September 18, 2014

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South Africa sends team as Synagogue death toll hits 80

•SEE ALSO PAGES 2&3

Lagos begins probe Church quiet on Zuma’s claim Search may end today

E

IGHTY bodies have been retrieved from the rubble of the collapsed Synagogue Church guest house in Lagos - as at 6p.m. yesterday.

The death toll rose from 63 announced by emergen-

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

cy workers on Tuesday.

More bodies are still believed to be trapped in the wreckage as South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday that 67 nationals died

in the tragedy.

South Africa has sent a 10man team to assist in the recovery of bodies at the site.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said: "As per the instruction of our Presi-

dent Jacob Zuma, government has activated here at home a disaster management process and is treating the matter with the utmost urgency it deserves.

"Government understands fully the anguish and pain of the affected families and we are

walking this difficult and painful (journey) hand in hand with the families.”

The government of Lagos State has launched a probe into how the six-storey edifice crumbled last Friday.

National Emergency Man-

agement Agency (NEMA) Southwest spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye said yesterday that 131 injured people had been taken out of the site.

Among the bodies retrieved were those of three Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: TINUBU: I’M HALE AND HEARTY P4 PDP GOVERNORS ENDORSE JONATHAN P6

•SPOILS OF WAR: Soldiers displaying one of the armoured vehicles captured from Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri …yesterday. SEE MORE PICTURES AND STORY ON PAGE 4

?

WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?

PHOTO: NAN

Gunmen, suicide bomber kill 65 in Kano school, Kaduna Jonathan sends condolences ACF, governor condemn attacks

•PAGE 4

•SPORTS P24 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P51 •N/HEALTH P55 •E-BUSINESS P58 •FOREIGN P68

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

2

NEWS

T.B. Joshua…The man South African dignitaries adore South Africans’ faith in Prophet T.B. Joshua did not start this year. Many of them have long seen in him the miracle worker and this cuts across all classes.

Famous figures, such as Mrs Winnie MadikizelaMandela, count among those who have paid homage to the Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State-born pastor, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

T

HE information on the church’s website is enticing.

Many in a difficult situation are bound to see in the church the answer to their problems after reading its claim that the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T.B. Joshua can cure anything from HIV/AIDS to cancer.

“Divine healing is the supernatural power of God bringing health to the human flesh,” says the church on its website.

It adds: “Thousands who come oppressed with sickness and disease receive their healing at the SCOAN. Truly, there is never a sickness Jesus cannot heal.”

The claim that Joshua can cure anything is buttressed with videos showing people who have allegedly been healed of all kinds of ailments.

The lame walk. The deaf hear. Cystic fibrosis disappears and HIV and AIDS are “miraculously healed”.

These are lavishly advertised on the website.

Pictures, they say, don’t lie. So, pictures are also judiciously used to prove that people who were suffering one ailment or the other are now free.

The claims are not exhausted yet.

Another is the claim that 100 years before Joshua was born in ArigidiAkoko on June 12, 1963, his birth had been predicted. The church also claims he was in his mother’s womb for 15 months.

Says the church on its website: “Significantly, almost a hundred years prior to his birth, it had been prophesied that a young man would emerge from the poor Oosin quarters and that God would use him mightily.

“Another remarkable event occurred when he was three days old, as a large boulder crashed through the roof of his house, missing the baby by mere inches.” This is said to have been responsible for his mother christening him Temitope.

These flowering claims, no doubt, sold this man, who was unable to complete his secondary education due to poverty, to many far and wide. South Africans rank among this group. That explains why many of them were in the church premises last Friday when its guest house caved in for reasons yet to be ascertained. President Jacob Zuma said no less than 67 South Africans have died. But, this figure is tentative. It could be more, says a South African official.

Zuma’s spokesperson Mac Maharaj told the SABC yesterday that the government believed that around 300 South Africans from four to five tour groups were visiting the

church last Friday, but it was not clear how many were on the spot when the tragedy struck.

Maharaj said: “It has been difficult in getting the news and information.

Our figures are based on information received from family and friends, and the high commission in Nigeria.

It is subject to change as things go on.

“There have been delays in getting the information. We don’t have the figures of those injured. Sometime during the day we will be better placed on the information and the public will be informed.”

Make no mistakes; it is not only poor or middle class South Africans who see in Joshua the messiah. Even the high and the mighty fall at his feet too. The legendary Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela ranks among South African powerful figures who have bowed before Joshua. She was interviewed on Joshua’s Emmanuel Tv in 2011 after her visit and she had nice words for the church.

The country’s opposition leader Julius Malema has also sought out Joshua to help with spiritual backing for his party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Malema was defending the church yesterday, telling the South African Press Association (SAPA) that elders of the church were helping with rescue operation.

The EFF leader said: “I am in touch with the elders of the church. They are doing everything in their power to ensure that every individual that was there is accounted for and that the rescue mission continues.”

South African sport celebrities had also approached the prophet. They include Springbok rugby players Joost van der Westhuizen, Ruben Kruger and Wium Basson. There are conflicting reports about whether another rugby player Jaco van der Westhuyzen approached Joshua for help to cure a form or motor neurone disease. A report, in a South African online publication, said: “TB Joshua, known around the world as the “prophet of God”, previously prayed for Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks Joost van der Westhuizen.” But, a family representative Odette Schwegler said yesterday: “Joost van der Westhuizen has never gone to Nigeria to meet this prophet and he hasn’t engaged with him and he hasn’t sought his help.”

He has been down with the disease since 2011 and is expecting death, as predicted by doctors.

There is no controversy, however, that Basson came to Lagos to see Joshua. Basson died at his Pretoria home on April 21, 2001. He was 25.

Basson, who played for the Blue Bulls, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doctors could not do anything to help him and gave him a few

weeks to live. He flew to Lagos, to consult Joshua. Like the case of the victims of the collapse, Basson also came with a tour group of 130 people to see the ‘miracle worker’.

But, for some reason, he could not see Joshua after waiting for hours on a queue. He returned home and died almost immediately.

“He (Basson) did not know the Lord as well as he should have at that time. If your faith is not right, the Lord will tell TB Joshua not to heal you,” claims Westhuyzen, who said Joshua healed him when he ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament during a match in 2000.

In an interview with UK Observer, Westhuizen said: “Sure, I believe in miracles. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. From an early age I was very religious. Both my parents were Dutch Reformed Christians.

But it was not until 2000 that faith healing and TB Joshua, the Nigerian they call ‘the Prophet’, came into my life. I had just broken into the Springbok team when I ruptured my posterior cruciate ligament playing against Western Province one Sunday in August 2000. The doctor took X-rays and said I needed to have an operation that Wednesday.

I was really down, because I desperately wanted to go on the end-ofyear Bok tour.

“Here I must give credit to my wife…She, or rather her brother, had shown me this video of the Nigerian faith healer TB Joshua. I saw all the miracles he performed, such as curing people with HIV, freeing people from their wheelchairs, healing those with cancer. My wife said to me: ‘You’re pretty religious. Your faith is strong. I think you should give it a go.’ I was sceptical at first and I wasn’t too sure about the miracles. I read about them in the Bible but I thought: ‘Can this be true?’ Still, I decided not to have the operation and to take a leap of faith instead.

“Our church group landed in Lagos on a Sunday. We drove for about 45 minutes before coming to a very basic church site – 10 people to a wooden bench. It was just phenomenal to see how primitive Christianity can be while at the same time remaining so powerful. At each service, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 people, mainly poor blacks.

Their riches are their faith. At five o’clock in the morning, there are 3,000 people queueing outside the church gates to get the best seats.

“For the first few days we had discussions with the disciples and talked about religion and its power.

Then, on the Saturday, ‘the Prophet’ came out and delivered his message to the congregation, even though

•Joshua in action

•Westhuizen

there were people in the church, scared of his powers, who wanted to kill him. It was a real eye-opener.

But these doubters could not get near him. He said to us: ‘There’s somebody here who wants to kill me.’ If the guy does not come forward, the Prophet will identify him and the person ends up confessing to what he was planning.

“Towards the end of the service about 300 of us gathered in what they call the ‘healing line’. The Prophet walked down the line, identifying illnesses. When he came to me, he said I should remove my leg brace. He looked at me and it was like he had x-ray vision, like he could see immediately what was wrong with my knee. Moving his hands around as if he was tugging a rope, he seemed to pull out all the dirt and other stuff that was in my

knee. Then he said to me: ‘Stand up and run.’ The brace had been on for weeks and running should have been impossible. Well, I trusted my faith and started to run – and at full speed.

There was no pain.”

Back home he had another x-ray, and it showed the ligament was fine.

The doctor, he said, could not believe or explain it. News of what happened started to spread and Kruger’s wife called him to see if he could take her husband, who had a brain tumour, to see Joshua. He agreed.

According to Westhuyzen, “We went back to Lagos, Ruben’s brain tumour was healed and he has had no more symptoms since then.”

But, Westhuyzen was wrong about Kruger. The symptoms came back and he died in Pretoria in January 2010 after battling brain cancer for 10 years.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

3

NEWS

•Westhuyzen before the illness

•Malema

•The late Kruger

‘

We are in mourning and would not like to start pointing fingers. Be that as it may, we urge both our government and the Nigerian government to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident so as to assist the families to bring closure to their pain by at least understanding what happened

‘

Malema said despite what happened, Joshua remains a great man, who should continue to inspire hope.

He said he was at Synagogue for seven days, adding that at the time, no less than 16 000 people were in attendance at the church “and 50 per cent of those were from outside Af-

rica”.

He said: “Yes, I was there to create friendship and take lessons from the prophet. He is my brother, we talk now and then. I also received spiritual guidance from him. The church is very big, he has a lot of followers.

He receives people from all corners

•Westhuyzen now incapacitated by ailment

•Ms Madikizela-Mandela

of the world, both rich and poor.

They go there for different reasons and they all want to be blessed by the man of God. “When I was there I was treated very well. The hospitality is so amazing. The people who looked after us there did it with passion. They love what they are doing and they respect people. We also would like to say to the prophet that he should find strength during this difficult time.

This is a testing time for him.

“He is a very good man. He inspires hope in hopeless people. We hope he will not be discouraged. He must continue to inspire hope and feed the children of God. When I went to his church, he never asked for a cent from me. TB Joshua never preached about money and he never insisted on having contributions for the church.”

But, it is not every South African who is not asking critical questions like Malema. President of the Rhema Family Church and the cochairman of the National Religious Leaders Council, Ray McCauley, expressed concern that information was “only beginning to surface

now” days after the collapse.

He said: “We are in mourning and would not like to start pointing fingers. Be that as it may, we urge both our government and the Nigerian government to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident so as to assist the families to bring closure to their pain by at least understanding what happened.”

Condolences Religious leaders, citizens and organisations expressed their condolences yesterday.

Founder of Gift of Givers Imtiaz Sooliman said: “Gift of the Givers offers its heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian, South African and other nationalities that lost family members in this terrible tragedy.”

Sooliman said a South African had asked his organisation to find her brother who was at the Synagogue when it collapsed on Friday.

He said: “Whilst we have referred her to Dirco (Department of International Relations) and the Nigerian Embassy, we requested our representatives in Nigeria to try and trace this relative and check on the well-

being of other fellow South Africans.”We have asked the team leader to co-operate with and complement the efforts of the SA Embassy in Nigeria. The team leader is eagerly awaiting a flight on standby 500km away, but two of his staff should be at the hospital within the next hour.”

EFF condoled with the families of the deceased. Its spokesman, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, said: “The EFF sends its revolutionary condolences to the families and friends of 67 South Africans who have lost their lives. The EFF also sends its revolutionary condolences to the other families from the rest of the world who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers are with you.”

The director of the South Africa Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) , Wendy Kahn, described the incident as a tragedy for the continent.

She said: “The SAJBD commends the South African government on its efforts to assist survivors and to ensure that the remains of those who died are timeously repatriated.”

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

•Maiduguri residents hailing soldiers for their feat…yesterday.

Troops repel Boko Haram in Konduga

F

OR the second time in a week, troops have repelled Boko Haram insurgents from Konduga, which is about 35 kilometres to Maiduguri.

The insurgents were reportedly on a reprisal mission yesterday. They planned to launch a fresh campaign to use Konduga as a base to attack Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

But troops lying in wait for the insurgents resisted them in a 12-hour battle.

More than 50 insurgents were said to have been killed in the encounter. The

Recovered cache of arms...yesterday.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

military refused to confirm the casualty figure, saying it was “still mopping up the operation”.

A defence source said: “Troops this morning successfully crushed another attempt by terrorists who were on a revenge mission to Konduga, after 12 hours of fighting on the outskirts of the Borno State community.

“Troops are now combing the vicinity, in a cordon-and-search operation to determine the heavy casualties suffered by the terrorists in the encounter.”

Three Hilux trucks, one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and a cache of arms and ammunition were captured by the troops.

Another source spoke of how after a fierce battle lasting more than 12 hours on the outskirts of the town, scores of

terrorists were killed.

“The insurgents were desperate to retake Konduga from the troops in order to use it as a platform to attack Maiduguri. It is like engaging them in a fierce battle to prevent them from entering Borno State capital.

“The battle started on Tuesday night and it stretched till early in the morning on Wednesday.”

Penultimate Friday, troops killed over

100 Boko Haram insurgents in Konduga, halting their desperate bid to march on Maiduguri.

The Army confirmed recovery of three Hilux vehicles mounted with machine and anti-aircraft guns, one Mowag Armoured Personnel Carrier and assorted arms and ammunition from the insurgents, in a statement.

The statement by Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, the Director of Army Public Relations said the recovery was made

Gunmen, suicide bomber kill 65 in Kano school, Kaduna

U

NKNOWN gunmen stormed a village in Kaduna, killing about 50 residents.

In Kano, gunmen stormed a school, shooting indiscriminately. Students ran out of their classrooms, screaming. Amid the pandemonium, a suicide bomber stormed a classroom and set off an explosion.

By the time the smoke cleared a few minutes later, 15 students lay dead; 34 were injured at the Federal College of Education, Kano.

There were two suicide bombers. One entered the classroom at

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano and Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

the new campus and set himself ablaze, killing the students.

The other suicide bomber went within the school’s premises and set himself ablaze, but nobody was killed or injured as the students had already run for their lives.

Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba, who was at the scene of the incident, confirmed that 15 students were killed and 34 were seriously injured.

According to him at about 1:30pm some unidentified peo-

ple climbed the fence of the Federal College of Education, Kano and jumped into the premises, shooting sporadically to scare the students. Eventually, he said, one of the two suicide bombers entered one of the classrooms and set himself ablaze, killing 15 of the students and injuring 34 of them.

Shinaba said the other suicide bomber went to an open space where he set himself ablaze, but most of the students had run for their lives.

The suicide bomber died. Shinaba said two AK 47 rifles were recovered from the scene.

The college has been cordoned off by security men and the school has been shut down.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commiserated with citizens and residents of Kano State on the loss of lives sustained during the attack by terrorists on the Federal College of Education, Kano.

He sympathized with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack and wished them speedy recovery.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President Continued on page 67

PHOTOS: NAN

Continued on page 67

Tinubu: I’m hale and hearty

•Asiwaju Tinubu

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with two tweets yesterday, dispelled

speculations on his health.

Connecting with his followers on his twitter handle @asiwajutinubu, the former Lagos State governor said: “The story about my health is the mother of all lies.Do not believe it. I was on my usual holidays. I thank all well wishers.I return soon”.

“May God forgive the rumour mongers b/c they do not know what they are doing.

Those with evil thoughts towards me, God will guide them right”.

South Africa sends team as Synagogue death toll hits 80 Lagos begins probe as church keeps mum

Continued from page 1

white people - they are believed to be among the South Africans.

Farinloye said the search-

and-rescue might be concluded today.

He said NEMA demanded severally for data on the possible number of people in the building but the church insisted it had none.

“We do not have the identities of the victims yet. What we have is what we are releasing,” Farinloye said, adding: “The church has not given us the possible number of occupants. We have asked severally, even before we commenced operation and we were told they do not have.

“At the moment, we are facing the emergency phase, after which we will go into detailed investigation to know the identities of affected persons. So, we do not have such records.”

The NEMA spokesman said it was not out of place for the church not to have records of people on the premises.

On whether he had met with the church following President Zuma’s claims, he said: “I met with the church officials this morning and it was agreed that after the emergency phase, other things will be done.

A

S South Africans mourn their dead in the Synagogue Church tragedy, it emerged yesterday that the country may have recorded more deaths than the 67 announced on Tuesday by President Jacob Zuma.

More than 300 South Africans in five tour groups were at the church at the time of the tragedy.

South African Ambassador to Nigeria Lulu Mnguni told The Nation that “the death toll keeps increasing”. But he refused to give a figure.

He said the figure of the dead announced

by President Zuma could not be contradicted by anyone.

“I have been having meetings with the church since the incident occurred. How can anyone say the figure is not correct? It was given to us by the church and they cannot deny it,” he told our correspondent on the telephone.

Injured South African nationals fit

“We have asked from day one about data; but we were not given. Ordinarily, you cannot start rescue operation without basic information, like the total figure.

“Aside that, you have to know locations where people are possibly trapped. That is why we initially went to ground zero where we got about 80 per cent of the survivors.

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Miriam Ekene-Okoro

enough to travel are being flown back home.

“Yes, we are returning our people to South Africa but not those who cannot travel. All those certified fit to travel by doctors are being sent home while those unfit will be left behind because we cannot discharge people. We do not want them to die on the way,” said Mnguni.

“20 South Africans were admitted in the hospital with varying injuries. As I speak with you now, the number keeps growing, so, I cannot tell you any specific figure.

“I understand that the church has never had this kind of situation but I think they need to improve their handling,” he said.

It was gathered that some of the injured died before getting to the hospital, a situation which has put a question mark on the 131 survivors quoted by NEMA. According to sources at some of the hos-

“The church did not give us figures. They did not have figures as at the time it happened.

They just suspected which areas people could be trapped and told us.

“The building is used for multi-purpose; resturant, grocery shop and residential. So, you cannot blame them for not having the correct fugures at the

pitals, where victims were rushed to on Friday, “some of them were already dead on arrival”.

“Yes, casualties were brought to this hospital but one of them we discovered was dead on arrival. Most of the other patients brought here were workers in the building and have since been discharged. I do not have their details,” said a nurse in one of the hospitals.

At Igbobi Specialist Hospital, it was gathered that the patients, who were admitted in wards AB and G, were regaining stability. At the time of visit, one of the victims, Abimbola Kolawole, was being taken to the theatre for surgery.

Thousands of people from across the world flock Synagogue with promises of miracles and prophecies from Joshua, a high school dropout referred to either as “The Prophet” or “The Man of God”.

Joshua claims to have raised the dead

time of the incident.

“When something of this magnitude happens, they will be traumatised. For the fact that they have not experienced this type of thing before, they would not know how to go about it.

That is why NEMA has decided to train organisations on disaster preparedness so that they can have emergency marshals.

Continued on page 67

On the mystery woman who walked out of the rubble three days after the incident, Farinloye said: “Her identity and other details are not our concern now.

Most of the survivors have been discharged from the hospitals while others are still being treated, especially those with serious issues.

“The police are in charge of the

bodies. Australia, South Africa and other individuals have been calling to make enquiry about their people and we have been connecting them with the church.”

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, said until detailed investigation is concluded on the cause of the collapse of the building, government would not take over the land – as required by the law.

He reiterated that the government did not grant any approval for the building, adding that a team of engineers from the ministry and other agencies were taking samples from the foundation and materials from the wreckage for analysis and testing to ascertain the structural integrity of the building.

On the veracity of the “strange plane”, alleged to have dangerously flown low over the building 15 minutes before the collapse, the ministry had submitted the video clips provided by the church to the aviation agency with the coordinate of the collapsed site for investigation and professional comment.

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

5

NEWS 2015 polls: ‘Mark did not seek postponement’

Senate seeks Adadevoh’s immortalisation From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

T

T

HE Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, said yesterday that Senate President David Mark did not call for the postponement of the 2015 general elections.

Ologbondiyan said the clarification became necessary, following alleged misrepresentation of the position of Mark by a national newspaper (not The Nation) during Senate’s debate of the security challenge posed by the Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday.

He noted that rather than call for the postponement of the poll, Mark emphasised the danger, which Boko Haram portended to the country.

A statement by the aide said Mark only explained that the issue before the Senate now is not election matters, but how to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

FEC approves N147.4b for road projects From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting approved yesterday N147.4 billion for road projects across the country.

The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, briefed State House correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Information Labaran Maku; Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom; and the Director-General of Budget Office, Bright Okogu.

The meeting, which started at 10:30am, ended a few minutes to 5pm.

The Works minister said N71.6 billion was approved for the Benin-Ore-Lagos Expressway, while N75.8 billion was approved for the Okene-Benin Expressway.

The first project, he said, was for the reconstruction and asphalt overlay of Benin-OfosuOre-Ajebandele-Shagamu dual carriageway Phase IV: Ajebandele-Shagamu KM162 + 586 (Ondo State to KM 261 + 000 (Ogun) in Ogun State.

•Lagos State Governor’s wife and Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Dame Abimbola Fashola (right), addressing a news conference on the achievements of the group and plans for the 14th National Women Conference, at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre.

El-Rufai, Keyamo: probe $9.3m cash •Rights group accuses govt of illegal transaction

F

ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, raised yesterday posers on the $9.3million arms deal.

He said the botched arms procurement might not be for the purpose of national security.

El-Rufai alleged that the Boko Haram insurgency benefited President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-minister, who spoke in a statement through his Media Adviser, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, asked the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, why his private jet was used for the arms errand.

Said he: “It is pertinent that we invite the Federal Government to reflect on its role in this episode. Our country needs to bolster its military and security forces with the material resources it needs to defeat insurgency and restore security.

This will require arms imports.

“But should Nigeria violate the arms export regulations of other countries in this endeavour? Should the Federal Government recklessly impair and jeopardise diplomatic relations by conducting covert arms purchases in friendly countries without the consent

By Yusuf Alli and Joseph Jibueze

of their governments?

“Such conduct invariably leads to suspicions that such covert arms procurement may not be for the purposes of national security.”

El-Rufai urged Nigerians to show more interest in the arms deal than the position of the Federal Government.

The statement added: “This instance of arms procurement outside official channels amid an escalating insurgency must concern every patriot.

“In his House of Commons statement last week, Mallam El-Rufai alluded to the clear implications of the likely link between governmental murkiness and the escalation in the insurgency.

“The government has tried to explain away its incompetence in upholding security by blaming insurgency on the major opposition party.”

The former FCT minister alleged that the Boko Haram insurgency was benefiting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The statement said: “But it is becoming increasingly clear to many that this insurgency is benefiting the ruling party and the incumbent president by providing them a pretext to postpone elections and, at

the minimum, disenfranchise large swathes of the population that have never supported the PDP or voted for Jonathan.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai urges every Nigerian to be vigilant in these troubled times. The tragedy of mindless terror should not be allowed to become an endless catastrophe because of narrow political calculations.”

The ex-minister tackled the CAN President, Pastor Oritsejafor, on the involvement of the cleric’s private jet in the botched arms deal.

The statement said: “Since abuse is not argument and is incapable of displacing fact, Oritsejafor may care to answer if the jet involved in the scandal is the same one that was “donated” to him in 2012?”

An activist-lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo and a group, Societal Rights Advancement and development Initiative (ASRADI), have described the Federal Government’s defence of the $9.3million (about N1.5billion) found on two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen in South Africa as “unjustifiable”.

Keyamo said the government’s claim that the cash was meant for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency and that the transaction was done by cash to ensure the

speed of the transaction “is a cock and bull story.”

He said the government’s position was not only ludicrous, it was also laughable and untenable.

“The truth is, any transaction the world over that is done by cash, in a huge volume like this and in this manner, can only point to one thing: It is an illegal transaction or a transaction for an illegal purpose that is meant to be untraceable.”

ASRADI, in a statement by its Executive Director, Adeolu Oyinlola, demanded a full scale public inquiry into how a government department or agency would carry loads of cash in a private jet overseas, ostensibly to transact official business.

“While we do not intend to set an agenda for the proposed enquiry, ASRADI believes the following posers would assist in unravelling how the surreptitious trip to South Africa was hatched and embarked upon.

“How often does money get spirited out of Nigeria in this clandestine manner? How was the cash sourced? Was the money appropriated by the National Assembly? If, as we are assuming, the cash came from the Central Bank of Nigeria, how regularly does this happen?”

Agbakoba to challenge conviction of soldiers for mutiny

A

FORMER president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) faulted yesterday the death sentence handed to 12 soldiers for alleged mutiny.

In a letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, Agbakoba said the verdict was an “unconstitutional decision.”

He said he would challenge the constitutionality of the Armed Forces Act in relation to Court Martial in court.

The 12 soldiers were sentenced to death for mutiny and attempted murder after shots were fired at the General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division, Maj.Gen. Ahmed Mohammmed, on May 14.

They were angry after a

By Joseph Jibueze

convoy was ambushed on a road frequently targeted by Boko Haram insurgents.

Five other soldiers were acquitted and one was convicted on another count. All denied the charges at a Court Martial in Abuja.

Agbakoba, in the letter also copied to the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), said the manner, procedure and process by which the condemned soldiers were sentenced to death was contrary to the constitution.

The reason, he said, was because the army was the investigator, prosecutor and judge all rolled into one.

According to him, “this

•’It’s unconstitutional’ is contrary to the rules of natural justice as consecrated at Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Agbakoba said the composition of the Court Martial was fundamentally flawed and violated the fundamental rights of the convicted soldiers to fair hearing and trial as enshrined in the constitution.

He said: “The commander, Brig.-Gen. B.T. Ndiomu, who set up the Court Martial, is a party interested. He appointed the nine members of the Court Martial, namely the President, Brig.-Gen. C.C. Okonkwo, two waiting members, a judge advocate and two prosecuting officers and the investigators.

“The judge advocate, who is to assist the Court Martial on legal points, is far junior to the president of the Court Martial. By military tradition of obedience to superior orders, it is difficult for the judge advocate to give unwanted advice to the president of the Court Martial, who is a far superior officer.

“The Supreme Court decided in Gani Fawehinmi v LPDC…that ‘whenever a procedure allows admixture of the investigator, prosecutor and judge to be appointed or controlled by one authority, it is impossible for the accused to obtain fair trial.’

“It is my opinion that the principles laid down by the

Supreme Court in Gani’s case are fully applicable to the decision of the Court Martial.”

Agbakoba, therefore, urged the Chief of Army staff not to confirm the Court Martial’s decision, as it was alleged being illegal.

“The legal framework upon which the Court Martial was constituted is contrary to the constitution.”

He further enjoined the Army chief to “approach the National Assembly to amend the Armed Forces Act to bring it in conformity with the constitution so that Court Martial proceedings will be constitutional.”

“Meanwhile, we will challenge the constitutionality of the Armed Forces Act in relation to the Court Martial in court,” Agbakoba added.

HE Senate urged yesterday the Federal Government to immortalise the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh and others who died to ensure that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) did not spread.

Senate President David Mark also said public and private schools should be allowed to resume because the Federal Government had done enough to contain the spread of EVD. This followed the adoption of a motion titled: “Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria”, sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and 106 others.

Mark noted that the determination and success achieved in the fight against the EVD showed that if Nigerians were determined, nothing would be impossible to surmount.

He said: “Individually, people were dedicated, they put in their best and collectively we were able to work together to stem further spread of the epidemic.

“There are lessons that have come out and I hope we have taken them on.”

The Senate president said environmental sanitation and personal hygiene were crucial, while “communities must get together whether they are schools or colleges or universities or small communities and organise themselves in such a way that with little assistance from government, they can avoid the spread of the Ebola epidemic and indeed any other epidemic.”

He noted that Nigerians could not thank Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh enough because she went out of her way beyond anybody’s expectation to control the index of EVD, Patrick Sawyer, who would have otherwise done havoc much more beyond our imagination.

Mark said the country would do well to honour Adadevoh and indeed other workers in the health industry who sacrificed their lives just to make sure that most of Nigerians were alive.

He added: “We certainly need to hail the Federal Government because it has done a lot and the Lagos State government who also did a lot to ensure that we don’t allow Ebola to spread beyond what we have seen.

“I agree entirely with you that the way we carry on is as if everybody in this country now is infected with Ebola.

“We should give ourselves kudos for doing well and not paint us black before the eyes of the world.”

Police warn vehicle owner THE Lagos State Police Command has warned the owner of abandoned and accident vehicles parked at Ojodu Berger Division to come and remove it or lose it to members of the public through auction two weeks after this publication.

It is Eclipse saloon car unregistered scrap, white colour one door

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS Burial for Dimgba Igwe Oct 11

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HE funeral rites for the late Mr. Dimgba Igwe, the vice chairman of The Sun Publishing Ltd, begin on October 4 with a service of songs in Lagos.

Interment holds at his hometown, Okafia Igbere, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State on October 11, after a funeral service.

The deceased’s elder brother, Mr. Hanson Igwe, said the service of songs comes up at Evangel Pentecostal Church, 3–9, Chidi Okafor Street, off Canal Avenue, Okota, Lagos, at 3pm.

Igwe was the deputy general overseer of the church.

On October 11, funeral service holds at Okafia Igbere Primary School.

The programme starts at 10am, to be followed by interment at his home also in Igbere.

Igwe, a seasoned journalist and a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), was knocked down by a hit-andrun vehicle on September 6 while jogging at his Okota, Lagos, neighbourhood.

He is survived by his wife, Obioma and four children.

PDP governors endorse Jonathan

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OVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed yesterday President Goodluck Jonathan to become the party’s sole candidate for the presidential ticket.

Rising from a meeting of the PDP Governors Forum in Abuja, the governors said the decision was unanimous.

The party also fixed December 6 for its presidential primaries. The proposal is expected to be ratified today at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The party’s caucus met at the Villa on Tuesday on the party’s guidelines for the general elections. Its pro-

•Party fixes Dec. 6 for presidential primaries From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

posals will also be ratified by the NEC today.

Chairman of the Governor’s Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio urged members to support the President as the sole candidate for the ticket.

“We have all resolved to support his re-election in 2015”, Akpabio said, adding that the decision was in the best interest of the party and the country.

The governors hailed the Armed Forces for what they described as their gallant efforts in the counter-insur-

gency campaign and urged stakeholders and the public to give the Federal Government the needed support to stamp out terrorism.

They also praised the Federal Government, the Health Ministry and other stakeholders for containing the spread of the Ebola virus.

Akpabio said the governors were pleased with the party’s outing in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State and expressed the Forum’s support for the decision of the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to pursue his case at the electoral tribunal.

The Forum congratulated acting Governor Umaru Fintiri for winning the party’s ticket for the Adamawa State governorship election scheduled for October 11.

Akpabio urged PDP members and other stakeholders in Adamawa to give Fintiri their support at the poll.

Besides Akpabio, other governors at the meeting were: Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Theodore Orji (Abia); Idris Wada (Kogi); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Saidu

NOUN, VC get award From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

‘Nigeria needs cancer registry’

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HE National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and its Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof.

Vincent Ado Tenebe, have been honoured as the most Innovative and Transformative vice chancellor and university in the country.

Presenting the award, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Universities’ Students (NANUS), Comrade Peter Bassey, said the association researched into the programmes and activities of universities in the country and their administrative heads over the years and came up with the choice of NOUN and its VC. His words: “Having done a thorough assessment of the private universities, public universities, conventional and non-conventional universities, a fact, which stood out remained the innovative and product-driven learning approach adopted by the National Open University of Nigeria under the leadership of Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe.

For a university with less than 15,000 students enrolled prior to the Tenebe administration, the students’ population has risen to over 300, 000, thereby bringing mass literacy to the hitherto unreached and making NOUN the largest university in Africa and one of the world’s largest open universities.

“The e-learning facilities acquired by NOUN meet and surpass the basic standards.

This in itself is a step at radically transforming the educational sector in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Indeed, today, millions of Nigerians can now boast of a university degree, thanks to the dexterity, innovative, and transformative leadership being pioneered by Prof. Tenebe at NOUN.”

Dakingari (Kebbi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Umar Fintiri (Adamawa); Garba Umar (Taraba); Deputy Governor of Jigawa; Deputy Governor of Sokoto; and Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State.

A source at the party’s secretariat said the party had fixed December 6 for its presidential primary election and the governorship primaries for November 29.

The primary election for the National Assembly is billed for November 22.

The party source said the dates, which are tentative, were arrived at by an enlarged caucus of the party at the presidential villa on Tuesday night.

National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh confirmed the dates, but said they were proposed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Sale of forms for the positions is expected to begin on October 28. The party’s political appointees interested in contesting any of the positions have been directed to resign their appointments by October 20.

By Nneka Nwaneri

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•From left: Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; Permanent Secretary, Dr. Macjohn Nwabiola; Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Uche Chukwumerije; Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), Suleman Bogoro and Board Chairman, Dr. Musa Babayo, at the Tetfund 2014 Planning Workshop for Benefiting Institutions in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

Ekweremadu to NBA: hold govt accountable

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EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said yesterday that the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) should hold government accountable for its actions.

He also said NBA should ensure that Nigerians received justice at all times.

Ekweremadu spoke in Abuja when the new executive of the NBA, led by its President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, visited the National Assembly.

The deputy Senate president noted that as a professional body, NBA had a responsibility to the country to comment on national issues to ensure that those in government were held accountable for their actions and to ensure that justice was done.

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

He said while it was necessary that the body supports government, it should also advise it.

Ekweremadu said NBA should ensure a corrup free judiciary.

He said: “It is your role as NBA to ensure that you hold people to the highest standard in their behaviour in public office. I believe NBA has all it takes to ensure that this happens.

“While I advise you to support the government, I must add that in doing so, you must not pay lip service to the government. You must call a spade a spade and advise government appropriately.

“We must perform our responsibilities to keep faith with our promises to Nigerians.

“You are also part of the society. It is part of your responsibility to hold government accountable to ensure we have a just society.

“Another area of concern to some of us working in the Bar is the quality of training, which our lawyers receive.

“I believe the Bar should ensure that the quality of lawyers produced in the country will be the best in international standard.

“This is because we are in a globalised world where people who practise law do so not just within the territory of Nigeria but in other jurisdictions.”

On the Petroleum Industry

Bill (PIB) and the Justice Sector Bill raised by Alegeh, Ekweremadu assured that the bill would be given added impetus to accelerate the process of its passage.

He said he had been told that the final draft of the PIB was ready.

“Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, we will have it. We are concerned just as other Nigerians to have the bill in place.

“So, we assure you and other Nigerians that this bill will be well considered and passed soon.”

Ekweremadu urged NBA to take advantage of the public hearings in the National Assembly to articulate its views on bills before they are passed.

HE Medical Director in charge of Optimal Care Cancer Foundation, a non-government organisation (NGO), Dr. Femi Olaleye, has urged government to begin a comprehensive database so that a registry where the statistics of deaths and survivals of women with ovarian, breast and cervical cancer could be recorded for reference purposes.

He said Nigerians were yet to be well educated and their minds were yet to be prepared for the outcome of the screening and risks associated with the disease.

Olaleye added that the database would be used to know the stages associated with the aliment.

The doctor, who addressed reporters in Lagos ahead of the Go Pink Charity Fundraising Dinner scheduled for October 4, to commemorate the cancer month, said every woman is at the risk of the disease, as it affects one to two in 25 women.

He enjoined early screening, detection and treatment to ensure a higher survival rate and an elongated lifespan.

How Nigeria can become great, by NIM president

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IGERIA needs strong institutions, committed leadership and patriotic citizens to become great, the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Nelson Uwaga, has said.

He blamed insecurity and crime on corruption, which he said resulted in poverty.

His words: “The wealth of this nation is in few hands.

When there is poverty everywhere, crime is likely to soar.”

Uwaga spoke in Lagos at a media briefing on NIM’s 2014

•‘Fed Govt, Lagos deserve praise on Ebola’

By Joseph Jibueze

Annual National Management Conference at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Effurun-Warri, Delta State from September 21 to 23, with the theme: Strengthening the institutions of nationhood: the challenges of management.

He said the country would not get it right until it moved away from its comfort zone and build enduring institutions, adding that development would be experienced in all spheres of

national life if the abundant human and material resources were properly managed.

“NIM believes the task of getting the country up and running should not be left to the government alone. It is a collective responsibility that can only be achieved with commitment, attitudinal change and redefinition of our national ethos and values. All hands must, therefore, be on deck if Nigeria must rise and shine again,”

the NIM president said.

To him, a better society is possible where there is more transparency in governance.

Uwaga said: “We have not shown accountability and treated all sections of the country equally. Nigeria needs an urgent solution to the many leadership and governance challenges besetting it, which are threatening the nation’s corporate existence.”

The NIM president, who

holds a PhD in Pharmacy and was president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, praised the Federal and Lagos State governments for their efforts in containing the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

“I want to particularly hail Nigerians. Honestly, I have never seen a country that has shown much consciousness about Ebola. Hygiene is the most important aspect of Ebola control. So, it has been a lot easier to contain it.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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NEWS 2015: ‘Our party’ll win in Lagos’

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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AGOS State Commissioner for Works Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has said the state’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will retain power in 2015 election.

Hamzat spoke yesterday to party members during a tour of Ojo Local Government Area to declare his intention to contest for the governorship position.

He said the APC had good aspirants with experience, vying for the same position.

He added that his experience at the executive level would give him advantage over others.

"Our party is very lucky to have very good aspirants that have experience. But what I will say is that my experience at the executive level will single me out.

"The constitution imposes three organs of government - the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.But it is the executive that implements projects. It is not that all other components are not important, but it is the executive that builds roads, hospitals and provide water, among others. I have been fortunate to be involved in government since 2005. So, I know what to do."

Hamzat decried the challenges facing the country, blaming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre for failing to provide the right leadership.

“The average person in Nigeria gets about 15watts and meanwhile, we need about 150watts.

"Our nation should not have the kind of problems we are having today. We have a PDP-led Federal Government for 15 years and we don't have a change in our power supply," he said.

The commissioner restated the need for party members and supporters to work for its success.

He added that the area was long due for a general hospital.

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INEC denies plan to frustrate Osun election petition

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State has denied having plans to frustrate the state Election Petition Tribunal in attending to the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the August 9 governorship poll.

The commission’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Adenike Tadese, in a statement yesterday, described as false newspaper reports that the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Rufus Akeju, allegedly planned to reduce the workforce engaged by the PDP to carry out inspection of ballot papers.

She also denied that Akeju ordered that only two wards should be checked daily by the PDP inspection team to delay the inspection exercise.

Mrs. Tadese said: “It is pertinent to clarify and correct the frivolous accusation by the PDP.” She explained the reduction of the party’s workforce for the inspection.

APC urges PDP to ‘stop constituting political nuisance’

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SUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to “stop constituting itself into a political nuisance.”

The party’s Director of Publicity,Research and Strategy,Kunle Oyatomi,said this in a statement in reaction to the complaint by PDP against the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to make the ballot materials’ inspection by both parties thorough.

The PDP said the decision by INEC was allegedly influenced by the APC. But the APC denied any connection with the INEC’s decision.

It accused the PDP of “becoming paranoid by the personality of Rufus Akeju, who the PDP has persecuted for over a year now, falsely accusing the man of bias for the APC, without producing a shred of evidence.

“Inspite of this, Prof Attahiru Jega went out of his way to pacify the PDP by easing Akeju off the conduct of the August 9 election. After Iyiola Omisore and the PDP lost that election, they blamed Akeju’s replacement, Mr Segun Agbaje, for aiding the APC to ‘rig’ the election.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

She said: “We wish to state that the reduction in the workforce affected the two political parties - PDP and APC - due to the rowdiness, which led to discred-

“Now that Akeju is back on his job, the PDP is again accusing the man of slowing down the inspection of ballot materials to assist the APC.” The party queried: “Who will satisfy the PDP, with Omisore’s desperation to become governor in Osun State?

“It would appear that even if Jega supervised the process, the PDP will still accuse him of bias. This attitude of the PDP has become psychological and is getting out of control.”

It advised the PDP that except the process was “thorough and incontrovertible,” justice would not be served.

“It is therefore in the interest of both parties, that the inspection exercise is not only thorough, but it should be seen to be thorough and which can’t be manipulated”, the APC said.

“The decision to make the exercise thorough is certainly not within the purview of the PDP or APC. It is the responsibility of INEC, and the PDP can’t teach the commission its job. PDP must allow reason to prevail, otherwise it will be constituting itself into a political nuisance,”the APC added.

itable physical combat between the two parties during the inspection of ballot papers at the INEC state office. INEC decided that 10 members of each party (five legal counsel and five experts) should be recognised

at the inspection centre to manage the crowd.”

Tadese said the decision was not made to antagonise any party, but to facilitate the process of inspection.

She added: “The two political parties, the PDP and the

‘Probe Synagogue disaster’

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• L-R: Daughter of the late Ade-Ajayi, Mrs. Ogunlesi; son, Dr. Nyi Ade-Ajayi; widow, Christy; Mrs. Yetunde Aina, Mrs. Bisi PHOTO:FEMI ILESANMI Oloko and Mrs. Titi Ajayi-Jones at the lying-in-state for the late emeritus professor...yesterday.

UI, others pay tributes to Ade-Ajayi at lying-in-state

HE Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Isaac Adewole has said the late Emeritus Prof. Jacob Festus AdeAjayi was one of those who championed the anti-colonial scholarship that “successfully countered Eurocentric historiography.”

He noted that the feat established that Africa had a history, which pre-dated the arrival of the Europeans.

Adewole, who was represented by the Deputy ViceChancellor (Administration), Prof. Emilolorun Ayelari, spoke yesterday at the lyingin-state ceremony in honour of the late eminent historian and scholar, on the university’s premises.

He said: “We are gathered here to pay tribute to a man who for almost six decades was one of the towering figures in the life of this university. During his distinguished career in academic, he was one of those who championed the anti-colonial scholarship that successfully countered Eurocentric historiography.

“He lived a highly success-

APC, through their legal counsel Daudu and Adeyemi - unanimously agreed that two units and not two wards should be used as test-run to determine and measure the speed of the scanning machines by each party.

“Despite this, the parties were still complaining of delay and in view of this, the management of INEC in the state announced at the venue of the inspection that each party should operate at their own pace in the presence of the other opposing party.

“We strongly believe in equity, transparency, integrity and fairness in the conduct of our business and shall continue to uphold these principles in the discharge of our constitutional duties and responsibilities as an unbiased umpire to all stakeholders, regardless of party affiliations.

“However, we condemn in strong terms the orchestrated lies fabricated to soil the name of the commission and that of the Resident Electoral Commissioner.”

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

fully and rewarding life.

During his time at Ibadan, he helped to build the next generations of historians that spread the message of the new historiography far and wide.

“As a foremost teacher and scholar, numerous students have passed through his tutelage. Underlying his teaching and his scholarship was a rare and gifted spirit caught up in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, wherever they might be found, wherever they might be. Still is the story told of the beauty of the language, the clarity of his analyses and the profundity of his thoughts.”

Also, paying tribute to the late historian was the President of the Nigeria Academy of Letters (NAL), Prof. Olatunji Oloruntimehin, who said: “He spearheaded the establishment of an apex organisation that served both humanities and social science.

“He was a pillar of our academy and one of the foun-

dation fellows. Even when he was frail in health, he continued to encourage the development of the academy by writing and by attendance at the academy activities. We are encouraged by his uncommon gift to family, scholars and to humanity.”

The late emeritus professor’s immense legacy, he said, would continue to be a guiding light to future generation.

Another colleague, Prof Wale Oyemakinde, said the four score and five years that Ade-Ajayi spent on earth were loaded with excellent scholarship, fruitful teaching, enduring service, inspiring relationships, cross-cultural impact, penetrating vision, golden mentorship and spectacular landmarks.

He noted that manybeneficiaries of the Ade-Ajayi’s phenomenon were co-witnesses at the event “As the University of Ibadan is saying goodbye to our own Ade-Ajayi and the University of Lagos is pay-

ing last respects to the former vice-chancellor, Nigeria, Africa and the global arena of scholarship jointly wish that perpetual light would be your portion. The unfinished task that nobody could ever have settled to its end must be vigorously pursued for the betterment of mankind,” Oyemakinde said.

Shortly after the ceremony, a commendation service was held at the university’s Chapel of the Resurrection.

The Chaplain of the chapel, Rev. T.O Olatunji, described the late emeritus professor as a kind, generous and Godfearing man, who lived all his life to serve God and humanity.

“The late Prof. Ade-Ajayi was a teacher of scholars, an accomplished administrator, a calm, humble and serene gentleman, who had lived a fruitful life to serve God and humanity. His last days on this altar on Sunday, he danced, he praised God as never before and the following Thursday, he was pronounced dead. We are going

to miss him in this church because he was our grand patron for more than 23 years,” Olatunji said He condoled with the wife and family members, urging them to carry on with the leagacy he left behind.

In her appreciation remarks, the late Ade-Ajayi’s daughter, Mrs. Funmi Ogunlesi, thanked the university community and other guests for their unflinching support and love.

“We will miss our beloved father so much, but God loves him more. He is always doing his things in a focused and dedicated way. In his last days, he became more dedicated to God’s works,” she said Other dignitaries present included Emeritus Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, Pro-Chancellor, UI, Gen. Adebayo Adeyinka, Registrar of the institution, Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, its former ViceChancellor, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, Prof. Olu Falase and son of late Attorney General and Minsiter of Justice, Muyiwa Ige.

HE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged Lagos State to investigate the collapsed guest house of Synagogue Church of All Nations.

The human rights body also enjoined the Federal Government to investigate the identities of the helicopter and plane, which hovered over the building before it collapsed.

The National President of the body, Sunny Enenuvwedia, said in a statement that an helicopter allegedly hovered over the dwelling place of Pastor T.B. Joshua, the spiritual head of the church and the guest house about 8am on the day of the incident.

It added that a plane also hovered over the guest house four times within 24 minutes on the same day.

Corporate governance society to meet

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HE Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria will hold its yearly conference on Friday at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos by 10am.

The theme for the event is “Leadership & Governance in the Public Sector.”

The conference will discuss the practice of corporate governance in the public sector and its effects on businesses as well as the economy.

The challenges of leadership in public sector governance, among others, will also be discussed.

This year’s forum will be chaired by the society’s President, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, OON, OFR. The keynote speaker is the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele while the special guests are Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN and former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, CON. It will witness the presentation of the society’s latest publication, ‘The Blue Book.’

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Kwara, Ondo direct schools to open Monday

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HE Kwara State government has directed primary and secondary schools to resume on Monday.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had directed itsmembers not to resume, until their demands on the control of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) were met.

The Commissioner for Education, Saka Onimago, asked all schools to provide basic hygiene materials, such as washing bowls, soap and towels.

Onimago, in a statement, directed two teachers from each school to undergo training on Ebola prevention, adding that the programme would begin as soon as the federal ministries of Health and Education provide the necessary facilities.

He said the new school fees of N750 per term had been fixed for senior secondary schools, N500 for junior secondary and N250 for primary schools.

Also, the Ondo State government has directed all public and private schools to

We’ll not resume, say Lagos, Ekiti NUT LAGOS State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Adesegun Raheem has said although teachers in Lagos were ready to resume school on Monday, they will not resume until their requirements are met.

He spoke at a sensitisation programme for head teachers of public primary and secondary schools in Lagos on prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease.

Raheem said: “Health experts say that some things must be put in place for preventive measures before we can go back to school but the Lagos State Government besides the awareness programme going on right now and provision of water in 600 of the 1,007 primary and 668 secondary schools we have, has not done any other thing.”

He listed things that should be in place as hand gloves for teaching and non-teaching staff, infrared thermo-scanner for the school, hand sanitisers, running water (not washing hand basin) and creating awareness.

“It is based on this that NUT is saying that it is better we die quickly than slowly and it is better a funeral is held in our honour than for us to be cremated.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti and Medinat Kanabe

“We give the government from Monday to provide all we asked for if not we will not resume. Let us see these things in our schools and we will resume,” he said.

In Ekiti State, the NUT urged its members to shun school on Monday. The NUT Chairman, Samuel Akosile, insisted members would not resume until “certain preventive measures are put in place by government”.

Akosile said he stood by the directive of the national body which had directed that there will be no resumption until government complies with certain hygiene and medical conditions.

“Ekiti cannot be excluded from the order given by our national leaders. This is not an attempt to ground the education sector, but a way of ensuring the safety of our pupils.

“There should be adequate safety nets in all the schools.

Our pupils and teachers, who had travelled for holiday, near and far, would have to be tested before we can get the assurances that we are safe.”

•Niger postpones date to October 10 From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, Damisi Ojo, Akure and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

resume on Monday.

Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, in a statement, said the government has made provi-

sion for the safe return of pupils to their schools.

He said the state has lined up activities to sensitise the public, headteachers and teachers on how to prevent the disease.

The statement said scan-

ners would be distributed to schools for early detection of contagious diseases.

The statement said meeting and sensitisation are on-going among education and health officials as well as stakeholders in the pri-

mary and secondary education system.

Akinmade said government has also brought in a disinfection expert from the United Kingdom to train in the prevention of the disease.

But in Niger State, the

government has fixed October 10 for the resumption for all schools.

The government said the new date was informed by the Eid-el-Kabir festival expected to hold in the first week of October.

The new date was announced when Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu received a delegation of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) in his office yesterday.

Aliyu said mostpupils would want to celebrate the festival with their parents, hence the September 22 date will not work.

“Most of the children will want to witness the slaughtering of rams and participate in other post-Sallah festivities,” Aliyu said.

He said fixing the resumption date for Friday would enable pupils in boarding schools to tidy their surroundings for classes to begin on Monday.

‘Jonathan has not failed North’

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•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (second left); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (second right) and Ogun State Chief of Staff, Prof Ganiyu Olatunde at the eighth day Fidau for the President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South-West, Edo and Delta, the late Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe, at Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo...yesterday.

Daniel not from Ogun, says Amosun

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THE political rivalry between Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, took a new dimension yesterday, as Amosun queried Daniel’s lineage.

Amosun said he knew how Daniel was helped to claim Sagamu as his home town, when he aspired to contest in 2003.

The governor, who spoke in Odeda, Odeda Local Government Area while on an assessment tour, vowed before All Progressives Congress (APC) members to expose the ‘intrigues’ surrounding the ex - governor.

Amosun’s comments followed allegations by Daniel last week that the present administration has sold off all the farmlands in the area.

Daniel said: “When I came into power in 2003, the first place we visited was Odeda and we established 13 farm settlements.

“Today, we are sorry that this present administration has started selling our farmlands to other neighbouring states.

“He is busy building roads and bridges which we

•It’s all lies, says ex-governor From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

did when we came in 2003.

When I was coming today, I tried to check on the road, the road was very bad. “ I want to ask you people of Odeda, what has Amosun done for you here? He has been building bridges all over and nothing was done here for you, he neglected you.”

But the governor said his predecessor frittered away all the state’s wealth under spurious concession.

He cited Apoje farm settlement which was sold to a former commissioner in Lagos State at a giveaway price.

The governor said: “Although, it isn’t time for political campaign, yet I will not hesitate to respond to Daniel’s allegations which he leveled against me and my administration here in the same Odeda Local Government.

“The farmlands were over 60, when we came in, they were five left. God will punish them all.

“Our forefathers will never forgive them and future generations will also curse them. They thought we are like them, we are not, we are true sons of Ogun State.

“He is envious of our achievements and successes.

We need to let them know that we are not thieves.

“They will not be able to stand and campaign here in Odeda by the time I start exposing them.

“If not for the type of the country we are, they ought to bury their heads in shame rather than boasting around town.

“We are bona fide sons of the soil and will never do things that will destroy the future of our children.

“They are not happy because all the property they stole; we have retrieved them.

“The hotels, farms, money and others have been collected back; we will do what is needful.

“They said we didn’t do anything here, when we came in, we planned to begin work on this road, but we were stopped because the

Federal Government has begun work on it.

“Here it is now, nothing is being done here. When we start the work, I promise you it will be stopped at Bakatari town.

But the former governor in a statement by his media aide, Ayo Giwa, said: “The people of Ogun State are saying it loud and clear that they are tired of this government.

“As governor why did he not institute a probe to look into the concessions?

“He has all the machinery of government at hand so what is he waiting for?

“The statement that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is not from Sagamu is an insult to the people of Sagamu.

“It’s also a taboo and effrontery on the traditional institutions in the land, especially the thrones of the Akarigbo of Remoland as well as the Ewusi of Makun in Remo Kingdom.

“That Otunba Daniel sold all the state’s assets is cheap blackmail. Is concession not different from outright sale?”

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has not failed the North, contrary to claims by Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain has said.

PDP Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee, Prince Buruji Kashamu, described the criticism as unfair and “most unfortunate”. In a statement, he urged support for the President to combat the insurgency in the North.

Kashamu said: “The attempt by the ACF to heap the blame of the security challenges in the Northeast on President Goodluck Jonathan is unfair.

“Terrorism is a global phenomenon and requires broad-based cooperation. We should take a cue from other climes where the citizens support those in government after the elections are over.”

He called for support for the administration‘s Transformation Agenda. He said it was disingenuous for any group to insinuate that “the current policies and the government attitude towards the insurgency suggest that there was a deliberate plan to emasculate the North politically”.

Kashamu noted that as part of the measures by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to end insurgency, it has launched the “Save Our Schools” initiative as well as the “Victims Support Fund and pursues the almajiris education programme and other job creation initiatives.

“The ACF and other lovers of our nation should work towards the sustenance of democracy, which is the necessary ingredient for peace,” he said.

On the insinuation that the ACF’s intervention has political undertones, Kashamu said it was advisable for the respectable Northern leaders to support President Jonathan for a second term so as to have the “political equity” to negotiate in 2019.

“Our Northern brothers and sisters need to know that we all need to jealously guard and protect this edifice called Nigeria because if it is destroyed, there would not be anywhere to call home.”

The PDP chief said President Jonathan is more qualified than any other leader that ever ruled the nation, given his rise from a deputy governor to President.

Oyo partners NGO on family planning From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Oyo State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Marie Stoles International yesterday launched family health plus, an healthcare package aimed at improving family planning strategies in Oyo State.

The launching, which took place at the Ministry of Health, also witnessed the submission of the report of health facility baseline survey in 56 primary healthcare facilities.

The regional team manager of Marie Stoles, Caleb Aromeh, gave a detailed outline of the organisation’s plans.

He said the family health plus is a three year project to strengthen the health system and offer quality long acting family planning services.

Aromeh said there have been various options for family planning but they are not long lasting. His organisation hopes to introduce and enhance the use of implants as a lasting option for family planning.

Dr Oluyemisi Iyiola, who represented the commissioner for health, spoke on the diverse achievements in the health sector since the inception of the Abiola Ajimobi administration.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

9

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

10

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Soldiers vandalised, burnt BRT buses, says witness

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OLDIERS destroyed some Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles in Palmgrove, Lagos, last July 4, the tribunal probing the mayhem heard yesterday.

A worker with Mutual Model Transport Limited, a franchise operator of LAGBUS, Mr Razak Mustapha, told the Justice Ebenezer Adebajo-led tribunal that he saw soldiers destroying the buses when he went to tow a broken down bus.

The witness said he got to Palmgrove about 5.30 am and was joined by a mechanic, Mr Ikechukwu Umeaku, to return the vehicle to their depot.

He said while attempting to start the bus, he saw a body inside it and immediately informed his colleague.

By Adebisi Onanuga

Mustapha said they alighted and he called his boss, to inform him of the development.

The witness said while waiting for further directive, a man came about 7.30 am and saw the body inside the bus.

He claimed that the man, wearing a Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) uniform, stopped a passing military vehicle and informed those inside it of the body of the dead soldier in the bus.

“They came out and entered the bus. They saw the body and checked his identity card.

They now placed two soldiers to guard the bus and left.

“It was when they came back that they started shouting and destroying the bus.

Then some started stopping other BRT buses, smashed their windscreens, side mirrors and windows.

“There was confusion and people started gathering.

Then a female soldier came and she started pouring fuel inside the bus.

“After that I saw three buses - one blue and two red - on fire,” Mustapha said.

Also testifying, Umeaku said he was assigned to repair the bus and two others which were faulty on July 3 about 9pm.

He said after fixing the other two vehicles which broke down at New Garage, Ojota and Orile, he could not fix the one at Palmgrove because it was surrounded by area boys.

According to him, the next morning he went there and

saw Mustapha waiting for him.

“It was when we were inside the bus trying to repair it that Mustapha told me that there was a dead man inside the bus and that we should come down.

“I did not see the body. It was Mustapha who told me.

So I ran away and went to report the matter to my boss in the depot,” Umeaku said.

At the tribunal’s inaugural public sitting on Tuesday, the bus pilot, Folorunso Zachaeus, denied killing the soldier.

Zachaeus said his bus broke down the previous day, around Palmgrove.

He told the tribunal that he was coming from Lagos in the evening of July 3, but could not join the BRT dedicated

corridor at Fadeyi because of on-going work on the lane.

According to him, he drove forward until he got to Palmgrove where his bus stopped as he made to join the BRT corridor.

He claimed that when all attempts to start the bus failed, he put on the bus’ hazard lights and C-Caution sign behind the bus.

The pilot said he left the place for their depot at Ojota to lodge a report of the broken down vehicle as he had no phone on him.

At the depot, he said he was told to go back and stay with the bus until a maintenance vehicle would join him.

He claimed to be waiting for the maintenance crew inside the bus when suddenly he heard a big bang from the

Residents cry out over broken culvert

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OME residents of Agege in Lagos have cried out to the state government to come to their aid in fixing the broken culvert linking their streets to avert disaster.

The residents of Sebiotimo, Mayaka and Alimi streets in Agege Local Government said their lives are in danger because of the damaged culvert.

They said the fence of Ifeoluwa Primary School risk being destroyed by flood and erotion, warning that is that happens, pupils’ lives will be endangered.

The problem, they said, is causing a traffic jam in the neighbourhood which spills to the old Agege Motor Road, Sule Street, Capitol Road/Agege Bye Pass, Ashade/Akanni Doherty and Oba Akran Road daily.

The Community Develop-

•One of the flooded streets

‘

I am aware of the problem. The challenge is that paying salary takes a larger chunk of the Councils’ money. We don’t have money for new projects.

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

ment Association (CDA) leaders said they have written to the Agege Local Government Chairman Jubreel Abdulkareem, since the culvert collapsed about four months ago.

“We even attached the pictures of the collapsed culvert; with the hope that it would be repaired before schools resume, but up till now nothing has been done.

“Already the fences of Ifeoluwa Primary School and 52, Sebiotimo Street are showing signs of crack. If nothing is done quickly, and the fences collapse, the pupils won’t be

’

spared from flood whenever it rains, and miscreants and kidnappers may enter the school to cause havoc unhindered. By night, the residents of 52, Sebiotiomo will be exposed to armed robbers, because of its strategic proximity to the roads. Not only that, the traffic snarl that would be caused will affect other schools within the neighbourhood,” a resident said.

Contacted, Abdulkareem said: “I am aware of the problem. The challenge is that paying salary takes a larger chunk of the councils’ money. We don’t have money for new projects”.

My husband is violent, miserly, says divorce-seeking wife

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ACH time my husband makes love to me, I always conceive. I have also realised that family planning is not working for me. I don’t want to undergo abortion anymore because he shirks his responsibilities as the head of the family. I am even tired of his rascally attitude. Besides, he is greedy for money and unwilling to spend it. “ These were the words of a middle-aged trader, Adijat Adisa, as she sought the dissolution of her 17-

•Members of the Rotary Club of Victoria Garden City during their visit to the Arrow of God Orphanage, Okeira-Nla, Ajah, Lagos

By Basirat Braimah

year-old marriage to Najimu Adisa at the Alakuko Customary Court, a Lagos suburb.

She said her husband was fond of beating her and destroying her goods.

Mrs Adisa said:”My husband is not caring and doesn’t respect my relations either. On different occasions when I went into labour, he didn’t defray the medical bills. The beating started when I gave birth to our first child, but I endured it,

thinking he would turn a new leaf. He once threw a lit lamp on my face, after destroying my wares. There was a time he threatened that I won’t prosper better than him in life. Surprisingly, soon after he made that swear word, my business literally crumbled.

He is too violent. My husband doesn’t know the schools our children attend because I provide their needs.

My father had to give me a room in his house when he learnt of my husband’s reckless lifestyle. I’m tired of being given N200 weekly for

the upkeep of my children. I am also tired of moving around with swollen face. So, all I want is for us to go our separate ways.”

The union, which was contracted under Native and Customary Law, produced four children.

Mr Adisa, who is against the divorce, said: “I actually wanted to send her out of my home when she lost her first pregnancy. I understand her father was strict and usually took sides with his daughters even when they were wrong.

I however, jettisoned the idea

because I loved her. I have always been responsible for the payment of my children’s school fees because I want them to be better educated than we are.”

To the dismay, Adisa court’s presented a copy of the landlords’ association receipt in place of the receipts for the children’s school fees.

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, said:” Do you think we are a bunch of uneducated people here?”

He ordered Mrs Adisa to bring the children to court on September 23.

back of the bus.

The pilot said when he looked through the side-mirror, he saw a man walking by.

Zachaeus claimed that before he could get down to check what caused the noise, he saw people running towards the bus.

He said he pulled off his uniform, alighted and quickly moved away, having been accosted earlier on by area boys who asked him for money.

The maintenance vehicle that came thereafter also could not wait, seeing the crowd behind the bus, he said.

On getting back to the depot, he met nobody and he slept there.

He said when the Fleet Officer, Mr. Bunmi Akinwande, returned to the depot at night, he informed him of what happened at Palmgrove but that he could not wait because of the presence of the crowd.

Zachaeus said he learnt the next day that the bus had been taken over by soldiers.

The hearing continues today.

NDLEA arrests man with 1.535kg of drugs

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

O

FFICERS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have prevented a 38-year-old man from smuggling drugs to South Africa.

The arrest and drug seizure took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during the outward screening of Arik Air passengers to South Africa. The drug was concealed in a false compartment of the suspect’s luggage.

The airport’s NDLEA commander, Hamza Umar, gave the suspect’s name as Darlugar Ufondu Steven.

He said: “A 38-year-old man, Dalugar Ufondu Steven, was apprehended on his way to South Africa.

He was found in possession of 1.535kg of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine”.

The suspect, who claims to be an assistant coach in an amateur football club in South Africa, said he was under immense financial pressure. “I am married with a child and have lived in South Africa for about a decade.

“I have worked very hard to attain financial freedom but have nothing in return. This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I was under financial pressure to cope with peers.

“A friend introduced me to drug trafficking as a way of making quick money.

They promised to pay me 6,000 dollars to take the bag containing the drugs to South Africa”.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade urged the public to support drug control efforts.

“We have made remarkable improvement in our counter-narcotic efforts. The Agency is prepared to detect hidden drugs and prosecute the drug barons.

“Members of the public should avoid drug trafficking and report suspected cases to the Agency,” he said.

The suspect will soon be charged to court.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

EU, Nigeria trade hits N8.5trillion

Reps seek to strip Executive of powers on taxes, duties

By Toba Agboola

T

RADE volume between the European Union (EU) and Nigeria as at 2013, stood at N8.5 trillion (40 billion euro), the Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African State, ECOWAS , Ambassador Michel Arrion, has said.

He explained that out of this figure, EU’s imports from Nigeria were valued at N6 trillion (28.7 million euro), while exports to Nigeria stood at N2.5 trillion or (11 million euro) Ambassador Arrion, who spoke at a media luncheon in Lagos, said though Nigeria maintains a positive trade balance with the EU, it was imperative to address the EU-Nigeria relation towards a more diversified composition and as well strengthen the ECOWAS regional market.

He said Nigeria is going to be a major beneficiary of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) because there is huge potentials in the Nigeria market.

He said the EU has no offensive agenda on EPA , adding that it will not invade the West African markets with European products because it will be too expensive for an average Nigerian.

Arrion said Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) , are aimed at expanding the possibilities for trade and investment, while supporting the respective region’s development prospects and needs. The EPA provides unique opportunities for trade integration between two regions, each of which has a long history of regional integration.

He pointef out that through its efforts on regional integration, EPA promotes the creation of larger markets, adding that a West African wide EPA will be beneficial to countries of the sub-region., including Nigeria and to the EU, because it would stimulate trade and investment between the two regions.

“It will help the region’s global competitiveness and provide access to the huge European market for the Nigerian exporters. With a regional EPA, Nigeria will consolidate its position as an industrial hub as investors will be attracted by easier access to national, regional and global markets,” he said.

He pleged EU’s support for Nigeria in its endeavours to counter terrorism .

The EU has stayed by Nigeria’s side as it grapples with problems of insurgency and other security challenges in parts of the country, he said, adding that the body is working with the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on a programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of Nigeria’s security agencies to deal with the security challenges, particularly those posed by terriorism.

Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

• Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

T

HE House of Repre sentatives yesterday moved to stem the arbitrary increases of taxes and duties by the Federal Government and its agencies.

A bill to ‘Abrogate Legislative powers delegated to Executive, Administrative, Judicial and other offices, Agencies and Authorities for the determination, imposi-

tion, increase, cancellation, withdrawal or reduction of taxes, duties, tariffs and fees, and to prohibit the use of such powers without the approval of the National Assembly, passed through second reading yesterday.

The bill is pursuant to section 59(1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, states: “The provisions of this section shall apply to: (a) an Appropriation Bill, or a Supplementary appropriation bill, including any other bill for the payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, or any other public fund of the

Federation of any money charged thereon, or any alteration in the amount of such a payment, issue or withdrawal; and (b) a bill for the imposition of, or increase in any tax, duty or fee, or any reduction, withdrawal or cancellation thereof.”

According to the sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Garba Datti Mohammed, the purpose is to stem the incidents of exploitation, embezzlement and corruption by Ministries, Depatprtments and Agencies (MDAs) that unilaterally increase their charges without recourse to the National Assembly.

His words: “The intendment of the bill is to

revoke all legislative powers delegated to judicial, executive officers, agencies, to increase taxes, levies, tariffs and others, or to decrease. You can’t do that unilaterally without bringing it to the National Assembly. That is what section 59(1) says. It will reduce embezzlement and corruption.”

He said because of arbitrary increases in the accruable rates and taxes by revenue generating agencies, after presentation of annual budgets, the people of the country are being short- changed, as the excesses in the revenue is hardly declared.

• From left: The Branch Manager, Ado- Ekiti of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Matthew Ofulue; winner of an LED television at FCMB’s 30th Anniversary Promo Reloaded in the Lagos and South-west Regional draw, Corporal Adebayo Hosu; the Bank’s Head of Retail, South-west 2, Victor Adejimola, and the FCMB’s Corporate Affairs/Media Relations Officer, Mr. Rafiu Mohammed, at the promo draw held at Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

NNPC workers’ strike continues as more subsidiaries join

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ONTRARY to the re port that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has resolved the pension issue and other demands of its workers, there is total shutdown at all NNPC offices and locations all over the country.

The strike has also affected all NNPC subsidiaries, including the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Kaduna Refining and Petro-chemical Company, Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), NETCO, Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), Hyson, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and Department of Petroleum Resources

By Toba Agboola

(DPR).

In a statement, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) Media and Information Officer, Comrade Babatunde Oke, said the strike still continue until there is concrete commitment from the NNPC management to find a lasting solution to the issues.

The demands of the workers include: adequate and regular funding of the closed pension system, immediate steps to carry out turn around maintenance (TAM) on the four refineries as agreed between government and the two unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, and restoration of crude supply to the refineries.

Comrade Oke said the issue has gone beyond granting of a one year grace to the

NNPC by PENCOM but that the NNPC management should put in place machinery that will automatically fund the pension system without any bureaucratic bottle neck.

He noted that the funding has been delayed due to the inability of the board of the NNPC to meet for over a year to approve the proposal of the management for the funding of the pension system.

On the issue of TAM of the refineries, PENGASSAN spokesperson said the Federal Government should implement without delay the memorandum of understanding between the government and the unions to carry out the TAM on the refineries, adding that the government promised to commence the TAM in April.

“But this is September, we

• NNPC boss, Dawha

have not seen any commitment from the government on this,” he said.

This could affect export of the crude, as workers at the export terminals also joined the strike, while importation and distribution of petroleum products may also be affected as the NNPC accounts for 60 per cent of petroleum importation into the country.

As at now, the management of the NNPC has not called for another meeting to resolve the issue.

Marketers decry LPG price increase • We are being accused unfairly, says firm

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

T

HE Nigerian Associa tion of LPG Marketers (NALPGAM) has described criticised the increase in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), by Algasco LPG Services Limited, describing the action as unwarranted.

The National President, NALPGAM, Basil Ogbuanu, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that Algasco, one of the off-takers of the LPG supplied by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and the operator of the Navgas terminal, increased the price of gas from N3.3 million per 20 metric tonnes (MT) to N3.5 million per MT. The increase in price according to the association is uncalled-for because there is no change in price template

by NLNG, which currently is the sole supplier of the product to off-takers for domestic consumption.

Ogbuanu said the pricwe went up because the international price of LPG rose from $563 per metric tonne to $576 per MT. But Ogbuanu said the difference, which is $13, is not significant to warrant the increase from N3.3 million to N3.5 million for 20 metric tonnes (MT), even when NLNG, the supplier of the commodity, didn’t alter the price.

The NALPGAM chief, said that there are three major LPG terminals in Lagos, which are owned by Navgas, NIPCO and PPMC (Products and Pipeline Marketing Company), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The association observed that whenever NIPCO and PPMC are out of stock, Navgas tinkers with its price and also compels other off-takers that use its facility for throughput to do the same.

Ogbuanu said that the step being taken by Algasco will shoot the price of a 12kg cylinder from N2,700 to N3, 000 at the LPG plants, and much more if the price goes up to N4 million.

He said that when Algasco was contacted by the association, it said that the Mont Belvieu LPG price at the international market has increased from $563 per metric tonne on September 1 to $576 as at September 15, hence it increased its price, a situation the association condemned in its entirety.

He said that although LPG market is deregulated, the price of crude oil, which is also one of the parameters used by NLNG to determine the domestic price of gas, is even falling.

He exonerated NALPGAM members from being part of the increase in price of LPG.

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

Terminal operator decries new duty regime

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ANAGEMENT of the Ports & Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML), Tin Can Island Ports Lagos, has decried the new duty regime on vehicles introduced by the Federal Government under the fiscal Policy measures for Automotive industry in Nigeria and has called for a review.

The Head, Public Commu-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

nications, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Chigbo Anichebe made this disclosure in a statement yesterday.

Receiving the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation during an oversight visit to its offices at Tin Can Island Port on Tuesday, the company’s

LOSS OF DOCUMENT CHIEF M. A. OLAYI YUSUFF wishes to inform the F.H.A, Abuja and the general public that the original allocation letter with Ref. No. FHA/ES/ LUG/P818, dated 4th July, 2002 and Wall Fence Receipt (No. 000002986) dated 23rd February, 2009, in respect of my property at the Federal Housing Authority, Lugbe, Abuja are missing. If found please contact the nearest police station.

Executive Director, Askanio Russo, alleged that because of the policy, the Terminal in the last three months has recorded a dramatic drop in vehicles discharged.

He attributed this to the non-uniform practices by the Customs Command which oversees the Terminal and Tin Can Island.

Russo alleged that the Customs uses different Ex-Factory prices and valuation assessment for used vehicles discharged at the Terminal, different from that obtained at other Tin Can Island terminals.

In addition, he said there was disparity in tariff interpretation to the extent that the clearance of vehicles which would be impossible at the Terminal is allowed at the other terminals and that there was a disparity in control mechanisms at the two points.

He told the Committee that as a result of the uneven and inconsistent application of the new duty regime by the Customs, the Terminal has recorded a huge diversion of traffic to its competing Terminals in Tin Can Island.

Russo lamented that if not checked; it would threaten the successful Private Public Partnership (PPP) between the Federal Government and the investors as well as affect the revenues accruing to the government.

Despite the challenges, he said since inception, the Terminal had handled over 1,000 ships, over one million vehicle units, 500,000 containers and 300,000 general cargos.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olugbenga Obadara said the the Committee

would intervene to ensure that the Terminal Operators were given equal opportunity.

PTML is a green field multi-purpose Port Terminal developed by Grimaldi Group in 2005 under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement. It is the biggest RO/RO Multipurpose Terminal in West Africa.

The Committee members also visited Nigerdock on Snake Island, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, Operators of Terminal C and Tin Can Island Container Terminal Limited.

Reps move to avert fuel scarcity

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N an attempt to avert the looming crisis in the oil and gas sector, the House of Representatives Joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Petroleum (Downstream) and Gas Resources has summoned the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deizeani Allison-Madueke and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawah.

Also to appear before the lawmakers are the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as well as Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG).

• Summon Minister, NNPC, others From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

In a press statement, yesterday, the committees is a press statement signed by Hon. Muraina Ajibola, Chairman, Petroleum (Upstream), Dakuku Peterside, Chairman, Petroleum (Downstream), and Hon. Bassey Ewa , Chairman, Gas Resources, the intended meeting is to avoid the looming crisis in the oil and gas sector in the country, adding that that the committees would not allow the crippling of the nation’s oil and gas sector through any strike

action.

The joint committees statement read in part, “The Joint Oil and Gas Committee of the House of Representatives is concerned by the strike action, as reported in the Media- by staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“Our concern is driven by the major role Oil and Gas plays in our economy and the enormous damage any disruption in the system will entail for the Nigerian people.

“Alive to our Constitutional responsibilities, the Joint House Committees on

Oil and Gas have decided to intervene in this matter with a view to resolving whatever the issues may be.

“Accordingly, we have invited the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, and the affected Unions and relevant stakeholders in the Sector to a meeting for tomorrow Thursday, 18th September 2014 at 11: 00am (today) at the House of Representatives.”

The lawmakers said they hope the relevant parties will attend the meeting given the urgency of the situation.

“We enjoin the parties to work with us to resolve their differences in the overall interest of the nation”, they added.

Kaduna-Abuja Rail for completion early 2015, says NRC

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OARD Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Cor poration (NRC), Ambassador Bamanga Tukur yesterday assured that the ongoing standard rail line project from Abuja to Kaduna will be completed by

PUBLIC NOTICE NMEREGINI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NMEREGINI OFUNNE REGINA, now wish to be known as MRS OGBUABOR OFUNNE REGINA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

L AGOS ST ATE GOVERNMENT STA LAGOS STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD (SUBEB)

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN LAGOS STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IFB NO:LSUBEB/UBEC/INFRAST.DEV/NCB/09/2014 IFB NO:LSUBEB/TETFUND/INFRAST.DEV/NCB/09/2014 Reference to the Advertisement on Invitation for Bids (IFB) published in the Nation Newspapers of September 4th, 2014 on pages 22-23 by Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, please find below the correction effected in Lot B28, B29, B30 and B31 respectively.

(B) S/N

28 29

30

31

LSUBEB/UBEC INTERVENTION PROJECTS Y2013 (1ST – 4TH QUARTER): CONSTRUCTION/REHABILITATION OF BLOCKS OF CLASSROOMS LOT

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

LOT B28 Rehabilitation of 8 Blocks of Classrooms at Anglican Primary School, Ibidun, Surulere, Lagos.

LOT B29 Rehabilitation of 8 classrooms (Block A and B) at Marywood Nursery & Primary School, Mainland, Lagos.

LOT B30 Rehabilitation and Restrengthening of a block of 10 Classroom at Ijomu Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos.

LOT B31 Rehabilitation of a block of 16 Classrooms, Idowu Primary School, CMS compound, Somolu, Lagos.

CONTRACT PACKAGE NO

BID SECURITY (N) DELIVERY PERIOD

LSUBEB/UBEC/ NCB-01/WREHAB/9/14 LSUBEB/UBEC/ NCB-02/WREHAB/9/14

2% of the 6 Months bid price 2% of the 6 Months bid price

LSUBEB/UBEC/ NCB-04/WREHAB/9/14

2% of the 6 Months bid price

LSUBEB/UBEC/ NCB-05/WREHAB/9/14

2% of the 6 Months bid price

Signed: Executive Chairman (LSUBEB) E-mail:basiceducation.subeb@gmail.com

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

the first quarter of 2015.

The corporation also promised to complete the rehabilitation of the Kano-Lagos rail line and other rail projects within the shortest possible time.

Tukur gave the assurance during his familiarization tour to Kaduna District of the corporation, where he commissioned the newly built office block at the head office of the railway property management company and 7no bays warehouse and service road at the Kaduna south railway station.

According to him, the com-

pletion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail gauge by next year was in line with the transformation drive of President Goodluck Jonathan to effectively resuscitate the railway transport sub sector, adding that in no distant time, Nigerians will witness massive transformation in the sector.

On his part, the Managing Director of NRC, Engr, Adeseyi Sijuade disclosed that the Corporation (NRC) has procured 25 new locomotives which according to him, which he said is aimed at enhancing its delivery operations and service to Nigerians.

He noted that the acquired locomotives which would be

used for the goods and passenger train services would enhance the corporation quest to take its services to a new level.

According to him, the partnership with APM Terminal and Inland Land Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL) in Kaduna to haul containers from Apapa port to Kaduna/ Kano depots is a testament of the effectiveness of the public private partnership (PPP) policy of the federal government, and also part of the federal government’s sustained drive to transform the nation’s socio-economic development through a strong and formidable rail transport system.

FMBN spends N3b on projects in Kogi

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HE Federal Mortgage Bank Nigeria (FMBN) has funded developmental projects in Kogi State to the tune of N3 billion, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief Bisi Ogujonbi, has said.

Oguntobi who stated this in Lokoja during the commissioning of the bank’s office complex, said the project was indicative of the genuine intention of government to provide a conducive work-

From James Azania, Lokoja

ing environment for its staff for optimal performance.

Represented by a Director in the Bank, Mrs. Eucharia Aloze, the chairman said, the Kogi State government has made contribution totalling N1.92 billion, while the bank has funded developmental projects in the state to the tune of N3 billion.

He said the bank has funded the 350 housing

units of the Kogi Investment and Property Limited, City Point Global Investment Limited, the 400 housing units and Philkruz Limited, 250 units, saying that the gesture is in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The state governor, Idris Wada, said the bank’s office in the state is a testimony to the growing business opportunities in the state.

Lagos re-appoints Fabamwo PSSDC chief

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AGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has approved the re-appointment of Mrs. Regina Olubunmi Fabamwo as Director-General of the state-owned Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), for a second four-year tenure.

In a letter conveying the Governor’s approval, Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi Williams, Government stated that the Director-

General Was re-appointed after due consideration of the positive attributes Such as integrity, capability, hard work, leadership quality and Commitment to service which was exhibited during her last tenure and outstanding performance at a well contested selection process thereafter.

PSSDC has benefited from Fabamwo’s leadership in its re-engineering ? and turnaround of the Cen-

tre since joining the services of Lagos State in 2009. This has led to national and international recognition and awards for the Centre in human capacity development.

While congratulating the Director-General on her re-appointment, the Head of Service urged her to justify the confidence reposed in her by Government to chart new courses that would deepen capacity building in the State Public Service.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

13

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Even before the dust raised by the new standard for cement finally settles down, the policy, which pitched the regulatory authorities against some manufacturers, has opened more latitude and prerogative of choice to consumers. It has also drawn attention to grey areas hitherto neglected in the nation’s quest to find lasting solution to construction failures and building collapse, OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports.

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NTIL recently, the level of consumer awareness in Nigeria’s burgeoning building and construction industry remained abysmally low. It could not have been otherwise. The industry was an allcomers affair, parading mostly nonprofessionals in building and construction.

Low quality building materials were also common place, while the right application of vital raw materials was disregarded. In most cases, materials particularly cement, are misapplied. Yet, cement is the binding agent, constituting over 60 per cent of the components in building and construction, according to experts.

Because of the low level of awareness of builders, block moulders, masons, artisans, and others directly involved in building and construction, knowledge of the various grades of cement and their application was not a priority. As far as some of the builders are concerned, cement is cement, no matter the grade. The fact that there were no means of identification of the various grades of cement in the market compounded their problem.

Consumers of cement products were no less confused. Most of them were not even aware of the variety in grades, standards and specific applications of cement. What most people are aware of are the brand names, whereas the grades or standards are equally important.

Using a lower grade of cement where a higher grade ought to have been used was common place due to ignorance on the part of consumers and artisans as well as greed. “This ignorance has led to the misapplication of cement by many users and for reasons of personal gain, some people may just utilise one bag when more bags are actually required,” the Director General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, noted, at a recent forum.

But things are changing, and quickly too.

Today, consumers know what grade of cement they are buying, its most appropriate application, average shelf life, who manufactured it, and how it should be stored. They know that each grade of cement is used for a specific purpose, depending largely on the compressive strength they desire. For instance, while the 32.5 grade is exclusively for plastering, the 42.5 grade is used for casting of beams, slabs, and block moulding. The 52.5 grade, on the other hand, is used for construction of hard infrastructure projects like bridges, flyovers, high rise buildings, and other specialised applications. The increasing consumer awareness is believed to be one of the dividends of the recent review of cement standard by SON. The standard regulatory/enforcement agency recently came out with a policy that reviewed the standard of cement, classified it into three grades of 32.5, 42.5 and 52.5 and stipulated their exclusive uses. The move was part of efforts towards eliminating the menace of building collapse. In coming out with the new policy, SON’s technical committee consulted widely with stakeholders from all sectors including the Nigeria Society of Engineers (COREN), Universities, researchers, builders, block makers towards fashioning a suitable cement standard regime. The stakeholders agreed to streamline cement types, with the aforementioned grades.

Consequently, SON warned members of the public to adhere strictly to the stipulated application of cement types and save the nation the embarrassment of incessant structure failures. In handing down the warning, Odumodu however, clarified that there are no substandard cements in the country. He said the challenge was more of misapplication of cement rather than the quality of cement used. The DG informed audience at a recent ‘Stakeholders Forum’ in Abuja that the agency was determined to ensure standards because the several incidences of building collapse in the country has gotten to an embarrassing level.

“A recent test conducted on cement blocks in Nigeria, especially the load bearing ones,

•Bags of cement

Cement standardisation: What’s in it for consumers? made a revelation that only five per cent of the blocks met the specifications of the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS 587 of 2007). “We believe that any factor that contributed in any way to building collapse should be addressed. Load bearing blocks happen to be one of them and that is what we are addressing”, Odumodu said.

Although, there is no compelling evidence yet linking poor quality cement to the increasing menace of building collapse, the consensus of industry experts is that sticking to the new classification of cement based on their exclusive uses would, at least, narrow the search for the causes of building collapse to other factors. What SON is doing therefore, is to eliminate any possibility of building collapse that might arise from the misapplication of cement.

The agency took the campaign to eliminate opportunity for product misuse by giving cement manufacturers 60-days window to ensure that cement bags carry proper product information such as batch number, expiry date, and colour code. Today, consumers can differentiate the various grades of cement by their unique colour stripes, namely blue for 32.5 grade; yellow for 42.5 grade and red for 52.5. Unlike in the past when there were no means of identification, the review mandates manufacturers to clearly label the grade on the cement bags and their applications before they get to the market.

While the batch number was to enhance product traceability, the expiry date was necessary because components of are chemicals that do expire. For one, this has boosted consumers’ confidence, even as the increased patronage is expected to lead to increased capacity utilisation. Experts also say that expansion in commercial activities with regards to cement manufacturing will lead to job creation. Besides, the new regime would enhance the cement industry’s global competitiveness. Apart from providing export opportunities to cement produced locally, it will enhance foreign exchange earning in addition to boosting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Despite the obvious positive spin-offs of cement standardisation, the policy has not gone down well with some manufacturers, most of who argue that the move would not only lead to increase in the price of cement, but also result in its scarcity. Some of them argue that it would be difficult for some manufacturers to respond to the new requirement in the production lines.

Those advancing this position include Lafarge WAPCO, United Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM) and Ashaka Cement. They are kicking that restricting the use of 32.5 grade of cement to plastering only amounts to an indirect ban on the product, which they say, is unacceptable.

However, while some manufacturers are kicking, cement giant Dangote Cement has since

‘

What SON is doing therefore, is to eliminate any possibility of building collapse that might arise from the misapplication of cement. The agency took the campaign to eliminate opportunity for product misuse by giving cement manufacturers 60-days window to ensure that cement bags carry proper product information such as batch number, expiry date, and colour code

‘

announced its readiness to comply 100 per cent with SON’s new regulation. The company only produced the higher grades of 42.5 and 52.5 from all its three plants in Obajana, Kogi state; Gboko, Benue state; and Ibese in Ogun state. while Dangote has 42.5 as its lower grade, some other competitors only produce 32.5 grade and sold at almost the same price as Dangote’s higher grade. This prompted the company’s distributors and customers who have been enjoying its top range products to clamour for more range of products.

Partly in a bid to offer consumers alternatives for various construction needs, and partly in full compliance with the directive of SON on the various grades of cement and their prescribed uses, Dangote cement announced plans to launch its brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade. According to the Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement, Devakumar Edwin, the 32.5 grade, which has the lowest strength among the various cement products will be priced lower than the others and will be selling at N200 lower than the price of the higher strength 42.5 grade. “This in addition offers our numerous customers and end users the prerogative of choice and its appropriate application,” he said, at a media briefing in Lagos.

The new product, which has been branded ‘Dangote Cement 1X’, Edwin stated, was in response to popular demand from the customers as well as in full compliance with the SON directive encouraging production of all grades of cement but with clear labelling on the use.

He noted that the entrance of the 32.5 cement grade from Dangote would ensure that the consumer pays the appropriate price for the right value rather than paying more for lower grade as is presently the case in the market. He said the 32.5 cement grade would be clearly marked in the colour prescribed by SON with the uses for which it should be applied, which is purely for plastering.

The company also announced that it was significantly increasing the supply of cement to the market. This must be music in the ears of consumers. For one, the enhancement in supply of the product to the market is expected to result to a reasonable reduction in the price of the •Continued on page 15

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

INDUSTRY ‘Nigeria lost over $140b to illicit financial flows in nine years’

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•From left: Executive Vice President, Unilever, Africa Mr Bruno Wilvoet; Dr Okonjo-Iweala; Polma and Managing Director, Unilever Nig. Plc Mr Yaw Nsarkoh at a news conference in Lagos

Ebola, insurgency reduce economic growth rate by 0.5% M INISTER of Finance/Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that the country’s projected economic growth rate for this year would reduce by 0.5 per cent due to adverse effects of Ebola disease and Boko Haram’s attacks.

Speaking in Lagos after meeting with the Global Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Plc, Mr. Paul Polman, the Minister said: “We have discounted our growth by a half percentage point this year, part of that includes consideration for Ebola.”

The half a percentage point reduction in our economic growth includes the effect of Boko Haram. “We have discounted the effect of terrorism in the North East,” she added.The Minister said though the nation’s growth rate has been discounted by a half percentage point this year, “We are still projecting to grow around 6.5 per cent.

We would have grown at about seven per cent.”

She assured that government would continue to monitor the situation to determine if it would have further impact on the economy.She also said that government had instituted a team led by the Chief Economic Adviser to continue monitoring the impact of the Ebola virus disease on the economy.

“We have not finished. We are still monitoring. We have a little team, chaired by the Chief Economic Adviser that is working on the impact of Ebola now. So far, what you have seen is not having that big an impact but we are still monitoring. You know it is not over, and if need be, if we see a further impact, we will announce it and we will do further work to see

By Okwy lroegbu-Chikezie

what further impact it will have on the growth rate.”

Now, we have to look at Ebola very carefully because we have 19 cases; and out of these we have seven deaths and 11 recoveries. We are monitoring some people in Port Harcourt area as you have heard from the Minister of Health. We believe that the way we have been managing this has contained it. And so, largely, people have gone about their business activities in the economy.”

You know our economy is largely driven by internal consumption. That is why we are not thinking that it would have quite a large impact. But there would be some impact, you can see that hotel occupancy rates are down and some business meetings have been postponed by people from outside. “So, we are taking that into account. So far, half a percentage point is largely for terror and a little bit for Ebola. But the impact is not that much,” she stated.

The Finance Minister explained that the visit of the Unilever CEO to Nigeria was a testament to the fact that the country was safe for businessmen, adding that the visit “is one more of an endorsement from the international community.” She commended the company for donating 750 cases of their premium soap, lifebuoy to inculcate the culture of cleanliness and personal hygiene on the public.Earlier in his remarks, the visiting Unilever CEO to Nigeria, Mr. Polman stated that Unilever would invest $200m in Nigeria and inaugurate one of its new facilities in the country in October.

“We have invested 50 per cent of our turnover in the last three years in Nigeria. That is probably an investment that any company will not be able to support on a long-term but we are able to do that because of our global scale and commitment to Nigeria.”We feel this is the right time to increase our presence in Nigeria.

Our growth potentials are accelerating and we think that a lot of potential are actually being unlocked right now. I know Ebola itself might take 0.5 per cent of the economy as the minister has shared with me, but we should not forget that despite the threat that the country has faced here and there, you were able to curtail this horrible disease. The investment climate has continued to be very attractive. There are not so many countries in the world that have 6.54 per cent growth, not even in Africa,” Polma stated.

He noted that the Nigerian market is half of the African and even global business. “The huge population is a plus for a discerning investor. Because of our belief in the current reforms, we have also attracted five of our major suppliers to invest locally. A radical reduction in the cost of energy provision through the unbundling of the sector will make our products more competitive and manufacturing process more efficient. We believe in this country having been here for 91 years and will do our best to help it grow in a sustainable way,” he said.

The Unilever boss encouraged other multinationals to invest in the country, noting that for a population of 170 million people very few countries globally can boast of that population figure.

•From left: Council member, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mrs Fayo Williams; President, Alhaji Remi Bello, Vice President, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase and Council member, Mrs Victoria OnafowokanObadina at the opening ceremony of the Members’ Day/Exhibition in Lagos.

IGERIA lost over $140 bil lion, about N22.81 trillion, to illicit financial flows between 2002 and 2011, a period of nine years, the Director General (DG) of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh has said.

In her presentation as keynote speaker at the 2nd Christopher Kolade Lecture on business integrity held in Lagos, Oteh said: “Nigeria has lost more to illicit financial flows than any other African country between 2002 and 2011, even being listed in the top 10 globally. Within a nine-year period we lost over $140 billion to illicit financial flows.”

The DG of SEC disclosed that poor countries are losing an estimated $1 trillion yearly to such illegal financial activities as money laundering, tax evasion, transfer pricing and embezzlement. “This is money desperately needed for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and could prevent as much as 3.6 million deaths annually in the world’s poorest countries,” she said, adding that in the case of Nigeria, an estimated $50 billion investment is required to ensure stable electricity supply. She said a lot of the illicit outflows was through the illicit commercial activities of multinational companies.

She said because of such huge illicit outflows, “We now have a situation where these illicit outflows are not only depriving our country of desperately needed capital but are also being used to finance terrorism abroad and within our shores,” she

By Chikodi Okereocha

added, “A security expert who trained my staff at the SEC recently shared some pieces of intelligence with us indicating that Boko Haram received over $70 million between 2006 and 2011 through shady activities like money laundering, oil bunkering, kidnapping and dealing in drugs.”

Oteh noted that illicit financial flows and corruption are two issues that countries have been battling with. She said Nigeria suffers greatly from both issues. “Corruption has been identified as the second most problematic factor to doing business in Nigeria ahead of factors including access to finance and terrorism,” she stated, adding that this year, the G-20 is focusing on combating illicit financial flows especially considering the fact that poor countries are losing a lot to such illegal activities.

The DG of SEC however, said that considering the impact of corruption and anti-money laundering violations on Nigeria, efforts have been made to strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime in Nigeria. “Other countries are also implementing reforms to make it harder for wrongdoers to find a hiding place. The United Kingdom (UK) has the Anti-Bribery Act 2010 that requires companies with any link to the UK to have robust structures to forestall shady dealings. The United States has long had the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, which provides for up to $25 million in fines and 20-year jail term,” she said.

MAN appoints president

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ANUFACTURERS Association of Nigeria (MAN) has elected Dr. Frank Jacobs as its president. He was elected as the association’s ninth president at its 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. He succeeds Chief Kola Jamodu, who was elected for a four-year term in 2010. Prior to this position, Dr. Jacobs was MAN Vice president (Enugu Zone).

He has served in various positions in the administration. He was formally Chairman, Imo-Abia branch of the association. He was also member, MAN Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee from 2010-2014. He is the founder and chairman, Jacob Wines Limited based in Imo State.

Dr. Jacobs studied at the Incarnate Word College, Santonio, Texas USA where he graduated in 1978 with B.A Chemistry (Magna Cum Laude).

In 1982, he was awarded PhD (Analytical Chemistry) by the Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON) and a fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (FCSN).In recognition of his contribution to the development of Nigeria, Dr. Jacobs was honoured in 2007 by President Olusegun Obasanjo with the National Honours Award of Member, Order of the Niger (MON). He also received the national Merit Award for local materials Utilisation in 1994.

Cement standardisation: What’s in it for consumers?

•Continued from page 14

product. Dangote cement also raised the adrenalin of consumers following Edwin’s disclosure that its nationwide campaign and capacity building, which it initiated and has sustained for the past three years to ensure that the different grades of cement are easily identified by users and used only for their prescribed purposes, would be intensified.

It was not an empty promise. The cement giant had since embarked on an aggressive enlightenment programme on several radio stations across the country to educate and inform the public on the benefits of using Dangote 42.5 3X Cement in their construction works. The enlightenment programme and public awareness campaign, according to the Director, Sales & Marketing, Dangote cement, Mr. Chux Mogbolu had become necessary as research has shown that most cement users in Nigeria cannot differentiate between the various grades of cement and their uses hence leading to application of lower cement grade where higher grade cement should have been used. Mogbolu said that because of the abysmal level of knowledge among artisans, block

makers, masons and other craftsmen in the building industry, use of 32.5 grade cement in block making and house building has resulted in several cases of building collapse. He insisted that 32.5 be restricted to plastering and finishing. The Director enjoined the public to always buy Dangote cement, as they will be buying peace of mind and will build with peace of mind. He added that the quality of products from the cement company ensures that customers always come back why the goods do not come back.

On its part, SON has also intensified its enlightenment programme. The agency has been organising workshops to sensitize builders, block moulders, artisans etc on acceptable practices such as use of the right type and quality of building materials. Formal trainings are being organised block moulders and artisans to orient them on quality practice and safety standards in the industry, while equipping them with requisite skills and knowledge.

Consumers and members of the public are also benefiting from the agency’s active engagement of the media, as well as collaboration with industry groups, trade associations, and partner agencies.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Privatisation: Workers score BPE low

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HE Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) has scored the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) low over its handling of the privatisation process in the country.

Its National President, Comrade Elijah Adigun, who spoke at the union’s yearly Industrial Relations Conference held at the Teachers’ House, Ibadan, said the BPE, saddled with the responsibility of selling partially and wholly owned Federal Government companies, has not done well.

“The BPE that was saddled with the responsibility to sell partially and wholly owned Federal Government companies, ostensibly to increase capacity utilisation and create jobs for our teeming workforce must be ashamed of its achievement as nearly all the companies privatised have either closed shop or are comatose,” he said.

Adigun cited the case of the steel industry, which has been comatose to include automobile companies such as Anammco Limited, Enugu; National Truck, Kano; Steyr Nigeria Limited, Bauchi and Leyland Nigeria Limited, Ibadan, designed for the manufacturing of trucks, medium and long range mass transit system because of the steel firm’s inability to supply raw materials to them .

The country, he said, continues to deplete scarce foreign reserves to import needed vehicles for its mass

Stories by Toba Agboola

transit system.

He said whereas the Federal Government established Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Limited and Volkswagen of Nigeria (VON) to provide the country’s official and pleasure cars, the aforementioned vehicle assembly plants are lying idle and their premises being used as warehouses for junks imported from Asia.

Adigun faulted the claim by Volkswagen of Nigeria that it has begun assembling vehicles in the company, pointing out that such claims are mere publicity stunts to deceive the world.

In a similar vein, the its Deputy General Secretary, Mr. Okonma Paul, said the essence of privatisation in the steel sector has been completely defeated, adding that the investor, who bought most of the steel manufacturing companies, does not know anything about the sector.

The union, he said, has written the BPE on two occasions to show its disagreement on the way issues are being handled.

Adigun also blamed the comatose state of the manufacturing sector on the epileptic power supply, describing it as one of the major hindrances to the growth of the sector. He regretted that the cries of the union for improved power has received little or no attention from the concerned authorities.

•From left: President General, Comrade Emmanuel Adesanya, Adigun, Okonma, during the union’s conference in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

He said although every succeeding government claimed to have sunk billons of dollars to address the malaise, but the impact has not been felt in the industry, noting that, the situation has allegedly contributed to the crippling of the manufacturing sector regarded as the hub of employment generation.

“This is exactly the reason for the manufacturing division of most private sector companies’ relocation to neighboring countries, while bringing finished goods to our country.

The implication is that our economy creates jobs for the home countries of manufactured goods at the detriment of our teeming workforce,” Adigun said.

The high interest rate regime in the country, according to him, is crippling business and fuelling inflation in the economy. He added that the situation is further compounded by the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to commercial banks to retain 50 per cent of public sector funds in their custody.

He said except this high cost of obtaining fund is addressed, the plight of the industrial sector will grow from bad to worse.

Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State Branch, Comrade Bashiru Olanrewaju urged steel workers to improve

Govt restructures national productivity system

Insecurity in Northeast worries NUPENG, TUC

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HE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have expressed worries over current insecurity in the Northeastern part of the country where Boko Haram insurgents are over-running towns and villages.

The union noted that towns such as Gulak, Madagali, Michika, Uba, Bazza in Adamawa State have fallen to the insurgents, while Banki, Gwoza, Bama have been taken in Borno State as the onslaught and senseless killings continue.

NUPENG President, Mr Igwe Achese and General Secretary, Mr. Isaac Aberare, in a statement, said the union is calling on the military to declare the area as war-zone and flush out the insurgents as

there cannot be a caliphate within a republic.

The oil workers’ union leaders said the military must be fully equipped with modern weapons to challenge the insurgents carrying sophisticated arms and ammunition, adding that the union wants a concerted effort with the support of neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Niger and Chad to help stem the tide.

The Federal and state governments in the Northeast, NUPENG said, must address the problem of people running out of the disaster zone, while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must deploy more men and relief materials to assist them.

TUC urged the Federal Govern-

ment to take necessary measures to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country.

Its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, in a statement in Abuja, said the call became imperative following reports that some major cities in Borno and Adamawa states had come under threat and may have fallen into the hands of Boko Haram militants.

He pointed out that if the insurgents were allowed to establish their footholds in any city in Nigeria, it might spell doom for the territorial integrity and continued existence of the country as a corporate entity.

“If any part of Nigeria becomes the base for the insurgents, no part of West Africa will be safe and the human tragedy that will follow is better imagined than experienced.

NUFBTE begins strike over sack of 65 workers

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HE National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) has commenced an indefinite strike at Fan Milk Company in Ibadan over what it described as illegal termination of the appointment of over 65 members of the union.

The union said its action was in conjunction with the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) procedure.

It called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to prevail on the mobile police officers in Ibadan, who have been assaulting the workers since the action began.

Its National President, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan in a statement, said the management had mobilised five trucks of mobile policemen to the company to threaten the workers, who are only exercising their rights and

have not embarked on any form of hooliganism.

He noted that the union’s action was as a result of a redundancy action carried out by the company without discussing with the union.

“The action of the management is unilateral, as the union was not privy to it and as such, it negates the contractual agreement we have with the company, hence it is null and void”, Oyelekan said.

He explained that the company only wrote the union last Thursday on the issue, which the union replied that it would be available for discussion on September 22 after its National Executive Meeting (NEC).

He said: “But we were baffled that the management could start distributing letters the following day, which means it was intentional and that is against indus-

trial relations practice and Nigeria Labour Law.” The company’s action, according to him, could not have been unconnected with the union’s refusal of the Fan Milk’s management plan to cancel workers’ existing gratuities and move the accrued fund to a Swiss Bank.

He said payment of gratuity in the sector is non negotiable as it is established at the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), a negotiation body for both the employers and employees. He stressed that no employer in the sector can contradict or go against it.

Meanwhile, the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Seyi Adetayo said the company has met with the union over six times since January this year on the issue of redundancy, and the union at each meeting never saw reason with the management on the need to carry out the exercise.

their productivity because it is the only way to be competitive in the labour market, adding that the steel industry must be embraced for the country to where it should be.

“Our nation should get a functional and effective steel sector. If we must grow, we must also embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT). We can also learn from other nations like China, Japan,” he said.

He said about 30 years ago, nobody respected China and Japan. But today, they are respected because they have embraced the industry, developed their steel manufacturing industry.

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HE Federal Government is set to restructure the country’s national productivity system in order to evaluate resources invested in the economy and ensure maximum performance and service delivery.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Iloh disclosed who spoke in Abuja at a workshop themed: “Implementing National Policy on Productivity and Basic productivity Improvement Techniques in Workplaces”, said the workshop was aimed at improving productivity in the country.

He said measures were being put in place to develop and apply strategies for implementation of the national policy on productivity.

According to Iloh, productivity improvement tools and techniques are critical instruments for

the realisation of government’s transformation agenda in innovation, excellence at work, global competiveness, products and quality services delivery. He expressed concern that for over two decades the level of national productivity particularly labour productivity, has been on the decline.

“Furthermore, government’s efforts at enhancing productivity have not yielded the desired impact due to low performance resulting from the low capacity of officers charged with responsibility to handle productivity improvement matters,” he said, urging participants to maximise the benefits of the workshop by acquiring knowledge, skill and competence on productivity measurement and improvement techniques for application in workplaces.

Tanker drivers threaten to shut fuel supplies

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HE Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned of an impending strike action in Southsouth and Southeast parts of the country following the government’s failure to heed its call for urgent repairs of the Port Harcourt-Eleme junction , Okigwe-Umuahia and JebbaOloru-Ilorin roads in Rivers, Abia and Kwara states, respectively.

They gave the warning in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, after a meeting with executive members of the union in Abuja.

Comrade Oladiti said the union executive has resolved to take ac-

tion by ensuring that lifting or distribution of petroluem products in these axes are discontinued in the next two weeks if nothing is done to repair the roads and save its members from the continued carnage on such roads daily.

The union said the roads had claimed the lives of some of its members and portend great danger to more members’ lives and properties. The deplorable state of the Port Harcourt- Eleme junction road with a distance of about 10 kilometers, he said, takes seven to eight hours of manoeuvring by trucks, many of which break down in the process, upturning contents, killing members and endangering the lives of several others using the road.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Big for nothing •Nigeria should not repeat last year’s UN General Assembly jamboree

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F it were not such a shocking shame, the honest observation that the country’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is usually wastefully bloated would qualify as just another evidence of laughable political administration. What makes it even more depressingly worthy of attention is the source of the information, which would appear to be authoritative and unbiased.

It is creditable that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bashir Wali, rose above considerations of political loyalty and non-professional sentiments during the inter-ministerial meeting in Abuja to adopt the country’s working documents ahead of this year’s 69th UNGA Session in New York. His candour while addressing heads of government ministries, departments and agencies reflected his understandable discomfiture, which was underlined by his declaration that he was seeking the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to limit the number of delegates this year.

Wali said: “The size of Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly last year was 567; that is something that is certainly unacceptable. On that basis I asked that they send me the list of three countries, Germany, South Africa and Egypt to compare with what we in Nigeria have. None of them is up to one third of our delegation.” He reasoned: “So, you can see that there is certainly need to really take a second look and see that those of our delegates that go to the UN General Assembly do have value. It is not a question of having a

jamboree; but indeed, it is more like a jamboree.”

Significantly, the minister pointed out that his argument was informed by facts derived from experience. He said: “I happen to have observed for four years as Nigeria’s ambassador to the UN, the delegation of Nigeria to the UN General Assembly. So, I know and if we are going to be honest to ourselves, I know 80 percent of the delegates that go from Nigeria do not add value to our team to the UN.” In other words, apart from what amounts to a trivialisation of forum and function, it is like being big for nothing.

Against this background, it is worth considering how such an unjustifiably high number of officials get on the train, which is to say that the business of representing the country at the UNGA may have become equivalent to riding on a gravy train with the implication that the delegates enjoy rich monetary advantages unmatched by the value they bring to their work.

Sadly, it is no secret that the country’s shambolic public administration system has over the years encouraged government workers to scramble for foreign official assignments in order to collect substantial travel allowances known as “estacode”. A logical but ultimately senseless consequence of such state of affairs is that many of the beneficiaries reportedly indulge in shopping trips, visit relations and attend to other personal matters while neglecting the official business that took them abroad.

Wali’s observation, which goes to show the extent of the rot, should prompt a critical examination of this freeloading culture and a proper intervention to bring it to an end. It is instructive that he said at the meeting: “Certainly, something has to be done to put a stop to this embarrassment.” Indeed, the absurdity exposes the country to avoidable international ridicule, especially because the sheer numerical strength of such delegations has little to do with qualitative impact.

It is indefensible that in this framework, accountability and responsibility are relegated to insignificance, and the powers that be seem unbothered by the squandering of public funds as well as the unproductiveness of human resources. This is no way to make progress and earn international respect.

‘A logical but ultimately senseless consequence of such state of affairs is that many of the beneficiaries reportedly indulge in shopping trips, visit relations and attend to other personal matters while neglecting the official business that took them abroad’

Not yet good news • We hope the discovery of oil in Lagos will be a blessing

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ROM all indications, Lagos State is set to join the league of oil-producing states in Nigeria next year. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had reportedly approved, early this year, the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the take-off the project. On this basis, the Final Investment Decision (FIT) is expected to be taken anytime from now, with first production scheduled for the end of 2015.

The area where oil has been proven to exist in commercially viable quantities is the Aje Oil Field located in OML 113, approximately 24km offshore in Badagry, Lagos. The joint venture partners involved in the project – Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum, Jacka Resources, New Age, First Hydrocarbons Nigeria, Energy Equity Resources and Panoro Egypt are understandably excited about the prospects of the business.

They anticipate an initial field produc-

‘Lagos has over the years been able to build a robust internally generated revenue base that has significantly reduced her dependence on oil revenues from the centre.

We hope that the prospects of oil revenues will not lull the state into complacency and the abandonment of the virtues of fiscal innovation, discipline and self-reliance’

tion rate of approximately 10,000 barrels of oil per day, using solution gas as fuel.

And the Cenomanian variety of crude available in the Aje Field is light, sweet under-saturated oil with a gas-oil ratio of 375-480 standard cubic feet per barrel. A spokesman of the joint venture partners thus enthused that although “No crude sales agreements have yet been entered into for the project, but as the Cenomanian oil is light crude and the project is located on major shipping routes to and from Nigeria’s main oilproducing areas, sales and access to transport is not expected to be a problem”.

Ordinarily, this development ought to be good news both for the economy of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. But we are hesitant to come to any such conclusion because of the sordid realities of the country’s petroleum sector.

Yes, petroleum has generated humongous revenues for Nigeria over the last five decades. But this has not translated into development for the country or better living standards for the majority of her people. For one, oil revenue has spawned reckless corruption that has enriched a small minority while impoverishing the larger populace. Again, a critical sector of the economy that blossomed before the discovery of oil, namely agriculture, has been neglected because of oil, with the country becoming dependent on food imports.

Moreover, oil has perverted the structure of our federalism with the component parts of the country failing to develop their natural potential, including solid minerals because of access to easy oil money. Indeed, oil has become a

veritable ‘resource curse’ to those states where the commodity is found, leading to massive pollution of their environment with negative consequences for their health and sources of livelihood.

The country’s petroleum industry is plagued by so much criminal malfeasance, illegality and self-inflicted inefficiency that the discovery of new sources of oil can have no positive impact without drastic reforms in the sector. Yet, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) designed to achieve this objective has remained stalled at the National Assembly for years now. It remains a mystery, for instance, why the country has for decades been unable to refine crude oil locally.

The existing government-owned refineries have perennially operated substantially below capacity despite billions purportedly spent on their TurnAround-Maintenance (TAM). To compound matters, the country has been unable to attract the necessary private investment to eliminate or drastically reduce her dependency on imported refined petroleum products. The implication is an intricate and massive fraud network built around purported subsidies on imported petroleum products.

Lagos has over the years been able to build a robust internally generated revenue base that has significantly reduced her dependence on oil revenues from the centre. We hope that the prospects of oil revenues will not lull the state into complacency and the abandonment of the virtues of fiscal innovation, discipline and self-reliance.

Adekunle: Hero Nigeria did not deserve

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IR: The death of Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle (rtd) provides a stark contrast between the great potentials of the past and the bleak future of the present. His death provides a timeline that shows two pictures: that Nigeria is not progressing due to its inability to preserve and replicate patriotism and that its life is ebbing away with every death of past heroes announced.

Nigeria faced in 1967 the same internal threat to corporate existence it faced today, with few differences in semantics and prevailing circumstances. Then the threat was termed “secession” from down South but now it is called “insurgency” from up North. Then, Nigeria was neither as rich as it is today nor prepared for such high level combat, having only few trained personnel. Today, the country commands enormous resources and has a reputably strong army, as could be seen in its peacekeeping efforts.

Yet, this insurgency has not only lasted more than the civil war, from all indications, it is getting stronger, while the army sinks deeper into controversies ranging from mutiny to protests. Adekunle’s death therefore begs the “why” question and it forces a conclusion that the labour of past heroes is being laid to waste, instead of being built upon.

Adekunle’s heroism could be summed up by one saying that where there is a will, there will be a way.

He took over an army command largely made up of volunteers who had no prior military training and turned them, within months, into brave soldiers with the most humane records. His attention to details could be seen when he renamed his command, officially called “Third Infantry Division”, to the “Third Marine Commando.”

As a good manager of men and resources Adekunle threw his soul, knowledge and body to the prosecution of the civil war, leading the 3rd Marine Commando through the sea to rapidly capture the city of PortHarcourt and the total liberation of the parts of eastern Nigeria that are now known as Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states respectively.

It is on record that Adekunle’s feat came with minimal loss of human lives, a testimony to his deft tactics.

Many of those captured by his command were either absorbed into the Nigerian army or rehabilitated to take up other dignifying jobs. So, while the “Black Scorpion,” as he was fondly called, gave a tough posture in the media as someone who wants to kill all “enemies,” he was quietly rehabilitating them and winning them over, as revealed in recently published accounts of the civil war.

If casualties recorded by his command’s onslaughts are compared with especially the one led by late General Murtala Mohammed, Adekunle instantly comes across as a thoroughbred officer and gentleman, a Nigerian military nationalist and a Yoruba illustrious son, who gave the art of modern warfare in Africa a unique place in the history of humanity.

His exploits in the Nigerian civil war put him in the elite class of military commanders who led from the front; legends such as General George S. Patton of the US Army in World War II, Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox” and the exceptional General (Later Field Marshall Viscount) William Joseph Slim, commander of the British Army in Burma in World War II. Audacious and unpretentious, Adekunle was a commander’s commander in the best sense.

We will continue to miss him, as long as we are unable to produce men like him. It is in this regard that we commiserate with the entire family, the Soun Of Ogbomoso Oba Oladuni Oyewumi, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the good people of Oyo State and Nigerians in general on the loss of this illustrious son of Oduduwa and a national patriot of the highest order. He is gone, but his life is still with us as a lesson, as a fountain from which we can drink forever.

Adieu! “The Black Scorpion” • Kunle Famoriyo & Segun Balogun Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Gbagada, Lagos.

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: If Nigeria were to be a country where commonsense means anything, especially the ruling elite, kick-starting any form of political campaign or rally ahead of the 2015 general election at this critical moment would be the last thing on anyone’s mind. I consider it shameful and laughable that a country of Nigeria’s size and pedigree now runs to Cameroun and Chad to secure her borders!

We are presently at the mercy of Boko Haram’s increasing onslaught and our leaders’ screaming incompetence. An average Nigerian lives in fear, lacks access to basic needs of life.

To worsen matters, the nation’s abundant material resources is tapped, processed and shared by our glutinous leaders and their cronies. Nothing is said about the poor masses. They only remember them during elections.

It is the annoying how some individuals are trying hard to sell a cheap dummy to us ahead of the 2015 general election. The body behind this badly packaged campaign is the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). It claims it is doing the bidding of Nigerians by collecting signatures of those who desire that President Goodluck Jonathan seeks re-election in the 2015 presidential election.

Those behind TAN are faces we are very much familiar with. These same individuals were part and parcel of those who worked for President’s Jonathan election way back in 2011.

I wonder why we should daily be viewing 2015 election campaign

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

TAN’s offensive rallies

ads at a time the whereabouts of over 200 school girls remain unknown, having been seized from their hostels by suspected Boko Haram members more than four months ago. The sad reality is that the system, after operating in denial, appears clueless as to what to do to secure the release of these innocent girls. One had expected the system to remain sober, and keep reassuring Nigerians of what it is doing to bring back the girls alive. It is however disturbing that, apart from the #BringBackOurGirls group and a few other voices, most Nigerians have since moved on as

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head of state to a civilian president.

The story of how one Daniel Kanu launched his One Million Man March code-named, Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA) is still very fresh in our memory.

Kanu and his team of opportunists formed part of those recruited to drum support for Abacha’s plot to remain in power for life. The rest as they say, is now history.

Sadly, since we are bad students of history, we have since obliterated that part of our recent past from our minds and information warehouse. We have since moved on, as usual, pretending as though

Using ICT for national development

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IR: Nigeria, like most developing nations, has come to recognize the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development. This recognition is well captured in the National Development Plan – Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020: “The increasing globalization driven by ICT makes it imperative for Nigeria as an emerging market to irreversibly consider the application and promotion of ICT strategy to facilitate its rapid

UBA, pay me my money IR: I am currently a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving Abuja. On August 3, I attempted cash withdrawals with my UBA MasterCard from the UBA branch opposite Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Makurdi for which I was debited N5,000 even though the Automatic Machine Teller (ATM) did not dispense the cash.

I know it is small money but it matters a lot to me because it’s my

though these girls in captivity were never part of us as a nation. This is how terrible things have become in this part of the world. We are always in a hurry to forget things that should ordinarily remain permanent in our hearts.

Imagine a nation grappling with excruciating and monstrous insurgency spending heavily on preelection campaigns through money-gulping rallies and media ads. TAN and its activities are a sad reminder of what we all witnessed when the dark-goggled General Sani Abacha nursed the evil idea of transmuting from a military

all is well. Like the YEAA campaigners, these TAN fellows are spending heavy sums of money to ‘impress it on the President to seek re-election’.

The whole thing is a grand deception; an unintelligent attempt to divert attention from burning national issues. Regrettably, the President, the very man these fellows are spending heavily on, keeps recording spectacular lows in all areas of our national life. He appears ill-informed and not abreast of happenings within and around his office as president.

Who is financing TAN’s activities is another germane question.

We demand urgent answer to this question. How come the group’s activities are centred around President Jonathan alone? We had better watch this disturbing trend before it consumes us and all that we hold so dear to ourselves.

Abdullahi Yunusa Imane, Kogi State

sweat.

I have gone to UBA branches in Keffi and Abuja, filled all manners of forms to no avail. I even called their head office but up till now I have not been refunded the money.

It’s now over one and half months since the incident took place. This has caused me lots of inconveniences. Please, how do I get UBA to refund my money?

Opaluwa Omera , Abuja

growth and development. This will involve the development of a vibrant ICT sector to drive and expand the national production frontiers in agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors. It would also require the application of the new knowledge to drive other soft sectors: governance, entertainments, public services, media sector, tourism, et cetera.”

This is the way to go! However, Nigeria is not going to get the full potential benefit of ICT until we change our ways.

Although there are mobile communication devices to suit every pocket nowadays, the tariffs being charged by the telecom operators are still on the high side. And what’s more, the poor quality of service remains a thorn in our flesh.

They told us to talk the talk, and now we’re talking everywhere we go. But if we must talk and talk we should at least get value for our money. We are tired of carrying two or three mobile phones as if that’s the way to glow with pride.

The National Identity Management Commission recently launched the long awaited National

Identity (e-ID) Card scheme. We hope they get it right this time around.

We are a people who hate change.

Ironically, Nigerians actually like change to the extent that it suits their personal interests. They can’t wait to own the latest electronic gadgets but electronic voting can wait forever. On this side of the digital divide, whatever would help promote the transparency and efficiency of government institutions and processes hardly stands a chance.

Conventional wisdom has it that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Therefore, there is need to align the public service with the private sector to allow for a smooth transition to a vibrant digital economy. As of today, most MDAs do not have working ICT structure.

As one of its strategies for success, the ICT Ministry ought to push for the creation of ICT Department in every government parastatal. This would help provide an interface necessary for effective implementation of policies aimed at maximizing the levering potential of ICT for

national development.

Similarly, the dearth of IT experts in our public institutions doesn’t help matters. This has created a vacuum currently being filled by non-IT personnel, and exploited by private business partners alike, resulting in misplaced priorities, poor value-for-money solutions, and tasteless service delivery..

Nigeria needs to leverage its investment in ICT to gain a significant competitive advantage in the rapidly changing global economy.

As a way forward, government should provide security; expand national infrastructure such as power and broadband; encourage private sector investment in the ICT industry; deploy and ensure full utilization of ICT infrastructure on all fronts – Education, Health, Agriculture, Oil & Gas, et cetera.

If we are serious about becoming one of the world’s leading economies in this age then we must realize that ICT is not a “nice to have” asset but a sine qua non for transforming Nigeria into a knowledge economy.

•John Adebisi, Abuja

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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COMMENTS

Tribute to Professor Ade-Ajayi

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HEN Professor Ade-Ajayi turned 85 recently, a book with the title of J.F Ade-Ajayi, His Life and Works was presented with pomp and pageantry at the new University of Ibadan Conference Centre to celebrate an iconic figure in the history of African academia.

Professor Ajayi was born in Ikole, Ekiti State to a doting father and an enterprising mother. His father was a local post man and a counsellor in the palace of the Elekole. Even with his limited exposure to western education, his father knew that the key to a bright future for his young son was education.

He therefore billeted the young Jacob in the house of a local teacher so that he could have a head-start among his colleagues.

Later, he was sent to Ado-Ekiti where he also lived with a teacher and friend of his father while he was going to the Ekiti Central School that later metamorphosed into the famous Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. It was from Ado-Ekiti that at the age of 11 in 1940, Ajayi left for Lagos, the frontier of opportunity at that time and enrolled in Igbobi College for his secondary education.

Igbobi College brought the young man into contact with other Nigerians. While in school, he never took the second position he also never played any games and rose to become as was expected school library prefect and from that time onwards, he and the world of books could not be separated. He was not only a bibliophile and a bookworm, he was also determined to go as far as his brain would take him. On leaving Igbobi College, he was too young to go to Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, the only university in West Africa affiliated with Durham University in England. He also did not have rich parents who could have sent him abroad. He contented himself with taking examination to the Yaba Higher College to read English, Latin and History.

As providence will have it, University of Ibadan opened its gate in 1948 and Ade-Ajayi crossed over and was one of its first students. Three years later, he graduated with a general degree in English, Latin and History. He later went to Leicester University where he took a first class honours degree in History and he later went to the University of London for a PhD in History.

He returned to Nigeria in 1958 and within five years of returning home, he had not only become a professor but one whose views were very much sought after at home but particularly abroad. With Professor Onwuka Dike, he blazed the trail of the study of African History and African Historiography generally. Before this time, Euro-American historians dismissed the idea of African history and asserted that Africa had no history and that if it had any, it must be the activities of the Europeans in Africa. One even famously said, Africa was a dark continent and darkness was not a subject of history. Ajayi and others both in Africa and some in Europe and America

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IS name conjures fear. When many hear the name Benjamin Adekunle, they look behind their shoulders to see if he is coming. As the legend goes, Brig – Gen Benjamin Maja Adekunle aka Black Scorpion was a brave and ruthless soldier. Many heard the tales of his exploits during the 1967-70 civil war. Gen Adekunle’s fame grew during the war. As small as some of us were then, we heard how he handled the enemy and treated his soldiers who fell out of line.

There was a myth surrounding Gen Adekunle. It was said that he could disappear and reappear to wreak havoc on enemy territory. Of course, many of the stories were embellished, but the people chose to believe them because they suited those times. People believed anything thrown at them so far the Nigerian side was winning the war. The Adekunle myth grew as he was said to be a soldier that the enemy could not touch because he wielded certain powers.

The Adekunle myth followed him home after the war. Many wonder till today if he actually did all that people said he did during the war.

The man is tough no doubt and he showed early in life that he is going to be a non-conformist. For a boy to run away from home at the age of nine to fend for himself is enough evidence that he will not allow people to trample upon him anyhow when he becomes an adult. This rebellious streak in him stalked him all the way. At military training schools in the United Kingdom (UK)

‘Adekunle or any other retired officer for that matter should not beg for bread. They should not be made to see their service to the country as a curse after retirement’

embarked on the diligent search and study of the African past.

The absence of written documentation, they asserted did not mean the absence of history and that in any case, it is not the entire African continent that lacked written civilisation as can be evidenced by written materials on North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Sudan belt of Africa, the eastern coast of Africa and the southern part of Africa where European and Arab accounts of the places provided substantial material for the study of the African past. Even where there were no documents, Ajayi and others led the world in the understanding of the usefulness of remembered accounts as contained in oriki, cognomen, oral poetry, kinglist, festival re-enactments of the past etc.

Memorised history by griots and other professional historians in the courts of rulers who must remember their histories or lose their lives also provide materials for understanding the African past. Ajayi and others were able to unearth these golden materials for the purpose of elucidating the past of Africa and even foreshadowing the future. He and others taught Africa and the world, the fact that availability of written documents should not be equated with objectivity in history and that African history and other histories of other parts of the world should be studied from a multi-disciplinary approach from which even the sciences of archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology, linguistics and the use of radio carbon-dating could be enlisted in unravelling the past of Africa.

After Dike became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and after he left in 1966 because of engulfing political problems in Nigeria, Ajayi became the torch-bearer of what later evolved into the Ibadan School of History. This school succeeded in establishing the fact and reality of African history and that it was a serious academic discipline worthy of pursuit.

The impact of this school was in helping Africans and their leaders have confidence in themselves in the face of European denigration and psychological undermining. This led to the description of the Ibadan School as “a nationalist school of history” designed to challenge western orthodoxy that tended to see non-Europeans as inferior who had no history at all and that if they had any history at all, such history was not important.

He was sought after and given generous grants to teach in American universities such as Stanford, Wisconsin, and North Western to mention a few as well as in British universities such as Birmingham, the School of African and Oriental studies of the University of London and even in Moscow. His reputation was so formidable that the Rockefeller Foundation generously endowed the University of Ibadan as Centre for African Studies. Ajayi’s scholarship carried him to the membership of the board of governors of the United Nations’ University in Tokyo of which he later became chairman. Ajayi did not just believe in the esoteric nature of scholarship, he applied his

scholarship to give historical backing to the idea of the Lagos Plan of Action in 1970 arguing that African frontiers and boundaries were new phenomena associated with the ephemeral colonial phase of African development and that in the African past, African territories were open with no frontiers and that they meshed im-

Jide Osuntokun

perceptibly into one another. He was also one of those who set up the Association of African Universities (AAU) and he was active in the Association of Commonwealth Universities while he was Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos.

Apart from helping to build the faculty of arts at the University of Ibadan and to help develop graduate studies in Ibadan, Ajayi was the one who built the University of Lagos from the ashes of ethnic rivalry to the pinnacle of a first class African university.

Most of the physical landmarks existing in the University of Lagos today were built by Ajayi when he was Vice Chancellor.

Ajayi’s life has touched the lives of several people in Nigeria and in the outside world. A grateful nation honoured him with the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) and he was also a winner of the academic laurel of the national merit (NNOM). He wrote several books and widely on several topics, just as mentored several students and he was a professor of professors because many of his former students have occupied and are occupying important academic positions in Nigeria and outside Nigeria today. Apart from being a seasoned academic, Ajayi was a thoroughly civilised man and a gentleman. A quiet worker not given to the loud noise of many of his compatriots and in his evening years, he devoted himself to the study of the Bible and the word of God. In all his endeavours, he was complimented by a virtuous and lively wife, Christine Ajayi who made the home environment so convivial for the flowering of the academic tree into which the academic mustard seed had grown. Ajayi’s life was also enriched by his four daughters and a son who are well grounded in their various academic and professional callings.

Adieu our teacher, role model, inspirer and a great act to follow.

Travails of a war hero and India; in the Nigerian Army; as aide-de- camp (ADC) to the former Eastern Region Premier, the late Sir Akanu Ibiam and at the war front, Gen Adekunle played by his own rules.

But he could not be ignored by his bosses because, according to those who should know, he was a damn good soldier. The Black Scorpion fought the war as if his life depended on it.

Those in his command remember him as a commander’s commander.

Hear one of them, Brig – Gen Alabi Isama, who was Adekunle’s chief of staff during the war : ‘’What did these people (Adekunle and others) do wrong to the society? They went to the war and came back alive. But what did they get out of it? Nothing! Today, Adekunle is forgotten by the country. That is the hero of the civil war. He won all the battles…’’ Yes, as Gen Isama said, the Black Scorpion ‘’won all the battles but not the war’’.

By that statement, Gen Isama was referring to the sorry state of Gen. Adekunle, who is lying critically ill at home. Should a person in such a condition be kept at home? The answer is no, but the Black Scorpion is being treated at home because an air ambulance is not readily available to fly him to Ghana. When I read his story in last Saturday’s edition of this paper, I shook my head in disbelief that a thing like this is happening to someone of Adekunle’s calibre. No matter what some may consider as his eccentricities then, Gen Adekunle does not deserve to be treated as a nobody in this country.

Our country owes a lot to people like him for fighting to ‘’keep Nigeria one’’. If they did not make that sacrifice, we may not be where we are today. The war in which he played a leading role ended 43 years ago, but it seems some people are still holding that against him. What could he have done to warrant being treated like this at the ripe old, age of 77. He was 77 yesterday. Happy birthday sir.

But the best birthday gift we can give him as a country is to assist his family in getting him to Ghana fast for further treatment. All the family needs to do that is an air ambulance.

The family says it has written to the army to assist in that regard without success. The army worldwide does not abandon its own. It rallies round its operatives and does everything to protect them.

Where they are ill or wounded in battle, the army ensures that they get the best of treatment. And here, we are talking of Adekunle. Does he have to beg before he gets his right?

This is the tragedy of our country.

We treat our heroes with contempt and give looters of the treasury red carpet treatment, thereby sending a wrong signal to those coming behind. The Adekunle family seems to be at its wit’s end in its bid to get the authorities to help in flying its patriarch out of the country. Hear Abiodun, son of Gen. Adekunle : ‘’He is very weak and not in control of his memory. It is more of memory problem. He is not able to recognise people around him or anything. But, at some other times, he recognises people. So, it is an on and off thing. I have tried very hard to get the Nigerian Army to come to his aid without luck. Here is a man who spent his youth fighting a war to keep the country one. In other organised societies, he would be treated as a hero.

But unfortunately, here in Nigeria, he has been forgotten by all’’.

Let those in authority listen, whatever is done for the Black Scorpion today cannot be too much. As they say, he has paid his dues. Many, if not all in Service today, are his juniors. Will they watch and allow their superior to die all because of his family’s inability to get an air ambulance to fly him to Ghana? It is Gen Adekunle that we are talking about today, we don’t know what may happen tomorrow to those still in office. God forbid, if they become seriously ill after

leaving office and help is not forthcoming as in the case of Gen Adekunle, how will they feel about their country? In Gen Adekunle’s present position, he cannot be happy that a country he fought to preserve seems to have abandoned him at his hour of utmost need. o those in authority, I com mend, Gen Isama’s remarks in this paper last Saturday. He said: ‘’Everybody is aware that he (Adekunle) is battling to stay alive.

But, should we wait until he dies and then roll out the drums, shouting that he was a hero and start marching round the town? Every January 15, the whole country gathers to remember our fallen heroes. What about our living heroes?…As the Commander of the Third Marine Commando, he captured Calabar…he sent me to capture the whole place. We captured the whole of what is today known as Cross River State…So, Adekunle was our leader. But, unfortunately for him, he was not a thief like many of them. If he were a thief like many, his condition would not have been like this today. Can’t you see the others? Don’t you see where they live?

Adekunle’s house was renovated by Ogbomoso people…Let this country rise and help this man to live a little longer in comfort because he has denied himself such comfort while fighting in the war. There was no commander of the Nigerian Army that is better than Adekunle. Why should he be the worse off today?’’

Indeed, Adekunle or any other retired officer for that matter should not beg for bread. They should not be made to see their service to the country as a curse after retirement otherwise we may start breeding officers, who will be more interested in making money rather than serving the country.

There is still room to make amends in Adekunle’s case; it is not too late to do that. The country awaits the Chief of Army Staff’s prompt re-

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Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

sponse to this matter. Whatever he does, he should remember, he will be doing for a senior colleague and only God repays such a kind gesture.

Footnote : This article was first published on June 27, 2013, when the Benjamin Adekunle family cried out for help over its patriarch’s failing health.

The much sought help never came. But since Gen Adekunle's death last Saturday, many, including his colleagues, have been shedding, what I call crocodile tears, and also singing his praise. Where were they when he needed them most? What a world! Certain people don't matter to us when they are alive, but they become saints when they die.

157 DAYS AFTER

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WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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COMMENTS “

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HE more extreme manifestation of this degeneration is in the folly of commentators like Dr. Jide Oluwajuyitan of The Nation newspaper who tragically doubles as a university lecturer. In criminal betrayal and violation of the intellectual avocation, this man went to the extent of manufacturing a quote and put it in my mouth to criticise me! I have since referred the case to the university authorities for possible sanction.” – Akin Osuntokun.

The above attack on my person by Akin Osuntokun’in his “The Columnist as a Partisan” in ThisDay newspaper of September 12, confirms that a nation that celebrates people like Osuntokun and his group is doomed. He had called to question my right to criticize his father, describing my piece as malicious. I had assured him even while he shouted hysterically on the phone that the quotation which was a documented fact of our history was taken from one of his writings but wrongly credited to him rather than malice. I followed up with a text message explaining that his late father, who was also my father as an Ekiti man, was an important figure of our history whose activities deserved critical analysis in order to see where the rain started beating us.

But who is Akintola Osuntokun and what is the source of his offensive haughtiness? The answers lie in his definition of himself. Speaking to a reporter not too long ago, he had admitted “There has never been anything I critically need that I don’t get. People have been very good to me – especially, powerful people like (former) Presidents Obasanjo and Babangida”. Obviously Akin doesn’t need to work hard to earn anything, including integrity. For this reason he finds it relatively easy to impugn the integrity of those who spent a life time building up their own.

But why wait for that long if a brilliant man, who arrogantly told a reporter, “I thought I was too brilliant to fail my A/Level”, can acquire integrity from commendations from powerful men like Babangida and Obasanjo – leaders who themselves are in need of commendation? And why should Akin, who we all know from his submissions, cannot win an electoral contest within the larger Osuntokun family, talk less of a local government in Okemesi where he also admitted the people burnt the Osuntokun houses as a result of his father’s controversial role in the 1965 Western Region’s rigged election, wait for that long when he could effortlessly acquire the title of Aare Bashorun of Okemesi Ekiti, and the Aremo Agboyegun of Igede Ekiti during Ayo Fayose’s first term as Ekiti governor?

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ENATOR Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate and Speaker ECOWAS Parliament, reminds one of Rt. Honourable Dr. Newt Gingrich, a former college professor, former Speaker of the US Congress and one time Republican Presidential aspirant in the United States. One essential thing these two men have in common is the intellectual content they have brought to their countries’ politics. Gingrich, the enunciator of the Social Contract with Americans along with Richard Armey is a consummate intellectual in American Politics, as Ekweremadu is in Nigeria.

Following in their footsteps, Ekweremadu recently, successfully defended his doctoral thesis for a PhD in Law. The Thesis by Ekweremadu, who once taught both Constitutional Law and Labour Law at the University of Nigeria Nsukka where he earlier obtained Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law is titled “A Critical Appraisal of the Legal Framework, Theory and Practice of Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria”.

This is good news. Ekweremadu is bringing back that essential ingredient of politics, which appears to be in short supply in today’s democracy, and that is intellectual content. On both the floors of the Nigerian Senate and ECOWAS parliament, Ekweremadu makes his contributions by taking bearing from a well-researched and knowledgeable perspective, which greatly enriches debates and legislative functions of both bodies.

Statesmen and great leaders are merchants of hope as intellectual politicians are merchants of workable ideas. As genuine men of the future, they do not only understand the past but they are also fully in touch with the dynamics that forge the present. They also foresee the future. While the ordinary politicians worry about the next election, the fundamental preoccupation of intellectual politicians, generally statesmen, is the welfare of state and the welfare of the current and future generations.

The Ekweremadu example is clearly seen in his statecraft in the Nigerian Senate and

Osuntokun’s haughtiness We must not also forget he is a proud recipient of one of the nation’s honours, the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR). With such honours so cheaply bestowed, Akin can afford to be contemptuous of even those who have contributed to his dazzling rise from personal assistant to Tunji Oseni to presidential adviser.

For instance if Akin has now shifted his allegiance to President Goodluck Jonathan insisting his 2015 re-election is unassailable even when Obasanjo, whose commendation he carries around like a trophy, has raised question of morality about the ambition of a president he claimed gave an undertaking to run for only a term, I should take solace if he pretends not to remember I was partly instrumental to his securing a place at The Guardian. Tunji Oseni, one of my mentors who ran my article as Sunday Times editor in the mid70s, in an effort to rehabilitate his personal assistant, had sent Akin to me for a place at The Guardian. I had advised Akin that a note from Alhaji Jose, our ‘father’ at the Times would carry more weight with Lade Bonuola than my direct intervention. And that was exactly what Akin Osuntokun did to get a place at The Guardian.

Leveraging on that opportunity, he had moved on to become a General Manager, Corporate Affairs with Dangote Group, Obasanjo/Atiku Campaign Organisation’s Director of Publicity, Political Adviser to President Obasanjo and later Managing Director of NAN. Although as at the time Akin was entering The Guardian to acquire the brief experience that he traded for positions, I have made enough contributions on the pages of The Guardian under the guidance of inimitable Olatunji Dare, to form the substance of “Nigeria Under the Generals” a compilation of articles which my graduate students of Comparative Federalism as well as Politics

of Colonial and Post-colonial states have found very handy. I had similarly completed my own modest contribution to intellectual knowledge: “Nigeria: The Crisis of Nationhood and The Newspaper Press 1900-2000”.

But all these pale in significance compared to the monumental achievements of my superiors like Dr Stanley Macebuh, Dr Olatunji Dare, Sonala Olumhense Lade Bonuola and also Sully Abu, Femi Kusa Ama Ogan, Ted Iwere, among many others who are more deserving of national honour because of their commitment to our nation. If however Osuntokun’s national honour was a reward for his sterling performance as a presidential adviser, Nigerians can then understand why Obasanjo squandered all the goodwill he took to the presidency, destroying at the end, everything he built with his own hands.

But as Akin is more interested in attacking my person in addition to his threat to sack me from the university where I served selfless as associate lecturer for over 20 years without collecting salary and a university I served without blemish until my retirement in May this year. The only thing Akin Osuntokun has not done is address the issues I raised which late Obafemi Awolowo also raised in his “My March through Prison”.

And what were the issues? “Chief Oduola Osuntokun,” quoting Akin, his son “was one of late Chief Awolowo’s golden boys because Awolowo liked him very much”. Awo took him from class room and made him a minister. But Oduola protested when he was moved from Finance to Lands and Labour, blaming Chief Tony Enahoro for what he considered a demotion Following the crisis in AG, he joined Akintola’s UPP that offered him the position of Minister of Economic Planning which he claimed was superior to Lands and Labour. He subsequently became a prosecution witness against his mentor.

Awo in his “My March through Prison” said on the basis of Osuntokun’s private discussion with Okoro, another delegate to the AG Jos convention, he believed Osuntokun gave false testimony because Akintola had the support of the Prime Minister and also because he needed to justify his new position of minister for economic planning. My thesis therefore was that since Pa Oduola was cleared of corruption charges, his betrayal of his mentor must have been driven by greed for power.

As for Akin his son whose struggle in life by his own confession, is to be like his father, I had argued that as someone of good breeding, his support for those alleged to be deficit in honour and integrity must have equally been driven by greed for power.

And talking of integrity; let me assure Akin that as a director at The Nation for a brief period, the only demand I ever made on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was at a public function during which I tucked a hurriedly hand-written two page note into his hand. In the note, I had pleaded he should reconcile with his ‘fathers’ since it is not in our character in Yoruba land to disrobe our fathers publicly even when they are wrong. I have never sought and I have never got any favour from Asiwaju Tinubu.

But Akin is no doubt aware of those, who as stalwarts of PDP, abuse Asiwaju Tinubu and his APC publicly, but privately enjoy the favour of his footing their bills when they lodge in Eko Holiday Inn and Towers.

It was recently reported that Akin is secretary general of a new group christened G.37 committed to crusading against political prostitution, moral decadence, and crass materialism. Leading the new crusade is Orji Uzor Kalu, supported by Senator Gbemi Saraki.

Others include Femi Fani-Kayode, Bode George, Musiliu Obanikoro and Nuhu Ribadu who recently decamped to PDP, a party he once described as a sinking ship. Behold the new messiahs. Behold those who lay claim to infallibility. We miss Saro Wiwa, the humour merchant who has a way to make us laugh when we should be crying.

‘Who is Akintola Osuntokun and what is the source of his offensive haughtiness? The answers lie in his definition of himself. Speaking to a reporter not too long ago, he had admitted: “There has never been anything I critically need that I don’t get’

Ekweremadu: Of intellectuals in politics

By Law Mefor the ECOWAS Parliament - the apex legislative arms of the Government of Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission. Lawmaking requires well-reasoned deliberations for the laws so made to stand the test of time and serve the intended purpose. Though senators are allowed to hire consultants and have aides working with them, whose duty it is to help them perform effectively, there is no doubt that where the Senator is himself grounded, input, output and outcomes are better guaranteed.

Ekweremadu’s feat is not surprising. He has delivered over 21 public lectures/papers both nationally and internationally on the themes of democracy, good governance, regional integration, security, economy, security, etc.

From his works, we can see that intellectual politicians tell us things we need to know: how politics and society work, what happened in our past, how to analyse issues, how to appreciate the task of building a just society, as he (Ekweremadu) has effectively done. He and some other intellectual senators have kept us in conversation with the great minds of our past like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Tafawa Balewa and the rest.

Intellectual capacities of such rare politicians help to bring forth robust conversations and lend a hand to tap into the enduring wisdom of the past and provide a critical standpoint for assessing the limits of our current political assumptions.

In his “Republic,” Plato put forward the ideal of a state ruled by intellectuals who combined comprehensive theoretical knowledge with the practical capacity for applying it to concrete problems. Although some other thinkers prefer to distrust the value of intellectuals in politics, Ekweremadu has proved their assumptions wrong. He has shown that although all good politicians need not be in-

tellectuals, they should live an intellectual life.

He has become what intellectuals would wish for in a politician and what intellectual politician ought to be. He has shown what meaningful and crucial impact intellectuals can make, particularly in today’s rapidly changing times.

As one sees it through him, intellectuals are those who have diverse wisdom and foresight, who apply their intellect and forwardlooking visions for the purpose of awakening society. They help to divert the masses from what is unwise and wrong toward what is righteous and the good. No wonder, then, that Vietnamese word for intellectual, “trí théc”, is a combination of “mind” and “awaken”.

There are three key factors in nurturing intellectuals: knowledge; ability and willingness to awaken society; and doing so for a noble cause or purpose. The lack of any one of these elements is inconsistent with the definition of an intellectual. From this perspective, it is evident that discussing the role of intellectuals is a discussion about the social responsibility of knowledgeable people.

Ekweremadu has shown that he finds a great deal of truth in Einstein’s words: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” He has equally proved that a person with capabilities and knowledge bears this kind of responsibility and owes his or her world the benefits of their profound wisdom. He has further shown that intellectual politicians use their capacity to contribute to steering politics and society away from the negatively-impacting results that they foresee, not just for past misdirected efforts, but also for current and future inappropriate endeavours.

The preoccupation of Ekweremadu in Nigerian politics has been essentially this. He has equally amply demonstrated that good

communication is vital if the intellectual politician is to succeed in effectively and convincingly conveying his or her vision for a better society. Building on universal and timeless values, intellectuals generally, not just the intellectual politician, also apply their knowledge to shape, and protect, social standards and values.

Generally too, he is aware that, like everyone else, he has his own limitations and therefore ever willing to remain open-minded.

Therefore, together with the responsibility to awaken society, he also constantly aware of his own limitations, which may limit his understanding and cause harm to society. This explains why the distinguished Senator is constantly searching for knowledge and made out time to pursue a PhD in Law at the University of Abuja despite his tight schedule.

This is now in addition to leadership certificates from Harvard and Oxford universities.

It is particularly interesting that while the individual who is leaving no stone unturned in the bid to replace Ekweremadu at the Senate is engrossed in chicken impeachment and petty politics, Ekweremadu remains deep and focused in his approach to politics. He is now more than a consummate lawmaker- he studied law, he taught law, he has been making law, and he has bagged the highest educational degree in law. What else? Perhaps, history will best remember him for the breaking of the jinx of constitution amendment in Nigeria, pulling through three historic constitutional amendments and on the verge of adding another.

I do not see how Enugu people, South-east, the PDP and the Jonathan presidency would sacrifice such an experienced and competent intellectual lawmaker for a greenhorn come 2015.

• Mefor, is Director, Centre for Applied Psychological Research, Abuja

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

COMMENTS

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HAT follows hereunder is about “nations” or “nationalities”. So then, for starters, what is a nation or a nationality? A nation or nationality is a human group defined by a common culture (language, customs, worldview, etc) and a common homeland. The nearly 50 million Yoruba are one nation, and so are the nearly 50 million Igbo, the 15 million Ijaw, the seven million Catalans of north-eastern Spain, and the five million Scots of Scotland in the northern part of Britain.

Most pundits would say that each nation was created by God and that, obviously, the Creator’s purpose is that each nation should rule itself and manage its own life. We know, however, from human history, that from time to time, human activities unify neighbouring nations together to form one united country under one government. This can happen through conquest, or through friendly agreement, or through marriage between rulers.

But we also know from human history that such unifying of different nations into one country is hardly ever permanent. All the large empires of ancient times, each combining many nations by conquest, ultimately broke up. In the past 100 years, many countries consisting of different nations have been breaking apart – with each nation becoming a country and ruling itself.

It is not necessarily because a multi-nation country is poor that its different nations want to separate. In the past 300 years, Britain, consisting of the English, Scots, Irish, and Welsh, has been one of the richest, one of the most powerful, and one of the most beautiful countries in the world. And yet the Irish broke away from Britain about 90 years ago and formed their own separate country; and the Scots and Welsh now want separate countries of their own also. The Soviet Union was wonderfully powerful, but about 20 years ago, all its 14 different nationalities broke apart and formed separate countries of their own – many of them very small and weak countries.

Canada is a very rich country, but the Frenchspeaking provinces of Canada want to separate from Canada. Some small non-Chinese nations want to separate from China, and some non-Hindu nations want to separate from India. The eight different nations of Yugoslavia broke into eight separate countries about 20 years ago. Two small nations have recently broken away from Indonesia, and some more want to do so. One of the two

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Nigeria: We can sort the future out amicably small nations of the tiny island country of Sri Lanka wants a separate country of its own, and so does one of the two small nations of the small country of Belgium. In Spain, the Catalan and Basque nations are agitating for separate countries of their own.

Nearer home in Africa, the same movement is going on. South Sudan recently separated from Sudan. However, South Sudan is not a good example; the separation was not along “national” lines but along “racial” lines (separation of the Black peoples of South Sudan from the Arab peoples of North Sudan). South Sudan is still made up of a number of different nations – and these nations are likely to break apart in the future. There are many better examples. The Eritreans broke away from Ethiopia about 15 years ago, and the people of Somaliland from Somalia about the same time. The Buganda nation wants to separate from Uganda.

Under certain very painful circumstances, the large Igbo nation tried to break away from Nigeria about 50 years ago and, with the smaller nations to their south, attempted to form a new separate country known as Biafra.

Emotional, even romantic, about their newly independent Nigeria, the rest of Nigeria forcibly suppressed the Biafra attempt. But, from what is known of the behaviour of nations in our world, it seems impossible that the verdict of the Biafran war will last forever. For virtually all Igbo, Biafra (as a separate country of the Igbo nation) remains an immortal reality and goal – even if some among the Igbo elite currently seem hesitant and undecided about that goal. Among the masses of educated Igbo youths, various organizations keep Biafra vibrantly alive.

As for the large Yoruba nation, a culturebased tendency towards introspection and caution limits effusiveness about separation from Nigeria. But by now, most Yoruba at home and abroad have reluctantly come to the belief that, for the Yoruba nation to come out of poverty and find its true destiny as an enterprising nation in the world, separation from Nigeria has become mandatory. When

ITH a population of 21million, Lagos, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, is one of the world’s largest cities. The population is rising faster than many experts and government officials would seem to appreciate. Many people fleeing from the North-east part in the wake of the Boko Haram insurrection are headed for Lagos. When kidnappers overwhelmed Rivers and Bayelsa states some six years ago, many from these places, including oil firms, fled to Lagos. When the security situation in the South-east became unbearable about three years ago, many relocated to Lagos; among them was the chief executive of ABC Transport.

Lagos remains Nigeria’s melting pot, long after the federal administration moved to Abuja, because of the traditional liberal disposition of the people and, more importantly, the outstanding achievements of Governor Babatunde Fashola who is easily the most important revelation of Nigeria’s current democracy. His security system is incomparable. Violent crime is at an all-time low, despite the awful employment situation in the country and the nation’s growing misery index. The favourable economic environment in Lagos has seen the state’s economic landscape change constantly. Alas, the state’s strength is also its weakness as all manners of people not only from all parts of Nigeria but also neighbouring countries troop to Lagos in their thousands daily in search of physical and economic security. How can the state government provide adequate employment, adequate housing, adequate transportation, adequate electricity, roads, adequate schools, adequate healthcare facilities, adequate food, etc, to 21million people and still counting?

Lagos is blessed to have as its governor a person imbued with what researchers in contemporary management science call a double loop mindset, that is, someone with a concrete vision of how to change the situation drastically because the current palliative or adaptive way is grossly inadequate to grapple with the enormous challenges. A few days ago, Governor Fashola went on an inspection of some capital projects financed with facilities from the international capital markets. The capital intensive projects include the 70-kilometre Mile 2—Badagry Expressway, a federal highway which terminates at the border with Benin Republic.

The road, which used to have four lanes, is being expanded to 10 lanes. Also being expanded is the Mile 12—Ikorodu Road. The state of the art light rail on a very long bridge which criss-crosses parts of the state with the greatest population density will be completed within 12 months. These and some other projects like the brand new jetties connecting Badore, Ikoyi and Ikorodu, complete with modern water taxis, have been delayed by numerous legal actions over the right of way and compensation payment. Lagos is full of social activists who at the drop of a hat would head for the

Nigeria commenced the recent National Conference, significant parts of the Yoruba elite and people were still resolved that the Yoruba nation must continue to contribute to making Nigeria work. But, following the nebulous conclusions of the National Conference, the desire to get out of Nigeria has become observably very strong among the pauperized and suffering masses of educated Yoruba youths.

I am not saying that large and potentially powerful nations like the Yoruba and Igbo would have forever remained in Nigeria if Nigeria were better organized and better managed, or if Nigeria were a prosperous country. All I am saying is that the current instability, poverty, and insecurity in Nigeria have tended to optimize the desires of some of our nations to separate from Nigeria. Even if Nigeria were orderly and prosperous, it would still be inconceivable that such nations as the Yoruba or Igbo would remain part of Nigeria for much longer. Look at the facts: Each of the Yoruba and Igbo is larger in land area and population that most of the countries of Europe, and, on its own and in its own country, can become one of the leading countries of the world. The same is true of the Hausa-Fulani nation too. And to, may be, a lesser extent, the same is true too of our smaller nations like the Ijaw, Edo, Tiv, Kanuri, Nupe, etc, each of which is bigger and potentially richer than countries like Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, South Korea, etc.

In short, as multi-nation countries are becoming an endangered species in the world, it is critically important that we Nigerians should become much more realistic about the immediate future of our Nigeria. If we are realistic, we will be able to ensure that a development that is essentially natural and inevitable does not become the occasion for massive conflict, fighting, chaos, and mass blood-letting.

Published stories this week that some Nigerians are surreptitiously and illegally shopping for arms abroad – no matter who may

Gbogun gboro be doing it – point to certain fearful probabilities, especially when added to earlier stories of secret arms importations into Nigeria, and to repeated and explicit threats from some quarters that violence and even war will be used for resolving Nigeria’s future. As the Czechs and Slovaks taught the world when they sensibly and peacefully dissolved their Czechoslovakia not long ago into two new countries of Czech Republic and Slovakia, there is no need for any Nigerian nation to arm itself for war against any other Nigerian nation. We are bound to separate by and by anyway. If we strongly desire to do so right away, then let us do it peacefully and amicably – and remain good neighbours and partners in development afterwards.

‘As multi-nation countries are becoming an endangered species in the world, it is critically important that we Nigerians should become much more realistic about the immediate future of our Nigeria. If we are realistic, we will be able to ensure that a development that is essentially natural and inevitable does not become the occasion for massive conflict, fighting, chaos, and mass blood-letting’

Lagos and the national economy

By Emeka P. Uchendu courts.

Facilities for these huge projects have been provided because of the impressive credit rating which the state enjoys around the world. It is currently BB- with a positive outlook. Lagos is the only state, otherwise called sub national government, which enjoys such a reputation in Africa. The other two sub national governments are in India and Brazil, two federations which make the list of BRIC nations, that is, four emerging nations whose rapid rise will take the world by storm in the next few years.

As a Nigerian, one is filled with pride over the judicious use to which the Lagos State government has put the money from international lenders. But as someone from the Southeast, I must confess I am filled with envy. The old Anambra State government, with the assistance of Dr Chu Okongwu when he was the Finance Minister, negotiated a $110m loan from the African Development Bank for rural electrification, rural water supply and for the establishment of an industrial development centre in Awka. The mouth-watering contracts were awarded to Arthur Eze’s Triax and Kings Engineering firms, which abandoned the jobs no sooner than they were started. About the same time, Prince Eze became chairman of Premier Breweries in Onitsha, the nation’s third biggest brewery after Nigeria Breweries and Guinness Breweries in Lagos. On Eze’s watch, Premier Brewery was closed down. And about the same time, Eze became chairman of Orient Bank which was later ran aground. Last year, Arthur Eze was rewarded with a high national honour by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Back to the international credit facility to the Lagos State government for the reengineering of the state. True, Lagos does obtain considerable revenue from internal sources which are collectively higher than the monthly allocations from the federation account. But the revenues come in trickles from the payment of drivers’ licences, tenement rates, land use charges, etc. therefore, it makes sound economic and management sense to borrow substantial amounts for the huge projects and pay back the loans at an agreed interval of, say, every month from both the internally generated revenue and the monthly allocations from the federation account. What is important is the efficient management of the sources of the revenue and the end to which the resources are put at the end of the day. The Lagos State government has done pretty well in this area.

It is a pity that Lagos State has taken over many economic challenges of the country. Most other economic centres in the

country have since collapsed. Sully Abu, a founding member of The Guardian editorial board, once called national attention to the fact that up to the 1980s our northern brothers and sisters used to shun the suggestion to live or work in Lagos because they had alternatives in their own cities. But with the collapse of industries in Kano, Kaduna and elsewhere, they found themselves flocking to Lagos. The same thing can be said about other parts of Nigeria. I used to consider Lagos too rough. But with the collapse of Nigercem, Nigergas, Nigersteel, Premier Breweries, Aba Textile, Golden Guinea Brewery, Sunrise flour mill, AVOP oil, Anammco and others too numerous to mention, I just had to leave the South-east.

As a professional, I didn’t want to be underemployed. Like most of those with whom I grew up in Enugu, Lagos is our new base because of the immense economic and business opportunities available in the nation’s commercial capital.

The federal government has to realize that Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt should not be the only places with opportunities. It should, therefore, take measures to open up other parts.

We had thought that the nation’s six zones should be promoted as centres of socio-economic development, but unfortunately our prebendal politicians have turned the six zonal structure into a deadly instrument for sectional politics and private business gains. Nigeria’s political leaders should borrow a leaf from Governor Fashola on how to run a modern political entity in the 21st century. Lagos is driving the national economy effectively.

• Dr Uchendu is CEO of a management consulting firm in Lekki, Lagos.

‘Lagos is blessed to have as its governor a person imbued with what researchers in contemporary management science call a double loop mindset, that is, someone with a concrete vision of how to change the situation drastically because the current palliative or adaptive way is grossly inadequate to grapple with the enormous challenges’

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

•Teachers in Port Harcourt participating in a training on how to avoid EVD ... last Monday

Ebola: Much ado about schools’ resumption Four days to the resumption of schools, many parents are still contemplating whether or not to allow their children to return. They fear over their safety from the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). They do not believe that the Federal Government has done enough to protect pupils. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, MEDINAT KANABE, OLUWASEUN AKINOLA, OLUWATOSIN OLAWALE AND JAYEOBA OYEFOLU OLAYINKA sampled parents’, teachers’ and school managements’ opinions on the matter.

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S far as the Federal and some state governments are concerned, schools will resume on Monday. But many parents are not ready to allow their children return to school “this early” because of the fear of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). To them, more still need to be done to assure them of their children’s safety from the disease before returning to school.

According to them, the government, which asked the schools to resume, has not done anything to guarantee pupils’ safety, despite huge resources it has allegedly deployed to fight Ebola.

The sensitisation on Ebola is high nationwide, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) praising the country’s containment of the virus, despite its large population. But, as schools’

resume on Monday, there are fears among parents on the possibility of their children contracting the disease. Those whose children attend private schools are not leaving anything to chance; they want to know what measures the schools have adopted to guard against EVD. Initially, the Federal Government shifted the beginning of the new academic session from September 13 to October 13.

Last Monday, the government made a u-turn, directing students to resume on September 22.

Defending the resumption date on Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan noted that keeping schools closed over EVD would send wrong signal to other countries and make them treat Nigerians travelling abroad as Ebola carriers.

Addressing reporters at the Presidential Villa

INSIDE

‘Why govt should assist private varsities’ -Page 27

Hope rises for AOCOED’s ECCE graduates -Page 46

in Abuja, Jonathan said government has taken adequate and globally accepted measures to check EVD epidemic in the country.

Jonathan said ahead of the resumption, he had had met with and had the promises of the governors, commissioners for health and all the states set up machineries nationwide to manage Ebola if it turned up.

Said Jonathan: “You see one thing people don’t know and that is why all these Labour Unions NUT are threatening strike, if you are in Nigerian today, and you travel to some countries, they don’t even want you to enter the countries. Our athletes were segregated in China they had to return to the country.

“What people don’t know is that as long as you close your institutions because of Ebola, the

CAMPUS LIFE

ambassadors that are here with us and the high commissioners send what you call dispatches to their home states about what is happening in our country every month.”

“As long as we, Nigerians close all our public institutions because of Ebola, the dispatches that goes to the whole world is that Ebola is a problem in Nigeria. And as long as we declare that Ebola is a problem in Nigeria, any Nigerian who travels out will be treated as someone that has Ebola.”

At a meeting in Abuja, the government and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) harmonised positions on the September 22 date, with both identifying six steps to make the country

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

Varsity gets workers’ ultimatum -Page 29

• Continued on Page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

26

EDUCATION

•Some protesters displaying a ‘no resumption’ placard during a sensitisation excercise by Women Arise, a non-Governmental Organisation in Ikeja … on Tuesday

Ebola: Much ado about schools’ resumption •Continued from Page 25

safe.

The NMA said it yielded ground against its earlier position that schools should remain closed until thoseunder EVD surveillance are cleared.

Shekarau, who represented government at the meeting, cleared the air on insinuations that the date was influenced by private school operators.

“At no point did anyone influence this decision. There were reports that the private sector influenced the decision. That is not true,” Shekarau said, adding: “It was a unanimous decision taken after a meeting with the education commissioners, and the health ministry. The Ministry of Education also wrote to the governors to give the directive more weight.”

Lagos State is championing the case.

Last week, it directed teachers and proprietors of private schools to be ready for work by Monday.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji, premised the state’s position on the fact that there is “currently no known carrier of EVD in our state at the moment,” adding that health professionals were in agreement with government’s position.

Raji said the government is committed to deploying all resources at its disposal to take into custody any person suspected to be infected with EVD, and isolate such a person for treatment.

It warned the public to remain vigilant as the EVD still remains in other countries within the sub-region.

The state recommended some measures to be taken in schools, such as training and sensitisation of pupils, vendors, teachers and non academic staff on EVD and how to avoid it; Identification of EVD focal persons in schools, who would be responsible for surveillance and health monitoring; provision of adequate environmental sanitation, including clean toilets and premises; provision of running water and soap and encouragement of frequent hand washing; sensitisation of pupils on other personal hygiene habits, like the use of handkerchiefs when sneezing or coughing; and arrangement for prompt referral of any sick

person to the nearest health institution for treatment.

The Nation found that the level of communication is high, especially between private school owners and parents on EVD and resumption. Aside the use of blood pressure monitors and wash hand basins placed outside school premises, many private schools have been communicating with parents through Short Message Service (SMS) intimating them of measures being taken to guarantee their children’s safety.

A source at King of Kings private School in Okokomaiko, a Lagos suburb, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said the school management made it mandatory to brief parents through SMS every Monday and Saturday on steps being taken to reinforce their confidence.

“All through the long vacation, there was hardly any week we did not send SMS to parents on what we were doing on Ebola. We kept telling them (parents) that we could not go against government’s directive as far as resumption was concerned. But we can take certain steps to reassure parents not to bother. Before the week runs out, we are also planning to meet the PTA to finalise outstanding issues against Monday,” the source said.

This development, notwithstanding, did not douse parents’ apprehensions.

Mr Abdulmalik Itsemiye, a father of two, whose children attend Dawah Nursery and Primary School, Jakande Estate Isolo, Lagos, agreed that children should return to school. According to him, the government should ensure that schools managements are educated on how to manage the situation while their pupils are in school.

He said: “If the government says they should resume, they should because nobody has the assurance that Ebola will be eradicated even next month. We should just find ways to control it because sitting at home is not

the best for the pupils, after all parents still take their children out to places and parties where they meet people and mix up with other children and adult.”

Another parent, Mr Steven Chuks, said he would allow his children resume on one condition. “That the PTA should also make sure that they go round the schools before resumption proper to check if the steps taken by the school are right,” he said.

He added: “It will not be easy for the PTA for sure, but they have to take it upon themselves to make sure the school is okay for resumption.”

However, another parent, Boise Rita, whose children school at Laurel Nursery and Primary School, Jakande Estate Isolo, held a contrasting view.”I won’t allow my son resume anytime soon because he is still very little and cannot protect himself from others. He cannot distinguish between the sick and the healthy yet. Aside, I feel one should be careful with children especially, when two teachers have to watch over 15 pupils. Children tend to put their hands in their mouth every time without caution and I cannot also guarantee my child’s safety out there,” she said.

She continued: “I believe many children have travelled for holidays to different parts of the country. How can one be sure that they didn’t get in contact with an Ebola patient during this time?” adding: “I don’t really know how schools can check or safeguard thousands of kids coming to school aside just washing their hands and probably talking to them. Continuous orientation about the disease and preventive measures will do. Above all, parents should keep talking to their children that are grown up while I suggest that those still very little should stay back at home for now.”

Stating her view another parent, Mrs Lylian Nathaniel, whose four children attend Missam International Schools,

Meiran, Lagos, shared with Rita’s view. “God forbid! What are they are going to read that I will allow them risk their lives when it is obvious that government is still working towards curbing the EVD. There has to be a certain measure put in place by the government because it’s like many schools are not fully ready to join in the fight against Ebola,” she said.

She added: “What I mean by all this is that they do not have the wherewithal to help curb the spread of the virus and if it gets to the school, then our case would be worse than Liberia and Sierra Leone. I need to be very sure that this disease has been totally handled before I can hand my children out to any school. So for now, they are learning at home.”

For another parent, Mrs Kareema Adefajo, October 13 date is it. Her mind, she said, has settled for the October 13 date. “No, I wouldn’t allow them resume. I will advise that schools resume on 13th October. Before then I am sure that with the Grace of God things would be different,” she said.

A private school teacher, Mr. Babatunde Nurudeen, feels the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has not been fair to their counterparts in private schools since the latter knows that their salaries would be paid.

Said Nurudeen: “As the federal government now puts the resumption on 22nd September, teachers in public schools do not want the resumption until next year since they know that anytime school resumes the government will pay their salaries.”

“In addition, our school is making some preparation for the prevention of Ebola. We have purchased the temperature scanning machine for screening visitors to the school. The school has also aquired a lot of sanitisers for washing hands as well as liquid soap.

The school surroundings had been fumigated. The cleaners are also standby for frequent washing of the

‘I believe many children have travelled for holidays to different parts of the country. How can one be sure that they didn’t get in contact with an Ebola patient during this time?’

•Shekarau

toilets. I personally believe that with all these in place, the school is seriously ready for resumption,” he added.

Another parent, Mrs Adefolahan Oluwatoyin, is happy to see her kids return to the classroom.

“I was so happy when it was announced that schools would resume on September 22,” Afolayan said, adding: “This is because many of the pupils do not read at home at all. They spend most of their time watching films and chatting with friends. But with this resumption, they will focus more on their studies.”

She, however, added her voice.

“Concerning Ebola, the government should ensure that they provide every school with water and sanitiser. Government should also provide schools with the temperature scanning device in order to check teachers, parents and pupils’ temperature before entering the school premises. The government should appoint officials to go round schools and check if they all have the necessary facilities to curb Ebola’.

For Mrs Akinbode Rachel, there was no point for children staying back at home as enough time had already been wasted. “The decision that schools should resume on 22 September is right. I say so because if allowed to stay longer, it will affect teaching and learning, as most children have spent the better part of their holidays playing around and watching films,” she said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

27

EDUCATION

‘Why govt should assist private varsities’ The President and Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, on the occasion of the opening of the UNESCO Staff Retreat on Regional Programmes, made far-reaching recomendations capable of lifting the education sector.

I

JOIN the Vice Chancellor, Prof. M. O. Ajisafe to welcome our amiable and esteemed Professor Mrs. Alidou, Regional Director of UNESCO in West Africa to the first UNESCO staff retreat on regional programmes in Nigeria holding on ABUAD campus.

I consider it a great honour for choosing ABUAD for the first UNESCO staff retreat on regional programmes.

I was informed that this retreat is aimed at implementing three strategies as follows: (a) Validate the UNESCO Regional Programme within the 8 countries in the region for 2014 and 2015; (b) Validate UNESCO strategy to enhance its visibility and knowledge management; and (c) Formulate UNESCO strategy for resources mobilization.

From the foregoing, one of the objectives of this retreat is to enhance the visibility of UNESCO. I sincerely believe that ABUAD is the proper place to hold the retreat because it offers an instant launching pad to popularise your visibility. Another objective of this retreat is to enhance UNESCO’s knowledge management. Again with all humility, I say, ABUAD is the right venue having regard to the ABUAD’s pragmatic approach to education and its reformative programme for quality and functional education. Again, another objective of the retreat is to enable UNESCO to formulate strategy for resource management. Again, I say, ABUAD is the right place in view of its acclaimed success in resources management.

I asked myself how can an international organisation best envisage the ways in which it can influence or promote the creative activities of man, so as to promote the welfare of the entire human species most effectively and most enduringly?

My simple answer is that education is the most effective way of influencing and promoting the welfare of man.

A retreat is an acknowledged way of

educating participants practical and slow way to achieve such objective. A retreat is a place where a person goes for a time in order to be quiet, pray and mediate. The UNESCO retreat starting today certainly will provide the opportunity for UNESCO staff to identify key milestones for the validation and implementation of UNESCO’s strategic plan for the region.

Records show that education is a major programme of UNESCO. In his keynote address, delivered at the opening ceremony of the UNESCO-CEPES International Jubilee Conference on “Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century: Its Role and Contribution to Our Common Advancement”, Bucharest, 6–8 September 2002, Sir John Daniel, the former Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO (20012004), underscored how education was (and still is) important to UNESCO, noting that: “Education has been at the center of the activities of UNESCO since the organization was set up in 1946.” Therefore UNESCO has put education on top of its development agenda.

It is heart-warming and I believe UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja must be happy that both high and low in this part of the world appreciate what you are doing in the sphere of education so much so that when I intimated the IITA that this retreat will take place in ABUAD, the Deputy Director General, Prof. Kenton Dashiell warmed up to it and spontaneously agreed to come to ABUAD and address this august gathering.

I wish to seize this opportunity to pay

special tribute to Dr. Aicha Lalla Ben Barka for the beautiful letter I received from UNESCO Headquarters in Paris inviting ABUAD for collaboration on the UNESCO Flagship Programme 2 entitled: “Strengthening education systems for sustainable development in Africa: improving equity, quality and relevance and for acknowledging ABUAD as a prestigious university.

Failure of International Programmes Evidence has shown over time that one of the critical factors that contribute to failure of international programmes in various countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is lack of home ownership of such programmes.

The attitudes of the populace in the host countries have always been that of alienation from such international programmes. This makes it difficult for the host to fully participate and take lead roles to ensure that such programmes succeed.

I therefore suggest that strategies adopted by the UNESCO after this retreat should be based on full integration of all the stakeholders necessary for its success.

I have no doubt that UNESCO is already thinking in this direction, considering its strategic alliance with Progressive Institutions in Nigeria and other countries such as Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. The choice of this university as the venue for this all-important retreat eloquently validates this position. It is therefore with much pleasure that I shall now proceed to highlight the relevance of our university to this 2014 UNESCO retreat.

Relevance of ABUAD to the objectives of the retreat: The sum-total of the objective of this retreat is the enhancement of the quality of education in the sub-region and most certainly, both UNESCO and ABUAD have a common ground on the enhancement of the quality of education in Nigeria in particular and the world in general.

The emergence of the reputation of ABUAD as a model university is predicated on the strategy and objectives of your retreat and therefore makes ABUAD relevant to your objective and a useful Case Study during your retreat.

I will therefore like to spend some time to elaborate on how we have made it so quickly that we have become not only a “model”, but a reference point and benchmark on how a university should be run.

But why is ABUAD so unique?

My decision to establish the University arose from the rot and decay I saw first-hand and bare-facedly during my two-term tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos. Together with my colleagues in the Council and the University Administration, we were able to do the little we could to turn the fortunes of UNILAG around so much so that that university became the best around that time and I was voted Best Pro-Chancellor twice (2005 and 2006) by NUC which also named UNILAG as No. 1 university in the country at that time.

But for me, that was not enough as I had to leave the university at the expiration of my two term. I then decided to establish this 21st Century Universi-

‘I asked myself how can an international organisation best envisage the ways in which it can influence or promote the creative activities of man, so as to promote the welfare of the entire human species most effectively and most enduringly’

•Aare Babalola

ty to be a leader in quality, functional and reformatory education an example of what a 21st century university should be. Thank God we are achieving our goal and vision. We have won many Awards, Acknowledgments and Recognitions nationally and internationally, including the ones from UNESCO and Oxford University, NUC, Africa Student Union, professional bodies, medical, law, accounting, banking etc.

As a matter of fact, I had wanted to name the university Model University, but I was persuaded against it in favour of allowing the color, character and achievements of the university to speak for it. We are quite elated that within one year of its existence, the NUC, the Regulatory Body for University education in Nigeria said what we were doing here was a rare combination of magic and miracle in addition to our being a model, bench mark and a reference point in quality, functional and reformatory education.

Not only that, past presidents like Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as well as the incumbent Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, described it as a model with none like it around.

Secondly, this university bears my name following the advice of the Advisory Committee with its belief that the • Continued on Page 28

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION ‘Why govt should assist private varsities’ • Continued from page 27

•From left: Registrar, National Postgraduaate Medical College of Nigeria Prof Oluwole Atoyebi; Prof Arogundade and College Vice-President Abayomi Olaitan, during the conference. PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON

Medical College bemoans underfunding T

HE President, National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, (NPGMCN) Prof.

Rasheed Arogundade, has lamented the underfunding of the institution by the government and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

Arogundade, who spoke at the preconvocation briefing to announce the 32nd convocation of the college which holds today, said 247 graduates will join other 4,705 Fellows that the institution has produced since inception.

Said Arogundade: “The main function of the college is to produce adequate medical and dental specialists of the highest quality, competence and dedication to provide world class services in teaching, research and health care. The most daunting challenge undermining attainment of this function is gross underfunding by the Federal Government.

The institution’s library, which ought to have been the best reference Medical Library in the country for resident doctors and consultants, according to Arogundade, is merely a shadow of itself.

“The college pathology museum is also yet to be fully developed. Inadequate funds has hindered the circulation of the college journal, which is one

By Medinat Kanabe

of the few of such journals in Nigeria listed in the world acclaimed Index Medicu,”Arogundade added.

Paucity of funds, he noted, has resulted in epileptic implementation of the laudable overseas clinical attachments designed to give successful Part 1 candidates the exposure to facilities and practice in more advanced countries, adding that the college is currently using a rented property as its liaison office in Abuja.

“Last year, the college decided to establish a clinical skill and sanitation laboratory, which will also serve as the Performance and Cognition Skills Examination (PACSE) Centre. This facility is intended to be equipped with mannequins that could be used to teach different clinical skills and competencies.

“The effort of the college from past administrations to the present in getting TETFUND intervention for this project is yet to achieve positive result in spite of our visit to TETFUND Executive Secretary in May 2014,” he said.

Today’s convocation will witness a lecture by a professor of Internal Medicine M A Araoye, as well as conferment of honorary fellows.

Wesley varsity sponsors students HE Management of the Wesley University of Science and Technology Ondo (WUSTO), in Ondo State has promised scholarships to 200 students, who choose the institution to study Agricultural Science.

Speaking at a conference in Osemawe’s palace in Ondo, WUSTO Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tola Badejo said students, who are presently studying in the institution with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) 3.00 above, would enjoy partial scholarship.

Badejo added that the introduction of the scholarship and laying of emphasis on agricultural students, was aimed at encour-

T

By Musa Odoshimokhe

aging people to study the discipline with the aim of boosting food production in the country.

He said the scholarship would be funded by the Methodist Church of Nigeria and the state government, noting that 50 slots of the 200 students would be reserved for the indigenes.

Badejo lauded the contributions of Ondo community to the development of the institution, stating that the donation of 200 hectares of land for its permanent site and several buildings is of immense benefit to the institution.

Zamfara extends resumption to Oct 13

T

HE Zamfara State government has extended schools’ resumption date from September 22 to October 13. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Lawal Talata Mafara, has said.

The October date was initially fixed by the Federal Government when the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) broke out in the country, but brought it forward to September 22 after the government assessed the situation to be under control Addressing reporters in Gusau, Mafara

said the extension was the result of a stakeholders’ meeting.

He said the Ministry of Education considered the peculiarities of the state, “more especially the Sallah festival, which is just a week from the date’’.

Mafara explained that many pupils in primary and post-primary schools might not resume as expected and stakeholders agreed to extend the date.

The decision, he said, also affected students on exchange programmes in Zamfara.

name is identified with and synonymous with determination, industry, discipline and integrity.

Exactly two years after we commenced academic works here, a parent (named withheld) wrote a most elucidating and illuminating article titled “ABUAD: Effects of the Brand name Afe Babalola” in The Sun newspaper.

In the said article, the obviously impressed parent said:” The name Afe Babalola struck me positively and triggered in me a sense of trust and confidence. There is no way the enviable personality trait and the profound qualities of Aare Afe Babalola’s professional life would not rub off on the educational standards and culture of the university. Already, that is perceivable from the human, material and structural resources on ground”.

What is relevant to this retreat again about ABUAD is its serene environment. If the retreat is concerned about enhanced visibility and knowledge management, you will clearly appreciate that our university is a veritable Case Study. Although there has been a subsisting curriculum for universities in Nigeria since 1962, but in two years we went beyond the benchmark by adding four new pro programmes: Mechatronics, Human Biology, Social Justice and Intelligence & Security to buoy the quality and standard of education in this clime.

Another area relevant to the objective of this retreat is qualitative education. Here in ABUAD, we make education not only qualitative, but also functional. We have successfully introduced Entrepreneurship training and Foreign languages as part of our curriculum here. When we observed that not many students are interested in Agriculture, we set up ABUAD Agricultural Enterprise whereby apart from making food available, we give our students who graduate in Agriculture some seed money to start their own businesses instead of looking for jobs that are in very short supply. We deliberately reduced tuition for student studying agriculture by 50%. Today, the ABUAD Agricultural Enterprise has become a Tourist Centre of some sort.

Another area which is relevant to this retreat is quality of teachers and leadership method. We have also succeeded in enhancing the quality of education through improved teaching methods.

As a matter of fact, we were the first institution in Nigeria to hold a Workshop on Teaching Methods because we believe that in addition to the various degrees earned by teachers, teachers must of necessity know how to teach to be relevant and impactful in the type of education we want to give to our students. The whole country applauded our first outing in this regard and because of the success we recorded in the said first outing, the next Workshop is slated for later in the year. Both UNESCO and NUC have been invited to partner with us on learning method.

Again, today, our university has become a Tourist Centre not only to Nigerian Universities which daily throng here to understudy us on how a university should be run, but we moved a step higher and further when in November last year (at a time we were barely fours old) we were appointed as a Mentoring University to the new University for Industrial Development (UID) in Ghana.

Besides, we were one of the few universities in the world, and the only one in Nigeria for that matter, invited by the United Kingdom-based UCIE Professors Network to participate at a threeday symposium at Balliol College, University of Oxford between September 27 and 29, 2014 to discuss the challenges facing education in the world.

One of the major challenges which UNESCO is tackling now is equity, accessibility and equal opportunities for both male and female and religious tolerance. In article published by a parent referred to earlier, the parent said that the reason why she chose ABUAD is that there is religious tolerance in ABUAD. We are in partnership with UNESCO on all that as we provide equal opportunities for both male and female students. This undoubtedly must be one of the reasons why within four years our enrolment moved from 240 students in 2010 to over 4,000 in three years and particularly as that parent acknowledged, there is no religious segregation here. This, in my belief, is one of the ways any country can progress and move forward.

There are various opportunities for scholarships to inspire students to excel and also to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Recommendation In ending this speech, I will like to make recommendations on three issues, namely, curriculum development, funding of higher education, government divestment in public higher education, for the purposes of education reforms, policy change and transformation in Nigeria. Although these recommendations are of primary concern to Nigeria, they have regional and international ramifications too. (i) Curriculum Development – In a time when

change is constant, rapid, and unpredictable, universities (private or public) should have the autonomy to develop their own curriculum based on their vision and perceived needs. In doing so, other than regulatory agencies exercising control over issues such as general criteria for the appointment of teachers, general benchmark for development of curriculum, and accreditation of courses for quality assurance purposes, all universities should be given the autonomy to make their own curriculum development decisions. I believe such autonomy can lead to responsibility and increased motivation, if nurtured correctly, in the higher education system in the country. Of course, the regulatory agencies should be empowered to close down illegal universities and sanction those ones that do not comply with basic requirements for the provision of equitable, quality and relevant educational services. (ii) Funding of Higher Education – Evidence suggests that the most significant area of growth in the recent global expansion in higher education has been in privately provided higher education. The United States, Japan and Chile, for example, have well-established private higher education system. Almost all the major regions of the world have private higher education and those countries where it has existed for some time have seen such provision grow strikingly. In the last two decades new private provision has emerged in the Middle East (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Syria), in Africa (predominantly Anglophone rather than Francophone countries), while the fall of communism has seen rapid expansion of private provision in central and eastern Europe since the 1990s.

Yet this global expansion and the ever increasing popularity of undertaking higher learning programmes privately require resources. The provision of higher education, unlike running a company, is, however, labour intensive and, hence, even unit costs are rising for public universities that depend on public funding as much for private ones that depend largely on tuition fees for their incomes.

While it is true that higher education creates wealth, and while it is also true that higher education is an engine of economic development, returns on investment in the higher education sector are characterized much more by time-lags of decades rather than a short-time return on investment.

Therefore I suggest that Government should boost private university with financial aid commensurate with students’ attendance to help the students pay tuition fees. In addition, government, alongside companies, supra-national organisations such UNESCO and World Bank should provide support to private providers of higher education to maintain equity, quality and standards for sustainable development. (iii) Government Divestment in Public Higher Education – Study has shown that the extent to which a university receives its funding from public or private sources does not determine the classification status of that university. Thus, publicprivate division of higher education means that neither ownership and funding, nor legal and regulatory control yields a clear-cut dichotomy, or what Levy called “ideal-type categories,” of privateness and publicness of universities. If that be the case, I will suggest a level playing field for funding of higher education (public or private) by government in terms of grants, scholarships, loan and payment of students’ tuition fees. Again, commercial sector in Nigeria, including companies, consortia of companies, publicly-listed companies and government corporations should be encouraged to support higher education, whether private or public, in providing and promoting equitable, quality and relevant education in the 21st century and beyond.

I want to close by thanking Professor (Mrs) Hassana Alidou and the entire UNESCO staff for choosing Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti for this year UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja Staff Retreat.

I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Alidou for the first time in late 2013 when she accompanied Dr Laila Aicha Ben Barka, Assistant Director-General for UNESCO’s Africa Department, who was being conferred with honorary Doctor of Letters by me. Since that time, she has built new partnership with ABUAD, strengthened the UNESCO’s relationship focus with ABUAD, deepened the UNESCO’s bilateral commitment with ABUAD, and fostered creative continuing educational initiatives for ABUAD’s consideration. Thank you, Professor Alidou, for all you have done and for all that is yet to come. I truly appreciate your interest in my University.

I hope that everyone would take the results of this Workshop to develop ideas to ensure equity, quality and relevance of higher education for sustainability, essential to national, regional, and international academic, social, and cultural integration.

And my warm thanks to everyone again.

‘Aunty Ngozi lives in our hearts’

Catching fun on the pitch

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*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba is facing fire from academic and non-academic staff, who are threatening to go on strike by the end of the month if their demands are not met.

MOHAMMED YABAGI (200-Level Mass Communication) reports.

Varsity gets workers’ ultimatum T

HOUGH the school just resumed for the second semester, the workers seem not bothered as they are raring to go on strike unless their demands are met.

The academic and non-academic staff of Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba are threatening to down tools by the end of the month over the state of the institution and non-payment of their allowance.

Last Thursday, academic and other activities were disrupted during a meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), a unified body of all non-academic unions on campus. The congress came 48 hours after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) met with similar agenda. They issued ultimatums, which they said the management and the Governing Council must comply with.

JAC’s congress began with a minute silence in honour of the late former ViceChancellor, Prof Francis Idachaba.

The JAC chairman, Comrade Moses Balogun, said members were tired of the prevailing workers’ condition, adding that the congress was organised to give the management for dialogue. Failure to reach out to the workers before September 30, Balogun said, would lead to an indefinite strike.

He said: “Members regret the current dilapidating situation that the institution is grappling with and we want the state government to intervene in the matter. The situation we are facing in this institution is nothing to write home about. We want the public to know that the management and Governing Council of the Kogi State University are killing the institution.

Government must intervene in this matter before it is too late.

“We are saddened to inform the public that just about six years ago, KSU was the best state-owned university in the country. It was the sixth best university among all universities, but in the last National Universities Commission (NUC) rating, the institution is ranked 111th of the 112 universities in the country.”

Balogun, who noted that other stateowned schools, such as Nasarawa State

•The non-academic staff members protesting on campus

• ‘They have problem with govt’ University, Katsina State University and Kaduna State University, used to look up to the institution, wondered when things went wrong.

He urged management to comply with the September 30 ultimatum for addressing workers’ grievances, failing by the nonacademic workers, failure which would result in what he described as “total strike without looking back.”

Balogun added: “In as much as we feel the pains of parents and students, the action is necessary because if we don’t take the action now, certificates of our graduates will not worth the value of common tissue paper.”

The university’s ASUU chapter gave management up till September 29 to resolve what it described as “unacceptable situation the institution is facing”.

Its chairman, Comrade Sylvester Okuteno, said members were worried about things in

•YABATECH expels 19 students -P32

the university.

Okuteno said: “The situation we are facing in this school is one that we never thought we would ever experience. It is unbearable.

The university is dying, there’s need for urgent intervention. We cannot fold our arms and watch the conditions go worse.”

Balogun said the JAC’s demands included non-payment of hazard allowance and arrears, responsibility allowance, excess tax on staff salaries, non-implementation of minimum wage and pension, nonimplementation of excess workload allowance and staff/students ration.

After the congress, JAC’s leaders led members on peaceful protests on major roads in Anyigba, chanting antimanagement songs. They carried placards, some with unprintable expressions.

Some of the protesters demanded the Vice

PHOTO: MOHAMMED YABAGI

Chancellor’s removal for “killing the university”, which they described as the pride of the Igala people.

The protesters marched to the palace of the Ogohi of Anyigba, Alhaji Aliyu Okolo, to inform him of the “inhuman condition” in the institution.

The workers said the Governing Council was more interested in promoting its selfish interest rather than the welfare of the staff.

Balogun, who spoke on the protesters’ behalf, said: “Staff members are leaving the university in droves because their welfare is not being taken care of. When they leave and go elsewhere, they make their new workplace better than they met it through the experiences they garnered in KSU. That is one of the reasons why the standard of the university is on decline. We are saying enough is enough.”

He presented the union’s demands and the alleged inadequacies of the management to •Continued on page 31

•CAMPUSLIFE girl is Miss Bekwarra -P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

30

CAMPUS LIFE

NANS wildcard (II) Pushing Out L AST Thursday, I attended the third edition of the rescheduled Ngozi Agbo Memorial Lecture at the University of Lagos put together by the Press Club of the institution. As the lecture progressed, I took out time to look at the students, many of whom did not even meet the late Campuslife editor who passed away a little over two years ago.

This notwithstanding, they deemed it fit to honour a young lady who gave them a platform to air their views, or in the words of one of them, “gave us wings to fly.”

After the lecture ended, I engaged about ten of them on the recent happenings within the ranks of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The verdict I got from them about their umbrella body was totally negative. They not only frowned at the award given the president, they were equally concerned about the plethora of awards being given to politicians of different hues. They specifically mentioned the so called “Mandela Icon Award” granted Chief Olabode George by the North Central zone of NANS. I also had a phone discussion with Yaqub Eleto, the chairman Lagos chapter of NANS. He did not mince words in denouncing the national leadership of the association. Aside the NANS national leadership intellectual collapse, he pointed out that the various structures of NANS – Zonal, State Joint Campus Committees and even, each students’ union – have either sold out to managements or politicians or lack the requisite intellectual wherewithal to lead successful and genuine struggles for students welfare.

He was piqued by the indiscriminate conferment of awards on politicians by people parading themselves as students. He

specifically singled out what he termed a “kangaroo” award granted Bode George which was backed up by a statement released to the media in the aftermath of the award.

Speaking on behalf of the Lagos chapter, he said he “received the notice with great shock that some students from the north central are gathered at the national theatre to honour Chief Olabode George with Mandela Icon Award and to flag off fund raising for Youth and Students Mobilization for Johnathan 2015 South West Zone. We the members of NANS Lagos Chapter as an exemplary students’ body who believe in due process that before any award could be conferred on any Nigerian it must be pursuant to Article 3 paragraph B NANS constitution adopted at the BUK convention 1982; that 2/3 majority of the congress must have adopted the award and the recipient must have contributed immensely to the association.”

Eleto revealed that the national body was not even aware of the award conferred on George! This is how low the once prestigious student body has fallen; it is now an all comers affair where students’ who graduated years ago with Masters Degree strive to “gain” admission again, even for a diploma programme so that they can be at the commanding height of the association. These “professional” students are often the ones that pay courtesy calls on politicians and the ones special advisers on youth affairs find attractive because they make their jobs easy. He alleged that “students from the north central zone got N2 million to mobilise members for the award.”

It is a sad commentary that the Nigerian students’ movement has lost all the radical dispositions it was formerly recognised for. The

with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com media is replete with news about in fighting at various levels of NANS leadership. Apart from giving awards to politicians and businessmen, the body is noted for issuing statements in support of one politicians or party or another.

The sad commentary assumes a higher dimension as the association now “endorses” politicians for elective offices; how this has anything to do with affairs on campuses still leaves more to be desired. Prior to this, the NANS leadership had identified with various anti-student, pro-establishment policies including the controversial acceptance of the hostel privatisation some years ago.

One can easily remember the Hembe-led NANS leadership’s declaration for Obasanjo’s third term bid. But should we cast all the blame at the doorstep of the students? I don’t think so. Since they are part and parcel of the society, they only mirror the society. This is where integrity comes in. As I often tell students when I come in contact with them, everything about life is not always about money or material things.

Life transcends these things. Integrity and a good name can never be bought with money. A corrupt politician or public office holder will forever wear that badge irrespective of whatever whitewash is used to gloss over his or her records.

Why would UNILAG students decide to honour Ngozi that they never had the privilege of meeting?

The answer is simple, she lived for posterity.

She birthed an idea that outlived her and opened the doors of opportunities to a number of her former writers some of whom are now employers of labour! This is the major reason she’s been posthumously recognised. This also applies to the thousands out there treading where no one would in their determination to assist the helpless in society.

They are the ones who see through the lies and deceit of politicians; they are the ones who make our leaders uncomfortable by ensuring they are accountable to the citizens; some, like Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka have become the conscience of the nation telling the hard truth to our leaders always.

What I can deduce from the current happenings in NANS is that it has become another pawn in the chessboard of the corrupt ruling class because of the power and speed they have in mobilisation.

If I’m right, there are more than four secretariats of NANS each seeking patronage from politicians. The lack of cohesion is evident in a bunch of students coming from the North Central zone to bequeath an award without carrying the Lagos chapter along.

The crises rocking NANS can be traced to the dwindling powers of labour unions in the country which started with the formation of Trade Union Congress (TUC) from the mainstream NLC during President Obasanjo’s administration. The NLC has always been at

the forefront mobilising Nigerians, including students, to oppose unpopular government policies like the removal of controversial fuel subsidies.

Equally too, the lack of the ideological base of student leadership on the campuses and their failure to come up with coherent economic, social and political solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the Nigerian state led to their isolation from other mass organisations including workers’ movement and subsequent infiltration of their organizations by the pro-state elements. These elements saw a very fertile opening and they cashed in on it.

Added to this is the conscious role of the school authorities and state agents in destroying the legacy of genuine students’ unionism either by buying over of students’ leaders or using naked force like the cultists, police and victimisation to deal with genuine student activists. Gone are the days when the likes of the late Segun Okeowo, Chris Abashir and others could engage academically with some of the brightest minds. This cannot be said about the present leadership of NANS. I still believe that a unified students’ body in the mold of NANS is necessary, but not as it is presently constituted. I’m of the opinion that a genuine Nigerian students’ movement must start afresh with focus on the transformation of our campuses and the society in general. Genuine activists still remaining on campuses must stand up and build a new pan-Nigerian students’ movement that will not only defend the rights of Nigerian youths, but work toward a well-funded and qualitative education sector.

This won’t make any sense without an ideological rebirth which is necessary for a genuine students’ movement. Again, this won’t be easy as those benefiting from the present disorganised system would do anything in their powers to maintain the status quo; but it is possible.

Varsity gets ultimatum •Continued from page 29 the monarch for presentation to Governor Idris Wada.

The traditional ruler pleaded with the workers not to do anything that would jeopardise the institution’s progress. He called for caution in the pursuit of their demands.

The monarch praised the workers for their civility, promising that their letter would be forwarded to the governor.

A member of the management, who pleaded anonymity,

dismissed the workers’ demand as frivolous and mischievous. He said there were other serious issues the council and management are concerned about rather than the mischief of few individuals who think they can hold the institution to ransom.

“They don’t have any problem with the school. They only have problem with the government, which they accused of overtaxing them. It is an issue on which management has written to government and government, in

turn, has instructed the state internal revenue service to look into it. It is being looked into as I speak to you.”

The source said the vicechancellor would communicate the management’s position to the workers on Tuesday.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the Students’ Union Government (SUG), led by John Idachaba, has been meeting with the parties to ensure the issues are resolved amicably without the campus being closed down.

•Balogun (middle) with other JAC members speaking to reporters

Moshood Abiola, a Mathematics Education student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has developed a Mathematics Board Game, which he calls Math Race 1. He designed the game to help children understand mathematics. The 400Level student tells TOSIN ADESILE how he came about the idea.

‘My mission is to solve maths problems’

H

•Moshood

OW did you come up with the idea of Mathematics Board Game and what is it all about?

I discovered children love to have fun by playing games. Then, I conceptualised the idea when I was in SSS 1. I have always been wondering about the possibility of a mathematics board game.

Ever since then, I have been working on it. Fortunately for me, I got the right pattern and design of the game when I went to urinate at the Elkanemi Hall of the University of Lagos. The design of the toilet tiles gave me the clue on how the pattern should look like.

Math Race 1 is a mathematics board game for primary school

children within Basic 2 to 6. The game will improve their knowledge in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division at the same time while they have fun.

What do you hope to achieve through it?

First, it is to solve the problem of abstract nature in Mathematics.

It will also get children excited about mathematics. Secondly, it will make everybody to have sound mathematical foundation.

How far have you gone with the idea?

The sweetest thing is that it keeps getting easier. After the Math Race 1 was unveiled, I have also invented Math Race 2 for junior secondary school. Currently, I am working on a new game

called Math War, which will be completed by the end of this month.

Are you aware if this not a duplication of existing idea?

I am 100 per cent sure that nobody has done this. It took me 10 years to invent this game. I strategised and re-strategised until I finally got the solution.

How many players can play the game?

A maximum of six players can play at a time. It can also be played by one person. But the more the players, the more interesting it will be. It is also a family game.

Parents can play with their kids.

It can also be used for school competition.

How have you been coping with

your academics, given your innovative mind?

It has been easy, considering the fact that what I do is connected to education. I spent one hour in the laboratory every day. Laboratory in this context is anywhere. It can be my hostel, class or any place I may find myself. I make sure I spent my time, thinking about a problem and finding a way to solve it.

Do you have a role model?

God is the best inventor. So, God is my role model.

What is your philosophy of life?

Find a problem and solve it.

What would you be doing in a few years?

I want to be a business man.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

31

CAMPUS LIFE The Press Club of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has held the third edition of the Ngozi Agbo Memorial Lecture at the Afe Babalola Hall. MODIU OLAGURO (400-Level Education and Mathematics) and IFEOMA NWALISI (300-Level English) report.

‘Aunty Ngozi lives in our hearts’ S

WEET is the memory of the righteous, says the Bible. Many of the students, who gathered at the Afe Babalola Hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), never met the honoree. She died two years ago, bequeathing a worthy legacy, which they vowed to uphold.

This was the resolve of participants at the Third Memorial Lecture in honour of the pioneer editor of CAMPUSLIFE, Mrs Ngozi Agbo, who died on May 28, 2012. Members of the UNILAG Press Club hold the event annually to celebrate the life of the late Aunty Ngozi, as she was fondly called by students in higher institutions, who saw her as a mentor.

The lecture with the theme: Campus journalism: Exploiting the online media for societal development, was chaired by the Editor, Online and Special Publication of The Nation, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin. It was attended by the ViceChancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, who was represented by ace journalism teacher, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye, Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr Abigail Ogwezzy, spouse of the honoree, Mr Agbo Agbo, Managing Partner, Synthesis Communication, Desmond Ekeh, and CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Wale Ajetunmobi.

Otufodunrin, in his keynote speech, said the sustenance of memorial lecture indicated the affection and values the late Aunty Ngozi inculcated in students through her weekly Pushing Out column.

He said: “I am particularly glad that we are taking time to honour a lady who left a legacy.

This is a confirmation that life is not about how long it is spent but how well. That we are here celebrating a lady, who practised journalism for less than 10 years but made significant impact in the profession is something for us to learn from. As young people, we must understand that we can make a difference in any area of human endeavour.”

Speaking on theme, The Nation’s Editorial Board Chairman Sam Omatseye, said campus journalism must go beyond campuses. He urged students to go beyond airing their views in the print media and productively engage themselves on social media.

“There is a need for campus journalists to go beyond the dissemination of information in prints to the online media because many media houses now have their presence on social media.

The online media has come to stay and the

•Prof Akinfeleye (third left) with Ogundipe (second left), Otufodunrin (right), Agbo (middle), Ekeh (third right), Folarin (left) and Abna Salihu during the launch of the magazine

campus journalists must be seen as adding value to the society through responsible reporting. Journalism cannot be practised in this age without the online media,” Omatseye, who was represented by Associate Editor, Mr Taiwo Ogundipe, said.

Akinfeleye described the late Mrs Agbo as a journalist of repute and conscience, saying: “This is also for us to note that a campus journalist is a beneficiary of public trust; engaging in anything less than that is a betrayal of that trust.”

Director of Faith and Research Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Mr Abdulazizu Abna Salihu, who spoke on: Unionism and journalism: Complimentary, said both areas were of importance to the growth

of society. He said an effort to remove one would naturally bring out the fury of the other.

He urged the campus writers to be articulate in their report of events, saying they must be guided by the ethics of journalism.

Other speakers included Abdussalam Amoo, a blogger and Samson Folarin, a former CAMPUSLIFE reporter and crime reporter with Punch.

The event also featured the launch of UNILAG Gong, a magazine produced by members of the Press Club.

Tope Ojedele, who edits the magazine, said: “Aunty Ngozi came up with an idea of helping young people to write and she is being remembered for that legacy through the production of UNILAG Gong. As young persons,

•The late Mrs Agbo

the life and times of the honoree should make us to do something that we will be remembered for, no matter how little.”

Wale Onagbesan, an Education and History student, said the event was a reference point for the youth that good ideas never die.

“Although, I never met Aunty Ngozi but from the tributes and testimonies I heard during the event, it shows she led a good life and left a good legacy for us to emulate,” he said.

To Lydia Kofoworola, the yearly event showed Aunty Ngozi never died. “She still lives within our hearts.

“Aunty Ngozi was our teacher, mentor and guardian. She still whispers journalism, morality and righteousness to us,” she said.

Students cry out over bad road Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti (ADO POLY) are worried over the road leading to the campus. They want the government to repair the road to reduce commuters’ hardship. TEMITOPE YAKUBU (ND II Quantity Surveying) writes.

I

F only students and workers of the Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti (ADO POLY) knew their stay off-campus would be an unending nightmare, they would have preferred to live on campus.

Reason: the road leading to the school is bad. Commuters experience hardship plying the road, which links the polytechnic from Matthew Roundabout. They are calling on the government to rehabilitate the road.

The Poly Bus Stop stretch of the road, where commercial vehicles pick and drop passengers is badly eroded. A section of the road is being washed away by erosion, which many blamed on lack of drainage.

This axis is commuters’ nightmare because vehicles easily break down there.

Most students who live off-campus come late for morning lectures because of the road. Commercial activity in the area has been affected by the situation, leading to the increase in price of commodities

and services.

The road is dotted with dangerous ditches and potholes, which are impossible for any vehicle to avoid.

A move to dodge a pothole often leads drivers on a collision course with another vehicle. There have been accidents on the road, which involved students.

The alternative means open to students is to ride motorcycles called Okada. But the recklessness of the riders is another problem commuters complain about.

On the poor state of the road, Aanuoluwapo Omodara, a ND II Quantity Surveying student, said if the government can not repair the dilapidated sections of the road, it should expand the drainage channel to control the incidence of flood being experienced.

He said that it would be futile to fill the potholes with sticky sand or gravel without having a proper drainage in place, saying the materials could be washed away during rainfall.

• Ditches on section of the road

Ridwan Atiku, ND II Marketing student, appealed to the Federal and state government to rehabilitate the road because of the untold hardship it has brought to road users, especially at night when vehicles with dim light can break down on it.

Mr Adedotun Adeoye, a commercial driver, said the condition of the

road made his bus to age fast. He saud: “The road has left our buses in bad shape. Government has forgotten us.

We are begging them to come to our aid because they collect tax from us.

The money we are paying to the local government is not yielding results as condition of the road deteriorates by the day.

Adeoye said the bad road has not

only crippled their business, but has also posed danger on their health.

The Deputy Registrar, Protocol, Information and Passage Unit, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu, urged the government to repair the bad road to alleviate the suffering of the road users.

He said that the poor state of the road had forced many car owners to incur extra maintenance costs on their cars.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

32

CAMPUS LIFE

•Some of the freshers at the event

N

O fewer than 5,608 students have matriculated at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Bamitale Omole congratulated the students on their success in the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing the exercise as strict.

He said: “I welcome you, our dear matriculating students, to the Obafemi Awolowo University. After the oath you have taken today, you have now become part of the university community with

Stay away from cultism, VC tells freshers From Ayodeji Ogunjobi, Tosin Alawode and Tolulope Oloyede OAU

all the rights and privileges of being a member of this unique institution.”

The VC advised them to take their studies seriously and refrain from cultism, examination malpractices and vices that could terminate their academic pursuits.

He added: “You must not en-

gage in cultism, examination malpractices and vices such as indecent dressing, drug abuse, theft, sexual harassment and fighting to ensure a peaceful atmosphere and stability of academic progrmmes.

Your primary purpose in this university is the pursuit of academic excellence. You are, therefore, expected to study hard,” he stated.

The oath was administered on the students by the Registrar, Mr D. O. Awoyemi.

Some of the freshers and their

parents spoke to our correspondents after the event.

Olusegun Ajibola, 100-Level Law expressed gratitude to God to have scaled through the rigour of admission process. ‘’I cannot just quantify my happiness today because my admission. into this citadel of learning is more of a privilege than works and worth.

My expectations are high for the journey ahead; to be a man of character and great reputation at the

end of it all’’.

Speaking on the recent rumour on the outbreak of Ebola virus on campus, the VC cautioned rumour mongers to verify their sources of information so as avoid panic in the university community.

Other principal officers who attended the ceremony included deans of faculties, Provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof S.O. Ogunniyi; Provost, Post-graduate College, Prof S. I. Oladeji.

YABATECH expels 19 students

M

•Prof Adewale (second right) with some members of the college’s management

Provost bags media award for his ‘administrative skill’ P ROVOST of Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora (OYSCAI) Prof Gbemiga Adewale has been honoured by Pen Group of Schools, an arm of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Prof Adewale was conferred with the Leadership in Educational Management (LEM) award in recognition of his administrative skill.

According to the NUJ chairman, Comrade Gbenga Opadotun, journalists are not pessimists, who only point to the ills of the society, they also commend those who contribute to the development of the society.

He described Prof Adewale as a

From Helen Olawore OYSCAI

visionary leader and an administrator par excellence.

In his acceptance speech, Prof Adewale appreciated God and Governor Abiola Ajimobi who gave him the privilege to serve at the college.

He said: “This singular opportunity gave me the impetus to serve and advance the College, such that I could be counted worthy of the award of Leadership in Educational Management.”

Prof Adewale dedicated the award to Ajimobi, noting that the award would propel him to be more committed to the college.

In attendance were the Principal Officers of the College, Mr Niyi Fehintola, Registar, Mr Olusegun Olaewe, the Bursar and Dr. Olatunji Olaojo, the Librarian.

In April, last year, Prof Adewale was conferred with a Media Friendly award by the NUJ, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Chapel in Ibadan.

‘Girl-child education key for social change’

W

OMEN’s education can be used to inspire, Acting Director of the Women Studies and Development Centre, Adekunle Ajasin University, Dr N. Duyilemi, has said.

She was addressing female students on the topic: “Evolution of the girl child,” during a leadership seminar held at the students’ Relaxation Centre.

Dr Duyilemi said: “Women can be empowered through educa-

From Ezekiel Adesawe AAUA

tion and when you educate a woman, she will, in turn, be able to educate the generation to come.”

Advising female students of the institution to pursue self-empowerment, she added: “Today’s world is no longer a man’s world and that is why we want those of you in higher institution to be

empowered to take up key leadership positions in the country.”

Dr Duyilemi encouraged students to have good role models, shun indecent dressing, report sexual harassment from the staff and be prudent with their resources, saying, “If anybody among the staff is forcing you to do what you don’t want to do, the offices of the Women Studies and Development Centre and Students’ Affairs are open to you.”

ANAGEMENT of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has explained why it expelled 19 students. They were sent home for misconduct, the authorities said.

The Director of Public Relations, Dr Charles Oni, said the students were found guilty violating Section 14 (2) and Section 11 (4) of the college’s regulation, which is contained in the students’ handbook.

Four other students were suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation panel of inquiry set up by the management.

In a statement signed by the Registrar, Ms Biekoroma Amapakabo, the management warned the affected students to stay away from the campus. It also said the suspended students could be recalled to complete their programmes after writing an undertaking to be of good behaviour and obey the rules and regulation of the school.

Dr Oni said the college had put in place adequate structures to ensure security of lives on the campus, noting that there are closedcircuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations on the campus.

One of the expelled students, who pleaded anonymity, described the expulsion as victimisation.

The Dean Students’Affairs, Mr O.T. Raheem, said the students

From Mubarak Salaudeen YABATECH

were expelled for indulging in vices, such as rape, cultism and examination malpractices among others.

He assured students that management was committed to ensuring adequate security on campus.

The expelled students include Adebayo Ayomide Adedeji, ND 1 Textile Technology; Ola Motunrayo, ND II Business Administration; Oluwasegun Oladapo Adeola, HND II Building Technology; Rufai Idris, ND 1 Printing Technology; Jimoh Sikiru Oropo, ND 1 Printing Technology; Agada Emmanuel Achi , HND II Mechanical Engineering; Durosinmi Haffiz, Computer Engineering; Lawal Semiu, ND 1 Printing Technology; Mecavel Ojiese Williams, HND II Statistics; Ubini Odafe Jabin, ND II Fine Ars; Aremu Ayo, ND 1 Estate Management; Akintade Mohammed, ND 1 Accountancy; Adesokan Rilwan Segun, HND II Building Technology; Okon Oduak Promise, ND II Food Technology; Oluwayimika Isaac, ND II Printing Technology; Ogbugo John Kolawole, ND 1 Electrical Engineering; Ogunrinde Oluwaseun Sunday, ND I Marketing; Agoro Ismaila, HND 1 Survey and Geo-informatics and Tijani Ibrahim Abiodun, ND IIAccountancy.

Usman is NANS president From Sikiru Akinola OAU

T

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has elected its president. He is Tijani Usman, a student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Usman garnered 163 of the 239 votes cast during the NANS convention held in Delta State to defeat his closest opponent, Jubril Ahmadu, also a student of ABU, who scored 56 votes.

Usman will take over from the outgoing president, Yinka

•Usman

Gbadebo, whose tenure expired a few weeks ago.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Jubilation as Imo communities get transformers

Security: NOA takes awareness campaign to motor parks •PAGE 36

•PAGE 34

PAGE 33

‘Ebonyi committed to resolving boundary disputes’ •PAGE 36

•Failed portion of the road undergoing palliative repair

Death trap called Port Harcourt-Owerri Road

T

HE Port Harcourt-Owerri Road is one of the important highways that link other states such as Abia and Cross River, among others. During its good days, travelling from Owerri to Port Harcourt took less than one houtr. The road was smooth, making the journey easy and comfortable.

Unfortunately, the once-smooth road has become a nightmare, especially around the boundary between Imo and Rivers states.

Daily, many commuters lose their lives in avoidable road accidents and armed robbery attacks. on the bad road The Federal Government road, which links the Southeast and South south states, has become a death trap to travellers and those who are indigenous to the boundary communities of Umuapu and Umuagwo in Imo State.

The situation worsened after the road was abandoned by the con-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

tractor handling its rehabilitation, even though the Rivers State axis was completed before it was abandoned at the boundary between the two states, thus raising the suspicion of possible political sabotage.

Before its deterioration, a journey from Owerri to Port Harcourt which took less than one hour now takes nearly a day because of the tortuous road.

The road contract, awarded to the Arab Contractor at N23.1 billion by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, was facilitated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, in 2009. But, years after, the road has remained a major headache for users, especially Imo citizens.

Recounting his ordeal on the road, a commuter, Mr. Kingsley Onuegbu, appealed to the Federal

‘Plying the road now is a great risk as it has totally collapsed. Most times, armed robbers ambush travellers on the bad spot, especially when vehicles breakdown and trapped for days. We are appealing to the government to prevail on the contractor to return to site and put palliative measures on the remaining portion of the road to help road users until major repairs are carried out’ Government to declare the road an emergency, adding that the its poor state has brought untold hardship to the people.

He said: “Plying the road now is a great risk as it has totally collapsed.

Most times, armed robbers ambush travellers on the bad spot, especially when vehicles break down and are trapped there for days. We are appealing to the government to prevail on the contractor to return to

site and put palliative measures on the remaining portion of the road to help road users until major repairs are carried out.”

A resident of a boundary community, Chief Felix Ekurumuo, regretted that members of the community had suffered a great deal on the road.

“We are praying and waiting eagerly for the government to come to our aid by fixing the road. We now live in perpetual fear as a result of increasing cases of robbery on the bad part of the road. Sometimes, we stay awake all night for fear of robbers who ambush travellers nearly daily. Any traveller who is unlucky to ply the road late may not live to narrate his experience.”

An official of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), who spoke in confidence, said over 32 •Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

34

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Death trap called Port Harcourt-Owerri Road

‘The implication is that the area has become not only a nightmare but also a death trap so much so that Imo people now go to Port Harcourt through Aba in Abia State which is also another story of its own. The Umuapu area in question is better seen than imagined and it is a Federal Government road. That is why some people are beginning to read political meaning into the whole scenario’

•Continued from page 33 deaths had been recorded on the failed part of the road in the last four months. He addrf that except drastic measures were taken to fix the road, the casualty figure would continue to rise.

“Those plying the road for the first time are at more risk as they may not know where the potholes are.

We have to rescue accident victims nearly on daily basis. It is painful because they were avoidable cases.”

Also decrying the state of the road, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha urged the Federal Government to urgently fix the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road to save the lives of Nigerians who ply the road, lamenting that avoidable deaths have been recorded on the road as a result of accidents and armed robbery attacks.

The governor, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the road has become a death trap where Imo citizens and other road users lose their lives to accidents and armed robbery attacks.

Okorocha, who could not come to terms with why the contractor handling the road should stop work at the point the road connects Imo State, doubted if the contractor’s action was political, adding that all Nigerians, irrespective of political and religious affiliations, use the road.

He said: “The implication is that the area has become not only a nightmare but also a death trap so much so that Imo people now go to Port Harcourt through Aba in Abia State which is also another story of its own. The Umuapu area in question is better seen than imagined and it is a Federal Government road.

•A failed portion of the road

That is why some people are beginning to read political meaning into the whole scenario.

“The most annoying aspect is that there are Imo sons and daughters in Abuja who claim to be very close to the Presidency or to the Federal Government; even, there are those who claim to be power brokers at the National Assembly and they could not influence anything with regard to the disturbing condition of the road under reference. They pass through the road very often and none of them could muster the courage to talk about it.

“To say the least, it calls for concern that a contractor handling a major road project such as the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road could get to Imo State axis and abandon it and nobody seems to care about the development. Those from the state who drop the name of Mr. President in the state for one reason or the other cannot use their over-estimated political muscles to ensure that the contractor goes back to site and complete the job.”

Continuing, he said: “When the road is completed, government and people of Imo will be happy and the

commendations will go to the Federal Government. We need to be saved from the inconveniences the road has continued to cause Imo people in particular and Nigerians in general.

“It is important to remind Imo sons and daughters who drop the name of Mr. President on every slightest issue to bring that connection to bear by influencing things to ensure that the Umuapu side of Port Harcourt-Owerri Road is fixed without further delay in order to halt further deaths and robbery attacks on that side of the road.”

On the road, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuliri said the Federal Government had released N1.2 billion to the contractor who, she said, is creating another access road, pending when the rains stop for full work to begin.

She added that: “Mr. President has directed the Ministry of Finance and the Niger Delta Affairs to ensure that the funds required for the project are provided, as well as appropriation of huge funds in the current budget to ensure that the road and other federal roads in the state are fixed.”

Jubilation as Imo communities get transformers

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OR several decades, lack of electricity had been a recurrent dilemma in most rural communities of Imo State. The situation resulted in mass rural-urban migration with its negative consequence on agricultural production. Many of these communities have been craving for the provision of such vital social amenity. Any wonder members of the backward communities literally worship any individual or administration that provides any of the needed amenities for them?

For instance, those indigenous to 11 communities in Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte, NgorOkpala and Owerri Municipal local government Areas of the state were excited when transformers were donated to them. For them, it indicates that years of darkness in the respective communities will soon be over.

The people will forever be grateful to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who distributed 5000KVA transformers to each of the communities.

A member of one of the benefitting communities, Mr. Austine Anyanwu, described the gesture as unprecedented in the history of the state, even as he added that the communities had waited in vain for the state government to rescue them from darkness.

He noted that some of the communities have not had electricity since their existence, while others that were connected to the National

•A community leader receiving the transformers on behalf of the benefiting communities From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

Grid had been without light for over three decades as a result of damaged transformers or power lines.

According to him, the Deputy Speaker’s generosity will go a long way in boosting economic activities in the villages and reduce the rate of rural-urban migration.

Presenting the transformers to the leaders of the benefiting communities, Ihedioha said the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of

Nigeria (PHCN) was an excellent measure by the Federal Government to ensure regular and uninterrupted power supply in all the nook and cranny of the country.

He further noted that the Federal Government decided to privatise the PHCN for efficiency and productivity. He said the action has resulted in improved electricity supply.

The lawmaker plealed that “there should be continuity in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled

Federal Government to enable President Goodluck Jonathan consummate his transformation agenda for the people.”

Hon. Ihedioha urged members of the communities to adopt maintenance culture and to guard against vandalisation of the facilities, even as he advised them to ensure regular payment of their bills to avoid disconnection by the officials of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

He also advised them to seek pro-

•Some of the transformers

fessional advice in installing the transformers for maximum use, assuring that he will extend the gesture to other communities that are still in darkness across the state.

Apart from the distribution of the 11 transformers, the Deputy Speaker had also attracted the construction of a mega 132x33MVA Power Station located at Ibeku in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, which has reached about 80 per cent completion stage.

He also facilitated the construc-

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

35

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT Ifeanyi S. Okoro is a 20-year-old SSS2 pupil of New World International Secondary School, Ohanku Road, Aba. His dream is to be an engineers. In this interview with SUNNY NWANKWO, he speaks about his project that may launch him into limelight. Excerpts:

Young engineer seeks support W HAT inspired your constructing the airplane?

I just imagined how fascinating it would be to construct an airplane. I had to assemble the materials I thought will help in constructing it. That is how I started building it.

Are you science or arts inclined?

I am a science student.

What will you want to be after your secondary school?

As you can see, I have started working towards my aim or set target in life. I want to be a mechanical engineer so that I would be able to fulfill my dream of building an aircraft or something equivalent to it.

What materials did you use in building the aircraft?

I used aluminum materials in constructing the skeleton (the body of the plane). I also used gums, paints, tyres and engine from toys, among others.

How long did it take you to complete its construction?

It took me up to three months to complete it.

Apart from the aircraft, what other objects have you constructed?

I have not constructed any object. The aircraft is the only object I have constructed because that is where my attention and concentration is at the moment. Apart from that, I have interest in playing football and my position is No.8. But I know I have great passion for my engineering work which I believe will help to take me far and give me the necessary exposure that I would need.

•Okoro and his automated aircraft

When did you develop the passion for engineering work?

The passion has been there for a long time, but I decided to start working on the dream since 2011.

How much did it cost you to build the aircraft?

It took me over N20, 000 to get it up to this stage.

Are your parents in support of the project?

Yes! In fact, my parents, especially my dad is used to giving me money to buy what I needed for the job.

They have been of great assistance to me financially and morally.

How does the remote control

mers

tion of five 15x11MVA injection stations at Umuneke, Ngor-Okpala, Ahiara Junction, Ezinihitte, Owerri Municipal, among other locations.

When fully operational, Ihedioha said the injection stations will drastically reduce pressure on the only sub-station serving the entire Imo State, adding that the state can only be industrialised through steady power supply.

He further said with improved power supply, artisans and operators of other vocations that rely on

to be dampened. It is expensive to embark on project such as this because it requires a lot of money. If they take statistics of the money they have spent in such project and there is no encouragement coming from government and even their relations, they will be distracted and their bright dreams shattered.

They should not be demoralised.

It can be stressful, time-consuming and taxing. But it can be very rewarding when one is focused and being able to overcome distractions and obstacles to turn one’s dream into reality.

electricity will soon become employers of labour.

The Vice-Chairman of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Mr. Kester Enwereonu, who was present at the presentation ceremony, restated the determination of the Federal Government to ensure regular supply of electricity in all parts of the country.

He promised to take necessary steps to install the transformers at no financial cost on the communities. He urged the citizens to safe-

gadget for the aircraft work?

Initially, the remote control used to control a baby toy but I removed certain things and converted it to suit my construction plans to perform the functions I want it to perform.

I can use the remote to open the door of the plane. It can also be used to make the plane move either forward or backward.

What are your plans after this stage of the construction?

I want government and wellmeaning citizens to come to my aid to enable me take the project beyond the present stage. I am sure

‘Some of the communities have not had electricity since their existence, while others that were connected to the National Grid had been without light for over three decades as a result of damaged transformers or power lines…The Deputy Speaker’s generosity will go a long way in boosting economic activities in the villages and reduce the rate of rural to urban migration’ guard the facilities.

Replying, a former Chairman of the Orlu Local Government Area, Mrs. Andeline Asika, praised Hon. Ihedioha for his generosity. She advised the communities to reciprocate the gesture by supporting his governorship ambition in 2015.

that if they do, it will enable me to improve on the project.

What I need is sponsorship. If government and private individuals can render some financial assistance to me, or help in taking me to a place where I can further enhance my knowledge, I will appreciate that. I am sure that if I get the right people and the right exposure, I can do more than what I have done now. All I need is sponsorship.

What advice do you have for other students who are into this type of project but lack finance?

They should not allow their spirit

‘I used some components of baby toys. Initially, the remote control used to control a baby toy but I removed certain things and converted it to suit my construction plans to perform the functions I want it to perform.

I can use the remote to open the door of the plane.

It can also be used to make the plane move either forward or backward’ Ebola: Don advocates clean learning environment From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

•Onukaogu

I

N response to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, the Rector Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Elder Allwell Abalogu Onukaogu has advocated clean and healthy learning environment in both private and public institutions in Nigeria.

In a chat with reporters in Aba, Onukaogu said the need for an improved hygienic, sanitary condition in schools is important , especially now that the federal and state governments have embarked on campaigns against the spread of the disease.

Praising the Abia State government for its pro-active move to checkmate the spread of the disease, he also commended the Federal Government for steps taken

to contain the spread of disease, adding that as part of the institution’s commitment to support the efforts of the federal and state governments in containing the disease and to promote a healthy working and learning environment, the institution has provided sanitisers for workers and students of the school.

He said plans are on to make the sanitisers available at some strategic locations in the polytechnic community to ensure that students and visitors have access to it in order to prevent contracting the disease. He further revealed that the institution has started equipping the medical laboratory to ensure that medical needs of its students and staff were met.

“Students and members of staff come from all over the country.

As the Ebola disease is prevalent in the country, we have to be careful. We don’t want our students, lecturers or people of Abia to suffer from Ebola disease.

“We will involve the entire polytechnic community. We are also equipping our medical centre should there be an emergency.

If there is an emergency, the first place to take the person to is the medical centre and if the medical centre is not properly equipped to handle such case, the casualty rate will be terrible,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Revoke Ohafia/ Arochukwu Road contract’ From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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ORMER Deputy House Leader in the House of Representatives who represented Arochukwu/ Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa has called on the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, to revoke the Ohafia/ Arochukwu road contract.

Ohuabunwa said the call became necessary because of what he described as the contractor’s lackluster performance, stressing that there is no hope that the road will be reconstructed within the stipulated time.

The former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament lamented that the contractor has failed to convince anyone that he has the capacity to deliver on the job, adding that the people from that area are suffering indescribable hardship because of his attitude.

Ohuabunwa said since the contractor allegedly commenced work on the road, there has not been any significant impact on the road to justify the budgetary allocation for its execution two years after the contract was awarded.

The present deplorable state of the road despite the fact that the contractor has been mobilised for the job, he maintained, has made the road a nightmare and death trap for motorists and other road users.

Speaking in Arochukwu when members of executive of the Abia North Progressives visited him at his country home to persuade him to represent Abia North at the Senate in 2015, Ohuabunwa said the deplorable state of the road was a matter of serious concern to him and other well-meaning people of the state.

Ohuabunwa maintained that the present condition of the road has adversely affected the socio-economic life of the people, stressing that if the contractor is allowed to continue, many lives will be lost on the road.

He called on members of the National Assembly from the state to liaise with their counterparts in the state Assembly to ensure that all the federal roads in the state were given proper attention to complement the efforts of Governor Theodore Orji in road infrastructure.

The former lawmaker noted that the federal roads linking the state with its neighbours including Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Cross River and Akwa-Ibom states require urgent rehabilitation.

He assured that his political position will be made known to them at the appropriate time, even as he told them to remain steadfast and avoid anything that could bring a breach of peace in the zone and the entire state.

•Dr Abah with security agents at the event

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N intensive awareness campaign organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ebonyi State chapter in collaboration with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has ended with a call on all transport workers to join forces with security stakeholders in the fight against terrorists and other insurgent activities in the country.

The call was made by the State Director of the agency, Dr. Emma Abah, during the campaign which took place at Spera-in-Deo Park, Abakaliki, where he explained that NOA decided to partner NURTW in the fight, considering the role they play in transporting suspected insurgents from one location to another.

Dr Abah defined security as a state of being or existence that is free from danger, fear, threat, anxiety and uncertainty, which transcends every facets of human endeavour, adding that it embraces the establishment of proactive and defensive measures to safeguard all persons, materials and information from every form of danger.

He regretted that Nigeria’s security situation was becoming wor-

•NURTW chairman and members at the event

Security: NOA takes awareness campaign to motor parks From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

risome as everyone is under tension. He added that the awareness campaign aimed at ensuring that all join hands and fight the menace.

He said: “As Nigeria’s security situation increasingly becomes a dilemma; one begins to ponder where to run to. Many have also asked, is it a crime to be born in Nigeria? Gone are the days when bombings were only witnessed on big movie screens.

“Now, we hear and even see where people, organisations and institutions are targeted and bombed.

The security menace which upsets national stability and peace is becoming more rampant than ever, and we cannot fold our hands and watch without taking any action, no matter how little.”

Dr Abah reeled off some of the efforts of his agency at curbing the menace to include, putting up machinery in place to re-position the country’s image through establishment of National Information Cen-

‘As Nigeria’s security situation increasingly becomes a dilemma; one begins to ponder where to run to. Now, we hear and even see where people, organisations and institutions are targeted and bombed. The security menace which upsets national stability and peace is becoming more rampant than ever, and we cannot fold our hands and watch without taking any action, no matter how little’ tre, to coordinate all security information with a view to contributing her quota to the resolution of the current security challenges; collaborating with all relevant institutionssecurity agencies, transport corporations, religious bodies, traditional institutions and the press, among

others in the fight against insecurity, as well as drumming up support for the transformation agenda from the premise of positive attitudinal change campaign aimed at encouraging Nigerians to imbibe national core values, so as to reduce crime in the society.

He further added that National Orientation Agency (NOA) has been involved in the task of re-orientating and encouraging Nigerians to take part actively and freely in discussions and decisions affecting their individual and collective welfare. He warned transport workers to ensure strict adherence to the security and safety tips given to them by the security agents.

In their presentations, the representatives of heads of security agencies present at the occasion such as police (SP Joseph Okoye), Nigerian Army (Captain M. Mohammed), Nigeria Immigration Service (Onu O. O.), Federal Road Safety Corps (M. J. Ukpeh) and Nigerian Prisons Service (Abuwa Innocent CSP), appreciated NOA for creating awareness on the persistent violence orchestrated by terrorists in the country, insisting that such was a sure way of fighting the menace.

Some of the security and safety tips they provided for the road users include “ensuring accurate documentation of the names of all those travelling through your parks; do

‘Ebonyi committed to resolving boundary disputes’

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HEN Ebonyi State was created; communities at its borders became enmeshed in crises with neighbouring communities in Cross River, Benue; Enugu and Abia states.

The inter-state disputes over land were as a result of poor delineation of the boundaries at the time of its creation.

Many lives have been lost and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed to the intermittent crises, especially at the Amagu–Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi/ Adadama-Abi Local Government Area of Cross River axis and the Ngbo Ohaukwu Local Government Area/ Agila Local Government Area axis.

Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the National Boundary Commission, (NBC) and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation led by NBC boss, Dr. M.B. Ahmad in Abakaliki, Governor Martin Elechi expressed worry over the negative perception of the state as a result of the boundary disputes between it and the neighbouring states.

He stated that the intractable boundary disputes between Ebonyi

‘I have been involved in settling boundary disputes in different levels and I know that it is intractable problem. But we have been able to manage some cases. Ebonyi State appears to be an unfortunate state in that from all fronts, it is being faced by the same phenomenon which gives the impression that we are difficult people, uniquely difficult. But that is not the case. As you can affirm on the cause of your interaction and investigation, we are not as bad or as hostile as the picture is being painted’ From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

and other neighbouring states have given the outside world the impression that people of Ebonyi State are difficult to deal with even when the

•Dr Abah speaking at the event

reverse was the case.

He, however, noted that the world over, boundary disputes have remained intractable problems, maintaining that theirs would not be an exception, even as he urged the people

not to regard it as a problem beyond solution.

“I have been involved in settling boundary disputes in different levels and I know that it is intractable problem. But we have been able to manage some cases. Ebonyi State appears to be an unfortunate state in that from all fronts, it is being faced by the same phenomenon which gives the impression that we are difficult people, uniquely difficult. But that is not the case. As you can affirm on the cause of your interaction and investigation, we are not as bad or as hostile as the picture is being painted.”

Determined to end the bloodshed once and for all, Governor Elechi reconstituted the state boundary committee headed by his Deputy, Mr. Dave Umahi.

Governor Elechi also reached out to the governors of these states and convinced them to do same so as to engender an accelerated discussion and actions that will lead to the settlement of the disputes.

To support his seriousness in amicably resolving the disputes, Elechi recently played host to a contingent •Continued on page 40

•Umahi and Cobhams exchange communiqués at the meeting in Calabar

not eat while driving; be cautious of vehicles following you at a close range; be careful to listen to the discussions by your passengers, you must not play loud music while on high ways; do not stop your vehicle and discuss along the road; always hide your driving documents and personal correspondence because they can help a thief to sell your vehicle or provide a cover story if stopped by the police.”

Others tips were “do not climb on items on highways while driving because they might be stuffed with nails or bombs; be mindful of those that deliberately hit the bumper of your vehicles thereby forcing them to a halt; do not give ride to strangers, including persons dressed in uniform as they may be armed robbers in disguise; stick to main roads and avoid lonely routes and always let close family members know where you are going and when you would likely return.”

They also emphasised the need for all security agencies to work in synergy, since no single agency can successfully defeat the insurgents un-

‘Do not climb on items on highways while driving because they might be stuffed with nails or bombs; be mindful of those that deliberately hit the bumper of your vehicles thereby forcing them to a halt; do not give ride to strangers, including persons dressed in uniform as they may be armed robbers in disguise; stick to main roads and avoid lonely routes and always let close family members know where you are going and when you would likely return’ less through collaboration with sister agents.

While thanking NOA for bringing the sensitisation campaign to his domain, the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ebonyi State chapter, Comrade Anthony Oko Ewa, re-

vealed that his administration has been working hard to ensure security of every road user.

He recalled that on assumption of office, he had ensured complete evacuation of all spoilt vehicles in the parks, since it was observed that they are usually abodes for crimi-

nals.

Comrade Ewa also hinted that his administration has launched a war against thuggery in all motor parks, even as he promised to launch another war against underaged conductors.

While appreciating the security agents who were at hand to give them security tips, the NURTW chairman promised to work with the agency to further disseminate the information to the grassroots. He advised his members to adhere strictly to the instruction given them by the agency and the security agents.

Commenting on the awareness campaign, some of the participants; namely Nwali Felix, Emmanuel Utubor, Thomas Ibogu and Augustine Elom advised the agency to take the message to the hoteliers who, knowingly or unknowingly, provide shield for the perpetrators of these anti-social acts.

They also pleaded with the government to provide the parks with security gadgets to check every vehicle moving in and out of their parks. The gadgets, they believe, would go a long way in reducing crimes in motor parks.

Youths urged to be change agents

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HE General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church International, His Grace Daniel Okoh has urged Nigerian youths to rise to the current challenge and become agents of transformation which God has called them to be.

Okoh spoke at this year’s International Youth Conference of the church in Asaba, Delta State. The theme of the conference was “Your Vision, Your Mission.”

He further urged youths to summon the courage to resist overtures from politicians who would want to use them for evil doings.

He said: “Their (politicians) children are overseas studying and they want to destroy other people’s children.

“I told parents and communities in Ghana that if anyone wants to use the youth as thugs or agents of destruction, they should summon courage to challenge those politicians and ask them to get their own children.

“Some of their children are not here. They should not take advantage of the poor.”

On the state of insecurity in Nigeria, the bishop prophesied that the siege in the Northeast will soon end, adding “the church is praying for God

‘One day, God will touch the hearts of the insurgents to drop their arms and follow Christ. It was God that changed the heart of Saul who later became Paul and an apostle.

He was the persecutor of the Church before he was transformed’ From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

to touch the hearts of those the enemy is using to kill innocent citizens.

“We have been urged to watch and pray. We are also encouraging our people not to lose hope or be panicky as all these things must surely come to an end. We pray that God will give those in authority the strategy to put a stop to all the security challenges in the country.

•Rev. Okoh

“One day, God will touch the hearts of the insurgents to drop their arms and follow Christ. It was God that changed the heart of Saul who later became Paul and an apostle. He was the persecutor of the Church before he was transformed. We pray for the transformation of those the enemy is using now,” he said.

Okoh said the essence of the conference was to bring the youth together and mold them into becoming transformation agents that God will use to restore peace in the country.

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

A

Lagoon fish can be harmful, expert warns

RE you a lover of the popular point and kill fish delicacy, particularly those of you who live in Onitsha, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar? This news may not be palatable to you. An expert, Dr. John-Paul Unyimadu, has warned on the dangers of consuming fish from the rivers. He rather recommended only those from fish ponds. He posited that our rivers have been polluted by unhealthy chemical known as Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB). PCBs are organic pollutants found mostly in transformer and capacitor oils and are harmful to humans, plants and animals.

At a one-day workshop held for journalists in Enugu on the dangers of PCBs, an environmental expert and National Technical Consultant to the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. John-Paul Unyimadu said no part of the Lagos Lagoon, particularly the Ijora axis, is safe for the fish and other living organisms in the water.

Unyimadu raised similar alarm about the Onitsha part of the River Niger where findings, he said, have shown a huge concentration of a harmful chemical that could cause cancer, reproductive and development toxicity, impaired immune function, negative effects on the central nervous system as well as other deadly health problems to both humans and other living organisms that come in contact with it.

The expert revealed this while delivering a lecture entitled “PCBs: Concentrations in Sediments, Fish and Surface Water in Selected Locations in Nigeria.”

Dr. Unyimadu said due to the high level of chemical Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) in the Ijora area of the Lagoon and Onitsha axis of the River Niger, fish and other living organisms in those bodies of water have become endangered species.

“No part of Lagos Lagoon is safe now when you talk of the levels of the PCBs in the water,” Dr. Unyimadu said.

He added: “In the Ijora Power Station area of the Lagoon, any living organism in that water is in danger depending on the level of PCBs and if organism is endangered, it means that man is also endangered.

“Of the two locations, Ijora is much polluted. Then River Niger, the Onitsha axis of the river is also much polluted because manufacturers of plastic products and paints dump certain things that contain PCBs inside the river.”

From Chris Oji, Enugu

The workshop entitled, “Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs): Understanding Their Health and Environmental Impact,” was organised by the Nigeria Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Management Project, Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the World Bank, Global Environment Fund and Moriah-Marketstrides Consortium Communications Consultants.

Unyimadu recalled that way back in 1921, some chemists discovered and began manufacturing a certain chemical element known as Polychlorinated Biphenyls, also known as PCBs which are in the class of “organic compound found to be fire-resistant, stable and non-conductive to electricity and of very low volatility under normal conditions.”

He explained that due to its characteristics, the chemical was used in the manufacture of certain oils that became vital in the operation of power conductors and electric equipment. “Electricity transformers became most efficient, running

on the oil laced with PCBs. “Also, other lesser grade conductors such as electricity generating sets, capacitors used in lighting fixtures were designed to run on PCBsladen oil, otherwise known as dielectric fluid.

“Besides, industries adopted PCBbased oil as heat transfer fluids and a coolant for high temperature processes just as PCB-laden oil was very essential in the manufacture of

plasticisers in sealants, caulking, synthetic resins rubbers, paints, waxes and asphalts.

“With the discovery and manufacture of PCB containing oils, electricity processing and distribution processes became more efficient and manufacturing industries also started running more efficient machinery. PCBs and PCB-based oils were therefore of immense value and benefits to mankind, since 1921,

through the years to recent time.

“In fact, by early 1929, the characteristics associated with PCBs made it ideal for many industrial applications and for the manufacture of many consumer products. The use became more predominant between 1950 and 1970,” he said.

However, in the early 1980s, it was discovered that the all-important PCBs contains toxic properties that are harmful to every living thing – man, animal and even the environment.

“Due to the dangerous effects of PCBs, it was banned worldwide. In early 1980s, PCBs were classified among the 21 most dangerous chemicals marked for complete elimination at a Stockholm Convention of 2001,” Unyimadu said.

“The transformer oil we were using in those days has become harmful today. People should be very careful about what they eat and how they live,” he warned.

The objective of the workshop which is billed to hold in three major cities of Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu is to sensitise the public on the dangers of living with PCBs.

•The newly elected members of executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo women’s wing being addressed by the Woman Leader, Hon. Mrs. Calista Adimachukwu Nkiru shortly after the election at Imeobi secretariat, Enugu

‘Why crime is on the rise’

T

I

MO State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere has blamed parents for the increase in crime and other social vices among youths, saying their carelessness could account for most of the youth in the society.

Speaking to the Mbaitoli women who visited him at his official residence in Owerri, Prince Madumere advised parents to look into the activities of their children so as to call them to order when they are going astray.

Eze Madumere he had received reports about serious immoral behaviours of some children of secondary school age at the grassroots.

He particularly frowned at the rate at which students indulge in the intake of cannabis and alcohol, acts which he said could lead them into doing the bidding of the bad eggs in the society.

The Deputy Governor also lamented the rising cases of immo-

‘In the early 1980s, it was discovered that the all-important PCBs contains toxic properties that are harmful to every living thing – man, animal and even the environment…Due to the dangerous effects of PCBs, it was banned worldwide. In early 1980s, PCBs were classified among the 21 most dangerous chemicals marked for complete elimination at a Stockholm Convention of 2001’

•Madumere

rality among adolescents; the trend which he said if not checked could metamorphose to more serious anti-social behaviours. He urged parents never to abandon their children for the pursuit of money.

Cleric advises leaders against greed

HE Anglican Bishop of Aba diocese, Bishop Christian Ugwuzor has urged leaders to be mindful of their actions in the discharge of their duties, even as he advised them to shun greed.

The cleric noted that greediness is responsible for the senseless attitude of some leaders who amass wealth to the detriment of the people they should take care of. Bishop Ugwuzor gave the advice during the thanksgiving service to mark the retirement of former Nigeria’s ConsulGeneral to South Africa, Ambassador Okey Emuchay from the country’s Foreign Service at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Aba. Speaking during the thanksgiving service, the ex-diplomat had pleaded with churches in Abia State to help him realise his governorship ambition, even as he said prayers remain one of the tools that will help in achieving his governorship aspiration.

Emuchay, who said he is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), added that he was embarking on a tedious assignment that would require the prayers and support of the church.

He said: “I will need your prayers and support for the taxing job I want to embark upon, to seek the support and understanding of residents. I pledge not to disappoint the people. I have not disappointed before and I will not disappoint you this time around.”

In his remark, the Bishop of Aba, Bishop Christian Ugwuzor, said God would select a governor from the multitude of aspirants for the state, even as he expressed concern over the litany of governorship aspirants in the

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

state.

Earlier in his sermon, the cleric urged Nigerians to seek the face of God and eschew evil tendencies during their political campaigns. He said our business is to pray and at the end of the day, God will choose a governor for Abia State and its people.

Bishop Ugwuzor said: “Public office holders should stop amassing wealth at the expense of having good relationship with God. It is not only sinful but also evil. It is regrettable that Christians are taking to idolatry, hatred and jealousy.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s foster father, Chief NAbai Inegite, who represented the family on the occasion, thanked God that Emuchay, served the country meritoriously, describing him as “a worthy son of our family.”

In his speech, Governor Theodore Orji congratulated the ex-diplomat for a successful career in the Foreign Service and retiring meritoriously in good health and with enviable record.

Represented by his deputy, Chief Emeka Ananaba, Orji said although Emuchay was ‘retired, he is not tired.’

“Okey, the governor said, you have travelled far and wide and you have represented our people. You have been our ambassador. I wish you well.”

The governor said: “The choice is yours. You can decide to go to your village or community and rest or you can come out and deploy the abundant experience you have garnered for the benefit of your people.”

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Aspirant advises delegates on credibility T HE Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Nkechi Justina Nwaogu has urged delegates to the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in the state to exhibit high level of credibility.

In an interactive session with some PDP stakeholders in Abia North during her visit to Ohafia Local Government Area, Senator Nwaogu urged them not to mortgage or sell out their rights because of material gains.

While reminding them of the need to use their votes wisely during the upcoming primaries during which to choose a credible governorship aspirant for the party, she told them she was in the race for governorship position of Abia State in order to use her connection, wide reach and administrative experience to serve the state, as well as provide the people with what she described as value addition, having excelled at the National Assembly where she has served for 12years.

Reeling off her achievements for the 12 years she had been in the National Assembly, she said she had sponsored eight major bills, attracted over 15 projects to her constituency, scholarship awards and youth empowerment programmes among others.

Nwaogu challenged the Abia North stakeholders to evaluate her performance with her contemporaries.

Senator Nwaogu, who was Chairman Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, promised to resuscitate ailing industries in the state if elected as governor of the state come 2015, saying she has the reach and knew where to get cheap funds for development of the state.

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•Chief Tony Enwereuzor (left) Senator Nwaogu (middle) and Chief Kalu From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

“If I am elected the governor of Abia State come 2015, I will resuscitate ailing industries using cheap funds. I have the reach and know where to get them,” she said.

She also told the people not to consider gender as a yardstick for selection, adding that they should base their judgments purely on experience and what she would do.

She stated that women in position of trust had proven their mettle even as 18 presidents around the world, who were women, had not failed their respective countries.

“Due to what women who had been given positions of trust are doing today in the country, it is possible that a woman who is elected governor any of the states of the

‘If I am elected the governor of Abia State come 2015, I will resuscitate ailing industries using cheap funds. I have the reach and know where to get them…Due to what women who had been given positions of trust are doing today in the country, it is possible that a woman who is elected governor any of the states of the federation will do well and I am that woman’ federation will do well and I am that woman,” she said.

She said she was not asking that the governorship position should

Okorocha praised for security

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has been praised for providing adequate security for the people.

Imo citizens and visitors from other states praised him at the headquarters of Lifeline Assembly, Ohii, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State when his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere reminded the congregation that during the former administration, people’s freedom was constantly trampled upon through intimidation, crime and other anti-social activities that nearly brought the state to its knees.

Speaking during the church convention whose theme was “Divine Restoration,” he said God answered the prayers of Imo people through Governor Okorocha who he described as God-send.

He also told the congregation that relationship between Governor Okorocha and Bishop Maxwell Korie has remained cordial, even as he regretted the seeming misgivings that existed between them due to wrong inferences coming from quarters that do not cherish peace.

Continuing, he narrated the proposed government demolition of the former Lifeline Assembly Church, which was located at the Ware House Roundabout and the church’s opposition to it. He thanked God that the matter was amicably resolved, noting that the reason for government’s decision could be better appreciated as issue of what used to be an eternal traffic challenges has been solved

‘God answered the prayers of Imo people through Governor Okorocha who he described as God-send...The relationship between Governor Okorocha and Bishop Maxwell Korie has remained cordial. He thanked God that the matter was amicably resolved, noting that the reason for government’s decision could be better appreciated as issue of what used to be an eternal traffic challenges has been solved with roundabout and exit route for motorists’

By Nneka Nwaneri

with roundabout and exit route for motorists.

He averred that ever since, Lifeline Assembly has remained his church as he is committed to its growth and will be ready to render any form of assistance towards its growth, especially when it has to do with salvation and changing our people’s life for the better.

There was, however, uproar when former governor Ikedi Ohakim and his entourage came to the church with over 10 buses as though they were going for campaign. It was later discovered that they were there to oppose what the opposition was to say.

While Prince Madumere was speaking on free education and its gains, some of them that had found their way into the church shouted no, even though they were cautioned to behave responsibly by Bishop Korie.

One of the church members who spoke in confidence decried desperation on the part of some politicians coming to the house of God to behave irresponsibly.

Earlier before the introduction of Madumere, Bishop Korie said his humility and loyalty were infectious, saying such character is rare in our clime.

He also described Madumere as a man of peace who came at the time he was needed.

be given to her as some people were waiting for, but that all she was pleading with the party is to provide a level playing field for all

the contestants so that the people will make the right choice.

The PDP zonal chairman for Abia North, Chief Kalu Eke Kalu thanked the Senator Nwaogu for her courage in indicating interest to contest the governorship position and for deeming it fit to come and see them.

However, a melo-drama played out at the event when the crowd shouted down on the zonal chairman when he bluntly told their visitor that they would not go against the decision of the party, a response that did not go down well with other stakeholders.

They said the zonal chairman did not behave as a true democrat, adding that they should be allowed to make their choice during the party’s primaries.

‘Ebonyi committed to resolving boundary disputes’ •Continued from page 36 from Cross River State led by Governor Liyel Imoke in Abakaliki where farreaching decisions on how to solve problem were taken.

The states, at the end, agreed to set up a 26-man joint committee to proffer lasting solution to the crises.

The meeting, which, for the first time was attended by governors of the two states, mandated the committee to submit its report to the governors on November 30, this year. The committee is to be jointly headed by the Deputy Governors of both states.

The Deputy Governors immediately swung into action and held another meeting in Calabar during which they constituted an 84-man “Joint Governors’ committee to resolve the protracted boundary dispute existing between both states.

The committee’s terms of reference include determination of the immediate and remote causes of the boundary dispute.

The committee held its maiden meeting in Calabar under the leadership of Deputy Governors of both states, Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Mr. Efiok Cobham (Calabar) respectively.

It is also to determine the factors responsible for the failure of previous peace initiatives in the affected states and propose a lasting solution to the disputes.

Also, the committee is expected to set up conflict resolution mechanisms for the communities in each sector with a view to maintaining peaceful co-existence.

The committee is to submit detailed report and recommendations to the Governors of both states on or before November 30, this year.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which was signed by the Deputy Governors and their Attorneys-General of both states, the committee appreciated the prevailing peace between the communities in recent times.

The communiqué urged the borderline communities to continue to live in harmony as the creation of states was not intended to divide brothers and sisters.

At the end of the meeting, Umahi told reporters that peace was paramount to both states and could not be compromised.

“I implore the committee to fuse together as a common body in relationship and understanding in the discharge of its function.

“The positive outcome of their deliberations would bring about peace and harmony not only to the bordering communities but also would enable the states to forge ahead in growth and development,” Umahi said.

He further emphasised the need for members to bury their differences and work towards discharging their onerous assignment creditably.

On his part, Cobham hinted that the demeanor exhibited at the meeting •Continued on page 40

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha (middle) with Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta (9th right) and other Judges during their courtesy visit to the Governor in Owerri

‘Ebonyi committed to resolving boundary disputes’ •Continued from page 39 was a sign that both states were now fully disposed to peace.

According to him, the boundary dispute had impeded on the cordial relationship between border communities of both states.

“The time has come to resolve this issue so that our states and the border communities would live as brothers and sisters,” he said.

Umahi and members of the state boundary commission also held another joint boundary meeting with his Abia State counterpart in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

At the end of the meeting, they sued for maintenance of the existing peace among communities along the disputed 75km stretch of land.

The meeting was organised in order to resuscitate necessary actions towards fast-tracking the delineation of the boundary between the two states.

In attendance at the meeting were the Director-General of NBC, Dr. M.B. Ahmad, delegations of both states led by Deputy Governors of both states, Sir Emeka Ananaba (Abia) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and the Director Boundaries, M.O. Arowolo who stood in for Surveyor-General of the Federation.

The two states, in a communiqué at the end of the meeting signed by the Deputy Governors of the two states and Director- General of NBC, directed that “the major stakeholders should encourage good neighbourliness through proper information dissemination.

“The existing peace along the boundary should be sustained through the joint utilisation of the border resources of both states by the border communities.

“The two states shall search for the relevant delineation documents describing/defining the Abia/Ebonyi inter-state boundary; “Four copies of the relevant delineation documents should be submitted to the National Boundary Commission on or before September 30, this year and shall be screened on October 9 and 10 this year at the headquarters of the NBC in Abuja; “The composition of the screening and authentication committee and the Joint Field Team as constituted at the Abakaliki meeting of 20th October 20, this year still stands; “The Joint Field Team shall be inaugurated on 17th November 17 this year at Nkwoagu in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State and the fieldwork shall commence at Uru-Lokpanta and shall be completed on or before December 18, this year.

“The existing co-operation between the two state governments and their various border communities be encouraged by the traditional rulers and the local government officials of both states; “The chairmen of border LGAs of the two states should adopt appropriate strategies to synergise their efforts in peace-building; “Adequate security shall be provided for the Joint Field Team during the field exercise by both states; “The Federal Government and the two states governments shall provide funds, four wheel drive vehicles and necessary logistics support to their representatives in the various field exercise; “The two state governments, chairmen of the affected LGAs and traditional rulers shall carry out joint enlightenment campaigns in the affected areas prior to and during the period of the field exercise and beyond; “And the status quo shall be maintained until the boundary is properly defined and demarcated.”

Similar meetings and agreements have also been held with governments of Benue and Enugu states where far-reaching agreements have been reached on the way forward. If the word of the Deputy Governor is anything to go by, then the crisis on all fronts may soon be a thing of the past.

He said: “The Governor’s title is Ochudo, meaning one who keeps the peace and he has made it clear that he wants to leave the state more peaceful than he met it. That is why we are working round the clock to ensure that there is lasting peace in the border communities. I assure you that we shall succeed by the grace of God.” The Deputy Governor said unlike reconciliation efforts in the past which yielded no results, the states are currently determined to resolve the boundary disputes once and for all.

• The President, Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Pius Iheanyichukwu Okpara (middle) with other Judges during the 30th Annual Federal High Court Judges’ Conference in Owerri.

Anambra youths hail Obiano’s leadership qualities

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NAMBRA youths have vowed to give the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano all necessary support to excel as his predecessor, Peter Obi in the state.

The youth, under the aegis of United Anambra Youth Assembly (UAYA), also pledged to stand solidly behind their leaders who are gunning for elective positions in 2015.

Their decision was taken in Awka, after their executive council meeting.

In their statement signed by their secretary, Comrade Magnus Eziokwu, said their decision was based on the astuteness and dogged leadership of their leaders who were for state and federal Assembly elec-

tions.

Some of their leaders for different elective positions in the state were Chinedu Obidiegwu, who is vying for a seat in the House of Representatives for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Also, Comrade Osita Ozalagba, who is contesting for the Onitsha South I State Constituency, all under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among others.

According to the statement made available to reporters, the youth group said it would give Governor Obiano all the support in taking the state to a greater height.

They said people like Obidiegwu and Ozalagba, among others, were the kind and quality of the youth that could take Obiano’s administration to greater heights.

Describing Obiano as a youthoriented Governor, the youth said they would give their leaders every necessary support in making sure they triumph in their different elective positions in 2015.

They said: “Obiano is leading the way and everybody is happy in the state for what he has been able to do within a short period and the same way we are looking up to our youth leaders if they win their elections”

‘We need to build institutions to deepen democracy’

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ORMER governor of Abia State , Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has canvassed the strengthening of democratic institutions in Nigeria as one of the steps to deepen the process of governance .

He said nothing much could be achieved of the current institutions of state including security agencies, the police, the judicial arm of government and the process of elections are not reworked from their current weak status.

Speaking at Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Kalu said until such institutions are strengthened, the march towards political stability would remain elusive.

He said the ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), may not readily coast home to victory in the 2015 general elections if it does not put its house in other.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Kalu said: “They only problem is that we have weak institutions. We need to strengthen the institutions that guide democracy. This is important because the institutions that guide democracy are all weak.

“The Police, INEC, the judiciary, the state security services, are all very weak. When you have a weak process, you cannot have anything strong.”

He urged stakeholders in business and politics to support President Goodluck Jonathn in tackling insurgency.

He said the continued existence of Nigeria is greater than any political office.

On the 2015 elections , he said: “I believe our democracy should take a firm root.

I am not saying PDP must win election. If we do not merit to win, we will lose.

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CAMPUS LIFE VC hails computer whizz kid

By Everistus Onwuzurike LASU

•Prof Ajayi with the engineering students displaying the plaque

‘Nigeria must develop its steel industry’

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HE National Association of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Students (NAMMES), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has organised a public lecture on challenges of the steel sector.

The event, with the theme: “The practice of metallurgical and materials engineering: effects on Nigeria’s industrialisation bid” was held at the new Engineering Lecture Theatre.

It was attended, among others, by President of the Nigeria Metallurgical Society (NMS) Prof John Ade Ajayi and Director of Scientific Equipment Development Institute, Enugu (SEDI) Prof Christian Nwajagu.

In his lecture titled: “Sustainable iron and steel production in Nigeria: the techno-economic backbone of the

From Chikezie Mbegbu UNN national transformation agenda”, Prof.

Ajayi said though not all G-8 countries produce oil like Nigeria, they are top iron and steel producers.

“The developing economics such as Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Taiwan have all embraced this sector as a strategic weapon to bolster the fortunes of their economies,” he stated.

He described the iron and steel industries of any nation as a core industry that could produce a spectrum of products for consumers, adding that the sector had the potential to become one of the highest employers of labour in the country.

Lamenting the poor state of the sector, he warned: “With confirmed mass importation of iron and steel products in Nigeria instead of producing our own, the following are bound to happen: more building will collapse, more graduates will be unemployed, more brain drain will take place; and MDGs vision 20:20 will remain a mirage and the transformation agenda of the federal government will be like Alice in the wonder land,” he said.

The second lecturer, Prof Christian Nwajagu, emphasised the need to revive the metallurgical and materials sector to achieve technological development.

Prof Nwajagu, who was represented by the head of department, Machine Building section, Mr C.N. Ifediegwu, said the development

gap in the country could be filled by the development of the metallurgical sector.

In his address, President of the group, Kinsley Amatanweze, 500Level, said the summit was held to contribute to the industrialisation efforts of the nation, adding that the steel sector must be revamped to drive national development.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of awards to the lecturers. Other awardees were the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Enugu State, Engr Godwin Madueke; Managing Director of Funds Associates Limited, Prince Matthew Agu; Chairman of Simplicity Industries limited, Godwin Jioke and former Chairman of Post-primary School Management Board, Enugu State, Prince Alex Akpa.

Students float variety magazine at Ajasin varsity

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HE maiden edition of the annual magazine of the Sparkle Media Group, which is based at the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has hit the market.

The 60-page variety magazine, it was gathered, is a publication by a group of students in the department of Mass Communication.

Speaking during the event, the group’s President, Abiola Idowu,

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA said the magazine was a dream come true, noting that it was designed to set the pace for journalistic excellence on the campus.

Abiola attributed its success to the hard work, commitment and dedication of members, saying they were able to set aside their personal engagements to realise the mag-

4,907 take oath at YABATECH From Mark Orgu YABATECH HE Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, has matriculated freshers.

The Rector, Dr Margret Ladipo, urged the students to strive for academic excellence. She reminded them that of 110,000 applicants, only 4,907 were admitted.

Dr Ladipo said the College would not tolerate indiscipline and involvement in anti-social activitiess, such as cultism, examination misconduct and other vices.

The Rector challenged the students to abide by the college’s rules to ensure their success, saying management had made necessary arrangements for a hitch-free academic year.

She charged the students to make good use of the college’s facilities for self-development, saying they must be focused and hardworking to make success of their stay in the college.

Some of the matriculating students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said they were excited to be admitted to the college, saying they would make good use of their time to achieve academic excellence.

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•Some of the freshers after the event

azine.

One of the leaders of the group, Emmanuel Oyebade, said its vision was to perform the traditional functions of the media which were to inform, educate, and entertain.

He added that the group had grown since inception, with members drawn from various higher institutions of learning in the country.

Editor of the magazine, Julius Omokhunu, commended the team spirit and ingenuity of members,

pleading on them to redouble their efforts to give the group a pride of place in the media profession.

High points of the launching included unveiling of the group’s website and blog.

Presenting the magazine, its grand patron and head, department of Mass Communication, Dr Babatunde Oyinade, lauded the group for the initiative and charged them to do more.

The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof John Obafunwa, has congratulated Raji Rasheed, a Computer Science student, on his recognition as one of the best 10 computer science students in the country.

In a letter signed by the Deputy Registrar, A.T. Fatogun, Prof Obafunwa said the management was excited over Raji’s achievement.

Prof Obafunwa hailed him for being a good ambassador of the institution at the just concluded Odegbami National Information Technology Competition organised by the Nigerian Computer Society.

Raji expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the institution for instilling in him the knowledge that enabled him to make the institution proud.

“I always had this belief that I would go this far in the competition, I learnt a lot during the competition and hope to apply them in other aspects of life,” he said.

CAMPUSLIFE girl is Miss Bekwarra From Gilbert Alasa NYSC Ekiti A CAMPUSLIFE reporter at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Miss Comfort Ogon, has won the beauty pageant organised by Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The pageant with the theme: “Showcasing our rich cultural heritage”, was held to mark this year’s yam festival.

Comfort, who represented Gakem ward in the council, beat nine others to emerge winner of the contest.

Ruth Offie of Ukpah ward and Rose Odobi of Afrike Akpeche ward, emerged first and second runners-up.

The event also featured football match, wrestling, cultural dancing competition and gala night, which culminated in the beauty contest.

Comfort promised to use her office to preserve the rich heritage of the Bekwarra people, adding that she would embark on empowerment projects for girls in the community.

Comfort, who runs Embrace the girl-child, a non-governmental organisation with the UN-Global Funds for Women, said her position would help her to achieve her three-fold project.

“My pet project as Miss Bekwarra will be in three folds. It involves a breast-cancer awareness campaign, quiz competitions for secondary schools and pushing for an end to child-labour through empowerment and advocacy to seek improved living conditions for women,” she said.

Members of the judges included wife of the Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Captain Cassandra Idagbor, Hon Akachu Cecilia, Vice-Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, among others.

•Comfort

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CAMPUS LIFE The Oyo State College of Agriculture (OYSCAI) came alive when students of the School of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology marked their Week. HELEN OLAWORE reports.

College stands still for Agric Week A

CADEMIC and other activities were put on hold at the School of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology of the Oyo State College of Agriculture (OYSCAI) in Igboora when students celebrated their Week.

The faculty bubbled for a week during the event, which featured a lecture, Rag Day, gift presentation, award night, dinner and a novelty match between lecturers and students.

There was also an exhibition of projects, which the students designed to bring innovation into food production and preservation.

Some of the projects displayed included locust bean processing machine, Solar Drier, Defeathering Machine, Battery Cage System for poultry production and juice extractor.

In his lecture titled: From engineering to entrepreneurship, Mr Michael Ale, an engineer, urged the students to embrace entrepreneurship to be independent after school.

He said the students must use their skills to solve problems around them and create opportunities for those coming after them.

Ale, who is the chairman of Borehole Drillers Association, donated a borehole to the college to increase access to potable water on the campus.

The Provost, Prof Gbemiga Adewale, praised the gesture of the guest lecturer, saying the borehole would be useful for students’ research project. He urged students

•Some of the students with Prof Olayanju during the celebration

to improve their knowledge to bring convenience to agriculture and provide food and jobs through the profession.

The Acting Dean, School of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Prof T. M. Olayanju, in his welcome address, said the faculty had the objective to produce intelligent, competent and highrated technology engineers to modernise the agric sector. To boost their knowledge, Olayanju said the college usually takes its students through rigorous academic exercise, which includes educational trips, practical training and theoretical lesson.

He said past students of the college were doing well in their chosen fields and higher institutions where they went for further studies.

The students recognised the Ale’s efforts to make them get the best out of the school. They honoured him with an award for his contribution to the growth of faculty.

In another lecture titled: Students politics and national development, the caretaker chairman of Ibarapa East Local Government, Hon. Yinus Olaoseegba, said students are partners in the business of national development.

He said lecturers must be ques-

tioned if students could not contribute meaningfully to national development through students’ unionism. The council chief urged students to take their studies seriously and aim high to become active players in the society. He said lecturers must continually update their knowledge to remain relevant in the academic fields.

Mr Moses Adediran from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, who spoke on Life sustainability through engineering, said the success or failure of any nation aspiring to climb technological ladder depends on innovation in engineering.

He observed that Nigeria re-

mained at the bottom of the technological ladder despite its abundant natural and human resources it could use to facilitate its progress.

He blamed the development on engineers, who he said have failed to use their knowledge properly.

Adediran urged professional engineers to avoid unethical practices but hold public safety, welfare and the environment paramount.

The students marked graduating students’ say during the Week and also engaged in community service during which they cleared the bush around their faculty building and graded the access road to the College.

Students of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) displayed their soccer skills during the weeklong contest for the Dean’s Cup. The football fiesta was organised by the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA). SUNNY IBEH (200-Level History) reports.

LL work and no play make Jack a dull boy. This saying aptly describes the action of Arts students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who suspended their studies penultimate week for soccer. It was the 2014 Dean’s Cup and students displayed their soccer skills.

The fiesta featured male and female teams in the faculty’s 10 departments. The grand finale of the tournament was held on last week Tuesday, after the teams scaled through the group and knock-out stages.

The final match, which was billed to start at noon, began a few hours behind schedule because of the weather. The event began with the female final match. It was the second time female students were allowed to participate in the tournament.

The fixture was between the Indomitable Amazons of History Department and the Lions of International Studies and Diplomacy (ISD). There was a buzz when History Department’s skipper Natasha Nwanze scored the first goal.

Ten minutes later, Zazi Idodo of the ISD scored the equalising goal to balance the game. The first half ended in a tie. The second half started amid chanting and cheers by the spectators.

At 65 minutes, Sylvia Eneoguru of the History Department scored

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•The Amazons before the match

Catching fun on the pitch another goal, killing the morale of the opponents.

At the 89th minute, Indomitable Amazons’ Juliet Chinwuba netted another goal, which finally weak-

en the ISD team. The match ended 3:1.

History Department made history as the only department in the faculty that has won the trophy

back-to-back.

The final match of the male category kicked off immediately after the female game ended at 4pm. The match was between ISD and Thea-

tre Arts Department. The game ended in favour of ISD, which had two goals in the first 20 minutes.

The Theatre Arts had one goal.

After winners emerged from both categories, the officials dressed the players and their coaches with gold and silver medals.

To mark the feat, the ISD Department planned a victory party. Natasha told CAMPUSLIFE the goal was a dream comes true for her.

“We are basking in the euphoria of our victory at the Dean’s Cup. For me, the goal I scored is a dream that has come true,” she said.

The Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA) president, Jeffery Arinze, described the success of the event as a divine intervention despite hiccups encountered in the planning. He said: “It is just God. We planned as humans and through his powers, it becomes a success.”

On his part, the association’s Public Relations Officer, Stanley Amasianya, hailed Director of Sport for his “unrelenting effort” towards the success of the events.

He advised other faculties to emulate the association.

“I am happy that the tournament went as planned. The Director of Sport must be commended for this feat, which is as a result of his commitment towards the reality of the event,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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CAMPUS LIFE

Why youths are addicted to gambling

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T lives with us. Many consider it as a past time because legislation supports it. The rich gamble to get richer, the poor gamble to run away from the ambience of poverty.

The gamblers do not have it written on their faces; there is no smell associated with it neither does it leave any trail on their body but it is the trait runs in their blood.

The habit, which, with time turns to addiction, makes life to become worthless without it. Such is the life cycle of gamblers.

Gambling makes you wager your money or other valuable items on an uncertain event. It is dependent, partly or wholly, on chance. In the long run, the bet causes harm to the gambler after he loses his chance. Gambling is a game of chance in which the probability of winning is an independent event. That is, just as there are only two sides to a coin, there are also only two sides in gambling. It is either you win or you lose. There is no such thing as sitting on the fence in a bet.

In recent times, gambling rate has increased in geometric proportions and this is because of the desire to cheat greedy people by the lottery firm and to generate revenue for government. The lottery industry is becoming lucrative as it has become a huge employer of labour through the establishment of different lotteries and sweepstakes.

The casinos, movie viewing centres, restaurants, bars etc become the pride rendezvous for gamblers to engage in betting.

While gambling may generate revenue for

the government and its agencies, some communities and religious institutions have continued to oppose it. This many not be unconnected with the concern that gambling leads to crime, corruption and other vices, which may be occasioned by the desperation to win at all cost.

Alas, the most active participants in this trade are adolescents and youths whose main objective, rather than being on how to lay good foundations to better their tomorrow, is on the desire to get rich at all cost and crush any obstacle that might stand against their desire.

Some of its apologists say gambling is a mere entertainment. If indeed it is, why would religious bodies go against it? For those who indulge in it, it is first a habit and later, a source of livelihood. But if the gambler does not win again, he may have to look other way (not usually a godly way) to make a living. Then, it becomes a problem.

In a not-too-distant past, the general feeling towards gambling particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria is that of distraught and strong aversion. Today, it is no longer a vice accompanied by negative connotations and a loss of self-definition. It is now a form of entertainment, especially among youths of this distressed generation.

Gambling poses a significant challenge to our public health. Recent statistics show that adolescents and young adults face highest risk of developing gambling problems. This is because of the increase in gambling centres, where the underage are daily being exposed to unregu-

lated forms of gambling and are daily succumbing to the temptation and pressure to engage in the act.

As in most game of chance, money is spent to get more money. And for adolescents and youths who rely on their parents for their daily bread, the money to bet has to be gotten from their parents under false excuse. If this fails, they look for other means of getting the money to satisfy their urge to bet.

At this point, gambling becomes an addiction. Its effect devastates both to doer, the family and the society at large. When the money stops coming the way of gambler, he may engage in drugs in frustration.

In trying to escape poverty and play roles in the financial upkeep of their families, many youths have chosen to indulge in gambling to put food on their family’s table.

The mass media is culpable in promoting the act of gambling through newspaper ads and electronic advertorial. The resultant effect of gambling on youths, if not checked, could go worse than the problem associated with drug abuse.

One of the ways to check the immoral act of gambling is enactment of a legislation that would regulate gambling and make it less lucrative by setting a limit on the amount a gambler can place on betting, which will, in turn, reduce the amount he would win.

The situation whereby lottery houses promote their businesses online should also be discouraged. Gambling among youths would be reduced if unemployment is tackled.

By Philip Okorodudu Avenues must be created for youths to engage in productive ventures as this is the only true way they can be discouraged from developing gambling habits that subsequently ruin individual and family values. Chinese poet, Ai Qing, noted: “The losers win, the winners lose. What does not change is the dirt, the rags and the stupidity. At dusk in disappointment they scatter, each one returning to his pitch black house.” The house in this contest is the society where we all live in.

Philip, graduating student of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, DELSU

Stopping social media abuse

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HE phenomenal growth in digital technology and the rise of social media platforms, over the past few years, have revolutionised the way in which people communicate and share information. The emergence of new communication technology has impacted on the society positively and negatively. These technologies have affected the socio-cultural, political and economic structures of our contemporary society.

Advancement in technology has eased and expanded the frontiers of information reception and dissemination among people. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT), particularly the internet, have impacted greatly on the society, increasing access to information and creating fresh challenges for the society.

Social media are seen generally to include all the online creations – social networks, search engines, affiliate programmes, forums, blogs and message boards that can be used by the general public for interactions across distance, to mention a few. They are powerful communication tools that have significant impacts on organisational, professional and individual reputations.

Also, social media includes a variety of webbased tools and services that are designed to promote community development through collaboration and information sharing. These tools provide opportunities for individual

By Ahmad Muhammad Auwal expressions, as well as interactions with other users. These technologies have brought together many diverse communities and societies around the world. In fact, the world is fast becoming a “global village” as a result of the new information and communication technology.

Today, we are living in a very fast developing and globalising world.

No doubt, scientific innovations and advancement in technology have eased communication processes. It has also made tasks less tedious in many professions like business, banking, entertainment, and so on. Technology has transformed our lives in many positive ways. But the negative impacts of these innovations in our social and educational pursuits overweigh its positives. This is in line with the fact that there is hardly anything invented by man, no matter its level of perfection that is without some flaws.

As a matter of fact, education is a very essential aspect of our lives. Education to a society is more important than anything. Advancement in technology has eased the processes of academic research. Findings also reveal that, today, students show very much interest in using social networks, which in turn affects education severely. As noted earlier, the negatives of social media on students and education, in general, supersedes the positives.

The social media has grabbed the attention of

students and diverted them toward noneducational, unethical and inappropriate actions, such as examination malpractices. It has made students so lazy that they hardly resort to extensive study before sitting for any examination. Instead of studying very hard to write and pass examinations, students now cultivate the habit of cheating through browsing on their mobile phones while in examination halls. Reading culture among students is on the verge of extinction.

Concentration in the classroom during lecture periods is gradually becoming a thing of the past among students. While classes are being held, some students resort to chatting on social networks. This unwholesome practice has created one problem or the other in students’ educational pursuits and performances. That informs why communication skills have declined among students.

The emergence of ICT has eased the processes of research thereby providing unlimited access to information on virtually all spheres of human endeavours. Looking at the quantity of information available on the internet, one can agree with the fact that most of the information accessed on social media is not accurate and factual. This is because anybody who has access to the internet can write and share information of all sorts, regardless of their quality.

It is, therefore, in tune to state that the dependence of students on social media for the sourcing of materials for academic research has

degraded the value of most academic works undertaken by students. Today, students are fond of plagiarism. They regard creativity as a waste of efforts.

There are possible ways out of these challenges. Stakeholders in the education sector should encourage creativity among students.

Creativity should be made competitive among students through scholarship and other educational grants to those who are creative, as this will motivate and boost the performances of others to be creative.

The provision of standard research and practical facilities in schools can also help the situation. Where students lack adequate research facilities like books and other relevant and referencing materials in libraries, they tend to resort to the easy “copy and paste” method from the social media. Today, you will find out that students write and present final year project works without being able to defend what they claim to have written.

Moreover, there should also be regulation in the education sector with regards to the use of social networks among students. Although, this task can be very tedious to achieve, but the provision of regulatory frameworks in this regard will reduce the challenges posed by social media on students’ performances. There should be strict rules prohibiting students’ use of mobile phones in classrooms.

Ahmad, 300-Level Mass Comm., NSUK

Let’s stop the abuse of women “T HE joy of living Breaks through the barriers of birth The sunlit sky Sunset at dusk The natural scent of musk And the pain of death The joy of living is like spring water Erupting from the depths of your soul Beyond the treasures of friendship Like a handshake at dawn…”

The above poem was extracted from The Joy of Living, one of the Eugenia Abu’s collection titled: Don’t Look at Me Like That.

The poem shows a divine gift, which a woman has been deprived in the history of mankind. But when will she live in peace?

During the period of ignorance in the Arab world, which is termed Jahiliyyah by Islamic historians, there were indiscriminate killings of female children and lack of respect for women was rampant. This was seen as the most acceptable way of treating the womenfolk. The birth of a girl-child was considered shameful and seen as curse. The lucky ones grew up and were married off without their consent.

As wives, they were regarded more as objects of carnal satisfaction rather than partners in marriage. The most degrading and demoralising part is lack of respect to

women pride. In that epoch, women could be inherited just as a chattel. Even, women could be inherited by their sons, instead of being loved and cared for by relatives.

But this was pre-civilisation epoch. In this era, the age-long abuse of women is yet to stop, despite our experience with civilisation.

Given the level of education in the present age, it is an irony that the highly literate generation is so ignorant of women’s rights or rather, it is aware but only chose to be cruel towards the gentle souls.

As a daughter, a woman is a little angel. As a sister, she is a playmate; as a friend, she cares; as a wife, she is a great companion and lover, and as a mother- she perseveringly bear the pain of labour and always offer a strong shoulder to lean on anytime. I still wonder why a real man who was born of a woman will not value one.

However, it is so sad that women are deprived the joy of living and shown so much resentment while growing up. They dare not voice their view on certain issues. Some still subject them to harsh life because they believe male child is better. The girl-child is maltreated and reduced to a mere slave in marriage.

These various forms of discrimination and social torture are well pictured in the works of some writers in Nigerian literature. It is

the woman that is relegated to the background and reduced to “baby machine” and housekeeper.

Some believe women, despite their education, must not be allowed to hold key positions in the management of the nation.

These and many more are the ways in which the world are depriving women of their joy, just as depicted in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Buchi Emecheta’s Joy of Motherhood and so on.

Lately, women have begun to realise their value and have been proving to the world that they are capable of making impact in the society. Once again, literature as a tool for societal change has contributed immensely in promoting the value of women, not only by female writers but male writers, who are regarded as feminists.

Women’s virtues have been promoted in books such as The Virtuous Woman by Zaynab Alkali, Sacred Apples by Abubakar Gimba and Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah.

Apart from the literary impact of these great writers, even God in the Holy Scriptures mention women as companions and helpmates for men. God never said women are slaves and mere object to be inherited.

Out of resentment and discrimination, the world seems to forget that nature created both gender each with its unique qualities

By Halimah Akanbi which the other can’t possess.

I like to conclude this piece by quoting the words of Marianne Williamson, who said: “In every community, there is work to be done; in every nation, there are wounds to heal, and in every heart, there is the power to do it.” We must say no to discrimination and promotes the rights of women.

Halimah, 300-Level Law, UDUS

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

44

CAMPUS LIFE Mixed reactions trail varsity’s e-exam

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IXED reactions have continued trail the electronic examination at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.

Students decried poor grading, saying many have become victims of the error-prone system.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that in the recent university exams, lecturers introduced the fill-in-the-gap questions, which made many unable to type the write answer as they would have done if it were to be multi choice method.

It was gathered that students were made to type their answers in boxes provided on the system. A lecturer who pleaded anonymity, told CAMPUSLIFE that there was no need to introduce the new e-exam feature, saying “our students are becoming lazy because they do objective questions, they can easily do the guesswork.”

The students on different social medias and in different forms agigated seriously on the devastating

From Oluwafemi Aliu FUNAAB effect of this exam format on their acacdemic performance.

The Students’ Union Public Relations Officer (PRO), Habeeb Oyekunle, said many students failed because they “crammed words from their notes as it was taught and typed according to what is programmed on the system of which they seemingly do not know.”

Registering their grievances, students, led by SUG officials, met with the principal officers, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) officials to make complaints.

Habeeb said: “The Vice Chancellor ruled against this form of exam and he further instructed that it be stopped as he advised lecturers that want to do fill in the gap exams to use paper especially with OMR sheet.”

Faculty gets dean

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HE Faculty of Arts of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has elected Prof Patrick Okpoko as its dean. The election was held at the Senior Staff Club of the university.

In his acceptance speech, Prof Okpoko said a major instrument to transform the faculty was quality academic research that would foster national development. He added that improvement in staff welfare was crucial to alleviating the faculty’s past challenges.

His rival, Prof Iwuchukwu, promised to work with the new dean to

From Oladele Oge UNN inspire change in the faculty.

“We are from the same local government area. And so, I will submit my manifestos to him as part of my contribution to ensure that he excel in office,” he stated.

The outgoing dean, Prof Uchenna Anyanwu, described his four-year tenure as challenging, saying the lack of allocation to execute projects made it difficult to carry out sufficient programmes for staff and students.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Olusegun (right) leading the rally held in Lagos

Ogun govt gets ultimatum on school fee

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GUN State government has seven days to revert the school fee of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OAU) in Ago Iwoye, students gave the ultimatum last weekend.

The students said if the government would not allow them to dream of affordable education, they will not allow the government to sleep. The students held a press conference in Lagos after their union president, Olusegun Ifade, appeared on Channels last Friday for an interview.

From Sanya Boluwatife OOU

Olusegun, reading the press statement titled: Affordable education: Our cry to the public, said: “More than 3,000 students have dropped out from the school since 2011 because of high fees.

More than 2,000 students have applied for deferment to come back when they have money to pay school fee. Unfortunately, many left without coming back.

Why should we fold our hands when government denies us ac-

cess to affordable education?”

The students demanded reopening of their school, adequate funding, withdrawal of security agencies from campus, reinstatement of over 3,000 students, nonvictimisation of students’ leaders and reduction of the tuition fee.

In an interview with Channels, the Commissioner for Education Barrister Segun Odubela, said the students were not sincere with their demand, noting that Olusegun did not show up for a peaceful meeting with the government.

Students unite for community

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T was fun when a group of students under the aegis of Seed of wisdom gathered last weekend in Oko, Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State to chart the way forward for the community.

The Students, who had been separated for many years, due to academic engagements, all grew up in the same community. The group has been described as veritable tool to promote education in the community.

The Acting Coordinator of the group and a graduate of Public Administration from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Olaoye Shuaib, said: ‘‘The Forum is set up to ed-

From Afeez Adeyemo OFFA POLY

ucate, interact and relate with one another just as we do before leaving this land. Though we are starting this forum with childhood friends and relatives who are interested in the growth of this community, but we will soon extend membership to external persons who are ready to contribute to the service of humanity.”

Shuaib urged members to cooperate with one another to realize the objectives of the group.

Speaking on discipline and moral behaviour, Adeleke Ko-

huanm, a student of Applied Physics, University of Abuja, said a disciplined man would always command respect in the society.

Taofeek Lawal, 200-Level Political Science, University of Ilorin, said he was delighted to be part of the team, adding that the forum would promote peace and unity to drive community development.

In his remark, Gbadmus Akeem, Kwara State Polytechnic, noted that team-spirit was essential to the development of every organization, imploring fellow members to be their brother’s keeper.

Anti-Ebola campaign in UNILAG

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HE Students’ Affairs Unit of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in collaboration with the Medical Unit of the school, has organised an enlightenment campaign on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) prevention on the campus.

Mrs Zainab Adeyemi, a senior nursing officer of the medical unit, addressed the audience at the Mass communication department on the effects and preventive measures against the virus.

She urged them to seek medical assistance in case they develop symptoms of the ailment, adding that regular hand-washing and avoidance of contact with the inner parts of one’s body should be

From Charles Agu UNILAG

observed.

Mrs Adeyemi also warned against indiscriminate body contact with individuals with excessive sweat secretions and sharing of hand towels.

She assured that the school, in response to the epidemic, has made provisions for hand gloves to the various hostels of the school.

Lanre Akinpelu, 300-Level, commended the initiative, saying he would be willing to spread the message to his peers to stop the virus.

“When we practice what we

preach, people will learn from what we are actually doing. Some of us are opinion leaders; whatever we do, other people will tend to emulate,” he added.

Another student, Olufunmilola Ibitoye, expressed her gratitude to the organisers, saying “At least, we now know the safety measures to carry out to safeguard ourselves from Ebola. It’s a very scary virus and everyone needs to know about it, and how to keep themselves away from it.”

The Deputy-director of the unit, Mr Emmanuel Okewu, expressed satisfaction with the programme, saying adequate information on the epidemic would help to prevent the spread of the virus.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE AAUA FILE

Steady power to AAU, Akungba

•Some students of the Lagos State University (LASU) External System in a peaceful demonstration at Governors Office, Alausa, Ikeja over the delay in their programmes…on Monday.

Community gives generator to school

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HE Federal University, OyeEkiti, has received a donation of a 350KVA power generator from indigenes of Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The gesture, which was from a group, the Ikole University Development Forum, was meant for the school’s Faculty of Engineering. The group’s membership cuts across 23 communities that make up the local government.

Speaking at the university’s Faculty of Engineering, venue of the presentation, Chairman of the group’s Fund Raising Implementation Committee, Otunba Ben Oguntuase, said the gesture was aimed at complimenting the school’s efforts at securing accreditation for the faculty.

Otunba Oguntuase said the forum’s choice of power generator arose dur-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

ing one of the interfaces between the forum and the university management.

A member of the forum, Emeritus Prof Peter Adeniyi, said the ninemember Fund Raising Implementation Committee worked for over eight months to mobilise funds to get the generator.

He said as at last July 31, about N10,215,290 had been realised. This, he considered, was quite distant from the expected 185 million target.

According to him, prior to the visit of the university’s Accreditation Visitation panel, the Fund Raising Committee met with representatives of the university on how best to support it in readiness for the visitation. “It was agreed that a generator would be ideal, hence the choice of a power-

generating set,” he said.

While thanking all who contributed to the project, Prof Adeniyi implored those yet to align with the vision to hasten their contributions. He reminded them that the university campus at Ikole is a major socio-economic project that will have significant impact on the fortunes of their communities.

He said all over the world communities have risen to support academic institutions by way of endowments and contributing towards their developments.

The paramount ruler of the Ikole Kingdom, Oba Ajibade A. Fasiku, expressed delight that the contributions yielded results, pledging his community’s readiness to support the university.

The school’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Uzoma Asuzu, said he was im-

pressed with the level of interest Ikole community has shown towards the development of the university. He applauded the peaceful environment created by the community for staff and students of the university, expressing optimism that the Engineering Faculty would receive the nod of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria – COREN. He said: “The challenge now is to prepare for the accreditation proper from both the National Universities Commission (NUC), and COREN next year. The Faculty of Engineering needed N1.8billion to equip the 40 engineering laboratories and workshops.”

The vice chancellor pledged his team readiness to work in making the institution one of the best in the country.

•From left: Librarian, Yaba College of Technology Mrs. Taiyewo Adebowale; Registrar, Biekoroma Charity Amapakabo; Deputy Rector, Academics, Innocent Akhuemonkhan and Deputy Rector, Administrative, Dr. Abdul Moruf Adebakin, during the 2013/2014 matriculation ceremony of the institution, held in Yaba, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO SUNDAY ESHIET

LAUTECH wins 2014 online contest

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TUDENTS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in Oyo State, have won this year’s edition of online marketing contest organised by the internet search firm, Google.

The contest is entitled: ‘2014 Google Online Marketing Challenge Contest for the Middle East and Africa.’

A statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Lekan Fadeyi, listed the winners as Adedoyin Jelili, Olayanju Abiodun, Adeosun Oluwole all of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Others are: Adesina Jamiu and Akadiri Olawole, both of the Ur-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

ban and Regional Planning Department and Salami Ismaila of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The team was led by the university’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr Tayo Arulogun.

The statement quoted the ViceChancellor (VC) of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, praising the contestants for the feat when he received them in his office.

Gbadegesin hailed the founding fathers of the institution for bequeathing a legacy that has stood the test of time.

He noted that the curriculum,

which makes it mandatory for all freshers to register and offer same courses at the 100 level, has continued to put students above their peers in others universities.

He added that most of the Information and Communications Technology(ICT)-related awards won by the university were courtesy of students whose programmes have nothing to do with ICT. He urged them to keep on being good ambassadors of their alma mater.

“The team would be leaving the country for Dublin any moment from now to see the workings at the Google office,” the statement added.

THE Business Manager, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC), Owo Business District, Mr. Sunday Ofiebor, has promised Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), and its host community, Akungba Akoko, a steady electricity supply soon.

Mr. Ofiebor, who spoke when he paid a courtesy call on the university management in company of four other BEDC officials, was received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Rotimi Ajayi.

Ofiebor said: “Our priority is to give this campus regular electricity supply. We want Akungba community to have regular power supply too and we are definitely going to do it.

“We want to begin with the campus first. We have already done the survey and that is part of what we have come to discuss here today.”

He identified AAUA as BEDC’s prime customer in the Akoko axis and appreciated the university’s understanding and cooperation over the years.

He asked the university to appoint a linkman to interface with the BEDC for improved services.

Prof. Ajayi thanked the BEDC officials for the visit and urged them not to renege on their promise.

Varsity partners Bank on beans production THE AAUA Chapter of Entrepreneurship Action Through Us, (ENACTUS), in collaboration with the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has flagged off its ‘Women Empowerment Through Iru Production” programme in Supare Akoko, Ondo State.

The programme is designed to empower locust beans (iru) producers in the community on mechanised processing of the product.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, in his welcome address, said the university is happy with the development, saying it will help in becoming a foremost university that moves manpower development in selfapprenticeship and a first-class university in research and service to humanity.

He said it is the vision of the university to make iru an international and money-spinning product, saying it is the university’s way of making life better for the rural folks.

Alumni elects officers

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FTER a hectic campaign, horse trading and intrigues, which usually characterise associations’ elections on campuses, the battle for the leadership of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Alumni Association has finally been won and lost.

The election held after overcoming the initial legal hurdle against it with the electoral committee conducting the poll, which led to the emergence of the new leadership for the association.

Prof. Gabriel Umoh, Head, Department of Agriculture of the university, who came tops garnered 286 votes to beat Dr. Sonny Offiong of the Department of Sociology, who scored 115 votes.

The position of the Director of Organisation went to Dr. Goddy Akpan of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education (CoE), Afaha Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state.

Some candidates for other positions

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

were returned unopposed. Their offices included Vice Chairman (North) given to Mr. Owen Owen; Secretary, Dr. Jude Iwok; Assistant Secretary, Miss Uduak Akai, and Financial Secretary Dr. Happiness Uduak.

Others were: Treasurer, Mr. Samuel Gregory Effiong; Publicity Secretary, Mr. Justice Udousoro; Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Manasseh Umoette, and Legal Adviser, Mr. Michael Nyah.

Prof. Umoh, who addressed reporters after the election, pledged to reconcile all aggrieved factions to reposition the association.

He said his executive would work towards the realisation of the vision and mission of the university and assist in the relocation of the institution to its permanent site at Nsukara on Nwaniba Road.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE House Committee on Education calls for partnership THE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Aminu Suleiman has called on the management of Adeyemi College of Education to form a better partnership with the House in order to proffer solutions to its challenges.

Suleiman, who spoke during the visit of the 17-member committhe to the college, said the visit was part of its oversight functions to Federal Government owned institutions in the Southwest.

Describing education as key in nation’s development, the lawmaker noted that for any country to develop maximally in the areas of economic and technological advancement, it must accord attention to education by funding it.

Don advocates transparency THOSE entrusted with leadership positions have been advised to imbibe the spirit of transparency, probity and accountability in the discharge of their duties in order to achieve good result.

The advice was given by the Acting Provost of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, Ondo State, Dr. Olufemi Abayomi Olajuyigbe in a remark at the 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the college Cooperative Multipurpose Society (ACECMS) Staff No1, held at the institution.

Olajuyigbe, who expressed satisfaction over the performance of the society, Olajuyigbe said the result was a reflection of the dedication to duty by its staff and proper management of its activities by those elected to run the organisation.

He urged the leadership of the society to continue to live above board and work harder to reposition it for better performance, saying through such step, the society would be able to meet the aspirations of members and fulfill the dream of its founding fathers.

Ex-Provost, others win award THE immediate past Provost of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Prof. Adeyemi Ibukunoluwa Idowu, has been conferred with an award by one of the cooperative societies of the college.

Idowu, who recently completed his eight-year tenure as the 15th administrator and the Seventh substantive Provost of the college, was given “Ambassador Award” by the school’s Staff Cooperative Multipurpose Society (ACESCMS) Limited, at its 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 9, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium of the school.

Other personalities honoured were the college Acting Provost, Dr. Olufemi Olajuyigbe; the Registrar, Mr. Felix Eniola Aderinboye; the Librarian Dr. Rotimi Egunjobi and the Bursar, Mr. G.O. Abdul.

The recipients of the award also include, Messers F. Ade Bada; J.O. Liasu; N.O. Olarinoye, Head of Department, English, Clinton Adebiyi; C. Aseperi and Mr. J.O. Fapohunda.

Similarly, the Ambassador award was equally given to Dr. E.O. Adeleye; Messers Ibidapo Iranola, S. Ogini, J.O. Abimbola and Mrs. E.M. Olowolagba.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE

Melbourne International Research Scholarships (MIRS) University of Melbourne Masters/PhD Degree Study in: Australia Next course starts 2015 Brief description:

T

HE Melbourne International Research Scholarships (MIRS) is awarded to international students wishing to undertake graduate research degree studies at the University of Melbourne.

Host Institution(s): University of Melbourne, Australia.

Field of study: Any eligible graduate research degree offered at University of Melbourne

Number of Awards: About 150

Target group: International students Scholarship value/inclusions: Benefits provided by the MIRS include living allowance, relocation grant, thesis allowance, and paid sick, maternity and parenting leave. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is also included.

Eligibility: To be considered for the MIRS, you must: •be an international applicant (i.e. a citizen of a country other than Australia or New Zealand, and not an Australian permanent resident); •have completed tertiary studies that are at least equivalent to a four-year honours degree at an Australian university with a minimum result of first class honours; •have applied for admission to undertake a master or doctorate by research degree or be currently enrolled in a research degree at the University of Mel-

bourne

Application instructions: MIRS applicants should submit complete both their applications for admission and scholarship by the next deadline, 31 October 2014.

It is important to visit the official website to access the application form for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website: Official Scholarship Website:http:// wwwstudenteforms. app.unimelb.edu.au/apex/f?p= 153:2:0:::2:P2_ID:361

•Members of the association (front row) and the inductees in a group photograph after their induction

Hope rises for AOCOED graduates

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HE induction of 59 graduates of Early Childhood Education of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin into notable professional bodies, and their merging with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education may have opened window of opportunities for them.

They were inducted into the Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN) and the Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP).

In attendance were ECAN’s Founder and National President, Prof. Ajike Osanyin of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and ASEP National President, Hajia Olaitan Oshodi represented by its Lagos State chapter Chairman, Simeon Fowowe.

AOCOED Provost, Mr. Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun , was represented by his deputy, Wole Ajose and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Gbolahan Daodu.

Oshodi said the event was pack-

A

NEW Rector has been appointed for Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State. He is Ogbonnia Ibe-Enwo. He succeeds Prof. Francis Otunta whose tenure expired last June.

The Chairman of the institution’s Governing Board, Mr Chimdi Ejiogu, presented Ibe-Enwo as the fifth substantive rector to staff and students.

The new rector pledged to enhance the wellbeing of the institution. In demonstrating his commitment, he announced the reinstatement of 11 sacked staff of the institution.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

aged as a platform to showcase the college products to SUBEB in order to work out modalities for their onward employment by the SUBEB. “At present, we have 1,007 public primary schools in Lagos, but with no single professionally trained graduates of ECE. Last year, this institution produced only 12, which are now being absorbed by private schools. However, this time, we have decided to invite SUBEB to see the 59 graduands that came out of this school, and to market them for the commission to absorb those who do not intend to further their education for now,” he said.

A lecturer at the School of Early Childhood and Primary Education,

Muyiwa Ashimolowo, said the exercise is expected to bridge the gap between theory and practice while providing inductees with contemporaries’ issues in the classroom.

“Since it is research-based, ECAN will provide inductees with research, while ACEP would avail them with contemporary emerging issues in the classroom. This we have done in an attempt to uphold Article 3 of the Child Right Convention which is in the best interest of the child,” he said.

Daodu, who spoke on the topic: “After NCE certificate, what next?” encouraged the inductees not to lose hope as more opportunities abound on their field.

She said the commission would look into how to forge a synergy with the college to enable its ECE products

‘You are expected to allow those skills you acquired enable children and the society see the difference in professional practice in adult/children interaction’

Uwana Poly gets new Provost

By Jayeoba Oyefolu

“I will, in collaboration with management, ensure that this institution ranks among the best in the country and the world by implementing policies that would promote academic excellence, increase infrastructural development, enhance welfare, inauguration of more departments, and increase the institution’s Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.

He called on the staff to be

committed and disciplined.

“People must come to work and close at the appropriate time because the era of people collecting salaries without justifying them is over,” he said.

Ejiogu described Ibe-Enwo’s appointment as appropriate, noting that as a product of the polytechnic system, he is expected to reposition the institution.

“The new rector has been in the institution’s system for the past 20 years and is expected to bring his

enjoy some benefits.

Earlier, Bashorun admonished the them to strive to be true caregivers.

As professionals, Bashorun said: “You are expected to allow those skills you acquired enable children and the society see the difference in professional practice in adult/children interaction.

“In an attempt to hide their ignorance of the rudiments of child care, the unskilled nanny employs unconventional means to curtail the seeming excesses of children in their care by either administering drugs to force them to sleep, or tying them to objects to prevent their movement, among others.

“These, indeed, are bad practices in child care. The society may be quick to ignore and forgive these unskilled cheats. However, the child and the society will neither forgive nor ignore a caregiver, who cannot add value to the child by allowing them enjoy and explore facilities in their environment.” wealth of experience to bear on its development,” he said, noting that Ibe-Enwo was appointed following the new guideline from the Federal Government on the appointment of a rector which stipulates that he must come from the polytechnic system.

“I call on the Federal Government to ensure adequate funding of the polytechnics in the country to enable them meet their goals,” Ejiogu said.

A worker, Mrs Beatrice Ojah, urged all to cooperate with the new rector to enable him discharge his duties effectively.

47

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION FUNAAB FILE

Don invents cooking gas

•From left: Director, Projects Development & Design, Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) Dr Patrick Iraboh; Coordinator, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Advance Management Course 2014, Mrs Olabimitan Ajibola; Director-General, FIIRO, Dr Gloria Elemo and Ag. Director, Human Resource Management, FIIRO, Mr Lanre Raji during the visit of participants of ASCON Advance Management Course 2014 to FIIRO in Lagos ... on Tuesday

Varsity’s satellite students matriculate

T

HE Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka Lagos in affiliation with Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA), Niger State has matriculated students into the Departments of Science Education and Industrial and Technology Education at its Akoka campus, Lagos.

The occasion marked the third matriculation of the satelite campus of the university.

Those in attendance included the Provost of Federal College Education (Technical), Dr. S.O. Olusanya; his deputy Dr O.O. Mekiliuwa; the Director of Degree Programmes, Dr. G.A.T Osifeso; the coordinator of the Minna Campus, Prof. M.A. Akanji represented by Prof. Ogbonna Chukwu.

Others were the Registrar Mrs. V.N. Kolo, represented by Mallam Babajiya Bida, the Dean, School of Technology Education (STE) FUTMINNA, Prof. Mrs. V.I. Ezenwa, who was represented by the Head of Department, Industrial and Technology Education, Prof. E.J. Ohize and other principal officers of the school.

Dr. G.A.T Osifeso, who gave the welcome address, congratulated the students for taking a wise decision to

‘How to secure research funding’

By Omolara Ogunwale

be a part of the B.Tech. (Ed.) programmes, which he said would equip them with entrepreneurial skills after their studies.

Osifeso presented the freshers to the Provost and Vice-Chancellor while the Registrar supervised the matriculation oath.

Dr Olusanya advised them to refrain from acts contrary to the rules and regulations of the school in order not to jeopardise their ambitions.

Such unwholesome acts , according to him, include examination misconduct, certificate forgery, cultism, fighting, theft, extortion, rape, dealing in illicit drug(s) and admission fraud.

He admonished them not to neglect their students’ manual as it contains all it takes to be an ideal student of the school.

“I implore you to be receptive of all good things that could come your way either in the lecture halls, hostels or the entire college environment.

The students’ Information Handbook serves as a guide and also contains information that a student needs to know about the university. These rules are not just cosmetic designs, but meant to be obeyed,” he said.

A LECTURER in the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) and the Director of Zoological Park of the University, Dr. Moses Oyatogun, has devised an alternative cooking gas from biodegradable waste, which is found to be economical and environmentally-friendly.

Speaking at the COLERM Lecture Series titled: “Waste to wealth, health and fertiliser production in Nigeria: The nature’s way,” Oyatogun described Biodegradable waste as one that could be broken down within a short period of time into its base compounds by micro-organisms and other living things.

Oyatogun, added that biodegradable waste were commonly found in municipal solid waste sometimes called Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW), which include green waste, food waste, paper waste and biodegradable animal products.

He said land, forests, fossil fuels and minerals were important sources of capital, adding that wealth in monetary terms, could be measured as natural, human and physical assets.

•A cross-section of students

Olusanya emphasised on the ‘creed or commandment’ which constitute the vision and mission statements of the university.

He listed the “10 Commandments”, urging them not to breach any of them.

The representative of the ViceChancellor reminded the students that the two schools are not conventional institutions, but specialised centres of technological and scientific development. “In these institu-

tions, emphasis is laid on practical experiences and innovation that will put Nigeria apart with other technologically-developed nations,” he said.

He noted that the Federal College of Education has the best Library in all the schools in affiliation with FUTMINNA, in addition to its best structure, good collections of books, journals and internet facilities. He, therefore, pleaded with the students to use the facilities wisely.

THE Federal Government has been advised to ensure adequate funding of research efforts under the policy, for the benefit of Nigerians. This advice was given during the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR) lecture titled: “Framework for intergovernmental relations in the implementation of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.”

The guest lecturer, Prof Aderibigbe Olomola, said farming is a profession and business which require adequate funding to succeed and should be accorded the priority it deserved.

Olomola added that institutions in the agricultural sector should be designed, developed and function in a sustainable manner, to be able to control the behaviour of individuals by making them to take decisions that would be in the best interest of the sector and the country.

School sponsors students on exchange programme to Singapore

G

•Registrar /Chief Executive Officer, Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Dr Gloria Okojie (left); Executive Secretary, National University Commission Prof Julius Okojie and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Aminu Suleiman during the Fifth Induction of Certified Librarians of Nigeria in Abuja .

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

RACE High School Lagos, has sponsored her pupils on exchange programme to Singapore.

The move, according to the School Administrator, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun, is in furtherance to the school’s commitment of turning out well groomed pupils, who would make meaningful contribution to the advancement of the country and the society at the large.

Edun said the school believes that only well groomed pupils, who understand the dynamics of the modern world, can make impact in the society.

Accordingly, she said the school has taken it upon itself to ensure that her products are well exposed in line with global best practices.

Speaking on arrival with the students after a two-week trip to Singapore, Edun said: “Our pupils can only achieve much if they interact with the best from other climes.

At Grace High School, we understand that the world is now a glo-

By Jayeoba Oyefolu Olayinka

bal village. Therefore, we prepare them to have a global outlook, which is one of the reasons for our international exchange programme with top schools across the globe.”

She continued: “We were in Singapore because this is a country, which at a time was on the same level of development with Nigeria, but has since made giant strides that has placed her in the league of developed nations of the world. “Our thinking for this exchange programme with a top school in Singapore is that our pupils can learn from the pragmatic educational system that has produced best brains that turned around the fortunes of Singapore from developing to a developed nation. Our belief is that if Nigeria must attain her lofty vision of joining the league of developed economies in the nearest future, then her young minds must not be push overs.”

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION

Ebola: Kwara Polytechnic to Crawford varsity loses BoT member screen workers, students C A UTHORITIES of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin in Kwara State have completed plans to subject both fresh and returning students of the institution to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) screening exercise when the school resumes for the 2014/2015 session.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu, disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital, during a sensitisation training on the control of EVD organised by the school management for workers.

Apart from the various sensitisation programmes lined up, workers would also undergo EVD screening exercise.

To achieve this, Elelu said a committee has been put in place “to li-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

aise with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) on how to bring in some of those screening equipment before the school resumes.

“And when the students come, we will screen them and give them proper lecture to sensitise them on the Ebola Virus Disease. We have a proper plan to screen all students including workers as soon as we get the equipment. And if we cannot lay our hands on the equipment, we will hire from those that have the screening equipment,” he said.

He added: “Though the Federal Government has assured us of safety on the issue of Ebola Virus,

we still believe prevention is better than cure. We have decided to bring all information about the deadly disease closer to our staff and our community in order to prevent ourselves from it.”

Earlier, Consultant and Infections Disease Physician from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. Abayomi Fadeyi, said EVD was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sudan in 1976.

He described Ebola as the deadliest among the viral hemorrhagic fevers with no cure and preventive vaccine yet.

Abayomi said Ebola can be contracted through, body fluids of the affected animals, handshake, kissing, hugging and breast feeding.

RAWFORD University, Igbesa in Ogun State has lost a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Rev. Hector Abimbola Elebute.

The late Elebute, who until his death, was a founding father of the Apostolic Faith Nigeria. He would be remembered for his insistence that Crawford University should take off amid opposing views by other members of the board 14 year ago.

The university, which started in 1995, was seen as a distraction by many members of the church.

However, as the most senior member of the church and the only surviving of the four founding fathers, the late Elebute stood his ground and advised his colleagues to encourage the university to take off.

The university ViceChancellor, Prof Samson Demola Ayanlaja, said the memory of the deceased would linger in the church and the university.

“Elebute’s encouraging words still continue to propel and motivate the operations of this progressive bourgeoning university,” he said.

Ayanlaja added: “I write on behalf of the Crawford University to appreciate God in admiring and saluting the

By Medinat Kanabe

odyssey of life of a peculiar treasure and colossus of the Apostolic Faith Church.

“Our inimitable, beloved, courageous papa, the legendary Rev Hector Abimbola Elebute was a great soldier of Christ, defender of the faith, a bulwark to the overseers, a repository of knowledge, norms, customs and principles of the Apostolic Faith, a great pillar and commander of ethos and ethics of the church.”

He described the late Elebute as a peaceful man and mentor to students and staff of the university, admonishing others to follow in his footstep.

“One day all of us will depart no matter how old we are, and the work of everybody will follow him whether it is the right thing or not. If it is the right thing we will go to a place of rest, but if not it will be a bad experience for the dead soul,” he advised.

The cleric, according to Ayanlaja, was a wise man. “He saw that the building of the university as necessary and endorsed the it when many refused. Now, all our children are benefitting from the university,” he added.

UNILAG’s Social Science faculty tops debate

F •Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 9110, Mrs. Kemi Popoola Alabi; wife of the District Governor

Mrs. Oluyemisi Balogun; Oni and Prince Adeniji-Adele during the inauguration.

Rotary donates ICT centre to school

T

O engender skills acquisition in Information Communication Technology (ICT), the Rotary Club of Omole Golden, has donated a fully equipped ICT laboratory centre to Oke-Ira Senior Secondary School in Ogba, Lagos.

The inuaguration of the project was performed by the Deputy Director of Basic Studies in the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Abiodun Oni, who represented the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye.

Oni said: “I want to thank members of this great club not only for the gesture, but for being good partners in the development of education in Lagos State. I also want to urge the school management not to disallow pupils from making use of the facilities provided, but ensure it is put to good use.”

By Kunle Akinrinade

The President of the club, Mr. Chris Alabi, explained that Rotary would sustain the facility for one year before handing it over to the state for further maintenance.

“We have spent part of our limited resources to set up this facility and we believe that it will be put to proper use in empowering pupils and teachers with ICT skills.

In addition, we will maintain the center for one year including the internet facility after which it would be handed over to the Lagos State Ministry of Education for its further sustenance,” he said.

Earlier, an induction exercise for new members of the club was performed by the District Governor of Rotary (District 9110), Dr. Dele Balogun, who lauded members of

the club for donating the centre.

Balogun urged new members to imbibe the four-way test of Rotary Club in the development of the larger society.

The high point of the event was formal presentation of certificates to some teachers in the state public schools recently sponsored on a training programme by the club.

Other members were also honoured with awards for their financial assistance to the club in carrying out some of its charity projects.

The chairman of the Parents’ Forum, Prince Adebola AdenijiAdele, promised to “work in concert with the authorities of the school to protect the facility and ensure proper utilisation of equipment towards promotion of skills and pupils’ development.”

OR the third consecutive time, the Faulty of Social Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), has emerged winner of the 2014 UNILAG debate. The topic is: “The 2015 election will make or mar Nigeria.”

The Department of Political Science represented by a 200-Level undergraduate, Zainab Olaitan, spoke in support and won with 85.6 per cent. It was followed closely by Dasaolu Olawale of the Faculty of Law, who countered Olaitan, scoring 80.6 per cent. Onoriode Maria of the Faculty of Engineering, who also spoke in support scored 78.3 per cent.

Speaking to The Nation, Zainab said some points she marshaled such as: “the attitude of political class, political culture, lack of synergy between electoral system and the heterogeneous system of Nigeria, as well as the dependent nature of electoral commission and insecurity,” made her win.

On what helped the department to win the debate for the third consecutive time, she said: “We talk about the world and about social relations. So, we are the master of whatever we are doing here.”

For the 2015 election to make positive impact on Nigeria,

By Medinat Kanabe

Zainab said government should erase parochial political culture and the mentality that election is not a means to an end.

“If we see politics as an end game, then we will see it as a means to accumulate money. If we see it as a means to be democratically scrutinised, then we can be a great nation, the Nigeria of our dream,” she added.

She said she was grateful to God for winning. She thanked her lecturers, friends and colleagues who helped her prepare.

The Chairman, panel of judges, Prof Segun Awonusi, said the debaters were scored on, content, appearance, persuasiveness, fluency/diction, comportment/ poise, and time management. He said the winner would go home with money and a Laptop computer.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Rahamon Bello, promised other debaters from fourth to 12th position N50,000 each.

Other debaters include Okungbowa Ayokunle from the Faculty of Science; Muhammed Ahmed Oladipupo, Faculty of Arts and Ndifon Minka Cornelia, Faculty of Basic Science.

Computerisation not to sack workers, says NYSC

T

HE management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has said the on-going computerisation of the scheme was not to reduce its workforce.

The Director, Corps mobilisation of the NYSC, Anthony Ani, who spoke with reporters in Abuja on the recent controversy that followed the payment of N4000 for printing of NYSC call up letter and other services, said the payment was optional.

He said the N4,000 was neither for the scheme nor the schools

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

producing sending the corps members as alleged in some quarters.

He said: “The NYSC scheme in a bid to improve its operation in line with globalisation takes advantage of cutting-edge technology and went into partnership with a private company, Messrs SIDMACH Technologies Nigeria Limited, for full computerisation of the mobilisation process of the scheme.”

He said workers of the scheme that will educate prospective corps members on the full computerisation of the mobilisation process have already been sensitised.

Ani said the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) became necessary in view of some irregularities associated with analogue method.

The innovation, he said, would reduce stress associated with registration and collection of call up letters. The N4000 fee attached to printing of corps members call up

letters, according to him, was for the infrastructure to be deployed by the firm.

“It is noteworthy that while many people have lauded the project, a few others have raised observations on the payment of N4,000 by prospective members, who are to use the ICT platform to register,” he said.

He explained that the project was on public-private partnership initiative, and that the company would build ICT infrastructure in all the states orientation camps, which

would be linked to the one at the NYSC headquarters, in Abuja.

For the past 41 years of its existence, Ani said the scheme had been handling mobilisation of corps members through analogue method, which is replete with all sorts of irregularities.

“We cannot afford to rely on the old analogue system,” Ani maintained, adding: “All this will be a thing of the past, as we use cutting-edge technology to improve and enhance the content and character of all our operations.”

51

THURSDAY SEPTEM BER 18, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been enmeshed in leadership crises in the six states. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines its implications for the party in next year’s general elections.

Southwest PDP wobbling in crisis T

HERE is no end in sight to the crisis rocking the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Last week, there was a new twist to the leadership tussle. The Chairman of the Southwest Caretaker Committee, Chief Ishola Filani, was suspended by the members of the executive committee. He was asked to stop parading himself as the vice chairman of the party in the zone. Although Filani has been re-instated, following the intervention of party elders, the controversy has continued to rage. Observers view his suspension as a fallout of the power struggle among party leaders over 2015 calculations.

The crisis has polarised the zone. Now, there are factions. The level of discontent is such that virtually all state chapters are grappling with one crisis or the other. The acrimony climaxed when the former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, appointed Chief Buruji Kashamu as the Chairman of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee for the Southwest.

A party stalwart described Kashamu‘s appointment as an imposition, which was intended to spite former President Olusegun Obasanjo and reduce his political influence. He said the former Chairman, acting a script by the Presidency, handed over the zonal structure to Kashamu to undermine the former President.

According to the party stalwart, notable stakeholders in the zone had protested the imposition, saying Kashamu joined the party four years ago.

Many have also alleged that Kashamu planted Filani as the Caretaker Chairman to checkmate Chief Bode George’s influence and to consolidate his hold on the party. The ultimate goal was to make Filani the substantive chairman whenever the zonal congress is held. The reality on ground today is that Kashamu is in firm control of the party’s structure in the Southwest.

Reacting to George’s comment that members of the caretaker committee lacked the power to suspend Filani, the Chairman of Ogun State chapter, Chief Bayo Dayo, said George was wrong. In his view, it is only National Executive Committee that can fault the committee’s action.

He added that the Southwest zone is responsible to the NEC, not to the George’s Leadership Forum.

Dayo said Filani was re-instated, following the intervention of a review committee, the Fairness Forum. He said party leaders have appealed to feuding caretaker committee members to sheathe their swords and let the status quo remain, particularly since the Southwest congress may hold on September 26.

He said the Fairness Forum mandated the Ekiti State governor-elect , Mr. Ayo Fayose, to meet with aggrieved members of the committee, with a view to reconciling the warring factions. “This was how the matter was resolved and we hope that substantive officers will emerge from the congress scheduled for this month,” Dayo added Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary Mr. Taofeek Gani aligned with the position of the Leadership Forum on the suspension of Filani.

He said the action of the caretaker committee was embarrassing, adding that every stakeholder should be concerned about it.

Gani commended the decision setting aside the purported suspension, saying it has restored peace in the party. He said the reason for reversing the suspension was very logical.

His words: “Going by the antecedents of the party, this crisis is not insurmountable. The people behind it want to create confusion in the party. The PDP in the Southwest will go into 2015 elections more united and stronger.

“This is a critical moment for the party. We are approaching the general elections, there should be no distraction. This is not the right time to overheat the polity. We should all work together to ensure the party’s victory in 2015."

The Chairman of the party in Ondo State, Ebenezer Alade, said all the Southwest chairmen were shocked by the report of the suspension of Filani. He said the committee members who claimed to have removed Filani from office did not carry them along in their action. He also affirmed that members of the committee did not file any complaint before the party and had

• Obasanjo

• Kashamu

‘For more than two years, the Southwest PDP has been battling with a war of attrition. The party is factionalised in the six states. Analysts say the crisis escalated following the exclusion of chieftains loyal to former President Obasanjo from party activities. The crisis started at Osogbo, the Osun State capital’ • George

not indicated at any point in time that the suspended chairman did any wrong before taking the action.

For more than two years, the Southwest PDP has been battling with a war of attrition. The party is factionalised in the six states. Analysts say the crisis escalated following the exclusion of chieftains loyal to former President Obasanjo from party activities.

The crisis started at Osogbo, the Osun State capital. Party chieftains from the zone had in 2012 converged on the ancient city for the zonal congress. Aggrieved party stalwarts were bent on whittling down Obasanjo’s influence on the party. A faction of the PDP from Ogun State led

by Kashamu alleged that they were barred from the congress. The aggrieved members, who claimed that they were denied participation, went to court to challenge the validity of the congress. The court ruled that it was wrong to exclude the Ogun State chapter. As a result, it was declared null and void. It ordered that a new congress should be held. The judgment provided a caveat for the Bamanga Tukur-led National Executive Committee to disband the Southwest executive and remove Obasanjo’s men from the executive. The victims were the erstwhile National Secretary, Prince

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Mr. Segun Oni and the National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.

However, Oyinlola’s election was not voided by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which nullified the election of 16 national officers. Therefore when he was asked to vacate his office, the Obasanjo camp perceived it as orchestrated plan to eliminate the loyalists of the former President from the party. There were protests by Oyinlola supporters who insisted that he should be reinstated in the spirit of fairness and justice.

Oyinlola and Oni went to court to regain their lost positions. The cases were still pending in court at the time both of them defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The reconciliation embarked upon by the Caretaker Committee led by Filani failed to restore peace and trust in the Southwest PDP. The bitter struggle for the control of the party organs is also fierce among the party chieftains in the zone. Unresolved party matters, including the politics of exclusion, a winnertake-all attitude and emasculation of opponents in intra-party squabbles are still the order of the day.

In Lagos State, the party has recorded the

highest turnover of chairmen: Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Alhaji Murtala Asorobi, Chief Alaba Williams, Bayo Adebayo, Hon. Sentonji Koshoedo and Capt. Tunji Shelle. Amid the persistent crisis, many founding members have defected to the ruling party in the state.

Many party chieftains believe that, since George became the arrowhead, peace has eluded the chapter. There are three factions in the party, namely: the Establishment led by George, the Union and the Non-Align group, all of them are working at cross purposes. Former leader of the Union group, Dr. Abayomi Finnih said the George group is in control of the party executive, while the other two factions are left in the cold.

According to him, several reconciliatory moves made from outside, such as Southwest zone, the Presidency and the PDP Governors’ Forum, were to no avail.

“The panels recommended a harmonised executive that would embrace all the factions, but the George group rejected the proposal. This action has further brought the party down. A serious party should open its doors for every member to be part of decision-making process.

Some of us had bent backward by reaching out to George and his group, but their recalcitrant attitude did not allow them to reason with us.

Politicians don’t behave that way. There must be compromise.”

The Ogun State chapter is another house divided against itself. The State Executive Committee led

by Adebayo Dayo, an engineer, does not have the support of the former President. Dayo was installed by Kashamu. Obasanjo had supported Senator Dipo Odujirin for the chairmanship.

Since the court pronounced Dayo as the authentic chairman, the Obasanjo group has repeatedly shunned party activities. The peace initiative by the party’s national secretariat was also rebuffed.

Similar efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Chief Tony Anenih to reconcile the Obasanjo camp and the state leadership did not yielded any positive result. Obasanjo refused to grant Dayo and his group audience when they visited him on his birthday anniversary. Dayo was not pleased with the development. He said certain party elders in the state have refused to embrace reality, wondering why they should constitute themselves into local warlords at a time they should be playing the role of father figures and conscience of the party.

The appointment of Prof. Wale Oladipo as National Secretary to replace Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola is still generating ripples in Osun State chapter. A group known as the Osun PDP Concern Forum has kicked against Oladipo’s appointment. The Forum insisted that the mode of selection did not conform with the PDP Constitution and that the choice of Oladipo does not reflect the popular wish of members.

The office of the National Secretary was zoned to Osun State by the Southwest PDP. Besides, the emergence of Chief Iyiola Omisore as party governorship candidate in the August 9 election has further polarised the party in the state. Other aspirants believe the primaries were rigged in favour of Omisore. A party stalwart said that was why the likes of Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi and Hon. Wole Oke distanced themselves from Omisore’s campaign.

In Ondo, the return of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the PDP is causing disaffection among the party leadership. Those against Mimiko’s defection have vowed to leave the party in protest. The Ondo State chapter is like a wounded lion. Since the chapter lost power to Labour Party, the chieftains claim that they have been left in the cold. To survive, some LP members have gravitated towards the LP governor. Thus, during the last governorship election, they worked against the PDP candidate Chief Olusola Oke. The decision to disown Oke, a former National Legal Adviser, led to the factionalisation of the party during the electioneering. Oke complained to the national secretariat, but no concrete step was taken to whip the pro-LP supporters in the PDP into line.

Defending their action, they claim that they were plotting the return of the governor to the PDP.

52

THE NATION THURSDAY SEPTEM BER 18, 2014

POLITICS Former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Hon. David Iorhemba is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant. He spoke with UJA EMMANUEL on the succession battle in the Northcentral state.

My agenda for Benue, by governorship aspirant

W

HY do you want to governBenue State in 2015?

I am eminently qualified to govern the state on the platform of the PDP. For some reasons, I consider myself very versatile in the affairs of the state. I am conversant with the three arms of government. I worked in the Benue State judiciary for 21 years. I was a clerk, registrar, court member, area court Judge and Chief Magistrate in Gboko before I resigned. I later went into private legal practice. I was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Benue State governor on Legal Matters. Thereafter, I resigned, contested and won a byelection, following the death of Hon. Yogbo, who represented Guma Constituency. I re-contested in 2011 and won. I became the Speaker. With these experiences, I have been exposed to the challenges of the state.

I’m therefore, conversant with the rural setting of the state, based on my postings as a judiciary staff. I served at the Area Court, Agasha, Abinsi. I was the Court Registrar in Udei, Naka, Aliade, Makurdi, Area Court in Korinya, Ihugh, Lessel, Ikyado; Area Gourt Judge at Ammaafu, Acting Area Court Judge at Akpagher Mbatyav, Magistrate at Vandeikya and ant back to Gboko.

With these experiences, I have discovered that the major problem of the state is rural development. Take a look at the case of Guma Local

Government Area, Gbajumba is the only local government headquarters in Benue State that does not have a tarred road linking it with Makurdi.

I will contribute my quota to the development of the state by providing roads. Rural farmers will be able to transport their produce to urban markets to improve their financial standing. When rural roads are opened, security challenges, education sector and others are addressed.

Those of us living in border towns such as Guma, near Nasarawa State, are usually attacked by mercenaries from Nasarawa State with the use of motor cycles. They come through bush paths to attack us. But, due to poor road network, it becomes difficult to fight back and, even when security operatives are alerted, they hardly make impact as a result of the bad terrain.

Some of the schools set up by the SUBEB in 1976 have no structure because contractors are unable to access the sites due to lack of roads.

So, the provision of roads in rural communities can boost education and agriculture. Today, farmers don’t have value for their produce because they cannot take them to the market.Therefore, if elected in 2015, I will make sure we have a law to establish the Benue State Produce Marketing Board to regulate the sale and purchase farm produce and eliminate activities of middle men.

• Iorhemba

Benue as an agrarian state used to witnessed food wastage and this is why the establishment of cottage industry is apt at this moment. I appreciate the efforts of the Benue state government, which established a tomato fruit juice at Annune. But, it is not functioning. Government should lease the company out to a competent people to manage and create employment. I will provide storage facility so that farmers will have value for their produce.

Recently, the Tiv Traditional Council advised some aspirants to step down. What is your reaction?

It does not deter some of us from pursuing our aspiration at all. We feel that the Tiv Area Traditional Council, coming in at this stage, was rather too early. Beside this, the process that led to the purported trimming was also not a proper one. This is because the Tor Tiv and other traditional rulers, who constituted that panel, are fathers to all of us and we feel that, after interacting with us, they should have

allowed aspirants a little time to also interact with one another more so that we are aspiring to get nomination on a party platform. But, at the moment, the PDP has not released the guidelines. It may be that the chosen ones may even be caught out with the party guidelines. I feel strongly that the party guidelines will catch up with some of the aspirants selected by the Tiv Area Traditional Council. So, on the whole, I’m forging ahead with my consultation. You can see that, in 2007, the Sankera leaders met in Katsina Ala Local Government to pick their preferred aspirants. Katsina -Ala elders chose Prof. Iorwuese Hagher.

Ukum local government produced Prof. Mvendaga Jibo and Logo local government produced the late Biishibi Ati. But, it happened that all the nominees from these three local governments did not make it at the primaries. Rather, Gabriel Suswam, who was not nominated at all, got the ticket and became the governor. So, I feel that the trimming was not done in good faith and the forum of Minda PDP aspirants has contacted our chairman, Prof. David Ker to state our position on the matter.

How do you intend to tackle the challenge of industrialisation?

If elected, I intend to run industries through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Most of the farm produce are located in a particular area of the state.

Yams are largely produced in Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas. Therefore, my government will invite a competent company to come and partner with the government. Government will provide land and put up structures while the intended company with expertise in citing a yam flower will come in and do the rest. We will move to Ushongo, Vandeikya and Konshisha local government areas where oranges abound and establish a factory there and even liaise with Chivita, one of the major fruit producers ,to come and operate it.

How do intend to open up local government areas stem rural/urban drift?

The government, in conjunction with the twenty three local government councils, will procure earth moving equipments so that each council will have it. Graders, pay loaders and tippers will ease their work. For example, if Vandeikya Local Government decides to construct a road from Chi Mbagbera to Adambge Mbayongu, the council will provide the diesel and the operators and the community will render essential services. I am going to decentralise the Ministry of Rural Development, which will be saddled with the role of supervising ongoing projects. This is because this ministry has been unable to supervise rural development in most, if not all the areas.

Given the shortfall in the allocation to the state from the Federation Account, how would you jerk up the internally generated revenue?

There is a lot of internal revenue that are untapped in the state. First, I will bring revenue consultants to take an inventory of houses in Benue State. We will provide a template. All the houses located on a particular street will be numbered and government will try to find out how one acquires the land, whether it was through traditional means or it was through agreement, through purchase, by allocation, whether one have the C of O or not.

Therefore, a special account will be opened for owners to pay ground rent.

Through this, government will generate revenue from it. Government will obtain a bank facility to maintain such streets while banks will be made to live up to its corporate social responsibility. The registration of motor cycles plate numbers will also give us money and many other sources like bill boards will be taped from.

We will reorganise the Revenue Board for better performance.

What is your concept of Makurdi Master Plan?

The original master plan of Makurdi, which is the state capital, is highly distorted. Beside, development has caught up with it. One of the ways to solve the problem is to open up streets.

Chief Tony Okocha is the Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. When BISI OLANIYI met him in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, he spoke on the face-off between his boss and Minister of State for Education Chief Nyesom Wike, zoning and the prospect of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.

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PC and PDP supporters have been clashing in Rivers State.

How can violence be averted in next year’s elections?

What you saw in Ward 9, which is made up of Rumueprikom and Eleparanwon villages, was not a fight between the APC and the PDP. It was a fight among hoodlums, cultists, exmilitants, thugs mobilised, purchased, procured by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, in an attempt to stop the governor from coming to Ward 9 for his (governor) ongoing meet-the-people tour in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

It was not a clash between the APC and the PDP at all because Governor Amaechi was not going to the rally of the APC. The governor was on a meetthe-people tour. The governor is the governor of the APC, the PDP, the Labour Party and every other political party. When we set out for rallies, the governor will now speak to his people as the leader of the APC in Rivers State. What the governor undertook was a visit to the wards and he said he was going to visit the 319 wards in the state, before he leaves office as the governor.

For me, two things were clear. One was that he saw the preponderance of Obio/Akpor people, thronging out to receive the governor in the six wards that we went. The turnout was very massive. Wike had boasted to people that Obio/Akpor LGA belongs to him; Obio/Akpor is in his pocket. I am sure that what would have agitated his mind would have been the local government he is claiming to be in his pocket, are those people singing, praising, eulogising and pouring encomiums on Amaechi. Again, anywhere

‘APC ‘ll beat PDP in Rivers’ we went, the people confronted us with their welcome addresses and their welcome addresses were well loaded.

They always thanked the governor for what he had done in their places and then they got to naturally talk about their problems.

Amaechi, in his usual style, the addresses come before he speaks. So, when he takes the microphone, he tells you what his administration has done and why his administration has not been able to execute some particular roads, as a result of lack of funds. He also tells them why certain roads, which have been done, are in a bad shape and insist that the roads were awarded to XYZ and most of them (contractors) are from the affected communities.

The initial slogan was Rivers money for Rivers people. So, the clash was a fight of hoodlums under the group called the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which has Wike as the grand patron. Wike assembles a group of never-do-wells and put them together for the purpose of unleashing mayhem. Wike thrives in confusion.

What you saw in Rumueprikom, which of course spilled over to my own community, Rumuigbo (also in Port Harcourt and in Obio/Akpor LGA). The hoodlums were camped somewhere. Few women were around the place and the people were putting up canopies. The hoodlums destroyed the tents and the musical systems that we hired. We have just paid the owner of the instruments that were destroyed. It was such a colossal loss, as people were running helter-skelter. A lot of pellets were extracted from

• Okocha

about six persons, but nobody died.

If there is no skeleton to hide, why disrupt the movement of the governor of Rivers State? The information they are putting across is that the governor cancelled his tour, because of the crisis. It cannot be correct. The governor is the governor of the state. He is the Chief Security Officer of the state and there is no limit as to where he goes within the precinct called Rivers State.

How will you describe the APC’s journey so far in Rivers State?

The APC is a place to be; the APC is the party to beat. It is growing in leaps

and in bounds and deeply entrenched in the 23 local government areas and 319 wards in Rivers State. The APC is a party with ideology and believes that the only thing that is permanent in the whole world is change. The APC believes that the PDP as a political party can be likened to salt and as soon as the salt loses its taste, it is no longer useful. It is for all of these considerations that the APC is enjoying very massive support in Rivers State and you just cannot beat it.

PDP leaders are alleging that the meet-the-people tour of the governor is being turned into a political campaign. What is your reaction?

If we were campaigning, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, would not detail policemen to provide security. The first thing the governor does, as soon as he takes the microphone, is to say that he is not here for a rally. He is here as the governor of Rivers State, which means he is the governor of the APC, he is the governor of the PDP, he is the governor of the Labour Party and others. He is also the governor of those who do not belong to political parties. He is here to give his account of stewardship, as it pertains to that particular ward. He does not mince words.

Assuming that it is some sort of campaign, so to speak, shouldn’t we begin to ask this question; what is this Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) doing? Recently, they were in the South-East, South-West and South-South and it was live on many television stations. They were

beckoning on President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election.

What did the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, come to do recently in Ozuoba, (Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State? It was at that Ozuoba programme that Wike boasted that six commissioners were going to leave the Rivers State Executive Council and join them in December. Didn’t you hear them bellowing the PDP, for a supposed Millennium Development Goal (MDG) programme? The President’s wife was there and they were freely bellowing PDP. So what would anybody talk about that? No campaign has commenced, as far as we are concerned. I am sure you know what the GDI has been doing with Wike.

What has the GDI been doing?

The GDI, which is sponsored by Wike, has been campaigning from one LGA to another. I am sure you have seen all their vehicles on the streets with megaphones. Twentythree of them were purchased and they are on the streets. They have been opening campaign offices everywhere. But, we are not raising the alarm because we are more mature.

We are applying maturity.

You do not worry yourself over a man you know you can beat. Their approach is not affecting us. We do not worry about people who are not APC members. We are worried about the security of the place, because they are beginning to institutionalise crime. They are beginning to patronise cultism. They are beginning to enthrone militancy again. You can see that at some point, that thing (militancy) was history, but it is beginning to rear its ugly head in the state again, because some persons think that they must catapult themselves to power.

THE NATION THURSDAY SEPTEM BER 18, 2014

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POLITICS Chief Adegboyega Adeniji is the Chairman of the Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), a coalition of 150 civil society groups. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he reflects on 15 years of civil rule, national security and other issues.

Plateau gets 1,542 new polling units

Nigeria’s insecurity is self-inflicted, says activist

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IFTEEN years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, how will you score the level of governance so far?

There is absolutely no cause for jubilation so far. We are all witnesses to the staccato of crisis — social, economic, cultural and political — tearing the country apart. Taking stock of our democracy, the MFC deems it fundamentally important to rouse Nigerians to examine our brand of democracy and decide if indeed the country can possibly continue the way it is going at present. This is why the MFC has come up with the score card on our democracy. We have relied strictly on conservative official statistics. Yet, what stared us in the face at the end of the exercise is extremely damning of the present political class, the vampire economic system it has spurned in the past 15 years and the resultant social anomie.

What are the anomalies identified in the system?

The present crop of leaders is parochial, egocentric, gluttonous lack discipline. Nigeria remains one of the most corrupt nations in the world, according to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013 released

by Transparency International, a global watchdog. In the last survey released on December 2, 2013, Nigeria remained at 14th position out of 177 nations in the world, scoring 25 points out of 100. We were ranked alongside crisis-torn Central African Republic and Cameroun. Never before in our history did we witness the spate of unabated looting of public resources being witnessed now, the most recent of which are: the N2.6 trillion lost to fuel subsidy scams, N32 billion police pension scam and crude oil worth about U$2 billion stolen monthly. There is also the 24 million barrels of oil worth $1.6 billion stolen through signature forgery and the $20 billion reported missing by former CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, which earned him a sack. The list is endless.

Another pitiable situation is our declining social services. Professionals in the educational sector continue to protest the abysmal conditions of learning and research in educational institutions due to poor funding; shortage of quality staff; dearth of infrastructure; inadequate classrooms and offices; inadequate laboratories for teaching and research; shortage of books and other learning materials, among other lapses in that sector. This is responsible for the number of children out of school,

• Adeniji

which represents the highest in the world, particularly in the Northeast.

Any wonder that the Boko Haram tragedy is feeding on this massive layer of uneducated, unskilled unemployed and unemployable youths?

What is your take on the security situation in the country?

The cause of insecurity in the country is the result of the widening gap between the ruling class and the people. Ostentatious lifestyle of the political leaders, especially those occupying public offices is outrageous. It gives the ordinary man the impetus to get rich by all means, hence the prevalent heinous crimes pervading the country, such as kidnapping, cyber crime and all sorts of vices that have been aggravated by the Boko Haram insurgency. Aside from terrorism, ritual murders orchestrated by politicians, extra judicial killings by police and other security forces etc compound a gory scenario of a society in the throes of social cannibalism.

What other impacts are these social malaise having on the economic well being of the people?

Poverty level in Nigeria grew from 54 per cent in 2004 to almost 70 per cent currently; meaning that over 100 million Nigerians live in absolute poverty. Youth unemployment stands at a conservative estimate of 54 per cent of all employable youths.

This translates to at least 40 million young people without jobs.

Nigerian’s wealth increased from $290 billion in 1990 to $510 in 2014, making it the country with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in

Africa. Nigeria also boasts of one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. No wonder the country now boasts of 12 new multi-billionaires in US Dollars, and several thousand multi-millionaires in US Dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

It is scandalous that government officials and political appointees in Nigeria are among the highest paid in the world. The (Nigerian) Senate President earns several times the salary of the President Obama of America, while President Goodluck Jonathan has nine aircrafts in his presidential fleet with ministers and governors incurring billions of dollars from private aircraft charters, in a country where the ordinary citizen can barely afford three square meals daily.

How does the MFC intend to bring about the well-desired changes in governance?

The MFC has resolved to work assiduously with morally upright intellectuals and captains of industries with high integrity to bring back our value system to international best practices, and enthrone severe punishment for indiscipline within all strata of the society. This would be achieved through mass mobilization of the people to agitate for change through democratic means. There must be punishment for indiscipline in all its ramifications.

All acts of indiscipline, impunity, imposition, arbitrariness and other maladies running down our democracy must be totally eradicated. We need to encourage international best practices and bring morality to the fore. It is most unfortunate that the present system we run has relegated morality in place of illegality. That is why we have congestion in our courts, and high level of corruption in our judiciary.

What is your strategy towards the 2015 general election?

The MFC will first and foremost build confidence in the people by identifying new set of leaders with high moral standard, integrity and observance of the rule of law for presentation to the electorate. Once we have the confidence of the great people of Nigeria, the people shall decide the political platform they want to use to actualize their noble cause.

Moreover, we need to stress that MFC was formed by Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), the Congress of Political Leader, the committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), and other civil society groups that belief that Nigeria can be greater than it is presently.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu and Emmanuel Kwapyel, Jos

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EW 1,542 polling units have been created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State. Before their creation, the state had 2,631 units.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Habu Zarma, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting organised to sensitise the people to the importance of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) in Jos. He said: “An additional 1,542 polling units have been allocated to Plateau State. When added to the existing 2,631, it brings the total polling units in the state to 4,173. Additional polling units have become necessary to reduce the likely stress of electioneering process in the 2015 general elections.”

The REC also said that all plans were underway to ensure the effective distribution of PCVs to registered voters.

He added: “In the past few months, the commission had distributed PVCs and carried out continuous voters registration in two-third of the states in the country. These are done in phases. States in phase one and two had done theirs.

Plateau State is in the third and final phase, which includes 12 states.

“The distribution of PVCs in Plateau is expected to commence soon and we want all stakeholders to create the awareness to enable citizens have full knowledge of the all-important programme. This is because the commission is committed to credible, free, and fair electioneering process next year.”

Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Emmanuel Gogwi, said government assist the INEC to succeed in the task.

Jang said: “We will make sure that every qualified person in the state collects his or her PVC and those who could not register before are registered.”

He called on local government chairmen to embark on enlightenment campaigns in their domains to avoid disenfranchisement.

The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Chairman, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, told reporters that local councils will increase the awareness so that people can participate actively in the exercise.

Akwa Ibom: Ibibio elders back Emmanuel for governor

By Emmanuel Oladesu

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GROUP, the Ibibio Elders’ Fo-rum, has endorsed the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for next year’s governorship election.

The forum said the aspirant will defend the growth, unity and development of the state.

The forum is made up of elders from Ibibioland. It explained that Emmanuel is a humble and committed administrator.

When some of the elders visited the SSG in his office at Uyo, the state capital, they urged him to declare his intention to run for the office.

They said Emmanuel has lived up to expectation as a technocrat before he was appointed as the SSG. Hailing his patriotism, they said: “those who got jobs through Emmanuel’s assistance have established themselves to the envy of their contemporaries in other states.”

Noting that Emmanuel is the only Ibibio son on the board of African Finance Corporation and the highest ranking Akwa Ibom son in the financial sector, they wondered “why Akwa Ibom should go to war with a mere recruit when they have a ‘General” Former Minister of Lands and Housing Chief Nduese Essien said the SSG will be a worthy successor to Governor Godswill Akpabio. He said: “It is on this basis that the entire Ibibio elders of Akwa Ibom State have realized that we need someone like Udom Emmanuel as Governor, come 2015, because he is the right choice and truly deserves the seat.”

The Chairman of the Forum, Dr Okon Uko, decried the falsehood, propaganda, blackmail and the “pull him down syndrome” that have characterised politics in Ibibioland.

Uko extolled the sterling qualities of the SSG, saying that he will be a good governor.

Ola, Rasaki, Arise for Senate in Ekiti

By Emmanuel Oladesu

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••

•Ekiti State Governor-elect Ayo Fayose (second left) and Ado-Ekiti PDP Chairman Kola Lawal (second right) raising the hands of Senator Ola during his declaration in Ado-Ekiti. With then are Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Ayo Fayose Campaign Director-General (left).

ENATOR Bode Ola, Senator Ayo Arise, and Hon. Lateefat Rasaki are eyeing senatorial slots in Ekiti in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ola and Rasaki are from Ekiti Central District. Also warming up for primaries in the district are Mr. Kayode Alufa from Ijero, and Lateef Ajijola from Ado-Ekiti. In the North, Arise, a PDP chieftain, and Oluranti Adebisi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are in the race. In the South, Senator Akinyede is also said to be in the race.

Ola, who has been endorsed by stakeholders, urged the party to remain steadfast and committed to the welfare of the people. The governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who raised his hand up in Ado, the state capital, described him as a good material and dependable chieftain.

Ola said that God guided his steps when he decided to defect to the PDP, adding that, if re-elected as a senator, he would use his wealth experience to bear on legislative governance.

He added: “I will use my colossal experience, if I go back to the Senate as a ranking senatorm, to attract more federal presence to this state and complete all projects that I had influenced into the budget for the senatorial district in 2010.

“I will offer a robust legislation at the parliament for the purpose of bringing development and to ensure that Ekiti occupies her rightful position in the federation. I will ensure that more Ekitis are employed into the Federal Service.

We have done it before; our footprints are still in the minds of our supporters.

During the one and half years that I served in the National Assembly as the Acting Chairman of Senate Committee on Works, I brought all the senators in that committee to inspect the dilapidated roads in the Southwest. Within few weeks, some of the roads contracts were awarded to contractors and they are now in good condition.

“I believed in God. He has not let me down before. If I return to the Senate, I will do more for my people, in terms of pipe borne water, roads, youth and women empowerment, bursary and scholarship. We did it in 2010. God will help us this time.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Healthy food, healthy life N

IGERIANS have been told to move away from pills and procedures that treat symptoms to the healing power of foods.

A trado-medicine practitioner, Dr Segun Fahuwa, said chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and pain, among others, are on the rise and no orthodox cures are in sight. The focus for these diseases should, now be healing through food.

Dr Fahuwa, a.k.a Mister Guarantee said: “Some 2400 years ago Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, stated, ‘Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food’. Today the use of prescription drugs and medical procedures that only manage symptoms is favoured over healing with food. By eating a healthy diet, the body will not be deprived of its natural immune boosters, which can ward off diseases.”

According to him: “A healthy diet is probably going to cause you to lose excess weight; your blood pressure and cholesterol to

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

go down; you will feel better and look better; have more energy; your cells will be happy; your immune system will get stronger; you will eliminate most or all of your medications and your God given healing process will have the ability to reverse sickness.”

He said even if you do not go completely on a plant based diet, small changes can bring positive results. “When you eliminate most of the foods that are making you sick and replace them with the right fuel, live nutrient dense foods along with fresh juices, you will begin to see a healthier diet by making positive changes in your life.

“Most of us are aware of the benefits of a balanced diet and healthy eating. But being aware of the benefits is only half of the solution. You also need to know how to choose the foods that will be best for your health.

Depending on your daily routine, you may or may not eat at home most of the time. But whatever you choose to start your day off

with must be healthy.”

Dr Fahuwas said: “Start your day with a healthy and well balanced breakfast. Studies have shown that people who don’t eat a full breakfast tend to seek carbohydrate snacks all throughout the day, and are more prone to gaining weight. Eating at home usually involves more meal preparation time, this is important because preparing a good meal takes a lot more time than simply eating some junk food. If you can afford to prepare your meals at home, this can dramatically increase the quality of your meals, not only can you choose exactly what you eat, but you can choose how it is prepared and pick out the quality of the items yourself.

“Any meal you eat, whether at home or while out should consist of all the basic food groups, balancing proteins, starches, greens and vegetables is a key factor to a healthy diet. Your body needs all the different food groups in order to function properly, by balancing your meals you are ensuring your health and the

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Tips to prevent cold HERE are no known cures for colds and flu, so cold and flu prevention should be your goal. A proactive approach to warding off colds and flu is apt to make your whole life healthier.

The most effective way for preventing the flu is to get the flu shot.

It works better than anything else.

But there are other strategies you can employ as well. Here are 8 tips you can use to help prevent colds and the flu naturally:

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• Wash your hands Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Someone who has the flu sneezes onto his or her hand and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, a kitchen glass. The germs can live for hours only to be picked up by the next person who touches the same object. So wash your hands often. If you can’t get to a sink, rub an alco-

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By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

of Nigeria believes Ebola can be cured if adequately researched into, since traditional healers have been treating small pox and other deadly diseases, successfully. “EVD and small pox do have some signs and symptoms in common. Traditional medicine practitioners have the ingenuity to rise to the occasion if given research,” he said.

Adeyemi praised the Federal and state governments for the support accorded trado-medical healers, “in terms of encouragement, suggestions and giving room for occasional meetings between them and us, particularly in their wish for us to make our medical products well packaged to meet international standard, to attract exports and foreign hol-based hand sanitizer onto your hands.

Don’t cover your sneezes and coughs with your hands Because germs and viruses cling to your bare hands, muffling coughs and sneezes with your hands often results in passing along your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, and then throw it away immediately. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.

Don’t touch your face Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is the major way children catch colds and a key way they pass colds on to their parents.

Do aerobic exercise regularly Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood; makes you breathe faster to help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your blood; and makes you sweat once your body heats up.

•Dr Fahuwa

this can often lead to a vicious cycle, leading to high levels of junk food intake per day. Choose full meals whenever possible; look for whole wheat and organic products whenever you can. If you are on the run and need to eat as quickly as possible, look for the healthier alternatives to hotdogs, sawarma and burgers.

Try natural sandwiches made on the spot, there are many natural fast foods that can be just as quick as the conventional ones, while providing much better quality to your diet,” he added.

‘Embrace energy medicine’

Govt urged to support traditional researchers AN traditional medicine provide the breakthrough in the cure for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)? Yes. A traditional medicine practitioner, Mr. Temitayo Adeyemi Omo Oba has indicated his belief that if given the necessary government support and encouragement, traditional medicine practitioners can undertake research works to discover a cure for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Speaking at his Alfa Nla Street, Agege, Lagos headquarters of his Trado medical office, Adeyemi expressed optimism that a long time research by indigenous native doctors can bring a breakthrough into finding a curable medicine for the disease.

Adeyemi, the Vice National President of the Herbal Therapy Society

quality of your life.”

He spoke further on foods in super markets: “Choosing the food you eat based simply on the label at the supermarket is not always the best choice. A low fat or diet version of a favorite snack, treat or dessert may be a better option than the regular version, but is it the best option? Look for healthier alternatives for snacking in between meals, go for low fat cereal bars and natural products, fruit and juice. It is not so much the amount you eat but rather what you eat that makes the difference. Avoiding fatty foods and food with high quantities of sugar is also very important. Choose baked food instead of fried food, and adopt this healthier alternative when cooking at home as well,” he added.

Dr Fahuwas said when away from home and eating out, look for healthy alternatives. “Fast food offers speedy advantages but often has no real nutritional value. Stuffing yourself with useless calories will fill you up momentarily, but you will soon find you are hungry again, and

•Adeyemi

exchange.

“I see a bright future for native doctors in the country, even now that they are dynamic in the fight against Ebola, just as their mooted participation in the teaching of traditional medicine at the proposed university is a step that scores the government high”.

These exercises help increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.

Eat foods containing phytochemicals “Phyto” means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost. So put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.

Relax If you can teach yourself to relax, you may be able to rev up your immune system. There’s evidence that when you put your relaxation skills into action, your interleukins — leaders in the immune system response against cold and flu viruses — increase in the bloodstream. Train yourself to picture an image you find pleasant or calming. Do this 30 minutes a day for several months. Keep in mind, relaxation is a learnable skill, but it is not doing anything. People who try to relax, but are in fact bored, show no changes in blood chemicals.

•Source: http:www.webmd.com

NIGERIANS have been urged to embrace energy medicine.This advice was

given by an Alternative medicine practitioner; Chief Iwowarri James in Lagos.

According to him, energy medicine or therapy is a drugless healing method, which combines the Eastern Oriental medicine practice with Western psychological therapy to eliminate emotional and physical challenges people face.

He said conventional medicine has not given attention to some health challenges, such as anger, grief and loss of appetite.

Others are post-traumatic stress disorders and various types of trauma, especially childhood and adulthood traumas.

This, he said, may be due to accident, attack and past issues.

“These are challenges that impede effective functioning of a person’s organs.

Energy medicine, he said, attempts to eliminate negative energy from human energy system.

“Experience has shown in our practice the energy medicine has solved deeply rooted psychological issues.

“So, relationship and unfulfilled expectations have been death with using energy therapy,” he said.

James said about 90 per cent of physical issues or ailments are rooted in emotional level.

Conventional medicine, he said, has failed in addressing issues at the physical level through medications and surgeries.

“However, energy therapy supports the healing of an individual wholly by eliminating the psychology and energy causes of ailments.

Energy medicine, he said, is a new field of therapy in the country, adding that conventional medicine should find it useful in helping people get better.

By Wale Adepoju

This treatment method, he said, will promote the immune level of every individual, if applied through designated exercise and the use of energy-based product.

“It is important that immune level is maintained at optimum level, that is, the basis for good and effective performance,” he said.

James said many people have benefitted from using energy therapy.

“We have heard series of testimonies in the last eight years since energy medicine began in Nigeria. It has helped people to solve their physical, emotional level and spiritual challenges.

“Infertile challenges due to physical and emotional trauma were treated. A man had a long time anger problem solved with energy therapy. Four years female infertility addressed and the client became fruitful. These are verifiable stories of effectiveness of energy medicine,” James said.

•Dr James

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THE NATION THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

Some natural ammunition against Ebola Virus fever (7)

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LL things being equal as our economist friends never fail to tell us, this series on ebola virus fever should be on holiday from next week. The heat wave of the fear of a possible epidemy is peteringoff. The world is still holding its breath, mouth ajar, wondering how Nigeria, a country thought to be a place where nothing works, was able to hold the ebola bull by the horns and tame it. Our government, doctors, media and we ourselves deserve a good pat on the back.

The series so far examined many questions related to this matter. I cannot now remember every issue. But I recall: Fear This involves why we shouldn’t fear the virus, but through education and action contain it. Fear is a product of our feeling of incapacity. It takes on an ethereal form of the nature of it and, nourished by more thoughts of fear like the watering of a plant, causes this thought form to grow and lowers a bridge to it which connects us with it. Soon, that which we fear materialises physically. In dreams, our spiritual helpers may lead our souls into situations of fear which should inform us of how fear is holding us back in material terms. In dreams, I used to find myself walking on a tightrope at heights of about a 25 storey-building above the ground. I would know if I jumped off or lost balance my body could smash into bits and chips. In fear, I would awake in the physical world. With careful study, I had to review, the trajectory of my earth-life for fear situations and with prayers for strength, strive to overcome them. Isn’t it said that it is only he who dares, who wins?

Immunity Mother nature planted a defence mechanism, the immune system, in our bodies, and only a healthy immune system can guarantee dominion of the body over germs. The immune system is made healthy through consumption of healthy, living foods, not sugared, fertilizer-grown, refined or packaged overcooked, overstored and chemically preserved foodless and dead junk foods. The physical body emerged from the activities of mother nature, and is to be nourished by foods produced by those activities in the natural states they are provided. The Creation Diet Plan in the Bible is a guide for Christians. I needed no counseling about this when I read from the Wise one: Neither drugs nor injections, but the right kinds of foods and drinks bring lasting health.

The Black Death References were made to this epidemic which killed about 200 million people in Europe when it broke out in Italy in 1348. It was brought to Europe from China by infected rats and fleas which were in merchant ships. At that time, 1.7 million of London’s four million population was killed by bubonic plague. The celebrated survivors in Europe were four thieves who protected themselves with herbs such as Rosemary, Sage and raw Garlic infused in Apple cider vinegar.

I smile anywhere I go when I find people over meals, eating raw garlic, bitter kola, alligator pepper or some other immunity – building herbs.

Two professors of medicine who work with Mother Nature are leading advocates of immunity building for resistance against diseases.

Professor Bukunola Adefule – Oshitelu, an eye doctor, for almost forty years, believes the vegetable Yoruba’s call Ewedu is immune building. She developed bitter kola into bitter kola eye drops to lower ocular (eye) tension or pressure and help to improve the visual field in glaucoma patients after an old patient of hers told her he had maintained his vision not with doctor-prescribed hospital drugs but with the water infusion of this herb. Prof. Adefule Oshitelu advises that ewedu be washed with vinegar, blended and boiled in water with no pepper or salt and drunk. Dosage is half a regular table glass.

She says there is no harm in trying it for immune boosting since it has been used in cuisine from primordial times and has been found helpful in measles and other viral diseases.

Prof Akibu Oyelami is a pediatrician (children’s doctor) who uses herbs and writes book about them. He has written about grapefruit seeds, aloe vera, and honey which he produces on a small scale.

I haven’t spoken lately on this subject with Dr Abayomi Aiyesimoju, a neurologist and homeopath. But I can take a bet that he would explain the role a clean and healthy colon and support which high colonic irrigation play in immune health.

Dr Goke Ibironke, of Ibadan, should have a positive explanation on Guardian Angel, a hand held acupressure device, plays in soothing the nerves and balancing the Central Nervous System (CNS) which plays a crucial role in immune function.

I shouldn’t leave out Dr Ajagbe, of Oshogbo, and, of course, Dr Sam Asomugha who, if I guess right, will vouch any day for antiviral herbs. It is a pity these doctors who work with Mother Nature are not invited by the authorities for their opinions on matters such as the containment of Ebola Virus Fever.

Spiritual Activity The series made it clear, as Surgeon Norman Shealy, working with Journalist/Spiritualist Caroline Myss have done in their book, The creation of health, that man is not bone and flesh, but that vital force, spirit or energy, which inhabits it and animates it. Dr Aiyesimoju has written a beautiful article on this titled, ‘The tree of life’. In this work, he explains what ought to be the right functioning of the frontal (big) and back (small) brains, and how this lop-sidedness of “big” and ‘small’ brain has led to the misconstruction of the human body. If we are observant, is there, indeed, a small eye or a big eye, a small testes or a big testes, a big nostril or a small nostril, a big ear and a small ear, a big lung and a small lung? In Nature, a pair of the same organ is not only symmetrically arranged, in sizes, they are symmetrical. Deviations have explanations in nurture and use. The more used organ is bigger. The less

fact, Horsetail poultries are used to stop nose bleeds. A powerful way to use these herbs may be in their tincture forms.

Witch Hazel, pomegranate, Oak and guava are useful astringents. The legendary Dr. Linus Pauling, two times Nobel Prize winner, reminds us of Vitamin C. his researches show that, by the time the gums begin to bleed (scurvy), a condition for which the doctor prescribes Vitamin C and perhaps Vitamin K, sub clinical deficiencies of Vitamin C would have long occurred in the tissues, causing internal bleeding. He prescribes a minimum of 3000mg of vitamin C everyday in normal health and up to 10,000mg in cases of cancer and HIV for example. It would appear that the hemorrhaging in Ebola virus fever is due to over consumption of Vitamin C by the body to fight the virus, which would then lead to a weakening of the blood vessels. Vitamin C is related to bioflavonoids, which should be administered either as a bioflavonoid complex (all bioflavonoids) or as selected bioflavonoids. For example, Quercitin, a bioflavonoid, fights inflammation and pain, and it is antiviral. Rutin, another bioflavonoid prescribed in glaucoma and Retinitis pigmentosa, two causes of blindness, prevents leakage of blood in blood vessels. Bleeding causes iron loss and anemia. Iron-rich herbs such as Stinging Nettle or Beet root or spirulina or Blackstrap Molasses or proprietary blends such as Jobelyn may be given to the patient to replenish his or her losses. Jobelyn,Beet root and Blackstrap molasses are rich in potassium, an electrolyte lost in hemorrhaging; they also contain Vitamin K which supports the blood clotting process. used is smaller or atrophies, that is withers. That’s why the muscles of one arm may be bigger than those of the other.

Similarly, the frontal brain is used more, in thinking and intellectualism/ the back brain, used less, has shrunken. Yet there was a time in human biological history when both brains were of equal sizes. The back brain is the spiritually receptive part of the brain, the front brain the seat of thought and intellect. To control the body, is tool, the spirit acts upon the back brain through radiations of the blood. The back brain, in turn, passes the impression to the frontal brain through the same medium. The spirit picks impressions from the outside world through a reverse mechanism i.e. frontal brain via the blood to the back brain via the blood to the spirit. Anyone who appreciates the navel as a point of connection between mother and child in the womb should appreciate the connection of body and spirit at the solar plexius, somewhere around the navel region, by the silver cord, which detaches at the death of the body to free the spirit from their union. People who do not easily remember their dreams or who cannot interpret dreams well should now see the possible reasons. A poor blood radiation cannot efficiently deliver spirit impressions to the back brain. A withering, a little used back brain cannot hold the pictures the spirit is sending or broadcasting in a dream to the frontal brain. Yet we humans are not expected to think but to receive and act upon what we have received, using the frontal brain to forge a material response.

When we misplace something in the house or forget something and begin to trouble ourselves thinking about it, we hardly find that stuff or remember it when we stop thinking, we suddenly receive the right answer in a flash of inspiration, find or remember the stuff! Spiritual (not religious) activities keep the back brain active and glowing, as the spirit glows through it. In a human body through which the spirit is glowing aright as explained above, the immune system is also set aglow and, thus, no disease can thrive therein. This dovetails into the explanations given last Thursday about how the New Age or Aquarian Age, which has come upon us at about the same time as the Cosmic Turning Point, affect the spirit, the blood radiation and the immune system, and why, as predicted in the 1920’s, blood diseases are rampant in our generation.

As we can now see, the blood is made and maintained from within by the spirit, and from the outside by what we feed the body with. The body is lifeless on its own and is animated only by the spirit. That is why a man dies who has lost the will to live. I was once told the story of a paediatrician who always had more premature babies than incubators for them.

He would arrange them like sardines in the incubators. If he noticed anyone making great efforts to live, he gave it more leg room by removing the inactive ones. Thus, we heal from within and from without, although, these days, we act largely from the outside. Thus, also, when Ebola Virus symptoms degenerate into bleeding (haemorrhaging) we must find helpful natural means of aiding healing therapies from without.

Bleeding STILL cannot stand the sight of blood, let alone infected blood. That’s why we should send loving prayers to our doctors and medical personnel who are taking care of Ebola virus fever patients at the risk of their own lives. One American doctor who came to Liberia to help on humanitarian grounds reported to be critically ill and in quarantine. A leading Liberian doctor infected has died. The popular hospital in Lagos where the Ebola death occurred was shut. Even if only temporarily, that’s loss of income and deprivation of livelihood for all the staff and the proprietors.

To arrest bleeding of this nature throughout the body, astringent herbs may be useful. They help to tighten the blood vessels to prevent leakage. The Yorubas have a good one called Patanmo. Translated, it means, ‘close your lap’. The English call it, ‘touch-me-not’. It responds to touch by folding the leaves. This suggests to herbalists that it is an astringe herb. The response to touch indicates virile nerve action. If the nerves of the blood vessels would so contract the soft muscles, bleeding would ease. Yarrow, a blood cleanser, is also astringent. Ditto Shepherd’s purse.

Silica is a good sealant. It may be used either as a biochemic cell salt, or in silica-rich herbs such as nettle and Horsetail. In

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Immune building From emerging scientific evidence in medical researches, we all easily succumb to infections of all kinds because •We do not have enough oxygen in our bodies.

•We are hypothyrodic in various degrees and our metabolic rate is sluggish accordingly.

•Our bodies are toxic with heavy metals from food and water sources, ridden with pesticides from agricultural practices and weighted down by pollutants of all sorts in the smoggy or smoky air we breathe.

•Above all, parasites and germs of all descriptions have made a home of our bodies.

•Worse still, we no longer eat well, to feed our bodies with living nutrients which would support immune function.

Some of these nutrients arm the body with systemic enzymes, which the immune system employs to dissolve or to kill foreign bodies such as Ebola virus. There’s too much sugar, the killing fat, refined foods, monosodium glutamate (MSG) taste enhancers, sugar and animal milk in the diet.

In this toxic, deoxygenated condition, parasites and germs multiply readily.

Parasites and Virus

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E can do our bodies a world of good by ridding them of parasites everyday and by increasing the population of the friendly bacteria flora. The gum problem I experienced a few years ago, which led to the loss of one tooth, taught me, every morning and bed time, to swirl around my mouth and then swallow the water solution of one capsule of yarrow herb. With a meal during the day, I take one capsule of Black Walnut Lull. With another meal, I take one capsule of Parasite Formula, or Parasite Cleanse or wormwood. I do not forget Pau d’Arco an antibacterial, anti viral and antifungal. Amazon AF will soon return to the market. It is anti-Candida. Anyone who has seen Candida at work in a live blood dark microscopy examination will appreciate the need to kill them. The blood, rather than being red, is almost all white! The immune cells are immobile or sluggish. The Candida (a yeast) is active and everywhere.

When the parasite load is cleared, and the blood is oxygenated, using oxygenating herbs or proprietary products such as VITALAIRE, the immune cells come alive somewhat. They can be aided with antiviral herbs such as Golden seal root, Astragalus, Echinacea or proprietary formulas such as Amazon AV or Zeolyte AV. We do not have to wait to be exposed to Ebola Virus, or to develop symptoms of the fever before we take protective action. Waiting, it may be too late, as the virus literally gives its victim little or no time to fight back. Let us be as wise as those four prisoners in Europe who survived the black plague.

When it comes to staunching the blood, improving hematocrit profile to replace lost blood, when there is a need to raise Natural Killer (NK) cell count or CD4 cell count, crucial factors in immune system vitality and fighting force, JOBELYN can be a useful ally. Many studies carried out in Nigeria, the United States and Britain show it readily improves CD4 count in HIV/AIDS therapies. In a recent American study, it was again shown to improve NK cell count and activity. This is besides its high antioxidant value, which is one of the highest among many plants with high ORAC values. ORAC is Oxygen radical Absorbent capacity. Oxygen free radicals damage cells and tissue which form organs and cause rapid aging. Antioxidants donate themselves to free radicals, thereby preventing oxidative destruction of the body. Thus, antioxidants should be helpful in the treatment of diseases, including ebola virus, especially as more than 250 degenerative diseases, including diabetes, cancer, asthma, glaucoma etc, have been linked to oxidative stress.

In conclusion, I believe the point has been well made that, to borrow the theme of Dr. Aiyesimoju’s lecture series, ‘Partnership with nature’, our doctors can avail themselves and their patients with clinically proven herbal remedies which Austrian herbalist Maria Treben rightly describe in the title of her book as Help through god’s pharmacy.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

Look before leaping Phones are all over the place now, unlike in the past. With subscriber base close to 130 million, teledensity is over 90 per cent–thanks to the liberalisation of the telecoms sector. Smartphones are becoming affordable; the internet remains unregulated with open source applications. But downloading free applications can compromise a phone user’s security and his account details, LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

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HEN he spoke at a cybersecurity summit organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Lagos, everybody listened.

The Chief Information Officer (CIO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Taiwo Longe, said last year that money deposit banks (MDBs) lost N140billion to internet fraudsters.

According to the apex bank, between 2000 and last year, a whopping N159billion was stolen from the MDBs across the country through electronic fraud. These funds are depositors’ money which the banks so often do not make any noise to panic withdrawals.

Information Technology (IT) security experts have linked some of these internet frauds to the download of free applications (apps) from the internet onto either the smartphones or personal computers (PCs). It is believed that weaknesses in the applications people download, compounded further with basic human error could result in the installation of spyware or malware on smartphones and PCs. Experts argue that this could allow hackers to gain access to the smartphone’s vital information, such as contact list, phone calls, global positioning system (GPS) location and bank information without the user realising it.

This is because as businesses increasingly rely on various cloud services, the emergence of attacks targeting endpoints, mobile devices and credentials as means to gaining access to corporate or personal clouds will be on the rise.

According to a report on RT.com, the Russian English language news channel, security firm Group-IB has warned that more than 541,000 smartphones running on Android in Russia, Europe and the United States (U.S.) were infected with malware which grants cybercrooks unfettered access to people’s mobile devices.

Yet, another report, this time from the U.S, said many mobile banking apps, including those of major financial institutions, contain configuration and design weaknesses that makes them vulnerable to attacks.

According to reports on DarkReading.com, an online security site, experts from security firm Praetorian tested 275 Apple iOS- and Android-based mobile banking apps from 50 major financial institutions, 50 large regional banks, and 50 large U.S. credit unions. Overall, they found that eight out of 10 apps were improperly configured and not built using best practice software development.

Moneyweb, online platform, said among the big-name banks whose mobile apps the security firm tested were Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Capital One Financial, and Suntrust Banks.

Praetorian did not disclose how each bank’s apps fared in the tests.

The security weaknesses identified in

the mobile banking apps are not pure software vulnerabilities, says Nathan Sportsman, founder and CEO of Praetorian.

“These aren’t business-logic or application-specific issues. They are weaknesses across the mobile apps – things developers should be doing but are not,” he said.

A research team from IBM uncovered a vulnerability that will affect apps built on a popular platform for application development called Cordova, according to SecurityIntelligence.com.

The researchers found that up to 10 per cent of the applications built on this platform are banking apps. It said while a patch has been released, millions of people using apps built on this platform are at risk of having sensitive information, such as their login details, stolen.

Experts said the reality of the situation is that 95 per cent of successful attacks or security breaches are caused by human errors, according to IBM’s Cyber Security Intelligence Index. As a result, hackers continue to aggressively seek out such vulnerabilities to exploit.

These warnings are coming when mobile banking, licensed by the CBN and driven by banks, is recording slow sluggish uptake. In spite of this, all of the MDBs in the country offer one mobile banking solutions or the other.

A software expert said smartphone users must understand is that all operating systems are vulnerable to attack because it is routed through the cyber space. Operating systems are by design complex pieces of code.

According to him, the process is made more difficult because apps are written to go into an app store and are then downloaded onto an operating system.

An expert, Herman Singh said at each step – application development, the app store, operating system – there is the potential for vulnerabilities to be exploited.

At the application level, apps can be deliberately infected, or become vulnerable because the developers have overlooked something.

“You have to consider who is writing the app, and who is vetting it before you just download it onto your phone,” Singh warned.

• Smartphones

• Communication Technology Minister, Mrs Omobola Johnson

At the application store level, not all app stores were created equal.

“The Apple screening is the most rigorous. All Apple apps are very carefully tested before they are allowed into the store for download. None of the other app stores are as thorough,” he said.

The best-known app stores (digital distribution centres for application software) include Apple, Blackberry and Google Play. But because the Android operating system (launched by Google) is so ubiquitous there are over 30 various app stores flogging their wares for Android devices.

The reason for this is not far-fetched. Android operating system is open and allows for a high degree of customisation

‘Information Technology (IT) security experts have linked some of these internet frauds to the download of free applications (apps) from the internet onto either the smartphones or personal computers (PCs). It is believed that weaknesses in the applicationspeople download, compounded further with basic human error could result in the installation of spyware or malware on smartphones and PCs’

• Banjo

and exposes users to vulnerability.

“The Apple operating system on the other hand is tightly coupled to iTunes and the Apple apps. The company has kept proprietary control over its system.”

President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Bayo Banjo, said the country was yet to witness a major cyber attack in the country. According to him, what the nation is currently witnessing is cyber-assisted crimes.

Way forward Phone users should be on guard against cyber-attack. Logging onto an unsecured Wi-Fi connection is risky, especially if the information one is working with is vital.

Care must also be taken in downloading content and visits to sites via the mobile phone.

Phone users are advised to stick to Apple, Google Play or the device manufacturer – Samsung’s app store for instance, for download because third party downloads makes your phone vulnerable to crooks.

Make sure you always have an up-todate version of the operating system on your phone. The same rule should also apply to banking applications.

“Don’t jailbreak your device. This allows access to the operating system’s file system and manager, allowing the download of applications that are not approved by Apple, Google or the handset manufacturer,”Singh counselled.

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e-Business

Telcos urge NCC to create spectrum market

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ELECOMS firms have urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to create a spectrum market where operators could buy and sell the scarce airwaves resource.

Its umbrella body, the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), argued that since it is the practice in other climes, the NCC should look into the option as it will assist the agency in its pursuit of universal access goal.

Its President, Lanre Ajayi, said before the regulator puts a cap on the auctioning of spectrum in the 2.6 gigahertz (GHz) band or allow a single operator have it all, it

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

should first consider giving freedom to operators to have a spectrum market.

According to him, the matter has been agitating the minds of operators for a long time as the licensing guidelines of the regulator constrained this from happening.

He said: “Before we can put in a cap or allow someone to have everything, there is one important thing that we will need to do. There is something that has been missing in the industry for a while that people are already asking for and I think the NCC should start thinking about. It is something like a

spectrum market. If I have a spectrum today and I buy based on certain business plan and for some strange reason, my plans are not working as I already scheduled, I may choose to sell my spectrum to someone else.

“Today, that is not possible by the provision of licence document. People are now asking for such leverage, for such market to be created, the spectrum market where I should be able to sell my spectrum to an operator that is ready to deploy immediately with it. If I have a national spectrum and I will be able to deploy to Lagos, Abuja , Port Harcourt and my spectrum covers Sokoto, Bornu, and there is some-

one in Bornu State that is willing to use this spectrum to deploy service, why can’t I sell that my spectrum to him?

“I could sell to someone in Bornu even at a premium. But now you have constrained the operators through the licence regulation that they cannot do that. I think that constraint should be removed; a spectrum market should be created.

“This is happening in some markets or other countries. So, if that is available, then we may allow an operator o buy the whole 2.6GHz spectrum with the hope that if he is not able to deploy today, he could sell it some other time. If that is not in place, there will certainly not be (people holding licences with-

out deploying them to use for a long time).

Director, Spectrum Administration at NCC, Austin Nwaulune, promised that the regulator would look at the “spectrum trading option” being proposed by ATCON, adding that speculative buying of spectrum licences is one of the things that holding back the industry.

“ATCON is advocating spectrum trading. That is something different. We are also looking at that too.

In Nigeria, we are very good at speculation and that has hindered it so far. So, until we determine how we do it, .it is not a way yet but we are looking at all the options,” Nwaulume said.

Wiko challenges OEMs

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N obscure smartphone maker in France has created a successful European challenger to tech giants Samsung and Apple. Wiko is majority-owned by Chinese technology group Tinno Mobile and its phones are manufactured in China. It has also become a popular brand in Portugal and Italy.

Wiko has eight per cent of the French market, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, which measured “triple-digit growth across Europe” for the brand in the past year.

The company has plans to take the brand into countries where inroads have already been made by Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei and ZTE to bring down the price of smartphones.

It will start selling handsets in the UK this autumn, according to David Garcia, head of International Devel-

Microsoft partners ISPON

•Vsat

CWG’s revenue slumps on competition, others

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NDIGENOUS tech firm, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG Plc), has blamed the decline in its revenue on continued decline in margins on traditional information technology (IT) infrastructure business due to commoditisation, competitive pressures, as well as viable alternatives in the cloud computing frontier.

The firm has, therefore, mapped out strategies to change the focus of the business to return it to profitability for the benefit of its shareholders.

Its Financial Controller, Remi Adeloye, lamented that the firm’s half year revenue of N3.3billion is 16 per cent below N9.9billion of its corresponding previous year while its gross profit of N1.6billion is 23 per cent below the N2.1billion achieved within the corresponding year under review.

He said: “CWG’s 2014 first half of the year revenue of N8.3billion is 16 per cent below 2013 N9.9billion, while gross profit N1.6billion is 23 per cent below 2013 N2.1billion. The lower (first half) H1 revenue is a reflection of the continued decline in margins on traditional IT infrastruc-

ture business due to commoditisation and competitive pressures, as well as viable alternatives in the cloud computing frontier.

He, however, said in spite of these challenges, the Group’s financial position remained firm buoyed by adequate liquidity as its leverage and efficiency ratio improved to 1.5 as against 1.4 of the corresponding period under review last year.

“The financial position of the Group remains strong with adequate liquidity, leverage and efficiency ratios. H1 2014 current ratio improved to 1.5 as against H1 2013 which was 1.4 signifying strong liquidity and adequacy of working capital to meet transactional needs. Also, CWG’s leverage debt to equity ratio remains low at nine per cent as against 10 per cent in 2013,” Adeloye said.

Its Group Chief Executive Officer, Austin Okere, said a shift in strategy has become imperative in view of the development.

He said: “We crafted the plan code named CWG2.0 in 2010, realising back then the pervasiveness of cloud

computing, and the major enablement for this in our region following the increase in broadband access from 0.65terabytes (Tb) to a combined capacity of 9Tbits per second. We were very clear that while our tremendous growth over the years had been propelled by our traditional businesses in hardware and software sales and support, and VSAT bandwidth vending, these represented mature and declining margin businesses, the import of which have been evident in our recent financial statements.”

He said the uptake of firm’s new cloud products not only in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda proved that its emerging business model of providing cloud services on a subscription basis is scalable, repeatable, transferable, relatively more sustainable and profitable.

Okere added: “We consider the refocusing of our business into a subscription based model as a dual advantage play. In addition to being a more sustaining strategy, it maximises our social impact investing on the economy of Africa and helps to create jobs by empowering entrepreneurs in the countries of our operation.”

win-win situation for both parties, adding that there is more room for partnership.

According to him, MTN will do more in the open channel space by making its presence felt in Slot, Otigba Market, Ikeja and other such open channels to get closer to the customers.

Also Managing Director, Microsoft Mobile Devices & Services, Nick Imudia, said the firm partnered with MTN and Mansard Insurance to underscore the premium placed on providing exciting services to custom-

ers all the time in the country.

He said it was not by accident that the three big Ms (Microsoft, MTN and Mansard) were coming together to form a formidable alliance all in the interest of the customers.

According to him, while MTN will provide data bundle for the new device, Mansard will take care of the insurance aspect which is also covered

by Microsoft Devices’ 12 months warranty.

He said the device was beautifully crafted and designed with the customer’s ways pf life at the back of the mind of the firm. According to him, it is a machine that combines work with play.

• Refocuses business

Nokia devises account for 7m smartphones, says MTN M

NT, Usman Idris of the eight million 3G devices on the network of the seven million are Nokia devices, its Manager, Data and Device, Usman Idris has said.

He said: 79 per cent of the devices constitute cash cow for the telco as the fortunes of voice calls diminish paving way for data.

Speaking during the launch of Lmia 930 in Lagos, Idris said the telco was exploring the option of expanding its channel links to drive revenue for the firm as earnings from voice calls continue to dip.

He said the partnership the telco had with Microsoft Mobile Devices had worked very well as it has been a

opment at Wiko, followed by parts of Africa such as the Ivory Coast and Senegal, the Middle East and Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

Wiko was established in February 2011 by a French businessman Laurent Dahan. Its head office, design and marketing teams are based in Marseille.

Garcia said the heart of the group was in Europe, but there was support from its Chinese partner.

“There is a European brain and atmosphere that would not be possible if we were based in China,” he said. “You need to be based in Europe to understand European needs.”

Even so, he admits that making phones would not be possible in Europe. “You can think in Europe but you have to make it somewhere else.

You need your costs in China to stay competitive.”

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ICROSOFT Nigeria has the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), in a move designed to foster the growth of the software ecosystem.

Speaking during the presentation of the certificate of membership to Microsoft Nigeria along with a handover of a white paper on the sustenance of a strategic partnership between the two organisations, ISPON President, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr. reiterated the resolve of ISPON to build indigenous capacity by bolstering software local content.

It will also strive to protect and advocate intellectual property rights as it concerns indigenous software development through its various channels and events, adding that Microsoft has a key role in the realisation of these goals.

Country Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Kabelo

Makwane, expressed satisfaction with the approach of ISPON in addressing these key issues, stressing that the partnership should be on a long term basis judging by the enormity and importance of the issues identified.

Makwane urged ISPON to facilitate a strong software industry which will speak with one voice, thereby lending credence to the advocacy of its cause.

ISPON’s immediate past President, Mr. Chris Uwaje, praised the new, welcoming Microsoft on board. He urged the company to assert its role in the development of the software ecosystem as Nigeria.

He said the country has a pool of young talented software developers, a large percentage of which will be churned into the software ecosystem in the next decade creating a vibrant software industry.

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for example, by helping to power content discovery and enrich archive search.

The platform is being used to deliver live captioning services for major broadcast clients, including the BBC. On the platform, Head, Broadcast & Publication Operation, BBC Television, Simon Smith, said: “The drive for technical innovation and operational efficiency has underpinned Ericsson’s approach to the design and development of this platform from the outset. They have delivered a system that is uniquely tailored to meeting our demanding requirements. We are already seeing a step change in live subtitling accuracy as a result of using this platform, and we view its ongoing development as a vital tool in delivering ever-greater access to live programs for the BBC’s deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.”

Ericsson introduces multi-lingual live platform

RICSSON has unveiled its real-time platform that supports live captioning in various languages for broadcasters using speech-to-text, newsroom integration, and rapid offline content preparation.

The live platform makes its IBC debut this year, and is a key part of Ericsson’s broadcast and media services portfolio following the acquisition of leading media services company Red Bee Media in July.

The enterprise-level, scheduledriven software platform, which was developed in-house, uses the best possible speech recognition and stenography technologies to power Ericsson’s live captioning services. It allows multiple captioners to prepare and deliver real-time services for clients while maximising re-use of the caption data after it has been broadcast –

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MONEYLINK

Niger Delta Exploration plans S $450m stock sale for fields

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IGER Delta Exploration & Production Plc plans to raise $450 million to acquire and develop crude fields in the country.

The Lagos based firm is planning a “public offer, or special placement of shares. The first tranche of $200 million will be raised before the end of 2014,” Chief Executive Officer, Layi Fatona told Bloomberg.

Smaller Nigerian oil producers

Stories by Collins Nweze

are expanding operations as international companies, including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Chevron Corporation scale back operations amid unrest, violence and crude theft in the Niger River Delta.

Exxon Mobil Corporation, Shell, Chevron, Total and Eni SpA, pump about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s oil through ventures with state-owned

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

FBN Capital Plc and Chapel Hill Denham, have been appointed financial advisers for the fundraising, which will happen on local or international markets, Fatona said.

He didn’t say when the rest of the cash will be sought, but said NDEP also plans to expand in South Sudan and Zambia.

Ecobank: QNB’s stake to boost prospects

E

COBANK Transnational Inc. (ETI) said the purchase by Qatar National Bank SAQ of a 23.5 per cent stake will help the Togo-based lender’s potential access to North African markets.

“This is a great asset and a good support, as it opens for us horizons in North Africa and in countries in the circle of influence of QNB,” as the Doha-based bank is known, Richard Uku, a spokesman for Ecobank, told Bloomberg.

QNB, the Middle East’s biggest lender by market value, bought an 11 percent stake in Ecobank for $283 million on September 15 to become its top shareholder. This followed the purchase of 12.5 per cent stake valued at about $230 million on September 4.

Consolidation in the African banking market is increasing as firms including former Barclays Plc Chief Executive Officer Robert Diamond’s Atlas Mara Co-Nvest Ltd. (ATMA) scout for deals. It is too early to say whether Ecobank

will open agencies in northern African countries, Uku said. The bank’s strategy remains focused on sub-Saharan Africa.

Nedbank Group Limited. (NED), the South African lender controlled

by Old Mutual Plc, formed an alliance with Ecobank in 2008 and has the option until November 25 of gaining a 20 per cent stake that would give it access to bank customers in more than 30 African countries.

“Our partnership will not negatively affect our relationship with Nedbank,” Uku said. “We are comfortable with these two partner-

•Ecobank Nigeria CEO Jibril Aku

ships.”

Johannesburg-based Nedbank said Sept. 9 it remains committed to its alliance with Ecobank.

TANBIC IBTC Bank has been appointed by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) Plc as the payment management services provider to the bulk trader.

The strategic arrangement, coming ahead of the transitional electricity market (TEM), is expected to make the electricity trading system transparent as well as instill confidence in the electricity market in Nigeria.

The appointment would see the bank, which emerged through a transparent selection process handled by KPMG professional services, in line with extant regulations, undertake payments on behalf of the bulk trader and also support its treasury functions.

As the Bulk Trader’s payment agent, Stanbic will be responsible for the efficient and effective payment processing between NBET and the GENCOs in line with the underlying power purchase agreements.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NBET, Rumundaka Wonodi, said the engagement is a critical marker for NBET’s preparation for the transitional electricity market and that the appointment is in line with its strategy of employing the best service providers to complement its in-house competence. Wonodi said it was important for them to have gone through the procurement part to contract an agent that would support the bulk trader, thereby “keeping it a lean and efficient institution.”

“One of the issues that we have had in the electricity market is that be-

G

HANA’S central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged after the government sold $1 billion in Eurobonds and began talks with the International Monetary Fund, helping to revive confidence in the

economy.

The Monetary Policy Committee maintained the rate at a decade-high of 19 per cent, Governor Kofi Wampah said.

That matched the forecasts of eight of 10 economists surveyed

by Bloomberg. Two analysts predicted an increase of 50 basis points to 100 basis points.

Ghana is struggling to contain an economic crisis that’s pushed inflation to 16 percent in August and caused the currency to lose a

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 1.2526 1.2909 0.8897 1.0796

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 1.2439 1.2909 0.8725 1.0796

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 15/09/2014 10/09/2014 08/09/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: August

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

GAINERS AS AT 17-09-14

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

IKEJAHOTEL

1.63

1.79

0.16

VONO

1.20

1.26

0.06

PREMBREW

4.65

4.88

0.23

CUTIX

1.76

1.84

0.08

Credit to private Sector (CPS) Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

PRESCO

36.00

37.50

1.50

DANGFLOUR

6.97

7.25

0.28

NEM

0.77

0.80

0.03

WEMABANK

0.91

0.94

0.03

120.00

123.75

3.75

2.00

2.05

0.05

WAPCO UBCAP

LOSERS AS AT 17-09-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

UBN

10.25

9.71

CHANGE -0.54

CONOIL

50.51

47.99

-2.52

REDSTAREX

4.63

4.40

-0.23

AGLEVENT

1.45

1.38

-0.07

third of its value against the dollar this year, the worst-performing currency in sub-Saharan Africa. The cedi has gained 9.2 per cent in the past month after the government said it will seek support from the IMF.

DATA BANK

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

SYMBOL

fore the transition electricity market, even before this current period, payments and transactions seem to be crowded in a way that is not very clear to market participants,” Wonodi said. “So through this process, we hope that the generation companies will have the confidence and the comfort that when they send invoices to us, they have an institution that has the capacity to undertake those services on our behalf. That way, the confidence in the market would be enhanced and sustained.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, emphasized the bank’s long-term commitment to servicing the efficiency and transparency initiatives from NBET. He said having the bulk trader among its numerous clients was a thing of pride to the bank and commended the selection process, which he described as thorough, credible and transparent.

Sanni said: “NBET as our strategic partners help concretize the bank’s objective of providing stellar services across the power value chain in the recently privatized Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry as it evolves into a fully market-led sector.”

Bank of Ghana keeps rate at 19% as cedi stabilises

Name

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

NBET names Stanbic IBTC agent

Money Supply (M2)

Amount Sold in ($) 349.8m 299.9m 299.9m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES September 16, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.6b

US Dollar

154.75

155.75

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

250.7724

252.3929

Euro

200.3394

201.634

Swiss Franc

165.7385

166.8095

Yen

1.445

1.4544

CFA

0.286

0.306

231.3531

232.8481

25.1773

25.3409

N16.42 trillion.

N17.2 trillion 16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 300m 300m

12-09-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 15-09-14

WAUA Yuan/Renminbi

Overnight (O/N)

11.083

11.958

Riyal

41.259

41.5256

1M

12.013

12.345

SDR

232.156

233.6562

3M

12.844

13.308

6M

13.808

14.280

FOREX RATES

VITAFOAM

4.30

4.10

-0.20

ACADEMY

1.55

1.48

-0.07

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

FTNCOCOA

0.53

0.51

-0.02

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

NASCON

9.35

9.00

-0.35

DIAMONDBNK

6.47

6.23

-0.24

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

INTENEGINS

0.54

0.52

-0.02

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Sept.15, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.10

T-bills - 182

10.15

T-bills - 364

10.25

Bond - 3yrs

11.41

Bond - 5yrs

11.63

Bond - 7yrs

11.13

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

63

64

THE NATION THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS Constituents boo PDP rep From James Azania, Lokoja

T

HE people of Omala/Olamaboro/Ankpa Federal Constituency in Kogi State shouted down yesterday their representative in the House of Representatives, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim.

This occurred at Okpo/Olamaboro Local Government Area during Governor Idris Wada’s “thank you” visit to the area.

When Ibrahim got on the rostrum to address the crowd, residents, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters, booed him.

Many said the lawmaker was a “bench warmer” in the National Assembly.

A youth, who did not want to be named, said: “He has been there without seconding any motion, talk less of sponsoring any bill. He should not have been allowed to speak in the first place.”

Another resident said Ibrahim was far from the people.

However, Ibrahim urged them to re-elect Wada and himself.

How Fintiri’s uncle was killed, by ex-Boko Haram members T

WO former Boko Haram members, Mr. Romanus Onyebuchi, who hails from Ekwusigo in Anambra State, and Mr. John Matthew, a native of Madagali in Adamawa State, have explained how Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s uncle, Pa Wazintu (75), was killed.

The ex-insurgents told reporters in Yola, the state capital, that they were kidnapped and conscripted by the terrorists.

They said Wazintu was killed in the presence of his wife and daughter by Boko

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

Haram members, who invaded his Madagali home at midnight.

Onyebuchi said he ran away from the sect a few weeks ago after Boko Haram annexed many towns in the state.

He said he escaped when he was sent on an assignment.

The 34-year-old was conscripted in May after he lost his means of livelihood in a bomb

blast in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Onyebuchi said: “My little business was affected after the twin bomb blasts that rocked the Terminus Market in Jos, before I was abducted by unknown gunmen. They forced me into the booth of their car and drove to Adamawa State from Jos. “They later introduced themselves as Boko Haram members and asked me to join them or be killed. I accepted to join

them to save my life. My religion and upbringing forbid me from killing fellow human beings, so I did not show up for their activities. When they realised this, they threatened to kill me, swearing in the name of Allah. When I saw how serious they were, I decided to run away. So when I was asked to fetch water from a nearby river, I escaped to Niger Republic and found my way back to Nigeria.”

Matthew said he escaped to Yola after he took ill and was abandoned in the desert by the sect.

We’re worried by insecurity, says Sultan

M

ONARCHS from the 19 northern states, under the aegis of the Northern Traditional Council, converged yesterday on Kaduna to deliberate on the region’s challenges.

Their leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said they were worried by insecurity and underdevelopment in their domain.

He said: “Whoever has been following the trend in the Northeast in the last two years will understand why we are worried. If other people are not worried, we are worried. We believe we have to take our worries, cries and recommendations for possible solutions to these challenges to Mr. President and believe he will listen to us.”

The meeting was convened barely 24 hours after Boko Haram insurgents reportedly installed two emirs in Gwoza and Danboa, Borno State.

The Sultan said: “We are meeting this morning as chairmen of the Councils of Chiefs from various states and as lead-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

ers of our people at various levels. As traditional leaders, we are worried about happenings in Northern states, especially insecurity in the Northeast, as well as lack of economic development.

“We limited this meeting to chairmen because we believe they must have consulted with other traditional representatives before coming here and we believe they would pass the message down to other members of this large assembly.

“As fathers, we have taken the cries of our children to Mr. President. We should look at what we can do individually and collectively to bring peace to our great country.

“The North is part of this country and being the larger part, we have so much at stake.

There is need to stabilise the North for the country to develop. We assure the public that we are committed to peace and the unity of this country.

We are committed to justice being accorded every individual.

•From right: The Sultan, El-Kanemi and Sanusi...yesterday.

“We will, therefore, continue to call on our leaders at all levels to ensure justice is done in the way they handle the affairs of the people God entrusted them with. We are not unaware of the developments in some of our towns, most especially Bama, Gwoza,

T

HE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has urged residents of Apo, Garki, Asokoro, Lugbe, Karu and Kaffi in Abuja to endure the rationing of power in their areas.

It said the rationing was because of the loss of a 60MVA, 132/ 33KV power transformer and associated 33KV switchgears in a fire.

In a statement, the company’s Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Dave Ifabiyi, said TCN’s engineers were working assiduously to isolate the affected equipment and restore stable power supply.

He said TCN regretted any inconvenience to its customers and thanked the Abuja Fire Service for putting out the fire.

Police: no Boko Haram attack in Kogi

T

HERE was no Boko Haram attack on soldiers in Kogi State, the police said yesterday.

The police was reacting to a report published in a national daily (not The Nation) last Tuesday that suspected Boko Haram sect members attacked a bus conveying 850 military men on the Okene-Lokoja road.

Police spokesman Aguebor Elvis said the soldiers ran into robbers and not terrorists.

From James Azania, Lokoja

A security source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the soldiers were travelling in a commercial bus, adding that the robbers ran into the bush when they realised that the occupants were soldiers.

Robberies have become a daily occurrence on the road.

This correspondent witnessed one last weekend. Another one occurred around 9am last Tuesday on the Itobe-Ayangba road.

Tarka, Suswam, Moro for honour From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

HE late minority rights’ crusader, Senator J.S. Tarka, has been nominated for a post humus award by students of the University of Lagos.

The students, under the aegis of the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), UNILAG chapter, also pencilled down Governor Gabriel Suswam and Minister of Interior Comrade Abba Moro for awards.

The awards will hold in November.

T

solve these problems.

“We assure you that before the year runs out, we will summon a large assembly of this council, where we have hundreds of traditional rulers, so that we can hear more from individuals.”

The meeting was attended by

the Shehu of Borno, Garbai ElKanemi; the Emir of Kano, Mohammad Sanusi III; Etsu Nupe Yahaya Abubaker; Gbong Gwom Jos Jacob Gyang; Attah of Igala Idakwo Ameoboni II and the Emir of Zazzau, Dr. Shehu Idris, among others.

No crisis in Kogi APC, say chairman, Audu

Firm rations power in Abuja From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Danbua and Michika.

“We assure all that we are concerned and, Insha Allah, we will find solutions to these problems and others facing our country. We cannot do so unless we are united, and that is why we are meeting so that we can speak with one voice and

PHOTO: NAN

HE Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that Mr James Ocholi (SAN) was not the party’s deputy national legal adviser.

In separate statements by the Chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, and Dr. Tom Ohikere, an APC chieftain, the party dismissed Ocholi’s claim that it (APC) was in “crisis”.

It said Ocholi closed his eyes to the party’s growing strength because he was nursing a hidden agenda.

Addressing reporters in Lokoja a few days ago, Ocholi said Kogi APC was in crises and accused former Governor Abubakar Audu of being responsible for it.

He also accused Audu of being the chief campaigner for the re-election of Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC said: “The APC in Kogi State is at the stage of consolidating gains under Audu’s able leadership in preparation for victory in the2015 general elections. If a SAN can toy with impersonation, knowing fully well that he is not the national deputy legal adviser of the APC, then something is fundamentally wrong with the title SAN. “That Audu gave a clean bill of health to Wada is laughable.

Audu is one of the few Nigeri-

T

•’Ocholi is an impostor’ From James Azania, Lokoja and Tony Akowe, Abuja

ans, who have never been members of the ruling party, whilst Ocholi was in the PDP, Labour Party (LP), the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now APC. “It is wrong for this SAN to use the word ‘crisis’ for Kogi APC at a time we are preparing to welcome prominent indigenes from the PDP to APC. On September 22, two former House of Assembly speakers and former acting governors, some state legislators, many former council chairmen (some from Dekina LGA, where Ocholi hails from), former PDP governorship candidate Mr Isah Jibril (echocho) and former PDP state chairman will formally defect to the APC in Lokoja. If this is what Ocholi calls crisis, then it is either he takes pleasure in self-ridicule or he is affected by the law of diminishing returns.

“Kogites are never in doubt about Ocholi’s mole status. At the last governorship election, he polled 5,000 votes, losing his ward and polling unit. This is clear evidence that this man cannot win councillorship election in his ward. Ocholi is pres-

ently on suspension for antiparty activities.

“Kogi APC has grown above what it was when Ocholi was a national officer in the interim management team.

This is why he is not happy.

The APC is set to take over government in the state. Kogi citizens are becoming wiser by the day. They know who to trust and who they want. Their desire for this positive change is becoming a raging storm. It is inevitable; it is divine.”

Also yesterday, Audu said Ocholi was an interim legal adviser of the party.

In a statement by the Director-General of the Abubakar Audu Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dino Melaye, the former governor said there was no crisis in the party.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a press conference addressed by Ocholi that there is chaos in Kogi APC, where he also accused Audu of being responsible for it. Ocholi also accused Audu of being the chief campaigner for Wada, whose tenure ends in January, 2015. In essence, he was accusing Audu of anti-party activities and claiming that because of Audu, APC can’t win Kogi State in 2015.

“I state unequivocally that the APC in Kogi is big, strong

and reliable. It has no faction, no fracas and no crisis. We held an elaborate meeting last Sunday under the indomitable leadership of Audu. The myopic, porous, parochial and intellectually stagnant imaginary crisis that only exists in the head of Ocholi is not only false but also a dream. Suffice to say that a party in crisis will not on September 22 welcome over 5,000 credible defectors from the PDP, among whom are former Acting Governors Clarence Olafemi and Bello Abdullahi.

“Others are Chief John Odawn, who was the PDP state chairman for nine years; four House of Assembly members and nine former local government chairmen.

“If political and democratic progression are what Ocholi refers to as crisis, then the legal profession is in crisis. His claim that he is the APC’s deputy national legal adviser is an act of impersonation and falsehood.

“My advice to Ocholi as he celebrates his political obituary is to retire back to his chambers and concentrate on what proper SANs do. When the battle is lost, slander becomes the only tool of the loser. APC will not only win the State and National assemblies’ seats, but also the governorship. My task for Ocholi is to identify one credible leader in Kogi State that associates with him.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

65

NEWS Clark attacks Jonathan’s opponents

Ebola: Jonathan approves N200m for Rivers From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of N200 million to the Rivers State government to assist the state in it’s fight against Ebola virus disease.

Similar gesture was extended to Lagos State when it was hit by the virus which was imported by a LiberianAmerican Patrick Sawyer.

This is as the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu stated that the country has gone a week without any case of the virus.

According to the country’s update on the virus, the minister in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Dan Nwomeh said: “Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the release of N200 million to the Rivers State Government as direct financial support to the state towards the containment of EVD outbreak.”

Given an update on the virus, the minister stated: “For one week now, there has not been a single case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. The total number of confirmed EVD cases recorded in Nigeria remains 19, with 12 survivors and seven deaths. The South African woman who was taken from

Theatre manager Ayo Oluwasanmi dies at 59

A

PRODUCTION theatre manager, television and film production expert, Mr Ayo Oluwasanmi, has died.

The theatre artiste, who started his career with the Isola Ogunsola Theatre in the 1960s, died in Lagos. He was 59.

The late Oluwasanmi was educated at St. Joseph’s Grammar School, Ondo, Ondo State.

He also attended the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, where he specialised in Theatre Management in the Dramatic Arts Department.

He worked at the University Performing Company (UPC) of the University of Ibadan (UI) as an actor, dancer and production worker.

In his days in the drama school and UPC, he worked under renowned theatre directors, like Prof. Carrol Dawes, Prof. Dapo Adelugba, Prof.

Yinka Adedeji, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi and Yemi Ajibade.

Other directors he worked with include Bayo Oduneye, the former artistic director of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

The late Oluwasanmi featured prominently in the Ajo Fest, a memorable series of theatre festivals financed by Chief Fred Agbeyegbe, the activist, lawyer and writer and directed

by Jide Ogungbade and Ben Tomoloju.

He was with Media International and later Dvworx, both Lagos-based production companies, where he was part of award-winning documentaries and features, such as Ibadan, Bariga Boy, Mama Put. He was born in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on December 10, 1954. He died following an illness.

The late Oluwasanmi is survived by a wife, Foluke, also a theatre graduate, and children.

I

•Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Nicholas Okoh (second right) with Rt. Rev. Prince Asokwo Antai of Uyo Diocese (third right), his wife Victoria (right) and Rt. Rev. Williams Aladekugbe and wife (Kate), Bishop of Oyo after the PHOTO: OBI CLETUS Bishops consecration in Enugu…yesterday.

Supreme Court dismisses appeal challenging Obiano’s qualification

T

HE Supreme Court has thrown out an appeal challenging the judgment affirming Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano as candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in last November’s governorship election.

A chieftain of APGA, Chike Obidigbo, appealed the judgment delivered on July 26, by the Court of Appeal in Enugu.

He urged the court to declare him the governor, having purportedly been nominated by the Maxi Okwu faction of APGA as the party’s candidate for the poll.

A panel of seven justices, ruled on Tuesday on Obidigbo’s application for a leave for an extension of time to appeal the judgment.

But the court refused the application and dismissed the appellant’s appeal on the grounds that they exceeded the 14-day limit allowed under the court’s Practice Direction Number 33 of 2011, which guides election appeals from the Court of Appeal.

Supreme Court Justice Mahmud Mohammed said: “The only issue, to my mind, is whether or not by the Supreme Court’s Practice Direction Number 33 of 2011, this court can entertain this appli-

•Ngige, Nwoye, PDP seek fresh governorship poll in Anambra From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

cation and grant the reliefs sought.

“Section 1 of the Practice Direction has given the appellant 14 clear days within which to file his appeal; for the court to hear and determine the appeal within 60 days has also acquired a mandatory provision. To entertain the application for an extension of time will defeat the mandatory provisions of the Practice Direction.

“For the foregoing reasons, I entirely agree with the counsel to the governor that the application must be refused, and the appeal filed on August 24 is, therefore, refused. The appeal filed out of time, in contravention of the Supreme Court Practice Direction, is struck out. Adherence to the Practice Direction is a condition precedent. I hold that it is incompetent and it is accordingly dismissed.”

The court, which sat from morning till over 7pm on Tuesday, heard the seven appeals filed by various parties to the dispute on the last Anambra State election. It dismissed the two cross-appeals against Obidigbo’s appeal, filed by Obiano and APGA. The court dismissed the

cross-appeals after the crossappellants’ lawyers, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), applied to withdraw them, upon the dismissal of the main appeal.

The court heard the appeals filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chris Ngige; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the election, Tony Nwoye.

It fixed judgment for Monday, September 22.

Lawyers to Ngige, Rotimi Akeredoku (SAN); Nwoye’s lawyer, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN) and Abdulrasheed Ajana, who appeared for the PDP, took turns to argue their separate appeals.

They urged the court to nullify the election on the grounds that the register of voters was tampered with, after 60 days before the elections, in violation of the Electoral Act. It also averred that Obiano allegedly engaged in multiple registration, a practice that should attract disqualification.

Akeredolu argued that there was a distinction between the case and those of Akeredolu Vs. Mimiko and Akeredolu Vs. Oke, which

the court earlier decided upon.

He said: “In this case, there was the use of a register, which was produced after the mandatory 60 days before the elections, outside the mandatory period provided. They agreed that the voter register used in that election was not the one that was displayed. But the first and second defendants said they were engaged in sanitising and removal of the impurities three days before the election. But there was no Ebola (Virus Disease) at that time.

“People came, saw their names; they did not complain. But they came back and could not find their names in the register. Even some of the candidates in the election could not find their names on the register.

“The law provides that the register must be done 60 days before the election. The Electoral Act did not give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the powers to conduct the elections arbitrarily. They are within a bound, the compilation of the voter register is guided by the Electoral Act. When there is an inconsistency in the application of the Electoral Act, there should no need to substantiate anything...”

Lagos cautions residents on facebook scam

T

HE Lagos State Government called yesterday on residents to be wary of a facebook scam whereby some unscrupulous persons are using the photographs of Governor Babatunde Fashola and ascribing fictitious statements to him on fake Facebook accounts aimed at defrauding innocent citizens.

The call became necessary in view of the activities of scammers who have been issuing series of Facebook comments and information in the name of the Governor with the intention of duping unsuspecting members of the public.

A statement by the

Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said the conmen have, through Facebook, been urging citizens to apply for some existing government facilities or utilities meant to benefit the public but to which some agencies of government have been given the responsibility to manage.

The Government warned that such information must be emanating from people out to defraud members of the public adding that government businesses such as Home ownership by mortgage and pilgrimage are purely conducted on the authentic websites and other social media outlets man-

aged by agencies of the State Government with assigned responsibilities in different areas.

One of such information titled, “Disbursement of Subsidy Dividend (SURE-P)” purported to have been issued by the Governor is informing “Citizens that Subsidy proceed is available for Agro and commercial business”, and asking them to “Apply for soft loan with no collateral, zero percent interest rate and flexible terms”.

Advising citizens to always clarify with the appropriate agencies of Government before embarking on any dealings with people purportedly working for the

•Fashola

State Government, the Government warned those involved in the nefarious act to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law when it catches up with them.

JAW leader Edwin Clark has said that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock as President Goodluck Jonathan will contest and win the election.

He also noted that none of those jostling for the seat of the president is fit for the position, stressing that they are all corrupt. But he tendered no proof at a crowded news conference in Abuja The Southsouth leader also told journalists that he has documents that will nail them including past and present governors.

Clark, who spoke during an audience with the executive members of the PDP, South South zone said that it was also wrong to accuse the President of not fighting corruption, saying corruption did not start with the president but was perpetrated by the military.

“He didn’t start corruption. In fact, the military started it in the earnest,” he said. Adding: “For those showing interest to contest in 2015, let me tell them that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. Jonathan will contest in 2015 and he will win”.

He accused many aspirants to the presidency of corruption, saying: “All of them should leave Jonathan alone; he has done more than any one of them all. “The Attorney General of the Federation AGF is the one responsible for exposing them.”

The former federal commissioner who did not hide his relationship with the president said that Jonathan has adopted him as his father adding that he nominated Jonathan as a running mate to the late Umaru Yar’Adua.

“I am the leader of the Southsouth. I brought Jonathan here and I have to stand by him. I told Yar’Adua to make Jonathan his running mate, before then, Jonathan had no interest in anything.

He does not even attend our meetings but he agreed to it when I told him it was the decision of the South South.

“Some people believe that without them, Nigeria cannot exist. It is a lie. When Lord Lugard almagamated us in 1914, he did not say one tribe should serve another. We have served enough in South South; it is now time for us to be served.

“It is not the prerogative of one group that if they are not in power, the nation should break”.

Asking his critics to leave him alone, Clark argued that Jonathan is the most abused President the country has ever had, adding that “he has performed more than every other leaders this country has had.”

Chairman of the PDP, Southsouth, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh had stated that the executive council had come to visit Clark to pay homage and respect for his contributions towards promoting the cause of the Southsouth.

He announced that the entire Southsouth had endorsed Jonathan’s candidacy in the 2015 elections.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS Tanker explosion kills three in Calabar From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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HREE people died yesterday when a petrol tanker exploded at Eburutu Army Barracks axis of the Murtala Muhammed Highway in Calabar, Cross River State.

The incident, which occurred at about 1.30pm, caused a gridlock for hours as the fire spread to nearby buildings.

The driver was burnt to ashes on his seat and the conductor was flung out of the vechicle. The third victim was a labourer working on the road.

Thousands of bystanders watched helplessly as the fire consumed two buildings and two cars, an Audi 80 and a Peugeot 505.

Firemen from the State Fire Service, Calabar Free Trade Zone and Nigeria Ports Authority in 12 trucks fought for about two hours to put out the fire.

An eyewitness said: “The tanker loaded with petrol tried to overtake another with diesel in a tight spot on the road.

Unfortunately, it hit the diesel tanker from behind and both skidded off the road and fell.

Immediately, the petrol tanker exploded and the driver, his conducted died on the spot.”

Rivers community protests oil spill From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

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ROTESTERS at Idoko community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday demonstrated in Port Harcourt against an oil spill in their area.

The spill, which they said occurred from oil pipelines owned by Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd (TEPNL), has destroyed aqua, fauna and flora in their community.

At the gate of TEPNL, their leader, Messiah Okpeze, said they staged the protest as a last resort “because we have written them since August 14, last year on the spillage but they have not done anything.

“We have made several representations, yet they failed to respond. They later claimed that they have been dealing with one fake man who is not from our community and the man is now late.

“So what we are doing today is to let the world know how they have been treating us.”

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HE Edo State government has honoured former Governor of the defunct Mid-West and Bendel State by unveiling a statue in his honour.

Unveiling the statue at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, yesterday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said: “This statue which we have come to unveil today, I believe captures the genuine feelings of Edo people, a small token of formal recognition of your unparalleled service to our people.

“Allow me sir to formally congratulate you on the occasion of your 82nd birthday. I am sure I speak the minds of people of my generation and even the younger ones who still recall your outstanding contributions to the development of this great state.

“Today I am here feeling very privileged that I have the honour to sit by you. I think you should feel quite proud, and your family and children should feel even more proud that at this age, you remain a shining example of what a father should be”.

Oshiomhole thanked him for his selfless role in the development of the state as well as his fatherly advice and passion for the wellbeing of the people of the state.

Three dead babies found in Benin

Edo honours Ogbemudia

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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‘

I am sure I speak the minds of people of my generation and even the younger ones who still recall your outstanding contributions to the development of this great state.

’

Delta loses N2.8b revenue From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

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•Oshiomhole unveiling the statue...yesterday.

PDP denies Jonathan, Dickson’s feud

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State said yesterday that there was no quarel between Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Secretary, Godspower Keku, said members were united and solidly behind the aspirations of President Jonathan and Dickson.

There have been speculations that all is not well between Dickson and Jonathan.

Members of the party were also said to be divided between

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Abuja politicians, led by the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and a home-based camp, led by Dickson.

But Keku said: “As officials of PDP at the state level, we have never had any problem.

There is unity of purpose in the party. PDP has grown beyond what you think because this is Mr. President’s state.

“There is unity between the governor and the President. There is unity between Dickson and the people be-

cause the governor is na do governor.

“All the projects are all around that is why the party is growing. There is no problem within the party. There is no problem and there shall never be any problem.”

Keku denied the existence of Abuja politicians, insisting that party members were working together to move the state forward.

He said: “Right now there is no Abuja group and home group. Once a party divides, the state divides. We have

this purpose we no longer fall into the temptation of camps here and there. Our camp is PDP.” The PDP secretary said there was no justifiable reason for any party member to oppose the governor since he (Dickson) had stuck to the party’s manifesto.

Keku said the governor has continued to fulfill all the promises he made during electioneering especially in the areas of emergency on education and the construction of the three senatorial roads.

Two-storey building collapses in Edo

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two-storey uncompleted building has collapsed at Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

There was no casualty in the incident. Witnesses said the building collapsed on Tuesday morning.

It was learnt that the building, which was roofed last week, was hurriedly built.

The collapsed building fell on another building and damaged part of it.

ESIDENTS of Second East Circular road off Sokponba Road in Benin City found yesterday the bodies of three babies dumped on the road.

Two were wrapped in clothes and kept inside a carton under a palm tree while the other, a baby girl of about 18months, was dumped on the road.

The two babies, believed to be twins, were decomposing when they were found; the girl was dressed in white shirt and purple skirt.

Residents said they saw the bodies in the morning.

Policemen were seen taking photographs but the bodies were yet to be removed at press time.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Some residents attributed the incident to sub-standard materials.

A resident, Justin Ayigbo, urged the Council of Registered Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) to investigate the incident and inspect other buildings within the locality.

Another resident, who gave his name as Osula, said no building has collapsed in the locality for over 40 years.

Owner of the building

who gave his name as Pastor Joshua said the building was brought down by evil ones.

Pastor Joshua, who was in tears, said the building was constructed according to the specifications he used in other buildings.

His words: “I am not happy that my building was brought down. Somebody called me that something was going on so I came to check things out.

“I was afraid to go in be-

cause people who have been threatening me might have laid ambush for me and I sent a bricklayer in.”

“The man came out shouting that he saw things. I went in myself and saw that all the pillars have been chiseled and broken. I wanted to take the shot but I did not have any camera.”

“It was on my way to the police station I heard that the building has collapsed. The truth will come out.”

HE Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) lost over N2.8 billion in taxes in the last four months.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting of the board with council directors of the DBIR in Warri, the Chairman, JoelOnowakpo Thomas, warned that the agency would not condone dereliction of duty by officials.

The DBIR boss said the board had decided to eliminate the extension of performance bonuses to all tax offices, irrespective of output.

He said such bonuses would henceforth be earned based on outstanding performances.

Thomas said: “We have a projection, this is what we are meant to collect. However, what they are talking about is our inability to meet up with our target, it’s not like physical cash was lost, but that we did not work to achieve that target has made us to lose about N700 million every month for four months, which has amounted to about N2.8 billion.

“Now, what we are asking is why were you sleeping while all these things were happening? If you were working professionally in your duties, those things would not have passed you by; you would have collected that money there and then.

Suntai: i didn’t return because of PDP primaries

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ARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai said yesterday that he did not return into the country because of the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship primaries, as being speculated.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, noted that “series of publications were being circulated by individuals and faceless groups on his return, which were not considered as freedom of speech.”

He said the clarification became necessary because the

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

people of Taraba State deserved “good conducts” from their politicians.

The governor on Saturday returned from the United Kingdom after weeks of treatment of the injuries he sustained when his plane crashed near Yola, Adamawa State capital on August 25, 2012.

It was rumoured that he returned “in a rush” because of the PDP governorship primaries, after which he would return abroad for medicals.

But the governor yesterday said he is not contesting the governorship or any election.

“It has become pertinent to call on such individuals and groups to keep the governor out of their political permutations and mischief.

“Suntai secured the mandate of the good people of Taraba State twice and has performed well. He is not contesting any elections.” the statement said.

Suntai also spoke on why his deputy, Garba Umar, was not allowed to see him at the airport upon his return, warn-

ing politicians to desist from sowing seeds of discord.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) handles all security issues at the airports and also permissions for non-airport staff to be on the tarmac at any point in time.

“It is therefore, misinforming for an individual and faceless groups to apportion blame on certain personalities as being responsible for Umar’s inability to see the governor at the airport.

“Umar is better placed than any Taraba person to see Suntai in Abuja or anywhere.

“Umar approved the arrangement and paid for the aircraft that brought the governor to Abuja. The details of the flight were known to him (Umar): he knew when the plane took off and when it was going to land.”

Suntai explained that he had instructed his security details that he did not want “ceremonies” at the airport, which is why his visitors and newsmen were received at the guests house.

Suntai added that all those who were at the airport to welcome him, including his predecessor Jolly Nyame,

Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha, Sen. Joel Ikenya, Hon. Ishaka Bawa, Minister Darius Ishaku, Hon. Haruna Manu, Victor Bala, Uba Maigari, Amb. Emmanuel Njiwah, Damian Dodo, SAN, Chief David Sabo Kente and his personal aides were not allowed to see him at the tarmac but he received them in the guests house.

“Governor Suntai, since his arrival, has been receiving top government functionaries and other personalities. He has not issued any instruction to stop or bar anyone from seeing him.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS Lay down your arms, ACF tells Boko Haram

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REWA Consultative Forum (ACF) and Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero have condemned the attacks on Sanga Local Government Area residents and the Kano incident.

The ACF called on Boko Haram fighters to lay down their arms and embrace peace, as ordinary Nigerians who fall victims of their attacks do not understand their grievances.

ACF and Yero, in their separate statements, said the two attacks were orchestrated by enemies of peace and aimed at truncating the stable atmosphere in the two states.

According to Yero, in the statement signed by his media aide, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, “the attackers were clearly out to create tension in the state with selfish and dangerous aim.” He pleaded with such unscrupulous elements and their sponsors to stop killing innocent and de-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

fenceless people.

The governor said: “It is sad and unfortunate that some devious characters from within Kaduna State are conniving with unpatriotic elements from outside to unleash unwarranted mayhem on communities that were hitherto less vulnerable to attacks.

“This spate of attacks is strange to Sanga Local Government, which is known to be one of the most peaceful parts of Kaduna State, in spite of years of ethnic and religious diversity of its people. We therefore condemn this calculated move by enemies of Kaduna State to expand their axis of terror to Sanga.”

He urged Sanga Local Government Area residents to remain calm as security agencies have already been directed to begin operations aimed at re-

storing law and order in the area.

Investigation is on to apprehend those behind the attack, he said.

ACF National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, in a telephone interview with our Correspondent described the two attacks as “most unfortunate”.

He said: “ACF will continue to call on the insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace, because ordinary Nigerians who fall victim of their attacks do not understand the grievances or reasons for the attacks.

“We call on the security to be more vigilant and the communities to also assist the security agencies with relevant information that will further help to address the security challenges.

“These attacks are coming when schools are just about to resume; this really calls for concern and proactive measures by the government.”

Troops repel Boko Haram in Konduga Continued from page 4

when troops engaged the insurgents in a fight at Konduga.

Gen. Laleye said: “During the fight, several terrorists were killed and those fleeing Konduga with gunshot wounds are being pursued,’’ he said.

The army spokesman said the troops’ morale and combat efficiency remained high and added that further details about the engagement were being awaited.

According to him, the renewed morale, fighting spirit and combat efficiency of troops have been boosted by new strategies devised by the armed forces and the support of the public.

Gen. Laleye also explained that the “widely reported Boko Haram attack on troops along Okene-Kabba road in Kogi was clearly not a Boko Haram related incident.

“In reality, the incident was a

case of armed robbery attack on troops of 322 Artillery Regiment who were travelling in seven Marcopolo buses to Kontagora for an engagement,’’ he said.

He said the robbers mistook the soldiers for normal civilian travellers, who plied the route.

He said three soldiers, who injured during the robbery, were receiving appropriate medical care and would soon join their colleagues,” Gen. Laleye said.

DHQ denies retirement of ex-GOC

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HE Defence Headquarters yesterday denied the retirement of a former General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Abubakar Mohammed.

Mohammed was a victim of

mutiny by soldiers on May 14, 2014 in Maiduguri.

Following a court martial, 12 of the mutinous soldiers were sentenced to death on Tuesday.

But there was uncertainty on the fate of tge former GOC. There were concerns that he

might have been retired by the Army Council.

But the Defence Headquarters in a tweet said: "The former GOC of 7 Division has not been retired as being propagated by the Media. The General is still in active service as at today."

Lagos begins probe as church keeps mum Continued from page 4

and predicted the Malaysian Airlines MH17 plane crash, and Boston marathon bombings.

Top-level politicians and even heads of state are among his flock, including Malawi’s former President Joyce Banda, who has called him her “spiritual father”.

But there was increasing anger on social media that he should not be above the law.

The preacher has not publicly commented on the deaths

and instead tried to shift suspicion on to Boko Haram militants and a low-flying plane seen over the building before the collapse.

Since Friday he has only posted a series of Bible verses on his Facebook page and Twitter account. On Tuesday night, he tweeted: “Hard times may test me, they cannot destroy me.”

One South African travel agent, who asked not to be named, said some of the survivors flew back from Lagos on Sunday but were too distraught

to recount their ordeal.

“It’s a sensitive issue. They don’t want to talk to anyone about what they saw. They are in shock, they are traumatised,” he said.

According to Joshua’s website scoan.org, three of the church’s previous buildings were destroyed before the new church — described as an “architectural masterpiece” — was built.

“There was only one architect involved in the planning — the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Gunmen, suicide bomber kill 65 in Kano, Kaduna Continued from page 4 dreds of other residents, it was

commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force for taking prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize the resultant casualties.

He urges the security agencies to be more alert and proactive in the future in order to stop terrorist attacks in Kano and other parts of the country.

“President Jonathan reassures the people of Kano and all Nigerians that the Federal Government continues to do all within its powers to further enhance the ability of the Police, Armed Forces and other security agencies to prosecute the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion and provide greater security of lives and property across the country.” It stated Among the 50 person killed by unknowm gunmen are a pastor, four expectant women, children and a soldier, were reportedly killed in Fadan-Karshi villages, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Nation also gathered that two other soldiers were seriously injured in the attack. They are receiving treatment at the Gwantu General Hospital, among hun-

gathered.

There have been series of attacks in Fadan-Karshi since April. No fewer than, which according to sources had 300 people, mostly women and children, have been killed.

A resident, Mike Sanga, told reporters in Kaduna that the attackers invaded Fadan Karshi Daji and nearby communities, burning houses, including a church where several cars were parked.

He said: “In our counting, 12 people were killed in Fadan Karshi, 30 in Fada Karshi Daji, seven others in another community.

A pastor and another person were also killed at Ungwar Ganye.”

The council’s Vice Chairman, Pastor Bulus Mandey Anzah, said expectant women, the elderly and children were killed. Hundreds of residents have fled their homes to unknown destinations.

Anzah, who is standing in for the council chairman, Hon Emmanuel Danzaria, said there were temporary camps for some of the displaced peoples. He urged emergency agencies to support them.

“The attacks are getting worse every day. Some of the soldiers who attempted to repel the attack

were also injured. Another soldier was killed,” he said.

“Many of the injured are now receiving treatment at the Gwantu General Hospital,” Anzah added.

An official of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed that over 50 people were killed.

The official, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak with the press, said several houses and a church were burnt. He put the Internally Displaced Persons’ figure at over 10,000.

The Centre Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy (CEDRA) has described the attack as “barbaric”.

The group, in a statement issued by Dr. John Danfulani, said the assailants killed many people, injured over 40, burnt down homes and destroyed farmlands.

“Not long ago, the same area witnessed mass killings by the same unknown gunmen. In as much as we know that the country is facing difficult security challenges, we believe the government’s reaction, in terms of providing relief to the affected communities and injured persons, leaves much more to be desired.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

FOREIGN U.S.: Tropical storm Odile moves towards Arizona

Scotland’s vote: Today is D-day •PM Cameron, former PM Brown urges “No Vote” •Mass rallies mark referendum climax ers later congregated in the

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OTH sides in the Scottish referendum campaign have held rallies as they make their final efforts to win over undecided voters yesterday.

Both campaigns have fought long and hard. Today is decision day.

Independence supporters attended a mass event in the centre of Glasgow, where they were urged to “vote ‘Yes’ for a prosperous Scotland”.

At the same time, pro-UK campaigners gathered nearby to insist the case for independence had not been made.

The latest polls have suggested the result is too close to call.

An Ipsos-MORI survey for broadcaster STV which was published on Wednesday afternoon put support for “Yes” on 49% against 51% for “No” when undecided voters were excluded.

A Panelbase poll released earlier on Wednesday, which was not carried out for any media outlet, suggested support for independence was on 48%, with 52% support for Scotland staying in the UK,

once undecided voters were excluded.

This was the same figure as polls released on Tuesday evening by Opinium for the Daily Telegraph, another by ICM for the Scotsman and a third by Survation for the Daily Mail.

Businessman Sir Tom Hunter has told the BBC he is not convinced an independent Scotland would be able to agree a currency-sharing deal with the rest of the UK. Speaking at the pro-independence rally, Yes Scotland chairman Dennis Canavan attacked the “back of a fag packet” pledge of further devolution made by the leaders of the three main Westminster parties.

He told supporters: “There is only one guarantee of getting more powers for the Scottish Parliament and that is by voting Yes, so let’s take that message out, let’s take our message out to every street, every city, every town, every village, every community, every workplace, every home in Scotland.”

About 2,000 “Yes” support-

city’s George Square, where they made a noisy show of their support for the campaign, waving Saltires in the afternoon sun as they cheered speeches and sang along to music.

They were confronted by a small group of “No” supporters who chanted at them before turning their backs on the square.

Meanwhile, Better Together head Alistair Darling urged anyone who had doubts about independence to vote “No”.

Addressing supporters alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Love Scotland, Vote No rally, he said: “If you have such a momentous decision to take, you need to have certainty.

“What is very clear at the end of this long campaign, from the nationalist side there is no certainty at all. For anyone in Scotland who has any doubt, be in no doubt - you have to say ‘No’.”

On the final day of campaigning, First Minister Alex Salmond published a letter to the people of Scotland in

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•Cameron

which he told them they will hold power in their hands as they vote to determine their country’s future.

Mr Salmond asked voters to step back from the political arguments and statistics that have defined the two-year campaign and trust in themselves as they go into the polling booth.

Both campaigns have been out in force in Glasgow this morning as they do what they can to rally support for their respective sides in the final hours before the vote.

Chairman Dennis Canavan

Chinese President Jinping begins India visit

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RESIDENT Xi Jinping (middle) his wife — and Indian President—welcoming him—Yesterday Photo:Reuters China’s President Xi Jinping has begun his first official visit to India, with a focus on improving trade ties and resolving the decades-old dispute over border areas.

China is one of India’s top trading partners and the Asian neighbours are the world’s most populous countries.

The two countries disagree over the demarcation of several Himalayan border areas and fought a brief war in 1962.

Tensions over the issue still flare up from time to time.

Beijing and Delhi have held numerous rounds of border talks, but all have been unsuccessful so far.

Mr Xi’s visit comes amid unconfirmed reports in the Indian media of a new face-off on the border.

The reports said that Indian troops had spotted their Chinese counterparts trying to construct a temporary road NOTICEacross into PUBLIC the Indian territory OLUSOLA I formerly known and addressed as MRS OLUFELA OLUSOLA IBUKUNOLU TOKUNBO MUMUNEY, now wish to be known as TOKUNBO OLUFELA IBUKUNOLU MUMUNEY. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

the Line of Actual Control (the de facto boundary) in the Ladakh region.

Ties between the two countries have received a boost under the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has pledged to revitalise the economy and deepen ties with China during his term of office.

In July, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the sixth Brics summit in Brazil and stressed the need to boost bilateral relations.

‘Creating history’ Mr Xi began his three-day visit in the western state of Gujarat, where he will attend a banquet in the evening to be hosted by Mr Modi. The reception coincides with Mr Modi’s 64th birthday.

Mr Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat for over a decade before leading his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a landslide win in the May general election and becoming prime minister.

The choice of Gujarat as Mr Xi’s first stop in India marks a departure from protocol and many see it as a sign of warm relations between the two leaders.

Mr Xi will travel to Delhi on Thursday, and is expected to hold talks with Mr Modi focussing on trade, infrastructure and border disputes. Mr Xi begins his India visit in the western state of Gujarat.

described the independence movement as the biggest grassroots campaign Scotland has ever seen, and they wanted that to show: the former Labour MP joined by SNP members, Greens, SSP activists, Women for Independence campaigners and members of Deacon Blue, among others.

Immediately after, a few miles away in Maryhill, it was Better Together’s turn. All the big guns of the campaign were gathered at the community hall - Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, the leaders of the three main opposition parties at Holyrood.

ROPICAL storm Odile is moving up the Gulf of California, bringing with it heavy rains and the threat of mudslides and flash floods.

Forecasters expect the storm to continue weakening as it moves towards the US state of Arizona. Odile made landfall on Sunday in northern Mexico as a category three hurricane, damaging homes.

Thousands of stranded tourists were also being airlifted out of the Los Cabos resort area.

Mexico’s interior ministry said military and commercial planes were transporting them from Los Cabos international airport, which is closed to commercial flights because of damage from the storm.

Although the airport is strewn with debris, officials say that the runway is usable and work has nearly been completed to get the control tower working again.

The tourists were being taken to airports in Tijuana, Mazatlan, Guadalajara and Mexico City to catch connecting flights and if necessary receive consular assistance.

Hillary Clinton returns to Iowa and Bill almost steals the show

•Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, in Iowa

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HEN he and Hillary Clinton arrived on stage in Iowa last Sunday organizers said the crowd was 10,000 people, he hung back, and let Hillary stand next to Sen. Tom Harkin, the retiring Iowa Democrat who was holding his 37th and final annual steak fry.

Hillary Clinton and Harkin hugged and waved to the crowd, then hugged and waved some more, as applause washed over them.

The 68-year old former president — accustomed to being the centre of attention during his career — went over and stood arm-in-arm with Ruth Harkin, the senator’s wife. It was Hillary’s day. It was her first trip to Iowa since her unsuccessful 2008 presidential primary bid, and the first major political event for her ahead of the 2016 presidential election, in which she is certain to be the presumptive Democratic nom-

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inee if she runs.

But Bill Clinton is still the dominant personality, the superior politician and the better-known of the two. A few moments after ascending the stage, Bill was surrounded by the four other politicians on stage, all men, while Hillary and Ruth Harkin stood quietly off to the side. Bruce Braley, the Iowa congressman running for Harkin’s seat, pointed out his mother to Bill, who waved and said hello.

Harkin spoke, Hillary spoke and then Bill spoke. The decision as to who would go first had been a matter of some confusion beforehand. If Bill spoke first, might he steal Hillary’s thunder? If she spoke before Bill, wouldn’t that be treating him as the main attraction?

They were both draws, however, for different reasons.

Many in the crowd hoped that Hillary would announce right there at the steak fry that she

was running for president. Bill, meanwhile, was expected to give one of his trademark spellbinding speeches.

“And to think you all came here just to see me,” Harkin said jokingly, waving his finger at the crowd in mock reproach. “Who am I kidding?”

Hillary and Bill Clinton each spoke for just over 20 minutes, after Harkin. The main drama in Hillary’s speech came from her tease to the audience about a presidential run.

“I’m baaack,” she said as she approached the lectern. She informed the crowd that when she had been asked to speak at the event, she “wasn’t sure what to say.”

“I’ve got a few things on my mind these days,” she said, and the crowd began to cheer knowingly. “First, and most importantly, Bill and I are on constant grandchild watch.”

Their daughter, Chelsea, is pregnant with her first child and nearing her due date.

“I’m calling Chelsea every five minutes to make sure things are going all right,” Hillary Clinton said.

“And then of course, there’s that other thing,” she added.

There were more cheers, louder now. “Well, it is true, I am thinking about it. But, for today, that is not why I am

here.” The crowd groaned collectively, and Hillary launched into a relatively generic speech espousing the need for Democrats to support their candidates in the fall election.

But even here, her biggest way of exciting the crowd to vote in the midterms was to jokingly reference her presidential aspirations.

“Too many people only get excited about presidential campaigns. Look, I get excited about presidential campaigns too,” she said, to more applause. “But those campaigns only happen every four years. … So use the enthusiasm that Iowa is so well known for every presidential year and channel that into these upcoming elections.”

There was some modest talk of policy in the former secretary of state’s speech. She ran the crowd through a bullet point list of what she said has gone right under the Obama administration: increased exports for Iowa farmers, lower unemployment rates, greater renewable energy production and refunds to consumers from health insurers because of Obamacare. She ticked off what Democrats are in favor of this fall: raising the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work for women, aid to those who want to attend technical college.

U.S. rules out combat mission against ISIS

RESIDENT Barack Obama has told an audience of US troops their comrades fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq will not have a combat mission.

Mr Obama said he would not commit “to fighting another ground war in Iraq”.

But he said the US had the “unique abilities” to respond to IS, including air support for Iraqi and Kurdish fighters on the ground.

The US has already undertaken 162 air strikes against IS in Iraq since mid-August.

But Mr Obama’s new strategy allows similar attacks in Syria, and calls on a coalition

of 40 countries to confront the militant group.

The president’s reassurance to soldiers at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, came a day after a top US general suggested he would recommend US ground troops in the fight against IS if the international campaign of air strikes failed.

Gen Martin Dempsey says he would consider asking for the deployment of ground troops in Iraq if necessary Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Martin Dempsey confirmed that under the current plan, US military advisers would help the Iraqi army to

plan attacks against IS, also known as Isil and Isis.

The jihadist group controls large areas of Syria and northern Iraq. It has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, according to CIA estimates.

Mr Obama arrived overnight in Tampa, Florida, where Central Command (Centcom) - responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia - is based.

After briefings with top military officials, Mr Obama told an assembly of troops that “the American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a com-

bat mission”.

US fighter jets have been carrying our air strikes in Iraq since August “We cannot do for the Iraqis what they must do for themselves,” Mr Obama said, adding other countries would help with both air support and training.

“After a decade of massive ground deployments it is more effective to use our unique capabilities in support of our partners on the ground so they can secure their own countries’ futures,” Mr Obama said. “And that is the only solution that will succeed over the long term.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

SPORT EXTRA NFF CRISIS FALLOUT

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Broke NFF can’t pay Falcons’ hotel bills • Glass House barely able to feed players • Referees owed

Huntelaar earns Schalke draw at Stamford Bridge

C

ESC FABREGAS fired home his first goal in Chelsea colours, but Arsenal target Klaas-Jan Huntelaar prevented Jose Mourinho from claiming all three points against Schalke in their Champions League Group Stage clash last night.

The Blues started the game strongly, with Ramires going close with a shot just minutes after the kickoff.

However it was Fabregas who got proceedings underway with a smart finish in the 11th minute after latching on to a terrific pass from Eden Hazard.

Fabregas had a chance to double his tally but fired his effort over the Schalke bar.

Ivanovic thought he'd scored minutes into the second half but the Brazilian was denied by

keeper Ralf Fahrmann.

Didier Drogba missed a glorious opportunity to put the Blues two-up before Schalke countered and Huntelaar pinged a shot past Thibaut Courtois to level.

Substitute Loic Remy almost put Chelsea back in front but Roman Neustadter was there to clear off the line before Hazard fired a thunderbolt over the crossbar.

Chelsea continued to press for a winner but were unable to find a way past Schalke's stubborn defence.

The Blues' next game in Europe is away to Sporting Lisbon, and Mourinho will be hoping for a more clinical performance from a side currently dominating in the Barclays Premier League.

Boateng’s stunner denies Man City vital point

M

• Super Falcons in training HE crisis bedeviling football in Nigeria has now eaten deep into the finances of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and is affecting payment of the football house bills, NationSport has scooped.

The recent power tussle at the Glass House has made it

T

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja difficult for the federation’s leaders to access funds directly and independently from a variety of sources like they used to in the past and this has resulted in the NFF being unable to honour its financial commitments.

"It hurts me that there is no money to manage the programmes of the federation now and people are busy doing politics," an NFF official lamented to NationSport.

The source continued: “As it is now the federation is finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries and owes a lot of people including the

AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS

NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

T

HE National Sports Commission (NSC) has ordered the Super Eagles to play their remaining 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying home matches at the Abuja National Stadium henceforth, making Nigeria’s 2-3 loss to Congo Brazzaville at the U.J. Esuene Stadium the last match the team will play in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

NationSport scooped that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also been directed by the NSC to inform the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that Abuja is the new venue for the Super Eagles’ remaining AFCON matches.

The NFF has fallen on hard times and has been depending largely on the benevolence of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, to

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja bankroll the camping exercise of the Super Eagles including the players’ and coaches’ feeding and accommodation each time the team has a home match.

"We don't have money to prosecute the Super Eagles’ games in Abuja because, aside the fact that we are broke, Abuja fans also don't turn up for games that much.

There are also security challenges to contend with,” a source told NationSport.

Sources revealed that the NSC, irked by the negative publicity generated by complaints about the state of the pitch in Calabar, has directed the NFF to relocate all of the Super Eagles’ matches to the Abuja National Stadium that boasts of very good pitch.

RESULTS UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Bayern 1 - 0 Man City Roma 5 - 1 CSKA Ajax 1 - 1 PSG Barca 1 - 0 APOEL Chelsea 1 - 1 Schalke 04 Maribor 1 - 1 Sporting CP Bilbao 0 - 0 Shakhtar Porto 6 - 0 BATE England - Championship Blackburn 2 - 3 D. County N’ham Forest 5 - 3 Fulham

•Action from last week’s South Africa vs Nigeria match

However, NationSport understands that leaders of the NFF are not comfortable with the order as they fear that the federation will not be able to bear the high cost of executing matches in Abuja.

Furthermore, the Glass House is uncomfortable with the relative apathy of Abuja fans during Nigeria matches unlike the lively atmosphere in Calabar where the stadium is filled to capacity and the fans are vocal in their support of Nigerian teams.

Notwithstanding the directive of the NSC, however, the Cross River State Government is continuing the process of getting the U.J. Esuene Stadium pitch in shape for matches, while the NFF is trying to convince the NSC to allow the Super Eagles to play Sudan in Calabar on September 9.

hotel where the Super Falcons, who are currently in camp preparing for the African Women’s championship (AWC), are lodged.”

"We are just managing to see that those girls feed, even the hotel where they are lodged, we owe them a lot but they are still indulging us because of the longterm relationship we have had with them. Even the referees, we owe them a lot of money."

The federation has made a lot of financial commitments which may soon expose this secret of how bankrupt the NFF is.

"Imagine that we could take a match to Gabon where it will be easy for us, but look at the kind of embarrassment that followed it", the source lamented.

ANCHESTER CITY were cruelly undone in the dying moments of their Champions League opener when former defender Jerome Boateng unleashed an incredible strike.

City had looked certain to secure a very credible draw away to the German giants until Boateng's acute 90th minute strike saw their hard work squandered.

Pep Guardiola's men, and in particular the tireless Thomas Muller, frequently tested the under pressure Joe Hart, forcing some spectacular saves from the England international.

As the game progressed Bayern were visibly growing frustrated with their inability to beat Hart - loose passes, direct play and long distance shots began to creep into their play, much to the delight of Pellegrini.

Arjen Robben did his image no favours after a blatant dive in the City box, thankfully referee Alberti Mallenco didn't point to the spot - however dished no punishment out ei-

ther.

But in the 90th minute, City failed to clear their lines from a corner and Boateng capitalised by sweetly striking the ball beyond Joe Hart.

Bayern ended their unwanted run against English clubs at the Allianz Arena, now winning two of their last six Champions League games.

City will now face Roma at home on the 30th September, a game they have to gain maximum points from if they are to progress to the coveted last 16.

• Boateng

Eaglets return to full Eagles won’t training in Calabar AFCON QUALIFIERS

gamble with Sudan, says Onazi

S

UPER Eagles and SS Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi sees next month’s 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan away from home as the most important game for the national team.

After the disappointing start to what would be the defense of the 2013 title Nigeria won in South Africa, Onazi reckons that the reigning African champions need a win at all cost and cannot afford to gamble with the match.

“This game is the most important game to us and what we just need is a win and not gamble with it.

“We certainly will make sure that we do our best and make sure that we win and get the three points.”

N

IGERIA'S Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets, resumed training at their base in Calabar on Tuesday barely hours after they returned to the country from Libreville where they lost 1-2 to their Gabonese counterparts.

The contingent, who actually left Libreville on Monday for Lome aboard ASKY Airline, breezed into Lagos in the night through neighbouring Cotonou but finally arrived in Calabar midday on Tuesday aboard Arik Airlines to begin preparation in earnest for the final qualifier against Gabon next week.

Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said it was important to resume training immediately in view of the enormity of the task ahead even as he enjoined the players to give their utmost best.

"I want you to put behind all that happened in Libreville because that is gone," Amuneke said."I want you to know that we are condemned to win our match here and you must be focused on everything we are go-

ing to do from now.

"What we demand of you is hard work and nothing but hard work; because we want you to show Gabon that you don't need to be aided by the referee to win matches.

"We believe in you and we want you to apply yourselves because we are going to undergo strenuous work in the coming days as we build up towards the match," he warned.

Meanwhile, seven players who failed to make the 18-man list to Libreville have vowed to pull their socks in order to be part of the second leg encounter against Gabon.

"We are happy that our teammates and other officials are safely back in Calabar but the good thing is that we too have been working even while they were away in Gabon," stated defensive midfielder, Henry Okebugwu. "We will keep working hard and pay serious attention to the training programmes because we know the coaches will only select the best against Gabon."

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 182014

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HERE seems to be nothing they won’t criticise. Nothing. No matter how little.

His dress sense, his culinary sense, his mannerism, his peregrinations and – wait for this – his choice of friends.

How unfair they have been to him. Those idle fellows whose only business is minding other people’s business. They see the speck in other people’s eyes and neglect the log in theirs. They go by all manner of dubious names. Activists. Social critics. Commentators. Opposition. Spokesmen. Observers.

Analysts. And more.

Their target? Who else other than President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, who seems to have developed a strong chin to take all the blows. He has been impassive to it all, apparently after being counselled by his dutiful minders that such attacks are merely his opponents’ strategy to stop him from the 2015 race, the all-important game for which all other aspects of our national life have been diminished.

Dr Jonathan was in N’djamena, the capital of Chad, the other day to discuss with President Idris Deby how to tackle the madness that has sliced off a chunk of Borno State in the name of an insurgency driven by the Boko Haram sect and fuelled by various factors, including corruption and lack of political will.

A usually reliable source who would not want to be identified for security reasons swore to me that only Dr Jonathan and his host were discussing behind the huge mahogany door of an inner room in the presidential lodge, away from the prying eyes of security boys, press boys and the army of hangers on in starched brocades and oversize suits cleverly addressed as aides.

Just from nowhere the next day, a photograph was splashed all over the newspapers of President Jonathan – bowler hat, long dress with a dangling golden chain, glittering buttons and all – President Deby and former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff ,the one called SAS, the one who for a long time was secretly accused of founding and funding the terror machine that is Boko Haram, an issue that has since been placed in the public domain.

A mere photograph. That was all those fellows, the critics aforementioned, needed to descend on the President again. They said he was travelling in the company of a suspected Boko Haram godfather. If any matter of great security implication is to be discussed, should it be in the presence of such a man? Where is the Villa’s sense of circumspection? In what capacity did Sheriff sit at that meeting? Who invited him? The questions were many. And those were from the lenient and liberal of the critics. The harsh ones went on to allege and assert – without any proof whatsoever that Jonathan conspired with Sheriff to unleash the monster that they are now battling to rein in. In fact, some of them claimed – again, without any proof whatsoever – that the Commander-in-Chief actually went to hold talks with the sect’s leaders after the former governor had cleared the way for him.

Haba!

All this because of a mere photograph, a

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 8, NO. 2,975

‘Adekunle or any other retired officer for that matter should not beg for bread. They should not be made to see their service to the country as a curse after retirement’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (NMMA)

2015: Jonathan’s cross

•Dr. Jonathan

•Sheriff

material that could be discarded anyhow without any sense of loss.

Aren’t these idle fellows setting a dangerous precedent? If they are not checked now, they will not only recommend whose company the President should keep, they will want to endorse who should share his table, his bed, his jet, his thoughts and all the paraphernalia of his exalted office.

But the Presidency did not allow the matter to go unnoticed. Thanks to Dr Reuben Abati who issued a statement explaining the circumstances under which the photograph was taken. We now know that the President never travelled with Sheriff , who, according to him, has had a long standing business relationship with Chad. Sheriff, said the presidential spokesman, was only part of a crowd of Nigerians resident in Chad who came to the airport to welcome Jonathan.

The picture, he said, was taken at the airport and not at the presidential lodge.

We all heaved a sigh of relief. We had thought that those heartless hackers and Internet fraudsters were at work again, that they had cranked up the scene, yanking off His Excellency’s picture from somewhere and merging it with Sheriff’s and Deby’s to reinforce the long peddled but yet unproven suspicion that there is an official collusion in Boko Haram and that the Presidency was paying lip service to the anti-terrorism war.

Thankfully, Abati proved that the photograph was genuine; it was no fabrication. If you thought this would keep the attackers at bay, you were wrong, damn wrong. Does Sheriff live in N’djamena? Where in the picture are the other Nigerians who came to show their love for Jonathan? Why should the President allow Sheriff to sit so close to him? Is it normal for the host President and his guest to sit at the airport, taking photographs? Is Jonathan unaware of the

grave allegation against Sheriff - that he is the capone of Boko Haram, which has murdered and kidnapped hundreds, including over 200 school girls?

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka joined the fray.

He said he believed Australian Stephen Davis’ view on Sheriff – the latter had said some Boko Haram commanders told him that Sheriff was one of their financiers – and that he should return to shed more light on his assertions.

Besides, said the fiery literary giant, Jonathan knows the Central Bank Of Nigeria(CBN) official Davis was referring to as the link between the sect and the financial world. His name is on Jonathan’s table, Soyinka said, adding that he would support rights activist lawyer Femi Falana’s plan to force the authorities to prosecute Sheriff.

But, wait a minute, gentlemen. Does Jonathan not possess the right to choose his friends and associates? Isn’t this a private matter?

A lawyer friend of mine, a Senior Advocate, whose wig’s coffee brown colour shows that he has seen ages in the Bar, after studying Jonathan’s predicament, has confided in me that he intends to take up a writ of mandamus to compel the Attorney-General to seek a legal pronouncement that the president, including Jonathan and whomsoever is so called, named, mentioned, cited, known and addressed, has the right to choose his friends.

The SAN, a meticulous fellow, disclosed to me that he would be relying on such authorities as the legendary Lord Denning to show that a man reserves the right to choose his friends and acquaintances. Besides, says the

W

W

E may never know why two Nigerians and an Israeli decided to fly to South Africa, carrying $9.3 million in their luggage. Even by Nigeria’s weird standard whereby money has lost its name - the multi-billion oil subsidy fraud, the massive pension fraud and the hazy defence spending, among others – this looks strange.

What kind of arms were they going to buy? Rifles?Bombs? Bullets? Anti-aircraft guns? We may never know. In June, we hauled $3.85 million to Brazil for our protesting Super Eagles. The government, in

Posing with the president impression that Sheriff was a member of Jonathan’s entourage. He said: “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 N’Djamena.”

Abati supplied a list of those he claimed officially accompanied Jonathan to Chad, saying, “As can be easily verified from the 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.”

Then he offered an explanation for Sheriff’s appearance, which could as well be described as an intrusion if he wasn’t listed for the trip. “Those

lawyer gleefully, he will press into his argument the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is also known as the Banjul Charter. After this, if the critics remain unrepentant, as I suspect they will as their passion is driven by 2015 politics, my lawyer friend will also compel the Attorney-General to file an action at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Sheriff was in Maiduguri on Tuesday with about 200 soldiers guarding his convoy of exotic vehicles. Those critics sprang up to their feet again. They cried that instead of probing the allegations against Sheriff, the government was pampering him. Like a baby? They recall that about two months ago, the government closed the Maiduguri airport, forcing the governor to travel by road to Kano for a flight to Abuja. But when Sheriff was to visit Maiduguri, the airport was opened for his plane to land and closed again as soon as it departed.

The Department of State Security(DSS) has said that it is probing Sheriff; isn’t that enough? Will any responsible government allow a VIP like Sheriff to go to Maiduguri without the best escort that our military can provide?

The President has also been under attack for encouraging an amorphous group that goes by the duplicitous name, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), which has been going from city to city, campaigning for his re-election in 2015.

Who does not know that Jonathan has not told anybody, living or dead, that he is running. Yet they slander him for the obscenity that is TAN, a group that has diminished his achievements – in security (Boko Haram has been confined to the Northeast), power supply (we shall soon hit 5000 MW), roads (more are being revived to bring down the number of deaths from accidents to at least three digits as against the thousands we have now), education (schools are to run smoothly soon after months of forced break and, as for the mass failure in School Certificate, the government will address that at the appropriate time) and economy ( the gains of rebasing are already being felt by all). Not so?

What will stop these idle fellows? I support Soyinka’s proposal: Let’s bring back Stephen Davis. We need to unravel this blood guzzling monster of a sect.

The seized $9.3m cash

HARDBALL HAT’s in a picture? Plenty, if it’s about Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, who is in the news controversially. While a shocking allegation of terrorism sponsorship was still unresolved in his favour, he appeared in a publicised photograph sitting with President Goodluck Jonathan and President Idris Deby of Chad. Jonathan was in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, reportedly for a meeting relating to regional security in the context of Nigeria’s anti-terror war against the Islamist guerilla force Boko Haram; and in the picture was Sheriff, who had been accused of backing the insurgents

by Australian Stephen Davis, in a posture that suggested he was a participant in the discussion.

What was Sheriff doing in the company of the two presidents on that occasion?

Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati in a statement dismissed as “spurious” the

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

who associate with Senator Sheriff know that he has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of his time there,” Abati said.

Does this mean Sheriff was in N’Djamena and got to know that Jonathan was also in town, and then decided to join him in conducting presidential business without being invited to do so? Or did he impose himself on Jonathan? Was he in a position to do so? Abati conveniently played down the reality that there are those who do not “associate” with Sheriff and would not be aware of his alleged “longstanding interests in Chad” and that he “often spends a lot of his time there.”

It is interesting to imagine how Jonathan possibly introduced Sheriff to Deby, or perhaps he needed no introduction.

its befuddled state, may say security matters are not the stuff for public consumption.

But the questions will never end. Who approved this massive cash movement? Was it actually meant for arms as the South Africans were told? Did the arms dealer ask for raw cash? Were the gentlemen going to pick the arms off the shelf like chocolate at Shoprite? What happened to the cashless policy?

We may never know.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Furthermore, in a world that has become a global village on account of mind-boggling advances in communication technology, it is very likely that Deby must have heard of the damning terror-related allegations against Sheriff, which were publicised internationally.

How did he view Jonathan’s accommodation of the accused man?

The intriguing photo showed Sheriff in a striking pose, and it conveyed the idea that he was out to impress, possibly to send a message that he was in Jonathan’s good books. In other words, it was a poser’s picture.

It is astonishing that the Presidency was apparently unbothered by the negative implications of not only associating publicly with such a character locally but also portraying him as a beloved partner internationally.

Instead of this display of a special bond between Jonathan and Sheriff, shouldn’t the Presidency be more interested in a thorough investigation of the grave allegation of nourishing terrorists?

Just two words: absolutely preposterous!

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