in which 10,000 people have died.

HE Independent Na tional Electoral Commis sion (INEC) will commence the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Lagos, Adamawa, Borno and ten other states on November 7.

INEC has insisted that only those with Permanent Voter Cards will be allowed to vote during the 2015 general elections.

The exercise, which is the third phase, according to INEC, is expected to end on Sunday, November 9.

Also, the commission has approved Continous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the third phase to begin on Thursday, November 13 and end on Monday, November 17.

The states involved are: Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Plateau and Rivers.

The commission had earlier conducted the distribution of PVCs and CVR exercise in twenty one states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Phases I and II. The states are: Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa (in phase I). Those in phase II are: Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, FCT, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo, Delta and

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja Cross River.

The CVR provides opportunity for those who just turned 18years and also those who did not register during the last nationwide exercise.

Voters are expected to cross-check their names in the displayed voters’ register.

Those who registered before but do not see their names in the displayed register are to reregister during the CVR exercise.

The CVR exercise, according to the commission, "is not for those who wish to transfer. Those wishing to transfer should write to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in their new states of domicile, well before the election, as no transfer will be approved less than 30 days to the election."

For those who have lost their cards or whose cards are damaged, the electoral body stated that they may apply for them to be replaced by writing to the REC through the INEC electoral officer of the local government Area where they registered for their replacement well before the election.

INEC also reiterated that no replacement will be approved and no new card will be issued less than 30 days to the election.

THE NATION SATURDAY,OCTOBER 18, 2014

NEWS 5

Crisis looms in Ekiti Assembly as defected APC lawmakers plot to impose new Speaker T HE six members of the All Progressives Con gress who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were said to have fine-tuned plans to announce another Speaker from their camp today.

Wole Olujobi, media aide to the Speaker, disclosed this yesterday in Ekiti.

He said: "Just this afternoon (yesterday), they were at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium where they publicly defected to the PDP amid boos and shouts of "thief, thief, thief” from members of the PDP, their new party.

"After the humiliation, they met and decided to assert themselves by storming the House today to announce a new Speaker.”

According to him, the statement was to alert the people of the state on those who he said were stoking up the fire of crisis in the state, adding that some of the defected members were known members of the public who should opt for safeguarding the security and well-being of the people.

"Ekiti State is set for another crisis again as seven members plan to lord it over 19 mem-

Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti

bers in a supremacy battle that will set the hands of the clock of progress in our state back", he said.

It would be recalled that the Assembly’s Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, had directed members to go on recess for a month,starting from yesterday.

The statement on the recess signed by Olujobi had read in part: "In line with the spirit of

•It’s an impossible task, says Speaker’s aide the moment, culminating in the change of personnel manning the government of the day, the Ekiti State House of Assembly as a major player needs to appraise its position with a view to ensuring continuity in good governance within the state. The Speaker has, therefore, declared a month's recess begining from yesterday".

An earlier report had disclosed underhand moves by

the Assembly to impeach the Speaker to agree with what was called "the present political equation" in the state.

The intrigues, according to the sources, might also see to the ouster of Deputy Speaker, Hon. Taiwo Orisalade; Majority leader, Hon Churchill Adedipe; Chief Whip, Hon Ade Ajayi; and other principal officers of the House.

It is noteworthy that currently APC has 20 of the 26-

member state Assembly, given the defection of the latest six.

A source had said: "The move is to ensure a balancing of the political equation when the Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, assumes the state's headship".

The Speaker had then denied the rumour, dismissing same as "the figment of wild imaginations of those peddling it. The unity among

members is something of pride to members and Ekiti people in general".

Olujobi added: "It is not possible for six members to sack the Speaker. Other members of the House are the Speaker’s supporter. That kind of arithmetic is an impssibility".

Olujobi admitted that the six Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers might be scheming for such, but "it is not possible to replay the drama of Rivers and Edo concert of impunity here in Ekiti.”

FG fails to stop health workers’ strike Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja

F

EDERAL Government’s effort to stop the ongoing strike embarked upon by health workers on Thursday has failed.

The meeting between the two parties did not yield any positive result as the health workers insisted on continuing the nationwide strike.

Workers, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), said it was left with no other choice since the government failed to do its own part of the bargain.

NUAHP is the umbrella body of physiotherapists, medical laboratoryscientists, pharmacists, medical imaging scientists/radiographers, dietitians, dental technologists, dental therapists, occupational therapists, optometrists, medical social workers, clinical psychologists, among others, excluding the National Medical Association (NMA).

NUAHP President, Felix Faniran, told journalists in Abuja at the end of the meeting with the Federal Government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim Wdnesday night that “the srike is on.”

He said there was no sign that government wanted to address the issue, explaining that while the meeting lasted, there was nothing on the table to show that government was willing to provide solution.

Faniran noted that apart from the fact that the agreements reached with us last year August had not been implemented, “new demands have been made and they are yet to be addressed.”

The union’s demands are: appointment of chief medical directors and wrong advertorials on the posts; need to abolish the post of Deputy Chairman, Advisory Committee illegally created and others.

•From left: Mr. Ita Emmanue, Master Macaulay Elijah, Master Edun Samson, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Miss Blessing Opeyemi and Mr Yemi Osilaja during a courtesy visit of the winners of the 2014 Spelling Bee Competition to President, New Era Foundation, Senator Tinubu, at her Constituency Office in Yaba, Lagos PHOTO: TAIWO OKANLAWON

N84bn alleged debt: Fayemi hits back at Fayose

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HE immediate past gov ernor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has urged his successor, Ayodele Fayose, to study the handover notes on his fouryear stewardship before passing unfavourable comments on his administration.

According to Dr. Fayemi, the statement made by the new governor in his inaugural speech suggesting that the debt profile now stands as N N84billion was reckless and irresponsible.

Speaking on behalf of the ex-governor in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Tayo Ekundayo, Fayemi’s Commissioner for Information, said all credit facilities obtained by the former administration were not only documented but were equally made public.

Ekundayo recalled that Fayemi had approached the capital market in Lagos to obtain a N25billion bond which he claimed was judiciously used to finance various landmark capital projects across the state.

He added that the Federal Government owed Ekiti State under Fayemi as much as N20billion, noting "Fayose should study the hand-over notes carefully before making unnecessary noise about the debt profile of Ekiti".

Ekundayo said over N14billion had been paid out of the N25billion.

He adviced the new governor to settle down for business of governance rather than engaging in “cheap pro-

Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti

paganda".

"Fayose should know that he has assumed a new status which is quite different from where he was before.

“What I will advise him to do now is to settle down and

see how he would improve on the legacies of the Kayode Fayemi administration", he said.

The ex-commissioner said further: "The truth of the matter is that our government took N25billion from the bond market and that is open to the public. We have paid about

N14 billion out of it and the Federal Government is owing Ekiti nothing less than N20 billion.

"I have been hearing that the debt profile of Ekiti State now stands at N84billion. I want to say that it is nothing near that figure. We

have noticed that tendency in the past, but we have refused to join issues with him.

“It is too early for Fayose to be talking about us. He should understand that there is a difference between being a candidate of a party and a chief executive of a state.”

...I ’ll appoint aides on ‘stomach infrastructure’ for 16 Ekiti councils, says new governor

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KITI State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, yester day expressed his intention to appoint Assistants on ‘Stomach Infrastructure’ for all the 16 councils of the state.

The new governor, who addressed a congregation after a Jumat Service at Central Mosque in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, said the council aides would support him to achieve his goal on the empowerment of the people.

Fayose, in a response to an appeal by the Chief Imam of the state, Alhaji Jamiu Keulere, not to reverse the appointments of eight permanent secretaries made by ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi, maintained the reversal was in the best interest of the state.

According to him, the appointments in the last days of the Fayemis administration could not be justified, given the existing 32 permanent secretaries.

Fayose also warned civil servants in the state not to engage in partisan politics, saying: "Your allegiance must be to the government of the day. Any civil servant who plays politics

Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti

will be shown the way out."

Expressing gratitude to God for what he considered a rare privilege to have a second chance to rule Ekiti, Fayose said: "Among all favours, the best is the one done to man to have a second chance. God rarely does that. No one could say it two or three years ago that Fayose can come back. But when death has not come, hope is not lost. God Himself has said He is the one in charge. God has given me the opportunty to rise from the dead.

The person pursued from the throne and called all sorts of unprintable names is one being welcomed back with drums and dancing.

"The concept of my Stomach Infrastructure which has given me fame and acceptability with the people of Ekiti State remains an integral part of this administration. Physical infrastructure and urban renewal will continue to play its own role in the development of any nation. It is only the living who are hale and

hearty that can enjoy such infrastructure.

"Every policy of any administration that cannot put food on the table of the people is irrelevant. Stomach infrastructure is not about food alone, it is also about the welfare of the people.

"Welfare of the people is also about health, provision of drugs, eradication of diseases, clothing and housing. All these are the basic essentials of life without which physical infrastructure will be meaningless," the governor said.

Fayose also pledged to appoint Muslims into his cabinet, adding "I will be open to control. I was the first person to appoint a Muslim the LG Chair in Ado." The Chief Imam had urged him to be fair to people, irrespective of party or religion as God had done him a rare favour. Do well with those who supported you. It only pleased God to support your emergence.

Alhaji Keulere also urged Fayose to give imprtance to security among the citizenry, saying: "Please ensure security of lives and property".

His words: "Whatever you want to do, do it with a clean mind. Whatever you do today, you will account for tomorrow.

The money you spend, contracts signed, whatever you do, God will surely call you to account.

"There are many who receive favours from you, but will never acknowledge same when they return to their communities. Whoever you give money to among your commissioners should come back home to do well for people as well. Senators, House of Representatives members and lawmakers in the state must partner you in bringing comfort to the people.”

The Chief Imam advised would-be aides of the new governor to partner him in delivering good governance to the people, adding: "Don't be rebellious. Everyone has his appointed time."

THE NATION,

6 News A LAGOS High Court, Ikeja yesterday upheld the state government’s ban on the wearing of hijab in Lagos schools (primary and secondary).

Justice Modupe Onyeabor, in a suit filed against the government by the Muslim Students of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, through their lawyer, Chief Gani Adetola-Kazeem, SAN, held that the ban was not discriminatory.

The group had argued that the ban was unconstitutional and infringed their female students’ right to freedom of thought, religion and education.

Delivering judgment in the case filed on May 27, last year, Justice Onyeabor dismissed the suit on grounds that it did not

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

Court upholds ban on hijab in Lagos schools Precious IGBONWELUNDU breach Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the plaintiffs.

The judge held that Nigeria’s secular nature as provided for in Section 10 of the Constitution must be preserved by the government.

She said the uniformity sought by the government in the issuance of the dress code would be destroyed should the prayers of the plaintiffs be granted.

According to Onyeabor, public schools are owned and funded by the government, hence the state has the right to issue guidelines and dress codes for

students.

The judge said: “The values of plurality and the respect for the rights of others who have subscribed to a non-faith based educational system cannot be breached.

“In that effect, the issue is resolved in favour of the respondents and the suit is accordingly dismissed.”

The state government had issued the prohibition on grounds that it was not part of the approved school uniform for students, but the plaintiffs, who said their students were being embarrassed and punished for practising their religion, had challenged the state’s directive.

Making reference to an 11year-old student, Aisha Alabi of Kadara Junior High School, Ebute Metta, who was flogged on February 5, 2013 at the assembly ground for not removing her hijab after an Iislmaic Religious Knowledge class where the veil is allowed, the group prayed the court to jettison the government’s order.

It recalled that another student, Bareerah Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi, on February 20, last year, had her hijab removed and trampled on by the school principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, outside the school premises.

The group had argued that the use of hijab was a compulsory religious obligation for Muslim ladies who have reached puberty age.

“We are not demanding a full length hijab. We have exhibited a photograph of a simple hijab which still represents their school

identity.

“The colour of the hijab can conform to the school uniform. All we want is for the students to be allowed to use hijab.

“If beret and caps are allowed for female students, hijab should not be an exemption,” the group argued.

Auto crash claims nine lives on Akure-Ilesa Expressway NINE passengers yesterday died in a fatal auto accident which occurred on AkureIlesa Expressway.

Eyewitnesses told reporters that the accident, which occurred at Ileri junction on the expressway, was caused by high speed.

It was gathered that seven persons lost their lives on the spot while two others died on the way to the hospital.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), while confirming the accident, said the accident occurred at 10.30 am when the vehicle, a Toyota Hiace coming from Akure, Ondo State, ran into a ditch.

The Unit Commander of the FRSC in Ilesa, Mr David Gaya, who confirmed the accident and the death of the victims, said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of the

Damisi OJO, Akure Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife. He said some survivors of the accident were receiving treatment at OAUTH while some were also rushed to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital Osogbo where they were also receiving treatment.

The accident caused traffic jam along the busy road as motorists had to park their vehicles on the road for several hours.

The registration number of the vehicle involved in the accident could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, but it was learnt that officials of the FRSC had towed the vehicle to the Ilesa office of the FRSC.

The thorny road to a deal •Continued from Page 2 •The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III blessing one of the campaign vehicles of the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during the governor's visit to the monarch for his 76th birthday, in Oyo on Thursday.

Fashola urges FG to return TBS to original owners LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has urged the Federal Government to return the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) to the original owners, saying the central government was given the edifice to manage.

Fashola made the remark yesterday at the launch of a book written by a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, at the City Hall, Lagos, The event had in attendance the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Niyi Adebayo and former Federal Commissioner for Works, Mr. Femi Okunnu.

Also at the event were former ministers of Foreign Affairs and State for Interior, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia and Mr. Ademola Seriki and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, among others.

According to him, “when people tell me that they have sold Tafawa Balewa Square, I laugh because they did so in absolute ignorance. It can never be sold.

“That used to be part of the land that belongs to the king of Lagos. And with the conquest and possession of Lagos, it became crown land administered by the British Crown.

“At the end of the colonial era, it was passed on to the Federal Government. And

MIRIAM Ekene-Okoro when Lagos was created along with other 11 states, it became state-owned land.

“All lands that were inherited by the Nigerian government from the British government were further handed over to the states where those lands were.

“And the only legislation that exists today on the place was the TBS Management Act. With this act, the Federal Government was given the managerial power and not the ownership of the facility,” the governor added.

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu described the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, as a true son of Lagos.

Akiolu, who spoke in Yoruba and English, said:

“There are many things that were taken unlawfully from us. I am a lawyer. When Fashola leaves office after eight years, emi pelu e ni ajo maa joko (we will sit together). What we used in Oduntan between 1905 and 1913, we will use it to get them back.”

He added that they would look at the issues that had deprived Lagos some of its benefits, especially some of the heritages of the state.

According to him, “I prayed that I did not want to be the Inspector General of Police but the Oba of Lagos, and God did it. I also prayed that the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, should assume the throne of his father, and God answered the prayer, and this that we are about to accomplish will come to past.

“The one that we are facing now, ibi ti Olorun ati emi oba ba gbesi, ibe ni oma lo (wherever GOD and I, Oba Akiolu, want it, that is where it will be),” he added.

Explaining his lineage, he said: “You all are calling Shasore today, but many do not know that he is a grandson of the land owners in Lagos.

“His grandfather, Rufai Ojoye Shasore, was to be the Chief Oluwa of Lagos in 1913, but intrigues from some people did not allow him to assume that post. The man took all that happened in good faith, but Oba Faolu was not happy.

“The grandfather of Shasore and Oba Faolu’s mother, Adeogun, were related to that palace. This was why immediately Oba Faolu became the Oba of Lagos, he appointed Supo Shasore’s father as the Shasore of Lagos.”

Unity schools’ workers suspend strike •Continued from Page 3 triation allowance etc.

“The list of those paid will be supplied to the Union on monthly basis, while mplementation of the agreement will be monitored by the parties and update reported to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on a monthly basis.

“A copy of the Agreement

will be deposited with the House of Representative Committee on Public Service Matters.

“Inspectorate Offices will be adequately funded by the Government to enable them perform their duties.

“No staff of the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Col-

leges will be victimized for taking part in the strike action.

“In view of the foregoing, the Union hereby suspends the indefinite strike action embarked upon by its members in the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges with effect from the close of work on Friday, 17th October, 2014”.

In April 2013, the Federal Government set up a committee to consider the feasibility or otherwise of granting pardon to the sect and to collate clamours arising from different interest groups who wanted the apex government to administer clemency on members of the religious sect. The committee was also charged with the task of recommending modalities for the granting of the pardon, should such step become the logical one to take under the prevailing circumstance.

The president followed this up in May with a promise to release a number of Boko Haram

members, including all women in prison custody.

Few months after, July to be specific, Nigerians happily looked forward to the end of the insurgency when the Federal Government said it had signed a ceasefire agreement with the militant group. Minister of Special Duties and Chairman of the Peace and Dialogue Committee in the North, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, announced the ceasefire agreement on the Hausa service of Radio France International.

Then, Turaki assured that the ceasefire was not something that was done for a specific period of time. He asserted that it was something that would be forever.

He confidently said it was •Continued on Page 61

APC to hold extraordinary convention October 29 •Continued from Page 3

tions that the party might have subtly endorsed his candidacy.

But the Chairman told reporters at the party secretariat that nobody should read meaning into the presence of several party leaders at the event, pointing out that it does not translate to the party endorsing the candidacy of the former Head of State.

Asked if the presence of the party’s leaders did not mean a subtle endorsement, he said: “It does not neces-

sarily equate to that. I think the General was extremely well advised. He is extremely humble for a man of his age and his attainment.

“He went personally to each of those people who were there, the people you are thinking of, and delivered the invitation personally, and so, out of respect for his humility, out of respect for his age and what he has been, they felt obliged to go and I think that it is a very good thing. That does not translate to endorsement. It may still be, but for now, don’t read too much meaning to it.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

COMMENTARY 7

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Political responsibility and accountability are therefore urgently required of presidential aspirants as we approach the 2015 elections even though we are at war.

Certainly it is the army fighting the insurgency war and not the politicians and there is need for caution and restraint even as we tell each other our faults and shortcomings

Global health (Ebola) insurgency and politics FTER an African Football Confederation match against Cameroon this week, a Sierra Leonean footballer was shown on global media carrying a placard saying that he is a Sierra Leonian and not a virus. This was his way of protesting against the way the Sierra Leonian team was discriminated against by the host team they played against in that qualifying encounter this week because Sierra Leone is one of the four W African nations reeling from the unfortunate and lethal grip of the fearful ebola virus. Given the reaction from some quarters to protect their kith and keen from the ebola contagion one can say to the Sierra Leonean star that he has not seen anything yet, definitely not even the tip of the iceberg, in terms of ebola virus hostility and resentment.

This is because this same week Jamaica and Guyana , black Caribbean nations, have banned travels from W African nations having ebola namely Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Worse still but for US President Barak Obama putting his feet down in that nation, US opposition Republicans were this week asking the US to close shop on travels from West Africa and are using this to play politics by accusing Obama that he is not doing enough to protect American lives at home and abroad by insisting that it is not yet time to impose travel bans on W Africa. Since midterm elections are due in the US in some key states the Republicans want to make ebola management and public safety an issue to make them win the six states they need to win the majority in the US senate back again. Obama has kowtowed in a way by promising to appoint an Ebola czar just like the US did after 9/11 in 2001 by appointing an Home land Security czar. Which means that politics has raised the ebola issue to the same priority and high alert level as terrorism insurgency and Islamic State in America even though most US citizens and even health suppliers and managers are not sure yet what ebola symptoms really are in order to identify and quarantine real and potential victims in the US Homeland not to talk of America’s vast porous borders.

With this Obama anti - ebola and anti- travel ban policy in mind we shall proceed to look at issues in other lands where real politics is taking place like in Brazil. In the UN where new five members of the UN Security Council were elected this week and Nigeria where the normally austere former Head of State picked a presidential nomination form for a whopping 27.5m naira and complained loudly at the cost . We round up in a mixture of ebola and Nigerian politics involving former INEC boss Professor Maurice Iwu and his present write ups on the efficacy of bitter kola or garcinia kola in treating the ebola virus and the hangover of credibility hovering over that marketing effort, from the rigged elections in Nigeria between 2005 and 2010 when Iwu was Nigeria’s all powerful INEC czar and boss.

We start again with Brazil where incumbent President Dilmar Rousseff is involved in a run off election with business magnate Aecio Neves in a ding dong battle for power in the run off elections fixed for October 26 after Neves beat popular candidate Marina Silva to take the second place in the October 5 presidential elections in Brazil. The issues in the elections are very political in Brazil with no name callings or abuses. The

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problems are corruption, nepotism , and provision of infrastructure and the maintenance of the poverty alleviation programme of the Workers Party which is the party of the incumbent President Dilmar as she is popularly called in Brazil. Neves had accused Dilmar of corruption and channelling funds to her party illegally. In return Dilmar accused her opponent of nepotism in picking his relatives for various positions when he was a governor before. With regard to poverty alleviation Neves accused Dilmar of backsliding on the gains of lifting millions of Brazillians out of poverty during the tenure of her charismatic predecessor as president – Lula da Silva. It is pertinent to note that Neves had not made an issue out of the embarrassing riots that dogged Brazil as it prepared for the last World Cup in that nation. This is because Dilmar handled this admirably including the painful crushing defeat that disgraced a mighty soccer giant like Brazil out of the World Cup on their own soil. This is respect for performance and capability even in the heat of campaign for power by an opponent who knows the sensitivities of the Brazilian electorate to look for facts and their love for the game of soccer and its managememt in Brazil which has brought soccer stars like Romario to the Brazilian senate for criticising corrupt sports officials during and before the last World Cup. Compare this professional approach to issues to that in Nigeria where even before the president has declared he is contesting his spokesmen are already after those who have declared intention to contest the presidential elections. APC presidential aspirant former General Muhammed Buhari has been branded a serial loser just for saying that the Nigeria has never had it so bad in terms of corruption under the Jonathan administration and its inability to contain the insurgency of Boko Haram which he said boldly is ‘godless‘.

The Presidency reacted to the Buhari criticism by saying that the common man values the efforts of the administration better. Which again is ridiculous as the Chibok girls issues and the conduct of elections in Ekiti and Osun have shown that the Centre or fulcrum of power in Nigeria is totally out of touch with the expectations, sufferings and aspirations of Nigerians as it is using Hobbes law of might is right to grab power in elections, which should be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and concord instead of the recent creation of a garrison mentality of intimidation and the muzzling of the judiciary and the trampling on the rule of law with impunity and violence. As we approach the 2015 elections the signs are ominous for a free and fear elections given the no holds barred attitude of federal incumbency to an election which is a very important milestone to a true democracy in this nation.

Political responsibility and accountability are therefore urgently required of presidential aspirants as we approach the 2015 elections even though we are at war. Certainly it is the army fighting the insurgency war and not the politicians and there is need for caution and restraint even as we tell each other our faults and shortcomings.

It is in that light that one can appreciate the concern of Buhari over the huge cost of nomination papers to contest. He said he had to borrow money from a bank to get the money and I am sure most people believed him. I read somewhere that some people his home state, Katsina, were trying to raise money for him but may be those will use such funds now to help him pay back the bank.

What this means painfully is that political participation in our elec-

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toral process has become oligarchic and if you are not rich or really very opulent, you cannot compete for power in Nigeria. Which again says clearly that the playing ground is not level for political participation and that makes a mockery of universal adult suffrage and throws us back into the past in the history of nations like the US and Britain where you can not vote or be voted for unless you have property. Which in our context means if you are not a millionaire you just cannot sniff the presidency at your level. That really is quite bothersome for the quality of politics in Nigeria.

A similar concern on inequity permeated the elections of five nations into the UN Security Council this week. The nations were Venezuela, Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain. These nations are happy to be elected but they know that they have no powers in the Security Council where five nations namely US, Russia, UK, France and China have the veto power to crush any decision of the UN General Assembly which was what China and Russia used to veto the US, France and the UK’s effort to place a no fly zone over Syria which escalated the Syrian crisis and led to the emergence of Islamic State and the present flurry of unilateral air strikes to stop the nefarious beheading activities of Islamic State as they head towards Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. However it is the failure of Turkey to get elected and that of Venezuela that interests us in this UN Security Council election.

I am sure that Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s late president will be laughing in his grave at his beloved nation’s election into the UN security Council. This is because this provides another opportunity for that nation to show gratitude to Cuba for supporting it always and treating Hugo so dearly with his cancer before he gave up the ghost. Also Hugo’s successors have a great opportunity to lambast the US at the highest UN organ and that really was the main thing that gave Hugo Chavez great joy in his lifetime. Also Turkey which lost to New Zealand and Spain in claiming the two European spots now knows that the hood does not make the monk. 50 years of application for EU membership does not add up to European approbation especially at a time that Turkey was expected to move against Islamic state and it just could not find way to help the Kurds in its region. Surely one good turn deserves another.

That really is what the brilliant marketing effort on bitter kola for ebola, of the former INEC boss, Maurice Iwu, a distinguished Professor of Pharmacognosy is all about. Until recently not many people knew that Professor Iwu was such a genius in his field of study. The rigged 2007 elections masked all that brilliance on the efficacy of garcinia kola - bitter kola - in treating many ailments like throat infections, bronchitis, head and chest colds, liver and lung ailments. I have read articles by Iwu on these issues but I always end up remembering the rigged elections between 2005 and 2010 when he was sacked . But now I think for our sake we should listen to his call that ebola can be vanquished by bitter kola from a phamacognostic perspective. I read somewhere that in the nineties ebola fever was reduced by bitter kola. If that is true we should listen to Iwu as he has said it, because he knows his onions in his field. The rigged elections should not make us short sighted in heeding good medical advice on ebola. No matter where it comes from or the bitter memories they invoke.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

COMMENTARY

Jonathan, Malala and the loud silence in Chibok T is exactly 187 days since the Boko Haram insurgents abducted over 200 girls in a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. Since then, it has been one farcical tale after the other as close relatives of the abducted girls chew their pain. Six months into the tragic tale, no one can say for sure if the girls would ever reunite with their families. Right in our faces, 217 girls just vanished. At the height of the bringbackourgirls protest, the authorities gave us a glimmer of hope. They said rescue efforts were ongoing and confirmed ‘sighting’ the girls. Three months after the little Pakistani girl-child activist and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Malala Yousafzai, invaded the almostdead conscience of the leadership, that hope painfully pales into hopelessness.

It is sad that those who have chosen to put their integrity on the line in a determined effort to nudge the government into action in a strident cry to free the girls have become the butt of atrocious abuse and blackmail by the bootlickers in power. It was so bad that a serving Minister, who has not added any value to the ministry she superintends since taking the oath of office, would be the one to confront Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili with the warped fallacies of how the nation’s education system crumbled! Well, in times like this, it is not uncommon for people to twist the tale to wag a tail. Even at that, could that be enough justification for the government’s impotence and seeming unwillingness to rescue the innocent girls from their bloody captors? As days run into months, the tragic realities of what the abduction portends for a nation still living in denial of the incompetence of its leadership tugs the soul.

And then, I ask: what has changed since that Malala visit to Aso Villa? Have they brought back the girls? No. Has the failure to rescue the girls affected the do-or-die politics in which some persons are falling over one another, begging a ‘reluctant’ President Goodluck Jonathan to throw his hat in the ring and contest the 2015 general elections?

No. Is there any evidence to show that any of the parties, including the opposition, has unveiled a convincing policy directive on the best way to tackle insurgency beyond the meaningless patter and exchange of brickbats in safe havens? No. Nothing has really changed. There is little to cheer about beyond the fact that, three months after her visit, Malala is now, deservedly so, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. It was nice hearing her reminding the world about the need to return the Chibok 217 to their homes. It was, to say the least, humbling that that feeling resonated across

I

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913

the world on the 180th day of the tragic tale in Nigeria.

And so, as Chibok echoes in loud silence across the globe through the resolve of some people to fight the battle for this forgotten community, one can only encourage them to continue to cling on to hope amid this darkling plain. Yet, I cannot but remember how Malala rekindled hope in July when she took the battle to the doorstep of the authorities.

No doubt, without the persistence of the Oby Ezekwesililed group and the challenge thrown by Malala, the Chibok story could have become another casualty of our ever-burgeoning dustbin of history by now. Malala it was who reawakened the dead conscience of those who remained insensitive and utterly indifferent to the plight of the Chibok 217. In a piece titled “Malala’s ‘bulala’ and a President’s koboko” published on July 19, I had painted a scenario in which “our ever-busy Very Important Personalities were grovelling to share the moment with the 17-year-old strong-willed girl who has given a whole new meaning to hope amid the suffocating misery in our country. No doubt, Malala’s inspiring story and her presence in Nigeria on her 17th birthday to push for a more humane interest in the plight of the Chibok girls couldn’t have come at a better time. Her outspokenness, candour, courage and determination to soldier on despite a failed attempt to cut short her life should rekindle hope in a society that has almost sacrificed the abduction saga on the altar of political shenanigans.”

Today, that shambolic approach to an issue that has attracted international attention persists. It bothers me that there exist in our midst today persons who believe that the Chibok story is one successful tele-novella made real by the ‘political enemies’ of the President. It is also to our collective shame that some sponsored groups became

tools in the hands of government and they tried all they could to put an end to whatever the bringbackourgirls group was trying to achieve. Twice, this same force has rebuffed attempts by the group to interface with their President on the way forward. Instead of seeing the bigger picture, they chose to fight dirty in desperation to hide the truth. What did they do when Malala questioned our humanity as a people? How did they react to the hot truth she pumped into some dead ears? Nothing! All they did was to recoil in shame, giggling through the soul-searching words the young lady spewed. Malala’s outburst, I wrote then, was one “body-piercing whiplash that the presidency absorbed with shocking equanimity. Just picture a scenario where a toddler was chastising adults for failing to live up to the expectations of a doddering infant!”

Her words: “One important thing about today was my meeting with the President, Mr Goodluck Jonathan. I met him today and I told him that I hear the voices of my sisters. I’m representing my sisters and their parents today and if you are the elected President, you need to fulfil your responsibilities and your responsibility is to listen to your people, who are saying bring back our girls. Luckily, the President assured me of two things. He promised that the government will chose the best option to bring back the girls alive and safe. And the second promise he made, which is very important, is that he will meet with the parents of those girls that are abducted and I’m hoping that he will fulfil it. I’m hopeful that the President will meet you soon because he made the promise to me and to you Nigerians.”

As I write this, one thing rankles. The government has not relented in blowing hot and cold over whatever it was doing to save the parents, the girls and concerned Nigerians from the misery. We just flow with the wind while the world waits for us to take action. Aside the occasional outcry in Abuja, all we have heard from Chibok in the last few months after the visit to Aso Villa is a worrisome loud silence. The last time our President spoke on it, he told a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations that he was determined to reunite the girls with their families as soon as feasible. That is the only thing we can hold on to as another day passes by with no news of the girls.

180 days after that sacrilege in Chibok, we are standing here, holding firmly to hope. That's the only thing that keeps us going in this season of wonky legs.

FRESH, IBB and powershift glimpse of the enigmaticex-Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, on what appeared to be a wheel-chair caught my attention in the PM News of September 24, 2014 which carried a front-page picture under a story with an imposing headline; IBB advocates power shift to youths. This has been Rev. Chris Okotie’s heart cry for ages. The General, while in a conversation with a young political aspirant, was quoted as saying; “… it is your generation that should take over from ours. You people have international exposure”. Age and time truly has a way of mellowing the human species. The General, who is now in retirement from partisan politics, seems to be making targeted commentaries on issues. If only these commentaries had, while he was in power, were backed with necessary actions, Nigeria would have been a much better country that what we have now.

But while I agree wholly that the incoming generation should begin to man the affairs of government, just as they are making bold strides in the corporate world and international frontiers, I also take the suggestion with a bit of skepticism, and here are some reasons why. One problem with actualizing this, as IBB knows all too well, is the caucus-controlled machinery of crony-politics, god-fatherism, selection of candidates, electoral manipulation and sit-tight tendencies in Nigeria. Another reason is the already tainted engagements of many of this generation in politics, especially those who are already in government circles at different levels across the nation, who refuse to challenge the odd anomalies so as not to stir the hornets’ nest and jeopardize their climb, up the political ladder.

The result is a long tradition of ambivalence, multilateralism and non-intervention, except of course if we are the injured party. We then expect everybody to rise to our defense, but as it has become obvious; everybody’s job, is nobody’s job. This is what Fresh Democratic Party, FRESH, to which I belong, is engaged in, in trying to get the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accept the superiority of a court judgment or follow through with their belated appeal against a court ruling which upturned its de-registration of FRESH. How is a new generation going to take over if an organization like INEC refuses to obey a court order?

How will the youths get a chance to learn the ropes, prove themselves and do better than their predecessors, if other political instruments and avenues such as membership of new parties, like FRESH, are destroyed because they have not accomplished in their short existence, what the coxswains of our political sector spent the better part of their lives realizing? Men like Rev. Okotie are leading parties trying to avoid the corrupting influences of our political aristocrats, whose sole purpose in government is to annex wealth and conscript cronies. Brilliant strides and pockets of successes that the party has garnered over the last decade

A

• Babangida Hadiza NURENI of its existence are to be wished away by INEC’s stroke of the pen. The Pastor-Politician is obviously a threat to the cabal and their goal of perpetual rulership of the country.

It will be recalled that Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court 5, Abuja Division, overturned the agency’s deregistration of the party on July 29, 2013, when he voided the section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (As Amended). But a year after, and just a few months to the lifting of the ban on campaigns and general elections, the agency is yet to make good its appeal which it has falsely claimed was ongoing. Now, we know why: in INEC’s view, there is really no case to contend with. The agency will maintain the status quo on the matter irrespective of the existence of an extant judgment.

That is why it has become a matter of utmost urgency that IBB’s generation, which has been averse to superior reasoning of progressive governance and the possibility of the creation of a just society, will rethink the paradigm shift philosophy as opposed to just a power shift to clones who basically run on a similar template, but under a different nomenclature. That is why the likes of Rev. Okotie, and FRESH took the challenge to salvage the nation, and their present travail is symbolized by opposition from the ‘establishment’, as portrayed by INEC’s intransigence in the refusal to re-certify the party, after a court ordered its re-admission into the elective process.

This generation of Nigerians have longed for, yearned for,

and are impatient for better life, having seen and tasted with increasing optimism the rising economies of other climes. The social media has crimped the global village into their hearts. They seek a liberal society where the son of a labourer, who attended a public school, can aspire to any office in the land, without having to sell his soul in the process.

This is why a paradigm shift from the status quo becomes an imperative. It promotes a sound economic landscape, where purposeful enterprise can flourish; where entrepreneurship and innovativeness have the latitude for expression and fructification, so that our nation, with all her assets, can stop drowning in the back waters of social and economic retrogression. It is interfacing the Nigerian dream with global concepts of economic soundness, where the intellectual currency of the average Nigerian can stand at par with that of their contemporaries across the globe.

We have come of age. The continued call for zoning by the ruling parties will only dig us deeper down the pit of poverty. This form of slavery has been used to suppress the people into subsistence living which encumbers their ability to resist the elitists. So, the continuous subjugation of the masses is a do-or-die affair for them. It is an indictment on our ruling class, if after five decades; they have not impacted qualities on the coming generation to guide them in nurturing a virile nation and economy. After fifteen years of the fourth republic, how many projects that can enhance the status of the people, improve their quality of life or strengthen the nation’s economy have been executed?

Rev. Chris Okotie is severally quoted as having said that two men have deep-rooted connections to the course of Nigeria as a united entity- ex-presidents OlusegunObasanjo and IBB, and here’s why; these two men, have been paramount at strategic times in the nation’s history. Their regimes have been characterized by strong definitive leadership, whether viewed positively or negatively. They should they had the capacity and wherewithal to alter the destiny of this nation, as they had a firm grip on the machineries of government and a following of the masses.

Now, it is obvious that the vast proportions of intellectual capital which the ruling class has wasted over the last five decades cannot be quantified. If they are to present themselves as statesmen worthy of the label, then they must match their talk with visible actions. They should go beyond mere placatory and front page commentaries, and put their political machinery into action and good use by encouraging an atmosphere where their counsel will have the latitude to flourish. If the Obasanjo’s, Babangida’s, progressives and statesmen allow this steady decline of our most vital asset, then the Better life for real Nigerians we envisage will continue to be a grand illusion. Verbum serserpientis (A word is enough for the wise).

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

COMMENTARY

9

The greatest EWS that Muhammed Ali’s battle with the incapacitating disease, Parkinsons, has reached a point where he is unable to speak is not shocking but still, so, so heartbreak-

N

ing.

At the premiere of a film focusing on his family life last week, a statement was released saying that the legendary icon was too ill to attend the screening. Recently, his son, Ali Jnr, had also said that his father was “so ill” he believed there was "no chance" the former boxer would survive until the end of 2014.

This news isn’t really a surprise because the three-time world heavyweight champion, 72, has battled with the deliberating illness for decades. At the peak of his career Muhammed Ali delighted audiences with his charisma, excess skill and humor but Parkinsons has left him a shell of his former self and robbed this most verbose and loquacious of men his physical co-ordination and speech. Images of him a couple of years ago at the London Olympics exposed the silhouette of a man so frail and so sick he was barely holding on to dear life. It was such a departure from the Ali, who was famed for his quick wit and lightning speed in the ring, that the world knew. However throughout his illness, no matter how bad it gets, his dignity never fails to shine through.

Since I began writing over a decade ago, every couple of years, I have made it a point to periodically write about Muhammed Ali and a very small group of other ‘living’ global personalities and famous people as my contribution to spreading their message and story. (While there are many other deceased personalities that have impacted me, this particular list is made up of nonNigerians who were alive at the time I started writing in 2003).

For me, this group have inspired me, shaped my viewpoint, impacted me in a very significant way and continue to do so. It is also a group whom I have come to admire, absolutely adore and celebrate. During the span of my writing, some have passed away while some are still living and the list continues to expand. That group consists of, Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Deedat, Pope John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher, Wangari Maathai, Jerry Rawlings, Maya Angelou, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Fatou Bensouda, Hillary Clinton, Mo Ibrahim, Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Shirin Ebadi, Michael Jackson, Prince Charles, Angelina Jolie, Boris Johnson, Mo Farah, Andy Murray and now Malala Yousafzai.

With the news that his condition has deteriorated to a level where he is struggling to hold on, I feel the need to pay homage to this incredibly special person and tell another generation, who may not be aware, the story of a man who is the epitome of brilliance, humor, spirit and will power. He is an incredibly remarkable personality and his story should never stop being told.

Whether one followed his career or not or agreed with his political views and lifestyle, there is no arguing the fact that Muhammed Ali remains a spectacularly unique and fascinating person. For a very traditional Hausa/Fulani girl, from a rural African village in North Western Nigeria to be so moved by him that she developed an interest in the sport of boxing says a lot about his ability to inspire from afar.

I am often asked why and when I began to develop an interest in writing. My interest in writing and style was actually ignited

by Muhammed Ali. When I started writing, I started by writing poetry and spoken word pieces inspired by Muhammed Ali’s poetry and spoken word. Often, before or after a match or during interviews, Muhammed Ali, a keen poet, would express himself in rhyme form and he would tell stories in the wittiest way using poems. For instance, when he was about to fight Joe Frazier he summed up his predictions in an interview when he rhymed, "Joe's going to come out smoking. But I ain't gonna be joking. I'll be picking and poking, pouring water on his smoking. This might shock and amaze ya. But I'm gonna destroy Joe Frazier." Then after the “Thrilla In Manila” fight with the same Frazier he said, "It will be a Killer, And a chiller, And a thrilla. When I get the gorilla in Manila."

Clips such as the one on the following link show how very captivating, hilarious and endearing he was when expressing himself in that form.

Watching him perform was the most remarkable and entertaining thing ever and it was a form of expression that I immediately clung to and tried to emulate. This interest I had in the way he recited poetry led to me writing stories using the same rhyming format and this invariably led to other forms of writing.

As weird as it sounds, today, I can honestly say that it is largely to Muhammed Ali’s credit that I write.

The story and life of Muhammed Ali is just as colorful and fascinating as his infectious and endearing personality.

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay. He began to box at the age of 12 after an incident in which his bike was stolen. Hurt by the theft, he vowed to "whup" whoever stole his bike. A local policeman cautioned him and advised him to “learn how to box" before carrying out his threat. This was enough to inspire him and within weeks he trained, boxed and won fights.

He had 108 successful amateur bouts before his 18th birthday and in 1960, Cassius Clay won the Olympic gold medal in Rome.

Due to the segregation of blacks in Southern America during that time, Cassius was refused service at a local restaurant despite his Olympic achievement. This fuelled his ambition to succeed and reach out to minorities. The ultimate glory came when, against the odds, he defeated Sony Liston to emerge heavyweight champion of the world in 1964. While training for that title bout, he announced to the world that he was a member of the Nation of Islam and that his name was Cassius X, latter to be changed to Muhammad Ali. The response to this news was negative but he didn’t let it affect, influence or deter him. Whenever he was asked about his attachment to Islam, Ali joked that he was going to have four wives: one to shine his shoes, one to feed him grapes, one to rub oil on his muscles and one named Peaches!

In 1967, as the Vietnam War was escalating, Ali was called up for induction into the armed services. He refused induction on the grounds of religious beliefs. Typically in a joking manner he said, “…I done wrestled with an alligator; I done tussled with a whale; Clean out my cell and take my tail to jail; 'Cause better to be in jail fed than to be in Vietnam dead…” And latter he declared, "I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.”

The national anger in America over the last comment combined with Ali’s refusal to go into the armed services caused the authorities to cancel his boxing licenses. He was convicted, stripped of his championship title, his passport confiscated and he faced a 5year prison term. Eventually after 2 ½ years, the Supreme Court reversed his conviction and restored his license. This action elevated him to hero-status because he was the first American national figure to speak out against the war in Vietnam.

Among the highlights of his career is the well known, ‘the rumble in the jungle’; a fight between him and a fearsome champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Before the match, in his usual boastful manner, Ali predicted, “to prove I’m great he will fall in eight…” And true to his word in the 8th round Foreman was knocked out of the match.

To his credit, Ali became the first man to win the world heavyweight title three times. He revolutionised boxing by pioneering a style that went against many of the game's consecrated traditions. By the end of his career, Ali had fought an impressive 61 bouts with 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 defeats (1 knockout).

Shortly after his retirement, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and has been battling it ever since.

Before Muhammed Ali started boxing, the sport was said to have largely been controlled by the mob (mafia) but he came along and defended it as a sport. He gave this most uncompromising of sports beauty, grace, style, magnetism, humour, class, sheer excitement and beauty. He fought with emotion and heart.

In his usual stubborn way he refused to adhere to the conventional way of boxing and told the establishment, "I don't have to be what you want me to be; I'm free to be what I want."

In the ring Ali used a method that flouted boxing logic; for one he had arm reach and used it so that he didn’t have to get close

enough for his opponent to hit him. Additionally his powerful legs allowed him to dance, shuffle and float in the ring. The ‘Ali shuffle,’ a foot maneuver invented by him allowed him to elevate himself up and sometimes deliver a blow while dancing. At the time when his career bloomed, boxers never talked to the media but Ali disregarded this by boasting and predicting matches in that very public, bragging and poetic manner. In a rhyme that latter came to define his mode and manner in the ring, Ali said of himself “I float like a butterfly, I sting like a bee; his hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.” …Floating, stinging, striking, winning or rhyming, many will agree that Ali has today emerged as the world's most adored athlete and one that the world of sports will forever miss. When asked how he felt about retiring from boxing, Ali correctly proclaimed, "I wont miss Boxing; Boxing will miss me!” As a boxing fan I must say, it really does.

His confidence and egotism was so ‘in-your-face’ it was endearing. For instance, when asked whether he was good in golf, his response of, “I’m the best. I just haven’t played yet” or after failing US army’s aptitude test, his response of, “I said I was the greatest, not the smartest” was not offensive at all. His cockiness in proclamations he often made such as, “I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark” were rather hilarious.

He is so much more than a boxer or an endearing personality.

In this day, as he battles for his life, his actions outside of the boxing ring continue to speak volumes. In his journey he risked everything; his standing, his title, his achievements and his livelihood, yet he managed to surface as a hero and a man of principle for all time. He has always been known to stand up for his beliefs, loves children and respects women. Muhammed Ali is a super, super, super star; confident, smug and incredibly handsome!

Ali will always be a great inspiration to mankind as a whole and black people in particular. We can all learn a great deal from him. He gave people hope and proved that anyone could overcome insurmountable odds to achieve their dream. Even now, as ill as he is, Ali has been a relentless advocate for people in need, having delivered millions of dollars in food and medical relief to third world countries and raising an alleged $100 million for charities throughout the world.

For the last three decades the terrible disease that has dogged Ali has done its fair share of crippling him, but he has given it a good fight back. He has fought Parkinson’s disease with the same courage and determination he brought to the ring and to his work aimed at alleviating poverty, hunger and intolerance.

With the recent reports of his deteriorating condition, many around the world shall continue to pray to God to bless him and keep him safe and pain free until the end.

He touched the world and in return the likes of myself will always ‘love’ him dearly from the very, very bottom of our hearts.

Since the demise of Nelson Mandela, of all living public personalities, Mohammed Ali is the one that I consider as my ultimate personal hero.

I thank him for representing so many things in my life; I learnt so much from him, mostly good, some bad. I am so grateful to him for instilling in me the love of poetry, freestyle rhymes and so much more.

Perhaps amongst the adverse and naughty things I learnt from Ali was, how to unleash a fiery temper, a mighty mouth that doesn’t always respond to the need of remaining ‘zip’ and a sense of humor that can, at times, be sarcastic and biting. I also learnt how to successfully beat up boys and bullies all the way back in my school days…and I have never stopped doing it ever since!

How does one comprehensively describe the story of a man like Muhammed Ali? Well, one doesn’t need to, because one of the greatest living icons of our time has already described his story himself when he said, “…This is the legend of Muhammad Ali, The greatest fighter that ever will be… He talks a great deal and brags, indeed… Of a powerful punch and blinding speed… Ali fights great he's got speed and endurance… If you sign to fight him, increase your insurance… Ali's got a left, Ali's got a right; If he hits you once, you're asleep for the night…"

For the duration of my life, I will forever continue to adore him and pray for him. Muhammed Ali was, is and will always be; that which he proclaimed to be- “simply the greatest!”

Reactions to Illuminations NDER the present dispensation, there is no politician that doesn’t have skeleton in his cupboard. Even if Buhari becomes president, fighting corruption will not be easy this time around.

At times you Yoruba press talk like children, Pastor VinChiagoro, Enugu, 07034513079

U

Segun, thank you for your article of yesterday, especially on Buhari; we all know in this country what he stands for and God Almighty will use him to heal our nation, James, 08029860088 Mr Segun, your piece titled ‘Awaiting APC’s presidential ticket’ is a wonderful one. In fact I have read it twice. I wish APC stakeholders can give the ticket to Buhari and Rotimi Amaechi, Enakhimon Aitahfoh, Lagos, 08076379682 Your Awaiting ‘APC’s presidential ticket’ made my day. Can God use you to sell this wisdom to APC because we are tired of PDP.Buhari (President), Gov. Okorocha (VP – We trust him), Tinubu (Senate President), Fashola (SGF), El Rufai

Re: Awaiting APC’s presidential ticket (Power)…Pastor Godwin Lagos, 08035757293

Esonwune,

Mr Ayobolu, a convincing piece on ‘Awaiting APC’s ticket’. But you did not address the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket that will not fly in South-South, SouthEast and North-Central, Abass, 08024314900 Segun, after going through your piece, I had some misgivings in respect of your lopsided assessment of President Jonathan’s PDP-led government in juxtaposition with Buhari who never had any track record of democratic governance, Atiku- an acquisitive VP according to his boss, General OBJ and RabiuKwankwanso whose inordinate ambition to be president drove him to APC. In all these, your antecedents were very understandable as an APC apologist. However, be assured that GEJ shall floor any of your said APC candidate on February 14, 2015, Karibi, Porthacourt, 08026572168

He sege, just read the beautiful stuff on APC’s candidacy. Problem, as usual, is that Nigerians, by virtue of education imbalance and poverty are still largely amenable to the manipulative tendencies of our corrupt politicians. Our people are yet to imbibe the fine tenets of democracy and the crucial need for good leadership as defined by you. Worse still, we have a ruling party populated by desperate buccaneers who’ll do anything to hold on to power, even if the nation becomes extinct.

Seriously, I think we need divine intervention to get out of the quagmire we are in, Olu, 08033013597 Dear, the conclusion on your ‘Awaiting APC’s Presidential ticket’ is simple. Your preferred aspirant is Buhari. As a research analyst, I find it difficult to understand why most columnists stay in the comfort of their office to imagine how people will behave in an election. I wonder why you think the scenario that played out in 2011

will be the same in 2015 without any valid and reliable opinion polls by professionals.

You failed to do a critical analysis of those involved. If we need democracy then let’s allow internal democracy and support whoever emerges. None of the aspirants and Jonathan is free from controversies, Bakare Fatai, 08023653999 Illuminations, it’s outrageous, embarrassing and strange that you’ll suggest Tinubu as one of the possible running mates to Buhari. Please that’s Haram. No more Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian ticket in this country. The best man for running mate is Rotimi Amaechi, 09025206901 I am impressed by your today’s 11th October article. I pray that APC will not lose sight of your rich and unbeatable suggestions. Thanks very much, 08068919116 The greatest error committed by APC was to have accepted Atiku after betraying ACN. Olarinde, 07039330848 • Continued on page 53

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

•Mrs. Grace

Our losses,

by Ibadan fire victims •Relations turn hospital to ‘prayer house’ as victims die daily Story on pages 14&15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

14

Ibadan fire: Relations ‘prayer house’ as

•Scene of the accident on Thursday

A tanker accident ignited fire at Molete in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last weekend. Aside killing over 20 people, BISI OLADELE, who visited the hospital and the scene, reports how relations of the victims turned the Burns Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH) to a prayer centre just as shop owners lament their losses.

AILING and desperate prayers by relations of the victims of tanker fire pervaded the air at the Burns Unit of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Their grim faces told the story as some panted up and down the passage in expectation of good news from the ward. Some others sat down with mobile phones glued to their ears as they gave updates on the patients to friends and relations who could not join them at the hospital.

Medical workers also came out occasionally to brief the relations on either the needs of the patients to which they needed to attend or sometimes to break the bad news: "Sorry, we lost her," or "Sorry, we lost him."

That has been the situation at the unit since Sunday when

W

•Ngozi

•Immanuel

many of the 11 fire victims passed on one after the other.

The case of a fairly old man who was at the hospital to attend to his younger sister, Mrs Kafilat Olatunji, was pathetic.

The man, who is in his 60s, had been at the hospital since Sunday, making serious efforts to ensure that his sister got the best attention. He abandoned his family and work to shift to the UCH because of his sister.

Sometimes, he sat. Sometimes, he entered the ward. At other times, he was on the telephone, giving updates to family and friends.

This reporter engaged him in an interview at about 1:40 pm on Wednesday. The interview had barely gone half way through when he received a call he could not ignore. The caller was a key family member who needed to be briefed on the update. He excused himself and went out of the ward

area for the long call.

But by the time he came back, he was invited straight into the ward.

"Sorry Baba, we lost her" was the message he received.

He was perplexed. He didn't know what to do next.

Resigning to fate, he walked slowly out of the ward area and left. He could no longer continue with the interview.

With Mrs Olatunji's death, the patients from the fire incident in Molete, Ibadan on Saturday remained only three.

Mrs Olatunji, 47, sustained serious burn injury from head to toe. Her body was badly damaged by the fire. She was said to be on oxygen from Monday.

Mrs Olatunji's death threw relations of other victims in another frenzy of prayers. The bad news dampened their spirit, but they intensified their prayers to brave the situation.

Mrs Olatunji was among the many people caught in the fire that started from a fallen petrol tanker at Molete, Ibadan Saturday evening. The tanker's brake failed, leading to the ghastly accident. Over 20 people have died from the incident.

According to Mrs Olatunji's brother, the deceased was coming from the Challenge area on the fateful evening. She wanted to board a bus going towards Idi-Arere when the trailer fell and ignited fire. She did not escape.

"We do not know when she got there, but when we got to know that there was a fire incident at Molete, we decided to call her to advise her not to pass through the place since she told us she was going to Challenge. We called her and she answered and said she was caught in the fire. We rushed down to rescue her. It was her younger sister that called her to confirm her whereabouts when we discovered her plight. Her younger ones rushed to the scene. She was among those transported in a police van to the hospital. We learnt the fire caught up with them at the house they ran to for safety.

"The family was footing the bill before the Oyo State Government took over the payment. By the time she got to the UCH, her health had deteriorated because she was naked.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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turn hospital into victims die daily

She was a trader. She did not have a shop at Molete. Some are getting better, but hers is very serious," the man said.

He lost her sister minutes after the interview.

Another parent, Mr Collins Ndubuisi, was looking after his 18-year-old daughter, Precious. She was in a critical condition as at press time.

He recalled that his daughter visited her sister in Molete. Then, her host sent her and another girl to buy an item for her at the mini market near the Molete bridge. Both of them were caught in the fire.

He said he took her to two private hospitals where they advised him to go to the UCH. He said: "My daughter went to her sister's place in Molete from Salvation Army, and her sister sent her to buy something by the roadside before the fire caught her. I didn't know that anything had happened to her until after 9:00 pm when someone called me that my daughter was burnt. I heard my daughter's voice underneath. So, she told me to come straight to the St Anne's area and I boarded a motorcycle. They called me again to come to Eyin Grammar and later to Academy Hospital where I saw my daughter. But they didn't admit her there. I was later asked to take her to UCH, but I was afraid of the stress. So, I took her to Mobolaji Hospital at Oke-Bola and she was rejected again. I had to bring her to the UCH." Precious could not talk until Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Ndubuisi described the incident as "terrible," recalling: "many people, cars, motorcycles and tri-cycles were badly burnt. Even as I am speaking to you now, we have 10 people that were burnt here at UCH. Three out of them were confirmed dead day before yesterday (Monday). On Tuesday also, three people died.

By the time this reporter was leaving, Mr Ndubuisi and his relations were deep in prayers for Precious.

Meanwhile, life is gradually returning to the scene of the accident.

When our reporter visited Molete, owners of the burnt shops were seen washing the shops and making efforts to return.

•Mr.Ndubuisi

•Mr. Oliver

In separate interviews, they lamented their losses in the fire and appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.

A wine seller, Mrs. Grace Ibeh, recalled the incident. She said: “I was here (at her shop by the road near the bridge). I just entered the shop to take something. Before coming out, I heard a loud bang. Before I found out what was happening, fire was everywhere. My children and I escaped through the window at the back. They pushed me through the small window, hence I sustained injuries.

"We couldn't salvage anything. The fire was serious. People were just dying like fowls. It was God that saved us. It was by His mercy that we are alive today.

“I left here after 12 midnight and the fire was still on since it started around 8:00 pm.

"My customers too escaped through the window. I went to

hospital to treat myself with my two children.

I came here on Sunday to see that all my things were gone."

She said she had cartons of beer, other alcoholic drinks and wine.

"I just restocked. I had N30,000 cash in my bag and I never recovered anything. I lost about N500,000 to the fire," she added.

Mrs Ibeh, 51, described the incident as "a great loss and an unforgettable experience."

She called on the government and philanthropic Nigerians to help. "I don't know where to start now.

"I was not selling on the road. I was in my shop," she said.

A shoe dealer whose shop is next to Mrs Ibeh’s, Mr Oliver Dike, said he also lost N2,500,000 to the fire.

He said: "I escaped miraculously. I have been here for over 42 years.

“I was standing when the tanker came straight here. There was noise that the brake has failed from the beginning of the bridge.

The driver was blowing the horn seriously, but traders, cyclists and commuters did not run as much.

He tried to avoid killing people. It killed a woman with her two children (boys) selling mosquito killer. The woman and her children were selling by the road. Then, another woman selling bread and another selling fufu got burnt. The tanker fell on a car parked by a man wanting to buy bread.

The wife and three children died in the car. As the petrol content spilled, it flew to other areas and killed people.

"I lost about N2.5 million worth of shoes. They were cartons of imported shoes- men and ladies shoes, leather slippers and so on."

Mr .Dike said the tanker was not in good condition. He said such tanker should not have been on the road.

He also appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to assist him to get back to business.

"I want government to help. I have nothing. I got the goods on credit," he said.

A drug seller whose shop was also burnt, Mr Emmanuel Eze, said he lost about N4,500, 000 to the fire.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

49

•Wurukum Roundabout with ‘Food Basket of the Nation’ statute •Government House Road

•A street in the city

,

•Government House Roundabout

MAKURDI: Double-bridge city where fun

Makurdians, as residents of the city are called, love life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Night clubs adorn the nooks and crannies of the state capital. The night clubs are popularly called wine bars. They ensure that fun seekers in Makurdi have no dull moments.

Most of them stay awake all night, drinking and dancing at the various night clubs

,

•Highlevel Roundabout

lovers have no dull moments

•Railway Bridge across River Benue

AKURDI, the capital of Benue State, popularly called the food basket of Nigeria, is a beautiful sight to behold .

The city has undergone great transformation since the administration of former Governor George Akume in1999; a feat that was continued by the present administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam. Put differently, Governor Akume began the transformation of Makurdi, while Governor Suswam built on it.

The state was carved out of the old Benue/Plateau State by the military administration of Gen. Murtala Mohammed in 1976. But it lacked basic infrastructural development until the first three civilian governors of the late Aper Aku, George Akume and Gabriel Suswam mounted the saddle of leadership.

Two unique features easily mark Makurdi out as a modern city, namely bridges and roundabouts. The capital city is known as the double bride because of the two bridges constructed across River Benue. The Railway Bridge across the River Benue in Makurdi was built as far back as 1932. Specifically, it opened for both train and vehicular movement on May 24, 1932 and has since been designated as a national monument.

M

n Uja EMMANUEL n When the traffic grid could no longer accommodate the railway bride, another modern bridge was constructed to link travellers from north to south.

With well paved roads within the metropolis and streetlights that illuminate the city at night, Makurdi is by all standards a modern city.

The city is endowed with many roundabouts, which are built to international standards befitting of a modern city. The popular ones include those at Wurukum, Mr Biggs, Highlevel, Police Headquarters, Government House and Ministry of Works. But the most popular one, which welcomes a visitor into the city, is located in Wurukum.

On top of the Wurukum Roundabout is a bronze statue of a basket, and inside it is a hoe and yams depicting Benue State as the food basket of the nation.

Makurdians, as residents of the city are called, love life and enjoy it to the fullest. Night clubs adorn the nooks and crannies of the state capital.

The night clubs are popularly called wine bars.

They ensure that fun seekers in Makurdi have no

ca s Y t i C

Pe

dull moments. Most of them stay awake all night, drinking and dancing at the various night clubs.

Drinking, eating and dancing are serious business in Makurdi, especially at night. Night life in Makurdi is one of the most active in Nigeria.

People of all ages gather at different spots around the city, bubbling like bees.

If there is one thing for which residents of Makurdi would never forget Governor Gabriel Suswam, it is his urban renewal programme through which he has invested a lot in infrastructure like roads and layouts which are key to tourism and have attracted huge investments from the private sector as companies take advantage of them to establish different kinds of business outfits ranging from hotels to beer parlours and night clubs.

Also remarkable is the tight security around the city. The Suswam administration has invested heavily in this area to make night life in the city one of the best. Those who wish to stay awake and have all-night fun in the Double Bride, as

Makurdi is known and called, are in for a swell time, with pounded yam and bush meat the number one meal.

It will surprise anyone to learn that even the threat of Ebola has not vitiated the consumption of bush meat in the city. Pork meat is another delicacy that is popular with the people.

A bottle of beer complemented with pork meat

is the best way the average resident unwinds.

But the price of pork meat has gone up in recent times because of the competition the local population is facing from Chinese nationals.

Like the Tiv, the Chinese are regarded as one of the world’s highest consumers of pork meat. Incidentally, the Chinese population in Markurdi has been on the rise lately.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

17

REVERSAL

• Anti-Ebola tool sellers lament, hoteliers smile • The rage of bushmeat sellers Story on pages 18,47&48

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

18

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

47

EBOLA: sanitiser sellers lament, hoteliers smile

S the curtain finally draws on the menace of the Ebola virus disease in the country, business people who smiled to the banks selling sanitisers, hand gloves and other similar items at the wake of the disease, have started singing a different song. To put it better, they have started counting their losses.

Checks across the country reveal that it is no longer business as usual for the business men, most of whom had stocked their shops with the items before the demands for the items drastically dropped. On the other hand, hoteliers, food vendors and several others whose businesses nosedived at the height of the menace, have started witnessing a revival in the businesses. It is a case of he who laughs first laughs last.

Some traders in Lagos State, where the challenge was first recorded in the country, recounted that they regretted stocking their shops with the items with the hope that the business will continue to boom.

Sam Akolisa, a trader at Oshodi market, said he went into the business of hand sanitisers after he discovered that banks and hospitals were asking for them. Unfortunately, his purpose of going into the business has been defeated. “I made lots of sales here when the Ebola problem started as a lot of people were coming here to buy in bulk. Unfortunately, the sales have reduced. I think this is because there is no more fear about Ebola since it is no more in Nigeria. I have, however, reduced my business interest in the sale of sanitisers and soaps. I am concentrating on other products right now to avoid tying my

A

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tals and shops, it was has equally reduced drastically in the been tamed in the state. able to meet demand of our customers; capital down unnecessarily. ple only purchased sanitiser because state forcing the prices to come down. At Mrs. Ofor said: “We actually made a so we ran out of stock for some days be“Without Ebola, we need to still be they felt it could prevent Ebola. Since the observed that members of the public have come out of their fears and have the Mile One market, a dealer in hand lot of sales during the Ebola period, our fore we were able to re-stock. But it is no wary of the disease. It is important to use menace has been contained, the demand begun to have close contact with one ansanitiser, Mrs. Edith Ofor, told our rehand sanitisers never lasted more than longer so now. soap to wash the hands because somehas drastically reduced.’’ other. porter that the price and demand of the two days irrespective of the number of “Although people have come to know times, you may shake people whose At several places visited in Port HarThe rush for the purchase of the items items have dropped since the disease has cartons bought. At a point, we were not the need to sanitise their hands often and hands are dirty. Sometimes, we do not court, especially banks, eateries, hospiare still buying, but not at the rate know where we might have put they bought it at the heat of the outour hands, and may have conbreak. The drop in demand also aftracted virus. It is a pity that some fected the price. Before now, we sold people are not even interested in packets of 10 for between N5,000 washing their hands after the use and N10,000 and retail between of the toilet. But I must tell you that N700 and N1, 200 depending on the if you love your life, you should type and size, but now, the same carwash regularly.”

Innocent DURU, Lagos; Osagie OTABOR, Benin ton goes for between N3000 and Mrs Ayotunde Bola, a dealer in and Nicholas KALU, Calabar N5000, and retail N300 and N500.” sanitiser, also shared her experiAt the banks visited along Ikwerre ence: “I started making sanitisers In a manner that a snake cut half way would readily bare its Road, the customers and the gatesince the outbreak of Ebola. I was fangs on its immediate contact, embattled bush meat sellers men were no longer observing the initially not producing sanitisers in different parts of the country have started venting their routine of screening and using water before but after the outbreak of anger on journalists, blaming them for the colapse of their and hand sanitisers before entering Ebola, most of my customers businessowing to the panic that attended the Ebola saga. the banking halls. The story was not started asking if I had sanitiser.

Their business, which was hitherto booming, suffered an also different at the hospitals and That was what prompted me to untold setback after it was announced that the dreaded Ebola eateries also visited. Some business start making it and I made a lot of virus disease could be contracted by either touching or eatinstitutions have completely resales from it.’’ ing bush meat. moved their hand washing items, She narrated that during the However, in spite of the Federal Ministry of Health’s asburied their infra-red and detached Ebola outbreak, she sold close to surance that there are no fresh cases of Ebola in the country their sanitiser dispenser.

50 pieces of sanitisers in a week, and the move, as at press time, by the World Health OrganiAt one of the eateries, a gateman sation to declare the country free of the lethal disease, busibut now, she hardly sells up to five ness is yet to pick up for the traders. told our reporter that they have in a week. ‘’Since Ebola has been Instead of bouncing back, the business appears to have stopped screening people after the contained in Nigeria, the sale of make money using Ebola as a cover up. We have lost our been dealt a final blow from which it may take time to redisease stopped spreading but the sanitiser has become very low. I inonly means of livelihood to their wickedness. They are now cover. Unlike in the past when the traders used a countless hand washing still goes on at the tend to stop making sanitisers beenjoying the money they got from their Ebola campaign, number of tables to display all manners of bush meat, only a eating hall. “There is no more Ebola cause the 20 piece I made last week while those of us that they have succeeded in rendering jobfew tables with some bush meat were displayed when our now, so we stopped checking people are still on ground. So, the sales of less are going about starving. God will judge them and puncorrespondents visited the various markets. before they go in, but they wash sanitiser have died with Ebola,” ish… (unprintable words)’’ In Lagos State, most of the traders have quit the business their hands inside,” he stated. she stated.

•Bushmeat on display in Benin city on Wednesday Also immersed in anger, her colleague said: “Don’t ever and have fast taken to petty trading to make both ends meet.

At the state-owned Braithwaite Mr Dogo Musa, a pharmacist, reask me to speak with you anymore. If any journalist comes Few of them who have resorted to petty trading around the Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port counted that even before the outhere again, I will splash pepper into his eyes. We have spowill hate yourself. market were aggrieved when The Nation sought their view Harcourt, each of the four security break of Ebola, he always had ken on DSTV, local television and radio stations, yet the situ“Let me also warn that if you are asked to come here next about the state of their business since Ebola has been offimen at the gate held the infra-red sanitiser among wares without noation kept getting worse untill it got to this point that we time, don’t ever attempt to come because if you come, we cially said to have been contained in the country. They went thermometer. Vehicles and people body coming to buy it, but Ebola will throw you inside the river behind us. I have told you the have lost our means of livelihood. wild, threatening to deal with our reporter, at the same time were allowed to pass through the broke out, the demand became “I have resorted to selling cooked yam after our grasscutsimple truth. If you love yourself , let this be the last time blaming the country for their woes. gate without any interception or dihigh, prompting him to purchase ter business was strangulated. This petty business is nothing you would come here.”

At the popular bush meet market along Ikorodu area of rective to come for screening. more of it for sale. to write home about. I am only doing it to keep myself busy.

Prodded to explain why she gave the warning, she rained Lagos State, one of the traders, who appeared to be the most In Ogun State, findings showed “Now that Ebola has been curbed curses on various leaders of the country, saying: “They were aggrieved said: “Oga, if you don’t have any tangible thing to that there is now a lull in the sales in the country, the demand for sanido, go back home because if you stay there much longer, you the ones that killed our business because they wanted to Continued on page 48 and patronage of hand sanitisers tisers has reduced. I must say, peo-

The rage of bushmeat sellers

•Vent their spleen on reporters: ‘if you come here again, we’ll throw you into the river’

,

,

Some of my colleagues, who stocked the products a month ago hoping to make much profit, are in a quandary because the sales have seriously dropped. To worsen matters, some of the goods would expire in their stores because they would not be able to sell everything they have in their shops with this occasional sales of one or two pieces in weeks

•Left and right: Anti-Ebola tools in use

Let me also warn that if you are asked to come here next time, don’t ever attempt to come because if you come, we will throw you inside the river behind us. I have told you the simple truth. If you love yourself , let this be the last time you would come here

,

and some detergents that were earlier in high demand and used by the fear stricken residents as preventive measures against the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Mrs Juliana Babatunde, a patent medicine dealer on Nawarudeen Road, Isabo, Abeokuta, told The Nation that when the Ebola disease scourge was rife, she sold an average of 10 hand sanitisers per day, but said in the last one month, she rarely sells three pieces in a week.

According her: “ The public has relaxed their safety and health consciousness regarding EVD, hence the poor sales in hand sanitisers and other safety kits like hand gloves, mouth and nose guard, among others.”

In the bustling Kuto market at the state capital, the story is the same for most of the traders who spoke with The Nation.

Sade, a major dealer in detergents, perfumery and cosmetics, said the sales of hand sanitisers was a short-lived lucrative business which brought much gain at the height of the Ebola outbreak but dwindled in the last six weeks after EVD was contained.

“Some of my colleagues, who stocked the products a month ago hoping to make much profit, are in a quandary because the sales have seriously dropped.

To worsen matters, some of the goods would expire in their stores because they would not be able to sell everything they have in their shops with this occasional sales of one or two pieces in weeks,” she said.

It was, however, a different ball game for food vendors and their counterparts in the hospitality industry who had earlier experienced poor sales when the disease broke out. Unlike their sanitiser sellers, they said their sales have started Continued on page 48

,

Paul UKPABIO, Innocent DURU, Osumah IBRAHIM, Lagos; Rosemary NWISI, Port Harcourt and Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta

During the Ebola days, we were unable to sell up to four bags of semovita, quarter bag of rice and a half bag of garri that we made but now, we make more than 10 bags of semovita in a day, more than a bag of rice and we could use more than a bag of garri in a day. So you can see that our business is now booming since Ebola has been curbed out

,

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

‘Police would not have caught me like a fowl if I had my charms on’ robbery suspect, Olawunmi Oluwafemi, has said that he would not have been arrested by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) of the Ogun State Police Command if he had carried his charms with him while exchanging gunfire with the police because they would have acted as ‘bulletproof’.

Thirty-three-year-old Oluwafemi a.k.a. Femi Kuti, a native of Okuku, Osun State also confessed that his special role in cult fights and the robbery gang to which he belonged was to shoot dead anyone identified as an enemy, adding that he had killed more than eight people.

The suspect and some members of his gang who were still at large were said to have constituted a public threat in Ogun State as they killed and maimed innocent people under the cover of Eyee, an occult group that carried out all sorts of criminal activities, including armed robbery and bloody cult fights.

A police source said the cult had wanted to unleash terror during the annual Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode before the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Okoye Ikemefuna, ordered Mohammed Tijani, the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS), to relocate to the area for effective policing and possible arrest of Oluwafemi and other members of

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•Oluwafemi

Rivers community demands justice 24 years after alleged massacre n Precious DIKEWOHA and n Rita KPAZOP, Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, with Social Action, a non-governmental organisation, the community said the judicial panel set up over the incident did not present a true and fair picture of what happened to their community in 1990.

The chairman of the Umuechem Progressive Union Mr. Onwuli Johnson, and other members of the community expressed confidence that the NGO would bring justice to the community and assist them to get their full compensation.

The community, who is set for its annual celebration on November 1st 2014, said over 200 houses were burnt down and destroyed with dynamite and other explosives.

Mr. Johnson said: “We are happy that Social Action has come to intervene, unlike other NGOs which visited this community but regrettably nothing has come out of it. We are confident that Social Action’s intervention will be the end of our cries for jus•Participants at the meeting

HE people of Umuechem community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have demanded for justice and full compensation on the alleged massacre that led to the death of over 200 people in 1990.

It would be recalled that 24 years ago, Umuechem, one of the oil communities in Rivers State, was allegedly attacked by the military after the people protested against environmental degradation caused by oil spill from the operation of Shell Petroleum Development (SPDC) in the area.

In a Town Hall meeting during the week in

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Continued on page 50

n Ebele BONIFACE n the gang.

It was said to have taken the police a lot of patience to arrest Oluwafemi, the suspected leader of the gang, because they did not want to hurt innocent people at the ceremony. The police also did not want to shoot him in a manner that he would die so that he would be able to help the police to locate the fleeing members of the gang.

In the exchange of gunfire that ensued, the police succeeded in shooting Oluwafemi in the lower limb so that he could not run again, after which he was arrested. Yet at the time he spoke with our correspondent, Oluwafemi was in critical condition as he could not stand with his badly battered legs.

The police also revealed that they recovered from him a locally made double barrel pistol loaded with live ammunition, three expended cartridges and some charms.

Speaking with our correspondent, Oluwafemi said he was married with two children but had to sack his wife after finding her with another man. “If not for the two children she had for me, I would have shot her dead the day I caught her committing adultery with one stupid man,” he said.

Oluwafemi added: “My parents

Continued on page 50

Man takes to robbery after being robbed

...to raise money for mother’s burial n Ebele BONIFACE n

AYS after he was attacked by robbers and stripped of the sum of N29,000 on his way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a Beninoise also took to armed robbery.

Thirty-year-old Bernard Bongi said he was travelling to Port Harcourt for his mother’s burial and payment of his fiacee’s younger brother’s school fees when he was accosted by robbers who took away the sum of N29,000 meant for the two purposes.

He said that in his desperate search for money, he was left with no choice but to also take to robbery.

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Continued on page 50

•Bernard

ENTERTAINMENT

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

RE ELNEW S

23

•Shaibu Husseini

By Abiodun Morakinyo

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

Dakore Akande turns 36

Liberty

Television berths •Caroline Ikpea

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few weeks after she emerged the winner of the 2014 Face of Culture, 23year-old Queen Sarah Obongha, has revealed her plans to project, promote and support the Nigerian arts and culture centres, especially those in the Northern Region.

The Cross Rivers State-born queen said she would create an effective programme at these centres to engage the youths. The programme, according to the graduate of Visual Arts and Technology from the Cross River State University of Technology, includes cultural dance training, native language study, among others. "This has to be taken seriously because our culture is our identity and it is the instrument for peace and oneness in our great nation," she said.

According to the organisers, she is ready and willing to showcase the Nigerian rich arts

and culture around globe through oral, written and practical means. She has, therefore, opened a face book fan page, ambassadorforculturenorthcentr al/facebook.com, with the major objective targeted for people to discuss the cultures in their localities and share ideas and pictures of their cultural attires and arts.

She further revealed that with time, she will conduct debates, arts exhibitions and cultural dance competition for pupils and

students, while prizes will be awarded to winners.

Although she appreciates the challenges involved given that she is not from the northern part of the country, she said the project is achievable “because we are all one Nigeria.” She, therefore, seeks the support of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Hon. Chief Edem Duke, as well as the Ministries of Culture and Tourism in the Northern region in particular.

•Queen Sarah

24

ENTERTAINMENT

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

Continued from Page 21

•Babasola Oluwaseun

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014, 2014

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THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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Continued on page 46

18,

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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SPANISH LA LIGA..SPANISH LA LIGA...SPANISH LA LIGA....

RONALDO EYES MORE GLORY C

RISTIANO Ronaldo and Real Madrid are out to maintain their exhilarating form at Levante ahead of big clashes with Liverpool and Barcelona.

Real have won four successive league matches - scoring a staggering 20 goals in the process - to climb fourth, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

Eleven of those have come from Ronaldo, who has more milestones in sight on Saturday against a team has scored against 10 times in nine contests.

The 29-year-old Portuguese requires one goal to become the third player – and first since 1948 – to score 14 times in the opening eight rounds of a Spanish top-flight campaign, while three goals in Valencia would see him eclipse Alfredo Di Stefano and Telmo Zarra and become the competition's outright record scorer of hat-tricks.

Real have won their last five games against Levante, with Ronaldo on target every time.

Levante have beaten Real at home only once in nine La Liga attempts. Sami Khedira was sent off in that 1-0 defeat in 2011, and the Germany midfielder's return to training following injury on Wednesday means Sergio Ramos and Jese Rodriguez are the only players not at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal.

Keylor Navas appears unlikely to feature against the side he left in the summer after Ancelotti again backed Iker

JORDI ALBA:

El Clásico? We’ve got to beat Eibar first

B

ARCELONA full-back Jordi Alba was inevitably asked for his thoughts about El Clásico against Real Madrid, during his press call , but he pointed out that his side must be alert and deal with their match against Eibar, before thinking about the Bernabéu encounter.

Jordi Alba, responding to a question regarding possible tiredness of international players, by explaining that it’s not something that should affect the Barcelona squad, ahead of their match this weekend.

“We’re used to coming back from our national teams, so there aren’t any problems and it doesn’t pose any Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Team Barcelona Valencia Sevilla Real Madrid Atlético Celta de Vigo Villarreal Espanyol Eibar Almería Málaga Rayo Granada Getafe Real Sociedad Elche Levante Athletic Club Córdoba Deportivo

P 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

issues preparing to get back into La Liga action.”

As the first competitive appearance of Uruguayan star Luis Suárez draws ever closer, parti cularly it could com e in El Clásico, Alba noted that whilst the striker will be a key player, the emphasis is firmly that he’ll be a part of the team and no more important than any other.

“It’s only natural that there’s a lot of talk abo ut Luis Suárez, who is an important

SPANISH LA LIGA TABLE W 6 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 1

D 1 2 1 0 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 4 1

L 0 0 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 3 5

GF 19 17 13 25 12 12 10 9 8 7 5 10 5 4 8 7 4 4 4 8

GA 0 4 8 9 7 10 7 8 7 7 7 12 11 11 11 16 15 11 11 19

GD 19 13 5 16 5 2 3 1 1 0 -2 -2 -6 -7 -3 -9 -11 -7 -7 -11

Pts 19 17 16 15 14 12 11 9 9 9 9 8 8 7 5 5 5 4 4 4

player for us, even if he’s not played competitively yet. As for him playing at the Bernabéu, that’s something the press want to see and talk about, but in the end, it’s the decision of the manager. His contribution to the team will be a plus for us though. I’m sure he’ll score lots of goals with Barcelona, but we have more players in the team and it’s not just about him, Messi or Neymar doing well at the Bernabéu.

“Eibar are currently ninth and are having a great season so far. They’ll come out to compete for the ball and they’ll be difficult opponents. If we beat them, all it means is that we’ll go to the Bernabéu with more points, but if we’re not careful

FIXTURES

Saturday 18-10-2014 Levante v Real Madrid Athletic Club v Celta de Vigo Barcelona v Eibar Córdoba v Málaga Sunday 19-10-2014 Atlético v Espanyol Deportivo v Valencia Elche v Sevilla Villarreal v Almería Monday 20-10-2014 Real Sociedad v Getafe

TOP SCORERS

Player Ronaldo Neymar Messi Bacca Bueno Stuani García Bale Joaquín Baptistao Durán Orellana Miranda Benzema

Team Goals Real Madrid 13 Barcelona 7 Barcelona 6 Sevilla 5 Rayo 4 Espanyol 4 Valencia CF 4 Real Madrid 4 Celta de Vigo 4 Rayo 4 Celta de Vigo 4 Celta de Vigo 3 Atlético 3 Real Madrid 3

FIXTUR

33

ES

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WENGER

RAFAEL INSISTS

HULL HAS BOUGHT TOP QUALITY

MAN UTD CAN STILL WIN TITLE

R

AFAEL da Silva believes Manchester United could become champions again this season United are eight points behind leaders Chelsea and so far have only faced one team who finished in the top 10 last season, but they have won three of their last four games.

Rafael believes manager Louis van Gaal's record of winning titles in Holland, Spain and Germany shows it is possible for United to finish first once they adapt to his beliefs.

"Everything takes time," he said. "It's a different philosophy. If we understand the way we are playing like we are doing, the results come and everything starts to run smoothly, we certainly have a chance of winning the title.

"Louis van Gaal is a strong coach. He admires things that are done right. He asks everybody to be on time for our sessions, we can't be late. He likes to see us training hard.

"So, he has some differences [to David Moyes & Sir Alex Ferguson], especially in terms of his philosophy, and we need to be able to adapt to it. However it's must be right because the proof is the titles that he's won."

Brushing aside rumours that his fellow Brazilian Daniel Alves could be about to replace him as United's right-back, Rafael insisted he wants to stay at Old Trafford for years to come.

Even at just 24 years old, Rafael is one of the club's longer-serving players and said he feels like a local now.

"I love my Player Team Goals life here," he Costa Chelsea 9 added. "It is Ulloa Leicester City 5 the best place to Berahino West Brom 5 work. I feel Agüero Man City 5 I've West Ham 4 adapted to Sakho here. The Pellè Southampton 4 first time I Tottenham 4 came here I Chadli

A

RSÈNE Wenger believes that Hull City have assembled a team that has the quality to “beat anybody” in the Premier League.

Steve Bruce’s side had a strong summer in the transfer market, adding the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Abel Hernandez and Mo Diame to their squad.

Wenger is anticipating a major battle with last season’s FA Cup final opponents and says his team will have to be at their best to secure the three points.

“The Hull game for us is a a remembrance of a big sweat because we played against them in the cup final in a very difficult game,” the Arsenal manager said.

“They could not use Jelavic in the cup last season, and since then they have bought Diame, Hernandez - they have bought some good players.

“When you look at their team sheet now, they look like they can beat anybody so I expect a tough game. Look at the quality of players they got in, you can say they

LAMPARD SEARCHING FOR MORE GOALS

F

RANK Lampard hopes to extend his excellent record against Tottenham when they visit Manchester City on Saturday.

Lampard, who won City's Player of the Month award for September, has scored eight goals against Spurs in his career, including an FA Cup semifinal strike in 2012.

And the midfielder could be in line to start at the weekend if Manuel Pellegrini decides to rest Yaya Toure -- who played for Ivory Coast against DR Congo on Wednesday -- ahead of City's Champions League tie against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

Lampard, currently on loan from New York City FC, told the Premier League champions' official website: "I've done alright against Spurs over the years and playing them was always a big game at Chelsea. Even when I was at West Ham, Tottenham were big rivals so I've always seen it as a big game and something to mark on the calendar and that doesn't change now I'm at City.

"I think they'll be up and around the top six this season. They may go through a slight transitional period but I was very impressed with their manager when he was at Southampton and if he can bring the same imprint on Tottenham, who arguably have more quality within their squad, they'll do really well.

"I'm sure their aim is to get into the Champions League, but it won't be easy and there is a lot of competition and there are a lot of teams all trying to achieve the same goal.”

TOP SCORERS

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

ENGLISH BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

Team Chelsea Man City Southampton Man Utd Swansea City Tottenham West Ham Arsenal Liverpool Aston Villa Hull City Leicester City Sunderland West Brom Crystal Palace Stoke City Everton Newcastle Burnley QPR

P 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

W 6 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 1

D 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 4 1 1 3 3 5 2 2 2 3 4 4 1

L 0 1 2 2 2 2 3 1 3 3 2 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 5

GF 21 14 11 13 10 9 12 11 10 4 11 11 8 8 10 6 13 7 3 4

GA 7 7 5 10 8 7 10 9 10 9 11 12 7 9 12 8 16 14 10 15

GD 14 7 6 3 2 2 2 2 0 -5 0 -1 1 -1 -2 -2 -3 -7 -7 -11

Pts 19 14 13 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 8 6 4 4 4

ITALIAN SERIE A... ITALIAN SERIE A... ITALIAN SERIE A... ITALIAN SERIE A...

TONI: WE DON’T FEAR MILAN

V

ERONA striker Luca Toni admires Pippo Inzaghi’s Milan, but states that the Gialloblu fear no-one heading into this weekend’s meeting.

The Butei face Milan at the Bentegodi on Sunday, with the two sides level on points, and the veteran striker believes he and his teammates can cause trouble.

“It will be a nice challenge,” Toni told the Veronese edition of the Corriere della Sera.

“We go into the game on equal points, which means that up to now Verona have been doing good things.

“It will be hard, because this Milan side is destined for bigger things. But we’re playing them at home, and in front of our fans we’re not afraid of anyone. We can give anyone a game.

“Can we make the Europa League? Not so fast. It’s too soon to know what this Verona side can achieve.

“Let’s wait five games, then we’ll have a better idea of where we are.”

Milan Coach Filippo Inzaghi has drawn praise in recent days from players and club officials alike, and Toni wishes his former Azzurri colleague well…just not on Sunday.

“I won a World Cup with Pippo in Germany, and we also have the same agent [Tullio Tinti].

“We spoke on the phone recently. He’s very motivated, and I know he’s working hard because he’s aware of the fact that it’s difficult to start almost from scratch at a club like Milan.

“But on Sunday I’d like to give him something to regret! Then after that I hope they do the best they possibly can.”

Toni is now 37, and facing inevitable questions about when he will finally hang up his boots, as well as what he might do afterward.

“I think I still have two or three years in me, but I can’t continue any longer than that.

“Of course if we have a great season and I score a barrel-load of goals then maybe I’ll reconsider!

“After that? I could be an agent, or maybe a club director.

It would depend on the offer, and how much enthusiasm I have for a new role.”

Ogbonna: A great start A

NGELO Ogbonna believes his impressive introduction to the campaign is down to specific improvements he has made to his game over the summer and increased chances to shine under Massimiliano Allegri.

Injuries to Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres in recent weeks have seen the 26-year-old asked to operate in an unorthodox position on the right of the back three – and it is an opportunity he has seized with both hands.

Speaking exclusively to Sky, Ogbonna began: “It’s been a great start, not just for myself, but also for the team as a whole. I’m standing out a little bit more than I did last season. I’ve perhaps improved a tad concentration wise and also in understanding the type of attitude required out on the pitch.

“The system also helps me a great deal. It’s inevitable that playing more regularly gives you greater opportunities to show what you can do.”

Ogbonna’s displays in Serie A’s joint strongest rearguard led to a deserved call-up by former club boss Antonio Conte for Italy’s recent Euro 2016 qualification double-header against Azerbaijan and Malta.

“I don’t think international caps are just dished out to anybody, only those deserving of the call receive it.

In recent times a few of my positive outings have made the new coach’s decision an easy one to make.”

Returning to league matters, the defender, who joined from inter-city rivals Torino in 2013, says the Bianconeri will be kept on their toes throughout the campaign by an “excellent” Roma outfit.

Player

TOP SCORERS

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

Team

Parma Udinese Juventus Inter Cagliari Lazio Palermo Milan Napoli Milan

Goals

4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

FIXTURES

Saturday 18-10-2014 Roma v Chievo Sassuolo v Juventus Sunday 19-10-2014 Fiorentina v Lazio Atalanta v Parma Cagliari v Sampdoria Palermo v Cesena Torino v Udinese Verona v Milan Inter v Napoli Monday 20-10-2014 Genoa v Empoli

ITALIAN SERIE A TABLE Pos Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Pts

1

Juventus

6

6

0

0

13

2

11

18

2

Roma

6

5

0

1

11

4

7

15

3

Sampdoria

6

4

2

0

7

2

5

14

4

Udinese

6

4

1

1

9

5

4

13

5

Milan

6

3

2

1

13

9

4

11

6

Verona

6

3

2

1

6

5

1

11

7

Napoli

6

3

1

2

8

7

1

10

8

Lazio

6

3

0

3

11

7

4

9

9

Fiorentina

6

2

3

1

5

3

2

9

10

Inter

6

2

2

2

11

8

3

8

11

Genoa

6

2

2

2

6

6

0

8

12

Empoli

6

1

3

2

8

8

0

6

13

Cesena

6

1

3

2

5

10

-5

6

14

Torino

6

1

2

3

4

7

-3

5

15

Cagliari

6

1

1

4

7

9

-2

4

16

Chievo

6

1

1

4

5

9

-4

4

17

Atalanta

6

1

1

4

2

8

-6

4

18

Parma

6

1

0

5

11

16

-5

3

19

Palermo

6

0

3

3

6

14

-8

3

20

Sassuolo

6

0

3

3

3

12

-9

3

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

Saturday, October 18,2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 2014

38

• Dr. Jimoh

My only regret at 50, by NAFDAC’s spokesman Abubakar Jimoh

Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, who has been the image maker of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) since inception, is currently the Director of Special Duties of the agency. In this encounter with SANNI ONOGU, he gave an insight into the inner workings of the agency from inception and his life lessons as he clocks 50 today. Excerpts: HE core mandate of NAFDAC is to control and regulate drugs and food products, what are the implications of not keeping to set standards, especially in the manufacture and consumption of consumer goods like food and fake drugs?

Obviously what you are asking me is what are the health consequences of poor quality products, counterfeit drugs, unwholesome processed food, corrosive cosmetics, poor quality packaged water and substandard medical devices? The effects are so obvious as it relates to the regulatory activities of NAFDAC and NAFDAC regulated products. The damage to vital organs of the body of all these regulated products because it impacts directly on the health of the individual as opposed to other products being regulated by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria some of which are not edible. But NAFDAC's regulated products are products that you consume, you take and that you apply to your body. It is related to human beings and even animals. So to that extent, it has direct effect on the body.

So if it is not qualitative or up to standard like you pointed out, obviously the consequences are so glaring and grave, especially in terms of the devastating health consequences. So, if you are talking of counterfeit drugs, they can lead to damage of vital organs of the body like liver cirrhosis. They can lead to the damage to kidneys and other vital human organs in the body. It can lead to the impairment of vital organs of the body. Once those organs, which are the engine of the human being, are affected, if it is not effectively managed, it can lead to death. But even at times when you use counterfeit eye drops, it can lead to blindness. So many parts of the body are very sensitive and once a drug is counterfeit it portents grave health implications. Also, it tries to erode the confidence that you have in the therapeutic efficiency of the clinicians - either medical doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers who administer these drugs. They begin to wonder what is happening when a counterfeit drug is administered.

Patient A takes in efficacious drugs and gets well instantly and the drug does what it is meant to do. Then, patient B takes a counterfeit drug. The consequences are quite obvious because it is the opposite of it. To that extent, the person may even be sent to instant death depending on the gravity of the counterfeited drug, especially if its is outright poison. If it is an intravenous injection, the person can even die immediately because it goes straight into the blood. We don't joke with the issue of counterfeit drugs and that is why the DG NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, believes that a drug counterfeiter is worse than an armed robber. An armed robber points a gun at you at one goal and if you are lucky and you are able to surrender what you have, he or she may be merciful and

T

leave you to go scud free, although he has collected what he wants to dispossess you of. But a counterfeiter does not give you that option, according to Dr. Paul Orhii.

When you have a relation that is hospitalised, you will even go and borrow the money you don't have to buy these counterfeit drugs and come and administer. So, it is grievous and it can kill enmasse. An armed robber is one at a goal or maybe he enters a household and there are three people there and the three people may become victims. But counterfeit drugs that you supplied in stock to a community, it can wipe out a community through gradual death without people knowing what is responsible for the death of these people. To that extent, we see the phenomenon of counterfeiting as genocidal because it kills quietly without anybody tracing it to the counterfeit drug. Also, it reduces the productive segment of the population. By killing people it is a minus and not a plus for the economy. It also has effect on our economy when counterfeit drugs are imported because you use our foreign exchange to import some of these drugs that come from some particular Asian countries.

So these are some of the consequences of counterfeit drugs. The same thing can be extrapolated for unwholesome processed food and corrosive cosmetics that contain some banned chemicals. They also lead to the damage of vital organs of the body which results in bleaching. That is why we call them regulated products. It is different from when you want to buy 'okrika' whose effect is not as grievous as when you have NAFDAC regulated products because it goes straight into the body.

Apart from the concerted efforts made by the different heads of NAFDAC up till Dr. Paul Orhii - from the first DG to Akunyili and now Dr. Orhii, people are quick to credit your office with the robust media visibility of NAFDAC especially starting from the time of Akunyili up till now. How did you achieve the feet?

Thank you very much. With a great sense of modesty and humility, I would say that any achievement I was able to record as the head of public relations unit right from inception, I will attribute it to the entire NAFDAC staff because as a media man - I started as a journalist before veering off into public relations practice - I do know that if you don't have a story, if there is no activity there is no news. NAFDAC under the distinguished leadership of these three people, from Osuide, Akunyili and Dr. Paul Orhii have been marvelous. The staff have been efficient, world class and a shining model for other agencies. As a matter of fact, people tend to call NAFDAC Plc Plc in the sense that we work like a private enterprise. I told you our job is 24/7, so no resting on our oars because we believe that the sacred duty, the trust that has been vested in us is the life of over 170 million Nigerians.

We don't joke with it. God forbid, once there is a calamity

and the death of one single person, NAFDAC will not be able to sleep. We know the enormity and the challenges we have and we rose up to it. So, I will credit or attribute the successes we have recorded in terms of the visibility and the robust public awareness campaign overall to the contribution of all NAFDAC's regulatory officers.

I am speaking in terms of seizures, in terms of arrests and breaking the news for us to report. If there is no activity then a public relations officer, no matter how efficient, there is nothing you can do. Also, we are very conscious of our image as a transparent and honest agency because corruption is a direct antithesis of effective regulation. So to that extent, our leaders have had zero tolerance to corruption right from Osuide to Prof. Dora Akunyili and now Dr. Paul Orhii. The cliche is zero tolerance for corruption because you cannot marry the two and that has been our own strength. I am not saying there is no one or two bad eggs that have been shown the way out of the system, so to that extent these have coalesced into the efficiency that we have in NAFDAC. Without being immodest, I would also want to say that the approach we have used in NAFDAC is highly unconventional. They are approaches you cannot read in public relation books based on our ingenious ability to create and recreate new strategies in staying ahead of the game but we will not let our secret out of the bag (Laughs).

Today, you will be celebrating your 50th birthday.

How was it like growing up? Were you born with a silver spoon in your mouth?

Well, growing up was quite interesting for me. I come from a rural background in Okene. I was born and bred in Okene town, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State. My upbringing was quite interesting as a child. I grew up from what you may call a middle class background. I can't say my parents were rich but we are not poor. It was like a middle class. I also grew up from a parentage that I would say were halfway literate because my father finished what we call the Standard 7 of those days and he had to develop himself educationally, then later he veered off into produce buying like cocoa which took him to the Western Region as it were in those days and my mother also followed closely - obviously where your husband is going, you go. My mother was a produce trader buying in wholesale like beans, garri and also distributing to other retailers. This was the type of background I grew up in and that was why I said it is a middle class background because for a wholesale buyer, you need capital to be able to work. Again, that also translated into making my educational background to be seamless. I didn't lack in terms of school fees and other necessary needs but I didn't have enough because I also had my other siblings who were also being trained and all of us were competing for attention for the same scarce resources.

To that extent, my growing up was very fantastic for me. I grew up as a village boy from my local government area primary school to a community school called the Lennon Memorial College - it used to be an Anglican College in those days in Okene. From Lennon Memorial College, I went to Kwara State College of Technology which is now called Kwara Poly to do my basic studies.

There I wrote my A'level GCE and JAMB. So it has been a

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

39

• Dr. Jimoh and family

fantastic experience. From there I went to the University of Ibadan to read Political Science at the university in 1984 - 1987 and I graduated as the best student in the Department of Political Science and also the entire Faculty of the Social Sciences, which comprised about five departments. That was in 1987 and I won the two prizes for the best student in the department of Political Science and also the entire Faculty of the Social Sciences in 1987. That was a record so to say, even though I was just a little points away from making a First Class, but that record was like breaking the jinx in the Political Science Department because after 10 years, the person who made that first overall in the Faculty which is one of the current Vice Chancellors of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Agbaje, and I broke the jinx 10 years after and became the overall in the faculty. As it were, it used to be rotated between the Department of Psychology and Economics because they were always making their First Class but I came and broke that jinx.

God was faithful, I didn't set out to be the best just like in my secondary school also, I didn't set out to be the best.

But due to dint of hard work, I was always competing against myself because I didn't know what the other classmates were doing. I would set a target for myself in a particular course and say this is what I want to score and if I score it I keep on moving. So it was shocking to me that they started looking for me at the end of the year at the University of Ibadan. 'Who is Abu Jimoh? Who is Abu Jimoh?' I was quiet in class. I was unknown so to say. I was not the noise making type and it came as a surprise me and I started wondering whether I had committed any offence for them to be looking for me, and they told me that I was the best student in the entire faculty not even in the department but the entire Faculty of the Social Sciences. God was faithful and God was merciful to me so I give glory to God for those yeoman achievements. After I finished my university, my first major luck was to be retained as one of the best in the university but it was shocking to me and highly disappointing when they rejected me. I went to the Head of the Department of Political Science, Dr. Adebisi as it were, he later became a Professor and the Secretary to the Oyo State Government.

He was the Head of Department.

As a young man of 22 and half years, I was very young, so I went to him as the tradition holds whether I could be retained because I had the love and the flair for academia so I could become a lecturer because my dream was to become a Professor of Political Science, stay quietly in the university community and do research that would be helpful to humanity. Shockingly, I was told to go to my state, that was when we were in Kwara State, to the University of Ilorin. As a young man, I said 'the University of Ilorin didn't produce me, the University of Ibadan should celebrate me,' but I didn't know what was wrong, I was not celebrated and that was the very shock of my life which I got as a young man. I was disappointed. So I was turned down and I had to go out there in the cold, went for my Youth Service Corps, came back and I started looking for job. So luckily, I was looking up to some other guys who had graduated from the University of Ibadan like Dr. Ojo Onukaba, and as it were, he also left Lennon Memorial College as I was entering, then as I was going to the University of Ibadan he was also leaving again.

So, to me he was a role model. So when I heard he was practising in Guardian Newspaper and was making great successes I also wanted to be like him. So I left as a young boy for Lagos and went to Guardian Newspaper. As a matter of fact, I met him as a young boy, although he would not recall now and I said I wanted to start reporting for The Guardian. I didn't know anything about journalism because I didn't read Mass Communication but I saw him as a role model because I was enamoured by his performance in Lennon Memorial College also down to

the University of Ibadan. So I wanted to be like him. But he told me that I had to freelance for sometime and I said 'no.' Inside me, I thought that was not what I was cut out for - freelancing with no salary when I felt that I should come and play the role of a good boy and contribute something meaningfully to the upbringing and educational development of my siblings. So I was anxious and said this is not for me and l left for Kano where I was lucky.

My auntie who was based in Kano, through her connection, I was able to get to the Triumph Publishing Company - The Kano State Government-owned Triumph Newspaper - shortly after I finished my NYSC. So in October 1998 without even suffering I got a job because while I was scouting for job I didn't know what to do - I was confused. But as luck would would have it, the former Managing Director - he is late now, Dr. Madaki - he was a friend to my auntie's family. He came visiting and they gave him my Curriculum Vitae and he was so happy and he asked 'who made this result?'

They quickly called me and when he saw me, he said ‘you have this result, the best student in the Department of Political Science and Faculty of Social Science, this is marvelous and amazing’ and that this is the type of talent they want to showcase in Triumph Publishing Company.

He told me that I should go straightaway on the following Monday and meet one young man, as it were, Alhaji Garba Shehu, who was the Editor and he later became the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors. Garba Shehu is still the media adviser to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as we speak. So he interviewed me and there and then I started work as a journalist without even any tutorials. So I had to be attached to some other colleagues who had been on the job to understudy them. Then within two months I started reporting by myself and thereafter I was employed specifically, even though I had not practised journalism, to go and be the State Editor of Kwara State for the Triumph Newspapers because as it were the officer who was there left, the place was shut down and I was employed specifically with the intention of going to reopen that place. After working for about three months understudying them, they now left me alone to be practising and going to report and they studied me and discovered that this is marvelous and I have been performing well even though I had not gone to the school of journalism.

From there, I was posted and I had to go and look for an office in Kwara State, then got an office. They set it up and I became the State Editor of Triumph Newspaper. I was just barely there in 1990 when I was transferred to go to Lagos to go and reposition the aviation industry and the crime beat. So I was transferred to Lagos as the

‘

They got to somewhere after Okene, one of these hilly tufts in Ondo State and the trailer veered off the road; two of the three lost their lives and my mother was one of them. So, that was like a dark spot in my life. It was like an eclipse. The world literally came to a standstill for me ... My mother was the pillar of my life - a woman who struggled to lay the foundation for my life and I felt that life was unfair to her. But we cannot question God...

‘

Southern Correspondent of Triumph Newspaper and that was where I was and reporting the aviation industry, crime and other general beats. I had to use the great opportunity to quickly put in for my Master's Degree at the University of Lagos and that was where I had my Master's just as I was working sidelines. So after five and half years, I felt that I had paid my dues and I had to move on. I got into the Federal Ministry of Health just barely for about one year as a Protocol Officer and I was not getting the fulfillment I wanted because I was used to the very dynamic and active journalism that I had practised; so coming to sit down on a desk and idling away was alien to me and I did not understand it. Just as I was doing that, NAFDAC was being carved out of the Federal Ministry of Health as a regulatory agency and I took specific advantage of that and the pioneer Director General, Dr. Gabriel Osuide, took me on board.

But somebody had to introduce me because when I was practising journalism I forged a friendship with the interim or somebody we can call the Minister of State as it were at that time, she is late now, Hajia Laraba Daggash the mother of Senator Daggash. She took likeness in me as a son and was like my guardian. She just took personal interest in what I was doing as a journalist and he encouraged me. I told her I wanted to join the Federal Ministry of Health and she used her position to get me into the Federal Ministry of Health. As I was certain that I was not getting the fulfillment, I told her I wanted NAFDAC - the newly created regulatory agency in 1993. She said okay, no problem and she introduced me to Prof. Gabriel Osuide. I would say luck played a very fast one on me because after I was introduced to Prof. Osuide, he told me to go and wait, that nothing was happening. He was trying to put up the structure and each time I wanted to make effort the secretary would prevent me from seeing them because as it were they already had their own candidate for the post of public relations officer. So, we had the journalist from the defunct Daily Times - a Yoruba guy - and the Secretary was Yoruba and the Personal Assistant was Yoruba. So they had already forged an alliance on how to position the young man there. As a matter of fact, the guy had already started doing the PR job - doing newspaper cuttings, organising press conferences, gathering journalists and all those things - doing the work quietly.

But I think luck, providence, and divine intervention was on my side and Prof. Osuide had to ask the PA to go and look for that young man called Abubakar Jimoh and when they looked out for me by then I was already in the Federal Ministry of Health as a Protocol Officer just about four offices away from Prof. Osuide’s. As a matter of fact, when Prof. Osuide was going into his office early in the morning I would greet him because I had given up that they had prevented me from entering NAFDAC. So they dropped a letter - because they didn't know my address again because I was not following up again - I had given up - in my Triumph Publishing Company office, the address I used in the past and the driver there graciously brought it for me because I was good to him and that is why I will advise that people should be good to people.

He would have thrown that letter away and that would have been the end of me. He brought that letter and said 'there was a precious letter brought to you and I had to bring it to you.'

By then I had left Triumph Newspaper, so he brought it to me and I opened it - 'DG NAFDAC wants you urgently' - so I had to resume. And the DG said 'young man where have you been?' And I said 'sir I greet you every day when you are passing by. This is my office, I am a Protocol Officer here.' He said 'what do you mean?'

Literally, he said 'what do you want now? Do you you still want to work with me?' I said 'of course sir, I want to work with you.' He said 'work starts n-o-w!' That is how I became the pioneer head of public relations unit of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control in December that year. They told me that I should start and I can operate from my small office since it is still the same Ministry of Health and NAFDAC had not been given an office - we were just trying to do some structures in the Federal Secretariat, Obalende, where small offices were being carved out. So I was operating from my desk as a Protocol Officer then still doing my public relations job. As a matter of fact, it is still the same ministry, I was under the Personnel Department, Prof. Osuide took me to the late Dr. Saidu Mohammed who was the Director of Personnel in the Federal Ministry of Health. And he said 'Prof, what do you want?'

And he said 'do you know this young man?' Dr. Saidu was laughing he said 'he is my staff in the personnel department.' 'What do you want Prof?'

He said 'I want this young man. Can we convert him?'

Because it is still within the same ministry.

• Continued on page 46

40

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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

Biola as Tunde Ayeni's supporting pillar

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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Gloria Ibru's new looks spark controversy

41

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THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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With

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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Olu Jacobs

‘

They were dancing and talking and everywhere was booming. My dad and the family were talking, but I didn't talk. I was watching the atmosphere. Then the light went off and the stage light came up. And they did what Ogunde called the opening glee (beginning of the show). That was the point I made up my mind I would be an actor

,

Olu Jacobs

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

46

Continued from page 37

Dr. Jimoh Continued from page 39

Hilda Dokubo

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

48

EBOLA: Different strokes...

Continued from page 47 improving.

Speaking with The Nation, Idaya Olaoye, a food canteen proprietor, said: “During the Ebola outbreak, business was dull because many customers avoided eating at canteens out of fear of contracting the disease.

“We thank God that the virus has been contained and our business has started bouncing back. I am pleased to say that we make more sales now that the menace of Ebola is gone. During the Ebola days, we were unable to sell up to four bags of semovita, quarter bag of rice and a half bag of garri that we made but now, we make more than 10 bags of semovita in a day, more than a bag of rice and we could use more than a bag of garri in a day. So you can see that our business is now booming since Ebola has been curbed out.”

A hotelier, who simply identified himself as Bankole Andrew, also hinted that the hospitality business has picked up after the disease was contained. He said: “The fact that people don’t have to fear about sleeping on a bed or swimming in a pool that an Ebola victim has used is no longer there. Consequently, we have started having better patronage than we did during the Ebola period.’’

Akinola Lawson, Director of Administration, Alaba Lawson Royal College, said since the resumption of schools,

however, the students here have kept the culture of sanitising themselves.

“We have our sanitisers here, automatic and manual. We have infer red thermometer to check everybody in the morning as they arrive school to avoid any Ebola incidence in the school.

“Of course, it is natural in economic sense that during the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria, that prices of medicated soaps and sanitisers, even gloves and the like increased. For instance, how many schools, banks or other such public places had provision for the public to sanitise themselves? But now, you see it everywhere. So it was natural that prices at that peak period will rise. But of course, the crave for those items would have reduced now unlike when the outbreak was still fresh, ” he said.

He advised: “Despite the former minister’s speech that Ebola has been nipped in the bud, there is still the need to continue the culture of using the sanitisers and washing of hands. It is about it being a preventive measure.

“There is no Ebola in the country, but it is still spreading across the world. It is even right now in the industrialised countries like America and Australia.

One can never tell. So just to be safe, we need to continue the basic hygiene not just for Ebola alone, but also for gastro-intestinal diseases and so on.

Prevention is better than cure.”

•School pupils being sanitised

Angry bushmeat sellers go wild Continued from page 47 It can never be compared with the bush meat business because the profit margin is grossly insufficient to meet my daily expenses.”

Naively, she added: “We knew from the outset that there was nothing like Ebola in the country. It was all propaganda and a deliberate attempt by those in the corridors of power to enrich themselves.

“We have been eating monkey, bat and every other bush meat since they claimed that Ebola was in the country and yet, we did not contract it. Does that not show that their claims were false? It simply shows their education is meaningless because if with all their education, they claimed that eating or touching bush meat would make one to contract Ebola and we have been eating it all along and did not contract it, does simple reason not override all their educational qualifications and medical expertise?’’

A middle aged man, who previously worked as a hunter until the outbreak of the Ebola virus, also toed the path of the depressed women.

“I have no means of livelihood anymore since Ebola was said to be in the country.

The Ebola issue has brought untold hardship to our families because we have nothing to fall back upon after losing source of income to the problem.”

He pleaded that the government should begin aggressive campaigns that would make the public to begin to eat bush meat again, saying: “ Since it was the government that started the campaign against bush meat that made somebody like me to be jobless. I want to passionately appeal to them to begin an equally strong campaign to make the public know that Ebola is no more in the country and that they can begin to eat bush meat again. “ It is when they do this that we can be encouraged to go back to the bush to hunt.

Our destiny lies in their hands because if they fail to do so, there is nothing we can do to reverse the mindset of the public.

Their minds are already been polluted against bush meat and as long as the government keeps mute about it, we would remain jobless because the people will continue to see bush meat as a plague that

•Angry and dejected bushmeat sellers by their near-empty stalls...Wednesday they must avoid at all costs.”

Also in Edo State, the bush meat sellers rained abuses on our reporter, alleging that journalists contributed to their poor sales through their reportage that linked the consumption of bush meat with contracting Ebola.

They have continued to rue the huge loss they have recorded following the apathy of the general public to the consumption of their product which was formerly a delicacy for the people.

Consequently, they fiercely launched verbal attacks on journalist who visit their domain to get information about the state of their business.

At the popular Uwa market in Benin City that was renowned for the sale of bush meat, very few bush meat were seen displayed for sales when our reporter visited the market. At some stands where several varieties of bush meat used to be displayed, only a grass-cutter was displayed for sale.

The chairman of the state’s Hunters Association, Comrade Raymond Macaulay, alleged that Ebola was a propaganda used

by lovers of animals to stop the killing of animals for consumption and blamed the Federal Minister of Health for their plight.

He lamented that most of the hunters in the state have resorted to doing menial jobs to make ends meet.

"The issue of Ebola is coincidental and not originally in Nigeria. The Minister bought the propaganda of the West that has been looking for ways to stop the killing of animals. The only weapon we have now to revive our business is for journalists to help us tell the world that Ebola can be contracted by a human being from another to human and not from an animal to a human being," he said.

Life, however, seems to be gradually returning to the popular Atimbo bush meat joint in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

In the heat of the Ebola crisis, sellers of bush meat, which often goes with palm wine, lamented their that business was dying because people were no longer patronising them.

But that is gradually changing and things are beginning to look up for them

as runaway customers seem to have regained the courage of eating the delicacy.

One of the bush meat sellers, Madam Agnes, said: “My brother business is now picking up gradually. But it is not up to the level it used to be before the Ebola matter started. But I thank God that it is also not as bad as it was when people started running away because of the disease.

“Even before the world health people announced that Nigeria was clean and the virus was not in the country again, people had already started coming back to patronise us. It was like they had seen that there was nothing else to fear. With this announcement that Nigeria is now free of the virus, I believe things would go back as it used to be. I really pray so.”

Another seller, Mrs Ikwo Ani, said she had diversified to selling cow leg because she could no longer cope with the drop in sales of bush meat. However, she said the bush meat sales have recorded significant increase in recent times, adding: “I am just doing it small small for now. I have realised that people are really patronising the bushmeat business again now. I am just observing and very soon, I will go into it again full time.”

Another bush meat seller along Goldie Street, Mr Anietie, also attested that the sales have picked up but not up to the level they expect.

“People are buying but not as they used to. At a point, we told the people that supply us meat to reduce the quantity because of the low patronage. Now we have increased it a little. We are hoping that people would realise bush meat does not cause any disease, especially now that WHO has given us a clean bill of health on Ebola,” he said.

A hunter, who sells bush meat along the road at Akpet, a suburb of Biase Local Government Area, Mr. Philip Ana, said before the Ebola scare, a whole grass cutter sold for about N4,000.

“During that time the Ebola issue was very hot, we were begging people for N1,000 or N1,500.Then, it was so bad but things are improving now. More people are buying now and the prices have increased again. At lease now, I can sell a good one for N3000,” he said.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

50

CRIME

&

OTHER STORIES

Rivers community demands justice 24 years after alleged massacre Continued from page 19 tice.

“We have agreed that the Umuechem resolution paper on the 1990 massacre will be presented and handed over to Social Action at the second Town Hall meeting which will take place before November 1st, 2014.

“I want the NGO to understand that only N2500 was paid as relief funds to the people. And not all the cheques issued as relief funds were cleared. No other money was paid to anybody for whatever reasons.

Most of the people murdered were thrown into the Chokocho River by their attackers.”

Another community leader, Chief Sylvester Nwala, in his solidarity speech, said the mass murder that took place in Umuechem in 1990 happened to human beings and not plants or sands.

“We have the account of what happened

to us and such is unforgettable; no amount of money could be quantified with what the people and the community had suffered. I believe Social Action will achieve our expected dream.”

Responding, the NGO’s Head of Community Action and Paralegal Centres, Celestine Akpobari, said his team was in the community to assess the plight of the community and to find ways to assist them to get justice.

He said for many years now, the intervention of Social Action has become the only source of hope to those seeking for justice of all kinds. “We are here to intervene, this is a non-violent action. We are glad that the community understands our working plan to achieve justice.”

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammed, said: ‘’That was a long time ago. I cannot comment on something I don’t know until I lay my hands on the available records.’’

Suspected killers

Man takes to robbery after being robbed Continued from page 19 Bongi was, however, arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command after an order issued by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti to the officer in charge SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, to track down members of a robbery gang that disarmed two policemen who were sleeping on duty and recover their Ak47 rifles.

Identifying himself as the leader of the robbery gang, Bongi, whose nickname is Champion, said: “I was coming back from Port Harcourt in a night bus more than a month ago when some boys numbering about six ordered all the passengers to come down and lie on the ground. They collected my wristwatch, cell phone and N29,000 cash which I wanted to give my fiancée’s younger brother to go to school. That was what made me to become an armed robber because I was desperate to get money to bury my mother. “ The second suspect, Ifeanyi Okafor (35), a welder turned conductor, works at Sunrise, Apapa with a trailer. Asked why he was arrested by the police at Obalende, Lagos, he said: “I was arrested because I went to rob at Ogombo area of Ajah. We snatched handsets, ipad and gold jewellery worth thousands of naira.

“We were five in number. We scaled the fence and entered the house through the window. We met the woman with her husband and two daughters while it was raining heavily.

We arrested them and started asking them where their money was kept in the house but they said there was no money. Only the •Okafor husband gave us N20,000, pleading that it was the only money in the house. We collected the money with ipad and jewellery.

“We then asked them about the other house at the backyard and the wife said it was for domestic workers. We went to knock at the door of the domestic workers, not knowing that they were policemen on duty.

When the door was opened, we found that they were sleeping and we grabbed them and collected their guns.

“When we were leaving, we threw away the guns inside the gutter.”

On why he became a robber, he said: “I joined a robbery gang because the driver I

used to follow to work had an accident and I had no other driver to follow and no money to feed.

“I am not married. I rented a house at Agbara for N170,000. It is a self-contained oneroom apartment. I got the money when I was following a trailer. I saved N2,000 daily for two years. We are four in the family; two men and two women. I am the first son. My parents are late.”

Asked how many operations he had participated in, Bongi said: “I had gone to three robbery operations. The first one was in Victoria Island, at Whynot Club. We went there and sat down. We kept watch to see a guest that was drunk and threatened him with broken bottles. We collected all his money, phones, wristwatch and Mercedes SUV. The buyer of the SUV, Amadi, has not given us a dime till date.

“The second operation was in the same club on Victoria Island. We went there after two weeks. This time, the victims were a man and a woman. The man had a Nissan Amada SUV and the lady a Toyota Camry.

“The Camry stopped on the road and we abandoned it at Mile 2 but managed to carry the Amada Jeep to Cotonou where I sold it for N300,000. Four of us, namely Bernard, Emeka Small, Obinna and Chukwuma shared the money.

“From the robbery, I was able to make N150,000 out of which I sent N100,000 to my people for the burial of my mother who was then in the mortuary in Benin Republic.

“I am based in Cotonou but I normally come to Nigeria once in a while because I once worked here as a driver in an insurance company on Lagos Island. We never used gun. We only use cutters to cut burglaries in order to have access into the house.

“The Ak47 rifles we collected from the police were not used by us.

We put them in a sack we got from the house of the woman and threw it the gutter. When we got inside the compound, we used a cutter to cut the burglary. When we saw two policemen sleeping, Ifeanyi collected the gun and Small grabbed one of the policemen. Obi grabbed the other one and collected his gun.

“One of the policemen scaled the fence and escaped. We started hearing gunshots from Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) vigilance group. We became confused and abandoned the new Toyota Highlander and Toyota Camry and ran away.”

The suspects.

‘Police would not have caught Continued from page 19 are late. My father died of a brief illness while my mother and grandmother died of old age.

My father’s name is Olajere Oluwafemi. He was sick before he died in the 1990s while my mother died in an auto accident.

“There were three of us born of the same mother and father. I attended Okuku Community High School and completed the Senior Secondary School in flying colours. But I could not go to university for financial reasons and a misunderstanding between my father and my mother. I started seeing hell when my father and mother separated and threw me out to my grandmother, who managed to take care of my secondary education.

“When I could not secure an employment, I decided to go into apprenticeship, learning how to operate saw machine. I later got employed in one of the saw mills in Ijebu on a monthly salary of N10,000.

“I later left the saw mill and started selling hard drugs. It was the business that brought me into contact with some cult members and some rich people in town because they were the ones that patronised me.”

Asked how he was initiated into Eyee cult, he said: “It was one Ahmed, a friend, who introduced me to the Eyee society. We lived in the same area in Ijebu. My mother is an Ijebu woman. One day, Ahmed told me that we should go to one party and enjoy ourselves.

He advised me to dress well so that we would not be prevented from getting in. I knew him to be a cult member but I did not know that he planned to initiate me into the cult.

“When we got there, we entered a beer parlour. As I looked towards the back of the compound, I saw some boys who looked like Eyee members. We started drinking but those at the backyard were drinking and smoking

heavily. He later left me and went somewhere he did not disclose to me. He came back around 8 pm and asked me to follow him into a nearby bush around Olabisi Onabanjo University.

“There were many boys there, including cult members and new members about to be initiated. They ordered me to join those who came to be initiated. We line up and more people joined us, making the line to become longer.

“At a point, they started beating us. They stripped us of our clothes so that only our pants remained. They marched on us, dancing, drinking and smoking as they did so. I had no choice but to be patient with them.

They blindfolded us so that we would not know where we were. There were more than 30 of us and they beat us with horsewhip or till day break.

“They asked us so many questions, including whether we would be able to keep their secrets or reveal them to non-members. We said no. As they were beating and marching on us, they were asking for our names and writing them in a note book.

“Later, they brought kolanut and used a razor blade to cut open my finger. They mixed my blood with the kolanut and asked me to chew everything. After this, they started giving us our initiate names. I was given Ayee Skipoo.

“Later, they asked us to move to one side.

They moved us out of the initiation ground, untied our faces and started giving us orientation. They threatened that if any of us betrayed the society or cult, the oath we took would kill us.

“I was given my first assignment when Eyee cult members killed one of my members (Eyee member) inside the main campus of Ogun State University. Fortunately for us, we went to drink palm wine and to smoke gbana

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

51 olukunle87@yahoo.com

of Rivers LG chair arrested HE Abia State Police Command has arrested and paraded two young men suspected to have shot and killed a transition chairman of Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State and escaped to hide at Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North in the state.

The two suspects were alleged to have killed the Etche council boss in Rivers State and escaped to hide in Abia State for the fear of being arrested by the police in the state, but were exposed when they came out to look for food and were intercepted by the people who called in the police.

Even as they were being paraded, the Rivers State radio was busy relaying to the general public that the state Police Command was on the lookout for four young men suspected to have killed the chairman of Etche council.

Speaking while parading the suspects in Umuahia, the state Commissioner of Police [CP], Adamu Ibrahim, said that

T

n Ugochukwu UGOJI-EKE, Umuahia n

his men received information about the suspects which led to the arrest of Kingdom and Nkemakolam both of Akpokumudin in Rivers State.

Ibrahim said that after killing the former council boss, “They escaped to Abia state to hide at Ntigha village and they have confessed to the crime, while a motorcycle with registration number SIK 113 QC was recovered from them”.

Speaking with The Nation one of the suspects, Kingdom said that they were hired by two men now at large to take them on their motorcycle to somewhere.

“On the way, we met the car of the council chairman and when we tried to stop him, he refused to stop”.

Kingdom said that they were forced to double-cross the deceased and shot him severally, adding that after shooting him, the killers took off with another motorcycle, while they went home to tell his

father what had happened.

He said that after telling his father, they were advised to leave the environment for fear of being killed by the police once they were arrested, adding that one of their relations who lives at Ntigha now gave them his house key to go and hide there, from where they were arrested.

The Abia Police Command also paraded four suspected hoodlums who were arrested following a tip off at a criminal hideout at Ubani Street Ariaria Aba and those arrested are Chigozie Onyekula, 22, Jude Onyenobi, 30, Emeka Ekwueme 38, and Kingsley Onyemachi, 21.

Ibrahim said that items recovered from them include, one Ghana-must-go bag containing weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, seven different banks’ ATM cards and various ID cards, adding that the suspects also confessed to snatching handbags from people.

HIV-positive man arraigned for allegedly raping two sisters 32-year-old builder Terkula has been arraigned before before a Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping two under-age sisters, 6 and 8 years old.

Prosecuting police officer( IPO) Inspector Terzungwe Kajo ,told the court that one Mr Benjamin Tor had on the 6/ 10/ 2014 reported to the police that his late brother's wife Mrs

A

n Uja EMMANUEL, makurdi n Ason Tor ,reported to him that her two daughters (names withheld) were not walking well.

He stated that they were taken to Hemko Hospital, Kanshio, for treatment and during examination, the doctor disclosed that someone had forcefully had intercourse with

them, During interview with the victims, it was discovered that it was the accused who allegedly raped them when their mother was not around .

Prosecution further said that medical examination further revealed that the accused is a HIV- positive and had been on drugs .

When the case case up for

mention, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction .

However , prosecution stated that investigation was still in progress and asked for another date .

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Lillian Tsumba, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prisons Makurdi, and adjourned to December 4, 2014 for further mention.

me like a fowl if I had my charms on’

•Arm, amunition and charms recovered from the suspects (Indian hemp) when we saw an Eyee member and stabbed him with broken bottles and he died. He was taken to hospital dead because we entered (stabbed) him very well.

“After the incident, I was arrested with a locally made pistol with nine live ammunition or cartridges. I bought the local pistol for N12,000. I was later charged to court and remanded in prison for one year and two months. My case file was sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) which changed the charge from murder to cultism, and with the help of my lawyer, I was granted bail.

“In 2012, I came out again because the case was struck out by a Magistrate Court in Ijebu. I stopped relating with Eyee people. Unfortunately, I had nowhere else to go and sell my drugs. Most of my customers are Eyee guys. After a few weeks of redundancy, I became active in Eyee cult ac-

tivities again. ”My role is to kill. I used to go on killing mission with a commercial motorcycle (okada) so that I would not be suspected.

“There was a time I and three members of my gang were declared wanted by the police in Abeokuta early this year. Those three members are Dammy, Tolu and KC. We went to fight because an Eyee guy called Abass killed one of our members.

This made us to go and kill one of them at a club in Ijebu-Ode one

night.

“It was one of our okada rider informants that told us that the Eyee guy was there and we went there and killed him. I was the one who shot him dead because that is my role. Ayokunnu was killed at about 8 pm that fateful day.

“When we were declared wanted by the police we ran to Ikorodu. It is from Ikorodu that we prepared for most of our armed robbery operations. My role is to kill. What other members do during operations is their own concern.

“I cannot take a victim’s money or handset because my charms do not permit me to touch dead bodies. Once I shoot a victim dead, I find my way. I have killed more than eight people since I started this Eyee life but I had not taken away any of their phones, money, earring or necklace.

“I resided in Ijebu and after committing various atrocities in Abeokuta and its en-

virons I ran to Ikorodu for cover. Ikorodu is very comfortable for hiding because of its topography. There are many criminally minded people there. You can easily see a criminal who will help to hide you unconditionally so far he is an Eyee person.

“I killed one Tunde along Epe garage this year. We also attacked one Segun along Benin-Lagos Expressway and I shot him dead. They killed one of our members around Jogbo area in Ijebu. ‘’Any time we had a fight with the Eyee group, it was our number one that used to settle it. We only go to war when our number one declares a war and we cease fire when he orders us to stop. The name of our number one is Sam. “Our group has four operational guns (two double barrel guns, one pump action rifle and one cut-to-size gun) while each member has his personal gun.

“I do not touch dead bodies because of my charm. The police were able to arrest me because on that fateful day, I was not with my charm. If I were with my charm, I would not have been there in the first place. If I were there, I would disappear or the bullets would not touch me because the charm is also a bulletproof.

“Unfortunately, I was not with my charms. So, when police fired, it caught me in the legs and I fell down and they came to collected me like a fowl.

“This last battle was at Ijebu Ode. The police, soldiers and SS were firing at us.

Though we were many, because we made a tent opposite Ijebu Local Government secretariat, we were celebrating Ojude-Oba Festival. It is a festival the Yoruba celebrate three days after the Ileya festival. We had made our tent ready to strike in the night but the operatives of SARS got hint of it and came and attacked us. “

IN BRIEF Missing persons Name: Bosede, surname unknown (Female), Age: 14 years, Height: 4ft tall Complexion: Dark, Language: Yoruba and French fluently. Contact: Adeyemi Adetutu of No. 8 Shobowale Alayo Kasoleri Street, Shagamu, Lagos or Shagamu Road Police Station Name: Julius Obeya Olayinka (Male) Age: 16 years, Height: 56ft tall, Complexion: fair Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Omowunmi Ojuolape of No. 21, Adisa Idowu Street, Ayanwale Ikotun, Lagos or Ikotun Police Station Name: Akinwale Simeon Ayinla (Male) Age: 62 years, Height: 4ft tall, Complexion: Dark Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Akinwale Oladimeji Babatunde of No. 13, Segun Ogunye Street Orisunbare Idimu Lagos or Idimu Police Station Name: Jelili Olasupo (Male) Age: 50 years, Height: 5.9ft tall, Complexion: Black Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Nurudeen Olasupo of No. 43, Awori Street, Dopemu Agege Lagos or Dopemu Police Station Name: Babatunde Akinmoyin (Male) Age: 23 years, Height: 5.6ft tall, Complexion: Dark Language: Yoruba and English fluently Contact: Akinmoyin Rahim of No. 113, Lawanson Road, Itire Lagos or Itire Police Station

Stolen vehicles Type: Toyota Camry S/Car Colour: Metallic Silver Reg. No: AGL 15 AT Chasis No and Engine No: 4T1BBG22K7VUO93979 If seen contact any nearest police station or Agege Police Station Type: Honda Baby Boy Colour: Silver Reg. No: TF 287 KJA Chasis No and Engine No: Nil If seen contact any nearest police station or Itire Police Station Type: Toyota Hilux Van Colour: White Reg. No: GGE 258 AW Chasis No and Engine No: Nil If seen contact any nearest police station or Idimu Police Station

Recovered vehicles S/No 1 2 3 4 5 6

Makes of vehicle Reg. No. Colour V.Wagen Bus AAA741 XJ LSCC Toyota Camry KRD 809 CB White Infinity FX35 Jeep MUS 444 BK Black Toyota Camry DF 398 LSD Black Nissan Primera BDG 519 AP Ash Toyota Rav 4 Jeep AY 753 ABC Black

Location Shogunle Div Bode Thomas Div Ajah Div Area J Command Statelite Div Igando Div

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org

From right: Mrs Iyabo Regina Obasa, Permanent Sectretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Power Resources; Hon. Taofeek Abiodun Adaranijo, Chairman Orile Agege LCDA, making a presentation to representative of Chief Imam of Orile Agege, Alhaji Malowo

THE NATION

SOCIETY 53

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

Farewell to a jurist Nneka NWANERI

T

HE final burial of Justice Mashood Olayiwola Adio, a former Chief Judge of Oyo State, who died September 30, was held October 6.

At a grand reception held at LD Chateau, Bodija, Ibadan, all the children of the late jurist and their spouses appeared in traditional attire.

It was a lavish party and their friends, family members and associates were there to celebrate with him.

It was a day of celebration and thanksgiving for the life of the deceased. There were lots to eat and drink. Souvenirs with their late father’s face and name were distributed to guests.

There were testimonies from people who had worked with the deceased and those who benefited one way or the other from him. Justice Mujeed Owaande of the Appeal Court talked about the type of person the late Justice Adio was and how he performed at the Ministry of Justice where he worked before becoming a judge.

He described him as a firstclass intellectual.

“He worked hard to transform the Ministry of Justice. He was humble. Drivers, messengers and even judges benefitted from him. We have indeed lost a gem in Ibadan and he should be honoured.”

Justice Owaanbe said he owes the late Adio so much to pay back and will be indebted to him all his life.

The late Adio’s son, Seni, also said: “My father was a man of assailable integrity. He was extremely humble. He was the most hardworking man I have ever known.

“His love for the country made him serve for over half a century as a law officer at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos, where he rose to the position of Director of Civil Litigation.”

•From left: Mr. Sunday Aborishade, Chairman NBA Lagos branch, Mr. Alex Muoka, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Adebayo Ojo; son of the deceased Mr. Seni Adio and Mr. Adesina Oke

•From left; Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) left and Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)

•From Right: Mr. Tunde Busari (SAN) Mr Sylvanus Ogwemoh (SAN) and his wife, Prescilla

•From left: Mr. Wole Koya, Jide Kuti and Mr Sola Adeeyo

•From left: Former chairman NBA Ibadan branch, Mr. Seun Abimbola, Mr. Elvan Jaret and former Assistant National Financial Secretary, Ms. Folake Abiodun PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

Reactions to Illuminations • Continued from page 9 Segun, thank you for the clear message sent in your article today.

It is now left for APC, the only available platform to bring about this direly desirable change, to work out its articulation and fruition for the general good of Nigeria. Meanwhile, I hope you will keep up the patriotic character in your writings, XuluIregbeyen, 08023348578 Uncle Segun, in fact you bared it all in your today’s piece, ‘Awaiting APC’s Presidential Ticket’. If Buhari doesn’t emerge as their candidate, they’re only saying Jonathan carry go! But with Buhari as APC candidate, PDP is in trouble. My view is Buhari/Oshiomhole, they are good to go, Simon, 08063385584 Segun, I’m not a fan of Jonathan and did not vote for him in 2011 but for Buhari due to his incorruptible posture and antecedent. But the current campaign of calumny, shame and hatred by APC to smear Jonathan’s reputation, will rather boost his chance of clinching the presidency for the second term.

None of the APC candidates you presented today is a match for

Re: Awaiting APC’s presidential ticket

•Buhari Jonathan, Chike, Port Harcourt, 08038861935 Good piece sir. Yes, Buhari is the candidate to beat in next year’s election but we must not make the mistake in choosing his vice. A running mate from South-South or South-East will not help the party.

In my own opinion, it will be better if we pick the vice from Ondo State.

Ondo and Ekiti are out of our hands for now. it will be difficult to win Ekiti due to influence Fayose enjoys currently but Ondo is vulnerable provided we pick somebody from Akoko area. Professor AjayiBorofice will fit the slot perfectly. This will mean that the governorship slot will

•Atiku move away from that senatorial zone if APC wins and now be a contention between south and central. It well managed, the support for him may extend to Ekiti too, FalayeOlaoluwa, Abuja, 08055831634 Segun, it is a pity all The Nation’s columnists do not disappoint when it comes to writing anti-Jonathan and PDP articles. At least you have earned your pay for today but you will always be disappointed in your desires as long as they are no longer for edification, 08053767654 Good day. Going through your write up today about APC’s presidential ticket, there is no doubt

•Kwankwaso that it is General Buhari that can command a large number of followers from the north. But for the running mate, Tinubu and Fashola should be out of calculation because of their religious background, Audi, Minna, 08054519435 Thanks a lot for your write up on the APC’s presidential ticket. Please do intensify efforts to preach this wonderful gospel to the nooks and crannies of our great nation so that the electorate will vote out tormentors when APC would have done the needful by voting in my hero – quitessentialBuhari as their presidential candidate, 07039812751

Nice piece. In my opinion, Buhari/ Fashola holds the future for a total corruption- free Nigeria. In South West, religion is not a factor unlike the North with a majority Muslim or South-South and South-East where Christianity is a factor. If APC picks an Igbo as running mate, it would not bring any extra vote for APC ditto South-South. With 14 million votes already for Buhari in the north, Fashola can also make us in South West give another 8 million for APC. Tinubu is an icon hated by some jealous Yoruba elders who can spoil the soup but cannot cook it. Let our Asiwaju continue as our Asiwaju God has put him, OlutomiOmotosho, Ibadan, 08056497270 The only person that can defeat GEJ is Buhari. Let APC make no mistake about it. Kwankwanso is a very good material for tomorrow.

Let Buhari lay the foundation of change Nigeria needs, 08184100066 Mr Segun, you have never hidden your hatred for President GoodluckEbele Jonathan. Just be assured that he will rule Nigeria beyond 2015. Please continue hating him, 08030485437

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THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

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Judicial workers want Wali released Tony AKOWE, Abuja HE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Thursday asked the government to overhaul the nation's security apparatus and step up efforts in the provision of security to Nigerians.

The union also called for the unconditional release of the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali (SAN) who was abducted recently in Port Harcourt by unknown gunmen National President of JUSUN, Marwan Mustapha Adamu said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that the former NBA President is a peaceful man therefore does not deserve the inhuman treatment and humiliation.

He said that the kidnap of Okey Wali and many others like the Chibok School girls, underscore the urgent need for a total overhaul of the security agencies in Nigeria who have failed to carry out their mandate of ensuring the protection of citizens.

While calling on the government to step up efforts in the provision of security for Nigerians, the JUSUN president appealed to his abductors to release him to his family without delay.

The statement reads in part: "I want to join other well meaning Nigerians and the international community to appeal for the unconditional release of the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) who was kidnapped in his Port Harcourt home last Saturday by unknown gunmen.

“Okey Wali is a man of peace who has contributed immensely to the enthronement of rule of law and protection of human rights as well as the development of Nigeria."

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We need shift from learning for degrees to learning for the sub-regional needs—Rector Adamu SULEIMAN, Sokoto ROFESSOR Lawrence Atepor, Rector, Cape Coast Polytechnic, Ghana yesterday emphasised the urgent need for a paradigm shift from learning for degrees to learning for the needs of the sub-regional labour market.

Atepor spoke in Sokoto while delivering the 1st Convocation Lecture of the Sokoto state Polytechnic, Sokoto. The Rector said a responsive mechanism should be put on track to assess and look at what the student/ trainee can do and not what the qualification he or she has.

He noted that paper qualifications were the basic evidences and indications of one's ability to perform a task while pointing out that, "today, there are so many Master degree holders which do not dynamically reflect on their peformance, we are still laden with so many managerial challenges in our organizations.''

The lecture has as its theme," Entrepreurship Education in the Technical, Vocational, Education, Training ( TVET) Institutions For Sustainable Development : Challenges and Prospects."

Professor Atepor further urged that TVET research must focus on exploring and developing local resources through the use of appropriate technology.

According to him, the challenges were not insurmountable, while entrepreneurship education must move in tandem with TVET education.

He streesed that Africa as a continent, must move away from the traditional education and education policies must focus on this area with adequate budget support.

His words: " Unless there is a major shift in policy direction to TVET education, most African countries will remain drawers of water and hewers of wood," Atepor added.

In his remark, Sokoto state Governor Aliyu Wamakko through the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Bello Damchadi noted that the entrepreneurship education empowers people to develop expertise spirit in the promotion of small scale enterprises.

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Labour Ministry to revive senior officers' annual conference Tony AKOWE, Abuja HE Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity is to revive the annual Senior Officers conference of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Clement Iloh has

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said.

Speaking while inaugurating the Resuscitation and Planning Committee of the 2014 Senior Officers’ Conference, Dr. Illoh said that the last Senior Officers’ Conference was held in 1995.

The 2014 conference he said will be held from November 25 to 26, 2014 and gave the Planning Committee two weeks to submit its report.

According to him, “The Senior Officers’ Conference is one of the machineries adopted by the Ministry to respond effectively to gaps and challenges identified in the process of implementing our labour laws."

"The officers use the forum to interact, share experiences on contemporary and emerging trends in the field and collectively proffer solutions to identified gaps and challenges, and make projection into the next year through lectures and participatory discussions”.

He said facilitators for the conference will be drawn from retired and serving Professional Factory Inspectors and Labour Officers while resolutions adopted at the Conference were used to enrich the Ministry’s industrial relations system, especially policy formulation, practices and advice to Governments at Federal and State Levels.

•From right: Immediate Past President, Dr. Wale Oduwole; President, All of Ultimate Circle, Adelaya Adeleye; Ijeoma Okoro,Representative of Beth Torrey Home; Mrs. Bamidele Awere, Past President, Biodun Oduwole and Social Secretary, Sunkami Ologundudu during the presentation of 250,000 cheque, Food Items and Sanitiries to Beth Torrey Home (Mentally Challenged students) in Lagos yesterday.

Photo by Biodun ADEYEWA

N508m Tax default: Katsina LGs opt for out of court settlement LEVEN Local Government Councils in Katsina State earlier dragged before the North West office of Tax Appeal Tribunal by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) for tax defaults amounting to over Five Hundred and Eight Million Naira (N508million), have opted to settle out of court.

Addressing the tribunal sitting in Kaduna yesterday, counsel to the respondents Barrister Uyi Uguene said the negotiation with the appellant has reached an advanced stage but the parties were yet to reach agreeable settlement terms.

He therefore called on the tribunal to grant him a short adjournment to enable them to file agreed terms of settlement.

The counsel to the appellant Barrister Mohammed Sambo who led two others counsel said the address of the counsels to the

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Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna Respondents was the true position of the matter and they will not object to the application of the respondents for a short adjournment.

After hearing the two parties, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Bashir

Abdullahi Albasu granted the request of the respondents and adjourned the matter to 3rd of December for report of settlement.

The eleven Local Government Councils dragged before the tribunal for non remittance and tax defaults are;

Daura, Mani, Dutsi, Baure, Batsari, Rimi, Mashi, Kaita, Jibia and Katsina Local Government Areas who are said to have jointly defaulted in tax remittances to Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) amounting to N508,008,111.

NYSC scheme second unifying factor to military—Wamakko OKOTO state Governor Aliyu Wamakko on Thursday said the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) is the second most unifying factor to the nation after the military.

He said the scheme has remained relevant in the scheme of things of Nigeria since its inception over forty years ago.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governor made the remark at a farewell party organized by the state government for the outgoing batch, " C" 2013 corps members posted to the state.

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Adamu SULEIMAN, Sokoto Wamakko who was represented by the chairman of the NYSC governing board in the state, Alhaji Halliru Tambuwal observed that there was no other programme or scheme in this country that unites the nation than the military first, then NYSC. According to him, the NYSC scheme has helped greatly in keeping Nigeria together, with vibrant and patriotic youths traversing the length and breadth of the

country and contributing meaningfully to national development "The corps members have been contributing to the socioeconomic development of the state, especially the health and education sectors", he pointed out.

The governor who recently got appointed into the 60 member council of the Muslim World League by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia further pledged to continue to support the scheme to ensure the success of the activities of the scheme at all levels.

Kwankwaso is a progressive gov — Nigerians in UK ANO State governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwanso, has been described as a progressive governor that can deliver the nation from the predicament it is currently facing.

Speaking during a reception organised for the governor, by a group of Nigerian professionals in the United Kingdom, Kwankwansiyah Ambassadors of Nigeria (KAN), Diaspora, the Coordinator General of KAN Diaspora, Dr Ibrahim Emokparie, highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian nation and concluded that Nigeria would fare better under Kwankwanso.

The event which was massively attended by representatives of the Movement for Visionary Elites, Progressives Solidarity Forum, All Progressives Congress, (UK

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Chapter), Media, Civil Society Organizations, local authorities and various groups representing the Nigerian community in the UK described Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso as the man who ticks all the boxes of a credible and visionary leader with the acumen and the capability to move Nigeria forward from its present position.

In his welcome address, the Coordinator highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian nation ranging from insecurity, corruption, executive lawlessness, impunity and a total lack of direction for the growth and development of the country. He lamented the unprecedented weaknesses with which the current PDP administration reacts to these major challenges. He spoke on the impact of Engineer Kwankwanso’s policy on

education, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development and transparency and identified him as the most progressive Governor that can deliver the Nigerian nation. He therefore strongly called for a total support to ensure Kwankwanso’s emergence as the presidential flag bearer of APC. The event was graced by prominent Nigerians like Alh. Aminu Adamu, Deputy Chairman APC UK, Elder Duro Lawal, Chief Charles Ebun-Amu, Charles Lawson, Chief Akinsanmi and the moderator of the event Mr Kazeem Olasupo and many others.

In his address, Adamu attested to the transparency of Governor Kwankwanso’s administration in Kano state and emphasized that his laudable achievements are

unparalleled. While stressing the governor's transparent style of administration by upholding probity and accountability throughout the state civil service, he encouraged everyone to support Kwankwanso as the APC presidential candidate.

In his remarks, the Event Moderator, Mr Kazeem Olasupo said that Nigerians have made errors in the past in choosing wrong leaders and that we must not allow the opportunity to elect a credible president to elude us in the 2015 election.

Mr Charles Lawson said he came from the same region with President Jonathan but noted that Nigeria needed a leader who will salvage it from its present state of hopelessness. “So, I am ready to mobilise the Niger Delta Youths for this man," he added.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

Jonathan flags off Calabar channel dredging PERATIONS for the dredging of the much talked about Calabar channel was yesterday flagged off by the President, Goodluck Jonathan, at the Calabar Port in Cross River State.

The president who was represented by the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, said when eventually functional, the Calabar Port would help decongest the Lagos and Tin Can Island Ports.

The president said the gesture marks another milestone in the commitment of his administration to provide adequate infrastructure in partnership with the private sector.

He said once it is dredged and properly maintained it would attract traffic to boost the social and economic life of Cross River State and other South-South and South-East States.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Habib Abdulahi, said the development was a joint venture between the Calabar Channel Management and Niger Global Engineering Services

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n Nicholas KALU, Calabar n Limited.

He said it was a dream come true and expressed appreciation to the federal government for supporting it.

He assured the NPA would ensure the success of the management of the Calabar channel.

Abdulahi said it will ultimately open up the market in Calabar and the region.

Managing Director of CCM, Mr Pieter Van Hekken, said the flagging off is coming at a period of renewed global interest in trade and investment in the Nigerian maritime and cognate sector.

Hekken assured that in no distant time, the Calabar Port will be the choicest port to the shipping community as it will.

Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, said the dredging of the port is something the state has always yearned for.

He however hoped that the project would come to stay as a contract had been awarded for it before but never came to fruition.

Libel: Anenih loses N500m suit against Oshiomhole's aide N Edo State High Court has dismissed a N500 million libel suit instituted by the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih� against the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Peter Okhiria.

The PDP chieftain had filed the suit against Okhiria and the state owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) four years ago, after he alleged� that a press statement issued by the CPS on the bomb scare at EBS and the State House of Assembly maligned him.

The court awarded N50,000 cost against Anenih in favour of the first and second plaintiffs (Okhiria and EBS).

However, N25million judgment was entered against Bendel Newspaper Company Limited (publish-

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n Precious IGBONWELUNDU n ers of The Observer) for not entering defence in the suit which commenced in 2010.

Delivering judgment in the consolidated suits, trail judge, Justice U.I. Erameh held that the press statement was not libellous and did not bring the plaintiff to disrepute.

The judge faulted Anenih for suing Okhiria in his personal capacity, noting that the said statement was issued on behalf of the Chief Security Officer (Governor) of Edo State.

She held that being the CPS to the Governor, Okhiria had the mandate of the Governor to educate and inform the public on security happenings in the state, as such, could not be held liable because statement made on privileged occasions are a defence to libel.

•L-R; Brig. Gen. Dominic Oneya, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN) and Olorogun O'tega Emerhor at St. Jude Catholic Church, Effurun during Funeral Mass for Frances, Gen. Oneya's daughter...yesterday

Oneya’s daughter buried amidst eulogies HE remains of Miss Frances Oneya, daughter of one-time military administrator of Kano state, BrigadierGeneral Dominic Oneya, was finally buried in her hometown of Ehwerhe-Agbarho in Ughelli North council area of Delta state.

Miss Oneya, a 35-year old mother of four, was brutally murdered by armed robbers at Effurun, Uvwie council area of Delta state last week.

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Speaking at a requiem mass in her honour at the St Jude's Catholic Church, Effurun, Rev. Fr. Augustine Erutor, while condoling with the Oneya family, described the decease as a devoted Christian, who was warm towards those that were close to her.

“No human has been able to give the exact time of exit from earth except God.

T was a carnival at the Benin City airport yesterday as thousands of supporter of the All progressives Congress (APC) thronged the airport to receive three principal officers of the state House of Assembly; Speaker Uyi Igbe, Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu and Majority Whip, Folly Ogedengbe who were detained in Abuja since Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of forgery.

Meanwhile, the police said it has arraigned 22 persons suspected to have participated in the attack on the legislative quarters last Saturday that left sores injured and over 30 vehi-

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n Precious DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt n He said Ogbakor Ikwerre which is the highest consultative assembly in Ikwerre ethnic Nationality is not a political group and would be against anyone who drags her name into politics.

“I am not aware, but I want to state it clear that we are not supporting any political party or group, any other Ikwerre group can decide to support whoever they want to support but not to use the name of Ogbakor Ikwerre to endorse anybody.”

A Group, Ikwerre Reality Movement (IRM) which has protested against the plan endorsement by GDI in the name of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality said it would be an embarrassment on the people of Ikwerre if GDI endorses Wike in the name of Ikwerre.

n Osemwengie BEN OGBEMUDIA and Osagie OTABOR n

cles, and properties destroyed.

Speaking to journalist at the airport shortly before they moved in a long convoy which caused vehicular traffic along Airport Road, Igbe said they were invited to Abuja expecting that they would be accused of financial misappropriation but that they were shocked that they were accused of forgery of a signature to impeach former Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea.

“Last week we were invited by the EFCC and they claimed that they were doing some investigations and that we will be able to contribute to it. So we went there on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we went to the EFCC office. And I was of the impression that the EFCC means Financial Crimes Commission, and therefore I was under the impression that they were going to investigate financial misappropriations.

Only for us to get there and issues that concerns the House of Assembly was what they brought up. What they were telling us was that somebody alleged that we forged the signature amongst the signatures that we used to impeach the former Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea. And therefore that was the reason they invited us. I was taken completely aback.

"But then again I am not too surprise because we all know

2015 elections: We’ll vote out PDP –Ijaw youths IGER Delta Youths under the umbrella of Ijaw Global Policy Network (IGPN), said they have resolved not to support the People’s Democratic Party. PDP led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan owing to unfulfilled promises by the government to the People of the region.

They cited among others the alleged failure of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, responsible for the implementation of the Amnesty program of the Federal Government to improve or meet up to its mandate of bringing development to the

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According to human calculations, it’s always painful when a loved one departs from earth, but we should be consoled in the fact there is life after death.”

On his part, a Delta Central Senatorial aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Solomon Edoja while lamenting the spate of armed robberies in the State, urged the police to ensure that the gunmen are apprehended and brought to book.

We’ll not be intimidated, says Edo Speaker, as EFCC releases him, two other lawmakers

Group, others fault GDI’s plan to endorse Wike HE plan endorsement of the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike by his political group, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) with the name of Ikwerre ethnic nationality has begun to trigger reactions against the propose endorsement.

Wike, an Ikwerre man from Obio/Akpor Local government area of Rivers State is the grand patron of GDI, a group that is fully in support of his governorship ambition in 2015 and has planned to endorse him any moment from now.

Reacting yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on the planned endorsement of Wike in the name of Ikwerre ethnic nationality

by GDI, the President- General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural organisation, Prof. Augustine Onyeozu said he is not aware of such plan.

n Bolaji OGUNDELE, Warri n

n Osemwengie BEN OGBEMUDIA, Benin n region in spite of it’s huge deposit of Oil and gas.

The body in a signed statement by its spokesperson, Ayubalayefa Olu Dennis, maintained that the growing rate of poverty, deprivation, unemployment and total infrastructural collapse spells doom for the region saying “voting out President Goodluck led PDP is the only way out of the region’s predicaments” He stated “It is shocking that in spite of promises to bring development to the

South /South, the region has continued to retrogress in a manner never witnessed. The so called transformation agenda this administration is embarking on has not affected the people of the South region” “The East-West road has been lingering on for donkey years. In spite of the fact that we have our brother at the helms of affair in the ministry of Niger Delta with billions of naira allocated to the East West road, the project is still far from completion and there is nothing to show for it”

that this is the systematic way that they use to harass and intimidate us. But I want them to know that this is only going to make us stronger, we will remain focused, we will keep our eye on the ball and eventually we will score the goal, we will not shake, we will not be intimidated, we refused to be intimidated, we are back to the state.

“We cannot be intimidated

by EFCC, we cannot be intimidated even by the President or the PDP. As far as I am concerned, Nigeria remains one, Nigeria will grow from strength to strength and nobody can derail the destiny of this country.

And we are ready to fight intellectually. We will not arm our youths but the power of the tongue we shall use to defeat them. Never again will Edo state go back to the years of

under development; never again will this country get leaders that are clueless about the issues of Nigeria. We are determined to fight for the destiny of our children. ”A statement by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (DPPRO), Ejiro Ahwara yesterday indicated that the 22 were arraigned on various charges ranging from conspiracy, threatening violence, willful malicious damage and unlawful possession of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. It said the police in the state remain neutral in the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly but, regretted that despite persistent warnings from the Command, “hoodlums still remain unrepentant as they still allow themselves to be used by political gladiators to carry out their selfish aims”

NUJ demands immediate release of kidnapped ex-President of NBA, Okey Wali n Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt n HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the kidnapped immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali (SAN).

Rivers NUJ, through its Chairman, Opaka Dokubo, yesterday in Port Harcourt, stressed that Wali, a Rivers indigene and Port Harcourt-based lawyer, must be released unhurt and without the kidnappers insisting on payment of ransom, before he would regain his freedom.

NUJ in Rivers said: "The kidnap of Barr. Okey Wali, a fine gentleman, who is doing his best for the development of Rivers State and Nigeria, only underscores the abysmal level of moral decadence in our society and the unchecked resurgence of crime and criminality in our state.

"We are calling on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to rise to the occasion and effect the rescue of not only Barr. Wali and all other unlawful captives, but to halt the rise in dangerous crimes and general feelings of insecurity in the state.

"The need to maintain a high level of efficiency by the police and other security agencies has become more imperative, with the growing political activities in the run-up to the 2015 general elections.

"We are sounding a clarion call on politicians in Rivers State to guard their utterances and actions in order not to precipitate crisis or aggravate the already-fragile security atmosphere."

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Mark, Obiano, Umeh, others team up with Rehab Centre in Anambra

MASSOB denies crack in leadership structure n Okodili NDIDI, Owerri n

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n HE Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled, Old and Tramps (RECDOT), Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State will mark its 15th Year Anniversary and Fund Raising before the end of October, 2014.

Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh will team up with the inmates of the centre on the day.

The founder of the home, Mrs. Rosemary Odunukwe said yesterday that the desire to remove children from the streets so as to give them the love of a mother began through the adoption of an abandoned child who was left in a refuse dump was the reason for its establishment.

The Rehabilitation centre, according to her had one hundred and sixty persons (160) as against nine when it was established.

She said the home was targeted at bringing God’s love to the needy by not only providing them with basic needs of life but to also give them formal and vocational training as their abilities permit for them to understand that there was ability in disability.

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Senate not legislating for total ban on tobacco industry n Muyiwa LUCAS n HE Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has allayed fears of stakeholders in the tobacco industry that the national tobacco control bill is not meant to ban or chase out of the country, the legal operators in the tobacco industry.

Rather, Okowa said, it is to regulate manufacturing, consumption and promotion of tobacco products in Nigeria.

Senator Okowa, while speaking at the public hearing held by the senate committee in Abuja during the week, explained that the Bill is targeted at making the industry operate in a responsible manner for the sake of the health of the citizens.

“We are not legislating against total ban on tobacco, just for its regulation,” he said.

In the same vein, the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has reiterated its support for the passage of balanced regulation for the industry. The Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, BAT West Africa, Mr. Freddy Messanvi said that BATN has always supported the passage of a balanced and evidence based regulation of the tobacco industry in Nigeria.

According to him, BATN, through co-operation with regulatory agencies, has achieved reduction in the incidence of illicit tobacco trade from over 80 per cent to around 20 per cent presently.

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EMBERS of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Njaba Region in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday pledged unalloyed loyalty to the leadership of the embattled founder of the Movement, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

The Regional Administrator, Mr. Emmanuel Nwokeji in a statement made available to The Nation, described the purported leadership crack in MASSOB as “an unrealized plan by the enemies of MASSOB to contaminate the members that were loyal to our leader apparently to create justification for their pre-determined objective”.

He posited that the plot, “was externally motivated by people who are never-dowells to ridicule our leader and subsequently harm him but they shall always fail. If they had succeeded, we the old members of MASSOB would have been new as the plan was targeted to change the history of the struggle.

We must resist such move. It is only Uwazuruike our leader that has individual records of our members in mind so he knows all of us”.

Condemning the actions of the Commanders, who had been engaged in leadership tussle with the MASSOB leader by flouting his orders, Nwokeji, likened their action to a “duty carried out by a dangerous manager”, adding that, “we must see to it always that any plan to oust or harm our leader in this struggle, is not in the interest of the members or the struggle itself”.

He went on, “real MASSOB members will never follow the road to deceit because they know very well the danger to which this may lead. To follow Uwazuruike to the end, real MASSOB members have agreed albinitio that it should always be our song of hope. Outsiders may not understand. In exemption of Uwazuruike, no Igbo man that is living can rightly claim that he has suffered enough to be the leader of Ndigbo and MASSOB. “What the plotters of the

•Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (l) and his camerounian counterpart Lt.-Gen. Claude Rene, signing a communique after the Nigeria/Cameroun trans-border military operation conference in Abuja...yesterday Photo: NAN

Jonathan has failed Nigerians –Reps member HE member representing Owan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from Edo State, Pally Iriase Saturday urged Nigerians to ensure the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is ousted in next year’s general and presidential elections: as he said the party has failed to deliver the much needed dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria.

Iriase spoke at a rally in Afuze, headquarters of Owan East local government area where he was massively endorsed by members of the party, including elected councillors from the two local governments that make up

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n Osemwengie BEN OGBEMUDIA, Benin n the constituency, market women groups, youth groups, the National Association of Owan Students and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Iriase urged the people to be vigilant during elections and that they should ensure they collect their permanent voters card “with which you will vote out PDP. "We know them; we will beat them to their tricks. Very soon, INEC will start distribution of permanent voters card, you must ensure you collect your voters card, it is important.

“Many things are going wrong in this country Nigeria and we need to change those things for our betterment and the betterment of our children.

“Many times, I see them on television saying they have done this, they have done that, they bring pictures to show the people but the road from Edo to Abuja which they started since 1999, till now, they are yet to complete it.

"Thank God, God has helped me to touch the lives of my constituents, and I know that there is enough more fire in me to do more

for our people and I want to assure you that by this confidence, I will not disappoint you. We must vote out PDP in the next general election because they have failed us, they have failed the country.”

Iriase said he has consulted widely with various segments of his constituents to seek a second term “I want to assure you that because of this rally, Owan East and West are totally for APC. "We will do what we ought to do to ensure that APC win all elections in this part of the country in 2015 with the overwhelming support that you have given to me, I am humbled”

Enugu crisis: No going back on council chairman’s impeachment HE new leadership of the Awgu Local Government Legislative Council yesterday vowed that there would be no going back on the processes towards the impeachment of the Council Chairman Hon. Mathanus Nnanna Nze. It also insisted that the former leadership of the Legislative Council remained impeached and suspended for acts inimical to the interest of the House and the Agwu people.

The new Leader and head of the Legislative Council, Hon. Olisa Solomon Okolo, in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja described as “a waste of time” efforts by the former leadership of the Legislative Council, to deny their impeachment and suspen-

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…Legislative Council leadership stands impeached, suspended n Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor n sion as well as the claims by the embattled Council Chairman that he was not served any notice of impeachment.

“This is a legislature we are talking about and there is no place in the world where a minority lords it over the majority; hence it needs not be overemphasized that the former leadership of the Legislative Council remains impeached and suspended, while there is no going back on the impeachment of the Council Chairman”, Hon. Okolo insisted.

He noted that the Legislative House had in a notice of impeachment signed by six out of the eleven Ward Council-

lors on Thursday accused Hon. Nze of gross misconduct, lack of accountability, corruption, and sponsoring political violence against Legislative Council.

Okolo noted that the Legislative Council in its resolution said it had “noted with serious concern the total collapse of governance in the Council and the brutality and bare-faced dictatorship allegedly perpetrated by Hon. Nze and his cohorts.”

He added: “Noting that apart from poor budget implementation, lack of accountability, and retirement for contracts not executed, there are outright acts of brigandage and the management of the Local Government as private estate.

Wike's resignation will help bury Rivers PDP, says APC chair HE Rivers State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, stated yesterday in Port Harcourt that the resignation of the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, would help to formally bury the dead Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.

Ikanya also declared that Wike's resignation would not have any effect on Rivers APC producing in 2015, the successor to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, but would rather enhance it.

Rivers APC chairman maintained that another Ikwerre person would not succeed Amaechi.

The Rivers governor, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum

T

n Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt n (NGF), along with Wike, are Ikwerre, in the multi-ethnic Rivers state.

Ikanya said: "Wike's resignation might have been informed by four major factors: He has achieved successfully the destruction of both our higher education and ensuring that the vision behind the setting up of the unity schools is a thing of the past. Wike has nothing else to destroy. He has to resign after this negative feat.

"Wike has concluded his plot to ensure that Jonathan's political career is totally destroyed, by assisting him to ensure that Rivers State does not have any Federal Government presence and ceding our oil wells to Bayelsa and

Abia States, after our ensuring that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was elected as President with our over 2 million votes.

"Wike's resignation is also to assist the APC to formally bury the dead PDP in Rivers State. He has already directed Rivers State people and his Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) members to vote out PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and that we will surely do.

"Wike might have also resigned to retire politically, because Rivers people have vowed not to vote him for any reason, as we cannot vote another Ikwerre man as governor after Rt. Hon. Amaechi."

The Rivers APC chairman

also admonished Rivers people to continue to support the focused Amaechi's administration.

It will be recalled that the Rivers governor stated in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the PDP in Rivers state lacked quality governorship candidate.

The ruling APC is also targeting 69,000 supporters for its mega rally on October 25, to mark seven years of Amaechi's Supreme Court victory of October 25, 2007, through the landmark judgment.

Amaechi maintained that the opposition PDP in Rivers state had nothing to offer the people in the 2015 general elections, with the PDP in Rivers made up of corrupt politicians.

Abia youths hold prayer summit

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HE National Youth Wing of the Abia State Town Unions Association (ASTUA) will hold a prayer summit on September 20 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

This was disclosed by the president of association, Prince Ikenna. I. James.

He said the youth are presenting the state ,the governor, Dr. T.A.Orji before God and also interceding for all Abia youths and people for overall success .He noted that the governor particularly represents the life and image of the state ,so he needs the prayer of everybody for all round success in his programmes .

He said the summit will hold in Lagos first and later in Umuahia.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

60 Olasupo Shasore, SAN, is a former Lagos State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice. He has also served the state in various other capacities, including being the chair of the state’s Law Reform Commission. The author of Possessed: A History of Law and Justice in the Crown Colony of Lagos1861– 1906 spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI about Lagos in the age of colonialism, the evolution of English Law in Nigeria and why he decided to write the history of Lagos, among other issues.

ALKING about the law aspect of the state and given its premium position as a former capital city of the country, how would you compare the old Lagos with the new?

Lagos is responsible for the reception of English Law into what is now called Nigeria, because of the colony that was created in 1861. English Law was imported into the territory of the Colony of Lagos in 1863; literally the first constitution this area called Nigeria had ever known. It was the Latent Patent issued to Governor Freeman who was the first governor of Lagos Colony. Inside that Latent Patent, the first executive council was created, the first legislative council was created and the authority to appoint the first set of judges in this part of the world was created in March 1863.

The application of English Law then was brought out through that instrument and they administered English Law throughout the life of the colony until 1906 when there was a forced amalgamation of the Colony of Lagos with the Niger Coast Protectorate, which is also called the Southern Protectorate. And in 1914, there was the forced merger of three entities to create Nigeria. So, the union of Nigeria is actually the union of three entities, namely the Colony of Lagos, the Southern Protectorate and the Northern Protectorate.

The legal regime that continued to run throughout the life of a colony through a succession of constitutions—the Clifford Constitution, the Richards Constitution and the Macpherson Constitutio—still applied the English Law but with local ordinances and statuses. Some of those statuses were created specifically for Lagos, being the colony territory which had been the evolution. The evolution of English Law in Nigeria is actually the evolution of English Law in the Lagos Colony. It was as a result of the colony that we got the English Law. What lasting impact has the evolution of English Law had on Lagos?

Several people have canvassed to the rest of Nigeria the unique nature of Lagos. And we have said that because of this unique nature, it ought to have been recognised or accorded special status in order to deal with the realities that confront Lagos in the general organisation, the population search and all the peculiarities that affect Lagos. It is not a case we are begging for; it is a reality that exists and it exists because Lagos is unique.

My hope is that this new book (Possessed: A History of Law and Justice in the Crown Colony of Lagos-1861 – 1906) I have just finished will go into circulation soon in the next week or two. It is a book that tries to emphasise the uniqueness of Lagos and tries to explain why it is saying that a special status should be given to Lagos.

The recognition should be accorded Lagos because of that uniqueness. It is the uniqueness that it does not share with any other part of Nigeria. And I’m not saying so because I’m from Lagos; it is the truth. That uniqueness is the fact that there had to have been a colony in Lagos before there could be a Nigeria.

What impact do you think the book would make, considering the fact that the state has more or less been abandoned by the Federal Government since the federal

T

•Shasore

Nigeria has a lot to from Lagos if it must

–Ex-Lagos Attorney-General Olasupo capital was moved to Abuja?

I would say that because this is principally a history book, it is not a political book. It is meant to give people a contextual understanding, a better perspective of our history, how that explains certain things that are going on now, how it explains the situation we are in Nigeria and the situation Lagos represents to the rest of the country. In South Africa, for example, the union of South Africa was founded from the capturing of Cape Town. That is why they refer to Cape Town as mother city. In many respects, no matter how unpalatable that might seem, the truth is that Lagos represents the mother city for Nigeria. The birth of colonialism happened in Lagos, and because the British had that foothold, they made an incursion into the country and were able to convert that charter into colonial rule. So, the purpose of the book is to give context for Nigerians and to acquire knowledge about where we all came from.

Until recently, Samuel Johnson’s book, The History of Yoruba, was regarded as the most authentic book on Yoruba history, but that is now being rubbished. What have you done to prevent this from happening to your own book?

I’m writing from the Lagos perspective. If you note the subtitle: A History of Law and Justice in the Crown Colony of Lagos, I deliberately accessed the history of Lagos through law and justice because I wanted to avoid controversy. I didn’t want to rely on myths and other mythical tales like stories of people and unproven ancestry. I wanted to rely on records, and the reason why records led me to law and justice is not only because I’m a lawyer but because we have the wealth of records that you cannot controvert within the law and justice system.

So, Samuel Johnson probably relied on oral history. I’m not in any position to criticise that work, because there are many aspects of it that I agree with. I do hope this book starts a kind of conversation that will

allow people to inquire deeper into the history of Nigeria and the history of the colony.

But I say so with all sense of responsibility that I relied on facts as much as possible.

Did you project into the future in this book? I ask because it stands the risk of being faulted? And what is the way out as Lagos seems to be losing its original nsture?

There are some talks of the future when you refer to the past. I always say that Lagos has had a glorious past and it has the prospect of a glorious history in the future because you can see the fundamentals of a glorious future in this community. We are a community, but there are many lessons we can learn from the colony. Modern day Nigeria is not the least ending the social integrations that were prevalent throughout the life

The recognition should be accorded Lagos because of that uniqueness.

It is the uniqueness that it does not share with any other part of Nigeria. And I’m not saying so because I’m from Lagos; it is the truth.

That uniqueness is the fact that there had to have been a colony in Lagos before there could be a Nigeria

of the colony. There were people from all walks of life; people from all parts of the West Coast of Africa. Not just from the modern day Nigeria but across the West Coast, and they never referred to themselves as Egun or Ekiti, and so on; they referred to themselves as Lagos Africans. This forged a sense of unity that this country could do with right now, de-emphasising mini-ethnic identities into a much larger identity that gave them the force to survive colonialism.

Without the group thinking, they might never have survived.

What about the land issue and the law, how were they related?

I discussed land tenure in the book from historical perspectives and the cases that were fought with both the British and among the Africans themselves. The decided cases

•Shasore

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

learn survive Shasore

show a certain family and community ownership of land. With the emergence of common status called the Land Use Act, the reversionary interest that these families have in the land that was nationalised still exists.

So, you can’t erase the feeling of Africans with their connection to land. It is impossible; it is a recipe for trouble.

Some people have argued that Lagos is a ‘no man’s land’. How would you react to that?

I actually addressed that phrase because it is a phrase you hear a lot. I answered people who use that appellation for Lagos, and I hope that with the reading of history, it will show you that there are people who have indigene rights. I’m not an ethno-centrist, but indigenous rights have been recognised by the United Nations. Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations’ convention right of indigenous people, and the convention clearly states that you have a right to feel indigenous, to dress indigenous and to speak with your indigenous tongue. It is my right and you can’t take it away from me. If you read the history of colony, you will understand that some people have that inalienable right.

But Lagos is also unique in another way because it has served as the home for diverse cultures over the centuries. It accepts the fact that unity must be created out of that diversity and that has been practised. What the book demonstrates is that it is not a new mantra; it is something that as at 200 years ago, it was being practised by Africans in Lagos as at that time. So, Omo Eko (Lagos indigene) is a right some people have and you can’t take it away from them, but ‘Lagosian’ is the right that all the people who live in it have. It will interest you to know that the word ‘Lagosian’ was in use in the 1870s. I didn’t create it. I used to think that the term ‘Lagosian’ was a latter day term until I started my research. It was a term that was used in the The Weekly Record newspaper that was in circulation in Lagos in the 1890s.

If you look at Lagos, almost all the

61 landed properties are in the hands of nonOmo Ekos. Don’t you fear that in the nearest future there will be no more aborigines?

Are you talking about a statistical count of the people who can claim to be indigenous?

Yes I’m sure the statistics are there. If there are 18 million people in this state, it is unlikely they are all people who can claim to be indigenes of Lagos. Again, it is how to continue to live in harmony that Lagos is the leading example for the rest of the country. It is the community with the most diversity. We often joke that Lagos is one place where if you go to the market, you shout something in your language and somebody will answer you in your language, even though he does not know who you are. If you are looking for your tribal marks, go to the markets and you will see somebody with your tribal marks. You will feel at home immediately.

That is a lesson for Nigeria, particularly with this rise of xenophobic and ethnocentrism that is going on in this country. The diversity that Lagos has displayed is something that the country can benefit from. And we have never had any of those tensions here.

Why did you decide to write the book?

It has taken me a while to write the book.

Research and writing has taken me between three and four years. It is a desire I have always had to write on the history of the colony because it is an interest I’ve had for a long time. I like to think of myself as an amateur historian, but the fact that it is being finished now and put into public sphere is as a result of the process of publication. Really, the reason behind it is the interest I have always had and the conclusion period has taken me long to get here.

It is a kind of responsibility expected of a historian and not a legal expert…

Well, to be honest with you, it is a personal interest I have always had. And having said that, there is a deep part of law that is rooted in history, and to excel in law is to appreciate history. So, I think it is almost a natural progression.

Some people have argued against the fact that many of the people who are holding political offices in Lagos are not Lagos indigenes. How would you react to that?

There are several sources of legal rules that govern appointments. We have all sorts of principles enshrined in the constitution that secure equal opportunities for all Nigerians wherever you are from. The appointing authorities, in their wisdom, will like to address the issues of diversity and representative nature of the society. And like I said, you can’t take away the right a man has to be indigenous.

How much of your experience does the new book reflect?

Well, I can’t divorce the fact that I served in the state executive council from the way this book came about.

From your research, what exactly happened at the time indigenous Lagosians had to make a case for their own rights from the colonial masters? Was it a case of respect for law and order or they had to employ other means for them to be heard?

It was a mixed bag. You found people on the borderline of disobedience in order to make their points. Many agitations, whether it was for water rate or any of the taxes, produced a resistance among the native community. So, you had people who used disobedience methods; we had people who used the court, those who used the ballot and those who used petitions to resist colonialism.

Native rules were on ground when the colonial masters came. Were they able to adopt some of these rules to achieve their objectives, particularly because some of the Obas sold out to the colonial masters?

In every system of occupation, you will have the apologists. You would have the people who conform and those who agitate and resist. Those of the British system are well documented. Now, just to reflect on it, they used the system of ruling indirectly through recognised customs that we had.

Those customs were personified by our traditional rulers. They used them as surrogates to keep us in check against the context of their own laws. That also happened in Lagos. Obviously, they now sought to endorse any successor to the throne of Lagos.

In fact, in one occasion that I chronicled in this book, they actually dethroned and deported Esugbayi Eleko, which resulted in the lengthiest court action against any British rule. He turned out victorious but by that time, they had really weakened the institution.

The thorny road to a deal Continued from page 6 ure there would be any basis for anybody to renege on the agreement.

Unfortunately, the people’s hopes were dashed once again as the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a video message denied Kabiru Turaki’s claim. ”Let me assure you that we will not enter into any truce with these infidels. We will not enter into any truce with

the Nigerian government,” Shekau reportedly said.

The spate of insurgency took a worrisome dimension thereafter.

In May this year, Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, told the country that President Goodluck Jonathan had granted conditional amnesty to the terrorists group with a view to putting permanent halt to insurgency in the North-East. He added that series of integration pro-

grammes had been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace Shortly after he made the statement, the Presidency swiftly debunked the statement. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan did not mention the word amnesty in his Democracy Day broadcast that Boni Haruna relied on to make the statement.

‘We’ve struck a deal with Boko Haram’ Continued from page 3 Haram; two others close to the sect’s leadership; and a PDP leader.

As exclusively reported by The Nation, the two parties agreed to meet after the October 4 Eid-el-Kabir festival on the ceasefire terms to either finalise the agreement or part ways.

The 219 girls were abducted on April 14 from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok.

After initial doubts on the abduction, the Federal Government raised a fact-finding panel.

The Chairman of the Presidential Fact-Finding Committee on the Abduction of Chibok Girls, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), told President Goodluck Jonathan that the abduction was real, contrary to misinterpretation in some quarters.

He also said 276 students of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok were abducted but 219 girls were unaccounted for as at the time of submitting the report.

He said 57 of the abducted students had been reunited with their families after escaping along the zigzag transport route taken by the insurgents.

The Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, yesterday said he had no comment yet over the reported ceasefire between the Federal Government and Boko

Haram.

He said he would speak at the appropriate time.

The governor spoke in a statement through his Special Adviser on Communication, Isa Gusau.

The statement reads: “Hundreds of journalists, local and international, have been making inquiries following widely circulated reports about a ceasefire over Boko Haram attacks.

“Governor Kashim Shettima has no comment for now regarding the issue. He would make comments at an appropriate time.

“Governor Shettima has always believed in a tripartite approach that involves dialogue for peaceful resolution, military and economic strategies in addressing the Boko Haram problems, and he has been a strong advocate of these measures through his practical efforts and sustained public appeals at various fora, which was why he firmly supported the efforts initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan through the setting up of the Tanimu Turakiled committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in 2013, which worked actively and remained in force.

“Governor Shettima is permanently committed to all genuine efforts that would bring the insurgency to an end, especially given the fact that Borno State and its people have remained the worse hit by the unfortunate killings and destructions since 2009.”

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

62

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-10-14

Equities market drops by N97bn T

RANSACTIONS on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended on Friday on a bearish trend as the market capitalisation depreciated by N97 billion or 0.76 per cent following the price losses recorded by some major stocks, just as market capitalisation closed lower at N12.612 trillion from the N12.709 trillion recorded the previous day.

Also, the All-Share Index, which opened at 38,490.67, dropped by 292.94 points to close at 38,197.73.

Seplat led the losers’ chart

by N28.85 to close at N548.31 per share. Mobil Oil followed, depreciating by N8.2 to close at N165.8, while Lafarge Wapco lost N5.79 to close at N111.06 per share,

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

just as Nigerian Breweries dipped by N4.55 to close at N165.45, while Dangote Cement decreased by N3 to close at N212 per share.

On the other hand, Forte Oil led the gainers’ chart by N8.8 to close at N215.9 per share, as Stabic IBTC gained N1 to close at N31, while FBN Holdings grew by 8k to close at N11.8 per share and Zenith Bank appreciated by 32k to close at N21.4, while Diamond Bank chalked up 27k to closed at N5.84 per share.

Access Bank emerged as the

most traded stock, accounting for 71.78 million shares worth N592.48 million, as Fidelity Bank followed with an exchanged 52.31 million shares valued at N102.02 million, while Transcorp sold 48.41 million shares worth N221.56 million ETI traded 28.30 million shares valued at N516.89 million, while FBN Holdings transacted 24.04 million shares worth N277.19 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded decreased by 30.83 per cent as investors exchanged a total of 362.564 million shares worth N3.86 billion in 4,846 deals, which was against the 524.220 million shares valued at N7.66 billion traded in 4,779 deals on Thursday.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-10-14

THE NATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014

63

SPORT EXTRA

Keshi’s sack ‘ll take football Amaju, watch your back (3) backwards, says Akanni F

ORMER Eagles’ player, Waidi Akanni has faulted Stephen Keshi’s removal as the head coach of the national team, saying the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made a big mistake by relieving the former coach of his job.

Akanni told NationSports that Keshi did well by winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa in 2013 and qualifying the country for the World Cup in his first

Emenike gets offers from abroad

From Adeyinka Adedipe, in Benin attempt. He stated that the former Eagles’ captain also equalled Nigeria best outing at the Mundial by taking the team to the second round at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. He said the reasons for sacking Keshi were not football-related and wondered why he was not left to prosecute the two remaining games in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers. “I am sure that if he had been left in charge of

the team, he would have qualified the country for the AFCON. Keshi has had a positive impact on the team since he came on board and his sack will only take our football backward.”

According to Akanni, the former coach had a running battle with the NFF Technical Committee, which wanted to dictate to the coach on team selection. “For me, Keshi was relieved of his duty because he never got along with members of the technical committee, who

wanted to dictate to him. These are people whose abilities are in doubt. The technical committee lacks modern method and that is the major reason they couldn’t agree with Keshi on technical issues.”

When reminded that the former coach seemed to have lost the dressing room, Akanni stated that issues affecting teams, especially bothering on rift between players and the coach, could be settled without firing the coach.

F

ENERBAHCE striker Emmanuel Emenike claims he has received offers from foreign clubs including a Russian Premier League team, with reports also linking him with a move to England in the winter transfer market.

If those reports are to be believed hook, line and sinker, the Nigeria international has emerged as a target for Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Spartak Moscow in the January transfer window. ''I have some good offers; including from a Russian club,'' Emmanuel Emenike told Information Telegraph Agency of Russia. ''As far as I know, Fenerbahce have not received a formal proposal from Spartak Moscow about my transfer.''

Roman Askhabadze, CEO of Spartak Moscow, has played down suggestions that the 2013 African Cup of Nations top goalscorer will be returning to the The Red-Whites, saying there's no chance of him representing the club in the near future.

Emmanuel Emenike is nowhere near the end of his contract with Fenerbahce, as it's due to run out in the summer of 2017, having joined the Turkish champions last August.

• Emenike

• Coach Edwin Okon and Captain Evelyn Nwabuoku at a press conference after the Namibia match on Friday

‘Three points more important than fancy game’

C

HIEF coach of the Super Falcons Edwin Okon says that mattered most was the three points his team secured from the game against the Brave Warriors of Namibia and not whether the team played well or not.

Okon, looking obviously frustrated, told NationSports after the game that he decided to rest some of his key players since the team had already qualified before yesterday's encounter, add-

N

game and I'm happy that we won the game."

The Rivers Angels’ tactician also gave kudos to the Brave Warriors of Namibia for putting up a stiff opposition against his team.

"The Brave Gladiators are playing at home, in front of their home crowd which spurred them on. Besides that, I think they are a great team and I want to commend them for their performance despite their ouster," he said.

Falcons beat gallant Namibia 2-0

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WO quick goals in the first half from Gloria Ofoegbu and Francisca Ordega helped the Super Falcons to secure a 2-0 win over the Brave Gladiators of Namibia in one of the last round of matches in Group A decided at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, yesterday.

The scoreline perhaps flattered the coach Godwin Okon-tutored side as the Nigerian side which rested about seven key regulars fought desperately to keep the rampaging, young Namibians at bay in a partisan

‘Injury-free’ Ideye returns against Man Utd IGERIA international Brown Ideye has resumed full training after an injury he sustained in West Brom's 3-2 win over Hull City.

With this development there is every expectation that the attacker would be paraded for the Baggies in their Barclays Premier League clash at home to Manchester United at The Hawthorns on Monday.

The attacker has spent more than two weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an injury in the Baggies League Cup game with Hull City late September.

But the former Ocean Boys

From Onyewuchi Nwachukwu, in Windhoek ing that at the end of the game he was satisfied that the Falcons were able to eke out three points.

"I don't want to dwell so much on the general performance of the team. For me, the most important thing was the three points we secured against the Namibians.

"When I chose this team, I knew that all the players could be called upon to play in any

By Paul Oluwakoya forward is full of optimism to be at his best even as the medical staff of his club side has certified the 26 - year - old fit for Monday’s tie with Manchester United, meaning he is in line to make his fourth appearance in the Premier League this term.

The Nigerian ace was quick to announce this on his social media handle to update his fans on his return and fitness test. "@OfficialIdeye: I'm so happy to be back in training after 2 weeks out of Action,Big thanks to the Medical staff #Biglovewba #GreatGod," Ideye tweeted.

From Onyewuchi Nwachukwu, in Windhoek crowd that kept on cheering the home side.

In yesterday's game, coach Okon opted to start veteran striker, Perpetua Nkwocha ahead of the tournament's leading goalscorer, Desire Oparanozie but it was the young Namibians who, obviously in search of points to progress, took the match to the Nigerians.

The Brave Warriors star player, Zenatha Coleman should have put the host ahead in the early minutes but she kicked a sitter over the bar with goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte already beaten.

The Namibians would rue that miss later in the 35th

minute when their goalkeeper Lydia Eixas committed a blunder by leaving her area to take a kick and Ofoegbu, who was playing her first game of the championship, curled the free kick into the net to give the Falcons the lead against the run of play.

Barely two minutes later, Sweden-based Francisca Ordega, who was unarguably Nigeria's best player on the day, latched onto a pass from Esther Sunday, rounded up the Namibian goalkeeper and placed the ball in an empty net to double Nigerians’ lead.

In the second half, coach Okon brought in midfield maestro Halimatu Ayinde and Glory Iroka to stabilize the midfield as the Namibians continued to search for a moraleboosting goal which never came.

As the game was winding up, coach Okon gave another veteran, 36-year-old Stella Mbachu her first game of the tournament when she came in for Cecilia Nku in the 85th minute.

Having emerged as group winners, the Super Falcons will now face the runners up of Group B next week. The teams in Group B will play their last round of matches today simultaneously at the Independence Stadium and Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

• Continued from back page evening’s game.

I have seen from my visits to several sporting events around the globe that every sport is big business everywhere but in Nigeria, where emotions rule our judgment in picking those to direct the affairs of this lucrative industry. We delay decisions even when the roof has fallen on our heads. We believe in miracles as if others don’t worship God. We are scared of telling people the truth, until things have fallen apart as we have seen with our quest to participate at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Morocco. It serves us right.

Super Eagles’ likely unceremonious exit from the Africa Cup of Nations was a disaster waiting to happen. Did I hear you say what does this writer mean by likely exit? We can still qualify arithmetically but not with these coaches who loathe our big players. Congo has one away game against Sudan.

Nigeria has one home game against South Africa. Nigeria needs to beat Congo in Point Noire for us to have seven points, the same as the Congolese, except that we would have a superior goals advantage, depending on how many we score.

Congo would need to do the impossible - beat Sudan at home in the last game. Nigeria would be playing a South Africa, who would have qualified already. Bafana Bafana won’t come to Uyo to fight, knowing that they have secured one of the qualification tickets. Can we achieve this feat? Yes, but these coaches must go.

We embraced coaches who wanted to relate with the president on football matters even when they were not politicians.

Of course, this caveat (because it was granted) made the sports minister redundant. We tolerated coaches who ridiculed the country by resigning their appointment on a foreign radio, even when the minister (Bolaji Abdullahi) was with them in South Africa.

Rather than accept their resignation letters, we begged them. We received them with pomp and ceremony and swept under the carpet the heinous crime of humiliating us when we ought to be celebrating a feat last recorded 19 years ago. The world watched in awe as our players and coaches were decorated with honours, given cash and houses while the federation chiefs and, indeed, the sports minister were made bystanders at a ceremony where they ought to have been co-actors.

Behold, the coaches were told that they had direct access to Mr. President.

With tails tucked in-between their legs, NFF men left the seat of government dejected, unable to believe what hit them. Of course, like the proverbial turkey, the coaches derided the federation chiefs.

They told the world that they were being owed several months’ salaries and allowances. They colluded with the players to embarrass us by refusing to travel to Brazil for the 2013 Confederations Cup. The former minister’s attempts to plead with them on the matter while they were in Namibia were forestalled by those who beat their chests that they are disciplinarians. Instead, we

sent the money to them through the embassy, sweeping under the carpet the ignominious act of allowing the aircraft chartered by FIFA to take them to Brazil empty.

Things got so bad that the coaches kept telling us of being wooed by as many as seven countries, yet they kept our job.

Emboldened, the coaches and the players disgraced us further during the World Cup by refusing to train for the game against France until they received their appearance fees, which many countries at the Mundial had not received.

Rather than call their bluff, we panicked and sent $3.85 million cash to them before the game in Brazil. Instead of keeping the sharing of the cash till after the France tie, the players and coaches disbursed it until the wee hours of the game, which Nigeria lost 2-0.

Ordinarily, we ought to have sacked the coaches, given the glut of Nigerians who ply their trade in Europe and the Diaspora. We didn’t. We celebrated the fact that we qualified for the second round by winning one game, drawing one and losing one in 2014. We compared this feat to the one we achieved in 1994, when we won two matches and lost one.

With this scenario, it was easy for the coaches to insult our sensibilities with their mindless invitation of unqualified players for our matches, with the NFF and even the minister unable to make any inputs. They hid under the unholy pact which gives them freehand to ruin the Eagles, as it has turned out now. The big questions now are: who will pick the next set of players to prosecute our last two matches against Congo and South Africa? Will the coaches not ask for new contracts before the two matches? Will we wait until we are arithmetically out of the qualifiers before asking the coaches to go? Who would replace the sacked coaches?

Will it be another set of Nigerians or the usual journeymen European coaches who have paraded Africa for years?

We want a manager with an orientation for encouraging football academies to groom our youths at the grassroots.

Such a manager must have a template to train our domestic league coaches. He also should have the clout to expose our budding stars to big clubs in Europe the way Clemens Westerhof discovered, nurtured and exposed players, such as Uche Okechukwu, Friday Elaho, Benedict Iroha, George Finidi, Daniel Amokachi et al.

Westerhof’s initiative made these raw talents achieve the feats they recorded both for Nigeria and their foreign clubs. Their exploits compelled foreign scouts to invade Nigeria in search of other players. Little wonder, our players excelled in Europe during Westerhof’s time.

We are tired of Nigerian coaches. Their eras have been dogged with prayers for miracles and mathematical permutations for qualification tickets to major competitions.

The Eagles must fly again. Certainly not under Nigerian coaches - until they change their orientation. May we never go through this tortuous path again, Amen.

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3005

The current system (bequeathed to the country by military dictators and sustained by civilian rulers for the past 16 years) of dependence on oil at local, state, and central levels is not sustainable in the long run —Ropo Sekoni

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AST week, I examined the aspirations of General MuhammaduBuhari, former Vice President AtikuAbubakar and Kano State Governor, Dr RabiuKwankwaso, for the presidential candidature of the opposition of All Progressives Congress (APC). Does the title of today's column suggest that Atiku is no more in reckoning for the coveted ticket? No one can credibly make any such claim. Atikuhas formidable political presence. He has an expansive political network mostly inherited from the late General Musa Yar'Adua's Progressive Democratic Movement (PDM) political machinery. And he has an intimidating war chest that will always make him a strong contender in any race.

However, in the course of his eventful political career, Atiku has in my view made key strategic errors that have stacked the odds heavily against him in his thirst for the country's presidency, a position which should ordinarily have been his for the asking. On his emergence as PDP presidential candidate in 1999, General OlusegunObasanjo had opted for Atiku as his running mate in honour of the memory of his late loyal subordinate in the military and political ally, General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. Atiku was a powerful and influential vice president. Trusted by his boss, who once described their relationship as akin to that between husband and wife, he was practically given a free hand to oversee the running of the economy.

For some inexplicable reason, Atiku did not have the patience to wait for the expiration of Obasanjo's two terms in office before seeking the number one position. It apparently got to Obasanjo that Atiku's aides and associates were behind a subtle campaign for him to adopt the 'Mandela option' and quit office after one term.

This appeared to have been confirmed when in 2003 Atiku openly sought to challenge OBJ for the PDP's presidential ticket.

Having thrown his hat into the ring and enjoying the support of most PDP governors, Atiku should have pursued his ambition to its logical conclusion. Rather, he was persuaded by a reportedly pleading and tearful Obasanjo to back down and support the latter's second term ambition. That was a key tactical error.

Of course, a characteristically vindictive Obasanjo spent the better part of his second term hounding and persecuting his deputy who was rendered completely redundant in office.

In 2007, Atiku sought to fulfil his presidential ambition on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Of course, he could have won only over Obasanjo's dead body.

Claiming that he could only function within a national party, Atiku was later to abandon the ACN and return to the PDP. That was another major blunder. If he had exhibited political consistency and remained in the ACN, he would probably have no rival for the APC ticket today. Now, on what moral grounds does he seek the ticket of a party that has been nurtured into a viable national platform by the patience, sweat and hard work of others? If he had been offered the presidential ticket of the PDP that he sought in 2011, would Atiku be vying for the APC ticket today?

APC: Buhari or Kwankwaso?

•Buhari Beyond this, one of Atiku's greatest assets, his financial power, is also a major liability for him. Perhaps because of his career at the much derided Nigeria Customs, persistent unsavoury insinuations continue to be made about the source and magnitude of his wealth that could overshadow his positive attributes as a candidate. Furthermore, despite his affluence and his having served as vice president for eight years, there is little indication that an Atiku candidacy can generate the kind of popular grassroots support in the North that a Kwakwanso or Buhari can. That is why he is a more risky candidate for the APC to take a chance on than the other two.

Even though he has expressed support for the emergence of a consensus presidential candidate for the APC as the party's constitution provides for, there is yet no indication that Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will not pursue his ambition to its logical conclusion at the presidential primaries.

There is no doubt that he is eminently qualified to be president of Nigeria. His supporters have pointed to his youthfulness relative to Buhari suggesting that the latter step down in his favour for this reason. But then, age is not a determinant of competence or integrity even though Kwankwaso has shown that he has both qualities in abundance.

Kwankwaso has rich political and managerial

•Kwankwaso experience. He has served creditably at various times as Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, a two term governor of Kano state, Minister of Defence, a board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) and Presidential Special Envoy to Somalia and Darfur. Even more remarkably, his integrity has never been questioned in all the public offices he has held. Not even when he left the PDP and has since become one of the most vocal and incisive critics of President Goodluck Jonathan has the ruling party been able to threaten Kwankwanso with the EFCC as it is normally wont to do.

As I said last week, however, the key to victory in next year's election will be for both parties to record maximum turn out of voters in their respective strongholds while registering a respectable electoral presence outside their strongholds. Thus, the APC should seek to maximise its electoral advantage in the NorthEast, North-West, parts of the North-Central and the South-West and try to make as much impact as it can in the South-South, South-East and those areas of the North-Central where the PDP has a strong electoral base.

In that case, Buhari has a decisive edge over Kwankwaso in terms broad, grassroots voter appeal across the North. This was demonstrated in 2011, where his CPC garnered close to 12 million votes in the North despite its

relative structural and financial weakness. The spontaneous enthusiasm of the massive crowd at his presidential declaration in Abuja this week shows that the ascetic General retains his charismatic magnetic pull, which is second to none in the north. That certainly was not a rented crowd.

Again, it will be much easier for the PDP to campaign against Kwankwaso than a Buhari.

Faced with a Kwankwaso as opponent, the PDP will contend that he was part and parcel of them until very recently. They will argue that he shares in the credit for their successes during the several years he was in the party and must also share in bearing the blame for the failures of the party during the period. The already fragile distinction between both parties will be further blurred by a Kwankwaso or Atiku candidacy. This is not so with Buhari who has steadfastly distanced himself from the PDP since 1999 even though it is unfashionable for Nigerian politicians to remain in opposition since identification with the centre is the easiest route to personal material accumulation.

In terms of integrity and incorruptibility, Buhari stands second to none. He was at various times General Officer Commanding (GOC), Third Division of the Nigerian Army, Militay Governor of the states that today comprise the North-East zone, Minister of Petroleum, Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission (NNPC), Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and Head of State. Yet, Buhari does not own any oil bloc.

He does not own any property in Abuja, Lagos or outside the country. His only houses are in his native Daura and Kaduna. This is truly remarkable and underscores why he is best placed to tackle the scourge of corruption in the country, which is at the root of most of our other national ills including insecurity. Of course, Buhari is not infallible. He has his own weak points including arbitrariness and disrespect for the rule of law when he was military Head of State. But then, he is from all indications wiser and mellower now and will, in any case, be operating in a democratic milieu.

If the criterion of vote maximisation is also to be applied to the APC vice presidential slot, then the South-South and South-East should not be in contention for the position. The average South-South voter will prefer the region having the presidency to vice president while the South-East is unlikely to go with the APC even if the party fields an Igbo presidential candidate! I have argued in the past that competence rather than religious sentiment should determine the APC's presidential ticket.

However, given the Jonathan presidency's divisive manipulation of religious sentiments, the safest bet for the APC will be a Christian vice presidential candidate from the SouthWest who enjoys the support of key leaders of the party in the region. This is particularly so because a section of the Yoruba political elite has aligned with Jonathan and must not be given a propaganda ammunition against the party in the region.

See reactions to Illuminations on Pages 9 and 53

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Amaju, watch your back (3)

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O, Super Eagles can win a match? One pundit asked this writer on Wednesday night. He said the heaven should always open up to help the Nigerian side win all its matches. He reckoned that the rain helped to energise our players because he noticed that they didn’t finish previous games the way they started. What won’t we say when Super Eagles win matches? Thankfully, there are no complaints about the pitch, referee or the weather from the players or coaches.

Hmmm. Up Nigeria!

The aficionado went on to tell me that the fans were not fooled by the 3-1 victory over Sudan as alert security operatives inside the stadium stopped them from venting their anger on the coaches. At the stands, the

cynic, who was at the stadium, spoke of various types of placards with one message - Keshi must go!

This aficionado couldn’t understand how the fans smuggled bottles and cudgels into the stadium. He was happy that Nigeria didn’t lose the game to Sudan; otherwise, there would have been carnage at the Abuja Stadium. Indeed, he told me that it would have been the worst mayhem in football history.

For the record, my pundit is a medical doctor and a card-carrying supporter of Arsenal FC of London. He puts his money where his mouth is and he asked me: “Did you see how the players hugged the chief coach with every goal that the team scored?”

“Ade, are you still there?” he blurted. “Yes,

doctor, but can you say that Emmanuel Emenike hugging the coach means that they have settled?” “You’ve started again, Ade; don’t go there. The common enemy now is Nigeria’s qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year. The coach dares not assert his authority like he has been doing. He has come down from his high horse.

He can see clearly,” the doctor said.

“Ade, you have only asked one question, but I know that you are saving your comments for Saturday.” I retorted: “Doctor, I no know book o!” “There you go again. Before you drop Ade, do you think the coaches should be sacked based on what we have seen?” “Doctor, I don’t work at NFF,” I replied. Poh, poh, poh, poh… the network stopped the conversation and I was relieved.

I’m not a seer. I warned about the grave danger this technical crew was putting the Eagles into with the senseless change of winning squads. I couldn’t understand why coaches who played the game at the highest levels wouldn’t appreciate the fact that good players are brats and need to be managed. I was worried about the poor scouting system at the NFF which the coaches exploited to pick unqualified players to prosecute our matches. Why it took us so long to see these problems until it affected our chances of qualifying for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is puzzling. The scrappy win over Sudan is the result of our concerted effort to force the coaches to do the right things.

The way the players were treated after the 10 loss to Sudan in Khartoum at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja may have informed the approach to Wednesday

•Continued on Page 63

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