The Nation October 21, 2011

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VOL. 7, NO. 1920 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Gaddafi: don’t shoot, don’t shoot

Libyan dictator begs captors before he was killed MUAMMAR GADDAFI (1942-2011) PROFILE: •Born 1942 •Graduated in 1963 from University of Libya •Joined army in 1965 •Overthrew King Idris in 1969 •Seized foreigners’ assets in 1970 •Wrote the Green Book, which is Libya’s Constitution in 1975

UT AL END OF A DICT ATOR: Gaddafi after he was killed ... yesterday. INSET: Gaddafi before his death. SEE PAGES 2-5 •BR BRUT UTAL DICTA

He called us rats but look where we found him – Freedom fighter

We have been waiting for this moment for a long time – Libyan Prime Minister

One of the world’s longest-serving dictators is no more – Obama

•PDP LAWMAKER LOSES SEAT IN KWARA ASSEMBLY P10

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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NEWS MUAMMAR GADDAFI (1942-2011)

End of the man called ‘King of kings’ N

OT too long ago, the African stage belonged to Muammar Gaddafi. In flowing robes and wrap around sunglasses, he crisscrossed the continent in flashy caravans as throngs of supporters waved and cheered from the roadsides.

Fellow African leaders bestowed upon him endearing nicknames: “brother leader,” “king of kings of Africa.”

And Libya was among the African Union’s largest contributors, paying dues for some of the 54 member nations.

“He was known for handing out large sums of cash. Wherever he thinks he can buy friendship, he hands out large sums of cash,” said Richard Dowden, executive director of the Royal African Society, a London-based group that aims to foster a better understanding of the continent.

In Niger, which has given refuge to his son, Saadi Gadhafi, the ousted leader’s influence is evident.

A gleaming mosque built by the Libyan government in the 1970s stands tall in the capital of Niamey.

Thousands attend prayers at the mosque — a valuable gift to the poor Muslim country where crowds pack into limited worship spaces.

Next door in Mali, Gaddafi funded the construction of a popular mosque in the capital Bamako, and helped pay for a Malian government complex.

Gaddafi also poured money into neighboring Chad and Burkina Faso as well.

Such investments sealed Gaddafi’s clout in sub-Saharan Africa. It came as no surprise that some leaders were initially reluctant to endorse the new Libyan interim government, analysts

say.

“Whoever ... builds infrastructure, provides cheap products for markets and loans to support government initiatives will always have an influence over Africa affairs,” said Ayo Johnson, director of Viewpoint Africa, an organisation that sells content about Africa to media outlets internationally.

Another reason many in the continent backed Gaddafi was self-preservation, analysts say.

“Some African leaders think that if they don’t support Gaddafi now, next time round it could be them and who will take them in?” Johnson said.

For their part, some continent leaders say they did not rush to recognise the new Libyan leadership because the international community overstepped its boundaries.

South African President Jacob Zuma, who joined the African Union in recognising the new leadership last month, said NATO’s military intervention in Libya undermined efforts by the pan-African body to find peaceful solutions for member states.

In Africa, Gaddafi’s influence extended beyond his generosity. His ideas and eccentricity were also a big draw, analysts say.

During his term as chairman of the African Union in 2009, he renewed his calls for a “United States of Africa” that would use a single passport, a single military and a single currency.

He had proposed a similar concept for Arab unity, but was rebuffed.

He turned to sub-Saharan Africa.

So, while some sub-Saharan African leaders considered Gaddafi’s vision of a unified Africa unrealistic, they nevertheless hailed it as one ad-

vocating pan-African cooperation.

Johnson described Gaddafi as “the rogue school bully” who, despite the fact that his actions may not be condoned, commands respect for challenging the status quo.

And there were plenty of Gaddafi investments that were condemnable, analysts say.

His support of brutal dictators, such as former strongman Charles Taylor of Liberia, helped intensify the bloodshed in the region, Dowden said.

Taylor, who led Liberia from 1997 to 2003, is accused of fueling a bloody civil war in his nation and neighboring Sierra Leone that led to widespread murder, rape and mutilation.

Gaddafi was also accused of helping arm Arab militias in Sudan’s violence-wracked Darfur region. And he backed rebel groups in several countries including the Tuaregs in Mali and Niger, who were responsible for violence in the 1990s. The new Libyan government has said it believes the Tuareg tribe is currently protecting the fallen leader.

On the other hand, Gaddafi also financially supported the African National Congress in its fight to end apartheid in South Africa, according to Dowden.

“Even while he was funding rebels, he was also funding liberation movements. We cannot take that from him,” Dowden said.

This dichotomy makes Gaddafi’s legacy in the continent a tricky one, analysts say.

“Whoever writes the final chapter will have a difficult balancing act with a man who has a complex schizophrenic relationship with the world,” Johnson said. “Love him or hate him. Madman or god?”

His beginning, his rise to power

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HERE was nothing in Muammar Gaddafi’s childhood pointing to the dictator he turned out to be. He was born in 1942 in the desert south of Sirte. He joined the army in the 1960s as a admirer of Egypt’s Gamal Nasser and a fellow supporter of Arab nationalism.

In 1969 he led the coup which overthrew King Idris. The takeover was bloodless, but a 42-year reign of terror began almost immediately.

All opposition was banned, with people suspected of being counterrevolutionaries rounded up and killed.

Duringa the 1970s Gaddafi laid out his political philosophy and invented a system called ‘Jamahiriya’ which loosely translates as ‘The state of the masses’.

Thousands of ‘People’s Committees’ were formed which supposedly devolved power from the centre to the people.

However, all the while the Gaddafi clan took absolute power, enriched themselves, and oversaw mass killing both in Libya and abroad.

In 1972 the Colonel formed the ‘Islamic Legion’ comprised of mercenaries from sub-Saharan Africa.

Under his direction it went on to commit atrocities in Chad.

In 1984, his agents fired on a demonstration outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in London, killing WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

In 1986, after a terrorist bomb killed two US servicemen at a disco in Berlin, President Reagan ordered the airstrikes against Tripoli and Benghazi.

Two years later the Libyan regime oversaw the bombing of Pan AM flight 103 above Scotland and in 1989 it is alleged it undertook the bombing of a UTA flight over Niger.

The killings, disappearances and torture of opponents continued into the 1990s.

In 1996, 1,200 prisoners at the Abu Salim jail in Tripoli were massacred.

In the same year it is alleged that his forces opened fire on a football crowd who were booing the name of one of his sons.

The pattern of violence continued in this century even as diplomatically Libya was ‘brought in from the cold’ when Gaddafi agreed to give up his weapons of mass destruction after seeing the fate of Saddam Hussein.

Running the country may be tough for NTC

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IBYAN rebel Husam Najjair seems more concerned about the possibility of rebels turning on each other now that Muammar Gaddafi is no more.

“The first thing my brigade will do is set up checkpoints to disarm everyone, including other rebel groups, because otherwise it will be a bloodbath,” said Najjair.

“All the rebel groups will want to control Tripoli. Order will be needed.”

His comments pointed to the biggest question being asked now that the endgame is over in Libya. The question is: is there one unifying figure who can lead Libya?

Even with Mustafa Abdel Jalil in office as the new leader, many cannot still answer the question with a resounding yes.

“There isn’t one rebel leader who is respected by everyone. That’s the problem,” said Kamran Bokhari, Middle East Director at STRATFOR global intelligence firm.

Gaddafi ran the North African oil producing-country like a cult, without state institutions that would make any transition easier for the National Transition Council (NTC), which has plenty of spirit but lack a proper chain of command.

They are also weighed down by factionalism and ethnic and tribal divisions.

But like other former members of Gaddafi’s inner circle, Jalil will always be viewed with suspicion by some rebels who want completely new faces with no past links to the regime running the country.

Tensions between life-long opponents of Gaddafi and his supporters who recently defected to the rebel side may undermine efforts to choose an effective leadership.

If hardliners prevail, Libya could make the same mistake that analysts say was made in Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

His Baath Party supporters and army officers were purged en masse, creating a power vacuum that led to instability for years as everyone from his secular backers to al Qaeda waged a violent campaign against Iraq’s new U.S.-backed rulers.

An analyst said: “But running the country will be much tougher for the rebels. Finding people who everyone accepts will be the challenge.”

February to October:

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EBRUARY 15: Protests begin in the eastern port city of Benghazi, Libya, and spread to Zintan, al Bayda and Quba. Security forces respond with live fire from snipers and helicopter gunships.

•February 21: David Cameron says violence used against protesters in Libya is “appalling and unacceptable” •February 22: Col Gaddafi says he will fight to his “last drop of blood”.

•February 25: Rebel forces are in control in the majority of key cities, including Misurata, Ajdabaja, Sirte, Tobruk and Zawiya. Gaddafi appears in Tripoli’s Green Square to urge supporters to “fight those who are against us”.

•March 4: Six members of the SAS dropped into the Libyan desert by helicopter as part of a

“diplomatic mission” to befriend the rebels are arrested by them as they arrive in Benghazi.

• March 17: The UN Security Council authorises a no-fly zone and “all necessary measures” to enforce it to protect civilians. Within days, British Tornadoes are engaged in ground attacks and Tomahawk missiles are fired from British submarines.

•March 22: Pro-government troops retake Ajdabiya, Zawiyah, Ras Lanuf and parts of Brega, and lay siege to Misurata, blocking the arrival of medicine and food at the port to around 5,000 people.

•March 30: Moussa Koussa, the Libyan Foreign Minister, arrives in Britain and says he is defecting from Gaddafi’s regime. Libya diplomats are expelled from London.

•April 30: Gaddafi’s youngest son Saif al-Arab is killed by a Nato air-

er:

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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NEWS MUAMMAR GADDAFI (1942-2011)

•Clockwise from top: a group of hijabwearing Libyan women and men waving the countries to mark the death of Gaddafi; a large crowd of Libyans in ecstatic mood over their former leader’s assassination; another group of Libyans excited about Gaddafi’s death; Jalil while confirming the ousted leader’s death; and more Libyans exhibiting their happiness over teh end of teh Gaddafi era.

PHOTOS: AFP

Timeline of a conflict fought with bitterness, anger strike, along with three grandchildren. The following day, the British and Italian Embassies in Tripoli are attacked.

•June 27: The International Criminal Court in The Hague issues a warrant for the arrest of Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and his head of intelligence.

•July 28: General Abdel Fatah Younus, senior rebel forces commander, is arrested by members of the NTC questioning his loyalty.

His body is found the following day. The death prompts fears of a split in the rebel camp.

•August 19: Rebel forces claim to have taken back Zawiyah. They begin an advance on Tripoli amid Egyptian reports that Gaddafi may already have fled.

•August 20: Fighting erupts in Tripoli as rebels close in on last stronghold of Gaddafi regime.

August 21: Rebel forces seize Green Square, Tripoli, and detain Gaddafi’s sons Saif and Mohammed.

•August 22: Heavy fighting continues around Tripoli, with a tank seen leaving Gaddafi’s compound.

•August 23: Rebels seize Gaddafi’s Bab al-Azizia compound. The following days are marked by pictures of rebel fighters celebrating in the compound, and a series of revalations about Gaddafi’s opulant home life.

•August 29: The Algerian government confirms that a number of Gaddafi regime figures are now in its domain. A Syrian television station confirms Gaddafi's son Khamis died in fighting southeast of Tripoli on August 29.

September 1: Libya's interim rulers meet world leaders at a conference in Paris to discuss reshaping

Libya. Gaddafi, on the 42nd anniversary of his coming to power, urges his supporters to fight on.

September 8: Interim prime minister Mahmoud Jibril arrives in Tripoli on his first visit since it was taken by his forces.

September 11: Libya starts producing oil again. Niger says Gaddafi's son Saadi has arrived there.

September 13: Interim government chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil makes his first speech in Tripoli to a crowd of about 10,000.

September 15: French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister David Cameron land in Libya to a heroes' welcome.

September 16: The UN Security Council eases sanctions on Libya, including on its national oil company and central bank. The UN General Assembly approves a request to accredit interim govern-

ment envoys as Libya's sole representatives at the UN, effectively recognising the NTC. September 20: President Barack Obama calls for the last of Gaddafi's loyalist forces to surrender.

•September 21: The interim rulers say they have captured most of Sabha, one of three main towns where Gaddafi loyalists have been holding out since the fall of Tripoli.

•September 25: The first Libyan crude oil to be shipped in months sails from the eastern port of Marsa el Hariga for Italy.

September 27: NATO says Libya's interim rulers have taken full control of the country's stockpile of chemical weapons and nuclear material.

•October 12: Government fighters capture Gaddafi's son Mo'tassim after he tried to escape Sirte.

•October 13: NTC forces say they have control of the whole of Sirte except neighbourhood 'Number Two' where Gaddafi forces are surrounded.

October 14: Gunfights break out in Tripoli between Gaddafi supporters and NTC forces, the first sign of armed resistance to the new government.

•October 17: NTC forces celebrate the capture of Bani Walid, one of the final bastions of Gaddafi loyalists.

•October 18: US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrives in Libya on an unannounced visit, urges militias to unite.

•October 20: NTC fighters capture Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, ending a two-month siege and extinguishing the last significant hold-out of troops loyal to the deposed leader

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

NEWS MUAMMAR GADDAFI (1942-2011)

Painful chapter ends, says Obama

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•The late Gaddafi’s hiding place before he was captured ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Gaddafi to captors: don’t shoot, don’t shoot

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WO months after he fell from power, former Libya’s President Muammar Gaddafi was yesterday killed in his hometown of Sirte.

Reports said he begged his captors from shooting him after he was cornered.

“Don’t shoot, don’t shoot”, he reportedly begged after being found in a hole where he was hiding.

He and his loyalists were fleeing a NATO-led attack on Sirte where he had taken refuge.

National Transitional Council (NTC) leader and interim government Prime Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, who confirmed Gaddafi’s death, said: “We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Muammar Gaddafi has been killed”.

Apparently rejoicing over Gaddafi’s death, a government fighter, Ahmed Al Sahati, said: “He called us rats, but look where we found him”.

Gaddafi became the first leader to be killed in the Arab Spring uprisings. Accounts of his death were hazy last night.

Early yesterday, Gaddafi and his loyalists purportedly attempted to escape in a convoy of vehicles.

The convoy, which included head of the Army Abu Bakr Younis Jabr and Col Gaddafi’s son Mutassim, attempted to fight its way through NTC lines.

But French aircraft operating as part of the NATO mission attacked the convoy approximately 3-4 km west of

the city near the western roundabout.

Fifteen armed pick up trucks were destroyed in the raid, but Gaddafi and some of his loyalists escaped and sought refuge in two large nearby drainage pipes filled with rubbish.

Rebel forces closed in on them. Fighter Salem Bakeer told Reuters: “At first we fired at them with anti-aircraft guns, but it was no use.

“Then we went in on foot.

One of Gaddafi’s men came out waving his rifle in the air... as soon as he saw my face he started shooting at me.

“I think Gaddafi must have told them to stop.”

Gaddafi was initially captured, with serious injuries, around noon.

The Al Jazeera news channel broadcast footage showed the dazed and wounded Gaddafi gesticulating while being manhandled by fighters.

The chain of events which unfolded next remains unclear.

Salem Bakeer told Reuters: “We went in and brought Gaddafi out. He was saying ‘what’s wrong? What’s wrong? What’s going on?’

Then we took him and put him in the car.”

A man claiming to be an eyewitness told the BBC that he saw Gaddafi being shot with a 9mm gun in the abdomen around 1230 local time.

NTC official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters that Gaddafi was wounded in both legs.

“He was also hit on his

head,” he said. “There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.”

An NTC information minister told Reuters that Gaddafi’s body was being taken to Misrata.

But another account said Gaddafi was lynched. A graphic video showed Gaddafi alive on his legs.

Around him was a group of armed gunmen who attacked and lynched him.

Earlier, Mohamed Al-Laith, the Field Commander for the Southern District in Sirte east of Tripoli, said Gaddafi was killed while trying to escape.

Laith told AFP that Gaddafi “was inside a Chrysler jeep, which was targeted by the rebels. Gaddafi tried to flee and entered a hole trying to hide. When he heard the rebels fire, he went out, carrying in one hand a Kalashnikov and in the other hand a pistol. He was shot in the shoulder and the head. the man was killed on the spot.” He added that Gaddafi “was wearing a suit of khaki and turban on his head.”

He denied Gaddafi was killed in a bombing by NATO forces on Sirte, asserting that “the rebels of Misrata killed him.”

Mutassim was said to have been killed along with his father.

However, Gaddafi’s eldest son Saif al-Islam was chased after trying to flee from Sirte.

A Reuter’s reporter said he saw a video of Mutasam Gaddafi detained while lying on a bed, his clothes stained with blood, but alive.

Prime Minister Jibril said

Gaddafi’s death marked the end of “evils” in Libya.

“We confirm that all the evils, plus Gaddafi, have vanished from this beloved country.

“It’s time to start a new Libya, a united Libya. One people, one future”, he said, adding, a formal declaration of liberation, that will set the clock ticking on a timeline to elections, would be made today.”

An NTC spokesman in Benghazi, Jalal al-Galal, said a doctor who examined Gaddafi in Misrata found he had been shot in the head and abdomen.

“They captured him alive and while he was being taken away, they beat him and then they killed him,” one senior source in the NTC told Reuters.

“He might have been resisting.”

Driven in an ambulance from Sirte, his partially stripped body was delivered to a mosque in Misrata. Senior NTC official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters that DNA tests were being conducted to confirm it was Gaddafi. His remains will be buried in Misrata, most likely today, according to Muslim tradition.

In Benghazi, where in February Gaddafi said he would hunt down the “rats” who had emulated their Tunisian and Egyptian neighbours by rising against him, thousands took to the streets, firing into the air and dancing under the old tricolor flag revived by Gaddafi’s opponents.

Justice served with Gaddafi’s death, say Lockerbie else is behind it and he should ELATIVES of victims victims’ families be in prison and that’s where of the flight blown up

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over Lockerbie, Scotland, by Libyan agents 23 years ago yesterday, said justice has been served with the death of Muammar Gaddafi.

“I hope he’s in hell with Hitler,” said Kathy Tedeschi, whose first husband, Bill Daniels, was among the 270 people killed in the 1988 bombing of PanAm Flight 103.

“I saw it on the TV when I was ... (at the gym), I just can’t stop crying, I am so thrilled,” said Tedeschi, 62, who had three children with Daniels. “I am sure (Gaddafi) was the one who pushed to have this done, the bombing.”

Bob Monetti, whose son Richard, 20, was killed in the

Lockerbie bombing said: “The world is a much better place without Gaddafi and Libya is certainly much better off.”

“I hope we can get some more information and get on with our lives,” he said. “I am way past vengeance.”

The PanAm airliner exploded as it flew to New York from London on December 21, 1988. All 259 people aboard the aircraft were killed and 11 others on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie also died from falling wreckage.

Libyan agent Abdel Basset alMegrahi was the only person found guilty of murder in the 1988 bombing of the airliner. He was convicted in January 2001 by a three-man judge Scottish

court sitting in the Netherlands.

The court acquitted his co-defendant, Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima.

“We know that there are more people involved, we’re hoping that in the records and files that will turn up as a result of the overthrow of Gaddafi will give more evidence of other people’s involvement,” said Frank Duggan, president of the Victims of PanAm 103 group.

“But it was clear that Gaddafi himself ordered this.”

Al-Megrahi was sentenced to life in prison but released by Scottish authorities on health grounds in August 2009, a decision that infuriated members of the victims’ group.

“Sure the guy is supposedly dying, but he also knows who

he should die,” said Brian Flynn, vice president of the victims of PanAm 103 group.

“There were other people behind the bombing, it wasn’t just al-Megrahi and it wasn’t just Gaddafi,” said Flynn, whose brother J.P. Flynn was killed in the bombing.

But he said the families of the victims could feel a sense of accomplishment with the death of Gaddafi.

“We have been saying for more than 20 years ... that (Gaddafi) would continue to haunt the world until he was brought to justice,” said Flynn.

“We can take a certain sense of accomplishment that we were able to honour our loved ones and not give up.”

NITED States President Barack Obama yesterday praised Libyans for rising up against the Gaddafi regime following news of the dictator’s death.

“Today we can definitely say the Gaddafi regime has come to an end,” Obama said in a statement from the Rose Garden.

He said the National Transitional Council’s announcement of Gaddafi’s death “marks the end of a long and painful chapter” in Libya.

After more than 40 years of a tyrannical, brutal rule, “the Libyan people rose up and demanded their rights,” Obama said.

The US President added: “This is a momentous day in the history of Libya,” Obama said. “The dark shadow … has been lifted.”

“Today, we can definitively say that the Gaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds

have fallen. The new government is consolidating the control over the country.

And one of the world’s longest-serving dictators is no more.

“We’re under no illusions — Libya will travel a long and winding road to full democracy. There will be difficult days ahead. But the United States, together with the international community, is committed to the Libyan people. You have won your revolution. And now, we will be a partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity.

“For the region, today’s events prove once more that the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end. Across the Arab world, citizens have stood up to claim their rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship. And those leaders who try to deny their human dignity will not succeed.”

Cameron: a day to remember

“I

THINK today is a day to remember all of Colonel Gaddafi’s victims, from those who died in connection with the PanAm flight over Lockerbie to Yvonne Fletcher in a London street and obviously all the victims of IRA terrorism who died through their use of Libyan Semtex.

“We should also remember the many, many Libyans who died at the hands of this brutal dictator and his regime.

“People in Libya today have an even greater chance, after this news, of building themselves a strong and democratic future.

“I’m proud of the role that Britain has played in helping them to bring that about and I pay tribute to the bravery of the Libyans who have helped to liberate their country.

“We will help them, we will work with them and that is what I want to say today.”

Time for new transition, says Ki Moon

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HE historic death of Gaddafi will allow the transition to a new government in Libya, but much work remains, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday.

“Clearly, this day marks an historic transition for Libya,” Ban said.

“In the coming days, we will witness scenes of celebration, as well as grief for those who lost so much,” he said, adding, “yet let us recognise, immediately, that this is only the end of the beginning. The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges.”

Ban urged Libyans to come together and realise a future through national unity and reconciliation.

Sarkozy: it’s a new page

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RENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy said the death of Gaddafi turned a page for Libyans and signalled the start of a democratic process.

“The liberation of Sirte must signal...the start of a process

agreed by the National Transitional Council (NTC) to establish a democratic system in which all groups in the country have their place and where fundamental freedoms are guaranteed,” Sarkozy said in a statement.

Amnesty urges justice

G EU pushes for reconciliation T

ADDAFI’s death will bring to a close a chapter of Libya’s history marked by repression and abuse, but does not end the story, Amnesty International said.

HE European Union has urged Libya’s interim rulers to push for a broad-based reconciliation following the death of Gaddafi.

President of EU Council of member – states, Herman van Rompuy, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said dialogue between all elements of the Libyan society was needed for a successful tran-

I

sition to democracy.

“The death of Gaddafi marks the end of an era of despotism and repression from which the Libyan people have suffered for too long,” they said in a statement.

“We call on the NTC to pursue a broad- based reconciliation process which reaches out to all Libyans and enables a democratic, peaceful and transparent transition,” they said.

War over, says Berlusconi

N Rome, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said after the death of his one-time ally, Muammar Gaddafi: “Now the war is over.”

“Sic transit gloria mundi (Thus passes the glory of the world),” Berlusconi said about the ousted ruler of Italy’s former colony, quoting a Latin tag.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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NEWS MUAMMAR GADDAFI (1942-2011)

Once popular, now vanishing Gaddafi clan Here is a look at the Gaddafi family - a large, at times quarrelsome clan that helped the dead strongman hold onto power for more than four decades. Mutassim, who once allegedly helped plot a coup against his father and had to flee the country when it failed, but was eventually forgiven and became his father’s national security adviser, and Khamis are reported dead, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

•Mohammed

•Saadi

•Khamis

•Aisha

•Saif Al-Islam

•Hannibal

Mohamed is the son of Muammar Gaddafi and his first wife, Fatiha. Mohamed was one of three Gaddafi sons who had been reported captured as the rebels overran Tripoli, but the rebels said he had escaped the following day. He was among the family who crossed into Algeria at the end of August.

Being the first son, he expected he was going to be the heir apparent.

But his father seemed to prefer his younger brother and whether he was happy about this or not, he never publicly expressed it. He just contented himself with running the business. He flounted his wealth and lived life to the fullest. Now, the tide is turned.

He offered to negotiate an end to the war with the rebels after his father's troops lost control of Tripoli, but later seemed to change his mind. In intermittent contact with CNN's Nic Robertson, he originally appeared willing to promise his father and older brother would stay out of the way of a peace deal. "If (the rebels) agree to cooperate to save the country together (without my father and Saif), then it will be easy and fast. I promise!" Saadi Gadhafi said in an e-mail to Robertson.

He said the opposition cannot "build a new country without having us in the table."

He is now in Niger Republic, which his father helped a lot financially.

The dictator also fathered Khamis , who was said to command a special forces unit known as the 32nd brigade.

His troops were involved in much of the heavy fighting throughout Libya. Senior rebel commander Mahdi al-Harati told CNN Khamis was killed August in a battle with rebel forces between the villages of Tarunah and Bani Walid — near Misrata — in northwest Libya. A Syrian television station confirms he died in fighting southeast of Tripoli on August 29.Khamis died from his wounds at a hospital, and was buried in the area by rebel forces, al-Harati said.

The dead leader’s only daughter, Aisha was delivered of a baby shortly after she escaped to Algeria. A former U.N. goodwill ambassador, she kept a low profile during Libya’s violent uprising. She is a lawyer by profession In February, as her father called on the military to crack down on antigovernment protesters early in the Libyan conflict, the United Nations terminated her stint as a goodwill ambassador in Libya for the U.N. Development Programme. She seemed not to mind.

The most noted power player in the vanishing Gaddafi clan was Saif al-Islam. He was reported injured yesterday and hospitalised. Once seen as a possible successor to his father and an advocate of reform, he became a vocal defender of his father’s brutal regime. Saif is wanted by the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for him in June on charges of crimes against humanity. Although rebels claimed his capture when they rolled into Tripoli, Saif alIslam later showed up at the Rixos Hotel in a convoy of armored Land Cruisers.

At the end of August he vowed “Victory or martyrdom!” in a call to Syria’s Rai TV.

Hannibal fled into Algeria with his mother, sister Aisha and brother Mohamed August 29.

Hannibal reportedly paid millions of dollars for private parties featuring big-name entertainers including Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Usher.

It’s not just Hannibal’s parties that make news. He has been implicated in a string of violent incidents in Europe.

He was accused of beating his staff, although the charges were later dropped. He was accused of beating his wife, model Aline Skaf, in a London hotel. She later said her broken nose was the result of an accident.

F

Other African dictators who bit the dust

OR Muammar al-Gaddafi, the end was not quite predictable. At least, by the time he assumed power in 1969, he was considered a messiah who had come to save the country. Gradually, he derailed. The first indication that he might not quite be the unassuming Captain who struck to free his country came through his title. He was not simply Colonel Muammar Gaddafi or President Gaddafi. He became known as Brother Leader, Guide of September Great Revolution of the Socialist Jamahiriya Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Yesterday, the end came for him. He was wounded, captured and killed. For 42 years, he had an iron-clad hold on the society. Democracy was not on the cards. Replacement of the leader could not be contemplated.

He was not the first dictator to end life ingloriously. Ironically, most of them had formally announced that they would be Life President. Those in the company include Marcias Nguema who declared himself the Life President of Equatorial Guinea in 1972. The same year, Jean Bedel Bokasa, in Central Africa Republic, proclaimed himself President for Life. Idi Amin Dada followed suit in Uganda in 1976.

Other despots who have seized African states by the

By Bolade Omonijo, Group Political Editor

throat include Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia, Samuel Kanyon Doe of Liberia, Hissene Habre in Chad and Sani Abacha of Nigeria.

Francisco Marcias Nguema Born on January 1, 1924, Nguema emerged the first President of Equatorial Guinea following independence in 1968. His 11-year rule was noted for the persecution and execution of political opponents.

Two prominent names among those who had to give way for Nguema to establish his hold on power were the pre-independence Prime Minister, Bonifacio Ondo Edu. As soon as Nguema seized power, he detained the former PM and conveniently, later died in detention.

Execution of the two opened the floodgate to political killings. He declared himself Life President on July 14, 1972 and, on Christmas day 1975, he handed bitter gifts to 150 opponents who were killed at the Malabo football stadium.

A former Vice President was also said to have committed suicide in prison. As in the case of many of the other dictators, he not only changed his name to Masie Nguema Biyogo Negue Ndong, he awarded himself the incredible titles: Unique Miracle and

Grand Master of Education, Science and Culture.

His tyrannical rule was brought to an end on August 3, 1979 through a coup masterminded and led by Theodore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. He fled his comfort zone but was tracked down and captured in a forest 15 days later. He was consequently sentenced to death 101 times by a Special Military Tribunal and executed.

Jean Bedel Bokassa Bokassa ruled Central African Republic as a mindless tyrant between 1966 and 1979. He took over power on January 1, 1965 and immediately proclaimed himself President, Prime Minister and Leader of the Republic’s only political party.

As soon as he became confident that the reins of power were in his hands, he made himself an Emperor and, for the coronation ceremony, he lavished 20 million dollars, a third of the country’s budget for the year.

It took the intervention of French forces in 1979 to dislodge him. He died in exile in 1996.

Samuel Kanyon Doe The civil war, devastation and destruction of Liberia in the early 80s are all due to the despotic rule of Doe who sacked William Tolbert from power in 1980. Prior to the

coup led by Doe, then a Master Sergeant in 1980, the Americo-Liberians who were a minority controlled life in the country. Doe who was only about 30 year old when he led other non-commissioned officers to stage the coup was extremely popular for his action as he emerged the first indigenous President.

He proceeded immediately to kill members of the power elite in the country, including Tolbert and his cabinet members. Gradually, he lost his popularity. He stage-managed a return to pseudo civil rule in 1985 as he formed a political party and maneuvered it to victory. Thereafter, he became more repressive and got most of those who had assisted in staging the 1980 coup, including strongman Thomas Quiwonkpa, killed.

His maltreatment of the Manos and the Gios eventually led to a civil war as a resistance movement led by Charles Taylor and several other rebel groups sprang up.

One of the groups led by Yormie Johnson captured Doe in September 1990.

Mobutu Sese Seko His adopted full name is sufficiently instructive. Born as Joseph Desire Mobutu on October 1930, he changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga to announce his arrival on

the scene. He was the Chief of Staff, Army at independence of Congo in 1960. Soon, the President, Joseph Kazavubu, and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba went for each other’s jugular. It left an opening for Mobutu to strike. He did to devastating effect.

He seized power fully on November 25, 1965, but his inhuman treatment of his countrymen led to a revolt. He was forced into exile in Togo on May 17, 1997. He succumbed to the cold hands of death on September 7, 1997. He lost the battle against prostate cancer.

Idi Amin Dada He was a six-footer. A military man. He got his opportunity to take over following years of misrule by Milton Obote. He became the President of Uganda in 1971, sent many to untimely death as he ruled by the jackboot. In 1976, he declared himself Life President and, two years later, invaded Tanzania with a move to annexing the neighbouring country. His forces were repelled and, consequently, the Tanzanian Army got Amin removed from office. He fled to Saudi Arabia where he later died.

Siad Barre In Somalia, there was Siad Barre who started as an extremely popular leader but fell with ignominy. He ruled from 1969 to 1991. His reign was

characterised by mindless killing of civilians. He was once accused of poisoning water supplied to some communities. He fled into exile in Nigeria where he eventually died in 1995.

Sani Abacha Nigeria also features on the list. Sani Abacha was a military General. He was ruthless and played prominent roles in military rule in the country. He was an active participant in the 1983, 1985 and 1993 change of governments. He served as Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff and Defence Minister at different times. But, in November 1993, he sacked the lackluster Chief Ernest Shonekan government.

He immediately started his political maneuvers, starting with a Constitutional Conference through which he sought to lull the people into supporting his regime. He followed it up by allowing the formation of political parties, five of which he recognised. In a move previously unknown to Nigeria, he got the five parties to adopt him separately as their presidential candidate. But he did not live up to witness the actualisation of that dream. He died on June 8, 1998 and was replaced by General Abdulsalami Abubakar who handed over to a civilian government on May 29, 1999.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

NEWS Subsidy talks: minister divides labour

Buhari vs Jonathan: Tribunal reserves judgment

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National Electoral CommisHE Presidential ElecFrom Kamarudeen Ogundele, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) asked the tribunal to dismiss the sion (INEC), Chief Adegboyetion Petition Tribunal Abuja From John Ofikhenua, CPC petition in its entirety for ga Awomolo (SAN) urged the yesterday reserved Abuja mate Namadi Sambo did not lacking in merit and in sub- tribunal to disregard the petijudgment indefinitely in the receive the highest lawful tioner’s case. stance.

PLANS to remove the petrole- petition filed by the Congress votes cast in the election.

He argued that what CPC Olanipekun who was supfor Progressive Change (CPC). um subsidy took a different Also yesterday, the panel ported by other Senior Advo- brought before the tribunal Parties adopted their final dimension yesterday as freed CPC National Publicity cates told the tribunal that the were criminal allegations written addresses, witnessed Minister of Labour Emeka Secretary, Rotimi Fasakin of foundation, destination and which the tribunal has no juby CPC presidential candidate Wogu invited some labour alleged contempt charge folcornerstone of the petition risdiction over adding that the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, his bodies to a meeting, leaving lowing apology tendered on crumbled with an earlier rul- tribunal could only adjudicate out their umbrella bodies, the running mate Pastor Tunde his behalf by his lawyer, Mr. ing of the of tribunal not to over civil allegations.

Bakare and former FCT MinisNigerian Labour Congress Femi Falana.

The PDP represented by order a fresh election between ter Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

(NLC) and the Trade Union Fasakin was subpoena from Chief Amaechi Nwaiwu the CPC and PDP only.

The CPC is challenging Congress (TUC). the panel to confirm if he isWith the rejection of the re- (SAN) also submitted that the Of the 11 unions, only four- Jonathan’s victory in the April sued a statement published in quest of CPC for a fresh elec- CPC petition cannot be sus16 presidential poll. It wants the National Union of Road some national dailies where tion between CPC and PDP tained because it was founded Transport Workers (NURTW), tribunal to cancel the results of he allegedly desecrated the alone, Olanipekun argued that on allegations that were crimthe election in 20 states.

Road Transport Employees panel. the petition has become a inal in nature.

Jonathan contested on the Association of Nigeria (RTEFollowing the apology tenAccording to him, the CPC mere academic exercise.

AN), Academic Staff Union of platform of the Peoples Demdered on his behalf, the TribuThe counsel also argued that throughout the hearing failed Polytechnic (ASUP) and Radio ocratic Party (PDP). nal freed Fasakin with a warnthe CPC has failed with the to prove the case of non comThe CPC alleges substantial and Television Worker’s ing to stop desecrating the jurejection of evidence of CPC pliance with the Electoral Act non-compliance with the ElecUnion (RATAWU) were diciary for political gains.

National Chairman Prince beyond doubt as no credible toral Act and irregularities in present.

Justice Akaahs who exTony Momoh and the dispute evidence was led in that direcLagos, Bayelsa, Kaduna, SokoAs early as 10.30am, the pressed joy with the peaceful on the ownership of evidence tion. Consequently, he asked to, Nasarawa, Kwara, AdNLC assigned Comrade manner the case was brought credited to the National Sec- the court to dismiss the petiamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Imoyera James to stop its to an end, urged Nigerians to tion. retary Alhaji Buba Galadima. members from the session, the Enugu and Cross River. be peaceful.

Chief Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN) Also in his own final address, It wants the panel to declare TUC deployed its Federal Counsel to Jonathan Chief counsel to the Independent for CPC asked the tribunal to that Jonathan and his runningCapital Territory (FCT) Council chairman, Comrade Aliyu Musa to chase away to its members from the meeting.

The NLC and TUC, according to Imoyera and Musa, are convinced that the Minister adopted the “divide and rule” to achieve the removal of petrol subsidy by inviting the affiliate bodies without extending invitation to the umbrella bodies.

The minister told the affiliate unions that they have the right to associate without their umbrella body.

Wogu said they were registered as independent bodies and so do not need the permission from the main unions.

He said: “There is one erroneous thing I want to correct. In as much as labour would want to organise themselves, it means democratically they have a right to associate. Labour should be mindful of other laws that are in conformity with the Consti- •President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) cutting the tape to inaugurate the Federal High Court complex in Minna…yesterday.

With him are Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State (left), the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta tution. You have your inde(right)and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke, SAN (second right). pendence as units of trade unions. I am sorry to say this because there are insinuations that you don’t want to see the From Victor Oluwasegun minister of labour unless you desk John Austin Unachukwu Federation and Minister of HE report of the invesand Dele Anofi, Abuja seek permission from anyrepresented The Nation.

Justice, Mohammed Adoke to tigation into the invabody. And I want to say the The Justice Committee explain what necessitated the sion of The Nation news- vestigate the manner of inpapers by four committees of law is there.”

Chair at the plenary said: invasion of the offices of the the House of Representatives vasion of the premises of “That this House do receive newspaper in Lagos and AbuVintage Press Limited, pubwas yesterday submitted at the Report of the joint comja as well as the arrest of the lishers of The Nation and the plenary. mittees on Justice, Human editors and staff. manner of arrest of four senThe report was laid on the Rights, Police Affairs and MeInspector General of Police, ior editors and other emtable by the Chairman of the dia on the arrest of four senRingim and Adoke (repreTO restore peace to the Ogun Committee on Justice, Hon. ployees. ior editors of Vintage Press sented by Mr. Abdulrahaman The joint committees were Ali Ahmad.

State chapter of the Peoples Ltd, Publishers of The Nation Eshikhena) on Tuesday met given one week deadline.

The House gave committees Democratic Party (PDP), two Newspapers –referred 13/10/ with the committees behind The committees invited the on Justice, Human Rights, Poof its chieftains, Senator Ayo 11,” submitted the report. closed doors.

Inspector General of Police, lice Affairs and Media and PubOtegbola and Prince Buruji The report will be considDeputy Editor Lawal Ogienlic Affairs, the mandate to in- the Attorney-General of the Kashamu have met secretly ered later. agbon and Head of Judiciary in Lagos.

According to sources, the meeting, which was held on Monday at Otegbola’s Gbagada, Lagos home, lasted about From Yusuf Alli, Managing uel Kavuma (Uganda, Comform, cyber crime, disarmaS DELEGATES arrive Editor, Northern Operation 25 minutes. monwealth Youth Caucus); ment and arms control for the 2011 ComOtegbola, who was recently Hon Michael Kirby (Australamong others. monwealth Heads of the Secretary-General to named as Grand Patron of the Government Meeting in Ausia); Dr Graca Machel (MoThe memo, however remember-nations, exclusive- vealed that the EPG report PDP in Ogun West Senatorial tralia, Secretary- General of zambique); Rt Hon Sir Mally obtained by our corre- is the first on the list of priDistrict, it was learnt, said all the association, Kamalesh colm Rifkind (UK); Sir Ronspondent, the leaders will members who defected to the Sharma said reform and counald Sanders (Guyana); Senaorities. consider the report of the Peoples Party of Nigeria ter-terrorism are top on the tor Hugh Segal (Canada); Sir Following a resolution at Eminent Persons the last CHOGM in 2009 to (PPN) in Ogun State would be agenda of the summit.

Ieremia Tabai (Kiribati) Group(EPG). lobbied back to the PDP. About 106 recommendaIn the memorandum to all reform the Commonwealth, Other issues on the agen- the Secretary-General had Sources close to the party tions on how to reform The countries, the Secretary-Genda are promoting democsaid the it was the fall-out of Commonwealth have been eral said: “A headline maninaugurated the 11-man EPG racy, human rights, civil on July 7 last year. the meeting that necessitated submitted by the Eminent date of the 2009 CHOGM was paths to peace, climate a stakeholders’ meeting Persons Group (EPG) saddled the establishment of an EmThe committee submitted change, relationship with G- its report on March 22, 2011. hosted by Otegbola on with the assignment since last inent Persons Group (EPG).

20, international trade and Tuesday in Ota, Ado-Odo Ota year.

Whereas reviews involving Members of the EPG cominvestment, international Local Government, where it The CHOGM meeting holdreform of the Commonprise: Tun Abdullah Ahmad environmental governance, Badawi (Malaysia, chairperwas resolved that all meming in Perth, Australia, which wealth in 1991 and 2001 debt issues and small vul- son) ; Dr Emmanuel Akbers of the PDP who defected is expected to be attended by were undertaken by reprenerable economies, educa- wetey (Ghana); Ms Patricia to the PPN should return and 53 Heads of Government, sentative groups of Heads of tion, women affairs, public Francis (Jamaica); Dr Asma their structures collapsed into will consider the proposals.

Government, it was decided financial management re- Jahangir (Pakistan); Mr. Samthe latter.

According to a memo by that the review in 2001

House committees repor t on invasion of The Nation ready

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Otegbola, Kashamu meet in Lagos

nullify the election of the President on the grounds that the Electoral Act was not substantially complied with in the conduct of the election.

He argued that CPC had carefully severed criminal allegations from civil allegations and that with the credible evidence led on civil allegation, the petition was competent and that judgment should be entered in favour of CPC. In its petition, the CPC alleged that the ballot papers were made for the polling units at polling stations other than the original places they were made for.

It also alleged that there was under usage of ballot papers at polling stations and their subsequent movement thereof to different polling units in facilitation of ballot stuffing in favour of the PDP. The petition urged the tribunal to declare that Jonathan did not fulfil the requirement of section 134 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

ABUASUU condemns arrest of The Nation editors

By Adegunle Olugbamila

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HE Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) ,Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria chapter has described the recent arrest of The Nation editors as “an act of recklessness and irresponsibility.”

The police last week raided the premises of the company in Lagos and Abuja and arrested some of its editors over a story on former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Speaking during a visit to The Nation yesterday, ASUU (ABU) Chair, Muhammed Kabir Aliyu described the arrests as part of the excesses of the government which is bad for press freedom.

He said ASUU-ABU will be willing to partner with The Nation and other media houses to protect press freedom.

He said: “We solidarise with The Nation over the arrests. It has always been a part of government to silence the press. But they don’t realise that once you silence the press, you have silenced the voice of the common man.

We are going to join hands with the media to fight this anomaly.

Comrade Waziri Isa Gwantu accompanied the ASUU chairman .

Reform, counter-terrorism top CHOGM 2011 agenda

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would be undertaken by a group of distinguished individuals representing the Commonwealth’s diversity.

“Several member governments provided extra-budgetary support for the EPG, which was constituted by the Secretary-General and charged with developing reform options for consideration by Heads at the Perth CHOGM 2011 that would strengthen the networks, sharpen the impact, and raise the profile of the Commonwealth.

“The EPG consulted extensively with Commonwealth bodies and the wider public met five times, with the support of the secretariat.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Women urged to be in politics From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri, has urged women to work harder to actualise their ambition to be in power.

Mrs. Waziri spoke through an official of the agency, Wilson Ewujare, at the end of the two-day workshop on Challenges of Women in Politics: Myths and Realities, organised by the Media Ethics Organisation, in Ibadan, Oyo State,yesterday.

She said efforts should be intensified on a political awareness campaign for women.

The EFCC chief stated that they should strive to achieve their objectives through education and with the support of their colleagues.

She said; “In fact, if our women are to face the challenges ahead of them and have positive result, they will need to exhibit their potentials and mobilise themselves at both the rural and urban levels as it is not easy to dislodge men from the corridor of power.”

Two held for alleged drug trafficking

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

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WO men have been arrested for alleged drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

NDLEA Airport Commander Hamza Umar said Ezeanochie Oliver Nnodi (32) was to board an Emirate flight to Malaysia on October 11 and Amoo Tolase Durowoju(27), an Air France flight to Dublin on October 15, when they were caught.

According to Hamza, both suspects had expelled the drugs they ingested.

He said: “The suspects have been under observation since last week.

Nnodi allegedly excreted 75 wraps, weighing 1.185kg of substances, which tested positive for methamphetamine.

“Durowoju excreted 60 wraps of substances which tested positive for cocaine weighing one kilogramme.

“Any passenger can be randomly selected for comprehensive screening in line with the agency’s mode of operation.”

Nnodi, an indigene of Uruala in Imo State, said: “I am married with two children.

“I was forced into drug trafficking because I want to save my family from death. The house I live with my family may collapse anytime. “ I ingested 75 wraps and was promised $2,000.”

Durowoju, from Oyo State, said he smuggled drugs to save his daughter from death.

He said: “I live in France. I came to Nigeria to see my wife who put to bed two weeks ago.

“Unfortunately, my little child had a hole in the heart and the doctors said they needed money for an urgent surgical operation.

“This was how I got involved in this mess. I really feel bad because I had been caught and my daughter I was told had died.

Both suspects will be charged to court soon.

Baba Suwe’s lawyer D writes NDLEA ETAINED actor Babatunde Omidina also known as Baba Suwe yesterday demanded his immediate release by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He also asked the agency to tender a public apology to him over his unlawful arrest and detention since last Wednesday.

In a letter to the NDLEA yesterday by his lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, Omidina who is seeking a N1billion compensation, asked the agency to publish its apology in three national dailies.

Aturu gave the agency a seven-day ultimatum to accede to his client’s request, saying he would proceed to court at the expiration of the ultimatum.

He flayed the NDLEA for the detention which he described as an unlawful act, an infraction on the constitutional provision of citizens’ right to liberty.

The lawyer said the “fact that the NDLEA is privileged by law to lead the fight against illegal use and sale of drugs is not a licence for reckless maligning of innocent, reputable, and decent persons.”

Aturu said on the contrary, such institutions have an added responsibility to weigh their words and choose their actions lest they injure needlessly and groundlessly the rights and reputation of others which they have built over the years.

He noted that the consti-

•Demands release, public apology •Actors protest colleague’s detention •Rep seeks review of NDLEA Act

By Eric Ikhilae and Ovwe Medeme, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi

tution guarantees every Nigerian the right to liberty and that no one may be arrested or detained beyond 24 hours without being charged before a court of competent jurisdiction for a criminal offence known to law.

Also yesterday, members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) threatened a showdown over the continued detention of one of their own.

The threat followed what its members called the “continued illegal and unjustified detention” of Omidina.

It also came on the heels of a call by a member of the House of Representatives for the reviews of the NDLEA Act. The lawmaker, Makinde Famurewa queried the modus operandi of the NDLEA. Addressing reporters at the Lagos Television (LTV8), Agindingbi, Ikeja, a former president of the body, Jide Kosoko, described as shocking that after a week in NDLEA custody and after ‘excreting’ three times without the purport-

ed hard drugs found, the agency has refused to release him.

Kosoko said: “The law deems an accused innocent until found guilty by a court; but Omidina, even before any string of evidence was produced has been tried and convicted through unethical procedures employed by the NDLEA which had his photographs and stories about him all over the media.”

Calling on the appropriate authorities to ensure Baba Suwe’s release, Kosoko described artistes as law abiding citizens and public opinion moulders.

“It is wrong for the NDLEA to take our silence as capitulation or stupidity.

“We only wanted NDLEA to follow due process but it has become obvious that the agency is bent on circumventing both the law and due process in unduly punishing an innocent man,” he said.

Famurewa said the Act was silent on timing and detention of suspects.

The lawmaker said the allegation of drug-related offense against Omidina and his subsequent subjection to series of humiliation has

Meeting on implementation of FOI Act soon From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

•Omidina

raised questions about the operations of the agency.

He supported the actor’s intention to take a legal action against the agency.

Famurewa said the NDLEA could not have hidden under the pretext of relying on Section 3 (1) (q) of the NDLEA Act 2011 which provides that: taking charge, supervising, controlling, coordinating, all the responsibilities, functions and activities relating to arrest, investigating and prosecution of all offences connected or related to illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, notwithstanding any law to the contrary”.

According to him, officials of the agency ought to have been cautious by not subjecting the suspect and the country to such ridicule.

The lawmaker cited Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution that presumed a citizen innocent until proven guilty.

He said the latest incident requires the attention of the House for the review of the agency’s Act. “It is rather unfortunate and very embarrassing not only to the victim but to Nigerians and definitely a scar on the good intention of the country’s war against this illicit trade,” he said.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim and the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke to convey a national stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), it emerged yesterday.

The modalities for the two-day meeting, earlier slated for November 3 and 4 but postponed, have been completed.

According to the SGF, the President’s decision was informed by his determination to run an open and transparent administration.

Anyim spoke yesterday at a briefing with the House Committee on Reform of Government Institutions headed by Mathew Omegara.

He said the FOI Act was revolutionary as it tends to put the public officials on their feet.

The proposed strategic meeting would enable the Federal Government and the stakeholders reach a decision on the modalities for the implementation, he said.

Anyim was accompanied by a representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen Owoye Azazi (rtd) and Isa Sali, Head of Service to the Federation.

Sambo:We’re in a hurry From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

•From left: Managing Director,Nomegal Generation, Dr. Noble Ogugua; Managing Director, T3 Communications Kingsley Ikemefuna; Chairman, Governing Board, AES Excellance Club, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagun; Chairman, Standard Alliance Group, Olorogun O’Tega and Managing Director. CANIZ Nig. Ltd Dr. Austin Izagbo at the October lecture of the AES Excellence Club in Lagos PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

We’ll restore judicial confidence, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday hailed the recent moves by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, to reform the judiciary.

He said the Justice Muhammad Uwais-led committee was a welcome development.

Jonathan spoke in Minna, Niger State, at the inauguration of the Federal High Court complex.

He said the reform would help restore confidence in the

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

sector and in the judicial process.

The President said the move was a signal that the sector was ready to rid itself of the vices that made it lose public confidence.

Jonathan said: “We see the judicial reform being carried out by the CJN as a welcome development.

“It signals the readiness of the judiciary to taking a dispassionate look at itself and

embark on necessary reforms that will restore confidence in it.”

Jonathan said the sector had to contend with challenges.

He lamented that these challenges have potentials of undermining the judicial process.

The President hoped that the reforms being put in place by the CJN would provide a platform for the sector to meet with its internal challenges .

He urged stakeholders to

cooperate with the judiciary in making a change in the system.

Jonathan reassured Nigerians of his commitment and determination to keep faith with the social contract as contained in his transformation agenda.

“We are pursuing our agenda with renewed rigour.”

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu commended the President‘s steadfastness in keeping faith with the rule of law.

VICE-President Namadi Sambo said yesterday that the country is in a hurry to become one of the world’s leading economies.

He made the remark yesterday when the Group Chairman of Oranto Petroleum Nigeria Limited, Arthur Eze and Russneft of Russia visited him at the State House, Abuja.

Sambo said the Federal Government is ready to support investors to transform the country.

The Vice-President said the government would support investors to build refineries and increase the availability of oil products.

He also said the government would create incentives to provide jobs.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Umar Sani, quoted the Vice-President as saying: “We have good plans to support investors. In fact, we don’t have time to waste.

“You have come at the right time, at the beginning of a new administration.

“We intend to transform Nigeria and create a new economy and create wealth for Nigeria and Nigerians.

“We need investors that will build new refineries and increase the availability of oil products in Nigeria. We want to increase the gas capacity for both export and local use.”

“You have already organised your financing, which is very important, because programmes must be supported by finance and good planning,” he noted.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

NEWS Ajimobi appoints ex-HOSF Afolabi as Ibadan Poly chair •Sacks principal officers of state’s schools

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has appointed the former Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), Prof Oladapo Afolabi as the Chairman, Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

He also approved new appointments into the boards of other state-owned tertiary institutions.

But the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is not included.

The governor constituted visitation panels into the stateowned tertiary institutions and asked their principal officers to proceed on compulsory leave.

Members of the Governing Council and visitation panels will be sworn in at the Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office at 1pm today.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the panels became necessary because the government needs to reposition them to restore the lost glory of education in the state.

The institutions are: The Polytechnic, Ibadan; College of Agriculture, Igbo-Ora; and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo.

Fashola woos Lagosians with free health services

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday used the 26th edition of the state Free Health Mission to canvass support for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidates in tomorrow’s local government election.

Addressing a large crowd of beneficiaries of the Health Mission at AmuwoOdofin Local Government secretariat, Fashola said over 2.6 million Nigerians, irrespective of their state of origin, have been treated of different ailments.

The governor urged the

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Irepo council gets caretaker members uplift the society.

Popoolaa spoke Kisi, Headquarters of the council, at the swearing-in ceremony of caretaker members.

Administering the oath on the new members, the chairman charged new caretaker members to cooperate with his administrative and should desist from leaking any official matters that can tarnish the image of the council.

Lagoon State agitators present memorandum GROUP, Lagoon

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State Movement, pushing for the creation of Lagoon State, has finalised plans on its memorandum, which would be presented to the Senate.

The first edition of the memorandum was presented to the Senate on July 30, last year.

In a statement, its Chairman, Chief B.O Benson (SAN) said the proposed Lagoon State would bring government closer to the people.

•Police: we’ve arrested some suspects From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

the protesters.

Four of the protesters were reportedly injured and two others hit by stray bullets.

One of those hit by the stray bullets was identified as Seun Babatunde, who was praying in a nearby mosque when the policemen’s bullet penetrated the place of worship.

Also hit was a personal assistant to the town’s monarch, Taye Eyiola, whom a

bullet hit in the leg.

A commercial motorcycle operator (okada), Segun Ogunmuase, was also hit by a stray bullet.

The angry residents reportedly mobilised and headed to the police station, where they burnt three patrol vehicles.

The prompt intervention of the monarch, in company of some aides of Governor Kayode Fayemi, including the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and the Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security, Mr. Deji

Adesokan, prevented the situation from degenerating into a crisis.

Acting spokesperson for the police command, Mr. Victor Babayemi, confirmed the development.

He said: “I heard there was violence in Ido-Ekiti. A woman was shot and killed under a suspicious circumstance and some youths in the town set part of the police station in the town ablaze. But they were stopped before they could destroy the whole place.

“I can confirm to you that the policeman, who fired the shot, has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation. Some of the youths who committed the arson have also been arrested and detained. But the situation is being brought under control.”

By Miriam Ndikanwu

HE Ondo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has berated its former chairman, Comrade Ola Oni, over what it described as his unsavoury manner of seeking attention through propaganda against the ruling party.

The party condemned the former party chairman for allegedly lacking consistency and for his “penchant for spreading falsehood”.

In a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, Oni alleged that the leadership of the LP was threatening his life following the success of the police in foiling his plot to sit on the party’s vehicle in his possession even after he had resigned from the party.

The embattled party chairman had claimed in his resignation letter that he lacked patronage from the party, but confessed elsewhere that he got N5million from the leadership of the party to resuscitate is moribund business.

He also said the vehicle recovered from him was supposed to be a largesse, apart from saying he got a N1million donation each from the party’s legislators.

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OME policemen in Ido-Ekiti, Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, yesterday killed a girl, Tayo Abe, and injured eight others.

Among the injured were two of Tayo’s siblings, who were on their father’s farm when policemen invaded the place and began shooting.

Tayo was said to have died instantly and her siblings – Adeniyi and Ayodeji – reportedly sustained gunshot injuries. They were taken to a hospital for treatment.

It was gathered that the “policemen” who fired the shots ran away.

The residents protested the killing of the girl and urged the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

Rather than placate the protesters, the policemen reportedly opened fire on

residents to vote for the party to continue enjoying the free health care service.

According to him, dividends of democracy are more guaranteed by the ACN as manifested in its manifesto.

Fashola urged the residents to pay their taxes regularly, assuring that the government was committed to improving the health sector.

The governor said in the past four months, the state has not recorded any case of polio melaithis.

Oni an attention-seeker, says LP

HE Caretaker Chairman of Irepo Local Government and Chairman of All Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Oyo State, Yekeen Popoola, has urged political office holders and other politicians not to use their positions to enrich themselves.

He advised them to man their offices with the fear of God and contribute to the betterment of the people and

One killed, eight injured in Ekiti police shooting S

The statement reads: “It is noteworthy that in this fifth round of states’ creation since 1967, Lagos State is featuring for the first time despite mounting population explosion to its core areas.

“The proposed Lagoon State at the rural periphery, will relieve this, among other areas of justification outlined in the memorandum to decongest and bring the government closer to some 19 million people.”

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second left) with Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris (second right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Mrs Yewande Adeshina (right); and Director of Public Health Programmes, Mrs Dolapo Fasawe, at the flaf off of the Eko Free Health Mission at Amuwon-Odofin Local Government Area by the governor...yesterday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

LASU students protest fee hike

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TUDENTS of the Lagos State University (LASU) yesterday protested the alleged 725 per cent increment in their tuition fee.

News of the increment had filtered into the university’s campus last week, causing panic.

As early as 7.30am yesterday, the students began a peaceful protest within the Ojo campus of the university. This extended to its 11 external campuses.

The protesters disrupted the popular Mile2/Badagry Expressway. Commuters were stranded after remaining at bus stops on the university’s route for hours.

The students sang solidarity songs and marched on the road, which caused a traffic snarl for hours.

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Nurudeen YusufTemilola

The aggrieved students, led by the Students’ Union President, Akeem Olalekan Durojaiye, held a congress meeting at Abe-Igi, a popular joint located near the entrance gate within the campus.

A decision was taken last Thursday to boycott the General Nigerian Studies for all 100 Level to 300 Level students and stage a protest over the fee hike.

The students suggested the barricading of the Mile 2/ Badagry Expressway and the boycott of tomorrow’s local government election.

A source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that the protest was fuelled

by an official bulletin released by the school management on Wednesday. It allegedly warned students of a dire consequence if they staged any protest on the new increment.

The bulletin reads: “The Lagos State Government and authorities of Lagos State University have vowed not to take it kindly with any student, group of students or union that would want to visit mayhem on Lagos State University. Any student apprehended disrupting the peace of Lagos State University or want to scuttle the ongoing progress and development in the university would be treated individually by law enforcement agents.”

Addressing reporters, Durojaiye said: “The action of Lagos State Government amounts to denial of indigent students’ access to education, which is contrary to the objectives and ideology of the founding fathers of the ruling party in Lagos State.”

But LASU Information Officer, Mrs Anthonia Oyeniji said the bulletin followed an earlier directive from the government.

She asaid: “It was the state government that directed us to warn the students not to indulge in any act that will bring the university’s name into disrepute. We had said all students presently on campus would not be affected and that the new tuition starts from 2011/2012 academic session.”

N600m for LAUTECH hospital stirs controversy at Oyo Assembly T

HE appropriation of N600 million for the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, yesterday stirred controversy among members of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The consideration of the N14,365,043,144:00 Supplementary Budget proposal by Governor Abiola Ajimobi had barely been opened for discussion by the Majority Leader, James Oyeniran (ACN), when the Minority Leader, Rafiu Adekunle (PDP), called the

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

attention of the House to a point of law. According to him, the Assembly enacted a law at the twilight of the last administration on May 13, affirming Oyo State as the sole owner of LAUTECH. The lawmaker noted that it would be illegal for the current administration to make provision for the teaching hospital in

Osogbo, going by the provision of that law.

Adekunle, who represents Saki West State Constituency, urged the Assembly to collapse the N600 million appropriated for recurrent expenditure of the hospital to the hospital cited in Ogbomoso.

He said: “Appropriating money to the hospital in Osogbo is wrong on the point of law. The governor, in reinstating the sacked Chairman of Academic Staff

Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at the Polythecnic, Ibadan, Mr Dosumu, said he would always uphold the rule of law.

“Since this is a point of law, it would be wrong for the Assembly to allow this appropriation for the LAUTECH hospital in Osogbo. So, I move that the money should be collapsed for the hospital in Ogbomoso.”

But ACN members of the Assembly spoke in favour of the appropriation, saying the two states have accepted to co-own the institution.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

9

NEWS Kwankwaso flags off three model cities to decongest Kano

Senate confirms nine INEC commissioners

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

•Decries traffic congestion in Abuja

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HE Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of one national and eight Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This followed the report of the Senate Committee on INEC, which was mandated to screen the nominees, whose names were sent to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Lawrence Nwuruku was confirmed as National Commissioner representing South east; Sylvester Okey Ezeani was endorsed as REC from Anambra State; Minkaila Abdulahi is Jigawa’s REC; and Dr Lawrence Azubuike was confirmed for Imo. Others are: Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun, (Ondo); Prof Istifanus Ishaku Dafwang, (Plateau); Mrs Gesila Khan, (Bayelsa); Samuel Madaki, (Taraba); and Dr Gabriel Ada, (Cross River).

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who announced the confirmation of the nominees, urged them to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral process is among the best in the world.

The Senate yesterday bemoaned the persistent traffic congestion on three entry routes into Abuja.

It mandated the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Ministry of Transportation to decongest the routes into and out of the city.

The Senate also urged the FCT Administration to review the Abuja master plan

THE COMMISSIONERS •Lawrence Nwuruku •Sylvester Okey Ezeani •Minkaila Abdulahi •Lawrence Azubuike •Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun •Istifanus Ishaku Dafwang •Gesila Khan •Samuel Madaki •Gabriel Ada From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

to purge the city of illegalities.

The Senate’s resolution followed a motion by Senator Barnabas Gemade on the perennial traffic congestion on entry routes into the FCT. Gemade noted that the traffic gridlock on the three entry routes into Abuja inflicts hardship on motorists and commuters daily.

The Senator said commuters spend hours on the road

before getting to their offices and businesses, noting that this constitutes huge losses the economy.

He hailed the FCT Administration for its ability “manage this serious problem” by expanding the routes within the city’s precincts.

Gemade said states sharing boundaries with the FCT have established markets, motor parks and physical developments near the highway’ shoulders in disregard of the Federal Highway Regulation of 150 metres.

The Senator noted that the situation has made buying, selling and other business activities to spill into the highways.

He lamented that the development is responsible for traffic bottleneck and accidents on the routes.

Gemade said lack of designated bus stops makes drivers to park on the road to drop off passengers, thereby causing traffic obstructions.

•Kwankwaso

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HE Kano State Governor Musa Kwankwaso has flagged off the construction of three model cities under a public private partnership arrangement to decongest the Kano metropolis.

The governor said 24,600 plots have been earmarked for the construction of the model cities, one of which is Kwankwasiyya Model City.

He said the new cities would help to decongest Kano and discourage the use of Carve-outs, which he said have led to chaos in Kano.

Kwankwaso said: “This is a milestone in the history of Kano State. I promise you that within the next 16 months, 700 plots of land here in Umarawa would be transformed into a

model city with state-of-theart facilities, such as recreation centres, parks and gardens, hospitals, hotels, Governor’s Lodge, drainages, electricity and road network.”

Kano State, the governor noted, is the most populous state in Nigeria, adding that there is need for the government to open up other areas for human habitation.

He said the three model cities would help to reduce the housing deficit in the state, adding that the focus of his administration is to provide decent accommodation for the residents.

The governor noted that the model city project would begin with the development of 700 plots at Umarawa within 16 months in the first phase, while another set of 2,300 plots at Gurjiya would kick off upon the completion of the Kwankwasiyya City.

He said another city, covering 3,600 plots, would be built at Tumfafi, while the final phase is billed for Western By-pass with 18,000 plots.

The cities are to be built on the outskirts of Kano.

Kwankwaso assured that

STF shoots ‘fake’ soldier in Jos

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HE Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, code-named Operation Safe Haven, yesterday arrested a suspected fake soldier after shooting him in the leg.

The suspect is being treated at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

In a statement in Jos, the state capital, spokesman of the STF, Captain Charles Ekeocha, confirmed the arrest.

He said: “The fake soldier claimed to be a Staff Sergeant and approached one STF member, Private Nelson Eric, for help.

“When he was later discovered to be an impersonator, he took to his heels to avoid arrest by the STF member. But the STF member shot at the impersonator when he was trying to escape arrest.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

“The incident took place at the premises of the University of Jos on Bauchi road. The victim is receiving treatment at the UNIJOS Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and is responding to treatment.”

He said Eric would face disciplinary action for wrongful use of firearms on a civilian.

Ekeocha said: “The soldier has been transferred to the Military Police arm of the Special Task Force for a thorough investigation and disciplinary action.”

He urged the public to report any suspected case of criminality to the police to avoid such a similar mistake in the future.

his administration is determined to complete the project, through partnership with corporate organisations, the Federal Housing Authority and the Federal Mortgage Bank.

The Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Terver Gemade, noted that the state government’s initiative would reduce the housing deficit in the country.

Gemade said the Federal Housing Authority has opened a window of opportunity for state governments to partner the Federal Government to provide affordable housing units for low-income earners.

Under the model city project, the Federal Mortgage Housing Authority would build about 10,000 housing units.

‘Be good pilgrims’ From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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OVERNOR Isa Yuguda yesterday urged the 761 intending pilgrims from Bauchi State to this year’s Hajj to be good ambassadors of the state in the holy land.

He urged them not to get involved in drug trafficking or any unlawful act that would attract punishment from the Saudi authority.

The governor spoke through his deputy, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh, during a farewell address to the intending pilgrims at the Multi-purpose Hall in Bauchi.

Yuguda warned that Saudi authorities would not spare any pilgrim caught with any illegal material or those who flout their laws.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

10

NEWS

Two killed in Bauchi community’s violence

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WO persons were killed yesterday with several others injured in a violence that broke out in Yelwa, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.

The renewed crisis claimed a mother of five, identified as Charity Augustine. She was alleged to have been shot by some soldiers drafted to the town.

A boy, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, was also reportedly shot in Yelwa.

It was gathered that the boy was allegedly killed by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) drafted to quell the crisis at Unguwar Ngas, a busy commercial area of Yelwa.

The Nation learnt that trouble started on Wednesday at

By Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Baba Tanko Secondary School in Kagadama area of Yelwa, after a disagreement over a game of football. The disagreement reportedly degenerated into violence.

Armed soldiers and riot policemen, including the Anti-Bomb Squad, were deployed in the town early yesterday to quell the crisis.

Baba Tanko Secondary School has been a flash point of several crises in the community.

Other flash points include Rafin Zurfi and Gwala-meji.

Some of the residents told The Nation that they were afraid that the law enforcement agencies might not be able to protect them.

“Youths armed with dangerous weapons are just

moving about freely burning houses,” a resident, in Anguwan Kashuwa in Yelwa, said.

Husband of the killed woman, Mr Augustine Agbo, said he and his late wife were in their home in Unguwar Ngas when three soldiers shot his wife twice on the chest without asking questions.

Agbo, a retired banker, said: “I have never seen this kind of thing before. It started on Wednesday about 6pm. We were in the church when we heard there was tension in Yelwa.

“We ran away as there was confusion everywhere. This morning (yesterday), I was surprised when my children came back from school saying there was crisis in the town again. It was around 10am.

“Later, soldiers came and the siren scared the children and we all ran into our houses. It was when we were inside that we saw three soldiers coming into our house.

We locked the gate but the soldiers followed us, broke the door and shot my wife twice on the chest.”

Spokesman of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi, Major Etete said he was not aware of soldiers involved in the shooting.

But he promised to investigate the matter.

Deputy Commissioner of Police AbdulMajid Ali told our correspondent that the situation was under control.

Ali said mobile police and other security agencies had been deployed in Yelwa to curtail the crisis.

P

ROTESTERS in Agyaragu, a town about eight kilometres from Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, yesterday barricaded roads and disrupted traffic for almost three hours.

They were protesting the killing of four people by commercial vehicles on the road linking the North with the East through the state.

Many travellers were stranded for hours as the protesters marched on the streets.

They smashed vehicles’ wind screens caught up in the traffic and made bonfires on the roads.

A Ford, with registration number, XA 447 VDY, was said to have knocked down a woman, who later died.

As efforts were being made to revive the woman, a Toyota Hiace, marked XB 245 KRV belonging to New Nyanya Transport Company. It reportedly ran into the rescuers, kill-

Protest in Nasarawa over killed residents From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

ing three of them.

Police spokesman Cornelius Ocholi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

He, however, said the police were able to bring the situation under control.

Ocholi said: “Community members gathered there and were trying to assist. At the same time, youths there were protesting the killing of the woman by this Ford driver.

“The commercial bus was approaching at such a speed that it ran into the people by the roadside, killing three, adding up to the one woman killed. So, the two accidents claimed four lives.”

Tribunal annuls Kwara lawmaker’s election From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE Kwara State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ilorin, yesterday cancelled the election of Segilola Abdulkadir as a member of the Assembly.

Mrs. Abdulkadir of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is representing Ilorin West Central Constituency.

The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the affected constituency.

The tribunal, led by Justice Bitrus Sanga, unanimously held that evidence showed that the result of the poll was either written before the ballot was held or that INEC did not conduct any credible election in the constituency.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Rasaq Saadu, had petitioned the tribunal alleging, among others, that the election was marred by widespread irregularities.

He tendered several INEC documents to substantiate his claims that the election was inconclusive and that the poll did not adhere to the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended.

Saadu also said the balance was tilted in favour of Mrs Abdulkadir.

The tribunal held that the exhibits tendered by the petitioners showed beyond doubt that there were three different final results in the election.

Justice Sanga said: “One shows that the result was declared on July 10; another shows that it was declared two months after the petition was filed; while the third one shows April 26, the day the election was held. These inconsistencies in the exhibits needed serious explanations from INEC, but INEC kept silent in their final addresses in explaining the issue.”

The PDP yesterday said it would appeal the tribunal’s verdict.

In a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani, the PDP said the judgment was the first in the legal process, adding that the party has the right of appeal within a specified time.

He said the party would appeal the judgment and hoped that PDP would triumph at the end of the day.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Russia’s Russneft plans investment in Nigeria • IOC buys 2m bbls Nigerian crude

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USSIAN oil and gas firm Russneft, which is partly owned by oilto-telecoms group Sistema , told the vice president, Namadi Sambo yesterday it was ready to invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

“We came to inform the Nigerian government of our interest to invest in the country’s oil and gas industry. We have the capability and the finance if given the approval to invest,” said Russneft director Sergey Bakhir.

The plan by the Russian firm to invest in the country came hours after India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), bought two million barrels of Nigerian crude oil in a tender, traders said yesterday.

Nigeria produces more than 2 million barrels per day of oil and holds the world’s seventh-largest gas reserves, which due to a lack of investment, mismanagement and poor infrastructure are largely untapped.

Investment according to Reuters, has stalled recently because wide-ranging energy reforms have been stuck in parliament for years, meaning new investors don’t know how much tax they will pay in the future or what the regulatory framework will look like.

“We need foreign investors that will build new refineries and increase the availability of oil products in Nigeria,” Vice President said after meeting with Bakhir in Abuja.

The Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NEBT) shall exist only as long as it takes the distribution firms to become credit worthy and be able to directly negotiate their own power purchase pacts.

-Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

AMCON ends purchase of bad loans Oct. 31 T HE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) will complete the acquisition of non-performing loans (NPL) from rescued banks in a N620billion 2009 bailout

by October 31, its Managing Director, Mustapha ChikeObi, said yesterday.

At that date, AMCON would have acquired N2.78 trillion face value of NPLs from 21 banks at the cost of N1.16 trillion, representing over 95 per cent of all outstanding bad loans in the sector.

The AMCON boss also also hinted that the government is considering the possibility of compensating the shareholders of the three nationalised banks. They are Spring Bank, Afribank and Bank PHB. Speaking in Lagos at a press conference to update the public on the corporation’s activities, Chike-Obi said placing moratorium on NPL acquisition will enable the corporation focus more on recovering the 9,000 bad loans it already bought from the banks.

He explained that the corporation is more interested in securing the jobs of

• Mulls compensation for nationalised banks’ shareholders

By Collins Nweze

employees of those firms, than taking measures that would run them out of business. “We want to make sure that institutions with viable businesses are well run and profitably. AMCON will continue to cooperate with honest and viable businesses that approach us in good faith, and show firm commitment to repay their debts,” he said.

However, some banks he said have been compelled in consultation with the AMCON and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sell ‘systemically important loans’ to AMCON to forestall any further crises in the sector in the future. Most notable among these are loans to Zenon Petroleum (financed by Access Bank, Zenith Bank, Keystone Bank, Intercontinental Bank and First City Monument Bank) worth N150 billion; Seawolf Industries (financed by First Bank) worth N100 billion and Geometric Power Industries (finance by Diamond Bank) with debt profile of N25

billion.

Chike-Obi explained that taking over these loans from the lending banks would stabilise the industry and remove the adverse implications of default on the banks’ liquidity. He said that those loans are up and running but are too large compared to the lender’s balance sheet structure.

AMCON, he said, has restructured and recovered over 10 per cent of NPLs it acquired. “In the process, AMCON has tried to balance maximum recovery with minimum disruption of viable businesses keeping in mind that employment of Nigerians is paramount to government, the AMCON boss said.

He disclosed that AMCON has successfully restructured several NPLs and supported genuine businesses in critical sectors such as manufacturing, aviation, oil and gas among others. He said the exercise has saved over 2,000 jobs.

Chike-Obi noted that there have been no government interference so far in

AMCON’s activities, adding that other countries have commended the manner in which the banking crises was resolved without depositors losing money and at no cost to the national treasury. He said that the funding model for AMCON has been structured such that the Nigerian tax payer will not bear the cost.

Shedding more light on the compensation for shareholders of the nationalised banks, the AMCON boss, who said that the modalities have not been worked out, said such compensation, if approved, will not be immediate.

Shareholders of the three defunct banks lost over N32 billion after the banks were nationalised.

The AMCON boss explained that regulators are looking at a modality that would involve taking average performance of shares of five other rescued banks that escaped nationalisation, and using it as a benchmark in compensating the beneficiaries.

RATES Inflation -9.3% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.82% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -10.23% Time Deposit -7% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $30.8b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

0.281 213.2 245.00 156.91 1.5652 245.8 40.57

M

TN Nigeria and Etisalat Nigeria, yesterday said they will compensate their BlackBerry subscribers with service extension.

While MTN is offering its subscribers four days of free service usage at the end of the month, Etisalat has promised its prepaid and postpaid subscribers an equivalent of three days free service.

Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, said the compensation is on account of inconvenience customers experienced during the downtime.

Chief Commercial Officer of Etisalat, Wael Ammar in a statement said: “Keeping our customers satisfied is a priority for us and given the exceptional and extraordinary circumstances, we are compensating our BlackBerry users to demonstrate our care for their loyalty to our company.”

Earlier in the week, Airtel Nigeria and BlackBerry developer, Research In Motion (RIM) announced compensation packages to assuage angry BlackBerry subscribers.

Chief Executive Officer of Airtel, Mr Rajan Swaroop said both prepaid and postpaid customers will have their subscription for the month of October extended by three days.

T

DATA STREAM

-N6.747 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

By Adline Atili

Fed Govt sells N55.67b bonds

COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$112/barrel Cocoa -$2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber -¢146.37pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

Operators, RIM to compensate BlackBerry users

• MD/CEO, AMCON, Chike-Obi, (centre); flanked on the left by Chief Legal Officer, Ben Daminabo; and Executive Director, Hewett Benson; at a press conference in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: AYODELE AMINU

Nigeria targets N410b from rice, cassava by 2015

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INISTER of Agricul ture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina yesterday said that over N410 billion would be realised by Nigeria with the attainment of proposed rice sufficiency and cassava flour development by the year 2015.

Adesina spoke when he presented the national agricultural blueprint for transformation to the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

The Minister said with the objective fully realised, about 3.5 million jobs would have been created.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

He said Nigerians would earn over N300 billion (about $2 billion) within the same period.

He said the Ministry has put in place the National Agriculture Transformation Council, which has President Goodluck Jonathan as chairman to achieve the set targets.

Adesina stated that about N350 billion would accrue to the nation’s economy by the end of 2015 following the

import substitution policy for rice that would be executed by the federal government.

He added that over N60 billion is expected to be generated from substituting 20 per cent of bread wheat flour with cassava flour.

The minister stated that the ministry was focusing on a few crops at the moment to make Nigeria self sufficient in food production.

The minister said the strategies needed to ensure the actualisation of the goals include passing legislation that

would make it mandatory for flour mills to utilise 10 per cent of cassava flour as substitute for bread wheat, blending of 10 per cent of ethanol made from cassava with petrol, ensure zero tariff for import of agricultural equipment and provide tax holidays for investors in the agriculture sector.

On rice sufficiency, Adesina said with the government’s rice transformation plan, the 500,000 metric tons of imported brown rice would be driven to zero by 2013.

HE Federal Govern ment sold N55.67 bil lion ($354 billion) in 3, 5- and 10-year sovereign bonds on Wednesday, at its 10th monthly debt auction of the year, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said yesterday.

Yields on the instruments broadly rose to reflect the hike in the central bank’s benchmark interest rate by 275 basis points to 12 percent last week.

The DMO according to Reuters sold N8billion of the 3-year, N17.67 billion of 5year and N30 billion of 10year papers, due to mature in 2014, 2015 and 2018 respectively. All the papers were reopenings of previous issues.

The 3-year paper was issued at a marginal rate of 15.50 per cent, up from 10.50 per cent last month, while the 5-year instruments were allotted at 15.30 per cent against 11.25 per cent previously and the 10-year papers were allotted at a marginal rate of 18.0 per cent compared to 11.49 per cent at the previous auction.

Yields and interest rates surged across the board after Nigeria’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised its benchmark rate far further than analysts expected last week by 275 basis points to 12 per cent and hiked cash reserves requirement to 8.0 per cent from 4.0 per cent.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS

‘Fed Govt to trash ghost workers, pensioners’

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HE federal govern ment will weed out all ghost workers and pensioners from its pay roll “very soon”, Coordinating Minister for the economy and Minister of Finance, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said yesterday.

She disclosure this while speaking on restructuring the nation’s finances at the Nigerian Economists’ Conference in Abuja yesterday.

The minster said the government will not compromise its resolve to reduce the cost of governance with regards to the bloated recurrent expenditure.

She said it was unhealthy to continue with the current situation where the cost of governance in Nigeria far eclipses happenings in other parts of the world.

The Minister stated that the transformation agenda of government was aimed at reducing huge overheads currently put at about 74 per cent of the country Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that flushing out ghost workers and pensioners from the system was part of measures to reduce the cost of governance.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala lamented that the system presently breeds many ghost workers that later graduate to ghost pensioners at the expense of public funds, stressing that the biometric data capturing exercise embarked upon by the government was designed to identify ghost workers and pensioners.

Admitting that it would be a painful exercise to trim down government recurrent spending; the Finance minister said that the exercise would be beneficial to economy in the long run.

On perceived inconsistency in public policy, she said the private sector rather than government should take the blame as it was always twisting the arm of government to execute policies without actually painting the true picture of all issues involved.

She also explained that reports on the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) did not truly reflect the positive dialogue between the federal and

state governments, adding that the decision to open the Fund’s account with N162 billion ($1 billion) was based on the level of understanding between both sides.

According to her, issues about the Governors’ reservations were well taken in line with the understanding that the SWF was designed to address the dilapidated state of infrastructure nationwide as well as stability of the economy. She added: “When the price of oil in the international market fell from $140 per barrels some years ago to $40 per barrel, imagine what would have happen if we did not have the Excess Crude Account as the saving grace.”

The finance minister said the on-going reforms were meant to outlast the present administration, noting that “it is all about building institution and having legislation on the reforms”

• From left: Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Fred Hochberg, Chairman and President, Export- Import Bank of the United States and Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, at the Nigerian Summit organised by the Economist in Abuja...Wednesday.

ICAN lists conditions for subsidy removal, SWF

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HE Institute of Char tered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) yesterday listed some conditions for government to consider to prevent the removal of oil subsidies and the implementation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) from degenerating to what they called “destructive fiscal tools.”

The Institute’s position on the two major economic measures was part of the 15point draft communiqué considered by members of the body at the closing session of the 41st Annual Accountants Conference in Abuja.

The communiqué is expected to be ratified by the Council at its meeting.

There has been a growing list of opposition to the planned fuel subsidy removal especially from the Nigeria Labour Congress( NLC), which has advised the Presidency to cut social spending and jettison it’s the subsidy removal to avoid the wrath of Nigerians and save the nation from social uprising.

The ICAN members how-

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

ever, agreed in principle that fuel subsidy removal and the SWF were desirable for the country only if they are well managed.

A section of the draft communiqué states: “The conference agreed in principle with the intention of government to remove the oil subsidy. However, the conference requires that the government makes the entire process transparent and fair with proper accountability by disclosing the nature and amount of this subsidy, disclosure of the identities of individuals and entities benefitting from these subsidies.”

The accountants also want the government to articulate clearly the development initiatives to which this subsidy will be applied and the introduction of a process for disclosing and auditing the sources and uses of subsidy flow.

With regards to the SWF, the ICAN members endorsed in principle the

SON seizes N200m worth of sub-standard tyres M ORE than N200 mil lion worth of substandard tyres were seized yesterday by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) at the Odua market in the matori , Mushin, Lagos.

The seizure, which caught the dealers unaware led to the arrest of the leaders of the market and its closure.

Speaking to newsmen during the raiding, the DirectorGeneral, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu said the raid became imperative, following the wanton of destruction lives and properties due to the vehicular accidents caused by substandard tyres, known as ‘Tokunbo’.

“Am sure if you asked the Federal Road Safety Commison they will tell you the statistics of how many people have died from tyre-

By Toba Agboola

related road accidents because majority of us use these tyres. “ So tyres are very important , they are life danger products , and we must ensure that we preserve life by ensuring that tyres are safe and that they give us comfort,’ he said.

Odumodu said that apart from the closure of the market, those involved will be arrested and prosecuted, adding that most of the tyres came in through the ports and boarders.

“The SON you see today is different from the SON you saw yesterday, because we will not rest until we sanitise this country. We are aware

that most of these products came in through the ports and boarders, we will visit the warehouses and get them.

“We are not happy that this is happening , but at the same time we cannot allow them to continue to sell death to Nigerians. We know that some people will lose their jobs as a result of the closure, but we cannot create job by selling death to the Nigerians. We should focus on productivity. The zero tolerance is on and we will continue with it,’ Odumodu said.

The Head of Enforcement, SON, Mr . Louise Njoku warned those who sell substandard tyres, stressing that SON will make sure that those involve are chased out of business.

maintenance of the SWF but they insisted that “the Fund should be efficiently and transparently managed.”

Most of the members who spoke on the issues agreed that “the only way to ensure that the policy measures fulfill their intended purposes was to address the issues raised in the draft

communiqué and by implication use them as transformation tools for improving the welfare of the people and enhance the operational efficiency of the fiscal regime.”

A Fellow of the Institute and President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Otunba

Olufemi Deru, during the discussion of the draft document told the gathering that “the fuel subsidy removal should be effected if all the issues surrounding the amount being deducted and how it is calculated are made known. As Accountants, this is an area we need to look at seriously.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

15 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Vol 3 No. 148

The management of Fidson has rolled out the drums to celebrate a new technology, patented by Banner Pharmacaps Inc. in the United States for its Ciprotab Soflet, an antibiotic, writes JIMI DAVID.

Fidson moves to protect new baby F

IDSON Pharmaceuticals is guarding its new baby, Ciprotab Soflet, jealously.

It has taken some steps to protect it.

The offering, which is said to be the first Ciprofloxacin soflet in the world, is replacing the tablets in the market. From any angle one chooses to look at the story of the brand, since 15 years ago when it started in Nigeria, Fidson has continued to play a role in the industry and has warmed itself into the consciousness of consumers.

Given the fact that the problem of fake products remains the biggest scourge the Consumer Protection Council and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), are daily battling with, the new initiative could be the opportunity the company is waiting for to make a statement.

The new Ciprotab Soflet is made by a unique patented technology in which the tablet is enrobed in a gelatin film which confers greater stability to the drug molecule.

And to make the drug easy to swallow, it’s designed in an ultra-slim format and enrobed in two-toned yellow and white gelatin film which ensures easy brand identification.

Fidson, one of the formidable players in the Pharmaceutical industry, has since inception remained committed to the provision of high quality products to consumers, an effort which has earned it international recognition and awards. The company on April 8, 2008 received its first international certificate, the NIS: ISO 9001:2000. Barely three years after, it was presented with a higher certificate, the NIS: ISO 9001:2008. It

From left: MD/CEO, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr Fidelis Ayebae; Director, Laboratory Services, NAFDAC, Mrs Stella Denloye; Director, Fidson, Prof.

Oladipo Akinkugbe and Special Assistant to Director-General, NAFDAC, Mrs Aishat Okpa, during the unveiling of Fidson’s CIPROTAB 500 SOFLET, at Fidson’s Head Office, Obanikoro, Lagos..

has also earned awards from reputable media organisations in Nigeria.

These awards are not only in conformity to rules and regulations, but because of the company’s performance output which is targeted at the development of a quality management system. Fidson as a customer focused brand believes in consistency and continuous improvement in its operational and product offerings.

According to the General Manager, Marketing of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Ola Ijimakin, the company has, in the last 16 years, upheld its pledge to outstanding quality, commitment and drive towards continuous improvement of existing processes to ensure consistent provision of the highest quality. Studies have shown that the soflets retain the same dissolution profile as Ciprotab tablets which mean that the proven efficacy remains the same.

Ciprotab is one of the most prescribed antibiotics in Nigeria just as the molecule

Winners emerge in Star Mega promo

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HE first batch of winners has emerged in the ongoing Star Mega Promo which kicked off two weeks ago. Among the three winners was a security officer, Nicodemus Andrew Dodo of old Army Barracks, Suleja, Niger State, a student from Enugu State, Koko Akaninyene and an Abuja- based hotelier, Teye Joseph.

The three, who won a brand new Toyota Corolla car, each were presented their prizes at the corporate head office of Nigerian Breweries Plc in Iganmu, Lagos. The cars were presented to them by a former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Chief Tony Okoroji.

Okoroji, also President of Copyright Owners Society of Nigeria (COSON), commended Nigerian Breweries for

rewarding its loyal consumers over the years through different promotions. Asserting that the promotion by Nigerian Breweries is genuine and authentic Okoroji said: “When one sees this promotion on televison, you wonder whether it is real. But I am here today to confirm that it is real. As I present keys of these brand new cars to the winners, I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that this, indeed, is a genuine promo from the stable of Nigerian Breweries. I also will continue to drink Star may be I could become one of the lucky winners before the promo ends.”

The winners, who exuded excitement at the presentation, thanked the management of Nigerian Breweries for initiating the promo.

Twenty-four Toyota Corolla cars are up for grabs in the promo, which will run for the next eight weeks.

(Ciprofloxacin) is the most frequently prescribed antibiotic worldwide. This has brought to it a huge brand success and the tendency for it to be faked, and that is why Fidson has made concerted efforts to ensure counterfeiters don’t succeed in imitating the new product.

In support of manufacturers such as Fidson, NAFDAC, has been waging an unrelenting war at combating fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria. The recent introduction of the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) is aimed at exploiting technology to this end.

In 2006, the World Health Organisation (WHO) helped to create the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT). A key tool recommended by IMPACT to combat the scourge of counterfeiting among other things is technology. IMPACT has since then advocated the protection of drug products with appropriate technologies that are easy to identify

and almost impossible to imitate.

It is in line with these efforts that Fidson is deploying the technology patented by Banner Pharmacaps Inc. USA to keep Ciprotab Soflet out of reach of fakers.

Looking back at the development of the brand and how it has boxed its closest rivals into a corner, it may be difficult to challenge the declaration of the Fidson brands at inception that their commitment was to become a multi national committed to providing a wide spectrum of high quality drugs and consumer products to customers. So far, its authoritative influence and emergence as a frontline player in the health care and pharmaceutical sector lends credence to this.

Again, when one considers its pay off ‘we value life’ and how the handlers have jealously guided it to uphold its passion for innovation, the founding fathers of the company may be right after all that they would continue to entrench their dominance and position the brand for growing opportunities in the global marketplace.

Orpheus Music set to thrill fans

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LEADING music company, Orpheus Music, has promised organ mu sic lovers in Nigeria, a show to blow their mind during the Rodgers Organ Week.

Though the week started last weekend at the Atrium, Ceddi Plaza, Abuja, it will also hold in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Calabar today, October 23 and 26.

A celebrated concert organist, Michael Koenig, from Austria, is expected to entertain music lovers at the event, which is expected to be attended by dignitaries including church musicians, organists, music conductors, choir masters and the general public.

On why his company is organising the event, David Nwamara, the company’s chief executive said that organising the road show is in keeping with his company’s set standard in ensuring that their customers benefit from their international exposure and capabilities.

The Rodgers Organ Week is also expected to afford organ music lovers the pleasure of

listening to a wide range of high quality sound of Rodgers organ, which has greatly transformed the digital pipe organ technology in the last five decades.

While inviting organ music lovers to attend the concert, Mr Nwamara also advised customers who are intending to purchase an organ for private or church use to get into the habit of listening to the Rodgers classic organs first before deciding on which product to buy.

Rodgers organs which come in models 2manuals to five - manuals, he insisted, are the best in terms of quality and clarity of sound.

He, therefore, asked organ music lovers to take advantage of this organ week and make informed decisions.

Mr. Dieter Schuster, Representative of Rodgers Instrument Corporation, United States is also one of the facilitators of this year’s Rodgers Organ Week.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

16

Brandnews

Panasonic hosts dealers T

HE world leading consumer electronics manufacturers, Panasonic Corporation, through its Nigeria’s representative, Panaserv Nigeria has hosted its dealers across the country at its second annual dealers’ convention in Lagos.

It also unveiled its latest models of air conditioners, flat screen televisions, home theatre and music systems, digital still cameras and camcorders, home appliances, kitchen appliances and personal and beauty care products at the event.

Panasonic Corporation has maintained a firm grip on air conditioning technology, leading the way with landmark product innovations that impact life. This year’s model ECONAVI dual sensor and super alleru buster filter air conditioners are inspired by nature, with great emphasis on energy conservation and optimal per-

formance. ECONAVI dual sensor air conditioner utilizes human sensor and control programme technologies to detect where energy is normally wasted and selfadjust cooling power to reduce energy waste.

Panasonic air conditioners guarantee consistent supply of comfortable, clean and healthy air with minimal use of energy and in-built air purifying. A triple function in the super alleru buster air conditioners detect and inactivate harmful organisms.

The exhibition at Panasonic dealers’ convention also unveils Smart Viera infotainment televisions. The new smart Viera infotainment TV series encompasses 3D, LED/LCD and plasma televisions. This wide range of internet-enabled television demonstrates Panasonic’s commitment to providing Nigeria consumers with world class enter-

tainment options.

The new series of IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) models provide easy access to variety of internet services and web entertainment including YouTube, SHOUTcast, USTREAM, WOW TV, facebook, Twitter, Picasa, Bloomberg, Weather, Accu Weather, and Daily Motion, among other web-based services.

Further expanding of product availability in the audio visual category, Panasonic introduced 2011 models of home theatre systems, powerful clear sound music systems, mini theatres achieves powerful bass sound by employing down firing subwoofer, giving a more real musical experience to the consumer. Mores so, Panasonic has enabled all audio visual products with USB accessibility, increasing the convenience to the consumer and allowing for a greater variety of media sources.

Consolidated Breweries acquires Williams Dark Ale

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AVING successfully concluded the acquisition of the Williams Dark Ale Brand from Sona Systems Associates Business Management Limited (SSABML), Consolidated Breweries Plc has announced that the Williams Dark Ale brand will now be offered for sale to its customers.

According to a statement from the Managing Director, Mr Nico Pinotsis, the “Williams Dark Ale will be an integral part of the Consolidated Breweries portfolio and will be offered to Customers as from October 1, 2011. With Turbo King, the Williams brand will strengthen Consolidated Breweries’ position in the Stout/Dark Ale segment of the Nigerian beer market and further confirm the leading position of Consolidated Breweries Plc in the economy segment”.

The General Manager, Commercial of the company, Mr

Weggemans, said: “This development represents a great opportunity for Consolidated Breweries Plc’s business as the company is expected to take full advantage of the synergies offered by the access to the distribution network of the Williams brand for the existing brands in its portfolio.”

The Williams brand also stands to benefit in the stable of Consolidated Breweries Plc judging from the success of the Company’s existing brands and its mastery of how to manage successful brands in the value segment of the brewed products market.

This latest acquisition further demonstrates the company’s commitment to its mission to produce and market high quality brands to the Nigerian consumer at affordable prices; as well as its consistent and firm belief in playing its role in the development of the Nigerian beverage market.

LG launches smart phone

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•From left: Promoter, Panaserv Nigeria Limited, Mr Suraj Rupani; Media Consultant, Mr. John Woma; representative of Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Lagos State, Mr Akeem Alaka; and Manager, responsible for Nigerian market, Panasonic Corporation, Japan, Mr Naka Koji, during the Panasonic convention in Lagos.

Event centre berths in Lekki

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AGOSIANS now have a onestop shop where they can hold their various events and have fun like never before. It is the Bespoke Centre.

Visible, convenient and secured, the new state-of-the-art Centre is located beside Auto Germaine on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The Bespoke is a multi-purpose and fully equipped entertainment centre which can host a wide range of events, including birthdays, weddings, funerals, musical concerts, reality TV shows, fashion shows, awards, religious programmes, and sports festivals.

Other offerings include live television production, product/album launch, cinema viewing, film premier, night clubbing, stage plays, and audio/visual studio recording.

At a briefing, Mrs Abiola Kila Onalaja, Managing Director, Bespoke Centre, explains the purpose of establishing the entertainment outfit. It is “to provide our clients with a premium event experience, relieving them of facility related concerns by providing them with a world class event facility, backed by an unbeatable level of service.”

“The Bespoke Centre parades three fully air-conditioned halls of different sizes with one conveniently sitting 1,800 (theatre style) or 1,500 (banquet) and each of the two other halls sitting 200 people.

Situated behind the stage area for easy accessibility into these halls before or during events are four well-furnished changing rooms.

The Bespoke Centre also has a sound proof multipurpose room, which serves as an extension to the recording suite. Apart from having a multimedia conference with zero noise interference , a television recording set can also be in-

The Bespoke Centre also has a sound proof multipurpose room, which serves as an extension to the recording suite.

Apart from having a multimedia conference with zero noise interference, a television recording set can also be incorporated into the suite.

corporated into the suite. And since it is equipped with top of the range digital and analog equipment for recording, editing and rehearsals by individuals or groups, the suite is equally suitable for audio visual live productions.

There is a red carpet arena at The Bespoke Centre that can add colour and glamour to photo shoot of all sorts prior to or during events.

For guests, the arena can also serve as a descent mobile service point for drinks and merriments. And for those who love their drinks chilled, an added advantage is a cold room that can even arrive hours before the event, thereby erasing the possibility of delivery failure by drink vendors. The cold room has the capacity to chill up to 5,000 bottles at a go. This, added to an outdoor chilling chest with a capacity of up to 6,000 bottles, modern banquet chairs and tables, ushers, special security, cleaning and venue decoration, parking space that can take up to 300 cars; guarantees a stress free event. And what’s more, Bespoke has partnerships with some five star hotels in Lagos.

“Our utmost concern while your event lasted is your comfort and that’s why we have taken time to invest in the best and most modern equipment and furniture to make your event a memorable one,” Onalaja says.

HE wait is finally over as LG launches the much anticipated LG Optimus 3D, an innovative, new Smartphone that offers a full 3D experience of recording, viewing and sharing.

The LG Optimus 3D takes the Smartphone experience into new territory with its Tri-Dual configuration – dual-core, dual-channel and dual-memory – which allows for improved performance when multi-tasking, enjoying a movie or playing graphics-intensive games. This LG Smartphone is also a major step forward in the utilisation of full 3D functionality in everyday life – users can record and immediately view content in 3D without the need for special glasses.

LG’s Tri-Dual architecture pushes the LG Optimus 3D’s performance well beyond simple clock speed improvements. Other Smartphone – even those with higher clock speeds and dual-core technology – suffer when it comes to actual performance because of the inefficiency inherent in a sin-

gle-channel configuration. With a dual-channel configuration, data transfers take place simultaneously between the dual-core and dual-memory, resulting in noticeably faster performance. As a result, the LG Optimus 3D maximises run-time efficiency leading to noticeably smoother, faster, and longer multi-tasking, browsing, gaming and multimedia satisfaction than ever before.

Astonished by the in-depth level of technology that distinguishes the LG Optimus 3D Phone, top Nollywood actress and guests at the event, Stephanie Okereke said: ‘This can best be described as bringing the supposed distant future to the present. One is stunned

by LG’s full 3D concept that transforms 3D technology from a novelty to a practical tool. Innovations of this nature from the stables of LG Electronics will go a long in enhancing the entertainment industry in content development and production in ways that will give it reputable global attention and acceptance”.

Guinness holds workshop for journalists

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UINNESS Nigeria Plc, Nigeria’s leading brewing company and a significant player in the manufacturing sector, has restated the need for consumers to make informed decisions on alcohol consumption.

Speaking at a DrinkIQ Media Workshop for journalists as part of its ‘Plan Ahead: Responsible drinking campaign, Sesan Sobowale, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, explained that the company is committed to promoting responsible drinking and combating alcohol misuse. The DrinkIQ Workshop aims to create awareness on the proper consumption of alcohol.

“Guinness Nigeria Plc makes an effort to promote responsible drinking and works with other stakeholders to combat alcohol misuse. There are three principles to our approach: combating alcohol misuse, setting standards for responsible marketing and innovation; and promoting a shared understanding of what responsible

drinking means in order to reduce alcohol-related harm,” Sobowale said.

The Wwrkshop, which held in the premises of Guinness Nigeria was attended by 25 journalists from various media houses, whose portfolio include entertainment, business and industry and was delivered by Adrianne Nwagwu, Head Sustainability and Responsibility, Guinness Nigeria.

Head Corporate Communications, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Ngozi Ife Anene, added that the company believed that by training journalists on responsible drinking, it would further equip them to ensure the public receive the right information on the proper consumption of alcohol. She said: “While a majority of consumers choose to drink responsibly, many others do not. As a responsible corporate citizen, we will continue to use our marketing and communications expertise to help raise awareness around responsible drinking to make a significant and sustainable impact in society”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

17

Lessons Jobs taught

As Skye Bank’s PR man bows out

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S Mr Kayode Akinyemi, Head, Corporate Affairs, Skye Bank Plc, finally calls time on his six year-long illuminating and eventful career in the bank, the accomplished and versatile marketing communications practitioner, whose professional experience spans over two decades in advertising, public relations and journalism, can look back in time with a sense of achievement and pride. His hands-on experience in the critical fields of marketing communication and extensive network of contact in the industry, have combined to make him a consummate public relations practitioner, advertising icon and a media/ marketing communications man of repute.

A communications scholar of note, an expert in reputation management and a brand building engineer, Akinyemi has succeeded in implanting the Skye Bank brand in the consciousness of every Nigerian household.

He is also instrumental in the high visibility and immense mileage enjoyed by the bank in the media over the years.

From obscurity, Akinyemi successfully made the Skye brand a household name through ingenuous and tactical brand building and brand management campaigns which received wide applause and acceptance from the banking public. He also successfully managed the internal and external communication challenges of the merger, consolidation and integration of the five banks that came together to form Skye Bank plc. That was in 2005.

For a new brand with no pedigree that needed to make great inroads into the market fast, the solution came in the very successful “Saying Yes” advertising campaign in which creation and design he played a pivotal role.

The highly successful and award winning advertising campaign tagged “Saying Yes” for Skye Bank is now a popular ring tone on several GSM networks. He also oversaw and managed the activities for the identity change of the five legacy banks that formed Skye Bank.

Such was the way he successfully managed the transition and the exchange of baton from the pioneer Group Managing Director of the bank to the incumbent.

To his credit also goes the high visibility and press mileage enjoyed by the bank. This was also what obtained during his days at Prudent Bank where he also successfully packaged and managed Prudent Bank’s Public Offer which achieved over 90 per cent subscription level during the bank’s drive to raise the mandatory N25 billion capital for banks in the country.

Akinyemi’s brand management prowess also helped achieve top mind awareness and brand visibility for Prudent Bank from 2003 to 2005, a feat that earned the bank nomination as the most improved Bank by Thisday newspaper. Prior to that, he was the one of the marketing team leaders that repositioned and repackaged Vanguard Newspaper from hitherto female-oriented perception to a business focused paper resulting in high advert patronage.

•Akinyemi

positioning. From there, he moved to Optimum Exposures Limited, the leading outdoor advertising firm in Nigeria and member of the Troika Group. He was Head of Marketing /Customer Services where he also excelled.

At Skye Bank as Head of Corporate Affairs, he was responsible for the design, implementation and evaluation of appropriate programmes and projects aimed at projecting the image of the bank nationwide.

He is also in charge of the bank’s internal and external communications which involve dealing with and engaging the media and developing and executing the bank’s advertising and promotional programmes. He also advises management on issues within the domain of the media as well as managing those issues. He has been in this official role in the last six years .

Before the merger of the legacy banks that formed Skye Bank Plc in 2005, he was the Head of Corporate Affairs of the legacy Prudent Bank, the principal vehicle for the merger, where he also anchored and engineered the conceptualisation and implementation of the bank’s integrated marketing communications strategies.

Professional Programmes

Akinyemi has attended various management and professional courses both at home and abroad. He has attended the Lagos Business School for the programme on Managing Corporate Affairs Function; The Master’s World Class in Strategic Public Relations in Ghana; London Management School on Senior Public Relations programme; City University, London CAS business School on Brand Finance Conference, among others.

HE world is mourning. It is mourning the loss of Steve Jobs.

One wonders what would have happened were he to live for a century.

Would the world mourn with this same emotion, this same gravity and this same passion? One would never know because he died at 56. He died at his peak.

He died and something died in you.

You would miss his simplicity and elegancy, which he transferred to his designs. However, you can never forget him. He touched your life. He moulded your life. If he were an aeroplane, you would venerate her, and would never fly her. Rather, you would park her in the hangar and genuflect at her shrine.

If he were a Rolls Royce, you would never drive her. You would clean her daily and polish her until she gleams.

You would park her in the carport and watch over like a prize possession.

If he were a virgin, you would pay her bride price and marry her, just to conserve her dignity and ensure no man deflower her. If he were an apple, you would take a bite and leave the rest behind. That is what he did. He was a visionary of the digital age. He defined it, then redefined it, and then redefined it again.

This column is not written on a Mac Book. Several colleagues’ lives revolve around Apple products. They text and tweet from their iPhones. There is no day or hour without interacting with one or all of Apple’s products. These tools have become the most prized and indispensable tools in their lives. They cannot remember life before the iPod. Can you?

You cannot.

However, your colleagues remember his innovation and vision. He contributed to the modern mix of tech-and-stylesavvy individuals your colleagues have turned. In honour of his passing, your colleagues reminded you the lessons of his wondrous career.

He enabled and revolutionised selfpublishing. The physical objects that Apple produced, especially the personal computer, the iPhone and iPad, empowered most writers in the world. These tools make it simple and enjoyable to create and share your vision with several people.

He created something out of nothing.

He built an empire from zero. He

changed everything. He changed the way you view technology. He changed the way technology is applied. “He tempered the tech in technology and added oomph to it. That makes technology sexy. It makes it cool,” your colleagues chorused.

He took a non-traditional path to success. He dropped out school. He changed the name of the game by naming his company after a fruit. This was at the time others were sticking with model numbers and tech-speak. He did things his way.

“That is my man,” they chipped in.

However, not everything worked for him the first time. His first Macintosh personal computer models were consumer failures. He left Apple for 12 years following disagreements and a fallingout with another executive. He rejected two iPhone models before settling on a final (first) version in 2007. “That is a lesson to remember,” one of them whispered.

Having survived that era, he changed the way you connect with people. Features and applications on the iPhone changed how creatively and quickly you can talk, share, text, chat, tweet. In addition, do stuff. His vision came before his fortune. He did not begin his career with intentions to become a billionaire. He wanted to change the world with his technology.

Fortune smiled on him when he sold himself to his vision. This allowed him to evolve and grow his companies and investments. When he returned to Apple in 2000, he ended the feud with Microsoft, which allowed Apple the continued use of the Office software on Apple computers. He understood the importance of having mutually advantageous alliances, even among competing peers.

“That is what we called colla-petiti” (the inverted word for collaboration and competition. Your colleagues coined the phrase). He did that because, from his commencement speech at Stanford in 2005, he knew his “time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

He married elegance with functionality. He brought chic, and fused it with technology. And this fusion made Apple’s products as chic as an apple: from the smoothest lines to the most gorgeous user interface, Jobs knew how to marry beauty and function. Isn’t that enough for the world to mourning him?

Work Experience

Akinyemi , a graduate of Mass Commnunication, began his working career at Radio Nigeria 2 as a Reporter in 1988 before delving into Public Relations/advertising with Rock Forte Advertising in 1989 as a Senior Media Executive where he performed several duties including media relations, media planning and buying, media monitoring, appropriation and media research. He moved to Vantage Advertising in 1994 and served in different capacities In media, client service and advertising production. It was from there he went to Centrespread Advertising in 1998 as Manager, Client Service where he was responsible for brand management, relationship marketing, among others.

In the quest for total experience in the communication industry, he moved to Vanguard Media Limited as Deputy Head of Advertisement Department, where he helped turn the fortune of the newspaper around through aggressive marketing and brand

•L-R: Customer Relationship Manager, MTN Ibadan Region, Mr Bajo Onafunwa, Face of the MTN Mega Reward, Madam Iyabo Lawani; N10 million winner, Olufemi Isaac Akinsipe, and Mr Bajo Onafunwa, Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Information and Orientation at the MTN N1 billion mega rewards in Ibadan.

*Editor - Wale Alabi *Consulting Editors - Rarzack Olaegbe, Sola Fanawopo * Correspondent-Jimi David * Human Relations Executive - Owolabi Afolabi *Operations Executive - Isiaka Hassan *Creative - Oluwaseyi Sulaimon*Front Office Executive - Blessing Nkeanya * Business Development - Kenny Hussain * Legal Adviser - Olasupo Osewa & Co Brandweek is powered by Drumbeat Media and published every Friday in THE NATION newspaper. Corporate Suite: 20 Akinremi Street, off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

All correspondence to the editor - 0808.247.7806, 0805.618.0040, , e-mail: korede2000@gmail.com © All rights reserved.

18

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

AGRO-BUSINESS

Osun farmers get 125-acre land T

O enhance food production, the Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has given allocation letters for 125 acres of land to 10 farmers.

A woman, Mrs. Janet Arabambi, was among those who benefited from the gesture when the governor and his team travelled to Mokore Farm Settlement in Ayedaade Local Government area of the state.

The move was in furtherance of his administration’s commitment to massive food production. It was an exciting experience for the farmers in the area to see Ogbeni Aregbesola, the first governor, to come to the Mokore community since the state’s creation in 1991.

The area with its rough and muddy terrain is far removed from many developed parts of the state.

Many of the vehicles on the convoy of the governor were stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out one after the other by the people.

In April this year, the governor opened up the community to the rest of the state when he commenced revolutionary initiatives in agricultural sector of the state. Last Friday, Governor Aregbesola was in the community to perform the handing over and transfer of the lands to beneficiary farmers at an event, which stunned hundreds of farmers who trooped out in large number to receive him.

There was an ovation for Governor Aregbesola from the people of the area as he revoked the directive of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which required the successful farmers to pay N575,000 at N57,500 by each of them to the coffers of government for rent and sundry charges. Rather than pay the money into the treasury, Governor Aregbesola advised the farmers to ensure that they use

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

the money to prepare and plant their farms before the end of the late rains and prepare for the coming season.

To the chagrin of officials of the ministry, Governor Aregbesola announced publicly that he had received on-the-spot- assessment and information from an independent source before coming to visit the Mokore Farm Settlement.

He, therefore, directed that the plots of lands should be evenly distributed to the farmers in the community which already has more than 400 settlers. Demanding to be shown the layout of the farm, Aregbesola warned that none of the farmers should get more than each other as he had received reports from independent sources that the plots were not evenly distributed.

The state Director of Agricultural Services, Mr Dauda Ajisekola, said the criteria by the state’s Land Allocation Committee for randomly selecting successful applicants include familiarity with Mokore Farm Settlement, evidence of seriousness and gender considerations.

According to him, total of 486 prospective farmers obtained the free application forms to be admitted into the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP), which had opened up a virgin forest in Mokore Farm Settlement for the planting of arable crops only.

Governor Aregbesola, who was with his entire cabinet members, assured that all existing Farm Settlements in Mokore, Ago-Owu, Oyere-Aborisade, Oke-Osun, Osogbo, Esa-Oke, Iwo and Igbaye would benefit from his administration’s policy on Farm Estate Services (FES).

The governor further assured that

• Aregbesola (2nd left); Commissioner for Agric, Prince Wale Adedoyin (middle) and others, at the farm settlement.

FES would guarantee only input like fertiliser, herbicides, improved seeds, seedlings, schools, communication facilities, access roads, water supply, hospitals and electricity to encourage the farmers without doling outs cash as it was the practice in the past.

On arrival, the governor was briefed by Dr. Charles Akinola, the Director-General of the newly created Office of Economic Development and Partnership, who was formerly handling the co-ordination of the programme. He said the farm project was a pilot scheme and was designed to cover 2,000 hectares of land to accommodate more farmers.

Addressing the farmers at a brief ceremony later in Mokore, Governor Aregbesola lamented that the coming of the military into governance caused a setback for the agricultural sector.

He described as unacceptable a situation where Nigeria spends N600 billion annually to import food when local production could be boosted by encouraging young farmers to return to the farm.

From the incentives which his administration would be giving to the farmers, the governor assured that city dwellers would soon be coming into the rural areas to participate in farming as 60 per cent of the programmes to be executed by

his administration was largely based on massive food production.

To ginger the farmers to embark on serious planting of food crops, Aregbesola assured that his administration would help any farmer who could transport his produce to Dagbolu mini-station in Osogbo for transfer to Lagos for sales.

Responding, one of the 10 beneficiaries, Mrs. Mrs. Janet Arabambi, expressed gratitude to the governor with a promise that they would justify the gesture by making the community a food basket of the state and beyond. She said the farm project, would provide an opportunity for a new lease of life for the people of the community.

Imbibe new farm techniques, group told

T

O ensure food security and improve the standard of living in rural communities in Plateau State, farmers’ groups have been advised to key into the agricultural policy of the government.

The advice came at Laminga, Jos East Local Government Area where the Centre for Gospel Health and Development (CeGHaD) provided 30 bags of chicken litter, 25 bags of syn-

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

thetic fertiliser and four water pump machines to a new farm group from Zarazon village of the local government to aid them in food production for their famiilies.

Speaking at the event, the Director of CeGHaD, Ven. Noel Bewarang appreciated the farmers’ groups for being consistent

in farming saying his organisation will continue to collaborate with agricultural institutions to support them to ensure food security.

Bewarang who spoke on the theme of the World Food Sunday tagged: Family Farming, Panacea to Hunger said: “The problem is that many families in the communities have come to accept poverty and lack as normal parts of their

lives hence, families go to bed without food.

“We have fertile land and if families are farming, mountain of hunger and poverty can be moved but if we continue to despise farming, hunger and poverty will increase.”

He berated those who stigmatise farming as work for unsuccessful and old people, saying: “If we can all engage in this

noble profession, hunger will have no place in our communities.”

However, he called on more communities to join the Abundant life Saving and Loan Association of CeGHaD as this ensures a food security programme which seeks to improve the quality of life of rural people by increasing family income and making.

Stakeholders move against killer beans

• Ugbe

• Jokthan

S

Country Co-ordinator, Research into Use Nigeria (RIU), Dr Utiang Ugbe, said this has become necessary as the nation produces 66 per cent of the global figure of the product.

Ugbe said cowpea farmers have

TAKEHOLDERS are taking steps to control the spread of killer beans that flooded markets in northern and southern states causing palpable fear within communities.

Speaking at a forum in Abuja,

been incurring heavy losses in their post harvest storage and some of them did poor attempts at using chemical preservatives. The beans become poisoned and pose a public health hazard. The killer beans, he explained, are dangerous for consumers, with hundreds made ill and twenty reported deaths.

Ugbe advocated adoption of a triple bagging programme as an alternative to the use of chemicals to preserve cowpeas from infestation.

The bag, according to him, does not use any of the chemicals that are so often misused,or overused, causing the health hazard commonly referred to as “killer beans” in Nigeria.

The development of the bag, Ugbe said, is providing business opportunities for manufacturers of sacks, distributors and vendors.

He explained that the improved cowpea storage system comes with

special plastic bags, which do not allow air to penetrate and hence limit the survival of insects that damage cowpea and eliminate the need to use chemicals for storage.

Ugbe said his organisation is evaluating the performance of food value chains to establish practices that help smallholder farmers meet growing consumer demands for sustainable food.

He said enormous output in cowpea comes from millions of smallholder rainfed farms, thus by the use of very little or no labour saving or crop performance enhancing technologies.

Project Manager, RIU Nigeria, Dr Grace Jokthan, said Nigeria is the largest producer of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) with an estimated 2.44 million tonnes annually.

Jokthan said cowpea weevils may infest up to100 per cent of the stored seeds within six months under ordinary storage conditions.

She said farmers either sell the cowpeas immediately after harvest or use toxic chemicals to preserve them. She said the income of the farmer is less by about 50 per cent when cowpeas are sold at harvest compared to six months later.

Jokthan said chemicals contaminate the cowpea grains, and hundreds of human fatalities have been reportedly linked to the consumption of such polluted cowpea in Nigeria.

Jokthan said the RIU Nigeria programme trained 120 extension agents from six cowpea producing states.

District Head, Kwali, District, Gombe, Alhaji Yunusa Ahmad, said his community is very happy with the result of the project, as nobody in his domain got sick after eating cowpea. He wants more bags at lower prices and thanks RIU and Gombe ADP for their good work.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Preventing protests •Nigeria’s apparent immunity to protests should not be taken for granted

I

T is an interesting irony that Nigeria has so far avoided the widespread eruptions of mass dissatisfaction which have convulsed many0. countries elsewhere. These sustained protests have rocked political establishments, disrupted public services and shaken fundamental beliefs in the durability of ostensibly lasting democratic processes.

From New York to Seoul, gatherings of widely-divergent interest groups have marched against corporate avariciousness, governmental inefficiency and ever-widening inequalities between the rich and poor.

Perhaps the most significant feature of these protests is the way in which they serve as a barometer of widespread unhappiness with the status quo. While most of the protests focus on economic and fiscal issues, a significant proportion of them address concerns that are spe-

‘It would be a mistake, however, for any administration to take this seeming immunity to protest for granted.

Regardless of whether Nigerians are uniquely sanguine or not, no human being would willingly tolerate a situation in which his prospects for a decent and meaningful life diminish before his eyes’

cific to particular countries and cities.

Thus, there are those whose agitations stem from environmental issues, immigration, welfare cutbacks, affirmative action, gender and law-and-order agendas.

There can be little doubt that the protesters have much to protest about. Ever since the global economic meltdown of 2008, the world has become a less comfortable place to live in. Many countries have been compelled to embark on significant cost-cutting measures which have led to economic hardship for large numbers of their citizens. These have included tax rises, budget cuts, the withdrawal of subsidies and the reduction in employment payrolls.

Reactions to this state of affairs have been passionate. Even before the “Occupy Wall Street” movement began in the United States, London had witnessed increasingly violent protests which culminated in the riots of August. In the Arab world, economic stagnation combined with political repression to lead to violent upheavals in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya, and several governments have been toppled.

Nigeria, it seems, has miraculously avoided this fate. In spite of high rates of unemployment, burgeoning corruption, growing security challenges and worsening infrastructure, its citizens seem to be remarkably reluctant to take to the streets. Even the outrageous indifference of avaricous governments, greedy politicians and selfish public office-holders does not appear to have sparked the fury that has become so obvious in other countries.

Such apparent equanimity has been variously attributed to complacency, docility, cowardice and ignorance. A former president infamously stated that when the Nigerian’s back is to the wall, he will break through it and continue to retreat, instead of fighting back. Nigerians have been declared the ‘happiest people’ on earth; perhaps it is their inherently sunny disposition that makes it hard for them to rise in protest against perceived injustice.

It would be a mistake, however, for any administration to take this seeming immunity to protest for granted. Regardless of whether Nigerians are uniquely sanguine or not, no human being would willingly tolerate a situation in which his prospects for a decent and meaningful life diminish before his eyes.

The global protests have shown that no part of the world can be isolated from what is going on elsewhere. Despite the differences in race, socio-economic status and political models, it is clear that a majority of the world’s people is desirous of improvement in their economic welfare, and are increasingly prepared to confront their governments to achieve it.

Instead of waiting until Nigerians finally decide that they have had enough, governments at all levels in the country would do well to make serious efforts to comprehensively address the economic challenges of the citizenry. This means embarking on a wide-ranging public-works programme, increasing employment, curbing waste and corruption, and ensuring that all citizens are equal before the law.

Let Siasia go

Though the problems of Nigeria’s football house transcend him, let the senior team coach go because he failed to meet his target

HIS is probably the worst of times for Nigeria football in recent history. Everything that needs to go wrong has gone sensationally wrong. For the first time in about 20 years, Nigeria failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, losing in a group made up of such minions as Ethiopia and Madagascar.

The Nigerian populace had never been so much in grief and aggrieved.

At the end of the deciding game at the Abuja stadium a forthnight ago, fans who had trooped out in large numbers to cheer their team, the Super Eagles, went home in tears; they became unruly and sought to manhandle the coach, Samson Siasia.

He had to be spirited out of the arena.

Since then there has been a raging national debate as to what to do with

T

Finally, there is trouble in Nigeria’s football house that is far beyond the national teams and the coaching crew ...

Nigeria’s football bleeds remorselessly, everything is going wrong and unless government thinks through the problem and find a solution quickly, even the best coach on earth will not be able to help Nigeria.

Siasia. We advise that the coach be asked to stand down. He had a mandate to qualify Nigeria for the Nations’ Cup tournament and he failed woefully at the job. Were he a true professional, he would have made it easy for Nigerians and the football governing body by doing the honourable thing – stepping down immediately.

He was brought in to manage the senior team by popular acclaim. And bucking the system, the football house gave him massive and total support; provisioning for him, allowing him a free hand to choose his assistants (including a foreign one) and also his team. Yes, he made some impact with the junior national teams early in his coaching career, but he has not moved the senior team one notch up since his appointment a year ago.

Siasia has not managed to raise a team worthy of that name all this while, not to talk of perfecting a play pattern for the senior team. For a country that boasts of the third largest football imports into Europe – surpassed only

by Brazil and Argentina – with at least 50 of them playing professional football every week, it won’t be too much for football-crazy Nigerian fans to expect a team that plays good football if not win every trophy on the African soil. But Siasia has given Nigerians a rag-tag team that is very lackluster in its style of play.

Apart from letting Siasia go for the sake of playing by the rules, perhaps he needs more training and mentoring under a more experienced and

preferably, foreign coach. He has not shown that he possesses enough technical depth of the game going by the blundering team selection in the last crucial match against Guinea.

Particularly troubling is the gaffer’s poor personal relationship with his players. He does not seem to have been able to rein in his ego and master the whims and peccadilloes of some of his ‘superstar’ wards who must be managed in order to get desired results. Yes, discipline is good but it is result that wins you trophies in today’s football. Siasia has been locked in needless feud with some of his top names in the last few years.

Finally, there is trouble in Nigeria’s football house that is far beyond the national teams and the coaching crew. A signpost of this problem is that we do not even know what the body in charge of Nigeria’s football is called, so we call it the ‘football house’. In the past couple of years, there has been a bitter infighting between the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) that we used to know, and a new body, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Nobody is sure who is in charge. The matter is terribly knock-kneed and difficult to unravel for ordinary mortals.

But Nigeria’s football bleeds remorselessly, everything is going wrong and unless government thinks through the problem and find a solution quickly, even the best coach on earth will not be able to help Nigeria.

Gilad Shalit’s release

W

E share the joy of Israelis over the release of Sgt. First Class Gilad Shalit, who was held by Hamas for five years. We will leave it to the Israeli people to debate whether the deal — which includes the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners — will make their country safer or lead to more violence or more abductions of Israeli soldiers or other citizens.

We are already concerned that the deal will further thwart an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, the only real guarantee of lasting security for both sides.

Now that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has compromised with Hamas, we fear that to prove his toughness he will be even less willing to make the necessary compromises to restart negotiations. And we fear that the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Fatah faction, who were cut out of the swap altogether, will be further weakened.

Both Mr. Netanyahu and Hamas were looking for a political win after Mr. Abbas grabbed the international spotlight — and saw his popularity soar — when he asked the United Nations last month to grant his undefined country full membership.

Mr. Netanyahu twisted himself in an ideological knot to get this deal. Only five months ago, he wanted to cut off tax remittances to the Palestinian Authority and urged the United States to halt aid because Mr. Abbas tried to forge a unity government with Hamas, which controls Gaza.

One has to ask: If Mr. Netanyahu can negotiate with Hamas — which shoots rockets at Israel, refuses to recognize Israel’s existence and, on Tuesday, vowed to take even more hostages — why won’t he negotiate seriously with the Palestinian Authority, which Israel relies on to help keep the peace in the West Bank?

Mr. Netanyahu’s backers claim that his coalition is so fragile that he can’t make the compromises needed to help revive peace negotiations. But he was strong enough to go against the grief-stricken families of those Israelis killed by the Palestinian prisoners he just freed. “I know that the price is very heavy for you,” he wrote to them. Why can’t he make a similarly impassioned appeal for a settlement freeze for the sake of Israel’s security?

The United States and its partners should keep trying to get negotiations going. Mr. Abbas should see the prisoner swap for what it is — a challenge to his authority and credibility. The best way to bolster his standing is by leading his people in the creation of a Palestinian state, through negotiations. As for Mr. Netanyahu, we saw on Tuesday that the problem is not that he can’t compromise and make tough choices. It’s that he won’t. That won’t make Israel safer.

– New York Times

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: If they were visible partners, one might have seen a certain ecclesiastically erudite entity saying to the ‘groom’: “You, Northern Protectorate, will you take the Southern Protectorate as your lawfully wedded wife?’

“Will you love her in sickness and in health and also fend for her all the days of your life?”. We might have also seen the Northern Protectorate positively nodding his head as sign of acceptance. We might have read the ecstasy and euphoria on his face for his success in taking the richly blessed Southern Protectorate to the ‘altar’.

We might have also seen the new ‘bride’ ravishingly savoring those moments when she was being handed over in ‘ holy matrimony’ to the ‘luckiest’ groom in the history of mankind.

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Nigeria at 51: past, present and future However, unfortunately the ‘officiating minister’, Lord Lugard seemed to have wedded these two ‘partners’ in secrecy. Worst still, their togetherness seemed to have been more of co-habitation than a real and cherished ‘matrimonial life’. In a nutshell, the togetherness of the Northern and Southern Protectorates heralded the emergence of the ‘child’ called Nigeria.

Historically, Nigeria, in line with

the reasoning of rational thinkers predates October 1, 1960.But we need not question Nigeria for that is the date she has given us as her birthday. After all, the real ages of most public figures do not synchronize with their official ages.

Ever since Nigeria gave us October 1 as her birthday, we have always, with pomp and pageantry, celebrated and rejoiced with her.

Most often, with unparalleled aristocratic poise and an

impregnable sense of fulfillment, the organizers of her birthday parties seem to give the impression that the ‘celebrant’ doubly deserves the encomiums usually lavished in her honour. Most often, they seem to beat their chests in arrogance claiming that Nigeria has reached her Eldorado. But a ‘look’ at the abstract face of the celebrant, most often, reveals that Nigeria, though sometimes, in a festive mood, still seems to be grieved as a result of

Forget the fuel subsidy removal

S

IR: It is a common saying that the voice of the people is the voice of God. What this means is that when the people have decided to speak with one voice, no Jupiter should stand on their way.

The attempt by the government to remove fuel subsidy has attracted a lot of opposition among many Nigerians. It is the belief of many that such a decision is shortsighted, especially now that the country is going though economic challenges. It appears that the government is going ahead with the plan in spite of stiff opposition from Nigerians.

The government claims that the benefit of fuel subsidy is going into the pockets of few holding the country to ransom. The Nigeria Labour Congress has described the planned removal of the subsidy as a declaration of war on Nigerians.

But who will blame Nigerians for being cynical of government policy, knowing full well that the government has a propensity for meaning exactly the opposite of what it says. Who will blame them for showing distrust to the policy, even when it appears to have some modicum of sincerity?

Yes, fuel subsidy is supposed to make petroleum products available at affordable prices to Nigerians; removing it, at this critical time, will not only aggravate the suffering of Nigerians, but will further place the country in the hands of a selfish cartel who are holding this country by the jugular.

More disgusting is the fact that the government has not put in place the needed mechanism to curb the unfortunate fall out of this impending decision. Many would

have thought that it is in appreciation of workers’ welfare that prompted the government to pass the minimum wage into law, but with the removal of fuel subsidy, the minimum wage becomes meaningless, if not useless. It is like giving one a gift with right hand and taking back same with the left hand. What sort of dishonesty?

But let us picture this: removal of subsidy would lead to hike in the prices of fuel, thereby increasing the cost of production in the manufacturing industry. The implication of this is simple: more companies are likely to close down or relocate elsewhere, with their workers rendered jobless. Is this what the government wants to achieve? Render its citizens jobless?

Make living a hell? Increase crime rate? I bet not. Does the popular saying that an idle hand is a devil workshop makes sense to the government?

Nigerians deserve to be informed, in clear terms, what they stand to benefit from such policy, and not just by merely appealing to sentiment, as some governors have been doing.

President Jonathan needs to educate Nigerians why he thinks removal of fuel subsidy, at this critical moment, is in the interest of Nigerians, without making attempt to revamp and rejuvenate the nation’s refineries and depots, already comatose. Why would Nigerians be subjected to the vagaries of demand and supply in determining the price of petroleum products? What the government

must realise is that fuel is important to the survival of Nigerians; toiling with it in a reckless manner would only pauperise majority of Nigerians and, at worst, cause disaffection to the leadership of the country.

What this writer is saying is that such a policy ought to be at the bottom of the list, while giving utmost attention to more pressing issues like addressing the poor condition of our refineries in order to make it function at the optimal level. Private bodies have a major role to play in this direction, since the government is not a good manager.

• Alatise Taofeeq Nasir Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin.

her deficiencies. Earnestly, each time she celebrates her birthdays, I sincerely wish for a re-enactment of what transpired between the biblical King Herod and the daughter of Herodias during the birthday of King Herod. I wish any of our Nigerian ‘Herods’ could ‘magnanimously’ say ‘ Writer, what favour would you want us do you at this moment of Nigeria’s glory?”.

Then, like the little daughter of Herodias, I would say ‘ Cut off the heads of all the enemies of democracy. Cut off the hands of those who treacherously use their pen to steal our collective money.

Cut off the legs of all those who always clandestinely attend meetings against our fast growing democracy. Cut off all the bulging stomachs that have turned out to be the rendezvous of politically stolen bags of rice, beans, yams, Isiewu (goat head)etc. Cut off the genitals of all the charlatans who use public money to patronize commercial and martial sex hawkers. But unfortunately, I doubt if I could be obliged these requests. If I could be obliged, wouldn’t it be far a much better birthday gift than the innocent head of John the Baptist?

At the golden age of 50, the ‘chief celebrant’, that is, the Federal Republic of Nigeria ought to be in moments of sober reflection.

“What have I to show for my 51 years of existence”? Can I publicly keep my head among other countries in the comity of nations?”

“When will other countries, like the biblical Queen of Sheba, begin to yearn to see my splendour in the manner King Solomon’s splendour was sought by the then world’s most beautiful queen?”

Jonathan, speak up on Sylva

S

IR: Recently, the media has been inundated with reports of some troubles in Bayelsa State where the President hails from. Although happenings in that state should not be a national discourse, it assumes that dimension when the president’s name is mentioned.

There have been reports in various newspapers that some loyalists of the President are plotting to unseat Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State. They are scheming relentlessly to ensure that he does not get the party’s nomination for the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold in February next year. In his place, they want a lawmaker who has been described as the president’s man.

As expected, the development has

sent many tongues wagging. Many political observers, especially those based in the state are asking what went wrong between Jonathan and Sylva who used to be like hand in glove. Many Bayelsans home and abroad are eager to know if the lawmaker’s ambition has affected the president’s relationship with Governor Sylva. They are curious to ascertain the veracity of the suggestion in some sections of the media that the lawmaker’s ambition has the backing of the president.

While the battle for the soul of Bayelsa rages, the president in his usual style has maintained an undignified silence. He has not made any comment to show his support or disapproval for any of the candidates neither has he debunked the accusations that he has a sinister

motive for Timipre Sylva.

Unlike other times when people in the state shy away from criticizing him, Jonathan’s silence on the issue of who governs the state seems to have become unbearable for many Bayelsans. They want him to lay the matter to rest by speaking out.

Aside from the palpable apprehension it has created, the president’s silence has stirred a fresh round of controversies. The Bayelsa State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which used to be very peaceful is now a divided house. Some Ijaw elders who are staunch supporters of the incumbent governor are threatening a showdown if their man is does not get the nomination for a second term. Students, youth and women groups in the state are also not left

out; they are threatening to draw blood if Sylva who seems to be the most popular candidate is ousted.

As the president, Jonathan has a myriad of problems to contend with, it is therefore not wise for him to create another one in his home state. He can avert an impending disaster by speaking out and making his stand known. He needs to tell Bayelsans where his heart lies and who his preferred candidate is. If indeed he wants another candidate to replace Timipre Sylva, he should disclose it and end the tension in the state.

If the he decides to remain quiet and let the speculations fester, then he must brace up for the consequences which may not be good for the state.

• PeremoboereTebekaemi wrote from Yenegoa.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 16

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

End of the working class heroes (2)

Reality Bites W

Olatunji Ololade

E do strange things. Like crickets gone nuts, we chirp in riotous indignation at the whirlpool of tragedy that has become the Nigerian dream.

But we will do nothing about it.

Thus when opportunity beckons for us to gird our loins and change our stars, we swallow discontent like a sweet pill and entrust our destinies to familiar undertakers committed to devastation and plunder.

Back when we aspired to be adults, we attempted to do such stuff that higher animals are made of; like democracy and bloodless revolutions – even in the face of abject truism that there could never be a revolution without bloodbath.

The democracy we declared has recoiled into a spent shadow.

Twelve years on in the grip of blood-drenched mascots, it steals from our sweetest fantasies like the proverbial slut making a surreptitious exit with her drunken lover’s wallet.

With a little more deliberation in our choice of character, we could essentially become something more than shriveled capillaries for familiar vermin to suck from. But we have not yet gotten a hang of the process of choosing an outlook and creditable character – which serves to reinforce that sincere and passionate belief that somewhere

between men and cattle, God created a tertium quid and called it ‘Nigerian.’ Apology to God. Nigerian – a clownish, simple creature, at times even enchanting within its limitations but ultimately foredoomed to fulfill a prophecy of folly, blind pride and insatiable lust. It is never my wish to subject our kind to such reckless deprecation but even as you read, the average Nigerian, working class and enfant terrible elite alike, are perfecting innumerable plots to selfdestruct; by the second.

As usual, behind those suicidal plots lurks a postscript; and predictably, regret – emotive shingles that constitute our second nature. And so do we stand ignorant and confused, half-conscious mutter of men that we have become; craving the essence of humanity and freedom only to forsake it for a token, a sentiment or fleeting vanity at election time. Just like we did last April.

We have become such recipients of freedom that are yet unsure of their right to enjoy it. This is the tangle of witlessness and resignation that behooves us all to become better patriots and rejuvenators of the Nigerian dream.

This need not be a herculean task.

If we could look carefully inwards, we shall find that beneath our passiveness and arrant cowardice agi-

‘But we have not yet gotten a hang of the process of choosing an outlook and creditable character – which serves to reinforce that sincere and passionate belief that somewhere between men and cattle, God created a tertium quid and called it ‘Nigerian.’ Apology to God’

K

AYODE Fayemi’s background and training in theoretical constructions came into the fore in one of his promotional interviews, marking his one year in office. In the interview, he was asked why he was involved in partisan politics, he responded: “My involvement in politics… was because I learnt that you can have all the good ideas in Nigeria and proffer solutions, but if you are not the driver, it will be very difficult for you to encourage the driver to take up what you are proffering ….” (The Punch, September 24, 2011).

Put in proper perspective, this statement conveys only one notion: that ideas are better effected only if the initiator engages in politics which Hans Morgenthau has described as the “struggle for power”. I must warn though that the governor was not limiting his proposition to only the public space because a deeper reading of the statement shows that since ideas of development are not the exclusive preserve of the politicians, an extrapolation of this construct into corporate politics is a logical possibility. For the purpose of analysis, we can call it the “Driver Theory”. What then is our working definition?

The ‘Driver Theory’ is a prescriptive ethereal construct, engendered by the failure of our systemic sanity, to facilitate and promote a new orientation in political engineering with the ultimate objective of providing accommodation for all and sundry possessing the panaceas for national growth and development. It is a fantastic addition to the nation’s political philosophy.

I still do not know how the application of this ‘theory’ or even the ‘theory’ itself will be able to meet global standard when it comes to empirical validation. The beauty of it however, is that the governor has located it within the Nigerian political space. Aside from this problem, one of the inadequacies of the proposition is that it assumes that every man of idea(s) possesses the capacity to install himself in power. Or it creates the picture that it is possible for every man of idea(s) to work his way to power. In this country where electoral contest entails the fetish and the messy, we should be very careful not to generate more heat for our polity. For instance, I know that Nigeria is one of the

tates a quest for self-preservation and gruesome airs – which further perpetuates our fate as a stalwart labour force foredoomed to specious dreams and profitless endeavours.

Time and over again, a few critics and self-styled leaders of thought have decried our unabashed idiocy, fraudulence and lack of guts; such curious kinks of the Nigerian mind and society unfortunately do exist at a grievous price, and must be reckoned with. Yet these shameful twists to our psyches make us even more vulnerable as fair game to Nigeria’s gangs of vicious, ruling elite.

The Nigerian elite, despite their brutishness cannot be wished away or successfully weeded out by violence or bloodshed even if we tried.

And yet they must not be allowed continual access to leadership and power. It’s about time we accepted them as the human elements of the Nigerian factor; monstrosities standing in the way of civilization, progress and common decency.

They can only be confronted and eliminated by an expansion in breadth of human reason, catholicity of will and culture. The native aspiration of such men to loot our coffers and feed their greed must not be encouraged any further. Nor should we persist with our pitiful complacency and eagerness to acquiesce to their boorish enterprises, for the love of a token.

It’s about time we dealt decisively with such degenerate elite that we sheepishly endure as Nigeria’s ruling class. But how? How can we stage a peaceful but decisive revolt without bloodletting? Is the current crop of youth identifiable as Nigeria’s working class capable of such challenging and fundamentally noble exploit?

No. But we could be soon. The Nigerian working class indeed personifies some ponderous metaphor: to stimulate our wildly weak

and untamed minds is to ignite a ravenous and uncontrollable fire; and to persistently impede our rudderless enterprises is to incite our volatile minds to a harvest of violence and bloodletting.

To these bothersome questions and contradictory tributaries of thought, the potent and yet inadequately explored panacea of Education towers above all others. We live in dire need of such human training that will awaken our minds to the timeless knowledge inherent in the ideal and the practical, the realistic and the fantastic, the permanent and the contingent, in a workable equilibrium.

The Nigerian working class as we have now comprises of two fractions of inconsequential beings: the cantankerous, irrational illiterate and innately savage kind constituted by menial workers, police officers, petty traders, street urchins and appallingly, students among others.

The other fraction consists of the so-called articulate, cultured and progressive breed comprising young, upwardly mobile professional doctors, engineers, journalists, lawyers, and teachers to mention a few. Members of both divides constituting the nation’s working class are appallingly invested with bitter cynicism, jadedness and despondency.

They exhibit as much bestiality, irresponsibility and irrationality as the much despised ruling elite particularly in instances demanding inviolable tact, sensitivity and maturity. Fans’ reaction to national team performances in the highly competitive game of soccer for instance presents a worthy yardstick by which the degree of humanity and maturity of the Nigerian working class may be judged.

Recently, Nigerian soccer fans launched a violent attack against the national team over perceived irresponsibility and lackluster perfor-

Anatomy of Fayemi’s “driver theory”

By Dapo Thomas countries in Africa where you need the entreaties and propitiation of the gods and divine intervention to win elections. In other climes, electoral competitions are allowed to go through temporal and systemic processes.

Being a beneficiary of both spiritual and judicial providence in power contestation, Fayemi should know that attaining power in Nigeria transcends individual aspirations and desires.

Again, Fayemi’s ‘driver theory’ may animate anarchy through the intensification of electoral contest with candidates exhibiting the tendency for desperation that would eventually result in bitter acrimony. There is nothing wrong in stimulating competition for power but it becomes a call to chaos if we create the impression in the citizens that all their ideas will amount to nothing if they lack the political power to power them to fruition.

Driving (leading) a state or nation demands more than having ideas. It encapsulates the totality of mobility fundamentals. The nation, like a vehicle, is a product of architectural engineering requiring and demanding the pooling of diverging ingenuity and phenomena for its mobility and functionality. Its dynamics most often, are beyond imaginative conjectures and fantasies which is what ideas are until they are practicalised. For a vehicle to function properly, it needs the expertise of the mechanical engineers (in case there is a breakdown), the vulcanisers (if any of the tyres gets punctured), the auto-electrical engineers (in case of electrical malfunction) and even the passengers who may give a helping hand if there is need to push the car to work.

What this means is that the president and all the governors should avoid monopolizing

knowledge of governance by listening to the ideas of their cabinet members who are in the same vehicle but unfortunate not to be on the driver’s seat. They should remember that they have not won election to actualize only their own ideas which may just be a fraction of the myriad of others coming from various segments of the society. In addition, they must ensure that those they put in cabinet are men and women who have ideas that can stimulate growth and promote development. I am not against rewarding political associates for services rendered or constituencies delivered but this should not be the only credential to secure cabinet appointment. They must have something to offer the society apart from assisting the governor to win election.

Here in the South-west, for instance, we have had good men who had ideas in power and most of what we are enjoying today are some of their achievements. We have had Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige, Bisi Akande, Lateef Jakande, Bola Tinubu.

And now, we have the newbreed leaders led

by Babatunde Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, Adams Oshiomole, Segun Mimiko and Ibikunle Amosun.

Fashola has become an institutional template for radical progressivism. He has, through his achievements within a short period, shown and proved to the people of Lagos State in particular and the whole world in general that even though he never nursed any political ambition or showed any desperation for power, the moment the divine thrusted the responsibility on him, he committed himself to using his position to lift our decadent society and advance the cause of cadaverous humanity. He is achieving this by reducing substantially the gap between the rich and the poor with the poor now

mance of the team which cost the country a place at the next African Cup of Nations tournament. That wasn’t the first time Nigerian soccer fans conducted themselves as lower brutes, for the love of football. And it wasn’t the first time either that Nigerian journalists and the high and mighty intellectual court of public opinion would excuse such behavior – thus applauding it – as some form of “highly emotional” and worthy response to the national team’s plodding and disappointing performance.

Why can’t we mete out similar treatment to the country’s ruling class even as they rob the nation blind and foredoom us all to everlasting poverty and decline? It is no doubt obvious we are incapable of certain vital rational, cognitive and affective sensitivities. A secondly, hourly and daily appraisal of Nigerians chosen randomly across both classes for instance, “revealed glaring abnormalities in their psychological constitution” according to recent sociological finding by a team of university researchers.

How could such vitally impaired characters be trusted to conduct their affairs appropriately and judiciously? This brings us back to the significance of an ingenuous process of human training in the struggle to build a progressive and formidable movement of the people for the people and by the people.

Democracy is simply never enough. Nigeria will never become that model nation of our dreams until we learn to evolve a social process that enables sufficient nurturing and guidance of thought and fundamentally adroit coordination of deeds – prime sureties to the path to true freedom, peace, equality, justice and national progress.

This brings us, again, to the issue of quality education…

• To be continued…

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accessing government deliverables – housing, education, health etc – for free or peanuts.

I stake my honour and integrity for Rauf Aregbesola and Kayode Fayemi that the people of their states would smile at the end of their terms. Aregbesola has a pantomimic passion for elevated populism and those of us who know him see him as someone who is in a haste to achieve transformation for the poor. He pursues the cause and the case of the poor with philosophical and aggressive exigency. Fayemi on the other hand is my friend of many years. He has esoteric initiatives for both human and capital development. He abhors with intellectual conviction the idea of human suffering in the midst of plenitude. He is also an impatient and an iconoclastic reformer cum transformer.

I am not too sure if the governor was using the ‘theory’ to explain the synergy/linkage between power and idea transmutation or if it was context–dependent meant to provide justification for his sudden switch from activism to politics. If he meant the former, I do not think he was raising any new issues because ordinarily anyone seeking political power must be a man of idea(s) except we want to strip this universal practice of its normative character. But if he meant the latter, then the ‘theory’ should not be promoted beyond the self–factor. No attempt should be made to use it as a general alibi for the quest for power otherwise, it is a thronging parade to ‘phillipi’.

• Thomas teaches History and International Studies at the Lagos State University.

‘They should remember that they have not won election to actualize only their own ideas which may just be a fraction of the myriad of others coming from various segments of the society’

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION ‘The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom’ ——An Age long popular adage HY has Nigeria since independence been ruled by leaders without the fear of God? This nation has so far been evidently ruled by church/mosque goers and not necessarily believers of the Almighty’s scriptures. This is the misfortune of a country that is so naturally blessed but humanly depleted and mismanaged by ravenousness leaders.

May be the time to rescue Nigerians from the fistic grip of impudent leadership have come? May be not? What may likely be considered a true response to these questions is whether the President Jonathan Goodluck administration would dare citizens of this country by forging ahead with its proposed plan to remove fuel ‘subsidy’ thereby inflicting a punitive regime of unaffordable hike in fuel price that would further impoverish the entire citizenry. The idea is already overheating the polity, creating in the process, unnecessary distractions to the important business of providing good governance.

It is not only Jonathan that is itching to implement this retrogressive policy. Even, the Governors’ Forum, a conglomeration of governors’ of states in the federation have thrown their weight behind the detrimental proposal. Whatever the intentions of government, good or bad, one thing is certain and that is the fact that such policy do not take due cognizance of the Nigerian realities of rampant poverty, intractable unemployment level and rampaging insecurity. Added to these facts is glaring official inefficiencies in the management of petroleum matters in the nation.

What is the primary responsibility of government to the people? The answer to this question can be gleaned with a perusal of section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that states clearly that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. It is sad that a government that is yet to curb crass prevalence of insecurity in the land is today thinking of worsening the economic conditions of the people through draconian and inimical policy ideas.

The proposed astronomical pump price increment per litre of fuel is an official insolence against suffering Nigerians masses. The tormented people of Nigeria rely on fuel to do everything both domestic and official. Clearly,

W

A

QUARTER of a century, yes that is correct, more than a quarter of 100 years; that is how long we have been at this singular problem. And what is the problem? Providence has endowed us with immense natural resources but there is a small problem: how to appropriate it and enjoy it. Since 1985, successive governments of Nigeria had been telling the citizenry that the prices of petroleum products were being hugely subsidized. And each time, the response from government has always been to increase prices. So after over 25 years of relentless price increases, here are some unanswered questions that could help the populace begin to understand this fuel subsidy matter: When will the price increases stop? For eight years of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, he increased fuel price seven times, taking the pump price from N20 to N70. No tangible palliative measures were instituted, no major infrastructure upgrade and most importantly, no new refineries were built in eight years. The situation was that each time prices of petroleum products rose in the world market, prices were increased at home. This vicious cycle predated Obasanjo. In fact it was termed ‘correct pricing’ at one point and at another time, it was ‘appropriate pricing’. While they were at it they created more bureaucracies like the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Committee (PPPRC) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF). There was also Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

Yet the problem has remained unsolved till date. How many times more will we increase prices; can we have detailed reports of previous ‘subsidy removals’ and the results?

Why can’t we refine for export? We have been told that the reasons we are not building new refineries are that government can’t manage them and two, that the prices of products are not right for investors. How come refineries both public and private are thriving in other oil producing countries like Venezuela, Libya and Saudi Arabia where product prices are far lower than Nigeria’s?

Can someone be kind enough to tell Nigerians how much has been spent in repairing our refineries in the past two decades? If refineries are crucial to the growth of our oil

Fuel and leadership without Almighty’s fear

• Omar those goading the President and the governors to embark on this injurious expedition are definitely enemies of the Nigerian state.

The governors and retinue of presidential aides behind this damaging idea are enemies of the people because they deliberately closed their minds/eyes to certain salient realities.

Obviously, they are only interested in the revenues to be stolen that would accrue to state coffers from hike in price of fuel through evil removal of fuel subsidy.

The country has been fed with official lies that government is losing trillions of naira yearly through spending on fuel subsidy. This same old mantra is what President Jonathan’s administration is relying on to excessively increase fuel price at this inopportune time from N65 per litre to N195. The trillions of naira that

the Federal Government claims to be spending yearly on fuel subsidies is not done to help the masses but to grease the palm of some influential Nigerians in high places, the independent marketers and more importantly to cover up official inefficiencies.

These are the people that feed fat on the avoidable shortcomings of the system. This inimical idea of fuel subsidy removal has indeed exposed the ingrained corruption and ineptitude in the system. It has since been discovered that with more prudent official approach to fuel issues, there would not be any need for fuel subsidy or even the controversy currently being witnessed.

For example, the problem of freight and landing cost element of refined crude would have been obviated if Nigeria’s aging and malfunctioning refineries were to be working at full capacity. Regretfully too, importers of refined fuel usually build-in questionable charges to arrive at outrageous landing cost of per litre price of fuel. There are also avoidable logistic hiccups at the Ports with heavy costconsequences.

Even if previous administrations closed their eyes to all these facts, it would be satanic a thing for the current government to feign ignorance of all these facts that could help quickly eradicate the problems of fuel pricing and scarcity in the country. It would not be immodest if one calls on the government to let the concerned public know why the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on Turn-Around-

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS O8055001684 email:steve_osuji@yahoo.com

Fuel Subsidy: the frequently unanswered questions sector, why can’t we build and concession them out? Why can’t we build solely for export purposes? Is it not the same virus that has infected our rubber, our cocoa, cotton, fruits, cassava, etc.; we sell raw, we are too lazy to add value.

Why aren’t the oil majors building refineries? As a strategic economic policy, why can’t oil majors like Shell, Chevron, Mobil, etc, be mandated to build refineries? Don’t they own refineries in other parts of the world where they operate? After operating here for nearly 50 years, what is the cost of a refinery or two thrown into the bargain?

Even Niger Delta militants built makeshift refineries in their hundreds. Surely, and unlike the Nigerian government, they can manage their facilities more efficiently and they can produce for export and also sell to Nigeria at spot market prices. We would eliminate some costs if we bought at home. If we had thinking leaders, this approach could have been adopted 20 years ago. Consider all the benefits that go with running refining and petrochemical complexes in Nigeria in terms of jobs, ancillary products and wealth creation. Let someone please explain why oil majors have refused to build refineries in Nigeria?

What is the situation in other OPEC nations? No other country among the

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) runs her oil sector the way Nigeria does hers. There is no other OPEC nation where refineries and petrochemical complexes is not a booming sector by itself. Hard as one searched, one could not find any other OPEC nation that imports refined products as massively as we do. Even in non-oil producing countries like South Africa, Egypt and Ghana, these facilities; either private or public, are run efficiently like the strategic national institutions they ought to be.

What really does NNPC do? Many Nigerians do not know at which point the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) fit in into the national energy value chain. Is its job only to collect rent and disburse? The other day, the Speaker of the House commended NNPC for its unwavering efforts in its albeit, fruitless search for oil in the Chad Basin. One almost died of sorrow. After 50 years, NNPC has not been able to embark on oil drilling and exploitation. Every year, it sells off oil blocks to foreign firms. But for over two decades it has embarked on a wild goose chase in the desert for oil. Can Nigerians be told how much has been spent on this sustained scam so far, where is the funding coming from, how long has it been on and how much longer?

NNPC cannot run refineries, it cannot man-

Maintenance (TAM) in the last four years have not resulted in improved refining capacity in the nation’s refineries. The president as the leader of the country would do well by revealing to Nigerians the unscrupulous elements that have been apprehended and punished since it is now established that the epileptic condition of the refineries was a consequence of sabotage.

The labour movement and the civil society groups have in unequivocal terms informed the government that removal of fuel subsidy is tantamount to a covert declaration of war. Even the real organised private sector including NACCIMA and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have dissociated themselves from the official induced support given removal of fuel subsidy by the Aliko Dangotes and Femi Otedolas of this world under the guise of representing that important sector. This administration will have more to lose than gain if the current fragile atmosphere degenerates into an avoidably chaotic situation. The truth of the matter is that the Nigerian economy is incapable of carrying the burden of astronomical fuel price increment whether in the immediate or even in future. Such a move will worsen the corruption inclination of citizens and institutions. No rational economist can convince me for instance that in a country where the minimum wage is N18, 000 (with most of it already heavily depleted by tax charged by the governors), that the citizens can bear the consequence of its concomitant inflationary trend. What about its negative impact on production cost? We should not close our eyes to the fact that infrastructures have almost irretrievably broken down: the rail system is gone, no mass transit system in place, industries are daily folding-up while power, the engine of any worthwhile economy is epileptic or better put in comatose. What the government should do is to ensure that the refineries are working so that crude oil exploited here can be refined also in the country. Through this, all unnecessary costs added to the final per litre price of fuel can be removed. It may even mean that Nigerians will pay less than what is presently being paid per litre price of fuel. But the question is: Would the cartel benefiting from this aberrant fuel process allow this to happen?

Whatever it is, this government must realise the sensitivity of the fuel subsidy matter. If it proceeds against the voice of the people which is also the voice of God; then, it should realise that this is the beginning of a chain of events, the end of which no one can predict.

age tank farms and it can’t even manage the importation process (racket). The only thing we know and the sustained impression we have about NNPC is that it is a house of thieves. But we really will like to debunk that impression. What does the behemoth do, what is its staff strength, what is its annual budget…?

If the duo of NNPC and the Petroleum ministry are on sure grounds about this subsidy issue why don’t they organize town hall meetings to enlighten Nigerians instead of hiding behind a faceless group – CAMPAIGN AGAINST WASTE, to issue meaningless messages?

Is this an IMF/World Bank agenda? The minister of finance, Professor Ngozi OkonjoIweala will have to be upfront on this and tell Nigerians whether this fresh quest for ‘subsidy’ removal has anything to do with her second coming. During her first coming, it was a regime of almost quarterly price jerk up in the guise of subsidy removal? One will be shocked if this is what she advised. It did not work. It will not work. Every little boy knows that the problem is mindless corruption and suicidal ineptitude. Where is the leadership to tackle this twin-headed monster? Where is the fresh thinking for a problem that is about 30 years old?

Lastly, in the interest of the public, this column offers to donate this space to the NNPC or the Ministry of Petroleum Resources if need be to answer these posers.

LAST MUG: the Abia anachronism: what on earth was Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State thinking when he decided to sack nonAbians in the State’s civil service? It is even more confounding when it is said that it was done to reduce the burden of paying the new minimum wage. So, how much saving has been achieved? How would that compare if all Abians working in other states were chased away? How many ghost workers has Gov TA busted from his payroll, how many over aged workers? Some governors are using the opportunity provided by this new wage regime to drastically reform their civil service. It is not too late for our dear Ochendo to please have a rethink, reverse this eartingling policy and deploy quiet diplomacy to mend fences. As we say, Nd’Igbo anyi o ri ole ma na lugbu onwe anyi?

Nation Friday, October 21, 2011

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Owubokiri's rant stuns Ezeji

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HARKS' forward, Victor Ezeji has criticised former Nigeria international, Richard

Owubokiri over his declarations that the club’s strikers are not up to standard.

After attending a training session of the club, Owubokiri said club’s "strikers don’t understand the basics of the game."

Ezeji, the most experienced striker at the club has quickly moved to voice his sentiments on Owubokiri’s comments.

“I am really disappointed by his comments because it is not,” an angry Ezeji told SuperSport.com.

The former Enyimba and Dolphins’ attacker said Owubokiri’s observations are flawed as he only saw the players in one training session.

“Training sessions are different from real match situations. Besides, you can’t judge a team based on a

single match. I am the fourth top scorer in the league so we can’t all be that bad in Sharks,” Ezeji said.

Bright Ejike, Gomo Onduku, Paschal Ejike, Fortune Ominiowari and Michael Andrew are the other strikers of the squad.

• Victor Ezeji

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ROUBLED Nigeria manager, Samson Siasia has doused report saying he is under pressure to resign from his position.

Siasia, 44, was named head coach of the Super Eagles in November 2010 but has come under fire since October 8 for failing to guide his country to the 2012 Afcon.

"No I'm not under pressure to resign," said Siasia while answering questions on a Lagos-based radio programme on Thursday.

The Super Eagles' coach also accepted "full responsibility" for his team's failed attempt to reach the Africa Cup of Nations.

He also believes that the 2-2 draw against Guinea represents a loss but

Quadri wants ‘pound of flesh’ against Sporting N

By Innocent Amomoh added.

Speaking further, the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps officer said: “For me it is going to be a tough fight as I will have to face their Chinese and a strong Portuguse players whom I met last season. I played against the Chinese thrice and I was able to succeed twice, while he beat me once, while I met the Portuguese player once and I won 3-2. But this time around, I will have to be at my best if I am going to win the matches against them.”

Quadri’s team currently tops the league table with six points from two matches.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State-born athlete, who is ranked 226 in the world by the International Table tennis Federation (ITTF) in its October rating, was named the number one player in Portugal by the Portuguese Table Tennis Federation in December 2010 and by December he hopes to extend his equipment deal with Germanybased Sports Manufacturing firm – Joola.

Among the list of players endorsed

by Joola, Quadri remains the only black and African player on the list of the firm. The African Singles Cup former champion was signed up by the German firm for a two-year deal in 2009 and with few months to his expiration of his first deal, the company has shown interest to extend the player’s contract.

P

ETER Rufai has warned against plans to dispense of the service of Samson Siasia as Super Eagles’ head coach.

Siasia has come under fire for failing to guide Nigeria’s Super Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year.

But former Nigeria goalkeeper told SuperSport.com that instead of sacking the troubled coach, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should explore ways in assisting him (Siasia) technically by “sending him to coaching courses.”

Rufai, 47, explained that though Siasia excelled as a top player there is still need for him to brush up his knowledge in football coaching.

“I knew Samson so well as a player and I must say he was one of our best when we played together. But it is always a different ball game as a player and as a coach. As a coach you need to step up your game regularly to catch up with the latest trends in the business,” said Rufai.

The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations further said the Nigerian men’s national team will suffer adversely if Siasia is sacked considering the high turnover of coaches in the past years.

“The truth is that we have changed too many coaches in the past years. We had (Shuaibu) Amodu just about two years or less ago. Then we brought in a foreign coach for the World Cup in South Africa. My former teammate (Austin) Eguavoen took charge of the team on a caretaker basis before Samson was appointed less than a year ago.

“Seriously that is not good for a nation that is regarded as the biggest or largest exporter of footballers in Africa. With different coaches comes different styles and this will affect the team,” said Rufai.

GOVERNOR’S CUP LAGOS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Bhambri, Malik, Floris through to semi

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HE 11th edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship revved up with Indian’s duo of Yuki Bhambri and Malik Vijayant qualifying for the semi final in the men’s category of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned tournament.

While Bhambri defeated Vishnu Vardhan 6-4, 76, winner of the men’s singles in the second leg of last year’s edition, number 2 seed Karan Rastogi of Indian was defeated by Number 7 seed India’s Malik Vijarant in straight sets game of 6-4,6-4.

Top seed in the men’s singles, Kamil Capkovic of Slovakia was sent out by number 6 seed, Ante Pavic from Croatia in a grudge match that lasted more than four hours. The match ended 7-6, 6-7, 6-4.

South African Ruan Roelofse (4) beat Indian Ranjeet Virali-Muguresan in another straight sets of 6-4,6-2. Indian Yuki Bhambri (5) survived the scare of Vishnu Vardhan in 6-4, 7-6(2) match.

wants Nigerian football fans to allow him continue handling the country's national team using the Clemens Westerhof era as an example.

"I want to tell Nigerians that I'm sorry. I take full responsibility for what happened. These are hard times for us all. The 2-2 draw is like I have lost 10 times already. I need time to build this team. Westerhof had five years to build and he came out with a great team. I beg Nigerians to forgive me," Siasia said.

The future of Siasia as the Nigerian head coach has come under review with the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) waiting to make a decision on that regards.

Rufai rooting for Siasia

PORTUGUESE TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE IGERIA’S national table tennis player, Aruna Quadri believes that his Portuguese club is bent on avenging the defeat they suffered in the hands of Sporting Club in the Portuguese Super Cup when they meet in this weekend’s league match.

The All Africa Games (AAG) bronze medalist in the men’s singles event, plies his trade with GDSR Os Toledos and he has admitted that his absence during the Super Cup may have contributed to his team’s bashing by the Porto-based team.

“The fact that my team lost to Sporting in the Super Cup will surely avail us the opportunity to avenge the defeat when they come visiting this weekend.

My coach admitted that my absence due to the AAG caused the loss and that the team cannot do without me. But for this weekend’s league match, my coach had to delay the encounter and that my presence this time must make a different as he is looking forward to avenge for the loss that the team suffered during Super Cup,” he said.

Though, Quadri admitted that their opponents would not be a push-over, as they are capable of defeating any team in front of their home fans.

“It is not going to be easy against Sporting but my team is confident that my presence this time will make a perfect difference. I believe we are having a more formidable team with the likes of Diogo Silver and Sas Lasan and myself, and we should be able to defeat them,” he

I'm under no pressure to resign—Siasia

By Innocent Amomoh and Stella Bamawo Meanwhile, 16 years old Sachia Vickery of USA though lost left no one in doubt that she has a bright future in the game with her performance against Anna Floris in the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship yesterday.

Unranked Vickery stretched Number 2 seed, Anna Floris of Italy to a limit before she finally gave up in a tension soaked quarterfinal match that ended 16, 6-2, 6-1.

The American lady, who upset number 5 seed, Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia in Wednesday’s second round said after the match she has taken the defeat in good faith to focus on her outing in the second leg of Etisalat/ FCMB sponsored championship which holds next week.

“It’s painful to go at this stage having put in great effort from the beginning of the Main Draws. I think this will put me in good form to do well in the second

leg,” said Vickery who came to Lagos, Nigeria, with her mother.

Meanwhile, quarter final matches played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan yesterday recorded some upsets.

In the women’s singles, top seed, Nina Bratchikova of Russia defeated Danka Kovinic 6-2, 7-6(4). Elina Svitolina of Ukraine beat Sweden’s Conny Perrin, while Croatia’s Donna Vekic defeated Natasha Fourouclas from South Africa.

6-2, 6-1.

In today’s semi final pairings, Ante Pavic will battle Yuki Bhambri, Roelofse Ruan will take on Vijayant Malik. In the women’s singles, Bratchikova will face Vekki, while Svitolina will battle Floris for the final ticket.

The final of the flrst leg will be played on Sunday as against Saturday earlier plan by the Local Organising Committee. The change in schedule is due to the local government elections which will take place on Saturday in Lagos State.

The former Deportivo La Coruna keeper also spoke on the failure of Nigeria to qualify for the 2012 AFCON. He described it as “a big blow for football in the country because we have a lot of players that can help us not just qualify but compete for the trophy.”

Rufai made more than 60 appearances for Nigeria as a goalkeeper between the 1980s and 1990s and played at the Fifa World Cups in 1994 and 1998.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FALLOUT

Italian Serie A too tough—Taiwo A

FTER 90 minutes nod by coach Massimiliano Allegriin in AC Milan 2-0 defeat of FC BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo says Italian Serie A is a very difficult league.

“The league is very difficult; I’ve been watching lots of DVD’s to learn what I can. In the Champions League the play is different. I know it a bit better than I know Serie A because I have some experience in playing there. I think Milan is a team that can compete anywhere with anyone," the former Marseille defender said.

Taiwo played the whole duration of the clash with a lot more confidence than he displayed in his debut against Cesena in a Serie A game. The left back even joined the attack and tried a couple of his

•Milan boss hails defender •Rated by La Gazzetta dello Sport

By Bimbo Adesina trademark canon shots, which missed target.

“I’m happy to have played a big game this evening and to have been able to help the team. I’m also happy because this evening I’ve been able to show what I can do on the field. I’m having more and more faith in my abilities in training and during the games; I think you can see that when I play,” Taiwo said.

“I have a good relationship with [Antonio] Cassano, he’s always smiling. There’s a good feeling at the Milanello sports centre. I can’t be

anything but happy here,” he added.

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri showered praises on the progress Taiwo showed against BATE Borisov on Wednesday night.

"It was good to give Taiwo a chance to show what a good player he is. He's getting a lot better in training. He still needs to improve, while Antonio Nocerino and Alberto Aquilani have settled in very well," said a pleased Allegri.

In the same vein, Italy's biggest sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport rated Taiwo 6.5 on Thursday morning after putting in a good performance and the player is happy that he finally got a chance to show Milan and their fans what he’s capable of.

Eagles, biggest Nations Cup losers —Adepoju

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X-NIGERIA midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju holds the opinion that the current members of the Super Eagles’ playing personnel will be the “biggest losers” for missing out of the 2012 AFCON. Adepoju, now general manager at Nigeria Premier League (NPL) side, 3SC, said to SuperSport.com that the players will be the first casualties of the country’s failure to qualify as one of the finalists to the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

He explained that the market value of some Super Eagles’ players will drop due to the absence of the country from the Afcon.

“You don’t miss a major international competition like the Nations Cup and expect that your value will climb in the transfer market. Some of our players are in leagues where many people do not follow them and the Nations Cup would have presented them with a good opportunity to sell themselves because it is a competition that is well respected and followed across the world.

“No doubt, a lot of people will lose out (financially) due to the failure of the team to qualify (for the Afcon) but I think the players, especially some of them playing in leagues that most people don’t follow too often

will be the biggest losers,” Adepoju said.

The 40-year-old, who doubles as technical director at 3SC, expressed sadness that Nigeria will not feature in the Afcon for the first time in 25 years.

But he advised that rather than apportion blames, the football buffs should start making provisions for the 2013 Afcon and the 2014 Fifa World Cup. “It is sad that Nigeria won’t be there (at the 2012 Afcon). And this is where the players will feel the pain more when they watch on television as other footballers from the continent take part in the competition in January. But this is the best time to start planning for the next Nations Cup and World Cup,” he said.

On the future of Siasia, the former 3SC midfielder believes that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should not be hasty in dismissing the Super Eagles’ head coach.

“I think the federation needs to be cautious in taking a decision on him (Siasia). I believe he still has a lot to offer but at the same time it is the federation that has the final say in the whole of the matter,” rounded off Adepoju.

Adepoju was capped more than 50 times for Nigeria in his more than 10 years with the Super Eagles.

Aiyegbeni : Blackburn players want to win for Kean B

• Aiyegbeni

LACKBURN Rovers striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni says the players are desperate to ease the pressure on manager Steve Kean.

Rovers are bottom of the Premier League table and a section of fans staged a post-match protest against Kean earlier this month.

A march is planned on Sunday before the Tottenham game at Ewood Park, followed by a sit-in protest after the match.

"We just have to stick together and do our job. In the end those fans will be with us again," Yakubu said.

"The protests do affect some players but I just concentrate on doing my job.

There is always pressure when the team is not doing well. But the pressure isn't on the team when you're losing, it is always going to be put on the manager.

All the players are behind Steve Kean.

When he talks to us in training, we are impressed. It's our job to go out there and win - and that's all we focus on.

"We got a good draw against QPR last week and we will take that into our game against Tottenham. If fans stick

Victor Moses ready to sign new Latics Deal

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IGAN Athletic striker Victor Moses is ready to put pen to paper on a new contract with the Latics, although he still has two years left on his current deal, the club want to tie the former Crystal Palace man down for the foreseeable future.

At just 20, Moses is one of the bright lights of the Latics squad and he is really happy and keen to sign the new deal, though he is letting his agent sort out the finer details Speaking to the Wigan Evening Post, Moses said: "We're all disappointed with the way things have gone recently, but all I know is I`m happy here, I love the club and I really want to stay" "As far as the contract goes, that`s for my agent and the club to sort out. I just want to play my football - I'll let other people worry about the other stuff.

"I've told him to get on with it, and come back to me when they're ready for me to sign.

"For the moment, though, all my focus is now on helping Wigan get away from the bottom of the league - I can't be worrying about anything else."

together with us, we will be fine."

Yakubu, 28, signed a three-year deal for Blackburn on transfer deadline day in August, ending a nightmare final three years at Everton. A ruptured Achilles in 2008 put him out of the game for almost a year and he was never able to work his way back into manager David Moyes' plans, ending last season on loan at Leicester.

He made an immediate impact at Rovers, scoring twice on his debut in the 4-3 win against Arsenal, Blackburn's only Premier League win this season. And Yakubu believes there are plenty more wins to come under Kean's stewardship.

He added: "Steve Kean and the owners are big influences on me.

Without them, I wouldn't have come here.

"We have a young team with quality

players. It's just about being patient.

People should give Kean a chance to do his work and we will be fine.

"I know it's hard when you don't win games and the pressure is on the manager - that's normal. For me as a striker, if I don't score goals I'm under pressure. If we don't keep clean sheets, there's a pressure. In this game, there's always pressure. But we just want to go into this game at the weekend giving our best to get the three points we need."

Aiyegbeni will be reunited with Spurs manager Harry Redknapp on Sunday, the man who brought him to the Premier League with Portsmouth in 2003 and whom he describes as an "inspiration".

Eneramo: I dumped Tunisia for Nigeria

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IVASSPOR of Turkey striker Michael Eneramo has said he sacrificed for Nigeria and dumped Tunisia and believes he still got an unfinished business with the Super Eagles. The former Esperance of Tunisia striker was inexplicably dropped from the Angola 2010-bound squad at the last time but the Kadunaborn hit man said that he had put the bad memories behind him to look into a brighter Eagles future.

Eneramo, who spoke from his Kaduna base, where he has been on a compassion leave to attend his mother’s burial, maintained that the important role he played under former Coach Shuaibu Amodu to ensure Eagles double qualification to the 2010 Nations Cup and World Cup, could not be wished away by the current coaches.

The former Lobi Stars striker bemoaned the Eagles failure to qualify for the Nations Cup but reckoned that results would have been overturned had the played converted loads of chances that came their way. He still believes that Eagles needs a striker in his mould who can put defenders on their toes and commit them to make mistakes in Eagles’ favour.

“I was treated unfairly but I cannot stop serving my country,” Eneramo sounded out.

“I have a duty to give my all whenever I’m called upon to serve my fatherland. If I had been capped my Tunisia, I know I would have made a

By Stella Bamawo lot of difference in their team because of my reputation in that country.

“But I don’t have any regrets whatsoever choosing to don Nigeria colours and I know I will have my chance again.

“Eagles need a striker who is big as I am, who can carry defender along, worry them, and commit to make mistakes and score.

“I have played with strikers like IK Uche, Obinna Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins and I had great games.

“I was watching our 2012 Nations Cup chances slip away in my house in Kaduna and I was in pains because I knew that was a huge chance we missed.

“If I was on that pitch, I bet I wouldn’t allow those chances slip. I play with Zayatte (Kamil) in Turkey and I have played against him severally and I believed I would have handled him better.”

Eneramo, however, reacted fiercely from an earlier report from the local media that he was full of regrets dumping Tunisia for Nigeria, describing the story as unfounded, wicked and criminal. He maintained he never granted any interview on the issue and wondered where the story came from.

The Kaduna-born striker, who rejoins his team this week, has scored twice in five appearances for Sivasspor this season.

Ehiosun primed for Olympic qualifiers

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IGERIAN striker Ekigho Ehiosun is focused on helping Nigeria qualify for next year's Olympic Games in London.

The Samsunspor forward, who is also a full international, is yet to get over Nigeria's failure to reach the African Nations Cup, and says that failure is fuelling his desire to be at the Olympic Games.

"It was a big disappointment for all of us when we lost the Nations Cup ticket. Everybody in the team was devastated," Ehiosun said.

"But now, some of us have another chance to make Nigerians happy by qualifying for the Olympics and we don’t want to lose that opportunity."

The forward is one of a host of Europe-based players Austin Eguavoen is counting on as he prepares to head for the CAF Under23 tournament in Morocco, and Ekigho can hardly wait to get cracking.

"I'm just waiting for them to send my invitation. The club says they will release me if they get it on time. We have no choice but to do our best to qualify."

The tournament kicks off on November 26.

Osun Governor’s Cup kicks off November 2 •As Aregbesola charges Okedara on Universal Boxing Title

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S part of efforts to further develop Osun State youths through football, Osun State

Football Association has concluded arrangements to organize the maiden edition of Osun State Governors Cup slated to hold across the Local Governments in the state next month, kick off is Wednesday November 2, 2011.

The competition according to a release from the Osun State Football Association Secretary Akin Adio is designed to mark one year anniversary of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and also serve as recruitment platform for clubs in the state to discover hidden football talents.

However, the closing date for obtaining forms for the competition earlier slated for Monday October 17, 2011 has been shifted till next week Thursday October 24, while draws of the tournament will now hold on Thursday October 27, at the Oshogbo Township Stadium.

Meanwhile, Osun State Commissioner for sports, youths and special needs Barrister Stephen Kola Balogun has charged Boxer Mojeed Okedara to go all out to win the vacant Universal Boxing Council Title (UBC) when he slugs it with his opponent Eric Kwandy of Ghana at LTV 8 Agidingbi, Ikeja Lagos on Sunday October 23.

Barrister Kola Balogun said Mojeed Okedara should win the world Boxing Title to appreciate the massive support Osun State Government under Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been given him.

According to the release issued by the image maker Osun state sports Council Prince Dauda Abimbola, Barrister Kola Balogun charged boxer Okedara to reenact the performance that earned him victory in his previous fights both at the National and continental Levels.

Barrister Kola – Balogun concluded that winning the world Boxing Title will certainly assuage lovers of sports that were disappointed by the dismal performance of the super Eagles of Nigeria in their qualifier football match against Guinea.

RESTRICTION

CRIME

Council bans collection of development levy

Poverty pushed me into robbery

Edo

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Lagos

FRIDAY OCTOBER 21, 2011

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COMPLAINT Youths protest over oil derivation fund Imo

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Edo to train 180 youths in farming

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•Governor Oshiomhole

OWARDS re-awakening the interest of youths in farming, Edo State government has concluded plans to train 180 youths from across the 18 local government areas in various forms of farming.

The youths, according to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Abdul Oroh, will be trained in animal husbandry, crop production and fishery.

Mr. Oroh, in a chat with Newsextra said it was one of the approaches adopted by the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to deal with problem of food insecurity and to yield high income to farmers.

The Commissioner, who ac-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

knowledged that investment in agricultural sector has been inadequate, said Governor Oshiomhole has taken steps to open up the rural areas for easy evacuation of agricultural produce.

He said: “Agriculture cannot be developed in a vacuum. There is no point of producing agricultural products when you cannot evacuate them. The rural areas have been opened up and that has helped to increase interest in agriculture.

This is because of the massive road networks.

“I can say that the governor has renewed his commitment as he has paid state counterpart funding ini-

tiated nation-wide as far as it affects Edo State. Since the past three months, N120m has been released as counterpart funding to our various partners in agriculture. We have given out N1b as agricultural loans to 750 co-operatives in the state. Two weeks ago, N48m out of the N87m cash available to me was disbursed to FADAMA farmers.”

Oroh explained that the Ministry of Agriculture was being re-organised for them to identify where they got it wrong in the past and how they would adopt new approach to create more jobs and get the youth interested in agriculture.

He said the state government has procured and distributed 7,170 metric tons of fertiliser to farmers

at subsidised rate and that the loans were given to genuine farmers after adequate screening.

Oroh expressed his optimism that Edo State would soon become number one in rice production in the country when the Vietnamese currently cultivating rice at Anegbette in Estako East Local Government Area fully harnessed the 10,000 hectares given to them for rice cultivation.

He said the Vietnamese have only cultivated 45 hectares out of the 10, 000 hectares and that they are modifying seeds they need to expand their farming.

She charged the youth to make sure they correct every aspect of their lives where they feel the adults had failed.

The NYSC state coordinator, Solomon Ochim described the event as part of the passing out of the October 4 of 2010 Batch C corps members in the state.

He said the agency decided to make it a low keyed event because, according to him, the independence anniversary was equally low keyed.

Ochim said that one of the cardinal points was to recognise excellence which he said would

become a yearly event in the state.

It was the first time such an event was being held in Anambra State.

The NYSC Coordinator further said that the way some corps members who erred are being sanctioned each year would be the way those who distinguished themselves in their different communities would also be honoured.

He however commended Governor Peter Obi for his as-

Anambra rewards 10 Corps members Awardees displayed great leadership standards

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EN members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) have been rewarded in Anambra State.

Adamu Mohammed from Kebbi State, Eboigbe David from Edo, Pepple Tamundipine from Rivers, Teh Roberts from Akwa Ibom, Brandy Unaowo from Benue, Fashola Abiodun from Osun, Nicodemus Gaantei from Bayelsa, Umeakunwanne Chikaodili from Anambra, Igbineweka Cyril from Edo and Evbuonwan Owen from Edo, all distinguished themselves during their primary assignments, and were honoured by both the state governor Peter Obi and the NYSC office in Amawbia.

They were posted to Inland Girls’ Secondary School Onitsha, Smarttrack Digital Security Limited, Union Secondary School Obosi, Ide Secondary School in Enugwu Ukwu, Zixton Secondary School Ozubulu, Texmaco Ventures Nigeria Limited, Girls’ Secondary School Ezinifite and Community Secondary School, Agulu, all in Anambra State.

The Corps members were said to have shown integrity, discipline and high leadership satandards.

Their conduct prompted Governor Obi to give them N50, 000 each.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Again, on October 1, 2011 at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, during the 51st anniversary celebration of the country’s independence, he dished out another N500, 000 to the corps members who were in attendance.

Apart from the 10 corps members, another six were equally recognised by the NYSC for showing leadership example in their different assignments.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lady Chinwe Anowai Obi said the state government honoured the Corps members for their integrity to remind the youth that they are indeed the leaders of tomorrow.

Anowai, who incidentally is the Chairman of the NYSC board in the state, described the recipients as those who had positioned themselves to take over the leadership of the country from the older generation.

“This is a big challenge to those who did not receive and it is also time for them to stand up in the midst of others.

“Governor Obi’s exemplary leadership qualities and the zeal he possesses should be a challenge to all of you by telling you not to give up in any challenge that might come your way in future.

“You were all witnesses when

•The rewarded recipients

he fought for his mandate in 2003, how he recovered it, how he was unconstitutionally impeached and how he survived it and also, how he fought for the tenure interpretation which he equally got. All these things are lee-ways for the youth in the society to achieve greatness.

“Anambra is a unique state with the good, the bad and the ugly. But this time round, the good are having their way and not the bad because we really have people who have excelled in their different endeavours,” she said.

•Continued on Page 26

THE NATION

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

NDDC organises entrepreneurship training

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FTER what could be regarded as dark and lowly days in the months of August and September, 2011, in the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), something to cheer about finally emerged on September 27, 2011.

The interventionist agency organised the entrepreneurship training programme for micro, small and medium-scale businessmen and women in Warri, Delta State.

The entrepreneurship training programme, which has received accolades from its participants, must have put smiles on the face of Mrs. Asato Iyasere Arenyeka who was performing her first official function as the acting Managing Director of the NDDC. Flagging off the wealth-creation programme of the interventionist agency seemed a fitting start for a chief executive that emerged from the shadows of a commission enmeshed in the throes of intrigues, in-fighting among the top echelon of its management team which led to its dissolution by the Federal Government.

Arenyeka, who is the substantive Director of Administration and Human Resources in the commission could be said to be on familiar turf. According to the acting NDDC boss, the wealth-creation programme is designed to train entrepreneurs on ways to achieve success in their businesses, thus creating jobs in the region.

She said the empowerment programme was borne out of the requirements of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan to support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector of the economy.

For the beneficiaries of the fiveday entrepreneurship training and capacity building programme, it was a huge step forward towards realising their dreams of raising their businesses to the level where they can employ more hands to grow and expand.

Those who think that a chartered accountant and retired director of finance of a Federal Government agency would find it difficult to attend such a training were pleasantly surprised to find Mr. Joel Avhurhi, who did not only participate, but also gladly shared the experience he had gained and opportunities it offered him.

He said: “All along, I had been running other people’s businesses.

I now know that it is a different ball game when you are running your own business which you started from the scratch. What I benefited from the programme mainly was learning how to set up small enterprises, efficiently manage the human and financial resources and, above all, how to

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

grow a business from micro to small enterprise and eventually to medium-scale enterprise.”

He said that the training was of immense benefit to him and most other participants. For that reason, he would want to recommend that it should be replicated in other parts of the state and indeed the whole Niger Delta region. He advised the NDDC to also ask the consultants to monitor the operations of the participants for the next few months to ensure that at least 50 per cent success rate is achieved, which would be a rare feat in a programme organised by the public sector.

Mrs Mercy Omoregie, who deals in clothing materials and accessories, was radiating with joy and optimism as she joined the other participants in the opening ceremony of the programme.

She said: “At the end of this exercise, I hope to be empowered to bring some vibrancy into my business and be an employer too.”

For Mr. Christopher Egbo, another participant who is engaged in the business of palm oil processing, the training offers him a unique opportunity to build on his skills and leverage on his management techniques to continue to build his small-scale enterprise.

No doubt, the support for entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium-enterprises across the Niger Delta will go a long way in tackling the problem of unemployment in the region.

Mrs. Arenyeka said the commission has concluded plans to train 1,000 entrepreneurs drawn from the nine states of the region as a way of creating employment and rejuvenating the economy of the states in the Niger Delta region.

She said: “This programme will equip entrepreneurs with tools, practical knowledge and skills that would address their challenges and guide their business processes on a daily basis. It will also enable entrepreneurs to add impetus to the socio-economic advancement of the region.’’

The woman at the helm of affairs

•Mrs Arenyeka presents a starter park to one of the participants at the NDDC said that the programme would enable entrepreneurs to gain access to business development services, increase access to finance and move them from micro to small-enterprises.

For these expected gains, she gave kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for his policies on employment, noting that NDDC’s support for MSMEs is in tandem with the Federal Government’s vision of ensuring a turnaround in the economy of the Niger Delta region.

She noted that already the Federal Government was meeting at a “roundtable” with the World Bank on ways to reduce unemployment in the region, adding that it was part of the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration.

Mrs Arenyeka was passionate about the gains of the training as she enjoined the participants to give it their all and arm themselves with sufficient knowledge that would catapult them to the league of world-class entrepreneurs who will further open the frontiers for the region’s economic prosperity.

“I believe that the Niger Delta

This programme will equip entrepreneurs with tools, practical knowledge and skills that would address their challenges and guide their business processes on a daily basis. It will also enable entrepreneurs to add impetus to the socio-economic advancement of the region

Anambra rewards 10 corps members •Continued from page 25

sistance to the NYSC and corps members in the state and prayed God to guide and protect him.

David Eboigbo, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, promised that they would not fail the country in their endeavours, even as he praised Governor Obi and the NYSC for the honour bestowed on them.

Some of them who spoke with Newsextra said they felt delighted for being picked by NYSC for recognition by the state government.

For Olagbaju Oluwaseun Merith, it was not easy coming from another state to win an award in an environment one was not conversant with. She said: “I feel happy and I thank

God for making it despite the stress.”

The 23-year-old was recognised for some of her projects she ventured into like environmental sustainability campaign, community health outreach and beautification of Community Secondary School Agulu-Awka in Awka South Local Government Area.

She told Newsextra that the major challenge she faced while executing such projects was garnering funds.

Teh Robert Ukoh from Akwa Ibom State described the day as worth experiencing, even as he added that it gave him joy that all his efforts were not in vain.

He excelled in construction of four bedroom urinary system at

Union Secondary School Obosi.

Also Evbuonwan Owen from Edo State whose projects were in two folds told Newsextra that it was not an easy thing for him.

He thanked God for making it possible.

Owen carried out sensitisation exercise on the effect of knowing one’s mental state, an exercise that took him to many schools with over 1,500 participants.

Furthermore, he constructed a library in Agulu community which was equally furnished with chairs and desks. This he achieved from savings from his meager allowances.

Again, he made available some books to the library which he acquired through some donations from some sponsors in Agulu community.

region is gifted with millions of creative, productive and constructive individuals. I am looking forward to seeing made-in-Niger Delta goods all over the world,” she said.

It may sound like a tall dream but the participants gave assurances that they are equal to the task.

Mr. Sibete Henry, an engineer who spoke on behalf of other participants, said that they were focused and were prepared to do all that it would take to break new grounds.

He urged his colleagues not only to learn but also to put into practice the knowledge they acquired for their own good and that of the region at large.

The self-employed engineer said the programme would equip upand-coming entrepreneurs like him with the knowledge and skills needed to run effective SMEs that would boost employment.

“This scheme gives us the opportunity to expand our businesses.

Our success will enable us to employ other youths, who will in turn boost the Niger Delta economy,” he said.

In his pep-talk to the participants, the Director, Commercial and Industrial Development, NDDC, Mr. Aniete Usen, described the micro, small and medium- enterprises as the engine room of the economies of developed nations, even as he urged the trainees to take the programme seriously.

He further said that so far, the entrepreneurship training and capacity building programme has been completed in seven out of the nine states covered by the NDDC. Mr. Uzo Nduka, the Chief Executive of Domino Information Company, one of the consultants partnering with the NDDC on the training programme, underscored the importance of the workshop and commended the NDDC for making it possible.

“I must commend the NDDC for this vision which has already received accolades and is being used

by United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR),” Nduka said. His firm is leading a team of consultants put together by the NDDC to drive the programme.

He identified six reasons why SMEs have a high failure rate. He said that records show that seven out of 10 SMEs fail within the first three years. This high failure rate, he said, makes it imperative to train entrepreneurs and arm them with the secrets of success.

According to the consultant, SMEs fail for a variety of reasons, which include poor management strategy; unfriendly business environment; lack of access to appropriate technology; lack of access to finance and limited access to markets. He said that these pitfalls were taken into account by the NDDC in designing the training programme.

“The strategy being adopted by the NDDC is what UNITAR is now using in other developing countries,” he said.

In addition to the training of entrepreneurs, the NDDC is also running Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) programme, which is designed to meaningfully engage graduates from the region and serve as a stopgap measure for the unemployed.

Since the programme took off last year, thousands of unemployed graduates have been enlisted by the commission and sent to various companies, including the SMEs to work for two years.

During the period, the commission will pay each of the beneficiaries N30, 000 a month which will be augmented by the employer with N15, 000. Like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the scheme is expected to help the young graduates gain the necessary experience which would enhance their chances of securing gainful employment or to become self-employed at the end of their tutelage in the industries.

The NDDC scheme is more or less a re-enforcement of the SMEs which are among the most potent forces for fast-tracking of the economic transformation of any country and there is no disputing the fact that SMEs hold the key to the future of developing economies such as ours.

As Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Awa, an investment expert puts it: “The quest to develop the Nigerian economy may remain a mirage unless efforts are made to boost the emergence of vibrant small and medium-businesses in the country.”

THE NATION

27

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

•The library building built by Obi in Awka

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HEY did not anticipate it and that was the reason why members of Anambra State Library Board were so excited when members of Canada branch of Anambra State Progressive Association (ASPA) presented books numbering over 10, 000 to the state library board.

Apart from that, the group, led by Prince Ofumelu said there were several other programmes lined up for the development of Anambra State.

From what the Director of the state Library Board, Mrs. Nkem Osigwe disclosed to Newsextra recently, the library edifice built by the Peter Obi administration will seat over 200, 000.

Osigwe said by April, 2012, the new Anambra State library which she described as a large one, will begin operation.

Furthermore, she told Newsextra that the library board will soon take delivery of 60 KVA generating set and 50 computer sets from an arm of Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in addition to what Obi had done for the board.

She said: “We are excited and happy considering the fact that the library is not yet open and an avalanche of books are being received from different groups. I believe that this is something to be celebrated.”

Osigwe recalled that it was as a result of Obi’s performance in the state that Nigeria Library Association (NLA) in July, 2011 chose the state as the host state for its 49th general annual conference.

She further told Newsextra that Anambra State, in 2009, won NLA award as the best state, adding that Governor Obi’s choice of developing all sec-

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HOUSANDS of supporters of the Chairmanship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area in Lagos, Hon Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe trooped out on Wednesday and yesterday to drum support her candidature.

Campaign slogans wafted through the length and breath of the council area during the rally.

The campaign train that moved across the nook and cranny of Aguda on Wednesday ended at the communities in Orile yesterday.

Various political songs including

•Some of the books donated

Group donates 10,000 books to Anambra library board From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

tors simultaneously has indeed helped in taking the state library board to its present position in the country.

Furthermore, Osigwe noted that with the donation by the group, it would help in reducing crime in the state, considering the growing level of male drop out from schools in the Southeast region. She said the donation was encouraging.

Governor Obi, who received the books on behalf of the state, commended the association for their kind gesture in making sure that Anambra

State did not lag behind in the scheme of things in the country.

He said that his administration will do more in the area of education.

Obi, however, regretted that the last library in the state was built in 1967, 44 years ago, adding that the previous administrations in the state did not deem it fit to build more libraries for the students.

He said that it is part of the resolve of his government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, stressing that his administration was ready to do more.

The future of our children is important. I have repeatedly said it that bequeathing anarchy to our children is a sin and woe betides anybody in this state that will be part of such thing. I have come to build this state and not to destroy it…It is unfortunate that a state that has been leading in education in this country has gone behind because of its citizens’ lack of interest. We cannot continue in this way

The Governor, therefore, called on individuals and other associations both in the country and in the Diaspora to take a cue from ASPA. “The future of our children is important. I have repeatedly said it that bequeathing anarchy to our children is a sin and woe betides anybody in this state that will be part of such thing. I have come to build this state and not to destroy it,” Obi said.

The leader of the team Prince Ofumelu and its Secretary-General told Newsextra that they felt it was a way to encourage Anambra’s development by starting with the library.

He said: “It was equally another way of bringing back the lost glory which had been the sing song of the Governor Obi. “It is unfortunate that a state that has been leading in education in this country has gone behind because of its citizens’ lack of interest. We cannot continue in this way. Let us follow the footsteps of our Governor, Mr. Peter Obi,” he said.

Also speaking, one of the members of Board of Directors of ASPA, Oby Nriagu told Newsextra that the group was impressed by the level of development in the education sector in the state, which, said, informed her coming up with the idea.

Nriagu further said that this was the first phase of what the group was planning for the state, adding that very soon, another batch of such consignment would arrive in the state.

According to her, the list of books brought in included Mathematics, computer books, nursing books, children’s books, dictionaries, encyclopaedia, geography books, general reference books, and educational toys.

She disclosed that some of the books were stolen from where they were loaded, especially those she called “talking books.”

Aspirant promises better education policy

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

those from popular Fuji musicians were rendered by cheerful men and women moving from one street to another.

They all dressed in different colourful shirts with inscription of the name and pictures of Akinyemi-Obe on them.

According to those who speak with Newsextra, leadership of ACN has done well in choosing a woman

to lead the council.

The Women leader in JinaduAiyetoro Ward at Aguda, Alhaja Iyabode Ayorinde believed Hon Akinyemi-Obe is best for the job.

“I think this is the first time in the history of the council since its creation by the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that woman would be given the party’s ticket. It has happened in Isolo and Agboyi-Ketu LCDAs. It is own turn to have a fair share of

•From right: Hon Akinyemi-Obe, vice chairman, Itire-Ikate LCDA; Alhaja Mulikat Ajal; chairman, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola; Akinyemi-Obe running mate; Hon Ismail Bello and ACN state Women Leader, Hon Toun Adeniran

woman leading our council,” said Madam Sola Alade.

“We believe she has garnered enough experience while holding political appointment in the Lagos State Education Board where she was part of the team that introduce Computer literacy in all public schools in the state likewise procurement and establishment of Teacher Resource centre in nearly 20 local governments,” she added.

Also speaking, the Babaloja of Doyin Market at Orile, Alhaji Kabir Abubakar saluted the courage of Hon Akinyemi-Obe for coming out to be counted among the political gladiators in the state.

Alhaji Abubakar, the ACN leader in Bale ward expressed optimism that the party’s candidate would do the council proud at the end of her tenure if elected.

Hon Akinyemi-Obe, decked in

green shirt promised not to let the people down.

She urged residents to come out en mass during the election to assist her actualise the mandate.

If elected, she said education and empowerment would take utmost priority of her administration.

The former board member of Lagos State Market Development Board said empowerment of the people is key to realize the vision of the council leadership to transform the council.

“We believe in initiating programmes that would enhance that capacity and skill of the people to help them be financially independent,” she said.

She lamented the mass failure of students in the National Examination Council (NECO), hoping to bring in her experience as former school administrator whose students have grown to become medical practitioners, lawyers and other enviable disciplines.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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Council bans collection of development levies

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•Governor Elechi

HE Chairman, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr Lazarus Ogbee, has announced a ban on collection of development levies .

Ogbee told journalists in Onueke , the council headquarters, that as a grassroots government: “it is the constitutional obligation of council areas to develop rural areas.

“This council will henceforth provide financial assistance to communities embarking on self help projects, and recently we donated N1 million each to Ameka and Nsokara communities in aid of their projects.”

Ogbee said that his council has also begun the rehabilitation of 32 feeder roads in various

Edo to re-deploy graduate teachers

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HE Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Omorotiomwan Ekpenisi, has announced plans by the government to re-deploy graduate teachers from primary to secondary schools.

Ekpenisi, who disclosed this during a ministerial briefing at the House of Assembly,in Benin said NCE holders would be employed and deployed to primary schools.

He said the ministry had commenced reregistration of private schools to eradicate examination malpractice, and expressed the ministry’s determination to abolish illegal levies.

“Principals have been warned (against illegal

Edo levies) and those found guilty have been demoted and sent to the classroom to teach,’’ he said.

The commissioner listed the ministry’s achievement to include payment of subvention to secondary schools, the abolition of illegal levy and training of personnel officers in collaboration with UNICEF. He said the challenges facing the ministry included dearth of manpower and the high rate of retirement which was higher than the rate of employment.

Enugu orders production of farmers database T HE Enugu State government has ordered the production of Enugu State Farmers database on the identities and activities of registered subsistent and commercial farms in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke who disclosed this at a press briefing in Enugu, noted that the production of the database would in addition enhance efficient agro-input among which were fertilisers, improved seeds and agro chemicals’ distribution to the real farmers Mr. Ugwoke said that the state executive council had approved over N50 million for the acquisition of 15 tractors, implements and spare parts allocated to the state by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

He recalled that this number was in addition to the 27 tractors already procured by government in the first quarter of 2011.

Ugwoke observed that the acquisition of the

M

Rivers may sack fraudulent health workers T

Ebonyi

communities of the area to boost agriculture and food security.

“Accessible feeder roads would enable the farmers in this area evacuate their produce.

As you know our people are predominantly farmers and the bulk of food consumed in this state comes from here.

“With the coming of the dry season, the council is grading and providing laterite in all the community roads as well as opening up new ones to encourage farmers and facilitate grassroots development.”

According to him, the council has succeeded in linking all communities in the area to the national grid and intensified effort in rural health and functional education development.

Delta CJ frees 13 inmates From Okungbowa Aiwerie,Asaba

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HIRTEEN inmates awaiting trial in Warri Central Prison, have regained their freedom.

Delta Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Smith set the inmates free during a prison visit.

Justice Smith, who reviewed over 488 cases, said the visit was not to free criminals but to set the records right.

Cases reviewed included rape, murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, kidnapping amongst others.

Inmates freed include those without case files, insufficient evidence and lack of witnesses.

•Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke (left) welcoming the Diaspora medical group to the state. From right, Dr. Tony Henshaw, Dr. Ify Nwabukwu and Dr. Felicia Bassey-Akamune at the Government House, Calabar during the visit

Monarch lauds group for free medical services T

HE Obong of Calabar, Etubom Ekpo Okon, has praised the Efik National Association, a U.S.-based group, for organising a one-week free medical care for the people of Cross River State.

Okon gave the commendation at his palace at the flag off of “Health Awareness Campaign’’, organised by the association in Calabar.

He expressed delight that the programme was eventually being held after several postponements, noting that it would give

tractors would make them easily available to the farmers at highly subsidised rates and in turn increase agric outputs in line with Governor Sullivan Chime’s envisaged mechanisation of agriculture.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by his Lands and Urban Development and Sports counterpart, Mr. Emeka Ujam and Chijioke Agu as well as the Special Adviser to Governor on Servicom, Mr. Sylvanus Ononyima, also disclosed that the council also approved over N100 million for the electrification of four communities in three local government areas of the state under partnership agreement between the benefiting council areas and the state government at 60 percent - 40 percent funding ratio.

Church gives free medicare

ANY Lagos residents were full of smiles last week following the free medical screening and treatment organised by Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju.

Speaking to our reporter during the exercise, Dr. Yemisi Akindolie, a Pastor and head of Healing Stream (the medical arm of the church), disclosed that the church embarked on the exercise in order to also take care of the people’s physical needs.

For the major part of last week, experts including expatriates in various medical fields attended to hundreds of patients, screening them for breast and cervical cancer as well as diabetes. Dental cases were also attended to and eye glasses freely given.

Many people were diagnosed and treated

By Charity Williams

for Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol and blood pressure.

On Saturday, October 15, which was the climax, patients defied the heavy downpour to take their turns with many of them expressing delight at the programme and showering encomiums on the church.

Earlier in the week, the medical team had addressed the Singles Fellowship, counseling them on various health-related issues. Also on October 16, the team addressed the youth wing of the church speaking to them on various health matters, including the dangers of drug abuse.

•Public Relations Manager, Indomie, Mr Tope Asiwaju (middle) and Coordinator, Indomie Fans Club, Lagos, Mr Faith Joshua during Indomie quarterly birthday party held at Apapa Amusement Park, Lagos PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Aspirant inaugurates committee

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and strategies, Remi Aderibigbe said efforts are on to ensure smooth take-off of the operation inline with LASIEC guidelines. The statement added that apart from outdoor talks, mobilisation and sensitisation, no stone will be left unturned to ensure that all the stakeholders in Agbado/Oke-Odo politics are carried along in the process irrespective of party affiliation in order to enthrone democracy.

Church holds programme

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•Dr. Nzrgwis (standing) preparing a patient for surgery during the programme

Cross River

people who could not afford medical bills an opportunity to see doctors for free medical examination and to also obtain free drugs.

“I am also impressed that the people themselves have reciprocated the gesture by turning out en masse. ’’ He advised other professionals in the Diaspora to emulate the Efik doctors by returning home to help in developing the state and Nigeria in general.

He also lauded the creation of the office of Special Adviser on the Diaspora by the Cross River Government as it “ will encourage those in the Diaspora to come back home and contribute to the development of the state. ‘’ The programme coordinator, Dr Awat Awat, said the programme termed: “Health Empowerment,’’ was initiated due to the prevailing poverty situation in the country.

He said the doctors decided that the programme, which would run for three years in the three senatorial zones of the state, was starting with Calabar (Southern Cross River) as the centre of the Efik Kingdom and the capital of Cross River.

“Next year, we will move to the Central Senatorial Zone and in 2013 to the Northern zone. ’’

Briefly

body charged with the responsibility of formulating and coordinating strategies for the chairmanship aspirant of Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area under the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), Dr Adeoye Arogundade, has been inaugurated.

A statement by the director of information

HE Dynamic Faith Bible Church, a.k.a A place of Supernatural Happenings,has begun a three-day vigil tagged: With God of Testimony from October 19.

The event is taking place at the church auditorium, Iju Ogundimu Ajuwon Road, beside Dutem Petrol Station, Cele Bus Stop, Iju-Lagos and the time, 11.00pm.

Speaking with the host Pastor, Prophet J.O. Jegede on the event,he said:”This programme is an annual event where participants are given the opportunity to testify to God’s marvelous work in their lives. People have stories to tell about the hand of God in their private, business and event social lives. God has made miracles happen from January to October, this is an opportunity for people to tell their stories of victory, success, deliverance and others”

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Other activities lined up for the event include seminars, lectures, counselling and ministration.

One of the powerful men of God that will minister is Rev. I s r e a l Babarinde.

P r o p h e t Jegede enjoined members of the public to come and receive the power to wade through the remaining part of the year in •Prophet Jegede victory.

2.5m people benefit from NDDC programme THE Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Mrs. Osato Iyasere Arenyeka has said that over 2.5 million people of the Niger Delta origin have benefited from the free healthcare delivery programme of the commission since its inception ten years ago.

Mrs. Arenyeka said this at the flag off of the NDDC/Pro Health Free Medical Mission held at the Cottage Hospital Ukana in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

“We are witnessing a turning point in the lives of the good people of Ukana community and its environs, it is a time to bid farewell to endemic diseases and ignorance, and to embrace good healthcare brought to your doorsteps, free of charge,” she said.

The NDDC boss, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Solomon Ita urged the people to be law abiding and live in peace with their neighbours, adding that there will be no meaningful development without an atmosphere of peace.

Speaking on behalf of the Ukana community, the clan head, His Royal Highness (Obong) Joseph Akpabio, praised the NDDC for the gesture, noting: “I feel proud and happy that what I am saying about the health sector programme of the NDDC is very good”.

HE Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, has said that he will not hesitate to sack fraudulent and indolent health workers.

Parker said this at the 22nd Free Medical Care Programme (FMCP) review meeting in Port Harcourt.

He said: “If you spoil the food you eat and we catch you, you would be sacked.

“I have Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s mandate to sack you and we wait for you in the court.”

He urged them to show a high sense of responsibility at their duty posts in the over all interest of efficient healthcare delivery.

Parker said healthcare was no longer restricted to health centres, but meeting the people in their homes with health education.

The commissioner said the people should be told about diseases, the causes and how to prevent them, stressing that the people should be responsible for their health.

According to him, 80 per cent of the deaths in

Rivers

Rivers was due to late arrival at the hospitals, so people should not be careless with their lives.

Parker added that being careless with one’s heath would deplete public finances, arguing that the sickness would have eaten up the victim, gulping more money than it would have, if it was reported early.

He noted that 70 per cent of health challenges could be handled by primary health centres if reported in good time, assuring that primary health centres in the state would soon be upgraded. The commissioner urged health workers to update their knowledge, saying very soon medical doctors would be giving prescription on pads that look like ATM

Revival service HE Glorious King Chiristian Centre, 17, Araba Crescent, off Oluwakemi Street Along Alapere Estate, Alapere will begin a seven-day revival service on Monday, October 24.

The General Overseer, Pastor Akin Gabriel Adedayo said the service would bring to fulfillment age-long promises and make participants end the year in joy and victory. He said anointed men of God will minister life into troublesome situations and ‘dead bones’ will come to life again.

Anointed men expected include Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Rev. Lemmy-Hyac Iloba, Rev Moses Illoh just as Glory Tone Choir Pastor Sam Elihah will be available to supply gospel tunes.

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Vehicle owners warned The Lagos Police Command have warned owners of vehicles parked at the following police stations to remove them immediately or forfeit same through auction. They are: Ikeja Police Station 1.Peugeot car – AA 602 RMY 2. One scrap car unregistered 3. Toyota Camry-DY 23KRD 4. Mazda – BM 966 EPE Area ‘E’ Headquarters, Festac Town 1. Toyota supra saloon – AL 662 LKJ 2. Volkswagen bus – ET 182 LSR Ajah Division 1. Mazda car 323-unregistered 2. Vanagon bus –XG133 FST 3. BMW car unregistered 4. CRV Honda – MR592 AAA 5. Nissan Premira – BC 105 AAA 6. Ford Jeep – KE 458 EKY 7. Nissan Altima unregistered 8. Volvo car – UH 835 KJA 9. Lexus Jeep unregistered 10. Golf car – unregistered 11. Nissan Bluebird – DR 229 KJA 12. Toyota Jeep V8-AM 733 RSH

Aspirant urges unity

By Musa Odoshimokhe

A

FORMER House of Representatives member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Comrade Olu Ogunbanjo said the crisis rocking the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area due to the alleged imposition of candidate on the council was over.

Comrade Ogunbanjo who addressed party supporters at Amukoko explained that those who went to court over the matter had withdrawn their suit and were working for the success of the party in the forth coming election.

He said the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo and Hon. Taiwo Adenekan, a member of the House of Representatives had urged the people to respect the position of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Comrade Ogunbanjo expressed optimism that despite the initial challenges, the people were now more resolved to ensure ACN won the poll in the election. He, therefore, appealed to the Acting Chairman, Wahab Adigun to work for the unity of the party and bring all together.

Similarly, a former Special Adviser for Rural Development, Lagos State and a chieftain of the party in the area, Mr. Paul Ajakaiye, said the party was larger than any individual hence the wish of the leadership of the party should be respected.

Reacting to the development, the chairmanship candidate for the council poll, Hon. Shuaibu Fatai, sought the cooperation of every member of the party in the area, noting that victory for ACN was victory for all.

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•Governor Amaechi card.

He admonished the health workers to carry out the free medical care programme in line with Amaechi’s vision.

NGO urges govt to live up to promises

HE Co-ordinator of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), a non governmental organisation (NGO), Mr Festus Mbisiogu, has vowed to lead a nationwide protest if Federal Government did not deliver 80 percent of the promise it made on stable electricity supply within two years.

Mbisiogu, who is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Diamond Logistic, China, disclosed his position on the power problem when the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom visited Nigerian investors in China.

He lamented the negligence of government on power, saying that all efforts by some Nigerian investors in China to bring Chinese investors had proved abortive.

Mbisiogu promised not to give up on his agitation for steady power supply until government decides to listen to the cry of the masses.

He explained that because of the epileptic power supply in the country, billions of dollars are lost daily on investment,

By Jude Isiguzo

adding that it has aggravated the unemployment problem and heightened the crime rate,saying:“If nothing is done within two years of this present administration to improve at least 80 percent of electricity supply, I will lead Nigerians to protest against this government because we can no l o n g e r continue to be deceived with the promise of electricity by every government”, h e •Dr Ortom (right)with Mr Mbisiogu during the visit lamented.

Community, council vote for development

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UTHORITIES of Odi-Olowo-Ojuwoye Local CouncilDevelopment Area (LCDA) of Lagos State and the Community Development Committee (CDC) in the area have agreed to work together for the development of the council area.

The pledge came at the inauguration of the CDC in the area under the chairmanship of Chief Adebowale Adekoya who, after taking oath of office with his colleagues, promised to work with the Aremo Adeyemi Alli-led council for the upliftment of the community.

Opening the session, the Head of Department, Agric., Rural, and Social Development of the council, Mrs. Modupeola Leoso, who disclosed that Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the area had risen to 34, observed that the association had been useful in the area of partnering with the council on all fronts to serve the people.

“All the various people-oriented projects for which people are praising the council today were made possible through the

By Dada Aladelokun

CDC’s unflinching cooperation. This trend must continue for the good of all,” Mrs Leoso added.

Aremo Alli, in his address,praised the CDC for all he had achieved for the people, adding that with their continued support, his administration would make people “laugh louder.”

He used the occasion to actualise again, the “Feed the Elders” programme of doling out monthly N5,000 to the aged above 65 years in the area, an initiative he started years back.

One after the other amid prayers for Alli, the beneficiaries, numbering 1,000, stepped out to collect the money in cash.

Tears of joy filled the eyes of Wahab Lawal and his mother, Mrs. Abibat Lawal, when the former was presented with a grinding machine to rescue him from hopelessness.

Many were moved to tears when Wahab landed on the floor with hearty prayers for Alli over the gesture. At the juncture, Alli enlisted Mrs. Lawal in the “Feed the Elders” programme.

• From left; Ali, Adekoya, Mrs. Leoso and Rasak Ajala, Alli's Deputy at the event

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

29

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SIX-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

The high and mighty defied a downpour to honour Otunba Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, at the Medici Restaurant on Victoria Island, Lagos. The party, at the instance of her joyful children, provided guests the opportunity to appreciate the delectable woman at 75, writes JOKE KUJENYA

•From left: The Celebrator, Kuforiji-Olubi, Mrs Amosun and Oba Gbadebo

A woman of substance at 75 I

T was an English-like party in every sense of the word: classy, exotic and exclusive.

If your name wasn’t on the list; you were simply not invited. No more than eight people were on each round table with modish six dinner candles to illuminate them.

As each guest entered the hall, there was a glass of choice drink for him.

This was the setting at an exclusive dinner party in honour of iconic (Dr.) Bola KuforijiOlubi, to celebrate her 75 years on earth and her contributions to the socio-economic growth of Nigeria.

It was for about 150 select guests who turned out for the night of stylish hospitality at the Medici Restaurant, penultimate Friday night, put together by her children, Olutokunbo, Olukunle and Olujoke.

The guests list included some of the most significant people that have been part of her 75 years’ life expedition, Oba Michael Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Olugbenga Asiru; former Head, Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan and his wife; former Health Minister, Prince Julius AdeluyiAdelusi and his wife, Princess Julianah; wife

of Ogun State Governor, Olufunsho Amosun; a foremost banker and philanthropist, Otunba Subomi Balogun; Revd (Mrs) and Prof. Bassey Akinde; Consul-General of Switzerland, Chief Marlies Allan Bashorun and Mrs. Jaye K. Randle; Managing Director, Sterling Bank, Mr Yemi Adeola; industry executives; members of the organised and non-organised private sectors and several others. They had an upclose banquet with the woman that had inspired many other women and men with a bagful of educational degrees and career antecedents.

The birthday ‘girl’ in her simple deep peach safari trouser suit, smiled all through ensuring that everything was in order and to taste.

The party, under the chairmanship of Prince Julius Adeluyi-Adelusi, kicked off with prayers, followed by a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. This was followed by guests’ roll call and the chairman’s humourladen speech.

At the centre of the hall, surrounded by scores of other tables, were the celebrator and her special caucus of guests’ round table. They pecked, whispered and smiled to the banters no other person outside of the circle could

hear as the party progressed.

Prince Adeluyi-Adelusi began by asking guests in the house to e ‘holy and wax spiritual.’

The party, tagged an ‘An Evening with The Ayora’, was cut out to be a night of goodwill for one of them in whom they were very delighted. He delved into the early days of the woman many simply know as Dr Bola Kuforiji-Olubi.

“Some of you may not know her other names because in this part of the world, some names are given just for convenience. So, it would be nice for you to know some of her other names, like ‘Dorcas’. You know, in her younger days”... He paused as the celebrator cast a long look at him as if expecting him to continue. He did: “She was popularly called Dorcas. And of course, you all know Bolajoko Kuforiji-Olubi, Officer of the Order of the Niger, who is today, celebrating her 75 th birthday, which actually came on the September 28, marked in the church, same day in Yaba.

“But, this is an evening with The Ayora, so it is an evening plus. Some of us are not surprised that the celebrant has turned out the

way she did, going by the fact that the name ‘Dorcas’ has a great origin, that means, ‘The girl, high and the first, in the wild, is that little animal with wide innocent eyes that moved in a very little manner, very swiftly, but also a beauty to be seen. So, in her younger days, when she was in school, the name that stuck to her was Dorcas. And so, if at 75, someone is still as pretty as she is now, you can imagine what she was in her teenage days –a paragon of beauty...” ( and the audience clapped) “I believe that we really have to rejoice with our sister tonight for several reasons. Here is a country in which the life expectancy, depending on who the statistician is, ranges from 44 to 51. So, anybody who is 75years old has received the grace of God. And for our sister, Dorcas Bolajoko Kuforiji-Olubi, that grace of God you have so much enjoyed, will continue to guide you”... And the guests responded with ‘Amen’.”

Prince Adeluyi-Adelusi, however, lamented the ills in the nation, urging everyone within the hall to be more committed to building the nation.

•More pictures on page 30

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

SOCIETY •Continued from page 29

•From right: Prince and Princess Adeluyi and Otunba Balogun

•Chief Shonekan

•Revd Akinde

•Mr and Mrs Charles Hall of PhoenixTide Nig Ltd

•Hajia Abbah Folawiyo (left) and Yeye Oge of Lagos, Chief Oprah Benson

•Chief Nike Akande and Prof Kingsley

•Chief Funke Arthur-Worrey (left) and Chief Patricia Oluwole

•From right: Mr Yinka Oniwinde; Mr and Mrs Fola Ogunsakin and Mr Olatokunbo Kuforiji

•Mr Yemi Adeola

•Prof Dapo Ashiru

AWARD

FIDAU

•Wife of the Osun State Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola (middle) receiving an award from the first National Chairperson of Ansar-ud-Deen Women Society, Alhaja Serifat Aniwura (left) while the state chairperson, Alhaja Sidikat Daudu, watches.

•Wife of Chairman, Itire-Ikate LCDA, Alhaja Ashabi Bamgbola flanked by Alhaja Morenike Adeniyi (left) and Alhaja Rafat Bamgbola, during prayers for the late Alhaja Sidikat Apatira in Lagos.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

31

SOCIETY

•Bride’s parents Otunba and Mrs Michael Ogunnusi

•Groom’s parents Omorhirhi Augustine Obara and his wife Patience

•Mr and Mrs Omorhirhi

The wedding between Ronke Ogunnusi from Ijebu Ode in Ogun State and Oroghenemudiake Omorhirhi, an Urhobo from Delta State, drew many to the Amazing Grace Villa in Ijebu Ode, last Saturday. RISIKAT RAMONI was there.

•From right: Prof Adebayo Williams; Hon Leo Awoyemi and Otunba Tunde Onakoya

A union across boundaries I

T was not the kind of wedding one witnessed everyday. It was a traditional wedding like no other. Everything about it depicted a marriage of two cultures; an Urhobo man marrying an Ijebu lady.

The groom, Oroghenemudiake, is the son of a prince from Urhoboland, while his heartthrob, Ibironke, is the daughter of a member of the House of Representatives, Ifako Ijaiye Constituency in Lagos, Hon Otunba Ogunnusi.

Ibironke’s mother, Emmanuela, is the daughter of the Chairman, DAAR Communications, owners of Raypower Radio and African International Television (AIT), Chief Aleogo Dokpesi.

The groom’s aunt, Pamela Adedayo, is the co-founder of a leading eatery in the nation, Tastee Fried Chicken. With these personalities fully involved in the wedding, one could imagine the calibre of guests that attended the ceremony.

Mudiake, as he is fondly called by friends and relatives, was dressed like a true Urrhbo prince. He had on him a blue lace top with a wrapper to match, a black bowler hat and a pair of black shoes. He looked handsome with big beads on his neck, which pointed to the fact that he came from a royal family.

He danced majestically to nice Urhobo songs played to announce his presence as he entered the traditional wedding venue along with friends and wellwishers.

Ibironke was also not a pushover that day; she was well prepared. She looked

very beautiful in her traditional attire, which portrayed her as a typical Yoruba lady. She spotted a grey Iro and Buba dress with a matching Ipele. A pair of red ear rings dangling on her ears; a fitting necklace; a matching clutch bag and a pair of nice shoes were on her to complement her gorgeous outlook.

She was the cynosure of all present.

Expectedly, the guests looked pleasant. The groom’s relatives and friends supported him, dressing like he did.

The big bead, the bowler hat, blue wrapper and top; typical Urhobo attires, were worn by both men and women, to serve as uniforms for them all.

The bride’s friends and relatives wore pink. They were all in gorgeous Yoruba attire.

The letter of introduction from the Omorhirhi to the Ogunnusi was well phrased and embellished with flower and framed with gold.

Dignitaries included: media magnates; business moguls; kings and chiefs; politicians and members of House of Representatives.

They were personalities, such as Chief Raymond Dokpesi; Mr and Mrs. Kunle Adedayo of Tastee Fried Chicken; the Olupe of Ipe in Ondo State, Oba Francis Ola Apata; the Oru Alayo 1 of Imoru in Ijebu, Oba Munirudeen Adeposi Bashorun among others.

Honorable members of the House of Representatives were not left out.

Other guests included President-General Okpe Union Worldwide, Ralph Kanieren; Chairman/Chief Executive Oficer of ADMACK Nig Ltd., Prince

Yemi Adeyemo; President, Kotco Group, Aare Kola Oyefeso; Director, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Olatayo Fademi; a consultant Orthopedic surgeon, Dr Deji Adebajo and his wife; Prof Adebayo Williams of The Nation; a golf captain at the Ikoyi Club1938, Frank Gboneme Ichie and Mrs Bona Igboanugo, an engineer.

The Masters of Ceremonies, Foluke Ogunjimi, a television presenter of Sokoyokoto fame, Chief Godspower Efiawhare, and Bambo Ogunbona, all made the event classy by all standards Music was supplied by Johnson Adjan, who sang all kinds of Urhobo song with his dance troupe, while Gboyega Babayeju, with his band balanced the occasion with songs in Yoruba and English language.

Ibironke, who described her husband as a gentle and loving man, said she was a happy gave all the glory to God for making the day a success. Mudiake also thanked God for the joyous occasion.

“She is an affectionate, caring and wonderful person,” he said o his wife.

Oba Apata enjoined the couple to build their home on Christ to avoid divorce.

The Olupe of Ipe, who has been a friend of the Omorhirhis before ascending the throne, prayed God to bless the union of the couple, adding: “I want to believe that those marriages that have crumbled, perhaps, were not built on Christ, but my advice to them is to build their own family on Christ in order to have a solid home.”

•Prince and Mrs Yemi Adeyemo

•Chief Raymond Dokpesi (middle); Madam Grace Julie Agbome (left) and Mrs Adetoun Onabanjo

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

32

SOCIETY

Met at work, joined by love

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The Etal Hall on Oregun-Ikeja Lagos was lively last Saturday when Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) lovebirds, Olaniyi Oladepo and Adeyinka Mabadeje exchanged marital vows, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO •From left: Olori Abike Mabadeje; Mr Wale Oladepo; the couple, Olaniyi and Adeyinka; Chief Okafor; Mrs Abigael Oladepo and Omoba Gbenga Mabadeje

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HE lovebirds, - Olaniyi Oluwaseun Oladepo and Adeyinka Adeola Mabadeje have a lot in common.

They are endowed with baby face; charming and pleasant They are also shining examples of academic excellence as they both bagged first class degrees.

They are chartered accountants and work in the same branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

The bank is where their divine journeys that culminated into the exchange of rings and marital vows at the Daystar Christian Centre on the Kudirat Abiola Way, OregunIkeja Lagos last Saturday, began.

Olaniyi’s attitude to work changed the day he set eyes on Adeyinka.

In the course of working as colleagues, Olaniyi, who is the branch’s Financial Control Officer, discovered that there was much more work to do with Adeyinka than office work.

“I met her in the course of work at office. She is very dedicated, hardworking and caring. I later discovered that there was more to work than network,” he told The Nation.

He did not wait long before proposing to her to ward off similar interests from fellow co-male staff members.

“I did not wait long to profess my love for her and I’m glad she accepted without hesitation. That was how the relationship commenced,” he said.

He described their two years of courtship as memorable.

At the church, the officiating ministers, led by Pastor Gboye Oloyede, prayed God to bless the union.

Pastor Oloyede, who conducted the solemnisation, urged the couple to always love each other.

“Sacrifice”, the cleric said, “is the secret of a successful happy home”.

Shortly after pronoucing the lovebirds husband and wife, the train moved to the Etal Hall on the same Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun-Ikeja Lagos for reception.

A lavish reception, it was with a band stand dishing out melodious tunes for the guests to enjoy.

The couple did not disappoint guests with their awesome dance steps.

Chaired by Chairman, Ejiamatu Microfinance Bank Limited, Chief Cyprian Okafor, the high points of the reception were the cutting of the cake and the toast.

Garbed in a black suit, white shirt and a bow tie, the groom’s joyous mood was brought to the fore when he staged a special Indian dance to the admiration of the guests.

He described his love as very attractive, kind and spiritual.

•Mr Oludare Babarinsa (left) and Samson Abodunrin

•Mrs Funmi Aboyade

•Mr Daniel Dukul (left) and Abakpa Godwin

•Mr David Akanji and his wife, Modupe

•Mr Matthew Adefala

•Mr Tunji Oyedokun

•Okezie Mark and his wife, Ngozi

“The union”, he said, “marks a new beginning in our lives and we look forward to God’s blessing.”

The bride, Adeyinka, told The Nation that she looks forward to marital bliss and protection of God. A light-skinned bride, cute in white wedding garments, described her beau as a gentle, loving and good person.

“I thank God for giving me a man like him. I am looking forward to a life full of joy and

happiness,” she said.

Groom’s mother, Mrs Olaunni Oladepo, thanked God for sparing her life to witness the day.

Mrs Oladepo, a civil servant, described her daughter-in-law as a good woman.

The bride’s father, Mr Olawale Mabadeje, prayed God to grant the couple the grace to do same for their offsprings.

Mabadeje, an indigene of Kwara State who retired as Senior Man-

ager, Production and Marketing at The Nation, said the secret of his 28 years marital success is the grace of God and spirituality in their lives.

The erstwhile Deputy Managing Director with ThisDay Newspaper thanked guests for the love and kindness shown to his family.

Guests at the wedding included: Managing Director, Vintage Press Limited, publisher of The Nation newspapers, Mr Victor Ifijeh; Abuja Bureau

•Mr Gbayode Somuyiwa

PHOTOS: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Chief of the newspaper, Mr Yomi Odunnuga; Managing Director, System Spec, Mr Tanimola Obaro; son of the late politician, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Rev Adegboyega Awoniyi; Managing Director, Capital Trust Brokers, Mr Mathew Adefila; General Manager, Corporate Affairs of GTBank, Mr Ademola Odeyemi; Assistant General Manager, Retail Banking, Mr Isaac Okonkwo and his Financial Control counterpart, Mr Banji Adewuyi.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

33

SOCIETY All roads led to Esa-Oke in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State for a reception for indigenes serving in Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. DAMISI OJO was there.

When Esa-Oke hosted Aregbesola’s men

•From left: Hon Olaleye, Mr Ige, Mrs Oyawoye, Mr Adeloye Agunbiade and Prof Odeyemi

I

T was the first of such event in the ancient town of Esa-Oke where indigenes from both far and near converged on the multi-purpose Hall of the state’s College of Technology (OSCOTECH) in the hilly town.

The event organised by the Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative (ERI) was to honour EsaOke sons and daughters who providence had put in positions of authority in the present Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in the state.

It is an incontrovertible fact that Esa-Oke is synonymous with the late Chief Bola Ige, the erudite lawyer, astute politician and leader of the Yoruba race whose life was cut short on December 23, 2001 by unknown assassins.

Until his sudden death, the first Asiwaju of Esa-Oke otherwise called Cicero was the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

A minute silence was observed in honour of the late Ige before the start of the epochmaking event.

Since his exit from political scene, Esa-Oke community, which suddenly shot into limelight via this citadel of learning (OSCOTECH) he facilitated to the town while serving as the first governor of old Oyo State between 1979 and 1983 went into oblivion.

The academic institution itself was traumatised. It had it rough between 2004

till late 2010 when a reactionary government took over from pragmatic administration of Chief Adebisi Akande. But things are gradually bouncing back in the college and Esa-Oke community with the emergence of the incumbent administration.

While in the trenches, when Aregbesola was struggling to reclaim his stolen mandate, he promised to elevate the town in honour of the late Ige and for the unalloyed support of the majority people in the community.

True to his words, Governor Aregbesola reciprocated the gesture by appointing four Esa-Oke indigenes in his cabinet. They are Ige’s son, Muyiwa Ige, Commissioner for Lands, Physical and Urban Development; Prof Bukola Oyawoye, Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation; Hon Kunle Ige, son of Bola Ige’s younger brother, Sir Dele Ige, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural and Community Development and Hon Adeloye Agunbiade, Special Adviser on Agriculture and Mineral resources.

Apart from the four, another indigene of the town and former National President of Nigeria Students (NANS), Segun Olaleye was elected a member of Oyo State House ofAssembly for Ibadan North constituency II under ACN. All of them were celebrated at the grand occasion attended by top government functionaries including Governor Rauf

•Oba Adediran (right) and Elder Adelowo

Aregbesola, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Gboyega Oyetola; ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande represented by Mr Ayo Afolabi, Southwest ACN Publicity Secretary, Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District.

Others were Chairman Obokun Local Government Caretaker Committee, Dr Gbenga Ogunleye; Owa-Omiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran; Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adetoro Bolarinwa; Osun State ACN Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, his Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun, ACN Chieftain, Elder Peter Babalola; pioneer OSCOTECH Rector, Prof Olu Odeyemi, members of the state Executive Council and the incumbent Asiwaju of Esa-Oke, Chief Dosu Fatokun.

Oba Adediran hailed Aregbesola for recognising the first Asiwaju of Esa-Oke whom he described as a hero.

He noted that all the appointees are genius and good ambassadors who would uplift the town and Osun State.

“Your excellency, Esa-Oke is a town recognised by God. OSCOTECH needs overhauling while our township road is in sorry state. You should always remember the contributions of the late Ige for the development of the community and Nigeria as a whole,” the monarch stressed.

Besides, he urged the state government to find a lasting solution to the prevailing boundary dispute between Esa-Oke community and

its neghbouring Ekiti State.

In his response on behalf of other honourees, Muyiwa Ige, assured the community that they would continue where his father stopped in uplifting the community.

He solicited the support of Esa-Oke indigenes irrespective of political linings to support the present Aregbesola’s administration for the development of the town.

Muyiwa rounded off his remarks with his father’s favourite song Ope lo ye o, Baba Oloore” The state Governor’s, representative Dr Oyetola promised to repair all roads in the state, particularly that of Esa-Oke Township and transform OSCOTECH. According to him, “ours is a government that gives priority to human development by the time we complete the first four years in office, people will know the political party to beat.

Aregbesola enumerated some achievements of his administration, especially in combating flood, employment opportunities, qualitative education, and Agriculture, urging the citizenry to rally round his administration.

Other speakers on the occasion include Senator Omoworare, Chief Dosu Fatokun and Oba Bolarinwa, who urged the new appointees to do their best in developing the state and their community.

Christ the King Catholic Church, Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos has marked its 25th anniversary. It coincided with its annual harvest celebration. WALE ADEPOJU reports.

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HE shout of Halleluiah filled the church auditorium. It was at the harvest o Christ the King Catholic Church’s (CKCC’s), Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos, an event which coincided with the its 25 th anniversary.

The old and young inside and outside of the auditorium listened with rapt attention to the sermon delivered by the Arch-Bishop of Lagos Arch-Diocese, His Eminence, Anthony, Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie.

Many among the congregation stood by the four entrances of the church as the space had been overcrowded, while others took refuge in the stands outside. Also among the congregation were people decked in specially designed clothes with the church logo boldly inscribed on them.

The atmosphere was warm.

The parishioners and guests, despite the blazing sun stood to be counted as the arrival of Cardinal Okojie heightened their zeal to stay till the end. Many seized the opportunity the occasion provided to receive papal blessing from the Cardinal.

It was an unforgettable harvest, which held on Sunday, September 27.

The clergy and the laity were adequately represented.

Church marks 25 years in style Forming part of the activities to mark the anniversary were a variety night, talks, health check, prize giving, novelty match and quiz competition. There was also a novena – an intercession prayer through mother Mary, saints and angels.

The Cardinal in his usual style and warm disposition enjoined the parishioners to be worthy ambassador of Christ. He said the church was the body of Christ established to provide physical and spiritual nourishments.

Cardinal Okogie urged Nigerians to shun evil and embrace holiness without which no one can please God. The Parish Priest, Fr Tyohumun KingaUpaa, said the church was growing in capacity and was reinventing itself according to the values of time.

“The church is a small percentage of the society. So, what is happening in the society is what we are seeing in the church. People have value for riches, but not morals,” he said.

Fr Kinga-Upaa said people are no longer committed to selfless service, but prefer to engage in selfish enterprise.

•Cardinal Okogie (right) and Rev Kinga-Upaa

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAM

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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SOCIETY

A glorious exit at 106 The people of Igbotu in Ondo State penultimate Saturday realised that they had lost one of their oldest matriarch who died at the ripe age of 106. The calibre of people who came from far and wide to pay their last respect at the funeral service held at The First African Church Mission in the town was an indication that they truly missed her.

OSAS ROBERT reports.

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ANY who thought Igbotu was a water logged community were shocked to see the beauty the town paraded penultimate Friday at the funeral service held in honour of the town’s arguably oldest individual.

They had expected to see an area submerged under water because of its proximity to the sea, but when they came out of their cars, they treaded on dry land to the warm embrace of the community.

For an event that was to start at 10:00 am, guests had begun to trickle into the premises of First African Church, venue for the funeral service of the late Madam Omotola Rebecca Ojih, as early as 9am. Madam Ojih, 106, slept in the Lord on July 5, 2011 and was laid to rest two Saturdays ago.

Survived by four children, grand children and great grand children, Mama as she was fondly called, was an icon; a self-made trader; a merchant and a lover of children.

Present at the funeral service were the traditional rulers from the area and adjoining communities. There were rulers, such as the Kalasuwe of Apoiland; the Moroguntimi I of Igbotu land, Chief Akin Badejan; Chief Olaa Olayemi; Bravol of Igbobiniland,

•From left: Mr Moses Omosehin, Mr Akinbowale Omosehin, Mrs Ayodele Koledoye and Mrs Oyinlola Sipasi

Ohoiwojesiku Orimisan, Emperor Abisagbo, among other royalties.

During the service, one of the officiating ministers, the Retired Rev Onanuga enjoined the congregation to live for the less-privileged in the society. He urged those in power to uplift the poor and fight the social ills bedevilling the nation. He said the late Omotola contributed to the society in her lifetime, adding that one of the things she did was her support for the things of God. He prayed that on the last day, her soul will not be lost.

According to one of the daughters, Mrs Eachael Adeola Miller, she was a woman of virtues, a teacher and a disciplinarian. “We remember your teachings and reproves. They are words of wisdom. We did not seem to understand but when we look into our pasts, we found out the purpose of the proverbs you used to say like the light of the eyes rejoices, the heart and a good report makes the bone fat. The ear that heard the reproof of life, abides among the wise”.

A staff member of The Nation , Mr Omosehin Moses, said he lived with the deceased almost all his childhood and youthful age. “Everyone that saw me usually called me mama’s last son. She took great care of all children from my father’s other wives. She travelled to places, such as Ibadan, Warri, Bogije (Ijebu Waterside), Epe, Agbowa-Kosi, Abigi and

•Mr Iranlowo Omosehin (left) and Mr Olabanji Omosehin

even Ebute-Metta in Lagos on business adventures. Her achievements are legendary,” he said.

Interment later followed immediately at the Church Cemetery and everyone

PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

proceeded to Methodist Playing Ground, Igbotu, Ese-Odo Local Government, Ondo State for reception. Various band groups sang her praises and thrilled everyone with songs that kept many on their feet dancing.

A philanthropist, Alhaji Tajudeen Bisimilahi, got married to his beau, Aderonke Kafaya, daughter of an Ibadan-based business mogul , Alhaji Lamidi Ajagbe on October 8. PEJU ELEGBEDE reports

Kogi philantropist weds

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HE wedding fatiha sequentially started from traditional engagements at Alhaji Arisekola’s Mosque, Iwo road, Ibadan, Oyo State, country home of the bride, while the grand event proceeded to Ejuku Yagba East Local Government Area in Kogi State, home town of the groom.

The groom, Tajudeen Bisimilahi, a youth leader, a leading entrepreneur and the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, SEMITEX Group of Company surprised his guest by donating to his community, a befitting Mosque to his people in Ejuku Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The event attracted Muslim faithful from both Ekiti and Kogi States as many gathered at Ejuku village to celebrate and offer prayers for the couple as they inaugurated the Mosque.

The roll call of dignitaries included Muslim faithful, numerous youth organisations and wellwishers of the couple. The spiritual father of the day, the Chief Imam of Kwara State, Alhaji Bashiru Salihi, in his opening benedictions prayed God to always answer to the requests of worshippers in the Mosque. He thanked God for giving Bisimilahi the initiative of building such a befitting worship centre for the services of God and humanity.

The cleric further prayed for God’s abundant blessing for the youth leader and successes in his married life.

The mosque, according to the Chief Imam, will serve as a worship and religious centre for Muslim faithful in Ejuku Community and its neighbouring Ekiti State.

Chairman of the occasion, the Provost of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Prof Alliu Abdulahi, enumerated and extolled the good virtues of Bisimilahi, describing him as a hardworking and dedicated selfless leader who

places God first in his endeavours. He stated that he had explicitly exhibited this quality in his building and donating the mosque to the community.

“The young man for a long while has been contributing to the growth of his people, and it will be a better gesture for the youth to channel their energy and resources to the services of God and humanity as Bisimilahi has demonstrated,” he said.

He prayed for a happy married life for the couple.

The traditional ruler of the community, the Elejuku of Ejuku, Oba Samuel Adetiba, also remarked thus: “ Bisimilahi remained a source of blessing and inspiration in Ejuku Yagba East L.G.A. . In the past 10 years he has been selflessly paying WAEC and NECO exam fees of some indigent and poor people in L.G.A.” The royal father added that though a private business man, Bisimilahi influenced the establishment of a multi-million naira international standard ICT centre by the Federal Government in the community.

He concluded by saying that politicians and other well to do Nigerians should emulate his virtues.

In his remarks, Bisimilahi expressed joy for the accomplishments. He thanked God for giving him the resources, the abilities and the enablement to complete the building of the mosque and providing him a wife he so cherished.

While acknowledging the presence of dignitaries at the event, Bisimilahi said: “My philosophy about life is ‘live and let live’; therefore, I have chosen to dedicate my life to serving humanity with whatever God places in my mind to do for my people. I will continuously serve humanity in my own little capacity.”

•The couple Alhaji Tajudeen and Kafayat

The wedding witnessed an unprecedented crowed. The sensational Fuji Musician, Adewale Ayuba, kept the crowd on their toes with music

while Saheed Bolagun, a popular Yoruba actor, excited the crowd with jokes as the Master of Ceremony.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

35

COMMENTARY

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N article published in this column last week was entitled ‘A VOICE FROM HARVARD’. It contained a brief analysis and excerpts from the lecture delivered by His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto at Harvard University in the United States of America on October 3, 2011. The title of the lecture was ‘ISLAM AND PEACE BUILDING IN WEST AFRICA’.

In the 33 page lecture, His Eminence enumerated the causes and effects of violent crises in the sub region with particular reference to Nigeria. He blamed such crises on three major issues: (1) political struggle for supremacy between the elite and the poor masses (2) bad governance on the part of the ruling class and (3) primordial ethno-religious sentiments. The most prominent of these three issues is bad governance which engenders corruption, joblessness, poverty, exploitation, suspicion and general bitterness in the land.

Traditionally, ‘THE MESSAGE’ as a column is not known for serialising articles because it is journalistically unprofessional. Rather, a single but lengthy speech like that of the Sultan can be divided into segments with each segment given a sub-title. Thus, today’s article in this column is a continuation of that of last Friday without bearing the same title. Building on last Friday’s contents which appeared in this column, His Eminence went further thus: “....Many people (outside our country) consider Nigeria as a theatre of absurd conflicts and interminable crises. They may be justified in holding this view; with the Jos crises festering for years, with postelection violence and suicide – bombings, it is difficult to think otherwise. When we consider Nigeria’s population of 150 million, half the population of West Africa, its over 250 ethnic and language groups, its regional and geo-political configurations, its landmass and its diversity in religion and culture, we may be constrained to reach a different conclusion. Nigeria may, after all, be a paragon of stability which, as God Almighty has willed, shall undergo all the trials allotted it early enough in its national history.

But in all fairness, systemic ethnopolitical and religious crises, like the ones we have witnessed in recent years, do not have a long history in Nigeria. They all began in the late 1980s, following the intense competition for power and influence especially among the western educated elite; the Kafanchan crisis of 1987, in Southern Kaduna, was quickly followed by the Zangon Kataf and other crises; all in the same vicinity. The democratic dispensation, which began in 1999 also came with its set of problems, the most visible being the Shari’ah Crisis and the First Jos Crisis which led to the declaration of state of emergency in Plateau State.

But these crises, varied as they were, reveal the multi-dimensional nature of Nigeria as a political entity. We witness the primacy of politics in almost all these conflicts. In the struggle for power and political supremacy, politicians exercise no restraint in aggravating the socioreligious and ethnic cleavages, which characterise the geo-politics of the Nigerian state. It should not be forgotten that the Second Jos Crisis of November 2008 was also ignited by a botched Chairmanship election in Jos North Local Government.

The second dimension to these crises, especially in Kaduna and Plateau States, is the indigene/settler dichotomy, which is yet to be addressed properly by the Nigerian State. Many ethnic groups in these conflict areas see the other ethnic groups as foreigners who should not enjoy the full rights of bona fide residents. Most of these disenfranchised Nigerians also happen to be Muslims. However, those who oppose this dichotomy argue that these so-called settlers had spent more than two hundred years in the areas they reside.

Moreover, as Nigerian Citizens, they have the full right to reside wherever they wish and pursue their legitimate business without let or hindrance. After all, they cannot be settlers in their own country.

The third dimension of Nigeria’s ethnoreligious crises is their potential to become a systematic national crisis. When a person is killed in any of the areas of conflict, his co-religionists, especially in

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08051101861

Challenges to peace building

‘

•The Sultan the cities react violently and begin to kill anyone they think is related to him. This often triggers further reprisals from other parts of the country where victims come from. It took a lot of effort by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council [NIREC] which I co-chair, and other state authorities, to treat each crisis independently and reduce the risk of systemic reprisals.

The fourth dimension of Nigeria’s crises is poor leadership and the bad governance usually associated with its management.

Many of those charged with authority in the states where these conflicts occur are also parties to the crises. They make feeble efforts to control the violence and do so only when much of the damage has been done... “....The issue of poor leadership and bad governance also explains how the Boko Haram movement has been able to transform itself from a small Hijrah group in Yobe State, escaping from the uncertainties and contradictions of the Nigerian State, to a militant movement able to wreak havoc and destruction once provoked. Those in authority were prepared to court the leaders of this group when it suited them and to trample on them like flies when they were no longer useful...However, the recent bombing of the United Nations Office in Abuja has introduced an international dimension to terrorist’s activities, a development, which is hitherto entirely new to Nigeria.

The promise of Dialogue “....When I became the Sultan of Sokoto in November 2006, some of the major problems I found on ground were the aftereffects of the Riots, especially in Kaduna, Jos and some parts of the North East as well as a disturbing atmosphere of mistrust, fear and hostility, especially between the leaderships of Nigeria’s two major religions: Islam and Christianity. To resolve these knotty issues we chose the path of positive engagement, which we thought would engender meaningful discourse, improve communication and understanding and change the dynamics of our operating environment to that of trust and confidence... “....The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) provided the right platform for this engagement. The Council, itself a product of Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises, was composed of 25 members each from the two religions and co-chaired by myself, in my capacity as the President-General of

The fight against extremist groups should never be perverted to become a fight against Islam and its doctrines. We should all remember that in the final analysis, it is not what the perpetrators of violence do that really counts.

‘

the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The approach of NIREC was simple and practical. Firstly, we affirmed the sanctity of human life, Muslim and Christian, and insisted that anybody who takes the law into his hands, regardless of the circumstances, must bear the full legal consequences of his action. You cannot believe it, but despite the frequency of these disturbances, only a few people have ever been punished for perpetrating any act of violence. The masterminds go scotfree. Secondly, while appreciating the fact that we are required to look after the interest of our co-religionists, we must pay attention to the other dimensions of our conflicts. As many were preparing to declare a religious war in Jos, for example, we laboured hard to draw attention to the other dimensions of the crisis. It was a conflict between Muslims and Christians quite alright, but it was not a conflict between Islam and Christianity. When Nigeria’s President called for a parley among stakeholders, we made bold to declare the Jos crisis a political crisis.

Thirdly, we adopted a tactical approach to conflict resolution. Whenever, there is a break-out of violence, we work together to restore law and order and ask the quarrelsome questions later. We take this approach to minimise loss of life and to ensure that the crisis is contained in the primary area it occurred. Also, we devised a quarterly meeting schedule that took us to all parts of the country. It was heartening to many to see us working together and preaching peaceful co-existence and religious harmony even in areas, which never registered an ethno-religious conflict.

I must point out that it was also our view that inter-faith action should transcend conflict resolution. For it to be effective, it must affect the life of the common man.

NIREC floated the Nigeria Inter-Faith Action Association (NIFAA) to take up this challenge and NIFAA has been very active in the control of the dreaded tropical disease: Malaria. We also find that we must act together to address issues related to electoral reform, good governance and anti-corruption. I am also glad to state that the goodwill and understanding which these activities were able to generate, have given impetus to the development of inter-faith dialogue to a new level. I always remember, with happiness, the seminar organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in April

2010, on ‘Knowing Your Muslim Neighbur’, where I presented a paper on the topic. The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs [NSCIA] gracefully reciprocated by inviting CAN members to its formal meeting in Kaduna, where the CAN representative gave a lecture on Islam in the Eyes of a Christian and both Muslim and Christian scholars, gave inspiring responses on the scriptural basis of mutual co-existence. Despite serious setbacks in recent months, many of us remain committed to this positive engagement and to the promise that dialogue offers the resolution to Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises.

Looking Ahead “...Understanding the multifarious nature of Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises should strengthen our resolve and determination to deploy all the energies and resources at our disposal to see to their resolution. Our inability and reluctance to take meaningful action go to challenge not only our common humanity but also our self-worth. It is, therefore, important for us to appreciate, first and foremost, the importance of consensus building within the polity, with a view to ameliorating the current state of political polarisation in it. The Nigerian political class must be able to speak and understand one another as well as to develop a minimum national agenda to chart the way forward. The political class must also be able to open dialogue on a variety of national issues, including the perennial problem of power rotation and willingly enter into agreements that they can honour with dignity.... “....Also, governance, at all levels, must translate into tangible benefits for all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliation. Nigeria has the resources to make life more pleasant for its people. It is equally imperative to address the poverty problem as well as the needs of the youth population both in all the geopolitical areas of the country. In a situation where over 50 per cent of our population is jobless at less than 19 years of age, we are definitely sitting on a time bomb much deadlier than that of Boko Haram unless we take urgent action to defuse it.... “....Furthermore, there should be renewed determination to address both the Jos and Boko Haram sectarian crises. The Federal Government must take seriously its security responsibilities and effectively contain these crises. But beyond that, a genuine dialogue must be initiated, to begin healing festering wounds and to bring genuine understanding and reconciliation amongst the entire people of Plateau State and beyond. The social dimension of the Boko Haram cannot also be resolved by the mere use of force. This is the reason why I have consistently suggested dialogue and education to counteract its message, especially those aspects dealing with modern education. Millions of Muslim pupils are already outside the school system.

Millions more will definitely follow if urgent intervention is not undertaken to enlighten the younger generations. And the question I have always asked is What kind of society can we build in the 21st century when our youth turn their back on Science and Technology and are unable to produce the next generation of doctors, engineers and other specialisations necessary for sustaining the socio-economic development of the society?.... “....Finally, we should not neglect the impact of the International environment on Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises.

Happenings in the US, Iraq, Afghanistan, Norway, Netherlands, the UK and France are as current and relevant as events in Jos, Maiduguri and Abuja. We must preach international tolerance and moderation.

The fight against extremist groups should never be perverted to become a fight against Islam and its doctrines. We should all remember that in the final analysis, it is not what the perpetrators of violence do that really counts. It is the actions we take, individually and collectively, that would shape the fate of humanity....”

Apology The promise in this column last week to relay what transpired at the Convocation of Crescent University in Abeokuta penultimate week is not fulfil- able today due to space constraint. Please, look for it soonest.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

36

DISCOURSE

Education and the post-colonial subject: towards the epistemology of transformation A keynote address at the 29th Annual Conference of Philosophy of Education Association of Nigeria (PEAN) at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, on October 12, 2011.

An Anatomy of Transformative Ignorance

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R Chairman, distinguished members of the high table, noted philosophers and notable educationists, stellar array of panelists and our young philosophers and budding educationists among the audience, it gives me very great pleasure to be here with you this morning. The state of a society is often reflected in the state of its philosophy of education. It is not for sheer intellectual hedonism that Plato, one of the greatest philosophers of all time, recommended philosopher-kings to preside over the affairs of society.

I am particularly delighted by the theme of this year’s conference: Education for Social Reconstruction.

There can be no social reconstruction or reconfiguration or transformation for that matter without a proper education of the citizenry and their rulers. I am even more delighted by the sub-themes of the conference which show a critical awareness and strategic engagement with the forces and dynamics of knowledge in a society in a state of flux.

These are the acute ingredients and resources of hope in a societal journey towards redemption and reformation.No society can achieve its destiny without selfknowledge and critical self-awareness. Indeed without these attributes, a society has a date with perdition. This is why the Socratic injunction, “Know thyself” is as relevant to the society as it is to the individual.

As F. W. Hegel, the great German philosopher, has observed, “if reality is inconceivable, we must forge concepts that are inconceivable”. Hegel was politically conservative but intellectually adventurous up to a point. The great German master was critically grappling with the arduous social and political problems of his age, particularly the brave new world of machine and maximum men. There seemed to have been a neat division of developmental labour among the leading nations of Europe.

While Prussia, Hegel’s native land, was convulsed by an intellectual revolution which led it to produce the greatest thinkers and philosophers of the age, England had an Industrial revolution which eventuated in the first truly modern society.France, on the other hand, had a political revolution which led to the first modern revolutionary polity.Those who are interested in which nation has been best served by these momentous developments can trace the fate and trajectory of each nation ever since.That is not before us today.

In the case of Hegel, what is known as the cunning of history was critically and crucially at work.

No man, however, gifted and intellectually outstanding can leapfrog the dynamics of his age and society into another age. Hegel copped out of his intellectual adventure famously, noting that “what is real is rational and what is rational is real”. He became a loyal ally and worshipful servant of the Prussian military state.

It was then left to Karl Marx, another German thinker and philosopher, to put a materialist gloss on Hegel’s idealist fumbling. Marx’s

‘Nowadays, transformation seems to be the buzzword in official and semi-official circles in Nigeria.

The society has bought into it.

President Goodluck Jonathan takes an infectious delight in waving the transformational talisman at every problem. But like every buzzword, this particular one generates more heat than light. In the event, it has become an inelastic and self-expanding briefcase of frivolity; a dumping ground for idle day-dreaming’

By Adebayo Williams historic luck was that he had fled to England and was able to observe from the ringside the concrete contradictions of a class-divided modern society at play. The pains of lonely exile were thus offset by the more liberal intellectual milieu of England which opened its rich intellectual vaults to the omnivorous German polemicist and allowed him to savour a great historical drama unfolding.

Thus while retaining the Hegelian dialectic of permanent tension and dynamic opposition, Marx located human classes as the mover and shaper of history and the permanent war of classes as the motor of societal progress. This was in sharp contrast to the mysterious metaphysic of the Hegelian Absolute Spirit which, according to Marx, was nothing but a mystifying euphemism for God. As for the Kantian unknowable thing-in-itself which had presented generations of philosophers with a backbreaking antinomy, Marx did not even bother with any abstruse and mind-bending philosophical elucubrations.The unknowable was vulnerable to struggle and human labour, he simply averred. Wielded hammer speaks poetry. Marx was so much sold on revolutionary praxis and promethean daring as opposed to arm-chair philosophising that he famously declared in his Thirteen Theses on Feuerbach that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world. The point is to change it”.

It is good to note that change is also in the air in Nigeria. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have the requisite paradigmatic thinkers and world-historic philosophers to

•Prof. Williams

analyse and interpret our world for us. This absence of a nexus between critical thinking and action is always a recipe for consuming disaster. The intellectual overhauling of a society is the father of political transformation. Distinguished audience, it is that “t” word again.

Nowadays, transformation seems to be the buzzword in official and semi-official circles in Nigeria. The society has bought into it. President Goodluck Jonathan takes an infectious delight in waving the transformational talisman at every problem. But like every buzzword, this particular one generates more heat than light. In the event, it has become an inelastic and self-expanding briefcase of frivolity; a dumping ground for idle day-dreaming. Emptied of its contents and stripped of meaning, the word itself has become a site of contestation among rival political groups. Woe unto the party however ideologically challenged and politically suspect that does not mention transformation.

This in itself is a reflection of an underlying crisis. While we all agree that transformation is necessary and desirable and even inevitable, we shy away from the hard question. What are we transforming and from what to what? There are deeper philosophical and conceptual questions involved in the theory of transformation. What is our national philosophy of education that is supposed to drive the transformation? Where is the underlying national ethos? Are we even sure that we have the requisite national elite to power transformation?

Sometimes, it is better not to educate than to educate wrongly. To educate is to teach. But to educate

wrongly or to mis-educate often leads to a condition of permanent anxiety and alienation; a situation of longing but not belonging, an epochal disorientation such as we see in contemporary African intellectual elite.

This why knowledge is more important than mere shambolic education. Epistemology must precede pedagogy however revolutionary the pedagogic intent.

Epistemology is the theory of knowledge while pedagogy is the theory of teaching. What we know, how we know it and what we are going to do with the knowledge are more important than what we teach and how we are going to teach it. The epistemology of suppression is as crucial if not more crucial than the pedagogy of oppression. Poverty of knowledge cannot lead to knowledge of poverty or the dissemination of its evil for that matter. We must now dwell on how the mastery of knowledge leads to the emergence of the superior society.

The shorter 20th century As modern history has taught us, we live in a knowledge-driven global community. All the major developments of the past century, particularly the rise of nuclear armoury and the dramatic and radical restructuring of the capitalist mode of production in the epoch of globalisation, can be traced to knowledge explosion as an endlessly inventive and proactive humanity confronts its immanent destiny. These developments in the knowledge industry have in turn shaped the course of human evolution and the way we see and view ourselves leaving laggard societies stranded in the middle of nowhere and as inert objects and passive re-

pository of history.

Eric Hobsbawm, the great Marxist historian, ended his epic trilogy of modern history with a concluding book entitled: The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century.

For those who lived through its tumultuous template and the breathless tempo of events, the 20th century must have been very short indeed. Never in the history of mankind has a century galloped so furiously and in such a breathtaking manner piling unique pressure on human memory. As momentous events cascaded upon even more memorable developments, history itself came to resemble a fast-paced action-packed movie with unpredictable detours.

Some of these events are worth recalling either because they fundamentally altered the course of human history or because they existed hitherto in the realm of fiction or imaginative daring. Four of them can be isolated. By the end of the century, space exploration and the aviation industry had fully come into their own. What began at the beginning of the century with the rudimentary flying contraption of the Wright brothers had become a full scale global mega-business which peaked with man going to the moon in 1969.

The two world wars brought a new dimension to international conflict and the rules of diplomatic engagement among nations. It was the first time the world was witnessing a truly global war and the possibilities of a universal catastrophe triggered by conflicts among nations.

Even more crucially, the wars changed the paradigm of armed conflict forever and the way we view ourselves. If the First World War show-cased the passing of an old order and the horrific incompetence of its armed commanders, the Second World War foreshadowed the ascendancy of a new type of scientific slaughtering on a scale and magnitude hitherto unknown in human history.

Politically and ideologically, the 20th century also witnessed a series of revolutions and the rise of communist societies which presented a stiff challenge to the global dominant order and the new imperialist dominion of the United States of America. During the Second World War, the production of munitions from the Soviet commandist economy outstripped the combined efforts of the west and might have saved the world from Hitlerite fascism. With its huge land mass, organic culture, superior population and better disciplined work force, China continues to pose a major threat to the ascendancy of the western powers, while Cuba and Venezuela cock a snook at America.

But at the end of the 20th century, thanks to the phenomenon of globalisation and the radical restructuring of the modus operandi of global capitalism, America appeared to have seen off the challenges of the communist states. The collapse of most of the actually existing socialist states has left the world with a uni-polar global order and America in pole position. In retrospect perhaps nothing can best Robertson’s brilliant categorisation of globalisation as “the universalisation of the particular and the particularisation of the universal”.

Stripped of jargon, it simply means the Americanisation of the rest of the world.

•To be continued

THE NATION

38

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

CRIME WATCH

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PERATIVES attached to anti-riot Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron 2, Kaffi Street, Obalande , Lagos, have arrested a commercial motorcyclist-turned kidnap kingpin at gate area inside Gowon Estate in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, David Obinna alias King Power, was arrested following the confession of two of his gang members, Kenneth Okonkwo and Azubike Okafor, who were arrested over the kidnap of Dr Godwin Ene, Mr Rodney Ogagba and Mr Godwin Okonkwo, about two weeks ago.

The victims were under their captive for over one month within which they were demanding a ransom of over N200m from their family members to set them free.

However, luck ran out of the duo when a rescue team led by the commanding officer in charge of PMF2, Mr Patrick

Police arrest Okada rider-turned kidnap kingpin

By Jude Isiguzo

Ejadewe; a Superintendent of Police, trailed them to their hide out and arrested them.

Recovered from them were two dynamites, three rockets, five rocket launchers,

eight AK47 assault rifles, 108 magazines fully loaded with 30 rounds each, 665 live ammunition and assorted charms.

Following the confession of the two suspects already in their custody, the police command declared a manhunt for Obinna which paid off on Monday night.

Recovered from them were two dynamites, three rockets, five rocket launchers, eight AK47 assault rifles, 108 magazines fully loaded with 30 rounds each, 665 live ammunition and assorted charms

The police team led by Mr Igbinazaka Ugowe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), trailed Obinna to a hotel around the gate area of Gowon Estate where he was arrested.

It was gathered that the suspect had gone to the hotel to enjoy himself when policemen stormed the area and laid ambush for him. Sources said around 10:30 p.m. when he was on his way home; he was arrested by the police.

Police sources told Newsextra that when the suspect was interrogated, it was discovered that he has seven exotic state-ofthe-art Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV), three houses in Egbeda and Sango Ota in Ogun State, and five shops at the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo.

‘Poverty pushed me into robbery’

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ROBBERY suspect who is currently cooling his heels inside the cell of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos has told the police that suffering and hardship pushed him into crime.

The suspect, Jimo Raji, 38, who claimed that he started robbery in August 2011, told the police that he had tried all kinds of odd jobs to survive but none seemed to be working, so he joined a three-man gang of robbers to improve his life.

Narrating how and why he became a robber to Newsextra, the suspect who claimed that he is a qualified auto-tyres vulcaniser based in Sango Ota, Ogun State, explained that he was finding it difficult to make ends meet with his handiwork.

The suspect who is an indigene of Omodaa community in Agalausa Local Government Area, Kwara State, said he decided to become a robber because of the way two of his customers who claimed to be commercial motorcycle operators were spending money anytime they visited him.

“I had two friends, Kazeem and Fatai who are commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada riders in Sango Ota. They operate from Toll Gate in Sango to Oshodi in Lagos State and each time they had a problem with their tyres they usually come to me for repairs and when I am through, they pay me handsomely.

In fact, I am always happy and eager to work for them.

“We were together on a particular day and I was sharing my poverty experience with them and they were laughing at me, saying that I should do something to improve my life before I die of poverty like my father. They told me that for them, business is good and that they rake in between N5, 000 and N10, 000 daily. They urged me to come and join them in their kind of business so that my life could be better but because I did not have enough money to buy a motorcycle, I could not,” he said.

He noted that one Saturday evening, the duo came to stay with him at his work place and after work; they went to relax at a popular joint in his area where they spent money lavishly.

“Majority of the people who come to the joint were criminals who smoke weed and drink local gin. Policemen usually come there once in a while for raid but that has not stopped people from going there

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

when they want to catch fun because the place is very lively.

“After a week, they came back but this time, they said I should take them out.

Because I could not afford it, I told them that I did not have money and so can not take them to the joint. That was when they advised me not to allow the poverty frustrate me and that I should try and follow the progressives. I told them that I have tried my hands in all manners of odd jobs to make ends meet but it did not work.

They taught me one of the tricks vulcanisers use in order to increase my earnings.

They said whenever anybody gives me a job to do, if it is one hole that is on the tube of the tyre, I should use nail to increase it to three and this will increase my earning. That was how I started cheating my customers with the trick, but when some of them started noticing what I was doing, they stopped bringing their tyres to my workshop. I lost business and my suffering continued,” he lamented.

Raji explained that when his customers deserted him, he approached his friends and they promised to get him a motorcycle on hire purchase.

He said that they brought the motorcycle to him a few days later but he later discovered that it was a stolen one.

The suspect said: “I was working with the motorcycle one day when the real owner saw me and flagged me down. He told me to take him to his house and when we got there, he pretended as if he was calling somebody to come and help him with some money. When the person came out, he asked if he could identify the motorcycle and he said yes and that was how they started beating me. I was almost killed but was lucky to have escaped. I called my friends to tell them what happed and they told me not to worry and promised to be taking care of me if only I will join their kind of business and I accepted.

“I decided to join the gang and make money so that society can accord me the kind of respect that I deserve.

“My first attempt in robbery was on August 1, at Gowon Estate. We got to the place around 8:00 p.m. that night and we went on a motorcycle. Kazeem and Fatai told me we were going for an operation and that I should be smart. They said my role is to carry both of them on a motorcycle and be trailing any private vehicle that

My first attempt in robbery was on August 1, at Gowon Estate. We got to the place around 8:00 p.m. that night and we went on a motorcycle. Kazeem and Fatai told me we were going for an operation and that I should be smart

we see and intended to attack and rob.

They told me that I should position myself properly for escape should anything go wrong with the operation and that if we succeed, that I would be riding in front of the snatched vehicle as escort.

“That fateful day, we saw a man driving into a compound in Gowon Estate and I quickly rod close to the compound, and Kazeem went in and started operation. I went to a pole not too far away from the compound and parked there waiting for them to finish. It was not long when I started hearing people shouting thief!

Thief! Thief! I made effort to escape with the motorcycle but before I could get to where it was parked, Kazeem and Fatai jumped on it and escaped. They were even firing in the air when they were escaping to scare people away. The people around there came to me and said I was the one that brought the robbers and they started beating me and later handed me over to the police,” he said.

However, during interrogation at SARS, he confessed that the Gowon Estate robbery was not his first but that he started robbery at FESTA Town, where his gang went to steal a car parked inside a compound.

The suspect said unfortunately the car could not start so they left it and stole jewelries, phones and N80, 000 cash.

“I was cheated when we were sharing the loots. They did not give me any money from the cash we stole; rather they gave me one phone and jewelry. I later sold the phone and the jewelry so that I can have some cash. The second was at Mangoro Cement area along Abeokuta Expressway.

One man wind down his car glass on a heavy traffic, and wanted to buy bottle water, we pushed away the boy selling the water and Kazeem pointed a gun at him while Fatai collected his suitcase which he placed on the front seat of the car with his jacket and two handsets after which we zoomed off.

“We got N800, 000 and $1, 000 from the suitcase. We threw away the handsets to avoid trace. It was the job that changed my life. I rented a self-contained room at the cost of N60, 000. My share was N200, 000. They cheated me but I was contented

•Raji

with what they gave me because they were my masters.

“The third one did not pay us. We planned to rob a house in Ikeja. When we tried to jump into the building through the fence, we met two police dogs and only their barking scared us and we left. The last one was the Gowon Estate operation where I was caught,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “If I am released, I will go straight to my village and start vulcanizing business there. I can do farming and hunting also. I will never come to Lagos again because Lagos is not good for criminals especially now that the Commissioner of Police Mr Yakubu Alkali with his intelligent policing that is making criminals weak and confused,” he noted.

Confirming the incident, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police said “the intelligent policing by our Commissioner of Police Yakubu Alkali is working. The CP Squad has also been strengthened by a new O/ C that is very experienced in intelligent policing.”

Court dissolves 11-year-old marriage

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GRADE “A” Customary Court in Mushin, Lagos, on Monday dissolved the 11-year-old marriage between Ganiyu Quadri and his wife Fatimo as a result of irreconcilable differences.

The Court President, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, said the decision was based on the inability of the couple to settle their dispute in spite of the mediation and counseling ordered by the court.

Ipaye ruled that Ganiyu and Fatimo were free to go their different ways, adding that “they could cohabit with whoever they so please.“ Ipaye also ordered that Ganiyu should desist from harassing his ex-wife.

He ruled that Fatimo should have custody of their four children pending the decision of the Family Court on the matter.

Ipaye ordered Ganiyu to pay N5,000 for each of the four children monthly as their upkeep allowance.

“I expect that you the father will also be responsible for their medical expenses as well as their schooling,’’ Ipaye said.

Fatimo had approached the court on July 11, 2011 to dissolve her marriage because of maltreatment.

She also alleged that Ganiyu was stealing her money and not catering for his family.

But the respondent had appealed to the court not to dissolve the marriage because he was still interested in it.

THE NATION

39

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Council chief empowers constituents

I

T was celebration galore at the secretariat of Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, Sangotedo, Lagos as the council chairman, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa doled out empowerment materials worth N7 million to some of the constituents.

The beneficiaries comprised market women, various artisans and even members of other political parties.

The empowerment items distributed included power generating sets, hair dryer machines, transformers.

The transformers bought with council funds will be given to Ajah-Ilaje community and Osho area at Langbasa.

The council boss said the gesture was to appreciate the confidence reposed on him by the leadership of his party, the Action Congress of Nigreria (ACN), and the people of the council.

He said empowering the people is crucial in realising the council leadership’s transformational agenda.

He said: “We do not believe in distributing money to people but rather in initiating programmes that will enhance their capacity and skills to help them become financially independent.

“I want to ask you, for how long do you think we can continue to distribute council funds for individual use? But if empowerment programmes are put in place like the ones the council did, it would enable those who are trained to further expand their horizon. The vocation is for the unemployed.”

While highlighting his administration’s achievements, Alhaji Yisa said the council has made tremendous efforts in the areas of education, road and drainage construction, youth’s development, and women empowerment since assumption of office.

“The last three years have been demanding but I’m contented because we have been trying to meet up with challenges in education, road and drainage construction, youth development, and women empowerment. I am satisfied with

L

AGOS State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is campaigning in 245 wards simultaneously across the pre-existing 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), its chairman, Chief Oladele Ajomale, has said.

He explained that the party decentralised its campaigns at the grassroots to moblise effectively, assuring that the door-to-door approach would make the party achieve the four million target votes set by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

He said the chairmanship and councillorship candidates are concentrating on their respective wards in a competitive manner to garner the votes for ACN on Saturday without difficulty. “We are not sleeping and snoring like PDP. We are meeting with the people and tendering the performance of our government as the basis for soliciting for their votes”, Ajomale said, urging Lagosians to endorse ACN at the polls.

Flagging off his local government campaign in Ifako-Ijaye council, the chairmanship candidate, Toba Oke, said: “A new time has come. It is time to construct roads. it is time to construct bridges and culverts. It is time to build new

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

the level of success attained,” he said.

All the eight primary schools in the council that were in deplorable conditions, he said, have been rehabilitated.

One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Yinusa Lawal, who received a grinding machine, expressed gratitude o the council chief.

Alhaji Lawal, an electrician from Badore, hailed Alhaji Yisa for putting a smile on the faces of the people through his peopleoriented programmes.

He promised to deliver the machine to his wife for immediate use.

Representative of Ajah-Ilaje community that received transformer, Mr Abiola Majekodunmi lauded the council chief for the gesture.

Majekodunmi, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee in the community told Newsextra that the load on the current transformer used by the community is heavy, hence the need for new one to complement it.

•Alhaji Yisa (second, left), presenting the transformer to Mr Majekodunmi (second, right). With them are members of the community

“We‘ve been having erratic power supply for some months now, with this new transformer, I believe power supply in the areas would be stable and enhance

growth of business embarked upon by the residents,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Tawa Ayinde, a hair-stylist who got a dryer and Stemmer machines ap-

plauded the chairman for aiding her business.

“I thank the chairman for remembering the women in the council,” she said.

Vigilance outfit seeks recognition

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HE Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VDN) has solicited the recognition of the Imo State government to partner with it the area of in the area of crime prevention and reduction.

The Deputy Commander, Imo State Command of the group, Apostle Kingsley Uzoma made the plea while addressing reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

He called for collaboration with his group which he said needed some funds to carry out some of their functions targeted at fighting all forms of criminalities in all parts of the state.

He further stated that based on their training, they have all it takes to partner with government towards making the state crimefree, even as he solicited assistance from government.

Uzoma said that if government would embrace the group, they would contribute immensely in advising the government on the best possible way on crime prevention. He promised to assist in training some of the security out-

fits in the state He said that VGN has come to stay in the state and would continue to ensure that crime and all forms of criminal activities are eradicated in the state.

He regretted that some of the se-

If government would embrace the group, they would contribute immensely in advising the government on the best possible way on crime prevention… He promised to assist in training some of the security outfits in the state

curity personnel in the employ of the state government are not trained; adding that without constant training and re-training, security personnel might not perform optimally.

He commended the proactive security system being adopted by the Federal Government to combat crime in the country.

He stressed the need for government to pay adequate attention to community policing as a measure in checking crimes.

He said that the VGN plays important role in the society, adding that the group has its presence in all the communities, noting that the group has the capacity of detecting criminals’ hideouts.

He stressed that with the presence of VGN members in all localities in the state, crime rate would be reduced to the barest minimum.

Lagos ACN campaigns in 245 wards

By Emmanuel Oladesu

classroom blocks for pupils. It is time to serve diligently. We will serve and render account. We will be responsive and responsible. We will set a standard worthy of note and reference”.

His Ajeromi-Ifelodun Council counterpart, Kamal Bayewu, unfolded his manifestos at a rally in Ajegunle, saying that human capital development would be his priority, if re-elected. The council boss said: “The covenant I have with the people from November is human capital development. We must en-

sure that we have youths that can stand on their own. We must ensure that we have an industry, which is the music industry, and we must project our sports carnival, ‘Ajegunle Carnival’. We will build a youth centre in Ajegunle here, with computer and internet services. We will upgrade our roads, build more health centre and supply more education infrastructure to schools”.

Addressing party supporters in Yaba LCDA, the chairmanship candidate, Hon. Jide Jimoh, told them that he had run the council in a prudent manner in the last three years, adding that the LCDA is not in-

A new time has come. It is time to construct roads. It is time to construct bridges and culverts. It is time to build new classroom blocks for pupils. It is time to serve diligently. We will serve and render account

debted to any bank. He added: “We are tested and trusted. we have served without blemish and bringing reproach to you good people of Yaba and our great party. We have the experience, exposure, discipline, commitment, credibility and integrity. If we are not propelled by service, we have no reason to be in politics. We will maintain the good record and sustain the tempo of performance. Yaba will reamian a model”.

In Mosan Okunola LCDA, the candidate, Alhaji Abiodun Mafe, whose administration built a semblance of General Hospital and constructed many roads, said that massive infrastructural development would be his focus in the next three years. Thanking the people for giving him a return ticket, he added: “:We will continue to initiate educational, health, poverty alleviation projects, intensify the construction and rehabilitation of our council roads and forge community development. All we are saying that you should vote ACN for all these to become a reality. We have promised development and we will not fail our people”.

Oshodi/Isolo chairmanship candidate, Bolaji Ariyoh, called for unity and harmony in the LCDA, urging members of ACN to embrace the Saturday poll as a collective challenge. He said: “Now is the time to embark on the work of development. Now is the time to rise to the challenge of revitalisation. Now is the time to rekindle the confidence of the people in our great party. Now is the time to spread the dividends of democracy.

I promise an all-inclusive administration. No interest will suffer. As one family in ACN, we will all reap the dividends of democracy.

Osodi/ Isolo will be better”.

Ejigbo ACN chairmanship candidate, Kehinde Bamigbetan, who was endorsed by the youth wings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), pledged to fight the infrastructure battle in the area. He said: “We started the good work three years ago and, in spite of the challenges, we delivered on our promises. We will successfully build on the foundation we have laid and catapult Ejigbo LCDA to the horizon of development”.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

40

Comrade Odinaka decried the level of degradation, destruction of lands and valuable crops as a result of oil exploration in the area, adding that government has no reason to hold back the 40% oil derivation because out of the 100% oil derivation it collects 60%

Y

OUTHS from the major oilproducing communities in Imo State namely Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema local government areas have staged a protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital, kicking against the withholding of the 40% oil derivation fund due to them.

The youths, in their thousands, carried placards some of which read “we say no to embargo,” “Okorocha, remove the embargo on ISOPADEC money or face the action of the militants,” “release our 40% you have 60%,” “we will shut down all oil wells if…”, among others.

They marched from Orlu Road to Bank Road down to Wetheral Road, causing heavy traffic jam.

They also subjected road users to quite an ordeal as the protest lasted.

They blocked the major entrance to the Government House, preventing government officials, staff and some security officials from gaining access to their offices. Those who insisted were turned back by the angry-looking youths.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, on arrival from Abuja, entered his office through the back gate when he cited the intimidating number of youths that barricaded the major gate to Government House.

The protest, which lasted for hours, attracted the attention of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Administration Mr. Okechukwu Okorocha who called the leadership of the youth into his office to hear their grievances.

The leader and the PresidentGeneral ISOPADEC Youth, Comrade Chinenye Zestus Odinaka told the SSA that they want the governor to, as a matter of urgency, remove the embargo placed on the 40% oil derivation from the Federal Government meant for the development of the rural areas, empowerment of the youth among other issues.

He stressed that the youths from

•The protesters

Youths protest over oil derivation fund From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta would not hesitate to close down all oil wells in their backyard if the governor fails to remove the embargo on the 40% oil derivation.

He regretted that there has been no meaningful development in the two oil-producing areas, adding that lack of good roads, medical facilities, good drinking water as well youth unemployment are the major challenges facing the areas.

Comrade Odinaka decried the level of degradation; destruction

of lands and valuable crops as a result of oil exploration in the area, adding that government has no reason to hold back the 40% oil derivation because out of the 100% oil derivation it collects 60%. Why then should it withhold our 40%?

He further disclosed that people from the oil-producing local government areas contributed immensely towards Rochas Okorocha’s emergence as governor of the state. He therefore urged him to reverse the embargo immediately.

In his comment, the PresidentGeneral Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta Local Government Areas Students,

Comrade Ajizua Chukwuka Emmanuel said that if the governor fails to address the matter, they will shot down all the oil wells in the area.

He said that since three years now after the death of former ISOPADEC chairman, the commission has not paid students their scholarship allowances owing to the embargo placed on the 40% derivation.

The leader of the team lamented that students at the Imo State University who are indigenous to the areas were walked out of the examination hall because they were not able to pay their school fees.

He pleaded that government

Council chief gives account of stewardship

By Chinaka Okoro

•Sanusi S the government activities in Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State wind down, the Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi has given account of stewardship of his administration in grand style.

Having assumed office in October, 2008, Hon. Sanusi was faced with the responsibility of injecting life into the somewhat dormant council area. He was also faced with the responsibility of making life worth living for the people of the area which, accord-

A S

ing to him, had not been lucky in terms of state presence as the council was a newly created one.

“So, the problems were so many so much so that we were some how confused as to where to start.

According to him, giving account of stewardship shows honesty and transparency and would give room for even development of the dividends of democracy.

“In order to involve the citizenry in the governance of the Local Government, I assured the people of my belief and preparedness to adopt open door policy which facilitated the free flow of information between the governed and the government,” he said.

Adding that “this administration from the onset, made it clear that it will always listen to the yearnings of the people.”

The council boss associated the success made by the administration to the overwhelming support for the people and his executive members and the legislative arm.

As we give account of our stewardship in the last three years, I am happy to report that with the cooperation and support of the amiable people of this Local Council, the dedi-

cation and commitment of the Oriade LCDA, Public Functionaries and agencies, and the proper husbandry of our financial resources, the council has taken giant strides in the implementation of its policies, programmes and projects, in spite of the constraints of funds,” he Sanusi said.

Hon. Sanusi accounted that his administration has been able to reach out and touched the lives of many of the people.

I am happy to inform this August gathering that this administration has come up with the construction of Ultra Modern Secretariat. This administration has rehabilitated and constructed more than 45 roads, and undertook the renovation of six classrooms at LA Primary School and completion of LA School in Ilashe,” he said.

The Oriade LCDA has not been lucky in terms of robust infrastructural development, and that spurred us to work hard to bring about some level of developments so that our people could enjoy good life. The first thing we had to carry out was creation of health awareness for our people so that they would appreciate the relevance and benefits of daily healthy living.

“We had to clear the drainage and sewage tanks for our people for one and a half years free. We also focused

on primary healthcare development to ensure that the people were able to access drugs free through the rehabilitation and equipping of the existing health centres. Again, we ensured that our youths engaged in competitive sporting activities in Lagos State, among other achievements,” he said.

His score card on education was given to include “participation in the grand finale of the year 2008 Spelling Bee Competition, resuscitation of adult literacy centres, presentation of exercise books to pupils and distribution of other educational materials in primary schools in the council,” More on education, he disclosed that most primary schools in the area lacked classrooms as most pupils took their lessons under tree shades. “This was a major challenge to the council, and we had to tackle the problem head on by constructing more classroom blocks and rehabilitated the dilapidated ones in order to create an environment conducive to teaching and learning,” he stated.

Aware of the importance of health to his people, the council chair undertook infrastructural repairs of the primary health centres in the council area.

“Infrastructural repair of Agboju Primary health centre, prostrate can-

should not allow the same to happen to those at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede as it reopens.

They later handed over their protest letter to the SSA on Security Administration.

Addressing the leadership of the protesting youth, the SSA assured them that their complaints would be channeled to the Governor alongside their letter for him to peruse and act upon.

He further assured them that government would act promptly on their request, even as he advised them to go about the demonstration peacefully and avoid any form of damage as good citizens of the state. cer screening for over 270 men of 50 years and above, de-worming programmes as part of school health intervention in the primary schools, and distribution of long lasting insecticides nets to 12 riverside communities among others,” Sanusi said.

On what the people should expect during his second tenure, Hon. Sanusi said: “During my second tenure, I will make sure that every riverside community in Oriade LCDA has one health centre. Those that have none will have health centres established for them, and the dilapidated ones will be rehabilitated. I will also ensure that markets are built in each of the communities in the riverside areas.

“For students in tertiary institutions, bursary allowances will be provided for them, even as job creation for our teeming youths will be pursued vigorously. We intend to achieve this through public-private partnership with some going concerns operating in the council area.”

For the upland areas of the council, Hon. Sanusi promised to “upgrade all link roads for ease of movement, even as he pledged to continue the quarterly social security package for senior citizens from the age 70 years and above to enable them to have a sense of belonging after putting in their best in the process of societal development. More will be achieved with the commitment and cooperation of our people.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

LAGOS COUNCIL POLLS

The scramble for grassroots power As Lagosians file out tomorrow to cast their votes in the local government elections, Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the strengths and weaknesses of the competing parties across the 57 councils.

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OSTERS of chairmanship and councillorship candidates adorn and litter public buildings, private houses, electric poles and roundabouts across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State. Radio and television jingles complement advertisements in newspapers sensitising the public to the grassroots elections holding tomorrow in 377 wards in the five divisions of Epe, Badagry, Lagos Island, Ikeja, and Ikorodu.

Candidates, accompanied by ardent supporters in customised t-shirts and fez caps, have intensified their doorto-door campaigns, especially at the wards, during the week, in a frantic attempt to drum support for their ambitions. Local branches of competing political parties have mounted road shows in many local government areas. Their leaders have stayed glued to the drawing board, perfecting strategies for success.

The chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Fatai Adeyinka, told reporters in Lagos that the commission was fully prepared for the exercise. “We are determined to conduct a free and fair local government elections and no stone would be left unturned to achieve this”, he added, assuring that electoral guidelines would be implemented to the letter.

All these convey the fact that Lagos is in election mood, although the low turnout at rallies may presage a apathy. Also, yesterday, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, reminded Lagosians that there would be restriction of movement between 7am and 3pm. He charged voters to shun thuggery and violence, warning that law enforcement agencies would not condone unruly behaviour at polling booths and collation centres.

No fewer than 18 political parties are participating in the exercise, according to LASIEC. However, the contest is believed to be between the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its main rival, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is participating in council polls in the state for the first time since the creation of additional 37 LCDAs. Other parties are mere spectators. In fact, sources close to the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state confided that mushroom parties decided to field unserious candidates to cleverly erase the prevailing public perception that they are in deep slumber.

Two weeks ago, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) began its final journey to extinction in Lagos State as the members of the State Executive Committee led by Hon. Abiodun Oyebolu defected to ACN at the kickoff of is campaigns at Onikan Stadium, Lagos. The defecting leaders repudiated the shaky platform, disowned the party’s candidates for the polls and vowed to work for the victory of ACN at the local government elections. At the ACN rally in Ikorodu, the former ANPP chairman narrated how he suffered for 12 years in the opposition, advising people in his shoe to retrace their steps.

ACN currently has the advantage of the incumbency factor. All the 57 chairmen and their councillors, su-

• From left: Sunmola, Ajomale, Tinubu, Fashola and Pastor Karim Daramola at the flag off of the ACN rally in PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI Lagos.

pervisory councillors and special assistants belong to the ruling party.

The tree senators from the state, 24 House of Representatives members and 40 members of the House of Assembly are from the party. ACN also has pillars across the councils, including shrewd politicians, traditional rulers, market leaders, religious leaders and leaders of community development associations.

In Kosofe axis, Pa Abiodun Sunmola, assisted by Hon. Bayo Osinnowo, Bosun Jeje, Obafemi Durosinmi, Jibayo Adeyeye, are in effective control. In Epe, PDP diminished has diminished in strength following the defection of Lanre Rasak, Tunde Salau and other arrowheads to ACN in the wake of the April elections. Lagos Island is also a stronghold of the ruling party. However, complaints over the selection of candidates have encouraged the opposition to spoil for war in Ikorodu, Alimoso, Badagry and Ikeja.

When the councils were created in 2006 by the House of Assembly following a referendum, PDP, which was then led by Alhaji Muritala Asorobi, objected to their creation.

The party has also led a campaign to frustrate the bid to list the councils in the constitution by the National Assembly. Unlike the ACN, PDP has not been so visible on the campaign field, although there are posters of some candidates on the street.

The chairman of PDP, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, told reporters at the Ikeja party office that 57 chairmanship candidates would slug it out with their ACN counterparts. He explained that PDP decided to contest the election to rescue the collective commonwealth of Lagosians from the ruling party. Koshoedo, a former House of Representatives member from Badagry could not cite any achieve-

ment of the PDP federal government in the last 12 years. But he said Governor Fashola has not impressed his party by his achievements.

Another PDP chieftain, Dr Yomi Pearse, who recently defected back to the party from ACN, which he joined few years back, contradicted Koshoedo, when he noted that Fashola had performed well. But he pointed out that ACN lacked internal democracy, citing the rancorous selection process as the premise for post-primary crisis rocking the party in many councils.

Reacting to these criticisms, ACN National Party Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and chairman of Lagos branch, Otunba Oladele Ajomale said PDP leaders should bury their heads in shame. Tinubu, whose administration created the additional councils, chided them for itching to reap where they did not sow. At Alimoso sub-zone, he asked voters to reject PDP for blocking his move to create additional five councils in the area. “In 1999, Alimoso was had one council. Today, you have six. You should not vote for the party that prevented the creation of more councils in Lagos”, he said.

Ajomale queried the basis for seeking votes by a party that stifled grassroots development for three years, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld the allocations to Lagos councils. “Where were they then? If the councils had not been created, how would they vie for offices in them? That is why people should reject PDP candidates at the polls”, he said, berating the PDP leaders for lack of foresight.

At Ikorodu rally, Fashola enjoined Lagosians to shun PDP to avoid political pollution at the grassroots. The governor feared that installing PDP

chairmen would create a set back because of incongruence of ideas and styles. Fashola said: “I don’t want to work with PDP chairman at any of the local government,” urging Lagosians to elect ACN at the polls to ensure continuity of development.

To observers, the local government election is holding in Lagos at a time of renewed debate on their status within the federal system, viability and usefulness. At issue is whether or not the local government is a third tier. Indisputably, local government system has been suffocated by recurrent flexing of muscles by the federal and state governments. While states perceive councils as an appendage, the federal government, which is a distant authority, has also wrongfully arrogated powers of control over the local government.

Reports of Local Government Auditors have also revealed the dark sides of the grassroots administration. “Councils parade cosmetic achievements, including dubious empowerment. programmes. We found out that councils are also indebted to banks. It is not peculiar to any state”, said a local government auditor.

Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan proposed an end to the Joint State/Council Account. The suggestion is being resisted by governors.

The auditor said: “This is due to the governors’ penchant for wrongful deduction from the account”. Besides, the rainbow coalition of the council chairman, council treasurer and Director of Finance and Administration/Personnel is injurious to the local government. According to the source, the growth and decline of councils depend on these three officials who have the key to the council treasury.

Neither is the perception of local

‘The local government election is holding in Lagos at a time of renewed debate on their status within the federal system, viability and usefulness. At issue is whether or not the local government is a third tier. Indisputably, local government system has been suffocated by recurrent flexing of muscles by the federal and state governments. While states perceive councils as an appendage, the federal government, which is a distant authority, has also wrongfully arrogated powers of control over the local government’

party leaders about the local government salutary. A council chairman lamented how he had to keep 162 party chieftains on his “informal payroll” to survive in office. “Some party leaders lack the basic understanding of how the council should perform.

Roads, bridges, covets, health centres and provision of school amenities are not their concern. They see the institution as an avenue for making money”, he added.

Across the federation, monitoring of the local government authorities by the state is also weak. Three years ago, Fashola, who reflected on the slow response of the local governments to local needs, advised that targets should be set for them.

Lagos politician, Isiaka AdekunleIbrahim, also attributed the “mad rush” by young people to become councillors to the under-performance of the economy. “There is unemployment in town and youths see politics as a lucrative business. There is too much money in the system and money, rather than the desire to serve, is now the reason for the scramble for political offices at the local level,” he said.

The ruling ACN is not insulated from some of these challenges in Lagos. For example, the large number of aspirants for chairmanship and councillorship unleashed a new form of participation crisis. In a ward in one of the councils at Alimoso, over 30 people applied to become councillors. It was a prelude to post-primary crisis, which aggravated the constraints on the leadership.

In the last few weeks, Lagos ACN has been battling with protests by aggrieved chairmanship and councillorship aspirants over the choice of candidates. In Kosofe and Igbogbo/ Bayewu LCDA, there was tension during the presentation of party flags to candidates as two people each were struggling for one flag. In other LCDAs, there were also allegations of recycling past elected officers, making people who did not even aspire to become flag bearers. Protesting chieftains deliberately shunned party campaigns to spite the leadership.

The timely intervention of the state party secretary, Primate Charles Odugbesi, averted violence at the Gbagada Campaign Ground. The supporters of Segun Aka-Bashorun, who stormed the venue with rally , would have disrupted the presentation of the party flag to Afolabi Sofola, the Kosofe chairmanship candidate.

In Ikeja local government, leaders had to hold numerous reconciliation meetings to iron out grievances arising from the candidature of incumbent chairman, Wale Odunlami. Restless aspirants in some councils even threatened court action against their rivals in the race.

The State Executive Committee led

by Ajomale and other elders of the party have been inundated with complaints of imposition arising from the primaries. Basically, it appears that ACN tends to retain the tendencies of the proscribed progressive parties, especially Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and even the pre-May 1999 Alliance for Democracy (AD), which stuck to its informal formula recruiting tested and trusted party loyalists as candidates for elec• Continued on page 46

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THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

POLITICS Chief Ayo Akande is a member of the Lagos State Executive Committee of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the challenge of local government administration in the state.

Why councils are not performing, by ACN chieftain

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HAT is your assessment of local government adminis tration in the last 12 years?

The creation of local government is expected to bring development.

We have 20 local governments by the federal structure but because it is grassroots, you need to have more local governments in Lagos State.

Now, there are 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State. That is to be able to get to the grassroots. So, when you look at the concept of local government, you could understand that local government administration or local government setup is a key to development and growth because that is really where the people are; the roads are where they live.

But there is a school of thought that believes that the local government is a waste.

No, I have said that local government creation is very fundamental.

As I had told you, if you go to various places of work and you are coming home to eat, drink water, sleep and even relax on your bed with electricity, that’s very key. So, if you develop every unit of the local government and you want to go from one local government to another, the local governments will be interrelated. For instance, if a particular local government has good roads and the next neighbour has good road networks too, your travelling from one unit to another will be on good roads. So, it has to be a network. So, in any system, you cannot function without having a good road network. It is a segment. Even as it is, what is the federal government doing? It is a large congregation and they are holding on a large percentage of the revenue; to do what? You must break it down. Even in an ordinary management, you must delegate responsibilities and add corresponding authority. That is the basis for the creation of local government authority.

What is your view on proposed constitution amendment by the National Assembly?

Constitution amendment has to be related to humanity. Talking about

•Akande

amendment should be a simple and automatic thing and which should not even cause any noise; because once you understand it and you have purpose for the people, amendment would reduce. But, our constitution has been very, very selfish and riddled with corruption. Hence, we have to amend it. You sit down and analyse the human being factor, you now notice what is fair for human being whether as citizens of Oyo or Lagos State, then you do not need to review the constitution every time.

Food is necessary for human existence and also water. So, you make sure that all those essential factors of life are available. Frankly speaking, why do we have to keep on amending the constitution all the time when there would be noise? It is because there had been unfairness, injustice and corruption built into it. In a democracy, they went into The Nation newspaper’s office and to do what? When you are talking of amending the constitution and amendment, you are amending what is not right. Imagine, if you had a big trouser and wanted to amend it to suit you and it is not the right size from the beginning, therefore there would be no reason for the amendment, except you are eating more and fatter. So, there is fundamental derailment from fairness and justice from the constitution. And the larger it is, the more often you will talk of amendment. In the case of The

Nation newspaper, they have no respect for the rule of law. We were talking about the Sovereign National Conference to enable us sit together and talk about our future.

That should have been the basis of our constitution and make us understand why we have to be together as a nation. Except we sit down and talk, we can not say we have all sat down and agreed on this point. That will be the basis for our constitution. Aside that there will be less need to amend because we have all agreed on what will happen. But when you now write a paper that you call a constitution to suit your own need like the cluster of people in the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate, they are the same people who have gathered perpetually to oppress the people indefinitely. They do it easily! They are the same set of people who would say they want to amend but for what? For their own needs. All that has been prominent in their step is that we shall do this yet, there is no electricity; no water and what are they amending? So, it is very sad. It is a distraction as far as I am concerned.

How do you see President Jonathan’s six-year single tenure proposal for the executive?

That is rubbish. A six-year’s tenure will lead to a bigger corruption. Somebody is going and he knows he is going to run for six years, what is he going to do? It is a baseline for corruption. I would not look at it in terms of managerial concept and ordinary thinking.

The idea is not good. If you run a first four-year tenure and you do well and you know you have another opportunity to run for another four years, which is acceptable you will want to do well. But, you run a single six-year tenure and for what purpose? No. I cannot understand why anybody would conceive that as an idea. It will lead to mediocrity. There is no doubt about that, because you know after six years, you are not coming back.

ACN, PDP battle for councils

• Koshoedo • Continued from page 45

tions.

Defending this approach to leadership recruitment, which has served as premise for the inevitable tension between internal democracy and party supremacy, AdekunleIbrahim, who is an ACN chieftain from Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA said: “There is the need to prevent infiltration of foes from opposition and money bags who have the financial muscle to hijack the party from its founders. That is why ACN is tending towards guided primaries”.

Lagos East ACN leader Alhaji Akanni Seriki-Bamu shed light on what he described as the style of ACN, saying: “We wanted to avoid primaries of cutlass, bullets and violence being recorded in other immature parties”. He asked the youths, who he said were in a hurry, to study the

party history, ideology and procedures, adding that these have given form, content and predictability tom the political family.

“What I am explaining is that there is no party member that will not be accommodated, but many are in a hurry. Some people could not make the list in 2008, but they are there now.

There are many people, but the positions are few. Only committed members can understand these limitations”, he added.

Adekunle-Ibrahim shared this line of thought. He said: “There is need for patience. In 2008, Toba Oke wanted to be chairman of Ifako-Ijaye council, but was asked to step down for Deji Doherty. Today, he is the candidate.

In 2003, Obafemi Durosinmi could not secure a second term ticket into the House of Assembly. He did not rock the boat. He is now the chairmanship candidate in Agboyi-ketu LCDA. In Surulere, Mrs Akinyemi Obe vied for the House of Representatives. She lost at the primaries. today, she is the chairmanship candidate.

However, Ajomale observed that the subsisting internal arrangement subscribed to largely by ACN stakeholders may have been uncritically confused with imposition of candidates. He denied the allegation of imposition, saying that the party resolved at its apex meeting to give second tyerm opportunity to some chairman, based on their in office.

He recalled that nobody raised an eyebrow when Governor Fashola

was given a second term ticket by the party in April. “What is good for the goose is good for the gander. The party in its wisdom decided to give Fashola another chance in the spirit of continuity. That is what has been done in respect of some chairmen and councillors”.

Ajomale also shed light on the automatic ticket given to three council chairmen; Sulaimon Omoyele Oris (Bariga), Taofeek Adaranijo (Orile Agege)a and Yemi Ali (Ojuwoye). Oris has stepped down for Deji Jakande during the federal parliamentary primaries while Adaranijo stepped down for Dr Samuel Adejare. Although Ali had indicated his interest in higher offices, he has never raised any objection whenever he was persuaded to step down.

The party chairman appealed to party members to cultivate party discipline, assuring that “those who did not emerge as candidates for this exercise would have opportunities in the future”.

Tinubu, who has noted these agitations, called for reconciliation among the rank and file. He ruled out the possibility of “winners take all syndrome”, stressing that those who did not emerge as candidates have nothing to fear.

At Alimoso, he said: “Those who did not have opportunity to emerge as chairmanship and councillorship candidates would be appointed secretaries to local government and supervisory councillors.

‘Urgent challenge before Jonathan’ Until May 29, Patrick Ekpotu was deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State. When it was time to name his running mate for the 2011 election, Governor Godswill Akpabio decided to drop him. Ekpotu, in this interview with Assistant Editor OLUKOREDE YISHAU, speaks about life after power and a new book he is presenting on the Niger Delta debacle.

W

HAT is your assessment of the first few months of President Goodluck Jonathan?

All the troubles in the country did not emanate from this government. It has been there. While some people are blaming the government for all that has gone wrong in our system, some of us see some signals of good basic foundation for growth and development in our country. President Jonathan came in to see a fundamental damage to our system and nobody should therefore, blame him for the problem. But he has a duty to turn things around and that is the responsibility he has on that position.

Your new book is on the Niger Delta and it is coming at a time when not a few believe the crisis in the region has been resolved. Is there still a crisis in the Niger Delta?

Incidentally, the book, Lifting the Peril, was put together when the Niger Delta problem was the issue in Nigeria. But the crisis in Niger Delta may have been considered over and that is to those that are not discernible enough to see the handwriting on the wall. What we have experienced is a cessation of hostilities. And beyond that, a cessation of hostility is a temporary solution to a problem. But the permanent way of resolving a problem is that which will ensure that not just the hostility has been put to an end, but also the idea and knowledge of how to re-enact the whole thing has been completely wiped off the memories of people. I doubt if that is the case today. Beyond that the issues addressed in the book, ‘Lifting the Peril’ aimed at the Niger Delta crisis at the time it was put together. That is why the book is essential. Although the Niger Delta issue was the focus, the effect of that crisis is what has spilled over to become a nightmarish issue that is disturbing the peace and development of the nation.

These cracks you identify in the book are pervasive. Where are we expected to see manifestations of these cracks and in what form do they likely appear?

What manifested in form of the Niger Delta issue, the Boko Haram and several other crises in the country are not the cracks themselves but are mere symptoms of the larger absurdities that is upsetting the federation of Nigeria. The issue of Boko Haram, Niger Delta crisis, the Problem in Jos and several other crises across the country are symptoms of the larger absurdities. This larger absurdity is the way we live. It is the basic structure for development which has not been put in place from day one. It is in the lack of these things that this manifest symptoms show themselves.

The book is trying to address how best the federation of Nigeria can subdue and subjugate these tendencies on a permanent basis to the cohesive influences of our country.

Does marginalisation have anything to do with the crises in the country?

Yes. We should promote those ones that are good and inhibit those one that are not going to lead to realise your full objective of how you would want the society to be. By the time you handle the two of them side by side, like if a thief is related to you and you find a way to cover him up.

And all those who saw him steal will be wondering what the societal values are.

After you left government, many thought that you would remain in Akwa Ibom to contribute to the development of your party and the state.

Why have you relocated to Abuja. Is there something here?

Incidentally, it is not that I have relocated. It was only necessary that I leave the place for sometime so that I will also have the privilege of have the kind of thinking that will make meaning to me. At the same time, I am also making it possible for my friends in the state to go ahead with whatever they are doing without unnecessary insinuations.

Why didn’t Governor Akpabio re-nominate you as his running mate?

In my opinion, it was nothing unusual. But politics, being what it is, several persons will continue to feel that no, it should not have been so, since I had no hand in my being made a deputy governor, I equally would not have had a hand in my withdrawal as a deputy governor. The important thing is that I served peacefully, I was able to keep my calm, I was able to maintain the tempo and kept to the basic understanding that I had in becoming the deputy governor all through the four years that I served.

What is your relationship with the governor now?

Governor Akpabio is my friend and brother. And I have never had any problem with him and I do not think I will have. He knows me very well and he understands me. He is a young man who tells you straight to the face what he is not happy about. And whenever you find somebody that open, it is difficult to have problem with him. So, I may have problems with people who surround Akpabio, but I do not have problems with Akpabio. But I cannot at the same time point at any particular individual who surrounds him, whom I can say I have a problem with this person.

•Ekpotu

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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AGRO-BUSINESS Boosting food production in Ekiti

Fed Govt spends N3b on food importation annually

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HE Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS) has lamented the huge amount spent on food importation, disclosing that the Federal Government spends N3 billion on food importation annually.

The association maintained that though Nigeria is not exempted from the pangs of food insecurity, with at least seventy nine million hectares of cultivable land yet with a teeming population of unemployed youths.

The National Senate President, NAAS, Mr Theophilus Amenger, disclosed this during a briefing on the United World Food Day in Abuja, which has its theme, Food Prices-from crisis to stability, stating that the association has been making diligent efforts to empower its mem-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

bers towards active participation in agriculture.

He said: “We call on all the government and private sector to invest heavily in all aspects of agricultural value chain so as to ensure food price stability and to cushion the effect of deregulation and the removal of fuel subsidy on the masses.

“We demand that the favourable conditions for youth participation in agriculture be created. Let the proposed agricultural transformation action plan be equipped to impact meaningfully on the small holder farmers and young agriculturalist.

“We also demand a swift passage by the National Assembly of the Nigerian Institute of Agriculture Bill seek-

ing to professionalise all fields in agriculture. All we are doing is to provide agrobased entrepreneurship training in partnership with development organisation.

“As we make concerted effort to contribute to the proposed agricultural reform of the Federal Government we call on the Minister of Agriculture and other relevant government functionaries to shun playing politics with youth empowerment in the media and begin to engage youths actively in a collective bid to build a vibrant economy.

“It has been shown that each one per cent increase in agricultural productivity in Africa reduces poverty by 0.6 per cent. We believe that the emerging vigour of youths towards participating in agriculture when matched by

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

A

• Minister of Agric and Natural Resources, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

commitment from the government and the private sector will yield positive results for the economy,” he said.

Amenger said the government should give the agricultural student a chance, as agric empowerment for students is not taking students to the field but making them understand what they to do before they step into the labour market.

• From left: Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe; Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Lagos State Commissioner for Agric and Co-operatives and Dr. Olajide Basorun, Permanent Secretary of the ministry at the World Food Day and Agric Show at Ikeja.

Modern processing facilities coming

T

HE Lagos State government has announced plans to build modern food processing facilities.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said the government plans to build processing plants to help boost the competitiveness of the industry.

He said lack of service facilities has created a gap because producers can’t fully meet processors’ needs.” He said the government is ready to help address gaps in production up to market-

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

ing.

Lawal said the government will tap the private sector to run operations in those facilities.

He said for the food prices to be stable and within the reach, supply must be increased and necessary infrastructure such as good transportation must be in place.

The government reiterated that it is time to draw attention back to the land and engage in agricultural production for the survival of the

country.

Lawal said it is the aim of the government to increase food production in the state by laying emphasis on areas where it has comparative advantage.Lawal said he had no doubt that the foundation for a bigger and sound agricultural development has been laid and implored citizens to ensure the sustainability of the various programmes.

He stressed the need for increased investments in the agricultural sector, adding that the government should

also strive to provide incentives for small and mediumscale farmers.

He also said that the government should make pragmatic efforts to encourage the youths to go into farming, rather than waiting “endlessly for white collar jobs.”

Lawal reiterated that the government is ready to support investment in largescale agricultural projects, stressing that such investments unemployment in the country, while generating considerable revenue.

Don advocates training for farmers

P

ROF Chukwudi Obinne of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has advocated the need for adequate sensitisation of farmers on various aspects of agriculture to ensure food security in the world.

Obinne, who made the call in Makurdi, said farmers in developing countries did not receive the relevant training in farming. “If farmers are given the necessary training, they will use it maximally in stepping up food production

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

for consumption and production of raw materials for the industries,” he said.

He said if farmers were encouraged to venture into mechanised farming through necessary incentives, the level of food production would drastically improve.

He said adult farmers got weaker because of the manual labour associated with agriculture and because they had little understanding

of new technologies available to them to improve production.

“These older farmers have little understanding of new machines, seeds and farming methods among others.

“Obinne said agriculture was being relegated to the background by the old and younger people alike, while the government was not doing enough to encourage agriculture. The don said faculties of agriculture were nearly empty because poten-

tial students do not like the discipline.

“We all know that young people in Nigeria today refuse to choose agriculture as a profession,” he lamented.

Obinne said agriculture was the only discipline that holds a lot of opportunities for the human race. He said the profession needs to be sustained by the present and future generations through proper government policies to attract youths.

GRICULTURE is the mainstay of the Ekiti State’s economy. It employs 75 per cent of the working population. Ekiti is one of the largest producers of rice, kolanut, oil palm and cocoa in the country. It also produce food crops such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, maize, cowpea, citrus, plantain and fruits such as cashew, mango and orange. As the state is within the ecological belt known for abundant forest resources, the state produces high quality woods which are raw material for wood based industries within and outside the state.

The state government says a blueprint on agriculture is under way as to further develop the state and make it less dependent on the Federal Government. Governor Kayode Fayemi said the move had become imperative because the state has the potential for greatness. According to him, cash and arable crops thrive well in the state.

He said his administration will invest in infrastructure in rural areas through the creation of remunerative economic opportunities for young people engaged in agriculture. In a bid to reduce food insecurity, the government is turning to several new approaches to agriculture, including popularising new crops and harnessing the energy of recent graduates.

The new strategies follow a period that focuses on training for small holder farmers, the introduction of mechanisation for large-scale production. Unemployed graduates are put through basic training in farming techniques. For the government, developing agriculture is of immense national significance based on the assessment of resources and its capability to be processed into healthy foods.

The government is scouting for potential food industries in the small and medium segment for transfer of technology. The government wants farmers to develop value-added products. The plan expressed a development direction of complementing the natural resource management and food security focused with market oriented agricultural production. It advocates a more gender balanced development through increased partici- • Governor Fayemi pation by women as well as the increased involvement of agri-businesses i.e. co-operatives and private companies, in the sale of inputs and the processing and marketing of output.

The government explores options that go beyond traditional support to food in secure households, focusing on the untapped production and market opportunities. The government has taken several initiatives to support a more market-oriented agricultural development. The development of roads, which is a pre-requisite for market oriented development.

It has also put high priority on the development of an appropriate seed supply for pulses and cereals since this has proven a major bottle neck for the development of these commodities. The approach is based on the premises that technology up-take is significantly influenced by the profitability of production, and that production is driven by market demands for specific commodities which require interventions in input supply and services, and output market support to small farmers.

The government has also appreciated the need for interaction between various actors and stakeholders involved in agricultural development and launched the platform for interaction and action to enhance agricultural development.

The extension programme mainly focuses on assisting small-scale farmers to improve their productivity through disseminating research-generated information and technologies. It has been widely accepted by a large number of farmers across the state. As the number of participating farmers in the extension programme increases, the demand for agricultural inputs also increases at a considerable rate.

With all efforts and resources focused on the “Agricultural Development Led Industrialisation” strategy, the state’s use of agriculture as the base for the country’s overall development has indeed begun to justify itself, from the positive early signs that it has been able to achieve.

Anambra to prosecute loan defaulters

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HE Anambra State government is to deal with farmers who failed to pay back the N150 million loans disbursed to them in 2006, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Godson Ezenagu, has said.

Ezenagu told reporters in Awka that the names of the defaulters would be published before taking them to

court.

He said debtor farmers would be blacklisted and would be barred from any agricultural assistance from the state government.

Ezenagu regreted that the attitude of the farmers had prevented the government from offering further loans to genuine farmers.

48

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

SHOPPING

49

THE NATION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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

e-mail: janicenkoli@yahoo.com 08033349992 sms only

email:- shopping@thenationonlineng.net

Shopping made easy with ATM card The use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is not only popular in Nigeria, it has become a way of life; a time saver for many who need quick cash transactions and more convenient means of shopping around the world, writes JANICE NKOLI IFEME. •Cash point

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HE tale was told about an old headmaster who dreaded going to the bank because of the unending queue.

Hence he went with a mat so that he could just lie down for as long as he would be needed to wait. But unknown to him, the old system had changed. The ATM had been introduced. He was surprised that this time, he did not even need to get into the banking hall to withdraw money; with the debit card, he could withdraw money in no time.

Indeed, the introduction of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) has not only changed the face of electronic payment in Nigeria, but has enabled a more convenient means of shopping around the world.

Many banks team up with internationally recognised payment companies such as MasterCard, Verve and Visa Cards to issue the Nigerian version of these cards.

With this, it means one can transact business online and anywhere in the world.

Banks that issue these cards would proudly tell you at the point of withdrawal that you could shop everywhere around the world with them. The Master card allows the cardholder to withdraw cash from all

automated teller machines (ATMs) that bear the MasterCard logo or stickers and pay for goods and services at MasterCard point of sale (POS) terminals. So, does the Visa card.

Mrs Stella Achike, a banker, expressed her excitement the first time she used the Point of Sales at the City Mall Onikan, Lagos. She said: “That day, I ran out of money but saw this baby’s dress I could not ignore for my baby. When I told them that I had run out of cash, they suggested I used Point of Sale. It had never occurred to me before that day.

Since then, I do not bother myself anymore as long as I have my card. I do same when I travel abroad, so it’s just so good”, she enthused.

Mr Niyi Ajayi, a civil servant said: “In those days, whenever there was a long holiday, one would withdraw so much money, which most of the time resulted in wasteful spending. But now, I simply withdraw what I need when it is necessary.

In the past few years, Nigerian banks and the financial services industry in particular, have embraced the concept of e-money.

Changes are beginning to take place in the •Continued on Page 50

Cocoa Mall to open in Ibadan, Apapa Page 50

• Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

Want to buy cartoon characters for kids Page 51

I made friends with market men and women Page 52

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

50

SHOPPING

Shopping made easy with ATM card •Continued from Pg 49 Nigerian financial landscape and customers are increasingly raising the hope of expectations for quality and convenient customer services.

It is good for customers to withdraw cash that they need by eliminating the risk of loss through theft and fire. All in all, it has been winwin scenario for all the parties concerned.

With some banks, you can walk into any banking hall, open an account (it could be current or savings) and as you are being given the withdrawal and deposit booklets, an ATM card will be issued to you on the same day. You would be told to wait for some days before activating it.

With other banks, you would need to wait for about two weeks after applying for an account before you can be issued the card. The reason for this wait is because, instead of just a regular ATM card that is paired with the recipient account, this card is customised with the owner’s name on it.

The visible changes to the card in recent years is its added security feature. The new set of card is issued with Integrated Circuit Chip (ICC) and can carry enhanced data.

With this, one can be sure that it is safe to use in Nigerian ATMs and Point of Sales (POS) outlets.

All banks issue ATM cards to their customers. Most of them use the same national payments switch, a system whereby a card holder of any bank can withdraw cash through the ATM of another bank.

That is why you will always see the logo of InterSwitch (which is the payment switch service provider) on all ATM cards in Nigeria.

A major outlet, which has endeared the ATM card to many is the Point of Sale outlets that accept ATM cards as payment methods. They can be found in airports, some parks, major hotels, hospitals, eateries and some filling stations.

A businessman, Mr Cornelius Okoye narrated his experience on the use of the ATM card. Visibly excited, he said: “When they were introduced into the Nigerian financial scene by the banking sector, I danced madly in joy over the news.

The reason for this was clear. In my line of thinking, ATMs meant PC networking; networking meant computers and Computers meant Civilisation. Hurray! digital civili-

sation had come to Nigeria!

“I remember waiting earnestly for my bank to issue me with the cherished plastic. After years of running a paper-based account, I was finally going to say good riddance to the things of old and move up to the swipe-and-pay. No more torn bank books for me or having to sign twice behind the slip after waiting 30 minutes for the female cashier to freshen her make-up or the male one to stop chatting up the girl ahead of me in the queue.

“And so one day it was my turn to be issued with plastic cash. My happiness knew no bounds. I was not swayed by the fact that it was not exactly a licence for uncontrolled spending (a.k.a. a credit card) or that a few days ago, I would read an article in a national newspaper captioned: ‘Beware of the Automated Thieving Machine’. Some are of the opinion that the telecoms companies should partner with banks to lease some ATM screen space to advertise their promos.”

An undergraduate, Mr Jonah Imonite, said: “Imagine if Skye Bank had printed out special complimentary Celebrity Takes 2 tickets for customers who use the ATM a certain number of times? But if media marketers had just a little bit of imagination to utilise the numerous ATMs around instead of scrambling to erect massive bridge-like billboards, the possibilities would just start becoming endless. Of course, typical with the Nigerianfaddish way of thinking, the possibilities of abuse would be endless too”, he added.

But Mr John Okon, a telecoms consultant objected, saying: “If the marketers were given domain over the ATM screen, then it would become an advertising Armageddon even worse than what we get when watching TV soaps. We would be made to spend more time waiting for our transactions as we are bombarded with commercials for soaps, toothpaste, churches, cigarettes, condoms, furniture, milk, sweets, and yes, the banks too. The advert glut and the resulting chaos from it might be enough to even make you hunger once more for the days of paper”.

Another user, who preferred anonymity, said: “I enjoy using the ATM but it could have its disappointing moments too. I went to withdraw money from one of the banks I use; Sterling to be precise, but the ATM could not dispense cash. I had not bothered to take my

•ATM Machine

cheque book along. I went into the banking hall and reported to the officer at the customer care desk. He gave me a paper to write a letter expressing my desire to withdraw since I did not have my cheque book. In the letter, I boldly stated that I had to resort to writing to withdraw money due to the inefficiency of the bank’s ATM. I was paid the money but do you know that a few hours later, I received an alert that N250 had been deducted from my account. I rushed to the bank and met the same man at the customer service desk. He had the guts to tell me that such amount was always deducted if one withdrew without the ATM or cheque book. I was furious and let him know that he ought to have told me beforehand, since it was the bank’s fault that the ATM was faulty. Why would I spend time writing a letter to withdraw money and be charged N250 when I could

have gone to another nearby bank’s ATM and withdrawn for N100? He said there was nothing he could do to retract the money. I felt so cheated that I had to take the case to the manager. She apologised and said she would pay back the money into

my account. She never did.”

“What lesson have I learnt from this? You just might consider taking your bank book along because you just might not know when that ATM will disappoint you,” he added.

•ATM cards

Cocoa Mall to open in Ibadan, Apapa Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State and Apapa in Lagos should be prepared as the longawaited Cocoa Mall, is soon to open shops activities, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

A

SET of redeveloped and refurbished Malls in Dugbe area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital owned by the Oodua Group will soon open. Ditto the Apapa Cocoa Mall,Wemabod Housing Estate Park Lane.

They have spar, with an international retail super market as an anchor tenant. They also have a hyper market, taking up to about 5,000 square metres shop space. Other international clothing lines will also take as much as 1,000 square metres, also the local brands.

They will offer a total of about 13,000 square metre shop space.

Both malls will have about 90 shops, including international brands. Other packages are the food

court, games arena, car parks and shopping floors.

Both malls will have cinema on the two floors with about six screens each, which will be functional by mid-next year.

Wema Bank has also taken a space there. More tenants are under way, says the owners of the facility.

The name Cocoa Mall originated from the Oodua Group, which owns the property. They made their money many years ago from cocoa.

The property in Apapa belongs to a subsidiary of Oodua.

The idea of the mall came up as a way of upholding the original value for which the property was established.

Interestingly, crops, such as cocoa

•The mall

which is cash crop found mainly in western part of the country and groundnut, produced mainly in the north would be made available in the malls.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Notable portraits and other pieces of information about cocoa and the region would be displayed to remind people of its historical value and help enlighten the young ones

on their heritage.

The Cocoa Mall in Ibadan and Apapa in Lagos, is expected bring a new lease of life to their neighbourhoods and society.

51

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

SHOPPING

Want to buy cartoon characters for kids?

Cartoons have positive impact on children as educational materials and not just for entertainment alone. Memorising the characters’phrases helps develop the kid’s memory skills, preparing him or her for a future career as a scientist. TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

C

HILDREN love watching cartoons and they may wake early or stay late to watch their favourite cartoon charac-

ters.

While watching cartoons, a child’s brain processes graphics images and educational information. These brain stimulants have positive effects on their development.

For example, they help teachers to reach curriculum goals and aid pre-school age children in reaching higher levels of learning.

Experts say when you use a cartoon character as a taching aid, it stimulates inter personal behaviour, learning and social development in children.

The consistent use of some cartoon characters help children to become comfortable to express their feelings and understanding of the subject.

Children, who use work materials with cartoon characters, learn more than children who use the same materials without the cartoon characters.

There are lots of cartoon-based channels.

They include Cartoon Network (CN), NICK Channel, kid co and Nickelodeon. Kids are fond of watching these channels because they show interesting programmes to them. Most viewers of television cartoons are kids. Because they are young, they may want to apply some of the activities they see in these cartoons in real life. So, it is advisable to choose very educative and mild ones for them.

Toys that are common cartoon characters are usually more expensive than the ones that are not. Kids like them because they are characters with familiar figures depicted on their favourite shows which they may watch

many times every week, after which they will want to obtain a toy based on the character in it.

Investigation reveals that male kids like Spiderman, Superman, Mr Incredible, Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, Al & Andy, Batman, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Ghost Rider, Dexter’s laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Scooby-Doo and Robot, to name a few.

They also like gun, car, and more because most of their heroes use guns to protect themseves. A male kid also wants cartoon based things, such as spiderman T- shirt, superman T-shirt, school bags, bed sheets and more. They want all their things covered by cartoon characters.

On the other hand, female kids like to buy Barbie doll, Barbie house, Barbie diary, Barbie dress. They even prefer pink colour, which is normally worn by Barbie sticker.

The girls also have an endless list: micky mouse, Minnie mouse, Donald duck, daisy duke, princess jasmine, Cinderella, prince charming, drizella and Anastasia, fairy godmother, elastigirl, Jessie, wonder woman, powerpuff girls, etc Some lids love cartoon character toys also because they can act out scenes from them, remember and memorise songs, words and phrases with their character toys.

There is nothing wrong or unhealthy with kids acting like their favourite characters, as long as their parents teach them to differentiate the fiction from reality. After all, with the memorisation of the characters’phrases, what the kid is doing is helping to develop his memory skills and who knows, he could be the next best scientist in future.

A kaftan for all seasons

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LOTHES make a man, so the saying goes. While meeting people, for the first time, attention is often paid to one’s clothes. If someone is dressed tastefully, he certainly makes a good impression on others.

And it is well-known that first impressions are the strongest. So, everyone wants to dress beautifully at all times.

Even oriental women, who used to be secluded from public view, tried to decorate their yashmaks – though the purpose was to veil a woman’s appearance.

One of the plainest garments of men was

the trousers ishton. They had no pockets, slits and buttons and narrowed towards the bottom and reached the ankles.

Men’s kaftan has the same style for boys and men, an evidence of its archaism. It could be made without lining, with a thin lining, or was quilted with cotton-wool inside. The sides of the caftan had vertical cuts for easier walking. The hems of the collar, sleeves and flaps were bordered with a thin band. At the chest level, either side of the flaps had a string.

These days, the caftan is still in vogue. Many clothes outfits specialise in making caftans for men of style.

Shopping Right with

Market sanitisation, here to stay?

I

T marvels me whenever I drive through places such as Oshodi, Mushin, Oyingbo, Iddo, Aswani, Alaba, Oyingbo, Mile 12 and actually, many markets in Lagos.

In the past, most of these places constituted great menace as a result trading and vehicular traffic.

The transformation of Oshodi in particuJANICE NKOLI IFEME lar is highly welcome. To think that the hitherto notorious place is now a place of refuge for many and most importantly, the are coming o’, ‘dem don dey come o’ You route one could take in the bid to shelve should have seen how instantly they gathincessant traffic snarl around the metropo- ered their wares out of the rail lines. As soon lis is worth commending. It is actually be- as the train had passed, every thing were cause it is at the centre of the Lagos Main- back on display. land and leads to virtually every part of I also witnessed a similar incidence at Lagos.

Yaba market. Shortly before the rail traders This is a place I dreaded and avoided be- were evacuated. The rail line had been cause of its rowdy nature and traffic logjam. turned to a market for the sale of fairly used Trading took virtually every space avail- clothing otherwise called bend down bouable. Dirt and debris cluttered every where. tique. I watched in bewilderment as the tradThe drains were over full and stinking. ers sang and There was no barrier danced, raising the between vehicles, hips of clothes back traders and commutand forth as a way ‘I found it so awkward that I left ers. They all interof creating enterthe place immediately. Just cepted one another. tainment to attract then, a loud long blaring horn Vehicles struggled buyers. Before long, for the roads with a train was apannounced the passing of a train. traders who occuproaching. Unlike I stopped and watched from a pied the tiniest space the Oshodi scenery good distance. There were they found and buywhere the traders ers hardly finding moved a good disshouts of ‘they are coming o’, where to stand. The tance away from the ‘dem don dey come o’ You should rain made it worse. It coming train, these have seen how instantly they was acclaimed a very Yaba traders merely notorious place. sidetracked by gathered their wares out of the Several attempts merely an inch or rail lines.

As soon as the train were made in the two and pushed had passed, every thing were past to cleanse this back their goods central area which and continued their back on display’ tainted the Centre of spectacle as if nothExcellence. From ing happened. You time to time, the road side stalls and shan- would think the train ran over someone’s ties would be demolished to discourage feet. They were even laughing at my awe. people from trading in them. In a matter of Would I say it was funny? Not in the least. days, the topsy turvy came back refueled.

Another grimy one happened at Cele bus It was such a sordid spectacle. Then, those stop, along the Badagry Expressway. It is a who displayed wares outside their shops major stop with huge market along that must be watchful because their goods could route. The usual thing then was that roadbe carted away in a twinkle of an eye. Hood- side traders displayed their goods very close lums always had a field day. Pick pockets to the expressway. It was in the hit of this had a convenient environment to operate, kind of trading that a trailer conveying fuel just as jungle justice was the order of the failed its break and ran into every trader on day. sight. The substance it carried made it easy Motorists parked their vehicles as hap- for those who were not crushed to be burnt hazardly as trading took place. The infa- alive. It was such a tragedy which had also mous molues, now almost phased out, were occurred several times. a constant pain in the neck as they randomly The above tales were the woes witnessed distorted the movement of traffic. Com- in several markets in Lagos before they bemuter buses obstructed all traffic rules. The came fully sanitised in 2009. Unlike in the okada riders constituted more nuisance than past when the irregularities always came ever, meandering between automobiles, re- back worse, this particular transformation sulting in fatal accidents. Extortion of has lasted this long and from all indication, money by the area boys was rampant. has truly come to stay.

People endangered their lives daily in the Oshodi is now such a delightful route to guise of making a living. take. So, is Mushin and many other places.

A sordid sight is still very fresh in my Some times I look around and almost ask: memory. It was the manner in which trad- where are the traders? And where are the ers displayed their wares on the rails. I commuter buses? Of course they are still asked some of them: “what if a train is com- there but now work as orderly as never being now”? One replied: “Enn them go horn fore. for us now”. I found it so awkward that I left The lesson here is continuity. Governor the place immediately. Just then, a loud Fashola took over the mantle of leadership long blaring horn announced the passing and continued where his predecessor, of a train. I stopped and watched from a Asiwaju Bola Tinubu stopped. Governments good distance. There were shouts of ‘they at all levels ought to emulate such.

Write to us, express your views, observations and experiences. Let’s have your comments about shopping. Your comments, questions and answers will be published first Friday of every month. With your full name and occupation, send e-mail to: janicenkoli@yahoo.com SMS - 08033349992

52

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

SHOPPING MY SHOPPING

I made friends with market men and women •Says Hon Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, Chairman, Mushin Local Govt Area, Lagos.

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HE local government elections comes up tomorrow. Have you been shopping for votes?

Really, if it is for shopping, I want to say that I am shopping for it. There is nothing you do for election that you do not spend money on.

We are buying and selling (Laughter).

Mushin Market has been sanitised and has remained so for a long time. How did you achieve that?

The market is for everybody. If you are not there, you are represented. Apart from your office, the next place is the market. I develop more interest for the people at the grassroots.

What I did was to familiarise myself with the market men and women. I used a play way method. They were surprised that a local government chairman can come so close to be their friends? I also try to supervise the cleaning of the environment. We try to sensitise them. Human relationship is what I use. I operate an open door policy. It is from there that I started getting into them. And if they have financial problem, I assist.

How do you see the development of malls, particularly in your local government area?

We do not cherish our environment. The government in Lagos State has been doing a lot and you know we work hand in hand with the

By Janice Nkoli Ifeme

governor. Our people are used to building shanties. We have been encouraging people to have a better way of securing their wares. Now you hardly see shanties or illegal structures. We have also been encouraging people to establish shopping malls. They see that it beautifies the environment and provides security. So we have so many malls springing up.

How often do you shop?

Before I became chairman, I shopped very often. I tried to assist my wife. I was a teacher. I may not buy pepper or tomatoes, but I could buy clothes, shoes, furniture and cars. When it comes to buying cars, I love to shop. I love cars.

But since I became council chairman, I have not been buying. And I love driving myself because I believe the pleasure is on the driver’s seat.

And now that you are a public figure?

Really, before, there was no where I did not shop. Now, I do most of my shopping when people bring them to me.

How do people react when they run into you?

For instance, I was buying fuel at Agege the other day. I did not think that I could be noticed. I felt ‘Oh let me feel free’. Before I knew it, an okada man came forth and said: “aah…I know this one”. We cannot hide. So because of that I am not encouraged to go out. But when I go out of the country, I feel freer to shop.

At 51, do you think Nigeria has done well for itself, judging from our shops and markets?

Rome was not built in a day. We have tried our best. We now have people, who do not only think about themselves, like the governor. I believe that at the pace we are going now, in five to 10 years, there will be great changes.

Recall a memorable shopping experience.

The one I did when my wife was expecting our last baby.

When was that?

About four months ago What happened?

I was in the U K with my wife and son, so the three of us went shopping. It was very funny.

‘I may not buy pepper or tomatoes, but I could buy clothes, shoes ... When it comes to buying cars, I love to shop. I love cars. But since I became council chairman, I have not been buying. And I love driving myself because I believe the pleasure is on the driver’s seat’

•Hon Adepitan My son did not know his mother was pregnant and there was another child living next to where we lived so when my son saw the items we were selecting for our unborn baby, he asked in surprise if we, were buying all those for the other baby? We laughed at him.

One piece of shopping advice The government should try as much as possible to ensure price control.

Are you not also part of the government?

It is the responsibility of the government at the federal level, local government cannot determine price. It is the baby. If the government at the federal level can check it and have varieties of items, it makes life bearable.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

53

NEWS not Fashola, Sosan to Lagosians: give PDP red card on Saturday ‘PDP alternative’

•ACN rounds off campaigns in Amuwo

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HE campaign train of the Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday rolled into Badagry Division where the party Chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, presented flags to the chairmanship candidates in tomorrow’s local government elections.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, his former deputy Princess Sarah Sosan, federal legislator Ganiyu Olukoju and Ajomale urged Lagosians to reward the party with their votes, stressing that the 10 local government chairmen from the division had justified the confidence reposed in them.

The candidates are Kamal Bayewu (Ajeromi/Ifelodun), Fatai Ajidagba (Ifelodun), Ayodele Adewale (AmuwoOdofin), Ibrahim Sanusi (Oriade), Yinka Durosinmi (Ojo), Amida Abudu (Olorunda), Moses Dosu (Badagry Central), Huntoyan Bamgbose (Badagry) and Bolaji Robert (Oto-Awori).

At the rally were Prince Remi Durosinmi, Pa Abiodun Sunmola, Primate Charles Odugbesi, Ladi Balogun, Chief Funso Ologunde, Paul Kalejaye, Pastor Karim Daramola, Joe Igbokwe, Abiodun Oyebolu, Sola Abayomi and Bolaji Sanusi.

The flag-off of a medical mission jointly sponsored by the state and Amuwo-Odofin Local Government by Fashola preceded the campaign witnessed by supporters from Ajegunle, Ijanikin, Iba, Orile, Amuwo, Ojo, Oto, Apa, Iberekodo, Ara and other core

28 parties to participate in polls

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WENTY eight political parties are participating in tomorrow’s local government election, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) said yesterday.

The commission said results would be announced 48 hours after the election.

Its Chairman Justice AbdulFatai Adeyinka, who dropped the hint in a chat with reporters, said the commission has requested for 20, 000 police officers to keep the peace.

He added that other para-military organisations would also join the police in maintaining law and order.

The former Chief Judge of Lagos said there would be changes in the ballox boxes for this year’s election, adding that the ballot papers are customised.

“The fact that not all the 28 political parties participating in the election presented

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor and

Jeremiah Oke

Badagry towns. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains) Omotola Temitope (Ojo) and Oladele Oni (Oriade) tore their party cards and defected to ACN amid cheers by the party faithful.

Fashola urged the people to support the candidature of the chairmen, saying that they have faithfully implemented the agenda and progressive programmes of the ACN, especially in the health sector. He said the state government was able to accomplish the eradication of polio through the ac-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

candidates in all the council areas, made the commission devise means that only parties contesting in a particular local government areas will have names printed on the ballot papers for that area,” he said.

Acoording to him, the measure, would discourage rigging.

The electoral umpire disclosed that votes would be counted and announced at all the 8,645 units where the election would take place.

Also yesterday, the Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA) council boss, Hakeem Bamgbola urged residents to cast their votes for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidates.

Bamgbola, rounding off his campaign specifically pleaded with traders, religious bodies and youths to vote for candidates of the ruling party.

He said:” “Those who optive support of the council adposed the creation of the loministration.

He added: “All you need to cal government, those who do to sustain this continuity seized the allocation of the and vote massively for ACN council cannot love the councils. They will exterminate, on Saturday”.

The governor recounted annihilate and destroy the lothe achievements of the cal government”.

Sosan said: “ACN has no riACN administration in the division, particularly the val. We have cause to thank creation of additional nine God for ACN. by the grace of local governments, the rail God, in the next election, project, road construction ACN will clear all the states.

We have come out to ask for and health programmes.

Fashola said PDP does not your votes because ACN has deserve the votes of worked for you. Mobilise Lagosians, stressing that their from house to house, street chieftains, who opposed to street and give the PDP a their creation and seized the red card”.

Kalejaye said: “We have council allocations cannot seek the welfare of the local come out to nail the coffin of PDP and other parties in Lagovernments.

gos State. PDP wants to create a scenario similar to that of Syria and Libya in Nigeria with the removal of fuel subsidy.Our works, the roads we are constructing and the rail, would campaign for us”.

The outgoing Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Dr. Oyesegun Folami has pledged total support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in tomorrow’s polls.

Folami, who endorsed the candidacy of his Vice Chairman , Mr Tajudeen Ajide, said irrespective of what happened in the past, he remained committed to the party.

He said since the ACN leadership had endorsed Ajide, he had to toe the party’s line.

Folami also promised to mobilise the electorate to ensure the success of the party.

He assured the ACN national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that despite the little misunderstanding regarding the chairmanship tussle, he would never undermine the decision of the leaders in Lagos State.

Also yesterday, Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain and OsodiIsolo Local Government chairmanship aspirant, Kayode Tinubu, has thrown his weight behind the candidature of Bolaji Ariyoh, saying that the party’s decision on the choice of candidates is final.

He urged his supporters to troop out tomorrow to vote for the young politician, whose late father, Hon. Muse Ariyoh, was the Second Republic Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly.

T

HE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday gave reasons the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot be the alternative to Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration in the Centre of Excellence.

It said the PDP has nothing to show for its hold on power at the federal level for more than 12 years.

Speaking through its spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party described as unfortunate that some elements within the opposition have been trying to discredit the Fashola administration by highlighting only the roads that are yet to be fixed in the state.

According to a statement signed by the ACN publicity secretary, many new roads have been built and rehabilitated under the ACN-controlled administration than under any PDP-controlled state, especially in the Southwest.

He said the party’s dismal performance explained the rejection of the PDP in all the six states in the zone at theApril polls, assuring that the ACN will replicate what it has done in Lagos to justify the overwhelming mandate it got from the people during the April elections.

Igbokwe wondered why the PDP chose to be blind to the development of roads that are on-going across the state, even as he reminded that the contract with the electorate was to attend to the roads one after the other.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

54

EQUITIES

‘Govt should use capital market to fund infrastructure’ G

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-10-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1 0.50 4,000 2,000.00 6 7.33 44,918 333,630.59 7 48,918 335,630.59 AIR SERVICES

Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COM PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2 1.95 17,460 35,618.40 26 5.81 186,700 1,091,056.54 28 204,160 1,126,674.94

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14 1.70 197,949 332,135.40 14 197,949 332,135.40

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 125 36 17 22 48 470 443 20 102 38 189 24 14 331 1,879

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 60 2 130 192

BANKING Quotation(N) 5.25 3.22 2.20 4.00 1.80 9.70 13.20 9.36 4.66 1.45 3.28 0.65 0.67 12.45

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,764,721 14,504,227.32 1,512,839 4,932,172.04 182,135 401,635.70 893,578 3,575,642.00 1,289,910 2,316,163.90 10,871,244 104,817,048.90 11,799,855 156,069,060.46 95,654 899,701.60 4,486,066 20,977,309.48 5,307,485 7,679,494.75 12,783,618 42,448,818.42 2,029,886 1,291,949.76 1,307,146 873,684.47 11,975,871 149,931,620.62 67,300,008 510,718,529.42

BREWERIES Quotation(N) 202.00 6.00 88.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 352,619 71,273,565.02 7,500 42,750.00 1,771,325 156,211,545.27 2,131,444 227,527,860.29

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 46 18 10 29 103

Quotation(N) 13.39 5.32 97.00 38.95

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 337,542 4,464,406.78 345,700 1,868,341.20 1,091,863 106,390,769.96 364,840 14,156,526.75 2,139,945 126,880,044.69

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIG PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 29 2 1 43

Quotation(N) 8.90 18.91 1.09 5.11

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,033 119,225.98 156,685 2,854,079.07 1,456 1,514.24 1,000 4,860.00 173,174 2,979,679.29

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1 0.50 35,000 17,500.00 12 2.20 363,011 805,949.20 13 398,011 823,449.20 CONGLOMERATES

Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIG Plc UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 62 33 95 78 268

Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 1 2 13

Quotation(N) 32.05 0.72 29.50 27.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 379,688 11,783,095.93 1,942,303 1,414,297.60 2,215,929 65,116,147.93 1,285,018 34,652,904.83 5,822,938 112,966,446.29

CONSTRUCTION Quotation(N) 40.45 0.50 5.63

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 36,349 1,403,172.07 50,000 25,000.00 200 1,182.00 86,549 1,429,354.07

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 14 75 91 31 10 1 15 37 1 1 294

Company Name EKOCORP PLC FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 11 19 8 46

Quotation(N) 48.00 14.00 6.05 6.49 58.25 2.75 1.47 4.00 401.56 0.50 0.50

Company Name DEAP CAPITAL MGT AND TRUST PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1 11.15 11,666 123,659.60 7 5.75 30,799 172,001.25 8 42,465 295,660.85

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

0.50

2 2

1,040,000 1,040,000

520,000.00 520,000.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 17 4 24 1 3 6 1 3 1 9 4 2 2 1 67 2 1 148

Quotation(N) 0.62 1.09 2.34 0.50 0.55 1.27 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52 1.43 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 389,224 240,444.64 95,000 101,900.00 290,011,420 624,551,608.80 80,000 40,000.00 84,500 46,475.00 47,308 60,989.64 7,290 3,645.00 2,020,250 1,010,125.00 97,000 48,500.00 167,124 83,562.00 285,809 148,620.68 3,578 4,941.54 64,000 32,000.00 7,500 3,750.00 355,000 177,500.00 454,500 227,250.00 40,000 20,000.00 294,209,503 626,801,312.30

C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

3 3

Company Name

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N)

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-10-11 36 36

0.82

1,205,910 1,205,910

976,276.01 976,276.01

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1 0.50 18,000 9,000.00 4 0.50 56,200,000 28,100,000.00 5 56,218,000 28,109,000.00 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1 2.02 50,000 101,000.00 1 0.50 10,000 5,000.00 2 60,000 106,000.00 PACKAGING

Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COM PLC 34 1.76 770,640 1,375,134.64 Sector Totals 34 770,640 1,375,134.64 PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 4 5 22 154 6 199

Quotation(N) 63.86 35.00 4.59 9.12 140.00 28.66 200.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 138 8,372.46 5,541 184,998.25 115,000 513,213.68 13,372 127,970.04 69,687 10,072,329.32 1,568,837 43,202,743.48 32,781 6,228,390.00 1,805,356 60,338,017.23

PRINTING & PUBLISHING LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

7 3 10

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 15 12.99 58,553 730,448.80 15 58,553 730,448.80

4.42 3.80

1,411,802 20,114 1,431,916

6,240,164.84 74,622.94 6,314,787.78

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) SKYE SHELTER FUND 4 100.00 100,000 10,000,000.00 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMT Tru 5 50.00 30,000 1,500,000.00 Sector Totals 9 130,000 11,500,000.00 ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

LEASING 0.90

highly capitalised stocks within the losers however, tilted the market position to the negative. The NSE Banking Index and the NSE-30 Index depreciated, locating the market’s downturn within banks and highly capitalised stocks such as Dangote Cement.

Lafarge Wapco topped the losers’ list with a loss of 106 kobo to close at N38.95 per share. Dangote Cement shed 51 kobo to close at N97. Zenith Bank dropped 36 kobo to close at N12.45. Guaranty Trust Bank declined by 30 kobo to close at N13.20. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria fell by 27 kobo to close at N5.32 while Longman Nigeria lost 23 kobo to close at N4.42.

On the upside, Guinness Nigeria led the advancers with a gain of N2 to close at N202. Oando added 136 kobo to close at N28.66. Unilever Nigeria gained 100 kobo to close at N27. PZ Cussons Nigeria rose by 96 kobo to close at N32.05. Nigerian Breweries gathered 48 kobo to close at N88.53. UAC of Nigeria improved by 44 kobo to close at N29.50. Dangote Sugar Refinery rose by 30 kobo to close at N6.49 while Custodian Insurance added 10 kobo to close at N2.34 per share.

Turnover stood at 458.86 million shares worth N1.88 billion in 3,420 deals. Insurance sector topped activity chart with a turnover of 294.21 million shares valued at N626.80 million in 148 deals.

Banking sector placed second with a turnover of 67.30 million shares valued at N510.72 million in 1,879 deals.

Market turnover was largely due to transactions on Custodian Insurance, which recorded a turnover of 290.01 million shares valued at N624.55 million in 24 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,107 5,590.35 401,655 420,289.20 38,393 989,435.10 368,552 998,775.92 164,956 230,089.28 974,663 2,644,179.85

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14 2.06 2,350,000 4,847,500.00 14 2,350,000 4,847,500.00

Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

State and it is working very well. The construction of infrastructure in the state has created about 6,000 jobs,” Oshiomhole said.

He commended the CIS for sustaining the annual conference, which provides opportunity for national dialogue on critical issues in spite of the slowdown in the capital market.

Earlier in his welcome address, president, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Mike Itegboje said that the theme of the conference “Addressing Infrastructure Challenges in the Nigerian Economy: The Capital Market Solution,” was chosen as part of the institute’s contributions to national growth.

He said with good infrastructure, poverty would be minimised and more people would be employed.

“We need infrastructure to create employment.

Infrastructural development would enhance business growth. Once there are good infrastructure, there will be reduction in cost of doing business,” Itegboje said.

Meanwhile, aggregate market capitalisation of quoted companies at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped by 0.31 per cent from N6.402 trillion to N6.382 trillion. The benchmark index, the All Share Index (ASI), slipped to 20,135.05 points as against its opening index of 20,197.15 points.

However, although the general market position was negative, many sectors witnessed appreciable gains with the indices tracking the food and beverages, insurance and oil and gas sectors closing on the upside. The preponderance of

JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 33,559 1,580,479.00 91,020 1,274,420.10 1,467,866 9,040,710.90 16,115,475 101,983,885.52 52,223 3,127,111.20 44,000 120,300.00 50,000 73,500.00 367,716 1,494,520.60 46,488 18,615,211.96 3,000 1,500.00 4,850 2,425.00 18,276,197 137,314,064.28

HEALTHCARE Quotation(N) 5.31 1.09 27.00 2.71 1.45

OVERNOR of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has advocated the use of the immense opportunity provided by availability of long-term funds in the capital to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructural gap.

Oshiomhole, who spoke yesterday in Benin, Edo State while declaring open the 15th Stockbrokers’ Annual Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), said that the capital market provides government opportunity to raise the long-term funds needed to solve the infrastructural challenges in the country.

He lamented the poor state of Nigerian roads, noting that bad roads constitute major problem to economic development of the country.

“The capital market is the way for those who want to invest in infrastructure to raise funds. There are issues of poor roads, power and others. Without power supply, Vision 20:2020 will be like Vision 2010. We, in Edo State, have realised the importance of the capital market,” Oshiomhole said.

He said that the deteriorated nature of the Lagos-Benin express road had affected the economies of the South-South and South Eastern states.

According to him, because of the bad roads and cost of transporting goods from those states to other parts of the country, many firms are reluctant to locate their factories in those states no matter the incentives they provide for companies.

He said by using the capital market to finance infrastructure, government would create multiplier effects that would lead to job creation, economic growth and better living standard for the people.

“We are doing that in Edo

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5 0.51 391,021 199,420.71 5 391,021 199,420.71 THE FOREIGN LISTINGS

89,891 89,891

77,306.26 77,306.26

MARITIME

Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) ECOBNK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED 23 11.50 1,279,136 14,709,321.28 Sector Totals 23 1,279,136 14,709,321.28 Overall Totals

3,413

458,836,347

1,881,978,234.17

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

55

MONEY LINK Fed Govt mandates Council to partake in financial regulation

T

HE federal government has directed the Financial Re porting Council (FRC) to participate in the activities of the financial services regulation coordinating committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This is geared towards promoting regulatory collaboration to prevent the lax that was exploited by bank management in 2008.

The FRC is also to harmonise the various codes of corporate governance, design its procedures on audit quality controls and take steps to produce accounting, auditing valuation and actuarial standards.

The minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, made these known at a two day programme on the 2011 World Bank report on observance of standards and codes – accounting and audit (ROSC- A and A) in Abuja yesterday.

He also said that the federal gov-

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

ernment has directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FRC to meet with the executives of the Nigerian Accounting Association on the possible revision of accounting curriculum to enable students have exposure to practical applications of IFRS. The FRC is also to meet with presiding councils of professional accounting bodies to align their professional examinations with the provisions of IFRS and also enhance their post-qualification continuous education to ensure the realisation of the road map to IFRS. Aganga also directed the FRC to commence the registration of professionals in accordance with section 41 of the FRC Act, 2011 and finalise the details on the establishment of the IFRS academy.

Fitch affirms Access Bank

F

ITCH Ratings has affirmed Ac cess Bank Plc’s Long-term Is suer Default Rating (IDR) and assigned a Positive Outlook, following the bank’s acquisition of Intercontinental Bank Plc (Intercontinental).

Consequently, Access’s ratings according to Reuters news, have been removed from Rating Watch Positive (RWP).

“The Positive Outlook reflects the potential upside to the bank’s ratings once it has fully absorbed Intercontinental. Fitch considers that the absorption of Intercontinental may support Access’s developing franchise and enhance its systemic importance. Intercontinental has a large deposit fran-

chise, supported by a branch infrastructure of about 366 branches at end-December 2010,” Fitch stated.

Last Sunday Access Bank announced in a statement that it had completed the acquisition of its 75 per cent majority interest in rescued lender Intercontinental Bank.

Access Bank disclosed that change of control processes for Intercontinental’s banking operations within Nigeria had been completed, adding that they were working with host regulators to conclude change of control processes for its international banking subsidiaries. Intercontinental Bank will be merged with Access Bank within the second quarter of 2012.

Pension assets now N2.4trn, says PENCOM T

HE National Pension Com mission has grown the country’s pension fund assets to N2.4trillion, from the N2.29 trillion announced in its annual report recently.

The growth was recorded as a result of increased registration of more contributors and improved compliance by employers.

The Acting Director General of the commission, Mr. Manzuma Mamman confirmed the figure to journalists after the 3rd conference for directors of pension operators in Nigeria.

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

Mamman said the amount, represented an appreciation of N110 billion or 4.8 per cent from the earlier figure.

According to Mamman, PENCOM now has “assets under the contributory pension system of about N2.4 trillion. Those assets are either investible assets by the PFAs and are dictated by the investment guidelines of the national pension

Foreign reserve rises to $34.5b

N

IGERIA’S foreign reserves have risen to $34.5 billion as at October 17, netting over $3.65 billion in five days.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website showed that as at October 11, the reserves was $30.88 billion after shuttling between $32.76 billion and $32.98 billion on October 12 and October 13 respectively.

‘Greece, EU, crises, a wakeup call for Nigeria’

N

IGERIANS, who think that the international financial crisis blowing through Greece, Portugal, other countries of the European Union (EU) and the United States is a distant, were yesterday told to have a rethink.

This according to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, is because the turn of events from these countries for Nigeria’s mono-product: oil, could result in a slide in demand from those countries. This will ultimately reduce the oil receipts and by extension, Nigeria’s revenue – 90 per cent of

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

which is derived from oil.

Okauru, who made these disclosures in a statement in Abuja, said these possibilities presents a challenge to tax authorities to plug operational loopholes, increase the tax base and contribute to the task of putting food on the table of Nigerians.

The FIRS Chairman spoke at the Regional Enlarged Management Meeting, REMM of the North West Zone and Large Tax Office, LTO, Kano of the FIRS, where the Service top brass meet monthly, to re-

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

OANDO DANGSUGAR FIDSON WEMABANK CUSTODYINS STERLNBANK UNILEVER CONTINSURE PZ ETERNAOIL AIICO UACN

O/PRICE

27.30 6.19 1.04 0.64 2.24 1.39 26.00 1.05 31.09 4.50 0.61 29.06

C/PRICE

CHANGE

28.66 6.49 1.09 0.67 2.34 1.45 27.00 1.09 32.05 4.59 0.62 29.50

1.36 0.30 0.05 0.03 0.10 0.06 1.00 0.04 0.96 0.09 0.01 0.44

LOSER AS AT 20-10-11 SYMBOL

LONGMAN MAYBAKER CCNN DIAMONDBNK UBA IKEJAHOTEL MULTITREX TRANSCORP REDSTAREX GOLDINSURE DANGFLOUR ZENITHBANK

O/PRICE

4.65 2.85 5.59 3.38 3.44 2.16 1.54 0.75 2.29 0.57 6.25 12.81

C/PRICE

CHANGE

4.42 2.71 5.32 3.22 3.28 2.06 1.47 0.72 2.20 0.55 6.05 12.45

0.23 0.14 0.27 0.16 0.16 0.10 0.07 0.03 0.09 0.02 0.20 0.36

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m 400m

313.5m 443m

250m 400m

150.8 150.7

03-8-11 01-8-11

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N)

13-09-11 N6.7026tr 21,018.52

14-09-11 N6.760tr 21,199.16

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

% Change -0.87% -0.86%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

Parallel Market SYMBOL

Amount

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 20-10-11

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

examine its processes, procedures as a way of improving its operations.

She said: “The global economy this year has not been looking nice.

We are witnesses to what is happening in Greece, Belgium, Portugal, other countries of the EU and the United States. With weak demands coming from these countries, it will affect our receipts from oil. This places a challenge on us (FIRS), to look at non-oil sources of raising revenue from non-oil sector and non-oil based taxes to improve the quality of life of our people.”

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

of $1.84 billion or 5.77 per cent over the level attained on June, 30.

Given that the current oil price level may not be sustained in the event of a slowdown in global economic recovery, the CBN said there is urgent need to pursue policies that would foster macro-economic stability, economic diversification as well as encouraging foreign capital inflows.

By Collins Nweze

The reserves had dropped to $34.9 billion in August 16, before it deteriorated to current level. The CBN said it is concerned about the sustained low level of the reserves in the face of higher oil output, higher oil exports volume and higher oil prices. Before this reduction, the reserves had stood at $33.73 billion as at July 21, representing an increase

FGN BONDS

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

commission and a percentage of it are in what I call government securities”.

PENCOM he added is now considering investing the funds in the development of infrastructure as well as opening safe and new investment windows outside the country that will yield returns.

With the current double digit rate of inflation, the commission has called Pension Fund Managers to device ingenious strategies to ensure that contributors and retiree get reasonable returns on their investments.

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.15 100.28 0.77 1.02 0.91 1,639.36 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,118,33 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.96 99.71 0.74 1.02 0.90 1,634.12 7.84 1.33 1.80 6,917.31 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

• AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

56

NEWS Amaechi calls for transparency in due process

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and World Bank Vice President, Africa Region, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili have called for transparency and efficient administration of due process in the Public Procurement system.

They spoke at a Sub-National Public Procurement Forum organised by the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Amaechi said: “Due process can only become effective if it is rapid and aimed at driving development.

“The only way due process can become effective is for it to be quick and efficient and measured on the level of delivery.

“It needs to move from the reality of the law to the reality of what needs to be.”

The Governor identified corruption as a major bottleneck to the process as it is sometimes found to be a class struggle for scarce resources and often to the detriment of the poor.

“Our due process is very peculiar, so it should not be to frustrate, it should be full of solutions,” Amaechi advised.

In a keynote address entitled: “Enhancing the effectiveness of government: The role of public procurement reforms,” Mrs. Ezekwesili acknowledged transparency and development as the hallmark of all Public Procurement processes.

She challenged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to indulge patience, public education and enlightenment in ensuring that the new regime of public procurement in the country takes deep root in the system.

She also commended Governor Amaechi for leading the vanguard in instituting Due Process in the country and expressed the hope for continuity. “Through your leadership we can actually see decentralization that will happen in Nigeria,” she said.

Also, World Bank Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly stressed the need for training and capacity development in public procurement implementation as she pledged the World Bank’s support in advancing Due process in Nigeria.

Four held for alleged theft From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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OUR persons have been arraigned before an Asaba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing 14 tyres, valued at N1.1 million.

The accused are drivers in a construction company, InterBau Nigeria Ltd. Sylvester Okocha (25); Amobi Ananji (42); Ayodele Dayo (27) and Chinedu Oputa were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Police Prosecutor Ndidi Ahamefule told the court that the accused and others at large allegedly committed the offence on September 25 at the Inter-Bau Construction Company Ltd, Asaba.

He told the court that the accused also stole 10 tyresvalued at N740,000.

Ahamefule said the accused also stole four tyres from a tipper lorry with registration number BP 311 AGL, valued at N320,000. He said the vehicle all belonged to their employer.

Three killed in Delta robbery From Shola O’Neil, Warri

A

N expectant mother and a prominent businessman were among three persons killed in a robbery at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government of Delta State, on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses said at least N3 million was stolen by the hoodlums, who operated on PTI Road in the city.

It was gathered that a male target had just returned from a bank in the city when the robbers attacked him in front of his office.

The victim, a retired worker of Shell Petroleum Development Company, also operated a motor servicing company in the area.

He was shot dead on the spot by the robbers who reportedly took the money he withdrew from the bank.

Sources said the victim wanted to covert the cash to foreign exchange for his wife, who was to go on a business trip abroad, when the hoodlums struck.

One of his workers, whose identity was not known, was also killed.

It was gathered that the expectant mother was hit by a stray bullet.

Woman rescued in Akwa Ibom

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HE police in Akwa Ibom State yesterday said it had rescued an 85-year-old woman, Mrs. Maria Udoh, from her abductors.

Mrs. Udoh, an indigene of Ikot Udobong village in Etim Ekpo Local Government, was abducted by hoodlums from her home on October 9.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Police spokesman Onyeka Orji confirmed the incident.

Orji said two suspects were arrested while trying to obtain N5million ransom in Port Harcourt.

He listed their names as Aaron Adiele and Victor Elijah, saying the command is currently on the trail of other suspects.

•SHARING A JOKE: Amaechi (right); Mrs Ezekwesili and Chairman, Board of Directors of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement, Rev. Precious Omuku

Group demands fuel subsidy documents from PPPRA

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GROUP, the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) for information on the Federal Government’s spending on fuel subsidy.

It made the request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. In a statement by its lawyer, Femi Falana, the group said: “We are concerned that the PPPRA has abdicated its statutory responsibility by allowing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to operate without any control.

“This is evident in the questionable reimbursement of petroleum products without scrutiny by your agency.

“WE have serious concerns that while N250 billion was allocated for fuel ‘subsidy in 2011, by the end of August, over N900 billion has been spent.

“We are concerned that the figures may have been exaggerated. According to our information, some of the vouchers on petroleum products purportedly imported over three years ago are now being submitted for reimbursement in 2011.

Suswam: no going back on subsidy removal

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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday said there is no going back on the planned removal of fuel subsidy.

He said it was in the interest of the nation.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, which initially threw its weight behind the removal, has constituted a six-man panel headed by its Chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, to decide on the forum’s position on the matter.

Suswam spoke at the ninth Annual Secondary Schools Competition Award organised by the National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) .

Suswam said the subsidy is not getting to the masses beacuse a few faceless people are enjoying it.

He said: “ I fully support the removal of fuel subsidy for a number of reasons. Look at what is happening in the Senate, a few individuals or few groups of persons are the ones enjoying the subsidy.

“It is disturbing to note that the bulk of the petroleum products supposedly subsidised by the government is smuggled into neighbouring countries where they are sold at international prices.

“The disclosure of the information requested will give SERAP and the public a true picture and a clear un-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

“If you go to Sokoto, I don’t think you will buy a litre of petrol at N65, for God knows why. So who is enjoying the subsidy? A few people are taking a lot of money. And despite the fact that the Federal Government has made a pronouncement that if it takes N250 billion for this month, few people will share that money.

“So the governors, with no exceptions, are fully in support of removal of subsidy. Yes, temporarily there would be hiccups.”

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Secretary-General, Willy Ezugwu, has declared that the subsidy issue would be a tough battle.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan is to hands off the removal and focus on how to break the subsidy cartel, which he accused of benefitting to the detriment of the masses.

derstanding on whether the allocated budget for fuel ‘subsidy’ has been transparently and effectively spent.”

The organisation said the PPPRA should provide the following information: •The basis and expectations on which the calculation of N250 billion as fuel ‘subsidy’ was made •Detailed information and

justifications for the increase in the budget allocation for fuel ‘subsidy’ from N250 billion for 2011 to over N900 billion by August 2011 without supplementary appropriation authorising the expenditure •Detailed information about the full list of importers of petroleum products in Nigeria

We were consulted on SWF, says Oshiomhole

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said governors were consulted before the Federal Government launched the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) with $1 billion on Tuesday.

The governor spoke at the opening of the 15th Annual Conference of the Institute of Nigerian Stockbrokers in Benin, Edo State.

He said: “The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to be fair to her, consulted a few of us before the Sovereign Wealth Fund was launched.

“We gave our support for the launch, it was done with our consent, it wasn’t done in spite of us.

“In terms of the evidence, it cannot be said that the Federal Government is more transparent than state governments, nor is it better at

saving than the state.

“We are in a federation under a constitution, and the constitution says that all funds accruing to the federation must be lodged in the Federation Account and must be distributed in a prescribed manner to the three tiers of government.

“You cannot under the constitution spend any money that has not gone through this process and that has not been previously appropriated.

“The contribution didn’t say if you mean well, you can just take it, no and once you remove the rule of law, our coexistence will be threatened.

The basis of our contract on this federation is the rule of law.”

He said the governors’ argument is that since the Federal Government alone takes 52.6 per cent of funds accruing to the Federation Account

while the 36 states and FCT share 26 per cent, the Federal Government should save 10 per cent of its 52.6 per cent for Nigerians as Sovereign Wealth Fund.

The governor, who underscored the importance of infrastructure to the development of the country, said: “No nation has attained greatness without addressing the issue of infrastructure decisively.

“In Edo State, we recognised this point, so instead of embarking on a seven-point or 10-point agenda, we stuck to one point, which is renewing infrastructure.

“We recognised the need for digital infrastructure which is why we are building six-lane roads with basic features, such as walkways, covered drains and street lights as well as deflooding the city.

“We also realise there is life outside the city which is why

•Oshiomhole

we are integrating rural communities by building standard roads across the 18 local governments, providing water, providing healthcare and providing electricity because we cannot tell industries to relocate to rural areas if they don’t have electricity.”

Oshiomhole said his administration has committed over N80 billion to development and just N25 billion of this was sourced from the capital market.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

57

NEWS

Dubai firm to build oil refinery in Abia

Pastors challenged on original gospel

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convention of the church, which starts on Sunday.

Medo-Uwa said nothing can replace holiness and the fear of God, arguing that “it is possible for someone to prosper and still go to hell, but you can’t be holy and go to hell.”

“Today in churches criminals are welcome, so many atrocities keep happening, some pastors celebrate governors, politicians in churches, just because they want to be popular and famous. Tell me how such pastors will be able to preach the truth.

“When pastors go back to the original gospel and start rebuking sin and corruption in the church and in the nation, gradually things would change,” he said.

According to him, a christian leader based in Ireland, Apostle David Moses is one of the three prominent clerics expected at the weeklong convention.

DUBAI company, Alkamali Oil Exploration, is to build an oil and gas refinery in Abia State.

The state government hailed the development, saying it would support the foreign investor.

Deputy Governor Emeka Ananaba spoke when the Chairman/CEO and management of the company visited him yesterday at the Government House in Umuahia.The delegation was on a three-day exploratory visit to the state.

AlKamali, a broad-based conglomerate with its headquarters in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates, has extensive holdings in

T

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

oil and gas, construction, shipping, haulage and power generation.The petroleum company turnover is in excess of $500million.

The Deputy Governor expressed satisfaction that international investors are beginning to see the huge investment opportunities in the state.

He said the state government would make the state an investment-friendly environment for foreign entrepreneurs.

He assured the delegation of the state government’s assistance, adding that the government will make the state a haven for

oil exploration business.

Ananaba said the company will provide employment opportunities for the youths and boost the economy of the state.

The governor assured the delegate of the provision of security.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the company Shiekh Bader Ali Abdulla Al-Kamali said they are looking forward to expanding the petroleum up-stream branch of their business interests by becoming a major player in Nigeria’s oil sector.

Alkamali said he has chosen to set up his business in Abia State because of the friendly business atmosphere.

The chief executive officer said his company would consider an investment in power generation, among others.

He solicited the support of the state government to enable them achieve their goals.

A member of the delegation Prof. Anya O. Anya hailed the choice Abia State for the project and urged both parties to ensure its realisation.

The delegation inspected a site for the proposed oil refinery at the oil -rich Owaza Ukwa West community.

The paramount ruler of the community Eze Young Ogbonna assured the investors of their support.

Traders condemn closure of Onitsha market

RADERS in the Bridgehead market, Onitsha in Anambra State, have condemned the recent closure of the Tools and Allied section by the factional union executives.

The traders described the closure of the market as an act of lawlessness and unnecessary show of power.

They decried what they described as ‘high handedness’ by the union extremists, alleging that they acted the script of “mischievous politicians”

From Adimike George, Onitsha

bent on fomenting crisis in the market.

A trader, who do not want his name in print, said the current set of market leaders were not elected, but were imposed on the market by top government officials.

“We never held an election, the last democratically elected union executives were forced out by these elements. The source said the matter is in court, adding that several orders were issued by a Federal High Court for a return to

the former leadership.

A former union leader, Peter Okala, described the development as worrisome, adding that his executive remains the legitimate leaders of the market. He said until the court determines the suit, they would continue to resist the impostors.

“We have been law abiding, but the recent losure of the market is condemnable. Millions of naira have already been lost in the process, the atmosphere in the market is near breaking point but

we have prevailed on the traders and entire market community to be peaceful because we are sure that justice will prevail at last.

“Even the day the market was closed, we were in court in respect of the subsisting suit. But the group shut the market and chased out the traders, apparently to scare our supporters. Until the matter is resolved, we urge traders and other well meaning people of the state to call these people to order before they break down the fragile peace in the state,” she said.

Anambra tribunal nullifies APGA’s petition against Ngige From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

•Ngige

T

HE Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday dismissed

the petition by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial candidate and former Minister of Information and Communications Prof. Dora Akunyili against the ACN Senator representing Anambra Central, Chris Ngige.

Justice Onajike Kuejubola struck out the petition, following an application by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the petition.

He said the APGA candi-

date failed to file statutory form TF008, as required by the Electoral Act. The form contains questions which the petitioners must answer to guide the tribunal in the pre-hearing sessions.

The tribunal Chairman said the form which Mrs Akunyili’s counsel annexed to the counter affidavit was worthless, adding that there was no copy in the court file.

Mrs Akunyili had challenged declaration of the ACN candidate as winner of Anambra Central seat. The controversial election was held twice.

The tribunal ruled that with the absence of form TF008, all the pre-hearing sessions conducted on the matter had become null and void.

Justice Kuejubola therefore dismissed the petition.

Mrs Akunyili’s counsel Obiora Obianwu (SAN) condemned the tribunal’s judgement. He said Mrs Akunyili would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, adding that form TF008 was properly filed.

But ACN’s counsel Emeka Ngige (SAN) hailed the tribunal’s ruling.

Senator Ngige also hailed the ruling.

Ebonyi bans use of school facilities for social activities

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HE Ebonyi State government yesterday said it has banned the use of public school facilities in the state for religious, political and other social activities.

Commissioner for Information and State Orientation Chike Onwe spoke in Abakaliki after the State Executive Council meeting yesterday.

He said other programmes affected by the ban include: the use of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) classroom and other schools for

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From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

illegal and unauthorised educational activities.

Onwe said the ban takes effect from October 20. He said any school head that does not comply with the directive would be sacked by the state government and the school closed indefinitely.

He said since the Ministry of Education also regulates the activities of private schools, the ban would soon be extended to them.

“Ebonyi State government

is worried by the fact that some school heads allow unauthorised persons to use school facilities to run illegal and unauthorised educational activities.

“Moved by this ugly development, the State Executive Council resolved that with effect from October 20, no school in the state should be used for any other purpose whatsoever other than that for which it was originally established to avoid indefinite closure,” he said.

The Commissioner for Information and State Orienta-

tion said any school head, Vice-Chancellor and provosts who allow the use of their educational facilities for illegal activities would be dismissed.

He said the state government also reaffirmed its resolve to ensure quality education in the state, adding that the state government has also warned proprietors of unapproved and substandard schools to improve.

The commisioner warned that no school should be established in the state without the Ministry of Education’s approval.

Clergy seeks skill acquisition for prisoners

HE Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Rev. Valerian Okeke, yesterday called on the government to intensify efforts in the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners in the country.

He urged the government to build and equip skill acquisi-

FromAdimike George, Onitsha

tion centres in the prisons.

The Archbishop spoke in the Onitsha prison where he celebrated his 58th birthday anniversary with the inmates.

He said with skill acquisition centres,the prisoners would become responsible members of the society after their

prison terms.

He said the prison should be operated as a correctional centres where inmates are taught virtues of hard work and obedience.

The Archbishop said he chose to celebrate with the prisoners to show them love and care.

He said: “I am a child of God and they belong to God. I want them to know that they are not forgotten. I want to assure them that the society is ready to welcome them if they are reformed.Let them see here as a correctional facility, so they don’t come out bitter with thesociety”.

•Pastor Medo-Uwa

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PASTOR, Nick Medo-Uwa of the Pentecostal Canaanland Mission, Ajao Estate, Lagos, has called on his fellow pastors, who all are watchers over the nation, to go back and preach the original gospel to the people to stem moral decadence in Christendom.

He made the call while announcing this year’s annual

Group holds fair

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NONGOVERNMENTAL Organisation, Yearning Earnestly for Success (YES), will stage a Business Leaders Fair on October 23 on Oluwalugbon, Street, Ikosi, Lagos.

YES Project Director Samson Oyenekan spoke yesterday in Lagos.

He said the theme: Imaging Business Leader is aimed at empowering and motivating youths in local communities on emerging business ideas that could be explored for self employment.

Oyenekan said the programme would feature seminar presentations on business development, personal savings, marketing and agriculture.

According to him, an award would be presented to the YES business Leader of the Year 2011.

Chief Executive Officer, Dove Vision TV, Patrick Abraham, Chief Executive Officer, Livestock PLC, Modupe Osanmo, Brand Manager, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Isaac Okanlawon and Chief Accountant, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Ikoyi, Kayode Landele are expected to attend the fair.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME That I am the above person, my name was mistaken written as JOHNSON TOLULOPE EVELY, instead of ALLEN EVELYN TOLULOPE. The general public take note.

58

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS

ICC queries Malawi over al Bashir’s visit T HE International Criminal Court has asked Malawi to explain why it failed to arrest Sudan’s President Omar alBashir during his recent visit.

The ICC has issued an international arrest warrant for Mr Bashir on charges of genocide and war crimes during the Darfur conflict.

Malawi is a signatory to the treaty establishing the ICC but said it was not its “business” to arrest Mr Bashir.

Mr Bashir denies the charges, saying they are politically motivated.

The African Union has lobbied for the arrest warrant to be deferred, accusing the ICC of only investigating alleged war crimes in Africa and arguing that arresting Sudan’s president would hamper the search for peace in Darfur.

Mr Bashir was welcomed by a military guard of honour when he arrived in the capital, Lilongwe, for a trade summit last weekend.

The European Union and human rights groups had all urged Malawi to arrest Mr Bashir.

He’s coming for business and we don’t have any business to do with the arrest of President Omar, But Information Minister Patricia Kaliati told the BBC’s Network Africa programme that Malawi could not detain Mr Bashir as he was attending a heads of state summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), a regional trade bloc.

“He’s coming for business and we don’t have any business to do with the arrest of President Omar,” she said.

The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur Kenya and Chad, also signatories to the Rome Statute setting up the ICC, have also allowed Mr Bashir to visit.

The ICC has written to Malawi to ask for its “observations” on Mr Bashir’s visit before 11 November.

Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika is one of several African leaders to accuse the ICC of only investigating alleged war crimes in Africa and not elsewhere.

Mr Bashir was the first head of state to be indicted by the ICC, which accused him of genocide and war crimes in Darfur.

Some 2.7 million people have fled their homes since the conflict began in Darfur in 2003, and the UN says about 300,000 have died - mostly from disease.

Sudan’s government says the conflict has killed about 12,000 people and the number of dead has been exaggerated for political reasons.

Greek MPs pass austerity measures

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HE Greek parliament has given its final approval to the latest package of austerity measures.

All but one of the deputies from the ruling Pasok party voted in favour of the law.

The approval comes despite two days of violent protests against its provisions, which include cutting public sector wages and raising taxes.

One man has died as battles erupted at a large rally outside the Greek parliament in Athens.

The dead man was identified by Greek media as a middle-aged trade unionist.

“The demonstrator died of a heart attack,” Deputy Citizens Protection Minister Manolis Othonas told Reuters. “He was not hurt in the incidents.”

The government’s bill is needed to secure EU and IMF bailout loans.

The member of the ruling socialist party who voted against it, Louka Katseli, has been expelled from the party

by Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Civil servants, shopkeepers, dock workers, taxi drivers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, construction workers and others were all due to take part in the strike, which began on Wednesday.

An estimated 50,000 protesters gathered on Syntagma Square, in front of parliament, on Thursday.

The bill includes plans for further cuts to pensions and salaries and temporary layoffs of 30,000 public sector workers.

With Greece unable to borrow on international bond markets to finance its debt, the EU and IMF have stepped in with two b Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos described the choice as between a “difficult situation and a catastrophe”.

“We have to explain to all these indignant people who see their lives changing that what the country is experiencing is not the worst stage of the crisis,” he said.

“It is an anguished and necessary effort to avoid the ultimate, deepest and harshest level of the crisis.”

There are fears that if the Greek government defaults on its debts, it will set off a chain reaction that could engulf banks and other highly indebted eurozone nations.

EU calls extra summit on euro crisis

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European Union leaders are to hold another summit by Wednesday, because they will not be able to agree a rescue plan for the euro on Sunday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a crisis strategy would be discussed on Sunday and adopted at the next meeting.

EU leaders need to agree a second bailout for Greece,

how to recapitalise banks and a stronger bailout fund.

President Sarkozy also called for talks with the private sector.

The private sector talks would be “to find an agreement allowing to strengthen the sustainability” of Greek debt.

Previous disagreements between France and Germany about the bailout plans have centred on how much the

private sector would have to contribute to any package.

A spokesman for Chancellor Merkel said the leaders agreed that a “comprehensive, ambitious” answer to the crisis was needed.

The spokesman also said that the advantage of the additional summit would be that it would give the German parliament time to approve any changes to the bailout fund.

NEWS Trial of Boko Haram suspects stalled

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HE trial of the six persons alleged to be members of the Boko Haram suffered a set-back yesterday.

The trial could not go on because their lawyers told the court that they were served with the proof of evidence only a few hours to the commencement of the sitting.

They subsequently asked for time to enable them study the proof of evidence and also meet with their clients.

The accused are Shuaibu

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim.

They are facing a fivecount charge of criminal conspiracy and voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous means slammed against them by the State Security Service (SSS).

The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 97 and 248(1) of the Penal Code Law, and

Section 15 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act 2004.

Admitting that service was effected on the defence counsel in court, the prosecution counsel, Thompson Olatigbe said he had no information on the defence lawyers until he got to the court.

Justice Bilkisu Aliyu, after listening to the arguments, adjourned the case to October 27, for trial just as she ordered the accused to be remanded in SSS custody.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA

‘NFF not owing Siasia’ T HE Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has frowned on the recent statement by the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles that the football federation is owing him ten million which is his salary for the months of August and September 2011.

According to sources at the Glasshouse secretariat of the NFF, the Coach is presently chasing shadows instead of facing the reality on ground.

The source, who a chieftain of the football body said, “I don’t want to react to that statement. I would have loved a situation where you first go back to Siasia and aske him if the situation is true. But since he was quoted as making the statement, and he has not denied it until now, then I would also want him to tell Nigerians if it is on that basis that he decided to not to qualify the team for the African Nations Cup. What he is doing is just chasing shadows, there is a reality on ground. Was it

From Patrick Ngwaogu and Andrew Abah

inscribed in his contract that whenever he is been owed salaries, he should not win his matches?. I know that staff of various organisations are been owned various sum of money and emoluments, but that does not stop them from

Enyimba back to winning ways • Whitewash Kaduna Utd 4-1

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NYIMBA International of Aba made a bold statement as to the club’s intention to make a late surge to nick another berth in African club competition next season with a solid 4-1 thumping of visiting Kaduna United on Thursday at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba. Philiph Auta who was left out of the disappointing goaless

ZENITH BANK WOMEN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

First Deepwater thrashes Sunshine Angels 68-58

A

CTION resumed in the final phase of the Nigeria Basketball Federation organised Zenith Bank Women Basketball league on Thursday as defending champion, First Deepwater basketball club began her title defense by beating Sunshine Angels 6858 at the Sports hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

After losing 16-17 at the end of first quarter, the coach Lateef Erinfolami tutored side rallied round to beat Sunshine 13-9 in the second quarter,

doing their jobs. I know very well that there are many coaches whose salaries were not up to what he (Siasia) is collecting now, they still qualified us for our various championships like the World Cup and Nations Cup. Did he tell the press that he is been owed match allowances?.

By Akeem Lawal while the third quarter ended at 17-17. The Oil and Gas ladies, however, showed their readiness to retain the league diadem they won last year by winning the last quarter with 22-15 points.

In other games, AHIP lost 49-54 to Delta Force, while Immigration lost 43-69 to Dolphins. First Bank also showed their readiness for title challenge by beating Plateau Rocks 96-26.

Action continues on Friday.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri draw at home to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco got a brace showing the reason why the coaching crew had goofed not to have allowed him more playing time against the Moroccan, while Ifeanyi Ede and Kelvin Njoku got a goal each to end The peoples Elephant’s goal drought on the continent and in the domestic league.

It was Kelvin Njoku who actually started the flurry of goals from the penalty spot before Philip Auta doubled the advantage for the first of his two strikes, while Ifeanyi Ede accounted for the third and Auta’s second which was his club’s fourth made it a 4-1 win for the Aba Millionaires.

New league top scorer, Jude Aneke reduced the arrears of goals for the Kaduna based club when he got his side’s only goal in the 85th minutes of the encounter. His strike was his 17th in the NPL this season and has confined Ajani Ibrahim of Sunshine Stars of Akure to the second spot in the race for the goal king with a goal better.

Enyimba improved to 54 points from 34 matches while Kaduna United remained on 52 points from same number of matches.

GOVERNOR’S CUP SEMIS

Bhambri hopeful of final spot

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NDIAN’S Yuki Bhambri looks beyond the semi final stage, first leg of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship ongoing at the Lagos Tennis Club Onikan.

Bhambri told NationSport that though it seems too early to preempt what the final outcome might be, he is, however, optimistic that given his current only playing in the final will be good enough for him.

“I feel good that I won this match. Hopefully I intend to keep up my performance. Every player tries to win in every tournament and I am not an exception. I just want to take it one step at a time.

“My opponent (Talking about Vishnu Vardhan) was good and tough. Though I will be happy if I win the tournament, I will just keep focused and see how it goes,” Bhambri said.

Rated 450 in the world and tournament’s number 5, Bhambri described Nigeria as a good atmosphere to play, while commending the organisers of the competition for the hospitality accorded the players since its duration.

In today’s semi final pairings, Ante Pavic will battle Yuki Bhambri, Roelofse Ruan will take on Vijayant Malik. In the women’s singles, Bratchikova will face Vekki, while Svitolina

•I played badly, says Vickery

By Innocent Amomoh will battle Floris for the final ticket.

However, American teenager, Sachia Vickery has regretted her ouster from the money-spinning tournament, after losing to Italian

Anna Floris in the quarter final.

She said, “Though I played badly, it’s painful to go on stage having put in a great effort from the beginning of the main draws, I think this defeat will put me in a good form to do well in the second leg.”

Rufai takes Milo talent hunt to Enugu

T

HE Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu was a beehive of activities last weekend when former Super Eagles’ keeper Peter Rufai kicked-off the second in the series of Milo Football Clinic to the coal city.

As expected, over 2,000 aspiring footballers took part in the week-long football clinic with Rufai, providing the necessary ingredients in making the programme a huge success.

Apart from Enugu state, the 2011 Milo Football Clinic will also visit two other key cities of Ilorin and Lagos.

Since its commencement in 2010 the Milo football clinic has continually attracts aspiring players wishing to be part of the show.

Apart from the 2000 registered children for the clinic, thousands of other children from the nooks and

By Stella Bamawo crannies of Enugu also thronged the venue of the Milo Football Clinic to witness the discovery of new and future Nigerian footballers.

Besides the exercise being the first in Enugu, this year’s clinic also witnessed engagement of over thirty grassroots coaches and an expatriate, Patrick Kampeneers from Belgium.

Kampeneers has been involved in youth football development for the past 22 years.

The three-day exercise, which hitherto resurrected the dwindling fortunes of grassroots football in the state, rewarded the participating youths as the first 16-players who emerged winner in the novelty match organised after the clinic, went home with N20,000 and N10, 000, respectively with certificates of participation, football and other Milo gifts each.

THE NATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

63

www.thenationonlineng.net

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 7,

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

T doesn’t take a genius to make a successful prediction on the destination this country might be heading in light of everything that is or is not happening around us.

It’s a trite observation to suggest that failure to get it right this time constitutes the greatest threat to the survival and continuance of the nation. But the simplicity of the suggestion doesn’t detract from its eternal truth.

The threat is not coming from external enemies few of which anyone can intelligently identify. The real enemy is within and it is us—as corporate and individual selves.

The danger of a material demise, while real, may not be as urgent as that of a moral eclipse. Like disjointed atoms with no enduring relationships we are increasingly becoming aliens to one another. We fail to attend to the legitimate demands of the poor and needy despite the monotony of the chatter on poverty alleviation programmes. Minority populations still don’t feel embraced or respected by a system which is securely wired for the majority interest. We deceive the youth about the prioritisation of youth development and gainful employment neither of which their tragic mis-education ensures; and a gotcha mentality and an egoistic politics of hatred drive our social justice system. Is this us or is it a caricature of ourselves?

An adequate answer to this last question requires not much more than a sober reflection on our common experience. At the level of individuals, simple courtesy, even to next door neighbors, is a chore we’d rather avoid.

This is not just an urban disease; it is one that inheres in the fiber of our contemporary culture down to the remotest rural enclaves.

The core of the malady that has thus far resisted therapy is the politics of ego and its companion ethos of greed and insensitivity to the plight of the very people that politics and political office holders are called to serve. It is not a new development, having been arguably the most enduring aspect of our practice of democracy. It was responsible for the fall of the First Republic. It dealt a fatal blow to the Second Republic and facilitated the still birth of the Third Republic.

Throughout our history, each succeeding era of democratic politics has crafted its own devices for advancing the cause of greed, shaming the proclivities of politicians of an earlier era.

To be sure, it may be argued that ego, greed, and insensitivity are abiding features of democratic politics, as such; and that there is nothing unique about the brand we embrace as a nation. I do not intend to contest the point but simply to suggest that whatever the origins—whether foreign or domestic— the virus of greed and ego in politics has weakened the immune system of the nation, and has wrecked a considerable havoc in its body and soul. The danger this time is that there are ominous signs of its imminent succumb to the ailment.

How have ego, greed, and insensitivity

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...remove THE LOG IN THY EYE FIRST

NO. 1920

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

The danger this time

‘

Indeed, can this proposal be justified in light of the dismal economic condition of the country and the plight of the poor and unemployed?

Even if the House has a budget that is constitutionally allocated, does it have to flaunt it in the pitiful circumstances of existence of our people?

What happened to the numerous cars purchased last year?

•Speaker Tambuwal

been manifested in the actions and practices of political office holders and leaders? Any keen observer of our national life can bring up countless samples. Recently there were media reports that the House of Representatives had allegedly concluded arrangements to purchase a large number of Toyota Camry cars for the oversight functions of members.

Surely, the House has to perform its functions as efficiently and as effectively as possible. But is buying those many cars for members on committee assignments the most efficient and effective way to perform those functions?

The report suggested that members of the House rejected the idea of riding in buses

‘

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘The subsidy removal will kill small businesses , sky rocket local prices and galvanise corruption in the civil service.

It will provide ammunition for labour forces to charge the government with callousness and no regard for the welfare of those who elected it‘

because it may be difficult to coordinate their programmes and calendars. The idea of a car pool was also allegedly rejected because of possible scheduling conflicts. But what sense does it make for, say, ten or more members of a committee to drive in separate cars to the same location to perform a committee’s oversight function.

Does this proposal make sense in light of the condition of our roads? Does it make sense in light of the state of higher education? Does it seem reasonable in light of the health facilities and infrastructure that are screaming for attention? Indeed, can this proposal be justified in light of the dismal eco-

HARDBALL

S

TILL strong and agile at the age of 77, Gen Yakubu Gowon, former head of state and now elder statesman, has so

much to thank God for. He assumed leadership at a young age, and has outlasted most of his friends and enemies alike.

Historians have not given us a definitive account of the Age of Gowon; but they should, for that period, comparatively speaking, and until another Age comes up to better it, could be considered Nigeria’s unprecedented age of discovery. It was the worst of times, as Charles Dickens wrote in A Tale of Two Cities, and it was the best of times. We went to war, and except for a few, most people lived through the war years without experiencing the horrendous abuse of civil liberties that have defined the last three decades of Nigeria’s history. We came out of that war as if we didn’t fight a war, and began slowly to build, recognising that true healing would require more time than we envisaged. The eastern part of Nigeria that needed rebuilding, however, was never really rebuilt in the real sense of the word.

Gowon was the classic officer and gentleman. Though he reneged in 1974 on his promise to return the country to civil rule in 1976, he largely kept his word on other matters when he gave it. He was dependable as head of state, and he was humanistic to a fault. It was largely a tribute to his personal qualities – his decency, his urbaneness, his appreciation that he ruled over a country not

Gowon at 77 over a tribe or for a tribe – that under him the country did not experience the brutality that hallmarked latter-day military governments. Hardball was a young man when Gowon began to rule at the age of 32.

Living in Kaduna in those days, he was among the thousands that lined the procession route after the young head of state took Victoria as wife. Years later, Hardball also visited the family home of the Gowons at Wusasa, near Zaria in Kaduna State, and saw the unprepossessing and unsecured bungalow Gowon built for himself before he assumed leadership. He built nothing else and accumulated virtually nothing more until he returned from exile.

Gowon has thankfully not shed the geniality that formed the core of his personality. In fact he seems even now more reflective without being phlegmatic, more unassuming without being lethargic, and more keenly aware of his littleness in the mighty hands of God. But while we wait for his magnum opus on himself, hoping it would contain critical exposés of his sometimes ambivalent characteristics and time in power, we also recognise that he was not without his huge share of weaknesses, both as a person and as head of state.

Sometimes his humanism got in the way of

DAYO SOBOWALE

nomic condition of the country and the plight of the poor and unemployed? Even if the House has a budget that is constitutionally allocated, does it have to flaunt it in the pitiful circumstances of existence of our people?

What happened to the numerous cars purchased last year?

I have not mentioned the resentment of the masses against the instant filthy opulence that they identify with lawmakers as soon as they get elected, knowing well that some of them had lived in relative poverty and obscurity.

What the habit of greed and insensitivity does is to send a message that politics is only an efficient means to wealth and fame and not necessarily a call to service. What the young and old see are the privileges and opportunities to enrich themselves, and not obligations and responsibilities to serve others and the nation. And since other opportunities for making a good living are rare— because lawmakers have neglected to perform the functions of opening up sources of opportunities for all—the attraction of politics for our people is real. And since those who have tasted the fruit of life and death find it irresistibly sweet, they are not ready to give it up without a fight. Hence the door-die battle for political ascendancy.

What is clear from this trend is that even those few individuals who go into politics for the service they expect to provide are unfortunately lumped together with their illmotivated colleagues. Furthermore, because the latter are in the majority, the few motivated by the ideal of service are only likely to have their say, but not their way. Frustrated, they almost always end up in the belly of the whale of greed.

Meanwhile, the masses are watching and learning fast. The First and Second Republics gave us inkling into their mindset. Like the proverbial crazy man, they know when to resist further pushback from their tormentors. The danger this time is that as politicians become sophisticated in the practice of ego and greed, and appear unapologetically audacious in their insensitivity to the plight of the wretched of the earth, the masses who are constantly on the receiving end, battered and traumatised for who and what they are, are also getting increasingly smart and determined. From the creeks to the fringes of the desert, we are witnessing the progressive reincarnation of an old practice in a variety of new forms. We ignore it at our peril.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above his firmness, particularly when it came to the discipline of his appointees and subordinates. We know he was anxious not to become the inescapable autocrat the social and cultural circumstances dictated for African leaders of his time, but he must take responsibility for his inability to impart the same principles and values that ennobled his own youth and background. He must also accept blame, when confronted with that failure, for his inability to impose the needed regimen of discipline required to save the image and credibility of his government and lift Nigeria to great heights.

There is, however, no doubt that Gowon’s contributions to the building of modern Nigeria have been understated. This understatement may not be unconnected with his failure to enunciate a coherent and consistent paradigm for the development of his country. But given the difficulties he faced, the blandishments he tolerated from sycophants, the disruptive civil war he had to overcome, the human face he gave his military government in spite of everything, and his own unusual and unprecedented selfdiscipline, he ranks very high indeed among the few gentlemen who have ruled Nigeria.

Hardball wishes him many more years of service to the country he has professed so much love for. When his 80th birthday comes, it is hoped this country will rise as one man to pay homage to a fine officer and noble gentleman. They don’t make people like him anymore.

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