September 12, 2014

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Boko Haram: North lists its case against Jonathan ACF gives Federal Govt wake-up call on security

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HE North unleashed yesterday a blistering criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of “insensitivity.”

The North’s apex sociopolitical organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF), is not pleased with Dr. Jonathan’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

The ACF listed its grouses against the President and his administration in “an open letter to Mr. President on security situation in the North” . The letter is signed by the ACF Chairman, Al-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

haji Ibrahim Coomassie, a former Inspector General of Police, and Secretary JIP Ubah, a retired colonel.

The ACF described as worrisome, Jonathan’s “nonchalance attitude to the plight of northerners, whose area has suffered gruesome murders and arsons from the extremist sect since 2009.”

It expressed fears that in spite of the emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, towns and villages are being sacked, people maimed and killed while Nigeria’s ter-

SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS

INSIDE

•Jonathan insensitive to Northeast plight •Maiduguri almost cut off •No decisive action to expose, contain and resolve Boko Haram •Govt shifts blame to opposition instead of taking action •Military thinly deployed without arms and ammunition •Govt’s refusal to probe allegations against individuals indicted •Failure to implement recommendations of panels •Attitude of President to Chibok girls’ abduction appalling •Treating Sheriff as a super star •Suspicious killing of Gen. Shuwa •No action taken on attacks on prominent northerners •National emergency declared on Ebola, not on Boko Haram •Military without adequate manpower and equipment

•Military deploys 500 more troops •’We left our kids behind fleeing from insurgents’ •Military yet to activate reserve list •Maiduguri will not fall, says DHQ

ritories are being seized by a group of insurgents.

“There has been no decisive action to expose, contain and resolve the Boko Haram insurgency”, the ACF alleged, adding that “the attitude of Mr.

echoed by Stephen Davis against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and others ; and •implement recommen-

President towards the plight of the missing (Chibok) girls is, to say the least, appalling and un presidential.”

The ACF gave a three-point way forward. They are: •Jonathan should put a “halt

to the brazen seizure of Nigerian territories and confront the insurgents decisively;” •He should constitute a high powered team to investigate persistent allegations of complicity now

•AND MORE ON PAGE S 4&5 GES

Continued on page 4

Oil giant grabs contract from local company •Fed Govt cautioned on Local Content Act

By Simeon Ebulu, Group Business Editor

L

OCAL oil firms are worried that some multinationals are bent on killing their businesses.

Some foreign firms, said the local companies, are sabotaging the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Act, which is to ensure that some jobs are ceded to them.

One of such jobs is the multi-million dollar maintenance service contract for Gas Turbines and Related Equipment for OB/OB, Ebocha and Kwale gas plants belonging to ENI, the Nigerian subsidiary of the Italian firm Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

NAOC is said to have given the job to General Electric (GE), another foreign company – to undermine the provisions of the Local Content Act. Arco Petrochemical Engineering company Plc, an indigenous company, is a party to the contract.

WHEN WILL THE The five-year mainteCHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON nance contract was awarded by the Board of APRIL 15 BE

?

FREED?

Continued on page 4

•NO WAY: Kuje traders protesting the location of an Ebola centre at the Kuje General Hospital in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•EBOLA SCARE AT LAGOS AIRPORT P8 •HOUSE OF REPS ASPIRANT SHOT DEAD P9

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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‘Fed Govt m

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (left),displaying his new e-Passport; his wife, Bisi ; and Deputy Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Ekiti State Command, Mr. Makun Samuel during the collection of the newly introduced e-Passport at the Immigration Office, Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

It was 150 days yesterday since the Chibok girls were seized by Boko Haram in their dormitory at the government secondary school. A lot has happened between then and now. But, activists believe little has happened in getting the girls back home, reports GRACE OBIKE, Abuja

•Mrs Ezekwesili speaking with members of the BBOG in Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

H •From left: Chairman, Adam Global Holdings, Dr Tahir Akhtar, Chief Executive Officer, Quilox, Mr. Shina Peller and Mrs Abiola Peller, during the African Entertainment Personality of the year Award bestowed on Mr. Peller in London.

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor's Office, Mr. Michael Ola Dawodu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operative, Dr. Yakub Olajide Basorun; Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operative, Prince Gbolahan Lawal and representative of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa during the Artisanal Fishing Input Service delivery programe in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL.

•Minister of Information Labaran Maku speaking at a joint ministerial media briefing to announce the partnership between Dettol and the Ministry of Health on a public enlightenment campaign to fight the spread of theEbola Virus Disease in Abuja...yesterday. With him ( from left) are: Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Minister of State for Health, Dr.Khaliru Alhassan; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu a. INSET: Marketing Director for West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili demonstrating six steps hand washing method to prevent illness causing germs.

OW time flies. It looks likes yesterday that Nigerians woke up to the sad news that over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, a sleepy town in Borno State, were abducted. It actually was 150 days after yesterday. Another day will be added to it by the end of today and there are fears that the months will keep multiplying and the girls will still not be back. Activists yesterday said for this not to happen government must triple its step.

The #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) Movement issued a declaration in Abuja yesterday to mark the 150th day since the girls were seized. The group demanded that the government should fish out Boko Haram sponsors in high places.

BBOG said corruption and treason in high places sap the capacity to defend the country’s sovereignty and should not be allowed.

The group added that, if government has not been carrying out its primary purpose of security and welfare, citizens should come together to create conditions under which they can solve their problems on their own.

The BBOG declaration signed by Hadiza Bala Usman, Oby Ezekwesili and 61 other members of the Abuja BBOG group, said the culture of violence must be redressed.

The statement reads: “On this 150th Day since the abduction of the Chibok girls, we members of the #BringBackOurGirls Movement sign this Declaration and call on all Nigerians to do the same so that we can come together to save the Nation. Our advocacy has always been for a singular purpose, that our Government and security agencies act to save the girls and all other Nigerians in distress. The response from them has not yielded the result that most Nigerians want. The reality on the ground today is that the terrorists are well armed, they are motivated and they seem to have a game plan for carving out their vision of an Islamic Caliphate from Nigeria and its neighbours.

This must never happen. Over and above the Chibok Girls, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Nigerians are in danger of falling into organised bondage, torture and death at the hands of the terrorists.

“This is happening because our armed forces are not sufficiently armed or motivated to fight the terrorists. The result is that the rampaging insurgents are conquering more and more of Nigerian territory. With over three million Nige-

rians displaced from their homes by the ravaging terrorists, no sane person can question the capability challenges that our armed forces have.

It is clear today that our call for action was not heeded because the capacity to act had diminished. Yet, we cannot continue to go down the path of the dismemberment of the country. We must re-conquer and reclaim lost territories as well as reestablish sovereignty over the nation and security for our people. The President must show leadership in this process or else we will fall into the dangers associated with alternative action that could lead to chaos or further loss of our sovereignty.

“Dangers: If Government does not act quickly and effectively, the danger we face is that of communities arming themselves through local militia. Already, we saw signs of these last week when a massive congregation of hunters, ex-servicemen and civilian JTF in Maiduguri demanded for arms to saave their communities from the terrorists.

They declared that given the evident challenge within the military, they should be allowed to procure arms and save their community from the terrorists. This solution might appear viable but we believe it is a dangerous one. We must take on board the contemporary lessons we have learnt from arming militia to fight a cause in Libya and Syria.

Yes they can start the fight and even achieve early successes but they will not stop the fight and allow the state to operate subsequently thus creating anarchy in the land. We cannot afford to take the risk of arming the militia because they can become just as bad as the terrorists.

“We also do not have the option of relying on the Western powers to solve our problems. We have invited the Western countries to join us in the search and rescue operation of the Chibok girls but although they came, they have made it clear that the core work is our responsibility, which we have to carry out.

They have also said that they cannot work with our military so clearly we have to rely on our own armed forces.

“Best Solution: The best option really is that dictated by article 14:2(b) of our Constitution that “the secu-

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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NEWS

must rescue the Chibok girls’

rity and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. If government has not been carrying out its primary purpose, we should come together to create conditions under which we can solve our problems. Serious allegations made against people in high places who have been helping the enemy must be investigated sincerely and the guilty punished. We cannot allow corruption and treason in high places sap our capacity to defend our sovereignty.

“We must rebuild the capability and confidence of our armed forces.

At the same time, we as citizens need to play our role in creating the conditions for recovery. In the past, our armed forces have proven their mettle even in global warfare where they were in foreign terrains from the Second World War through the Congo to more recent successes in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Our armed forces have also, during the Civil War, successfully saved our country from dismemberment. We must rebuild those armed forces of our past to ensure that we have a future. “#BringBackOurGirls as a Milestone: One poignant milestone in our history was that fateful Monday

of April 14th 2014 when Nigerians woke up to the news of yet another heart-rending carnage at Nyanya Motor Park after the detonation of a bomb leading to the death of over 70 people and over 100 people injured.

That same night, nearly 300 schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok, Borno State. They were in their secondary school preparing for their WAEC examinations. This act was to traumatise not just Nigerians but the whole world. Why would anybody abduct innocent teenagers preparing for their exams and keep them in bondage for so long? That event led to the emergence of our movement and our continuous campaign for 135 days has played no small part in drawing attention to the capability challenges facing our state and its armed forces. Our point is not to say that we were right, but that we have a collective interest in addressing our challenges.

“Citizens’ Approach as the Way Forward: Nigeria is confronting asymmetrical warfare, which requires a more concerted and comprehensive approach to defeat terrorism.

The State and its security agencies must cultivate the civilian population to become allies in the struggle. Intelligence is a key factor in ensuring

success and sourcing timely intelligence requires close collaboration with communities. It is clear to all that the Nigerian security apparatus is at its weakest strength and capability at this historical point when we need them most.

“Rebuilding the strength and capability of our security agencies is a national commitment that government and citizens must support.

Nonetheless, the Nigerian public is concerned that the resources allocated to our security apparatus (N922 billion in 2012, N1 trillion in 2013 & N845 billion in 2014) do not seem to correspond with the results delivered by those at the frontline that are prosecuting the war against terror. While it is understandable that security operations are mostly classified, citizens believe that some degree of transparency, accountability and disclosure is essential to gaining public confidence and achieving optimal results. Even more important, if there is a generalised system of corruption and leakages in administering security budgets, just throwing money at the problem will not produce the desired results.

“New Approach to Security Governance: Nigeria needs to develop

a new approach to security governance. Developing local agency in security provisioning must be central to this new approach. One element of the new approach is getting security agencies to collaborate closely with local communities. We need to significantly expand and institutionalise community policing in the country. A pact, a bond must be developed between security agencies and the people in executing the war against terror. The second element is that communities should be encouraged to set up Community Safety Groups / Neighbourhood Watch Groups to help promote the fight on terror.

Community members know their communities better than the security agencies. They need to take an interest and connect with security organisations. There needs to be support and protection for the communities that are supporting the security agencies. Most importantly, the source of information emanating from communities must be protected to ensure that there are no reprisal attacks against such communities.

“The insurgency that is challenging our society today has arisen because we as a society have allowed

extremist ideas to develop, grow and fester. All of us; governments, religious institutions, the private sector, communities and families as well as civil society groups have a collective responsibility to ensure that extremist ideas are contested and delegitimized. Our religious leaders in particular have the onerous responsibility of ensuring that radical interpretations are countered. We must all invest more resources – theological, ideological, and philosophical, communications, financial and institutional in promoting peace education. Peace education will help to redress the culture of violence and aggression that has developed in our society.

We need to continuously inculcate the value of peaceful coexistence and non-violent orientation on every Nigerian citizen.

“Finally, the very important sub regional dimension of our insurgency crisis has thrown up some curious developments for us as citizens. What exactly are the Governments of Chad and Cameroun doing right, that produces their widely reported successful strikes against the terrorists that we read every so often? This surely calls for deep reflection.”

ICT, electricity are key to Nigeria’s development, says Indian envoy

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ITH an investment worth more than $19.5 billion, India still believes its coverage in business and investment in Nigeria is low and wants to do more. The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr A.R. Ghanashyan, said there is need for investors to explore trade potential in areas such as Information Technology (IT), agriculture and healthcare.

The envoy spoke at the maiden Diplomatic Dialogue Series (DDS) organised by the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI), a non-profit organisation, to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and investment community of its international partners. The event was held at Metropolitan Club in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Given its vast arable land and population, Ghanashyan said Nigeria should be the hub for foreign direct investment, noting that there are opportunities in agriculture and ICT, which are not being harnessed.

To set the pace for irreversible growth, he said there must be adequate electricity to power the engine of economy.

He said: “To make Nigeria work, there has to

By Wale Ajetunmobi

be electricity. We have identified specific area of economy that India can partner with Nigeria to achieve faster growth, which include power sector, industry, education and, in specific term, IT. We have a standard from which we can borrow in terms of what we have achieved with ICT in India. There is need to also explore more opportunities in agricultural sector to make Nigeria the food basket of Africa.”

While noting that Indians are the largest employers of labour after the Federal Government, the envoy said the presence of Indian companies in Nigeria before its independence demonstrated the importance the South Asian country attached to development of Nigeria.

He added that his country would always be willing to improve on its investment in Nigeria without publicity about it. He urged the government to revolutionise IT and introduce it into the curriculum of the preparatory school, saying: “Nigeria can only use IT as a good element for its steady growth if government allows pu-

pils in preparatory schools to be taken classes in IT, because the brain of children works optimally at that stage and those kids can grow up to use IT to solves different problems.”

Ghanashyan said the country must embrace innovation, stressing that any nation that does not innovate would be redundant and become unproductive. “I believe there is so much intellectual wealth in Nigeria, which is not being harnessed,” he added.

Taiwo Oyedele, Head of Tax and Corporate Advisory Services, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), said the growing GDP and population make Nigeria as lucrative market in Africa. He said area of economic partnership between India and Nigeria must be specifically based on IT, entertainment, healthcare and tourism.

To increase the bilateral trade, Oyedele said both countries must identify areas of mutual interest and break the barrier of culture and language to achieve the growth.

Chief Executive Officer of the NLI, Dr. Yinka Oyinlola, in his address, said the body

floated DDS to create a platform where diplomacy would mean business and bilateral investment. He said the dialogue would be based on the objective to improve trade between Nigeria and other countries.

Onyinlola said: “Our motivation for organizing this event is to ensure that we foster relationships not only with the countries of the North, but also with nations in Southern hemisphere. There are key sectors based on what each country thinks is of strategic and national interest to them.”

Chairman of Nigeria-India Chamber of Commerce Dr. Umo Utsueli said Nigeria must explore investment opportunities in countries with similar growth potential, such as India and China, noting that the economies of the countries have potential to elevate Nigerian economy to 10 most fastest growing economies in the world.

The event also featured interactive session between the envoy and business executives.

4

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

•President Goodluck Jonathan (fifth right), Vice President Namadi Sambo (middle) and members of ministerial committee on establishment of world class hospitals and diagnostic centres after their meeting with the President in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Boko Haram: Military yet to activate reserve list, says DHQ

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HE Defence Headquarters yesterday said it has not activated its Reserve List to reinforce troops fighting Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

But it was gathered from a top source that if there is need to call for reserve force, it will only affect those who have retired from the Armed Forces in the last three years.

According to the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the “Reserve List/ Force is still dormant, we are yet to activate it.”

Another military officer, however said: “If there is need for the military to call on its Reserve Force, it will only affect those who have retired in the last three

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

years. It is not a blanket reactivation of all military retirees.

“To activate the Reserve List has to be a serious business; it is not what any branch of the Armed Forces can do alone. The military will do such reactivation officially and formally.

“As a matter of fact, such a decision will involve the National Security Council and even the Council of State. This insurgency has not reached such a level.

“I think Nigerians should have faith in the capability of the nation’s Armed Forces to curtail the insurgency. What we see is that we tend to run down the military as if it is incapacitated.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Troops are in many states and this is why it appears that the Armed Forces are depleted.”

The National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, on February 24 said armed forces had been deployed in 32 out of the 36 states to check security challenges.

But Northern Organisation Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has lauded what it called the Federal Government’s plan to reinstate 10,000 retired soldiers to boost the strength of the army in the fight against insurgency.

It however warned that exNiger-Delta militants should not by any means be considered in

the reinstatement process.

The ACF in a statement in Kaduna yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, said concerned authority must scrutinised the retired soldiers thoroughly and reinstate only qualified persons.

The statement said: “It has been brought to the knowledge of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) that the Federal Government has authorized the reinstatement of 10,000 retired soldiers back into the Nigeria Army. This in the wisdom of Government is to boost the strength of the military to confront the insurgency that has engulfed the country.

“ACF welcomes this developContinued on page 59

Oil giant grabs contract from local company Continued from page 1

the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 2006 to Nuovo Pignone, together with Acro Petrochemical Engineering Company Plc, a wholly Nigerian company as the local technical partner.

It was learnt that NAOC later changed the contract terms and awarded the same contract to GE on its own terms.

By the new arrangement, Arco was reduced from being a partner to a sub-contractor, sources close to the deal said.

The sources wondered why American and European com-

panies that flaunt credentials of transparent business ethics in their home countries would come to Nigeria to carry on their operations in a manner that demonstrate, obvious disregard and affront to clear legal provisions contained in the Local Content Act. They said when President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Act into law in 2010, he meant well for the nation, but added that since Jonathan’s assent, the untenable activities of some foreign transnational oil companies, have continued to undermine both

the Content Board and whatever good intentions the Act itself was originally set to achieve.

Their argument is that the Nigerian Content Act was meant to increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry; build local capacity and competence; create linkages to other sectors of the national economy; and contribute to the growth of the National Gross Domestic Product.

“But, except the Federal Government steps in to checkmate the impunity with which foreign transnational operators flagrantly disregard the spirit and intent of the nation’s local content ini-

tiative, the entire oil and gas sector will sooner than later be hijacked by those who don’t mean well for our effort at encouraging indigenous participation in this crucial sector of our economy. This is the bitter truth that the federal government must wake up to confront,” they said.

The sources warned that if the various schemes of NAOC and GE are allowed to stand, they will negate everything that the Local Content Act represents.

They said the government and the National Assembly should note the subterfuge and underhand methods employed by the Continued on page 59

President denies taking Sheriff to Chad

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday denied taking former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to Chad.

The President has been under fire since Tuesday for having Sheriff, who has been linked with the sponsorship of the violent Boko Haram sect on his team to Chad, where he is be-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

lieved to have discussed regional security.

The former senator is under investigation, according to the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati said Sheriff was not on the President’s delegation to

Continued on page 59

Military deploys 500 more troops

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IVE hundred additional troops have been deployed to bolster the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.

Coordinator of National Information Centre Mike Omeri told reporters yesterday that the deployment was part of efforts by the military to check the activities of Boko Haram.

He said the deployment put a lie to the rumours of absence of troops in the affected states. “ Military authority has confirmed new deployment of 500 more troops to flush out insurgents in Michika and other parts

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja of the Northeast.

“The additional deployment was necessitated by the recent fighting in the area and part of measures by the Federal Government to restore peace and normalcy to the NorthEast.

“We recorded another progress today with the reinforcement of more military troops as part of the effort to check and caution Boko Haram sect’s challenge in the country, the Nigeria military has continued to enforce its presence in the challenged communities in the Northeast.”

‘We left our children behind fleeing from Boko Haram’

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ISPLACED persons from the fighting in the Northeast have been recounting their experience.

At least two of them in the displaced persons’ camp in Jega, Kebbi State, said they fled from the insurgency, leaving behind their children.No fewer than 130 such persons are being taken

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

care of in the town.

One of them, Malam Musa Muhammad, said most of them were from Doron-Baga, Borno State.

Reliving their experience, he said:”We were chased out of our Continued on page 59

Boko Haram: North lists its case against Jonathan Continued from page 1

dations of three panels – the Sheikh Lemu, Gaji Galtimari and Tanimu Turaki - set up on the insurgency.

The ACF said it was forced to write the open letter because Nigerian citizens in the affected areas were being slaughtered like animals with women and children raped, adding that Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been isolated as most of its link bridges have been destroyed.

According to the ACF, there is widespread feeling that the crisis is being used as a ploy to

punish the north and neutralise its advantages and potentials by permanently destabilising the region.

The group flayed the the federal government’s tardiness or inaction “which has led to loss of confidence in government and widespread contempt for security personnel and institutions.

“Another reason for our growing concern is the failure of government to investigate and prosecute persons widely believed to be involved in the insurgency.

The recent revelation by the Australian negotiator, Steven Davis, fingering Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika is one of many examples.

“In spite of this and several other disclosures, Mr. President has become so insensitive.”

It added: “We are left with no option but to strongly believe that a covert war is being waged against the North.

“The spate of assassinations, murder, arson, destruction of lives and property of innocent citizens in the North East in particular and the entire North in general has continued unabated and assuming an unprecedented gravity and ferocity, it is looking more like an agenda being executed sequentially and successfully too.

“Considering the enormity of the loss of lives and property and the mayhem being unleashed generally on Northerners, the Arewa Consultative Forum is compelled to draw the attention of Mr. President to the following highlights: “Assassination and mass killing of innocent persons: The series of assassinations of prominent Northerners and mass kill-

ings of innocent people in the last six years are most disturbing and worrisome. These appear to have been carried out by hatchet men.

“The killing of General Muhammad Shuwa for example was carried out in a very suspicious circumstance and the reaction from a known serving General pointed to the fact there was a root to the murder. Other victims include Sheikh Jaafar Adam, Sheikh Albani and other religious and traditional rulers.

The mass killings in Baga, Konduga, Gamboru-Ngala, Bama, Government College Buni Yadi, Benesheik, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa etc, went without counter action by our security agencies.

“We doubt it very much if investigation into these heinous crimes have been launched and if carried out, the result have not been made public as no one has been charged to court, leaving the families of the dead and the entire North to carry the burden of the loss of lives of their fellow citizens.

“The attempts on the lives of the Shehu of Borno, the Shehu of Bama, Deputy Governor of

Borno, the Emir of Fika, the late Emir of Kano, former head of state H. E. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue all posed serious security challenges that ought to have been taken seriously and addressed by Government, instead we have continued to witness more killings, destruction of property, displacement of persons and indeed a state of helplessness.” It said.

“Mr. President is not unaware of the plight of many internally displaced persons living in various camps in the North east.

Some have even sought refuge in the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon. Equally disturbing is the absence of decisive action to verify, expose, contain and resolve the Boko Haram insurgency. Thus leading to a debilitating wave of rumour that the Boko Haram is a franchise deployed to cripple the north.

“Another reason for our growing concern is the failure of government to investigate and prosecute persons widely believed to be involved in the insurgency.

The recent revelation by the Australian negotiator Mr. Steven Davis fingering Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff and Gen. Ihejirika is one of many examples. In spite of this and several other disclosures, Mr. President has become so insensitive that in utter disregard has chosen to travel with Senator Ali Modu Sherrif to Chad recently on a state visit as reported in the media to discuss the insurgency in Nigeria with President Idris Derby.”

It said, despite involving better equipped Boko Haram militants against ill-equipped and less-motivated Nigerian armed forces and the Police, the rest of the country and in particular the Federal Government of Nigeria, choose to carry on daily business as if all is well with the nation.

“Rather than tackle this menace of insurgents and save lives of innocent citizens of the North east, the President and his government have chosen to shift the blame on opposition politicians, Northern leaders and governments of Northern States. Indeed there is no greater fallacy than to insinuate that any northern leader would orchestrate a crisis of such catastrophic proportion against his people just in

order to destabilise the Federal government of Nigeria. This posture is totally unacceptable as no authority in the country is higher than that of the President.

“The President has declared a National Emergency on Ebola Virus which has just claimed a few lives with a whooping N1.9bn, yet a greater catastrophe of killings, maiming, abduction, rape and displacement of many Nigerians taking place daily in virtually all states of the North, is not worrisome for him to declare a National emergency. Instead, it was reported that the Federal Government is seeking $1tr foreign loan to equip the Armed Forces to enable them face Boko Haram. “ Is it a case of neglect or grand design to destroy the North? The ACF and indeed the entire people of the North are compelled to believe that refusal to tackle the insurgents decisively is a grand design to reduce the population of parts of the North and to cripple the region economically and otherwise.

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N16b to battle desert encroachment

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HE Presidency has released over N16 billion to battle desert encroachment and other problems.

The fund is to aid the early take-off of the Great Green Wall (GGW) programme aimed at combating desert encroachment and addressing ecological problems.

Approval for an agency for the Great Green Wall was given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 16, 2012.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

An executive bill has been drafted and vetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice for an enabling law to establish a National Agency for the Great Green Wall and Desertification Control.

A source at the Presidency said Dr. Bukar Hassan, the director, Department of Drought and Desertification Amelioration in the Ministry of Environment, would head the agency.

With a PhD in Arid Zone Ecology from Wales, Hassan headed the Implementation Unit of GGW in the ministry and was project coordinator, Global Environment Facility (GEF)-Assisted Integrated Ecosystem Management Project in the transboundary areas between Nigeria and Niger.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam, has written to the President, through the Office of the Vice-President, seek-

ing approval for an interim office of the National Agency for the GGW and the appointment of an acting director-general.

In the letter, she sought the “kind approval” of the President for “an interim National Agency for the Great Green Wall Programme and Desertification Control as an administrative structure preceding the agency when the enabling law is enacted and the appointment of a director-general.

Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (second right); Managing Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Mr. Bode Opadokun (second left); Zonal Manager, NAIC, Oyo State, Mr. Rasheed Ogunbiyi and Branch Manager, NAIC, Oyo State, Mrs. Famodun Kemi, during a visit to the governor at his office in Abere, Osogbo...yesterday

Cleric urges concerted action against insecurity

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IVEN the mounting insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast, the Catholic Church has called for a concerted effort by all to put an end to insurgency.

It lamented that with the grave situation, the citizens were carrying on as if nothing was happening.

Executive Secretary of the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria Fr. Evaristus Bassey, who spoke in Calabar, the Cross River State capital yesterday, said it was sad that people were more interested in the elections than in curbing insecurity.

The cleric said the foundation was the humanitarian and human development wing of the Catholic Church.

He said: “We need to change our lifestyle to reflect the times. We need to know we are in a war situation. We need to lend a helping hand to the people out there.

“We can’t go round eating and drinking when people don’t even have a place to sleep. Even our girls have not been brought back. We are gradually forgetting them and in the midst of this, people are still talking about campaigns. It is tragic.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

“Thousands of people have been displaced. People are living in the hills. People have no food to eat and they are living in fear of their lives.

Churches have ceased to be places of worship but places of refuge for displaced people.

“The church in the Northeast is under pressure. Our brethren there need our help.

We need to help our brethren who are suffering, not just of the Catholic faith, but anyone out there in pains.

“The tragedy is that the rest of the country is moving on as if nothing catastrophic is happening. Politicians are gathering, multimillion naira parties are being held and everyone is carrying on with business as usual. Is it that we have heard so much about Boko Haram that these happenings are no longer news but have become normal daily occurrences?

“But imagine being a refugee in your own country!

Imagine running for hours for safety. Imagine not being certain if you will eat for days.

Imagine having to sleep in the hills for days and weeks.

Imagine not having a bath for

‘Thousands of people have been displaced. People are living in the hills. People have no food to eat and they are living in fear of their lives’ days and wearing the same cloth. Imagine not having the freedom to worship God the way you are convinced, because someone believes in using violence to propagate his faith. What is happening is a terrible humanitarian crisis and as Nigerians we need to show solidarity. We need to adjust our lifestyles to reflect the present circumstances. We need to reflect compassion for those suffering.

“This is not a time to apportion blame. But the fight against Boko Haram is not a wrestling match, it is a competition of fire power. Thank God our military has woken up to the reality that this is something that needs con-

fronting with all military arsenal. A nation’s military should always be ready, but what we see is that everything in Nigeria is given a fire brigade approach. Thank God the situation is changing and we are hearing good results. But there is a humanitarian crisis in the Northeast. Our churches are overwhelmed with displaced persons. They have run out of resources. We need to support them.

“As Boko Haram is tackled in one area, they open up in other areas. The military needs a broad based strategy to confront them.

“The military has realised it is serious and I think they are doing well. The president should bring in the international community to carry out credible investigation to get to the root of the matter.”

Fr. Bassey said they were raising funds for the affected people and if anyone wanted to help, he could contribute through the following account numbers: Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri 1010505709 Zenith Bank and Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria 1012829522 Zenith Bank.

‘Attack on NTDC boss victimisation of women’

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HE Coalition of Civil Society has termed the allegation of corruption levelled against the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, as an effort to victimise women in government.

The group at a news conference addressed by its president, Comrade Etuk

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Bassey Williams, said yesterday in Abuja that Mrs. Uwechue-Mbanefo was wrongly accused by Mr. Azania Omo-Agege of Za Entertainment because the latter, who had been saddled with the responsibility of generating funds through a public-private sector initia-

tive to build and maintain a tourism village, failed in his responsibility.

The body said OmoAgege should acknowledge his failure and admit his incompetence rather than trying to cover up his ineptitude through cheap blackmail.

On the allegation against the NTDC chief, Etuk said relevant security agencies

should investigate the matter to ascertain the circumstances that led to the tourism village not being put in place in Brazil. He said anyone found culpable should be punished.

“We condemn in strong terms the continued victimisation of our women by people, who target competent women in government for victimisation.”

Ebola: Fayemi urges Immigration on vigilance •Governor collects e-passport

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has urged the Nigeria

Immigration Service (NIS) to be vigilant to check the influx of foreigners into the state.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday before being presented with a new 64page e-passport by the Comptroller of the NIS, Mr. E.D. Taylor-Harry, the governor said the advice became necessary given reports of alleged arrival of some people from Ebolainfested countries.

Taylor-Harry also presented the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi, with the new passport after her personal data and that of her husband were collected.

Describing the processing and collection of the new passport by Nigerians as a civic duty as good citizens, Fayemi said his presentation with the new e-passport signalled the beginning of the exercise in the state.

Noting that the possession of the new passport was not a right but a privilege, the governor advocated that every Nigerian should be encouraged to have a copy of the document.

He described it as another form of identity card, which would be useful for citizens anywhere in the world.

According to him, the NIS command always lived up to expectations.

He stressed the need for a strengthening of the Service to deal with the influx of foreigners into the state.

Fayemi’s words: “I am impressed with the performance of the Nigeria Immi-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

gration Service in Ekiti State. But I hope it will be improved.

“I have heard stories of people coming from Sierra Leone and Liberia to the state. Your ComptrollerGeneral has called for monitoring of those coming from Ebola-prone countries. I want you to monitor those coming from outside the state.

“So far, we have not had any case of Ebola and it is not likely we are going to have any because of the measures we have put in place.”

Taylor-Harry said the NIS had the capacity to make the new 64-page passport available to Nigerians, to facilitate their journey to any part of the world.

He said the launch of the new passport by President Goodluck Jonathan had opened ways for other Nigerians to own the document for ease of movement.

The NIS boss urged people to avail themselves of the opportunity of owning the new passport.

•Dr. Fayemi

Lagos celebrates World Literacy Day

L

AGOS State government has concluded plans to join the rest of the world on September 17 to celebrate the World Literacy Day, with the theme: ”Literacy and Sustainable Development”.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, spoke at a news conference organised as a prelude to the event.

He said the weeklong celebration, which begins on September 8, will end on September 17 at the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government ground, Oshodi, Lagos.

Olukoga said the celebration was put in place by the United Nations to remind the international community that literacy was a human right and a foundation for learning, adding that it was essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing overpopulation, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.

The special adviser noted that the survey conducted by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget put the literacy level in the state at 89 per cent.

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

Activities lined up to achieve the eradication of illiteracy and meet the Education for All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include literacy by radio, an initiative of the United Nations, sponsored by Governor Babatunde Fashola; establishment of an average of 564 centres across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, etc.

The Director, Agency for Mass Education, Mrs. Amore Adefolahan, said the objective of observing the World Literacy Day is to mobilise public opinion in favour of the struggle against illiteracy.

According to her, it is estimated that there are 879 million illiterate adults in the world, of which twothird are women.

Mrs. Adefolahan expressed satisfaction about the level of support the programme enjoyed from the Fashola administration, by making the eradication of illiteracy a priority.

She hoped there would be a decline in the population of illiterates.

6

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NEWS

DPP set to collapse into APC W

ORRIED by its poor financial status, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has started moves to collapse its structures into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The national leadership of the party is also considering the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a second option.

The National Chairman, Bashir Magashi (rtd), spoke yesterday when delivering his

•Party laments lack of funds From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

address at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

Also at the meeting was the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and DPP National Leader, Lt. General Jeremiah Useni.

He said the move became necessary, considering the poor

financial status of the party.

Magashi said since the disbursement of funds in 2006 to state branches of DPP to rent and furnish secretariats, the party had been unable to release funds because of what he called “scarcity of resources.”

This, he said, was compounded by the fact that the party had no elected representative at the state or national level.

The national chairman urged the Federal Government to use its resources to crush the insurgents and restore peace, adding: “Nigeria is witnessing a high level of insecurity, the type that has not been seen since the civil war. Insecurity is so central to people’s existence that it cannot afford to be taken for granted. Efforts should be intensified towards securing the life and property of everybody.”

•From left: Mr. Afolabi Cardoso, husband; Mr. Bankole Cardoso, son; Ms Ami Adadevoh, sister; Dr. Ama Adadevoh, sister and Mr. Kodjo Adadevoh, at the night of tributes in honour of Dr. Adadevoh in Lagos...yesterday.

Nigerians urge national recognition for Adadevoh

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IGERIANS from all walks of life yesterday urged the Federal Government to confer on the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a national recognition.

Dr. Adadevoh died after contracting the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) while treating the late Liberian-American, Mr. Patrick Sawyer.

At a service of songs organised in her honour at Harbour Point, Naval Base, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Endocrinology and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (EMSN) described her as “a true hero” worthy of recognition.

Dr. Abraham Osinubi said the late doctor showed courage, “which is lacking at the moment in many professionals”, by ensuring that Sawyer did not spread the disease.

He said her death was not in vain because she helped to save others at the detriment of her own.

Her death, Osinubi said, left

•Foundation to be instituted in her honour

By Wale Adepoju

a pain in the hearts of relatives, friends and colleagues, adding: “We have lost an outstanding doctor; a rare gem.”

He said the society saluted her courage, adding that it was second to none.

A friend of the deceased, Miss Irene fowler, who read the tribute of the Harvard University, said true heroes were not politicians but ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

A representative of the Association of General Private Physicians of Nigeria (AGPNPN), Dr. Michael Abah, said the country had lost a great woman, who was a teacher and a mother to many.

He said she would be missed. Her son, Mr. Bankole Cardoso, said the family was humbled by the outpouring of love and gratitude it received from people.

He said his mother paid the

supreme price to contain the spread of EVD. Cardoso thanked everybody, who spoke kindly about his mother.

“The call from the public for an everlasting tribute to mark her professional commitment leaves me inspired and grateful that she had an opportunity to serve the country,” he said.

A relation, identified as Supo, said a Stella Adadevoh Health Trust would be established in her honour.

A childhood friend, Dr. Bode Karounwi, said the late doctor was always truthful, adding that she was a faithful woman.

He said she was courageous in the face of danger, adding that this was her nature right from primary school.

Dr. Yemi Johnson of the First Cardiologists Hospital said the deceased was always on top of issues, stressing that

‘Allow us to do research’

T

HE Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) and the National Association of Nigerian Hunters (NANH) have urged the government to allow them do research to determine if Nigerian animals are carriers of the Ebola virus.

The NANH Chairman in Oyo State, Chief Ibrahim Adekunle, spoke yesterday at a symposium organised by NVMA, Oyo State branch, in Ibadan.

He said: “There is need for the Federal Government to invest in veterinary personnel and infrastructure.

Health workers are not the only one involved in the struggle to end the Ebola scourge. It is a public health-

Ebola is a security challenge, says Aregbesola

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

related issue, therefore it involves us.

“It is sad that government did not do any research before saying bush meat can cause Ebola. There is no research that says bush meat causes Ebola.”

The event was attended

by Prof. Benjamin Fagbemi, the director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan; Prof. David Olaleye, the consultant virologist, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; Dr. Abass Gbolahan, the Director of Epidemic Preparedness and Rapid Response Committee, Oyo State, among others.

she called him for advice when the Ebola issue started.

Another friend, Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, said the deceased represented different things to many people.

“To some she is a counsellor, to others she is a cheerful friend. But I call her ‘a general’ because she kept everybody entertained. ‘General Ameyo’, as I call her, sorted Nigeria out at a very difficult time. Her sense of loyalty was unmatchable,” she said.

One of the officiating ministers, Rev. Fr. Anthony Igbekele of the Catholic Church of Assumption, Falomo, Lagos, in his sermon, said the late doctor was not an accidental heroine, adding that her recognition did not come by chance because she earned it.

“This is a beacon of hope that the country still has committed people, who can put their lives on the line for the good of all.

•Aregbesola

O

SUN State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was a security challenge to any country.

He said it was a scourge, which should be tackled.

The governor, who convened a state security council

and stakeholders’ meeting on the prevention of the EVD, at the Government House Banquet Hall, said any country under the threat of the epidemic risked losing its sovereignty.

He said efforts should be made to prevent the disease from spreading to the state.

Aregbesola said most of the countries affected by EVD were almost loosing their sovereignty.

He added: “We should not see the disease as an ordinary health challenge. It is a deadly disease, which should be tackled.”

Sani accuses Ekwueme of promoting sectional attack against Jega From Tony Akowe, Abuja

C

IVIL rights activist and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Mallam Shehu Sani, has accused elder statesman and Second Republic Vice President Alex Ekwueme of fuelling sectional attacks against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Sani, reacting to the attack on the INEC chairman for allegedly favouring the North against the South in the delineation of constituency by the commission, said the statement of the elder statesman was without any proof.

In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, Sani said fuelling sectional attacks against Jega would not help the country, adding that the INEC chairman, who conducted an election, which gave President Goodluck Jonathan victory against a northerner, could not be planning a hidden agenda against the South.

The statement reads: “The allegations of sectional bias and the call for Prof. Attahiru Jega’s resignation by an elder statesman, Chief Alex Ekwueme and others stand condemned. The allegations are without substance and proof.

“INEC’s new polling units did not favour the North. In fact, going by the available statistics, the new polling units upgrades the South against the North. An instance is a situation whereby Anambra State with 1,784,563 registered voters was allocated 4,729 units and Jigawa State with 1,817,087 registered voters was allocated only 3,920 polling units.

“The overall statistics, which gave the North 54.6 per cent of the polling units for its 39,636,977 million voters and 44.2 per cent of the polling units for the South for its 29,853,822 registered voters is an evidence of data for analysis.

“The elder statesman is simply whipping up unnecessary sectional sentiment and targeting Prof. Jega and Dr. Nura Yakubu without any proof. It’s most unbecoming of Dr. Ekwueme, a former vice-president, to dwarf his esteemed status to a vendor of unsubstantiated allegations.

“The 2015 general elections face danger if those who ought to give hope and motivate Nigerians, resort to casting aspersions with ethnic and sectional tinge.

“Nigeria is facing a mountain challenge of armed insurrection and myriad of related political crisis. Fuelling the already charged atmosphere with sectional attack against INEC will not help the country. How can Prof. Jega, who supervised an election, which gave victory to President Jonathan, a southerner, against a northerner, be suspected of having a hidden northern agenda?”

Elumelu: delayed passage of National Health Bill stifling health sector From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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HE Chairman of the Federal Government Ministerial Committee on the Development of World-Class Hospitals and Diagnostic Centres, Tony Elumelu, said yesterday that the delay in the passage of the National Health Bill and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) bill was affecting the development of the health sector.

He was briefing reporters after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.

Elumelu said lack of funds led to the non- completion of the 84 hospital projects across the country, which made it difficult to stop the movement of Nigerians to India, South Africa and other countries for medical care.

He said: “We believe our people deserve good medical facilities, attention and care. However, our committee believes everyone should urge the National Assembly to pass the NHIS bill into law, as this will unlock a lot of opportunities in the health sector.

“It will provide the much-needed effective demand of funding that will help the sector take off. If our lawmakers do not pass the NHIS bill, we won’t achieve much.”

Elumelu went on: “As our legislators go back to their constituencies to seek election mandate, we should ask them to give us the National Health Bill and the NHIS Bill, which will help us progress.

“We can set up modern facilities, if there is no money to make this sector attractive, it will collapse. I praise what the Minister of Agriculture has done. This is what the Health Minister is trying to do. We want to re-position the heath sector and make it commercially-viable.”

Jonathan urged to implement conference report

By Sina Fadare

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been advised to implement the resolutions of the National Conference, so that the efforts of the conferees would not be an exercise in futility.

The Chief Executive Officer, Falcon Group and a senatorial aspirant, Capt. Jerry Ogbonna (rtd), who spoke in Lagos, said the resolutions of the conference should be implemented.

He urged Nigerians to give Jonathan a second chance to enable him implement the resolutions.

Ogbonna said he would vie for the Abia North seat in next year’s general elections.

He said: “Nigerians should not allow the resolutions of the National Conference to go the way of the past ones. It is not easy to assemble eminent Nigerians for a conference.

“Federal Government spent huge sums of money to organise the conference. So we should give the convener, President Jonathan, the opportunity to implement the resolutions.”

Ogbonna enjoined the National Assembly to work with Jonathan to implement the resolutions.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

7

NEWS Olubadan to get N400m palace From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

O •Former Lagos State Police Commissioner, AIG Umar Manko (left) handing over to his successor, CP Kayode Aderanti, at Police Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

APC seeks removal of Osun tribunal’s chair

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the new Chairman of Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal, Justice Sulaeman Ambrusa, to excuse himself from the panel.

The party’s position was presented yesterday through its lead counsel, Kunle Adegoke, shortly at its plenary sitting.

It challenged the constitution of the tribunal panel and removal of Justice I. M. Bako, as the Chairman, following a petition allegedly written by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The counsel reminded the panel of the petition of his clients, the APC and Governor

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Rauf Aregbesola, before the panel.

Justice Bako was removed as the chairman of the tribunal following the petition of the PDP in which it expressed lack of confidence in him.

But Adegoke told the tribunal that the removal of Justice Bako raised serious questions.

He said other parties involved in the case were not duly informed on the development, therefore, contradicting “the high status of the judiciary.”

The APC’s counsel told the Ambrusa to excuse himself from the hearing of the petitions before the tribunal be-

cause his clients did not have confidence in him.

He called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to remove Ambrusa in the interest of democracy, equity and fairness.

The APC also challenged the competence of the composition of the tribunal because of the development.

He told the tribunal that the APC has just been served the copy of the petition by PDP and its candidate last Tuesday, adding that it would require at least 14 days to response to all the issues raised in the petition.

But Mr. Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), a leading counsel to the PDP, expressed confi-

dence in the new chairman, saying: “We have no reason not to have confidence in the panel.”

The APC, therefore, filed application for mode of subsequent serving of the petition.

The ruling party asked the tribunal to set aside its earlier order it granted the PDP and its candidate to inspect the election materials, which the opposition party opposed.

However, the PDP and the Accord Party have been granted an order to paste their petition at the entrance of the government office.

Meanwhile, the tribunal will today rule on the application and counter-application by the two parties.

59 new owners emerge in Lagos home’s draw

F

IFTY-nine home owners have emerged at the Seventh Draw of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS).

Governor, Babatunde Fashola, (SAN), at the draw last Wednesday, said the scheme was affordable and that it took beneficiaries away from the cash-and-carry syndrome, which requires people to pay for homes at once.

The governor, who spoke at the BlueRoof Hall, LTV Complex, Agidingbi, added that the difficulties facing Nigerians in getting homes explained why the government intervened on rent control and management.

He said a legislation passed by the government to that effect barred home owners from taking more than a year’s rent.

Fashola noted that the practice of “asking people who get their salaries on monthly basis to pay three years rent in

advance is simply about the people hurting themselves.

“If I’m getting my salary at the end of September and my landlord is saying that I must bring three years rent in advance, when I have not even received one month salary in advance.

“Nobody gets salary in advance that I know. But in this society, we have pretended as if all is well, people bring that money. But you know that for them to get that money, something has moved somewhere. There would be an accounting failure at the end,” he added.

He reiterated that if Nigerians continued to accept three years rent or four years rent, the person paying it must have simply compromised somewhere, which means corruption was being embedded.

Explaining that it was impracticable for government to

give out homes free of charge, Fashola said what encourages him was that after 500 or 600 years in Britain, it was just about 64 per cent of the citizens that were home owners while the rest were tenants.

“I do not know of any country that gives houses to its people free. I will like to go and find out how they do it that you just get a house free from government so we must also agree that people must pay for this thing”.

The governor, who congratulated the winners, reminded them that two important items made the experience possible for them, which was that they have been tax compliant and that it was their votes that enthroned the administration in office.

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos Mortgage Board, Mr. Kojo Sagoe said 121 people were successfully prequal-

ified for the September draws out of the 139 people who applied for the nine schemes available.

He added that since the commencement of the monthly draws, a total of 273 new home owners have collected keys and taken possession of their new homes.

The event, which featured draws in choosing the winners, was attended by members of the Executive Council, including the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, the Chairman of the Lagos HOMS Committee and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Supo Shasore, SAN and other dignitaries.

Ebola: OAU bars Liberian students from resuming

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HE authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has barred international students from Liberia, where Ebola virus disease (EVD) is prevalent in West Africa, from resuming for academic works.

The university said the students were advised not to return to the university "for now because the country is most affected by the EVD." Its Vice Chancellor, Prof.

•Female undergraduate proved EVD negative From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Bamitale Omole, spoke at a briefing on the health status of a female student of the university suspected to be infected with the virus after falling sick last Monday.

He said the result of the preliminary and confirmatory tests carried out to determine the girl's status for EVD proved negative.

Omole said with the con-

firmation from the Ebola Isolation Centre in Lagos in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the student should not be stigmatised and would be allowed to resume academics after recovering from her sickness.

He dispelled the rumour that any other student of the university has the virus.

"We, therefore, wish to inform the university commu-

nity and the general public that OAU is Ebola virus disease-free.

"Therefore, everyone is enjoined to go about their normal business freely without fear or panic.

"However, as prevention is better than cure, members of the university community and the general public are advised to maintain standard hygienic precautionary measures as established by the university Ebola Surveillance Committee."

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi led the turning of the sod of the new palace of Olubadan yesterday, with a message that Nigerians should always value their traditional institutions.

The first phase of the palace construction will cost N400 million to be completed within six months.

The governor, at the event which took place at Oke-Aremo in the heart of the state capital last Wednesday, said Ibadan indigenes were unique for their rich culture. He noted that this has reflected in their way of life.

The governor, in a sense of humour, demanded that the Olubadan honour him with the title of ‘Koseleri of Ibadanland’ when the new palace is completed.

He noted that he would have broken the second term jinx by then.

He urged politicians to desist from politics of bitterness, adding that they should give room for criticism to perform better.

Ajimobi added that his administration has brought a human face and the fear of God in running the state in the last three years.

The governor said his administration’s vision and mission have been pressed on the tripod of transformation, restoration and repositioning to achieve the desired goal of a rapid development.

He said the development, which his government had brought to improve the living standard of the people, had been achieved without inflicting any pain on the people.

On the rumours being peddled by the opposition that his administration had been demolishing shops and other means of livelihood of the people of the state, he said the only structures that his government ever removed were those trading by the roadsides, which were against his administration’s urban renewal and environ-

mental sanitation programmes.

Ajimobi said it was done to ensure the environmental, health and safety of the people.

In his remark, the Chairman, Olubadan Palace Committee, Chief Bayo Oyero, said the first phase of the palace construction will cost N400 million and will be completed within the next six months.

“I want to thank Governor Ajimobi for his encouragement and support for this project. It is worthy to put on record that 50 per cent of fund raised so far has come from the links which we access through him.

“Ibadan royalty and the generality of Ibadanw will never forget the role you play in the making of this history of befitting palace for our monarch. It is our plan that at the completion of the Palace complex, we will establish a Roll of Honours, where your name will be the number one,” Oyero said Dignitaries present at the event were Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugade Odulana I, who was represented by Prof Femi Lana, Iyalode of Ibadanland, Chief Aminat Abiodun, Chief Bayo Akande, Ambassador Olu Saanu, Chief Kola Daisi, Chief Bode Amoo, Chief K.O Olatunji, among others.

•Oba Odulana

Ondo extends teachers’ recruitment

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HE Ondo State has granted an extension of one week to the deadline for the closing of registration in its on-going teachers’ recruitment exercise.

It also cancelled some of the requirements requested of applicants.

Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, in a statement in Akure yesterday, said government decided to extend the deadline to give all applicants opportunity to register for the recruitment exercise.

“In the circumstance, the new closing date for registration is now Saturday, 20th September, 2014.

“By implication, the new date for the aptitude test is now Tuesday September 30, 2014 at the Akure, Owena, Owo, Oka, Ikare, Ondo, Odigbo, Okitipupa and Irele centres,” the statement read.

It added that “government has directed that letter of accreditation from community heads, certificate of local government origin, Primary Six School Leaving and birth certificates are no longer required for registration by applicants.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko recently ordered the immediate recruitment of 2,000 teaching and nonteaching workers into the state’s teaching service.

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THE NATION FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NEWS

A

Aspirant empowers 200

HOUSE of Representatives aspirant, on the platform of Accord Party, Deji Aboderin, has empowered over 200 people within the 12 wards in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Aboderin, who is aspiring to represent Ibadan North East/ South East Federal Constituency, distributed cash gifts yesterday at CKC Primary School, Agugu, Ibadan.

He said: “Since I joined this party in 2012, my mission has been to render selfless service to my people and set a standard for those coming behind me. It’s not my first empowerment.

“All my life, I have been concerned about the welfare of my people, especially the less privileged, even though I was not doing it for political reason.

“I joined this party because of what happened to our

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

leader, Senator Adewolu Ladoja, and I am following his footsteps. I see it as my responsibility to make things right, So all this while, I have always thought of representing the people of Ibadan South East and North East Federal Constituency.

Chairman of Accord in Ibadan North East Tunde Ogunyemi praised Aboderin for the empowerment initiative. He said his gesture would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

He urged the party members to be united, patient and work towards the success of the party next year.

Church programme

T

Ebola scare at Lagos Airport

HERE was anxiety at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday as Port Health officials isolated a woman passenger, who showed symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The South African woman, whose identity was not given, flew into Lagos from Morocco.

She is being treated as a suspected case and taken to Lagos Ebola treatment centre for tests.

She was ‘detained’ because she showed potential symptoms of the disease, having worked in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

The traveller, who lives in Cape Town, filled out a health questionnaire on her arrival at

•South African held back for tests

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Lagos in which she acknowledged suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, both possible symptoms of the Ebola hemorrhagic virus.

Around 2,300 people have died so far this year in the worst Ebola outbreak on record which has mostly affected Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

It has also reached Nigeria and Senegal because of sick travellers “importing” the disease.

Democratic Republic of Congo has a separate outbreak.

A source said the Ebola suspect had passed through all im-

migration processes and moved to the transit lounge of the terminal to have some drinks.

“It was at the lounge that the woman took ill. Port health personnel were called to attend to her by other users of the lounge.

“Immediately, the airport personnel screened her with the infrared thermometer, which confirmed that she had high temperature, one of the symptoms of Ebola.

“She was instantly isolated and conveyed out of the airport in one of the ambulances stationed at the airport.”

The Director of Port Health Services, Dr. Morenike AlexOkoh, said: “This person has been in Guinea and Sierra Leone since April ... she has symptoms.”

“Nigeria cannot afford another ‘importation’ (of Ebola),” said Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor of infectious diseases at Florida International University College of Medicine.

Marty is working with Nigerian health authorities, under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO), to maintain point of entry Ebola checks across the country.

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HE third quarterly assembly of the Itesiwaju Baptist Association holds tomorrow at Victoryland Baptist Church, Qudus Folawiyo Etti Crescent, Isolo, Lagos from 9am.

It will be presided over by the Moderator, Rev. Gbenga Ojo of Araba Baptist Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos and Consultant, Rev. Femi Ajayi of Victoryland Baptist Church, Isolo, Lagos.

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi laying the foundation for the new palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland at Oke-Aremo in Ibadan . With him are the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Eddy Oyewole (left), the President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adebayo Oyero (second left), Secretary to the State Government, Ismail Olalekan Alli (third right) and others.

Row in Ogun Assembly over CBN’s OVERNOR Ibikunle N2b credit facility Amosun’s letter seeking the approval of

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the Ogun State House of Assembly to access the N2 Billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEs) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has polarised the lawmakers as 13 of the 26 members opposed the credit facility.

The 13 lawmakers, headed by Remmy Hazzan (Odogbolu), accused the Speaker, Suraju Adekunbi, of circumventing the rules by calling for the passage of a resolution permitting the governor to access the fund.

The lawmakers described the passage of the Resolution as “unlawful, disorderly, illegal and unconstitutional” and called on CBN not to honour application for the fund from the Ogun State government.

Hazzan, who addressed a briefing after a rowdy session, said the interface between the

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

House and relevant ministries and agencies responsible for the management of the fund ended on an inconclusive note.

The lawmaker said his group had thought the issue would be thrown open for debate but was surprised that Adekunbi called for a motion to pass the resolution.

He said the fund for which the governor seeks the House’s approval, comes within the purview of the provisions of the Financial Instrument Law of Ogun State 2012 that was passed into law on October 12, 2012 and signed by Governor Amosun on October 19 of the same year.

Hazzan’s statement was accented to by Samson Onademuren, Olufemi AllenTaylor, Abiodun Akovoyon, Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, Obafemi Olowo-Oloja, Joseph

Obafemi, Salmon Adeleke, Olusegun Elemide, Elizabeth Anifowoshe, John Obafemi, Job Akintan and Bowale Solaja.

But the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Olusola Bankole, said the position of the G-13 is unreasonable, uncalled for and adistraction.

Bankole, who was with the Chairman, Committee on Information, Olayiwola Ojodu and Kunle Oluomo, said the provision of the financial instrument law cited by Hazzan and his co-travellers is not applicable in the circumstances.

Bankole said:”In this case, we are not getting any loan. This is just a developmental fund and it is not going to be given to the state. The fund is domiciled with the CBN and it is to be disbursed to groups or cooperative societies which might need it. The state government is only to serve as a guarantor.”

Customs seizes 40 vehicles, 2,000 bags of rice

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HE Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) displayed 40 vehicles loaded with over 2000 bags deep in the fearful Abaja forest ,near Igbeti in Olorunsogo Local Government of Oyo State.

The seized items which were displayed before senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service from Abuja was described as a great feat.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

The smugglers numbering over 100 , according to the Command, fled into the forest when they were over powered by the crack squad led by DSC Alajogun Joseph .

The Controller of the Oyo/ Osun Command, Richard Oteri who led officers of the Command, police ,army, Civil Defence , SSS officers and reporters into the forest ,

a journey of over four hours ,also displayed charms and weapons used by the smugglers to engage his men in the thick forest.

Each of the seized 40 vehicles (Peugeot 504 Saloon Car) were loaded with over 50 bags .

Oteri , who commended the crack squad for the feat said the estimated Duty Paid Value of the 2000 bags of rice was N20million .

Lagos CP resumes

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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AGOS State Commissioner for Police Kayode Aderanti has assured residents of his willingness to work with the government to ensure a crime-free state.

He spoke yesterday when he visited Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

Aderanti told reporters that the command would collaborate with government to attract more foreign investment into the state.

He praised the security master plan in Lagos, adding that the command would work with stakeholders to ensure better policing in the state.

“I have observed that Lagos has security architecture in place but from my own end, I want to move police forward and I want it to be community based.

“I want to break the barrier between the police and the public and I intend to reach out to the stakeholders in security.

The police chief, accompanied by some senior officers visited the head office of The Sun in Kirikiri area on a condolence visit over the death of their vice chairman, Dimgba Igwe.

At The Sun, Femi Adesina and Bolaji Tunji welcomed Aderanti and thanked him for visiting.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

9

NEWS No Sallah festival in Ilorin

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HE Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim SuluGambari, has approved the cancellation of the Fulani Bororo Cultural Festival holding annually at his palace square.

The monarch noted that the decision was imperative in the interest of the public and general safety as part of security measures towards curbing the incessant terrorist attacks witnessed in the nation.

A statement by the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Woru Mohammed, stressed that the cancellation would be effective especially in the headquarters of the five local government areas in the emirate as well as Kwara State at large.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari expressed regret over any inconveniences the cancellation may cause participants, organisers of the festival as well as the entire community.

APC Reps’ aspirant killed in Imo

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USPECTED assassins have killed a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly from Mbaitoli Local Government Area and a House of Representatives aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kingsley Nkemka.

The politician was reportedly killed on Tuesday night at Ebom community of the local government after returning from the resumption of the House’s sitting.

The deceased was an aide of the House of Assembly

•Police arrest ‘some suspects’ From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

Speaker.

A statement yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, by the Speaker’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Emeka Ahaneku, said Nkemka was hale and hearty at the resumption of sitting.

The late politician was aspiring to represent Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

He was said to be diligent

about his duties.

The statement said Nkemkas had travelled to some of the electoral wards in his constituency in continuation of his visits to some party leaders ahead of next week’s ward meetings.

“After his visit, Nkemka reportedly made a brief stopover at the popular TJunction, Ohaohia Mbieri, to meet with one of his facilitators, who called him between 8am and 9pm before

the unfortunate incident,” the statement said.

It added: “After the meeting with his facilitator and the director-general of his campaign organisation, five hoodlums suddenly barged into the scene. They kicked out his facilitator, ransacked his pockets and shot him in his ankle. They also ordered him into the booth of his Toyota car, where they finally shot him at close range.”

Police spokesman Andrew Enwerem confirmed the killing.

He said the police had arrested some suspects.

RCCG celebrates anniversary

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jehovah’s Chapel at the Shagari Estate, Mosan-Ipaja, Lagos, will begin the celebration of its seventh year anniversary on September 22.

The celebration will end on September 28.

The theme of the celebration is: Excellent Spirit.

A statement by Pastor Moses Abimbola said activities for the anniversary include revival hour, special digging deep, singles’ night/career plus, encounter with the excellent child/ film show, high praise, dinner with the holy spirit and free medical services, among others.

There will be guest ministrations by the zonal and Area Pastors Bode Oyediran and Wale Odeyale and other anointed men and women of God.

Baptists hold revival Sunday

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HE third quarterly revival of First Baptist Church, 12, Oremerin Street, Itire, Lagos (a member of the Nigerian Baptist Convention), will hold from September 14 to 18.

Pastor A. P. Oyeyemi, the minister-in-charge, said there would be salvation, deliverance, healing and miracles during the programme.

Funeral for Madam Osunsina

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HE death has been announced of the matriarch of the Osunsina family, Madam Florence Folasade Osunsina. She was 77.

A statement by her son and Managing Director, Megamound Investment Limited, Olumide Osunsina wake keep/lying in state would hold at her Carlton gate estate, Akobo GRA, Ibadan, Oyo State home by 5pm on September 18.

Funeral service and interment hold at the Cathedral church of St. David, Kudeti, Ibadan on Friday 19 September 2014, while reception follows at Jogor centre off Ring road, Ibadan.

Clarification The late Wing Commander Chuks Dandison Chima was erroneously referred to as Chuks Dandison Chimeaze in an advert on page 71 of yesterday’s edition.

The error is regretted.

•Coordinator, National Information Centre (NIC), Mr Mike Omeri (middle) speaking at a news conference at the centre in Abuja..yesterday. With him are Deputy Director, Information, Directorate of State Security Ms Marilyn Ogar (left) and Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu

Mark, Mu’azu to meet Lamido over 2015 poll

S

ENATE President David Mark and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, are expected today in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, to parley with Governor Sule Lamido.

It was learnt yesterday that the two PDP chieftains will be received by Lamido at the newly built Dutse International Airport.

The Nation gathered that the team’s mission might not be unconnected with the 2015 PDP

From Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

presidential issues.

A source close to Government House, Dutse said: “The PDP National Chairman and the Senate President are expected to arrive in the state to meet Governor Lamido.

“The visit may not be unconnected with the recent statement credited to Lamido in which he vowed not to support President Goodluck

Jonathan’s presidential ambition.

“The delegation may use the visit to plead with the governor to drop his widely speculated ambition to contest for the PDP presidential ticket.”

The source revealed that the visit may last two days “to ensure the team address all the grievances that made the state government and its people to kick against Jonathan’s second term bid.”

When contacted, the Jigawa

State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Mamuda, confirmed the visit, saying: “Yes, it is true the Senate President and our National Chairman will come.”

He, however, refused to speak on the purpose of the visit and the likely agenda of discussion.

Mamuda, however, dismissed the rumour that the two personalities were coming to plead with Lamido to drop his presidential ambition.

Ebola: Shell donates ambulances, medical supplies

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HE Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria-operated Joint Venture has lent its support to Federal Government’s effort to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease by donating ambulances, trucks, medical supplies and internet facilities to the Lagos and Port Harcourt Ebola Centres.

The Media Relations Manager of the oil giant, Mr. Pre-

cious Okolobo, said in a statement yesterday that the company’s anti-Ebola support initiative started in August and is ongoing with personal donations by staff into a special internal Ebola Fund.

“The donations made since August 16, 2014, include an ambulance to the National Ebola Emergency Operations Centre at Yaba, Lagos and another one to the Port Harcourt

centre. Two trucks with three months fuel supply were also sent to the centre in Port Harcourt along with medical supplies to the health authorities and the centres in Lagos and Port Harcourt,” Okolobo said.

He added that SPDC offered IT support to the centre in Port Harcourt, including six units of internet facilities and six-month subscription. The facilities, according to him, would help to

back up the internet connectivity available at the centre.

“We are offering support wherever we can. Through the donations of medical items, vehicles and IT equipment, we have joined hands with the Federal Ministry of Health in efforts to bring the Ebola Virus Disease under control,” Okolobo quoted SPDC’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, as saying.”

Anambra renames varsity after Ojukwu

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HE Anambra State House of Assembly yesterday renamed the state-owned university at Uli after the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The bill for the renaming was passed during the plenary in Awka, the state capital, to honour the former Biafra hero.

The decision followed the report of the House Committee on Education, which recommended the change of name.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Education Mrs Rita Maduagwu (APGA Nnewi South 2) said the committee found that the university’s name had been changed before from Anambra State University of Science and Technology.

The lawmaker added that there were a number of provisions in the extant law that required review.

She said: “After due consideration of facts and information, the committee recommends that the law establishing the university be repealed while a new law aimed at amending the principal law be passed.”

Valentine Ayika (PDP Njikoka 1) said the bill was due for passage since it was read the second time last December.

Tony Muonagor (APC Idemili North) said the aim was to immortalise the late Ojukwu and encourage hard work among the people.

Ebele Obi (APC Idemili South) said the passage was a welcome development.

Obinna Emenakaya (APGA Anambra East) said the application for the change of name was meant to immortalise a man who fought and lived for the Igbo.

Speaker Chinwe Nwaebili said the university would be a multi-campus institution located in Awka.

Police warn vehicle owners

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HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned and accident vehicles parked at the Itire Division to remove them or lose them to the public through an auction two weeks after this publication.

The vehicles are: Toyota Camry LE LX599EKY, Volkswagen Golf II XJ734AKR Lagos State Commercial Colour, Audi 80 HX501KJA

Anambra community locks up estate over compensation

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HE people of Ezinano community in Awka, the Anambra State capital, have sealed off Rockland Estate over alleged non-payment of compensation for their land.

The people, who were from 20 villages in the community, chased away the residents and artisans on the building sites.

Over 800 members of the community stormed the sites around noon, accusing the owner of the estate, Mr Francis Obiene, of acquiring their land without paying compensation.

The community leader

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Comrade Obi Ochijie, said the developer, who acquired the property in 1979, refused to meet with the people after several calls and letters to him.

He said: “They have kept our property for too long.

Now, we have come to take it back. We have been here severally for dialogue and possible resolution but he refused to see us.

“Awka residents are hospitable people. Even the strangers in Awka can attest to this.

But today, we have come to

lock up the estate. That is why you see everybody being sent out.

“We want to tell him that if he dares break or tamper with the keys or chains, then we will also break something.”

One of the consultants, Rev. Victor Nnebe, explained that the developer took advantage of the disunity in the community to evade paying compensation.

He said: “We are united and want him to sit at a round-table with us to talk things over and stop the claims that he is busy.”

Another elder in the com-

munity, Chief Benjamin Morah, urged Governor Willie Obiano to wade into the matter to avert violence.

He said the youth of the community were being held back by the elders from destroying property in the estate.

But Obiene dismissed the allegations against him when he addressed reporters yesterday.

He said the demonstrators, who locked up the estate, were not the true representatives of the community.

He said: “That land was duly acquired by the govern-

ment in 1979. Most of those you saw there were not born then. The true representatives of the community were compensated with land and money. So, what they are doing is illegal.

“We have written to the Inspector-General of Police and we have taken a court action against them. They are joking.”

Police spokesman Uche Ezeh said it was improper for anyone or group to chase workers away from site or deny residents their rights.

He warned that the police would not condone any form of violence in the state.

10

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NEWS ‘376,808 PVCs yet to be collected’ From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday that 376,808 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) are yet to be collected in Akwa Ibom, more than four months after the exercise began.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Ada, said this at a meeting with party leaders.

He said 1,088,789 PVCs had been exchanged by their owners.

The REC also said 260,000 persons registered during the extended voter registration.

He told the parties of INEC’s decision to create 38,000 new polling units nationwide based on 85 per cent proportionality and 15 per cent equality, saying the existing wrongly located polling units would be relocated to public places.

Ada assured the political parties of adequate logistics by INEC to ensure that materials get to polling units without being hijacked by politicians and thugs.

Financial autonomy for judiciary From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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ELTA State Governor Emmnauel Uduaghan has signed a bill granting financial autonomy to the judiciary. The governor also signed the State Model Primary Schools Bill.

Uduaghan said his administration was giving legal backing to its programmes to ensure their sustenance.

The ceremony was attended by principal officers of the House of Assembly, members of the Judiciary and the State Executive Council.

He explained that the Judiciary Financial Autonomy Bill besides guaranteeing the financial independence of the Judiciary would reduce industrial actions.

Uduaghan said the model schools would not be supervised by the Ministry of Education but would be directly under the governor’s office to ensure that the desired standards were maintained.

Amaechi advises doctors From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has called on resident doctors not to depend on government alone but to look outwards to improve the nation’s health system.

He said doctors have become a militant organisation fighting to restore the rot in the health system.

The governor spoke yesterday at the opening of the 34th annual general meeting and scientific conference of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Port Harcourt.

The theme of the conference is “Post Graduate Medical Training and National Development, Challenges of the Past, Present and the Future”.

Amaechi, who was represented by Commissioner for Health Sampson Parker, said something must be done to end the idea of strike as an option for demand.

He said Nigeria has all it takes to operate a healthy health system if what doctors need is made available to them.

“I cannot say Port Harcourt is free of Ebola but we have been able to contain the dreaded disease and anywhere it comes up we are ready to tackle it.”

Utuama inspects Songhai farm

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ELTA State Deputy Governor Prof. Amos Utuama has said the state-owned integrated agro-based company, Songhai Delta, Amukpe, will develop the government’s socio-economic programmes.

Utuama, who spoke when he visited the company in Sapele Local Government Area, said the company was established by former Governor James Ibori to create more jobs and alleviate poverty.

The deputy governor, who was accompanied by some government officials, inspected the grasscutters units, piggery, quails, broilers, fish ponds and snail units. Other units inspected are the hatchery, pastry and milk processing, soya beans processing as well as the feed mill units.

“Today, we have come to witness the turnaround of Songhai Delta Amukpe. It is a complete turnaround. From what I can see, from the physical environment to the revival of the different units, we can see that Songhai Delta is standing strong.

“We all can see that Songhai Delta Amukpe has come to occupy its proper place as a driver of the socio-economic programme of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.”

Orubebe lobbies ex-PDP chiefs

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GOVERNORSHIP aspirant in Delta State, Elder Godsday Orubebe, yesterday took his ‘campaign’ to former members of the State Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi.

Orubebe said it was necessary to have a competent person as governor because of the serious challenges to be tackled.

The aspirant listed the challenges as the implementation of goals to transform Delta cities and put on ground the required infrastructure that will take Delta beyond oil.

He said as a former council chair, a special adviser and exminister, his life had been characterised by public service.

The former Niger Delta affairs minister said as local government chairman, his achievements are still the reference point in Burutu Local Government.

Orubebe said the building of the East/West road which stands at over 90 per cent completion is an attestation to the dexterity he brought to bear in raising and managing resources geared at executing the project.

Ogidi praised the aspirant for his life of service. He lauded the quality of his team and his campaign organisation.

•Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education Fatai Olukoga flanked by Director, Agency for Mass Education, Mrs Amore Adefolahan Olufemi (right) and Assistant Chief Education Officer Mrs Ojo Bolawaiye Olayinka at the briefing on PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES literary celebration at the Ministry of Education Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday

Kukah: let’s unite against insurgents

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T was a gathering of who is who in the political and business sector in Benin City, the Edo State capital, at the 80th birthday celebration of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Not less than 10 private jets touched down at the Benin Airport yesterday.

Fiery Catholic priest Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah called for unity among Nigerians to fight insurgency and ensure the continued united existence of the country.

In his homily at the St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, Kukah urged Muslims to reciprocate the generosity Christians have shown them.

He said it is only a united Nigeria that can guarantee elections and elective positions.

Kukah said: “Let us pray

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

for our country, let us pray for the president, let us pray for those in whose hands the responsibility of governing our country has been entrusted.

“Let us pray for our military, this is not the time for us to trade blames, we are in a boat which is threatening to sink. We need to get to safety first before we start trading blames.

“This is because in the final analysis, we must have a country before we can conduct election, we must have a country before we can have a president, we must have a country before we can have governors, we must have a country before we can call ourselves citizens and the future of our country is at stake.”

On the need for religious

tolerance and unity, the cleric said: “We have had quite a good number of Christians who have built mosques, and donated them to Muslims. Some governors who are Christians and many wealthy non-Muslims have built mosques across the country for their Muslims counterparts, but I am yet to hear or see the same thing credited to our Muslim brothers.

“I recall and I am aware that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the first person to set up a Muslim Welfare Board for Muslims in the 60s. I want us to reach a point where we can say that governor X or alhaji Y has built a church and donated to Christians.”

On the positive use of wealth, Kukah said: “Whatever gift God has given to us is meant for service of others. Today, where it not for individuals such as the

celebrator and the likes of the chairmen of Arik, Aero and other private airline operators, where will our nation be today?

“Years of crippling misrule have seen crippling inequality in our nation and these are sins against the generosity of God who loves our nation so much that he has entrusted us with so much.

“According to a CNN report last year, the ownership of private jets in our country has gone up about 650 per cent and I am sure the figures have gone even higher now. Rather than celebrate this as evidence of achievement and the growth of our country, I believe that it is an indictment of the economic system we are running where unearned income, stolen from our commonwealth is being celebrated and flaunted.”

Amaechi: Mbu nearly killed Rivers’ economy

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has described the former Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, as a politician in police uniform.

Amaechi spoke yesterday when the Commissioner of Police, Dan S. Bature, his predecessor, Tunde Ogunsakin and other officers visited him.

Amaechi said the former police boss deviated from his professional role of protecting life and property by serving politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Mbu Joseph Mbu clearly

showed us that he was a registered PDP member. In your own case, (Ogunsakin) you know that, we had disagreement, but, you realised your responsibility was to ensure the security of life and property as the paramount responsibility of the police.

“It is important you keep that peace. And I wish to thank you for that peace. I am also sure, Rivers people are happy about that. With the way Mbu was going, Rivers economy would have collapsed completely. Fortu-

nately for us, they took him away and brought you (Ogunsakin) and you restored calm.

“You tried to create a platform for all parties to reach you. And as you go, please, go with that same spirit. The police in Rivers State should discharge their responsibility as it concerns the protection of life and property.

The governor advised Bature to ensure social justice rather than partisan politics, warning that the absence of social justice may breed resistance and breakdown of law

and order in the state.

“If you keep to social justice, believe me, you will be everybody’s friend. The Rivers State government will continue to support you, once that is kept. But, if it is not kept, you can ask Mbu to confirm that, when we found out that, he was a PDP member, we stopped funding the police,” Amaechi said.

Bature said he would provide adequate security for residents and ensure socioeconomic development through enduring democracy.

First Lady’s plot to hijack Bayelsa, Rivers thickens

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SECRET plot to oust Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has been uncovered.

It was gathered that the Office of the First Lady is behind the plot to deny Dickson the second term ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP. Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr. Waripamowei Dudafa, is believed to be the ‘candidate’ of Dame Patience Jonathan.

The same scenario, it was gathered, is playing out in Rivers State, where she is believed to be working to get the ticket for Minister of State Education Nyesom

•Dickson may be replaced with Jonathan’s aide Wike.

Wike, like Governor Rotimi Amaechi, is an Ikwerre man from the upland part of the state. Many PDP members in Rivers believe that giving the ticket to Wike may give the All Progressives Congress (APC) the advantage.

While there will be governorship election in Rivers next year, election is not due in Bayelsa till 2016.

It was gathered that the First Lady hopes to execute the well-written script using federal might and compelling her allies in Abuja to hijack the party structures, es-

pecially in Bayelsa State.

As part of the plans, the First Lady was said to have influenced the recent postings of police commissioners to the two states.

A source said Mrs. Jonathan was instrumental to the deployment of the new commissioners of police in both states.

Acting Inspector-General of Police (IG) Suleiman Aba recently deployed commissioners of police in 21 states and posted Dan Bature to Rivers State and Valentine U. Ntomchukwu to Bayelsa.

It was initially reported that Mrs. Jonathan had concluded arrangements to in-

stall her candidates in five states, including Bayelsa and Rivers.

The source said: “The First Lady influenced the appointments of Bature and Ntomchukwu. She met secretly with them and handed a written script over to them which she expects them to execute”.

On Bayelsa, the source said the First Lady is determined to oust Dickson, from office and install Dudafa.

“It is real. The First Lady and her political allies in the Presidency are determined to make Dudafa governor by all means.”

THE NATION FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

11

NEWS

•Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima with the second batch of female students sponsored by the state government for a five-year MBBS programme at the El Razi Medical College, Khartoum in Sudan.

Nyako’s suit: Court to rule on Sept 30

By Joseph Jibueze

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USTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday fixed September 30 for judgment in a suit seeking to reinstate Admiral Murtala Nyako as Adamawa State governor.

The suit is seeking an order compelling the Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri, to vacate office.

Nyako said the process that led to his impeachment was unconstitutional.

The respondents are Fintiri, the House of Assembly, the Chief Judge, Chairman of the Impeachment Panel Buba Kajama, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector-General of Police.

Nyako’s lawyer Mr. Nelson Okedinachi said he was yet to receive INEC’s response. The court had ordered the respondents to file and serve their replies on the applicant latest by 3pm on Monday.

INEC’s lawyer Mrs. F. Tairu alleged that the applicant frustrated efforts to serve him.

Niger records N10b revenue shortfall

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HE Niger State government said its receipt from the federation account fell short by over N10 billion in the first half of this year.

Commissioner for Planning and Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission Alhaji Yahaya Dansalau told reporters yesterday in Minna that the state received N24.502 billion, instead of N34.849 billion, for the period under re-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

view.

Dansalau said the state’s 2014 budget performed well in the first half of the year owing to prudent management of resources.

He said the state raked in N2.58 billion Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), 81 per cent of the amount targeted in the first half of the year.

‘Don’t extend Kebbi chairmen’s tenure’ From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to sue the Kebbi State government and the State Independent Electoral Commission, if the tenure of local government caretaker committees is extended beyond September 15.

Addressing reporters at the party’s Secretariat in Birnin-Kebbi, APC’s Publicity Secretary, Sani Dododo, said the party would not condone the imposition of sole administrators or caretaker committees on councils.

Dododo said election should be conducted when their tenure expires.

Ex-Kwara Governor Adebayo loses wife

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RS Elizabeth Funmilayo Adebayo, wife of former Kwara State Governor Cornelius Adebayo, is dead.

Mrs Adebayo died at an Abuja hospital on Tuesday. She was 65.

It was gathered that she had been ill in the last five years.

Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) described Mrs Adebayo’s death as “a sad loss”.

In a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, Saraki said: “This is a sad development for us all. I can only imagine the void that her passing away will create for her husband, the children and the entire family.”

He said the state had lost a virtuous and hard-working

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

woman, who supported her husband to achieve greatness as a profound politician, nationalist and teacher.

Saraki said: “No doubt, it is a trying period for everyone who has had one form of contact or the other with her, her immediate family and close associates. I hope the family draws strength from the knowledge that the thoughts and prayers of Kwarans and indeed Nigerians are with you.

“On behalf of the people of Kwara State and myself, I express our heartfelt condolences to you and the family. We share in your grief and I join you personally in prayers and thoughts as you go through this difficult time of mourning.”

FCT owes original inhabitants over N200b

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HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owes original Abuja inhabitants over N200 billion for resettlement and compensation.

The FCT Administration said the government was unable to pay the original N2 billion required for resettlement and compensation in 1976, and the bill has risen to N200 billion.

FCT Minister Bala Mohammed said yesterday that the administration lacks funds to pay the debt.

From: Grace Obike, Abuja

FCT Permanent Secretary Obinna Chukwu spoke for the minister while receiving participants of the National Defence College, Course 23, who were in Abuja on a study tour.

Chukwu said: “The FCT administration requires over N200 billion to resettle and compensate Abuja natives.

“In 1976 when the FCT was created, the government required only about N2 billion to resettle the natives, al-

though the value of N2 billion then was much.

“What propelled the cost of resettlement was the increase in the population of the natives due to birth and demographics. The families keep on growing.

“Most times, the budget that should be gotten in January is usually gotten in August. The administration has been innovative in tackling the infrastructural challenges in the territory.

“The ever-dwindling public

funds available for infrastructural development made the FCT administration to introduce the Abuja Land Swap policy to improve infrastructure and reduce the housing deficit.”

The leader of the delegation and Director, Curriculum Programme Development, National Defence College, Commodore Aliyu Baba Lawal, called for continued collaboration between the FCT administration and the National Defence College.

Abuja traders reject Ebola Isolation Centre

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RADERS in Kuje protested yesterday against the siting of an Ebola Isolation Centre at the Kuje General Hospital by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration.

Shouting: “we do not want Ebola Isolation Centre, take it to the bush”, the traders marched through the Gomo’s Palace to the General Hospital and the council secretariat.

They carried placards, which

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

read: “Kuje is not a dumping ground”; “FCT give us university and construct our roads”; “Shaban you have disappointed us”; and “We need electricity in Kuje, not Ebola Killer Disease”, among others.

The Vice Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mohammed Baba, urged the protesters to be law abiding, pledging to

deliver their message to the council chairman.

Kuje Traders’ Association Secretary Mrs. Rosemary Jonah Udoh said: “We need a university, electricity, good roads, industries, etc, and not Ebola Centre that is going to destroy their lives. The Council Chairman, Shaban Tete, has disappointed us for being mute on the matter.”

She said they would continue the protest if the govern-

ment failed to “take appropriate measures” after one week.

Chairman of the Nigeria Traders Association, Kuje chapter, Alhaji Yunusa Isah (Chiroma) urged the government to sensitise members of the association on Ebola prevention measures.

The Medical Director of the Kuje General Hospital, Dr. Tarbunde Egbi, pledged to take their message to the authorities.

Ribadu is a laughing stock, says Kwankwaso

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu a laughing stock, Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said yesterday.

Kwankwaso said: “After he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP, his new party did not find him worthy of its governorship ticket. I am sure the PDP stakeholders in Adamawa are now laughing at him. We sympathise with him.”

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

He spoke at the Government House in Kano while receiving merit awards from two organisations - APC Kwankwasiyya Amana, Bauchi State chapter, and Nigeria 774 Kwankwasiyya Merger: Kwankwaso for President.

Kwankwaso urged the people of Adamawa to think wisely and vote for the APC candidate in the October 11 governorship election, Senator Jibrilla Bindow.

Lamenting that the PDP-led Federal Government had

caused Adamawa untold hardship, he urged the electorate to vote for the APC, “which is ready to bring about positive and realistic changes”.

The governor said: “Anybody who voted for the PDP, which within five years could not lead the nation rightly, has deceived himself. APC has come up with a credible candidate who can salvage Adamawa State.”

He alleged that the PDP chose a candidate “most of their supporters see as incompetent”.

•Kwankwaso

Dino Melaye declares senatorial ambition

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ORMER House of Representatives’ member Dino Melaye declared yesterday his ambition to vie for the Kogi West Senatorial District seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Making the declaration at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Lokoja, Kogi State, Melaye said the APC would sweep the polls at all levels.

He accused Senator Smart Adeyemi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who represents the district, of ineptitude,

From James Azania, Lokoja

pledging to provide better representation for the people.

According to Melaye, the people of Kogi West have been denied quality representation in the last eight years under the PDP. He said: “We have suffered for so long. Adeyemi has not attracted a single federal structure to the district. A senator from Ebonyi State has attracted the construction of a dam worth over N1.3 billion to his place, not just money from his pocket, but real federal presence.

“I am saying that we are tired of the PDP and that the person representing us at the Senate lacks basic legislative capacity.

In the history of democracy in this state, Dino Melaye has the highest number of motions.

“I am not going to be a senator who will just go in and fill the gap. I have also said that silence in the face of injustice, which has been our lot in Nigeria, is a crime.”

Responding to a question about the zoning arrangement in the senatorial district, he said it was not applicable to the APC.

Melaye said: “APC is a new party and it will be sacrilegious to use the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) clock to tell the APC’s time. As I am talking to you, the PDP is going to choose its presidential loser from the South, while the APC will choose its presidential victor from the North. So are we using the PDP’s clock? APC is a new party and it is after this election that our rotation will start.”

He urged the electorate to support the APC, saying the party holds the key to genuine change.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

MEND threatens to bomb Lagos Judges •Group accuses judicial officers of not signing letters of administration

S

OME judges of the Lagos High Court have come under threat of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) over their alleged refusal to issue letters for the administration of its late members’ estates.

MEND yesterday gave the judges 12 days to issue such letters or be bombed.

Decrying what it called the delay in issuing the letters, MEND threatened to launch coordinated attacks on the judges’ houses and vehicles at the expiration of its ultimatum.

In a statement by one Commander Wilberforce, MEND accused the judges of continually failing to sign the

By Adebisi Onanuga

letters of administration years after they have been approved.

It said it was surprised that the letters had not beeen signed several months after they were approved.

MEND accused judges of laziness and corruption, adding that they allegedly demanded bribe from the applicants to sign the letters.

According to MEND, so many beneficiaries lost their lives this year while the children of the deceased have been chased out of schools for lack of funds because of “the inhuman and wicked attitude of the probate

judges”.

“Some”, it noted, “have gone into crime just to survive”.

“For over two years a good number of our members have been processing the Letters of Administration of their deceased families. All they keep hearing is “Come tomorrow,” as a result of this inhuman and wicked attitude of the probate judges who refused to sign the letters lying dormant in their offices. “ A number of times the judges collected bribes from them but still refused to sign the letters. We can no longer condone this wickedness of the highest order, this is the reason we are writing all authorities of the Lagos State

Government and Judiciary to intervene or else we would be forced to launch series of attacks on these corrupt judges and their families. We know their houses as well as their modus operandi,” MEND warned.

It said the timely intervention of the Lagos State Governor and the Chief Judge could save the situation.

“We sincerely advise the Governor and Chief Judge to intervene or else we shall spill blood.

“Serial violence is the only language Nigerians understand, since they have decided to murder the beneficiaries through their inactions then they leave us

with no choice than to meet wickedness with higher wickedness.

“In the coming weeks we shall publish the names and addresses of ALL probate judges.

“Evil prevails when good men do nothing. We hereby issue a 12-day ultimatum to them to sign and release all Letters of Administration published last year”, it warned.

MEND said its threat was not about ethnicity, asking other ethnic militant organisations not to intervene in the matter.

“No ethnic militant group should intervene, this is not a matter of tribe, this is about humanity,” it said.

Suspected Akure jailbreak mastermind held

O

PERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command have arrested one of the suspected masterminds of the Olokuta Prison Akure, Ondo State jailbreak in 2012.

No fewer than 175 inmates escaped during the jailbreak.

Fabian Oladele, 29, an indigene of Okitipupa was arrested for robbery and diversion of trucks before it was discovered that he and others, still at large, masterminded the jailbreak.

Police claimed that he was part of a five-man gang that planned the jailbreak.

But, Oladele, a graduate of Home Economics from the College of Education, Ondo, denied the allegation, claiming that he was inside the prison when the jailbreak occurred.

•Suspect deny allegation

By Ebele Boniface

He said: “I was not part of the jailbreak plan. I was inside the prison when they planned it. I only ran out of the prison through a hole in the prison wall created by the jail breakers when I saw other inmates escaping. I was not part of the plan. We were over 175 inmates that escaped that fateful day in 2012. ‘’It was stealing that sent me to prison. I did not commit the offence for which I was charged to court and sentenced. It was one of my friends, Festus Ayeni, that stole bags of rice. I met Ayeni in prison. We did not know what was happening.

We saw people escaping and we joined them. My wife does not know that I am a

thief but not an armed robber. It is a curse to be an armed robber. I spent only ten months when they broke the cell wall that enabled us to escape. I took policemen to the place where the receiver was arrested. Our leader, Alhaji Kosomona does not allow us to know the buyer of goods we hijacked and the amount it was sold, he gives each of us N100,000 for every 33,000 litres of fuel we diverted from Ibadan to Ogbomoso and Ilesha filling stations’’.

Oladele said he did not teach with his certificate because teachers are poorly paid, adding that he started stealing to survive.

He said their gang leader, Alhaji Kosomona is being held at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad

(FSARS) custody for diverting goods, adding: ‘’We were involved in diversion of a truck carrying cement which we sold to a lawyer in Ado Ekiti after my escape from prison. There is also a 406 vehicle we snatched and sold but we have not been paid by the buyer. Most of our buyers are thieves also.

“I was arrested on the 18th of June this year at Ojodu Berger area of Lagos. One of my close friends called me on phone to come to Lagos from Ondo town. He told me that there was one big job that will fetch us big money and I needed money at that time, hence I went to meet him. It was when I went to meet him that I was arrested.

My friend escaped. We do not use guns to operate. Our modus operandi is park and carry’’.

Police said the suspect

Policemen detained over snatched rifle

By Jude Isiguzo

T

HE policemen who lost an AK47 rifle to motorcyclists aka okada in Lagos six days ago have been arrested and detained.

The five policemen, led by an Inspector, are being held in the cell of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja.

They may face orderly room trail after investigation.

Detectives are grilling them on how they allowed civilians to snatch a rifle from them.

Last Sunday, the policemen who were patrolling in a vehicle marked “OPS Attack” impounded a commercial motorcycle for plying an illegal route.

The rider was said to have mobilised his colleagues and they chased the patrol vehicle to Ojekunle junction, near the Ladipo Auto parts market where they tried to recover the motorcycle from the policemen.

As they were dragging the motorcycle, one of the motorcyclists snatched a policeman’s rifle and attempted to open fire.

The policemen were said to have fled and returned to beg social miscreants to assist them recover the rifle.

•The suspect ... yesterday

would be transferred to Ondo to answer other charges against him.

Pilgrims warned on use of sanitisers in Saudi Arabia

I

INTENDING pilgrims have been advised not to be panicky over the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) when they get to Saudi Arabia.

Operations Manager of Hajj Mabrur Ventures Ltd (HMVL) Alhaji Zulkifli Adewunmi gave the advice when the pilgrims asked if they would be provided sanitisers before leaving Nigeria.

Adewunmi spoke at a

•Officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) at the scene of a fire that razed over 50 shops at Planks and Building materials market at Sawmill, UTurn bus stop, AbuleEgba on Lagos/ Abeokuta Expressway.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

seminar organised by HMVL for the pilgrims at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Mosque Auditorium in Akoka, Yaba.

The use of sanitisers, he said, should be pronounced here and not Saudi Arabia.

“We should avoid putting ourselves in an inconvenient situation by unnecessarily displaying sanitisers at the airport in Saudi Arabia. By the

time their immigration officials noticed many pilgrims holding sanitisers, they might subject you to undue rounds of check that would add to the stress of travelling. If you must go with sanitisers, be decorous in its usage,” he said.

A Consultant Nephrologist at Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos, Dr AbdulWasi Busari, educated the pilgrims on the use of sanitisers.

According to him, pilgrims should handle sanitizers just like pomade or Vaseline and other personal belongings.

Busari said: “It is not something that should be displayed that people will now know that you have something that you are carrying; you do not create unnecessary panic for other pilgrims from other countries. It is more or less like your per-

sonal belonging like bathing soap or whatever so it should not cause any controversy. In fact, people need to use the sanitisers more here than in Saudi Arabia because we’ve not heard of any established case there, the sanitiser they are talking about is something they should start using now and if they have the opportunity to take it along, they should put it in their bag, and not display or use it often to avoid panic.”

He enjoined them to continue their personal hygiene on getting to the Holy Land.

“They should not unnecessarily expose themselves to the intensity of the weather, you know sometimes it could be very hot in that place so they are always advised not to go out when the weather is too hot and that they should find time to go for Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka’abah) maybe in the morning or at night that the weather is already cooler, then they should not unnecessarily exert themselves because Hajj exercise itself is a rigorous one, they should not spend so much time and energy engaging in all sorts of shopping so as not to break down when it’s time for the main exercise,” he said.

•Lagos police chief Kayode Aderanti

Cleric calls for prayers

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HE people of Southeast have been asked to come together and pray against Boko Haram incursion.

The call was made by Rev. C. O. Irapada Obisanya (JP) of Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria (Agbala Iwosan) at Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba, a Lagos suburb.

Prophetess Obisanya said the Southeast should pray against the sect’s evil intention for the country.

She said God told her to urge Nigerians 9-day prayer and fasting to avert crisis.

She called on President Goodluck Jonathan to lead the fasting and prayer in the nation’s interest.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

‘Modest’ crooks and accidental ‘leaders’

An uncompleted sentence...

•Dimgba Igwe, wordsmith and ace journalist dies suddenly at 58

W

OE alas, he has become a hanging sentence… a hoary ellipsis, a dangling modifier even. Oh, death would not let him dot his i’s and cross his t’s. How perverse that death would force a full-stop on Dimgba Igwe’s story. Now he has become a low dirge sung in forlorn newsrooms. To term it death is to misname it. Call it the extirpation or extinguishing in the manner of putting out a fire. Or more appropriately, Igwe has been switched off; the bright light of Nigeria’s journalism has been quenched, a roaring torch has been doused even in this age of darkness.

A long, beautiful sentence has been left hanging, semi-completed and nearmeaningless. Dimgba Igwe was felled mid-sentence. He was out jogging at dawn last Saturday when he was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Igwe had bestraddled Nigeria’s newspaper industry since he graduated from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in 1983. He rose rapidly through the National Concord newspaper group from Staff Writer in 1984 to Deputy Editor/ Deputy General Manager of Weekend Concord in 1996.

It was at the effervescent Weekend Concord which he co-midwifed with his long-standing soul mate, Mike Awoyinfa, that he proved his mettle as a journalist’s journalist. The weekend title which was refreshing, flighty and easy-to-read proved an instant success at the period and earned Igwe and Awoyinfa their unique place in Nigeria’s newspapering firmament. With a combination of good writing and quality management which the two friends embodied, the paper was not only a best-selling weekend title, it

was also the highest circulating.

The duo would replicate the Weekend Concord feat in 2002 when they led the team that founded the Nigerian version of the famous UK tabloid, The Sun. The coming of The Sun to the Nigerian newspapering landscape has vastly changed the equation, especially in the soft-sell genre. The title also became a circulation and readership success and has continued to wax stronger till date. Igwe was the founding Deputy Editor-in-Chief as well as the Group Deputy Managing Director until a few years ago when he and his friend, Awoyinfa, had to stand down.

He was the Vice Chairman of the Sun Publishing Group up until the time of his demise.

Born on May 16, 1956 in Igbere, Bende, Local Government Council of Abia State, he co-authored with Awoyinfa, The Art of Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines, in 1990 which became recommended text in many journalism schools and departments. His longstanding and twin-like relationship with his seemingly inseparable friend, Awoyinfa is a signpost of the peculiar nature of Igwe for those who never knew him. Theirs’ was a friendship that is rare today and with which they had accomplished many major projects; the one richly complementing the other. They were to present a major book to the public this month from their famous smithery.

Igwe was not just a great journalist and administrator; he was also a man of immense goodwill and good nature.

Everyone who came in contact with him testifies that he is a DHL personality: Diligent, Honest and Law-abiding. He took life very seriously and did all that

mattered to make it worthwhile for himself and for all around him. This must explain why he excelled and succeeded as a journalist in today’s Nigeria. Igwe was so meticulous in life that only a freak accident as happened to him September 6 could have cut short his life; it is sad.

For one who cared so much about life and health, his country let him down when it mattered most. He was reportedly turned back by two hospitals and he gave up on the way to the third.

If only he got first aid in one of the hospitals? In sane societies, there are ambulance services and various emergency responses to accident victims. In sane societies major streets and neighbourhoods have security surveillance. Not here. We may never find Dimgba Igwe’s killer. What a country!

Adieu, great man of the pen; we take solace in the fact that you left the world a much better place.

‘He was reportedly turned back by two hospitals and he gave up on the way to the third. If only he got first aid in one of the hospitals? In sane societies, there are ambulance services and various emergency responses to accident victims.

In sane societies major streets and neighbourhoods have security surveillance. Not here.

We may never find Dimgba Igwe’s killer. What a country!’

Francis Idachaba (1943-2014) •A great scholar, teacher, researcher, administrator is gone

H

E was not born great. He did not inherit greatness. He did not have greatness thrust upon him. Rather, he was born in Idah, Kogi State, on December 4, 1943, to poor, struggling parents. His father, Baba Idachaba Idoko, was a potato farmer and his mother, Ayo Salome Idachaba, a smoked fish seller. Yet, by the time he died on August 17, Professor Francis Idachaba had, through hard work, a sense of purpose and determination attained greatness as one of Nigeria’s most distinguished sons.

Having lost his father when he was 18, it was his mother who laid the foundation for his exemplary success in life. She sent the young Francis to primary and secondary school through her smoked fish business and it was from her he imbibed the attributes of industry, discipline, routine and focus that

‘Prof Idachaba offers an inspiring example that it is possible for an individual to achieve financial success without compromising his professional integrity and ethical values ... Even in death, he remains an enduring role model as the country seeks to redeem her broken educational system. May his soul rest in peace.’

propelled him to national and international recognition as a scholar, thinker, researcher, teacher, writer and administrator.

As a scholar, Prof Idachaba ranked among Nigeria’s most eminent men of letters. He obtained a B. Sc in Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1967 and an M. Sc in the same discipline from the University of Chicago in 1969. After obtaining his doctoral degree in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University in 1972, he commenced a most exciting and productive career as a lecturer, researcher and consultant in universities and research centres in Nigeria, the United States, Canada, the Hague, the Netherlands and several African countries.

The agronomist rose to become a Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Ibadan in 1981. His prodigious output as an intellectual included six published books and over 72 academic papers on diverse issues of agricultural development.

Prof Idachaba was not content to be a theoretical, ivory tower intellectual far removed from reality. His research efforts in rural economics, crop subsector, crop marketing, commodity taxes and farm input subsidies among others, contributed significantly to enriching agricultural policy in Nigeria. He was a key brain behind such initiatives as the Agricultural Developmental Programmes (ADPs), River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), the Green Revolution Programme and the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI). It is to his eternal credit that Prof Idachaba’s proposal resulted in the establishment of two Universities of Agriculture in Makurdi, Benue State and Abeokuta,

Ogun State, in 1988.

Beyond being an outstanding academic, Prof Idachaba was also an accomplished administrator. He was pioneer ViceChancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, from 1988 to 1995 and served as Vice-Chancellor of Kogi State University between 2005 and 2008. It is remarkable that during his tenure in the latter capacity, all of the 29 academic programmes of the university were accredited.

Other capacities in which he offered selfless service to Nigeria included being a member of several bodies such as the Governing Council, Open University of Nigeria (20042008); Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award (2004-2010); Vision 2020 Committee (1996-1997); Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as well as a distinguished member of the Nigerian Economic Society. It was in recognition of his immense contributions to the country’s development that Prof Idachaba was awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in humanities in 2011.

Prof Idachaba offers an inspiring example that it is possible for an individual to achieve financial success without compromising his professional integrity and ethical values. In his words, “My own experience shows that even as an academic, if one works extremely hard and shuns premature politics; God will surprise one with material rewards beyond one’s wildest dreams”. Even in death, he remains an enduring role model as the country seeks to redeem her broken educational system.

May his soul rest in peace.

S

IR: The Nigerian polity is one huge theatre of the absurd. The regular politician is a clown, albeit not a harmless one. I find many strategies employed by this category of citizens in the process of politicking entertaining in their silliness and would have simply smiled and moved on but for the grave implications and consequences on the society. In fact some of the methods are so shallow and lacking in deep thought that the politician gets away with them is but an indictment on the society.

Yes, it shows a shallow society bereft of capacity for analytical thinking.

It is very common here for a politician to be ‘pressured’ or claim to be pressured to contest an election. Here and there, individuals, groups, forums etc. demand that so and so politician contest for one position or the other. As the 2015 election draws near, more of such demands reverberate across the polity.

But this phenomenon did not start today.

Some years ago, a certain group that went by the title, Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA), shouted itself hoarse, literarily begging the maximum ruler to transmute from a military to civilian ruler.

Virtually all the existing political parties adopted the goggled one as their presidential candidate. Yet the one on whose behalf all the effort was expended gave the impression of being reluctant.

Presently another group, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is criss-crossing the country holding rallies where the president is called to contest the 2015 presidential election. Indeed I found it comical seeing prominent politicians including governors take to the podium to ‘demand’ that President Jonathan declare his interest to run without further delay.

Now, does it mean that the politician being prodded is actually not keen to contest the election? Well, whoever believes so could as well believe anything.

So, if a politician from the beginning had interest in contesting, why conscript people to publicly demand that he run? What is the rationale behind this gimmick?

I think that besides testing the waters, it is so as to be seen in the eyes of (gullible) citizens as modest, not power-hungry. What fraud! Modest crooks.

The truth is that there is nothing immodest about one who believes he has what it takes to lead making himself available for election. A true leader, one that has something to offer does not wait to be ‘pressured’ to serve his people, he does not even say: “if you need me I’m available”. He boldly steps forward.

Moses never waited for the Israelites to demand that he lead them, he made himself available. I’m not aware of any great leader who was pressured into assuming a leadership position. On the contrary, many actually resolved to aspire to certain positions long before and eventually presented themselves to the people when they felt they were ready. One who waits to be pushed is not a leader. So politicians who claim to be pressured by people to contest elections are only intelligent by half and could only get away with it in a shallow society like ours.

On another hand, let’s even assume that some of the politicians sincerely do not habour interest in contesting for the position but are being pressured by people to do so. The implication is that such persons are not ready for the position since they had not planned for it. One can hardly deliver on a position he had not planned to occupy. And is this lack of preparedness for an office not among the bane of our development? The country has had quite a number of accidental ‘leaders’, people who ended up occupying positions they never planned to. Some had intentions of being senators and others governors but were made presidents. Some had no plans to occupy elective positions but were pushed into one by some godfathers. In the end the country pays a heavy price for their lack of preparedness in the form of poor quality leadership.

In the interest of the country, Nigerians should reject politicians who are pressured to contest for leadership positions, politicians who did not prepare for leadership. Only individuals who understood what leadership is all about and adequately prepared themselves are acceptable.

• Nnoli Chidiebere, Aba, Abia State.

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

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

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

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: While it is generally agreed that no medium exists without its own bias, the greater truth is that the media is a public trust and its hallmark is integrity established by truth. When a medium publishes falsehood, either deliberately or inadvertently, it undermines the basis of its credibility.

This is the trap that the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, set for the media before, during and after the August 9, governorship election in Osun State.

Omisore asked for the removal of the State Resident Electoral Commission, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, alleging that Akeju is a card-carrying member of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress (APC). He did not offer any evidence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akeju’s em-

Rubbishing Ribadu

S

IR: Have you seen the deceit that Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP have come to personify?

Nuhu Ribadu is their latest trophy. They promised him the party’s ticket, and by extension, the Governor’s Lodge. Now they have thoroughly rubbished him, they have exposed Ribadu as an opportunist, how he’ll live with that is left for him to fashion out.

But one thing is certain, he has been wounded and from now on, very few will attach any importance to whatever he says or does. Anyone investing any trust in President Goodluck Jonathan and his co travellers in the PDP does so at his or her own risk.

• Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

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

Media should be wary of Omisore ployer, asked him to substantiate his claim, since he who asserts must prove. Almost four years down the line, he is yet to come up with anything. The media, regrettably, has been amplifying this false allegation for him.

Again, he has been fulminating that INEC conducted the 2011 general election against a subsisting court order. He trumpeted this lie with a demonic frenzy, regrettably with the help of the media.

The truth however is that the PDP went to court asking for an interlocutory injunction preventing Akeju from conducting the 2011 election. INEC agreed and was preparing to replace Akeju when PDP went back to the same court and asked for a ‘stay of execution’.

The judge, Babs Kuewumi, was scandalised. He told them that their demand defied logic since it’s the loser that asks for an injunction, not the winner, who should be savouring the fruits of his victory. He then granted the stay of execution of the injunction he had earlier granted.

It is inconceivable that Omisore will now turn round to accuse INEC of flouting court order. The media reported this falsehood with reckless abandon, without cross-checking the facts.

Then again, the media on September 2, were awash with an interesting news item – a report that INEC had suspended two Electoral Officers (EO) for Obokun and Osogbo Local Governments. The report gleefully and recklessly claimed

they were suspended for helping APC to rig the August 9, governorship election in Osun State.

The next day INEC came out to rebut the story. INEC was categorical in denying that the two EOs were suspended for helping APC rig the election. Indeed, the EO for Obokun was suspended for diverting election materials and arrested by the police while doing so. What INEC did not mention was that the news actually broke on the eve of the election, how vigilant youths in Otan-Ile had apprehended the EO while taking the materials to the residence of a PDP chief in Ilase, and how he was released by police to a PDP national officer from the state.

The second EO for Osogbo was actually suspended following the

Kudos to Nigeria Police

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IR: On behalf of the Nnewi community in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, I wish to commend the quick response of the Nigeria Police in apprehending one Kelechi Williams Eze who allegedly murdered our sister Njideka Lizzy Nzewi at her residence in AmuwoOdofin area of Festac town in Lagos on July 21.

It is testimony to the improvement in the efficiency of the Nigeria Police under the immediate past Inspector General of Police M.D Abubakar and the incumbent IGP Suleiman Abba. It did not come as a surprise to me that the alleged killer was apprehended within one week of IGP Abba’s coming into office.

I will not fail to mention the astuteness of DIG Mamman Tsafe, then AIG in charge of Zone 2 who created an enabling environment and vested trust in the abilities of the Area E Command to handle the case.

He insisted that individual commands within Zone 2 take responsibilities and acquire capacity for solving challenges/crime within their jurisdiction. Our appreciation also goes to AIG Umar Manko whose stay in Lagos as Commissioner of Police birthed a massive improvement in the security situation within the metropolis.

We pray that God will strengthen the current IGP so that he can continue his good work which will then consistently reflect in the rank and

file.

Most Nigerians who did not get to hear the full story or have the opportunity to follow the same story may not appreciate the kind of hardwork which went into tracking and the eventual arrest of the murder suspect.

I must applaud the swiftness and passion with which the Area E Commander, ACP Dan Okoro got on the job using a special tracking technology to monitor and track the young man who was driving the victim’s car across four countries on the West Coast.

From the narrative, the young man bolted to Ghana in the victim’s Range Rover Sports Utility Van after committing the crime. He eventually ended up in Cote d’voire

petition written against him for attempting to manipulate the election against APC. He hid the accreditation tags of APC party agents and did not release them until after accreditation had taken place. He also hid form EC8C in a waste bin and caused the delay in compiling the result for Osogbo until about 2.00 am the next day.

How then could the two EOs have rigged for APC? Interestingly, the same media had reported these events when they occurred. All they needed to do was crosscheck with their own record.

The irony is that each time the public read a report in the media that is patently false, instead of Omisore, it is the media that gets discredited. Believability is the media’s daily bread and once it is lost, nothing is left.

Omisore is a mere bird of passage, he should not be allowed to destroy the media that have been built over time with the sweat and blood of our patriots and heroes of the profession.

• Tunji Ayandele, Osogbo, Osun State

where he was arrested by the Interpol in conjunction with crack detectives from Area E Command. I am aware that for the one week plus that this tracking and forensic investigation was going on, the Area Commander never went home but stayed on the case till the suspect was arrested.

We are very grateful and delighted that under this present dispensation, the Police can be said to have come of age. We are certain that if it had not been for the proactive steps taken by the Nigeria Police, this case would have gone down in history as one of those unresolved murders and the pain would have lingered in our memory forever.

• Dr Godwin Okonkwo, Lagos

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 16

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COMMENTS

They will not tell you it’s a trap Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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HERE is no odor as vile as that which arises from despoiled citizenship. It is insidious, human and outright malevolent. And it is all that we represent as Nigerians. Let us not make a mockery of citizenship; we are not the model citizens we profess to be.

We whose idea of citizenship gravitates from arrant skepticism to dilettantism, gruesome criticism to cynicism and utter insincerity will never court hope even when we see it. And the consequence abounds all around us.

Yesterday, our grief was of marginalization, unemployment, religious and ethnic bigotry, corruption in high places and enfant terrible godfathers. Today, we bemoan the existence of Boko Haram; we grieve because our youths have turned suicide bombers, our mothers are impoverished and our daughters litter dimly lit brothels and recesses of the sidewalk within and outside the country.

Today, we talk of going to war and sing to ourselves, blood-spattered choruses of youthful rebellion. We love to sing such ballads that beguile our will and caress our eardrums; that is why we court and fete such leadership as we have now. It is that time of the year when they promise us stable electricity, gallantry in governance, dependable economy and security. It is that time of the year when they recite the same old platitudes to the same old electorate.

They promise us honor, status, glory, and a prosperous future as usual; and as usual, we fail to hold these promises up against their culture of leadership – that flagrant

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norm of theirs that blesses us with dead-end jobs of small-town life, religious and financial terrorism, bankruptcy, ethnic bigotry, substandard healthcare, inferior education and unemployment.

But we believe them anyway. We that are conditioned by poverty and lust for unearned riches perpetually seek all manners of benefits and self-actualization, like greater state autonomy, more state creation and secession. We, who have learnt to enjoy dwellings like hell, are promised nations like Eden, by men like demons.

The dream of secession is the call of the Sirens, the enticement that has for generations seduced old and young Nigerians struggling to keep inadequate jobs in Chinese and Lebanese owned Nigerian sweatshops, fast food restaurants, construction sites and bus parks, and behind the counters at city malls.

We desperately crave and embrace the secession alternative because every other cul-de-sac in our lives breaks our spirit and dignity.

Pick up advocacy group manifestos or human rights reports of genocide and marginalization. Listen to self-acclaimed youth leaders, weepy politicians and activists, the allure of greater autonomy, self-determination or whatever they choose to call it is touted as our next best alternative.

They will not tell you it’s a trap, a ploy, an old, dirty game of deceit in which the powerful and informed who will not go to war, promises a mirage to youth who will. We have seen this in the tragedy of Boko Haram’s suicide bomb-

HE doctors couldn’t, after he was run over by that mysterious motorist in the dawn of Saturday, September 6.

I have to piece him together. From my only physical meeting with him and Mike Awoyinfa three weeks ago before he passed. And from his massive writing. Didn’t think I’d be doing this now without him. He was to be part of the process.

I’d set myself the task to write a book on him and Mike. I’d been browsing the newspapers on-line one dreary morning recently when a report on their work on Nigeria’s corporate helmsmen struck me with an idea, wham! ‘Why not write a book on these guys themselves?’ I thought.

They qualify, given how much they’ve given to journalism.

And how successful they’ve been! Pioneer editors-managers of the highly successful Weekend Concord, pioneer editorsmanagers of the widely-read and commercially successful The Sun, founders and pioneer directors of the highly succeeding Entertainment Express, co-authors of the bestseller 50 Nigeria’s Corporate Strategists and such other books as ‘The Art of Feature Writing’, Segun Osoba: The Newspaper Years, ‘Nigeria’s Marketing Memoirs’, Mike Adenuga – Africa’s Business Guru, ‘Advanced Feature Writing’ (by Dimgba alone).

And, take a look at whom and whom they’ve mentored: Dele Momodu (publisher Ovation International magazine), Femi Adesina (Managing Director The sun), Sola Oshunkeye (a winner of the CNN African journalist of the Year?), Eric Osagie (Managing Director, New Telegraph), Steve Nwosu (Executive Director, The Sun), Bolaji Abdullahi (former Nigeria’s Minister of Sports), and so on.

To have the idea was one thing, but, how do you tell a writer that you want to help him, or, in this case, them tell their success story? Hadn’t they better tell it themselves?

Especially, when they are such damn good writers.

‘Well, I’d tell my story, anyway, whether they help me or not,’ I thought. It’s the sort of advice I might have received from my friend and former editor at Media Review, Taiwo Obe. He’d have said, “Tell your story, anyway.” Indeed, it was he – and another great writer-journalist and friend of mine, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu – who gave me Igwe’s and Awoyinfa’s phone numbers by way of encouragement.

So, after I’d asked Mr. Awoyinfa by phone text messages for an appointment and hadn’t received a response after 24 hours, I made my dreaded phone call.

I relied, as a joker, on one thing that could always sway a crack reporter, or crack reporters in this case, to talk to you. A trick they themselves might have used on a few occasions to get stories. It is a blackmail technique. In their case, they’d set

ers, political thugs and ethno-religious death squads holding the nation by the jugular.

We have seen and felt this in our tragic obsequiousness to the ruling class on the political, economic and socio-cultural turfs that condition you and me to serve the privileged class, even as we are perpetually consigned by them to the backwaters of the breadlines.

Some of us, the somewhat privileged to be precise, get to travel between two universes: one where everybody gets a chance and a second chance to break out of our sociopolitical and economic jailhouse, where education, connections, money and influence almost guarantee that you would not fail if you strive. In the other universe, no one ever gets to enjoy a first or second chance. In this universe, when the poor fails and falls, no one picks them up even as the rich stumble and trip their way to the top.

It is not my wish to attack or castigate the rich; they didn’t get to enslave us simply by ordering us to be poor, did they? You and I are willing participants in the impoverishment and eternal enslavement of the Nigerian citizenry.

We are in such dire state because like ones habitually programmed to self-destruct, we love to identify and propound practical solutions to our tragedies but when puts gets to shove, and we are faced with the chance to change our stars, we begin to speak in discordant voices.

Thus this year as all others, we have begun to criticize and speak the thoughts of a growing number of natives seeking relief. What is so sad however is that despite our pretentious protestations and insight, we go about perpetuating the same old oddities, self-interests and absurdities.

Thus this year, President Goodluck Jonathan and our league of extraordinary looters have failed to improve our lot. And while we

curse our luck and cry, many of us continue to foster the status quo by abhorrent citizenship and conduct.

We who lament corruption in high places wholeheartedly nurture duplicity and corruption in low places.

Bloody revolution is never the answer. Neither shall secession improve our lot; if eventually, every agitating part of Nigeria gets to secede, every new nation we establish shall parade the same old brutes with the same old lusts and selfinterests in high and low places.

Any story of secession is a story of elites preying on the weak, the gullible, the marginal, and the poor. The pageantry ends the day we pronounce that we secede, particularly for those of us who will occupy the low places. The pageantry will wear off and there will be fewer patriots, and fewer patriots, until there is no single cheer left to hear but tireless shrieks in the street. Whatever contraption we manage to create shall evolve into the monstrosity we have made Nigeria to be.

People who are singing the secession song are the real traitors – like the average Nigerian who scorned merit and conscience to elect President Goodluck Jonathan and company. Such characters would sell out Nigeria for an offshore account, pic-

turesque mansion, soothing sentimentality and membership of high society.

To achieve their plot, they would sentimentalize and hoodwink everyone else to buy into their fount of deceptive freedom. To escape such grotesqueness, we need to raise our voices in dissent, and rally in protest in our communities, on the streets and our square gardens. We need to produce the candidates that will fight our fight and take our risks. We need to unseat the men making our fatherland more toxic and hateful to the rest of the world.

If you don't think that the policies and actions of the incumbent ruling class is costing us immeasurable damages, then do nothing.

But if you can see through the smoke and mirrors, and you realize that you'll be paying more state and local taxes, while your assets continue to depreciate and the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and staple food continues to soar out of reach, then you will understand the need to invest in producing and supporting the candidates who will successfully defeat and tame the army of predators and executioners occupying our seats of power.

Come 2015, be ready to contribute the most you've ever given for a political cause. Be ready to sacrifice.

If you don't think that the policies and actions of the incumbent ruling class is costing us immeasurable damages, then do nothing. But if you can see through the smoke and mirrors, and you realize that you'll be paying more state and local taxes, while your assets continue to depreciate and the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and staple food continues to soar out of reach, then you will understand the need to invest in producing and supporting the candidates who will successfully defeat and tame the army of predators and executioners occupying our seats of power.

Piecing Dimgba together

By Murtala Sule themselves up beautifully to be victims of the technique by working on similar books about other people.

So, I said into the phone: “I’m the guy who sent you that message yesterday. And you didn’t reply.”

“What do you want, please?” Mike said in his gentle, softspoken manner.

“I see that you and Mr. Igwe have been partner-journalists for years and you both have been successful from publication to publication. And you’re such good partners and entrepreneurs. I’d like to write a book documenting your successes as you’ve been documenting the successes of other successful people. And I’m going to harass the hell out of you till I get my story the way you’ve been harassing those people you write about.”

Mike chuckled. I suspected by that that I might have got green light for my project. But, he said, “Are we that important? We’re just reporters, you know. Just doing our job.”

Anyway, he said he’d sound out Mr. Igwe about my proposition. And gave me Igwe’s phone numbers. Again, I suspected I’d got green light. That fired up my courage a lot.

When we eventually met in their office at Okota, it was Dimgba that led the talk. Both of them sat across the table from me, Dimgba to my left; Mike to the right.

“Why do you want to write this book?” Dimgba asked.

“It’s a book that’s overdue, sir,” I said. “I actually got the idea from reading a report on the work you guys have been doing on other successful people. And I thought, ’Why not do a book on these guys themselves’?”

“But, we’re not that big. Biographies are normally written on great men,” Dimgba said.

“I’m focusing on your journalism and books, sir. You’ve got a lot to teach this generation and coming ones. And, then, you’re such a good example of partnership. It’s the sort of things we need in this country.”

They both seemed to agree. And I followed up, “See, there’s something else I’m passionate about concerning you both.

Here you are, an Igbo man and a Yoruba man trusting each other so much. I’m sorry, I’m not writing an ethnic stuff, but this is instructive to us. Shows that there is nothing wrong with us in this country being of different ethnic groups. It’s a lesson worth stressing.”

“Okay.”

Just that Dimgba wouldn’t let me off without putting himself in my shoes.

“But, how are you going to make money from this? Have you thought of that? How do you get your investments back?

Have you thought of how to publish it? Who will publish it?

How to sell it?

“I guess we’ll take care of all that. Just want to write the book first.”

It was while reading his book on feature writing that I found out he had answered all the questions on how I could make money with the book. He later gave me four of their books, free of charge, even when I’d offered to pay for them.

Just one of those books is worth N10,000.

I can’t recall any particular word spoken by Mike Awoyinfa at that meeting. He just sat down quietly and nodded occasionally while Dimgba spoke. And I picked up an idea from that why they’d been succeeding together. Someone leads; the other follows, once they’d decided on an issue beforehand.

We agreed to begin work with interviews when Mike returned from the UK where he was to visit for the graduation ceremony of one of his sons. “In three weeks time”, as Dimgba put it. Saturday, September 16 made it three weeks since I met them and I was expecting to call them up in the new week to say, “How now?” That’s the day I read in the papers that Dimgba had been killed.

I’ve been emotionally unwell since then.

• Sule, Writer/Filmmaker lives at Abeokuta

‘I can’t recall any particular word spoken by Mike Awoyinfa at that meeting. He just sat down quietly and nodded occasionally while Dimgba spoke. And I picked up an idea from that why they’d been succeeding together. Someone leads; the other follows, once they’d decided on an issue beforehand’

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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COMMENTS “The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.”

-- Jane Addams

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EAR-jerking events on the Boko Haram-led battle field are happening with tumultuous speed. And so bothersome is the fact that the more they happen, the more the impenitent insurgent sect befuddles the people of a nation under siege.

More puzzling is the fact that the insurrection against the Nigerian state has unravelled the ingrained rot and value degeneration that the nation’s military institution epitomises. With largely de-motivated soldiers that reject postings at will and randomly defect in the face of heated battle among others, one needs no soothsayer to tell that things are not well within the rank and file of that vital institution of state.

The event that happened early this week is as repulsive as it is disconcerting. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s son, Lt. Col. Adeboye Obasanjo, a military engineer, was reportedly shot in the leg as his platoon battled the insurgents in Bazza, Michika Local Government Area. Instantly, it became news that was widely reacted to by even the Federal Government. Adeboye was flown out of Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to an undisclosed place.

To this column, what happened to Adeboye was just routine occupational hazard that should be expected by any soldier engaged in war situations. That is the equivalent of what is happening on all fronts in the battle against Boko Haram in Borno State. Soldiers, as professionals upon enlistment, expectedly concede their lives to their countries. They sign off their lives through pledges of unalloyed allegiance to their nation. On the day of his commission, the former president’s son must have done that which is why he would not have any other option but to return to duty post upon recovery from the injury.

What this column finds very disgusting is the undeserved and morale killing preferential treatment being accorded the boy at the detriment of other better valiant but less privileged soldiers in similar circumstance by the Nigerian state. This unjust concession has no basis or explanation in military law or even our collective grundnorm. Sadly, it is absurd that the military hierarchy failed to seize the Adeboye incident to demonstrate equality of treatment among the soldiers who despite avoidable inadequacies are audaciously battling the insurgents.

For instance, is it not hypocritical that the federal government and the Defence Head-

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T the point that President Goodluck Jonathan decided to inaugurate his National Conference, a cross section of Nigeria raised questions over the necessity of such a conference at a time the nation was confronted with myriads of socio-political and economic problems. There was, and still the ferocious bloody campaign by the insurgents, Boko Haram engaged in a macabre of killing in the North-east. This is in addition to the helplessness of the state and inability of the security forces to rein in the cancerous group that has taken their fighting capability and professionalism to the cleaner.

In the face of all this, some analysts therefore, dismissed the conference as diversionary and a huge distraction. Those in this school of thought were of the opinions that assuming a conference were even necessary; we had glossed over the basic issue of legal framework for such conference. A presidential diktat and fiat would not just be enough when we get to the point of implementation of the conference’s decisions, having been placed on nothing. In our mute indifference and usual docility, the President has spoken, any dissension is unpatriotic, and so the conference went ahead thereby putting the cart before the horse.

For such a crucial conference to address fundamental issues affecting the corporate existence and survival of the country, members were hand-picked, nominated, or appointed by the President and his men; whatever criteria they used. No input from people whose destiny were to be discussed because of the disdain with which those in authority treat the ordinary citizens of this country.

The conspicuous scenes at the conference were empty chairs of absentee members, tired and snoring geriatrics, and spent political horses. From what we know about some of the conferees from their antecedents and remarks on national issues, they were mostly divisive ethnic chauvinists and irredentists.

Others were a cross-section of professionals, bureaucrats, civil society activists who speak from both sides of their mouth. However, there were incidentally, a few patriots whose

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Deboye Obasanjo: Parable of unequal fingers

• Deboye Obasanjo

• Atiku

quarters commented on the state of health of Adeboye alone when not less than 20 soldiers lost their lives in the same operation without anybody paying tribute to them or condolences to their families? To add insult to injury, top dignitaries of state, past and present, started jostling to pay the guy visits. At least, two cases will suffice here: Ahmadu Fintiri, Adamawa State Acting Governor visited him on his hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also visited him before he was flown out of Yola. Even the media shamefully celebrated this guy’s gun shot injury as if it did not happen in line of military duty.

Yours sincerely is compelled to ask: What for?

The actions of these present and former top officers of state is nothing but hypocritical.

Atiku and Fintiri among others never visited any of the previously wounded soldiers or even families of those soldiers that lost their lives on the battle fronts. None of these deceitful men of power deemed it fit to visit Chibok, Borno state, to commiserate with the

parents of the Boko Haram abducted school girls. Again, why is such August visit reserved for an Obasanjo son? The federal government or these dishonest men of power never passed comments over the plights of other officers and soldiers who were unfortunate not to have been born by an Obasanjo. So far, no top federal government functionary, past or present has visited the families of 20 police officers of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (PMF), Gwoza Training camp, Borno State that were declared missing by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba.

This column also recollect that one Captain Sule was recently reported by Saharareporters, an online newspaper, to have been killed on the battle front against the sect’s insurgency barely eight months after wedding his heartthrob. No single top government official reportedly visited his family members to commiserate with them.

Some army officers were declared missing as Nigerian military clashed with Boko Haram in Gwoza and nobody high-up cared about their roots. Again, their major misfortune was not to have been born by an Obasanjo.

What the biased official handling of the

‘What the biased official handling of the Adeboye’s gunshot case has taught us is that the destructive politics of inequality that is threatening the war against Boko Haram will continue until when the government and the military authorities realise that no life of a soldier, whether born of silver spoon or not, is unimportant. To continue with this inhuman approach is to destroy the occupational incentive and team motivation necessary to propel soldiers/officers to action.’

Hoopla over National Conference report

By Mike Kebonkwu voices were lost in the cacophony of Babel from the dominant pro-establishment elements in the conference.

During their proceedings, we saw caucuses formed around mostly ethnic, sectarian and religious affiliations. Footages from the proceedings clearly showed that some members from their utterances had no business being there for a serious conference to chart a roadmap for Nigeria. Now we are at a critical juncture as to what to do with the report of the conference. The President has told the nation that he was going to forward the report to the National Assembly.

Wait a minute! If the President had so much confidence in the National Assembly, why did he not wake them up to their constitutional duty clearly spelt out in Section 4(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended? What is in the so-called report of the conference?

A cursory look at bits and pieces from the report of the conference showed that among other things, they recommended that the touchy issue of subsidy on petroleum products be removed. Whatever their reason, it was obvious that they preferred to treat the symptom of the sickness rather than the cause of the ailment or disease. They shied away from tackling the official corruption responsible for the failure of the subsidy scheme so as to soothe and massage the ego of their principal. They preferred that the Nigerian masses should subsidize the ineptitude and corruption of the ruling class.

Furthermore, the conferences excitedly recommended the creation of 19 additional states across the country. These same “knowledge-

Adeboye’s gunshot case has taught us is that the destructive politics of inequality that is threatening the war against Boko Haram will continue until when the government and the military authorities realise that no life of a soldier, whether born of silver spoon or not, is unimportant. To continue with this inhuman approach is to destroy the occupational incentive and team motivation necessary to propel soldiers/officers to action. To sustain this kind of nepotistic conduct in future is to avoidably kill the spirit of resistance/commitment by enthroning selfish/greedy interests that could deflate the country’s nationalistic fervour.

Adeboye, for no fault of his but ancestry, was unduly given preferential treatment by an hypocritical Nigerian military and civilian system. But one thing must be noted and that is the fact that in a military where justice is denied and where class disparity is enforced and where a privileged class is made to feel that society is an organised conspiracy to oppress and degrade, the security and territorial integrity of such country can easily be compromised.

The military in any parts of the world is that important institution of government that is authorised to use lethal force and weapons, to support all interests of the state. But in view of the military’s unequal treatment of soldiers/officers in the ongoing war against Boko Haram, can it be justifiably said that the same military can look forward to getting the best of results from soldiers?

When the on-going skewed treatment combines with the already prevailing suffocating chronic low operational readiness and endemic corruption that have further exposed the military’s inherent contradictions and incongruities, then, the nation’s touted giant reputation becomes illusory. If this badly managed battle against the Boko Haram must be won, then, the military topmost hierarchy must not turn its rank and file in to George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ where inequality is the painful norm.

able” Nigerians with whatever credentials they have know full well that not even 10 out of the 36 states are viable enough to meet up their running cost. Are these the sort of recommendations we so eagerly want to be in the so-called new constitution that they want to bequeath to Nigerians?

I say with humility that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended is one of the best documents in constitutional jurisprudential craftsmanship anywhere in the world. It may not have been a perfect document as there never would be one, but the imperfection could be laundered to make room for the vision we want; a vision of cohesive Nigeria based on true federalism. If we are a courageous people and want to build a true democracy founded on the rule of law, then, we should make Chapter Two of the Constitution, which is on Fundamental Objective and Directive Principles of State Policy justiceable. All we need to do is to repeal or expunge Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Furthermore, we could look at the immunity clauses and a few other sections that appear to deify elected officials and make above the law.

It is becoming apparent that the so-called National Conference was driven and actuated by political motive. If it were so as it appears to be, it has apparently served its purpose: diversion and waste, period. Now we should have our focus on the 2015 general elections while the report of the conference gather dust and in no time melt away like others before it. Assuming that there was anything good in the report, there is nothing in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended that says that it could not go for a referendum; notwithstanding the fact that it was not so mentioned ex-

pressly in Section 9 of the Constitution, which deals with amendment. I listened with interest to the views of some legal minds expressed about referendum. I found most of the views rather pedestrian and pedantic and do not reflect the doctrine and principle of law as a tool for social engineering. I say again with humility that interpretation of law should not be reduced to dead letters of the alphabet, which most legal scholars refer to as literary canon of interpretation. Growth in law is better made not by anachronistic attachment to conservatism but liberal and bold interpretation through progressive legal activism.

Nigerians needed not to have expected much from the National Conference whose outcome was quite predictable. We should be worried that extremists are over running our country, and giving our security forces bloody nose. We should be concerned that after five months, the Chibok girls are still in captivity with little hope in sight for their rescue. We should be bothered that confidence in our national institutions is eroding rapidly. We should be concerned that kidnappers and armed robbers have set loops round our necks in the southern part of the country. We should be worried about cultists ravaging communities in the Niger Delta.

Rather than the hullabaloo over the conference, we should come together resolutely to remove through democratic means, the vermin, parasites and political vampires who make us look poor and helpless in the eyes of the world. Nigerians should demand the strengthening of institutions so as to build a new Nigeria. We should begin to cultivate the habit of looking at issues not through ethnic or religious prisms, but through objective and balanced view for the common good. We should compel our government and indeed the political class to show good conscience and be exemplary to drive our institutions to building a better Nigeria. The National Conference has come and gone but the solution to the myriads of problems in Nigeria lies with us to develop human capacity for positive change.

• Kebonkwu Esq is with Bamidele Aturu and Co. Abuja

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

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

‘Motor insurance grows by 11%’

‘Gas Master Plan implementation vital to development’

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

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HE contribution of motor insurance to the gross premium income of the insurance sector has increased from 15 per cent to 26 per cent, the DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Olorundare Thomas, has said.

He made this known yesterday at a media retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said the NIA had completed the second phase of marine insurance, being testrun for take-off on October 12.

He said the body would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure full compliance that would bring about the successful implementation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID).

To improve on the growth recorded in motor insurance, Thomas said the NIA would standardise the ratings of motor insurance cover.

According to him, the increase is as a result of the adoption of motor insurance, especially third party.

He said the standardisation might not create a uniform rating, but that it would ensure that the business is not being rated below certain level. ‘’We are trying to standardise the rating of motor insurance.

We believe the business of motor insurance should not be rated below a certain level.

This will improve the balance sheets of underwriting firms, he said.

He added that rate-cutting in the sector was worrisome, pointing out that most firms that cut rates, were unable to meet their obligations when claim issues arose, thereby affecting the image of the industry.

President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ayodapo Shoderu, called on the media to create awareness for insurance.

He said until the media began to see their responsibility of educating Nigerians to appreciate the value of the services sector, which the insurance belongs, the country would continue to lag behind in economic development.

He said: “Nigeria still remains a production rather than service-based economy.

The average common man on the streets is ready to part with money to purchase physical goods rather than pay for intangible services.

“There is no doubt that the services sector has become a dominant force in many national economies and could be seen as the nerve of great economies in the West and Asia. A study established a clear correlation between the level of economic development in an economy as expressed by the GDP and the strength of its service sector. ‘’There is no doubt that the more highly developed economies are associated with a high proportion of employees in the services sector. Through positive and developmental media reporting, the media should continue to promote the value of the services generally.”

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

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•From left: Company Secretary, Keystone Bank, Mr. Michael Agamah; Executive Director, Corporate Bank and Treasury, Mr. Hafiz Bakare; Chairman, Mr. Jacobs Moyo Ajekigbe; Managing Director/CEO, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Dr. Lucy Newman; Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Executive Director, Lagos and West, Mr. Innocent Ike, during the induction of new Keystone Bank directors.

FMBN for restructuring, says chair

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HE structure of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) is to be reviewed, its Chairman, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, has said.

He told The Nation in Abuja, that the exercise would reposition the apex mortgage institution to deliver on its mandate.

Ogunjobi, a former VicePresident of the African Development Bank (AfDB), said the restructuring would make the institution attractive to international lenders, adding that its credit facilities are needed to enable the FMBN “achieve greater feat” in the housing sector.

It was gathered that under the proposed structure, institutional management changes would be effected.

•Targets foreign funding

By Muyiwa Lucas

This will include skill mix, expected to stimulate professionalism in the bank. This means that architects, engineers, surveyors, and other skilled personnel required in the sector, would be engaged.

Besides, the restructuring will also define the roles of state and regional offices of the institution to ensure thrir greater participation.

This will entail decentralisation for service delivery.

To this end, an international consultant has been engaged to mid-wife the process. As a major part of the transformation, corporate governance is to

be improved on, and the adoption of an enterprise risk management structure and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), are to be enshrined in the system.

Observers said the restructuring became necessary to achieve greater strides.

For instance, the diaspora mortgage scheme on the cards requires huge capital, believed to be sourced from international financial creditors, considering the apathy and high interest rate by banks.

Ogunjobi also said the bank had made much progress in its debt recovery, adding that it is explor-

ing other strategies, including weighing options for addressing non-performing loans, enhancing the credit review and streamlining project monitoring.

He expressed satisfaction with the over 75, 000 housing units that the mortgage bank had delivered nationwide, adding that efforts would be intensified to deliver 15, 000 units in the next two years.

The FMBN is also to engage with key partners, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Ministry of Finance and international development partners to address its challenges and explore opportunities for intervention funding for social housing aimed at redressing the national housing deficit estimated at 17 million.

NAMA deploys communication system in Lagos, Kano

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HE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Societe Internationale Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA) are deploying Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) facilities in Lagos and Kano Control Centres to enhance long range communication between air traffic controllers and pilots.

SITA is the leading Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions provider in the industry.

The Managing Director of the Agency,Ibrahim Abdulsalam, said the system would assist in “the decongestion of busy Air Traffic Control (ATC) frequencies at Lagos and Kano Area Control Centres, thereby promoting safe and efficient flow of traffic within our airspace. In addition, the deployment of equipment would reduce ATC and Pilot workload

By Kelvin Osa-Okubor

within the airspace”.

The installation, the NAMA boss, explained would also enhance air traffic management capacity while ensuring accuracy of data exchanged between ATC and pilots in flight.

Addressing the National Conference of Nigerian Airspace Managers’ Forum in Minna, Niger State, he said deployment would boost revenue collection by providing adequate, accurate and timely data for effective billing and collection.

He staid: ‘’With the increasing growth in air traffic and the growing demand for air navigation services, there was the need for NAMA to deploy appropriate infrastructure and technology in order to enhance capacity in safety critical areas as well as Search and Rescue Coordination.’’

Abdulsalam also said as part of the nation’s preparedness in emergency re-

sponses, the agency had concluded plans to develop a Strategic Disaster Recovery Centre for the provision of communication, surveillance, air traffic management to enhance uninterrupted services.

When in place, the centre would provide online information during contingencies.

Also, as part of the project, Abdulsalam said the agency would acquire two mobile radar trucks for Lagos and Abuja airports, additional mobile control towers for contingencies and installations of three - dimensional virtual tower simulators at Lagos and Abuja for inhouse training.

The agency, according to the NAMA boss, will also establish more area control centres in Abuja and Port Harcourt, among others.

He lauded the airspace managers for their ‘’dedication to duty and ingenuity in managing the opera-

tional, technical, financial and administrative challenges’’ at their various stations.

He enjoined them to put safety first in all their considerations as the onus lies on them to effectively and efficiently deploy the huge safety-critical infrastructure in their domains to bring about seamlessness and safety in the nation’s airspace.

Abdulsalam, accompanied by the 32 airspace managers, paid a courtesy visit to Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The governor was presented an award for his contributions to air safety navigation.

Aliyu praised the management of the agency for its efforts at promoting the safety of the airspace and also expressed concern over the ‘’slow pace of renovation work going on at the Minna airport in view of the fact that the airport is an alternate airport to Abuja.’.

HE Nigeria Gas Master Plan (NGMP) has been described as a worthy initiative and a step in the right direction to attract the much-needed investment in the gas sector to develop the country’s gas supply infrastructure.

The Senior Business Development Manager, Oando Gas and Power, Oga Adejo-Ogiri, said in Lagos that it was important to enforce the NGMP. He said for the government to achieve the objectives of the GMP, a requisite legal framework would be required.

He said: “To expedite the development of our gas infrastructure country-wide, there is a need for the government to establish a body or task force as it successfully did in the power sector with the Presidential Task Force on Power to take ownership of the NGMP. Such a body would also take responsibility for the coordination and implementation of the NGMP, and would also enable industry operators to have a specific entity to channel their concerns.”

On attracting the required investment into the sector, he proposed the setting up of a dedicated governmentbacked gas sector intervention fund with appropriate financing terms to encourage investments in the gas supply sector just as it did in the power sector.

“The government could also increase its support to aid the bankability of projects in the gas to power sector, via further capitalisation of the National Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), further credit enhancement for the gas supply and purchase agreements (GSPAs) and power purchase agreements (PPAs),” he said.

Adejo-Ogiri also commended the recent increase in domestic gas to power price from $1.5 per million standard cubic feet (mscf) to $2.5 for the gas producers adding that it is a positive step toward ensuring commerciality in the gas to power supply.

However, he noted that clarity on when upward review of future gas to power prices will be carried out as well as the multi-year-tariff-order (MYTO) will send the right signals to investors in the gas to power sector.

He said if the government creates the enabling environment that will enhance the achievements of the objectives of the Gas master Plan, it will attract investments that will help to realise the aspiration to generate 20,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020.

“Nigeria will attract the significant investment required over the next six years to supply adequate gas to meet the Federal Government’s proposed output of 20,000MW by 2020, if we create an enabling environment to sustain investments and achieve the holistic goals of the NGMP, ‘’ he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

26

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

‘Say it loud, I’m black and proud’ Guinness Stout is known for its thick, rich black colour. With a new campaign, #Made of Black, Guinness seems to be promoting the black colour and its brand. ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI critiques what the television advert portrays

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HE hardest cause to fight, is correcting the stereotype about being ‘black.’ While ‘black’ is simply the colour of coal, its status as it relates to the complexion of a specie of the human race has suffered abuses from others.

Described as the darkest color, its absence or complete absorption of light, has made it vulnerable to different interpretations, as against white which is seen as the symbol of holiness,peace, tranquility and every-othergood-thing.

Unlike white, anything associated with black often attracts negative perception.

This perhaps is why some races perceive black people as inferior, abnormal, weak, criminals and not inspiring among others.

From sports, entertainment, other human endeavours, issues of racisim against the black colour have assumed global attention.

Very little is known among the people who abuse blacks, that black was one of the first colours used by artists in Neolithic cave paintings. In the 14th century, it began to be worn by royalty, the clergy, judges and government officials in much of Europe. It became the colour worn by English romantic poets, businessmen and statesmen in the 19th century, and a high fashion color in the 20th century.

As a result of growing influence and impact of the black people in the world today,there is a renewed belief that black is not about colour, but that it is about attitude. That is reflected in a new campaign

by Guinness in its recent global campaign #Made of Black.

The ad campaign runs at over two minutes long and features a range of African performers and artists. It is set to a soundtrack of Kanye West’s Black Skinhead. The spot launched on MTV Base, as part of a four-hour takeover by Guinness on the channel, featuring guest appearances by musicians including Fuse ODG and Phynot.

The Ad has sparked debates on whether black is a colour, or an attitude with the aim of inspiring the youth to achieve greatness and overcome limitations.

The new Ad campaign - Made of Blackwas launched across key markets in Africa with a takeover of MTV Base. The co-produced Guinness/MTV Base show, was broadcast simultaneously on 12 satellite and terrestrial channels across Africa.

This kick-started an extensive through-theline campaign (a marketing campaign that combines both expensive activities like national TV adverts (‘above the line’) and less/inexpensive activities, like direct mail executions (‘below the line’) which is rolling out across Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon to promote key conversations around ‘’what is BLACK’’ in a new posi-

tioning for Guinness on this continent.

With the latest campaign, #Made of Black, created by ISOBAR SSA, a global digital agency, in collaboration with a UK Ad agency which is the third largest agency network in the world-AMV BBDO, there is a new message set to reposition the back race.

Described as simple, yet undertaking a serious task, with the instruction to re-position Guinness in the African market, the Group Planning Director, Isobar, SSA, Michael Zylstra, said: “Africa is about creativity, we do and see things from a different perspective. It’s about working together to harness creativity that speaks to all.

“For us, it was more than just producing incredible work, it was about starting and then sustaining key dialogue on our continent about what being BLACK means. It was about embracing the unique cultures of Africa and tailoring approaches to those individualised markets, whilst also introducing the concept as part of our languages, our culture and harnessing the true African creative spirit.

He went further: “Black is not a colour – it’s an attitude. It was not about launching a hashtag and a website that has an interactive platform. The campaign celebrates ‘Black’. Black is not a colour. Black is an attitude. It’s a mind-set; it’s a way of life.

Black represents the best of Africa. It features real people with real talent from Lagos, Accra and Cape Town to Nairobi, Gaborone and Johannesburg. People who are made of Black are people who are made of more”, says Zylstra.

He said within the first six hours of launching the campaign, the #madeofblack had sparked over 22 000 conversations. “We estimate that by the end of the launch’s six week phase, we will have achieved over a million conversations,” he stated.

The team at Isobar has built an incredible home for the campaign online, as well as producing over 20 video pieces which run both on TV and online. These stories are well worth a watch – interesting characters across Africa share what defines their “Made of Black”.

On the local adaptation of the campaign to suit various markets, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, said the new #made of more campaign by Guinness will also ignite the Nigerian spirit and the choice of musical stars, Phyno, Olamide and Eva as the campaign Ambassador is to encourage everyone to positively show what they are made of and what makes them unique. He said Guinness is positioning black, not just as a colour, but an emblem of uniqueness for which Africans and indeed Nigerians are known for.

The Head, Consumer Planning And Research, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Ms. Tayo Salami, explains why the campaign was developed:“This campaign has been in development for almost two years and we have strived to create a campaign that we will reverberate with, and also shine a light on a movement that has been created by a new generation of Africans whose boldness cannot be contained. #Madeofblack is not about colour; Black is an attitude,” she said.

Although the ‘Made of Black’ tagline aims to assert Guinness’ uniqueness as a black beer, experts believe it would be confusing to audience from Europe and US. “This can feel a little confusing to European fans of Guinness, who associate the stout firmly with Ireland. Yet in Africa, this link is not particularly strong,” an article on the Smithsonian.com indicated.

Audience perception of the Ad Well, this ad – the video, especially – is

‘The new #made of more campaign by Guinness will also ignite the Nigerian spirit and the choice of musical stars-Phyno, Olamide and Eva as the campaign Ambassador is to encourage everyone to positively show what they are made of and what makes them unique. Guinness is positioning black, not just as a colour, but an emblem of uniqueness for which Africans and indeed Nigerians are known for’

very visually stimulating, for one. I believe it is exceptionally well done. It is fast paced, ties with the music, and gets the audience to pay attention to it. The visuals definitely catch your eyes and keep you entertained, as it features a wide-array of clips. Not to mention, the tagline #madeofblack certainly grabs someone’s attention before they even view the video.

This ad definitely takes a part of Guinness and makes it unique and relevant, which makes it catchy for the audience – a good play on the advertiser’s role. Although, I do think the connection is a little bit of a stretch, and is almost overdone, just for the sake of being relevant.

Partially, I am surprised they are able to get away with someone like this. It is just a bit “too relevant”, in light of Ferguson in the United States. However, this ad was done specifically for Africa, which obviously has a different culture.

Here in the United States, if something like this were to air, I think the response would be less-than warming. Although the ad is nowhere close to degrading or hostile, it definitely segregates “blacks” and makes them seem like a completely separate culture, even calling it an attitude. I definitely think that in the United States, it would receive a lot of negative attention.

Shayna As an advertisement, I thought of it as trying too hard to reach an African audience, especially with the use of the song “Black Skinhead,” by Kanye West. The video seemed like it was using techniques, seen in many recent advertisements to grab the viewer’s attention; being very sporadic and colorful. This line of advertisement is comparable to ads demonstrated by athletic shoe advertisements like Nike and New Balance, using visual cues, like bright lights and colorful characters who are expressive.

Troy Cayon

ADWEEK View “Made of Black” ties in with Guinness’ global “Made of More” campaign. That initiative has generated some memorable advertisement, including a short film from AMV BBDO about the Society of Elegant Persons of the Congo, better known as the Sapeurs.

That campaign won seven Lions this year at Cannes.

“Made of Black” takes a multimedia approach that includes lots of video, social outreach by Fuse OGD and other stars, sharing their personal stories, along with handpainted print ads by Dan Funderburgh and Steve Caldwell.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Brandnews Top 50 brands in Nigeria

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HE top 50 brands in Nigeria have been unveiled by the Brand Nigeria jour-

nal.

According to the journal, the brands reached over 32 countries, in six continents last year.

Top 50 brands is the yearly selection of 50 leading brands.

“We are glad to have this volume of reception. Our report has been viewed and downloaded across the world; we receive enquiries from different countries and individuals on some of the companies that were reviewed and corporate Nigeria generally. Nigeria is becoming more attractive to investors, hence the increase influx of multinational brands, so also, home grown. It therefore makes brand valuation, classification, and rating very important.

“A recent Wall Street journal commissioned research says Nigeria is top on the mind of investors in America and Europe,

little wonder, people across the world are so interested in knowing about the top brands (companies) in Nigeria,” said the project coordinator, Mr. Taiwo Oluboyede.

He said: “At Top 50 Brands, we give value to the worth of a brand and we create an independent platform where people can access this information. ‘’While brand valuation is relatively new in Nigeria, people are getting to appreciate that a healthy brand drives sales and many companies are taking steps to enhance their brand equity.

Very shortly, we will be having company’s brand rating index, same way we have share index by the exchange in Nigeria.”

This year’s 50 top brands selection will be announced on October 16, at the Brand Nigeria Forum, which has theme: “Consolidating Nigeria’s economic gains, towards achieving Top 20 globally.”

PZ Cussons introduces Lime Fresh

Apple’s product marketing: So far, so good?

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HEN developers started building Apple’s phones in 2007, they were given one format for the four-inch iPhone screens. A larger format came along three years later, when the iPad made its debut.

Google, on the other hand, gave developers an array of options, so they could build apps for its everevolving cache of hardware partners and devices.

With Apple, the format options remained limited.Until June, when its latest software update blew those restrictions apart.

It was one of several signs that the nation’s top smartphonemaker was ready to expand its portfolio. On Thursday last week, the New York Times nailed several persistent rumours: at Apple’s much-anticipated Tuesday event in Cupertino, Califonia, it will unveil two iPhones with larger screens, a wearable computing device and a mobile payment system within its devices.

For the coming holiday season, there are various things to be gleaned from Apple’s history of launching products. The company has given significant support to new product launches. And it typically couples expensive media buys – in high-profile television, print and outdoor ads — with lucrative product placement, a tactic the company pioneered.

There are other considerations.

For one, Apple may be venturing into two categories — wearable devices and mobile payments – unproven in consumer adoption and untested in the ad world. Apple’s wearable device will not ship until 2015, according to multiple reports. Also, Ad Age extensively reported that Apple is undergoing a significant marketing overhaul, building a sizable internal creative team to pit against its long-time agency TBWA/Media Arts Lab. Apple’s creative strategy has also evolved since the death of its founder, Steve Jobs, in 2011, and the rise of its combative competitor Samsung.

Stories by Adedeji Ademigbuji with Agency report

Hello iPhone Little netted Apple more media attention than Mr. Jobs, in his token black turtleneck, unveiling the first iPhone on stage in 2007. Yet, Apple still felt the need to advertise.

The first iPhone spot, “Hello,” made debut during the 2007 Oscars.

It showed the Apple logo, but not the iPhone name — Apple was battling Cisco over the rights.That year, Apple reported an increase of $129 million in ad spending, to $467 million.

Big support for new products As digital media expanded, Apple avoided a centralised strategy, letting its videos proliferate across the web. Its first commercial for the iPad, in March 2010, went viral. The new tablet also found its way into mainstream television shows, such as Modern Family, a coup that came, quite likely, without paid promotion from Apple.

The handset-maker still spends a considerable amount on TV. Last year, 80 per cent of its measured media spending – $626,972 – was spent on TV, according to the Ad Age DataCentre.

For its size, the world’s most profitable company spends little. Only 0.64 per cent of its revenues went to marketing last year. Samsung Measured Media Spending, 2009 – 2013 § § § § §

iPad iPhone iPod iTunes Mac

– – – – –

$681,760,500 $1,003,516,000 $154,518,900 $344,161,500 $212,865,500.

Source: Kantar Media

spent 1.82 per cent of global revenues on ads and 3.51 per cent on sales promotion. But Apple’s revenues are massive. When it needs to spend on ads, it can.

The firm dropped $51.9 million on adverts for its new iPad in the second quarter of 2010, and kept up that pace for the remainder of the year, according to figures from Kantar media.

Apples’ ad spend leapt three-fold between 2010 and 2011, and its revenues grew faster than that. Apple spent $31.1 million in the fourth quarter of that year to promote the new MacBook Air. It spent about the same amount two years later, during the holiday season, for the MacBook Pro.

Shape of ads to come Apple has run ad campaigns promoting specific services, like its App Store, in 2008, and its FaceTime video feature, in 2010.

But the iPhone, the source of more than half of its revenues, remains the biggest beneficiary of ad spending. More than 40 per cent of Apple’s measured media spending, from 2009 to 2013, promoted the smartphone.

This year, however, it has hinted at the shape of ads to come, as it builds devices and services that orbit the iPhone. “Parenthood,” a spot from June, slyly featured plugs for Apple’s growing presence in the connected home industry. Two more spots, “powerful” and “strength,” showed off the numerous ways iPhone consumers deploy the device, including for fitness-tracking.

Apple has also increased its marketing presence abroad, particularly in China. In August, it released a mini-film with a Chinese electropop band. Its marketing shift is following sales. In 2009, China and Hong Kong accounted for 1.8 per cent of sales; this past quarter, they neared 16 per cent. For Apple, Asia is an incredibly competitive market – one that, incidentally, loves large-screen phones.

P

Z Cussons has unveiled Roberts Lime Fresh, a new variant of Roberts Antiseptic Disinfectant, in Lagos.

The firm says it offers protection against germs, adding that it is unique and innovative in the market.

The Marketing Manager, Households and Medicaments, PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC, Mr Charles Nnochiri, said: “Innovation and customer satisfaction is the driving force behind Roberts’ Lime Fresh initiative in the market.’’

Roberts Antiseptic range, endorsed by the Association of the Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, has started demo-based activations.

However, the brand has been sampling thousands of consumers in Lagos, visited many markets giving free medical checks, sanitising the markets and giving personal and environmental hygiene tips to assure consumers and traders of protection.

“The activation is a consumer engagement programme, sensitising

consumers on the importance of keeping good personal and environmental hygiene, protecting themselves and their families from germs, especially at this time of Ebola outbreak,” Nnochiri said.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts aimed at enlightening the public on the need for personal and environment hygiene in various households and workplace, PZ has kicked off an activation exercise to sensitise Nigerians on the need to observe normal cleaning routine as measures necessary to prevent diseases.

The exercise, which started a forthnight ago, moved its train to Obalende park, where leaflets containing information on the Ebola virus were distributed to people within the environ.

The exercise, an Account Executive at DMD Direct activation agency, Ms. Julia Ikem, said the initiative was geared towards enlightening the people on the need to keep good hygiene, particularly in the face of the Ebola outbreak ravaging the country.

Dealers defend Techno products

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HE Techno Dealers Association of Nigeria (TDAN) has described mobile phones manufactured by the company as one of the best in the world.

Its President, Prince Onuigbo Anthony said this at a briefing in Lagos. He said Techno is the only mobile phones manufacturer with an indigenous firm in its first line of distribution.

Onuigbo said they were compelled to address the media because of a publication which described Techno products substandard.

“Recently, there was a publication in the media by some individu-

By Segun Ajiboye

als who are out to tarnish the image of Tehcno brand to confuse the undiscerning public.”

He said the writers were envious of the growing market of Tech brands in the country, urging the public to disregard them.

According to him, the Techno brands have ensured that mobile phones are affordable to the common man.

“The Techno brand entered the Nigerian market about six years ago with the vision of giving the consumer value for their money,’’ he said.

ADVAN unveils awards for Brand Journalist

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HE Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) has announced entries for the maiden edition of Brand Journalist of the Year Award.

The award, which rewards reporters’ excellence in brands reporting, is open to those in the print, broadcast and online media who are practising in the country.

According to the President of ADVAN, Kola Oyeyemi, the journalists’works on brands, branding and brand values submitted for assessment must com-

ply with the principles, demands and ethics of the profession, adding: “The works shall be judged on clarity of message, factuality, fairness, balance, human interest, originality, freshness od ideas, depth, confidence, emotional appeal, creativity, technical execution, mastery of the media, quality and levels of professionalism.”

He noted that judges would also asses the authors, on their understanding of brand values and brand distintiveness.

28

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

Sms : 07035302326 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

With a new academic session just a week away, shopping for new school items has reached a frenzy. And it is boom time for traders in the second hand (tokunbo) market, notwithstanding the health problem in the country. TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

•Idumota Market, Lagos

Back-to-school: Boom time for traders T

HOUGH the health threat occasioned by the devastating effect of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), may have increased, activities in major Lagos markets have not been put on hold. And as school resumption approaches, traders and shoppers of back-to-school items are seen going about their normal economic activities.

In spite of the dreaded EVD that has become a major concern to all, major markets in Lagos, including the popular Akube market (a general name for used items markets), are buzzing. Patronage in these markets has increased, no thanks to the school resumption date barely a week away, as parents are scrambling to purchase back-to-school items for their children and wards.

A visit to Kantagua, Aswani, Oshodi as well as the popular Balogun Markets, all in Lagos, lends credence to this, as people streamed through the labyrinthine markets to buy their desired items. This has been the trend since a fortnight.

Indeed, parents, especially those who cannot afford to buy from stores or malls, have found succor in the Akube markets, which they have been used to for many years.

On a visit to some of the markets, The Nation Shopping met with Adaeze, a mother of three, who was at Balogun Market to shop for school items for her last child, Ikechukwu. On her shopping list were four main items- a pair of school

shoes, bag, launch packs and grocery.

“Sister, sister!” the vendors, who were mostly women of her age, called out to her in a bid to have her patronise them, lifting up school wares such as bags and shoes, to catch her attention.

After what appeared like a 10-minute dodged course, narrowly missing vendors, porters and motorcycles, and squeezing through crowds and leaping over drainage, Adaeze made it to the narrow alley, where she was surrounded by beautiful and colourful back-to-school items. Picking through thousands of multi-coloured back packs and lunch packs was a big task; so, she deployed a strategy of choosing by colours, patterns and prices. Next task was the haggling over prices. “One can’t be too greedy when trying to purchase beautiful school items for kids,” she said to herself.

Covered in beads of sweat, Adaeze continued her shopping spree as she found her way to the Oke-Arin Market, home to grocery items Oke-Arin market is like a roadside mall- a market with the freshest vegetables, fruits, livestock and starches. In addition to organic items, provisions like canned milk, sugar and cereal could also be purchased here in bulk for boarding students. After about two hours at Oke Arin, Adaeze left with carton of biscuits, cans of beverages and pack of cereals, amongst others, for Ikechukwu, her 12-year-old boy in JSS 3.

With two items down and two more to go on the list, fatigue set in and Adaeze’s

endurance to continue the shopping mission wore thin. She had already trekked miles through maze of vendors at both Balogun and Oke Arin Markets.

Ordinarily, one would think sellers of back-to-school items should pace around their stalls and shops, particularly those who sell in the open traditional market, focusing on the road as if they are expecting an important visitor. The reason is that sales, which usually pick up at this time yearly, have been cut below half, since the outbreak of Ebola in the country.

For Rita Eze, who sells school bags and shoes, told The Nation Shopping that she had found a way of tackling the problem before the reversal of resumption date. “If I wanted to buy 200 pieces of items to resell after the summer break, I had to reduce it to 100 items because I assumed that five customers, out of 10, would still hold on to be sure of when schools would re-open before shopping,” Eze explained. This is unlike some others who started buying school supplies the first week of the holiday.

The back-to-school season is the second largest sales period for retailers and it offers a spate of new designs and a firm reason for parents to head for stores with their wards.

Due to the large number of children returning to schools after a two-month holiday, some retailers claimed this is the peak sales period for them and that if resumption date wasn’t recalled, it would have been disastrous.

In a chat with The Nation Shopping, Omolara Akanni, a trader in Katangua, said the school resumption has boosted her sales more and she smiles home regularly, making good returns from hawking pencils, ‘biros’, erasers and other school items in the market.

However, in a world where many children are struggling with academic overloads and growing demands on their time, parents are expected to provide them with the materials to ease their learning.

Parents are making the best use of this last week to shop for their children’s needs. This is the period parents’ flood shops dealing in school items to buy their children’s needs for the new session.

Adaeze advises that for prudent management of available funds, parents should have a list of everything that their wards need and work through it. Sharing these needs into two sections, she explained, is a wise decision.

“One part for those items to be purchased once in a session and the second part should be for items that will be replenished during the school year.

The list will ensure that one does not overshoot one’s budget. It is also proper for school supplies to be bought before resumption and with the child’s consent. And like everything else, school items have fashion trend and children are often disappointed when latest designs are sold out before their parents get to the market or when their sizes are not found,” she admonished.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

•Igbinedion

LIVING LEGEND

FOR DICKSON

SEPTEMBER 4 was one of the happiest day in the life of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, renowned businessman and philanthropist Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion. The University of Ibadan (UI) launched his biography on that day.

BAYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson is winning more suporters for his re-election. For his sake, communities in the state seem to have dropped their acrimonies and feudal battles to queue up behind and identify with him.

•PAGE 31

•Dickson

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

•PAGE 31 •Uduaghan

PAGE 29

ISOK OLAND ISOKOLAND

LANDLORDS in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State are set for a showdown with the Federal Government over the award of oil surveillance contract and the oil mining licence for the OML 30. They claim those in charge have done them injustice.

•PAGE 34

Much ado about Rivers govt’s scholarship scheme

Shortly after Rotimi Amaechi became the governor of Rivers State, he established the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA). One of the mandates of the agency is to sponsor deserving students to further their education. Of recent, the scheme has been enmeshed in controversy, writes BISI OLANIYI in Port Harcourt

T

HE Rivers State Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, sounded like a man sure of his facts. He also wore the toga of a man speaking for the oppressed. But, those who should know have said the man was simply playing games with the issue. The kernel of the PDP chief’s speech was: the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) was planning to recall the students on overseas scholarship.

He also accused the Rotimi Amaechi administration of not keeping its promises to Rivers people.

Obuah claimed that he was reacting to the cries of students who were sent to the United Kingdom by the Rivers State government in 2010 to study Medicine, but allegedly given a marching order by the agency to come home, when they were yet to start their medical programme (MBBS).

He alleged that the RSSDA ordered the stoppage of the payment of the students’ upkeep and accommodation allowances, which he described as deceitful, a breach of contract and a fraud, claiming that millions of naira had been voted for the programme.

The Rivers PDP chairman asked Amaechi and the RSSDA to consider the far-reaching implications of forcing the students to return home, without clearing their indebtedness to the UK institutions, which he described as a criminal case. This, said Obuah, could make the institutions to blacklist the students and deny them the possibility of travelling abroad for further studies or any other business in the future.

•Miss Betty Alali Odema, a physically-challenged beneficiary of Rivers State government scholarship and winner of the Nottingham Trent University VC Award for Outstanding Personnel Achievement

• Continued on pages 30 & 35

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

•Pepple (fourth left) and members of the agency’s management team at the launch of the report

•Obe Olube and Dozie Echikwa, both graduated with First Class in Medical Sciences

•Student-trainees at Songhai

Much ado about Rivers govt’s scholarship scheme O ‘ ‘ •Continued from page 2935S

BUAH said: “We have been vindicated in our allegation that Governor Amaechi has emptied the Rivers State treasury on sponsorship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he has consistently denied. Which other reason could compel Amaechi and his pet agency, the RSSDA, to stop the students on state scholarship halfway, rather than lack of funds?

“The students have neither completed their programmes nor has Amaechi got the trained and qualified personnel to keep his so-called super health centres afloat, yet he wants those sent out to acquire these skills to come home without qualifying, simply because the state is broke “We are demanding that the move to recall these students, without completing their programmes, be stopped forthwith or the billions of naira already claimed to have been spent on the aggrieved, but deceived Rivers State scholarship beneficiaries be refunded to Rivers people.”

Obuah also stated that he thought the idea of starting a project and not finishing it, before jumping to the other, was only restricted to infrastructural development, while claiming that the Rivers governor had extended it to human capital development, which was described as unacceptable.

But, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the RSSDA, Mr. Noble Pepple, said there was no truth in Obuah’s claim.

Pepple said: “As an agency responsible for the development of qualified manpower for Rivers State, it will be counter intuitive for us to force our students to return home before the completion of their studies. That will negate the objective of the scholarship scheme.

“The RSSDA was recently approached by parents of a group of 17 scholars, who were among a number of applicants awarded scholarship by the agency to study for first degree in Medicine or medically-related courses in 2010.

“Unfortunately, they could not gain admission for Medicine, after their

pre-degree (foundation) programme and they settled for medically-related courses, such as Pharmacy, BioMedical Sciences and Physiotherapy.

The scholars, who have now graduated in these fields, with their full allowances fully paid to the end of their studies in July 2014, have turned around to demand fresh sponsorship from the agency to study Medicine.

“These medically-related disciplines, from which the scholars have qualified, are also needed in the healthcare delivery system in the state. Besides, it would only be fair that having benefitted from the state sponsorship for their first degree, other deserving candidates are given similar opportunity.”

Since the inception of the Governor’s Special Overseas Scholarship Scheme in 2008, the executive director disclosed that the agency had placed almost two thousand deserving young Rivers State men and women in top-ranking universities across the world, with the initiative taking over 70 per cent of the RSSDA’s annual budget.

Pepple said by the end of September 2014, nearly one thousand of the students would have fully completed their studies, majority with flying colours, while stressing that the remaining are still in the programme and would continue to enjoy the full sponsorship of the government.

Shortly after Amaechi became the Governor of Rivers State, he established the RSSDA, with the aim of empowering lives and creating better future for Rivers state and its people.

Amaechi said at the inauguration of the RSSDA: “Our mission is to serve our people with humility and render transparent and accountable stewardship, anchored on integrity and good governance. We shall use our Godgiven resources to improve the quality of life of our present and future generations, and empower our people in a peaceful, just and harmonious society under God.” The pioneer executive director of RSSDA, Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, who was seconded from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria

Limited (SPDC), like Pepple, tried his best.

Pepple, during the presentation of the agency’s 2013 annual report in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last Friday, said the future of RSSDA was bright, in spite of the challenges.

He revealed at the presentation that the 2013 report was the agency’s fourth, since 2010, when RSSDA began to publish an account of its activities to its stakeholders.

The executive director disclosed that of the 249 graduates from the agency’s overseas scholarship, eleven physically-challenged students graduated from top universities in the United Kingdom, Canada and India, with flying colours.

He said the agency, through Amaechi’s overseas scholarship scheme, awarded 312 scholarships, with greater focus on medical and health-related disciplines.

Pepple described 2013 as a tough year for the RSSDA, in view of the inhibiting funding constraints experienced in 2012, which he said became more severe last year, thereby impacting virtually all the agency’s planned activities.

He said in spite of the challenges, RSSDA learnt to be more creative and innovative, making it to meet some of its commitments and mandate, with the efforts noticed within and outside Nigeria, through awards of excellence.

The executive director said: “Our programmes suffered major setbacks, due to the funding challenge faced during the year. Of the N10 billion budget allocated to the agency for 2013, we had received only N4 billion by the end of the year. An additional N2 billion was received in 2014. We were unable to meet our payment obligations to our scholars and their universities overseas in a timely manner.

“By the end of the year (2013), we had incurred accumulated debts owed to universities overseas, scholarship implementing agents, local vendors and service providers, amounting to N4 billion. As a result, we were unable to conduct the annual scholarship test and interview for the award of new scholarships into the pro-

The students have neither completed their programmes nor has Amaechi got the trained and qualified personnel to keep his so-called super health centres afloat, yet he wants those sent out to acquire these skills to come home without qualifying, simply because the state is broke - Obuah

‘

gramme for the 2014/2015 session.”

In spite of the challenges, he noted that the RSSDA received two significant recognitions during the year: “HR best Practice Award in the Public Sector in Nigeria,” from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and “African Government Agency of the Year 2013,” by the African Leadership Magazine Award Committee in USA, for the monumental work done by the agency in developing the human capital in Rivers State.

The executive director stated that the agency continued the development of its Songhai Rivers Initiative, with the introduction of improved crop and soil management technologies at the Songhai Farm in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

He said progress was also made in setting up the first agro-support centre at Onne in Eleme LGA of the state, which is connected to the Songhai

They could not gain admission for Medicine, after their pre-degree (foundation) programme and they settled for medically-related courses such as Pharmacy, Bio-Medical Sciences and Physiotherapy. The scholars...have turned around to demand fresh sponsorship from the agency to study Medicine

- Pepple farm and also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) to train its students at the Songhai farm.

Pepple lauded Amaechi for the RSSDA’s initiative, stressing that the governor’s trust and support had been instrumental to the agency’s success.

While also assessing the performance of the agency, its Chairman, Rev. Canon Precious Omuku, also noted that 2013 was a challenging year, especially with the funding constraint. Omuku reiterated that the agency struggled to meet its obligations to beneficiaries of its scholarship programme, stressing that the challenges that lie ahead would become even greater, with limited resources, but noted that emphasis must always be placed on poverty alleviation and improvement in the quality of life of Rivers people.

‘ According to the RSSDA’s report, by the end of last year, 1,962 students had been awarded scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in overseas universities. Some have completed their courses, while others are still studying and at various stages in their chosen courses, costing N23.7 billion.

During the year, 312 students (238 undergraduates and 74 postgraduates) were awarded scholarships to study overseas. Of the number, 149 travelled to their study destinations in 2013, bringing the total number of students studying overseas to 1,072, with the scholars currently studying at various higher institutions in twelve countries.

Higher consideration was given to medical students applying to study at postgraduate level. Of the 74 postgraduate awards made in 2013, scholars in medical and health sciences

took up 20 places.

The agency also established opportunities for students to study Medicine at universities in the Caribbean and the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, to accommodate the additional placement for medical studies. With the additions, RSSDA was able to increase the number of students studying medicine by 56, bringing the total to 89.

During the year, Urban and Regional Development was also added to the portfolio of overseas courses for which scholarships were awarded at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, to accommodate the rising and urgent need for qualified professionals and provide support for the new Greater Port Harcourt City project, with five awards made for the course in 2013.

The RSSDA, in 2013, had the highest number of graduating and returning students since the programme started in 2008. The report indicated that 249 students graduated and returned to Rivers state from the United Kingdom (138), India (77), Singapore (26), Canada (7) and the United States of America (1). Of the 138 students from the UK, five graduated with First Class, while another made a Distinction.

With the 77 students returning from India and 26 from Singapore, the state now has 258 qualified ICT graduates from both countries, with the remaining students to complete their studies in both countries in 2014, following which the sponsorship to the countries would draw to a close.

In 2010, Amaechi launched a scholarship scheme, specifically to provide opportunities for people living with physical disability to study overseas, with 26 beneficiaries so far. During the year, eleven of the physicallychallenged students graduated from Nottingham Trent University, UK. Daniel Nlemogu and Betty Alali Odema are among them.

Nlemogu achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Law. Upon returning to Rivers State, he received an award of excellence from the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. He recently received a second scholarship award from

Amaechi to pursue a Master’s degree programme.

He said: “RSSDA’s scholarship programme has developed me academically and otherwise, as I always strive to be the best wherever I find myself.

Sincerely, my life has been transformed as a result of the RSSDA’s scholarship programme.

“My future plan is to do what would make me give back to the society, particularly Rivers State, for the huge investment made in my life. I want to thank God Almighty for how He has led me thus far. I could not have been at this stage of my life without God and the support of the RSSDA.” Nlemogu was also grateful to the NGF chairman for giving the agency human-oriented programmes and for giving him a sense of belonging.

Another outstanding, but physically-challenged graduate of the overseas scholarship scheme, Odema, also graduated from the Nottingham Trent University with honours in International Relations in 2013. She received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement.

For her good performance, Odema recently received a second scholarship award from Amaechi to pursue higher degrees in the UK and has already commenced her M.Sc. programme at the University of Coventry.

Odema, in an interview, said: “Growing up in the Port Harcourt Cheshire Home, under very difficult environment, did not deter me from dreaming big, by aiming higher. The Rivers State Government picked me from a low level of life and gave me wings to fly and hope for a better future.

“You (Rivers State Government) have sown for my future and the future of our dear state. I have a lot to offer. I want to be an inspiration to the physically challenged and the able-bodied persons and a testimony to the lasting legacy of the Amaechi’s administration’s investment in the youths of Rivers State.”

Odema also expressed gratitude to the Rivers governor and the people of the state for the great opportunity given to her to obtain a high-quality

education in the UK. A native of Umuagbai-Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers state, Nwabueze Dike, is a 2008 graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, but had the privilege of studying at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, through the opportunity offered him by the RSSDA’s overseas postgraduate scholarship scheme in 2012.

He stated that the scholarship enabled him to study for M.Sc. Subsea Engineering and graduated with Distinction in November 2013.

Dike said: “Studying such a multidisciplinary course (Subsea Engineering) at postgraduate level, in a multicultural setting, was very interesting and challenging, considering the new environment, team, weather conditions and teaching methods, which I had to cope with.

“The school, teaching staff and course modules were excellent, as the lectures and courses, including final examination, were drawn from current oil and gas industry practice, projects and challenges around the world.

“As a Subsea Engineer, I have gained knowledge in the design, construction, installation and maintenance of subsea systems and networks required for deep and ultradeep water oil and gas production.

Through the scholarship/study, I have gained international exposure, practised UK work ethics and social responsibility and mutual respect for team members.

“Now that I have improved myself, I want to give back to the society by transferring the skills I have acquired to the young, as well as up and coming engineers of Rivers State origin, aspiring to be part of the subsea business in the oil and gas industry.”

Dike also stated that he was at the final stage of starting a free programme, aimed at grooming college students with relevant computer skills required for further studies in higher institutions home and abroad.

The subsea engineer suggested to the RSSDA to incorporate into the scheme, a method of integrating their

scholars into the relevant industry, after their study. So that the knowledge gained would be applied upon graduation.

RSSDA also has other scholarship schemes, especially the Greater Horizon Opportunities Programme (GHOP), where students from poor homes are given the opportunity of attending the best secondary schools across Nigeria. Five of them graduated in 2013, the remaining 127 will graduate this year, except one, for health reason. One of the beneficiaries is Miss Faith Okwelle.

Okwelle said: “If RSSDA had not intervened in my educational life, I would have attended the secondary school in my village, instead of the one I now attend and of course, the outputs of both schools are obviously different. The standard of teaching in Brookstone Secondary School makes me stand out, whenever I interact with my mates from other schools.

“I have the opportunity to meet with other brilliant children and to go for excursions outside the country. RSSDA’s GHOP scholarship has helped my family to save the money my parents would have used in training me to invest in other things. This has helped my family’s income tremendously.”

The GHOP beneficiary (Okwelle) also lauded Amaechi for bringing her and others out of the slums, through the scholarship programme.

In 2011, the RSSDA launched a scheme to promote the study of agriculture and increase enrolment of Rivers state indigenes in agricultural courses at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

The scheme involved providing financial support to pay fees and upkeep allowances for students of Rivers State origin, who enrol to study agricultural courses (Crop Science, Fisheries, Animal Science and Forestry) at the RSUST. RSSDA continued its commitment to the scheme during the year, by providing support for an additional 39 students, increasing enrolment in agriculture at the RSUST to 57 students by last December.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Esama of Benin as a living legend

T

HE 4th of September was one of the happiest days in the life of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, as the academic community of the University of Ibadan (UI), launched his biography.

The father of the former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, was moved by the hospitality of the premier institution in the Oyo State capital that he blurted out: “This is one of the happiest days of my life”.

The octogenarian monarch, who will clock 80 in September 11, had a biography compiled in celebration of his efforts towards contributing to the development of the nation.

The book, a biography titled:”The Living Legend” is a 486-page compendium with 16 chapters. It was a collaborative effort of two years by four authors from the University of Ibadan, Faculty of Arts and Igbinedion University, Edo State.

Dr. Victor Osaro and Dr. Paul Ndukwe are from Igbinedion University. Dr. Rasheed Olaniyi and his partner, Dr. Monsuru Muritala, are from the University of Ibadan.

The “Living Legend” explores the life of the renowned industrialist from the beginning, his family background, education and insights as well as his struggle to achieve success.

The venue of the book launch was the International Conference Centre of the Uni-

•From left: Director of Public Communications, UI, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, the son of the former Kogi State Governor, Mr. Shuaib Audu, Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe, UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole, former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion at the book launch.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

versity of Ibadan. It was crowded by dignitaries and members of the public.

Among the guests were Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; son of former Kogi State governor, Mr. Shuaib Audu, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof.

Isaac Adewole; Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe and the Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Prof. Aderemi Raji.

Others were members of the

Esama royal cabinet and household as well as members of the National Association of Edo State Students in the University of Ibadan.

Prof. Adewole, while congratulating Chief Igbinedion, said the motive behind the work was to study and explore the celebrant and educate the public with his wealth of experience, value and successful accomplishments.

“There’s no way, Igbinedion would be mentioned without coming across the University of Ibadan and a university,

our duty is to study and do research and engage the society. So, we saw in this man, a phenomenon, which needed to be studied and presented to the nation.

“We also believed that this could serve as an example to other Nigerians to learn from his experience, background, reasoning and how he achieved so much”? Adewole said.

The UI VC said the book is a must read.

Ajimobi, while congratulating the celebrant, described

him as a godfather of industrialists in Nigeria.

He said the philanthropist has achieved a lot for himself and the people of the nation.

Prof. Akinkugbe, in his address, described the Benin monarch as a man with a high sense of humility and committed philanthropy.

His words:”His virtues draw people of all status to him. I urge everyone to take lessons from this man’s life.

Igbinedion is one of the best who has contributed to the development of this nation

through personal efforts.

This book will go far with what I see of its pictures and historical chapters. It is a response to our time, race and lives.”

Igbinedion thanked the University of Ibadan for honouring him.

He said: ”Look at me today, I can remember being a constable here in this state some time ago. This is one of the happiest days of my life.”

The Esama of Benin Kingdom also praised Ajimobi for the state’s development.

Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson are getting more supporters for their re-election bids. For their sake, communities in the state seem to have dropped their acrimonies and feudal battles to queue up behind and identify with them.

In fact, local government areas are taking turns to shower encomiums on and declare support for the duo.

Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma local councils at separate occasions assembled their sons and daughters to make statements and tell Nigerians how much love they have for their kinsman, President Jonathan and their Governor, Dickson.

Niger Delta Report monitored a similar communal meeting involving the communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area under the aegis of the Yenagoa Stakeholders' Forum (YSF) recently.

The hall 'overflew' with representatives of the communities that constitute the council. Most of the enthused participants wore their best traditional regalia festooned with beads and other symbols of Ijaw culture. Women in their various groups adorned themselves in their best outfits woven around colourful wrappers with head-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

gears of different sizes to match.

Community leaders, aides to the governor from the council and lawmakers representing the council at the state House of Assembly as well as representatives of non-indigenes flocked the hall to identify with the occasion.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Abuja, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, was one of the brains behind the success of the event.

Also present were the Commissioner for Information, Deacon Markson Fefegha, the Chairman of the forum, Chief GM. Odumgba, the forum's Secretary and governor's Representative, Mr. Ebiwarie Wariowei.

Others were the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lawrence Ewrujakpor, Chief of Staff, Yenagoa Government House, the Mayor of Yenagoa, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Yenagoa chapter and Commissioner for Tourism. In fact, everybody who matters in politics and tradition of the council was in attendance.

Describing Jonathan and Dickson as the two illustrious sons of the state, he appealed to the people to urge the duo to contest the the presidential and governorship elections in

2015 and 2016 respectively.

"The reason for this clarion calls by the people are not farfetched. Both have performed creditably to deserve a second term. He enumerated the near completion of the East-West Road, handling of the insurgency in the North-East, establishment of federal universities and implementation of the amnesty programmes among the achievements of their son, Jonathan.

On Dickson, he said his Restoration Government has performed marvelously within record time.

"This has not only attracted the people's admiration, it has set the tone for so many pressure group's and organisations to call for the endorsement of the governor for a second term", he said.

He reeled out the Isaac Boro Expressway, the Yenagoa-Angiama-Ayama Road, the New Gateway Road, the Tombia-Amasoma Road and the flyovers among others as the evidence of Dickson's performance.

"The various housing structures that have changed the landscape of Yenagoa cannot but be appreciated. The new ADR building for the judiciary, the Traditional Rulers secretariat, the Okaka Housing Estate and many others are commendable strides of this pragmatic administration," he

said.

Also, the representative of non-indigenes, Chief Sunny Chukwueze, was excited that Yenagoa had risen to make a statement. He said he was initially uncomfortable that the council was mute when people all over the country were speaking.

"Today, the jinx is broken and Yenagoa is speaking", he said adding that President Jonathan had shown enough commitment to pilot the affairs f the country. He was, however, particular about Dickson whom he referred to as a friend to non-indigenes.

He said Dickson won the love of non-indigenes by appointing some of them to his cabinet and paying them a thank-you visit after his election. He said in the history of the state, no leader had returned to thank the non-indigenes for their support after election.

He said in June non-indigenes made a statement to support the reelection of Dickson. "Today, I am reaffirming the endorsement of Dickson and Jonathan", he said.

The Chairman of Yenagoa Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenamowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Akah, asked Jonathan to declare for 2015.

"We are saying boldly that

•Dickson

we are behind him and that he is going to win", he said. The royal father also drew applauses from the crowd when he claimed that he saw Jonathan in his dream emerging victorious after the 2015 elections."

He further said Dickson

had fulfilled his promise of turning Yenagoa to a construction site. "He has performed beyond expectations. Our traditional rulers council secretariat is first class and the police officers' mess is one of the most beautiful in the country", he said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

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HINGS are indeed changing in the Niger Delta. Niger Delta youths, especially students are gradually shedding their violent toga and clothing themselves with intellectual and scholarly outfits. So, instead of engaging in arms struggle and bloody protests, they are raising issues agitating their minds to the front burner for intellectual discourse.

Such paradigm shift was demonstrated at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when a number of students from across the states in the region gathered under the auspices of the Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NDSUG) to engage Nigeria on issues actuating their minds.

It was, indeed, the National Convention of the body. The event was put together by the President, NDSUG, Mr. Tombra Iyalla with support from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ijaw House was congested with population of the students who trooped in to participate in the discussions. Their countenances exuded passion, commitment and unalloyed patriotism in reversing the trends of poverty, underdevelopment and neglect of the region.

The students dwelled on the controversial United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoni, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the concluded National Conference and the Niger Delta Action Plan (NDAP).

The keynote address delivered by the former President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Ken Henshaw, captured the troubles of the students.

Henshaw traces the deep-rooted decay in many sectors of Nigeria and blamed it on years of consistent misrule characterised by corruption, bad governance and policy somersaults.

He describes 2013 as particularly bad year for Nigeria following reduction in crude oil earnings, poor rankings in global surveys conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and Transparency International (TI).

Henshaw says the performances of Nigeria in global rankings on corruption, public health, safe environment, business environment and trust in public institutions are reflected on how the country is handling issues affecting the Niger Delta especially

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Day students brainstormed on Ogoni, PIB Niger Delta youths, especially students are gradually shedding their violent toga and clothing themselves with intellectual and scholarly outfits, writes MIKE ODIEGWU, YENAGOA the UNEP Report on Ogoni and the PIB. He said the PIB was presented to the National Assembly in 2009 following sustained agitation for an overhaul of the laws and regulations governing the oil and gas sector.

Describing the bill as an assemblage of 14 different oil sector related laws, he explains that it promises to curb corruption in the sector, increase investment, allocate greater benefit to host communities and provide more revenue for the government.

He, however, observes: “The PIB perhaps ranks among the bills that

have suffered the most setbacks, the longest delays, the most heated and lengthy arguments and the deepest political connotation in the history of the National Assembly”.

He notes that the bone of contention has been a portion in the bill which prescribes the creation of the Petroleum Host Communities’ Fund (PHCF). He explains that the fund is to be applied to mitigate environment degradation and also accelerate development in oil producing communities.

According to him Section 118 of the bill compels joint venture partners in

•A cross-section of students at the event

the petroleum sector to plough back 10 per cent of proceeds into the communities to mitigate the adverse effects of extraction on a monthly basis.

The problem militating against the passage of the bill according to Henshaw is the expert of opinion that if the bill becomes effective, eight oilproducing states will receive additional N176billion annually.

“For reason of this singular clause, the PIB has lingered endlessly in the Senate, supposedly being stalled by members of the Senate representing non-oil producing regions.

They fear that the PHCF will signif-

icantly reduce what other states earn from petroleum sales. For most of 2013, two versions of the PIB were simultaneously in circulation. One version deleted the PHCF”, he said.

But Henshaw regrets that those opposing the PIB have selfishly failed to acknowledge important aspects of “Nigeria’s checkered energy policy” not addressed by the bill. For instance, he says the PIB fails to put an end to the illegal and hazardous practice of gas flaring.

He notes: “Rather than prohibit gas flaring, the bill permits the flaring of associated gas until such a time that

the Minister of Petroleum chooses to declare it illegal.

“While the flaring continues, the Federal Government will receive paltry revenue in form of fines payable by oil companies to allow the flaring of as much associated gas as is required for continued exploration”.

He further observed that opponents of the bill have failed to realise that the bill seems to place the burden and blame for oil spills on host communities by stipulating that such communities will be held responsible for spills arising from sabotage of oil installations within their domains. He won-

NDDC heals as Ebola spreads tentacles “E BOLA is not here and we pray that it will never get here.” That prayer shared with an apprehensive crowd of villagers from fishing communitieswas met with a thunderous shout of Amen! Sensing the subdued trepidation over the scary stories of the Ebola virus disease, Professor AdelayoEjele, who led a team of health workers on a free health mission to Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, felt it was important to reassure the people of their safety.

He was speaking at the flag off of the free medical programme organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,in conjunction with Golspin Health Care Foundation at Asarama Health Centre. It was a rare privilege for rural dwellers in and around Andoni to take their sick ones to a health facility for proper medical care at no financial cost to them. So, for seven daysthey gathered in thousands at Asarama, not minding the threat of Ebola.

The medical team that participated in the programme also made a lot of sacrifices as they had to work with very limited facilities. Prof Ejele, the Chief Medical Consultant and coordinator of the programme, attested to the dogged spirit of the health workers. He particularlycommended the doctors who volunteered their services at a time most doctors were keeping away from government hospitals.

Prof Ejele said the Asarama community and their neighbours should be grateful to the NDDC for bringing free health care to their door-steps, noting that good health surpassed all other needs. “The common saying is that health is wealth. But for us in this health mission, health is better than wealth,” he said.

According to the Chief Medical Consultant, 1,479 cases were treated, including 21 surgeries, 108 dental cases and 365 laboratory investigations. He also said 156 patients were screened for HIV/AIDS and only 2 persons were found to be positive. “Fortunately, Ebola is not here yet. But we should all be on the alert to keep it away,” he said.

For the Managing Director of NDDC, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, the free health programme was a free gift from President Goodluck Jonathan to the rural

•A dentist performing a dental procedure at the Asarama Health Centre.

From Precious Dikewoha

communities in the Niger Delta. He said apart from bringing good health to the people, the interventionist agency was determined to change the face of the communities with development projects.

The NDDC boss, who was represented byChief Ephraim Etete-Owoh, the Rivers State representative on the board of the commission, said that no less than 900,000 people have benefited from its free medical services since the programme started 14 years ago. He stated that the commission was determined to make a difference in the health sector in collaboration with relevant partners such asGoldspin Healthcare andGlobal Hand Medicare Foundation.

Speaking on behalf of the Asarama community, Chief AppolusEwaye, noted

•A nurse attending to patients at the NDDC free health programme.

that the health programme came at a time many people in the villages were finding it difficult to access healthcare facilities.”We deeply appreciate this programme,” he said.

Appreciation for the free health programme cannot come any better than the one from Mrs.BesseyMicha from Egendem community in Andoni LGA. The middle-aged woman, whose child was operated on for hernia, simply said in pigeon English, “make God bless NDDC for us Oh!” The popular free health programme, which had been taken to many communities in the Niger Delta, also berthed in some isolated fishing settlements of Ondo State. Given the enormous logistic challenges in these communities that are surrounded by water, the health mission was like God-sent for the people.

Pro-Health International, which coordinated the programme for the NDDC in the state, went to great lengths to reach the people. In one instance, the

dered how unarmed and untrained communities will provide required security for oil installations.

On the contentious UNEP Report, he says no significant progress has been made by the government to implement recommendations contained in the document. But he says the government has only announced the establishment of Hydro-Carbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) as a mechanism to carry out hydrocarbon clean up in the entire Niger Delta.

“According to the government, the project aims to implement the recommendations of the UNEP report on

Ogoniland as well as investigate, evaluate and establish other hydrocarbon impacted sites and appropriate recommendations”, he says.

On the just-concluded National Conference, he observes that the Niger Delta delegates stuck to the core demands of the region despite challenges and pressures. He, however, says it is too early to evaluate what the delegates achieved at the conference.

But he reiterates demands of the region as restructuring of Nigeria based on the principles of true fiscal federalism to guarantee equity and justice to all components. He asks the people of

programmewas held in a local church because there was no health facility anywhere near the settlement.

The leader of the medical team, Dr. Levanus Martins, said thatabout 6,000 people benefited from the free medical services in the state, with many coming fromIgbobini, Igo and neigbouring communities.He said that other areas that benefitted were Ese- Odo local government area; Odun-Igo, Ilaje local government area, and Ajowa- Akoko, Akoko northwest local government area.

According to him, 376 people did various laboratory tests, major surgery was conducted for six persons, 770 out-patients, 678 passed through pharmaceutical section and 41 were treated for dental ailments.

Reviewing the success of the programme, the representative of Ondo State on the board of the NDDC, Chief Benson Amuwa, said thatseveral operations were performed in an environment where people could not have access to basic healthcare. “The aim of the NDDC is to ensure that people of the Niger Delta can access basic healthcare at their doorsteps. We know most of them cannot afford the kind of health care which normally they should get.”

The Olu of Igbobini, Oba Oyedele Raphael, represented by Chief OlasehindeAjele, commended NDDC for remembering his people. He said: “We appreciate what you are doing for us; it is very great. We thank you very much.”The traditional rule said it was the first time any government agency was carrying out this kind of free medical programme in their area.

In AkwaIbom State, the intervention of the free health programme was truly providential as exemplified by the story of Mrs. IniobongFidelix, who hails from Ikono Local Government Area of the state. Were it not for the free health mission in her locality, the pregnant woman would have died with her baby.

Iniobong’s pregnancy was at its turbulent peak and she was taken to the hospital in Ikono. Unfortunately, there was no doctor at the hospital at that time to attend to her. The nurses could not do much as Iniobong was having complications and needed to be operated upon. The saving grace for this poor woman and her unborn baby was the Free Health Care Medical Programmeorganized by the NDDC, in conjunction with Global Hands Medicare Foundation, at the Ekpene Obo Cottage Hospital in EsitEket Local Government Area.

It was a happy and proud Dr. Katherine Ntekim, the director of the foundation running the NDDC-sponsored free medical programme that told the story of the Ikono woman who was saved at the nick of time. According to her, Iniobong was lucky to have been rushed to the venue of the medical intervention in time to save her live and that of her baby. “She was rushed in for an emergency caesarian section from a general hospital where doctors’ strike had paralyzed healthcare delivery to this place where we saved her and her new-

the region to keep up the struggle and never to let up.

Quoting Frantz Fanon, he says: “Every generation out of relative obscurity must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it”. He adds: “I believe that this generation of Niger Deltans have the task pushing for the realization of the core demands of the Niger Delta.

“They have to invent ways and evolve strategies to further the goal of a prosperous Niger Delta where its people utilise their God-given resources to develop themselves”.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, praised the students for fighting for the future of he region through building socio-cultural bridges to foster peace and economic development.

He expresses happiness that the youths are no longer known for militancy , indolence, kidnapping, brigandage and redundancy. He attributes the change in the youths to measures adopted by President Goodluck Jonathan to sustain the peace in the region such as the continuation of the amnesty programme and the training of the non-militant youths by the his ministry.

Ishaku, who was represented by the ministry’s Director, Planning, Research and Statistics Department, Mr. Ayo Fadola, said many youths drawn from the region have benefitted from various scholarship schemes - academic and vocational - offered by the ministry.

He said: “The most prominent of them is the Niger Delta Action Plan which was unveiled in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2013. The action plan is designed to fast-track the development of the region and to eliminate the duplication of projects/programmes.

“It hopes to seek a coordinated framework reinforce a culture of transparency and accountability in its relationship with the communities. It is a tool design to harmonise, coordinate and measure development in the Niger Delta”, he says.

According to him the action plan is coming after many years of neglect by previous administration. He says the present ministry has been renewed with the zeal of addressing issues of underdevelopment.

But he notes that the required development can only be achieved if other development partners operating in the area will collaborate to promote development of the region.

“Over the years we have been inundated with multiple claims to projects by various organisations operating in the area. One of such was the multiple signposts erected by different organisations laying claims to a single project.

The ministry is bent to eliminate these claims”, he assures.

Assuring that the government will complete the over N350billion dualisation of the 338km East-West Road, the minister says work on the skill acquisition centres and 360 housing units of two and three bedroom bungalows across the region will be inaugurated soon.

But he warns the youths: “You must not allow yourself to be used by anyone to ferment trouble aimed at destabilizing the nation. You must be vigilant at all times and guard against all activities of agents of instability who seek to sabotage our political and economic advancement.

“Join hands with government in the campaign against all anti-social, economic and other vices such as pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering targeted at sabotaging our collective patrimony. Funds siphoned through these activities leave deep holes in our annual budgets thereby stifling some development projects begging for attention”.

The Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, identified the Niger Delta students as the aspirations and beacon of the Niger Delta people.

Addressing them, he says: “I want you to be superstars wherever you find yourselves because students are known for their youthful exuberance which we must exhibit to drive home the needed development of our people.

“You can be the likes of late Zik of Africa, Awolowo and our own Adaka Boro who were great student union leaders of their time to drive home development of their people and the nation in general.

“The Niger Delta region has faced numerous socio-economic and political challenges and as students of Niger Delta, you have a role to play to address it squarely. Some of these challenges are environmental degradation, poverty and resource control.

“But we cannot achieve any success if students of this region are not united. The Igbo and Yoruba people have achieved so much because they demonstrated unity among themselves to be where they are today.”

born baby.”

She gave kudos to the NDDC for making it possible for her organisation to assemble medical experts in different areas of specialization to attend to the needs of people who may not have had access to such highly qualified medical personnel. According to the medical director, the week-long programme covered different aspects of Medicare.

The NDDC Deputy Director for Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Solomon Ita, said that the goal of the commission was to make medical services accessible to the people of the Niger Delta region, especially those who live in the rural areas. He noted that the commission had always placed a high premium on healthcare delivery, adding that it had extended health facilities and services to many communities across the region.

“It is our belief that after this programme, the people of EsitEket will say farewell to all the endemic health problems that have long plagued them. It is expedient to mention here that the health partners are expected to hand over substantial quantities of efficacious drugs to the hospital management for the treatment of those who had some major operations,” he said.

According to Dr Ita, of all the development programmes which the NDDC had undertaken in the Niger Delta, the one that brought tremendous relief and made immediate impact on the lives of the rural people was the free health care programme. “The free health missions have gone round virtually all corners of the Niger Delta, healing the sick and giving hope to the medically challenged,” he said.

The NDDC director explained that the free health care programme was a combination of many activities, which included carrying out of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, healthcare promotion and malaria roll-back campaign.

“The comprehensive health missions provide all forms of medical services, ranging from general consultation, laboratory services, general and gynaecological surgeries, as well as eye and dental services. Apart from the free medical missions, the NDDC has committed substantial resources to providing physical infrastructure in the health sector across the Niger Delta,” he said.

Mr. Anieffiok Gabriel, who brought a relative for treatment, said he was delighted that the free healthcare programme came to Ekpene Obo at a time he was almost giving up hope on how to save his aunty who was very sick but could not find money to go for medical treatment. “We are glad the NDDC has come to our rescue,” he said.

Anieffiok is one out of many poor people in the remote communities of the Niger Delta who have been rescued through the intervention of the NDDC’s free medical missions.

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Foundation gives succour to the needy F

OR those in the society who are not strong, the Goshen Gate Foundation (GGF) is beckoning on them to come and lean on its shoulder as it is out to provide succor to them.

The President of GGF, Mr Chijioke Ukadike who made the call during the official inauguration and investiture of Patrons and Matrons of the foundation in Port Harcourt explained that his organization believes that “helping people find their true purpose in life will go a long way in eliminating such cases as depression, drug addictions, alcoholism, suicide and various forms of crime or terrorism generally perpetrated by individuals who have lost their core essence of living.”

To help achieve this purpose, Ukadike who runs GGF with his wife, Ngozi said that they have five broad projects which are Mind The Gap Project (MTGP) Constance Ukadike Project (CUP) and Job Connect Programme under which they run Job Center Project; Entrepreneurship De-

From Clarica Azuatalan

velopment Programme Goshen Gate Farm Project and Skills Development Programme.

They also run Youth Mentorship Programmes as well as Gospel Platforms which involves Church On The Project; Christian Library Project; Able Ministers Magazine; “Are You blessed” TV Show; Publication of Christian Books and Tracts and Universal Missions Funds.

Despite that the GGF has elected to run these programmes pari passu, the one that has made more impact on the society, especially to the physically challenged and from which the GGF sprang up, is the “Mind the Gap Project.”

Ukadike explained that he and his wife founded the programme in 2004 as a “platform for taking the goodnews of the gospel to the neglected, oppressed and deprived members of the society.

• Ukadike (left), his wife (second left), Rev. Makinde (fourth left)and other recipients of GGF Awards

“Under this platform, we were able to reach the motherless babies homes, home for the disabled, home for handicapped children, hospitals, preaching the gospel, proclaiming purposeful living and ministering to their basic needs.”

Ukadike also said MTGP took a new level in April 2008, when he published a book titled “Managing The Storms Of Life;” which he dedicated to the victims of Sosoliso plane crash of December 10, 2005 in Port Harcourt, an air disaster that claimed the lives of

about 105 persons, mostly innocent children returning home for the Christmas holiday.

The book which is meant to further his evangelistic and charitable cause was launched on April 26, 2008 in Port Harcourt in collaboration with the Illabor Angels Foundation, an organization floated by Dr Andy Illabor and his wife in memory of their three children who perished in that Sosoliso air disaster under the auspices of the New Initiative For Positive Impact Programme (NIFPIP).

“It was after this that the vision of GGF evolved”, Ukadike said pointing out that since the Biblical Goshen protected the Israelites from the plagues that ravaged Egypt, his own Goshen would certainly offer succor to the needy in the society if they run to it because it is a non-profit, non-governmental Christian organization.

The Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rev Sunday Ola Makinde who was invested the Grand Patron of GGF said that the foundation has shown that a true religion is one that cares for the orphans, widows, needy and deprived persons in the society.

Makinde decried a situation where “some religious leaders live in affluence, while their followers live in abject penury.”

The Pastor of First Love Assembly, Port Harcourt, Pastor Simeon Afolabi, who was also made a Grand Patron of GGF, admonished the Ukadikes on the characteristics of good leaders saying that “it is not enough for a good leader to possess the ability of casting a vision and rallying people around the vision but good leaders must know how to stay committed to a vision even in the face of sever adversity.”

Afolabi also prayed that “the gates of hell would not prevail against the foundation.”

Flight Marine Safety Academy in Obubra is legitimate, says proprietor

T

HE proprietor, Flight Marine Safety Academy (FMSA), in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Captain Charles Origha, has faulted security operatives claim that the institution is fake.

Early this year, security operatives arrested him and paraded him as the operator of an illegal and unregistered Marine Academy.

Origha, who holds a degree from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the security agencies did not do their homework well.

He told our reporter that he was not operating an illegal or unregistered academy as he was accused of, but that the institution was duly certified and registered by the Cross River State Ministry of Education.

“The academy is registered with the

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

State government and affiliated to Star Maritime Academy in Igondo, Lagos our mother institute, which also has approval from the Federal Ministry of Education and National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) .We are operating within the ambit of the law; there is nothing fake or illegal about the academy,” he said.

Origha, who also has a diploma from the College of Aviation and Management Studies, Lagos, narrated his ordeal: “We were only on sea exercise with our passports endorsed by the Nigeria Immigration before we made the voyage. Although we did not inform the Nigerian Navy, we were arrested and handed over to Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

and subsequently to Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) where we were abandoned for two weeks.

“They believed us to be militants and sea pirates, we did not carry any arms neither was any drug found on us, the only thing we had on us was our international passports. I was not even given the opportunity to express myself. I was treated like a common thief, put in chains like a criminal.

“It was when we were released that we saw our photographs all over the pages of newspapers where we were tagged pirates, militants and fake marine academy operator. This has ruptured both my image and reputation; it has caused me a huge loss. As we speak I am still suffering from the pains on my legs due to the chains I was bound with since the incident in

March.

“We are not fake. I am appealing to relevant authorities to do all the background checks to verify all our claims, if these documents are real. We cannot just be accredited immediately by NBTE. It takes a little time, which is why we became affiliated to Star Maritime Academy in Lagos.’”

When contacted, the Rector, Star Maritime Academy Igando, Lagos, Dr Ovai Reuben, confirmed that FSMA was an affiliate of his Institute and that it has approval from Federal Ministry of Education and NBTE. He also decried the ill-treatment meted to Origha by the security operatives, stressing that they should have done proper investigation before arresting and parading him and some of the cadets as militants.

Isoko land owners protest oil surveillance contract

A

GROUP known as Indigenous Landlords Association in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to redress the injustice over what they termed “illegal award of oil surveillance contract/oil mining (OML 30).

In a petition sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, the group alleged that without due consultation with their traditional institutions, chiefs, youths and opinion leaders in Isoko Kingdom, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shoreline National Resources Limited and Heritage Oil awarded oil mining lease surveillance contract to several contractors.

In the petition, copies of which were sent to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AllisonMadueke, Delta State Governor and other stakeholders.

The group said more than one year after awarding this contract, there is no evidence on ground to show that the contractors are working in Isoko land. The group said: “What we have noticed is that the Isoko Local Vigilante Group led by Hon. Victor Egbo, who is the coordinator as well as the state coordinator, is the one securing the oil pipeline as well as gathering intelligence, while those who got the pipeline surveillance contracts are just taking the money without doing anything.”

By Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

The group also alleged that they have not received any commendation or recommendation for employment from these contractors, a situation that is a total disregard for the Nigeria Local Content Act, 2011.

This, they said, amounts to “Baboon dey work, monkey dey chop” and in their opinion, “no reasonable man in this 21st century will permit such injustice.” Quoting copiously from an extract by John Ralw, the group said, “Justice is the distribution of the advantages and the disadvantages of the society equally among its members.” Going by this, they said, “it is right for us to also share the advantage of the society and not only the disadvantage that oil explorations has brought to our people.”

The group said in order to address the alleged injustice, the Isoko Development Union (IDU), the apex decision making body in Isoko Land, led by its President, Maj-Gen. Paul Ofuoma Omu (rtd), scheduled a a meeting between the Isoko people, Shoreline Natural Resources (Ltd), the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Heritage Oil for March 5. According to them, though due notice of the meeting was given, none of the representatives of the companies showed up at the meeting. As a result of this, they said, another stakeholders’

meeting was slated for April 29, at the Isoko South Local Government Area Secretariat.

In attendance at that meeting were Hon. Idele Goodluck, traditional rulers from Oleh, Uzere, Ewhe, Emede, Emevor, Ozoro and all opinion leaders in Isoko land.

The meeting was also attended by the Isoko Development Union led by its President, Major Gen Paul Ofuoma Omu (rtd), representative of the Nigeria police force, members of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and representatives of Shoreline Natural Resources, the Nigerian Development Petroleum Company (NDPC) and Heritage Nig (ltd). At the meeting, the group said, the IDU President Major Gen Paul Ofuoma Omu (rtd) OFR, made known the collective resolve of the Isoko people that the oil surveillance contract should be reawarded to accommodate the interest of the entire Isoko people. According to the group, after about four hours deliberations, Shoreline Natural Resources, Heritage Oil and the NPDC promised to look into their demand, but up till today, the companies have refused to keep their promise.

Consequently, the group said, since Shoreline Natural Resources, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and Heritage Oil Nig (Ltd), have chosen to walk the path of injustice against the collective interest of the people, they have

“resolved from now onward, that there shall be no peace until this ugly injustice is addressed.”

The group issued a 21 days ultimatum, starting from September 1, till September 22 within which the Companies involved should address the anomaly, failure which all oil wells connected to OML 30 in Isoko Land will cease to flow.

The OML 30 (Oil Mining Lease) covers the largest ever upstream asset in Sub-Sahara Africa. The block is the second largest as well as the third largest on-shore Block with a lease covering 109 square kilometers which comprises of the following communities in Isoko Kingdom of Delta State: Oleh 21 Oil wells, Olomoro 17 Oil wells, Emede 4 Oil wells, Uzere more than 12 functional wells, Owhe 9 Oil wells, Igbide 8 Oil wells, Okpolo-Enwhe 6 Oil wells, Ozoro 7 Oil wells, Ellu/ Ovrode 10 Oil wells, Ofagbe 4 Oil wells, Isoko Deep.

Currently, the block has 8 producing fields of 395, 000 bpd, with an existing 850 bpd of pipeline segment to Forcados Export terminal.

Its current gross production is 45, 000 bpd. It has over 2000 wells drilled with 120 in production. The block associated gas facilities can handle forth two MSCF/ day collected from 6 flowing stations. Its proven reserve includes 3 of 2 bb/s of crude oil and 2:5TCF of gas is a long asset with 8 years life reserved at production rate.

•Origha

Ex-militants demand amnesty benefits beyond 2015 From Mike Odiegwu,Yenagoa

F

ORMER creek warlords under the Third Phase Amnesty (TPH) have called for the continuation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta ex-militants beyond 2015.

They argued against suspension of the programme until the recommendations contained in the Niger Delta Technical Report which were compiled by the Ledim Mittee's committee are implemented.

The Leader of Third Phase Amnesty, Mr. Ramsey Mukoro who spoke recently in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, also urged the Federal Government to include the militants that were excluded from the programme.

He said: "The Federal Government should ensure that those denied are enlisted into the programme because it will bring about more peace and contribute meaningfully to the development of the region.

"Also, the Government should develop the communities, clean up oil spills and ensure that the impact of the 13 per cent derivation and ecological fund are felt in the communities."

He commended the Federal Government on the postive results recorded so far by the amnesty.

But, he said more emphasis should be placed on community development and remediation of the environment ravaged by oil exploitation.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

AM not really sure how I should start this letter. Should I say congratulations? Or, should I wait until later in your new assignment to know the right thing to say? For now, I will say a cautious congratulations. The fact that you have grown to become a Commissioner of Police is a no mean feat. It is a feat reserved for some of the best in your profession. So, on that basis, I say a cautious congratulations. The real congratulations may come later in your assignment. But, that depends on how you go about policing Rivers, a state which has no rival in the whole Niger Delta. My reason for being cautious will be clear to you presently.

Let me say this before I go any further. I write you this epistle with an open heart. No malice.

No hidden agenda. Your predecessor, Tunde Ogunsakin, got a similar letter from me when he resumed last February.

Rivers, like Lagos, plays host to people from almost every part of the country. As a result of this, it is also infested with all forms of crimes, the worst being kidnapping. Militancy has gone down, but the guns and other weapons used during its reign are still in circulation. Some of them, I am told, are being used for armed robbery and kidnapping.

CP Bature, I do not envy you. I am also not sure if I should be happy for you. Reason: While it will be a great thing for you to curb crimes in Rivers, what will define you is how you manage the political tendencies in the state. Being posted to Rivers some months before the 2015 elections is, for me, the ultimate test of your career. You will soon find out that this is the most difficult assignment you have ever been given.

The situation in Rivers, especially regarding the 2015 elections, is peculiar. It is one of the two states in the Southsouth that is controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC). But unlike Edo State, Rivers was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the man you will choose to either work with or work against, was elected on the platform of the PDP. Members of the House of Assembly were all PDP men. Members of the National Assembly from the state, such as the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dr Dakuku Peterside, and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, were also of the PDP. The PDP was also in charge of the local government areas. But things fell apart last year between Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan and the centre could not hold. The party structure was taken from the governor via a court injunction. Not long after, a crack emerged in the House of Assembly. The bulk chose to stay with the governor. A few pledged and demonstrated their loyalty to the new order represented by Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike.

Attempts were made by the minority to impeach Amaechi. It backfired and heads were broken. Blood flowed. But no life was lost. The

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘

What we have noticed is that the Isoko Local Vigilante Group led by Hon. Victor Egbo, who is the co-ordinator as well as the state coordinator, is the one securing the oil pipeline as well as gathering intelligence, while those who got the pipeline surveillance contracts are just taking the money without doing anything __

‘

Isoko landlords

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Dear CP Dan Bature ‘

Your road will be rough given the fact that it is an election period...

Pressure will be brought to bear on you.

I really do not envy you.

All I will say is that you should show that you are a man of conscience and you should play by the rules. Only when you do these will history be fair to you •CP Bature

assembly has not found its feet since then.

A lot of other dramas were to follow. It is important I should point this out to you: In the build-up to the crisis, your senior, Joseph Mbu, now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, was posted to Rivers as Police Commissioner.

Amaechi did not trust him. He did not hide his feelings about Mbu's mission. Mbu too did not help matters. It was just a matter of time before it became a roforofo fight, with the then CP openly calling the governor a dictator, among others.

Under Mbu, it was a sin for anyone with allegiance to Amaechi to hold any rally or demon-

LAST WORD

‘

stration. They were either dispersed with teargas canisters or hot water. Those against the governor had a good time under Mbu. Their rallies or demonstrations were held with police protection.

Mbu made sure the Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI), a group which has Wike as patron, enjoyed police support for its rallies.

He, however, ensured the Save Rivers Movement (SRM), which has link with the governor, did not enjoy the same treatment. There were instances when his men even disrupted SRM rallies or looked the other way when mil-

itants or thugs unleashed mayhem on SRM members.

Before Mbu was made police commissioner in River in February last year, Amaechi had worked with four other police commissioners. There is no evidence that he complained against any of them. Will the governor enjoy the same relationship with you? It is a question time will answer.

When there was so much noise about Mbu’s bias, he decided to ban all forms of rallies in the state. Eventually, it got to a situation where the Senate, after an investigation, declared him unfit to remain as Rivers CP. The Senate asked for Mbu's transfer, as the commissioner's "relationship with the governor has broken down irretrievably". It accused Mbu of failing in his duty of maintaining law and order in the state.

The report has harsh words for Mbu: "Mbu has refused to cooperate with the governor, Chibuike Amaechi on matters of security even though the Governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state."

CP Bature, there is something I must point out to you before going further. In all Mbu did, many believed and still believe he acted the script of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, who is from Okrika, one of the communities you now have to police. The Senate report on the Rivers' crisis said there was" undue interference with the political and security structure of the state" by the president, his wife and the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Clearly, Amaechi and Mrs Jonathan are not friends. So are the governor and the president.

This is where your assignment will be dicey.

These are my pieces of advice to you: respect Dame Jonathan and make sure she is safe each time she is in Rivers; receive her at the airport anytime she is in town; and make sure no one molests her. But, show that you are a man who will not be made to act against his conscience and policing rules. May be you should sit down with Ogunsakin and let him give you some lessons on how he was able to deal with the peculiar situation in Rivers. Of course, he did not leave without offending one or two people. There is no way to avoid that 100 per cent. But, Rivers certainly does not need the madness of the Mbu era.

My final take: Your road will be rough given the fact that it is an election period. PDP will want to prove it is in charge. APC will also want to show that it is the party to be. There will also be internal wranglings within the parties over candidates. Jonathan will also want to retain Rivers for PDP. So, pressure will be brought to bear on you. I really do not envy you. All I will say is that you should show that you are a man of conscience and you should play by the rules. Only when you do these will history be fair to you.

I sure will write you again. By His grace. Bye for now.

BY KAZEEM IBRAHYM

Cries of Akwa Ibom street sweepers W

HEN you get to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, chances are that you will love it. It has really evolved over the years. Gone are those days when people saw it as a glorified village. It has gotten out of the shadow of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

Uyo became the capital of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, 1987 following the creation of Akwa Ibom State from erstwhile Cross River State.

The population of Uyo, according to the 2006 Census which comprises Uyo and Itu, is 436,606.

Uyo is a fast-growing city. It has witnessed massive infrastructural growth in the past nine years. It has an intensive network of divided highways, such as the IBB Way, Atiku Abubakar Avenue, Udo Udoma Avenue, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, and Edet Akpan Avenue which is an eight-lane superhighway and currently the widest road in the Uyo metropolis.

With Uyo’s development has also come the challenge of keeping its streets, especially the major highways, such as the IBB Way and Atiku Abubakar Avenue, clean. This task has been given to the Green Brigade.

The Green Brigade outfit was floated by the Ministry of Environment to collect waste and

check erosion caused by block drainage system and water ways within the state.

The Ministry of Environment is headed

by Prince Enobong Uwah as Commissioner.

The Green Brigade has a workforce of 2000 women and youths recruited to perform the services of waste collection and disposal, cleaning and desilting of drains and gutters, litter and vegetation control and daily sweeping of roads and streets in the capital city.

Many believe the outfit has created a lot of jobs, even when some of the workers are not too satisfied with their take home pay which many of them said is too low.

For instance, one of the workers, who pleaded anonymity, said they resume cleaning of the highway by 5am to close by 7am.

According to the Uyo-born woman, each worker sweeps in between nine poles everyday on most of the major highways.

She explained that the end of the month, the government pays a salary of N10, 000 to each of the workers, which she lamented, cannot take most of them to anywhere.

When asked if the salary for the month of August has been paid, she said no.

Her words: “We normally resume here to sweep the highway by 5am in the morning and close 7am. We have been assigned the

areas we are supposed to sweet. Normally, each of us will sweep in between nine poles.

They pay us salary of N10, 000 at every month. Government should try increase the salary because it is too small for us to take care of our families.”

Since the inception of the Green Brigade outfit, the Ministry of Environment has embarked on erosion control at Eka Street, where the gully was threatening residents and the road.

Also, the gully at Dominic Utuk Avenue was addressed effectively, the persistent flooding which made Uruan Street, Obio Imo and Oron Road intersection impassable and a nightmare for road users and residents had been a thing of the past.

The street sweepers are sweeping the streets well. They are doing a yeoman’s job of it. Government should thus not see them as casual workers who deserve what they get. In the task assigned to them, they are exposed to dust and other forms of hazards capable of impairing their health. When this happens, certainly their take home cannot bail them out, just like it is currently not enough to even feed their families.

So, hearing their cries and adding to their take-home will not be too much. They are the men and women who are making Uyo beautiful. They deserve better.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

37

Grand oak rewards consumers

I

•Chowdhurry

The Vice President, Transsion Holdings, makers of Tecno mobile, Arif Chowdhurry, in this interview with TONIA ‘DIYAN, speaks on the success story of the company in a short period, what it has to offer and how the company has been able to meet the needs of Africans, among others.

‘Our success is driven by innovation, technology’ HAT has brought Tecno this far?

Globally, all successful brands share one key element in their success story - and that is hard work. Tecno Mobile is not left out in this universal trend of unique brand development, high quality product offerings, affordability and improvement.

That is why at Tecno mobile, we offer mobile voice and data technologies, which include smart phones, tablets and feature phones range, which are today, enjoying huge popularity and adoption in Africa.

How have you been able to meet the needs of the African people, particularly Nigerians?

The African market has always had a huge purchasing potential and can build a strong affinity for value driven products only of brands who understand the peculiar needs of the African market space and Tecno mobile is one of such brands that understand Africa’s unique infrastructural challenges, consumer behaviour and therefore has tailored our products to meet this significant market.

One unique innovation from Tecno Mobile is the dual SIM card mobile phone product. What informed this innovative idea?

Tecno introduced the Dual-SIM technology to the African market at price-friendly rates and Africa took notice.

In 2006, when Tecno mobile entered the African Mobile original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) space there were existing top global brands already operating within the African space from the likes of Nokia, Samsung, Alcatel, Motorola, to name a few. However, none of these global brands factored in the Power challenges and the fairly nascent telecos infrastructural development across the continent in their design of mobile cell products. Many of the mobile voice operators at the time had infrastructure that struggled to deliver quality voice connections across a wide range, thus, the advent of Tecno Mobile Dual-SIM products.

Tecno mobile Dual-SIM philosophy for Africa is hinged on the fact that telecommunications infrastructure for land lines service is under developed and over burdened and cannot meet Africa’s over whelming need for voice ser-

W

vice and the fact that many African consumers demand a mobile device that can hold more than one SIM card.

Tecno Mobile has come of age; what do you have to say?

Tecno believe in Africa and have achieved success alongside Africa. Today, Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies, averaging an annual growth rate of more than 5.0 per cent, with a growing middle class with taste for high quality experience. Tecno mobile has grown with Africa having consolidated on its position as a major mobile manufacturer company, once again delivering unique insight-based mobile technology service to Africa’s growing urban dwellers. The company currently has moved its Research and development (R&D) headquarters to Shanghai, a strong team of French designers in a drive to deliver contemporary, high functional, competitive and stylish products to the African market. Africa is our sole market and we will treat her right.

The successful and of course worthy launch of the Phantom Z smart phone; the first high-end and the only Octa-core processor smart phone in the world by Tecno mobile Nigeria goes to show Tecno mobile’s level of aspirations and global competitiveness.

Let’s meet the Tecno phantom family available Tecno phantom A+, R7 and Phantom Z epitomize affordability, performance, speed, style and lifestyle. These high quality smart phones have clearly raised the bar in terms of value-for-money for any global

mobile phone brand that wishes to compete in the Africa space at both the mid and high-end of offerings. Others in the Tecno phantom family include; Tecno phantom Pad (N9), Tecno Phantom Mini Pad (P9), Tecno (S9) Pad, Tecno Phantom A3, A+, A, A2, F7 and F8 among others.

What more should people expect from Tecno mobile?

Tecno mobile will continue to build lasting value in the Africa communities by driving initiatives such as the Local apps development challenge in partnership with sister company, Afmobi.

Share your success story with us.

Capitalising on the opportunity the Africa market provides; the market was willing to welcome Tecno Mobile when Nokia and Samsung were dominating the market. Tecno, as a mobile manufacturer, offered affordability, originality and aspiration in it range of products and customer base began to swell. Therefore, by 2009, Tecno Mobile had become an accepted and robust competitor with low-end mobile devices that offer value at affordable rates.

What advice do you have for consumers?

Now, as we know, not all pricefriendly and affordable phones in the market are good, most are counterfeit phones and are dangerous, some may explode, some have high radiation, they are not approved by SON, they cause serious damage to the user both short and long term use. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is having a serious crack down on this, but most importantly, Nigerians have to safe guard their health and future.

‘The African market has always had a huge purchasing potential and can build a strong affinity for value driven products only of brands who understand the peculiar needs of the African market space and Tecno mobile is one of such’

T is reward time for customers in the Grand Oak promo - a marketing and distribution arm of Lexcel Group.

Grand Oak is the manufacturer of Calypso Coconut Liquor, Lord’s Dry Gin, among others.

The promo, an in-store and in-bar campaign, kicked off at the same time in Lagos, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Uyo, Warri, Ughelli, Agbor, Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba and other cities.

Sales canvassers dressed in branded T-shirts were in select markets with assorted gifts worth millions of naira and gave them to customers for every purchase of Lord’s Dry Din or Calypso Coconut Liquor made.

Consumers’ response had been massive with leading Lagos bars and clubs, such as Ice Lounge, Surulere; Admirals, Surulere; O’jez, National Stadium; Lounge, 37, Surulere, La Mango-GRA, Ikeja, AY BarWEMPCO Road, Ogba and Illumina Banilux-Sabo, Yaba, being in the forefront of the activation.

Others were the Officers’ MessSabo, Yaba, Kingston Joe- Apapa, Metro Park-GRA, Ikeja, The HubAdenyi Jones, Ikeja, Grasshoppers- Festac, Cynergy Hotel& BarAmuwo Odoffin, Stephane’s Place-Apapa, Ember Creek- Ikoyi and Xover Lounge in Lekki.

According to the firm’s General Manager, Marketing, Mr. Brajesh Kumar, the promo was designed to further connect the company with its customers in the Southsouth, Southeast and Lagos and to strengthen its leadership position in the spirit and wine segment of the alcoholic beverages market. The exercise, which has so far recorded high level mileage, Kumar explained, was aimed at brand penetration and rewarding of loyal customers, stressing that the target group is the retailers in the open market.

Apart from the prizes won, consumers are also learning some tricks about the production process of their favourite drinks. For instance, a consumer, who simply identified himself as Stephens at the O’Jez, National Stadium,

By Tonia ‘Diyan

Surulere, Lagos, said the brand activation has given him the opportunity to learn how to make beverages.

“It has given me the opportunity to learn about cocktails. I now know that with the Lord’s Dry Gin, you can come up with various cocktails of delight and savour for discerning consumers with taste and fashion.”

Donald Johnson, who was savouring a glass of the gin in bar in Lekki-Lagos, said he never knew the Lord’s Dry Gin was tasteful. “It tastes nice and is better enjoyed when served cold, I used to think it is very hot. I might consider going into the sale shortly, many of my friends will surely like the fine smooth taste, it is not what we thought it was, it is pleasing and enjoyable,” he said.

A trader, who sells the product at Mushin, Moji Adisa, was specially excited at her gifts from the canvassers, exclaiming: “This is wonderful; though I have been selling various Grand Oak and Calypso coconut liquor products for some time, this is the first time I will get these gifts from them. I appreciate them. They will inspire me to identify with them more, because the demand from people who love it increases daily. I will be stocking more henceforth,” she said Brand Manager, Grand Oak Limited, Jacob Akaade, scored the the promo high, adding that the response from consumers has been impressive.

“They have been responding in droves, they are associating with the brand, clubs and bars not covered in this exercise so far are mounting pressures on us from all over the place, asking us to come and replicate it in their places,” Akaade said.

Lord’s Dry Gin and Calypso Coconut Liquor are premium brands from the stable of Grand Oaks Limited.

Other leading brands from the foremost spirit marketer in the country are Regal Dry Gin, Bacchus Tonic Wine, Dark Sailor, Rum and its flagship brand, Seaman’s Schnapps.

Winners emerge in Indomie comic book draw

F

IVE lucky youths have emerged winners in the Indomitable Promo, tagged ‘Comic Book 10 in one pack’, a raffle draw held at the company’s headquarters in Surulere, Lagos.

The winners are Rukayat Ayomide, Abdul-Rahmam - 12, Fumilayo Oke - 14, Emmanuel Thomas – nine, and Chisom Ikeocha-10, all from Lagos and, Temiloluwa Oyelola – 14, resides in Kaduna.

The lucky five, alongside a guardian/parent each are now Disney bound and are set to be treated to a memorable Disneyland trip in France, courtesy of Dufil Prima Foods Plc. The promo, which according to the company, was intended to give back to the loyalists of the brand who happen to be children, was a nationwide initiative open to children not older than 15.

The Head, Marketing, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Manpreet Singh, who was at the draw, alongside some select journalists, said Dufil Prima Foods Plc was happy to announce the names of the lucky winners who have emerged from the over 40,000 entries generated across the country.

“Without a doubt, Indomie has once again proven that it indeed has core loyalists spread across the country that love and believe in the company and what it stands for, that’s why our relationship

By Gbenga Aderanti

which has spanned more than 20 years still waxes strong till date.”

He further said: “Once again, we also saw it as a great idea to create a bond and engagement activity for the children with their favourite animation characters during the long holiday; Dufil believes it is pertinent to appreciate these children who through their love and continued loyalty to the brand have ensured we remain the trailblazer in the noodles segment. ‘’So, we thought of no better time than now, likewise a memorable reward that would no doubt be one to remember for a long time to come.”

Shedding light on the journey that qualified the children for the trip, the Public Relations/Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said, the lucky five, were part of the 40,000 who purchased a “10 in 1” branded indomitable pack of Indomie noodles.

He explained the procedure to include buying a pack of indomie noodles, taking out the stickers or comic books, and sending a text with names and address to the number boldly quoted on the comic book/ stickers.

This qualified them for the draw, where they had emerged the winners as they are called. These children will go with a parent or guardian to Disneyland in France.

38

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

AGRICBUSINESS

e-mail: agrobusiness@thenationonlineng.net

Combating threat of toxins on plants, livestock The quality of feeds is critical to improved livestock production. Achieving this is becoming difficult because of the threat of natural toxic contaminants in feeds known as aflatoxins which affect crops and animals.

Combating this menace was the focus of experts at a forum organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Lagos. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

M

OHAMMED Musa (not real name) was happy when he saw his acre of lush green and well-arranged field of corn and other arable crops.

His happiness was shortlived when few months later, he saw somethings that were strange during harvest. The crops were eaten by aflatoxins, a fungi which affects cereal crops. Though the damage was not much, it still took him a long time to separate the few crops affected by aflatoxins.

All over the country, the economic consequences of aflatoxins contamination are profound. Crops affected by it often have to be destroyed or alternatively, they are sometimes converted into animal feed.

Giving contaminated feeds to susceptible animals can lead to reduced growth, illness and even death.

One victim of this misfortune is Olatunde Raheem, a poultry farmer in Ketu, a Lagos suburb.

He was a big time farmer and one of the biggest player in the poultry business. All through his business life, his birds never suffered from any epidemic. He was not expecting it either but like a thief in the night, an aflatoxins tsunami struck his farm overnight.

In one fell swoop, he lost about N600,000. The cause was attributed to aflatoxins.

Raheem is just one out of the many poultry farmers that have lost their entire life savings to the ravages of aflatoxins.

Several livelihoods have been lost, tonnes of staple food destroyed and millions of naira have been lost.

This development has elicited the attention of experts who are poised to proffering solutions to the problem.

Speaking during a forum organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA) in Lagos, the Head of Technical Laboratory Services, Animal Care Laboratory, Ogere Remo, Ogun State,Dr Dotun Oladele, lamented that poultry farmers in the country have lost substantial investment to aflatoxins attack.

He said there were appalling circumstances where farmers lost millions of naira within few days of aflatoxins attack . He told participants that the threat of aflatoxins is real and must be tackled headlong.

Oladele said aflatoxins affect animal performance and health. Described as mycotoxins because they cannot be detected except through laboratory tests, the veterinary expert said aflatoxins weaken the animals’ immune system, disrupt the normal functioning of major organs such as the rumen, intestinal tract, liver, kidneys, reproductive system and nervous system.

He said poultry farmers suffer a great deal from aflatoxins threat, adding that all species of birds are susceptible. According to him, globally, aflatoxins attack is one of the most common poultry threats.

When crops are attacked, the common symptoms include watery eyes, persistent coughing and gasping. The condition affects egg production and quality with brown broiler eggs turning to white.The consequence is huge financial

•Grains affected by aflatoxins

Oladele

losses and higher veterinary costs.

His concern, however, was that the situation was likely to get worse as most farmers are still not aware of the problem.

According to him, the threat is particularly hard to contain once there is an outbreak but added that to prevent it, poultry farmers have to test feed raw materials, especially sources of protein, carbohydrate and fibre for aflatoxins level.

This would help classify samples for rejection or acceptance.

Where there are outbreaks, however, he advised that steps be taken to eschew colossal losses. These involve taking a complete history of the case, performing a postmortem examination and noting the lessons observed.

On regular intervals, he said farm owners must analyse feed consumed by birds to know the aflatoxin level.

Akande He said: “There may be need to totally withdraw such feed or change a major raw material which was responsible for high aflatoxins level in finished feed.”

Indeed, aflatoxins have become a challenge for livestock farmers’ quest to optimise production and remain profitable over the long term. Between January 2012 and December 2012, he said a total of 2,403 samples were tested for total aflatoxins levels at the Animal Care Laboratory, Ogere Remo, Ogun State. The type of samples included, maize, wheat, rice and corn offal, poultry and fish feed, indomie waste among others.

For him, if the livestock industry is to tackle the threat of aflatoxins and remain profitable, it is imperative for farmers get as much help as possible. On the whole, he said it was worth testing for in both grain and pelleted

‘All over the country, the economic consequences of aflatoxins contamination are profound. Crops affected by it often have to be destroyed or alternatively, they are sometimes converted into animal feed’

feedstuffs.

A food safety expert and former chairman, Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria, Prof Stephen Fapohunda said farmers face difficulties controlling the threat as they are not easily noticeable on time.

He said carrying preventive measures during planting makes it easy to control, adding that farmers needed to get their risk assessments right ahead of harvest. Fapohunda said compulsory tests at mills would help to control the impact of the fungi. He noted that it was important growers recognise the value of the risk assessment as it will continue to play an important part in managing the risk of aflatoxins. In particular, he said risk assessment during pre-harvest would ensure that the likelihood of any aflatoxins problem is accurately taken into consideration.

He said procedures to be followed at different steps of processing in the plant such as receipt of materials, storage, distribution, pest control, maintenance of plant and machinery, personal hygiene, training , traceability, labelling, various critical points among others were also vital.

He warned that farmers could lose their farm assurance status if tests indicate high aflatoxin levels.

Fapohunda stressed the need to spread awareness among processors, traders, exporters and farmers to control quality of crops during production, storage and processing and sensitise them about aflatoxin contamination in the supply chain.

Leader, AgResults Aflasafe Team, IITA, Ibadan, Debo Akande said when crops become infected, they show symptoms of head blight and may have individual bleached spikelets or partially bleached ears. At harvest, this could result in pink or white shrivelled grains. However, he said it was possible for aflatoxins to be present without discoloured

grains.

In Nigeria, he said an between 40 to 60 per cent of maize has unacceptably high levels of aflatoxin.

The contamination, he noted, has harmful health effects for consumers and growers. Akande said a bio control product, Aflasafe, developed by IITA and other partners has reduced aflatoxin contamination of maize by between 80 and 90 per cent.

According to him, the AgResults Aflasafe Project is providing incentives to small farmers adopting the biological control innovation. It focuses on consumption and production impact of aflatoxin reduced maize.

So far, he said few maize-producing organisations and farmers are aware of the aflatoxin problem or unwilling to invest without confidence that there will be a market for aflatoxin-free crops. At the same time, he said regulators are constrained in their ability to enforce limits on aflatoxin contamination. He said the Aflasafe Pilot was implemented across the country by four different aggregator entities, with varying results. He explained that the United States (U.S.) acceptable limit for aflatoxin concentration is 20ng/g. He said: ”Every implementer’s average was well below this limit, except for one Babban Gona sample, two Kaduna CADP samples, and one Kano CADP samples that exceeded this limit.

On average, Aflasafe effectively kept Aflatoxin levels well below the U.S. acceptable limit contrary to sampling trends in previous analyses.”

He said 10 implementers are working with more than 4000 farmers this year; 24 implementers with more than 18,000 maize farmers next year and 36 implementers with more than 36,000 maize farmers in 2016.

He said the project expects 80 tonness of aflasafe will be applied to an average of 8000 hectares of farmland this year; 540 tonnes to an average of 54000 hectares of farmland in 2015 and 10800 tonnes of aflasafe to an average of 108000 hectares of land in 2016. This year, Akande said the project is working on producing 29,000 tons of aflasafe treated maize. As multiplier effect, he expects 490,000 tonnes of low-aflatoxin maize to be produced over a four -year period by 36,000 small farmers.

A group, Alliance for Green Revolution (AGRA) said premature harvesting and poor storage techniques of grains are the main causes of the aflatoxin poisoning in maize. AGRA has now teamed up with local cereals boards in an initiative dubbed ‘storage and post harvest management.’ The initiative educates farmers on handling grains before and after harvesting and advises on the right conditions to store them.

The AGRA initiative will also sensitise farmers on gauging the right moisture content before harvesting their grains. “At harvest the grain’s moisture content shouldn’t exceed 13.5 percent,” the organisation said. However, most farmers unknowingly harvest early when the moisture content is over the 13.5 per cent mark or end up storing maize in damp environments.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

39

AGRICBUSINESS

Ebola threatens Thai rice shipments to West Africa

‘Empower cocoa farmers’

T

HE key to alleviating hunger, poverty and combating climate change may lie in fresh, small-scale approaches to cocoa farming, the Programme Coordinator, Farmers Development Union(FADU), Mr. Victor Olowe, has said.

Addressing the Second Kokodola Farmers’ Day, in Ilesa,Osun State, Olowe called for small-scale initiatives that take poverty and hunger relief.

He noted that farmers need all the incentives to produce more food to meet the growing population needs, a more effective way to address food security issues and climate change would be to encourage self-sufficiency and waste reduction, in wealthier and poorer nations alike.

On the exhibition hosted by his organisation,Olowe explained that it meant to showcase local efforts by farmers to improve cocoa production.

According to him, FADU is involved in promoting community credit associations to enable farmers access credit.

To enable cocoa farmers add value to their cocoa beans and earn more income, Olowe said his organisation partners Sygenta, CRIN, Continaf, Oxfamnovib and other international organisations to train farmers on responsible farming practice.

In particular, he said small farmers stand to gain from improvements in certified cocoa production as an integral part of strategies to promote agricultural output andproductivity growth. To achieve this, he said his organisation is constraintsas well as disabling issues that undermine the development of the

sub sector.

The Managing Director, Continaf Nigeria Limited,Mr. Arajulu Olatunbosun, noted that when his organisation started the Kokodola project, farmers were skeptical about it.

According to him, it was difficult for most of the farmers to adopt the changes the project brought.

He said they were reaping from the reward of responsible farming practice as they witnessed improved productivity and increased income. One problem facing cocoa farmers,he noted, was how to transport the dried cocoa bean from farm settlements to the warehouse. He promised that Continaf would provide vehicles to ease transportation.

He praised the cocoa farmers for their immense support which led to the success of the project.

A representative of Oxfam Novib, Mr. John Ajigo, reiterated the commitment of his organisation to fight the use of child labourers on the farms.

While he supported early introduction of young people to agriculture, Ajigo urged older farmers not to deprive their children of education which is the bedrock for their future.

The Farmers’ Day is an occasion where farmers are brought together to interact and share the success stories and challenges faced in carrying out their farming activities, with the hope that they will copy good practices from each other.

About 500 farmers got premium during this Farmers’ Day. To add colour to the day, farmers exhibition tagged farmers’ market was put in place.

Group distributes Vitamin A enriched cassava

T

O combat vitamin deficiencies among the lessprivileged and boost their consumption of Vitamin A , major nutrient for clear sight, a non-fo-profit organisation, Harvest Plus, has embarked on the distribution of vitamins A enriched cassava stems to farmer in rural communities.

According to the Database Administrator of Harvest Plus, John Alamu, the project was conceived and funded by donor agencies to address the global challenge of malnutrition, especially in developing countries where it has been discovered that one out of every three person suffers from nutrient deficiency.

He said the project, which started with four pilot states, namely, Oyo, Imo, Benue and Akwa Ibom, was expected to be extended to other states in phases yearly, adding that by the end of the year, over 3,350 vitamin A cassava stems would have been distributed in about eight states in the federation.

He said Harvest Plus is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Federal Ministry of Health in the project, and so far the enlightenment campaign is going on alongside the distribution of the cassava.

He explained that vitamin deficiency is the major cause of some illness, adding that vitamin A helps to improve eye sight and boost immune systems in the human body.

He stressed that much of the

foods people consume are deficient of these essential vitamins, hence the deliberate effort to develop the vitamin A enriched cassava.

He said the new cassava which debuted in 2011 could be use to prepare various types of foods such as moi moi, garri, fufu, among other forms of food consumed by Nigerians.

He said vitamins A cassava has a natural vitamin A in it, and therefore different from the development of the controversial genetically modified crops, which he admitted when consumed in large quantities could pose serious health risks.

He however admitted that research was still ongoing to produce the vitamin A cassava in high commercial quantity and nutritional value.

Alamu said the NGO has partnered with Nollywood actors and have produced videos that would be used to disseminate and propagate the vitamin A cassava consumption in rural areas that are the most vulnerable in vitamin deficiency. He said the videos would be released soon.

On his choice of Nollywood as the channel for information dissemination, he explained that research has shown that people in rural communities tend to listen more to their favourite actors who validate certain products and lifestyles than using hand bill and poster, which they have discovered to be ineffective in their campaigns.

R

ICE crisis is imminent as exporters of rice in Thailand are finding it difficult to fery rice to Ebola linked countries in West Africa.

These include Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. West Africa is a major market for Thailand’s rice.

Exporters in Bangkok said Africa consumes nine million tonnes of rice yearly while two-thirds of it is imported. But they are unable to ship much of their crop to West African ports. Operators of dry bulk vessels cannot find crews to man their ships because of fear of contracting the deadly Ebola virus.

According to a report, merchants in Nigeria and other West Africa are trying to build up stocks to meet the requirements during Christmas sales. To this end, they are buying to have enough stock.

But exporters cannot find enough vessels coming to West Africa because of the fear of Ebola virus is jeopardising the whole trade situation.

Not being able to ship rice quickly is creating a bottleneck, with Thai exporters’ warehouses already filled. This is creating a chain reaction in the rice industry all the way back to the farmers.

Thai exporters cannot release the rice out of the warehouse and also cannot buy rice from the millers.

And the millers’ warehouses are

Stories by Daniel Essiet

also filled up. If they cannot sell to exporters they also cannot buy from the farmers.

Speaking with The Nation, a consultant to the World Bank,Prof Abel Ogunwale, noted that the Ebola outbreak in Africa would not have an impact on agriculture in Nigeria as there is an intensive effort locally to increase production to meet demand.

The inability of exporters in Bangkok to ship much their rice to Nigeria is in the better interest of the economy.

For this reason, he said there would be unrelenting pressure on farmers to grow more rice locally.

Speaking with The Nation, The Director, Resear c h , N a t i o n a l Cereals Research Institute, Niger State said there are support through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda to help local farmers grow more rice to make for any short fall that might result from the Thai rice crisis.

While the impending crisis will have impact on countries such as Sierra Leone,Ghana and Liberia where the threat of Ebola is well felt, Abo said the effect on the Nigeria’ market is not going to be serious to cause any considerable change in the rice market.

According to him, rapid production expansion is going to put a lid on the growth of imports and discourage Nigerians from eating Thai rice.

For watchers, Asia’s rice could become even more in demand in weeks and months ahead, with the Ebola outbreak expected to become worse before it improves. Food and Agriculture Organisation warned that food in countries affected by the deadly virus has become more expensive. The FAO said some African farmers cannot reach their fields and food imported by ship and air is now unlikely to arrive as often.

According to FAO, border crossing closures and reduced trade through seaports have squeezed supplies in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, while establishment of quarantine zones and restrictions on travel have kept many traders from collecting goods from farmers and taking them back to urban centers—while farmers have been unable to deliver their goods to smaller markets.

FAO warned that food in countries affected by the deadly virus had become more expensive.

It observed that some African farmers cannot reach their fields and imported food is unlikely to arrive as often.

Expert canvasses food crime unit

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to set up a food crime unit to fight fraud and crimes in the industry.

Prof Tola Atinmo, who made the suggestion, said there was need to make safety assurance system robust to boost food integrity and safety.

One way to achieve this is by establishing the unit to enforce laws against food fraud and collaborate with government agencies to analyse intelligence, initiate investigations and liaise with other regulatory enforcement agencies.

The unit, according to him, should be constituted by experts from the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC),academia and stakeholders.

Atinmo said the unit should focus on building intelligence and evidence picture of risks,nature of

food fraud and food crime across the country and work with other partners to access intelligence networks shared by law enforcement agencies at a national, and local level.

Atinmo urged the government to empower the unit to manage the national repository of food fraud information and identify future risks to consumers and the food industry.

He observed that the system for safeguarding food safety and public health were not robust enough and consumers still don’t have access to safest food.

This, he added, called for strengthening of the food audit and assurance regimes to remove duplication and prevent food fraud.

As much as possible, the don maintained that the country needs to establish a network of food analytical laboratories capable of testing consistently for food authenticity.

•Young agroentrepreneurs processing garri in Lagos.

He called for measures to ensure better intelligence sharing between the food industry and government about potential threats to food integrity.

In setting up a new intelligence hub, he said NAFDAC should develop its databases based on principles used by the police and other enforcement agencies for analysis of intelligence.

He urged NAFDAC to work with food businesses to help them develop and establish mechanisms for better gathering and sharing of sensitive information about potential and actual food fraud.

NAFDAC, he advised, should put in place mechanisms to receive such information in an anonymised format and to facilitate sharing and analysis of potentially sensitive information on a routine basis between industry and government.

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

40

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

Shareholders’ positive take on Guinness playbook

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HARE price of Nigeria’s second largest brewer traced an upward trajectory despite eroding bottom line to underscore investor confidence in the 64-year-old brewer revered for the signature brand Guinness Stout.

On a day the local unit of London based Diageo announced missing profit expectations with net income falling to N9.57 billion ($48.3 million) in the nine months through March, compared with N11.86 billion a year earlier, its share price stayed rooted on N180 at 12:03 p.m. in Lagos trading. The stock made further gains the day after, opening at N180.50.

Thus despite missing profit target for the year, investors are rallying behind the company conscious of the company’s ability to wring long term value for shareholders.

A leading shareholder organisation’s leader says the reason are not farfetched as they are looking at the company’s trajectory in the long run while noting that the fourth quarter performance is better than previous quarters.

He highlighted the Brewers consistency in dividend pay-out as a strong reason for their clinging on the stock despite the company halving payouts to N3.2 from N7.

“Shareholders are pleased,” says Boniface Okezie who is President of the Progressive Shareholders Association.

This is “because it (dividend payment) ranks GN among the companies with consistent dividend payout,” growth rate analysts put at 3.13 per cent in the last five years.

“There is also renewed optimism amongst shareholders as they notice that the strongest showing of the company came in the last quarter of the year under review.” This Okezie attributes to ‘the company’s aggressive marketing strategies that have seen it introduce new brands and rev up advertisement spend in the bid to win more market share.

“We must commend the efforts of the management of the company for turning around the

By Alvin Afadama

financial fortunes of the company under very difficult economic conditions,” he said.

The payout, analyst Exotix Frontier Equities, says “is positive for the business as it can reserve cash and reduce the need for additional debt financing”.

Although the analyst projected that “the market will likely respond negatively due to the sensitivity of shareholders to the annual dividend”, the overwhelming shareholder optimism indicates the contrary.

Technical Analysis With a beta of 0.5863 (according to the Financial Times),which indicates that the stock is less likely to swing with market vagaries; and a solid historical performance, the stock remains a darling of Portfolio managers and Brokers who cling to it in their managed portfolios.

The stock has experienced significant pullback since last July when the stock had a Relative Stock Index (RSI) of over 70 (when the stock was overvalued) ebbing now (September 5) at 35.48 indicating that it is a candidate for a ‘hold’ recommendation. It is also a short hand way of saying ‘don’t sell!’

After last year’s results were unfolded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), an analyst was quoted as saying, “For those seeking to invest now, the stock represents a hedging opportunity in a market that has witnessed volatility amidst feeble fundamentals”.

This prognosis remains relevant into the foreseeable future.

Fundamentals In the year under review gross revenue took a few steps backward from N122.46 billion to N109.202 billion on the back of eroding consumer demand and value corroding inflation. The effect was a less than impressive showing in the consumer sector of the economy. The Brewing industry was badly hit in the

inevitable descent down the plateau of sagging profits.

Analyst say, the southward ride is “is systematic to the brewing industry this financial year as consumers suffer a contraction in disposable income.” Much of the contraction was also traceable to increased competition within the industry as new entrants gnawed at the available but inelastic pie.

Despite the manufacturers of Malta Guinness effectively taming cost of sales Gross Profit slipped in the period. Cost of sales or the amount spent to sell the company’s products was controlled to N51.33 billion from N56 billion, a 12 percent improvement. This helped minimise the fall of Gross profit by only 8.7 percent to N51.33 billion from N56.08 billion.

Operating costs proved a little too hot to handle in the period doing a disservice to operating profit which ebbed 23 per cent from N20.93 billion to N16.12 billion.

Bottom line figures of pre-tax and net profits inevitable travelled in the wrong direction with the heavy weight of cascading operating returns and the haemorrhage occasioned by unwieldy financial costs though the costs remained near constant for 2014 as in 2013.

Debts incurred in previous years conspired to erode profits as their effects emerged in servicing costs of roughly N4billion every year in interest cost (capitalized or not). This will have a deleterious effect on earnings per share.

Pre-tax profits swooned 31 percent to N11.68 billion from N17 billion while net profit followed with a 59 percent slump from N11.86 billion to N9.57 billion.

All trading margins besides the gross profit margins show a company managing efficiency.

Gross profit margin at 47 per cent was two steps better than the 45 percent achieved earlier but operating profit margin, a strong indicator of effective cost management shrank to 14.7

percent from 17.1 percent.

For gross returns, it means for every naira earned, gross profits make up 47 kobo compared to the earlier year when 45 kobo was made from every naira.

The figures also suggests that for every naira in revenue, operating profit makes up 14.7 kobo compared to 17.1 kobo achieved in the previous year.

Pre-tax margin was 10.7 percent which is lower than the previous year’s showing of 13.9 percent.

Net profit margin didn’t veer too far from the previous year’s performance ending at 8.8 percent compared to 9.7 percent made in the 2013 financial year.

Despite its challenges and not very savoury results of the company, analysts tip the Brewer for ratcheted profits in the near future provided it would take advantage of its formidable assets across the country and scale up marketing strategies.

Management’s take Management of Guinness Nigeria plc is optimistic of the prospect of the company despite the performance in the last financial year.

Much of the optimism is coming from the fact that analysts estimate the Nigerian beer market to be worth over $2.7 billion with projected average annual growth of 23.45 per cent between 2011 and this year.

In a release on the floor of the Nigerian Bourse, Guinness management reiterated its confidence in the maker of the drink bearing the signature of Sir Arthur Guinness describing the business as ‘resilient’.

“We are confident that our strategy which is focused on improving our route to consumer, maximising value creation from our core brands and innovation and finance cost reduction will improve both top and bottom line performance in the current financial year.

“The Board is confident that we have the right brands, people and structure to win in Nigeria.”

• Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria, Seni Adetu

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Seni Adetu believes that winning the future boils down to “the various innovations we have launched in recent times especially Orijin Bitters and Orijin Ready to Drink (RTD) have been quite successful, and we expect to further dial up our play in the value segment with Satzenbrau and Dubic Lager.”

He notes that the company’s nascent products including Orijin Bitters, Snapp, Satzenbrau, Dubic and Orijin RTD were still growing, heralding a big boost for Guinness Nigeria’s future performance.

Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Babatunde Savage capsuled the company’s future on its people and capabilities. “The Board of Guinness Nigeria is confident that we have the right people and capability to guarantee the delivery of our strategic priorities of driving out cost to invest in growth, turning the business around by strengthening and accelerating our premium core brands, innovating at scale to meet new consumer needs, and extension of our route-to-consumer advantage,” he said.

How all of this play out would be the exciting drama that would animate the Brewery industry in 2015, especially with the competition posed by imported wine and spirits.

BoI’s Olagunju gets Corporate Ambassador Award

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R Waheed Olagunju, the Bank of Industry’s (BoI’s) Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, has been conferred with the award of Corporate Ambassador at the Nigeria Arise Awards organised by BEN Television of London. Olagunju was honoured for his services to the corporate world, especially his selfless and dedicated service to the BoI ince its inception in 2001 that has enabled the bank make considerable impact on Nigeria’s industrial development.

The organisers specifically noted the central role that Olagunju played in the successful New World Nigeria International Campaign that was one of the business and cultural side events of the 2012 London Olympics the high point of which was the High Level Business and Investment Summit on Nigeria that took place at the Dorchester.

According to the award citation, Olagunju who joined BoI’s precursor institution the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) in 1990 as a Senior Manager rose to Executive Director (Business Development) in 2012.

He acted as Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the bank between April 11 and May 16, this

• Olagunju (left) receiving his award from former Governor, Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.

year and was reassigned as the Executive Director (Small and Medium Enterprises) under the bank’s management team led by Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, BoI’s new Managing Director and Chief Executive

to whom the organisers sent their warmest congratulations.

Prior to Olagunju’s appointment as the bank’s director, in 2012, he served as the Company Secretary of NIDB/BOI for 15 years (1997 –

2012) and as General Manager, Strategic Planning and Corporate Communications between 2007 and 2012. In those capacities, he was one of the architects and strong drivers of BoI’s outstanding turnaround and transformation into one of Africa’s best Development Finance Institutions (DFI).

During his involvement with the reconstruction of NIDB into BOI (2000-2001) and the consolidation of the mandates of NIDB, the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry (NBCI) and the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) into BoI, Olagunju worked closely with Messrs KPMG, the consultancy firm that was engaged to handle the exercise and the leadership of the then Federal Ministry of Industry.

In the early years of BoI, Olagunju coordinated the diagnostic study of the bank that was undertaken between 2004 and 2005 by the Swedish consultants (Messrs Swedish Development Advisers) who were appointed by the African Development Bank that managed the grant from the Swedish government for the exercise.

Thanking the organisers of the Nigeria Arise Awards for the

honour Olagunju dedicated the award to his colleagues at the bank.

According to him, he was part of a formidable team that worked in concert to build one of Africa’s best development finance institutions despite daunting challenges. He expressed his gratitude to the bank’s successive Managements and Board over the past 24 years for giving him the opportunity to realise his potential.

The Nigeria Arise Award was initiated by BEN Television of London to honour Nigerians at home and abroad who have excelled in their various fields of endeavours as well as friends of Nigeria and organisations that have made positive impact on Nigerians and also outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s development.

Governors Godswill Akpabio, Ibikunle Amosun and Ramalan Yero of Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Kaduna states were also honoured at this year’s centenary edition which is the fourth.

Other recipients included Pastor Tunde Bakare and Dr Nazir Ahmed, an educationist, who has produced more than 100 high grade Nigerian students from his schools in the United Kingdom.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

43

SHOWBIZ

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EMEMBER Richard Kiel; the bad guy with the teeth of steel in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker in the popular James Bond series? He is dead!

The 7-foot-2 actor, who played Jaws in the Bond films, died Wednesday. He was 74.

Kiel reportedly broke his leg last week and died days after at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California.

Apart from Kiel’s signature character in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979), the actor also played an alien in the famed 1962 Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man, a hitman in the Gene Wilder-Richard Pryor comedy Silver Streak (1976) and Adam Sandler’s boss in the classic golf comedy Happy Gilmore (1996).

The Bond character of Jaws was inspired by author Ian Fleming’s description of a crook who went by the name of Horror and had steel-capped teeth in the 1962 novel The Spy Who Loved Me. In the Spy Who Loved Me film which was released two years after Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, Kiel’s invincible giant battles a shark in a shark tank, has a construction scaffold collapse on him and drives a

James Bond villain dies at 74

car off a cliff into someone’s roof — and lives to tell about it, of course. For Moonraker, Jaws survives a fall from an airplane and a high-speed tramway crash. Both Bond films starred Roger Moore as 007.

“I had convinced the producer that Jaws should have some characteristics that were human to counteract the steel teeth. I guess I overdid it — I became too likable to kill off!” he said in a 2009 interview. “So they brought me back, and Moonraker was the most successful box office success for the Bond se-

ries for a long, long time.”

According to a special-edition DVD of The Spy Who Loved Me, Jaws’ chrome teeth were extremely uncomfortable and could only be worn for about 35 seconds at a time.

Kiel also appeared with his famous choppers alongside Harold Sakata as Oddjob during the Academy Awards in 1982 as Sheena Easton was performing her Oscar-nominated Bond song For Your Eyes Only, and he was a “Famous Big Guy With Silver Teeth” in the live-action feature Inspector Gadget

(1999).

Kiel worked as a nightclub bouncer and cemetery plot salesman before landing his first acting gig as a character called Bare Knuckles in the NBC series Klondike.

He was later spotted in the films The Nutty Professor (1963), The Longest Yard (1974) with Burt Reynolds, Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Cannonball Run II (1984), Pale Rider (1985) with Clint Eastwood and Think Big (1989), and he most recently had a voice role in Tangled (2010).

•Source: THR

MTV EMAs 2014: Davido gets Best African Act nomination •Tiwa Savage may join list

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OR sensational singer, David Adeleke, aka Davido, who appears to have won every award he was nominated for this year, another

trophy beckons.

The Omo Baba Olowo crooner has just been nominated for the Best African Act category of the MTV European Music Awards.

Davido made the first set of four nominees alongside artistes like Goldfish (South Africa), Diamond (Tanzania) and Toofan (Togo).

There is just one more artiste to complete the list, and this is expected to come through a wild card. And for the first time, MTV is putting an EMA nomination in the

hands of the fans via social media, so that music lovers everywhere will have the power to help select the fifth nominee for the Best African Act. Fans are expected to vote from the list of artistes selected to earn the fifth nominee spot by tweets, using the hashtag #MTVEMA plus the relevant hashtag for their favourite artiste.

The list includes Anselmo Ralph (#Nominate Anselmo Ralph), Gangs of Ballet (#NominateGangsOfBallet), Mafikizolo (#Nominate Mafikizolo), Sarkodie (#NominateSarkodie), Sauti Sol (#NominateSautiSol) and Tiwa Savage (#Nomi-

nate TiwaSavage).

Organisers say the wild card Twitter vote is open until September 14, at 11:59 CAT. All 2014 MTV EMA nominees will be announced and voting will open on September 16.

Introduced five years ago, artistes who have won the Best African Act category include, 2face (2005), Freshlyground (2006), D’Banj (2007 and 2012) and LCNVL (2013).

The glamorous event will take place at the Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, and will broadcast on MTV channels around the world including MTV Base on Sunday November 9.

Entertainers converge for Beat FM’s anniversary

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T was a gathering of big shots in the Nigerian entertainment industry, as Industry Nite, the notable weekly showbiz networking event, hosted urban and lifestyle radio station, Beat 99.9 FM, which marked its 5th anniversary on Wednesday.

The carnival-like event, which took place at Spice Route, Victoria Island, was graced by socialites, celebrity artistes, business executives, top media personalities and fans alike, who came out in their numbers to celebrate with the radio station.

The event kicked off with music from Deejays such as Dj Spinall, Dj Caise and Dj Snatch who took turns to thrill guests, complimenting over 20 artistes who performed at the event.

Some of the artistes at the event are Psquare, Wande Coal, Patoranking, Olamide, Saeon, Harrysongz, Black

Magic, Skales, Jaywon, Tekno, Blink and Shaydee.

Encomiums also poured in for the radio station, which in the estimation of the guests, has supported the music indus-

try in the last five years.

“In barely five years they have come to be a household name in the broadcasting business and surpassed expectations, so I commend

and encourage them to keep the flag flying as this is just the beginning of new things to come,” said music producer, TY Mix. For Wande Coal, the show also served as a rare rendezvous for his colleagues. He said: “I came out here to simply show my support to the Beat FM and also party with some of my colleagues whom I have not seen in a while.”

Interestingly, the event also afforded fans of the radio station the opportunity to mingle with some of the presenters and celebrities in attendance.

Other entertainers at the show are Lynxxx, Latasha Ngwube, Iyanya, Dj Neptune, Show Dem Camp, Olu Maintain, Uti Nwachukwu, Sound Sultan,Vector, General Pype, Capital Femi, Bracket, Dammy Krane, Loose Kaynon, Skuki, Ketchup, Samklef and Emma Nyra.

Author launches Nollywood manual in London EADING repertory cinema in the UK, the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank, will play host to the launch of Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood, a reference manual about Nigeria’s dynamic film industry.

Authored by Nadia Denton, a notable film festival programmer, the guide, which is said to predict the future of Nollywood, features extensive testimony from leading lights in the Nigerian film industry, and will be launched on Saturday, September 20.

To mark the release of the book, Denton said BFI Southbank will be screening a selection of compelling Nigerian films from Saturday, September 20 to Sunday, September 21.

The weekend will form part of African Odysseys, the BFI Southbank’s monthly focus on film by and about people of African descent.

Denton, will, during the event be discussing her latest work with guests from Nigeria, such as Chris Obi–Rapu, director of the famous Living in Bondage and Dr. Ladi Sandra Adamu, Associate Professor of Mass Communications from Ahmadu Bello University, who is also an authority on Hausa filmmaking and cultural representation.

Some of the films that will be screened at the event include; B for Boy, directed by Chika Anadu, Mother of George, directed

by Andrew Dosunmu, Nigeria Through a Lens, a selection of engaging documentaries including George Osodi: Kings of Nigeria, di-

L

rected by Katharina von Schroeder; Emeka Okereke: Invisible Borders, directed by May Abdalla and JD ‘Okhai Ojeikere: Master Photographer, directed by Tam Fiofori and Joel Benson.

Nigeria-based documentary filmmaker, Joel Benson will also be discussing his codirected work J.D. Okhai Ojeikere: Master Photographer on Sunday 21st Sept 2014.

“The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success charts the emergence of a new wave of Nigerian audio-visual content - spanning indie films, documentary, animation, experimental, music videos and Diaspora films. It features 78 exclusive interviews with Nigerian filmmakers and industry professionals, offering advice in the key areas of finance, development, marketing, exhibition and distribution from a Nigerian cultural perspective,” said Denton.

According to her, the 450page, full colour guide, is being sponsored by Arik Air and supported by the BFI Southbank, Royal African Society, and partnered by Asilia and Lights, Camera, Africa.

Seyi Shay Shay maintains maintains Seyi lead on Naija Top 10 lead on

Money), with second and third position respectively.

New entries for the week include Ice Prince with N Word ft AKA, Olamide with Story For The Gods and the Mavins with Dorobucci.

As usual, there was an entertaining side to the revelation of this chart, as studio guest, Waje, who shared her personal views on this week’s chart, also gave hilarious freestyles in Igbo language.

Waje, who hosted the show alongside MTV VJ, Ehiz, simply proved that there is more to her talent apart from her powerful voice.

I

RAWO diva, Seyi Shay, has maintained number one spot on MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 for the second week running. The singer’s feat is courtesy of her hit video, Murda, featuring Patoranking and Shaydee.

Coming next to Seyi Shay is Burna Boy (Don Gor Gon) and Wizkid (Show U D

Amstel Malta Showtime audition berths in Lagos

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HE final leg of Amstel Malta Showtime Season 3, which kicked off in Enugu last month, will commence this weekend, in Lagos.

The groundbreaking concert drama tagged The Rush, directed by celebrated art director, Ice Nweke, will feature five talents, who will emerge from the exercise, in the final contest, scheduled to hold at the Unilag Arts Theatre on September 14 and 15.

The show accommodates talents ranging from music, acting and comedy among

others, and will give contestants the chance to feature alongside renowned Nigerian entertainers such as Sound Sultan, Phyno, Gordons, Ice Nweke and Ukalina.

The Lagos event will hold at the Unilag Indoor Sports Hall on Thursday, September 18.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

45

FRIDAY SEPTEM BER 12, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Relations and associates of the former governor of Ondo State, the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, will converge on the International Conference Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, today for the first anniversary of the demise of the former university don and astute administrator. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reflects on the life and time of the foremost politician.

Agagu: A painful exit... then, a disaster H

IS death was even shocking to his foes on the slippery political field. When news of his passage was broken, political differences disappeared. Relations, friends and foes were united in grief. All had nice things to say about Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, geologist, former university don, Third Republic deputy governor of old Ondo State, former Minister of Aviation, and later, Power and Steel, governor of Ondo State and acclaimed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader.

Tributes poured in torrents. Old school mates, former colleagues at the University of Ibadan where he taught for years, board room gurus in oil industry, and political associates extolled the virtues of an unusual politician. “He was a honest adviser, a dependable associate, a confidant, a hardworking colleague, a sober and peace-loving politician, an indomitable leader and loyal follower, a lover of his community and a selfless and committed worker in the political vineyard,” said former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Paying tribute, Vice President Namadi Sambo said Agagu was a vibrant politician whose exemplary life and loyalty will be greatly missed in the PDP and the country. Echoing him, Senate President David Mark described the deceased as “a quintessential administrator who was prudent in the management of public resources.” Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko alluded to his intellectual brilliance, capacity for hard work, multi-disciplinary talent, disarming social grace, endearing wit and knack for instant name recall. “I bid farewell to an erudite academic, a worthy political flag bearer of Ikaleland, a great son of Ondo State, a prominent state and national leader, and above all, the immediate past governor of the Sunshine State,” he added.

But, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, spoke on the legacies of the politician. “He left many indelible marks on the sands of time, which will continue to speak for him. If anything, his unique style of live and let live politics, the Olokola Deep Sea Port, which he started during his administration as governor, his large heartedness and deep love for the state will continue to speak for him,” he stressed.

Agagu exemplified two virtues. He was incorruptible. Also, he was not a political oppressor. As governor, he promoted transparency and accountability in governance. He was prudent. When he left office, he walked freely on the streets without being threatened by arrest and prosecution by anti-graft agencies.

In his life time, he was at peace with his neighbour. Either as a teacher or oil worker, he was very accommodating and a good mixer. Even, as a politician, many have testified that he was not desperate for power. In

1999, he was defeated at the governorship election in Ondo State. When the result was announced by the electoral commission, he congratulated the winner, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, who he later succeeded as governor.

Agagu had borne the vicissitudes of political life with a mixture of shock and philosophical calmness. Since he was comfortable, he did not perceive politics as an avenue for primitive accumulation. Agagu was an accomplished Nigerian before he entered politics. He was full of life. Indeed, he enjoyed life to the fullest as a social guru and political gladiator. Yet, he was not reckless in socio-political dealings. In and out of power, he was on the service lane. The PDP had just enlisted his service as a reconciliator before answered the final call. Although he had hoped to live beyond 65, fate decided otherwise. Death, as it is said, is inevitable.

But, the good man never bargained for any funeral turmoil and crisis, having led a good life and made great contribution to socio-economic development. Little did his family, associates, and friends think that another agony will herald his final journey home. A year ago, the Agagu family had to endure multiple tragedies. The plane convening his body to Akure, the capital of Ondo State, for a state burial, came down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

The chief undertaker, Tunji Okunsanya and his son, Commissioner Deji Falae and few people on board lost their lives. Ironically, those saddled with his burial arrangements died before the ceremony.

It was a sad day in Iju-Odo, Agagu’s home town. Family members were enraged. There was a rush of emotion. People were raising puzzles: What was the condition of the aircraft? What actually went wrong? The dead had no business with these questions. But, for the living, they were burdensome.

The death of former Ondo State governor created vacuum on many fronts. Agagu was an esteemed community leader in Ikaleland. He was a homeboy. As minister, he tried to resolve the electricity problem in the Ikale/Ilaje axis. The people of the area will also continue to treasure him for the university he established in the South zone. In fact, when he left the Alagbaka Government House, Agagu had narrowed down his political pursuits. Sources said he had expressed the desire to serve as an ambassador in one of the Caribbean countries before retiring to his IjuOdo. In the Ondo State PDP, he was the undisputed leader.

In 1999, his colleagues in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) were shocked when he pitched his tent with the conservative bloc. He had justified the shift in allegiance, saying that the Yoruba could not afford to be in the opposition at all times. In fact, he maintained his links with his progressive associates, despite their political differences. In that Third Republic, his

analytical prowess and sheer brilliance did not go unnoticed in the SDP caucuses. He was loyal to his boss, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua.

Agagu was a Geology teacher at the University of Ibadan in the ‘70s. He was a mentor and role model. He was famous for his numerous geological surveys. In the lecture theatre, he was a cosmopolitan tutor. When he moved into the oil industry, he emerged as power broker in the sector. The technocrat made money and he used it judiciously.

Agagu’s first contact with politics was in the Second Republic. He was fascinated by the men of the old order under the leadership of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He was one of the young stars who assisted Governor Adekunle Ajasin’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) with his expertise in statistics and information technology.

Their efforts assisted the party in detecting the pattern of rigging by the desperate National Party of Nigeria (NPN). In his memoir, Ajasin pointed out this modest contribution.

For ethnic balancing, Agagu emerged as Olumilua’s running mate.

They defeated the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, Chief Ayo Ogunlade, who was the Federal Commissioner for Information, at the governorship poll. Mimiko was the Commissioner for Health in that administration, which was shortlived. If the slot had been zoned outside Ekiti, Agagu would have been a leading governorship contender. But, since Ekiti has been on the queue for the governorship, the SDP gave its ticket to Olumilua, who defeated other Ekiti aspirants at the primaries. In 1983, when Olumilua lost the senatorial poll to Senator Lawrence Agunbiade, eyes have been on him.

Thus, during the SDP primaries conducted by the party chairman, Hon. Blessing Kayode, Pa Ajasin mobilised the progressive family and the new breed actors to swing the pendulum of victory towards his direction. Other aspirants included Dr. Kunle Olajide, Chief Ayo Akinyemi, Prof. Opeyemi Ola, and Senator David Oke. Between 1999 and last year, Agagu was politically visible. The year 2003 was the turning point.The 2003 poll was keenly contested. Ahead of the election, crisis had seized the panYoruba socio-political group, Afenifere. The group was losing its grip on the party it formed, the Alliance for Democracy (AD). A group of aggrieved AD chieftains led by Mimiko had defected to the PDP, following the protracted crisis. The tradition in Afenifere/AD favoured the distribution of political slots, based on seniority and record of contributions to the political family. But, the young men in the fold were in a hurry. Therefore, they collaborated with Agagu to defeat Adefarati. Since then, attention has been on Mimiko as the man of the future.

In 2007, Mimiko, who served as the Secretary to Government under Agagu, and later, the Minister of Hous-

• The late Dr. Agagu

‘Agagu exemplified two virtues. He was incorruptible. Also, he was not a political oppressor. As governor, he promoted transparency and accountability in governance.

He was prudent. When he left office, he walked freely on the streets without being threatened by arrest and prosecution by anti-graft agencies’ ing, defected to the Labour Party (LP).

The former governor could not prevent the split. In particular, he could not manage the irrepressible actor, Mimiko.The propaganda against Agagu worked. The former governor, who had become a victim of media war, was misunderstood by party chieftains, who wanted stomach infrastructure. Agagu was defeated at the poll by his former collaborator, the shrewd politician from Ondo Kingdom, who party faithful had nicknamed ‘Iroko’. Although the electoral commission rigged the election for the PDP, progressives forces in the Southwest assisted Mimiko in retrieving his stolen mandate.

The Ikale born politician never anticipated the turn of events. He was optimistic throughout the protracted governorship litigation. But, when the court deposed him, he accepted his fate.

He was literarily chased out of the Government House. But, he bore the tragedy with equanimity and understanding of the indisputable reality that power was transient. As Mimiko was being sworn in as his successor, he headed for the church for a thanksgiving.

Agagu never bounced back, although he was held in high esteem by PDP chieftains who were loyal to him.

If he had remained as the governor till 2007, he would have emerged as a more powerful force in the PDP and an ally of his former colleague, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. However, he did not retire from politics.

For him, hope was an elixir of life. He contested for the Senate in 2011, but he was defeated by the LP politician,

Kunlere, his former disciple. Initially, one of his boys, Eddy Olafeso, insisted that he would contest against him at the primaries. For Agagu, the senatorial race was not a do-or-die affair.

Despite the electoral misfortune, his leadership position in the Ondo PDP did not diminish. President Goodluck Jonathan has respect for the political warhorse. Thus, the PDP national leadership appointed him into the new reconciliation committee to resolve the protracted crises. Many chieftains in Ondo State looked up to him as a father figure and rallying point, who could wield the caucuses together.

With his demise, the troubled chapter was bereaved. Nobody has stepped into his shoes. As a governor, he was an asset to the political family. As an ex-governor, he was neither a liability nor a loafer. Agagu took solace in the fact that he had tried his best, although political self-actualisation was an elusive goal. Being a contented fellow, he engaged in sober reflection without boxing himself into emotional wrenching.

The import of Agagu’s absence is not lost on the Ondo PDP. In postAgagu period, Mimiko is returning to the fold. The governor had intimate political relationship with many PDP leaders before he defected to the LP. If Agagu were alive, would he have embraced Mimiko’s decision to return? Would he have defected to the APC? Would he have welcomed reconciliation? Would the duo have healed old wounds?

With Agagu’s death, a chapter had closed in the history of Ondo State.

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THE NATION FRIDAY SEPTEM BER 12, 2014

POLITICS

Anyanya, retired major, declares for Rivers governorship

T

HE battle for the Rivers State governorship ticket in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education, and Lancelot Anyanya, the Chairman of National Oilspill Detection and Response Agency.

Wike, fondly called “my husband’s younger brother” by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is a lawyer.

Anyanya, who has been described as “one of Dame’s sons”, is a historian, retired major and security expert.

Wike is from Ikwere/Upland area.

Anyanya is from Ataba, Andoni Council in riverrine area. There is a fierce battle between the two divides for the ticket in the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC). ProWike forces are campaigning, based on the concept of “one Rivers State”.

But, the riverrine people are raising an objection, saying that they have not enjoyed the slot since 1999. Apparently aligning with the agitation of his kinsmen for power shift, Anyanya said the clamour is valid.

In a breath, he said he did not to be an ethnic egoist. He said: “Rivers has competent people across the two divides”. But, in another dimension, he added that it will be hypocritical, if stakeholders do not appreciate the template for leadership recruitment in Rivers as dictated by the upland/ riverrine dicotomy.

The Minister of State has served as a council boss and Chief of Staff before his current assignment. During that time, Anyanya was busy defending the territorial integrity of the country as a soldier before he voluntarily retired in 2007. He said: “I have planned. I am coming from somewhere. I have been serving the people.”

At a rally in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, Wike boasted that he had the backing of the PDP structure as the arrowhead of the chapter. He also said that he would defeat other aspirants, including the retired soldier at the primaries. Last week, Anyanya replied that only God can predict the future. “Let’s wait and see. I have the people. He will be shocked when he is defeated,” he said.

The big wigs who seem to be backing Wike are known. He is at the centre of the controversy triggered by the Jonathan/Amaechi faceoff. In this big fight, which is fuelled by ego, Anyanya, who is also backing President Goodluck Jonathan against Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is not a hero. Many have said that the Commander-In-Chief may not abandon the minister for the board chairman. But, Anyanya said he is relying on God and the masses. “I have never failed before. During my

• Anyanya

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

preparation for the Nigerian Defence Academy, it was a miracle how I made the list of candidates for the interview and how I was later admitted. In our final examinations, I was among the top 10. In my university, I led my department, without being immodest,” said the retired Major, who obtained a masters degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

Unfolding his ambition in Lagos, he said he was on a rescue mission for another level of service. Rivers State is significant. It was one of the

‘The number of aspirants adds to the vibrancy of the party. The motivation for jostling for power is importan.

Anybody who is in the race for selfish reason, and not for service, is foolish’

states created at the onset of the civil war. It is a state with a lot of economic infrastructure. It is critical to the economy of Nigeria. That is why it should be properly managed,” he said.

Anyanya is bracing up for the battle ahead. The primaries may not be a walk over for any contender. But, he said the presence of many aspirants is a blessing for the PDP. “The number of aspirants adds to the vibrancy of the party,” he said. But, he also argued that the motivation for jostling for power is important, adding that “anybody who is in the race for selfish reason, and not for service, is foolish.”

Stressing that he is inspired by the God-given desire to make a difference, he said: “I am not worried by people running with me. My goal is to get the prize. If I emerge as the candidate, many people will come back to the PDP.” Anyanya said he is not happy with the PDP situation in Rivers. He vented his anger on Amaechi, who he berated for decimating the party.

Although he tactically avoided discussing the circumstances that led to the governor’s defection to the APC, he said the governor was chasing shadows. But, the aspirant praised the President and urged Nigerians to support him. He said Dr. Jonathan is not responsible for the insecurity in the country.

Anyanya observed that Boko Haram’s recruits came from an army of unemployed youths facing a perilous future. He also observed that the insurgency is boosted by its clear ideological leaning, making sect members to develop a principle of mission and commitment to that inexplicable ideological indoctrination. Urging Nigerians to support him for a second term, he said: “It is like Nigeria is fighting a war and wartime Presidents are often given the chance to focus on present challenges without distraction and hindrance.”

In his view, the lack of military capacity for curtailing the insurgency by the sect underscored the lack of investment in military industrial establishment and weaponry. “It is a validation of the reality that the worst victim of the military rule is the military,” he added.

Urging Nigerians to cooperate with the government in its bid to end the insurgency, the security expert said the unconstructive criticism of military operations against the sect may have undermined the morale of soldiers facing the heat on the battle field. “Only a non-partisan approach has aided countries with superior military complex to deal with the evil of insurgency,” Anyanya added.

Dabiri urges youths to save Nigeria

By Musa Odoshimokhe

• Mrs Dabiri-Arewa

H

OUSE of Representatives member Hon. Abike Dabiri-Arewa has charged Nigerian youths to salvage the country from disintegration.

Addressing reporters at the grand reception in honour of the FIFA 2014

Women Under 20 World Cup Most Valuable Player, Azeezat Oshoala, in Ikorodu, she said the youths have the potentials to move the country forward.

She said : “The younger ones should stop saying they are leaders of tomorrow. I must say they are leaders of today. They have to rise up to the occasion to save the country.

“The youths believe that the salvation of the country can only come later when they would take over from the present leaders, but I must say that impression is wrong. The future is in what we do today.”

The lawmaker explained that the country cannot overcome its present challenges without the youth’s involvement in its socio-political development.

She said the performance of Oshoala at the youth women football tournament is a testimony that Nigerians were creative, noting that it was im-

perative to deploy the skills to rescue the country from its economic predicament.

She said: “Today, there is deficit in leadership, security is out of place and there are many other problems facing the country. The situation calls for youth involvement in addressing the ills facing the country.”

Dabiri-Arewa said the youths have been relegated for long, stressing that if the situation is not changed it would get out of hand.

Also speaking, Oshoala said her performance at the tournament was due to her commitment and dedication to the game. She urged government to create the enabling ground for youths development.

She thanked the lawmaker for organising the warm reception in her honour. Oshoala said: “I am proud of Ikorodu, Lagos State and Nigeria. I will continue to make myself available for the country and hopefully to wine more laurel for the country.”

Mr. Mubashiru Hassan is the Permanent Secretary/Auditor-General for Local Governments in Lagos State. Hassan spoke on the administration and finance of the third tier. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN met him.

‘How Lagos councils work’

W

HAT is your assessment of the performance of local governments in Lagos?

In my view, Local governments in Lagos State are working, if we base their performance on their allocations from the federation account. What the public reads on the pages of newspapers is just the gross allocation from the federation account. By the time it gets to the local government, there would have been so many deductions. For instance, in 2013, the local councils in the state spent over N41 billion on workers’ salaries including teachers and local government staff. After that, we still deducted training fund for local government, which is resident with Local Government’s Service Commission. We deducted pensions for teachers, staff of local governments and employers’ contribution to pension; old scheme and new scheme. Now, what remains after these mandatory deductions is very small. If you compare what they are doing with what they receive from federation account, you will acknowledge that sincerely local governments are trying within the resources at their disposal.

But one would expect the state government to assist the councils …

Both the state and Local Governments collaborate because when it comes to social responsibility it will be difficult for local governments to do it alone. What the state government does is to encourage them to contribute into a pool meant to provide essential services to the public. If there is any shortfall, the state government would come in to assist. In terms of road construction and rehabilitation, the state government does that on behalf of the councils. If we don’t pool resources together it will be difficult for a tier of government to impact on the lives of the citizens.

Is it true that council chairmen are corrupt?

There is no office holder in Nigeria today that is not accused of corruption. Even if you were a billionaire before assuming office, the moment you get there, you are seen as corrupt. So, it depends on the definition of corruption. The moment you get into public office, everybody believes it’s your turn to have a share of the national cake. Whether you dip your hands into public treasury or not, everybody assumes that you are corrupt. By virtue of certain offices, the holders are entitled to certain perks such as official accommodation, vehicle and running cost on behalf of the government. Also, government has a policy that a public officer can go with whatever they are enjoying at subsided rates to minimize corruption. That is to sustain you as if you are still in office.

What is your view on the controversial State-Local Governments Joint Account?

The constitution is clear on this issue. When the allocations come from the Federation Account, it goes into that account. From there, it is distributed to all local governments. You called it controversial because as an outsider, you don’t know the workings of the account. When the gross comes into the account, the statutory deductions are made. If you don’t pay the teachers, local government workers and provide amenities, there will be crisis everywhere. What gets to the local governments at the end of the day is so meagre, that if the council chairman delays payment of salaries, and it accumulates over time; then he is inviting trouble. That is what I understand to be function of the joint account. The deductions are statutory. Some state governments tamper with that account. I know that in Lagos there is sanity in the operation of that account. All deductions are statutory and the table is everywhere for everybody to see. It is in public domain; everybody can assess what the state government is deducting or not deducting. And there is a rule. No deduction shall be effected from the allocation of local governments unless on the resolution of council chairmen. If the chairmen say no, deduction fails.

How does your office check corruption in the system?

We go out quarterly for inspection; on a quarterly basis we issue our reports. Every quarter, we send our reports to the House of Assembly and the Public Accounts Committee of the House examines them and pass resolutions on them.

Auditing the accounts of 20 councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) must have been challenging …

There is no job without challenges. We sat down and designed a strategy that on quarterly basis, we would be going round and issue our reports. In terms of mobility, the state government has been very supportive. We were giving four buses. We go as far as Epe, Badagry. We saw gaps in the way assignments were being carried out on the field.

Subsequently, we organised training for staff. We also encourage them to go for professional examinations. Some do professional examinations. For those already qualified, what they need is capacity building in the areas they need0 to be trained and they attend training locally and internationally.

Don’t you think the councils are lazy, in terms of revenue generation?

I don’t believe they are lazy because if they are, they will not be able to execute programmes in their local government areas. It is the revenue generated internally that they use in supporting what comes to them from the JAC account. If you look at their records, you will see that councils in Lagos are trying. I can con• Hassan firm that.

47

THE NATION FRIDAY SEPTEM BER 12, 2014

POLITICS Prominent businessman and former National President of Alumni Association of the National Institute Alhaji Jani Ibrahim is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara State. He spoke with ADEKUNLE JIMOH in Ilorin, the state capital, on his ambition, zoning and chances of the PDP at the polls.

Jani: Power should shift to Kwara South

• Ibrahim

W

HY do you want to become the governor of Kwara State?

I see a state with abundant potentials that have not been fully utilised. People say the state is poor, but, I see untapped potential. In Lubcon we have been able to accomplish extra-ordinary things with ordinary people; our products have accomplished international certification without a single expatriate staff. I believe that the same feat can be accomplished in Kwara State.

Taking the state from “good” to “great”. I look at the hoards of unemployed youths, and the potentials lying waste; I look at poor rural dwellers surrounded by uncultivated land as far as the eyes can see, and I see untapped potentials for turning their lives and the economy of the state around. I have worked hard to build a successful business and I intend to deploy the wealth of experience that I have garnered in business to help shape the lives and fortunes of our youths and our children. I have been trying to do that in my business through grants, scholarships, youth empowerment initiatives and direct support to young entrepreneurs as well as employment opportu-

nities but that is not enough. I know I can do more because you can never be comfortable in the midst of poverty as it is today in Kwara. So, to improve the living conditions of our people is enough motivation for me.

What is the chance of President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s election?

The country is experiencing a seven per cent growth rate, which is one of the highest in the world. Foreign investors, after careful assessment of the economic prospects of the country, are coming into the country despite the negative image that some are wont to present of the country. The Transformation Agenda and other programmes such as the power sector reforms are beginning to bear fruit, despite all the troubling security challenges that the country is faced with.

Nigerians just need to be a little bit patient to see the full results, as the benefits of these initiatives do not become apparent overnight. The recent rebasing of our GDP, the first ever, is a commendable exercise that has helped to shed light on the true structure of the economy and contribution of various sectors to the GDP. This is an invaluable tool in correct policy formulation. Yes, there are challenges facing the nation; but the response of everyone of us should be joining hands and working together to take on the challenges; every nation that is great today, passed through some rough patches in its history. We cannot af-

ford to let Nigeria fail; there is no place in the world where 170 million people can run to – failure is not an option. The President, despite the security and other challenges facing the country, has continued to forge ahead; and we should give him our unwavering support and back him with our prayers; “you don’t change a coach in the middle of a match”.

What is your reaction to the agitation for power shift to Kwara South, where you comes from?

My party will conduct a delegate election to decide who is the best person for the job. Yes, you are right that our people from the South are insisting that equity demands that the zone be allowed another four years in power. I am not aware of any binding agreement to that effect in our party.; But, don’t forget that we have eminently qualified candidates from all the zones. We are consulting with our brothers and sisters from both the central and the North, if our zone wants to keep it for another fouryears, they have to work hard and convince the other zones. What remains important is for the best candidate that can deliver the state to emerge. The problems of the state -poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment-cannot be zoned. They are all over.

What is your vision for Kwara State?

I was raised from a very humble beginnings and I would like to see a Kwara State in which people that can aspire and attain to great height no

matter their background; a state where every child rises to the fullest of their potentials. A state where kwarans can participate in the political process without fear of retribution and where our votes will be counted.

Without going into too much details, our programmes revolve round the acronym of my name. JANI; J – job creation, A – agriculture development, N – natural resources exploitation and I – infrastructure development.

On the job front, in addition to the various programmes we will be putting in place, we will work at making Kwara State the choice destination for foreign businesses coming into the country. As you aware, Africa is the next big thing in global business, and Nigeria is the prime location for the foreign businesses that are coming into the continent. SMEs will be a major tool for job creation.

How are you going to achieve these programmes?

With the abundant arable land, excellent land and air connection and the hard working people that the state is blessed with, we will be leveraging on the programmes and incentives that the Federal Government has put into place under its Agriculture Transformation Agenda, to position the state as the foremost agriculture and agro business region in the country.

With well articulated policy in place, rural farmers in the state could easily meet 10 per cent of the country’s an-

‘Our people from the South are insisting that equity demands that the zone be allowed another four years in power. I am not aware of any binding agreement to that effect in our party.; But, don’t forget that we have eminently qualified candidates from all the zones’

nual rice needs and earning themselves N30 billion annually in the process; mind you, that is just slightly lower than what the state receives annually from the Federal Allocation.

Such initiatives help address the inclusive growth concerns that is bothering development professional around the globe.

We will also enter into partnership with local and foreign firms to exploit and very importantly, processing the mineral resources that exist in the state.

Thailand and India though not big time mineral producing countries, have very vibrant precious stone cutting and polishing industries. We intend to make Kwara State the centre for a similar operation, catering for the needs of the precious stones mined in the mineral rich belt that extends from Nasarawa/Plateau state, down to Kogi/Kwara State.

On the infrastructure front, we will be opening up every part of the state by construction of good roads, upgrading of schools and hospitals, extension of grid and off grid electricity and the provision of water and sanitation.

I’m always sad when I hear that a child cannot read, because the doors of opportunity had been closed on that child.

Our youths know that government alone cannot solve all their problems.

But they believe that by reducing the cost of governance, practising tight fiscal management and a radical change in Government’s priorities, every Kwaran will have a chance to a decent good life. We will embrace transparency, and will be reaching out to Kwarans at home and abroad, as well as bilateral and multilateral development agencies to join hands with us in birthing the Kwara of our dream.

Hon. Segun Erinle represents Ilejemeje Constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who reflects on the governorship election, contends that the party will bounce back. EMMANUEL OLADESU met him.

‘Ekiti APC lawmakers ‘ll not defect to PDP’

W

HY was the APC defeated by the PDP during the recent governorship elec-

tion?

We may have lost because the majority of voters were not ready for the revolution introduced into governance. We believed as a government that Ekitis needed transformation and, as a result, we needed to put the necessary infrastructure in place, including good roads, renovation of schools, hospitals, tourist centres. But, our people saw governance from a different angle. Despite applauding those policies, they believed the lies told by the opposition party that we were going to sack teachers, civil servants, stop Okada riders from plying the roads. Some were of the opinion that money did not flow, unlike during the previous regimes. Other issues were the militisation of the election process, whereby military personnel deployed were beating and picking up members of our party on the eve of the election. l was harassed and intimidated while my driver and my aides were thoroughly beaten for doing nothing. A leader of my party in my constituency was nearly killed harassed and detained. Is that democracy? Do we practice democracy by allowing military men to pick up anybody? You can see that a lot of factors contributed to our loss.

Are you worried by the development?

I am worried for two major reasons. If we can work like that to make Ekiti State great, to prepare Ekiti people for a better future, and

our people can still vote against us, it is worrisome. It shows that Ekiti is no longer what it used to be.

Secondly, l am worried because we fought hard to achieve and sustain democracy in the last 15 years. l continue to pray that we sustain it.

Some analysts have said that it was rigging by technology...

Yes, there may be some elements of truth in such statements, despite my analysis above. l cannot imagine a performing governor losing in all the 16 local government areas of the state, despite the general thinking of stomach infrastructure.

That type of technology was used in Zimbabwe, which resulted in the re-election of President Robert Mugabe. If it is true, it means we are yet to hear the last of Ekiti election because we would dig to the root of the problem. The people’s votes must be respected and counted. We are not just going to sleep and expect things to lie fallow like that.

What are the lessons you have learned from the episode?

There are lot of lessons to be learnt from the election . One should value the power of the electorate and secondly, one should not underrate the power of the Federal Government to use all forces at his disposal to upstage the electoral process. You should not forget the statement made by the Vice President that they would take Ekiti at all cost.

The APC commands the majority in the House. How are members going to work with the governor?

We are all Ekitis and the interest ofEkiti is paramount in our mind.

• Erinle

If the in-coming government comes with a populist agenda that would benefit our people, we would not hesitate to support the agenda in the interest of our people. Don’t forget, we are the representative of our people and the interest of the people is very paramount in our minds.

Is it true that some legislators are planning to defect to the PDP? I am not aware of any plan to defect. l am one of the allies of the Speaker. Hence, it is my belief as a staunch member of the APC and a leader in my own right that the status quo must remain. The party must be united.

If you compare Ekiti and Osun elections, what would you say?

APC is popular in Ekiti and Osun.

The people love our party. In Ekiti, many complained that their votes did not count. We knew we will win in Osun. We were not surprised by the outcome of the Osun election, despite the militarisation of the state and the harassment of many APC leaders and supporters.

What is the difference between Fayemi and Aregbesola?

Governor Aregbesola, having served in the Tinubu Government in Lagos State, has a lot of experience in grassroots politicking .

How do you react to the controversy generated by the creation of additional councils?

The constitution is very clear on the procedure for creating local governments. Those procedures were followed, hence, the approval by the House of Assembly. We have given the legal backing as mandated by the constitution. We have followed the due process in doing our job with total respect to the constitution and the mandate of the people. Don’t forget, the current government will still exist till October 15.

Many communities in the state did not support the location of the headquarters...

We want to eat our cake and have it. Government cannot be perfect.

But, we would continue to do our best to serve the interest of people better. I believe and l know that between 80 and 90 per cent of the people are very happy with the government’s position. l am happy to say we have been able to resolve all issues.

Some people are saying that the House may threaten Fayose with impeachment... becomes the governor?

Can that be true? On what ground?

Without an impeachable offence? All these are mere rumours. If truly Ekitis have elected him, can we impeach him without uproar from the people? We are all Ekiti. If the governor-lect wants the best for Ekiti, we would support him to move Ekiti forward. l believe the governor-elect should look back and give thanks to God. He should now be able to correct past mistakes.

What is the way forward for Ekiti?

We should have a genuine autonomy for the three arms of government. The police and the army should be free from political control. The Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff should not be under the control and influence of politicians. People at the helms of governmens of the people and not as masters. A machinery should be put in place to genuinely act as the watchdog. Our government should allow the will of the electorate to prevail in elections.

Nigeria is our country. We have no other place we can call our home.

So, let’s unite to make it great. We should guide against the prediction of Americans that, by 2015, Nigeria as a country would no more exist. I continue to pray that the PDP does not destroy the country because they have benefitted a lot from the country. We cannot have a one-party state.

They should allow the opposition to operate freely to move the country forward.

48

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NEWS

•Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris (second right) speaking at a news conference on the update on Ebola Virus disease at the Bagauda Kaltho’s Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja. With him are his Special Duties counterpart Dr Wale Ahmed (second left); Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Alhaji Lateef Raji (right) and Special Adviser, Public Health Dr Yewande Adesina.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES.

•Special Adviser to the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry Yemi Kolapo, receiving an award from his Principal, the Minister, Olusegun Aganga at the CICAN 2014 Award and Gala Night in Lagos. With them is President of NACIMA. PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID. Alhaji Abubaker Badaru.

Politicisation of Boko Haram insurgency: Bane of Nigeria’s anti-terror fight (Continued from yesterday)

A

2010 assessment by the National Bureau of Statistics reported the national poverty rate was 60.9 per cent, but it was 77.7 percent for the northwest and 76.3 per cent for northeast, compared with 59 per cent for the Southwest. The World Bank also noted that economic growth and opportunities were not equally shared by different parts of the country, that growth was fastest in southern and middle agro climatic zones, with much slower growth in northern states.

This has resulted in the largest number of poor people residing in the northern part of the country.

Sixth, Alh. Ali Modu Sherif, and all known persons directly or indirectly implicated in Boko Haram are members of the PDP or persons serving or with close ties to the Jonathan presidency.

Finally, the President Jonathan-PDP’s political manipulation of the Boko Haram has to be understood as part of its ‘poker-like’ calculus for clinging on to political power ahead of the 2015 elections.

How is the PDP doing and using this? In essence, how is the PDP benefitting politically from the Boko Haram insurgency?

This is in at least six ways: The PDP is using the Boko Haram crises to launder the battered image of the Jonathan presidency by securing attendance and participation for President Goodluck at important international summits and meetings. Curiously, Boko Haram has now become a way of getting the international community to talk and meet with President Goodluck Jonathan, and gain international media coverage.

The PDP is also using the Boko Haram crises, especially the #Bringbackourgirls campaign, to blackmail opposition groups, impose emergency rule in states and areas controlled by opposition political parties, harass and restrict media freedom (through military clampdowns), and for justifying illegal activities.

The Boko Haram crisis is readily used by the PDP to rationalize the Jonathan Government’s abdication of its constitutional responsibilities, including visits and assistance to areas affected, effective response to kidnappings and abductions (e.g. the GEJ government was silent over the Chibok girls kidnaps for over 15 days).

The declaration of emergency rule, massive increases in spending on security without correspondent impact, has become a political gimmick by the PDP now being counted as the GEJ achievement in promoting peace and security.

The PDP is actively politicizing the declaration of emergency rule. For instance, the PDP government is ever quick to propose and declare emergency rule in areas controlled by opposition political parties, but not in PDP-controlled states even where the scale of violence, killings and destruction are similar. For example, despite incessant violence, killings, displacement and destruction in Taraba, Benue and Plateau (PDP controlled states), the PDP has been quick to discount the possibility of a full scale emergency rule in the above mentioned states, however it is quick to impose emergency rule in non-PDP states at the slightest episode of violence.

Finally, the status quo favours the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan. Why? Boko Haram affected areas and indeed the Northern region are APC strongholds, hence Boko Haram crises, the declaration of emergency rule and general atmosphere of insecurity in the North are likely to affect voting (low turnout due to displacement). There is already talk of cancelling elections in some areas in the Northeast, all plots designed to minimize President Jonathan-PDP electoral losses in the North and enhance the likelihood of a PDP victory.

C. The Boko Haram Crisis and GEJ security Spending Spree One salient, yet under-reported and under-discussed issue is the incredible amount of Nigeria’s national income being expended, by the President Jonathan administration purportedly on combating Boko Haram in the last 5 years (since 2010). I will share the mind-boggling figures with you.

APC’s research on total security sector spending (covering Defence, Police, Office of National Security Adviser, Road Safety Corps, and security-related service-wide votes (e.g. on Amnesty

Programme, internal security operations, etc.) is based on information contained in successive budget documents.

Year

Amount (Naira)

Dollar Value (@N165 = $1)

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Total

1,174,897,477,334.00 1,178,832,576,309.00 1,154,857,159,110.00 1,080,894,801,178.00 836,016,773,836.00 5,425,498,787,767.00

7.12 billion 7.14 billion 6.99 billion 6.55 billion 5.07 billion 32.88 billion

Why and what is important about these statistics? a. On the average the Boko Haram Insurgency has fuelled increases in security spending to around 25% of annual federal government budget. b. In light of the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP (put at N80.3 trillion or $509.9 billion), the yearly average 2010-14 is $6.58 billion, is equal to 1.3% of GDP. c. The total for the 5 budget years amounts to 6.5% of Nigeria GDP. d. Most importantly, there appears to be nothing to show (commensurately) for the huge monies purportedly expended. There are recurring reports and stories in the media about how frontline troops and soldiers have inferior weapons and firepower compared to Boko Haram’s and how Nigerian soldiers have been fleeing battlefields (into Cameroon), and communities and military barracks being easily overrun by Boko Haram fighters. This begs the questions about where and how is the money being spent? Is it truly spent on security? Is corruption taking place in security spending? What and where are the military hardware acquired? Who is supplying security equipment – manufacturers or third party agents?

D. Unanswered Questions and Puzzles about Boko Haram Insurgency APC’s research and analysis of the Boko Haram insurgency has unearthed some intriguing puzzles that warrant serious attention.

Since 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan-PDP led government has increased security spending; declared and renewed emergency rule, issued propaganda claiming the capture and killing of Boko Haram members (including the leader Abubakar Shekau), destruction of Boko Haram camps, and countless assurances of improving security and winning the battle against Boko Haram.

Over the same period however, the empirical realities are that Boko Haram has become more daring and audacious in its attacks through: Increase in the scale, number and spread of attacks, even against supposedly fortified military bases.

More Boko Haram killings and casualty levels among civilians and security personnel.

Rapid growing number of Nigerian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees, now estimated by the UNHCR at over 600,000!

Increasing reports of mutinies and soldiers absconding (desertion) from battlefields.

Boko Haram declaration of a Caliphate.

The key issue in all of this is this – are all these mere empirical coincidence or statistical correlation OR are there genuine organic and logical connections (some form of action and reaction)? Certainly it is my and APC belief that there is a pull and effect logic at work. Put simply, President Jonathan’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency has been a spectacular failure, and this is deliberate for political reasons. Where and even if the President Jonathan-PDP Admnistration may claim to know nothing about the origin of Boko Haram, it has actively sustained the crisis, profiteering from it.

E. The Way Forward: APC’s Stand The APC has consistently argued for New Thinking and alternative approaches to the Boko Haram crisis. The five pillars of APC’s approach are: i. Urgent formulation of a holistic Counter-Terrorism strategy that emphasizes the synergistic use of military, political and economic elements, and roles for civil society and other critical stakeholders.

ii. Political negotiation with Boko Haram. All recent cases of internal security challenges (militias. etc.), including the OPC, MEND, etc. across Nigeria have all been resolved through political negotiations of some sort. Boko Haram cannot be an exception. iii. Planning and Investing for Peace through a Human Development Approach to address the socio-economic, governance and environmental conditions that gave rise to Boko Haram. Key here are youth development, employment and means of livelihoods, education, access to markets, revival of agriculture, etc. What is advocated is a serious and genuine consideration of socio-economic revival of the Northeast and other affected Northern areas, not the tokenistic (£7million) gesture proposed by the Jonathan Administration iv. Bring in the United Nations (and its specialised agencies), and mobilise local and international peace building organisations to work with communities and groups affected by Boko Haram. v. Security Sector Reform through a thorough National Security Review, New National Security Policy, and tailored institutional, legal and operational reforms and re-organisation of Nigeria’s security agencies. The Boko Haram crisis has exposed systemic failures in Nigeria’s national security system, and there is a rare opportunity to use this as the basis to transform Nigeria’s National Security architecture.

Conclusion Unfortunately but truly, the Nigerian government had bungled the fight against Boko Haram. The government’s attempt to make political capital out of the insurgency has backfired.

The Boko Haram crisis and the Jonathan Administration’s response to it must be seen in the context of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The status quo favours the PDP and President Jonathan.

Why? Because Boko Haram-affected areas and indeed the Northern region are opposition strongholds, hence the Administration is hoping - and perhaps secretly wishing- that the Boko Haram crisis, the declaration of emergency rule and general atmosphere of insecurity in the North will lead to the cancellation of voting in some areas and limit voters’ turnout in general, a development which the PDP believes will minimize its electoral losses in the North and enhance the likelihood of a PDP victory.

Beyond that, reports from the grapevine are that the government is even trying to cash in on the worsening crisis to explore the possibility of delaying the elections and extending its tenure. It does not occur to them that the country must first survive for anyone to rule it.

Our worst fears were confirmed recently when the Australian hired by President Jonathan to help negotiate the release of the over 200 school girls named the President’s allies and members of the ruling PDP as the sponsors of Boko Haram. He said the Boko Haram commanders identified the men: Former Army Chief Azubuike Ihejirika and a former governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sheriff - among the sponsors of the sect.

Now that the cat has been let out of the bag and the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been exposed , we hope President Jonathan will summon the courage to do the right thing: Hand over the identified Boko Haram sponsors to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and prosecution.

There is no doubt that Boko Haram has committed crimes against humanity in its scorched-earth campaign against unarmed citizens, and the most appropriate body to investigate and try the sect’s sponsors is the ICC. According to Article 17 of the Rome Statute that set up the ICC, and to which Nigeria is a signatory, the ICC is a court of last resort, expected to exercise its jurisdiction only if states themselves are unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate and prosecute international crimes.

In view of the fact that the alleged Boko Haram sponsors are either members of the ruling party or friends of the President, it is clear that the PDP- led Federal government is unwilling and unable to try them.

As we all know if the funding of Boko Haram is not cut off, it will be difficult to defeat the sect.

I thank you most sincerely for your attention.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SIX-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

The cream of the society turned out last Saturday for the wedding of Idris Olabode, son of former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye and Aminat Aderonke, daughter of former State Security Service (SSS) Director Col. Kayode Are in Lagos.

AMIDU ARIJE and OMOLARA OGUNWALE were there.

•From left: Bride's mother, Mrs Ngozi Are; groom's father, Vice Admiral Adeleke (rtd.); the couple Idris and Aminat; groom's mother, Hajia Fatima Adeleke and bride's father, Col Are

Union of officers’ kids I

T was a wedding of children of military chiefs. The groom, Idris Olabode, is son of former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye and the bride, Aminat Aderonke, is daughter of former Director of State Security Service (SSS) Col. Kayode Are. Their fathers' friends, colleagues and associates came to share in their joy.

The Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos was packed full of dignitaries from far and near.

Aminat, in her white flowing gown and silver earrings, was a beauty to behold. Idris looked radiant in his black suit, white shirt, pink tie and a pair of black shoes to match.

The reception hall was decorated in various colours of satin material. Big flower vases were placed at strategic positions. Ushers in black and pink gowns led guests into the hall.

Guests took their seats hours before the couple’s arrival.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola arrived early and went round interacting with guests before the couple’s arrival.

There was no dull moment; guests were entertained by the Shuga Band. Guests nodded their heads in rhythm to the music.

The couple arrived in a white Infinity Limousine with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. They moved straight to sign the dotted lines at a makeshift registry inside the hotel.

The bridal train made a grand entry into the reception hall, coming in in a lift.

The bridesmaids wore pink gowns; the groom’s men were in grey suit, white shirt and pink tie. They danced into the hall.

The guests, who were eager to catch a glimpse of the couple were surprised not to see them in the train. As they were stil wondering what is happening, the lovebirds entered through the back door to take their seats. They danced to the amusement of the gathering before sitting down.

The couple’s parents were dressed in wine Aso Oke and cream lace with matching caps and head gears. They danced into the hall to be introduced to the guests.

The duo of Okundalaiye Ayodele and TEE-A, a comedian anchored the ceremony.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun chaired the occasion. It began with prayers by Dr Segun Akintoye and Alhaji Ahmed Agbaje.

Amosun enjoined the couple to love each other and be wary of external interference in their affairs.

“To Aderonke, as from today, your husband is now your dad, respect him; Bode, your wife is now your sister, mum and everything to you; you will both give birth to male and female children,” he said.

After his speech, Amosun called Fashola, who he referred to as “Class Captain” to supervise the cutting of the cake.

Fashola joked with guests as he moved to the cake stand.

Before performing the function, he urged the couple to love each other and to hold on firmly to Allah.

He led the gathering to spell LOVE before the couple cut the cake.

The couple took to the stage to feed each other in their first assignment. Then came dancing time. The bride and her father took the centre stage for the first dance. They were sprayed crisp new naira notes.

The couple danced their hearts out amid spraying of naira notes by guests.

The toast was made by Seyi Liz Kanu. He described the groom as friendly.

Aminat described the day as her happiest, referring to her husband as “a wonderful man”.

“It is a wonderful day, I am happy and I thank God for this, am very lucky to meet him; he is wonderful,” she said.

Idris thanked Allah for the day’s success.

In attendance were former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba; Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, John Jonah; President Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Forte Oil, Mr Femi Otedola; Chief Obafemi Olopade; Olorogun-Ide of Lagos, Chief Ismail Oladehinde Folaji; Obanikoro of Lagos, Chief Adesoji Ajayi Bembe and Oluwo Jakande of Lagos, Chief Ibikunle Bailey led the white cap chiefs; Yeye Oge of Badagry Kingdom, Mrs Lara Senami Adeniji AdeleAwhligan; Olukotun of Ikotun-Ile, Kwara State, Oba Abdulrasaq Adedayo Abioye; Chief Executive of Obasky Estate in Lekki, Chief Gbenga Obasa; Prof Dapo Afolabi; Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade; Dr Segun Awolowo among others.

More pictures on page 50

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

50

SOCIETY UNION OF OFFICERS’ KIDS

•From right: Governors Amosun and Fashola and former Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Sarah Sosan

•Lt Gen Akinrinade (left) and Aremo Osoba

•Cross-section of Lagos White Cap Chiefs representing Lagos monarch Oba Rilwan Akiolu

•Alhaji Dangote (right) and Mr Otedola

•Chief Olopade (left) and King Ebitimi

• United Nations representative in Rwanda, Dr Gani Are and his wife

•Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Sunday Ehindero flanked by his wife (left) and former Industry Minister, Mrs Nike Akande

•Mr Johny Abdallah (left) and Mr George Raccaah

•From left: Rear Admiral John Olutoyin; Mrs Zarah Shettima and Aishat Shettima

•From left: Mr Ikorodu; Mr Biodun Sobanjo and Otunba Tunde Adelaja

PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

SOCIETY Wife of former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki, Toyin, marked her 50th birthday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, last Saturday, reports ADEKUNLE JIMOH

Still charming at 50

I

T was not a political gathering, yet it was packed full with politicians. They came from across party divide, with chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) leading the way.

The 50th birthday of Mrs Toyin Saraki, was a fitting statement for the political status of her husband, the doctor turned politician Bukola Saraki, a two-term governor of Kwara State and a senator.

Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was agog last Saturday as the Sarakis hosted the high and mighty. Senator Saraki stood beside his charming wife receiving guests who thronged the open field of the Kwara Hotels, venue of the prayer organised to mark her birthday. The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, officiated.

Many guests sporting the chosen Ankara fabrics with the celebrator’s portrait and name sat under the giant canopies on the open field.

The Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin Mosque, Prof AbdulGaniyu Oladosu, in his sermon, enjoined those in power not to use their office to corruptly enrich themselves but to serve humanity.

After the service, Mrs Saraki, who founded the Wellbeing Foundation while her husband was in office, presented empowerment tools to some people. She and her husband also cut her birthday cake.

A reception followed at the Banquet Hall at the nearby Government House.

An elated Mrs Saraki thanked God and the people of Kwara for the “wonderful” reception.

Senator Saraki said his family never expected the large turnout.

“We feel humbled for the large turnout of people and we are very grateful to God. It is a blessing to have this kind of ceremony and people come out to share their time with us. We thank the people of Kwara State and Nigerians for coming to share this special day with us,” he said.

APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun congratulated the celebrator.

•The celebrator, Toyin kissing her husband, Senator Saraki. Governor Ahmed (left); Hon Tambuwal and the celebrator’s mum, Mrs Ojora admiring the lovebirds

• Aremo Osoba

• Comrade Oshiomhole

•From left: Mr Otedola; Hon Tambuwal; Alhaji Dangote and Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje

“When I look at you, I see somebody of extreme excellence, as you have no excuse except to be excellent. A wonderful family yet married to another wonderful family and you look it in every way.

“Simple but elegant; humble but respectable; as a matter of fact, I got close to your husband before I really got close to you. When you see a man behave the way he does, you know he comes from a home that allows men to behave the way he does, otherwise, he would not

do the things he does.

“Your husband is friendly, very humble and he is most helpful. He is one of the newest friends that I have made and one of those that I depend on most. Meeting you today is a joyful thing. I have met the other half, I don’t want to say the better half of a very great man.

My wishes for you are that the happiness that this family brings to others, God will multiply it in your life. God will grant you long and healthy life,” Odigie-Oyegun

said.

At the ceremony were Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (host); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun).

Others are former governors of Ekiti, Osun, Ogun and Kogi states, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Prince Abubakar Audu; business tycoons Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Femi

SEMINAR •From left: Alhaji AbdulAzeez Ajala; guest speaker Ustadh AbdulHadi Abdul Ganiy; Operations Manager of Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited (HMVL) Alhaji Zulkifli Adewunmi; Mr Musa Bukar from Nigeria Custom and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Deputy Supretendent (Narcotic) Mr Suleman Danlami during a seminar organised by HMVL for pilgrims at the University of Lagos Mosque auditorium in Akoka, Lagos.

Otedola.

Also there were the celebrator’s parents, the industialist Otunba Adekunle Ojora and wife, Ojuolape; the Sarakis’ matriarch, Florence Morenike; House Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila; House Committee chairmen on Media and Judiciary, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed and Dr Ali Ahmad; their colleagues Dr Ibrahim Rafiu and Alhaji Mashood Mustapha and former member of the House and activist Dino Melaye.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

52

SOCIETY The funeral service for Madam Felicia Oluremi Abina, wife of the General Overseer of Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Elijah Oludele Abina, has been held at the church’s headquarters at Km 40, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Aseese, MoweIbafo, Ogun State. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS Managing difficult conversations

W

•Mr Folorunso Abina

• From left: Pastor Abina; former General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church Rev. Wilson Badejo and Deputy General Overseer GOFAMINT, Pastor Samuel Ewuola

Exit of a ‘virtuous’ woman

I

T was the celebration of a life well spent. Notable Christian leaders and members of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) Worldwide, family members and friends turned out for the ceremony.

They converged on the headquarters of GOFAMINT at Km 40, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Aseese, MoweIbafo in Ogun State last Saturday for the funeral of Madam Felicia Oluremi, wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Elijah Oludele Abina. She died in the United States (US) at 75. She is survived by her widower, six children and many grand children.

Her body was not laid at the service because it arrived late from the US. The church hall and its gallery were filled. Guests also sat under a large tent outside the church. The church hall and the tent were decorated with blue, red and white fabrics. The ushers were dressed in either cream shirts and green trousers/skirts; or black skirts/trousers with white shirts.

The service began with a processional hymn “Great is your faithfulness”, with the choir leading its singing. The ministers and family members entered amid the hymn.

All the ministers wore suit; the choir wore white shirt on navy blue skirt/trousers.

The children wore gold lace with red head gear/cap; the grandchildren wore blue lace.

The Bible reading from 1Thessaloninas 4:13-18 was taken by the first son, Folorunso.

The second hymn: “Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven” was taken next.

The National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev Felix Omobude and Chairman of PFN’s Lagos chapter, Bishop Sola Ore prayed for the deceased and her family.

Chairman of Lagos State Pilgrims Welfare Board Rev Adega Balogun took the second Bible reading from 1 Corinthians, 15: 35-58.

•Rev Omobude

The children sang in memory of their mother, followed by choir’s ministration.

In a sermon, The General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Headquarters, Abuja, Rev Williams Okoye, spoke on “Build your life on values that would last”.

Rev Okoye urged the gathering to stop being carried away by worldly things.

“You can die at anytime and you will face God to give account of how you lived on earth. When you think of death, it will help you to reevaluate and re-examine your life,” he said.

Evangelist Bola Aare, a popular gospel singer, rendered soul-lifting songs with the congregation singing along.

The service ended with the recessional hymn: “O Lord of Heaven and earth and sea”.

Outside the church hall, Layo Daniel Classical Entertainment life band entertained guests.

Pastor Abina said the most memorable moment with his wife was when they had no child in the early days of their marriage.

The widower said: “My late wife endured the time and it was wonderful. Today, we have three boys and three girls. My wife also supported me when I had financial problem and in all things.

When I felt sick, she came to the hospital to stay with me, as a matter of fact that was when her sickness started.

“She was loving and caring; she is a woman that I cannot

•Rev Okoye

• Former President of the West Africa Theological Seminary in Lagos, Rev Gray Maxey

• Evangelist Aare

• Prof Peter Okebukola

forget in my life.

“When she fell sick, I felt her absence because nobody was like her to me. But one thing I believe is that she did not die; she sleeps and she lives on.”

Mr Folorunso Abina, the Chief Executive Officer, Micro Alliance Limited in Abuja, said his mother was the closest example of Jesus to him.

“She was a true servant of God, a genuine and authentic leader that I wish every leader and Christian lives like her. She left the legacy of love, sacrifice and prophecy which she has poured into every one of her children even her grandchildren. I will miss her love and godly counsel,” he said.

The first daughter, Mrs Olabisi Ogundele, described her mother as loving, generous and accommodating.

“I learnt many good things from her that helped me in

my marital home. I will miss everything about her - her presence, cooking and encouragement,” she said.

Her last son Mr Femi Abina, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate Development, described his mother as an awesome human being with unique qualities.

A son-in-law, Pastor Sunday Ogundele of GOFAMINT in the United Kingdon, described her as a woman that brought to pass the fullness of God in the life of everyone who came around her.

The reception continued in Pastor Abina’s house at 1/3, Elijah Abina Street, off Lake View Estate Phase Two, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

Her body arrived at night and she was buried around 9am on Sunday.

A thanksgiving service was held at Pastor Abina’s church, in Mushin, Lagos.

ELCOME to the month of September. I pray that the month will deliver to you your great expectations and desires for the year 2014. If you have achieved the goals you set at the beginning of the year, congratulations, but don’t stop AMODU LANRE OLAOLU trying to do more. If you have not done too well, you should (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. review your written goals and 07034737394 commit to them. If you have @lanreamodu not done anything about the goals you wrote in January, or you didn’t even write any, don’t be discouraged, a lot can still be achieved in four months. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “if you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward”. Perhaps you don’t think you are making as much progress as you would have wanted but the question is, “are you still where you were in January?” If the answer is no, then you have something to be grateful for. Just make sure you keep moving.

Last week, we discussed about having difficult conversations.

When conversations are over-charged with emotions, they mostly become difficult to manage. Sometimes you dread having some discussions and you wish you can avoid them. However, avoiding difficult but necessary conversations can be misleading, unfair, affect other people’s productivity and efficiency, and it can also kill morale. If we hate to have difficult conversations, yet we must have them, how then can we make them less awkward and more effective? Here are a few suggestions: • Prepare yourself psychologically: we cannot overemphasize the need for you to be confident when having this kind of conversation. You need to prepare your mind ahead. It is very important for you to take charge of the conversation otherwise you will find yourself on the defensive. Even if you are about to confess that you made an error or you are answering for a poor business decision, you should be in control. One of the major ways to do this is to state that you are aware of your error, claim responsibility and explain what you are already doing or hope to do to remedy the problem. What you have done is to play the judge in your own case, which most people won’t do.

However, this works better if you come clean before your error is discovered or if you have not spent all the time defending your action until you realise that there is no escape route.

• Don’t make it personal: this is particularly important if you are performing an official assignment. Do you remember our little story from last week’s article? Mr. Charles had to break the news of termination of employment to Mr. Smart, who was a company driver in his late 50s, with an ailing wife and nine children. There are two extremes to breaking the news: one person may do so without any consideration at all, after all, it is another person’s job that is being lost, while another individual may have too much sympathy. The best approach is to find a balanced position. While you must deliver the message because you have been instructed to, you can still show that you care.

Nevertheless, you must detach your emotion from the conversation so that you don’t take on unnecessary emotional burden. See your office (i.e. Chief Personnel Officer) as the one to deliver the message and not your person (Mr. Charles); that way, you will separate your personal emotion from your job responsibilities.

• Drop hints: one thing you should try to avoid when having a difficult conversation is sudden outpouring of emotions.

When you break unpleasant news suddenly, that is exactly what you will get. So, attempt to drop hints so that the other party can start to figure out the direction of the conversation before you conclude. You can do so by asking subtle questions that can lead to your conclusion. As the individual responds to the questions, he or she will also be trying to think ahead of the discussing. That will at least make the realization gradual. You may also send a message (i.e. email, SMS) with a subtle suggestion of what the discussion will be about.

The main aim is to avoid sudden reactions.

• Don’t prevent reactions: while it is a good idea to avoid sudden outpouring of emotions, we cannot prevent the expression of emotions altogether. When it is sudden, it tends to be excessive, but there is no way a difficult conversation will not be emotional. Never attempt to prevent the other person from speaking or expressing his/her emotions. While that is exactly what you were dreading in the first place, it is still safer that those emotions are expressed rather than bottled in.

What you should do is that after you have stated your point, wait patiently until the other person has finished venting his/ her anger. If you don’t interrupt, perhaps he/she will soon become exhausted and calm down for you to give further explanation. When the conversation involves your personal relationship with people, it is advisable that you try to rebuild the relationship if you can. Consequently, wait for a while for the emotions to calm, and then go for a follow-up conversation.

Since every conversation is unique in itself, you may have better ideas of how to deal with difficult conversation. Please send me a message so that we can also explore your ideas and learn from them. Have a great weekend.

Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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SOCIETY The Nikkah between Faheem Adelani Aileru, a Chartered Accountant and former Miss Nafisat Kofoworade Aderoju was held at the New Great Hall, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos. IBRAHIM ADAM reports.

‘She is a precious gift’ F

OR Aileru and Aderoju families, it is a day to remember. It was the day their children, Faheem and Nafisat tied the nuptial knot.

The Nikkah (marriage) was held at the New Great Hall, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, Mushin, Lagos.

Faheem is a chartered accountant with Isiaqu Yaro and Company Limited in Apapa, Lagos; the bride is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State.

Guests arrived into the waiting hands of photographers who took their shot. Many dressed in mixed mint green and peach attires with green caps and head gears.

White chairs were arranged in rows around tables with cream and gold overlays. Waiters in customised tops stood around, attending to guests.

The event was anchored by Mallam Isiaq Sulaiman, otherwise known as Abu Hikmat. It started with prayer by Amir (President), Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, (MSSN) Mushin Central Branch, Mallam Nurudeen Aderoju, around 11:25am.

The couple were the cynosure of all eyes as they entered the hall. They were accompanied by friends.

Faheem was in white lace Agbada with blue and white cap and a black pair of shoes. Nafisat was all smiles.

She dressed in white lace native, blue

•Sheikh Onimasa (left) presenting certificate to Nafisat and Faheem

head gear, ipele, hand bag, and matching pair of shoes.

Four children from Madrasatu Ibadur Rahman, Ilasamaja in Mushin, Lagos recited some verses from the Quran.

The guest speaker, Ustadh Isiaq Olajuwon, stressed the importance of marriage in Islam.

“Nikkah,” he said, “is compulsory in Islam and a prophetic teaching which must be followed.”

He enjoined the groom to be patient and the bride to be righteous.

“Faheem, you need to be patient

with your wife no matter the situation. She is as precious as her name implies and you must treat her like a precious gift. Nafisat, be a righteous woman and be obedient. Protect your husband properties, always dress well and make him happy,” he said.

Olajuwon prayed for the success of their union.

The solemnisation was supervised

by Alhaji Abdul Fattah Mustapha, who asked the groom if he wished to have Nafisat as his wife. He asked the bride the same question and both

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

answered: “Yes, I do”. He also asked the couple’s fathers for their consent and both responded with: “From our heart and with the support of the family, we agree.”

Alhaji Abdul Fattah declared the lovebirds man and wife, and prayed for them.

Nafisat described her husband as gentle, intelligent and caring.

“I am very happy for this day and I thank Allah for making this day possible.” she said.

Faheem said he adores his wife so much and believes they have

been ordained by Allah.

Ustadh Ismail Kailani enjoined the groom to always show love to his wife.

Sheikh Nurain Onimasa prayed for the success of the union and presented the couple with their marriage certificate.

Zainab Sulaiman and Hikmat Sulaiman entertained guests with poems and panegyric.

The couple cut the cake before moving round to take pictures with family members and friends.

It was a twin celebration for Mrs Grace Ibidunni Ojo, who marked her 60th birthday and retirement from the Lagos State University with a thanksgiving at the Divine Christian Assembly Church in Badore, Lagos.

BODE MONOGBE was there.

Graceful Grace at 60

S

HE was the cynosure of all eyes. Family members, children, friends and guests milled around her. She looked resplendent in her multi-coloured lace outfit.

She smiled all through.

It was the day she turned 60 and also retired.

Mrs Grace Ibidunni Ojo, walked majestically into the Divine Christian Assembly at Badore in Lagos for the thanksgiving marking her 60th birthday and retirement from the Lagos State University (LASU).

The early morning drizzle gave way to a bright, sunny day. The church auditorium was filled. Guests from far and wide, old acquaintances, former colleagues at LASU, members of the academia, relations and children were there to share in her joy.

Mrs Ojo was described by many as a virtuous woman. She single-handedly managed her home after the death of her husband in 1995. The eldest of her four children was just 13 then. She decided not to remarry but to concentrate on training her children who are all graduates today.

Besides, through hard work, discipline and prudence, she developed the plot of land which her husband left for the family into an attractive edifice. As a believer in self improvement, she studied hard to obtain a Diploma Certificate in Public Administration from LASU, and Computer Programming from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin within the period. She thus became a role model for her children and admirers.

Her victory over challenges was demonstrated by the cluster of people around to wish her well.

The soul–lifting songs from the choir and rhythms produced by the instruments electrified the auditorium. It was as if the heavens momentarily came down. It was praises all the way.

Preaching, Mr Busayo Folarin touched on prudent management of talents and resources picking his text from Matthew 25. He also spoke on vigilance and preparedness, alluding to the actions of the 10 maidens.

He urged Christians to discover themselves to justify the purpose of creation –dominating the environment and multiplying in resources and talents.

The celebrator thanked the church for standing by her during her trying period. She particularly appreciated the fatherly role of the General Superintendent,Rev Emmanuel Folarin. She sang and danced to express her joy. Rev Folarin praised God for imbuing in her rare virtues and for seeing her through her challenges. He prayed for her successful retirement and more fruitful years in the service of God. The trains later moved to her Egan residence in Iba Local Government Area of the state for reception. Guests enjoyed sumptuous meals, wines, juice and soft drinks with light music blazing from large speakers.

For Rev. Babajide Alake, who has known the celebrator for upwards of 20 years, Mrs Ojo is a good, caring mother, an incurable giver and a team player.

“She abhors injustice and promotes fairness.

She is very industrious and prayerful,” Rev Alake said.

A sister–in–law, Mrs Felicia Olabisi Adetayo,

S

• Rev Folarin congratulating Mrs Ojo

described her as “a virtuous woman, a woman like a man, loving, caring and always in good spirit. She takes pleasure in nourishing her children. I can only pray for a long life so that she will enjoy the fruit of her labour. We are very proud of her.”

A long time acquaintance of hers, Mrs. Toyin Adebayo said: “I call her Aunty because of her closeness to me. She is a mother among mothers. Though she is retired, she is never tired.”

Her first son, Tunde described her as ‘best mum.’

He said: “I am proud to identify with her.

Despite the stress and challenges that life has presented, she never looked back. Her effort in sponsoring us without help from anyone to school is rare. She can go the extra-mile, denying herself comfort in order to achieve her

objective.”

For her only daughter, Fumbi, an accountant, she is a perfect example of a mother.

“She goes the extra mile to achieve the best for her children. She is a disciplined woman,” she said Mrs Ojo recalled how she weathered the storm: “I am privileged to operate under the great influence of God. Honestly, I achieved nothing by my own power but that of God. “Besides, I believe one must have focus and discipline even in the face of adversities. I also cherish prudence and self-development. This enabled me to guard my loins and train my children, develop our plot of land and obtain two additional diploma certificates – all after my husband’s death. Indeed, it was a success story built around God and discipline.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

54

SOCIETY The 1970-1974 set of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) held its Re-union and Worship Service in Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI and TIMOTHY OWOMOLADE report.

T

HEY left Baptist Academy, Lagos, popularly known as Baptacad 40 years ago. Since 1974, many of them had not seen one another until penultimate Sunday's event which brought them together.

They came to celebrate the 40th year of leaving school. They shook hands, hugged and backslapped one another as they remembered their days in school.

Many donned white native clothes and uniformed navy blue caps with red and white stripes. Their wives wore choice traditional attires; some of the women used the same aso oke as ipele and gele.

The reunion party and worship service of the 1970- 1974 set of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) were full of fun.

The service held at the Shepherd Hill Baptist Church in Obanikoro, Lagos; the reunion party held at Zen Gardens Chinese Restaurant, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. The party featured the launch of a book titled: “Four decades after, a reflection on our years at Baptist Academy”. It also featured the launch of the school’s library project fund, among other activities.

At the service, Rev Israel Kristilere urged the old boys to cultivate the habit of praying regularly, saying that is the only way to have your problems resolved.

He read 2 Kings 1: 9-18, noting that God is needed to win the battles of life.

During the thanksgiving, they danced from the church entrance to the altar and Rev Kristilere prayed for them.

After the thanksgiving, the old boys went outside for photographs and moved to Zen Gardens Chinese Restaurant where the reunion party started with prayers by wife of one of the old boys, Mrs Bola Janikre, a lawyer. The Principal Consultant of Admos Consult, Mr Wale Adebiyi, anchored the event. The gathering observed a minute silence for their departed members.

Chairman of BAOSA 70-74 set and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Publications Limited, Mr Lanre Idowu, in his welcome address said the gathering was to thank God for keeping them 40 years after leaving school and also to give back to the school.

“We are here to reunite with ourselves, to keep in touch with one another and to help the school,” he said.

Chairman of the event and General Manager, Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr Shayo Holloway, said the school was top class in the 70s, adding that everything must be done to restore its glory.

Some of the old boys recounted their days in school. Pastor Segun Osunsan of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 22, recalled the years they used to jump into public buses to return home from school. He also spoke of the distances they walked to get home, not because their parents did not give them transport fare but because of the fun of walking with friends, buying pop

40 years after • From left: Mr Idowu; Chief Onakoya and Mr Holloway

• Pastor Segun Osunsan and wife Ronke

corn and groundnuts which they ate on the way. He also recalled the big playing and agricultural fields in the school, lamenting that all is gone.

The association’s Secretary and a Chartered Accountant in Facilitation and Thrilling Services Limited, Mr Olumide Ajomade, described their experience in school as good, adding that the school laid the foundation for what he is today.

He lamented the state of the school, saying things are not as they left them. “This is why we are refurbishing the school library with about N1million and we will continue to do more for the school just as every graduating set tries to add their own quota for the development of the school,” he said.

Chief Medical Director/Chief Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Arewa Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Dr Frank Fashina proposed the toasts.

Mr Toyin Akinoso reviewed the book, which was edited by Idowu.

BAOSA president and a wine merchant Chief Olatunde Onakoya, said their coming together was not only to wine and dine but to generate ideas, learn from one another and reason together on how the set

• Mr Robert Ade-Odiahci and Mrs Jumoke Adebiyi

•Mr Akinosho

• From left: Prince Ademola Adeyemi; Mr Olumide Ajomale and Mr Oyewole Ademola PHOTOS: NINIYI ADENIRAN

can help the school.

He said: “This is why we are equipping the library knowing that education requires concrete stakeholders including teachers and alumni as the government cannot do it alone.

“Over the years, we have tried to meet regularly but we hope that with today’s gathering there would be a change.”

He urged BAOSA members to come together, saying he hoped those at the gathering would make up their minds to do well for the school. “I

need someone to hand over to; someone that I am sure will take the association to greater heights,” he said.

He also spoke on other things the association had done for the school, such as its involvement in the valedictory service and buying sport materials for the school and students during the inter-house sports. “We also engage in making food for the students on the school’s anniversary day and bringing alumni to talk to them to motivate them,” he said.

He launched the book and other guests followed with thousands of naira.

The cutting of the anniversary cake was directed by a chartered accountant and Chairman of SIAO, Mr Robert Ade-Odiachi.

Assorted foods, snacks, fruits and drinks were served.

The event ended with a closing prayer by Mr Tony Egoegonwa, the Public Affairs Manager, Salpen Contracting Nigeria Limited.

BRIEF

Lagos agog for ex-lawamaker’s dad’s funeral

T

HE final funeral of a Lagos socialite Alhaji Raimi Atanda Balogun, the father of the former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly cum ex-chairman of OshodiIsolo Local Government, Hon Afeez Ipesa-Balogun will hold today at the Oshodi Isolo Local Government secretariat.

The late Balogun died on June 7 at 84.

He served the Lagos State Butchers Association in various capacities, including the Treasurer and was until his death a member of the association’s Board of Trustee.

The funeral will feature a prayer.

King of Fuji Music, Alhaji Wasiu Anifowoshe popularly called K1 De

Ultimate will entertain guests afterwards.

According to Hon Ipesa-Balogun, the fuji maestro will play his own version of a track extracted from volume 10 record of the late Apala crooner, Yusuf Olatunji to honour the late socialite.

His death according to family members has left a vacuum which will be difficult to fill.

The late Balogun was a philanthropy and successful businessman; he was also one of the founding fathers of Oshodi in Lagoe where he breathed his last.

Hailed from Ijaye-Obirintin, Gbagura, Abeokuta, Ogun State, his business moved him from Gbagura to Ifo, Mushin and finally Oshodi in the 50s.

He was a one-time major supplier of

fresh meat to some reputable hotels in Lagos namely Federal Palace Hotel, Ikoyi Hotel (now Southern Sun Hotel), Lagos Airport Hotels and Eko Hotel (now Eko Hotel and Suites).

He fulfilled one of the pillars of the Islamic religion by going on hajj in 1973.

In a condolence letter signed by Lagos State Butchers Association chairman and patron, Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem and Alhaji Sulaiman Afuwape respectfully, the late Balogun was described as aloyal and committed man, who was dedicated to his business and lived a comfortable life from teenage till death. He was also described as a contentment man.

In his honour the association declare today as work free day.

•The late Balogun

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

55

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

25-07-14 DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-09-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-09-14

Union Dicon Salt Plc reviews strategy, plans to diversify business

T

HE management of Union Dicon Salt Plc has hinted of plans to t urnaround its business in the coming years.

Chairman of the company, Gen. (Rtd.) T. Y. Danjuma speaking on the future prospect of the company at the 21st annual general meeting in Lagos yesterday said, the company is embarking on a major diversification exercise by investing in the Agricultural and industrial goods sector of the economy.

He said that the company intends to amend its memorandum and articles of association to accommodate the

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

diversification.

He assured the shareholders that the management and board of Union Dicon are committed to the continuous review of company’s strategy and operations.

“Our company will experience a significant improvement in fortunes, before the end of the next financial year,” Danjuma said.

The financial statement of the company at the end of 31st December, 2013 shows an improvement as its profit after tax moved from negative

figure of N20.415 million in 2012 to N11.814 million at the end of the 2013 financial year.

Although, its current liabilities still exceeded its current assets by N917.499 million and the company had a negative shareholders fund of N1.082 billion at the end of 2013 financial year.

It would be recalled that in the last quarter of 2013, CBO Capital Partners became a significant minority shareholder in Union Dicon Salt, by acquiring 44 million units at the par value, having 15 per cent of Union Dicon and also being awarded a board management contract.

56

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

MONEYLINK

CRR: 10 banks keep N2.3tr with CBN T EN lenders have contributed N2.3 trillion to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) policy of the regulator, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an investment and research firm has said.

CRR is a portion of banks’ deposits kept with the CBN as reserves.

In a research report titled: Nigerian banks: The cost of Macro Stability, the firm explained that looking at the reported first half numbers for the 10 banks under its coverage, they have N2.3 trillion in cash reserve at the CBN earning zero interest.

This, it said, represents an average CRR of 22 per cent for these banks, ranging from 18 per cent at First Bank of Nigeria Holding Company (FBNH) to 27 per cent at Zenith and Fidelity banks.

This is up from an average of 11 per cent in 2012 and 16 per cent last year. In computing the implied CRR per bank, RenCap used the reported

Stories by Collins Nweze

restricted deposits as a percentage of each bank’s naira deposits in the country.

On average, it said restricted deposits have grown by 127 per cent between 2012 and June 2014, ranging from 72 per cent at Skye to 186 per cent at Diamond banks.

“We believe the significantly tighter banking regulations explain the relatively low returns of the Nigerian banks versus sub Saharan Africa (SSA) peers; but on the flipside, they explain the country’s relatively stable macro conditions. Our view therefore is that for the Nigerian banks’ returns to improve sustainably over time, some loosening of monetary policy front will be necessary, particularly on the CRR,” it said.

Continuing, it said last year was the year to take the pain, this year to stabilise and next year when

lenders are expected to start seeing early signs of recovery. It said any loosening of monetary policy is unlikely until after the elections in December next year.

It said: “We expect the Systematically Important Banks (SIB) rules in Nigeria to indicate a minimum CAR of 15 per cent for SIBs, with tier 2 capital capped at 25 per cent of total qualifying capital.

“Above the 15 per cent, SIBs will be required to maintain a one per cent capital buffer that comprises entirely of tier 1 capital, which will raise the minimum CAR for SIBs to 16 per cent.”

It said significantly tighter banking regulations explain the relatively low returns of the Nigerian banks against SSA peers; but on the flipside, they explain the country’s relatively stable macro conditions. “Our view therefore is that for the Nigerian banks’ returns to improve sustainably over time, some loosening of monetary policy front will be necessary, particularly

Mansard grows revenue by 27% to N9.61b

M

ANSARD Insurance Plc has announced its audited half year results for the period ended June 30, 2014 which showed it reported a 27 per cent growth in both gross premium written (GPW) and net premium income (NPI).

The recorded GPW of N9.61 billion up 27 per cent from N7.55 billion it earned in June last year. The growth it said, was driven by increased patronage from both institutional and retail clients.

The firm’s NPI also rose by 27 per cent to N4.47 billion as against N3.51 billion in 2013. The feat, it said was based on high retention rate based on due to improved retail per formance.

Investment Income & Other Income stood at N1.55 billion, down 33 per cent from N2.3 billion re-

corded last year. The result, it said, was due to a one-off profit on disposal of an unquoted equity and unrealised gain on investment property in 2013. Equally, profit before tax stood at N993 million from N2.06 billion in 2013, a 52 per cent decline while profit after tax dropped by 56 per cent to N814 million, from previous N1.84 billion.

Its Chief Client Officer, Tosin Runsewe said: “This year, revenue growth has been driven by deepening relationships through superior customer service delivery and our growing accessibility to customers. Our medium term focus is to rapidly grow our distribution channels such that our accessibility to all customers will be with ease and conve-

nience. We expect the first half of 2014 growth pattern to continue during the second half of the year.”

Its Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Rashidat Adebisi said that the 52 per cent drop in profitability was expected.

Commenting further on the performance, she said “Also putting a drag on profitability was the 53 per cent growth in Net Claims over last year.

This growth was driven by lower recoveries from reinsurance as most of the claims were within our retention limits”.

She added that overall, the firm’s March 2014 performance is very much in line with its projections for the period. “We look forward to a better June as this would deliver better underwriting performance as experience has shown,” she said.

on the CRR. “We would like to see Nigerian banks deliver returns comparable with those of their SSA peers, but we believe the operating and regulatory environment in Nigeria is significantly tougher than in other key SSA markets. Sector earnings have been broadly resilient, but some banks stand out, and these are our top picks in the space: Zenith, Access, Stanbic and FCMB banks,” it said.

At sector level, we estimate the Nigerian banking sector now has a blended cash reserve ratio (CRR) of about 31 per cent, against 11 per cent in Ghana, 5.25 per cent in Kenya and five per cent in Rwanda.

Sterling Bank bags PCI recertification

T

HE Council of Payment Card Industry (PCI) has recertified Sterling Bank Plc barely one y ear after it was certified by the council. The feat, the bank said, is recognition of its compliance with standard practice in cards management implementation of all security controls to protect cardholders’ information.

The bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola disclosed to newsmen in Lagos that the recertification of the bank by PCI’s Council is a testimony of the its resolve to adequately protect information about its customers from going into wrong hands.

He explained that Sterling Bank as a responsible financial institution has put in place the right mechanisms to ensure non-disclosure of information about customers to unauthorized persons and

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,118.84 121.30 121.16 1,117.51 1.2451 1.2926 0.8892 1.0780

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,118.03 120.45 120.30 1,116.70 1.2367 1.2926 0.8721 1.0780

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 27/08/2014 25/08/2014 20/08/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 346.43m 398.77m 349.67m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES September 2, 2014

Inflation: July

8.3%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

GAINERS AS AT 11-09-14

ensure that information is not compromised at any point in time adding that the bank will continue to uphold the tenet of confidentiality, integrity and availability in the handling of information of its customers.

He said the bank has deployed tools to improve the security of information about our customers and the Bank, and create security awareness among internal and external customers on how to secure their information.

He however advised organizations in the country as well as individuals to protect information about them carefully to avoid the use of such information for criminal activity. According to him, Nigerians must continue to see the need to dimension the risks associated with information leakages and avoid treating sensitive information with levity.

DATA BANK

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.6b

US Dollar

154.73

155.73

$110.44

Pounds Sterling

256.465

258.1225

PREMBREW

3.65

4.02

0.37

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

VONO

0.88

0.96

0.08

Money Supply (M2)

N15.9 trillion.

Euro

204.1662

205.4857

IKEJAHOTEL

1.24

1.30

0.06

COSTAIN

0.96

1.00

0.04

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Swiss Franc

168.8455

169.9367

NEM

0.76

0.79

0.03

Yen

1.4876

1.4975

SEPLAT

650.00

670.00

CFA

0.294

0.314

FIDSON

3.30

3.40

0.10

DANGSUGAR

8.41

8.65

0.24

234.7445

236.2616

34.22

35.00

0.78

Yuan/Renminbi

25.1466

25.31

2.20

2.25

0.05

Riyal

41.2558

41.5225

SDR

235.0039

236.5227

PZ STERLNBANK

O/PRICE 58.89 1.15 4.00 0.95 173.50 3.34 10.00 25.69 14.80 7.30 0.74

C/PRICE 53.16 1.10 3.85 0.92 168.04 3.25 9.79 25.20 14.52 7.20 0.73

16.5%

20.00

LOSERS AS AT 11-09-14

SYMBOL CONOIL DNMEYER ETERNA RTBRISCOE GUINEESS AFRIPRUD UBN OANDO FBNH UBA ABCTRANS

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

CHANGE -5.73 -0.05 -0.15 -0.03 -5.46 -0.09 -0.21 -0.49 -0.28 -0.10 -0.01

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Rate (%)

Rate3.37

(%) Overnight (O/N)

10.500

10.500

1M

12.175

12.101

3M

13.328

13.225

6M

14.296

14.-85

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

WAUA

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.00

T-bills - 182

10.07

T-bills - 364

10.22

Bond - 3yrs

11.37

Bond - 5yrs

11.41

Bond - 7yrs

11.86

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

57

BUSINESS EXTRA

Govt directs mortgage institutions to process 66,400 applications

T

HE Federal Government has instructed primary mortgage inistitutions (PMIs) to process the applications of the over 66,000 Nigerians who applied for the 10,000 Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) housing programme.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala said “due to the over subscription (for the scheme) a decision has been taken to give all applicants to the lending members of NMRC

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor)

to share on a pro-rata basis.

Lending members of NMRC are expected to have the refinancing window of up to 20 years.”

The initial offer of 10,000 mortgage application was over subscribed by 66,402 Nigerians who showed interest in the home ownership programme of the NMRC. Okonjo-Iweala directed the 17 PMIs and four commercial banks involved in the mortgage exercise to share the 66,402 applications among

themselves and prequalify those who meet the criteria for accessing mortgage facilities under the NMRC initiative and get back to the government in eight weeks.

According to her, President Goodluck Jonathan is monitoring the implementation process and assured both mortgage institutions and applicants that there is enough money to fund the 66,000 applications for now.

Applications for the 10,000 housing programme under the NMRC closed on the 5th of this month this year with 66,402 applications received from “exceedingly excited

Nigerians with applications coming from the 36 states and the FCT”.

She said 63 per cent of the applicants were male while 37 per cent were female. She said people “tend to apply individually as 89 per cent applied in their own names while only 11 per cent were joint applicants as couples.”

Those in the 31-40 years age bracket submitted the highest number of applications suggesting interest among the actively working group of Nigerians.

Nigerians she said “showed that we prefer three bedroom flats/houses, with

62.7 per cent of applicants applying to acquire this property type. 32 per cent wanted two bed flats and a small percentage applied for one bedroom flats and one bedroom self-contained flats.”

The programme she noted is for people who do not own a home, and from the information given by the applicants, “96 per cent of applicants are living in rented houses; most people (51 per cent) applied for buildings in Abuja with 18 per cent of applicants opting for Lagos. 92 per cent of the applicants have stable jobs while eight per cent are self employed.”

Already, mortgage lenders have pre-qualified some people and asked them to look for their houses. She commended mortgage institutions for keeping to the time they said they will need to use to process applications which is eight weeks and also reducing the criteria for accessing the mortgage from 15 pages of information to just two pages.

The mortgage lenders are expected to sift through the applications and analyse and pre-qualify all applicants culminating in the amounts each lender is willing to advance to the applicant.

IEI-Anchor Pension raises share capital to N3b

S

HAREHOLDERS of IEIAnchor Pension Manag ers have voted to raise the company’s share capital from N2.222 billion to N3 billion in a move to accommodate increasing strategic partners’ interests that could help expand the business further.

Its Managing Director, Solomon Okoli told shareholders that the the ‘storm is over’, assuring that the firm has overcome its teething problems and is now positioned for sustainable growth and profitability.

Okoli who spoke at the firm’s maiden annual general meeting (AGM) in Abuja that the firm has extended operations to 30 states of the federation, servicing over 75,000 customers and managing a couple of states’ staff pension.

He said the firm grew shareholders’ funds more than eight folds from N150 million in 2005 to N1.240 billion last year, stressing that expansion efforts so far have repositioned the company for better performance even as the half year results have shown.

The CEO said the long term plan of the company is to be among tier one PFAs in Nigeria, with the threshold of a minimum of N100billion of assets under its management.

He explained that the cost of

By Alvin Afadama

expansion had eaten into the firm’s revenue and consequently, profit assuring however of its bright future outlook.

He said: “Our expansion may not be profitable immediately, but as we scale up over time, we will get through this and we are already seeing this in 2014. We are already seeing a lot of improvements.

“We are seeing some of the locations that we opened last year being more profitable now. We are expanding our customer base, and the contribution level is beginning to yield and adding to the bottom line.”

According to him, part of the expansion strategies is to raise the company’s share capital to N3 billion in order to be positioned for possible acquisition moves.

Of its new share capital, Okoli said: “People outside are beginning to see the opportunities out there and they are getting interested in what we are doing and want to come in to be part of us. If we do not increase our share capital, cannot accommodate such people to be part of the company. So we want to have the flexibility and use the capital to expand the business.

How to get jobs for youths,

by Lafarge chief

T

HE Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Wapco Cement company, Mr Joe Hudson, yesterday said companies could help reduce unemployment in the country gradually by creating avenues for the youths to undergo apprenticeship training in technical skills.

Hudson said such technical and vocational trainings would not only have equipped the trainees upon graduation with the relevant skills required by companies if they chose paid employment, but also make them to be self-employed as well as potential employers of labour in future.

He said he had travelled to many countries of the world but found Nigerians to be quite unique and resilient because of their “I - can - do it - spirit.”

Hudson spoke in Ewekoro, Ogun State, during the graduation ceremony of a dozen youth as well as the inauguration of the 20 new intake under the company’s Apprenticeship Training Scheme for Youths from Host

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Communities.

The 12 graduands passed through 18 months intensive training in automation, instrumentation engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering at the Lafarge Wapco Apprenticeship Training Centre, Ewekoro.

Hudson said there is so much potential in the youths and urged other companies to borrow a leaf from its initiative to “make Nigeria great.”

He noted that the company decided to “resurrect and resuscitate” apprenticeship training for technical skills not only to give the youths hope but also to address the “mismatch” between the skills required by employers and that possessed by the job seekers.

According to him, Lafarge had decided to absorb 75 percent of the technically trained youths while the others would be attached to permanent contractors working for the company.

• From left: Company Secretary, Olufemi Onoru, Zwingina and Okoli, in Abuja....on Wednesday

BPE moves to repeal monopoly laws

T

HE Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki yesterday said the agency is sponsoring eight reform bills in the National Assembly in order to repeal monopoly laws.

He added that the reform bills are to liberate the various sectors of the economy, separate the roles of policy formulation from regulation and operations and also set up independent regulators for the sectors.

Making a presentation to officials of Department for International Development (DFID) and other international development partners on “The Federal Government Privatisation and Economic Reform Programme”

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

in Abuja yesterda, Dikki the eight bills were designed to eradicate all forms of monopolistic practices in the affected sectors.

In a statement endorsed by its Head, Public Communications, Chigbo Anichebe said the bills are the Railway Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, Inland Waterways Bill, Ports & Harbor Reform Bill, Road Sector Reform Bill, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, Roads Fund Bill, and Postal Sector Reform Bill.

He also identified other sector-specific reform laws midwifed by the BPE to include Electric Power Sector Reform Act (ESPRA), Nigeria Railway

Commission Bill, Telecommunications Act, National Inland Water Way Bill, Solid Minerals Act, Gas Bill, Petroleum Industry Bill, Federal Competition Commission Bill, Ports and Harbour Authorities Bill, Postal Sector Reform Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, Industrial Policy, Federal Roads Authority Bill, Pension Reform Act, and Roads Fund Bill.

Dikki further elaborated on the role of the BPE in championing the reforms of the nation’s seaports through the concession of the various port terminals, adding that before the reform, it was practically impossible to carry out meaningful business activities in the ports as it took months to clear goods.

He said ports operations were characterised by long waiting periods, diversion of Nigerian bound vessels to neighboring countries and very high and duplicated charges to Ports users.

According to him, collaboration with international development partners has positioned the Bureau as Knowledge based institution.

He said without the Technical and Financial support of the World Bank, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Kingdom DFID and other development partners, the reform and privatisation programme of the Federal Government would not have achieved the success recorded so far.

‘Weak private sector responsible for unemployment’

T

HE failur of successive governments to provide infrastructure has led to a weak private sector that is unable to provide needed jobs for the youths..

This dearth of infrastructural facilities has scared away would-be investors in the country leading to unemployment in the country, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

Ahmed threatened to nullify any employment into the state’s civil service which did not draw applicants from the pool of youths currently taking part in the state’s employment bridging project, KWABES. Ahmed, who made the promise during a Town Hall meeting with youths participating in the scheme, was re-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

sponding to allegations by some of the participants to the effect that contrary to the promise by his government during the launch of the scheme, some fresh intake into the state’s civil service had been made ‘through the back door’.

The governor, who acknowledged getting the report, gave the youths his personal email address to furnish him with details as he expressed disappointment that some people could be working against the vision of the project.

“I have been getting report and you have confirmed here that the scheme I put in place has not been followed to the letter,” he told the youths as-

sembled from across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Said he: “I am going to say openly that if anyone is found smuggling anybody into the civil service without going through KWABES, that employment will be nullified and the person who perpetrated it will be sanctioned because we cannot create a programme and somebody will be sabotaging it.

“I have given my instruction very clearly that the people on the bridge are the first consideration for employment anywhere they are and it will remain so.”

He told the youths, who also pledged to support him if he would contest the 2015 election in the state, that all stakeholders must work to en-

sure that KWABES succeeds as the private sector in is not yet strong enough to absorb everyone seeking employment even though the sector is supposed to be the creator of jobs.

The governor also gave details of his administration’s struggles with dwindling monthly revenue from the Federation Account saying last year, the state only got a total of N38 billion compared with a state such as Akwa Ibom that got N460 billion over the same period of time.

“But despite our position, we are one of the few states that have been paying salaries as wt when due, we have also not defaulted on pensions as well as the promotion of our civil servants,” the governor said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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BUSINESS EXTRA To deepen its commitment to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cash-less banking initiative, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is collaborating with Verve International to reward cardholders. Winners in the ongoing UBA Verve Rewards Promo ending November 30, will get cash prizes and gift items depending on value of e-payment transactions done using Point of Sale (POS) terminals, Automated Teller Machines, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Building sustainable cashless banking via e-payment products T

HE cash-less banking initiative now in its third year of implementation has opened up opportunities for wide acceptance of e-payment products. It has also enabled key operators in the payment industry to reward customers for their loyalty.

For instance, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in partnership with Verve International has embarked on an initiative to reward the bank’s Verve debit cardholders in the ongoing UBA Verve Rewards Promo.

The lender explained in a statement that the objective is to encourage and reward its Verve cardholders who initiate cashless transactions during this pre summer/back to school season.

The reward scheme, it added, is primarily to encourage the use of the Verve debit card for local and domestic web and Point of Sale (PoS) payments as well as value-added services transactions on the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Under the current arrangement, on a weekly basis, 80 cardholders who initiate a minimum of five value-added services transactions on the ATM valued at a minimum of N1,000 or more will have the opportunity to win airtime and Nokia mobile phones.

On a monthly basis, 40 cardholders who initiate a minimum of five PoS/ Web transactions worth N10,000 or more would win N5,000 top up on their e-Cash account.

According to the lender, the grand reward is a monthly cash price of N35,000 for 10 cardholders who initiate transactions at any Verve Reward Merchant location worth N2,000 or more.

The bank said the promo ends November 30, 2014.

Verve cardholders can also access a selection of offers and experiences ranging from cash back to Instant discounts, vouchers, among others through the Verve reward scheme powered by Verve International and supported by various reward partners.

“All that is required is for a cardholder to have an active UBA Verve debit card and transact register on online with his or her UBA Verve card,” it said.

UBA Verve debit card is protected with best in its class technology for online and offline security. It is fortified with the One Time Password (OTP) advanced security feature for online transactions.

The product, the lender said, enables cardholders to access their money anywhere in Nigeria, which includes making purchases for goods and services at local merchant outlets (POS, Web) in Nigeria. Also, withdrawals can be made at any ATM displaying the Interswitch logo within Nigeria.

Equally, the product can be used for cash withdrawal at any UBA terminal or any ATM displaying the Interswitch logo. It can equally be used to make everyday purchases at local merchant locations and web sites where Verve cards are accepted in the country.

Customers can also pay their bills, recharge phone online or do much more with QuickTeller.com.

“Your UBA Verve Debit Card is extremely versatile and simple to use. You have the convenience of paying for your purchases directly from your bank account, without having to carry any cash. That’s the cashless

lifestyle! Yet, your card and your transactions are highly secured with the best card technology,” the bank said.

Chief Executive Officer, Verve International, Charles Ifedi, said customers can also track their purchases on a regular basis. The details of the purchases made on their cards, along with the date, merchant name and amount are mentioned in the bank statement.

He explained that should the card get lost or stolen, customers are protected against fraudulent purchase transactions from the moment they call the bank’s helpline.

“Other features of the product is that it is available only on Naira current or savings account, valid for five years from the month of issue, requires a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for all ATM and PoS transactions and transfer instantly money from your account to other accounts in UBA or other banks in Nigeria,” he said.

Ifedi said cardholders need to have an active savings or current account advising that those that do not have an account with UBA, should simply open one by completing and signing debit card application form.

“We are delighted to partner with UBA to reward new and existing Verve cardholders.

As Nigeria’s leading payment card brand, we are always looking for ways to improve our offer and encourage card pick-up and usage so that everyone can benefit from a cashless society,” he said Speaking further, he said that by signing up to Verve with UBA, cardholders will benefit from exciting gifts by activating and using their cards across all channels. Cardholders can equally use their Verve cards to make payments

• UBA CEO Phillips Oduoza

securely in-store at PoS terminals, online and on mobile, and at ATMs across the country.

Recall that the CBN and banks consistently urge Nigerians to embrace e-payment platform as the best option for settlement of business transactions. The stakeholders said e-payment platforms have benefits of convenience safety and receipt of instant value to enable people make payments for their transactions.

The apex bank and commercial banks have also commenced a communication awareness campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the benefits of these e-payment platforms, encourage usage and adoption of these payment options.

“Nigerians are enjoined to embrace the epayment platforms due to their safety, reliability and efficiency. This is also coupled with the attendant security issues with making payments through cash transactions. These e-payment platforms have become globally acceptable means for financial transactions and encouraged Nigerians to adopt same for their transactions,” stakeholders said.

Ghana’s dollar bond more rewarding than Ivory Coast’s

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•From left: Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mrs Debola Osibogun; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe and Director, Human Resources, Central Bank of Nigeria, Chizoba Mojekwu during the second annual seminar on ‘Promoting Gender Economic Inclusion’ organised by Centre for Financial Studies and Access Bank Plc in Lagos.

British banks to focus on risks

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RITISH banks need to prepare for the risk of financial mar ket turmoil when central banks end unconventional monetary policy such as asset purchases, the Bank of England said yesterday.

Don Kohn, a former vice-chairman of the US Federal Reserve who now serves on the BoE’s main risk watchdog, told British banks to guard against the risk of defaults, sharp rises in market interest rates and illiquid assets as monetary policy returns to normal after the financial crisis.

British banks should also expect to have to raise more capital, to ensure they can be broken up without cost to taxpayers if they run into difficulty in future, Kohn said.

The remarks from Kohn come as BoE Governor Mark Carney has said that the time for British interest rates to rise is getting nearer, and as the BoE’s Financial Policy

Committee considers whether to issue new quarterly recommendations to banks on October 2.

The BoE has said it will not start to sell down its 375 billion pounds ($609 billion) of quantitative easing asset purchases until it has raised interest rates well above their current 0.5 per cent.

But markets got a taste of the potential turmoil earlier this year when there was speculation that the Fed might slow its purchases, and markets expect the BoE to start to raise interest rates early next year.

Speaking to the British Bankers’ Association, which represents high-street lenders, Kohn said the end of unconventional monetary policy should come when the British economy was healthy.

“Exit is likely to be a positive event for the UK economy and financial markets. It will probably occur in the context of continued

good gains in output and employment, so your customers will be borrowing more but at the same time better able to repay,” he said.

But there could be nasty surprises.

“Exit is not without its risks and dangers, especially after a long period of very low interest rates and low market volatility. And exit is likely to occur at different times in different jurisdictions globally, adding to the complexity and potential complications.”

Kohn said that interest rate margins were very narrow in some sectors, and that British households were still highly indebted. Market interest rates could also rise sharply once central banks stopped buying or holding government bonds.

“Central Bank purchases of longer-term assets, including gilts, have driven down term premia... suggesting the adjustment at the long end of the curve could be especially sharp,” he said.

HANA is set to pay more than Ivory Coast as it yes terday began sale of a benchmark-sized dollar bond. The West African nation may price the debt due January 2026 at about 8.375 percent, according to a person with knowledge of the offering who asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly.

Ivory Coast, which defaulted on Eurobonds after missing a coupon payment in December 2010, sold 10year notes at 5.375 per cent in July.

A benchmark-sized offering typically raises at least $500 million.

The sale “probably looks like a reasonable deal for Ghana because of the situation with the country and the fact that there hasn’t seemed to be any serious policy rebalancing,” Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist at London-based Exotix Ltd., said by phone yesterday. “It’s a little bit wider than a 10-year would be.”

African nations from Senegal to Kenya have sold bonds this year as borrowing costs dropped to a 15month low in August, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. indexes.

Ghanaian bonds returned less than the emerging-market average in 2014 as the country raised its budget deficit forecast. Inflation accelerated for a 12th month and its currency weakened the most in the world after Ukraine’s hryvnia.

The premium investors demand to own African debt over US Treasuries was 269 basis points yesterday, according to JPMorgan Chase indexes. The spread was 539 basis points for Ghana, the gauges show. Ivory Coast is the world’s largest producer of cocoa.

The yield on Ghana’s notes due August 2023 dropped 58 basis points this year to 7.9 per. The

rates on Nigeria’s July 2023 securities dropped 85 basis points in 2014 to 5.07 per cent.

The International Monetary Fund may sign a deal with Ghana on technical and possible financial assistance by November, Deputy Finance Minister Mona Quartey said in London on Sept. 5. Finance Minister Seth Terkper didn’t answer two calls made to his mobile phone yesterday and didn’t return a text message. Sam Mensah, a technical adviser at the Accra-based ministry, also didn’t answer a call to his mobile phone.

“Ghana’s poor fiscal track record and no guarantees that it will consummate an IMF program later this year mean that they will probably need to offer a meaningful concession to their existing dollar debt,” Alexander Moseley, a senior portfolio manager in New York with Schroders Plc, said yesterday before the pricing information was released.

An IMF mission will be in Ghana September 16 to September 25, Ismaila Dieng, a spokesman for the Washington-based lender, said in an e-mailed response to questions, declining to comment on the Eurobond. Moody’s Investors Service cut Ghana’s rating on June 27 to B2, the fifth-highest non-investment grade, while Ivory Coast is a notch higher at B1. Fitch Ratings assesses both nation’s at B. Government spending including civil-servant pay increases and lower revenue from key exports such as gold weighed on the fiscal deficit, which was forecast in July to reach 8.8 per cent of gross domestic product this year from an earlier target of 8.5 per cent. The cedi slumped 35 percent this year against the dollar, pushing inflation to 15.9 per cent in August.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

NEWS President: I didn’t take Sheriff to Chad Continued from page 4

Chad.

He said: “We have noted with surprise, the unnecessary hue and cry raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other bigoted critics of the Jonathan Administration over the claim that the President is ‘hobnobbing’ with the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who was recently accused by Australian Stephen Davis of being one of the chief sponsors of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

“The totally erroneous basis for that charge was the spurious claim that Senator Sheriff accompanied President Jonathan on his recent trip to Ndjamena as a member of his entourage.

“Although Senator Sheriff himself has already given the lie

to that claim through his Media Adviser, the Presidency wishes to affirm, for the purpose of emphasis, that the former Borno State governor was not on President Jonathan’s delegation to Chad.

“In keeping with President Jonathan’s commitment to transparency and openness in the conduct of government business, names of the key members of his delegation were announced a day before his trip to Ndjamena.

“They included the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and the Director-General of National Space Research and Develop-

ment Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed.

“As can be easily verified from the complete list of members of the presidential entourage to Chad which was also circulated on Sunday and never changed, Senator Sheriff’s name was not on it. The only other persons on the list were the President’s aides, security personnel and journalists.”

“The APC and others who rushed to condemn President Jonathan for a non-existent indiscretion would have found, if they took the least trouble to double-check, that there was absolutely no factual basis for their accusation.

“Those who associate with Senator Sheriff know that he has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of his time there.”

‘We left our children behind fleeing from Boko Haram’ Continued from page 4

towns and villages by the insurgents. I lost contact with some members of my family, especially my nine children. I managed to escape with only their mother. Musa said he lived in Borno State for about 30 years adding: “I had no option than to leave.”

A mother of eight, Fatima Abubakar, said: “We were chased out of Michika in Adamawa State. I was holding my baby when the sects’ members visited our home. I had to abandon the baby there and ran for my dear life.”

Jega local government Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Haruna, who received the displaced persons, told reporters that the victims arrived in Jega enroute Maiyama, Bunza and Argungu local government areas, adding that none of them was from his local government.

He said the victims were provided with temporary shelter, food and medical care, pending when they would reunite with their family.

He said the victims had been subjected to rigorous screening by security agencies and medical personnel to ensure that they

were not a threat to the society, stressing that “the medical check-up was done to ascertain their health status, considering the current prevalence of contagious diseases.

He praised the people of the area for complementing the government’s effort by providing clothes, foods, potable drinking water and medication.

The district head of Jega, Alhaji Muhammad Bawa, said the dispalced persons were stationed in Jega for their own safety, especially knowing full well that the Jega people are hospitable.”

Oil giant grabs contract from local company Continued from page 4

firms to circumvent due process and transparent transactions in their operations.

They said the NNPC in a letter to the Managing Director of Agip, captioned “NAOC Maintenance Service Contract For Gas Turbines And Related Equipment For OB/OB, Ebocha And Kwale Gas Plants” dated 13 June, 2014, and signed by the Group General Manager NAPIMS, Jonathan K. Okehs, had insisted that “NAOC should immediately commence negotiation with Arco Petrochemicals Limited, with a view to awarding a six-month Stop-Gap contract using the manpower loading that was approved for the 2013 Stop-Gap contract.

“You are therefore guided to abstain from any award of a stop-gap contract to Plantgeria for NAOC Maintenance service contract for Gas Turbines and related equipment for OB/OB, Ebocha and Kwale Gas Plants because this will constitute an illegal contraption.

“Thereafter, NAOC is to exe-

cute a bridge framework Agreement with Arco Petrochemicals Ltd for the provision of Maintenance Service contract for Gas Turbines and related equipment for OB/OB, Ebocha and Kwale Gas Plants for six-month StopGap contract. This will enable Joint Venture maintain the facilities pending the award of the ongoing replacement contract,” the letter, stated.

“NAOC proposal to execute an interim award contract with Plantgeria for a replacement tender of which award recommendation has not been presented for NNPC Board consideration and approval is declined and not approved.”

“NAPIMS will not support any cost expended on NAOC maintenance service contract for Gas Turbines and related equipment for OB/OB, Ebocha and Kwale Gas Plants arising from NAOC execution of such services with Plantgeria (another wholly-owned Italian firm being smuggled by Agip and GE to undo the Nigerian Arco).”

The sources pointed out that NAOC, a subsidiary of the Ital-

ian transnational oil giant, ENI, has left out the substantive issues in its breach of the Nigerian Content Act and has been covertly manipulating the due processes and rule guiding their operations, Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors have placed the CEO of Eni under investigation over alleged bribes paid for what is described as a lucrative Nigerian oil concession.

Eni confirmed yesterday that Claudio Descalzi and another official are under investigation but denied wrongdoing, saying the investigation would confirm their innocence. It pledged to cooperate with investigators.

The purported bribe concerns Eni’s purchase of the lucrative OPL 245 oil block in 2011. Eni and Shell insisted they paid the Nigerian government directly for the concession.

Prosecutors are however investigating whether the money, estimated to be about $1.1billion, went to a front company believed to be controlled by a former Nigerian oil minister.

Military yet to activate reserve list, says DHQ Continued from page 4

ment, however, it wishes to caution the authorities responsible for the reinstatement to scrutinize the retired soldiers thoroughly and ensure that only persons qualified in accordance with military regulations are recalled.

“Furthermore, the issue of Federal character must be re-

flected in the selection process to ensure fair representation of all sections of the country. ACF therefore urges the authorities to display transparency and honesty in the reinstatement exercise.

“ACF particularly advises that those who have never been in the military and therefore, cannot be re-instated or recalled

should be precluded from the exercise, as on no account should ex-militants, who after receiving formal training as part of Amnesty granted by late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s benevolence, be considered to benefit from the exercise. They are not qualified for either reinstatement or recall from the reserve list.”

Boko Haram threat: Maiduguri will not fall, says DHQ

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EARS that Maiduguri could fall to Boko Haram insurgents were dismissed yesterday by the military.

There is no basis for the reports that the Borno State capital, could be taken by the insurgents, the military said, but residents must be vigilant.

The figure is said to be from official records of the military after a stock-taking.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said on its Twitter handle: “Alarmist report on foreign and online media on Maiduguri

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

is clearly intended to cause panic in the city and the nation “All facets of security arrangements for the defence of Maiduguri have been upgraded to handle any planned attack or attempt to disrupt the city’s prevailing peace. This kind of alarmist report is uncalled for in view of the efforts and state of alertness “Citizens are nevertheless enjoined to remain vigilant as they go about their lawful business.

“The situation in Mubi,

Michika, Bazza, Gulak, Gwoza, Bama, Gamboru Ngala and other parts of the North East is being stabilised as highly coordinated air and land operations are ongoing,” it said, adding: “The efforts are yielding impressive results in the overall move to rid the area of all terrorist activities.”

A top military source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have taken stock of the counterattacks in the last two weeks.

Going by data available from battle fronts, troops have killed more than 300 insurgents within the period in question.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

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FOREIGN NEWS

13 years after, America remembers 9-11

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ED by President Barack Obama, Americans commemorated the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on Thursday by observing moments of silence for the thousands killed that day at New York City’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

In what has become an annual ritual, relatives began slowly reciting the nearly 3,000 names of the victims at a ceremony in lower Manhattan, from Gordon Aamoth Jr. to Igor Zukelman.

Readers would occasionally pause as a silver bell was rung to mark the exact times when each of the four planes hijacked by al Qaeda militants crashed at the three sites and when each of the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed. With each bell, a moment of silence was observed.

Obama spoke at the Pentagon during a private ceremony for relatives of the 184 people killed in the attack on the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, several miles from the White House.

He laid a wreath of white lilies and chrysanthemums, and kept his hand on his heart as “Taps” played.

“Thirteen years after small, hateful minds conspired to

Remembering Nigerians who also died

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NE was a lawyer in search of better life and better opportunities for his children. Another was a mother of two, who called to say goodbye to her family just as the towers were collapsing. The third was known as a family man, never too busy for his wife and children.

The story of every Nigerian that died in the terrorist attack of 9-11 in the United States is as unique as the dreams they pursued. They all migrated to the United States to better their lives and the lives of their children and loved ones.

It has been 13 years, and once again, we remember their stories: As an everyday ritual, 38-year-old Olabisi break us, America stands tall and America stands proud,” Obama said.

In New York, the voice of Tom Monahan, a 54-year-old man with salt-and-pepper hair and broad shoulders, cracked when he talked about the brother and cousin he lost in the attack.

“Everything is fine until you get here,” he said before waving his hands as if to signal he could not talk anymore. He emerged from the security checkpoints an hour later and showed a reporter a message he had sent on his cell phone to his sister. “9-12 couldn’t come soon enough,” it said.

Beyond the checkpoints, an invitation-only crowd stood beneath an overcast sky in the

By Adeola Oladele-Fayehun

Shadie Layeni-Yee called to check on her mother first thing on her arrival to work. Her mother, Edith Layeni, looked after her two children in Newark, New Jersey, when Layeni-Yee works. An assistant manager for International Office Centers at the World Trade Center North building, Layeni-Yee would also call at 2 p.m. to say good afternoon, and at 5 p.m. to say she was leaving.

As the eldest of four daughters, she would tease her mother saying, “Mother, are you dead yet?”

“No, I’m not dead yet, and I’m going to kick your little girl out the window if she doesn’t get quiet,” would be the reply.

memorial plaza at the heart of the new World Trade Center, which is nearing completion in lower Manhattan.

Some of those in attendance were dressed in military uniform, others wore T-shirts and sneakers.

Many people held up posters with smiling photographs of their dead relatives. Red roses and American flags poked up from the bronze plates bearing victims’ names that ring the two waterfalls that now trace the footprints of the fallen towers.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and two former mayors, Michael Bloomberg and Rudy

Giuliani, were among the mourners.

The high fences blocking off public access to most of the World Trade Center site finally came down in May. While lower Manhattan may look different this year, the threat to the United States represented by the Sept. 11 attacks remains. Washington and its allies see Islamic State, a group that began as an offshoot of al Qaeda, as an increasing danger.

On Wednesday, Obama said he had ordered an aerial bombing campaign targeting the group, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and released videos of beheadings of two American journalists.

Russia warns U.S. against strikes on Islamic State in Syria R USSIA has warned that US air strikes against militants in Syria would be a “gross violation” of international law.

A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said any such action, without the backing of the UN, would be “an act of aggression”.

It comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia to try to build a coalition against Islamic State (IS) militants.

President Obama has threatened action against IS in Syria as well as Iraq.

IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance.

In a speech outlining his strategy, Mr Obama said any group that threatened America would “find no safe

haven”.

He also announced that 475 US military personnel would be sent to Iraq but said they would not have a combat role.

President Obama: “We will degrade and ultimately destroy” IS But the statement brought a strong reaction from Russia, which has been an ally of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“The US president has spoken directly about the possibility of strikes by the US armed forces against Isil (IS) positions in Syria without the consent of the legitimate government,” ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich

was quoted as saying.

“This step, in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law.”

Syria also repeated its warning that the US had to co-ordinate with the Syrian government before launching air strikes on its territory.

“Any action of any kind without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria,” National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar said on Thursday.

Last month Syria offered to help the US fight Islamic State, however the US ruled that out.

The US has launched more than 150 air strikes against the

group in Iraq and has provided arms to Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting against IS. The jihadist group has become notorious for its brutality, recording their beheadings of enemy soldiers and Western journalists.

Mr Kerry, who arrived in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Thursday, will hold talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states as well as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nato member Turkey.

Reports say that among the issues to be discussed are training for Syrian rebels on Saudi soil and broader permission from regional states to use their airspace in order to increase the capacity of US aircraft.

Oscar Pistorius found not guilty of premeditated murder

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SCAR Pistorius has been cleared of the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, a vindication for the athlete who vehemently protested his innocence during a trial in South Africa that gripped millions around the world.

But the judge abruptly adjourned the trial on Thursday afternoon with the culpable homicide – manslaughter – charge still outstanding. In delivering her ruling, judge Thokozile Masipa said it was clear Pistorius had acted unlawfully in shooting the person behind the toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year.

She said a “reasonable person” would not have fired four shots into the toilet cubicle, and that Pistorius acted “too hastily and used excessive force … It is clear his conduct was negligent.”

The court will resume on Friday to hear her decision

on whether the athlete was guilty of culpable homicide, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

The Olympic and Paralympic athlete slumped forward in the dock and sobbed quietly as the judge ruled that the state had failed to prove he was guilty of murder or premeditated murder, and that the evidence was “purely circumstantial”.

The not guilty verdicts will bring some relief to his family, who were in court to support him every day, and the legion of fans who believed in him. It even raises the prospect that the Paralympian could one day resurrect his career on the track.

But the judgment is likely to be condemned by friends and supporters of Steenkamp, including the African National Congress women’s league, who were

regularly represented in the public gallery and danced and sang outside court on Thursday. It will also fuel fears that Pistorius has received preferential treatment because of his wealth and fame.

After 41 days of testimony that ran to 352 pages of evidence, Masipa ultimately dismissed the prosecution case that Pistorius intended to kill when he shot four times through a toilet door at his home on the morning of 14 February 2013. Neighbours at his luxurious gated community in the capital of South Africa had testified how they heard “bloodcurdling screams” before and during a volley of shots.Masipa said Pistorius was a “very poor witness”, but that untruthfulness did not in itself mean the accused was guilty. She ultimately accepted his tearful insistence that he killed Steenkamp by accident after

mistaking her for an intruder, and that he was traumatised by the death of the woman he loved.

“The state has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder,” the judge said. “There are just not enough facts to support such a finding.”

•Pistorius crying during sentencing at the court house...yesterday PHOTO: REUTERS

Obama’s speech, a military plan against ISIS

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Y the time President Obama announced the authorization of airstrikes in Syria Wednesday night, he clearly felt that he had little choice militarily or politically.

For three years he resisted American military involvement in Syria, where the Assad government and rebel forces are engaged in a bloody civil war.

But with the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria — the vicious Sunni extremist group also known as ISIS and ISIL, which has seized territory in Iraq and Syria and beheaded two Americans — Mr. Obama explained that he had to expand the fight into a perilous new horizon. “ISIL poses a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, and the broader Middle East — including American citizens, personnel and facilities,” he said.

“If left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region, including to the United States. While we have not yet detected specific plotting against our homeland, ISIL leaders have threatened America and our allies.”

In broadening the operation beyond airstrikes in Iraq, Mr. Obama says the aim now is to retake ISIS-controlled territory in Iraq and to degrade and ultimately destroy it wherever it operates, including in its strongholds in Syria. But even if discrete military goals are achieved in the short term, the expansion of the American role in that regional conflict carries substantial and unpredictable risks that Americans may not be willing to bear.

That’s why this open-ended operation, which Mr. Obama says will take time, demands congressional approval, despite his claim of authority to expand the campaign in Iraq and take the fight to Syria under the Iraq war resolution and the War Powers Resolution.

EXPRESSO

Aba people’s ‘riot’ •Continued from backpage It is yet another incontrovertible fact that TA has effectively been in office in the last three and half years, yet many would want to heap upon him, all the woes of the state. Just because he is not a show man like OUK, people are full of hate and calumny irrespective of his modest efforts. Let us look at some more facts: 23 years after the creation of Abia yet the government still operates from some colonial sheds probably built

by Lugard’s boys – it is perhaps the worst Government House in the land. Somebody ruled for nearly 12 years; he didn’t deem it fit to leave such a legacy in the overall interest of Abia people, instead, what he built in one remote village called Igbere is bigger that Aso Rock Presidential Villa. This is a fact.

It is also a fact that TA has in such a short period, built a befitting Government House for Abians. It is also a fact that for 23 years, Abia civil servants were scattered in makeshift sheds and private houses. Today, the state boasts of an imposing and befitting secretariat like every other state. Umuahia today has an international conference centre that would compete with the edifice in Abuja for conference and huge events revenues. TA’s rare feat of moving a major market out of the centre of the state capital to the outskirts is also a fact. But this is even more salutary because he has not only created perhaps the biggest modern market in the Southeast today with its huge revenues capabilities, he has freed up the hitherto ugly city centre for a befitting modern infrastructure.

There are so many more facts of TA’s government today that every Abia man would be proud of and which wicked propaganda cannot obliterate. But perhaps most important is that he has brought order, civility, peace and security to the land.

Before him, Abia was like a castrated man and, indeed, no ‘big’ man dared to sleep in his country home and diokpas held traditional marriage rites in Lagos and Abuja. Today TA has liberated Abia from her dark past. These and more were done in less than four years. Love him or hate him, these are facts.

A sample of voices from Aba? 08032155670: I would have stopped reading your articles if not that I have known you these years otherwise how could you.. it is people like you who are confusing TA. What Arthur Eze said is true. 90 % of major roads in Aba are in total decay.

Pls use your pen to save your fellow Igbo living in Aba. 08026666901: Dear Steve, I read your submission on the comments made by Chief Arthur Eze. It is so disturbing that you who people hold in high esteem will come out to defend the indefensible. Have you taken a tour of Aba in recent times?

Tell me one good street in Aba that is motorable.. Aba stinks, Aba is in a pitiable state. Steve you need to apologise to your fans. –Tob Anumaka 08036700481: You seem to me like one of the problems of this country; people who call black white. What if Chief Arthur Eze had called TA to order in secret as you suggested and he did nothing, what do you expect Chief Eze to do? Pretend all is well? Abia indeed is an eyesore, go to Aba. 08037959126: Steve, I read your piece on Arthur Eze’s comments and couldn’t help but shudder at your curious assertion that Gov. TA “has done more for Abia than all the past governors put together”.

08033716285: If you have visited Aba in the last two years, you will be a fool to defend TA Orji. Aba has the worst roads in the whole country. The governor is confused, history will judge him.

08039165603: If Arthur Eze had attempted to come to Aba am sure he would have called for the stoning of Jonathan. All federal roads into Aba are impassable; the part of Umuahia he complained of is federal expressway. Please Eze tell Jonathan that we know that he hates Ndigbo but he should remember that Aba voted for him.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

CONTRACT RENEWAL

Italian court investigating Onazi, Lazio L

AZIO and Eddy Onazi might be sanctioned by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following irregularities discovered in the contract the Nigerian signed with the capital outfit on November 7, 2012.

The contract renewal signed by the Nigerian is currently being investigated by the Federal Court - National Disciplinary Section.

And if there was a breach of the regulations, the midfielder, two Lazio officials and Onazi's former agent, Kevin Fioranelli will face the music.

The Sporting Director of the Biancocelesti Igli Tare and Secretary General Armando Calveri have both violated Article 1, paragraph 1, of the CGS in conjunction with Art. 22, paragraph 2, of the rules of agents.

On the other hand, Eddy Onazi might be punished for using Kevin Fioranelli as his agent when he renewed vows

with the club despite the fact that he issued a mandate to another agent.

Also, there was a breach of conflict of interest after Lazio failed to disclose that Jesse Fioranelli, Kevin's brother, was an employee of the club when the new contract was signed.

This is not the first time irregularities have been discovered in a contract that a Nigerian player has with the Serie A side.

SL10.ng can exclusively report that Emmanuel Sani had earlier claimed that he was forced to join Salernitana and Biel-Bienne on loan after Armando Calveri forged his signature on the contracts.

Retired Albania international forward, now Sporting Director of Lazio, Igli Tare, later tried to cut a deal with Partizani Tirana to have Emmanuel Sani play for the Albanian club, but he was smart to reject the offer.

• Onazi

Keshi must bring fighters into Eagles – Nwanu

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ORMER Nigeria central defender and Stephen Keshi’s 1994 Super Eagles’ team mate, Chidi Nwanu, has called for a total overhaul of the country’s senior national team “to make it more productive and result-oriented.”

Nwanu, who pastors a church in Belgium, told NationSport yesterday that the attitude of the players needs to change for Nigeria to continue being a major force in African football.

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Nwanu, who watched the Eagles versus Congo and South Africa versus Eagles ties on television in Belgium, told NationSport he was disappointed with the performance of the players in the two matches and that it showed clearly and glaringly that the players were no more in the mood to fight for victory.

His words: “It is sad to watch the Super Eagles lose to

Senator Tinubu hosts annual youth soccer competition

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OUR YOUTH teams are set for a final showdown at the finals of the 4th edition of the Senator Muniru Muse Soccer Competition being sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON. Like in the past, several dignitaries are to witness the junior soccer tournament scheduled to begin at Campus MiniStadium, Ajele, Lagos Island at 4 pm on Sunday, September 14 2014.

A statement issued from Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Constituency Office in Yaba indicates that Greater Tomorrow FC and De-Grace FC are

• Mrs Tinubu

determined to outclass one another towards winning the Under-12 Boys’ trophy.

In addition, two junior girls’ soccer teams, Yomi Queens FC and RAF FC are to finalise their contention for the Under-15 Girls’ trophy on the same football pitch.

The soccer tournament, which is named after Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s predecessor, is part of her comprehensive initiative for youth empowerment while encouraging young people to stay healthy through physical exercise.

It also fulfils the aspirations of the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association for a sustained discovery of new talents in Lagos Central Senatorial District.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola and her counterpart from Ogun State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun were present to do the kickoff and the presentation of trophies to the winning teams last year.

Prominent citizens including Her Excellency, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State will grace next Sunday’s event.

Congo Brazzaville the way the team lost in Calabar to Congo.

It showed that there is a great problem in the team and it is high time something drastic was done. I would recommend a total overhauling of the team for Nigeria’s name not to be put into disrepute.

“The way I see these players now, there is a total decline in their performance compared with when the players fought gallantly in South Africa in 2013 to win the African Cup of Nation. So, there is need for my friend and brother Stephen Keshi to have a second look at this team and do a surgical operation through overhauling of the team.

“Nigeria is a country blessed with lots of talented football players and we need players that are hungry, devoted and dedicated and ready to fight for shirts in the team.

‘Keshi should remember that during our playing days there was great fight for position in the team. Most times I did extra trainings and worked very hard just to ensure I picked the first team shirt ahead of Keshi himself while Keshi too was very resolute to keep the shirt. Same thing happened in other departments of the team during the 1994 team. This was the magic for the successes we recorded during that time.”

The Belgium-based pastor

also advised his friend Stephen Keshi to put sentiments aside and call up players that are playing regularly and doing well in their respective clubs abroad.

Reacting on the exclusion of Villarreal of Spain striker Ikechukwu Uche from the team, Nwanu said that Keshi is experienced enough to be able to manage any player with stubborn attitude and that the alleged indiscipline of Ike Uche shouldn’t be the yard stick to ban him from playing for the national team.

“Personal differences should be put aside and the needful should be done,” Nwanu said.

“The national team should not be anybody’s palace. A coach should be able to accommodate any player no matter how bad such player’s attitude or character is.”

“For example the media and fans fought for Osaze (Odemwingie) to be at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the player had great impact at the World Cup. So, this is what I am saying. Keshi should try and bring in fighters that want to prove a point.

‘Also, there should be at least two to three capable and quality players fighting for each position in the team. This will definitely improve not only the quality of the team but the performance too,” he advised.

Cross River mourns ex-Falcons coach

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HE Cross River State Commissioner for Youth & Sports Development, Patrick Ugbe, has expressed shock at the sudden death of former Super Falcons' Coach, Ntiero Effiom, on September 9.

The late Effiom retired from active service in September 2014 as Head of the Department of Coaching, Sports Commission, Calabar.

Until his demise, Effiom was a serving member of the Cross River State Football Association and member Technical Sub-Committee for the 19th National Sports Festival tagged “Centenary Games”.

He was Head Coach, Pelican Stars Football Club of Calabar, between 1995 –2004 during which many laurels were won.

Due to his outstanding performance as Coach of Pelican Stars he was made Coach of the National Female Football Club, the Super Falcons where he performed similar feats.

Coach Effiom was a good soccer player who started his career with playing for the Calabar Tigers Football Club many years ago.

His zeal and love for the

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar game saw him also playing for the Sea Lions and the Rovers FC all of Calabar.

He had several invitations to play for other teams including the national team, the Green Eagles at the time.

At a point in his football career, he coached the Customs of Calabar FC and the Rovers FC also of Calabar.

Ugbe said Effiom would certainly be missed in the soccer arena for his diligence, resourcefulness, hard work and would be remembered for the many laurels won by the clubs he had opportunity to coach while alive.

Okocha rips into Esuene Stadium pitch

• Okocha

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ORMER Nigeria national team captain Austin Okocha is not impressed with the quality of the playing surface at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The Super Eagles play their home games at the stadium and many have criticised the pitch, particularly after the African champions’ 2-3 defeat to Congo in a 2015 African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier last Saturday.

Okocha, who scored 14 goals in 75 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2006, watched Nigeria’s game against South Africa in Cape Town on

Wednesday and was quick to make comparisons with what he saw in Calabar. “(Nigeria versus South Africa). Beautiful compared to the Calabar match. How green grass can transform (and) beautify a match. Also allows players to express themselves,” Jay Jay wrote on Twitter via his account @IAmOkocha.

Okocha’s comments about the pitch have not gone down well with the Cross River State government, owners of the U.J. Esuene Stadium.

Commissioner for Sports Patrick Ugbe said the pitch in Calabar is not in bad shape.

“The pitch is in good condition. It is a work in progress.

We are in the process of resodding the pitch,” Ugbe told supersport.com.

He also revealed that the Cross River State government only allowed the Super Eagles to play on the pitch against Congo “in the interest of the nation”.

“It was in the interest of the nation that we allowed the match to be played on that pitch in the first place because we are obviously working on it.

“The coaches (of Nigeria and Congo) saw the pitch before the match and they expressed satisfaction with the state of the pitch so I don’t know what the issue is all of a sudden".

Black Stars' Coach Appiah sacked

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LACK Stars coach Kwasi Appiah has been relieved of his position as head coach of the senior national team.

The decision was reached yesterday at a board meeting of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Serbian trainer Milovan Rajevac will replace him as head coach of the Black Stars.

Appiah is being accused of bad faith after he granted a radio interview in which he said

that he had not asked for a technical assistant, contradicting the position of the GFA. Sources close to the GFA say the condition under which coach Milovan accepted the Ghana offer was that he is made the substantive coach. He refused to be technical assistant to Kwasi Appiah, the source said.

The GFA has scheduled a meeting with Coach Appiah today, at which the FA will discuss his severance package with him.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 2014

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COMMENTARY Preamble HIS article is not new. It was published in this column during Hajj period last year and the year before.

Because of its relevance, it is being repeated with some alterations in response to readers’ popular demand. Here it goes: Hajj in the life of a Muslim is like pregnancy in the womb of an expectant mother.

The experience varies from woman to woman. The foetus in the womb undergoes various stages before reaching the stage of delivery. But by the time the child is finally delivered the mother feels a relief of her life. And the child assumes a tabula rasa (clean slate) that makes him absolutely innocent. A pilgrim is spiritually like a newly born child if he strictly performs Hajj as prescribed by Allah. But if he returns into the world of vanity after Hajj, he automatically becomes like a person in snow-white attire who finds himself in a palm oil market.

Unless he spiritually guides his loins, he may immediately become a tainted person both in body and in soul.

Pilgrims who are going on Hajj must be prepared to go through series of rigour both spiritually and physically. The rigour of getting the legitimate money with which to perform Hajj; the rigour of getting the travelling documents including visa; the rigour of taking care of the home front before embarking on the Holy journey; the rigour of boarding the plane with a sense of high risk; the rigour of going through the security search at the embarkation point as well as the disembarkation point in Saudi Arabia when entering and departing; the rigour of performing the Tawaf and Sa’y; the rigour of moving from Makkah to Mina on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, then to Arafah on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, and back to Mina via Muzdalifah on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah; the rigour of locating the tents at Arafah; the rigour of throwing the pebbles at the Jamrat in Mina on the three or four days known as Ayamu-t-Tashrik; the rigour of performing Tawaful Ifadah at the Sanctuary in Makkah after the first day of throwing pebbles; the rigour of shaving the head and slaughtering the rams, the rigour of performing the farewell circumambulation otherwise known as Tawaful Wida‘i all in the midst of millions of people can be too much to forget so soon after Hajj.

Whoever is not bothered by the money spent on Hajj should at least be bothered by the various stages of the rigour involved including that of visiting Madinah. To lose all these to the forces of Satan after Hajj is like losing one’s travelling passport after obtaining visa.

The prayer of every genuine pilgrim is to retain the validity of Hajj forever.

Qualifications Performance of pilgrimage must be based on certain qualifications one of which is genuine intention and high spiritual standard. An intending pilgrim must have attained puberty. He must have been an ardent practitioner of the first four pillars of Islam: (Iman, Salat, Zakah, and Sawm) all of which are fervently based on faith (Iman) which is the first pillar. Hajj without these pre-requisites is like a tree without roots.

Money is a major pre-requisite for Hajj but it is not absolute.

Hajj, the last pillar of Islam shows very vividly, the similitude of what mankind will experience on the Day of Judgment.

Looking at the unique way in which pilgrims dress for Hajj and how they assemble at Arafat leaving their luggage behind in Makkah, one will realize how euphemeral this world is.

The various stages of preparation through which pilgrims pass before arriving at Arafat are symbolic of our peregrination in life as human beings. Like the Day of Judgment, Arafat is the climax of Hajj performance. Anybody who misses Arafat misses Hajj. But Arafat is not by physical appearance alone. It takes a combination of factors to participate effectively in that great assembly which serves as the climax of Hajj.

Preparation For Hajj to serve its spiritual purpose in the life of a pilgrim, certain steps must be taken before leaving home. They are as follows: • Fine-tuning the first four pillars of Islam very sincerely • Packaging the intention to perform Hajj • Ensuring the security of the way

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FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Details of Hajj

•Pilgrims at Holy land

• Providing for the family and dependants at home • Paying all the outstanding debts including promises • Ascertaining the condition of health • Perfecting immigration procedures and undergoing all necessary medical services including inoculation • Assuming a mood of humility like that of a servant approaching his master.

• Readiness to endure hardship and to tolerate fellow pilgrims’ attitudes.

Admonishing Muslims on spiritual journey, including Hajj, Prophet Muhammad once said: “Actions shall be judged according to intentions. Whoever embarks on a spiritual journey for the sake of Allah will be adjudged on that basis. And whoever bases his/her intention for pilgrimage on marriage or material gains should not expect any reward beyond that for which the intention is based”. The steps to follow in the performance of Hajj are as follows: The Miqat Miqat is the specified place for the wearing of Ihram dress. There are five of such places in all. But the one earmarked for pilgrims from Nigeria (Qarnul Manazil) cannot be reached by pilgrims who are travelling by air. It is over-flown shortly after crossing the Red Sea. What most Nigerians do therefore is to wear their Ihram dress in Jeddah which has now been adjudged right through a Fatwah. Thus, Nigerian pilgrims can now wear their Ihram dress on arrival at the pilgrims’ airport in Jeddah.

Tawaful Qudum Tawaf means circumambulation (walking round the Ka’bah). The very first Tawaf to be performed by any pilgrim on entering Makkah is Tawaful Qudum. It is performed before a pilgrim settles down in any residence. Tawaful Qudum is an obligatory Sunnah from which only residential pilgrims are exempted.

Residence in Makkah or Madinah Most Nigerian pilgrims often seek their accommodations in Makkah or Madinah close to the Haram. This is to enable them walk to and back from the Haram conveniently at the times of Salat. To minimise pilgrim’s regular occurrence of missing their ways they are provided with hand bands bearing the addresses of their residences. Pilgrims are therefore advised to wear such bands at all times to enable them show it to either the Hajj guides or policemen when they miss the road. It is also important for pilgrims to always be with the identity cards provided for them

by Nigerian Pilgrims’ Commission or private agents. This is to enable them to be identified in case of sickness, accident or even death.

Movement to Mina Pilgrims must be ready to undergo some rigour in the process of moving to Mina

from Makkah. The rigour which normally affects all pilgrims is engendered by limited time available for millions of pilgrims who must move to that spiritual camp before the sunset on the day preceding Arafah day (8th of Dhul Hijjah).

Arafah At the Plain of Arafat, pilgrims are advised to stay under their tents and concentrate on the spiritual activities that take them to the place.

They must reach Arafat by mid day when Salatu-d-Dhuhr and ‘Asr should be observed combined. Anybody who is not at Arafat by mid day is considered not to have taken part in the assembly and has therefore missed Hajj. Immediately after observing the combined Salatu-d-Dhuhr and ‘Asr the Imam who led the two Salat is expected to give a sermon.

Listening to such sermon is as compulsory as giving it.

The great assembly of Arafat terminates shortly before sunset (Magrib) and the pilgrims return to Mina via Muzdalifah.

Muzdalifah At Muzdalifah, pilgrims are expected to halt their journey to observe Magrib and ‘Ishai combined. They are also expected to pass the night there and observe the Salats-Subh of the following day before proceeding to Mina. Muzdalifah is adjacent to Mina and is therefore a walking distance.

Jamrat Stoning the symbolic devils (Rajmu Jamrat) begins a day after Arafat and continues for the next three days that the pilgrims are supposed to spend at Mina. This exercise is obligatory and without it Hajj is incomplete.

There are three points at which stones are to be thrown. Seven pebbles are thrown at

each point on every one of the three or four days to be spent in Mina.

While going for the pebble-throwing exercise, pilgrims are advised to take their pebbles along with them. Except for the first day when seven pebbles are supposed to be thrown at only one spot, pilgrims are required to throw twenty one pebbles each day at the three spots provided while they remain in Mina.

Picking such pebbles at the point of throwing them is forbidden. All pebbles must have been picked before leaving the tent for the ‘Jamrat’ or on the way.

Majzarah (Abattoir) Slaughtering of all sacrificial animals is done at the abattoir in Mina. Pilgrims do not need to bother themselves by going to the abattoir for the purpose of carrying out this compulsory obligation.

They can simply buy the guaranteed ticket sold by designated Saudi agents (Mu’assasah). The ticket is the evidence that one has performed that duty. The slaughtering is done on behalves of the pilgrims by some authorised artisans who are paid by the Saudi Hajj authorities from the money paid for those animals. The animals to be slaughtered at Jamrat range from rams to camels. A pilgrim should slaughter one ram or more while seven pilgrims may combine to slaughter one camel or five of them may jointly slaughter one cow.

Tawaful Ifadah For pilgrims who can afford to go to Makkah after throwing the first seven pebbles, it is good to perform Tawaf-ul-Ifadah.

For those who cannot, the exercise can be deferred till the end of Tashrik.

Pilgrims who have performed Tawaful Ifadah are free to shave their heads and change from their Ihram dress into civil or traditional dresses.

The only reason for any pilgrim to go to Makkah from Mina during the camping period is to perform Tawaf-ul-Ifadah. No pilgrim should break camping rule by going to Makkah without performing Tawaful Ifadah. And after performing Tawaful Ifadah, no pilgrim should remain in Makkah or elsewhere without returning to Mina before sunset.

With the completion of the camping days in Mina and the arrival of all the pilgrims in Makkah, Hajj has been completed except for Tawaf Wida‘i otherwise called Fare well Tawaf. That Tawaf is also compulsory.

Visit to Madinah It is then left for pilgrims to decide whether or not to go to Madinah. Going to Madinah is not compulsory. It can neither validate nor vitiate Hajj. But it will be spiritually odd for any pilgrim to choose not to visit the Prophet’s Mosque during the period of Hajj.

Throughout the Hajj exercise, what should be uppermost in the mind of a pilgrim is the spiritual benefit. Hajj is made compulsory only once in a life’s time for those who have the wherewithal to undergo it and can satisfy the conditions attached to its performance.

Returning Home On returning home finally, pilgrims are not supposed to start organising parties in celebration of a successful Hajj performance as ignorantly done by some Nigerians.

Maintaining Hajj is a necessity for those who know its value. Whoever is privileged to perform Hajj once should therefore be grateful to Allah as no one is sure of getting another chance.

•Consultant Nephrologist Dr AbdulWasi Busari (left) attending to an intending pilgrim, Mr Mukhtar Muhammad Thanni during medical check up at a seminar organised by Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited (HMVL) for pilgrims at the University of Lagos Mosque auditorium in Akoka, Lagos

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9 NO.2,966

‘If you don't think that the policies and actions of the incumbent ruling class is costing us immeasurable damages, then do nothing. But if you can see through the smoke and mirrors, and you realize that you'll be paying more state and local taxes,...’ OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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. E. B. Du Bois, one of the great 20th century American scholars, and “the most influential black intellectual of the twentieth century”, with a sharp intellect and critical mind, relocated to Africa, specifically Ghana, in 1960, became a Ghanaian citizen in 1963 and a few months later, he passed on to eternal glory at 95 and was buried just outside the Government House in Accra. A prolific writer, Dr. Du Bois left a legacy of education in service of humanity. Today, I reflect on one of his unique contributions on education as detailed in the 10 essays on “The Education of Black People” written over a period of 50 years. I focus especially on the address that Du Bois gave in 1908 at his Alma mater, Fisk University, 20 years after his graduation. The address was titled: “Galileo Galilei”.

Galileo was the great scientist of the 16th century with tremendous accomplishments to his name. He “found the law of falling bodies; he invented the telescope; he discovered the moons of Jupiter; he explained the reflected light of planets; he laid down the laws of cohesion; he studied the law of the pendulum and applied it to the clock;” and above all he proved the correctness of “the Copernican doctrine that the sun and not the earth is the centre of our universe.”

Among all his inventions and discoveries, however, this last one about the earth in relation to our universe was too much for the authorities of his time and age. The most fearful of those authorities was the Church and with his new theory, Galileo was a target of the Inquisition. How did he perform in light of his education and scholarship?

“When the man who has a clear vision of Right, finds himself successfully approaching the goal, how shall he meet Jealousy, Error, Selfishness, and Ignorance?” This was how Du Bois characterised the dilemma of Galileo at his 1633 trial. Clearly it was a fight against ignorance, selfishness, error and jealousy, and with all of these attributes summed up in the most vicious authority of the time, the personification of these opponents is warranted.

Yet, the question remains: how shall an educated man meet such a vicious enemy?

What is the character of education? What does it prepare one for? Galileo’s choice at the critical moment in a life that was already full of tremendous achievements was to capitulate. He lied. As Du Bois puts it:

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

The character of education

Galileo, “deliberately and with full knowledge publicly and unequivocally, made one of the straightest and most uncompromising denials of what he knew to be the truth.”

To save his life, the intellectual of the age recanted his theories and capitulated to the ignorance of the age.

What is the character of education? What does it enable us to achieve? We have a useful comparison, thankfully, one of the rarest sources of pride, in our own corner of the earth. Galileo’s science was pitted against the 17th Century Church’s faith. Three centuries later, it was not science against faith; it was one ignorant conception of humanity against an enlightened theory of humanity.

Nelson Mandela’s struggle for human dignity for all God’s creation collided with the apartheid theorists’ practice of subjugation and discrimination. At the trial of Rivonia, Mandela faced a dilemma similar to Galileo’s. What was his choice?

Proudly and stubbornly, Mandela de-

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HIS is a writer’s rejoinder to his own article; a response to readers’ response so to speak. Last week on this page, I had written two articles, a main one and a strap. The major piece (Gov Amosun’s plaintive cry) is about the ruinously acrimonious Ogun APC while the five-paragraph short attachment ponders the soft underbelly of Abia politics. Though both are related in the sense that they are about Nigeria’s retrograde godfather-godson politics, the small piece turned out the star attraction.

As at the close of work last Friday alone, nearly 50 messages had streamed in while quite a number called. Most were purportedly from Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, and a good number were rather virulent. Many not content with messaging called and took me on. I debated a particular reader for nearly 15 minutes and though we parted half-friends, it occurred to me, in deference to the worries of my dear readers that I needed to do a rejoinder to my own article in order to provide more perspectives; I also hope to be able to run some of those SMS below as space permits.

Numerous issues cropped up but let’s try making some meaning of them: First, let me apologise to Chief Arthur Eze who I have since learnt was grossly, if not deliberately misrepresented in the original report in Daily Sun. Many people who were at the function whom I have spoken to affirmed that Chief Eze never said that Abia stank.

He only bemoaned the state of the EnuguPort Harcourt expressway through which he rode to Umuahia. He could not have said that Abia stank because he did not traverse the state. He is a friend of the house who

clared: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people.

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” That was on April 20, 1964. For 27 years, he paid with his freedom for his obdurate adherence to the principle of freedom for all. However in the end, Mandela was vindicated and lived to achieve his ideal of a democratic and free society.

What did Galileo achieve with his capitulation to ignorance and selfishness at age 70? He was jailed and tortured for nine years before he finally died, having no other opportunity to make further contributions to knowledge. Imagine how history would have treated him if he had spoken truth to power at the trial? More importantly, imagine the difference it would have made for the world of science and humanity.

It is true, of course, that hindsight is, but foresight is not, always 20/20. But if we are privileged to witness history in its most transparent form over and over again, the mark of a good education is to learn from it so we do not fall into the same error of judgment.

It is for this reason that I am puzzled every time that I see the same ugly side of history repeated by educated men and women. The challenges we face as a people are not caused by the so-called lowly class. The proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water do not spend their night times with Mr. President or His Excellency the Executive Governor.

The dreg of society do not tweet obnoxious messages that mock a genuine cause for the release of innocent girls from the bloodied

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

Aba people’s ‘riot’ Dimgba: fare thee well great soul F he were just a great journalist and a fine writer, perhaps his transition would be more tolerable; we might console ourselves that another professional has passed on. But Dimgba Igwe was a quintessential humanist. He seemed to have loved words the way he loved fellow humans and just like he loved the Word. Yes, he lived for his God, for humanity and for words. I never worked with him but each time we met at occasions, he was ever so respectable, so demure and so wise.

There is no doubt that he worked so hard and lived well; that he gave life nearly all that was necessary, which was why he would make time to pound the road at dawn, seeking to further enrich life – his and others’. But as it has turned out yet again, we are in a killer country; an environment that extirpates with the audacity of the morning sun. Nigeria is like the ghoulish stalker who kills at dawn… here we are marinated in our daily blood-fest.

They tell us that our GDP keeps increasing but that must mean Gross Death Products.

I

was invited to a state function; he could not have come to pull down the house with such a comment as credited to him. This is the fact of the matter.

What this means is that The Sun owes him an apology for deliberately misrepresenting him and deploying him as a fodder in the cross-fire of state politics. What could have been: “Arthur

Eze bemoans the state of federal roads in Abia” is slanted and given a dangerous spin to become: “Abia Stinks!”, says Arthur Eze. This is unprofessional, to say the least.

This singular, calculated mis-information has continued to be traded as fact in numerous other publications and by various segments of the population. One instance is the atten-

hands of killers and sadists just to promote a president’s ambition. How does a good education lead folks to do such terrible deeds?

Education is a value; it is the development of one’s awareness for the appreciation of the human condition, and the determination to do something about it. Those that society has favored to receive good education therefore owe a reciprocal duty to give back and this may take various forms. If you find yourself in a position of authority as a result of your education, the worst you can do to yourself is to betray that sacred trust. And if you are in a position to advise those in a position of authority, the worst you can do is to fail to speak truth to power.

Just as leaders and their advisors have their responsibility so do followers. Education is an eye opener, making transparent the origin, cause and course of oppression, and empowering the oppressed to seek liberation from their oppressors. A leadership that displays no evidence of having fire in the belly to lead cannot be trusted with the task of liberating the oppressed and to that extent cannot be trusted with occupying the sacred position of leadership. For a long time, “educated” folks have been the worst offenders of the crime of ethnic and sectarian politics. What is the character of an education that only perpetuates ignorance, prejudice and sycophancy?

Nor must the blame for these and other misdeeds be laid at the doorstep of poverty. In the days before the flag independence of the country, when the colonial exploiters still ran the show, wealth wasn’t flowing around the nation. Yet our people pulled together to fight against the colonisers. They rallied to the cause of freedom and independence.

We have clearly exchanged external colonialism for internal colonialism in various ways. But our education appeared to have been pathetically but voluntarily placed as instruments in the hands of the internal exploiters. Thus, under one banner or the other, we have seen youths in various stages of educational achievement voluntarily organising rallies supporting one side or another in what is clearly an act of self-degradation. We saw this before in “Youths Earnestly Seek Abacha” and it is as shameless now as it was then. What is the character of an education that capitulates to sycophantic adulation at the expense of what is known to be true?

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 dant report on page 6 of The Guardian (08/09/ 2014), quoting the National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Comrade Peter Ameh. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has published under his name, a two-part treatise based on this falsehood.

As was stated here last week, and by way of putting all this in perspective, discerning readers and Abians can tell the source of and motive behind this injurious reporting; it is all about the turf fight between former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) and his successor and incumbent, Theodore Ahamefule Orji (TA). My friends and readers from Aba were full of abuses because I took a broad and detached view of the situation but many of them are, sorry to say, narrow-sighted and emotional.

Let us try restating the facts: the story started in 1999 when OUK became governor of Abia State. It is a fact that he ruled for eight years up until 2007 and he installed and controlled TA for most of his first tenure, 2007 – 2011. It is also a fact that OUK’s was what could be described a voodoo government where cowboys held sway. The period was defined by chaos and disorderliness and there was hardly any structure to show for that era. It is true that roads in Aba are pretty bad as I have found out following the outcry of Aba people, but if they live by the truth, they will confess that none of the roads OUK built through out his 12-year reign lasted one rainy season. If he had been sincere with his people and worked in their overall interest, Aba and indeed Abia State would not be in such derelict state today.

•Continued on page 60 •For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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