The Nation October 31, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

MET Police: Ajimobi’s wife not arrested in UK •‘I’ll be back home today’

LP thugs attacking our members, says ACN

•Party seeks police protection

NEWS Page 8

NEWS

Page 8

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VOL. 7, NO. 2295 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Jonathan fights back as land grab row deepens President lashes protesters who accused him of backing Bayelsa against Rivers

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HE tension between Rivers and Bayelsa states over allegations of land grab and oil royalties boiled over yesterday, with the President joining the fray.

President Goodluck Jonathan denied backing the alleged move to cede Soku oil wells in five Kalabari communities of Rivers State to his home state, Bayelsa.

Community elders under the auspices of Kalabari National Forum, on Monday, alleged that there were moves by some Federal Government agencies with presidential acquiesce, to

Rivers State government awaitWe consider these allegations irre‘edWhile ‘ the promised correction...the RMAsponsible and most unfortunate, conFC surreptitiously released all revenue...previously kept to Bayelsa cede Kula, Soku, Ehem-Sargama, Idama and Abose Rivers communities whose oil well produces 300,000 barrels of crude daily, to Bayelsa.

The Kalabari leaders’ protest was led by former Minister Alabo Graham-Douglas.

They marched on Abuja on Monday with placards.

Chairman of the Akukuto-

ru Local Government Area Traditional Council of Rivers State, Emmanuel Awoyesuau-Jack, who spoke for the forum, said: “The self-explanatory effort was perceived to assuage the initial provocation of the Rivers State government. While Rivers State government patiently awaited the promised cor-

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sidering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest

rection, of the error-laden 11th edition of the Administrative map of Nigeria, which ordinarily should have redressed the acknowledged fundamental misrepresentations, the RMAFC surreptitiously released all revenue accruing from Soku Fields and Wells, previously kept in an Escrow Account, to Bayel-

sa State without recourse to Rivers State.”

But the President denied being part of any plot to cede the communities to Bayelsa. Besides, the Bayelsa State government also accused Rivers State of illegally collecting revenue due to it since 1999.

It said there are outstand-

’

ing issues of derivation between the two states.

In a statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati last night, Dr. Jonathan decried Monday’s protest by Kababari leaders.

He urged them and their “hidden sponsors” to avoid “the temptation to instigate Continued on page 2

US declares Sandy storm major disaster •Death toll hits 39

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NITED States President Barack Obama yesterday declared a “major disaster” in New York state and freed up federal aid for those who lost homes or businesses, after “super storm” Sandy swept through the Eastern Seaboard.

No fewer than 39 people were reported to have died in New York and other places, after one of the biggest storms to ever hit the country made landfall on Monday night in New Jersey.

SEE ALSO The storm, which just below PAGES 4&5 dropped hurricane status before striking land, has left 33 people dead across several US states. It had already killed more than 60 people in the Caribbean.

Heavy snows threatened mountainous regions inland, and huge population centres of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington have been affected.

Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New Continued on page 2

•BEA CHED: A 168-foot water tanker, the John B. Caddell, sits on the shore Tuesday morning where it ran aground on Front Street in the Stapleton BEACHED: neighborhood of New York’s Staten Island PHOTO: DAILY MAIL

•SPORT P23 •LIFE P25 •MONEY P30 •INVESTORS P32 •POLITICS P49

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

NEWS Constitution: NBA faults amendment process

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•Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Babatunde Savage (right), Managing Director/CEO, Seni Adetu (middle), and Commercial Director, Lisa Nichols, during the company’s pre-annual general meeting news conference in Ikeja, Lagos…on Monday.

US declares Sandy storm major disaster Continued from page 1

York City, said in a news conference yesterday that the upcoming challenges facing the city in the coming days “are enormous”.

“The most recent report states three quarters of a million New Yorkers are without power,” he said.

“You should expect, given the extent of damage, power will be out for two or three days, maybe even longer than that.”

Bloomberg said public transport will remain closed until further notice, and schools and airports remain

closed on Tuesday.

“While the worst of the storm has passed, conditions are still dangerous, and I cannot stress this enough,” he said.

Obama will travel to New Jersey today to view the destruction wrought by Sandy on the state.

Speaking at the Red Cross headquarters in Washington yesterday, Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with those who lost loved ones in the devastating hurricane, which has claimed at least ten lives in New York City alone.

“Obviously this is something that is heartbreaking for the entire nation,” he said, “And we certainly feel profoundly for all of the families whose lives have been upended, and are going to be going through some very tough times over the next several days, perhaps the next several weeks and months. The most important message that I have for them is that America is with you.

We are standing behind you and we are going to do everything we can to help you get back on your feet.”

Many streets in New York

City are filled with floodwater, with some subway tunnels breached and flying debris littering deserted pavements.

The city had closed down subway, bus and commuter train systems as of Sunday night.

More than eight million US homes and businesses were without power after Sandy tore down power lines, flooded electrical networks and sparked an explosion at a Consolidated Edison substation on Manhattan’s East River.

Continued on page 62

HE Nigerian Bar association (NBA) has expressed reservations about the process adopted by the National Assembly to review the Constitution.

Inaugurating the NBA Committee on Constitutional Review and law Reform and the NBA Rule of Law Action group committee in Abuja yesterday, the association’s President, Chief OkeyWali (SAN), said the bar is not comfortable with the process.

According to him, there is no clear agenda or known methodology in the ongoing process.

Besides, he noted that the one day public hearing session to be held simultaneously in the 360 federal constituencies on November 10, as proposed by the House of Representatives, cannot produce anything meaningful to the amendment of the 1999 constitution.

“We have decided to attend but without prejudice to our reservations on the inadequacy of the process and on any attempt to any claim to legitimacy if Nigerians are not given the opportunities in the future to effectively participate in the amendment of the 1999 constitution.

“We will continue to call for referendum, at the final stage of the process, thereby giving the average Nigerian a say in the amendment”, he said, adding also that, “Only then could any legitimate claim be made to it being a constitution by

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

we, the people of Nigeria”.

Wali said referendum is the ultimate consultation with the people of Nigeria, not a one day gathering in federal constituencies.

According to him, NBA is of the view that the 1999 constitution, as it is, cannot sustain the present democracy in the country, adding also that: “the 1999 constitution contains good provisions however, it also contain weak and obnoxious provisions and equally admits of several lacunae.

Above all, the constitution has legitimacy burden”.

Wali said NBA recognizes that achieving appropriate legal framework is an important component of sustaining reforms and economic development and charged the committee to, not only identify laws that have become outdated but to also formulate new ones that will aid economic development.

The twelve-member committee, led by Charles Edosomwan (SAN) is expected to look at the federalism, supremacy of the constitution, devolution of power, strengthening institutions that consolidate democracy, judicial and justice sector reforms, electoral systems reform, local government system reforms, state creation, regionalism, fiscal federalism and socio-economic rights.

The committee will engage in strategic consultation with other actors in the judiciary.

Rivers collecting our oil revenue, says Bayelsa

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AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday said there is no plan to annex any part of Rivers State.

He accused Rivers State of collecting derivation revenue over several oil facilities and installations, which are clearly within Bayelsa territory, from 1999 till date.

Dickson urged Rivers State government to apologise to President Goodluck Jonathan for allegedly impugning illmotive into the issues between the two states.

The governor spoke through a statement in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworison-Markson.

The statement said: “The attention of the Bayelsa State Government has been drawn to media reports credited to chiefs and elders of some Ijaw clans of Kalabari extraction in Rivers State, alleging attempts by some persons to forcibly annex communities and ancestral lands as well as oil facilities and installations in Kalabari land to Bayelsa State for the purpose of claiming derivation entitlements.

“The government of Bayelsa State wishes to react as follows: Firstly, we assure our Ijaw kith and kin in the Kalabari clan of Rivers State that there is no such move to forcefully annex any territory or people into Bayelsa State. We further wish to state that the Ijaw strategic interest demands that Ijaws wherever they are should be supported and strengthened and not to be forced into Bayelsa

Jonathan fights back as land grab row deepens Continued from page 1

conflict between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa states – who are of the same Ijaw stock”.

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in some newspapers today about a protest staged by the Kalabari National Forum and some monarchs in Abuja, in which the so-called protesters accused President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of interfering in a boundary dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states.

“The protesters alleged directly and through innuendoes, that there are plans to cede five Rivers State oil communities to Bayelsa with the connivance of various Federal Government agencies under the watchful eyes and supervision of his Excellency, Mr. President whose home state, most ingloriously, is the direct beneficiary.

“We consider these allegations irresponsible and most unfortunate, conFrom Yusuf Alli, Abuja State.

“That the purported claim is an attempt by detractors of the Ijaw nation to create unnecessary strife and hostility within the Ijaw ethnic family to our collective disadvantage.

“The true state of affairs is as follows: That by the 11th edition of the administrative map of Nigeria published in 2000, Bayelsa State as a state was entitled to derivation and other claims from crude oil production in respect of oil exploration carried out within its territory as stated in the said map.

“It is important to note that

sidering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest. The statutory agencies being referred to by the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent bodies.

Besides, there are laid down procedures for resolving inter-state boundary disputes. In this particular case, the dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states predates the Jonathan administration, and has been a matter for consideration by the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and other relevant agencies, long before now. The matter has never at any time been brought before either the President or the Vice President. The school-boy style protest is an attempt at cheap blackmail. We find the motive deplorable.

“It is all the more surprising that a man of Alabo-Graham Douglas’s stature, a former Minister who ought to

the claim of a state to derivation on account of oil production within its territory is different from ownership of land by families, communities and even clans. Whereas the claim of a state is based on territorial boundaries contained in the administrative map, that of a clan, family and community is based on traditional history, possession and other forms of ownership.

“Therefore, it is very common in the Niger Delta, owing to the way and manner states were created, for communities or clans to be in one state while part of the ancestral land is in another. The

know what is right, will team up with a group intent on causing disaffection between the President and his Ijaw kinsmen.

“We advise the Kalabari National Forum, its members and hidden sponsors, to avoid the temptation to instigate conflict between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa states, who are both of the same Ijaw stock.

The statutory agencies assigned the responsibility of resolving boundary disputes should be allowed to do their work.

“President Jonathan appeals to the good people of Rivers and Bayelsa to refuse to be dragged into the politics of conflict being orchestrated by individuals pursuing a hidden agenda.

“The Federal Government, under President Jonathan’s watchful eyes and supervision, remains committed to the promotion of fairness and justice in the interest of all parties concerned.”

family, clan or community does not cease to be traditional owners of such lands, while the state in which the land forms a part exercises administrative control over such land and, therefore, entitled to derivation.

“By the said 11th edition of the administrative map of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 2000; Bayelsa State is entitled to derivation in respect of all the oil wells within the state’s territory.

“The government of Rivers State has been receiving derivation revenue over several oil facilities and installations which are clearly within Bayelsa territory from 1999

till date in spite of the clear boundary delineation in the said map.

“We acknowledge the long standing dispute between the Ijaws in Bayelsa in Nembe clan and the Ijaws in Kalabari clan in Rivers State over traditional land boundaries. The claims predate the creation of Bayelsa State. However, the present issue is not about Nembe people laying claim to Kalabari land or of people trying to annex Kalabari land and communities as part of Bayelsa State.”

Dickson said the issues between the two states are not about ethnicity but derivation.

•Jonathan

He added: “Rather, the present claim is about the right of Bayelsa State, like any other state, to derivation revenue in respect of activities within its territory as stated in the administrative map of Nigeria. Even if any land in question in Bayelsa State is found to be the ancestral land of any family, community or clan in Kalabari clan, it does not detract from the right of the state to receive derivation.

“In the same vein, it does not also detract from the Continued on page 62

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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NEWS HURRICANE SANDY

Hurricane Sandy alters Nigerian The post-tropical storm crippling some states in the United States has forced many travelling from Nigeria to re-adjust their plans as airlines cancel thousands of flights, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

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EMPERS flared Monday night at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. Passengers and airline officials were at opposing sides __no thanks to Hurricane Sandy, the post-tropical superstorm pummeling some states in the United States.

Many a passenger were turned back from the airports because airlines suddenly cancelled flights in a bid to ensure the safety of their aircraft and passengers.

Passengers travelling through Frankfurt to Washington DC first had an inkling of the flights cancellation when they could not complete their online check-in.

By Monday morning, American, Delta, United and US Airways had each cancelled more than 1,000 flights arriving or departing Northeast airports from Sunday through Wednesday. United Airlines cancelled 3,700 flights. Delta Airline cancelled 2,100 and American Airline cancelled 1,571, US Airways cancelled 1,600.

As a result of the global cancellation of flights, passengers travelling to the United States from Nigeria have been forced to remain at home.

Hurricane Sandy has led to the closure of New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports and Newark in New Jersey “until further notice”.

Since Monday, Lufthansa Airline and British Airways have been turning back passengers from Nigeria’s international airports, such as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

United Airline, however, still flies passengers to its Houston-Texas base.

A passenger due to travel with the airline yesterday said: “ I have just called them and they say they are not cancelling the flight.”

A journalist from Ghana, Sylvio Combey Combetey, said his flight to New York was aborted because of the hurricane.

He said: “ I am actually in Atlanta and will be in Washington tomorrow. I could not go to New York because of the Hurricane.”

Lufthansa officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport yesterday said the airline cancelled the flights because of its concern for the safety of its passengers.

With flights canceled to and from New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore, Lufthansa and British Airways have offered to rebook flights for their passengers due to travel to the U.S. East Coast.

A statement on Lufthansa ‘s website said: “Due to the hurricane ‘Sandy’ and the resulting airport closures several flights to and from Eastcoast USA had to be cancelled for Monday 29, October 2012 and Tuesday 30, October 2012. Please check for the status of your flight prior to your departure.

“If you have booked a Lufthansa flight flight to/from New York, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington before October 29th, 2012 for

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As a result of the global cancellation of flights, passengers travelling to the United States from Nigeria have been forced to remain at home

•A flooded parking lot full of cabs in Hoboken, New Jersey...yesterday

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travel until November 2nd, 2012 you may rebook free of charge under certain circumstances.”

A statement on BA’s website said: “We understand that customers may be disappointed, however their safety is our highest priority.”

Virgin Atlantic also canceled all flights to New York, Boston and Washington. London’s Heathrow Airport is advising U.S.-bound passengers to check their flight status before traveling to the airport.

Qatar Airways and the United Arab Emirates-based airlines Etihad and Emirates also canceled flights to the U.S. northeast. In a statement , Emirates said the safety of their passengers “will not be compromised.”

United Airlines spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said: “Our operations team has been working since Friday on scenarios that would accommodate customers flying to and from the East Coast this weekend, while also moving our airplanes out of Sandy’s way to avoid having them stuck in airports in Sandy’s path.

“While cancellations are never convenient, we hope customers understand that we are focused first and foremost on operating safely.

We are also striving to minimize the impact on travelers booked on flights outside the East Coast.”

Assessing the financial impact of the storm on airlines and other transportation companies will take time. What is clear is that, according to airlines and flight-tracking website FlightAware.com, carriers had cancelled more than 12,200 flights as of midday Monday. The Global Business Travel Association last year estimated that hurricane, interrupts roughly 580,000 business trips, costing airlines, rental car companies, hotels and others nearly $700 million.

Vice president of research for the association Joe Bates said the estimate did not take Hurricane Sandy into account. He said the storm is expected to last twice as long as the other storms used for its estimate.

A passenger billed to fly from Lagos to Washington on Monday night said: “The hurricane has ruined a lot of things. So many people can never regain what has been lost again.”

•Submerged cars on a street

•A rescue team comprising the police and fire department personnel evacuating residents...yesterday.

•Haley Rombi, 3, was rescued from flooding on Staten Island.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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NEWS HURRICANE SANDY

passengers’ travel plans

• A fallen tree on a car in New York...yesterday

Costly delays for travellers

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IRLINE passengers delayed by Sandy may have to pay out thousands and wait days to reach their destinations, following the grounding of thousands of flights.

Flight-tracking service FlightAware posted details of 13,500 cancelled national and international flights for Monday and Tuesday, almost all related to the stormy conditions.

By early yesterday, more than 500 flights scheduled for yesterday were on hold, with more delays expected to be announced later.

More than a hundred UK departures and arrivals from New York and other East Coast cities were cancelled on Tuesday alone. The majority were due to operate via Heathrow.

A British Airways spokesman said: “We are doing all we can to help customers whose flights have been cancelled and will look to use larger aircraft on some routes when the full flying schedule resumes to help get customers to their correct destination as quickly as we can.”

BA’s other US flights are operating normally and the company is also flying as usual to Toronto and Montreal in Canada.

Virgin Atlantic had to scrap most of its US East Coast services on Monday and Tuesday.

“Our flights to America had been very busy at the beginning of this week due to the half-term school holiday. It’s very unfortunate that this major storm has come when it has,” a Virgin spokesperson said.

UK airports were advising passengers due to travel to the US to contact their airline before travelling.

All airlines flying out of the European Union are obliged under the EU Denied Boarding Regulations to provide or pay for later flights, accommodation and refreshments if travellers are delayed.

But there is no such obligation for US carriers. Passengers on these flights should contact their insurers for compensation.

Under ABTA regulations anyone who booked their flight as part of a package deal can change or cancel their trip with a refund on the package price.

Transport chaos as floods recede

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FIRE tore through the Breezy Point area of Queens in New York City.

At least 32 people have been killed, millions are without power and transport across the north-eastern US has been severely disrupted as storm Sandy heads north for Canada.

In New York City, 10 people have been killed and the public transport system remains closed until further notice.

More than 15,000 flights were cancelled, the flight-tracking website FlightAware estimates.

Earlier, Sandy killed more than 60 people as it hit the Caribbean.

Sandy brought a record storm surge of almost 14ft (4.2m) to central Manhattan, well above the previous record of 10 feet (3m) during Hurricane Donna in 1960, the National Weather Service said.

The storm was causing heavy snowfalls over the Appalachian mountains on Tuesday afternoon. It was expected to turn towards western New York state during the evening before moving into Canada on Wednesday, the forecaster said.

A tropical storm is classified as a hurricane when wind speeds reach 74 mph (115km/h) A hurricane can expend as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs over its lifecycle

New York Exchange re-opens today • A New York street with damaged electricity poles and cables.

PHOTOS: AFP

Superstorm sandy has killed ‘at least 33’

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T least 33 people have been killed in the United States and Canada as a result of Superstorm Sandy, according to reports.

The storm lashed the east coast overnight, leading President Barack Obama to declare a “major disaster” in New York and Long Island.

Forecasters say the storm is set to move westwards towards the Great Lakes, and on to northeastern states and parts of Canada.

While it is gradually weakening, gusts of up 50mph are expected, and heavy rainfall will bring flooding to inland areas.

The “post-tropical” storm made landfall at 8pm local time on Monday, bringing gusts of more than 85mph (135kph) and a record-breaking 13ft surge of seawater in Manhattan.

The water submerged subway tunnels and roads, while many bridges and tunnels were closed as a precaution.

At Breezy Point in the borough of Queens, 190 firefighters tackled a huge fire that destroyed more than 50 homes.

They used a boat to navigate the flood water and rescue 25 people.

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said: “These storms brought something like 23 serious fires to parts of (New York City). The terrible fire on Breezy Point is now under control but we believe we lost more than 80 houses.

“The search and recovery operations there are ongoing. If any of you saw the

pictures on television it looked like a forest out in the Midwest.”

New York University hospital was forced to move patients to other hospitals after it lost power and its backup generator broke down. Among them were 20 babies from neonatal intensive care - some on respirators operating on battery power.

Firefighters said one man had been killed by a falling tree, while two people were also killed when a tree fell onto a vehicle in New Jersey.

Elsewhere in New Jersey a levee broke, flooding the towns of

Moonachie, Little Ferry and Carlstadt with up to five feet of water. Rescue workers are at the scene assisting those who are trapped.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie said the level of devastation on the Jersey Shore is “unthinkable”.

“It’s beyond anything I thought I’d ever see, terrible.”

Juan Allen, who lives in a mobile home park in the state, said: “I saw trees not just knocked down but ripped right out of the ground. I watched a tree crush a guy’s house like a wet sponge.”

670,000 New York homes in darkness

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OME 670,000 New York homes have been left without power by the storm, with electricity knocked out to more than eight million people.

A total of 33 people have been reported dead by local officials in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia and North Carolina, while in Toronto, Canadian police said a woman died after being hit by flying debris.

Some 84 flights have been cancelled between London Heathrow and the US east coast. Flights from Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham have also been cancelled.

It had been feared the surge of seawater could damage the underground electrical and communications lines in lower Manhattan that are vital to the nation’s financial centre.

Journalist Bucky Turco, who was out on his pedal bike during the height of the storm, criticised how city officials dealt with the crisis.

He said: “What I find absurd is that the city went through all these preparations and in the end it was rainwater that brought down one of the most important cities in the world. It’s kind of shocking.”

It is predicted to have caused some $20billion worth of damage - one of the most costly in US history - with more lost through a loss of earnings.

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HE New York Stock Exchange says it will re-open today after two days’ closure, as will the Nasdaq exchange. The last time the stock exchange shut down for two days was in 1888.

New York’s subway system sustained the worst damage in its 108-year history, said Joseph Lhota, head of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).

Subway tunnels were flooded and electrical equipment will have to be cleaned before the network can re-open.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there was “no timeline” for when the subway would restart, but he hoped buses could begin running again on Wednesday.

All New York’s major airports are closed as their runways are flooded.

Rescued crew member dies

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WOMAN rescued from the Atlantic Ocean hours after the HMS Bounty was caught by Hurricane Sandy has died.

Claudene Christian, 42, was pulled from the water on Monday - hours after the historic ship went down in the storm off the coast of North Carolina - but was unresponsive.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class David Weydert said Ms Christian, who lived and sailed on the ship, was taken to hospital in a critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

The Coast Guard is still searching for the ship’s captain, Robin •Ms Christian Walbridge, 63.

The famous HMS Bounty was hit by 18ft waves Ms Christian, a keen sailor, said on Twitter th at she joined the ship’s crew in May and a series of posts described how much she was enjoying her life on the sea.

On June 7, she wrote: “So I had a tough day, lost in the sails. But it was sunny warm and I am on a TALL SHIP AT SEA. It’s a “Bountyful” life.”

Fourteen other crew members were rescued from the stricken vessel, which was about 160 miles from the hurricane’s centre.

The captain ordered his crew to abandon ship at about 5am on Monday after the vessel lost power and started to take on water.

Sixteen people were on board the ship when it sank.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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NEWS Orientation for FEC members From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to organise a value orientation programme for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as a component part of his Transformation Agenda.

NOA’s Director-General Mike Omeri said this at the start of the second phase of the Agency’s Patriotism and Ethics First Training programme organised for journalists, security officers and public servants.

Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, who performed the formal kick-off, said although the media is a strategic part of the Transformation Agenda, it has done little to foster unity in a nation of diverse groups.

This, she said, necessitated the reorientation programme for the media.

Also, a national policy on procedure for solving orientation issues in the country is in the offing.

A three-day national summit on the formulation of national policy on orientation by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Orientation to fine tune the draft of the policy is holding in Minna, Niger State.

The summit will consider the policy draft copy prepared by the Directorate of Research, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

Kukah appointed to Pontifical Council

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OPE Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, as a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue in Vatican City.

The 13-member council is the highest decision and policymaking body of the Council for the Holy Father.

Kukah’s appointment follows the appointment of His Grace, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, as a cardinal.

Fr. Sixtus Onuh, Chancellor, Diocese of Sokoto, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Kukah’s new appointment is an additional responsibility to others he had recently.

In May, the President of the Conference of Bishops of English and French speaking West Africa announced Kukah’s appointment as the Chairman of the Commission on Culture, Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism.

In February, he was elected Chairman of the Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

Bishop Kukah had earlier served the Council for fiveyears when His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze was the President of the Council.

He was a delegate to the just-concluded Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelisation in the Vatican, Rev Onuh said.

We’re going after corrupt governors, says Fed Govt T budget has left us and continues to leave us with too little for capital development, which we need.”

“Given the required political space and the backing of the president and National Assembly, we will reap the benefit of reform and the lessons learnt from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s book.”

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi cautioned his colleagues against sharing the proceeds of the Excess Crude Account.

“The book is a must read for all , especially for governors who want to share all; it will help us to understand the issues,’’ he said.

The author said the book was an avenue to commend the effort of the past economic team during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The book reviewer, Prof.

Paul Collier, lamented a situation where revenue didn’t cover the payroll, let alone investment agenda.

He described it as “truly

alarming and truly irresponsible”of the Nigerian government.

He said: “In her first stint as Finance Minister, good fortune was on her side as oil prices were rising.

“In this second term as Coordinating Minister for the Economy, fortune definitely is noton her side.

“The world is much more a more dangerous economic arena than it was a few years ago. I have never known it so dangerous.”

He called for prudence and logic, “which demand a high rate of investment from your oil revenues.

“Without that, what will your children say about you?

So, an integrity agenda, a structural agenda and a macroeconomic agenda are the options to pursue.”

Collier warned Nigerians that “it is your struggle, not mine, and I am very conscious of that but let me urge you to be the next Germany, to make past failure the foundation for future success.

“Just like Germany is the best run economy in Europe, you can be the best run economy in Africa.”

•Sambo (second left), Anyaoku (left), Obi (right) and the Ide-Ahaba of Asaba, Chief Sonny Odogwu

PHOTO:ABAYOMI FAYESE

HE Federal Government has stated its resolve to go after corrupt governors.

Speaking at the launch of the book “Reforming the unreformable, lessons from Nigeria” written by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Abuja yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan said the administration was going after governors “who committed various economic crimes and corrupt practices with impunity”.

He said: “Government is taking legal measures to ensure that those who defraud the government under the petroleum subsidy scheme are made to return the money and punished.”

Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said: “We will continue to diversify the economy to create jobs and wealth.

“This administration is not only committed to reform but is also building on some of the reform measures initiated by its predecessors, specifically by consolidating the micro-economic reforms and going further on structural reforms to create jobs.”

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku called for a major restructuring of Nigeria’s governance architecture.

He said: “The present structure we have will arrest the destructive competition for the control of power at the centre, while we sustain the largely non-viable states which has become the custom and share the national cake from the centre.

“I don’t believe that we can succeed in reducing significantly the level of recurrent expenditure, which at the moment is averaging 74 per cent.

“When you look around the world and particularly, you look around developing countries that started at the same stage as we did, you will find that their recurrent expenditure is less than what we have been spending. “ Because what we have been spending on recurrent

21 Nigerians die in Saudi Arabia

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HE death toll of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia has risen to 21, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN quotes the National Hajj Commission’s weekly public health bulletin “No one’’ dated October 29, which showed that 13 male pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia.

The bulletin showed that Katsina State has the highest figure of four; Sokoto three; Kano, Lagos, Zamfara and Ogun recorded two deaths each.

Oyo, Gombe, Yobe and the Armed Forces recorded one death each.

It also stated that 53 patients had been referred to Saudi hospitals with 39 cases recorded in Medina, four in Jeddah and 10 in Mecca.

The bulletin stated that 90 per cent of the patients had been discharged.

“So far, no single case of delivery has been reported, however, there are two cases of spontaneous abortion reported from Misfallah Clinic in Mecca by female pilgrims from Sokoto and Adamawa states. The mothers are in satisfactory conditions,’’ it added.

The bulletin showed that 7,496 Nigerian pilgrims have so far visited the six clinics being operated by the medical mission in Jeddah, Medina and Mecca, with common cold and hypertension topping the list of cases reported.

It also highlighted the problems faced during the Arafat and Muna operations, blaming the Saudi authority’s poor response to distress calls and blocked road networks to evacuate sick pilgrims by security operatives.

“Late evacuation of refuse bins by Balidiya in state and VIP tents in some cases did not help improve our sanitation efforts,’’ it added.

‘Stop importing substandard cables’ From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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IGERIA’s Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi Okwudili Nwosu yesterday lamented the influx of substandard cables into Nigeria. ‘’The continuous influx of substandard cables into Nigerian markets is still at an unprecedented level. This is despite the efforts of the Director-General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ikem Odumodu.

Nwosu appealed to the Minister of Power to demand that foreign companies, which win bids to generate and distribute power, purchase their required goods and services from local manufacturers. ‘’Industrial growth is affected since products that can be manufactured in Nigeria are bought abroad. This has the twin effect of encouraging capital flight from Nigeria and creating unemployment.”

Court fixes Nov 12 for Ali’s son’s trial

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LAGOS High Court, Ikeja, yesterday fixed November 12 for the trial of Mamman Nasir Ali, the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali and two others.

On trial with the younger Ali are his company, Nasaman Oil Services and Christian Taylor.

They were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and using false documents to obtain money from the petroleum subsidy fund.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, EFCC’s counsel Francis Usani said the commission would not continue with the trial because of some pressing issues.

Usani told the court that the commission has come up with some developments

By Adebisi Onanuga which will assist the court in adjudication of the matter with fairness.

He said: “The prosecution intends to join Seun Ogunbambo as defendant in the matter.

“As at the time the

charge was filed, information relating to Ogunbambo had not reached the EFCC.” Ogunbambo is on trial with Habila Theck and their firm, Fargo Energy Limited, in another subsidy fraud trial before Justice Onigbanjo involving N976.6 million, which the EFCC al-

leged was fraudulently collected from the Federal Government.

The defence counsel, Toyin Pinheiro (SAN), did not object to the submission of the EFCC. He said: “We would wait for the amendment of the charge to be effected.”

Wike to UBEC: improve monitoring

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INISTER of State for Education Nyesom Wike has called on the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to improve its monitoring and evaluation of basic education projects.

The minister decried the poor supervision of work at the Federal Government Special Girl Child School in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Wike, who spoke in Lafia yesterday while monitoring the school project, condemned the quality of job carried out by the contractor under the supervision of UBEC consultant.

He said it was below the Federal Government’s specification.Wike said:

“What has happened here today is the reason why I insist on personally monitoring projects to know their status. I am not happy with this job. The UBEC consultant and the official, who commenced the take over process, must be sanctioned”.

He said the Federal Government would not condone shoddy execution of basic education projects.

The minister also visited Governor Tanko Almakura and called on state governments to improve their surveillance of State Universal Basic Education Boards on the diversion of books.

Almakura said the Federal Government’s investments in education was necessary to entrench development across the country.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

NEWS Sambo hails Villa security From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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ICE-PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo yesterday hailed State House security , urging them not to strengthen their surveillance.

He spoke during the decoration of four police officers attached to the Presidential Villa, with their new ranks.

The ceremony was witnessed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The officers were decorated by both Sambo and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, in the presence of their spouses.

Those decorated include the ADC to First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, CSP Uche Ifeanyi, a graduate of Mass Communication from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.

Also decorated is CSP Sahad Yaya, the ADC to the Vice-President.

The OC MOPOL in the Presidential Villa, CSP Millar Dantawaye, was decorated with his new rank.

The Chief Escort to the Vice-President, DSP Charles Onoh, was also decorated.

Protesters storm ministry From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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RADUATES, who applied for jobs at the Immigration, Prisons and Civil Defence Board, yesterday protested the alleged dumping of their application letters by staff of the Ministry of Interior, at the old secretariat, Area 1 in Abuja .

The protesters blocked the entrance to the building and prevented visitors and officials from entering the office.

The action of the applicants caused security personnel to shoot into the air to scare the angry youths.

Graduates had been submitting their letters for employment to the board since September when they learnt that the Federal Government was recruiting personnel into the Nigeria Prisons Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Fire Service.

But the applicants, who besieged the board, were disappointed and angry when they saw hundreds of letters strewn on the ground.

Though a sign pasted on a wall said submission of applications had closed on October 23 but a quick check of the dumped applications showed that some were submitted on October 16.

An applicant, Joy Usman, described the action as provocative and a mark of disrespect to the applicants.

The Deputy Director Information, Rotimi Akinyemi, could not be reached for comments, but an official claimed that the applications were submitted late.

•Sambo (third right), Abubakar (third left) and the decorated officials at the event...yesterday

Jonathan working to tackle insurgency, says minister T HE Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan has changed tactics to get to the root of the Boko Haram menace.

Moro said Boko Haram should embrace dialogue for peace to reign in the country.

He spoke when the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Women’s Wing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) visited him.

The minister assured Nigerians that Jonathan is exploring all measures to make sure that the Boko Haram sect is contained.

The ministry, Moro said, is making sure that it supports

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

the President in ensuring that the present administration do not bow to the pressure of Boko Haram.

He advised Nigerians to join hands with the administration to tackle the menace.

Moro said, however, the country need prayers to overcome the problem.

His words: “We have experienced yet another of those ugly sides of some misguided Nigerians in the attack of a church in Kaduna .

“These are people who

have misinterpreted and misrepresented their faith in God. “They believe that by killing themselves and killing other people they are fulfilling God’s will.

“This is outright distortion of faith in God. Because all forms of worship whether it is Christianity or Islam preaches peace and love for one another.

“The challenge before us today in Christendom is for us to continue to be the true Christians that we are by turning the other cheek.

“This is a sign of humility and that of responsibility because it would be a national tragedy if people who are attacked also retaliate.

“I believe that as we continue to appeal to the sensibilities of all Nigerians, as we continue to invite all Nigerians to confront this menace of violence within us we must remain prayerful.

“I invite all of you great mothers and Christians of Nigeria to join hand with this present administration to get to the root of this present crisis and ensure that we play our roles in controlling the consequences of these conflicts.”

Orubebe denies N29b fraud in ministry

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HE Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, yesterday denied the allegation that his ministry is involved in a N29 billion contract fraud.

A group, Anti-Corruption Network, led by Dino Melaye, had, on Monday, claimed that there was fraud in the ministry being championed by the minister.

Briefing reporters in Abuja yesterday, Orubebe said the allegations are false and aimed at tarnishing his image.

He said the projects are in existence and verifiable in the Niger Delta.

The minister said they were in line with the Due Process Act and that there is no room for fraud in his ministry.

•Threatens legal action From Augustine Ehikioya and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

Orubebe said N662 million is owed by the Federal Government on the N2.37 billion Canalisation/River training of Foupolo-Bulou Ndoro creek project awarded on February 2, last year, to First Marine and Engineering Services Ltd in Delta State.

He said N299 million is also owed for the N1.3 billion Canalisation at Odoubou, Ogbabagbene awarded to Ogbosite International Ltd on February 2, last year, in Delta State.

The third project, Land Reclamation/Shoreline protection in Delta State was awarded to Snecou Group of

Companies Ltd on March 7, last year at N2.4 billion.

He said: “The communities where these contracts are awarded have traditional rulers, chairmen, councillors, and the contracts awarded to the companies are verifiable.

“We have stated the amount that we have mobilised and we have also stated the money we owe these contractors.

“There is a process through which contracts are awarded. Evaluation of contracts are not done by the ministry.

“If certificate and proposal are generated by the ministry, it will go to the

Due Process Office and this is contained in the Due Process Act. “All the process were done by the Due Process Office and by that act, any project that is above N1billion will have to go to the Federal Executive Council, the processes have to be certified by the Due Process Office. It is not the Ministry of Niger Delta.”

“It is when the Due Process Office is satisfied with the quantity and the pricing that the papers are sent to Federal Executive Council and that is what happened with this case.

“There is no recorded case of fraud in this ministry. This is total fallacy and I have also consulted my lawyers and I hope Melaye is ready to meet me in court,” he said.

Terrorist attacks, floods damage Airtel’s 193 BTS

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IRTEL Nigeria has raised the alarm over the damage to its facilities in the North caused by terrorist acts and flood.

These twin challenges have also led to loss of equipment and degeneration of service.

The firm called on the Federal Government to declare Telecoms Equipment as critical national infrastructure.

It appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to

By Lucas Ajanaku

make the restoration of telecoms facilities in flooded areas a priority in its restoration plans.

The Director, Regulatory Affairs, Osondu Nwokoro, who spoke in Lagos, said the bombing and flooding have affected locations with impact across Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe states.

Osondu said 32 BTS were flooded, 41 were affected.

Lokoja Dagama, LokojaOkene, Asaba-Ughelli,

Ughelli-Patani, Patani-Elele suffered submerged fibre optic cables.

He said this development has affected service quality as the BTS affected were mostly routing and signalling links such that connectivity between local and distant calls were disrupted.

Osondu said the telco’s remediation and restoration initiative has yielded dividends as 112 BTS have been resuscitated at a very great cost.

“We are engaging more

on facility-sharing. We are doing 250 with MTN while we are discussing another 100.

“We are also doing fibre lease with other operators,” he said.

He, however, assured subscribers that the company had taken steps to mitigate the damage done to its facilities by sealing facility-sharing agreements with other operators, engaging the services of private security companies as well as collaborating with security agencies to ensure maximum protection of telecoms facilities across the country.

World Tobacco Growers’ Day NIGERIA Independent Tobacco Association yesterday joined members of the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) to mark the first World Tobacco Growers’ Day. It called on governments to oppose proposals by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that threaten the livelihood of more than 30 million tobacco growers and farm workers.

The Chairman, Nigerian Independent Tobacco Association, Rasheed Bakare, said: “Our government leaders must understand that these issues will have consequences not only for us but for the communities we live in.

“As we celebrate the benefit our farms bring to our communities, we are also asking our leaders to stand with us.

“Should these draconian measures become law they’ll have a dire impact on the livelihoods of 800 growers in Nigeria.”

Fed Govt to boost cancer prevention

By Olatunde Odebiyi

THE rising cases of cancer in Nigeria have been linked to changes in life styles and consumption of ‘bad’ food.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by the ministry’s Director of Procurement, Samson Opaluwah, said this yesterday at the opening of the international cancer week held in Lagos.

He said most cancers can be prevented by healthy lifestyles, increased physical exercise (at least 15 minutes daily), reduced fatty food, sugar and alcohol consumption as well as avoidance of tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, snuff and tobacco leaf chewing).

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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NEWS Police apologise to Alaafin for Sallah Day’s invasion From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

OYO State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu has sent a delegation to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, to apologise for the police’s action on Sallah Day. The police, on Sallah Day, stormed the town and led the deposed Baale Ago-Oja, Ganiyu Ajiboye, to the praying ground, contrary to a court order, which stopped him from parading himself as a traditional chief in the community.

The action almost led to the breakdown of law and order, but for the quick intervention of Oba Adeyemi, who urged the people to remain calm.

It was learnt that Mbu yesterday raised a delegation, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Operations, Mohammed Musa, to apologise to the Alaafin for the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and policemen to the services of a deposed chief.

While apologising to the monarch, Musa reportedly said the affected policemen had been queried and would be sanctioned.

It was learnt that Musa said Mbu would have come in person, but he was indisposed.

He was said to have solicited the monarch’s continued support to the police.

Musa was quoted as saying: “We are not unaware of your support to our officers and men all the time. We implore your majesty to continue to assist us.”

Oba Adeyemi’s spokesman Mr. Azeez Fehintola confirmed the visit.

Fehintola said: “The Alaafin promised that he and his council members, the Oyo Mesi, would continue to assist the police in the discharge of their duties to ensure a crime-free society.

“He urged the command to ensure that bad eggs in the force are not allowed to dent the police’s highly improved image.”

Oyo Governor sues PM News O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has sued the Independent Communications Network Limited, publishers of PM News, for libel.

The governor is demanding N1 billion damages.

PM News yesterday published a piece entitled: “Anxiety over Florence Ajimobi’s alleged arrest in UK”, which it claimed was written by an online agency, Newsleak.

The publication claimed that the governor’s wife was arrested in London with a money.

In a statement yesterday, Ajimobi’s media aide, Mr. Festus Adedayo, said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that the media do not become an instrument in the hands of blackmailers.

He said: “We state unequivocally that the report is not only wicked, but a figment of the writer’s imagination. Mrs. Ajimobi was never arrested for any offence.

“Even though our investigation has shown that the report was the work of some arrowheads of the opposition, it was done in such an amateurish way that beats the imagination of any responsible reader.”

Adedayo said though the government had much respect for the media, PM News must explain details of the report in court.

Ajimobi’s lawyers denied the report.

•Demands N1b damages I was not arrested in London, says Ajimobi’s wife

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IFE of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, yesterday denied the story of her arrest by the London Metropolitan Police.

The PM News yesterday published a piece entitled: “Anxiety over Florence Ajimobi’s alleged arrest in UK”, which it claimed was written by an online agency, Newsleak.

The publication claimed that the governor’s wife was arrested in London for money laundering.

It said Mrs. Ajimobi had travelled abroad 52 times since her husband assumed office.

The Metropolitan Police and the United Kingdom Border Control Agency said it did not interrogate Mrs. Ajimobi.

An official of the Metropolitan Police said: “We have no knowledge of the arrest.”

Speaking with reporters on the telephone yesterday, Mrs. Ajimobi said she was not arrested. She described the news of her arrest as the handiwork of the opposition to discredit her husband’s administration.

Mrs. Ajimobi said: “I do not know what they are talking about or where they got the information from. I left Nigeria on Sunday and I was not arrested. “ Asked if she was invited by the police on her arrival in London, she said: “No, not at all. I came here with my daughter on Sunday and I am preparing to return home. I was not invited by the police and I do not know what this is all about.”

On the reason for her trip abroad, she

By Eric Ikhilae

One of the family’s lawyers, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) of Adeniyi Akintola

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

said she took her 14-year-old daughter back to London, where she is schooling.

Mrs. Ajimobi said: “I have a 14-year-old daughter, who has been in London for seven years. She has been here since 2007. She came to Nigeria for two weeks and we left Nigeria on Sunday morning. That is my mission here.

“I read the report here in England and I was shocked. There is no truth in it. I am surprised that some people can descend so low to write falsehood. I am disappointed in the reporter that allowed himself to be used to carry out the hatchet job. I am expected back in the country tomorrow morning (today).

On the allegation that she had travelled 52 times since the inception of the administration, she said: “Then it means I am not living in Nigeria. When I return, I will show you my passport, so that you can count how many times I have travelled. I want you to deal with facts.

I have an underage daughter that has been schooling in London since 2007. If you look at my passport since 2007 and compare the way I travelled then with the way I travel now, you will discover that I travel less now.

“My daughter complains that I do not visit her regularly. I make her come to Nigeria more because I cannot afford to spend 10 days or more abroad.”

An aide of the governor, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “So far, the governor has spent 68 weeks in office, how do you reconcile the claim that his wife has travelled 52 times since the inception of this administration?

Does it mean that she travels every week?”

and Co. Chambers, described the report as “untrue, malicious and wicked publication intended solely to injure the good reputa-

tion of the Ajimobi family.”

Akintola said Mrs. Ajimobi was not arrested anywhere, “either at home or abroad”. He said she was

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Detained ACN members get bail From Damisi Ojo, Akure

IVE members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who were arrested by the police on October 3 after the party’s rally in Ondo town, were yesterday granted bail by an Akure Magistrate’s Court, after spending 27 days at Olokuta Prison, Akure.

The were granted N500,000 bail each and are to produce two sureties.

The sureties must be civil servants and landlords.

Two of the accused, Samson Otugbo (66) and Oyewole Gabriel (67), accused the police of witch-hunting them because they were ACN members.

They alleged that they were arrested in Ondo for wearing vests with the inscription: “Akeredolu for Governor”.

They alleged that they were taken to the police headquarters in Akure and were detained on trumped-up charges.

The court refused the accused bail on October 5 following objection by the AttorneyGeneral of Ondo State, Justice Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who took over the case from the police prosecutor.

Counsel to the accused Titiloye Charles said it was wrong for them to be remanded in prison custody when the prosecution failed to begin the trial or produce any witness to substantiate its allegation.

The prosecution team from the Attorney-General’s office was not in court yesterday.

Magistrate F. A. Akintoye was also absent. He was said to have begin his leave.

His ruling on the bail application was read by a Magistrate Court Seven on his behalf.

The families of the accused alleged that the suspects were remanded in prison custody to

F

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second right); his wife, Abimbola (third right); Deputy Governor Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire (right); Wife of the Speaker, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji (left); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central District, second left); Kaduna State Commissioner for Economic Planning Timothy Gandu (third left); Ogun State Governor’s wife Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun (fourth left) and the recipient of the Inspirational Woman Award, 2012, Prof. Mopelola Omoegun, at the opening of the 12th Annual National Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel, Lagos...yesterday.

LP thugs are attacking our members, says Ondo ACN HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) yesterday alleged that the Labour Party (LP) has deployed thugs in rural areas to attack supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In a statement, ACO’s Publicity Director, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said LP thugs, known as Villa Boys, were camped at Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s home in Ondo town.

in her Ibadan home, attending to visitors during the Sallah festivities on the Saturday the report claimed she was held in London.

Akintola faulted the claim that a renowned lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), secured her bail. He said Olanipekun has not left the country since last week.

Akintola said Mrs. Ajimobi travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday because her child was to be given the country’s naturalisation certificate on Monday.

He said she would return today.

The lawyer said: “We do not know where they got the malicious, wicked and untrue rumour from. She was never arrested by any security agency, either in the UK or anywhere. She is not in custody anywhere and has always been a law abiding citizen. She is on her way back home as we speak and will be inaugurating some projects at home today.”

Akintola said his colleague, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), was taken aback when he heard about the untrue report. He said Falana, who was with him when he received the information on the telephone, later spoke with Mrs. Ajimobi, who denied the allegation.

•Party seeks police cover He alleged that the thugs had been mobilised to some rural areas in Ondo West and East to attack non-indigenes who voted for the ACN in the last governorship election.

Ajanaku said: “Indeed, this is not only alarming and unbecoming of a self-acclaimed democrat like Mimiko, but a clear misadventure possessing the potential to throw the state into anarchy.

“We have earlier warned that the LP was bent on rigging the election with the use of thugs and we saw what they did. Now, after their so called victory, which we are still not convinced is real, they are busy unleashing violence on innocent citizens of the state.

“What kind of government is this? What does Mimiko have in stock for the good

people of Ondo State? Is he saying that the people have no right to vote for their choice candidate? Is he saying that he is now the owner of Ondo State and could determine who lives there or not?

“It is a notorious fact that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of association and the fundamental human rights of the citizens.

“If the indigenes and non-

indigenes have voted for ACN as their choice, Mimiko should respect that position.

He should try to live true to his public statements.

“He cannot be calling for co-operation from the people while discriminating against some. Whatever goes around comes around. We urge the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the LP government and act fast to forestall breakdown of law and order in Ondo State.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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NEWS OAU to admit 10,000 more From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has concluded plans to admit 10,000 students next year.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bamitale Omole, said this at a retreat for management staff at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

He said the additional admission would be made possible through the new e-learning platform of the Distance Learning Centre, which has been developed to replace the faceto-face learning.

According to him, the new e-learning is an upgrade of the current distance learning developed in partnership with the United States-based Venture Garden Group (VGG), which has developed the same learning platform for many universities in the US. Prof. Omole said the e-learning delivers contents on electronic medium with the minimal use of the Internet.

Explaining the rationale behind the project, the VC said: “We decided on this because we realised that any university in the 21st Century must not only be innovative and forwardlooking, but must adopt new technologies that can create opportunities for thousands that can not access university education.

“Only about 20 per cent of those who write the University and Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are admitted yearly based on the available places. So we believe that this retreat is a good sensitisation for the top echelon of the university to make them to be aware of what our distance learning is doing. We began the programme in 2002. It was conceptualised as a result of the inability of some of our workers’ children to gain admission.

“The new project will give us an expand base of the number of students we can accommodate. Over 70,000 candidates apply to OAU yearly, but we have capacity for about 5,000 students. We believe it should not be so in terms of giving opportunities to different categories of people. This will develop the existing distance learning programme by upgrading it to e-learning. Again, distance learning education is a way to the future. What is happening by and by is that the percentage of the people having face-to-face engagement in learning is dwindling. It is important for us to catch up, to reposition ourselves for the challenges of the future.”

Omole said the workers are prepared for the task, adding that the university also has the technological base to support it.

“We have confidence in the ability of our workers in partnership with the VGG. OAU is the most ITcompliant university in Nigeria.

Our band is the biggest among the universities. We pioneered Internet use.

Estate agents seek industry’s regulation

By Wale Adepoju

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HE Estate, Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN), Lagos State chapter, yesterday said each member has a role to play to ensure that the industry is regulated.

ERCAAN’s Chairman, Mr. Godwin Alenkhe, who spoke at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM), said regulating the industry is not the prerogative of the government alone, adding: “Stakeholders should also contribute their quota.”

He said the theme of the event is: “Partnering stakeholders in regulating the real estate sector”.

On the challenges facing the association, Alenkhe said: “The predicament of the association is the issue of a parallel body contesting the constitutional mandate of the association.”

EFCC arraigns eight for ‘fraud, illegal storage of diesel’

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned eight people in Lagos for offences relating to fraud and storage of automotive gas oil, (popularly called diesel) without licence.

The trio of Kachy Kennedy Okoye, Usong Ibor Matthew and Igberaese Lawry were arraigned before Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere on a 13-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

The other five were arraigned before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a four-

By Eric Ikhilae

count charge of conspiracy and storage of 185 metric tons of automotive gas oil without licence.

Okoye, Matthew and Lawry were alleged to have conspired to defraud Lady Lora Marire of N66.5 million on the pretext of helping to register her as a contractor with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and offering her a contract to build 100 units of duplex at Lekki, Lagos.

EFCC said four others involved in the scam are at large. It gave their names as Tony Elijah, John Williams, Chude Ngini and Alkali

Hammed.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court ordered that Okoye be remanded in the EFCC custody because of his health condition and directed that Matthew and Lawry be held in Ikoyi prison pending the consideration of their bail application. The cases have been adjourned till November 13.

As regard the arraignment at the Federal High Court, only two of the five accused were present. They are Captain Odeghe Andrew and Ebinum Alex. Jelili Lateef, Sunday Buluku and Monday Osasuwa were said to be at large.

They reportedly conspired to store aboard the vessel, MT. Floris, 185 metric tons of automotive gas oil without licence under Section 1 of the Petroleum Act, Cap. P9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 6 of the Petroleum Act, Cap. P9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. They were said to have committed the offence on May 31 in Lagos.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by Justice Tsoho at N2 million and one surety each. Further hearing has been fixed for January 22.

•From left: Deputy Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Olufunke Davis Jones; Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafiya, at the opening ceremony of ‘Do The Right Thing: ‘Patriotism And Ethics First’ programme, by NOA, held in Abuja... yesterday.

Fed Govt inaugurates community service scheme •Says it ‘ll employ 320,000 unskilled, physically- challenged people From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•Sambo

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HE Federal Government has reassured that it was committed to delivering the dividends of the partial subsidy removal to Nigerians.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo said this at the inauguration of a community service programme under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which is designed to employ 320,000 unskilled youths, women and the physical-challenged annually.

He said government has challenged members of the community service programme to take steps to meet the target set for 2012 deliverables for women and youth employment, as

defined for the project.

Sambo said the Goodluck Jonathan administration has evolved innovation to tackle employment.

While noting that there is a global youth unemployment, he said the administration is not comfortable with a high number of unemployed youths, which he attributed to the failures of the past efforts to tackle the problem.

He said: “Like every other nation, Nigeria, for decades, has been faced with a high unemployment rate among our youths. Since independence, several strategies and institutional mechanisms have been put in place to address unemployment and the attendant poverty among our youths. These efforts to solve unemployment and create wealth have not yielded the desired results given that we still face high rate of youth unemployment.

“While unemployment, especially among the youth, is currently a global phenomenon, with about 50 per cent youth unemployment rate in several countries, it is not acceptable to this administration that a high percent-

age of our youths remain unemployed and underemployed. This is why our administration has evolved innovative methods of tackling unemployment.”

Vice-President Sambo said the present effort under the SURE-P is to build partnership between the tiers of government on the one hand and across sectors on the other.

He added: “It is imperative for us as a nation to appreciate that no one tier of government can address unemployment, hence the need to build stronger partnerships in this regard.

“This administration remains committed to delivering the dividends of the partial oil subsidy removal to Nigerians. I urge you to take steps to meet the target set for 2012 deliverables for women and youth employment as defined for this project.”

The Vice-President said: “Each sector in our national economy has a role to play in contributing to job creation.

It is in this regard that an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been set up at the federal level to guide the implementation of the community services, women and youth employment component, and to strengthen linkages between sectors and among the rel-

evant ministries, departments and agencies at the federal level.”

He said: “State Implementation Committees (SICs) have been established in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, not only to guide the implementation at the state level, but to serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships with states and local governments on employment creation. In order to achieve this, SICs will have community participants, civil society organisations and federal MDAs as may be required from time to time.”

Explaining further, he said the administration’s present efforts “is matching words with action.”

Sambo explained that a major lesson emerging from the pilot scheme is the need to establish state-level structures to facilitate delivery while also ensuring that the guidelines are followed.

“Consequently, having an institutional platform has become imperative, hence the constitution of these committees. We are here today for the inauguration of the SICs to be tasked with oversight and management of the programme across the country,” he added.

FERMA fixing Enugu-Port Harcourt road for Yuletide

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OTORISTS and commuters in the eastern part of the country will not ply bad roads in December, as the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has begun the rehabilitation of the bad portions of the 200 kilometres Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway.

The Managing Director of the agency, Gabriel Amunchi, said the bad portions would be fixed to enable road users have a free ride during the Yuletide.

•Promises motorists free ride in December From Chris Oji, Enugu

He spoke yesterday when he inspected work on the dual carriage way.

Amunchi said the Federal Government was considering reconstructing the road, adding that the long years of neglect and the large number of trucks on it had compounded the situation.

Describing the road as having ‘failed beyond repairs’, the FERMA Manag-

ing Director said four contractors and direct labour operators have been engaged to ensure the speedy completion of the repairs before December.

He said: “This is a road that has been in a bad state for over four years now.

Since this administration came to power, it has been working to ensure that a major maintenance work is done to put the road in a good condition before December. So, the maintenance

we are doing now is in several segments that include direct labour operations and selected repairs. It is in line with the mandate of this administration to ensure we fix the road before December. In this location, you will see that FERMA has started major repairs. It has removed the garbage on the road. We are going to do a similar thing on other expressways.”

Amunchi said the agency would soon remove the trailers parked on the road at Lokpanta to ensure free movement.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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NEWS

Jonathan calls for more intra-African trade From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

• Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has called for increased trade and investment among African countries to strengthen relationships and promote the welfare of the citizenry.

Jonathan, who spoke yesterday when he received the out-going High Commissioner of Botswana to Nigeria, Clifford S. Maribe,

said African businessmen must take advantage of the many investment opportunities available in the continent to improve economic and political relations.

He welcomed the report that the business forum held in Gaborone, Botswana during his visit last month had started yielding results, as exploratory business visits between Nigerian and Botswanan businessmen have started.

The High Commissioner told Jonathan that the business forum held in Gaborone, Botswana, during the Nigerian leader’s visit last month generated interest among participants.

He said his tenure in Ni-

geria led to stronger relations between the two countries, including high-level visits by the leaders of both countries, and expressed appreciation for the cooperation he enjoyed during his

stay.

Also, Jonathan said the warm political relations between the two countries should be strengthened through more high-level visits.

He congratulated Kenya’s envoy, Mr Sigel for completing the construction of country’s Chancery and staff housing, describing it as a mark of confidence in Nigeria.

The President said there was need to improve economic relations between Nigeria and Kenya.

In his remarks, Mr. Sigel said he enjoyed his stay in Nigeria.

Arik Air flies 10.2m passengers in six years

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RIK Air has carried over 10.2 million passengers in the six years of its operation, giving it 65 per cent market share of domestic traffic, the Managing Director of the airline, Chris Ndulue, has said.

At a press conference yesterday to commemorate the sixth anniversary, Ndulue announced plans to build an academy in BeninCity, and expand its

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

maintenance hangar in Lagos.

He said next year, the airline will expand its network.

Ndulue called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to review the policy of not giving out loans to domestic carriers. He said investment in aviation is capital intensive, and it could only be done through

offshore financing.

He said for the required investment in aviation, the carrier would get loans from external sources to buy more aircraft.

He disclosed that the airline paid N8.7 billion to aviation fuel suppliers and N25.78 billion as interests on bank loans to finance aircraft purchases.

While calling on the government to assist domestic operators, he said it was not doing enough. He urged it to, aside its proposed removal of duties on aircraft and spares, create a level playing field for private investment to

thrive.

He said the airline has secured partnership deal with Lufthansa Technik to build a wide body aircraft in Lagos that other airlines could benefit from, adding that it would serve as a pool for manpower development.

He described Arik Air as a true flag carrier, with its expansion of connecting every capital in Nigeria to Abuja, with its over 23 new generation aircraft.

He explained that in the very soon the airline will operate flights from Ghana and Sierras leone to London.

ExxonMobil donates N80m to flood victims

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OBIL Producing Ni geria Unlimited (MPN) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), affiliates of Exxon Mobil Corporation, have donated $500,000 (about N80 million) to victims of flooding in five of the worst hit states.

A statement by General Manager, Public & Government Affairs, Paul C. Arinze, said ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria are partnering with the Nigerian Red Cross to provide relief to Akwa Ibom, Rivers and three other states, that are seriously affected by the disaster.

“Our sincere thoughts are with the people of Nigeria where hundreds have lost their lives and millions more have been impacted by this disaster,” said Mark Ward, Lead Country Manager of ExxonMobil Affiliates in Nigeria.

“It’s our hope that our support for the Nigerian Red Cross efforts will help to address the needs of those affected by this tragedy,” he

added.

Millions have been severely affected as floods have ravaged homes, farmlands, schools and health centres, leaving many without food, drinking water, shelter, and basic amenities. There is also a high risk of epidemics breaking out in the affected areas.

“We are extremely grateful to receive these funds, as they will allow us to help those most affected by this disaster,” said Umar Mairiga, Disaster Management Coordinator, Nigerian Red Cross.

“Using our network of volunteers, these funds will be used to support activities that will help people recover from this emergency,” he added ExxonMobil places the highest priority on the preservation of human life, and is committed to the safety and wellbeing of the Nigerian people. Together with the Nigerian Red Cross, ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria are committed to providing disaster relief assistance in the affected states, Arinze said.

ICSAN chief decries corruption in Nigeria

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HE President of the In stitute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mr Olatunde Busari, has decried the large scale corruption in the country.

Busari, who made the remark at a dinner as part of the Annual Conference of the Institute in Abuja, described corruption as a hydra-headed monster, which kept rearing its head in all the organs and agencies of government.

“The malaise further ridicules the system to the extent that even when culprits are apprehended, it does not appear that we have effective machinery for thorough investigation, prosecution and sentence according to the law”, he said. The ICSAN boss said there were various examples of private and public officers that engaged in corrupt practices and were today walking the streets as free

men. According to him, this gives an impression that corruption is rewarding in the country.

Busari said to create the desired environment for investment, the government must develop effective legal regime and structures strong enough to apprehend, investigate and prosecute corrupt officers in Nigeria.

On energy, he advised the Federal Government to set the necessary machinery in motion to ensure transparency and efficiency in the ongoing reform in the power sector.

The ICSAN boss said the absence of infrastructure in any economy was inimical to business investment and sustenance. ”It is inconceivable that Nigeria cannot boast of 24hour uninterrupted power supply nationwide despite of the nation’s over 50 years of independence”, he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Boat mishap: Two more bodies recovered

10,000 traders for CD celebration

By Precious Igbonwelundu

By Miriam Ndikanwu

TWO more bodies were recovered yesterday from the Ojo River, where a boat capsized last Sunday. Five bodies had earlier been recovered. Twelve passengers were said to be on board when the accident occurred.

Meanwhile, youth of the community have protested at the palace of their leader, Chief Josiah Ajayi, the death of their family members and friends.

They accused the boat peddlers of not providing passengers with life jackets.

The angry youth threatened to lay ambush for any boat if government did not intervene urgently.

A protester, who refused to give his name, said: “The state government should please ensure that the promises made to the community are fulfilled.

Otherwise, our planned ambush will take effect if the state government keeps mute on the incident like it did in previous cases that happened.”

Responding, Ajayi urged them to exercise patience with the state and local governments. He reiterated the need for the community members and boat owners to always use safety jackets as directed by the government.

Oto-Awori LCDA Chairman, Dr. Kayode Bolaji, who visited the community, said plans were on to stop the unregulated driving of motorised boats.

The community, he said, had a role to play in enforcing the safety jacket policy by ensuring that every boat driver kits his passengers before any trip.

About 10,000 Community Development Associations (CDAs), market men and women are expected at this year’s Community Day (CD) celebrations in Lagos State, Commissioner forRural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi said yesterday.

Ojelabi said the 2,765 CDAs in Lagos would come with their members as well as market men and women for the celebration billed to start on November 8.

“Preparation for this year’s celebration is in top gear, which is why we have come up with our plans and programme for the celebration,” he said.

The commissioner said the celebration would start with a visit to orphanages and old people’s homes, adding that the Children’s Home, Idi-Araba and Old People’s Home, Yaba would be visited.

He listed other activities lined up for the celebration to include the handing over of projects to rural communities. Some of the projects are: Araromi Micro Waterworks in Ikorodu; Eleran Igbe Electrification project in Ibeju; Okun Ayo Solar Powered Type ‘A’ modified water scheme the riverine area of Iru-Victoria Island and Takwa Bay Village Solar powered modified Type’ A’ water schemes.

“There will also be Jumat service on Friday, health walk on Saturday, dinner/award ceremony on November 6, appreciation night next week Friday and thanksgiving service at Christ the Light Chapel, Alausa, Ikeja.

Ojelabi said Governor Babatunde Fashola would be the special guest of honour at the CDA celebrations, adding that the ceremony would feature march past by CDAs and Neigbourhood Watchers from all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs. The ceremony, he said would be rounded off with awards and grant-in-aid for CDAs that excelled in their programmes.

•The Bridge... yesterday.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Jubilation as Third Mainland Bridge is reopened

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HE Third Mainland Bridge was reopened yesterday, four months after its partial closure for repairs. It was reopened by Minister of Works Mr. Mike Onolememen amid jubilation by motorists, many of whom battled heavy traffic during the bridge’s rehabilitation.

The bridge is the longest in Africa, measuring about 11.8 kilometres in length and an average width of 14.60 metres.

The repairs started in July following motorists’ fears over what they called “noticeable cracks”.

During the repairs, the bridge was partially opened to road users at stipulated hours except on

GUS 9: UJAM BOWS OUT

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie (Asst. Editor) and Segun Balogun

days that it was fully closed for major works by the contractor.

The minister said Borini Prono employed hydrodemolition technique with high pressure water jet to remove the concrete around the joints; a technology that is not available in the country.

He recalled that during the repairs, traffic was diverted to minimise congestion and inconveniences to people.

While hailing Lagosians for their patience, he stressed that with the completion of the job, the contract for the bridge’s repair had been concluded.

He said a unique thing about the repair is that it was not only completed 10 days ahead of schedule, but also within budget. The minister promised that the government would move to other bridges and roads that re-

quire immediate attention to alleviate motorists suffering.

Onolememen said because of potholes on the bridge pavement, the contractor has been instructed to remain to patch them as part of a continuous exercise.

Motorists celebrated last night following the bridge’s reopening. Many of them praised the contractor for delivering ahead of time.

When The Nation visited the Oworonshoki end of the bridge, many motorists did not believe that it has been reopened because the traffic diversion signs were still in place. But immediately they got a sign from passersby that the bridge has been reopened, they sped off, beaming with smiles.

“You know it’s true you don’t know the value of what you have until you lose it,” said a motorist, Razak Ajao. “I have missed this bridge. I think it should be the most important to

Lagos economy.”

Motorists and passengers are not the only ones happy about the bridge’s return.

Officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), residents and petty traders are also happy.

“Since the bridge was closed, we have had to trek on daily basis to traffic diversion points to wait for buses. We faced many difficulties bearing in mind that before then, we just strolled to the bust stop, but now we are very happy and relieved,” said a resident, Busola Adesina.

Petty traders said they were back in business after being starved of patronage for four months. “Traffic is the essence of Lagos and it is what our trade depends on. So the last four months have been terrible. But I am so happy it is like I am having a new life,” said an engine oil seller, Mr. Abdul Adeola.

225 get Oando’s scholarship

N ulder Ultimate Search (GUS) 9 female warriors have proved that males are not better archers. They were better with the bow and arrow.

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Eronmose hit number 1. Ifet Iniobong, Nuhu Zigwayi and Ujam Emmanuel missed targets and had to solve puzzles from baskets 1 and 5.

The day’s challenge was the Archer’s Quest, a Gatekeeper’s challenge. It featured the return of Michael Nwachukwu to GUS as a Gatekeeper. The contenders were required to aim at a target which had numbers 1 to 5 in circles. After hitting target, the contenders would then pick puzzles from a set of baskets which had numbers corresponding with those on the target. The higher the numbers the contenders target, the easier the puzzle to be solved – with number one being the most difficult and number five being the hardest. Contenders who do not successfully aim at any target after two trials will have to solve puzzles from baskets 1 and 5.

Uzor emerged the game’s winner while Ujam was the loser, thus marking the end to the latter’s ‘Search’. Ironically, Ujam finished his puzzle much earlier, but did not realize that the pieces were fitted upside down.

Uzor Osimpka and Onyinye Udodi hit number 5; Adah James hit number 3; Priscilla Ezeh, Bornford Patience and Michael Ogbuefi hit number 2; Paschal

Uzor could not hold back the tears when Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor man, announced Ujam’s exit. Whilst she said she was joyous at her victory, Ujam’s loss saddened her. She described Ujam as a source of strength and the most resourceful person on camp. When tension subsided, the contestants practiced the dance drama for presentation to the Council of Elders.

GUS 9 continues tonight on AIT, African Magic World (DSTV), Real Star (Star Times), AKBC, Uyo and ITV, Benin at 10pm.

O fewer than 225 students were yesterday in Lagos awarded scholarships by the Oando Foundation. The beneficiaries were outstanding pupils picked from 28 of the foundation’s adopted schools across the country.

The Director of the Foundation, Tokunbo Durosaro, said the intervention was to provide quality education critical to laying the foundation for sustainable growth, reduce poverty and inequality associated with modern societies.

“A lot of children who are enrolled in

By Nneka Nwaneri

Nigerian public primary schools never progress to higher levels of education.

Secondary and tertiary education would remain mere pipe-dreams for most of them.

We are committed to changing the grim story for as many Nigerian children as we possibly can.

“By 2015, 3,584 teachers would be trained and have a broadened capacity; 60,000 students will have access to quality education through us and an overall of 100,000 lives will be positively affected through our foundation,” she said.

Govt bars occupants of burnt building

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HE Lagos State government yesterday declared out-of bounds the building partially gutted by life last Saturday. It advised the occupants, who are mostly traders, to keep away from the building until it is certified fit for them to return.

Schools in the Euroasia Plaza on Breadfruit Street, Lagos, Island, have been moved and a church that worships there advised to leave.

Traders and other stakeholders were told to keep away for now “until the

By Seyi Odewale

government is sure that the structure is safe enough for people to enter for evacuation of properties”, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Central Business District (CBD) Hon Derin Disu said.

She spoke at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting with the tenants’ representatives at the Onikan, Lagos office of CBD. According to Disu, a former Lagos Island Chairman, the structure was badly affected, prompting

government to cordon off the area to prevent hoodlums from looting.

The Special said the government would ensure that the occupants were not left to their fate because lives and properties of Lagosians, irrespective of state of origins, are very dear to the government.

“Once the report on the inferno is available, government will definitely come up with positive steps on the way forward,” she said.

The CBD, she said, would keep the people

posted on development, pointing out that the next step to take would be predicated on the report by the fire department and other security agencies.

She urged the affected traders not to loiter around the premises in defiance of the government’s “stay away” order.

Responding on behalf of the traders, the Chairman Footwear Association at the market, Mr Greg Azukwor, praised Fashola for his quick response to the fire. He appealed to Fashola for assistance to count their loss.

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PROJECT

FACILITY

ANNIVERSARY

Obi revives public water schemes

600 youths get N6m loan

Alaafin inaugurates projects at 74

Anambra

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Katsina

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

Oyo

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Akume cheers up flood victims

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•Senator Akume

HE cloud of despair has lifted in the relief camp of flood victims across Benue State, as Senator George Akume donated materials valued at about N4.2 million.

The gesture buoyed up the recipients after flood waters forced them from their homes and submerged their farms.

A governorship hopeful, Mr. Akange Audu led other prominent Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftains to present the materials to the camp comman-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

dant at LGEA Primary School, MR. Terumbur Alabam.

The materials included 200 bags of rice, 200 cartons of noodles, 200 cartons of laundry soap, 300 packs of toilet rolls, 50 bags of sugar and 100 pure water bags. The items were to be shared among occupants of the three camps in the state.

Presenting the materials, Audu, who represented Akume,

said that it was the Senator’s modest contribution to the welfare of those affected by the floods.

Akume who represents Benue Northwest Senatorial zone, lamented the hardship which the displaced people in the camps are facing.

He, however, appealed to them to conduct themselves well and take their unfortunate situation in good faith, knowing that all will be well soon and they will return to their

permanent homes.

He equally urged those responsible for the welfare of the displaced people to ensure that the relief materials are appropriately and equitably distributed.

Responding, Camp Commandant Alabam who received the items described senator Akume as a kind politician, saying the materials were donated not just to the •Continued on Page 43

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HE pain on Kaduna State roads is easing, and residents have Governor Patrick Yakowa to thank for that.

Motorists are now riding with ease in once inaccessible parts of the metropolis. A newtork of new roads has emerged. Bridges are being built to mop up traffic, just as contracts are awarded for more road work.

Residents have heaved a sigh of relief, hailing the governor for his efforts.

On assuming office, the Yakowa administration said it would address residents’ concern over traffic jam in the metropolis especially between Station Roundabout and Lagos Street Roundabout on the major bridge connecting the southern part to the central business district of the state to the other parts.

Yakowa told the people that his administration would construct a new bridge across the Kaduna River to ease traffic and relieve the people’s daily pain.

The government made good its promise when it awarded the contract for the construction of what many regarded as the Fourth Bridge; work also started on access roads linking the bridge to the central business area.

The bridge was completed and opened for use this April in accordance with the contract agreement. Even though the access road linking the bridge to the Kaduna/Kachia Road terminating at the Kaduna Refinery Junction is about 80 per cent completed, many residents of the southern part of the metropolis as well as those in the northern part, now use the road. This has reduced the traffic congestion on the main Kaduna bridge.

When Newsextra observed residents are opening small shops along the road. Some of them commended the government for constructing the road, but appealed to the contractors to speed up work. They believe that early completion of the project will open up new employ-

•One of the newly built roads

Kaduna residents relish new roads

By Tony Akowe, Kaduna

ment and business opportunities for them. Commuters on the road are also happy. One of them, Alhaji Mohammed Inusa, said the decision to build the road was commendable.

“Those of us that have business to do at KRPC are happy that we have an alternative route now. It is always a difficult thing for us be-

More contracts awarded cause of heavy traffic, but I believe that will reduce when the road is completed. As you can see, we are already using the road because the bridge has been completed. I learnt that the road is scheduled for completion in November and we are looking forward to it”.

Residents of Kaduna metropolis

are not the only ones singing the praises of the administration.

Across the state, most road contracts awarded on assumption of office are at various stages of completion. Before the coming of the Yakowa administration, the peo•Continued on Page 43

•Governor Yakowa

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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600 youths get N6m loan

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•Shema

O fewer than 600 youths received N6 million interest-free loans in a microcredit scheme initiated by the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Chairman of the council’s Caretaker Committee Alhaji Sani Halliru told journalists that the scheme was introduced to facilitate the growth of small-scale businesses.

Halliru further said that each of the beneficiaries who were selected from the 10 wards in the area got N10,000 in the scheme, even as he added that plans were on to expand the programme.

He described the scheme as successful in view of the various investments so far made by the beneficiaries.

Aregbesola advises children

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SUN State governor Rauf Aregbesola has advised children to study hard in order to build their future on a solid foundation.

Governor Aregbesola gave the advice at the 2012 Eid-el-Kabir Children’s Party, organised by the Office of the Wife of the Governor in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture.

He urged the children to be attentive, obedient and respectful to their parents and those in authority, even as he urged them to serve God diligently in order to succeed.

Earlier, the Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola urged parents to impart in their children teachings and virtues that would make them shun vices and criminal behaviours.

She said that children should be constantly engaged to be properly integrated in the society and be good citizens of the state in particular and the country in general.

Sherifat called on schools to intensify efforts towards inculcating effective civic education in the children to enable them to fully achieve total rebirth toward the

Osun attainment of the transformation of Yoruba race.

She noted that the state government had promised that every facet of the population would be constantly engaged to appreciate the impact of the government.

“This promise has a greater focus on our children because we are aware that without them, there cannot be tomorrow,” she said.

Sherifat said that Eid-el-Kabir was anchored on unconditional love as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim and urged the people to emulate such virtue.

Similarly, Mr Ayedun Adetona, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, urged the children to learn from the obedience of Ibrahim and obey Allah and their parents.

Adetona, represented by Mrs Olajumoke Bello, urged the children and their parents to obey constituted authority and co-operate with one another so that Osun would continue to prosper.

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The chairman added that another set of 300 women also received N10, 000 each under the scheme.

He commended Governor Ibrahim Shema for his support to local government administrations and urged the people to elect credible candidates in the forthcoming local government polls in the state.

The chairman also said that his administration had distributed 30 motorised-tricycles (KEKE-NAPEP) to the youth to boost rural transportation in the area.

He enjoined the people to live in peace and engage in good businesses capable of contributing to the development of the area and the country in general.

According to him, the council has engaged experts to design modern drainage system in Matazu town.

He said that contract would soon be awarded for the control of flood which destroyed many buildings in the area this year.

He cautioned the people against indiscriminate refuse disposal and enjoined residents to redouble their efforts on tree planting and other measures aimed at mitigating the effectsagainst environmental pollution.

•Nyako

Kaduna to revive four water schemes HE Kaduna State government has awarded contract for the rehabilitation of four water works in the state to boost potable water supply for residents.

The Assistant General Manager, State Water Board, Yusuf Kobo, told newsmen in Kaduna that N33 million would be spent on the projects.

He said the rehabilitation, which covers water plants in Kaduna, would be completed

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Three get essay competition award

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N a bid to improve literacy in secondary schools, the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria, Apapa District, has held its second annual District Superintendent’s essay competition award ceremony.

Welcoming guests the District Superintendent Rev. M. K. Ogunbola remarked that the event was the church’s modest contribution towards the promotion of academic excellence among students.

“The task of preparing the next generation to take up responsibility for future opportunities through healthy competition which will to help them to achieve their aims in life is the main objective of this competition,” he said.

Presenting report of students’ performance in the essay competition, the Media Coordinator, Mr Ayeoribe Joseph said: “About 53 students participated in the competition from 11sections.The participants researched on the following, in-depth characteristics that lifted David from a shepherd boy to a king, revealing how those qualities can turn a mediocre to a hero; capacity building , character formation as requirements for leadership development, using the biography of Dr Ben

Carson as case study.

In a keynote address, the Editor –in –Chief, Sun Newspaper, Femi Adesina, challenged participants on reading culture. According to him, reading makes a full man. Therefore, the youth must read well to realise their potential of being leaders of tomorrow. Through reading, technology will be optimally utilised to reduce hardship. He called on the participants to use the church to change the society.

He further said that when there was no television or radio, reading and writing were there. He urged the young ones to actively engage in reading as there is no short cut to success.

Chineyemba Praise took the first position and received a golden plaque and N100, 000 cash award. Benneth Joshua came second and received a Silver plaque and N70, 000 cash as prize, while Uwandu Ihechiluru took the third position and received a Bronze metal plaque and N60, 000 cash award.

The winners praised the effort of the Apapa District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Ogunbola in promoting literacy.

•Cross session of St. Agnes Musical Society during its concert tagged “Let your light shine” PHOTO BOLA OMILABU in Lagos

Akeredolu’s wife leads campaign against HE wife of the governorship aspirant in the Ondo State election, Mrs Betty breast cancer Anyanwu-Akeredolu has begun a four -

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day campaign against breast cancer in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Mrs Akeredolu, who is also the president of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), said the symposium which hasUniting to End Breast Cancer as a theme, is the second of its kind in Ibadan, and it’s intended to raise awareness about the significance of early detection of the disease.

Speaking at the BRECAN office in Ibadan, Mrs Akeredolu noted that the symposium was set to become the largest forum in the country that brings together breast cancer specialists, clinicians, researchers, nurses, and other healthcare workers involved in breast healthcare. Its primary objective is to eradicate or minimise the scourge of breast cancer in the country.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Mrs Akeredolu said women were the most vulnerable to cancer and as such they decided to form the organisation to educate women and girls on early detection, prevention and cure.

According to her, the organisation had succeeded in rescuing about 200 women who either had cancer or their cases had been detected early and forestalled.

Akeredolu described cancer as a dangerous disease that could wipe out an entire family, which is not restricted to any gender, even as she said that it affects both male and female. She added that women were the most vulnerable.

NGO holds anti-corruption seminar

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•From left: Uwandu; Chineyemba and Benneth,the winners

S part of the efforts to reduce corruption in the country, a non-government organisation, West Africa NGO Network (WAGONet) has held a stakeholders’ forum at Peninsula Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

The event brought together media practitioners, lawyers, social media experts, civil society groups, government agencies and other institutions working against corruption.

The programme, which focused on four thematic areas - technology accessibility, media and publicity, government policies and processes and legal, was interactive and educative.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of WAGONet , Tunji Lardner, said that the fight against corruption in Nigeria cannot be effectively won by government alone but with support from informed civil society groups at the grassroots.

Nyako harps on youth empowerment

DAMAWA State governor Murtala Nyako has reiterated his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment.

Nyako made the pledge during an interactive session with newsmen in Yola.

He described growing unemployment and unskilled youths as “enemy armies facing the nation.”

He further said the growing threat from the two situations motivated his administration to set up empowerment programmes such as commercial farming, technical skills acquisition centres and local apprenticeship schemes for youths.

“We want to give our people the necessary skills before providing them jobs or assisting

Katsina

By Adeola Ogunlade

Lardner said that the ACID portal is designed to bring to the public a collaborative presentation of information from activities embarked upon by CSOs, agencies , media houses and citizens that makes up the real network.

He added: “We want to drive public to the website so that government and other institutions can effectively engage the tool that would help act as watch dog to individuals and institutions in the public sphere”.

Lardner noted that dealing with the scourge of corruption within the system in Nigeria must be executed by a continuous cycle of stakeholders who understand the proper running of government with transparency and accountability as guiding light.

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Kaduna within a year.

Kobo added that the project involves the replacement and rehabilitation of pumps and water treatment facilities in Kaduna North Old and New Water Works, to be executed at N7.4m.

According to him, the government will also spend N2.2m on similar project at the Kaduna South water works and booster station.

“Other aspects of the contract are the general civil works in Kaduna North Old, Kaduna North New and Kaduna South Water Works at the cost of N3m.

“This is in addition to the replacement of some existing AC pipes which was laid in 1939 which will cost N6.3m.’’

The manager said N5.2m would be spent on the recticulation of water in some areas of the city.

He further said that government would spend N2.7m on the completion of a 33KVA sub-station and another N6.6m to rehabilitate and install generators at the water plants to boost supply.

“These generators will improve the quality of water supplied to the metropolis.”

On Zaria water supply project, Kobo assured that work was in progress, adding that the installation of electrical components would soon be completed.

According to him, the state government has so far spent N13.8b out of the N24b earmarked for the project.

“The work has reached 74 per cent completion statge; all the electro-mechanical equipment have been imported and installation would soon be completed.”

Adamawa them to secure loans to set up their own businesses,” Nyako said.

The governor also spoke on the effects of hard drugs on youths and how it affects nation-building.

He said his administration would continue to support the fight against hard drugs, even as he promised to encourage youths to stay away from them and other social vices.

Nyako further reiterated his administration’s commitment to an independent energy source for the state to promote industrialisation.

He said that the plan by the administration to convert Kiri Dam in the state to a hydropower dam was very much on course.

He called for support and co-operation of the people to enable the government to transform the state.

•From left: Officials of Lagos State University (LASU) Lawal Abdulahmid; Osinubi Gbolahan, and Okesola Sanusi of Babcock University, Ogun State during their induction ceremony as members of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI Lagos.

Free pumping machines for farmers

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HE Interim Chairman, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahmad said the council had distributed 100 pumping machines to farmers for irrigation purposes.

He told journalists in Faskari that the gesture was aimed at boosting food security and reducing extreme poverty among the people.

Faskari-Ahmad further said that the machines were distributed free to the farmers to encourage their farming activities in the area, especially among the teeming unemployed.

He said the council embarked on free distri-

bution of farm inputs to farmers because farming is the major occupation of the people.

He expressed optimism that the gesture would encourage increased food production, stressing that agriculture provides jobs to millions of Nigerians while increased government support would facilitate development.

The chairman said the council had sold fertilisers, seeds and other inputs at subsidised rates to both rainy season and irrigation farmers. He enjoined the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items.

He said his administration had embarked on

Anointing service THE myriad of crises currently afflicting the nation will be solved once the people genuinely return to God, a cleric has said.

General Superintendent of Christ Redemption Bible Church (CRBC), Ketu, Lagos, Pastor John Ogundare, who made the assertion in Lagos, urged Nigerian leaders and the people to embrace a life of righteousness.

Meanwhile, the CRBC will be holding a three-day special inter-denominational anointing and thanksgiving service between Friday, November 2 and Sunday, November 4.

Tagged Harvest of Greatness, the anointing programme will commence at 6:00 in the morning on Friday and Saturday at the Aladelola Playing Ground, Cele Bus Stop, Ikosi-Ketu, while the grand finale, an anointing cum thanksgiving service, will hold at the church premises, Redemption Avenue, off Oluwalogbon Street, Ikosi Ketu on Sunday.

Pastor Ogundare, who runs a weekly television programme on LTV, will lead other men of God to minister at the special weekend programme.

Church marks eighth anniversary THE Rock of Salvation Ministries has kicked off its five-day programme marking its eighth anniversary. The grand finale, which holds on Sunday, will begin with a thanksgiving service at 8:00 a.m. at the church auditorium, 39, Oke-Onijo Street, Off Ogunlana Street, Ogunlana bus stop, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos.

Speaking, Apostle Paul Amakabi said the event would be a rewarding one as many yokes will be broken and destinies restored.

•Mr Wasiu Ogunmefun (third left), Unit Head, Training Dept, FRSC, Ota; Mrs Kemi Owolabi (fourth left), the Proprietress; Mrs Okikiolu Oluremi, Chief Community Officer,LUTH Primary health Centre, Ifo, Ogun State and others

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S a result of the hardship many families are going through in the country, the newly installed President of the Ikeja Golden Lions Club, Dr Eniola Ogunsanlu has promised that her administration would focus on projects that would make positive impacts on people’s lives.

Ogunsanlu and other members of the executive who were sworn into office last week at Etal Hall, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos, noted that social organisations must assist their communities in order to cope well with life challenges.

She said: “Our club intends to impact on our world by giving hope to the Nigerian child. So far, our activities are basically to make life good for the communities we live in. We visited our paraplegic friend and supplied her with foodstuff and clothing, both for sale and for her family’s upkeep.”

Emphasising the need to effect some changes in the lives of the ordinary people, Ogunsanlu hinted that her tenure would sink boreholes at the Ojodu Junior Secondary School and Agege Main Market.

Explaining further, she said the club would empower professional deaf and dumb businessmen and women in the society and pursue the completion of the club’s house to serve as a comfortable place for its members for both social and official engagements.

While urging public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations to support the club to enable it to carry out the programmes lined up, the president assured that the club would purchase an 18-seater bus to enable it to move around.

the construction of feeder roads and health facilities in the rural areas to ease the difficulties experienced by the people. This, he said, would enhance their living conditions.

He said 10 health centres had been inaugurated while the construction of four feeder roads began in September.

‘Improve standard of education’

By Olalekan Ayeni

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HE proprietress, Fountain of Knowledge Academy Secondary School, Ijako, Ogun State, Mrs Kemi Owolabi has urged the Federal Government to focus more on the improvement of standard of education.

Owolabi said this at a workshop organised by her school to mark its yearly social day at the school’s premises.

The proprietress said the workshop was organised yearly to educate the students, parents and the community on some of her social activities.

“The occasion comes yearly. The school orgnaised the programme to educate students, parents and members of the community on some of the challenges facing the standard of education in Nigeria. We invited health, security and educational practitioners to educate students and parents on some of the activities which had been taken for granted.

Mrs Owolabi appealed to parents to focus on the well-being of their children by giving them good home training and paying their school fees at and as when due.

Speakers at the event were the Chief Community Health Officer, LUTH Primary Health Centre, Pakoto, Ifo, Ogun State, Mrs Okikiolu Oluremi, who spoke on general health and hygienic management; Unit Head, Training Department, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ota Unit Command, Mr Wasiu Ogunmefun, who spoke on traffic laws.

Club promises better life

By Musa Odoshimokhe

In the same manner, the District Governor of the Club, Mrs Stella Agbogun who advised the newly inaugurated members to be focussed in the discharge of their social responsibilities, explained that issues concerning the

Nigerian child should take the front burner in its activities.

According to her, the Nigeria child is exposed to lots of challenges and uncertainties because of circumstances beyond them. It was therefore, important for all hands to be on deck to safeguard the future of the Nigerian child.

•Ex-President of the club, Tolu Adebowale (right) and Dr Ogunsanlu

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 31, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Greece arrests the messenger

Unholy oil •Ribadu report on the industry must be left inviolate and the guilty brought to book

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RS. Diezani Alison-Madueke now epitomises everything that impedes transparency in the oil and gas sector of the nation. To her, nothing goes wrong in that rotten sector. Any attempt to make her see the contrary stands scuffed. She has demonstrated this times without number before the National Assembly.

We are afraid she might want to doctor the contents of the Nuhu Ribadu-led 21member Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force set-up last February by President Goodluck Jonathan. The committee, an upshot of the mass protests against removal of fuel subsidy in the country last January was mandated, among others: To verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes and royalties) due and payable to the Federal Government: And to take necessary steps to collect all debts due and owed, and: To obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by oil industry operators.

The committee came up with its findings in its 141-page report. Its submissions in the report handed over to Mrs Alison-Madueke are scandalous. The report clearly corroborates previous indictment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the petroleum ministry for their lack of accountability and transparency in managing the country’s oil affairs.

Through the committee’s report, about N86.65 billion earned in 10 years by the NNPC is allegedly missing: It wants billions of dollars of unpaid debts from signature bonuses and royalties to be accounted for. The committee shared the public position that the NNPC needs urgent surgical operation or be scrapped

outright.

We know that President Jonathan will officially receive the report Friday, other things being equal, but we admonish Mrs. Alison-Madueke not to change the content of the report earlier submitted to her by the committee. It is disgusting to note that the petroleum minister attempted to clothe the copy presented to her in fake robe by musing: “It is a draft…There will be some areas where the government may have a slightly different opinion … (and) will put its point of view to the committee.” This is despite Reuters, a foreign news agency’s confirmation that the report was labelled “Final Report.’’

The President’s copy must be the ‘Final Report’ and not the opinions of Mrs Alison-Madueke and friends that have been sulking over the indictment that the subsidy-cum-oil industry in the country has become, especially under her leadership. Nigerians want real facts on the state of fraud in the oil sector, not unconvincing opinions of government officials that have always been part of the problems militating against its growth.

The government must streamline forthwith the curious bumper profits made through sharp practices by multinational oil majors identified in the report. Something also has to be done about the indiscriminate issuance of oil licences by successive oil ministers in the nation without due recourse to due process.

It would be unpardonable if we do not ask why international oil traders buy crude without any formal contracts just as NNPC continues to short-change Nigeria of billions of dollars by selling crude

oil and gas to itself below the market rates. Multinational oil companies such as Addax, now a unit of China government’s-owned Sinopec, and Shell identified in the report to be owing Nigeria $1.5 billion and N137.57bn ($874m), respectively, in unpaid royalties must, among others, be forced to pay the debts.

Furthermore, some people, no matter how highly placed, must also be fished out and held accountable for the hundreds of millions of dollars in signature bonuses that are allegedly missing.

We call on the government to promptly issue a White Paper on this report so that all those involved in fleecing the country of billions of dollars of oil money, whether as individuals or corporate bodies, do not escape justice. The sanctity of this report must be protected.

‘The committee came up with its findings in its 141-page report. Its submissions in the report handed over to Mrs Alison-Madueke are scandalous. The report clearly corroborates previous indictment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the petroleum ministry for their lack of accountability and transparency in managing the country’s oil affairs.

Pension fraud •The missing local government pension fund must be unearthed

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HE news that a whopping N3.3 trillion local government pension fund is missing is shocking and deserves to be investigated. Like many, we are surprised that despite the enormity of this mind-boggling allegation, there has not been a sense of revulsion on the part of government and sense of urgency to investigate the authenticity of the report. We urge the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the alleged missing pension fund. It is a national shame that those put in charge of pension fund have been allowed to turn it to a slush fund.

According to the report, a member of the Pension Fund Task Force Team made this

‘It is totally unacceptable for people who contributed to their pension to be told stories when the time to pay comes. The security agencies must therefore quickly investigate the missing fund, and rein in those responsible for it. They must move quickly to ensure that the properties of those behind the scam are sought out and the necessary applications made to the court for an order to confiscate them’

revelation during a visit to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s (ICPC) headquarters, alleging that this sum was illegally deducted from the pension fund, since 1976. As correctly noted by the chairman of the ICPC, the continued stealing of pension fund is an impending national disaster. The task force team also noted that about 36 billion of the police pension fund has been stolen, alleging that about N300 million is daily pilfered from the fund. While claiming that most of the police fund has been recovered, the official failed to name those who have been sent to jail for this disturbing criminality.

Indeed, if N3.3 trillion has been pilfered from local government pension scheme, it will be a major national tragedy waiting to happen, when the benefits are due.

That amount, which is about two-third of our national budget, represents future entitlements of thousands of potential pensioners, contributed over the years by government, and under the new scheme, also by the workers, for the days ahead. Nobody needs to be reminded what value pension fund represents, considering that it is money meant for one of the most vulnerable members of the society.

It will not be farfetched to regard the pension fund as blood money, since it represents money meant for decades of sweat and hard work, saved for the proverbial rainy day. Again, the regularity of this stealing also portrays the moral decadence in the society. A situation where it

has become a norm for those in custody of such sensitive resources of the state, to freely steal from it, shows the moral degeneracy of the society. It must also be remembered that the new pension scheme is designed to mitigate the challenges usually associated with the inability of the state to meet the pension benefits of its retiring workers. It is totally unacceptable for people who contributed to their pension to be told stories when the time to pay comes.

The security agencies must therefore quickly investigate the missing fund, and rein in those responsible for it. They must move quickly to ensure that the properties of those behind the scam are sought out and the necessary applications made to the court for an order to confiscate them. The government authorities must realise the potential challenges the pensioners will face down the road, as the contributors retire from service. Indeed, if the government officials fail to safeguard these pension funds, the pressure will be on successive governments to find answers to the problems in the future.

The expectation then will be for government to pay the pensioners regardless of what happened to the money now.

To safeguard the social crisis of that future, those at the helm of affairs must rise up to their responsibilities, and save the future generation the task of paying for what has been stolen by greedy officials of the present generation.

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REECE’S slow and cumbersome justice system moved with stunning swiftness over the weekend to arrest and charge a respected investigative journalist who published a list of prominent people with Swiss bank accounts. Contrast that with the two years that Greek tax authorities sat on that same list after the French government, which had seized it in a criminal investigation, turned it over to Greece to determine whether some of those Swiss accounts were possibly linked to tax evasion.

Swiss bank accounts are legal, but they can easily be used to avoid paying taxes. Yet a succession of Greek governments, which had pledged to increase tax revenues, failed to investigate the matter. Thanks largely to the decision by the editor Kostas Vaxevanis to publish the list in Hot Doc magazine, several former finance ministers are struggling to explain why.

This list and other lists of offshore accounts in Greek government hands must be fully examined for illegal tax violations. But, so far, the only person charged with wrongdoing is Mr. Vaxevanis. He is accused of violating the privacy of the account holders and faces a possible one-year minimum jail sentence when his case comes to trial on Thursday. Whatever the intricacies of Greek privacy law, this case looks to us, and many other journalists, like selective, and vindictive, prosecution. In a welcome show of support, one of Greece’s leading dailies, Ta Nea, reprinted the list on Monday. The real scandal is the two years of government inaction — which may end as a result of this disclosure.

Recent studies have shown that the government may be losing nearly $40 billion a year from unpaid taxes. Recovering that money could allow Greece to meet its current budget targets without recourse to the additional spending cuts and tax increases now being debated.

Greek society has been fraying under the strains of three years of austerity programs that have shrunk its economy by 25 percent, left one in four workers unemployed and cut off health care benefits for the long-term unemployed. Greek democracy is also feeling the pressure, with voters deserting the traditional centrist parties for more radical alternatives on the far left and far right.

Mainstream Greek politicians have been shamefully quick to strip basic social services from the country’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens. And they have been shamefully slow at probing possible tax evasion by the rich and well connected. Greece’s elected leaders need to pay more attention to investigating possible financial crimes and less to prosecuting journalists.

– New York Times

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: In the past few weeks, millions of Nigerians in about 25 states in this country have suffered from the deluge that destroyed their property and washed away their means of livelihood like farms.

While there is still nothing serious to cheer in our response ability to emergency situation of such magnitude, the Federal Government has slightly roused itself from its accustomed lethargy and characteristic hesitation and has availed the affected states some succour in monetary terms.

But even at that, this latest gesture has some question marks clearly hanging over it. I make bold to say that the FG is quite unfair to my state, Osun, in the paltry amount it gives to it. Considering the huge amount the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola committed to fighting flood in the state between 2011 and this year, I am of the opinion that

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Osun deserves more from N17.6 billion flood package Osun deserves special consideration.

In his nationwide broadcast sometime ago, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the release of N17.6 billion as direct financial assistance to the affected states and some Federal Government agencies responsible for disaster management. The states were grouped into four categories: Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra come under category A; Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross

River, Edo, Lagos and Imo States fall under Category B; Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers make the Category C; and Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Borno and Federal Capital Territory are grouped into Category D. According to the President, N500 million goes to each of the states in Category A, N400 million to each of those in B; N300 million each for states in Category C, and each of those in the last group receives N250

million.

This classification is based on the level of damage wrought in the states –Categories A and B are regarded as the worst hit, while those of the remaining two categories are considered as less affected.

The seeming defect in the FG’s intervention has to do with the inclusion of Osun State into the last group.

It is on record that prior to the assumption of office of Aregbesola, many towns in Osun were known to be terribly affected by floods. In fact,

Ensuring compliance with Lagos Traffic Law

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IR: The decision of the Lagos State government to ban the operation of commercial motorcyclists on major roads in the state has generated a lot of misgivings. The restrictions of okada on the routes and the worsening fuel scarcity have made many Lagosians stranded as they were forced to trek to their destinations.

No doubt, every attempt to sanitize and restore order to the chaotic roads should be embraced, especially, going by the traffic situation in Lagos. That is what any responsible government should do.

But in doing this, the necessary environment should be put in place to ensure that the introduction of the new law is not an attempt at paying Peter to rob Paul.

Presently, the available modes of transportation infrastructure are inadequate for a city of about 20 million people. The existing road is seriously under pressure as the Bus Rapid Transit services passengers often cramped onto the buses while many would-be commuters are always held-down in long queues awaiting the BRT buses for the next turn that may never come.

The Keke-NAPEP is just a bigger okada and does not offer much.It has only succeeded in increasing the average cost of transportation and

traffic congestions within the city.

They are equally operated by the same people of the same brains behind the operation of okadas, in terms of traffic law compliance. Hence, in the absence of sufficient cars and buses, commercial motorcycles remain the most practical and easily accessible means of transportation which a large percentage of the populace rely on.

Banning them at the moment portends grave social and psychological consequences. As a way forward, there should be concerted efforts by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Man-

agement Agency and the Nigeria Police to ensure high compliance with traffic regulations. Over the years, what have bred lawlessness in Nigeria are simply impunity and endemic official corruption and bribery. Some law enforcement agents are themselves law-brakers and clogs in the wheel of sanity.

They flout the law of the land with impunity. LASTMA officials are not an exception and so,there is the dire need for a shake-up in LASTMA. The role of media and public enlightenment should be fully engaged in conjunction with the commercial motorcyclist unions and rel-

evant stakeholders to bring about the necessary sensitization. The government should play its part by putting in place, the necessary infrastructure – good roads, clear street markings, functional traffic lights, road signs, safety and emergency measures as well as educational and instructional materials prepared in English and major Nigerian languages –to make the people respecters of law not law breakers.

• Adewale Kupoluyi, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

the government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola unbelievably saw the disaster as insoluble and so asked the affected people to learn to live with it. But not so with Aregbesola’s government. This government saw the plight of the people and got cracking without hanging fire. In the state capital for example, the government deployed both money and men in ensuring that the inhabitants were free from the nightmare of floods.

Blocked canals, rivulets, drainages, rivers, and streams were thoroughly cleared for water to flow freely. The exercise was repeated a number of times. It was this effort that saved the state from being affected by the latest flood calamity.

Therefore, if the FG wants to help states affected by flood, I think states like Osun that have shown seriousness in the use of resources to check disaster should have been considered for the biggest package. This is important when the facts that the state is not among the states whose allocations and internally generated revenues are on the high side. The FG would have successfully given the state a great encouragement if it had grouped it among the states with the fat package. I don’t think the government has demonstrated any serious sense of fairness to Osun. What it has done is to handsomely reward indolence and chastise industry. Encouraging states which are proactive in their response to issues bordering on the wellbeing of citizens has its way of inspiring healthy relationship between the centre and the federating units. Sincerely, I think Osun should have got more than it is given.

• Bidemi Adegbite, Osogbo, Osun State

Bring Obahiagbon back to the House!

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IR: My constituency, Oredo Federal Constituency once enjoyed public visibility and conspicuous admiration in the sixth assembly, but today, one can hardly tell whether it has a member representing her in the house. I was represented by Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, the Anglo-Latin lexical cognoscenti in the sixth assembly.

Igodomigodo, as he is popularly referred, to rose from unus inter pares to primus inter pares in the

House of Representatives of 360 members in a short time. Sincerely, it takes only a man of uncommon profundity to attain such enviable feat. No wonder the growing army of Nigerian youths sees him as a role model.

I have been an ardent fan of live proceeding of the house broadcast in the media but have since resigned my “fanship” because the house has metamorphosed into a cocoon of rubber-chicken-circuit. I want to suggest that those who must vie for the office of a legislator

should first consult vocational experts before venturing into it.

To excel, a legislator ought to process a well lubricated mental engine with sound erudition and uncommon parliamentary diction.

Nigerians must not forget how Obahiagbon went on a one-manriot against the constitutional hugger-mugger that erupted at the terminus ad quem of late President Yar’Adua’s administration. He stood in the defence of constitutionality.

Igodomigodo belongs to the class

of men Francis Frangipane wrote of, when he said “some men have the future already in their spirit.

They are the leaders who will guide us into the realities of tomorrow”.

Ipso facto, I call on President Goodluck Jonathan to honour the Great Igodomigodo with a national merit award in view of his ineffable and conspicuous legislative delivery in the sixth National Assembly.

• Ehimare Godfery Benin City

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

COMMENTS

Plane crash, poor state hospital; Jonathan’s 3rd peaceful election’; ‘Nigeria’s Corruption Carpet’

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EWS: Plane crash in Yola. Sorry, but whose money? Is Yola General Hospital well equipped enough to receive plane crash victims? GoverTony nors must think about Marinho people, not personal profits. Congrats to President Jonathan for maintaining the election peace in the Presidential, Edo and Ondo elections–a hat trick. No violence- a true legacy.

While malignant corruption festers, a dying Nigeria teaches in schools that the theft of a goat is seven years in jail while a multibillion theft will fetch you a choice hospital holiday and ‘plea bargaining’ by returning 1/10th of the stolen money punishment inversely proportional to the crime. Political righteous indignation at oil baron thieves is misplaced. They are all the same –thieves of votes or money! The judiciary has failed us. Imagine the judiciary ‘awarding’ a child molester only two years in jail with option of N80,000 fine. A fine for such a crime against your daughter, Mr What Justice?

The true guardians of people’s right to a better life–NLC, ASUU, NMA, NANS, NUT, PENGASSAN - deserve GCFR for their guarding of the republic, their sacrifices and foresight.

When they protest on behalf of the downtrodden, the downtrodden and the politicians shower curses on them for ‘not being patriotic’. The real thieving culprits are ‘dividends of democracy’ politicians, contractors, conmen and especially civil servants drawing up ‘no work-no pay’ agreements. They have all stolen us blind leaving the citizens to ‘manage’ crumbs and still expected to be grateful as the politicians award each other more and more PPPs-Prizes, Profits and Plaques and ‘Best Governorships’.

Ribadu’s NNPC revelations amount to N86.6b or N577 / Fellow Nigerian, the $5b waste from gas flaring or N5,000/ Nigerian, the megabillion pension scams, the N44billion UBE unaccessed funds or N600/ Fellow Nigerian Youth, the 3070% contract percentage kickbacks for contracts, the electricity multimegabillion scam, Ladi Kwali Hall conferences, juicy NASS oversight allowances and customs ‘customers’ make

massive needless suffering and death for the citizens. Scams amount to more than N10,000/Fellow Nigerian/per annum in losses. We have allocated enough contractor funds to build a road around the world and still we meekly accept to risk our lives and die on potholed death-trap and gridlocked Lagos-Ibadan, Ore-Benin and the East-West roads. Enough of billionaire contractors!

A serious government would have ‘A National Road Emergency Strategy’ and divide roads into 10-20km blocks and award them to hundreds of hungry qualified contractors for rapid completion. As in primary school the favourite example was: If one contractor can build a road in 36 months, 10 contractors can build it in 3.6 months. Or one big billionaire contractor should employ 10 times the staff working at 10 points to finish the work in one tenth the time - 3.6 months. It is criminal to give one billionaire political contractor a 300km road to build in 36 or 48 months. Nations in a hurry know better. And Nigeria needs to hurry into the 21st Century.

These revelations have lifted one tiny corner of ‘The Corruption Carpet’ covering Nigeria. We are horrified by the huge stealing while the same officials ‘lament’ about ‘poor allocations’ and ‘government cannot do it alone’. But ‘government can steal alone’!

The protests by Nigeria’s unions are at the serial abuse and poor treatment by politicians and absence of ‘civilisation indices’ in spite of great wealth hidden from the public scrutiny. In education these ‘civilisation indices’ are a friendly learning environment. In health these ‘civilisation indices’ are modern medical equipment and 16,400 Primary Health Centres –one per Ward, 21st Century equipment as used by brilliant medical Nigerians abroad. But in our medical ‘counterfeit centres of excellence’ only the signboard says ‘excellence’.

Nigerians, not just those who fly to hospitals abroad at our expense, deserve modern equipment as a birthright from our wealth. For the physically challenged, ‘civilisation indices’ include modern movement aids, braille, wheelchair access and computerised prosthetic limbs. For roads ‘civilisation indices’ include the thousands of side roads which must be ‘guttered’ and tarred. In transport we lack thousands of kilometres of railway tracks and modern human mass tran-

sit bus and monorail. On youth issues ‘civilisation indices’ include 16,400 non-political ‘Ward Youth Centres’. In addition we require serious entrepreneurial training, a broader job market, sponsored computerised sports databases, mini stadia and holiday coaching camps. On sanitation, ‘civilisation indices’ dictate that communities has rights to water and toilets. ‘Civilisation indices’ require we are malaria, polio and pothole free and also corruption free. With this money Nigeria can afford free quality health and education.

When will politicians learn to leave professionals alone to do their job? Nigerians have been ‘managing’ or coping with nonsense government and running ‘on empty’ since the military era. Stop corruption and fill Nigeria’s tank with the unstolen money. Government distribution of Sallah ram and Xmas rice to the few will not solve our corruption problems.

Nigerians do not want ‘dividends of democracy’ but return of the stolen ‘dividends of being Nigerians’. There is a lot to spend that stolen money on. Why do we allow theft when so many are deprived?

PS: How do Nigeria’s $billions ‘disappear’ untraced? Poor systems without computerisation, dishonest supervision and corrupt policing! Who own the colluding banks? Will the colluding managers, accountants, auditors and drivers escape unpunished? A bold leadership, non-political, must clean Nigeria’s stinking Augean Stable before Nigeria dies. Work and pray-with both eyes open or they will steal you too!

‘The real thieving culprits are ‘dividends of democracy’ politicians, contractors, conmen and especially civil servants drawing up ‘no work-no pay’ agreements. They have all stolen us blind leaving the citizens to ‘manage’ crumbs and still expected to be grateful as the politicians award each other more and more PPPs-Prizes, Profits and Plaques and ‘Best Governorships’’

A governor’s ‘suicide’ flight

I

T is no longer news that Danbaba Suntai, the secondterm governor of Taraba State, north-east of Nigeria, was involved in an air crash last Thursday. The crash, which occurred in Yola, Adamawa State on the eve of the Muslim annual festival of Eid-elKabir, involved the governor who flew the private light aircraft alongside others, including three of his top aides.

A pharmacist by profession, Suntai crashed with his chopper near the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot, along Numan-Yola Road around 7.45 pm on the fateful day just 38 miles from the Yola Airport. The first set of people who arrived at the crash site were Fulani herdsmen. Officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force NAF’s 75 Strike Force Command in Yola later arrived at the scene of the crash and recovered the victims from the Fulani herdsmen.

Suntai is said to be a keen pilot who obtained his licence from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Kaduna State in 2010. When he had a successful solo run on an aircraft at NCAT in August 2010, he was reportedly bathed with water as a symbol of his integration into the flying club.

One of the national newspapers boldly displayed this initiation photograph on the front page in its last Friday’s edition. Captioned “For the love of flying”, the photograph showed Suntai dressed in a brown trousers and purple-

stripped white long-sleeved shirt with a long tie to match being poured a whole pail of water by Bin Na’Allah, a member of the House of Representatives.

In another newspaper report, stunned journalists who sighted the governor at the Zaria event asked him to comment on his first solo flight. The governor said: “I feel excited and grateful to God for the opportunity to fly my first solo flight. Personally, right from the onset in my life, I chose aviation as a career and pursued it. I was able to obtain admission to Mbrevidaila Aeronautical University in Florida, but coming from a very poor background, I could not sponsor myself in the school, so I started seeking scholarship, but I couldn’t obtain one.

“So that was how I ended up in the pharmacy profession. However, aviation has continued to bite me in my blood. And when I learnt that I could even fly at my age, I decided to come over here (NCAT, Zaria) to see the rector and inform him about my ambition and he enrolled me. And after some training, today, I was able to undergo this solo flight. So, in my blood, I have it as a passion.”

Sunta’s incurable love for aircraft and flying is so deep and passionate that he radiates it everywhere.

When he became the governor of Taraba State in 2007, he met a partially completed airport in Jalingo, which was started by his predecessor in office. He immediately set about rehabilitating it at a cost es-

‘Taraba is one of the poorest states in the country…. harnessing the resources of the state towards optimum economic growth would be more like it, rather than this “passionate drain pipe” created by a flying enthusiast of a governor.’

timated at about N9 billion. The construction of the airport was later abandoned following the order of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, who observed some ‘runway defects’ at the airport. Suntai’s government later announced that it would construct a new airport which will be sited on the Mambila Plateau.

Though the Jalingo airport was not good enough, the governor was said to have acquired a small aircraft during his first term and added yet another one to the fleet only last year. Even though none of them could still land at the Jalingo airport, the Suntai administration acquired a helicopter for which the governor built a heliport in Government House.

Since becoming governor, he hardly travelled by road. Most of his trips to local government councils within his state and to his village, Suntai, in Bali Council, are always undertaken through the use of chopper, which many stakeholders in the state have continuously criticized. He is said to have also built an airstrip in Suntai to accommodate his penchant for moving around in choppers.

It is all about passion, passion and passion. Here was a man whose background was so poor he could not afford aviation training to become a pilot, a career of first choice.

He went into pharmacy instead. But the fire of aviation that had ignited in his mind continued to burn. It was like an everlasting glow.

When he could no longer resist this, he dashed to NCAT, Zaria and poured his mind out to the rector who wholeheartedly encouraged him by enlisting him to train as a pilot. He was told that age was not a barrier since he had a passion for the profession as if all that was needed to become a pilot was to express a mere passion for it. Besides, the money that was hard to come by in yesteryear was now at

his beck and call as governor.

Think about the colossal sum of money involved in building and rebuilding airports, construction of airstrips in Suntai village, construction of heliport at the Government House in Jalingo, buying of light aircraft and helicopter and so on.

What picture does this portray?

How much is sunk into this? How will this boost the economy of the state and increase the state’s internally generated revenue, IGR? As far as I am concerned, Taraba is one of the poorest states in the country.

Although the state is blessed with abundant natural resources, a good environment and all that, harnessing the resources of the state towards optimum economic growth would be more like it, rather than this “passionate drain pipe” created by a flying enthusiast of a governor.

Now we are being called upon to offer prayers. From the wreckage of the chopper featured in some of the national newspapers at the weekend, Suntai and the other victims of the crash will need tons and tons of prayers to see them through their present predicament. All of them emerged from the wreckage with varying degrees of life-threatening injuries even though attempts were made to paint the picture as less grievous.

Remember that those who first arrived at the scene of the crash last Thursday were Fulani herdsmen who had successfully retrieved the victims from the belly of the aircraft before the arrival of the NAF rescue team. And nobody is sure whether the rescue team had any specialist in their midst or even the right medical equipment for the evacuation from the crash site. Also, it is not quite clear if all the necessary precautions for such evacuation were observed.

And whilst we are at it, maybe we should ask a few salient questions about Governor Suntai and

Dele Agekameh the ill-fated chopper ride. Was he adequately trained in night vision or instrument landing which he will need to rely on for flying at night? How many hours’ flight does he have to his credit as a pilot? Who was the co-pilot with him in that aircraft?

My take is that with the distance from Jalingo to Yola, he could have possibly strayed off course, relying on radio communication for the flight until he finally sighted the airport. And of course, night had set in; in which case, he needed to rely on instruments in the aircraft to land. Anything could have gone wrong during the flight – poor knowledge, poor visibility, heavy wind on the route, absence of a copilot and all that.

We have even been inundated with the fact that there was a security report against the governor flying that aircraft. That warning could have been ignored. And now the consequence of that is the seemingly bad case we have on our hands. We have been asked to pray, and pray we shall. But we must pause and ask: was this accident preventable? If this is the case, it smacks more like a suicide flight!

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

22

COMMENTS ‘Ha, Mr Adegboyega, I have just read your column on ‘Okada’ riders. God bless you. I hold the same opinion as you and I had an exchange with one of your colleagues on this issue, requesting him to please encourage us by his writing to think and act right. I said the ‘Okada’ that were destroyed were plying illegal routes and that instead of vilifying government for enacting laws for the common good, we should admonish ‘Okada’ riders to be disciplined and obey the laws. I added that the side effect of unemployment should be a temporary problem whilst they think of other means of livelihood or migrate just as they did coming to Lagos. I concluded that taking to crime should not be the fallout of a government policy. We should not encourage such thinking as if it is an option.

No wonder this has led most criminal suspects to claim unemployment as the reason for committing crime. Anonymous’ • David Mark For Dare Olatunji The call for Sovereign National Conference, weak centre and state police are all centred on imbibing true belief in the entity called Nigeria with the hope to proffer solution to our age-long ethnic rivalry. Postponement, procrastination for the fear of unseen, not to allow Nigeria to break into parts is not comensurate with honest search for Nigeria lasting solution. Consultations needed be made to review our amalgamation if going our separate ways, which some people may not like to hear, is the solution, so be it, or better still option, Sovereign National Conference should honestly be considered for a wise avoidance of the adjourment of the evil days. From Mr. Abey Unlike the position in the US, UK and Europe, politics and governance in Nigeria are not about the people but about the ego of those who had or have their hands on the levers of authority. Mechanisms aimed at finding out the will of the people like referendums and free, fair and credible elections will only tamper with their free access to what they believe is theirs for the taking. Whatever will restrict their unhindered access to the treasury must be prevented or presented in bad light to ensure they remain in control. We only pray that it will not degenerate to what happened in France or Russia before things change in favour of the people. Anonymous The clamour for state police by state governors is to enable them collect more revenue and amass more security votes with which to marry more wives and revel in stupendous affluence afterall, those who got oil derivation cannot justify it. From Kenn Okonkwo Thanks for your write-up on “The news from Scotland”, and as much as I agree with your submission sir, I disagree on breaking of that 1914 mistake but strongly believe in giving more power to the present six regions and if possible self government and weak central that is to say that government at the centre will be in control of foreign policy, armed forces and currency. Then we go back to palimentary system of government. The present crop of leaders are politicians not statemen. A politician thinks of next elections while a stateman thinks of next generations.

Thanks. From Dare Bello.

Dear Dare, your discussion on the topic, “The news from scotland”, is nothing but a succint summary of our problems in Nigeria.

Misfits and people who knew little or nothing about governance and how to formulate governance policies are at the head of affairs.The public lecture by Philip Asiodu is just one in the list of such valuable documents/reports (e.g.Oputa report) that are dusting away in our National Archives. I make bold to say that until we come together, discuss and agree that we actually still want to continue to live together as one indivisible country, we will continue to decieve ourselves. Even the Holy Bible asked a very pertinent question, ‘can two walk together unless they agree?’ From Mmayienwata, Anambra Thanks for the article “The news from Scotland”. Those insisting that they can die for the unity of Nigeria with the present fraudulent federal constitution, are not sincere. What they want to die for is the oil money from Niger Delta. Selfish interest has blinded some people’s eyes. They do not see but that it is right to believe good of all evil; and as the inevitable result, they will finally believe evil of all good. All eyes are on you

sir, Mr President. From Adegoke O. O., Ikhin, Edo State.

Before Abuja people can listen, we need fuel subsidy kind of protests. From Uche Lawson, Aba This is a country that the selected leaders keep runing away from reality. Something serious will/must happen to correct the present situation. Things will not remain like this forevever. From Dogara Jimgba, Kwali-Abuja Dear Sir, please note. The analysis of the Ondo election on Pg 7 of today’s The Nation

by Segun Ayobolu is clearly meant for the cover page but not Page 7. Thanks! Anonymous Whether the President forfeits his free meal ticket to the freebies in Aso rock or not, he would still be entitled to the welfare rain from the flood... He has already announced that his “personal house is under water” in Bayelsa. Whichever way, the public official always wins. That is the normal thing’ in Nigeria, emergency or not...! From Momoh Suleiman, Abuja Our politicians prefer to doctor our ‘unity’ than allowing Nigerians choose their destiny and constitution. Our constitution is a skewered document. One day we will wake up to truth and know that we are delaying our own progress. From Eronini Chyke.

Yours today clearly demonstrated that Nigeria still has true men of conscience.

Majority of those who find themselves into leadership positions seem not to know that only God, (time) Himself does not change.

This is an opportunity for Mr. President to right the wrong of colonialism and neocolonialists who, instead of accepting their failures while in office, continued to persuade and mislead present day leaders to adopt their chicanery. God and posterity are watching Mr. President, National Assembly and the governors and states Assemblies. I wish they love themselves so as to give Nigeria and Nigerians love, which we lack as a country. From Owhor Kinika Friday, PortHarcourt Re: The news from Scotland.

The State Police and Sovereign Conference are not solutions to our problems in Nigeria. Killing ethnicism, tribalism, adopting merit rather than sharing positions and killing corruption are solutions, through our State and National Assemblies, period. Scottish case differs from Nigeria’s. From Lanre Oseni For Segun Gbadegesin Segun I disagree with your summary statement in fact if Christians were intolerant, especially in Nigeria this country would have been history. Anonymous If we all emphasize Godliness and truth instead of religion, the society would focus on the right virtues and true worship. But God will judge everyone. Happy day!

Anonymous Re: Making religion work for peace. In achieving religion-for-peace, the Preachers evangelising in both camps should desist, talking and announcing of one’s superiority over others. Who had gone and returned from Heaven? None. There must be a law, banning preaching by all faiths in public

vehicles. Finally, governments must determine the location and sites of both mosques and churches. Above all, governments must be imapartial in penalizing the side/faith, breaching the laiddown rules and laws. From Lanre Oseni.

Please note that Christ is the son of God and not a prophet as wrongly mentioned in your article in The Nation Newspaper on 26th Oct, 2012. From Ubon Usoro Listen again to your statement in The Nation of yesterday ‘Both Prophets Muhammed and Christ could not have intended their injunctions to evangelise to result in conflict and violence’ Point of correction,Jesus Christ is the name of the Son of God, he is not, and would never be a prophet. He is the messiah.

Anonymous I read your comment and the debate in The Nation Newspaper of yesterday and I am well pleased with it. The observation I made is that you have made some Biblical and Quranic refrences to butress your write-ups.

Keep it up. Anonymous The piece is thought-provoking. The truth is that religion is a criterion for sharing public offices at all levels. What I think will defoliate weird religion is to change the existing economic structure of Nigeria. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna For over 14 years, David Mark has deceived his improverished Idoma people. As Senate President, for about five years he has presided over the most corrupt senate in the history of this nation. One wonders why in spite of his much publicised competence, controversies continue to dodge his every move. For us his native Idoma people we leave him to God. But we can assure him that his vision to a super Mark family in Idoma land where the rest of us will gather every morning at his gate, bowl in hand, for our daily ration will never come to pass. The resilient spirit of the Idoma man, God willing, will prevail.

Anonymous For Tunji Adegboyega Re: ‘These irritants called Okada riders’. The way Lagos State is going about it is not the way to make people comply; neither is it the way to return to the village. Lagos State government should cooperate and collaborate with the Federal Government to check insecurity if that is it’s fear about the ‘Okada’ riders. If it is the route-plying issue, let the state government provide more roads, water transport means and rail transport to ease out ‘Okada’ riders. Lagos State government should provide jobs through industries rather than beautification projects. From Lanre Oseni.

Ha, Mr Adegboyega, I have just read your column on ‘Okada’ riders. God bless you. I hold the same opinion as you and I had an exchange with one of your colleagues on this issue, requesting him to please encourage us by his writing to think and act right. I said the ‘Okada’ that were destroyed were plying illegal routes and that instead of vilifying government for enacting laws for the common good, we should admonish ‘Okada’ riders to be disciplined and obey the laws. I added that the side effect of unemployment

‘Your article on ‘Okada’ riders refers. Try the Iyana-Iba to Abule Ado Road (both going and coming) at whatever time, even those who choose to trek will get to their destinations before those in a car/ bus. What’s the cause? Bad roads, large craters, etc. So, is the ‘Okada’ not necessary? Tomorrow, take a ride about town and see how many people are stranded. You are supporting a bad government; you want to be the only one driving on our roads. Anonymous’

• Jonathan should be a temporary problem whilst they think of other means of livelihood or migrate just as they did coming to Lagos. I concluded that taking to crime should not be the fallout of a government policy. We should not encourage such thinking as if it is an option. No wonder this has led most criminal suspects to claim unemployment as the reason for committing crime. Anonymous.

This kind of comment is not humanitarian.

I can’t be surprised; you are part of the bourgeoisie in this nation, because you are privileged to have a car, that gives you the guts to be saying such a thing. You don’t have any reason to blame the ‘Okada’ riders because it is not their fault. You advised them to go back to the village, I think for farming? How easy do you think it is to be a farmer? Please in all your endeavours, try to have feelings for your fellow countrymen. From Samson, Abuja.

I read your column and concluded that you don’t have the fear of God. The governments you are backing, what have they done?

Graduates are riding ‘Okada’. Anonymous.

Sometimes, I laugh my heart out when some of us expect to put something on nothing and expect it to stand. While you have hope of eating and surviving tomorrow, many ‘Okada’ riders do not have such expectation. ‘Okada’ economy is a by-product of irresponsible, corrupt and insensitive leadership that has always thought that what goes round certainly does not come around. Do you think that those of us who need a decent, clean and orderly environment can have it if the government decides and forcefully muscles all ‘Okada’ riders to their respective villages and towns? It is dangerous to fight a man whose one and only hope of keeping his breath is in serious jeopardy. While the government would be fighting for survival, the hopeless ones of the society would be fighting to destroy everyone alongside themselves. This mindset is what propels the Boko Haram onslaught. From O. Ifeanyichukwu, Abuja.

Your article on ‘Okada’ riders refers. Try the Iyana-Iba to Abule Ado Road (both going and coming) at whatever time, even those who choose to trek will get to their destinations before those in a car/bus. What’s the cause? Bad roads, large craters, etc. So, is the ‘Okada’ not necessary? Tomorrow, take a ride about town and see how many people are stranded. You are supporting a bad government; you want to be the only one driving on our roads. Anonymous.

Why is it that you people that call yourselves journalists have nothing to write but only on ‘Okada’ instead of writing on governments that cannot construct a single good road in the last six years. If we have good roads, the citizens will have no need to patronise’ Okada’ . You even wrote that they should go back to the village; this is Fashola’s slogan since he became the chief tenant at Alausa. Anonymous.

Mr Adegboyega, your brilliant write-up captured my view. God bless you. Let us all support the Lagos State government to ensure a successful regulation of ‘Okada’. They are a plague that must be dealt with. From Tunde Adio, Lagos.

Your write-up on’ Okada’ riders in Lagos is a very good one. I pray that many people will read it. Well, I am a soldier serving in Warri; I can tell you from security view that out of 10 ‘Okada’ riders, seven are criminals.

You sound very pained; it’s like they have broken your side mirror before. Good day.

Anonymous.

'This NFF is not corrupt'

Keshi picks Pg. 24

Pg. 41

24 players for Venezuela friendly

Sport Wednesday, October 31, 2012

PAGE 23

Rousing welcome

for

Venus

•As tennis star is shielded from reporters •Arrives 6hrs ahead of Serena PHOTOS: Bola Omolabu

A

MERICAN female tennis ace Venus Williams arrived Lagos aboard Delta airlines yesterday afternoon to the warm embrace of her fans and journalists who were keen to catch her attention which was, however, cut short by security personnel at the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Lagos.

Venus who seemed shy at the large crowd that swarmed around her, was quiet throughout almost thirty minutes that she stayed at

By Stella Bamawo the arrival hall of the airport at Lagos. She left the airport in a chauffeured E35O Black Mercedes Benz to the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria, Lagos, where she would be lodged for four days before she leaves for the USA. However, Serena, the more popular of the sisters could not make the journey with Venus as her flight with the Turkish airlines had been fixed for 9pm. The Williams sisters will be guests of Governor Babatunde Fashola, at the Government House Marina, Lagos today.

24

41

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

'This NFF is not corrupt’ •Inyama calls for co-operation

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HE current Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) is not in any way corrupt, as it has worked assiduously to reposition Nigeria football, according to the Chairman of NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama.

“It is in line with the mission and determination to take our football to higher levels that drove the Board to the various reengineering processes that have yielded the results we are now witnessing in our Leagues and the different age-grade National Teams, as well as the Super Eagles.

“At this period, what the Aminu Maigari-led Board needs is massive support from Nigerians, not distraction. We are not there yet, but we request for total support from Nigerians in all ramifications to take our football to greater heights,” Inyama said on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Nigeria National League also condemned calls from unpatriotic Nigerians who are at it again stoking the fire of discontent and disparaging the NFF, at a time that all the National Teams have qualified for every available major competition and are ready to do the country proud. “ T h e p r e s e n t N F F administration has invested heavily in youth development programmes and the result is there for all to see, with the recent performances of the various agegrade National Teams including the U-17 boys.

“Everyone agrees this team is one for the future and the NFF will guard it jealously to ensure the players graduate from this stage to the next level that is, the U-20 squad.”

Inyama commended the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari for the way and manner he has steered the Executive Committee, with sterling leadership qualities and doggedness. “It is important that Nigerians from all walks of life should join hands with the Aminu Maigari-led Board instead of distracting it from set goals and objectives of taking Nigeria football to the next level.

“People come into the NFF Executive Committee through elections and anyone who wants to come on board should wait for the next elections. The present Board is elected and should be allowed to serve out its term,” Inyama concluded.

Lulu denies corruption charges

F

ORMER NFF president Sani lulu Abdullahi has e x o n e r a t e d h i s administration at the football house of any corrupt practices as recently alleged by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of River State in a presidential retreat in Abuja. He challenge the governor to a public debate or resign his position at the PTF. Speaking in Abuja at a press conference on Tuesday, the former FCT Directorof Sports said the PTF instead of assisting the Super Eagles in its quest to the 2010 world cup in South Africa , instead worked against the team.

Lulu said, 'Nigrians are aware

•Lulu

Keshi picks

From Patrick Ngwaogu Abuja that the Presidential appeal fund- raising ceremony successfully took place in Abuja and with other contributions, it was speculated that over N1billion was donated to PTF. In my capacity as NFF president, and a member of the PTF, at that time, I was privileged to be one of the principal actors and would wish to state that the NFF made a total budget of about N2.20billion to prepare for both the Nation Cup and World Cup tournaments.

However, N1.5billion was approved, leaving an outstanding of N700million which the PTF was to provide'.

He said till he left office two years ago, the PTF did not provide that sum. Lulu said that that during the last qualifying match against Kenya, that PTF presented a n Arik airline of N80 million, instead they (NFF] prefered a N30million aircraft that PTF still took 20 seat inside.

Lulu said that the NFF building which the PTF is presently constructing, that his adminstration, had sourced the money trough FIFA following an accumulation funds of $1,400,000 in FIFA account. He therefore, deduced that Governor Amaechi’s statement that NFF was the most corrupt organisation is completely baseless.

attire against Ethiopia •To go for Green versus Cote D Ivoire

•Camp opens November 4 in Abuja

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HE national team, Super Eagles will next week begin earnest preparations for the CAN 2013 Nations Cup, as 24 home-based players will converge on Abuja , the nation's capital for the international friendly against Venezuela in Miami , United States .

The game has been scheduled for November 14 and its one of the friendlies that has been lined up to toughen the Nigerian side for the Nations Cup championship.

Super Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya quotes Team Scribe Dayo Enebi Achor, as advising all invited players to resume at the Bolton White Apartment unfailingly on Sunday, November 4. They are to report with the international passports and two passport photographs (embassy size).

The list consists of two goalkeepers, nine defenders and 13 midfieders and strikers.

Below is the full list of invited players that will as usual be led by home based skipper, Chigozie Agbim of Warri Wolves.

GOALKEEPERS AGBIM CHIGOZIEWARRI WOLVES FC AKPEYI DANIEL- HEARTLAND FC

DEFENDERS 3. OBOABONA GODFREY I-SUNSHINE STARS FC 4. KWAMBE SOLOMON -SUNSHINE STARS FC 5. EGWUEKWE AZUBUIKE WARRI WOLVES FC 6. ZANGO UMAR- KANO PILLARS FC

7. PAPA IDRIS KANO PILLARS FC 8. BENJAMIN FRANCIS I -HEARTLAND FC 9. UDOH KINGSLEY HEARTLAND FC 10. SOLOMOM YAYA-KWARA UNITED FC 11. UGWU UWADIEGU- ENYIMBA FC MIDFIELDERS AND FORWARDS 12. UZOENYI EJIKE C -RANGERS FC 13. EMEKA EZE RANGERS FC 14. MBA SUNDAY- WARRI WOLVES FC 15. HENRY UCHE I- ENYIMBA FC 16. ONDUKU GOMO-SHARKS FC 17. UBALE MANNIR - KANO PILLARS 18. RUBEN GABRIEL - KANO PILLARS 19. GAMBO MOHAMMED KANO PILLARS FC 20. SANI SANUSI GOMBE UNITED 21. ANTHONY OKPUTU- LOBI STARS FC 22. EMMANUEL AJIA LOBI STARS FC 23. AZUBUIKE OKEY NIGER TONADOES FC 24. NWANCHUKWU OBINNA- HEARTLAND FC

•Keshi

Eagles begin final AFCON training in SA

N

IGERIA has announced that the country's final preparation for the 2013 AFCON will be in South Africa from January 4.

This was disclosed by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) general secretary Musa Amadu.

"It's a known fact that clubs would not release players for the AFCON until two weeks to the tournament.

What this means is that coach

Stephen Keshi has at least two weeks for intensive training. So, with that in mind the Eagles would begin final preparation on January 4," Amadu said.

NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green, who just returned from South Africa where they inspected training sites and facilities ahead of next year's Africa Cup of Nations, disclosed that the federation plans to first set up a

training camp in Europe before the team move to South Africa.

"We are thinking of assembling the players in Faro, Portugal, before proceeding to South Africa for the team's final phase of camping. The idea is to begin the camp in Faro with players from the home front, then have the foreign-based join up,” he said.

"We have put several factors into consideration one of which is

weather."

Nigeria are drawn in Group C in Nelspruit along with defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

The Eagles training camp opens this weekend in Abuja ahead of a friendly against Venezuela in Miami, United States of America, on November 14.

Four Obudu champions return for 2012 race

OBIORAH NWANKWO TO EAGLES' TEAM MATES

We must respect our Group C opponents

S

UPER EAGLES' midfielder, Nwankwo Obiorah has tasked his colleagues to accord respect to their Group C 2013 Africa Cup of Nations opponents if they do not want to be shocked out after the first round.

Nigeria has AFCON reigning champions, Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso to contend with for a slot in the quarter final and the AC Padova of Italy player has stated that for the fact that the three countries beat their foes to be among the 16 contestants in South Africa next year, they do not need to be handled with kids glove.

He charged the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and other lovers of the round leather object to fashion out a well structured programme aimed at ensuring Eagles early preparations for the biennial tournament.

"It feels good to know that we'll be in South Africa,despite failing to qualify

• Nigerian thrilled with Padova form From Tunde Liadi,Owerri for the previous edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and I am happy to be part of it.

"I think it's an interesting group.

Any team that qualified needs to be respected especially the reigning champions.

But am optimistic,we will make it out of the group!"

Nwankwo also spoke on the impressive form of his Italian Serie B club, AC Padova and reiterated his conviction that the club would get one of the two automatic slots to the Serie A before the end of the season.

The former Gubbio of Italy player praised the resilience of his team mates at Padova for braving the odds to occupy their present position despite a

massive overhaul of the almost entire squad at the beginning of the season and the points deduction episode too.

"The team is doing well thanks to the players who have risen up to the occasion despite the difficulties at the beginning of the season. It is difficult to have 16 new players in a team of 23,it takes time to blend.

"Just like I said earlier,it takes time to blend especially when 9/11 players are always on hand to start a new game. My only regret is that I've not been fully involved with the team due to national team duties!

"Sadly,Serie B doesn't stop whenever there's a FIFA break the league continues and this has not only cost me my place in the team,but I've also missed 5 out of the 10 matches this season.”

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri HE Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has stated that the Super Falcons were in high spirits barely 24 hours to their second group match against Ethiopia at the ongoing African Women's Championship(AWC) despite the hiccup caused by the players missing jerseys.

Speaking with NationSports exclusively from Equatorial Guinea, the NFF's Director of Competitions, Dr Mohammed Sanusi opined that the players have put behind them the episode of the missing jerseys as they prepare for the thursday 5:30pm kick off time with the East African.

He revealed that the country's football ruling body has swung into action and that the Falcons would have their full attire and kits complete without any fault when they face Ethiopia.

"The issue of the missing jerseys was over flogged in Nigeria. We came with a complete set of jerseys and other kits but it was misplaced and we have to make do with what we had in the first match.

"We won the first match and ahead of the second match the Falcons will have their complete kits against Ethiopia. They are in high spirits to do the nation proud and nothing will deter them," Dr Sanusi infor med NationSports.

Mea nwhile, Dr Sanusi also revealed t o NationSports that the Falcons would still be clad in their all white attires against Ethiopia just like they did against Cameroon while they will don the all green jerseys in their last group match against Cote D Ivoire.

Nigeria's Falcons are the most successful country on the continent in the AWC having boasted of 6 titles from the previous 7 editions with the one hosted in 2008 in the same Equatorial Guinea the odd one out. They have won the competition consecutively from 1998 to 2006 before the 7th two years ago in South Africa.

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24 players for Venezuela friendly

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• Inyama

Police launch

NFF: Falcons are ready for Ethiopia Clattenburg investigation •Nigerians to wear all white

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• Obiorah Mwankwo

S many as four former winners of t h e O b u d u international mountain race have confirmed their participation in this year's race which holds next month at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu,Cross River state.

Top on the list of the former champions who are staging a return is Ethiopia's double winners,Abebe Dinkesa who will be gunning for an historic hat-trick of titles at the race.

Dinkessa won the men's title and the accompanying $50,000 top prize in 2008 and 2010 to become only the second man in the history of

the race to win the title t w i c e . A n o t h e r Ethipian,Habtamu Fikadu won in 2007 and 2009.

Also staging a return to challenge for the top prize is the men's defending champion,Ethiopia's Hunegnaw Mesfin who ran the second fastest winning time (41:50) to win last year. Dinkesa holds the course record and the fastest winning time ever (41.45 seconds) which he ran in winning his first title in 2008.For the women, reigning Obudu mountain running champion, Genet Yalew of Ethiopia tops the list of champions who are staging a return to the race

come next month at the Obudu Ranch Resort. She will however battle Kenya's Businei Rita Jepto for the title and the %50,000 top prize.

Businei was the second African woman to win race after Ethiopia's Rehima Kedir succeeded Czech Republic's Anna Pichrtová as champios in 2006.

Yalew,the defending women champion is staging a return hoping to become the first athlete,man or woman to successfully defend the Obudu title while both women will be hoping to make history as the first woman to win two titles at the race.

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HE Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made by referee Mark Clattenburg towards Chelsea players during the club's 3-2 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday.

The Football Association had launched their own investigation into the issue but neither they nor the Blues themselves were responsible for informing the police.

The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed they had acted on what they described as a "complaint" made by Peter Herbert, chair of the Society of Black Lawyers.

"An investigation has been launched into alleged comments made during a football match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC

at Stamford Bridge on 28 October 2012," a statement read.

"This follows on from a complaint received by the Metropolitan Police Service on 29 October. Officers from Hammersmith & Fulham borough are in liaison with Chelsea Football Club and the Football Association.

"At this time, the MPS has not received any complaint from either Chelsea Football Club, or the Football Association. We continue to work in partnership with Chelsea Football Club and the Football Association in order to consider any allegation that is made in relation to the reported events."

Clattenburg endured a tough afternoon at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as he controversially sent off Fernando Torres for diving before allowing an offside Javier Hernandez goal to stand.

N8m for grabs at NNPC/Shell Cup 2013

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RIZE money totaling N8 million will be won at the th 15 edition of the All Nigeria Secondary Schools football Championship tagged NNPC/SHELL Cup 2013.

This was disclosed in Lagos by Shell Petroleum Development Company SDPC's Vice President, Safety, Environment, Sustainable Development and Communication, Mr. Tony Attah while declaring the commencement of competition.

Attah who was represented by the Communications Production Service Manager, Peter AdemuEteh said out of the 8 million naira, N3.5million will be for the overall champion, over N2million to the runner up and 1m naira to the third place winner. Aside this, each player of the winning team will be given additional 50,000 naira, while players of the second placed team will each go home with the sum of N40,000. Players of the third placed school will also be entitled to the sum of 25,000 each.

He revealed that this year's edition will focus on enhanced and qualitative organization and public awareness creation, improved eligibility process to discourage age cheats and ensure that non-student do not

By Akeem Lawal participate in the tournament.

Highlights of the competition will see the State Final coming up on December 1 and 2nd while Zonal Preliminaries will hold in nine centers (Yenegoa, Osogbo, Benin, Lokoja, Jalingo, Ilorin, Katsina, Enugu and Akure) from December 11 to 15, 2012. Quarter Finals will hold at four centers (Port Harcourt, Shagamu, Minna, and Kaduna) from January 24 to 25, 2013, while the Semi Final will come up in Lagos on February 25, 2013. The Final and Third place matches has also been fixed for February 27, 2013 in Lagos.

“It is our expectation that the 2013 championship will attract keener attention in view of the government's focus on grass root sports development” Attah noted.

In his address, the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Morrison Fiddi said, “the All Nigeria Secondary School Football Championship is part of the corporate social responsibility initiative of Joint Venture, aimed at ensuring that talented youths are able to combine education with developming their football skills and career”.

• R-L: Mrs Bunmi Lawson, Communication Production Service Manager, Shell Development Production Company, Mr Peter Ademueteh President Nigeria School Sport Federation, Mallan Ibrahim Muhammed and Chief Olusegun Odegbami at the media parley on NNPC/Shell Cup in Lagos on Tuesday.

PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

Life

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Text only: 08023058761

Co oal Art feast in C al City City SEE PAGE 26

• From left: Eze, Achebe and Eze

Putting smiles Putting widows’ on widows’ faces – Page 37

Photo Africa for Ethiopia – Page 38

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Art feast in coal city For the sixth consecutive year, the organisers of the annual Life In My City Art Festival, last Saturday, held another memorable art feast to restore the glory of Enugu as home of arts and culture, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

• Enugu Chambers Choir singing

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ROM her body language, Miss Mariagoretti Chinenye Eze, 22, was the least enthusiastic among the five finalists. She was dwarfed by the others as she walked up reluctantly in her simple silky white gown. After the last call of winners in other categories, there was a pindrop silence as the audience awaited for the winner of the grand prize.

Seconds later, the head of the jurors, Prof Jerry Buhari of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, broke the silence: ‘the grand prize winner is Miss Eze..., who will walk home with N500,000’.

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she received the dummy cheque and a royal handshake from the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe. Her mixed media piece, Rejuvenation which shows a mirror image of herself won the overall prize.

“I am short of words, but I must thank my God for His mercy. I never expected this award because I simply participated to get some form of exposure. Last year, I participated and did not win anything. I will use the money to buy a new camera to improve my skill because I borrowed the camera I used in taking the photograph that won this award,” the Higher National Diploma (HND) final year (graphic) student of Institute of Technology, Enugu, said. Impressed by the quality of the artwork, the Obi of Onitsha declared his interest to acquire the piece.

Winners in other categories who got N250,000 each were Stanley Ortisejolomi (painting), Adewumi Oluwatobi (photography), Uzowane Igbenabor (graphic) and Odo Sunday (sculpture). Others were George Agbo (Vin Marin Ilo special prize of N50,000), Wasiu Arowolo (Art is everywhere prize of N50,000), Justice Anthony Aniagolu N100,000 prize for originality went to Ezebi Chinedu.

The Photo Africa award of one thousand dollars went to Miss Eremina Jumbo, a Lagos-based photographer and Mass Communication student at the Lagos State University, Ojo. The shortlisted works were exhibited at the lobby of the banquet hall while the 30 photographs in the Photo Africa competition were exhibited at the National Gallery of Art, Temple Avenue, Enugu.

For the audience at the banquet hall of the Nike Lake Hotel and Resorts, Enugu, it was a memorable occasion.

The night, which featured chorale songs and dance drama presentations by the Enugu Chamber choir and a solo song rendition by Maji Sharon was the grand finale and award night of this year’s Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), held last Saturday. Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Ayogu Eze, Elder Kalu Uke Kalu,

• Enugu Chambers Choir during a drama performance

FESTIVAL Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe Mamel, Executive director, Regional Business, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Victor Ezenwoko, the former Nigerian ambassador to Zambia and Assistant Secretary-General of the then Organisation of African Unity, Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu, Chief Loretta Aniagolu and the Director, Alliance Francaise, Mr. Dominique Francelli.

Senator Ayogu Eze, who chaired the

night said, very soon the festival would be one of the biggest cultural events that would bring fame and honour to Enugu. He noted that it is a shame that “we will wait for a foreign cultural agency such as Alliance Franciase to tell us what we should promote in our culture.”

He said his commitment and promises to the festival would continue until the festival moves to a bigger venue such as the Okpara Square or Enugu Stadium. “I will bring in more sponsors for next year’s edition. I will bring

‘I will bring in more sponsors for next year’s edition. I will bring four sponsors next year. The festival should accommodate other aspects of our culture especially books that we write and read. In fact, this dream should not die because this is a type of dream for a better society’ - Senator Ayogu Eze ‘Art is very close to my heart and also my interest in the youths is very fundamental’ - Obi of Onitsha

four sponsors next year. The festival should accommodate other aspects of our culture especially books that we write and read. In fact, this dream should not die because this is a type of dream for a better society,” Eze said.

The Onitsha monarch said there was need to restore Enugu as centre of art and culture. He urged the government to continue to grow the space for art and culture to thrive. “Art is very close to my heart and also my interest in the youth is very fundamental,” he said, promising that he would continue to support the promotion of LIMCAF and the growth of the project. Enugu Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Ozo Joe Mamel said the state would continue to provide an enabling environment for art to blossom.

The festival, which is the brain child of Mr. Robert Orji was supported by Diamond Bank, Alliance Francaise, Access Bank, First Bank, Rocana Nigeria Limited, Pan African Circle of Artists, Culture France and Tachi Studio. It featured among others art workshops for primary and secondary schools’ art teachers, exhibitions, sponsors’ dinner and tours.

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Continued from last week

As a sacrificial lamb

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OW then does one best pay tribute to a sacrificial lamb like Akinloye? After some contemplation of the question, it dawned on me that this could be best addressed by looking at Akin’s selfsacrificial life in the context of the history of life in general. The usefulness of this methodology lies in an understanding of the word ‘history’, which I have come to realise. The subject of history, to me, means an account of His-story. The ‘His’, here, being a synonym for Christ.

Hence, I have come to the realisation that the history of the earthly manifestations of a soul, particularly of a great one like Akin’s, is a story of Christ’s creativity through the embodied soul. Some features of our brother’s earthly life bore witness to this. For instance, Akin’s literal sacrifice of the health of his body for us Nigerians.

The self-sacrifices Major Akinyemi rendered are part of His-story’s uncanny relentless process of spawning sacrificial lambs.

Thus the ancestors of the Akinyemi’s of Ifewara in Osun State, teach, through Yoruba traditional religious scriptures, that whenever the world was thrown into a Dark Age and consequent disorder, God would come to show humanity the way out of this ignorant state.

God, according to the corpus of the Ifa Oracle, does this by sending his most loved child, Ela to earth to restore enlightenment and order. This is why one of the meanings of Ela is the Redeemer. Each time Ela was sent back to earth He had a different name. Orun-mila, Olu-orogbo, Agbon-niregun are, for me, the various Yoruba names for the Eternal Christ during His respective incarnations on earth.

The Yoruba progenitors of this distinction of the Eternal Christ from when Christ is enmeshed in history, must have been adepts of the Bible. For there are many correspondences between the Yoruba Old Testament and the Jewish one. If you doubt me, I suggest you check out the biblical verse where Jesus, speaking as the timeless Christ (who in Ifa is Ela) said: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

The Ifa affirmation to what appears to be Christ-in-history, which states: “Orunmila eleri ipin, igba keji Olodumare” meaning “Orunmila, witness of fate, the second to the Godhead” also teaches us a lot. Is this Ifa maxim not similar to this biblical revelation: “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14)? And, also to the Pauline reminder that Christ Jesus “is the image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15).

Betrayals

Lest we forget, despite the parallels we have illustrated between the Ifa Oracle and the Holy Bible, the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made is the most enlightening of the pathways to Salvation. However, as every happening in history has its opposite, there has always been a Judas archetype to betray and lead a lamb to the sacrificial table.

We saw a reflection of this kind of Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, in how, at least three supposed gentlemen and officers and friends of Akin betrayed his trust. One of these turncoats allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the temptation of the promise of the rewards of high office.

It was actually the Akinloye Akinyemi’s close family friend and one of his Sandhurst officer cadet comrades, Major Okeowo who was the Judas. This was an officer who was later made an aide camp (ADC) to a General Officer Commanding (GOC). Major Okeowo as fate will have lost his life in the Nigerian Air force C130 plane crash near Ejigbo.

Comradeship to Akinloye was, above all, to the truth and integrity of one’s profession and faith. Thus he felt betrayed by close associates who, because of the pursuit of money, power and fame, allow themselves to be compromised. One such betrayal that he felt very much was one of his close Sandhurst and Shrivenham peers, Lt Col Komo Dauda.

Akinloye could not understand why such a brilliant and hardworking officer allowed himself to become a goon of Sani Abacha’s regime.

This was an officer whose kinsmen the

•The late Akinyemi

Akinyemi: The unsung hero

By Tony Nyiam

TRIBUTE Zuru people have for centuries been oppressed by a majority neighbouring ethnic group. For Komo to allow himself to be used to terrorists another minority ethno-nationality offended Akinloye very much.

The naming to put to shame some officers is necessary to remind the living that the evil that people do live after them. It is important that military officers, and indeed public servants, always do what is morally right for their people. Examples of brilliant and hardworking officers who were persecuted simply for being Akinloye’s very close friends, include: Lt Cols Paubilus Izourgu and R. D. Obiki.

The third traitor was an officer and Akinloye’s good friend who allowed himself to be overcome by the temptation of the flesh.

These are just three of the many betrayals that our brother had to stomach. Akinyemi’s readiness to sacrifice his life for others reminds me of a very good friend and Catholic Reverend Father, Elias Kekong Bisong’s insightful categorisation of how in comparison to our Lord Jesus, people take to the making of sacrifices.

To Akinloye, being a Christian was more than the keeping of outward observances. It meant to deny one’s self, so as to carry one’s cross and follow Jesus. This is what Akin did.

Those who are familiar with the biblical scene of Golgotha will remember that there were three crosses: the Cross of the first thief, the Cross of the second thief and the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thief rejected his cross, rebelled against everyone and died in despair. The second thief accepted responsibilities, defended Jesus Christ as not deserving the cross and died with hope. The Cross of Jesus Christ was a Cross of choice of our redemption.

Put differently, there are really three types of crosses of life for a human being to choose from. In other words, the cross we reject like the first thief, the cross we accept (like the second thief) and the cross we choose, like our Lord Jesus Christ. The cross we reject destroys us, the cross we accept saves us, and the cross we choose, saves us and saves others.

It, therefore, follows that sacrifice and love are one and the same. Thus there is no love when there is no giving part of oneself away.

There must be a form of self-denial before

‘The Yoruba nation is still offering us the services of the likes of Generals Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Benjamin Adekunle; Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; Pastors Enoch Adeboye and William Kumuyi; Chief Akintola Williams, the consummate politician Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Bisi Akande, the Awujale of Ijebu kingdom, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Otunba Segun Osoba, and the Emeritus Professor of International Politics and Security, Bolaji Akinyemi...These are stars whose light Nigeria is in dire need of’ there can be love. It was with such understanding that Akinloye accepted his cross. He played his part well. His life has taught me, and consequently given me the realization that there is no point in being led by selfish desires.

Akin’s rich Yoruba heritage What is the relevance of our pointing out, earlier, the synchronicity, that is, the meaningful coincidence between the ancient Yoruba’s religious scriptures and their Hebrew parallels? It is to demonstrate that just as the Jews relentlessly gave, and are still offering the world men of wisdom, the Yoruba nation too, has kept on giving Nigeria in particular, and the world at large, beings of vision of which Major Akinyemi was one.

Starting from ‘The Word’ of Orunmila’s enlightenment, and the Yoruba Patriach Oduduwa, the ethno-nation blessed us with Madam Tinubu (whom Tinubu square in Lagos is named after), Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Methodist Patriach Bolaji Idowu, the three late Kutis-Prof. Olikoye Ransome Kuti, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Beko Ransome Kuti and of course their great parents Reverend and Mrs Ransome Kuti and their uncle the Noble Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka; Chief Rotimi Williams, Gani Fawehinmi, etc.

The Yoruba nation is still offering us the services of the likes of Generals Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Benjamin Adekunle and Adeyinka Adebayo; Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; Pastors Enoch Adeboye and William Kumuyi; Chief Akintola Williams, and obviously, the consummate politician Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Bisi Akande, the Awujale of Ijebu kingdom, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Otunba Segun Osoba, and the Emeritus Professor of International Politics and Security, Bolaji Akinyemi.

These are stars whose light Nigeria is in dire need of. This is why it is such a cruel irony that the Federal Government, which is most in need of personnel with appropriate capacity, have no Yoruba person in the topmost ten positions of the cabinet.

It may be necessary to ask our President and the ruling political party this: Why are the Yoruba deprived of any of these positions: Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of Federal House; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Secretary to the FGN, Chief Judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, Chief of Staff to the President, National Security Adviser (NSA), Private Secretary (PS) to the President, etc?

I do hope a Yoruba retired General is considered for the position of the Minister of Defence as a beginning of the long over due making up to the Yoruba. I do also hope that the leaders of Niger Delta and South West realise that the alliance between the two re-

‘I only wish that we, Nigerians, and the Yoruba in particular, knew well, this illustrious son of ours. Comrade Akinloye Akinyemi’s contributions to the progressive cause were not publicly known.

This is because since his years of incarcerations, Akin preferred to act for the noble causes from behind the scenes’

gions will be a marriage blessed by God. Closely following the first group of Yoruba role models are Generals Emmanuel Abisoye, Olutoye, T B Ogundeko, and Ishola Williams, business moguls; Otunbas Oba Otudeko and Mike Niyi Adenuga; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Professors Akin Oyebode, Segun Gbadegesin, Kole Omotosho, Bayo Williams, Mrs Margaret Vogt, Niyi Osundare, Anthony Asiwaju, Bola Akinterinwa, etc.

The young brothers of these great personalties must include rising stars like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the best Federal Minister of Agriculture Nigeria has so far been blessed with, Dr Adewumi Adeshina; Pastor Tunde Bakare and, of course, the recently transited comrade of ours, Major Akinloye Akinyemi.

What is common to the Yoruba nation’s gift to Nigeria, and the world in general, is that all these reputable and very important personalities is the hunger for divine wisdom which they were born with. Be it evangelists or statesmen or politicians or creative artists or intellectuals or military officers or civil servants or business people, most members of the Yoruba elite tap from the wisdom and spiritual science of the Ifa Odus. This is an inheritance which is stored up in the Yoruba people’s collective unconscious. What a Yoruba aspirant to any position needs to do is to drink from this already existing well of knowledge that is within his heart.

There might be some people who out of curiosity may question why I talk so admiringly of our Yoruba brethren; and may ask: what about my own ethno-nation? Since it takes one to know another, be rest assured that my people of the Boki nation and the Ejagam speaking people in general, and our neighbours in Calabar, the Efik people, are a well endowed race. This one sees not only in our highly creative and cultured personalities, but also in our intelligent and considerate approach to issues. We are also, as we all know, beautiful people.

This is why Cross Riverians are the most amiable and cleanest Africans. We are blessed with lovely musical voices, fascinating dancing steps and the most delicious African cuisine. One only has to go to Cross River State to behold all these, and many more.

This is why it is most ironic that a part of Cross River, Bakassi is being ceded away without the people’s consent. And the Attorney General and the Foreign Minister do not care to offer the proper counsel to the president.

It must be remembered that no far northern, specifically speaking Hausa-Fulani head of state ceded away Bakassi. How come that it is a southern President who initiated the ceding without any plebiscite? And why must a Niger Deltan President allow himself to be used to do what is an abuse of the human rights of the Bakassi people.

This we must finally remember: Major Akinyemi was no fluke. The Major came from a family of achievers. Apart from the world renowned Prof Akinyemi, Akinloye’s other siblings have all excelled in all their endeavours. In fact, the youngest of the brothers, Akinlolu who was always the contact between us and Akinloye when we could not easily reach him, is an enterprising business man. We Akinloye’s comrades thank Akinlolu for steadfastly standing by the high ideals of his brother. May God continue to bless Major Akinyemi’s immediate and extended family.

Akinloye was, indeed, a true son of his well-educated and cultured parents. Like his pastor father and mother before him and his brothers and sisters who were beside him, Major Akinyemi had exceptional foresight.

He was, as we have illustrated, of the progressive leadership strand.

I only wish that we, Nigerians, and the Yoruba in particular, knew well, this illustrious son of ours. Comrade Akinloye Akinyemi’s contributions to the progressive cause were not publicly known. This is because since his years of incarcerations, Akin preferred to act for the noble causes from behind the scenes.

My final and dear wish is for my dear comrade Major Akinloye Akinyemi to rest in perfect peace, having played his part with courage and fortitude.

•Nyiam is a retired Colonel.

• Concluded

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Adeyemi expands creative frontiers

By Chinasa Ekekwe

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N artist, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, is exploring new frontiers in dealing with some challenges in visual arts. At a forthcoming solo art exhibition entitled Paintograph and paintocast:A new consciousness, opening November 10, at the Quintessence Gallery, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, Adeyemi will investigate the evolution of art making in Nigeria in the 20th century and the deficiencies of art making.

He will feature 52 works that signpost a range of possibilities in art making with the use of alternative local materials for painting.

Its mission, the artist stressed, is to provide a direction capable of stimulating change, as a catalyst for budding visual artists.

Underscoring the essence for new approaches in producing visual arts, Adeyemi who spoke at a preview session emphasized that the reason for man’s advancements is his continuous management and improvement on historical pasts and experiences. He observed that without this ‘we all would still have been chasing games in the bush with stone instruments in our absurd nakedness and darkness; trekking long distances bare foot; sleeping in thatch houses and on hills.’

The Yaba College of Technology (YABA TECH), Lagos art teacher said he took a keen interest in proffering new ideas to painting because the practice has witnessed a downward slide in artistry and technical quality.

The limitations observed, he stated, underscores the need for revamping the practice through the synthesis of easel painting.

Putting smiles on widows faces •Continued from page 37 She said: “I enjoin ladies, go and make sure your papers are correct. Be interested in what your husband is doing. Banks are sitting on many unclaimed accounts. Maintain a good relationship you’re your husband and acquaint yourself with his businesses. Landlords: don’t allow in-laws to cart away properties of your tenants; protect the women against all forms of abuse.

The Government should provide welfare packages just like what is going on at Oshodi/Isolo Local Government and in Ondo State. We all must do something to protect and put smiles on the faces of widows around us.”

“He is gone and is never coming back,” Mrs Margaret Adeoso, a widow and the author of Coping with Widowhood, tells the widows. “Widowhood is not easy but if you want God to work on you deal with the pain in your heart. But know that priority is your children and that you are not the only hurting: they are too. Stay focus and live your life. And if you are still young and, it is the will of God, remarry,” she advised.

“When I was about going to the best of schools, my father died,” began Mr Tunde Abatan, Special Assistant on Media to Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who represented her at the event. While urging women to live for their children, he said: “My uncle fought my mother for two years when she decided that I must go school. For 42 years, I know what my mother went through to bring us up. My mother denied herself of so many things so that my sibling and I would go to school and it has paid off. Today, we are the best in the family. You have to soldier on because the responsibility of you and your husband is now on you alone. The deputy governor is passionate about family. And the efforts of Mrs Ohu is commendable.”

‘Frustration got me into writing’ He is infuriated over lack of infrastructure to boost innovation, especially scientific discoveries.

Camilus Ukah began his career as a scientist, now he is a writer, women rights advocate and mentor of young writers. EVELYN OSAGIE spoke with him

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S a chemist, how did you become a writer?

It’s frustration that got me into writing. At a point in my life, I was stuck in the scientific world knowing what to do with my inventiveness.

As a chemist, I have shown some inventiveness in science. For example, when I was working as an expatriate in the north, I was able to transform Lali into a brilliant yellow dye and the bye-product to generate insecticide which we tried and it worked. But because of the country we are in, even the new product we generated, we were not able to name them because I did not get the structural tools. I worked on so many things tirelessly to no avail until I discovered I could put words of paper.

I started writing about 25 years ago, when I started writing some articles but it took 13 years for my first work to be published.

Someone saw my short story and published

•Camilus

INTERVIEW them in a magazine. That encouraged me to write and publish full-length novels.

What are some of the challenges?

Initially, it was not easy transiting from science to the arts. I had to find reliable people who guided me. I was able to find people who took interest in my book. I learnt in process and plan.

My greatest aspiration is to keep writing and writing structure that will bring about change and normalisation. But you know the Nigerian factor where you have to pursue the stomach and lack of infrastructure like electricity. At times, I end up using candles or bush lamps to write. There is the problem of sponsorship, no residency. Writers need the space away from the hustle and bustle to research and work and be able to clear and use their minds and put their thoughts to-

gether. That is why I praise what Dr Wale Okediran is doing with the residency in his hometown. I wish the government and corporate bodies would take a cue from that.

As a scientist once frustrated the non-availability of structures to help harness scientific innovations, years after, has the situation changes?

No. Unfortunately, nothing has change, if not worse. Nigeria is blessed with great minds but without leaders that know how harness their potentials.

You are fond of creating characters with larger-than-life qualities, what informed this?

I have always believed that creativity is what moves the world. If the society must change, it must be involved in inventiveness and you need creative people to bring about that change. We need a radical transformation. That is what informs the characters I create. In my desire to create change, I create characters that are able to surmount all odds and create change. They are usually tough and rugged, passing through all odds as agents or change like in the science-fiction.

I believe in the power of literature to bring about change like some utopian writing. And if we want change, as writers, we should be able to create characters that would be about change. We want go beyond static prototypes.

You are part of the committee on the ANA Teen Authorship Scheme, why do you think you were chosen?

I think it because the works we have been doing for children.

As a former chairman ANA Imo, my target was to leave behind legacies not just for aspiring writers but for the future writers (children).

So, I started the young writers club in secondary schools and universities. We went discovering and promoting talents in our schools and through those clubs various talented young writers have emerged and are winning prizes.

One of the writers who won the poetry prize also won the national mathematics prize. So, their involvement in the literary arts does not affect other subjects. It, in fact, enhances their level of reasoning. The schools that have kept the creative fire burning are Logos International Secondary School and CRN International Secondary School. These have shown extra-ordinary interest in literature.

Passion behind Cruel Passion

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OR the first half an hour, friends and relations of author, Dayo OladeleIlori walked on the red carpet posing for the cameras. This was followed by a mini documentary on the book, Cruel Passion, which was being presented to the public. Venue was the Banquet Hall of De Renaissance Hotel Ikeja, lagos.

Notable among the celebs who read from the book included Bouqui and Nomoloss.

Florence Utor of The Guardian Newspaper described the book as a Kaleidoscope, saying “The rain beating a pattern on the window, a mug of hot chocolate steaming by your side, an Afrobeat tune subtly stimulating your eardrums and a good book in your hand.

This is how I spent my evening and I must admit it was a wonderful adventure”.

The Editor, Tell Magazine, Salif Adjokoto was the book reviewer.

Describing how she felt seeing everybody come to celebrate with her she said, “Think when I got married would have been very comparable to this. This is so outstanding because it’s a journey of many years. And then a lot of people read the manuscript. There was delay in the publisher bringing it out

By Mercy Michael

BOOK but eventually it came out well. And we’ve had great comments from people.”

Mrs. Ilori recalled her encounter with books.

“I think I can conveniently say I discovered I had the gift of writing in me at age thirteen.

At thirteen, I wrote long letters to friends which they tagged epistles at that time. I kept a journal. So, writing just came naturally to me. It was easy for me to do. I just had to write. It was innate. It was inborn and I started forming stories. And I realised the plots were tight”.

“Sidney Seldom has been a great influence.

I started reading Sidney Seldom when I was a teen. He could write about a lot of things.

Very versatile, he could write about love and still write about crime. I drew my inspiration from that. My husband also has been a huge, huge encouragement. He reads every of my manuscripts. I have about four which are at different stages of completion. And he has read everything. So friends, family, people around me influenced me”.

•Mrs Ilori

She gave reason for her subject matter in Cruel Passion. “Revenge is not always the way out. Revenge will not add value to you at any point. Rape victims need to know that talking about it on time will save a lot of things, especially the emotional trauma.

Every young girl must know that brilliance and having good grades at school does not give them the intelligence they need to live life. You have to be able to read in between the lines”.

‘Why insecurity permeates our society?’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

•Dr Iwuanyanwu

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HE President of Leadership Watch, Dr Martins Iwuanyanwu, has called for drastic actions against the various crises rocking the country.

He said these are created by the people.

He noted that the annual leadership lecture organised by the organisation was to dissect the problems facing the country and come out with possible solutions.

“The concept is actually to look at the topical theme relevant to what is happening within the system, invited experienced speaker and assembled resource personnel to make recommendations on the way out,” he said.

According to him, the Leadership Award is awarded to people who have done extremly well not just in public services but in private.

“It is something that take lots of time to come out with an acceptable

recommendation for a particular person for the award and that is why we have never been in hurry.

In fact, in a year, we might have just one person, its depend on what the board agreed to do,” he said.

Dr Iwuanyanwu said this year’s event would focus on security.

His words: “We are looking at insecurity, what it portends for the future; we are looking at the security in the land, which is affecting every facet of our existence and happening across the country.

You talk about the Boko Haram, kidnapping, armed robbery, the University of Port Harcourt saga, you are not sure of what is going to happen to your child during youth service year and a host of

other negative activities.

“You see we may not situate where the problem is coming from actually because every growing society is expected to battle with one challenge or another. But it is occurring too often, it means something has actually gotten wrong that requires enough attention.

Something has to be done and done very fast to get people to return to their senses, to do thing in a proper way, to bring to sanity to human life. In doing this, some set of people must figure out such solution, hence essence of our programme.”

He added that the award is to encourage the upcoming leaders and inspired them to follow their foot step of the righteous.

29

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts Profit after tax N590.797m NIGER INSURANCE Gross Premium N2.73b Profit after tax N212.95m MUTUAL BENEFITS Gross Premium N2b Profit N885.633m REGENCY ALLIANCE Gross Premium N812.596m Profit after tax N256.437m LEARN AFRICA Turnover N1.06b Profit after tax N58.336m TOTAL Nigeria Turnover N46.676 b Profit after tax N942.1m MRS OIL Nigeria Turnover N51.20b Profit after tax N712 m ETERNA Turnover N27.64b Profit after tax N563.834m OKOMU OIL PALM Turnover N2.667b Profit after tax N1.044b STANBIC IBTC BANK Net Operating Income N16.805b Profit after tax N2.737b ASL Turnover N1.084b Profit after tax N101.355m GT ASSURANCE Gross Premium N3.892b Profit after tax N710.62m CORNERSTONE INS Gross Premium N1.223b Profit after tax N80.01m OASIS INS Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax N79.868m AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS Gross Premium N1.215b Profit after tax N107.213m BERGER PAINTS Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover N835.0m Profit after tax N18.200m DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY Turnover N38.251b Profit after tax N3.49b STUDIO PRESS NIG Turnover N3.375b Profit after tax N20.422m JULIUS BERGER NIG Turnover N80.125b Profit after tax N2.55b INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS Gross Premium N1.41b Profit after tax N250.450m EQUITY ASSURANCE Gross Premium N2.45b Profit after tax N287.283m STANDARDALLIANCEINS Gross Premium N2.142b Profit after tax N475.964m CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE Gross Premium N6.917b Profit after tax N805m PRESCO Turnover N2.60b Profit after tax N800.9m RT BRISCOE Turnover N4.553b

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

‘Local players account for only 10% oil production’ T HE Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) has criticised the low oil production level by indigenous oil and gas firms, noting that the total crude oil produced by the indigenous players is only 10 per cent of the country’s oil production.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa, who disclosed this in Lagos, said the development was not commendable for an oil producing country such as Nigeria.

He said the Federal Government and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources have mandated the board to ensure that in the next five years, indigenous players should account

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

for at least 20 per cent of the total crude oil produced in Nigeria.

He said the International Oil Companies (IOCs) still produce 90 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil but noted that some Nigerian companies such as Afren and Seplat Petroleum Development Company and National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), are changing the scenario. He said the Nigerian companies

excluding the NPDC, have at least a combined daily production capacity of 80,000 barrels.

However, he said: “If in the next five years and we don’t control 20 per cent of the total oil production, we are not meeting our national aspiration.”

On how to achieve the target, Nwapa said: “What makes a great oil producing nation is when it has a robust supply chain. This, he said, includes facilities and asset ownership such as pipe mills, machine shops, fabrication yards and workshops, ship dockyards and logistic bases, among others.

He also noted that in-country manufacturing of equipment, robust local service companies, and ownership of drilling rigs as well as marine vessels by Nigerians would enhance growth of local oil production.

He said the board is working to promote Nigerian players in offshore rig acquisition and utilisation by using Nigerian operating company for contracts. The board is also working on phased increase in indigenous equity to meet the Nigerian Content Act’s requirement to ensure Nigerian companies account for 50 per

cent industry activities.

Besides, he said the board through the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), is assisting with long term funding and equity financing. The fund is built with one per cent of all upstream contract sums.

He said 30 per cent of the fund would be for direct intervention for Nigerian companies while the board would shoulder 50 per cent of interest rates for monies borrowed by Nigerians firms for projects meant to develop capacity.

Nwapa, however, said that as the government helps companies, the indigenous companies should help government by employing qualified personnel.

•From left: Executive Director, Commercial and Retail Banking – South, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr Kunle Adeosun; Executive Director Finance, Mrs. Oyinkan Adewale; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu; Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Mr Phillip Ikeazor and Executive Director, Commercial Banking (North) and Public Sector, Alhaji Ibrahim Kwargana, during an interactive sesssion with reporters by the management of the bank in Lagos.

RenCap: Portfolio inflows hit $5.5b

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ORTFOLIO inflows increased significantly in the first half of the year to $5.5 billion, as against $2.1 billion a year earlier, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an investment and finance firm said.

It attributed the strong portfolio inflows to the high yields on local-currency debt including 91-day Treasury bill, which was 14 to 15 per cent.

Conversely, it said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows contracted by 42 per cent year on year to $2.5 billion, following a 51 per cent increase in 2012. It linked the slide to delays in finalising the legislation for the Petroleum Industry Bill.

RenCap said Nigeria’s current account surplus fell to 4.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), from 9.2 per

Telcos fault bank-led mobile money - P 30

By Collins Nweze

cent of GDP in first quarter, an upward revision from 7.8 per cent by estimates.

“We expected the current account surplus to shrink in second quarter of 2012 on the back of the fall in international oil prices that was triggered by the resurfacing of investor fears about the EU debt crisis, dampening global sentiment,” it said.

It said this largely explains the 9.5 per cent year on year decline in oil and gas export earnings which made up 97 per cent of total export earnings in first half of 2012, which translated into a smaller trade surplus of 11.7 per cent of GDP, compared with 16.8 per cent in first quarter of 2012.

The fall in oil prices was compounded by a decrease in oil export volumes in second

quarter, for the fourth consecutive quarter, of 2.6 per cent year on year.

The fall in Nigeria’s current account surplus was reflected in a slowdown in the buildup of foreign reserves and the depreciation of the naira during the period.

Foreign reserves increased by $215 million quarter on quarter, compared with an increase of $2.56 billion in first quarter, and the naira weakened by three per cent against the dollar, to N162.8. Also, following a twofold increase in 2010 and 32 per cent growth in 2011, growth of oil imports slowed sharply to minus one per cent year on year and 2.6 per cent year on year in first and second quarters respectively.

The share of oil in total imports also dropped, to 32 per cent in second quarter, compared with 37 per cent a year

SEC’s budget approval threatened

earlier. “We believe this slowdown is largely due to the increased scrutiny around payments to oil marketers, including demands for audits before payments are made.

We therefore expect oil’s share of the import bill to decrease in 2012, following its steady increase to 31 per cent in 2011, from 23 per cent in 2009 and 26 per cent in 2010,” it said.

It said $5.7 billion increase in foreign reserves to $41.2 billion in third quarter, which is more than double the cumulative increase in first and second quarter, reflect the likely expansion of the current account surplus and an improvement in financial inflows.

The naira’s 3.4 per cent appreciation against the dollar in third quarter to N157.2 to a dollar, also attests to the

strengthening of Nigeria’s external position. It predicted that international oil prices are likely to remain firm this quarter, however, their positive effect on export earnings is likely to be undermined by the loss of oil production due to floods in early in the quarter and oil theft.

RenCap expects the current account surplus to recover in second half following, but warned that it could be moderately tempered by the threeweek oil shutdown in October.

“We maintain our projection of an improvement in the current account surplus to 6.6 per cent of GDP in 2012, from a downwardly revised 3.7 per cent of GDP in 2011, by our estimates.

On the back of this we expect forex reserves to exhibit stronger growth, particularly in second half, albeit at a softer rate in fourth quarter,” it said.

NASSI seeks review of immigrant entrepreneurs’ visa - P 35 - P32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

30

MONEY

Telcos fault bank-led mobile money operations T

ELECOMMUNICATION companies (telcos) have kicked against the bank-led mobile money option adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Globacom’s Director, Telebanking Unit, Tunde Kuponiyi, said the regime of mobile money regulation, is not friendly to telecoms’ firms that provide the mobile payment platform.

He said though there is a lot that telecoms companies could contribute in a cashless economy, their mandate is not being fully utilised.

Kuponiyi argued that since the mobile payment business is 90 per cent dependent on the mobile industry, it is unfair that the mobile networks are prevented from advertising their mobile payment products which are the foundation on which the bank products operate.

“From the customer’s mobile phone, to the mobile payments system and the feedback to the mobile phone, mobile payment transaction utilises mostly mobile resources, makes use of mobile time and supported largely by mobile engineers, but unfortunately, the CBN has restricted telecoms companies from advertising in the mobile payments space,” Kuponiyi said.

He said telecoms firms should be allowed to speak about the capabilities of their networks, the quality of

Stories by Collins Nweze

user experience and the choice of mobile payment services available on their networks, lamenting that the passive role to which the telecos have been compelled to play, has led to the slow growth of the mobile payment sub sector.

“It is roughly a year since the first mobile money went live and approaching a year since cashless economy came into operation. Meanwhile, none of the individual players can boast of having more than 10,000 active subscribers”, he stated.

The apex bank chose the bank-led model whereby, a bank deploys mobile payment applications or devices to customers and ensures merchants have the required point-ofsale (PoS) acceptance capability to carry out the transaction.

Here, mobile network operators’ networks merely serve as vehicle through which transactions take place. This is based on the regulatory framework for mobile payment services issued by the apex bank in 2009, which prevented telcos from operating mobile money except through strategic partnerships with licensed operators.

CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo, said over the next few years, the focus of the regulator will be to strengthen the in-

stitutional and regulatory frameworks to achieve improved financial inclusion.

“The application of mobile technology for financial services especially in rural areas will ensure that a large percentage of the population outside the formal banking system would have access to financial services using one of the three models of card-based, account-based and virtual account,” Lemo said.

“CBN statistics showed that only 22 million Nigerians own a bank account out of a population of 167 million population. With telecoms subscriber base put at 105 million by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), there are indeed limitless opportunities for the country to achieve financial inclusion by bringing the large numbers of the unbanked to the banking sector through mobile money,” he said.

Analysts said telcos companies are licensed to offer telecoms services and not banking services. Therefore, the decision was made because the CBN does not regulate telcos and if the telcos are allowed to lead mobile money, two critical segments of Nigeria’s economy will be put in the hands of a few companies, a practice that constitutes great risk for the economy.

Driven by the development of mobile money systems in emerging

markets, experts estimate that $16 billion worth of international money transfers will be received with mobile phones in 2015.

In Nigeria, the scheme is, however, confronted with many problems but the CBN said the draft National Payments System Bill, which is undergoing legislative passage, is expected to address the legal barriers to electronic payments such as the admissibility of electronic evidence in the law courts.

Despite the inherent challenges, banks have been launching mobile money products to support their operations. FirstBank of Nigeria launched FirstMonie, its mobile money service positioned to assist the lender’s commitment to financial inclusion.

“With the launch of this service, the stage is now set for the bank’s customers and anyone in Nigeria with a mobile phone to enjoy financial services, using their mobile phones to send money, pay bills, top up their phone airtime, do shopping, deposit and withdraw cash, without the need to visit a bank branch,” the First Bank Managing Director, Bisi Onasnaya said.

He said the product is a game changer in Nigeria’s banking sector and will leverage on the bank’s transaction integrity to enhance local money transfer services.

Stanbic IBTC Bank also, has partnered Star Times, one of the digital terrestrial transmission operators in the country to assist subscribers pay for their subscription fees using mobile money tool provided by the bank.

Head, e-Business, Stanbic IBTC, Thabo Makoko, said by partnering with the company, the bank is making it easier for subscribers to make their payments electronically. According to him, the lender is committed to ensuring that users of the Mobile Money get the best in terms of service and security of their transactions.

Analysts said the African mobile money market has the potential to grow to a money-making market, but operators, banks and regulators need to work toward developing an enabling environment for business models that meet service providers’ revenue demands.

Mobile money allows mobile phones to be used to send and receive money, buy recharge cards, pay subscription fees for DStv, pay electricity bills, use of Point of Sale (PoS) terminals to pay for goods and services among others. The operator-led model, collaboration model and peer-to-peer model which are usually adopted in other countries was jettisoned by the regulator.

‘Dollar accounts for 82.1% of forex holdings’

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HE currency composition of foreign reserves showed that the holdings in United States dollar are $29.09 billion, constituting 82.1 per cent of the total during the first quarter, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Other currencies listed in the basket include Euro which accounted for 6.9 per cent; Pounds, 2.2 per cent, Chinese Yuan, 1.4 per cent and Saudi Riyal, 7.2 per cent.

The apex bank said composition of Euro at 6.9 per cent is still high considering the prevailing economic conditions in the Euro-Zone area and should be diversified to other relatively stable currencies.

The Japanese yen accounted for 0.05 per cent while holdings in Swiss franc (CHF) were 0.004 per cent.

The aggregate demand for foreign exchange by the authorised dealers consisting of Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) and Bureau De Change (BDCs) operators during the period under review stood at $7.18 billion, indicating a decline of 0.74 and 28.26 per cent when compared with the levels recorded in the preceding quarter and corresponding quarter of 2011.

This development was traced to the on-going reform in the oil sector, which is aimed at ensuring efficient allocation of resources

through the liberalisation of the downstream oil sector. It said a total amount of $7.05 billion was supplied in the review period consisting of $5.38 billion and $1.67 billion to the WDAS and BDC operators.

This indicated a decline of 18.21 per cent and an increase of 3.37 per cent when compared with the corresponding quarter of 2011 and preceding quarter.

The data showed total of $12.14 billion was utilised during the review period consisting of $7.74 billion and $4.39 billion for visible and invisible trade. This represented 63.80 and 36.20 per cent. This pattern of domination by visible trade was evident during the three quarters analysed.

Analysis of foreign exchange utilisation by sectors revealed that $7.74 billion or 63.8 per cent was spent on importation of various items into the country during the quarter. The importation of oil, industrial, food and manufactured products gulped 30.0, 25.0, 21.0 and 15.0 per cent of the total amount utilized for visible imports.

The importation of food items at 21.0 per cent is exceptionally high and should be discouraged through huge investment in the agricultural sector by the government, private sector or through public-private partnership.

•From left: Babatunde Ajibade, Chairman, Capital Market Solicitors’ Association of Nigeria (CMSA); Arunma Oteh, Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Arnold Ekpe, Group Managing Director/CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, at the CMSA 11 th Annual Business Luncheon and inauguration of Continuing Legal Education in Lagos.

Lawyer flays proposed composition of CBN Board

FirstBank sponsors Team Naija

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IRSTBank of Nigeria PLC will be sponsoring Team Naija to the finals of the global Cyberlympics in Miami, United States.

In a statement, the bank said information security involves the protection of information and information systems from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, perusal, inspection, recording or destruction.

The Global CyberLympics is an international cyber security competition that seeks to build capacity across nations, create awareness for global cyber defense and promote global peace.

Team Naija and Team Broken Ci-

pher of Sudan will represent the Africa and compete against teams from other continents at the finals which kicked off yesterday. Team Naija’s four-man contingent comprises Abolusoro Oluboyede David (FirstBank staff), Nasiru Abimbola Jaiyeola (FirstBank staff), Oluseyi Akindeinde (Digital Encode) and Adewale Obadare (Digital Encode).

FirstBank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the bank considers the opportunity to support Nigeria’s contingent to the CyberLympics as another platform to promote youth empowerment and contribute to the growth of information security in the country.

•CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

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LAGOS-BASED lawyer, Chukwuemeka Eze, has opposed the proposed amendment of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act. In a statement, Eze, said the busi-

ness of the CBN is too serious to be handed over to a Director in the Ministry of National Planning, Director of Federal Inland Revenue Service, among other nominees as proposed in the amendment.

He said appointing a former CBN Governor as chairman of the Board may create problems that would polarise the Board. “A former CBN Governor may have ‘analogue’ ideas while the sitting CBN Governor may have ‘digital’ ideas. The latter may be hampered by the former who may refuse to acknowledge the rapid changes manifesting in global economic trends,” he said.

He said the power of the National Assembly to appropriate public fund of the Federation is derivable from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as

amended. Various sections of the Constitution confirm this position.

For instance, section 80 (3) of the Constitution provides that: No moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unless the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.

He said that Section 81 (1) and (2) of the Constitution makes it mandatory for the president to lay before the National Assembly budget estimates through an Appropriation Bill before money could be expended from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

He, however, said the Act can be amended, if need be, to promote accountability and transparency.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

31

MONEY

NIMC, banks disagree over biometric data T

HE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is not happy with banks’ decision to continue to provide their biometric data base.

The decision would cause waste of funds, duplication of efforts and financial exclusion, NIMC said.

It said banks would increase their cost of operations, if they insisted on providing the database themselves.

NIMC spoke against the backdrop of arrangement for getting the biometric data of all Nigerians.

It’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Onyemenan, said it would amount to waste of funds for banks to embark on the exercise since the Federal Government has budgeted money for it.

He said: “Already, banks have a lot of costs on their neck. So, if they go ahead with decisions to provide biometric database for their operations, the development would stretch their cost of operations further. This amounts to a waste of funds because the Federal Government had committed huge amount of money for the production of biometric data of Nigerians vis-a-vis the man-

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

agement of the NIMC.” Besides, it would amount to duplication of efforts since NIMC is charged with the responsibility of integrating the databases of the private and public sectors, asking: Why should banks provide their own biometric database since the government has already made arrangement for one?

He added: “If banks should go ahead and have the biometric database of all their customers with them, it will lead to financial exclusion. This implies that non-account holders are going to be excluded from data capturing nets.”

Onyemenan said banks do not have a strong database in place, hence their decision to direct customers to bring all sorts of documents to ascertain their identities and further achieve the objectives behind the introduction of Know Your Customer(KYC) initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said banking core functions include keeping accounts of their customers, and ensuring judicious use of depositors’ funds, arguing that banks need to link up with a centralised and

biometric database system to achieve growth.

However, banks have taken a different position by supporting the idea of having their own biometric database.

Sources close to the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Nigeria said the use of a separate biometric data capturing is non-negotiable as banks are to achieve their objectives of reducing frauds in the industry. According to a member of the association, who spoke on condition of anonymity, banks’ decision on the matter is line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) goals of tightening loopholes that could lead to fraud in the industry.

He said the position of the banks was reinforced by the need to prevent untoward development in the area of transactions management.

“No bank is ready to leave anything to chance, having gone through the CBN’s stress test in 2009. Now, banks are tightening all loopholes as relate to cash and credit management. To achieve this, there must a biometric data capturing system in place in the banks,” the sources added.

Banks to honour Mfbs’ cheques FOUR banks have agreed to honour third party cheques from microfinance banks (Mfbs) if they do not involve transactions with multinational companies operating in Nigeria.

The banks are Fidelity Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Diamond Bank PLC. The Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks(NAMBs), Southwest Zone, Mr Olufemi Babajide, disclosed this to The Nation. Babajide said the development, followed the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the issue.

He said: “The association had written CBN on the need to call commercial banks to order on the issue of accepting third party cheques issued by the microfinance banks. The efforts have yielded fruits as the banks have agreed to honour such cheques. We have been complying with this directive, and our cheques are now being honoured by the commercial banks again.”

He said confidence is returning to the sub-sector, following initiatives embarked upon by the banks. He listed the measures to include capacity building, establishment of a special vehicle to provide funds to banks to address illiquidity, among others. “ With the NAMBs funds taking off fully,the banks have been reinvigorated to play well in the market,” he said.

Expert seeks tax law review THE former President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr Jacob Babaloka Okele, has called on the Federal Government and other agencies in tax administration to review tax laws.

He said the laws should not remain static because of the changing business environment globally.

Okele, represented by Mr Gabriel Fasoto at the first birthday lecture for Chief David Olorunleke, the first president of the Institute and doyen of taxation in Nigeria was presenting a paper entitled: Reforms in the Nigerian tax system from 1938 to date- Challenges and prospects.

He said: “As a matter of fact, no country can boast of having a perfect tax system. This explains why developed countries in Europe and America always ensure that their tax laws are reviewed yearly. There should be amendments’ and addition of tax laws for the tax system to improve.”

He said the government only regard taxation as a tool for regulating the economy, raise the revenue for provision of social services such as education, health, and security of lives and properties, without considering the fact that the tax system must be upgraded to foster the growth of the economy.

‘Standardise corporate governance’ THE Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr Jim Obazee, has advised financial regulators to help standardise corporate governance codes under their supervision.

Obazee, in a statement, said the roles of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Insurance Commission(NAICOM) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) were crucial to sound corporate governance policies in the country.

He said the achievements of a sound corporate governance policy depend on regulators and other agencies.

The council in line with FRC Act No 6, he said, had been maintaining a register of professionals, who render services in public entities,adding that this would help to complement the efforts CBN, SEC and other stakeholders in the sector.

He said the enforcement of accounting standards would instill investors’confidence in the economy, adding that there was the need for collaboration among the various stakeholders to foster growth of the public entities and economy.

According to him, collaboration among various entities would help in providing the best practices of corporate governance in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s rating may drop

•From left: Enterprise Account Manager, West Africa APC Schneider Electric, Josiah Mogboonjubola; representative of Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Eme Eleonu and Head, Payment and Mobility Practices, Accenture Nigeria, Henrietta Bankole-Olusina during the Mobile Money Roundtable organised by Accenture.

PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON

CBN tasks banks on Customers’ due diligence

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised banks to conduct thorough customers’ due diligence during transactions that are above regulatory designated threshold.

It urged the banks to ensure due diligence when information about customers have expired to avoid unwholesome practices.

The Acting Director, and Regulation Department, CBN, Mr Chris Chukwu, said the measure is necessary to protect depositors’ fund.

At a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, Chukwu said CBN had made the safety of the industry a priority through certain regulatory frameworks. The apex bank, he

said, was concerned about the status of the ownership of the banks because the issue is critical to the wellbeing of the industry.

He said CBN conducted investigations on who is buying into the banks to ensure that they are not of dubious characters.

Chukwu said: “Banks are required to maintain all records of transactions (local or international) or ( on-going or terminated) for at least a minimum of five years, following the completion of the transactions. Also, they should carry out thorough investigations on their customers, irrespective of their status.

The aim is to put the industry on a sound footing, and make it

competitive with others globally”.

He said any bank that failed to apply customers’ due dillgence measures would not be permitted to open accounts, enter into business relationship or perform transactions with customers.

Banks, he said must conduct due diligence on non-resident customers, arguing that the issue would help in knowing a lot about customers who are hardly seen.

He said CBN is insisting that the banks must adopt a staff training policy, adding that the idea would help the workers to know the importance of customers’ due diligence.

THE row between the Federal and state government over the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) may affect Nigeria’s chances of a rating upgrade.

Global rating agency Standard and Poor’s said it was still unclear how the SWF would grow amid tensions between the two tiers of government over revenue allocation.

Increasing the size of the fund from its initial $1 billion is key to building up external buffers that are needed for an upgrade in the B+ rating of Africa’s biggest oil producer, Christian Esters, a sovereign analyst at S&P told Bloomberg News.

President Goodluck Jonathan signed the SWF into law in May last year.

Nigeria’s 36 states say they plan to file a lawsuit challenging transfers by the federal government, including those to the wealth fund. The constitution requires government revenue to be shared among local, state and federal authorities.

“I don’t think currently we have visibility about how quickly this new sovereign wealth fund will grow,” Esters said. It continues to be a challenge for the federal government to convince the states to get them on board and to convince them what the advantages would be,” the report said.

Lottery board, CPC hail bank THE Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC) and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) have hailed Unity Bank Plc for sticking to the principles of transparency and fairness in the handling of its savings promotion known as AIM, SAVE and WIN. Both regulators oversaw the second national draw of the promo recently held in Lagos.

Head, Lagos sector of the CPC, Mrs. Ngozika Obidike rated the conduct of the draw high and credible and suggested that the entire selection process be automated as a way of further raising standards.

The Head of Regulation and Monitoring, NLRC, Umar Shehu said his agency had followed the draws from the beginning and was satisfied that the promotion was transparent.

The two cars which were the star prizes were won by the bank’s customers, Mary A. Iruafemi of Afuze branch in Edo State and Abubakar Tata Usman of Malam Madori branch in Jigawa state. They emerged from a pool of 3,760 savers who qualified for the draws as per the rules of the six month long savings promo. The runners-up won consolation prizes.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

32

THE NATION INVESTORS

NASS may stall SEC’s budget, board approvals T

HERE are strong indications that the National Assembly would insist on removal of the embattled Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ms Arunma Oteh, as preconditions for consideration of the apex capital market regulator’s new budget and board.

Impeccable sources said the National Assembly has decided to use its consenting and veto powers to enforce its resolution on the removal of the Oteh with the Commission’s 2013 budget and the reconstitution of the SEC’s board as pawns in the power game.

Resolution 19 of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on capital market, which was adopted by the House, stated: “That the appointment of Ms Arunma Oteh be terminated forthwith as DirectorGeneral of Securities and Exchange Commission as her appointment is in violation of Section 3 (2) a and Section 38 (1) (b), 2 and 3; Section 315 of the Investment and Securities Act, 2007 in that she did not have 15 years experience in the Nigerian capital market as required; she has shown

Stories by Taofik Salako

incompetence in the management of human and material resources at her disposal in Securities and Exchange Commission; lack of transparency in managing Project 50, regulatory failure in some of the recent mergers, acquisitions and approvals of transactions by Securities and Exchange Commission and general inability to carry along her staff, board, and management in decision making in Securities and Exchange Commission, and questionable staff recruitment policies.”

It had earlier identified as some of the key reasons for the near collapse of the market in the past and lack of public confidence in the market to include conflict of interest and misconduct of the current leadership of SEC, loss of credibility of the entire SEC management team led by Arunma Oteh and lack of statutory qualification by Oteh among others as reasons for deficiency in the marketplace.

The report called on the Ministry of Finance to reorganise SEC and sanction erring staff of the commission

that were culpable in the deterioration of the capital market.

The Senate has also adopted the position of the lower chamber, stating that it would not have anything to do with SEC unless Oteh is removed forthwith to pave way for new management.

A source confirmed that the National Assembly has scheduled to meet and deliberate on main issues concerning SEC, especially the budget and board when it resumes sitting. “ I don’t know what’s about Oteh that the President wants to jeopardize the workings of the capital market and relationship with the parliament,” a source said.

Section five of Investment and Securities Act (ISA), the operating and main law for the regulation of the capital market, outlines that the director general and the three full time commissioners are to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Minister of Finance and confirmation by the Senate. The Senate also has confirmatory power over the removal of any full-time commissioner by the President.

SEC has been without a board for more than four months after the expiration of the tenure and retirement of the previous board. The tenure of the Senator Udoma Udo Udoma-led board of SEC had ended on June 15, 2012. The board did not seek extension of its tenure and thus retired with immediate effect.

Section four of the ISA establishes the board of SEC as a body “responsible for the general administration of the Commission” (SEC).

Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Ayo Adeseun, told The Nation that the position of the Senate on the removal of Oteh has not changed. He said the National Assembly would use its statutory powers to ensure effective and credible leadership for the Nigerian capital market.

“All what we are doing is to ensure that there is stability in that market. We want to be sure there is absolute confidence in the market, without a vibrant capital market, the nation is not going anywhere. So, we need to be sure there is effective leadership for the regulatory arm of the market,” Adeseun said.

•Ms Oteh

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and other Institutions, Hon. Herman Hembe, said the House would not approve a dime for SEC unless executive arm consider the National Assembly’s position on Oteh.

According to him, the lawmakers would extricate SEC’s budget from the 2013 National Appropriation Bill, currently before the National Assembly, before consideration and possible approval of the 2013 budget.

BRACED States woo investors into agric

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•From left: Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Operations, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr Ezekiel Ibidapo; Managing Director, Mr Nnamdi Okafor and General Manager, Food Division, Mr Valentine Okelu, during interactive session with Capital Market stakeholders on tour of the company’s Ota manufacturing complex.

Retail investors yet to return to market, says Rewane R ETAIL investors are still holding back from the capital market recovery because they are still unsure of the market’s outlook and inherent risks, Bismarck Rewane’s Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) has stated.

In the company’s latest bi-monthly economic and business update, FDC noted that in spite of the significant recovery and sustained bullish run at the stock market, retail investors were still reluctant to join the upswing.

The report noted that the reluctance of the retail investors underlined low investor confidence and hangovers from the meltdown in previous years, which saw several retail and institutional investors losing huge funds.

“The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) data reveal that 66 per cent of the stock market activity is attributed to foreign investors, which show that local retail investors still remain on the sidelines. In the past, local retail investors would be jumping on the bandwagon, but this year many people are still scared to wade back into the water as investor confidence remain low,” the report stated.

FDC outlined that for the benchmark index at NSE to make a run towards 29,000 points, which FDC had projected at the beginning of the

year, the banking and consumer goods stocks will need to keep heading upwards.

“Our valuation shows that potential gains remain in the banking sector, but that the brewery sector now appears fully valued. We expect a steady rise of five to seven per cent in the final quarter of the year as foreign portfolio investors continue to take position in the Nigeria market,” the report indicated.

It noted that as the market enters the last quarter of trading for 2012, it faces the need to balance its recovery mood with the gloomy outlook for the global economy.

FDC said it remained optimistic about the prospects of the Nigerian capital market.

Investors had pocketed about N1.4 trillion in capital gains in the third quarter as sustained upswing in the latter part of the quarter spiraled returns to investors.

The last quarter witnessed notable rebound of the stock market, posting the biggest rally in recent periods.

Value indices at the NSE indicated a return of 20 per cent during the threemonth period ended September 30, 2012. Total average year-to-date return currently stands at 25.47 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities, which had opened the third quarter at N6.895 trillion, closed the period at N8.282 trillion. This represented an increase of N1.39 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI)- the benchmark index at the NSE which tracks changes in prices of all equities, jumped from its index on board of 21,599.57 points to 26,011.64 points, an increase of 20.43 per cent.

The market had closed the first half with a marginal gain of 4.19 per cent.

ASI closed the first half at 21,599.57 points as against its year opening index of 20,730.63 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities also showed modest increase of 5.54 per cent at N6.895 trillion by June compared with its value on board of N6.533 trillion for the year.

The market had closed the first quarter with a negative year-to-date return of 0.38 per cent as declines in share prices of highly capitalised stocks overwhelmed the market situation. ASI closed first quarter at 20,652.47 while aggregate market capitalisation of all equities closed the first three months at N6.550 trillion.

The performance of the market in the third quarter exceeded most estimates and reinforced confidence that the stock market would close 2012 with substantial gain.

HE governments of the SouthSouth States of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta, now known as BRACED States, have stepped up efforts to attract investors into the agriculture sector and make it the mainstay of the regional economy.

Under the auspices of the BRACED Commission, the governments have set in motions plans to resuscitate mass cultivation and production of oil palm, rice, cassava, rubber, banana and plantain and aquaculture.

Director-General, BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, said agriculture experts and commissioners for agriculture in the Braced States would in the next three days undertake critical review of the potential of the sector.

According to him, the governments believe that the expansion of key crops through the entire value chain would revive agriculture in the region and make it the mainstay of the robust economy which the region hopes to create through regional economic cooperation and integration.

Keshi said the high-level meeting of government officials and experts scheduled between October 31 and November 2 is expected to produce a draft framework for cooperation in agriculture, which will define the parameters for cooperation for the development of these crops across the region.

In addition to the expansion of the cultivation of the above crops through the entire value chain, the meeting will also focus on the critical issues of funding, growing agriculture as a business and more importantly on how to attract youths into agriculture to address unemployment.

The commissioners’ meeting will be preceded by a meeting of top agriculture experts drawn from within and outside the region, particularly from the states Ministries of Agriculture and related parastatals. A number of international organisations such as the FAO, IFAD, UNIDO, EU, World Bank, USAID and IITA are expected at the meeting to provide insights on their agricultural programmes with spe-

cific implication for the Southswouth.

Prior to the discovery of oil and gas resources at Oloibiri in the present day Bayelsa State in 1956, the region depended solely on Agriculture as the mainstay of her economy. However, years of unsustainable hydro-carbon exploration/exploitation had resulted in an intense despoliation of the region’s environment.

Keshi also said the Braced States have commissioned a team of environmental experts to visit the six states to conduct impact assessment of pollution on the communities.

According to him, the team would for 10 days collate information and undertake, where possible, an onthe-spot assessment of the level of environmental degradation of sites as well as proffer solution on how to mitigate these impacts.

He said the research would form a reference document on the environment and a guide to potential investors.

The 10-day environmental impact assessment study would take the experts to the states to assess and compile data on the state of the flora and fauna in the region. They will also assess and compile data on the human environment and the bio-diversity of the region taking into cognisance the lakes, fresh and brackish water bodies, forest reserve-mangrove and rain forest, wildlife-endangered, extinct and non-extinct species, wetlands-endangered and non-endangered, potable water sources and saline water intrusion problems. Also to be considered are ocean and coastal-fresh and brackish, industry and the environment-crude-oil, pollution impacted sites, industrial effluents sources, landfill, flood and erosion problems, environmental impact of quarrying activities, infrastructural development; roads, telecoms, power among others.

Keshi expressed optimism that this study would help the region to tackle its huge environmental problems and the attendant food security, persistent poverty, climate change adaptation and mitigation challenge, ecosystem and biodiversity degradation, all of which should help the BRACED States fast-track their quest for sustainable development.

THE NATION WESDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

33

THE NATION INVESTORS Investors’ Survey

‘Osibodu has done well for Union Bank’ Mrs Funke Osibodu was appointed in August 2009 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lead the rescue management to salvage Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc. The apex bank had shortly taken over eight banks includingUBN. In the whirlwind of restructurings that followed, four banks were acquired and absorbed by four other banks while the three other lenders were nationalised. Only UBN survived to retain its footing. Battling whiffs of oppositions from understandably angry and skeptical shareholders, pensioners, employees, brokers and other stakeholders, Osibodu focused on a multi-prong recapitalisation and restructuring programme aimed at restoring, stabilising and sustaining the century-old UBN as a foremost banker and toast of investors. As Osibodu bows out tomorrow as Group Managing Director, TAOFIK SALAKO, in this investors’ survey, speaks to some retail investors and shareholders. Survey question: What’s your assessment of Union Bank under Osibodu?

President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS) Dr. Faruk Umar: I WILL like to begin by first commending the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its timely intervention. Without that intervention, we won’t have Union Bank standing as it is today. She (Osibodu) is a strong woman.

We thank her management for giving us the new crop of core investors, I really commend her.

She deserves a national honour for her achievements at the bank. Today, we have a stable bank with united board, and these are to her focus and commitment.

Shareholders’ leader and founding member, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo: Osibodu is a star; a blessing to her profession. With all the problems she encountered in the course of lifting Union Bank higher, she was undaunted and went ahead to accomplish. We are proud of her for stabilising Union Bank. I give kudos to her, she is a great banker, prudent manager of resources, visionary and above all, she can rightly be called the saviour of Union Bank.

National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders’ Association, Mrs Bisi Bakare: We are happy with the banking reform; without it we won’t have some of these banks today. Although we are not happy with what happened to the nationalised banks, we are happy with the intervention as a whole.

We are, particularly, happy with the management of Osibodu because if you look at all the banks that had troubles then, it’s only Union Bank that retained its brand.

Today, some banks, such as Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank and four others did not.

It is only Union Bank that survived. Irrespective of the dilution in shares, we still have our bank.

•Dr Umar:

National Coordinator, Resourceful Shareholders Association, Mr Mosunmola Oyinwola: I’m happy with the results she achieved. At the onset, we thought CBN wanted to use her to hoodwink shareholders, but she has proven to be a lion. She was quite futuristic. I like the way the board set its focus on recapitalisation and went for it.

•Mrs Bakare

National Coordinator, Integrity Shareholders’ Forum, Mr Sigismund Olatunji: The reform has been laudable to the extent that we now have a stable banking industry. If you look at the rescued banks then, their liquidity and capital adequacy ratios had been seriously affected. So, I give kudos to the CBN in that regard.

The Osibodu-led management has been able to stabilise Union Bank, the capital adequacy ratio and liquidity ratio are now above industry average. We hope this transformation will soon translate into dividend, that’s very important to shareholders.

Coordinator, Starlite Shareholders Association, Mr Tunji Bamidele: The recapitalisation has strengthened the banking industry, and you can see that in Union Bank. We shareholders have hopes on the new core investors in Union Bank. With what we have seen in latest results of the bank, I think the future is bright.

Mrs Osibodu tried a lot for the bank; she is someone you look at as a woman but in her attitudes, she is like a man. People had expected that the Union Bank will go under with the look of things then, but she braced all the odds.

She has done excellently well.

From all angles of assessment, she tried. She is always accessible for information, even when you find it difficult to reach other directors. She led many restructurings and changes in the bank and leaving the board now, we shareholders will feel it because she has been a leader with vision and mission. With the success of the recapitalization, you can now see that investors are now rushing the bank’s shares. The share price is now bouncing back. It’s now sure the future is bright.

Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders’ Association and member, Investors Protection Fund (IPF), Chief Sola Abodunrin: The banking reform has done very well. At least, it has been able to stabilised these banks. It would have been disastrous if the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had not come to in to clean the books of the banks. But now, we have not lost any bank.

CBN and AMCON have tried very well.

Osibodu has done very well for Union Bank, the bank has now stabilize. Before our experience with the bank was terrible, our share price moved from N44 to N2 but the bank’s share price is in the region of N9; there is an improvement in that. The bank is looking up. My advice for the new management of the bank is that they should increase the revenue so as to improve profit.

Chairman, Port Harcourt Zone Shareholders Association, Francis Orji: The banking reform has fared well in that it has not allowed banks to go under. It’s worthy to mention that Mrs Osibodu has done shareholders proud. She is an aggressive woman, she has done well and the new board should continue in the direction of progress. We cannot thank her enough for keeping the historic brand of Union Bank because the Union Bank brand is, just like FirstBank, a legacy brand that should not be allowed to just disappear like that. It’s not only that Union Bank has recapitalised but it’s moving forward. The indices were so bad before, they were all in the negative but now they are marginally in the positive, which shows that the bank is moving in the right direction. The second quarter results already showed good improvement, which means that by the end of this year; we have hopes that the bank will fully return to profitability.

•Chief Abodunrin President, Shareholders United Front, Mr Gbenga Idowu: The management brought in by the CBN came in to execute a mandate; to rescue the bank and repackage it so that investors do not lose all. They came with classical model of rescue. To me, the recapitalization is a good thing that will allow the bank to again start making returns to shareholders.

•Orji

IOSCO reviews commodity derivatives market principles execution

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HE International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO) has published the final report survey on Implementation of the Principles for the Regulation and Supervision of Commodity Derivatives Markets, which reviews how securities regulators comply with IOSCO’s recommendations on commodity derivatives markets.

Results of the survey indicate that the majority of respondents were broadly compliant with the IOSCO Principles on the Regulation and Supervision of Commodity Derivatives Markets, which were published in October 2011 and endorsed by the G20 a month later at its summit in Cannes. At the Cannes meeting, the G20 had called on IOSCO to report on the implementation of its principles by the end of 2012.

In April this year, IOSCO okayed

a survey on the implementation of the recommendations on commodity derivatives market regulation in response to the request from the G20 Leaders. Thirty seven market regulators answered the questionnaire. Their responses show how regulators globally undertake and execute regulation of both financial and, in some cases, physical markets.

IOSCO stated that the fact that the survey was conducted shortly after publication of the principles highlights the importance that both IOSCO and the G20 leaders give to the implementation—and not just the development— of IOSCO recommendations on securities regulation, oversight and enforcement.

At Cannes, the G20 leaders also stipulated that Market Authorities should be granted effective intervention powers to address disor-

derly markets and prevent market abuses. In particular, they said market regulators should have the ability to use formal position management powers, including the power to set ex-ante position limits, particularly in the delivery month where appropriate, among other powers of intervention. The G20 leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to enhance transparency and avoid market abuse in cash and financial commodity markets, including over-the-counter markets.

The 21 IOSCO principles on commodity derivatives markets are grouped under five headings including contract design, market surveillance, addressing disorderly markets, enforcement and information sharing and enhancing price discovery.

According to the survey, where respondents were not in compli-

ance with the principles it was generally because there was no commodity derivatives market in that jurisdiction. Where commodity derivative markets did exist, and securities regulators were noncompliant, many have initiatives underway aimed at achieving full compliance in time.

IOSCO stated that it would use the survey to discuss approaches to assist market authorities in implementing the principles. For many IOSCO members, the process of completing the survey has provided the responding market authorities with the opportunity to self-audit current regulatory practices, which will prove useful for their on-going work.

IOSCO is the leading international policy forum for securities regulators and is recognised as the global standard setter for securities regulation. The organization’s

membership regulates more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets in 115 jurisdictions and its membership continues to expand.

The IOSCO board is the governing and standard-setting body of IOSCO, and is made up of 32 securities regulators. Mr. Masamichi Kono, Vice Commissioner for International Affairs at the Financial Services Agency of Japan (JFSA), is the chairman of the IOSCO board.

The members of the board are the securities regulatory authorities of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ontario, Pakistan, Portugal, Quebec, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

34

INSURANCE

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HE need to insure the reputation of companies has been stressed.

The Assistant Director, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr Tope Adaramola, who canvassed the inclusion of the option as an insurable product, said this is one of the insurable interests being practised by companies in advanced countries, adding that it would help to deepen insurance practice in Nigeria, as well as indemnify firms if they suffer losses as a result of reputation problems.

He explained that the concept refers to an interest in a person or thing that will support the issuance of an insurance policy; an interest in the survival of the insured or in the preservation of the thing that is insured, stating that in advanced countries where insurance is well accepted, almost everything is insurable.Even dancers are said to insure their waists, he added. ‘’For many’’, he said, ‘’these risks can be divided into operational, financial and business, with different individuals in the company being responsible for each one,’’ adding that

How to insure firms’ reputation Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

while some big firms operating in Nigeria insure most of the different aspects of their operations, “one which has continued to cry for cover within and beyond our clime is image or reputation risk. ”We are definitely in an epoch when image matters above all things. This underscores the popular aphorism that image is everything. Whether as an individual or corporate institution, image projection and protection has remained a valued endeavour that must be factored into decisions of individuals or organisations.

“Image or reputation, as some prefer to call it, comprises the personality, which has to do with the character and ethos of the organisation regarding its operational behavior; identity, which is the totality of what you or your organisation says or wants to be seen as and perception, which denotes how stakeholders

view your company or impression that they hold about the organisation”.

He stated that a company’s reputation is important because it affects the ways by which various stakeholders relate it. This applies to employees, investors, customers and the general public, and it influences such key issues as employee retention, customer satisfaction, customer’s loyalty and investor relations.

Hre said: “Organisations that will have sustainable existence need to constantly realise that reputation is built in the realm of the mind as a set of memories, perceptions and opinions that sit in your stakeholders’ consciousness.”

He argued that despite the crucial place of reputation, it is regretful that different stakeholders prioritise corporate reputation in a different order.

He cited investors’ financial performance as the most important char-

acteristics followed by quality of management. For customers, however, the quality of services and products, together with customer service are the highest priorities, he said.

“Accountancy practices do not allow many companies to put a financial value on their own corporate reputation in the balance sheet. They treat the inclusion of individual product brand value or director’s reputation with a wave of the hand in their financial calculus. Despite all, Public Relations (PR) pundits have continued to hold the view that a company’s reputation conservatively constitutes between 66 and 100 per cent of its annual revenues. ‘’The question that may be agitating for answer therefore is; how can a company’s reputation be at a risk?

Tope said the answer is simple. Although an occurrence or event on its own may rarely threaten a business reputation, more often than not, it is an event followed by poor manage-

ment of the consequences that jeopardise corporate reputation. Events that sound reputation alarms include fraud, marketing fiasco, hostile takeover; loss of regulatory approval, etcetera, he explained. But how does the insurance industry mitigate reputation risks?’’ Tope said.

“Traditionally, there are different risks underwritten by the industry, such as occupational risks, property damage and employers liability. In such cases, quantifying the immediate losses involved is straightforward. ‘’For property, it is a case of establishing the value of the property and its liability, losses are defined by the courts. Additional losses such as the increased cost working, following an event, are often covered under insurance policies. What is not covered is the impact on the company’s reputation,’’. he added.

Of the various types of risks, reputation risk is perhaps the hardest for insurers to tackle he said. The reason is because reputation is essentially an intangible asset that accountants and specialist firms are still struggling to quantity in monetary terms.

LASACO gets ISO certification

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ASACO Assurance Plc has bagged ISO 9001: 2008 certification, the management has

said.

In a statement, the Managing Director, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, said the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has provided independent confirmation that LASACO has met requirements of the ISO 9001:2008 certification.

By this certification, LASACO has become the first insurance firm in Nigeria to be so certified, he stated.

He said: ” By this certification, our company has been adjudged to meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders, including all statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to our operations.

These standards are universally regarded as International best prac-

• Mr Daniel (left), with Chief Technical Adviser Micro-Insurance ILO/UNCDF, Mr Yoseph Aseffa, at a stakeholders’ workshop on Micro-Insurance in Abuja.

Consolidated Hallmark pays over N600m claims in Q3

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ONSOLIDATED Hallmark Insurance PLC (CHI) paid over N600 million claims at the end of the third quarter, its Managing Director, Eddie Efekoha, has said.

He disclosed this at the presentation of Group Accident Insurance Cover to members of the National Association of Insurance Correspondents (NAICO) in Lagos. He added that the company is committed to meeting policy holders’ expectations.

Efekoha said the company takes payment of claims as a priority because the value it places on its cli-

ents, adding that the company will always ensure that its underwriting is healthy and professionally handled.

He stated that insurance is driven by referrals and customers’ recommendation.

He said: “For us as a company, we recognise that we are in business to pay claims. Therefore, we must operate and ensure we do not fail. When we do that, satisfied clients will recommend themselves and other people to us. So it’s a business that is built on referrals such that existing clients will refer you when you have done well and we will continue to do that

in the mist of changing environment.”

He noted that despite the harsh business environment and challenging regulatory regime, the company has continued to witness upward movement in growth fundamentals.

He said the firm is happy with where it is, having achieved a very modest growth, stressing that the key driver of its business from the start is its people including the staff and the board.

He noted that the weight of premium receivables in the industry has been a challenge to operators under a changing regulatory regime.

tices and are published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It is administered locally by the SON. “Simply put, our company is committed to the method and model of quality prescribed by the standards.”

Explaining the rationale for the certification award, Ajayi said: “The ISO 9001: 2008 deals with the fundamentals of Quality Management Systems. The certification is a powerful marketing tool because it places high priority on customer needs. It is expected to lead to superior operational performance required from companies operating in the international domain, especially when one of our main areas of operations is the oil and gas insurance, as well as other special risks.

A&G pays N1.2b claims for crashed plane

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LLIANCE & General Insurance (A&G) Plc paid over N1.2 billion claims to the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria for its training aircraft that crashed in 2010, its Chief Operating Officer, Dotun Onipede, has said.

He explained that on May 23, 2010, the plane crashed while being landed by a trainee pilot, saying though there was no causality, the plane a model of TAMPICO TB9, was wrecked with many of its vital parts destroyed, including the propeller, the engine, the sliding gear, the wings.

Also, Onipede said the firm also spent over N250 million on one of the College’s most prestigious aircraft, 5N-CAG, that crashed some months ago.

He said the crash was pathetic, but “we should give glory to God that no life was lost in the process, adding

that “our company is ready to tackle this issue with the high level of urgency required, being the only training institute for pilots in Nigeria.”

He said: “Our consistency in the payment of claims has strategically placed us as a well-established and reputable insurance company with high level of integrity, whose word remains her bond.”

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to settling claims, adding that the mishap that happened in NCAT would be a thing of the past as the company was on ground to fulfill its commitment.

“It is in our character to face challenges of this nature as it can be seen in our records in the insurance industry,” he said.

Onipede stressed that the firm was trying to restructure its business in line with the standards expected of them in the industry in accordance with regulatory provisions.

‘Premiums record growth, profits dwindle’

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HE Chairman, Union Assurance Company Limited, Mrs Olufunke Osibodu, has said performance of the insurance premiums globally has been impressive.

She, however, added that underwriting profitability has been adversely affected by increased claims.

She adduced reasons for the development, saying the global economic situation, the low interest rates environment, particularly in the more advanced insurance markets, poor investment yields and increase in claims, among others, were partly responsible for it.

Olufunke told The Nation that in-

surance premiums were growing, as insurers gradually restore underwriting capacity to pre-crisis level, while building lager capital buffers after two years of sluggish growth following the global economic crisis.

She said the robust economic recovery and reforms, especially in the developing economies continued to fuel strong rebound in premiums across a broad spectrum of the insurance value chain.

She listed one key challenge for the industry globally as the low interest rate environment, particularly in the more advanced insurance markets, adding that underwriting

profitability has been adversely affected by increased claims. ‘’This has necessitated increase in premium rates across most developed economies, she said “In Nigeria, what is prevalent is a strong buyer market and this she said has brought about insurers’ declining renewal of some businesses owing to dwindling underwriting profits.

“The greatest downside risk to premium growth in Nigeria remains the insufficient awareness of the operations of and structure of insurance policies as well as their significance,’’ she said, adding that political risks have waned in the aftermath of the

general elections in April 2011, but the increase in sectarian and ethnic violence in the country continues to heighten security fears and could slow down Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria. ” The regulatory landscape for insurers globally is shifting towards more robust risk-based supervision.

The Solvency 11 policy is a renewed focus on Insurance and capital adequacy, adding that the purpose of the new supervisory regime is to ensure a clearer picture of an insurer’s solvency. This, she said, will be achieved via the introduction of risk weighted capital charges similar to the banking Industry Basel 11

framwork.

Olufunke expressed hope that with the introduction of the new supervisory regime, the expected cover for both the underwriting and investment risks will be covered.

The policy will unearth the undercapitalisation in the industry, especially in emerging markets, such as Nigeria with relatively shallow financial markets, she said.

Issues of transparency are currently being tackled through regulatory guidelines on corporate governance, enterprise risk management and more inclusive financial reporting model provided by IFRS, she added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

35

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

NASSI seeks review of immigrant entrepreneurs’ visa T HE Federal Government has been urged to review the visa requirements for prospectiveimmigrant entrepreneurs to create more jobs in the country.

Speaking with The Nation, President, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Chief Chukwu Wachukwu, said such changes would help immigrant entrepreneurs who have experience and expertise to settle in the country and work with startups.

He said attracting immigrants who are expected to create jobs is a strategy that the government

Stories by Daniel Essiet

must support, adding that foreign policy makers are using immigration as a small but direct channel to facilitate startups by increasing the supply of willing and able entrepreneurs.

Wachukwu said the government should explore the opportunity of strengthening the immigration system to make it truly proactive, targeted, fast and efficient in a way that will sustain the nation‘s economic growth and deliver prosperity for the future.

He said immigrant entrepre-

neurs are the most desirable of highly skilled newcomers behind high-tech and high-growth startups that the government should use as veritable tools to spread upindustrialisation.

Noting that life can be more difficult for aspiring entrepreneurs without permanent residence rights, he called on the government to create a fast-track permanent residence for the most successful entrepreneurs.

Specifically, he said the government needs to proactively target immigrant entrepreneurs who have the potential to build innovative companies that can com-

pete on a global scale and create jobs for Nigerians.

To achieve this, he said the government should create different entrepreneur visas that allow immigrants to start up businesses and gain legal residence in the country.

He commended the Canadan government on plans to create a new class of visa which is expected to attract high-tech and other entrepreneurs to migrate to the country to start new line of businesses.Under the new scheme, the government puts a moratorium on issuing its existing entrepreneur visa, which

F

•Managing Director,Eko Glass Limited, Abuja, Mrs Ayodele Ojo presenting a ceritificate to Ma'aji Joshua Keni after training as a car windshield technician.

Small businesses to increase mobile ad budgets

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MALL businesses are set to increase mobile advertising budgets, the National President, Nigerian Network of Women Entrepreneurs, Mrs Olakitan Wellington, has said.

As mobile advertising is becoming more and more important to small businesses, she said the advertising is important to small entrepreneurs to send their messages to their customers.

She said small businesses are gearing up to spending more of their advertising budgets on the mobile space. Small business owners, she noted, explore advert opportunities on mobile technology, including the applications and programmes that run on mobile phones, smartphones and tablets.

With limited budgets, she said Small and Medium Businesses (SMEs) gain the maximum impact from mobile advert spending, reach-

ing the broadest population they can in the mobile world, where the platforms are fragmented.

As consumers are surfing the web on the go, using their phones, Mrs Wellington said small advertisers could reach their markets with targeted information about their businesses.

Noting that the use of mobile phones have become ever more ingrained into Nigerians, she said small business owners using SMS adverts to get new customers, expand their businesses and networks.

According to her, advertisers are using communications applications, such as calls, texting, instant messaging and email, to run their campaigns, adding that they found the greatest potential in using mobile technology in marketing.

She said mobile technologies have increased the productivity of small business owners with applications

that help them run their companies efficiently.

For most of those small-business owners, the return expected from mobile advertising was primarily on target or exceeded their expectations. The typical investment is five per cent of annual operating expenses, and is projected to grow by an additional five per cent over the next two years.

The Project Director, Future Living Hope Initiative, Olufolake Alabi, said mobile devices and applications are making SMEs more productive.

She said mobile technology enables small-business owners to stay connected - no matter where they are.

She said small-business owners check email and work documents from their mobile devices while on the move.

According to her, mobile devices tie small-business owners to their companies.

only requires an immigrant to hire one person for one year.

It also intends to initiate a visa that would be issued to people identified by venture capital funds as candidates to create startup firms.

Venture investment funds would choose entrepreneurs to invest in, and the government would try to clear them for entry into the country within weeks.

The startup visa is an initiative that the government of Canada is exploring to assist in transforming its immigration scheme into a fast, fair and flexible system that will grow its economy.

Hard times hit business owners

OR small business, there are hard times. They have experienced declines in revenue, suggesting a challenging economic environment some entrepreneurs have said.

Speaking with The Nation, the Publisher of Complete Sports, Dr Sunny Ojeagbase, said indicators showed that economic recovery is still uncertain.

The tough economy, he noted, has trickled-down and small business owners are feeling the pinch. He listed the challenges plaguing business owners to include poor sales and less access to credit, among others. To stay afloat and succeed, he said small business owners must cut costs.

He said increase in taxes and regulations have not boosted business owners’ confidence.

With an uncertain economic outlook and reduced levels of funding, Ojeagbase observed that small business owners are not hiring enough people.

He explained that business owners have a lot of unknowns in front of them and that they are more likely to invest in their businesses when they see improvements in their operating environment and revenue.

Small business owners, he ob-

served are facing a challenge obtaining the credit they need for building their business and creating jobs.

Also, Dr Kola Adebayo said small businesses are seeing falling returns.

Adebayo, who is the Deputy Director, Directorate of Grants Management (DGM), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said many small businesses were struggling to grow and hire because of lack of capital.

He said business owners see the economy as stagnant and are pessimistic about the overall business environment.

He called for less regulation, which is affecting small business owners’ plans for new investment, growth and creation of jobs.

According to him, small businesses would want to see the government ease owners’ uncertainty about the economy.

Besides, he said the policy option should enable entrepreneurs to create jobs, have increased access to capital and bank loans.

He said establishing market confidence, improving access to capital and improving regulatory and tax structures were the main route to end national poverty.

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complement government’s efforts towards creating job opportunities.

According to him, there is the need to create employment to curtail social vices.

The manager said the beneficiaries were drawn from the three senatorial districts and would undergo six months training on handsets repairs and installation of computers, electrical appliances and satellite signals receivers.

“Other areas of training are welding, decoration, fashion design, barbing and hairdressing, as well as wood work,” he added.

NDE to train 450 women, youth

HE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) is set to train 450 unemployed youth and women in Kaduna State, from next month, the Manager, NDI, Kaduna South Senatorial District, Mr Francis AmbiAnto, has said.

He said the training is aimed at empowering women and youths for sustainable livelihood, and enable the beneficiaries to acquire new skills that would empower them to train and employ others.

He stressed the need for organisations and philanthropists to

It’s easier doing business today, says World Bank/IFC report

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NTREPRENEURS are finding it easier to do businesses today than 10 years ago, a trend likely to result in more jobs, a report released jointly by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) has revealed.

Entitled: World Bank/IFC 2013 doing business report, the document is an annual measure of 185 economies on the ease of starting and operating a local business. Since 2005, the report said the average time to start a business has fallen from 50 days to 30—and in low-income economies, the average has been re-

duced by half.

Simpler and streamlined business regulations, along with technological improvements, such as online business registration, mean it’s easier to start a business now than it was eight years ago, says Rita Ramalho, Programme Manager ,Doing Business Unit at the World Bank Group.

“We’re seeing that friendlier business regulations, particularly simplifying them and streamlining business regulatory processes have a positive impact on job creation.”

She said Mexico’s move to sim-

plify business registration in the early 2000s, resulted in a five per cent increase in registration and a 2.2 per cent increase in employment,” she said, adding that research suggests a link between simplifying the business start-up process and an increase in firm creation and job creation. “We see the association that on average, the countries with more efficient business regulations as measured by Doing Business have higher growth rates.”

The report, first published in 2003, noted that over 10 years, smarter business regulation has been seen as supporting eco-

nomic growth, and simpler business registration as promoting greater entrepreneurship and firm productivity. Lower-cost registration has improved formal employment opportunities, it added.

The report includes a case study on Rwanda, which recovered from genocide and civil war in the 1990s to be dubbed by the Economist as “Africa’s new Singapore” in 2010.

Rwanda is among the 30 plus economies that have created special units to focus on indicators monitored by Doing Business, such as the average time it takes

to start a business, transfer property, build a warehouse, or get connected to electricity. Some 17 countries in Africa are among the most improved over the last eight years.

“Doing Business is about smart business regulations, not necessarily fewer regulations,” said Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director, Global Indicators and Analysis, World Bank Group.

“We are very encouraged that so many economies in Africa are among the 50 that have made the most improvement since 2005 as captured by the Doing Business indicators,” the report added.

• Mrs Wellington

36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

TAXATION

Pay As You Consume .... The Value Added Tax (VAT)

A

S a result of the uncommon nature of VAT system, majority of the populace in the country are unaware of its existence, and oftentimes the payment and collection of VAT is met with some form of resistance.

When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team under the technical assistance program visited Nigeria in January, 2010, they recommended that the Nigerian Tax Laws be re-drafted in plain English language. Since then, various efforts including working group sessions have been held to achieve this novel feat. The most recent was the working group session on the draft Value Added Tax (VAT) law held from Wednesday, 3rd August to Monday 8th August, 2011.

At the end of the working group session, the Federal Ministry of Finance collaborated with the IMF and FIRS to organize a two-day stakeholders’ workshop where the draft VAT law was exposed. The workshop held in Abuja in August, 2011 took a critical review of the draft VAT law as it affects telecommunication, e-commerce and financial services, oil and gas business and government services.

The erstwhile Executive Chairman of FIRS, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru stated during the workshop that the role of taxation in national development can best be played if the laws and policies on which the administration of taxation rests are sufficiently robust, simple and clear. This, she said, informed the decision to organize the stakeholders’ conference where inputs/ideas would be obtained from participants so as to develop a well articulated and comprehensive VAT regime that is widely accepted and durable.

The idea of VAT in Nigeria can be traced to the Dr. Sylvester Ugoh-led study group on indirect taxation in November, 1991. Thereafter, a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere to conduct extensive research and make recommendations. VAT was finally introduced in Nigeria in 1993 by the VAT Act No 102 of 1993 as a replacement of the Sales Tax which has been in operation under the Federal Government legislated Decree No. 7 of 1986 but administered by the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

VAT is a consumption tax payable on the goods and service consumed by any person whether the government agencies, business organisations or individuals. The target of VAT is consumption of goods and services and unless an item is specifically exempted by law, the consumer is liable to the tax.

It can also be defined as a tax on spending/consumption levied at every stage of a transaction but eventually borne by the final consumer of such goods and services. It is levied at the rate of five per cent.

The consumption tax-VAT- has been embraced by many countries world-wide. It is relatively easy to administer and difficult to evade.

The yield from VAT is a fairly accurate measurement of the growth of an economy since purchasing power (which determines yield) increases with economic growth. VAT is a self-assessment tax that is paid when returns are being rendered. In-built in the new VAT is the refund or credit mechanism which eliminates the cascading effect that is a feature of the retail sales tax. The input-output tax mechanism in VAT also makes it self-policing.

In essence, it is the Output tax less Input Tax that constitutes the VAT payable. It is the equivalent of the VAT paid by the final consumer of the product that will be collected by the government.

Although VAT is a multiple stage tax, it has a single effect and does not add more than the specified rate to the consumer price no matter the number of stages at which the tax is paid.

Illustration If a product moves from Raw Materials Producer (A) to Manufacturer (B) at N1,000.00 then to wholesale (C) at N1,500.00, then to Retailer (D) at N2,000.00; and finally to the consumer who pays N2,500 to the Retailer, VAT payable to government at five per cent rate of VAT on the product is as follows: VATable Person A B C D

Sales VAT VAT on InputsVAT paid Price Collected (Input Tax) to government (Output VAT) N 1,000 50 50 1,500 75 50 25 2,000 100 75 25 2,500 125 100 25 350 225 125

Thus, the VAT paid to government in the four transactions if N125 which is 5% of the final consumer price of N2, 500 (see figure 1).

Interestingly, Nigeria operates a VAT rate that is out of

sync with the ECOWAS protocol. ECOWAS adopted a uniform VAT protocol due to the constant movement of people and goods across the region and the need to subject them to similar circumstances. Nigeria which then held the Chairmanship of ECOWAS was a signatory to the protocol but currently operates a VAT law contrary to the ECOWAS protocol. Most critically is the fact that Nigeria operates the lowest VAT rate across Africa sub region-5%, whereas ECOWAS recommends a 15% VAT rate (although with Nigeria’s influence, the advisory rate has been dropped to 10%).

An attempt was made under a ministerial order as provided for by the VAT Act (that the minister may adjust the VAT rate) in 2007 to increase the rate but it generated a lot of controversy and Nigerians opposed the government’s proposal, citing the prudence of unaccountability, extra burden and non maximization of the full potentials of collecting the present VAT. The argument, however, is that, there is a clear distinction between direct tax (income tax) and indirect tax (VAT). Unlike direct tax, VAT which is an indirect tax is a consumption tax. It is tied to the cost of goods consumed from which consumers derive satisfaction. In terms of collection therefore, VAT is rather easier to collect. The plan is to reduce direct tax (income tax) burden so that the taxpayer has more money (purchasing power) and as they consume, they pay more for tax through indirect tax (VAT) thereby increasing the net revenue collection.

It is also of interest to know that since its introduction in 1993, the income tax burden has been reduced twice (Company Income Tax from 35% to 30% and Personal Income Tax from 30% to 25%) but VAT rate has remained static.

Another issue is that of the various exemptions granted on VAT. An exemption that is distortive creates a lot of complexity, non- transparency and arbitrariness in terms of application and enforcement. Hence, the Government is short changed at two levels; high level of exemptions and low VAT rate. Beyond exemption is the issue of the gross product VAT model which Nigeria adopts. The gross product model is one that tries to maximize tax by disallowing cost. It however allows for restriction on the recovery of VAT paid on capital items (since the cost of capital is amortized and spread across the item).

In terms of quantifying, if restrictions are removed, there will be a fall in the cost of collection but if the exemptions are rationalized, the net collection would be better. To have a proper rate.

Although there have been controversies over some State Board of Internal Revenue enacting their own tax laws, it is noteworthy to state that the FIRS is primus inter paresfirst among equals-of all the 37 tax authorities in Nigeria and the VAT law is a federal law. The case of the consumption and hotel tax being charged by the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue (LSBIR) for example, (although still at the Supreme Court) has been ruled as null and void by the Federal High Court.

The argument on the part of the LSBIRS was that the law provides that VAT for intra-state should be at the purview of the state while that for inter-state should be controlled by the Federal Government. However, the problem with this is the controversy that would be generated from cross boundary movement as being witnessed in the constant multiple tax cases. Given the constant movement of goods and services therefore, if every State operates its own tax law, there is going to be a huge problem not just for the Federal Government but for everybody (taxpayers).

Another controversy is that of recovery or offset. If for example, a man buys a product worth N100 in Kaduna and pays a VAT of N5, transports it to Abuja, sells it for N120 and is required to pay another VAT of N6.The man ends up paying a VAT of N11 (about 9.1%) as against N6 which is the statutory five per cent he should pay. The reverse would have been for him to pay N5 to FIRS in

‘VAT is a consumption tax payable on the goods and service consumed by any person whether the government agencies, business organisations or individuals. The target of VAT is consumption of goods and services and unless an item is specifically exempted by law, the consumer is liable to the tax’

•Acting Chairman, FIRS Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Mashi

Kaduna and after sales in Abuja, deduct his N5 and remit the N1 to FIRS in Abuja.

At the moment, there are seventeen categories of goods and twenty four categories of services that are VATable.

The goods and services exempted are as follows: (i)

Goods Exempted (a) Medical and pharmaceutical products; (b) Basic food items; (c) Books and educational materials; (d) Newspapers and magazines (e) Baby products; (f) Commercial vehicles and their spare parts, and (g) Agricultural equipments and products and veteri nary medicine; (ii) Services Exempted (a) Medical Services; (b) Services rendered by Community Banks, Peoples Banks and Mortgage Institutions; and (c) Plays and performances conducted by educational institutions as part of learning.

Returns A manufacturer or supplier of taxable goods or services is to render a return to the Integrated Tax Office (ITO) on or before 21st day the month next following that in which the supply was made. Thus, every VATable person must keep records of all supplies made and received. He must also make a return on form VAT 002. He has to fill in details of supplies made and received during the period and pay the net VAT due to the Integrated Tax Office (ITO) or claim a refund if tax is owed to him. Every importer of goods into Nigeria is to render VAT returns on all imports into Nigeria to the Integrated Tax Office (ITO).

The VAT returns must reach the VAT office on the due date.

Importers are required to pay VAT on imports to the VAT office while compliance is to be enforced by the Nigeria Customs Service before releasing the imported goods after a certificate of compliance issued by the VAT office is presented.

Offences and penalties: There are various offences with very stiff penalties under the VAT system. Some of the offences are: (i) failure to register; (ii) failure to furnish required information; (iii) making false claims; (iv) obstructing VAT inspectors; and (v) failure to submit returns.

These offences carry penalties ranging from fines of up to N10,000 to various terms of imprisonment. In some cases the fines or penalties depend on the amount of evasion involved.

The law is even stricter in dealing with officers of the Board. Any officer of the Board who aids or abets the commission of any of the offences under the VAT law will be liable to a fine of N50,000.00 and/or imprisonment for five years.

Even though the concept of VAT is largely misunderstood and often times an attempt to increase the rate tends to meet with stiff resistance, given the fact that it is one tax that affects every taxpayer (since everyone must consume), it is still safe to state that the concept is very simple and will no doubt provide more revenue for the Government if properly operated.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

37

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

•Mrs Ohu and Mr Abetan presenting Mrs Osahon (middle) with a grinding machine.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

A husband means a lot to his wife. He gives her shelter, comfort and joy. When the unexpected happens, who can replace him? None? Well, a widow, Mrs Blessing Ochuko Ohu and others think otherwise. Rather than dwell in the past, she has established a foundation to immortalise her late husband. EVELYN OSAGIE was at the unveiling of the foundation.

Putting smiles on widows’ faces

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EARILY, they strolled into Eko Fm Multipurpose Hall that Thursday afternoon.

Women between the ages of 20 and 50 thronged in, exchanging knowing looks with eyes that have shed much tears. They smiled warily as their eyes rested on the banner that read: Every widow deserves to smile, the theme of the event.

They were there for the inauguration of the Bayo Ohu Foundation, established by the widow of the late Assistant News Editor of The Guardian, Blessng, to immortalise her husband and provide succour to widows. She said: “Bayo Ohu Foundation centres on widows. We intend to put smiles on the faces of widows and motivate them that life can still be better. I have been in the channel of widowhood and have also passed through some tough times. I know what widows are passing through. Yet, nobody is speaking for them. I want to be their voice and reach out to them.”

The foundation brought succour to some widows, particularly Mrs Esther Osahon, Mrs Mercy Nwagasi, Mrs Maryam Mohammed and Mrs Juliana Udeh. They were given grinding machines. Others, including the widows of some late journalists went home with freebies consisting foodstuff and products donated by Unilever Nigeria Plc and Dangote Group of Companies. Among them was Mariam, widow of the late Edo Ugbagwu, formerly, The Nation.

They hailed the foundation, saying it has added value to

PHILANTHROPY their lives. Mrs Nwagasi said: “Out of frustration I was frying akara and puff puff. This machine will help more.”

For Mrs Osahon, mother of seven, who sells tomatoes, the gesture came as an answer to prayers. “The foundation has brought us out for people to know that we, widows, are suffering. We are really suffering. We face a lot of things that we cannot say…and no helper but God. But Mrs Blessing has made us to laugh. With what she has done, I know things would change for the better. Now my business will grow. When they buy from me, they would grind from me.”

They were given pep-talk by some dignitaries led by the founder of Centre for Moral Development, Pastor Aduragbemi Alagbada. Hers was a case of grace to grass.

“I was a full-time housewife who didn’t know how to buy things because my hubby took care of everything and pampered me and the children. So, when he died,

‘I was a full-time housewife my hubby took care of everything and pampered me and the children. So, when he died, over 15 years ago, I saw hope dashed in pieces and bleakness...I grieved for so long due to ignorance but I now see widowhood as a privilege. Now, what some husbands and wives could not achieve together, God has given me... Here lies that hopeless widow of 15 years ago. He gave me beauty for ashes’

over 15 years ago, I saw hope dashed in pieces and bleakness. I was in my 30s then and our first child was 12 and the last three years old. We have children. He was busy helping others and at 45, he did not build a house. We were evicted from the house and ended up sleeping in the palour of my brother in-law. I thought of ending it all. I almost committed suicide. As Christians with the Deeper Life Bible Church, we were encouraged to cleave to the church and not to family. But the Christian brothers failed me,” she said.

But, according to her, all that has changed since she rediscovered God. Today, Mrs Alagbada runs a fashion outfit and the Centre for Moral Development geared towards educating people, especially widows, on morality and ethical living. She said: “I grieved for so long due to ignorance but I am here to testify that God is my helper. God discovered me. I now see widowhood as a privilege. This was after someone took me to Pastor Olukoya who encouraged and talked me out of my sorry-state. That was how I discovered the purpose of my life and the Centre for Moral Development was born. Now, what some husbands and wives could not achieve together, God has given me. I have an engineer, doctor and my last child is graduating as a lawyer. I now run a fashion shop and the Centre for Moral Development.

He became a better husband than ever. People no longer believe I am a widow. Here lies that hopeless widow of 15 years ago. He gave me beauty for ashes.”

“It’s beautiful, it’s wonderful…I will get there…my future is bright…I will get there,” was the song that ushered in founder of Head High International Organisation, Mrs Tinu Odugbemi.

“Life’s circumstances would not want you to smile. The loss of ones husband is a compound one. You lose your marital status, breadwinner, brother, confidant, friend and lots more. Am I ever going to smile again? Will I ever make it again? Every widow deserves to smile. But it depends on you. You have a choice to make yourself smile,” she said.

She linked the plights of widows to the kind of marriage contracted, urging women to move close to their husbands. She also urged society to protect the widows.

•Continued on page 38

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

38

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

I

MUST confess that I was totally at a loss as to why the organisers of the 2011 annual Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu colloquium to commemorate the 59th birthday anniversary of the former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) decided on the choice of the noted Peruvian Economist, Hernando de Soto, to be the guest lecturer. Yes, ‘de Soto ranks among the most cerebral economists and public intellectuals of our time. He is especially venerated by neo-liberal, conservative Think Tanks and publications.

For instance, The Economist magazine has described him as a potential Nobel Prize winner. The Times of London enthused that his book, ‘The Mystery of Capital’, had provided “The blueprint for a new industrial revolution”.

Hernando de Soto in ‘The Mystery of Capital’ sought to unveil the reason why capitalism has been such a tremendous success breeding remarkable prosperity in the West while it has failed in many other parts of the world. Since the publication of his book in the Year 2000, capitalism even if of a largely state-centred variety, has flourished in non-western countries like China, India, Brazil, Russia and Japan. But the capitalist ethos is still struggling to take root in many ex-communist countries as well as Africa where capitalism spawns unprecedented poverty, inequality, exploitation and alarming corruption. As I listened to the distinguished guest lecturer on that occasion, I could not but admire his brilliance. However, I had a feeling he was not properly acquainted with the realities of contemporary Nigeria and so had to speak in general terms dwelling largely on the contents of his seminal book.

Why do many nations fail to create strong market economies that can empower the majority of their people to create wealth out of their abundant but dormant assets?

Hernando ‘de Soto blames this situation on the absence of an information network that keeps accurate records of property ownership and other economic information. Many small entrepreneurs, he contends, operate in the informal sectors of the economy. They lack legal ownership of their property. Consequently, they cannot enter into meaningful legal transactions. Since their property has no recognition in law, they cannot obtain credit, sell their assets or expand their

Segun Ayobolu sms to 07032777778 segunayobolu2@yahoo.com

Between Hernando De Soto and Obafemi Awolowo economic operations. Hernando ‘de Soto makes the startling discovery that the majority of the world’s poor actually sit on tremendous but invisible and therefore useless wealth because their assets have no legal validity and is therefore excluded from the formal economy of their respective countries.

A key concept in understanding ‘de Soto’s thought is what he calls ‘dead capital’. Citing the examples of Peru, Haiti, and Egypt among others, he demonstrates that a majority of the poor that operate in the informal economy sit on ‘dead capital’ – shanties, land, decrepit buildings, shacks – that is worth a fortune in monetary terms.

However, because such properties lack legal titles, they cannot be transferred from the informal to the formal sectors of the economy through legal validation. He characterises such assets as ‘dead capital’ because lacking legal recognition, they could not be utilized to raise capital to create wealth or expand businesses. Applying his methodology to Peru, for instance, ‘de Soto’s

Institute for Liberty and Democracy, helped to implement property sector reforms which gave titles to over 1.2 million families while also helping some 380,000 firms previously in the black market to enter the formal economy.

Yet, does ‘de Soto not have an overly optimistic, even romantic, notion of capitalism? Is moving people from the informal to the formal economy through legal titling of assets a sufficient condition to ameliorate poverty and create prosperity?

How appropriate are this economist’s ideas to the Nigerian reality where the financial sector is dissociated from the real economy and those with valid, legal assets cannot obtain credit and do meaningful business at the prevailing rate of interest? How about the millions who lost their homes to the subprime mortgage crisis in the west where legal titling of assets has taken firm root?

Does the serious economic crisis from which the United States and Europe are still struggling to emerge not indicative that there is something more fundamentally wrong

A key concept in understanding ‘de Soto’s thought is what he calls ‘dead capital’. Citing the examples of Peru, Haiti, and Egypt among others, he demonstrates that a majority of the poor that operate in the informal economy sit on ‘dead capital’ – shanties, land, decrepit buildings, shacks – that is worth a fortune in monetary terms

BRIEFS

Photo Africa for Ethiopia

WAP organises talent hunt

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

A talent hunt, which will accept all age groups will take place at De Next Centre, Ajao Estate, Lagos, from Saturday November 3, for ages of 4 to17 and Saturday November 10, for ages of 18 to 60, 2012.

The organiser, Wale Adenuga Production Limited (WAP), said the talent hunt aims at giving back to the society with various prizes to be won.

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HE Photo Africa segment of the annual sixth Life In My City Art Festival will feature in Addis Photo Festival holding in December in Ethiopia, according to the festival’s artistic director, Mr Ayo Adewumi.

He said organisers of the Addis Photo Festival have sent a proposal to Photo Africa indicating their interest in featuring 30 of its shortlisted works at the festival.

The Photo Africa competition, muted three years ago, was approved by the festival board and over 70 entries were received from across the continent. Out of these, 30 were shortlisted for the exhibition that opened on Thursday at the National Gallery of Art, Enugu.

Chairman, board of the festival and former chairman, Union Bank Plc, Elder Kalu Uke Kalu said the success recorded this year in spite of the limited time for preparation is an indication that the organisers would do better in future given enough time. “I am delighted that we were able to pull this show through within the short time of preparation. It means that next year, we will do better with time on our side,” he said.

Head of the jurors, renowned photographer and journalist, Mr. Tam Fiofori observed that for a long time, photography has not been given its rightful place among the genres of visual art, saying it has always been seen as a poor cousin to visual art. He however said that it is gladdening that with this competition modern Nigerian artists would begin to appreciate pho-

with capitalism today than ‘de Soto suggests?

However, on further thoughts I found that ‘de Soto’s concept of ‘dead capital’ helped me to better appreciate aspects of the thought of the late statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that are clearly more relevant to the contemporary Nigerian and African condition. ‘de Soto’s economic thought starts and ends with property. Move the poor into the formal economy by titling their assets and everything else will be added unto you he seems to suggest. On the other hand, Chief Awolowo’s political thought begins and ends with man. In the fourth of his Kwame Nkrumah memorial lectures delivered in 1977, Awolowo posited thus “Man is the sole creative and purposive dynamic in nature: everything else by comparison is in a state of inertia…Other things being equal, and barring frictions, it can be said without fear of contradiction, that a man who is healthier and stronger physically, who is more developed in his subjective mind and who is more purposeful psychologically, will economically be a better dynamic active, causative agent, and achieve more quantitative and qualitative effect than any other man who does not have these attributes”. We can thus see why education, healthcare and full employment loomed so large in Awolowo’s welfarist agenda. Without proper education, efficient health care, good nutrition and productive engagement, man will be no better than ‘dead labour’, which like ‘de Soto’s ‘dead capital’ will be unable to maximise its potentials both for individual and collective good.

Let us end with further insight on Awolowo’s thought on this subject. In his words “The sum total of what we have said is that man is the prime mover in every economy. Cocoa plantations, oil wells, rubber, oil palm produce, copper, groundnuts, timber, iron and steel, etc, are not. All these things in their natural states are either passive, inert and in a state of rest, or purposeless when in motion. Their induced rest in any place, or motion or acceleration towards any direction, depends on man alone”. My summation: Man, not property must be the centre piece of any progressive economic policy.

• Chief Aniagolu and award winner Aremina Jumbo

PHOTOGRAPHY tography more as one of the oldest genres of visual art. He recalled that recently, the late Bonny Island-born Jonathan Adagogo Green, who photographed the late Oba Ovonmramwen of Benin City during the 1897 British punitive expedition, was discovered to be among the pioneer visual artists of modern Nigeria.

On the entries for the competition, Fiofori said: “I am impressed by the quality of entries for the competition. Again, I am also delighted to find female photographers in the competition, because like painting and sculpting, female artists are less represented.

Curator of National Gallery, Enugu, Mr. James Irabor said the gallery is proud to partner with the festival organsers in bringing back the lost glory of Enugu. He described the Photo Africa and the festival as a whole as a wake-up call on the artists and the city of Enugu.

Director, Alliance Francaise, Enugu, Mr. Dominique Fancelli said the success of Photo Africa despite the short time of preparation

is as a result of the effective network platform provided by the social media as well as the various stations of Alliance Francaise in Nigeria and across the continent.

Chairman, Enugu Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Obiora Anidi said the festival is coming at an auspicious time when the art must be repositioned in the state. According to him, most secondary schools in the state do not offer fine art and consequently affects intake of students into tertiary institutions to study fine art.

“This is why the festival held series of workshops for art teachers in primary and secondary schools to chart a new road map for the repositioning of the arts for social engineering,” he said.

Anidi lamented that there has never been an enabling environment for the art to blossom, adding that every artist does almost everything to promote his art from conception to production and marketing. “Unlike other societies, in Nigeria, there are no grants for the artists, no residencies, no steady connoisseurs, no gallery with defined goal, no professional art marketers among others,” he noted.

The Evening at Muson Opa Wiliam’s annual ball tagged: The Evening, will hold on November 25 at the MUSON Centre, Lagos. This year’s outing is in association with Nigerian Society for the Blind.

NFVCB for Edinburgh fest The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) will be attending the 2012 edition of the Edinburgh International Festival, opened since October 25 to November 2, 2012, in Edinburgh Scotland.

Entitled: ‘Africa in Motion, Modern Africa’ Countries such as Ghana, South Africa, Cameroun, Algeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso are among countries participating.

Vitafoam’s Gala Nite As part of activities marking Vitafoam Nigeria Plc 50th anniversary, a gala/ award nite will hold at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos tomorrow by 5pm.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

39

The Midweek Magazine

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‘Akwa Ibom shares ANA’s vision’ All is set for this year’s writers’ convention, which opens November 8. Will it be better than – or full of surprises like – last year’s? In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, the Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Akwa Ibom chapter, Joseph Ushie, an Associate Professor at the University of Uyo, speaks on the forthcoming convention.

H

OW prepared is Uyo to host writers from different parts of the country and abroad?

I think we are prepared enough as we ought to be at this point of closeness to the event. Arrival is November 8, which means we have over one week to go. But we’re working as if the convention were lesser than one week away. I am confident that if things move on as we plan, we’ll be ready ahead of the arrival for the convention of our fellow writers.

What are the economic implications?

The economic implications are difficult to summarise. When delegates come, they come with their bodies, which will be nourished with food and accommodated in hotels; they come with their eyes, which will behold purchasable items from shops; they come with tastes for the locally produced cultural items which patronage will boost the makers’ personal finances; and, above all, for writers, they come with their money to buy books that will be available here, and to sell theirs which would have been difficult or even impossible to reach.

All these can translate into the economic wellbeing of the state and its people. Besides, there will be increased patronage of transportation and communication businesses and so on. Perhaps I should stress that the raffia industry in the state, which is currently putting finishing touches to the production of the raffia bags that will serve as souvenirs for the delegates, will also benefit economically from the hosting as the Akwa Ibom raffia products are exportable home-made items.

Perhaps equally very important is the tourism potential of the hosting. I have already mentioned the raffia bags, which range in size and quality from the low profile ones to those that are inimitable and a rare possession to have and display. The beauty of the state, especially the freshly completed flyovers, the Le Meridien fivestar hotel in the state where we intend to have the arrival-night Festival of Life, the Tropicana and quite a lot of other state-ofthe-art projects and ongoing projects will be any tourist’s special delight. There will, of course, be other aspects of cultural tourism such as dances and shows. Indeed, the tourism potential of the state for the delegates is simply immeasurable.

What is the selling point of this convention?

For us in Uyo, the selling points are many. First, this is going to be the very first time ANA annual convention will be held here; and this is very significant for a people that has produced a literary giant such as the late Prof Ime Ikiddeh, who wrote the Introduction and Notes to Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’O’s Weep not, Child apart from his own many under-critiqued and, hence, under-appreciated writings. Besides, don’t forget that although one of Nigeria’s foremost playwrights and medical doctor, James Ene Henshaw had been an indigene of the present Cross River State, he reigned as a playwright when the two sister states were still one; therefore the present Akwa Ibom State was actually within the orbit of his literary climate and influence. There was also the well known N. U. Akpan of the Wooden Gong fame, a novel that ruled the syllabuses of secondary literature in the 1970s. One selling point is, therefore, that this is the convention that will ensure the revival and survival of these legacies and galvanize robust literary activities that will continue and improve on these legacies. Besides, there is a certain rhyme scheme between the present state administration’s agenda for education and some of ANA’s activities. ANA, as you are aware, is a body of writers which pro-

•Ushie

CONVENTION motes, among other ideals, mass literacy through reading; and here in the state at the moment is an administration which has launched, nearly three years now, the free and compulsory education for the Akwa Ibom child. The meeting point between this goal of the government and ANA is the promotion of literacy and, by implication, of a robust literary culture.

These are very important cardinal points in the selling of the idea of an ANA convention coming to the state this season for the very first time. So, it’s going to make this an era of a first flyover; a first airport with maintenance hangar in Nigeria; a first free and compulsory education for the Akwa Ibom child; the first Five-Star hotel in the state, the first underground pipejacking drainage system in West Africa; the first e-library in Nigeria; and now the first to host an ANA convention in the state, which promises to bring down to the state the who-is-who among the Nigerian literati. These are some of our selling points.

With what was experienced last year, hope Uyo would come up with surprises?

Some of our members from Akwa Ibom State were in Abuja where we were honoured with the hosting right. I believe we have the profile of that hosting in mind as we work towards this year’s. As for surprises, I have no comment because if a person announces that he has a surprise, then he may have inadvertently vitiated the element of surprise. But, as I said, we are working with the mind to see how we can improve on whatever standards were attained in Abuja. We will prefer to leave the delegates to decide for themselves during

‘Perhaps equally very important is the tourism potential of the hosting.

I have already mentioned the raffia bags, which range in size and quality from the low profile ones to those that are inimitable and a rare possession to have and display’

and after the hosting. We have also been aware of the skepticism expressed by members especially in their online communication; but have preferred to work silently rather do more talking and less work. But if you insist on a surprise package, let me say we are also looking at the possibility of ANA having a novelty football match with the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalistic (NUJ).

How has it been planning and preparing for the convention?

Planning and executing the hosting has not been easy, but when you make up your mind that this is a labour of love, you cannot but love the labour that comes. Yes, in the course of planning for the hosting, I had the opportunity of interacting with His Excellency, the Governor of the State, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio. This was on April 17, 2012. The meeting was for some other association we mutually belong with. He was most enthusiastic about the ANA convention and was ready to not only support the hosting, but also to be available to be with us during the event. Indeed, he even began doing a kind of rough estimate of the capacity of hotel facilities in Uyo towards the hosting. Till this moment, I believe, he has remained very committed to the hosting but there have been a few intervening state activities which have inevitably affected the speed at which his Government’s assistance is flowing towards us. Examples of these were the preparations for, and actual celebration of, the 25th anniversary of the creation of the state; the national independence anniversary celebrations; his occasional official engagements outside the state and, sometimes, outside the country; and now the visit of His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan. These activities have certainly affected his consciousness of the nearness of the event as he would now depend much on his aides to bring the event to his view. Notwithstanding these hitches, some of his aides have assured us of the Government’s commitment to the ANA event and are working most consciously towards our overall success. I believe, for a serious-minded, purposeful administration that we have here; even one week is enough for them to create another legacy with the hosting.

Who are the major sponsors of the convention?

For now, the major sponsor remains the government and people of Akwa Ibom State while we have also had quite some reasonable support from ExxonMobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. This oil company has been quite supportive.

There are also indications of support coming from some financial institutions in the state such as Gufax Bank, the UBA, and also from the State Action Committee on Aids (SACA). We will make more of our sponsors known to the public through the press as they respond to our requests, or reach us on their own. On the whole, I’m confident we’ll get there, and in a big way.

What would Uyo be expecting from the writers?

Our vision and mission as the state chapter goes beyond hosting. We are thinking of how we can encourage the youth of this state to put their endowed creative writing talents to use so that in the near future, we, too, can contribute our own Chinua Achebe’s, Wole Soyinka’s, Chimamanda Adichie’s, Niyi Osundare’s, Odia Ofeimun’s, Ken SaroWiwa’s, Akachi Ezeigbo’s, Abubakar Gimba’s, Elechi Amadi’s, and others to the great pool of Nigerian writers. We are poised to use the hosting to fossilise literary creativity as a necessary strand of cultural production in this axis of the country. So, thank you.

Nigeria for Venice Biennale 2013

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RESIDENT of the Venice Biennale, Paolo Baratta, and Massimiliano Gioni, director of the 2013 exhibition has announced that Nigeria would be among new comers at the Venice Biennale.

He said at least eight additional countries would be represented beyond the 89 that participated in 2011.

The newcomers will include the Bahamas, Bahrain, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Kuwait, the Maldives, Nigeria and Paraguay. “It’s too early to say exactly how many countries in all will be participating,” Mr. Gioni said.

The theme of the 2013 Biennale, which holds from June 1 to November 24, will be The Encyclopedic Palace, a phrase drawn from the title of a symbol of 1950s-era futurism, an 11-foot-tall architectural model of a 136-story cylindrical skyscraper intended by its creator for the National Mall in Washington.

The model, by the self-taught ItalianAmerican artist Marino Auriti, belongs to the American Folk Art Museum in New York. “It’s the crazy dream, bordering between knowledge and madness, image and imagination,” Mr Gioni said, and appropriate for the Biennale because it reflects the grand ambition of this international exhibition. Mr Gioni added that he hoped the spirit of Auriti’s work would encourage contemporary self-taught artists to join the international mix at the Biennale

Floods: Bringing succour to Bayelsans

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

F

OR thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in most local council areas of Bayelsa State, life may never be the same again.

Many have lost their home, their relations, their means of livelihood, their property and even their humanness as they now cramped in trauma camps across the state.

Worried by these calamities, the wife of renowned historian, Emeritus Professor Ebiegebri Joe Alagoa, Dame Mercy Alagoa has undertaken the task of collecting relief materials from concerned individuals and corporate bodies for the displaced persons in the state. Already, she has several bags of new clothing and food items waiting for distribution to the camps in Bayelsa State.

Dame Alagoa told The Nation in her Port Harcourt residence that as soon as the EastWest road is fixed, the government would take delivery of the items for distribution to victims. She said she took up the challenge of collecting relief materials because what has befallen the flood victims in Bayelsa State could have befallen her.

“I was only fortunate to be in Port Harcourt now, it could have been me,” she said. She therefore called on concerned Nigerians and corporate bodies to assist the victims as government cannot do it alone in bringing succour to the victims.

“At first we all thought it was a normal flood. But it was not, because it is a real disaster that has befallen the land. Already, children are dying, schools are closed and homes lost to the flood. We are calling on Nigerians to assist these flood victims,” he said.

She noted that moving from one place to another to collect these items has been a challenge but that responses from people have been encouraging. She added that many Nigerians are very helpful at moments like this, saying all they needed is to remind them.

On the equitable distribution of relief materials to the victims, she assured that the deputy governor who is handling the distribution would do a fair and just exercise. “On our part, we are doing our best to make sure that all the relief materials we collected get to the victims and we are trusting government to the right thing too,” she said.

Dame Alagoa disclosed that as soon as the flood dries up, she would reach out to all local council areas in Bayelsa to get more materials for the victims.

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Mobile art shop

A trader hawking his wares at Bar Beach in Lagos

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

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42

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

43

Praises for Ogun information ministry

T

HE Ogun State Ministry of Information and Strategy has been given the thumbs-up for initiating a media analysis team to measure the performance of all Information Officers attached to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in the state.

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru who gave this commendation when hosting the team, pointed out that the initiative will go a long way in assessing the performance of the officers in the area of media coverage for government and its activities.

Ashiru said the exercise will create an opportunity for stocktaking and also serve as a feedback mechanism, stressing that even in the private sector, a similar step is undertaken to measure performance.

“The management of the Ministry of Information and Strategy should be commended for putting up a team like this. I remember that when I was in the private sector, similar exercises like this were undertaken because they provided avenues for stocktaking, served as feedback after which adjustments were made where necessary,” Ashiru stated.

He assured that his ministry would not relent in giving necessary logistic support to its information team for proper dissemination of its activities to relevant stakeholders in order to create needed awareness and understanding.

Speaking on the activities of his Ministry, Ashiru revealed that illegal miners in the state have been given the marching orders as the full weight of the law would be visited on anyone caught.

Ashiru also said that some illegal miners caught recently and subsequently released after paying a fine had returned to the illegal business, warning that henceforth, anyone caught in the illicit business would not be spared.

He explained that government would ensure that mining activities are done professionally and in line with the existing guidelines to stop environmental degradation that could lead to flooding.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the media analysis team, Mrs. Odunusi, who is the Director of Information, Planning, Research and Statistics, said the visit was meant to evaluate the performance of information Officers as well as other personnel.

•Audu (left) handing over the items to the camp commandant, Alabam •Continued from Page 17

camps but also Benue State government.

The camp commandant expressed satisfaction with the Senator’s gesture, saying

Akume cheers up flood victims Akume has fulfilled his earlier promise.

“We are very grateful for the concern he has shown for what

the people are going through,” said Alabam.

Audu visited the camps in the company of Chief Emmanuel

Viashima, Awuese Torhee, Edwin Jando, ACN state Director of Publicity, Titus Zam and Mathias Mtserikyaa, among others.

Kaduna residents relish new roads •Continued from Page 17

ple of Hayin Damani always felt that they were abandoned by the government, with no passable road. The Yakowa administration has brought them back to the mainstream of governance, as the farming community located on the outskirts of the metropolis now has an asphalt road to drive on. The Kafanchan campus of the state university is not left out in the scheme of things as work is currently at an advanced stage on the network of campus roads. In all,

the government constructed about 27 asphalt roads in its first year in office with over 500 rural roads under construction in various parts of the state.

In addition to the already completed roads and ongoing ones, Newsextra learnt that the government is awarded another set of road contracts across the 23 local government areas of the state at the cost of about N28 billion.

It was gathered that there will be more roads built across the 23 local government areas of the state.

About 15 of those roads have al-

•Member, House of Representatives, Ogun State, Hon Yinka Mafe, with founder/CEO, Brown Button Foundation, Adepeju Jaiyeoba (right) and Chairman, Shagamu Local Government, Hon Funmilayo Efuwape (left) and traditional birth attendants after a one-day free training programme PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

ready been completed.

Commissioner for Works, Suleiman Yahaya Richifa said at the signing ceremony for the new road contracts that the government has approved the immediate payment of 25 per cent mobilisation fees to all the contractors to mobilise to site immediately and commence work.

Richifa said that the government decided to award the contracts in view of its desire to transform the transport sector in the state. He challenged the contractors to execute the projects in line with contracts specifications within the period given, as government will not tolerate shoddy work. He said the payment of the 25 per cent of the contract sum is “to enable them (contractors) mobilise plants and other equipment for immediate commencement of work.”

He stressed the importance of the project to the people of the state, appealing to the contractors and consultants to ensure that the projects are executed to specifications and within the contract period.

He said: “I wish to advice contractors to study the contract documents carefully to ensure compliance with its provisions. I call on all stakeholders including the benefiting communities to give their maximum support by ensuring a

conducive atmosphere for successful executive of the works.”

The chairman of the state Tenders Board and Commissioner for Justice, Jonathan Adamu Kish warned the contractors against shoddy work and delay, noting that the era of abandoned projects in the state is gone.

He said the people of the state expect quality roads. Kish also told them that the government will not hesitate to “revoke any contract that is not properly executed in addition to penalising such contractors.

There will be more roads built across the 23 local government areas of the state.

About 15 of those roads have already been completed

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

44

Imoke’s wife urges women, youths to embrace agric T

•Mrs Imoke

O check rural-urban drift and shore up food supply, more women should take up agriculture, the wife of Cross River State, Mrs Obioma Imoke has said.

She made it clear, though, that what she advocates is not the drudgery and almost unprofitable activity of most subsisitent growers, but something that will make them “agricpreneurs”, as she puts it, rather than mere farmers. Mrs Imoke also urged youths to take up agriculture.

Her words: “I have an NGO and our first focus is on agriculture. Of the state’s 3.2 million people, about 75% are subsistent farmers living in rural communities. However, the state, like the rest of Nigeria and other countries in the world, is facing the problem of rural urban migration and an

By Emman Chigbo

aging farmer population.

“It is therefore imperative that women who are the acknowledged mainstay of many families, and young people who are the ideal catalyst for significant change should be encouraged to adopt farming as a profession.”

She articulated those points in Port Novo, Republic of Benin, where she was invited to co-chair a three-day workshop titled: The Women and Youth as Catalyst in Agribusiness.

Accompanied by her Project Directors, Commissioner for Women Affairs and some other senior officials, all roads led to the Republic of Benin. The journey was via the ever bustling commercial city of Lagos, through Badagry

known for its infamous slave route.

The Seme Border, which is the boundary between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin is not far off. It’s a tiny border but things happen there, trade in different commodities being the most prominent of them all, and that then marked the cross over into Benin Republic.

In this country, the roads look the same and so do the people. And then you wonder why there are two different countries and not one – until you speak and get blank stares in exchange. Indeed in this near but faraway land, you get to realise that it is not business as usual. “Good morn-

ing,” somewhat finds its way to the back burner and is replaced with “Bonjour,” and “Que-est que ce” immediately replaces” “What is this?” It goes on and on...

Fortunately at this landmark event interpreters were on hand for the linguistically challenged. That meeting could be best described as a melting pot of nations. Thirteen African countries were represented some of them being: Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, and The Gambia. They were there to address a very serious problem – Women and Youth unemploy•Continued on Page 46

A

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has given his people a new song. Since new infrastructures were inaugurated in Nibo community and environs, the residents have been praising the governor, saying he has given them a new lease of life.

In Nibo, Obi inaugurated a water scheme worth over N250 million. In the same community, a multi-million maternity and a block of classrooms at Ezeike High School have already been opened for operation.

Also, the governor gave N6 million to the community to build more classrooms.

The people’s cheers were spontaneous because in the last two decades, if not more, there were no public water schemes in the state. The Anambra state water scheme was comatose and nothing was working in that sector.

That picture has changed. Obi has embarked on 27 schemes to be managed by the host communities. People now have water in their neighbourhoods, not in the compound of some wealthy individual.

Aside the small-town water projects, Obi has sunk boreholes in almost every female school in the state and some boys’ schools as well as missionary institutions. Communities and institutions were not left out.

Commissioning the water scheme at Nibo, Awka South Local Government, Obi said the project is the first of 27 such schemes by his administration and that the Nibo plan kickstarted all others.

The governor said: “We are here to commission our mid-term water scheme. We have 27 of them. This is the first we are commissioning. I appeal to Nibo community to take full ownership of the scheme. I made the same charge to other communities to ensure that they take charge of government projects in their communities. We will take charge for six months and by February next year we must have monitored the project and quit for the community to manage it. You can see that everything is new and it is working.”

Obi further informed that his administration is investing much in Nibo community and other communities, assuring that he and his team will also build roads to link Nibo with other parts of the state.

Commissioner for Public Utilities, water Resources and Community Development, Hon Emeka Nwankwu, noted that the inauguration of the water scheme was a milestone in the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) in Anambra state under the Obi administration.

Nwankwu said: “The provision of potable water supply was last heard of in Anambra State in the 90s and today pipe-borne water supply is wearing a better look, not just in Nibo of Awka South Local Government Area but also in Agulu, Uga (Aguata), Nimo/Abagana/EnuguUkwu, Awkuzu/Dunukofia, Ukpo, Amichi/ Azigbo/Ukpor , Nnewi, etc.

“The completed scheme has enough

•Governor operates the water scheme in Nibo

Obi revives public water schemes From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

capacity to supply pipe-borne water beyond Nibo community.

“As His Excellency commissions this scheme today, the government of Anambra State, in line with international best practices, has planned to manage the scheme for about six months through the contractor and involvement of Water Consumers Association (WCA) to stabilise the system before handing over to the community for ownership, operation and maintenance and management to ensure sustainability.

“May I congratulate the people of Nibo and Nise communities for being among the beneficiaries of His Excellency’s magnanimity and good governance.”

The utilities commissioner further said that the contractor, Glitz Introserv Ltd, was given the contract March 2011 and has completed it within specification as he laid distribution pipe line networks within Nibo, Nise roads to Mbaukwu and Umuawulu, covering a distance of about 12km and provided 60 standposts and service points in about 15

locations.

Nwankwu informed that the contractor rehabilitated one existing borehole, drilled an additional borehole , rehabilitated and expanded an existing pump house, rehabilitated an existing 25,000-gallon overhead tank.

He said the contractor equally constructed 100,000 gallons of overhead tank, installed 200KVA transformer, 150KVA generator, installed two 30HP booster pumps, landscaping of the pump station, laying of six inches HDPE pipe transmission line from the storage reservoir to the distribution reservoir covering a distance of about 2km.

President General of the community, Chief Goodluck Okey Nwankwo recalled the numerous support and projects by the Obi administration for the Nibo community and assured him of continued support.

He assured that the flood problem at the maternity would be handled by the community team of engineers as an appreciation of numerous good things the Obi administration has done in Nibo.

In her closing remarks, the Com-

missioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof Stella Okunna informed that the international organisations like UNICEF, UNDP, among others, are partnering with the state, and not donors as people wrongly said, since the projects with the state are jointly sponsored.

She said government would take charge of such projects for a time before handing over to the community. She further said that Government is not happy that projects in communities collapse shortly after its construction because they were not handed over to the communi-

ties but today the community will sign a document of hand over to take ownership.

At another forum Okunna informed that henceforth that the government would partner more with development partners coming in with free funds rather than loans and said there would be harmonization to avoid partners funding the same programs while other areas suffer.

Special Adviser, MDGs, Mrs Vivian Nwandu was among the dignitaries who witnessed the event.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

45

233 micro-projects for Oyo communities

R

URAL communities in Oyo State are witnessing infrastructural renewal, thanks to the state’s Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA).

Working in partnership with the local governments and host communities, OYCSDA has initiated a total of 233 micro-projects spanning provision of electricity, water, health centres and road repairs to rehabilitation of schools and rehabilitation of markets.

Speaking to Newsextra, the chairman of OYCSDA, Mr Busari Jelili, disclosed that 45 of the projects have already been completed, pointing out that the projects would cut across 39 communities in various locations in the state.

He said:” Quite a large number of schools, health centres, roads and electricity generation have been constructed to ease the suffering of the people, while other projects are on-going. We are still planning to do more in the state, that other people will benefit from our projects”.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

While the projects are the idea of the various communities, they are being funded by OYCSDA and local governments and monitored by the communities.

In Ogbomosho North Local Government, over N8 million was used to support several communities by the agency.

In Katangua, also in the local government, an ultra-modern health centre was constructed in addition to the provision of 55 concrete electricity poles. The agency also undertook rehabilitation of roads and drilling of two boreholes The secretary of the Project Monitoring Committee in the community, Mr Muraina Kilani, disclosed that the community had been in total darkness for over 15 years until 2011 when OYSCDA came to its rescue when leaders of the community approached them to help.

Kilani said that they received help in the areas of construction of a school, primary health care centre,

•Market stalls in New Eruwa and provision of electricity transformer with poles.

For the projects, Kilani explained that the agency supported them with N3.5 million while the local government and the community contributed N500,000 and the N5.5 Million respectively. The huge sum was used to accomplish the projects.

They consist of a primary health centre, a transformer , 55 electricity poles and rehabilitation of a 2 kilometer road in the community.

Also, in Iwagba community, the agency is working on a number of projects which include provision of

electricity, drilling of boreholes and road rehabilitation.

The Chairman of the Project Committee, Mr Oyetunde Oyeleke, said that the communities had been battling with numerous challenges before OYSCSDA came to their rescue.

Oyeleke said their letter was approved in 2011, adding that the agency assisted them with a sum of N3.9 million for the installation and procurement of a transformer while the council supported them with N500, 000 and the community provided N21,000.

T

HE Lagos State Government said eight mother-child hospitals have taken off in the state to help fight high rate of infant and maternal mortality.

While six of these hospitals have since taken off, contract for additional two located in Badagry and Epe have been awarded, and work is beginning soon.

Giving a status report on the state’s preparedness to meeting the Millennium Development Goals IV and V, Governor Babatunde Fashola said never again would any mother be allowed to die in the process of giving birth in the state.

He spoke to a large crowd of stakeholders and other health workers at the Blueroof auditorium of the LTV while presenting the status report on the sector last Friday.

The governor said between 2010 and June this year, the five Mother and Child Hospitals have delivered 45,249 babies, out of which 15,050 were delivered through the caesarian section and 29,497 were normal deliveries. He said within the same period, a total of 415, 259 women have been attended to in ate-natal clinic visits.

The hospitals already in operation, Fashola said are located at Gbaja, in Suru-Lere, Ikorodu, Ifako-Ijaiye, Isolo, Ajegunle, while work is ongoing at AmuwoOdofin and Alimosho.

Each of the hospital complex, he explained, is a four-storey building, designed to contains 110 beds, two surgical theatres and seven consulting rooms.

Fashola said to further reduce the distance and access of expectant mothers and babies to hospitals government has concluded plans to upgrade at least one of the primary health care centres in all the 57 local councils in the state into a 24-hour health facility.

Fashola who took a retrospective look at the programme said it is a project aimed at expanding the frontiers of the comprehensive health reforms that started in 2007.

“The government intends to provide one model Primary Health Care Centre that will be open 24 hours everyday,in each of the 57 local councils. The first five are ready to take-off, while others are in various stages of renovations.

Shedding more light on the

•Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos

Fashola renews fight against child-maternal mortality

By Yinka Aderibigbe

other components of the health reform, Fashola said the state has enacted laws to protect pregnant women from being denied financial support which is critical to access to good nutrition by the men who impregnate them, just as there is also a law for the protection of women who suffer post-delivery depression. The Governor said as progress is being made to overcome non-communicable diseases and the risk they pose to pregnant women, government would continue to reduce the distance between the pregnant woman and the hospital. “At the time I was born, only the Lagos Island Maternity

(where I was born); and Ayinke House in Ikeja were the preferred facilities for women who lived in places like Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe and other far flung places in Lagos. This would be corrected once these model PHCs takes off,” he said.

He added that the government will not spare any tax payer’s income entrusted to it in order to give life to the vessels of life and protect God’s precious gifts to mankind.

To further strengthen safe deliveries the government, Fashola said, has trained 2,350 traditional birth attendants, (TBA), and 231 other health workers on Emergency Obstetrics Care, 121 Local Government Health work-

ers on Essential Newborn Care and 51 health workers on Contraceptive Logistics Management system.

The Governor who also launched the home based Maternal and Child Health hand books as an integral part of sensitisation and enlightenment towards maternal and child mortality reduction directed that it should be issued free to any pregnant woman when they get registered for Ante-Natal care.

He explained that the Maternal Health handbook contains a complete medical and obstetric history of the woman for four pregnancies and thus ensure continuum of care wherever she seeks medical services and inter-

His words: ”We thought that was over until we were called again to collect another N684,000 for the drilling of boreholes and was supported with the N177,000 the community contributed. We are very grateful to them and the local council. We are appealing to the state government and local government to tar our road instead of grading it because it is just a waste of money because it gets washed away by flood” Several other projects are being undertaken by the agency in other local governments across the state.

vention and also provides information on danger signs in pregnancy, family planning, nutrition in pregnancy, exclusive breast feeding, birth preparedness and complication readiness which are all aimed at improving her knowledge and health seeking behaviours.

“Our women of reproductive age are advised to carry the handbooks at all times during pregnancy. If properly used by all mothers in the State, it could serve as an important means to assess epidemiological characteristics of the pregnant population, necessary for deciding priorities, planning and budgeting from a public health perspective.”

He said the project launch would be followed by town hall meetings in all the Senatorial districts of the State to further disseminate the goals and objectives of the programme and encourage the use of the handbooks.

“Local Government Chairmen and their spouses are expected to mobilise their constituencies to translate to the utilisation of the services being made available”, he said while also expressing the hope that the Civil Society Organisations will continue to protect the interest of consumers by serving as independent monitors and watchdogs of the programme”. Governor Fashola restated that the Millennium Development Goals number four and five are minimum development goals in Lagos State which would be achieved and also commended the Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction (MCMR) Ambassadors who have accepted to take on the task of championing the cause.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris expressed optimism that with the formal launch, gaps in maternal, newborn and child health service delivery will be tackled, with resultant impact on the health indices of the mothers and children.

He added that the State will continue to increase her investments in the human resources for health, infrastructural upgrade of health facilities and advocacy relevant to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

46

Youths petition Aregbesola over kingship tussle

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HE Orile Owu Youths Forum in Osun State has canvassed for the installation of Muyiwa Adejobi as the traditional ruler of the community, maintaining that both traditional and spiritual consultations have revealed that it is only the descendant of the late Oba who can replace him.

In a letter addressed to Governor Rauf Aregbesola dated September 15, 2011, the youths who recognised the unwritten law concerning the existence of some ruling houses, argued that there are no documents to buttress any rotational schedule of the Ruling Houses in Orile Owu. In the letter signed by the 14 lead-

By Gbenga Aderanti

ers of the forum and which was copied to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chairman of Ayedaade Local Government Area, Chairman of Osun State Council of Obas, President of Ayedaade Traditional Council and the Olowu-in-Council, they said “the death of the late Adejobi has thrown the whole ancient city of Orile Owu into confusion ‘for such incident was strange, unnatural thus, a taboo in Yoruba tradition.”

In another letter dated Septem-

ber 19, 2011 to the Osun State government, the Muslim community emphasised that making Prince Muyiwa the traditional ruler would engender development to the community. Though Muyiwa Adejobi is a Christian, the Muslims have pitched their tent with him.

“Without mincing words, we are convinced about the selection or installation of one of the applicants who is from Afelele Ruling House and incidentally a son to the late Olowu of Orile Owu who died,” they said.

Even if Muyiwa wants to back out right now, it may be difficult for him to do so because Adejobi’s

Monarch makes case for youths

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IS Royal Highness, Oba Johnson Olatomide has urged government, the corporate world as well as individuals to evolve more youthfriendly initiatives that will prepare the young for leadership and business opportunities in Nigeria.

Olatomide made this appeal at the inauguration of the Wesco Pool Limited complex in Ore, Ondo State.

He said Nigeria is a country full of enterprising youths who need support to explore the emerging opportunities in their country.

Olatomide said that the increasing wave of crime in parts of the country have been attributed to joblessness and idleness, prevalent among the rural youth which often times lead them to unpleasant behaviour.

•Continued on Page 44 ment.

“This is a serious problem,” said UNIDO’s Regional Director, Patrick Kormowa. “If not addressed there will be major problems in Africa.”

By Adeola Ogunlade

He said there are immense opportunities for potential investors in areas which include information communication technology, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and fashion which can be developed to actively engage the youths.

Olatomide further lauded the effort of the Wesco Group in providing jobs for over 100 youths in the state.

He said: “It is a step in the right direction as its shows how private establishments can be committed in providing good jobs to the rural poor at the grassroots.

“We need more private investors to invest in areas that will provide jobs for young people who are

increasing faced with the problem of joblessness, hunger and other basic needs of life.”

In his opening address, the Chief Executive Officer, Wesco Pool Limited, Mr. Adewale Osinubi stated that the pool and lottery business is one of the highest employers of labour which government must take cognizance of and provide the enabling environment for the operators.

He noted that the objective of the company is to alleviate poverty and bring jobs to the generalities of Nigerians.

Osinubi said that the complex will provide jobs for over 100 youths and agents including women in Ore, Okitipupa, Owo, Akure, Ondo town and its environs.

family has presented him as their sole candidate.

However, Prince Muyiwa, in a letter to the Olowu in Council (Chiefs), said he is willing to offer himself as a “sacrifice for the town.”

Prince Ademuyiwa argued that since the death of the late Oba was not natural and untimely, filling the vacant stool cannot follow any existing statutory guidelines or declaration.

While there have been arguments and counter-arguments on the kingship returning to Afelele Ruling House, Muyiwa insisted that there were precedents in Yoruba land. He insisted that care must be taken in selecting the next Oba. “With sincerity, I know and believe that his demise was untimely, thus unnatural. I may not have the full knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Olowu, Oba Adejobi whose dreams had not been fully fulfilled.

“On the heels of this uncommon incident, it is expected that the entire community most especially, the elders, would take all necessary steps to traditionally investigate and unravel the mysteries surrounding his death (car accident) which is usually, in our customs and traditions, a taboo in Yoruba land. Unequivocally, the spiritual consultations on these incidents are prerequisite to his replacement on the throne.

“Be that as it may, it is not out of point to state that since the late Oba did not die a ‘natural’ death

•Muyiwa Adejobi

and his death untimely, thus, his replacement may and cannot follow any existing statutory guidelines or declaration.

“I hereby wish to urge the chiefs and community to verify these assertions of mine to know that his blood (son) will be the only ‘sacrifice’ needed to cleanse the town and Olowu throne for the betterment of Owu-Orile.

“Based on these aforementioned assertions, I, Prince Olumuyiwa Oladunmoye Adejobi of Afelele Ruling House, wish to register my interest and desired commitment to become the next Olowu of OrileOwu. I want to succeed the late Oba M.O.A. Adejobi who did not complete his assignment before the untimely death, irrespective of any rotational schedule of ruling houses on ground,” the letter which was co-signed by the head of Adejobi’s family, Pa Amusa Oyerinde Adejobi stated.

Imoke’s wife urges more women, youths to embrace agric The UN systems offices came up with the idea of stakeholders to organise this forum, the project combines research on successful

agribusiness enterprises such as the Songhai model with stakeholder consultations – ultimately aimed at developing policy guidelines for for-

mulating agribusiness programmes as well as national policies that are focused on improving employment opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector.

Venue for this event was the 6,000 hectare corporate quarters of the Songhai farms, reminiscent of the ancient Songhai Empire which back in the day, extended to some parts of present day Republic of Benin and Nigeria. The Songhai Empire is a medieval civilization thought to have started in the 9th century as a small principality in West Africa, located on both banks of the Niger River. In the 16th century, it became the largest pre-colonial empire ever to be created in West Africa.

“The solution to unemployment is agriculture,” said Fr Godfrey Nzamujo, Director of the Songhai Centre in his welcome remarks. The organisers of the event note that a vibrant rural sector generates local demand for locally produced products and services. Recognising smallholder farms as agribusinesses, irrespective of their size or scale, is an

Agribusiness holds the key to increased food security and great wealth creation.

With passion and commitment on the part of all stakeholders, the challenges involved in attracting and engaging women and young people in Agribusiness can be overcome •A portion of soya bean farm at Songhai farms

important first step in making the sub region’s rural sector a viable choice for young people. The challenge is to create a vibrant rural economy by making agriculture more productive, efficient, remunerative and competitive with the view to creating employment for young people.

“This is a fantastic workshop,” said Obioma during her presentation on the first day.

However there are challenges, she noted, some of which are poor transportation and power infrastructure particularly in the rural areas, inadequate access to market and linkages; unfavourable price fixing by middlemen, perceived stigma attached to young farmers and their desire for white collar employment as opposed to agricultural entrepreneurship, low levels of financial literacy, competence, self esteem and negotiation skills, lack of education, particularly of the girl child, the challenge of collateral provision; gender gaps in land and other property ownership, thus limiting ability to secure borrowing, uncoordinated and/or ineffective Government support efforts; poor coordination between public sector, private sector and donor agencies.

Participants were then taken on a tour of the Songhai Centre amongst them was Cynthia Umoru, CEO of Farmshoppe also known as the “pretty farmer.” According to her, the world population is expected to grow from the current 6.5 billion to 8 billion in 2050.

“How do we feed the world then?

Young people are migrating from Africa to greener pastures but Africa holds the potential to become the food belt of the world.

“Agribusiness holds the key to increased food security and great wealth creation. With passion and commitment on the part of all stakeholders, the challenges involved in attracting and engaging women and young people in Agribusiness can be overcome.”

•Chigbo sent this article from Calabar

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

The local government chairmen have gone round their council areas to see what the people want in order of their priorities, and I challenged them that if they want my 74th birthday to be worthwhile they should work towards the project that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people S part of activities marking his 74th birthday celebration, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has inaugurated various projects across the four local government areas in the ancient town.

The celebration which lasted one week, was kick-started with the opening of projects by the Alaafin.

Some thought inaugurating the projects himself was quite a herculean task, but the revered monarch coped appreciably well.

The compere’s cry to allow the “imperial father easy passage” fell on deaf ears as guests settled down expectantly in anticipation. In Atiba council, chaired by Prince Akeem Adeyemi, son of the monarch, 10 boreholes projects were inaugurated.

It took special vigilance of the guards, security aides and some of the Alaafin’s workers to ensure that the king had clear passage to the projects.

The Akibio of Ilora, Oba Stephen Oluwafemi, the Oyo Meesi and the indigenes of the town trooped out in large numbers to honour their royal father.

While speaking with reporters in his palace after the event, Oba Adeyemi explained that the celebration is quite different from the past ones because he has mandated the council bosses to embark on developmental programmes across the four council areas, which include Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West in order for them to fulfil their promises to their people.

“I believe that the council is the nearest to the grassroots people and we have to do this if we want to satisfy their yearnings. The local government chairmen have gone round their council areas to see what the people want in order of their priorities, and I challenged them that if they want my 74th birthday to be worthwhile they should work towards the project that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people.”

On the second day of the celebration in Oyo West Local Government, the monarch distributed human empowerment materials such as motorcycles, grinding and sewing machines, hair dryers, clippers, among other materials to assist the people in their vocational pursuits.

Those itmes were facilitated by the caretaker chairman of the council, Hon. Adesoji Ojuawo, whom Alaafin lauded for bringing succour to the

A

•Some of the inaugurated items

Alaafin inaugurates projects at 74 From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

masses.

He said Ojuawo has made him proud for tarring the 1.2km Mariama Catholic Expressway with N6m, including the award of bursary to 700 student from the council area worth N1million.

The Alaafin said: ”Ojuawo has done what the former administration could not do, especially with the renovation of this abandoned council hall” He urged the council residents to continue to support him to encourage him to perform better.

While reacting to the recent killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, Alaafin condemned the attack, noting that: ”It is a pity Nigeria is moving to a state of anarchy where students are being slaughtered. This

country is not safe again for anybody again; imagine the students who are studying to become the future leaders of this country are killed and up till date they have not been able to find their killers. If government does not find a lasting solution to all these security challenges, Nigeria will not be safe again.”

Speaking on the perceived marginalisation of the Yoruba race, Oba Adeyemi said it is disheartening to know that our race has been sidelined in the position of power in Nigeria, adding that the labour and sacrifices made by Yorubas to evolve modern Nigeria is immeasurable.

He said: ”There is no way we can have a country that will be the pride of everyone when they have relegated an important part of Nigeria.

Yoruba have gone a long way, and it

will not augur well for the development of Nigeria. The federal government should correct these abnormalities in government.”

Also in his remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman of Oyo West Local Government, Hon. Adesoji Ojuawo explained that all the project the monarch is commissioning was in fulfillment to the promises he made to his people during the election campaign.

While extolling Alaafin’s fatherly virtues, Ojuawo described him as a great philanthropist, a kind ruler and a peacemaker in Oyo State.

Cross River decries child abandonment

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•Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Umar Manko (middle) during the inauguration of Dr Muiz Banire Hybrid Public Library at Mushin, Lagos. With him are, from right, former Lagos State Independent Electoral Commissioner Hon. Musbau Oyefeso; Coker-Aguda Council Chairman, Hon Omobolanle AkinyemiObe; her Badagry-West and Ifelodun counterparts Hon. Hontonyon Bamgbose (second left) and Hon Fatai Ajidagba

•Oba Adeyemi

HE discovery of a dead baby abandoned by an unknown person behind the Medical Students Hostel on Moore Road, Calabar, near the Office of the Wife of Cross River State Governor, has drawn the ire of the state government.

Speaking to the journalists at the scene, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Health, NGO and Special Projects, Dr. Regina EjemotNwadiaro said her attention was drawn to the incident by an anonymous caller and when she got to the scene and confirmed the story, she immediately called the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) who quickly responded to the call and subsequently alerted the Police.

She condemned perpetrators of the act which she described as callous, inhuman and outright wicked.

She intimated that for the past five years, the wife of the State Governor Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, has being championing the stamping out of teenage pregnancy child abandonment in the state through her project; Mothers’ Against Child Abandonment (MACA). “It is thus, disheartening that in spite of the consistent efforts by Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke

and the MACA team, people could still dump babies” she wondered.

The Dr. Ejemot-Nwadiaro stated that the main goal of MACA is to prevent teenage pregnancy and child abandonment and ultimately to save lives. She called on the public to avail themselves of the services MACA provides and reiterated that MACA’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals especially as it concerns Child and Maternal Mortality.

She stated that Mrs. Liyel Imoke also initiated the Calabar Carnival Queen (CCQ), as the face of MACA who goes on advocacy and sensitisation visits to secondary schools the state, preaching abstinence from pre-marital sex and building their confidence.

MACA has also trained counselors and operates a 24-hour helpline service on 08131062847 for people who provide information or need assistance.

The Executive Secretary of CUDA Gabriel Egari on getting to the scene, confirmed the incident and promised to report it to the police as well as get clearance before his office could evacuate and bury the dead baby.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

49

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The crisis of confidence between the National Assembly and the Presidency over budget implementation is not abating, with the legislators alleging that some presidential aides are stoking the fire. Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR, who covers the Senate, reports.

NASS versus Presidency: The unending row

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T the inception of this administration, it was expected that the executive and the legislature would work hamoniously in the national interest. However, the war of words between the two arms of government over budget implementation indicates that this is far from the case.Utterances by some presidential aides since the presentation of the budget have sent signals that the future holds less promise of a smooth relationship between the two politically active arms of government.

What should be the appropriate oil benchmark? This is at the heart of the rift that is threatening the relationship between the two institutions and causing the fate of the Appropriation Bill to hang in the balance.

Although the 2013 Appropriation Bill has scaled the second reading in the Senate, and has since been passed to the Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance, analysts are of the opinion that budget defence by ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) might be turbulent.

Some observers insist the lawmakers have not scrutinized government’s spending as closely as they should, probably because of inadequate expertise, time and resources at the disposal of the parliamentarians. The apparent disdainful attitude of some presidential aides towards the National Assembly has been fingered as one of the sore points in the relationship between the two arms.

Members of the National Assembly have had cause to complain openly that presidential aides are plotting to set them on collision course with Mr. President. When Senate President David Mark described the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, as “fifth columnists” working at cross purposes with President Goodluck Jonathan, many thought the message would sink. It did not.

Mark was contributing to a motion on alleged inflammatory comments against the National Assembly by ministers and some presidential aides. It was a single prayer motion sponsored by no less a person than the Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi. The Senate had earlier, through its Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, descended on Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, for dismissing resolutions of the National Assembly as mere advisory and not binding on President Jonathan.

Senators took offence that a minister who did not pass through the severity of election could dismiss their resolution with a wave of the hand.

Maku was therefore nvited by the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe-led Committee to explain himself. Recognising that he was wrong, Maku apologised to the Senate. The minister was left to go and sin no more.

Ningi in his lead debate on the motion tagged: “Inflammatory statements against the National Assembly by ministers and aides of Mr. President” observed with “dismay, the regular attacks on the legislature by ministers and aides of President Jonathan.”

The Bauchi Central Senator said he was “scandalised by the most recent one” in which Ahmed Gulak “threw all caution to the wind and remarked that members of the National Assembly were ‘talking like illiterates’.” He said he was provoked that Gulak added that the National Assembly was “passing laws that are not implementable.”

Other Senators including Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Mohammed Ndume, James Manager, Smart Adeyemi, Awaisu Kuta, and Olushola Adeyeye, did not find the outburst by the presidential aide funny. For them, Gulak’s outburst was a direct affront on the integrity of the National Assembly. But Mark, in his characteristic style of calling a spade by its name, took it further.

The Senate President posited, with a dint of sadness in his voice, that presidential aides are gradually but steadily, leading President Jonathan on a collision course with the National Assembly.

“We all feel very hurt and very bad about it.

• Mark

• Gulak

‘We all feel very hurt and very bad about it. We say this against the backdrop of the fact that Mr. President, as a person, is a gentleman.

Nobody can fault him. If you have a personal interaction with him, you will know that he is a gentleman. But, what is disturbing is that he has surrounded himself with aides that are not gentlemen in any respect’ – Mark

‘I didn’t call them illiterates. Let me tell you, just yesterday, I was reading in the papers that the Deputy Senate President, that is Senator Ekweremadu, said some legislators can barely write their names. He said so.

He said so. I did not say it. So, if most of them can barely write their names, then how will they understand the intricacies of budget? I did not say it’ - Gulak

We say this against the backdrop of the fact that Mr. President, as a person, is a gentleman. Nobody can fault him. If you have a personal interaction with him, you will know that he is a gentleman. But, what is disturbing is that he has surrounded himself with aides that are not gentlemen in any respect.

“Aides who have failed woefully to do what they are supposed to do and because they are totally incapable, mentally and otherwise in doing their work, they are finding a way to please Mr. President. They think they can please him by attacking the National Assembly, disparaging the National Assembly and trying to belittle us. Giving an impression that we don’t know what we are doing is extremely unfortunate.

“These are people who should really try to build bridges between the executive and the legislature but they are doing the exact opposite.

Any bridge that is existing now they want to totally demolish it so that they can be on their own and in the process take advantage and give the President an impression that he needs to do something through them.

Mark berated the idea of always finding occassion to belittle the lawmakers. He accused them of working against the interest of Mr. President.

“We don’t want intermediaries between us and the executive and they are not capable of doing that either. Like all of you here, I am not aware of any aide who has gone and won an election in his local government. Not one. And yet they find it very easy to make comments about members of the National Assembly.

“I think Victor (Ndoma-Egba) hit it squarely on the head by saying they are fifth columnists who don’t want the President to succeed. But, on the other hand, we will not allow detractors to force us away from the course that we set our radar. We mean well for this country. The fact of

the matter is, if Gulak is serious about his advice, we will take it in good faith and act on his advice.

Here is an aide who is actually advising his own principal on a collision course; who is going out of his way to tell the people on the other side that you are not firing enough shots.

“I think by now, truly, Gulak has no business in the Villa anymore. But since it is not our duty to employ people for Mr. President, it is not our duty to sack his aides either. By now, I think he ought to know what to do with his aides who are putting him on a collision course with the National Assembly. They certainly can’t be described as good and helpful aides. I also believe that two wrongs cannot make a right.”

Senators unanimously adopted the only prayer of the motion to urge President Jonathan, to “caution his ministers, special advisers and other aides making inflammatory statements against the legislature to avoid straining the cordial relations between the legislature and the executive.”

If you thought one or two lessons were learnt from the motion, that was not to be. In a bid to devise a cover for the remark that members of the National Assembly were “talking like illiterates”, Gulak claimed it was Ekweremadu who called his colleagues illiterates.

The presidential aide claimed in an interview that he did not call National Assembly members a bunch of illiterates. Observers feel that Gulak’s defence is an after thought.

The Political Adviser said, “I didn’t call them illiterates. Let me tell you,: just yesterday, I was reading in the papers that the Deputy Senate President, that is Senator Ekweremadu, said some legislators can barely write their names. He said so.

He said so. I did not say it. So, if most of them can barely write their names, then how will they understand the intricacies of budget?

“I did not say it. It is the Deputy Senate President that said it and if he really said it, so, it

means the National Assembly has a long way to go. Some observers described Gulak’s claim that Ekweremadu called most National Assembly members illiterates is “spurious.”

Ekweremadu, who spoke on the topic “The political ideology of the Great Zik of Africa and challenges of leadership in Nigeria” at the 2nd Zik annual lecture series of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Awka, capital of Anambra State, stressed the fact that the 21st century Nigeria needed knowledgeable leadership at all levels to effectively drive development to realise the lofty dreams of the nation’s founding fathers.

What is more, analysts say Ekweremadu never spoke about the whole of National Assembly members but concentrated on the South East representation at the National Assembly in his lecture.

Ekweremadu’s frustration over poor representation by South East parliamentarians may have been borne out of the fact that he is the highest political office holder from the zone. Even at that, Ekweremadu was said to have spoken specifically about two states, specifically, Ebonyi State where a certain former senator was so overwhelmed by parliamentary processes that he failed to make any meaningful contribution for the four years he sat as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ekweremadu rightly believed that if the quality of representation from the South East continued that way, the zone would continue to lose out in the scheme of things in the country. Of course, Ekweremadu must have appreciated the fact that representatives like Senators Uche Chukwumerije, Chris Anyanwu, Ayogu Eze, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chris Ngige, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha and a few others who are considered first eleven are also from the South East.

But is that enough, especially for a zone that has produced some of the best brains in the country, including the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe himself and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo?

Observers posited that if the quality of Zik and Okadigbo’s representation during their days as lawmakers is juxtaposed with the quality of most of the latter day representatives from the region, the frustration of Ekweremadu would be better understood.

A point of reference, observers say was a certain Senator from Ebonyi State who repeatedly told his stunned colleagues during the thirdTerm Debate that he was “finished.”

The frustration could have influenced attempts by the National Assembly to amend sections of the Constitution on the academic qualifications for the office of the President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, federal and state legislators from West African School Certificate to tertiary education. This has however been killed in the House of Representatives. The Senate passed the amendment.

Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Deputy Senate President, Hon. Okey Ozoani described Gulak’s outburst in the interview as “another feat of thoughtless and disparaging statements directed at the National Assembly and its officers.”

Gulak, in the said interview, claimed that the National Assembly should be blamed for poor budget implementation, accusing the institution of late passage of Appropriation Bill.

But Ozoani said that it is not surprising that Gulak has found pleasure in courting trouble for the President by “his reckless statements on not just the National Assembly and its officers, but also on respected elder statesmen.”

For him, while Ekweremadu would not want to join issues with Gulak, it is necessary for him (Gulak) to know the limit of his “importanceseeking, fawning, and trouble-courting fits.”

Ozoani continued, “First, it is unfortunate that Gulak is quick to point out when the 2012 budget was passed without also stating when it was submitted to the National Assembly.

“The 2012 Appropriation Bill was submitted in December 2011 and passed by the National Assembly in March 2012. Gulak’s claim that enough work goes into the Appropriation Bills before submission to the National Assembly •Continued on page 50

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

50

POLITICS Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. He represents Taraba South District in the National Assembly. A lawyer, he was once a member of the House of Representatives where he was Chairman, Committee on Police Affairs commissioner and Majority Leader of the state Assembly. In this interview with FANEN IHYONGO, the lawmaker speaks on various issues.

Way out of our economic woes, by Senator

F

OR a decade now, you have been politically relevant both in your state and at the national level.

What have you done for Taraba and Nigeria so far?

You are right. I was elected in the State House of Assembly in 1999; first, during the Sani Abacha transition period that collapsed, and during the Abdulsalami Abubakar administration that handed over to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I served briefly as Majority Leader of the House. I played a key role in the emergence of the leadership of that Assembly. The Governor then, Rev. Jolly Nyame approached me to serve in his cabinet. Those who know about Nyame’s emergence will testify that some of us were at the centre of most of the political events. Crisis almost tore the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart, after Barrister Baba Adi did not have the opportunity to fly the banner of the party at the general election. For those of us who were the key members of the Bibinu Campaign Organisation, I couldn’t understand why the former governor asked me to be part of his administration. But when he approached me, I obliged. Of course, having been elected a member of the House of Assembly, it was indeed relegation, going to serve as commissioner. So, I sought the opinion of my constituents in Donga. I told them that they elected me as a legislator in the State Assembly but the governor wanted me to serve in the executive cabinet as commissioner. All who mattered in the politics of my local government gave me the nod to go and serve as commissioner, and that, if I ran into any trouble, I should come back to them. I found their position very encouraging. That was how I became the Commissioner of Agriculture in the Nyame administration.

In that capacity, I was instrumental to the formation of corporative societies across the state. It was a medium for reaching out to the grassroots people.

I was also instrumental to the procurement of about 80 tractors, which were distributed to farmers, through these cooperative societies, to encourage farmers at the grassroots. This increased agricultural productivity in Taraba state during the period. In 2003, I contested for the House of Representatives for the Takum, Donga, Ussa and Yangtu federal constituency. I won the election and was appointed Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs. I served in that capacity for four years in the Fifth Assembly, and we made tremendous impacts in the Nigerian police. We made proposals for the increment of police salaries in this country.

What have you been doing in the 7th Assembly?

I am the senate committee chairman on agriculture. Most of our youths barely have any regard for farming in this 21st century. But agriculture had been the bedrock of our economy.

Through agriculture, many of us made it to be what we are today. We are faced with a lot of challenges because of the many problems associated with the oil-driven economy. The present security challenges and the political quagmire we are going through are direct negative products of the oil boom, which has encouraged laziness; people no longer want to work, people want to cut corners, make cheap money and that is where we are today. What we are doing now is to ensure that we restore the dignity of agriculture. As the giant of Africa, as we preach, we have not been able to take the lead. So, we are pushing to see how the Nigerian government can improve and make supplementary budget for the agricultural sector, so that, we as a nation could be able to restore the lost glory and dignity of agriculture, as it was the case in the past. For my state,

• Senator Bwacha

having been assigned to oversee this critical sector, I put a machinery to restore the famous agriculture show we use to know in our community. We are already partnering with the various local government council chairmen to see how we can revive the famous agricultural show, where farmers will be expected to display their agricultural products. We will institute a prize mechanism, to reward farmers that excel out of such exercises.

I believe that this will go a long way in boosting farmers’ morale in agricultural activity. This is outside the scholarship scheme which I initiated to touch the lives of needy students spread over our tertiary institutions across the country.

You stood against your kinsman, Obadiah Ando, when his name was submitted for Senate screening for a ministerial appointment. Why? Beside the reason by everybody that my elder brother, Obadiah Ando was not accessible, it was clearly known by all that my elder brother did not work for the ruling party at the various elections held. I remember at a certain instance, he did mention that you can vote for the president but all other elections you can vote for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). That for me was not even a desire for the president to succeed. This is because if the president wins and the parliament is dominated by the opposition from the ACN, then the president will never succeed, eventually, he might be removed from office. So, I don’t see that as expressing passion or loyalty to the president. We also feel, as a party, that it wasn’t good for such people to be given positions in the cabinet. It is true that General TY Danjuma nominated Obadiah Ando. We went to explain things to him and he reasoned with us by nominating another person, Darius, who is now the Minister.

In Taraba State, everywhere you turn, the name Emmanuel Bwacha is being touted as the governor to be in 2015. Did you give them that impression?

I have never told anybody that I wish to contest for the governorship posi-

‘I want to believe that the security challenge we are faced with is informed by political differences.

Those elements detonating bombs everywhere and killing people indiscriminately have grievances that are largely traceable to politics’

tion in my state. To me, 2015 is still very far. I need to concentrate on my service in the senate. That was the mandate given to me at the 2011 poll.

I don’t know why people tend to infer certain things or meanings on my relationship with Governor Suntai, whom I am very loyal to. I admire him (Suntai), not because he is our governor, but because of the refinement he has introduced in the art of modern politics in Taraba State. This is largely the reason I have decided to be so close to him. It is not because I have any ambition to succeed him and I am courting him for favour, as people are saying.

It is an open secret that the relationship between you and your senator colleagues from Taraba has been frosty. What went wrong, is it a crack in the state PDP? My disagreement with my Senator colleagues is largely political. I get so worried when people interpret this to mean hatred, as if we are sworn enemies. In politics, you agree to disagree, until when interests change. As I speak, they have their own interest different from mine. This does not make us enemies, but we have maturely agreed to disagree. They have their own way of looking at political issues, and I also have mine.

What do you think is the panacea for the lingering security challenge in the country?

I want to believe that the security challenge we are faced with is informed by political differences. Those elements detonating bombs everywhere and killing people indiscriminately have grievances that are largely traceable to politics. People are only using religion to have justification for what they are doing. No religion preaches violence. The Bible has never encouraged violence, and I don’t know of any religion that cheers violence or bloodshed. I am a Christian, and I know what it is to kill. Killers will pay back on the Day of Judgment. So, I call on security operatives not to relent in their efforts. They have to put in their best.

Do you think establishing the state police could be a solution the security challenge?

No country in the world that has adopted federalism or presidential system of government (which we are copying) without adopting the state police. In our case, we thought we would grow over the years, and I think about 13 years is enough in our democratic process for us to commence certain experiments that could catapult us to an appreciable level, particularly about the police. If you are talking of having autonomy for the states, as prescribed in the concept of federalism, each state should be able to access its own security outfits. I have a typical example in some states; the governor is towing a different line and the commissioner of police is towing another because of conflicting interest or orders from above. For our democracy to grow, we must allow a level of autonomy or independence for all the federating units. These are the indices that give a country a federal structure, with all its federating units melting together. Otherwise, if you say, let the centre be controlling the states continually because governors are going to abuse the state police, the president is not an angel, he is also a human being like you and I. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. That is my take on the issue of state police. If you say a governor can abuse the police, the president could as well abuse the structure of the security. It is therefore, better to let state police be. I know the feelings from certain quarters; they have tried to politicise the concept of the state police, which is not supposed to be the case.

‘We welcome honest opposition in Ekiti’

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

“C

RITICISM,” a thinker once claimed, “makes one not to remain complacent,” noting: “You are growing when people criticise you.”

This, to Adewale Adeoye, former CNN African Journalist of the Year, now Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Affairs to Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, has been a major impetus for the administration..

He made the position known in a chat with The Nation.

Adeoye explained the government’s disposition to the opposition when his attention was drawn to the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had been accusing it of non-performance.

His response: “Opposition drives us to improved performance in Ekiti. It will deepen democratic discourse if we have a viable and truthful opposition.

In our case here, we have a rabid and blind opposition that always shoots before thinking of its target. They are lazy, they cannot do research; they just write and send statements to the media. They are a group of people who want political power for the sake of it. When Dr Fayemi was with world leaders in the US, they said he sneaked out of the country and was arrested for money laundering. Even in propaganda, there are rules.

“When you consistently tell lies, you diminish the philosophy of opposition and reduce your political party to a group that acts only on base instinct. Ekiti deserves credible opposition, not the kind we have in the PDP. Unfortunately, the party suffers credibility crisis everywhere. Despite the colossal failure of the party in the South West, it is surprising that the party is not ashamed to come out and talk of political power. All they want is to ‘capture’ the South West, but they are not ready to labour for it. They want to use brute force and lies. This is not a good legacy for the democratic culture. But we are not impervious to constructive criticism.”

Replying the few who would not see anything good in the performance of Dr. Fayemi after two years in the saddle, Adeoye said laughing: “Majority of the people can see and feel the amazing impacts of the government. When you want to build a house, you need a master plan, unlike past regimes which ruled by trial and error. Our master plan for the transformation of the state was the eight-point agenda. No aspect of governance is left untouched. One of the first steps was to lay the basis for transparency and fiscal responsibility in governance. That was responsible for the Freedom of Information Law in Ekiti, the first state to domesticate the law in West Africa. With that, you can now access any information you want on how the business of government is done. This is an enduring landmark, the best way to empower the people and make them relevant in the political and economic context. Over 100 schools are being renovated in one fell swoop. In the second phase, almost all the secondary schools in the state would have been touched. Within the framework of the limitations imposed by the Nigerian garrison structure, what we have in Ekiti and most states of the South West states is amazing.”

Sharing with the public, more of Fayemi’s concrete achievements, he said: “They are legion. We are constructing five-kilometer roads in all the local government areas of the state. You must have seen the changing face of AdoEkiti, the upcoming street lights, the beautification and the reclamation of the floundering environmental heritage of Ekiti State. Most of the roads of the former regime did not last more than three to four years, now we are building them. That was what Chief Obafemi Awolowo thought us to do. The IlaweIgbara-Odo and Igbara-Odo-Ikere Roads, the Ado-Afao Road, the revival of the Ire Brick Industry, and the world-class Ikogosi Warm Water Tourist centre are among the projects.

“Days back, the governor commissioned a world-class civic centre and there was the launching of the Samsung Engineering Centre, a conscious attempt to revive the dwindling fortunes of the artisan culture which is a key element in national economy. We also have the social security fund for the elderly and the free health programme for vulnerable groups. There are many more.”

“The government appears to have challenges with workers and teachers in the state,” he was reminded. He responded sharply, saying: “Well, there is no irredeemable problem with teachers, or even the entire workforce. The governor is committed to improving the education sector from primary to secondary school in the state. Sometimes, people may ignorantly but honestly resist a new idea simply owing to lack of understanding or due to political influence from external forces.”

“Some people may reject a policy that will benefit them when they take only an eye view of it. The few who object to the idea of the needs assessment and capacity building for Ekiti teachers may not immediately realize the damage such a decision will cause. The needs assessment, the governor has said it over time, will not lead to retrenchment. Several teachers have also taken the examination and to my knowledge, no one has been sacked. In all, the teaching profession is a formidable institution that Dr Fayemi will continue to cherish, being a teacher,” he added.

• Dr Fayemi

The unending row •Continued from page 49

does not in any way preclude the Parliament as co-managers of the economy from subjecting such budget estimates to legislative scrutiny and due process.

“It is also gratifying that the President had taken into account the observations of the National Assembly on the need for early submission of budget estimates by submitting the 2013 Appropriation Bill earlier this time, in the month of October. While it is gratifying that the President has recently had cause to disown Gulak over his poor conducts and unguarded statements hauled at the National As-

sembly and its officers, for the umpteenth time, it s advisable for Mr. President to review the stewardship and real inner motives of Mr. Ahmed Gulak whom, either oblivious of his job schedule or lacking the competence to undertake it, is preoccupied with fomenting trouble for his Administration.”

The last has not been heard on the crisis of confidence brewing between the two arms of government. But, it is the prayer of many Nigerians that the altercations would turn a blessing for the people as it could mean that the legislature would perform its constitutional role of oversight over executive bodies more effectively.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

51

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Group assures people living with HIV, AIDS of aid

I

T is no longer news to hear people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) complain of inaccessibility to anti-retroviral drugs among other therapies for managing the disease, particularly at the community level.

The problem is being compounded by the global financial melt-down which has hampered HIV and AIDS financing by donor agencies.

But a pressure group, the internation Treatment The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), is assuring carriers of continued access to treatment despite these hurdles.

A volunteer-member of its board and Executive Director, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, United States, Mr Ben Plumley, said it was tough to find funding for HIV and AIDS because of global economic depression.

Plumley spoke at a dinner organised by Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA) in honour of the global advisory board of ITPC in Lagos.

He said the body’s role was to en-

•Free testing, counselling for farmers

By Wale Adepoju and Olatunde Odebiyi

sure treatment that everyone living with the disease deserves.

He said: “We keep politicians real and honest as the global leaders in pushing access to treatment. It was important to be in Nigeria which is regarded as the heart of the response for HIV and AIDS.” The ITPC, he said, is the world leading community-based movement of people living with HIV and their supporters who are united in promoting access treatment.

The coalition members, he noted, are community organisations, local non-governmental organisations (LNGOs), researchers and activists with strong expertise in HIV treatment from various countries across the world.

Executive Director, PATA, Mrs

How to prevent heart disease, by cardiologist

A

CARDIOLOGIST has recommended healthy lifestyle for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

According to the Executive Director, National Heart Foundation, Kingsley Akinroye, heart problems can be prevented if people desist from excessive salt intake, alcohol and smoking among others.

He spoke during a heart project conference in Lagos. It was organised by the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association through the Standing Committee on Public Health, in partnership with Nigerian Heart Foundation and Lagos State Ministry of Health.

Kingsley enjoined the people to eat balanced diet. They should eat food rich in protein instead of junks and excess sugar. “Fruits and vegetables should be eaten. They should also engage in physical activities. These things will go a long way to reduce the risk of the disease,” he added.

He urged them to always check their body regularly for symptoms of heart diseases, such as blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol level, among others.

Consultant, Public Health Physician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Kikelomo Wright, said: “Cholesterol level, smoking cigarette and

•Cross-section of participants

Morolake Odetoyinbo said the event was part of the activities to mark the maiden African board meeting of ITPC in Lagos, Nigeria.

Executive Director, Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mr Ibrahim Umoru said PLWHAs owe a lot to the body.

He said many were living with the disease because of the support they received from the body.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 50 members of the Farmers Association in Ikorodu Division, Lagos State received free HIV screening and counselling at Odogunyan Farm Settlement, Ikorodu, Lagos.

They were screened by the Lagos AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) during an awareness/sensitisation on HIV/AIDS prevention and behaviour change. It was organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in collaboration LSACA. An official of LSACA, Mrs Akinola

Anuyimika said farmers need to be in good health to engage in food production.

She said the event was to ensure farmers have the right knowledge on the mode of transmission, prevention and stigmatisation of the disease.

Describing the ways through which HIV can be contracted, Mrs Akinola said the use of sharp objects of a person that is already infected with the virus can lead to the infection and sexual intercourse with a carrier.

She said sharp objects from farm tools or household items can cause infection, adding that people who are circumcised or have incision are worse hit.

Project Manager, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Lagos State Ministry of Agric and Cooperatives (LSMAC), Mrs Abaraham Titilayo, said the programme would help farmers protect themselves from being in-

fected with the virus.

On people living with HIV (PLWH), Mrs Abraham said the disease prevention team will give them necessary medical attention and refer them to health centres for further medical treatment, if need be.

A member LSMAC, Mrs Giwa Bolanle, urged those living with the disease not to see it as death sentence because they can live with the virus if they take good care of themselves.

Ajaya Obalusi (a farmer in Ikorodu) praised on the efforts of the state government to offer farmers free sensitisation and HIV testing. He noted that the gesture is a kind one and such that everybody needs.

The farmers described the event as appropriate and an opportunity to know more about how to prevent themselves from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), most of the female farmers were not aware of female condom which LASCA gave them free. They expressed their gratitude to the state government for the kind gesture.

By Olatunde Odebiyi

excessive intake of alcohol contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

She said taking of more fibre meals, fruits and vegetables, less sugary and fatty meals, reduction in pastry and increase in physical activities will help to reduce the chances of cardio vascular diseases.

For people with cardiovascular disease, Wright advised that they should engage in regular medical check up and routine screening, seek necessary medical intervention from their health care providers and ensure regular use of medication.

A guest lecturer, Dr Folashade Daniel said cardiovascular disease can be prevented by watching our diet nutrition She urged government and relevant NGOs to increase the level of research and come up with efforts that will help to prevent the disease.

The Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof David Oke, said the essence of the conference was to prevent and reduce the risk of cardio vascular diseases in the country.

“It is of great importance that all Nigerians are aware of how to live a healthy life, especially one that requires the well being of the heart,” he added.

• Some farmers and LSACA officials at the event.

PHOTO: OLATUNDE ODEBIYI

Free health care for 5,000 O fewer than 5,000 residents of Shasha, a Lagos have received free suburb eye, oral and blood pressure screening and drugs.

The exercise was organised by Paincare Outreach, a care ministry for the poor and dejected in the society with the support of Peculiar Peoples’ Ministry (PPM).

Head, Health Team, Dr Opeyemi

N

PHOTO: WALE ADEPOJU

By Wale Adepoju

Kuponiyi said her team, made of 20 doctors, pharmacists and other experts, treated residents for diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and fever, among others.

“We see more women and children than men because they are the most vulnerable group,” she added.

The residents, she said, also had free hypertension, eye and blood sugar screening and consultation with medical experts. The outreach provided free food for them to cushion the effect of the biting economy, she added.

She said: “The other common complaints by them are respiratory tract infection (RTI) and pneumonia.

Some of the diseases that are from out-patients are treated with drugs supplied by the pharmaceuticals company. Patients who need referral were asked to go to nearby government or private health facilities.”

The monthly exercise, she noted, is supported by Greenlife Pharmaceuticals to ensure wellness of body and mind among residents.

General Overseer, PPM, Pastor Ishola Taiwo said the physical and psychological needs are essential to people’s general wellbeing.

On the choice of location, the outreach pastor, Steve Akindasa stated, was to help safeguard the health of the poor because many of them could not access health

care due to finance and distance, among other conditions.

He said: “Many are hungry and poor with little or no hope of survival, let alone to pay for health care.”

Meanwhile, an American-based organisation, Transforming Grace International Outreach Ministries (TGIOM) in collaboration with Ijesa People in Diaspora (I-PID) will provide medical eye services and surgery for many patients in Ijesaland.

According to I-PID, this yearly social responsibility to the homestead is free.

Outreach co-ordinator, Evangelist,Mofoluke OgundipeSloan, said I-PID has partnered with the America Ministries to bring succour to kinsmen/ women with eye ailments.

The exercise is scheduled forbetween December 3 and 5.

Ogundipe-Sloan said 15 doctors, 20 skilled nurses and 10 nursing assistants are expected to arrive the country for the exercise, adding that the medical outreach/eye operations will take place at two centres: Loro’s palace at Odo Iro,Ilesa and Poju Onibokun Youth Centre, IwoyeIjesa.

President of Ijesa People In Diaspora,Aare Olusegun Fasakin said the gesture is part of the organisation’s objectives of making lives better and meaningful for the people.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

52

HEALTH

‘Eat right to live right’ A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Healthy Living and Women Empowerment Initiative (HELWEI), has urged Nigerians to be conscious of their eating habits to ensure quality health.

Its Executive Director, Mrs Ebere Okey-Onyema, said people “must eat right to live right.” She spoke at a seminar in Lagos to mark the World Food Day with the theme: Your Food, Your Health: Key to Productivity.

Addressing a gathering of cooperative societies and professionals, OkeyOnyema urged them to take charge of their health through adequate nutrition and positive lifestyle.

She noted that the major causes of illnesses and untimely deaths include unhygienic lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.

Okey-Onyema said: “Have you ever wondered how quite a number of Okinawa Island people have been

By Joseph Jibueze

able to live more than 100 years of disease-free life? It has been proven scientifically, with facts, that the secret of their highest life expectancy is as a result of their incredible knowledge of nutritional facts in the food they eat.

“People from this tiny Japanese Island eat nutrient-rich, low calorie diet that is composed of low fat, low sugar, small quantity of fish but lots of vegetables and fruits.”

A Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health, D.O. Akinola, said emphasis has been shifted from curative to preventive medicine, stressing that people must take the issues of nutrition and healthy living seriously.

According to Akinola, when healthy eating habits and personal hygiene culture are imbibed, illnesses would reduce.

Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area, Adekunle Olushola Israel,

•Senior Vice President, Project WET Foundation United States, John Etgen (middle) during the launch of Project Water Education for Teacher (WET) by Nestle in Lagos. With him are some teachers.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

represented by Olaosebitan Emmanuel, said Nigerians needed constant health education to check some unhealthy practices that impact negatively on their health.

Commending the seminar’s organisers, Israel said the country would benefit immensely from the activi-

ties of HELWEI and others targeting at improving the health of society.

Executive Director, Women’s Rights and Health Project, Bose Iro-Nsi, said the tough economic situation in the country had placed a huge responsibility on the shoulders of

women, urging them to seek avenues of improving their finances.

She urged them to join form cooperative organisations to enable them access loans to start businesses.

Folake Oyebanjo of Fidelity Bank Plc, in her goodwill message, assured

women organisations of the bank’s willingness to grant loans to ensure the expansion of their businesses.

The event was sponsored

by UTC, Knight Foods and Beverages (Nig) Ltd and Fidelity Bank. Alimosho Local Government was an official partner.

Cancer not death sentence, says expert

C

ANCER is not a death sentence as it can be managed if diagnosed early, a group, Sebeccy Cancer Care and Support Centre (SCCSC), has said.

According to SCCSC’s Dr Omolade Salako, cancer patients should not be afraid of death, stigmatisation and depression because they can recover and live longer than expected.

Mrs Salako said healthy eating and exercise were some of the ways to ensure breast cancer survivors recover fast.

Dr Salako spoke at the centre’s Patience. E. Support and Advocacy programme meeting in Lagos.

She said cancer can be prevented and cured if detected early enough.

SCCSC, she said, is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) dedicated to creating awareness on cancer and survivorship of cancer because of the death rate of patients.

She said patients get information that will help them prevent complications and also support them in the payment of their bills from the centre.

Principal Dietician, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Bolanle Tijani said healthy eating, intake of highly nutritious food can help them recover from the disease.

“Breast cancer survivors

Olatunde Odebiyi

should eat more plant made meals, such as vegetables and fruits like garlic and onions, spices and potatoes, green apple, carrot, beans, nut and wheat bread among others.”

She advised they should also take foods that are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water; they should eat moderately, take little or avoid oily foods, canned meals, meat and sugar.

On the place of exercise in the management of breast cancer, lecturer, Physiotherapy Department, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Mrs Aweto Happiness, said exercise helps to reduce some of the side effects of the treatment of breast cancer.

“It is an effective intervention to improve the quality of life, shoulder mobility and weight gain. It helps to reduce sleepless night, depression and anxiety. Exercise including jogging, walking, running, stretching and deep breathing in with the nose and out with the mouth helps to reduce cancer related fatigue and fracture; it strengthens the weak muscle and soft tissue, among others,” she said.

Aweto said exercise should be done from low to moderate intensity and should be between 15 and 20 minutes daily, advising that breast cancer patients should not continue with the exercise when they are tired.

‘Prevention is better than cure’

N

IGERIANS have been urged to embrace preventive medicine rather than curative medicine to reduce disease burden.

According to the Medical Director of Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Dr. Bolaji Adebiyi, getting cure for diseases is quite expensive.

Adebiyi who spoke to The Nation said: “The first step in managing a disease is by preventing it.”

On the danger of diabetes, he said, is an ailment which

By Oluwaseun Ajayi

affects the organ that controls blood sugar. This organ no longer works due to loss of insulin, he added.

Adebiyi said there are various types of diabetes such as juvenile onset diabetes which is common among people under 30 years and the normal age diabetes that usually comes up as one advances in age. There is also diabetes associated with obesity which is rampant among fat people. He said they can all be managed.

•People receiving free medical services at the event.

PHOTO: OLATUNDE ODEBIYI

Sickle cell patients get treatment

N

O fewer than 1,000 people, mostly school children have benefited from free genotype, PCV tests and leg ulcer treatment.

An expert in sickle cell disorder (SCD), Dr. Kamara Nwosu, described the disease as an inherited genetic disorder passed from parents to children.

He spoke on Sickle cell disorder: It’s root and genesis. It was organised by Dabma sickle cell Foundation in partnership with Universal Parcel Service (UPS) in Lagos.

On fighting the menace, Dr. Nwosu said the only hope for fighting the disorder is by prevention through genotype check.

Nwosu said: “We need to tell others about it and make healthy and informed choices in marriages, while good management and care can prolong the lives of SCD victims.

Nigeria, he said, has four

By David Thomas

million people living with SCD, while 30 per cent of the population has the trait. 20 out of every 1,000 births are “sicklers” as a result 150 children are born yearly with the disorder.

Chairman of the foundation, Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe, said the gesture was part of the body’s quarterly activities such as hospital visitations, public enlightenment and free medical tests.

He said: “There were free genotype counselling and tests, PCV tests, lectures on management of the disorder and treatment of leg ulcers.”

Ibekwe thanked the organisation for helping sickle cell patients, who he described as those lost in the crowd.

UPS spokesperson Mr Mike Osifo said the company was privileged to be associated with sickle cell patients, adding that they are usually taken for

granted by the majority of people in the society.

Meanwhile, not less than

180 residents of Ketu, a suburb of Lagos, have benefited from free medical services.

It was at a health summit organised by Goldcrest Family Centre (GFC), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), in Lagos.

The people were screened for hypertension, HIV and AIDS, eye, breast and cervical cancer, among others.

Some were given free eye glasses and free medical consultation while others were referred to some health facilities for further examination.

Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris, praised the NGO for its impact in the health sector, noting that it will go a long way to bring medical services closer to the people.

Idris, represented by Dr Adeleke Monsurat, said Lagos State was determined to improve and institute utilisation

and accessibility of care across its health care system.

He said the state’s Ministry of Health was willing to partner with the private health sector, development partners, relevant NGOs who have shown dedication and keen interest in the attainment of the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs) because the government cannot do it alone.

GFC’s President Mrs Agatha Chukwura said health is crucial; it is important to be in good health.

She reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the wellbeing of the people, adding that it offered to screen them free.

She said taking good care of oneself helps to prevent diseases and as such ensures longevity. What we eat and think, where we live and work contribute to the wellness of our body, she added.

Mrs Chukwuma urged all medical consultants across the state and in the country at large to provide quality care.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

53

NEWS Group demonstrates in Lagos for Biafra’s sovereignty

By Esther Mohammed

M

• Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmi Olayinka (second left) with Permanent Secretary, Primary Health, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Folakemi Olusola Falore (second right); Director, Primary Health, Dr. Joshua Ileke and Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Chief Dayo Fadipe during the visit of the Primary Health Care Development Agency to the deputy governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

Row in Imo over plan to conduct council poll

A

POLITICAL crisis is brewing in Imo State following plans by the government to conduct a local government election.

Although no date has been fixed for the poll, major political parties and other stakeholders are protesting what they called the government’s plot to impose its cronies.

But the tenure of the 27 council chairmen, already disengaged by the government, is yet to be resolved.

Chairman of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Mr. Obi Akwara, said the commission has begun ward delineation to ensure that the election holds in

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

all the wards.

He said: “We are an unbiased umpire; we are not going to interfere with the issues in court. We have started preparations for the council election. We have begun with ward delineation and verification to ensure that those wards, where elections were not held in the last election, will be corrected.”

Akwara, who denied being a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said the commission would organise an eight-week workshop on administration and legislation for aspirants.

The commission’s chief said this would ensure that those who become chairmen and councillors are prepared for their duties.

According to him, the commission has applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the verification of the voters’ register.

Akwara assured that ISIEC would conduct a free and fair council poll.

But the Secretary of the state chapter of the All Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enyinna Onuegbu, described the planned poll as a ruse.

The union leader said it is a contempt of court for the gov-

ernment to contemplate a fresh council poll when the government and the council chairmen are still in court.

The ALGON scribe argued that the tenure of the chairmen would constitutionally end in 2013.

He said: “We were elected for a three-year tenure that will end in August 2013, but we were illegally dissolved by the state government. We are in court to seek redress. Until all the matters are resolved, there cannot be a council election in Imo State.

“We are aware that the ISIEC is collecting as much N250,000 from each community to create new wards.”

Disabled man donates N30,000 to Anambra flood victims A

GESTURE by a physically-challenged man, Simon Ozoemenam, yesterday evoked emotions in Anambra State.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Stella Okunna, could not hold back the tears when she collected N30,000 from Ozoemenam for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The commissioner collected the money on behalf of the state’s Flood Disaster Committee set up by Governor Peter Obi. Prof Okunna, amid tears, said the donation would ginger the committee to work harder.

She said: “We do not know how to say this or how it will sound that such a person has donated to the displaced persons.

“With this kind of donation, we will be spurred the more to serve this state and make sure that these displaced

Victims decry diversion of materials From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

SOME Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps in Anambra State have alleged that they were being shortchanged with the relief materials sent by the state government, philanthropists and organistions.

The state government had set up 26 camps to accommodate the displaced persons.

The IDPs spoke when the Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, visited the St. James’ Church camp at Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area.

They noted that because of the action of such people, items distributed to them were always in short supply.

One of the IDPs, Mrs. Hannah Nwolise, alleged that her household was in the camp, following their evacuation from Agwe settlement.

She said the residents near the camps, mostly women, besieged the place with their children and shared the materials with victims.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

persons are adequately catered for. This state will ever

remain grateful to you.”

The commissioner urged the residents, especially the wealthy, to emulate Ozoeme-

nam.

The donor, who hails from Nibo community in Awka South Local Government Area, said the money was his quota to Obi’s call for assistance to the flood victims.

He said: “It is not big, but anybody who worships God must be touched by the conditions of these our sisters and brothers from various communities. Nobody knows tomorrow. Everybody should rally round to save souls.”

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Oselloka Obaze, yesterday warned those in charge of the materials to avoid diverting them, or risk going to jail.

The SSG spoke on a local television programme, Face the Press.

He was answering questions on IDPs in the state.

Obaze said the government would jail anyone found to have diverted relief materials meant for the flood victims.

Abia warns Aba landlords against building on waterways

T

HE Abia State Government has said it would not rescind its decision to demolish about 1,800 buildings that were built on waterways in Aba. The government urged the landlords and tenants of such buildings to start parking out.

Addressing reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ugochukwu Emezue, said the government was warning the affected owners

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

and occupants of such buildings for the last time.

He said the government should not be blamed if it starts the demolition any time.

Emezue said several notices had been issued to building owners through the media within and outside the state.

He stressed that the government wants the residents

to be aware of the exercise before it rolls out its demolition machines.

The governor’s spokesman said it is not true that the government does not have the will to go ahead with the demolition.

Emezue said: “We want to ensure that everything is put in place to avoid people hijacking it and using the period to demolish other people’s houses and causing trouble for the government.”

He denied the allegation

that the government was owing its workers.

Emezue said it is only a local government area that is owed.

He explained that this happened “because of its inability to submit its workers’ payment vouchers after the biometric data capture”.

According to him, once the council complies with the biometric system, “its money is there in the bank and the workers will be paid without delay”.

EMBERS of a group, the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), yesterday organised a peaceful rally in Lagos.

They said it was in lieu of their planned declaration of the Sovereign State of Biafra next Monday.

The rally, tagged: Redemption at last, was held at Ladipo Oshodi. It lasted for about three hours.

Scores of youths, especially Igbo, joined the rally.

They carried the flag of the defunct Republic of Biafra and the national flags of the United States of America, Israel and France.

The Biafra Republic agitators said they would also protest “Islamic banking, economic system, marginalisation of Biafra, lack of adequate security of life and property as well as neglect of infrastructure in the area”.

As early as 9am, the demonstrators were at the venue, chanting songs, such as The Elephant of Biafra; We’re marching to the promise land of Biafra.

Some of the demonstrators told The Nation that they had the backing of the other countries whose flags they were carrying.

According to them, they are tired of the neglect of the Oji Power Dam and River Niger Bridge, a lack of an international airport in the East, the neglect of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway and the killings of their people in the North by Boko Haram, among others.

Speaking with The Nation, leader of the demonstrators, Mr. Kingsley Anyaegbunam, said: “The Biafran journey started since early 1967 by our leader, the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Though he was unable to actualise his dreams, some other people have taken up the challenge. We have the support of other countries, such as Israel and America.

“We are tired of this failed country, with countless promises.

We are no longer waiting for them. November 5 is the day of the official declaration, because we need to be independent as quickly as possible.”

Another member of the group, Comrade Emeka Onwane said: “Benjamin Onwunka, our leader, resides in London, but he came to Nigeria because of this Biafran freedom we are talking about. He has participated in various rallies and campaigns.

“The essence of this rally is to mobilise the Igbo, who are not aware of the Biafran struggle. We want them to know there will be freedom for us soon. We want them to join in the struggle because what we are talking about is not one man’s race. The sky is our starting point.”

One of the participants, Chidi Obi said: “This dream cannot be actualised without the full support of the people. We need to join hands to make our peaceful state a reality. The state, which has promised to be a state of milk and honey, is the right of every Igbo man, woman and their children.”

CD hails IGP for transferring DPOs in Anambra From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

T

HE Southeast chapter of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has hailed Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammad Abubakar, for ordering the transfers of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Anambra State.

A statement in Nnewi by its Regional Chairman, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, said the transfer was necessary.

The statement reads: “Most of the DPOs in Anambra are not apt in the discharge of their duties; most of them have spent a very long time within their divisions and areas.

“Some of them leave their main duties and start doing extraofficial duties. These include the arrest of Okada riders and extorting money from them in the name of enforcing Anambra State Government’s ban on Okada riders plying the road beyond 7pm.

“This is especially true of a former DPO in Onitsha.

“Also, the DPOs grant their subordinates the powers to engage in private family and land matters, which are against the recent directives of the IGP. “Some mount illegal roadblocks on Niger Street, Creek Road and Niger Street, near Main Market, Onitsha. Through this means, traders in Onitsha are terrorised and extorted.”

The statement also urged the IGP to order the dismantling of illegal roadblocks on theAwka-Amawbia Road.

It noted that this is the only access road linking Amawbia and Agulu communities.

APGA faction calls for party restructuring From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

T

HE Sylvester Nwobualor-led faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State has called for the restructuring of the party.

The faction said this would ensure the party’s successes in future elections.

It issued a communique at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting in Aba, the state capital.

It reads: “We, the members of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, drawn from all the local government areas, have critically reviewed the progress made so far in the push to remove Chief Victor Umeh and his clique for their incompetent illegal dictatorial leadership, lack of accountability since 2004 till date.”

The members also hailed Dr. Tim Menakaya and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi for their positive and progressive styles of leadership.

They noted that these have yielded results in the Umeh Must Go campaign.

They appealed to other members of the group to remain patriotic and support the Nwobualor’s faction.

The party chieftains urged them to avoid being deterred by what they called the antics of the Umeh faction.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-10-12

Presco reassures stakeholders on better returns

P

RESCO Plc has promised to sustain its growth and improve on returns to stakeholders who have shown unrelenting support through investing in the company in the past years.

Speaking to the capital market community at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, managing director, Presco Plc, Mr Uday Pilani reiterated that the company’s commitment to improve returns to stakeholders in future is paramount in its corporate plan.

He disclosed that the company plans to acquire a new jetty that would accommodate 10, 000 metric tonnes of vessels by 2020.

Besides, he said that Presco would continue with its ongoing expansion programme for sustainable value creation and effective service delivery.

“The company will commence exportation of processed facilities for fertilisers and palm kernel oil by 2020,” Pilani said.

He noted that the company was the first fully integrated oil palm with plantations, oil palm mill, refinery and fractionation plants in West Africa.

The company, in the third quarter ended September 30, 2012, recorded a profit after tax of N2.19 billion against the N1.52 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2011. Turnover stood at N6.88 billion compared with the N5.73 billion recorded in

•Equities relapse again

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

2011.

In his comments, chief executive officer, NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema, advised agroallied companies to seek long-term development funds from the capital market.

He said that the Nigerian agricultural sector could only experience meaningful growth by accessing longterm development funds from the NSE. According to him, the Federal Government’s transformation agenda in the agricultural sector will be achieved through proper use of opportunities offered by the capital market.

Onyema said contrary to the current focus on oil and gas, the agricultural sector harboured the key that would drive sustainable economic development and creation of employment in the country.

He noted that in spite of the government’s commitment in leveraging the agricultural sector, it contributed only two per cent to total export figures in 2012 against the previous 70 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian stock market closed yesterday on the negative as market value of equities dropped by 0.90 per cent.

The benchmark index at NSE, the All Share Index

(ASI), slipped by 0.90 per cent to close at 26,739.22 points compared with its opening index of 26,982.55 points. It had appreciated by 0.40 per cent in the first trading session of the week. Year-todate return at NSE also contracted to 28.98 per cent.

Similarly, aggregate market value of all quoted equities declined from N8.599 trillion to N8.521 trillion.

The negative market position was due to both the preponderance of losers to gainers as well as losses by some highly capitalised stocks including PZ Cussons Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank, First Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries.

Nigerian breweries led the losers with a loss of N5.95 to close at N130. PZ Cussons Nigeria followed with a loss of N1.64 to close at N26.01 while GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria dropped by 95 kobo to N38.05 per share.

On the positive side, Ashaka Cement led the advancers with a gain of 85 kobo to close at N17.91. Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) recorded a gain of 28 kobo to close at N5.98 while DN Meyer Nigeria added 23 kobo to close at N3.45 per share.

Total turnover stood at 327.6 million shares valued at N3.31 billion in 4,639 deals. The three most actively traded stocks were Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, with 69.76 million shares; First Bank, 28.39 million shares and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, which recorded turnover of 24 million shares.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-10-12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

CBN adjusts guidelines for prepaid cards •Pegs maximum value at N250,000 D The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday, reviewed its policy for prepaid cards issuance and operations to address hitches being experienced in the implementation of the initial guidelines issued in 2010.

CBN Director, Banking and Payments Systems, ‘Dipo Fatokun disclosed this in a circular to all deposit money banks titled: ‘Revised Guidelines on Stored Value/Prepaid Cards Issuance and Operations’. He said there was need to recognise cards issued to meet the needs of corporate organisations as distinct from retail individuals.

Mr Fatokun said that banks must comply with the new laws to achieve improved payment system in the country.

He said the guidelines have been developed to provide minimum standards and requirements for the operation of stored

By Collins Nweze

value/prepaid card issuance and operations.

The new law stipulates that only deposit-taking banks or financial institutions licensed by the CBN with clearing capacity would issue stored value/prepaid cards while those without clearing capacity can issue in conjunction with lenders with clearing capacity.

Besides, he said that only one stored value or prepaid card would be issued per person per currency and per product by an issuer at any anytime.

According to Fatokun, the usage limits and frequencies would be defined by each participating bank with all stored value/prepaid card transactions subjected to current Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) reporting requirements.

He said that all card issuers would render monthly returns

value/prepaid card.

“Operators, including mobile/telecommunications operators, wishing to operate money transfer schemes with stored value/prepaid cards would do so with requisite approval from the CBN and, at all times, in strict conjunction with licensed deposit-taking banks or financial institutions,” he said.

Mr Fatokun said that stored value/prepaid cards would be issued without regard to where actual value resides and that value shall be held in either centrally-connected network databases or in non-network attached electronic devices, including, but not limited to, smart/ chip cards and mobile handsets.

The CBN Director said the apex bank guidelines for transaction switching and card issuance and guidelines on POS card

to the CBN on the number of stored value/prepaid cards in issue, volume of transactions and gross amount of transfers from/to stored value/prepaid cards for inclusion in the national statistics on payments.

The new regulation also indicated that all stored value/prepaid card account naira balances will be considered deposit liabilities by the issuing bank or financial institution and therefore subject to deposit insurance protection up to the limit provided by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for bank deposits.

According to him, the fee for loading salary payments unto a stored value/prepaid card shall be paid separately by the salary payer and not deducted from the balance value of the stored

NeFF seeks legislation to check identity crisis

T

HERE is urgent need to enact a law that will check identity crisis in the Nigerian banking sector, the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) has said.

Speaking yesterday at the NeFF October briefing held in Lagos, the Chairman of the Forum, Emmanuel Obaigbena, said enacting such laws will be a first step towards checking duplication of identities that has become common occurrence among bank customers.

This he said, has become a major hindrance to the fight against fraud in the sector, adding that where a recognised

law that spells out how individuals can present their identities in public, it would become much easier to fight fraud.

“We have seen many cases where a particular bank customer will have more than 10 bank accounts with different names. These accounts will be opened and running concurrently without interference.

Such practice has not favoured the renewed fight against frauds and money laundering,” he said.

Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) represen-

lent activities across the banking industry and increasing epayment awareness especially with cashless Nigeria Project calls for a robust, shared electronic database containing upto-date bio data, biometrics and financial information of all banking industry customers,” he said.

According to him, a platform that will specifically provide banking information on customers, not bureaucratic, and is capable of providing cross bank information for the purposes of customer identification and management will be a welcome development.

tative, Seyi Ademosu said identity challenge is a major hindrance in the fight against frauds.

He said there is increasing rationale for appropriate identity management system, adding that the Bankers’ Committee has also identified with such needs.

Mr Ademosu said that working with authorities responsible for identity management, dealing with privacy issues especially in a cultural context, and marketing the concept to the populace need political support.

“The rising spate of fraudu-

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 30-10-12 SYMBOL

DNMEYER ASHAKACEM CUTIX NAHCO AIICO LIVESTOCK MAYBAKER SKYEBANK HOLDINSURE VITAFOAM

O/PRICE

3.22 17.06 1.62 5.70 0.62 1.58 1.60 3.95 0.54 4.10

O/PRICE 1.19 27.65 2.40 7.65 1.87 135.95 7.84 0.53 8.99 0.62

G

ROUP of 20 officials have said that that the latest monetary easing by developed nations will ‘buy time’ for the global economic recovery.

The group said that governments must do more to boost growth, Mexican central bank Deputy Governor Manuel Ramos Francia told Bloomberg news.

Ramos Francia spoke at a news conference following the end of a two-day meeting of deputy finance ministers and central bank officials from G-20 nations in Mexico City. Mexico is presiding over the group this year.

“The risks are there. They can be deferred and delayed for the future. While central bank

moves will ‘buy time’ for European economies, “other types of policies need to be applied,” Ramos Francia said, without providing specific recommendations.

The meetings took place after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that the bank was ready to buy unlimited quantities of short-dated government bonds of nations signed up for rescues.

The United States Federal Reserve said that it would make additional purchases of debt in a third round of so-called quantitative easing, while the Bank of Japan has unexpectedly increased its asset-purchase fund to 55 trillion yen ($707 billion).

C/PRICE

3.45 17.91 1.70 5.98 0.65 1.65 1.67 4.12 0.56 4.23

CHANGE

0.23 0.85 0.08 0.28 0.03 0.07 0.07 0.17 0.02 0.13

C/PRICE 1.10 26.01 2.28 7.27 1.78 130.00 7.51 0.51 8.70 0.60

CHANGE 0.09 1.64 0.12 0.38 0.09 0.33 0.02 0.29 0.29 0.02

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 30-10-12

SYMBOL FIDSON PZ HONYFLOUR ARBICO BAGCO NB NBN NEM ACCESS WEMABANK

wallets, where least KYC has been performed on the mobile money customer.

“Prepaid cards issued will operate at least within the minimum KYC requirements prescribed by the CBN. However, loadable limits in naira and foreign currency and daily balances will be determined by the issuing bank. No prepaid card shall be issued beyond the limits of a stored value card to a person or a corporate organisation,” he said.

More govt action needed for world recovery, says G-20

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Sanusi

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

•CBN Governor, Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

acceptance services shall also apply to stored value/prepaid cards unless where specifically overwritten in these guidelines.

He directed that no stored value card would be issued to a person without obtaining minimum Know Your Customer (KYC), which includes name, phone number, and address of the person. The issuer shall ensure that at least one of the KYC information is validated. The maximum amount that can be loaded on the stored value card shall not exceed N50, 000 per day.

The apex bank also stipulated that maximum balance on the stored value card would not exceed N250, 000 at any time. It said the limits specified for stored value cards shall also apply to cards linked to mobile money

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 125.13 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 120.13 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.79 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,732.33 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 10.45 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,652.66 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.96 119.60 0.76 1.10 0.91 1,726.86 9.94 1.33 1.80 8,411.80 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

56

NEWS

Four policemen collapse at parade

F

OUR policemen yesterday collapsed at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City, during the pull-out parade of the Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Olayinka Balogun.

The policemen were participating in the parade when they slumped.

They were attended to and revived by the medical police personnel.

Balogun, who clocked 60 today, bowed out at the colourful parade after 30 years of service and attaining the mandatory retirement age.

He said he joined the Nigeria Police with the aim of serving the country and humanity.

Balogun noted that he

Jonathan urged to seek divine intervention

By Adeola Ogunlade

T

HE General Overseer of the Divine Souls For Christ Church International, Lagos, Evangelist Moses Oberiko, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to repent and turn to God for divine direction to address the ills plaguing the nation.

He spoke at a press conference ahead of the consecration of Bishop Joy Oberiko by the Divine Souls For Christ Church International in conjunction with the Endtime Apostolic Global Network.

The four-day event will be held from tomorrow at the church headquarters at Ahmadiyah Bus Stop, IjaiyeOjokoro, Lagos.

According to him, the spate of corruption in public places and violence in most parts of the North is an indication that Nigeria needs divine intervention.

He said: “President Jonathan has deviated from the original plan of God for his life. He should go back to God, ask where he has missed it and repent.”

Oberiko noted that the present situation in the country is a sign that institutions and strategies “will continue to fail us as a country until our public office holders are honest, God-fearing and exhibit a high level of integrity in their activities.”

The programme will feature Bible teachings, career and professional development, thanksgiving service, consecration service and prophetic ministration.

PSN holds national conference

T

HE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) will hold its yearly national conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from Monday.

According to its president, the event starts on November 5 and ends on November 9.

He said Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun will be the chief host, while Prof. Dora Akunyili is to deliver the keynote address.

The theme of the conference is: “Safe medicines for Nigerians - who cares?”

ESUT VC lists achievements •Shops for N10b infrastructural fund From Chris Oji, Enugu

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

served in every sphere of the service and performed what was expected of him.

He said there was need for the people to assist the police in fighting crime.

According to him, “we have reduced crime to the barest minimum. Armed robberies and kidnappings have been tackled.”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, said crime rate has reduced in the state since the assumption of Balogun as the police boss.

He said the outgoing CP’s devotion to duty was unequalled and unparalleled.

•Onyeji

T

THE Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, yesterday listed his achievements.

Onyeji, who spoke at the unveiling of the ESUT Trust Fund, identified corruption among the workers and students as the major problem he addressed.

He said the university is shopping for N10 billion for infrastructural development.

The VC also identified cultism, admission racketeering, examination malpractices and strikes as some of the ills that have been tackled.

He said during his tenure, research and scholarship have increased, adding that the university now sponsors national and international conferences.

Onyeji said: “The morale in the institution is high because we pay salaries promptly.

“When I was appointed the vice-chancellor, we established an administrative machinery of committee systems capacitated to sanitise all sectors of our university system. This process has not been without problems.

We have, however, managed these problems and achieved success.”

The ESUT VC said the measures were not enough if the university was to be repositioned and re-engineered to become one of the best in Africa.

“That was why the ESUT governing council established the trust fund and constituted a committee to drive it by appealing and attracting funds from individuals, alumni, governments, politicians, corporate organisations and donor agencies,” he said.

The Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Chilo Offiah, said ESUT has witnessed a strategic renaissance of its administrative and academic systems and processes in the last two years.

While lamenting that the task was still enormous, he said it

was regrettable that the government could not fully respond to the university’s infrastructural needs.

Offiah said: “The governing council established the ESUT Trust Fund to be managed by a board of trustees and serviced by a committee that will look into the alternative sources of funding and seek partnerships with individuals, public and private sectors, donor agencies and alumni.”

The Chairman of the ESUT Trust Fund, Prof. Ike Ndolo, said ESUT would continue in its quest of becoming exceptional, both in the learning experience and quality of graduates.

The unveiling ceremony was chaired by Senator Ayogu Eze, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

57

NEWS ‘North must key into national agenda’ From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

P

RESIDENT of Conference of the Northern States’ Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA), Dr Ahmed Rabiu, yesterday urged state governments and other stakeholders in the North to key into national agenda.

He said this would enhance accelerated development of the region.

Rabiu spoke in Kano when he delivered a lecture at a forum organised by an online non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ra’ayi Initiative for Human Development.

He was optimistic that the future of the region would be bright, despite the numerous challenges it is facing.

Rabiu said: “There’s hope for the North. We are only troubled. But we must key into the national agenda, taking advantage of programmes, such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE). Unfortunately, we are lagging behind because of lack of information.”

The academic noted that the elite in the region were using media for their selfish interests instead of the development the region needs.

A renowned columnist and blogger, Dr Aliyu Tilde, blamed the region’s backwardness on educated northerners.

He said they ought to show the way for the others.

“They, unfortunately, think like those who have never gone to school. They think like roadside tea sellers. Yet, we can never run away from Western education; it’s now the yardstick for gauging development.

And the North will never develop until the educated ones lead the way,” Tilde said.

Suspect gets bail over Yuguda’s son’s wedding comment

Adamu M. Kafin Madaki, has granted bail to a worker of the Ministry of Finance, Abbas Ahmed, over his comments on the social network, facebook, on the funding of Mr. Idris Isa Yuguda’s wedding.

Idris, 30, is the son of Governor Isa Yuguda.

He was wedded to Bilkisu Hanifa, the daughter of Dr. Musa Babayo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, on September 8, at Azare, Bauchi State.

When the matter came up yesterday for hearing, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), politicians, civil society organisations and others indicated interest to defend Ahmed.

Prosecuting Sergeant Mohammed Garba told the court that “the State Criminal investigation (SCID) Department has received a request from the Office of the Bauchi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Almustapha Suleiman, directing the SCID to investigate the case of injurious falsehood and defamation of character of a public servant”.

He said the alleged offence is contrary to Sections 393, 394 of the Penal Code.

But counsel from the various organisations, led by the Bauchi State NBA Chairman, Mohammed Alhassan, announced appearance for the accused.

Sergeant Garba said the accused was not in the court, contrary to the court’s procedures.

•Village head among victims and keep money and other valuables within reach.

Eyewitnesses said the village head, simply identified as Alhaji Maiyara, pleaded with them not kill anybody.

A resident, Sani Abdullahi, said: “He was killed instantly when they felt that he was disturbing them with his endless pleas. He was warned to keep off but he

did not heed the warning.

“They fired shots from different places and they killed whoever dared to escape.

That was how they took several innocent lives.”

Another survivor, Haruna Kabir, said he heard gunshots from afar.

According to him, the gunshots were bad omens for the community.

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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•Speaker urges Assembly’s group to embrace peace

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HE Eastern Zone of Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended four of its members in the House of Assembly.

They are the embattled Deputy Speaker Emmanuel Omebije, (Dekina/Diraidu Constituency); Majority Leader of Group of 13 (G13) Yakubu Yunusa, (Ofu); Haruna Idoko (Idah) and Abdullahi Zakari, (Ankpa).

The suspended members belong to the G13 under the impeached Speaker Abdullahi Bello.

In a statement by the Zonal Vice-Chairman Seidu Odoma and Secretary Musa Alfa, the party said the decision followed the alleged refusal of the members to follow its resolutions in a meeting held on October 20 in Ayangba.

The statement said the members failed to adhere to

A

From Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja

peaceful coexistence with the party as well as ensure stability and the economic progress of the zone.

The statement added: “Following the expiration of the seven days’ ultimatum and your refusal to abide by the resolutions of the PDP, as regards your conducts which you have neglected, you are hereby suspended as members of the party for 30 days.

This action is with immediate effect.”

The new Speaker, Lawal Jimoh, has urged Bello and other impeached principal officers to embrace peace and extend their hands of fellowship to the new officers.

Jimoh spoke yesterday at a plenary of the new House leadership.

The new Speaker said he is a child of circumstance be-

cause of the Assembly’s leadership was bestowed on him by the members.

According to him, there are vital issues, especially the welfare of the people, that the Assembly needs to focus on.

Jimoh noted that by the virtue of the oath the party members have sworn to, personal interests would not be allowed to override the interests of the masses.

The Speaker said he would continue on Bello’s experience and honest counsel.

He said the Assembly remains a united family, adding that he and Bello are from the same place.

The Speaker promised that the new leadership would use collective approach and cooperate with the executive and other organs of government for the development of the state.

The Deputy Majority Leader

and Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Enlightenment, Saidu Akawu Salihu, described yesterday’s sitting by the new House leadership as a show of lawlessness.

In a statement in Lokoja, the state capital, Salihu said: “We also begin to wonder why they are so desperate with their act of lawlessness despite the intervention of the National Assembly and men of goodwill within and outside Kogi State.

“We want to inform the public that as law-abiding citizens, men of honour and integrity, we will continue to remain on the path of peace, law and order. No amount of intimidation, provocation and deceit will lure us to the part of lawlessness and abuse of lawful plea from constituted authority like the National Assembly to take the law into our hands.”

Tiv allege ‘lopsidedness’ in military, paramilitary recruitment

GROUP, the Tiv Federation Quota (TFQ), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to address the “lopsidedness” in the recruitment of Tiv into military and paramilitary outfits.

The group alleged that there has been a systemic agenda to root out Tiv race out of the military and paramilitary and replace them with another ethic group within Benue state.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, leaders of the group, Chief Joe Har, Kelvin Acka and Chris Agabi condemned the non-recruitment

He said he and his wife as well as three of their children escaped into the bush.

Kabir said: “We had escaped before they arrived.

We dashed into the bush and hid. We could hear the screaming of the people from where we hid.”

It was learnt that the assailants were after the money the villagers reportedly made from their farm produce during last week’s Sallah celebration.

Ten die in Bauchi road accident

Kogi PDP suspends Assembly members

Bauchi

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CORES of gunmen yesterday killed at least 18 people, including the village head of Kabaro in Dansadau, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

It was learnt that the gunmen, carrying guns and other weapons, stormed the village and started shooting towards different directions.

The reportedly urged the residents to remain indoors

•Rita Melifonwu, founder/CEO of Stroke Action Nigeria, flanked by members of Board of Trustees (BOT), Arthur Okolonji (left) and Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, at the media launch of the not-for-profit organisation in Lagos.

From Austine Tsenzughul

BAUCHI State Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by

Gunmen kill 18 in Zamfara village

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

and employment of Tiv sons and daughters into federal agencies such as the Army, Navy, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

“Apart from recruitment into the military and paramilitary outfits, the Tiv ethnic group, which is the fourth largest in the country, has been sidelined in the recruitments by the police, the Navy, the Army and the NSCDC. Where they are re-

cruited all, the number falls short of their population put together,” Har said.

The Tiv leader gave a statistics of this year’s recruitment.

He noted that in the recruitment into the Army, eight Tiv made it as against Idoma 40; in the police, only 10 Tiv made it as against 49 Idoma.

The worst imbalance in the recruitment, according to Har, is into the NSCDC. He said 83 Idoma came tops as against Tiv’s seven;

in the Navy, seven Tiv and Idoma 79 were reportedly recruited.

Har explained that in Benue State, the Tiv are in the majority with two senatorial zones and 14 local government areas; the Idoma has a senatorial zone with seven local government areas.

The Tiv leader noted that this is why in some Tivspeaking local government areas, the names of other ethnic groups appear on the recruitment list.

He urged the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to investigate the non-recruitment of Tiv into federal agencies.

EN people on Monday night died and 10 others sustained various degrees of injury in a road accident involving three vehicles near Dungel village on the Bauchi–Jos Road.

The accident, which occurred at 6.35pm, was said to have attracted sympathisers and passersby before men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) rescue team arrived on the scene.

The Bauchi Sector Commander of the corps, Mr. Sunday Olatunji, confirmed the accident.

He attributed it to excessive speeding and reckless driving.

The FRSC chief explained that the accident involved a bus, with registration number (Lagos) DE219FST; a Peugeot car, with registration number (Abuja) BC428GWA, and a Passat with registration number PPL. Olatunji said six persons in the bus died on the spot while four others died in the Peugeot vehicle.

Bauchi donates materials to bomb blast victims From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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HE Bauchi State Government yesterday donated several items to victims of the recent bomb blast at St. John’s Catholic Church, Bauchi.

The government said the items are palliatives to reduce the pains the victims experienced and to assist them regain their physical fitness.

The items include crutches and wheel chairs.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Abubakar Malami, in company of Dr. Mohammed Alkali, the Chief Medical Director of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), presented the items during “hospital rounds”.

Malami told the victims that the government was sympathetic with them and shared their pains.

He said Governor Isa Yuguda has expressed commitment to providing security for the live and property of the residents.

The commissioner urged the residents to be on the alert to enable the government deal with the perpetrators.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

58

NEWS Edo tribunal to begin sitting on Monday

Imoke presents N151b 2013 budget

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HE Cross River State Government has proposed a budget of N151,376,066,780.75 for next year.

Governor Liyel Imoke yesterday presented the proposed budget to the House of Assembly in Calabar.

He said the proposal, tagged Budget of Commitment, aims to consolidate on the achievements made in 2012.

Imoke said 70 per cent of the budget was voted to capital expenditure and 30 per cent to recurrent expenses.

He said: “We hope to achieve this by raising N71,145,702,146,74 from re-

Court jails 30 for traffic offence From Osagie Otabor, Benin

AN Edo State Mobile Court has jailed 30 persons for driving with expired vehicle particulars.

The affected persons were jailed for between three and six months with an option of N5,000 fine.

They were arrested by men of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) .

Their offences ranged from possessing expired vehicle particulars, drivers licenses, vehicle plate numbers, non-possession of certificate of road

Ondo council chief ‘assaults’ worker From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A LOCAL government caretaker committee chairman in Ondo State yesterday allegedly assaulted a female supervisor in the council.

The council chief reportedly beat up Mrs. Fumilayi Omogbemi.

She is on admission at the State Hospital in Akure, the state capital.

An eyewitness said the chairman, who was accompanied by his police guard and some of his aides, beat up the supervisor and dragged her on the floor.

The source said Mrs. Omogbemi was rescued by some people within the secretariat premises and was taken to the hospital.

Sources said the chairman had earlier announced Mrs. Omogbemi’s sack and her alleged refusal to endorse the dismissal letter prompted the council chief to beat her up.

Speaking to The Nation on her sick bed, Mrs. Omogbemi said the chairman decided to sack and assaulted her without committing any offence.

•Imoke flanked by Speaker Larry Odey (right) and his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham. With them are Deputy Speaker Itaya Nyong and other Assembly members...yesterday.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

current sources, N75,730,364,634.01 from capital receipts and an estimated

opening balance of N4,500,000,000.”

The break down of the budget is as follows: Economic Sector, N117,970,733, 872.69;

Social Services, N6,688,894,814.57; Regional Development, N15,040, 526,217.24 and General Adm i n i s t r a t i o n , N11,675,911,876.25.

Imoke said the economic sector, which has the highest allocation of 53 per cent, would stimulate growth and create jobs.

Ex-militants donate N52.7m relief materials to flood victims E X-militants in the Niger Delta have bought relief materials worth N52.7 million for flood victims in Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta and Cross River states.

The items included mattresses, pillows, bags of food items, salt, palm oil, vegetable oil, yam tubers and toothpaste, among others.

The Head of the Reintegration Department in the Amnesty Office, Abuja, Mr. Lawrence Pepple, said each of the 26,358 ex-militants donated N2,000 from their October allowance for the purchase of the relief materials.

Three truck-load of relief materials were yesterday presented to the Rivers State Commissioner for Special

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt and Osagie Otabor, Benin

Duties, Mr. Emeka Nwogu, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt.

Pepple urged Nigerians to emulate the ex-militants.

Nwogu said the amnesty initiative of the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua was a step in the right direction.

He said: “Nobody thought something good could come from the ex-militants, who were mostly referred to as devils in human flesh, since they were agitating with guns and other sophisticated weapons. We now know

that they have human feelings and sympathy.

“Some people criticised the late Yar’Adua for granting amnesty to the repentant militants. We are now confirming that the amnesty is a success. Not everything is achieved by the use of force. The late Yar’Adua behaved like a father.

“If he had wiped out the militants, these 26,358 youths would not have presented relief materials to floods victims today.”

Nwogu assured the exmilitants that the materials would get to the victims.

He urged the federal government to assist in reset-

tling the victims when the water recedes.

In Edo State, the Head of Capacity Building in the Amnesty Office, Mr. Joel Bisina, presented the items to the Chairman of the State Relief Committee, Hajia Maimuna Momodu.

Hajia Momodu said she was impressed by the gesture.

She denied allegations that relief materials were being diverted by some persons in the state.

Haajia Momodu said: “For Edo State, I can tell you categorically that there is no diversion. It is not happening.

We treat all victims fairly and take stock in all the camps while distributing the materials.”

Edo recovers N34m from ghost workers

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DO State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Lucky James yesterday said N3.4 million was expended on ghost workers under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

He spoke yesterday on the floor of the House of Assembly while accounting for the ministry’s al-

From Osemwegie Ben, Ogbemudia

location from January to September, 2012.

James said: “We have recovered almost N34 million through SUBEB from ghost workers.

“Many local governments in the past went on a spending spree by breaching the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC)

Law and failing to remit federal government taxes.

“Besides, the 10 per cent of the statutory allocation for the development of local government councils may have been converted to service such debts.”

The commissioner pledged 100 per cent compliance with the House’s resolution on the dissolution of caretaker committees.

•Oshiomhole

We are economically frustrated, Ogoni people tell Amnesty International

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HE people of Bodo in Ogoni, Rivers State, have urged Amnesty International to get justice for them.

They said the spillage of oil in their community from facilities owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has destroyed the people’s means os survival.

The people spoke at the community’s market square, where they gathered to welcome officials of Amnesty International and the

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) .

Officials of the organisations visited oil spillage sites and lamented the level of damage, describing it as inhuman.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Chairman of Bodo Council of Chiefs and Elders, Mr. Mene Kogbara said the people of Bodo had no future because the water where they fish,

their farmland and economic trees and activities had been pdestroyed by oil spillage.

Kogbara said: “Bodo community has no hope, especially when the damage done by Shell has not constituted a discussion at any level of government, not to talk of considering the people for any form of humanitarian assistance.

“We thank Amnesty International for visiting our community and inspecting oil spillage sites, which have attracted international

concern and reactions.

“We are giving you our total support in the cause of this struggle to force Shell to pay compensation to the community.

“You have shown that Bodo is in your heart by personally coming to see the realities of the suffering of our people.

Secretary-General, Amnesty International, Mr. Salil Shetty said: “We are here to give you all the necessary support and we have decided to fight for you.”

HE Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal will begin fresh hearing on the petition filed by Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.

Airhiavbere is challenging Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s re-election.

The reconstituted tribunal is headed by Justice Muhammed. A. Pindiga.

The members are Justices Olotoregun Ishola and A. I. Kutigi.

The members of the dissolved panel were Justices Suleiman Ambrusa, Esor Teetito and Danlami Senchi .

The Justice Ambrusa-led panel was dissolved following a petition to the Nigerian Judicial Commission (NJC) by Counsel to Airhiavbere, Efe Akpofure.

Akpofure alleged that the panel had been compromised.

Justice Ambrusa on September 27 ruled that Airhiavbere’s petition as regards Oshiomhole’s academic qualification was a pre-election matter.

He struck out several paragraphs in the petition and left only paragraph 8, which dealt with the allegation of irregularities and rigging during the conduct of the election.

Airhiavbere appealed against the tribunal’s ruling.

Rainstorm wrecks havoc in Ibadan From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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ESIDENTS of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, are still counting their losses after Monday’s rainstorm.

About 200 buildings, filling stations, shops and worship centres were destroyed by the rainstorm across the 11 local government areas in Ibadan.

Electricity poles belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and some trees fell during the rain, which started around 6:30pm.

Fallen trees, high-tension wires and poles littered the ground, causing panic and traffic gridlock around the city.

PHCN Principal Public Relations Manager, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Jide Oyenuga said officials of the company were working to restore the damaged power installations.

He said the company was awaiting the final survey report on the damage.

Areas affected by the rainstorm include Ring-Road, Akinyemi, Oke-Ayo, OdoOna, Apata, Bembo, NNPC, Owode, Iyaganku Quarters, Wire and Cable and parts of Ibadan Northwest and Southwest councils.

At the New Garage in Owode, 50 people were almost hurt when the storm carried the canopy they were hiding under.

An Apata resident, Tunde Adedeji, said: “We are grateful to God that no life was lost in the violent rainstorm. The only problems, as you can see, are the damaged buildings across the city.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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FORIEGN Poland found explosives on wreckage of president’s plane

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ITHOUT citing sources, the newspaper said prosecutors and explosive experts who examined the remains of the plane in Russia found signs of TNT and nitroglycerin on the wings and in the cabin, including on 30 seats.

Traces of explosives were also found in the area where the Tu-154 crashed during its approach to a small airport near the Russian city of Smolensk on April 10, 2010, the daily reported.

Poland’s military prosecutor’s office plans to respond to the report later on Tuesday, its spokesman said.

Russian investigators had blamed the Polish crew for trying to land in heavy fog, while their Polish counterparts also said the airport controllers should not have allowed the plane to attempt an approach.

UN urges foreign fishing fleets to halt ‘ocean grabbing’

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HE report said emerging nations should tighten rules for access to their waters by an industrial fleet that is rapidly growing and includes vessels from China, Russia, the EU, the U.S. and Japan.

“Ocean-grabbing is taking place,’’ Olivier de Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food and the report’s author, told Reuters.

“It’s like land-grabbing, just less discussed and less visible.’’

The 47-page report on “Fisheries and the Right to Food,’’ which said 15 per cent of all animal protein consumed worldwide is from fish, will be presented to the UN General Assembly.

De Schutter said ocean grabbing involved “shady access agreements that harm small-scale fishers, unreported catch, incursions

into protected waters, and the diversion of resources away from local populations.’’

The report cited the example of islands in the western and central Pacific that get only about six per cent of the value of a three billion dollars tuna fishery off their coasts, while foreign fishing fleets get the rest.

Equally, Guinea-Bissau nets less than two per cent of the value of the fish caught off its coast under a deal with the EU. De Schutter said some countries where industrial fleets were based were already taking steps to tighten laws.

“What’s getting worse is that the capacity of industrial fishing fleets is increasing,’’ he said.

Governments give an estimated 30 to 34 billion dollars in subsidies to fishing

each year.

That money is often spent on boat-building or fuel that skews competition.

“We need to do more to reduce the capacity of the industrial fishing fleets and to manage the fish stocks in a much more sustainable way,’’ said de Schutter.

Food security is also at risk from threats such as climate change and pollution, he said.

De Schutter said aqua-culture was disproportionately concentrated in Asia which is responsible for 88 per cent of all production.

“Extremely little has been done in Africa and Latin America in particular. There is a huge potential there,’’ he said.

Fisheries received less attention than farming, he suggested, partly because the sector employed only about

200 million people globally, and by contrast, the world has 1.5 billion small-scale farmers.

The report said that local fishing was more efficient and less wasteful than industrial fishing, urging measures to promote small-scale fishing such as the creation of “artisanal fishing zones’’.

“Small-scale fishers actually catch more fish per gallon of fuel than industrial fleets, and discard fewer fishes,’’ it said. It praised some measures which have already been taken to promote local fishing, such as in Cambodia’s biggest lake or off the Maldives.

Estimates of the scale of illegal catches range from 10 to 28 million tonnes, while some 7.3 million tonnes, or almost 10 per cent of global wild fish catches were discarded as unwanted

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•African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs Dr. Aisha Abdullahi (left) with Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Dr. Ibrahim Maiyaki, who visited her in Addis Ababa …yesterday.

Syrian jets bomb area near Homs to break rebels’ siege

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WO rebels were killed and 10 wounded at alMubarkiyeh, a village six km south of Homs, where rebels have besieged a compound guarding a tank maintenance facility, they said.

Opposition sources said the facility had been used to shell Sunni Muslim villages

near the Lebanese border.

There was no word on Syrian army casualties in the fighting, which followed a failed four-day truce proposed by peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to mark the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday.

The truce lasted only a few hours and Eid al-Adha ended on Monday with a wave of

air strikes on Sunni regions where rebels have slowly made gains, just as clashes raged on across the country.

“The warplanes hit alMubarkiyeh five times this morning. Army bulldozers had already razed the village in March,’’ said activist Nader al-Husseini by telephone from near the area.

Syria’s military, stretched

thin by the struggle to keep control, have made increasing use of air power against opposition areas, including those in the main cities of Damascus and Aleppo.

Insurgents lack effective anti-aircraft weapons.

Al-Mubarkiyeh was one several Sunni areas in and around Homs flattened by the army after troops cap-

tured the rebel-held Baba Amr neighbourhood in February.

Rebels have since re-established a foothold in nearby farmland, trying to cut army supply lines.

Most of Homs’s one million residents have fled since the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad began in March.

Strike-hit Lonmin to raise $800m for recovery

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TRIKE-hit South African miner Lonmin, the world’s third-largest platinum producer, plans to raise 800 million dollars from investors to help slash debt and finance recovery after six weeks of strikes.

The strike left 46 people dead.

In August Lonmin’s Marikana mine was the scene of South Africa’s most violent episode since the end of apartheid, when po-

lice shot dead 34 people involved in the labour strife battering the country’s already beleaguered platinum industry.

Most of Lonmin’s miners have since returned to work, but the producer - which even before the walk-outs and illegal strikes had one of the most stretched balance sheets in the platinum sector, said it had lost 110,000 ounces of production, forcing it to scale back

THE development comes as a sign the neutral Nordic states are ready for more cooperation with the Western alliance.

Iceland, a NATO member without its own air force, had asked Finland and Sweden to help the alliance monitor its airspace.

The move has been politically sensitive, particularly in Finland where many fear it would breach the country’s neutrality and provoke neighbouring Russia.

“Finland will inform Iceland’s government that we are willing to participate in Iceland’s air space surveillance in 2014, together with Sweden,”Katainen said at a meeting of Nordic leaders in Helsinki.

His conservative National Coalition party favours closer cooperation with NATO to strengthen national security.

Bahrain bans protests as violence grows

Biden, Clinton pick up campaign mantle for storm-hit Obama RESIDENT Barack Obama on Monday passed the campaign banner to Vice President Biden and former President Bill Clinton, returning to Washington to address the storm pounding the U.S. East Coast.

The storm is coming just days before the presidential election.

Obama during the exercise in Ohio, said Biden and the man he has anointed his “Secretary of Explaining Stuff”, former President Bill Clinton lead the campaign in the push for battleground state.

Biden and Clinton joined forces at a rally in the key battleground state of Ohio, where they sought to keep alive the Obama campaign strategy of combining rallies and other personal contact with a push for early voting by Democrats ahead of the Nov. 6 election.

Obama cut short a campaign trip to Florida to deal with Hurricane Sandy, threatening much of the East Coast.

“We went to Florida last night and he got up this morning and called me and said, ‘I have to go back right now. This storm is getting out of hand, I have to handle it,” Clinton told the crowd of 4,800 at the Covelli Centre, an ice rink in Youngstown.

“And I said ‘Mr. President that is the right call’.”

Clinton evoked Obama through stories and jokes, personalising the president while running through a list of arguments against Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

He joked that the audience was “stuck” with him because his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, “has one of the two jobs in the government that doesn’t permit you to be in politics.”

Ohio is one of the “epicenters” of the election, according to Biden, and both Obama and Romney had planned on blanketing the state in the final days leading up to the election.

Finland, Sweden to help NATO in Iceland air policing

plans to boost output and sales.

Lonmin said efforts to ramp up after weeks of strikes were progressing better than expected, but the push and a rebuilding of stocks would swell its debt in the short term.

That meant it would have breached current loan covenants at the end of March 2012, even if higher-than-expected sales of stockpiled platinum help it meet a test

of covenants this November, prompting the miner to turn to investors for a cash boost.

“We believe 800 million dollars is the right quantum to support the plan we have in place. It will put the company in a position where it can reduce its current debt levels and manage the business on a stable platform,” acting chief executive Simon Scott told reporters.

Analysts had speculated

that Lonmin could raise as much as 1.5 billion dollars,virtually its current market value, after it warned in August that it could turn to investors for cash.

On Tuesday, Lonmin said it would raise less than half that in gross terms, meaning the number includes fees paid to underwriting banks that are expected to include its advisers JP Morgan and Citigroup.

“THE state has endeavoured to protect freedom of opinion and expression by permitting marches and gatherings, but there have been repeated violations and breaches of the law by those taking part in the activities organised by a number of political groups led by the Wefaq Islamic Association,’’ said a statement by Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.

The ban comes two days after a large pro-democracy rally in Shiite-dominated al-Akr village to demand more rights from the ruling Sunni al Khalifa monarchy.

In mid-October the interior ministry said a policeman was killed and another seriously injured when their patrol was attacked with petrol bombs outside al-Akr. Authorities last year imposed a state of emergency for almost three months after mass protests

by Bahrain’s Shiite majority.

Iran starts renewed war games THE military manoeuvres by the ground and airborne forces of the regular army are aimed at maintaining the readiness of the armed forces for countering international military threats, the report said.

Iran, especially the country’s revolutionary guards, have recently increased military exercises as international tensions grow over its alleged nuclear weapons programme, with Israeli officials saying they have not ruled out military strikes.

Iranian generals have several times warned that in the event of an Israeli attack, the country would deploy its missiles, which with a range of 2,000 km could strike Israel.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

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FORIEGN Indian airline passenger gets life-term for hijack hoax

Nigerian youth convicted over rush hour killing in UK A Nigerian youth, Junior Bayode has been convicted at the Old Bailey Court in the United Kingdom for murder of a teenager at a railway station. He was the 17th youth found guilty of station stabbing. Sixteen others, including four Nigerians had earlier been jailed, reports The Times of London

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HE last of 17 youths was on October 24 convicted over the killing of a teenager in front of commuters at a busy railway station, in an attack that was planned on Facebook.

Sofyen Belamouadden, 15, was hunted down and stabbed to death in a “brutal and merciless” attack, thought to be the largest joint enterprises case of its kind.

His killers used the internet and BlackBerry Messenger to plan their assault at Victoria railway station in Central London, arming themselves with a range of weapons including a samurai sword and knives purchased from Argos. One told a friend “there’s going to be a madness.

Sofyen was chased by up to 20 youths from a rival school before he fell down the stairs into the Underground ticket hall, where he was cornered and stabbed to death during the rush hour.

Scores of commuters witnessed the attack on March 25, 2010, in which Sofyen suffered nine stab

wounds and was struck, kicked and punched countless times.

Junior Bayode, 19, was found guilty on October 24 at the Old Bailey of manslaughter and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm after the jury heard that he was one of the teenagers armed with a knife.

The Jury failed to reach a decision on a count of murder after 17 hours of deliberation and he may face a retrial on that charge. Bayode, who was 16 at the time, denied the charge and claimed that he had tried to stop his gang getting out of control.

He was the 20th defendant to be tried and the 17th to be convicted for his part in the killing. Sixteen others have already been jailed for a total of 129 years after five trials spanning nearly two years comprising the biggest case the Crown Prosecution Service has ever dealt with.

They include Victoria Osoteku, the only female who played a “pivotal role” by helping to set up the confrontation on Facebook and buying the $3.99 knife set

• Osoteku

•Bayode

‘Witnesses who saw the attacking group arrive on buses before chasing Sofyen said that they had a “pack mentality” and an “indescribable” level of aggression’ that was used to stab Sofyen.

Osoteku, then 18, who was seen on CCTV kicking Sofyen in the head as he lay dying on the ground, was sentenced to 12 years in April after being found guilty of manslaughter.

Three other youths were jailed for manslaughter, and Obi Nwokeh, 20, Christopher Omoregie and Samson Odegbune, both 19, were found guilty of murder

•Sofyen

and each sentenced to detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure-- the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years.

Nine other youths received sentences for lesser offences and three were acquitted.

Amari Wood, 18, was found guilty of violent disorder but was released before the London Olympics, where he worked as a steward.

The Old Bailey was told that the killing was the result of “simmering tensions” between pupils at St. Charles sixth form college in Ladbroke Grove, West London, and teenagers from Henry Compton School in Fulham, where Sofyen was studying.

Mark Heywood, QC, for the prosecution, said that the heavily armed group viewed the railway station as their

turf and planned the attack to exact revenge for a “trivial slight” the previous day. The argument, which was thought to be over a girl, had arisen at a rave the previous Christmas.

Witnesses who saw the attacking group arrive on buses before chasing Sofyen said that they had a “pack mentality” and an “indescribable” level of aggression. Odegbune was the only one of the killers with previous convictions and many had good prospects until the became involved in the “beef”, or fight. The group included the sons of a pastor and a teacher.

Sofyen, a Year 10 student, was studying for his GCSEs and had dreamt of becoming a professional footballer. He was taken to St. Thomas Hospital after the attack but could not be saved.

DECLARATION OFAGE I, Abdul, Razak Olajide Akanmu Kayode, that I was informed by my parents Mr. Mukaila Aremu Beyioku & Mrs. B.A. Beyioku (Nee.I.A. Adeoye) that I was born on the 2 nd day of March, 1972 in Kano State of Nigeria. Birth certificate obtained then got missing in transit all efforts to trace it proved abortive. General public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The general public is hereby informed of Loss of Letter of Land Allocation issued by Land Use &Allocation Committee,Lagos State Lands Bureau with File No Ref:- LU/2005/LEKKI.II/ BL./PL dated09TH Nov ,2005 got lost in transit.It belongs to OLAYERA FAWOLE of Block 55 Plot 1 Lekki Pennisula II. Lagos State Lands Bureau and General public note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

POPOOLA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Popoola Omobolaji Morenikeji Sherifat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ettu Omobolaji Morenikeji Sherifat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Miss HALIMA FAROUK SULEIMAN wrongly spelt my name as HALEEMA instead of HALIMA during May – June WAEC and JAMB registration, 2012.

I urge the authorities concerned, AL-HIKMAH UNIVERSITY and the general public to take note.

A COURT in New Delhi on Tuesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for prompting a hijack scare on an Indian airline, news reports said.

Jitender Mohla, a 45-yearold chartered accountant, entered the cockpit of a flight from Goa to New Delhi in February 2009, claiming to have a gun and needles.

He also said that he was one of the accused members of a team that hijacked an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in 1999.

The pilot alerted authorities that the plane was being hijacked and made an emergency landing.

After questioning, Mohla’s claims were found to be a hoax.

Indian media said the sentence was unusually harsh but the judge excoriated Mohla for his “terrifying act”’.

“Even if it is presumed that he (Mohla) had no such intention to hijack the aircraft, it must be attributed that he knew he was on board a flight carrying 160 passengers and his terrifying act, could endanger the safety of the passengers as well as the aircraft in flight,’’ district judge I.S. Mehta said.

Iran’s warships dock in Sudan TWO people were killed after fire broke out late on Tuesday at the Yarmouk arms factory in the south of Khartoum.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed Belal Osman said four military planes attacked the Yarmouk plant and Israel was behind it.

Asked by Israel’s Channel Two News about Sudan’s accusations, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said, “There is nothing I can say about this subject.’’

IRNA said the helicopter carrier Khark and the destroyer Shahid Naqdi were carrying “the message of peace and friendship to neighbouring countries and were ensuring security for shipping lanes against marine terrorism and piracy’’.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said the vessels docked in Port Sudan on the Red Sea and the fleet’s commanders were scheduled to meet Sudanese navy commanders.

Also on Monday, a fresh fire broke out at the Yarmouk compound, sending white smoke into the air, two witnesses said.

Sudan’s armed forces spokesman was quoted in state media as saying the fire was caused by the spread of flames into different parts of the complex and not by any “hostile action”.

CHANGE OF NAME OKOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOYE CHIOMA LILIAN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKENWA CHIOMA LILIAN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public take note.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

61

NEWS

Egwu, Nwali, others battle to lead Ohanaeze I NTENSE jostling has commenced for the leadership positions in the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

The positions are due to be vacant next month when the tenure of the Amb. Ralph Uwechue-led executive will lapse.

According to the schedule of succession in the organisation, Ebonyi State will produce the next President-General while an Imo indigene will become the Secretary General.

Four names from Ebonyi state are prominently being touted for the top position These are: Former Governor Sam Egwu, Senator Offia Nwali, outgoing Deputy President Chief Gary EnwoIgariwey and Prof. Achara.

Ohanaeze has inaugurated a 14 member committee to oversee the transition.

•Uwechue’s tenure ends November From Chris Oji, Enugu

The members of the committee were drawn two each from the seven Igbo speaking states. Dr. Chris Asoluka (Imo) is chairman. Prince Richard Ozobu (Enugu) will serve as secretary.

An Ohanaeze chieftain said there is a dilemma over who to pick from among the four contestants since all of them have impressive credentials and are committed to the cause of Ndigbo.

However, age is expected to be a key factor as the Ohanaeze strongly believes in the Igbo tradition of respect for elders.

If applied, the pendulum would favour Senator Offia

Nwali, who is the oldest among the contenders.

But if connection and reach is allowed, former Governor Egwu will carry the day.

A chieftain of Ohanaeze, Chief O. A. U. Onyema, who is the chairman of Enugu chapter said the members of the transition committee picked from the seven states are all men of integrity.

He declined to comment on the criteria for choosing the new executive, saying only the transition committee members or members of the Ime Obi can state the criteria.

He said no matter the criteria employed, the Igbo tradition will take precedence.

US declares Sandy storm major disaster Continued from page 2

About a quarter of New York City’s homes and businesses were without power 15 hours after the storm roared ashore accompanied by a nearly 4.2-metre tidal surge that flooded empty subway and highway tunnels.

More than one million people in a dozen states were under orders to evacuate as the massive system plowed westward.

One disaster forecasting company predicted economic losses could ultimately reach $20bn, only half insured.

Trees were downed across the region, falling debris closed a major bridge in Boston, and floodwater and gusts of wind buffeted coastal towns such as Fairfield, Connecticut, home to many commuters into New York City, where police cruisers blocked access to the beaches.

Power and back-up gener-

ators failed at New York University hospital, and patients were being elsewhere for care.

The storm’s wind field stretched from the Canadian border to South Carolina, and from West Virginia to an Atlantic Ocean point about halfway between the US and Bermuda, easily one of the largest ever seen.

The National Hurricane Centre said Sandy came ashore as a “post-tropical cyclone”, meaning it still packed hurricane-force winds but lost the characteristics of a tropical storm. It had sustained winds of 129km per hour (kph), well above the threshold for hurricane intensity.

NYSE Euronext remained closed on Tuesday, the first time it has shut as a result of weather for two consecutive days since 1888.

The southern tip of Manhattan where Wall Street and the NYSE are located lost power on Monday after be-

ing buffetted by Sandy, the worst storm to hit New York since at least 1938.

The federal government in Washington was also closed, and so too were schools up and down the East Coast.

Con Edison, New York’s electric utility, said it expected “record-size outages”. The company said it would preemptively shut down transformers in some areas to prevent further damage.

Early on Tuesday morning, US power company Excelon Corp declared an alert at the 615MW Oyster Creek nuclear power reactor in New Jersey due to rising ocean water from Sandy, a spokesman at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said.

An alert is the second lowest of the NRC’s four emergency classifications.

The NRC spokesman said if the flood waters continued to rise, it could affect the reactor’s service water pumps, which are used for shut-down cooling and to cool the spent-fuel pool.

Rivers collecting our oil revenue, says Bayelsa Continued from page 2

ownership or title to such land by the family, clan or community, which must be acknowledged and treated as such. Derivation revenue is not paid to families, clans or communities but to state governments, exercising administrative control over the territory where production takes place.

“The government of Bayelsa State has through its consultants verified and computed all such derivation monies wrongly paid to or received

by Rivers State over the years.

“We condemn the deliberate and mischievous attempt to link the President to what is clearly an exercise of Bayelsa State Government’s right.

“The government of Rivers State itself has made several such claims of wrongful payments of derivation monies and has severally received refund in deserving cases. The questions to be answered by Rivers State government are as follows: Is the Rivers State government saying that because the President is from Bayelsa State, it therefore means that the state should sleep over its rights and enti-

tlements?

“Or was Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Vice President and President of Nigeria in 1992 and 2000 when these maps were produced?

“What about the refunds received by the Rivers State government from other states that such funds were wrongly paid to? Should we then associate the refunds with the Presidency?

“We take serious exception to the antics of the Rivers State government in its attempt to always blackmail the President in a bid to gain unnecessary advantage.

“The facts remain that all the relevant maps - the administrative map of Nigeria 10th edition produced in 1992 and the 11th edition produced in 2000 were clearly produced long before Dr. Goodluck Jonathan became the Vice President and later President.

“It is therefore pertinent to state that no amount of blackmail or propaganda will deter the government of Bayelsa State from pursuing its legitimate rights and entitlements under the law.

“We wish to assure our

•Dickson

good brothers in Rivers State not to allow themselves to be used for cheap blackmail or any form of propaganda against the President and Bayelsa State.

“Let it be clearly stated that the government of Bayelsa State is not interested in annexing Kalabari clan, as it is being alleged, for the purpose of claming derivation entitlements or any other purpose whatsoever.

“We therefore request the government of Rivers State to tender an unreserved apology to Mr. President and the government of Bayelsa State over its unguarded, mischievous and misleading statements, which clearly are calculated to disparage the Presidency and incite violence between the two states.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

62

SPORT EXTRA

Port- Harcourt venue of NFF’s AGA threatened N IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) may have concluded plans to shift its Annual General Assembly from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to another state as a result of the allegation of corruption leveled against the Football house by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

There has been has been no love lost between the NFF and the Governor since he made the statement in his speech delivered last Monday during the presidential Retreat on Sports called for by President Goodluck Jonathan.

NatioSports, however, scooped from a close source

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

to the Football house that the body is demanding for a public apology from Governor Amaechi before finally accepting to hold the AGA already fixed for November 22nd, 2012 there.

The Chief Media Officer of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, however, dispel the rumour of boycotting Port Harcourt for another venue despite the glaring facts on ground that the Football Federation is

irked by Governor Amaechi alleged corrupt statement on the NFF. “The NFF Annual General Assembly will come up on November 22nd, 2012. The initial venue was Port Harcourt but in a few days the NFF will either confirm or say something else. As of now it is Port Harcourt that has been on the (NFF) table to host the 2012 Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation. Arrival is on the 21st of November, 2012 while depar-

ture is on the 23rd of November 2012. So within 24 to 48 hours there will be final confirmation of the venue by the NFF”, Olajire disclosed.

Olajire however disclosed further that the relationship between the Governor Amaechi and the NFF is cordial. “The relationship between the Governor and the NFF is cordial. The plan A for the NFF AGA is Port Harcourt, the plan B is Port Harcourt while the plan C is on the table”, he summed up.

Williams sisters to empower women, young girls

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AGOS, Nigeria, 30 October, 2012: Always, a brand of Procter & Gamble Nigeria, is supporting the visiting Williams Sisters to empower women and young girls to believe in themselves in a bid to achieve their full potential in life.

The Williams sisters: Venus and Serena are international tennis stars who arrived Lagos yesterday as part of the African ‘Breaking the Mould’ tour; a programme that aims to empower women and young girls to believe in themselves and achieve their full potential. Serena and Venus Williams embody the meaning of “Mould Breakers”

as the story of their lives exemplifies how determination, passion, hard work and self-belief can turn dreams into reality.

On 1 November 2012, the duo will partner with feminine hygiene brand Always for a joint girls empowerment event at the Government Secondary School in Osborne, Ikoyi. Together, Always and the Williams sisters aim to empower girls and inspire them to live their life to the fullest by: stressing the idea of sisterhood and that girls teaming up and supporting each other may achieve great things; teaching young girls the value of hard work, pas-

sion, determination and selfbelief and leading by best example that neither colour or gender shall be reason enough to hold girls back and keep them from wanting the best in life and succeed.

Venus and Serena Williams will provide the school girls with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only meet their idols but also be inspired and empowered by them. The William sisters will attend an Always puberty education class and talk to the girls before performing with the schoolgirls the Always song “Little Big Steps” to empower them through a shared singing and dancing experience.

• Serena Williams

AHEAD 18TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

MOC, technical committee embark on final facilities inspection for Eko 2012

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HE Main Organisation Committee (MOC) and the technical committee for the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 will on Thursday November 1 embark on final inspection of facilities for the sporting fiesta.

According to the Secretary General, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Kweku Tandoh, the final inspection of venues that would host the 25 events to be competed at the championship would be inspected to ascertain their readiness.

"Come Thursday November 1, we will be having the final inspection of facilities for the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012.

The inspection is going to be lead by a team from the MOC secretariat, secretaries and technical directors of the sports federations that would be taking part in the festival.

Other relevant sub-committees of the LOC, venues and facilities, accommodation and welfare, catering and feeding and the LOC secretariat itself would be part of the inspection to all the venues that have been listed as venues for the festival,” he said.

Tandoh however, said that on Friday November 2, there would be technical meeting, where all the observations

noticed during the inspection would be harmonized.

He added: “The next day which is Friday November 2, we would be having a meeting which would be referred to as the technical meeting that would discuss observations that may have come up from previous day’s inspections and we will also finalize whatever needs to be finalized between the federations, the MOC and the LOC Secretariat. At the end of the meeting, we will come up with a final document stating the readiness of Lagos State towards hosting the festival.”

On the state’s readiness for the inspection, the LOC scribe said: “I can say Lagos is ready because since last week we have been hosting various states that have been coming for the inspection as the new format that has been set out by the MOC is that the states come on their own at their own time.

But the states’ inspections have been broken into batches, while the first batch came last week.

The second batch is this week before the final inspection and we have been embarking on those inspections with the states. Also, His Excellency, Governor Babatunde Fashola has been receiving a weekly status update as to the level of work in all the venues and we can say that as at today we are already in almost every venue for the festival.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA

Hurricane Sandy threatens Eagles, Venezuela friendly T

• Uche Ikechukwu (R) celebrates with team mate Ahmed Musa

HERE are fears in the Nigeria Football Federation that the much publicised friendly match between the Super Eagles and Venezuela may be threatened by the Hurricane Sandy that have swept through some states in the United States of America venue of the already sealed friendly.

The Head Coach of the Nigerian national team, Stephen Keshi would be worst hit since he has mapped out plans to test some of the Europe based stars that are doing well in their various clubs but that have not been invited for any of the Eagles’ qualifying matches in both the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers which Nigeria had now qualified for or the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

All three major New York Airports were closed yesterday as the effect of the Hurricane Sandy became

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja more in tense as it swept through the heart of the New York as the Hurricane swept through the East Coast of the United States.

16 people have been confirmed dead while 7.5 million homes are experiencing power outage as a result of the Hurricane.

Although Miami is far from New York but there

T

of her departed husband who passed away on 28 September 2009.

The FIFA/CAF Instructor Chief Adegboye Onigbinde according to programme released by the family would be Chairman at the event while a teammate of the deceased Segun Odegbami would deliver a paper in a lecture titled ‘Life After Football: The Road Roughly Travelled’.

The Deputy Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon

Babatunde Olaniyan is expected to grace the event as a special guest of honour while the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Oyo State Dapo Lam-Adesina would also be a special guest at the lecture scheduled for 11: am at D’Rovans Hotel’s Odedeme Hall.

Best Ogedegbe came into limelight during the Nations cup hosted and won by Nigeria in 1980 when he was chosen ahead of the popular Emmanuel Okala

by Coach Otto Gloria who led

the match”, Olajire disclosed.

He also informed that “The friendly match would be played on the 14th of November and the players in Nigeria with the technical crew and officials are scheduled to leave the country on November 11th for Miami. The Europe based players would fly directly from their respective clubs into Miami, USA”, he summed up.

NFF allays fears on Nations Cup budget

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IGERIA Football Federation has made assurances that there would be sufficient funds to prosecute the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations holding between January and February 2013 in South Africa.

Onigbinde, Odegbami for 3rd Best Ogedegbe Memorial Lecture HE families of the late Best Ogedegbe and Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo State Chapter have concluded plans to organise third memorial lecture in remembrance of the former Green Eagles goalkeeper.

The wife of the deceased, Folashade Ogedegbe in Ibadan said the event slated for Tuesday 6Th November became necessary, as it’s about the only occasion put in-place in memory

are fears that it may spread across other parts of the country. The Media officer of the NFF, Ademola Olajire confirmed this fears in a chat with NationSport in Abuja yesterday.

“We are hoping that Hurricane Sandy would not sweep into Miami, United States of America, venue of the friendly match between the Super Eagles and Venezuela. Of course we would have verified that before

Nigeria to her first Nations Cup Gold. He also represented Nigeria at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

A recipient of the M.O.N, Best Ogedegbe was the first choice goalkeeper at IICC Shooting Stars (now 3SC) and was a member of the prestigious IICC squad that won Nigeria’s first continental laurel in 1976, after he proceeded to Abiola Babes of Abeokuta from where he retired from active football to begin a coaching career.

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja There had been speculations that there won’t be enough funds to prosecute the all important AFCON finals in South Africa since the 2013 Budget may not have been in execution stage as at that time. But the spokesman of the Federation, Ademola Olajire has assured that there would be sufficient funds to prosecute Nigeria’s participation in the competition.

“When you are budgeting you will be doing so on possibilities, actualities and probabilities The NFF at no time entertained any fears that Nigeria will not be in the Cup of Nations. Although there is no way one can plan money on a team’s qualification when the team

031

had not even qualified for the competition finals.

“But I can assure you that there is always room for soft landing for a competition of this magnitude. A day after Nigeria qualified for the Cup of Nations the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation had a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission Bolaji Abdullahi and had a very fruitful meeting in Calabar and from that point they started working on Nigeria’s participation in the competition.

“So there is no problem as regards the funding of the Nigerian team in the competition”, Olajire told NationSports in Abuja yesterday.

31-10-12

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

They have all stolen us blind leaving the citizens to ‘manage’ crumbs and still expected to be grateful as the politicians award each other more and more PPPs-Prizes, Profits and Plaques and ‘Best Governorships’’ TONY MARINHO

VOL.7 NO.2,295

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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ASILY the most important and most controversial of all the assumptions for next year’s budget is its crude oil price benchmark. As we all know, for decades now King Crude has, far and away, become the biggest source of public revenue and has since become the central, some would even say virtually the only, pillar of our annual budgets.

Figures from a sampled history of its prices at the New York Mercantile Stock Exchange from December 31, 2005 to this month, shows that this year the prices opened on January 6 at $101.56/barrel, fell to $98.7 in the first week of February, rose to $103.77 third week of February, fell back again to $98.49 on May 4 and closed at $86.28 last week on October 26. This shows volatility in its price but with a trend towards decline.

This volatility and decline has become the source of a sharp dispute between the executive and legislative arms of our Federal Government; whereas the executive says the price should be benchmarked at $75 and the difference of a little over $11 from the current price put aside for the probable rainy day, the National Assembly wants it at $78 (Senate) and $80 (House of Representatives).

As usual, the executive has been on a media blitz in an attempt to convince the public that the federal legislators are either demonstrating economic illiteracy or are being unreasonable - or both. Leading the media onslaught is the Finance and Coordinating Minister herself, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, darling of the West as managing director of the World Bank on sabbatical to her country.

According to the super minister, there are at least five reasons why the benchmark must remain at $75/barrel, actually six reasons if you consider her argument that this price was itself a concession to the hawkish legislators.

The more prudent benchmark, using what she called “oil-price based fiscal rule,” which is “a standard technique commonly used by commodity-dependent countries to protect them against the volatilities of oil,” was $71.

This, she said, was rounded up to $72. However it was, she said, eventually pushed up to $75 after consultations with governors and the National Assembly.

A benchmark of $80, the minister said at a recent press conference would, first of all, lead to excess liquidity which would, in turn, lead to inflation and exchange rate depreciation. Second, the current relatively high oil price on which the legislators are basing their benchmark is, she said, “overly optimistic” because the price is not predicated on any economic fundamentals but is rather based on the current crisis in the Middle East, the world’s biggest source of cheap oil.

Third, the current prices, she said, are not sustainable because of decline in demand occasioned by the recession in Europe, slow growth in America and economic slowdown in China and India, coupled with an increase in supply from new discoveries in Africa and elsewhere and the end of hostilities in Libya.

Fourth, a benchmark of $80, she said, would lead to lower savings which would in turn remove the cushion the country would need should the current price crash, as it did in

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O one should ever again have to cry so plaintively for help as the former Director-General, Centre for Democratic Studies, Prof. Omo Omoruyi, did two days ago before he was flown abroad a second time to treat his recurring cancer. For someone who served his country well at a fairly high level, it was heartrending to see him bemoan his state of utter abandonment.

He singled out his former boss and ex-head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and some of his friends for being indifferent to his plight. They didn’t contribute to his first journey to the United States to treat the cancer that ravaged his body, he said, and they were again uninterested in assuaging his misery as he embarked on what he described as the second journey. Speaking in Benin City shortly before his departure, he also revealed that he had unsuccessfully asked President Goodluck Jonathan for help through Chief

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Between the Presidency and the National Assembly

•Tambuwal

2008 when it eventually bottomed out at $37.71 on December 26, from a peak of $145.29 on July 4.

Finally the higher legislators’ benchmark would, she said, send the wrong signal to foreign investors that we are imprudent and lead to the two international credit agencies that are soon expected in the country – Fitch and Standard & Poor - to downgrade our credit rating which in turn would discourage foreign investors and at the same time make it difficult, if not impossible, for our own local investors to borrow from abroad.

The minister has since been echoed in her criticism of the legislators by, among others, my friend and onetime colleague at the New Nigerian, Abba Dabo, a senior special assistant to the vice-president, and by a non-governmental organisation with the impressive title of Economic Advancement Advocacy Initiative (EAAI), but which is possibly of dubious existence.

Abba not only criticised the legislators on their rejection of the executive’s benchmark.

He went on, in a widely published article last

week, to severely reprimand the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, for seizing the occasion of his moving the National Assembly’s vote of thanks following President Goodluck Jonathan’s presentation of the 2013 budget to generally criticise the President for his style and substance of governance.

On its part, the EAAI not only rehashed several of Okonjo-Iweala’s arguments in a full page advert in several newspapers including Thisday (October 25). It also purported to show that, at $72 per barrel last year, Nigeria had the highest oil price benchmark among most members of OPEC and it also had the lowest foreign reserve ($41.30 billion) among a number of disparate African, Middle-East and Asian countries, including Malaysia ($134.50 billion), Saudi Arabia ($592.30 billion) and China ($3,240.00 billion).

No doubt the executive arm seems to have all the right arguments on its side. In any case it’s difficult, if not impossible, to quarrel with the dictum that one should always save for rainy days. The problem is that with this country the rainy days have always been with us, what with its terrible infrastructure and services in every sector of the economy – security, transport, energy, education, health; name it.

Yet we earn enough revenue from oil alone to make a huge difference in the quality of our infrastructure and services, and still have a little to spare for savings and investment in days stormier than the merely rainy ones.

The trouble is that since oil took over our political-economy as king, the public has never had value for the money their leaders have claimed to have spent on their behalf.

This, and not the size of our savings either as Excess Crude Account or the new-fangled Sovereign Wealth Fund, is the central issue.

Given the volatility of the price of crude oil alone, it makes more eminent sense to have a benchmark of $75 per barrel than of $80 for next year’s budget. The trouble is that experience has shown there has been little or no transparency in the management of the difference between the benchmark and the subsisting prices. Instead, it has become like a slush fund for the executive arm to spend as it likes, at times in cahoots with the

leadership of the legislative arm, at other times in spite of it. As Tambuwal said in his vote of thanks which apparently did not go down well with the Presidency, the public has, for example, never known whether the figures of our foreign reserve we are told include the interests accrued or not.

We are also told little or nothing about the foreign banks that manage those reserves, the criteria used in choosing them and how they manage the reserves and how much we pay them as management fees.

In any case what kind of economics is that which keeps huge sums of its revenues in relatively idle savings and at the same time makes a virtue of borrowing heavily at home and abroad less to invest in profitable ventures than to squander on, among other things, the creature comforts of its leaders – their lavish residences, their frequent and expensive foreign junkets, etc - as is so apparent from the size of our recurrent expenditure?

President Goodluck Jonathan and his super minister of finance and economic coordination are right to push for an oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel for next year’s budget.

But they can only seize the moral high ground from the legislators in their campaign for prudence and transparency in our politicaleconomy if they are seen to make as much, if not even more, sacrifices in how they conduct themselves in and out of office as they demand from the rest of us.

Feedback

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AST week’s piece on Chinua Achebe’s personal history of Biafra elicited well over 100 texts and several emails, as usual some of them sensible and profound, some downright silly and abusive. My original intention was to devote today’s column entirely to my selection of those responses. I changed my mind when I realised it was easier for me to write the piece above than edit the responses in time for my deadline. So I decided to publish only a couple of the texts today and the rest next week. Here they are: Sir, “The Igbo man will spoil a good case with a useless lie”, Achebe wrote in The Arrow of God. The child’s lie of how Igbo politicians were wonderfully lucky on coup day is still boldly told. A grievously wounded North returned! It’s been 40 years of destabilising response and ravage. We have all lost!

Ironically, the North is the worst hit. The madness continues.

Ebelegi Kponam Newton. +2348092856001 Sir, What led to the pogrom is neither here nor there. I was just going through the list of the majors who struck in January 1966 and only one, Ifeajuna, was Ibo. Nzeogwu you know is an Ika. The lie that it was an Ibo coup remains Nigeria’s albatross.

Tony Chigbo. +2348050494477 •For comments, send SMS to 08023211188

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Omoruyi’s second journey

Nigeria. After all, he would not be the first top Nigerian to be abandoned to his fate.

Many sportsmen, artists and intellectuals have also suffered untold privations, sometimes directly at the hands of the government and its agents, and at other times indirectly as a result of unavailability of facilities. The shocking truth about living in Nigeria is that every citizen is on his own. Professor Omoruyi does not need more education to know how alone the Nigerian is. What worried him instead was the undependability of his friends, which his very desperate circumstances made him to appreciate anew.

It is possible the friends the professor said gave him cold shoulder would have something to say in their defence. But even if he exaggerated a little, he should be forgiven, for the parting words of this distraughtly sick patriot described such pathos that only someone with a heart of stone could fail to yield to.

Edwin Clark.

Hear the professor in his own words: “I have been used and dumped, especially by Babangida. Some politicians who don’t like me were also preventing the President from giving me assistance, after I sent a message about my health predicament to him. My cancer is back and I don’t know how it will end. Governor Adams Oshiomhole has graciously come to my aid again. He is the one making it possible for me to commence my second journey. In my book, My journey Back To Life, that is journey number one. It will appear I am starting a second journey, and how this second journey will end, I don’t know. I am going to hospital in the United States to commence a new treatment plan and that treatment plan, how it will end, I do not

know… I am going back to the hospital.

President Goodluck Jonathan should help me. I cried to him through Chief Edwin Clark. There is vindictiveness in the land. I have paid my dues to this country and the country is unfair to me. What did I not do?”

There are yet many people who appreciate the erudite professor’s contributions to nation-building, and who hope he would make it back alive and still enjoy life for many more years. But if he does not return, his parting words should haunt Nigeria for some time. In a tone heavy with anguish and despair, Professor Omoruyi had asked this rhetorical question: “What did I not do?” The problem is not what he didn’t do, or what anyone else needed to do. The problem is that it rarely matters what anyone does in

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