The Nation September 21, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 1890 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Court orders Ibori to stay in custody till Feb

PDP, Adoke behind my trial, says Tinubu F

ORMER Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday accused Attorney-General of the Federa- national leader’s position was contained in a statement in Abuja by his Media Office. tion Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the The statement said: “There is now very Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being verifiable information that the office of the desperate to put him on trial for alleged op- Attorney-General of the Federation and some eration of foreign accounts while in office. members in the leadership of the PDP, who He said the Office of the AGF is desperate may have found sympathetic ears in the to manufacture evidence against presidency are behind the ongoing him. attempt to destabilise and drag in SEE ALSO He also expressed regrets that the the mud the name of Nigeria’s PAGE 3 “plotters” have the sympathetic ears leading opposition voice, Bola of the Presidency.

Tinubu.

Tinubu spoke for the second time in 24 “Presently, desperate moves are afoot by hours over his trial, which begins today in the office of the AGF to find by all means Abuja at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and to manufacture enough evidence to (CCT). prove their case against Nigeria’s leading He declared on Monday in Lagos that he opposition voice, Asiwaju Tinubu, the Nacould not be intimidated.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Continued on page 2

N150.00

A

LONDON court ruled yesterday that former Delta State Governor James Ibori should remain in prison till February 13, next year, when his trial in a money laundering case will begin.

At the court yesterday, Ibori’s lawyers argued that they were not given enough time to prepare their defence.

Ibori is facing a 14-count charge of fraud and money laundering.

In legal hearings before the trial, defence team members told the court they will argue that Ibori cannot be tried in Britain because a Nigerian court has already decided there is no evidence that he committed any crime in Nigeria.

Ibori appeared in court spotting a creased grey linen jacket and shirt without a tie. He waved at his supporters and flashed a smile at the police officers who have worked to amass evidence against him.

Benjamin Aina (QC), a member of Ibori’s defence team, told Southwark Crown Court they could not begin the trial as planned in November because they need more time to go through the approximately 65,000 pages of evidence and travel to Nigeria to speak to witnesses.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

•Asiwaju Tinubu

Continued on page 2

Boko Haram: Bomb scare rocks National Assembly Official allays fears From Onyedi Ojiabor, Victor Oluwasegun, Sanni Onogu and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

HERE was pandemonium yesterday at the National Assembly. Senators, Representatives and workers scampered for safety, following a rumour that a Boko Haram attack was imminent.

Though there were conflicting reports of exactly what was amiss, the National Assembly complex was deserted within minutes of an alleged security alert.

The news spread like bush fire that the sect was set to detonate bombs at the National Assembly complex around 4pm yesterday.

There was panic. Many kept running – to nowhere.

Lawmakers rushed out of their offices, fleeing the National Assembly complex.

Thousands of workers streamed down the central exit of the main National Assembly complex in a desperate bid to escape the alleged imminent doom.

In the House of Representatives wing of the complex, it was no less chaotic as lawmakers and workers abandoned their offices.

It was particularly chaotic around the elevators where lawmakers and workers clustered to exit the complex.

Some who were too panicky and could not wait for the elevator raced down the stairs to make good their escape.

A particular member of the House leadership from Kano State raced down the stairs from the fourth floor of the new building in company of six other lawmakers, after waiting in vain for the elevator.

At the Senate wing, there was a rush for the exit.

Continued on page 2

•Lawmakers and officials rushing out of the complex in Abuja ... yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•MONEY P14 •SPORTS P24 •NEWS EXTRA P25 •LIFE P29 •FOREIGN P58

2

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS

PDP, Adoke behind my trial Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan alighting from the aircraft on his arrival at John F Kennedy International Airport, New York for the opening of 66th UN General Assembly ... on Monday. His wife, Patience being received by (from left) Nigerian Ambassador to US, Prof. Ade Adefuye, Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Joy Ogwu and Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru.

tional leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria. The resort to these subterranean moves is caused by their failure to get credible individuals to come forward as witnesses to prove their allegations.

“Another dimension of the desperate moves of these individuals includes the recent media leaks from the office of the AGF that the charges against Asiwaju Tinubu would be amended to include perjury so as to strengthen their so-called “iron-clad case” against the national leader of Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ACN. “Similar reports in some sponsored media also alluded to the fact that the government also plans to drag before the tribunal, three

FBI, INTERPOL join manhunt for bomb suspect Nur

F

RESH facts emerged yesterday on why it has been difficult to arrest the key suspect behind the United Nations (UN) House bombing, Mamman Nur. His family can not be traced, by security agents, it was gathered.

Security agencies are working on the theory that he might be either a Chadian or a Nigerien.

But, according to sources, international organisations such as the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), INTERPOL and UN security experts, have joined the manhunt for Nur. Attempts by security agencies to locate Nur’s immediate and extended families have been difficult, The Nation learnt.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Nigerian and foreign security agencies have joined forces to track down the key suspect behind the UN House bombing.

“Nur’s arrest will go a long way to find out why Boko Haram is engaging in the spate of bombings nationwide.

“Although tracking Nur is challenging, the security agents have sent their drag-

Bomb scare rocks N/Assembly Continued from page 1

Banks operating within the complex speedily closed their doors.

The situation caused a traffic gridlock at the entrances of the National Assembly as hundreds of cars attempted to flee the complex at the same time.

Workers without cars walked briskly towards the main gate, looking exhausted.

A Senator retorted while making his exit: “In these days of Boko Haram, nothing should be taken for granted, especially when we are all living witnesses to the deadly blow at the United Nations building here in Abuja.”

“If you hear ‘move’ you should hit the ground running in your own interest.”

But the Sergeant At-Arms, Col. Emmanuel Okere, dismissed it all as a ruse.

Okere said: “I don’t know what is causing people to panic.

People should be law abiding and go about their business.

There was no explosion anywhere. I have radioed all units and there was nothing like explosion anywhere.

“It is like somebody raised the panic and everybody was running. It is the Nigerian mentality.”

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

nets to neighbouring countries - Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

“We are working on a strong theory that Boko Haram has operational bases in desert areas outside Nigeria from where they plot these attacks.”

The source said: “Unlike the slain leader of Boko

Haram who had a family house and married from Fugu’s family, we have not been able to link Nur to any family in Borno State.

“We are suspecting that he might either be a Nigerien or a Chadian. That is why we are trying to collaborate with the governments of these two countries to fight terrorism in Nigeria.”

“Most locals in Borno State

do not know him as much as Mohammed Yusuf. He appears to be more of a field strategist than being in the intellectual wing of Boko Haram.”

Foreign journalists have been warned by some loyalists of Boko Haram over how they have been relating with people claiming to be spokespersons of the sect.

It was gathered that a correspondent of the BBC Hausa Service Umar Shehu Elleman was accosted on Monday in Lagos and warned.

Shehu, in a note explaining his travails said: “I was on my way to the office this morning.

I was about to board a commercial bus when somebody approached me and asked me if I am Umar Elleman.

“I asked him what was happening. He said ‘I am one of your addicted fans’.

‘But I have an exclusive warning message to you (VOA, BBC, CNN, DW, and Radio France.’

“I got frightened. He said to me, ‘I want you to convey the message I received from Boko Haram that they are unhappy with the manner you people relate to every junk as the spokesperson of Boko Haram’.

Court orders Ibori to stay in custody Continued from page 1

“Ibori has the right to be competently defended,” Judge Anthony Pitts said, setting the February 13 date.

Ibori’s defence team did not object to the prosecution’s request to extend the time Ibori could be held in custody.

Without such agreement, prisoners in custody on remand for non- violent offences can be released on bail after six months.

Ibori was extradited to the UK from Dubai in April and prosecutors decided he would be tried alongside a co-defendant, Emmanuel Preko, who was already slated to be tried in November.

But Ibori’s attorney Nicholas Purnell, QC, referred to in court by other members of the defence team -and the Judgeas “one of the finest legal minds of this generation”, told the court he had been forced to withdraw his services from Ibori because of the schedule.

“This has caused some considerable distress to the defendant,” he said.

The delay to the start date allowed Purnell to represent Ibori as originally planned, he said.

The prosecution said the defence team had already had adequate time to prepare, as many of the legal representatives had also worked on the trials involving associates of Ibori.

Ibori’s wife, mistress and lawyer were convicted in a London Court last year.

Much of the complex evidence has been agreed over the course of the previous trials, the prosecution said.

“One wonders what the defence team has been doing these past months,” Sasha Wass QC told the court.

Before the trial, the court will convene to hear legal arguments, where Ibori will apply to have the case thrown out.

Aina said it was not clear to him that what Ibori is accused

of was considered illegal in Nigeria.

“Due to differences in practice between here and Nigeria, it has not yet been established that whatever did or did not take place in Nigeria is in fact criminal, or is malpractice that falls short of criminality,” Aina said.

Judge Pitts said he received this statement with “some surprise”.

Prosecutors said an independent expert on Nigerian law had given evidence in previous trials that the crimes committed by Ibori’s associates were illegal in Nigeria.

“It doesn’t seem to us that they will be able to say that what Ibori did; stole, lied, cheated, would not be offences in Nigeria,” Miss Wass said.

The public gallery was full of Mr Ibori’s supporters, including Chief P D Oboh, who hails from Mr Ibori’s home village.

Also in court, it was noticed that the court usher, the offi-

other ex- governors for alleged similar offences, a move aimed at deceiving the public that Tinubu, Nigeria’s leading opposition voice, is not being singled out.

“It is deceitful and clear subterfuge for government to continue to mouth the rule of law, while hounding political opponents and applying different standard of justice to members of the opposition while shielding its members from prosecution. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s democracy remains imperiled under the clutches of a ruling party that no longer wants to rule for 60 years but forever.

“For PDP and a government that claim they believe in the rule of law and with the Freedom of Information law in force, one would want to ask why they are more interested in publishing the list of accounts allegedly traced to Asiwaju Tinubu without disclosing how much was involved and other relevant details.

“The same act gives them the access for full disclosure.

There is a clear plot to deceive the public into believing that Tinubu, Nigeria’s leading opposition leader stashed away millions in foreign bank accounts.”

The former queried why the Federal Government is squandering public funds on politically-motivated investigations.

The statement added: “In the absence of documentary and individual evidence, the government continues to squander public funds on frivolous and politically motivated investigations and trial against imaginary enemies. The public would like to know, after five years, how much has been expended on this case and what is the actual amount in question.

“Instead of focusing on strengthening the rule of law, they continue to expend their energies and public resources on silencing opposition voices.

Most Nigerians suspect also that AGF Mohammed Adoke has failed repeatedly to give the President sound, professional and unbiased legal advice on matters that would have enhanced the rule of law.

“Asiwaju Tinubu, a leading opposition voice has been a consistent advocate of the rule of law and he is eagerly anxious for government to prove its case beyond reasonable doubts.

Those who allege must prove.

“Asiwaju Tinubu is not perturbed, rather, he is assured that the judiciary is up to the task and will in this matter dispense justice without fear or favour.”

Police seize lorry load of arms From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

HE Police in Anambra State have seized a cache of arms in a lorry and arrested an arms dealer.

Police seized 100 bags of live cartridges, 15 pump action guns and 12 double-barrel guns.

The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama, assisted by members of the anti-robbery squad.

The arms were being conveyed in a Mercedes Benz lorry marked XF 283 FGG before the police, acting on a tip-off, stopped the vehicle.

Arms dealer Paul Odunze, 57, from Umudioka in Dunukofia Local Government, was arrested along with Nwawue Ifionu, the 53- year- old driver of the truck.

Commissioner of Police Muhtari Ibrahim paraded the suspects. He vowed to step up the security in the state and urged the public to continue to provide information for the police.

It was gathered that the arms importer was arrested for possessing illegal arms three years ago when Mr Philemon Leha was Commissioner of Police in the state.

The arms dealer told reporters that he imported the arms for the vigilance groups in the state. But he did not mention the sponsor of the project. He said it was his second trip in arms importation.

The seizure of the arms excited Governor Peter Obi who visited the Police headquarters with his deputy, Emeka Sibeudu.

Obi said his efforts in crime fighting are yielding dividends.

He said: “The first priority of my administration is security and a breakthrough has been made as a result of the cordial relationship between this administration and the police.”

Obi said, “We can not bequeath to our children anarchy, it is dangerous.

“Everybody must sacrifice in building a better society for our children,” he said.

The governor described the importation of arms into the state as shocking.

Swiss court orders Abacha’s son retrial over $350m loot

S

•Ibori

cial monitoring the recording of proceedings, and the guard who brought Ibori up from the cells are Nigerians living in London.

They will presumably have a ringside seat to observe the trial when it starts next year.

Mr. Ibori faces 14-count charge relating to money laundering in the UK of billions of naira, allegedly stolen from the treasury of Delta State.

WITZERLAND’s highest court has ordered the retrial of Abba, son of ex-military Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha.

Mr. Abacha was given a twoyear suspended sentence in June, last year for taking part in a criminal organisation. His assets were also confiscated.

The retrial was ordered because he had been unable to get a Swiss visa to attend the trial.

Nigerian state lawyers believe the late Gen. Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998, may have stolen $2.2bn (£1.3bn).

After his father’s death in 1998, Abba and other members of the family controlled

the funds.

Nigeria asked the Swiss government in 1999 to help it recover the money, much of which was thought to be hidden in Swiss banks.

Switzerland has so far handed back about $700m to Nigeria.

Abacha’s son was ordered to return $350m of illegally gained assets at his trial last year in the police court in Geneva.

But the Swiss Federal Tribunal annulled the sentence and ordered the retrial on the grounds that Mr Abacha’s rights had been violated and because of procedural irregularities.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

3

NEWS CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL’S TRIAL OF TINUBU

ACN alleges harassment of members T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday accused the police of preventing its members from entering Abuja ahead of today’s trial of its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu is due to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal .

Twenty buses conveying party supporters, who were on their way to Abuja, to show solidarity for Tinubu, was stopped at Lokoja. The keys to the buses were seized by the police.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed shock over what it described as “blatant misuse of state power against the opposition.”

The statement called it the beginning of a dangerous slide towards crass dictatorship.

It wondered why the police would deprive Nigerians of their constitutionally-guaranteed rights to move

Lawyer warns of consequences

W

ITH the stage set for former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja today, an Akure-based lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, has warned of the consequences of witch-hunting the opposition leader.

Apparently reading political meanings to the trial, Ogele accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of teleguiding the tribunal in its bid to take a pound of flesh for the defeat it suffered in the hands of the Tinubu-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), during the last general elections.

According to him, the PDP became restless and uncomfortable with Tinubu after it was dislodged from all the Southwest states at the April polls; pointing out that the tribunal’s summons served on the ACN leader was instigated.

Ogele said in a statement: “It is an established fact that the only strong opposition of the ruling party is ACN. Since the victory of ACN in the Southwest and other parts of the country, the rulling party has been restless. Members of the PDP have termed this victory as a political magic. The lawyer-activist, however, admonished the party to take a critical look at the rise of Tinubu.

He said: “Members of the ruling class should look at the political antecedents of Asiwaju, that he fought gallantly through National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to restore democracy battered by the military junta. He fought that battle with others like Femi Falana, Wole Soyinka, Beko Ransome-Kuti of blessed memory, the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and other progressives, both dead and alive.

“Asiwaju has spread the gospel of political freedom to all parts of this country, having emancipated those who are under political bondage; from the Abacha regime till date.

Noting that leading lights of the Yoruba race were subjected to political persecution, the lawyer said: “The ruling party is not convenient with the political activities of Asiwaju, hence it has to use any instrument to silent him.

“The trial of Chief Obafemi Awolowo vide the frame up of treason is still fresh in our minds. But after the trial, Awolowo became the political shelter that catered for the poor masses.”

He cautioned the ruling party to desist from using government machinery to intimidate, harass and molest Tinubu.

•Police ‘arrest’ 20 buses conveying party supporters to Abuja From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

freely and express their opinions within their country.

ACN said the police confiscated the keys to the vehicles.

The party said: “This is a new low for those who are hell bent on abridging personal freedoms and muffling the voice of the opposition. ‘’The decision to virtually arrest all our members heading to Abuja in Lokoja to show solidarity with their party leader is a big blow to the rule of law and negates the tenets of constitutional democracy. It confirms the general belief that, indeed, the charges against Asiwaju were politically motivated.’’

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the party yesterday accused the Federal Government of

political persecution of Tinubu.

Its Chairman, Mr. Farouk Osuma, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said the party is not against the Code of Conduct Tribunal trying people for corrupt practices but it was opposed to the selective war against corruption.

He said: “This trial is political because it is targeted at the leader of the leader of the opposition party in Nigeria today. “ “We are not against the due process of law taking its course in Nigeria. We are not against the government embarking on a fair campaign or war against corruption in Nigeria. But we are against selective attacks or selective justice in Nigeria.

We say this because the timing of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal is rather coincidental.

The charges at a glance

The man at the CCT

F

OR some people, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, may have been appointed for one major assignment: the trial of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for offences allegedly committed several years ago. Justice Umar has rejected such insinuation.

Born on August 19, 1971 in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, he studied Law at the University of Maiduguri before his call to the Nigerian Bar in 1993. He had practised in various reputable chambers, including Ayinde Sani and Co, Ibrahim Umar and Co and Kanu Agabi and Associates before joining the Federal Civil Service as a Senior Legal Officer, Federal Ministry of Justice and later Assistant Legal Adviser in some ministries. He was also a Chief Magistrate in Bauchi State.

•Justice Danladi Umar

“ According to the story which I read, the accounts were opened ever before he became a governor. The total amount of money is approximately N7.5million. According to the tribunal, he can be held if the account is operated and I believe he was not operating these accounts while he was governor.”

He urged the tribunal to be transparent in the trial.

The Youth Forum of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) yesterday described the case as intolerance of the opposition.

The Youth Forum President, Olateju Tosin and Secretary Gift Dimpa, said: “It is on this note, that we view with great suspicion the present persecution of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the PDP-led Federal Government of Nigeria as an unnecessary distraction from the nu-

merous problems and challenges presently confronting the nation, an act of gross intolerance of the growing influence of this foremost opposition leader, his party and the entire opposition groups in Nigeria, by the PDP-led government.

It urged the government to concentrate on pressing needs.

“The issue of insecurity, which is so worrisome, has been left unattended to. The crisis in Jos, the Boko Haram threat in Bornu State, Abuja and other states, flooding and erosion in Ibadan, Lagos and most of the eastern states and the northern part of Nigeria.

“Power supply (adequacy) is the fulcrum of economic development in any nation of the world, but power supply in Nigeria keeps reducing at a geometric progression and more worrisome is the multiplier effect on the social-economic well-being of the Nation; increase in crime, unemployment etc,” said the group.

T

HE charges against the former governor, signed by Kyari Ahmed as prosecutor, reads: “That you, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, being a public officer, as listed in part II of the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having subscribed to the Oath of office as enshrined in the seventh schedule to the 1999 Constitution on assumption of office as such engaged yourself in the operation and maintenance of several foreign bank accounts namely: •”Name of bank- First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA; Account Name, Bola Tinubu, Account Number263226700.

•”Name of Bank-Citibank NA New York, USA; Account Name, Bola Tinubu & Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd; Account Nos-39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936383. • Name of Bank-Citibank • Aginighan International New York; Account Name, Bola Tinubu.

•”Name of Bank-HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6OJ; Account Name, Sen Bola Tinubu; Account No-71253670, SORT CODE-40-03-15. •Name of Bank-HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6OJ; Account Name, Sen. Bola Oluremi Tinubu; Account No-71253670, SORT CODE-40-03-15.

•”Name of Bank-HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6OJ; Account Name, Sen. Bola Tinubu-Money Market; Account No04320002DN. •”Name of Bank-HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6OJ; Account Name, Tinubu Habibat Oyindamola (Miss); Account No-1320960111.

•”Name of Bank-HSBC, 177 Great Portland

•Tinubu Street London WIW 60J; Account Name, Tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss); Account No-172447101.

•”Name of Bank-HSBC,177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J; Account Name, Tinubu Oluremi Shade; Account No-1916667988. •Name of Bank-HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6OJ; Account Name, Oluremi Shade Tinubu, Account No-41421522, contrary to section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 LFN, 1990 and punishable under Section 23 (2) thereof as incorporated under paragraph 18, part I, Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

‘Jonathan should stop PDP contractors’

P

UBLICITY Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Lagos State chapter Mr Joe Igbokwe has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call “political contractors” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to order.

He said: “His Excellency, please, please, in the name of whatever you believe in, use your exalted office to call these hawks in the PDP to order.”

Igbokwe, in a statement yesterday, said summons by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appear before it was “a bold statement” from the PDP to water the ground for the official plot to bring him down at whatever cost.

“It was a very powerful plan meticulously put together by the powers that be to begin the process of pulling Bola Ahmed Tinubu down by all means. It was a plot to take him away from the public space just

By Joseph Jibueze

for the survival of PDP.” Igbokwe said the “contractors” in their troubled world wish that the former governor would just disappear so that opposition to their “political brigandage and irresponsibility” will continue.

“In their wildest imagination they wish that Asiwaju does not exist any longer so that they will continue with their inept and rudderless leadership,” he said.

Igbokwe told the President: “Please, in the name of God, look beyond PDP in trying to solve the teething problems confronting this country. They may tell you that Tinubu is your problem, but believe me, you need his contribution to move forward. Tinubu has useful advice to give you on how to succeed.”

According to him, because the PDP has survived the onslaught of

failed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)/ACN alliance, those he called political traders in the PDP feel that it is time to nip in the bud what led to “the high blood pressure” they suffered before the elections.

“They must destroy every obstacle on the way to avoid a repeat of the earthquake of 2011 Presidential elections. Never again will they allow any opposition figure or figures to stand on their way. The clearly identified stumbling block, Tinubu, must be stopped no matter whose ox is gored.

“Tinubu was a thorn in their flesh.

The criminal governors that were either sent packing by the election tribunals or through the ballot box in 2011 have never forgiven the chancellor of the University of Bourdillon, Ikoyi Lagos.

“When they ‘finished’ with (President of the Court of Appeal) Justice Isa Ayo Salami, Tinubu became the

next man to be brought down by all means. The uncreative and poor students of history went back to the days of Asiwaju as the Governor of Lagos and began to sing that he maintained a foreign Account while he was a governor between 1999 and 2007.

“How much was in the Accounts?

About 30,000 pounds! Now how much went through the Accounts in eight years Asiwaju was in office?

Were they used for looting and money laundering?

“If a world class Chartered Accountant who rose to become the treasurer of Mobil Producing Nigeria and maintained foreign accounts before becoming the Governor of Lagos State is being accused of allowing the accounts to stay put without serious transactions while in office, what is all this fuss about?

“They want to simply give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. But can they succeed? We wait and see!”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

4

NEWS CPC's petition: Tribunal orders Jega to appear From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

T

HE Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which is hearing the petition filed by Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the April election of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega to appear before it.

This followed an application filed by the CPC in its petition.

The party asked the Justice Kumai Akaahs-led panel of five justices to compel Jega to come and give evidence and tender sensitive documents in support of its petition.

This is a departure from the earlier subpoena issued by the Tribunal but which the Court bailiff, Abubakar Mohammed found difficult to serve on the INEC boss.

In this case, Jega is ordered to appear in his official capacity as against personal capacity.

However, he is free to delegate a competent official of the commission to give evidence in his stead.

The Tribunal granted the new subpoena upon the CPC's withdrawal of the motion on notice to serve Jega the earlier summons by substituted means.

The counsel to CPC, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN) told the Tribunal that all the counsel in the matter agreed that the Subpoena should not be issued on Jega in his name but on his office.

"If such is issued, the director of Legal Services should accept it", he said.

"We have agreed and consequently apply to withdraw the motion", he added.

Counsel to INEC, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN); Jonathan's counsel, Damien Dodo (SAN) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not object.

"We are ready to abide by the ruling, the Director is here, if the Subpoena is ready we will accept", Ikpeazu said.

Tribunal suspends two doctors for negligence

T

HE Medical Tribunal yesterday suspended two doctors for negligence that led to the death of one Mrs. Chinwedu Ukwuoma in 2003.

Dr. J.E.N Okonkwo, a consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and proprietor of Jeno Hospital, Enugu is barred from practice for three months having been found guilty of combinnig his job with teaching at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, about 60 kilometer apart. He was said to be unavailable when caesarian surgery was carried out on the late Mrs. Ukwuoma, who had fibroids complications.

The second doctor, Dr. Christian Ogbuokiri, who was not a staff of the hospital but who performed the surgery which led to the death of the woman was suspended for six months.

Counsel to Dr. Ogbuokiri, Valentine Ofogba, however said his client will appeal the , describing the verdict as too harsh.

In the judgment, the Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, who is also the Chairman of the Tri-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

bunal, Dr. Roger Makanjuola said Dr. Okonkwo, who was a full time doctor at the hospital and at the same time a full time lecturer, left no standing order or guidelines on how others should handle patients in his absence.

On Dr. Ogbokiri, he said the case file showed that he did not ensure the availability of blood pints before embarking on the surgery and did not carrry out any laboratory test before the surgery.

Countering Ogbokiri's defence that he was only invited to help, the Tribunal said that a doctor is 'not bound to stop and assist in an emergency. But if he stops, he must do a professional job.'

On Dr. Okonkwo, the Tribunal Chairman said: "The charge against the 1st Defendant Doctor is in two counts.

The first count relates to the adequacy of his record keeping and follow-up of the antenatal care of Mrs. Chinwedu Ukwuoma during the period 17/5/03 and 10/10/03 that he was seeing her for antenatal care. An examination of his

records for the period indicates that they are very sparse.

It is established practice that on initial assessment of a case that is presented to a medical practitioner, a full history and examination of all the systems of the body will be carried out and the findings recorded."

"This will also be carried out whenever any significant event or complication occurs.

The records do not indicate that these basic procedures were carried out. The Tribunal has examined the exhibits submitted by the 1st Defendant Doctor in support of his submission that his records were adequate. The exhibits do provide expertise on the management of pregnant women, including complications in pregnancy."

"This failure is in contravention of Rule 10 of the 1995 Rules of Professional Conduct, and, in particular, Rule 10b.

The 2nd Count concerns failure to issue Standing Orders or Guidelines for the Management or handling of emergency situations. Dr. Okonkwo was not present when the late Mrs. Okwuoma arrived in Jeno Hospital on October 18, 2003. Under such

circumstances, Standing Orders were necessary."

He went on: "We find the 1st defendant Doctor guilty on the 2nd Count, in that he failed to exercise the degree of skill and care expected of his experience and status in the process of attending to Mrs. Okwuoma, in contravention of Rule 10 of the 1995 Rules of Professional Conduct. This contravention is not specifically listed in paragraphs a-f of the Rule; however, paragraphs a-e are examples of such failures, as pointed out by the Prosecution."

"The Tribunal finds the 1st Defendant Doctor guilty of Negligence in contravention of Rule 10 of the 1995 Rules of Professional Conduct hereby directs as follows: On the 1st count, the Tribunal hereby directs that Dr. J.E.N. Okonkwo should be admonished. On the 2nd count, the Tribunal hereby directs that Dr. J.E.N. Okonkwo should be suspended from the practice of medicine for three (3) months." He stated On the second doctor, Dr Ogbokiri, he said: "The 2nd Defendant Doctor is charged

• Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu

with proceeding to carry out the operation of Caesarean Section on Mrs. Chinwedu Okwuoma without ordering necessary laboratory investigations or ensuring that crossmatched blood, or any blood at all, was available in the operating theatre before the operation."

"The Tribunal finds the 2nd Defendant Doctor guilty as charged. The Tribunal directs that Dr. Christian Ogbuokiri should be suspended from the practice of medicine for six(6) months."

Senate screens Musdapher, Taraba ministerial nominee

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HE Senate is scheduled to screen the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher today for confirmation of his appointment.

Also expected to be screened today by the Senate is the ministerial nominee from Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku.

President Goodluck Jonathan nominated Musdapher as acting CJN following the retirement of former CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe described today’s screening as as important in view of the controversy in the judiciary.

Abaribe said the screening

•Moves to increase Appeal Court Justices to 90 From Onyedi Ojiabor Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

of the CJN will enable the senators address some of the issues thrown up by the controversy.

However, it is not known if the controversial suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami will feature during the screening.

Sources said some vocal senators may seize the opportunity of the screening to talk about the manner of Justice Salami’s suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the subsequent appointment of an acting

PCA. In the case of Ishaku, the initial ministerial nominee from Taraba, Obadiah Ando was rejected by the Senate, paving the way for President Jonathan to find a replacement.

Meanwhile, a bill, which seeks to increase the number of the justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 90 scaled through second reading in the Senate yesterday.

The bill is to amend the Court of Appeal Act of 2005.

Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma -Egba, in his lead debate said the amendment is as a result of the creation of additional divisions of the Court of Appeal throughout the

country, and necessitated "by the present exigencies of clearing the various election petitions arising from the 2011 elections, which the present judges cannot cope with."

Ndoma-Egba said the newly created divisions lack adequate manpower to handle the numerous cases before them.

He said Owerri, Sokoto, Ilorin and Calabar divisions for instance, have only three Justices instead of five.

"The passage of this Bill will ensure that the various appeals emanating from the 2011 and future elections are easily dispensed with within the time frame prescribed by

the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution as amended," he said.

The Senate Leader added that with the passage of the bill a new Division will be created for Benue State and Lagos Division will have three functional panels as it serves over 49 judges of Lagos State High Court, six judges of the National Industrial Court, Security and Exchange Tribunal and Army, Navy and Air Force Court Marshals.

All the Senators including James Manager, Ehigie Uzamere, Barnabas Gemade, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Aisha Alhassan and Victor Lar supported the amendment, saying that it will enhance the course of justice in the country.

Reps to probe mass failure in public exams From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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•Osun State Governor’s son, Abdul Rauf Aregbesola (Jnr), who is a member of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES), with the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Prof Bukola Oyawoye, during an environmental sanitation in Osogbo, the state capital...yesterday

HE House of Representatives has said it will soon conduct a public hearing on the causes of mass failure of students in public examinations. This is to find solutions to the causes of the failure.

In a motion by Jerry Alagbaso and supported by majority of the members, the House noted that the mass failure was becoming a national embarrassment.

Alagbaso, who sought a review and alignment of secondary schools’ curricula to correct the anomaly, quoted statistics to back the need for a drastic action against the trend.

He recalled that in 2009, 84 and 89 per cent of students that took West African Senior Secondary School (WASSC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations failed.

He regretted that last year, only 20 per cent of the candidates got credit in English language and 30 per cent in Mathematics.

The lawmaker said only 40 per cent of the candidates that took the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) this year score above 200 marks, adding that this was a sad trend.

Alagbaso said: “This mass failure is becoming so embarrassing that a review and realignment of the curricula is required.”

House Committee Chairman on Education, Farouk Lawan, said the education sector needs urgent overhaul to ensure improved quality.

He, however, differed on the review of the sector and the realignment of the curricula.

Lawan said: “It is not essentially a question of curricula but the implementation of the one we have in place. This is because the same curricula are being used successfully in some other countries.”

The lawmaker noted that in some instances, teachers were neither properly motivated nor adequately trained.

According to him, what the sector needs most are sufficient funding, capacity building, recruitment of qualified teachers as well as improved welfare for workers in the sector.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Hardly one month passes by without doctors in government-owned hospitals either threatening to go on strike or actually embarking on one over perceived poor welfare package. Surprisingly, many of their colleagues in the private sector are going the extra length to switch positions, reports ABIKE HASSAN

Doctors scramble for jobs in govt hospitals I

T was September 15, 2011. The occasion was the 29th annual convention of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

The President spoke about what he thought was making resident doctors lose respect: incessant industral action.

As he spoke, resident doctors in at least two states were either on strike or warming up for one.

Their reason: government is not paying them salaries and allowances commensurate to their workload.

Ironically, their colleagues in the private sector envy them.

In times past, the dream of every medical student was to get employment in privately-run clinics and hospitals after completing the mandatory housemanship and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

But times are changing. The government-owned hospitals have suddenly become the toast of fresh medical graduates.

Interestingly, the new-found romance is not out of thirst for more knowledge or the desire to set new records in medicine. The attraction is the pay package that has made doctors on the payroll of federal and state governments rank among the highest paid professionals in the country but which the doctors believe is not good enough.

Prior to the a rise in the salaries and benefits of doctors as approved by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, many doctors scrambled for the few available slots in private hospitals.

But today, those in private medical practice are not only dusting their degrees and practising certificates to seek government employment, some are ac-

‘A qualified doctor receives between N50,000 and N70,000 only from private hospitals compared to the over N200,000 salary from government hospitals, excluding allowances and other pecks’ tually lobbying royal fathers, governors and influential members of the society to help their case.

A consultant at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, Mushin, Lagos told The Nation that the stone earlier rejected by the builders has become the corner stone.

His words: “Before Obasanjo, you could count the number of consultants driving decent cars.

Before we could buy television then, we would have to save three months salary. But now, you can buy a good car with three months salary. This, no doubt, accounts for the rush”.

He said private hospitals which then were the first choice of doctors are now being avoided like the plague. According to him, a qualified doctor receives between N50,000 and N70,000 only from private hospitals compared to the over N200,000 salary from government hospitals, excluding allowances and other pecks.

Majority of the medical doctors interviewed were blunt in confirming their preference for jobs in government-owned teaching hospitals. They said such hospitals offer them better pay package and the skills needed to uplift their careers.

“I can’t see myself working for long in a private hospital. Most private hospitals are not well-equipped.

Doctors are under-paid. They lack sufficient manpower, lack specialists and consultants while the quantity and quality of professionalism is

poor. This is not good for our career,” one doctor said.

In Federal Government-owned hospitals, after the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS), medical officers receive N200,000 and in stateowned hospitals, they get N180, 000 while in private hospitals, doctors are paid N250 per hour which, translates to N70, 000 at the end of the month.

At the convention of the Postgraduate Medical College, Jonathan announced the Federal Government had restored the oneyear compulsory overseas training for resident doctors.

“This disparity discourages medical doctors after graduation from working in private hospitals,” a medical student at the University of Benin said.

Another student said: “I am not interested in working in a private hospital after school, only government hospitals will be ideal for my profession. Even if I do, I would rather work in a reputable hospital such as St. Nicholas in Lagos.”

Dr. Dennis Taiwo, who works as a medical officer in a Lagos-based private hospital, decried the challenges faced by private hospitals, which he noted are not good for advancing careers in medicine.

He said: “Private hospitals are being run as profit-making ventures. The owners are greedy, they spend less and desire to earn more.

Even when they obtain money from Health Maintenance 0rganisations (HMOs), they still underpay doctors

•From top: Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University College Hospital, Ibadan; and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, IleIfe: now the toast of doctors and employ quack nurses that are dangerous to work with.”

An Abuja-based doctor explained why medical officers would rather work in government hospitals. He said: “First and foremost, the pay in private hospitals is not good and is considered as an insult on the medical career of a doctor and the jobs are not secured. Private hospitals don’t have enough staff to work

and relate with.”

“In a typical private hospital, you will find just two doctors running all departments. No resident doctors and one or two consultants. In a government hospital, you will find eight to 10 doctors working in a department alone, resident doctors and a lot of consultants. This boosts the career and develops skills and experience,” she said.

UN: Half of female deaths in Nigeria, others caused by cancer, lung diseases

By Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News)

•Migiro

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HE United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro yesterday said more than half of female deaths in Nigeria and other low income countries are caused by cancer and other NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs).

Migiro was part of a panel which discussed the need for a new approach to women’s health care ahead

of today’s UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. She said: “We have to ask some tough questions. We have to look hard at poverty, and recognise that too many women are at greater risk of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, simply because they are poor.”

A statement issued at the end of the session by the spokesperson of the American Cancer Society (ACS), Busola Afolabi, quoted Migiro and other discussants. They agreed that “unless the prevention and treatment of these diseases are integrated into current health programmes and policies to tackle the specific risks of women, decades of progress on women’s health could be undermined and programmes will fail to meet women’s health needs.”

CEO of the ACS, John Seffrin, said: “The threat of NCDs for women in developing countries is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. This task force will further enhance global awareness and expand our ability to meet women’s health needs throughout the developing

world.”

President and Founder of Women Deliver Jill Sheffield said: “The same inequities that have plagued some communities and caused unthinkable rates of pregnancy-related mortality are putting women at additional risk for non-communicable diseases.”

Rwanda’s Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho said: “For Rwanda, the HPV vaccine has become an essential part of our cancer strategy, but also a springboard to reaching out to adolescents and their parents with health messages and services. It’s a win-win.”

The panel of global health experts outlined the challenges as obesity, misuse of alcohol, lack of exercise and poor diets.

They said these challenges “are putting millions of women in low and middle income countries at risk of chronic illness, disability and premature death.”

The statement reads: “These new diseases threaten to place an unprecedented strain on health systems, women and communities. Women living in countries where reproductive health services are weak, pregnancy-related mortality is high and infectious diseases remain common, are now also threatened by NCDs. Health systems lack adequate investment in human resources, essential supplies, and infrastructure; leaving women unable to access care that could prevent death and disease throughout their lifetime.”

The statement said a task force has been set up to reduce the incidence of NCDs. Members of the task force include: the ACS, Family Care International, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Jhpiego, PATH, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Women Deliver and the World Heart Federation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Robbers cart away firm’s N4m salaries From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

AN armed robbery gang on Monday attacked a construction company in Osogbo, Osun State capital, carting away N4 million of its workers’ salary.

The armed bandits, numbering about five used their vehicle to double cross the car carrying two employees of the company, who went to collect the money from a bank at Igbona, Osogbo.

An eye witness said the robbers struck a few metres from the main gate of the Osun State University, Osogbo campus at Oke-Bale.

Narrating how it happened, a security man attached to the university, said the robbery lasted less than 10 minutes.

The witness who pleaded anonymity said: “I have never seen anything like that in my life. We started hearing gun shots. The operation lasted less than 10 minutes. We later saw two men robbed by the bandits running towards us and said they had been robbed of N4 million.”

The snatched money is believed to be for executing a project on the university campus and for paying its workers’ salaries and for other expenses.

Osun State Commissioner of Police Solomon Olusegun, confirmed the incident.

“It’s true that N4 million was snatched by robbers in Osogbo. We have arrested the two workers who went to collect the money from the bank as prime suspects. We have begun investigation into the incident,” he said.

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Man, 57 crushed to death in Ibadan

57 year-old man ,Okunola Salako was crushed to death in Ibadan, last weekend by a vehicle allegedly belonging to a wife of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State.

The deceased, a commercial Okada operator was carrying a passenger when the driver of the 4-Runner Jeep with registration number PA 44 LND, ran into the motorcycle at Are Avenue Junction, Bodija, crushing the victim to death.

According to an eyewitness account, the woman was receiving a phone call while driving when she apparently lost concentration and rammed into the Okada operational base beside Tantalizer and hit Salako and his passenger who had just taken off from the base.

The remains of Okunola

From: Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

‘We cannot suffer in vain.

We need justice,

Salako were taken to University College Hospital (UCH) mortuary by members of the Association of Okada Riders, Bodija, Ibadan.

The commercial motorcyclists claimed the woman was a wife of Senator Ladoja, but the Chief Press Secretary to the ex-governor, Mr. Lanre Latinwo denied it, saying the woman in question is a younger sister to the ex- governor’s wife. “ We were surprised when some members of the State Security Service (SSS) and some policemen stormed the scene of the gory accident and took the wife of Ladoja away ,thinking that they were taking her to the police station to

avoid been lynched .But we were wrong when we later found out that she was walking the streets freely without any arrest”, a relation of Salako said. “ It is very unfair and inhuman. Up till now, there is no message, or any step to appease those who suffered loss. The police have refused to make any arrest.

We have been to the police station, all they kept telling

us was that the driver could not be found and she was there walking the streets.

That is why we are calling for justice, we cannot suffer in vain.

We need justice,”the man said.

When The Nation visited the Bodija Police Station , the said 4-Runner Jeep involved in the accident was seen packed at the station , but after enquiries, it was learnt that the driver was never brought to the station.

The Oyo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Femi Okanlawon confirmed that one Okunola Salako died in the accident, but he said he was unaware that the driver was one of Ladoja’s wives.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said: “When the accident occurred, it was not that the police did not want to make

Laws on land forpower projects coming From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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Boko Haram leader warns of tough days ahead A SECTIONAL leader of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram Mallam Aliyu Itsyaku has warned that, Nigeria may experience the kind of revolt going on in Libya currently, if urgent steps are not taken by the Federal and state governments to redress the injustice perpetrated against the common man by government and politicians.

Itsyaku also warned the police to stop arresting innocent citizens of Northern extraction ion the pretence that they are Boko Haram members, even as he called on government to convene a Round-Table discussion with members, in order for them to articulate their grievances.

Mallam Itsyaku, who spoke on a live programme on the Maiduguri station of Africa Independent Television (AIT) tagged, “Matters Arising” said, “When the attack on the Police Force Headquarters was to take place, I called the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who confronted me to say that the days of Boko Haram are numbered. That was what further led to the attack.”

Giving reasons for continuous attack on the police, the sect leader said, “We are attacking the police because they are attacking innocent people”. He called on the 19 northern governors to implement the Sharia law to the letter, as what they are doing currently smacks of insincerity.

arrest. What happened was that the woman who drove the Jeep was unconscious and she had to be rushed to hospital for medical attention. She is still in the hospital. But I can tell you that investigation is continuing on the case”.

Latinwo said it was not true the driver of the ill-fated Jeep was the wife of his principal.

He however admitted that the Jeep’s driver is a younger sister to one of Ladoja’s wives. “ No, it is not true that Ladoja’s wife drove the Jeep. The driver is a younger sister to Ladoja’s wife?.

They only want to politicise the issue , Who told them that she is Ladoja’s wife . Let them tell us the name if they are sure the driver is Ladoja’s wife”, Latinwo said.

•Dr Fayemi (left), Mark and Ningi...yesterday

Mark, Fayemi urge politicians to embrace Project Nigeria S ENATE President David Mark and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi have called on politicians, irrespective of their political affiliations, to embrace the “Nigerian Project” by contributing their quota to efforts at strengthening and deepening democracy in the country.

The duo made the call when Fayemi visited the Senate President, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja yesterday.

Describing the journey towards attaining democracy, which the nation enjoys as tortuous, Fayemi said all efforts should be geared towards delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

The Governor who backed the proposed constitutional amendment by the National Assembly, said the review would assist in restructuring the framework of government, especially in devolution and decentralisation of power, adding that this would enable many states which are saddled with many responsibilities without adequate resources to perform them.

Fayemi also stressed that the review would not only consolidate governance but would also assist South-West Governors in achieving their economic development pro-

‘

‘There are many areas in the Constitution that needed to be reviewed as these would further strengthen democracy’ grammes through the regional integration they have embarked on.

Reiterating the commitment of his administration to turning Ekiti State around despite the low income that accrues to the state, the Governor lamented the little attention given to Ekiti State, especially in terms of infrastructure.

Fayemi said many of the projects in the 2011 budget were not implemented in Ekiti State as federal roads in the state are bad while Erio dam and Aisegba water plant which were in the budget have not begun with the year almost gone. He said his visit to the National Assembly was to call attention to certain areas where Ekiti state has been neglected.

‘

Replying, Mark said the 2011 budget implementation has been poor but assured that the National Assembly would ensure that all items in the budget are reviewed to make it realistic and achievable so that Ekiti State is not shortchanged.

Mark, who lauded the roles played by Fayemi and many of the democracy activists during the June 12 struggle, said the essence of the democratic struggle is to ensure that the people benefit from good governance.

Similarly, the Senate President said opposition should be constructive and operate in a manner that will benefit the majority of the people.

According to him, a synergy between the National Assembly and State governments

is crucial for Nigerians to fully enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Restating his earlier stand on the need for lawmakers to be allowed to stay for longer period before being replaced, Senator Mark said the current lawmakers representing Ekiti State have proved to be of value to the development of the country , even as they were appointed into various committees of the Senate.

“You have sent excellent Nigerians to represent your state in the Senate. They are experienced and we expect them to use their experience to help us here”, the Senate president stressed.

On Constitutional Review, the Senate President asserted that there are many areas in the constitution that needed to be reviewed as these would further strengthen democracy.

On hand to receive Fayemi were the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, the three representatives of Ekiti in the Senate , Senators Babfemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Olu adetumbi (Ekiti North) and Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South).

Others were Senators Eze Ayogu, Ganiyu Solomon, Andy Uba, Hosea Agboola, among others.

HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is planning new regulations to guide the acquisition of land and property for the location of power projects nationwide.

Towards this end, NERC yesterday hosted a two-day stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja for public input to the final version of the regulations.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Abuja, the Chairman and chief executive of the commission, Dr Sam Amadi said the implementation of the power sector reform makes it necessary for the organisation to put in place a win-win platform for land owners and private investors.

He said: “The regulations are aimed to clarify and articulate principles and procedures governing acquisition of land and access rights for power projects, protect interest of licensees and ensure that project affected persons do not suffer as a result of power project cited in their localities and to ensure adequate consultation with project affected persons to address adequate compensation arising from acquisition.”

The draft is in 11 parts. Each part deals with salient issues ranging from procedures for land acquisition, project impact assessment to offences and penalties. Others include; settlement of disputes, resettlement of displaced persons, protection of properties and antiquities, assessment of compensation and negotiation, and payment and compensation.

The draft regulations make provision for the cancellation or suspension of license for violation by investor and a fine of N100, 000 or six months imprisonment among other instruments.

Compulsory acquisition of land is not allowed but negotiation between investors and occupiers is encouraged.

Compulsory acquisition would only be a last resort where the occupier unreasonably denies voluntary acquisition, according to the draft papers.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS

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Kwara: Tribunal adjourns as PDP fails to present witnesses

HE Kwara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ilorin, hurriedly adjourned at noon yesterday after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to present its remaining witnesses in its defence against the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) petition.

The ACN, its candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore, and his running mate, Joshua Adeyinke, are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Abdulfattah Ahmed as governor and Peter Kishra his deputy governor in the April governorship poll.

Counsel to the first and second respondents, Ahmed and Kishra, had on Saturday prayed the tribunal to grant them additional four days to call 42 more witnesses.

But the tribunal granted them only two days after counsel to ACN, Yemi Akangbe, reminded the tribunal that the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

respondents were wasting time.

At the tribunal’s resumed sitting yesterday, the respondents produced six witnesses and asked for adjournment to call the remaining witnesses today, its last day to disprove ACN’s allegation of widespread manipulations now backed by forensic analysis.

One of the witnesses, Lawal Lambe, said he was accredited and allowed to vote but the certified true copy (CTC) of the voters’ register for his polling unit 007 (Open Space, Idi Apa of Oke Ode Ward 1) showed he was never accredited.

The House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal granted ACN and its candidate for Irepodun State Con-

stituency, Olawuyi Raheem Tunji, leave to call experts to present the result of the forensic analysis.

Tunji is challenging the declaration of PDP’s candidate Elder David Bamidele winner for Irepodun State Constituency.

He alleges widespread misapplication of ballot papers unlawfully used to return votes for Bamidele, saying he (Tunji) scored the highest number of valid votes and should have been returned.

Counsel to the PDP, Sulayman Muhammed, had asked the tribunal not to allow the ACN to present the result of the forensic analysis because the person hired to do it is not a forensic expert.

But ACN lawyer, Mohammed Bello, said the party had from the onset requested the

tribunal to scan and do forensic analysis of the ballot papers and other INEC documents purportedly used in the April 26 House of Assembly ballot in the constituency.

Bello said it would amount to gross injustice for the tribunal to now deny the ACN right to present the outcome of the analysis after the court had initially given the party the go-ahead to inspect, scan and analysis the election documents.

Tribunal chairman, Justice Bitrus Sanga, turned down the PDP argument, because it was merely challenging the expertise of the person presenting the result and not the veracity of the analysis.

He overruled the PDP and directed that ACN call its expert witness to present the forensic result.

‘Let ex-leaders handle Boko Haram negotiation’ AR veteran and elder statesman, Alhaji Hassan Akerele, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to allow former leaders to take over the peace initiative with the Boko Haram sect.

In a statement in Lagos, Akerele noted that it would be better for the ex-Presidents and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to persuade the sect to stop the bombings.

Akerele said: “Past Presidents like Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda; Chief Ernest Shonekan; Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; and Gen. Yakubu Gowon, will be able to get to the root of the bombings and civil unrest in the North, if given the opportunity to intervene.”

•Mr. Chucks Omeife, President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIB) (left) presenting the Nigerian Building Code to Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, Managing Director/CEO, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria during a visit by the NIB executives to the bank in Abuja...yesterday

•New STF Commander resumes work From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

prised by the differences in the brief he got from Army authorities in Abuja and the reality on the ground in Jos. Oshinowo said: “I’m here on the directive of Mr. President to see how we can bring back peace to this state because there is the obvious need to stop these killings and establish new love.

“I have a new mandate, a bigger mandate, but how that mandate is going to be exe-

cuted, I cannot tell you now until I get the facts on ground.

“I came in from Abuja and what I was told from Abuja is different from what I met on ground here. What I can tell you now is that we have a task to restore peace in the state.”

Thousands of mobil policemen have been drafted to Jos to strengthen security.

They arrived in the city from their units across the country.

After reporting at the headquarters of the state police command, they were moved

to the STF headquarters, from where they were posted to the flash points and the interiors where night attacks have been persistent.

During a visit to Governor Jonah Jang at the Government House, Maj.-Gen. Oshinowo said: “I can bring back peace to Plateau State. I never knew Plateau like this. It is unfortunate that the state has lost its glory as the home of peace and tourism. But with the cooperation of the government and all stakeholders, it will not be long before peace is restored in the state.”

Appeal Court voids Rep’s election

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COURT of Appeal sitting in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday nullified the election of Manu Yusuf as the member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State.

Lead Justice, Mrs C. B. Ogunbiyi, who delivered the

judgment, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in 60 days.

Ogunbiyi was ruling in an appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate, Mr. Yaro Mustapha, challenging the election of Yusuf, also of the

ACN, during the April 9 National Assembly election.

The party had told the tribunal that Yusuf was not the party’s candidate, but the tribunal on July 20 dismissed the petition on the grounds that INEC only recognised him as the party’s candidate.

Dissatisfied with the tribu-

nal’s judgment, ACN and Mustapha headed to Jos Court of Appeal and filed an appeal through their counsel, Mr Adekunle Adegoke.

When the matter came for hearing, Adegoke told the court that the tribunal dismissed his clients’ petition after ruling that it was a preelection matter.

Govt to boost educationally-disadvantaged areas

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GROUP, Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to remove fuel subsidy or increase the pump price of petroleum products.

It also warned the Federal Government against increasing electricity tariff because doing so would worsen the living conditions of Nigerians.

The group was reacting to the recent decision by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to hike electricity tariff as announced by its Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi.

HURIWA described the plan as “a sinister agenda to further impoverish the already extremely pauperised populace”.

It urged President Jonathan to withdraw the proposal.

In a statement in Abuja by its National Coordinator and National Director of Media Af-

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‘What I met in Jos differs from my brief’

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•‘Electricity tariff hike will worsen poverty’

By Olamilekan Andu

fairs, Emmanuel Onwubiko and Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said: “We are of the opinion that the Federal Government should first of all come clean on how officials in the electricity power sector, since 1999, spent the huge amount of tax payers’ funds running to several billions of United States dollars and ensure that all those found to have diverted public funds to their private offshore accounts are prosecuted and punished because there is no justification for the current inefficient power supply situation in the country when huge public funds have been reportedly spent in the sector by the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal administrations since 1999.”

The group said it would join the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in its planned mass action against the proposed hike.

Count us out of Yoruba summit, GROUP, Yoruba says group Ronu Leadership Fo-

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HE new Commander of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos Crises, Operation Safe Haven, Maj.Gen. Oluwaseun Oshinowo, yesterday said what he met in the city was different from the brief he received from the Army headquarters in Abuja.

Oshinowo spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, as he assumed duty at the headquarters of the task force.

He was posted to Jos after the former STF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Pat Akim, was reassigned.

A statement by the SFT said the new Commander was sur-

Group to Jonathan: don’t remove fuel subsidy

HE Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said the Federal Government would increase its partnership with states, local councils and rural communities to ensure children of educationally-disadvantaged areas have access to functional education.

The minister spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, dur-

ing the flag-off of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) community-initiated self-help project implementation and disbursement of first tranche support funds to 4,109 communities.

He described the programme as a home-grown initiative to promote speedy implementation of educational development projects.

rum (YRLF), said yesterday it would not participate in next month’s PanYoruba summit in Ikenne, Ogun State.

In a statement by its General Secretary Akin Malaolu, the group said it is not interested in any summit when the welfare of the people has been neglected.

The statement reads: “Though very little has been highlighted to the public as to the agenda of the summit, our impression of the present Yoruba leaders and elders since 1999, vis–a–vis the state of welfare of the Yoruba people, has dampened our support for such a summit.

“For the purpose of clarity, the Yoruba people have never had it so bad in their history and more so under the watchful eyes of the present leaders who continue to hold back their voices in the face of grievous injustices and atrocities committed by political leaders against the people.

“We have gone round the Yoruba states to see for ourselves the level of criminal neglect of our people. They are diseased and ignorant; their children barely pass out of schools successfully. Today, our traders, artisans and selfemployed people are crying for succour but they have neither received response nor attention. Peasant farmers have

not received even the slightest notice, while the news of impending removal of subsidies on petroleum products means nothing to leaders until its consequences are well felt.

“If Yoruba leaders must congregate to ask for positions at the centre, knowing full well that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been in control of the Federal Government since 1999, has nothing to show except diminishing standard of living of our people under our leaders’ watchful eyes and without a whimper, we wish them luck. And again, if leaders continue to ignore the fact that the immediate aim of democracy which should promote the welfare, prosperity and happiness of the people and still missing, we wish them luck.”

PUBLIC NOTICE MUSTAPHA I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Omonike Damilola Mustapha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omonike Damilola Ajayi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEGOKE I,formerly known and addressed as Adegoke Adekemi Christiana, now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Adekemi Christiana. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE FLOWING GRACE GOSPEL CHURCH INT’L The above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. INNOCENT AKPAN OTUK – GENARAL OVERSEER 2. REV. (MRS) ESTHER INNOCENT OTUK 3. BARR. ANIEKAN IME ESSIET 4. BARR. UBON UKO-ABASI 5. ETIMA INNOCENT OTUK 6. UDOMA OKON OKPOKPO 7. GRACE ISONGUYO ESSIEN 8. EMMANUEL JUDE BARNABY 9. MICHAEL PETERS ANIEDU 10. ANIEBIET EMMANUEL IBANGA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations, races and generations.

2. To hold crusades and revivals in cities and churches.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Cresent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: REV. INNOCENT AKPAN OTUK

8

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS Police parade suspected criminals From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Police Command in Ondo State yesterday paraded 22 persons accused of various crimes, including robbery, cultism, kidnapping and burglary.

Police Commissioner Sani Magaji said three of them, Adeniyi Adeyosoye, Olaniyi Adeyemi and Oladele Ajimisogbe, were arrested in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore Local Government Area, after robbing Pastor J.A Oniboye of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Oke-Alafia.

Magaji said a locally made pistol, ammunition and an axe were recovered from the hoodlums.

He said another gang, which specialised in snatching cars, was arrested on a tip off.

Members of the gang are Esho Oyedepo, Godpower Abadi, Tunde Olalusi and others.

Adebayo Odemiji, Ogunsola Michael, Alonge Olanrewaju and Adenikan Adenrele were arrested for alleged kidnapping.

Magaji said: ”The Divisional Police Officer of Okuta Elerinla in Akure, the state capital, received a distress call that four suspects in a red Mitsubishi Charisma car, with Registration No. Lagos DE 462 MUS, had kidnapped a woman and were on their way out of Akure. Their vehicle broke down on the Ilesa-Akure road and our men arrested them.”

He said other suspects were arrested for alleged burglary and intent to defraud, among others.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include 18 laptops, three 24 inches flat screen TV, one home theatre, one electricity generating set, a pumping machine, three cameras, mobile phones, jewellery and one motorcycle.

Magaji said the command is determined to curb crime and urged the public to assist it with information.

China to partner Ekiti

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HE Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Deng Boging, has said China would partner Ekiti State on agriculture, education and technology.

Boging spoke on Monday while receiving Governor Kayode Fayemi at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja.

He said the partnership would fast-track the development of agriculture in Ekiti owing to China’s experience in modernised farming.

The ambassador said the

Chinese Government would also give scholarships to brilliant students from the state.

Fayemi urged the Chinese government to assist the state in the development of agro-allied as well as small and medium scale industries.

He said his administration is passionate about commercializsing agriculture and plans to generate, at least, 50 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the sector.

Dangote donates N100m to Lagos flood victims

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EADING Pan-African conglomerate, the Dangote Group, has donated N100 million to victims of the July 10 floods in Lagos State.

President of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, made the donation yesterday, when he led the company’s management to the Lagos State House in Marina.

He said the contribution is a response to the government’s call for assistance.

Dangote said the business community in Lagos is happy with the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration because there are evidences that taxes are judiciously utilised.

He said: “When taxes are increased, the people may initially grumble, but when they see that the money is being used judiciously, they will be happy ready to pay without prompting.

“That is what is happening in Lagos and the business community is happy with the government. We can see the development in many areas, schools, hospitals and roads.”

Dangote urged individuals and organisations to assist the

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Adegunle Olugbamila and Paul Oluwakoya

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members would comply with the union’s National Executive Council (NEC’s) directive to begin a warning strike next week.

Speaking to reporters at the union’s secretariat in LASU yesterday, ASUU Chairman Dr. Jamiu Oluwatoki said the union has been dialoguing with government on the implementation of a signed agreement between both parties in the past three years with no result.

The agreement includes the 70 years retirement age for professors, staff allowances and funding of the school.

Oluwatoki said the union had exploited all options and the proposed strike is the only choice left.

He said: “After a heated debate, ASUU NEC agreed to go on a one-week warning strike. LASU branch of the union is ready to comply. The strike notification has being passed to the university management.

“Government needs to inject more funds into LASU. We have the qualifications to teach the students but lack the facilities to take them on practical and research.

“We are not fighting for our pockets, but for the improvement of facilities in the universities.”

On the selection of a VC for the school, Dr. Oluwatoki said the union has no anointed candidate among the four selected.

The union urged the selection committee to follow due process and advised the state government against changing the VC’s tenure from one to two.

Deputy Governor hails alumni

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SUN State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori has congratulated the newly elected leadership of the Alumni Association of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

The executive is led by Mrs. Odebode Adenike.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori urged members of the association to contribute to the school’s development.

Rector of the school Dr. J.

O. Agboola urged the new executive members to see their emergence as a call to service. “Always bear it in mind that the confidence your colleagues reposed in you should not be misplaced,” Agboola said.

The Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Raufu Olawale Adedeji, and the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Akanbi Adeniran, attended the inauguration of the executive.

government and assured Lagosians that he would always be ready to help whenever the need arises.

Fashola thanked the group and urged others to emulate Dangote.

He said: “Dangote is kind and generous; we thank him and his organisation immensely. The donation he has made today demonstrates his high degree of public spirit.

The strength of our nation lies in giving back to the society, ploughing back into the society to help the needy. There have been so many contributions to the state from him

that were never publicised.”

Fashola said the floods were an unavoidable response by nature.

He said: “We have taken too much from nature and the reaction is the damage we are experiencing. It is too much and the only thing we could do is to develop strategies to contain it.

“The effect of global warming is very great. All over the world, we can see the effect of climate change; floods and earthquakes everywhere. The Lagos floods were as a result of a heavy downpour, which should have fallen for three

months, but fell in a day.

“The reality is that we managers of the city would have to compare notes, share experiences and knowledge, and map out how to tackle the situation. “This is why Lagos State is hosting an International Conference of Mayors on climate change.”

The governor said the state’s budget had been reviewed to provide more funds for the Ministry of Environment to tackle the problem.

He said the construction of resettlement centres has begun in Epe and Alimosho.

Food crisis imminent, says Aregbesola

LASU’ll comply with ASUU warning strike HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) branch, has said its

•From left: Chief Operating Officer of Dangote Group, Mr. Olakunle Alake; Dangote and Fashola ...yesterday

•Aregbesola

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said Nigeria would experience food crisis if measures are not taken to boost agriculture.

Aregbesola said, according to a survey, the bulk of the food we eat are imported.

He spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, at the opening of an interactive session on catfish production for export to

the European Union (EU) market, organised by the Akure, Ondo State, Zonal Office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

Aregbesola said: “There is chronic food deficiency in Nigeria. When we came into office, we did a survey on the sources of food in Osun State and discovered that most of the food consumed in the state were imported.”

He said although Osun was classified as an agrarian state, the rice consumed by the people is imported from Asia, while the meat comes from Niger and Burkina Faso.

The governor regretted that while children and people in war-torn countries, such as like Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq look robust and well-fed; many Nigerian chil-

dren look gaunt and malnourished.

He said malnutrition inhibits the ability to learn or participate in sports.

The governor said his administration would produce enough food for local consumption, before thinking of export.

Stating that the primary responsibility of government is to feed its people, Aregbesola regretted that the traditional African agricultural practice was reversed by the colonial authorities, who placed emphasis on cash crops to service their home industries and neglected the production of arable crops.

He said: “The discovery that there is an impending food crisis informed our agriculture policy of giving priority to food production, so that we can feed ourselves.

“It has been discovered that

good nutrition will keep away most diseases. Good nutrition is also the key to improved cognitive ability of students and good performance by athletes.”

To address this problem, Aregbesola said his administration has acquired 31,000 hectares of land across the 30 local governments of the state for the cultivation of arable crops and set up the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O-REAP) to assist rural farmers.

Promising that cash crops would not be neglected as exportation was crucial to the nation’s economy, Aregbesola said Osun has made arrangements with farmers to tap into the N2 billion daily food market in Lagos.

He assured farmers that the government would help move their goods to Lagos by railway into designated markets.

How Daniel short-changed Ogun, by SSG

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HE Ogun State Government has accused ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel of short-changing the state by not implementing the Personal Income Tax Law. Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa said the Daniel administration could not accurately tax civil servants because it lacked the moral right to do so.

Adeoluwa spoke to reporters yesterday at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, the state capital, after a meeting with labour leaders.

He said the former administration took little or no tax from workers because it wasn’t paying salary on time.

Adeoluwa said this led to an indiscriminate application of the tax law, causing dis-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

parity in the taxes of even staff on the same salary scale.

He said: “People were paying nothing because the government of that day did not have the moral right to demand tax. We are not here to castigate any government, but to discuss issues.

We all go abroad and see how things are done there.”

The SSG dispelled rumours of a 300 per cent increase in the Personal Income Tax of civil servants.

He said the government has neither reduced salaries nor increased the tax payable by civil servants, but workers would be required to pay the correct tax.

Adeoluwa said: “We are not deducting 300 per cent tax from workers. We don’t

know where the rumour is coming from. It is untrue.

The past administration used executive fiat to amend Federal Government Tax Acts. He said the present administration pays salary and allowances promptly and workers should reciprocate the gesture by paying tax.

The SSG said: “Now, we pay the salaries of workers in full and on time. We have allowed all workers to claim the maximum benefits and allowances allowed by the Act, even in advance, and have not compelled them to pay the arrears of unpaid taxes and penalties, as it is the case in tax administration anywhere in the world.

Therefore, all public servants must comply with the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Law. “The Personal Income Tax Act is a federal statute and it

is incumbent on all authorities in Nigeria to implement the law. We have no intention of increasing tax or adding to the burden of our people. It is only our duty to ensure that the extant law guiding PAYE throughout the country is implemented as well in Ogun State.”

He urged workers to report cases of over taxation to the Board of Internal Revenue for a refund with interest.

On the rumoured reduction of the salary of Permanent Secretaries, Adeoluwa said the House of Assembly, in 2008, passed a bill on the reduction of the salary of political office holders and Permanent Secretaries, which was assented to

by Daniel.

He said the law has not been amended or repealed, so the government has been implementing it.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Bauchi denies diverting 5b housing fund From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

THE Bauchi State Government has denied diverting a N5 billion loan obtained from the Federal Mortgage Bank to build 5,000 houses.

Commissioner for Information Umaru Saleh denied the allegations by Sa’adu Zungur Network in Bauchi.

Saleh claimed the project was supervised by Bauchi State Investment in partnership with the bank.

He said: “Some of the houses have been completed and will soon be inaugurated while others have reached various stages of completion.”

Saleh said the government has completed several projects and has done a lot to uplift living conditions of the residents, “but our political opponents always score the administration low”.

He said: ’’Few people do not want Isa Yuguda to come back as the governor. When they failed to stop his reelection, they decided to blackmail the government by making unnecessary false allegations.”

The commissioner said the false allegations would not deter the government from ensuring the socioeconomic well-being of the residents.

He urged reporters to go round the state and see for the development projects the administration has implemented.

North politically out of tune, says ACF chief A CHIEFTAIN OF Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, yesterday said the North was politically and economically out of tune.

He called for measures to tackle insecurity in the region.

Gusau, who is ACF’s Planning Committee Chairman for the Peace and Unity Conference, spoke in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, when

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

ACF officials visited Governor Umaru Tanko alMakura at the Government House.

He said the killings in the North must stop.

Gusau noted that the region parades almajiris (urchins) on its streets, urging

leaders of the region to correct the development.

According to him, the educationally backward North, which used to compete with the advanced South, is now on the reverse gear.

Gusau said the current culture of northerners killing one another was alien to the region.

He said the ACF would soon organise a conference where major issues affecting the region would be solved.

Al-Makura noted that the crisis in Jos, Plateau State, where scores have died, and the Boko Haram sect, which has killed many, are issues that have to be addressed urgently.

The governor said: “Boko Haram has created a very bad image, not only for the North but for the nation.”

Nasarawa Poly students protest fee hike

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TUDENTS of the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, yesterday protested increases in their school fees, hostel accommodation and an alleged plan to sack their Rector.

They barricaded the only federal highway linking the state and the eastern part of the country to Abuja, burning used tyres and woods.

The protest, which began as early as 7am, caused a traffic gridlock.

Efforts by the combined team of the police and the military to disperse the protesters with teargas proved abortive.

The students stood their ground, surging towards the security operatives.

It was not until the Secretary to the State Government

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

(SSG) Hamza Elayo arrived on the scene that the protesters calmed down.

Elayo persuaded the students to return to their school, assuring them that the government was looking into their complaints.

The students told The Nation that they were facing accommodation problems.

They said they had been attacked by hoodlums and their female colleagues raped in their hostels.

The students alleged that non-indigenes, who were paying N17,000 per session are now to pay NN27,000 while indigenes, who were

paying N11,000, are to pay N22,000.

Governor Umaru Tanko al-Makura yesterday visited the school.

His presence made the protesters to remove the barricades on the road.

He told the students that his administration would soon solve their accommodation problem and resolve that of the Rector.

Besides, the governor promised to ensure that courses at the polytechnic that have not been accredited are soon approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Al-Makura said his administration would take a decision on the school’s accommodation problem before next Monday, promis-

•Al-Makura

ing to build new hostels and a library for the students.

The Rector, Michael Ibrahim Mamma, who was not in the school when the protest began, told reporters that he needed to check the facts before he would react to the students’ demands.

Jang defends mandate From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has begun the defence of his election at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, the state capital.

He insisted that he won the April 26 election fair and square.

His closest opponent in the governorship poll and former deputy, Dame Paulin Tallen of Labour Party (LP), petitioned the tribunal, claiming the poll was marred by fraud and should be rescheduled.

The tribunal has taken over 90 witnesses from the plaintiff.

At the resumed sitting yeaterday, Jang told the tribunal that the poll that returned him to office was free and fair.

The first witness, Anita Pam, from Girin, Abattoir, said accreditaction of voters started from 8am, and voting went on from 12.30pm till 4pm.

Pam, who was a ward collation agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said party agents signed the results because of the peaceful conduct of the election.

Another witness, simply identified as Monday, from New Gyel, said he voted at Gangare A Polling Unit.

He said nobody was denied his or her rights at the polling unit.

A polling agent for Tenshel Gyel and dung Pam of Gada polling units, Samuel Choji said though the PDP won in the polling units, polling agents could not record the number of registered voters, those accredited, those who voted and the number of rejected votes.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We have studied the model where willing contractors come and fund road projects and over time, the government pays back those kinds of funds. We also have private finance initiatives and, of course, the publicprivate partnership model which is a full model in this country.

-Mike Onolememen, Minister of Works

Jonathan urges professionals’ presence in states

Fed Govt, states, councils share N607b •NNPC to start N450b debt repayment this month

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor (Abuja)

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From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor (Abuja)

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HE three tiers of govern ment shared N607.023 billion in August, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Addressing journalists after the meeting in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Lawan Ngama, said the three levels of governments shared N552.296 as statutory allocation and the balance of N54.727 billion was proceeds from the Value Added Tax. Unlike in the previous months, the FAAC did not augment the August allocations despite the fact that the N607.023 billion fell short of the N615.757 that was budgeted for the month.

No explanation was given for this development by the Minister, who admitted that the statutory allocation of N552.296 billion disbursed among the three tiers of government was short of the N554.150 billion budgeted. August experienced another shortfall in VAT earning as N61.607billion was budgeted but N54.727billion was realised and disbursed.

Ngala disclosed that the controversial N450 billion debt that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owed will be paid by installments starting from September 1.

He said parties have agreed on a scheduled repayment of the debt by the NNPC in 32 installments, but noted that the NNPC has been directed to fast-track the payment whenever it has the cash.

The resolution of the N450 billion NNPC debt issue, the Minister pointed out, was resolved 10 days after the last FAAC meeting of August 12.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$118.7/barrel Cocoa -$2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber -¢146.37pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.747 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -9.3% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.84% Savings rate -1.42% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit -6% MPR -8.75% Foreign Reserve $34.87b CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

FOREX -

0.281 215.1 245.00 153.16 1.5652 243.2 40.57

• From left: Group Managing Director, Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Funke Osibodu; Executive Director, Corporate And International Banking and Treasury, Mr Philip Ikeazor; and President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigeria Shareholders, Mr Farouk Umar, during an interactive session with the shareholders, in Lagos ... on Monday.

N54b MFB’s fund not possible this year, says CBN T

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) says it will not release the N54 billion microfinance banks (mfbs) development fund to the operators this year.

The development is a negation of the earlier hope by the banks that the money would be released to them not later than the third quarter of the year.

Development Financial Institution, an arm of CBN, that provides special vehicle for the implementation of small-scale projects in the country, has been mandated

By Akinola Ajibade

to create and keep the cash for distribution to the banks later.

The Director, Development Finance Department, CBN, Paul Nduka Eluhaiwe, told The Nation that the fund, as contained in the microfinance policy, was not meant for disbursement in this year, as being contemplated by the operators.

He said the issue has not been taken to the apex bank for deliberations and subsequent approval, adding that

the fund cannot be given to the operators this year.

He said the CBN is trying to put some measures in place to encourage the growth of the sub-sector, and the industry.

But the National President, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), Omeh Mathias, said the CBN has not discussed the release of the money to the operators.

He said the apex bank is yet to come out with modalities on how the fund would be distributed among microfinance banks, adding that the apex

bank only promised releasing the funds after the banks would have been transformed.

He said: “The CBN has not called us to discuss the issue of N54 billion microfinance development fund. The apex bank only promised that the fund would be given to the banks after their recapitalisation programmes.

CBN promised to come out with criteria for releasing the fund, after it has sanitised the sub-sector. Up till now, the apex bank has not done anything about the issue,” he stated.

Lottery Commission makes N1.8b

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HE National Lottery Regulatory Commis sion (NLRC) says it has made over N1.8billion to the Lottery Trust Fund.

The commission promised to meet its target of N44billion yearly when checks are put in place to instil integrity in the sub-sector.

But telecoms firms would be barred from running lottery services to allow licenced agents to play a role, it was revealed.

According to the DirectorGeneral of the NLRC, Mr Peter Igho, who disclosed yesterday in Abuja at an interactive session with journalists, the major operators in

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja Bureau Chief

the sector now abide the rules set out by the commission.

Igho, while explaining that the commission has nothing to do with the administration of the fund, said the funds are expected to be spent on good causes that would benefit Nigerians.

He said: “Before we came on board, the state of lottery in Nigeria was an allcomers market characterised by a lot of ignorance. It was not regulated before now and players were often shortchanged by the operators.

Besides, there was no evi-

dence to show that the operators were contributing to any good cause.

“Now, things are different. We have about N1.8billion in the Trust Fund already and we are looking about N44billion annually. That is our projection. It will interest you to know that a lot of the money we get in the Trust Fund comes from Lagos alone. Lagos contributes about N1billion to the fund.

“What we do here is to insist on a strict adherence to lottery ethics because, contrary to the belief out there, lottery is one of the biggest earners for the government

in most nations. Twenty per cent of whatever is made by the operators should go to the Trust Fund while 50 per cent must go to those playing it.

“We insist that the operators must keep their promise and that there should be transparency in the lottery scheme as against the practice in the past where they rip off the people.”

He also disclosed that the commission has licenced four firms to operate lottery in the country, adding that the telecoms firms in the country would soon be barred from operating lottery in the name of promos in the country.

NAICOM to sanction firms on boards’ formation

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NY insurance com pany with an indi vidual occupying dual positions on its board will be sanctioned forthwith the Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, has said.

Daniel told The Nation that most companies are subverting the industry’s rules that restrict an individual from occupying the position of an executive director, as well as a director on the same board.

He said such action subverts the ethics of good corporate governance and transparency, adding that the Na-

By Chuks Udo Okonta

tional Insurance Commission (NAICOM) will deal with any firm that contradicts stipulated rules.

He said: “Aware that the issue of corporate governance is at the core of supervision, the commission has continued to implement the provisions of the code of good corporate governance for the industry.”

He said to ensure independence of the board, the Commission recently began to enforce the provision of

the code relating to directors’ independence. Accordingly, dual board membership is no longer allowed.

Companies with dual board membership have been directed to immediately restructure their boards.

“Whereas the law clearly forbids common directorships in insurance companies and brokering firms, many of our colleagues are doing this openly as if they are telling the commission – catch me if you dare - let me make you a firm promise that this time around, we

will dare to catch you.”

Daniel noted that NAICOM having observed the ways companies were managed, it developed the code of corporate governance to right the wrongs that have stemmed the growth of the industry.

He maintained that change of attitude and disposition have remained great challenge to how businesses should be run, adding that NAICOM will assist the operators to implement provision in the code to enhance performance.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has called on professional bodies to establish more state chapters if they want to attract government’s support.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yeguda, spoke at the second professionals’ summit in Abuja, organised by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN).

“APBN should establish more state chapters so as to be visible in all the states.

That’s the only way to attract government’s support. The Federal Government will continue to impact on stakeholders policies to create favourable atmosphere for investment,”adding that government is ready and willing to assist professional bodies, “but I must challenge you to be agents of transformation by being transparent, imbibing probity, accountability and value addition for the development of the nation,” he stated.

He appealed to the professional bodies to assist the government to deliver on its services.

Earlier the President of APBN, Segun Ajanlekoko, affirmed the commitment of the body to the development of Nigeria, stressing that “the association will continue to provide credible platform for professionals to excel and progressively contribute to the development of the nation.”

Odua divests 75% shareholding in O’net From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE regional telecom munications firm, O’net, is relaunching its products into the market after several months in the trenches.

The new Managing Director of the firm, Mr Ade Ayoola, disclosed this while addressing reporters at the corporate headquarters of its parent company, Odu’a Investments Limited, Cocoa House, Ibadan.

The news came as the Group Managing Director of the conglomerate, Mr Adebayo Jimoh, disclosed that a total of 75 percent shareholding had been divested to Conclave Communication Inc., Canada which is in partnership with it on the revival of O’net Telecommunication.

The Canadian company signed a Financial and Technical Management (FTM) agreement in March. By the agreement, the new investor would bring funds and technical expertise to boost the operations of the company and reposition its products in the telecoms market.

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MONEY

Banks cut cost to lower interest rate B

ANKS are cutting cost to remain business, The Nation has learnt.

Some have reduced the cost of operations by at least 40 per cent, even after taking up additional responsibilities.

The cost cutting measures include reduced budgetting for key sections and the combination of some units.

Banks, which have assumed mega status, with increased branch network, are still implementing old budgets, sources said.

A management staff member of a bank, who asked not to be named, said his bank has reduced unit budgets by over 40 per cent.

The approach, he said, does not favour many department heads, who are under pressure to deliver.

“It is a major battle in our bank to get management understand that our network expansion and recent

Stories by Collins Nweze acquisition of a rescued bank can not be run with same old budget.

We have moved from four branch network in 2008 to over 25 branches at present, but nothing has changed in terms of more funding for the units,” a unit head in one of the foreign banks said.

Many of the funds received by the departments are used in running daily activities, training, product development, image building, acquiring new technologies among others.

Units which hitherto got N10 million yearly, now get less than N5 million and in some cases, far below.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, projected a cost reduction strategy for banks hinged on reducing cost of operations by 30 per

cent in the next three years.

He said there was need for a shared services project in collaboration with banks in managing cost of fund. He said: “In the next three years, we will reduce overhead costs in the banking industry by 30 per cent”.

The Shared Services Initiative is meant to focus on reducing human involvement in banking with mobile payments channels, thereby drastically cutting business costs.

The CBN has already rolled out fresh guidelines on the operations of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sale (POS) terminals, mobile money, cash limit policy among others, and prescribed punishment for violators of the framework. It has also engaged small or medium sized consultants on Mobile Payments Scheme Operation in the country.

It has equally instituted a policy limiting daily cash withdrawal and lodgments to N150,000, individuals and N1 million, corporate organisation, effective June 1, 2012.

The apex bank took this step to curb the dominance of cash in the economy with its implication for cost of cash management to banking, security and money laundering.

Sanusi said the policy was designed to help reduce cost of handling cash, which is eating into banks’ profits and liquidity. He estimated that by 2012, banks would be spending N192 billion on cash handling a cost that would be passed to the customers in terms of fees and interest charges.

“The target is getting the cost reduced by 30 per cent in three years; through enforcement of fourpronged initiatives namely reduc-

tion in cash management cost, enhanced electronic payment system, Information Technology and centralised back-office systems,” he said.

Analysts attribute high interest rates to banks’ high cost of operations. Some of these operating cost on power and security are unavoidable, it was learnt.

Aside cost cutting measures, analysts said financial institutions must be more proactive and innovative in packaging and marketing their products to remain relevant as financial intermediaries.

The source said the internal costcutting measures in the banks as well as CBN initiatives are aimed at achieving the 30 per cent reduction in cost of banking operations to drive down lending rates and ensure increased return on investments.

CPI rose 9.3% in August

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HE Composite Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 9.3 per cent year-on-year last month. The CPI is a country’s standard way of measuring inflation in the economy.

This is lower than 9.4 per cent recorded in July in the new CPI series, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The monthly change of the CPI was 1.67 per cent increase when compared with July this year.

The year-on-year average consumer price level as at August this year for Urban and Rural dwellers rose by 7.1 and 11.1 per cent.

The urban All Items monthly index rose by 1.7 per cent while the corresponding rural index rose by 1.6 per cent when compared with the preceding month.

The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the 12month period ending August this year over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 11.6. This was slightly lower than the figure for the preceding month. The corresponding 12-month average per cent change for urban and rural indices rose by 9.4 and 13.5.

Also average monthly food prices rose by 2.7 per cent in Au-

gust 2011 when compared with July 2011 figure. The level of the Composite Food Index was higher than the corresponding level a year ago by 8.7 per cent. The average annual rate of rise of the index was 11.6 per cent for the twelve-month period ending August 2011.

NBS said the increase in the month-on-month index was caused mainly by upward movement of the prices of most food items due to the fasting period.

However, reduction in the inflation rate does not necessarily mean fall in price provided the month-on-month percentage change is positive.

It added that the “All items less Farm Produce” index which excludes the prices of agricultural products increased by 0.9 per cent in August 2011 when compared with July 2011. The increase was mainly on some household items, building materials, diesel, kerosene and electricity charge.

In the 12-month to August this year, the index rose by 10.9 per cent while the average yeraly rate of rise of the index was 12 per cent for the 12-month period ending August this year.

FITC seeks regular bank workers’ training

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ANAGING Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Mrs. Lucy Newman, has said there is need for regular training for bank staff to enhance efficiency and productivity. The centre, which recently marked its 30th anniversary, has trained 45,000 bank workers.

Mrs Newman said the centre has contributed to manpower development in the country.

Speaking during the anniversary in Lagos, Newman said there is every cause to mark FITC’s 30 years of successful operation and growth “The board, management and staff of FITC feel that this is a period of reflection, stocktaking and appreciation of stakeholders that have contributed in one way or the other, to making the firm successful,” she said.

According to her, this is time to re-strategise for the future, in context of current and emerging sector specific challenges within the domestic, regional and international arena.

She said the agency will be train-

ing the new management of the banks to acquaint them with the new developments in the industry.

According to her, many of the trainees have become top managers and leaders in the financial services industry. She said there is urgent need for bank managements to send their staff for regular training.

FITC is a professional services firm owned the Nigerian Bankers’ Committee. It is composed of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC), all the deposit money banks and discount houses in the country.

It was established in 1981 to provide professional services support in training, consulting and research to the Financial Services Sector and related sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Newman said FITC’s mandate is to position it as a reference professional services firm in matters relating to the Acquisition, Management and Development of the human capital to the operators and regulators in the Nigerian financial system, primarily.

• L–R: Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders’ Association, Sola Aboderin; Chairman, Onitsha Zone Shareholders’ Association, Goodluck Akpore; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mahmoud Lai Alabi with Chairman, Lagos Zone Shareholders’Association, Brigadier Emmanuel Ikwue (rtd), during the bank’s shareholders’ parley in Lagos.

Don’t stall recapitalisation deals, shareholders told • Banks rush to beat Sept 30 deadline

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ROM the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has come a piece of advice for shareholders, don’t stall rescued banks’ recapitalisation deals.

According to CIBN President, Mr ’Laoye Jaiyeola, shareholders should not pressure the banks to do anything undesirable.

The banks are: Oceanic Bank, Finbank, Union Bank and Intercontinental Bank.

Jaiyeola said the banking reform, would ensure a stable industry, adding: “From day one, we (CIBN) have always supported the reforms as long as they will bring about a safe and sound banking system, protect the interest of our members, depositors, the industry and the economy.

What is important at this time, he said, is ensuring that the regulators are following the laid down process required to resolve the issues, noting that the various parties beginning with the boards of the rescued banks have reviewed the offers and accepted them.

The banks, as required by law are now ready to lay the various scheme documents before shareholders at duly convened meetings where such would be discussed and

adopted with, or without amendAt the end of the entire recapitalisation process, which would bring about a win-win situation for stakeholders, the CIBN boss expressed confidence that the industry would become more stable and significantly de-risked.“People would have learnt lessons.”

Jaiyeola expressed hope that there would be less speculative banking in the country, even as he challenged the banks themselves to engage in massive human capital development to drive the fast-changing operating environment.

The banking reforms started after the August 14, 2009 intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) following the outcomes of the stress test jointly conducted in June 2009 by examiners from CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

The banks have intensified efforts to beat the September 30 deadline of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their recapitalisation.

The Nation learnt that the banks are ironing out the grey areas on the issue to avoid last minute hitches.

ETB’s spokesman, Andy Chukwu, said the bank is making moves to remove legal impediments that would stall its recapitalisation, adding that the boards of Sterling Bank Plc and ETB have met to ratify some decision.

“It is no longer news that the boards and the shareholders of the two banks have met at the Extra-ordinary General Meeting to sort out some issues. We would still go back to court to settle some issues”, he said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank Plc, Mrs Funke Osibodu, said her bank is strong in agricultural financing, adding that the bank would continue the initiative after recapitalisation.

A financial expert, Mr Ibiyomi Oluyemi, said the banks have no option than to recapitalise, given the short period at their disposal to put finishing touches to their arrangements with their suitors.

He said the banks were hopeful of meeting the deadline, adding that the lender has almost made headway in their talks with their partners.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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INSURANCE

Insurance sector least capitalised in stock T market, says agency

HE Insurance sector has I.8 per cent stake in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), making it one of the least developed subsectors an investment and research firm, Afrinvest has said.

In its 2011 Insurance Sector Report, the agency noted that the industry has significantly underperformed in the stock market.

The sector remains one of the least capitalised on theNSE, with only 1.8 per cent of aggregate market capitalisation, having dropped from about four per cent in 2008, Afrinvest said.

It noted that while poor public perception of insurance seemed to have rubbed off negatively on the market pricing of insurance stocks, the stock

Stories by Chuks Udo Okonta

valuations have also been weighed down by low earnings quality and lack of transparency, poor investment strategy, and low stock liquidity.

It said: “Using a detailed five-year financial model and forecast for the next five years, we have valued each insurer using a Residual Income Valuation Method (RIM). We have forecast each insurer’s financial performance over the next five years based on our view of industry dynamics

and the insurers’ historical trend and business model.

“Our assumptions include a uniform cost of equity of 18.4 per cent, based on an average sector beta of 0.97 per cent, risk free rate of 12.6 per cent, a risk premium of seven per cent and a terminal growth rate of four per cent.

“Our ratings and recommendations rely on the upsides thrown up by our RIM valuations for each insurer.”

It noted that the industry also remains one of the less developed in

Africa and the world, because it has a premium per capita of $8.9 and a penetration rate of 0.6 per cent, last year, as against South Africa’s $29.35billion.

Afrinvest said Nigeria’s life insurance premiums grew by 33.1 per cent, higher than the 24.4 per cent in nonlife insurance and 25.9 per cent combined industry gross premium between 2005 and 2009.

It noted that this has pushed the life insurance share of total premiums to an all time high of 19.5 per cent.

The agency noted that life insurance penetration rate stands at .0.2 per cent of nominal Gross Domestic GDP as life premiums grew in absolute terms by 70.4 per cent in 2009, adding that in spite of this phenomenal growth, there is a considerable depth of unexploited potential in the life insurance segment.It said: “In our view, the lack of consciousness of Ni-

gerians about life insurance is a drag on the growth of this segment. However, the development of a non-existent social security system will serve to boost the growth of life insurance premiums in the medium to long term.

“On the back of Nigeria’s favourable demographics (with a growing youthful population), we expect Nigeria’s life insurance penetration to converge rapidly towards the African average.”

The Non-Life Insurance segment is growing at a annual rate of 24.4 per cent. Despite the introduction of compulsory insurance policies in a few classes of the non-life segment which has fuelled premium growth, the segment’s penetration has grown slowly.

In addition, the loose regulation of the industry and excessive price wars among fragmented players has limited the growth of the non life insurance business. The non-life insurance sub sector is principally driven by the motor insurance premiums, which contributed 20.8 per cent to industry gross premiums in 2009.

Practitioner advises colleagues

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• From left: Mr Osibo and Mr Omosehin at the event in Lagos.

Mutual Benefits, Portland strike deal

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UTUAL Benefits Assurance (General) Plc and Portland Paints Nigeria Plc have entered into partnership to provide adequate insurance for property owners.

Its Managing Director Mr Olusegun Omosehin, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Lagos, said the initiative is to provide solution to the alarming increase in the incidents of fire and burglary and ensure safety of properties.

He noted that landlords who buy N300,000 (minimum) worth of Portland – Sandtex paint-would automatically be entitled to free fire insurance to a limit of N4million and N1 million for burglary, adding that tenants who buy N30,000 (minimum) worth of Portland product to paint

their apartment would get free fire and burglary up a limit of N1 million.

Omosehin said the product also offers multiple compensation in line with level of patronage, adding that landlords and tenants whose purchases are worth N600,000 and N60,000 would be entitled to to double the basic benefits and in subsequent multiples depending on the total amount of purchase.

He said insurance certificates will be issued to clients who qualify by purchasing appropriate quantity of paints, adding that the certificate would provide cover for the property for one year He said: “Portland – Mutual extra is the fruit of the strategic partnership between Mutual and Portland Paint and Product Nigeria Plc. The

product was conceived out of burning desire by both companies to consummate the cordial business existing between them. This product is a double-package bonanza that provides beauty for homes, offices and other buildings as well as protection for properties against the risk of fire and burglary.”

Managing Director Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc Mr Bayo Osibo, said the partnership would help increase the number of insured houses in the country, adding that presently less 0.5 per cent of households are insured in Nigeria.

“Statistics revealed that less than 20 per cent of household units are painted and well maintained, less than 30 per cent are registered and equitable and less than 0.5 per cent is insured against perils.

• From left: Managing Director/CEO CBO Insurance Brokers, Mrs. Bola Onigbogi; Jegede and Ibe at the event.

MEMBER of the Governing Council of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and Managing Director of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr Wale Onaolapo, has urged insurance practitioners to be professional in their outlook.

Onaolapo spoke at a forum in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said the attitude of operators was responsible for the poor growth of the industry.

Onaolapo said: “The insurance industry in Nigeria still has a lot to do in terms of gaining the confidence of the Nigerian insuring public and generating high patronage level.”

He said the growth and advancement of the industry largely depends on how practitioners conduct themselves in all areas of their operations.

“The bedrock of our success lies within our powers. We have the wherewithal of turning the vast opportunities around us to goldmine, but we must be prepared to uphold professionalism and make integrity our watchword.

“One of the recurring decimals as to why the insurance industry

has not grown beyond what it is today in Nigeria despite the various opportunities has been alluded to professional misconduct and unethical practices by some practitioners.

“The situation invariably has resulted to a heightened apathy from the insuring public and thereby depleting the revenue that ought to have been generated by the industry.

“One would have expected that, with the large population of the country and the huge commercial opportunities that are replete across the country, insurance should have become one of the money-spinning financial sectors in the country but the reverse is the case.”

Onaolapo enjoined practitioners to always be mindful of the effects of their actions on the industry. He said the image of the industry could be made or marred as a result of practitioners’ conduct in all ramifications.

He called on young and up-coming insurance practitioners to constantly develop and update their knowledge and skills to deepen the human capital base of the industry.

NICON promises prompt payment of brokers’ commissions

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ICON Insurance Plc will ensure prompt payment of insurance brokers’ commissions, its Managing Director Mr Emmanuel Jegede, has said.

Speaking when he hosted members of the Abuja chapter of Nigeria Corporation of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in Abuja, Jegede said the company is poised to pay brokers’ commissions as at when due and sought patronage from the brokers.

He said the firm paid N1.8 billion claims to its clients from January till date, adding that N2.5 billion was paid last year.

Jegede said the company would soon introduce two products into the insurance market.

He said: “We have put in place numerous strategies that will make us remain the leading edge of the market competition. We shall soon invite you to the launching of these products.”

He said the company has decentralised its operations nationwide, adding that 58 branches and six regions are now being manned by Regional General Managers and that these branches and regions were set up mainly for effective customers’

service.

The Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of NCRIB, Mr John Ugochukwu Ibe, applauded the company’s bold step to host and interact with brokers, while encouraging his colleagues to overlook any perceived negative impressions about the company.

Also, during the interactive session, brokers expressed their thoughts and concerns in dealing with NICON Insurance, but Mr Jegede assured them that issues relating to brokers’ commissions would continue to be addressed promptly.

Jegede noted that NICON has 58 offices across the country for ease of marketing and effective service delivery to its numerous clients making it the only insurance company that has offices in all the states of the federation.

He noted that the company is the only insurance firm where the Federal Government has equity participation, thereby enhancing the much needed strength and credibility to handle customers’ risk.

He said the firm offers policyholders a new and unique way of processing various insurance products and services online.

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Uncanny concession •N40billion lost in under-the-table ASTCUDA deal?

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S it conceivable that every single done deal in Nigeria’s public service in the last two decades is a no deal? Is it possible that if you lift the skirt of any government contract, concession agreement or privatisation deal, you are likely to uncover an oozing rot of such a magnitude that could debilitate the nation’s economy and harm the people?

This is the impression Nigerians have been left with since the Senate started an investigation into the privatisation of Federal Government enterprises. Every passing day, one odious revelation trails yet another even more mind- boggling one.

How does it hit your heart rate and blood pressure when you hear yet again Nigeria may have lost N40 billion in another cash cow deal illicitly consummated by the Federal Government in 2006. According to reports, a software solution company handling the Automated System for Customs Data (ASTCUDA) was paid this

‘These are sorry tales of brigandage and impunity that are unheard of in most other economies of the world. At issue here are palpable economic frauds that are of treasonable proportion and we urge the various regulatory and crime agencies to unmask the culprits and see to it that they face the law’

huge sum from 2006 to 2010.

The firm, Webb Fontaine Consortium, was contracted to computerise and improve the revenue collection system of the Nigerian customs service (NCS) but unfortunately, has negated the terms of agreement signed with the Ministry of Finance in spite of getting huge payouts.

It took the intervention of House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee which summoned the new Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to cause a ministerial investigation into the ASTCUDA project. This was after the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Danladi Kufasi, proved incoherent in furnishing the House Committee with the details of the concession agreement.

The media is replete with such economically ruinous deals in all sectors of our economy. The new Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, recently announced that most of the concession agreements entered into by the Federal Government in airports across the country are unfavourable to the government and therefore required urgent review.

She noted that concessions are only necessary where government lacked certain capacities so that it can grow such capacities as well as revenue. On the contrary, Oduah noted, most of the concessions have proved to be contentious, inconsistent and scarcely beneficial to the government.

Yet another case which has been scything the psyche of the populace is the 2006 concessioning of the nation’s see ports.

Speaking recently, Emeka Ihedioha, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the process of that

major concessioning contract was less than transparent.

According to the ranking legislator, the Ports and Harbour Bill was sent to the National Assembly in August 2006 while the House was on recess only for the members to later discover that the ports had been concessioned.

These are sorry tales of brigandage and impunity that are unheard of in most other economies of the world. At issue here are palpable economic frauds that are of treasonable proportion and we urge the various regulatory and crime agencies to unmask the culprits and see to it that they face the law.

We must be careful that agreements properly negotiated and entered into by two parties are not broken at will by a new administration no matter how skewed and unfavourable they may seem today. Also our ministries and agencies (especially the Ministry of Justice) which ought to vet all government’s transactions must be held liable in all this scam and made to answer. It is moot to ask that we continuously review and standardise our contractual processes to remove the loopholes exploited by fraudulent businessmen and their collaborators.

The National Assembly too must be alive to its oversight functions. So much of the Shenanigans would have been detected and corrected had they acted promptly and in utmost good faith.

It must be stated that acts of economic sabotage of the magnitude we are assailed with daily will relentless stunt the nation’s growth and harm our youths and generations to come.

Fugu’s adieus • The killing and Obasanjo’s visit expose the lack of thinking in approaching Boko Haram

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HE killing of Babakura Fugu, the in-law of the slain Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, allegedly by the Mamman Nur faction of that deadly sect, again shows the lack of right intelligence by the Nigerian state, over grave matters.

The killing was barely 24 hours after a peace-making sortie to the murdered Fugu, in his Maiduguri, Borno State, home, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Obasanjo visit was supposed to thaw the ice and get some peacemaking move going. But instead, it has exposed the lack of rigour in thinking out of the Boko Haram cul-de-sac.

First, culpable faulty intelligence. Why was Fugu the contact point for Boko Haram? Was it because simply he was the late Yusuf’s in-law? Or because he was a key member of Boko Haram, who was respected, influential and trusted?

And why was the trip leaked to the press, so much so that it was widely reported that some breakthrough with Boko Haram had been achieved? Who authorised the trip? Was President Goodluck Jonathan in the know? Did he initiate it? Or was it Obasanjo’s own idea, to offer himself on an historic peacemaking move, since no prominent Northern leader seemed willing to do so?

If indeed, the president authorised the trip, it must have been based on intelligence report that Fugu could lead the emissary, and by extension the government, to the innermost recesses of Boko Haram, where beneficial dialogue could be triggered. That must have been why the trip was leaked to the media to attract maximum press mileage. But if indeed that were so, it was predicated on wrong intelligence. That ab initio sent an innocent citizen into early grave, and perhaps doomed that effort to dialogue.

But was it Obasanjo’s idea? If it was, the leakage to the media would also make sense, since Obasanjo, as Col Dangiwa Abubakar Umar correctly analysed, was anxious to rebuild his battered image and rehabilitate himself to the pre-1999 state.

But image rehabilitation or not, you cannot blame Obasanjo for offering to help out, although his penchant to play to the gallery to gain cheap acclaim often plagues his most altruistic motives – if he is ever capable of that. But which is which, Nigerians have a right to know, and the federal government should open up on the matter.

But whoever initiated the move, the bitter truth is that there was something naive and child-like in the thinking that Obasanjo meeting Yusuf’s in-law could translate into durable dialogue and peace. Even if it did, the price would be too hefty.

That is the point Prof. Wole Soyinka made: must you because of peace then forget the atrocities of this antediluvian group which has wreaked so much havoc – and on a day its United Nations Nigeria Office victims were being given a painful memorial? And what did the late Fugu mean when he spoke of apology and restitution to the sect?

Yes, the Nigerian state must fish out all those involved in the Police extra-judicial murder of the late Yusuf and punish them, not because Yusuf was Boko Haram but because no citizen should be felled like that, in cold blood, by elements in the Police, colluding with others. But any talk of general apology is bunkum, and it can only be tantamount to legitimising illegality, mass murder and banditry.

Besides, the tragic Obasanjo trip should teach people about the danger of grandstanding. As it was, both Obasanjo and Fugu grandstanded over what they could

not achieve. If indeed, a political Boko Haram exists in the North, why would Obasanjo be a credible figure in the matter – Obasanjo that many of them probably regard as the cause of their power loss, a power loss that allegedly inspired the political Boko Haram?

Boko Haram is serious business. It is a collage of years of injustice and neglect, and abuse of radical groups by politicians. There must be justice done as for these culpable manipulations just to get power. But also, there must be justice for those innocent souls despatched by Boko Haram mass murder bombings.

President Jonathan had better put on his thinking cap. Any other false start, as Obasanjo’s may well ruin the rest of us. It is time to arrest the Boko Haram ticking bomb.

‘Why was Fugu the contact point for Boko Haram? Was it because simply he was the late Yusuf’s in-law? Or because he was a key member of Boko Haram, who was respected, influential and trusted? And why was the trip leaked to the press, so much so that it was widely reported that some breakthrough with Boko Haram had been achieved?

Who authorised the trip?’

Leadership crisis

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S the economy faces the risk of another recession, and the 2012 campaign looms, President Obama has been groping for a response to the biggest crisis of his career. All he has to do is listen to the voters.

The Times and CBS News released a new poll on Friday, and once again we were impressed that Americans are a lot smarter than Republican leaders think, more willing to sacrifice for the national good than Democratic leaders give them credit for, and more eager to see the president get tough than Mr. Obama and his conflict-averse team realize.

So long as the politicians keep reinforcing their misconceptions — and listening only to themselves — the country has little chance of getting what the voters want most: jobs and a growing economy.

Despite what the Republicans loudly proclaim, Americans do not buy into economic theories that were disproved 25 years ago. What the new poll and others show is that most do not see the deficit and “big government” as the main problem, and they do not buy the endless calls for slashing spending and reckless deregulation.

A solid majority said creating jobs should be the highest priority for the government now and that payroll taxes should be cut to help with that. A whopping 8 in 10 think building bridges, roads and schools is important, which means — gasp — spending money.

Many Democrats are so gun shy that they don’t dare even to talk about raising taxes on the rich. But 71 percent of those polled said any plan to reduce the budget deficit should include both spending cuts and tax increases. And Americans understand that there are choices to be made; 56 percent said the wealthier should pay higher taxes to reduce the federal deficit.

It bears repeating that this is all entirely rational, and what the Republicans and some Democrats are proposing is absurd. The country has tried reckless deregulation and overly deep tax and spending cuts before. It brought more than one recession in the last century; caused the near collapse of the financial system and another recession in this one; and helped pile up the current deficit.

Mr. Obama has been making many of those points for months. But he has been doing it with speeches that, while eloquent, are often too long and nuanced, and then lack the kind of relentless repetition that is needed to drown out catchy but false Republican talking points.

He has wasted far too much time trying to puzzle out how he can shave policies down far enough to get the Republicans to cooperate. The answer has long been clear: He can’t. Since he was elected, the Republicans have openly said they would not work with him, and a year ago, Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, said explicitly that the Republicans’ goal was simply to deny Mr. Obama a second term. The new Times poll showed that Americans do not believe bipartisanship is achievable. Six in 10 Democrats want the president to challenge Republicans more. He should not worry about voters thinking he is being mean. What he should worry about is that he is not showing them that he is fighting all out for their interests.

Mr. Obama has done more for the country than many voters realize. The stimulus program so demonized by Republicans was too small, but it saved the economy from a complete collapse. Mr. Obama’s maligned decision to bail out the car companies saved large numbers of jobs. The huge benefits of his health care reform, which Republicans have vowed to repeal, will become clearer to Americans in the years ahead.

That is not enough. The president has done far too little for far too long to help struggling homeowners, and he must do more to put Americans back to work.

That is why it is so important and welcome that he has finally begun to take on Congress. His speech to the joint session outlining a significant jobs program was followed by the sound demand that it be paid for with tax revenue increases.

The question is whether he will now fight hard for that program. To get there, he does not need the entire G.O.P. caucus, just a few members, but he also needs to show more strength in leading his own less than courageous caucus. And, win or lose, he needs to stay out of the bargaining backroom and keep making his case to the public.

There is so much noise out there that we are not sure most voters know how much they agree with the president. It is up to Mr. Obama to show them.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye

•Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho

•Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli

•Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: I totally disagree with our noble laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka’s attack and condemnation on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s visit to the family of slain Boko Haram’s leader, Muhammed Yusuf.

First, we must understand why the former president went to Maiduguri and Jos; it is no longer news that these two states are volatile, with killings going on and properties being daily wasted by armed youths.

We may disagree with OBJ’s style of leadership during his days in government, but, we must not fail to give him credit where and when he deserves it. He has never claimed to be a perfect man; he acknowledges that as human, he is bound to err and has erred severally. Whether we like it or not, he is one Nigerian former leader

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I disagree with Soyinka on OBJ’s visit to Yusuf’s family that is highly respected outside this country. He has shown utmost interest in the unity of this country far above many of our other leaders.

In a country with so many elder statesmen, that includes Wole Soyinka, scattered across the six geopolitical zones of this country, none has deemed it fit, to get up and walk up to these groups to mediate and seek for a lasting solution to these hostilities. If our religious, political, respected opinion leaders could fold

their hands when in truth most of them benefitted so much from this country, while their children cause complete mayhem yet do nothing to save the situation, and then we may come to the conclusion that we are a doomed nation.

Therefore, if Obasanjo as a former president of Nigeria has taken up the initiative to visit Yusuf’s family and in-law, and other stakeholders in achieving peace in Jos, Maiduguri and Nigeria in general, I think quite

frankly he must be commended and not these abuses, criticisms he is getting from Prof. Soyinka. Rather than hurling all these abuses, Prof.

Soyinka should have augmented OBJ’s visit as the Boko Haram elements would also have welcomed and listened to him. He could advise the president, and indeed the federal government on best ways at arriving and sustaining this peace move.

Till date, what very few of our

Who’s to blame for Boko Haram?

IR: Mohammed Yusuf, who hailed from Yobe State, was said to have acquired Koranic education from his locality, and later moved to Borno State where he founded the dreaded militant Boko Haram sect.

He was involved in controversies when he stated that the idea that the world is a sphere is contrary to Islam and should be rejected along with Darwinism and the theory that rain comes from water evaporated by the sun. However, an international Islamic cleric and researcher, Dr. Zair Naik has proved that apart from Darwinism, Islam is in support of the two other theories.

Many Islamic scholars cautioned Mohammed Yusuf with regards to his teachings as being repugnant to Islam. One of such was the University of Madina, Saudi Arabia trained cleric, Shiekh Jafar Adam. They tried to convince him that Islam means peace and complete submission to the will of Allah and that knowledge acquisition for the benefit of mankind is encouraged by Islam.

What they are against are the ills of modernity like drugs, alcoholism, immorality, murder, rape, armed robbery etc.

The Saudi-educated cleric was shot five times at close range right inside the Dorayi Central Mosque in Kano whilst he was leading the morning prayers and he died of the bullet wounds before reaching hospital. As at today, the murderers have not been found.

Some analysts stated that poverty and illiteracy was the main reason the sect gained prominence in the North East sub-region. They argued that if the leadership had lived up to its responsibilities by providing the basic amenities of life like education, health, housing, employment or enabling environment for entrepreneurship, the sect would have died a natural death.

It was reported that on many occasions security reports made available to government on the activities of the sect were not acted upon. Sometime in 2009, when the sect was on a procession to the graveyard, it had disagreement with the police with regards to the use of helmets while on motorcycles.

Members of the sect insisted that they would not obey the rules put up by the state government. The police used force and eventually two members of the sect were shot dead.

In retaliation to the killing of their members, the Boko Haram sect burnt a few police stations and went on a guerilla warfare style attack on the police. When it got out of hand, the military were invited to Borno State to quell the menace.

It resulted into a full blown war.

There were casualties on the two sides and the leader and founder of the sect was captured alive by the military and handed over to the police.

Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the sect was murdered in custody. The police claimed that he was shot while

trying to escape but evidence showed that it was extra-judicial murder.

The sect went into hiding to plan reprisal attacks to avenge the death of their leader. Less than 12 months after, the sect resurfaced and became a dreaded terror organisation refusing dialogue with the government, insisting that Sharia be imposed in 12 states of northern Nigeria.

As at today no solution had been found to the menace of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. I would want to conclude by saying, who is to be blamed?

• Engr. Idris Jibrin Adewole Industrial Estate Ilorin, Kwara State

elder statesmen have done is to issue press statements condemning the violence while majority are dozing off in the comfort of their bedrooms allowing the country to burn. What sort of father would sit back and watch his children pull out weapons to attack themselves and destroy their heritage for no just reason?

Obasanjo’s single initiative must be supported by all well meaning, patriotic and peace loving Nigerians. We must put sentiments away and sort out meaningful ways at ending this wahala. We read almost every day of weapons being moved in large consignments around the country and, considering the army of unemployed youths, different militant organizations in every region, we do not need any soothsayer to tell us how ugly it may turn out to be unless something more assuring is done.

The Rwanda genocide, Liberian crisis, and most recently, Tunisia, Egypt, Libyan revolutions, where thousands of lives were cut down prematurely was partly because elders of those countries refused to call the spade a spade or be counted when it mattered most in the political history of their country.

Prof. Wole Soyinka is one of Nigeria’s prides both locally and internationally. A man blessed with great intellect, knowledge and power of influence, that could also in tandem with other distinguished elders and leaders irrespective of religion, ethnic or political affiliation prove skeptics wrong that, come 2015, Nigeria remains one united, peaceful and fast developing country.

• Uzodinma Nwaogbe Abuja.

The deplorable state of roads

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IR: I am saddened each time I hear reports of loss of lives on our highways as a result of road accidents. The pathetic state of our roads has once again revealed that authority figures in our country hate the citizens.

In August 2007, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, an architect, and current Minister of Petroleum Resources, while serving as Minister of Transportation wept because of the exceptionally bad state of the BeninOre Expressway.

After the shedding of crocodile tears, Alison Madueke declared that

she was “actually very, very unhappy today at what I have seen.

I am very displeased that this road was allowed to degenerate to this level.”

She offered her apologies “for the deplorable state that I have found this road in. This is inhuman and unacceptable.”

Many would even say that the visit and crocodile tears was the only thing of note the woman achieved all through the period she held sway in the Ministry of Transportation before she was moved to Mines and Steel Development ministry because more than three years after this

incident, nothing has changed for the better on our roads particularly federal roads across the country.

The increase in the number of auto accidents and armed robberies on the federal highways can be attributed to the dilapidation of existing road networks. The deplorable state of the roads are the direct consequence of the failure of the government in road construction and maintenance, resulting in the roads becoming a huge slaughter slab, where human lives are daily wasted.

The truth is that this present administration has formed the habit

of treating the most important issues with levity while the less important are given undivided attention. I hope the current Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen who was a former personal assistant to Chief Tony Anenih, one time Minister of Works who did little or nothing about our roads will expedient action and talk less in order to properly tackle the enormous challenges of fixing the federal highways.

• Paul Oluwalere Jankara,Ijaiye Lagos

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Budget: Education; Solar Commission; ‘GEJ/ Sambo Solar Strategy?’; PHCN Terrorists

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HE Federal Government is preparing a fouryear fiscal plan. We are moving into ‘normal civilised mode’ and out of the ‘fire brigade Tony approach’. Our fiscal wiz Marinho kids must study USA’s President Obama and UK’s Treasury Minister Alexander’s fiscal plans this week aimed at economic recovery, job creation and wealth tax. Study will show steps we can take immediately.

There is no shame in adapting or adopting good economic ideas. The threatened fall of European economies has lessons for Nigeria’s greedy ‘25% interest on loans’ banks and governments. The end of bankers’ greed is near.

Is there an international comparative budgetary monitoring unit at the Nigerian Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER)? There are so many budgetary items and headings in western budgets that are nonexistent in Nigeria’s budget. Minister of Finance Okonjo-Iweala and CBN Governor Sanusi and university post-graduate schools and economics and social studies departments and budget monitoring civil society organisations can direct Nigeria’s IT wiz kid staff to research international budgets. This will expose our budget items and headings needing inclusion in the next budget. This could be a key contribution of NISER, to preparing budgets at Federal, State and LGA level. For example, lack of budget funds for Nigerian Forensic Laboratory Services for DNA identification of bodies and criminal investigation costs us jobs and crime solving experience exemplified by need for the FBI to run the Abuja UN bombing investigation.

The budget gurus must remember that little things will make life better for Nigerians immediately, not multibillion dollar atomic energy plants coming on stream in 2030. Four years should execute an ‘emergency education strategy’ to elevate NECO pass rate from 20% to 80%. If our budget does not kill the education deficit, we are further doomed to ignorance. What is needed? You do the maths.

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HE creation of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, 10 years ago, concretised the Federal Government’s strong determination to address the lingering dissent in the Niger Delta. It was mandated to put in place proper and resultdriven infrastructure development, basic necessities of life such as potable water, education, healthcare delivery, rural and urban electricity supply, human capital development and other basic programmes.

The coming of the NDDC underscored government’s desire to create a solid platform that will not engender those negative operational indices that crippled past attempts to bring succour and development to a people long marginalized and grossly neglected in the national scheme of things.

But over the years, the dreams of the founding fathers of the commission and the people of the region for rapid and sustainable development have not been fully realized due to the institutionalized regime of incessant bickering, disregard and disrespect for corporate best practices, due diligence, accountability and respect for hierarchy, among others. Though there have been occasional oases of respite and marginal development, the NDDC has continually relapsed into periods of internal chaos occasioned by resistance to the self-serving manipulations of the Cosa Nostra that has held it by the jugular since creation.

Contrary to what Nigerians are being made to believe that this present altercation that has culminated in the removal of the top hierarchy of the NDDC is the first in the series, the commission was conceived in crises, operated in crises and was almost ruined by crises induced by a naira-guzzling cabal to extricate known pockets of resistance to their inlaid and primordial

Library books in schools: N200,000/ school/ year x 4 years for 70,000 schools.

Sports equipment: N200,000/ school/ year x 4 years for 70,000 schools Educational Posters: N100 -N1,000/ poster, average N500 each ie 500x 10 posters/classroom x 1million classrooms x 4 years.

Desks/chairs in 70,000 schools: 100 desks and chairs / classroom x 200,000 classrooms with deficit.

Youth centres one/ward: 16,500 @ N250,000- N1million per annum x 4 years, built in batches or upgraded annually With regard to the power situation, the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission should please recommend that any proposed nuclear power plants should all ring Abuja especially the National Assembly. This will guarantee the contractors are promptly paid and built to exact specifications without diluting the concrete mix with sand in the name of corruption, incompetence or negligence. Can or should Nigeria run a nuclear plant with terrorism at such a high level? The Boko Haram man met by Obasanjo has been murdered. Imagine a police checkpoint en route Abuja nuclear plant. Will it resist bribery by terrorists? GEJ should stop police checkpoint corruption before nuclear plants grow in Nigeria. We cannot afford a nuclear explosion costing N50!

If Nigeria has an eight percent growth rate without power, imagine what the growth rate would be with 24/7 electric power? The Jonathan government in unholy haste is again, twice within 12 months, towed PHCN illogical request and increased the power tariff for unavailable power. This confirms the ‘federal greed syndrome’ to extort from citizen Nigeria. But this punishment only affects ‘official PHCN clients’, perhaps a mere 25% of PHCN users. There are millions of ‘PHCN terrorists’, who bribe PHCN staff weekly for ‘illegal connections’-theft. Others steal electric power because of position or ethnic group. They should all first be identified and connected to the current ‘PHCN billing system’ in a ‘2011 Make Every User Pay for Power ’ campaign. PHCN does not need a new tariff, it needs honest staff. PHCN should stop the ‘billion naira’ leakage and corruption from illegal ‘TOSing’, ‘Temporarily Out of Service’. President Jonathan should give Nigerians a ‘one month PHCN amnesty’ for

Nigerians to regularise their PHCN bills. Honest Nigerians must not pay forever for corrupt Nigerians or irresponsible, incompetent and corrupt organisations like PHCN forever.

Jonathan needs to test its loyalty.

Do we need atomic energy? Maybe yes but we need a massive commitment to solar energy in the budget. We ignore God’s gift, the sun, claiming that solar equipment is too expensive but solar is used in poorer, wiser, African countries. Delivery time for a nuclear plant is 15 years, maybe 2030. Can Jonathan not see ‘solar as salvation from darkness’? Solar energy may be capital intensive but it could be immediate relief in millions of homes. Modern solar energy by Germans, Israelis and Spanish has created a solar city for 200,000 citizens. Citizens should ask why Nigerian governments refused to provide emergency, short term, power for Nigeria. Modern solar energy can save government billions, reduce demand on PHCN and can be provided next month if the budget allocates solar funds and CBN gives soft solar loans. Nuclear may not be for Nigeria but solar certainly is.

Can Jonathan harness the sun for Nigeria? We need a solar energy commission and a four year ‘Jonathan/Sambo Solar Strategy’ with zero percent import duty and cheap solar loans now. President Jonathan must escape from PHCN control and determine if PHCN is a government friend or saboteur seeking selfish control over all Nigeria’s power. Are PHCN and its advocates denigrating solar energy knowing it could rescue Nigerians from PHCN’s greedy stranglehold on their pocket?

‘Modern solar energy can save government billions, reduce demand on PHCN and can be provided next month if the budget allocates solar funds and CBN gives soft solar loans. Nuclear may not be for Nigeria but solar certainly is’

Oronsaye and NDDC albatross propensity of appropriating NDDC’s funds to themselves and their brothers-in-perfidy, as a matter of routine.

The creeping crises swallowed the pioneer Managing Director, Chief Godwin Omene, and the then Executive Director (Projects), Mr. Udo Mbossom, who were relieved of their jobs after a boardroom firefight instigated by the same cabal of exploiters which, like a benign cancerous growth, has always survived all manners of axes and return to their old ways. Ambassador Sam Edem was sacked as chairman by the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after he was rubbished in contrived fetish circumstances. And Hon. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo was suspended and then reinstated as the Managing Director in a celebrated dog-fight with elements of the Cosa Nostra embedded in the belly of the NDDC. In the NDDC, it has always been frequent confrontations between those who want to keep “business as usual” and those who want to reform the system for optimum performance and delivery of services.

It was in the midst of this simmering season of discontent that has enveloped the commission and tended to obfuscate its primary objectives that a presidential committee was empanelled by President Goodluck Jonathan to inquire into those conflicting areas.

The panel, headed by Mr. Steve Oronsaye, immediate past Head of the Federal Civil Service, was not intended as a Spanish Inquisition but as a fact-finding one designed to help chart new ways for the NDDC. Its terms of reference were very explicit.

Overall, the main focus of the

“The panel identified the “sacred cows” involved in the age-long crises in the NDDC but proffered an “across-the-board” solution that lumped the guilty and the innocent together for punishment”

Oronsaye Panel was to review the problems and challenges infesting the commission with a view to making such recommendations to the President, who would address its chronic institutional weaknesses and fault lines. It was expected that the panel would guide government’s constructive intervention in the sane and proper management of the Commission.

In spite of this fact, the Oronsaye panel may have dabbled into those contiguous areas of distorted administrative organogram, institutionalised blocs of loyalty, and the corrosive and divisive ethnic hegemony, among others, considering the report he turned in that prompted the President to throw away the baby with the bathwater last week.

However, contrary to the assurances by Oronsaye that his presidential committee did not have the intention of recommending anyone for sack, and similar ones by the President himself, acting through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the recommendations and the executive summary thereof tilted “towards a pre-programmed solution to a clear-cut problem”.

The panel identified the “sacred cows” involved in the age-long crises in the NDDC but proffered an “across-the-board” solution that lumped the guilty and the innocent together for punishment.

In his re-evaluation of the report submitted by the Oronsaye Panel, the SGF has cause to say inter alia: (i) “The dissolution of the Board as suggested will need to be complemented with the immediate disengagement of some very senior staff of the commission in order to better address the crisis in NDDC. However, the greater concern and challenge are the identification and engagement of a competent management team for the immediate replacement. The idea of an interim management team which will not

award contracts and the mandate to reorganize the commission over a long period will not be in the interest of the oil-producing communities or the present administration since time is not in our favour; (ii) For effective result, the reconstitution of the new Board must not follow the usual way of asking the states to nominate candidates. There can only be a difference in the management of NDDC if the President by himself alone identifies very reputable hands from the region to run the affairs of the Commission e.g people in the likes and status of Senator Udoma Udo Udoma”.

Inter-locking into the earlier lattice proffered by the Oronsaye Panel, the recommendation made to the President reinforces the view held by close watchers of the NDDC saga that the subtle recommendation of Senator Udoma Udo Udoma to “run the affairs of the commission” may not be a coincidence but part of a larger game-plan to install “our boys” in the NDDC. The fact remains that many observers expected the Oronsaye Panel to rise above partisan politics and primordial sentiments and enquire, dispassionately, into the areas of consistent friction while identifying those people – low, middle and top cadre of staff - who milked the commission to submission.

It is surprising that a presidential committee, peopled by eminent Nigerians and led by a seasoned technocrat like Oronsaye, did not indict anyone involved in the season of sleaze and brigandage visited on NDDC over the years. This blanket and wholesale categorization has not helped Mr. President or even the people of the Niger Delta whose financial and other resources have been channelled into private pockets instead of development projects or programmes. And they are all enjoying their loot.

The thrust of the Oronsaye panel’s recommendations and the executive summary/re-evaluation did havoc

Dele Agekameh to the expectations of discerning Niger Deltans, nay Nigerians, by deliberately side-stepping the identification of those, within and without the commission, who led it to the present sorry pass. It did not recommend anyone for sanction, trial, repayment or refund of misappropriated or misapplied funds of the commission. Its pre-programmed and major recommendation to the President was the sack of the Board in spite of available facts and figures to the contrary.

As the President settles down to tinker a new team that will steer the ship of the commission, he should inquire from the Oronsayeled panel whatever happened to the billions of naira siphoned into private accounts from the tills of the NDDC by individuals within and outside the commission.

Or else, the crucifixion of those who stood guard and sentinel at the watchtower of due diligence, accountability and corporate governance best practices with those who distorted, skewed and disregarded established practices, laws, rules, regulations and corporate interests will continue to haunt the NDDC and by extension, the federal government of Nigeria like an interminable incubus.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘That was a good one and powerful too. Who is this man called Goodluck Jonathan that is ruling over us? Maybe the Goodluck in him has blinded us so much to ask any Question about his antecedents? Enigma indeed Dare! From Emeka Duru, Abuja’

• Obasanjo

Re-Enigma at Aso Rock. The question on my Mind and Nigerians is that now that Dr Jonathan has so many shoes what is he doing to address those in larger society who do not have shoe and may never except something Urgent is done to stem Corruption and insecurity which duties of a functional and responsive government. God bless NANS. God bless OAU. God bless Nigeria. From Hon-Babaeko .O.Solomon I just read your column in The Nation.

Please help us find out who are his siblings, where they are and what they do? His numbers and ages. Please do. From OdunItan Oworu, Zaria.

You have said it all, Dare. We have a president we know next to nothing about.

From Henry Effiom. Kano Just read your article of humanizing GEJ. I agree Nigerians are too trusting. Or maybe it is an index of our under-development that real issues are treated as taboo. I applaud your wading into the arena of investigation... From Ozioma Izuora You are absolutely spot on in your dissertation on President Jonathan. The media did not do a thorough piece on the President Jonathan before his emergence as President. However, my question for him is that what has been his contributions to knowledge through articles, reports, academic publications etc as a PhD holder.

Anonymous.

Dare,your article “ENIGMA AT ASO ROCK’ qualifies you for the name Dare.

Jonathan should ‘dare’ declare his assets, his children, his siblings and his hidden agenda about single tenure. It beats my imagination when issues of grave concern take place Jonathan arrives there smiling. Anonymous.

Your article, Enigma at Aso Rock, was a master piece on questioning Techniques.

However, it beats me hollow that l know little or nothing about my President’s growing up. The names Azikiwe, Ebele, his children. The Press is to be blamed. Please come up. From George C. Erugo, Owerri, Imo State.

Knowing President Goodluck Jonathan is one thing supporting and crediting him is another one to sumarise this he is a missionary of audacity. From Cpl Ebri Lazarus Awka Anambra State That was a good one and powerful too. Who is this man called Goodluck Jonathan that is ruling over us? Maybe the Goodluck in him has blinded us so much to ask any Question about his antecedents? Enigma indeed Dare!

From Emeka Duru, Abuja Enigma at Aso Rock, as usual very informative, absolutely brilliant and masterfully constructed from your stable again. But, why not in collaboration with other top-rated columnists and journalists seek audience with the President on all the issues raised through Reuben Abati, your former ally? I am sure you will get result.

From Kola AMZAT, FCA, FCIB, ACS Sir! You write up touched the heart. I wondered why for the first we produced a President whose family were never produced an ex-general, ex-minister, but from Niger Delta. I believe that, under him, we may see senior civil or public officers jailed by EFCC! Our President was a teacher, was from the most maginalised region of Nigeria! From Abubakar Kaduna!

I am not very clear sir, what these questions

am to achieve. You never cared about neither did the rest of Nigerians, so the questions now should read: what can he do differently about Jos, Boko Haram, NEPA, Jobs, Nigeria?

Remember that there is no more Cabal inhibiting him. From CHRIS ONU, UNIJOS. It may interest you to know that I am a non -Ijaw man who knows d area more than any indigene there! You to President Jonathan is an Ogbia man. His town Otuoke is among the least in Ogbia Land. As a Surveyor, i worked at over 6o towns, in swamps, creeks and forests. If you want to know the President or his area, I’m ready to assist. They are the best people in d world!

From Pastor IFeanyi Onyeneke Is the media scrutiny starting from Jonathan? Why was Shagari, Obasango, Yar’Adua or even Balewa not subjected to this scrutiny and questioning by you and the media? Or have you just woken up to your own duty? From Pst Ifeanyi Onyeneke We got carried away by the name “Goodluck” Neither the media nor any member of the public remembered to probe deeply who really Dr Jonathan is before we sentimentally voted for him. If our sin is that we mostly got deceptively carried away, God angry Nigerians should please forgive us. From Bayo Salawu.

Your piece, Enigma at Aso Rock spurred me up to think about Dr Jonathan based on the fact that an individual is more or less a product of his life experiences. You are my favourite newspaper columnist and you may be Jonathan’s too. From Offiong, Uyo-Akwa Ibom Sir, I have just read your piece in The Nation and like to say that it makes interesting reading. I hope somebody takes it as a project and let us have more information about our President. Olusegun Kolawole Dr Dare, kudos for the beautiful write-up and the questions about the President but the title should have read ‘A Confused Enigma at Aso Rock’. From Owoeye A.G IgogoEkiti.

It is deeply depressing to learn that ‘little is known about Dr. Jonathan’ before the last elections. Searching for answers to the issues raised on ‘who is the essential Dr Jonathan’ must be considered belated. He is already showing his true colour as a scholarly subtle man who makes and continues to make colossal mistakes in judgement, but whose tenacious loyalty to his misjudgements is beyond belief. However, former President Obasanjo could be of much help. From Adegoke O. O Ikhin, Owan East L/G, Edo State.

What else do you want to know? You are already a biographer of the President. From Mann Tolofari. PortHarcourt.

Re- Enigma at Aso Rock: Sir, you took the wind off my sail. The questions you asked were the same questions on my mind. Also, as a lecturer, didn’t he have students he lectured? How come no one has come out to say “he was my lecturer”? Please, help unravel this Mystery. From Debra- Kaduna The meteoric and divine nature of Jonathan’s ascent to the Presidency left no room for assessment of his suitability or preparedness for the job. There is really ‘not much more to him than the blandness and the starchiness so evident in his conduct’.

This is the verdict of those who know him at the primary school, the secondary school, the University, the OMPADEC, in Government House, Bayelsa, and in the Aso Rock Villa as Vice President. Nobody will be bold enough to open up now until Jonathan has finished with Nigeria or vice versa. Jonathan’s Presidency may be God’s design to end the faulty project called ‘Nigeria’...... From Deri Parkingson. Abuja.

Prof Dare, well, Dr Abati well positioned to crack open the GEJ enigma. But do our Presidents read our columnists? From Daniel It is a big shame that our President has not

officially told us about his background. All we know about him is a luck that is not working wonders for his feeble administration. This is a President whose actions and inactions are uninspiring. And no one seems to care a hoot because morning, they say, posits the day. Since the inception of his porous administration, nothing laudable to show that there is any hope in view. Nevertheless, our president should let us into his background. If not forlorn banality and incivility, how can we be in the dark before we can write a line about his person? In a better organised world, every citizens should be in the know of their president’s antecedent. All we know about him is the sermon of his humble childhood.

From Dapo Ipoola, Omuo-Ekiti.

RE- Enigma at Aso Rock. President Abraham Lincon was a failure by every means definable before he became one of the greatest American Presidents. History is replete of never do wells, with unpopular antecedents who later became celebrities.

Governance is not mysticism or abstract.

What Jonah requires to succeed as president of Nigeria are: sincerity and genuine fear of God, Goodwill and true Love for the people of Nigeria, lastly, ensure justice, equity and fair-play in d nation’s social economic and political equilibrium. From PIUS OWOWO ENUGU Your column of August 30th titled the matters miscellaneous. Wow! That was great. The two generals both suffer from a disease we call in Hausa language ‘ rashin kunya’ meaning they both have no shame left in them, especial the one from Minna who started the frackers. Anonymous.

Dare Olatunji, I decided to respond to your article on 13th September 2011. Instead of asking WHO Jonathan WAS, why not try ‘WHAT IS HE?’ Stop being a sentimental journalist. Bring up objective criticism and not ACN, CPC1. From Saint from Jos. For Segun Gbadegesin Segun, thanks for ‘An envisioned future meets an inescapable reality’. It is the whole truth. Nigeria stands on a false foundation and will remain ‘a mere geographical expression’ until we all come to a roundtable.

We deny this to our own peril. From Chuks Oluigbo Dialogue remains an instrument by which issues are resolved peacefully. How ever our ‘leaders’ are afraid to lay the cards on the table because of what they will lose when the system is restructured but those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable. They ought to learn from the Egypt and Lybia example.

Anonymous.

Your article envisioned future is esoteric it is only the deep that can understand the deep any leader that does not have basic knowledge of government can not understand the sublime nuances of what federalism entails president Jonathan is hope misplaced hope lost. From Dada B. O. Esq. president jonathan has abandoned the masses that voted for him. instead he has decided to take sides with the pdp godfathers . the president has disappointed all his admirers. From Mike, Ibadan On security-it is criminal for a chief security officer of a nation called nigeria to say he was not fully prepared for the avalanche of security lapses confronting the nation.a good and responsible govt would have summoned and even dismissed such an officer for dereliction of duty.a security advices who can’t prevent or arrest criminals is not worthy to be called a security officer. from past odunmbaku ik.

Thanks for the insightful article: ‘An envisioned future meets an inescapable reality’ .How many of our ‘fortunate and lucky elected officials’ could be counted on

•Jonathan to place the correct interpretation on what they read, saw and heard, to benefit from the lessons and, for that matter, the warnings which it might contain? Most elected officials are only interested in the maximum salaries/allowances they collect on monthly basis. To them, that makes more sense than attempting to reform a spurious constitution/structure.What a shame ! From Adegoke O O, Ikhin, Owan East L/G, Edo State.

Chief Gbadegesin, reading your ‘thoughts’ has become a bible to me, and perhaps, to others who ‘follow’ you. Your piece “an envisioned future...”, is as revealing as always. However, do you truly envision that your kind of ‘nationalities talk’ or confab could yield anticipated outcomes, given entrenched interests and the mix in many Nationalities? Why had all the confabs, up to the very last, been inconclusive? From Nwayo.

“An envisioned future meets an inescapable reality.” Yes, you are quite correct, Segun. I also agree with you that one does not build an ideal of national unity on a delusional denial of ethnic identities. If we fail to do the needful and necessary things at the critical time of our life, as the Yoruba will say, we are just pouring the maize on to the back of a calabash. Why? This is because we like to play rotten politics at the detriment of progress in this country. They have disregarded the clamour of the right thinking progressive for a Sovereign National Conference because of their selfish interest, greed and inordinate love for acquisition of wealth. For how long are we going to endure our present predicament?

The end results of all these, are economic stagnation and anarchy. I think our leaders will realise this and make amends. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye.

I had hoped you are going to extol the stateman quality of our Young President for not wanting to preside over distegration of Nigeria. Kudos for his avowed attempt to forge our differences into an amalgam for strength. Our black kiths and kin fused with the Caucasians the Latinos the Jews etc to form the great USA! Would you honestly want the UN collapse the boundaries of Nigeria so that the Yorubas of Benin and the Hausa Fulani of Niger join us? Please let us marshall how to have socio-economic growth rather than fanning embers of retrogression. From Dr Danjuma Sulai OON Can the federal govt or state govt intervene for the case of Farouk Abdulmutalab? Who has been facing trial in the US court, considering the fact that he is a Nigerian, from a Nigerian parent! aren’t we a sovereign state? Anonymous.

This piece of writing, ‘An envisioned future meets an inescapable reality’ is thought provoking and exciting. I am sorry to say that it requires a courageous man/leader to take hard decisions on national issues, and I am afraid our esteemed president is not in that mould. President Gourbachef of the defunct USSR took that bold step and everything is today history. Every part of the former USSR is today developing and moving at their pace. COURAGE IS WHAT THAT IS LACKING. Thanks, for this mater piece. From Chukwuma Orji, Enugu.

GEJ should not set nig on fire. Attack on Asiwaju is an attack on nig democracy. Note!

“My hands are tied” Anonymous.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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NATION SPORT Ehiosun cleared to play

A

N MRI has been conducted on Samsunspor striker Ekigho Ehiosun. The Nigerian international did not finish the league match at the weekend against Galatasaray after suffering an injury.

Checks have been carried out on Ehiosun, and club medics have cleared him to continue playing. Ehiosun is expected to be named in the squad to face Trabzonspor at the 19 Mayis Stadyumu, Samsun on Wednesday.

It is being speculated in the local media that the ex Warri Wolves goal poacher is in the Eagles squad to be announced by Samson Siasia on Tuesday.

NATION SPORT

Syli Stars plan chartered flight to Abuja

S

UPER EAGLES’ coach, Samson Siasia was says he expects a comfortable win over Guinea next month in a winner takes all AFCON qualifier. There is a surprise waiting for the Eagles as Féguifoot plans to motivate the Syli Stars to beat the Super Eagles.

The Guinea Federation has contacted the Ministry of Sports and there is a preliminary arrangement for the Guinea National Team to fly directly to Abuja on a chartered flight and as late as possible to avoid poor reception by the Nigerians.

National Coach Michel Dussuyer said

: "Our destiny is in our hands. The only event that our fate might escape us is that we are not effective against Nigeria and Madagascar finished third in the group''.

He added that the pressure is on Nigeria and not his team. 30 players, mostly professionals, have been shortlisted for the game. The Guinea coach has refused to disclose their names.

But a squad of 23 will be announced before the team departs to Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Guinea has approved for the Guinea Federation to apply to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.

AHEAD NIGERIA/GUINEA CLASH

Siasia drops Enyeama again •Osaze, Taiwo, Shittu return

Obuh wants Olympic S role for F/Eagles

J

•Ehiosun

OHN OBUH wants his national Under-20 charges to be kept engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation.

The Flying Eagles were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and have no further competitions available.

But Obuh is keen go have them continue playing.

“It is important we have something to occupy them and keep them ready for any competition that might come up soon,” Obuh said.

“I’ll suggest the players make up a Team B for the U-23 side which can

provide a ready pool of players for the coaches any time.

“The players have played at big stages and have overcome stage fright. Many of them are in respectable clubs so it will be good if we can get the best out of them while they are still hungry for success.”

UPER EAGLES’ chief coach Samson Siasia has again dropped goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama from the list of 27 players invited to camp for the must-win 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea on October 8.

The France-based goalkeeper was left out of another crucial qualifier away in Madagascar earlier this month after he led a players’ revolt that questioned the team’s travel plans to Antananarivo.

NationSport gathered that the Eagles’ coach gave the Committee a strong reason why Enyeama should be left out of the team for now, so as not to take chances.

"Siasia may have forgiven Enyeama,

Hayatou appointed IOC chairman

T

HE Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou has been appointed Chairman of the International Olympics Committee of Football Tournaments and FIFA Goal Bureau.

The appointment of Hayatou by FIFA was confirmed by CAF in press statement and this will see him lead the body tasked with the organisation of football tournament at the Olympic Games. The next Olympics will be in London next year and this will be an acid test for the African soccer chief.

He will also chair the FIFA Goal Bureau, which approves and supervises the Goal Programme that enables beneficiary member associations to implement projects designed to develop football in their countries.

The CAF President was also Chairman of the Organising Committee for the first ever FIFA World Cup on African soil, South Africa 2010. He is also serving as a member of the IOC and also Vice Chairman of the Union of African Sports Confederations.

•Obuh

Akpala for Belgian Cup

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IGERIA international Joseph Akpala will be in action for his Belgium clubside, Club Brugge tonight against Dessel Sport in the Belgian Cup campaign.

According to Brugge coach Adrie Koster, " We are looking for the ideal balance for everyone, without causing harm to the team. We take this game seriously, you know. Our opponents will be doing the same."

After a 4-0 home win over VW Hamme, and a 0-2 win at Patro Eisden, Dessel is now in second place in third division B (14 out of 7 games, 3 less than leaders Bocholt).

Club Brugge is currently on top of the Belgian Pro League.

Ogunjimi not thinking of England move

N

IGERIA-BORN Belgian international Marvin Ogunjimi insists he never thought about moving to England once he knew he could seal a switch to Spain.

The Genk striker signed for Real Mallorca on transfer deadline day, but since then the move was not ratified

by FIFA as the documents were signed too late.

Ogunjimi will still move to the Balearic Islands, but will now have to wait until January.

41

"I have always loved the Spanish league, so it a great feeling for me to be going to play there," he told skysports.com.

"I am looking forward to going there in the New Year."

Asked about the potential interest from Newcastle and Fulham, he replied: "I was not aware directly of their interest, it was through the newspapers, however I had already made my mind up about Spain, maybe one day I will play in the Premier League because it is also a top league."

•Osaze

From Andrew Abah and Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja but he does not want to take chances.

Enyeama would come back, but I doubt if it is in this crucial match against Guinea. Remember that match is a make or mar one," a source at the Football House said.

The players invited include three goalkeepers; Dele Aiyenugba, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim. Eight defenders; Okonkwo Chibuzo, Echiejile Elderson, Taye Taiwo, Joseph Yobo, Yufuf Ayila, Efe Ambrose, Dele Adeleye, Danny Shittu.

The seven midfielders invited are Mikel Obi, Joel Obi, Fegor Ogude,

Uche Kalu, Emmanuel Ekpo, Igiebor Nosa and nine attackers of Obinna Nsofor , Ehigho Ehiosu, Ikechukwu Uche , Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel Emenike, Solomon Okoronkwo, Chinedu Ogbuke, Brown Ideye and Ahmed Musa.

In a programme submitted yesterday to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee for verification and advice, reveals that the camp would open October 2, while October 4 would be the deadline for arrival of all the players.

The foreign based who played matches on Monday will be given the grace of arriving on Tuesday. The team would train once dailybetween 12 noon and 2.00 pm because of Confederation of Africa (CAF) insistence that the match would be played by 2pm.

Nigeria 'll qualify for Our target is the World Nations Cup –Maigari Club tourney –Anyansi

N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) President Aminu Maigari has promised Nigerians that all necessary arrangement would be put in place to ensure that the country's flag is hoisted in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year.

Speaking exclusively to NationSport in Abuja on monday, the soccer boss said "we want to assure Nigerians that we would qualify for the competition.

We are going to give the Super Eagles all needed assistance to ensure that the qualify for the championship.

They had a very difficult task in Madagascar, but God was very with

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja them, and they were able to surmount it. Now that we have only one match left against Guinea next month, we would assist the team in various ways to ensure that they make it to the championship. He said that the Super Eagles have all it takes to make it to the championship.

He also assured that the Technical crew would be given all the empowerment to achieve the herculean task of making it to the championship and winning the trophy which the country won last in 1994.

Carling Cup: Odemwingie eyes Everton victory •As Etuhu misses clash with Mikel

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MARTING from West Brom’s last Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Swansea, Nigeria international Osaze Odemwingie has promised to lead the Albions to victory against Everton today in the third round of the Carling Cup at Goodison Park.

The striker insists the Baggies must draw

a line under the defeat at the Liberty Stadium and focus on the match against Everton.

“These are games that you want to forget and there are always bad days during the season. Now we have to forget this and get our points. It was obviously not the result we were looking for," Osaze said.

Fit-again striker Louis Saha could return to the Everton side for today's cup tie.

The player made his unhappiness clear after being overlooked by boss David Moyes for Saturday's Premier League win against Wigan.

However, Dickson Etuhu will miss a clash against compatriot, Mikel Obi as Fulham confront Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge due to thigh injury.

With Martin Jol's led team had an entertaining clash last weekend, fighting back from two goals down to earn a point against high-flying Manchester City, Chelsea may have another uphill ahead.

With the likely return of Didier Drogba to the line up, the Blues look to bounce back.

Chelsea was humilated last Sunday 3-1

by English Premier League title contenders, Manchester United.

Though, Carling Cup is not the priority for either of these teams, but victory would still be welcomed as Chelsea need to bounce back from Old Trafford and Fulham want to find their best form.

"I

TS not just to win the competition but when we talk about winning, there is something that due to circumstances we have been denied. We won the trophy twice in 2003 and in 2004.

We never had the opportunity to represent the African Continent. "On those two occasions, it was postponed and that cost us a great deal, now that the opportunity comes up again, we have a platform now to represent Africa at the World Clubs Competition which is the highest level for any club..."

Those were the words of Felix Anyasi, the Chairman of Enyimba International football club after his side sent Cotton Sport of Cameroon packing from the 2011 CAF Champions League competition last Sunday in Aba. Chief Felix who was visibly excited at the outcome of that encounter is very is very positive about the remaining matches. He noted that Enyimba is never at a competition to make up the required numbers but always to compete to the best of their ability.

"At the beginning of the competition, I said it and I repeat that Enyimba has never been to any competition for the sake of been there but we have always gone all out to get to the finals and what happens at the final is always decided on the field.

I thank God that those opportunities have always been there and I seriously hope that we get to this finals".

Lamenting on the club's inability to represent Nigeria at the World level on the two occasions of being CAF

BANKERS GAMES

Shodipo grabs first gold for WEMA

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EMA Bank became the first side to win a gold medal at the 2011 Nigeria Bankers Games thanks to Idera Shodipo unmatched performance in the Chess event that held last Saturday at the University of Lagos Sports Complex.

Shodipo got the better of Ijeoma Arun of Fidelity Bank in the final clash of the Chess game on a day two other semifinalists emerged in the football event.

Shodipo’s gold medal has thus placed WEMA Bank atop the overall medals table even as their football team on same day failed to clinch all three points in the fixture against Union Bank. Table Tennis and Scrabble also reached the

2012 Olympics: Boltic excited over ticket

C

OMMONWEALTH Games gold medalist, Sinivie Boltic is excited to have returned from the world wrestling championships in Istabul, Turkey with an Olympic qualification ticket.

The Bayelsa born wrestler had a great outing at the world championships where he cruised past his Iranian opponent and lost out in a bronze match against an opponent from Belarus thereby qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.

The performance was the highest of the Nigerian contingent at the competition and excited Boltic beamed to NationSport on phone on arrival to

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt Champions, Anyasi sees this time as an opportunity which must not be allowed to slip away. "..It has eluded us twice when we merited it. I believe that God in His own mecy wants to use this time to compensate us. We should showcase the beauty of the Nigeria football in the world competition. That has been our internal motivating force. Its no longer money, its no longer about winning trophy, its all about representing this great nation at the world level", he emotionally lamented.

Asked how much he knows about his semi-final opponents, Wydad, Anyasi said that the that he semis is a different ball game and that his boys will go all out.

"All the clubs in the competition already has a way of studying each other, semi finals is a different ball game. The match against Wydad is going to be highly competitive because having gotten to this level, nothing else would be okay for us than to go for the finals; what happens in the finals is against anybody's imagination but first things first, we must get to the finals.

"Its good we are playing Wydad first, we are going to try our best to come back with a very good result - to win or at worst, come back with a draw. Its a knock out and we are going to approach the game with everything we have, including our wealth of experience", he said.

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt Lagos: "I have qualified for the Olympics and am very happy, it was not easy but am very happy I have automatic qualification to the 2012 Olympics".

Sinivie participated in the 96kg weight category at the events. He went to Turkey alongside four other athletes: Olympian Amarachi Obiajunwa, 72kg, who won a bout and lost her second, Blessing Oborodudu 63kg, also won a bout and lost one while Amas Daniel 60kg and Odunayo Adekuroye,48kg, could not go beyond their first bouts.

semi-final stages as the teams competed for honours amidst the morning rains that failed to dampen their enthusiasm.

In the football event, there were no upsets as Fidelity Bank and Skye Bank maintained their hundred percent winning records with victories against opponents on Match Day 3. The two banks have now sealed their places from the group and have thus joined UBA for the semi-final stage. The defeat of Diamond Bank and First Bank by the two group leaders failed to throw the group open as the last group fixture between Skye Bank and Fidelity Bank will determine which of the two would top the group and perhaps avoid a clash with UBA in the semi-finals. In Saturday’s matches, WEMA and Union Bank settled for a 1-1 draw but it is WEMA that now stands a mathematical chance to reach the semi-finals if they beat UBA in the last group match. Standard Chartered Bank will however render that result inconsequential if they beat Union Bank in the corresponding fixture. Goals in the match came off defensive blunders as goalkeepers for both banks fumbled with tame shots at goal. For WEMA Bank, Tunde Olaniyan was the scorer while Kayode Adewale nicked the draw for Union Bank. Goals from Adeniyi Olukoya, Babatunde Rufai and Godwin Dajoh scored for Fidelity Bank in the 3-1 defeat of First Bank that got a consolatory goal off Damilola Oyeyemi.

N10m prize for Lagos Governor Open Squash

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HE third edition of the Lagos Governor Open Squash Championship will be staged at four centres across the state as more than 200 players fight for N10m in prize money.

The venues for the championship which commences on September 26 to October 2nd are Lagos State Sports Council, Rowe Park, Ikoyi Club 1938, Eagle Club, Adeniran Ogunsanya and Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Deji Wellington, said at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday that this year’s edition would surpass what was achieved last season.

"I am happy to inform that the 2011 edition is an improvement on the earlier editions. This is because we have been

able to extend participation beyond the African shores, as players from Europe and Asia are expected to compete for honours with their Nigerian counterparts.”

The LOC chairman added that some of the players expected were Anthony Graham, Philip Nightingale, Chris Simpson, Jetro Benn, Stacey Ross, Lawrence Delasus and Alex Philips coming from the UK. “We also have Nafiizwai Adnan from Malaysia, Prince Mukuka from Kenya, Ken Nwape and last season’s men’s single finalist, Rodney Borbach from South Africa and Issah Camara a Sierra Leonean star based in Turkey. He is also coming with a number of Turkish players. 2006 National champion in Nigeria, Gbenga Adeyi is now playing

professional squash in Europe. He has expressed interest in taking part. For the team events, Kenya, Ghana and Sierra Leone are sending representatives.”

Wellington, who also doubles as a member of the Lagos State Sports Council said the first winner being rewarded with $10,000, while player in the second position would win $7,500.

The third and fourth placed players would win $4,000 each while $1,500 would be won by players who finish in the fifth and eighth brackets.

While praising the effort of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola for helping the development of squash in Nigeria, Wellington added that the Lagos State Squash Association, Nigeria Squash Federation and the African body gave the competition technical support.

CAUTION

PLEA

TRAINING

Cleric urges tight security

Flood victims seek help

NAFDAC sensitises farmers on food poisoning

Ondo

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Zamfara

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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Abuja

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Minister urges peace in Plateau community

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•Chief Wogu

INISTER of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu has urged people of Ngwa, Abia State extraction living in Plateau State to support the administration of Governor Jonah Jang. The minister advised them to ensure that peace reigns in their community and that they continue to engage in activities that bring honour to both their host state and Abia.

Wogu said this when a delegation of Oha Ngwa Family Association, Jos, an umbrella body of all Ngwa people resident in Plateau, paid him a visit in Abuja.

Wogu also hails from Ngwa land.

They said the visit was informed by the need to interact with one of

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

their own, who has made Ngwa people proud. Wogu was reappointed to the Labour and Productivity Ministry.

“We have not had it this way for the past 46 years,” the group said.

Having had it this time, we feel there is need to come and interact with him as well as encourage the minister to keep up the good work that has earned him two consecutive tenures as the helmsmen of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity,” the group said.

Mr. Obioma Achilefu who led the delegation, noted: “Your doggedness and charisma on Labour–related is-

sues must be maintained as Nigerians and the whole world are watching.”

The chairman of the association also urged the minister to prevail on the powers that be to ensure that Aba roads are passable. He lamented that Aba roads are in deplorable condition and need Federal Government’s intervention.

Wogu reiterated government’s commitment to providing jobs for Nigerian youths.

The Minister called on Oha Ngwa people in Jos to support the Jang administration in its bid to bring a lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the state.

“You must support Plateau State

government in whatever effort it is making to develop the state,” he said. “As partners in progress, it is also necessary that you make your activities and programmes known to the state government.”

Wogu also reminded all Ngwa people wherever they are of the need to always remember their homeland. He said it is necessary to support Governor Theodore Orji in his quest to transform Abia State.

“There is no way I can be at the centre without connecting back home,” he said. “We must connect back home and give the governor our unalloyed support as he works assiduously to take Abia to its pinnacle of glory”, he appealed.

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HERE is a renewal of infrastructure in Nasarawa State. Several water projects executed by the Tanko Almakura administration are helping to put the residents out of their drought nightmare. Darkness is giving way and the state is well on its way to putting its electricity challenges behind it. Also, communities long cut off by impassable roads are getting linked up to other parts of the state.

There are several challenges yet, but Nasarawa people say there is something to celebrate in Governor Almakura’s first 100 days in office.

This hopeful beginning resulted from careful planning.

Just before his inauguration, Almakura he had set up a transitional task force to provide his administration with comprehensive information on areas of need in the state.

“We pledged to work tirelessly and I can see the burning zeal and determination in your eyes to revive the Nasarawa State project long abandoned by successive administrations,” he said in Lafia, the state capital. He told the people he will not abuse the goodwill he received from them.

Almakura told the task force to recommend appropriate structures for ministries, agency boards, state departments and companies. Existing financial commitments as well as ongoing projects were also to be examined and the government advised appropriately. A four-year development plan was equally to be developed.

The governor also promised to look into the health care system and power as well as water supply.

“Our lack of power and energy threatens our economic progress,” he said.

•Almakura inaugurating some tranformers

Infrastructural resurgence in Nasarawa Transformers installed across the state Roads constructed in communities From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

Now the groundwork is paying off. In the area of electric power, Almakura has been praised.

Identifying power as one of the major forces militating against the economic development of the

state, the governor had taken a tour of all power installations across the state along with officials of Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN) with a view to getting first-hand knowledge on the power situation.

There is also another area in which the governor has brought

to the people of Nasarawa: peace.

“Yes there is peace,” said Senator John Danboyi, who once represented Nasarawa Northern Senatorial District. “There is peace right now in Nasarawa State and once there is peace, those other things you see as pa-

rameters of development will start coming in”.

The senator also hailed the appointment of permanent secretaries which he said reflects the ethnic multiplicity of the state. Danboyi said this makes the people happy.

Almakura’s efforts in electricity thrilled Danboyi.

“I know he has also concentrated on the issue of electric•Continued on Page 26

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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Infrastructural resurgence in Nasarawa •Continued from Page 25

ity and we are seeing transformers almost everywhere,” said the senator. “Very soon, I am sure the light issue will be improved and I know that from what we are seeing, he also wants to do rural electrification. If he does that, it is a welcome idea.”

Danboyi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, had a word of counsel as well. “Our prayer is that he will get experts, people that will help him. He should forget that he is from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) because if he wants to cling to his party, he is going to fail. Let him extend a hand of friendship to everyone and dialogue with the people and let the people tell him what they want.”

The improvement of power supply in the state at the moment was also echoed by residents in Lafia.

With 30 500KVA transformers already installed across the state, the residents are beginning to heave a sigh of relief. Power is becoming regular.

So far, 24 of those transformers have been installed in Lafia alone with four each in both Akwanga and Keffi.

Ibrahim Omaku, a resident of

F

•Almakura (microphone in hand) leading a bridge inspection

Ombi II in Lafia commended the governor improving power supply, thanking him for providing two transformers in his area, something they had been asking for over five years.

Though the transformers are yet to be linked to the national grid, Omaku explained that seeing them alone in their position gives him and others in the area joy. He appealed to PHCN to quickly install

EW days to the commencement of the yearly hajj operations to Saudi Arabia, Med-View Airlines, one of the airlines designated by the Federal Government for this year’s operations has assured pilgrims of a hitch-free and timely airlifting, just as the airline took delivery of a Boeing 747-300 series aircraft.

The General Manager of Medview Airlines, Mr David Babatunde gave the assurance while speaking to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos shortly after taking delivery of the Boeing 747 aircraft.

The aircraft B747 which landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with 35 Saudi-trained flight attendants was received by officials of the airline led by

them so that they can begin to enjoy power supply.

Taps that used to be mostly dry in the state are now running not only in Lafia but also in Keffi.

One major headache of Lafia residents since its creation about 14 years ago has been lack of access roads within the town. But if the governor’s efforts are sustained within the next few months, this problem may become history in the

state capital.

Communities are also being opened up. Some roads under construction include the Government House-Lafia/Hotel-Makurdi, Shendan, Bukkansidi and UACSchool of Agriculture.

But in spite of these achievements, some residents want their governor to be wary of his advisers.

A civil servant who spoke to Newsextra but does not want his

name in the print, said the governor should ensure that he avoids praise singers.

Some of those praise singers according to him have been there during the past administrations while some are finding their way into the new government. He advised that Almakura should find out things for himself from the ordinary people that voted him into office if he is going to accomplish the task before him.

Med View airline promises hitch-free Hajj

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Babatunde.

“With this aircraft and another Boeing 767 that will be flown into Nigeria from Portugal next week, pilgrims are assured of timely departure and arrival. Med-View is noted for good arrangement and performance. We have done it for a couple of years. We are tested and I want to say we are trusted. I want to assure our pilgrims that the only thing that will be different in this year’s edition is better performance. For Med-View, there

will be no issue of stranded passengers. We have all our plans mapped out,” Babatunde said.

Continuing, he said: “Actually, we are just a carrier, NAHCON the regulatory body with zonal offices in all the states would enlighten the pilgrims on the new security measures at the airports. As a carrier, ours is to secure our aircraft, which is an internal arrangement,” he added.

On the total number of pilgrims allocated to Med-View Airlines, Babatunde said that the airline was allocated 15,000 pilgrims, adding that the airline will shuttle between

four airports in the country - Lagos, Ilorin, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the number of pilgrims the B747 aircraft with 18 landing gears can airlift at a time, the Med-View chief said that it could take 517 pilgrims, adding that the airline will commence airlifting of pilgrims on October 2.

One of the flight attendants Vivian Nwayor said that it was a great experience flying in a Boeing 747 compared to other aircraft.

She said that the crew numbering about 35 flew to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for close to two months training, adding that with this training, the entire crew has learnt a lot.

She said that she had operated in 737, MD83, 767 and other aircraft, adding that her experience with B747 is not only different but also wonderful.

Recall that the Federal Government, through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had earlier selected Kabo Air Limited, Med-View Airline, Max Air, Ethiopian and NAS Chatter Aviation as official carriers for regular pilgrims while Trade Craft Airline was approved for tour operators’ pilgrims.

We are tested and I want to say we are trusted. I want to assure our pilgrims that the only thing that will be different in this year’s edition is better performance. For Med-View, there will be no issue of stranded passengers.

We have all our plans mapped out •Medview Airline Cabin crew for this year’s Hajj received by Mr Babatunde after two months training in Saudi Arabia PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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Cleric urges tight security

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HE Bishop of Idoani Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Revd Ezekiel Dahunsi has criticised the spate of insecurity in the country.

He said the incessant bombings across the country allegedly by Islamic sects (Boko Haram) were unwarranted and barbaric.

Besides, the cleric condemned the violence that greeted the April 16, 2011 Presidential polls where innocent youth corps members and others were killed with many church buildings set ablaze.

Speaking at the second session of the first Synod of the diocese held at St. Mark’s Church, OwaniIdoani with a theme “Christ our Perfect Example”Dahunsi said: “We are awaiting to see the panel of enquiry set up by President Goodluck Jonathan. We are waiting to see if this will be an exception because all other panels set up in the past on issues like this have never yielded any positive results.

Bishop Dahunsi also expressed dismay over corruption, stressing that the country’s rating in the global corruption index was embarrassing.

He further said: “Corruption is therefore the monster that will need to be confronted in order to enhance the country’s image. The war against corruption in this dispensation must start from the centre.

He said that President Jonathan should make his government responsive, responsible and accountable, stressing that responsive, responsible and accountable government is, no doubt, central to genuine democracy.

Bishop Dahunsi urged Gover-

President Jonathan should make his government responsive, responsible and accountable, stressing that responsive, responsible and accountable government is, no doubt, central to genuine democracy From Damisi Ojo, Akure

nor Olusegun Mimiko to extend the Abiye health programme of the state government to other rural areas of Ondo State.

While expressing delight that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the policies of the government in the areas of women and child survival and development, Bishop Dahunsi added that it was further gratifying that the programme has been made a benchmark for Africa.

In a homily, the Bishop of Kabba Diocese in Kogi State, Rt Revd Steven Akobe advised

•From Left : Bishop of Kabba Diocese, Rt Revd Steven Akobe, host Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dahunsi and Bishop of Owo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dayo Oladunjoye at the Synod

Christians to be forceful in preaching, no matter the challenges they face.

Bishop Akobe called on Christians to be full partakers of God’s word rather than being seen as bench-warmers.

He further expressed his regrets that the church of God is divided on the basis of ethnicity, even as he called on all to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ in all their undertakings.

Former Commissioner for Infor-

mation, Ranti Akerele who is indigenous to Idoani urged the people in the area to rally round the Bishop to move the diocese which he regarded as the youngest in the country forward.

He commended the pioneer Bishop Dahunsi for his spiritual inclination and efforts toward developing the new diocese, stressing that his achievements within the last two years were unprecedented.

Personalities who attended the event were Major Gen. Olufemi Olutoye (rtd) and his wife, the Principal, King’s College, Otunba Dele Olapeju and his wife, Rt Revd Oladunjoye, Bishop of Owo Diocese, Chief (Mrs) Bisi Ogunleye and the Supervisory Councillor for Special Duties in Ose Local Government Area who is also the Diocesan Public Relations Officer (PRO), and Hon. Isaac Obiniran, among others.

Kwankwaso donates 55 patrol vans to security agencies

I

N its determination to ensure the security of lives and property of the people of Kano State, the State Government has donated 55 security patrol vans to security agencies.

The state Governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who spoke during a short presentation ceremony at the state government house in Kano over the weekend, said the

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

donation of the patrol vehicles is part of measures to improve the security situation.

Kwankwaso noted that although it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to cater for the logistics needs of the security agencies, his government however de-

cided to assist them so that they can cope with the challenge of protecting the people.

According to the Governor, “A breakdown of the donation shows that the Nigeria Police have 50 of the double cabin vans while the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, SSS, Civil Defence and Road Safety Corps have one each.

Governor Kwankwaso stated that

•Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido speaking when he received 50 tricycles and wheel chairs donated by Beautiful Gate Handicapped Centre, Jos at Government House, Dutse

the donation is only a tip of the ice berg, assuring that his administration would continue to equip the security agencies in Kano to make sure that lives and property of the citizenry are protected.

The governor promised to continue to work with the security outfits to facilitate security and development of the state.

While stating that the primary responsibility of government is the security of lives and property of the people, the Governor said the donation of security vehicles would be in phases, noting that the state government is ready to do anything within its constitutional powers to ensure the sustenance of peace and the security of lives and property of the people of the state.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 1, AIG Abubakar Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the benefiting security agencies commended the state government for providing the logistic support for the security agencies, adding that the patrol vehicles would serve as an impetus for the improvement of security.

The State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris shared the opinion of AIG Mohammed, saying the police command is better equipped

•Kwankwaso to discharge its constitutional responsibility.

The Brigade Commander in charge of the 3rd Infantry Mechanized Brigade, Brig. General Ade Jirin commended the synergy between the Kano State Government and security agencies in the state, which he said, is responsible for the effective management of security issues.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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V

N

HE Borno State government has distributed 270 trucks of fertilisers to farmers across the state, Alhaji Usman Zanna, the Commissioner for Agriculture, has said.

Zamfara residents to avoid future occurrence.

Lawali, a victim of the flood, noted that the incident was a regular occurrence in the area because it is surrounded by a river.

He described last year’s flood as “the worst in the history of Jangeru”.

Mallam Abdullahi Moriki, another victim in Dole-Moriki, solicited the assistance of the state government in reconstructing their houses, saying that majority of the people were poor.

He said that some of the victims, who could not be accommodated by their relatives, were now residing in public buildings in the area.

It would be recalled that during his inspection tour of the area, Governor Abdulaziz Yari had assured the victims of government’s assistance.

Niger needs N50b to tackle water shortage

N

Nasarawa introduces adult education

ASARAWA State government is to re introduce adult education programme and construct female hostels across its tertiary institutions.

The State Governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura, who made this disclosure during a programme organised by his wife to mark his 100 days in office, said that the introduction of adult programme in the system will help equip them especially the women with basic knowledge and skills.

The governor who said women are also top on his administration’s priorities, also promised to enhance them to enable them contribute to national development like their male counterparts.

Empowering women according to him will ensure child development as they grow into

Nasarawa responsible adults capable of eliminating social vices in the society.

The governor said that he intends to construct female hostels at the state’s higher institutions to alleviate their sufferings,’adding that he will give women, adequate recognition in appointments in view of their important role in ensuring the emergence of this regime.

He said women are partners in progress and they should be supported and cherished, saying that the administration is focused towards pursuing their course through capacity building, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and other income generating

Yobe to make law on public procurement

T

Borno distributes 270 trucks of fertilisers T

Flood victims seek help

ICTIMS of the recent flood disaster in some parts of Zamfara State have appealed to the state and Federal Governments to assist them with relief materials.

The victims, who made the appeal in Gusau in an interview with reporters, also urged the government to relocate them to safer areas.

The flood disaster affected Birnin-yero, Jangeru, Dole-Moriki and Janbako in Shinkafi, Zurmi and Maradun local government areas of the state.

It rendered hundreds of people homeless, submerged many hectares of farm lands and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

Malam Muhammed Lawali, a resident of Jangeru, said previous administrations in the state relocated some residents of the town from flood prone areas.

He stressed the need to relocate the entire

• Governor Yari

37

HE Yobe State government will enact a law on Public Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility, to ensure judicious and efficient utilisation of its resources, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has announced .

Gaidam disclosed this in Abuja at the opening of a three-day workshop on the review of public expenditure and financial acountability.

He said that the government had also prepared three other bills to review existing laws establishing the state Water Corporation, Environmental Protection Agency, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and that of the State Board of Internal Revenue.

“We hope that the Assembly will accelerate deliberations on these bills and pass them into law to enhance this administration’s reform agenda”.

He said the workshop was important as it sought to review policies and fiscal measures to achieve ideal transparency ,accountability and good governance in managing public finances. “ This is in line with the agenda of the government in its efforts to address structural problems and imbalances in the economy of Yobe State’’.

The governor pledged to adopt the findings of the workshop to facilitate effective structural reform and sustainable long-term growth of the state’s economy.

Yobe Earlier, a World Bank consultant handling the validation workshop, Mr. Chenedum Nwoko, said the workshop was organised to enable heads of ministries and agencies in the state to share ideas on various economic issues for the growth of the state. “ We intend to produce a comprehensive report for the state that will meet international standard,’’ Nwoko said.

Vehicle owners warned The Lagos Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at the following police divisions to remove them or forfeit same through auction.

Mosafejo Division, Oshodi 1.

Volkswagen bus – XP920FKJ 2.

Nissan Saloon car – AE 478NSW 3.

Nissan Patrol – AY133 EKY 4.

Toyota Starlet – DH 207 EKY 5.

Volkswagen bus – XJ 727 AAA Alakara police station 1.

Toyota sport car – GJ 971 ABC 2.

Volkswagen car – DX 60GGC

• From left: Ajido Village representative, Prince Mautin Selome Viho; German Ambassador’s representative, Ms Katherine Ann; Executive Director, Development Support Institute (DSI), Mrs, Jacqueline Odiadi and Consular General, Germany Embassy in Lagos, Mr Walter Von der Driesch, inaugurating the water borehole project constructed for Ajido Town, near Badagry, Lagos

activities.

Thewife of the Nasarawa State Governor , Hajiya Salamaru Almakura who gave kudos to all the women in the state for their role in ushering the new administration into office, said that development will be impossible in the state without them.

•Kwara State Governor Abulfatah Ahmed (second left), presenting appointment letter to one of the 2,000 beneficiaries of Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES), Miss Folashade Ifabiyi, while Minister for Youth Development, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi (second right) and Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dr Abubakar Kannike watch

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

IGER State government will require about N50 billion in the next five years to tackle water supply shortage that hit the state in the last four years, Committee on Lasting Solution to Water Supply in Niger, has declared.

The Committee’s spokesman, Mr Ilya Garba who disclosed this to newsmen in Minna said that the amount is needed to provide infrastructure and support for operation and maintenance of existing water works across the state.

Recommending increased attention to various water facilities in the state, Garba said that the committee also stressed the need for management of the facilities to be efficient and effective in their operation in order to sustain water supply to the people.

Bauchi to get amusement park

T

HE Bauchi State government says it is set to establish an international amusement park as part of efforts to boost tourism in the state.

The State Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Alhaji Salihu Ibrahim, who disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Bauchi Ibrahim said that the move was part of plans by the state to live up to its name as the “Pearl of Tourism” in Nigeria.

He said that the amusement park, which would be of international standard and the first of its kind in the North Eastern part of the country, would be located on the Gombe-Bauchi road.

Salihu said the project would create job opportunities, foster economic growth of the state and boost its revenue.

He also said the Sumu Wildlife Park, located at Kafin Madaki town in Ganjuwa Local Government, would be expanded to encourage commercial activities in the area.

“Animals in Sumu Park are multiplying in numbers and as such, we are going to expand it to enable the animals move freely.

“We also intend building chalets where people will be accommodated. There will be provision for animal viewing trips, just like what obtains in Yankari Game Reserve,’’ the commissioner said.

Bauchi He said that some tourism centres in Ningi, Toro and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas would also be revived.

Honour for 10 council chiefs

A

S a way of encouraging performance at the grassroots, the management of a leading community newspaper, Community News Network (C.N News), has come up with an innovative reward programme tagged, Community Service Award.

According to the managing editor of the paper, Felix Orisunola Igiebor, the awards became necessary after observing performance at the grassroots level in the past three years. “The award is intended to encourage those who have put selfish and parochial interests at bay while putting the electorate at the forefront of their priorities. It is also intended to show the non performers that it pays to put the people first” he stated.

On criteria for the selection of awardees, Igiebor said only those who went the extra mile of not only embarking on popular projects but did something spectacular which although are capital intensive, yet are of immense benefit to the people, were considered.

“We have carefully selected 10 chairmen who have distinguished themselves and met all criteria for the awards. Also, we have considered the responses from our numerous readers who sent their choices through text messages, the result of our diligent work is the emergence of these 10 chairmen” he stated further.

Politicians cautioned against mudslinging

P

OLITICIANS in the country have been cautioned against politics of calumny and mudslinging in the overall interest of the polity. The chairman of Odi-Olowo-Ojuwoye Local Government Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, Aremo Adeyemi Ali, sounded the warning at the weekend.

He spoke to reporters after he received an award of excellence from Ilupeju East Community Development Association in recognition of his people-oriented administration in the area.

He used the occasion to debunk some negative insinuations against his administration as well and render in part, account of his stewardship, saying: “Politics of mudslinging should be over by now; it won’t get us anywhere. If we have not been working, we would not be getting awards from our people.

“The rumour that some women from Ilupeju area are angry with us is totally false and mischievous. In the ward alone, we have reconstructed two block of classrooms; two modern toilets with boreholes; modern health centre named Bola Ahmed Tinubu Public Health Centre and a functional borehole in Sura Mogaji market in the area. Also to enhance security of lives and property, we provided the Ilupeju Police Station with a bus, patrol van and various useful gadgets,” he stated.

When asked to speak on his administration’s stewardship so far, the two-term council boss said: “It is not in my character to sing my own praises, but I can say that we have tried our best at using the meagre financial resources available in the interest of our people who keep appreciating us by the day.”

He, however, said: “I make bold to say that we have sunk over 150 functional water boreholes across our domain so far. We have constructed over 97 drains to tackle erosion here;

By Dada Aladelokun

27 modern toilets in over 27 schools; desks, benches, school uniforms and other writing materials were also provided for our pupils in all the public schools aside the fact that we provided buses to convey them to and from their schools. Though one is ready for use, we are providing well-equipped ICT Centres for use of pupils and teachers in our domain. Besides the provision of mobile clinic to cater for the immediate health needs of our people, we have succeeded in upgrading four PHCs. And in the area of road rehabilitation, we have completely tarred five major roads in the area.”

Speaking on his youth development and social welfare programme, Ali said: “We have been giving N5,000 monthly stipend to 500 elders of 65 years and above in my domain. We hope to increase the beneficiaries as soon as more money is available to us. Also, apart from employing over 600 youths so far, we have been fighting poverty among our people by providing them with tricycles, motorbikes, generating sets, call centres, vulcanizing machines among others equipment that are being used by artisans in order to inculcate self-reliance into them.”

The council boss was quick to emphasise that the Nigerian populace needs patience because no single administration could satisfy their yearnings in one fell swoop.

•Ali

Borno

Zanna disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Maiduguri.

He said the government was determined to make the state the food basket of the nation.

To realise this objective, the commissioner said that the government had made agriculture the cardinal objective of its domestic policy.

In its bid to boost food production, he said the government would pursue its “operation go back to farm programme.”

Zanna promised that the government would provide the necessary raw materials required by the state fertiliser company to increase production.

He praised the staff of the company for

•Governor Shettima maintaining facilities at their disposal and urged them to put in their best for the development of the state.

Sokoto spends N30m on palace

T

HE Sokoto State government has spent N30 million on the construction of a palace for the district head of Diggyadi in Bodinga Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who announced this while inspecting the project, said government would continue to accord priority to the traditional institution.

He disclosed that government had embarked on the project because of its significance, adding that this would boost the morale of the monarch.

The governor pointed out that traditional rulers were the closest to the people, noting that their roles could not be over-emphasised.

The governor also inaugurated a bore-hole

Sokoto at Dingyadi to boost water supply in the area.

Three electrification projects worth more than N50 million at Raha, Tudun Abdu and Tudun Buba were also inaugurated by the governor.

The projects, he said, were in fulfillment of his promises to the people to ensure even distribution of wealth.

“By the grace of the Almighty, no section of this state will be left untouched in the provision dividends of democracy,’’ he added.

About 65 projects cutting across diverse sectors were executed by the state government in the council area.

‘Insecurity scares investors’

T

• Artisans at a fabrication workshop of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeggi, Niger State

BRIEFS

Police kill suspected armed robber POLICE detectives attached to Elemoro Police Station, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos have killed a suspected armed robber who has been terrorising the area for a long time.

The suspect, it was gathered, had allegedly shot and killed a policeman during one of his gang’s operation.

According to a police source, the said suspect has been on the wanted list of the police station for over three months following the dreaded activities of his gang.

The suspect was killed in a cross fire with Anti Robbery Policemen from the police station who were led by

By Jude Isiguzo

Divisional Police Officer (DPO),Mr Comas Agwu, during an operation at Abule-Folo area in Ibeju-Lekkki.

Police spokesman, Mr Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed the incident, said that detectives are combing the area for the other members of the gang who escaped.

Jinadu noted that a locally made gun with live ammunition was recovered from the deceased.

He said that investigation is ongoing and that the command is ready to crush any form of criminality in the area.

HIRD Republic Senator Anthony Adefuye and former Minister of Regional Integration in Africa, Dr Bimbo Ogunkelu, have described the Boko Haram onslaught as a serious security challenge, urging the Federal Government to restore security and confidence in government.

They contented that, since no investment could strive in an atmosphere of insecurity, the lack of security in the country has compounded business risks.

Ogunkelu spoke in Lagos at the commissioning of the ‘Adefuye Mansions’ , a five star hotels located at Babatunde Ladega Street, Omole Phase 1, Ojodu, Ikeja. The ceremony, which was chaired by the former Chief of General Staff, Lt.Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), was witnessed by former Lagos State Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, former Secretary to Government Olorunfunmi Basorun, former military governor of Ogun State, Daniel Akintonde, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Bosun Jeje, former Minister of Commerce, Nike Akande, former Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Senator Yinka Omilani, Bariga/Somolu Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chairman, Dengel Anifowose, Hon. Benjamin Labinjo, Hon. Gbolahan Bagostowe, Dr Adesola Taiwo, Bunmi Orekoya, Chief Segun Dada, Mr aramide Noibi and Demola Doherty.

Diya, who cut the tape, declined to speak on the state of the nation, despite entreaties by reporters. However, Ogunkelu, dissected the security situation, lamenting that fear had engulfed Nigerians.

He added: “Security of life, property and

By Emmanuel Oladesu

environment is a challenge. The Federal Government must ensure security in our homes, factories, roads, environment. Without security, there can be no development. We need a good security programme.

“Retiring security chiefs or changing them may not be the solution as it creates instability.

From independence to date, there was no time Nigerian soldiers and police went out for peacekeeping and they did not come back with medals. Why can’t they perform at home?”

Adefuye said: “Nobody is happy. There are bombings and kidnappings here and there.

There is general lack of security. Life is not safe when there is no security”.

The ACN chieftain chided government for chasing shadows, instead of fighting the antigraft war. Decrying the selective approach to the anti-corruption battle, he said the anti-graft bodies are used to witch-hunt the perceived enemies and vocal opposition voices.

Church holds choristers’ anniversary

T

HE Melototah Church of Zion, 18/20 Ikale Street, Papa-Ajao, Mushin will hold its 2011 choristers’ anniversary on Sunday, September 25.

The event will be preceded by a musical jamboree on Friday September 23, followed by seminar and a power-packed revival on September 24 at 5.00pm.

Programme of activities for the grand finale will begin at 8.00am on Sunday with several great anointed men of God expected.

‘Nigeria needs prayers’ A clergyman, Rev. Chris Paul, has called for increased prayers to end the rising incidents of bombings in the country.

According to him, the security challenges facing the nation are spiritual, and therefore require spiritual solution. He said the prayers should be backed with praise and worship, as those are capable of obtaining God’s favour.

Paul said God is angry with Nigeria “because of the monumental sins and heinous crimes committed by the country,” adding that recent acts of terrorism and insecurity are “grave penalties” for the transgressions.

“One of these is the shedding of innocent blood and finding no justice in the laws of the land, ditto for corruption which has reached an alarming proportion Paul claimed he had a revelation that

the nation was under threat, with President Goodluck Jonathan as the ultimate target, adding however that God is capable of averting the looming crisis if his intervention is sought.

“The revelation came again before the Presidential election. God told me: ‘My son, l am bringing my son Goodluck EbeleChukwu Jonathan (as the name showed in the revelation) to be the President of this country and there will be war.

“Some part of the nation will be against his government; there will be a lot of killings, kidnapping and death.

“These are the plans – political plans and evil agenda to nullify his government. The agenda is to make Nigeria ungovernable, strike fear and panic and make Nigeria a no-go-area (a terror zone) to the International Community,” Paul said.

He added: “God gave me the solution, saying He is now interested to come and sanitise the nation.

•From left: Chief O. Olagundoye, Director; Dr. Massad F. Boulos, MD/CEO and Mr. Henry Agbamu, Chairman at SCOA Nigeria Plc Annual General Meeting in Abuja

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Life

29

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

Text only: 08023058761

New face of tourism in Osun – Page 32

Weird world of a snake seller – Page 34

Abstraction in Nigerian art – Page 34

The trouble with Nigeria, by Achebe •Prof Achebe

• SEE PAGES 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

30

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

The relationship between politics and literature formed the thrust of a gathering of literary scholars at this year’s Garden City Literary Festival in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, reports OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Asst. Editor (Arts).

Achebe: The trouble with Nigeria

•Chief Anyaoku

F

RONTLINE literary scholars and rights activists converged on Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last week, for this year’s Garden City Literary Festival. Their mission: To examine the interface between politics and literature and how literature is shaped by the cultural context of authors.

They included acclaimed father of African literature, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof.

Molara Ogundipe, Prof. Chidi Maduka, Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof. Nkem Okoh, Prof.

Karen King-Aribisala, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, Prof. Joseph Ajienka and Elechi Amadi.

Also present were Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; former SecretaryGeneral of Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku and African-American civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson and founder, Rainbow Book Club and festival Director, Mrs. Koko Kalango.

The theme of the symposium held at the Emmanuel Ebitimi Banigo auditorium of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), was the Literature and politics.

Leading the pack of discussants was author of Things Fall Apart, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who spoke on Literature and ethnicity: To what degree is all literature shaped by the cultural contexts of the authors?

First, it was a brief video presentation of Prof. Achebe’s remark, which was the high point of the day. But the silence that followed the video presentation was broken by applauses when his son, Chidi, rose to present his father’s keynote paper. The message was, however, not lost as Dr. Achebe in his rendition did not disappoint the audience.

Prof. Achebe, who regretted his inability to attend the symposium, did not mince words to describe the Nigerian story as that of a society steeped in ethnic and religious complexity. He said ethnicity did not evolve in Nigeria, through a post-primordial civic nationalism into a blissful, common national identity, as seen in Switzerland. He said until the ‘Swissification of ethnic conflict’ arrives, Nigerians particularly its writers, should not be satisfied with sweeping the matter under the carpet.

“My generation remembers a Nigeria that was once a land of great hope and progress, a nation of immense resources at its disposal-natural resources, but even more so human resources. Nigeria possesses a great diversity of vibrant peoples

who have not always been on the best of terms, but those of us who are old enough remember periods in our history when collaborations across ethnic and religious divides produced great results,” he said.

Achebe observed that the civil war changed the course of Nigeria, adding that the conflict was precipitated by the bile of ethnic hatred. He described the war as a cataclysmic experience that virtually changed the history of Africa and Nigeria.

“Everything I had known before, all the optimism had to be rethought. For me, this traumatic event changed my writing for a time, which found expression in a different genre-poetry,” Achebe added.

The war, he said, brought ethnic division in the polity, which encouraged unprecedented corruption. “Since the war, Nigerians have been subjected to a clique of military and civilian adventurers and a political class that have exploited the ethnic divisions in Nigeria. This group, unfortunately, has been corrupted- spearheading the enormous transfer of the country’s wealth into private bank accounts, a whole theft of national resources needed for all kinds of things – for health, for education, for roads. The result has been that the nation’s infrastructure were left to disintegrate unleashing untold suffering on millions of innocent people.”

The octogenarian also seemed disturbed by the way Nigerian academics have been bought over by politicians and leaders. The action, he said, had adversely affected the dignity of the academics. “This development has been made easy by Nigerian academics who have presided over the liquidation of the university system and the rise of a culture of anti-intellectualism in Nigeria. One of the ways we have done it is our obsession for office. Twenty–five years ago, university professors were held in very high esteem.

“Today, I don’t think anybody thinks very much of them, and quite frankly, I think it is of our own making. What hap-

•Rev. Jackson

pens when a university Vice- Chancellor in Nigeria is about to leave office? You ought to see the trips made up and down to government houses in Abuja, begging for cabinet positions. What upsets me is that this entire mess Nigeria finds itself in was quite avoidable,” he noted.

The Nigerian leadership appears uncaring for the welfare of the country and its people, he said, adding: “if a political classincluding intellectuals, university professors, and people like that, who have read all the books and know how the world works – if they had based their actions on principle rather than on opportunity, Nigeria would not be in predicament.”

To him, Nigerian leaders, beginning with the military dictators, looked around and saw that they could buy intellectuals because anybody who called himself presi-

‘My generation remembers a Nigeria that was once a land of great hope and progress, a nation of immense resources at its disposal-natural resources, but even more so human resources’

dent would immediately find everyone lining up outside his home or his office to be made minister. This, he said, is what they have exploited – they have exploited the divisions, the ethnic and religious sectionalisation in the country. According to him, there are leaders who see nothing wrong in inciting religious conflict between Christians and Muslims. “It’s all simply to retain power. So you find now a different kind of alienation,” Achebe noted.

Achebe said Nigeria should face reality and the leaders should begin to think of how to reorganise and build a modern Nigeria.

He went on: “In the past in Igbo land, if something kept happening and happening, or if somebody kept failing and failing, the people would go and consult an oracle. They call it Iju Ase. In the modern world, the systems that cause these failures are examined. But frankly, I would suggest that Nigeria has decided to put merit aside and bring up whatever considerations, and that is one of the things that happened to us. And the modern world has not been created on considerations outside of merit.”

Achebe lamented Nigeria’s many missed opportunities, blaming its leaders for the •Continued on page 31

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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

‘I rarely deal with art gallery operators’

M

OST modern Nigerian artists rely more on the operators of art galleries to market their works of art, but not without a snag- accusations and counter-accusations of one cheating the other.

As a result, some artists chose to ignore the gallery owners to deal directly with collectors, believing that they will strike a better deal. One of such artists is Osazuwa Osagie, a 1984 graduate of Fine Art from the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State.

In a chat with The Nation at his Lagos studio, Osagie described art galleries as the least of his outlets for the sale of his art works. He said he rarely deals with art galleries for the sale of his works. Instead, he finds the art collectors more appropriate and comfortable to deal with. He noted that too often, gallery owners and artists run into conflict of interest, which he said is fuelled by distrust and suspicion.

“I hold my works dearly. In fact, I try as much as possible to walk away from some deals because there is always a tomorrow. My main collectors are those who buy works for keep. Such collectors seek your friendship as artist. Yet, I work for my customer and myself to enjoy,” he said. Osagie, who is working on his next solo art exhibition marking his 27th anniversary of studio practice after leaving art school, said that about 47 cartoons, portraitures and paintings in oil and acrylic would be exhibited.The exhibition, which will hold in October/ November at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos would have been held two years earlier to mark his jubilee anniversary, but for some logistics.

Cartooning This is one medium not attractive to many artists. For Osagie, he became a successful cartoonist by destiny. “I was never thought cartooning at art school. I learnt it at the defunct National Concord newspaper as a corps member. I joined National Concord as a corps member when I had problem with my first posting at an advertising agency. In fact, I only did six months of the service year but got retained and offered employment.

Cartooning is fulfilling though I do get threats and thank

•Osazuwa’s work

•Osazuwa

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

you responses from readers. Even government officials see cartoonist as enemy. Cartooning during the military is not same as we have now because in Concord then, we encountered the State Security Services and Defence Military Intelligence.

Recently, I got a negative response from a reader on Boko Haram. However, these days, even when you harass government, they smile unlike in the days of military.”

•Ajienka, Anyaoku, Kalango, Jackson and Femi Oke

‘The trouble with Nigeria’ •Continued from page 30

development. “I despair over Nigeria daily on its missed opportunities: the fact that nobody has had the imagination to say, ‘Look, I’m going to transcend all this ethnic pettiness and become the leader of modern Nigeria’ because this is important for Africa, this is important for the world. So, let’s stop all this nonsense about religion, about tribe and so on. Let’s organise Nigeria and make it a working entity so that it can fulfil its mission in the world.”

He urged Nigerian writers to be ready for the challenges because there is a great deal of work for them, adding that if the society is healthy, the writer’s job is limited - which is not the situation in Nigeria. “On the other hand, if the society is ill the writer has a responsibility to point it out even if it produces headaches in the halls of power! The role of the writer in a society such as ours besieged with many pathologies- ethnic bigotry, political ineptitude, cor-

ruption, and the cult of mediocrity- is not an easy or rigid one. Nigerian writers can choose to turn away from the reality of Nigeria’s intimidating complexity or conquer its misery by battling with it. I hope we all choose the latter,” he said.

Prof Ogundipe of Wisconsin International College, Ghana, observed that neo-colonialism has interfered in the cultural setting in Nigeria. This, he said, ravaged the nation’s culture because most parents prefer foreign language as a means of communication in their homes. “We talk about micro-politics in Nigeria. We need to explore macro-politics, learn about people who rule other Africans, do less of gossiping about politicians in our newspapers,” she said.

In his response, UNIPORT’s Prof Maduka said Achebe laid emphasis on the language of the people, adding that Nigerians need to develop their own national language as it constitutes a cornerstone. Prof Osofisan of the Uni-

Portraiture Notwithstanding specialisation in Fine Art, every artist should be competent in sculpting, portraiture and painting because they form part of the training elements at art school.

Still, many artists box themselves to a particular medium. This, he described as an escapist method. “I don’t believe that an artist cannot do portraiture, paint, design, and sculpt after graduation. Artists go to art school to learn all of these. And portraiture in particular is a way to seek the expertise of an artist, which you are paying for. But if you want a semblance, you take photograph. However, there is a buyer for every art work.”

versity of Ibadan, held a different view from Achebe’s claim on ethnicity. He said though Achebe’s novels are true pictures of reality, he did not agree with his concept on ethnicity because according to him, it did not capture the context especially, in Africa.

African-American civil rights activist, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was the guest speaker, recalled that President Barack Obama in 1984 acknowledged the possibility of an African-American running for the White House, a dream Obama realised years after. He noted that Obama, who emerged as the recipient of that struggle, was the result of and not the cause of today’s changes.

He identified strong minds, work ethic, character, courage of conviction, objectivity, and passion for justice as weapons to overcome the limitations set by the oppressors.

Rev Jackson observed that one of the problems in America and Africa today is that there is too much poverty among so much wealth, too many poor people on rich soil and too much wealth in too few hands. “We must reject greed no matter the uniform it wears,” he added.

Achebe began writing stories as a student at the University College, Ibadan, in the early 50s. After graduation, he worked with the Nigerian Broadcasting Service, rising to the director of External Broadcasting. When the Biafran war broke out in 1967, Achebe championed the cause of Biafran independence, travelling around the world to rally support for the newly formed state. His role as a roving Biafran ambassador ended when the Nigerian government retook the secessionist territory. Achebe’s novels have been praised for representing a panoramic exploration of Africa’s history from pre-colonial times to the emergence of postcolonial nation-states.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

32

The Midweek Magazine POEM The care merchant Her steps brisk and smart The radiance of her face, To the patient emits hope and succor.

Clad in spotlessly clean apparel; A luminous effect to the dampened spirit of the sick She brings along even with her clothing.

With her around, The sick recognizes and receives attention.

On the palms of the nurse, Care is in abundance.

The three jolly friends Here comes knowledge, one of three friends.

He goes about gathering information, facts and assertions.

He has no business with anything else just that which he knows best to do.

Ask him what to do with things he gathers and you get introduced to one of his friends.

Meet understanding and get close to him.

It grips your hand off knowledge his friend.

Joyfully he starts his art.

Sits you down and right before you are the things knowledge has gathered.

You wonder what understanding is up to, Skillfully he arranges the information, facts and assertions in their proper sequence.

His objective is to have you move from knowledge to the place of understanding.

You are here in the home of understanding.

The horizon is clearer and brighter.

Beautiful realisations and acceptances blow your mind to new dimensions.

You get to appreciate the mechanics behind concepts and idea.

Understanding feeds you to a point you want to ask; “what next?”

Excitedly, he points you to his other friend WISDOM The ultimate is here, He sees you and grins broadly.

“You are heartily and warmly welcome”, he utters.

“You must have passed the homes of my friends; knowledge and understanding”, he continues.

“All they gave you are vital for constant use if you want to employ being with me” Wisdom tells you his home is a place of rest.

Confusion, wrong judgment and misplaced priorities have no room here.

As you live, put knowledge and understanding into proper application.

And you get to the place of wisdom.

You need to get here, “it is the principal thing” The Bible says.

The fountain of life The beginning is there The end is yonder The two points are untraceable, Look backwards, you sure can’t find the starting point.

Beam your searchlight ahead, the end is elusive.

What a mystery to put together.

A beginning it doesn’t have, And ending never to Him will come Yet, the power to determine same is His. Through Him a conduit is run, Shooting up to the high sky are jets of life Up, up, up the life goes, far into the sky As if it will never come down.

But alas! At a certain point, it takes a downward trend, And then, diffusing indeed feebly, back into the bowels of the fountain.

Still wondering who this fountain is?

He is none else but: The Emperor of Heaven His throne is up there, the earth His foot stool.

He is God almighty; He is the fountain of life.

– By Biodun Ogundemuren

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Riding on the crest of its successful hosting of the Osun Osogbo festival, Osun State appears set to take culture and tourism higher. The Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Home Affairs, Sikiru Adetona Ayedun, speaks with EVELYN OSAGIE on his ministry’s plan for the tourism subsector.

New face of tourism in Osun

‘I would want to state that O-Tours is a public-private partnership of a sort in the industrialisation of culture and tourism in the state. It is not just a matter of packaging tours alone, we wanted to recreate the history of the state and beam it to the whole world so that they will know that this is a state with a lot of natural blessings’

A

RE there projections for tourism development in the state, vis-a-vis reaping of proceeds from the venture?

There are projections for our activities in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Home Affairs. Although new, I assure you the best is yet to come. That is why we rolled out O-Tours. We intend to develop it and making it more pragmatic.

Tourism is now a big business. Focus is shifting from mineral resources: nations of the world are breaking away from dependency on oil. Tourism is the in-thing happening worldwide. If you go to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai, tourism is becoming their major source of revenue. I once had a discussion with the Internal Affairs Minister of UAE. I was amazed that they had statistics that about 100 flights take-off and land in Dubai at intervals of 10 minutes. And between 2003 and 2005, Emirates built another terminal, very gigantic one.

It triples what we have in Lagos. And it had all the facilities in just three years. And their money comes through tourism. People go to Dubai for hospitality reasons. Osun State is moving there. Our ecosystem is very favourable. We are not just blessed with culture and historic sites in the state, but also with talents, such as the late Duro Ladipo, Animashaun, I. K. Dairo, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, Chief Muraina Oyelami, even Sunny Ade was born and bred in Osogbo.

That was why we chose to honour them two weeks ago. Susanne Wenger of blessed memory came here and abandoned whatever she had in Austria, lived and died here.

During the two weeks the Osun festival lasted, we had series of devotees from USA, Canada, and the Caribbean, coming here to be initiated. Our culture is our greatest heritage and it would serve as a major revenue earner mixed with tourism. Our plan is to make it so – tourism for development where culture and tourism would begin to generate revenue for the state and empower the indigenes. It is unfortunate that some, among us, who are blessed with a rich culture, take it as something that should be trashed out of life.

On the O-Tours, one would have thought that instead of the state engaging in tour operations, it should have created an environment whereby tour operators could arrange packet tour, among others?

I would want to state that O-Tours is a public-private-partnership of a sort in the industrialisation of culture and tourism in the state. It is not just a matter of packaging tours alone, we wanted to recreate the history of the state and beam it to the whole world so that they will know that this is a state with a lot of natural blessings. We are not talking of mineral resources alone, but artefacts, archaeological and ecological findings, telling us the history of mankind.

We all know how old the creation of the human race is and that the Yoruba race began at Ile-Ife (being the source of the cradle of Yoruba race). These facts are available by archaeological findings. This is the idea behind O-Tours, not just about packaging tourism alone.

Aside Osun grove, how many heritage sites do you have listed in UNESCO? It is the only one, but we are working towards having Olojo festival in Ile-Ife, alongside other historic sites. As of today, we have about 63 historic sites in Osun State.

We have the Olume Waterfalls, Ayekongba Falls, etc.

Cultural activities also breed creativity.

How do you intend to carry the arts com-

•Ayedun

munity along in your tourism plan?

Tourism has three phases. We have social, cultural and religious. Part of the activities of this year’s edition of the Osun festival was an art exhibition, which held at the Centre for Black Arts. It showcased the artistic talents and uniqueness of our artists and artisans, particularly in Osogbo.

Exhibitions like this would be held subsequently.

What about the proposed Artists’ Village?

The artists have been clamouring for it for along time – a village where arts would thrive. It would have art studios, exhibition centre, and a vocational centre where upcoming artists would be trained, etc. It was re-echoed at the exhibition and we promised that we are going to develop it.

Do you have a website to tell your story to the world where people can get more information about the tourist sites in the state?

We are working on it. Because we know that communication is now a global village, we want to make sure that we create a detailed website that would contain rich information on the historical, artistic and culture of our state.

Osun Osogbo festival attracted 5,000 visitors to the state?

It is not just a mere speculation. The evident was there for all to see. Having 5,000 visitors at the festival is not just a dream but reality. And we are working towards more. By all indication, and by the time we are done re-packaging the festival, the number will triple that in few years. We figured that the facility at the Osun grove

‘Our culture is our greatest heritage and it would serve as a major revenue earner mixed with tourism. Our plan is to make it so – tourism for development where culture and tourism would begin to generate revenue for the state and empower the indigenes’

may not be able to accommodate the number of visitors that are coming. We have started improving the facility of the grove. Work has started in earnest. Visitors at this year’s festival will note that we have expanded the walkway. They also saw that there was a new security gate. That is what we intended to use, initially, to control traffic coming into Osun grove, so that there won’t be stampede. Even though the government is still trying to stabilise, we are working to see all the six-cardinal points of our ideas through, which includes tourism for development. And we want to make sure it is a reality. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

The challenge of the grove’s main arena of not being able to contain visitors is not new. Some have suggested that it needs expansion, but traditional sentinels say no.

How do you hope to reconcile that?

We are trying to reconcile that. I must be honest with you that we had this kind of challenge preparing for the festival itself.

When we wanted to clear the Osun River off debris, it was an issue because the custodians said we can’t carry canoe or just go through the river like that.

But, we told them that we were not doing it to demystify the sacredness of the river.

The same way we are going to deal with the issue of expansion. It is an issue we have discussed. Many people were denied full coverage of what happened at the grand finale because of the way the grove is shaped, but if we can put up a platform that people do not need to go through the reception area before they can see what is happening. And so, we are thinking of creating a pavilion or platform of a sort that would enable people to watch without hindering movement. We would do all that is needful between us, the traditional rulers, the chiefs and the custodians and also UNESCO to improve on the festival. As I said, work has started. We used to experience flooding in the state. But you can see there was no flood this year. That is because we have awarded a contract of N187 million for the dredging and re-channelisation of the streams leading to the Osun River. It has also added value to the cleanliness of the river.

Is there a mechanism that would control the number of cars parked in the grove which usually hampers visitors’ movement during the festival?

We would do everything to control that before next year’s edition.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

33

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

FNB Jo’burg Art fair opens Friday

‘Why Nigeria must boost local tourism’

T

W

ORRIED by the inadequate promotion of tourism destinations across the country, the Chief Service Officer of TopComms, Mr Temi Tope Ogbeni-Awe, has blamed past administrations for lack of the political will to entrench tourism as a developmental tool to galvanise the nation’s economy.

According to him, unlike other countries of the world, tourism is not treated as big business in Nigeria. He noted that there are no enabling developmental provisions put in place to use tourism as agent of change.

“The capital vote in the budget for tourism development each year is next to nothing. Past administrations see tourism sector as a leper whereas in other climes, tourism is big business. Ordinary politicians are never assigned to man the ministry of Health, Justice or Education as minster. But for tourism, the government sends political jobbers who knew next to nothing about tourism until recently,” he added.

He said loads of researches on tourism development are left to rot away on the shelves and archives of the ministry.

This, he said, is not a progressive effort that can lift the sector to a level that it would attract both local and foreign investors. He stressed that tourism is not attractive in the country because it has never been treated as a business concern.

He noted that policy makers have not researched into why tourists must come to Nigeria, what the tourists will see and how much they will spend during their stay to guide the implementation of tourism policies.

“Unfortunately too, no research has shown Nigeria’s greatest tourism potential, it has always been assumed to be culture. Until research on these is done to determine type of tourists and reasons for their tours, we may not get it right. It might interest you to know that some tourists visit the country side like Obudu Resort in Cross River State for bird watching as against mountaineering. We are yet to get an empirical data base to show what interest our tourists,” he added.

Ogbeni-Awe stressed that for Nigeria’s tourism to flourish, the tourism master

•Ogbeni-Awe

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

plan must be implemented as it is the guide to making the sector grow. But he said that apart from adequate funding and

‘The capital vote in the budget for tourism development each year is next to nothing. Past administrations see tourism sector as a leper whereas in other climes, tourism is big business’

judicious use of allocation, policy makers must be conscious of the need to drive domestic tourism considering the nation’s huge population.“Before we start international tourism, we should galvanise local tourism.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should orientate Nigerians on local tourism and on how to live outside the comfort zones when they travel. And we should include vacation culture. Our tourism ust be ready from within and our kindness should not make us to be blind to spending and tourists receipt we need to get,” he said, noting that, fortunately, the new administration took the right step in the right direction by appointing a seasoned tourism operator. According to him, the new minster must now translate his vision into action. He said for tourism, which is a fragile product to thrive enabling environment and security of life and properties must be ensured.

Music producer to expand his coast

•Ashibuogwu

L

AGOS-BASED producer, Michael Ashibuogwu, who emerged as the successful candidate for the 2011 edition of the Red Bull Music Academy holding in Spain in November, said the academy is an opportunity to improve his career as a music producer.

He said attending the academy would broaden his horizon. “I expect to expand my music coast. I want to reach other people of the world. I want to learn how music is in their cultures. Even after I would have returned from the academy, I want to pick my phone, call up someone in any country to discuss matters of common professional interest. Of course, I see the RMA as an opportunity to improve myself as a human being.”

Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt said at a workshop held in Koga Entertainment Centre, Oregun, Lagos that an artiste needed to be sincere with him or herself by identifying his area of strength and focus on it.

Some, according to him, are good at singing or at production, while there is also a room in artiste management. He enjoined those convinced about their talent, however to be patient enough to connect with those who have grown in the industry.

He added that they should sample their songs before pushing it to the public arena.

Jatt said: “In this 2011, if you are an entertainer and you are not using any of the new media platforms, you are not doing anything. Use the internet positively. With that, you do not need much money. You should also learn to sample your music before you step out. The piece may sound good to you, but it is not for you alone.

Test it on people that understand music. I have been a judge of many music competitions, and I wonder when some people came forward to sing, I could not help asking them: ‘Did you sing this to your sister before you came?” eLDee spoke on the need for a young artiste to be mindful of technical details relevant to their art. He also enjoined them to inculcate cultural forms that include highlife into their music.

He said: “When I set out to compose, I want to make a song that connects with you as soon as you here it. It is good to start with what the people are familiar with. For instance, highlife is common to many people. That can just be the starting point; the point on which to build the melody I want to create. You can now create new things into this. But when listeners are not used to a particular kind of song, they are not likely to enjoy it.”

Among the 60 artistes Ashibuogwu will meet in Spain is Emile Hoogen who is known to friends and fans as Behr. He is a Cape Town, South Africa-based teacher and techno DJ. Apart from being a Computer Science student at Lagos State University, Ojo, Ashibuogwu has produced works of some artistes. He has worked with Tuface, MI and Mode 9.

HE FNB Jo’burg Art Fair will open between September 23 and 25 at the Sandton Centre, Jo’burg, in South Arica. The fair started three years ago by Artlogic, with First National Bank as the primary sponsor. It is the only art fair in Africa and the only art fair in the world that focuses on African contemporary art. Over three years, it has become a meeting place for those interested in African contemporary art.

The Joburg Art Fair is a small, boutique fair committed to showcasing the best galleries interested in this region. As it is the only large scale yearly visual arts event in South Africa, the fair makes an effort to expose artists, who work outside of the gallery circuit and routinely curate spaces for tertiary institutions, or project spaces that result from proposals submitted to Artlogic.

Each year, the number of visitors grows to include more foreigners, students, and the public interested in this kind of high-end contemporary event.

For this year, organisers are working to curate a space that is welcoming and where visitors can spend a day. “We are creating a food area that will sport four of the country’s top wine estates and a Pommery Champagne lounge in association with St Leger and Viney and Business Day Wanted Magazine.

Already, discounted tickets were offered to William Kentridge Refuse the Hour last Saturday at the Market Theatre.

As part of a build-up to this year’s FNB Joburg Art Fair, organisers offered its database the opportunity to take part in a onenight experience of the work of artist William Kentridge at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. His live performances have been seen in Japan, Korea, America, Australia, France, Germany and Italy in this past year. “As South Africans, we rarely get the chance to experience artist of such calibre on home-soil. As part of the two week programme, Refuse the Hour, Artlogic offered discounted tickets to database for the performance that was held last Saturday,” the organisers said.

The night’s performance included a dance concert with Dada Masilo and music by Philip Miller, with a series of mechanical drums.

Seun Kuti at Shrine Saturday

F

ELA’S Egypt 80 Band led by Seun Anikulapo-Kuti is billed to perform at the New African Shrine on Saturday at 10 p.m. The band recently returned to the country after an extensive musical tour of Europe and the U.S. promoting Seun Kuti’s second album From Africa with Fury, RISE. Seun, who has just been nominated for the prestigious MOBO Award, promised to dazzle his fans with the best of Afro beat vibes from his new album.

The band will be embarking on a musical tour of Japan and Europe after the show in continuation of the world promotional tour of Seun Kuti’s current album. The show promises to be exciting.

•Seun

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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

Weird world of a snake seller

‘Selling snakes, reptiles, amphibians has made me popular’

S

HE sells meat for a living. But she is not an ordinary meat seller. Her kind of meat, is a taboo to some, and a relish to others.

Jejelola is a delight to meet. She would serve as an interesting tourist attraction. As one goes into communities in Obokun Local Government Area, Osun State, a closer look reveals Jejelola exhibiting her wares to interested customers, who usually find amazing a heap of her snakes, reptiles and amphibians on her tray.

She is vast in the trade. Advocates of animal rights may not find her trade exciting. But, she has made a reputation for herself, selling weird creatures. “They call me Jejelola Iya Eleran (Meat seller). I have spent very long time in this business. I have sold all kinds of ejo (snakes), Awonriwon (the alligator meat) opolo (toad) and Konko (frogs) for over 20 years. And selling them gives me fulfillment. It has made me popular and has brought me lots of blessings and respect. Some even fear me.

People don’t just talk to me anyhow,” she said in Yoruba.

Jejelola belongs to class of women who are often seen as doing an unusual trade meant for men. Little wonder then, that she is seen in those areas as a woman with a stone heart. She said people have often asked her how she manages, selling and living with them in her house. She got inspired to do the trade by her daring to be different. “They are dead. I would tell them.

What can a dead thing do? They cannot bite. Maybe it is because what I am doing is not common. I don’t know but I like it.”

Like the obscurity of her trade, she would not have anyone probe into her family, perhaps to create some mystery around herself. Asked if she is married, she said: “Why would you want to know. I do not like talking about my family.” But on seeing the reporter’s persistence, she added: “Yes, I also have children and my trade has brought us good things. This has affected me well. That is all I have to say. It is not that I do not want to tell you, it is just that I do not know you so well and I do not know why you are asking.”

The source She transverses the length and breath of the Southwest to get her wares, according to her. The hardest to find, she said, is alligator and python. Asked if she kills them, she said: “No o. I do not kill them myself. I only sell them. There are people paid to do that. Sometimes, I buy them dried and other times, if people kill and bring fresh ones to me, I dried them myself.

That is why when you cook it has a unique taste.”

Her trade secret And just as her meat business, Jejelola has also mastered some fascinating steps in choreography. In a way they have become her trade secret. She is known to blend dancing with meatselling which, oftentimes, is said to attract customers. “I like to dance when I am happy. And when I see good people like you around. That is why people like me,” she said. It was her dance that caught the attention of this reporter that morning.

The humid air blew sand about as she began her dance from the main entrance of the palace. One could see it was no ordinary dance…one that was loaded with meaning. What meaning it held only Jejelola Iya Eleran could tell.

Her eyes were dim, as if she saw beyond the one-storey building facing her as she swayed left and right. She wore a wary but mysterious smile, turning to the left and right as she danced. Understanding that such performance needed space and meant a great deal to the old meat seller, everyone gave way to her concert. It has become a ritual, it was learnt.

“It is not new,” said an observing customer. “Any time she has made a good sale that is when you see her dancing. And it is often. Is like the strange meats she sells seem to give her money o. I like to watch her dance sha; but people believed she uses it to attract her customers. She is really trying sha. Or what can you say of a woman that sells snakes.”

But for Jejelola, the dance was that of conquest. When accosted by this reporter, she said: “I call it my dance of victory and joy.

With it I also win my customers’ hearts.”

With the way people flocked around her after her dance, one could guess that perhaps her dancing tricks worked.

Her customers Frogs, snakes and certain reptiles are common delicacies in the area. Her customers, she said, included those who need them for culinary, medicinal and spiritual purposes. The cost of items, according to her, varies from one buyer to another. “I sell to everybody, including babalawo. Everybody can eat what I see. There is no taboo. Apart from the toad, people eat the frogs, snakes and reptiles. I don’t sell the snakes that people do not eat.”

Seeing the reporter as a potential customer, she said: “Come and buy my meat. It is sweet and tasty. I am sure you will like it if you taste it.”

Her statement attracted some more people around.

Undaunted she went on canvassing the reporter. “You can buy this snake,” she lifted it up and added: “This one is called agbadu (cobra). It is good for the skin. I also have oka (python). You can also try Awon, it is also tasty and good for the heart.”

Thinking the meat seller had found a new customer, the observing customer, who refused to have her name in print, added her voice: “If you don’t like all those, you can try the frogs. Her frogs are really dry. You would love the taste.

That is what I came to buy. You will like it when you prepare stew with it.”

•Jejelola exhibiting, a snake and other wares. Inset: Jejelola dancing to attract customers

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

By Evelyn Osagie

“Depending on the size,” Jejelola Iya Eleran took over, “The bunch of 10 frogs cost between N150 and N300 only. But the crocodile would cost you money…just only N1,000.”

“What about the toad…how much is it?” the reporter asked.

“Are you are babalawo (native doctor). It is more expensive o, but I would give you at a cheaper rate. But you would need to tell me what you want to use it for so I can prescribe other ingredients and if you already have a list, tell me what you need so I can get them for you. The ones I do not have I would contact my colleagues,” she said thinking that the reporter is an alternative medicine practitioner.

Restaurant where reptiles are sold And in case one is not disposed to preparing the snakes and reptiles at home, she advised: “You can get the prepared ones at restaurant across the state. “Most people who cook at restaurants also buy my meat. You can find them at restaurants around. I can show you some if you finish buying.”

The reporter went seeking adventure alongside after being directed to a particular restaurant adjacent to the old PHCN office at Ikirun. True to it, men and women sat eating freely alligator and snakes meat. And if you do not like such delicacies, then you can settle for the grass-cutter.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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

•One of Wewe’s paintings

•Wewe

•Ogundipe’s soliloquy

Abstraction in Nigerian art

C

HRISTMAS festoons decorated the streets as the snow drizzled steadily that December evening, and the heater in my truck was turned to maximum capacity.

The late Nigerian artist, Rufus Orisayomi, was with me in Denver, Colorado, and we were on our way to see the opening of Tola Wewe’s exhibition on Santa Fe Street. Wewe was already waiting for us at the art gallery where his work was showing, and we were running late. But I could not drive fast because of the snow; we ran the risk of the truck skidding out of control, although the vehicle was moving on four-wheel gear. To take attention from the weather, I turned on the radio, which was playing a tune by the Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil. It was an instrumental sound that blended African, European, and aboriginal Indian music into a haunting composition.

I was convinced that Rufus would like the African percussion that formed a strong background for Gil’s music. In 1977, Rufus met Giberto Gil in Lagos when the Brazilian musician visited as part of the Black contingent from Brazil to perform at FESTAC, during the international cultural jamboree. It was therefore shocking to me when Rufus grumbled, “What is the point of music when it has no song. All sound and no meaning. I hate instrumentals!” He had gotten my attention at this point. But he continued, “It is like tea without sugar. No. It’s more like gari and egusi without meat.” His comment caught me totally by surprise because Rufus was a good percussionist. He performed in the Ori Olokun Theater group that emerged in the late sixties at Ile Ife, under the direction of Ola Rotimi, Sam Akpabot, and Peggy Harper (all late). Rufus had studied with all these distinguished artists, and was a star artiste for their shows.

Rufus’s statement was particularly surprising because all the teachers with whom he studied prioritized instrumental music and used it in their performances. But I was all the more amazed because Rufus was one of

By Moyo Okediji

the few Nigerian painters working in the idiom that is popularly described as abstract art. I therefore knew exactly how to address his remark. “Rufus,” I responded, “your remark that instrumental music makes no sense because it contains no lyrics sounds ridiculous. It’s just like saying abstract painting makes no sense because it has no figure.”

I had gotten his attention. “How many times have people told you that they cannot understand your work because it is abstract?”

I questioned him. “Countless,” he responded.

“I now see what you mean. I guess instrumental music makes sense when you think of it as abstract painting without human, animal, or any figure. “ That was easy, I thought. “And vice versa,” I continued. “Abstract art makes sense when you think of it as a visual form of instrumental music.” Rufus nodded in agreement and paid closer attention to Gil’s instrumental music. This analogy between abstract painting and instrumental music was a statement that I repeated often that evening, as I explained Tola Wewe’s work to some speciallyinvited visitors. These were members of the Douglas Society at the Denver Art Museum, where I was the curator for African and Oceanic arts.

I had purchased a few works by Nigerian artists for the permanent collection of the Denver Art Museum, including mixed media painting by Rom Isichei, drawings by Wole Lagunju, videos by Rufus Orisayomi, and a couple of pieces by Lamidi Fakeye.

When Wewe visited Denver in 2004, he made some drawings that I also acquired for the museum. Besides this, I had organized a highly successful show, entitled “African Renaissance,” for Moyo Ogundipe in the Dever Art Museum. The show received considerable coverage by all the news media, and was regarded as one of the most successful exhibitions of contemporary art in Colorado. The audience that trooped to the Santa Fe gallery for the opening of Wewe’s work therefore had seen contemporary African art before, although it was (and still is) a rarity in the United States.

Seeing contemporary African art in the Denver Art Museum was one thing. But understanding it’s aesthetics and meaning was a totally different matter. To the typical museum visitor in America, African art does not include anything on canvas. African art to them is still frozen in the past, and refers to “functional” objects in wood, which they re-

fer to as tribal art, produced anonymously in villages, and used in rituals and performances that evoke a celebration of witchdoctors, blood, barbarity, maybe even human sacrifice and cannibalism. In most major museums in the United States, contemporary African art is not shown. The boards of directors of museums discourage the purchase or display of any object not in conformity with the primitivism fiction and envisioning of Africa as a dark continent that has not successfully crossed from the past into the twentieth century.

My first task when I became the curator of African and Oceanic arts at the Denver Art Museum in 1999 was to challenge the notion that African arts belong to the past only. It was not an easy task, given the formidable forces and institutions that have thrived for hundreds of years, and have built their reputations on the construction of a primitive idea of Africa and its arts. When I began to address the issue of contemporary African art at the Denver Art Museum, not a single contemporary African art object existed in any art gallery, or in any known private collection in the entire state of Colorado. My bosses at the museum therefore did not know what I was talking about when I informed them that I wanted to collect contemporary African art.

It was a battle that I fought throughout my ten-year long tenure at the Denver Art Museum. Most of the time it was a tiring task that threatened to wreck my resolve and destroy my morale. The persistently recurrent statement that colleagues threw at me was, “There’s no such thing as contemporary African art. It is either contemporary art, or it is African art. You can’t have both together.” My first big break came with the Moyo Ogundipe exhibition in 2002. But even with this show, I had to make a compromise: I was only allowed to show Ogundipe’s work, if I displayed it with the old pieces that have become the stereotypes for Africa.

I decided to craft the exhibition with the title, “African Renaissance: Old Forms, New Images in African Art.” The conceptualization of the exhibition enabled me to present a narrative in which the “traditional” art objects fluidly merged with the contemporary forms, because Ogundipe’s painting contains images of some of these old objects.

The exhibition instantly transformed Ogundipe into a celebrity. Simultaneously showing in the museum when his work was on display was a blockbuster exhibition of Impressionism paintings. Museum visitors and patrons in the United States love Impressionist art more than almost any other period. At the Denver Art Museum, after visitors completed the viewing of Impressionism masterpieces, some of them who

had time to kill strayed into the temporary display gallery showing Ogundipe’s work.

They were so awed by the irrepressible expressive power, the attention to details, and mastery of color combinations in Ogundipe’s work that they went out and spread the news. Before long, Ogundipe’s show was drawing as many viewers as the blockbuster exhibition of European Impressionist paintings. The show received television, radio, and newspaper coverage, and visitors came from far and near after learning about the beauty of the exhibition from the news media.

The success of Ogundipe’s show convinced Denver Art Museum to purchase contemporary art pieces from Africa. The climax of these purchases was the acquisition of a monumental El Anatsui’s work, which the museum commissioned in 2007. It was my last major contribution to acquisition efforts at the Denver Art Museum. In addition, the collection of African art objects was brought out from the basement storage of the museum, where it had been stacked when I was hired as a curator. When the Denver Art Museum expanded in 2006, by Daniel Libeskind he specially designed a gallery for African art objects, in the ultramodern museum building he designed.

But in 2003 when Wewe opened his show on Santa Fe art district, there was no gallery for contemporary African art at the Denver Art Museum. All the contemporary art pieces that I acquired for the museum were in storage. I often led groups of museum enthusiasts to the storage space to show them what I had acquired. Many of these museum patrons came to Wewe’s opening, and it was my duty to take them around the exhibition to explain Wewe’s work. Some of them were perplexed by some of the “abstract” images in Wewe’s work.

To these people who needed to see figures before they could find meaning in an art object, I presented the analogy of music.

“Imagine you were listening to jazz or classical music without lyrics,” I told them. “Or that you were simply listening to a bird singing. Allow yourself to enjoy the rhythm, colors, lines, and movements of the instrumental music. When you translate these same elements of composition into a visual language, Wewe’s abstract forms will become meaningful to you.” With Wewe’s work, I began a dialogue with the audience about abstraction in contemporary African art. It was an enjoyable Yuletide evening when we wove the wefts of instrumental sounds into the warps of abstract painting to explain the mystery hidden inside Tola Wewe’s painterly compositions.

•Okediji is of University of Texas, Austin, USA.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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

Symphonic metaphors of Niger Delta As the once-boiling-spot of Nigeria returns to a calm and peaceful state, some artists are set to capture through their arts Niger Delta experiences – past, present and future – in an exhibition tagged: Visual Symphony. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

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HE Niger Delta remains a conundrum of a sort.

From its enthralling rustic ambiance to its loud potential leading to the wake of technological advancement that birthed the nation’s economic era and the harrowing phase of militancy and not forgetting its watery essence – these give a boost to the enigmatic imagery of the region.

And what better way to reflect these realities than through vivid impressions of its artistic minds. These sphinx-like appeals drew the Quintessence Gallery to 22 artistic talents in the region. The result is the Visual Symphony, an exhibition that will open there this Saturday in Lagos.

It will feature artistic impressions of daily realities reflected in diverse media. The participating artists will be led by Head, Department of Fine and Applied Art, Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Grace Ojie.

“I am excited about the high level of creativity in the artists,” Quintessence Curator, Moses Ohiomokhare said. “It is, indeed, a visual symphony. The paintings, sculptural pieces, textile and ceramics are quite different and have been influenced by their environment.”

One unique highlight of this exhibition is the collection the ‘masters’ and their ‘apprentices’ of the Abraka School of Art, Delta State University (DELSU).

Aside the works of three undergraduates in the group, the lot are essentially lecturers and students of its doctoral degree in Studio Art, which is first in the country. The programme involves the exploration of materials, techniques, technologies, among others.

Art lovers, collectors and enthusiasts will find these innovations reflected in their works.

On the list are Militants on the March by Onose Ogheneovo Jude; Dr. Diakparomre Abel Mac’s Beauty of Ugliness; Decision Makers

by Bazunu Harrie Uvietobor; Dr. Edewor Uyoyou Nelson’s Good Times are Here; False Impression by Uche Esimike; Developing Story: Blackman by Prof. Egonwa Osa; Okwosa Tobenna’s Multiple Emotions; Kunle Adeyemi’s Female Form VI; Teenage Mother

by Lawal Adedorin Ibrahim Prof. Ojie’s Securing the Treasury; Omo N’Oba whese (Thanks to the Oba) by Imafidon Evans, among others.

Other artists that will be featuring in the exhibition are Dr. Odokuma Ese, Esimike

Uchebuike Roland, Dr. Emeni Onyema Ifeanyi, Sukanthy VisagapperumalEgharevba, Edo Patience Akpojena, Okpu Oghale Omojuwovie, Njoku Kenneth, among others.

Moses Ohiomokhare said: “These are part of what make Niger Delta thick ... Never a dull moment. Art lovers, critics and collectors will find this exhibition full of excitement and will say that something good has come out of Delta State. There are works of five sculptors, five ceramics, three textile designers and seven painters, among others.”

According to Prof. Ojie, the works will highlight a synergy of scholarly and skilled knowledge resulting from the relationship between the master and the apprentice with a touch of their distinctiveness.

She said: “While no comparisons are intended in this exhibition, art lovers are invited to a banquet of the “giver and the taker” in which nothing is forced down the throat of anyone. The exhibits will illustrate a synergy of intellectual prowess and professional dexterity which can only be resulting from a reasoned understanding and relationship between the master and the apprentice. Be this as it may, individuality, which is a prime character of artistic production can still be found in the products of the apprentices.”

She added that in spite of the synergy that normally exists between the master and the apprentice, the exhibits show a liberty in tutelage for which the universities are known.

“The doctoral degree in studio art of the Delta State University is a practice-led programme in which materials, techniques/technologies, and other production- induced ideologies take a centre stage. It envisages that the participatory knowledge of research students as accomplished studio masters in aspects of studio art would make them better artists and philosophers on how the ‘Art Act’ can be carried out. “Indeed, professionalism in the studio is, by this process, more entrenched.

•Omo N’Oba whese by Imafidon Evans

“This exhibition, therefore, attempts to show that a Ph.D degree in the studio does not detract nor diminish professional competence in practice. If anything, it invigorates professional competence by the intercourse that comes into existence when academic intellectuality is married to creative prowess,” she said.

‘While no comparisons are intended in this exhibition, art lovers are invited to a banquet of the “giver and the taker” in which nothing is forced down the throat of anyone. The exhibits will illustrate a synergy of intellectual prowess and professional dexterity which can only be resulting from a reasoned understanding and relationship between the master and the apprentice’

•Prof. Ojie

BornTroWay lifts youths in Port Harcourt

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HE creative arts initiative, tagged: BornTroWay, that seeks to inspire youths, made a stop-over in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where it held a week-long workshop.

The workshop is the second that Music Matters would be organising in collaboration with the Nigerian-German musician, Ade Bantu.

The first was held in Lagos early this year.

According to its Creative Producer, Ilaria Chessa, the project aims at empowering talented young people. “Our aim is to impart knowledge in the youths for better self-expression by honing their artistic skills. We want to motivate them, and educate them that they can channel their talents constructively,” he said.

Just as its Lagos edition, youths between 15 and 25, who were interested in the arts, participated in the training during which they learned, and honed their skills in music, dance, theatre and speech.

The workshop facilitators were Aj Dagga Tolar (speech); Ropo Ewenla (acting); Ade Bantu (music); Segun Adefila (dance). The workshop was held to empower talented young people between the ages of 15-25 who were interested in the Arts.

The 45-participant were selected from an audition held before the workshop. Twenty-

•Participants at the event

By Evelyn Osagie

two-year-old Tina King-Harry was one of them.

The workshop, she said, was an inspiring

PHOTO: ADEREMI ADEGBITE

experience. “The workshop has taught me confidence and patience. The best part of it was getting to train my mind and being exposed to a whole new experience.”

During the workshop, which was held at the

Model Girls Secondary School, Rumueme, the participants were made to write songs; initiate drama sketches and do dance routines.

The songs, drama, and dance routines were eventually fused into one performance by the instructors and this performance was showcased at the Civic Centre, Port Harcourt penultimate Friday. It featured a 30-minute performance by the participants. It was a fusion of drama and music highlighting the lives of wasted dreams. The theme was reflected by the regrets of some who had not followed their dreams, who were still wondering if it was too late to do so. Some recurring themes were rejection; utilising talents; changing society; and valuing the environment, among others.

There also solo performances by some participants. The Christ Ambassadors, a four-man dance group, two of whom were participants, also did a dance.

MTrill and Mr Robinson, who gave a joint performance, also performed along with True O’Zee the song, Agidigba. The event was anchored by the Television presenter/producer, Yvonne Ekwere.

The Head, Greater Port Harcourt Authority, Mrs Cookey-Gam, praised the organisers for the project, saying she was impressed with what the participants had been able to achieve in a short time.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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ABUJA REVIEW T

Youths assured of employment

HE Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has assured youths of government’s determination to scale up efforts that will generate employment opportunities to make them good citizens.

Mallam Abdullahi gave the assurance during the presentation of scorecards of ministries in commemoration of 100 of President Jonathan’s administration which took place at the Radio House in Abuja.

He said: “We shouldn’t just find ways of tackling youths’ challenges because we love our youths, we should do it because it makes economic, social, political, and security sense. This is

From Bukola Amusan

because the potential contributions of our young population is compromised by a host of challenges, including lack of jobs, limited marketable skills, low entrepreneurial bias, limited access to credit, high vulnerability to poverty, limited level of inclusion, and low value orientation, among others.”

He said the present economic growth rate could mask the extent of youth deprivation in the country.

“While many countries are ageing, we are blessed with abundant youth population, and it has been projected that by 2030, our most important resource will

The major challenge facing our youths today is lack of jobs and skills but our major investments in youth development do not tackle this major challenge...Youths could not access the available job opportunities because they lack the skills, do not have experience, and do not have collateral for credit

be our youth, not oil, according to the British Council report of 2010.

Abdullahi expressed the fear that the youth bulge could turn out to be either a demographic dividend or a demographic disaster.

The minister said it was important that the present administration does more to harness the potential of our youths, put in place favourable policies and scale up investment to turn the demographic force to a force for good.

He said the Federal Government has many initiatives and investments aimed at addressing challenges of the youth challenge.

Poor budgetary provisions to the ministry, he said, may hinder the actualisation of the plans.

The minister said about 90 per cent of the 2011 budget of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and its two parastatals goes to NYSC alone with about N43b out of N49b.

“This is not to say that the budget of NYSC is too much, but that almost all our resources for youth development go to one year in the life of those lucky to

be graduates of universities and polytechnics. What then is left for the uneducated ones?

“This means that majority of our youths are outside the scope of our interventions. It is this category of missing and underserved youths that portends the most danger to the country in terms of crime, restiveness, political thuggery and religious extremism.

“The major challenge facing our youths today is lack of jobs and skills but our major investments in youth development do not tackle this major challenge,” he said.

Abdullahi said due to the cross-cutting nature of youth development, responsibilities are dispersed in different sectors so as to ensure that the youth challenges are tackled in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

He said a lot was being done to reduce general unemployment, but much more could be done to directly tackle the specific obstacles to youth employment.

“Youths could not access the available job opportunities because they lack the skills, do not have experience, and do not have collateral for credit.

•Mallam Abdullahi

“Most of the existing skills training programmes are either below market standards or too token; and the financial supports/loans offered for entrepreneurship are too paltry to make any meaningful impact,” he said.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku who chaired the session cautioned youths against social vices and assured them that the government was poised to turn around the fortunes of the youth.

NAFDAC sensitises farmers on food poisoning

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HE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has enlightened farmers in the Federal Capital Territory on proper food storage to avoid food poisoning.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Paul Orhii who spoke in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a sensitisation workshop on food poisoning, said if necessary measures are taken in storing food, cases of food poisoning will be reduced to the barest minimum.

Represented by Mallam Hashiru Yusuf, NAFDAC said it will collaborate with the FCTA to provide funds for the purchase of pesticides and agro-chemicals that will be distributed to farmers to enhance good growth of their produce and also to avoid

•Dr Orhii

From Anne Udeze

food poisoning.

The Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide represented by the Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi, commended NAFDAC for the collaboration.

She commended farmers who

work tirelessly to ensure continuous food production to feed the ever increasing population of the FCT. Akinjide identified wrong use of agro-chemicals as a cause of food poisoning.

The chairman of the Kwali Area Council, Hon. Joseph Shazin urged NAFDAC and other related agencies to foster

The workshop aimed at training grain merchant and farmers on safe and responsible use of agro-chemicals for the storage of grains and other farm produce

food preservation and supply.

He called on farmers to make use of the agro-chemicals that will be supplied to them, to enable them to store and supply food efficiently and sufficiently.

The Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Bema Madayi who was represented by Mr. John Obiahu, the Director of Finance and Administration in the Secretariat said the workshop aimed at training grain merchant and farmers on safe and responsible use of agrochemicals for the storage of grains and other farm produce.

He lamented cases of food poisoning reported in some parts of the country including FCT, which have been traced to chemical residue in grains used in food preparations.

Firms to pay fine for illegal waste disposal

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HE Federal Capital Territory Administration has vowed that construction companies and individuals that engage in illegal disposal of construction waste in the territory will pay N100, 000.

The Director of FCT Development Control Department, Yahaya Yusuf said that the move

From Bukola Amusan

was geared towards cleaning the city and to restore Abuja Master Plan.

He said the department was committed to the restoration of Abuja Master Plan for improved health, safety and convenience of residents.

According to him, any violator will pay a fine of N100, 000.

“If they drop construction materials which we know will gradually be used to develop properties in the territory, they will pay a fine of N50, 000.

Earlier, Mr Reuben Okoya, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC advised owners of illegal buildings to remove them as the council has the mandate to invigorate the Master Plan restoration process.

“The team charged with this responsibility will take the exercise to all the districts and towns in the FCT and area councils.

“We will sustain the removal of illegal structures both within and outside individual plots and put the recovered plots to approved use,’’ he said.

Okoya said that penalties

would be issued to all owners of illegal buildings, adding that when people are made to pay for illegalities, the act would be reduced.

“There are penalties for such illegal activities and once we start enforcement of fine be it fi-

nancial or any type and when people start feeling pains for illegalities then they will stop such act,’’ he said.

He said that the council would ensure that people pay penalties for disobeying laws made to ensure security and peace.

We will sustain the removal of illegal structures both within and outside individual plots and put the recovered plots to approved use…Penalties would be issued to all owners of illegal buildings, adding that when people are made to pay for illegalities, the act would be reduced

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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LTHOUGH she was at home due to the rampaging Boko Haram members who seized the town by the throat, a student of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno State Sandra Apev has emerged the best cook in a competition that just ended in Abuja.

She won a giant size deep freezer in the competition to beat 75 other competitors comprising both men and women majority of whom are of her mother’s age. The competitors were drawn from Niger, Benue Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at

ABUJA REVIEW UNIMAID student emerges best cook From Dele Anofi

the northern edition of the Knorr Cube Jolof Rice festival.

The atmosphere at the International Conference Centre (ICT), the venue of the event was electrifying.

Children were duly occupied with all kinds of games while the cooking lasted. To avoid boredom, adults were also kept busy on the

As a matter of fact, nobody was here with me to offer moral support, my mum that would have loved to come is pregnant and that was the reason she could not make it here

F

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other side of the arena with games, competition, music and dance.

For ensure adequate security at the venue, guests were thoroughly searched by private security agents and police men while ambulance and a fire-fighting truck were on standby for prompt response to any case of emergency; even though no emergency was recorded.

Knorr Cube Brand Manager, Oiza Gyan said the festival was a way of bringing out the best in the Nigerian woman, knowing well that Nigerians are the best cook of Jolof rice.

“We recognise that rice is a widely eaten staple food in Nigeria be it in the north or south. Every household in this country takes rice at one point or the other and we felt that since jolof rice is also widely eaten, there must be a way of promoting it to the outside world.

In a chat with Newsextra, Apev said she was at home as a result of the closure of her school due to the Boko Haram attacks on the city when she saw the forms for the competition.

According to her, she bought the form just out of finding something to distract her and not because she was a great cook. She also said it was her first time of entering for a cooking competition.

“As a matter of fact, nobody was here with me to offer moral support, my mum that would have loved to come is pregnant and that was the reason she could not make it here.

“When I got to the entrance and I told them that I am also competing, the older women, even some that I knew before now were saying that I had no chance at all against them.

Someone said I knew nothing about cooking, and sugested that I

should buy ticket as a guest. I got so discouraged and scared that I called my mum that she should try and come and take my place. As you can see now, she did not even answer my call again after the first one when I told her that I won. She did not believe me because I never was a caterer before and we do not have a restaurant either.

“I just love cooking and we have been using the seasoning for long, which was the motivation.”

Apev was not the only one that went home with gifts. The runners up also went home with deep freezers of the same size while four people went home with giant-size gas cookers, even as another four went received microwave ovens.

Gyan said the event may become an annual one going by the positive response it has generated in the previous cities where the festival had been hosted.

canoe is facing.

“I struck the dugout canoe while digging a well for my livestock, having dug 2.5 yards, I saw a sign of Komi (canoe) with its bow facing the East. I told my son who was helping me collect sand out of the well that we have found a Komi (canoe) inside.

He replied with surprise, ‘canoe baba?’I then decided to keep mute until I am very much sure, because I have no excuse to tell lies. Later, I asked one of my sons to enter the well and check if he can find a wooden object inside. He confirmed to me that it was a long canoe. What attracted me more about the canoe was that, ‘the bow of the canoe is facing Mecca while its stem coming from Sokoto.’ Having noticed that I communicated to the village head, he exerts all his efforts to remove it but couldn’t. So, he tried to break it before I cautioned him and advised him to pass the information to Damagum District Head. The news of the discovery travelled fast and reached the government. A white man came and dug the well, and he found the canoe and a small pot inside.”

Ya’u noted that he has no idea what the small pot contained. He continued: “The white man asked us to bury the canoe quickly after the findings. Three years later, he reappeared to tell us that the canoe was 8, 010 years old, adding that it’s the artifact of Prophet Noah (AS). They lifted the canoe out with help of more than 50 labourers and conveyed it to Damaturu for preservation. It was during President Ibrahim Babangida’s regime. If I can recall

very well,” he said.

In 2009, the Presidential Implementation Committee on Museums and Monuments led by the then Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed told Governor Gaidam at a courtesy call in Damaturu that the Federal Government of Nigeria is to take over the Dufuna Village in Fune Local Government of Yobe State and make it a national tourism centre.

Dufuna Village is the locality where the oldest watercraft, the Dufuna Canoe was discovered in Africa. The canoe which is said to be 8,010 years old was discovered by one Yau, a Fulani herdsman who was digging a well in search of water for his cows. It is ranked as the third oldest world discovery according to archaeologists.

The minister also declared that: ”The excavation site of this historical heritage will be declared as a national monument site by the Federal Government. This administration is committed to restoring our past glories,” adding that, “the village will also be transformed for the benefit of the rural dwellers. More attention will be given to research activities at the site. It is possible that more discoveries could be made at the area, the minister said.

More than two years after the visit of the minister, investigation revealed that no government official has ever visited Fune Village or the excavation site of the canoe, just as the man behind it, Mallam Yau still wallows in penury.

Man who discovered third oldest artifact

RANKLY, Mallam Ya’u Dufuna cannot be ranked among world-class archaeologists or explorers. But his contribution to world history cannot be ignored. It is on record that he discoveredDufuna Canoe, the third oldest artifact and the world’s oldest water craft ever.

Unlike other personalities behind great discoveries whose lives are celebrated, what has followed Mallam Ya’u since his discovery has been misery, poverty, frustration, neglect, rejection, sorrow, and regret.

All these have propelled the 80-yearold Fulani herdsman to choose a life of solitude and self-exile.

An encounter with Mallam Ya’u reveals a man filled with anger, frustration and regret with an initial high uncompromising position to talk to our reporter until after several persuasions. ”If I had known the mystery behind Dufuna Canoe, I wouldn’t have made it public after the discovery. I had more than 50 cows before that time but, I cannot explain exactly how I lost all of them,” he said.

According to him, the Dufuna Canoe had some mysteries unknown to him. He explained that “it was later on after the discovery that some villagers told me about a prophecy passed over to their generation by a renowned Islamic cleric called Malam Abdu who predicted that.”

He narrated the prophecy thus: ”One day, a Fulani herdsman will come to Fune Village and find a boat in a well that people all over the world will come to visit, but he will face mysterious challenges in life.

With time, he would overcome it,” Yau narrated.

With anger he shouted: “Here I am today; you people only visit me to get information without any attempt to salvage my situation. I left my house and everything at Fune Village to get rid of this frustration.

People in the village are now pointing fingers at me not because of the world-acclaimed discovery I made but how I lost my wealth mysteriously. I migrated to this place just to start a new life. I am surprised to see you here because nobody knows exactly where I relocated to. Besides, if I want anything in the town Musah (pointing to his son) always gets it for me.”

Getting to Mallam Ya’u’s new abode was another experience entirely. A bushy cattle track overgrown by thorns, our reporter held on tightly to the motorcycle which traversed the 18km path, occasion-

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

ally flogged by the overlapping shrubs along the unkempt path as we arrived at Rugar Mai Kwalekwale(meaning the house of Mr. Canoe) the new home of the famous yet unsung Ya’u.

It is a household of four people with three thatched round huts where Yau lives with his wife Nana. The other hut is where his son Musa lives with his wife Aisha. Our correspondent realised the only source of water close to the Yaus is located several miles away, just as the family has no animals to help convey water for them.

Engaging Malam Ya’u in a conversation was quite difficult but he occasionally voice some of the things that happened after the discovery.

He recalled one of the promises to him by the then military administrator whom he could not recall his name that he would be taken good care of and given employment in the History Bureau of the state, while the sum of N50, 000 was approved for him. ”I have forgotten the name of the then military administrator, one black nyamiri (Igbo) ordered the approval of N50,000 for me, and the money was released to my local government chairman Musa, but he refused to give me the money. My son asked me to take the matter to court, but I declined, because the God that showed me the canoe will one day force him to give me back the money. After a year or so, Ibrahim Shariff came to interview me. I told him about the money, not quite long from the day we discussed, Musa the chairman came to my house and gave me the money. It was the only money I received from the government and none had ever come to sympathise with me. “last year, I received a monthly salary of N8, 000 but now that the salary comes through bank, I am left with N7, 000. My son Musah used to spend N2, 500 on commercial bike and motor to Damaturu. He returns with N4, 500 which I use to feed myself and the family because, unlike before, we must now buy nono (milk) for the family consumption,” he bemoaned.

Mallam Yau was angry that the government of Yobe State is not ready to help him out of his frustration, recalling his encounter with the then governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim as disappointing. “Governor Bukar invited me to the Government House and asked me the same question you are asking. He escorted me to his

•The interior of Mallam Yau's abode

•Mallam Yau door step after we finished discussion. He told me that Hon Baba Gishiwari is your representative.

You go to his house and pass the night, in the morning he will take you to the motor park. We slept in his house. In the morning, he conveyed us to the park, but to my surprise, Baba Gishiwari gave three of us N100 for transport ourselves back, and Bukar did not give me a kobo.

He explained to Newsextra how he found the canoe, recalling attempt by the Dufuna Village Head to destroy the canoe when he cautioned him that it was very important monument considering where the

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

No one has remembered them. Neither have the survivors of that crash spared a thought for the brave youths who came to their rescue.

They never remembered the community either

Boy who rescued crash survivors eyes the military

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ETIMBIR Chia was the 14-year-old boy who discovered the military plane that crashed on Ngokugh Hill in Benue State five years ago. He went to call four of his friends and the members of the community for a resue operation. He is now 19. He was one of the five brave youths who climbed to the top of the hill to rescue survivors of a military plane that crashed on it in 2006. He has finished his secondary education, courtesy of Benue State Government’s scholarship.

That is the only thing about that horrible incident in terms of government’s promises, apart from the fact that government has constructed a road leading to the community.

The other four youths who joined Detimbre in the rescue mission are still in limbo.

No one has remembered them. Neither have the survivors of that crash spared a thought for the brave youths who came to their rescue. They never remembered the community either. Eighteen people were on board the military aircraft which was on its way to Obudu Cattle Ranch before it crashed on the hill in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

Thirteen people died while five survived.

Most of the victims were generals in the Nigerian Army.

Climbing to the top of the hill was not easy but with determination, Detimbir Chia and his mates arrived at the scene three hours later.

On getting to the top of the Ngokugh Hills, the youth saw several people inside the aircraft already dead and their property such as mobile telephones as well as cash in in local and foreign currencies, were scattered all over the place.

A collaboration between the youth and one the survivors led to a great rescue operation.

Using one of the phones they had picked up, Detimbir called his father who mobilised the community to join the five youths for a rescue operation.

The survivors and the deceased were evacuated with help from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to hospital or the morgue.

Detimbir, his colleagues and the entire

•Wreckage of the crashed plane From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Mbakunu community exhibited exemplary integrity by preserving money and other personal effects of the victims. This earned them commendation and admiration not only from the military but also from the entire nation.

The good gesture of the boys and the community contrasted sharply with their environment which spoke of prolonged government neglect. There were no good access roads, they lacked potable water, electricity and healthcare system.

This was the situation which former Benue State Governor, Dr. George Akume, his Cross River State counterpart, Donald Duke, military bigwigs, journalists and others met when they arrived at the community.

A road passing through the Mbakunu com-

munity, whose contract was awarded by Akume, has been completed with the support of Governor Gabriel Suswam who ensured that work on the road was sustained.

Other promises made to the community are yet to be fulfilled. Four of the youths who climbed to the hilltop have been ignored by both government and individuals.

The Benue State Government then awarded a scholarship to Detimbir Chia and moved him to Command Secondary School, Makurdi where he passed out last June.

Such a gesture is yet to be extended to his four friends, Daniel Kenti, Tyozua Iorhemen, Richard Iorhemen and Ternenge Anakula, who also desired such an opportunity.

None of the five survivors has thought it wise to visit any of their rescuers or the community which played such a crucial role in their lives. Detimbir Chia would like to join the military. Will anyone help him fulfil his ambition?

•Detimbir

Kano builds N30m bird market

T

•Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji receiving a portrait from Hon. Dan Egogu, leader, ex-Legislators Abia State House of Assembly, during their courtesy visit to the governor in Umuahia

HE Kano State Government is to build a N30m ultra-modern livebird market to forestall possible outbreak of avian influenza popularly known as bird flu.

Laying the foundation stone of the international market at Jakara Quarters in the ancient city, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Baraka Sani said the state government was working towards providing a clean environment for live bird traders to reduce the spread of the disease.

While recalling the 2006 outbreak of avian influenza, which resulted in the death of millions of birds in the state, Sani explained that the establishment of the Kurmi Live Bird Market is to facilitate better management and handling of live birds.

She said the project is being supported by the World Bank in collaboration with the Kano State Government, the Office of Avian Influenza Control Project and the Kurmi Market Fowl Sellers’ Association. The project is aimed at providing hygienic environment and modern facilities for the processing of chicken for public consumption.

“You would recall that in 2006, there was an outbreak of bird flu and millions of birds perished as a result.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

“The state government is establishing the live bird market to create clean environment for our live bird traders and to stop possible outbreak of the disease.”

She said the occupants of the piece of land earmarked for the project, have been adequately compensated by the state government to the tune of N7m.

The live bird market, she pointed out, would create wealth and generate job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth in the state, adding that about four institutes are to be established to train farmers on mechanised farming.

The commissioner pleaded with the people to ensure that the vision behind the establishment of the market is translated into reality, stressing that the state government is determined to revamp the agricultural sector.

The Chairman of the Kurmi Market Fowl Sellers’ Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Maikano commended the efforts of Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and the Commissioner for Agriculture for reviving the market, which he said has been in deplorable condition in the last 1,000 years.

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GOVERNMENT OF CROSS RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA MINISTRY OF LANDS AND HOUSING P.N.B. 1010, CALABAR

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF RIGHTS OF OCCUPANCY LAND USE ACT, 1978 Notice is hereby given that ALL Rights of Occupancy existing or deemed to exist on all that piece or parcel of land situate at Ikom in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria containing an area of approximately 4758.818 square meters and shown on survey plan No. CR/IM.195 (Tracing No. CRC. 8531) the boundaries of which are described below are revoked absolutely in the overriding interest of the public and in particular for the establishment of CROSS RIVER STATE WATER BOARD LIMITED IKABOKON GLR. DESCRIPTION Starting at concrete pillar marked PBGM 5922, the co-ordinates of which are 657928.032 meters North and 469661.630 meters East of concrete pillar marked UTM (Zone 32) the origin of WGS 84 cadastral surveys.

The boundaries FROM PBGM PBGM PBGM PBGM

run in straight lines and lengths which are as follows: BEARINGO LENGTH(M) TO 5922 342 27’ 49.94 PBGM 5923 092 54’ 104.70 PBGM 5924 183 28’ 49.91 PBGM 5925 270 02’ 89.12 PBGM

5923 5924 5925 5922

The Starting Point All bearings and lengths are approximate and all bearings are referred to the Universal north.

All property beacons are concrete pillars, all bearings and lengths are approximate and all bearings are referred to True North.

Any person(s) claming to have any interest(s) by way of unexhausted improvement(s) on the said land is/are required to within six(6) weeks from the date of this notice send a statement of such unexhausted improvement(s) and the evidence thereof to the DIRECTOR OF LANDS, Lands Department, Ministry of Lands & Housing, Calabar.

Any such statement shall be made by the claimant(s) in person or through an agent duly authorized by the claimant(s) on that behalf having qualifications which are not less than those of an Estate/Valuation Officer or a Legal Practitioner employed in the Public Service of the Federation.

Government is willing to treat for the residue of the unexhausted improvemen(s) on the said parcel of land. Improvement(s) in respect of which no statement is received is/are liable to be treated as non-existant.

Notice is also hereby given that Government intends to enter and use the said land at the expiration of six(6) weeks from the date of this notice.

Any person(s) who shall willfully obstruct the Government of Cross River State or any person employed by her from using the said land shall be prosecuted.

A plan showing the site is available for inspection during official hours at the office of the Director of Lands Departent, Ministry of Lands & Housing, New Secretariat, Calabar.

Dated this 9th Day of September 2011.

ENGR. BASSEY I. OQUA COMMISSIONER OF LANDS & HOUSING CROSS RIVER STATE

GOVERNMENT OF CROSS RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA MINISTRY OF LANDS AND HOUSING P.N.B. 1010, CALABAR

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF RIGHTS OF OCCUPANCY LAND USE ACT, 1978 Notice is hereby given that ALL Rights of Occupancy existing or deemed to exist on all that piece or parcel of land situate at Ikom in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria containing an area of approximately 3.462 hectares (Plots A & B) shown on Survey Plan No. CR/IM. 192 (Tracing No. CRC. 8399) the boundaries of which are described below are revoked absolutely in the overriding interest of the public and in particular for the establishment of CROSS RIVER STATE WATER BOARD LIMITED WATER TREATMENT PLANT. DESCRIPTION Starting at concrete pillar marked PBGM 5922, the co-oirdinates of which are 657976.824 meters North and 468256.212 meters East of concrete pillar marked UTM (Zone 32) the origin of WGS 84 cadastral surveys.

The boundaries run in straight lines and FROM BEARINGO PBGM 5921 045 56 PBGM 5914 135 06 PBGM 5915 226 05 PBGM 5916 226 05 PBGM 5917 226 05 PBGM 5918 315 34 PBGM 5919 045 50 PBGM 5920 045 50

lengths which are as follows: LENGTH(M) TO 200.12 PBGM 149.90 PBGM 201.42 PBGM 30.02 (Road) PBGM 149.23 PBGM 14923 PBGM 30.10 PBGM 8.00 (Road) PBGM

The Starting Point All bearings and lengths are approximate and all bearings are referred to the Universal north.

All property beacons are concrete pillars, all bearings and lengths are approximate and all bearings are referred to True North.

Any person(s) claming to have any interest(s) by way of unexhausted improvement(s) on the said land is/are required to within six(6) weeks from the date of this notice send a statement of such unexhausted improvement(s) and the evidence thereof to the DIRECTOR OF LANDS, Lands Department, Ministry of Lands & Housing, Calabar.

Any such statement shall be made by the claimant(s) in person or through an agent duly authorized by the claimant(s) on that behalf having qualifications which are not less than those of an Estate/Valuation Officer or a Legal Practitioner employed in the Public Service of the Federation.

Government is willing to treat for the residue of the unexhausted improvemen(s) on the said parcel of land. Improvement(s) in respect of which no statement is received is/are liable to be treated as non-existant.

Notice is also hereby given that Government intends to enter and use the said land at the expiration of six(6) weeks from the date of this notice.

Any person(s) who shall willfully obstruct the Government of Cross River State or any person employed by her from using the said land shall be prosecuted.

A plan showing the site is available for inspection during official hours at the office of the Director of Lands Departent, Ministry of Lands & Housing, New Secretariat, Calabar.

Dated this 9th Day of September 2011.

ENGR. BASSEY I. OQUA COMMISSIONER OF LANDS & HOUSING CROSS RIVER STATE

GOVERNMENT OF CROSS RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA MINISTRY OF LANDS AND HOUSING P.N.B. 1010, CALABAR

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF RIGHTS OF OCCUPANCY LAND USE ACT, 1978 Notice is hereby given that ALL Rights of Occupancy existing or deemed to exist on all that piece or parcel of land situate at Ikom in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria containing an area of approximately 926.287 square meters and shown on Survey Plan No. CR/IM.196 (Tracing No. CRC. 8532) the boundaries of which are described below are revoked absolutely in the overriding interest of the public and in particular for the establishment of CROSS RIVER STATE WATER BOARD LIMITED INTAKE WORKS. DESCRIPTION Starting at concrete pillar marked PBGM 5926, the co-ordinates of which are 657469.73632 meters North and 467162.705 meters East of concrete pillar marked UTM (Zone 32) the origin of WGS 84 cadastral surveys.

The boundaries run in straight lines and lengths which are as follows: FROM BEARINGO LENGTH(M) TO PBGM 5926 006 31’ 27.21 PBGM 5927 PBGM 5927 092 54’ 31.35 PBGM 5928 PBGM 5928 179 34’ 29.94 PBGM 5929 PBGM 5929 275 45 34.80 PBGM 5926 The Starting Point All bearings and lengths are approximate and all bearings are referred to the Universal north.

All property beacons are concrete pillars, all bearings and lengths are approximate and all bearings are referred to True North.

Any person(s) claming to have any interest(s) by way of unexhausted improvement(s) on the said land is/are required to within six(6) weeks from the date of this notice send a statement of such unexhausted improvement(s) and the evidence thereof to the DIRECTOR OF LANDS, Lands Department, Ministry of Lands & Housing, Calabar.

Any such statement shall be made by the claimant(s) in person or through an agent duly authorized by the claimant(s) on that behalf having qualifications which are not less than those of an Estate/Valuation Officer or a Legal Practitioner employed in the Public Service of the Federation.

Government is willing to treat for the residue of the unexhausted improvemen(s) on the said parcel of land. Improvement(s) in respect of which no statement is received is/are liable to be treated as non-existant.

Notice is also hereby given that Government intends to enter and use the said land at the expiration of six(6) weeks from the date of this notice.

Any person(s) who shall willfully obstruct the Government of Cross River State or any person employed by her from using the said land shall be prosecuted.

A plan showing the site is available for inspection during official hours at the office of the Director of Lands Departent, Ministry of Lands & Housing, New Secretariat, Calabar.

5914 5915 5916 5917 5918 5919 5920 5921

Dated this 9th Day of September 2011.

ENGR. BASSEY I. OQUA COMMISSIONER OF LANDS & HOUSING CROSS RIVER STATE

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-09-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 10 11

Quotation(N) 0.50 7.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,000 20,000.00 180,000 1,261,370.00 220,000 1,281,370.00

Quotation(N) 1.95 5.69

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,290,120 2,514,184.00 141,562 821,038.85 1,431,682 3,335,222.85

Quotation(N) 1.31

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 646,762 848,909.72 646,762 848,909.72

Quotation(N) 5.50 3.90 2.76 4.38 2.06 10.00 0.50 12.50 9.15 0.70 1.15 5.57 1.48 4.00 2.09 0.62 0.65 12.40

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 13,729,537 75,479,365.07 2,930,822 11,432,113.12 453,646 1,253,443.11 11,174,105 46,948,284.90 9,455,062 19,407,114.09 10,669,264 107,537,005.55 20,926 10,463.00 21,745,433 273,275,421.73 1,277,425 11,668,787.50 723,000 506,100.00 1,214,100 1,396,215.00 2,770,350 15,378,586.15 571,252 835,376.00 12,200,403 48,946,252.70 56,169 117,393.21 4,964,824 3,087,651.00 385,355 255,460.31 20,547,289 254,655,583.30 114,888,962 872,190,615.74

Quotation(N) 220.00 6.06 85.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 98,524 21,910,034.40 22,413 129,098.88 4,044,393 345,647,035.24 4,165,330 367,686,168.52

Quotation(N) 18.86 7.30 100.00 43.20

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 253,254 4,727,387.45 94,000 653,530.00 114,447 11,381,483.28 261,121 11,146,697.40 722,822 27,909,098.13

Quotation(N) 9.38 23.04 1.14 10.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 33,600 302,957.00 144,992 3,409,467.99 20,875 24,629.25 200,000 2,002,000.00 399,467 5,739,054.24

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 44 54

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 169 57 13 60 104 598 10 533 36 14 16 58 29 242 12 41 19 273 2,284 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 64 3 136 203 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 27 4 32 37 100 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 29 4 13 57

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 26 26

Quotation(N) 2.49

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,978,000 4,748,662.06 1,978,000 4,748,662.06

Quotation(N) 1.99 30.11 0.86 39.02 27.49

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,000 3,800.00 751,211 22,566,853.55 10,580,900 8,673,207.25 102,885 3,815,014.20 146,173 3,983,189.95 11,583,169 39,042,064.95

Quotation(N) 49.64 0.50 4.02

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 107,647 5,100,802.52 2,000,000 1,000,000.00 139,888 562,349.76 2,247,535 6,663,152.28

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 68 58 34 47 208 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 2 4 20

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 15 15

Quotation(N) 2.08

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 450,020 936,041.60 450,020 936,041.60

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 21 36 114 34 87 13 32 40 1 1 1 380

High-cap stocks rally stock market to positive T

HE Nigerian stock market witnessed a slight recovery yesterday as gains by highly capitalised stocks rallied the overall market position to a gain of 0.31 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark value index that measures the general pricing trend at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), inched up to 20,875.32 points from its opening index of 20,811.08 points. The ASI also serves as the country index for Nigeria and a measure of the returns outlook of the Nigerian capital market in comparison to other markets.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted companies rose by N21 billion fro m N6.636 trillion to N6.657 trillion, reflecting the preponderance of gainers and most importantly, the gains by highly capitalised building materials, breweries and conglomerate stocks.

The uptrend yesterday was largely due to gains by a handful of highly capitalised non-financial stocks, led by Dangote Cement, the most capitalised stock on the NSE, which gained N2 to close at N100.

Nigerian Breweries, the second most capitalised company, gained 35 kobo to close at N85.50, while PZ Cussons Nigeria, the most capitalised conglomerate, added four kobo to close at N30.11 per share.

Reflecting the impact of the high-cap gainers, the NSE 30

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Index, which measures the pricing trend of the 30 most capitalised companies on the NSE, rose from 936.03 points to 937.70 points.

Meanwhile, top gainers included Seven-Up Bottling Company, with a gain of 35 kobo to N45.50; Vitafoam Nigeria, added 28 kobo to close at N5.98, Longman Nigeria rose by 23 kobo to close at N4.84, Roads Nigeria chalked up 19 kobo to close at N4.02, University Press gained 17 kobo to close at N3.75, Skye Bank added 14 kobo to close at N5.57, while First City Monument Bank rose by 13 kobo to close at N4.38 per share.

However, the market remained largely bearish with most sectoral indices still in the negative. The NSE Food and Beverages Index, dropped from 693.34 points to 692.0 points. The NSE Banking Index reflected the losses by most traded banking stocks, dropping from 299.83 points to 297.74 points, while the NSE Oil and Gas Index continued to reel under the unyielding descent of Oando at 244.72 points as against its opening index of 245.60 points. The NSE Insurance Index meanwhile sustained second consecutive upswing rising from 143.84 points to 144.53 points.

CAP topped the slackers’

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-09-11 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 100

No of Deals 3 3

No of Deals 2 29 31

No of Deals 85 85

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 232,436 10,575,853.00 266,831 4,255,302.36 1,997,563 11,499,627.16 641,949 5,745,128.88 261,945 18,722,148.35 1,211,832 3,831,389.12 374,972 1,629,753.78 48,268 19,290,097.59 20 429.60 10,000 5,000.00 100,000 50,000.00 5,145,816 75,604,729.84

No of Deals 1 19 20

No of Deals 1 1 1 13 16

Quotation(N) 0.90 1.54 27.00 3.43 1.10 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 287,297 258,567.30 60,100 92,150.00 69,818 1,885,086.20 1,608,520 5,518,289.60 168,200 185,020.00 1,200,000 600,000.00 3,393,935 8,539,113.10

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,800 3,572.00 3,800 3,572.00

Quotation(N) 0.86

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,398,126 5,362,150.82 6,398,126 5,362,150.82

Quotation(N) 0.51

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,010 1,505.00 3,010 1,505.00

Quotation(N) 7.50 1.56

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,300 16,399.00 518,605 812,306.10 520,905 828,705.10

Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100 690.00 556,062 3,240,204.48 556,162 3,240,894.48

Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 1 3

Quotation(N) 2.02 1.08 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 20,200.00 1,000 1,120.00 375 187.50 11,375 21,507.50

Quotation(N) 1.95

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 257,875 498,493.66 257,875 498,493.66

PACKAGING

Quotation(N) 6.90 5.98

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.50 4.97 2.66 0.50

Quotation(N) 0.67 1.05 2.51 0.50 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50

No of Deals 26 26

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) No of Deals 3 18 3 46 26 136 13 245

Quotation(N) 63.86 33.00 5.13 11.58 148.00 26.69 203.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 750 45,502.50 27,934 920,817.80 330,000 1,692,900.00 286,849 3,289,263.41 87,254 12,634,426.85 924,508 24,393,042.67 25,036 4,918,266.52 1,682,331 47,894,219.75

PRINTING & PUBLISHING

Quantity Traded Value 2,715,530 3,723,000 45,500 1,750,000 2,299,000 150 1,000,000 959,000

No of Deals 16 12 28

Quotation(N) 4.84 3.75

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500,100 2,391,287.80 154,753 578,563.75 654,853 2,969,851.55

Quotation(N) 16.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,500 100,830.00 6,500 100,830.00

REAL ESTATE

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 70,000 35,000.00 100 473.00 20,490,000 54,503,400.00 1,022,725 511,362.50 21,582,825 55,050,235.50

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 40 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 20 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 6 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 6 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 11 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 1 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 3

Quotation(N) 0.98

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND TRUST PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC e-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC IHS NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

8,150.00 100.00 10,075.00 40,000.00 75.00 2,575.00 75.00 8,335.00 10,003,646.59

MEDIA

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

16,300 200 20,150 80,000 150 5,150 150 16,670 12,630,950

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 45.50 16.00 5.81 9.00 75.05 3.16 4.48 401.00 22.61 0.50 0.50

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

HEALTHCARE Company Name No of Deals EVANS MEDICALPLC. 20 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3 GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC 10 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 36 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 3 UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC 3 Sector Totals 75

list with a loss N1.19 to close at N23.04 per share. Nigerian German Chemical followed with a loss of 52 kobo to close at N10.01. Cadbury Nigeria dropped by 50 kobo to close at N16. Oando lost 33 kobo to close at N26.69. Eterna dropped by 26 kobo to close at N5.13, while Stanbic IBTC Bank and First Bank of Nigeria lost 20 kobo each to close at N9.15 and N10 respectively.

Meanwhile, investors staked N1.55 billion on about 196.06 million ordinary shares in 4,048 deals. Banking sector remained atop activity chart with a turnover of 114.89 million shares worth N872.2 million in 2,284 deals. Information and communication sector occupied a distant second position with a turnover of 21.58 million shares worth N55 million in 16 deals. Insurance sector ranked third with a total of 12.63 million shares valued at N10 million in 100 deals while conglomerates sector recorded a turnover of 11.58 million shares worth N39 million in 208 deals.

Stock by stock analysis showed Guaranty Trust Bank as the most active stocks, by turnover volume, with a turnover of 21.75 million shares worth N273.3 million in 533 deals. Zenith Bank trailed with a turnover of 20.55 million shares valued at N254.66 million in 273 deals, while HIS ranked third with 20.49 million shares worth N54.50 million in a deal.

of Shares (N) 1,802,301.59 3,859,120.00 114,205.00 875,000.00 2,304,060.00 75.00 500,000.00 479,500.00

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 12

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,769,341 1,884,670.50 3,769,341 1,884,670.50

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 20 20

Quotation(N) 11.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 415,575 4,940,751.52 415,575 4,940,751.52

4,035

195,767,128

1,547,325,237.00

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

Credit to private sector hits 4-month high at N10.8b

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released August sta tistics which saw Credit to the Private Sector (CPS) rising to a fourmonth high of N10.8 billion.

The figure was N9.8 billion in May and N9.9 billion in June. The data for July was not given.

Meanwhile, inflation slowed to 9.3 per cent year-on-year in August, from 10.2 per cent year-on-year in June.

Food inflation also dropped from 12.2 per cent year-on-year to 9.2 per cent, but increased by 1.3 percent monthon-month.

The slowdown was broad based, as both food and non-food inflation moderated. “As the strengthening continued, the slowdown of August’s inflation cannot be attributed to a

Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

stronger currency. At this stage we are not of the view that June’s softer inflation is indicative of a sustained slowdown given its volatility in the first half of 2011," analysts said.

Inflation fluctuated from 12.1 percent to 11.1 percent to 12.8 percent to 11.3 percent to 12.4 and to 10.2. per cent in January, February, March, April, May and June respectively.

The foreign reserve stood at $34.3 billion as at September 16 and was $31.5 billion in July 7.

The reserves had on August 24, slumped to $33.5 billion, from $35.9 billion in August 8, dropping about $2.4 billion in two weeks. The reserves

had dropped to $34.9 billion in August 16, before it deteriorated to current level, based on data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website.

The CBN said it is concerned about the sustained low level of the reserves in the face of higher oil output, higher oil exports volume and higher oil prices. Before this reduction, the reserves had stood at $33.73 billion as at July 21, representing an increase of $1.84 billion or 5.77 per cent over the level attained on June, 30.

Given that the current oil price level may not be sustained in the event of a slowdown in global economic recovery, the CBN said there is urgent need to pursue policies that would foster macro-economic stability, economic

diversification as well as encouraging foreign capital inflows.

Also, the foreign currency reserves equally stood at $37 billion as at July 4, 2010, and were up to $68 billion in August 2008 before the global financial crises impacted negatively on it, according to data from the CBN website.

However, the CBN has maintained that the present level could finance more than 17 months of import and is expected to remain robust in view of the favorable outlook for oil prices and output.

Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been under pressure since last month with strong local demand for the United States dollar by oil and rice import-

ers, leading, sometimes, to a depreciation of the naira.

Neimeth shops for N1.2b from shareholders

N

EIMETH Pharmaceuticals has concluded plans to raise N1.2 billion through Rights Issue from existing shareholders at N1.50 per share. This was disclosed at the company’s completion board meeting held in Lagos yesterday.

The company is selling 821,576,716 shares of 50 kobo at N1.50, translating into one new share for every one held at February 28, 2011.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Ambrosie Orjiako, said they are very certain and sure of getting a full subscription from the shareholders since a good product is on offer.

His words: “Once you have a good product, you have nothing to worry about. Irrespective of the slide in the capital market, we believe we will be successful with the rights offer.

The price of N1.50 is not what we believe the price is, but due to the present situation in the market, we have to accept it as given, he said.

Commenting on the price of

By Tonia Osundolire

which is 36.36 per cent higher than the secondary market (trading floor of the exchange) price of N1.10, the Chief Executive Officer of Meristem Securities Limited, the issuing house to the offer, Wole Abegunde, said the price at which the stock is sold at the market is undervalued. This was what gave rise to the selling price they arrived

at.

“The current price is not the real value of the share of the company.

We believed it is presently undervalued, as such, we are comfortable at the N1.50 price. There is a difference between price and value,” he said.

Abegunde, said, as the issuing house to the offer, we are trying to maintain a balance between the price and the value.

“Price can be determined using various factors, one of which is the worth a buyer or seller intends to transact business with, which in the actual sense might not be the real value of the product.

We are confident of the N1.50 price the rights issue is going for. “The price the issue is going for, we believe will serve as a corrective measure to put the share price in the secondary market back to the real value.

D

EPUTY Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu and Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Chams PLC, Demola Aladekomo and other experts, would be speaking at the forthcoming Annual Stakeholders Forum of the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN). The event brings together executives and non-executive directors of banks, officials of other financial in-

Investing’’. The theme for the forum, ‘Future of Banking in Nigeria: Stakeholders Expectations,’ was chosen against the backdrop of the reforms and changes in the nation’s financial sector.

As the umbrella body of bank directors charged with the responsibility to serve as a forum to enlighten and educate its members with regards to their responsibilities in respect to their banks, BDAN, is poised to play a lead-

stitutions, regulatory authorities, professional bodies and executives of other leading companies in Nigeria.

Thus it is an opportunity for banking professionals to network and also share thoughts on developments in the banking sector and future of the sector. This year’s forum is scheduled to hold on Monday, October 10, in Lagos.

Also, Wiebe Boer, Chief Executive Officer, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, will make a presentation on ‘’Impact

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 20-9-11 SYMBOL ROADS NASCON NCR WEMABANK REDSTAREX FIDSON UAC-PROP ACCESS UNITYBNK BAGCO

O/PRICE 3.65 4.28 4.12 0.64 2.35 1.42 15.67 5.30 0.58 1.83

C/PRICE 3.83 4.49 4.32 0.67 2.46 1.48 16.32 5.49 0.60 1.89

CHANGE 0.18 0.21 0.20 0.03 0.11 0.06 0.65 0.19 0.02 0.06

LOSER AS AT 20 -9-11 SYMBOL JBERGER FLOURMILL DANGFLOUR STERLNBANK TRANSCORP JAPAULOIL NPFMCRFBK DANGSUGAR AIRSERVICE NB

O/PRICE 52.25 78.99 6.12 1.49 0.86 0.90 1.13 9.30 1.95 88.41

C/PRICE 49.64 75.05 5.82 1.42 0.82 0.86 1.08 8.90 1.87 85.15

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

ing role in preparing bank directors and the industry ahead of these changes. That is why it has devoted this year’s annual stakeholders’ forum for this purpose.

It is expected that the presentations, discussions and recommendations from the forum will significantly help the industry, prepare and take advantage of these changes to influence the future of the banking business in the country, said a statement issued by the body.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

By the time the acceptance list opens and there is high demand at the secondary market, the price will rise and shareholders will return to the primary market to pick up their rights,” he said.

The acceptance list opens on September 27, and it would close on Friday, November 4. The shares offered are tradable on the floor of the exchange for the duration of the issue.

Moghalu, others to speak at BDAN forum

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

•CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi Lamido

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

19-09-11 N6.636tr 20,811.08

20-09-11 N6.657tr 20,875.32

% Change -0.32% -0.31%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.82 107.46 0.79 1.02 0.96 1,628.78 8.65 1.39 1.87 7,662.42 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.56 107.10 0.81 1.02 0.95 1,625.40 8.23 1.33 1.80 7,384.03 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 2.61 3.94 0.30 0.07 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.40 0.08 3.26

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

56

NEWS

Jang condemns Governors’ Forum agenda

G

OVERNOR Jonah Jang of Plateau State has condemned the Northern Governors’ Forum for singling out his state for discussion at its meeting in Abuja today.

It was reported in the media that the Northern Governors’ Forum would discuss the Jos crisis.

In a statement in Jos yesterday, the state government frowned at the agenda, saying the forum was wrong to single out Plateau State for discussion.

The statement signed by

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yiljab Abraham, said: “The Plateau State government has noted with concern a media report credited to the Niger State governor that tomorrow’s Northern Governor’s meeting is over the protracted crisis in Jos. “The stand by the chairman of the Forum is clearly at variance with the official letter to the governors, with the ‘general security situation in the

north’ as among the issues to be discussed at the meeting.

“This smacks of mischief and is aimed at putting undue pressure on the peaceful people of Plateau State.

“We believe strongly that it is most unhelpful to isolate Plateau State and portray it as the sore point in northern Nigeria when the whole region is writhing in insecurity.

“The Plateau State government is aware of its responsibilities to the people of the state and is working hard to sustain the existing peace in the state.”

Three MASSOB members freed

T

HREE members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday regained freedom.

An Onitsha Chief Magistrate’s Court presided over

by Mrs. Ngozi Okoye struck out the case against Onyeka Ani, Ifeanyi Ezeukwu and Friday Ogodo.

They were arraigned on a two- count charge of conspiracy to cause breach of peace and using charms and fetish

From Adimike George, Onitsha

items to intimidate and embarrass the public.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Maduabuchi Nwaenyi, said the complainant told him he would not be in court and prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable the complainant be in court at the next hearing.

Praying the court not to grant the request of the prosecutor, MASSOB counsel

Humphrey Agbo said the complainant’s name was not on the charge sheet and that the charges were merely trumped up against the defendants.

He prayed the court to strike out the case.

The Magistrate said since the complainant’s name was not mentioned in the charge sheet and he was not also present in court, she would grant the prayers of the MASSOB counsel.

She struck out the case.

Ebonyi ACN calls for Elechi’s resignation

T

HE EBONYI State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has called on Governor Martin Elechi to implement the N18, 000 national minimum wage to end the lingering industrial action in the state or resign.

Addressing reporters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the ACN governorship candidate in the April 26 election, Adol Awam, expressed worry that the lingering industrial crisis has crippled socio-economic activities .

Awam said students, who resumed academic session two days before the industrial action, are now forced to hawk around the streets of

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

Abakaliki.

“The industrial action has crippled socio-economic activities in the state. It is also affecting the economy of the state. The situation has become so bad that our children, who are expected to be in the classrooms, now hawk around the streets in the state capital.

Some of them now engage in social vices, instead of being in the classroom.

“The minimum wage is a law and the state government should implement it, the civil servants in the state receive the least pay in the country and our workforce is the least in the country. I don’t know why the state government has

•Elechi

refused to pay the money.

It is also regrettable that the state government allowed Organised Labour to embark on an indefinite industrial action.”

Awam advocated an increase in the revenue allocation to states.

Suspected kidnapper escapes lynching

A

SUSPECTED kidnapper yesterday escaped lynching by an irate mob in Onitsha, Anambra State, following the intervention of the Onitsha Police Command , led by Larry Osita.

The incident occurred on New Market Road around noon. The mob had battered the victim before the arrival of the Police.

The suspected kidnapper, according to eyewitnesses,

From Adimike George, Onitsha

had abducted a girl before he was intercepted by the angry mob.

According to eyewitnesses, the suspect’s inability to explain what he was doing with the girl, who was said to have come for holiday at No 10 Old Market Road irked the mob.

The suspect said he was

asked by the victim’s aunt to take her back to Calabar, Cross Rivers State, where she reportedly hailed from.

Osita confirmed the incident and decried the jungle justice meted out to the suspect. He said the suspect was actually doing the bidding of the girl’s aunt before he was accosted by the angry mob, adding that the girl had been handed over to the aunt.

Foundation holds peace workshop

S

ENIOR Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Civil Society Relation, Adewale Adeoye; President, Centre for Democracy, Joe Odumakin, Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, (CEPACS), University of Ibadan, Prof Ifenayi Onyeonoru are expected to attend the 2011 International Day of Peace Workshop organised by the African Foundation for

Peace and Love Initiatives on September 21 at the Upper Suite of EKO FM/Radio, Ikeja.

The programme tagged: ‘Maintaining Peace and Stability in a Diverse Society’ is expected to bring together about 100 secondary school students in Lagos, civil society groups and representatives of Lagos State Ministries, Department and Agencies.

This is contained in a state-

ment by the President of the Foundation, the Rev. Titus Oyeyemi. He said the progrmame is aimed at encouraging youths and other stakeholders to live peacefully.

He said peaceful co-existence among Nigerians is germane to the actualisation of the national transformation agenda of the present administration.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

57

NEWS

Why I sacked task force chair, by Oshiomhole

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said he had no regret for ordering the arrest of the former Chairman of the Task Force on Demolition of Illegal Structures, Maj Lawrence Loye (rtd).

Loye, according to the governor, carried out unauthorised demolition of buildings on Siluko Road, Benin.

Oshiomhole said the task force chairman did not get directives from any commissioners or permanent secretaries to demolish any build-

Governor urged to intervene in crisis From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

THERE is tension in Ikpokpo community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government of Delta State over an alleged attack by its Itsekiri neighbours.

The community urged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to wade into the brewing crisis before it turns to a war.

The call was made in a petition made available to The Nation, yesterday, in Warri.

The letter was signed

by Chief Davi Odudu, the Amadewei of Ikpokpo Community, Godwin Akori, Chairman, Ikpokpo Community, Edward Odudu and Lucky Aaro.

The letter titled: “An unprovoked attack and malicious damage of EGCDC staff quarters model housing unit building at Ikpokpo Community by Itsekiri youths from Ugborodo,” regretted that one month after the alleged attack on them, the government is yet to respond to their plea.

It reads:“The Ikpokpo people would not want to do anything that will breach the existing peace between the Gbaramatu Ijaws and Itsekiri.”

Ex-Delta Steel boss dies THE former Chief Executive of Delta Steel Company, Fredrick Brume, has passed on. He died on September 12.

Born on September 25, 1942, Brume attended Government College, Ughelli and proceeded to the United States, where he studied at the University of Maine.

He worked at the World Bank, Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB), now Bank of Industry.

He served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Local & Foreign Debts, Founding Chairman, Senate Committee on Steel and Metallurgy, and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

ing.

The governor spoke yesterday at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

He said: “We had to do what we did because if you see the buildings he brought down, four new blocks of flats, he pulled them down just for nothing. And he had done that a couple of times.

“The rules are clear, we have the Ministry of Lands and Survey; we have the

T

Ministry of Environment.

Between the two, they determine what constitutes an obstruction to the right of way under the law.

“We are people driven. We have to find courage to do what we have to do to safeguard public interest.

“Sometimes, you have to deal with a guy no matter how powerful he is so that those who are powerless can be saved.

“Democracy is not just about election day, it is accountability and not just

Appeal Court dismisses petition From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

T

•Oshiomhole...yesterday

financial accounting.

“It is also about accounting for the decisions you make and the policy that you pursue.”

Fire at Rivers secretariat

HERE was confusion yesterday at the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, over fire outbreak at the 17-story Podium Block, as civil servants and visitors fled.

It was gathered that the fire affected the fifth and sixth floors, which were covered with smoke.

Sources said the fire was caused by an electrical

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

spark in one of the control switches at the entrance of the building, which houses the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), George Feyii.

The alarm raised by some civil servants made workers and visitors to rush to the ground floor.

A middle-aged woman was injured and was rushed

to an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.

Fire fighters put out the fire without serious damage to office equipment, furniture and documents.

Riot policemen were deployed to the secretariat to prevent looting and to provide security.

Feyii described the incident as “minor,” saying nothing was lost.

D

•Ogboru

bunal rulings.

He fixed tomorrow for judgment.

Assembly approves 25 nominees

T

HE Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday approved the appointment of 15 special advisers and 10 commissioner-nominees.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in a September 15 letter to Speaker Otelemaba Amachree, forwarded the

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

names to the House.

This is the first time the governor is appointing special advisers since he was sworn in on May 29.

The commissioner-nominees were screened and unanimously approved by

the lawmakers.

They include: Sampson Parker, Joe Poroma, Levi Gogo-Charles, Marshal Uwom, Chukwuma Chinenye.

Others are Nwogu Boms, Joeba West, Owene Wonodi, Ipalibo Harry and Lloyd Ukwu.

Mixed reactions trail NDDC board dissolution

T

HE former National Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (TROMPCON), Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, has faulted President Goodluck Jonathan over the dissolution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Pere Ayemi-Botu, who is the paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom of Burutu Local Government of Delta State, said Jonathan’s action, based on the Steve Oronsanye panel report was tantamount to throw-

From Shola O’Neil, Warri and Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

ing the baby with the bathwater.

The monarch called for the prosecution of those implicated in the massive fraud allegedly perpetrated at the NDDC. He said: “If the dissolution of the NDDC by the President was based on Oronsanye’s report, then it will be tantamount to a miscarriage of justice.”

The Seimbiri monarch urged the president to make public the finding of

the commission of enquiry.

A group, Urhobo National Youth Council (UNYC), hailed Jonathan over the dissolution.

A statement by the group’s president, Monday Oyeghe, said the dissolution was in the interest of the Niger Delta people.

Oyeghe appealed to the President to consider an Urhobo as the Managing Director or the chairman of the commission, saying the Urhobo deserve the position since they were not given any ministerial appointment.

Ex-Rivers Accountant-General dies FORMER Accountant-General in old Rivers State, Chief Lawrence Horsfall, has passed on.

Horsfall (76) was said to have died after a brief illness in Port Harcourt.

A statement in Port Harcourt at the weekend by the deceased’s first son, Tonte Horsfall, said his father, the “Ibilla V” of Buguma

A

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

T

HE traditional head of Abraka, Delta State, Godwin Onomuofe, has hailed the opening of Globacom’s mini customer care shop, Glo Zone, in Abraka.

Onomuofe, who officially opened the shop at the Police Station Road, said the development was long overdue .

He said:”We are excited over this shop because we know the stress people go through, travelling to Warri before they can get their issues resolved.”

The Abraka Glo Zone is the fourth shop opened in the past week. The other three were opened in Okada, Ekpoma and Sabongida Ora in Edo State.

PUBLIC NOTICE CHINWE OLUBUSOL A ADELEKE FOUNDA TION OLUBUSOLA FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ETHEL UGOCHINA EGBE 2. ERIC EFE AMAGADA 3. UGO NWAKUDU 4. OLUSOLA OGUNNAIKE 5. OLUSOLA AJAYI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. The objects of the foundation should be wholly charitable for the relief of the poverty and distress among the provision of financial assistance for the education of indigent children.

2. To award scholarships to students.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

ship re-run election.

At the court yesterday, it took the counsel five hours to adopt their written addresses.

Head of the five-man appeal panel Justice I. Agbo said the date became necessary for the panel not to run foul of the Electoral Act, which stipulated that all appeal cases must end 60 days after tri-

Glo Zone opens in Abraka

This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part “C” of the CAMA 1990.

Uduaghan, Ogboru know fate tomorrow ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will tomorrow know whether or not he will continue as governor when the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, delivers judgment in an appeal filed by Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

The lower tribunal has declared Uduaghan winner of the January 6 governor-

HE Court of Appeal Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday reserved judgment in the case by Suleman Atago, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atago is urging the court to declare that the Election Petition Tribunal was wrong to dismiss his case against Ibiso Nwuche, also of the PDP, representing Ahoada East in the House of Assembly.

He is urging the court to declare Nwuche ineligible to stand for the April 26 House of Assembly election on the platform of the PDP. Justice M.D Mohammed did not say when the court would rule on the matter.

The petitioner is asking the tribunal to declare him PDP’s rightful candidate because Nwuche had not been a member of the party for two years, to qualify him stand for election.

But the case was thrown out by the lower court on the grounds that it was based on disputed facts.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

in Kalabari Kingdom, was a devout Christian and an active community leader.

He is survived by his wife, Mabel, three sons and four daughters.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: OLUBUSOLA AJAYI & ASSOCIATE NO. 7, AFIRC ROAD, IPONRI, EBUTE META, LAGOS.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

58

FOREIGN NEWS

Ex-Afghan President Rabbani killed by suicide bomber

Obama pledges support for Libya

U

NITED States President Barack Obama called yesterday for the last of Muammar Gaddafi forces to lay down their arms as he announced the return of the US ambassador to Tripoli and pledged to help Libya rebuild.

“Today, the Libyan people are writing a new chapter in the life of their nation,” Obama said in prepared remarks for a high-level United Nations conference on Libya.

“We will stand with you in your struggle to realize the peace and prosperity that freedom can bring.”

But a spokesman for Gaddafi said the war may “take years” and that loyalist forces have enough arms and were willing to fight.

Spokesman Moussa Ibrahim also said 17 foreign mercenaries had been captured, including French and British personnel, and were being questioned in the Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid.

NTC military spokesman Ahmed Bani has denied the assertion, while French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said there were “no French mercenaries in Libya”. The British foreign office said it had no information about whether the report was true.

Nearly a month after Gaddafi was driven from power with the help of a NATO-led bombing campaign, Obama urged his die-hard supporters to give up.

Gaddafi remains defiant on television

E

MBATTLED Col Gaddafi issued a defiant audio message warning the opposition that Nato could not be counted upon.

“Do not rejoice and don’t believe that one regime has been overthrown and another imposed with the help of air and maritime strikes.

“The bombs of Nato planes will not last,” he said. It is not known when or where the audio message was recorded.

Broadcast on the Syriabased Al-Rai network, it is the third since he was ousted late last month.

On the ground in Libya, fighting continues for control of Bani Walid and Col Gaddafi’s birthplace, Sirte, where pro-Gaddafi fighters are mounting fierce resistance.

It is the third audio message released by Col Gaddafi since he was ousted Anti-Gaddafi forces launched an offensive on Bani Walid, 140km (90 miles) south-east of Tripoli, late last week, but were forced to retreat under heavy fire both times. Heavy clashes have continued since then.

Claims by Col Gaddafi’s spokesman that loyalists had captured 17 foreign mercenaries during recent fighting have been denied by western powers and the NTC. Moussa Ibrahim said on Monday that the mercenaries were “technical experts and consultative officers”, adding that most were French, one was from an unidentified Asian country, two were English and one was from Qatar.

•Rabbani

T

HE chairman of the Afghan High Peace Council, Burhanuddin Rabbani, has been killed with several other people in a bomb attack in Kabul, officials say.

T

Mr Rabbani was killed at his home by a suicide attacker who officials suspect had concealed a bomb in his turban.

He was meeting members of the Taliban at the time. The council leads Afghan efforts to negotiate with the Taliban.

Mr Rabbani is a former president of Afghanistan and also led the main political opposition in the country.

A senior advisor to the peace council, Masoom Stanakzai, is also thought to have been seriously wounded in the attack.

On hearing the news Afghan President Hamid Karzai decided to cut short his visit to the US but briefly met President Barack Obama, who condemned the killing as a

“tragic loss”. Both men reinforced their determination to continue the quest for peace.

President Karzai said: “This is a sad day for us in Afghanistan but a day of unity and day of continuity for our efforts.”

Mr Rabbani will be a hard man for President Karzai to replace.

Although he was a Tajik leader from the north, Mr Rabbani had support in Pashtun areas in the south and east. He was seen as one of Afghanistan’s cleverest and most influential politicians.

And he had some of the tightest security of any Afghan leader. His convoys were always heavily protect-

ed and included several identical vehicles with blackedout windows to confuse potential attackers.

The best guess is that he was killed by Taliban who did not support the talks initiative he led. Karzai supporters see his death as a blow to peace efforts, but how much he achieved is unclear.

His peace council is credited with bringing over hundreds of Taliban field commanders, but to date Mr Rabbani had failed to woo any senior figures away from the insurgency.

Mr Rabbani’s residence is in a prosperous district of Kabul, on the edge of a high security area close to the US

AU recognises Libya’s leaders

HE African Union (AU) has recognised Libya’s interim leaders, the National Transitional Council (NTC), as the country’s de facto government.

The news came as United StatesPresident Barack Obama said his ambassador was on the way to Tripoli to re-open an embassy.

Mr Obama made the announcement after meeting with NTC chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil in New York.

Meanwhile, deposed leader Col Muammar Gaddafi warned opponents that Nato protection cannot last indefinitely.

The AU, a pan-African body which has frequently been criticised for its lack of speed when reacting to events in neighbouring states, said that it was ready to help the NTC in its efforts to build an inclusive government.

“The African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya,” said the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who holds the bloc’s rotating chair.

He made the announce-

ment after consulting with the panel in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly.

After meeting with Mr Obama, interim government leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil thanked the United Nations and the international community for its involvement in Libya but warned that their task had only just begun.

Libyan leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil says his country is grateful for help but will still need UN support “Gaddafi is still in Libya and still posses some resources that pose a threat not only to Libyans but to the in-

ternational community as a whole,” he said.

“The road before us is still long and there are many challenges at many levels. Our needs are many, we have lost 25,000 matryrs and there are double the number of wounded.”

Addressing a high-level UN meeting on Libya on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Mr Obama praised the international community for having “the courage and the collective will to act” in Libya.

He said that the US ambassador was already on his way back to Tripoli.

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SPORT EXTRA CHELSEA VS FULHAM

Mikel may return to action

J

OHN OBI Mikel is expected to return to Chelsea's starting 11 in today's League Cup derby tie against Fulham.

The Super Eagles midfielder who missed out against Manchester United at the weekend, faces a tricky tie as the Stamford Bridge outfit have failed to win their next four games the last time they lost to Manchester United.

Interestingly, Cottagers boss Martin Jol and his squad are

By Uchenna Ajah eager to end their six-game winless streak with the League Cup derby and may give new signing, Bryan Ruiz another chance to prove himself after a lacklustre start to life in west London.

Otherwise, it seems likely that the visitors will stay as faithful as possible to the team that got a draw at the weekend with Manchester City in the hope of giving as good a showing as

possible of themselves in the League Cup. PROBABLE LINEUPS CHELSEA Cech Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole Mikel, Romeu, Lampard Malouda, Torres, Lukaku FULHAM Schwarzer Baird, Kelly, Hangeland, JA Riise Dempsey, Murphy, Sidwell, Duff Zamora, Ruiz

CONFEDERATION CUP

Ondo Assembly backs Sunshine

T

HE Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday tipped the state football club [Sunshine Stars] to lift the on-going Africa Confederation Cup. It noted that the brilliant results of the club both in local league and continental championship had proved to the whole world that sunshine is focused achieving victories.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Adekunle Olujuyigbe lauded the achievements of the football team in the last two and half years of governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.

According to him, “I congratulate the team and

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure the Ondo State football agency under the chairmanship of Chief Segun Adagunodo for the successes recorded at the local league and continental championship.

The quality of leadership displayed by Agency has made the team a club to beat”.

He added that the players and the coaching crew should work harder in order to bring the cup to the state for the first time in history.

Olujuyigbe also commended the performances of the Sports men and women in the just concluded National Sports

Festival hosted by River State where the state placed fourth on the medal table.

The lawmaker who represents Akure South Constituency II in the Assembly noted that investment of the state government was yielding dividends, saying sporting activities was taking idle youths out of the streets.

However, he assured people of the state that the State Stadium which is under renovation would soon be completed.

“I held meetings with contractor and the management of the Ondo State Sports Councils and he is very confident that rule new look Akure Sports Stadium will be ready for use by the beigning of next football season

Tomorrow in THE NATION

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7 NO.1890

‘Peace is not achieved by a unilateral approach to the UN and not by association with HAMAS terror organisation; peace will only be attained by direct negotiation with Israel’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

AM delighted to be here today at this occasion of the passing out of Combatant Cadets of the 58th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

It is indeed most heart-warming to note that over the years, the Academy has continued to live up to the vision of the founding fathers of this prestigious institution through quality training of cadets.

The impressive parade which we have all witnessed this morning is indicative of the high standard of training and discipline that has been imbibed by these young and promising officer cadets about to be commissioned into the Nigerian Armed Forces today. A few minutes ago, I was in fact telling the Defence Minister, that judging from the way the cadets conduct themselves, this place is not for “sandy rocks” but “igneous rocks”. Let me therefore, extend very welldeserved commendation and congratulations to the Commandant and his team of highly dedicated staff for a job well done.

Similarly, I congratulate the graduating officer cadets for being receptive to training and for undergoing both the academic and the very rigorous military training in the past 5 years in the Academy.

Let me remind you the cadets, that as you file past the saluting dais within the next few minutes, you will going through a ceremony that you’d not do again, you will be doing so for the last time as officer cadets from this parade ground. Indeed, this parade marks the end of your five - year sojourn in the academy and your transition into the Officer Cadre. I expect all of you to look back and give glory to the Almighty for this memorable event in your lives.

Some of your colleagues with whom you started this course, for one reason or the other, may not have completed this programme with you. While you have every reason to feel proud and fulfilled for making it to this glorious day, you should bear in mind that the officer corps into which you are moving has many responsibilities.

I am however, confident that armed with the quality of training which you have been given at the academy, you will be able to cope with the demands of the various services to which you will be commissioned.

Let me reiterate that my administration places much premium on security. The development of any nation is hinged on security and peace.

It is for this reason that this administration is taking all necessary measures to create a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere in every part of this country so that we can achieve the goals of our all-important transformation agenda.

Apart from defending the territorial integrity of this country, members of the armed forces have often been called upon

OPEN FORUM By

GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Reviewing the Nigerian security situation

‘

Those who seek to violate national security must be told in very clear terms that government will spare no effort in making it impossible for them to achieve their dastardly goals, or to escape justice and punishment

’

to contribute to the maintenance of internal security. The Nigerian Armed Forces which are known for their professionalism, valour, discipline and dedication to duty, have always lived up to the expectations of our people. As you will be granted the Presidential Commission, and thereafter posted to the various services to strengthen the lower segment of the leadership of our Armed Forces, you are expected to emulate your senior colleagues by avoiding any behaviour that is capable of tarnishing the image and reputation of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I urge you to comply strictly with the rules of engagement based on universal best practices in any security operation you may be involved in either within or outside our dear nation. You should also avail yourselves of training opportunities in the course of your

RIPPLES PDP LAMENTS LOSS OF SOUTHWEST– News

...STORY, STORY

J

UDGING from the confessions of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Joseph Daudu (SAN), these are not the best of times for the Nigerian judiciary. The chief cause of their lamentation is corruption in the judiciary, which Daudu put inelegantly as justice for sale, and Musdapher mourned was an indication of poor public perception of the integrity of judicial officers. The two judicial officers spoke on Monday at the Special Session of the Supreme Court to mark the beginning of the 2011/2012 Legal Year in Abuja. It is reassuring that both gentlemen were unsparing in their condemnation of the unhealthy practices undermining public confidence in the judiciary. And both also spoke vigorously on what were needed to restore that lost confidence. Nigerians hope they can form a synergy to attack the hydraheaded judicial evils disgracing the country.

From the Monday speeches, which conveyed their frustrations and appreciations of the troubles buffeting the judiciary, Musdapher and Daudu showed good intentions. But the challenge they will face is how to translate those intentions into

career to enhance your contribution to the armed forces and the nation at large.

Within the past month, I have directed a review of the national security architecture to place a greater emphasis on human security.

This is in response to the new emerging threat environment, and the urgent need to ensure that government provides necessary leadership in checking the reign of impunity in our land. Those who seek to violate national security must be told in very clear terms that government will spare no effort in making it impossible for them to achieve their dastardly goals, or to escape justice and punishment.

The Armed Forces have a crucial role to play to defend the integrity of Nigeria. As young officers, you will be required to uphold the same charge, now and throughout your career. Soldiering is a noble profession; your main charge is to go into the field as true officers and gentlemen. I want to assure you that my administration will do everything possible to provide the enabling environment to encourage every officer and everyone that is committed to serving the fatherland.

I am aware that a new Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service for the Armed Forces has been proposed. Let me assure you that my administration will take a careful look at the recommendations and act in the best interest of the Armed Forces.

Last year, as part of our transformation agenda, my administration approved the admission of female officer cadets into the Nigerian Defence Academy for regular combatant training.

This is in keeping with my belief that women can make and have been making valuable contributions to nation building in this country. I am pleased to note that the first set of female officer cadets have been selected to start training with their male counterparts in October 2011 as members of the 63 Regular Combatant Course. I am indeed happy about this, and

as a coincidence, this institution is for the first time today honouring a lady, a deserving lady, with a honorary degree.

It is also pertinent to state that these female cadets who were selected purely on merit will be well represented in the existing three Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering. I have no doubt in my mind that they will cope with the challenges of training in the academy and that standards will not in any way be compromised on account of their gender. I was in fact made to understand that about 5, 000 females applied and only 20 of them were selected; 20 out of 5, 000 must be good.

The Nigerian Defence Academy provides the opportunity for our youths from all over the thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory to train and interact irrespective of their cultural and religious backgrounds.

The friendship forged among the officer cadets is a life-long one which transcends all sorts of divides. I wish therefore, to appeal to all our brothers and sisters who hide under the guise of religion or ethnicity to cause unrest, to cultivate the values of togetherness and love which exist here at the Nigerian Defence Academy. This way, we will build a better Nigeria which every one of us would be proud of.

Let me at this point rejoice with the families and friends of the graduating cadets who have travelled from all over the country to witness this occasion. Your love, prayers and support have all made this day a reality for these young men. I appeal to you to continue to assist them with your prayers to enable them make a success of their chosen career.

Finally, I congratulate the Commandant and the staff of the Academy once more on the successful training of yet another set of future leaders of our armed forces.

The nation will continue to depend on you for the production of highly disciplined young officers for our armed forces. On our part, my administration will continue to provide the NDA with all that is required to offer quality training to its Cadets.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you most sincerely for your attention and wish the passing-out cadets a very successful career as gentlemen officers in the noble profession of the arms.

I thank you all.

•Being the text of a speech delivered at the passing out parade of Officer Cadets of the 58th Regular Combatant Course (Army, Navy and the Airforce) at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna on September 17 • Jonathan is the President of Nigeria.

•Mohammed Haruna returns next week

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Nigeria’s judicial angst

ous while doing so. In promising much more than they can deliver, Judicial officers must remember that desperate politicians are the bane of justice, for they continually drag the judiciary into politics in very unseemly ways. The Justice Salami case is an example.

The NBA president’s promised intervention is not in doubt. But whether he can get his association to go the whole hog in exposing traders in the judiciary is a different thing altogether. Musdapher also promises reforms, and he must be encouraged to proceed with the project diligently and speedily. But whatever the NBA or the CJN does, what will bring about change is the character of judicial officers. If judicial officers had developed the necessary strong character to uphold truth and damn lies and villainy, the morass the judiciary descended into in the closing months of the previous CJN’s tenure would have been avoided.

Musdapher’s reforms are welcome, and Daudu’s promise to expose judicial traders will help everyone. But if top judicial officers do not summon the character to courageously stand up for truth, as indeed they failed to do in the Salami case, we would continue to tilt at windmills.

concrete programmes, reforms and force of character required to remedy the ills of the judiciary. It was obvious from their statements that the Justice Ayo Salami versus National Judicial Council (NJC) case was the trigger for their angst. That case was probably the lowest point ever reached by the judiciary, when top serving and retired judicial officers knew what and who was wrong but were in a quandary whose side to take. By promising to join forces and pool resources to tackle the ills, it is hoped that judicial officers would gradually reclaim lost grounds and lost splendour.

Musdapher promises urgent reforms, and he calls on the NBA to partner with him. The NBA has also promised not to spare anyone in exposing corruption in the judiciary, particularly those who buy and sell justice. We wish them Godspeed. However, they will soon have a few cases to test their resolve, for the ruling party is incorrigible in undermining the judiciary either without seeming to do so, or even sounding sanctimoni-

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