The Nation October 22, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Senate puts wages on concurrent list NEWS Page 4

•Presidential assent abolished

News APGA: Obi replies Bianca Ojukwu Sports Oparanozie, Oshoala set for Bayana Business Shell signs Nigerian assets sale

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3009 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

P53

N150.00

Cash crunch ‘threatens 31 states‘

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HIRTY-ONE of the 36 states may be unable to meet their obligations to workers and citizens, Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu warned yesterday.

States have been finding it difficult to pay their wages and meet other expenses due to the shortfall in the allocation being shared from the Federation Account. Only five states, Aliyu said, are viable.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

K

ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday explained why the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win next year’s presidential election.

According to the APC presidential aspirant, the fact that the APC is set to organise a transparent primary to pick its candidate will swing the votes in its favour.

Kwankwaso, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and one time Defence Minister, is roundContinued on page 4

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•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Why APC ’ll defeat PDP, by Kwankwaso

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•Kwankwaso

•Nigeria not broke, says minister From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

A meeting last week of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) was aborted because there was no cash to share.

Aliyu, speaking in Minna, the state capital, through Act-

ing Commissioner for Finance Hassan Abdulahi, was afraid that the development will affect the payment of this month’s salary.

Aliyu, who spoke at the opening of the fourth National Congress and Workshop of Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN), alerted civil servants of possible delay in the payment of salContinued on page 4

•INSIDE: APC WRITES JONATHAN, IG ON ASARI-DOKUBO’S THREAT AGAINST MOHAMMED P5

•A MAR CH AGAINT IMPUNITY MARCH IMPUNITY:: Members of the Citizens Arise Movement of Nigeria (CAMN) , an NGO, during a ptotest in Abuja...yesterday. STORY ON PAGE 9

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Uncertainty over Chibok girls as focus shifts to Chad •SEE ALSO PAGE 6

Officials keep vigil Govt lied, says elder

A

LL eyes were on Chad yesterday as the anxiety over the fate of the schoolgirls kidnapped over six months ago grew.

A Federal Government team was believed to have left for N’djamena, the Chadian capital, to continue talks with Boko Haram leaders to free the Chibok

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

girls and end the insurgency in the Northeast.

The meeting in Chad, is a follow-up to last weekend’s talks between the government and the sect’s representatives in Saudi Arabia.

After that meeting, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh announced a ceasefire. He ordered all field

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SOME QUESTIONS •Who are the negotiators for the Federal Government?

•Who is Danladi Ahmadu in the Boko Haram leadership to negotiate on their behalf?

•Why is the government of Borno State kept in the dark?

•Why the negotiation now when President Jonathan is anxious to announce he is running in 2015?

•Is Boko Haram no longer a faceless group?

•When excatly will the girls return home?

commanders to respect it.

But there was no word from the leaders of the sect and then, last weekend there were at-

tacks on some villages in Borno State. Many people were killed, leading to questions over the alleged cease-

fire..

A purported Boko Haram leader Danladi Ahmadu, told VOA's Hausa service yester-

day that he was heading for Chad to await word on when the talks would start.

Hassan Tukur, a top aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, told VOA that there was never a meeting planned for yesterday, despite a report to the contrary from another presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe. But Tukur said the negotiations with Boko Haram are "ongoing and legitimate".

The government blamed some of the attacks after the ceasefire deal on "fringe" Continued on page 4

•LIFE P15 •SPORTS P23 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P28 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS CNN HEALTH REPORTING WINNING STORY

‘This marriage will kill me’ •Tragedy of Nigeria’s child brides

•From left: Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council Afe Babalola University (ABUA), Prof Iyorwuse Hagher, former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, his wife Victoria, founder, ABUA,Aare Afe Babalola and his wife Modupe cutting a cake to mark Gen. Gowon's 80th birthday cake during the universit’sy second convocation ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital... yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

It is a harsh life for Nigeria’s child brides; besides the trauma of protracted labour on bodies too young to birth a child, the death of the child and severity of injuries sustained during labour, the child bride loses her role as wife and mother. This loss is nothing compared to the trauma of ostracism and betrayal she suffers by her parents and other family members, writes OLATUNJI OLOLADE, Assistant Editor

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• Chief Information Officer,Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Anako (middle) speaking at the launch of the 'ONE BANK' (Sterling Bank Branded Phones) initiative and PETS in Lagos...yesterday. With him are from left: Head, Strategy, Mr. Ighodalo Aimienwanu and Executive Director, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman.

•From left: Regional Community Health Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited, Dr. Tunde Fakunle; Director, Advocacy and Programme Development, Health Insurance Fund, the Netherlands, Dr. Kwasi Boahene; and Ms Aaltje de Roos of the Sustainable Department, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the panel session on Public Private Partnerships for Universal Health Coverage in Africa, at the 2014 Africa Works! Conference in Leiden, the Netherlands.

•Representative of Lagos state Governor, Hon. Oladisu Holloway (third left) cutting tape to inaugurate Air Peace Ltd. aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday. With him are Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace Ltd. Barr. Allen Onyema (second left), his wife Alice, Deputy Command, Operational Officer, Yenugua, Balyesa State, Commodore Vincent Okeke (left), Commander Peter Ogbujie (trd), Chairman, Obi Kings, Chief Obi Ifayi (right).

UST off the highway that leads to Kubwa, an Abuja outskirt, twilight bounds softly on the path to Lima’s spot. Lima, in skintight pants and transparent sari, sits in a corner of an open bar. Unlike the other girls, she does not loiter too close to the entrance, neither does she try so hard to gain the attention of every male patron; she tries not to be too obvious.

“I am not a common prostitute…I don’t parade myself like bad tomato,” she explains. There is something instructive in her analogy of the “bad tomato.” It puts in a nutshell, the realities that shape the life of the 17year-old divorcee and social outcast.

Lima’s predicament began eight years ago in Danjida, Kano State. Just before she clocked10, her mother told her that she would be escorting her to a traditional family festival; the party was allegedly organised by the family’s elders for pretty young girls like Lima, as an initiation into womanhood. The nine-year-old was ecstatic; she was going to be a woman and, according to her mother, she would receive a lot of expensive gifts from her family friends and relatives.

The evening before the event, Lima and her mother departed from their Kawaje neighbourhood for a large compound in Danjida, her ancestral homeland, where they sat all night with her first cousins, distant cousins and other girls whom she could barely recognise. The girls waited expectantly and watched with admiration as their mothers chatted animatedly and danced to the drumbeats.

They were there all night but at the first streak of daylight, Lima’s paternal aunt, Aunt Sajida, emerged from the backyard to lead her to her fate.

“She told me not to cry and urged me to do our family proud. She said if I did, I would get a lot of gifts and grow to become a very beautiful woman,” says Lima.

The nine-year-old followed her aunt sheepishly to the backyard. there, she was led into a dark room occupied by two women. According to her, no sooner did she enter than the women grabbed her hands and held her in a tight grip, one of them locking her legs and the other her arms. While she struggled with terror and an intense foreboding of what was to come, a third woman entered the room and lifted her wrapper. As Lima was struggling, her pant was practically torn off; then she felt excruciating pain. Blood gushed from her private part and cascaded her legs. In seconds, Lima (who clocked 10 years overnight) passed out.

By the time she woke up, she had undergone the gishiri cut (circumcision) and has thus become a woman

by cultural standards. But nobody told her of the pain; after her circumcision, the women sewed up her private part without anaesthesia, thus causing her great pains and she bled continuously from the wound. Panicstricken, her mother and aunt screamed repeatedly at the women who circumcised her and the latter ran helter-skelter to stop the bleeding.

Eventually, somebody brought some black powder and applied it on the wound, but it only caused her to smart and squirm some more. Lima bled the whole day and as she cried, her mother and aunt applied the black powder intermittently on the wound, causing her more pain. “I could not pee. Every time I tried to, I felt intense pain in my genitals,” says Lima, adding that she fell ill from the wound over a long period.

The following year, Lima was forcefully married to 76-year old Baba Ahmadu, her father’s best friend in a hastily contrived marriage ceremony.

The details, she says, were unclear to her but she remembers that money changed hands between her father and her husband. The first time she had sex with her husband, there was a lot of trouble; Lima lied to him that she needed to pee and thereby fled to her parents’ house but her father ordered her brothers to return her to her husband. “My mother slapped me and issued me a stern warning not to disgrace her. Then my brothers tied my hands and flogged me with horsewhip,” she discloses.

They delivered her at the tender age of 11 to her husband, feet and hands bound and legs held firmly apart so he could consummate the marriage. Before the consummation, an elderly woman whom Lima identifies as her husband’s younger sister came in to undo the stitches sewn on her genitals after her circumcision.

Lima had to go through this without any form of anaesthesia, hence she was in great pains. Then her brothers held her in position for her husband to mount her.

“I was already in great pain and I bled profusely before he mounted me.

I begged my brothers to release me; I pleaded with them to stop holding me down for Baba Ahmadu but they turned deaf ears. They kept telling me to shut up and looked away. After he (her husband) finished, I saw him dip his hands into his pocket and give them (her brothers) N1,000,” recollects Lima with a sob.

The next day, her Aunt Mariam came visiting and tearfully, Lima recounted to her, her gruesome experience in the hands of her husband but to her horror, the latter patted her on the back and told her to cooperate with her husband. “She said I was no longer a child and that the more I struggled

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS CNN HEALTH REPORTING WINNING STORY

• Another child bride with her baby

with him, the greater disgrace I bring upon our family. She said our ancestors would curse me if I did not stop disgracing our family…when I told her that my genitals bleed and hurt me badly, she said if I relax the next time my husband lies with me, the pain would stop and the wound will heal quicker,” says Lima.

But the pain never stopped nor did the wound heal quickly as her aunt assured her. Lima claims she felt violated and hurt every time her husband had sex with her and for a week, she could not stand or walk upright.

“I could not sit down or walk upright because of the pain. I hated my husband more every time he slept with me. He virtually forced himself on me and he was very rough. Eventually, I became pregnant in two months,” she says.

However, due to complications from protracted labour, Lima’s baby died at birth and she suffered a severe case of obstetric fistula. At the onset of the disease – vesico vaginal fistula (VVF) or obstetric fistula – Lima’s husband abandoned her. She says: “He took me to the clinic and abandoned me there. He said I was destroying his home with urine and faeces. Then he sent my belongings to my parents. He said he was no longer interested in marrying me. He said I had brought him agony and bad luck.”

To her chagrin, her parents sent her belongings to her at the hospital. According to her, “They sent my eldest brother to give them to me with a sum of N900. He told me that I was not expected back home since I had brought shame on my family. He said my father had chased mother out of the house and spat at me.”

It took Lima two years and a month before she got cured and when she did, she departed for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, by the assistance of a nurse. The latter handed her over to a childhood friend who purportedly runs a food canteen in Kubwa, Abuja. With gratitude and optimism, Lima departed Kano for Abuja with her benefactress. But the truth didn’t dawn on her until she got to Abuja; there was no waitress job waiting for her at a food canteen, rather she was forced to squat in a tiny room at the back of her benefactress’ makeshift beer parlour in Kubwa. There, she survives by hawking sex for money, even as you read.

Lima says things are looking up for her; four months ago, her Madame granted her the freedom to entertain her own clients between 5 a.m. and

• A child bride with her baby

3.30 p.m. every day. Notwithstanding her predicament, Lima says: “I don’t fling myself at any man. I am not some cheap prostitute. I respect myself,” she says with the coolness of a sex worker who knows that patronage may be acquired by more discreet measures, like elegance and stubborn pride.

A suicide mission A visit to Lima’s hometown heralds a pilgrimage of sort; the whereabouts of Lima’s mother and eldest brother is unknown and her father, Audu, currently grapples with old age. He suffers fecal and urinal incontinence brought about by age; he urinates and defecates where he sleeps and his body is riddled with bedsores. None of the three wives he married after Lima’s mother stays with him. “They all deserted him as his condition worsened and it became clear that he lacks the means to cater for his household,” reveals Saidattu Mohammed, a bean and corn syrup seller who claims to be responsible for the 89-year old’s breakfast and supper every day. “Nobody pays me for what I do. I do it for God,” she claims.

Despite his predicament, the 89year-old betrays no love for Lima, neither does he feel contrition for the way he treated her. His eyes widened and he got very agitated when the reporter revealed that he had spoken to Lima.

Idrissu, a gangly youth, presumably in his mid-20s, who identified himself as Lima’s immediate elder brother, ushered me out of their compound, muttering curses under his breath.

According to my guide, any attempt to stay longer would have ended dis-

astrously.

Five cows for a daughter Like Lima, Hamida suffered the raw end of the deal from her husband and family. Hamida, 18, sells fruits at the Mararaba orange market in Nasarrawa. But that is her day job; at night, Hamida joins two of her friends at a popular roadside bar in Utaku, Abuja. At the back of the bar, she changes into tight-fitting blouse and skimpy skirt. Then she stands by the roadside to beckon on wouldbe patrons for ‘short-time’ sex or ‘tillday-break’ romp.

The 18-year-old’s journey to infamy began six years ago on a quiet afternoon in Kajuru, Kaduna State.

According to her, she was just starting to heal from circumcision ritual when her mother and eldest sister, a widow, sat her down to inform her that they had accepted a marriage proposal on her behalf.

“When I protested that I was too young for marriage and that I would rather go to school, my mother told me that education is not meant for a cultured and dutiful daughter. Immediately, I rushed to ask my father why he did that. I told him he wouldn’t do that, if he truly loved me but he brought out a whip and started flogging me. He said he had accepted five cows for my hand. It was the first time my father flogged me in two years…I begged him not to marry me off, I cried that the marriage will kill me but he said I had become wayward and threatened to disown me if I failed to obey his wish,” reveals Hamida.

‘

When I protested that I was too young for marriage and that I would rather go to school, my mother told me that education is not meant for a cultured and dutiful daughter. Immediately, I rushed to ask my father why he did that. I told him he wouldn’t do that, if he truly loved me but he brought out a whip and started flogging me. He said he had accepted five cows for my hand

‘

• A VVF victim urinating uncontrollably

Eventually, she did her parent’s bidding and Hamida got married to Usman, a 65-year-old cow dealer at the age of 12. After the wedding, the newlywed relocated to Jibiya, Katsina State, where Usman sold cows. However, the matrimony was never as heavenly as Hamida’s mother assured her it would be.

“I had two senior wives and life with them was hellish. None of them had ever gotten pregnant and the fact that I got pregnant one month into my marriage made them hate me.

They taunted me endlessly, claiming that I had charmed their husband and that God will deal with me…Eventually, their wishes came true; when I went into labour, my husband had travelled on a business trip, hence my senior wives invited a local midwife and abandoned me with her.

“They didn’t care that I had complications. The midwife said my waist was too tiny to birth a child and I had lost too much blood. After three days of painful labour, I was delivered in my room. I was there for about three days. I experienced serious pains and bled continuously. My baby never cried; I tried to breast feed him but he refused to feed. His breathing was barely audible. Worried by his state, the midwife prepared some herbal concoction and forced it down his throat; this caused his stomach and the left side of his chest to become distended.

“They said it was his heart that got bloated. At this point, the midwife stopped coming. When I sent a neighbour’s child to find her, they said she had travelled…Eventually my neighbours helped me to the hospital. When I got there, my son was confirmed dead. He died on the day that we were supposed to have his naming ceremony. While I cried, the doctor told me that I was very sick and they referred me for further treatment at the big hospital in Babbar Ruga (Babbar Ruga Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Katsina State). By that time, I was defaecating and urinating all over my body. The doctor and the nurses covered their noses and mouths while they attended to me.

“More painful was the fact that my husband at his arrival from his business trip, came to inform me that he was divorcing me. He accused me of killing his child and told me never to set foot in his house again. My mother came to see me in Babbar Ruga but she only came to give me two wrappers and N2,000. She said I should try to beg my husband and get back into

his house. She said no one would welcome me back into my father’s house,” recollects Hamida.

After undergoing corrective surgery at Babbar Ruga, Hamida relocated to Abuja with two of her friends.

Today, she survives by petty trade in fruits at daytime and a nocturnal trade in sex for money.

Customary disaster The plight of Lima and Hamida illustrates the stark misery characteristic of the world of many child brides in the country. By its magnitude, VVF is a major public health problem in Nigeria. Prevalence estimations range from as low as 100,000 to as much as 1,000,000 cases. Health experts, however, quote 400,000 to 800,000 even as Dutch surgeon, Dr. Kees Waaldijk, who has worked with the Nigerian government in the past 25 years, to end fistula through his direction of the Nigeria National Fistula Programme, states firmly that the backlog is 200,000 to a maximum 250,000 patients.

The incidence is estimated at 20,000 new cases a year; while 90 per cent are untreated. This implies that about 55 women are infected by VVF and 18,000 cases are untreated daily. It is estimated that two million women suffer from obstetric fistula globally.

In Nigeria alone, the north has over 85 per cent of these cases. The vast majority of VVF is caused by obstructed labour, gishiri (circumcision) cut and obstetrical trauma.

Fistula, the Latin word for “pipe,” is an “abnormal passage” between organs —in this case, between the vagina and the bladder, the rectum, or both. The hole makes the woman uncontrollably incontinent of urine or feces or both and transforms a healthy person into a leaking, reeking, “cesspit,” in the words of Lima.

Obstetric fistula results from obstructed labour, which occurs when the baby cannot pass through the mother’s birth canal because it either does not come head first or is too large for her pelvis. Prompt medical intervention, often including Caesarean section, permits a delivery safe for both mother and child. But thousands of times each year across the country, birthing women receive no such aid and their labour is a futile agony lasting between three and five days, with uterine contractions constantly forcing the baby, usually head first, against unyielding pelvic bone.

• Continued on page 48

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

Cash crunch ‘threatens 31 states‘ Continued from page 1

•From left: Chairman, Ammasco International Limited/Awardee, Alhaji Mustapha Ado Mohammed; Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Rasheed Adejare Olanrewaju; Executive Chairman, Innoson Group/Awardee, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma; Executive Director, Large Enterprises, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali and Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, during the inauguration of Customers into BoI Hall of Fame in Lagos…yesterday

Senate puts wages on concurrent list

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RESIDENTIAL assent will no longer be required to amend any section of the constitution – if the clause is endorsed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

This is one of the highlights of the conference report of the review of the 1999 Constitution adopted yesterday by the Senate.

The upper chamber adopted the report wholesale without debate.

The lawmakers noted that the provision “enhances the sovereignty of the citizens through their elected representatives by removing the need for presidential assent in constitution alteration while “it also replaces the word “Act” wherever it appears with the word “Bill”.

Wages, Pensions, Railways, among others are to be removed from the exclusive list to be taken concurrently by the Federal and State governments.

Apart from abolishing presidential assent in constitution alteration, the lawmakers also adopted referendum for state creation.

The Senate adopted the provision, which confers immunity on legislators in respect of words spoken or written in the

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sani Onogu, Abuja

exercise of their legislative duties.

The lawmakers strengthened the administration of local governments by providing for their funding, tenure, election and clearly delineated their powers and responsibilities to ensure effective service delivery as well as insulated them from undue and counter-productive interference from state governments.

They approved the Right to Education and the Right to Health, as fundamental Rights in the constitution as well as adopted the establishment of the National Assembly Service Commission and State House of Assembly Commission to be enshrined in the constitution.

The lawmakers altered Section 59 of the Constitution by voting to bypass the president if he failed to sign a bill presented to him within 30 days.

The Senators agreed that “within seven days, the President of the Senate shall convene a joint sitting of the National Assembly to reconsider the bill.

“If passed by two-thirds majority of members of both Houses at such joint sitting, the Bill

shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”

The Senate noted that the alteration “resolves the impasse where the President or Governor of a state neglects to signify his assent or withholds such assent. This will strengthen legislatures authority and enable timely passage of laws for good governance.

The lawmakers approved the provision which authorised the President of the Senate to convene a joint meeting of the National Assembly to reconsider a money bill where the President withholds his assent.

Section 65 and 106 of the alteration provided for independent candidacy in elections while Section 67 made it mandatory for the President to attend a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year to deliver a state of the nation address.

Approved Section 81 engendered accountability and efficient service delivery by providing for the funding of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, National Security Agencies, The Nigeria Police, The

Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

The lawmakers adopted Section 82 and 122, which reduce the period within which the President or the Governor of a state may authorise the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in the absence of an Appropriation Act from six months to three months.

Adopted Section 84(4)(A-F) creates the Office of the Accountant General for the Federal Government..

To curtail refusal of appointees of the Federal or state governments’ to obey summons, the lawmakers adopted Section 89 and 129, which empowers the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly to prescribe sanctions, civil or criminal or both for failure, refusal or neglect to obey summons issued by a legislative House or a committee of any of the Houses.

The Senate accepted Section 121, which it said engendered accountability and efficient service delivery by providing for the funding of the House of As-

ary.

Abdullahi said: “We were in Enugu for three days and on the third day they called us into a room and told us to go back to our states because there no money to share.”

The governor described the development as “very unfortunate” and advised that something urgent should be done to restore sanity.

He urged governors and the private sector to pursue aggressive wealth creation as a way of stopping the problem been faced whenever there is a drop in the projected price of crude oil in the international market.

But Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said yesterday that the rescheduled FAAC meeting will hold today to share the available cash to tiers of government.

The minister assured Nigerians that the country is not broke.

She gave the assurance in Abuja at a ministerial news conference where she noted that the continued fall in revenue would not jeopardise the implementation of the 2014 budget.

She noted that the administration was “putting in place contingency plans so that our

economy remains stable. Right now, we have fluctuations in the price of crude oil and when that happens, it means that the money that comes into the coffers is a little bit small. Does that mean that the country is broke? If we are not able to pay salaries to people or meet other obligations, then we can say the country is broke, but we have not got there. Nigeria is not broke”.

She said the Excess Crude Accounts (ECA) would rise from $4.41 billion to $6.31billion with an additional $1.55 billion saving added to the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

According to her: “Oil price has come down but it is not beyond our capacity to deal with and we are dealing with it by diversifying the economy.

Nigeria is a country that is dependent on one commodity (oil) and that product is dependent on how much the buyers want to pay. We had a yoo, yoo kind of expenditure pattern before 2003 but after that, even when there was a fall in the price of crude from $140 to about $35 or $38 between 2003 and 2008, our economy remained stable because we had accumulated about $22 billion in the Excess Crude Account.”

In the interim, the minister of finance said: “We may have to cut down on some of our Continued on page 57

‘Why APC ’ll defeat PDP’ Continued from page 1

ing off his second tenure in office as Kano governor.

He said the PDP won previous presidential elections since 1999 because the party was inclusive and ran open primaries to pick its candidates.

According to him, at that time, other parties picked candidates without involving the generality of their members.

Kwankwaso told reporters in his office: “As fate will have it, the PDP has now decided to do their own presidential primaries in the (Aso) Villa while the APC will hold its own on the field, which clearly shows that the APC will

win the elections, while the PDP will lose the election in 2015.”

On the possibility of a consensus, the governor maintained that the party should be made very strong, stressing that all aspirants should go round the country and campaign to win the electorate, which is exactly what they were doing.

Kwankwaso said he was not under pressure from any quarters to drop his presidential ambition for anybody.

Apart from him, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari have picked the APC’s Continued on page 57

Continued on page 57

Uncertainty over Chibok girls as focus shifts to Chad Govt told us lies, says Chibok elder

Continued from page 1

Boko Haram fighters.

Ahmadu said attacks in Damboa on Sunday were the work of armed robbers.

There were rumours of the movement of the girls from a location to the Chadian capital N’Djamena but no government official could confirm or deny this.

A “ceasefire” which was expected to herald the girls’ freedom seemed to have collapsed last weekend, with troops clashing with Boko Haram fighters in Adamawa and Borno states. Many died.

But the United States said that it would welcome the ceasefire and would join the world in hoping that the girls will be released.

There was anxiety yesterday on whether Boko Haram will live up to its pledge or if Chadian President Idris Deby could make the deal a reality.

For strategic reasons, it was gathered that the Presidency kept some ministers away from the deal with the insurgents.

It was learnt that the Presidency does not want any tac-

V

ICE CHAIRMAN, Abuja Chibok community Mutah Nkeki, yesterday accused the Federal Government of telling lies when it said that a ceasefire deal had been reached with Boko Haram.

Nkeki said the Chibok community and other communities in Borno and the northeast, jubilated when they heard the reports, only to be attacked.

He said they trusted the government and some of their people who were in hiding especially in Dambuwal, returned to their homes only to be attacked, killed or abducted.

He spoke yesterday, during the usual sitout of members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy in Abuja.

He said: “To people in Chibok in particular, on the day that the announcement was made, a lot of jubilation went on in our community, because we felt that they were tical blunder on the release of the girls.

Many foreign missions have opened desks to monitor the ongoing talks in Chad.

A top government official said: “We are all anxiously awaiting the outcome of the talks in N’Djamena; we are eager to see the agreement being sealed.

“I can tell you that all gov-

From Grace Obike, Abuja

telling the truth, that our daughters will be back and we will once again have peace.

“Only to realise that the government was telling us lies, they claimed that Danbuwal was under government control which made people from there who had been hiding in different places to run back home, believing that they were safe only to be attacked and killed by the same Boko Haram.

“The government deceived them into believing that they were safe only to be killed. It is a pity that the government is making the whole country look bad to the world at large.”

Hon. Dino Malaye urged Nigerians to embark on a bloodless revolution against the government.

He said the government so far had fed Nigerians on a propaganda of lies upon lies, he said they lie today and use other

ernment officials are looking forward to Wednesday because the ceasefire and the release of Chibok girls will be a defining moment for this administration.

“If we have the girls back, this administration would have overcome a major challenge.”

The source said some logistics had been put in place to

lies to cover up on another day.

“The same government came out and said that it has Boko Haram in its cabinet.

The same government said they have ruled out negotiations because they cannot negotiate with ghosts, now the same government is saying that they are negotiating with some people, the same government came out to say that the girls were found and it came out to be a lie and the same government said that they know where these girls are but four months after, saying it had done nothing about it.

“Now they have come up to say there is a ceasefire even though there was an attack on Sunday in Borno, 40 women were abducted in Adamawa yesterday and as I speak today, there was an attack in Dambuwal and women were being driven away in trucks and this same government say they have taken over Dambuwal.”

welcome the girls back into the country.

“I am aware that the girls will be flown in a chartered jet to Abuja from N’Djamena once they regain freedom. We are all in upbeat mood,” the source added.

Another source said: “We are keeping vigil because a few members of the President’s kitchen cabinet are han-

dling this negotiation.

“In fact, there were rumours of the girls being allegedly moved from a location to N’Djamena but a former Deputy Governor who lent credence to it could not provide any shred of evidence.

“As the government is in suspense, the parents of the girls are also praying that the girls should be free as antici-

•Air Chief Marshal Badeh

pated.”

Foreign Minister Aminu Wali said yesterday that the government hopes to end the conflict with Boko Haram soon and win the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

“I can say with some optimism, cautious optimism, that we are moving towards a situation where we’d be able to, in the very near future, to be Continued on page 57

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THE NATION OCTOBER, WEDNESDAY 22, 2014

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NEWS Senate passes Bill to protect border communities

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•From left: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Ahmed Adamu Muazu; President Goodluck Jonathan (cutting the tape) Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido; Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhmud and others at the inauguration of Dutse International Airport in Dutse...yesterday

I have no problem with Lamido, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan denied yesterday any rift with Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

Lamido, had expressed misgivings about how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was being run.

Jonathan spoke in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, when he inaugurated the Dutse International Airport and at a meeting with stakeholders at the Government House.

The President explained that by building the airport and other infrastructure, Lamido

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

had made the PDP and the residents proud.

He said: “Lamido is a man of his word. In terms of what people say about our frosty relationship, sometimes it is issues of interpretation. I remember reading one book sometime ago where one philosopher said the disagreement between people happens when people use different words to describe different scenarios or use different words

to describe different things.

That will cause a primary disagreement, which will begin to expand.

“In some cases, where people have problems, if you go deeply, you will discover that it is not really a problem.

But it becomes a storm when people begin to hear.

“One thing I tell people is that I know the role Lamido played in the 2011 elections. I assessed my governors then on how many votes I got during the primaries because, if a governor means well for you,

even if he is unable to control the number of votes during the general elections, in the primaries, which are party issues the governors have a control of about 70 per cent, the governor controls what happens.

“I always tell our party that until we change our delegates’ pattern, the governors must dictate what happens. Under the present delegates we have for all national elections, any governor, who is fit to be a governor, has control of about 70 per cent - whether we like it or not.”

APC: hold Asari-Dokubo responsible if anything happens to Lai Mohammed HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will hold the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mr. Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, responsible for any mishap that may befall its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

In a letter to the Presidency, the police and the State Security Service (SSS) on AsariDokubo’s threat of violence against Mohammed, the party urged the Federal Government and security agents to call the former militant to order.

The letter by APC’s National Secretary noted that because of Asari-Dokubo’s antecedents and his propensity to violence, the party would hold him responsible

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From Tony Akowe, Abuja

if anything untoward happens to Mohammed.

The letter reads: “The attention of our party has been drawn to comments made by the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mr. AsariDokubo, that included a threat of violence against our National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed.

“The threat, contained in an interview granted an online newspaper Premium Times by Mr. Asari-Dokubo on Friday, October 17, follows a statement issued on behalf of the party by Alhaji Mohammed on October 8, asking the Federal Government to explain the reported presence of Mr. AsariDokubo on the plane that transported US$9.3 million

cash to South Africa.

“In the interview, Mr. Asari-Dokubo said while he would adopt a ‘civilised response to Mr. Mohammed by first suing the APC spokesperson for his remarks’, he (Asari-Dokubo) warned that should the courts fail to deliver justice, ‘he will resort to self-help by using his hands and any other means to deal with Mr. Mohammed.

“We find this threat totally abhorring, dangerous, unacceptable and uncivilised.

We, therefore, wish to request that you call Mr. AsariDokubo to order and invite him to explain what he means by his threat to resort to self-help. We have attached a copy of the interview to this petition.

“We take the unwarranted

threat very seriously, in view of the antecedents of Mr. Asari-Dokubo and his propensity to violence. We will definitely hold him personally responsible, if anything untoward happens to our National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

“Since ours is a country that operates under the rule of law, rather than the laws of the jungle, we believe anyone who is aggrieved over any issue should resort to the courts to seek redress.

“Where such aggrieved persons decide to take the laws into their hands, as Mr. Asari-Dokubo has threatened, it is an invitation to anarchy. While awaiting your prompt action on this issue, please, accept the assurances of our highest consideration.”

Nigeria won’t end up with war, says Kukah ISHOP of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said although Nigeria has been wracked by internal wars, it will neither break nor end with war.

As elections draw nearer, the cleric said he was not afraid over the 2015 elections.

Kukah urged leaders to wean youths from the agony and consequences of war.

The bishop spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the opening of this year’s Port Harcourt Book Festival, sponsored by Rainbow Book Club, in collaboration with the Rivers State government.

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By Evelyn Osagie

He said: “As Nigerians are celebrating our success with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), I can see it is also evident that this country will not end with war. Those who divided us have now had to stand up and look. To me, it is just a question of the kind of confidence that Nigerians have. So, I have no fear absolutely over 2015. If politicians behave irresponsibly by the way they talk, it should tell you how they will govern you. Year 2015 is not here yet and some of us, including myself, may not be here. I pray I would be, but I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow.

But some of the actors, who are running all over the place, may not be here tomorrow. We must learn to live one day at a time.”

As politicians prepare for next year’s elections, the cleric reminded them that they do not own their lives.

He also urged Nigerians not to fall for the intrigues of politicians, adding that peace is important .

“Those of us who are not politicians should wake up to the reality that politicians have a language of their own; they have a culture of their own and have a universe of their own that they live in. Those of us who are so stupid as to surrender our lives for nothing, would ap-

preciate the fact that with the politicians of Nigeria, they are in PDP today, they are in APC tomorrow, the next day they are in CPC and the next day are in another party.

You have to understand the fact that the politicians live in a different universe. If you are going to make a choice, make a choice wisely but that choice must not include wasting your own life because only the living can play politics. So, the choice chiefly ours,” he said.

As Nigerians await the release of the abducted Chibok girls,Kukah warned that the issue should not be politicised, while urging Nigerians to prayerfully hope they come back alive.

HE Senate yesterday read for the third time and passed a bill aimed at bringing development to the nation’s border communities.

The Bill, titled: An Act to Amend the Border Communities Development Agency Act Cap, B10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, was sponsored

by Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South).

The Bill aims to strengthen the legal framework that would provide additional source of funding for the Border Communities Development Agency.

The Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Local Government Administration, Umaru Dahiru, said the committee noted that the agency, in collaboration with the office of the Surveyor-General of the Fed-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

eration, would identify settlements, villages and towns across 108 local government areas in 21 states that are 15 kilometres from the nation’s borders, for effective policing and massive development.

He listed the affected states to include: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

According to him, the Bill also proposed the deduction of at least 20 per cent from the Ecological Funds to tackle infrastructure decay, and provide health facilities, schools, and adequate security arrangements in all the affected communities.

Army arraigns five more soldiers for alleged mutiny From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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HE number of military personnel standing trial for mutiny rose yesterday with the arraignment of five more soldiers in Abuja by the authorities of the Nigerian Army.

It was learnt that the five - Lance Corporals Bankole Taiwo, Ayodele Olawale, Sule Ochehepo, Isaiah Olofu and Adebayo Gbenga - were arraigned before a General Court Martial sitting at the Abacha Barracks in Abuja. They were charged with conspiracy and mutiny.

The five soldiers are said to be of the 81 Batallion of 7 Division of the army.

Although the trial is being conducted in secret, our correspondent learnt that the soldiers pleaded not guilty to the two counts of mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny.

They were accused of conspiring to incite other soldiers of the 81 Batallion to commit mutiny at Gubio Base Camp in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on September 13 and 14.

The five were alleged to have, on the same days and location, fired sporadically, abandoned weapons and made instigating comments and acts which were intended to incite solders of the 81 Batallion to mutiny.

The charge sheet stated that the soldiers’ conspiracy is punishable under Section 97(1) of Penal Code, Cap P89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014, while the mutiny is punishable under Section 521(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN, 2004.

The charge sheet, which was signed by the Commander of the Army Headquarters Garrison, Brig.-Gen. B. T. Ndiomu, showed that he is also the convening authority for the court.

Boko Haram: Govt seeks secret HE Federal Governtrial of Ndume ment yesterday re-

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quested that the trial of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume be henceforth conducted in secret to prevent the public from witnessing the proceedings.

The government’s request is coming midway into the trial, which began last year.

Ndume, a serving Senator from Borno State, is facing terrorism related charges before the Federal High Court, in Abuja. He was arraigned before Justice Kolawole on December 12 last year,on a 4-count charge by the De-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

partment of State Services (DSS).

He is accused of sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, and failing to provide information about the sect’s operations.

Yesterday, prosecution lawyer, E. A. Orji, while moving a motion dated September 23, 2014 urged the court to protect the identity of the remaining witnesses scheduled to give evidence in th case.

‘My meeting with President has no link with Boko Haram’

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FORMER Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) has said his meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday has nothing to do with the ceasefire talks between Boko Haram and the Federal Government, as insinuated in some reports yesterday.

The former military administrator, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, in a statement by his media aide, Bello Zubairu, said he was at the villa for private talks with the President and not for a meeting on Boko Haram.

He said: “In view of the insinuations in the reports on Tuesday about the presence of General Marwa at the Presidential Villa on Monday, when a former governor of Borno State (Ali Modu Sheriff) also visited the villa, there is the need to issue this clarification and state categorically that General Marwa only had a private meeting with President Jonathan shortly before the arrival of the former Borno governor...”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2014

6

NEWS Odigie-Oyegun for UI lecture Friday From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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YO, Ogun and Osun State Governors Abiola Ajimobi, Ibikunle Amosun and Rauf Aregbesola will attend the University of Ibadan (UI) Annual Alumni Lecture to be delivered by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Edo State Governor John Odigie-Oyegun on October 24.

The event, to hold at the Trenchard Hall of the university, is also expected to be attended by top APC chieftains from various parts of the country.

The lecture, titled: Nigeria, A Trajectory of Dashed Expectation: Looking Into the Future With Hope, is expected to attract top flight academics, political heavyweights, captains of industries, professionals, lawyers, journalists and members of UIAA. A statement by the chairperson of the Lecture Committee, Dr Elsie O. Adewoye and its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Solomon Egwuenu, said UI Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, would chair the occasion.

‘Amended NBC Act will check DSTV monopoly’ •’Exclusive rights to radio/TV programmes violate 1999 Constitution’

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MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani), said yesterday that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act should be amended to protect the consumers and check the monopoly of DSTV and other cable networks under the guise of exclusive rights.

The lawmaker said the shutting out of viewers of cable networks and limiting access to important programmes contradicts Section 16(1b and 2c) of the 1999 Constitution.

She said Nigeria should emulate South Africa and Kenya, which amended their broadcasting laws for cheaper tariffs and making available premium programmes to the poor.

Hajia Binani said the amendment of the NBC Act would promote efficiency and expand the opportunities for participation of Nigerians in the global markets.

The lawmaker spoke on the floor of the House when she defended the Bill to amend the NBC Act. Following her submission and other lawmakers, the Bill

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

scaled the second reading.

Leading the debate, Hajiya Binani said: “The decree, which is now an Act of the National Assembly, was established on the foundation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Section 16 (1b) and (2c).

“Unfortunately, this commendable effort has been truncated by a new form of monopoly that threatens the social, political and economic needs of the Nigerian people.

“The policy, which is referred to as premium contents/programmes by broadcasting companies with more financial muscle and influence, is a new form of monopoly where those companies are given exclusive right to broadcast programmes with high demand while other operators are excluded.

“This runs contrary to the vision and mission of establishing the commission because this monopoly allows the operator to increase subscription cost at will and give you what they feel like giving because one does not have a choice.

“DSTV, through its local

partner, Multichoice in Nigeria, has the exclusive right to broadcast the English Premier League (EPL), National Geographic, major sporting tournaments, Discovery, Reality TV and a host of other important programmes.

DSTV ensures that you pay full subscription before you have access to important programmes, which runs contrary to Section 16 (1b and 2c) of the 1999 Constitution.”

The lawmaker urged the National Assembly to check indulgences that could stifle the broadcasting industry in the country.

She added: “As legislators, if we do not act fast, the growing nature of this type of monopoly will stifle the industry in Nigeria. As the voice of the people, we have the constitutional obligation to make laws for the good governance of our country.

“This Bill seeks to use the instrumentality of the law to protect Nigerians from unwarranted exploitation.

“Recently, Brilla FM announced that it had acquired the exclusive right to broadcast the Spanish La Liga and Copa Del Rey, besides the EPL. Its boss warned other

radio stations to keep off its programmes or meet with litigation. He even suggested that the regulatory body, the NBC, assented to the exclusivity of Brilla FM to broadcast the programmes.

“It is interesting to note that Communications Minister, Mr Yunus Carrim of South Africa, where DSTV originated, on March 19, halted DSTV’s monopoly and created a cheaper tariff as well as made premium programmes available to the poor in that country. They have created room for Africans to own pay TVs and demonopolise movies.

“The consumers in Nigeria must be protected. In Kenya, for instance, the Communication Authority (CA) has come up with a regulation that prohibits the monopoly of premium contents in the country.

Mr. Francis Wangusi, the Director-General of the CA, informed Kenyans that they were set free from the monopolistic and exorbitant fees operators had been charging.

“In India, the Telecommunication Interconnection Regulation 2004 prohibits broadcasters of TV channels

•Hajiya Binani from entering into any arrangement or understanding for exclusive contracts with any distributor. It has mandated broadcasters to provide, on request, signals of its TV on non-discriminatory terms.

“We, as legislators, are the representatives of the people and we know that the task of creating the environment for proper private sector participation is that of the government.

“This means the infrastructure and policy framework that would enable the new licencees to attain greater and better services should be put in place.”

Chibok girls: Ogbeh apologises for comment •#BBOG convener denies political reason for forming group

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N All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Mr Audu Ogbeh, has apologised to the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) campaigners for his statement linking the group to the party.

He said his statement was not meant to paint the group as an APC sub-group because less than two per cent members of the group are highly valued members of the party, while the others may or may not belong to any political association.

In a letter he addressed to the leadership of the #BBOG on October 20, he apologised for any discomfort he might have caused the group.

Ogbeh said: “I feel obliged to let you know that my statement at our function last week was not intended

From Grace Obike, Abuja

to paint your group as an APC sub-group. This is because, from what we now know, less than two per cent of the group are party members, but members we value highly. The rest of you are not and may not even belong to any political association whatsoever. This is not to say that you have no right to be if you choose to.

“If my statement caused you discomfort, I do apologise, but reiterate that I have nothing but respect and admiration for you for keeping a six month vigil and telling the world that the Nigerian conscience is not entirely dead. The world is watching us and making judgements.

“I wish you God’s blessings and protection.”

MTN-sponsored pilgrims recount experience

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HE 20 pilgrims sponsored by the MTN to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage have returned after fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam and having a life-enriching experi-

ence.

One of the beneficiaries, Hajarat Ahmed Aboki, a 30-yearold postgraduate student from Suleja, Niger State, hailed MTN for giving her the rare privilege. She said: “Sincerely, words cannot express how I feel. This is a rare opportunity given to me for just subscribing to an Islamic content on the MTN value-added services. This is my first time of travelling for Hajj and even travelling outside the country.”

On how the journey to the holy land impacted her life, Aboki said: “It has had a great impact on my life. It has made me a changed person; feeling like a new born child, because I feel my sins have been forgiven and washed away, Insha’Allah (by God’s grace).”

Mohammed Bello, from Lagos, said he was spiritually enriched.

The Senior Manager, Segments Marketing, MTN, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed said: “This is a reward for our customers for their dedication and loyalty. We decided to appreciate our customers and express how important they are to us.”

•From left: Executive Director, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc, Kenneth Aigbinode; Executive Director, Finance, Yinka Obalade; Executive Director, Special Risks, Sina Elusakin; Acting Managing Director, Rotimi Fashola and President, Lagos West of Baptist Church, Rev. Julius Adeniji, at a service of songs for the late Remi Oluwude, at IGI corporate headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Dubai deaths: I warned but no one listened, says Aisha Falode

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IGHT months after the kiling of her son in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), sports broadcaster Aisha Falode has decried the insensitivity of the Federal Government to her plight and other Nigerian parents whose children might have died in similar circumstance.

Falode, who was reacting to the alleged murder of the son of former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in the Arab city, insisted that if the Nigerian government had heeded her call to investigate questionable deaths of young Nigerians in Dubai, others might have been averted.

She expressed displeasure that justice had not been done for her son, Toba, who she said was thrown off the balcony of a 17th floor apartment in Manchester Tower by a man she identified as

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Faisal Al-Nasser, whose Tshirt and knuckles had her son’s blood.

Mrs Falode said despite assemblying evidence from witnesses of her son’s killing, nothing had been done by the government. She said the government only sought partnership and collaboration with the UAE. The broadcaster called for the recall of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UAE, Ibrahim Auwalu, to account for every Nigerian killed in Dubai due to his “lack of responsibility”.

She said: “I am saddened that this happened, despite my nationwide campaign to stop this happening again by putting all relevant government agencies on notice but in vain.

“I warned the Nigerian government that Nigerian youths were being killed in Dubai on a daily basis, as confirmed by our embassy in Dubai. I also warned parents about the danger in Dubai.

“I stated repeatedly that if justice was not done for my son, another murder would happen. Indeed, there have been many more after my son, although they were not mentioned because they do not have a voice. But now, there is one so close to government that has been struck.

“I did not have to be a soothsayer to know this.

Many more will happen until we get justice for Toba Falode and all those who have been murdered in cold blood in Dubai. We cannot stand by and watch our youths’ lives being

downplayed over and above collaboration and partnership…

“Our ambassador in the UAE, Auwalu, must be called back to answer to every young soul that has been lost in Dubai unacounted for due to his lack of responsibility in office. The Foreign Ministry must also be asked questions on what they have done about Toba’s case, eight months after.

“It took Israel less than 48 hours to act on the loss of three of its youths. But eight months after Toba’s murder, we are still waiting on the Nigerian government to give us any kind of reaction on the loss of a young life.

“The Nigerian government should start acting like a big country with might and power and go after Dubai for justice for every young soul and every Nigerian life that has been cut short in Dubai.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS

Ondo APC women protest non-release of Chibok girls

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EHICULAR and human movement were restricted yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, following the street-to-street rally by the women’s wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) The women were protesting the non-release of the Chibok girls, six months after their abduction.

The protesters, who were dressed in red, moved from Adegbemile end through Oba Adesida-Oyemekun to Ilesa garage.

They carried placards with various inscriptions and sang solidarity songs.

They were led by Mrs. Kehinde Adeniran and former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Woman Leader, Erelu Modupe Akindele-Johnson.

The protesters stopped at the new APC secretariat, where they expressed their grievances to the state Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke.

The women prayed in various languages for the quick release of the girls.

Mrs. Adeniran said: “We came as mothers, with bitterness and anger; we are feeling

•Kekemeke adressing the protesters...yesterday..

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the pains of missing these girls.

“We were deceived by the Federal Government that they would be released last Monday, but as at now there is no inkling of their whereabouts.

“Mr chairman, as our party

leader here in Ondo State, we are sending you to President Goodluck Jonathan to expedite action in finding these girls.”

Mrs. Akindele-Johnson said the delay in rescuing the girls had created tragedy and distress in many homes.

She noted that many of the

INEC distributes voter cards From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin the second leg of distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and conduct the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Oyo State.

The second leg will be held in 19 local governments.

Resident Electoral Commissioner Nasir Ayilara said this at a stakeholders’ forum yesterday in Ibadan.

Ayilara said some of the affected local governments include Egbeda, Ibadan North East, Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West, Ibadan North, Lagelu and Ogbomoso South.

He said: “The second leg of distribution of the cards will hold on October 24-26 between 8am to 4pm daily. The continuous registration will be held October 29 and November 3.”

Atiku meets lawmakers

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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ORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will today meet Lagos State House of Assembly lawmakers on his presidential ambition.

In a letter, which was read by the Clerk, Ganiyu Abiru, Atiku expressed his readiness to contest the election to bring about change in the country.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant said he needs the lawmakers’ support in actualising his dream.

Abubakar said the lawmakers’ role in the party made it necessary for him to propose such a visit.

The Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said once he gets the detail of the visit, he would communicate to members.

Ikuforiji said: “I don’t have the details, immediately we have the details, it will be sent to all members.”

‘Aregbesola didn’t ask for rerun’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has denied that its candidate in the August 9 governorship election, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, asked the Election Tribunal for a rerun of the election.

The party was reacting to a report published on Monday, which stated that Aregbesola filed a prayer for a rerun of the election, if the tribunal upheld Omisore’s baseless application.

The APC said there was only one prayer made by the governor which stated that: “Whereof in all the forgoing premises, among others, the second respondent denies in their entirety all the prayers of the petitioners as set out in paragraph 59 (i-v) on pages 174 and 175 of the petition and will urge the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial costs for being unmeritorious, frivolous, vexatious, illconceived and an abuse of court process.”

It also declared that it would be “standing logic on its head for a respondent to ask for an alternative prayer in any reply.

“The responsibility for an alternative prayer rests squarely on the shoulders of the petitioner, which is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“So for the publication to report that Aregbesola, (who is the defendant), made an “alternative prayer for rerun of the election”, is the propagation of falsehood.”

The APC called on the public to disregard the story.

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children would have faced many hurdles, urging President Jonathan to help their parents.

Kekemeke praised the women for their concern, courage and bravery.

The former secretary to the state government (SSG) said it was unfortunate that those in

must be changed; it has failed in its responsibility to secure the people. It is a government that lacks character. We must work together and show them the way out of office.”

He urged the APC women to sensitise their wards and husbands on the need to work for the party next year.

Lagos calls for renewed strategy on coastline erosion

HE Lagos State government has called for a renewed strategy in the management of coastline and marine issues in the country.

Commissioner for Environment Tunji Bello made the call yesterday at the Walk for Nature, which took place at the State House, Marina.

Bello said the theme: “Small Island Developing States: Focus on Coastal Areas”, offered another opportunity to focus on the environment and its sustainability.

He said Lagos was beset by a myriad of challenges, such as illegal dredging, illegal land reclamation and sand mining, which threatened sustainability of the coastlines, resulting in surges, flooding and negative environmental consequences.

Bello emphasised the government’s commitment to sustainable coastal area management.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Another strategy is the management of our wetlands by promoting the identification and mapping of wetlands, scattered all over the state.

He urged Lagosians to support the government by embracing the message of the Walk for Nature programme.

“When we walk for nature, we get closer to nature; we reduce vehicular emissions, which contribute to global warming; as more vehicles will stay off roads.

The commissioner said the government has created several walk ways on major roads to encourage walking and stem climate change.

He urged Lagosians to take advantage of the govern-

PDP crisis over, say Kashamu, Daniel From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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the corridors of power were callous and unconcerned about the plight of the masses.

He said: “They said they know where the girls are, but till now no rescue. It is a shame on the leadership in the country.

“The PDP government

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has said the crippling division that had bugged it in the last five years is over.

It said the party was united and formidable enough to contest next year’s election.

The party leaders - Bayo Dayo, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye, Prince Buruji Kashamu and others- said this yesterday at a mega rally to welcome former Governor Gbenga Daniel and his followers back to the party.

Kashamu, who chairs the Organising and Mobilisation Committee in the Southwest, said PDP was large enough to accommodate the returnees.

He said: “I urged members to stay united for 2015. I assure you all that the umbrella is big enough to accommodate all of us. We shall ensure fairness, justice and sincerity in all our dealings. I expect same from all stakeholders. The party belongs to us all.

“For me, today’s event marks another milestone in our party’s history. The PDP is waxing stronger by the day. The people are waiting for the PDP. “We can no longer afford to wait and waste our time fighting. Let us come together and solidify this union.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. United we stand; divided we fall.

“Let the message go from here and now that Ogun PDP is back, there is no stopping us.”

“At the rally were former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Ms. Lola Abiola - Edewor former Deputy Governor Salmot Badru.

ment’s magnanimity by making effective use of the walkways as part of their contributions to curb global warming.

“We should also engage in exercising, either within our immediate environment or register with clubs to keep fit.”

An environmentalist, Philip Asiodu, who is also the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) president, said small island states were more prone to the damaging effects of a warming planet than those in the hinterland.

“The impact of a rising sea level means loss of lives and

properties for many people living on small islands.

“The importance of Lagos as a coastal city and as the economic nerve centre of the most populous country in Africa makes it imperative to pay attention to any potential threat.

“All actions aimed at sensitising the populace to the dangers of climate change are parts of the strategy in mitigating the damaging consequences.”

Special Adviser on the Environment Taofeek Folami, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the administration was committed to a sustainable coastal area management.

Mimiko: no one can force me out From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said no individual can force him out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor said his defection was not to create crisis or divide the party.

Mimiko said: “I have not come to the PDP to cause or create any crisis, but I have come to the party to add value to it.”

The governor spoke when he addressed youth leaders led by the PDP national youth leader, Abdulahi Maibasira.

He said his membership would assist the party in future elections.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS 30,000 for convention From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HIRTY thousand delegates from Oyo, Osun and Ogun states will converge on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as the regional convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses resumes this weekend.

The convention, which is being held in 30 cities, started last month and will continue till January.

The convention’s spokesman, Gideon B. Alli, said an estimated 30,000 delegates will come to the Ibadan Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ifatumo village on Ibadan/Iwo Road. " People of many faiths pray for God's kingdom. The convention will explain what that kingdom is and how it can be a positive influence in our lives. There will be a key note address on Friday, which will discuss how that kingdom is benefiting people today", he said.

He said this year, Nigeria would host 271 conventions in 30 cities and there are over 7,900,000 witnesses in hundreds of congregations.

Man dies as Customs officers storm Saki

Ebola: Lagos APC hails govt

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MIDDLE-AGED man has been killed in Saki, Oke Ogun, Oyo State, when Nigeria Customs Services (NSC) officers invaded Isale Adeen in the town and confiscated suspected contraband.

The officials shot into the air to arrest some suspected smugglers . A bullet hit the man, identified as Idowu.

He was said to have been buried, according to Islamic rites. Four others were said to have been injured in the fracas.

The officers were said to have discovered a warehouse, where suspected

•Residents in fear

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

banned goods such as rice and other products were hidden.

It was learnt that 10 Hilux vehicles and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were stationed around the area to prevent a reprisal.

Residents said owing to the tension, they could not move out freely.

A resident said: “The presence of the Customs officers is worrisome. The sporadic shooting and its effect was another. I learnt

the officials suspected a warehouse they came to raid.

“We are not saying they should not raid. It is their legitimate role, but they should do so with peoples’ rights in mind. They can impound and arrest, but not shoot and kill.

“Smuggling is bad, but the problem many people here are facing is that everybody is now a smuggler.

“If my relatives in Ogbomoso or Oyo ask me to buy rice and bring for them, and it is seen in my

car, I would be seen as a smuggler. That should not be the case.

“Everyone has rights under the law but with this invasion, the rights of many people here have been violated.

“This is an agrarian community. Many farmers are afraid to go to their farms.

If the government makes provision for planting of rice in large scale, many of our youths would be meaningfully engaged and the issue of smuggling would be minimised,” he said.

No Customs official could be reached for comments.

Oyo PDP aspirant gets Oke Ogun support

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HE aspiration of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has received a boost in Oke Ogun.

Makinde’s Omi Titun campaign team was received by some PDP leaders in Irepo/ Oorelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency.

He was described as “the only aspirant without blemish and the one who revived the party in Oyo State after the 2011 election loss”.

At the reception were former PDP Vice Chairman Yakubu Oladoja; Sunday Alabi; J.S. Amodu, Musiru Somope and chairmen in Irepo and Olorunsogo local governments Saliu Adegoke and Oladele Saminu.

Amodu said Makinde helped the party when morale was low after the 2011 election.

Alabi praised the aspirant for helping the party, despite never holding a political office.

Makinde told the leaders that there was need for unity, saying with the party’s ticket, he would be able to deliver the state to the PDP. “I assure you and the people that positive change is just around the corner.

“The people deserve good governance and that is what I promise if I am elected,” he said.

The aspirant also visited the Iba of Kisi, Oba Moshood Aweda Lawal and the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Emmanuel Oyekan Oyebisi.

Lawal described Makinde as an Omoluabi; Oyebisi said he was the first aspirant to visit him.

On Makinde’s entourage were a former PDP Chairman, Michael Adegbite; former Commissioner for Works Mike Akinfenwa; former Speaker of the House of Assembly Kehinde Ayoola; Muili Yusuf and a former lawmaker, Ramota Okemakinde.

•From left: The widower,Vincent Oyo; daughter Mrs. Okiemute Abudiore, son-in-law Tolu ; daughter-in-law Nkem and son Otome at an afternoon of songs and tributes in honour of the late Mrs Oluremi Oyo at the NAN Media Centre, Iganmu, Lagos Mainland...yesterday.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA.

Fayose to revive Ekiti’s ‘moribund’ education

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KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has promised to revive education in the state. He spoke yesterday at the second convocation of the Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti.

The governor breached academic protocol when he announced the best graduating student, Miss Oluwatosin Joy Ogunbusola, at the end of his speech.

The best graduating student is usually announced either by the registrar or any high ranking university official.

The breach, nonetheless, turned out as a surprise to guests and the young valedictorian as the governor gave her N1million cheque, in a gesture which he described as the beginning of a revival of education, which Ekiti State is reputed for.

Fayose said: “At my inauguration last week, I mentioned education as one of the six cardinal objectives of my administration. It is because of our edge in education that our state was named: ‘Fountain of Knowledge’.

“Though this has declined over the years, my administration will ensure we revive that culture and restore education to its pride of place in Ekiti State.”

He praised Aare Babalola for creating a world-class institution and growing young leaders who would address Nigeria’s challenges.

The governor promised that the administration would

• ABUAD holds second convocation

By Adegunle Olugbamila

work with ABUAD through the State University (EKSU).

Babalola said October 21 was a significant day in his life.

His words: “I have observed that October 21 has a lot to do with my destiny. It has always been a good day in my life.

Any day, I have a judgment to be delivered and it falls on that day, I know I’ll win the case.

“I want to specially thank you (parents and guardians) for believing in me and for choosing ABUAD, which was only a year old of the 136 older universities in this country four years ago.

“You believed that ABUAD would provide quality education without any disruption in the academic calendar. You were right! There is no extra week, day, hour or minute.

“This is why so many students chose ABUAD as their university of first choice.

ABUAD, which is only four years old, came second of 50 private universities.

The founder said his foray into university education had opened his eyes to the realisation that people were inimical to change.

Babalola said this had not dampened his spirit, noting that the university management remains relentless in its crusade to ensure the right culture was inculcated.

In the last one year, he said the university had increased its manpower from 750 to 1500;

students’ enrolment leapt from 2000 to 3, 750.

This, the legal luminary added, was in addition to the multimillion naira Talent Discovery Centre with over 29 vocations and the five-star Guest House, valued at N2.5 billion.

He urged guests to visit the university farm, which he described as a shining example of how internally generated revenue could be initiated and sustained by institutions.

Babalola expressed happiness that the university scored 100 per cent accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and was the first university to secure full accreditation in Medicine in just one visit.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Michael Ajisafe said 334 graduated. Ajisafe said 47 (37 women and 10 men) had first

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class.

One hundred and twenty eight, and another 113 got second class upper and second class lower degrees; 16 made third class.

Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and ViceChairman Julius Berger Nigeria Plc Heinz Stockause were given honorary Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

A United States Specialist Consultant Dr Ann Coxon and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe, who delivered the convocation lecture, were given honorary Doctor of Sciences.

At the event were the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi, the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Akinbolade, former University of Lagos Registrar Rotimi Shodimu, Gowon’s wife Victoria and NUC representative Oluwole Olaoye.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has hailed the government for the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The party said Lagos showed leadership in tackling the disease, which led to its successful containment in Nigeria.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the APC said: “We note that Nigeria is gloating over the successful containment of Ebola virus.

“We note that some people and groups are positioning themselves for the accolades for this feat.

“But what is not in doubt is that the Lagos State government, through its health ministry and workers set the pace for the control of the virus.

“We note that before any other person or sector could react, Lagos had mapped out strategies for the control of the disease, set out facilities for the treatment and quarantine of victims.

“As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares Nigeria Ebola free, it is proper that we salute the very dedicated pace setting role the Babatunde Fashola administration played in achieving this feat.

“It is right to say that had the dreaded disease berthed elsewhere, Nigeria would have been grappling with an unmitigated disaster today.

“Lagos APC salutes the Lagos State government for its positive roles in rescuing Nigeria from perdition.

“We note that what passes off as the Nigerian economy today is driven by the state’s huge economy, which is the fifth largest in Africa.

“We note that Lagos remains the life wire of the country and all these were because of the purposeful administrations that have ruled Lagos since 1999.

“These have raised Lagos from a run-down slum to a beautiful and functional mega city, one of the few in the world.

“While we acknowledge the ancillary roles of several other sectors, including the Federal Government, in the battle for the containment of Ebola, we insist that Lagos set the pace and led the battle for the defeat of Ebola.

“We salute the Lagos State government for its purposeful leadership on this and other sectors of governance.

“We urge Nigerians to appreciate the good works of the Fashola administration as we celebrate the declaration of Nigeria as an Ebola-free country.”

Oyo bans street trading

HE Oyo State government has banned street trading, the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on the Molete fire, Gbade Lana, has said.

Lana, who is also the Commissioner for Information, said the government has set up a committee to that effect.

The committee, headed by the Commissioner for Information, comprises three other commissioners- Trade, Investment and Cooperatives; Environment and Habitat and Physical Planning and Urban Development.

He said: “Henceforth, street trading by anyone will be met with the appropriate sanctions.

“I appeal to residents to cooperate with the government by obeying the directive.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

“Similarly, my appeal goes to the opposition not to take political advantage of this administration’s genuine love for people.

“The committee will build consensus between the government and market leaders to ensure that the law is obeyed. The committee will establish a database of traders as it will assist government to plan effectively for their accommodation.

“The committee will establish an expanded consultative forum, consisting of local government chairmen, market leaders, security agencies, government officials and other stakeholders.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS PMAN seeks to liberalise collective administration

Fayose slams Ekiti Govt House’s opulence •’It’s a befitting edifice’

By Joseph Jibueze

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KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has again

criticised the Government House built by ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The Ayoba House is one of the legacy projects of the administration, which was inaugurated by Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka.

Fayose's Special Assistant on Information and social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, described the project as an act of insensitivity to the plight of Ekiti people.

He told reporters in AdoEkiti that no progressiveminded Ekiti man would be happy with the luxury provided with the N3.3billion borrowed fund.

Olayinka, said Fayose "would have preferred to sell off the property and use the fund to provide basic amenities and employment opportunities for the people.

He said if he had won a second term, Fayemi was planning to buy a helicopter adding that; "the plan was for Fayemi to run government from the comfort of OkeAyoba Government House and move from there to anywhere he wanted without the people seeing him. That's also the reason he (Fayemi) refused to renovate the Governor's Office, leaving it in a state of disrepair because he knew that he was not going to use the office during his second term."

"Also, contract for the maintenance of the property was already awarded for N150m per annum."

"People should ask the outgone governor what was really wrong with the abandoned governor's lodge used by his (Fayemi) predecessors?

"Shouldn't such funds expended on the hilltop edifice have been used to resuscitate the moribund textile factory in Ado-Ekiti that was turned to lock-up shops to provide employment for our teeming unemployed youths?

"Also, was Fayemi living in that manner of opulence before he became governor?

Was he sleeping on a bodymassaging bed and bathing in an electric controlled Jacuzzi?

But Fayemi's media aide, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said: "It sounds silly and more of comedy of errors. I have gone on a tour of that place and I don't think I have seen such.

"I don't know where they got their figure from; it sounds absurd. I will advise them to stop this theatre of the absurd, government is a serious business and I am appealing to them not to reduce it to a joke or a circus.

They are turning Ekiti into a circus show and they should stop it. It is childish and puerile for them to come up with such figures. There is nothing ostentatious about that. The lodge is there as property of state. Whether Governor Fayose stays in it or not, it is his cup of tea.

"The Ayoba Villa is a legacy project. The ex-governor didn't go with the house to Isan-Ekiti; it is for the state and not about personal aggrandisement. It is a befitting one for the state. Go to other states and see their governors' lodges, befitting."

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•Imo State Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere helping a child during the launch of the 2014 Menafrivac, Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) Campaign at Ngor-Okpala Local Government headquarters, Umuneke, ...yesterday

APGA has derailed, says Obi

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ORMER Anambra State Governor Peter Obi decried yesterday the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a derailed party.

He was reacting to the expression of disappointment

by Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka OdimegwuOjokwu, following his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-governor, who noted that Mrs. Ojukwu's comment must be taken seriously, because she is not a frivolous person, however, said APGA has turned to an empty shell without an inner core of shared values.

Reassuring his followers of his commitment to his cause and principles despite joining the PDP, Obi said he kept his promise to Ojukwu by finishing as an APGA governor and enthroning another

•Ex-governor replies Bianca Ojukwu

By Precious Igbonwelundu

APGA government.

He said: "Despite all overtures for me to leave APGA when I was the governor, I did not give in, but served out my term on APGA's platform and handed over to an APGA governor."

According to Obi, his reply to Bianca would be the last on his defection to enable him channel his time and energy with well-meaning Igbo for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the place of Ndigbo in the nation's politics.

Referring to Ojukwu's criticisms when he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), instead of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Obi said he has moved out of a party he considers "derailed"

to a place where his contributions towards proper representation of the Igbo "will have the level of impact that will make Ikemba rejoice in his grave."

He said: "Of all those who have spoken, and who continue to speak on the issue of my leaving APGA, only Bianca spoke with sincerity…I want to have it on record that Bianca was right when she reported my exchange with Ikemba when he called and asked whether I would leave APGA, after the incident in Abia State.

"I wish to reiterate that I am still loyal to our great leader, in terms of what serves the interests of our people and the country. Everyone knows that APGA is not what it used to be.

"My assurance to our great

leader did not imply that I would be loyal to a platform that some people have resolved to turn into an empty shell without an inner core of shared values. I remain faithful to those values and principles our great leader asked me to stand for and defend."

Obi noted that he had seen enough violation of what APGA stood for, as such, "I cannot continue to stay in a place, which has departed from the original cause and where clearly I was not wanted."

The former governor said Mrs. Ojukwu would later be in a position to judge the propriety or otherwise of recent developments in the party, adding that time would judge "our actions accordingly."

Group to govt: revisit Haliburton, Malabo, Nigeria, a reform that will CIVIL Society OrganiSiemens scandal check abuse of office and corsation under the auspic

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es of the citizens Arise Movement of Nigeria, has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to revisit the Halliburton, Malabo and Siemens scandal or face a mass protest.

Addressing reporters after a protest march at the a Eagle Square, leader of the group, Dino Melaye also said that the group should immediately declare the production and sales capacity of the nation’s crude oil per day.

The protesters carried placard with various inscriptions some which reads “Terrorism has no political party save us, Stop insurgency now, Goodluck stop secret meeting with Boko haram, Malabo oil deL subsidy thieves20 billon dollars, Rescue our Chibok girls now enough of corruption”, among others.

Melaye also asked the government to be transparent in the production and sale of the nation’s crude oil and wage total war on illegal oil bunkering and illegal refineries.

The former Member of the House of Representatives wants the government to adequately mobilised and encourage the military to go full

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

blast and defend the nation against insurgency and recapture very inch of Nigerian territory occupied by the insurgents.

He said further that the federal government should do everything possible to ensure that the abducted school girls from Chibok are reunited with their families while demonstrating total commitment to free, fair and credible electoral process leading to the 2015 elections.

Condemning what he called commercialisation and monetisation if the nation’s Justice system, the group, according to Melaye demand a reform of the justice to be a system of

equity that conform to the Nigerian constitution and the rule of law.

They also “demand that the federal government take seriously, gone issue of job creation and combat unemployment that is responsible for the social malaise bedeviling the nation such as insurgency, kidnapping, drug abuse, human trafficking among others.

“We recommend a Unicameral legislature for gone National Assembly as synergy Bicameral legislature presently practiced is expensive, time wasting, cumbersome and bogus. We demand for civil service reform and restoration if the middle class in

ruption.

“We demand for an agricultural revolution for economic integration and social reliance as well as qualitative, accessible and comprehensive health care delivery system which will discourage medical tourism. There should be a comprehensive health insurance scheme for all Nigerians.

“We demand that the federal government create a social security system that takes care of indigents, the aged, physically and mentally challenged citizens as well as affordable and stable power supply to all Nigerians and transparency in the generation, transmission and distribution of power”.

Enugu East people buy form for Chime’s ex-aide

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NUGU East people stormed yesterday the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to buy senatorial nomination form for the former Chief of Staff, Enugu Government House, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo.

Led by Deputy Governor Rev. Ifeanyi Nwonye and the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State chapter, Mr. Cornelius Nnaji, the people assembled at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, from where they trekked five kilometres to the party house.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

They formed a carnival train with five long open trailers, carrying dancing troupes and orchestras.

There was gridlock jam on three of the major roads in the Enugu metropolis -Ogui Road, Okpara Avenue and Abakaliki Road, as Nwobodo’s supporters danced and sang in her praise.

Traders joined the supporters in carrying the woman’s posters.

HE Performing Musicians' Employers' Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has urged President Goodluick Jonathan and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to intervene to ensure a liberalisation of the collective administration in the country.

Its Caretaker Committee chairman Kevin Gabriel said the monopoly in royalty management was detrimental to the entertainment industry.

PMAN said it engaged the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on the issue but without success, nor were its letters replied.

"The forced monopoly in the copyright administrative system in Nigeria is killing entertainment business even more than piracy.

We have demanded for audience but PMAN has not received any response or action on its requests from NCC," he said.

PMAN said after an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives, the lawmakers directed NCC to immediately end the monopoly and approve the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) as a collecting society, which is yet to be complied with.

Governor names Chief of Staff From Chris Oji, Enugu

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CHIEF of Staff to replace Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo has been appointed by Governor Sullivan Chime.

He is Mr. Victor Nnanna Atuonwu.

Chime approved the appointment of Atuonwu, who hails from Umuahia in Abia State, following the resignation of Mrs. Nwobodo to contest for a senatorial ticket.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. P. A. Okolo, said the appointment is with immediate effect.

Newswatch files appeal

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EWSWATCH Communications has filed a Notice of Appeal before the High Court against the judgment of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The court declared the sale of the majority shareholding in Newswatch invalid, alleging various grounds of misdirection in facts and law.

This is as the Registrar of the Federal High Court issued the Civil Form 7 of the Federal High Court, being summons to the parties, for the compilation of record of proceedings for transmission to the Court of Appeal this Friday.

According to Newswatch's Notice of Appeal, the trial court took the case outside the pleadings of the parties.

The notice states that the particulars of misdirection include the failure of the trial judge to recognise the payment of N510 million made by the core investor to the company.

The Notice of Appeal also noted that there were sufficient evidence in Page 13 of the offering memorandum admitted before the court that the Newswatch Communications was running at a loss of N362 million under Mr. Ray Ekpu as the then Chief Executive Officer and wondered why the Court awarded damages for business that was running at a loss!

The appeal is seeking, among others, that the judgment delivered by Justice Buba should be set aside.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS Ex-Akwa Ibom SSG for governor From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

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HE former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Udom Emmanuel, has declared his intention to run for the 2015 governorship primaries on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Udom made the declaration yesterday before party’s faithful at the Uyo Township Stadium, where he promised to create wealth for the people, should he be elected.

The former SSG, who only resigned last Monday, praised Governor Godswill Akpabio for providing the required leadership.

Udom, who said he would focus on industralisation, also promised to create wealth for women and youths.

His words: “It is time to raise the bars of economic development. I humbly present myself as a humble servant before you.”

The governorship aspirant also said he would promote trade, commerce and tourism through a sustainable public private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

He added that his background as a banker and a chartered accountant had prepared him for the task ahead.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and the state’s former Military Governor, Idongesit Nkanga, urged youths to take responsibility for themselves since the world is moving from analogue to digital era.

Nkanga said: “In the past, what we used to see was politics of ethnicity, but ethnicity cannot solve today’s problem. For justice, Eket Senatorial District must produce the next governor. The only way Udom can succeed is to work with the generality of Akwa Ibom people.

“I want the youth to take responsibility, because the time has come. I want them to know that every generation has a history and nobody will write your history for you. This is a digital world. We are moving from analogue to digital.”

He said the PDP would not mince words over zoning and rotation, adding that “with Udom coming from Eket Senatorial District, you are eminently qualified. If anybody coming from another district is also contesting, that means the person is not respecting the party.”

Orubebe picks Delta PDP form From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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HE list of aspirants for the Delta State Government House increased yesterday as the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, picked the expression of interest form.

Orubebe is gunning for the governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He assured the people that if elected, he would build a state of equal opportunities for all Deltans.

Shortly after picking the form, the former minister headed straight to the Living Faith Church, Jahi, Abuja, “for one hour with the Lord,” where he praised and thanked God. He said the essence was to commit the new journey to God, who has given him backing.

Quoting from the Book of Psalms, 22 verse 27, Orubebe said: “I cannot go to another place than here and thank my father for another journey.”

He told his supporters, who accompanied him to the church service, that his coming into politics was not by accident as God told him back in 1987 that his place was in politics.

The former minister, who was then working in a private firm as export manager, said he resigned to follow the divine direction and since 1990, he had never failed in all his endeavours in politics.

Speaking earlier after collecting the form, Orubebe told reporters that he was going to Government House to add value to what the previous administrations had put in place.

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Police find kidnap victim’s grave in Port Harcourt

HE police in River State have discovered the grave, where a kidnap victim, Emeka Paulinus Ajukwara, was buried at Rumuokoro, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Police spokeman Ahmad K. Mohammad broke the news in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He explained that Ajukwara was abducted by unknown gunmen from his Eliozu residence last August. He later died and was buried by his abductors in a shallow grave at Rumuokoro.

Three members of the group that kidnapped and killed the victim Hassan Adamu, Abbas Musa and Musa Mohadiyi - have been arrested and others are being trailed.

The spokesman said the suspects had confessed to the crime and identified the grave, where the body was

•15 robbery, 13 kidnap suspects held From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

lowered.

Mohammed added that another female victim, Chidinma Eke, who was abducted by another gang, had been rescued and re-united with her family.

Two suspects, Philip Efe and Maxwell Onogarigbo, have been arrested for the crime.

On how Ajukwara was kidnapped, the spokesman said: “On October 10, 2014, two suspected kidnappers, namely Hassan Adamu and Musa Mohadiyi, who kidnapped Ajukwara on September 21, 2014, were arrested

and their victim’s vehicle, with registration No. YEN 348 CO, recovered from them.

“On interrogation, the suspects confirmed killing and burying their victim. Abbas Musa, another member of the gang, was also picked while the grave of their victim located. A locallymade pistol was recovered from them.

In another incident, the spokesman said on October 3, 2014, a gang of suspected kidnappers called Samuel Eke and informed him that they overheard another gang plotting to kidnap him.

The gang requested that Eke pays them N1 million for stopping the

planned kidnap.

The gang told him the location, where he should drop the money for them.

“The three persons - Asonye Obi, ThankGod Ayebatari and Raphael Nwankwo - were arrested by the police after picking the money,” the police spokesman stated.

He added that Mrs. Chidinma Eke, who was kidnapped by gunmen in her car on October 7, was rescued unhurt same day by the police, following a quick response to a distress call.

Two arrests were made in connection with the crime.

Fifteen robbery suspects and 13 kidnap suspects, according to him, were arrested between October 1 to 15, while seven stolen vehicles, seven different kinds of firearms and 46 ammunition were equally recovered.

•Erue (second left) presenting governorship and expression of intent forms to Emerhor. With them are: Deputy Chairman Dr. Cyril Ogodo (second right), , Assistant Organising Secretary Mr. Edward Ofomana and Financial Secretary Mr. Ebiakpo Ezebri and others

Delta’s destiny must be reclaimed, says APC’s aspirant

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ELTA State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Party (APC), Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has stressed the need for Deltans to reclaim their destiny from the control of a few, who had been ruling the state.

The governorship hopeful, who spoke last Monday at the state APC secretariat in Asaba, noted that the party was ready to face the election, adding that it possessed the required

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri and Okungbowa Aiwere, Asaba

machinery to reorder Delta for higher development.

Emerhor, who was at the party’s office to collect the expression of interest and governorship forms, said the state was due for change.

“You know I came here some days ago to declare my intention to run for the governorship. Now, I have just bought my form and we are set to

bring a change.

“Some few persons are the ones dictating the destiny of Deltans. We are out to change that order and let Deltans decide their destiny,” the governorship aspirant said.

Emerhor urged the people to take their destiny in their hands and vote APC, insisting that Delta had been misruled and needed a proven expert like him.

The state APC Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, while presenting the forms

to Emerhor, said the party was ready for the Saturday’s council elections, urging eligible voters in the state’s 25 councils to troop out to vote.

“The APC is sure of victory and will put smiles on the faces of Deltans. We are set for the 2015 general elections and our candidates have started picking their forms.

“The APC is ready for the Saturday’s local government elections. I urge all to come out and vote APC”, Erue said.

I am asking the government to come to my aid. The doctor called to tell me that some of the babies need to be in incubator because their weight is not up to what it is supposed to be and will be possibly transferred to the Abia State General Hospital (ABSUTH) that has the incubating facility and that is what we are running around for.

“It is not easy to train one and now that they are seven with the addition of these four. So, I want the government and good-spirited individuals to come to our help so that we can leave

the hospital as soon as possible and for the children to get the necessary medical treatment,” Mbanwuehula said.

The mother of the quadruplet added: “The scan has it that they were four. I was very shocked, but my husband assured me that nothing is going to happen to them that I will deliver at the appropriate time and now God has done it in His appointed time. I am begging government and the people that are touched by our situation to come and help us.”

Mother of three delivered of quadruplets in Aba

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HEY wanted a girl child – to complement their three boys.

They got more than they bargained for; quadruplets of two boys and two girls. Now, they have five boys and two girls. But there is a dilemma; Mr and Mrs Chima Mbanwuehula need help to pay the about N1.5million bill charged by St. Anthony’s Hospital, Etche Road, Aba, Abia State.

Mrs. Jane Mbanwuehula gave birth to the quadruplet in the early hours of Monday after a medical team at the hospital operated on her.

According to sources at the hospital, the babies are healthy.

“The babies were delivered at 35weeks instead of the 38-40 weeks term period. Their weights are not the same and that is why they needed to be transferred to another hospital with incubating facilities where they will be kept and closely monitored until their maturity stage. Apart from that, the babies are doing well and there were no complications or health challenges,” said a source.

•The quadruplets...yesterday

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba Mr. Mbanwuchula and wife, in separate interviews with The Nation, thanked God for a successful surgery and appealed to government, good spirited individuals and the general public to come to their aid.

“This is my first time of seeing this kind of blessing. I used to hear or read about it in newspapers, but now it has become a reality in my own case. I have three boys already and while we are looking for a female child, four came.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS 10,000 INEC workers for CVR in Kano

Mass wedding: Panel screens 3,000 applicants

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HE Gombe State Committee on Mass Wedding has screened 3,000 applicants for the second batch of the wedding.

The committee’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar, spoke with the News Agency (NAN).

Abubakar said the committee was mandated to screen applicants for pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis, among others.

He hailed the state government for introducing the programme, which assists the less privileged to get married.

According to him, the scheme would reduce the spread of HIV/AIDs. Abubakar said successful applicants would be provided with dowry, foodstuff, clothes, furniture and kitchen utensils.

Seven hundred and twenty couples were married in the first batch of the programme in April.

They included 612 Muslim divorcees (Zawarawa), 76 Muslim Spinsters and 32 nonMuslims.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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•Applicants waiting to be screened...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Focus on policy-making, Ahmed tells minister

K

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged the Minister for National Planning, Dr Abubakar Suleiman, to formulate policies that will improve the health and education sectors and shun politicking.

Ahmed was reacting to Suleiman’s comment that Kwara workers were the least paid in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, at his monthly interactive programme with reporters, tagged: “The Governor Explains”, Ahmed said: “The minister should be more concerned with serious issues; planning is a serious business. Nigeria has suffered a lot of policy somersaults, especially in education and health care delivery. So anybody saddled with the responsibility of managing the Ministry of Planning should not have time for politicking. You must sit down and articulate

•’I’ll boost electricity, if re-elected’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

a short, medium and longterm policy formulation and implementation platform for Nigeria.

“There is a huge deficit in infrastructure. In the last 10 years, there has been no road project in Kwara by the Federal Government. The AjaseIpo-Offa road is bad; KaiamaKishi road is bad; Ilesha-Baruba road is bad. We have been spending our little resources on roads. Rather than team up with other people at the federal level to put pressure on the Federal Government to fix its roads, the minister is asking the state to spend its resources on federal roads.

We don’t have problems rehabilitating them but they are yet to pay us back for the ones we have done.

• “We did the Ilesha-BarubaKosubosu road and the Fed-

eral Government still owes us about N3 billion for it. We don’t have the capacity to fix all state and federal roads. So, we are appealing to the Federal Government to repair these roads for the benefit of our people. On our part, we shall continue to rehabilitate roads. As soon as the rains subside, we will kick off the rehabilitation of the KaiamaKishi and Ilesha-Gwanara roads. These are all federal roads.

“The minister’s comments reflected some level of information gap in terms of how states access funds at the federal level. Kwara is one of the five states that receive the lowest federal allocation and the states he compared us with are in the top 15. Despite that, we were one of the first states to implement the N18,000 minimum wage.

“We are one of the states

where salary is paid when due. In other words, we have a pay day. We have not dragged the welfare of workers into politicking. It is serious business. Their welfare must be taken seriously and that was why we got car loans for civil servants, because we know they desire to be mobile. The loan obtained from the commercial bank was about N3 billion. We also pay civil servants consolidated salary, which includes leave bonus.

“If I get another term in office, I will embark on accelerated development of the state; especially in terms of job creation for our youths. The youth are increasing in number and the system has not been able to put up a strong platform to reduce unemployment. Another key area is the development of infrastructure. There will be more

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) scheduled for October 24 to 31.

President-General of the Tiv Cultural and Social Association James Nungwa told reporters in Jalingo that it would be risky to carry out the exercises in view of the insecurity in Southern and Central Taraba, where many residents have fled their homes.

He said the homes of some of the displaced persons were being occupied by their attackers.

Nungwa said: “I was shocked when INEC said security agencies, including the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS), said relative peace has returned to the affected areas in Taraba and that it has fixed October 24 to 26 for the issuance of PVCs and October 27 to 31 for CVR. “Peace has not returned, particularly to Bali, Gassol, Ibi, Gashaka and Wukari local government areas. Thou-

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

sands of our displaced people are registered voters in various wards in the crisis areas and were issued temporary voter cards to exercise their franchise in the 2011 general elections.

“It is sad that most of the people have been displaced and their property destroyed. In Bali and Gassol, for instance, some people who were not residents and registered voters presently occupy the homes of our people, who are displaced.

“Attempts by our people to return to their homes have met stiff resistance by the invaders, who are still attacking and killing our people in the most gruesome manner.

Our people, who are the original inhabitants and registered voters, are taking refuge in camps within and outside the state.

“Contrary to the report that relative peace has returned and the exercises can go on as planned, the places are not yet safe for our people to return. We are also afraid that given the insecu-

such exercises, which require the gathering of defenceless civilians, thereby risking their lives.

“Any attempt to conduct the exercise as scheduled will disenfranchise most of our people and we will stop at nothing to challenge the infringement on our rights.

“We urge the government to live up to its responsibility and restore permanent peace, not relative peace, in the areas and chase the illegal occupants out of our homes.

“We call on INEC to temporarily suspend the exercises in Wukari, Ibi, Gassol, Gashaka and Bali, until normalcy returns. Just two days ago, there was an attack on Sondi and Gidinwaya in Wukari Local Government, where 25 persons were killed and their homes set ablaze.

“Fulani herdsmen are still attacking Tiv communities in Wukari, Ibi, Gassol, Bali, Gashaka and Donga local government areas, killing hundreds of people, destroying property, food stuff and displacing hundreds of thousands.”

Sankera backs Gemade From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts in Sankera, Benue State, have pledged their support for Senator Barnabas Gemade’s re-election bid.

Sankera comprises Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala local government areas.

The politicians lauded Gemade’s “wonderful performance as the representative of Benue Northeast Senatorial District”.

A statement by Gemade’s legislative aide, Bob Jija, said the stakeholders spoke during Gemade’s consultative visit to their areas.

At Ugba, headquarters of Logo Council, Jija said Mr Bemkor Ugbidye and Mr. Ajagu Bogbenda, who spoke for Ugondu and GaambeTiev, assured Gemade of their support.

Onolememen, transporters disagree on roads

Tiv urge suspension of voter card distribution in the affected areas, it is HE Tiv in Taraba State over killings rity not safe for INEC to carry out yesterday urged the

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roads linking communities, markets and good electricity, as we intend to set up an Independent Power Plant (IPP).

“Already, plans are on ground to get two sets of investors to drive energy in gas and solar. These are currently being worked on and, by the grace of God, in the next administration they will come to fruition and people will have access to additional power.

“Our education will definitely be improved as we will begin to see not only improved availability but improved accessibility. Ditto for healthcare delivery; we have exposed ourselves to the rest of the world where we attracted additional participants in our Community Health Insurance Scheme and this will translate into a minimum of one million people by 2018 accessing healthcare with N500 per person in Kwara State.”

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State is to deploy 10,000 adhoc workers in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Danyaya, told reporters in Kano yesterday that the distribution of PVC would hold from November 7 - 9 and the CVR from November 12 – 17.

Danyaya said arrangements had been concluded for the success of both exercises.

He said adhoc workers were recruited from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), INEC staff and tertiary institutions.

Registered voters are to collect their PVCs at the centres where they registered in 2011.

The CVR is for those who have turned 18 and those who registered but their names did not appear on the voter register.

From James Azania, Lokoja

•Onolememen

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INISTER of Works Mike Onolememen yesterday attributed the deplorable state of some federal roads to overload by transporters.

He spoke with reporters in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, after opening a “Stakeholder’s Conference” organised by the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

Onolememen said heavy duty trucks and overload overstretch roads.

He said his ministry was among those benefitting from the SURE-P, adding that key road and bridge projects were funded by SURE-P. Such projects include the Abuja/Abaji/Lokoja express-

way; Kano/Maiduguri expressway; Onitsha/Enugu/ Port Harcourt expressway; Benin/Ofosu/Ore/Sagamu expressway; rehabilitation/ expansion of the Lagos/ Ibadan expressway; rehabilitation of the Calabar/Ugep/ Katsina-Ala expressway; the Loko/Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa/Benue states and the 2nd Niger Bridge in Anambra/Delta states.

The minister said: “The importance of good roads in the socio-economic development of any nation cannot be overemphasised and Nigeria cannot be an exception. We are witnesses to the fact that prior to the intervention by the SURE-P, most of the ongoing projects of my ministry could not be completed on schedule due to funding challenges. This resulted in poor servicing of many roads, cost overrun on some projects due to variation in the price of materials and labour while some roads were completely abandoned.”

However, the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) countered the minister’s position.

NARTO’s National President Kassim Bataiya said: “We are always arguing with the government that we don’t overload. If you look at a trailer that is exceeding certain tonnes, the load is always separated from the axle, but most of the trailers are heavy duty trucks and have four axles, which the load rests upon, so it is not true that overload is the cause of bad roads.

“The problem is bad designs and poor construction. The ministry has to take statistics of vehicles plying the roads, take samples of the roads and know the nature of the roads for proper design. The government doesn’t understand that Nigerian roads are basically designed for smaller loaded vehicles. It has forgotten that 99 per cent of the petroleum that are supposed to be transported through pipelines are being transported through tankers by road.

“It has also forgotten that 99 per cent of agricultural produce, which ordinarily should be transported by rail, are being moved by road, so the road is over-used. So, the government cannot blame us for road collapse; it should be the opposite.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Suspected killers of Newswatch editor arrested

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PERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, have arrested four of the eight-man armed robbery gang that killed the deputy editor of Daily Newswatch, Mr Toyin Obadina, on February 1.

The journalist was shot dead in the Lucky Fibre Area of Ikorodu at about 1.30 am.

His body and vehicle were abandoned at the scene of the incident.

The four suspects are Adeshina Festus, 21; Babatunde Makinde, 25; Sunday Samuel, 22 and Ibrahim Adeokin, 22.

The two suspects now at large, according to police sources, are Ola Sheu and Omo Alhaja. The remaining two members of the gang were said to have been shot dead during an exchange of fire with the police in another operation.

Items recovered from the suspects are: two locally made single-barrel cut-tosize guns; 12 rounds of live cartridges; one Nissan Xterra Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked ISD 780 BJ, and a Toyota Yaris car marked AKD 701 CE. Parading the suspects yesterday, Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti said

By Ebele Boniface

their arrest came on the heels of a tip the command got about some armed robbers hiding in the Mile 12 area where they were planning to unleash terror on residents.

Based on the information, he said, “a team of crack detectives led by the officer in charge of SARS, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari, swung into action and burst the criminals’ hideout in the Ajelogo/Akanimodo area of Mile 12 during which the suspects were arrested.

A search conducted on the suspects, he said, led to the recovery of two locally made single-barrel short guns with 12 rounds of live cartridges.

Aderanti also said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to belonging to an eight-man gang of armed robbers that had been terrorising the state and its environs.

“They also confessed to being responsible for the killing of the owner of a Toyota Yaris Salon car marked AKD 701 CE which they snatched and later abandoned with the owner’s corpse at Lucky Fibre Area, Ikorodu on February 1, 2014 at about 1.30am and the victim was later discovered to be Mr. Toyin Obadina, Deputy Editor of Daily Newswatch newspa-

•The suspects ... yesterday

per,” Aderanti said.

The gang, the police chief said, used a Nissan Xterra SUV marked ISD 780 BJ, which it snatched from one Mr. Segun Afolabi to block and rob the late journalist before the gang’s leader, Oke, shot him dead.

Their confession, he said, led detectives to Ikorodu where Adesina Festus and Sunday Samuel (aka Junior Junior) were arrested. He said they confessed to the crime and other robbery operations in and outside Lagos.

Defending himself, Sun-

Police parade dogs for attacking child

A

T

•The dogs

man Yusuf, said only the owner of the dogs, Mr. Stanley Whisley, will be charged with assault. The court will decide the fate of

cles, which I converted for commercial use.”

Babatunde said: “Our intention was only to collect the man’s (Obadina’s) mobile set, but he was ‘dragging’ with Oke, hence Oke shot him.”

Ibrahim said he was in the car with Adesina when the police arrested him, adding that he did not participate in the operation that led to Obadina’s killing.

Adesina said he was inside their operational car when Oke shot the deputy editor, but confessed that he was the

one that blocked his car before he was shot dead.

Aderanti said that the arrest of Obadina’s killers “shows that you can only run when you commit crime but cannot hide from justice, especially within my command.”

He also said investigation was ongoing over the killing The Sun Director, Dimgba Igwe, by a hit-and-run driver. The Commissioner urged the public to give the command information that could lead to the arrest of the culprit.

‘Yes, I deal in banned narcotic’

By Ebele Boniface

HE Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Kayode Aderanti, yesterday paraded the two dogs, Gadaffi and Billy, which attacked a child who is now undergoing treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The dogs are being detained in the veterinary cell of the command.

The officer in charge of the Veterinary Department, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Us-

day said: “I was inside our operational vehicle when Oke and Benjamin, another member of our gang, went to meet the late editor in his car after we blocked him.

Oke was “dragging” with him over what I did not know before Oke shot him dead. We were driving two cars, Sienna and Toyota Camry, which we snatched from other victims. We used one of our cars to block him.

I am from Alaka Town in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. I am a transporter; I stole all my vehi-

the dogs later.

He advised dog owners to be careful with them to avoid incurring the wrath of the law.

21-year-old woman, Rashidat Shehu, yesterday pleaded guilty to dealing in Cannabis Sativa, a banned narcotic.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned her before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

She was arrested at Agbara in Lagos on July 1 with 800 grammes of the narcotic, which, according to the NDLEA, has an effect similar to cocaine’s.

The one-count charge, dated July 24, reads: “That you, Rashidat Shehu, female, 21-years-old, on or about July 1, 2014 at Abule-Ira in

By Joseph Jibueze

Agbara area of Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority, dealt in 800 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as marijuana, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroine, LSD, etc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

After pleading guilty, NDLEA’s counsel, Mr Orji Kalu sought to present the evidence against the accused so she could be convicted

and sentenced.

“When an accused person pleads guilty, your Lordship is enjoined procedurally to convict and sentence him accordingly,” he said.

However, Justice Abang said he would adjourn for sentencing because he had a meeting to attend.

Shehu’s lawyer, Mr N.B. Bakare, pointed out that the accused person had been in prison custody since she was arrested on July 1.

Kalu said Shehu was not arraigned earlier partly because the courts were on vacation.

Justice Abang adjourned till November 26 “for a review of the facts of the case.”

Man held for ‘raping’ minor

By Precious Igbonwelundu

F

OR allegedly defiling a minor, a 39-year-old man, Dunstan Ukaga, was yesterday arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Mainland.

The defendant, who claimed to be a freelance journalist, was alleged to have severally raped the 11year-old girl (names withheld) between April 24 and September 28 at his 311 Road, Block 2, Flat 6, Festac Town home.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Etim Nkankum told the court that the defendant had unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim, an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail by Magistrate A.A. Demi-Ajayi in N500,000 with two sureties.

The Magistrate ordered that N30,000 each be deposited in the Chief Registrar’s account by the sureties.

While adjourning the case till November 26, Mrs. Ajayi ordered that the case file be duplicated to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

•National Conscience Party (NCP) governorship candidate, Comrade Ayodele Akele; Guest Lecturer Mr Tunji Sotimirin and Chief Convener of Olokun Festival, Chief Gani Adams at the seminar held on the festival at LTV, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos ... on Monday.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

Life

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

FELABRATION 2014

Ubani is Face of Niger Delta – Page 17

Wash your hands to save your life – Page 49

•The late Fela

Artistic fumes from Art of Friendship – Page 49

All rise for Fela

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HEN some hundreds of admirers of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and fans of Afrobeat music trooped out last Saturday morning for a road carnival at Ikeja, Lagos,many thought it was a protest march.

The crowd of dancers and singers took off from the New Afrika Shrine at NERDC Road, Central Business District, Ikeja through

By Ovwe Medeme, Racheal Iruoje and Esther Chibueze

CELEBRATION Alausa, seat of Lagos State government, to Ojota, Maryland, Ikeja and Gbemisola, home of the maverick musician and New Afrika Shrine. The carnival that was to kick off by

– CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

7am did not flag off until 3pm lasted about three hours. It was part of this year’s Felabration- a parade of African culture at its best. A pageant of sorts, the carnival sets its trail alight with fancy colours, beautifully decorated cultural costumes, acrobatics and lovely choreographers.

As the carnival train traversed the city, residents of Lagos were reminded of the memorable long walk -from Tafawa

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

FELABRATION 2014

•Duke Amayo and the Positive Force Band

•Mischif

•Musicians on stage at New African Shrine

•Olamide thrilling the audience on Saturday night

•Continued from Page 13

Balewa Square, Lagos Island to Gbemisola in Ikeja -that trailed the burial of the late musician in August 1997.

The week-long celebration of cultural icon and Afrobeat maestro, FelaAnikulapoKuti and his enduring legacy as the annual Felabration took had stared penultimate Sunday with screening of a documentary, Finding Fela, at the New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja.

Expectedly, the annual celebration of the life and times of Fela, over the years has attracted high class musical acts from all over the world as well as from the local scene.

A festival of different genres of music, witnessed performances from artistes such as Oritsefemi, Wizkid, Tuface Idibia, Weird MC, Omo Baba, Wale, Olamide, Saeon, Duke Amayo, MC Bash and a host of others. These musicians kept the New Afrika Shrine alive with musical performances at different nights all through the week. However, the icing on the cake was the appearance of Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter, Don Carlos.

Currently showing in major cinemas across the country, Finding Fela is a documentary about the artiste’s life, music, social and political relevance. It portrays his journey into creating the Afrobeat genreof music which has transformed into a movement and using that forum to express his revolutionary political opinions against the dictatorial Nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s.

On Monday, October 13, organisers held a symposium which dwelt on the unification of the people of Nigeria, a topic of the dear to the late Fela as evidenced in the themes of most of his songs. Tagged The Amalgamation of the People of the Niger Area, the symposium, held at NECA House Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja which had Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili as keynote speaker. The discourse which was described as timely owing the centenary cel-

All rise for Fela •Creating a lasting legacywith Felabration CELEBRATION ebration and the challenges the country is currently facing also featured Prof Sophie Oluwole and Edward Emeka Keazor.It also had in attendance, individuals from the political, cultural and social circles.

As has become a culture, the effervescent followership the music icon built during his life time gathered for one week every year to celebrate their icon. This is further heightened with the concert which took place every night for the whole of the week.

Highpoint of the week was the carnival held on Saturday. A display of culture and tradition, the culture brought memories of Fela to the residents of Ikeja and its environs.

“Felabration is our annual festival of music and arts commemorating the life and times of Nigerian’s foremost musical icon, the late great Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti. As a music brand, it’s revered and highly influential.As the creator of Afrobeat, social critic, political activist and champion of the underprivileged as well as a philosopher of his own political ideologue, Fela is still today a hero to millions for his contributions to society.

The entire essence of Felabrationis to create a lasting legacy for Fela and all his struggles,” Essien stated.

He added that Fela, in his essence, should be better celebrated than he already is in our national annals. “Gradually we are getting there. A few years back, Fela was not as

celebrated as he is today but the case is different now. People now come from all over the world to celebrate him. There is even a documentary in his honour currently showing in the cinema. Perhaps soon, he will have a national holiday to his name,” according to Essien.

Born October 15 1938, FelaKuti was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political commentator. On 3 August 1997, his brother and former Minister of Health, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, stunned the nation by announcing his death a day earlier from Kaposi’s sarcoma which was brought on by AIDS. More than a million people attended Fela’s funeral at the site of the old Shrine compound. After his death, a new Africa Shrine was opened in a different section of Lagos under the supervision of his son Femi Kuti.

Every year Felabration features exciting line ups of artistes designed to whet the appetite of music lovers. The Felabration Week always runs through the week of October that includes the 15th ensuring that Fela’s posthumous birthday celebrations are part of the Festival, organisers reveal.

At the National Museum, Onikan Lagos, Leo Entertainment in collaboration with the National Museum, held an art exhibition and music concert between October 12 and 13. The exhibition featured portraits of the Abami Eda, which were collected from different artists who loved Fela. It was part of the celebration of the

life of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The musical concert and art exhibition was tagged The Fela You Don’t Know.

Looking at the art and listening to the music reminded the people who knew Fela and also show who does not know Fela, the type of person who Fela was while on earth.

According to the organizers, the event was to combine visual art with musical concert to show and tell different stories about the life of the legend as a talented musician.

The late Afrobeat legend who was a justice fighter using his music was seen as a political threat to the government when he was alive.

He spoke more on how to govern the community and was able to impact people’s ideology and belief through his songs.

The late Olufela Oludotun Ransom Kuti was born 15 October, 1938 in Abeokuta. He was a multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afro beat music genre, human right activist and political maverick, who was also good in various aspect of musical instruments, saxophone, vocal, keyboards, trumpet, guitar, drums. Fela Kuti had several labels which are Barclay/Polygram, MCA/Universal, EMI Nigeria and JVC. Fela was a first cousin to the Nigeria writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the first African to win a Nobel prize of literature. He (Fela Kuti) who also changed his middle name to Anikulapo (meaning He who carriers death in his pouch), said that his original middle name of Ransome was a slave name. Fela music was popular among the Nigeria publics and Africans in general. In fact, he made the decision to sing in pidgin English so that his music could be enjoyed by individuals all over African where the local languages spoken are very diverse and numerous.

The death of Fela in August 2, 1997 gave birth to the Felabration concert, a yearly event held by various organizations and individuals to celebrate the life of late Fela Kuti.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

LagosPhoto Festival: A global feast for change

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T all started four years ago with some committed photographers. Today, it has broken boundaries and assumed the toga of a catalyst for social change. On Saturday, the LagosPhoto Festival, which is the first international art festival of photography in the country, will open at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This year’s festival, which will run till November 26, will feature 40 photographers from 21 countries across Africa, Europe and America.

The month-long programme will feature exhibitions, workshops, artists’ presentations, discussions, screenings, and large- scale outdoor installations in congested public spaces in Lagos.

LagosPhoto aims at providing a platform for the development and education on contemporary photography in Africa by establishing mentorship and cross-cultural collaborations with local and international artists.

Other exhibition venues are Omenka Gallery; African Artists’ Foundation; Stranger Lagos; Goethe-Institut; Alliance Francaise, and Miliki. Outdoor exhibitions in Lagos include Muri Okunola Park (Victoria Island); Falomo Roundabout (Ikoyi); Beko Ransome Kuti Park (Antony); Awojobi Park (Onike); MKO Abiola Park (Ikeja), and Dolphin Park (Ikoyi).

LagosPhoto presents photography as it is embodied in the exploration of historical and contemporary issues, the promotion of social programmes, and the reclaiming of public spaces. This year’s theme, Staging Reality, Documenting Fiction, examines contemporary photographers working in Africa, who negotiate the boundaries and relationships between photography, beliefs, and truths. Incorporating conceptual and performative strategies that expand traditional photographic practice, many contemporary artists working on the continent move beyond the confines of the photojournalistic gaze.

At a sneak preview of the exhibits, the artists produce works that consider the complex social and political concerns that define a new Africa in the 21 Century, and they explore how the ubiquity of images plays a vital role in how reality is constructed and articulated.

Utilising genres such as staged narratives, performance, appropriation, self-portraiture, and still life, the artists push the temporal and spatial boundaries of the photographic medium. In doing so, Staging Reality, Documenting Fiction considers how the artists imagine various futures and charter fictive worlds, using photography as a catalyst to investigate the changing realities of Africa today.

The exhibiting photographers include Ade Adekola (Nigeria); Laurence Aëgerter (France); Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou (Benin); Jenevieve Aken (Nigeria); Seun Akisanmi (Nigeria); Aisha Augie-Kuta (Nigeria); Ricardo Cases (Spain); Edson Chagas (Angola); Kudzanai Chiurai (Zimbabwe); PierreChristophe Gam (France/Cameroon);

•Nwagbogu

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

PHOTOGRAPHY Angélica Dass (Brazil); Cristina de Middel (Spain); Delphine Fawundu (Sierra Leone/ USA); Glenna Gordon (USA); Hassan Hajjaj (Morocco); Jacqueline Hassink (The Netherlands); Nicolas Henry (France); Jan Hoek (The Netherlands); Sam Hopkins (UK/Kenya); Namsa Leuba (Switzerland/Guinea); Lowe Cape Town (South Africa) and Thomas Mailaender (France).

Others are Dillon Marsh (South Africa); Jide Odukoya (Nigeria); Abraham Oghobase (Nigeria); Karl Ohiri and Riikka Kassinen (UK & Finland); Bayo Omoboriowo (Nigeria); Zac Ové (UK/Trinidad); Augustin Rebetez (Switzerland); Viviane Sassen (The Netherlands); Mary Sibande (South Africa); Anoek Steketee and Eefje Blankevoort (The Netherlands); Sésu Tilley-Gyado (Nigeria); Bénédicte Vanderreyd (Belgium); Karine Versluis (The Netherlands); Lorenzo Vitturi (Italy) and Hans Wilschut (The Netherlands).

Through numerous collaborations, LagosPhoto continues to provide a platform for the improvement and progression of professional and emerging photographic talent in a comprehensive public programming initiative that includes workshops, artist presentations, and portfolio reviews facilitated by prominent local and international photographers.

The festival is proudly sponsored by the Eko Hotel & Suites and Etisalat, in partnership with World Press Photo and the Archive of Modern Conflict. Supporters include Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS), Lagos Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA); Lagos State Park; Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Lufthansa; Microsoft; Romarong; Pirelli; WINGS Magazine; PIXERS; Luxeria; Doculand; Pernod Ricard Nigeria; iREP; Universal Furniture; Goethe Institut; British Council, and Easy Taxi. LagosPhoto is additionally supported by the Ford Foundation.

•Rebetez’s work

•Sibande Mary’s work

Ubani is Face of Niger Delta

By Mercy Micheal

COMPETITION

•Ubani

U

YO, capital of Akwa Ibom State, stood still when some beautiful and delectable damsels from the nine states of the Niger Delta strutted the runway at Sheer Grace Arena, Uyo.

The event was the grand finale of the Face of Niger Delta Cultural Pageant Season III. Mr. Elisha Attai, Jennifer Eliogu, Joseph Benjamin and Yinka Nathan were saddled with the herculean task of selecting the best and the brightest of them, who would be most befitting of the crown.

Obed David and the Nollywood hopeful, Sedater, led guests and attendees through the programme for the event as comperes.

The girls, who were in camp for about two weeks, had undergone rigorous drills, such as cooking contests, leadership mentoring, talent contests, physical and mental fitness tests, among several others.

Cultural troupes from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states, the nine states of the oil rich Niger Delta region, took turns to thrill guests with their various brilliant and entertaining performances.

Some indigenous music and comedy acts like Icekyd, Unik Brothers, David Daniels, Sexy Johnny, Fadabasi, Sir James and General Odey gave good accounts of themselves, proving that the region was endowed with talented youths.

After the introductory outing of the contestants, singer Jodie of the Kuchi Kuchi fame, who hails from the Niger Delta, took to the stage. She held the audience spellbound for about 30 minutes with her eclectic performance.

The second outing was more tasking for the contestants, who were adorned in several royal traditional attires depicting women in authority from their respective states. They were made to explain, amidst cheers from the audience, the concept of their dressings and what each ornament signified.

Their third and final outing featured flowing elegant evening dresses fashioned out from popular Niger Delta fabrics, and this time, the mental and intellectual skills and abilities of the contestants were put to test by the judges through various brain teasing questions and a special presentation on the topic Towards the Niger Delta of our Dream.

While the tension heightened and the girls waited backstage for the announcement of the winner of the contest, petite, but dynamic Chidima Ekile took the audience through another electrifying musical performance.

She undoubtedly did a great job at dousing the tensed atmosphere.

Victoria Ubani, a 300-level student of Communication Arts at the University of Port

Harcourt emerged the Face of Niger Delta 2014. She is from Abia State. Ms Ekemini Umoren of Akwa Ibom State and Sharon Ozuru of Rivers State were first and second runners-up.

The winner was decorated by the Senior Manager of Youth, Culture, Sports and Women Affairs, NDDC Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Imabong while the key to a new Kia Rio 2014 car was presented to Ubani by the Special Assistant to the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Akwa Ibom on Youth and Culture, Mr. George Turner.

Ms. Ubani smiled home with N1 million cash prize and an undisclosed monthly salary package for the duration of her reign with a leadership training trip to Sun City, South Africa.

Turner, who represented his boss, Dan Abia, reiterated the commission’s commitment to supporting youth-oriented projects.

He congratulated the Kelly Godwin Attah led Gold House Production team for organising a world-class event with the capacity to unite the people and foster peaceful coexistence among them, while also showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The overjoyed beauty queen, who was overwhelmed and speechless, thanked the organisers amidst tears.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

18

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘Walk the right path for growth’ After the lull a few years ago, this year’s annual Sobe Day anniversary n Edo State attracted an unprecedented turnout of indigenes, who described the event as their own ‘Xmas’, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

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ALL it the biggest feast in the community in recent time, you are right. Call it their own ‘Xmas’ or new year celebration, you are not wrong. That is what Sobe Day celebration means to most sons and daughters of the community who travelled from far and near to savour the cultural feast which holds every last week of September to commemorate the merger of Sobe with Edo State in 1991.

The theme of this year’s Sobe Day anniversary was Democracy and Unity as Pivots of Sustainable Development.

The four-day event featured Christian crusade, football tournament, cultural performances, street carnival, homage to the traditional ruler, free medical checks led by Dr. Martins Momoh, and an all-night party.

As early as 8 am in the morning of Saturday, September 27, all the participating groups and clubs took turns to pay homage to the traditional ruler of Sobe, His Royal Highness, Anthony Ero Aleburu 1, The Odibiado of Sobe Land. By mid-day, the carnival train had traversed the major streets and roads of the community, dancing and singing. A few hours later, the various groups - cultural troupes, women and children - defied the down pour and trooped out in larger numbers to celebrate their rich cultural heritage.

From performing to singing, dancing and recital, the various groups thrilled the audience. Of the groups, the Ebira Cultural Troupe’s giant masquerader stood out as it was not only colourful, but dramatic in performances.

The venue of the event was St. Eugene’s’ Playground, Sobe, and it attracted dignitaries such as the Chairman of Owan-West Local Government Council, Barrister Godwin Aigbodion; his Vice, Reginald Okun; His Royal Highness, Anthony Ero Aleburu 1, The Odibiado of Sobe Land; members of the Council of Chiefs; Bishop Pandit Sunday Oburekin; Special Senior Apostle Funso Oshoro; the interim Chairman, Sobe Development Association; Mr. Francis Uwaifo among other dignitaries.

Aigbodion, who was accompanied by his Vice, Honourable Reginald Okun, the Councilor representing Sobe (Ward Eleven), Honourable Jimfred Obaidiku and other party chieftains, expressed disappointment over the lukewarm attitude exhibited by the Federal Government during the burial of one of the great sons of the town, the late Commissioner of Police, Pa Benedict Elide Odiase, (the Composer of the current National Anthem). He also condemned the slow pace of construction work at the Sobe– Sabogidda-Ora federal road by Picolo Construction Company, which has denied the community access to Sabongidda-Ora, the council headquarters, which can only be access through Ondo State. The delay in completion of the road project, it was gathered, may not be unconnected with the poor and irregular funding by federal government.

He disclosed that the council has resolved to immotalise the late Pa Odiase by naming the newly built legislative block in the council after him (Pa Odiase). He said Sobe community will be duly informed of the commissioning date of the project.

Impressed by the colourful event, Aigbodion said he never knew that the Sobe Day activities are so colourful and elaborate. He advised that henceforth, the community should involve the council as ‘it will willingly want to participate in the events.’

The town’s monarch, Anthony Ero Aleburu 1, used the occasion to thank all sons and daughters of Sobe that have contributed to the success of the anniversary. The King, who was witnessing the event for the first time since he ascended the throne advised that security issue in the community should be a collective responsibility, which everyone should be fully involved in because it cannot be left in the hands of the police alone.

The traditional ruler also thanked the state and the local governments for their developmental efforts in the community. He, however, called on the state government to facilitate the immediate take-off of the ap-

•One of the troupes in a performance

•HRH Aleburu 1

ANNIVERSARY proved Area Customary Court in Sobe since the community has provided the building for the court.

He lamented the lack of access to banking facilities in the council area following the closure of the Skye Bank Plc branch in the town. He advised the management of the bank to review its decision on the closure as the community may be forced to ask them to ‘remove their properties from the land if they are not willing to use them.’

Chairman of the occasion, Bishop Oburekin sued for peace and unity among the people qouting Psalm 133 of the Holy Bible, which says: ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity …’ He said: “If we are walking the right path and we are willing to keep walking, eventually we will make progress.”

He advised parents to encourage their children to speak Sobe dialect as it is fast facing extinction, noting that there is need to ‘preserve and promote our cultural heritage especially, the age group and other cultural

•Osoro

troupes.’ On political issues, he urged leaders to play genuine politics without bitterness such that the people can enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Life Patron, Sobe Development Association (Abuja Chapter) and sole financier of this year’s celebration, Mr. Funso Osoro, said the growing popularity of the annual event has made many Sobe indigenes outside the community to have positive attitudes towards the progress of the community.

“Parents living in the cities have changed their old mindset towards the community to the extent that they now allow their children to attend the celebration unguided. In fact, it is as important to them as the Xmas and New Year celebrations,” he said.

On the need to tie the celebration to developmental projects, Osoro noted that unfulfilled pledges by guests and friends of the community had in the past celebrations made launching of projects unrealisable. He however stressed that ‘nobody from outside can fix the community for us, we have to do it ourselves. So, launching that bring outsiders to make pledges will never do it. But, in subsequent celebration, we are considering projects such as grading of the major

streets, fixing the street light and provision of portable water.’

Osoro disclosed that the youth-based events such as folklore, beauty pageant and musical concert would be incorporated in future celebrations. This, he said, is to allow for effective youth participation for continuity sake.

Interim Chairman, Sobe Development Association, Mr. Francis Uwaifo called on the state government to provide Sobe, which is a border town, with a standard Police Station to checkmate the increasing security challenges pose by criminals.

“The government should also upgrade the three healthcare centers in the community to a General hospital. The market in the town is over-crowded and deserves expansion. The Local Government Council should as a matter of urgency fence the proposed land for the new Main Market project and put in place the necessary machineries for its construction.”

The event was not all about long speeches as the former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Admiral Dele Abiodun and his band were on stage for an all night party.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

How Ebola got to Nigeria

Lagos Horn-free Day •A good start; but it should be sustained and indeed extended to other areas of pollution

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AGOS State Government’s declaration of October 15 as Horn-free Day is novel in the country. The significance of that day cannot be downplayed in view of the excessive use of vehicular horns by motorists plying roads, not only in the state but all over the country. The mostly unbearable noise pollution that has become habit to motorists constitutes a serious nuisance to passers-by and, more importantly, to the health and general wellbeing of the entire citizenry.

The initiative, which was unfurled by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at the 1st Lagos Drivers’ Appreciation Day which held on October 9 at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry House, Alausa, Ikeja, was quite successful - at least for creating awareness about this menace. Governor Fashola put the essence of the initiative succinctly: “It is for our own good, it is for our own health, it is for our own life. It is not because Governor Fashola said so. It is not because Lagos State Government said so. It is simply because it is good for us. Doctors have told us it is for our own ultimate good.”

The idea is not meant to be accompanied by any coercive instrument of state but to be achieved through persuasive technique as adopted in better developed climes across the globe. The idea, as reportedly made by the governor, was to make motorists operating in the Lagos environment realise that there is a better way to live than indulging in noise pollu-

tion which has been medically proven to be harmful to human health.

We agree that if the state must live up to its status of a mega city in the west coast sub-region, one of the conditions it must meet is to drastically reduce noise pollution; also, the adoption of yearly horn-free day is a good one but it could be improved upon. After all, Koramangala in India reportedly adopted a ‘No Horn Mondays’ initiative in association with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, with impressive results. Rather than making it a yearly thing, we call on the state government to follow the same path so as to ingrain the idea easily into the psyche of motorists plying its roads.

While we agree that the horn-free day is a good idea, noise pollution is not restricted to vehicle nuisance alone. This fact was acknowledged by Governor Fashola when he said that the idea was also a response to petitions and complaints of “citizens and tax payers who, on daily basis, write and petition government that somebody is preventing them from sleep either from the noise they are making or from other uncharitable activities they are carrying on without regard for the wellbeing of their neighbours.”

We state without equivocation that it is not only motorists that pollute the environment but also music sellers blaring different songs at very high decibels in streets across the state. Churches and mosques are not left out of this unbear-

able noise pollution. More cynical are some fabricating industries sited in residential areas, using deafening generators with fumes that pollute the environment and expose residents to harmful effects. The state’s physical planning organ needs to do something urgently to stem this ugly tide so as not to mess up its mega city plan.

Although the Horn-free Day could over time make motorists in Lagos develop the consciousness of minimising the use of their horns, we strongly believe that other forms of pollution should be robustly combatted and reduced to the barest minimum by the state government, because of their harmful effects on human beings.

‘Although the Horn-free Day could over time make motorists in Lagos develop the consciousness of minimising the use of their horns, we strongly believe that other forms of pollution should be robustly combatted and reduced to the barest minimum by the state government, because of their harmful effects on human beings.’.

Tayo Akpata (1931-2014) •A Nigerian who played his part well departs

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N the context of historical importance, perhaps Nigerians would remember Chief Tayo Akpata more for his past positions as trustee and executive secretary of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which he probably attained based on a track record of credibility. It is noteworthy that the PTF, under the chairmanship of Major-General (retd) Muhammadu Buhari, was created by the administration of General Sani Abacha, and expected to handle developmental projects across the country, funded by revenue from the reviewed pricing of petroleum products.

Although the body’s activities generated controversy, especially concerning the allocation of its resources, there is no doubt that it had its pluses. On road rehabilita-

‘It is instructive to note that he was also a former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), both of them economically significant government agencies ... He was credited with having played a critical part in the process that resulted in the upgrading of the Mid-West Institute of Technology to the status of a university’

tion, for instance, Akpata, said: ”It is only now that people say that PTF’s projects were one-sided. I have a file of letters people used to write commending PTF, how they were now able to travel from A to B and those letters are not from one part of the country, but from every part of the country.”

But Akpata, who died in Lagos on October 13 at the age of 83, was larger than his PTF role. It is instructive to note that he was also a former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), both of them economically significant government agencies. Before his functions at the federal level, Akpata, born in Benin, was the Commissioner for Education, Midwestern Nigeria, between 1971 and 1975; and he was credited with having played a critical part in the process that resulted in the upgrading of the Mid-West Institute of Technology to the status of a university – it became University of Benin in 1972.

Also, Akpata was the first Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (MidWest State) in 1975, which was symbolic, given his image as a detribalised Nigerian.

Interestingly, Akpata had a background in the academic sphere and worked at the University of Ibadan where he retired in 1975 as the acting Registrar. His credits at the university significantly included: the first chairman/organiser, the Nigerian University Games; and the first chairman/organiser, West African Inter-University Games. He graduated in Law and Politics from the University of Hull, UK,

in 1959, following his secondary education at Edo College, Benin, where he was a government scholar.

Against the backdrop of his national identity, Akpata’s activism in the country’s pre-independence era was remarkable, particularly his participation, during his student days in England, in the anti-colonial activities of the Nigerian Union, West African Students Union, Afro-Asia Solidarity Committee and Committee on African Organisations. He was also solidly associated with the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) when he returned to the country after his studies, describing it as “a non-partisan platform to insist and advocate certain political structuring of the Nigeria polity.”

His reflections on Nigeria when he turned 70 were thought-provoking. He said in an interview: “Any department of life, you come to examine carefully, I am not even saying critically, in Nigeria today, you can only hold your head and ask the question which some nationalists were asking after independence: is this the Nigeria we fought for? The answer is no. Because what we have are adventurists, political and financial adventurists, the plotters...” He further said: “But I think many of us are guilty.

Guilty in the sense that it is not enough to complain about the political situation of this country; people must be talking of how to correct it, how to get about it.”

It is a testimony to his standing in his immediate community and in the country that he held the traditional title, Ima of Benin, and he was decorated with the national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

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IR: Sow that we got the World Health Organisation (WHO)s ‘all clear’ and we have been able to reasonably restrain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, we can take a more dispassionate look at the issue, its genesis and some ramifications.

Nigeria tackled Ebola disease head-on and won. It was textbook epidemiology triumph. In doing this, we probably helped prevent greater spread of the disease to other parts of the continent.

So kudos to all involved. They have all done very well. And you know you’ve done good when even America sends its personnel to study how you’ve done it!

But how did Ebola get to Nigeria?

First, we can confirm authoritatively now that Patrick Sawyer did come to Nigeria knowing full well he had contacted the Ebola disease. He came here looking for a cure. His widow in New York attested to that much. Sawyer wasn’t alone. Another Liberian diplomat sneaked through the border and sought cure for the same disease in Port Harcourt.

Furthermore, there were news reports of a few Ebola-stricken West African nationals who tried to cross into Nigeria through the Niger and through some South-south borders. They were all turned back. Also, three travelers suspected to be Ebolainfected were apprehended after they crossed into Ogun state through the Imeko-Afon border.

Why did all these people come, and wanted to get into Nigeria? They were practically invited to come by the now former Minister for Information, Labaran Maku.

On Wednesday April 2, Jonathan was away in Brussels. In his place, Vice President Sambo chaired the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. Immediately after this meeting, while briefing journalists on its outcome, Maku declared to the world that Nigeria has Ebola virus disease vaccines.

Specifically, the voluble Maku said: “Nigeria is prepared right now to curtail any outbreak particularly given reports that few counties on the West Coast like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have reported cases of Ebola fever and given our proximity to these, Nigeria is ready. The ministry has taken every precaution including getting with vaccines and medicines to ensure that should there be any incidence in Nigeria, everything would be dealt with precision.”

He also added: “So far, there is nothing like Ebola fever in Nigeria, and Council was reassured that every step has been taken to ready our country just in case infected persons come into the country from our neighbouring countries.”

This was the same briefing where the re-basing of our economy was mentioned for the first time and perhaps that over-shadowed the tidbit about us having Ebola vaccines. So while most Nigerians heard ‘rebasing,’ our Ebola-stricken neighbours heard ‘vaccines.’

I suppose Maku could be reasonably excused on the basis that he was perhaps just passing on information he received from the Health Ministry. However, he could have checked and confirmed his facts before making categorical statements. Giving Nigeria’s pre-eminence in the continent, why would other Africans (who might not be privy to the grandiloquent nature of our government officials) not take Maku’s statement seriously?

Even as late as July 25, few days after Sawyer escaped into Nigeria, the Project Director of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, chipped-in, “…we have mobilised rapid response teams in addition to developing a detailed response plan that includes a comprehensive health education, health promotion to sensitise Nigerians, enhanced surveillance to detect and treat the disease.”

What’s a desperate African citizen to do on the back of such reassuring statements? Same thing is happening to America now. A few people with Ebola have flown into that country since the USA was able to successfully cure a couple of people with the Ebola virus.

It is painful that some people have had to lose their lives as a result of Sawyer’s and other’s actions, but we must put things in their proper perspective. People in offices of high responsibility must be more discerning and more sensitive when it comes to matters of life and death. There are times to grandstand and there are other times to be serious.

So when Jonathan described Patrick Sawyer as “crazy” and a “mad man,” perhaps, he ought to have been looking elsewhere.

But, thank heavens we pulled through and we have excelled – albeit at a price. We only need now to worry about people coming home for Christmas from Ebola-infested countries.

What our experience with the successful containment of the Ebola disease has shown is that Nigeria has the material and human resources to be a truly great nation if only we have the will, the commitment, and the right leadership. We can even straighten out our healthcare sector such that the president won’t have to jet into Germany so much for his healthcare needs.

• Dr Michael Egbejumi-David demdem@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: demdemdem1

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Recently, the Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P) tried to make political gain out of a statement credited to Chief Audu Ogbeh that some members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaigners are members of All Progressive Congress (APC). Further, the PDP claimed that the presence of Hadiza Bala Usman one of the coordinators of BBOG campaigners at the presidential election declaration of Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja finally put a seal to that assertion.

The above and other similar attempts to vilify the BBOG campaigners are not only bizarre but ridiculous. First, it must be made crystal clear that the 1999 constitution of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of association. The fact that a person belongs to an association that is urging the

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

PDP and BBOG campaigners Federal Government to take steps to rescue innocent and defenceless citizens abducted by militant insurgents does not in anyway preclude them from belonging to a political party of their choice.

An adjunct to this is to point out that there is nothing also wrong for a citizen to belong to an opposition party. In civilized countries like America and Britain both the ruling parties now and the opposition parties have at one time or the other

reversed their roles either as the government in power or the opposition party. Indeed the PDP is one of the opposition parties in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Oyo, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Osun and Kano to mention but a few.

Another important point to note is that the 1999 constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of speech. The BBOG campaigners have not done anything wrong by exercising this right when they

continually ask the federal authorities to act and rescue these girls.

Drawing from the above, the laughable attempt by some spin-doctors to castigate the campaigners clearly stands reason and logic on its head.

Since the PDP government was elected to protect the citizens of Nigeria and provide for their welfare, it is wrong for anybody to criticize them for urging the federal government to carry out its constitutional duties. While the federal govern-

Can Buhari change Nigeria?

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IR: One of the presidential aspirants under APC is the General of the Masses, Muhammadu Buhari also known as GMB. But my worry is this; can the near-saint man (as being projected) change Nigeria? Unlike some of his followers who are wont to say yes he can, I will beg to differ and say that he can best put in place the mechanism that will change Nigeria. We as a nation didn’t get here overnight and hence should not expect to get out of the mess overnight, but we can get out of it provided we have someone who is leading us. GMB need not perform any miracle but he can show us the way to follow.

Some critics will say, we are tired of soldiers; we don’t want to be ruled by ex-Generals again…but come to think of it, Generals with the help of some civilians brought us here, so I guess it is right for a General to save us from them, to lead us out.

Some would want to know why after past failed attempts, he has not given up. To that I will say one does not give up on something one believes in without a fight. Times without number, we are faced with challenges but that does not deter us from keeping at it. Like the Yoruba folklore, if you see an elderly man running helter-skelter in the forest, if he is not after something, something is definitely after him.

I have also heard that he should have

anointed a young blood and rally support behind him. Maybe; but the GMB I read about wouldn’t want to be among many other things, a godfather.

And again, how many of our young men are ready to live his kind of life?

Instead of anointing anyone, the best thing is for him to help rid the system of the pythons and cobras, to equip the youth with antidote of the pythons’ venom, after which he can sit back and watch, smile and relax and rest in peace.

So, if we believe that in a four-year term or eight years of two terms, GMB can really not do any magic, why are we expecting magic from President Jonathan; why are we not giving him benefit of the doubt?

Truth is, if the head is bad, the tail cannot be good. The corrupt nature of a leader will surely affect his followers. President Jonathan has been given series of benefit of the doubts and he betrayed them all. His true nature is evident by those who surround him.

Buhari is however different; here is a man who even Generals and ex-Generals are scared of. Here is a man who has zero tolerance for corruption. He is not a magician hence magic is not expected of him to transform Nigeria.

He will do total overhauling of the system and put our destiny in our hands because a man cannot change a nation without the consent of the peo-

ple.

Who can ever think that Lagosians with their aggressive nature can queue for public transport? Today, we have a governor who says and believes it can be done hence the emergence of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT). Fashola is not a magician; he only knew what to be done and when to do it.

Put the necessary mechanism in

place, set the system aright and the system will not only set the people right, it will guide and change the people. That is the mission of General Muhammed Buhari and that is what Nigerians should expect of him.

•Olusola Farouq, Warri, Delta State.

ment sees the action of these campaigners as an irritant, the campaign has brought many advantages with it. Since the campaign, no major abduction like those of Chibok girls has taken place again. Also major super powers like America, Britain and France and indeed the entire world’s attention has been drawn to the Nigerian insurgency. The safe school initiative championed by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is another gain from the campaign.

The PDP federal government should stop engaging in empty propaganda and discharge its constitutional duties to the citizens accordingly. They would have achieved so much in bringing the insurgency to an end if they had used the energy, time and resources channeled towards fighting the peaceful BBOG campaigners who are mainly mothers and women in addressing the menace of insurgency.

As they continue to throw brick – bats at these campaigners, Nigerians are keenly watching and would not be taken for a ride. As a former American President once said, “You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time.”

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• Barrister Aham Njoku, Lagos

We need laws on pet bottles recycling

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IR: The governments should enact laws on pet bottles recycling because it is seriously affecting our aquatic life. A visit to our waters will show that the rate of pollution and the volume of pet bottles and water sachets polluting our sea are alarming. In Nigeria, with a population of about 160 million people according to the 2006 population census, over 20,000 metric tones of pet bottles and sachets are discarded daily. Most of the discarded pet bottles and water sachets stray into our marine and water course and endanger aquatic life.

In Lagos State alone, over 2,000 metric tones of these wastes are recorded daily. In Ogun State, the waste is more than 1,000 tonnes generated daily because water is an essential need of man. The pet bottles and sachets choke aquatic inhabitants thereby reducing their population.

They also contaminate the water and poison the living things. In developed countries, these wastes are being recycled into synthetic clothes, imitation leather, timber, building materials and furniture. The pet bottles and sachets can also be recycled into pet bottles and water sachets like newsprint.

These wastes are dumped at the official surface refuse grounds at Igando in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area, Abule-Egba in Agbado-Okeodo Local Council Development Area. There is also a land-fill at Ojota in Ikeja Local Government (Soulous). Other unofficial waste dumps litter the surface of Lagos State and are at Pako Bus Stop in Isolo Local Government, Odo-Alaro in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Lawanson in Surulere Local Government; Celestial Bus Stop in Isolo Local Government,

Wilmer Street in Ajeromi Ifelodun, Lawanson spare parts market and so on.

Proper coordination of these wastes will garner income for the nation and put a lot of people in work. Scavengers scamper to pick these bottles for re-use as containers for locally prepared drinks and local liquid medications without taking hygiene into consideration. This practice can escalate tooth decay and other mouth infectious diseases. The pet bottles and nylon sachets can be recycled into roofing sheets and walling materials. Victor Moore built The “Junk Castle” completely out of scraps and salvaged materials he found on a nearby junkyard. The artist and high school teacher started building the place in 1970 at a total cost of only $500.

• Adeniyi O. Oyedele, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

21

COMMENTS

‘Our Girls’; General Gowon @80; Lagos Ibadan; BBOG; Trust Boko Haram? End Fulani War ‘

O

UR Girls’ kidnapped from Chibok at night during exams and missing since April 15, six-plus months, are on the brink of or may even have mostly been reTony leased today.

Marinho We celebrate humane longevity with General Yakubu Gowon @ 80, the Officer and Gentleman leader of Nigeria. His was not that of his successors like Buhari or Abacha brutality or Babangida ‘Missing oil wind fall money’ settlement corruption. His administration, unfortunately, accommodated the first generation of getrich-quick militarism which got worse dragging Nigeria into the quagmire of corruption and 4,000Mw instead of 170,000Mw it faces now.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is still rubbishing our lives.

Why so much pain for us to gain a smooth road - a human right even during reconstruction?

This article was submitted on Monday, after the Boko Haram ceasefire but before any release. Sadly, there are new Boko Haram attacks. The release, if it comes, is, thanks to the combined worldwide pressure on both government and the Boko Haram. A major pressure came from a tenacious red ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign. This was mismanaged by a government myopic policy which alienated the citizenry by demonising the BBOG as ‘opposition politics’.

In addition, there was at last military pressure on Boko Haram from a re-equipped, motivated armed forces restricting the Boko Haram. Boko Haram was supposedly in a militarily weakened position and forced to the negotiation table by countries surrounding Boko Haram hideouts. With no trans-border retreat options and an aggressive Cameroonian campaign preventing reinforcements, negotiations were inevitable as even Boko Haram people no wan die!

But feel sympathy for the honest Nigerians negotiating with such blood-thirsty cruel people. Under that same negotiating table, there is the smell of death and an ocean of blood and

I

T was largely unexpected. But when it came, it came with a bang. Everybody was held spell-bound. Perhaps, this illustrates the news that filtered in last Friday to the effect that the Federal Government and the Boko Haram terrorists have agreed to cease hostility. Announcing the ceasefire in Abuja at the end of the conference on Nigeria-Cameroun Trans-Border Military Operations, Alex Badeh, an Air Chief Marshal and Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, told a bewildered nation that “the agreement to cease fire has being concluded and all involved are to comply”. This is ostensibly to give room for negotiations.

Although, the terms of agreement are not yet clear, it was learnt that one of the major requests of the government is the release of the Chibok schoolgirls. Boko Haram terrorists had kidnapped more than 276 schoolgirls on the night of April 14, more than 190 days ago, from Chibok, a sleepy community in Borno State. Till date, the girls are being held captive at unknown location(s). The kidnap has attracted international condemnation, leading to the now famous #BringBackOurGirls# protests across the globe. On their part, the terrorists were said to have demanded for the unconditional release of some of their ‘fighters’ in the custody of the Nigerian military.

It appears that Nigeria’s close collaboration with the governments of Chad and Niger Republic, led to the yet-to-be firmed up truce. Though the identity of those negotiating on behalf of the Federal Government is still shrouded in secrecy but the representatives of Boko Haram were said to have been led by one Danladi Ahmadu who is said to be the group’s Chief Security Officer.

misery from 10,000 murdered Nigerians and millions of displaced refugees. That is 10,000 people with five litres each or 50,000 litres of blood shed for nothing- just a negotiation?

Since the capture of ‘Our Girls’, this column began every article with ‘Our Girls’ which was the first item. Though many of ‘Out Girls’ may come home, some will not, due to death, brainwashing, stigmatisation or becoming untraceable, sold into marriage and slavery. If the girls were Israeli or American, there would be dedicated security groups authorised, trained and funded to punish anyone who stole or enslaved even one of ‘Our Girls’ without being brought to justice. If any of ‘Our Girls’ is pregnant and claiming to be ‘happily married’, that girl would be brought home to declare freely her desire to go back if she is old enough.

Both parents and ‘Our Girls’ will need intensive one-onone psychological support requiring the recruitment of an army of mainly female psychologists and psychiatrists some requiring to give or take crash courses in clinical psychology and ‘Post Traumatic Stress’, PTS. Each girl should have a strategy worked out for her to enable her catch up the six months lost or do WAEC delayed exams and get results.

Nigeria must not forget that refugees and the military also require PTS care. Since ‘Our Girls’ were taken, Boko Haram has killed between 3-5,000 citizens. The veteran soldier and politician David Mark and his fellow ‘leaders of the National Assembly (NASS) have maliciously manoeuvred to damage the economy further by approving a law allowing them to claim their NASS salaries for life, so ‘There is money, O!’ also for ‘Our Girls’ from Chibok to be rehabilitated. We know that this is just a pretext for all NASS members ‘living and dead’ to also claim ‘Permanent Pensions’. Will their grandchildren get something or at least ‘automatic ticket’? Why not? Power don drunk! God go vex for dis one, 0!

This is such an idiot country where soldiers are not paid pensions in the middle of a war, no two wars – the Boko Haram War and the Fulani War and we all saw on TV serving solders asked to confront the demonstrating pensioners. The same serving soldiers face being sent to battle even as their compatriots return in back dead and 98+12 are being court martialled for matters surrounding equipment and welfare

institutional failures. Will Boko Haram reveal who is funding it? Can it be trusted to stop the violence?

Last week, the Fulani War was discussed in this column.

Surely now that even the Boko Haram is on the negotiation table, it is time for a total ceasefire for the Fulani War, which is a local war with no international funding or fighters. We must not trivialise this Fulani War claiming 20-50 citizens a day or weekly for years. What is good for Boko Haram War is good for the Fulani War. Where is the negotiating team? It is one failure of the 2014 Non-Sovereign National Conference that it neither addressed nor offered any commission to stop the Fulani War. Arthur Wharton is ‘Lesson for Today’. He was an athlete, footballer, first African professional footballer in England and is being celebrated this week. Did he run 100 yards in 10 seconds? When? Which clubs did he play for? What position did he play? Where was he from, Nigeria or Ghana? Which school? Did he die poor? Google him for your children. Do not go too far to find role models and heroes. Your heroes are with you. Have you heard of Olaudah Equiano, Nigeria’s best known slave and first best-selling author? And when did he live? Google please!

‘Nigeria must not forget that refugees and the military also require PTS care.

Since ‘Our Girls’ were taken, Boko Haram has killed between 3-5,000 citizens. The veteran soldier and politician David Mark and his fellow ‘leaders of the National Assembly (NASS) have maliciously manoeuvred to damage the economy further by approving a law allowing them to claim their NASS salaries for life’

Nigeria: Beyond the Ceasefire General Idriss Derby, the Chadian President, facilitated the entire ceasefire deal.

The sudden news of the Federal Government striking a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram, the bloodthirsty and ruthless fundamentalist group, seems to be a breakthrough many people in Nigeria and the international community had long awaited. It is believed to be the first step in the journey to finding lasting peace after several years of death and destruction that has gripped Nigeria and threatened the country’s sovereignty. President Goodluck Jonathan had told the United Nations General Assembly last month that the extremists had killed at least 13,000 civilians. Hundreds of thousands have been driven from their homes, many of them farmers, causing a food emergency in the north-east of the country where the terrorists’ campaign is domiciled with collateral effect on other parts of the country.

The transition of the group to suicide bombings and open commando-style attacks across its areas of operation in the North-east and other parts of the country, including Abuja, the seat of government, over time, added new dimensions to the wave of terrorism in the country. The abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on April 14, this year, remains a huge testament to how sophisticated the group had become. Some days after the abduction, Abubakar Shekau, the unabashed leader of the group of death merchants, threatened that he would sell the girls. Two months after, a man claiming to be the deputy leader of Boko Haram, gave a radio interview in which he

‘Anyway, though the terms of the ceasefire agreement are yet to be made public, nevertheless, the hope is that both parties would respect the terms of the agreement and allow genuine peace to return to the country’

claimed that the terrorist group had held preliminary peace talks with Namadi Sambo, Nigeria’s VicePresident, in Saudi Arabia. The group issued a statement two days later rejecting the claim and disowning the man as an impostor. Appeals by stakeholders, including the United States, United Kingdom and others could not make the terrorists shift ground. Instead, dozens more schoolgirls and boys, young women and men, have been kidnapped by the terrorists in a fiveyear-old reign of terror.

Many attempts have been made in the past, by the Federal Government, to contain the activities of the group either on the battlefield or at the conference table but all to no avail. After five years of almost relentless death and destruction, this ceasefire offers a modicum of relief particularly to Nigeria’s northeast geo-political zone and the whole country in general. There is now hope for a period of calm as serious negotiations for a broader deal get going between the Federal Government and Boko Haram. But a number of thorny issues are yet to be tackled, including Boko Haram’s demilitarisation, as well as the mechanics for monitoring the ceasefire.

Even more contentious is how the territories like Gwoza, Bama and the other communities now being occupied by Boko Haram, are going to be handed back to their legitimate Local Government Authority. Without resolving all these issues and many more, the current ceasefire agreement is as opaque as anything.

In my candid opinion, I do not think there is anything to jubilate over yet, at least, for now. My fear is that Boko Haram might have agreed to a ceasefire following recent renewed onslaughts on their positions by the Nigerian military.

This offensive had recorded significant success including the death of Abubakar Shekau, the terrorists’ leader, either in his original form or in the form of an impostor mas-

querading as the original Shekau.

This turn of event has delivered a devastating blow on the operational capabilities of the terrorists, hence, their resolve to call or accept a truce, possibly, to enable them to re-strategise and plan. This is why I believe the current ceasefire is unnecessary and ill-timed. Already, the killings in the affected areas by the terrorists have not abated even with the ceasefire in place. The military should have been allowed to completely decimate them by pursuing them to any level before such a ceasefire could be contemplated.

If the military had been allowed to chase them to say, Cameroon, there is no way they could have survived. The Cameroonians would have mowed them down or apprehended them. As it is, this truce could potentially afford them the opportunity to plan and re-arm themselves for more destructive and destabilising exploits. Another thing is that, contrary to expectations and what we are being told, the terrorists, who are simply blood-thirsty, may not release the Chibok girls after all. They may have promised to release them as a ploy to buy time. If we look at it critically, the terrorists are still holding on to Gwoza, Bama and other communities in the North-east which they have delineated as Islamic Caliphate. With Nigerian territories firmly in their hands, why should the Federal Government want to negotiate?

The issue of the Chibok girls which Boko Haram is now using as bait, reminds me of the Beslan School hostage crisis, also referred to as the Beslan School siege or Beslan massacre, which started on September 1, 2004, and lasted for three days. It involved the capture of about 1,100 people, including 777 children, as hostages.

After three days of standoff, the whole saga ended on the third day, that is, September 3, 2004, when Russian security forces entered the building after several explosions,

Dele Agekameh using heavy weapons. At least 334 people were killed as a result of the crisis, including 186 children, with a significant number of people either injured or reported missing.

The lesson to be learnt here is that rather than negotiating with the terrorists or meeting any of their demands at all, as the Federal Government is now doing or is about to do with Boko Haram, the Russian government plunged itself headlong into the crisis and successfully got rid of the terrorists. Though at a high cost in terms of human casualties, that action drove fear into other would-be terrorists who have since kept their distance. That is exactly what we should have done long ago instead of allowing the terrorists to flex muscles and railroad the government into the negotiating table.

It will only embolden the terrorists who have adopted brigandage as a way of life. As it is now, the ceasefire we now have doesn’t seem like a military affair. It is a political ceasefire. And I doubt if the military had any input in all these.

Anyway, though the terms of the ceasefire agreement are yet to be made public, nevertheless, the hope is that both parties would respect the terms of the agreement and allow genuine peace to return to the country.

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

22

COMMENTS ‘Re-Chibok girls and the Villa. Some other time where Mr. President won’t be chanced to attend to the pains, he should delegate Mr Vice President or/ and the Secretary to the FG to attend with Human milk, to the Protesters and the pained Parents. By now, I would advise that, in the interest of Lives, depression tendency and parenthood, negotiation on trade-offs should have taken place. It is not out of place if Mrs. Water Resources Minister, apologized to the Protesters & not necessarily to Oby for her unministerial comment. From Lanre Oseni’

•Jonathan

For Date Olatunji Sir, The departure of Chief Tom Ikimi from any political party in Nigeria is a good omen.

Aside from being a silent-screen ideological con man, he is one of the few people in Nigerian history whose body has begun to stink before it died. PDP should not jubilate for his joining them. Rather, we should collectively demand that the President have him arrested as an enemy of the people of this country, based on his past. From Adegoke O, O. Ikhin, Edo State.

Shalom! I read your piece on mass failure and was consoled with depth of your truth.

Hope The Nation and corporate bodies embrace New Paradigm shift as Postulated.

From Kevin Dear Dr Dare, I want to thank you For stimulating our memory faculties once again , as we Nigerians appear to be so forgetful of our past. I honestly thought I was the only one who couldn’t understand why political gangsters, area boys and proven thieves, with

K

ARL Marx famously considered religion as the opium of the masses. By this, he meant that religion serves an ideological purpose which the elites, especially in modern industrial societies, deploy to further their dominance over the workers who are oppressed and suppressed for the sake of capital.

As opium, religion serves two sinister purposes for the elites. In the first place, it deadens the senses of the people to their oppression.

Religion therefore provides sites and insights that enjoin us all to obey authorities. More importantly, it becomes a tool which a selfserving segment of the elites that qualifies to be tagged the unscrupulous leadership core, employs to further their diabolical designs which, in most cases, are contrary to the noble objectives of building a nation into a space where citizens can collective work together under a national banner. In this context, it takes little reflection to see that religion would in that sense be antagonistic to the noble design of building a nation of individuals who belong to different faiths. On the contrary, the dream of nationhood is often stalled by the very elites who ought to be at the forefront of national sentiments and nation-affirming values. One of those values, of course, is interfaith dialogue.

Among other things, human beings are religious beings; we all have an inner spiritual core which longs for transcendence. This longing derives from the nature of the world and its mysteries. We have been blessed with the senses and with rationality that enables the glories of scientific observations and experimentations. With these instruments, we have been able to pluck the heavens and the firmaments; we split the atom and unravelled its significance; we have battled diseases and plagues in their various horrific manifestations; we have travelled to the outer spaces and revealed Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and even Pluto in its cold nethermost part. Yet, science has failed to exhaust the mysteries of the world; science has failed to dim man’s longing for transcendence. There is no surprise therefore that the great Albert Einstein proclaims loudly that ‘Science without religion is lame.’

When we therefore enshrine the fundamental human right to religious expression in our constitutions, we recognise that every individual has the right to seek an understanding of these mysteries in whatsoever way s/he deems fit. Religion constitutes a framework for perceiving the beauty and the vicissitudes of a strange and dazzling universe; religion is a shock absorber for human beings who are only a grain of sand in the universal scheme of things. We have been told that when we die, the universe hardly notices. Yet, our faiths assure us that we matter in the cosmic order. We are not just infinitesimally inconsequential.

Religion allows us to reach beyond ourselves.

It allows us to reach into the dark void of the

publicly known crimes to society, could not only become politically relevant, but rub pepper into open sores, by fighting to be politically recognized and vocal on issues, a lot of which they had contributed to in the past directly or indirectly. These group of vagabonds in power (V.I.P.)s’ should be hiding their heads in shame, which of course they lack.

Sir, with your well written and thought off article, you not only hit the nail on the head, but hopefully, you have once again opened the eyes and forgetful minds of Nigerians to our not to far past. I thank you. From Dr Dotun Ransome-Kuti For Segun Gbadegesin Prof, I have no choice than to join others like me to appreciate the excellence and the brilliance in you. I wonder how this country nay the world could have been like without feature writers of your caliber. Your today’s imaging progress, as usual is insightful and captivating. God bless and keep you safe for us. From Dr Ekpenyong Nsa, Abuja.

It is not hard to imagine why you would rather not discuss individuals in defining progressives. It is evident that notable figures amongst those claiming to be progressives are simply not. Not when they remain wedded to

the same old ways of short-changing the masses. In failing to show particular commitment to the cause of transparency, the so-called progressive governors of the South West have failed to change public perception of politicians as rogues and birds of the same feather. This explains why the stock of the socalled progressives is dwindling fast in the region as we approach 2015. From Kuteyi R.R, Ondo.

As far as objective Nigerians are concerned and know it, President Jonathan has tried a lot in the various sectors of our economy, though his best hasn’t been good enough to take us to the level of our dream. Yet the problem of the country remains that of corrupt leadership. And here one always finds it very difficult to substantiate between the performing and non-performing ones among our various leaders, even from Independence, as the case of Mbadiwe ilustrates. And I don’t seem to see Jonathan as exception to this too, no matter the claims to the contrary. The expected performance our leaders lack in public office, their private fortunes would always gain irretrievably. Unfortunately, those who could have been of a help in this direction have rather allowed ethnicity and religious bigotry becloud their sense of true

patriotism; thereby contributing in no less measure in keeping the nation perpetually stagnated. God have mercy. From Emmanuel Egwu For Gbenga Omotoso I have ceased to get bothered by any saying or any deed or any action or inactions by President Jonathan’s men. Hello sir, do you expect a cursed tree to produce a fruitful fruit?

When the is infested with maggots what do you expect of the remaining part of the body? Leave Madam Ochekpe and Hajia Zainab alone sooner than later they’ll all be judged poetically. From Hezykay Babs. State Of Osun.

Re-Chibok girls and the Villa. Some other time where Mr. President won’t be chanced to attend to the pains, he should delegate Mr Vice President or/and the Secretary to the FG to attend with Human milk, to the Protesters and the pained Parents. By now, I would advise that, in the interest of Lives, depression tendency and parenthood, negotiation on trade-offs should have taken place. It is not out of place if Mrs. Water Resources Minister, apologized to the Protesters & not necessarily to Oby for her unministerial comment. From Lanre Oseni.

Re-Chibok girls and the villa. Mrs Ochepe has no moral ground to accurse the former minister of education of being responsible for the fallen standard of education in the country. It’s more of the pot calling the cattle black! Has Mrs. Ochepe forgotten that education suffered a serious setback in Plateau state during her time as chairperson of SUBEC in Plateau State? When teachers were owed several months’ salary arrears because Mrs Ochepe and her education secretaries would prefer to lodge the salary in bank accounts for many months in order to earn interest? Was she not responsible for the non implementation of teachers enhanced salary scale (18 percent minimum wage) in Plateau state? Non promotion of teachers in Plateau, etc?-. From Jerry Ahmed.

Inter-faith dialogue and national question

By Tunji Olaopa unknown, and the dim penumbra of our experiences. With faith, we face our fears and personal demons.

Martin Luther King, Jr. places his hand on the essence of religion when he remarks that ‘A religion true to its natures must also be concerned about man's social conditions. Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and eternity. Religion operates not only on the vertical plane but also on the horizontal. It seeks not only to integrate men with God but to integrate men with men and each man with himself.’ At the centre of any worthwhile religion therefore is a deep spiritual awareness of our lives as a conduit for the intervention of a transcendent force in the betterment of the world and the lives of fellow humans. When religion therefore pierces the mysteries of the universe and of life, the knowledge it bequeaths is supposed to radiate our lives in the glow of the supernatural characters and virtues—love, kindness, empathy, compassion, hospitality, understanding, prudence, courage, justice, hope, etc.

Nigeria is constitutionally a secular state. And secularity decrees that church and state must be separated in such a manner that the state and its functionaries do not promote any specific religious affiliation. However, in practice, Nigerians are deeply religious people, and this is demonstrated by the proliferation of so many places of worship and religious festivals that the state recognises. This would seem to imply that the hope of definitely and constitutionally excising religion from the affairs of the state may be a pipe dream that does not coincide with reality. And the reality is simply that the state has to deal with religion both in its private and public manifestations. We employ religious rhetoric in our political speeches, the second stanza of our national anthem is a clear religious invocation to the Almighty, and beyond any doubt, religion affects our national affairs.

If properly tempered, therefore, religion portends some unique possibilities for secularity. Yet, our collective experience seems to suggest that citizenship and spirituality don’t mix. Religion, contrary to the modernisation theorists, has been resurging back into human affairs for a while now. And its basic point of confrontation is the secular state. In its fundamentalist form, religious awakening challenges our initial hypothesis that a spiritual person will make a good citizen. In fact, for the fundamentalist, a good religious person is one that undermines a state as long as such a state is not running on the specific precepts of a specifically revealed Scripture. The fact of terror-

ism seems to underscore the sceptical statement of Karl Marx that religion is nothing more than an elaborate opiate that points people’s attention to the heavens and a God they cannot see, but unfortunately indoctrinate them into a somnambulist state that ensures that their backs are turned to their fellow humans and citizens they can see and relate with.

Jonathan Swift, the Anglo-Irish writer, beautifully summed up the unfortunate situation: ‘We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.’

In its atavistic form, the modernisation theorists would be right to argue that religion doesn’t deserve any worthwhile role in national and secular affairs. These theorists argue that religious atavism will wither away as we become more civilised and modern.

They have been proven both wrong and right.

Religion has refused to wither away; and it is still violently atavistic. It instinctively fuels hatred rather than love and compassion in us towards fellow citizens, and it challenges our secular foundation. The fundamental question therefore is: Why can’t we see eye to eye in the name of the same God? Why does spirituality excite violence rather than compassion?

We will proceed at this point to attempt to answer this question.

If, as Jonathan Swift prophetically remarked many decades ago, ‘We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another,’ then we can begin to imagine how religious hate can ignite a national combustion within Nigeria’s plural existence. If spirituality does not enhance citizenship, then the alternative could only be a volatile situation that pits Nigerians against one another in violent religious frenzies.

Unfortunately, we have our present predicament as a very sad testament to the negative resurgence of religious fundamentalism. The Boko Haram insurgence, and the many other religious violence that had preceded it, only reveals that religion is not yet suitably fitted into our secular framework in Nigeria in spite of all our religious rhetoric and invocations to a Supreme God of Creation who is supposed to direct our noble cause.

When a man slaughters another in the name of God, what is at stake? What could possibly make a man call on a God of peace and compassion and yet be so brutish and violent?

Why is inter-faith relationship and dialogue seemingly impossible, especially in Nigeria where three religions must necessarily coexist? The three major religions that seem to have the reserve of volatility are Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The three are Abrahamic in the sense that they all have their root in the Scriptural sojourn of Abraham.

The rhetoric of religious absolutism is: You’re either for us or you are against us. It is therefore not difficult to see how such an antagonistic religious prism would generate enough hatred that would inevitably draw Nigerians away from the hope of a shared national value. Religious absolutism breeds intolerance, spiritual ego, a closed and fanatic mind and a fundamentalist perspective that insist that if you don’t join this religion, you die! The Boko Haram insurgence is the latest manifestation of fundamentalist thinking that Nigeria has generated; it may not be the last. And so, we are forced back to the two cogent points we raised in the first part of this series. The first is that religion has more in stock for humans beyond its present negative use. The second point is that religion ought to make a person a good citizen of a country. These two points are cogent if we are to make any head way with the project of national integration and development in Nigeria.

The best argument for inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria is actually a simple one: We are all Nigerians, and we all rise or fall together in spite of our different religions. The Boko Haram insurgence is actually not favourable to Muslims and Christians. We are all under fundamentalist fire. By this fact, it implies that as Nigerians we all have an overriding interest in speaking to one another in a bid to provide the framework for a viable coexistence. The alternative, as Boko Haram is teaching us presently, is nationally unpalatable. To be truly spiritual, we all have an obligation to reproduce heaven in Nigeria. Heaven is reciprocal affection for the other person as a human creation of a humane God. Inter-faith dialogue therefore begins from the necessity of spiritualising our existence as Nigerians. This essentially requires that we secularise the religious values central to each religion and transform them into civic virtues.

Islam springs from a fundamental ‘Submission to the will of Allah,’ and Christianity implies the followership of the ‘Prince of peace.’ The traditional religion prides itself on its non-violent and humanist foundation. All three further pride themselves as the repository of cardinal virtues that make for spirituality—love, compassion, mercy, hospitality, temperance, justice, prudence, diligence, kindness, humility, etc. It is not difficult to see how these virtues can become civic. Civic virtues are those behaviour, temperaments, attitudes and habits that are critical for the survival of any community. They include: trustworthiness, reciprocity, friendliness, politeness, cooperation, political participation, honesty, brotherhood, and so on.

• Dr. Olaopa is Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Abuja.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

25

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

Xerox unveils ‘optical mark recognition’ printer

By Joseph Jibueze

X

EROX H.S Limited has launched a new printer equipped with the Optical Mark Recognition technology.

Speaking at the unveiling during the Nigeria International Print Expo (Nipex 2014), the General Manager, Marketing, Mr Femi Abidoye said no fewer than 20 universities already use the printer to mark examination results.

He said the new Xerox Colour C75 and Xerox D110 have replaced the Docuprint 700i and WC4110/12 with an advanced technology.

Both products, he said, are equipped with features for scanning, printing and copying, and are scalable (upgradable).

Abidoye said: “The Xerox Colour C75 has printing resolution of up to 2400x2400 dpi, comes with Automatic Colour Quality Suite and Simplified Image Quality Adjustment tool set that ensures high resolution image outputs.

“It supports a wide range of paper weights (64-300gsm) and sizes (176x250 mm-330x488 mm), and can print on plain or gloss.

“It allows several other feature-enhancing options like use of Oversize High Capacity Feeders, Advanced and professional finishers, punch, booklet marker finisher, square fold trimmer, etc.

“The Xeros D110 is monochrome equipment that prints at a speed of 120 pages per minute. It has a document storage capacity of up to 80GB and can scan into various file formats, including PDF, JPEG.”

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-0.2958 -206.9 -242.1 -156 -1.9179 -238 -40.472

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Multiple taxation discourages investment, says MAN T T

World Bank to review procurement policies From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Rivers and Bayelsa states has identified the challenge of multiple taxation on businesses in Rivers State as major problem militating against investment and business growth in the state.

MAN also identified poor power supply and road network across the country as bane to reducing poverty and unemployment which it says drive insecurity.

Its chairman in the two states, Emelia Akpan stated these in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital while unveiling its forthcoming 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM), in Port Harcourt “Developing SMEs in Rivers and Bayelsa

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

states” as its theme.

Akpan lamented the effects of series of taxes charged on the businesses of his members and alleged that Rivers State parades one of the highest number of tax lists in the country. He stressed that it has multiplier effects on poverty, unemployment and insecurity.

According to her, charging several taxes on a particular business has the tendency to frustrate growth of existing businesses, discourage the emergence of new ones and encourage relocation to other states that have friendly tax charges.

She also noted that poor

power supply puts pressure on production by hiking cost and subsequently market price of their products. She called on governments at all levels to come to their aid, by creating enabling environments for businesses to thrive in the country.

She maintained that developing countries grow their economy from Small and Medium Sized (SMEs) and appealed for encouragement from governments and members of the public by way of patronage.

Earlier, Akpan had thanked the state governor, Chibuike Amaechi for providing good road network in the state adding that he has demonstrated high sense of responsibility in

the area of road construction in the state, and expressed the hope that things would get better.

She said: “On multiple taxation, Rivers Sate has one of the highest taxation lists in the whole federation. This is discouraging manufacturing and hindering the chances to reduce unemployment in the state.

“We want to believe that the government is not aware of these, because the development has the tendency to discourage new investors, collapse existing businesses or even make them leave the state.

“I am aware that no government will like this kind of thing; we therefore call on him to intervene in the situation.”

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru; Chief Executive Officer, Rand Merchant Bank West Africa, Mr. Michael Larbie; Group CEO, UBA Capital Plc and Chairman of the Session, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni; Chairman, Capital Market Association/Managing Partner Alliance Law Firm, Barr. Uche Val Obi; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchangen (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; and Chief Executive Officer, AIICO Pension Limited, Mr. Eguarekhide Longe during panel discussion on “Transformation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange” at the Capital Markets Solicitors’ Association, 2014 Annual Business Luncheon, in Lagos.

‘ExxonMobil generates N1tr revenue yearly for Fed Govt’

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MERICAN oil giant, ExxonMobil’s Nigerian operations, generates over N1 trillion for the Federal Government, it was learnt.

Its 2014 Energy Outlook Series that highlights contributions to economic growth, future energy supply and demand forecasts, and local capacity development, among others, made available to The Nation, showed that the Federal Government receives over N1 trillion in revenues from operations the firm’s operations.

It showed that since 2001, it has been contributing over N130 billion to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Act that established NDDC mandates oil producing companies operating onshore and offshore in the

Infrastructure investments, others to boost Nigeria’s growth

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By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Niger Delta region including gas processing companies, to contribute three per cent of their total annual budget to the commission’s purse.

An industry analyst who spoke in confidence to The Nation, said with over a N1 trillion coming from ExxonMobil, which is not the nation’s largest producer, one will imagine the combined revenue generation from the oil and gas producing firms in the country.

“We have at least five major international oil companies (IOCs) and scores of indigenous and independent oil firms yet the government doesn’t have developmental projects to show for all these receipts over the years,” the analyst said.

The 2014 Energy Outlook Series also showed what ExxonMobil has been doing in

its host community in Akwa Ibom State. The report said: “ExxonMobil over the last 10 years has contributed immensely to the economic growth of Akwa Ibom State.

“Our focus goes beyond the rigs to the livelihood, social, structural and economic development of the state and its people. We pay over N6 billion on the average annually as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax to the state in addition to ground rent of over N230 million annually to the state government.

“We also pay over N230 million to the state as part of our 13 per cent derivation while over N50 million on the average paid annually as tenement rate to Ibeno and Eket Local Government Areas. Our workforce comprises over 87 per cent Nigerians with over 35 per cent from Akwa Ibom

Making a living from mushrooms

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while about 40 per cent of contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Joint Venture (JV) go to companies with operational base in Akwa Ibom.”

On the capacity building programmes which are meant to improve skills of the Nigerian workforce to world class standards, the report stated that ExxonMobil provides positions for over 300 interns yearly and more than 80 per cent of interns working in the JV operations group are from Akwa Ibom.

It said: “We continue using the Eket Technical Training Centre to produce readily employable industry technicians.

“Till date, over 626 technicians have been trained at facility, and about 83 per cent have been employed directly by NNPC/ MPN JV.

HE World Bank is planning to review its procurement policy in order to make it more effective and comfortable for its borrowers, its Lead Procurement Specialist, Chief Bayo Awosemusi has said.

He spoke while declaring open a the World Bank and Ibadan Business School (IBS), partnership training programme in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Awosemusi said:”The bank is looking at ways to review our procurement policy to make it more effective, efficient and acceptable to the borrowers. We have some complaints from government and our borrowers who are lamenting that our procurement policy is cumbersome, it is not recognised in their local environment and so on.

“The bank’s procurement policy has remained unchanged for sometimes now.

“This period has seen profound changes in the global economy, in the conditions of the countries in which the Bank is engaged, and in the nature and range of the Bank’s projects and activities.

“The Bank is now undertaking a major review of its operational policy for procurement.”

The World Bank Procurement Specialist noted that many procurement professionals lack the ability to apply the rules and regulations governing the procurement processes, adding that this gives room for corruption.

Commenting on the training, he said: ”We are partnering with IBS to train procurement professional from different public sectors to ensure they improve on the services. We want them to move from theory to practice so that people that are practising procurement process understands the rules and regulation governing it.

“They will be exposed to ways to apply those rules and regulations, to ensure economy, efficiency, transparency that will make government to be accountable to the citizens. We are not providing any financial support but technical support.

“If we have procurement officers that are not doing the right thing, we need to apply sanction, because there are rules and regulations governing everything they do, but it’s just unfortunate that they don’t apply such sanctions again these days.”

He urged government to implement rules and regulations governing the procurement policies in order to achieve socio-economic development of. The country.

IBM pays $1.5b to offload chip unit

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

Nigeria targets $900b economy size in six years IGERIA is targeting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) worth $900 billion by the year 2020. This is to enable her realise its vision of being among the top 20 economies in the world within the period, says the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Bismark Rewane. The GDP measures the size and economic activities in a country at a particular point in time.

A report from the FDC, said that as a result of the GDP rebasing, the size of the Nigerian economy has grown by 89 per cent to N80.3 trillion ($509.9 billion). This ranks Nigeria as the world’s 26th largest economy, and the largest in Africa, bigger than Angola, Egypt and Vietnam put together, and 12 times the Ghanaian economy. The 89 percent jump thumps the expectations and forecasts of analysts who projected an increase of between 40 and 60 per cent from the rebasing.

Rewane said that the UN Statis-

N

Stories by Collins Nweze

tical Commission (UNSC) recommends that countries rebase their GDP every five years, adding that Nigeria has been using 1990 base year until recently that it rebased to 2010.

He explained that the heightened attention the rebasing has attracted suggests a need for a more structured argument for the exercise adding that investment is necessary for capital accumulation and economic growth.

“In April 2014, Nigeria rebased its GDP and changed its base year to 2010 from 1990. As a result, Nigeria is now regarded as a medium income economy. The rebasing exercise helped incorporate the informal sector into the national accounts and this showed a great increase in activities of the service sector of the Nigerian economy,” he said.

Rewane explained that rebasing has enabled the service sector to be better covered and has shown that

economic activities such as wholesale and retail trade, information and communication, real estate services, human health and social services, professional, scientific and technical services have gained importance in the country.

He said the service sector is expected to grow fastest and ahead of sectors such as industry and agriculture adding that while Nigeria is becoming slightly more diversified, the country is heading towards a more service-oriented economy.

Speaking further, he said the FSS 2020 vision was developed to make Nigeria the safest and fastest-growing financial system amongst emerging economies. “It is made to strengthen the Nigerian domestic financial markets; enhance their integration with external financial markets; and engineer Nigeria’s evolution into an international financial centre (IFC),” he said.

“In terms of performance so far, highest levels of achievement

might have been recorded in the areas of predictable exchange rate, single digit inflation and financial (banking) soundness. At the other extreme end however, achievements in the areas of integrating informal financial sector, achieving a strong knowledge-based capital market and creating enabling environment and finance for SMEs can still be described as low.

Also, in the other remaining areas, the levels of achievement can still be described as marginal and requiring much effort,” he said.

On investment, he said investment entails additions to the economy’s capital stock. It involves the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth.

He said investment can also be classified into domestic and foreign investments. The components of domestic investments are private domestic investment and public domestic investment, the latter being investments by government

and public enterprises on social and economic infrastructures, real estate and tangible assets. Equally, foreign investment can be foreign direct investment (FDI) or Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI). While the former is investment in tangible assets by foreigners, the latter is their investments in shares, bonds, securities among others.

Rewane said all these forms of investments are complementary and necessary for economic growth and development of the nation.

He said higher interest rate imply higher cost of capital and this tends to reduce domestic investment; however, it may also serve as an indication of return on the investments of foreigners thereby aiding foreign inflows. He said increase in GDP is expected to increase domestic investment through what is known as the accelerator principle; it also encourages market-seeking FDI since higher GDP imply higher market size.

‘Why ECOWAS needs single currency’

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CONOMISTS and stakehold-ers in the global economy have highlighted the benefits of ECOWAS having a single currency by 2020.

An economist at the Banque de France, Gilles Dufrénot, said in an online agency report: ‘Inter- Reseaux’ that the ECOWAS countries are on the way to establishing a single currency by 2020. Nigeria, he said, is poised to play a major role in this process.

He explained that the “currency map” of West Africa comprises several different exchange regimes. “There is a monetary union, made up of the eight countries of the franc zone, whose currency is tied to the euro ; and a set of non-convertible national currencies whose exchange rates in relation to the dollar or the euro are fixed administratively to a greater or lesser degree,” he said.

He explained that since different exchange regimes coexist in a small area does not back trade between countries due to the high transaction costs involved (for example, fees for currency conversion and the insurance costs incurred by importers and exporters to cover exchange risks).

Also, for currencies not pegged to an international currency, the problems linked to the credibility of their

exchange policies and the uncertainties linked to volatile exchange rates discourage stable foreign capital and investment over the medium and long term.

He said the idea of introducing a single currency within ECOWAS is based on several historical observations. First, monetary unions tend to foster regional trade as long as they attain a critical mass. Second, regional trade is what drives economic growth, rather than transactions in the context of North/South specialisation. The reason for this is that regional trade most often involves the exchange of similar products, avoiding the pitfall of national industries evicted by imports.

Lastly, the global economy is likely to take shape around currency poles in coming years. It will be important for African countries to have their own poles, alongside international currency poles (the dollar, the euro and the yen). The timetable for implementing a single currency in ECOWAS is outlined as follows.

First, the countries that are not members of the franc zone will set up their own monetary zone called the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) in 2014, adopting a common currency, the West African Currency Unit.

•From left: Group Managing Director/CEO, Union Bank Plc, Mr. Emuwa Emeka; Heritage Bank Chief Eexecutive Officer, Mr. Ifie Sekibo and Director of Finance and Accounts, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Abatcha Bulama, at the 2014 Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), investiture of Fellows in Lagos

FCMB inaugurates MasterCard

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, has commenced a special offer to reward customers who use its Debit MasterCard for cash withdrawals, purchases or online payments within and outside Nigeria, with cash and unique gift items such as

•Primary and secondary recipients at the Global Fund/ Ecobank Partnership Finance Training session in Abuja.

iPad-minis and android phones.

The special incentive, which comes in two categories namely; Issuance/Activation and Usage and tagged, FCMB MasterCard Offer, commenced in September and will run till end of October, 2014.

Under the Issuance/activation category, a customer issued the bank’s MasterCard for the first time, receives unique FCMB customised pens and key rings instantly, upon the activation of the card.

For the card usage category, a customer who spends up to N500,000 within Nigeria to effect transactions on Point of Sales (PoS) or via the internet, gets up to 1.5 per cent cash back on total spend directly in his or her account. In addition, a total spend of N2 million and above outside Nigeria on PoS, ATM or the internet, will be rewarded instantly with gifts such as an iPad-mini, a Microsoft surface, an android phone, amongst others. The gift reward is contingent on the total amount spent.

Speaking on the MasterCard offer, the Executive Director, Service Management and Technology, Mr. Nath Ude, said the FCMB MasterCard offer is another way FCMB appreciates its customers for embracing its array of innovative products and services. “We will continue to demonstrate our commitment in providing customers with easy, convenient and reliable channels to conduct financial transactions,” Mr. Ude stated.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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MONEY Access Bank Plc is leveraging on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) money transfer policy which raised money transfer limit to $5,000 from $2,000 to deepen its growth and profitability. The lender, which recently launched outbound money transfer services in partnership with MoneyGram, said the feat is boosting money transfer market and adding value to its stakeholders, COLLINS NWEZE writes.

Driving growth, profitability via money transfer W

ITH over $21 billion Diaspora remittances recorded in 2013, banks with eye in the future have to take money transfer services seriously. That explains why Access Bank, in partnership with MoneyGram, has launched outbound money transfer service.

The bank’s Head, Personal Banking, Victor Etuokwu said the partnership has boosted the money transfer market.

He said the outbound money transfer service, marketed as “Naija Sends” allows Nigerians to send their naira abroad through any Access Bank branch, and the funds are received in the currency of the receiving country.

He said: “What we promise our customers is speed, service and security. This means that we would offer them this service in a manner that is expeditious, quick, with minimal, but legal documentation; the service would be prompt and done in an environment that is secured. In other words, there would be no errors and there would not be fraud.

“There were some discussions around the transfer limit. If you put the limit so low, you will cut off some micro entrepreneurs. So, it is a welcome development that the regulator is sensitive to some ideas that would grow the economy.”

Head, Franchise Group, Access Bank Plc, Ola Isola encouraged Nigerians to see this as a platform to relate with their loved ones and business partners across the world.

“So, be it payment for a child in school, medical payment, business purchases across the world, this is a safe and secured platform. This is a platform that the people within the bottom of the pyramid are conversant with. The charges are competitive when you compare them with the alternative platforms. But we have to always note the service because service that is not paid for is not sustainable.”

MoneyGram Regional Manager for Anglophone West Africa, Mrs. Kemi Okusanya, said the launch of “Naija Sends” has further deepened the brands reach and service in Nigeria.

In her remarks she noted “Over the last two decades MoneyGram has facilitated over 15 million transactions in Nigeria, enabling safe, convenient and reliable transfer of funds from the Nigerians in Diaspora to their loved ones. As Africa’s largest economy, with over 10 million migrants, we are glad we are able to offer this service in Nigeria today.”

The CBN policy The new money transfer policy permits individuals who want to send money outside the country through the International Money Transfer Services, can now send up to $5,000 per transaction, 150 per cent above the initial allowed limit.

The limit for transfers was reviewed upward from the initial $2,000 data from the CBN website showed. Although the CBN did not give any reason for the upward review, it specified that the new limit of $5,000 applies only to individuals, excluding corporate bodies.

The circular which was signed by the CBN director, Trade and Exchange, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, reads, “authorised dealers and members of the public are hereby notified that the threshold of $2,000

per transaction has been reviewed upward.

“Accordingly, the allowable limit for the outbound international money transfer of $2,000 per transaction has been increased to $5,000 of its equivalent per transaction. However, it is important to note that this service is only applicable to person-to-person transfer.

For the avoidance of doubt, corporate entities are not allowed to use this product,” it said.

Access bank has continued to take major steps that add value to its stakeholders, and these steps are already paying off.

Third quarter performance Access Bank Plc has announced an profit of N44.2 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2014 based on improved efficiency, rising market share and strong risk management practices.

The bank’s profit before tax (PBT) showed an increase of 20 percent from N35.1billion recorded during the same period in 2013.

Access Bank Group unaudited IFRS nine results released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday also showed gross earnings of N182bn, up 17per cent from N154bn in the corresponding period of 2013. The growth in gross earnings was driven by an increase in interest income from loans.

The lender posted 21 per cent growth in operating income to N126bn from N104bn in 2013. Customer deposits increase by 11per cent to N1.5 trillion from N1.3 trillion in FY 2013. The bank’s asset quality ratios also improved as Non Performing Loan (NPL) ratio was down 20bps to 2.5per cent, from 2.7per cent in December 2013.

Further analysis of the result indicated that Access bank continued to improve on its operating efficiency and steady income growth resulting in cost to income ratio of 61per cent in third quarter 2014 compared to 75per cent in 2013.

Total assets grew by 14per cent to N2.1 trillion from N1.8trillion in full year 2013. Loans and advances of N1.1trillion showed an increase of 33per cent compared to N811bn in full year 2013.

Commenting on the result, Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe said “The Bank’s resilient 3Q 2014 results reflect consistent improvement in our balanced growth and target metrics. Our performance over the past three quarters demonstrates the effectiveness of our corporate strategy as the Bank continues to grow its market share in key segments whilst enhancing shareholder value.”

“We have implemented a disciplined and conservative capital enhancement plan, designed to ensure we maintain our moderate

risk appetite. This will ensure a stronger capitalised bank, enabling us to remain competitive and take advantage of significant.

Diaspora remittances With a yearly growth rate of three per cent over the past five years and $21 billion inflow of personal remittances last year, Nigeria is the fifth largest remittance receiver worldwide in terms of volume, a KPMG report has shown.

The Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey 2014 by the firm obtained by The Nation showed that remittance to Nigeria accounts for 65.6 per cent of total flows into subSaharan Africa. The feat, it said, presents some avenue for banks that may want to tap into the opportunities created by this class of Nigerians who wish to transact banking business using their local bank accounts.

In an online survey of 127 Nigerians resident in 12 countries who maintain local banking relationships, convenience was the overwhelming driver of value.

According to the report, when asked for the most important factor in their banking relationships, 44 per cent of the customers selected the availability of internet banking. In particular, customers identified the ease of use of the internet banking platform as the most important factor followed closely by the quality of customer service.

Seventy-seven per cent of those surveyed transfer money through formal channels – banks (48 per cent) or other money transfer agencies (29 per cent) – compared to 19 per cent who said they send money home through less informal ways – family and friends – travelling home.

Also, on the effectiveness of the contact centre, the ease of complaints resolution was cited as a major area of dissatisfaction.

It also showed that more than 50 per cent of customers who have used their bank’s contact centre have been dissatisfied with the promptness of issues resolution and quality of feedback. It cited one bank’s response to a customer facing some debit card challenges that the customer should wait until his next visit home, for his query to be resolved.

The increasing frequency and magnitude of cybercrime incidents globally make it apparent that cybercrime is here to stay. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) report for the first half of last year noted that there were 2,478 fraud and forgery cases banks worth over N20 billion. This, it said, represented an eight per cent increase over that of the previous year but a significant increase in value of over 200 per cent from 2012.

•Access Bank GMD/CEO Herbert Wigwe

In this year’s survey, two per cent of retail customers indicated that they had experienced a fraud in the last year and while this number appears small today, it may signify the start of a potentially disturbing future trend.

Eye on fresh capital Access Bank’s Deputy Group Managing Director, Obinna Nwosu said the lender will be raising N68 billion capital through Rights Issues. He advised shareholders to take up their rights when the issue begins, as the bank has proven its ability to deliver superior returns on investment.

The bank chief also listed some of the major attributes that makes Access Bank an institution of choice for investors.

Nwosu said the bank has Capital Adequacy Ratio of 21 per cent, and has seven banking subsidiaries.

The lender also employs 3,192 professional staff working in 366 branches. The lender has 1,042 ATMs, with 11,846 Point of Sale channels.

He said with a vision of becoming one of the most respected banks in Africa, Access Bank has grown to be the top five banks in Nigeria, stating that between 2002 and 2007, the bank ranked among the top 10 lenders in the country.

“That feat was triggered by its role as a dominant trade finance bank;

‘What we promise our customers is speed, service and security. This means that we would offer them this service in a manner that is expeditious, quick, with minimal, but legal documentation; the service would be prompt and done in an environment that is secured. In other words, there would be no errors and there would not be fraud’

top three foreign exchange and money market bank and model of compliance in the banking industry,” he said.

Nwosu, who spoke in company of other Senior officials of the bank, including the Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Roosevelt Ogbonna at a media briefing in Lagos, said that between 2007 and 2012, the bank emerged among the top five in the financial services group, adding that this was achieved based on its reference point of Service Delivery; leading e-business support bank; employee of choice in Africa; reference point for corporate governance; attainment of high independent credit rating and as a top five trade finance lender.

Leader in sustainable finance Access Bank is also a strong converser for the implementation of sustainable banking principles by lenders. Its Chief Risk Officer, Dr. Gregory Ovie Jobome recently called on stakeholders in the Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP) to follow uniform reporting standards for them to achieve the desired objective.

Speaking at the NSBP Pre-Reporting Workshop held in Lagos, he said stakeholders needed to ensure that they formulate policies that will enable them achieve their sustainable banking objectives. The workshop was organised by Access Bank.

He said operators needed to ensure that issues around human rights, environmental sectors to the bank and other critical issues are reported uniformly.

The Managing Director of Sustainable Finance Limited, Carey Bohjanen, said banks should think through the NSBP and implement them. She said the Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principle is a regulatory requirement that lenders have to adhere to because it is also costsaving.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

Infrastructure investments, others to boost Nigeria, others’ growth, says IMF N IGERIAN and other sub-Saharan Africa countries are expected to record relatively strong economic growth all through to 2015, although the downside risks and wealth inequality remain quite substantial.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic and Financial Survey, Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa published on Monday, reported that average growth in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries could range between about five per cent and 5.75 per cent.

According to the report, the growth momentum in SSA countries would remain high in most of the SSA countries, driven largely by sustained infrastructure investment, buoyant services sectors, and strong agricultural production.

The report noted that continued infrastructure development would be critical to raising potential growth, accelerate economic diversification, and foster structural transformation.

IMF indicated that all infrastructure investments would continue to be under the three broad modalities of public investment, public-private partnerships, and purely private investment.

It however highlighted the need for SSA countries to balance the appetite for infrastructure financing with control over macroeconomic risks.

“Going forward, the policy challenge is to take advantage of the growing menu of financing

Stories by Taofik Salako

modalities while controlling fiscal risks and maintaining debt sustainability. All three broad modalities for infrastructure financing—public investment, public-private partnerships, and purely private investment—come with advantages and pitfalls,” IMF stated.

According to the report, as policymakers complement public investment efforts financed by taxation and debt instruments with support for more private participation in infrastructure, the potential resource envelope increases, but so does the institutional capacity requirement to mitigate potential fiscal risks. Overall, countries should seek to upgrade their investment planning and execution capacity, and overhaul regulatory agencies and policies.

The report noted that the favourable outlook for the SSA was also supported by recent revisions in national accounts, which showed underlying growth strength.

It pointed out that the services sector, whose growth had been substantially underestimated in the past in Ghana and Nigeria, now accounts for a much larger share, and these economies are far more diversified than previously though.

According to the report, among

oil producers, Nigeria’s activity is expected to accelerate from 5.4 per cent to between 7.0 and 7.25 per cent between 2014 and 2015, on the back of buoyant non-oil sectors and recovering oil production, as issues surrounding oil theft and pipeline shutdowns are gradually addressed.

The report however noted that unreliable electricity supply, in particular, is hampering the transition to higher productivity activities. While many countries have managed to sustain infrastructure investment levels, financed by a mix of domestic resources and external financing, outcomes have not always improved accordingly, suggesting limited investment efficiency. Regulatory and capacity constraints in project development and implementation are also important obstacles to boosting the quality of infrastructure investment and outcomes.

The regional economic outlook also expressed concerns over the dire situation in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where the Ebola outbreak is exacting a heavy human and economic toll as well as in a few countries where activity is facing headwinds from domestic policies, including in South Africa, where growth is held back by electricity bottlenecks, difficult labor relations, and low business confidence; and in Ghana and, until re-

cently, Zambia, where large macroeconomic imbalances have led to pressures on the exchange rate and inflation.

The Ebola outbreak, the report noted, could have much larger regional spillovers, especially if it is more protracted or spreads to other countries-with trade, tourism, and investment confidence severely affected. Also, the security situation continues to be difficult in Central African Republic and South Sudan, and remains precarious in Northern Mali, Northern Nigeria, and the coast of Kenya.

“Homegrown fiscal vulnerabilities in a few countries.

Fiscal policy remains on an expansionary footing. In many countries, this reflects a time-bound increase to finance infrastructure and other development spending, at appropriately concessional terms. But in a few cases, particularly some frontier economies, wide fiscal deficits have been driven by rising recurrent expenditures. The risk is that the fiscal vulnerabilities that have emerged will eventually push these countries into a sharp and disorderly adjustment,” the report stated.

According to the report, a marked slowdown in emerging markets would weaken demand for commodity exports from the region, with immediate negative effects on external and fiscal positions. The

ensuing decline in activity prospects may lead to reduced appetite for investment, with more longterm implications on the growth momentum.

However, a faster-than-expected tightening of global financial conditions could trigger a new bout of volatility. Risk aversion from foreign investors may lead to a reversal of sentiment toward the region and capital outflows, putting pressure on countries with large external financing needs, and forcing abrupt macroeconomic adjustments.

“Against this backdrop, the overriding policy objective remains sustaining high growth, but fiscal imbalances also need to be addressed in a few countries. As policymakers pursue development objectives to facilitate employment creation and inclusive growth, it will be important to pay heed to macroeconomic constraints. Increasingly, this will require striking the right balance between scaling up public investment in human capital and physical infrastructure and maintaining debt sustainability,” the report pointed out.

IMF advised that monetary policies should continue to focus on consolidating the reduction in inflation achieved in recent years, including by tightening in countries where there is rapid growth and persistent high inflation. In the few countries with acute macroeconomic imbalances, fiscal consolidation is necessary, but should avoid overly adverse consequences on the poor and vulnerable groups.

NSE boss stresses commitment to corporate governance

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•From right: Chairman, board of fellows, Chartered Institute Of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Sammy Olagbaju; President, CIS, Mr. Albert Okumagba; Past President, CIS, Mr. Mike Itegboje and First Vice President, CIS, Mr Oluseyi Abe at the 2nd brunch with the president of CIS in Lagos

Stockbrokers parley SEC, NSE on recapitalisation, others

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TOCKBROKERS are currently discussing with the authorities at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on key market issues with a view to ensuring that the market operators and regulators reach workable modalities for implementation of the policies.

President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Albert Okumagba, who disclosed this, said the self-regulatory organisation (SRO) for the largest group of market operators has been engaging the market regulators on the crucial issues of recapitalisation, demutualisation, new listing and activation of the commodities exchange.

The issue of conversion of the NSE from a member-owned Exchange to shareholder-owned tradable public limited liability company, otherwise known as demutualisation, has been

on the front burner.

Okumagba said consultations were going on with the market regulators on the issues of recapitalization, demutualization of the NSE, making commodities exchange active and how to attract the companies in the telecommunication sector to get their shares listed on the market.

He added that the CIS would monitor mutual funds in order to protect investors who do not have professional advisers as well as ensure active trading on the mutual funds.

He said the CIS plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture to further expand growth in the capital market.

While noting that the CIS was poised to grow the capital market to an appreciable level as a professional

institute of choice from the moneymaking perspective, Okumagba stressed the need for all efforts to be geared towards developing the capital market and the economy at large.

The CIS, he reiterated has extended hand of fellowship to ICAN, NBA to collaborate based on mutually agreed principles.

The CIS boss also said the institute was holding talks with the market regulators regarding the recapitalisation of market operators and demutualisation of the NSE. He added that consultations were ongoing about how to make the commodities exchange active and attract companies in the telecommunications sector to the market.

While stressing the need for more active trading in collective investment schemes, he assured that the institute would monitor the schemes in order to protect investors who do not have professional advisers.

HE Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has said his organisation is fully committed to improving good corporate governance among listed companies on the Exchange.

Onyema gave this charge at the World Investment Forum, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Global Dialogue on the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative,’ Onyema explained that the Exchange was developing initiatives and frameworks aimed at placing governance on the same level as other parameters of corporate performance.

He said, “Listening to what other exchanges had to say about sustainability made it even clearer that we have to move at a swift pace if we are to meet and finance the Sustainable Development Goals that will be set in September 2015, otherwise

we will be back in 2030 saying that little was accomplished.

“Each exchange finds that it must grapple with unique challenges and circumstances. No two jurisdictions are quite alike. The one-size-fits-all philosophy is not really applicable when exchanges and wider eco-system in which they operate, may be at different levels of development, however, setting minimum sustainability reporting standards.”

The statement explained that the 2014 global dialogue of the sustainable stock exchanges initiative brought together securities regulators, stock exchange executives, institutional investors, CEOs and ministers to identify ways to harness capital markets for sustainable development.

“The global dialogue, a roundtable gathering of high-level officials, showcases the many sustainability-related opportunities and challenges facing capital markets,”it added.

Berger Paints gets new directors

B

ERGER Paints Nigeria Plc has announced the appointment of three new non-executive directors to its board to replace those who recently retired. The new directors are Mr. Raj Mangtani, Adekunle Olowokande and Engr. Patrick Nnamdi Buruche.

Raj holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Bombay. He is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management and the Indian Professionals Association of Nigeria.

Raj is the Managing Director of Emychem Limited, a leading chemical marketing company. He also serves on the board of such notable manufacturing companies as Metcem Limited and Zaika Foods Ingredient Ltd as non-executive director. He brings to Berger Paints a wealth of experience in the Chemical and Allied Matters Industry within and outside of Nigeria spanning over twenty years.

Kunle Olowokande is a chartered

accountant, with considerable work experience in the UK and Nigeria.

He holds a Masters Degree in International Finance from the London Metropolitan University.

Prior to his appointment to the board, Kunle had served as Management Accountant to a leading professional services firm in the UK. For a couple of years, Kunle functioned as the Head of Strategy and Risk Management for Berger Paints Nigeria Plc. - a position that gave him a deep insight into matters of critical importance to the growth of the company.

Patrick Buruche holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Having served for several years across different positions with the Anambra State Water Corporation, he went ahead to establish Pangoc Global Services Limited, a construction company which had successfully executed many projects in the south eastern part of Nigeria.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

PAGE 29

Ajara, one of the communities in Badagry, Lagos State is being ravaged by goitre, a disease that causes swelling around the neck. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA went there to find out why and reports that the state government has launched a battle to rid the community of the ailment.

•A beneficiary of the surgery to remove goitre

Lagos begins battle to rid Badagry of goitre

I

INSIDE

T is a common sight in Badagry, one of the riverside areas of Lagos state, to find many residents with swollen necks, especially in of Ajara. It is not an evidence of good living as some might want to say, as the people affected would love to have a normal neck, devoid of any swelling. But a prevalence of goiter disease now ravaging the community would not allow this.

Wherever you turn as you approach Badagry roundabout from

When hunters endorsed Amosun PAGE 32

Lagos, either right to Ajara or left to the ancient town made famous by the slave trade of the colonial era, you are likely to be confronted with the sight of men and women, old and young, married or single with unusually large necks. They are suffering from goitre, a disease that causes an enlargement of the thyroid gland (around the neck).

It is called ‘kojiji’ in the local dialect.

The Nation gathered that the disease is endemic in the area especially in the 14 or so communities that make up

Ajara, with pockets of it elsewhere in Badagry. And expectedly this is causing concern among health officials in the area who are worried about what could be the cause. The state government is equally worried and has set machinery in motion to not just unravel the cause but also rid the area of the ailment.

Most of those afflicted have been carrying the disease for years, some

•Continued on page 30

We are being marginalised, Akure indigenes cry out PAGE 34

•Dr. Oludara

Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows PAGES 36

‘The disease is endemic in the area especially in the 14 or so communities that make up Ajara, with pockets of it elsewhere in Badagry.

And expectedly this is causing concern among health officials in the area who are worried about what could be the cause. The state government is equally worried and has set machinery in motion to not just unravel the cause but also rid the area of the ailment’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE SOUTWEST REPORT

Lagos begins battle to rid Badagry of goitre •Continued from page 29 for decades with no clue as to the cause and how to get cured. Most attribute it to spiritual attack from their enemies and believe only a spiritual intervention could cure them. Some have resigned to fate believing it is their own cross in life to carry. Over the years, they had attempted different manner of solutions. From scarifications of the affected area which could be right on the frontal neck or beside the neck; to carrying out of sacrifices and eating all sorts of preparations, made from herbal plants, drinks or even of animal origins. Yet there were no improvements.

Though the disease has been among the people for long, the upsurge was only noticed about few months ago when the state government dispatched a health mission to the area as part of its health care programme. Almost immediately a course of treatment was put in place including free surgery for those affected at teaching hospital in Ikeja, the state capital, while a team of experts was put together to determine the cause.

The experts it was gathered have been to the area and have almost concluded analyses of the samples they collected from the water the people are drinking and the screening of the pupils in the community school, with a view to detecting the causes and preventing a reoccurrence.

Sharing her experience, an expectant mother, 40-year-old Mrs Pauline Edokpaye, who had lived in Badagry for six years, said she began to notice some swelling around her neck, four years ago. She was uncomfortable with the development, but did not understand what it was all about until she visited the General Hospital, Badagry, and was told it is called goitre.

“Since then, I’d visited many other doctors who prescribed medications and I have also seen traditional healers who gave me things to drink and did ‘gbere’ (incisions) on same. But I never saw any improvement until last December when I attended the Health Mission and I was discovered and selected as one of the beneficiaries for surgery”, Mrs Edokpaye said.

But she would however have to wait for a while until she delivers before her surgery can be carried out.

But for 37-year-old Chika Ahamefule, who had also lived with the swollen neck that she described as: “a reproach for me and my family”, it is a different ball game. She had lived with the condition for three years.

She did not understand how it all started, but all she realised, according to her, was that her voice began to change and the once beautiful Church chorister was no longer able to sing: “Because my voice had changed and it cracks a lot with some vibration that rings to my earing”. Chika is one of the first set of the 43 beneficiaries, who have had their enlarged thyroid removed through surgery.

The Nation gathered that while some residents believed they contracted the disease known as “Kojiji” in local dialect, because they use cup to drink from the stream in their rustic Ajara community, some are of the opinion that they came in contact with goitre through supernatural powers said to be rampant in the community. Not even scientific explanation for the cause could convince them otherwise.

Some blamed their infertility on the disease. One of them, Mrs Victoria Abimbola, said goitre was a spell from evil people in her community which prevented her from having more chil-

dren as she would have loved to.

She said: “In fact, it was this disease that stopped me from having more children as I had planned before my husband died. I was told by a source I consulted, it was this disease that prevented me from having as many children as possible. I want God to remove the disease that has turned me to a subject of ridicule in the village. I have used traditional and orthodox medicines. Many have taken advantage of me and duped me. They have collected all I have, claiming to have solution to the problem.”

A septuagenarian, Mrs Hanna Apata, who had been battling goitre for over 30 years, also claimed that she was attacked by evildoers in the community.

According to her: ”My children have been frustrated over the expenses on the treatment. In fact, I could not tell them that I was coming for this treatment. My husband tried his best before his death 10 years ago. It should be closed to 30 years or more that I have been suffering from goitre. I do not use drugs. Goitre is caused by the evil people. They cast the spell on those they perceive as their enemies. That is all I know. So I believe the best way to deal with it is through spiritual means.”

Fumilayo Adeyemi, said the spell, which she thought was cast on her, was meant to hinder her kidney from functioning normally. The woman added that herbalists told her that her goitre was as a result of kidney disorder. “I have been suffering from the disease for over 10 years. I have spent all my money on it. There are many fraudsters who have taken advantage of us; some said my kidney was not functioning well. Majority said it was a spell by enemies and witches, everybody has his own reasons for the cause of the disease,” she said.

According to Elizabeth Akintunde, another resident, who could not recall the year she started to live with goitre, said she gave birth to four of her five children with the disease.

She said: “I have used drugs especially traditional medicines prescribed for me. Many people have come to us to tell us that if taken, the disease would be cured. But we pray the government will remove the swelling, may God assist them in doing so. I have spent a lot of money in a bid to cure it.”

Speaking at the flag off of the surgical intervention for those suffering from goitre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, the Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris said it was still not certain what could be responsible for the large number of people with goitre in Ajara community.

According to Governor Babatunde Fashola, who kicked off the free medical intervention, “we became touched by the plight of these people who do not even understand their situation and have decided to help them find out the root cause of the problem and proffer lasting solution.

“As a preliminary, we are offering free surgical intervention and henceforth all health missions shall include goitre screening across the state and free surgery as well”, he announced.

According to the governor, the government is not stopping at treating the patients alone but, “wants to find out how to prevent people from developing such a condition. Hence, we have sent experts to that area of the state to discover the root cause of such. We will be using children to determine the cause in line with international standard.

“Also, epidemiologists from the state, public physicians and other stake-

•Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

•Mrs. Mary Francis during the Surgical Intervention of the Lagos State Goitre Control Programme

•A beneficiary, Mrs Olayinka Godonuve

‘My children have been frustrated over the expenses on the treatment. In fact, I could not tell them that I was coming for this treatment. My husband tried his best before his death 10 years ago. It should be closed to 30 years or more that I have been suffering from goitre. I do not use drugs. Goitre is caused by the evil people. They cast the spell on those they perceive as their enemies. That is all I know. So I believe the best way to deal with it is through spiritual means’ holders will be storming Badagry to detect the reasons why goitre is so rampant there. The findings will help us to take action in preventing our people and future generations from developing the disease.”

According to Dr Idris, the discovery of goitre in Ajara was made possible by the Medical Mission, which took place last December which led to the large turn-out of people with swollen neck among local residents who came seeking medical intervention.

He said: “Consequently, the ministry constituted a team of experts led

by Consultant Surgeon, Dr Bolaji Oludara; Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr Wale Ajala; State Epidemiologist,

Dr Ismail Abdu-Salam, and Consultant Clinician, Dr Adedokun, to carry out an on-the spot prevalence study and draw out possible intervention programme.

• “The initial finding showed that occurrence of this alarming number of neck swellings in an isolated region was because of the physical and financial burden to the local residents of referring these patients to secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, it became necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy that will offer an effective and holistic approach, whose impact will be felt in the long term”.

Speaking on the initial findings, Lead Consultant Surgeon, Dr Bolaji

Oludara, said a selective, specialised medical mission for the patients which took place between March 10 and 14 found the prevalence of simple goitre in the community with three testing positive to toxic goitre.

Oludara said: “The disease which is the enlargement of the thyroid gland often due to iodine deficiency or blockade of iodine production by certain diets which inhibits iodine to the body was found prevalent among women in the age bracket of 30 and 59 but mostly within ages 40 and 49 with the oldest patient found to be 62 years who had lived with the condition for 45 years. Untreated simple or toxic goitre could lead to heart diseases and eventual death.”

The surgeons from LASUTH told The Nation that their observations of the goitre prevalence in Badagry could be described as toxic goitre.

They explained that such have an array of chemical symptoms and signs that are actually very dangerous to existence. For example, they can affect the heart, cause all sorts of changes, such that the person will be having tremors, the eye balls will be protruding. And when the person like that goes into what is called ‘thyroid toxic crisis’, that can easily cause death, therefore there is need beyond the cosmetics to investigate these cases.

They further explained: “And if we are able to identify the toxic inherent

ve

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE SOUTWEST REPORT •

•Another beneficiary

•A patient, Fumilayo Adeyemi

•An expectant mother, 40-year-old Mrs Pauline Edokpaye, Dr Dolapo Fasawe and Mrs Chika Ahamefule, 37 year old.

in the goitre that will further help us to pursue aggressive solutions and further treatments. And no Uhuru yet even in any of the people that have ‘simple goitre’. This is because if the simple goitre stays for a long time there is a propensity to develop into cancer on the long term. There is a sure risk of cancerous degeneration in a long standing goitre that has multiple nodes within them. So we need to understand that cosmetics treatment may not be the best bye-pass solution. It is also good to know that a number of cases have real serious medical issues and we are also investigating these cases among the series that we are actually looking at.

“Though goitre prevalence in Badagry is high, but, it is not completely uncommon in our environment. Even at LASUTH we see some number of cases. Unlike some fifteen, twenty years ago, today we are seeing quite an increasing number of cancer within the thyroid gland, some of the specimen that appear to look like simple goitre, when you send them after removal, through surgery for histo-pathological analysis, some of them still come back as Thyroid cancer, i.e a cancer originating from follicular or parafollicular thyroid cells.

Thyroiditis and other thyroid disease also predispose to thyroid cancer.”

Ajala explained: “There are four major types of thyroid gland cancer-

anaphylactic, follicular, medullary and papillary. The best way to find a thyroid cancer is to make sure that your thyroid gland does not have nodules and is not enlarged. We see patients especially women with protruding eyes, most of the times their hand will be shaking, most of these people are very lean. One thing that is very interesting in this Badagry case is the number of hypo-thyroidism that we saw in them. Like we said, the disease is common in this environment, but hypothyroidism is not common at all, when we investigated, we found, that about 15 percent actually have hypo thyrodism, that is, the thyroid gland is working below expectation and it may then be one of the reasons why they have the swelling, it could be that the body is reacting to cell, maybe there is some anti body antigen reaction and we are really suspecting this.”

He added: “About 15 per cent of the cases that we have seen may be having some auto immune disorder. The Badagry case is puzzling being that as a riverside area, the residents naturally have access to an increased supply of iodine in sea food, but the reverse is the case, the state is actually looking deep into it to know what exactly the cause is.”

A member of the team told The Nation in confidence that children were examined as the gold standard in determining the causes of goitre in

•Another patient, Elizebeth Akintunde

‘Though goitre prevalence in Badagry is high, but, it is not completely uncommon in our environment. Even at LASUTH we see some number of cases. Unlike some fifteen, twenty years ago, today we are seeing quite an increasing number of cancer within the thyroid gland, some of the specimen that appear to look like simple goitre, when you send them after removal, through surgery for histo-pathological analysis, some of them still come back as Thyroid cancer, i.e a cancer originating from follicular or parafollicular thyroid cells. Thyroiditis and other thyroid disease also predispose to thyroid cancer’ Badagry, because, Thyroid disease is a common paediatric disorder that affects up to 3.7 per cent of school-aged children, and it usually presents with a goitre.

“By far, the most frequent cause of goitre is autoimmune thyroid disease, although benign colloid (simple) goitre is also a common cause. Our methodology focused on the diagnostic approach to Badagry children (especially with a hypothyroid, hyperthyroid or euthyroid goitre).

“Thyroid disorders are one of the most common endocrine problems in children and adolescents. One American study showed thyroid disorders to be present in 3.7 per cent of children between the ages of 11 and 18 years.

Children with thyroid disorders usually present with an enlargement of the thyroid gland (goitre), with or without symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency or excess. These symptoms are generally insidious in onset, which may delay diagnosis by sev-

PHOTOS: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA and OMOSEHIN MOSES

eral weeks to several months. Because goitre is often the first sign of thyroid disease, the diagnostic considerations can be approached from the perspective of the goitre”, the team member stated.

These findings and synergy corroborate the submissions of the Coordinator of the Free Health Mission, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, who debunked the myths by the residents.

According to Dr Fasawe: “It is unfortunate that these people have refused to go to the hospital over the years and this explains why they all have marks on their necks. The truth of the matter is that there are so many things that can cause goitre; it could be from the water they drink or the food they eat.

“Goitre is the swelling of the thyroid gland situated in the neck. When this thyroid gland starts to malfunction, when there is deficiency, it can enlarge to 50 times of its original size.

It could be lack of iodine in the body.

It could be in the environment. But we are investigating it to find a lasting solution to the problem.”

Dr Fasawe said government would carry out massive sensitisation to dispel the rumour and the myth concerning the cause of the disease once the team formally submits its reports on its findings.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE SOUTWEST REPORT

THE SOUTWEST REPORT

The people of Sagamu in Remo division of Ogun State have expressed gratitude to the state government for the facelift given to their community, but they are asking Governor Ibikunle Amosun for more developmental projects in their area. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports

Sagamu to Amosun: we’re grateful but give us more S

AGAMU, the royal home of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonarinwo, and a melting pot of the nation’s major tribes has witnessed an unprecedented level of development in recent time courtesy of the Ogun State government and the residents are forever grateful.

Strategically located mid-point between Lagos and Ibadan on the ever busy Lagos-Benin Expressway, the town is highly accessible to almost all tribes because of its central location and this has given it a sort of mini-Nigeria image.

Also, after the industrial towns of Agbara and Ota, it is about the third industrial haven in Ogun State, hosting a plethora of big companies including Lafarge Cement, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mosinmi depot, International Cement Company that is just berthing there among others.

But the residents have their worries. In spite of the ongoing infrastructural development of the area by the state government, they said this is not catching up with the speed of urbanisation and population upsurge in the ancient town that is equally fast assuming the status of a megacity.

They are expressing the fear that Sagamu may soon slipped into the path of the seamy side of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, notorious for filthiness, disorderliness, broken down roads and chaotic striving if federal, state and local governments do not embark upon strategic development there to reverse the creeping decadence.

The chiefs and monarchs Chief Olumuyiwa Sonuga, Oba Omobola Oduwaye, Oba Solomon Oyenuga among others who gathered recently in the town to deliberate on its 30th festival day, said accessibility within Sagamu township is poor, laborious and often takes the Israelis like journey before one could con-

•Sagamu flyover bridge under construction

‘But the residents have their worries.

In spite of the ongoing infrastructural development of the area by the state government, they said this is not catching up with the speed of urbanisation and population upsurge in the ancient town that is equally fast assuming the status of a megacity’ nect point B or C from A following the deplorable state of roads.

Citing Oba Awolesi Erinwole road, a major artery to the town which has remained deplorable in the last decade, they urged the federal and state governments to fix it because of its strategic importance to movement of goods and persons.

The road connect to the Lagos - Benin Expressway and leads to such places as the Asoludero home of ex - Governor Gbenga Daniel, Lafarge Cement factory, NNPC (Mosinmi depot), Odongunyan Military barrack and Ikorodu town in Lagos state among others.

Sonuga, a civil engineer and

President of the Sagamu Development Association (SDA), said the Sagamu people aren’t “crying wolves” over Oba Awolesi road “ as poor construction and maintenance” have ensured its steady sorry state.

Describing Oba Awolesi road as impassable, he rued that gullies and craters have ruined it, and urged the federal government to reconstruct it while calling on the state government to, as matter of urgent intervention, build a fly over bridge across it at the junction where the road connects with the Lagos - Benin Expressway as was done in Ijebu - Ode at Mabolufon junction.

Sonuga who lauded Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the dualisation of Akarigbo Road and the fly- over bridge at the Sabo area of the town, said another fly - over when constructed at Lagos

– Benin Expressway end of Oba Awolesi road, would not only make entry and exit easy at that busy junction, but also safe for motorists, pedestrians, commuters and Sagamu residents.

According to him, accidents are frequent occurrences at that spot, recalling a fatal one that happened there three weeks ago as case in point.

Also, Oba Oduwaye, who is the Onifojege of Fojege, appreciated the state governments for the “developmental projects being executed in the town and environs,” however also called on the Governor to build a fly - over bridge at the expressway junction of Oba Awolesi road for the safety of the people.

But Amosun who visited Sagamu last week while on tour of the Local government pledged to build more access and safe

I

T was a rare welcome and a surprising one at that. Governor Ibikunle Amosun got a heroic welcome from hunters at Owode in Obafemi - Owode Local Government Area with dozens of gunshot salute.

The hunters (Olode), some of whom adorned themselves with hides and skin extracted from their game - deer, antelope and leopard, shot intermittently into the air as Amosun sets foot on the town and same feat was repeated when he mounted the podium to address the people.

They also pledged to work assiduously for the actualisation of the Governor’s second term ambition.

The Governor was in Owode, the headquarters of Obafemi - Owode Local government area in continuation of the tour of the state, ostensibly to ascertain how his programmes and policies have impacted on them in the last three and half years.

Head of the state’s hunters association, Obafemi - Owode Local government branch, Mr Najeem Adetokunbo, said Amosun has earned their support for his 2015 ambition, citing the prevalent peace in the state, the clean and safe environment as well as infrastructural and urban renewal efforts as rea-

‘The hunters (Olode), some of whom adorned themselves with hides and skin extracted from their game - dear, antelope and leopard, shot intermittently into the air as Amosun sets foot on the town and same feat was repeated when he mounted the podium to address the people’ Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

sons for the decision.

Adetokunbo said hunting is their occupation and appealed to the Governor to help them facilitate the process of obtaining licenced gun and also support hunters’ competition.

Addressing the people, Amosun pledged to build more roads in the area, establish standard hospital and also create at least three Local Government Development Areas (LCDA) out of the present Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area.

•Amosun at Owode

‘Sagamu people aren’t “crying wolves” over Oba Awolesi road “ as poor construction and maintenance” have ensured its steady sorry state...Oba Awolesi road as impassable, he rued that gullies and craters have ruined it’ roads in Sagamu.

Also, the Secretary to the Sagamu Local government Council,(SSLG), Mr Isiaka Salami, who promised palliative measures would be carried out on the town’s roads when the rainy season subsides, blamed residents for their deplorable condition.

“We are the problems behind the condition of the roads. Residents keep dumping refuse on

Communities ask new cement firm to put their well-being, safety first

N

•Oba Awolesi Road, Sagamu

When hunters endorsed Amosun

•Some of the hunters at the event

33

the drainages and block them.

When it rains, the water forces itself onto the roads and wash them away.

“That is why you see gullies and craters here and there. Although, there has been shortfalls in money accruing to the local government from the federation account but we will do some palliative measures when the rains subside.”

INE communities in Makun Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, have advised a new cement firm - International Cement Company Ltd, berthing in their areas not to go back on its agreement with them when it commences operations.

The communities are Soomo, Erinke, Ewuogun, Ewuoso, Asunora, Alafun, Ayetoro, Alabe and Lenunwa.

They acknowledged that the project would bring about rapid development to the localities, create jobs as well as wealth for their sons and daughters but also urged the company to strive towards abiding by the “international best practice and civility” in the manner it would carry out its “limestone quarrying and cement production.”

Speaking on behalf of the communities at a Public Hearing of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during a Panel Review meeting of stakeholders in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Olisa of Makun - Sagamu, Chief Adegbenro Oduwaiye, said adhering strictly to the international best standard would ensure the

•Firm pledges 3000 jobs

‘They acknowledged that the project would bring about rapid development to the localities, create jobs as well as wealth for their sons and daughters but also urged the company to strive towards abiding by the “international best practice and civility” in the manner it would carry out its “limestone quarrying and cement production Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

“safety of their lives and environment.”

Oduwaiye who noted that they welcomed the project, said abiding by the existing regulations regarding limestone mining, quarrying and cement production coupled with the agreement reached with each of the host communities are crucial so that while the firm pursue its profits motive, the host villagers are not adversely affected.

Also speaking at the occasion attended by representatives of Federal and Ogun State ministries of environments as well as

experts in geology, waste management and engineering, the Managing Director of the company, Dr. Ken Mordi, said the project would employ 3000 direct skilled and unskilled labour at the point of take - off.

Mordi revealed that the firm had obtained 500million dollars credit facility from the EXIM Bank, China, to finance the project, assuring that mining, quarrying and cement production would start on or before October 2016.

According to him, 1,415 hectares of land were acquired for the project while the first phase of it would sit on 610 hectares.

Iba youths, residents call for change in LCDA leadership

A

S the tenure of the current elected members of the 20

Local Government Areas (LGA) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in Lagos expires this month there is already agitation among youths and residents in some quarters on how they want council affairs to be handled and who they want to take over as either Executive Secretary/Chairman of their council area.

Even though the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has said it cannot conduct the local council election this year because of some constraints, in which case caretaker committees would

By Oziegbe Okoeki

have to be appointed for the 57 councils, this has not stopped the youths and residents of Iba LCDA to agitate for fairness in the headship of the council and their choice of candidate as executive secretary of the committee who they also want to transform eventually as chairman of the council when elections are eventually held.

Last week about 3000 youths and residents of Iba LCDA led by their leader, Bola Hassan addressed a press conference where they demanded not only for redress of what they described as injustice in the headship of the LCDA but also

that their former representative at the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Taiwo Adio should emerge as the executive secretary/chairman of the council on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Stating their case, they complained that since the creation of the council in 2003/2004 only one Ward out of the five Wards in the council has been heading the administration of the council to the outright exclusion of the remaining four Wards.

Calling for fair play, Hassan said Ward A has been unduly favoured with the headship of the council since its inception sometimes even holding position of council chairman and vice chairman at the same time and “this has affected development projects in other Wards as all focus is on Ward A. What we are therefore clamouring for is an end to injustice against the remaining four Wards and an end to political imbalance in the LCDA. “The other Wards have been unduly oppressed and marginalised in the governance of Iba council whereas they constitute the highest voting population. At this juncture the four Wards stand for fair play in the politics of Iba LCDA and what the youth and residents of Iba are soliciting for is democratic constitutional primary elections into the office of the chairman and other elective positions for the forthcoming council elections”, Hassan said.

Making a case for their choice of candidate, Hassan said, “the youth and residents have been working very hard to ensure that APC as a party delivers the dividends of democracy which have eluded the people in Iba LCDA over time and we are sure that there is no better person than our former two-time representative at the state Assembly, Hon. Saheed Adio who can deliver the good

•Continued on page 35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE SOUTWEST REPORT

•High Chief Dr. Olabanji Akingbule with the bursary award recipients

Ondo chief pledges bursaries to indigent A students even after death

N Ondo high chief and foremost philanthropist Dr Olabanji Akingbule has said that his annual programme of awarding bursaries and scholarships to indigent students of Ondo state origin would be sustained even after his death.

Speaking during the annual public lecture and award ceremony held recently in Ondo to celebrate his 89th birthday, the Odunwo of Ondo Kingdom, said that even after his demise, the initiative would be sustained with the income from his estate and the shares he owns in Nigeria Breweries Plc. High Chief Akingbule has given over 1,700 bursary awards to indigent students of Ondo State origin in the last 17 years, He said: “To whom much is given, much is expected. I thank God for giving me the grace to pay back Ondo kingdom in several folds. Since I was a student in United Kingdom, I and my colleagues founded the Ondo Division Students (Association) and we do send money home for our schools to buy books in 1962. I started the scholarship at All Saint Anglican Church Ogbonkowo, Ondo before I formally instituted a full blown foundation about 17 years ago”.

Decrying the level of unemployment in the country and the hardship many students go through to study,

‘Our graduates have been coming out from their various citadel of learning without jobs, while the government cannot employ all graduates, the necessity to engage them in large number will go a long way in reducing socio-adolescent crimes that plague our society and the nation in general’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Chief Akingbule urged people of means to tow the same line of philanthropy he has taken to help the needy.

His words:”Our graduates have been coming out from their various citadel of learning without jobs, while the government cannot employ all graduates, the necessity to engage them in large number will go a long way in reducing socio-adolescent crimes that plague our society and the

nation in general” He added: “Each year through the foundation I give an average of N3.6 million to hundred brilliant but indigent students across Ondo State. I have built lecture theatres at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and Wesley University of Technology, Ondo and my Alma Mata Ondo Boys High School; this is apart from numerous charitable donations to the needy in the society.”

At the ceremony, the list of the suc-

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•Regent of Akure, Princess Adetutu Adesida

cessful students for the 2014/2015 edition of High Chief Akingbule’s annual programme was unveiled. It comprises of 32 tertiary institution awardees, four concessionary awardees, and 62 secondary school awardees.

The breakdown shows that 32 awards of N50,000 were given to each deserving university students, while three awards of N40,000 each were given to NCE students.

Four concessionary awards of N30,000 each was given to handicapped students, while 62 awards were given to each ýsuccessful secondary school students.

The High Chief was hailed for his initiative and love for youth development. Saluting his philanthropy, the Afenifere leader in Nigeria and Diapora, Chief Reuben Fasoranti expressed awe that a single person could contribute immensely to the development of education.

He said: “Although I am not surprised because he is a product of scholarship himself. This is a noble idea that has grown wide and so many poor students have benefited in the past and presently. Indeed, you are a blessing to Ondo State and Nigeria at

large” Similarly, ýthe guest lecturer, a renowned legal practitioner, Barr. Dele Adesina ýthanked Akingbule for living up to his divine purpose and for setting up the heroic, pace-setting initiative.

His words:” it is no doubt a worthy and visionary legacy. I believe it is not that this great man of Ondo kingdom has nothing to do with his money. No, of course, there are inexhaustible things that are daily competing for his financial attention.

However, the desire to contribute to the task of sensitising our nation in order for it to achieve its full potentials in all ramifications, the desire to serve this community and it’s people in particular and the desire to change the society in general for the better must have informed this great idea” Shortly after his lecture, two distinguished individuals were given awards worth N100,000. They are the immediate past provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Prof Idowu Adeyemi and the Iyalode of Ondo Kingdom, Chief Mrs Olufunke Iluyemi, while two others, namely, the founder, Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN), Late Chief Bisi Ogunleye and Late Canon Moses Adeyemi were also given posthumous awards in the same worth.

We are being marginalised, Akure in

HE Lisa of Akureland, High Chief James Olusoga has urged Akure indigenes to downplay partisanship and search for credible candidates to represent the community in various public offices.

Chief Olusoga, who is the secondin-command to Deji of Akure spoke at a programme tagged “Akure Development talk” held at Royal Bird Hotel &Towers, Alagbaka-Akure.

The programme was hosted by a World Bank Consultant and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Sola Ojo to create political awareness in Akureland.

The Community leader decried what he termed “political marginalisation” of the ancient town by successive administrations in Ondo State despite its status as the state capital.

He noted that the development started at the tail end of military administration in Nigeria whereby Akure with its size and population was retained as only one Local Gov-

‘Only Akure division has never produced a democratically elected governor of Ondo State, and Akure is also the only division that has not produced a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this democratic dispensation. It is therefore the turn of Akure division to produce the minister and the governor of Ondo State and Akure town as the doyen of this division is eminently placed to seize this golden opportunity’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ernment while Abeokuta, Osogbo, Ilorin and other state capitals of comparable size and population were divided into two or more local government areas.

Delivering his lecture at the forum, a University don, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye said Akure and its people have never been fairly treated in the scheme of things despite the prime of place it occupies in the State.

He noted that Akure people are friendly, peace loving, accommodative and politically conscious.

Prof. Aboluwoye urged Akure community leaders to start paying special attention to the political development of the town and urged them to put a stop to the divide and rule tactics that Ondo State politicians have often employed to retard the progress of Akure.

His words:”Sadly, Akure politicians have often allowed themselves

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

THE SOUTWEST REPORT

35

Iba youths, residents call for change in LCDA leadership •Continued from page 33 ies.

“Our utmost conviction is that APC through the leadership of Hon. Saheed Adio will definitely bring the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of the residents and all members of Iba LCDA, that is why we are asking for a credible primary election to pick who will be the LCDA chairman in the council election when it is time, but meanwhile we want him to be appointed to head the caretaker committee that will oversee the council at the expiration of the tenure of current elected officers of the council pending when the election is held because we need a drastic change in development projects and infrastructure in all Wards in the LCDA”, Hassan said.

Iba LCDA was one of the 37 councils created by former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2003 with its headquarters located within the vicinity of an oracle called Ayoka by the native Iba community and it is delineated into five Wards namely: Ward A- Iba Township; Ward B- Okokomaiko; Ward C- Abule Aka, Afromedia, Mebamu and Nicer; Ward D- Isashi and Igbo Elerin; Ward EKemberi and Alaba Rago.

According to Hassan, “even though it was agreed in 2003 at its creation when Ward A produced the executive secretary that subsequent ones will be rotational among the five Wards, this has not been the case as all subsequent chairmen have always come from the same Ward A. That means for 11 years the other four Wards have been neglected. Ironically Ward B is the largest and most populated in Iba LCDA and thus has the largest number of voters.

This is incontestable from the record of election result from 1999 till date.

“Ward B is also blessed with the highest concentration of markets, public and private educational institutions, hospitals, small scale industries, motor parks and garages and therefore serves as the center of commerce which undisputedly make its environment very valuable in revenue generation. Hon. Saheed Adio who is our choice and the most credible candidate for the position of Executive Secretary/Chairman of Iba LCDA is from Ward B”, Hassan said.

•Catering and Confectionery Class at the on-going Second Phase of the Economic Empowerment Programme of the Lagos State Government at Ibeju-Lekki Centre, Orimedu, Ibeju, Lagos

‘Creation of more states will bring development’

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OMMUNITY leaders in Arigidi-Akoko,Ondo State have commended all the delegates to the just-concluded National Conference for recommending additional States in the country including Ose to be carved out of the present Ondo State.

It would be recalled that the Conference ratified the creation of 18 new states cutting across the six geo-political zones in the country.

A statement by Arigidi Leaders of Thoughts (ALT), signed by its Acting Chairman, Lawson Owadokun and Secretary, Bola Olutoye hailed the president of the Senate, David Mark for upholding the delegates’ recommendation.

Besides, the Community leaders praised the indigenes of Akokoland especially the leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, Taofik Abdusalam and Mrs Yemi Mahmud Fasominu for their commitment to the ratification of the proposed Ose State.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The group also appreciated the Southwest Leadership of the Conference particularly Chiefs Olu Falae, Kunle Olajide and others for displaying exemplary behaviour during the Conference.

It urged Owo and Akoko indigenes to ensure that the proposed State becomes a reality, stressing that the valedictory speech made by President Goodluck Jonathan during the closing ceremony re-affirmed the strong disposition of the President to the supremacy of the rule of law.

The Community leaders said:”The President’s willingness to work hand in hand with members of the National Assembly to ensure that necessary legal frameworks are perfected to ensure that the outcome of the conference is diligently implemented is a pointer to the fact that the deliberations are not in vain.”

•70yr-old Sherifat Ogunsote Raimi (extreme right) among other beneficiaries trying their hands on bead-stringing at the on-going Second Phase of the Economic Empowerment Programme of the Lagos State Government at LagosMainland Centre, Ojo-Oniyun Recreation Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos

Akure indigenes cry out to be used to frustrate the appointments and elections of fellow Akure politicians in all the major political parties since the beginning of this third republic in 1999.

“Only Akure division has never produced a democratically elected governor of Ondo State, and Akure is also the only division that has not produced a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this democratic dispensation.

“It is therefore the turn of Akure division to produce the minister and the governor of Ondo State and Akure town as the doyen of this division is eminently placed to seize this golden opportunity.”

The academic however said the only solution to the persistent marginalisation of Akure was for a consensus candidate of Akure origin to become the governor of Ondo State Also speaking, another prominent Akure son and former Provost, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti,

Prof.Olu Aderounmu advised Akure community leaders to create a clearing house that would screen all prospective aspirants to any elective post with a view to pick the best that would give robust representation to Akure kingdom.

Prof Aderounmu lamented that Akure has not been so lucky to have good representatives to lift up Akure Kingom.

He however urged the citizenry to shun partisanship and put their heads together to select credible people that would serve Akure kingdom diligently.

The host, Sola Ojo promised to work assiduously for his people if he finally gets the ticket to represent them at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

He passionately appealed to people in Akure North/South federal constituency to support his mission and ensure his endorsement to enable him offer the best to his constituency.

•Cross section of beneficiaries learning the skills of sewing and dress making at the on-going Second Phase of the Economic Empowerment Programme of the Lagos State Government, held at Ibeju-Lekki Centre, Orimedu, Ibeju, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

36

THE SOUTWEST REPORT

•Shows gift items presented by Wife of Oyo State Governor

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN

It was a happy and joyous Sallah for widows in Oyo State as the wife of the governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, hosted to a party and donated cash and other items to them.

TAYO JOHNSON was there.

Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows I N her bid to alleviate the sufferings of widows in our society, the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi has empowered no fewer than 1000 widows in the state under her Ajumose Widowhood Initiative programme.

At the empowerment programme held at the Tennis court, government house during the recent Sallah celebration, the widows were selected from four different groups in the state and were given cash price, foods and other materials.

The widows’ home includes; Christian Care for Widows, Channels for Widow Health Centre, Widows Care Centre and Dream Alive Concept.

According to Mrs Ajimobi, the programme was thoughtfully designed to coincide with this year’s Sallah celebration.

“We thought it necessary that we should always put smiles on the faces of a very important group of vulnerable people in the society- the widows. This is not the first time that this government will be extend-

A

ing its hand of love to the widows in the State.

“You will recall that in the year 2011, at the inception of this administration led by His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi, two of the earliest activities embarked upon by my office were the opening of mini-clinics for the aged and widows in all the 33 local government areas of the State as well as the flagoff of the widowhood support programme, also in all the local governments areas.

“Also in May 2013, in commemoration of the second year anniversary of this administration, there was also an empowerment programme which was specially organised for the aged and widows.

This goes to show how dear widows are to the heart of this administration and how germane it is to us to see that they are well catered for. Widows are the embodiment of the struggles and travails of womanhood and I would like our widows to know that this administration does not undermine your importance” She stated The governor’s wife said the present administration in the state

•Some of the.......

recognises the peculiarity of the situations of the widows, and is more than committed to continue to give them (widows) the necessary support in order to ensure that they are saved from the stigma that is usually associated with widowhood in the country.

She lamented that:”Traditionally, widowhood is seen as a curse and a burden and the death of the breadwinner usually translates into the ‘death’ of his family. The plight of widows is thus indeed very pitiful.

Many widows and their children are kicked out of their homes, forced to live in abject poverty on the fringes of society, and are prey to abuse, violence and sexual exploitation.”

Mrs Ajimobi urged all Nigerians to rise to support and empower the widows in their midst, stressing that they must be given the opportunity to live again.

She enjoined all sundry in the state to keep supporting the govern-

‘Traditionally, widowhood is seen as a curse and a burden and the death of the breadwinner usually translates into the ‘death’ of his family. The plight of widows is thus indeed very pitiful.

Many widows and their children are kicked out of their homes, forced to live in abject poverty on the fringes of society, and are prey to abuse, violence and sexual exploitation’ ment of Governor Ajimobi “as you always have and let us work together to make our dearly beloved Oyo State great again”, urging the people of the state to ensure continuity of the administration.

In her appreciation message on

behalf of the widows, Dr Joan Agunloye thanked Mrs Ajimobi for her kind gesture towards them, praying God to grant Governor Ajimobi second term in office for continued transformation of the state.

NGO laments ‘no electricity supply’ in Epe

NON-GOVERNMENTAL, non political pressure group, Epe Finders Initiative (EFI), has appealed to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and other authority in charge of electricity to rescue the historic town from total darkness which has been its lot over the last decade. Restoring constant power supply to Epe town would improve its living standard, create employment opportunities and attract investors to set up new companies.

EFI Protem Chairman Adedeji Adenusi told The Nation at a briefing in Epe that the town has had enough of darkness, a development he lamented is encouraging social ills particularly among youths.

Said Adenusi:”We are not even talking of having power in a particular area in Epe and not in other areas. We are talking of total darkness. To put it straight, we hardly experience power for seven days in a year. This town is run on fuel and diesel every other day. There is hardly any house

By Adegunle Olugbamila

that you do not find a generator either big or small. Everybody has to create budget for fuel.

It’s like people have resigned themselves to fate after countless attempts which were never successful. That is how bad the situation is.”

Adenusi recalled Epe heydays when the town once boasted of establishment such as Epe Plywood, Epe Boatyard, and a lamp-making industry among several others, adding that those companies either went moribund or were forced to relocate elsewhere when the cost of diesel was taking a lion share of their profit.

EFI secretary Leke Ilesanmi said Epe Division which forms one of the five divisions in Lagos State and is adjudged as having the largest land mass, has been plunged into such predicament for years.

Inhabitants of Epe, according to him, are reputed for farming and fishing occupations, noting that the town has suffered tremendous eco-

nomic loss since there is no means of preservation for leftover farm produce and fish caught by fishermen.

Aside a dive in social life, Ilesanmi said poor electricity supply is also having its toll on artisans such as welders, electronics repairers, hairdressers, and others, sending many out of jobs.

“Our purpose is to look into the plight of our people’s welfare and lend our voices where necessary. We make bold to say there is no community or group of people that is being kept in the dark; yet you expect a meaningful development from them. Our people’s occupations traditionally are fishing and farming but many fishermen and farmers are suffering economic loss as there is no means of preservation.

“Healthcare is also expensive. Though we have public hospitals with generator provided by government to power them, but those generators don’t run for 24 hours. However operators of private hospitals charge us exorbitantly since they channel more of their resources on diesel.

We have had many cases where those who cannot afford private hospital have lost their lives during emergency and other cases.”

A member, Femi Keshinro, noted that distinguished sons and daughters of the town have in the past made several attempts in this direction. Keshinro explained that Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola visited the town few years ago to express his incapacitation over their plight. He said the governor pleaded that the state would needs Federal Government’s interventions since the issue bordering on power is on the exclusive list. ”We know electricity has been privatised in Nigeria. Our problem is that here in Epe, we don’t know where we belong. If we knew, perhaps we would have known what to do, Said Tunji Zaccheous another member.

EFI was founded in December 2010 by individuals of like minds of Epe extraction, with membership cutting across varying disciplines.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

37

THE NATION

BUSINESS I NSURANCE

‘Weak credit system cause of low insurance penetration’

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HE Nigerian credit market needs to be opened up to assist in bridging the gap of low insurance penetration bedeviling the insurance industry, analysts have said.

Nigeria’s insurance penetration according to recent statistics stands at abysmally 6.5 percent, while the contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is less than one percent with a population of over 170 million people.

The analysts made their views known at a seminar on “Retail Insurance Business- a Begging Challenge,” held in Lagos and organised by HR Nigeria Limited, consultants and actuaries. They believe that the country’s underdeveloped credit system, which has failed to bolster demand for supporting products including consumer goods and services is a ma-

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

jor factor slowing insurance penetration.

They stated that other markets within and outside Africa succeeding in insurance are strong in the offering of credit facilities to the populace, and this in itself creates an immediate need for insurance.

According to them, insurance provides support for mortgages, loans, car financing, as well as asset acquisition, which do not only drive purchases but also increase penetration of insurance.

They also asserted that credit in itself creates an immediate need for insurance, support for mortgages, loan acquisitions, car financing as well as asset buying particularly household equipment.

Looking at other challenges bedeviling the insurance industry,

they observed that there is a perceived lack of confidence in the insurance industry, the key concern resonating that “insurers do not pay claims.”

Beyond that, they also identified the lack of regulatory support for non-traditional distribution channels namely “corporate agents” for insurance like mobile network providers and bancassurance.

Some practitioners, however, brought the regulator - the National Insurance Commission, under fire because they felt that the best way to invoke change was by regulatory changes especially in becoming less stringent on licensing of alternative distribution channels.

The Managing Director, Custodian and Allied Plc, Wole Oshin, said the issue mentioned is important and needs the attention of

NAICOM. He said NAICOM need to liase with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), otherwise achieving penetration like other markets would be difficult.

Jim Roth of Leapfrog Investments stressed the importance of understanding the target market, stating that compulsory insurances, mobile insurance as well as partnerships were distribution channels that succeeded in other markets. He said that another successful approach undertaken by Leapfrog to improve the perception of trust of the insurer was by partnering with a well-known, trusted non-insurance brand.

He however faulted the traditional agency route of selling insurance, which is currently the major model here.

The Chairman, Claims International Limited, Ope Oredugba,

stated that efforts must be geared towards reaching out to the emerging consumer group, with the kind of products that will not only meet their development needs but also reasonably affordable.

NAICOM Deputy Commissioner, George Onekhena stated that the Commission was already looking at distribution and may soon come up with a policy on the development. He however, stressed that a major challenge facing the development of the industry is premium leakages, and called for strategic efforts by operators to reach out to the mass of the uninsured public.

He noted that poverty is a major problem in our society and many cannot afford to buy insurance. He said a strategic effort to empower the populace would bring them closer to insurance.

Brokerslink targets Nigeria, others in African expansion

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ROKERSLINK, the global network of independent insurance brokers, which recently announced plans to transform from a non-profit organisation to a profit making company, has unveiled plans to expand into Nigeria, Moroco, Egypt and other two African Countries.

A member of the company, Prestige Insurance Brokers Limited representing Nigeria, which confirmed the development said Brokerslink is the world largest independent insurance broker network and manages premiums

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) and the Minister of Agriculture Dr Akinwumi Adesina at the launch of the Official T-Shirt of the National Schools Agriculture Programme at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa in Abuja.

With them (left) is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Schools Agriculture Programme, Dr, PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN. Baraka Sani,

LASACO declares N412m profit

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ASACO Assurance Plc has regained profitability as it made a net profit of N412 million in the financial year 2013 against loss of N180million recorded in 2012.

The company also recorded gross premium income of N4.96 billion in the period under review compared to N4.43 billion generated in 2012 representing a 12 per cent growth.

Furthermore, the company witnessed a positive performance in net premium earned, which increased from N3.3 billion in 2012 to N3.6 billion in 2013, an eight per cent increase.

It equally recorded a 10 per cent growth in underwriting profit, which stood at N1.4 billion as against N1.28 billion in 2012.

In a statement made available to reporters in Lagos, the Group Managing Director of LASACO Assurance Plc, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi stated that the company was able to record positives in its key business indicators. He said this was possible despite unfavourable business operating environment particularly in the insurance subsector of the economy through business ingenuity and pragmatic approach.

He stated that in order to take the performance to another level in the current business year, LASACO Assurance is already deploying appropriate offensive business strategies that are able to navigate and win in the face of harsh business environ-

ment in the country.

He said: “The strategies are directed at our business model as well as marketing approach with a view to ensuring optimal utilization of resources for the purpose of good returns on investment.

“Deliberately we have taken this year’s annual general meeting (AGM) to Ilorin, Kwara State, which is fallout of our strategic business expansion drive.”

According to him, the AGM, which holds in Ilorin, Kwara State would afford the management opportunity to solicit for more cooperation and support from the shareholders to take LASACO Assurance to a greater height.

Cameron: we’ll stop pension ‘bank account’ rip-offs

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RIME Minster says he will help savers after experts warn companies will charge hundreds of pounds to treat pensions like bank accounts, The Telegraph has reported.

David Cameron has promised to stop pension companies ripping off savers after experts said millions faced “onerous” fees to use their pensions like bank accounts.

The government would step in if firms tried to hit savers who accessed small sums in their funds af-

ter age 55, the Prime Minister said.

He promised “tough” new rules, such as outlawing excessive fees, if pension companies failed to offer a fair deal to their customers.

“We are going to stand with Britain’s pensioners every step of the way in this journey of greater freedom and responsibility and if we see bad practice we will act on it.”

“We have been tough on the pensions industry in the past - for instance, putting a cap on charges - and

we will continue to be so in future if they are not true to what should be good news for pensioners and the industry, which is a more flexible system.”

Cameron was speaking at an event to promote reforms that will allow savers to use their pensions as bank accounts.

The new rules, due in April, will allow savers aged over 55 to withdraw small sums of money “as they choose” to spend or invest as desired, he said.

in excess of $15 billion.

Chairman, Prestige Insurance Brokers Feyisayo Soyewo, who just returned from BrokersLink 2014 Annual Conference in Venice, Italy, said that the group has completed its transformation plan and would soon lunch out as a company.

He said: “It is a great development for the continent because with the wide network of membership in both Europe and Asia, you can imagine that Africa would begin to benefit from this large network of global players, Soyewo stated.

AIICO partners Venia Technologies on auto insurance

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O fast-track the process of selling auto insurance to its customers, AIICO Insurance Plc has signed a partnership agreement with Venia Technologies Limited at the launch of myautogenius.com, Managing Director of the company, Edwin Igbiti has said.

Igbiti said this is the country’s first online insurance comparison platform that promises to provide car owners across Nigeria with auto insurance policies within five minutes.

According to him, technology of-

fers insurance companies an unprecedented opportunity to integrate and simplify processes to customers and agents while reducing costs and increasing loyalty in an ever changing environment.

He said auto insurance has become a very important part of our lives despite the fact that it is mandatory.

He added that it is also a unique channel for selling the product with focus on convenience and speed. The website myautogenius.com started live at 12 noon on Monday.

NAICO/LASG holds public lecture on insurance, pensions

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HE National Association of Insurance Correspondents (NAICO) in conjunction with the Lagos State Government is organising a public lecture on insurance and pensions industry in Nigeria.

The public lecture is slated for October 28, 2014 at the Apa suite, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos at 11am.The theme of the lecture is “The Role of Government in Management of Risks in Nigeria” with Lagos State government as case study.

In a statement by the Planning Committee Chairman, Chris Ebong, the lecture which is to be personally delivered by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), will x-ray the Lagos State response to insurance and pensions reforms in Nigeria with particular reference to building insurance law, group life cover and contributory pension

scheme.

He said the organisers of the event believe the public is part of efforts to reposition insurance and pensions to contribute significantly to the growth of the economy as the survival of the larger economy depends on the growth of these key sectors of the economy.

The lecture will also see presentations from the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO NAICOM, Fola Daniel Daniel, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Director General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Sunday Thomas and the Chairman, Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Misbahu Yola.

The occasion will also witness attendance of all Chief Executive Officers of insurance companies and pension fund administrators and other stakeholders in the industry.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

38

BUSINESS NEWS

The case for re-authorisation of US Ex-Im Bank

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HE charter which authorized the existence of Export – Import Bank of the United States (U.S. Ex-Im) was due for renewal at the end of this past September.

Its re-authorisation required congressional approval. But the renewal of the charter seemed to have fallen due at the wrong time.

Bipartisan consensus on virtually anything has been difficult to come by for some time now, for reasons that could very easily be linked to the mid-term election in November, 2014. This had made the U.S. Ex-Im to teeter on the brink of dissolution until its charter was extended for nine months pending long-term re-authorization.

I had expected the renewal of the charter of the Bank to be a seamless exercise. But it wasn’t. Instead, the debate became rancorous and polarized along party lines in the most awkward way. For instance, President Barack Obama lent voice support to the renewal of the charter. He said every country has an institutional framework like the ExIm Bank to support its exports. He also noted that, if the U.S. Ex-Im became defunct, U.S. companies would struggle to compete abroad. This position is a marked departure from when in 2008, as a Democrat senator, Mr. Obama criticized the Ex-Im Bank as a government programme that doesn’t work and “little more than a fund for corporate welfare.” In another twist of irony, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives has stood in the way of the renewal of the U.S. Ex-Im charter. Whereas it is the Tea Party, mainly conservative Republicans, that traditionally supports business — the very businesses that U.S. Ex-Im is set up to provide funding support to. This tends to demonstrate the fluidity of policy positions that are established by partisan considerations.

Nevertheless, the debate has actually helped to shed more light on the activities of the Bank. Otherwise uninformed U.S. business owners, who want to sell in overseas markets, now know about the specialized bank, which some commentators had described to be ‘little-known outside Washington DC.’ A similar case of institutional obscurity was made, with validity, against Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) before I came into office and until we rolled out what remains a robust communication strategy. Inadequate corporate communication might have led to the accusation that the U.S. Ex-Im was little transparent and accountable. This provides an important learning experience that highly specialized institutions of the state nevertheless need to share information about their activities with the general public.

The U.S. Ex-Im Bank is a Development Finance Institution (DFI) which was chartered to act as the Export Credit Agency (ECA) of the United States. The objective of the Bank is to help U.S. businesses access foreign markets. There are a few tools that have been developed to achieve this objective. They include provision of guarantee, export insurance and buyer credit. Together, they help make U.S. products to be competitive abroad, since exports of other countries are similarly incentivized, if not subsidized, by their governments. It is this same objective that informs the creation of the ECOWAS Trade Support Facility by NEXIM Bank to assist

By Roberts Orya

Nigerian exporters gain more access to the West African market where we compete with exports from China and the European Union.

ECAs help to mitigate the risk of entry into a foreign market. They also help to provide funding to build capacity for export.

Thereby, local businesses are able to achieve higher profit and employ more local people. The virtuous cycle that is created by an ECA also entails helping the country to move towards a positive current account position, by reducing trade deficit. By helping to create export markets, an ECA invariably helps in boosting domestic economic growth.

The US Ex-Im has a rich history of performance. The Bank is more than 80 years old. It has since its founding, till now, funded $567 billion of U.S. exports. The Bank has raised its intervention in the past few years, partly because Africa has come under the radar of some U.S. companies. Its intervention in U.S. export amounted to $37 billion in 2013 alone.

The aggregate funding has supported over 1.2 million U.S. jobs over the years. More than 80% of its funding has benefitted small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). The US Ex-Im also funds big U.S. businesses including General Electric, Caterpillar and Boeing. Funding by the Bank has helped U.S. businesses to innovate and compete in new technology, including renewable energy.

What’s more, the bank has been profitable, placing no burden on tax payers in covering its cost of operation.

Considering its good purpose, positive performance, and setting aside politics, one may ask: “why should U.S. lawmakers be reluctant to keep the Ex-Im Bank going?”

Some of the answers reveal very little understanding of the unique role an export credit agency plays. Some people have argued that the U.S. Ex-Im is in competition with the commercial banks. Not really. ECAs usually fund businesses or operations which are considered to be too risky by commercial banks. The businesses might be at an early-stage of growth and exploration of export markets. Without much institutional track-record and operational experience in a foreign market, most businesses cannot expand through conventional bank financing. They would be dogged by high risk evaluation that will either deny them funding or the price of credit would be too high for their affordability. In Nigeria, an additional obstacle which conventional finance would pose to the businesses is the predilection of commercial banks for short-term lend-

• Orya

ing. But, a specially mandated DFI like the U.S. Ex-Im or NEXIM Bank would take on these risks and back the businesses on the strength of its balance sheet and sovereign mandate (not necessarily involving issuance of a sovereign guarantee).

Funding by ECAs can prepare a business and help it through the difficult early stages until it is capable of attracting or affording commercial loans. This process can work the other way round at the later stages of the corporate development of a business. A growing business, which had accessed commercial lending from the banks, may nevertheless need a specialized bank to help it access a foreign market. Therefore, the role of an export credit agency is very supportive of both commercial banks as well as local businesses.

Some detractors have talked about excessive risk-taking by ECAs. This claim is based on generalized risk evaluation.

Such assessments do not always take into account that ECAs have special risk management tools that are suited to the kind of risk they bear. For instance, NEXIM Bank makes the point of understanding specific risks of its clients. We follow our clients to the market to understand the peculiar variables that constitute risks to them. We then develop specific products to help address the risks. Regarding the U.S. Ex-Im, its track record is strong enough to denounce any accusation of excessive risk-taking. Since its founding,

‘Funding by ECAs can prepare a business and help it through the difficult early stages until it is capable of attracting or affording commercial loans. This process can work the other way round at the later stages of the corporate development of a business’

the Bank has witnessed episodes of serious financial crises in the domestic, emerging and global markets. Yet, the U.S. Ex-Im has been unscathed in any of them. Its recent non-performing loan is 0.2% of total portfolio.

The accusation of cronyism also derives from a misunderstanding of the role of an ECA. For instance, NEXIM Bank is designated as the Official Trade Policy Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This means the operations of the bank must necessarily be in alignment with the trade objectives of the government. In this regard, NEXIM Bank has been pushing the programme of economic diversification in the non-oil sectors as enunciated under the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. The programme entails the broadening of the export base in order to generate more foreign exchange for the country and create more local jobs. Local industries which are capable of scaling up to help deliver on this policy objectives are naturally supported by NEXIM Bank.

The allusion to giving loans to some beneficiary big U.S. companies to establish cronyism accusation is not wellfounded. Between 2007 and 2014, loans to SMEs accounted for 68% of the total portfolio of the U.S. Ex-Im. While a few organisations have dominated the list of beneficiary big firms, it is not without justification. Companies like Boeing and Caterpillar are manufacturers of expensive heavy duty equipment and machines. The equipment and machines are very much needed in the delivery of public works and infrastructure projects in Africa and in other developing regions that are witnessing an economic renaissance. Accordingly, these firms are bound to generate big-ticket transactions which will require some of the financing tools at the disposal of the Ex-Im Bank to consummate. The same argument more or less holds for the involvement of General Electric which, in recent times, has shown interest in the investment opportunities of sub Saharan Africa’s infrastructure and electric power. The proactive investment of GE in the SSA power sector ensures it is a reliable vehicle and partner for the delivery of President Obama’s Power Africa Initiative.

To be fair, the U.S. Ex-Im Bank has discharged its mandate creditably. The institution has inspired establishment of similar export credit agencies around the world. The Bank seems to have entered a new phase whereby it would play a more active role in boosting trade between the U.S. and Africa in general, and U.S. and Nigeria in particular. NEXIM Bank is in a collaborative relationship with U.S. ExIm and several other ECAs with the aim of sharing knowledge and capacities. This will require strengthening the U.S. institution after its charter has been renewed for long-term.

• Orya is Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export-Import Bank.

Orange maize improves vitamin A in children, new study shows

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UST ahead of World Food Day, a study published in the ‘American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’ has established that ‘orange’ vitamin A maize increases vitamin A storage in the body. This maize has been conventionally bred (nongenetically modified organism (GMO) to have higher levels of beta-carotene, a naturally occurring plant pigment that the body then converts into vitamin A. Lack of sufficient vitamin A blinds up to 500,000 children annually and increases the risk of death from disease (such as diarrhea in children).

Vitamin A deficiency is widely prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Foods that are good sources of vitamin A, such as orange fruits, dark leafy vegetables, or meat, are not always available, or may be too expensive in some regions. In many African countries, people eat large amounts of staple foods like cassava or maize. For example, in Zambia, people eat up to a pound of white maize daily.

However, this white maize provides no betacarotene. Switching to orange maize, which is rich in beta-carotene, could potentially

By Chikodi Okereocha

provide maize-dependent populations with up to half their daily vitamin A needs.

In this controlled efficacy study, children from the Eastern Province of Zambia were randomly assigned to three feeding groups and received either white maize, orange maize, or a daily vitamin A supplement.

After three months, both groups that received either the orange maize or vitamin A supplements showed significant increases in their total body stores of vitamin A, with no changes observed in the group that received white maize.

Lead scientist Sherry Tanumihardjo said “we were surprised to find that most of the children in this study already had substantial stores of vitamin A. We attribute this to the success of fortifying sugar with vitamin A, the provision of vitamin A supplements to young children, and perhaps better diets. Yet, despite having adequate vitamin A stores, we still saw this store increase in children as a result of eating the orange maize. So, I’m confident that orange maize would be

especially effective in increasing body stores of vitamin A in populations suffering from vitamin A deficiency.”

Unlike the form of vitamin A found in supplements and fortified foods, the body regulates conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A, and consuming high levels of betacarotene is not harmful to health. Several orange maize varieties have been released by the governments of Zambia and Nigeria. In Zambia, HarvestPlus has provided orange maize to more than 10,000 farming households and is now working with the private sector with the goal of reaching 100,000 famers by 2015.

According to Eliab Simpungwe, HarvestPlus Country Manager for Zambia, “the orange maize has been embraced by consumers once they have had a chance to taste it. When they also understand the benefits of vitamin A in the diets they are all the more enthusiastic about orange maize.” The orange maize varieties released are also high yielding, disease and virus resistant, and drought tolerant.

The Zambian Government has officially

recognised biofortification, which it includes in the National Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan for Zambia 2011-2015. Musonda Mofu, Acting Executive Director of the National Food and Nutrition Commission in Zambia and who was also on the study team, said “there are still many pockets where vitamin A deficiency remains a problem in Zambia. Food-based approaches such as orange maize can provide people—especially women and children—with a good portion of their daily vitamin A needs through nshima or other traditional foods made from maize, that we Zambians eat every day.

For us, this is cost-effective and a safe approach to improving nutrition.”

HarvestPlus and its partners have developed and disseminated other conventionally bred crops to provide needed vitamins and minerals in the diet.

These are vitamin A cassava (Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria), vitamin A orange sweet potato (throughout SubSaharan Africa) and iron beans (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda). Zinc wheat and rice and iron pearl millet have been targeted to South Asia.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

39

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP There is a growing demand for mushroom, and this has created a vista of opportunities for those looking for where to invest, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

Making a living from mushrooms M

RS Mojirade Oluwadiya, a retired teacher is a successful mushroom farmer. But she didn’t start as a mushroom farmer. She was a poultry farmer.

After returning from Australia with her husband, she decided she was not going to teach again. She started growing mushroom as a hobby. Along the line, she decided it would be worth the while if she visited the United States and Israel to study how profitable mushroom farming could be.

To her surprise, she found out that mushroom farming is being done technologically. Farmers planted mushroom under airconditioned environment. The infrastructure was there. The demand was high. The mushrooms have an excellent shelf life and required a month or more under refrigeration in paper bags, or cartons.

While it was profitable to do it that way using expensive technology, she knew instantly that Nigerians would not be able to afford it. Her search shifted to a third world country where the business can be done cheaply with affordable technologies.

Fortunately, she was told mushroom was a big business in Thailand, so she went on a fact finding mission.

There, she discovered that it was a simple business for small entrepreneurs to go into.

The cultivation model was simple and easy for small scale entrepreneurs. She also found out that with N10,000, one could start the business.

It was an approach many Nige-

•Mushrooms •Mrs Oluwadiya

rians could adopt and afford.

There she found people growing mushroom using recycled materials and agric wastes. Satisfied with her discovery, she returned home and started using the Thai method, using agricultural waste and environmentally friendly recycled plastic bags for containers.

Mrs Oluwadiya learnt how to produce mushroom using drums, sprayer, tarpaulin, polythene sheets, polybags, and polypropylene bags, among others. The results have been outstanding.

Since then, she has been making huge profit by selling the products to leading supermarkets. She has since become the proud owner of a big mushroom farm with eight workers.

She is involved in the mushroom-cultivation business all year round and from the income, she is

doing a lot of things. She is also starting other small businesses.

She has motivated other farmers to start growing mushrooms.

Her message is that between 10,000 to N50, 000 is required for aspiring investors to start the business. Then it takes five weeks to harvest and that the farmer begins to make money.

For her, Nigeria is a good place for mushroom business as the climate is perfect for its cultivation and it can be grown all year round, creating employment, healthly livinig and wealth for the farmers.

The challenge however is that while it is doing well in many parts of country, people are shying away from the crop because they lack the materials and information they need.

Therefore, she is ready to offer Nigerians the best income-pro-

ducing opportunity possible.

To her advantage, she has equipment to teach people.

She has been able to acquire the major infrastructure, build a lab and other equipment that one needs to produce spores, inoculations and everything to do with mushroom production.

Apart from this, she has developed an integrated agricultural business with edible mushroom cultivation, deep processing, sale, demonstration and training.

She sees the market expanding as companies can use the mushrooms to make beverages, soya and powder. She points to the value addition of diversifying by marketing mushrooms dried or pickled or as part of a food menu, especially for oyster mushrooms.

For her, investors don’t have to worry about the market for their produce, they just concentrate on

The transformation of plantain chips from a mere product into a money spinner, is drawing a lot of entrepreneurs. More Nigerians are showing interest. With income and consumption on the rise, plantain chips production is a perfect business option. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

P

The rise of plantain chips business

LANTAIN chips business is returning huge incomes as demand is increasing .This is because the market is expanding as major highways have become top spots for the sale of plantain chips. Apart from sachet water, plantain chips occupy a special spot in the minds of the travelers in particular, and the general public.

The transformation of plantain chips from a humble product into a money spinner, is drawing a lot of entrepreneurs. More Nigerians are showing interest. Investors say the plantain chip business is one investment that is profit oriented.

The Chief Executive, Farm Biz Set, Opeyemi Lawson, a plantain farmer, said with less than N20,000, one can start the business.

This for one, starting small.

The Managing Director, Spectra Foods, Chief Duro Kuteyi, fame is traced to plantain chips packaging.

Kuteyi, who is Vice President, National Association of Small and Medium Scale Industrialists, resigned from the Federal Ministry of Health in the ‘80s to establish a plantain chips manufacturing factory. His success is traced to a plantain chips factory he established years back in 1982. He started the industry with N1,500.

“His father in-law offered him a room from where he started the business. Kuteyi’’s plaintain chips industry grew and gave rise to Spectra Foods. Today, Spectra has be-

come a multi-product company , suco cocoa drink,cocoa beverage, frute pineapple juice,frute pineapple/ginger juice,soya instant drink,soya bakes and sesame oil But the secrets of investing in plantain chips have not changed significantly.“The equipment is the same except that the costs have risen significantly.“For a big start up ,according to him, one requires a fryer, which costs between N100, 000 and N300, 000; sealing machine that costs between N500, 000 and N2m and a vehicle for distribution of the products, “Returns are in the region of N5m annually.

For those who cant afford this ,they can start by selling packaged plantain chips.

As passionate as he is about the business that has given several youths employment, he stated that processing of plantain chips is not devoid of challenges.“Sourcing for raw materials is a major challenge,” the quality of raw plantain affects the final product,the packaging and source of energy are very critical,then the epileptic power supply and rising cost of gas are major factors that affect the cost of production. Apart from epileptic power supply, he said the perishable nature of plantain requires that care be taken during post harvest processing.

Howver, the opportunities are limitless and, with right resources and management, it is not tough to attain success.

•Kuteyi

To bring more Nigerians into the business, Kuteyi said his organisation, Spectra Industries Limited Lagos is hosting a cluster for plantain chips production with an installed capacity of five tonnes per month. He explained that the cluster will help farmers benefit from collective marketing and high quality machines to process chips.

Under the scheme, his organisation will help Nigerians establish micro plantain chips business industries. They can rent the machines if they

have money to buy the raw materials.

Kuteyi, said entrepreneurs will be enabled to have production facilities for less than five per cent of actual cost, while equity investors will be entitled to profit/dividend sharing.

According to Kuteyi, “It is just a matter of providing industrial facility access, one of the benefits of this arrangement is that for someone who wants to set up a plantain chips plant instead of looking for about N10million to set up, all you need is a minimum of N100, 000 and you become a part owner of an already established plantain chips plant.” He explained that the plantain chips which comes in a unique variant to what is common in the market, can be consumed in novel ways never before heard of like the use of ketchup and peanuts.

“It is a far upgrade from what plantain chips are generally known to be in the country. The chips are also of exportable quality in terms of packaging and standards with a shelve life of 12 months, the product is packed in 380gm containers and 70gm sachets,” he explained.

He expounded that while Spectra has provided the equipment and factory space, financial contributions from cluster members will be used as working capital to sustain the expanded scope of production and cater for more employees that will be recruited.

production. There are distributors, who buy their mushrooms as wholesale and retail to individual consumers. For small scale farmers, she said the daily production from a 4x4 metre mushroom room can provide daily income for the five weeks of its harvesting span.

The secret to a better market for mushrooms lies in quality. The trick is in the product quality.

Nigerian is Entrepreneurship Ambassador

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HE Managing Director, Montgomery West Africa and Founder of WOWe (Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference) Tori Abiola, has been appointed as the Nigerian Ambassador for United Nations-United Statesbased Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, expected to be the largest gathering and recognition of women entrepreneurs globally.

The Global Ambassador Initiative and Miss Abiola, will work with top colleges and universities, including Stanford, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Babson and Oxford, to engage and enrich local communities with the WED movement.

On the appointment, she said: “ For the past two years, the WOWe conference has been working to raise the profile of women entrepreneurs in the region, by focusing on increasing entrepreneurship capacity and networks for women, providing access to finance and empowering women as the economic drivers of their communities and greater societies “My role as an Ambassador for WED Global Initiative for Nigeria, will create an international platform and access for over 30,000 women and men who follow WOWe activities online/via social media, and for our annual event participants and partners, as well as thousands of other men and women who are committed and interested in driving entrepreneurship skills and capacity for women in Nigeria. ‘’We are confident that working with WED Global initiative will equip us with the opportunity to garner more support and resources for Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria in terms of delivering them with the necessary tools required to realise their entrepreneurship ambition. ‘’Our focus will be to create viable market places and networks for women entrepreneurs to thrive, as WOWe launches its own online membership community in 2015, it is only right that we form part of this global initiative to empower women.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL ‘Infrastructure virtualisation crucial for service delivery’

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HE virtualisation of infrastructure will translate into improved data management and ultimately facilitate cost savings and more efficient use of service delivery networks in Nigeria’s public sector. Manager, Systems Engineers at EMC, Mr. Travers Nicholas, said a major step towards attaining this goal is by migrating public services and infrastructure from legacy technology investments to more cloud-centric operations.

At the workshop on ICT-enabled Public Services Solutions held in Dubai (in partnership with Galaxy Backbone Limited and other solution providers) to create awareness and buy-in for cloud solutions among stakeholders in government, Nicholas highlighted the various challenges associated with the delivery of public services in different countries, using detailed case studies. He also described how these challenges were successfully overcome by deploying EMC’s three pillars of opportunities – Big Data, Cloud Computing and Trust.

According to the EMC, these solutions not only deliver the necessary scalability as more public services are integrated, they also provide a base for the computing of the future.

“EMC is working extensively to bring advanced solutions to governments across the world and Nigeria’s

position as a leading emerging market makes it a prime candidate to benefit from the gains of the most modern technology available. The increasing mobile internet penetration also presents a platform for government agencies to provide citizen services via mobile applications,” Nicholas said.

By having a dedicated focus on shared services platform across the whole of government, EMC and Galaxy Backbone Limited are positioned to provide Nigerian government agencies with solutions for more efficient service delivery systems.

Galaxy Backbone Limited was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2006 based on the need for government to pursue a streamlined approach to information and communications technology acquisition, operation and use in the public sector. The main focus of the establishment is to provide IT infrastructure and support to government ministries, departments and agencies via investment in shared infrastructure and technology solutions, towards enhancing economies of scale, improving interoperability of systems and strengthening government’s capacity to deliver electronic services.

IBM pays $1.5b to offload chip unit

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BM is to pay $1.5billion (£930million) in cash to offload its loss-making chip manufacturing division to Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund GlobalFoundries.

IBM, which wanted to avoid the cost of upgrading the unit’s technology, said it would now focus on cloud computing, mobile and big data analytics.

IBM will take a $4.7billion charge in the third quarter as a result of the sale.

The sale came as IBM announced a 17 per cent drop in third quarter profit, IBM said it made $3.5billion profit for the three months to the end of September, with revenues down four per cent to $22.4billion.

“We are disappointed in our performance,” chief executive Ginni Rometty said.

Ms Rometty blamed a “marked slowdown” in client buying behaviour for the drop in sales, which were lower than analysts had expected.

However, she said the results also reflected “the unprecedented pace of change in our industry.”

IBM is trying to adapt to industry-wide changes and has been restructuring to focus on its software products.

The disposal of the unprofitable chip making business is the latest step by Ms Rometty to sharpen this focus.

IBM said the sale would enable it to “focus on fundamental semicon-

ductor and material science research, development capabilities and commitment to delivering future semiconductor technologies”.

GlobalFoundries said it would offer jobs to all IBM employees affected.

IBM will spread the $1.5billion payment to GlobalFoundries over the next three years.

Under the terms of the deal, GlobalFoundries will get intellectual property and technologies related to the chip business.

“IBM needs to find success and growth in the cloud through organic and acquisitive means in our opinion, otherwise there could be some darker days ahead for the tech giant,” said FBR Capital Markets analyst Daniel Ives.

CWG extends ICT academy to HE CWG Academy which started new frontiers at its Lagos Headquarters four

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years ago, and has successfully trained and placed over 500 ICT professionals into various fields of industry, has been extended to other operational bases of the pan African company, including Accra, Kampala, Port Harcourt and Abuja, with plans to incorporate Cameroon by the first half of next year.

In a statement, the goal of the CWG Academy is to bridge the workforce knowledge gap in Africa by equipping fresh graduates with the required skills that will make them employable or become successful entrepreneurs.

Of the over 500 graduates from the Academy, about 85 per cent have been employed in leading companies such as IBM, CWG, MTN, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic-IBTC, Chevron, Cadbury, Etisalat, Ericsson and Unilever among others, while about 10 per cent have opted to become technology entrepreneurs.

Some of the beneficiaries said they have benefited immensely from the session. Ezekiel Oyerinde presently working with IBM West Africa as a Storage Systems Specialist says “I am a graduate of Biochemistry but ventured into IT after school. Though, I have gone to a couple of Computer schools, the CWG Academy was the opener for me into the world of end-

less possibilities in IT”. Continuing, Oyerinde said “during the interview stage of my previous employment at MTN, I was pleasantly surprised to see that among those shortlisted, the CWG Academy graduates emerged tops. I consider myself blessed to have had a solid foundation provided through this laudable initiative called CWG Academy. I am grateful to CWG management and the coordinator of the programme”.

Similarly, Dominic Julian currently working as sales executive in one of the IT companies in Nigeria, attributed his career development to his encounter with the CWG Academy. According to Dominic, he was attracted to the academy because of CWG’s Chief Executive Officer, Austin Okere who is a renowned leader in the industry, and was overwhelmed at the magnitude of the training he received from the faculty.

“The fluidity exhibited by the technical team as they delivered well-thought-out interactive lectures and instructive practical training could only have come from excellent planning and attention to detail formulated by a seasoned team”Dominic said.

ADVAN rewards marketing excellence

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HE President, Advertising Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mr. Kola Oyeyemi has said the group is promoting the development of advertisement by recognising firms with marketing excellence.

He spoke during the awards for marketing excellence with the ‘Marketing in the 21st Century in Lagos’ as its theme.

“ADVAN is geared to help advertisers stay on top of critical issues that affect marketing today, forewarn them on tomorrow issues and assist in developing the right tools to address them,” he said.

Those that emerged winner at the award night were Nestlé Milo that got the campaign of the year award, consumer promotion award and brand of the year award, while Oral B got the consumer insight award.

PZ Cussons got the corporate social responsibility award; Origin got the innovation award; MTN got the digital marketing award while Star Lite

got the new brand or service launch award.

The ADVAN president said all entries received for the awards were critically evaluated by a panel of seasoned professionals, who maintained the highest level of equitability in the judging process.

Oyeyemi said the awards for marketing excellence had evolved over the years in response to new developments in marketing theory and practice, to reflect the growing appreciation of the critical role of marketing as the vital source of value creation for business.

“It is no secret that marketing has undergone more changes during the past five years than perhaps the preceding 100 years. Staying current with the dizzy arrays of technologies and trends has emerged as a daunting and often frustrating task,” he said.

• From left (seated) Admin Manager, CWG Academy, Abuja Region, Mrs. Mary Eledan; Head, Human Resources, CWG Plc, Mrs. Olapeju Ayo-Fisher and Regional Manager (North), Mr. Nasir Izegwire during the maiden graduation of the academy in Abuja.

SecureID, Sterling partner to drive financial inclusion

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ECUREID Nigeria Limited, a digital solution provider certified by Visa, MasterCard and Verve, in partnership with Sterling Bank Plc has provided a new biometric identification card to drive financial inclusion in the country.

With approximately 46.3 per cent of the Nigeria population currently unbanked, this new initiative is billed to deliver financial services at an affordable cost to the disadvantaged and low-income segments of the society.

Head, Financial Inclusion, Sterling Bank Plc , Mr. Richard Oshungboye revealed that the biometric card which is designed to hold the biodata, fingerprints and account information of the card holder, will be used by customers with access to formal financial services such as deposit, cash withdrawal, paying of

bills, recharge card, fund transfer and so on.

“SecureID provides solutions that aid performance and efficiency in service delivery. I attest to the fact that, the successful implementation of our Financial Inclusion Project as confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is the biometric enabled and first of its kind in the country. It has been made possible

by SecureID being the only company that could produce the much needed Biometric Cards,” Oshungboye said.

Responding Ola Salami, innovation and Product development expert at SecureID, noted that SecureID is delighted to partner with Sterling Bank to bring this initiative to the unbanked population, in support of CBN’s vision to reduce unbanked rate from 46.3 per cent to 20 per cent by 2020.

To conduct a transaction with the biometric card, the customer inserts the card into the PoS terminal and places his or her finger on the fingerprint sensor on the PoS terminal.

The terminal then validates fingerprint supplied by the customer against the one stored on the card. If the supplied fingerprints match the one stored on the card, customer will be able to perform any of the transactions referred to above.

The deployed PoS terminal also serves as an enrolment tool for the purpose of Know Your Customer requirements as it has a key pad and webcam to fulfill requirements for account opening.

Sterling Bank Plc, a national commercial bank in Nigeria has an asset base above $4.4 billion, and a network of 168 branches across the country.

AfriHeritage begins business survey

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HE African Heritage Institution (AfriHeritage) has started the third cycle of the Business Environment and Competitiveness, BECANS III in what it said is an attempt to produce an indigenous independent business environment survey in the country.

It had conducted the first two cycles, BECANS I and II, in 2007 and 2010, respectively, when it was known as African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE).

Its Executive Director, Ifediora Amobi, said the institution would be collaborating with the organised private sector (OPS), researchers from different universities as well as the thinktank across the federation to conduct the study.

Amobi said the logic behind BECANS was that Nigeria’s sub-national jurisdictions (state and local governments) were crucial in ensuring good business environment and enhancing Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness ratings.

According to him, like every federa-

tion, business environment in Nigeria was the shared responsibility of the central and sub-national governments – federal, state and local. Hence, the overall business environment would depend upon the synergies existing between these levels of government.

The policy economist added that, in particular, state governments were responsible for the bulk of the infrastructural, regulatory and administrative services needed by private enterprises.

He said: “So, without commensurate business environment reforms by state and local governments, the macroeconomic and institutional reforms of the federal government would not be able to produce the desired impact on employment and poverty.”

Speaking on the purpose of the study, the AfriHeritage averred that the survey would serve as barometer to measure the performance of different units of the federation and would help the OPS to mount up economic advocacy.

He added that BECANS was an initia-

tive that attempted to assess measure and promote evidence-based reforms of the business environment in Nigeria, focusing primarily on the states.

“The BECANS model defines business environment along four benchmarks; infrastructure and utilities, regulatory services, business development support and investment promotion; and Security,” he said, adding that BECANS ran in successive cycles of research, survey, dissemination and policy dialogue.

The AfriHeritage boss disclosed that the Institution had consulted and deliberated with all the critical stakeholders including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, National Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission, and others to ensure their buyin. He also said The Organised Private Sector, the relevant civil society organisations; the Non- Governmental Organisations would be involved at different stages of the BECANS III project.

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WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

LAGOS POLITICS Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants have obtained the ‘expression of intention’ forms, ahead of primaries. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines their preparations for the shadow poll.

•Solomon

• Hamzat

• Dabiri-Erewa

• Ikuforiji

•Ambode

Lagos APC aspirants warm up for primaries T

HE Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) is warming up for primaries. Governorship aspirants have stormed the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja to obtain governorship forms. The purchase of the expression of interest forms underscores the aspirants seriousness and determination and their preparation for nomination primaries.

For almost a year, the contenders have intensified their consultations with stakeholders across the 57 local councils. Some of them have also been endorsed by party leaders, groups, associations and monarchs. They have also been unfolding their plans for the state.

The governorship race has been full of drama. Last month, an aspirant, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, retraced his steps and dumped his governorship ambition. When he joined the race, many people started competing for the Lagos East senatorial ticket, thinking that the seat will be vacant next year. But, following a realistic self-assessment, he unfolded a re-election bid. A source said some influential Lagosians may draft former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Supo Sasore (SAN) into the race. The legal luminary is Governor Babatunde Fashola’s friend.

Unlike 2007 and 2011, two factors appear to be shaping the exercise. These are zoning and religion. Some religious organisations have urged the party to field a Christian candidate. A party source also said that APC may zone the slot to the the Lagos East senatorial District.

However, zoning and religion are not strong factors. The aspirants itching to succeed Fashola in the ruling party are from the three zones-Lagos Central, West and East. Christians and Muslims are also in the race. A party source said that, although the Oladele Ajomale-led State Executive Committee of the party will set up a screening panel to consider the suitability of the aspirants, the party may not disqualify any contender based on zoning and religious affiliations.

Aspirants have returned to the drawing board to perfect their winning strategies. They are acting swiftly. Last month, Works Commissioner Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who is eyeing the slot, told reporters that, contrary to the feeling that he hails from Sogaade, Ewekoro, Ogun State, where his father,

Oba Olatunji Hamzat, is the traditional ruler, his actual root is the Ajiborisa Compound, Epe. Also, Senator Ganiyu Solomon kicked off his campaign from Ikorodu, claiming that Ipakodo was the root of his illustrious father, the late R,B. Solomon.

Other aspirants-the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Commissioner for Special Duties Dr. Tola Kasali, former Commissioner for Health Dr. Leke Pitan, House of Representatives member Hon. Abike Dabiri, and former Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode-are involved in aggressive underground campaigns.

However, party sources said that the race is between the chartered accountant and other contenders.

When Ambode retired voluntarily two years ago, after 27 years of meritorious service, little did people know that he show interest in succession. When he left the service, his colleagues were taken aback because he still had 12 years to spend before mandatory retirement.

If he had stayed, there was the assurance that he may become the Head of Service.

When Ambode joined the race, he instantly became a front runner. Media propaganda were sponsored against him. Some obstacles were erected. But, he was used to overcoming challenges.

The former Accountant-General swung into action. Having placed his hand on the plough, he was not prepared to look back. as a former council treasurer in some local councils, he is conversant with grassroots politicking. He has been convincingly unrelenting, networking with the youths in the metropolis and suburbs, building bridges across the three zones, holding wide consultations with elders, community leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders.

Reflecting on the journey so far, Ambode said he had toured the five administrative divisions of Epe, Badagry, Ikeja, Ikorodu and Lagos Island. He has reached out to stakeholders in 57 local governments. Elie and masses are listening to his message. A technocrat, he has avoided politics of blackmail, character assassination and scandals. His assets are his pedigree, his score card as a civil servant and professional engagements.

At a lecture organised by a group, the ‘For the Future Nigeria (FTF),’ in Lagos, Ambode described himself as a

people-oriented aspirant approaching Lagosians with his “pro-poor programmes”, for the purpose of achieving greater excellence for Lagos. The manifesto is in line with the APC Roadmap. “The APC has developed an all-inclusive action plan to give Nigerians the tools to get out of poverty and penury to a better life for themselves and their families,” he said. He explained that he was motivated to vie for the number one seat because of his quest “to take public governance to another stage.”

In his view, the Lagosians have a pact with the APC, owing to its progressive leaning. He paid tribute to the progressive pillars, including Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his successor, Fashola, all of whom he had worked with as a civil servant. He objected to the antics of critics, who alleged that he lacked the requisite experience to govern the city state. Ambode said he has worked with seven governors, adding that the experience he garnered would enable him to move the state forward, attract massive investments and foster sustainable growth.

He maintained that his experience under previous administration had prepared him for the challenges ahead.

In Badagry, he reeled out messages of hope. Unfolding his vision, he said all-inclusive economy, an public transportation system, security of lives and

property, and a cleaner environment would be his priority, if elected as the governor. He said: “I see a prosperous Lagos; a Lagos that is easily accessible, open to foreigners and Nigerians to pursue their potentials; a safe and clean environment; a Lagos that allows every person to achieve his potential; a Lagos that knows no gender, no race, no sex, no religion, no colouration; a Lagos that has connectivity and mobility; a 24-7 Lagos, a Lagos where the economy does not sleep at 8 pm.”

In post-Fashola era, governance will not be a tea-party in Lagos. There will be new challenges. Ambode said that he is up to the task. Democratic governing requires wider participation.

Thus, in the course of his consultation with community leaders, party chieftains, youth leaders and women leaders, he is harnessing views on how to build on the achievements of Tinubu and Fashola. “My vision evolves from the burning desire to consolidate on the foundation laid by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which was built upon by Governor Fashola. Also, it is to run a government where every voice, either loud or thin, will be heard equally without discrimination. That is why we are moving round the state to garner what our people want and make it the basis of governance,” he said Ambode promised to create a new Lagos, based on the greater expecta-

tion of Lagosians. He said the proposed shadow poll is challenging, urging his supporters, particularly the delegates, not “to engage in any act of violence or what may jeopardize the interest of the party on, or before 2015, when the election will hold.” He added: “We realise that we belong to the same party. We need not to fight or engage in any brawls.

All we need is to vote for aspirants, based on their records.”

Ambode said that he is confident of victory, based on the will of God. He said the public perception of his ambition is positive, based on his previous contributions to the development of the state. He said he worked under Fashola for five and half years creditably.

It is an understatement. On December 2, 2012, he got a letter of commendation from the governor. “I write on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State to specially commend you for the high sense of dedication, selflessness, loyalty and integrity, which you have brought to bear during you public service career,” Fashola said.

The governor testified to dynamism and professionalism, which he said Ambode brought to bear on the public service. He said working closely with Ambode “has been of tremendous mutual benefits, particularly for the present administration as you have displayed enviable professional traits and a good team player.”

• Anambra State APC Chairman Mr. Emeka Ibe (in white) flanked by other party leaders in Orumba South Local Government Areas hands over the party’s symbol to Mr Christian Ndu, who the members of the executive committee of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) into the APC in Umunze...recently

THE NATION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2014

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POLITICS Kinsmen ask Plateau deputy governor to join race

Nsima Ekere is a former deputy governor and governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he talks about his agenda and other issues.

T

Ekere: I’ll take Akwa Ibom to greater heights T

HE people of Qua’an-Pan Lo cal Government Area of Pla teau State have urged the Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjan to contest the governorship election.

Speaking on their behalf, a member of the House of Assembly from Qua’an-Pan North Constituency, Hon Joe Dawam, said it is the wish of the stakeholders that the deputy governor should succeed his boss.

Therefore, he called on Governor Jonah Jang to endorse his deputy for the position for the sake of continuity.

He said: “Our communique, which contained our demand, urging Longjan to contest has been delivered to him and I am sure he will respond positively. As a matter of fact, the Deputy Governor in response to our communique, is ready to make his intention on the contest public very soon. ‘”The call was initiated by the people of his local government. But, other local governments will soon come up with their own demand for the man to contest. From our consultations across the 17 local governments, the Deputy Governor is the most popular choice. People are just waiting for him to declare his contest.

•Governor Jonah Jang From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

“We are also expecting Governor Jang to accept our appeal to endorse his deputy, since both of them have worked closely to provide dividends of democracy to Plateau people.”

The legislator added: “We are making a passionate appeal to the governor and the people of Plateau State to extend his goodwill to our people and the Local Government Area, to ensure the consolidation and continuity of the gains of democracy.

“In our candid view, these can best be sustained, if our son, the deputy governor, Hon. Ignatius Datong Longjan, is considered and endorsed to continue the good works that have been recorded in the state.”

Edo youths back Obahiagbon for Senate From Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Obahiagbon

A

COALITION of youth or ganisations in Edo State has endorsed Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon for the Senate in Edo South District.

Obahiagbon, who is the Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, is on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Rising from a meeting in BeninCity, the state capital, the youths

described him as a man of honour and integrity. In a communique by Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Kola Edokpaiyi, they explained that Obahiagbon is the best among the aspirants.

Urging the APC leaders to field him as the candidate, the youths said competence should not be sacrificed on the altar of ethnic sentiment.

Edokpaiyi said: “The choice of Obahiagbon was informed by his outstanding performances when he was opportuned to serve in the State and National Assembly.

Sending a candidate that do not enjoy the support of the youths and masses will no doubt weaken the fighting spirit of the youths and reduce the chances of the APC at the elections.”

Aspirant lauds PDP’s anti-zoning policy

A

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Hon. Dumbari Ben Dimkpa, has commended the chapter for rejecting the option of zoning the governorship to a particular area.

No fewer than 10 aspirants are vying for the ticket. They are from the three senatorial zones.

Dimkpa, who is from Ogoniland said in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that the party’s action will prevent ethnic rivalry and enhance credibility and competence.

He said aspirants agitating for zoning are those who lack what it takes to participate in a democratic primary.

He commended the state PDP leader and the Minister of State for Education, Nyeson Wike, and the chairman, Prince Felix Obuah, for their leadership qualities.

He said though Governor Rotimi Amaechi has defected from the PDP, the party is still very strong in the state.

Dimkpa, who was Special Adviser on Projects to former Governor Celestine Omeiha and one-time Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), described Wike as a misunderstood leader.

He said: “I respect Wike as the leader

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

of the party in the state because those who want to be elders should respect those who are elders. I’m not challenging him, but I want to say emphatically that I’m also competent to rule the state, if given the opportunity.

“Wike is an open-hearted leader who is not restricting the contest to himself. He’s not selfish; people are only misinforming the public. He has told the party to provide a level-playing ground for every aspirant. If you’re competent, you come out. The state leadership of the party has thrown the contest open. It’s not in favour of anybody.

“They should leave Wike alone. As a Rivers man, nothing stops him from coming out to participate in the primaries.”

Dimkpa promised to establish a machine tools industry, if elected as the governor.

He said: “The machine tools industry is the industry that produces all the nuts, bolts, which are the tools those in the informal sector, particularly the artisans, the mechanic, the vulcaniser by the road, the repairer, use to work. They will have access to the basic tools they utilise to develop the sector.”

HERE is a long list of aspirants queuing up to take over from Governor Akpabio. Why should the PDP go for Nsima Ekere?

What Akwa Ibom needs right now is a governor with the right temperament, the right focus and the experience to build on what we have on the ground today. I have a private sector background. I came into government as a professional, and when I came in, I had a privilege of being chairman of the Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Council. That is the private sector arm of Akwa Ibom State Government. It deals with the private sector interest of the government. I was also chairman of the Ibom Power Company, the independent power project that we were developing at a time, but which has been completed and commissioned. Then, I sat on the board of several companies that government has interest in. I was also the one that designed the framework for the industrialization programme of government. Now, from that perspective, I was able to experience, firsthand, how bureaucracy hinders the translation of private sector objectives into reality in a government setting. Now, from there, I now got into core governance as deputy governor.

From the experience that I’ve had, both from the private sector and running the government, nobody else from the whole pack that has this kind of experience and exposure. What Akwa Ibom State needs today, is a government that would now begin to build a sustainable economic life for the people of the state. A government that would deliberately build the private sector of a state would succeed in creating jobs, because it is the private sector that would build industries and create jobs. What we need to do is to create the enabling environment, make deliberate policies to encourage the private sector to thrive. I‘ll move Akwa Ibom to the next stage in development, which is industrial development. I want to build an economic base for the state to reduce the tendency to depend on allocations from the Federation Account.

Could you give us a highlight of your blueprint to take Akwa Ibom to the next level?

My focus is to build an economic capacity for Akwa Ibom State and for Akwa Ibom people. The state is endowed with enough resources and with the right imagination and resourcefulness, we can tackle poverty, fight hunger and help Akwa Ibom people find productive roles within the local and national economy. My priority will be to create an environment rich in opportunities and an economic structure that gives every Akwa Ibom citizen the chance to succeed.

Creating economic prosperity means a return to agriculture, building industries and simulating the local environment with the right incentives.

We would also provide 21st Century education to our children. Education is central to development. Today’s world is changing. Some of the biggest businesses running today are not involved in properties and hydrocarbons. They are knowledge-based.

So, one of the ways to equip the people to compete in today’s world is to give them the right kind of education.

The kind of education that would make them competitive in today’s world and make them respected wherever they go in the world. It would involve a lot of training and re-training of even the staff. Apart from the provision of infrastructure, it would involve changing the curriculum; enriching it.

•Ekere

I will aggressively pursue improvements in the health sector to expand health services. A lot of our revenue is spent abroad on medical tourism. Curiously, when you go to some of the best hospitals in Europe and America, and you enter the consulting room and guess what? The specialist that is treating you is a Nigerian. So, we have the human capacity; all we need to do is to equip our hospitals and build new hospitals with modern equipment and attract the best personnel and pay them good wages. We aim to turn Akwa Ibom into the medical tourism destination in Nigeria, by developing a medical park in the state. It is just like you have an industrial park or a technological park. The medical park is going to be a conglomerate of hospitals with different specialists. It has to be a self-sufficient facility, fully-developed, fully-equipped and fullystaffed, to deliver hi-tech medical services.

I’m also going to embark on rural development. A greater part of our populace lives in the rural areas. This makes it incumbent on us to come up deliberate policies and programmes to reach out and gradually begin to touch the rural areas. We intend to use agriculture as a massive tool to drive rural development. If we are able to get into mechanized agriculture, we would look at the value chain. From the raw products you get, right up to processing and storage, we would create some agro-based industries and this would all be in the rural areas. It would grow the rural economy; it would help to reduce the rural-urban drift. We would provide them with the necessary infrastructure to make their lives comfortable. One of the things I didn’t mention in healthcare is primary health facilities, because before you get to the medical park that I talked about, we must also provide primary healthcare facilities for the rural areas, to take care of them at that

‘My priority will be to create an environment rich in opportunities and an economic structure that gives every Akwa Ibom indigene the chance to succeed’

level before they access secondary healthcare facilities.

How do you see the idea of zoning in Akwa Ibom?

I’m from Ikot Abasi, which is in Eket Senatorial District. I understand the geo-politics of the place and the agitation of the people that the governorship should go to Eket zone. But, I would like to caution that even as we get swayed by geo-political considerations, we should also pay attention to quality of the candidates; look at what programmes they are offering; their capacity to deliver; their antecedents; and their ability to positively add values to the system. It is not sufficient to say because the governorship has been zoned to the area, every Tom, Dick and Harry should jump to the fray.

Governor Akpabio is believed to have an anointed candidate. Are you not intimidated by the so-called anointed candidate?

At the end of the day, it is the people of Akwa Ibom State that would decide who their next governor would be. It is the people of Akwa Ibom that would vote at the primaries and the general election, so I believe that it’s about democracy. I’m not aware that he has a preference at the moment.

The Governor is my friend, I worked with him and I speak with him regularly. He hasn’t told me that he has a preferred candidate. You see, there is a lot of talk in politics. But, it’s not everything that you hear that is true.

I’m not saying that there might not be a preferred candidate. What I’m saying is that I believe that Akwa Ibom people are educated and republican enough to decide for themselves who they think in their opinion is best for the state. This election is a referendum on the future of Akwa Ibom State and the people know that who they elect as their next governor to a very large extent would determine the direction the state would go in the next four years. We need to put in place a government and a system that would help to consolidate on the gains that have been made.

How is the rivalry between Akpabio and PDP stakeholders likely to affect the November 29 primaries?

The PDP is a very big family and just like every family, people have different views on issues. They also have different interests. Sometimes, this causes schisms in families. Basically, the issue in Akwa Ibom is that people want to have a say; they want to be free to express themselves and to choose who becomes the governor.

At the end of the day, we would come to some form of understanding. That’s the beauty of democracy.

Do you see the aspirants resorting to the kind of political rascality just witnessed in Abuja over Nyesom Wike’s ambition?

People would only resort to political rascality and violence, if the nomination process is flawed, manipulated.

It is a simple matter. The party has released its guidelines for the primaries. The PDP has a constitution and every member of the party is obliged to abide by that constitution and approach the primaries in line with the guidelines issued. If those guidelines are adhered to and the process of nomination is transparent, there would be absolutely no reason why there should be any kind of political rascality. Akwa Ibom people are peace-loving people and would abide by the rules. In 2007, there were over forty-something aspirants for the governorship and there was no incidence of violence. I don’t think 2015 would be any different.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2014

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POLITICS KANO POLITICS Abba Risqua Muhammed, son of slain Head of State General Murtala Mohammed, is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kano State. The one-time Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke with reporters on his vision, programmes for the state and chances at the primaries. KOLADE ADEYEMI was there.

Muhammed: Why I want to govern Kano W

HY do you want to become the governor of Kano State?

I have taken the time to critically examine the development of the democratic ideals in our state and the achievements of the numerous governments and our various political institutions, with a view to contributing my quota. After extensive consultations with numerous stakeholders, ranging from family members to friends, associates, elders, traditional institutions, Ulamas, political associates and professionals in various human endeavours, I arrived at the conclusion to offer myself for the race, to translate the experiences I have gathered in both public and private sectors of the economy into play.

I have also reviewed the provisions of the Nigerian constitution to ascertain the extent to which our political actors, institutions and the general public have participated in our country’s democratic journey as guided by our constitution vis-à-vis the compelling need for me to participate in the political arena. It’s thus about contributing to the ongoing efforts to build a state where every Kano indigene is given the opportunity to excel in his chosen career under the tenets of equity, fairness, justice, peace and unity. But what is more important than anything else is stomach infrastructure, as a hungry man is an angry man.

I have concluded with prayers, seeking the Almighty Allah to guide me and give me the wisdom to choose the right path.

What would be your cardinal policies, if you are elected?

Those before us have played their part; those in current leadership positions are playing theirs too. We must play our part too. We must continue to add value to the positive developments, refine the not so positive developments and dump the negative developments for the benefit of our people.

Allah has given our state so much to be thankful for, as we are blessed with vast arable land, large deposits of various natural resources, a

large population of able bodied men and women, a people that are very proud of their heritage and culture, a state that has historically been the centre of commerce and is traditionally regarded as the trading hub of sub Saharan Africa and of course visionary leaders who have bequeathed legacies for us to build upon. We must collectively express our appreciation to Allah for his blessings and mercy by harnessing all these potentials for the benefit of our people. We must continue to build Kano State and make her an example for other African cities to follow by creating the enabling environment for wealth creation and prosperity.

I must as a matter of priority provide the basic infrastructure for businesses to thrive, for commerce to flourish on a global level and for investors to recognise Kano State as the preferred investment destination. I must ensure the smooth functioning of our educational institutions and transform them to centres of excellence, that will provide our children the opportunity to achieve their desired goals in life, by competing favourably with others from any part of the world in terms of educational, exposure and analytical skills.

Apart from that, I will equip our hospitals to cater for the health of our huge population and provide an alternative to the hardship being faced by our people and huge resources being spent in search of healthcare in foreign lands that cannot boast of more natural blessings of Allah than we have.

Also, I must provide employment opportunities for our people, so as to earn commensurate salaries at the end of the month, which will

• Muhammed

allow them to comfortably put three square meals on the table, as well as improve the quality of life by owning good cars, homes and the ability to secure their future.

Creation of an environment where people can have thriving businesses that allow them to participate in regional markets and even compete globally will be given priority attention. I must develop agriculture to the level of feeding the entire country and restore the good old days of “Operation Feed the Nation,” but this time, by Kano State”.

Kano is an industrial state, which needs power to survive. What is your alternative plan in this regard?

I will explore five major areas, among others to ensure regular power supply if given the opportunity, which will include Energy, considered as the fuel of economic

growth.

To this end, I will collaborate with other northern states and the federal government to create an enabling environment for the regular generation of electricity in Northern Nigeria, through the supply of gas, with which to fuel our electricity generation plants and power our industries. Also, I will cooperate with the federal government to fast track the construction of rail line from areas with large deposits of low sulphur coal within the country to support the establishment of coal fired power plants in our state. To ensure its sustainability, I will establish a state electricity company to be saddled with the responsibility of establishing electricity generation plants for direct delivery of electricity to our industrial areas. (I think RMK has done this) I will also develop alternative sources of energy in Kano State by encouraging private sector participation in the development of energy, while at the same time protecting the rights of consumers against sharp practices of energy providers by establishing an efficient state electricity regulation agency. Soon after satisfying the requirements of the industrial community, I will supply the excess electricity capacity generated internally to the private distribution companies for onward supply to individual households and private consumers.

Besides, I will create new industrial parks in Kano State, in proximity to the electricity generation plants, with direct supply of electricity from those plants. I will also fight desert encroachment through the provision of adequate infrastructure and incentives for pro-

‘Creation of an environment where people can have thriving businesses that allow them to participate in regional markets and even compete globally will be given priority attention. I must develop agriculture to the level of feeding the entire country and restore the good old days of “Operation Feed the Nation,” but this time, by Kano State’

moting the distribution and use of cooking gas. In order to ensure that school leavers and youths are gainfully employed, I will create job opportunities through the provision of electricity and gas to fuel our industries. To ensure the healthy growth of agricultural produce, I will establish a fertilizer plant, which will be powered by gas to cater for our agricultural requirements. At the close of the day, my goal is to ensure that Kano State is transformed to a viable industrial and manufacturing haven. I will ensure the provision of power to process and preserve our farm produce for delivery to the local and international markets. I will power our hospitals to provide proper healthcare, as well as power our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions toward becoming centres of excellence. Also, I will create the platform to adequately put in place a surveillance system that will monitor and police our communities. I will power the state as it is inevitably the engine for growth and development.

What would will be your cornerstone on agriculture in the state?

If given the opportunity, I will revive Operation Feed the Nation in Kano State, so as to make Agriculture a major source of livelihood for our people, as well as a major revenue earner for Kano State.

Mechanized agriculture will be our main focus in order to create an export-oriented agricultural state.

With all sincerity, I will transform, Kano State to the continental hub for the production, processing and export of agricultural produce in the entire country. Large parcels of arable land will be made available to farmers, as well as access to funding, credit facilities and incentives will be provided to develop these lands into effective large-scale farms. Also, I will make available quality high yielding seeds, productive breeds, fertilizer, pesticides and readily provide modern farming tools to all our farmers. Relevant agricultural advice/support will be made readily available to farmers to enable them effectively utilize all

‘Bad governance breeds insecurity’

By Raymond Mordi

• Ubani

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ORRUPTION, inefficiency and imbalance in the distri bution of the national resources are the bane of the country.

Thus, Nigeria is burning its candle from both ends of the stick and, if appropriate steps are not taken to address the anomaly and move the country away from the brink, the America prediction may become a reality. This was the conclusion drawn by the immediate past chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, at a lec-

ture organised by the old boys’ association of Ibadan Grammar School, 1965 to 1971 set, recently in Lagos.

Ubani, who was the guest lecturer at the ‘October Roundtable’ said the unity and development of the country is held back by corruption, impunity and imbalance in the distribution of the national wealth.

At the roundtable, which took place under the theme, ‘Democracy, Security and Good Governance’, Ubani emphasised that the country cannot change through the actions of the oppressors alone.

“Unless every Nigerian gets angry with the system and resolve to play an active role in turning the situation around, Nigeria would not make progress,” he added.

Drawing a correlation between good governance and security under the democratic set up, Ubani said there would be no development and that insecurity would continue to distabilise the country. He noted that wastefulness associated with the current structure of the Nigerian federation robs it of the wherewithal to finance the devel-

opment of infrastructure, to provide the enabling environment to attract investment from within and without.

Therefore, he urged the ruling elite to dismantle the over-centralised structure of the federation, which gives 54 per cent of allocations from the Federation Account to the government at the centre, leaving the state and local governments that are closest to the people to share the remaining. Besides, he said 75 per cent of the annual budgets at both the federal and state levels are allocated to recurrent expenditure, leaving only 25 per cent for capital projects.

As a result, he said there is a criminal neglect and abandonment of the health and educational sectors.

For instance, he said: “It is obvious that in Nigeria, neither the federal nor state governments have built major modern medical facilities and centres to cater for the teeming Nigerian population in the last three decades. It is obvious that the rich always go overseas for their medical needs while leaving the rest of Nigerians to suffer at home.”

Ubani, who holds a Masters De-

gree in Law from the University of Lagos, said the system naturally breeds frustrated and traumatized Nigerians who are easily provoked at the slightest misunderstanding.

This is why crime is prevalent in the country and those behind Boko Haram insurgency can easily recruit foot soldiers to join their ranks.

He added: “If the political leadership of the country and the state/ regions create programmes to maintain the public welfare, there will be less inclination towards being antagonistic to the government. In Nigeria, there is no public welfare programmes geared toward reducing the suffering of the people. Thus, a generality of the population are on their own.

The suffering can instigate actions that threaten the national security.”

The guest lecturer said there is bad governance because political leaders allow corruption to run wild. “The nation’s wealth disappears into private pockets of the same officials who suppose to use the wealth of the land to develop the state. Imagine that Nigeria (that prides herself as the giant of Af-

rica) do not have sufficient weapon to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North,” he noted.

Ubani believes good governance entails a political system in which the leadership is responsive, transparent and accountable to the citizens. He said: “Good governance entails respect for the constitution and the rule of law by all, including the head of state, governors, high public officials and political representatives… Good governance requires a fair distribution of the national wealth so that all citizens, groups, states, and regions of the country benefit.

“Good governance entails building accessible public health care facilities, so that Nigerian citizens can take care of their medical needs without having to pauperize themselves by going to exorbitant private medical clinics.” It also requires the creation of sustainable economic ventures in both the public and private sectors that are capable of employing thousands of citizens annually, he added.

Ubani’s emphasised that democracy and good governance are necessary requirements of enthroning security in the polity.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2014

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NEWS CNN HEALTH REPORTING WINNING STORY

‘This marriage will kill me’ •Tragedy of Nigeria’s child brides • Continued from page 3 The unremitting pressure usually kills the child and prevents blood supply to the soft tissues of the vagina and other organs trapped between the baby’s skull and her pelvis. Eventually these tissues also die, forming one or more fistulas and the baby’s head softens sufficiently for the stillborn child to pass from her body. Should she survive, the mother soon finds urine, faeces or both leaking unstoppably from her vagina.

In about a fifth of cases, the woman also suffers nerve injury that can cause a condition called footdrop, which prevents normal walking.

Constant contact with urine or faeces irritates and infects her skin and other tissues. Her kidneys, bladder, or other nearby organs may also be damaged. Her menstrual periods may stop, rendering her infertile.

If Lima and Hamida’s experiences are more favourable than most, their years of destitution and social banishment are disturbingly typical. The Nation findings reveal that the majority of VVF sufferers are abandoned by their families, divorced by their husbands, and forced to fend for themselves, often by begging, menial jobs and prostitution.

Hopeful interventions Nigeria has a long-standing history of fistula repair: Dr. Sr. Ann Ward was Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and fistula expert and trainer at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Akwa Ibom State. She recently retired after a 40-year career. She also was in charge of the vesico-vaginal fistula treatment at nearby Itam.

However, the acceleration of surgical interventions began with the arrival in Katsina in 1983 of Dr. Kees Waaldijk, a plastic surgeon from the Netherlands. He came primarily to repair the leprosy patients but quickly devoted his energy exclusively to fistula repair and training.

In the early 90s, the National Foundation on VVF was created with Dr. Waaldijk as the leading surgeon.

With the commencement of the Campaign to End Fistula nationwide, fistula repair in Nigeria progressed in higher gear. An extra boost for advocacy as well as repair was given through an event that still is the referral activity: the organisation of the Fistula Fortnight in four Northern states in 2005.

Currently, there are approximately 20 centres providing VVF treatment on a regular basis in the country. According to Dr. Waaldijk, 11 of these centres are part of the National VVF Project. By 2008, the National VVF Project had performed a total 25,000 VVF/RVF repairs and related interventions since its inception.

The exact number of fistula repairs carried out annually in Nigeria is, however, unknown. Most VVF treatment centres collect information on the number of interventions carried out, but recording and reporting is incomplete and non-systematic. A centralised recording and reporting system is not in place either. It is, however, estimated that approximately some 2,000 to 4,000 fistula repairs are done every year.

But even as studies enumerate anatomical, matrimonial, and demographic factors that increase risk, experts emphasize that the basic reason for fistulas lies not in women’s

bodies, social lives, or diet alone, but in the failure of health systems to provide the resources needed to ensure safe childbirth. Many studies lay “undue emphasis…on early marriage as the aetiology of the disease,” states Dr. Mohammed Kabir of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano. According to him, the lack of skilled supervision, of childbirth and adequate emergency facilities are to blame.

Further findings reveal that the prevalence of obstetric fistula is embedded in a complex network of social issues, including socio-cultural perceptions of the status of women, the distribution and availability of health care resources, perceptions about the nature and importance of maternal health problems, and the social, economic and political infrastructures of affected societies.

“Three stages of delay,” according to medical experts, prevent victims from getting the help they deserve.

First, embarrassment, tradition, cost or misplaced optimism delays the realisation that labour has gone awry. Second, distance, bad roads, or lack of a vehicle delay the journey to a clinic or hospital where the situation could probably have been salvaged.

Finally, crowding, understaffing, or lack of resources may delay the needed services when the woman finally arrives at the clinic. A Caesarean section performed within the first 48 hours of labour will generally prevent fistula, although it may not save the baby.

An affliction of the poor?

Fatimatu Saliu, a Zaria-based nurse and social worker, argues that a greater percentage of VVF patients usually fall within the low income and impoverished economic divide. “You hardly see the rich marrying their underage daughters off for money. Many of the victims come from poor homes and their parents marry them off at a tender age for economic gain,’’ she says.

One perception too many Marriage historians have noted that it will take more than a couple of decades to rewrite a marital playbook that is thousands of years old. The institutions of child marriage are a remnant of medieval marital culture. Men who practise these types of antiquated marriages adamantly resist and reject contemporary notions of marriage as a partnership of equals based upon mutual love and free-will. The practices of child marriage rely upon the historical, social and cultural assumptions and beliefs that support marriage as an economic transaction, whereby a woman or girl, is merely an object for exchange between one man and another.

These practices inflict great harm upon women and girls. According to Milda Okonedo, a social psychologist, it traps young girls in relationships that deprive them of their childhood and education while making them vulnerable and at risk for abuse, disease and even death; this impact negatively on the woman they eventually become.

Social constructions of the child bride As a married partner, her new social set is supposed to be other married women, but being a mere child, most of these women will be older

• Child brides at a VVF centre

‘

Research findings persistently reveal that child marriage is perpetrated mostly among impoverished folks in the country’s rural areas. The government needs to make its presence felt at these local levels.

Government could bolster its efforts by improving agricultural support and facilitating more income-generating opportunities for many families at the grassroots. If parents can adequately cater for their children’s needs, they won’t be forced to marry them off at ridiculous prices for survival

‘

and not likely to be an easy social fit. Consequently, married girls straddle two worlds and frequently find that they are alone and isolated in their new marital homes. For instance, interviews with victims reveal that they are isolated and under the control of their husbands and co-wives. Their isolation compounds their diminished access to information and services, making them not easily reached by conventional mechanisms such as youth centers or peer education.

The federal Government has attempted to outlaw child marriage.

In 2003 it passed the Child Rights Act, prohibiting marriage under the age of 18. But to correct the anomaly, Janet Essiet, a Kano-based lawyer and ‘women’s rights activist’ suggests more government interventions at the grassroots. “Research findings persistently reveal that child marriage is perpetrated mostly among impoverished folks in the country’s rural areas. The government needs to make its presence felt at these local levels. Government could bolster its efforts by improv-

ing agricultural support and facilitating more income-generating opportunities for many families at the grassroots. If parents can adequately cater for their children’s needs, they won’t be forced to marry them off at ridiculous prices for survival,” she says.

The government also needs to cooperate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) committed to the eradication of the problem, argues Zulaykha Habib, a guidance counsellor and owner of Muslim Sisters Development Foundation.

“Efforts should be geared to sensitise parents on the need to delay their daughters’ marriage and instead pursue their educational and psychosocial development,” she advises.

Higher levels of education significantly decrease the risk of child marriage, with secondary education, especially strong in stalling age at marriage until a girl is 18 years or older. Governments and NGOs fighting against child marriage may focus on education and making parents aware of the benefits of allow-

ing their daughters go to school.

They need to know that education provides alternatives for their daughters that can lead to employment, earnings and an economic future that will benefit not only their daughters, but their family and community as well.

But as the government and other stakeholders return to the drawing board, they will do well to include severely damaged and disillusioned divorcees and former child brides like Hamida and Lima in their loop of schemes. “Leaving such kids to their devices forebodes greater doom for them and the society at large. The misery and disillusionment they feel destroys their psychology and inflicts upon them a jaded view of the entire world. They have lost hope in the society and average human’s capacity to be good.

This is a horrific way to see the world, particularly for teenagers and future mothers,” argues Okonedo.

Okonedo couldn’t be too far from the truth; a journey through Lima’s mind for instance reveals worldweariness characteristic of the aged who considers hope inconsequential after suffering through many tragic disappointments in her lifetime.

Lima hurts severely every time she remembers her first time in the dimly lit room where Aunt Mariam hushed her to sleep with promises of pleasure and folk song. Aunt Mariam had been sent in to calm her after she got restless and hysterical at the prospect of ‘lying’ with Baba Ahmadu, 76, her father’s best friend.

Aunt Mariam was convincing: venomous threats and thinly veiled lies leapt from her lips in measured cadence; the effect was frightening, it kept Lima from screaming and attempting further escape from the dark room. Although she eventually escaped, seven years on since the sad incident, she is still in the dark room.

•This story, which won the MSD Health and Medical Reporting category of the CNN African Journalist of the Year, was first published on November 23, 2013.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Edem Duke (middle), Mr Abdullahi Muku (right) and a representative of foreign embassy

•Envera Selimovich washing her hand with the students

Wash your hands to save your life

D

ESPITE the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, has urged Nigerians to continue the habit of frequent handwashing with soap.

According to her, frequent handwashing with soap could prevent many communicable diseases. She added that clean hands save lives.

She spoke while addressing over 500 puils from four schools at Falomo Senior High School, to commemorate this year’s Global Handwashing Day. The event was organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos in collaboration with the Lagos State Government (LASG).

To mark the day, 13 handwashing points including the one provided and donated by UNIC Lagos were put in place. The Senior Public Information Officer, UNIC Lagos, Envera Selimovic, noted that handwashing was not meant for the Global Handwashing

By Evelyn Osagie

WORKSHOP Day alone, but should be done as many times as required every day.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr YewandeAdesina who explained in details the eight steps to washing hands and getting rid of germs.

Dr Adesina urged the pupils to thoroughly follow the procedure of washing hands and to make sure they do not turn off the water tap with their already clean hands. She advised that wrist or elbow should be used.

Afterwards, the Honourable Commissioner for Education led the dignitaries and students to wash hands in confirmation of the fact that ‘Clean hands save lives’ The Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary for Education District III, Mr O.G. Olatunji, delivered the welcome address at the programme anchored by the National Information Officer of UNIC Lagos, Oluseyi Soremekun.

Filani heads Limcaf 2014 grand finale jury

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ENOWNED Nigerian scholar and artist Dr. Kunle Filani has been selected by the Board of the Life In My City Art Festival to head the committee of jurors for this year’s Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF).

Other members include Dr. Ken Okoli, lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Helen. Uhunmwagho, Dean of the School of Art and Design, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Dr. George Odo of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Monsieur Jacques Montourcy of the Cultural arm of the Embassy of France in Nigeria.

According to the Art Director of the festival Mr. Ayo Adewunmi, this is the second time in the history of the festival that the names of the jurors are being made public in advance as the Organising Committee believes that the integrity of the Festival’s processes is now secure and public confidence has been sufficiently established.

The task of the committee is to select the top 25 works whose owners will be invited to Enugu to be part of the grand finale exhibition and the award night ceremonies.

Adewumi stated that unlike previous years, the venue of the grand finale exhibition which opened on Monday was b at the exhibition hall of the Nigerian Gallery of Art, Enugu and not the Nike Lake Resort Hotel. “At the end of the exhibition, the top 25 works will be moved to the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, for the award night ceremony,” he added.

He noted that this will impose extra strains on the committee members who will review

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

VISUAL ART some 130 finalists from the eleven zones of LIMCAF. He said that as always, the members will be under virtual quarantine from the moment they arrive Enugu on Thursday October 23 until they produce the winners and report to the audience on award night on October 25. “ Our aim is to ensure that they work in serene concentration and high confidentiality throughout the judging process” Mr Adewunmi said. “My happiness is that from what I have seen, the committee will find that their period of confinement will be exciting and worthwhile even if strenuous, considering the great variety and high quality of entries from young people across Nigeria.”

Filani who has been teaching art at the tertiary level since 1985 is currently an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. A former Provost and Chief Executive of the Federal College of Education Osiele, Abeokuta he was a pioneering member of the Ona movement, which art genre he has helped to ensure its place in contemporary history. Filani initiated the “Best of Ife” exhibition series and is the president of Culture and Creative Arts Forum (CCAF) and a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) among others. Photo Africa exhibition and the Clam exhibition will open tomorrow Thursday, October 23 while the Clam Multimedia Workshop holds on Friday October 24.

Artistic fumes from Art of Friendship

A

BUJA residents got a refreshing bouquet of art when the National Gallery of Art, Abuja, held its art exhibition tagged: Art of Friendship 2.

It featured works by artists from Nigeria, Republic of Czech, France, Italy and Korea.

The exhibition was held at the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) Archives and History Bureau, Abuja, and it attracted an impressive crowd that included the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, Director-General, National Gallery of Arts Abdullahi Muku, Ambassadors of participating countries and their Cultural Attachees, the management and staff of the gallery, artists and art lovers.

There were 40 works on display comprising paintings, mix-media, drawing, sculpture and printmaking. Nigeria’s works for the exhibition were some of the best of the national collection with artists cutting across the six geo-political zones of the country, of different generations, schools, movements, training and styles.

They included Kolade Oshinowo; Kunle Adeyemi; Jimoh Buraimoh; Olu Ajayi; Mufu Onifade; Monday Akhide; Mu’azu Sani; Abiola Idowu and Kaltume Gana. Artists from the Czech Republic were Boris Jirku and David Ledvinka, who according to Czech’s Ambassador, Pavel Mikes, are “representing two generations of contemporary Czech artists.” Czech visual arts have a long and famous tradition of glass sculpture. At the exhibition both artists presented paintings and pastel drawings respectively.

The Republic of France featured Pascale Bigot, a French artist with special interest in mix-media, using pastel as a base, applying paper or fabric as a creative complement.

According to the Ambassador of France to Nigeria Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, Bigot’s presentation in this exhibition “is a selection of figurative and landscapes of Provinces in the South of France.”

The Republic of Italy had Isabella Catoni, who according the Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Fulvio Rustico, lives and works between Italy and Nigeria. It was gathered that Isabella only spent a year in Nigeria, but inspired by the rich and vibrant cultural scene which resulted in the series of paintings called I sell fish out of the sea.

The Republic of Korea, otherwise known as South Korea, is the fifth of the countries with interesting and large number of participating artists only next to the host coun-

From Uche Nnadozie

EXHIBITION try, Nigeria. The South Korea featured 10 artists equipped with high sense of artistic exploration and experimentations. According to the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Choi Jong-hyun, majority of the Korean artworks displayed, depicts the encounter between the East and West in the areas of techniques and materials applied in creating the works on display. There is this synthesis in the application of western pigments alongside Eastern coloration on traditional Korean mulberry paper called “hanji”. Other techniques used by the Korean artists include mosaic of stamped tiny seals such as the case of Kim Seung-hee’s Mt Namsam (2006), using stone powder and creating images carved in high relief such as Lim Jong-doo’s Flying to the sky (2005) and Oh Jae-hoan’s Mountains and Rivers (2005).

Apart from effectively representing their countries, all the artists through individual creative construction of forms produced works of art emitting artistic fumes made up of aesthetic vitality, pictorial sincerity and solidity, which could readily arouse visual attention. Their imageries are visibly modernistic, technically satisfying, humanistic in content and culturally revealing. One also commend the artists, especially the foreign participants for their ingenious manipulation of media as well as their unalloyed commitment to pursuance of technical excellence which definitely will help promote the much needed cultural exchanges and creative/artistic alliance among the five republics.

According to Abdullahi Muku, the exhibition was a forum to use cultural fiestas to preach the message of peace while Ngozi John-Uyah, the Curator of the exhibition sees it as “a cultural conversation between five countries, from three continents speaking with one voice.”

The National Gallery of Art (NGA), which initiated the Nigeria Visual Arts World Tour (NIVATOR) in 2010, maintained and sustained platforms where Nigeria’s art collection are jointly exhibited with other foreign pieces in a single exposition. It is another dimension to NGA’s numerous platforms of showcasing, promoting and projecting the contemporary material culture in Nigeria.

•Nnadozie, a painter, is the Curator National Gallery of Art, Lokoja.

POETRY

Coffers of faith

By Oyewole Abidemi

Worship to the unseen.

Spiritual fray to the unclean.

Reflected by praise and hymns.

A disaster emerges within.

In a colosseum of divinity.

Hope and pray to the majesty. ill luck picked her day.

To rain fire and brimstones all the way.

Would there have been a secure venue.

The shrewd craft of a believer.

Weaved to everlasting existence.

Crumbles built upon architectural elegance.

Deaths upon deaths at the scene of a battlefield.

Only but few can relate to this eulogy.

We never died for once.

The coffers of faith remains untouched.

Written and edited by

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

50

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

THE PEEPING DRIVER Can you spot the driver and the conductor of this overloaded pickup van? While the driver is stretching his neck through the door in order to see clearly, his conductor is sitting on the bonnet of the vehicle. Who is directing who?

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

A

NYONE who visits Tinubu Square on Lagos Island, Lagos, will hardly notice one of the oldest monuments in Nigeria, as traders, car owners and commercial bus drivers constantly block the building. The signpost which indicates that the place is a National Monument is also not spared.

This was one of the issues raised last week by the Assistant Chief Heritage Officer of the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, Mrs. Nkechi Adedeji, at the weekly seminar organised by the National Museum Study Group, Lagos.

Mrs. Adedeji in a lecture tittled: Management of a Cultural Heritage; expressed her displeasure about the activities going on in front of Ilojo Bar Monument in Lagos.

“The presence of motor park in front of the structure defaces the monument and another trend is the parking of cars and buses in front of the building where they detract the architectural interest and beauty of the sight,” she stressed.

She examined a number of issues affecting not just Ilojo Bar Monument but also other monuments in Nigeria. She said: “Funding, legal protection, lack of awareness, interest and institutional framework are few of the challenges affecting these monuments.”

She emphasised the need for a legal back-up for maintenance of the national monuments, awareness campaign, routine inspection by heritage officers, and request for assistance from cooperate and international bodies can go a long way in restoring the monuments, as well as boosting the interest of people towards national heritage.

“Historic monuments which are cultural heritage constantly subject to decay and distress. These take various forms and may consequently jeopardize the safety of the building itself.

“Historic Monuments in most countries presents a conservation problem that requires attention. It is the duty of the current generation to preserve these monuments bequeathed to us by our ancestor for the future generation, she added.”

According to her, the stakeholders involved in the management of Ilojo Bar at the moment

‘Bring Ilojo Bar back to life’

•Ilojo Bar

By Udemma Chukwuma

MONUMENT cannot adequately maintain the place to desirable standard.

She revealed that the monument will be renovated according to architectural standards, accompanied with a view to training local students of architecture and technical workers in the restoration of building.

“Assistance is presently being sought from other organisation such as Legacy, an historical and environmental group, towards the restoration of Ilojo Bar. ‘The Brazilian consulate has also initiated the

renovation of Ilojo Bar into a cultural centre to be dedicated to the erstwhile Atlantic Slave trade.

“The innovation will take into consideration the period of the faced but the interior area could be converted to other uses such as exhibition room and library An appeal fund will be launched by the stake holders which is aimed at attracting interested individuals, cooperate organisations, NGOs etc to assist in the maintenance of the Ilojo Bar Monument.”

While giving a brief history of the monument otherwise known as Case de Fernandez, Adedeji said the building was built in 1855 by

‘The presence of motor park in front of the structure defaces the monument and another trend is the parking of cars and buses in front of the building where they detract the architectural interest and beauty of the sight’

the Fernandez family from Brazil, which the Fernandez family later sold to Mr Alfred Omolana Olaiya in 1933.

Ilojo Bar Monument is located in front of Tinubu Squire on House 6 Alli Street/2 Bamgbose Street in the old nieghbourhood called Brazilian Quarters in Lagos Island, Lagos and was declared a National Monument in 1956.

She also described the place as “LivingMonument as there are inhabitants occupying the building.

Some notable monuments which have received international awareness are: The Colosseum Flavian amphitheatre in Rome, a popular monument of the Roman Empire., The Cristo Redentor, a modern religious monument in Brazil. The Statue of Liberty, the symbol of the United States’ freedom. The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum in India. The Eiffel Tower, in Paris (France), a monument commemorating the French Revolution for its centenary The Great Pyramid of Giza built almost 5000 years ago as pharaoh’s tomb, one of the Seven Wonders and enduring symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization, The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and US Capitol. The US capital Washington D.C. is built around monuments commemorating founding fathers of the United States.

As these countries constantly receive tourists from around the world and earn a huge income, this cannot be said about Nigeria as people still loot national treasures and make mockery of some National monuments, just like the case of Ilojo Bar. “Despite the management challenges associated with Ilojo Bar Monument, it still maintains the historical value, Brazilian architectural style and other distinctive features which give it the status of a National Monument.

These attributes still accord the monument the potential of a tourist destination and a source of revenue generation for the country,” she asserted.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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BUSINESS EXTRA

Shell signs sales deals for oil blocks

R

OYAL Dutch Shell has signed sales and pur chase agreements for all the Nigerian oil assets it put up for sale following last year’s review of its business in the West African country.

Reuters’ report yesterday quoted a spokesman of the oil giant saying the assets include oil mining leases (OMLs) 18, 24, 25, 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line pipeline. The company also said together with its partners, Total and Eni, it had signed an agreement to sell OML 18 to a consortium led

by Canadian oil and gas company Mart Resources.

Mart confirmed it had entered into an agreement for the acquisition of OML 18, Reuters stated.

However, when The Nation contacted the spokesman of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Ni-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

geria, where the assets are located, Mr. Precious Okolobo, he confirmed that company has signed agreements for sale and purchase of the assets but noted that the sales deals have not been fully concluded.

He said: “The sale process has not yet been fully concluded but we can confirm that we have now signed sales and purchase agreements for OMLs 18, 24, 25, 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

“Nigeria remains an important part of Shell’s portfolio, where we will continue to have a significant onshore presence in oil and gas, and which has clear growth potential, particularly in deepwater and onshore gas.”

The battle for acquisition of

these four oil blocks has been raging since the beginning of the year. According to sources, Mart Resources leads the Erotron Consortium comprising of Midwestern Oil and Gas/Mart Resources/ Suntrust Oil, is for OML 18 while Aiteo led consortium is for OML 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line. OML 24 is for Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited led consortium while Lekoil, Crestar, Green Acres/CCC/ Signet Petroleum, NDPR/ SAPETRO and Essar, consortium is for OML 25.

Royal Dutch Shell has been advancing plans to complete sale of the four oil blocks in Eastern Niger Delta to meet its target of $15 billion from assets sales between this year and next year.

Shell’s Chief Executive Officer Ben Van Beurden, according to report, said the

company has already completed about $8 billion in asset sales this year after announcing plans to dispose of about $15 billion through next year. Shell was said to have also agreed to sell two natural gas assets in the United States for $2.1 billion plus shale acreage.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, had said the value of divested assets by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) including Shell, Chevron and Total from onshore, shallow water and offshore terrains, will hit about $11.5 billion by the end of this year.

She said before this year ends, at least 20 oil blocks with reserves of not less than four billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) would have been divested by the multinational oil firms.

MAN protests wine importers’ registration bid

A

MEMBER of the Manufacturers Asso ciation of Nigeria (MAN), the Ethanol Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMAN) has objected to the bid by Wines Marketers and Producers Association of Nigeria to register at Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) saying the attempt connotes setting up a parallel body in the sector.

The group in a statement signed by its solicitors Messers Ajibola Morebise & Co. said EMAN is the recognised registered representative of all alcoholic beverage manufacturers and producers duly registered with the CAC in the country.

The Spirits and Wines ‘Producers’ and Marketers Association of Nigeria, had a month ago, approached the CAC seeking registration as an umbrella association of wines marketers.

The group had in a paid advertorial stated its aim as providing industry collaboration that would drive and influence appropriate enabling environment in Nigeria for the importation marketing, distribution and sale of spirits and wines in Nigeria.

By Chikodi Okereocha

It however, urged members of the public with any objection to its application to forward such to the RegistrarGeneral of CAC within 28 days of publication. Consequently, the EMAN rose in protest, stating that the use of the word ‘producers’ in the name and objectives of the said association is fraudulent and misleading.

The association, which does not see any justification for another appellate group that are merely importers and wines, insisted that it has never failed in representing the interest of all genuine registered members of wines and spirits manufacturers in the country.

Counsel to the group, in a petition to CAC, said that the registered objectives of the organisation, among others, include “Bringing all distillers and blenders within the Nigerian business community together with a view to constantly evaluate and discuss matters of common interest as they affect the practice and business of all distillers and blenders in Nigeria.”

Air Peace begins operations soon

A

• From left: General Manager, Sales, Kola Adelanke; General Manager, Marketing, Xerox SH Nigeria Limited, Femi Abioye and Client Service Manager, Eslia Communication, Eniola Adelaja at the 2014 Nigeria International Print Expo (NIPEX 2014) and 40 th Xerox anniversary in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

FIRS quizzes officials of six oil firms over N2.4b tax liabilities T HE Federal Inland Rev enue Service (FIRS) in a two-day tax enforcement drive, has quizzed top officials of six companies operating in Lagos over tax liabilities valued at N2.4billion.

Among the firms quizzed are Lottoj Oil and Gas Ltd, N14.4 million, First Deep Water Ltd, N63.1 million, Tonique Oil Services Ltd, N27.79 million, Tak Continental Ltd, N960.2 million and Alliance and General Insurance, N1.13 billion.

According to a statement endorsed by Head, Communications and Liaison De-

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst.

Editor)

partment of the FIRS, Wahab Gbadamosi, said “officials of the companies were not only quizzed for failing to remit their outstanding tax liability but also for not filing their tax returns as required by the law.”

The FIRS had on October 3 in Lagos embarked on a similar tax recovery exercise against Baker Hughes, Line Trale, Tecon Oil and Heyden Petroleum, all operating in

the oil and gas industry.

Executive Chairman of FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi at the Service Regional Enlarged Management Meeting (REMM) warned that the Service would be compelled to invoke relevant laws against recalcitrant taxpayers.

To this end, Mashi directed a full scale enforcement exercise against corporate bodies and individuals who have not filed “Tax Returns” and voluntarily fulfil their tax obligations.

The tax law requires companies, with 31st December as their end of Year Accounting Date, to file their tax returns on or before the end of June of every year, while payments of taxes were expected to be made not later than end of August.

The enforcement exercise in Lagos, was led by its Head, Debt Enforcement and Special Prosecution Unit (DESPU), Mrs. Anita Erinn who said “the exercise became necessary following the companies’ refusal to respond to notices and letters of reminders to fulfil their tax obligations.”

Consumers to NERC: tariff increase’ll cause civil unrest

I

N one voice, electricity consumers yesterday warned the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that any attempt to increase electricity tariff in the face of dipping power supply would cause mass action.

They have therefore urged NERC to shelve any plan for electricity tariff hike pending when the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCos) would have provided meters and stop exploitation through estimated billing.

They spoke their minds

• Commission gives Disco two weeks to provide meters From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

during a meeting with the DISCos at NERC headquarters, Abuja.

The meeting was on the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) loss and Customer Number Enumeration.

A stakeholder, Deacon Daniel Okhionkpamwonyi, an administrator from Noble Height Academy, Karu, warned the commission not

to mull any tariff increase now, stressing that it should rather consider the provision of subsidy to the consumer since the market is still in its infancy.

According to him, the danger ahead of any tariff increase is that it could snowball into social unrest, adding that it could become a tool in the hands of politicians.

He said: ”We are also looking at fact that there is no

subsidy, that this is an infancy stage, within a period of 10 years government should be able to pay and subsidise for effective take off of the system. Because if all the cost has to be borne by consumers, it might help tripping the current rate and that might lead to civil unrest, which advantage could be taken by political opponents. You have to be very careful about this.”

Another consumer, Mr. Sam Oguefo of Silver Bird Television said: “What we are parading today is something that does not exist.

IR Peace said yester day that it would com mence scheduled flights on the Lagos - Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Owerri route this week, just as it unveiled seven aircraft for the operations.

This is the first time a domestic carrier would be starting operations with a combined fleet of seven aircraft.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Barrister Allen Onyema, said during the unveiling airplanes at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1(MMA), Lagos that the carrier would offer superior experience to its customers.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

He said the carrier has come to change the face of airline operations in the industry.

Onyema listed the aircraft in its fleet to include three Dornier 328 jets and four Boeing 737-500.

He said the airline intends to expand its operation to Asaba, Kano, Yola, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Ibadan Bauchi, Gombe and Katsina.

Other areas which the expansion will cover are Makurdi, Minna, Zaria, Akwa Ibom, Ilorin, Akure, Benin, Calabar, Warri and Jos.

Airtel, Apollo Hospitals partner on telemedicine

A

IRTEL yesterday partnered Apollo Hospitals, one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the world, to enhance access to world-class healthcare services to Nigerians.

Under the partnership, “Ask Apollo” would enable video consultation by Airtel’s Premier customers with Apollo Hospitals doctors in India with prior appointment.

In addition to the service Apollo Hospitals would also work with Airtel on creating health awareness with particular emphasis on preventive healthcare.

According to the CEO of Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr Hari Prasad, Apollo Hospitals and Airtel are taking advantage of the technology revolution to get the people of Nigeria closer to worldrenowned doctors from Apollo Hospitals at an affordable cost only N7.500.

Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, said the partnership with Apollo Hospitals will not only make it possible for Airtel Premier customers to have access to experienced

By Lucas Ajanaku & Oyeyemi Gbanga Mustapha

healthcare practitioners and life-saving information, it also offers convenience and a platform for improved quality of life.

He said: “This is another demonstration of Airtel’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life of Nigerians through innovative products and services. Because we see our customers as more than just a connection, we have taken this further step to provide them access to excellent medical attention, which they ordinarily would have travelled abroad for.

“Airtel Premier Customers interested in availing these services may call 09022222006 or 09022222007.”

These consultation facilities would be available at Diamond Helix Medical Assistance Ltd, Lekki Phase-1, Lagos, every Saturday at noon for three hours.

This service offers 10 per cent discount on the consultation fees and has the additional advantage of five and10per cent discount on Emirates Airline flights, if a customer wishes to proceed to India for further medical attention.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

55

MONEYLINK

CBN to banks: achieve 40% F BVN compliance by December

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to enroll 40 per cent of their customers on the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform by December 31, and 70 per cent by March 30, 2015.

CBN Director, Banking and Payments Unit, ‘Dipo Fatokun, said the apex bank will monitor lenders to ensure compliance. He explained that where an existing customer wishes to register the BVN with his/her bank, capturing his signature and photo identification documents may not be necessary, as the

Stories by Collins Nweze

bank is expected to have those records during account opening.

Also, where an existing customer wants to do a change of name, after his/her enrolment, on BVN, due diligence should be exercised and appropriate legal documents obtained, before the change is effected.

Fatokun said the new directive is aimed at fast-tracking the enrolment, adding that banks are to give more attention to the enrolment of their customers.

The CBN had set June 2015 dead-

line for all bank customers to enroll on the BVN platform.

The BVN enrollment, which involves capturing of customers’ physiological or behavioral attributes – fingerprint, signature among others, is ongoing in some banks’ headquarters in Lagos.

The exercise is a continuation of the $50 million biometrics project involving the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee, Dermalog and Charms Plc. It was meant to assign unique number to every bank customer for enhanced security of transactions.

Why we invested in power,

by Fidelity CEO

F

IDELITY BANK’S investment in power sector projects is strategic and in the interest of the economy, the Managing Director/CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo, has said Speaking at the weekend after he was conferred with Honorary Senior Membership Award of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), he said: “It feels good to be honored in your profession. I have not done anything else in my life except banking.

“Banks do not own money, majority of the money in banks belong to other people, so we are custodians of other people’s money.

It is our duty to exercise the highest level of ethics and professionalism in the profession. It is either you are a banker, or you are not a banker. I have learnt to abide by those professional ethics.”

The bank chief said Fidelity Bank

supported two Gencos and four Discos, adding that he has a lot of confidence in the power sector reforms.

“In the power sector, we see a lot of seriousness to power reforms in the country. I am very confident, that in the next few years, what has happened in the telecom sector will happen in power sector. We are not afraid that we supported power. We supported two Gencos and four Discos. We did not go there with our eyes closed.”

He said N213 billion was announced to clear legacy gas debts of those companies and other outstanding payments that made growth difficult for those who acquired power assets, adding that such steps, would strengthen the business of operators in the power sector.

Okonkwo also expressed confidence in the Nigeria economy, adding that the current drop in oil prices

Name

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,118.84 121.30 121.16 1,117.51 1.2195 1.2842 0.8302 1.0889

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

A • Okonkwo is a cycle that comes and goes. He said that banking is all about financial intermediation, and that an efficient, secure banking environment encourages foreign direct investment. “When the financial system is sound and safe, foreigners will be more confident to invest,” he said.

BOOST has come for the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). Last week, a primary mortgage bank, TrustBond Mortgage Bank Plc, formerly known as Intercontinental Homes Limited, revealed its investment of N500 million NMRC. This, the bank officials said, is to guarantee access to long –term funds in order to sustain future growth of the company.

The Chief executive officer / Managing Director of the company, Mr. Adeniyi Akinlusi said if the bank had failed to meet the December 2013 deadline for the recapitalisation of all operators in the National Primary Mortgage banks to N5 billion it would have resulted in the loss of value, brand erosion, limitation of business op-

Transaction Dates 20/10/2014 15/10/2014 13/10/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

COSTAIN

0.80

0.88

0.08

NEIMETH

1.02

1.11

0.09

DANGSUGAR

7.26

7.73

0.47

ETERNA

3.57

3.80

0.23

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

UBCAP

2.01

2.11

0.10

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

LEARNAFRCA

1.26

1.32

0.06

NEM

0.70

0.73

0.03

NPFMCRFBK

0.98

1.02

0.04

REDSTAREX

4.00

4.15

0.15

CONTINSURE

0.91

0.94

0.03

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

44.50

42.28

CHANGE -2.22

MAYBAKER

1.71

1.63

-0.08

INTENEGINS

0.53

0.51

-0.02

28.82

27.74

-1.08

misrepresented material facts before obtaining the order.

In the application to nullify the mareva injunction, the defendants accused the bank of failing to put them on notice before securing such order, adding that the injunction was capable of crippling their business.

They are urging the court to discharge the mareva injunction or allow them to make withdrawals and transfers to run their business of importation, purchase, distribution and supply of petroleum products.

The defendants are also praying that they should be allowed to have access to their accounts to meet their other obligations such as payment of staff salaries and other overheads and running costs.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

erations to one state and closure of branches in other states with attendant losses.

Akinlusi said to be complaint with regulatory regulations that insist that mortgage banks should stick to their core competences and wind-down non core businesses they had no choice, but to comply with the regulatory demand though it formed a major part of their earnings. He said: “The urgency to wind–down on real estate development activities in compliance with revised guidelines for mortgage banks. This necessitated sell–down of existing assets and exit of experienced real estate personnel with competence and skills developed over the years, in addition to loss of major source of income.

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

8.3%

UNILEVER

By Joseph Jibueze

DATA BANK

Inflation: September

LOSERS AS AT 21-10-14

‘Businessman owes banks N12.4b’

NMRC gets N500m investment

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,118.03 120.45 120.30 1,116.70 1.2117 1.2842 0.8148 1.0889

GAINERS AS AT 21-10-14

PZ

IRST BANK of Nigeria Plc has accused a businessman, Mr Ezeani ThankGod, of owing them and other banks N12.4billion.

It urged the Federal High Court in Lagos not to grant him and his company in which he is the Managing Director, Index Petrolube Africa Limited, access to their accounts.

First Bank is claiming N361,239,448.78 from the defendants and interest at the rate of 18 percent from March 17 till the liquidation of entire debt.

The bank, through its lawyer, Ade Oyebanji, sued Thankgod and the company’s director, Obinna Ezeani Nnamdi.

It secured a mareva injunction restraining the defendants from operating their bank accounts in all the commercial banks pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The court had ordered the banks to file an affidavit disclosing the defendants’ state of accounts.

However, the defendants filed an application seeking to set aside the mareva injunction. They are alleging that First Bank suppressed and

Money Supply (M2)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 349.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES October 20, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.2b

US Dollar

154.76

155.76

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

249.6279

251.2409

Euro

197.6595

198.9367

Swiss Franc

163.8365

164.8952

Yen

1.4481

1.4575

CFA

0.2835

0.3035

230.5372

232.0268

Yuan/Renminbi

25.271

25.4352

N16.42 trillion.

N17.2 trillion 16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 350m 350m

15-10-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 17-10-14

WAUA

Overnight (O/N)

11.00

10.917

Riyal

41.255

41.5216

1M

12.464

12.393

SDR

230.9483

232.4406

3M

13.281

13.201

6M

14.205

14.110

FOREX RATES

RTBRISCOE

0.89

0.86

-0.03

WAPIC

0.66

0.64

-0.02

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

FCMB

4.19

4.07

-0.12

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

CCNN

14.45

14.06

-0.39

HONYFLOUR

3.95

3.87

-0.08

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

CUSTODYINS

3.95

3.90

-0.05

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Oct. 21, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.10

T-bills - 182

10.22

T-bills - 364

10.30

Bond - 3yrs

11.52

Bond - 5yrs

11.55

Bond - 7yrs

12.13

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

57

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

NEWS Senate puts wages on concurrent list Continued from page 4

sembly, Auditor-General of the State and the Attorney-General of a State directly from the State Consolidated Fund.

The lawmakers approved Section 124, which they described as a consequential provision of the making of local government a full third tier government, by creating the Office of the Auditor-General of the Local Government as well as the State Local Government Service Commission.

The Section, it said, “deletes the State Independent Electoral Commission”.

Sections 134 and 179, which the Senate accepted, extend the time for conducting presidential of governorship re-run to 21 days instead of the seven days for both presidential and gubernatorial elections.

It adopted Section 174 and 211, which establishes the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and AttorneyGeneral of a state as distinct from the Minister of Justice and Commissioner for Justice.

The lawmakers accepted Section 223, which empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister political parties for nonfulfillment of certain conditions

such as breach of registration requirements and failure to secure/win either a presidential, governorship, local government chairmanship or a seat in the National or State Assembly.

They accepted Section 228 which confers powers on the National Assembly to make laws for the procedures, guidelines and qualification for access to the ballot by political parties and independent candidates.

The lawmakers approved Section 241, which provides that a court of tribunal shall not stay any proceedings on account of any interlocutory appeal.

They accepted the provision of Section 251 which confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court for trial of electoral offences.

Section 285, which the Senate accepted, provides time for determination of pre-election matters, establishment of local government election tribunals and time for determination of election petitions.

Specifically, the Section provides that where a force majeure (unforeseen event) occurs, the period of the force majeure shall not be counted in computation of the 180 days for the purpose

of determining election petitions.

Under the Second Schedule, Part 1 and 11(Legislative Powers) the Senate agreed that “The Exclusive Powers under Part 1 to the Schedule of the Constitution is congested, cumbersome and unwieldy.

“There is, therefore, the need to decongest the Exclusive List by maintaining only items of utmost importance to the Federation as a whole, and transferring some items to the concurrent List.

“Committee therefore substituted ‘Post and Telegraphs’ with ‘Post and Telecommunications’, included National Security Agencies and removed Pensions, Railways, Stamp Duties and Wages from the Exclusive Legislative List.

The Senate also approved the provision that transferred and included in the Concurrent List Arbitration, Environment, Health, Housing, Railways, Road Safety, Stamp Duties, Wages, Land and Agriculture, Youths.

On immunity, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said that the conference committee accepted the Senate version of the issue which retains immunity.

Uncertainty over Chibok girls as focus shifts to Chad Continued from page 4

able to get back our girls,” Wali said in Berlin, Germany.

“There is a tremendous amount of improvement in terms of the discussions that are going on now and also the possibility of having total cessation of hostilities and at the same time bringing back the girls and also normalcy in that part of northern Nigeria.”

Wali spoke at a news conference with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, following government discussions on the insurgency in Nigeria as well as areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Steinmeier said he hoped that the ceasefire would lead to the release of the girls.

He said he and French counterpart Laurent Fabius will at the weekend visit Nigeria.

Steinmeier said the fact that

Nigeria was this week declared free of Ebola had been “one of the few rays of light in the fight against the deadly virus”.

There were indications last night that most foreign missions have opened desks to monitor the release of the girls.

A diplomat said: “We are as concerned as your country about the release of the girls.

We are certainly following the talks in Chad.”

The United States has said that it would welcome the ceasefire if it works.

The Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, Marie Harf stated this on Monday at a briefing in Washington DC. In the transcript of the briefing posted on US Embassy’s site, Harf said: “We can confirm reports that a ceasefire has been announced, appears to have been put into place.

“We would welcome that ceasefire, call on all parties both to implement and maintain such a ceasefire, and hope that such a ceasefire would herald the return of peace to the northeast. This is a region that has had far too little of that.

“It’s our understanding that negotiations about a deal to release the girls continue.

“Obviously, would join the world, I think, in hoping that these girls would be reunited with their families as soon as possible, but it’s our understanding those negotiations do continue.

“That’s our understanding.

That’s the latest from the ground.

Asked if there was any kind of American involvement in the talks, Harf added: “I don’t believe so, but let me check.

Not that I know of. But never say never; I’ll check.”

Cash crunch ‘threatens 31 states‘ Continued from page 4

expenditures. We may have to mobilise more revenue; we have to look at the fiscal policy; we have to look at the monetary policy.”

Already there are contingency plans put in place to forestall any immediate adverse effect on the budget but for next year, there would be an increase in the revenue benchmark target for both the Federal Inland Revenue Service( FIRS) and Nigeria Customs

Service (NCS).

She did not disclose the exact revenue target for the agencies but explained that the FIRS had realised N44 billion out of its N75 billion target while Customs has realised N713 billion (between January and September) out of the N1.23 trillion target set for them this year.

“We must shift the economy to non-oil revenue and we are already working hard on nonoil. Our revenue to GDP ratio is below that of other countries.

We need to work very hard on non-oil and deliver on non-oil sector”.

The finance minister said “last year, 60,000 ghost workers were weeded out and saved government about N160 billion. The ministry has written to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to trace those that needed to be held accountable and we are ready to assist the ICPC on any issue that borders on transparency.”

Why APC ’ll defeat PDP, by Kwankwaso Continued from page 4

nomination forms.

The party will hold its primary on December 2.

Kwankwaso said: “I am not under pressure to step down for anybody, in as much as nobody has contacted me to step down, doing that will not augur well for the party. You see, so many people are used to either small parties or medium sized parties, where people sit down and choose somebody in a room. Now, we are talking of APC mega party, which is not ANPP, which is not CPC, ACN or APGA or New PDP. I always

tell people to look at the example of the PDP since 1999 and in each election, people went for primaries, not arranged elections, real election, primary election. Even when we had a sitting President in 2003 and 2011, there were primaries elections, very serious elections and that is why the PDP won all along and all others who are involved in stage managing primary elections always lost elections.’’

Commenting on the postponement of his presidential declaration, Kwankwaso explained that it had been difficult for him to secure approval to use the Eagle Square as

the venue.

According to him, the Eagle Square proposed venue seem to be impossible, even the conference centre, as we are now struggling for an alternative venue for the declaration. So, if I fail to secure a venue, I will invite you all to the streets of Abuja, that is where we are now and we can hold it there.”

Kwankwaso, who is optimistic of mass defections from PDP to APC “within the shortest possible time, said “my people and my friends are just waiting for me to declare, and after that has happened, my friends in the PDP will vote for me”.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

58

FOREIGN NEWS

Oscar Pistorius sentenced to five years in prison

O

SCAR Pistorius’ fall from grace culminated Tuesday with a fiveyear sentence in the shooting death of his girlfriend.

The sentence was imposed for the charge of culpable homicide, which in South Africa means a person was killed unintentionally, but unlawfully.

Under South African law, he will have to serve at least onesixth of his sentence — 10 months — before he can ask to be placed under correctional supervision, usually house arrest, instead.

Pistorius was also given a three-year sentence on a firearms charge, but it was suspended for five years on condition he’s not found guilty of another crime where there’s negligence involving

a firearm during that period.

That count related to an occasion when Pistorius discharged a handgun under a table in a busy restaurant. No one was hurt.

During his trial, the doubleamputee sprinter often sobbed at the mention of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s name. He insisted that he mistook her for an intruder when he shot her through a toilet door on Valentine’s Day 2013.

But there was very little visible reaction from Pistorius as the sentence was read out in the Pretoria court.

Speaking to CNN’s Robyn Curnow in the last few weeks before his sentencing, Pistorius told her that he would respect and accept the decision of the court and that he was not afraid of impris-

onment.

He said he hoped to contribute while in prison by teaching people how to read or start a gym or running club.

“Oscar will embrace this opportunity to pay back to society,” his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, told reporters. “As an uncle, I hope Oscar will start his own healing process as he walks down the path of restoration. As a family, we are ready to support and guide Oscar as he serves his sentence.”

The Steenkamp family’s lawyer, Dup De Bruyn, said in a statement: “The family is satisfied. They are glad that it is over and are satisfied that justice has been done.”

The prosecution had asked for a minimum prison sentence of 10 years for Pistorius.

•IRAN’S Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his ballot at his office during the PHOTO: REUTERS Iranian presidential election in central Tehran June 14, 2013.

Iran supreme leader blames West for ISIS

I

RANIAN Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed Western powers on Tuesday for the rise of Islamic State (IS) insurgents in Iraq and Syria and said they had no business tampering with the region’s geopolitics.

Iran and the United States have been arch-foes for decades but now share a strategic interest in reversing the territorial gains of IS that threaten to remake the Middle East map.

But cooperation has been blocked in part by the fact Tehran and Washington back opposing sides in Syria’s civil war, where Islamic State is among rebel forces fighting President Bashar al-Assad.

While Washington opposes Assad, it sees IS as a bigger threat and is staging air strikes to try to neutralize the al Qaeda offshoot with the support of Western and Gulf Arab allies. “(The) current imbroglio is

the outcome of irresponsible acts in Syria by alien powers along with certain regional countries,” Khamenei said, according to a statement read on state television, an allusion to mainly Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

He praised Iraq for “refusing to allow its soil to be used” against Assad, which Tehran has shored up against rebels bent on toppling him with the support of Western and Gulf Arab foes.

Total’s CEO dies in plane crash

C

HIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of French oil company, Total, Mr. Christophe de Margerie, died yesterday after his plane collided with a snowplow on the runway at Moscow International Airport.

Agency reports quoted Russian officials as saying that the snowplow’s driver was intoxicated.

Three other members of the plane’s crew were also found dead at the scene of the accident.

The officials said they would investigate other possible causes of the accident such as pilot and air traffic control error.

The crash occurred when the landing gear of the Falcon airplane hit the snowclearing machine during take-off, then caught fire and crashed on the runway.

The 63-year old CEO was immediately mourned by top leaders.

Affectionately known as “Big Mustache” for his signature facial hair, the late de

Margerie had a “larger-thanlife personality” and was “hugely respected” in French business and political circles.

The company released a statement sending condolences to the families of the victims.

The late oil chief attended President Vladimir Putin’s yearly economic showcase in St. Petersburg in May, ignoring calls for a boycott over the crisis in Ukraine.

Total is a major shareholder in Novatek, Russia’s largest independent natural gas producer. The two companies were planning to develop a massive liquified natural gas reserve in Siberia.

But the shooting down of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine in July prompted Total to suspend buying additional shares in Novatek.

Putin has expressed his condolences in a telegram to French President Francois Hollande.

In the message, Putin praised de Margerie for his role in laying the foundation of “long time fruitful coopera-

tion between France and Russia in the energy sector.”

De Margerie joined Total after finishing university in 1974. He has held several positions with the company, including a job leading its Middle East operations. He was named CEO in 2007 and appointed chairman in 2010.

In an interview with the Financial Times, de Margerie said he rarely admitted regretting anything, except not being able to spend enough time with his children.

“I used to think quality time with my children was good enough, but quantity matters,” he told the newspaper.

Hollande expressed shock and sadness and praised the CEO for his “independence, original character and dedication to his country.”

Also, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the country would miss de Margerie’s “panache,” his typically French sense of humour and a spirit that was “unanimously appreciated.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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60

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Eagles job a big surprise to me, says Amodu • Coach to pick team list out of NFF’s 66 players • Vows to secure 2015 AFCON qualification ticket

• Amodu

S

UPER Eagles’ caretaker Coach Shuaibu Amodu has opened up on why he accepted to coach the national team saying he was surprised to be picked as the head coach to salvage the Super Eagles’bid to win a qualification ticket for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Two matches away to Congo Brazzaville and at home to South Africa remain in the series.

Amodu who stormed the Zone 7, Abuja Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation yesterday with the full complement of his three assistants Salisu Yussuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Alloysius Agu, declared that the crew would do all it could to ensure that Nigeria’s flag is flown in Morocco next year January.

“If I have coached for over 30 years and you all guys (sports journalists) have my records and with the versed knowledge and

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja experience of my colleagues also in the technical crew I am confident that we will be able to salvage this situation.

“We met with the Director Technical and we were presented with 66 names of players doing well at home and abroad from which we will come out with a final list of players that will prosecute the two (must win) matches”, Amodu also declared.

As regards the main reason why Shuaibu Amodu accepted the caretaker coaching job, the Edo born Coach disclosed that, “The truth is that first and foremost my reaction is that the news of my coming back to handle the national team is a kind of surprise to me. I am surprised in the sense that I have been disconnected with football coaching at the national team level for the past four years.

“So I was the last person to expect myself to come on board for this this job. The first thing that came to my mind is to say outright no. The reason why I thought about saying outright no was to make serious efforts to see how we can avert the removal of my colleague,(Stephen Keshi) from this job because it was remaining only two matches to go.

“My reason for this is that I believe that it was not all over.

And that if we were patient enough for him to probably finish this job probably we would

still qualify. At that level we would have been able to appraise him (Keshi) properly. But it looks like superior reasoning overtook my sentiment. So the decision was taken after I made serious efforts to see if the situation would be salvaged. But it was deeper from what I can see from outside.

“I wanted to have a mental picture of what the job is all about before I would come and take over the supervision of the two remaining matches of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. I made my condition very clear that well, if I were to come and take over the job for the remaining two matches we must appreciate where we are coming from.

As a professional I thought I was going to be close to the technical department where I was assigned to man for over a year ago now but without the instrument of office to do so in the first place anyway.

“The NFF President Amaju Pinnick assured me and I know he is a man of honour.

So I let him go out with the announcement. As I speak to you now I am not going to dwell on controversies. My plans are to meet with my technical team to see how we can fashion out a plan that will be suitable to prosecute these two matches.

“At the end of the day what is important to me, my crew and all Nigerians is to see how we can salvage the situation and get the required result”.

FIBA AFRICA ZONE 3 AFRICA CUP FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Nigerian teams in good start

N

IGERIA'S male and female teams were on Tueday off to a good start as they began the race for the two available tickets for the final round of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 eliminations for the Africa Cup for men and women.

Dolphins Basketball Club of Lagos oblazed the trail for Nigerians with a convincing 92-37 points win over AS BIA of Niger Republic.

Though, Juliet Currency led the board for Dolphins with 24 points 9 rebounds and and 5 steals, just as Upe Atosu scored a total of 22 points with 5 assists for the team.

Coach of Dolphins Oworodun Ochukosaid she was not satisfied with the performance of her girls as they did not play according to plan.

"Yes, we won the game but I must tell you that we did not put in our best and I think this is solely because we are playing on this court for the first time. I'm sure that as the matches progress, we'll get better. It's my hope to pick a ticket for the final round at the end of our matches which has been put on a home and away format based on the four teams participating.

Dolphins captain, Bintu

RESULTS UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CSKA 2 - 2 Man City Roma 1 - 7 Bayern APOEL 0 - 1 PSG Barca 3 - 1 Ajax Chelsea 6 - 0 Maribor Schalke 4 - 3 Sporting BATE 0 - 7 Shakhtar Porto 2 - 1 Bilbao

Bhadmus shares in her coach's optimism of picking a ticket and stated after the match that they would not disappoint Nigerians.

Champions of the Zenith Bank league in Nigeria, First Bank made it a double win beating BAC Vision Future of Burkina Faso by 60-41 points.

There are eight teams from from four countries for men and four teams from three countries for the women. In the mens category, the teams are divided into two groups of A and B. According to the principal commissioner for this elimination, Iddrissu Gamel Ayambire who handled the technical meeting on Monday, Group A has Sonabhy of Burkina Faso, Renaisance of Benin Republic,

SOA of Abidjan anf Nigerian champions Kano Pillars. Group B is made up of Rail Club du Kadiogo, ASPAC of Benin Republic, ABC of Cote d' Ivoire and Mark Mentors of Nigeria. The top two teams in each of the group will go into the semi-final stage, while the other teams will continue with classification matches for the fifth to eigth positions. Final is slated for Sunday, October 26, 2014.

For the women, they will play a round robin of home and away to get a total of 12 games and the top two will represent Zone 3 in the final round of the championship. The clubs are BAC Vision Future of Burkina Faso, First Bank of Nigeria, Dolphins of Nigeria and AS BIA of Niger Republic.

NTF names team for C’wealth Taekwondo Ch’ship in Scotland

T

HE Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) has named a 16-man team for next month’s Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships holding in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In the list made available to Nationsport, 2008 Beijing Olympics medallist, Chika Chukwumerije and his brother, Uche, will lead the team to the two-day tournament coming up on November 15 and 16 at theMeadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh.

Also on the team are 2011 All Africa Games medalists – Jamilu Mohammed, Sunday Onofe and Joy Ekhator.

According to the President of NTF, George Ashiru, the list of the

By Olalekan Okusan athletes has been confirmed by the organisers of the championship, while the team would continue to prepare ahead of the tournament.

His words: “The Nigerian team to the 2014 Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships is grateful for the passion with which the Minister for Sports and the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) have supported and encouraged the participation of the team. I believe wholeheartedly in the High Performance initiative of the NSC, and thank all the concerned actors in this dream of the NTF unfolding positively.”

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Anyway, though the terms of the ceasefire agreement are yet to be made public, nevertheless, the hope is that both parties would respect the terms of the agreement and allow genuine peace to return to the country’ DELE AGEKAMEH

VOL.9 NO. 3,009

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

A

MONG his many virtues, perhaps the most endearing is his compassion. This could be attributed to his strict Christian upbringing in Wusasa where he was born 80 years ago, this month, to the highly respected Christian couple of Yohanna and Sanaya. The father was originally from Pankshin in Plateau State but settled in Wusasa, a sleepy suburb Northwest of Zaria and the evangelical headquarters of northern Christianity. Soon enough the suburb became the first home of the Gowons, as we shall soon see.

The most obvious manifestation of the man’s compassion was the way he executed the country’s civil war between 1967 and 1970 as the officer and gentleman who came to power accidentally in July 1966. The war itself was triggered by the country’s first military coup in January, a coup in which virtually the entire northern political and military leadership was wiped out by a group of officers that was almost entirely Igbo. The young Colonel Yakubu Gowon, then AdjutantGeneral of the army, was lucky to escape the massacre.

Widespread resentment at the one-sidedness of the coup soon led to a revenge coup in which the Military Head of State, Major-General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi, was killed along with many Igbo officers. The young northern officers who carried out the coup drafted Gowon, as the most senior officer left standing from the region, to replace Aguiyi-Ironsi.

A more senior Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, then military governor of Eastern Region, thought this breached military protocol and showed his reluctance to take orders from his junior. Ojukwu’s hands were soon strengthened by the mass killings of Igbos which followed the July counter-coup killings, which, in turn, led to the mass migration of Igbos and other eastern minorities to the East for safety.

Following the breakdown of a series of attempts at home and abroad to end the instability, insecurity and division that had resulted from the military’s incursion into politics, Ojukwu declared a rebellion. Gowon countered by ordering what he called police action. Invariably this turned into a full scale war which lasted three years.

Gowon executed it with as much compassion as was possible in a war. True, millions of Nigerians, mostly Igbos, lost their lives in the war zone. However, the unprecedented speed with which the warring sides reconciled with each other after the war was only possible because Gowon did not behave like a general who took prisoners.

One glaring manifestation of his compassionate frame of mind revealed itself 12 years after the war in a lengthy interview I had with him as a New Nigerian reporter. This was at his London home where he lived in exile following his overthrow in 1975. “I thought honestly,” he said in an answer to criticisms that he’d allowed the war to drag on for too long, “it is bad to say you do not want somebody in your home and then he moves to his own home and you follow him there in order to hurt him again, et cetera. I think it is immoral.” (Sunday New Nigerian, May 9, 1982).

For someone who was an accidental military head of state, nine years in office

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Yakubu Gowon at 80 ‘

It is a testimony to the man’s personal integrity that no one has ever accused him of personally benefitting from all that oil money.

Here’s many more returns of October 19 to an honest and compassionate general.

•Gen. Gowon

seemed to have made him reluctant to leave; in an Independence Day broadcast on October 1, 1974, he told a stunned nation that 1976, as the year he had promised to return power to civilians, was no longer realistic. He needed, he said, first to put the economy on a sound footing and second, it seemed the politicians had learnt no lesson from their ouster from power in 1966.

His reasoning did not, apparently, wash even with the top military brass, much less with the public and from then on it looked like his overthrow was only a question of time. When it came he was away in Kampala, Uganda, attending the year’s annual Organisation of African Unity conference.

He accepted the coup with equanimity but decided to stay away until things settled down.

They never did; six month after he was overthrown, some disaffected officers struck.

Their coup failed but they succeeded in assassinating the head of state, General Murtala Mohammed.

The coup makers’ ring leader, Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka, implicated Gowon in their attempt. Overnight the man became the nation’s chief villain regardless of his protestations of his innocence and his well-deserved image of someone who could not hurt a fly. His protestations were hardly helped by a statement the Federal Government issued on February 18, 1976, five days after General Mohammed was killed, that it had “ample evidence” that

’

he “knew and by implication approved the coup plot”.

If he was innocent as he claimed, he should, the government said, return home to answer his charges. It assured him that his trial would be fair. Wisely, he declined the invitation.

Wisely, because it turned out that his younger brother, Moses, had remained in detention for three months after assurances from the government that he had been cleared of suspicions that he was part of the coup, and freed.

Time, they say, heals. It may not have been a hero’s welcome but on December 6, 1983, the former head of state returned to Nigeria no longer a villain. This was two years after he had been cleared of having a hand in the February 13, 1976 coup attempt. His clearance came in a speech by President Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1981, in which he announced the declaration that Gowon was wanted for General Mohammed assassination had been “rescinded forthwith” and the general was “free to visit or return to Nigeria should he so wish”.

Shagari had come to this conclusion, presidential sources said, after he studied reports of the 1976 coup attempt and found no evidence that Gowon knew, much less approved, the coup attempt. The president was also said to have sounded out the military top brass and found no objection to granting Gowon a reprieve.

In his first press interview upon his return, he said he was through with politics. Nearly 10

HARDBALL

W

ITHIN one week, two events, one after the other, carried thoughtprovoking lessons for the polity.

First was Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose’s October 16 inaugural ceremony at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. His address on the occasion was a gripping study in self-definition, and even self-clarification. He seized the moment for a concrete reinforcement of his image as possibly a pedestrian thinker, or a thinking pedestrian, never mind if such phrasal usages sound like a contradiction in terms.

Listen to His Excellency who informed his listeners of his intention “to appoint a special adviser for stomach infrastructure”: ”I have forgiven Ekiti for removing me unjustly and I declare peace, prosperity, progress, employment, food and stomach infrastructure. You can put tar on the road but if I don’t have a car and I’m hungry, then that tar is meaningless. Tarring our road is wonderful but putting food

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Rice, chicken and the scientific age

inside this stomach is very important.” He added: “Already, I am grooming your chicken for Christmas. I am getting your rice ready to do stomach infrastructure. When I defeated them, they said it was as a result of stomach infrastructure. I will banish hunger in your midst. I will work hard to put food on your table.”

If it could be considered a plus in this context, Fayose proved to be a man of his word.

Among the first appointments he announced, he named Sunday Anifowose as “personal assistant on special duties and stomach infrastructure”. The move helped in defining not only the laughable seriousness the governor brings to the funny phrase, “stomach infrastructure”, but also his thinking (that prob-

years later he seemed to have changed his mind.

In December 1992, he announced his intention to join General Ibrahim Babangida’s long transition programme as a presidential candidate, much to the surprise of many Nigerians, including some members of his family. Indeed, one of them, the younger and late Daniel, who was Sarkin Wusasa, told the rested Citizen magazine that he was unequivocally against it. “They think Nigeria is at another cross-road,” he said, “and only the general with his patience and accommodation, can guide it aright. But I say it is all rubbish.

Yaya mutum zaiyi amai ya dawo ya lashe?”, the Hausa for how can someone swallow his vomit?

(Citizen, April 6, 1992) Probably the most celebrated criticism of Gowon’s bid to return to power was General Olusegun Obasanjo’s. Many a reader will, I am sure, recall how he had asked his former commander-in-chief what he had forgotten in the presidential villa that he wanted to return to pick. Such is the allure of power that the man apparently forgot his advice to his former boss when he returned in 1999 and even wanted to stay put.

Gowon’s return bid eventually turned into a misadventure. He lost the primaries conducted under the controversial Option A4, where delegates physically lined up behind the ballot box of their preferred candidate, to a far less well known Dr Sarki Tafida, one time personal physician of President Shehu Shagari who went on to become a senator and is Nigeria’s current High Commissioner in the UK. Many attributed his loss partly to his choice of Wusasa as his constituency, instead of his native Pankshin. As a small part of Zaria which was overwhelmingly Muslim, he was naive, the critics said, to think he could prevail over a Muslim candidate, no matter how little known.

It was a measure of the man’s outward looking nature that he never thought of Wusasa as a second home after Pankshin.

Others said he was equally naive to think that his reputation as an honest man and former head of state was enough to give him victory.

In spite of this misadventure and in spite of his going back on his promise shortly after the war to hand over power to civilians in 1974 , the general is today arguably the most respected former head of state in the country.

This is mainly due to his compassion and apparent personal integrity.

When the man took over power in 1966, federal revenue was in the region of N340 million. By 1974, two years before he was ousted from power, it was N5.5 billion, a miserable sum by today’s standard but at that time a princely amount, so princely that at one time the general could boast that money was not an object but how to spend it. That may have accounted for so much corruption many in his regime, including those who now strut around as elderly tribal champions, were accused of, with good reason.

It is a testimony to the man’s personal integrity that no one has ever accused him of personally benefitting from all that oil money.

Here’s many more returns of October 19 to an honest and compassionate general.

lematic word again) on good governance.

Now, let’s change the setting. The second happening was a ceremony in Ikeja, Lagos, to mark 2,700 days of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration. Fashola announced the appointment of Dr. Adekemi Oluwayemisi Sekoni of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital as his chief scientific adviser.

He said: “Some of the lessons learnt are the need for a Government Scientific Adviser to be our coordinator, not only for providing scientific information about infectious diseases but also coordinating other areas of sciencebased research, food sufficiency, water sufficiency, air pollution and all other things that are likely to affect our well-being.”

It is interesting to note that Fashola was thinking about “food sufficiency” and “water sufficiency”, among other things, in connection with the duties of the scientific adviser.

In other words, his thoughts accommodated scientific food production and water generation, and the developmental implications.

On the other hand, Fayose’s idea about feeding the people not only lacks scientific substance; it is also deficient in long-term vision. His words suggested that he most likely wasn’t thinking beyond the elementary level of distributing foodstuffs, which is indeed a narrow way to travel in the modern global village with all the creative resources available to achieve social development. There must be a word for someone who manifests this sort of backward thinking. Shall we call him a primitivist? It is apt to wonder just how far back he may likely take the state, considering that he is apparently living in a preindustrial bubble.

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